🧠 Netflix opens-sources causal AI workflow

Netflix has open-sourced an agentic workflow designed for Observational Causal Inference (OCI) to cut down on manual toil in causal analysis. This system, developed by the Netflix team, uses an actor-critic loop to estimate causality and generate reports from observational data. They tested this workflow on the Atlantic Causal Inference Conference (ACIC) competition dataset, finding it competitive against existing benchmark systems. To handle the lack of ground truth, the workflow combines process audits with essential human oversight throughout the analysis. The open-sourced code is available on GitHub to encourage further research and development in this area. 🤖

🤖 Firefox's Smart Window gets AI upgrade 🤖

Firefox's Smart Window AI browsing mode now integrates with Exa to pull current web info and show source links in chat responses. This feature allows users to automatically suggest tab groups and preview past visited pages using natural language queries. Beta users have reported that this helps maintain their train of thought better while sorting through past browsing history. Users can select various AI models, including Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite, ensuring digital sovereignty. Future plans include Chrome-like recent browsing surfacing and AI-powered autofill for online forms.

🕸️ Tom Holland bagging over $100M from Spider-Man

Tom Holland is set to earn over $100 million from the hit film "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." This deal is for the actor starring in the massive global hit, with the film set to cross $2 billion in box office revenue. He secured a base salary of at least $20 million upfront, which is $10 million more than his last Spider-Man role. His backend bonus is uncapped, meaning his final earnings could be even higher. This huge payday solidifies his status among Hollywood's top-earning actors. 💰

🎮 New games dropping on Xbox Game Pass now

Several new games are joining Xbox Game Pass, including Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy and Blood Dungeon. These titles are available on various platforms like Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC starting on different dates. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy launches on August 27, while Blood Dungeon is available on August 25 for day one access. The library keeps expanding with new experiences like Vapor World: Over the Mind on August 19. Gamers can check out all these additions and updates on the service. 🎮

⚽ Heidenheim vs Bayern: Match Updates & Subs ⚽

Bayern Munich drew 1-1 against Heidenheim in a preseason friendly match on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026. The game took place at the Voith-Arena in Heidenheim, Germany, with substitutions involving Ismael Saibari and Kim Min-jae. This fixture follows Bayern's 3-1 Telekom Cup victory over RB Leipzig earlier in the week. Coach Vincent Kompany is managing rotations while protecting players with minor injuries from the Leipzig match. The match was part of the final preseason schedule before the main season starts.

✨ Firefox's AI Window Gets Major Upgrade 🧠

Firefox's AI-integrated Smart Window is receiving new features designed to boost productivity and organization for users. The browser is partnering with AI company Exa to provide internet-sourced answers with citations within Smart Window. Users can now group related tabs based on content or view recent page snapshots instead of just URLs. This optional window enhances the classic Firefox experience without replacing the core browser functionality. These updates aim to help users easily resume work and keep their research structured.

📸 Polaroid drops new Pokémon collection for 30th anniversary

Polaroid launched a new collection featuring cameras, instant film, and accessories to celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary. This line includes film printed with characters like Pikachu and Snorlax, which is more extensive than past collaborations. Preorders begin on August 25th in the US, Canada, and UK, with a global release set for October 5th. The collection offers models like the $99.99 Polaroid Go Gen 3 and the $139.99 Polaroid Now Gen 3. Accessories, such as Poké Ball-themed cases, will round out the limited-edition offerings. 📸

🏏 Pant's masterclass sets up India's win in Galle

Rishabh Pant's solid 66 off 69 ensured India maintained command before Sri Lanka lost their top four batsmen. This happened during the Galle Test where India scored 462 and Sri Lanka was at 284 for 4. The match is now six wickets away from concluding after the fourth day of play. Pant's innings turned a standard day into a crucial one, putting immense pressure on the hosts. India now has a substantial lead and four sessions remaining to win the Test match. 🏏

📸 Pokémon meets Polaroid for retro camera drop

Pokémon has teamed up with Polaroid to release a nostalgic camera collaboration. This partnership involves creating special edition Polaroid cameras featuring Pokémon themes. The launch is set for a specific date, though the exact numbers are not detailed in the initial announcement. This collaboration aims to blend gaming nostalgia with vintage analog photography. Fans are eagerly awaiting the release to capture memories in a retro style. 📸

🏛️ Speaker's power challenged in Shiv Sena row

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal contended before the Supreme Court that the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker illegally conflated the Shiv Sena's legislative and political party. This challenge was filed by Sunil Prabhu, an Uddhav Thackeray faction member, regarding the Speaker's refusal to disqualify Eknath Shinde faction MLAs. The arguments were heard on Tuesday, referencing the 2023 Subhash Desai judgment. Sibal argued the Tenth Schedule doesn't let legislature members become the political party. He questioned the Speaker's jurisdiction in using the 1999 Constitution instead of the 2018 structure. 🏛️

🧐 Qatar Holding pushes case against debt-ridden Byju's

Karnataka High Court admitted a new plea from Qatar Holding LLC seeking to enforce a SGD 7.2 million arbitration award against Byju’s. This legal action targets founder Byju Raveendran and Byju’s Investments Pvt. Ltd in Mumbai. The claims involve an earlier award for over $235 million, with interest accrued since February 28, 2024. Qatar Holding initiated this due to a September 2022 loan that was allegedly misused regarding AESL shares. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on September 21. 🧐