Ad-free streaming is a luxury now
Ad-free streaming is a luxury now

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about the streaming industry, follow Emma Roth. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Streaming was once a reprieve from cable. Not only could […]

Electric air taxis are stuck in the courtroom
Electric air taxis are stuck in the courtroom

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on aviation, air taxis, and Wi-Fi speeds at 30,000 feet, follow Andrew J. Hawkins. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Last year, […]

Solid-state batteries still aren’t ready, but gels are
Solid-state batteries still aren’t ready, but gels are

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on e-bikes, power stations, and how to work anywhere, follow Thomas Ricker. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere as we […]

User-replaceable batteries are coming back in a big way
User-replaceable batteries are coming back in a big way

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about gadgets and smartphones, follow Dominic Preston. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started In 2023, the European Union agreed on two landmark pieces […]

Hackers are learning to exploit chatbot ‘personalities’
Hackers are learning to exploit chatbot ‘personalities’

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on AI mischief, follow Robert Hart. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Hacking the first generation of AI chatbots was a laughably simple affair. […]

Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning
Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about how AI is seeping into our daily lives, follow Emma Roth. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started In 2021, McDonald’s became one […]

Netflix may have finally figured out games
Netflix may have finally figured out games

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on Netflix, follow Andrew Webster. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Boggle has become a spectator sport in my household. Everyone crowds around the […]

AI music is flooding streaming services — but who wants it?
AI music is flooding streaming services — but who wants it?

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on how AI is changing music and the music industry, follow Terrence O’Brien. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started The use of generative AI […]

The plan to quietly kill Coyote v. Acme blew up in David Zaslav’s face
The plan to quietly kill Coyote v. Acme blew up in David Zaslav’s face

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on Hollywood trends and streaming culture, follow Charles Pulliam-Moore. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes on Sundays at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Under David Zaslav’s leadership, WBD got very […]

The future of local TV news has taken a Trumpian turn
The future of local TV news has taken a Trumpian turn

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more stories on Big Tech versus politics in Washington, DC, follow Tina Nguyen and read Regulator. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started A long time […]