As Big Tech pours countless dollars and resources into AI, preaching the gospel of its utopia-creating brilliance, here's a reminder that algorithms can screw up. Big time. The latest evidence: You can trick Google's AI Overview (the automated answers at the top of your search queries) into explaining fictional, nonsensical idioms as if they were real.

According to Google's AI Overview (via @gregjenner on Bluesky), "You can't lick a badger twice" means you can't trick or deceive someone a second time after they've been tricked once.

That sounds like a logical attempt to explain the idiom — if only it weren't poppycock. Google's Gemini-powered failure came in assuming the question referred to an established phrase rather than absurd mumbo jumbo designed to trick it. In other words, AI hallucinations are still alive and well.

Google / Engadget

We plugged some silliness into it ourselves and found similar results.

Google's answer claimed that "You can't golf without a fish" is a riddle or play on words, suggesting you can't play golf without the necessary equipment, specifically, a golf ball. Amusingly, the AI Overview added the clause that the golf ball "might be seen as a 'fish' due to its shape." Hmm.

Then there's the age-old saying, "You can't open a peanut butter jar with two left feet." According to the AI Overview, this means you can't do something requiring skill or dexterity. Again, a noble stab at an assigned task without stepping back to fact-check the content's existence.

There's more. "You can't marry pizza" is a playful way of expressing the concept of marriage as a commitment between two people, not a food item. (Naturally.) "Rope won't pull a dead fish" means that something can't be achieved through force or effort alone; it requires a willingness to cooperate or a natural progression. (Of course!) "Eat the biggest chalupa first" is a playful way of suggesting that when facing a large challenge or a plentiful meal, you should first start with the most substantial part or item. (Sage advice.)

Google / Engadget

This is hardly the first example of AI hallucinations that, if not fact-checked by the user, could lead to misinformation or real-life consequences. Just ask the ChatGPT lawyers, Steven Schwartz and Peter LoDuca, who were fined $5,000 in 2023 for using ChatGPT to research a brief in a client's litigation. The AI chatbot generated nonexistent cases cited by the pair that the other side's attorneys (quite understandably) couldn't locate.

The pair's response to the judge's discipline? "We made a good faith mistake in failing to believe that a piece of technology could be making up cases out of whole cloth."

On Wednesday, Roku revealed two new streaming devices at an event in New York City. The company says its Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus are the most compact on the market, measuring 35 percent smaller than other brands' models, so they shouldn't prevent you from hooking other devices into nearby HDMI ports. However, Roku says there's no compromise on performance despite the small size. 

The entry-level Streaming Stick costs $30 and knocks the wedge-shaped Roku Express out of the company's lineup. Like the older model, it's a 1080p player aimed at folks who just want a cheap way to add streaming apps to a slower TV. It has many of the features you'd expect from a Roku device, such as personalized recommendations, access to thousands of streaming channels, Apple AirPlay support, a voice-enabled remote (something the Express lacked) and Backdrops — a way to display art and photos on your TV when you're not streaming anything. It makes a few significant sacrifices to hit its low price, though: There's no HDR whatsoever, and Wi-Fi connectivity is limited to a barebones 802.11 b/g/n, not even the old Wi-Fi 5 standard.

The $40 Streaming Stick Plus, meanwhile, replaces the Roku Express 4K+. Naturally, this has all of the features of the Streaming Stick, plus support for 4K streaming, HDR and Wi-Fi 5. That said, it still lacks Dolby Vision HDR and a longer-range Wi-Fi radio — for those, you need the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which will remain at the top of Roku's streaming stick lineup at $50. Roku notes the small size of the new sticks makes it easy to bring either with you when you travel, so you can plug one into a TV at your hotel or vacation rental and keep watching your shows. The company says the new devices can be powered directly by the USB port on most TVs as well. 

The Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus are coming to the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama. US pre-orders are open today and the sticks will become available from Roku directly and major retailers on May 6.

Jeff Dunn for Engadget

Beyond that, the company previewed new TVs with "under-the-hood enhancements." Roku is promising richer and more vivid visuals, along with improved audio quality and faster app launches in its 2025 lineup. The company pledged to deliver custom factory calibration for its top-end Roku Pro Series models, along with more local dimming zones and better bass response from the built-in speakers. 

The middle-tier Roku Plus Series TVs are getting a feature called Roku Smart Picture Max, which automatically adjusts picture settings on a scene-by-scene basis to help you avoid fiddling in menus more than you need to. (Previously, this was limited to the Pro models.) The Plus Series will also come with mini-LED backlighting with the aim of improving contrast without increasing prices. The built-in remote finder button and integrated cable management that were first introduced with the Pro Series will be there as well. The budget-level Roku Select Series TVs, meanwhile, will support Bluetooth headphones for remote listening and include a new 85-inch model.

Roku also announced software updates, which it claims will make streaming on Roku OS "smoother and more personalized." Meanwhile, revamped content discovery features include personalized sports highlights and a "Coming soon to theaters" row for movies. (Hey, cinemas need all the help they can get.) There's a new daily trivia game, too, and the oddly popular "Roku City" screensaver will now be available through its own tile if you don't want to wait for your screen to timeout. The aforementioned Backdrops feature is also coming to all Roku TVs and streaming devices in Canada starting today.

The updates come as Roku has received pushback from some users over its approach to ads built into Roku OS. Last month, for instance, Ars Technica reported that the company had started testing auto-playing video ads that run before a user reaches their home screen. At the event in NYC, Roku ad marketing head Jordan Rost declined to confirm whether the company plans to implement that particular feature on a permanent basis, saying generally that decisions like those are based on the data and feedback it receives from its users and advertising partners. 

Elsewhere, a patent filing unearthed by Lowpass last year suggested that Roku had explored ways of displaying ads on third-party devices connected to Roku TVs. When asked about that, Rost reiterated that the company is focused on ad experiences in Roku OS specifically right now. 

Apple TV+ has a ton of popular originals like Ted Lasso, Severance, Slow Horses, For All Mankind, Foundation and Silo. If you've been meaning to check them out, you can do so for less right now. Apple TV+ is on sale right now for $3 per month for the first three months, bringing the total cost to just $9 for the entire period. That saves you a total of $21 off the standard $10 monthly cost of the subscription that we consider to be one of our favorite streaming services. But the deal expires on April 24, so you only have a bit more time to grab it.

Apple's shows won 10 Emmy Awards in 2024, including a Slow Horses victory for outstanding writing in a drama series. Although its films weren't up for anything at this year's Oscars, it received 13 nominations in 2024, including Best Picture nods for Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon.

Both new and qualified returning subscribers (those who haven't been subscribed for the past 30 days) are eligible for this deal. You also must sign up via Apple directly and not through a third-party provider or your mobile wireless provider. If you don't want to pay full price after three months, just remember to cancel before the renewal date.

Check out our coverage of the best streaming deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Engadget's pick for the best security camera for newbies is on sale for 30 percent off. The Google Nest Security Cam has an easy setup, wide-ranging compatibility and 1080p HD video. It also doesn't hurt that it's pretty dang cute. Typically ringing up for $100, you can get the camera today on Amazon for $69.98.

We found the wired security camera to have the most true-to-life video of the models we tested. Its colors hit a Goldilocks zone — neither too cold nor too warm — with subtle, accurate hues. It also supports night vision, with smoother and less grainy results than competing cams.

The camera covers about a 90-degree vertical range and 360 degrees horizontally. Its recordings' 135-degree diagonal field of view isn't the widest, but it should be plenty for anything you need to see.

Part of what makes it accessible to smart home security newcomers is the Google Home app. First, the odds are high that you already have an account with the company, making signing in a breeze. In addition, adding your device to the app is an easy process with clear labels and easy-to-follow instructions. It also offers full functionality for iPhones, not just Android handsets.

The Nest Cam has a friendly-looking design composed of two half orbs connected by a little arm. The device has a matte finish and is available in several colors: white, foggy gray and charming "linen."

Although the camera's subscription plan is optional, using it without one severely limits your options, with only three hours of recent event history and people, animal and vehicle detection. Otherwise, you'll need to plunk down $8 monthly for a Nest Aware subscription that saves the past 30 days of activity. Or, if you want to go all in, a $15 monthly Plus plan lets you rewind up to 90 days of history and supports up to 10 days of 24/7 recording. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't have a local storage option. So, you'll want to consider the (nearly mandatory) subscription cost before pulling the trigger.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

On a day when there were a few other Apple-related announcements, Capcom snuck in one of its own. Two more Resident Evil games are coming to iOS, iPadOS and macOS: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, coming next month, and the Resident Evil 2 remake, which is “currently in development.” Capcom promises a “console quality experience” for the games, which run on the publisher’s RE Engine and use Apple’s MetalFX Upscaling tech.

The company says both games will have a free demo (for “a portion of each game”) at launch, but you’ll need to make “a single purchase” to unlock each title’s full experience. Capcom hasn’t announced pricing for the new games. For reference, the App Store’s current installments in the series, Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village, cost $30 and $16, respectively (plus extra for optional DLC).

Speaking of downloadable content, Capcom says Resident Evil 7’s main game and Not A Hero DLC will launch together as a bundle. Optional DLC will include the Gold Edition upgrade, which includes End of Zoe, Banned Footage Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, the 5-Coin Set, Survival Pack and Madhouse difficulty mode.

The iOS and iPadOS versions of Resident Evil 7 will include “enhanced controls with a new Auto Fire feature.” The idea is to make the game more playable on touch screens with an option to automatically fire weapons after aiming at enemies for a set time. The game will also support MFi gamepads.

To play Resident Evil 7, you’ll need recent Apple devices. It only supports the iPhone 15 Pro series, iPads and Macs with Apple Silicon chips (M1 or later). Capcom hasn’t yet provided the hardware requirements for Resident Evil 2.

Resident Evil 7 Biohazard arrives on July 2, and Capcom says you can pre-order it today. However, it isn’t yet live in the App Store at the time of publication.

As rumored, Apple confirmed at WWDC 2024 that it’s made a deal with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to the iPhone and other devices. GPT-4 will power cloud-based AI queries in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.

Apple’s Craig Federighi said Siri can (with your permission) tap into ChatGPT’s knowledge base “when it might be helpful.” Examples include asking for menu ideas for an elaborate meal with specific ingredients.

Developing...

Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.

Apple's macOS 15 update is called Sequoia. The 2024 Mac software, coming this fall, includes iPhone mirroring and notification, a new passwords app and Safari upgrades.

iPhone mirroring lets you use your Mac to view, control and interact with your phone. It lets you access iOS apps and receive notifications from your nearby handset. Your iPhone screen stays locked in Standby mode while you work on your computer.

macOS also gets a new Windows-like snap window arrangement tool. Drag an app near the screen’s edge, and macOS will automatically suggest where to tile it. You can quickly place them side by side or in corners. Sequoia will also include new keyboard and menu shortcuts to arrange tiles even faster.

Apple also highlighted new video conferencing features in its WWDC keynote. Presenter Preview lets you see what you’re about to share with your call partner(s) before they see it, potentially saving folks some mistakes or embarrassment. Meanwhile, Background Replacement (as its name implies) lets you swap out your real background for built-in ones or your own photos.

1Password finally got “Sherlocked” with Apple’s new Passwords app. Building on Keychain and the passwords previously buried in Safari’s settings, the standalone app will include credentials, verification codes and security alerts. It syncs across devices and will also appear on iOS, iPadOS, visionOS and even Windows (via iCloud for Windows).

Safari gets some upgrades as well. These include Highlights, which automatically detect relevant info from webpages, and Summaries, providing AI-fueled recaps of web content in a redesigned Reader mode.

 Developing...

Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.

Empire of the Ants, a real-time strategy game with dazzlingly photorealistic insects and other critters, arrives on November 7. Although the game doesn’t sound like it’s exactly a remake, it comes from the same publisher (and draws from the same source material) as the 2000 RTS game of the same name. The new version will be available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Publisher Microids and developer Tower Five describe the new Empire of the Ants as “a 3D real-time strategy game with progressive difficulty.” Set in Fontainebleau forest, you’ll play as 103,683e, “a determined ant on a mission to protect its colony.” You’ll gather resources, secure outposts, fortify your armies and execute the queen’s plans.

The game was built using Unreal Engine 5 and will have scalable difficulty. The RTS title has a narrative storyline, and its gameplay will adapt to different seasons and day-night cycles.

Microid / Tower Five

“With Empire of the Ants, every decision is critical, every move is strategic, and every conquest reflects your skill in exploring a world where the smallest beings wield immense power,” the game’s press release reads. “Strategy, exploration, battles, and even alliances with the local wildlife will be necessary to emerge victorious from the myriad challenges that await players.”

Like its Y2K predecessor, the 2024 version of Empire of the Ants is based on the 1991 novel of the same name (in its English translation) by French author Bernard Werber. (Le Fourmis is its title in the author’s native French.) The book, the first in a trilogy, follows a society of ants and a parallel world of humans in early 21st-century Paris, covering themes of communication, cooperation, environmental impact and social hierarchy.

You can check out the trailer below ahead of the game’s November 7 release date. You can wishlist the game now on Steam, GOG, Epic and the PlayStation Store.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

The Hogwarts sports game Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions now has a release date. The multiplayer title, announced last year, will arrive on PC and consoles on September 3.

The game, a companion to last year’s Hogwarts Legacy, is “a complete, standalone Quidditch experience” that “engages players in the sport of Quidditch and other broomstick adventures alongside friends in a competitive, multiplayer setting.” The game is developed by Unbroken Studios, known for supporting work on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and published by WB Games.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions will be available on PS5 / PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One and PC. You’ll need an online connection to play.

You can check out the release date trailer below. It showcases familiar Harry Potter characters, from Harry, Ron, Hermione and the Weasley twins to smaller roles like Viktor Krum:

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

Boeing’s Starliner has successfully docked with the ISS — but not without some last-minute problems. The company’s first crewed test flight to the space station linked up at 1:34 PM ET after missing its first shot due to several thrusters malfunctioning. Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams plan to spend the next eight days onboard the ISS before returning to Earth.

The capsule docked with the ISS in an orbit about 260 miles over the Indian Ocean. The pair is now circling the planet at around 17,500 mph.

“Nice to be attached to the big city in the sky,” Wilmore spoke over comms to mission control in Houston after the successful docking. The capsule carries 760 pounds of cargo, including about 300 pounds of food and other supplies requested by the four US astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts onboard.

NASA TV

Initially scheduled for 12:15 PM ET, the link-up was delayed after five of Starliner’s 28 reaction control thrusters went down. Several were lost due to a helium propulsion leak. NASA and Boeing concluded that the loss didn’t compromise the mission, and Wilmore and Williams restarted three of them, providing enough redundancy to move forward.

On Wednesday, a small helium leak was detected during liftoff and ascent. Later, two more leaks appeared.

The problems are emblematic of Boeing’s struggles to get its capsules certified for regular flights. Various problems and delays, including orbital flight test issues, valve problems, software glitches and a bum parachute system, have plagued Starliner. Boeing's rival, SpaceX, reached the ISS for the first time in 2020, approximately when this Starliner mission was originally slated to launch.

Boeing is seeking NASA certification to join SpaceX as a regular ride to the ISS. The government agency wanted to have multiple private-sector ferries make routine trips to the space station. Despite Boeing’s troubles, it may get there in the end.