Business

The AI Issue

Child Safety

Meta Seeks to Bar Mentions of Mental Health—and Zuckerberg’s Harvard Past—From Child Safety Trial

The trial starts soon in New Mexico’s case against Meta—and the company is pulling out all the stops to protect its reputation.

The Big Interview

Jimmy Wales Will Never Edit Donald Trump’s Wikipedia Page: He ‘Makes Me Insane’

Hello, Humanoid

Your First Humanoid Robot Coworker Will Probably Be Chinese

Artificial Intelligence

Thousands of Companies Are Driving China’s AI Boom. A Government Registry Tracks Them All

How the Cyberspace Administration of China inadvertently made a guide to the country’s homegrown AI revolution.

The Race to Build the DeepSeek of Europe Is On

As Europe’s long-standing alliance with the US falters, its push to become a self-sufficient AI superpower has become more urgent.

Thinking Machines Cofounder’s Office Relationship Preceded His Termination

Leaders at Mira Murati’s startup believe Barret Zoph engaged in an incident of “serious misconduct.” The details are now coming to light.

Ads Are Coming to ChatGPT. Here’s How They’ll Work

OpenAI says ads will not influence ChatGPT’s responses, and that it won’t sell user data to advertisers.

Big Tech

Billion-Dollar Data Centers Are Taking Over the World

The battle for AI dominance has left a large footprint—and it’s only getting bigger and more expensive.

So Long, GPT-5. Hello, Qwen

In the AI boom, chatbots and GPTs come and go quickly. (Remember Llama?) GPT-5 had a big year, but 2026 will be all about Qwen.

Apple’s App Course Runs $20,000 a Student. Is It Really Worth It?

Apple, Michigan taxpayers, and one of Detroit’s wealthiest families spent roughly $30 million training hundreds of people to build iPhone apps. Not everyone lands coding jobs right away.

Terrifying New Photos Emerge From the Jeffrey Epstein Estate

The latest photo dump from Democrats in the House Oversight Committee includes more famous men and upsetting Lolita quotes written on a woman's body.

Startups and Tech Culture

Former USDS Leaders Launch Tech Reform Project to Fix What DOGE Broke

The plan, which is still in its early stages, is spearheaded by former USDS administrator Mikey Dickerson.

Tech Workers Are Condemning ICE Even as Their CEOs Stay Quiet

The killing of George Floyd in 2020 prompted a wave of statements from tech companies and CEOs. Today, pushback against ICE is largely coming from employees, not executives.

China’s Hottest App Is a Daily Test of Whether You’re Still Alive

Are You Dead Yet soared to the top of app-store charts and became a magnet for investors. In an exclusive interview with WIRED, one of its creators says they’re changing the name anyway.

Silicon Valley Billionaires Panic Over California’s Proposed Wealth Tax

Larry Page’s apparent Florida move highlights how seriously the ultrarich are taking a one-time tax aimed at extreme wealth inequality.

Regulation

Anthropic’s Daniela Amodei Believes the Market Will Reward Safe AI

The Trump administration might think regulation is killing the AI industry, but Anthropic president Daniela Amodei disagrees.

The Rare Earth Metal Driving Tensions Between the US and China

Yttrium plays a critical role in everything from aircraft engines to semiconductors. China controls the vast majority of the market—and that’s not changing any time soon.

Europe Is Bending the Knee to the US on Tech Policy

The Trump administration’s pressure on European regulators is having an impact, with fewer restrictions on Big Tech and canceled measures.

People Who Say They’re Experiencing AI Psychosis Beg the FTC for Help

The Federal Trade Commission received 200 complaints mentioning ChatGPT between November 2022 and August 2025. Several attributed delusions, paranoia, and spiritual crises to the chatbot.

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

The Dollar Is Facing an End to Its Dominance

Questions around the reliability of the US greenback are dulling the luster of what was the world’s currency of trade. New, global alternatives are emerging.

In Cryptoland, Memecoin Fever Gives Way to a Stablecoin Boom

In a year that began with a memecoin trading frenzy, stablecoins have emerged as the respectable face of the crypto industry.

Crypto Magnate Do Kwon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

The founder of Terraform Labs was sentenced today for lying about “experimental” coins that blew a $40 billion hole in the crypto economy.

Circle’s Jeremy Allaire: We’re Building an ‘Economic OS’ for the AI Era

The cofounder and CEO of Circle says “money as an app platform” is the next step in a digital-based global economic system that’s right around the corner.

Computers and Software

AMD CEO Lisa Su Says Concerns About an AI Bubble Are Overblown

Lisa Su leads Nvidia’s biggest rival in the AI chip market. When asked at WIRED’s Big Interview event if AI is a bubble, the company’s CEO said, “Emphatically, from my perspective, no.”

Ruby Is Not a Serious Programming Language

Ruby survives on affection, not utility. Let's move on.

The Man Who Invented AGI

Everyone is obsessed with artificial general intelligence—the stage when AI can match all feats of human cognition. The guy who named it saw it as a threat.

China Dives in on the World’s First Wind-Powered Undersea Data Center

The $226 million project uses ocean breezes and seawater to stay cool.

Retail and Logistics

How China’s ‘Crystal Capital’ Cornered the Market on a Western Obsession

Decades ago, Donghai was a backwater county. Today, thanks to an army of 24/7 livestreamers, it orchestrates a multibillion-dollar global industry.

The US Will Prioritize Visa Processing for Fans With World Cup Tickets

In the face of heavy travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, the United States announced that soccer fans going to the World Cup will enjoy a certain priority for processing tourist visa.

A Journey Into the Heart of Labubu

I made an epic trek across four countries to answer one question: Why is the world going mad for a plushie monster?

The Unexpected Winners of Trump’s Trade War

Americans are now hit with tariffs when they shop from overseas sellers on eBay and Etsy. Shein and Temu had months to get ahead of the curve.

Transportation

How Elon Musk Won His No Good, Very Bad Year

The billionaire’s involvement with the Trump administration and DOGE had deep impacts on Tesla’s bottom line. But Elon Musk was still able to turn his attention to SpaceX.

Tesla Shareholders Approve Elon Musk’s $1 Trillion Pay Package

The unprecedented payday will go into full effect by 2035—as long as Tesla hits ambitious financial and production targets.

How to Keep Subways and Trains Cool in an Ever Hotter World

As temperatures increase, trains and subways are becoming unendurable. Potential solutions include everything from cooling tunnels with water to painting rolling stock—but there’s no magic fix.