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Daily Tech News Roundup - 2026-01-08

1. Waymo is rebranding its Zeekr robotaxi
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/07/waymo-is-rebranding-its-zeekr-robotaxi/
Summary: It sounds like "Oh hi."

2. Google and Character.AI negotiate first major settlements in teen chatbot death cases
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/07/google-and-character-ai-negotiate-first-major-settlements-in-teen-chatbot-death-cases/
Summary: The settlements are among the first tied to lawsuits accusing AI companies of harming users.

3. Disney Plus is getting vertical video
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/858277/disney-plus-vertical-video
Summary: Disney Plus will be getting a vertical video feed later this year, Disney announced as part of its Global Tech & Data Showcase for advertisers at CES. Based on an interview with Erin Teague, Disney's EVP of product management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, Deadline reports that vertical video in the app could include "original […]

4. The best iPad deals you can get right now
Source: https://www.theverge.com/21280354/best-ipad-deals-apple
Summary: While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday, many great iPad deals are available outside of those times. The day-to-day discounts come and go like changing winds, so there’s often some amount to be saved, particularly on Apple’s most affordable iPad, the iPad Mini, and the latest iPad Air. Hell, […]

5. Ford has an AI assistant and new hands-free BlueCruise tech on the way
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/07/ford-has-an-ai-assistant-and-new-hands-free-bluecruise-tech-on-the-way/
Summary: Ford says the new generation of BlueCruise will be 30% cheaper to build than the current technology.

6. Ford’s AI voice assistant is coming later this year, L3 driving in 2028
Source: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/857400/ford-ai-assistant-level-3-automation-ces-2026
Summary: Ford's new AI-powered voice assistant will be rolling out to customers later this year, the company's top software executive said at CES today. And in 2028, the automaker will introduce a hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 autonomous driving feature as part of its more affordable (and hopefully more profitable) Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, set to […]

7. Chase is taking over Apple’s credit card
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/858170/apple-card-jpmorgan-chase-sachs
Summary: On Wednesday evening, Apple announced that JPMorgan Chase will become the new issuer of Apple Card, replacing Goldman Sachs, which has backed the company's credit cards since their launch in 2019. This ends speculation about a new partner for Apple Card stretching back a few years, as Goldman Sachs continues an exit from consumer lending, […]

8. Blood for stonks
Source: https://www.theverge.com/policy/858075/trump-venezuela-maduro-kidnapping-spectacle
Summary: On December 31st, a brand-new account on Polymarket placed a bet: Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, would be out of office by the end of January. It was the first in a series of increasing bets. On January 3rd, the US bombed the Venezuelan capital, kidnapped Maduro and his wife, and killed at least […]

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