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'Your washing machine is subject to more safety rules than AI' says Microsoft president
Microsoft president Brad Smith stated that Artificial Intelligence is currently subject to fewer safety regulations than everyday items like milk or washing machines. He called for global safety measures, including mandatory notification for AI-compromised systems and independent testing, highlighting the potential risks and benefits of AI.
The developer of an AI-powered driving instruction simulator is spending $1,000 per month just to keep its demo running
The developers of the AI-powered driving simulator 'Teach My Little Sister How To Drive' are spending over $1,000 per day on AI services for its demo due to a surge in players. This high operational cost, driven by LLM token usage, has led the studio to take out a bank loan and consider ending the demo early. The developers plan to account for AI usage in the full game's price but are exploring options like local AI models for players with capable GPUs.
Amazon's started taking its tablet game seriously, but it might be too little too late for mobile players
Amazon has launched its latest lineup of Alexa-branded tablets, featuring 8-inch, 11-inch, and 12-inch models. Crucially, these devices now support the Google Play Store, offering access to a wider range of apps and more reliable updates. Despite improvements, the article suggests Amazon may be too late to seriously compete in the high-end mobile gaming tablet market.
Google and Unity unveil gen-AI game-making platforms, and demonstrate one of them with depressingly rubbish "dream game" Space Corridor
Google and Unity have announced new generative AI platforms, Playground and Unity Spark respectively, aimed at simplifying game creation through text prompts. While Playground is positioned as an entry-level tool, Unity Spark integrates with the existing Unity engine for more complex development. The announcement has been met with skepticism from some game developers who view these tools as potentially lowering the quality and creativity of game development.
Evening Reading - October 7, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading from Shacknews covers a variety of gaming news and community highlights. It includes a review of Order of the Sinking Star, news on Skydance merging WB Games and Paramount Games Studio, Google's AI game generation platform Playground, and a gameplay reveal for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. The article also touches on Discord's Halloween ringtone, Fortnite fan art, and mentions classic games like Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Pokemon Emerald, Halo 2, and Star Wars Battlefront 2.
'You have HOW MANY unread emails?' PC Gamer shares their inbox shame
PC Gamer staff members share their overwhelming number of unread emails, highlighting the challenges of managing inbox clutter in the gaming industry. The article discusses the stress associated with high unread counts and encourages readers to share their own email shame.
Google announces Playground, an AI game generation platform
Google has announced Playground, a new platform that utilizes AI to generate playable video games based on user prompts. The platform handles all aspects of game creation, including programming, artwork, and imagery. Games can be kept private, shared with friends, or published to a public gallery, with future integration of Unity Spark tools planned.
Google Playground Wants Everyone To Make AI Games, And Maybe Everyone Shouldn’t
Google has launched Playground, an experimental, browser-based platform designed to democratize game creation using AI, requiring no coding experience. While it aims to lower barriers and compete with platforms like Roblox, the initial rollout is described as underwhelming, with misleading game art and rudimentary gameplay experiences in many titles, though some like Steampunk Match show promise.
Unity unveils Unity Spark, an prompt-based tool for Google's AI games platform
Unity has partnered with Google to introduce Unity Spark, a new AI-powered tool for Google's Playground platform that allows developers to create games using text prompts instead of traditional coding. Unity CEO Matthew Bromberg emphasized that Spark is designed to enable creative expression and build unique interactive experiences, connecting directly to the Unity Asset Store for high-quality assets. The announcement comes amidst ongoing debate and concern within the game industry regarding the use and impact of generative AI.
Unity unveils a web-based AI game creation platform
Unity has unveiled Unity Spark, a new browser-based platform leveraging generative AI to allow users to create 3D games using natural language prompts. This tool, developed in partnership with Google and running on the Unity engine, will launch in beta later this year. Unity Spark aims to democratize game creation by enabling individuals with creative ideas but limited coding experience to bring their visions to life.
Google debuts new 'experimental' AI game platform named Google Playground
Google has launched Google Playground, an experimental platform for creating, sharing, and playing games built with generative AI tools. The browser-based platform requires no coding experience and allows users to customize games through conversational prompts, with integration for Unity's new Spark tool.
Warhammer Survivors Is Launching Mere Days Before GTA 6, And I Respect The Audacity
Warhammer Survivors is set to launch on November 10 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices, with a demo available now on Steam. The game adopts the 'Survivors-like' formula, featuring intense combat against Tyranid enemies, weapon evolution, and a large roster of characters and weapons. Its release date is notably close to Grand Theft Auto 6, a bold move that the article respects.
Fortnite Has Updated In-Game Art After Fans Discovered a Google Gemini AI Image Watermark
Fortnite has updated in-game artwork after players discovered a watermark from Google's Gemini AI in the original version. The change was made quietly following the discovery.
Google Japan's conveyor belt keyboard is a sad reminder of the sense of humour the whole company used to have long,…
Google Japan has unveiled a humorous concept keyboard featuring keys delivered on a conveyor belt, designed to streamline typing by bringing keys directly to the user's fingertips. This innovative, albeit impractical, design is seen as a reminder of Google's past playful approach to technology, contrasting with its current corporate image.
The Americans have officially renamed artificial intelligence to 'Super Intelligence,' which should fix…
The US administration has officially renamed artificial intelligence to 'Super Intelligence' (SI) in an executive order, aiming to reflect the technology's advancing capabilities. This rebranding was met with mixed reactions, with tech leaders like Sundar Pichai and Mark Zuckerberg publicly supporting it, while figures like Bill Gates expressed skepticism about the industry's ability to self-regulate.
Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: Mana Rajanya Perangkat Streaming?
This comparison evaluates the Google TV Streamer and Apple TV 4K, two leading streaming devices. It examines their physical design, remote controls, technical specifications, user interfaces, audio-visual capabilities, smart home integration, and overall value proposition. The article concludes that neither device is a definitive winner, with the Google TV Streamer offering a budget-friendly, feature-rich experience for Android users, while the Apple TV 4K excels in performance and seamless integration for Apple ecosystem users.
A running tally of the most ridiculous things AI bigwigs have said so far
This article logs contradictory and alarmist statements made by AI industry leaders regarding the timeline and implications of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). It highlights shifting goalposts and the frequent claims of imminent AI sentience or world-ending potential, often juxtaposed with requests for more funding.
Apple, Nvidia, Google, Microsoft...pretty much all the big US players in the chip business are reportedly evaluating…
Major US tech companies including Amazon, Apple, AMD, Google, Tesla, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Qualcomm are reportedly evaluating Intel's upcoming 14A semiconductor manufacturing node. This interest stems from Intel's improving technical data, the industry's search for alternatives to TSMC, and political pressure for on-shoring chip production.
Discord revamps age verification checks - here's what it means for the UK
Discord has relaunched age verification checks globally, introducing new methods beyond selfies or ID scans, such as using Apple App Store, Google Wallet, or credit cards. While many users worldwide may not be asked to verify, the UK's Online Safety Act necessitates stricter measures for UK accounts, requiring age proof to access age-restricted servers and content. Failure to verify will not prevent basic communication or participation in non-restricted servers.
Why Would You Turn a Perfectly Good Gameplay Video Into a GIF?
This article discusses the continued relevance of the GIF format in gaming despite its technical limitations compared to modern video codecs like MP4 and WebM. It highlights how GIFs are still useful for specific applications such as isolating short, repeatable gameplay moments for guides, bug reports, and community discussions, as well as for rapid visual scanning in game development testing.
