Video summary
Snap has officially launched its new augmented reality glasses, known as Specs, which were first unveiled at the Augmented World Expo in June. These devices come in two frame sizes, 47 mm and 52 mm, offering a 51-degree field of view and weighing 132 grams, making them twice as heavy as Meta's display frames. A key feature of Specs is their ability to operate standalone without needing to be connected to another device, providing up to four hours of battery life for mixed usage including video and audio playback. The glasses are currently available for pre-order at a price of $2,195 with a $200 deposit, with shipments expected to begin in the fall of 2026 across the United States, United Kingdom, and France.
Alongside the hardware launch, Snap is introducing Specs Intelligence, a new AI assistant designed to function as an anticipatory service that helps users manage their digital lives. This assistant can connect with various digital accounts and proactively track tasks to help users make progress toward their long-term goals. While the full early access experience for Mac is currently on a waitlist, a preview version is available on iOS devices. Snap has not yet clarified the specific differences between the preview and full versions of the software, but the integration aims to streamline how users interact with their digital ecosystem through an intelligent, proactive interface.
In regulatory news, the European Commission formally presented the Kids Act, which introduces strict measures to protect minors on social media platforms. The legislation bans children under 13 from accessing social media entirely and sets a minimum age of 15 for opening independent accounts, while allowing those aged 13 to 15 to create limited accounts through parental supervision. Key safety features include the removal of addictive design elements like push notifications and infinite scrolling, restrictions on live streaming for minors, and improved parental controls. Additionally, the act mandates robust age verification methods using EU tools or third-party solutions to enforce these protections.
Other significant developments in the tech sector include legislative and corporate moves aimed at shaping the future of AI and hardware. In the United States, the House of Representatives passed the Rate Payer Protection Act, requiring large AI data centers to cover their own infrastructure costs rather than passing them to consumers. Meanwhile, Dutch chipmaker Nexperia announced a partnership with Tata Group to manufacture chips in India, continuing its separation from its Chinese parent company. In the advertising space, OpenAI is testing sponsored agents within ChatGPT, allowing users to converse with business-sponsored entities after clicking ads, while Google expands its AI contribution pilot to help publishers earn revenue when their content influences AI-generated responses.
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[music]
These are the daily tech headlines for
Thursday, September 17th, 2026. [music]
I'm Jen Cutter.
Snap launched its augmented reality
glasses specs, which it first revealed
at the Augmented World Expo in June.
There are two sizes, 47 mm and 52 mm
with a 51 degree field of view and are
twice as heavy as the Meta display
frames at 132 g. Specs do not need to be
connected to any other device and can be
run standalone. Battery life is
advertised as 4 hours of mixed usage
with video and audio playback. Specs are
available for pre-order now for $2,195
with a $200 deposit. Expected to ship
out in the United States, United
Kingdom, and France sometime in the fall
of 2026.
Launching alongside Specs, Snap is
introducing a new AI assistant called
Specs Intelligence. The AI assistant can
connect with other digital accounts and
is built as an anticipatory AI service
able to keep track of what needs
attention in order to quote make
progress towards your longer term goals.
Specs Intelligence is currently
available in preview on iOS and there's
a wait list for the full early access
experience coming to Mac. Snap did not
clarify how the preview and full
experiences will differ.
On Thursday, the European Commission
formally presented a Kids Act that would
ban children under 13 from accessing
social media entirely, set a minimum
EUwide age of 15 for minors to be able
to open their own accounts, though
minors between 13 and 15 would be able
to set up limited accounts through a
parent or guardians account. The pillars
of the safety by design section are no
addictive design features like push
notifications or infinite scroll, safer
algorithms for children to discourage
rabbit holes, no ability for minors to
live stream, and improved parental
control options. Age verification
methods would include the EU age
verification tool or third party
solutions.
The United States House of
Representatives voted 417 to3 in favor
of the Rate Payer Protection Act, which
would establish standards state
regulators could use to require AI data
centers to cover its own costs of new
power sources, transmission lines, and
other infrastructure instead of passing
them to consumers. This standard would
apply to data centers with a demand of
or over 100 megawws. The next step will
take place in the US Senate.
On Thursday, Dutch chipmaker in Xperia
announced a partnership with Indian
multinational conglomerate Tata Group
with Tata Electronics to manufacture and
package computer chips in India. This
continues the split of Nexperia from its
Chinese parent wing tech. Nextia would
work with Tata at the 11 billion plant
Tata is building in Dolora. The
companies will also begin cooperating on
testing and assembling chips at Tata's
packaging facility at Jigira Road and
other future technology development
projects. Financial terms were not
disclosed.
Dig reports Google is running a new AI
contribution pilot with dozens of small
and midsize publishers and not just for
predominantly news-based sites. The
reporting notes those in the pilot have
a panel in Google search console with a
payout figure and the panel explains the
process as quote accumulate earnings
when your content contributes
significantly to AI generated responses
in participating products. This program
was first mentioned publicly in June
2026.
Open AAI is testing an ad format within
chat GPT called sponsored agents. This
enables quote a conversation with a
business sponsored agent after clicking
an ad in chat GPT. These interactions
will be clearly labeled and not mixed in
with Chat GPT's answers. The feature is
currently being tested with select
advertisers and only in the United
States.
And Bose released two new models of
wraparound earbuds. The lightweight
sport open for $1.99 has a 7-h hour
battery life with textured physical
buttons. And the Ultra Open for $2.99
has a 9-hour battery life with less lag.
Pre-orders open on September 19th,
shipping October 1st.
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