Tech News — May 18, 2026

Tech News — May 18, 2026 | Trace

The day in brief

What connected the day

18 topics

01
4 sources · 5 updates
Apple Enhances Siri with New Privacy Features
Apple is set to launch a revamped version of Siri that includes a new auto-deleting chat feature, allowing users to manage their chat history more effectively. This update, which will run on Apple's private cloud servers and utilize Google's Gemini technology, aims to enhance user privacy and differentiate Siri from competitors. Users can choose to auto-delete chats after 30 days, one year, or retain them indefinitely.
- The new Siri app will be released as a beta following a two-year development delay.
- The update is part of Apple's strategy to regain relevance in the competitive AI landscape.
02
3 sources · 3 updates
Amazon Unveils AI-Generated Podcast Feature for Alexa Plus
Amazon has launched a new feature for Alexa Plus that allows users to create AI-generated podcasts on virtually any topic. This innovative capability draws content from 200 news publications, ensuring accuracy and relevance, and users will receive notifications on their Echo Show devices when new episodes are ready.
- Alexa Plus can generate podcasts using AI hosts, customizing episodes based on user requests.
- The feature leverages information from major sources like Reuters and Vox.
03
2 sources · 2 updates
Pope Leo XIV to Release First AI Encyclical
Pope Leo XIV is set to present his first encyclical titled 'Magnifica Humanitas' on May 25, 2026, focusing on the implications of artificial intelligence for humanity. The document is expected to condemn the use of AI in warfare and discuss its effects on workers' rights, with Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, invited as a guest speaker at the event.
- Pope to Launch Encyclical on AI Alongside Anthropic Co-Founder. Pope Leo XIV to address AI in upcoming encyclical.
04
2 sources · 2 updates
Anthropic to Address Cyber Flaws with Regulators
Anthropic is set to brief global financial regulators on significant cyber vulnerabilities identified by its AI model, Claude Mythos. This initiative follows a request from Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, amid concerns that these flaws could lead to a macro-financial shock, as warned by the IMF.
- Claude Mythos has identified thousands of severe security flaws in major systems.
- Only 40 organizations, including Amazon and JPMorgan Chase, currently have access to Mythos.
05
2 sources · 2 updates
OpenAI's Symphony Streamlines Coding Workflows
OpenAI has released Symphony, an open-source orchestrator designed for autonomous coding agents. This innovative tool allows coding agents to manage tasks independently, significantly reducing the need for human oversight and enhancing workflow efficiency.
- Symphony is built in Elixir, optimizing the orchestration of concurrent processes.
- The tool is structured as a SPEC.md file, enabling organizations to customize their own orchestrators.
06
1 sources · 2 updates
Apple Card Promotion Offers Free AirPods Pro 3
Apple has introduced a new promotion for its Apple Card that rewards new users with free AirPods Pro 3 upon sign-up. To qualify, users must make at least 10 purchases each month starting July 1, 2026, allowing them to earn up to $250 in Daily Cash over the course of a year.
- The AirPods Pro 3 must be purchased directly from Apple by June 15, 2026.
- Existing Apple Card holders are not eligible for this promotion.
07
1 sources · 2 updates
Venture Global's Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations
Venture Global, Inc. reported a remarkable surge in Q1 2026 earnings, with revenue climbing nearly 60% year-over-year to $4.6 billion. The company also exported 130 cargos of LNG during the quarter, contributing to a net income increase of 23.2% to $488 million and prompting a raise in its 2026 EBITDA guidance to between $8.2 billion and $8.5 billion.
- Venture Global's adjusted profits for Q1 2026 reached $0.19, exceeding expectations by $0.07.
- The company reported a 23.2% year-over-year increase in net income, driven by higher LNG sales volumes.
08
1 sources · 1 updates
The Fed will have to raise interest rates in July to appease 'bond vigilantes,' Yardeni says
Ed Yardeni, head of Yardeni Research, asserts that the Federal Reserve will likely need to raise interest rates in July to satisfy 'bond vigilantes' and maintain control over borrowing costs. With incoming Chair Kevin Warsh's dovish stance, the market is reacting negatively, leading to increased Treasury yields and a growing sentiment that the Fed must align with rising inflation pressures.
- Current market pricing indicates a 42% chance of a rate hike by year-end.
- Ed Yardeni warns that the Fed must adjust to avoid losing control over borrowing costs.
09
1 sources · 1 updates
Meta layoffs starting this week stress harsh AI reality inside Zuckerberg’s company
Meta is initiating a new round of layoffs this week, cutting approximately 8,000 jobs, or 10% of its workforce, as the company shifts its focus toward artificial intelligence investments. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has changed his approach since the previous layoffs, emphasizing efficiency without offering apologies, while internal morale has plummeted amid fears of further job cuts and a controversial employee tracking tool.
- Meta plans to cut 8,000 jobs, representing about 10% of its workforce.
- The company has scrapped plans to fill 6,000 open roles as part of the layoffs.
10
1 sources · 1 updates
Musk’s xAI Fails to Pay Staff $420 for Giving Their Tax Returns to Grok
Elon Musk's xAI requested employees to submit their tax returns as training data for the Grok chatbot, offering a $420 payment as an incentive. However, two months later, those payments have yet to be fulfilled, raising concerns among staff. This move was intended to enhance Grok's capabilities in time for the April 15 tax deadline, as the company seeks to compete with established rivals like Claude and ChatGPT.
- Elon Musk's xAI promised $420 to employees for their tax returns but has not paid.
- The initiative aimed to enhance Grok's capabilities ahead of the April 15 tax deadline.
11
1 sources · 1 updates
Java News Roundup: OpenJDK JEPs, Azul Payara, WildFly, LangChain4j, OpenXava, Google ADK
The latest Java news roundup reveals significant updates, including three OpenJDK JEPs proposed for JDK 27, which aim to enhance garbage collection and object header management. Additionally, Azul has rebranded Payara Platform Community to Azul Payara Community, while WildFly introduced a new command line tool, wado, to streamline container management.
- JEP 523 proposes making G1 the default garbage collector in all environments for JDK 27.
- Azul Payara Community is the new name for Payara Platform Community following Azul's acquisition.
12
1 sources · 1 updates
Google updates Find Hub app with location notifications
Google has updated its Find Hub app on Android, introducing a feature that allows users to receive notifications when contacts arrive or leave specific locations. With the new version 3.1.608-5, users can select a contact from the People tab and set up alerts for locations like home or work, utilizing a user-friendly map interface. The app also notifies contacts when a location notification is added, enhancing user engagement and location awareness.
- The update to version 3.1.608-5 allows users to set notifications for arrivals and departures.
- Users can choose specific locations for notifications using a map interface.
13
1 sources · 1 updates
Elon Musk Says He Wants to Get SpaceX IPO Underway ‘Pretty Soon’
Elon Musk has revealed that he is back in Texas to expedite plans for SpaceX's initial public offering, which he aims to initiate 'pretty soon.' This IPO is projected to be the largest in history, with a target valuation of $2 trillion.
- Musk aims for a $2 trillion valuation for SpaceX's IPO.
- The IPO is expected to be the largest listing of all time.
14
1 sources · 1 updates
YouTube and Netflix Are Starting to Sound a Lot Like Normal TV
YouTube and Netflix are evolving to resemble traditional television by introducing original shows and expanding into sports content. Netflix highlighted its significant investment of $135 billion in content over the last decade, which has positively impacted local communities and job creation. This shift reflects a broader strategy to compete with conventional TV networks and attract more viewers.
- Netflix has invested $135 billion in shows and movies over the last decade.
- YouTube is planning to introduce new original shows to enhance its television offerings.
15
1 sources · 1 updates
Why trust is a big question at the Elon Musk-OpenAI trial
In the recent trial involving Elon Musk and OpenAI, jurors are tasked with determining if OpenAI acted improperly during its shift to a for-profit model. A significant focus has been on the trustworthiness of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, particularly as Musk's attorney scrutinized Altman's past statements, including his congressional testimony about equity stakes. This trial not only questions Altman's credibility but also reflects broader concerns about trust in the AI sector as a whole.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman faced scrutiny over his congressional testimony regarding equity stakes.
- Musk's lawyer highlighted Altman's misleading statements during the trial.
16
1 sources · 1 updates
Microsoft is retiring Teams’ Together Mode
Microsoft has announced the retirement of its Teams Together Mode, a feature designed to create a virtual conference room experience during the pandemic. The decision reflects a shift towards a more simplified Teams interface, focusing on enhancing video quality and performance rather than maintaining gimmicky features. As part of this transition, Together Mode and its associated functionalities will be phased out, streamlining the user experience across the platform.
- The Together Mode feature will be completely removed from Teams' view menu.
- Microsoft aims to enhance video quality and performance by reducing interface complexity.
17
1 sources · 1 updates
Gates' foundation sold all of its Microsoft shares. Bill Ackman is loading up on the stock. What is Wall Street missing?
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust has sold its final 7.7 million shares of Microsoft, concluding a decades-long investment worth approximately $3.2 billion. In contrast, investor Bill Ackman has initiated a new position in Microsoft, acquiring 5.65 million shares valued at around $2.09 billion, suggesting a divergence in market sentiment regarding the tech giant's future prospects.
- The Gates Foundation sold its final 7.7 million Microsoft shares for approximately $3.2 billion.
- Bill Ackman's Pershing Square acquired about 5.65 million Microsoft shares worth around $2.09 billion.
18
1 sources · 1 updates
Samsung, Labor Union to Meet in ‘Last Chance’ to Avert Strike
Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union are resuming negotiations to prevent a strike that could significantly impact South Korea's economy, as warned by the nation's prime minister. The talks focus on wages and compensation, following a surge in operating profit driven by demand for the company's semiconductors fueled by artificial intelligence advancements.
- Samsung's operating profit surged due to AI-driven demand for semiconductors.
- The meeting comes after warnings from South Korea's prime minister about economic impacts.

The archive

What moved

The Verge

Amazon Alexa Plus can now create AI-generated podcasts

Amazon Alexa Plus introduces AI-generated podcasts feature.

Read source

CNBC Technology

Meta layoffs starting this week stress harsh AI reality inside Zuckerberg’s company

Meta begins layoffs amid AI investment push.

Read source

The tech day has moved on.

What connected the day

Apple Enhances Siri with New Privacy Features

Amazon Unveils AI-Generated Podcast Feature for Alexa Plus

Pope Leo XIV to Release First AI Encyclical

Anthropic to Address Cyber Flaws with Regulators

OpenAI's Symphony Streamlines Coding Workflows

Apple Card Promotion Offers Free AirPods Pro 3

Venture Global's Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations

The Fed will have to raise interest rates in July to appease 'bond vigilantes,' Yardeni says

Meta layoffs starting this week stress harsh AI reality inside Zuckerberg’s company

Musk’s xAI Fails to Pay Staff $420 for Giving Their Tax Returns to Grok

Java News Roundup: OpenJDK JEPs, Azul Payara, WildFly, LangChain4j, OpenXava, Google ADK

Google updates Find Hub app with location notifications

Elon Musk Says He Wants to Get SpaceX IPO Underway ‘Pretty Soon’

YouTube and Netflix Are Starting to Sound a Lot Like Normal TV

Why trust is a big question at the Elon Musk-OpenAI trial

Microsoft is retiring Teams’ Together Mode

Gates' foundation sold all of its Microsoft shares. Bill Ackman is loading up on the stock. What is Wall Street missing?

Samsung, Labor Union to Meet in ‘Last Chance’ to Avert Strike

What moved

Amazon Alexa Plus can now create AI-generated podcasts

Meta layoffs starting this week stress harsh AI reality inside Zuckerberg’s company

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

Kin Health raises $9M to build an AI notetaker for patients

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

The Fed will have to raise interest rates in July to appease 'bond vigilantes,' Yardeni says

Musk’s xAI Fails to Pay Staff $420 for Giving Their Tax Returns to Grok

Pope Leo XIV presents first AI encyclical, Anthropic co-founder invited as guest speaker

Linus Torvalds says Linux security list is becoming ‘unmanageable’ due to AI bug reports

Exclusive: Jonah Peretti explains why he sold BuzzFeed

Trump's Iran threat, Berkshire's airline bet, Lululemon's proxy battle and more in Morning Squawk

MAGA-aligned groups want government oversight of frontier AI models

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South Korea’s LetinAR is building optics behind AI glasses

Apple launches Apple Card promo offering free AirPods Pro 3

Venture Global (VG) Delivers Strong Q1 Results, Raises 2026 Guidance

Valero Energy (VLO) Crushes Estimates in Q1, Expects Refining Margins to Remain Strong

Apple Watch could soon gain new high blood pressure feature

Java News Roundup: OpenJDK JEPs, Azul Payara, WildFly, LangChain4j, OpenXava, Google ADK

Bug bounty businesses bombarded with AI slop

Britain’s prospective next PM tries to placate bond markets after sell-off, gilts steady

Amazon launches Alexa for Shopping as Rufus moves behind the scenes

Apple’s faulty chips are big business for the company, and not just in the MacBook Neo

AI startup revenue hits $80 billion, but Anthropic and OpenAI take almost all of it

The US space enterprise is desperately waiting for Starship—will it finally deliver?

Cloudflare and Stripe Let AI Agents Create Accounts, Buy Domains, and Deploy to Production