💻 554K Tools Recalled, Xbox Implodes & Something Huge Just Happened to Your Netflix Queue

Today's episode is packed with stories you can't afford to miss. Over half a million Kobalt outdoor power tools have been urgently recalled due to a dangerous fire risk — if you own one, you need to act now. Xbox is in the middle of a major shakeup, laying off thousands across some of the biggest names in gaming, though one legendary franchise just got a surprising update. Netflix has quietly revealed just how much AI has been shaping the content you've been watching, and the numbers are staggering. Plus, a ransomware attack has brought a major American food brand to its knees, scientists may have just solved one of the world's biggest pollution problems, and the James Webb Space Telescope has sent back mind-bending new data from a planet straight out of a nightmare.

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Welcome to Technology Daily, your go-to source for the latest in tech news. I'm your host, and today is July 17th, 2026. We've got a packed show for you today, covering everything from a major product recall to gaming news, AI developments, and some fascinating science. Let's dive right in.

First up, a safety alert you need to hear about, especially if you do yard work. Greenworks Tools has issued a massive recall of around 554,780 Kobalt-branded outdoor power tools. We're talking trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, mowers, and pruning saws — all using 24 or 48 volt lithium-ion batteries with a built-in USB-C charging port. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports 34 incidents of batteries producing smoke, sparking, or catching fire while charging. Fortunately, no injuries or property damage have been reported so far, but this is serious. If you own any Kobalt yard tools that charge via USB-C, stop using them and check the recall details immediately.

Moving on to gaming, and there's a lot happening. First, Xbox is going through what the company is calling a reset period, which includes laying off around 3,200 employees across studios like id Software and Obsidian. Despite the turbulence, Bethesda Game Studios has officially confirmed that Fallout 5 is in development. The announcement seems designed to reassure fans that the company is still moving forward, even as it restructures. It's a bittersweet moment for the gaming community.

Also in gaming, Amazon's upcoming God of War series has hit a significant snag. Sons of Anarchy star Ryan Hurst, who was cast as Kratos back in January, tore his bicep performing a stunt. He had already completed four episodes of filming, but his recovery timeline doesn't align with the show's production schedule, which aims to resume in mid-October. Amazon will now recast the role and reshoot those completed episodes. It's a tough break all around.

And for Fortnite fans, Epic Games is bringing AI-powered characters to the game. Starting July 30th, creators will be able to publish experiences with AI-voiced NPCs. Epic has already created 36 characters with consistent voices and personas, including fan favorites like Agent Jonesy and Peely the banana. This follows last year's successful AI-powered Darth Vader NPC.

Now let's talk about a story that's getting a lot of attention in the tech world. Trump Media, the company behind Truth Social, is launching something called Truth API. It's a licensed real-time data feed that gives Wall Street traders faster access to what the company describes as the most market-moving posts from the platform's most influential accounts. It goes live August 1st. While API access is common across social platforms, critics are raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest, given that the Trump family is the largest shareholder in Trump Media.

On the hardware front, Microsoft's latest 13-inch Surface Laptop is drawing some criticism. This year's model costs 950 dollars, but thanks to what reviewers are calling RAMageddon, it now ships with just 8 gigabytes of RAM, half of what last year's model offered at a lower price. Reviewers are finding that Windows 11 simply doesn't run smoothly with that amount of memory, which is a real problem when the whole point of this laptop was to be an easy-to-recommend, MacBook Air-style machine.

In brighter hardware news, Xreal's XBX a01-plus AR glasses are turning heads at just 299 dollars. Reviewers are calling them the best budget augmented reality glasses yet, praising their surprisingly bright display and lightweight design. If you've been curious about AR glasses without wanting to spend a fortune, this one is worth checking out.

And Verizon Fios is kicking things up a notch, boosting its fastest home internet plan to a blazing 5 gigabits per second. That's more than double the speed of their previous 2 gig flagship plan. Home internet speeds continue to climb as demand for bandwidth, especially from AI-powered applications and streaming, keeps growing.

Speaking of streaming, Netflix dropped some interesting data in its second quarter earnings report. The streaming giant revealed that roughly 300 titles on its platform used generative AI this year, primarily in post-production work. The technology helped create complex sequences like enhanced crowds, historical battle scenes, and large-scale establishing shots. Netflix says it's using these tools to deliver higher quality content faster and at lower cost. That's a lot of AI-assisted content, and the number is only expected to grow.

In cybersecurity news, Coca-Cola's dairy brand Fairlife has been hit with a ransomware attack, forcing the company to halt US operations. Ransomware continues to be a significant threat to businesses across every industry, and this is a reminder that no company is immune.

On the science and innovation front, we have two fascinating stories. Researchers have created what they're calling living plastic — a self-destructing material engineered with bacteria that completely breaks itself down in just six days without leaving behind microplastics. This could be a genuine breakthrough for tackling single-use plastic waste. And scientists have built a new particle detector called PLATON, which uses a light-field camera, sensitive photon sensors, and AI to track invisible particles in detailed 3D. Beyond physics research, the technology could also lead to sharper PET medical scans.

The James Webb Space Telescope continues to amaze as well. New data reveals details about a hellish lava world called 55 Cancri e, where temperatures are high enough to melt rock. Webb's observations suggest the planet has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere shaped by gases escaping from its molten interior, with possible volcanic clouds. Truly wild stuff.

And finally, SpaceX had a setback this week when a Starship launch was scrubbed after some of the rocket's engines failed to start. The company is offloading propellant and says the next launch attempt should come within a few days. Starship development continues to be a series of bold attempts, and the team is pressing on.

That's a wrap for today's Technology Daily. From fire-risk power tool recalls to living plastic, AI in your streaming queue, and lava worlds in deep space, it's been another wild day in tech. Thanks so much for listening. Stay curious, stay informed, and we'll see you tomorrow.