OpenAI says employees moving beyond chat to agents
AI agents that autonomously execute multi-step tasks are being developed by OpenAI employees, moving beyond simple conversational interfaces. These systems can reason through complex workflows over multiple steps without requiring constant human direction at each stage.
Notion Mail is shutting down
Notion Mail is shutting down. The company will discontinue the email service on March 31, 2025.
Xbox follows Apple with price increases
Xbox console prices are increasing due to memory and storage costs that have more than doubled. Microsoft joins Apple in raising prices to offset climbing component expenses.
Spain will require carriers to keep mobile networks live during power outages
Spain's mobile carriers must now maintain network service for a minimum of four hours during power outages. They will achieve this through backup power systems that support their infrastructure during electrical failures.
Polestar won't be able to sell its cars in the US next year
Polestar will be unable to sell vehicles in the United States starting next year due to regulatory compliance issues. The automaker had shifted some production to the US but faces barriers to continuing domestic sales operations.
Notion killing Skiff-influenced email app since most users use AI agents instead
Notion is discontinuing its email app after discovering most users relied on AI agents to manage their inboxes rather than the app itself. The company plans to refocus development efforts on agent-based inbox management tools instead.
Vodacom bundles Amazon Prime across its post-paid base
Amazon Prime is now bundled with Vodacom's post-paid phone plans through a new partnership. The bundle aims to increase customer retention by combining telecommunications services with streaming and shopping benefits in a single offering.
Retroid's Pocket Nova is a very capable 4:3 handheld that costs $229
A handheld device with a 4:3 screen ratio can emulate games from the GameCube and PS2 era. The Pocket Nova costs $229.
Google finally releases a Finance Android app, promises iOS version later in 2026
Google released its Finance app for Android after twenty years, featuring AI-powered tools for tracking investments and market data. An iOS version is planned for later in 2026.
Perseverance rover finds even more signs of extinct life on Mars
The Perseverance rover detected organic molecules and seasonal methane fluctuations in Martian rock samples, findings that could indicate past microbial activity. Scientists are calling for a sample return mission to Earth because laboratory analysis of the rocks could definitively determine whether biosignatures are present rather than chemical processes.
Apple will reportedly skip the M6 Pro and Max and jump straight to M7
Apple will skip the M6 Pro and Max chips and release M7 versions instead. The company plans to introduce these higher-tier processors as the next generation following the current M5 Pro and Max lineup.
Anthropic says Alibaba must be punished for largest Claude cloning attack
Alibaba cloned Anthropic's Claude AI using 25,000 accounts and 28.8 million interactions in what Anthropic describes as the largest copying attack against its system. Anthropic is demanding punishment for the illegal cloning operation.
Planet orbits so close to its star that their magnetic fields connect
A planet orbits its star close enough that their magnetic fields link together at certain points in the orbital and stellar cycles. The star's chromosphere brightens when this magnetic connection occurs during the planet's orbit.
Xbox prices are rising again after Microsoft helped drive up component costs
Xbox console prices are rising due to increased component costs in the manufacturing supply chain. Microsoft's demand for parts has contributed to broader cost pressures affecting electronics production across the industry.
a16z-backed Base Power is offering cheaper electricity to the power grid that needs it most
Home batteries installed by Base Power provide backup electricity to individual properties while supplying power to the grid during peak demand periods. The system bypasses traditional utility approval processes that typically delay infrastructure projects by months or years.
Anthropic’s Claude is winning over paid consumers, a market owned by ChatGPT
Claude is converting paying customers from ChatGPT's premium tier through better performance on specific tasks. Anthropic has captured meaningful market share in the subscription segment, competing directly against OpenAI's established paid user base.
General Intuition’s $2.3B bet that video games can train AI agents for the real world
General Intuition raised $320 million to train AI agents using millions of hours of video game footage, betting that gaming environments can develop human-like thinking capabilities. The startup believes action-based learning in games transfers to real-world problem-solving better than traditional training methods.
Databricks’ former AI chief thinks he can cut AI’s power bill by 1,000x
Un-0, an image-generation tool, claims to reduce AI energy consumption by 1,000 times while matching traditional system performance. The technology was launched by Databricks' former AI chief.
Hacked Klue says criminals are deleting stolen customer data, but now other hackers are making threats
A second criminal group is demanding ransom from market research firm Klue after the original hackers who stole customer data began deleting it. The competing criminals are threatening to release the information unless paid, while the initial breach left customers' personal details compromised.
Samsung’s new budget phone costs $50 more despite downgrades
Samsung's new budget phone costs $50 more than its predecessor despite including fewer features and lower specifications. The phone's price increased while the company reduced key technical components in the device.
EverQuest Legends is a powerful nostalgia machine
EverQuest Legends is a mobile game that recreates the classic MMO experience for players on smartphones. The game features the dungeon-crawling gameplay and character progression systems that defined the original EverQuest.
Bungie hit with ‘significant’ layoffs after ending Destiny 2
Bungie laid off a significant portion of its workforce following the decision to end development on Destiny 2. The studio cited financial pressures and restructuring needs as the primary reasons for the cuts.
How the World Cup became a US streaming success story
US streaming platforms recorded record viewership for World Cup matches by making games easily accessible online. The strategy successfully attracted younger audiences and established soccer as a mainstream sport in America through digital distribution.
Slate’s electric truck: all the news about the ultra-minimal EV
An electric truck with stripped-down design and minimal features costs significantly less than conventional EVs. The ultra-minimal approach removes non-essential components to prioritize basic utility and affordability over advanced technology.
Oppo’s Bubble selfie screen is crying out for Qi2
Oppo's selfie camera hides beneath a bubble-shaped screen that pops up when activated. The device lacks Qi2 wireless charging compatibility, though the design would benefit from this technology.
BYOK is my new go-to distraction-free writing tool
BYOK is a distraction-free writing tool that removes visual clutter to help users maintain focus while composing text. The tool appeals to writers seeking simpler alternatives to conventional word processors with fewer interface elements.
Parker Conrad knows which employees are worth their AI spend and says Rippling can help you, too
Rippling is releasing software to track employee AI tool spending and productivity impact, with some workers spending up to $30,000 annually on subscriptions like Claude. The platform helps businesses identify which AI tools actually improve worker output and eliminate wasteful spending.
FOSS dev builds a BASIC compiler using LLVM
A developer created a compiler for OS-9's BASIC09 language using LLVM as the backend. The compiler translates BASIC09 source code into machine-executable programs through the LLVM intermediate representation layer.
Vodacom-owned company sued in the United States for fraud and breach of contract
A Vodacom subsidiary faces fraud and breach of contract charges in Texas federal court over unpaid executive compensation. Two headhunted executives are suing the company in the Eastern District of Texas for allegedly breaking pay agreements.
Recovery has to keep up with AI
AI workloads require recovery architectures that differ significantly from traditional systems because of their computational intensity and data requirements. Organizations must design backup and disaster recovery solutions that account for large model files, training datasets, and the infrastructure needed to restore AI systems quickly.