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Sat, Feb 28, 2026, 7:21 AM EST

Tech

AI Summary

  • OpenAI is reportedly raising a massive $110 billion in funding, signifying continued investor confidence in the AI sector despite internal turbulence, including employee dismissals for confidential information misuse and ongoing scrutiny from government entities.
  • The Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk has sparked significant debate, with employees from both Google and OpenAI publicly supporting Anthropic, highlighting a potential division within the AI community regarding government partnerships and ethical considerations.
  • Tech layoffs continue across the industry, with Block (parent of Square and Cash App) announcing over 4,000 job cuts, and eBay also shedding 800 employees, reflecting a broader trend of cost-cutting measures in the tech sector.
  • The gaming industry is seeing new hardware and software announcements, including Pokémon titles for the Nintendo Switch 2 and rumors of upgraded PS5 Pro technology, alongside potential shifts in ownership with Paramount reportedly agreeing to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
  • Developments in AI extend beyond large language models, with AI music generator Suno achieving significant paid subscriber numbers and revenue, and new AI-powered tools and applications like Google's Nano Banana 2 and Perplexity's multi-model Computer emerging.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Steam Next Fest, a different flavor of The Witcher and other new indie games worth checking out an hour ago by Kris Holt
    Media, Video Games, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt

    Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. It's Steam Next Fest week, with literally thousands of demos for upcoming games for us to dive into. I'm trying to check out as many as I can before the event wraps up on Monday. However, I made a near-critical error in my planning: I opted to try the Raccoin demo first. I could and would have happily played that all week. This is a coin-pushing roguelike deckbuilder that adopts the format of Balatro. To progress, you need to earn a certain number of points and the

  • OpenAI strikes a deal with the Defense Department to deploy its AI models 7 hours ago by Mariella Moon
    Politics & Government, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon

    OpenAI has reached an agreement with the Defense Department to deploy its models in the agency’s network, company chief Sam Altman has revealed on X. In his post, he said two of OpenAI’s most important safety principles are “prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems.” Altman claimed the company put those principles in its agreement with the agency, which he called by the government’s preferred name of Department of War (DoW), and that it had agreed to honor them. The agency has closed the deal with OpenAI, shortly after President

  • Trump orders federal agencies to drop Anthropic services amid Pentagon feud 11 hours ago by Igor Bonifacic
    Politics & Government, Government, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic

    President Donald Trump has ordered all US government agencies to stop using Claude and other Anthropic services, escalating an already volatile feud between the Department of Defense and company over AI safeguards. Taking to Truth Social on Friday afternoon, the president said there would be a six-month phase out period for federal agencies, including the Defense Department, to migrate off of Anthropic's products.  “The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution,” the president wrote. “Anthropic better get their

  • FCC approves the merger of cable giants Cox and Charter 14 hours ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Internet & Networking Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    The Federal Communications Commission has given the go ahead for two of the US' biggest cable providers, Charter Communications and Cox Communications, to merge. Charter announced its intention to acquire Cox for $34.5 billion in May 2025, with specific plans to inherit Cox's managed IT, commercial fiber and cloud businesses, while folding the company's residential cable service into a subsidiary. “By approving this deal, the FCC ensures big wins for Americans," FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement. "This deal means that jobs are coming back to America that had been shipped overseas. It means that modern, high-speed networks will

  • Paramount agrees to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, pays Netflix $2.8 billion for breakup 15 hours ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Movies, Media, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are officially merging. The studio paid Netflix the $2.8 billion termination fee it was owed for breaking its original deal to buy Warner Bros. earlier today, and the historic film studio has now formally accepted Paramount’s offer. Along with the deal, which values Warner Bros. Discovery at $31 per share, Paramount is making several commitments to assuage the fears of regulators and the entertainment community. Those include a guarantee that the new company will produce 30 theatrical films annually, that theatrical releases will have a minimum 45-day window in theaters before they’re brought to video


The Verge

  • Tenways nearly perfects the shareable city e-bike 5 hours ago by Thomas Ricker
    Electric Bikes, Reviews, Rideables, Tech, Transportation, Work anywhere

    The CGO Compact electric bike twists and folds to create a wall-hugging profile. Good electric bikes are expensive. So why not buy one and share it? That's the idea behind the Tenways CGO Compact e-bike I've been sharing with my wife and teenage daughter for the last two weeks. It adapts in seconds without any tools to comfortably fit riders of varying heights thanks to its low-entry frame, quick-release seat post, and height-adjustable handlebar. It also takes up less space than an ordinary bike with its 20-inch wheels, folding pedals, and a handlebar that twists to create a slim, wall-hugging profile that goes

  • Defense secretary Pete Hegseth designates Anthropic a supply chain risk 10 hours ago by Tina Nguyen
    AI, Anthropic, Policy, Politics

    US President Donald Trump (R) looks on as US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to the press following US military actions in Venezuela | AFP via Getty Images Nearly two hours after President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he was banning Anthropic products from the federal government, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth took it one step further and announced that he was now designating the AI company as a "supply-chain risk," which Anthropic says it is willing to challenge in court. The decision could immediately impact numerous major tech companies that use Claude in their line of work for

  • The best instant cameras you can buy right now 12 hours ago by Sheena Vasani
    Buying Guides, Camera Reviews, Cameras, Gadgets, Reviews, Tech, Verge Shopping

    Even with the ability to take excellent photos with our phones and instantly share them across the world, there’s something magical about the old-school instant camera. With just a click of a button, you can capture a moment in a photo that you can see and touch almost immediately. Images captured by an instant camera aren’t as pristine or perfect as those produced by modern digital cameras, but their soft images and imperfections are often a big part of the allure. Yet not all instant cameras are the same, and some of them are better suited for different needs and budgets.

  • NASA is pushing back its plans for a Moon landing 14 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    NASA, News, Science, Space

    NASA announced at a press conference on Friday that it's delaying its plans for a Moon landing until Artemis IV in 2028. The Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027, was originally going to attempt to land on the Moon but will now be a test flight instead. NASA also says it's "increasing its cadence of missions," including adding a second test flight in 2027 and aiming for "at least one surface landing every year thereafter," including the Artemis IV landing. The overhaul to the Artemis launch schedule follows a report from NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) earlier this month that

  • Warner Bros. Discovery agrees to $110 billion Paramount merger 15 hours ago by Emma Roth
    Entertainment, Film, HBO, News, Streaming

    Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance's merger agreement is now official. On Friday, the two companies announced plans to merge into a massive media company that will fold WBD's studio, linear channels, streaming service, and gaming segment into Paramount. Though WBD initially signed onto an $83 billion agreement to merge part of Warner Bros. with Netflix, Paramount persisted with a hostile takeover bid, followed by a series of offers. That persistence paid off, as WBD determined that Paramount's "best and final" offer is "superior" to Netflix's deal. On Thursday, Netflix declined to match Paramount's bid, calling it "no longer fina … Read


Wired

  • The Best MicroSD Cards for Your Camera, Switch, and More an hour ago by Brad Bourque
    Gear, Gear / Products, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Cameras, Gear / Products / Gaming, Gear / Products / Computers, Buying, Guide

    Everything you need to know about memory cards for cameras, video game systems, and more.

  • The Best Laptop Cooling Pad and Why You Should Buy One an hour ago by Luke Larsen
    Gear, Gear / Products, Gear / Products / Computers, Heat, 2

    Most laptop cooling pads are useless, but if you get the right one, it can make a huge impact on how long your gaming laptop lasts.

  • Area Man Accidentally Hacks 6,700 Camera-Enabled Robot Vacuums an hour ago by Andy Greenberg, Lily Hay Newman, Maddy Varner
    Security, Security / Cyberattacks and Hacks, Security / Privacy, Security / National Security, Security / Security News, Roundup

    Plus: The top US cyber agency falls into shambles, AI models develop an upsetting penchant for nuclear weapons, and more.

  • EveryPlate’s Meal Kit Offers Affordable Vegetarian Options 2 hours ago by Molly Higgins
    Gear, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Online Services, Gear / Products / Kitchen, Budget, Bites

    HelloFresh’s budget subsidiary surprised me with its basic but tasty vegetarian meal selection.

  • Which Water Filter Pitchers Filter PFAS? How to Check 2 hours ago by Matthew Korfhage
    Gear, Gear / How To and Advice, Gear / Products / Home, Gear / Products / Kitchen, Filtering, the, Filters

    Checking up on the claims of water filter makers can be a discomfiting maze. Here's how to verify independent water filter certifications.


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