Thursday, April 9, 2026

Meta Unveils Muse Spark AI Model

Meta has launched its first proprietary AI model, Muse Spark, marking a significant shift from open-source to closed-weight technology. The model aims to enhance Meta's advertising capabilities, which accounted for 98% of its $200 billion r...

• Meta invested $14.3 billion for a 49% stake in Scale AI to strengthen its AI initiatives.
• Muse Spark scored 52 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, ranking it among the top 5 models.

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Pentagon's Blacklisting of Anthropic Upheld

A U.S. appeals court has upheld the Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a national security risk, marking the first public supply chain risk for a U.S. company. The blacklisting follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's decision after Ant...

• Anthropic PBC is now prohibited from Department of Defense contracts but can still work with other agencies.

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Anthropic Launches Claude Managed Agents for Developers

Anthropic has introduced Claude Managed Agents in public beta, allowing developers to deploy autonomous AI agents without the need for extensive infrastructure management. Early adopters, including Notion and Rakuten, are already using the...

• The service costs $0.08 per session hour in addition to standard token rates.
• Claude Cowork has transitioned to enterprise-ready with six new features, including role-based access controls.

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Microsoft Account Lockout Halts WireGuard Updates

WireGuard's developer, Jason Donenfeld, has been locked out of his Microsoft account, preventing him from shipping critical software updates. This situation leaves users vulnerable to potential security threats, as no updates can be release...

• Jason Donenfeld is unable to ship updates, risking user security if vulnerabilities arise.
• Other developers, including Windscribe, are experiencing similar account lockout issues.

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Amazon's Jassy Unveils Bold AI Investment and Challenges Rivals

In his recent shareholder letter, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy outlined a robust $200 billion investment plan for AI in 2026, emphasizing the company's commitment to aggressive growth in the sector. Jassy also highlighted the success of Amazon's c...

• Amazon's AI revenue in its cloud segment has reached a $15 billion annual run rate.
• The custom chip business is generating over $20 billion in annual revenue, with demand for Trainium3 nearly sold out.

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OpenAI Restricts Access to Cybersecurity AI Model

OpenAI has announced that its new cybersecurity AI model will only be accessible to a select group of companies, following a similar move by Anthropic with its Mythos Preview model. This decision comes after OpenAI's previous pilot program,...

• OpenAI's cybersecurity AI model access is limited to select tech and security firms.
• Anthropic's Mythos Preview model has also restricted access due to its hacking capabilities.

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Spotify Allows Users to Disable Videos

Spotify has introduced a new feature that allows users to disable all videos in its app, enhancing the audio experience for both music and podcasts. This update is available to all users, including those on free and paid plans, and will rol...

• 60% of users under 13 had their video turned off by account managers.
• The video controls can be managed across mobile, desktop, web, and TV platforms.

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Samsung Announces Galaxy Z Fold 8 Launch Date

Samsung has confirmed that its highly anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be unveiled at the Unpacked event on July 22, 2026, in London. The event is expected to also feature the return of the S Pen, which was previously removed from the folda...

• The Unpacked event continues Samsung's global launch trend, following previous events in Korea, Paris, and New York.
• The S Pen's return marks a significant design change for the Galaxy Z Fold series.

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Gemini App Enhances Organization with New Notebooks Feature

Google's Gemini app has launched a new notebooks feature designed to help users organize their chats and files more effectively. This feature will initially be available to subscribers of Google’s AI Ultra, Pro, and Plus plans, with plans t...

• Notebooks will serve as personal knowledge bases across Google products, similar to ChatGPT’s Projects feature.
• Conversations in notebooks will sync with NotebookLM for enhanced responses.

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Amazon Cuts Support for Older Kindle Devices

Amazon has announced that support for 13 Kindle models released in 2012 and earlier will end on May 20, 2026. After this date, users will no longer be able to access the Kindle Store or download new content, although they can still read pre...

• Affected devices include the original Kindle, Kindle DX, and Kindle Paperwhite.
• Amazon is offering limited discounts on new Kindle models to encourage users to upgrade.

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Google Introduces New Features for Pixel At a Glance

Google has unveiled two new location-based features for its Pixel At a Glance widget, enhancing user convenience and dining experiences. The 'Passes nearby' feature provides quick access to Google Wallet passes based on the user's location,...

• The 'Passes nearby' feature builds on existing Google Wallet notifications to improve accessibility.

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Google expands partnership with Intel for AI chips

Google has announced an expanded partnership with Intel, committing to use multiple generations of Intel processors in its AI data centers. This move marks a significant step in their long-standing relationship, which dates back nearly thre...

• Google will utilize multiple generations of Intel Xeon 6 CPUs for AI workloads.
• Intel shares rose by 2% following the announcement, while Alphabet shares fell by 1%.

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Meta commits to spending additional $21 billion with CoreWeave as AI costs keep rising

Meta has announced a significant commitment of an additional $21 billion to AI cloud provider CoreWeave, building on a previous $14.2 billion agreement. This investment, which spans from 2027 to 2032, aims to enhance Meta's AI infrastructur...

• Meta's total commitment to CoreWeave now stands at $35.2 billion.
• CoreWeave's infrastructure supports major clients like Google and OpenAI.

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First, Tesla canceled the Model 2—now it's working on a new small EV

Tesla is reportedly working on a new smaller, affordable electric vehicle, following the cancellation of the Model 2. Sources indicate that this new model will be an all-new design measuring 168 inches long, significantly shorter than the e...

• The new EV is reported to be 168 inches long, shorter than the Model 3 and Model Y.
• Production is likely to occur in China, facing potential 100% tariffs for US imports.

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Apple Card’s transition to Chase: Here’s what’s not changing (and might be)

Apple Card is officially transitioning from Goldman Sachs to Chase over the next year or two, with Apple outlining what will remain unchanged for users. Key features, such as earning up to 3% Daily Cash back and having no fees, will continu...

• Apple Card users will continue to earn up to 3% Daily Cash on purchases.
• The transition will maintain no fees for users, including annual and late fees.

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Tesla is un-canceling its plan to build a smaller, cheaper EV: report

Tesla is reportedly reviving its plans to build a smaller, more affordable electric vehicle, potentially an SUV priced below $25,000. This marks a significant change for Elon Musk, who previously deemed such a model unnecessary while focusi...

• Tesla is reportedly exploring a new electric SUV priced below $25,000.
• The vehicle is expected to be manufactured first in China before reaching the US and Europe.

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OpenAI halts UK stargate project amid regulatory and energy price concerns

OpenAI has halted its Stargate project in the UK, citing concerns over high energy costs and regulatory challenges. Originally announced in September 2025, the initiative aimed to deploy up to 8,000 GPUs in collaboration with Nvidia and Nsc...

• OpenAI's Stargate project aimed to deploy 8,000 GPUs but is now paused.
• The UK has some of the highest industrial energy prices in the world.

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This founder helped build SpaceX’s most powerful rocket engine. Now he’s building a ‘fighter jet for orbit’

Jeff Thornburg, a key figure in developing SpaceX's Raptor engine, is now leading Portal Space Systems, which has secured $50 million in Series A funding to advance solar thermal propulsion technology. This innovative approach, which concen...

• Portal Space Systems raised $50 million in Series A funding, valuing the company at $250 million.
• The company is developing solar thermal propulsion, a technology previously studied by NASA since the 1960s.

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Ex-Apple engineers create an AI button that looks like an iPod Shuffle – but can’t explain why

Chris Nolet and Ryan Burgoyne, ex-Apple engineers, have developed an AI device called Button, which looks like an iPod Shuffle and features a generative AI chatbot. While it aims to solve privacy issues associated with always-on devices, th...

• The device, called Button, features a generative AI chatbot activated by pressing it.
• Chris Nolet and Ryan Burgoyne, former Apple engineers, designed the Button to address privacy concerns.

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Volkswagen begins testing its self-driving microbuses in Los Angeles ahead of launch with Uber

Volkswagen's MOIA America and Uber have commenced testing autonomous microbuses in Los Angeles, marking a significant step toward their planned robotaxi service set to launch by late 2026. The initial testing phase will involve around 10 el...

• Testing will begin with about 10 autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles in Los Angeles.
• The robotaxi service aims for a commercial launch by late 2026.

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