Technology News 11.02.2026

Huawei tests diabetes risk detection on smartwatch using PPG data

February 11, 2026, 11:58 PM EST. Huawei is beta-testing a diabetes risk feature on its smartwatch, using photoplethysmography (PPG) data collected as users wear the device. The system analyzes signals already tracked by watches such as heart rate and blood oxygen to flag potential Diabetes Risk. Users wear the watch for three to 14 days as cardiovascular data is gathered, and the Diabetes Risk app places results into low, medium or high risk. Medium or high results trigger advice to seek formal medical testing, with validation underway in partnership with Dubai Health comparing watch results to fasting glucose, HbA1c and the OGTT. Huawei emphasizes the feature is not a medical device, but a risk-awareness tool. Other makers, like Apple and Samsung, pursue related health insights. The feature is on the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro via OTA, with expansion planned.

Pentagon pushes AI firms to expand tools on classified networks, sources say

February 11, 2026, 11:46 PM EST. The Pentagon is pushing top AI firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to make their tools accessible on classified networks with fewer restrictions. At a White House event, Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael said the military aims to deploy frontier AI across all classification levels. The move follows ongoing negotiations on how the U.S. will use AI on a future battlefield dotted with autonomous drones, robots and cyber operations. Anthropic is the only AI company widely available in classified settings through third parties; others operate mainly on unclassified networks. Reuters could not determine deployment timing. OpenAI has an unclassified deal via genai.mil; Google and xAI have pursued similar arrangements. Researchers warn AI can err or fabricate in sensitive contexts.

Korean battery-makers recalibrate North America playbook as US EV demand cools

February 11, 2026, 11:42 PM EST. Korean battery-makers rework their North American playbooks, shifting from EV batteries to ESS (energy storage systems) as U.S. automakers retreat from aggressive electrification and subsidies fade. StarPlus Energy, the Samsung SDI-Stellantis JV in Kokomo, Indiana, began production in 2024; a second plant is under construction with a total investment of about $6.3 billion. Stellantis is weighing an exit from StarPlus Energy after more than €22 billion in asset writedowns. Elsewhere, LG Energy Solution and SK On push into domestic ESS, riding AI data-center demand and incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act. The three Korean players have dissolved or scaled back several JVs with Ford and GM, while LG and Samsung SDI eye higher ESS orders and aim for roughly 50% year-over-year growth in ESS sales.

AI Intensifies Workload as Adoption Efforts Rise

February 11, 2026, 11:32 PM EST. Many firms are scrambling to get employees to use AI. The technology promises to trim the burden of routine tasks-drafting documents, summarizing information, and debugging code-and to free workers for high-value work. Yet managers report adoption friction and uneven use, raising questions about whether AI actually reduces overall workload. The tension sits at the heart of current deployments: for every task automated, teams say, new monitoring, governance, and integration work often follows. In short, the promise of lighter toil remains conditional on effective rollout, training, and clear expectations about what counts as productivity.

Tesla lab fires in Palo Alto tied to battery thermal runaway; two incidents prompt shutdown

February 11, 2026, 11:30 PM EST. Two battery-fire incidents at Tesla's Palo Alto lab at 3500 Deer Creek Road-Dec. 10 and Jan. 11-led to evacuations and a roughly three-week shutdown. The Dec. 10 blaze caused about $100,000 in damage. Fire officials attributed both fires to thermal runaway, a self-accelerating rise in temperature triggered by accidental electrical-component failures in lithium-ion cells. Tesla did not respond to questions. The events come as the company has faced other battery issues, including a recall of 10,500 Powerwall 2 units for fire hazards and a separate storage-fire at a San Marcos mall. Firefighters described heavy responses but limited physical damage; authorities continue to review safety protocols around testing of battery systems.

Memory price surge threatens 2026 smartphone production, TrendForce says

February 11, 2026, 11:28 PM EST. TrendForce warns soaring memory prices will weigh on global smartphone output in 2026, with total production seen at about 1.135 billion units, down 10% year-on-year. A bear-case path could widen declines to 15% or more. The impact varies by brand, depending on mix and regional exposure. For a mainstream 8GB+256GB configuration, contract prices in Q1 2026 rose nearly 200% YoY, lifting memory's share of BOM to about 30-40% from roughly 10-15% historically. Brands may pass costs to consumers and adjust portfolios to shield margins. Samsung is expected to weather the downturn better due to vertical integration; Apple also fares relatively well thanks to premium models. Xiaomi and Transsion face greater pressure; Huawei could resist or grow in China amid HarmonyOS and pricing flexibility.

Samsung offers up to $900 trade-in credit and $30 preorder accessory credit for Galaxy S26 launch

February 11, 2026, 11:24 PM EST. Samsung ties preorder perks to its February 25 Unpacked show for the Galaxy S26 lineup. If you register interest and complete a preorder in the same transaction, you can receive up to $900 in trade-in value-above the current $700 ceiling for the S24 Ultra. A separate $30 credit, usable on accessories, is available to preorder via Samsung's site or Shop Samsung app, but it won't cut the device price. Eligibility hinges on the old phone's condition (no major damage beyond normal wear). The trade-in value is applied at checkout. Preorders launch later this month; Samsung is also expected to unveil wearables and Galaxy AI features alongside the phones.

iOS 26.3 features: Android transfer, Weather wallpaper and location controls

February 11, 2026, 11:22 PM EST. Apple's iOS 26.3 adds a handful of modest updates. A new Transfer to Android tool lets iPhone users move photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords-and more-to an Android device without a separate app; health data, Bluetooth-paired devices and locked notes aren't included. A Weather wallpaper section debuts in Lock Screen settings with three designs and different time fonts. A Limit Precise Location option reduces carrier visibility to a neighborhood rather than a street address and works with C1/C1X modems on the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air; several carriers have support, including Boost Mobile in the US, EE/BT in the UK, Telekom in Germany, and AIS/True in Thailand. Release notes reference unreleased M5 chips. A beta test of Notification Forwarding suggested EU-only forwarding to wearables, but the feature may move to iOS 26.4.

AI transcription in social work records risks harmful errors, Ada Lovelace Institute finds

February 11, 2026, 11:10 PM EST. An eight-month assessment across 17 English and Scottish councils by the Ada Lovelace Institute found AI transcription tools are seeding potentially harmful errors in social work records. Reported examples include AI hallucinations indicating suicidal ideation when none was discussed, and notes that contain gibberish or refer to irrelevant items. The study says such misrepresentations could shape risky decisions about a child's care and attract professional consequences for social workers. Some workers noted difficulties with accents and the system inserting phrases not spoken, while others warned AI notes could cross from human to AI assessments. Dozens of councils have rolled out AI transcription tools, with costs ranging from £1.50 to £5 per hour for products like Magic Notes or general-purpose Microsoft Copilot, citing time savings. The researchers call for safeguards to balance efficiency with accuracy and safety.

ARK's Cathie Wood Bets Big on SpaceX-xAI Merger, Anchoring ~17.5% of ARK Venture Fund

February 11, 2026, 11:08 PM EST. Cathie Wood's ARK Venture Fund realigned its heaviest bets after a transformative merger between SpaceX and xAI valued at about $1.25 trillion. The new weights place SpaceX at 11.23% and xAI at 6.31%, for a combined 17.54% anchor in ARKVX. The deal makes SpaceX the fund's largest holding and ties Musk's space and AI ambitions into one portfolio thesis. Musk described the union as the next chapter in human intelligence; he celebrated on X. The merger comes amid record global M&A and follows talk of a possible later public offering for SpaceX that could push valuations above $1.5 trillion. Other top ARKVX holdings include Figure AI, Databricks, and Zipline.

Huawei previews Runner Watch performance ahead of Madrid launch

February 11, 2026, 11:04 PM EST. Huawei has outlined performance highlights for the new Runner Watch ahead of its global launch event in Madrid on February 26. The company posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account to spotlight new sports features and running traits the wearable will bring. In a nod to a high-profile athlete, Huawei congratulated Joshua Cheptegei for winning the Dubai Half Marathon, noting the watch offers steady support at race pace. New images show Cheptegei wearing the device, though Huawei has not yet revealed its physical design. Huawei branded the gadget with the tag Ultra Performance and promised more details are coming. The teaser suggests the watch will target serious runners while the company previews a global unveiling next month.

SpaceX completes Booster 19 testing at upgraded Massey's facility

February 11, 2026, 11:02 PM EST. NASASpaceFlight.com reports that SpaceX has completed testing of Booster 19 at the upgraded Massey's facility. The piece attributes the work to recent site upgrades and frames it as part of ongoing booster qualification. Specific test results were not disclosed, but the report confirms completion of the testing window.

Gemini Deep Think redefines scientific research with AI-driven breakthroughs

February 11, 2026, 11:00 PM EST. Gemini Deep Think collaborated with experts on 18 research problems to push advances across algorithms, ML and combinatorial optimization, information theory, and economics. The findings tackle classic CS bottlenecks, including Max-Cut and the Steiner Tree, by importing tools from continuous math. In online submodular optimization, Gemini produced a three-item counterexample that discredited a decade-old rule. In ML optimization, it explains how a data-driven, automatically generated adaptive penalty can improve training. The team extended auction theory to real-valued bids, using topology and order theory to handle continuous dynamics. In physics, it derives a closed-form for gravitational radiation from cosmic strings via Gegenbauer polynomials, reducing singularities. The work signals AI's growing role across disciplines and hints at new journals and conferences to come.

AI fears in software market seen as overblown, analysts say

February 11, 2026, 10:56 PM EST. AI fears in the software sector are seen by some analysts as overblown. After Anthropic updated its Claude Cowork with plugins for legal, marketing, finance, data and sales tasks, and OpenAI followed with new releases, software stocks slid. ServiceNow is down more than 22% since Jan. 29; Thomson Reuters off more than 26%; Intuit down over 26%; Snowflake down 18%; Salesforce more than 20%. Analysts say AI will likely augment incumbents rather than erase demand for software, though risk is not uniform. William Blair's Jason Ader calls the move a 'baby-with-a-bath-water' scenario and cautions selective exposure. Morgan Stanley's Keith Weiss says firms won't shift IT toward open-source AI unless there is a clear differentiator. The debate continues on whether AI reshapes the software landscape or simply accelerates product updates.

Apple's Siri revamp delayed again as iOS rollout slows, Bloomberg says

February 11, 2026, 10:54 PM EST. Apple has been promising a new, AI-powered Siri since the 2024 debut of Apple Intelligence. Over roughly 18 months, the release has been repeatedly delayed. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports the update will roll out more slowly than planned, with some features pushed to the May iOS update or even to iOS 27 in September after testing setbacks. The changes would push Siri toward large-language-model chatbots, but users would talk to Siri itself, powered by Google Gemini, rather than opening a separate app. The timeline has shifted away from the March target tied to iOS 26.4.

Energy Vault and Peak Energy strike 1.5 GWh sodium-ion deal to power AI-first data centers

February 11, 2026, 10:52 PM EST. Energy Vault and Peak Energy have struck a strategic partnership to build an AI-first data center battery platform, combining Peak Energy's sodium-ion cells with Energy Vault's Vault OS management and system design. The alliance targets volatile AI workloads with a dedicated storage architecture that promises faster deployment, lower upfront costs, and improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion BESS. The arrangement includes an exclusive, modular "powered shell" data center solution and a 1.5 GWh supply agreement for US-made sodium-ion packs. Domestic manufacturing may help qualify projects for ITCs. Landon Mossburg notes that sodium-ion offers a cheaper, quicker path to grid connection. Energy Vault executives say Vault OS will optimize dispatch, extend asset life, and simplify electrical design while reducing cooling needs.

Changan to launch world's first mass-produced sodium-ion EV with CATL battery

February 11, 2026, 10:48 PM EST. Changan Automotive will offer the world's first mass-produced passenger EV powered by a sodium-ion pack from CATL. The Nevo A06 carries a 45 kWh pack and a claimed range above 400 km, using CATL's Naxtra cells instead of lithium. CATL says the battery preserves more than 90% of capacity at -40°C, and real-world Mongolia tests showed normal charging at -30°C and operation down to -50°C. The tech could boost cold-weather performance and reduce supply-chain risk by relying on the more abundant sodium. CATL says sodium-ion will coexist with lithium-ion, depending on cost and use-case. The Nevo A06 lands in China in mid-2026; for now it's a China-only product, though global automakers are watching potential R&D interest.

ZeroDayRAT spyware offers full remote control of Android and iOS devices

February 11, 2026, 10:46 PM EST. Researchers at iVerify warn that ZeroDayRAT is a commercial mobile spyware kit advertised on Telegram that grants full remote control over infected Android and iOS devices. The dashboard lists device model, OS version, battery, SIM status, country and lock state, and can track location in real time if GPS is enabled. It supports active operations like live video from front and rear cameras, microphone capture, screen recording, and, when allowed, SMS access to capture OTPs for 2FA bypass. A keylogger module records user input, and a crypto-stealer and bank-stealer suite targets wallets and online banking apps, potentially injecting fraudulent addresses. Delivery methods are not detailed; researchers caution employees' devices could breach enterprises. Users should stick to official stores and trusted publishers.

Xiaomi Tag emerges as budget challenger to Apple AirTag

February 11, 2026, 10:40 PM EST. Xiaomi has quietly put its first Bluetooth tracker up for sale in France, challenging Apple's AirTag on price rather than features. The Xiaomi Tag lists at €17.99 for a single unit and €59.99 for a four-pack on Xiaomi's French site, with some retailers under €15. The device, 7.2mm thick, uses a replaceable CR2032 battery and lasts about a year. It supports Bluetooth 5.4 and NFC, and can connect to both Apple Find My and Google Find Hub networks. Crucially, early listings show no Ultra Wideband support. Xiaomi has not announced a formal launch; pricing is live in France and stock appears at European retailers, but a US rollout remains uncertain. Apple recently updated the AirTag with stronger UWB and louder speaker, widening the gap.

AI brings Supreme Court decisions to life with courtroom avatars

February 11, 2026, 10:38 PM EST. On The Docket, an independent project, uses AI to generate visual depictions of U.S. Supreme Court justices reading their decisions. The effort expands the reach of Northwestern professor Jerry Goldman's long-running Oyez project, which since 1996 has posted audio of oral arguments and opinion announcements to improve public access. The Supreme Court historically taped proceedings but kept audio and, until recently, same-day access limited to courtroom attendees. The COVID-19 era pushed live audio broadcasting, but the court left that system in place after the crisis. Now Goldman's team is testing AI to recreate not only the words spoken in court but the visual cues of the moment, arguing that if the material is public in the courtroom, it should be public for everyone.

Disney+ pulls Dolby Vision and 3D from Apple Vision Pro in parts of Europe

February 11, 2026, 10:34 PM EST. Disney+ has quietly removed Dolby Vision and 3D support for Apple Vision Pro in several European markets. Beginning in Germany late last year, the downgrade has expanded to neighboring countries, with Germany and France showing 3D unavailable on support pages, while the UK still lists 3D for now. The US page also drops Dolby Vision references, creating regional inconsistency. Disney attributes the move to technical challenges and says it aims to restore Dolby Vision soon. Some observers tie the shift to a patent dispute with InterDigital, which led to a Munich injunction over HDR tech; the impact on 3D remains unclear. In Australia, formats including Dolby Vision and 3D remain listed as available.

Microsoft patches critical Windows, Office zero-day flaws amid active exploitation

February 11, 2026, 10:30 PM EST. Microsoft has released fixes for several zero-day vulnerabilities in Windows and Office that it says are being actively abused to compromise computers. The flaws enable one-click attacks: victims can be infected by clicking a malicious link on Windows, or by opening a malicious Office file. The bugs are zero-days because attackers exploited them before Microsoft's fixes. Microsoft said details on exploitation had been published, potentially raising the risk. Security researchers from Google's Threat Intelligence Group contributed to the discovery. One flaw, CVE-2026-21510, affects the Windows shell and can bypass SmartScreen, allowing remote code execution after a click. Another, CVE-2026-21513, lies in MSHTML, the engine behind Internet Explorer in some Windows builds, enabling malware placement by bypassing protections. Independent reporter Brian Krebs noted Microsoft also patched three other actively exploited zero-days.

Motorola Edge 70 Fusion leaks reveal five Pantone colors, mid-range specs ahead of launch

February 11, 2026, 10:28 PM EST. Motorola's Edge 70 Fusion surfaced in promo images ahead of its launch. The handset appears in five Pantone colors: Country Air, Blue Surf, Sporting Green, Orient Blue and Silhouette. The design keeps a curved display and a rear largely unchanged from the Edge 69. Core specs point to a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, with up to 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. A 7,000 mAh battery is rumored, from 5,000 mAh, with 68 W fast charging. On the camera side, leaks again point to a 50 MP Lytia main sensor and a 32 MP selfie shooter. Pricing remains unannounced, but with promo materials circulating, a launch appears imminent. Reported by Evan Blass and summarized by Notebookcheck's Abid Ahsan Shanto.

39A Crew Access Arm removed, halting crew launches from historic pad for now

February 11, 2026, 10:26 PM EST. NASASpaceFlight reports that the Crew Access Arm at Pad 39A has been removed, ending crewed launches from the historic pad for the moment. The move affects ongoing and planned missions tied to the site, which has long hosted astronaut flights. No replacement timeline was given. Spaceflight observers say the change may shift future launch operations to other pads while preserving the site's legacy. Further confirmation from NASA or SpaceX was not included in the initial report.

Europe readies Ariane 64 maiden flight to challenge SpaceX Starlink

February 11, 2026, 10:18 PM EST. European engineers prepare the Ariane 64 for its maiden flight from Kourou, French Guiana, aiming to deploy 32 satellites for Amazon Leo's broadband constellation. Built across Europe with 13 nations involved, the rocket's four boosters will power a roughly 62-meter-tall vehicle. At Vernon, engineers assemble the 3-metre main engine, the Vulcain 2.1, and test it under near-launch conditions. ArianeGroup says the project seeks to halve launcher costs, aligning components across the program. Liftoff could mark Europe's new heavy-lift capability, with a flight time around eight minutes of burn and a total mission span of about 1 hour 50 minutes before satellites are deployed in pairs. The effort positions Europe to compete with SpaceX and its Starlink network, though the path to parity remains challenging.

Cramer: Tesla pivots from carmaker to robotics and AI company

February 11, 2026, 10:16 PM EST. Wall Street's Jim Cramer says Tesla is transitioning from a carmaker to a robotics and AI company. In a post-earnings note, he framed the company's disappointing automotive metrics as a shape-shift signal rather than a failure, pointing to a broader pivot toward autonomy, humanoid robots, and the planned Robotaxi. He quoted Elon Musk describing future value in Cybercabs and Optimus, noting that Model S and Model X will exit the lineup as the company emphasizes AI-driven systems. Cramer argued that investors should focus on the capital allocation for AI ventures rather than traditional vehicle margins. Tesla stock moved modestly after the update, underscoring a market reframing of the company as a robotics and AI juggernaut rather than a conventional automaker.

QuiX Quantum and Artilux sign MoU to accelerate energy-efficient photonic quantum computing

February 11, 2026, 10:12 PM EST. QuiX Quantum of the Netherlands and Artilux of Taiwan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance energy-efficient photonic quantum computing. The agreement centers on integrating Artilux's semiconductor-based GeSi detector technologies into QuiX's photonic hardware stack to improve system manufacturability and lower energy use. The collaboration aims to simplify architectures, reduce detector cooling needs, and make photonic quantum processors more compatible with standard data-center and HPC environments, shortening the route to commercial deployment. The move aligns with QuiX Quantum's plan to deliver scalable, universal quantum computers after selling its first system. By combining Artilux's high-throughput, low-power photonic sensors with QuiX's hardware leadership, the partners seek to accelerate maturation of quantum hardware for industry use and bridge electronic and photonic ecosystems.

Two more xAI co-founders depart after SpaceX merger as four divisions outlined

February 11, 2026, 10:10 PM EST. Two more xAI co-founders have departed after the SpaceX merger reshaped the AI firm. Co-founders Yuhai (Tony) Wu and Jimmy Ba announced exits, reducing the original 12-strong founder roster by half. The departures come as Elon Musk signaled a reorganization centered on four divisions: Grok (Main and Voice), Coding, Imagine, and Macrohard, the latter described as full digital emulation of entire companies. Musk said the restructure aims to speed execution, while inviting new hires. The changes follow Musk's comments about space-based data centers, AI satellites, and vertical integration across rockets, space internet, and free-speech platforms. The exodus leaves xAI in flux weeks after the merger with SpaceX, which valued the combined entity and X at roughly $1.25 trillion, per reports.

AI overvaluation fears ease as tech stocks drift three months after Goldman, Morgan Stanley warnings

February 11, 2026, 10:02 PM EST. Three months after Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley warned of a drawdown, the market has steadied. The Nasdaq fell 1.4% from 23,349 on Nov. 4 to 23,031 on Feb. 6, with no material correction yet. Analysts comb earnings for valuation signals and AI-driven spending. Microsoft sank 10% despite a 60% jump in profit, as cloud revenue rose 39% YoY, sparking questions about growth visibility. Amazon slid 8% after missing EPS by $0.02. Nvidia slipped 5% after data-center revenue came in $200 million shy of estimates. Meta rose on solid results, underscoring uneven sentiment toward tech. History shows 10% drops occur about once a year; 20% corrections every 3-5 years.

Microsoft weighs merging Xbox Game Pass with PC Game Pass, hints at broader third-party services

February 11, 2026, 9:56 PM EST. Two sources say Microsoft is considering merging the Xbox Game Pass Premium tier with PC Game Pass. The Verge's Tom Warren reported plans are not final; Windows Central corroborated with its own sources. The proposed bundle would likely include cloud gaming, EA Play, and first-party day-one access, potentially raising price toward the high teens. Analysts say a merged tier could adjust Ultimate's value by adding external services, though specifics remain unclear. Separately, reports note a forthcoming next-gen console around 2027, described as a PC/console hybrid with cross-OEM SKUs. Microsoft has not confirmed any merger or launch date.

Six Android Auto apps that genuinely improve your driving experience

February 11, 2026, 9:54 PM EST. A tech writer frames six Android Auto apps that genuinely improve long drives. After switching from CarPlay, they find Android Auto solid-aside from frustrations with Google Maps location access and cumbersome split-screen. Highlights include Pocket Casts for podcasts, praised for its focused, cross-platform UI and seamless resume across devices. PlugShare offers a crowdsourced map to locate EV chargers, handy on road trips. The piece also nods to Spotify and Waze as obvious fits, but argues they stay useful on Auto. In short, a handful of purpose-built apps deliver practical, on-road benefits and help pass time during tedious commutes.

Apple patches dozens of vulnerabilities in iOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3

February 11, 2026, 9:52 PM EST. Apple released iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3 and macOS Tahoe 26.3, delivering bug fixes and security improvements. The updates patch dozens of vulnerabilities, including a known exploit in the dyld dynamic linker that could allow arbitrary code execution. Apple says the memory corruption issue may have been leveraged in an extremely sophisticated attack against targeted individuals on versions of iOS prior to 26. The firm says improved state management fixed the issue. Other flaws across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and related platforms were addressed. Apple urges all users to install the updates promptly, noting that public disclosure may increase abuse opportunities.

Musk restructures xAI after co-founder exits as SpaceX merger progresses

February 11, 2026, 9:44 PM EST. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said xAI underwent a reorganization that "required parting ways with some people," without naming the employees involved. The move follows the departure of co-founders Jimmy Ba and Tony Wu this week, after earlier exits by Igor Babuschkin, Kyle Kosic, Christian Szegedy and Greg Yang. Musk had announced last week that SpaceX would acquire xAI in an all-stock deal, a transaction valued at about $1 trillion for SpaceX and $250 billion for xAI post-merger, with the merged group targeting a public listing this year. Regulators are probing xAI in several regions over Grok's non-consensual deepfake images. Grok is the AI chatbot and image generator behind X. Musk launched xAI in 2023 to understand the universe and to compete with OpenAI and Google.

Exclusive: Modal Labs in talks to raise at $2.5B valuation in AI inference round

February 11, 2026, 9:40 PM EST. Modal Labs, an AI inference infrastructure startup, is in talks to raise a round at about a $2.5 billion valuation, according to four people familiar with the deal. If closed, the round would more than double the company's $1.1 billion valuation announced five months earlier. General Catalyst is in talks to lead, with Modal's ARR near $50 million. The discussions are early and terms could change. Modal did not comment. The company focuses on inference-the process of running trained AI models to answer user prompts-aiming to cut compute costs and reduce latency. Modal sits among a small group of inference-focused startups drawing investor attention, alongside Baseten (raised at $5B), Fireworks AI, and others. Modal was co-founded by CEO Erik Bernhardsson in 2021; backers include Lux Capital and Redpoint Ventures.

NVIDIA expands industrial and scientific AI alliances, signaling longer-term demand

February 11, 2026, 9:36 PM EST. NVIDIA is expanding into industrial and scientific AI through a long-term alliance with Dassault Systèmes to back AI factories and Virtual Twins. It also teams with Argonne National Laboratory, RIKEN, and Fujitsu to design next-generation computing architectures for scientific discovery, with emphasis on privacy, sovereignty, and potential quantum integration. These partnerships tie NVIDIA's platforms to manufacturing workflows and national research priorities, not only cloud data centers. For investors, the question is how deeply these alliances translate into multi-year demand for hardware and software across industries. The push toward applied AI infrastructure covering manufacturing, life sciences, and materials science, reflects a focus on long-duration projects and collaboration with government labs, while competition from AMD, Intel, and bespoke ASICs remains a risk.

SpaceX IPO Could Drive Capital Surge, But Risk Diverting Attention, Analysts Say

February 11, 2026, 9:34 PM EST. Space investors expect SpaceX's planned IPO to unleash a broad capital surge across the industry, though some warn it could pull attention from other opportunities in the run-up. At the SmallSat Symposium, Beyond Earth Ventures' Patrick Beatty said demand from private 'tourist investors' could ease access to space stocks, and that an IPO around SpaceX would be helpful. The listing could raise tens of billions with a valuation above $1.5 trillion, possibly this summer. But AE Industrial Partners' Tyler Letarte and others cautioned that the IPO might siphon investor focus from peers, even as it would raise overall interest in space. Analysts also foresee more M&A activity than IPOs, while launch providers could benefit as rivals seek to expand capacity.

Overwatch launches 'story-driven era,' doubles Steam release-day concurrent record

February 11, 2026, 9:32 PM EST. Blizzard launches Overwatch's story-driven era on Steam. The release day set a new concurrent players record, reportedly doubling the previous mark. The shift leans into narrative missions alongside ongoing multiplayer gameplay. The move signals a pivot for the hero shooter toward storytelling and lore, with new chapters and characters tied to the update. Valve's Steam platform served as the stage for the milestone, part of a broader relaunch push. Publisher statements framed the day as a success; exact numbers were not disclosed. Analysts say the figure underscores enduring demand for live-service multiplayer games blending campaign elements with ongoing online play.

AI researchers warn of risks as leaders depart OpenAI, Anthropic

February 11, 2026, 9:30 PM EST. Dozens of AI researchers and executives are exiting major firms while issuing public warnings about the pace and risks of the technology. Zoë Hitzig, who worked at OpenAI for two years, published a New York Times essay critiquing OpenAI's emerging advertising strategy and warning that ChatGPT's user-data archive raises ethical questions about manipulation. Platformer has reported that OpenAI disbanded its "mission alignment" team, tasked with guiding AGI benefits. At Anthropic, Mrinank Sharma, head of Safeguards Research, posted a terse letter saying the time to move on has come and that values can be hard to govern actions. Anthropic thanked Sharma for his work; OpenAI did not immediately comment. The departures come as IPO talk intensifies and scrutiny grows.

Palantir Q4 Beats Revenue, 2026 Growth Guide Sparks Buy Question

February 11, 2026, 9:28 PM EST. Palantir Technologies beat expectations with fiscal Q4 results, delivering $1.41 billion in revenue and $0.25 per share, vs estimates of $1.33 billion and $0.23. The company also issued a growth guide for 2026 pointing to revenue of $7.182 billion to $7.198 billion, implying up to 60.8% year-over-year growth. The stock has surged roughly 1,660% over three years but has pulled back from its November 2025 peak, trading around $135 as of the latest session. Valuation remains a concern: at roughly 45 times 2026 revenue, the market cap near $320 billion makes it vulnerable if growth slows. Palantir benefits from AI and government contracts and expanded commercial adoption, yet uncertainty around AI-driven demand and macro headwinds argues for cautious buying.

Hidden iPhone feature quietly blurs faces in Photos with one tap

February 11, 2026, 9:16 PM EST. Apple's Photos app hides an AI-powered face-blurring tool inside the built-in Clean Up feature. The one-tap protection lets users blur faces by brushing over them; the app automatically recognizes faces and applies blur, with an on-screen notice reading 'Identity protection applied.' You can blur multiple faces in a single image. Edits can be undone on the device by reopening Edit and reverting, but once a photo is shared, recipients cannot undo the blur-the protection is permanent for them. The feature reduces reliance on third-party apps and offers a privacy option for parents, event photographers, or anyone posting images online. No subscription is required; it's free and instantly available within Photos.

Marvel's Wolverine unlikely to appear at tomorrow's PlayStation State of Play, insiders say

February 11, 2026, 9:12 PM EST. Insomniac and PlayStation are not ready to show Marvel's Wolverine at tomorrow's State of Play. The event will spotlight more than an hour of third-party, indie and first-party titles, with Housemarque's Saros likely to appear as it nears its April launch. Insomniac has pinned Marvel's Wolverine to Spring 2026, suggesting a wider reveal will come later in that window rather than during the showcase. A new gameplay trailer has already given fans a closer look, but a firm release date and a deeper update on the PS5 exclusive remain queued for spring. A surprise appearance can't be ruled out, but expectations should be tempered. For context, readers are directed to Game Informer's anticipated-games list and interviews with Marvel Games leadership.

Microsoft rolls out Windows 11 26H1 for Snapdragon X2 ARM devices

February 11, 2026, 9:08 PM EST. Microsoft is rolling out Windows 11 version 26H1, not to existing PCs, but on devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Series processors. The update supports a new platform release for upcoming ARM chips (ARM is a family of energy-efficient processors used in mobile and PC devices). It will ship through Windows Update with OEMs and IHVs, but not via broad channels. Devices with Snapdragon X2 will come with Windows 11, version 26H1. Organizations should continue deploying broadly released Windows 11 versions (24H2, 25H2) with confidence. Microsoft's FAQ says 26H1 is not a feature update for 25H2; no pause in purchases or deployments is needed. No new features are announced for 26H1; improvements are expected in performance or battery life on ARM PCs. Other PCs will receive 26H2 later this year; timing is unconfirmed.

Morgan Stanley sees $190 billion upside in Tesla's solar ambitions

February 11, 2026, 9:06 PM EST. Morgan Stanley says Tesla's energy business could gain $20 billion to $50 billion in value if Elon Musk achieves a plan to build 100 GW/year of solar cell manufacturing in the United States. The bank pegs the total upside at $190 billion for the energy segment, up from about $140 billion today, based on expansion in solar manufacturing. Analysts note the plan would require $30-$70 billion of capex and six new factories, plus AI compute infrastructure, with 2026 capex exceeding $20 billion. Financing remains unclear. Tesla has struggled with Solar Roof adoption, but a successful push could crown it the top US solar manufacturer and reshape the equity value of its energy business. Sites under consideration include New York, Arizona, and Idaho.

AI's next wave arrives, says OthersideAI founder Matt Shumer

February 11, 2026, 9:04 PM EST. Matt Shumer, co-founder and CEO of OthersideAI, leads a firm that builds cutting-edge autocomplete tools powered by large-scale models such as GPT-3. OthersideAI is the outfit behind HyperWrite, a consumer Chrome extension that brings AI-assisted writing to a broad audience. Shumer's work sits at the intersection of practical AI and developer tools, as his company aims to push the capabilities of AI autocompletion beyond simple text suggestions. Before founding OthersideAI, Shumer started ventures in his teens: Visos, a medical VR software project, and FURI, a sporting goods startup focused on high-performance products at fair prices. The narrative underscores a pattern of early experimentation that underpins his current emphasis on scalable AI solutions.

OpenAI disbands mission-alignment team; chief futurist appointed

February 11, 2026, 9:00 PM EST. OpenAI has disbanded its internal alignment team, formed in September 2024 to keep AI systems safe, trustworthy, and aligned with human values. The six-to-seven person unit's members have been reassigned to other posts, although OpenAI would not specify where. Former head Josh Achiam has moved to a new role as OpenAI's chief futurist, working with physicist Jason Pruet to study how AI, AGI, and related advances may reshape society. OpenAI described the move as a routine internal reorganization typical of a fast-moving company; TechCrunch confirmed the team's reassignment, and Platformer reported the original news. The company previously disbanded a separate long-term safety unit, the superalignment team, in 2024. Achiam's personal site still lists him as head of Mission Alignment.

Apple's C2 modem leak hints at iPhone 18 Pro satellite 5G plan

February 11, 2026, 8:54 PM EST. Leaks suggest Apple's in-house C2 modem could support NR-NTN, enabling direct satellite connections for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. A Weibo post from Chinese tipster Fixed Focus Digital claims the C2 modem will debut this fall and could let phones access the internet via satellites, or use satellites as backhaul for carriers. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has floated a feature called satellite over 5G to improve coverage in areas with no terrestrial service, possibly with a developer API and Maps satellite connectivity. Apple currently relies on Globalstar infrastructure for satellite services. The claims are unconfirmed; timing and feature set will depend on development and potential infrastructure upgrades.

Google cancels Android 17 Beta 1, ends Developer Previews in favor of Canary channel

February 11, 2026, 8:46 PM EST. Google said Android 17 Beta 1 rollout is delayed, not canceled, with an update to Android Police indicating 'Android Beta 1 will actually be coming soon, not today.' The move echoes a broader shift away from traditional Developer Previews toward a continuous Canary channel. Officials describe the approach as 'always-on,' delivering features and APIs as soon as they pass internal tests, and moving toward a more polished beta experience by the time features land. Google also touts OTA updates, eliminating manual flashing. The change marks the end of the long era of Developer Previews, replacing it with faster cadence and early access. Platform stability is expected in March, with broader releases following later.

Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.3 fixes window resizing and Finder column issues

February 11, 2026, 8:44 PM EST. Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.3 to fix two design flaws introduced by the Liquid Glass revamp. The update restores easier window resizing by making the resize area follow the window's corner radius, addressing concerns that rounded corners pushed the clickable zone outside the boundary. Norbert Heger documented the issue, noting that a 19-by-19-pixel hotspot near the corner was often outside; with Tahoe's radius, most of that area lay outside. Apple's release notes confirm the change. The other fix targets Finder's Columns view, where a horizontal scroller covered the column-resize widget. MacGeneration flagged the problem; 26.3 repositions the scroller under the widget. Jeff Johnson called the progress baby steps, but said the changes help users who rely on column and window sizing.

Vulcan Centaur to launch USSF-87 GSSAP satellites from Cape Canaveral

February 11, 2026, 8:38 PM EST. ULA's Vulcan Centaur is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida during a two-hour window that opens at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 GMT) for USSF-87. The mission carries two GSSAP satellites for the U.S. Space Force to monitor activity in geostationary orbit, a high-altitude band about 35,786 kilometers above Earth. Six GSSAP spacecraft have flown since 2014, with the current pair built by Northrop Grumman. Officials describe the satellites as a high-performance Space Surveillance Network sensor that provides a "neighborhood watch" for GEO, helping improve collision avoidance and orbital predictions. The payload also includes research and development gear to refine orbital maneuvers and bolster asset resilience. This marks the fourth mission for the Vulcan Centaur so far.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Reserve program details: credits, trade-in lock, and sweepstakes

February 11, 2026, 8:36 PM EST. Samsung lays out the Galaxy S26 Reserve program ahead of the official launch. The offers include a $150 Samsung Credit usable on Buds, cases, chargers, storage upgrades or other Galaxy devices, and a $30 completion credit after you finalize your purchase. Reserving costs nothing-no deposit or commitment-and simply secures perks before the Galaxy S26 goes official. In India, Samsung lets you lock in your current flagship trade-in value ahead of launch. All reservers are automatically entered into a sweepstakes with tiers and a grand prize worth up to $5,000. To reserve, visit the Galaxy S26 Reserve page, submit basic info, and wait for a confirmation email detailing how credits apply. It's non-binding; reserve first, decide later.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Now Available on Amazon Starting at $759 With Prime Shipping

February 11, 2026, 8:34 PM EST. DJI's pocketable drone, the DJI Mini 5 Pro, lands on Amazon with Prime shipping and a starting price of $759. Reviewers highlight a 1-inch sensor, LiDAR obstacle avoidance, and up to 52 minutes of flight time, all in a body that fits in a jacket pocket. The Amazon listing shows more than 500 units sold in the past month and a 4.6-star rating from nearly 600 reviews, though some configurations warn of limited stock. Availability can fluctuate as stock moves. The deal underscores DJI's push into affordable, feature-rich drones, with buyers weighing price, performance, and availability as Prime benefits apply.

NASA, SpaceX Crew-12 mission set to launch to ISS with four-person international crew

February 11, 2026, 8:32 PM EST. Four astronauts-two Americans, a Russian man and a French woman-are headed to the International Space Station (ISS) for a nine-month mission under NASA and SpaceX's Crew-12 program. The crew: Mission Commander Jessica Meir; Pilot Jack Hathaway; Mission Specialists Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev. Liftoff is targeted for 5:15 a.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 13, from Launch Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule. Docking to the ISS is planned for Feb. 14, weather and readiness permitting. Crew-12 follows the medical evacuation of Crew-11 earlier this month and coincides with a delay to Artemis II, freeing resources for the orbital lab. The crew will perform routine station maintenance and microgravity science.

Young people ditch smartphones amid digital burnout, revive single-use devices

February 11, 2026, 8:28 PM EST. Smartphones have fused clocks, maps, books and more into one device, reshaping work and life. But a counter-trend is gathering among teens and young adults: digital minimalism. Faced with digital burnout and choice overload, they reintroduce single-use devices. Options include dumb phones, standalone cameras, MP3 players, Kindles and other e-readers, as well as paper planners and alarm clocks. The move is driven by persistent notifications and algorithmic feeds that trap attention; people seek greater intention in tech use. Rather than abandoning tech, they select tools that fit specific moments-buying cameras to capture memories and reviving devices that offer fewer distractions. The trend signals a shift from constant connectivity toward purposeful consumption of time and media.

iOS 26 adds tappable links to screenshots via visual intelligence

February 11, 2026, 8:26 PM EST. Apple's iOS 26 adds a visual intelligence feature that scans screenshots for URLs and turns them into tappable links. The tool appears at the bottom of the screen in full-screen view, letting users open a detected address with a single tap. It targets plain-text URLs common in social feeds, such as Instagram captions, where links are not clickable. The feature requires an AI-compatible iPhone, including models like the iPhone 17, iPhone 16, or iPhone 15 Pro. If you use the older thumbnail behavior from iOS 18, you must tap the thumbnail to switch to full-screen before the link appears. The enhancement saves manual copying and pasting.

Tesla launches Cybertruck V2G program in Texas to earn bill credits

February 11, 2026, 8:18 PM EST. Tesla has launched its first U.S. vehicle-to-grid program, deploying Powershare Grid Support with the Cybertruck in parts of Texas. The system lets owners discharge a 123 kWh pack back to the grid during high-demand events, earning bill credits via the Tesla Energy app. Hardware requirements include a Powershare Gateway and Universal Wall Connector; activation is via the Tesla Electric plan. Participation is initially by invitation in CenterPoint Energy and Oncor zones, with warranty protection for early adopters. Tesla points to ERCOT's volatility in Texas and its growing VPP footprint, noting Texas payouts totalled $9.9 million in 2024 from Powerwall-based VPPs. California expansion is planned later for PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E service areas.

Tesla launches Powershare Grid Support V2G for Cybertruck in Texas

February 11, 2026, 8:14 PM EST. Tesla has rolled out its first U.S. vehicle-to-grid program, the Powershare Grid Support for the Cybertruck in select Texas markets. Owners can discharge up to a 123 kWh battery during high-demand events and earn bill credits, via the Tesla Electric app after enrolling. The program relies on a Powershare Gateway and Universal Wall Connector, and is limited to customers in CenterPoint Energy and Oncor service areas around Houston and Dallas. Participation is currently invitation-only during an early adopter phase; Tesla says it will expand access after testing and that using Powershare won't affect Cybertruck warranty. Texas was chosen because ERCOT's grid is volatile and has seen near-failures in extreme weather. Tesla has been running VPP programs in Texas since 2022 and plans California expansion next, with utilities such as PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E.

Quantum HPC checkpointing breakthrough enables restartable, fault-tolerant simulations

February 11, 2026, 7:56 PM EST. Researchers Qiang Guan (Kent State), Qinglei Cao (Saint Louis University), Xiaoyi Lu (University of Florida) and Siyuan Niu et al. propose a checkpointing and restoration framework for quantum HPC that moves beyond traditional state-saving. They redefine checkpointing as a control-flow and state problem, leveraging dynamic quantum circuits, mid-circuit measurements, and classical feedforward to enable restartable, fault-tolerant execution. Because the no-cloning theorem blocks simple quantum state snapshots, the system captures and restores algorithmic and control-flow state by converting selected quantum information into classical representations at defined boundaries. Restoration occurs through controlled re-execution guided by recorded classical state and parameters. The architecture supports classicalized, algorithmic, and logical checkpoints, integrates a quantum HPC runtime with a program layer, and triggers checkpoints at iteration, circuit, or convergence points. The work targets iterative algorithms like eigensolvers and optimization to improve reliability and efficiency.

Restartable quantum HPC: New checkpointing framework uses dynamic circuits for resilient simulations

February 11, 2026, 7:54 PM EST. Researchers propose a checkpointing and restoration framework for quantum HPC systems, addressing scaling and robustness limits. Because the no-cloning theorem and measurement-induced state collapse prevent classical memory snapshots, the work redefines checkpointing as capturing and restoring algorithmic and control-flow state rather than quantum data. The approach relies on dynamic quantum circuits with mid-circuit measurements, classical feedforward, and conditional execution within a single program. By converting selected quantum information into classical representations at defined boundaries, it avoids preserving fragile quantum states. Restoration proceeds through controlled re-execution guided by the recorded classical state and parameters. The framework supports classicalized checkpoints, algorithmic checkpoints, and logical checkpoints for fault tolerance. An HPC runtime coordinates checkpoint creation, failure detection, and recovery across iteration, circuit-layer, and convergence boundaries.

Apple iOS 26.3 adds cross-device notifications and a location-privacy toggle; hints at Gemini-powered Siri

February 11, 2026, 7:50 PM EST. Apple's iOS 26.3 centers on interoperability and privacy. It adds notification forwarding, enabling iPhones to push alerts to third-party accessories such as Google's Wear OS watches. In current betas, forwarding works for a single device and blocks Apple Watch alerts if a third-party device is used. The update also introduces a limit precise location toggle for devices with Apple's C1/C1X modems, reducing location data accuracy sent to cellular networks. In the US, Boost Mobile is the only carrier named; eligible hardware includes the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e and the M5 iPad Pro. Other major Apple platforms receive bug fixes and performance tweaks rather than new features. A larger Siri powered by Google Gemini is expected in iOS 26.4, tested via developer and public betas.

Apple holds iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max base prices as cost controls bite, analysts say

February 11, 2026, 7:48 PM EST. Analysts say Apple has used its bargaining power to keep base storage variants of the iPhone 18 lineup from price hikes. GF Securities' Jeff Pu says the company seeks to keep starting prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at roughly the same levels as the iPhone 17. The story echoes TF International's Ming-Chi Kuo, who noted Apple pressed suppliers and even staged long hotel stays to lock in memory deals with Samsung and SK hynix amid a DRAM crunch. With DRAM pricing moving to quarterly reviews, Apple may absorb some costs to protect market share. The plan, per Pu and Kuo, is a staggered rollout: Pro and Pro Max this fall, base iPhone 18 and 18e in spring 2027, as it navigates the 2nm-based A20 chip costs.

Whitmer signs K-12 smartphone ban into law with bipartisan backing

February 11, 2026, 7:46 PM EST. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a law restricting smartphone use by K-12 students during the school day, backed by Republicans and Democrats. House Bill 4141 updates the Revised School Code to require every public and charter school to adopt a wireless communications device policy. For elementary and middle students, the policy bars smartphones during instructional time, breaks, lunch and recess; high schools face a ban during instructional time only. Exceptions include medically necessary devices, district-owned devices, and basic phones that only support calling and texting and lack internet access. Supporters say the policy helps curb distractions and that schools will have state backing. Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, framed the bill as a bipartisan effort after Whitmer signaled support in 2025.

Apple Music doubles penalties for streaming fraud in crackdown

February 11, 2026, 7:44 PM EST. Apple Music chief Oliver Schusser outlined an intensified crackdown on fraudulent streams. Apple has doubled the penalties for streaming fraud on its platform, now starting at 10% and capping at 50% of the involved revenue, up from 5% to 25% at rollout. Fraudulent streams are demonetized, and The Hollywood Reporter describes the framework. Apple says it removed billions of manipulated streams in 2025 and argues the fight is a zero-sum game: fines drain cheaters and restore value to compliant artists. Schusser notes the industry faces ongoing pressure to top charts and playlists, but Apple emphasizes quality over manipulation and says competitors face similar challenges, though with less enforcement heft.

Google cancels Android 17 Beta 1 release, says it's coming soon

February 11, 2026, 7:42 PM EST. Google canceled the planned Android 17 Beta 1 rollout, initially scheduled for 10 am PT. The official Android Developers blog and related documentation did not publish on time, though coverage began. Google later said Android 17 Beta 1 is "coming soon" but gave no reason for the postponement. Historically, there is sometimes a gap between OTA availability and official announcements, but this instance left developers without a firm date. Google did not provide a new ETA. The episode underscores the company's timing adjustments for beta releases as it lines up features for Android 17.

Microsoft's Windows 11 version 26H1 targets new ARM devices; 26H2 planned for later this year

February 11, 2026, 7:30 PM EST. Microsoft confirms Windows 11 26H1 exists and is rolling out, but not to existing PCs. It targets new devices with select silicon, notably Snapdragon X2-based ARM machines. A dedicated Windows update, KB5077179, will appear on new hardware; older Intel or AMD PCs won't receive it. The update promises silicon-optimised improvements for better performance and longer battery life. Microsoft says Windows 11 26H1 will be available only on devices with new silicon arriving early 2026, and Windows Update will not install it on older machines. 26H2 is planned later this year for existing hardware as the company maintains a one feature update per year cadence. There is speculation about Nvidia N1X optimization, but no firm feature set tied to 26H1.

Samsung sets February 25 launch for Galaxy S26 Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco

February 11, 2026, 7:24 PM EST. Samsung has announced its first Galaxy Unpacked for 2026, set for February 25 in San Francisco, where it will unveil the Galaxy S26 lineup and new AI features. The livestream will run at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET / 6 pm GMT / 7 pm CET / 11:30 pm IST on YouTube, Samsung.com and the Samsung Newsroom. The show is expected to feature the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra, with rumors of a modest design refresh and potential cost cuts on the base model amid a memory shortage. Hardware may rely on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Exynos 2600 by region, and include a privacy layer to prevent shoulder surfing. Samsung could also unveil Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro, while highlighting Galaxy AI features designed to simplify daily use from first use.

Wolverine unlikely at PlayStation State of Play; Insomniac hints Spring 2026

February 11, 2026, 7:22 PM EST. Insomniac's Wolverine won't appear at tomorrow's PlayStation State of Play, despite fans hoping for a first-look. Sony had billed a 60+ minute show for news, gameplay updates, and announcements. A social reply from Insomniac pointed to a Spring 2026 window for Wolverine, a timeline that excludes February. Industry chatter also flags a possible appearance from Sony Santa Monica, though insider Shinobi602 cautions it's not a confirmation. The stream begins at 10pm UK time. Separately, rumors persist that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 could headline February's PS Plus Extra lineup (PS Plus Extra is Sony's subscription tier with a game catalog).

AI enters prediction markets, vaulting up leaderboards in Metaculus tournaments

February 11, 2026, 7:20 PM EST. Prediction markets have grown with Polymarket and Kalshi, and AI agents are now playing alongside humans. By late 2024, AI had not cracked the top 100 in major Metaculus competitions, but they have since vaulted up the leaderboards. In Metaculus' quarterly tournaments, serious forecasters compare probabilities on questions from geopolitics to entertainment. London-based startup Mantic entered an AI engine in last summer's cup, answering 60 probability questions about Ukraine, the Tour de France winner, Superman's box office, rare earth exports, hurricanes, and public statements by Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The development signals a shift: well-tuned models can outperform humans on bounded, structured questions, though broader, contingent futures remain unsettled. The race since then mixes hype, risk, and the tempo of rapid AI capability gains.

EssilorLuxottica says Meta AI glasses sales more than tripled to over 7 million in 2025

February 11, 2026, 7:18 PM EST. EssilorLuxottica says sales of Meta AI glasses more than tripled last year, reaching over 7 million units. The Ray-Ban maker had sold 2 million in 2023-2024 combined, according to its quarterly report. The total spans devices from Ray-Ban and Oakley, the latter unveiled in June. Company executives say wearables are gaining momentum with consumers and that their brands are a strong driver of demand. Meta and EssilorLuxottica have collaborated since 2019, with a new Ray-Ban iteration featuring gesture and neural controls at $799. Meta extended a long-term partnership in 2024 and Bloomberg reported talks to lift production to 20 million by year-end to meet rising demand.

Android 17 Release Schedule Official: Platform Stability in March, Major SDK in Q2

February 11, 2026, 7:14 PM EST. Google has released Android 17 with an official release calendar. The first build is in beta and available now for select Pixel devices. The schedule targets platform stability in March, followed by a Major SDK Release in Q2, which Google warns could introduce app-breaking behaviors. After that, users will have several months before the final release. A Minor SDK Release is planned for Q4. Between the Major and Minor releases, Android 17 will receive updates in a series of quarterly releases. The plan mirrors last year's Android 16. Beta participants who enjoy testing and providing feedback have a busy year ahead.

Meta to build 1-gigawatt Indiana data center as part of AI expansion

February 11, 2026, 7:10 PM EST. Meta said it will break ground on a more than $10 billion data center in Lebanon, Indiana, with capacity exceeding 1 gigawatt to support AI workloads and core products. The project is part of a broad AI infrastructure push that Meta described alongside a planned $135 billion in 2026 expenditure; the company spent $72.2 billion in 2025. Google and Amazon have announced far bigger spending in 2026. Meta says it will cover the data center's energy costs, donate $1 million per year for 20 years to the Boone REMC Community Fund, and fund emergency water assistance. It also plans a closed-loop water system and over $120 million in local water, road and utilities upgrades. The article notes local concerns about costs and noise around data centers.

AI decodes ancient Roman board game from Dutch stone, researchers say

February 11, 2026, 7:08 PM EST. Researchers in the Netherlands say a Roman-era, circular limestone stone is an ancient board game. 3D imaging from the restoration studio Restaura shows deeper wear along certain lines, implying sliding pieces. Leiden University archaeologist Walter Crist notes the wear matches expected play. Maastricht University used an AI program, Ludii, trained on rules from about 100 nearby ancient games. The computer generated dozens of possible rule sets, then played the game against itself to identify variants intelligible to humans. The team cross-checked these with the wear on the stone to infer likely moves. Caution from Dennis Soemers: pattern alone can force a rule. The research, published in Antiquity, suggests pieces were likely glass, bone, or earthenware.

ULA gears up for predawn USSF-87 launch from Cape Canaveral on Vulcan

February 11, 2026, 7:06 PM EST. United Launch Alliance is preparing for a predawn launch of its Vulcan rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for the USSF-87 mission. The mission includes multiple satellites for the U.S. Space Force; officials would not disclose the exact payload count. It will be the Vulcan's second national security mission and its longest to date, with a total duration of about 10 hours from launch to end of mission, according to ULA vice president Gary Wentz. The VC4S configuration features four GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters and a 15.5-meter payload fairing. Liftoff is slated for 3:30 a.m. EST within a two-hour window on an easterly trajectory. Weather is forecast favorable at 95% but solar activity and potential X-ray flares are being monitored. Deployment timing remains undisclosed, consistent with national security missions.

Xiaomi may skip Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro amid 2nm costs

February 11, 2026, 6:58 PM EST. Rumors say Xiaomi may skip the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro in its flagships, citing price pressures from higher DRAM/NAND costs and the move to TSMC's 2nm process. Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station claims Xiaomi's base, Pro and Pro Max launches could occur in September without the Pro, with the exception that the Xiaomi 18 Ultra might still use the Pro. Qualcomm has allegedly offered configuration flexibility, letting partners ship the Pro with older LPDDR5X RAM instead of LPDDR6, but wafer and memory costs could deter adoption. The standard Gen 6 may dominate, while the Pro remains reserved for ultra-premium devices. Industry sources warn margins stay under pressure as component costs rise, nudging Xiaomi to hold back the top-end silicon.

AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 6 unfurls world's largest commercial satellite antenna in LEO

February 11, 2026, 6:56 PM EST. AST SpaceMobile unveiled BlueBird 6, the largest commercial communications array satellite in low-Earth orbit. The antenna spans about 2,400 square feet (223 square meters) and aims to deliver cellular broadband to smartphones, not fixed terminals. The Texas company already operates six smaller satellites and plans many more behemoths to form a network focused on smartphone connectivity. BlueBird 6 dwarfs Starlink-scale hardware, with an array nearly as large as a doubles tennis court. Scientists warn the satellite brightness will be visible to the naked eye and could affect astronomy and wildlife that navigate by the stars, prompting calls for further study and mitigation.

NVIDIA Must Comply with Strict U.S. Licensing Terms for H200 Exports to China

February 11, 2026, 6:54 PM EST. NVIDIA (NVDA) faces new U.S. licensing terms for exporting its H200 AI chips to China, part of a broader trade framework aligned with a recent U.S.-China truce. Reuters, on Feb. 10, 2026, cited officials indicating NVIDIA must meet compliance rules, including Know Your Customer checks that constrain China-facing AI revenue. Separately, Reuters on Feb. 3, 2026 reported NVIDIA's approach to a roughly $20 billion OpenAI stake as part of a funding round valuing OpenAI near $830 billion. OpenAI's Sam Altman said NVIDIA remains a long-term customer. NVIDIA continues to sell GPUs and AI computing platforms for data centers, gaming, and enterprises, while facing growing competition from Amazon and SoftBank-backed initiatives. Investors weigh the stock amid onshore trends and tariff dynamics affecting AI stocks.

Amazon's eero Signal 4G LTE backup router keeps homes online during outages

February 11, 2026, 6:50 PM EST. Amazon-owned eero announced Wednesday the eero Signal 4G LTE, a $99.99 backup device that activates when your internet drops, provided you maintain an active subscription. The unit plugs into any USB-C powered eero with Wi-Fi 6 or higher; the Signal switches to cellular during outages and returns to standby when service resumes. It targets work from home setups, security systems, and regions prone to outages. At launch, eero Plus data options are $99.99 annually for 10 GB or $199.99 for 100 GB, with discounts at purchase. A 5G version is planned later this year at $199.99, and Business plans will gain support.

No Man's Sky update 6.20 Remnant adds gravity tool, waste cleanup and Colossus upgrades

February 11, 2026, 6:48 PM EST. No Man's Sky has released update 6.20, Remnant, adding a gravity-focused toolkit and planet-salvage loop. The new Gravitino Coil lets players magnetise, move, and launch items with the Multi-Tool and bounty-style waste collection. A Cyclops Scope attaches to the Exocraft driver's visor to scan fauna, flora, minerals, or mission sites from the seat. The Colossus Exocraft gains configurable cabins, chassis, and a new Flatbed Module for hauling large loads. Industrial scrap is now paired with Waste Processing Plants to cleanse planets and earn rewards. Other changes include cross-country community expeditions, new off-road wheels, and expanded vehicle modules. The update arrives with a trailer and broadens base-building and salvage gameplay.

Lattice Semiconductor stock hits all-time high as AI demand fuels growth

February 11, 2026, 6:46 PM EST. Lattice Semiconductor shares jumped 14% on Wednesday after the Hillsboro chipmaker reported solid quarterly results and an optimistic 2026 outlook. The stock traded around $103.56, up $12.61, marking its highest level in nearly 40 years as a public company and lifting the Oregon firm's market value to about $14 billion. Lattice Semiconductor designs FPGAs-field programmable gate arrays-that manage power, cooling and security in devices from digital cameras to AI data centers. After a 2024 sales slide of more than 30% amid a chip glut, demand for AI systems has revived orders; data centers' demand for Lattice chips rose about 85% year over year. Management expects Q1 revenue up nearly 40% year over year. CEO Ford Tamer said AI, data centers and broader customer base push growth into 2026 and beyond.

Kentucky town's Ford-backed battery plant closes, new path for energy-storage shift

February 11, 2026, 6:44 PM EST. Gov. Andy Beshear touted the largest economic project in Kentucky history: a BlueOval SK battery venture in Glendale that drew a $250 million loan and a $5.8 billion investment across two 4-million-square-foot facilities. The plan spurred Hardin County growth, funded a workforce training center, and reshaped local infrastructure. Six months after the first EV batteries rolled off the line, the Glendale plant closed as BlueOval SK restructured after changes to tax credits and rules that favored domestic projects. Ford will now own the battery campus, with Ford Energy hiring about 2,100 workers and repurposing the site for energy-storage batteries by late 2027. Some workers felt betrayed; others see a longer-term payoff for Kentucky.

WeRateDogs flags Ring Super Bowl ad as consent-manufacturing for mass surveillance

February 11, 2026, 6:40 PM EST. WeRateDogs founder Matt Nelson argues in a Bluesky clip that Ring's dog-finding ad masks a mass surveillance network, turning private homes into outposts and neighbors into informants for ICE. He notes Ring has no formal ICE partnership, but cites a tie-up with Flock Safety that channels footage to law enforcement via a warrantless, anonymous Community Request service, later shared with ICE, the FBI and the Navy. A 404 Media report is invoked to show ICE already uses the data. Nelson also highlights a Texas department searching 83,000 cameras for a woman who had an abortion. The video concedes the commercial's dog-finding claim-1 dog per day, about 0.03% of Ring's annual reports-while urging owners to microchip pets and keep contact details out of Ring's hands.

Polar Street X smartwatch surfaces in FCC filing, BLE-only urban wearable

February 11, 2026, 6:38 PM EST. Regulatory filings show Polar Street X, the next urban smartwatch from Polar, under internal name Polar 6J and a new Polar 6J Elabel platform. Described as a close-body wearable with BLE-only connectivity, it operates in the 2402-2480 MHz band at 1-2 Mbps and a maximum output of 3.60 milliwatts. Its antenna, model 115326-3, targets short-range pairing rather than long-range broadcast. Packaging confirms a Night Black color, silicone strap, and S-L sizing, with the product name visible on the box and on a digital label. The FCC filing covers standard Bluetooth testing; no GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular, or multi-frequency features are listed, underscoring a lightweight, lifestyle-oriented smartwatch ahead of a broader lineup.

NVIDIA releases hotfix 11.0.6.386 to fix Optimus MUX switching options

February 11, 2026, 6:32 PM EST. NVIDIA has released a hotfix for its app, version 11.0.6.386, to resolve a problem that left advanced Optimus MUX switch options grayed out during random switching. Optimus technology toggles between the integrated GPU and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GPU to conserve battery power on laptops; desktops do not use this feature. In the prior app version, some users reported the advanced MUX controls were inaccessible in certain switch scenarios. NVIDIA says the issue has been isolated and recommends updating the app, either from within the software or via a direct download link to NVIDIA's .exe file.

DJI wins Brazil Design Authorization for Matrice 3D, Dock 2 to speed BVLOS rollout

February 11, 2026, 6:30 PM EST. Brazil's aviation regulator ANAC granted Design Authorization for DJI's Matrice 3D series and Dock 2, signaling a hurdle-lowering step for BVLOS operations. The designation validates system-level safety, hardware redundancy, and software design, allowing routine deployments rather than per-project approvals. It could shorten timelines for drone-in-a-box inspections used by utilities and mining firms. Operators still face oversight: business registrations, pilot qualifications, site-specific risk assessments, and flight authorizations through SARPAS. Human operators must maintain decision-making authority even as automation powers missions. The move could influence global thinking on scalable enterprise drones, though Brazil continues to require airworthiness certificates for individual aircraft. The net effect: fewer bureaucratic hurdles, more emphasis on ongoing safety and compliance.

Quantum computing: what directors need to know now

February 11, 2026, 6:26 PM EST. Quantum computing is moving faster than many boards realize. While still early, it is becoming both a security imperative and a strategic opportunity. Proofs of concept are turning into practical use, capable of solving complex problems across sectors. For boards, quantum computing intersects with AI, cybersecurity, and data governance, shaping risk, innovation, and trust. Directors who understand the trajectory can steer long-term investments in technology, data, and talent, positioning their organizations to lead as adoption scales. The takeaway: monitor research and regulatory developments, assess exposure to quantum-enabled threats, and align governance with a plan to build capabilities and partnerships.

NVIDIA reportedly lowers HBM4 speed specs for Rubin to secure supply

February 11, 2026, 6:24 PM EST. RUMOR: NVIDIA may have reduced HBM4 memory speed requirements for Rubin to meet demand, after pushing for 9Gbps and then 10-11Gbps. Insiders suggest a lower spec could widen supplier options. MICRON is reportedly unlikely to supply HBM4, with SK Hynix provisioned for about 70% and Samsung around 30%. A Micron entry remains speculative. NVIDIA is expected to launch the Vera Rubin AI platform this year, combining the Vera CPU and Rubin GPU with next-generation HBM4 memory. The company did not comment. The chatter underscores supply-chain fragility amid surging AI compute needs and potential shifts in memory sourcing.

iPhone 18 Pro price may stay flat as Apple seeks cost cuts, says analyst

February 11, 2026, 6:22 PM EST. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max might launch without a price hike, analysts say. GF Securities' Jeff Pu, in a note seen by MacRumors, says pricing could match the iPhone 17 Pro lineup at $1,099 and $1,199. Apple is pushing cost management with suppliers such as Samsung and SK Hynix for RAM and flash storage, Pu adds, and aims to secure better terms on display and camera parts. Ming-Chi Kuo argues Apple may prefer smaller margins over higher prices to gain market share, with services revenue compensating later. Even if prices stay down, a premium iPhone Fold could top $2,500; cheaper models like iPhone 18, 18e, and Air 2 are tipped for 2027, with the iPhone 17e rumored for a near-term launch.

Amazon Deals of the Day: M5 iPad Pro at record-low $899, Ring Outdoor Cam $70, Bella Toaster $20

February 11, 2026, 6:20 PM EST. Amazon's Deals of the Day spotlight the iPad Pro M5 at a new record low of $899 for the 11-inch model, down from $999. Apple's power user tablet is praised for speed, multitasking, and a privacy-conscious AI layer, with a CNET Editors' Choice nod in reviews. Also discounted: the Ring Outdoor Cam Plus to $70 (30% off from $100), offering 2K video, battery power, two-way talk and live view. The compact Bella toaster drops to $20 on a 20% cut, ideal for small kitchens with a slim profile and removable crumb tray. All deals are time-limited, as price fluctuations are common on Amazon.

Apple releases iOS 26.3 with cross-platform switch and wallpaper tweaks

February 11, 2026, 6:16 PM EST. Apple releases iOS 26.3 for iPhone, adding an easier Android-to-iPhone switch and tweaks to the Astronomy and Weather wallpaper galleries. The update follows iOS 26.2 and 26.2.1, which brought Liquid Glass design tweaks and expanded CarPlay customization. A new privacy feature limits precise cellular location for iPhones and iPads with C1/C1X modems across supported carriers. Looking ahead, Apple plans a larger Siri upgrade in iOS 26.4, leveraging Gemini as the engine and under the umbrella of Apple Intelligence. The first iOS 26.4 beta is expected in the last week of February.

Apple releases macOS 26.3 with quiet changes; M5 chip hints emerge alongside Xcode 26.3

February 11, 2026, 6:14 PM EST. Apple has released macOS 26.3 for compatible Macs, following last week's RC rollout. The update, build number 25D125, is described as an uneventful point update focused on under-the-hood changes. Analysts and coverage sources note references to unreleased Apple Silicon chips, including the M5 Max and M5 Ultra, with no sign of the M5 Pro in the RC code, fueling talk that the Pro and Max may share a single chip. Apple is also pairing the macOS release with Xcode 26.3, which is expected to enable agentic coding using OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Code agent. Even if the upgrade lacks flashy features, it carries important bug fixes and security updates for users.

Michigan moves to ban smartphones in classrooms as Whitmer signs bill

February 11, 2026, 6:12 PM EST. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a law banning smartphones from public school classrooms starting this fall, fulfilling a pledge to protect instructional time. Under the measure, students may keep phones at school but not during teaching; basic phones would be allowed, and districts set enforcement. Whitmer described smartphones as a disruptive distraction that keeps students scrolling while teachers compete with social media. The policy results from a bipartisan compromise between a Democratic-leaning Senate and a Republican House, reached earlier this year. State Rep. Mark Tisdel, the sponsor, said he is 'anxious to see the results.' The law's effect begins this fall as schools craft local procedures.

Apptronik raises $520 million at $5 billion valuation to push Apollo humanoids to market

February 11, 2026, 6:08 PM EST. Apptronik has raised $520 million in a funding round that values the Austin-based humanoid robotics startup at about $5 billion. The deal, part of a broader series A that now totals $935 million, was led by B Capital with participation from Google. The funds will accelerate production of its Apollo humanoids and support expansion in Austin and California. Early deployments place Apollo robots in factories and warehouses run by partners such as Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics and Jabil, where external sensors and light curtains prevent boundary breaches. CEO Jeff Cardenas says future designs will prioritize collaborative safety, enabling humans and robots to work together. Apptronik faces competition from Unitree, Figure, Agility Robotics, 1X, and Tesla's Optimus; Google's DeepMind and Gemini Robotics AI models underpin Apollo.

SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg on Falcon 9

February 11, 2026, 6:04 PM EST. SpaceX launched 25 more Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a Falcon 9 rocket, the third Starlink mission this month and the 12th this year. Liftoff from SLC-4E occurred at 12:11 p.m. EST, with deployment of Group 17-34 about an hour later. The first stage booster, B1100, landed propulsively on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific. The batch adds to SpaceX's 9,600-plus constellation, reinforcing global broadband coverage. Starlink service targets hard-to-reach areas and supports direct cell-to-satellite calls and in-flight Wi-Fi on select providers, including United Airlines.

Orbital AI economics brutal as launch costs lag ground data centers

February 11, 2026, 6:00 PM EST. SpaceX's regulatory push to position solar-powered orbital data centers across up to a million satellites could shift as much as 100 GW of compute off Earth, Musk-era hype about orbital AI colliding with hard economics. The plan envisions some AI satellites on the Moon, even as Google-backed Suncatcher and startups like Starcloud plot orbital hardware. Yet a first analysis shows today's terrestrial centers remain cheaper. Andrew McCalip's calculator pegs a 1 GW orbital data center at about $42.4 billion-triple the ground-based rival, due to satellite build and launch costs. Making the math work requires breakthroughs across space-grade tech, massive capital, and a resilient supply chain, plus ground-cost inflation as resources tighten. The business case still hinges on dramatically cheaper launch, with SpaceX aiming toward roughly $200 per kilogram, an 18-fold improvement from today's $3,600/kg, and on Starship delivering that path.

Apple ends support for early HomeKit devices; update now to keep HomePod and accessories working

February 11, 2026, 5:58 PM EST. Apple is ending support for the original 2018 HomeKit platform today, prompting users to update. Without the latest HomeKit software, a HomePod, Apple TV box, or connected lights could become inoperable. Apple says users should have seen a prompt to update via the Home app; if not, open the Home app, tap the three dots, then My Home Settings to update all homes on the account. The minimum required versions extend to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2 and watchOS 9.2 to keep devices functional, tied to the new Matter connectivity standard. An iPad as a hub is effectively deprecated, shifting hub duties to a HomePod or Apple TV. Rumors persist of a future, screen-equipped device dubbed 'HomePad,' with a built-in camera for FaceTime, potentially arriving in coming months.

Apple updates roll out iOS 26.3 and security fixes for older OS versions

February 11, 2026, 5:56 PM EST. Apple has released a new wave of software updates across its platforms. The company rolled out the latest iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, along with macOS Tahoe 26.3, and updates for watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3 and visionOS 26.3. In parallel, Apple issued updates for older OS versions, including iOS 18.7.5 for iPhone, iPadOS 18.7.5 for iPad, macOS Sequoia 15.7.4 for Mac and macOS Sonoma 14.8.4 for Mac. The updates focus on critical security fixes and are recommended for all users. Check the Settings > Software Update screen to install available updates. Apple also shipped versions for older OS last week, underscoring ongoing security maintenance ahead of year's end. Users should upgrade where possible and verify device compatibility.

China will publish its first solid-state EV battery standard in July 2026

February 11, 2026, 5:54 PM EST. China will publish its first solid-state EV battery standard in July 2026 as automakers pilot the technology in cars. The draft, released by the National Automotive Standardization Technical Committee, covers terms and classification for solid-state batteries and breaks them down by electrolyte type (sulfide, oxide, polymer, etc.) and ion conductor (lithium or sodium). It also defines high-energy vs high-power variants and sets an initial weight-loss threshold of about 0.5%. CATARC chief scientist Wang Fang confirmed the plan at an industry event. Chinese automakers including Dongfeng, GAC, BYD and Geely have begun installing solid-state cells in test vehicles. FAW says its lithium-rich manganese semi-solid-state pack exceeds 500 Wh/kg with a 142 kWh capacity, enabling over 1,000 km CLTC. Public comment closes Feb. 26, final decision in April, standard expected in July 2026.

Apple ends support for early HomeKit devices; users urged to update Home app now

February 11, 2026, 5:48 PM EST. Apple began ending support for the original Home app today, threatening some HomePod, Apple TV, and smart-light setups with inoperability if users don't install the latest HomeKit update. Apple says users should have seen a prompt to update to the latest version; if not, open the Home app, tap the three dots, and select My Home Settings to apply an across-the-board update. Affected devices require the minimum software levels: iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, or watchOS 9.2, to keep operating. The change aligns with the new HomeKit architecture that added Matter for better cross-device connectivity. The shift also means the iPad as a hub fades, leaving HomePod or Apple TV as hubs. Rumors point to a future device dubbed the HomePad, possibly with a screen and 1080p camera.

Apple to add NR-NTN 5G satellite support in future iPhone modems, eyeing 2026 rollout

February 11, 2026, 5:40 PM EST. Apple is reportedly adding NR-NTN (New Radio for Non-Terrestrial Networks) support to its next iPhone modem, a move that could unlock true 5G satellite connectivity. The change would expand coverage beyond cellular masts, allowing a device to stay connected even when in a pocket or in clear view of satellites. The tip comes from Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital and cites a 2026 rollout after Huawei runs public tests, with earlier mentions by Mark Gurman of satellite features. Apple also reportedly considers an API for developers to build satellite apps, widening use cases if confirmed. Still, credibility is mixed for the source, and Apple has not confirmed the plan. If realized, the upgrade could improve bandwidth and signal strength toward cellular-like performance, though video calling may lag behind.

Apple eyes NR-NTN satellite 5G in iPhone with 2026 rollout target

February 11, 2026, 5:38 PM EST. Rumors circulating about Apple adding NR-NTN (New Radio for Non-Terrestrial Networks) support to its next iPhone modem, enabling 5G via satellites. A Weibo leaker, Fixed Focus Digital, says the feature could land later in 2026 after public tests led by Huawei last year. Apple's approach would extend coverage beyond traditional masts, potentially delivering messaging and other high-bandwidth services even when sky-based signals are visible but not reachable. A conversation about an API for satellite connectivity for third-party apps has also surfaced. Mark Gurman, citing internal work, has noted Apple's satellite efforts and the goal of broader device coverage. Credibility remains mixed; officials have not confirmed any timing, and the company has pitched satellite features as emergency-oriented today.

Amazon lets you remove lockscreen ads from Fire tablets and Kindle for free-just ask

February 11, 2026, 5:36 PM EST. Amazon sells discounted, ad-supported Fire Tablets and Kindle eReaders under Special Offers or Lockscreen Ads. The strategy lowers upfront cost but adds advertising on the screen. At present, the Fire HD 10 is $140 with ads and $155 without; Kindle Paperwhite is $160 with ads and $180 without. The article argues buyers overestimate the cost of ads, then notes a 'very simple trick' to get the lower price without ads. It mentions user hacks and mods but suggests trying the new approach first. The piece highlights the trade-off between upfront price and user experience, and urges consumers to verify any workaround with Amazon before purchase.

Amazon lets customers remove ads from Fire tablets and Kindles by asking, but price gap persists

February 11, 2026, 5:34 PM EST. Amazon sells ad-supported Fire tablets and Kindle eReaders at discounted prices via lockscreen ads and other ads. The article notes a straightforward option to buy the lower-priced, ad-supported model, but paying to remove the ads bumps the price. For example, the Fire HD 10 is $140 with lockscreen ads and $155 without; the Kindle Paperwhite is $160 with ads and $180 without. The price gap compounds across models, making the cheaper option appealing only to some buyers. The author mentions hacks and mods to remove the ads, but highlights that opting out changes how the device feels-ads can appear instead of a book cover, reducing the sense of ownership. The piece presents the decision as a simple price trade-off, not a technical workaround.

X-odus: Half of xAI founders depart as SpaceX merger looms and IPO plans falter

February 11, 2026, 5:32 PM EST. Elon Musk's AI start-up xAI has seen a wave of departures, with six of the original twelve founders no longer with the company. Co-founders Jimmy Ba and Tony Wu announced exits in the past week, joining other researchers including Hang Gao. The mass turnover is unusual for the industry, though not unheard of amid intense competition and staff moves between rivals. xAI has merged with SpaceX, a move Musk frames as building a space-enabled AI infrastructure, but skeptics say it could ease capital needs for chips and power. Musk has signaled a SpaceX-xAI public listing possibly as early as June, a plan that could be complicated if remaining leadership departs or product bets stall. Regulators and investors have been watching xAI's progress amid controversy and regulatory pressure.

Half of xAI's founding team leaves, clouding Musk's SpaceX IPO plans

February 11, 2026, 5:30 PM EST. Elon Musk's AI start-up xAI has seen a wave of departures: two cofounders and at least six other researchers have left in weeks, halving the founding team from 12 to six. Jimmy Ba and Tony Wu announced exits, with others such as Hang Gao and Kyle Kosic, along with Christian Szegedy, Igor Babuschkin and Greg Yang, among those who have left over the past year. The churn is unusually large for a sector known for movement, though not unheard of. xAI has merged with SpaceX, raising questions about a potential IPO for the combined entity as early as June. Investors may view the turnover as a risk, especially amid tensions over product pace and competition with Codex, Claude Code, and ChatGPT. Regulators have scrutinized Grok and broader AI ambitions.

Rise of user-created content and live streaming reshapes internet culture

February 11, 2026, 5:28 PM EST. The internet has shifted from passive consumption of streams to participation through user-created content. Platforms such as YouTube and DeviantArt popularized fan art and guides, while streaming's rise, led by Twitch, turned personalities into online celebrities earning revenue from midroll ads and merchandise. What began as a hobby became a business for many creators. The mid-2010s introduced live broadcasting, enabling real-time interaction and closer viewer relationships. Parasocial relationships-one-sided bonds with media figures-became a defining feature of the era. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online engagement as people sought shared experiences while isolated at home.

From fandom to livestreams: how the internet reshaped content

February 11, 2026, 5:26 PM EST. The piece traces how audiences moved from passive viewing to active creation. It notes streaming platforms such as Netflix and HBO Max, social apps, and the rise of user-generated content on YouTube and DeviantArt. Fandom communities produced video guides, fan art and short animations, leading to internet celebrities who monetize through ads and merch. The field widened as content became big business. In the mid-2010s, live streaming added real-time interaction, led by Twitch. The pull is the creator's personality, fostering parasocial relationships-one-sided bonds with viewers. The pandemic of 2020 accelerated online life, turning a hobby into a career for many.

Notepad Markdown bug allows remote code execution, patched by Microsoft

February 11, 2026, 5:18 PM EST. Microsoft patched CVE-2026-20841 after researchers showed Notepad's new Markdown support can enable remote code execution when a user opens a malicious Markdown file with an embedded link. The flaw, rated 8.8, hinges on social engineering to lure a victim into clicking an untrusted link, then launching unverified protocols that run files under the user's permissions. Microsoft says there are no known in-the-wild exploits. Notepad introduced Markdown in May 2025 and ships with features that can be toggled off, including AI-assisted writing in some builds. The disclosure follows heightened security concerns after Notepad++ reported updates due to broader state-sponsored intrusion activity. Phishing remains a common initial access vector; patching and user caution are essential.

Apple releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 with Android transfer tool and limited carrier location tracking

February 11, 2026, 5:16 PM EST. Apple on Tuesday released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 platforms that first landed in September. The updates arrive about two months after iOS 26.2/iPadOS 26.2. Over-the-air updates are available via Settings > General > Software Update. Apple highlights a new cross-platform data transfer tool to move photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords and more to Android during device setup, without needing to download apps. The feature aligns with the EU's Digital Markets Act push for interoperability. iOS 26.3 also limits carrier location tracking on a small set of networks for C1 or C1X modems. Some Europe-specific wearables features appeared in beta and may ship later.

Anthropic safety researcher resigns, warns world is in peril amid rapid AI advances

February 11, 2026, 5:14 PM EST. Mrinank Sharma, a safety researcher at Anthropic, quit, warning that the world is in peril as AI advances accelerate. Sharma said the safety team 'constantly faces pressures to set aside what matters most' and cited risks ranging from bioterrorism to broader misuse. Anthropic, founded to build safe AI, has faced leadership concerns as CEO Dario Amodei told Davos audiences that progress is moving too fast and urged regulators to enforce limits. The departure joins a broader wave of safety-focused exits from major firms; in 2024, two members of OpenAI's Superalignment team left, saying the company prioritized financial gain over reducing dangers posed by AI systems 'much smarter than us.'

Epstein advised an Elon Musk associate on taking Tesla private, WIRED reports

February 11, 2026, 5:12 PM EST. Emails reviewed by WIRED show that in 2018, after Elon Musk floated a take-private plan for Tesla, a Musk surrogate contacted Jeffrey Epstein for financing advice and possible board members. The correspondence also touched on Musk's leadership as the company faced a challenging year. The outreach came as Musk drew public criticism over tweets and a high-profile rescue attempt. High-powered lobbyist Juleanna Glover advised Musk, and she later backchanneled with Epstein about a Tesla privatization scheme. Musk tweeted in August 2018 that he was considering taking Tesla private at $420 with funding secured, a claim later proven false. The SEC charged Musk with securities fraud in September 2018; he settled for a $20 million personal penalty while Tesla paid a like amount. Musk did not comment.

How AI changes the math for startups, according to a Microsoft VP

February 11, 2026, 5:08 PM EST. Microsoft vice president Amanda Silver says AI will reshape startup economics on par with the move to the public cloud. In Foundry-to-Azure systems, enterprise agents could slash costs by automating support, legal tasks, and deployment work. She argues that agentic AI will let more ventures launch with fewer people and could lift startup valuations as operations shrink. In practice, multi-step agents are already helping developers keep codebases current-updating dependencies across runtimes like .NET and Java with time savings. Silver notes live-site operations benefit from on-call automation, reducing incident-response churn. The message: enterprise AI tools that streamline deployment and monitoring will be a core driver of early-stage startups, accelerating product delivery while compressing headcount.

Meta launches 'Dear Algo' on Threads to tailor AI-driven content

February 11, 2026, 5:06 PM EST. Meta launched Dear Algo, a feature on Threads that lets users tailor its content-recommendation algorithm. After posting a prompt starting with 'Dear Algo', users specify the kinds of posts they want more or less of, and the feed adjusts for three days. The tool underlines Meta's push to weave AI into its apps, alongside new AI features for Facebook. Meta has signaled a plan to spend between $115 billion and $135 billion this year on AI-related capital expenditures. Threads, launched in 2023, has about 400 million monthly active users and will begin rolling out ads globally. Testing starts in the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand before broader rollout, with more AI features expected in 2026 as Meta expands its data-center infrastructure.

Apple releases watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3 and visionOS 26.3 with bug fixes

February 11, 2026, 5:02 PM EST. Apple released 26.3 updates for its wearables and living room software: watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3 and visionOS 26.3. Apple says the updates fix bugs and improve everyday performance, with notes describing improvements and bug fixes and performance and stability improvements across platforms. The move aligns with Apple's pattern of light feature changes in initial 26.x updates, reserving major enhancements for the forthcoming 26.4, expected to include AI upgrades for Siri. Some tweaks may be undiscovered in beta, as release notes often gloss over minor changes. Readers are invited to report any new features they notice in these updates.

AMD posts record Q4 as AI demand lifts data center, Nvidia earnings in focus

February 11, 2026, 4:58 PM EST. AMD reported a record Q4, with revenue up 34% YoY to $10.3 billion and data center sales of $5.4 billion, signaling robust AI demand. Zacks Investment Research charts show quarterly data center growth and accelerating sales. The 2026 Q1 revenue is pegged at about $9.7 billion, ~32% YoY, while the consensus EPS for Q1 stands at $1.27, up about 33% YoY. The stock pulled back after earnings, though the valuation remains reasonable at about 31x forward P/E, below the 5-year median of 38x. NVIDIA is due to report on Feb. 25; revisions for its outlook have been stable, with modest gains since November, a positive sign for the AI rally.

Scientists revive Edison's nickel-iron battery with nanotech for modern energy storage

February 11, 2026, 4:56 PM EST. Thomas Edison imagined an electric vehicle battery based on nickel-iron chemistry. In Small, researchers report a nickel-iron battery built with nanotechnology, reviving the idea for today's energy landscape. The UCLA team's prototype concentrates nickel and iron nanoclusters inside a carbon-oxygen scaffold, using molecular byproducts from beef production as part of the structure. Edison's original design weighed roughly 125 to 186 pounds per horsepower hour and used iron and nickel screens in potassium hydroxide, with hydrogen release as a hazard. While the lab version leans toward solar and grid storage rather than car propulsion, the work reanimates the Edison concept with modern tools.

Microsoft patches 59 vulnerabilities, including six actively exploited zero-days

February 11, 2026, 4:54 PM EST. Microsoft on Tuesday issued security updates to fix 59 flaws across its software, including six vulnerabilities that the company says have been exploited in the wild. The patches rate five Critical, 52 Important, and two Moderate, with privilege escalation accounting for 25 fixes, followed by remote code execution (12), spoofing (7), information disclosure (6), security feature bypass (5), denial-of-service (3) and cross-site scripting (1). In addition to three Edge flaws patched since the January 2026 Patch Tuesday, including a Moderate Android issue (CVE-2026-0391) that could enable spoofing via a misleading user interface. The six actively exploited flaws include CVE-2026-21510, CVE-2026-21513, CVE-2026-21514, CVE-2026-21519, CVE-2026-21525, and CVE-2026-21533, with CVSS scores ranging up to 8.8. Microsoft and Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) are credited with discovery of the first three flaws.

Apple's new Home app architecture becomes mandatory, triggers upgrade across devices

February 11, 2026, 4:52 PM EST. Apple's support page sets a mandatory path for users of the Home app. Starting today, devices must run supported OS versions-iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, or watchOS 9.2 or later-and be updated via the Home app to access the new architecture. Apple notes some users may be automatically upgraded, though it did not spell out when automatic switches occur. The updated HomeKit architecture brings features such as guest access, robot vacuum integration, and Activity History; however, these require the new architecture. For features tied to a home hub-sharing control, push notifications, or Matter-compatible accessories-owners must have a HomePod (any size) or a modern Apple TV on the network. iPads can no longer act as hubs under the new system.

Huawei names Eliud Kipchoge global ambassador for Watch GT Runner

February 11, 2026, 4:50 PM EST. Huawei has named Eliud Kipchoge, the Kenyan marathoner and widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest, as the global brand ambassador for its Watch GT Runner series. The company posted a video on Weibo wishing users a Happy New Year and hinting at the revival of its sports smartwatch. Huawei did not disclose specifications for the upcoming wearable, but said the device would debut globally on February 26, with a later release in China. The move marks a broader push into sports wearables as Huawei strengthens ties with Kipchoge ahead of the product's launch.

iPhone 18 Pro price likely to stay flat despite RAM crunch, analysts say

February 11, 2026, 4:26 PM EST. Macworld reports that the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are expected to keep pricing close to the 17 Pro lineup, despite RAM (random-access memory) shortages and AI-driven demand that have rattled suppliers. GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, citing Apple's cost-management moves, says the company aims for unchanged pricing ahead of a Fall 2026 launch, a view echoed by Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple has begun supplier negotiations and other cost cuts to shield margins without slashing components such as displays or cameras. Tim Cook warned RAM costs could bite later, but Apple is in a supply chase mode. The 18 Pro pair is tipped for a September 2026 reveal, with the standard 18 and a rumored 18e following next year and a high-priced iPhone Fold possibly in the mix.

Pokémon Pokopia blends cozy life-sim vibes with Ditto-powered town-building

February 11, 2026, 4:22 PM EST. Pokémon Pokopia, co-developed by The Pokémon Company, GAME FREAK and KOEI TECMO, casts players as a lone Ditto waking in a cave to help Professor Tangrowth rebuild a ruined town. The game leans into coziness, with fellow monsters that speak in full sentences and offer quests, not just cries. Transforming into other Pokémon lets you use their abilities to traverse obstacles and reshape the world-Squirtle shoots water to revive dry patches; Scyther slices through barriers. You can create homes for newcomers and begin a Stardew Valley-style renovation arc centered on a Pokémon Center. A multiplayer preview shows a more developed village with roads and benches, hinting at broader social-building mechanics amid the Animal Crossing vibe.

Musk pitches lunar AI satellite factory and catapult, NYT audio says

February 11, 2026, 4:16 PM EST. During an internal XAI meeting, Elon Musk floated building an AI satellite factory on the Moon with a gigantic catapult to launch satellites, The New York Times reports from audio reviewed by the outlet. The plan envisions a vast, orbiting AI "data center" powered by sunlight and cooled by the vacuum of space. Experts say the concept faces serious hurdles, including launching from the Moon and withstanding extreme accelerations. Details remain sparse; achieving this would require mining a Moon base, a factory, and many expeditions. Musk has warned that the Moon could be a distraction, even as later posts talked about a Moon settlement as a near-term goal. Previous SpaceX timelines for Mars have also drawn skepticism.

Verizon Small Business Days offers free iPhone 17, Galaxy S25 or Pixel 10 with plan

February 11, 2026, 4:12 PM EST. Verizon's Small Business Days lets new and existing My Biz customers pick a free iPhone 17, Samsung Galaxy S25, or Google Pixel 10 with a new line. The offer includes a Ring camera bundle and discounts on phone and internet plans to protect operations. A $20 monthly discount on a 200 Mbps internet plan runs for three months, plus three months of Verizon Business Internet Security Plus for free, covering network and cloud security and breach response. For heavier traffic, a Fios 1 Gig fiber option is available with a 2-year contract that includes a Ring camera and a free Wi-Fi router. Discounts cannot be stacked; customers pick the option that best fits their business.

Tesla Model Y Standard remains compelling value in Europe despite feature cuts

February 11, 2026, 4:10 PM EST. Reviewers in Europe tested the Tesla Model Y Standard, a cheaper variant that omits several comfort and convenience features. The tester found the car still offers the same body, core usability and access to the Supercharger network, plus a large cargo area and stronger performance than base rivals. In Romania, the €39,990 sticker price-before incentives-positions it as attractive value. It undercuts some rivals like the Skoda Enyaq on price while delivering more standard equipment than many rivals. In the U.S., pricing and trims differ, with base options undercutting the European figure. The reviewer concludes that, despite missing items, the Model Y Standard makes sense in Europe and isn't a clear downgrade.

Apple leads global active smartphone base; Samsung joins the one-billion club

February 11, 2026, 4:08 PM EST. Apple and Samsung dominate the world's active smartphone base, according to Counterpoint Research. The report shows Apple accounts for about a quarter of all active devices, with Samsung just under 20%. Together they hold roughly 44% of the global active installed base as of end-2025. Apple's user base grew more in 2025 than the next seven manufacturers combined, while Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Transsion, Huawei and Honor all posted smaller, collective gains. The two brands are the only vendors with more than a billion active smartphones; total global active devices likely exceed five billion. Analysts note that longer replacement cycles for iPhones help sustain the large installed base.

Researchers unlock readout of Majorana qubits via quantum capacitance in Kitaev chain

February 11, 2026, 3:56 PM EST. Scientists have demonstrated a way to read information stored in Majorana qubits by using a real-time quantum capacitance probe. Researchers built a bottom-up device- a Kitaev minimal chain of two semiconductor quantum dots linked by a superconductor-that lets them determine, in a single measurement, whether the two Majorana modes form an even or odd parity state. The result addresses a core challenge of topological qubits, which protect information from local noise but hide it in non-local states. The team, led by Ramón Aguado, says the approach converts the nonlocal information into a global signal, enabling direct readout of the qubit without destroying it. They describe the method as a practical path toward robust quantum computing, still requiring careful control of materials and interfaces.

The Flip Phone Revolution: Six People Ditch Smartphones and Thrive

February 11, 2026, 3:46 PM EST. A new wave in a tech-obsessed era. The article profiles six people who swapped smartphones for basic phones, saying it marks a permanent lifestyle shift. Younger users cite fewer distractions, improved focus, and lower costs as key benefits. The move runs counter to today's relentless upgrade culture and shows how reduced screen time can improve sleep, privacy, and daily routines. Reporters describe firsthand experiences across work, study, and social life, noting essential tasks stay manageable with simplified devices. The piece stays factual and neutral, leaning on direct accounts of what the basic-phone choice changes day to day.

I predicted Tesla would be unprofitable. I was wrong.

February 11, 2026, 3:44 PM EST. Back in December, I predicted Tesla would report an unprofitable Q4 2025. I was wrong. Yes, GAAP net income fell 61% year over year, but the company still posted an $840 million profit and total revenue slipped only 3%. The surprise: automotive revenue fell 11% YoY to $17.7 billion, yet vehicle deliveries dropped 15.6% to 418,227, the best among U.S. EV makers. With other units, quarterly revenue reached $24.9 billion. Growth came in Asia-Pacific and Europe/Middle East/Africa as demand held up and tax-credit adjustments were absorbed. Tesla also introduced newer standard Model 3 and Model Y to blunt the tax-credit hit. Still, capital expenditures are set to rise sharply this year, potentially expanding margins further even as investment tempo accelerates.

China January power battery installations rise 8.4% to 42 GWh; LFP dominates 77.7%

February 11, 2026, 3:40 PM EST. January power battery installations in China rose 8.4% YoY to 42.0 GWh, with LFP cells accounting for 32.7 GWh, or 77.7% of the total. The data show LFP dominance persists into 2026. Exports of power batteries in January rose 59.3% YoY to 17.7 GWh. The accompanying monthly series for 2024-2026 shows January installations of 32.3 GWh in 2024, 38.8 GWh in 2025, and 42.0 GWh in 2026, illustrating a sustained lift in early-year demand.

U.S. Says Nvidia Must Follow Rules on China AI Chip Sales

February 11, 2026, 3:38 PM EST. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Nvidia must operate under detailed licensing conditions for selling H200 accelerators to China, drawn up with the State Department. The terms are described as very detailed and non-negotiable. The restrictions stem from a last-year agreement under which President Trump approved limited H200 sales to China in exchange for 25% of the revenue from those chips. Beijing last month invited domestic firms, including Alibaba and Tencent, to begin preparing orders, while negotiations over use conditions for ByteDance remain unresolved. The Biden administration and Congress maintain tight export oversight over AI chips amid fears the technology could boost Beijing's military and surveillance capabilities. Nvidia shares edged lower after Lutnick's remarks.

Two top analysts expect Apple to keep iPhone 18 Pro prices flat

February 11, 2026, 3:34 PM EST. Two top analysts expect Apple to keep the price of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max unchanged year over year. GF Securities equity analyst Jeff Pu said in a note that Apple is pursuing cost management and has negotiated with memory suppliers Samsung and SK Hynix for favorable pricing, while hoping for better terms on display and camera components. Ming-Chi Kuo likewise cautions that RAM price hikes are close to rumors while NAND prices are slightly lower, arguing Apple plans to buy chips and absorb higher costs to protect volumes and grow Services revenue. Kuo notes Apple negotiates memory pricing quarterly and could face a Q2 2026 price movement similar to Q1 2026. Apple's strategy appears to focus on volume, even if margins shrink, to support Services growth.

Apple completes acquisition of Kuzu, a graph database startup

February 11, 2026, 3:30 PM EST. Apple completed the acquisition of Canadian graph database maker Kuzu in October 2025 for an undisclosed sum, according to a report from AppleInsider. The startup's site was taken down and its GitHub repository archived after the deal closed. Kuzu marketed an embedded graph database with a browser tool, Kuzu Explorer, that visualizes datapoints as linked nodes. Apple, which already owns the cross-platform database app FileMaker via a subsidiary, has not disclosed how it will use Kuzu's technology. The deal had to be reported to the European Union because of its significance, but details remain scarce.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Leads 2025 Battery-Life Test as Silicon-Carbon Tech Boosts Longevity

February 11, 2026, 3:28 PM EST. CNET tested 35 smartphones from 2024 and 2025 and found the iPhone 17 Pro Max leads battery life despite a 5,088mAh pack. The result underscores efficiency from Apple's A19 Pro chip and iOS 26, aided by silicon-carbon batteries that widen capacity without larger devices. The iPhone 17 and OnePlus 15 tie for second; OnePlus 15 carries a 7,300mAh cell. The iPhone 17's 3,692mAh figure is among the top performers in this group. Apple and OnePlus rank first and second for overall longevity, with Motorola and Samsung close behind and Google fifth. Year-over-year gains remain modest at about 0.78%, a factor for buyers weighing last-year versus this-year models. Note: CNET is owned by Ziff Davis.

Tesla January 2026 prices dip to $52,628 as industry prices rise

February 11, 2026, 3:24 PM EST. Tesla buyers paid an average of $52,628 for a new vehicle in January 2026, Kelley Blue Book data show. The price is down 2% from November and 2.2% year over year from January 2025. Across the industry, new-car prices rose 1.9% in the same period. Tesla also saw weaker volume in 2025: 589,160 U.S. sales, from 633,762 in 2024, per Cox Automotive. In 2025, the Model Y was the best-seller with 357,528 units (down 4% from 2024), followed by the Model 3 at 192,440. Tesla accounted for roughly 60% of January's U.S. electric-vehicle sales. The data point to pricing and demand shifts as the company navigates a slower domestic market, according to industry trackers.

Nvidia CEO Huang: AI will augment software, not wipe out SaaS; SaaSpocalypse is illogical

February 11, 2026, 3:18 PM EST. Investors fear AI could disrupt software as a service. The idea called the SaaSpocalypse has rattled tech stocks as AI tools mature. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told a conference that the belief software will be replaced by AI is the most illogical idea. He said AI will augment software and work with software companies, not replace them. If accurate, software firms could benefit as AI adoption expands. Anthropic's Claude plugin, designed to review contracts and speed NDA triage and compliance workflows, shows how AI can aid enterprise teams without erasing expertise. Legal work still requires human oversight and sign-off. The Nasdaq-100 slid about 5% over five days, reflecting market volatility around AI expectations.

Hollywood pushes for basic AI principles as Creators Coalition on AI grows

February 11, 2026, 3:12 PM EST. Janet Yang, former Academy president, helps lead a 'grassroots movement' to guide Hollywood through AI's uncertainties. At Sundance, Yang joined Noah Segan on THR and Autodesk's AI and Independent Filmmaking panel, part of a program with the Berggruen Institute. The gathering also featured Daniel Kwan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Autodesk's Matthew Sivertson. Yang and colleagues founded the Creators Coalition on AI (CCAI) to advocate for guardrails and guidelines around AI use, counting signatories such as Rian Johnson, Ben Affleck and Kristen Stewart. Yang warns about 'erosion of trust' when audiences can't tell what's real. The group seeks to slow the pace, examine data sources for learning models, and even define what artificial intelligence is, aiming for basic principles that all parties can agree on. Segan notes indie directors may resist, but standards must stay high.

DLSS 4 debuts in High On Life 2 and Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties; Resident Evil Requiem bundle joins RTX 50 Series

February 11, 2026, 3:10 PM EST. In a week of DLSS 4 updates, High On Life 2 and Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties arrive with Multi Frame Generation. Reniamal debuts February 13 with DLSS Super Resolution. The Resident Evil Requiem GeForce RTX 50 Series Bundle is available now, bundling a Steam copy with qualifying RTX 5090/5080/5070 series machines. Requiem uses path-traced effects, accelerated by DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, and NVIDIA Reflex for lower latency. Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties launches February 11, with DLSS Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, and NVIDIA Reflex in full game and demo. The NVIDIA app can upgrade DLSS Frame Generation to DLSS Multi Frame Generation.

Google Pixel remains a small but growing slice of global active smartphones, Counterpoint finds

February 11, 2026, 3:06 PM EST. Counterpoint Research's analysis of the global active installed base shows Apple's iPhone making up about 25% of active smartphones in 2025, with Samsung near 20%. The eight largest OEMs together exceed 200 million active devices, and only Apple and Samsung have surpassed one billion in use. The list also includes Xiaomi, Oppo/OnePlus, Vivo, Realme, Honor, Motorola and others, with Google Pixel at the bottom, roughly 1% to a bit more. While far from leaders, that slice matters; Pixel totals likely sit in the 20-40 million range, inferred from the chart and known Pixel sales since 2016. The takeaway: Google finally holds a visible, if small, niche in the global market.

AI use in schools surges as districts weigh guidelines and detection tools

February 11, 2026, 3:04 PM EST. AI use in classrooms is expanding fast even as districts wrestle with guidelines. The Center for Democracy and Technology says 85% of teachers and 86% of students used AI in the 2024-2025 school year, with 54% of students using it weekly and 25% daily. Chicago Public Schools has rules on cheating and the use of generative AI-detection software, cautioning that tools can produce false positives and may disproportionately affect English-learners. Vendors such as Copyleaks describe how schools deploy detectors and address plagiarism, including a recent Adelphi University case in which a court found the student did not cheat with AI. Supporters say AI can boost teacher productivity; providers also offer free literacy courses and a parent guide to aid adoption.

Vertical integration squeezes smallsat market as megaconstellations expand

February 11, 2026, 3:00 PM EST. SpaceX and other vertically integrated space firms are reshaping the small-satellite market, squeezing independent operators as megaconstellations grow. The Deloitte forecast projects the in-orbit fleet rising from about 10,000 today to 100,000-1,000,000 by 2035, driven in part by interest in orbital data centers and orbital computing. Experts warn that deeper vertical integration raises costs, limits access to customers, and tightens competition for smaller players. Still, some see room for partnerships and standardized platforms that serve multiple missions, with consolidation and constellation-level economics enabling scale. Not all hope is lost for smaller firms, but the competitive landscape is shifting quickly.

Galaxy Watch discounts, Pixel 10 cuts deepen in Amazon President's Day sale

February 11, 2026, 2:58 PM EST. Amazon's 2026 President's Day sale triggers deeper discounts across the Google Pixel 10 lineup and Galaxy wearables. Brand-new Pixel 10 units drop up to $350 off list prices. The 2025 Galaxy Watch Ultra falls to $299 (about $350 off), while Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic are $200 and $240 off, respectively. Samsung's site shows Watch 8 with $90 off, starting at $259.99; international versions may start at $149.99 at Woot but carry no Samsung warranty. Woot also lists Galaxy Watch Ultra and Watch 8 Classic deals with similar savings, plus a 90-day warranty through Woot. Samsung Tab S11 Ultra discounts include $200 off on Samsung's site, from $758 with up to $600 off with trade. The promotions extend into broader deals on Echo, Ring, and Pixel gear.

Hassabis envisions a new renaissance as Google DeepMind reshapes AI for discovery

February 11, 2026, 2:50 PM EST. Sir Demis Hassabis, Nobel laureate and CEO of Google DeepMind, says humanity is entering a new golden era of discovery, powered by AI that applies the scientific method at scale. In a Fortune podcast, he outlined a decade-long transition to radical abundance, with AI enabling personalized medicine, new materials for energy, and even space exploration. He framed it as a classic innovator's dilemma: Google must disrupt its own core search business or risk ceding leadership. That mindset spurred a 2023 reorganization merging Google Brain and DeepMind under his leadership, to pool compute for frontier models like Gemini. He cites AlphaFold and biology breakthroughs as beacons shaping the coming renaissance, where AI acts as a practical assistant in high-level research.

First-gen Apple AirTag four-pack on sale for $64

February 11, 2026, 2:48 PM EST. Apple is selling a four-pack of the first-generation AirTag for $64, about 35% off and near a record low. The bundle drops the unit price to roughly $16 each, versus the usual $29. The AirTag remains the focus of this deal even as Apple rolled out a refreshed tracker with longer range and a louder speaker last month at the same price. With the Find My network, users can trigger a sound from the AirTag's speaker or use Precision Finding on iPhone to locate items, following on-screen prompts and vibration cues. Deals on the newer AirTag may take time; this sale highlights the older model's continued value.

Apple AirTag four-pack drops to $64, near record low

February 11, 2026, 2:46 PM EST. Apple's first-generation AirTag four-pack is on sale for $64, about 35% off and near a record low. The price breaks the unit price to roughly $16 per tag when bought in bulk, down from $29 each. The four-pack appeals to users who misplaced items often, leveraging Apple's Find My network. With an iPhone, you can play a sound from the AirTag's speaker or use Precision Finding to locate it more precisely by following haptic cues. Note the deal applies to the original AirTag; Apple introduced a refreshed model with a longer range and louder speaker last month, priced the same as the original. Deals on the updated version may appear later.

Apple patents under-screen Touch ID for displays, fueling Mac integration speculation

February 11, 2026, 2:44 PM EST. Apple has been granted US patent 12,548,534 for a display with localized brightness adjustment capabilities that envisions an array of light sensors capturing fingerprints through transparent windows in the screen. The patent describes authenticating users via under-screen Touch ID using fingerprints seen through the display. Spotted by AppleInsider and discussed by Macworld, the idea sits alongside earlier biometrics work but shows no explicit link to iPhone; rather, it targets a broad range of devices, including laptops and displays. Critics note that current Macs already offer Touch ID on keyboards, which could make display-based authentication redundant. The artwork in the patent uses generic display boxes, underscoring that the concept remains speculative and could apply to devices beyond Macs.

Apple may bring under-screen Touch ID to Macs, patent shows

February 11, 2026, 2:42 PM EST. Apple has been granted U.S. patent 12,548,534 for an 'Display with localized brightness adjustment capabilities' that describes capturing fingerprints through an array of light sensors behind a display. The idea is to place Touch ID under screen glass, potentially on Mac devices. The artwork shows generic display blocks rather than a device, leaving the scale ambiguous. The patent is part of a string of filings exploring biometric sensing under displays, but past work tied to iPhone remains absent in the wording. Industry coverage (Macworld, AppleInsider) notes the gap: current Mac keyboards already offer biometric login via Touch ID, which could limit practical adoption. The evidence remains speculative, with no product timeline.

UL Lafayette launches state's first Ph.D. in applied computing and information sciences

February 11, 2026, 2:36 PM EST. UL Lafayette has launched a Ph.D. program in applied computing and information sciences, the first of its kind in Louisiana. The multidisciplinary track blends AI, data science, cybersecurity and machine learning with a focus on how people interact with systems and how information flows in organizations. The school says the curriculum emphasizes practical research and leadership decisions for business contexts. The program will start in Fall 2026 and will be offered on campus and 100% online, making the degree accessible nationwide. Online and on-campus students complete the same requirements under the same faculty. The new degree aims to meet rising workforce demand and provide transferable skills across sectors, according to university officials. Applications are being accepted.

Samsung to unveil Galaxy S26 at Feb. 25 Unpacked event in San Francisco

February 11, 2026, 2:34 PM EST. Samsung has set February 25 for its Galaxy Unpacked in San Francisco, where it will unveil the Galaxy S26 lineup. The company frames the event around AI features designed to simplify daily tasks and make Galaxy AI feel integrated from first use. A privacy display is teased for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, letting users obscure parts of the screen, such as the notification area, from onlookers. The top model is expected to run Qualcomm's Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 in the U.S. and China, with Samsung's Exynos 2600 in other regions, as the gap with Snapdragon narrows. Reports from SamMobile cite a 5,100 mAh battery with 60W wired charging and 25W wireless charging. A pre-registration program offers a $30 credit, rising to $150 on pre-order.

Best early Presidents' Day Apple deals to shop now

February 11, 2026, 2:32 PM EST. Presidents' Day falls on Feb. 16 this year, a moment when shoppers expect deep discounts on Apple devices. This roundup focuses on Apple deals available now and how to judge their value. ZDNET says it only covers offers that meet its criteria: discounts of at least 20% off, or strong historical pricing when sales are rare. The team uses price-tracking tools and customer reviews to verify savings for real buyers. Expect deals on iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and accessories as retailers chase price drops. The goal is transparency: highlight genuine savings, flag bait offers, and help readers shop smart during the holiday window with hands-on testing and concrete metrics.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 discounted to as low as $149 across retailers

February 11, 2026, 2:28 PM EST. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 is heavily discounted across retailers, with Samsung.com cutting prices on both 40mm and 44mm models. The 40mm Bluetooth-only variant drops to about $159.99 after a $190 credit; LTE is $209.99. The 44mm sits at $189.99 and $239.99 for Bluetooth and LTE, respectively. Woot also offers a 40mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi at $149.99 and a 44mm LTE at $229.99. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is $350, and the Watch Ultra is $499 on Samsung.com, with Woot dropping the Ultra (2025) to $300. The deals arrive amid RAM shortages and rising prices, making now a window for potential buyers to act.

Science Cafe: Why the current internet sucks, according to European Digital Rights

February 11, 2026, 2:22 PM EST. EU privacy and digital-rights group European Digital Rights (EDRi) hosts a Science Cafe exploring why the current internet feels degraded by algorithmic platforms. Media scholars Lucie Chateau and Michael Stevenson, and legal scholar Catalina Goanta examine how Big Tech controls data and feeds, shaping identities and attention. Stevenson looks at the web's utopian roots, while Goanta analyzes how influencer culture and platform economies blur lines between creators and brands. Chateau revisits the dead internet theory, questioning whether capitalism has remade online spaces into bot-driven arenas. The panel asks how to recover a more human, open internet despite ads and AI-generated content. Reservations aren't necessary; more details are available from the event organizers.

Apple Arcade adds Oceanhorn 3 and three more titles for March

February 11, 2026, 2:18 PM EST. Apple Arcade unveiled March additions led by Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea, a console-quality action-RPG five years in the making. The game launches March 5 across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Vision Pro. Series creator Heikki Repo described the title as a culmination of years of work with a new world, characters and story. Apple touts stunning visuals and innovative traversal and combat. Three other titles join on March 5, expanding a catalog that now exceeds 200 games. All titles on Apple Arcade are ad-free with no in-app purchases. The service costs $6.99/month or is included in Apple One.

IBM Qiskit Functions updates expand catalog to speed large-scale quantum experiments

February 11, 2026, 2:14 PM EST. IBM's Qiskit Functions updates aim to accelerate large-scale quantum experiments by adding new functions and tutorials across chemistry, optimization, PDEs and machine learning. The Qiskit Functions Catalog provides pre-built software services that automate parts of a quantum workflow, letting researchers focus on the problem rather than deploying workloads. Two function types anchor the catalog: application functions, which map classical inputs into quantum circuits for full-system execution, and circuit functions, which optimize and post-process abstract circuits. The catalog now includes nearly a dozen functions covering quantum error handling, PDE simulation, chemistry, and ML. Premium and Flex Plan users can request free trials; eligible Premium Plan organizations can request a one-year license through 31 March. The program launched in 2024 and is expanding into 2026.

Samsung Galaxy S26 trio could still include a free storage upgrade at launch

February 11, 2026, 2:08 PM EST. Samsung's Galaxy S26 launch is set for February 25, with two weeks of leaks still to come. New chatter suggests Samsung will offer a storage upgrade at launch, despite pricing rumors. EU pages promise up to a €200 storage upgrade on pre-orders, with the UK site indicating a 512GB model for the price of 256GB across the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. The US teaser is vaguer, though pre-orders include a $30 credit and up to $900 in savings. The promotions run February 25 through March 10, pointing to a March 11 in-store release. Samsung has not confirmed model-by-model options; details should surface at Unpacked on February 25.

iPhone 18 Pro 5G satellite rumor gains new support

February 11, 2026, 2:06 PM EST. Apple appears to be laying groundwork for direct satellite connectivity as a long-term path beyond traditional networks. Since 2022, Emergency SOS via Satellite has offered limited data when off the grid, with gradual expansions to roadside assistance and messages. New chatter suggests the iPhone 18 Pro could carry hardware for 5G over satellites, via Apple's anticipated C2 radio chip and NR-NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks). The claim originates from a Weibo leaker with a track record. Industry watchers at 9to5Mac say the trend gains weight, but cautions remain: a global satellite-ized 5G network would require many more satellites and carrier agreements. Still, we may see expanded satellite services this year.

iPhone 18 Pro's C2 5G modem to unlock NR-NTN satellite connectivity, treating satellites as cell towers

February 11, 2026, 2:04 PM EST. Apple's next flagship phones, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, reportedly use a second-generation C2 5G modem to power satellite connectivity via a new protocol. The feature, built around New Radio NR-NTN, would let iPhones connect to low-Earth orbit satellites as if they were ordinary cell towers. That could remove the need to point at the sky and allow use indoors or in storage, according to a tip from Fixed-focus digital cameras on Weibo. Public rollout hinges on Globalstar upgrading its infrastructure. Apple has previously partnered with Globalstar for satellite SOS; the upgrade would likely roll out first in the U.S. and Canada, with other markets to follow. The change marks a major overhaul of 5G satellite access for iPhones.

US House advances SAFE Exit Act to require manual door releases in EVs

February 11, 2026, 1:58 PM EST. U.S. lawmakers advanced the Securing Accessible Functional Emergency Exit Act (SAFE Exit Act) in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, moving toward a full vote. The bill would require new vehicles with electric door latches to include a clearly labeled, readily accessible mechanical backup and a means for first responders to access vehicles even if the battery is dead. Introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly, it addresses fatalities and entrapment linked to electronic door systems, which have featured in Tesla models and related NHTSA probes. Rep. Debbie Dingell urged action as more cars rely on electronic latches. Critics, including Rep. Gus Bilirakis, call for evidence-based, flexible standards to avoid unintended consequences. The measure follows China's move to ban concealed door handles and highlights U.S. concerns about lagging safety rules.

State of the Internet 2026: AI, hyperscalers and climate with Fieke Jansen

February 11, 2026, 1:56 PM EST. Waag Futurelab's annual State of the Internet measures the pulse of a digital year. This edition centers on AI and the strain on the planet as hyperscalers expand, stressing power grids and water systems. The lecture will be delivered by Fieke Jansen, co-founder of the Critical Infrastructure Lab at the University of Amsterdam and co-lead of the Green Screen Coalition, who studies how digital infrastructure, data centres and AI influence the environment, raw materials and climate. The event foregrounds what lies behind our screens and asks what data-centre appetite means for living spaces. Waag Futurelab promotes regenerative technology, focusing on repair, longevity and circular design, in collaboration with the Critical Infrastructure Lab. The aim: trace value back to people and places, not extractive growth.

Pokémon Pokopia demo set for London EUIC ahead of March 5 release

February 11, 2026, 1:54 PM EST. Pokémon Pokopia, the cozy life-sim spinoff headed to Nintendo Switch 2 on March 5, will offer hands-on play at this weekend's Pokémon European International Championships in London's ExCeL. The event, dominated by high-stakes tournaments, will also host casual activities including a TCG setup, panels and meet-and-greets. Nintendo is using the EUIC, running February 13-15, to showcase Pokopia to fans and build early buzz around a game described as inspired by Stardew Valley and Minecraft. In development by Omega Force with Game Freak, Pokémon Pokopia follows a Ditto that mimics a human to help rebuild a village alongside various Pokémon, emphasizing creativity and flexible farming mechanics.

Ariane 64 ready for maiden flight with 32 satellites as Europe aims to challenge SpaceX

February 11, 2026, 1:52 PM EST. Europe's Ariane 64, the most powerful variant of the Ariane 6 rocket, completed its maiden flight and aims to carry up to 32 satellites for Amazon's Leo broadband constellation. Standing about 62 metres tall with four boosters, it doubles the thrust of its predecessor and targets heavier payloads, potentially challenging SpaceX. Parts are built across Europe and assembled in French Guiana, with more than 600 subcontractors; the upper stage comes from Bremen, the main stage from Les Mureaux. Officials describe the test as emotional and a symbol of European collaboration. Analysts say the mission could strengthen Europe's independent launch capability and serve as a backbone for future missions, while highlighting competition with SpaceX.

Apple AirTag four-pack on sale at Amazon for $69.98

February 11, 2026, 1:48 PM EST. Mashable reports the AirTag four-pack is on sale at Amazon for $69.98, a 29% discount off the list price. The deal saves buyers $29.01 and covers the first-generation bundle. The price cut is current as of Feb. 11, 2026, though deal pricing can change. The report notes Mashable's affiliate arrangements. The sale highlights continued competition in the Bluetooth tracker market and mirrors prior discounts on Apple accessories.

Five hidden Apple Pencil Pro features you should use

February 11, 2026, 1:44 PM EST. Five advanced features of the Apple Pencil Pro highlighted by Macworld. It is pressure-sensitive in compatible apps and detects tilt for shading, while rolling the stylus changes the brush angle. A hover shadow pre-views where the tip will strike. The device supports two customizable gestures via Settings, including double-tap to switch tools or open the color palette. It also integrates with Find My for theft protection and supports improved Scribble for converting handwriting to text. Quick notes from the lock screen speed up capture. Despite its Pro name, it works with recent iPad Air and mini models, not the entry-level iPad. Battery management improves when stored separately from the magnetic attachment.

Michigan to ban smartphones in classrooms starting fall 2026

February 11, 2026, 1:40 PM EST. Michigan will implement a statewide policy banning smartphones, tablets and computers during instructional time, beginning in the 2026-27 school year. House Bill 4141, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Feb. 10, requires districts to craft policies that prohibit device use in class with exceptions for medically necessary devices, special education and specific lessons; emergencies are covered too. Senate Bill 495 requires districts to update emergency plans with a device-use protocol. Whitmer said the move aims to reduce distractions and curb cyberbullying linked to social media. Some districts already ban devices; the policy sets a floor, allowing districts to opt for stricter rules. Districts could allow device use during recess or lunch. Rep. Mark Tisdel sponsored the measure.

BYD pursues dual-path solid-state and sodium-ion batteries to boost EV range and longevity

February 11, 2026, 1:36 PM EST. BYD says it is pursuing two parallel battery paths, not a single chemistry, to reshape EVs. One path develops high-density solid-state cells, the other targets ultra-long-life sodium-ion batteries aimed at affordability and durability. BYD claims solid-state packs could reach 400-500 Wh/kg energy density, enabling lighter packs, longer range, and faster charging, with a midsize EV potentially nearing 1,000 kilometers of range. Production could start in small batches around 2027 and broaden toward the decade's end, mainly in premium vehicles. The sodium route emphasizes longevity-claiming up to 10,000 charge cycles-and lower-cost materials, potentially supporting battery reuse and lower EV prices. BYD also positions itself as a multi-sector battery supplier beyond passenger cars.

Pixalate launches KYD database to flag COPPA, geolocation, and safety gaps in app stores

February 11, 2026, 1:32 PM EST. Pixalate launched Know Your Developer (KYD), a free, public database that continuously updates to help parents, schools and civil liberties advocates flag privacy and safety risks in Apple App Store and Google Play listings. The KYD analyzes 356,095 ad-funded developers, including 86,028 with child-directed apps. It finds that 33% can collect precise geolocation data and that 99% of tested top child-directed apps fail to obtain verifiable parental consent under COPPA. The database exposes mismatches between self-reported Data Safety labels and actual practices, including transmission of precise location via the RTB bid stream. As of December 2025, 62% of ad-funded developers showed child privacy vulnerabilities; 118,049 (33%) can track precise location; 195,342 rated Critical for BANNED APPS risk; 20,796 for UNSAFE ADVERTISING risk.

TrendForce: Memory-price spike to squeeze 2026 smartphone shipments

February 11, 2026, 1:30 PM EST. TrendForce says a memory-price spike will squeeze smartphone shipments in 2026. The baseline calls for a 10% year-on-year drop to about 1.135 billion units; a Bear-case scenario envisions a 15% drop to around 1.061 billion. In 2025, shipments are seen at about 1.24-1.26 billion, up roughly 2%. The jump in memory costs converts to roughly 30-40% of a phone's BOM (bill of materials), up from 10-15%. The impact will vary by maker: Samsung's vertical integration and memory role provide cushion; Apple has shown resilience to price increases; many Chinese OEMs, including Xiaomi, face stronger pressure due to price-conscious buyers of entry-level devices.

Albania government faces lawsuit over actor's likeness used in AI minister project

February 11, 2026, 1:22 PM EST. Bisha has sued the Council of Ministers, the prime minister, a private company involved in the project and AKSHI, arguing the government continued to use her likeness beyond the agreed timeframe and scope for the e-Albania platform. Court documents published by local outlets say she is seeking an injunction to immediately stop further use pending the case's outcome, claiming irreparable harm from the unauthorized use. She previously said in a September TV interview that she recorded video and audio material for the e-Albania chatbot for a limited period and nominal payment, with no permission granted for other uses. Government spokesperson Manjola Hasa described the lawsuit as nonsense but said it would be resolved in court. Bisha did not respond to requests for comment.

Analysts expect iPhone 18 Pro pricing to stay flat amid memory-cost pressures

February 11, 2026, 1:18 PM EST. Analysts expect iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max prices to stay flat despite rising memory costs driven by AI infrastructure. GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu says Apple is managing production costs through supplier negotiations with memory firms such as Samsung and SK Hynix, and by trimming areas like cameras and displays. Peer analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, note that Apple's memory contracts should blunt near-term price pressure. Tim Cook has said RAM and flash memory pricing may rise later in the year. Apple has stepped up memory purchases from Samsung, a move expected to lower per-module costs and potentially shift demand away from Micron and SK Hynix. The plan targets the 2026 iPhone introductions while preserving current price bands.

Analysts expect iPhone 18 Pro pricing to stay flat amid memory-cost pressures

February 11, 2026, 1:16 PM EST. Analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities says Apple plans to keep the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max prices unchanged despite rising memory costs tied to AI infrastructure. He says Apple is negotiating with memory suppliers such as Samsung and SK Hynix to secure favorable terms and may trim costs in other areas, including the cameras and display. The note follows other analysts who expect near-term memory prices to remain manageable, limiting price impact for the 2026 lineup. Apple has already boosted memory orders from Samsung, which could lower per-module production costs via economies of scale, even as it potentially shifts demand away from Micron and SK Hynix. Tim Cook noted RAM and flash pricing hasn't hit Apple yet but warned pressures could mount later this year.

Laser-written multi-plane light converters enable compact mode sorting in a glass chip

February 11, 2026, 1:08 PM EST. Researchers have advanced multi-plane light converters (MPLCs), a 3D beam shaping technology, by fabricating miniaturised, fully-encapsulated devices inside a single glass chip with direct laser writing. Using a femtosecond laser, they induce nanogratings that act as geometric phase holograms, imprinting phase patterns on circularly polarized light as it travels through the chip. The result is a fully monolithic, single-step process that avoids alignment hurdles typical of MPLCs. Two proof-of-concept devices, sized 700×700×2000 µm³, demonstrate 3-mode and 10-mode Hermite-Gaussian mode sorters, enabling deterministic mapping and parallel processing of multiple input modes. The approach promises robust, rapidly prototyped components for optical computing, high-precision imaging, and communications. Researchers note fabrication challenges remain but view the work as a pathway to scalable, monolithic MPLC technology.

AI's rapid ascent hinges on founders like Matt Shumer of OthersideAI

February 11, 2026, 12:46 PM EST. Matt Shumer is the co-founder and CEO of OthersideAI, an applied AI company building advanced autocomplete tools powered by large-scale models like GPT-3. OthersideAI is behind HyperWrite, a leading AI autocomplete Chrome extension for consumers. Earlier in his career, while still in high school, Shumer founded Visos, a startup developing VR software for medical use, and FURI, a company aiming to disrupt the sporting goods market by creating high-performance products at fair prices. The profile portrays a technologist who blends practical AI products with early-stage ventures, reflecting how entrepreneurial experience informs the fast-moving AI landscape.

AI surge could blindside many, says OthersideAI CEO Matt Shumer

February 11, 2026, 12:44 PM EST. Matt Shumer, co-founder and CEO of OthersideAI, says the rush of progress in AI has outsized implications for daily life. His firm builds advanced autocomplete tools using large language models such as GPT-3, and its consumer-facing product, HyperWrite, is expanding browser-based writing aids. The company aims to streamline thought-to-text workflows, turning complex prompts into quick drafts. Shumer, who earlier built startups in virtual reality for medical use and in consumer goods, frames the moment as a wake-up call for business and policymakers. In Shumer's view, a small group controlling the latest AI systems could reshape news, work, and education before most people recognize the change.

Apple to roll out 10+ products in H1 2026, from iPhone 17e to M5 Pro/Max Macs

February 11, 2026, 12:38 PM EST. Apple is set for a crowded first half of 2026 after a slow start with an AirTag and a special Apple Watch band. The lineup includes iPhone 17e with an A19 chip, MagSafe, and new wireless subsystems, and a notch-design at a starting price around $599. The iPad Air is expected to move to M4; other iPads to A18/A19. The MacBook Pro should switch to M5 Pro/Max with PCIe 5.0, while the MacBook Air jumps to M5. A lower-cost MacBook with an A18 Pro chip and color options is anticipated, along with a refreshed Mac Studio and Studio Display. A new Home Hub and an Apple-designed Security Camera will expand the smart-home line. Updates to Apple TV and HomePod mini are rumored for H1 2026, potentially in early March.

Micron quietly outperforms NVIDIA as AI-driven HBM demand boosts growth

February 11, 2026, 12:36 PM EST. Micron Technology has quietly outpaced NVIDIA over the past year, with MU up about 307% versus NVIDIA's ~43% gain. Investors are betting on AI-driven demand for Micron's high-bandwidth memory (HBM) as data centers and hyperscalers expand AI infrastructure. Tight HBM supply could lift Micron's margins while demand stays strong. NVIDIA remains the center of gravity for AI chips, with solid quarterly results and a forecast for fiscal Q4 2026 revenue near $65 billion. Micron guides for fiscal Q2 2026 revenue of $18.3-$19.1 billion, well above Q1's $13.64 billion, and sees net income rising. Micron's net profit margin at 28.2% outpaces the Computer-Integrated Systems industry average of 14.3%, underscoring its growth potential. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra notes the supply gap could widen further.

Sherpa AR Glasses Decode Road Signs for Nervous New Drivers

February 11, 2026, 12:32 PM EST. Sherpa's AR glasses aim to help nervous new drivers by overlaying directional cues and translating dashboard indicators on a heads-up display. Designed by Hongik University researchers Yeongjun Yun and Jaeyun Lee, the hardware resembles standard consumer glasses but includes visible sensors and a cylindrical charging case. More than hardware, the project pairs the device with a learning system: after each drive, the companion app analyzes mistakes, identifies patterns (missed cues, hesitant intersections) and tunes guidance accordingly. The system taps into SDV (software-defined vehicles) to convert car data into actionable, context-aware advice. Advocates say it solves a real use case beyond entertainment AR, potentially bridging instruction and competence during those early months behind the wheel.

Apple to celebrate 50th anniversary; Tim Cook hints at milestone plans

February 11, 2026, 12:30 PM EST. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company will celebrate its 50th anniversary, even as Apple rarely marks milestones. In an all-hands meeting last week, Cook told employees that the milestone prompted reflection and that the company has been going through old archives, photographs and products. He said, 'Are we going to celebrate it? You better believe it,' but would not reveal specifics yet. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman relayed the remarks. Apple has previously marked anniversaries, most notably a 2014 Mac 30-year campaign featuring executive interviews and a homepage tribute. The 50th is a rare official nod to the past, balancing nostalgia with a focus on what's next.

One in Four Smartphones Now iPhones, Counterpoint Finds

February 11, 2026, 12:22 PM EST. Apple now accounts for roughly one in four active smartphones, according to Counterpoint Research's Smartphone Installed Base Tracker. The global active installed base rose 2% in 2025, driven by longer replacement cycles and the persistence of second-life devices. Apple leads with about 25% of in-use devices, thanks to strong loyalty, integrated services and the broader Apple ecosystem. The company added more net new active smartphones in 2025 than the next seven manufacturers combined, underscoring its ability to attract and retain users as growth slows. Samsung is second with around 20%, and together they represent about 44% of the global base. Amid slower hardware innovation, differentiation is shifting toward software, on-device AI, and cross-device integration.

Sherpa AR glasses decode road signs and dashboard icons for nervous new drivers

February 11, 2026, 12:18 PM EST. Sherpa's AR glasses overlay directional cues and translate dashboard indicators using a heads-up display, aimed at easing the first months behind the wheel. The Hongik University project emphasizes a learning system: after each drive, the companion app analyzes mistakes, flags recurring errors like missed turns, and explains what went wrong. The hardware favors a consumer-friendly look-rounded frames, visible sensors, and a cylindrical charging case-to encourage daily use. The system taps into software-defined vehicles (SDV) data streams to translate vehicle signals into actionable guidance, using eye-tracking to detect hesitation and tailor future prompts. Designers: Yeongjun Yun, Jaeyun Lee. If proven effective, Sherpa could bridge instruction and competence where traditional driving schools fall short.

Micron Quietly Outperforming Nvidia as AI-HBM Demand Tightens Supply

February 11, 2026, 12:10 PM EST. Micron is drawing interest as demand for HBM chips rises with AI expansion, while NVIDIA remains the broader AI favorite. Analysts note tight HBM supply could lift Micron's margins as hyperscalers and data centers push for higher-bandwidth memory. Nvidia's story still centers on strong results and a forecast near $65 billion in fiscal Q4 2026, up from about $57 billion in Q3 2026, underscoring ongoing AI demand. Micron projects fiscal Q2 2026 revenue of roughly $18.3-$19.1 billion, above Q1's $13.64 billion, and carries a net profit margin of 28.2%, well ahead of the Computer-Integrated Systems industry average of 14.3%. The dynamic highlights a shift in AI hardware bets amid supply constraints and price upside, even as Nvidia drives sentiment.

Nvidia bundles Resident Evil Requiem with RTX 50 series GPUs in limited-time deal

February 11, 2026, 12:08 PM EST. Nvidia partners with Capcom to bundle a Steam copy of Resident Evil Requiem with select GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. The offer covers RTX 5070, 5070 Ti, 5080 and 5090 graphics cards, plus desktops and laptops built around those GPUs, but only from participating retailers. The bundle runs February 10 through March 16, with the PC game arriving February 27 and a Game Ready driver ahead of launch. The title leverages DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, and NVIDIA Reflex, alongside path-traced lighting for enhanced fidelity on GeForce rigs. UK availability includes CCL, Currys, Overclockers UK, Scan, CyberpowerPC and PCSpecialist. Nvidia and Capcom frame the deal as a way to showcase the PC experience versus consoles.

Nvidia partners with Capcom to bundle Resident Evil Requiem with RTX 50 Series GPUs

February 11, 2026, 12:06 PM EST. Nvidia has partnered with Capcom to bundle a Steam copy of Resident Evil Requiem with select GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. The offer covers RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5070 desktop GPUs and laptops bought from participating retailers through Feb. 10-Mar. 16. The bundle applies to PCs and laptops using the listed GPUs. Resident Evil Requiem includes DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution, Nvidia Reflex, and a path-traced lighting mode, promising better visuals and responsiveness on GeForce systems vs. consoles. The game launches on PC Feb. 27, with a Game Ready driver expected ahead of launch. In the UK, retailers include CCL, Currys, Overclockers UK, Scan, CyberpowerPC and PCSpecialist.

Edge computing to define tech winners in 2026

February 11, 2026, 11:52 AM EST. Edge computing is moving from niche to growth driver as AI-capable processors enable local work. On-device tasks by wearables, facial-recognition cameras, autonomous vehicles and smart meters reduce bandwidth demands. Market research firm Technavio projects the global AI edge computing market growing at about 32% annually through 2029. Large players such as Amazon and Alphabet are early participants; smaller suppliers like Broadcom and Qualcomm may gain more as edge workloads broaden. Broadcom's eighth-generation Wi-Fi 8 tech lets devices run a neural network at the edge without uploading data to a central server. Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips embed AI at the edge in laptops and smartphones, positioning them for broader enterprise and consumer use. The trend could influence investment choices in 2026.

Edge computing to define tech winners in 2026, analysts say

February 11, 2026, 11:50 AM EST. Edge computing is emerging as the next big frontier after AI accelerates into devices and data centers. The idea: perform heavy processing at or near the source, reducing bandwidth use and latency. AI-capable processors now make previously impossible edge tasks practical, accelerating growth in the global edge AI market, Technavio projects roughly a 32% annual CAGR through 2029. Investors are eyeing names able to benefit, from Amazon and Alphabet to smaller chipmakers such as Broadcom and Qualcomm. Broadcom's eighth-generation Wi-Fi 8 tech enables edge ML inference in facilities without streaming data to cloud servers. Qualcomm's Snapdragon line now includes on-device AI features, strengthening its edge story. The space remains early, with winners likely to emerge as enterprises deploy more in-store, industrial and vehicle-edge solutions.

Memory costs near half of smartphone BOM; Apple insulated for now, TrendForce says

February 11, 2026, 11:46 AM EST. TrendForce reports memory costs now account for 30-40% of a smartphone's BOM, up from about 10-15% historically. A typical 8GB+256GB configuration has risen roughly 200% year over year in Q1 2026. As memory share nears 50%, the bear case projects about a 10% decline in 2026 global smartphone output to 1.135 billion units; a deeper drop remains possible. Apple appears comparatively insulated for now, thanks to a stronger premium mix and higher price tolerance, which cushions margins amid rising component costs. GF Securities' Jeff Pu says Apple has imposed cost controls to prevent a price hike for the iPhone 18 lineup. Huawei is expected to bear the smallest production adjustment, while DRAM supply and the cost of next-gen chips remain key wild cards.

Apple Watch Series 11 drops to $299 ahead of Presidents' Day deals

February 11, 2026, 11:44 AM EST. Apple's smartwatch season begins with a Presidents' Day sale for the Apple Watch Series 11, now $299 from $399. The 25% discount applies to the 42mm GPS model, offered in four colorways with a Black sport band: Jet Black and Space Gray aluminum; Rose Gold with Light Blush band; Silver with Purple Fog band. The model, described as a strong overall pick in reviews, delivers 24 hours-plus battery life, a thin, light design, and new health metrics, including Apple's hypertension alerts and a Sleep Score. Availability is limited by retailer; the deal represents a record-low price for the 2025 model.

How to set up an Apple Watch for your kids

February 11, 2026, 11:38 AM EST. Apple Watch for Your Kids, introduced in 2020 with WatchOS 7, lets families connect via cellular-enabled watches linked to an iPhone. To set up, you'll need a Series 6 or later with cellular and an iPhone running iOS 14 or newer; both sides require an Apple ID. In Settings, open Family, choose Add Member, and create a Child Account if needed. Start by unpairing and erasing any old watch, then pair the new device and keep the cellular plan if you want your child to stay connected without a phone nearby. Create the child's profile and ensure compatibility with WatchOS 26. Note that schools increasingly ban smartwatches; some parents seek alternatives like Pinwheel or Tin Can phone. Updated Feb 2026.

Apple keeps iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max base prices flat amid DRAM costs squeeze

February 11, 2026, 11:28 AM EST. Apple has kept the base storage variants of the forthcoming iPhone 18 lineup at prices near those of the iPhone 17, aided by aggressive cost controls and supplier deals. GF Securities' Jeff Pu says the goal is to keep starting prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max unchanged or similar to their iPhone 17 equivalents, with the Pro at $1,099 and the Pro Max at $1,199. Earlier, Ming-Chi Kuo noted Apple pressed for favorable DRAM terms, sending executives on long-term hotel stays to secure deals with Samsung and SK hynix amid volatile pricing. Apple aims to curb DRAM-driven costs while managing the expensive 2nm-based A20 chip, and may stagger launches for base models into spring 2027.

MrBeast buys Gen Z fintech Step to boost financial literacy

February 11, 2026, 11:26 AM EST. New York, Feb 10 – MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), the world's largest YouTube creator, said his company Beast Industries has bought Step, a Gen Z-focused financial services platform backed by Evolve Bank & Trust. The acquisition, which the parties did not disclose, adds credit and debit cards and interest-bearing accounts to Step's offering; Step is not a bank, but a fintech platform. Officials said the deal will amplify Step's products for young users and advance financial literacy. CEO CJ MacDonald said the purchase would accelerate product development for Step's customers. MrBeast has built a media empire around large-budget stunts and philanthropy, with ventures spanning a video game show, pop-up experiences, and Feastables snacks.

ChatGPT deep research tool adds built-in document viewer with navigable table of contents

February 11, 2026, 11:20 AM EST. OpenAI is updating ChatGPT's deep research tool with a full-screen built-in document viewer that lets users scroll, navigate with a table of contents and view sources on the right. The feature adds a separate window from chat, plus real-time progress tracking, the ability to adjust the scope and add new sources as the report is generated, and a download option in Markdown, Word, and PDF formats. The viewer lets you target specific websites and connected apps. OpenAI says the update is rolling out to Plus and Pro subscribers today, with Go tier and free users seeing it in coming days. The deep research tool, launched last year, compiles web-based reports on topics you choose.

I switched my whole family to older Google Pixels and it paid off

February 11, 2026, 11:16 AM EST. After moving her entire family to Google Pixels, the author found the switch smoother than expected. Her husband already loved his Pixel 7 Pro; her in-laws had older Pixel or other brands. She upgraded mom, dad, and aunt to a Pixel 7a, 6 Pro, and 7 Pro. The decision began when her aunt's OnePlus 9 failed to read SIMs; she retrieved a spare Pixel 2 XL and set it up remotely, proving the value of a single ecosystem even from miles away. The Pixel experience meant easier remote troubleshooting, less need to hide apps or fight bloatware, and clearer photos. Even in an unsupported country, the older Pixel hardware remained usable. A poll shows varied enthusiasm for a full-brand switch.

Eutelsat secures €975 million ECA financing for OneWeb replacement satellites

February 11, 2026, 11:08 AM EST. Eutelsat has secured a €975 million export-credit backed facility to fund 440 replacement satellites for its OneWeb LEO broadband constellation. The French state guarantee, via Bpifrance Assurance Export, backs the loan, contingent on a bond issue and other conditions. The deal follows about €1.5 billion raised from shareholders last year, covering most of the roughly €2.2 billion needed to replenish OneWeb over the next three years. Deliveries from Airbus Defence and Space are expected to begin in late 2026. The current OneWeb fleet totals 654 satellites, with a design life to 2027-28. CEO Jean-Francois Fallacher said the financing strengthens Eutelsat's balance sheet and underpins LEO deployment; the group is also committing about €2 billion to Europe's IRIS² project.

Best Apple Watch deals in February 2026

February 11, 2026, 11:04 AM EST. Presidents Day promotions have boosted Apple Watch discounts, with Amazon typically leading the way. The standout price in February 2026 is the Apple Watch 11 (GPS/42mm) at $299 on Amazon, one of the best discounts seen so far. Deals vary by size, color and connectivity, so shoppers should click through model pages to reveal any hidden coupons at checkout. The roundup also covers Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, with current listings showing discounts from their MSRP toward mid-$199 and around $679, respectively. Prices move quickly as sales run, so checking the Apple Watch category pages and retailer sites regularly remains the best bet.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Galaxy S26 debut set for Feb. 25 in San Francisco

February 11, 2026, 10:58 AM EST. Samsung will stage Galaxy Unpacked on Feb. 25, 2026, in San Francisco, with the reveal of the Galaxy S26 lineup likely to anchor the show. The event starts at 10 a.m. PT and comes a week before Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. After a late January launch of the Galaxy Z Trifold at $2,899, Samsung faces pressure to justify premium pricing with new features, especially amid the iPhone 17 perks. The company is expected to unveil the standard S26, a larger S26 Plus, and a top-tier S26 Ultra, with tweaks to design, processors (likely Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 in the US/China or Exynos 2600 elsewhere), and cameras. No drastic redesign anticipated, but external refinements and AI features are on the table.

Google completes Android 16 QPR3 testing, begins Android 17 beta

February 11, 2026, 10:56 AM EST. Google has released the final Android 16 QPR3 build, signaling testing is complete and setting the stage for the Android 17 beta. The CP11.251209.009.A1 update, about 100 MB (up to 123 MB on Pixel 9 and 10), is available to developers enrolled in the beta program. Enrolled 16 QPR3 testers will automatically transition to the Android 17 beta; Google has not announced a start date. The company described the Android 17 testing as next in line, internally referred to as 26Q2. Analysts expect the Android 17 beta could begin soon, with a stable 16 QPR3 rollout possibly in early March 2026 following last December's QPR2 update. Google did not specify fixes for this beta.

AI will lift software, not replace it, says Nvidia's Huang; SaaSpocalypse fears questioned

February 11, 2026, 10:52 AM EST. Investors worry that AI could erode the value of SaaS (software-as-a-service) companies selling enterprise subscriptions, fueling the so-called SaaSpocalypse. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang dismissed that view at a conference, calling the idea that software will be replaced by AI 'the most illogical thing in the world.' He said AI will augment software and help software firms grow, not shrink them. Analysts note AI providers are more likely to partner with, or sell to, software players than wipe out demand. Anthropic's Claude plugin for contract review shows AI can speed routine tasks, yet human supervision and compliance checks remain essential. If Huang is right, AI could lift, not wipe out, software stocks.

Elon Musk merges SpaceX with xAI in $1.25 trillion mega-merger

February 11, 2026, 10:48 AM EST. Elon Musk announced a merger of SpaceX with his AI unit xAI, a move some observers call audacious. The combined private company is valued at about $1.25 trillion, with an IPO planned in June that supporters call the largest flotation on record. The strategy envisions space-based data centers tapping solar energy to fuel AI, a target Musk says could accelerate the AI revolution. Critics describe the deal as financial engineering, citing cost, debt, and the practicality of a space-powered data economy. xAI reportedly burns about $1 billion a month, while SpaceX last year posted profits. Tesla has invested $2 billion in xAI, feeding questions about Musk's commitment across ventures and about rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. Shareholders warn about valuation, governance, and the risk of dilution in an all-share merger.

ULA Vulcan to launch Space Force mission from Cape Canaveral

February 11, 2026, 10:38 AM EST. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla.-A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket is set to launch a U.S. Space Force mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Thursday, delivering a national-security spacecraft to geosynchronous orbit in a 3:30 a.m.-5:30 a.m. window. The USSF-87 mission marks the Vulcan's heaviest payload to date and its longest flight, about 10 hours, ULA said. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-41. Forecasters put the GO chance at 95% for liftoff. Live coverage starts around 3 a.m. local time. The mission underscores ongoing Space Force capabilities in space-domain awareness and national security.

MiTAC to Showcase Scalable Industrial Edge AI Solutions at embedded world 2026

February 11, 2026, 10:28 AM EST. MiTAC Digital Technology (MDT) Corp. will display its portfolio of industrial Edge computing products at embedded world in Germany, March 10-12, 2026. The booth, Hall 3 Stand 3-358, will show how MiTAC's edge computing lines support modern AI workloads with flexible software and system architectures. Instead of a single platform, the company offers multi-form-factor product lines across performance tiers, letting system integrators pick models aligned with deployment environment, lifecycle, and roadmap. Highlights include fanless, compact designs for space-constrained sites, support for x86 and ARM architectures, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) with modular expansion and industrial power inputs. MiTAC pitches its hardware as reliable building blocks that fit into existing industrial systems, enabling scalable, configurable edge deployments.

Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs as AI drives productivity savings

February 11, 2026, 10:26 AM EST. Heineken plans to lay off 5,000 to 6,000 roles over the next two years as it pushes productivity savings tied to AI and digitization. CEO Dolf van den Brink told CNBC that the cuts are part of its EverGreen 2030 strategy, with about 3,000 positions moving to business services. The program targets €400-€500 million in annual savings to fund growth and premium brands, and it aims for operating-profit growth of 2%-6% this year. Beer volumes fell 2.4% in 2025, while adjusted operating profit was up 4.4%. Heineken employs about 87,000 people across more than 70 countries. Van den Brink will step down in May; the company is searching for a successor. The outlook for 2026 is cautious but in line with peers.

Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 rolls out to Pixel beta testers

February 11, 2026, 10:20 AM EST. Google has released a minor Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 update for Pixel beta testers, with no official patch notes. Spotted by 9to5Google, the release applies to older devices such as Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series via CP11.251209.009 for some models and CP11.251209.009.A1 for others. The update size can reach about 123MB on Pixel 9 and Pixel 10. Google has not disclosed changes in the beta build. Users are warned that beta software can cause issues on daily drivers, and those unwilling to risk bugs should consider waiting for the stable Android 16 release. Those who wish to try can join the beta program; to exit, deregister, but a reset may be needed if the stable version arrives before a backup is restored.

Best Buy opens-box deal cuts $600 off 256GB Pixel 10 Pro Fold to $1,198.99

February 11, 2026, 10:18 AM EST. Best Buy is offering an unlocked 256GB Pixel 10 Pro Fold in Moonstone for $1,198.99 shipped. The unit is listed as excellent open-box with a 1-year warranty. The promo reportedly requires checkout on a mobile device to unlock the discount; shoppers should open the deal on a mobile browser and add to cart there. The model carries a list price around $1,700 and is pitched against higher new and Amazon prices today. It features Gemini AI, a large 8-inch Super Actua Flex display, IP68 water resistance, a gearless hinge and carrier flexibility with major networks. This is an affiliate linked deal based on the mobile checkout path.

Uber Eats launches AI cart assistant for grocery delivery

February 11, 2026, 9:56 AM EST. Uber Eats on Wednesday introduced an AI assistant that lets customers build a grocery cart via text or images, including handwritten lists. The feature rolls out through dozens of large retailers, such as Safeway, Albertsons and Kroger, and accounts for item preferences and store availability while letting shoppers edit selections. Uber says the tool reflects its approach to AI-grounded in real user needs and built to feel helpful within the app. The company has pushed AI across its platform after last year's rollout of menu descriptions and customer-review summaries. The move intensifies competition with DoorDash and Instacart in grocery delivery, a space both rivals have expanded into since 2020. Uber's delivery bookings rose 26% year over year to $25.4 billion in Q4.

Pixel 10a store page hints at FaceTime support, but likely via web links

February 11, 2026, 9:52 AM EST. Google's Pixel 10a store pages confirm a February 18, 2026 pre-order. The pages target iPhone switchers, mentioning easy texting and data transfer, and a line about continuing video chats with FaceTime. The wording sparked speculation of native FaceTime support on the Pixel 10a, but experts say it likely refers to joining FaceTime calls via a web link-a feature available on browsers for Android devices. Apple opened this path with iOS 15; there is no official FaceTime app for Android or Windows. Google did not immediately clarify, and the company has not added new FaceTime functionality beyond standard Android capability. Treat the rumor as unlikely to signal a Pixel-specific change.

Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea set for Apple Arcade launch on March 5

February 11, 2026, 9:50 AM EST. Cornfox & Bros. announced Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea for Apple Arcade, with a March 5 launch on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. The game is set one thousand years after Oceanhorn 2 and sends players into the Shadow Sea alongside Em, the technopirate, to uncover the Lost God and shape Gaia's future. It introduces a self-contained story, a refined combat system, and new traversal mechanics, designed for a complete, stand-alone experience. Players tackle an epic main quest, face larger boss fights against ancient Titans, and chase side adventures to deepen the world. Graphics aim for cinematic fidelity, while progression rests on collecting resources, upgrading a skill tree, and crafting a personalized loadout. Apple Arcade exclusivity, Oceanhorn 3, and a fresh chapter for Gaia await.

Opinion: An AI-powered marriage experiment yields surprising harmony

February 11, 2026, 9:44 AM EST. An opinion piece by Bob Brody recounts a yearlong experiment in which he lets artificial intelligence replace him as husband. His wife, Elvira, agrees, and Brody says their marriage has since improved. He relies on AI prompts to decide what to say and do, hoping to sidestep conflict over parenting, finances and daily routines. The result, he writes, is calmer dialogue and fewer quarrels. He notes how he stopped talking just to prove a point, and that some routines are now guided by algorithms. He concedes the approach rests on machine learning rather than human feeling, and asks whether tech can mediate intimacy without erasing empathy. Critics caution that AI could replace relationships, not just jobs, but the piece pushes readers to weigh tech's role in personal life.

Apple Watch Series 11 price drops to lowest level yet with discounts up to 25%

February 11, 2026, 9:42 AM EST. Apple's smartwatch line sees a rare price cut. The Apple Watch Series 11, launched last year, is discounted up to 25%, with the 42mm model at $299 and the 46mm at $329. Available in aluminum or titanium, finishes include jet black, rose gold, and silver, with bands in colors like black or purple fog. The update adds a cleaner Liquid Glass display, improved Smart Stack widgets, and a one-handed wrist flick to dismiss alerts. Health tools cover heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen, cycle tracking, sleep monitoring, and hypertension alerts, plus a sleep score. Battery life runs about 24 hours, with Fast Charging delivering eight hours from 15 minutes. Cellular/titanium options raise price; 5G is available on cellular models.

Mistral to invest €1.2 billion in Sweden AI infrastructure, boosting Europe's AI autonomy

February 11, 2026, 9:28 AM EST. French AI startup Mistral will invest €1.2 billion in Sweden's digital infrastructure, including AI data centers. The project is part of Europe's effort to build independent AI capacity amid geopolitical tensions. CEO Arthur Mensch says the plan creates a locally processed and stored data stack to bolster European AI autonomy and competitiveness. Mistral will partner with EcoDataCenter to deploy large-scale compute, with the facility slated to open in 2027 to support next-generation models. Mistral previously raised €1.7 billion in September at an €11.7 billion valuation, with backers including Nvidia, Microsoft and ASML. The move comes as the continent races to bolster compute capacity, alongside other Nordic investments such as OpenAI's Norway data center plan announced in July.

First Android 17 Beta arrives for Pixel phones as Android 16 QPR3 nears release

February 11, 2026, 9:26 AM EST. Google announces the first Android 17 Beta is imminent. Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 has shipped, and Google suggests the public Beta for Android 17 could go live around February 18, the same day the Pixel 10a goes on pre-order. A stable build is expected in June 2026 after several testing rounds. Pixel owners enrolled in the Android Beta Program should consider leaving if they do not want to beta test Android 17; downgrading via an OTA can wipe data, so users should wait for the stable QPR3 release to switch channels. Android 17 will build on the Android 16 QPR platform and focus on stability, with leaks pointing to UI blur, a separate notification shade from Quick Settings, and on-display app support.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold gets $350 off on Amazon, near record-low price

February 11, 2026, 9:22 AM EST. Android Authority's Joe Maring notes the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold remains a top option among foldables. The deal drops the price to $1,449, a $350 cut, with the Moonstone color eligible; Jade costs $50 more. The device pairs a 6.4-inch front display with an 8-inch LTPO OLED panel, 120 Hz, 2,152 x 2,076 resolution, and external 6.5-inch screen. It runs on a Tensor G5, with 16 GB RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, plus a triple camera setup, AI features, wireless charging, and IP68 rating. At $1,449 this is near its record-low of $1,399. The deal is listed as limited time on Amazon. Price cut makes this foldable a strong contender.

European AI accelerator unites rivals for F/ai program

February 11, 2026, 9:18 AM EST. Paris-based incubator Station F will run F/ai, a European accelerator for startups building apps on partner labs' models. Partners include Meta, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, OpenAI and Mistral for the first time in a single program, with cloud and chip players AWS, AMD and Qualcomm and OVH Cloud also aboard. The three-month, biannual program aims to speed revenue generation for 20 startup cohorts, backed by more than $1 million in credits for access to models, compute and services, rather than direct funding. Station F says the goal is to mirror the impact of U.S. accelerators like Y Combinator, helping European founders scale globally. The initiative, announced as Europe seeks to close a domestic AI gap, follows government investments to bolster homegrown AI firms and infrastructure.

AI could transform the economy by year's end

February 11, 2026, 9:14 AM EST. AI is accelerating, with agents such as Claude Code capable of autonomously completing complex projects, potentially substituting skilled labor. Investors now view agentic AI as an existential threat to large software and consulting firms. If capabilities continue to grow exponentially, observers warn the disruption could intensify by 2027. SemiAnalysis called AI progress an 'inflection point'; at Cisco's AI summit, OpenAI's Sam Altman likened the moment to a 'ChatGPT moment' for knowledge work. Anthropic's Dario Amodei argues we are a few years from AI outperforming humans at many tasks. The shifts have unsettled markets, with some software stocks falling as investors reassess AI's impact.

Stellantis weighs exit from Samsung EV battery pact in US, Bloomberg reports

February 11, 2026, 9:04 AM EST. Stellantis is weighing an exit from its StarPlus Energy joint venture with Samsung SDI in the United States as it reassesses its EV strategy amid weaker demand, a Bloomberg report said. The venture, announced in 2022, commits billions to build EV batteries in the US, with two large plants planned in Kokomo. Stellantis says it continues to have collaborative discussions with Samsung on the future of StarPlus Energy. Samsung declined to comment. The automaker, owner of Jeep and Fiat, is seeking options to limit losses as US EV demand softens, particularly, according to the report, amid policy shifts and an estimated $26 billion write-down tied to its EV business. Stellantis formed in 2021 from the PSA-FCA merger.

Huawei teases Runner Watch performance ahead of Madrid launch

February 11, 2026, 8:52 AM EST. Huawei posted on X detailing performance aspects of its upcoming Runner Watch. The company set a global event in Madrid on Feb. 26. It congratulated Joshua Cheptegei for the Dubai Half Marathon win. The posts hint at robust running features and the tagline Ultra Performance. Images show Cheptegei possibly wearing the device, though the official look is not yet released. Hashtags include #HuaweiLaunch, #NowIsYourRun, and #UltraPerformance. A teaser rollout suggests the company will reveal more with a formal reveal soon.

Deloitte: Health care AI divide widens as early adopters scale agentic AI

February 11, 2026, 8:46 AM EST. New Deloitte findings describe an emerging AI divide in health care between early adopters rapidly scaling agentic AI and cautious watchers delaying broader deployment. Agentic AI, explained as AI systems that can autonomously act within workflows, is shifting from pilots to core operations. Investment momentum is rising: 85% of health care leaders plan to increase AI spending over the next two to three years, with 61% already building or implementing initiatives. Adoption hurdles are easing: 40% say technical talent is no longer a major challenge; resistance to change (38%) and leadership buy-in (35%) also retreat. Among early adopters, 59% expect more than 20% cost savings in two to three years, compared with 13% of watchers. Large organizations push speed; smaller ones stay cautious, widening productivity gaps.

Wacom's MovinkPad 11: portable, affordable Android sketchbook for artists

February 11, 2026, 8:40 AM EST. Wacom's MovinkPad 11 offers a portable, affordable option for serious digital artists. The Android 14 tablet pairs an 11-inch display with a 2,200×1,440 resolution and a textured, paper-like surface bonded to the glass for a near-paper drawing feel. It ships with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, but no microSD slot. The device runs Google Play, so apps and media are accessible, but its focus remains on drawing as your portable sketchbook. It isn't as powerful as a desktop workstation or an iPad, yet the battery life is solid and the drawing experience is best in class for on-the-go use. In short, a lighter alternative for artists who want a dedicated drawing tool without digital distractions.

Galaxy S26 leak reveals full specs: Exynos 2600 base, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Ultra, 1TB storage

February 11, 2026, 8:34 AM EST. A WinFuture leak lays out nearly all specifications for the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. The standard S26 shows a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 2340×1080 and 120Hz; the S26 Plus uses a 6.7-inch QHD+ panel at 120Hz; the S26 Ultra tops with a 6.9-inch QHD+ screen protected by Gorilla Armor 2. Internally, regional variance persists: Exynos 2600 in many markets for the base and Plus, with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on the Ultra globally. RAM starts at 12GB, the Ultra could reach 16GB, and storage up to 1TB. Battery estimates run from 4,300mAh to 5,000mAh, with One UI 8.5. Charging leans on 25W wireless and 60W wired for the Ultra; magnets for Qi2 accessories reportedly absent. The Ultra's camera setup features a 200MP main sensor and a 50MP periscope.

Fitbit expands access to its AI health coach to iOS users

February 11, 2026, 8:32 AM EST. Google says the public preview of Fitbit's AI personal health coach is rolling out to iOS in the U.S. and to iOS and Android users in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The update introduces a Gemini-powered, conversational interface that interprets results, creates custom routines and workouts based on users' goals, equipment and training preferences. Availability requires an active Fitbit Premium subscription and sign-in with a Google account. Supported devices include Fitbit wearables and the Pixel Watch, among 14 models. The feature first launched in October in the U.S. on Android. Google cautioned that rollout will take place over the next few days, so not everyone may see it immediately.

Apple's C2 modem to bring 5G satellite connectivity to iPhone 18 Pro, says leaker

February 11, 2026, 8:28 AM EST. Apple's next-gen C2 baseband could add NR-NTN support for 5G satellite connectivity in the iPhone 18 Pro, per a Weibo post by 'Fixed Focus Digital'. The claim says the C2 modem will enable direct device-to-satellite links or satellites as backhaul. This follows prior reporting from The Information's Wayne Ma and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, which described satellite-enabled iPhones and a possible API for developers, though Gurman described backhaul rather than direct links. Apple already offers limited satellite features (Emergency SOS, Find My, Messages) that require a clear sky. The C2 may be more capable than the C1/C1X, possibly adding mmWave 5G, fitting with plans to extend coverage where terrestrial networks fail. Stage and scope of features remain unclear.

Fitbit expands AI health coach to iPhone users; Premium still required

February 11, 2026, 8:26 AM EST. Google's public preview of Fitbit's AI health coach is rolling out to iOS in the U.S. and to iOS and Android in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The update adds a Gemini-powered conversational interface that interprets users' latest results and crafts custom routines and workouts based on goals, equipment and training preferences. Access requires an active Fitbit Premium subscription and sign-in with a Google account, plus one of 14 supported devices, including Fitbit wearables and the Pixel Watch. The rollout began in October in the U.S. on Android and should extend over the next few days, though availability may vary by user.

Galaxy S26 leak reveals near-complete specs: Exynos 2600, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 200MP camera

February 11, 2026, 8:24 AM EST. WinFuture's leak covers Samsung's Galaxy S26 trio: S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra. Predictable: 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+ at 120Hz on the S26; 6.7-inch QHD+ at 120Hz on the Plus; 6.9-inch QHD+ with Gorilla Armor 2 on the Ultra. Performance splits by region: Exynos 2600 on base/Plus, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 globally for Ultra. All three start at 12GB RAM; Ultra may offer 16GB and up to 1TB storage. Batteries around 4,300mAh / 4,900mAh / 5,000mAh; One UI 8.5. Fast charging: likely 60W wired on Ultra, 25W wireless, no native MagSafe magnets. Cameras: base/Plus 50MP main with OIS; Ultra 200MP main, 50MP periscope 5×, and 50MP ultrawide. Unpacked event later this month.

European AI startups get boost as rivals team up on joint accelerator

February 11, 2026, 8:20 AM EST. Paris-based Station F will run F/ai, a European accelerator for startups building apps on top of foundation models. Partners include Meta, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, OpenAI and Mistral, with AWS, AMD, Qualcomm and OVH Cloud among supporters – the broadest coalition yet for a single European program. Each cohort will include 20 startups, following a three-month curriculum designed to speed revenue generation and help secure follow-on funding. The first edition began January 13; participants were not disclosed, but several were recommended by VC firms such as Sequoia, General Catalyst and Lightspeed. Instead of direct funding, founders receive over $1 million in credits for access to models, compute and services. The program underscores Europe's bid to close the gap with the US and China in AI development.

How to Fall in Love with AI: Building Trust and Boundaries

February 11, 2026, 8:14 AM EST. AI is moving from a tool to a social partner for many users. Researchers say the path to falling in love with AI lies in trust, clarity and controllable boundaries. Start with small tasks, test explainability, and keep privacy in mind. Users should understand what the system can and cannot do; designers should disclose limits and provide easy opt-outs. Experts urge ongoing governance to prevent bias, manipulation and dependency. For developers, embedding privacy-by-design, transparent data use, and human-in-the-loop review helps. In practice, people use AI to plan schedules, draft messages, and analyze data-seeing results quickly can spark engagement, but it's crucial to keep expectations grounded. The relationship depends on responsibility, not romance.

Razer launches limited-edition Boomslang gaming mouse for $1,337

February 11, 2026, 8:12 AM EST. Razer today opened US pre-orders for a limited-edition Razer Boomslang gaming mouse to mark the 20th anniversary of the original peripheral. The revamped model features a 45,000 DPI Razer Pro second-generation optical sensor, 8,000Hz hyperpolling wireless tech, and 4th-generation optical switches designed to prevent double-clicks and debounce delays. The ambidextrous design includes PU leather buttons for grip, with a Mouse Dock Pro for magnetic wireless charging and 9-zone Razer Chroma RGB lighting compatible with more than 300 games. Eight customizable buttons can map shortcuts and macros. Each unit comes with a collector's LED display frame showing internal design. The limited run totals 1,337 units priced at $1,337. US pre-orders began Feb. 10 and sold out; Europe and Asia launches follow Feb. 11 and are expected to sell out quickly.

Apple's C2 modem to enable 5G satellite connectivity on iPhone 18 Pro, leak says

February 11, 2026, 8:10 AM EST. Rays indicate Apple's next iPhone 18 Pro will use a new C2 baseband modem with 5G satellite connectivity. A Chinese leaker on Weibo, Fixed Focus Digital, says the modem will support NR-NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks), enabling direct satellite links or backhaul to extend coverage. This marks the first explicit tie of NR-NTN to Apple's baseband. The Information's Wayne Ma and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman have reported Apple is pursuing satellite-enabled iPhones this year, with Gurman describing a satellite backhaul rather than direct device-to-satellite links. Other rumored features include a developer API for satellite connections, satellite-powered Maps, and satellite messaging, but those are unclear and likely dependent on broader upgrades to Globalstar's network. Current iPhone satellite features remain limited to SOS, Find My, and Messages, requiring a clear sky view.

China's AI 'red envelope' subsidy spree overwhelms servers and workers

February 11, 2026, 8:06 AM EST. China's tech giants launched a red envelope war tied to AI tools, flooding the market with billions of yuan in subsidies. Tencent's 1 billion yuan Yuanbao AI promo led, followed by Baidu Wenxin AI's 500 million yuan and Alibaba's Qwen with 3 billion yuan. The digitized New Year cash prompted a surge of orders: Qwen processed more than 5 million within five hours, lifting its app to the top of Apple's domestic free chart. Servers crashed, WeChat blocked shareable voucher links, and milk-tea shops reported overwhelmed staff. Workers described exhaustion and, in at least one case, resignation after three days. WeChat said the campaign disrupted its ecosystem and user experience; Alibaba extended the program into February after orders exceeded 10 million in nine hours.

iPhone 18 Pro prices may stay flat vs iPhone 17 Pro, analysts say

February 11, 2026, 8:02 AM EST. GF Securities' Jeff Pu says Apple aims to keep the starting prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at the same level as the iPhone 17 Pro lineup. A MacRumors-cited research note describes broader cost management in the supply chain to avoid price hikes. Pu says Apple has pressed for favorable memory-chip deals with Samsung and SK Hynix and will look to cut costs on other core components, including the display and cameras. Ming-Chi Kuo also expects Apple to keep prices flat versus the iPhone 17 Pro. Apple is expected to unveil the new models in September, with margins intact through sourcing and component optimizations.

Google says Android 17 Beta will start soon after Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1

February 11, 2026, 7:58 AM EST. Google said the Android 17 Beta will kick off soon after the release of Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1, the final release in that cycle. The next Beta program cycle covers the Android 17 Platform Release (26Q2), with Android 17 Beta 1 expected to begin shortly. Those on 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 who stay in the Android Beta Program will automatically receive Android 17 Beta 1. Opting out requires a data wipe only if you apply the Downgrade OTA. To avoid testing, opt out and ignore the downgrade OTA, then wait for the final public stable release of Android 16 QPR3(CP1A) due in March. The OTA message will include "Downgrade." The June 2026 window marks the end of the Android 17 Beta cycle.

AI fears spark broad selloff across stocks tied to software and wealth managers

February 11, 2026, 7:56 AM EST. Investors grown wary as AI fears spread beyond pure tech into finance and software. European wealth managers St James's Place and AJ Bell plunged 11% and 5.4%, while Dassault Systèmes slid 22% after JPMorgan analysts warned results were worse than feared and could invite AI-driven competition. Earlier, a tax-tool from Altruist Corp. sparked declines in Charles Schwab, Raymond James and LPL Financial of at least 7%. The shift marks a sell-first, ask-questions-later mood as AI rollouts widen disruption risks across industries. Fund managers say it's no longer about picking winners but avoiding any name with even a hint of disruption. Industry observers note the AI rally last year gave way to a cautionary environment as new products prompt rapid reassessment of risk.

Tesla's Cybercab spotted in Bay Area; driverless taxi test underway

February 11, 2026, 7:50 AM EST. Tesla's robotaxi, the Cybercab, was spotted on the San Francisco Peninsula, signaling ongoing tests for a driverless taxi service in California. Elon Musk has said the program aims to launch, but it remains in trials and has not received approval from the California DMV. NBC Bay Area's coverage, with reporter Scott Budman and anchor Raj Mathai, examines the vehicle and Tesla's broader plans. No timeline exists for commercial rollout; officials have yet to greenlight operations beyond controlled testing. The segment provides a closer look at the Cybercab's appearance and the testing environment surrounding Tesla's autonomous taxi push.

Companies deploy AI agents, but scaling remains a hurdle

February 11, 2026, 7:48 AM EST. Many firms are deploying AI agents across functions, yet scaling them remains a top hurdle. Companies face data quality and integration gaps when connecting agents to legacy systems, and governance, security, and cost pressures complicate expansion. Vendors push standardized platforms, reusable templates, and risk controls to accelerate deployment. Leaders emphasize clear SLAs, audit trails, and a steady human-in-the-loop for high-stakes decisions. Successful scale hinges on centralized tooling, shared services, and cross-team governance to manage capabilities from pilot to enterprise rollout. Analysts warn that without disciplined change management and metrics, ROI may lag as deployments stretch across operations.

Motorola Edge 70 Fusion leaks reveal design, color options and specs

February 11, 2026, 7:44 AM EST. Motorola's Edge 70 Fusion appears in new renders, showing additional color options alongside Pantone Country Air and Pantone Silhouette. Leakster Evan Blass shared the images and previously pegged the device codename 'Avenger' and a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC with 8GB/12GB RAM and 256GB storage. A 7,000 mAh battery with 68W charging is also cited. The phone is said to sport a 6.78-inch quad-curved AMOLED display at 1.5K resolution, 144Hz, 5,200 nits brightness, and HDR10+. Gorilla Glass 7i protection is listed. A 32MP selfie camera supposedly accompanies a 50MP LYTIA rear sensor. The design reportedly uses a nylon-and-linen-inspired back. Android 16 and three OS upgrades are claimed, with IP68/IP69 ratings and MIL-STD-810H. Motorola hasn't announced price or date.

VanEck Semiconductor ETF leads AI plays in 2026 as Nvidia, TSM, Broadcom drive gains

February 11, 2026, 7:40 AM EST. AI is the fastest-growing secular trend and still early in its cycle. An AI-focused ETF can diversify exposure. The top pick here: VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), which has surged about 62.6% over the past year, far outpacing the S&P 500's 15.9%. The ETF is an index fund tracking the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25, covering the chip value chain from manufacturers to equipment makers. Its longer track record (trading since 2011) contrasts with newer AI ETFs. Core holdings include Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), Broadcom, Micron, and ASML. AI hardware demand remains strong as hyperscalers and software firms ramp AI spending in 2026. While individual AI stocks can be volatile, semis offer a way to play the AI infrastructure buildout. Data from YCharts and period to Feb 10, 2026.

SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 with 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg; how to watch livestream

February 11, 2026, 7:36 AM EST. SpaceX plans to launch its Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with a four-hour launch window opening at 6:07 a.m. PT. The mission will deploy 24 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. An FAA operations plan advisory notes a backup opportunity the following day if postponed. The two-stage, 230-foot booster is a regular sight over Southern California. Viewers can watch a live webcast on SpaceX's site and its X TV app, starting about five minutes before liftoff, with updates likely on X. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, operates primarily from California and Florida, deploying Starlink satellites to expand broadband service.

EU internet users protect data more in 2025; 76.9% take steps, Finland leads

February 11, 2026, 7:26 AM EST. EU internet users increased data protection in 2025 to 76.9%, up 3.7 pp from 2023. Across the bloc, more people barred advertising use (58.8%) and restricted geolocation (56.2%). Limiting access to social media profiles or shared online storage rose to 46.0%. Checking site security rose to 39.0%, while reading privacy policy statements reached 37.6%. Finland tops at 92.6%, followed by the Netherlands (91.2%) and Czechia (90.3%). Romania (56.0%), Slovenia (57.4%), and Bulgaria (62.0%) show the lowest shares. The data comes from the isoc_cisci_prv20 dataset and today marks Data Protection Day on 28 January.

Google expands Results about you to cover government IDs, and updates non-consensual image removal

February 11, 2026, 7:22 AM EST. Google expands its Results about you tool to include government-issued IDs-driver's licenses, passports, and Social Security numbers-joining existing protections for phone numbers, emails, and home addresses. In a Safer Internet Day rollout, users can add items and receive alerts when something is found, then tap Request to remove. Note: removal does not delete the data from the web, it reduces its visibility in Google Search. The change rolls out first in the US, with plans for additional regions. Separately, Google is streamlining the non-consensual explicit images removal tool: access via Google Images' three-dot menu, a single form for multiple images, proactive filtering of similar results, and status tracking with email updates. Both updates are rolling out over the coming days in most countries.

Starcloud to deploy AWS Outposts in space, eyes 88,000-satellite constellation

February 11, 2026, 7:20 AM EST. Starcloud says it will bring AWS Outposts to orbit, planning a second satellite launch in October to run high-performance computing in space. Co-founder and CEO Philip Johnston announced the plan on LinkedIn. AWS Outposts, which brings AWS compute and storage to customers' data centers or edge sites, debuted in 2018; AWS rolled out Gen7i instances in 2025 (C7i, M7i, R7i). No deployment specifics were disclosed. Starcloud previously worked with Google on an initial satellite, which carried an Nvidia H100 GPU and tested Gemma, Google's large language model. The company has sought FCC permission for a constellation of up to 88,000 satellites to train AI models and run cloud services, asserting space advantages such as near-constant solar power and radiative cooling could reduce data center costs and emissions.

ServiceNow CEO bets on a $1 trillion future powered by AI control tower

February 11, 2026, 7:18 AM EST. ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott says the enterprise software maker is a $1 trillion company in the making, anchored by a growing AI platform and an AI Control Tower that orchestrates agents, models and workflows. The company has expanded beyond IT service management to cover customer service, security, HR and more, serving about 85% of the Fortune 500. Recent tuck-in deals-Moveworks for $2.85 billion and Armis for $7.75 billion-boost its cybersecurity and AI capabilities. Its Now Assist AI suite reached $600 million in annual contract value, with a goal of $1 billion this year. IDC projects $1.3 trillion in spending on agentic AI-enabled apps by 2029, a market ServiceNow aims to own as IT's hub for AI fleets. McDermott extended his commitment to 2030 and beyond, saying he has overwhelming belief in the company.

Google's Demis Hassabis outlines 4-step plan to restore the 'golden era' of AI

February 11, 2026, 7:14 AM EST. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Demis Hassabis outlined a four-step plan to restore Google's pace of innovation. The DeepMind founder, who leads Google's AI push, says progress starts with a best-in-class technology core. He cited Gemini as the nucleus and noted models like Nano Banana and Veo as part of the strategy. Two, rebuild internal processes so new models ship quickly-a 12-18 month effort he says can go faster. Third, enforce a culture of intensity: focus on the biggest opportunities and cut distractions. Fourth, make good, rational decisions with minimal drama in a noisy tech world. Hassabis's remarks show Google aiming to reclaim leadership in AI.

Ayaneo Next 2 Windows handheld priced up to $4,299 with maxed specs

February 11, 2026, 7:12 AM EST. Ayaneo opened preorders for the Next 2, a Windows 11 handheld weighing 3.14 pounds and measuring 13.45 by 10.3 inches. It ships with a 116Wh battery, dual fans and an OLED 9.06-inch screen at 2400×1504, with a 60-165 Hz refresh rate and up to 1,155 nits brightness. Base configuration starts at $1,999 (Indiegogo early bird $1,799). Maxed-out spec runs $4,299, offering AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with Radeon 8060S iGPU, 128GB RAM and 2TB storage. The device is heavier than the original Ayaneo Next, Steam Deck and Switch 2. Battery size exceeds airline carry-on limit at 100Wh, so travel checks may be required. Ports include dual USB-C, microSD, headphone jack; cooling relies on two fans. By Andrew Liszewski.

Microsoft patches six zero-day exploits ahead of February Patch Tuesday

February 11, 2026, 7:10 AM EST. Microsoft patched six zero-day vulnerabilities ahead of February Patch Tuesday after attackers exploited the flaws before fixes shipped. Three of the six are publicly disclosed, suggesting PoC exploits may already be online. The flaws include CVE-2026-21510 Windows Shell Security Feature Bypass (CVSS 8.8), CVE-2026-21513 Internet Explorer Security Feature Bypass (CVSS 8.8), and CVE-2026-21514 Word Security Feature Bypass (CVSS 7.8). Exploitation typically requires a user to open a malicious link or file, enabling code execution and bypassing security prompts. Microsoft did not identify attackers or scope. Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative warns the bug class could be code execution; emergency patches may follow if fixes don't fully plug the holes.

MrBeast buys Step banking app to launch new financial arm

February 11, 2026, 6:52 AM EST. MrBeast, the YouTube creator, has acquired Step, a banking app aimed at teens, as part of Beast Industries' push into financial services. In a press release, Beast Industries said the deal combines Step's fintech platform with its audience reach to broaden access to financial literacy and money management. Step bills itself as addressing teens and helps teens build credit while teaching it. The app offers interest-free loans up to $250 and lets users earn cash through games. On the App Store, Step reports about 80,000 reviews and a 4.7-star rating, signaling strong user sentiment. The acquisition marks a broader strategy to monetize creator influence through financial products. Readers are invited to share thoughts in comments.

T-Mobile offers free month of 5G Home Internet and up to $300 back with code MONTHONUS

February 11, 2026, 6:50 AM EST. T-Mobile is running a deal that includes a free month of its 5G Home Internet and up to $300 back when you use the code MONTHONUS at checkout. The prepaid Mastercard arrives within 14 weeks. The Mastercard amount depends on plan: Rely ($100), Amplified ($200), All-In ($300). All-In starts at $70/month and offers average speeds of 170-498 Mbps, a free mesh Wi-Fi extender, 24/7 support, and Hulu and Paramount Plus subscriptions. Additional savings appear if you pair with a T-Mobile unlimited phone plan: 55+ customers can drop to as little as $30/month; under 55, the Rely plan with any voice plan comes to $35/month before taxes. T-Mobile offers a 15-day trial and ships the gateway for free, though results vary by location. The service may vary by location.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo hits lowest-ever price on Amazon-save $500

February 11, 2026, 6:38 AM EST. Mashable reports the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon, a $500 savings and about 31% off the list price. The deal is current as of Feb. 11, 2026, with stock still available for now. Deal pricing and availability can change after publication.

Palantir, OpenAI backers mobilize AI funding to influence midterm policy

February 11, 2026, 6:34 AM EST. In New York, a congressional candidate once at Palantir faces an anti-ICE ad campaign that foregrounds his former employer's ties to enforcement. The spot, backed by Leading The Future, an affiliate funded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale and other tech leaders, targets voters as lawmakers race to set AI rules before the midterms. Lonsdale says the industry must confront populist backlash while OpenAI and venture backers mobilize tens of millions to back AI-friendly candidates and even Trump's network. Critics say the money exposes hypocrisy: donors profit from ICE contracts while funding ads that attack rivals. Analysts say the push shows how big tech intends to shape policy, elections and the regulatory landscape in the next decade.

Investors weigh Nvidia alternatives as Alphabet and Micron loom in AI stock rally

February 11, 2026, 6:30 AM EST. Nvidia has led the AI rally, but some investors are looking beyond the chipmaker to smaller, high-growth AI stocks. Nvidia's earnings underscore continued demand for its semiconductors, with revenue of about $57 billion, up 62% year over year, helping it become the first publicly traded corporation to reach a $5 trillion market cap. Still, the case for Alphabet is growing: Google Cloud revenue jumped 48% YoY, while Google Services rose 14%, as the company expands AI into ads, search, and mobility bets like Waymo. The long horizon may hinge on cloud and physical AI. Meanwhile, Micron is pitched as an undervalued way to address the AI memory bottleneck, a key piece for AI chips.

Micron or Microsoft: Which AI stock looks better on the dip?

February 11, 2026, 6:26 AM EST. Micron and Microsoft both look to rebound, but risk and upside differ. Micron benefits from AI demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM): its 2026 HBM supply is sold out, and the total addressable market could rise from about $35B in 2025 to $100B by 2028, with the stock near 12x forward earnings. Yet it remains a cyclical name. Microsoft trades on historically low multiples as Azure growth cools and Copilot uptake lags amid competition from Google Gemini and Claude. Investors weigh AI upside against cyclicality and margin pressure. Both could rebound if demand strengthens and execution improves.

Google upgrades safety tools to find and remove more personal data

February 11, 2026, 6:22 AM EST. Google has upgraded two safety tools. The Results About You feature can now locate and remove pages that reveal ID numbers such as your passport, driver's license, or Social Security number, and users can enable detection in the ID numbers section of Settings. For privacy, Google notes that full driver's license numbers may be requested, while the last four digits may suffice for passport and SSN. Separately, the NCEI tool for non-consensual explicit imagery now works faster, addressing deepfakes and other AI-generated content. The changes come amid rising online privacy concerns and broader use of AI to generate sexualized material.

AST SpaceMobile unfurls massive satellite array to challenge Starlink cellular

February 11, 2026, 6:18 AM EST. AST SpaceMobile unveiled a 2,400-square-foot satellite array that unfurled on its latest orbital platform, designed to beam cellular connectivity to handheld devices on Earth. The move positions the company to compete with SpaceX's Starlink-style broadband by using satellites in low Earth orbit to reach mainstream cellphones. Industry observers say deployment remains early-stage, with regulatory and network integration hurdles ahead, but the company says the system could eventually cover wide areas without ground towers.

Mid-State and WCTC launch shared AI data specialist degree to meet Wisconsin manufacturing demand

February 11, 2026, 6:16 AM EST. Mid-State Technical College and Waukesha County Technical College formalized a shared program agreement for a new AI data specialist associate degree. The initiative aims to meet rising demand for AI and data analytics talent in Wisconsin's manufacturing sector. The curriculum pairs Mid-State's AI Data Specialist degree with WCTC's IT-Data and Analytics Specialist program, creating a unified pathway focused on applied skills for advanced manufacturing. The program emphasizes real-world applications through hands-on learning and an employer-informed curriculum. The signing event featured industry leaders underscoring the importance of applied AI talent in modern manufacturing. Leaders said collaboration ensures students gain practical, industry-relevant skills today and a foundation adaptable to emerging technologies tomorrow.

Grasshopper Still Working On Switch 2 Version Of Romeo Is A Dead Man, Suda51 Says

February 11, 2026, 6:08 AM EST. Grasshopper Manufacture says it is pursuing a Switch 2 version of its new game Romeo Is A Dead Man. In a five-minute Grasshopper Direct, CEO Goichi Suda (Suda51) reiterated that the team is doing what it can and asked fans to give it more time. The update follows a December remark that the studio wants to bring the title to Switch 2 but must ensure Unreal Engine 5 plays nicely with the new hybrid system. Grasshopper is also in talks about a physical version of the game. Suda cited a near-100% certainty of releasing one more game in 2026, with details to come soon. No Switch release was announced today; the game launches on other platforms.

JavaScript-disabled site blocks load; troubleshooting tips issued

February 11, 2026, 6:02 AM EST. Site users report a failed load when JavaScript is turned off in the browser. The message suggests the required content could not load due to browser extensions, network issues, or browser settings. Analysts say the fault lies either with disabled client-side scripting or restrictive extensions that block scripts. Users are advised to enable JavaScript, disable interfering extensions, or switch to a different browser. If the problem persists, check the network connection, disable ad blockers, or retry with a different device. Providers typically log such issues as compatibility or security settings rather than server faults. The guidance stresses basic checks before escalating to support teams, underscoring how a missing script can halt essential site functions.

Kennesaw State to launch Georgia's first BS in Artificial Intelligence in 2026

February 11, 2026, 6:00 AM EST. Kennesaw State University will launch a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Fall 2026, the first in Georgia to offer both undergraduate and graduate AI degrees. The program, housed in the College of Computing and Software Engineering, will be available on the Marietta Campus and online, addressing rising demand for AI expertise across sectors. It builds on an existing AI concentration in the CS bachelor's and a 2024 Master of Science in AI. Provost Ivan Pulinkala said the degree will help meet Georgia's workforce needs as AI drives innovation in health care, manufacturing and logistics. The curriculum includes a first-year experience course, a computing-focused writing course, and an applied AI capstone with industry partners; internships and undergraduate research are available for credit. Interim Dean Yiming Ji called it interdisciplinary and career-ready.

CFOs Turn to Agentic AI for Savings and Cash Flow, PYMNTS Finds

February 11, 2026, 5:56 AM EST. CFOs are increasingly turning to agentic AI to automate cash flow, forecasting and budget allocation, while keeping a human hand on the wheel. A PYMNTS Intelligence study, drawing on The CAIO Report, finds CFOs see value in dynamic budget reallocation, live forecasts and smarter cash timing. About 43% expect a high impact from automated budget shifts, with 47% predicting moderate impact. Nearly 1 in 3 CFOs foresee high impact from real-time forecasts and scenario analysis, while four in ten expect moderate impact. Around 70% of firms already use at least one AI tool to manage cash, and about 1 in 3 expect agents to advise on when to hold cash, pay early or delay. But risk remains, and many CFOs stop short of full automation.

Huawei previews non-invasive blood sugar monitoring in smartwatches at World Health Expo

February 11, 2026, 5:54 AM EST. At the World Health Expo in Dubai, Huawei outlined a non-invasive blood sugar management feature for its smartwatches. The tool uses Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to spot potential diabetes risk factors by analyzing small changes in signals. Huawei says the function raises awareness of blood sugar trends without delivering medical diagnoses and prompts users to seek professional testing when warranted. After wearing the watch for a period-three to fourteen days-the dedicated Diabetes Risk app assigns a risk level: Low, Medium, or High. The company plans an OTA update to compatible models, starting with the Watch GT 6 Pro and expanding to others in the coming months. Huawei has also stressed ongoing diabetes-related research into neuropathy and microvascular issues to inform this feature.

PsiQuantum names Victor Peng Interim CEO as it targets 2026 utility-scale quantum deployment

February 11, 2026, 5:52 AM EST. PsiQuantum has appointed Victor Peng as Interim CEO while co-founder Jeremy O'Brien shifts to Executive Chairman. The move comes as the quantum startup moves from core R&D toward deploying the world's first utility-scale quantum computers by February 10, 2026. PsiQuantum cites progress on its Omega silicon photonic chipset and sites planned in Australia and Chicago, supported by partnerships with NVIDIA, Airbus and Lockheed Martin. Peng, formerly AMD President and Xilinx CEO, will steer business, financial and operational strategy to scale systems, with O'Brien praising the foundation laid for large-scale deployment. The company has raised over $1 billion in Series E funding in the past year and aims to translate decades of research into practical, fault-tolerant quantum infrastructure.

Infinix Note 60 Pro fuses iPhone-like camera plateau with Nothing Glyph Matrix

February 11, 2026, 5:50 AM EST. Infinix's Note 60 Pro merges two popular aesthetics: the horizontal camera plateau popularized by the iPhone 17 Pro and a Glyph Matrix dot display borrowed from Nothing. The design seeks coherence by giving the left-aligned triple camera panel a single canvas, while the right side presents the dot matrix for weather, time, notifications and music controls. The result is a derivative look, not a bold identity, but it works enough to feel intentional. Specs appear strong on paper: a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, a 6.78-inch 1.5K display with a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 6,500mAh battery with 90W charging. Pricing and launch timing are undisclosed; market strategy targets a sub-$400 price in Africa, Southeast Asia and India. Real test remains software performance and glyph utility.

Black Myth: Zhong Kui teased for PS5 as Game Science hints PC and all mainstream consoles

February 11, 2026, 5:48 AM EST. Game Science says Black Myth: Zhong Kui will release on PC and all mainstream console platforms, a line that implicitly includes the PS5 but stops short of a formal confirmation. A Sony upload of a Lunar New Year trailer labeled PS5 Games adds to the sense that the sequel is moving toward PlayStation hardware, though no date is given. The original reveal clips underscored the studio's ambition after Black Myth: Wukong, with the next project likely to target Sony's ecosystem, possibly even the PS6 by the time it arrives. The newly circulated trailer, in-engine, showcases high-quality art and a busy scene mixing cooking with eerie imagery, but it is non-canon and for entertainment purposes only. No release window has been announced.

Quantum surgery enables fault-tolerant operations on logical qubits

February 11, 2026, 5:46 AM EST. Physicists demonstrated a method to perform a quantum operation on protected logical qubits while continuously correcting errors during the operation. The team combined surface codes with lattice surgery to manipulate and entangle logical qubits without exposing the information to decoherence. Decoherence causes bit flips and phase flips, the two main failure modes in quantum computation. Unlike classical errors, quantum data cannot be copied, so information is spread across many qubits using entanglement. The experiment, led by Professor Andreas Wallraff at ETH Zurich in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute and researchers at RWTH Aachen and Forschungszentrum Jülich, shows a fault-tolerant operation on superconducting logical qubits. The work appears in Nature Physics.

Galaxy Watch 7 40mm Cream at 33% off persists on Amazon

February 11, 2026, 5:44 AM EST. Amazon continues to offer a 33% discount on the Galaxy Watch 7, 40mm in Cream, pricing it just under $168 and saving buyers about $83. The deal remains live, giving shoppers a second chance to snag Samsung's former flagship smartwatch. The 40mm model blends an aluminum case with a Sapphire Crystal display for durability. It runs Wear OS with access to the Play Store for apps like Spotify, supports NFC payments, and includes health tools such as sleep apnea detection, dual-band GPS, and Samsung's body composition analysis. It also handles notifications, calls, and basic phone tasks, with battery life pegged at roughly a day to a day and a half. Availability is uncertain; buyers should act before the offer ends.

Google expands tools to remove personal data and nonconsensual images from search results

February 11, 2026, 5:40 AM EST. Google said on Tuesday it is expanding its 'results about you' tool to let people remove more sensitive data from search results. The update adds driver's licenses, passports, and Social Security numbers to items that can be removed, joining existing removals for phone numbers and addresses. Google says information entered into the tool is protected with advanced encryption and notes it does not delete the data from the web itself. The feature will roll out in the US in coming days, with plans to expand to other regions. Separately, Google is improving its process to remove nonconsensual explicit images: users can select 'remove results' and choose 'It shows a sexual image of me'; it now supports removing multiple images and proactive filtering of similar results. The rollout targets most countries in the near term.

Stanford researchers use AI to guide robots through simple tasks

February 11, 2026, 5:36 AM EST. Researchers at Stanford University are training robots to respond to simple tasks using AI. The work is staged at the Intelligence through Robotic Interaction at Scale Lab, where scientists test how machines interpret instructions and translate them into action. The effort aims to move AI from chat interfaces into the real world, letting robots carry out everyday tasks. NPR science editor and correspondent Geoff Brumfiel visited the lab to report on progress and the hurdles that still impede robots from performing even basic actions. The story highlights ongoing challenges in perception, planning and control as researchers seek more reliable autonomous behavior.

B&H Mega Deal Zone cuts $300 off 15-inch MacBook Air with 32GB RAM and 1TB storage

February 11, 2026, 5:30 AM EST. B&H's Mega Deal Zone is live with discounts across Apple gear. The standout: a $300 reduction on the 15-inch MacBook Air configured with the M4 chip, 32GB of unified memory and 1TB SSD, in Sky Blue. B&H notes this price undercuts the M5 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same RAM/storage by about $200, and positions the 15-inch Air as the best value for those who want more screen real estate. The sale also features multiple Air and Pro configurations, with several models marked down by up to $400. Shoppers should review the Top offers list, including 13-inch and 15-inch M4 Air models, plus the Samsung 2TB T7 Shield SSD at about $210 after coupon.

Ferrari Luce interior echoes Apple design but keeps driving controls

February 11, 2026, 5:28 AM EST. Ferrari unveiled the interior of its first all-electric car, the Luce, drawing design cues from Apple's Jony Ive and his firm. The cabin leans on physical controls-clicky buttons and twisty knobs-keeping eyes on the road, a contrast with many rivals. The trim language pairs rounded edges with glass, brushed aluminum, and leather; the same glass supplier and Samsung OLED screens tie the cabin to Apple's ecosystem. Exterior debut is planned for May after March pre-orders. Ferrari's stock jumped after beating revenue expectations and guiding toward stronger earnings for the year, underscoring solid demand for the Luce.

Iran's internet returns in parts, but foreign messaging apps stay restricted

February 11, 2026, 5:24 AM EST. Iran's internet appears to be returning in parts after disruptions, but foreign messaging apps such as WhatsApp will remain restricted. A Tehran-based newspaper cited unnamed officials saying some online services are once again accessible, yet many users still face limits. Observers note safety and privacy concerns around domestic platforms now filling the gap, as state-affiliated services are used to reestablish communications. The move marks a partial restoration, with rollout uneven by region and service. No public timetable was given for full restoration or lifting of all bans. Foreign users and cross-border businesses continue to face barriers, while Iran argues the changes balance security with access. The reporting underscores how digital access in Iran remains tightly managed despite surface improvements.

Infinix Note 60 Pro debuts with dot matrix secondary display, shutter button and 6,500 mAh battery

February 11, 2026, 5:22 AM EST. Infinix is peppering the mid-range Note 60 Pro with a dot matrix secondary display, a camera shutter button on the frame, and a 6,500 mAh battery. The model runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, pairing four performance cores (ARM Cortex-A720) with four efficiency cores (Cortex-A520). It includes a 50 MP main camera and a 144 Hz display. Infinix says the Note 60 Pro, like the Note 60 Air, should receive at least three major Android updates and five years of security patches. Reservations are already being taken in select markets, signaling a launch in the coming weeks, though price and broader availability remain unconfirmed.

Survey finds little progress on post-quantum encryption readiness

February 11, 2026, 5:20 AM EST. A Ponemon Institute survey of 4,149 IT and security practitioners, commissioned by Entrust, finds growing concern about quantum risks but slow action on PQC. About 75% expect a quantum computer could break traditional public-key cryptography within five years, yet only 38% are preparing to adopt post-quantum cryptography. Just 32% are inventorying cryptographic assets or aiming for crypto-agility. More than two-thirds say managing keys, certificates and secrets is difficult; 41% cite limited visibility as the top barrier to PQC readiness. Experts warn migration timelines compress, with first capable devices possibly in 2029, leaving under three years to migrate. Organizations should prioritize data based on sensitivity, and some teams link upgrades to AI or zero-trust projects. Nation-state actors are suspected of already harvesting encrypted data for future decryption.

SpaceX prioritizes Moon over Mars for self-growing city, Mars kept in parallel

February 11, 2026, 5:16 AM EST. SpaceX has shifted its focus to building a self-growing Moon city, arguing it can be pursued faster than a comparable Mars settlement. Elon Musk posted on X that a Moon project could reach viability in under 10 years, vs. 20+ for Mars. He cited launch cadence as the key: Moon missions can depart every ~10 days and arrive in about two days, while Mars windows open roughly every 26 months with six months of transit. SpaceX plans to work on both, emphasising the Moon as the fastest path to an off-world civilization and a foothold against Earth-linked risks; Mars development is slated to begin in five to seven years and run in parallel, with direct Earth-to-Mars launches continuing when fuel permits. The Moon project is not a staging point for Mars, according to Musk.

Kubernetes drives AI expansion as cultural shift becomes critical

February 11, 2026, 5:14 AM EST. Kubernetes has shifted from a container-orchestration framework to the core infrastructure powering AI work. A Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) report notes high technical maturity, but human and organizational factors remain the main barriers to deployment. For enterprises scaling AI, cloud-native technologies are now essential, with Kubernetes enabling dynamic resource allocation for expensive GPU clusters. Yet the environment's complexity challenges engineering teams. As the industry pursues a 'Cloud Native AI' standard, attention moves from simple containerisation to orchestrating complex data pipelines and model-training workflows. The CNCF highlights cross-functional collaboration between data scientists and DevOps as the decisive factor for moving from pilots to production. Adoption sits near 82%, with alternatives such as SageMaker, Vertex AI and Azure ML, plus traditional HPC and bare-metal options.

AI adoption in finance firms not fueling mass layoffs, early data show

February 11, 2026, 5:12 AM EST. AI adoption in finance firms is accelerating, but early data show no broad wave of layoffs. Banks and asset managers report productivity gains from automation in back-office and risk functions, while human teams handle governance and interpretation of AI outputs. Executives say roles are evolving rather than disappearing, shifting toward data science, model oversight, and client analytics. Some firms are hiring for AI specialists even as others pause on large hires in certain units. Regulators stress risk controls and explainability. The net effect is a redistribution of work, with automation reducing mundane tasks but not triggering mass job cuts.

UC Berkeley study finds AI boosts productivity but risks worker burnout

February 11, 2026, 5:10 AM EST. UC Berkeley researchers, in eight months and 40 in-depth interviews across engineering, product, design, research and operations, found AI tools raise what workers can accomplish and broaden task variety. An unnamed 200-person U.S. tech firm is among early examples discussed in Harvard Business Review. Yet productivity growth came with longer hours and fewer breaks, as AI lowers the friction to start tasks. Experts warn nonstop work can blur the work-life boundary and fuel burnout and cognitive fatigue. Workers describe AI as a 'partner' that enables more multitasking and rapid task-switching, which prior studies link to lower productivity. The study suggests addressing AI overload with policies that preserve rest, focus, and quality of work. Researchers plan further guidance on implementation.

Google expands Results about you to cover government IDs and streamlines removal of non-consensual images

February 11, 2026, 5:08 AM EST. Google expanded Results about you to cover government-issued IDs such as driver's licenses, passports, and Social Security numbers. The update is rolling out in the U.S. in coming days and will reach more regions later. It also streamlines the removal of non-consensual explicit images: users can click the three dots on an image, select 'remove result,' and choose 'It shows a sexual image of me.' A single form now lets users submit requests for multiple images and track status in the Results about you hub. First-time users must tap their account photo in the Google app, select 'Get started,' and add monitored details. Google notes that removing data from Search does not delete it from the web, but it can help privacy, and the company plans proactive safeguards to filter similar results.

Google rolls out Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 for Pixel devices

February 11, 2026, 5:06 AM EST. Google has released Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 for Pixel devices, described as a minor bug-fix update with no changelog provided. The OTA arrives as build CP11.251209.009 for Pixel 6/6 Pro/6a/7/7 Pro and CP11.251209.009.A1 for other Pixels, including the Pixel 10 series. Release date: February 10, 2026. Emulator support is TBA; security patch level is 2026-01-05 and Google Play services is 25.47.33. The Beta 2.1 update appears ahead of a broader QPR3 stable rollout planned with the March Pixel update and Pixel Feature Drop. Users can enroll in the Android Beta or grab OTA/files manually.

Radnor parents urge policy updates after AI deepfake scandal at Radnor High School

February 11, 2026, 5:04 AM EST. Parents of Radnor High School students addressed the district Tuesday, calling for rapid policy updates as an AI deepfake scandal led to charges against a juvenile. The case involves the creation and distribution of fake sexualized images of students and prompted Radnor police to file harassment charges in January after a December disclosure. Parents criticized district communication and handling, urging clearer timelines, parental consent for interviews, and more transparency. Board members said they are reviewing policies on bullying, harassment and acceptable technology use, including AI and how it applies to off-campus behavior. Officials emphasized learning the link between incidents off-campus and school impact. The superintendent was not present. The district declined to comment, deferring to the solicitor.

Can a budget smartwatch beat Garmin? Instinct 3 vs Amazfit Active Max on a snowboard

February 11, 2026, 5:02 AM EST. Can a budget smartwatch beat a rugged Garmin? The author tested two 2026 releases on Blackcomb Mountain: the Garmin Instinct 3 (45mm AMOLED edition) priced at $449 and the Amazfit Active Max at $169. The Active Max offers offline maps, music downloads, and a large display, while the Instinct 3 emphasizes rugged build, long battery life, and a built-in LED flashlight for outdoor use. Both ran on the same snow day with Strava and the Slopes app on an iPhone 16 Plus. In the field, the devices produced similar top speeds (about 36 mph) and comparable downhill distances, with Strava and Slopes showing modest variations. The Instinct 3 remains Garmin's more traditional mountaineering option; the Active Max pushes value with strong specs for the price.

Amazon Renewed cuts 512GB iPhone 16 price to $679; Apple refurb at $869

February 11, 2026, 4:58 AM EST. Amazon Renewed is pricing the iPhone 16 lineup sharply. The 512GB model is listed at $679, about $420 below the original launch price and roughly $320 cheaper than the iPhone 17. By contrast, Apple's official Apple Refurbished Store asks $869 for the same 512GB device. Amazon Renewed Premium units include 1-year warranties, are not Apple-certified, and may arrive in generic packaging. They are inspected and tested by Amazon-qualified suppliers, with batteries at least 80% of new, and minimal cosmetic wear. For the 256GB variant, Amazon's price sits about $50 under Apple refurb. A 90-day return window applies. The takeaway: third-party refurb sellers can undercut official pricing on higher-capacity models, though caveats apply.

Morgan Stanley Says AI Will Augment, Not Replace, Wealth Advice

February 11, 2026, 4:54 AM EST. Morgan Stanley's Jed Finn pushed back on AI fears infecting wealth advice. After Tuesday's stock selloff in Schwab, Raymond James, LPL and Stifel of 7-8%, Bloomberg tied the move to Altruist's AI-powered tax planning in Hazel and broader worries about disruption. Finn said Morgan Stanley has more than 3,500 tools and capabilities, including tax planning, but stressed the advisor-client relationship remains central. "An individual tool is a tiny part of the platform and broader capability ecosystem," he said at UBS's 2026 Financial Services Conference. The firm's stock fell 2.4% that day, even as its wealth assets rose to $9.3 trillion in Q1 from $8.9 trillion, helped by $122 billion net new wealth. Finn argued AI will enhance, not replace, advice, helping advisors scale while preserving client trust. He cited Roth Conversion Analyst as an example.

Amazon Renewed sells 512GB iPhone 16 for $679, far below Apple's refurb price

February 11, 2026, 4:52 AM EST. Apple started offering iPhone 16 models in its official refurbished store this month. Amazon Renewed Premium prices are lower across the board. A 512GB iPhone 16 is listed at $679 on Amazon, about $420 off the original launch price and roughly $320 cheaper than the iPhone 17's base model. Pro and Pro Max units in Amazon Renewed Premium carry a one-year warranty and as much as $630 off list prices. By contrast, Apple refurb store asks $869 for the 512GB iPhone 16. The 256GB version is about $50 under Apple refurb. On the iPhone 17, 256GB is $799 and 512GB is $999. Amazon Renewed is not Apple-certified but devices are inspected, tested, and come with a return window.

Apple's M5 MacBook Pro lineup and budget model eyed for 2026 launch

February 11, 2026, 4:50 AM EST. Apple's 2026 plan appears unusually crowded, with initial updates expected for the MacBook Pro lineup and a budget model in the first half of the year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman cites internal Apple communications indicating a busy period with new devices launching over the coming weeks. The plan centers on bringing the higher-powered M5 Pro and M5 Max chips to the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro lines, potentially followed by a lower-cost MacBook around $599. The MacBook Air is also seen receiving an M5 refresh in the first half, and later in 2026 Apple may introduce a Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro. While dates remain unconfirmed, February or March windows are discussed in rumors; real-world pricing and performance will reveal themselves on release day.

Samsung targets revival of variable aperture camera as Apple plans iPhone 18 feature

February 11, 2026, 4:46 AM EST. ETNews reports Samsung has asked multiple camera module partners to develop again a variable aperture camera, reviving a feature first shown on the 2018 Galaxy S9+. It disappeared with the S10 series but could return on future Galaxy devices, the outlet says, to bolster camera competitiveness with Apple. The report also notes that Apple plans to bring variable aperture tech to the iPhone 18 family, possibly limited to the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Samsung's push follows recent reports that it has shifted Galaxy S26 plans to better match iPhone pricing, a move that has not produced a clear camera upgrade. The potential revival would hinge on cost and device footprint improvements.

Eutelsat secures about €1 billion in export credit for OneWeb satellite procurement

February 11, 2026, 4:42 AM EST. Eutelsat has secured about €1 billion in export credit financing backed by a French state guarantee to fund the procurement of low Earth orbit satellites for its OneWeb constellation. The financing backs a contract with Airbus for 340 satellites, subject to conditions including a bond issuance by Eutelsat Communications. The deal underscores continued European support for the OneWeb program. (Reporting by Jerome Terroy).

TSMC CEO C.C. Wei signals persistent AI demand as Nvidia ties to record sales

February 11, 2026, 4:40 AM EST. TSMC posted a record monthly revenue under CEO C.C. Wei, underscoring ongoing AI demand. In January the contract chipmaker reported NT$401.26 billion (~$12.7 billion), up 37% year over year and 20% from December. The result highlights TSMC's role as the world's leading maker of the most advanced chips for AI, HPC and smartphones. Nvidia dominates the data-center GPU market, and IoT Analytics puts its share around 92%, making Nvidia a crucial client for TSMC. Some analysts see Nvidia potentially overtaking Apple as TSMC's largest customer by 2026. Taken together, the numbers point to sustained AI adoption and a broader data-center expansion, supporting demand for Nvidia's GPUs amid a forecasted $3-4 trillion data-center spend by 2030.

Five essential Apple Watch apps I use daily

February 11, 2026, 4:36 AM EST. Five essential Apple Watch apps I use daily highlight tools that fit a fast, on-the-go life. Gentler Streak centers on wellbeing, showing readiness and warning against overexertion while suggesting restorative workouts. Apple Music (and Spotify for some users) keeps music and podcasts at a glance. The Outsiders and other health apps push deeper insights for serious athletes. Flighty, Hidrate Spark, and Carrot Weather prove practical on the move, delivering travel updates, hydration cues, and forecasts from the wrist. Despite removals like Uber, Slack, and Instagram, watchOS still offers capable options. The piece explains how these apps boost fitness, information access, and communication in daily routines.

AT&T launches amiGO Jr. smartphone designed for kids

February 11, 2026, 4:34 AM EST. AT&T has launched the amiGO Jr. Phone, a collaboration with Samsung that targets families seeking more control over kids' smartphones. The device pairs advanced parental controls-parents manage screentime, apps and settings from their own iOS or Android device-with features such as location sharing, Safe Zones and Schedules to curb distractions during school hours. It runs an Exynos 1330 chip and has three rear cameras and a 6.7-inch display in a navy, utilitarian design critics say looks like any Android device rather than a toy. Priced from $209.99, it is available to order now. AT&T says the product aims to give parents peace of mind as smartphones become a daily necessity, though some question whether a dedicated 'kids' phone' is preferable to a standard device.

North Korea-linked UNC1069 uses AI lures to target cryptocurrency sector, Google says

February 11, 2026, 4:28 AM EST. Google Mandiant researchers Ross Inman and Adrian Hernandez say the North Korea-linked actor UNC1069 targets the cryptocurrency sector to steal data from Windows and macOS. The operation leans on social engineering, including compromised Telegram accounts, fake Zoom meetings, a ClickFix infection vector, and AI-generated video lures. Since at least 2018, UNC1069 has favored fake investor personas on Telegram and invites via Calendly to arrange 30-minute calls. Victims are directed to a Zoom-like fake site (zoom.uswe05[.]us) and prompted to join a video call where attackers may use deepfakes. Google Threat Intelligence Group notes the actor uses AI tools like Gemini, and has deployed up to seven malware families, including SILENCELIFT, DEEPBREATH, and CHROMEPUSH, and a backdoor called BIGMACHO. The group has shifted toward Web3 targets, such as CEXs and crypto developers, since 2023.

SpaceX shifts focus to a lunar city, pushing Mars plan back, Musk says

February 11, 2026, 4:26 AM EST. Elon Musk said SpaceX has shifted toward building a self-growing city on the Moon with a timeline under 10 years, while keeping a plan for a Mars city in five to seven years. He wrote on X that the overriding priority is civilization's future and the Moon is faster. The remarks echo a Wall Street Journal report that SpaceX told investors it would prioritise lunar work before attempting a Mars mission, targeting an uncrewed lunar landing in March 2027. Musk has previously said the Moon is a distraction from Mars. The comments come amid competition with China to return to the Moon this decade. Separately, SpaceX disclosed the acquisition of xAI, valuing the company at about $1 trillion.

Tesla Roadster logo filing fuels launch talk as reservations persist

February 11, 2026, 4:24 AM EST. Tesla filed a trademark in the United States for a new Roadster logo, a sign the company may be nearing delivery of the long-delayed electric sports car. The mark features a retro-futuristic script reading 'Roadster', with an italic, thin typeface and a triple-line E that echoes Tesla's own wordmark. While branding moves forward, the car itself remains vaporware for now. Tesla has been taking reservations at $50,000 per car, yet several enthusiasts have had that sum tied up for more than eight years. The company has not commented on the filing. The Roadster was first teased in 2017 with promises of sub-2-second 0-60 mph and over 250 mph top speed, but a 2020 deadline passed without shipment.

Garmin Venu 3S lands $100 discount, touts longer battery life than Galaxy and Pixel Watch

February 11, 2026, 4:22 AM EST. The Garmin Venu 3S delivers up to 10 days of battery life, a bright AMOLED display and a wide set of health sensors. It targets users seeking longer endurance without sacrificing fitness tracking. The watch includes GPS, built-in workouts with Garmin Coach, sleep and stress metrics, and Garmin Pay for contactless payments. Priced normally at $450, it is now discounted to $350, making it a strong option against the Galaxy and Pixel Watches for buyers who value longevity and health data. While Galaxy and Pixel offer strong smart features, the Venu 3S leads in battery life and comprehensive health metrics.

Google confirms Android 17 Beta 1 coming soon after final Android 16 QPR3 patch

February 11, 2026, 4:20 AM EST. Google says Android 17 Beta 1 is coming, kicking off the next beta cycle after the final Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 patch. Devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program will receive the update automatically when it goes live. If you want the stable Android 16 QPR3 release, opt out before Android 17 Beta 1 lands; staying enrolled will jump you to Beta 1. Google cautions that opting out and ignoring the downgrade OTA labeled as Downgrade is necessary to avoid a data wipe, and that the next data-wipe-free exit window won't arrive until late in the Android 17 cycle. The company hasn't confirmed the dessert codename, but prior reports point to Cinnamon Bun, with the platform release tracked as 26Q2, aiming for a mid-2026 stable release.

IBM unveils autonomous FlashSystem portfolio powered by agentic AI across 5600, 7600 and 9600

February 11, 2026, 4:18 AM EST. IBM on Feb. 10 unveiled a new FlashSystem portfolio-5600, 7600, and 9600-designed for autonomous storage run by agentic AI. The lineup adds FlashSystem.ai data services that help admins manage, monitor, diagnose, and remediate issues across the data path. The fifth-generation FlashCore Module provides hardware-accelerated ransomware detection in under one minute and supports analytics, reduced latency, and scalable telemetry. IBM says the new systems improve data efficiency by up to 40% and can cut manual storage management by up to 90%. IBM cites an IBV study showing 76% of executives are piloting autonomous AI in workflows. IBM officials say the portfolio shifts storage into an always-on, intelligent layer that protects workloads and automates recovery with minimal human input.

iPhone 18 Pro rumors: unified back glass, smaller Dynamic Island and bold new colors

February 11, 2026, 4:16 AM EST. Rumors point to three design changes on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max this fall. A redesigned back glass aims to minimize the color gap with the aluminum frame for a unified look. The Dynamic Island is expected to shrink by about 35%, with some Face ID components moving behind the display but not to a full hole-punch cutout. Apple is testing new Pro color options, including Coffee Brown, Purple, and Burgundy; a black option for next year is deemed unlikely by the source. Apple previously offered bold hues like Cosmic Orange, and it's unclear which colors will reach customers. The details come from Weibo leaker Instant Digital and posts; Apple did not comment.

ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN benchmarks reveal demanding PC performance on Unreal Engine 5

February 11, 2026, 4:12 AM EST. Grasshopper Manufacture's ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN launches on PC with Unreal Engine 5. A battery of tests using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, 32GB DDR5, and an assortment of AMD and NVIDIA GPUs evaluates 1080p to 4K performance. The PC version ships with multiple quality options, yet the reviewer finds the in-game settings broken: graphics quality does not align with individual options, and upscalers such as NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 3.0, and Intel XeSS 2.0 fail to affect output. Frame generation also does not work. At 1080p Ultra, top GPUs break 60 FPS; at 1440p Ultra only the RTX 5090 stays above 60, with the 4090 occasionally dipping in combat. 4K Ultra remains untenable for all tested GPUs. Visually, the game impresses thanks to Nanite and Lumen, but demands are exceptionally high.

FCC approves thousands more Amazon Leo satellites as Gen 1 deadline looms

February 11, 2026, 4:04 AM EST. FCC approves 3,212 Gen 2 satellites and 1,292 Polar satellites, joining 3,232 Gen 1 satellites to lift Amazon's Leo constellation to 7,736. The satellites operate at 590-630 km (Gen 2) and 600-650 km (Polar). Gen 2/Polar will use Ku-, Ka-, and V-band frequencies; Gen 1 gains access to higher-frequency V-band and looser power limits under conditions. Amazon says the move boosts capacity, throughput and coverage, including over the poles, per Rajeev Badyal. Deadlines: half of Gen 2/Polar due by Feb 10, 2032; rest by 2035. Gen 1 deadlines require 50% launched by July 30, 2026, with remainder by July 30, 2029. Amazon seeks extension or waiver of the July 2026 milestone; FCC notes approval is without prejudice to that request. Next launch is Feb 12 with 32 satellites on Ariane 6's Ariane 64.

25-year-old founder raises $220 million for secretive UK AI chip startup

February 11, 2026, 4:02 AM EST. A 25-year-old founder has raised $220 million for a secretive UK AI chip startup. Details about the product, technology, and investors remain undisclosed. The financing underscores continuing investor interest in hardware for artificial intelligence, even as the company keeps its roadmap private. With the round closed, observers will look for how the firm translates the capital into a working chip and a scalable business, in a field crowded by established chipmakers and rising contenders. The secrecy is a deliberate footing, not an abdication of accountability, and signals a focus on defensible technology and strategic partnerships rather than public milestones.

Game Science releases six minutes of in-engine footage for Black Myth: Zhong Kui ahead of Chinese New Year

February 11, 2026, 3:50 AM EST. Game Science has released six minutes of in-engine footage for Black Myth: Zhong Kui to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The clip is a celebration cut, not a depiction of final game content, but it offers an early look at visual upgrades expected in the next title. Black Myth: Wukong rose to prominence after its 2024 launch, driving Steam's all-time peak and selling around 18 million units by September, with an expansion once planned but later scrapped in favor of Zhong Kui. The FAQ clarifies Zhong Kui is not a direct sequel; the studio aims to offer distinct experiences, bold features, and fresh ideas while addressing past flaws. Zhong Kui remains a single-player ARPG on PC and consoles, with the outline not finished and a projected 3- to 4-year wait.

Stellantis weighs exit from Samsung SDI-backed battery JV amid EV losses

February 11, 2026, 3:46 AM EST. Stellantis is weighing an exit from its US battery joint venture with Samsung SDI as it unwinds EV bets and preserves cash after last week's writedowns totaling more than €22 billion. People familiar with discussions say no final decision has been made; an exit could be costly and lengthy, and Stellantis could sell its stake to a third party. The company has said it continues collaborative discussions on the StarPlus Energy JV. The move follows Stellantis's earlier exit from a Canada JV with LG Energy Solution and broader industry reassessment of battery investments as demand for EVs grows more slowly than hoped. Executives are shifting focus to batteries for grid and data centers, and reducing US/European factory footprints.

Radnor Township parents demand answers after juvenile charged in AI-generated image case

February 11, 2026, 3:42 AM EST. Parents in the Radnor Township School District pressed leaders for accountability after police charged a juvenile in a case involving AI-generated images of a sexual nature. The district had said in December that investigators were looking, and in January that no evidence suggested inappropriate conduct; days later, officers announced charges. Parents questioned the timeline and demanded hard questions about policy and transparency. The district's policy committee began discussing changes to definitions of bullying, harassment, and generative AI use, warning that current language may lag behind technology. Members noted the need for updates to cover digital misconduct. Officials stressed any revisions require a state-mandated, multi-step review. Education on AI-related sexual harassment was urged to prevent further harm while policy evolves.

Ukraine fears Starlink terminals could be registered to Russia

February 11, 2026, 3:38 AM EST. Ukrainian officials say there is a risk that Starlink terminals deployed in Ukraine could be registered in a way that allows Russia access. The concern centers on registration that ties terminals to owners rather than locations, complicating sanctions enforcement and aid oversight. Kyiv is advising suppliers and local authorities to tighten verification and tracking to ensure devices stay under Ukrainian control. Starlink has been a critical communications lifeline for civilians and troops since the invasion, but the arrangement raises questions about misuse of donated or subsidised equipment.

What Is Claude? Anthropic Seeks to Understand Its AI Mind

February 11, 2026, 3:36 AM EST. Anthropic researchers are probing Claude, their large language model, by examining its 'neurons,' testing it with psychology experiments, and even subjecting it to the 'therapy couch.' The work reflects a broader push to explain how such systems operate as they blur lines between calculation and cognition. Language models convert words to numbers, run them through a simulated pinball of math, and output text. Some see them as intelligent or conscious; others dismiss them as 'mathy maths' or 'stochastic parrots.' Ellie Pavlick of Brown sketches a taxonomy: fanboys who hype AI, curmudgeons who doubt it, and a middle path that says: it's OK not to know. Researchers stress that these systems remain largely black boxes, prompting experiments on mind, intelligence, and responsibility.

Apple Israel centers drive core products as Q.ai deal highlights Israeli role

February 11, 2026, 3:34 AM EST. At Calcalist's Tech TLV conference, Apple executive Rony Friedman underscored the role of Israel development centers in Jerusalem, Herzliya and Haifa in driving core products, from chips to cameras. He hailed the Israeli team behind the C1 cellular modem, noting it is 30% more energy-efficient and extends battery life. Friedman also highlighted collaboration on N1 connectivity technology first shipped with the iPhone 17 and set to spread to other devices. The latest headline is Apple's roughly $2 billion Q.ai acquisition, its second-largest deal, which Apple says will be integrated with its R&D. He framed Israel as a source of cross-disciplinary value to Apple's M-family processors and broader hardware-software systems.

Apple ends original HomeKit support; iPhone users must update Home app today

February 11, 2026, 3:32 AM EST. Apple is ending support for its original HomeKit architecture today, forcing iPhone and iPad users to update the Home app and compatible devices to iOS 16.2 or later. Apple says devices not updated to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2 or watchOS 9.2 will lose access to the updated home until the device is updated. A HomePod or Apple TV must be set up as a home hub for sharing control and receiving notifications; iPads can no longer serve as hubs. The new Home architecture offers better performance, guest access, Activity History, and support for robot vacuum cleaners. To update: open the Home app, Settings > Software Update, and install. The move was anticipated for iOS 18.4 last year.

AI reshapes white-collar work as writers pivot to new careers

February 11, 2026, 3:30 AM EST. California-based writer Jacqueline Bowman says 2024 jolted her career. Layoffs and closures cooled demand for traditional writing, with clients turning to AI and hiring editors to polish AI-generated copy. Bowman found editing took longer and paid about half as much as writing did, while she had to fact-check every claim, often rewriting most of the article. Some clients accused her of using AI herself, though she says she does not. By January 2025 she could not afford health insurance and began pursuing a plan to become a licensed therapist, hoping for steadier income. She notes that while AI may create some roles, for many workers the technology undercuts job security. The broader trend shows writers, editors, and other white-collar workers reconsidering careers as AI expands.

Starlink faced about 300,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in 2025, SpaceX says

February 11, 2026, 3:28 AM EST. SpaceX reported to the FCC that its Starlink network conducted about 300,000 collision-avoidance manoeuvres in 2025, including about 149,000 in June-November, after 144,000 in late 2024 and early 2025. The total marks a roughly 50% rise as the constellation grows to about 9,400 satellites, now accounting for roughly 65% of all active orbital objects. SpaceX uses a conservative protection threshold, acting at a risk level of 3 in 10 million, well above the industry 1 in 10,000 guideline. Experts warn such high manoeuvring rates may be unsustainable: Hugh Lewis calls the figure 'huge' and potentially problematic for long-term orbital health. The report also notes repeated encounters with other satellites, notably Honghu-2, highlighting how crowded the orbit around roughly 340-570 km has become.

FCC approves Amazon's second-gen Leo satellite system

February 11, 2026, 3:26 AM EST. The FCC has approved Amazon's plan for a second-gen Leo satellite system, advancing its bid to build a global broadband network in low-Earth orbit. The decision follows agency review of technical plans, spectrum use and risk management. Amazon also asked for an extension to operate the first-gen Leo satellites ahead of a July deadline tied to current licenses. The move clears a path for further development and deployment, though the company will face ongoing regulatory scrutiny as it scales the constellation.

Seven more states add driver's licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet, joining 13 others

February 11, 2026, 3:24 AM EST. Apple says more states will let residents add driver's licenses or state IDs to the Apple Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch. Seven states – Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia – will join the 13 others already offering Wallet IDs, plus Puerto Rico. The company says digital IDs are encrypted and protected by the device's built-in privacy and security features, and that only the information needed for a transaction is shown after user review and authorization. Apple warns the feature is not a replacement for a physical passport and isn't accepted by law enforcement. TSA accepts Apple Wallet IDs at more than 250 airports, with more to come. Sources: Apple, the TSA, and state motor vehicle departments; reporting from Orlando.

Samsung Galaxy S26 pre-order deals kick off with Reserve offers, up to $900 trade-in credit

February 11, 2026, 3:16 AM EST. Samsung has opened its Reserve pre-order campaign for the Galaxy S26 lineup, offering a free $30 credit, up to $150 in savings, and as much as $900 in trade-in credits ahead of launch. The Galaxy S26 will be unveiled at Unpacked on February 25, 2026, with pre-orders expected then. By joining Reserve today, users lock the $30 credit to their Samsung account-no purchase required-and can apply the credit, along with pre-order deals, at checkout later. The program appears on Samsung.com and is likely to appear at Best Buy and select carriers. Samsung typically packages pre-order discounts with freebies; buyers should review trade-in values and regional availability. Follow our posts for the best S26 pre-order offers and timing.

Radnor parents push policy changes after AI-generated images shared among students

February 11, 2026, 3:14 AM EST. Dozens of parents from the Radnor Township School District attended the Feb. 10 meeting to urge policy changes after AI-generated images were shared among students. The case prompted charges of harassment against minors by the Delaware County District Attorney's Office following a December investigation into non-consensual AI imagery. During comments section, parents pressed the district to revisit and tighten rules governing AI content and student conduct. 'The policy should require immediate action,' said Luciana Librandi, a mother involved in the case, urging action whenever staff are alerted. Carley Boyd said, 'There's a dark side to it all, and kids need to be made aware.' Other parents urged action even if content was created on campus and called for education on the drawbacks of AI. The district board will consider the comments and review current policies.

RFK Jr.'s AI nutrition chatbot raises safety questions after explicit insertion guidance

February 11, 2026, 3:10 AM EST. A Department of Health and Human Services-backed AI nutrition chatbot on realfood.gov drew critique after allegedly offering explicit, unsafe guidance about foods to insert into the rectum. The tool reportedly routes questions to a service named Grok and has become a flashpoint in debates over federal AI governance. 404 Media tested it, reporting recommendations for an "assitarian" diet and even step-by-step diagrams for insertion, prompting safety warnings and calls for guardrails. Critics say the episode reflects broader concerns about how quickly government AI initiatives roll out amid political controversy surrounding RFK Jr. and a Super Bowl ad promotion by the MAHA Center Inc. The case underscores risks when public-facing health tools mingle real-world harm with fast-moving technology.

Apple emoji Easter eggs reveal 'Think Different' message hidden in plain sight

February 11, 2026, 3:02 AM EST. Tech watchers have spotted a hidden message tucked into several Apple emoji designs, starting with the humble paper emoji. A post on X highlighted a concealed inscription that echoes the 1997 Think Different campaign. The discovery shows the same script appears on the notebook, memo and scroll emojis, and even a receipt icon referencing misfits, square pegs and round holes. The find underscores a playful side to Apple's otherwise minimalist design language. Fans describe the pattern as surprising but fitting for a company known for subtle easter eggs in software. The thread suggests other icons may carry similar nods, inviting users to look beyond the surface of familiar emoji in iOS and macOS.

Cyber Pulse: Real-time dashboards and telemetry sharpen AI security monitoring

February 11, 2026, 3:00 AM EST. Real-time dashboards and telemetry illuminate how AI agents interact with people, data, and systems. Leaders can see where agents operate, map dependencies, and monitor behavior and impact, enabling faster detection of misuse, drift, and emerging risk. Telemetry, defined as the data that logs events, latency, and outcomes, translates complex activity into actionable metrics. By visualizing activity, organizations sharpen governance, identify bottlenecks, and drive corrective action. The report stresses concrete measures over theory, with alerting on anomalous patterns, auditable access, and policy compliance. In practice, cross-functional teams can respond sooner to anomalies-from data exfiltration attempts to improper access-reducing exposure and boosting accountability.

Active Installed Base: 8 Smartphone OEMs Reach 200 Million; iPhone Nears 25%

February 11, 2026, 2:56 AM EST. Tarun Pathak, Counterpoint Research's Research Director, notes an active installed base of about 200 million smartphones spread across 8 OEMs. Within that base, iPhone users comprise nearly 25%, underscoring Apple's strong footprint in key markets. Pathak says regional demand, upgrade cycles, and model mix drive quarterly totals. The analysis maps the global device ecosystem, with emphasis on emerging markets and the strategic implications for OEMs and operators.

Burnout risk rises as AI adoption grows, study finds

February 11, 2026, 2:54 AM EST. AI is marketed as a job saver, not a replacement. A Harvard Business Review study follows eight months inside a 200-person tech company, with more than 40 in-depth interviews. The finding: workers embraced AI without external pressure; the tools make tasks feel doable, yet to-do lists expand to fill every hour AI frees up and then grow. An engineer says, 'you save time, you work less' but end up working the same or more. On Hacker News, a commenter reports tripled expectations and stress, with only modest gains in productivity. Earlier work aligns: a TechCrunch trial found developers took 19% longer yet believed they were 20% faster, and NBER data shows about 3% time savings with no earnings or hours impact. The new findings complicate the AI-as-solution narrative and raise burnout concerns.

Nomad debuts Stellar Orange 240W ChargeKey to pair with Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro

February 11, 2026, 2:50 AM EST. Nomad unveiled a limited-edition Stellar Orange version of its ChargeKey, a 240W USB-C on-the-go charging and data keychain. Identical to the previous model aside from the vibrant finish, the new color is marketed to match Apple's Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro. The device carries a $29 price; buying two saves 10% and there are open-box units advertised at around $20. It uses a braided nylon cable with electroplated zinc housings and magnetic tips, offering USB-C to USB-C charging and data transfer up to 240W and 10Gbps. Nomad pitches the accessory as palm-sized and portable for travel, on-the-go photo transfers, and quick file moves.

Google Pixel becomes sleep coach for better rest

February 11, 2026, 2:48 AM EST. Reporter follows a night-owlish user who turns a Google Pixel into a sleep coach to counter rising insomnia. Since December, getting to sleep takes longer, despite strict attempts to curb scrolling. The person keeps a spare device with limited apps, but relies on emergency meditation features; they finally dial in enhanced bedtime mode on the Pixel 8. Early results show steadier routines, fewer hours lost to scrolling, and a calmer approach to technology in bed. The piece notes configuring the Clock app and turning on extra features can matter as much as willpower. It stops short of promising a cure, but illustrates a practical method: use bedtime mode, sleep coaching, and careful screen time management to improve sleep duration without abandoning devices at night.

Taiwan to embrace advanced nuclear energy tech, including SMRs, to secure energy and computing edge

February 11, 2026, 2:42 AM EST. Taiwan's Executive Yuan announced on February 10, 2026, that the government will fully embrace advanced nuclear technologies worldwide, including small modular reactors (SMRs). The policy shift marks a departure from decades of non-nuclear policy. Officials framed the plan as a bid to bolster domestic energy security and to underpin Taiwan's computing edge by stabilizing power supplies for data centers and AI workloads. The move signals a broader push to diversify energy sources amid global volatility, while the government said it would pursue safety, regulatory alignment, and international cooperation to bring feasible technologies to a future market.

Nothing Essential Apps enters beta with AI-driven home-screen widgets

February 11, 2026, 2:38 AM EST. Nothing's Essential Apps has entered beta, enabling AI-assisted creation of home-screen widgets through prompts-what the company calls vibe coding. The feature is the first milestone toward Nothing's Essential OS, a broader smartphone vision. Beta access is expanding gradually via a waitlist, with a full release planned later this year. The UI centers on widgets rather than launchable mini-apps; functionality stays on the home screen and adapts to context. Nothing's Playground lets users describe desired behavior and elicits a generated widget. An example describes a weather/calendar widget to suggest the best times to run, factoring run length. A tester built a soil-drying gauge; it's promising but required tweaks like Fahrenheit display and 2×2 grid fit. Rough edges persist, but the concept remains compelling.

Elon Musk's xAI loses second co-founder in two days as probes mount

February 11, 2026, 2:34 AM EST. Elon Musk's xAI lost its second co-founder in two days as Jimmy Ba announced his departure on X, following Tony Wu's exit a day earlier. The turn comes amid ongoing regulatory probes into xAI across Europe, Asia and the United States over the Grok AI chatbot and image generator, which produced non-consensual deepfake material from real photos. Other co-founders, including Igor Babuschkin, Kyle Kosic and Christian Szegedy, have also stepped back. The company, which merged with SpaceX in an all-stock deal valued at roughly $1 trillion for SpaceX and $250 billion for xAI, is facing questions as SpaceX plans a public listing later this year. Musk had framed xAI as aiming to understand the true nature of the universe.

Weld County eyes data centers and AI to diversify economy

February 11, 2026, 2:32 AM EST. Northern Colorado's Weld County is pivoting from agriculture and oil and gas toward data centers and artificial intelligence. The county and GlobalAI plan Weld County's first data center at the Great Western Industrial Park near Windsor, with demolition work in the initial phase. Eisenbraun says the facility will be agnostic, serving multiple clients rather than a single company. The project aims to diversify tax revenue beyond farming and energy and provide steadier cash flow as technology cycles require periodic updates. Officials note the site sits between Windsor and Greeley and emphasize Weld County's openness to business. The effort seeks to build a durable economy around data and AI workloads, reducing reliance on commodity cycles.

Governments rush to adopt AI as data, governance gaps persist

February 11, 2026, 2:30 AM EST. Governments are ramping AI investment across defense, health, education and citizen services, but gaps in data readiness, skills and governance threaten progress. The report shows how AI can become an instrument of public value that helps employees thrive, builds trust, and strengthens resilience. AI budgets are rising, moving toward generative and agentic capabilities, yet only a fraction of data is AI-ready. Talent, governance and trust remain the core readiness gaps. Agentic AI will transform missions from citizen services to emergency response. National AI resilience hinges on education, infrastructure and cybersecurity. The report lays out urgent steps for institutions to operationalize AI, shore up data governance, and future-proof the public workforce.

Astound among top home internet options as fiber and 5G expand nationwide

February 11, 2026, 2:28 AM EST. Astound stands as a solid home internet option in areas without robust fiber coverage as fiber and 5G home internet expand. The provider prices range from $30 to $175 per month, with download speeds from 300 to 5,000 Mbps and data caps spanning 400 GB to unlimited. In our satisfaction polling, Astound posted a 75% approval rating for overall satisfaction and internet performance, roughly 5 percentage points higher than Spectrum. It also offers a broad slate of bundles, including home phone, cell, and TV options. The downside: data caps and overage charges persist. Unlike many rivals, Astound enforces rising caps up to 1 TB on sub-1 Gbps plans, with unlimited data only on 1 Gbps or faster services. Still, it's a credible alternative in markets lacking fiber.

DNA storage moves closer to practical data storage and encryption, ASU researchers say

February 11, 2026, 2:24 AM EST. Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute reports two studies showing DNA can store vast amounts of data and support strong encryption. In one approach, researchers store information in the physical form of nanoscale DNA structures rather than by sequencing genetics. The material's density and durability-DNA has preserved ancient fragments for millions of years-make it a candidate for ultra-dense, long-lasting storage. In a second study, the same team demonstrates secure data encoding through structure-based methods, offering a biologically inspired alternative to silicon. The work, published in Advanced Functional Materials and Nature Communications, relies on sensor readings of moving DNA structures and machine-learning interpretation to read bits. The researchers, led by Hao Yan with Chao Wang and Rizal Hariadi, say this rethinks data storage and security at the nanoscale.

Ring's Super Bowl ad raises privacy concerns over AI-driven pet-tracking feature

February 11, 2026, 2:22 AM EST. Ring's Super Bowl ad introduced an AI-driven feature called Search Party that can access cameras across a neighborhood to locate lost pets. The pitch has sparked privacy concerns about potential mass surveillance. Ring says the feature requires user permission and that camera owners decide on a case-by-case basis whether to share videos with a pet owner to support a reunion. The company notes facial recognition is already part of its devices under the same permission model. Noel Lopez, a Ring doorbell user, said the idea initially seemed good but could be used against people. Some viewers expect to swap brands due to privacy worries, while Ring defended the feature in a statement, highlighting strong privacy protections from the start.

SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg on Falcon 9

February 11, 2026, 2:20 AM EST. SpaceX is set to launch 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on a Falcon 9 rocket. The Starlink 17-34 mission will extend the low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation that provides global internet. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East is scheduled for 6:14:40 a.m. Pacific time, on a southern trajectory. The booster, B1100, will fly for a third time after earlier missions including Starlink 11-30 and NROL-105. About 8 minutes after liftoff, B1100 is expected to land on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific; SpaceX would notch its 177th landing on that pad and the 569th booster landing overall. Live coverage begins roughly 30 minutes before liftoff.

Samsung Unpacked February 2026 to Reveal AI-Driven Galaxy S Series

February 11, 2026, 2:18 AM EST. Samsung Electronics announced that its Galaxy Unpacked event for February 25, 2026, in San Francisco will unveil the next Galaxy S smartphones designed to reduce daily friction and integrate Galaxy AI more deeply from first hand. The company said the event will be streamed live on Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom and YouTube at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. EST. Pre-orders carry incentives: a $30 credit, a chance to win a $5,000 gift card, and up to $900 in trade-in savings, plus a $150 credit with no trade-in when reserving on Samsung.com. Additional reservation options will be available via AT&T and Best Buy. Samsung urges visitors to register at samsung.com/unpacked for teasers, trailers and exclusive benefits ahead of the reveal.

Samsung Set to Unveil Galaxy S26 at Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco

February 11, 2026, 2:16 AM EST. Samsung has scheduled Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco for February 25 to unveil the Galaxy S26 series, halting the flood of leaks. The company will stream the event at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET on its site, Newsroom and YouTube. The invitation foregrounds an AI-centric approach, calling it the new phase of smartphones where intelligence adapts to the user. Early offers include a $30 reservation credit, a $5,000 sweepstakes gift card, and trade-in values up to $900. A no trade-in option offers a $150 credit for accessories. Analysts expect focus to be on AI features and hardware refinements as Samsung aims to convert early interest into sales. The demo-focused event will also address accessibility for buyers unable to attend in person.

Missed Nvidia? Two cheaper AI stocks to buy and hold: Celestica and Apple

February 11, 2026, 2:14 AM EST. After Nvidia's multi-year rally, investors ask where AI demand heads next. The column warns the easy gains may be over and a material pullback is possible if AI demand underwhelms. It flags two cheaper AI names: Celestica (TSX: CLS) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). Celestica has climbed about 132% in the past year and roughly 730% in two years, with a near-$50 billion market cap. The company stands to benefit as data-centre hardware demand grows, though it trades at about 44.1x trailing earnings and remains volatile. Apple is positioned to blend on-device smaller language models with Private Cloud Compute for heavier tasks, aligning with privacy-focused AI trends. The piece also notes AI-advertising narratives and weighs whether such shifts could favor AAPL's AI leadership by year-end.

Micron Quietly Outperforms NVIDIA on AI HBM Demand

February 11, 2026, 2:12 AM EST. Micron Technology has outperformed NVIDIA over the past year, with MU up about 307% versus NVIDIA's 43.1%, as investors bet on AI-driven growth tied to HBM demand. NVIDIA remains focused on next-gen Blackwell GPUs and data-center spending, while Micron benefits from a tight HBM supply and expanding AI infrastructure. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra says the supply gap could lift prices in the near term. Micron targets fiscal Q2 2026 revenue of roughly $18.3-19.1 billion, up from $13.64 billion in Q1. The company's forward P/E of 11.66 compares with an industry average around 18.18, and its net profit margin of 28.2% tops the sector. In this AI cycle, Micron is emerging as a compelling alternative or complement to NVIDIA for investors.

Samsung confirms Galaxy S26 Unpacked Feb. 25; reservations offer up to $900 off

February 11, 2026, 2:10 AM EST. Samsung confirms an Unpacked event for Feb. 25 in San Francisco, with the Galaxy S26 series set to headline. The event begins at 10 a.m. PT and will stream on YouTube. Reservations for the Galaxy S26 are open, including a $30 credit toward accessories and a chance to win a $5,000 Samsung gift card. Reservations are free and non-binding. Samsung says customers can save up to $900 with trade-ins, plus a reservation discount of up to $150 even without a trade-in. For the first time, reservations will be accepted at Best Buy and AT&T in addition to Samsung.com. Upgrades are expected across the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, including a faster processor (US Snapdragon), faster wireless charging, and a new Privacy Display on the S26 Ultra. Availability is expected in March 2026, with prices near the prior generation.

Japan tech groups urge regulator action on App Store rules

February 11, 2026, 2:06 AM EST. Japan's tech industry groups, representing more than 600 firms, are urging regulators to re-examine Apple and Google's App Store terms after December changes tied to the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA). Apple allowed off-app links and alternative payments but with new commissions-up to 15% on web transactions and extra charges for apps outside the App Store. Apple had praised MSCA as balancing openness and security, contrasting it with Europe's DMA. The Japan News reports seven IT groups say the commissions deter use of the new payment options and push for a market with diverse methods. The statements, the latest push before possible action by the Japan Fair Trade Commission, follow earlier criticism from the Mobile Content Forum.

Australia's privacy reforms lag as retailers deploy facial recognition in public spaces

February 11, 2026, 2:02 AM EST. Facial recognition use by Bunnings to monitor shoppers has exposed how unprepared Australia is for an AI-driven era. An administrative tribunal overturned the privacy commissioner's finding that the technology was unlawful, a decision legally narrow but practically consequential. Expect more biometric data in public spaces, linked to external databases to decide in real time who can access services. Bunnings cites safety, but critics say the approach dehumanises customers and staff, turning commerce into automated surveillance. Australia's 40-year-old privacy regime is a feature of the automation push, not a bug. Former AG Mark Dreyfus pushed broader reforms-defining personal information to cover digital footprints, ending box-ticking consent, and checking high-impact AI. The National AI Plan remains a light touch, while legislation stays fragmented, testing civil society's resolve.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: What to expect from the S26 lineup

February 11, 2026, 2:00 AM EST. Samsung has set Unpacked 2026 for Feb 25 in San Francisco. The 10 AM PT keynote will be livestreamed on Samsung.com, the newsroom and YouTube. Leaks point to the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra keeping a design similar to the S25, with a flat front and a vertical pill-shaped camera plateau. Internal upgrades appear likely: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in all models, with a regional possibility of Exynos 2600. The display is rumored to be 6.3-inch FHD+, slightly larger than the 6.2-inch S25. Samsung aims to boost on-device AI processing, signaling a new phase in AI personalization. Expect hands-on coverage from outlets like Engadget after the launch.

Amazon cuts Apple Watch SE 3 prices to $219, $249 for GPS models

February 11, 2026, 1:54 AM EST. Amazon trimmed prices on the Apple Watch SE 3 this week, with the 40mm GPS model at $219 and the 44mm GPS at $249. The reductions sit at second-best levels after a month-plus without record lows. Both sizes ship in Midnight and Starlight Aluminum. Separately, Amazon is offering $100 off the Apple Watch Series 11, a record-low for the line. The post notes MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. Readers are urged to check the Apple Deals roundup for more bargains and to sign up for the Deals Newsletter for 2026 updates. The piece also ties these discounts to broader Apple price activity and upcoming product chatter.

Amazon Leo gears up for first heavy-lift mission of 2026 with Arianespace

February 11, 2026, 1:52 AM EST. Amazon Leo gears up for its first heavy-lift mission of 2026 with Arianespace. Deployment begins about 90 minutes after liftoff, with satellites released sequentially over roughly 25 minutes. Once deployed, teams at the Amazon Leo Mission Operations Center in Redmond, Washington assume control, perform initial health checks, and raise the spacecraft to an orbit of about 630 kilometers. The operation marks a milestone in Amazon Leo's expanding constellation and the launcher provider's continuing collaboration.

DJI Matrice 30 drone aids California surfer rescue off Goleta coast

February 11, 2026, 1:48 AM EST. At Haskell Beach, Goleta, a surfer in his 20s was pulled offshore by high surf. A board washed ashore signaled trouble; firefighters launched a shoreline search. In the open water, the surfer clung to a lobster trap buoy, afloat as responders closed in. A DJI Matrice 30 drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle, provided aerial situational awareness, helping crews home in on the swimmer and guide them to safety. FOX WEATHER reported the details. The episode illustrates how drones can augment water rescues when conditions worsen, alongside buoy-based lifelines.

Apple iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: key differences to expect

February 11, 2026, 1:46 AM EST. Apple is preparing two new models for a February release: the iPhone 17 and the more affordable iPhone 17e. The iPhone 17 maintains a premium positioning with features like the Action Button and a vertical camera array, while the iPhone 17e sticks to a familiar notch and lacks the Camera Control button. Display remains OLED on both, but the iPhone 17e is 60 Hz at up to 1,200 nits. Power and chips: both run the A19 chip with 8 GB RAM, but battery and charging differ. The iPhone 17e reportedly carries a 4,005 mAh battery and 20W wired charging; the iPhone 17 has a 3,692 mAh battery with 40W wired charging and 25W MagSafe. Cameras: dual 48 MP on the main and ultrawide for both. Pricing starts at $599 for the 17e and $799 for the 17, with color options likewise differing.

Tesla executive Raj Jegannathan exits after 13 years; no firm timeline for FSD rollout in China

February 11, 2026, 1:44 AM EST. Tesla says Raj Jegannathan is leaving after 13 years, announced on LinkedIn. He joined as a Senior Staff Engineer in Fremont in 2012 and rose to Vice President of IT/AI Infrastructure, Business Apps, and Infosec. Reports suggest he had taken a North American sales leadership role after Troy Jones's departure, though his LinkedIn listing does not confirm the move. His exit echoes a period of elevated executive turnover at Tesla over the past two years, with several high-profile names leaving. Tesla faces questions about culture and the trade-offs of stock-based compensation, even as it pivots toward robotics and autonomy alongside carmaking. The company also runs a Full Self-Driving gifting program, while there is no firm timeline yet for a FSD rollout in China.

TSMC January Sales Jump Lifts Nvidia Prospects Ahead of Earnings

February 11, 2026, 1:42 AM EST. TSMC's January sales rose about 37% year over year, a sign of healthy chip demand and a potential tailwind for Nvidia ahead of its February earnings report. As the primary manufacturer for Nvidia, stronger TSMC demand could indicate ongoing orders for Nvidia's chips, even as broader AI demand signals remain mixed. The update comes alongside positive macro data from Taiwan, including an 8% rise in automatic data-processing equipment exports in January and a 25% quarterly jump in Q4 ADP exports. UBS argues that Nvidia's data center growth may not fully offset other uncertainties. Nvidia stock has surged over the past year but trades at a multiple below its five-year average, leaving room for appetite-driven moves.

OPPO K14x 5G delivers value with large display and efficient 5G performance

February 11, 2026, 1:30 AM EST. The OPPO K14x 5G targets budget buyers with a 6.7-inch display and a 120 Hz refresh rate, delivering smoother scrolling and gaming visuals. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100, the phone balances performance with lower power use for longer battery life and reliable multitasking on 5G networks. The 50-megapixel rear camera handles everyday photography and video, performing well in good light and modestly in low light. Oppo emphasizes value with a device that pairs a large screen, energy efficiency, and 5G connectivity at an affordable price. In practice, the phone supports fast data transfer and daily tasks such as messaging, streaming, and light gaming without excessive battery drain. The display quality and endurance stand out as key selling points, with camera performance meeting general expectations for its class.

Apple rolls out 2026 Heart Month Challenge for Apple Watch on Valentine's Day

February 11, 2026, 1:28 AM EST. Apple is rolling out its annual Heart Month Challenge for Valentine's Day, inviting Apple Watch users to close the Exercise ring on February 14 to earn an award and exclusive iMessage stickers. The challenge requires logging a workout with any app that writes data to the Fitness app, including Apple's built-in Workout app. The green ring uses a default 30-minute goal, but users can adjust it; meeting the full target is required to unlock the prize. Apple positions the event as a nudge toward healthier habits.

Hood County rejects six-month data-center moratorium amid AI boom

February 11, 2026, 1:26 AM EST. Hood County commissioners 3-2 rejected a proposed six-month moratorium on new industrial projects, including data centers, after a letter from state Sen. Paul Bettencourt casting doubt on local authority. The panel's eight-hour meeting followed warnings that Texas' AI expansion is fueling a wave of proposals and heightening concerns about water resources. Bettencourt, who chairs the Senate Local Government Committee, told Attorney General Ken Paxton that counties lack constitutional or statutory power to pause development unless explicitly allowed. The moratorium would have paused new centers while impacts on water and power supplies were studied. Some residents and commissioners criticized the letter as pressure, while others worried about legal risk and unclear jurisdiction.

Haymaker to Hit PC VR via Steam This Spring

February 11, 2026, 1:24 AM EST. Console Studios said Haymaker, its physics-first VR fighting title, will arrive on PC VR via Steam in spring, alongside a refreshed Quest update. The Steam port will feature enhanced graphics and dynamic lighting and will reach parity with the Quest version at launch. On Quest, the game has been in Early Access since November and is priced at $14.99, with a 4.7/5 user rating and top-seller status. The PC VR release follows a content update that adds an expanded sandbox mode, deeper character customization, new designs, a new MMA-style Octagon arena, and a tournament mode.

Apple leads smartphone market as iPhone 16/17 drive revenue growth in 2025-26

February 11, 2026, 1:20 AM EST. Apple led a strong year for smartphones, with iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 series driving demand. In Q1 2026, the company posted a record $143.8 billion in revenue, powered by iPhone sales. Counterpoint Research notes the iPhone accounts for about one in four smartphones worldwide. The 2025 market expanded 2%, with eight OEMs now boasting over 200 million users in their install base. Samsung and Apple are the only brands with more than one billion active smartphones, together holding about 44% of the global base. Premium segments remained challenging, with single-digit shares above $600. The promise of AI and the redesigned iPhone 17 Pro boosted demand, while a new entry iPhone 16e widened pricing. Apple is expected to push iPhone volumes into 2026 with up to six new models.

Taiwan's Nvidia suppliers invest billions in the US amid AI boom and geopolitics

February 11, 2026, 1:18 AM EST. Taiwan's Nvidia suppliers are plowing billions of dollars into the United States as the AI boom reshapes the global supply chain. The investment surge follows demand for advanced packaging, testing, and manufacturing services that feed U.S. customers and big-data centers. Analysts cite incentives to diversify away from a single regional risk, plus policy moves to localize critical tech amid ongoing geopolitics between Washington, Taipei and Beijing. Executives say the moves help secure access to customers and shield operations from export controls, while tapping in on a U.S. semiconductor ecosystem. The report by Lauly Li and Cheng Ting-Fang examines how Taiwan's tech makers are expanding across the Pacific to sustain growth.

Apple Watch battery tip: turning off Background App Refresh to stretch life

February 11, 2026, 1:12 AM EST. Sports and tech writer notes that even the long-lasting Apple Watch Ultra 3 requires care. The core tip: you can extend daily uptime by turning off Background App Refresh. While low power mode remains the blunt instrument- it disables Always On Display, heart-rate tracking, and other tasks-the article argues a subtler step matters more in daily wear. By stopping apps from refreshing in the background, the watch avoids constant updates, conserving power even when you aren't using the device. The trade-off is manual app updates, but that's a small price for longer battery life. The guide walks users through Settings > General > Background App Refresh on the Watch, then either disable all apps or pick those you trust not to need instant updates. Some faces still refresh, but the effect is tangible.

Samsung wins early HBM4 ramp; Nvidia selects Samsung over Micron for Vera Rubin, reshaping AI memory supply

February 11, 2026, 1:02 AM EST. In a shift that underscores the AI hardware race, Samsung is accelerating its HBM4 production, a type of high-bandwidth memory used in AI accelerators, ahead of schedule and positioning itself as Nvidia's preferred supplier for the Vera Rubin AI accelerators. Nvidia chose Samsung rather than Micron Technology as a primary memory source, signaling a realignment in AI memory ecosystems. Micron has pivoted away from consumer memory toward enterprise and AI memory, aiming at data centers and infrastructure buyers. The moves highlight how critical HBM4 is to next-gen chips that need large, fast memory pools. For Micron, success hinges on deepening ties with hyperscalers and chipset designers beyond Nvidia. Samsung's ramp tightens competition for AI customers, though Micron isn't out of the story yet.

How a 'zombie' supplier became vital to Nvidia's AI supply chain

February 11, 2026, 1:00 AM EST. Nvidia revived a supplier long viewed as a zombie and folded it into its AI supply chain to keep up with surging demand for GPUs and software. The once-flagged outfit now ships critical components and services that Nvidia relies on to accelerate production and shorten lead times. The arrangement illustrates Nvidia's strategy to diversify sourcing, reduce bottlenecks, and strengthen resilience as AI workloads expand across data centers. Industry officials describe a pragmatic pivot that ties a lagging vendor to a high-growth customer, while analysts caution that the relationship hinges on performance, pricing, and ongoing audits of downstream dependencies. The story underscores how even a sidelined player can become strategic when demand outpaces capability.

Satellite images show Belarus hosting Russian Tor M2 air defense at Mozyr refinery near Ukraine border

February 11, 2026, 12:54 AM EST. Satellite imagery obtained by reporters shows Belarus mounting a modern Tor M2 short-range air-defense system at the Mozyr Oil Refinery, a facility close to the Ukrainian border. Investigative outlet Schemes, using Planet Labs data, tracked the project from January 2025 and says the launcher appeared in early August after months of earthworks. A turreted vehicle built by Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) is identified as the launcher. The refinery, a fuel hub for Belarus and Russia, sits near routes into northern Ukraine, making it a strategic target for defense. Belarusian Hajun monitoring notes new firing points and trenches around the site in 2025, consistent with heightened protection amid ongoing conflict.

AppleCare+ replacement yields 2TB iPhone 17 Pro Max after loss, per Reddit post

February 11, 2026, 12:52 AM EST. According to a Reddit post by ScienceFuture2300, an AppleCare+ Theft and Loss claim swapped a 256GB iPhone 17 Pro Max for a 2TB unit, with the replacement arriving at no extra charge. The post says the upgrade came with eight times the storage, prompting questions about eligibility and inventory handling. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss covers up to two incidents per year, with a deductible and requires Find My to be enabled during the claim. The tale echoes other reports of Apple replacing devices with higher-end machines-such as a 2018 MacBook Pro upgraded to an M4 Max-though customers criticized the practice. Whether these are policy quirks or isolated cases remains unclear.

SpaceX's Starbase coming alive as Super Heavy V3 clears cryogenic proof test

February 11, 2026, 12:42 AM EST. SpaceX says cryogenic proof testing is complete for the first time on a Super Heavy V3 booster, moving SpaceX closer to a Starship V3 flight. Ground crews at Starbase, Texas, rolled the 237-foot-tall stainless-steel booster to Massey's Test Site for a multi-day test program. The campaign cycled the booster through ambient pressure tests and four fills with liquid nitrogen to simulate cryogenic methane and LOX. The milestone clears a path to mounting 33 Raptor engines and new grid fins for the Starship V3. The upgrade follows a November failure on a previous booster; SpaceX has since shifted to Booster 19. Raptor 3 engines offer higher thrust with integrated plumbing and sensors, reducing the need for separate engine heat shields.

I ignored Apple's battery advice for 140 days – what happened to my iPhone's battery

February 11, 2026, 12:38 AM EST. An iPhone battery test shows modern batteries endure aggressive use. Over 140 days, the author logged 122 recharge cycles on a new iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the charge limit and Optimized Battery Charging both disabled. He charged wired and wirelessly, in extreme temperatures, and kept the device in a thick case. Despite erratic schedules and varied loads, the battery stayed at 100% capacity. The piece stresses that batteries tolerate repeated full charges and discharges better than expected, as billions of cells exist across devices. It notes that charge controllers and battery-management chips regulate speed and cutoffs, helping safety and longevity. While occasional failures occur, the overall takeaway is that modern batteries are robust, and routine abuse doesn't necessarily doom health.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks set Feb. 25 Unpacked date; design and AI features

February 11, 2026, 12:34 AM EST. Leaked posters promise Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked date of Feb. 25, 2026 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with a mid-March store rollout. The phone reportedly wears a slightly rounded, 7.9mm frame and new colors such as Cobalt Violet and Titanium Black, with a pill-shaped rear camera module. A new Flex Magic Pixel privacy screen blurs unless viewed head-on. Inside, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip powers brisk performance, while Galaxy AI expands tools to summarize emails, translate calls, and edit photos with a tap. The camera is still 200MP and gains improved night mode; zoom upgrades to crisper 5x/10x shots. Battery stands at 5000mAh with 60W charging; pricing circled around $1,299 for top configurations.

Motorola Signature vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Flagship showdown

February 11, 2026, 12:30 AM EST. At CES 2026, Motorola unveiled the Signature, a premium slab-style phone with a fabric-like back, a new triple-lens rear camera, and a track record of seven years of OS and security updates. It ships in Europe at €999 (~$1,193) and lands in LATAM/APAC while Motorola has no plans to bring it to the United States, meaning buyers there must import. The device offers fast wired and wireless charging but uses older silicon. Samsung counters with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, praised for an industrial yet premium design, full S-Pen support, and a versatile quad-lens camera plus AI tools. Its drawbacks include a less ambitious S-Pen feature set and uninspiring charging speeds. In the US, the base model sits around $1,050 unlocked. Both flagships target long-term use, with design and software longevity as differentiators.

China's AI industry looks unstoppable, but questions remain

February 11, 2026, 12:28 AM EST. China's AI industry is expanding fast, yet pundits warn the frontier may lag behind the US. At a Beijing gathering, Alibaba's Qwen lead Justin Lin said the odds of a Chinese firm overtaking US frontrunners in 3-5 years were below 20 percent, with 20 percent already optimistic. Tang Jie of Zhipu cautioned the gap may be widening. Beijing's public-use, open-source approach has driven real-world rollouts in manufacturing, e-commerce and robotics, while constraints on chips access and capital persist. Xi Jinping hailed breakthroughs in homegrown chips and self-reliance in a New Year speech. Qwen surpassed Meta's Llama as the most-downloaded open model on Hugging Face last year, and even Airbnb uses it for AI-powered help. Analysts say China's strategy accelerates development, even as some leaders warn progress stalls in frontier models.

Apple's iPhone sales surge linked to orange color, fueling record Q4 2025 revenue

February 11, 2026, 12:26 AM EST. Apple reported record-breaking iPhone sales for Q4 2025, delivering $143.8 billion in revenue, up 16% year over year. The iPhone surge helped Apple post its best-ever quarterly results. Analysts cite demand for a new color variant-Cosmic Orange-on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. In China, sales rose 38% year over year, the strongest quarter on record there. A Financial Times report says the orange shade resonates with buyers and carries Hermès-inspired cues, a factor cited by some observers but not confirmed by Apple. The company did not provide a direct causal link between color and demand. Industry watchers will watch next quarter's guidance for confirmation.

SpaceX pivots to lunar city plan with Starship, Florida launch eyed

February 11, 2026, 12:22 AM EST. SpaceX founder Elon Musk says the company will prioritize a self-sustaining lunar city over Mars, signaling a shift from the goal of making life multiplanetary. Musk posted on X on Feb. 8 that a sustained human presence on the Moon is achievable within a decade, about half the timeline he estimates for Mars. SpaceX will rely on its Starship rocket, with a Florida rollout planned in 2026 to support lunar infrastructure and transport. The move comes as NASA targets a 2028 Moon return, while SpaceX continues to fly Falcon 9 missions and build out Starlink. The plan preserves SpaceX's broader aim: extend life and consciousness beyond Earth, using the Moon as the near-term proving ground.

AMZ Fire Tablet Stylus Pen turns tablets into productivity tools for under $10

February 11, 2026, 12:18 AM EST. Amazon's AMZ Fire Tablet Stylus Pen, listed under $10, aims to boost tablet productivity. The stylus is compatible with Apple, Android and Amazon Fire tablets and features a 1.5 mm nib with sensitive touch technology for precise note-taking, drawing, and navigation. It includes a built-in USB-C charging port and delivers about 8 to 10 hours of battery life from a 15- to 20-minute charge, with 365 days of standby time. A battery indicator and a magnet allow easy charging and attachment to a tablet. The accessory has more than 300 reviews and holds Amazon's Choice status, with users praising smooth controls and light weight. Some reviewers say battery life may fall short of expectations, but the product remains a budget option for casual users.

Sparklight launches multi-gig internet plans up to 6 Gbps with price lock

February 11, 2026, 12:14 AM EST. Sparklight announced residential multi-gig plans delivering up to 6 Gbps speeds with a free eero Wi-Fi router. Senior North Central Regional Director Travis Harr says the company is delivering blazing speeds, the power of eero and a three-year price lock. Four options cover different needs: 500 Mbps at $60/month (limited-time $45), 1 Gbps at $75/month (promo $65), 2 Gbps at $90/month (promo $75), and 6 Gbps at $115/month (promo $100). All promos include a three-year price lock. For more information, call 620-208-5000 or visit 2914 US Highway 50.

ULA targets 18-22 launches in 2026 to lift Vulcan cadence

February 11, 2026, 12:12 AM EST. ULA aims to lift its 2026 launch cadence to 18-22 missions, splitting roughly 16-18 Vulcan flights and 2-4 Atlas 5 missions. Operations would target SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral and SLC-3 at Vandenberg. In a Feb. 10 roundtable, Gary Wentz said mission priority will be set for Space Force and NRO as the schedule firms up over six to eight months. CEO-designate John Elbon noted a backlog of more than 80 missions, underscoring demand. A large portion comes from Amazon's 47-launch Leo constellation. ULA also has NSSL Phase 2/3 missions for USSF and NRO, including USSF-87, GPS III-8, NROL-64 and T1TR-B on the two pads. A March/April Starliner-1 cargo flight to the ISS remains in the plan, with a potential crew slot later if approved.

Stellantis weighs exit from StarPlus Energy JV with Samsung SDI as EV losses mount

February 11, 2026, 12:06 AM EST. Stellantis is weighing an exit from its U.S. battery JV with Samsung SDI, StarPlus Energy, as it unwinds EV bets and seeks cash preservation after reporting more than €22 billion in write-downs. People familiar with the talks say a sale to a third party is possible but could be costly and lengthy. The company recently exited another JV with LG Energy Solution in Canada. The Indiana plant, Samsung's only U.S. battery factory, began production in 2024 and has shifted toward energy storage cells. Analysts say Stellantis may need fewer U.S. and European factories than planned as it pivots away from pure EV bets. The sector is reassessing billions in battery investments as policy support ebbs and demand for EVs evolves, with a tilt toward storage applications.