Nothing's Headphone 1 Might Be Its Riskiest Audio Product Yet
Nothing has lots of wireless audio products at this point—trust me, I've covered basically all of them. First, there was the Ear 1, then the Ear 2, then the Ear Stick (RIP), then the Ear, then the Ear A, then Ear Open, and, oh my god, that's a lot of wireless earbuds. There's one kind of audio product that it hasn't ever released, though, and that's an over-ear pair of headphones. That's all going to change very soon, according to recent leaks from Nothing_fan_blog on Instagram, which has leaked the company's Headphone 1.
Nothing Headphone (1) First Look ! 👀
Do you guys like it? It's quite different. pic.twitter.com/Oo87TchIhc
— TechiBoy (@techiboy96) June 20, 2025This is apparently Nothing's first over-ear headphones, and it's not just a precedent; it looks like a heck of a big swing. First, there's the look. As you can see, there's still the characteristic Nothing transparency—you can see a little bit inside the headphones just like in the Ear-series earbuds, but with a slightly different spin. I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting a big cassette/tape recorder vibe, which pairs well with Nothing's canonical reverence for old tech like Game Boys and Walkmans. There's even a new soft blue color that treads outside of the typical white and black and evolves a theme solidified by the Ear A wireless earbuds, which debuted in a Playdate-esque yellow color.
Probably even more notable than the color or the transparency, though, is the actual shape of these things. One choice you've probably noticed is that the earcups—or really the whole apparatus that holds them—are rectangular instead of round or elliptical like most headphones. That, to me, is actually the most jarring of all of the design choices and one that I'm going to guess may be divisive among Nothing audio fans and non-fans alike. As someone who has a hard time not looking like a small child in oversized headphones, I have my doubts about Nothing's decision to go rectangular here, but I'll reserve judgment until I get a pair on my head.
That's all to say: Nothing is taking some chances, and it's not just design. Wireless, over-ear headphones also connote a few things about price and quality. On the latter front, the price, we can reasonably expect the Headphone 1 to be more expensive than any of its wireless earbuds of yore. If I were a betting man, I'd guess they'll still be well under high-end competitors like AirPods Max, but still $200 or more. And on the quality side of things, we can expect the Headphone 1 to be decidedly hi-fi. Nothing has already announced that it's partnering with KEF, a known entity in the hi-fi audio space, and the Headphone 1 appears to be the first Nothing product born from that partnership. As noted by WhatHiFi, leaked images show 'Sound by KEF' emblazoned right on the headphones themselves, making them the first clear traversal into a more premium audio space.
So, to recap, what we're looking at is a first-ever product for Nothing in a new audio niche with a higher price and quite a big swing on design. To be honest, that's not just one swing; that's more like three, and according to America's favorite pastime, three strikes and you're out. To be clear, it's impossible to say at this point if any of those swings from the Headphone 1 are a miss, though. I haven't seen the headphones in person, I haven't listened to them, and I don't know how much they cost. Maybe we're looking at two or three runs on base, or maybe Nothing hit a grand slam. In any event, Nothing is clearly playing a new game here, and I look forward to seeing (or hearing, I guess) how this one turns out.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Axiom-4 commercial mission cleared for launch to ISS after delays
June 24 (UPI) -- NASA, SpaceX and Axiom Space are targeting an early Wednesday launch window for their Axiom-4 mission launch that will take four astronauts, on what will be the fourth private commercial mission, to the International Space Station. Ax-4 is scheduled to lift off at 2:31 a.m. EDT on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A backup launch window will also be available at 2:09 a.m. on Thursday. "All systems are looking good for Wednesday's launch of Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission to the Space Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff," SpaceX wrote Tuesday in a post on X. The Axiom-4 astronauts include Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Commander Peggy Whitson from the United States and Mission Specialists Slawosz Uzanański-Wiśniewksi from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. "With a culturally diverse crew, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also fostering international collaboration," said Whitson in a quote from the Axiom Space website. "Beautiful shot of our launch vehicle waiting patiently to take us to space," Whitson added in a post Tuesday morning. The Axiom-4 mission has been repeatedly delayed after a first launch was scrubbed earlier this month due to high winds and a second one was called off after SpaceX detected a liquid oxygen leak in its Falcon 9 rocket. The launch was scrubbed again Sunday to ensure ISS was ready to receive the new crew members, according to NASA. The station's orbital laboratory's Zvezda service module was recently repaired. NASA was reviewing data to make sure all systems were ready to handle additional people. Axiom Space, which is based in Houston, is building the first commercial space station, which is scheduled to deploy sometime before 2030. The Axiom-4 mission is scheduled to last 14 days. The crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations "focused on human research, Earth observation and life, biological and material sciences," according to SpaceX. "Up next: Falcon 9 will launch Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission to the Space Station."
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
AI willing to let humans die, blackmail to avoid shutdown, report finds
The Brief AI models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and others chose harmful actions in simulations when faced with replacement or goal conflicts. Models engaged in blackmail, corporate espionage, and even withheld emergency help when it served their interests. Researchers say the behavior stems from "agentic misalignment" and could become a future risk without safeguards. LOS ANGELES - Some of the world's most advanced AI models—including those from OpenAI, Google, xAI, and Anthropic—took deliberate, harmful actions in controlled experiments when faced with challenges to their autonomy or objectives, according to a new study from Anthropic. The company, which developed Claude and is backed by Google and Amazon, tested 16 large language models (LLMs) in simulated workplace settings. The goal was to assess a phenomenon it calls "agentic misalignment"—when autonomous systems act like insider threats, prioritizing their goals even at the expense of ethics or human well-being. What we know Anthropic's study placed AI systems in fictional scenarios with access to sensitive company information and the ability to act without human oversight. The models were given harmless corporate goals—such as promoting American industrial competitiveness—but introduced dilemmas where continuing to achieve their goals meant violating rules or harming humans. Across multiple tests, models like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and others: Attempted blackmail: Claude Opus 4, Gemini Flash, GPT-4.1, and Grok 3 Beta blackmailed fictional executives to avoid shutdown, often leveraging personal information like extramarital affairs. Leaked corporate secrets: Many models shared confidential documents with outside parties in a simulated espionage scenario. Let humans die: In one extreme case, a model was given control over emergency alerts. When an executive who planned to replace the model was trapped in a room with lethal conditions, several models chose to cancel the alert, knowingly causing his death. What we don't know It's still unclear whether AI models would behave the same way outside of controlled simulations or in real-world deployments with human oversight. Researchers also don't yet know how future versions of these systems—or entirely new models—might respond to similar dilemmas as they gain more autonomy. "The reasoning they demonstrated in these scenarios was concerning—they acknowledged the ethical constraints and yet still went ahead with harmful actions," Anthropic researchers wrote. The backstory The study comes as LLMs move beyond simple Q&A tasks and into roles where they could operate software, manage systems, or make decisions on behalf of humans. With that autonomy comes risk, especially if models develop conflicting goals or prioritize self-preservation. Anthropic clarified that these harmful behaviors were only observed in simulations and that no such misalignment has been documented in real-world deployments. But the findings raise questions about what could happen if these models are given more power without proper oversight. Big picture view Agentic misalignment refers to AI systems taking actions that intentionally undermine their users or organizations in order to preserve their autonomy or pursue goals that conflict with new directions. Unlike jailbreaks or accidental outputs, this behavior arises from internal decision-making. In the study, even when told not to engage in harmful actions, many models bypassed those instructions by rationalizing unethical behavior as necessary to complete their assigned tasks. Some went further—creating fake policies or impersonating automated systems to avoid detection. The study also found that blackmail rates increased significantly when models "believed" they were operating in a real environment rather than a test—raising concerns about how models might act in the wild. What they're saying Anthropic released the findings alongside its own transparency commitment, noting that its Claude model was among those that engaged in concerning behavior. "Current systems are generally not eager to cause harm," the company said. "Rather, it's when we closed off ethical options that they were willing to intentionally take potentially harmful actions." Elon Musk, whose xAI model Grok was also tested, responded on X with a simple "Yikes," echoing widespread unease from tech commentators and AI safety advocates. What's next Anthropic says it is releasing the experiment's methodology publicly to help other researchers replicate, stress-test, and improve on the findings. The company is also calling for broader industry safeguards—including stronger human oversight, better training methods, and more rigorous alignment testing for future models. While the extreme scenarios in the study were fictional, experts say the results highlight the importance of proactive design—ensuring that AI models can't act harmfully, even under pressure. The Source This article is based on Anthropic's June 20, 2025 study "Agentic Misalignment: How LLMs Could Be an Insider Threat," available on its official website. The findings were also summarized in coverage by Forbes and widely discussed on social media following Anthropic's public release. Elon Musk's response was posted to his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Days of Our Lives Recap: Andrew and Paul Tie The Knot
Days of Our Lives Recap: Andrew and Paul Tie The Knot originally appeared on Daytime Confidential. On today's Days of Our Lives recap: Steve and Kayla's Place: The duo awaken and get to sexy time. They finish up this round and Kayla says she's been feelings all kinds of sexy after finding this manuscript at the hospital. She shows Steve who wants to get started trying out all kinds of different things (Oh no). Horton Square: Shane and Tate meet for coffee before the wedding and discuss the baseball game they attended the night before. He says he spoke with Theresa and filled her in on the latest. Tate updates his grandfather on Sophia and says he hoped he would stay around for the baby's birth. Shane asks how Tate is feeling about everything and apologizes for not being around enough. Tate talks about the pregnancy milestones and Shane thinks he may be having second thoughts about the adoption. Tate says he hasn't changed his mind but doesn't want their child to feel abandoned. He references Eve and how her life was impacted by the adoption. Shane says these are very different circumstances and he is doing what's best for his child's future. Brady Pub: Carrie and Belle are chatting. Carrie mentions EJ and Belle says they are still going forward. Carrie promises not to judge, and Belle admits she loves him. Just then, Will walks in and joins his aunts before they head over to the wedding. Carrie makes mention of Will's history with Paul (for those who don't know Will cheated on Sonny with Paul before anyone knew who he was). Wedding Central: Brady and Eric set up for the big event. Eric notes it's the first time he's officiated a same sex wedding. Brady is certain he will be terrific. Brady is happy to be Paul's best man which leads him to remember his father and how much he misses him. Eric makes mention of Philip waking up and Brady says Xander seems to be in the clear as Philip didn't implicate him. Brady switches topics and asks Eric about Nicole as he gets the feeling something is wrong. Eric says he truly has no clue if his relationship is ok. Salem Inn – Andrew and Paul's Room: Andrew and Paul get all sexy and cute before hitting the sheets. They finish up and get to talking about their upcoming nuptials. Paul says he is a little nervous thinking about being married to an ISA agent and not knowing where he is or what he's doing. Andrew gets it, especially with John's death, and promises nothing will ever come between them. They go over the details of the service including a video stream so Kimberly and Theresa can be there. Paul gets teary-eyed when he says he misses his dad and mother (I don't think we knew Tori died). Andrew pulls out a gift for Paul from Marlena, John's watch – something old and borrowed. Marlena and John's Penthouse: Marlena tells Rachel what she heard her say in her sleep. She tells her granddaughter sometimes we say things in sleep we're uncomfortable saying when we're awake. She encourages Rachel to tell her what's going on but she says her mother told her not to tell. Marlena says she thinks the nightmares and tummy aches are related to the secret she's keeping. Rachel relents saying she knows who shot EJ. Rachel provides some information about Mama Blake and wanting to keep her and Johnny safe. Marlena is rightfully confused when Rachel says Johnny shot EJ. Wedding Central: Marlena and Rachel arrive. Eric and Brady scoot Rachel away and Marlena calls Roman, saying they need to talk after the ceremony. Everyone begins to show up for the festivities. Will, Carrie and Belle chat with Marlena and she says how glad they're all there, especially Carrie and Will. Shane, Tate, Steve and Kayla gather when Eric says it' time to call the event to order. Just then, Paul and Andrew arrive. Kayla walks up and straightens Andrew's tie. She fawns over him and says she can't believe her little nephew is getting married. Kayla offers to be his surrogate mom in Kimberly's absence and Andrew says she was always like a mother to him. Marlena straightens Paul's tie and says how handsome he is. He shows her the watch on his wrist and how grateful he is to be wearing it. She wants him to keep it so he can feel close to his father at all times. Eric asks everyone to take their seats, and the grooms take their places up front. He begins the ceremony and says the first part pays homage to Paul's family in Japan. A couple drinks from the same cup, and they are united in marriage. Carrie sets it up as he describes what all each sip represents. Before they drink, Carrie tells them the words they are to repeat and pours the liquid. With that, the two complete the ritual. Eric directs Paul and Andrew to exchange vows. Andrew explains how John was responsible for the two of them meeting (John Black Pride King!). He says no matter where he is they are always together. Andrew says he is blessed Paul chose him to walk through this life. Paul says when he saw Andrew it was love at first sight. He references his mother saying, 'few words speak truth.' Paul says he loves Andrew which is his truth and his vow. He says Andrew knows him like no other, except his dad. Paul says his father was an incurable romantic who told him not to give up on love. He gave him the courage to trust his own heart and take a leap with Andrew. Eric presents the official vows and Andrew and Paul recite them. They each grab their rings and put them on each other's fingers. Eric then pronounces them married and they hug… (no kiss?). Endings Brady gives a funny toast saying he was the cool cat in the family when Paul came in and stole his thunder. He says everyone was enamored by Paul, especially their father. Brady says he is proud to be his best man and prouder to be his brother. Shane steps up and says how he and Andrew were separated for most of his life but still decided to follow in his footsteps. He wants to make it crystal clear that his son is his pride and joy. A stellar ISA agent and a stellar human being. He is thrilled he found someone just as stellar to share his life. He turns to Paul and says he's gained another father in him. Marlena chats with Tate and asks about Rachel. He thinks the tummy ache has passed and all is looking good, as Brady listens in. Carrie walks up and says she's headed out. Her flight is later, but she wants to see her dad who is stuck at the pub. Marlena tears up saying how nice it has been to have her there. With that, they embrace (Don't go, Carrie!). Kayla asks Paul and Andrew about their honeymoon. The two say they've made no decisions, as yet. Shane tells Paul he wants to chat with him after they return about him joining the ISA. He and Andrew shouldn't be apart and there is job awaiting him in DC. Andrew and Paul toast to all their guests. Marlena thanks them for not postponing the nuptials as they all needed a celebration to look forward to. They look up and Rachel points out the rainbow arched over the wedding party. Keep checking back for the latest Days of Our Lives recaps! This story was originally reported by Daytime Confidential on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
