Can a book like this actually change anything? Or does the spotlight, as it always seems to, send more students racing to the place?
Amazons new podcast strategy: Monetize everything
Amazon's podcasting business seems to have transformed over the past six months.
On the latest episode of Equity, we discuss how Apple has changed since Cook became CEO in 2011, and what challenges incoming CEO John Ternus will be facing.
Forced Windows updates can now be paused forever
No more getting caught by a forced Windows 11 update while you're in the middle of a meeting or a match. Microsoft announced some major changes coming to Windows Update on its blog , including the ability to indefinitely pause Windows updates, 35 days at a time. To give users more control, Windows Update introduced the option to extend update pauses as much as users want. Once you opted to pause updates for Windows 11, you won't be disturbed for 35 days at a time, but you can now reset this 35-day limit for as long as you want. You should eventually install these updates, as most of them are usually related to security upgrades and only sometimes require emergency fixes , but Microsoft is letting users decide when to do so. Microsoft's Aria Hanson wrote in the blog that these changes were a result of feedback that consistently mentioned disruption caused by untimely updates and not enough control over when updates happen. Beyond the update pauses, Microsoft is ensuring Windows 11 users always have the option to shut down or restart their devices without updating. These quality-of-life upgrades build on another recent change that allowed users to skip updates while setting up their new Windows devices . According to Microsoft, the latest Windows Updates features are currently rolling out to those enrolled in the Windows Insider program, specifically users in the Dev and Experimental Channels. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/forced-windows-updates-can-now-be-paused-forever-200338487.html?src=rss
Tele-MANAS helpline sees rise in callers turning to humans after AI falls short on mental health
Prime Video drops full trailer for Spider-Noir
It's a detective story, but the detective happens to also have spider powers.EP Chris Miller
Trump has terminated several members of the independent National Science Board
As reported by several outlets , the Trump administration dismissed members of the National Science Board (NSB), which is tasked with establishing policies for the National Science Foundation. It's not clear how many members have been dismissed. According to screenshots shared with The Washington Post, board members received a message that their position was erminated, effective immediately. The NSB establishes policies for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the independent US agency responsible for apportioning about 25 percent of federal support towards research conducted by the country's colleges and universities. The foundation has existed for over 75 years and has contributed to the development of MRIs and cellphones, among other breakthroughs. Up to 25 active members can head the NSB, however, the current board only has 22 members; the NSF's former director, Sethuraman Panchanathan, abruptly resigned last year . In response, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren called the latest decision a eal bozo the clown move in a statement. This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation, Lofgren, who also serves as the Ranking Member of the House's Science, Space and Technology Committee, added in the statement. It unfortunately is no surprise a president who has attacked NSF from day one would seek to destroy the board that helps guide the Foundation. It's unclear if the NSB's next scheduled board meeting for May 5 will take place. We've reached out to NSB for additional details and will update if we hear back. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/trump-has-terminated-several-members-of-the-independent-national-science-board-170405205.html?src=rss
TechCrunch Mobility: Elons admission
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation.
To buy this Bay Area home, youll need Anthropic equity
Someones offering an unusual deal for a 13-acre property in Mill Valley, just north of South Francisco.
SpeakOns dictation device is a good idea marred by platform limitations
This $129 device uses MagSafe to stick on the back of an iPhone to power transcription across apps
STAGED: Conspiracy Theories Are Everywhere Following White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
The word staged exploded on social media following the attack, as both right and left-wing influencers and anonymous accounts spread unfounded conspiracy theories.
The Best Kindle Accessories (2026): Cases, Page Turners, Stickers
Looking to better protect your Kindle or add a little personality to your favorite e-reader? From cases and covers to page-turners and even charms, this is the guide for you.
A chance discovery in the tztal Alps in 1991 unearthed tzi, the Iceman, a Copper Age individual preserved for 5,000 years. His remarkably intact body and accompanying artefacts offer unprecedented insights into ancient life, diet, and even the violent circumstances of his death, transforming him into a pivotal figure in historical research.
The Smart Bird Feeders Everyones Talking About (and Actually Buying) (2026)
These bird feeders come with cameras and connected apps to let you see and learn about the birds in your neighborhood.
The Best Permanent Outdoor Lights (2026): Govee, Eufy, Cync
Permanent eave lights that attach to the exterior of your home are becoming more popular. But are they worth the effort and cost?
Ikea's New Blow-Up Chair Was Tested by Cats
Part of the new PS 2026 collection, it's taken the Swedish company 26 years to finally nail inflatable furniture.
Earth Day 2026: Indias plastic crisis and blame game
Going beyond waste management to the system that keeps producing disposable plastic with no afterlife
Artisans and hobbyists: A Hundred Hands collective unveils membership programme for business growth
In this photo essay, we showcase a range of craftworks from an exhibition by the Hundred Hands collective.
California Engineer Identified in Suspected Shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner
The 31-year-old engineer and self-described indie game developer is suspected of firing shots at the annual event attended by President Donald Trump, high-profile media figures, and US government officials.
Mumbais local train app Yatri; Sourcing talent beyond Bengaluru
Yatri offers real-time train tracking using source-verified GPS data, with live updates on locations, delays, platform changes, and disruptions. The Karnataka government has signed an MoU with job portal Naukri to assist GCCS to source talent.
BYD's next all-electric hypercar is a convertible that's coming to Europe first
BYD may be known for its affordable all-electric cars , but that doesn't mean it won't dabble in the occasional hypercar under one of its subsidiary brands. Through its Denza subbrand, BYD unveiled the Denza Z, a hypercar that can push out more than 1,000 horsepower with an all-electric motor, at the Beijing Auto Show. According to CarNewsChina , the Denza A can hit 0 to 60 mph in less than two seconds, rivaling the likes of the Rimac Nivera . BYD first showed off the Denza Z as a concept during the Shanghai Auto Show in 2025. A year later, the Chinese EV maker confirmed its latest hypercar as a four-seater that will come in hard-top, convertible and rack configurations. BYD hasn't revealed the Denza Z's full specs yet, so we're not sure what differentiates the track edition. So far, the company has shared that it would use the company's intelligent suspension system called DiSus-M, which is similar to Chevrolet Corvette's Magnetic Ride Control , and its Flash Charging system. BYD also told AutoExpress that the Denza Z will have some of the features seen with the BYD's YangWang U9, like autonomous driving and tank turning . Surprisingly, BYD is planning to release the Denza Z to Europe first, with an inaugural ride at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK in July. The automaker hasn't revealed pricing yet, but it should be more available than BYD's other hypercar under its YangWang subsidiary that's limited to 30 units. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/byds-next-all-electric-hypercar-is-a-convertible-thats-coming-to-europe-first-233050130.html?src=rss
Anthropic created a test marketplace for agent-on-agent commerce
In a recent experiment, Anthropic created a classified marketplace where AI agents represented both buyers and sellers, striking real deals for real goods and real money.
Maines governor vetoes data center moratorium
L.D. 307 would have imposed the countrys first statewide moratorium on new data centers lasting, in this case, until November 1, 2027.
Altman apologises after OpenAI failed to alert police before Tumbler Ridge killings
I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June, Mr. Altman said
OpenAI CEO apologizes to Tumbler Ridge community
In a letter to the residents of Tumbler Ridge, Canada, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he is deeply sorry that his company failed to alert law enforcement about the suspect in a recent mass shooting.
The climate tech IPO window could finally be cracking open
Nuclear startup X-energy went public, geothermal startup Fervo is about to. Could this be the moment that climate tech investors have been waiting for?
Vikram-1 nose cone heads toSriharikotalaunch pad
SkyrootAerospace eyes Indias first private orbital mission later this year
Why Cohere is merging with Aleph Alpha
Canadian AI startup Cohere is taking over Germany-based Aleph Alpha with support from Lidls owner, Schwarz Group. With the blessing of their governments, the companies intend to offer a sovereign alternative to enterprises in an AI landscape dominated by American players.
NASA's initial takeaways from the Artemis II mission, and more science stories
Now that Artemis II is all wrapped up , NASA has begun its post-game performance analyses of all the systems that worked together to get four astronauts safely to the moon and back earlier this month. In addition to taking humans farther than ever before, Artemis II served as a crucial test flight for upcoming crewed missions that are planned for as soon as 2027 and 2028, the latter being NASA's ambitious target for landing astronauts on the lunar surface. So far, the Orion spacecraft and the SLS rocket seem to have fared pretty well. NASA says its initial assessments of the crew capsule show its heat shield performed as expected, with no unusual conditions identified, and it didn't exhibit as much char loss as seen in the uncrewed Artemis I test. (Navy divers snapped some really cool pictures of the heat shield underwater after splashdown, as seen below). Splashdown went according to plan, with Orion landing 2.9 miles from its targeted landing site, according to NASA, and its entry interface velocity was within one mile-per-hour of predictions. US Navy NASA says the SLS rocket performed well, too. It still has tests to run, but, At main engine cutoff, when the core stages RS-25 liquid engines shutdown, the spacecraft was traveling at over 18,000 miles per hour, achieving its insertion velocity for orbit, and executing a precise bullseye for its intended location, the space agency noted in a blog post. One thing that we know did cause some issues, though, was the toilet system. Shortly after launch, the astronauts reported problems with the urine vent line , which mission specialist Christina Koch was able to troubleshoot with help from the ground crew. But, everyone would like to avoid that on the next mission, so NASA now has teams checking out the hardware and data to identify what went wrong and how to prevent it. Watch the Earthset The Artemis II astronauts have continued to share glimpses into their journey around the moon, and this week, the mission's commander, Reid Wiseman posted an incredible video of the Earth setting behind the moon, as seen from the Orion spacecraft. Humans haven't seen that phenomenon firsthand in over 50 years, since the last Apollo mission. Read more about that here . Only one chance in this lifetime Like watching sunset at the beach from the most foreign seat in the cosmos, I couldnt resist a cell phone video of Earthset. You can hear the shutter on the Nikon as @Astro_Christina is hammering away on 3-shot brackets and capturing those pic.twitter.com/8aWnaFJ69c Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) April 19, 2026 While ten days might not seem like that long of a time to be in space, it still does things to the body, and returning to Earth has been a bit of an adjustment for the crew. Astronaut Koch last week posted a video of herself struggling through a tandem walk exercise with her eyes closed, taken after her return to Earth. When people live in microgravity, the systems in our body that have evolved to tell our brains how were moving, the vestibular organs, dont work correctly, she explained in the caption . Our brains learn to ignore those signals and so when we first get back to gravity, we are heavily reliant on our eyes to orient ourselves visually. View this post on Instagram Before you go, be sure to check these stories out too: Apple, Amazon join push for looser greenhouse emissions reporting NASA targets a September launch for its next big space telescope NASA's Curiosity Rover found promising organic chemicals on Mars Blue Origin landed its recycled New Glenn booster but failed to put payload in orbit This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/nasas-initial-takeaways-from-the-artemis-ii-mission-and-more-science-stories-160000808.html?src=rss
Apps to distract you from the endless cycle of doomscrolling
It's hard to break the cycle of doomscrolling, but there are plenty of apps that can help you spend more time on content thats engaging and productive.
Apple under Ternus: what comes next for the tech giants hardware strategy
John Ternus, Apple's incoming CEO, is a hardware guy, signaling Apple may be putting devices back at the center of its strategy.
What to read this weekend: Monsters in the Archives dives deep into Stephen King's early works
Need something new for your reading list? Here are two titles we think are worth checking out. This week, we read Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King and the first issue of the Image Comics miniseries, Corpse Knight. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/what-to-read-this-weekend-monsters-in-the-archives-dives-deep-into-stephen-kings-early-works-150000954.html?src=rss
Indias Snabbit seeks fresh funding at a $400M valuation, sources say
Snabbit has scaled rapidly, crossing one million jobs in March, amid growing investor interest.
Tesla is giving away one year free Supercharging with Model 3 Premium and Performance purchases
Tesla completely ended its free lifetime Supercharging offer way back in 2018, but it has given customers the perk for certain promotions since then. It brought back free Supercharging for Model S and X a couple of times in 2019, for instance. The automakers latest offer is for new purchases for a Model 3 Premium or Performance vehicle in North America. On its website, Tesla has announced that its including one year of free supercharging with a Model 3 Premium or Performance, though the offer is subject to change or end at any time. As Electrek notes, this is a nice freebie to have but most likely not a deciding factor for people who charge at home. For those who dont have access to a home charger, however, this could represent significant savings. The free Supercharging offer starts at delivery and cannot be postponed or redeemed for cash. Owners will also still have to pay certain fees, such as congestions fees that the automaker adds if a vehicle remains plugged into a Supercharger after its battery reaches 80 percent when a site is busy. The offer doesnt apply to vehicles used for commercial purposes, such as ridesharing, taxi and delivery services, as well. As for those who traded in their gas vehicles to get the 2,000-mile Supercharging incentive, they can enjoy this freebie first and redeem those miles after their first year of ownership. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-is-giving-away-one-year-free-supercharging-with-model-3-premium-and-performance-purchases-144431817.html?src=rss
Why turning to AI for personal advice is a bad idea
You might assume that a reasonable person would notice when an AI is being overly agreeable. But the study suggests otherwise.
Pine Labs acquires D2C SaaS startup Shopflo for Rs 88 Cr
The acquisition of Shopflo is expected to enhance Pine Labs' portfolio and expand its reach into the D2C segment.
In 1940, four teenagers and their dog, Robot, stumbled upon the Lascaux cave in rural France. Their discovery revealed stunning prehistoric cave paintings, now known as the Sistine Chapel of Prehistory, dating back 17,000 years. This remarkable find showcased the sophisticated artistry of early humans and became a pivotal archaeological site.
Engadget review recap: DJI Osmo Pocket 4, Recteq X-Fire Pro and Alienware 27 QD-OLED
Engadgets hottest review roundup truly has it all this week: a new pocket cam, a 2-in-1 smart grill, a pair of drones and a pricey skinny vac. And thats before we even get to the highly capable gaming display that will only set you back $350. Read on to catch up on the reviews you mightve missed over the last two weeks as we prepare for another slate of big events next month. DJI Osmo Pocket 4 DJIs Osmo Pocket cameras have become a staple of Engadgets live event coverage over the last few years. Theyre convenient, compact and product high-quality footage when speed matters. Contributing review reporter James Trew recently put the new Osmo Pocket 4 through its paces, concluding that youre getting better image quality that will pay you back over time. Recteq X-Fire Pro 825 With the X-Fire Pro , Recteq set out to make a pellet grill that would appeal to fans of gas grills. The company has done just that, offering a dual-mode device that imparts wood flavor you dont inherently get from propane or natural gas. Recteq has successfully combined the best aspects of pellet grills with a dedicated high-heat mode and separate controls that will be familiar to gas grillers, I said. This model offers robust build quality, reliable performance and Wi-Fi connectivity for extended smoking sessions. Alienware 27 QD-OLED monitor Can a $350 gaming monitor offer enough to get the job done? If youre talking about the Alienware 27 QD-OLED display, that answer is a resounding yes. The AW2726DM might not have all the fancy features you get on more expensive monitors, but its an excellent example of a no frills gadget done right, senior reporter Sam Rutherford said. You get just enough ports, a straightforward design and a beautiful QD-OLED panel with a solid resolution and refresh rate all for just $350. DJI Lito drones and a Dyson PencilVac Like the Osmo Pocket 4, DJIs latest Drones are unlikely to make it to the US. However, if you live elsewhere, theres a lot of performance available for under $400. The Lito series shows that DJI is intent on dominating every drone price range and category, including the bottom end, contributing reporter Steve Dent said. Despite their low prices, the new drones dont skimp on features, offering full obstacle protection, ActiveTrack subject tracking, relatively high speeds and sharp 4K video quality just like models that cost a lot more. If your spring cleaning could still use a jump start, perhaps a fancy, skinny vacuum could do the trick for light duty. With its minimalist form factor, the PencilVac is still an engineering marvel, UK bureau chief Mat Smith said. Its high degree of mobility makes it easy to clean in tight corners and between furniture. I just wish it were slightly more powerful. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-dji-osmo-pocket-4-recteq-x-fire-pro-and-alienware-27-qd-oled-120000428.html?src=rss
An astonishing underwater cave, discovered by diver Henri Cosquer in 1985 off the French Riviera, reveals over 500 Palaeolithic artworks dating back 19,000-27,000 years. These ancient paintings and engravings depict Ice Age animals, including unique maritime life, and hand stencils, offering a profound glimpse into early human expression. Rising sea levels now threaten this invaluable heritage.
Vampire Crawlers, Peter Molyneux's return and other new indie games worth checking out
Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. If you're looking for something new to play this weekend, we've got a bunch of options for you. We've also got some interesting upcoming games to tell you about as well. In a press release announcing that Playdate Season 3 is coming later this year, Panic included a line that I've been thinking about a lot this week. Panic is currently relieved and happy that people can make amazing games for Playdate with just 16 megabytes of RAM, it said, a nod toward the ongoing RAM crisis . The Playdate doesn't exactly have a lot of technical oomph, and I'm frequently delighted by what developers are able to do within its limitations. Restrictions foster creativity many folks had to get pretty inventive on Twitter back when they only had 140 characters to play with. Here, Panic offered a welcome reminder that you don't necessarily need an ultra-powerful rig or console to have access to more great games than you'll ever actually be able to play. For instance, my favorite game of the year so far, Titanium Court , works on Macs that are capable of running macOS 11 (the 2020 version of the operating system) or later. On PC, you'll need a graphics card that's compatible with OpenGL or DirectX 9, the latter of which was released in 2002. For what it's worth, the game would also fit on a CD-ROM. There are tons of other great indie games new and old that'll run just fine on lower-powered machines. Bear that in mind the next time a current-gen console or other gaming system gets a price increase because of the RAM shortage. The DLSS 5 debacle aside, you probably don't need a 50-series NVIDIA GPU either. Maybe just pick up a Playdate instead. New releases While many of the weapons, characters and enemies are the same, Vampire Crawlers is a fresh spin on Vampire Survivors . It's a turn-based roguelite deckbuilder. Instead of automatically firing whatever weapons you have at nearby enemies, you'll play cards to conquer the mob that you face in each fight. You can still modify and evolve your weapons and abilities. Each card has a casting cost, so youll need to consider which ones to play in a given moment and the order in which you do so. As such, its a slower-paced, more strategic take on the original game, albeit with a similar level of visual chaos should you put together a particularly powerful build. I've played a ton of Vampire Survivors and the Vampire Crawlers demo lured me in too. Its approach to turn-based battles is working for me. I've only played a little of the full game so far, but there's every chance I could lose days of my life to it. Vampire Crawlers from Survivors creator Poncle and co-developer Nosebleed Interactive is available now on Steam (for PC and Mac), Xbox for PC, Xbox Series X/S , PS5 and Nintendo Switch for $10. It's included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Fable creator Peter Molyneux and his studio 22cans are back with another god game. In Masters of Albion , you can construct and modify settlements as a literal hand of god. You'll design buildings (which are immediately constructed and usable) and manage workers. You can also assume control of a human or animal in the world to take on quests and hunt for treasure. There's a tower defense element to this as well. You'll need to prepare your towns from nighttime attacks from various creatures. You can fend off these foes as the god or battle them on the ground as a hero. There's a lot going on here, but perhaps my favorite part is this apparent warning in the mature content description section of the Steam page: Players are also able to use crude, adult hand gestures at will in the game. Yes, that means you can flip the bird while playing as the god hand. Yes, I am very mature. Masters of Albion is now available in early access on Steam . It typically costs $25, but there's a 10 percent discount until April 29. Snap & Grab caught our attention at last summer's edition of the Day of the Devs showcase. This is a cartoonish heist game in which you'll carry out your robberies in two parts. You play as Nifty, a famous fashion photographer. In the setup phase, you'll take advantage of your position to take snaps of loot, threats and opportunities and then use those to construct a plan. With the help of some henchman, you'll then try to execute the heist. The games developer No Goblin is taking an episodic approach to Snap & Grab as it's releasing the game in five parts over the course of this year. The first episode is available now on Steam (usually $8, though there's a 10 percent discount until May 1). Snow Day Software's follow-up to Indoor Kickball is Indoor Baseball . It's an arcade game in which you play baseball inside buildings, funnily enough. You'll play 1v1 matches against the CPU or a friend in local multiplayer. You can also dive into a 14-game season or check out the story mode, in which you'll try to play your way back onto your school's baseball team (and maybe do some chores to make up for smashing too many things at home). There are several different levels, each of which has a variety of ways for you to make a home run, from smashing a window to landing the ball in a toilet. It seems light and fun and as a burgeoning baseball guy , I dig the idea of this one. Indoor Baseball is available now on Steam , Xbox for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. It costs $15. Upcoming I love Another Crab's Treasure very much and so I'll always be interested in whatever Aggro Crab is up to. Given that the studio also co-developed the smash hit Peak (alongside Landfall), I imagine many other folks feel the same way. Crashout Crew is another multiplayer game from Aggro Crab. This one adopts the chaotic co-op formula of games like Overcooked . As a team of forklift drivers, you and your buds will work together to fill orders in warehouses while dealing with obstacles like blackouts, cacti, fire and bees. It's coming to Steam , Xbox on PC and Xbox Series X/S on May 28. It'll be available on Game Pass on day one. I'm very much here for slice-of-life games based around soccer (I still need to play Despelote !). Kick is another such title. This is a side-scrolling, anime-inspired game from solo developer nospacelost and publisher Shoreline Games, in which you dribble a ball as you make your way to school. There are 23 levels with people to dodge and obstacles to overcome. You'll need to avoid damaging anything as you try to pull off tricks by kicking the ball at the correct angle, all while making sure you get to class on time (you can switch off the timer for a more relaxed experience). It looks pretty, and it never hurts a game's prospects to have a pup accompanying the main character. No release date for Kick has been announced. It's coming to Steam at some point. Elfie: A Sand Plan is a cozy sandcastle building game from Pressed Elephant and Sol's Atelier. There are more than 180 levels in which you'll build sand sculptures to match what Elfie, a small elephant, has in mind. There are three difficulty levels too. It looks cute and I adore elephants (oops, I just started fostering another one), so I'm interested in checking it out. Elfie: A Sand Plan is coming to Steam for PC and Mac on May 12. It'll cost $7, and there'll be a 10 percent launch discount. It took the team at Realmsoft 14 years to bring Clockwork Ambrosia to fruition and if this latest trailer is any indication, that long development cycle could have well been worthwhile. This is a side-scrolling action platformer in which you can customize half a dozen weapons using more than 150 modifiers. You play as an airship engineer who tries to survive on a steampunk island full of aggressive robots and creatures following a crash. I really dig the art direction here, which features lush hand-drawn pixel art and lovely animations. Realmsoft made the game using a custom engine the team built from scratch. I'm looking forward to checking out Clockwork Ambrosia . It's coming to Steam on May 12. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/vampire-crawlers-peter-molyneuxs-return-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-110000340.html?src=rss
The Online Civil War About Michael Is a Battle Over Truth
Fans want to reclaim the music and myth of Michael Jackson in the new biopic while critics call for accountability. Whos right?
Ace the Ping-Pong Robot Can Whup Your Ass
Ace can read the trajectory of a ball, adjust the racket angle, and respond with strokes that keep the exchange alive with real players.
Skyroots rocket sets off for Sriharikota from Hyderabad
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has formally flagged off the vehicle carrying the nose of the rocket built at Skyroots manufacturing facility near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here
Altra Promo Codes: Get 20% Off Plus Free Shipping
Score big savings on Altra Running shoes with up to 50% off sale styles, 20% off select models, 10% off your first order when you sign up, plus free standard delivery on every purchase.
Google to invest up to $40 billion in AI rival Anthropic
The investment comes just days after e-commerce giant Amazon said it will invest up to $25 billion in the startup, which has managed to stand out in the crowded AI industry by focusing its model training on coding
Cretaceous Kraken discovered: Giant octopus ruled ancient seas, study finds
The species likely competed with marine reptiles and sharks, reshaping understanding of Cretaceous marine ecosystems dominated not only by vertebrates but also giant intelligent invertebrates.
Steve Ballmer blasts founder he backed who pleaded guilty to fraud: I was duped and feel silly
Steve Ballmer wrote a fiery letter in the sentencing of disgraced founder Joseph Sanberg documenting all the harm that's befalling him as an investor.
Palantir is reportedly helping the IRS investigate financial crimes
The IRS has used Palantir's software since at least 2018, The Intercept reports.
XChat, the standalone app for messaging on X, is available on iOS now
XChat, the standalone app for accessing X's messaging feature, is available to download now for iOS . X first suggested it would be stripping direct messaging from X in 2025 , but at least for now, XChat is available in the original X app, the web and this new app. Based on its launch video , the new XChat app offers many of the elements of modern messaging X had already introduced to its chats feature , like the ability to delete and edit messages, block screenshots and send disappearing messages. The new XChat app also supports video and audio calls, and X claims that all messages sent with XChat are end-to-end encrypted. XChat will also be expected to be the home of any groups that formed around X's Communities feature. The social platform recently announced that it was retiring Communities at the end of May, and suggested that XChat's support for larger group chats could be a worthwhile alternative. XChat's group chats can currently have 350 participants, but X plans to expand that number in the future. The everything app, which requires 3 apps to use the core product. pic.twitter.com/1aJF4n2par camol (@camolNFT) April 23, 2026 Elon Musk's original pitch after he rebranded Twitter as X, was to turn the platform into an everything app, where things like an algorithmic feed, messaging, job boards and even payments could exist side-by-side. A standalone messaging app seems like the exact opposite of that, but it might also reflect where X finds itself in 2026. The company is now a subsidiary of xAI , and xAI itself is part of SpaceX . Musk's push into AI appears to be the going concern, and cloning something like WeChat might just be less important. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/xchat-the-standalone-app-for-messaging-on-x-is-available-on-ios-now-214826886.html?src=rss
Cohere acquires, merges with Germany-based startup to create a transatlantic AI powerhouse
Cohere, the Canada-based AI company that makes AI tools for businesses in regulated industries, announced Friday it would merge with Aleph Alpha, a German company that also builds AI systems for businesses and governments.
How to find your name hidden in real satellite images using NASAs Landsat tool
Europenot USfirst to authorize Moderna's combo mRNA flu-COVID vaccine
Amid RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine agenda, Moderna withdrew its FDA application last year.
Two college kids raise a $5.1 million pre-seed to build an AI social network in iMessage
Series, a social networking app that's grown popular on college campuses, announced a $5.1 million pre-seed round from some big names in tech.
Metas loss is Thinking Machines gain
Meta has been poaching talent from Thinking Machines Lab. But it's a two-way street.
A Battlefield movie adaptation is on the way, possibly starring Michael B. Jordan
Have you ever noticed how Walgreens and CVS locations often end up across the street from each other? Well, Call of Duty and Battlefield have a similar thing going on. A mere eight days after the upcoming Call of Duty movie got an official premiere date , lo and behold: There's news from The Hollywood Reporter that a Battlefield movie is on the way . The project has some heavy-artillery star power attached. Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan ( Sinners ) is slated to produce and possibly star in the film. Meanwhile, Christopher McQuarrie of Mission Impossible fame is set to write, direct and produce. Naturally, EA will also produce, as the company tries to cash in on the recent wave of Hollywood video game adaptations that don't suck . The movie's creators are reportedly meeting with studios and streamers as we speak, with an expected bidding war to commence. They're said to have met with Apple and Sony on Thursday. The project's team is reportedly prioritizing a deal that includes a theatrical release. It's understandable why business types would see the time as right for a Battlefield film adaptation. (And not just because Call of Duty is already doing it.) The latest game in the long-running series, Battlefield 6 , was the top-selling game of 2025 outselling Call of Duty for the first time. After selling over 7 million copies in its first three days , it went on to surpass an estimated 20 million sales before the end of the year. Whichever studio pays big bucks for this project will try to ride that wave. The Call of Duty movie, meanwhile, is scheduled for release on June 30, 2028. The Paramount project has tapped Taylor Sheridan ( Yellowstone ) to co-write the screenplay and produce, with Peter Berg ( Friday Night Lights ) set to direct. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/a-battlefield-movie-adaptation-is-on-the-way-possibly-starring-michael-b-jordan-201906079.html?src=rss
X-energy stock pops 27% on first day of trading following upsized IPO
Investors flocked to nuclear power startup X-energy in its first day of public trading on the Nasdaq.
The DOJ is backing xAI in its lawsuit against Colorado
The Department of Justice has announced that it's intervening on the behalf of xAI in the company's recent lawsuit against the state of Colorado. xAI first filed the suit in early April in response to a recent Colorado law that requires developers of high-risk AI systems (for example, ones used in healthcare, employment or housing) to both disclose and mitigate the risk of algorithmic discrimination in their systems. The law is set to go into effect in June, and the DOJ is now asking a Colorado District Court to declare it unconstitutional. In xAI's original argument, Colorado Bill SB24-205 violated the company's First Amendment rights by forcing its developers to change how they create AI products and compelling them to align their products with Colorado's views on diversity and discrimination. The DOJ acknowledges those concerns in its complaint , but specifically focuses its argument on the idea that the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. According to the DOJ, because the law relies on demographics and statistical disparities as evidence of discrimination, it will essentially require developers to distort an AI system's outputs and discriminate based on race, sex, religion and other protected characteristics, a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The department also positions Colorado's law as a risk to the United States' position as the global AI leader, a title the current administration is committed to protecting. As both an AI cheerleader and enabler, the Trump administration has been particularly sensitive to the notion of diversity, equity and inclusion being incorporated into AI. President Donald Trump signed several executive orders following the announcement of his AI Action Plan in 2025 that specifically called for government agencies to use AI tools that avoid ideological dogmas such as DEI. He also called for the creation of a task force that could challenge state AI regulation in favor of a federal regulatory framework for AI. The irony is that the DOJ's argument, and the administration's stance in general, are equally idealogical, just in a way that's ahistorical, and ignores the downstream effects of discrimination in the US. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-doj-is-backing-xai-in-its-lawsuit-against-colorado-200500890.html?src=rss
ComfyUI hits $500M valuation as creators seek more control over AI-generated media
ComfyUI, whose tools give creators more control over AI image, video, and audio generation, just raised $30 million.
X launches stand-alone XChat app on iOS
X's new app promises private chats, disappearing messages, audio and video calls, and more.
FCC: Router ban includes portable hotspots, but not phones with hotspot features
FCC defines consumer routers expansively, updates FAQ to include Wi-Fi hotspots.
What you need to know as Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman begins
In a few short days, jury selection will begin in the long-awaited Musk v. Altman case. At the end of that process, an Oakland federal court will task nine regular people with deciding if OpenAI defrauded Elon Musk when it announced, and recently completed, its reorganization to become a more traditional for-profit business . More than just being the venue where two billionaires will air their grievances against one another in public, the trial has the potential to reshape the AI industry. How did we get here? Musk first sued OpenAI in 2024 , but the seed of the dispute was planted when Sam Altman emailed the billionaire on the evening of May 25, 2015. Been thinking a lot about whether its possible to stop humanity from developing AI. I think the answer is most definitely not, Altman wrote at the time. If its going to happen anyway, it seems like it would be good for someone other than Google to do it first. Any thoughts on whether it would be good for [Y Combinator] to start a Manhattan Project for AI? Probably worth a conversation, Musk responded a couple of hours later. That same year, OpenAI announced itself to the world , with Altman and Musk as co-chairs of the new joint venture. OpenAI is a nonprofit artificial intelligence research company. Our goal is to advance digital intelligence in the way that is mostly likely to benefit humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return. Since our research is free from financial obligations, we can better focus on a positive human impact. If were to believe OpenAIs telling of the events that followed , by 2017, almost everyone at the company, including Musk, agreed that a for-profit entity had to be part of the next phase for OpenAI, due to the enormous amount of investment needed to pursue its original mission. At some point before Musk left OpenAIs board of directors in February 2018, OpenAI claims he demanded full control of the company, with the intent to eventually merge it with Tesla. Following Musks departure, OpenAI created its for-profit arm in 2019, which at the time was organized under a capped-profit structure designed to limit investor returns to 100x, with any excess windfalls flowing to the companys nonprofit. The idea being that if OpenAI achieved artificial general intelligence, its nonprofit would be the greatest beneficiary. However, after the success of ChatGPT in 2022, that structure became problematic for OpenAI as the company sought to raise ever more capital, and as part of its $6.6 billion funding round in October 2024, it reportedly agreed to a less-than-two-year deadline to free its for-profit from control of the nonprofit. At the heart of this trial is that OpenAI began as a non-profit organization, and then decided that it needed to be a for-profit organization in order to raise the enormous sums of money it needed to develop the technology it wanted to create, explains Professor Michael Dorff , executive director of the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy at UCLA. That is a very troublesome transition under the law. Earlier this year, following protracted negotiations with Microsoft (the for-profits largest investor) and the state attorneys general of California and Delaware, OpenAI announced the successful reorganization of its corporate structure. As things stand, the for-profit is now a public benefit corporation, making it more appealing to investors looking for an uncomplicated return structure. Meanwhile, the nonprofit now known as the OpenAI Foundation holds equity in the for-profit arm, a stake valued at $130 billion at the time the agreement was announced. At the end of last year, Musk filed an injunction to prevent the reorganization from going through but failed. As an early donor to OpenAI, Musk will not see a single cent of money come his way when the company holds an initial public offering, on account of the fact donations are made with no expectation of any return. Musk has therefore argued OpenAIs founding group, including CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, defrauded him as a donor. Determining the exact amount Musk contributed to OpenAI was an early question during pre-trial discovery. You see, Musk has greatly exaggerated his monetary contributions. As recently as March 2023 , the billionaire regularly claimed he had donated about $100 million to OpenAI. He later cut that estimate by half, telling CNBC in May 2023 : Im not sure the exact number but its some number on the order of $50 million. In recent court filings, that number was again revisited to $38 million , and its the number that currently stands. Whats at stake for OpenAI? In his original complaint, Musks legal team tried to throw the kitchen sink at OpenAI, says Professor Dorff. In subsequent filings, Musks lawyers narrowed down their clients desired set of outcomes to a handful of remedies. Should the jury rule in his favor, Musk has requested the court force Altman and Brockman to step down, and for OpenAI to restructure as a bona fide public charity that operates as the nonprofit it was intended to be, consistent with its founding charter and mission. He's also made the highly unusual request that any monetary damages which would be awarded to him in the verdict be redirected to OpenAI's own nonprofit arm. According to Professor Dorff, its highly unlikely Musk will be able to undo OpenAIs reorganization. For one, District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has already signaled her reluctance to do just that and its her, not the jury, who will get to decide if thats an appropriate remedy. Effectively, Musk is asking the judge to unscramble the eggs of a complicated corporate restructuring. There was a moment where that might have been possible, when the attorneys general of Delaware and California intervened and came to the current compromise, explains Dorff. Whether you agree or disagree with what the AGs decided to do, I think it's unlikely the court will feel it's appropriate to undo that compromise because of all the high government officials involved who, in theory, had all of the right incentives. When Musk filed his request for a preliminary injunction to stop OpenAIs conversion to a for-profit company, the judge said the request was extraordinary and rarely granted . The fact Musk is deeply involved with OpenAI's competitor xAI may also weigh heavily on the judge's mind, Droff adds. Far more uncertain is how Musks other demands could play out, since the jury will decide if OpenAI is guilty of defrauding him. According to Dorff, most high-stakes business cases end with the two sides settling because of the risk of involving a jury in the outcome. I just dont see that happening here given the tenor of the dispute, he says. It seems unlikely either side will settle. If the case does end in a jury decision, it will then be up to those nine people, with guidance from the judge, to decide on monetary damages. That will be very difficult to figure out because there is a maximalist version of this, and a minimalist version of this. Theyre very different numbers and the result could be anywhere in between two, says Dorff. Musks legal team is seeking a disgorgement of between $65.5 billion and $109.43 billion from OpenAI (and between $13.3 billion and $25.06 billion from Microsoft, which is a co-defendant in the case).In a worse case scenario, Professor Dorff suggests Altman might lose the confidence of OpenAIs board, costing him his position as CEO. He might even be forced to write some checks to settle the disgorgements. Dorff suspects OpenAI would love the minimalist version where Musk is rewarded his $38 million donation back (and it ends up with the companys non-profit). Should some other disgruntled donors emerge to sue OpenAI for fraud, the Musk v. Altman case would make it easier to litigate those cases, given the map has been drawn as to which legal claims are likely to succeed, says Dorff. However, those would amount to traffic tickets for OpenAI. Whatever happens next, it should be an eventful trial. With public testimonies from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, former OpenAI board member and Musk confidant Shivon Zilis and even Altman himself a likelihood, we'll at the very least be treated to a wealth of formerly private communications and some new piece of vocabulary between some of the richest people in the tech space. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/what-you-need-to-know-as-elon-musks-lawsuit-against-sam-altman-begins-191500726.html?src=rss
Google plans to invest even more money into Anthropic
Google plans to invest up to $40 billion into Anthropic in what could be viewed as a circular deal with the AI startup (and frequent competitor), Bloomberg reports . The search giant has invested in Anthropic at multiple points in the past, but this new investment comes after an announcement that the AI startup had signed a joint agreement with Google and Broadcom for multiple gigawatts of next-generation TPU capacity. According to Anthropic, Google is committing $10 billion now at the company's current valuation, with an additional $30 billion on offer if Anthropic meets specific performance milestones. Through Anthropic's existing commitment to use Google's TPUs (tensor processing units) and servers, Anthropic says Google will also provide 5 gigawatts of computing capacity in 2027. If the structure of the deal and business relationship between Google and Anthropic sounds familiar, it might be because the AI startup recently announced something similar with Amazon. Earlier in April, Amazon announced that it would invest $5 billion in Anthropic, with an additional $20 billion in payments available if certain milestones were met. Anthropic also agreed to use Amazon's Trainium chips for its AI models. The deals are another example of Anthropic's ability to burn through money the company only just raised $30 billion in its most recent round of funding. They could also serve as an example of the AI industry's love of circular deals. Anthropic agreeing to use Google and Amazon's silicon and servers, receiving investment from both companies and then presumably spending some of that investment on more silicon and servers, is a pattern seen in the relationship between OpenAI , Nvidia, Microsoft and plenty of other players in the AI race. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-plans-to-invest-even-more-money-into-anthropic-185000776.html?src=rss
In rare chickenpox case, itchy blisters mushroom into large, rubbery nodules
Treatment options are tricky. The teen opted to live with the masses.
Singapore police arrest alleged The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender leaker
People aren't thrilled with Paramount these days. After all, corporate consolidation and the transformation of CBS News into state media tend to do that. But here's someone who may not have chosen the wisest form of protest. The Straits Times reports (via Gizmodo ) that Singapore police have arrested a 26-year-old man for leaking Paramount's The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender . The film, part of the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise , was initially scheduled for a theatrical release. But after two delays, it was later moved to Paramount+, where its set to debut later this year. Naturally, hardcore fans of the franchise bristled at the prospect of the highly anticipated entry skipping theaters. Paramount's scant marketing apparently didn't help either. However, many have already seen the movie, allegedly thanks to the unnamed 26-year-old in question. Singapore police said he gained remote access to a server and downloaded the film. He then posted parts of it online. After the leak, Paramount changed the movie's name to Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender perhaps to try to prevent casual fans' searches from turning up info about the leak. The man is being investigated for unauthorized access to computer material. He could face a maximum of seven years in prison, a fine of up to $50,000, or both. Earlier this month, The Hollywood Reporter interviewed the X account holder @ImStillDissin, who posted the clips. (Although we can speculate that this may be the man currently in custody, thats unconfirmed.) The interview revealed a rather, shall we say, blas approach to the incident. He said he figured posting clips from the movie was no biggie since the film is a streaming-only release. I saw it's just a Paramount+ thing, so I decided I'd troll a little bit, the leaker said. The leaked clips spread rapidly. Despite pleas from 4Chan posters to share the entire film, @ImStillDissin resisted. However, someone else shared the full movie by April 13. Naturally, that file has since circulated far and wide. So, good luck with that official October 9 streaming release, Paramount. You're gonna need it. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/singapore-police-arrest-alleged-the-legend-of-aang-the-last-airbender-leaker-183954803.html?src=rss
Give Mom Warm Coffee All Year Long With This Ember Smart Mug Deal
If an Ember mug is at the top of Moms wish list, this sale is worth checking out.
Google to invest up to $40B in Anthropic in cash and compute
Google plans up to $40B investment in Anthropic as AI rivals race to secure massive compute capacity, following the limited release of its powerful, cybersecurity-focused Mythos model.
Beatbot Pool-Cleaning Robots Are on Sale for a Limited Time
Get ready for summer with discounts on the best robot pool cleaners weve tested.
Soldier won $410K in Polymarket bets on timing of Maduro capture, US alleges
It's like Pete Rose betting on his own team, Trump says of arrested soldier.
Meet the 19-meter Cretaceous kraken that swam with mosasaurs
Layer by layer, researchers revealed the jaws of an ancient predator.
Designer Baby Companies Are in Turmoil
Bootstrap Bio and Manhattan Genomics, which were pursuing human embryo editing to prevent serious disease, have shut down.
The MacBook Neo is a glimpse into John Ternus's Apple
John Ternus was unavoidable when Apple debuted the Macbook Neo. He kicked off an intimate media event for the Neo, introducing it as a transformative machine for Apple thanks to its low $599 cost ($499 for education customers) and premium build quality. He was interviewed on Good Morning America , the sort of prominent media feature CEO Tim Cook typically handles. And when I asked Apple workers about the Neo at its launch event, they almost always brought up Ternus vision of the laptop. For all intents and purposes, Tetanus was Apples frontman for the MacBook Neo. Ternus is slated for his coronation as Apple's CEO on September 1, and the Neo is not only a feather in his cap, but a likely indication of the company's approach to products going forward. Its a sign that Apple is getting more comfortable taking risks. Apple lives and dies on its own premium image. It completely gave up on making cheap iPhones like the SE and 5C, and the $599 iPhone 16e and 17e are more expensive than typical mid-range Android phones (though the $249 Apple Watch SE is admittedly one of the cheaper smartwatches around.). It was risky to shove a mobile processor into a full-fledged computer, which could have made it too weak. And it was a gamble to stick with a meager 8GB of RAM, practically sacrilegious within the Apple pantheon. It's not breaking new ground for product categories, but the Neo, in being a budget laptop at all, is surprisingly un-Apple. A citrus MacBook Neo on a table outside. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget And yet, thanks to Ternus's hardware leadership and Apple's command of its software, the MacBook Neo has been a resounding success. It has the best build quality, screen, keyboard, speakers and trackpad that I've ever seen in a $600 laptop. As I wrote in my review , every Windows PC maker, including Microsoft, should be ashamed. While we dont know the full build cost for the Neo, Apples margins for selling it will undoubtedly be far slimmer than the MacBook Air or Pro. But the Neo is more than a profit maker. Its a device that can serve as a gateway to the Apple ecosystem for kids and students. Even better, it could easily tempt over Windows users. We can't give Ternus all the credit for the Neo, of course, there's an entire team of product managers and engineers below him doing the actual design work. But it's hard to deny the flex of building a $600 laptop that doesn't feel like total garbage. The MacBook Neo surprised me, a jaded technology reporter, on practically every level. And its existence makes me wonder how a Ternus-led Apple could continue to iterate without compromising quality or Apple's signature attention to detail. Ternus is the rare Apple engineer who has played a role in almost all of its existing products in his 25 year tenure, hes taken charge of building the Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch. That gives him a unique perspective of where the company could go next, as well as how Apple could stretch its own capabilities. And based on what Ive seen of the MacBook Neo, itll be interesting to see how Apple reshapes itself for the future. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-macbook-neo-is-a-glimpse-into-john-ternuss-apple-170000842.html?src=rss
Report: Samsung execs worried company could lose money on smartphones for the first time
The AI-driven memory shortage is hitting Samsung's bottom line.
Marked-up Mac minis flood eBay amid shortages driven by AI
Apples sold-out Mac mini is spawning marked-up eBay listings as demand surges for the compact desktop, now favored for running local AI models and tools.
Meta sets up automatic blocking for govt., police-referred content
India is now part of a small group of countries where content takedown notices are complied with immediately, giving police and the governmentwide powers of immediate and lasting censorship
Man faces 5 years in prison for using AI to fake sighting of runaway wolf
Beloved wolf gripped the nation after burrowing out of the zoo.
Another spyware maker caught distributing fake Android snooping apps
Researchers have found a new case where government authorities used a fake Android app to plant spyware on a targets phone. The company that allegedly developed the spyware was not previously known to sell this type of software.
Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga joins stacked StrictlyVC SF lineup for April 30 event
Surprise! StrictlyVC San Francisco, which will kick off this years events lineup for TechCrunch on April 30 at the Sentro Filipino Cultural Center, is getting a new addition to its increasingly stacked lineup of speakers. Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga will join the rest of the lineup to discuss operating at scale in the age of AI.
Jewellery brand Araiya by Aza achieves Rs 10 Cr ARR in first year
Sub-headline: Araiya by Aza is redefining modern luxury with ethically crafted lab-grown diamond jewellery, achieving a Rs 10 crore ARR in its first year. Blending innovation, sustainability, and timeless design, the brand is creating versatile pieces for todays conscious and style-driven custom
DeepSeek previews new AI model that closes the gap with frontier models
DeepSeek says both models are more efficient and performant than DeepSeek V3.2 due to architectural improvements, and have almost closed the gap with current leading models, both open and closed, on reasoning benchmarks.
[Weekly funding roundup April 18-24] VC inflow continues to decline
Venture capital funding into Indian startups continues to remain below the $100 million level and this is largely due to the absence of large value deals.
Oolka raises Rs 130 Cr in Series A funding round led by Accel
The funding round also saw participation from existing investors Lightspeed and Z47 (formerly Matrix Partners India).
NASAs human computer: Meet the woman who calculated the future of spaceflight without machines
Annie Easley began as a human computer, performing complex calculations by hand before electronic systems took over. She later became a programmer at NASA, contributing to propulsion and energy research. Her career reflects adaptability and a lasting impact on modern space exploration.
Engadget Podcast: Tim Cooks Apple era and what lies ahead for John Ternus
The Apple rumors were true, once again. This week, the company announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down from his CEO role on September 1. Replacing him will be John Ternus, who currently serves as Apple's SVP of hardware engineering. In this episode, Devindra and Engadget's Nathan Ingraham discuss Cook's legacy as Apple's CEO, and pontificate about how Ternus may change things. We're going from Apple being led by a logistics guru, to Apple being driven by a product and engineering wizard. Surely, that will have some impact on future products. Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Podcasts Topic Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO after 15 years, John Ternus will take his place on September 1 1:22 Palantir woke up last Saturday morning and posted a comic book villain manifesto on X 26:01 DHS wants to make facial recognition smart glasses for ICE 31:53 A lot of people panic bought PCs to avoid RAMageddon 36:25 Meta faces a new lawsuit over running ads for outright scams Employees at Meta will have they keystrokes and mouse moves recorded for AI training 40:10 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price goes down, but it wont include Call of Duty 44:55 Around Engadget: a great (expensive) Dyson vac with a silly name 49:15 Working on 51:58 Pop culture picks 52:55 Credits Hosts : Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence OBrien This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/engadget-podcast-tim-cooks-apple-era-and-what-lies-ahead-for-john-ternus-121853488.html?src=rss
DeepSeek promises its new AI model has 'world-class' reasoning
DeepSeek has released its latest AI models, the V4 Pro and Flash versions, a bit over a year after it went viral and became the top rated free app on Apple's App Store in the US. Welcome to the era of cost-effective 1 million context length, DeepSeek said in its announcement . Context length is what you call the maximum number of tokens that an AI model can remember, so the bigger it is, the more coherent and consistent an AI is when it comes to extended conversations. OpenAIs recently announced GPT5.5 has a context window ranging from 400,000 to 1 million, for instance. The new model is still open-source, allowing users to download its code and modify it if they want. DeepSeek says V4 Pro has enhanced agentic capabilities and claims that it rivals top closed-source models when it comes to reasoning. It also says that it trails only Gemini-3.1-Pro in rich world knowledge. Meanwhile, V4 Flash isnt quite as powerful as the V4 Pro, but it has faster response times. Still, its reasoning abilities closely approach V4 Pro, DeepSeek says, and it performs on par with with the Pro version on simple Agent tasks. Shortly after DeepSeek topped the App Store charts, it was banned for use by US federal agencies and on government-owned devices. Authorities believed it was a national security risk and posed a threat to US AI stocks. South Korea also paused downloads of its app over privacy concerns. DeepSeek-V4 Preview is officially live & open-sourced! Welcome to the era of cost-effective 1M context length. DeepSeek-V4-Pro: 1.6T total / 49B active params. Performance rivaling the world's top closed-source models. DeepSeek-V4-Flash: 284B total / 13B active params. pic.twitter.com/n1AgwMIymu DeepSeek (@deepseek_ai) April 24, 2026 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/deepseek-promises-its-new-ai-model-has-world-class-reasoning-115733512.html?src=rss
A young boy's desert exploration led to an incredible find. Jude Sparks stumbled upon a fossilised tusk and skull. This prehistoric beast, a stegomastodon, lived over a million years ago. The fossil's excellent condition offers valuable insights into ancient mammals. This discovery highlights the importance of careful handling and expert intervention in preserving history.
In 1974, farmers in Shaanxi, China, digging for water near the Li Mountains, unearthed fragments of terracotta figures. This accidental discovery revealed the vast underground mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, containing a lifelike army of uniquely crafted clay soldiers. The find, made while seeking irrigation, unexpectedly uncovered a significant historical legacy.
The Morning After: Polymarket and a hairdryer
Although its one of the more inoffensive topics on Polymarket, this news typifies the Wild West of prediction markets and betting sites. A hairdryer was allegedly used to rig Polymarket bets on temperatures at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, according to a report by The Telegraph . French authorities noted that the official temperature readings at the airport spiked twice in the past month. On both occasions, gamblers betting on those temperature fluctuations on Polymarket appear to have walked away with thousands upon thousands of dollars. There is no indication that Polymarket forced anyone to return winnings, but the temperature sensor has been moved to a new location. The site is also still running bets on the daily temperature in and around Paris. In a more serious development, a US soldier was arrested for allegedly making over $400,000 on Polymarket using information he had about the plans to capture the former Venezuelan president, Nicols Maduro . Gannon Ken Van Dyke was arrested and charged with using classified military information to place bets on the prediction marketplace Polymarket. Van Dyke created a Polymarket account around December 26, 2025, and made 13 bets related to Maduro from December 27 to January 2. The soldier has also been charged with one count of wire fraud, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and one count of unlawful monetary transaction, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years. Its a lot heavier than hairdryer shenanigans. Mat Smith The other big stories (and deals) this morning Heres to the stable ones: In praise of Tim Cook Meta is downsizing by about 10 percent Hey Meta workers, are you getting paid for those keystrokes? Apple TVs upcoming For All Mankind spinoff Star City oozes Cold War-era paranoia DJI Lito 1 and Lito X1 drone review High-quality aerial video at its most affordable. Engadget DJI is taking another stab at the budget drone market with the new Lito series. The Lito 1 and Lito X1 are both under $400 and weigh less than 249 grams theyre ideal for beginners. Both replace DJIs Mini series, but they offer things those models lacked, like LiDAR and 360-degree obstacle avoidance. After testing both models, I believe they offer unbeatable value and performance at these prices, by a long shot. However, due to DJIs standing in the US , you might not see either. Continue reading. Xbox cuts Game Pass prices But new Call of Duty games will no longer hit the service at launch. Activision As suggested by recent comments by the new boss of Xbox, Microsofts gaming arm is cutting the prices of both Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, effective immediately, but theres one big caveat. New Call of Duty games will no longer be available on Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on day one. Theyll eventually hit those tiers about a year later, during the following holiday season. Continue reading. Accessory maker Anker made its own AI chip Of course it did. Anker, of battery-pack and cable fame, has announced its own AI chip that it will integrate into its future headphones and other devices. The company is planning to debut the chip, called Thus, on a new model of headphones to be unveiled at its Anker Day event in May. Ankers Thus chip integrates computing power directly into NOR flash memory cells, which offer faster read speeds than NAND. Anker says headphones are a particularly challenging environment to demonstrate what a new chip can do because hardly any other device places higher demands on an AI chip. Anker announced one particular feature to showcase its silicon. Clear Calls will cancel noise with a large neural network running entirely on the device, supported by eight MEMS microphones and two bone conduction sensors. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-112802570.html?src=rss
A routine renovation in Turkey's Cappadocia in 1963 unearthed Derinkuyu, a vast underground city. This ancient marvel, extending 85 meters deep, housed thousands with residential areas, stables, and sophisticated ventilation. It stands as a testament to human ingenuity and survival architecture, revealing a hidden chapter of history within ordinary walls.
In 1996, two students discovered an ancient skeleton, dubbed The Ancient One, near the Columbia River. DNA analysis revealed the 9,000-year-old remains are genetically linked to Native Americans, resolving a long-standing debate. This discovery revolutionized archaeology, emphasizing respect for indigenous sovereignty and memory, culminating in the skeleton's return to tribal descendants for a traditional burial.
