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AI & Tech — Monday, August 10, 2026

AI & Tech,
briefly.

16 stories, written and narrated in a calm newsroom voice. No sirens, no outrage bait — press play and let the edition carry you through.

AI & Tech

AI & TechWataugaOnline

CCC&TI Launches New Artificial Intelligence Degree Program

A classroom sits ready—workstations arranged in rows, screens dark, waiting. It's the kind of space that could teach anything. But this one's built for something specific: artificial intelligence. Catawba Valley Community College and Appalachian State University have launched a new two-year degree in AI together. The program starts this fall in Hickory, North Carolina, designed to move students into data science and machine learning roles. What's worth noting: they're pairing technical coursework with ethics modules, not as an afterthought but woven through from the start. Enrollment opens next month. The first cohort begins in January.

WataugaOnline ↗

AI & TechNew Pittsburgh Courier

Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh launches ‘Empowered AI’ to equip youth for the future of Artificial Intelligence

The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh is launching what it calls Empowered AI—a program designed to teach young people how artificial intelligence actually works, and how to build careers in it. The initiative targets students in the Pittsburgh area who might otherwise lack access to that kind of training. It's a straightforward bet: if you want young people from underserved communities to compete for jobs in tech, you have to teach them the fundamentals now, before the field hardens. The program combines classroom instruction with mentorship from people already working in AI and related fields. That matters partly because Pittsburgh itself has become a genuine hub for AI research and development—Carnegie Mellon and other institutions have drawn significant investment there. So Empowered AI isn't abstract. It's rooted in a real job market. The question now is whether the program can scale fast enough to actually move the needle on who gets those opportunities.

New Pittsburgh Courier ↗

AI & TechSlashGear

15 Mini Gadgets That Can Easily Fit Into Your Pocket Or Backpack

The consumer tech market's latest trend is toward devices small enough to carry anywhere. First, manufacturers are designing gadgets that perform full-sized functions in miniature form—a portable projector from Anker, for instance, fits in a jacket pocket yet displays a 100-inch image. Then there's the practical angle: these tools address real problems for travelers and remote workers, from compact power banks to pocket-sized document scanners. And finally, the durability question matters more than the size itself; many of these gadgets sacrifice nothing in build quality despite their dimensions. The trade-off between portability and performance has largely closed, which explains why this category's grown steadily over the past two years.

SlashGear ↗

AI & TechYanko Design

7 Best Tech Gadgets of August 2026 - Yanko Design

A designer sits at a desk, turning over a slim device no thicker than a credit card. The screen catches light in a way that suggests something's different about how it's built. She sets it down and reaches for another—this one a speaker, but shaped like nothing she's seen before. Around her, seven objects, each one the result of months of consideration rather than marketing urgency. August's tech lineup reflects a quieter kind of innovation. Yanko Design's curated selection moves past the usual race for the fastest processor or the largest screen. Instead, these gadgets—ranging from audio equipment to portable displays—prioritize what designers call intentionality: solving a specific problem without unnecessary complexity. One device here, notably, uses recycled ocean plastic in its casing, a detail most reviews would bury or skip entirely. The real story isn't what's newest. It's what's actually useful.

Yanko Design ↗

AI & TechBloomberg

Apple Explores Shaking Up Its Smartwatch for a New Era

Apple's design team is reconsidering the smartwatch from the ground up, and the changes could reshape how the company competes in wearables. First, the company's exploring a round display for the Watch itself — a departure from the square face that's defined the product since its 2015 launch. Then there's a separate device entirely: a screenless fitness tracker aimed at a lower price point, designed to capture customers who find the current Watch too expensive or complex. And finally, the 2026 redesign cycle suggests Apple's willing to wait rather than rush incremental updates. The shift signals Apple's recognition that the Watch market's matured, and that real growth means rethinking the category rather than tweaking it.

Bloomberg ↗

AI & TechMacRumors

Foldable 'iPhone Ultra 3' Rumored to Feature Larger Displays

Apple's working on a third-generation foldable iPhone, according to multiple sources tracking the company's product roadmap. The device, referred to as the iPhone Ultra 3, is expected to feature larger displays than its predecessors, with leaks suggesting it'll come in silver and dark blue finishes. A September release date has been mentioned in recent reports, though Apple hasn't confirmed any foldable phone plans publicly. The company's been developing foldable technology for years while competitors like Samsung have already shipped multiple generations. Watch for official announcements closer to fall.

MacRumors ↗

AI & TechPhoneArena

Does the Galaxy Z Fold 8 owe its success to the iPhone Ultra?

Samsung's new foldable phones are drawing strong early interest in the U.S. and South Korea. The Galaxy Z Fold8 and its Ultra variant are breaking pre-order records in both markets, suggesting the company's refinement of its folding design is resonating with buyers. First, the Z Fold8 Ultra represents Samsung's most ambitious attempt yet at a premium foldable, positioning it against rivals who've been slower to iterate. Then there's the retail push: T-Mobile's offering the base Z Fold8 free with a contract, while the $1,900 Ultra appears in the new Spider-Man film, a placement that reaches millions of viewers. And finally, Samsung's willingness to launch multiple variants—the Z Flip8 alongside the Fold models—suggests confidence that foldables are moving beyond niche gadgetry into mainstream phone categories. The momentum reflects years of engineering, not overnight success.

PhoneArena ↗

AI & Tech9to5Mac

Why you should buy iPhone 17 Pro now instead of waiting

Apple's next iPhone will launch this September, earlier than the typical fall release cycle. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to arrive alongside updates to the MacBook Air line, with retail staff already selected through a lottery system for advance training. Demand for the new model has prompted the accelerated timeline, according to supply chain reports. Current iPhone 17 Pro owners considering an upgrade should decide soon, as inventory constraints typically follow major product announcements.

9to5Mac ↗

AI & Tech9to5Google

Google’s Pixel Watch 5 takes notes from the Fitbit Air in latest leak

Google's smartwatch line has been playing catch-up to Apple's Watch for years now, borrowing features where it can and hoping the Wear OS platform finds its footing. That strategy's about to shift. A new leak shows the Pixel Watch 5 will include atrial fibrillation detection—a health feature Fitbit pioneered and one Apple's had since the Watch Series 4. The move signals Google's willingness to absorb proven capabilities from its own Fitbit acquisition rather than build from scratch. It's a pragmatic choice, though it also underscores how closely the major players now shadow each other's feature sets. The watch is expected later this year.

9to5Google ↗

AI & TechTom's Hardware

AI creates 16 new viruses that never existed in nature after learning DNA’s pattern from 9 trillion nucleotides — experts warn such applications are way ahead of necessary guardrails

Researchers trained an AI system on nine trillion nucleotides of genetic data, and it designed sixteen viruses that don't exist in nature. The team at the University of Washington wanted to understand how well the model could learn biological patterns. Instead, it generated novel pathogens—functional sequences the system had never seen before, only inferred from the underlying rules of DNA itself. The work raises a straightforward problem: the capability now exists to create dangerous biological agents, but the safety frameworks to govern it don't. Scientists can design threats faster than institutions can agree on how to contain them. The question isn't whether AI understands DNA. It clearly does. The question is whether we're ready for what it can do with that understanding.

Tom's Hardware ↗

AI & TechMotor1

The Super Bee Is Back: Dodge's Newest Charger Packs 600 Horsepower

Dodge retired the Super Bee nameplate in 1971, ending a decades-long run of high-performance muscle cars. The company's modern Charger lineup has relied on electric and turbocharged engines to compete in today's market. That's shifting now. Dodge is reviving the Super Bee badge for 2027, pairing it with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine that produces 600 horsepower. The new Charger Super Bee Launch Edition marks the brand's attempt to blend heritage appeal with contemporary powertrain technology. It's the most powerful six-cylinder Charger Dodge has built.

Motor1 ↗

AI & TechMacRumors

iOS 26 Gets First Jailbreak Thanks to Dopamine

Apple's latest operating system, iOS 26, has been jailbroken for the first time. Security researchers released a tool called Dopamine that exploits a vulnerability in the system, giving users root access to their devices. The jailbreak works on iPhones and iPads running the current version, though Apple typically patches such exploits within weeks of public release. This marks the first successful bypass of iOS 26's security architecture since the system launched. Apple's security team is expected to address the vulnerability in the next scheduled update, likely within the coming maintenance cycle.

MacRumors ↗

AI & TechCommunications of the ACM

AI-Prepped Paper Passed Peer Review. Now What?

A paper written with heavy AI assistance just cleared peer review at a major computer science journal. Communications of the ACM published the work after reviewers signed off, raising a question the field hasn't quite settled: what does it mean when the tools we're studying help us study them. The authors disclosed their use of AI throughout the writing process. That transparency mattered. Peer review caught no red flags on the science itself—the methodology held. But the incident exposes a gap. Most journals still lack clear policies on where AI assistance ends and authorship begins. Some researchers now argue disclosure alone isn't enough; others say it's all that's needed. The field's moving faster than its guardrails. A paper written with AI help passed review. The harder question is whether we've thought through what comes next.

Communications of the ACM ↗

AI & TechEmbedded Computing Design

Don’t Confuse AI With Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are often used interchangeably, but they're distinct concepts that serve different purposes in computing. Machine learning is a subset of AI that focuses on systems learning from data without explicit programming, while AI is the broader field encompassing any technology designed to simulate human intelligence. The distinction matters because a machine learning model trained on medical imaging data, for instance, operates within narrow parameters, whereas a true AI system would theoretically adapt across multiple domains. Understanding this difference is crucial for engineers and developers evaluating which approach solves their specific problem. As these technologies continue evolving, clearer terminology will help organizations choose the right tool for their needs.

Embedded Computing Design ↗

AI & TechUGA Today

Course details responsible use of AI

The University of Georgia has launched a new course teaching students how to use artificial intelligence responsibly and ethically. The semester-long class covers AI's capabilities and limitations, bias in machine learning systems, and practical frameworks for evaluating when AI tools are appropriate to use. It's designed for undergraduates across disciplines, not just computer science majors. The course also examines real cases where AI systems have failed or caused harm. UGA joins a growing number of universities integrating AI literacy into general education. The course begins next semester and will be offered again based on enrollment demand.

UGA Today ↗

AI & TechThe Verge

Werewolf transformed my old gadgets into USB-C powered ones

A company called Werewolf has started retrofitting older electronics with USB-C charging ports, replacing their original power connectors. First, the service addresses a real frustration for people who've accumulated devices across decades — phones, cameras, and peripherals that each demanded their own cable. Then there's the practical angle: USB-C has become the de facto standard, so consolidating to one cable type cuts clutter and cost. And finally, there's the environmental consideration, though it's worth noting that opening and modifying devices voids warranties and requires genuine technical skill to do safely. The company's approach suggests a market exists for people willing to trade some risk for convenience and a tidier desk drawer.

The Verge ↗

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