Tech News — Apr 14, 2026

Tech News — Apr 14, 2026 | Trace

The day in brief

What connected the day

20 topics

01
4 sources · 4 updates
Microsoft Increases Surface Device Prices
Microsoft has announced significant price hikes for its Surface lineup, primarily due to a global memory chip shortage. The 12-inch Surface Pro now starts at $1,050, while the 13-inch Surface Pro 11th Edition has increased to $1,500, reflecting a 50% price increase. These adjustments have positioned Microsoft's devices at a disadvantage compared to Apple's offerings, which have not seen similar price increases.
- The latest 13.8-inch Surface Laptop has seen price increases of up to $500.
02
3 sources · 4 updates
Amazon to Acquire Globalstar for $11.6 Billion
Amazon has announced its acquisition of satellite operator Globalstar for $11.6 billion, marking its largest investment since the purchase of Whole Foods in 2017. This strategic move aims to bolster Amazon's satellite communications capabilities and enhance its competitive edge against Starlink, a leading satellite internet provider.
- Globalstar operates more than 24 satellites and has agreements for over 50 new satellites.
- Amazon is offering Globalstar shareholders $90 per share, which represents a 23.5% premium over the previous closing price.
03
2 sources · 2 updates
Samsung Raises Prices on Galaxy Devices Amid Memory Shortage
Samsung has announced price increases on 11 of its Galaxy phones and tablets, with hikes reaching up to $280. This adjustment is attributed to rising costs associated with storage and memory, impacting popular models like the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.
- The 1TB Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra saw the largest increase, rising from $1,619.99 to $1,899.99.
- The Galaxy Z Flip 7's 512GB model increased from $1,219.99 to $1,299.99.
04
2 sources · 2 updates
Lucid Motors Expands Uber Partnership and Appoints New CEO
Lucid Motors has strengthened its partnership with Uber by selling an additional 15,000 robotaxis, specifically Lucid Gravity SUVs, raising Uber's total investment in the company to $500 million. The announcement coincides with the appointment of Silvio Napoli as the new CEO, who will be relocating from Switzerland to the US.
- The expanded deal follows a previous agreement for 20,000 vehicles announced last year.
- The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund is investing an additional $550 million in Lucid Motors.
05
2 sources · 2 updates
Google Cracks Down on Back Button Hijacking
Starting June 15, 2026, Google will classify back button hijacking as a form of spam, penalizing websites that engage in this practice. This crackdown aims to improve user experience by preventing deceptive navigation that leads users to unwanted content or ads. Site owners have a two-month window to address these issues before facing potential penalties, including lower search rankings and manual spam actions.
- Back button hijacking will be classified as spam, impacting site visibility in search results.
- Websites that continue this practice risk automated or manual anti-spam actions.
06
2 sources · 2 updates
Google Launches Gemini Personal Intelligence in India
Google has officially launched its Gemini Personal Intelligence feature for users in India, allowing them to connect services like Gmail and Google Photos for personalized responses. Initially available to AI Pro and AI Ultra users, the feature is set to roll out to free users in the coming weeks. Gemini was first introduced in the U.S. in January 2026 and later expanded to Japan.
- Gemini is currently accessible to AI Pro and AI Ultra users in India.
07
2 sources · 2 updates
OpenAI Acquires AI Finance Startup Hiro
OpenAI has acquired Hiro, a personal finance startup known for its AI-driven financial tools, although the acquisition is primarily an acqui-hire for Hiro's team. Founded in 2023, Hiro has managed over $1 billion in assets for its users and will cease operations on April 20, 2026, with user data scheduled for deletion by May 13.
- Ethan Bloch, Hiro's founder, previously sold his company Digit for approximately $230 million.
- Hiro's AI tool focused on modeling financial scenarios with an emphasis on accuracy in financial math.
08
2 sources · 2 updates
Novo Nordisk Teams Up with OpenAI for AI-Driven Drug Development
Novo Nordisk has announced a partnership with OpenAI to enhance the efficiency of drug development for obesity and diabetes treatments. This collaboration builds on Novo's previous AI initiatives, including a deal with Nvidia, and has already resulted in a 2.8% rise in Novo Nordisk's stock following the announcement.
- The financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed, but it aims to accelerate drug discovery processes.
- CEO Mike Doustdar highlighted AI's capability to analyze complex datasets and identify new drug patterns.
09
2 sources · 2 updates
Microsoft Discontinues Outlook Lite for Android Users
Microsoft is set to discontinue its Outlook Lite app for Android, with support ending on May 26, 2026. Originally launched in 2022 as a lightweight email solution for devices with limited resources, users will need to transition to the full Outlook Mobile app to maintain access to their email and calendar functionalities.
- Outlook Lite was designed for devices with as little as 1GB of RAM and aimed at users with slow internet connections.
- An 'Upgrade' button will assist users in switching to the full version of Outlook Mobile after the discontinuation.
10
1 sources · 2 updates
Lagarde Calls for AI Regulation Amid Treasury's Vulnerability Assessment
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, has voiced her support for Anthropic's cautious approach to releasing its AI model, Mythos, during an interview in Washington. She highlighted the urgent need for stricter controls on AI technologies as the US Treasury seeks access to Mythos for vulnerability assessments amid rising concerns about AI-related threats.
- The US Treasury Department aims to access Anthropic's Mythos AI model as early as this week.
11
1 sources · 2 updates
Hewlett Packard Price Target Cut
Goldman Sachs has lowered the price target for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) from $31 to $29, despite the company's ongoing partnership with Nvidia aimed at enhancing AI infrastructure for enterprises. The updated target reflects a potential upside of 16%, as HPE expands its Private Cloud AI platform to support workloads of up to 128 GPUs.
- The partnership with Nvidia focuses on accelerating AI adoption for enterprises.
12
1 sources · 2 updates
ADT Unveils New Security Features for Smartphones and Homes
ADT has launched two innovative security features aimed at enhancing safety for users. The 'My Safety' feature transforms smartphones into portable security systems for ADT+ subscribers, while the 'Live Light' outdoor alert system integrates with Nest to assist first responders during emergencies.
- 'My Safety' is available now for all ADT+ subscribers and includes a Safety Timer and an Emergency Phrase feature.
- The Live Light is priced at $49.99 and illuminates when an alarm is triggered, aiding first responders.
13
1 sources · 1 updates
Financial risk management platform Pillar raises $20M seed in round led by a16z
Pillar, a financial risk management platform founded in 2023, has raised $20 million in a seed funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The company automates hedging processes for commodity-driven businesses, which have faced significant volatility in recent times due to geopolitical factors. Co-founder and CEO Harsha Ramesh emphasized the platform's goal of providing institutional-grade risk management tools to small and medium-sized enterprises, making hedging as accessible as payment systems.
- Pillar has raised a total of $23 million since its founding in 2023.
- The seed round was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Crucible Capital and others.
14
1 sources · 1 updates
Italy court allows class action against Meta over Facebook data scraping
A Milan court has approved a class action lawsuit against Meta Platforms, stemming from a data scraping incident that compromised the personal information of approximately 533 million Facebook users globally between January 2018 and September 2019. The CTCU consumer association is representing affected users in Italy, where an estimated 35 million individuals may have lost control over their data, in violation of the EU's GDPR. Meta has expressed disagreement with the court's decision, emphasizing that it is merely procedural and does not imply any legal wrongdoing.
- The data scraping incident affected 533 million Facebook users worldwide.
- Approximately 35 million Facebook users in Italy may be impacted.
15
1 sources · 1 updates
Anthropic Opposes the Extreme AI Liability Bill That OpenAI Backed
Anthropic has publicly opposed Illinois bill SB 3444, which OpenAI supports, as it would protect AI labs from liability for significant harm caused by their systems. This disagreement highlights a growing divide in AI regulation approaches between the two leading companies, with Anthropic advocating for accountability and safety measures. Despite the bill's low chances of passing, it has sparked intense lobbying efforts and discussions about the future of AI legislation in the U.S.
- Anthropic is lobbying Illinois lawmakers to amend or reject SB 3444.
- OpenAI argues that SB 3444 will reduce risks from frontier AI systems.
16
1 sources · 1 updates
Here’s What CoreWeave’s (CRWV) Partnership With Meta Platforms Means For Investors
CoreWeave Inc. has entered into a substantial $21 billion agreement with Meta Platforms to provide AI cloud capacity, complementing an earlier $14.2 billion deal. This partnership has led to a positive stock reaction, with analysts projecting significant upside potential for CoreWeave's shares, highlighting the growing importance of AI infrastructure in the tech landscape.
- CoreWeave's stock has responded positively to the $21 billion agreement with Meta.
- Analysts have set price targets of $90 and $165 for CoreWeave's stock, indicating significant upside potential.
17
1 sources · 1 updates
Tesla adds ‘streaks,’ other stats to track how often drivers use Full Self-Driving software
Tesla is rolling out a redesigned self-driving app that streamlines the subscription process for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and provides users with detailed statistics on their usage. The app will feature gamified elements, such as multi-day streaks, and visual data representations, enhancing the user experience and encouraging more frequent use of the FSD system, which still requires driver supervision.
- The updated app allows one-tap subscription for Full Self-Driving software.
- New statistics include multi-day usage streaks and bar charts for FSD usage.
18
1 sources · 1 updates
Apple Wallet keeps getting better, here’s what’s new and coming next
Apple Wallet continues to evolve, recently adding support for car keys from Toyota, home keys with the new Aqara Smart Lock U400, and upgraded boarding passes from American Airlines. These enhancements are part of a broader trend of integrating third-party support, making Wallet a more versatile tool for users.
- Toyota now supports Apple car key with the latest RAV4 model.
- The University of Texas will offer digital student IDs in Apple Wallet starting in the 2027-2028 academic year.
19
1 sources · 1 updates
Apple and Amazon are teaming up to challenge Starlink’s smartphone ambitions
Amazon has announced a deal to acquire Globalstar's low-Earth orbit satellite network for $11.57 billion, which includes its spectrum licenses and operations. This acquisition will enable Amazon to enhance satellite services for Apple devices, such as the iPhone and Apple Watch, while continuing to support existing functionalities like Emergency SOS. The deal is expected to close in 2027, pending regulatory approval.
- Amazon is investing $11.57 billion to acquire Globalstar's satellite network.
- The deal will support satellite services for iPhone and Apple Watch users.
20
1 sources · 1 updates
Alibaba Readies First Robot for Foray Into Crowded Chinese Arena
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is preparing to unveil its first quadruped robot, a significant move into the competitive Chinese robotics market. The device, developed by Alibaba's Amap unit, will compete with established products like Unitree's Go series, while the company also explores the feasibility of humanoid robots to capture consumer interest.
- Alibaba's new robot aims to compete with Unitree's Go series.
- Amap's research division is also exploring humanoid robots for future development.

The archive

What moved

Bloomberg Technology

IMF Urges Nations to Stay at Frontier of Mounting AI Risks

IMF emphasizes proactive AI oversight amid rising risks.

Read source

Bloomberg Technology

Lagarde, Worried About AI, Lauds Anthropic’s Approach on Mythos

Lagarde supports Anthropic's cautious AI model release.

Read source

The tech day has moved on.

What connected the day

Microsoft Increases Surface Device Prices

Amazon to Acquire Globalstar for $11.6 Billion

Samsung Raises Prices on Galaxy Devices Amid Memory Shortage

Lucid Motors Expands Uber Partnership and Appoints New CEO

Google Cracks Down on Back Button Hijacking

Google Launches Gemini Personal Intelligence in India

OpenAI Acquires AI Finance Startup Hiro

Novo Nordisk Teams Up with OpenAI for AI-Driven Drug Development

Microsoft Discontinues Outlook Lite for Android Users

Lagarde Calls for AI Regulation Amid Treasury's Vulnerability Assessment

Hewlett Packard Price Target Cut

ADT Unveils New Security Features for Smartphones and Homes

Financial risk management platform Pillar raises $20M seed in round led by a16z

Italy court allows class action against Meta over Facebook data scraping

Anthropic Opposes the Extreme AI Liability Bill That OpenAI Backed

Here’s What CoreWeave’s (CRWV) Partnership With Meta Platforms Means For Investors

Tesla adds ‘streaks,’ other stats to track how often drivers use Full Self-Driving software

Apple Wallet keeps getting better, here’s what’s new and coming next

Apple and Amazon are teaming up to challenge Starlink’s smartphone ambitions

Alibaba Readies First Robot for Foray Into Crowded Chinese Arena

What moved

IMF Urges Nations to Stay at Frontier of Mounting AI Risks

Lagarde, Worried About AI, Lauds Anthropic’s Approach on Mythos

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Altman-Backed Startup Raises $170 Million for Robocar Networks

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Financial risk management platform Pillar raises $20M seed in round led by a16z

Workers who want AI training the most are using it the least

Italy court allows class action against Meta over Facebook data scraping

What a United-American merger would mean, from antitrust hurdles to airfare

CEOs are betting AI will augment work rather than displace all workers

Adobe fixes PDF zero-day security bug that hackers have exploited for months

Instacart acquires Instaleap to expand its enterprise platform internationally

Ukraine captures a Russian position using only drones and ground robots

Has Google’s AI watermarking system been reverse-engineered?

Ecovacs’ new robovac spots and pretreats dried stains using powerful jets

Anthropic Opposes the Extreme AI Liability Bill That OpenAI Backed

Claude Mythos is a wake-up call for Europe's AI safety apparatus

‘Google app for desktop’ launches on Windows

Coming soon: 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now

SAP brings agentic AI to human capital management

Jim Cramer Says Market Has It All Wrong on Cybersecurity and AI

A sleek, wearable airbag for cyclists is nearly here

Samsung just raised prices on nearly a dozen Galaxy phones and tablets by up to $280

Bringing people together at AI for the Economy Forum

Canada’s Scotiabank preps for its AI future

ADT ‘My Safety’ turns your phone into an always-ready, portable security system [Gallery]