πŸ€– Technology & AI

June 18th, 2026

Today's top 5 stories, curated by Daily Direct.

TechCrunch

How to turn off AI in your Google Docs

Google has quietly embedded its Gemini AI assistant into Docs, triggering persistent prompts that many users find more intrusive than helpful. Disabling the feature takes just a few steps in your account settings, and the fix applies across the workspace. For users who prefer a distraction-free writing environment, it is a two-minute change worth making.

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TechCrunch

AI data centers just got a government-mandated fast lane to the grid

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered grid operators to prioritize interconnection requests from AI data centers, cutting through a backlog that has slowed the buildout of digital infrastructure nationwide. The ruling hands the booming AI industry a significant regulatory win, streamlining access to the grid at a moment when power demand from tech companies is surging. Critics note the order sidesteps the more pressing issue of actual electricity supply constraints, leaving a fundamental bottleneck unresolved.

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TechCrunch

Chi-Hua Chien saw Facebook coming; now he says the real AI winners won’t be selling AI

Chi-Hua Chien, the venture capitalist who identified Facebook's potential early, argues that the biggest AI winners won't be the companies building or selling AI itself. Drawing on his background thinking like a cultural anthropologist, Chien sees the real value accruing to businesses that quietly embed AI to transform existing industries. It's a contrarian bet, but his track record suggests it's worth taking seriously.

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Ars Technica

Massive breach spills credentials for thousands of sensitive networks

A massive credential breach has exposed login data for thousands of sensitive networks, with high-profile victims including Oracle, Lenovo, FedEx, a NATO contractor, and cybersecurity firm Fortinet. The scale and sensitivity of the targets make this one of the more consequential leaks in recent memory. Organizations relying on these networks face immediate pressure to audit access points and rotate compromised credentials.

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TechCrunch

AI is hurting Apple in more ways than one: it may force iPhone price increases

Apple finds itself caught in a costly bind as artificial intelligence demands push hardware and infrastructure expenses higher, potentially forcing the company to pass those costs on to consumers. Tim Cook has acknowledged the situation is "unsustainable," signaling that iPhone price hikes may no longer be a matter of if, but when. For a brand already navigating sluggish upgrade cycles, steeper price tags could further dampen consumer appetite.

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