This 500-Million-Year-Old Nautilus Shell Is Now a Speaker

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The Sazae Radio was a Japanese novelty radio built into a turban shell, sold by lottery in 2016 with just 100 units available for 8,350 applicants. The odds were 83.5 to one. Losing that lottery left a maker named hide-key with a simple choice: accept the disappointment or build something better. The DIY pivot turned into the Steampunk Nautilus, a haptic speaker project that takes a similar idea and pushes it considerably further.

The choice was a nautilus shell, a living fossil that has barely changed in 500 million years. Discovering that its English name matched Jules Verne’s submarine sealed the decision. The goal became not just a speaker, but a piece of audio art with three rules: steampunk-kintsugi repair, where metal celebrates the shell’s imperfections, conservation-minded reversibility, where every adhesive can be removed with acetone, and a haptic drive that turns the shell itself into a vibrating diaphragm.

Designer: hide-key

Early experiments failed. A massive sea snail shell refused to vibrate, too thick and heavy for a small exciter to drive. The nautilus, by contrast, worked immediately. Its thin, lightweight structure, built for buoyancy, behaves like a violin body or speaker cone, with internal ribs adding resonance without mass. The project quietly became a study in bioacoustics, where shell biology dictated whether the fossil could sing, and heavy shells behaved like bricks.

The build starts with a chipped shell and leans into the damage. The broken area is traced, and a 1.2 mm aluminum sheet is hammered and filed to match the organic curve, polished to a mirror, and attached with cyanoacrylate and brass-colored epoxy putty. All adhesives were chosen so they can be removed with acetone, leaving the shell intact underneath. Reversibility was treated as a hard constraint, respecting the specimen while giving it a new function.

The haptic core moved from a boring internal speaker to a vibration exciter mounted in a custom silicone cartridge that fits the shell’s living chamber. Water displacement measured the volume at just 50 cc, and Shore 15A silicone was poured to create a perfect seat. A transparent hair band acts as a hidden pull tab, and a silicone cap hides the exciter and diffuses its faint blue LED into a heartbeat-like glow deep in the spiral.

The base is a Quince burl chosen for its red, white, and black grain that echoes the shell’s pattern. A Magic Circle layout of brass bushings lets the shell’s angle be changed by moving three brass pillars. Threaded brass rods with ball nuts support the shell, and a drop of soft UV resin on each contact point prevents buzzing, making the heavy fossil appear to float while staying mechanically quiet.

Three hidden modes emerge. Holding the shell in your hands for bone-conducted haptic listening, shifting the exciter between internal and external mounts to change the sound from lo-fi radio to a sharper, more direct tone, and the dream of a stereo pair if a second shell appears. The Steampunk Nautilus turns a broken specimen into a reversible, vibrating instrument that asks you to feel the music as much as hear it, turning disappointment from a lottery into something tactile, strange, and surprisingly beautiful.

The post This 500-Million-Year-Old Nautilus Shell Is Now a Speaker first appeared on Yanko Design.

This 500-Million-Year-Old Nautilus Shell Is Now a Speaker

Posted on by

The Sazae Radio was a Japanese novelty radio built into a turban shell, sold by lottery in 2016 with just 100 units available for 8,350 applicants. The odds were 83.5 to one. Losing that lottery left a maker named hide-key with a simple choice: accept the disappointment or build something better. The DIY pivot turned into the Steampunk Nautilus, a haptic speaker project that takes a similar idea and pushes it considerably further.

The choice was a nautilus shell, a living fossil that has barely changed in 500 million years. Discovering that its English name matched Jules Verne’s submarine sealed the decision. The goal became not just a speaker, but a piece of audio art with three rules: steampunk-kintsugi repair, where metal celebrates the shell’s imperfections, conservation-minded reversibility, where every adhesive can be removed with acetone, and a haptic drive that turns the shell itself into a vibrating diaphragm.

Designer: hide-key

Early experiments failed. A massive sea snail shell refused to vibrate, too thick and heavy for a small exciter to drive. The nautilus, by contrast, worked immediately. Its thin, lightweight structure, built for buoyancy, behaves like a violin body or speaker cone, with internal ribs adding resonance without mass. The project quietly became a study in bioacoustics, where shell biology dictated whether the fossil could sing, and heavy shells behaved like bricks.

The build starts with a chipped shell and leans into the damage. The broken area is traced, and a 1.2 mm aluminum sheet is hammered and filed to match the organic curve, polished to a mirror, and attached with cyanoacrylate and brass-colored epoxy putty. All adhesives were chosen so they can be removed with acetone, leaving the shell intact underneath. Reversibility was treated as a hard constraint, respecting the specimen while giving it a new function.

The haptic core moved from a boring internal speaker to a vibration exciter mounted in a custom silicone cartridge that fits the shell’s living chamber. Water displacement measured the volume at just 50 cc, and Shore 15A silicone was poured to create a perfect seat. A transparent hair band acts as a hidden pull tab, and a silicone cap hides the exciter and diffuses its faint blue LED into a heartbeat-like glow deep in the spiral.

The base is a Quince burl chosen for its red, white, and black grain that echoes the shell’s pattern. A Magic Circle layout of brass bushings lets the shell’s angle be changed by moving three brass pillars. Threaded brass rods with ball nuts support the shell, and a drop of soft UV resin on each contact point prevents buzzing, making the heavy fossil appear to float while staying mechanically quiet.

Three hidden modes emerge. Holding the shell in your hands for bone-conducted haptic listening, shifting the exciter between internal and external mounts to change the sound from lo-fi radio to a sharper, more direct tone, and the dream of a stereo pair if a second shell appears. The Steampunk Nautilus turns a broken specimen into a reversible, vibrating instrument that asks you to feel the music as much as hear it, turning disappointment from a lottery into something tactile, strange, and surprisingly beautiful.

The post This 500-Million-Year-Old Nautilus Shell Is Now a Speaker first appeared on Yanko Design.

This 500-Million-Year-Old Nautilus Shell Is Now a Speaker

Posted on by

The Sazae Radio was a Japanese novelty radio built into a turban shell, sold by lottery in 2016 with just 100 units available for 8,350 applicants. The odds were 83.5 to one. Losing that lottery left a maker named hide-key with a simple choice: accept the disappointment or build something better. The DIY pivot turned into the Steampunk Nautilus, a haptic speaker project that takes a similar idea and pushes it considerably further.

The choice was a nautilus shell, a living fossil that has barely changed in 500 million years. Discovering that its English name matched Jules Verne’s submarine sealed the decision. The goal became not just a speaker, but a piece of audio art with three rules: steampunk-kintsugi repair, where metal celebrates the shell’s imperfections, conservation-minded reversibility, where every adhesive can be removed with acetone, and a haptic drive that turns the shell itself into a vibrating diaphragm.

Designer: hide-key

Early experiments failed. A massive sea snail shell refused to vibrate, too thick and heavy for a small exciter to drive. The nautilus, by contrast, worked immediately. Its thin, lightweight structure, built for buoyancy, behaves like a violin body or speaker cone, with internal ribs adding resonance without mass. The project quietly became a study in bioacoustics, where shell biology dictated whether the fossil could sing, and heavy shells behaved like bricks.

The build starts with a chipped shell and leans into the damage. The broken area is traced, and a 1.2 mm aluminum sheet is hammered and filed to match the organic curve, polished to a mirror, and attached with cyanoacrylate and brass-colored epoxy putty. All adhesives were chosen so they can be removed with acetone, leaving the shell intact underneath. Reversibility was treated as a hard constraint, respecting the specimen while giving it a new function.

The haptic core moved from a boring internal speaker to a vibration exciter mounted in a custom silicone cartridge that fits the shell’s living chamber. Water displacement measured the volume at just 50 cc, and Shore 15A silicone was poured to create a perfect seat. A transparent hair band acts as a hidden pull tab, and a silicone cap hides the exciter and diffuses its faint blue LED into a heartbeat-like glow deep in the spiral.

The base is a Quince burl chosen for its red, white, and black grain that echoes the shell’s pattern. A Magic Circle layout of brass bushings lets the shell’s angle be changed by moving three brass pillars. Threaded brass rods with ball nuts support the shell, and a drop of soft UV resin on each contact point prevents buzzing, making the heavy fossil appear to float while staying mechanically quiet.

Three hidden modes emerge. Holding the shell in your hands for bone-conducted haptic listening, shifting the exciter between internal and external mounts to change the sound from lo-fi radio to a sharper, more direct tone, and the dream of a stereo pair if a second shell appears. The Steampunk Nautilus turns a broken specimen into a reversible, vibrating instrument that asks you to feel the music as much as hear it, turning disappointment from a lottery into something tactile, strange, and surprisingly beautiful.

The post This 500-Million-Year-Old Nautilus Shell Is Now a Speaker first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tiny Camper Company’s Stubby is $2,900, all-composite slide-in camper built to last

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I’m in awe of how quickly the RV industry is transitioning from wood and metal builds to all-composite construction. Following the release of the Unit-1 rugged squaredrop off-roader from California-based Ecno Evil, which was constructed without wood yet designed to tackle untamed roads, another 100 percent wood-free camper makes its presence known. Called the Stubby, it is a bare-bones slide-in camper that starts at just $2,900, making it an accessible entry point for almost any type of adventurer.

Completely wood-free, all-composite construction means this slide-in camper, whether it’s stationed on the pickup truck bed or mounted on a platform, will remain leak-proof and corrosion-free for the lifetime of the vehicle. To stay put where you choose to place it, the camper features a pair of aluminium slides and built-in tie-down points so it’s secure and stable to transport.

Designer: Tiny Camper Company

The Stubby is designed and engineered by the guys at the Tiny Camper Company in Florida, which has been creating affordable and compact RVs and has a decent portfolio to show. The Stubby slide-in can fit right into the back of a medium-sized truck with the help of only two people, who can lift and put it there. The cabin is absolutely lightweight at 280 lbs – largely because it’s only a sturdy and capable skeleton. If you want it out there in the wilderness with you, you will have to furnish it up at least with bedding, cooking, and toilet facilities.

Notably, Stubby makes provision for power with a 110V interior outlet and a Marine-grade exterior power connection, but an alternative power source would be necessary when you want to camp in it. With the optional Zero Breeze Mark 2 air conditioner (that comes for an additional $700) and other addons, the slide-in camper should be apt for off-grid adventures and as a quick sleeping solution when you want to “convert your truck into a resting spot.”

Crafted for utmost durability and maximum utility, the 48 inches wide x 6-foot 5 inches long Stubby may be bare bones on the inside to start with, but on the outside, it’s an impressive cabin. The rear access door, measuring 26 inches x 32 inches, is the only entrance. The periphery of the slide-in camper is marked by a set of 12-inch x 24-inch side windows that are strategically positioned to maximize natural light and ventilation. To ensure passive airflow, the Stubby also gets a half-moon air vent on either side. For an asking price of under $3,000, the Tiny Camper Company’s offering is surely enticing. Also, if you don’t like a lot of weight and side-protruding campers in your truck bed, the compact Stubby is a winner!

 

The post Tiny Camper Company’s Stubby is $2,900, all-composite slide-in camper built to last first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meetup’s new mobile app is designed to make it easier to meet people IRL

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If you're like me, it's probably been a hot minute since you’ve used or even thought of Meetup. Predating both Facebook and Twitter, the website, which was designed to help people organize in-person events, has changed hands a handful of times in recent years. 

In 2017, founder Scott Heiferman sold it to WeWork, which offloaded it a few years later before declaring bankruptcy in 2023. As of 2024, Bending Spoons, the Italian tech company that's probably best known for buying Evernote in 2022, has been running Meetup. 

In the aftermath of the pandemic, the platform has seen something of resurgence. As of late 2025, Gen Z and young Millennials make up 40 percent of Meetup's active user base and represent its most engaged group of users. This year, the app has also seen a 20 percent year-over-year increase in new registrations. Going into 2026, Bending Spoons is hoping to build on that momentum with a redesign of Meetup's mobile app. 

The new interface, which starts rolling out today, brings the Android and iOS app inline with Meetup's recently redesigned website. Across the application, users can expect updated fonts, new more colorful icons and better spacing. The goal of the redesign is to make the app "vibrant, fun and more modern than before," says Chiara Vivaldi, Meetup's product lead. She adds the redesigned app retains all the key features found in the previous version, while making those easier to find. For instance, users can access their profile and groups directly from the homepage of the app.  

Beyond making Meetup feel more modern, Bending Spoon is using the redesign to cement the groundwork for a series of improvements it plans to roll out in the coming months. 

Soon, Meetup users will be able to see a breakdown of the people who have signed up for an event.
Soon, Meetup users will be able to see a breakdown of the people who have signed up for an event.
Bending Spoons

According to Vivaldi, one major priority is to give people, particularly women, more confidence to attend the events that are listed on Meetup. When you navigate to an event page in the new app, you'll see a broad gender and age breakdown of the users who have signed up to be there. Additionally, new and richer user profiles allow people to get a better sense of who exactly they might meet if they decide to go. Bending Spoons is also introducing a new Super Organizer badge it plans to award to the platform's top event planners. It's designed to signal to users that the person who put together the event takes community building seriously. 

Taken together, Vivaldi says these features are designed to reduce the friction of attending events where you might not know anyone, and they're something the company plans to build on in the future. 

At the same time, Bending Spoons plans to make it easier for organizers to use Meetup. Starting early next year, the company will unify Meetup's two disparate apps — right now, the company maintains separate ones for members and organizers. Vivaldi says organizers can expect the unified app to include all of the features they depend on, alongside a handful of enhancements. For instance, Vivaldi’s team is working to make QR-based ticketing the norm for check-ins and attendance tracking. She says the move to a single app is informed by the fact that 75 percent of Meetup's organizers got their start as a member. 

"[Organizers] are part of the community. They want to be in the action, and so having them within the same app is conducive to that. They can jump into conversations, look at other events, making it all feel a bit more organic," Vivaldi said. In the meantime, if it’s been since you’ve used Meetup, you can download the redesigned app from the App and Google Play stores.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/meetups-new-mobile-app-is-designed-to-make-it-easier-to-meet-people-irl-150000920.html?src=rss

Breitling Just Made the Astro Boy Watch Every 90s Kid Wanted

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Sometimes the best collaborations are the ones you never saw coming. Swiss watchmaker Breitling just dropped a timepiece that pairs aviation-grade engineering with a 1950s Japanese robot boy, and somehow, it works brilliantly.

The Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Astro Boy Limited Edition brings together two worlds that seem miles apart: the technical precision of luxury Swiss watchmaking and the retro-futuristic charm of one of manga’s most iconic characters. Created by the legendary Osamu Tezuka in 1952, Astro Boy embodies optimism about technology and the future, which makes this partnership with Breitling’s pilot-focused Avenger line oddly perfect.

Designer: Breitling

Let’s talk about what makes this watch special. The dial is a vibrant yellow that immediately catches your eye, chosen specifically to echo the fiery thrust of Astro Boy’s signature rocket boots. Against this sunny backdrop, three contrasting black sub-dials create visual depth and drama. But the real star of the show appears on the 9 o’clock sub-dial, where Astro Boy himself is rendered in mid-leap, complete with his spiky hair, those famous red boots, and an expression of pure determination.

Flip the watch over and you’ll find another surprise. The sapphire case back reveals both a playful portrait of Astro Boy and the impressive Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, a COSC-certified movement that offers a 70-hour power reserve. It’s this kind of detail that shows Breitling isn’t just slapping a cartoon character on a watch and calling it a day. The technical specs hold their own: column-wheel control, vertical clutch for precise chronograph engagement, and all the performance you’d expect from an Avenger. The watch itself is housed in a robust 44mm stainless steel case with square pushers and a screw-locked crown, offering 300 meters of water resistance. It’s paired with a rugged black military leather strap that keeps the overall aesthetic grounded and functional, preventing the watch from tipping too far into novelty territory.

This collaboration works because both Breitling and Astro Boy share DNA rooted in pushing boundaries. The Avenger line was built for pilots and adventurers, people who need tools they can trust in demanding conditions. Astro Boy, meanwhile, represented a hopeful vision of how technology could make the world better. When you look at it that way, a robot boy with rocket-powered flight feels like a natural mascot for a pilot’s chronograph.

Of course, exclusivity is part of the appeal. Breitling is only making 99 pieces, each individually engraved with “ONE OF 99.” The watch comes packaged in a specially designed Astro Boy collector’s box, turning the whole package into something that transcends just being a timepiece. It’s a collectible that bridges generations, appealing to vintage manga fans, watch enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates when two iconic brands take creative risks together. There’s one catch: this limited edition is exclusively available through Breitling’s website and boutiques in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Macau. That regional focus makes sense given Astro Boy’s massive cultural footprint in Asia, but it also means fans elsewhere might have to work a bit harder to get their hands on one.

What’s refreshing about this collaboration is how it balances playfulness with craftsmanship. Pop culture watch collaborations can sometimes feel like cash grabs, but this feels considered. The yellow dial isn’t garish; it’s bold and confident. Astro Boy’s inclusion feels integrated rather than tacked on. Even the red-tipped chronograph seconds hand ties back to the character’s iconic color palette. Breitling has proven that heritage brands can embrace pop culture without losing their identity. The Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Astro Boy Limited Edition manages to honor both the technical excellence that defines Swiss watchmaking and the imaginative spirit of Tezuka’s creation. It’s a watch that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still delivering serious horological goods.

For 99 lucky collectors, this timepiece offers something rare: a conversation starter that also happens to be a genuinely impressive chronograph. And in a market flooded with safe choices and predictable designs, that kind of bold creativity deserves a round of applause.

The post Breitling Just Made the Astro Boy Watch Every 90s Kid Wanted first appeared on Yanko Design.

OpenAI just launched an app store inside ChatGPT

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OpenAI has introduced an app directory that's now available right inside ChatGPT, the company announced. "Apps extend ChatGPT conversations by bringing in new context and letting users take action like order groceries, turn an outline into a slide deck or search for an apartment," the company wrote in a blog post. OpenAI also noted in a help document that "connector" apps like Google Drive are now simply called "apps."

The new apps section (on iOS, Android and web) is divided into Feature, Lifestyle and Productivity categories, letting you connect to commonly used apps and sites like Booking.com, Spotify and Dropbox. To use an app, simply click on it, hit "Connect" then authorize the app to access ChatGPT. With that done, you can then start a chat related to that app. In the case of Dropbox, for instance, you'll be able to "gather insights, prepare briefs and summarize reports or internal documents," according to the description. Once connected, any app can be accessed by doing an @ mention of it.

A new addition that came along with the store is an Apple Music app that, like Spotify, helps users find music, create playlists and manage their libraries through a chat interface. Another is DoorDash, which lets you transform recipes, meal planning and staples into "an actionable shopping cart."

Along with the app directory, OpenAI is now allowing developers to submit apps for review and publication in ChatGPT according to the company's app submission guidelines. It also published resources to help developers build such apps, including best practices, open-source example apps, an open-sourced UI library for chat-native interfaces and a step-by-step quickstart guide. That's on top of the software developer kit (SDK) that OpenAI introduced in October.

OpenAI noted that for now, developers can only monetize apps by linking out from the ChatGPT app to the native app or website — but the company is exploring internal monetization options as well. Privacy was also emphasized, with companies required to provide "clear" policies.

The new feature is a big part of Sam Altman's promises to make ChatGPT more versatile with the addition of custom "GPT" bots. "Over time, we want apps in ChatGPT to feel like a natural extension of the conversation, helping people move from ideas to action, while building a thriving ecosystem for developers," the company wrote.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-just-launched-an-app-store-inside-chatgpt-133049586.html?src=rss

This Tiny House Brings Apartment Comfort To Off-Grid Living

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Portuguese woodworking studio Madeiguincho has unveiled its latest masterpiece, a compact dwelling that proves luxury isn’t measured in square footage. The Duna tiny house arrives as a thoughtful response to a client’s desire for something quite specific: the warmth and convenience of city apartment living transplanted into the wilderness, all while staying completely off-grid. Built on a double-axle trailer stretching just six meters in length, the Duna represents a careful balance between mobility and comfort.

The exterior showcases Madeiguincho’s signature timber craftsmanship, with wood cladding that wraps the entire structure in natural warmth. This isn’t just an aesthetic choice. The studio has built its reputation on exceptional woodworking, and every panel, joint, and finish speaks to decades of experience that began in 1990. The home’s roof tells its own story about modern sustainability, with solar panels blanketing the entire surface, capturing enough energy to power the dwelling without any connection to the grid.

Designer: Madeiguincho

This solar setup allows the Duna to settle into remote Swiss landscapes where its owner wanted to establish roots, far from power lines and municipal services. Step inside, and the timber theme continues with rich wooden surfaces creating a cocoon of natural materials. The space is designed for two people, with every centimeter serving multiple purposes. The layout flows seamlessly from living area to sleeping quarters, all bathed in the warm tones of carefully selected wood.

The bathroom stands out as particularly clever. Rather than tucking it away as an afterthought, Madeiguincho gave it a secondary entrance from outside. This transforms the space into a functional mudroom where hiking boots can be shed, wet dogs can be toweled off, and outdoor gear can be stored without dragging dirt through the main living space. Just outside this entrance sits an outdoor shower, perfect for rinsing off after a day spent exploring nature.

What makes the Duna special isn’t any single feature but rather how everything works together. The client didn’t want to rough it or sacrifice modern comforts. They wanted apartment living in the middle of nowhere, and that’s exactly what Madeiguincho delivered. The space feels finished and refined, not like camping but like genuinely living well. The timing of this project feels particularly relevant as more people reconsider what home means and whether bigger truly equals better.

The Duna suggests a different equation entirely: one where quality of materials, thoughtfulness of design, and connection to surroundings matter more than extra bedrooms that rarely get used. Madeiguincho has carved out a distinctive niche in the tiny house world. While others pursue industrial efficiency or ultra-modern aesthetics, this Portuguese studio stays committed to traditional craftsmanship and natural materials. The Duna exemplifies this philosophy, offering a home that feels timeless rather than trendy, handmade rather than manufactured. It’s a dwelling designed for slow living, for paying attention to seasons and sunlight, for remembering that sometimes the smallest spaces hold the strongest possibilities.

The post This Tiny House Brings Apartment Comfort To Off-Grid Living first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ultrahuman brings snoring detection and respiratory health tracking to the Ring Air

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The Ultrahuman Ring Air now has the capacity to track snoring and general respiratory health. This is thanks to proprietary technology called Respiratory Health PowerPlug, which is basically a suite of audio analysis tools along with some "advanced biomarker tracking" and AI tomfoolery.

All of this results in "one of the most comprehensive consumer tools ever built for understanding nighttime respiratory stability." It details snoring sessions, of course, but also delivers a holistic and "actionable sleep picture." The company says this "reveals patterns, trends and changes in respiratory health over time."

Health insights.
Ultrahuman

To that end, it can also detect coughing and respiratory disturbances. This data is cross-referenced with movement patterns, sleep fragmentation patterns and resting heart rate to "show exactly how breathing issues shape sleep quality." The company says this can be a good resource when experimenting with interventions, like switching to a new pillow or taping up the nose.

More health data is never a bad thing, but this information isn't free. Ultrahuman is charging $4 per month for access to the tool, though folks can pick up an annual subscription for $40.

The Ultrahuman Ring Air made our list of the best smart rings, and that was before the company introduced this new software. It tracks an impressive amount of data and integrates with third-party devices like glucose monitors.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/ultrahuman-brings-snoring-detection-and-respiratory-health-tracking-to-the-ring-air-130054901.html?src=rss

The FTC is reportedly investigating Instacart over its AI pricing tool

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The Federal Trade Commission has sent Instacart a civil investigative demand, seeking information about its AI-powered pricing tool, according to Reuters. This comes after a recently published pricing experiment study showed that the online grocery delivery app gave different users different prices for the same items from the same store location at the exact same time. Some of the testers saw prices up to 23 percent higher than what the other testers saw, though the average difference for the same list of items was around 7 percent. Those higher prices could cost customers over $1,000 more in expenses for the year.

“The Federal Trade Commission has a longstanding policy of not commenting on any potential or ongoing investigations,” the FTC told Reuters in a statement. “But, like so many Americans, we are disturbed by what we have read in the press about Instacart’s alleged pricing practices.”

When the study came out, Instacart told Engadget that the pricing variances were caused by some of its retail partners doing “limited, short-term and randomized tests” to better understand consumers. Those randomized pricing tests were enabled by Instacart’s AI pricing tool called Eversight developed by a company it purchased in 2022. Instacart told CNBC that “much of what’s been reported has mischaracterized how pricing works” on its platform. The spokesperson repeated that retailers conduct pricing tests on its app and said that “prices on Instacart do not change in real time,” aren’t based on supply or demand and that it never uses “personal, demographic, or user-level behavioral data to set item prices.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-ftc-is-reportedly-investigating-instacart-over-its-ai-pricing-tool-130000472.html?src=rss