Minimalist News

Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 7:22 AM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • Anthropic is making significant moves in the AI space, acquiring biotech startup Coefficient Bio for $400M and launching a new PAC, while also facing scrutiny over its Claude Code subscriptions and a leaked vulnerability.
  • NASA's Artemis II mission continues its journey around the moon, demonstrating impressive engineering feats, though the crew experienced some familiar tech hiccups with Microsoft Outlook.
  • The tech industry is grappling with the massive energy demands of AI, with companies building large natural gas plants, leading to public preference for Amazon warehouses over data centers due to environmental concerns.
  • OpenAI is undergoing an executive shuffle, with COO Brad Lightcap moving to lead 'special projects,' and the company has acquired the tech talk show 'TBPN,' signaling a move to control its narrative.
  • Lucid Motors is facing production challenges, blaming a seat supplier issue for a dip in Q1 sales, while SpaceX is reportedly preparing for the largest IPO in history, potentially overshadowing other tech ventures.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Super Meat Boy 3D, coin-pushing chaos and other new indie games worth checking out 38 minutes 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. As ever, we've got a whole bunch of new games for you to dive into this weekend, along with announcements and updates on several others that are coming down the pike. I love how spoiled we are for game showcases these days, and I'm really looking forward to the latest installment of the indie-focused Triple-i Initiative at noon ET on April 9 as the first two editions were really strong. The trailer for this one features the likes of Cairn, Warhammer Survivors (the Warhammer-themed Vampire Survivors spinoff),

  • AI animation studio Toonstar will turn books into digital shows for HarperCollins 14 hours ago by Devindra Hardawar
    Visual Arts, Humanities, Arts & Entertainment, Animation, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Devindra Hardawar

    HarperCollins is tapping into AI to bring some of its book franchises to life. Specifically, the publisher is teaming up with Toonstar, an AI animation studio, to turn them into digital shows. The first project will be an adaptation of Lisa Greenwald’s “Friendship List” series, which will also be joined by a graphic novel. You’d be forgiven for being unaware of Toonstar, a studio that received some buzzy early on for simplifying typically complex animation pipelines with AI, but has mostly remained under the radar. Its biggest claim to fame is producing StEvEn and Parker YouTube series, which has amassed 3.38

  • Jason Blundell announces his new-new studio, Magic Fractal 15 hours ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Media, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    Jason Blundell, a former creative lead on Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops series, has announced that he's formed a new development studio called Magic Fractal Studios. Blundell announced the studio on a livestream with former Dark Outlaw Games coworker JC Farmer, a little over a week after the previous studio was closed by Sony. Little is known about Magic Fractal beyond its logo and social media accounts. Dark Outlaw Games was similarly mysterious, and closed before it could even announce its first project. All that's known is what Blundell has shared after the studio was shut down: Dark Outlaw

  • Banks working on the SpaceX IPO reportedly have to subscribe to Grok 16 hours ago by Will Shanklin
    IPOs, Stocks & Offerings, Finance, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin

    Cutthroat capitalism sure does bring out the best in humanity. Take, for example, Elon Musk. He reportedly set a condition for banks, law firms, auditors and advisors who want to work on the SpaceX IPO. They're required to subscribe to the bastion of nonconsensual deepfakes and occasional Hitler praise known as Grok. Surely the best and brightest banks our nation has to offer would refuse such a pay-to-play demand, right? Well, no. The New York Times reports that some of them have agreed to spend tens of millions of dollars on Grok. Those financial institutions are said to already be integrating

  • The Artemis II crew snapped some mesmerizing photos of Earth 17 hours ago by Will Shanklin
    Science, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin

    On their way around the Moon, the Artemis II crew had time to snap some terrific pictures of our blue planet. NASA has begun sharing the images, including the one above, which shows a striking view of Earth through the Orion capsule's window. Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman overcame the crew’s problems with Microsoft Outlook and the toilet to capture the photos. He took the above pic after the craft completed its translunar injection burn on April 2. Reid Wiseman / NASA Meanwhile, this second photo trades clever composition for a full-on view of our planet. If you look carefully, you can see


The Verge

  • Anker’s Nebula P1 projector is the portable sound king 5 hours ago by Thomas Ricker
    Accessory Reviews, Gadgets, Reviews, Tech, TVs, Work anywhere

    The Nebula P1 goes anywhere you can find a power source. The Soundcore Nebula P1 from Anker isn't the most portable Google TV projector I've ever reviewed, nor is it the brightest. It doesn't even have a built-in battery. Instead it's a decent video device that focuses on sound. The Nebula P1's standout feature is a pair of speakers that detach to create true left- and right-channel separation. It sounds much better than typical all-in-ones like the supremely portable TCL PlayCube, Xgimi MoGo, or Anker's popular Capsule projectors. I've been testing the $799 (currently on sale for $639) Nebula P1 as I travel

  • Anthropic essentially bans OpenClaw from Claude by making subscribers pay extra 12 hours ago by Jay Peters
    AI, Anthropic, News

    Using OpenClaw with Claude AI is about to get a lot more expensive, thanks to Anthropic's new policy changes. Beginning April 4th at 3PM ET, users will "no longer be able to use your Claude subscription limits for third-party harnesses including OpenClaw," according to an email sent to users on Friday evening. Instead, if users want to use OpenClaw with Claude, they'll have to use a "pay-as-you-go option" that will be billed separate from their Claude subscription. With OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger now employed by OpenAI, Anthropic may also be encouraging subscribers to use more of its own tools, like Claude

  • NASA did eventually solve Artemis II’s Outlook glitch 15 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    Microsoft, NASA, News, Science, Space, Tech

    NASA’s Artemis II rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. | Photo: Joe Raedle via Getty Images On Thursday, during Artemis II's journey to the Moon, commander Reid Wiseman ran into a tech issue some of us back on Earth can relate to: Microsoft Outlook wasn't working. In a conversation captured in NASA's Artemis livestream and shared on Bluesky, Wiseman reported to Mission Control: "I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those are working." To take care of the issue, Mission Control had to remotely access Wiseman's personal computing device (PCD), a Microsoft Surface

  • OpenAI’s AGI boss is taking a leave of absence 15 hours ago by Hayden Field
    AI, News, OpenAI

    OpenAI is undergoing another round of C-suite changes, according to an internal memo viewed by The Verge. Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of AGI deployment - who was until recently the company's CEO of applications - says in the memo that she will be stepping away on medical leave "for the next several weeks" due to a neuroimmune condition. While she's out, OpenAI president Greg Brockman will be in charge of product, including leading OpenAI's super app efforts. On the business side, CSO Jason Kwon, CFO Sarah Friar, and CRO Denise Dresser will take charge. OpenAI's CMO, Kate Rouch, has also decided to

  • Lenovo Legion Go 2 suddenly costs $650 more as RAMageddon lays waste to gaming hardware 16 hours ago by Sean Hollister
    Gadgets, Gaming, News, PC Gaming

    The Legion Go 2’s mouse mode, unique among Windows handhelds. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge Remember when we thought the Legion Go 2 was expensive at $1,099 and up? Those were the days - Best Buy is now listing Lenovo's handheld for $1,499 with a Ryzen Z2 or $1,999 with a Z2 Extreme. The latter originally cost $1,349, so that's a $650 jump in just six months. And yes, that means Lenovo's flagship may now cost twice as much as a $999 Microsoft/Asus Xbox Ally X with the same AMD chip, as much as a far more powerful


Wired

  • Aiper IrriSense 2 Smart Irrigation System Review: Clever Yet Uneven 37 minutes ago by Christopher Null
    Gear, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Home, Product, Review

    This hose-attached smart sprinkler maps your yard, rotates on command, and measures water use. Despite these clever features, the results are a little uneven.

  • Hackers Are Posting the Claude Code Leak With Bonus Malware an hour ago by Andy Greenberg, Dell Cameron, Maddy Varner, Andrew Couts
    Security, Security / Cyberattacks and Hacks, Security / National Security, Security / Privacy, Security / Security News, Roundup

    Plus: The FBI says a recent hack of its wiretap tools poses a national security risk, attackers stole Cisco source code as part of an ongoing supply chain hacking spree, and more.

  • How to Get Reliable Wi-Fi in Your Backyard 2 hours ago by Simon Hill
    Gear, Gear / How To and Advice, Gear / Products / Home Office, Online, Outdoors

    There are several ways to extend your Wi-Fi network into your backyard and out onto the deck or patio. Here’s how.

  • The Trajectory of the Artemis II Moon Mission Is a Feat of Engineering 2 hours ago by Luca Nardi
    Science, Science / Space, Out, and, Back

    The astronauts will arrive about 10,300 kilometers beyond our satellite, breaking all previous records for distance from Earth. But how was their route chosen?

  • Maytag Promo Codes and Deals: Appliances Under $300 7 hours ago by Matthew Korfhage
    Gear, Gear / Deals, Coupons

    Upgrade your home for less with these verified Maytag discount codes, military savings, and limited-time closeout offers on washers, dryers, and more.


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