Wired News Digest
Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Where Tech Leaders and Students Really Think AI Is Going
We asked tech CEOs, journalists, entertainers, students, and more about the promise and peril of artificial intelligence. Here’s what they said.
Southwest Airlines Says Bye to Open Seating—and Hello to Boarding Complexity
An airline’s boarding policy shake-up shows the limits of efficiency. (Spoiler: It’s money.)
Intel’s Panther Lake Chips Aren’t Just Good—They Beat Apple’s M5
I’ve tested two new laptops powered by Panther Lake—pitting them head-to-head against laptops with Apple Silicon—and Intel has finally scored a much-needed win with the Core Ultra Series 3.
10% Dell Coupon Codes | January 2026
Get 10% off with verified Dell promo code, plus today’s coupons for up to $600 off laptops, Alienware monitors, and all things tech.
20% Off TurboTax Service Codes | January 2026
Tax season doesn’t have to be stressful. Save up to 20% on federal tax filings, 10% off Full Service, and more with exclusive TurboTax discount codes on WIRED.
Newegg Promo Code: 10% Off in January 2026
Enjoy up to 10% off your entire order with today’s Newegg discount code and save with the latest deals for gaming PCs, laptops, and computer parts.
Judge Delays Minnesota ICE Decision While Weighing Whether State Is Being Illegally Punished
A federal judge ordered a new briefing due Wednesday on whether DHS is using armed raids to pressure Minnesota into abandoning its sanctuary policies, leaving ICE operations in place for now.
Palantir Defends Work With ICE to Staff Following Killing of Alex Pretti
“In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this,” one worker wrote on Slack.
TikTok Data Center Outage Triggers Trust Crisis for New US Owners
The technical failure coincided with TikTok’s ownership transition, leading users to question whether videos criticizing ICE raids in Minnesota were being intentionally censored.
Redditors Are Mounting a Resistance Against ICE
A user from r/Minneapolis was among the first to share footage of federal agents shooting Alex Pretti. Following his death, subreddits about football, cats, and embroidery have all rallied against ICE.
The 10 Best Sleep Masks We’ve Tested While Snoozing (2026)
Get some solid shut-eye with the help of these sleep masks. Our top pick is from Blissy.
This Wireless Mic Kit Is $70 Off
Save on a full DJI Mic 3 bundle, or pick and choose to build your own portable recording setup.
After 5 Years, Apple Finally Upgrades the AirTag
The second-generation AirTag features Apple’s newer Ultra Wideband chip and has a louder speaker and better range.
We Strapped on Exoskeletons and Raced. There’s One Clear Winner
WIRED put the latest consumer exoskeletons from Dnsys and Hypershell in a head-to-head test on a pro athletic track. On your marks …
Deepfake ‘Nudify’ Technology Is Getting Darker—and More Dangerous
Sexual deepfakes continue to get more sophisticated, capable, easy to access, and perilous for millions of women who are abused with the technology.
People Are Protesting Data Centers—but Embracing the Factories That Supply Them
As the data center backlash grows, support is growing for server factories and the hundreds of jobs they’re expected to bring.
Why Minnesota Can’t Do More to Stop ICE
Democratic lawmakers have few options that wouldn’t trigger something like civil war.
Phonak Audeo Infinio Ultra Sphere Review: Premium Hearing Aids
This new prescription hearing aid has a special chip designed to improve hearing in noisy conditions.
No One Is Quite Sure Why Ice Is Slippery
A thin, watery layer coating the surface of ice is what makes it slick. Despite a great deal of theorizing over the centuries, though, it isn’t entirely clear why that layer forms.
How Long Should You Cold Plunge? We Asked Experts (2026)
You don’t need to Ernest Shackleton yourself to reap the benefits of cold plunging. A calm, controlled ice bath is key.