Tech News — Mar 23, 2026

Tech News — Mar 23, 2026 | Trace

The day in brief

What connected the day

12 topics

01
2 sources · 2 updates
Grab Acquires Foodpanda Taiwan for $600 Million
Grab Holdings Ltd. has announced its acquisition of Foodpanda's Taiwan operations from Delivery Hero SE for $600 million, marking its first expansion outside Southeast Asia. The deal will enhance Grab's presence in 21 cities across Taiwan, where Foodpanda currently holds a 52% market share in the food delivery sector. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
- Foodpanda's Taiwan business generated approximately $1.8 billion in Gross Merchandise Value.
- Grab aims to transition users and merchants to its platform by early 2027.
02
2 sources · 2 updates
Elliott Takes Multibillion-Dollar Stake in Synopsys
Elliott Investment Management has acquired a multibillion-dollar stake in Synopsys, a key player in the semiconductor industry. The activist investor aims to advocate for strategic changes to enhance Synopsys's financial performance as the demand for complex chip designs grows, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence.
- Elliott's investment is reported to be worth several billion dollars.
- Nvidia invested $2 billion in Synopsys stock in December 2022.
03
2 sources · 2 updates
Warren Accuses Pentagon of Retaliation Against Anthropic
Senator Elizabeth Warren has criticized the Pentagon's recent designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk, claiming it is a retaliatory action due to the AI lab's refusal to make military concessions. This designation prevents any company working with the Pentagon from utilizing Anthropic's products or services. In response, Anthropic is suing the Department of Defense for violating its First Amendment rights.
- OpenAI and Google have filed amicus briefs in support of Anthropic's lawsuit against the Department of Defense.
- The conflict between the DOD and Anthropic intensified amid the ongoing Iran war over access to AI models.
04
2 sources · 2 updates
Galaxy S26 gains AirDrop functionality
Samsung has introduced native AirDrop support for its Galaxy S26 series, enabling users to share files seamlessly with Apple devices. The rollout begins today in Korea, with a launch in the US expected later this week, and plans to extend support to additional Galaxy devices in the future.
- The AirDrop feature will roll out in Korea today and in the US later this week.
05
1 sources · 2 updates
Apple Sports Enhances Features Ahead of MLB Season
Apple Sports has introduced a new feature for MLB fans, allowing them to view the 'probable starting pitcher' ahead of the 2026 season opener. Additionally, NASCAR leaderboards have been updated to include car numbers, making it easier for fans to track their favorite drivers during races.
- The 2026 MLB season kicks off with the San Francisco Giants facing the New York Yankees on March 27.
- Apple Sports version 3.9 is available for free on the App Store.
06
1 sources · 1 updates
Sam Altman-backed fusion startup Helion in talks with OpenAI
Fusion startup Helion is reportedly in early discussions to sell power to OpenAI, backed by Sam Altman. The proposed deal could secure OpenAI 12.5% of Helion's production, with plans to generate 50 gigawatts by 2035. Helion is racing to construct its first commercial-scale reactor, aiming to outpace competitors targeting the early 2030s for commercial operations.
- Helion aims to provide OpenAI with 12.5% of its production by 2030.
- The startup plans to generate 50 gigawatts of power by 2035.
07
1 sources · 1 updates
Google TV just lost a big TV brand to web app-based ‘Titan OS’
Philips has announced that it will no longer use Google TV for its 2026 television lineup, opting instead for Titan OS, a web app-based platform. This shift marks a significant change for Philips, which has relied on Google TV for years, and is motivated by the potential for greater customization and ad revenue from Titan OS, despite mixed user feedback on the new system.
- Philips will use Titan OS on all models of its 2026 TV lineup.
- Titan OS focuses on web-based apps and ad-supported content.
08
1 sources · 1 updates
Exclusive-OpenAI sweetens private equity pitch amid enterprise turf war with Anthropic, sources say
OpenAI is intensifying its private equity strategy by offering a guaranteed minimum return of 17.5% to attract investors, significantly outpacing rival Anthropic's offerings. This move is part of a broader effort to secure partnerships that will facilitate the rapid deployment of AI tools across enterprise customers, as both companies position themselves for potential public listings this year.
- OpenAI is offering a guaranteed minimum return of 17.5% to private-equity firms.
- The company is in talks to raise about $4 billion at a $10 billion valuation.
09
1 sources · 1 updates
Microsoft Copilot Is Confronting Its Identity Crisis
Microsoft's AI Copilot is currently facing an identity crisis as the company undergoes a reorganization to address internal challenges and strengthen its competitive stance against rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. This shift highlights the need for Microsoft to redefine its AI strategy in a rapidly evolving market landscape.
- Microsoft's AI Copilot is undergoing a significant reorganization amid internal challenges.
- The company is grappling with its identity as it competes with rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.
10
1 sources · 1 updates
Apple has more plans to protect the iPhone Fold display, says report
Apple is reportedly taking significant steps to enhance the durability of the iPhone Fold display, learning from early folding phone failures like the Samsung Galaxy Fold. New protective features include self-healing glass and a dual-layer glass architecture that positions the display panel between layers of glass, which should improve reliability and reduce the visibility of the crease. Additionally, Apple has collaborated with Samsung to refine the hinge design, further safeguarding the screen from damage.
- Apple's iPhone Fold will feature self-healing glass and a dual-layer glass architecture.
- The display panel will be positioned between two layers of glass to enhance durability.
11
1 sources · 1 updates
What new Google Messages features are rolling out [March 2026]
Google Messages is rolling out a series of new features aimed at enhancing user experience, including a Trash folder for recovering deleted chats and a Tap to Draft option to prevent accidental sending of Smart Replies. Additionally, the app is testing encrypted RCS messaging between Android and iPhone devices, marking a significant step towards improved privacy in cross-platform communication.
- The new Trash folder allows deleted chats to be recovered within 30 days.
- Real-time location sharing now includes options for custom durations.
12
1 sources · 1 updates
Elon Musk unveils chip manufacturing plans for SpaceX and Tesla
Elon Musk has unveiled plans for a new chip manufacturing facility, dubbed 'Terafab,' intended to support the semiconductor needs of both Tesla and SpaceX. Announced during an event in Austin, Texas, Musk emphasized the urgency of this project due to delays in chip production that are hindering the companies' AI and robotics efforts. The facility aims to produce significant computing power, although Musk did not provide a specific timeline for its development.
- The planned 'Terafab' facility aims to produce chips with 100 to 200 gigawatts of computing power annually.
- Musk cited slow semiconductor production as the driving force behind this initiative.

The archive

What moved

TechCrunch

Littlebird raises $11M for its AI-assisted ‘recall’ tool that reads your computer screen

Littlebird secures $11M for innovative AI tool.

Read source

TechCrunch

Startup Gimlet Labs is solving the AI inference bottleneck in a surprisingly elegant way

Gimlet Labs secures $80 million to enhance AI efficiency.

Read source

The tech day has moved on.

What connected the day

Grab Acquires Foodpanda Taiwan for $600 Million

Elliott Takes Multibillion-Dollar Stake in Synopsys

Warren Accuses Pentagon of Retaliation Against Anthropic

Galaxy S26 gains AirDrop functionality

Apple Sports Enhances Features Ahead of MLB Season

Sam Altman-backed fusion startup Helion in talks with OpenAI

Google TV just lost a big TV brand to web app-based ‘Titan OS’

Exclusive-OpenAI sweetens private equity pitch amid enterprise turf war with Anthropic, sources say

Microsoft Copilot Is Confronting Its Identity Crisis

Apple has more plans to protect the iPhone Fold display, says report

What new Google Messages features are rolling out [March 2026]

Elon Musk unveils chip manufacturing plans for SpaceX and Tesla

What moved

Littlebird raises $11M for its AI-assisted ‘recall’ tool that reads your computer screen

Startup Gimlet Labs is solving the AI inference bottleneck in a surprisingly elegant way

You've seen the record. See the live version.

Some writing advice from Project Hail Mary’s Andy Weir

You've seen the record. See the live version.

Grab to buy Foodpanda Taiwan from Delivery Hero for $600 million

In-hub motors make this humble Hyundai a monster on ice

Synopsys shares rally as activist Elliott builds multibillion-dollar stake in chip design firm

Confronting the CEO of the AI company that impersonated me

HSBC appoints first chief AI officer as it seeks cost cuts

Nebius says "well-funded" for AI race after closing $4.3 billion debt raise

Ex-Goldman Banker’s AI Chip Company Secures SoftBank Funding

Sam Altman-backed fusion startup Helion in talks with OpenAI

U.S.-Iran talks, ICE in airports, gemstone investing and more in Morning Squawk

'This is insane.' Long lines plague U.S. airports as TSA officers face second missed paycheck in shutdown

Daily Spotlight: Financial Conditions: So Far, So Good

Fink Says AI Threatens to Leave Masses Behind Unless They Invest

The Bay Area’s animal welfare movement wants to recruit AI

AI is beginning to change the business of law

Bain Capital’s Bridge Data Centres Seeks Up to $6 Billion Loan

Oppo teases global Find X9 Ultra launch as new OnePlus shutdown rumors swirl

The AI Race Is Pressuring Utilities to Squeeze More From Europe’s Power Grids

QCon London 2026: Fixing the AI Infra Scale Problem by Stuffing 1M Sandboxes in a Single Server

Report: iPhone Air is about twice as popular compared to the Plus model it replaced

Spring News Roundup: Third Milestone Releases of Boot, Security, Integration, AI and AMQP

John Ternus was behind one of iPad’s most crucial changes, says report