Asus has set the price of its RTX 5080 gaming laptop higher than that of the previous-generation RTX 5090 model.

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      The previous generation RTX 5090 model is actually available for $200 less on Amazon.

      Asus has discretely introduced an RTX 5080 option for the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) targeted at US consumers, with a price tag of $4,799.

      This is peculiar, as last year's ROG Zephyrus G16 featuring a more potent RTX 5090 is currently priced at $4,599 on Amazon. It seems Asus has set a higher price for a less powerful GPU compared to its predecessor with a superior GPU.

      So, what does the $4,799 price get you?

      The new version combines Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5080 with an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (Panther Lake) processor, 64GB of RAM, and a maximum TGP of 160W, which is 20W higher than the RTX 5070 Ti variant that was the only option available in the US until now.

      This additional power is significant, as the RTX 5080 delivers approximately 15% more performance than the 5070 Ti. The difference may become more pronounced in VRAM-intensive games, particularly since the 5080 is equipped with 16GB of VRAM, while the 5070 Ti has a maximum of 12GB.

      The RAM also doubles from 32GB to 64GB and is now offered in a new silver finish for those interested.

      So does the upgrade really warrant the price increase?

      The new ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) with the RTX 5080 costs $1,100 more than the version with the RTX 5070 Ti. This translates to a 29% price hike, attributed in part to the upgraded GPU and partly due to the increased memory capacity.

      In my opinion, the specifications are noticeably better for heavy users. However, I cannot ignore the fact that the 2025 ROG Zephyrus G16, which includes an RTX 5090 and 64GB of RAM, is presently priced $200 less on Amazon.

      If seamless GPU performance is your main concern, the numbers do not favor the newer model, making the older one a more rational choice for most buyers. It's important to remember that it utilizes Intel’s Arrow Lake architecture.

      Over the past five years, Shikhar has consistently distilled advances in consumer technology and shared them…

      Instacart is piloting AI-enabled shopping carts that sound both convenient and concerning.

      Caper Carts offer quicker checkout and personalized discounts, yet the surveillance aspects, such as cameras, location tracking, and advertisements on carts, make grocery shopping feel significantly less private.

      Instacart's AI shopping carts are being tested in select Weis Markets locations in Pennsylvania, with plans for more stores this year. Initially, the Caper Cart enhancement seems beneficial, allowing customers to see a real-time total, utilize digital coupons, apply loyalty rewards, weigh items, and check out directly from the cart.

      However, privacy concerns arise from the technology needed for these features. The carts come equipped with basket-facing cameras, outward-facing cameras, location tracking, scales, touchscreens, and payment systems, effectively transforming a regular grocery basket into a mobile sensor hub.

      OpenAI is aiming for a universal personal AI assistant.

      The organization envisions a future where advanced AI benefits billions of individuals, extending beyond just companies and governments vying for control. Its newest strategy focuses on creating an AI for everyone— a personal AGI designed to serve as a highly capable assistant for everyday life, work, and exploration.

      The company refers to this as its third phase. After validating the technology and developing scalable products, OpenAI now seeks to make powerful AI widely accessible while advancing systems that promote scientific and economic progress.

      VocabOwl is the trending vocabulary test challenging word enthusiasts.

      This web quiz, boosted by a podcast, assesses English vocabulary knowledge but requires further context for its scientific claims.

      VocabOwl has popularized vocabulary estimates into figures that people want to share, debate, and secretly retake when the outcome feels harsh.

      The viral quiz presents 100 multiple-choice questions, then calculates an estimate of the number of English words you are familiar with. The current surge in attention is linked to The Rest Is Science, where Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens experimented with a tool created by listeners that revolves around the same daunting question.