Apple developing AI wearable to challenge OpenAI hardware push
Cupertino giant targets 2027 launch for new wearable device as Silicon Valley AI hardware race intensifies with OpenAI's planned earbuds.
Kevin Chao
Technology & Crypto Reporter
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About Kevin
Kevin Chao has covered the tech industry for over a decade, with stints at TechCrunch and VentureBeat before joining San Francisco Download. His reporting on cryptocurrency markets and blockchain startups has been cited by major outlets including Bloomberg and CNBC. He holds a computer science degree from UC Berkeley and stays connected to the startup scene through regular attendance at Y Combinator demo days and industry conferences.
Articles by Kevin
OpenAI plans first hardware device by 2026, likely earbuds
The San Francisco AI company aims to announce its debut hardware product this year, with earbuds emerging as the most likely candidate for the launch.
Former OpenAI sales chief joins Acrew Capital as partner
Aliisa Rosenthal leaves OpenAI to become a venture partner at Palo Alto's Acrew Capital, bringing inside knowledge of where AI startups can compete.
Protest at San Francisco Waymo depot revives debate over robotaxis and safety
A small group of demonstrators rallied outside a Waymo car depot in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood on Wednesday, renewing local pressure on the autonomous vehicle company over safety, disaster r
Vanderbilt University to Open San Francisco Campus at CCA’s Potrero Hill Site
Vanderbilt University is moving into San Francisco with a new satellite campus planned for the current Potrero Hill home of California College of the Arts, formalizing months of speculation about a lo
San Francisco’s Homelessness Deaths Rise Sharply, Driven by Overdoses and Fentanyl
San Francisco recorded a significant increase in deaths among people experiencing homelessness over the past five years, with drug overdoses and fentanyl playing a central role, according to newly rel
San Francisco’s Hidden 1906 ‘Relief Cottages’ Still Shelter Residents
San Francisco’s tiny “earthquake cottages,” hastily built to shelter refugees after the 1906 earthquake and fire, are still tucked into backyards and side streets across the city, often disguised with
Major San Francisco immigration court set to close in 2027, staff told
The main San Francisco immigration court at 100 Montgomery St. is expected to close in January 2027, and staff have been told they will be reassigned to the federal immigration court in Concord as soo
San Francisco Looks to Renew Tech Ties with Bengaluru as AI Competition Grows
San Francisco is moving to reinforce its relationship with Bengaluru, India’s leading tech hub, as both cities look to position themselves at the center of the next wave of software and artificial int
Proposal Floated to Pay Facebook Users Directly for Their Data
A recent opinion piece argues that social media users, including those on Facebook, should be directly compensated for the personal data and attention they provide to platforms that generate large adv
Future of TikTok in US Unclear as Sale Deadlines Shift and Bidders Wait
The future of TikTok in the United States remains unsettled as the latest deadline for a sale of the app’s US operations approaches and key stakeholders wait for clarity from Washington and Beijing. A
BART Rolls Out Automatic Fare Gates to Combat Fare Evasion
BART will begin rolling out new automatic fare gates this summer in a push to reduce fare evasion and modernize its aging infrastructure. The project, which starts in July, will eventually replace all
David Sacks Advises U.S. on AI Policy While Holding Broad Industry Stakes
David Sacks, a prominent venture capitalist and longtime tech executive, is helping shape U.S. artificial intelligence policy while holding financial interests in hundreds of AI firms. Sacks, a partne
The Tao of Wi-Fi, Salt Rooms, and Burble: Janelli’s Journey to Founder Life
Alexandra Janelli is one of those rare people who has no business existing as one person. Janelli’s the great-granddaughter of New York radio royalty, a conservation biologist who worked to save the p
ICE Eyes Shuttered, Hazardous FCI Dublin for Immigrant Detention Use
Federal authorities appear to be preparing for renewed use of the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, a women's prison closed earlier this year due to unsafe conditions and a history of
Oakland Student Commutes to SF Daily to Serve Communities in Bayview and Beyond
Rashel Duncan lives in Oakland, studies at San Francisco State University, and works for a nonprofit that serves southeastern San Francisco neighborhoods. Her days begin early and end late, often shap
Waymo Expands to Bay Area Freeways and San José Airport Service
Waymo will begin operating its autonomous vehicles on Bay Area freeways starting Wednesday, marking a shift beyond its previous focus on city streets. The company confirmed that its robotaxis will now
Longtime Financial District Bar and Grill Will Reopen at Original Location
A once-iconic San Francisco eatery is set to return to its longstanding home in the heart of the Financial District. The historic Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant, which first opened in 1867 and
SFPD Veteran Offers Support Resources During Domestic Violence Calls
When responding to domestic violence incidents, Inspector Tony Flores of the San Francisco Police Department provides survivors with a resource card listing shelters, hotlines, and counseling services
OpenAI Asks U.S. to Expand Tax Credits for AI Data Center Buildout
OpenAI is calling on the federal government to broaden a key tax incentive to support its large-scale data center expansion efforts. In a letter sent in late October to Michael Kratsios, the White Hou
Isabella Alcaraz Appointed New Supervisor for San Francisco’s Sunset District
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has appointed Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz as the new District 4 supervisor following the recall of Joel Engardio in September. Alcaraz, 29, is a lifelong resident of the S
Scott Hansen: How Crowdfunding Can Scale Without Selling Out
When most people think of crowdfunding, they picture the early 2010s—a time when glossy Kickstarter videos promised revolutionary products that rarely shipped. It was a golden age of optimism that eve
Our Favorite Jomboy Breakdown Videos
If you're a baseball fan, chances are you've stumbled across a Jomboy Media breakdown video at some point these last few years. Jimmy 'Jomboy' O'Brien has become one of t
Dog Pee Nearly Destroyed My Marriage, an Enzyme Cleaner Named Earthworm Saved It
Normally, you're here to read my take on how big tech is poised to reshape (or wreck) our lives, not about an enzyme cleaner or how a six-week-old puppy nearly wrecked my marriage. But friends,