Consumer Reports
PulseAugur coverage of Consumer Reports — every cluster mentioning Consumer Reports across labs, papers, and developer communities, ranked by signal.
5 day(s) with sentiment data
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Amazon launches autonomous Ring security drone for home and business patrols
Amazon is launching a new autonomous security robot, the Ring Always Home Cam, designed for both home and business surveillance. This drone-like device is capable of patrolling properties and can be directed to specific…
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Why you should keep your smartphone's original box
Keeping your smartphone's original packaging can be beneficial for several reasons, including reporting a stolen device or facilitating returns and resale. The box often contains the device's unique IMEI number, which i…
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AI agents spark legal fights over value capture for consumers and workers
A legal battle is unfolding over the value generated by AI agents, with implications for consumers, workers, and citizens. In one case, Amazon sued Perplexity over its AI agent browsing its site, arguing unauthorized ac…
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US Midterms: Voters Reject AI Data Centers, Forcing Big Tech Strategy Shifts · 10 sources tracked
Voters in the U.S. midterms have delivered a significant blow to the expansion of AI data centers, with numerous local ballot measures passing to restrict or ban their construction. This widespread public opposition, pa…
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Cybersecurity threats include "PHPocalypse," Flock map, Google data center, and AI warnings
This week's Threat Model newsletter covers a range of cybersecurity topics, including the ongoing "PHPocalypse" and a failed takedown of the Flock camera map, which has since moved to Proton's servers. The newsletter al…
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AI vehicle comparison tools make major factual errors
AI tools demonstrated significant inaccuracies when asked to compare vehicles, according to a Mastodon post. These tools confused model years, hallucinated non-existent trims and powertrain options, and misrepresented d…
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New cars share sensitive data with advertisers, study finds · 2 sources tracked
A recent study by Northeastern University and Consumer Reports revealed that a significant number of new vehicles and their associated mobile applications share sensitive user data with third-party companies. The resear…
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AI empowers digital scams, affecting 90% of US adults: Consumer Reports
A study by Consumer Reports found that 90% of adult Americans have encountered a digital scam or cyberattack. The report highlights how artificial intelligence enables criminals to create and tailor these attacks more e…
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New Jersey freezes digital shelf labels amid price manipulation fears
New Jersey has enacted the Fair Price Protection Act, which includes a one-year moratorium on new electronic shelf labels (ESLs) while the state studies their impact. This legislation stems from concerns that ESLs could…
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Uber and Lyft accused of algorithmic price discrimination
Consumer Reports has found that ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft may be charging different prices for the same ride, potentially due to algorithmic discrimination. These price variations could be influenced by algori…
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Taylor Farms faces multi-pathogen food safety crisis impacting major brands
Taylor Farms is facing a significant food safety crisis, linked to multiple pathogen outbreaks affecting major U.S. brands. The company is involved in FDA investigations concerning a salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeño…
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Surveillance pricing uses AI to charge consumers up to 23% more
Companies are increasingly employing "surveillance pricing," where personal data is used to determine individual willingness to pay, leading to price discrepancies for identical items. Consumer Reports identified price …
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AI boom's electricity demand drives up consumer costs in PJM territory
The rapid expansion of AI data centers is significantly increasing electricity demand, leading to higher costs for consumers. A recent capacity auction by PJM Interconnection, a major U.S. grid operator, cleared at the …
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Amazon's AI-powered Alexa+ struggles with basic commands, reviews show
Amazon's revamped Alexa+ assistant, powered by generative AI, is reportedly underperforming in basic tasks according to multiple reviews. Despite a significant investment of over $100 million in GPU costs for 2026 and a…
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NYC cracks down on AI-altered rental listings
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed a new rule requiring landlords and real estate platforms to disclose when rental listing photos or videos have been digitally altered by AI. This initiative aims to combat…
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Smart appliances secretly collect and share user data, privacy policies reveal
Smart appliances, beyond just convenience, are significant data collectors, transmitting usage and personal information to manufacturers. Brands like Kenmore, LG, and Samsung collect data ranging from simple usage metri…
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5 tips to maximize electric vehicle range
Drivers of electric vehicles can extend their car's range through several practical methods. Utilizing regenerative braking can recover up to 22% of energy, while minimizing air conditioning use and preconditioning the …
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Smart Fridge Software Support Ends, Leaving Consumers With 'Zombified' Appliances
Consumers are increasingly facing issues with smart appliances, particularly refrigerators, as manufacturers discontinue software updates, rendering advanced features obsolete. A Consumer Reports survey revealed that mo…
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Consumer Reports petitions probe Uber and Lyft's AI pricing
Consumer Reports has launched a petition urging federal regulators to investigate the dynamic pricing strategies employed by ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft. The organization argues that these AI-driven pricing tac…
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Maryland bans surveillance pricing in groceries, but critics call law toothless
Maryland has enacted a law banning surveillance pricing in grocery stores, which adjusts prices based on consumer data like race and income. While a step towards consumer protection, critics argue the law is insufficien…