Tech news digest for Thursday, July 9, 2026

OpenAI Unveils GPT-5.6 Sol, Enhancing Coding Efficiency

OpenAI has launched its latest AI model, GPT-5.6 Sol, which boasts a 54% improvement in efficiency for agentic coding tasks, according to CEO Sam Altman. This release follows a collaboration with U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and is part of a broader rollout that includes new models named Terra and Luna.

• OpenAI is currently valued at $852 billion by private investors.

Meta Unveils Muse Spark 1.1 AI Model for Coding

Meta has launched Muse Spark 1.1, its latest AI model designed to enhance coding capabilities, aiming to compete with industry leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic. The model features advanced native multimodal perception, allowing it to process images, videos, and documents effectively. Developers in the US can access the model's API through a public preview and receive $20 in free credits for new accounts.

• Muse Spark 1.1 is touted to outperform rivals in specific coding tasks, according to Meta's AI chief, Alexandr Wang.
• The launch follows the introduction of Muse Image, an image generation model, highlighting Meta's expanding AI portfolio.

Hawaii is America's Worst State for Business in 2026

Hawaii has been ranked last in CNBC's 2026 America's Top States for Business, primarily due to its poor infrastructure and high business costs. The state's childcare expenses are the highest in the nation, consuming 18% of median family income, while it also struggles with a low number of licensed childcare facilities relative to its population of 1.4 million residents.

• Hawaii ranks 21st in childcare centers per capita, with only 531 licensed facilities available.
• The state's business costs are the highest in the U.S., contributing to its last-place ranking.

Apple Explores AI Startup PrismML for iPhone Enhancements

Apple is reportedly interested in PrismML, a startup that specializes in running large AI models on iPhones without the need for servers. This technology could significantly enhance on-device AI capabilities, with the 27 billion parameter Qwen 3.6 model already operational on the iPhone 17 Pro. Meetings have been held between Apple and PrismML to discuss potential applications of this innovative technology.

• Apple is collaborating with Google to improve Siri AI for the upcoming iOS 27.
• The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to weigh 240g, making it Apple's heaviest iPhone in years.

Micron shares rise 7% after announcing billions more in U.S. chipmaking investments

Micron Technology's stock rose 7% following the announcement of a new $3 billion investment aimed at enhancing the U.S. semiconductor supply chain. This investment includes a significant $500 million allocation to Taiwanese company GlobalWafers for expanding its wafer development and manufacturing operations in Texas, along with a 10-year supply agreement for raw silicon wafers. Additionally, Micron plans to raise its total U.S. investment to $250 billion by 2035, reflecting a $50 billion increase as demand for memory chips, particularly driven by artificial intelligence, continues to grow.

• Other semiconductor companies, including Applied Materials and KLA Corp, saw stock increases of around 7%.

Anthropic’s new Claude feature is quietly selling you on AI

Anthropic has introduced a new feature called Reflect for its AI tool Claude, aimed at enhancing user engagement amid growing AI skepticism. Reflect provides users with an analytics dashboard that tracks their interactions with Claude, offering insights into usage patterns and topics discussed. This feature not only positions Claude as an integral productivity tool but also encourages users to reflect on their AI habits through prompts like, 'What’s one thing you want to keep doing yourself?' Currently in beta for Free, Pro, and Max users with memory enabled, Reflect is designed to deepen user integration with Claude, potentially reducing churn and discouraging shifts to competing AI tools.

• The feature will eventually show users how much time they've spent using Claude.
• Reflect aims to integrate Claude deeper into daily workflows, reducing user churn.

Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX are bigger than the last 25 years of tech exits

The recent NCVA-Pitchbook Venture Monitor report highlights the unprecedented scale of upcoming IPOs from SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI, predicting their combined value will surpass all U.S. VC-backed exits since 2000. SpaceX has already launched at a staggering $1.77 trillion valuation, while Anthropic and OpenAI are also expected to reach trillion-dollar valuations. In stark contrast, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reported just $70 billion in IPO proceeds last year, underscoring the magnitude of these impending exits and the shift in the tech landscape.

• SpaceX's IPO valuation is $1.77 trillion, contributing significantly to the total.
• In 2022, U.S.-based IPO proceeds totaled only $70 billion.

Apple TV shares first trailer for ‘There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy’

Apple TV has unveiled the trailer for ‘Snoopy Presents: There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy,’ set to debut on July 31, 2026. In this new special, Snoopy embarks on a quest to find his beloved doghouse after it is mistakenly sold at a yard sale. Accompanied by Charlie Brown, the duo explores the meaning of home. The special features a voice cast that includes Riley Vargas and Terry McGurrin, along with an original song by Allen Stone titled ‘Home, Where Your Heart Found Me.’ This release continues Apple’s collaboration with Peanuts, which has established Apple TV as the exclusive streaming platform for Peanuts content.

OpenAI finds roughly 30 percent of popular AI coding test is broken

OpenAI has retracted its endorsement of the SWE-Bench Pro coding test after discovering that approximately 30% of its tasks are flawed. The issues arise from tasks derived from real software projects, which can be overly strict, vague, or misleading for AI models. OpenAI's review utilized an automated screening tool that flagged 286 tasks, with human evaluators confirming 200 as flawed. This misrepresentation can significantly impact AI model assessments and safety evaluations under OpenAI's Preparedness Framework. The company is now advocating for the development of new, reliable benchmarks that are meaningful and difficult to manipulate.

• Artificial Analysis replaced SWE-Bench Pro with DeepSWE, citing its gameability.

Meta fixed its smart glasses privacy light problem, just in time for always-on model to reportedly not use it

Meta has addressed a significant privacy concern with its Ray-Ban smart glasses by rolling out a mandatory update that disables the camera when the privacy light is broken. This update comes as the company prepares to launch a new model, dubbed 'super sensing,' which will feature constantly active microphones and cameras. Notably, this new model is expected to not activate the privacy light when in use, raising serious privacy implications for bystanders unaware they may be recorded. Additionally, Meta plans to utilize the data collected from these glasses to enhance AI models, with the recordings not being accessible to users.

• The always-on feature may involve taking pictures every few seconds, not continuous video.
• In a 2025 policy paper, Meta noted that a constantly blinking LED could reduce user awareness.

Samsung shares first official glimpse at wide Galaxy Z Fold 8, with Spider-Man’s help

Samsung has unveiled a teaser for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, showcasing its new wider form factor. The teaser, shared on Twitter/X, reveals a glimpse of the foldable device, including its two rear cameras and a thinner design. Notably, the button placements have been adjusted, moving them from the middle of the frame to the top corner. This teaser aligns with Samsung's promotional partnership with the upcoming Marvel film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will feature various Samsung products. The official launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is set for July 22, 2026.

• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to be priced lower than the unchanged Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Oil prices, PepsiCo earnings, SpaceX's rough ride and more in Morning Squawk

Oil prices increased following U.S. airstrikes on Iran that targeted approximately 90 military sites, with President Donald Trump expressing uncertainty about negotiating a deal with Tehran. The strikes have heightened market volatility, contributing to a drop of over 1% in the Dow Jones Industrial Average yesterday, while the Nasdaq Composite showed resilience. In corporate news, Levi Strauss shares fell over 4% despite better-than-expected second-quarter results, and PepsiCo reported mixed earnings, with international demand helping to mitigate challenges in North America.