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Daily Tech News Roundup - 2025-12-18

1. The ChatGPT app store is here
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/847067/openai-app-store-directory-sdk-chatgpt
Summary: On Wednesday evening, OpenAI launched an App Directory to browse all the tools currently available and opened its SDK for developers to build new interactive experiences that operate within the bot's UI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said last month that "We are planning to build the obvious features that you would expect for a robust […]

2. Sony’s legal battle against Tencent’s Horizon ‘clone’ is already over
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/847080/sony-tencent-lawsuit-horizon-clone-light-of-motiram-settlement
Summary: In July, Sony sued Tencent to prevent the release of Light of Motiram, a game Sony alleged was a "slavish clone" of its popular Horizon series. But the legal battle is already over; the two companies have reached a "confidential settlement" and the case has been dismissed with prejudice, according to a court document filed […]

3. Instacart’s AI-driven pricing tool attracted attention — now the FTC has questions
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/instacarts-ai-driven-pricing-tool-attracted-attention-now-the-ftc-has-questions/
Summary: In an economy where everyone's feeling squeezed, AI-driven price testing of kitchen essentials was bound to attract attention.

4. LG and Dolby partner to release the first FlexConnect soundbar
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/846608/lg-dolby-flexconnect-speakers-ces-2026
Summary: Dolby Atmos FlexConnect technology debuted this year with the TCL Z100 speakers, and now we're getting our first FlexConnect soundbar thanks to LG. The new H7 soundbar - which runs on the same Alpha 11 Gen 3 chip as LG's OLEDs and new Micro RGB LED - is a part of the LG Sound Suite, […]

5. Adobe hit with proposed class-action, accused of misusing authors’ work in AI training
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/adobe-hit-with-proposed-class-action-accused-of-misusing-authors-work-in-ai-training/
Summary: The lawsuit is just the latest in a string of copyright-related legal complaints aimed at the AI industry.

6. Snapchat’s new Quick Cut stitches a video together for you
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/846905/snap-snapchat-quick-cut-video-editor
Summary: Snap just launched a new Quick Cut video editing tool right inside Snapchat that "helps Snapchatters turn their favorite Memories into beat-synced, ready-to-share videos in seconds." With Quick Cut, you can select multiple photos or clips and then "instantly preview a rendered video," and the feature is accessible from multiple places in the app, including […]

7. The 44 best gift ideas for mom this holiday season
Source: https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/802964/best-mom-gift-ideas
Summary: Your mom deserves the best, and we're going to help you get them something special. The right gift can make family or friend time more valuable, after all, or it can greatly enrich time spent alone. If your mom says that she has all that she needs, don't take her word for it and show […]

8. Billionaire Jared Isaacman confirmed as new head of NASA
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/846903/billionaire-jared-isaacman-confirmed-as-new-head-of-nasa
Summary: The Senate confirmed Jared Isaacman's appointment as the head of NASA on Wednesday, a decision that comes just months after President Donald Trump pulled his nomination before picking him yet again in November, as reported earlier by CNBC. Isaacman, the founder and CEO of a payments platform called Shift4, has flown to space twice through […]

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