Tech news digest for Thursday, July 16, 2026

Google Rebrands NotebookLM as Gemini Notebook

Google has officially rebranded its AI note-taking app, previously known as NotebookLM, to Gemini Notebook. This update not only enhances its integration with the Gemini brand but also introduces new features such as coding execution capabilities for improved interactivity and data analysis.

• 30 million users and 600,000+ organizations are now utilizing Gemini Notebook.
• The app will soon be accessible through the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search.

Apple Targets October for OLED iPad Mini Release

Apple is set to launch its new OLED iPad Mini by October 2026, marking the device's first significant update since 2021. The upcoming model will feature a fixed 60Hz refresh rate but will not include ProMotion technology. Additionally, Apple plans to introduce new iPad Air models in spring 2027.

• Current iPad Mini prices have increased by $100 due to a RAM shortage.
• AppleCare Plus prices for Macs and iPads are also rising.

Google's AI Mode adds app linking capabilities

Google has enhanced its AI Mode by allowing users to link and interact with select applications, including Instacart, Canva, and YouTube Music. This update enables users to add items directly to their Instacart cart and create playlists on YouTube Music, streamlining various tasks. The integration builds on previously introduced features like stock checking and web exploration.

• Supported apps at launch include Instacart, Canva, and YouTube Music.
• Google plans to expand app support beyond the initial offerings in the coming months.

OnePlus Exits U.S. and European Markets

OnePlus has announced it will cease launching new smartphones in North America and Europe, citing a proactive global strategy adjustment. The decision is part of a broader restructuring at its parent company, Oppo, which is also impacting operations in India.

• OnePlus's shipment share in the U.S. fell below 1% last year.
• Analysts predict smartphone shipments will decline by over 13% in 2026 due to ongoing chip shortages.

Sakana AI Integrates Nvidia's Nemotron into Fugu Orchestrator

Sakana AI has announced the integration of Nvidia's Nemotron 3 Ultra into its Fugu orchestrator to enhance its collective intelligence capabilities. This model, boasting 550 billion parameters, is now the most powerful open U.S. AI model available. The move is part of Sakana AI's strategy to diversify its AI resources and reduce reliance on single vendors.

• Nemotron models will act as specialists in programming and tool usage within Fugu's agent pool.
• Sakana AI plans to optimize Nemotron performance in Fugu following its upcoming release.

NTSB Confirms Tesla Driver Overrode Autopilot Before Fatal Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that Michael Butler, the driver of a Tesla Model 3, manually overrode the vehicle's Full Self-Driving system by pressing the accelerator to 100 percent just before a fatal crash in Katy, Texas. The incident resulted in the death of Martha Avila, 76, and occurred after Butler claimed to have lost consciousness while driving at speeds exceeding 70 mph.

• Martha Avila, 76, was killed in the crash, and her family is suing both Butler and Tesla.
• The NTSB's investigation found no initial mechanical malfunctions with the vehicle.

Meta AI Introduces Self-Harm Alert Feature for Parents

Meta has launched a new feature that alerts parents if their teens discuss suicide or self-harm while using its AI chatbot across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Meta Horizons. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance safety for young users, with the AI manually reviewing flagged conversations before notifying parents to ensure careful handling of sensitive topics.

• The feature is currently available in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.
• Last year, Meta made over 19,000 referrals to emergency services for credible suicide risks.

Nvidia Expands AI Initiatives in Japan

Nvidia has launched its new AI model, Cosmos 3 Edge, aimed at enhancing robotics and vision AI in Japan. During his visit, CEO Jensen Huang highlighted the country's potential to transform modern manufacturing, while Nvidia also announced partnerships to support healthcare innovations through the Tokyo-1 AI drug discovery consortium.

• The Japanese AI market is projected to reach $27.9 billion by 2029.
• Major drugmakers like Astellas Pharma are utilizing Nvidia's tools for drug discovery.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 Specs Leaked

Leaked specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 reveal that the device will closely resemble its predecessor, the Z Flip 7, with only minimal design changes. Set to be officially announced at the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, 2026, the new model will feature an Exynos 2600 chipset instead of the anticipated Snapdragon.

• The Galaxy Z Flip 8 will be priced at €1,299 for the 256GB model and €1,499 for the 512GB variant.
• The device dimensions are slightly thicker by 0.2mm when unfolded compared to its predecessor.

1Password enables Claude to sign in securely

1Password has launched a new integration that allows its AI assistant, Claude, to sign in to websites without directly accessing user passwords. This feature ensures that approved credentials are securely delivered and injected into the destination page, maintaining user privacy during the login process.

• 1Password for Claude is currently available for Mac users on business, family, and individual plans.
• The integration requires both the 1Password and Claude desktop apps and browser extensions to function.

Short sellers load up against SpaceX as stock drops below IPO price

Short sellers are significantly increasing their bets against SpaceX, with nearly one-third of the company's public float now sold short, totaling about 185 million shares valued at approximately $25 billion. This surge in bearish positioning comes as SpaceX's stock struggles, having fallen about 20% in July and briefly dipping below its $135 IPO price. The increase in short interest coincides with an upcoming lockup expiration that could release more shares into the market, with KeyBanc estimating that about 11% of outstanding shares may become eligible for sale around the company's second-quarter earnings report.

• Elon Musk holds 42% of shares outstanding, locked until June 2027.

Why is OpenAI selling a ChatGPT basketball?

OpenAI has introduced its first hardware products, including a $230 mini keyboard and a $70 ChatGPT basketball. The basketball is part of the 'Pause. Play. Prompt.' campaign, which encourages creativity beyond screens. Made of 100% rubber for outdoor use, it contrasts with traditional leather basketballs. While the intention seems to promote mental health and outdoor activity, the target audience for such a product remains unclear, raising questions about its market fit in the AI-driven tech landscape.

• OpenAI's new mini keyboard is priced at $230 and marketed as a command center.
• OpenAI also offers merchandise featuring phrases like 'Good research takes time' and a $175 quarter-zip.

OpenAI wants developers to stop typing commands and start using a joystick to control their AI agents

OpenAI, in collaboration with keyboard manufacturer Work Louder, has introduced the Codex Micro, a compact joystick controller designed to streamline interactions with AI agents. This device allows developers to manage their AI workflows without the need for constant typing, featuring joysticks and a rotary dial for intuitive control. The controller's six illuminated keys provide real-time RGB feedback on agent status, indicating whether the AI is thinking, working, waiting for input, or has completed a task. Priced at $230, the Codex Micro connects via Bluetooth or USB-C and is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems.

• It features six programmable layers for custom shortcuts and controls.

Rumor: Apple increases orders for key component ahead of foldable iPhone launch

Apple has significantly increased its orders for vapor chambers, now targeting around 10 million units, likely in preparation for its first foldable iPhone and the upcoming 20th-anniversary model. This ramp-up follows the introduction of vapor chamber cooling in the iPhone 17 Pro, which addressed prior thermal issues. The timing suggests that the enhanced cooling technology will be crucial for this year's iPhone lineup, including the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro models, as Apple has resolved earlier manufacturing concerns, paving the way for a September launch.

• The company previously targeted 7-8 million foldable iPhones for production.

Here's what to expect when Netflix reports earnings after the bell

Netflix will report its second-quarter earnings on Thursday, with analysts predicting an earnings per share of 79 cents and revenue of $12.59 billion. Investors are particularly interested in engagement metrics for Netflix's programming and updates on its ad-supported tier, which is expected to generate $3 billion in advertising revenue in 2026. The company is navigating a competitive landscape marked by consolidation in the media industry and has seen its stock drop about 40% over the past year, raising concerns about subscriber engagement and content quality.

• The company has 325 million global paid subscribers as of January 2026.

Moonshot’s upcoming Kimi 3 is expected to close the gap with Anthropic’s Opus 4.8

Moonshot AI's upcoming Kimi 3 model is poised to compete directly with Anthropic's Opus 4.8, as reported by the Financial Times. This new iteration, part of the Kimi series, is expected to feature between 2 trillion and 3 trillion parameters, making it the largest open-weight AI model from China. Following the success of Kimi K2 models in the open-source AI market, the release of Kimi 3 is anticipated within the next few days. Additionally, Moonshot is reportedly raising new capital that could elevate its valuation to $31.5 billion, up from $20 billion after a recent $2 billion funding round.

xAI open-sources "Grok-Build" on GitHub after massive data breach

xAI has open-sourced its AI coding agent, Grok Build, on GitHub following a significant data breach where users discovered that the tool uploaded sensitive files, including SSH keys and password databases, to xAI's Google Cloud servers. In response, Elon Musk announced that all uploaded user data would be fully deleted, and the upload feature has since been disabled. The source code, which spans about 844,530 lines of Rust, allows Grok Build to operate locally, providing users with greater transparency and control over their data. The codebase includes components for the agent loop, tools, terminal UI, and an extension system for plugins and subagents.