Tech News — Mar 14, 2026

Tech News — Mar 14, 2026 | Trace

The day in brief

What connected the day

16 topics

01
5 sources · 5 updates
Amazon Raises Price for Prime Video Ultra Subscription
Amazon is increasing the price of its ad-free Prime Video subscription to $4.99/month, effective April 10, 2026. The service will be rebranded as Prime Video Ultra, which will now include features such as 4K UHD streaming, 5 concurrent streams, and 100 downloads.
- 4K streaming will only be available with the new Prime Video Ultra subscription, removing access for standard Prime subscribers.
- The introduction of ads to Prime Video in 2024 led to a class-action lawsuit from subscribers, which was dismissed last year.
02
3 sources · 3 updates
Digg Ceases Operations Due to Bot Issues
Digg has shut down its platform just two months after its highly anticipated relaunch, primarily due to severe issues with AI bot spam. CEO Justin Mezzell acknowledged that the scale of the bot problem exceeded expectations, prompting significant layoffs and the removal of the Digg app from the App Store. Despite the setback, Kevin Rose, the platform's original founder, is set to return full-time to help reimagine Digg's future.
- Digg banned tens of thousands of bot accounts during its short-lived beta.
- The company has laid off an unspecified number of employees as part of its retooling efforts.
03
2 sources · 2 updates
xAI Faces Major Restructuring Amid Co-Founder Exodus
Elon Musk's xAI is undergoing significant restructuring following the departure of multiple co-founders, leaving only two of the original eleven still involved. The company is facing competitive pressures, particularly in its coding tools, which are lagging behind rivals like Claude Code and Codex. To address these challenges, Musk is actively reviewing rejected applications to recruit new talent.
- Only two of the original 11 co-founders remain at xAI after recent departures.
- 11 senior engineers left xAI last month, prompting a major reorganization.
04
2 sources · 2 updates
Kalanick's Atoms Expands into Mining and Transport
Travis Kalanick has rebranded his company City Storage Systems to Atoms, which will now focus on robotics and expand into mining and transport sectors. The venture has been operating in stealth mode for eight years and employs thousands of people, with Kalanick aiming to create 'gainfully employed robots' across various industries.
- Atoms will focus on three areas: Atoms Food, Atoms Mining, and Atoms Transport.
- Kalanick's previous venture, CloudKitchens, reached a valuation of $15 billion by 2022.
05
2 sources · 2 updates
Spotify Enhances User Control with New Taste Profile Feature
Spotify is rolling out a new feature called the Taste Profile, allowing Premium users in New Zealand to customize their music and podcast preferences directly. This update enables users to specify their desired genres and vibes, addressing previous complaints about inaccurate recommendations due to shared accounts. The feature also includes a 'Tell us more' box for more personalized suggestions.
- The Taste Profile feature is currently available only to Spotify Premium users in New Zealand.
- Spotify co-CEO Gustav Söderström announced the feature at SXSW.
06
1 sources · 1 updates
Apple’s iPhone 17e Is a Worthy Alternative to the Pricier iPhone 17
Apple has introduced the iPhone 17e as a more affordable alternative to the pricier iPhone 17, which recently received substantial upgrades. While there are notable differences between the two models, the iPhone 17e offers enough enhancements to appeal to budget-conscious shoppers seeking reliability without the higher price tag.
- The iPhone 17e is priced at $200 less than the iPhone 17.
- The iPhone 17e includes meaningful upgrades compared to its predecessor.
07
1 sources · 1 updates
Apple @ Work: IT leaders fear vendor lock-in as the ‘Cloud Only’ dream fades
As organizations settle into 2026, many IT departments are reevaluating their cloud-only strategies due to rising concerns about vendor lock-in. A recent survey indicates that 94% of IT leaders are worried about the implications of relying solely on cloud services, with nearly half expressing significant concerns over product roadmaps and support. This shift in perspective is prompting a move towards hybrid models that offer greater flexibility and cost control.
- 94% of organizations express concern about vendor lock-in in cloud services.
- 85% of organizations spend 1 to 10 hours weekly managing their VDI environments.
08
1 sources · 1 updates
Staff complain that xAI is flailing because of constant upheaval
Elon Musk's xAI is facing significant turmoil as he implements job cuts and leadership changes in response to the startup's underwhelming performance in the AI coding market. Following a $1.25 billion merger with SpaceX, Musk has brought in fixers from his other companies and has seen the departure of key cofounders, which has severely impacted employee morale and productivity. Staff report that the constant upheaval is hindering xAI's potential to compete with established rivals like Anthropic and OpenAI.
- Elon Musk has cut jobs at xAI while merging it with SpaceX in a $1.25 billion deal.
- The company has lost multiple cofounders, leaving only two of the original eleven.
09
1 sources · 2 updates
Nvidia's GTC Highlights CPU's Rising Importance
At its GTC conference, Nvidia announced a strategic pivot towards CPUs to meet the growing demands of AI workflows, with its CPU revenue surging 75% year-over-year to over $62 billion. The company is set to deploy its new Vera CPU in 2027, following a partnership with Meta, as the CPU market is projected to grow significantly from $27 billion in 2025 to $60 billion by 2030.
- AMD is experiencing unprecedented demand for CPUs, with lead times for deliveries extending up to six months.
- Nvidia's CPUs are specifically designed to enhance GPU performance, focusing on single-threaded tasks rather than general-purpose computing.
10
1 sources · 1 updates
Elon Musk’s Ketamine Use Can’t be Probed in OpenAI Fraud Trial
In a significant ruling, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has determined that Elon Musk's use of ketamine cannot be introduced as evidence in the upcoming fraud trial against OpenAI Inc. The case alleges that OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, defrauded Musk by deviating from its original nonprofit mission, and it will feature testimony from prominent figures in the AI industry.
- The trial will feature testimony from major figures in Silicon Valley's AI sector.
- Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled on evidence admissibility at a recent hearing.
11
1 sources · 1 updates
Google Meet fully replaces legacy Duo calling
Google has officially completed the transition from Google Duo to Google Meet, making Meet its only video calling service. While the Duo brand was phased out in 2022, its legacy features lingered in Meet until their recent removal. This migration, initially set for September 2025, faced delays but has now fully rolled out, eliminating features like Knock Knock and Family while introducing new capabilities such as live captions and screen sharing.
- All legacy Duo features have been removed from Google Meet.
- New features in Google Meet include live captions and screen sharing.
12
1 sources · 1 updates
Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant is coming to current-gen Xbox consoles this year
Microsoft is set to introduce its Gaming Copilot AI assistant to current-generation Xbox consoles this year, following its rollout on the Xbox mobile app and Windows 11. Announced by Xbox's product manager Sonali Yadav at the Game Developers Conference, the assistant will help players navigate challenges in games by offering strategies and answering questions about gameplay. While specific console details were not confirmed, the current lineup includes the Xbox Series X and S.
- The Gaming Copilot AI will assist players with game strategies and recommendations.
- Xbox's current lineup includes the Xbox Series X | S consoles.
13
1 sources · 1 updates
Anthropic Pushes Back on Supply Chain Risk Label
Anthropic is pushing back against a supply chain risk label as it navigates an ongoing lawsuit. The company is taking steps to alleviate concerns regarding its supply chain practices and its strategic positioning within the technology sector, highlighting its commitment to transparency and operational integrity.
- Anthropic is currently involved in a lawsuit regarding its supply chain practices.
- The company is actively working to mitigate concerns over its strategic positioning in the tech sector.
14
1 sources · 1 updates
Meta Cable Expansion Stalled by Iran Conflict | Bloomberg Tech 3/13/2026
Meta has halted its significant internet expansion initiatives in Africa as the conflict with Iran escalates, affecting AI investments in the Middle East. This pause comes amid broader concerns in the tech industry, including the resignation of Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, who faces skepticism regarding the company's ability to adapt to the AI era.
- Meta's internet expansion efforts in Africa are currently on hold due to the Iran conflict.
- Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen will resign amid doubts about the company's AI strategy.
15
1 sources · 1 updates
Google Fiber will be sold to private equity firm and merge with cable company
Google Fiber, rebranded as GFiber, is set to be sold to private equity firm Stonepeak, which will merge it with Astound Broadband to form a larger internet service provider. Alphabet will maintain a minority stake in the new entity, which aims to enhance operational independence and accelerate growth, combining GFiber's networks with Astound's established infrastructure to cover over 7 million locations across 26 states.
- Google Fiber will be majority owned by private equity firm Stonepeak.
- The merger will combine services across 7.1 million locations in 26 states.
16
1 sources · 1 updates
Meta is killing end-to-end encryption for Instagram DMs soon
Meta has announced that it will eliminate end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages, effective May 8, 2026. This decision, communicated through an in-app notification, raises privacy concerns as users will no longer have the option to secure their conversations. Affected users will be provided with instructions to download any media or messages they wish to retain before the encryption is removed.
- Users will be able to download their media and messages before the change.
- The removal of encryption is confirmed via an in-app notification.

The archive

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The tech day has moved on.

What connected the day

Amazon Raises Price for Prime Video Ultra Subscription

Digg Ceases Operations Due to Bot Issues

xAI Faces Major Restructuring Amid Co-Founder Exodus

Kalanick's Atoms Expands into Mining and Transport

Spotify Enhances User Control with New Taste Profile Feature

Apple’s iPhone 17e Is a Worthy Alternative to the Pricier iPhone 17

Apple @ Work: IT leaders fear vendor lock-in as the ‘Cloud Only’ dream fades

Staff complain that xAI is flailing because of constant upheaval

Nvidia's GTC Highlights CPU's Rising Importance

Elon Musk’s Ketamine Use Can’t be Probed in OpenAI Fraud Trial

Google Meet fully replaces legacy Duo calling

Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant is coming to current-gen Xbox consoles this year

Anthropic Pushes Back on Supply Chain Risk Label

Meta Cable Expansion Stalled by Iran Conflict | Bloomberg Tech 3/13/2026

Google Fiber will be sold to private equity firm and merge with cable company

Meta is killing end-to-end encryption for Instagram DMs soon

What moved

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