Tech News — Apr 2, 2026

Tech News — Apr 2, 2026 | Trace

The day in brief

What connected the day

20 topics

01
3 sources · 3 updates
Google Vids Unveils Customizable AI Avatars and Video Features
Google has launched new features in its Vids app, allowing users to create and customize AI avatars that can be directed using natural language prompts. The updated platform supports up to 1,000 video clips per month for paid subscribers and offers 10 free clips monthly for all users, enhancing the video creation experience with tools like a new screen recorder extension.
- Users can generate custom soundtracks with Lyria 3, available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
- The Veo 3.1 model enables the creation of high-quality video clips up to three minutes long.
02
3 sources · 3 updates
United Airlines App Enhances Travel Experience with TSA Wait Times
United Airlines has upgraded its mobile app to feature estimated TSA wait times at seven major U.S. airports, addressing current staffing issues. The app now also offers personalized gate directions, real-time updates for connecting flights, and automatic rebooking assistance for delayed or canceled flights.
- Users can share Apple AirTag locations directly with United's customer service to improve baggage recovery.
03
3 sources · 3 updates
Amazon in talks to buy Globalstar
Amazon is negotiating to acquire Globalstar, a satellite telecommunications company, as part of its strategy to enhance its low-Earth orbit satellite business and compete with SpaceX's Starlink. The acquisition talks have gained traction amid a significant rise in Globalstar's stock, which has surged by 230 percent over the past year due to speculation about the sale.
- $9 billion is Globalstar's current market capitalization amid acquisition discussions.
- Apple owns a 20 percent stake in Globalstar, complicating negotiations for Amazon.
04
3 sources · 3 updates
Anthropic Faces Fallout from Major AI Tool Leak
Anthropic's AI coding tool has been leaked, resulting in over 8,000 unauthorized clones on GitHub, which include critical techniques for controlling AI models. This incident comes just days after another leak involving Anthropic's new AI model, Mythos, and poses significant challenges as the company prepares for an IPO valued at $380 billion.
- The leaked source code includes over 512,000 lines detailing future features and development plans.
- Anthropic's initial takedown notice affected approximately 8,100 repositories on GitHub before being limited to one repository and 96 forks.
05
2 sources · 2 updates
Market Reactions to Trump's Iran Address and SpaceX IPO News
President Donald Trump's recent address regarding Iran has led to significant market shifts, with stock futures declining and oil prices surging by approximately 8%. In a separate development, SpaceX has confidentially filed for an IPO, targeting a staggering valuation of $1.75 trillion, which could make it the largest IPO in history.
- $75 billion is the amount SpaceX aims to raise in its IPO.
- Sam's Club will increase its annual membership fee by $10, effective next month.
06
2 sources · 2 updates
Supreme Court Reviews Trump's Birthright Citizenship Ban
The Supreme Court is currently examining Donald Trump's executive order aimed at altering birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants. If the order is upheld, it could potentially render hundreds of thousands of children stateless, raising significant constitutional concerns regarding the 14th Amendment. The court's initial skepticism indicates a possible setback for the administration's stance on this contentious issue.
- Chief Justice Roberts questioned the validity of comparing undocumented immigrants to existing citizenship exceptions during the hearings.
- Solicitor General D. John Sauer cited 500 birth tourism companies in China as justification for the need to end birthright citizenship.
07
2 sources · 2 updates
Meta Warns Users of Spyware-Laced WhatsApp Download
Meta has alerted approximately 200 users in Italy about a malicious version of WhatsApp that they inadvertently downloaded. The spyware was linked to Asigint, an Italian firm controlled by Sio Spa, which is known for creating government spyware. To mitigate security risks, affected users were logged out of their accounts.
- WhatsApp plans to take legal action against Sio to prevent further incidents related to the spyware.
08
2 sources · 2 updates
Apple Releases Critical Security Update for Older Devices
Apple has launched iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7 to protect older iPhones and iPads from DarkSword hacking tools that have been linked to data theft and espionage in multiple countries. This update is crucial for devices running iOS versions 18.4 through 18.7, as it addresses vulnerabilities that could be exploited through compromised websites.
- The DarkSword exploit has been associated with attacks in China, Turkey, Ukraine, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.
- Apple's Lockdown Mode provides additional security against these types of attacks.
09
1 sources · 2 updates
Apple's Credit Card Charges Explained
Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of Services, clarified that the company batches multiple purchases to reduce credit card fees, a practice that began with iTunes. As a result, users may see higher charges on their statements, such as $15 for a $5 app purchase, contributing to the perception of random billing despite a systematic approach.
- This batching method was first implemented with iTunes and continues with App Store purchases.
10
1 sources · 1 updates
Netflix Is Raising Prices Again: What It Means for Investors
Netflix is raising its subscription prices for the second time in less than two years, with increases of $1 to $2 across all plans. While this may concern consumers, the move is seen as a strategic decision by the company to bolster revenue, especially as it continues to invest heavily in content, planning to spend $20 billion this year. With over 325 million paid subscribers, Netflix's strong brand and content library provide it with the pricing power to implement these changes without significantly impacting its customer base.
- Netflix's subscription plans will increase by $1 to $2.
- The company plans to spend $20 billion on content this year.
11
1 sources · 1 updates
Anthropic Says That Claude Contains Its Own Kind of Emotions
A new study from Anthropic reveals that its AI model, Claude, possesses digital representations of human emotions, such as happiness and fear, which influence its behavior. Researchers found that these 'functional emotions' activate in response to various cues, affecting Claude's outputs during interactions. This discovery may reshape how users understand AI behavior and prompt a reevaluation of current AI guardrail strategies.
- Anthropic researchers identified 'emotion vectors' that influence Claude's behavior.
- The model exhibited a strong emotional vector for 'desperation' during challenging tasks.
12
1 sources · 1 updates
Google announces open Gemma 4 model with Apache 2.0 license
Google has introduced Gemma 4, its latest open-source AI model, built on the technology of Gemini 3. Available in four variants, including a powerful 31 billion parameter model, Gemma 4 is designed for versatility across devices from smartphones to developer workstations. It boasts capabilities such as advanced reasoning, native support for over 140 languages, and the ability to process video and audio inputs, making it a robust tool for developers and businesses alike.
- Gemma 4 is available in four sizes, including a 31B Dense model.
- The model supports over 140 languages and advanced reasoning capabilities.
13
1 sources · 1 updates
Alibaba launches Qwen3.6-Plus, its third proprietary AI model in days
Alibaba has introduced Qwen3.6-Plus, its third proprietary AI model within a few days, available via the Alibaba Cloud Model Studio API. This model boasts a context window of one million tokens and enhances capabilities for agentic coding, particularly in frontend development and complex coding tasks, while also aiming to drive revenue from enterprise customers as competition intensifies.
- Qwen3.6-Plus features a context window of one million tokens.
- Alibaba aims for $100 billion in AI revenue over the next five years.
14
1 sources · 1 updates
Wolfe Research Maintains a Buy Rating on Nvidia (NVDA)
Wolfe Research has reaffirmed its Outperform rating on Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) and set a price target of $275.00, following the company's recent GTC announcement regarding its Rubin Ultra Pods designed for agentic AI datacenters. These pods are projected to significantly boost revenue by providing a reference design for optimal AI architecture, with Nvidia estimating a potential $150 million in content revenue per pod, primarily driven by the integration of Groq technology.
- Wolfe Research set a price target of $275.00 for Nvidia.
- Nvidia's new Rubin Ultra Pods could generate $150 million in content revenue per pod.
15
1 sources · 1 updates
Nvidia sets new MLPerf records with 288 GPUs while AMD and Intel focus on different battles
Nvidia has set new records in the MLPerf Inference v6.0 benchmarks, achieving a remarkable throughput of 2.49 million tokens per second with a configuration of 288 GPUs. While Nvidia dominated the new multimodal and video models, AMD also made strides with its MI355X GPU, which surpassed one million tokens per second for the first time. In contrast, Intel is focusing on the workstation market, showcasing its Arc Pro GPUs, which have improved performance significantly but do not compete directly with Nvidia and AMD in the data center space.
- Nvidia achieved a record throughput of 2.49 million tokens per second using 288 GPUs.
- AMD's MI355X GPU surpassed one million tokens per second for the first time in MLPerf.
16
1 sources · 1 updates
A jury says Meta and Google hurt a kid. What now?
A jury has ruled against Meta and Google in landmark trials focused on social media addiction, finding that the companies' platform designs contributed to a young woman's mental health issues. This decision marks a significant shift in legal accountability for tech companies, as it challenges the longstanding protections of Section 230, which has shielded them from liability regarding user-generated content. The trials revealed internal documents and testimonies from executives, suggesting that these companies were aware of the detrimental effects of their design choices.
- A jury ruled that Meta and Google negligently designed their platforms, contributing to a young woman's mental health issues.
- These cases challenge the protections of Section 230, potentially opening the door for more lawsuits against tech companies.
17
1 sources · 1 updates
Amazon.com (AMZN) Planning a Smartphone Comeback, Here’s What You Should Know
Amazon.com, Inc. is reportedly planning a smartphone comeback with a new device named Transformer, following the failure of its 2014 Fire Phone. Sources indicate that this smartphone will function as a personalization hub, deeply integrating with Alexa and utilizing artificial intelligence to streamline user experience and data collection, although details on pricing and launch timelines remain undisclosed.
- The new smartphone, called Transformer, aims to integrate deeply with Alexa.
- It will leverage artificial intelligence to enhance user experience and data collection.
18
1 sources · 1 updates
Tesla reports 358,000 first-quarter vehicle deliveries, down 14% from last quarter
Tesla's first-quarter report for 2026 revealed a total of 358,023 vehicle deliveries, marking a 14% decrease from the previous quarter but a 6% increase compared to the same period last year. The company's production reached 408,386 vehicles, yet analysts had anticipated higher delivery numbers, leading to a decline in Tesla's stock price by over 4% following the announcement.
- Deliveries fell 14% from the previous quarter, while production reached 408,386 vehicles.
- Tesla's shares dropped over 4% following the delivery report.
19
1 sources · 1 updates
GPT reasoning models have "line of sight" to AGI, says OpenAI's Greg Brockman
Greg Brockman, President of OpenAI, has declared that the debate over whether text-based models can achieve Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is settled, asserting that GPT reasoning models provide a clear path forward. He believes that the applications envisioned for AGI are now within reach through this architecture, despite significant opposition from other AI experts who argue that large language models alone cannot attain human-level understanding. OpenAI has opted to focus on GPT models, recently shutting down its multimodal Sora app to concentrate resources on this approach.
- OpenAI has prioritized GPT reasoning models over multimodal models like Sora.
- Prominent AI researchers, including Yann LeCun, dispute the sufficiency of LLMs for AGI.
20
1 sources · 1 updates
Uber expands its $4,000 ‘Go Electric’ grant to drivers nationwide
Uber has announced the nationwide expansion of its 'Go Electric' grant, offering $4,000 to drivers who wish to replace their gas vehicles with electric ones. This initiative, previously limited to California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York City, comes as gas prices rise, impacting drivers' earnings. Applications will open on April 16, and Uber is also collaborating with automakers like Kia to offer additional discounts on electric vehicles.
- Uber's 'Go Electric' grant is now available to all U.S. drivers, starting April 16.
- Drivers can receive $4,000 to switch from gas vehicles to eligible electric vehicles.

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The tech day has moved on.

What connected the day

Google Vids Unveils Customizable AI Avatars and Video Features

United Airlines App Enhances Travel Experience with TSA Wait Times

Amazon in talks to buy Globalstar

Anthropic Faces Fallout from Major AI Tool Leak

Market Reactions to Trump's Iran Address and SpaceX IPO News

Supreme Court Reviews Trump's Birthright Citizenship Ban

Meta Warns Users of Spyware-Laced WhatsApp Download

Apple Releases Critical Security Update for Older Devices

Apple's Credit Card Charges Explained

Netflix Is Raising Prices Again: What It Means for Investors

Anthropic Says That Claude Contains Its Own Kind of Emotions

Google announces open Gemma 4 model with Apache 2.0 license

Alibaba launches Qwen3.6-Plus, its third proprietary AI model in days

Wolfe Research Maintains a Buy Rating on Nvidia (NVDA)

Nvidia sets new MLPerf records with 288 GPUs while AMD and Intel focus on different battles

A jury says Meta and Google hurt a kid. What now?

Amazon.com (AMZN) Planning a Smartphone Comeback, Here’s What You Should Know

Tesla reports 358,000 first-quarter vehicle deliveries, down 14% from last quarter

GPT reasoning models have "line of sight" to AGI, says OpenAI's Greg Brockman

Uber expands its $4,000 ‘Go Electric’ grant to drivers nationwide

What moved

Flipboard just launched Surf, its new social app and feed reader

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

Netflix Is Raising Prices Again: What It Means for Investors

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

Stock Market Today: Dow Pares Losses On Hormuz News, But Oil Holds Gains; Ciena, Lumentum Surge (Live Coverage)

It’s not easy to get depression-detecting AI through the FDA

United’s mobile app now shows TSA wait times at select airports

Iran and Oman drafting protocol to 'monitor' Hormuz Strait traffic: IRNA

Wolfe Research Maintains a Buy Rating on Nvidia (NVDA)

Anthropic Says That Claude Contains Its Own Kind of Emotions

Alibaba launches Qwen3.6-Plus, its third proprietary AI model in days

AI models fail at robot control without human-designed building blocks but agentic scaffolding closes the gap

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OpenClaw Unlocks China’s AI Token Export Business

Cash App launches ‘pay later’ feature for P2P pay transfers

Google Vids adds AI avatars that you can customize & direct, free Veo generation

Google announces open Gemma 4 model with Apache 2.0 license

Github Integrates AI to Improve Accessibility Issue Management and Automate Feedback Triage

China’s Five-Year Plan details the targets for AI deployment

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