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Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 10:33 PM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • AI advancements continue to dominate headlines, with Anthropic gaining traction and challenging OpenAI's investor confidence, while Google integrates AI features like 'Skills' into Chrome and offers Gemini to more users globally.
  • The cybersecurity landscape remains a significant concern, evidenced by backdoors in WordPress plugins, Adobe patching exploited PDF zero-days, and the ongoing debate around AI's role in security and potential misuse, as seen with the Apple vs. X 'Grok' deepfake situation.
  • The autonomous vehicle sector is accelerating, with Waymo initiating robotaxi testing in London and Tesla tracking driver engagement with its Full Self-Driving software, alongside Lucid Motors securing additional funding and a new CEO.
  • Tech giants are expanding their hardware and service offerings through acquisitions and new product launches, including Amazon's bid for Globalstar to bolster satellite capabilities and Sony's move into competitive gaming monitors and potential animated film adaptations.
  • Regulatory and ethical considerations are shaping the tech industry, from debates over AI liability and child social media use to data privacy concerns highlighted by privacy advocates targeting Google and the ongoing scrutiny of X's business practices.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • Godzilla goes to New York in 'Minus Zero' teaser trailer an hour ago by Mariella Moon
    Movies, Media, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon

    Japanese entertainment company Toho has released a teaser video for Godzilla Minus Zero, the upcoming sequel to the award-winning film Godzilla Minus One. The teaser shows the famous monster next to the Statue of Liberty as it rampages across New York. Godzilla Minus Zero is set in 1949, two years after the events of the first film, and will be a direct sequel. You’ll see familiar faces from Minus One in the short trailer, as well, namely Koichi Shikishima and Noriko Oishi, two of the first movie’s main characters. The kaiju flick was filmed specifically for IMAX with high-definition digital cameras.

  • Sony is nerfing its Bravia TVs' program guide 4 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Video Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Sony is removing some features from its TV guide and program guide displays for channels received by an over the air TV antenna on select models of Bravia televisions from 2023-2025. Cord Cutters News reported on the changes, which will take effect in late May. Channel logos and thumbnail images in program descriptions are going away from the built-in TV Guide for antenna TV channels. Only programs from recently watched channels will be shown in the guide, and depending on the channel, program information may not be displayed. Change is also coming for set top box users, with the dedicated Set

  • FCC just handed Netgear a de facto router monopoly in the US 5 hours ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    The Federal Communications Commission has announced that Netgear has been given conditional approval that effectively exempts it from a previous ban on foreign-made networking routers. The conditional approval gives the company a de facto — though potentially temporary — monopoly on the selling and servicing of new consumer routers in the US. "We're pleased to share that Netgear is the first retail consumer router company to receive conditional approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a trusted consumer router company," Netgear CEO CJ Prober said in a statement. "As a US founded and headquartered company, Netgear is aligned with the

  • Google's new Windows app is yet another way to access Gemini 6 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Software, Mobile Apps, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Google has introduced a new app for Windows desktops and, unsurprisingly, it puts AI front at center. If you aren't a big fan of Google's Gemini chatbot, then skip on past this download. For those of you who are heavy Gemini users, though, this could mean a simpler and more integrated experience on Windows machines.  Once installed, you can pull up the app's search bar with the Alt + Space shortcut. Queries typed into this open-ended search box can hunt down information from the web like typical Google search, where AI Mode will be enabled for an extra layer of artificial

  • NAACP sues xAI over data center pollution 6 hours ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Politics & Government, Environment, Nature & Environment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    The NAACP is suing xAI and a subsidiary called MZX Tech for allegedly operating unpermitted methane gas turbines to power its Colossus 2 data center in South Memphis. The association is asking the federal district court of the Northern District of Mississippi to declare that the company has violated the Clean Air Act, force it to stop using its unpermitted turbines and assess financial penalties against xAI for violating federal law, among other requests. The lawsuit claims that xAI — the Elon Musk-founded AI startup now owned by SpaceX — is operating 27 gas turbines without an air permit to power


The Verge

  • Godzilla Minus Zero stomps through New York in first teaser trailer 4 hours ago by Andrew Webster
    Entertainment, Film, News

    *insert Godzilla screeching sound* Here's the very first look at the next big kaiju feature. Godzilla Minus Zero will continue the story of 2023's Godzilla Minus One, which returned the franchise to the more grounded tone established in the original film, and while the new teaser trailer doesn't show a whole lot, it suggests some big things for the series. Minus Zero is set in 1949, two years after the first movie, "and continues the story of the Shikishima family as they face an all-new calamity," according to the official logline. Apparently that includes shifting the setting from Tokyo to New

  • Microsoft’s finally giving up on its massive Surface Hub touchscreen displays 4 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    Microsoft, News, Tech

    Microsoft is reportedly ending production of its Surface Hub 3 collaborative office display and canceling plans for a Surface Hub 4, according to Windows Central. The extra-large digital whiteboard that included its own built-in PC was originally announced in 2015 ahead of the launch of Windows 10 and came in two sizes, 50 inches and 85 inches, priced at $8,000 and $20,000, respectively. It has outlasted former Surface leader Panos Panay, who left for Amazon in 2023, and other gone-but-not-forgotten Surface hardware like the Surface Studio all-in-one, Surface Duo, and Surface headphones. Microsoft gave the Surface Hub line a few updates

  • The FCC just saved Netgear from its router ban for no obvious reason 6 hours ago by Sean Hollister
    News, Policy, Tech

    The United States' foreign router ban didn't make a whole lot of sense, and today may not change that. The FCC has just granted Netgear a conditional approval to import its future consumer routers, cable modems, and cable gateways into the US through October 1st, 2027 - even though the company builds those devices in Asia and has not announced any plan to bring manufacturing to the United States. Neither the FCC's announcement nor Netgear's announcement explain why Netgear was granted the temporary exemption. The FCC only states that the Pentagon has now made "a specific determination" that "such devices do

  • Dozens of 4K Blu-rays are included in Amazon’s three for $33 sale 8 hours ago by Cameron Faulkner
    Deals, Entertainment, Gadgets, Verge Shopping

    Amazon has switched on its semi-regular three for $33 sale for a large batch of 4K Blu-ray movies. As usual, there are too many to list individually, though it’s a comprehensive mix of old and new flicks that should keep physical media fans scrolling for a minute. The steps to get in on the deal are the same as ever: add three titles from the sale page to your cart, and each item will be price-adjusted at checkout for a total of $33. The deal also works if you add six eligible movies to your cart. These sales are always a

  • Prime Video is bundling Apple TV Plus and Peacock for a limited time 9 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    Amazon, Entertainment, News, Streaming, Tech

    Amazon is offering Prime Video subscribers a way to get Apple TV Plus and Peacock Premium Plus at a discount. With a new bundle, subscribers can access all content from both services directly through Prime Video. The bundle includes both streaming services for $19.99 per month, as opposed to the total $29.98 per month it costs to buy each subscription separately. An active Amazon Prime membership is required to sign up for the bundle, though, which costs an extra $14.99 per month, making this option a bit pricier if you don't already have Prime. A matching bundle is also available for


Wired


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