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Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 3:33 AM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • Venture capital continues to pour into AI, with major funds like Sequoia raising billions and startups like Factory and Upscale AI achieving significant valuations, indicating a fervent belief in the technology's enterprise and creative applications.
  • AI is expanding beyond software into hardware and robotics, with companies like Physical Intelligence developing self-teaching robots and geCKo Materials demonstrating AI-powered material innovation, even reaching the International Space Station.
  • Established tech giants are integrating AI more deeply, as seen with Google's AI Mode in Chrome and Gemini, and OpenAI's enhanced Codex, while also facing new competition and scrutiny, such as European police warnings about DDoS attacks and regulatory pressures.
  • The gaming industry is leveraging AI for development and user experience, with Roblox incorporating agentic AI tools and new hardware like the Playdate influencing game design education.
  • The tech landscape is dynamic with shifts in leadership, as seen with Reed Hastings departing Netflix, and emerging challenges like Bluesky's struggles with DDoS attacks and broader discussions about the impact and potential pitfalls of AI.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • PSA: Stop using your Casely Power Pods wireless charger immediately 2 hours ago by Steve Dent
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Steve Dent

    Casely has reannounced a recall of its Power Pods 5,000mAh MagSafe E33A charger after dozens of people were injured and one even killed by the defective devices, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) announced. It's recommended that you stop using the devices immediately, dispose of them safely and seek a replacement from the manufacturer.  A year ago, Casely and the USPSC published a recall of 429,000 units of the power bank with the model number E33A. That followed 51 incidents of the devices "overheating, expanding or catching fire" and burning users in multiple cases.  However, many of the devices have remained

  • Bluesky blames DDoS attack for server outages 8 hours ago by Kris Holt
    Internet & Networking Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt

    Bluesky is once again having a wobble. The platform said some of its systems are down and that it’s “investigating an incident with service in one of our reginos” (that’s Bluesky’s typo, not mine). The issue appears to have started at 1:42AM ET and was still persisting as of 11AM when this story was originally published. Since then, the site has been experiencing intermitent interuptions, including at times to its status page where users should be able to monitor outages. At 7:47PM ET, the platform explained that it’s been attempting to mitigate “a sophisticated Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, which intensified throughout

  • Reed Hastings is leaving Netflix after 29 years 10 hours ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Board & Management Changes, Investment & Company Information, Finance, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    Netflix co-founder and current chairman Reed Hastings is leaving the streaming company’s board in June to focus on "his philanthropy and other pursuits," according to a shareholder letter released alongside Netflix's Q1 earnings. Hastings has served as chairman of Netflix's board since 2023, a role he assumed after stepping down as co-CEO and promoting Greg Peters in his place. "Netflix changed my life in so many ways, and my all‑time favorite memory was January 2016, when we enabled nearly the entire planet to enjoy our service," Hastings said in a statement. "My real contribution at Netflix wasn’t a single decision; it

  • Perplexity brings its Personal Computer AI assistant to Mac 12 hours ago by Igor Bonifacic
    Software, Computing, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic

    Perplexity has just released Personal Computer. The software, which is available starting today for Mac, builds on the multi-model orchestration capabilities the company debuted with Perplexity Computer at the end of February. Like Claude Cowork (and, as of today, OpenAI Codex too), it's a suite of computer use agents that can work with your files, apps, connectors and the web to complete complex and "even continuous workflows."  Perplexity suggests a few different use cases for Personal Computer, starting with the obvious. “You can ask Personal Computer to read your to-do list,” the company states. “In fact, you can ask it to

  • Call of Duty movie arrives on June 30, 2028 12 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Movies, Media, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    A Call of Duty movie is still happening, but don't hold your breath for it to hit screens any time soon. Today, the popular FPS' social media revealed that the movie's theatrical release date will be June 30, 2028.  A film adaptation of the game franchise was first revealed last year, and shortly after, we learned that Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg would be serving as the producers. The duo, whose past credits include Friday Night Lights and Yellowstone, will also be co-writing the project under Berg's direction. We still haven't heard anything about the cast, or even what era of


The Verge

  • YouTube’s mobile app finally lets you share timestamped videos 8 hours ago by Jay Peters
    News, Streaming, YouTube

    YouTube is making some changes that might affect how you share videos from the mobile app. From the app, you can finally share videos from a specific timestamp, which will make it easier to point someone to a part of a video you might want them to see while you're on your phone. However, this change will replace the Clips feature that lets you make a shareable clip from a video. You'll still be able to watch any Clips that you've already made. But moving forward, "the ability to set an end time or include a custom description when sharing will

  • Gucci-branded Google smart glasses are coming next year 11 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    Gadgets, Google, News, Tech, Wearable

    Google’s “Project Aura” will be its first Android XR glasses, expected later this year. | Image: Google, Xreal Google is reportedly partnering with Gucci to make a pair of AI smart glasses stylish enough people might actually want to wear them. According to Reuters, Gucci parent company Kering is planning to launch the glasses sometime in 2027. Google's first pair of Android XR glasses, "Project Aura," are expected to launch this year. They feature essentially the same look as Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, with chunky, black plastic frames. They'll usher in Google's second attempt at smart glasses, after Google Glass infamously failed to

  • Ballmer gives $80 million to NPR, with strings attached 11 hours ago by Sean Hollister
    News, Policy

    Connie Ballmer, wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder of the Ballmer Group, has given $80 million to NPR. That's roughly seven years' worth of government funding ($11.2m) after Trump and Congress cut funds for public media, but only a fraction of NPR's full annual budget of $300 million. NPR may still cut jobs because the money has strings attached. The money is specifically "to support the digital innovation that is essential to meeting the needs and serving the interests of public media audiences wherever they are and whenever they seek information," according to a press release. NPR journalist

  • Netflix embraces vertical video with major mobile app update 11 hours ago by Jay Peters
    Apps, Netflix, News, Streaming, Tech

    Netflix announced on Thursday that it will be launching a redesigned mobile app, which will include a vertical video feed, at the end of April. "This redesign will better reflect our expanding entertainment offering and make it easier for members to engage how and when they want," the company said in its Q1 2026 earnings letter to shareholders. In Thursday's letter, the company said that the lines between "entertainment on TV and mobile devices are blurring," noting that video podcasts "over-index" on mobile. Co-CEO Greg Peters said in January that the company was planning to revamp its mobile UI as a

  • Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings is officially leaving the company 12 hours ago by Emma Roth
    Entertainment, Netflix, Streaming

    Netflix cofounder and chairman Reed Hastings plans to leave the company after nearly 30 years. The news comes as part of Netflix's Q1 2026 earnings results released on Thursday, which says Hastings "will not stand for re-election to our Board when his current term expires at the Annual Meeting in June." After co-founding Netflix in 1997, Hastings served as CEO from 1999 to 2023, when he stepped down and took on the role of chairman. "My real contribution at Netflix wasn't a single decision; it was a focus on member joy, building a culture that others could inherit and improve, and


Wired


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