Why email is a better virtual assistant
Google is inventing something better than Siri, Cortana, Alexa or even Google Now. It's email with a virtual assistant that uses artificial intelligence to help you out.
Stories by Mike Elgan
Why virtual reality is the next social network
The first mainstream social virtual world came into existence last week. Oculus VR, the virtual reality company owned by Facebook, released an app called the Oculus Social alpha. But even as we gather and interact in virtual worlds, will VR really bring us together or just isolate us more?
You are your smartphone
Welcome to the new identity. An increasing number of services don't care about your password, your signature or even your mailing address. If you've got the authenticated phone, you're you.
Why your gadgets sound so good
Have you noticed how great technology sounds these days? There's a reason for that.
10 new words you need to know in Silicon Valley
As mobile and consumer technology alters our lives, new coinages bubble up in the social networks to capture and express how people live. Here are 10 new words you need to know in order to describe the culture of Silicon Valley as well as the culture changes the valley is bringing into existence.
New tech syncs small speakers for big sound
In the past week, new methods for synchronizing speakers to create loud, high-quality sound have emerged. Finally.
When artificial intelligence is everywhere, all the time
Siri and virtual assistants like her will soon change everything. I. Mean. Everything.
A computer's place is in the kitchen
Forget the living room. The kitchen is the true family hub now. Here's what Amazon is cooking up.
New earbuds give you super-hearing
Listen to this: The world of earbuds is about to be transformed by startups whose products let you customize what you hear.
How Facebook, Apple and Twitter are ending online equality
The latest trend in social networking is the rise of elitism.
Will Facebook envy wreck Twitter?
There's never been anything quite like Facebook. As a company, Facebook specializes in collecting, hoarding, keeping and engaging users. As a social network, it dominates the market with the largest user base. Facebook has a monopoly as the social network of choice for friends and families.
Is Apple's control freakery out of control?
Apple makes money. A LOT of money.
New A.I. tech helps you write right
This column is a little cheerful, slightly analytical, both confident and tentative and just a tiny bit angry. But mostly, it's open, agreeable and conscientious. At least that's what IBM's Watson thinks.
Is it Google's job to fix society?
Social problems exist. Sexism, social stigmatization, crime and other problems have always plagued humanity.
The surprising genius of Apple's Beats 1 radio
When Apple announced it was creating an Internet radio station called Beats 1 to go along with its Apple Music service, I was dismissive.