Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ to pack bigger battery, Dimensity chips expected for 2026 launch
March 17, 2026, 4:20 AM EDT. SamMobile reports the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra will arrive with bigger batteries. The S12+ is tipped to pack a 10,392mAh rated cell, implying around a 10,600mAh advertised capacity. The pair would keep the same screen sizes as their predecessors. Under the hood, Samsung is expected to use a Dimensity 9500 or 9500 Plus, rather than a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Real-world endurance could rise by a few percent, depending on usage. A September 2026 release is plausible, with base prices around $1,100 to $1,200 as pricing trends push higher.
CEO's ChatGPT takeover plan backfires as court reinstates Unknown Worlds employee in Subnautica 2 dispute
March 17, 2026, 4:18 AM EDT. A judge ordered the reinstatement of a developer at Unknown Worlds Entertainment after Krafton's chief executive hatched a scheme using ChatGPT, the AI chatbot, to oust the founder. Court records say Krafton bought Unknown Worlds for about $500 million in 2021 and promised a $250 million bonus if Subnautica 2 hit sales targets. To avoid paying, Krafton CEO Changhan Kim used ChatGPT to craft a corporate 'takeover' plan and pressured the studio. The ruling details a fractured relationship as Subnautica 2 loomed, and marks a rare public view of how AI tools can influence corporate decisions. The decision underscores limits on how AI advice is used in corporate governance.
Centennial of Goddard's liquid-fueled rocket frames NASA's Artemis lunar return
March 17, 2026, 4:16 AM EDT. Exactly 100 years after Robert Goddard's 1926 liquid-fueled rocket flew about 40 feet in a Massachusetts cabbage field, NASA looks toward a crewed Moon return under Artemis. Goddard's work-turbopumps, gimbaled engines and gyroscopic guidance-formed the core of modern rocketry, guiding missiles, satellites and human missions. Today, his ideas underpin the boosters and engines of today's launch vehicles, even as technology has evolved. NASA says Artemis will rely on a vehicle roughly 30 times larger than Goddard's first rocket to carry astronauts in a sustained lunar campaign. While solid rocket boosters remain part of SLS, liquid propellants permit throttling and precise control. The centennial marks a continuum from early experiments to a planned lunar ascent.
Nintendo Switch 2 System Update 22.0.0 adds Handheld Mode Boost, GameChat features
March 17, 2026, 4:10 AM EDT. Nintendo released Version 22.0.0 for the Switch 2 and Switch. The update introduces Handheld Mode Boost, letting compatible software run as if in TV Mode. It also expands GameChat with room invitations and broader friend support, though invitations may be limited by account type. Nintendo notes some changes may take time to appear after updating. The patch adds screen share quality improvements in GameChat, and adds 10-second rewind/forward for full-screen News or Nintendo eShop videos via ZL/ZR. It expands Automatic Uploads by allowing clips, video saves as screenshots, and edited screenshots. Languages added to GameChat Voice to Text include Portuguese (Portugal) and Russian. Text-to-Speech now reads Album text and supports first-time setup, with storage breakdown by data type and a TV audio test option. A region update adds Southeast Asia naming.
SpaceX to launch 29 Starlink satellites; jellyfish effect possible at dawn
March 17, 2026, 4:06 AM EDT. SpaceX will launch the Falcon 9 with 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40. The mission window runs 6:26-10:26 a.m. ET. After liftoff, the first-stage booster B1090 will attempt a landing on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic. If launched near dawn, the exhaust plume may form the jellyfish effect, a cloud seen at sunrise or sunset. This will be Booster B1090's 11th flight and marks Florida's 20th rocket launch this year. Starlink satellites aim to provide global internet service; Harvard-Smithsonian astronomer Jonathan McDowell tracks counts: 9,996 in orbit, 7,866 in operational orbit.
Apple's AirPods Max 2 adds H2 chip, stronger noise cancellation and richer audio
March 17, 2026, 4:00 AM EDT. Apple refreshes the AirPods Max with an H2 chip that replaces the H1, delivering stronger audio performance. The new chip enables up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) through a computational audio algorithm and a high dynamic range amplifier for richer bass and more natural vocals. Adaptive Audio adjusts ANC in real time, while Transparency uses a new DSP algorithm to render voices and surroundings more naturally. Loud Sound Reduction and Personalized Volume tailor listening in loud environments and across venues. Conversation Awareness lowers playback when you speak and then returns to the prior level. Adaptive EQ now covers higher frequencies, aided by inward mics for real-time tuning. Voice Isolation improves call quality, and latency is reduced with Bluetooth 5.3.
Switch 2 firmware adds Handheld Mode Boost to run games at 1080p in handheld
March 17, 2026, 3:54 AM EDT. Nintendo's Switch 2 firmware update (Version 22.0.0) introduces Handheld Mode Boost, a setting that lets compatible software run as if it were in TV mode when undocked. In handheld, Switch 2 games can render at 1080p, from the original model's 720p portable output. To enable, go to System Settings > System > Nintendo Switch Software Handling > Handheld Mode Boost. The effect varies by title; some software is unaffected and the option does not change software on the original Switch. Enabling Boost can improve visuals but increases power consumption, and forcing TV mode may affect certain controls or input. Touchscreen may be unused, and Joy-Con 2 controllers become a Pro Controller; detach them to use other controllers.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg: where to watch Starlink deployment
March 17, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT. SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, deploying 25 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The two-stage, 230-foot rocket lifts off from SLC-4E on a southern trajectory, with a four-hour window opening at 7:37 p.m. PT. The mission may be postponed for weather or technical reasons, with a backup opportunity the next day per FAA advisory. Public viewing at the launch site is not allowed, but several nearby spots in Santa Barbara County offer vantage points, including 13th Street and Arguello Boulevard; Floradale Avenue and West Ocean Avenue; Renwick Avenue and West Ocean Avenue; and Santa Lucia Canyon Road and Victory Road.
Washington ends Tesla loophole as Rivian, Lucid win direct-sales path
March 17, 2026, 3:48 AM EDT. Washington state lawmakers closed a long-standing loophole that let Tesla sell directly to consumers, after rivals Rivian and Lucid pressed for change and local dealers lobbied. Senate Bill 6354 allows direct sales only for manufacturers of electric cars with 300 or fewer Washington-registered vehicles as of Jan. 1, 2026; Rivian and Lucid meet the threshold, opening the path to their own showrooms, while Tesla remains excluded. The compromise followed a looming ballot measure and concerns that direct selling could undercut dealership networks. State Sen. Marko Liias said dealers' worries centered on manufacturers bypassing established networks and undercutting deals. The bill passed the Legislature last week, balancing dealer protections with expansion space for newer EV makers in Seattle and elsewhere.
Advantech to Showcase Edge AI and Physical AI at NVIDIA GTC 2026
March 17, 2026, 3:44 AM EDT. Advantech will participate in NVIDIA GTC 2026 in San Jose, showcasing edge AI and Physical AI solutions powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor and IGX Thor. At Booth #1134 and Meeting Rooms #6077-6078, the company will demonstrate robotics-ready platforms that fuse hardware, software and ecosystem partnerships for rapid evaluation and scalable edge deployment. Highlights include the AIR-075 visual AI platform (Jetson Thor) and robotics perception demos with ASR-A702/AFE-A702 leveraging NVIDIA Isaac ROS. The MIC-742 humanoid module delivers up to 2,070 TFLOPS (FP4) and can pair with the Holoscan Sensor Bridge to enable a low-latency sensor-to-inference pipeline. In healthcare, the AIMB-294 board enables real-time surgical instrument anomaly detection, organ segmentation and AR overlays at 130W. Advantech stresses collaboration within the NVIDIA ecosystem to accelerate real-world deployment.
Disney's Olaf robotic character advances with Kamino simulator at NVIDIA GTC
March 17, 2026, 3:42 AM EDT. Olaf, the self-walking robotic character from Disney Imagineering, made a high-profile appearance at NVIDIA GTC ahead of his Disneyland Paris debut. In an interview, Kyle Laughlin, SVP of Research & Development and Technology & Engineering at Disney Imagineering, outlines how progress lets Olaf learn to balance on an unstable, boat-based stage for the World of Frozen show in Arendelle. The work relies on deep reinforcement learning trained in a simulation. Disney researchers and partners highlight the Kamino simulator-a GPU-accelerated physics solver that runs thousands of parallel environments on a single GPU-enabling rapid, cross-domain training. Planned uses include training more expressive robotic characters; collaboration with NVIDIA and Google DeepMind aims to expand multi-environment reinforcement learning for new guest-facing animatronics across parks and ships.
Picsart launches AI agent marketplace to hire AI assistants for creators
March 17, 2026, 3:30 AM EDT. Picsart is rolling out an AI agent marketplace that lets creators hire AI assistants to handle tasks such as resizing, remixing content and editing product photos. The platform, which has more than 130 million users, positions Picsart as a Canva-like tool for social media managers. Four starter agents-Flair, Resize Pro, Remix, and Swap-will handle store analytics, image and video resizing, style edits, and bulk background changes. Flair connects with Shopify to advise on merchandising and will, in time, run A/B tests and flag underperforming products. Resize Pro can extend frames and preserve composition across platforms. Remix enables style-based edits. Communications can occur via WhatsApp or Telegram, integrating AI chatbots into creators' workflows. The move aligns with demand for agentic AI in the creator economy.
NVIDIA previews DLSS 5 with real-time neural rendering to boost game visuals
March 17, 2026, 3:26 AM EDT. NVIDIA unveiled a teaser for DLSS 5 at CES 2026, following DLSS 4.5 and Multi Frame Generation 6X. The new pipeline uses a real-time neural rendering model that combines photoreal lighting and lifelike materials to push facial detail and surface realism in games. Nvidia says DLSS 5 runs in real time, using a game's motion vectors and source color as inputs, aiming for consistent frame-to-frame performance at up to 4K. A Fall 2026 launch window is targeted, with support from Ubisoft, Bethesda, Capcom, Tencent and Warner Bros. Games, among others. Titles listed as upcoming recipients include Starfield, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and more.
Atom Computing integrates NVIDIA NVQLink to accelerate scaling of quantum computers
March 17, 2026, 3:24 AM EDT. Atom Computing said it has integrated NVIDIA NVQLink into its control-systems stack, delivering ultra-low-latency, high-bandwidth pathways to accelerate scaling of its logical-qubit systems. The team implemented a fully integrated end-to-end NVQLink workflow and completed latency measurements, substantiating gains for quantum information processing. CEO Ben Bloom called the move a step toward utility-scale performance. The upgrade targets large-scale routing of thousands of qubits, faster logical cycles via accelerated syndrome extraction for quantum error correction, and closer integration with the CUDA-Q ecosystem for hybrid quantum-classical computing. Atom frames this as progress toward fault-tolerant, practical quantum computing, noting DARPA Stage B benchmarking and a Nordic on-prem system sale to be named Magne, to be installed in Copenhagen.
Boox Go 10.3 Lumi debuts 10-inch E Ink tablet with Android 15 and front light
March 17, 2026, 3:18 AM EDT. Boox refreshes its Go line with the Go 10.3 Lumi, a 10-inch E Ink tablet designed for reading and light productivity after adding a front light for daylight and dim environments. Weighing 12.8 ounces and 4.8mm thick, it is more portable than its predecessor. Inside, an octa-core processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage drive Android 15, a leap from Android 12 whose security updates ceased last year. Boox says the upgrade improves memory handling, multitasking and UI smoothness, and the device supports the Google Play Store via external keyboard and built-in speakers. Video-heavy apps and games are limited on E Ink. The Go 10.3 Lumi is shipping now at $450, with a $420 stripped version without the front light.
Tesla's investment narrative shifts on autonomy, energy and 2026 risks
March 17, 2026, 3:16 AM EDT. Tesla's updated fair value sits near US$421.61, signaling only a modest shift in the model as debate grows between autonomy and energy upside versus 2026 execution risk. BofA reiterates a Buy rating and a US$460 target, calling Tesla a leader in consumer autonomy with room to expand profitability in robotaxi. Morgan Stanley flags Tesla Energy potential, suggesting solar could add US$20-50 billion in value and influence broader valuation. Banks including UBS, TD Cowen, Mizuho and Goldman lift targets on autonomy, AI and energy. Yet Wells Fargo remains Underweight with a US$130 target and warns 2026 fundamentals could weaken if robotaxi or Optimus miss. Wolfe Research cites auto headwinds and execution risk amid rising competition. GLJ Research remains Sell on earnings pressure from mix shifts and zero-emission credit dynamics.
SpaceX to launch 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg tonight
March 17, 2026, 3:12 AM EDT. SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:16 p.m. Monday, sending 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The booster, already flown 13 missions, is expected to land on a Pacific Ocean drone ship after liftoff. SpaceX will stream the event on its website and X starting five minutes before liftoff. The stack would push Starlink's in-orbit total above 10,000 satellites for the first time, according to Space Flight Now. Residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties may hear sonic booms during the countdown and ascent, the company said. No immediate safety concerns were raised.
Amazon cuts iPad prices to as low as $299 in March markdowns
March 17, 2026, 3:10 AM EDT. Amazon's March iPad markdowns cut prices across Apple's tablet lineup, with the iPad 11 now listed at $299 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model after a $50 discount. The same savings apply to 256GB and 512GB variants. The sale also discounts the newer M4 iPad Air and select M4 iPad Pro closeouts by as much as $500. Accessories such as the Apple Pencil are discounted up to 26%. The outlet tracks these deals across the lineup in its iPad Price Guide to help consumers compare current offers. Brief note: M4 denotes the latest generation chips used in Apple's current iPad lineup.
U.S. confirms Tesla-LG Energy Solution's $4.3 billion LFP battery plant in Lansing, Michigan
March 17, 2026, 3:04 AM EDT. The U.S. government said Tesla and LG Energy Solution signed a $4.3 billion deal to build an LFP prismatic battery cell plant in Lansing, Michigan with production slated for 2027. The Interior Department framed the project as powering Megapack 3 energy storage systems made in Houston, strengthening the domestic battery supply chain. The agreement appears in a broader Indo-Pacific Energy Security Summit release. Reuters previously reported a roughly $4.3 billion deal to supply Tesla with energy storage batteries to cut reliance on Chinese imports amid tariffs. LG is among the few U.S. producers of LFP batteries, which have been dominated by Chinese rivals.
Apple Vision Pro gets official X-Plane 12 and iRacing support via Nvidia CloudXR
March 17, 2026, 3:02 AM EDT. Apple Vision Pro will officially support X-Plane 12 and iRacing via Nvidia CloudXR, streaming from a PC, announced at GDC 2026. The setup leverages visionOS 26.4's foveated streaming and Nvidia's CloudXR SDK, with the PC still rendering the game locally rather than in the cloud. A new, simpler launch process lets Vision Pro apps automatically detect and connect to the sim on the PC. The system also enables mixed reality passthrough, overlaying physical controls-yokes, wheels, and pedals-onto the VR world and auto-aligning the cockpit, reducing need for recalibration. While ALVR exists, CloudXR promises sharper visuals and smoother setup. Availability is promised for later this spring.
Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus review: satellite messaging with touchscreen for off-grid adventures
March 17, 2026, 2:56 AM EDT. On alpine trips and off-grid adventures, the Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus serves as a compact satellite messenger with a touchscreen. The device adds a larger display, longer battery life, improved antenna and satellite support, and a built-in siren, while keeping SOS protection and five hardware buttons plus glove-friendly navigation. It can send voice messages, check-ins, and basic text via voice commands. The reviewer notes decent speaker volume and practical voice-note functionality, though voice files must be offloaded to a computer manually. Photos require pairing with a phone; maps are basic and there is no LTE. Priced about $700 less than a top Garmin smartwatch like the Fenix 8 Pro, the Mini 3 Plus trades richer mapping for portability and a more direct lifeline for solo explorers.
Texas Tesla owner sues over claimed Model X range as long-range option questioned
March 17, 2026, 2:52 AM EDT. Texas homeowner James Dondero has filed suit accusing Tesla of fraud over claimed range on his 2022 Model X. He paid about $106,290 and $20,000 for the Long Range option, which Tesla said would raise range from 311 miles to 348. Dondero says the vehicle won't exceed roughly 185 miles on a full charge. He followed Tesla's guidance-draining below 5%, three full charge cycles, or charging to under 100% with a home unit-but saw no improvement. He also says the car lacked a center-console wireless charger due to chip shortages. Tesla did not comment. The suit cites breach of contract and fraudulent inducement; Reuters has reported prior overstatements of range and a diversion team that canceled range appointments.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg may be barely visible in Arizona; livestream available
March 17, 2026, 2:48 AM EDT. The SpaceX Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California on Monday, March 16, within a four-hour window opening at 7:37 p.m. PT. The two-stage, 230-foot rocket will deploy 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. Because the flight path is southward, visibility from Arizona could be limited, with observers more likely to see a sky streak in the far west or not at all. SpaceX will livestream the launch on its website and the X TV app, with updates on X. If postponed, the FAA plans a backup opportunity the next day. The launch is from Space Launch Complex 4-East in Santa Barbara County.
Apple's AI stance fuels iPhone-led growth as stock climbs 108% in five years
March 17, 2026, 2:44 AM EDT. Apple's stock has risen about 108% over five years, outpacing the S&P 500's 69% gain. The iPhone remains the growth engine: in the latest quarter, iPhone sales totaled $85 billion, or 60% of Apple's revenue, up 23% year over year, while total revenue rose 16% to $143.8 billion. The company has not launched an AI product and has avoided the data-center spend of peers, betting instead on hardware-driven growth and services around the iPhone. Apple's market cap sits near $3.8 trillion, second only to Nvidia, with Alphabet close behind. Investors debate whether the market is rewarding an aging hardware product or a lucrative AI future. Apple's leadership focuses on the iPhone's ubiquity rather than early AI bets for now.
SpaceX to launch 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base
March 17, 2026, 2:40 AM EDT. SpaceX plans to launch 25 Starlink satellites on Monday from its Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The target is Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E). Liftoff is scheduled for 8:39 p.m. PT, with a launch window open until 7:19 p.m. If needed, an additional opportunity is available the following day on June 5, starting at 4:06 p.m. PT. This marks the 14th flight for the first-stage booster. After separation, the booster is expected to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" drone ship in the Pacific. A live webcast should start about five minutes before liftoff on SpaceX.com. Previous Falcon 9 launches have been visible across Southern California.
Alibaba launches Wukong AI platform to automate enterprise tasks
March 17, 2026, 2:34 AM EDT. Beijing – Alibaba Group on Tuesday rolled out Wukong, an AI platform for enterprises that coordinates multiple AI agents to drive end-to-end automation. It handles document editing, spreadsheet updates, meeting transcription and research within a single interface. The beta is invitation-only as Alibaba competes in China's burgeoning AI agent market amid the OpenClaw craze. The platform targets businesses seeking efficiency gains through orchestration rather than a single tool. Reporting by Liam Mo and Miyoung Kim; editing by Christopher Cushing.
Go Industries expands AI data center fabrication capabilities in Texas
March 17, 2026, 2:28 AM EDT. Go Industries, a Texas-based manufacturer, has launched enhanced custom manufacturing and fabrication services aimed at AI data center infrastructure and other technology sectors. The expansion adds precision manufacturing for AI data center server racks and broader tube and sheet metal capabilities, including CNC tube bending, rolling, end forming, and sawing, as well as robotic welding, laser cutting, and plasma cutting. The firm offers certified welding to D1.1, B31.1, and B31.3, along with chrome plating, powder coating, pipe profiling, and complete assembly and packaging. A high-capacity powder coating line and batch oven support finishing. Texas facilities serve automotive, telecommunications, medical equipment, defense, DOT and public safety customers, plus other sectors. Private label OEM programs help branded products without in-house plants. All work is done in Texas, ensuring quality control and fast delivery to North American markets.
SpaceX plans two Starlink launches from Vandenberg this week
March 17, 2026, 2:26 AM EDT. SpaceX aims to deploy two batches of Starlink broadband satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California over the next week, extending a busy March for the West Coast site. Four rockets have already lifted off in March; two more flights are planned. Each mission uses a Falcon 9 launcher. The first launch window is 7:37-11:37 p.m. PT on Monday, March 16, followed by a second launch window of 2:48-6:48 p.m. PT on Friday, March 20. Both flights lift from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg, with boosters targeting a landing on the SpaceX drone ship, nicknamed Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific. Delays remain possible; readers should check for updates on local mission pages.
Sao Paulo's AI policing grapples with mistaken arrests
March 17, 2026, 2:24 AM EDT. In Sao Paulo, the Smart Sampa project uses a citywide network of 40,000 cameras and facial-recognitionAI to compare faces against judicial databases. A live prisonometer outside the monitoring center tracks people jailed under the program. Launched in 2024 to deter crime. Officials say the system has nabbed about 3,000 fugitives and nearly 4,000 people caught in the act. Municipal security secretary Orlando Morando called it transformative, citing the program's monthly cost of about $2 million. The system, however, is not foolproof: AFP analysis shows more than 8% of those identified as fugitives were released after errors. There have been high-profile misidentifications, including an 80-year-old man and a group of psychiatric patients. Critics note many arrests target civil offenses like child-support debt.
Tesla Cybertruck autopilot lawsuit over Houston overpass crash
March 17, 2026, 2:22 AM EDT. A Houston woman filed a $1 million liability and negligence lawsuit against Tesla, alleging the Cybertruck operated in Autopilot and nearly drove her and her infant off an overpass in August 2025. The claim centers on dashcam video showing the vehicle failing to follow a right-hand curve, then crashing into a concrete barrier after she disengaged driver assistance and tried to take control. The plaintiff, Justine Saint Amour, sustained injuries to her shoulder, neck and back, including two herniated discs, plus a wrist tendon sprain and nerve damage; her child was unharmed. The suit accuses Tesla of misrepresenting Autopilot capabilities and neglecting safety features such as emergency braking or LiDAR. Hilliard Law said the company relies on cameras rather than LiDAR.
Is Tesla a recession-proof stock? A look at its cycle and balance sheet
March 17, 2026, 2:20 AM EDT. Tesla remains in a cyclical business, with 73% of 2025 revenue from autos. In recessions, big-ticket purchases fall as auto loans tighten and consumer confidence wanes. Tesla's demand sits in the premium segment, and price incentives can compress margins industry-wide. Yet the company carries a strong balance sheet, with about $44 billion in cash and cash equivalents, affording continued investment during downturns. Its vertically integrated model-internal software, batteries and manufacturing-gives pricing and production flexibility. That mix could help Tesla weather slower demand better than some peers, even if it is not recession-proof.
Siemens and NVIDIA deepen AI factory push; investors weigh trade-offs
March 17, 2026, 2:18 AM EDT. Siemens (XTRA:SIE) has rolled out AI-powered industrial automation solutions through a partnership with NVIDIA, featuring Digital Twin Composer and AI agents that leverage NVIDIA GPUs to support semiconductor and PCB workflows. The move tightens Siemens's automation stack with Omniverse-based simulation, expanding its digital-factory offerings. At €220.3 a share, the stock shows a mixed profile: 30-day return down 12.2%, 1-year return down 4.0%, but 3-year return up 70.6% and 5-year up 84.6%. The development deepens Siemens's software focus and could influence how customers evaluate long-term partnerships. It also tests competitive dynamics with ABB, Schneider Electric and Rockwell Automation if AI agents and Digital Twin Composer become sticky and drive recurring software and services revenue.
Nscale, Microsoft to deploy 1.35GW of NVIDIA Vera Rubin GPUs at Monarch AI Campus in West Virginia
March 17, 2026, 2:12 AM EDT. Nscale signed a letter of intent with Microsoft to provide up to 1.35 gigawatts of AI compute using NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 GPUs at the Monarch AI campus in Mason County, West Virginia. The deal positions the site as a global flagship deployment of NVIDIA's Vera Rubin DSX AI Factory reference design and follows Nscale's acquisition of AIPCorp to create the Monarch Compute Campus, the United States' first state-certified AI microgrid with a scalable power runway to more than 8GW. Deployment will occur in multiple tranches beginning in late 2027 under a long-term compute services and data center lease framework. Josh Payne, Nscale CEO, framed the collaboration as a milestone for scalable AI infrastructure in the U.S.
Apple's LiTo model reconstructs 3D objects from a single image with realistic lighting
March 17, 2026, 2:10 AM EDT. Apple researchers unveil LiTo: Surface Light Field Tokenization, a model that encodes object geometry and view-dependent appearance in a unified 3D latent space. It reconstructs a 3D object from a single image while preserving lighting effects-highlights, reflections and shading-as viewing angles change. The method treats RGB-depth data as samples of a surface light field and encodes subsamples into a compact set of latent vectors, enabling simultaneous representation of shape and appearance. Unlike prior work that targets either geometry or diffuse views, LiTo captures specular highlights and Fresnel reflections under complex lighting. Trained from a single image, it bypasses the need for multi-angle inputs, potentially speeding up 3D reconstruction for AR/VR, product visualization and related graphics pipelines.
SpaceX Falcon 9 mission cleared for night launch from Vandenberg to deploy 25 Starlink satellites
March 17, 2026, 2:06 AM EDT. The U.S. Space Force will support a SpaceX Falcon 9 mission to deploy 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch window runs from 7:37 to 11:37 p.m. Friday. The mission underscores ongoing cooperation between the government and private sector to expand the Starlink broadband constellation.
Boox refreshes Go 10.3 with Lumi dual-tone front light on Android ePaper tablet
March 17, 2026, 2:04 AM EDT. Boox on Monday unveiled the Go 10.3 Gen II, an Android-powered monochrome ePaper tablet. The new Lumi edition adds a dual-tone front light, boosting readability in low-light environments. The refresh preserves the device's ePaper display while enhancing lighting features. Boox did not immediately disclose pricing or a specific release timeline in the initial briefing.
Nvidia stock climbs after CEO projects $1 trillion in AI hardware orders through 2027
March 17, 2026, 2:02 AM EDT. Shares of Nvidia rose after CEO Jensen Huang said purchase orders for the Blackwell and Vera Rubin architectures could total about $1 trillion through 2027 at the company's developer conference. The forecast more than doubles the prior year's estimated $500 billion revenue opportunity and underscores surging demand for AI infrastructure. CFO Colette Kress reiterated that current growth is outpacing estimates. In after-market trading, the stock had surged as much as 3.8%, though it closed the day up 1.7% at $183.27. The move comes as investors weigh whether AI-driven spending can be sustained. Nvidia has traded as high as $207.04 this year, and the shares are roughly 11.5% below that level. Some investors have warned of a possible sell-the-news reaction after strong quarterly results.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 price drops to $499 on Amazon as Ultra 3 arrives
March 17, 2026, 1:58 AM EDT. Amazon is selling the GPS + Cellular 49mm Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $499, the lowest price since its September 2023 launch, now that the Ultra 3 has arrived. The deal covers small and medium sizes and marks a material discount from the $799 launch price. Apple has consistently supported older models with WatchOS updates, so buyers don't need the latest hardware to get current software. The Ultra 3 adds some features-5G cellular and satellite connectivity-that the Ultra 2 lacks, but the Ultra 2 remains a rugged option with a bright display and long battery life. For budget-minded shoppers, refurbished first-gen Ultra and the Series 11 remain available at lower prices, but timing and stock vary.
Samsung acknowledges Galaxy S26 Ultra Privacy Display may dim at off-axis angles
March 17, 2026, 1:54 AM EDT. Samsung acknowledges that the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display can appear less bright at certain viewing angles, with off-axis visibility reduced by design. The feature uses a mix of narrow and wide pixels; when enabled, only narrow pixels illuminate, limiting peripheral peeping. Samsung told TechRadar there will be some variation in brightness at certain angles and at maximum brightness, but expects the impact on everyday use to be negligible. The claim echoes earlier messaging about the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Early hands-on tests and user reports have flagged lower peak brightness, even as Samsung defends the privacy trade-off. The debate centers on whether the privacy gain justifies a dimmer screen in bright environments.
Nvidia unveils Vera Rubin Space-1 for orbital AI data centers at GTC 2026
March 17, 2026, 1:52 AM EDT. Nvidia unveiled the Vera Rubin Space-1 Module at GTC 2026, a computing platform for orbital data centers built around the IGX Thor and Jetson Orin chips. Nvidia says the system is engineered for size, weight and power constraints and will power missions from partners such as Axiom Space, Starcloud, and Planet Labs. CEO Jensen Huang called space computing the final frontier. The company highlighted cooling challenges in microgravity, noting there's no convection, there's just radiation, and said engineers are tackling space-grade thermal management. The move fits a broader push to offload AI workloads to space to exploit solar power, even as costs and rocket-launch availability remain barriers. Context includes Google's Project Suncatcher and SpaceX's AI ambitions.
Nvidia bets on AI demand to hit $1 trillion in revenue by 2027
March 17, 2026, 1:48 AM EDT. At Nvidia's annual developers conference in Silicon Valley, Jensen Huang forecast revenue of $1 trillion through 2027, up from a year earlier when he projected about half that. He credited surging AI computing demand and touted GPUs that deliver high performance while lowering the cost of AI services. Huang said demand has risen 'a million-fold' in two years and shows no sign of easing. Nvidia outlined new GPUs and platform innovations for embedding AI into robots, apps and data centers orbiting the planet, with a focus on agentic AI and both training and inference workloads. The company argues every enterprise and software maker will pursue an AI agent strategy as the market approaches a multi-trillion-dollar scale.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Could Bring Major Connectivity Upgrades
March 17, 2026, 1:46 AM EDT. Samsung's next high-end smartwatch is rumored to arrive with a substantial hardware upgrade. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is said to adopt the Snapdragon Wear Elite 3nm chip, delivering faster app loading, smoother navigation and longer battery life. Leaks from MWC 2026 also hint at enhanced AI-based health tracking and more stable data networking. On the connectivity front, expect improvements to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC and dual-frequency GPS, with Samsung aiming for stronger Android integration. Samsung has not disclosed a release date; most expect a debut at a future Galaxy Unpacked event.
Futurewave unveils O-Boy: a satellite-connected smartwatch for off-grid emergencies
March 17, 2026, 1:44 AM EDT. Futurewave's O-Boy is a satellite-connected smartwatch designed for emergencies in places with no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Brussels-based studio built the device to work off the grid, using a cross-disciplinary team to fit satellite hardware into a wearable form factor. It aims for a broad audience beyond climbers, blending a utilitarian look with practical safety features. The project emphasizes context, acknowledging that conventional mobile networks cover only a fraction of the Earth's surface. By prioritizing survival-ready functions over notifications, it marks a shift in smartwatch design toward life-or-death utility rather than lifestyle metrics.
Roche expands Nvidia GPUs to speed drug discovery and diagnostics with AI factory
March 17, 2026, 1:38 AM EDT. Roche has expanded its Nvidia partnership to accelerate drug discovery and diagnostics, building a hybrid-cloud AI factory powered by 3,500 GPUs after adding 2,176 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs. The GPUs will be located at Roche sites in the U.S. and Europe, part of a platform Roche describes as a supercomputing engine to drive digital transformation. Nvidia technology, including BioNeMo, will augment Genentech's Lab-in-the-Loop approach for drug discovery and development, with other Nvidia tools for manufacturing, diagnostics, digital pathology and digital health. The move aims to speed up discovery and make clinical trials more efficient, aligning with Roche's goal of an AI-accelerated healthcare organization. The deal follows a 2023 Genentech-Nvidia collaboration and comes as Lilly unveils its own Nvidia-powered supercomputer; both firms have recently expanded in South Korea.
Nvidia debuts Groq-based LPX inference chip at GTC, to run alongside Vera Rubin CPUs and Rubin GPUs
March 17, 2026, 1:36 AM EDT. At Nvidia's GTC keynote, Jensen Huang unveiled an inference-focused chip built on Groq's technology, licensed in a deal reported near $20 billion. The LPX processor will be sold in racks of 256 processors and is in volume production at Samsung, with availability in the Q3 timeframe. Nvidia says LPX will coexist with the Vera Rubin CPU/GPU stack rather than replace it. Huang noted most workloads would run on 100% Vera Rubin, while some high-value tasks-such as coding and token generation-could leverage Groq for about 25% of a data center. Nvidia signaled future LPX updates as it expands CPUs, GPUs, and networking. The licensing included hiring Groq co-founder Jonathan Ross. The move aims to blunt competition from in-house AI accelerators such as Google's TPUs.
WVU Medicine Deploys AI in Exam Rooms to Improve Documentation
March 17, 2026, 1:34 AM EDT.WVU Medicine said it will integrate an AI program called Abridge into exam rooms to record patient interactions and generate visit notes for medical records. Recording is optional and purged regularly to protect privacy, according to Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. David Rich. The AI works in the background, translating conversations into the formal visit note, allowing clinicians to focus more on the patient and the encounter. Human notes remain accurate, but the AI may yield more comprehensive documentation. The system is now used in treatment rooms and will be available enterprise-wide across WVU Medicine. Experts say the technology could extend to other hospital operations, with broader AI efforts in drug discovery and predictive diagnostics.
NVIDIA-powered robotaxis begin Singapore trials as WeRide targets 2,600-strong fleet in 2026
March 17, 2026, 1:32 AM EDT. WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) unveiled the Robotaxi GXR powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion platform at GTC 2026, with public trials in Singapore's Punggol district set to begin on April 1, 2026. The firm envisions a global fleet of 2,600 robotaxis by 2026 and has a binding deal to deliver 2,000 GXRs by that date. NVIDIA's HPC 3.0 cuts the autonomous-suite cost by about 50%, and the integrated platform is expected to deliver roughly 84% lower total cost of ownership (TCO). WeRide has a manufacturing partnership with Geely Farizon for large-scale production. Current vehicle hardware costs run around $40,000, with potential further reductions as fleets scale. The rollout spans more than 40 cities across 11 countries.
NVIDIA unveils Vera CPU for agentic AI at scale
March 17, 2026, 1:30 AM EDT. NVIDIA unveiled the Vera CPU, a purpose-built processor for the era of agentic AI and reinforcement learning. The company says Vera delivers about twice the efficiency and 50% faster performance than traditional CPUs for data processing and AI workloads. Hyperscalers and enterprises including Alibaba, ByteDance, Meta and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure are collaborating to deploy Vera, alongside system makers like Dell Technologies, HPE, Lenovo and Supermicro; manufacturing partners include ASUS, Compal, Foxconn, GIGABYTE, Pegatron, QCT, Wistron and Wiwynn. NVIDIA also introduced a Vera rack with 256 liquid-cooled CPUs capable of supporting more than 22,500 concurrent environments, built on the MGX reference architecture with 80 ecosystem partners. In the Vera Rubin NVL72 platform, Vera CPUs pair with GPUs via NVLink-C2C to enable scalable AI factories and agentic tools.
Tennessee teens sue Elon Musk's xAI over AI-generated child sexual abuse material
March 17, 2026, 1:26 AM EDT. Three Tennessee teenagers filed a class-action against Elon Musk's xAI, alleging its AI model powered an app that produced nonconsensual nude and sexually explicit images of them when they were girls. The complaint says the AI-generated material looked real and attached to the victims' identities. Although the perpetrator did not use Grok or X directly, investigators say he relied on an app that used xAI's algorithm. The plaintiffs accuse xAI of licensing its technology to third-party app makers, sometimes outside the United States, effectively outsourcing liability. This marks the first suit by minors depicted in CSAM claims tied to xAI. Attorney Vanessa Baehr-Jones says the case seeks changes in how AI firms decide licensing and responsibility.
Nvidia stock holds below 50-day moving average ahead of GTC 2026; Rubin roadmap eyed
March 17, 2026, 1:24 AM EDT. Nvidia (NVDA) trades just under its 50-day moving average around $185 ahead of the annual GTC conference, where CEO Jensen Huang is due to speak. The stock is up about 7% from its YTD low. Investors focus on the Vera Rubin architecture, the successor to Blackwell, and the potential for Rubin-driven earnings power. If Huang signals a Rubin ramp or new enterprise AI factories, the shares could clear key resistance and extend gains. Morgan Stanley's Joseph Moore reiterates an Overweight rating and a $260 target as hyperscaler demand remains solid through 2026. The street is broadly constructive, with Barchart noting a Strong Buy consensus and an average target near $266, implying over 45% upside.
Meta's Spring Sale slashes prices on Quest VR titles through March 22
March 17, 2026, 1:22 AM EDT. Meta's Horizon Store is discounting Quest titles in a Spring Sale running through 11:59 PM PT on March 22. Top-rated games such as Trombone Champ Unflattened, Arken Age, Dungeons Of Eternity and Walkabout Mini Golf are among dozens of titles discounted, with discounts from roughly 10% to over 70%. In addition, the sale includes ten limited-time bundles. The discounts on listed titles were scraped from the Horizon Store by an internally developed automated tool, a reminder that prices can move swiftly. The sale page is live now; buyers should note the end date and time and act quickly.
NVIDIA's DLSS 5 uses real-time generative AI to reshape lighting and materials
March 17, 2026, 1:20 AM EDT. At its GTC conference, NVIDIA unveiled DLSS 5, an upscaling tech that uses generative AI to rework lighting and materials in real time. NVIDIA calls it a "GPT moment for graphics," blending hand-crafted rendering with AI to boost realism while preserving artists' control. Early demos from Resident Evil Requiem, Starfield, Hogwarts Legacy and EA Sports FC show more lifelike skin, fabrics and light interactions, though some critics call the result "AI slop" that alters artistic intent. The AI model reportedly analyzes a single frame to understand scene semantics-characters, hair, fabric, translucent skin, and lighting conditions-and then generates more detailed output. In Starfield, the changes look almost stage-lit and oversharpened for some players. DLSS 5 runs up to 4K in real time, but won't satisfy everyone.
Tesla Cybertruck eyed as remote-operated counter-drone platform for Ukraine battlefield
March 17, 2026, 1:16 AM EDT. Small, cheap quadcopter drones are complicating battlefield surveillance and strikes in Ukraine, prompting the U.S. to deploy 30mm chain guns mounted on civilian pickups fed by the Mobile Acquisition, Cueing and Effector (M-ACE) sensor. The system can calibrate shells to detonate mid-air, taking out drones or breaking swarms without hitting targets directly. Ukraine has trialed M-ACE, with Australia's Slinger variant and interest from Taiwan noted. A vulnerability remains: crew protection in nonmilitary vehicles. Experts say remotely operated platforms could fix that. Enter the Tesla Cybertruck. After years of disappointing civilian sales, a large, quickly deployable fleet could theoretically be sent to Ukraine, enabling remote operation and reducing crew exposure while leveraging counter-drone tech. Whether the vehicle fits battlefield realities remains uncertain.
Bengaluru: Can India's $300bn outsourcing industry survive AI?
March 17, 2026, 1:00 AM EDT. India's software industry has created millions of white-collar jobs over 30-plus years, lifting a new middle class and sustaining demand for homes, cars and restaurants in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Gurugram. The sector-centered in IT services and product development-has underpinned growth across urban India, with Bengaluru at the heart of the ecosystem. Now AI and automation pose a test to traditional offshoring models, pressuring margins and forcing firms to rethink delivery, upskill staff and diversify into higher-value work. Still, the $300bn outsourcing industry wields scale and client networks that can cushion shock and accelerate transformation. Policy support, talent pipelines, and faster adoption of digital platforms will determine how the sector adapts and whether Bengaluru remains a global hub of tech services.
Meta stock rises on Nebius cloud deal worth up to $27 billion; reports of major layoffs
March 17, 2026, 12:56 AM EDT.Meta shares rose as much as 3% after the company announced a cloud-computing deal with Nebius valued at up to $27 billion, including $12 billion of capacity starting in 2027 and access to Nvidia's Vera Rubin platform. Meta also pledged up to $15 billion of additional capacity Nebius has set aside for third parties over five years. Nebius stock climbed, aided by Nvidia's $2 billion investment to expand data-center capacity by 2030. Reuters reported that Meta is weighing layoffs of as much as 20% of its staff, potentially the largest cut since 2022-23, as it funds AI infrastructure. Meta expects AI spending to rise further, and has pushed large data-center and chip investments.
Google Wallet shines for passes, but user frustration persists
March 17, 2026, 12:54 AM EDT. A Samsung Galaxy S21 user argues that Google Wallet remains the best place for passes and tickets, even as they continue to prefer Samsung Wallet for payments on NFC-enabled Galaxy devices. The author notes that they keep returning to Google Wallet for passes, despite liking Samsung Wallet for everyday use. A standout feature is automatic import from Gmail: a movie ticket appeared in Google Wallet without manual entry, and the app even auto-archived it after the event, keeping the home screen clean. Still, the strength of Google Wallet's passes creates higher expectations for the rest of the experience. The user says the app does little wrong, but some design choices undercut the overall flow, leaving them frustrated at times while acknowledging Wallet's leadership in managing passes.
Kvantify, Atom Computing and AU launch EarlyBIRDD to accelerate drug discovery with quantum computing
March 17, 2026, 12:52 AM EDT. An interdisciplinary consortium of Kvantify, Atom Computing and Aarhus University Chemistry launched the EarlyBIRDD project to speed the impact of quantum computing on drug discovery. Backed by a DKK 30 million grant from Innovation Fund Denmark, the four-year program starts in April 2026 and targets the current 10-15 year timelines and DKK 15 billion costs for bringing a single medicine to market. The initiative aims to develop quantum-ingrained chemistry methods optimized for early fault-tolerant hardware, delivering high-accuracy molecular simulations and addressing the binding affinity problem. Kvantify will lead software/algorithms, Atom Computing provides scalable trapped-neutral-atom hardware, and AU contributes theoretical chemistry; industry forums and the Alexandra Institute will help integrate tools into workflows. Denmark's Magne computer will be commissioned in late 2026, reinforcing the country as a pharma-quantum hub; pharma accounts for about 10% of Danish GDP.
Apple adds iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 to obsolete list worldwide
March 17, 2026, 12:50 AM EDT. Apple has moved the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 5 to its global list of obsolete devices, signaling reduced repair options as parts run short. Apple defines vintage devices as those five years past sale, then marks them obsolete after seven-plus years. The change starts a clock that often limits service as parts become scarce. MacRumors flagged the update. Some iPhone 4 variants had been treated differently; the firm now lists iPhone 4 GSM (8GB) as obsolete and has removed the iPhone 4 (8GB) from vintage. Apple generally stops offering support for obsolete products after the seven-year window.
Samsung reportedly offers refunds to deter Galaxy S26 Ultra returns
March 17, 2026, 12:44 AM EDT. An online post chain and unconfirmed reports say Samsung Support is offering refunds to deter Galaxy S26 Ultra returns. The scheme, described as anecdotal, allegedly pays up to $250 to buyers who express dissatisfaction with the device. Samsung has not publicly confirmed the practice. The reports come as Samsung's MX mobile division battles shrinking margins amid memory-chip price pressures and ongoing logistics disruptions linked to global events. Internal notes reportedly show cost-cutting measures such as travel bans for junior executives and voluntary retirements, with Q1 2026 margins projected in the low single digits. In this climate, the company appears to lean on incentives to sustain sales. By contrast, Amazon is advertising a $200 gift card with Galaxy S26 Ultra purchases, a move that may counterbalance returns risk.
Adobe-NVIDIA AI Alliance Sparks Long-Term Investor Debate
March 17, 2026, 12:42 AM EDT. Adobe and NVIDIA unveiled a strategic partnership to accelerate AI-powered creative and marketing workflows. The tie-up centers on embedding advanced generative AI-via Adobe's Firefly and agentic workflows-across the Creative Cloud and Experience Cloud, backed by NVIDIA compute for cloud-native content creation, productivity, and marketing. For investors, the deal underscores Adobe's core strength in creative software and its potential to scale AI across its ecosystem beyond near-term metrics. The collaboration could boost enterprise adoption, while market watchers assess how quickly AI tools appear in flagship products and how pricing and usage metrics unfold. Risks include dependence on external compute partners, potential cost pressures, and the degree to which Adobe can retain value. Analysts' take remains contingent on execution and timing.
Samsung ends Galaxy Z TriFold sales in South Korea three months after launch
March 17, 2026, 12:36 AM EDT. South Korea's Dong-A Ilbo reports Samsung will end Galaxy Z TriFold sales there on March 17, about three months after launch. Samsung has not publicly confirmed the move; Engadget sought comment. In the United States, the TriFold remains available until existing inventory runs out, with a street price near $3,000. The device was released in small batches via Samsung's site and sold out quickly; industry sources say it was never intended for mass production, serving as a technology showcase rather than a revenue driver. Rising costs for DRAM and NAND left little profit margin. In Korea, the TriFold briefly traded for nearly three times its retail price on the secondary market. Engadget's hands-on found the device solid but not designed for production, unlike the Galaxy Fold which was delayed in 2019 after broken review units.
Samsung begins One UI 9 early development tests on Android 17 with minor UI refinements
March 17, 2026, 12:34 AM EDT. Samsung is starting an 'early development' test for One UI 9, likely based on Android 17, according to SamMobile and tipster Max Jambor. Early build reportedly shows only small UI refinements in Quick Settings and Parental Controls. Google rolled out its Android 17 test for eligible Pixels in February, but Samsung's effort arrives as many users still run One UI 8.5. Samsung reportedly moved Parental Controls out of Digital Wellbeing into a dedicated panel. Android Central calls the change a refinement stage, with a relatively tame UI. The upgrade could debut on the Flip 8 and Fold 8 later this year, with broader rollout in 2026.
Delaware court orders Krafton to reinstate Unknown Worlds CEO, restore Subnautica 2 control
March 17, 2026, 12:32 AM EDT. In a Delaware Chancery Court ruling, Vice Chancellor Will ordered Krafton to reinstate Ted Gill as CEO of Unknown Worlds, restore his operational control, and return authority over the Subnautica 2 early-access launch and related Steam access. Fortis Advisors LLC, representing Unknown Worlds' former leadership, had argued Krafton terminated key executives without cause and seized control to avoid a $250 million earnout-a contingent payout tied to revenue targets. Krafton contends the leaders threatened to self-publish without support, but the court found Krafton breached the EPA (employment-protection agreement) by terminating the team and improperly seizing control. The judgment grants specific performance, extends Gill's control for the elapsed period, and declares the July 1, 2025 board resolution ineffective where it restricted his control. Krafton faces potential nine-figure liability while litigation continues.
Wearing several AI wearables at once proves overkill, yields mixed results
March 17, 2026, 12:30 AM EDT. Testing four wearables plus smart glasses, the author found the tech impressive yet imprecise and, at times, unnecessary. The Oura Ring tracks sleep via sensors like heart rate and oxygen and returns a sleep score (a metric of sleep quality) plus guidance. The Ray-Ban Gen 2 glasses pack five microphones, a 12-megapixel camera and two speakers, offering on-the-go capture but misidentified a plant in the office. The Amazon Bee bracelet activates a one-button "listening mode" to transcribe meetings. The Omi pendant similarly transcribes and feeds text to its app, and is always listening unless powered off. Taken together, the set highlights redundancy and the difficulty of saving time beyond using ChatGPT or Claude on a phone.
Nvidia-OpenAI $100 billion deal under cloud as insiders raise questions
March 17, 2026, 12:26 AM EDT. A Wall Street Journal report said insiders questioned the $100 billion OpenAI deal and that Jensen Huang privately criticized OpenAI's discipline. Huang called the claims nonsense. Nvidia shares fell about 1.1% after the report. CNBC quoted Sarah Kunst saying the rhetoric around the investment was hedged, not definitive. Bryn Talkington described a circular pattern: Nvidia invests, OpenAI returns funds. Tech critic Ed Zitron has long criticized Nvidia's circular investments involving many customers. Separately, OpenAI has discussed chips from Cerebras and Groq. Nvidia struck a $20 billion licensing deal with Groq, and OpenAI has a $10 billion Cerebras arrangement. OpenAI has also pursued AMD GPUs and a joint plan with Broadcom for a custom AI chip, but timelines remain unclear.
DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo discounted to $2,849 at Amazon, 29% off
March 17, 2026, 12:22 AM EDT. Amazon is offering the DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo for $2,849, a 29% discount off the list price as of March 13, 2026. The deal saves buyers more than $1,000 and was highlighted in Mashable. Pricing and availability can change after publication.
Leanstral launches as open-source Lean 4 code agent for formal verification
March 17, 2026, 12:20 AM EDT. Leanstral releases as the first open-source code agent tuned for Lean 4, a proof assistant used to formalize advanced math and software specs. The model, with about 6B active parameters, is designed for efficient proof engineering rather than generic coding, and ships under an Apache 2.0 license with an API endpoint and integration via Mistral vibe. Developers say it trains for realistic formal repositories and supports arbitrary MCPs. In tests, Leanstral outperforms larger OSS rivals on a formal-proof benchmark suite (FLTEval), achieving a pass@2 score of 29.3 at half the cost and requiring fewer passes than Claude or Qwen-based models. The team emphasizes tight integration with Lean as a verifier, and plans a tech report and a new evaluation suite to broaden assessment beyond competition math.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra gains privacy screen feature, minor design refresh
March 17, 2026, 12:18 AM EDT. Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra remains the brand's flagship, but the week-long review highlights a standout addition: a new privacy screen that reshapes how the phone is used. The device keeps the familiar silhouette and only modest outer changes from the S25 Ultra, with a rear camera bump and curvier corners visible only on close inspection. Inside, Samsung touts camera and processor updates alongside the new display feature, which changes privacy and glare behavior. Paired with solid performance, the S26 Ultra makes a case for holdouts to upgrade and reasserts the Ultra's crown in Android flagships. The overall package is practical, not revolutionary, but the privacy screen could redefine day-to-day use for many users.
Alldocube iPlay 70 Pad Pro debuts with 90 Hz display, under $200
March 17, 2026, 12:16 AM EDT. Alldocube's iPlay 70 Pad Pro is a 12.1-inch Android tablet offering a 2,560 x 1,600 IPS display with a 90 Hz refresh rate and up to 500 nits brightness. The device includes 4G connectivity and GPS, plus quad speakers and pogo pins for a keyboard accessory sold separately. It houses an 8 MP front camera and a 16 MP rear camera with an LED flash in a squircle housing. Storage starts at 128 GB, expandable up to 1 TB via microSD. The tablet is currently available for around $169. This model targets users seeking a larger-screen Android tablet at a sub-$200 price point, with Alldocube listing the product on AliExpress.
RedMagic 11 Air Trace Edition debuts with white design and $599 price
March 17, 2026, 12:14 AM EDT. RedMagic launches the 11 Air Trace Edition, a brighter variant of its gaming phone with a white finish and orange accents, while keeping the same core hardware. It uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite, up to 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, and the dedicated RedCore R4 gaming chip. Priced at $599 / €599, it ships worldwide. The body remains slim at about 7.85mm and 207g. It features a 6.85-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K (2688×1216) resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, plus 960Hz touch sampling and PWM dimming. The ICE Cooling System uses vapor chambers and graphene for sustained cooling. Game features include 520Hz shoulder triggers, bypass charging, and performance tools. A 7,000mAh battery provides fast wired charging. Android Central notes the core experience is unchanged beyond the new look.
Android tablets and foldables get a Chrome bookmark bar in Chrome 146
March 17, 2026, 12:08 AM EDT. Google is rolling out a new bookmark bar for Chrome on Android tablets and foldables. Spotted by 9to5Google, the feature arrives with Chrome Android version 146, bringing a desktop-like strip below the Omnibox with favicons and site names. A chevron lets users scroll deeper, and long-press reveals the full URL. The bar is opt-in by default on larger screens, hidden on narrow ones; enable it via Settings, then Appearance, and select Show bookmarks bar. The change tightens the gap between mobile and desktop browsing, making more robust computing on big phones and tablets easier. Availability is gradual, depending on device and app version.
Sony's PS5 Pro AI upscaling update expands PSSR to more games
March 17, 2026, 12:04 AM EDT. Sony's upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) for PS5 Pro is rolling out in phases starting March 17 at 1 AM ET. Digital Foundry testers say the updated upscaler fixes shimmering and artifacts, delivering crisper, more consistent graphics without lowering frame rate. The feature is part of Project Amethyst, an AMD-Sony effort that uses AI to render at a lower resolution and upscale per frame. Titles including Cyberpunk 2077, Silent Hill 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Resident Evil, and more will gain the upgrade; others on the list include Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Alan Wake 2, Control, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, NiOh 3, Monster Hunter Wilds, Dragon's Dogma 2, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Crimson Desert (March 19 launch). Users can toggle PSSR on or off for affected PS5 Pro titles, but results vary by title.
memQ unveils xDQC: CUDA-Q powered distributed quantum compiler for clustered workloads
March 17, 2026, 12:02 AM EDT. memQ announced the Extensible Distributed Quantum Compiler (xDQC), built on NVIDIA CUDA-Q, to distribute workloads across multiple quantum processors in a system or network. The network-aware orchestration treats QPU-QPU links as first-class components, enabling routing and task assignment based on qubit modality and availability. The approach relies on hardware-aware noise models and a digital twin of distributed processors to simulate performance before deployment, aiming for higher throughput and better ROI than monolithic designs. The company positions xDQC as part of a broader move from single-vendor, monolithic architectures to modular, distributed quantum computing. McKinsey & Company projects a $100B market by 2035, with the quantum communications subsegment reaching up to $15B.
AI Dominates 2026 Filmart as Asia Embraces Generative Tech in Film
March 17, 2026, 12:00 AM EDT. At Hong Kong's Filmart this year, AI dominates discussions as Asia races to embed generative technology in screen entertainment. The 2026 lineup includes about 28 talks on AI, covering screenwriting, production workflows, animation, and pre-vis, with only one session addressing copyright risks of AI-generated content. Candas Yeung of HKTDC says AI is transforming film and that most movies now use some form of this tech; Filmart aims to promote adoption and collaboration with technology experts. U.S. majors are largely absent, save for Warner Bros. Discovery; Google, Alibaba and Midjourney participate. Chinese startups Kling, Minimax, ShengShu AI and TapNow AI anchor a new AI hub with workshops, highlighting Asia's push to integrate AI into production.
