Technology News 21.03.2026

DJI Air 3S tops best drones for photos and video with dual cameras and lidar

March 21, 2026, 11:32 PM EDT. DJI's Air 3S is the top drone for budding aerial photographers and videographers. It combines 360-degree obstacle avoidance with front lidar, easing flights and crash-avoidance in day and shadow. The dual-camera system pairs a main camera on a 1-inch sensor with a 24mm-equivalent f/1.8 lens and a 70mm telephoto on a smaller sensor, delivering crisp footage and varied composition. ActiveTrack follows subjects more reliably thanks to robust sensing. The Air 3S handles gusty winds well and costs about half what the upgrade pick, the Mavic 3 Pro, does, though the Pro yields higher image quality and battery life. Tests show crisp video straight from the drone; color from the Pro's Hasselblad cameras remains the benchmark.

Nvidia to unveil faster AI inference chip at GTC, aiming for energy efficiency

March 21, 2026, 11:16 PM EDT. Nvidia plans to unveil a dedicated AI inference processor at its GTC conference, leveraging a new chip from AI startup Groq, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The effort targets faster, more energy-efficient inference as rivals push cheaper options like Amazon's Inferentia 2 and Alphabet's Ironwood TPUs. Nvidia still dominates the data-centre GPU market-roughly 92% per IoT Analytics-but faces pressure as customers seek more affordable hardware. OpenAI is slated as an early user, committing around 3 GW of capacity from Nvidia. The WSJ story frames the plan as a potential game changer in the AI race. GTC begins March 16 and could mark a pivotal shift as inference becomes a larger workload.

Samsung workaround brings back Gemini gesture on Galaxy S26 Plus via Good Lock

March 21, 2026, 11:14 PM EDT. Galaxy S26 Plus runs One UI 8.5 but loses the popular Gemini gesture Swipe for Assistant. The tester has reached out to Samsung without a response. As a workaround, they turn to Good Lock and its One Hand Operation + module to recreate the gesture. Setup steps: download Good Lock from the Galaxy Store, enable the module, then configure the Left handle and Right handle to Diagonal up with the Assistance app, leaving other options as None. The result is a practical, near-replacement for the missing Gemini trigger, albeit potentially fragile across updates. No official comment was provided by Samsung in time.

Nvidia CEO says AI adoption will be gradual; robot apparel may emerge

March 21, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT. Huang told Rogan that AI adoption will be gradual, not a sudden wave of layoffs. He said jobs tied to routine tasks are most at risk, while roles like radiology may endure because interpreting images helps diagnose disease. Some workers will disappear, but new roles could appear-such as technicians to build and maintain future AI systems and even a nascent robot apparel industry to customize machines. Nvidia calls physical AI, especially robotics, a next trillion-dollar market highlighted at its GTC. Musk's Optimus robot and other forecasts amplify automation's reach. An MIT study says AI could replace about 12% of U.S. jobs (roughly 151 million workers), underscoring broader disruption. Whether Huang's robot-clothes idea endures remains to be seen.

Custom AI expert built with Gemini Gems slashes daily workload

March 21, 2026, 10:58 PM EDT. An author describes building a persistent AI Expert inside Google Gemini Gems to avoid re-teaching the model each session. Gems are created versions of Gemini that you train for a role, saving personalities or automated workflows. The process is simple: open the Gem manager, create from scratch, and use a quick prompt-like 'Be a punchy editor', with the Magic Wand to expand it into a detailed instruction set. The result is a Skeptical Editor that stays concise, critical and fact-checked, so you can paste a draft and say 'Fix this' without re-explaining tone. After testing many versions, the piece distills a 3-step blueprint: (1) a clear persona with a job title, (2) a defined mission and constraints, and (3) a fixed output format. The 'secret sauce' is connecting your data to the Gem.

Luxara Global expands nationwide to offer internet, TV and smart home services

March 21, 2026, 10:44 PM EDT. Luxara Global announced a nationwide expansion to offer internet, TV, and smart home services. A company spokesperson said the rollout will span multiple states with a phased deployment but offered no timing or market specifics. No financial terms were disclosed. The move reflects growing demand for bundled digital services and aims to broaden the company's customer base beyond its current footprint. Details on partners or network infrastructure were not disclosed.

MSI re-launches XpertStation WS300 at $85,000 with Nvidia GB300 Ultra and 400GbE ports

March 21, 2026, 10:42 PM EDT. MSI unveiled the XpertStation WS300, a deskside AI workstation modeled on Nvidia's DGX Station. The system targets trillion-parameter models and large-language-model workloads without cloud dependency. It pairs Nvidia's GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip with unified memory that blends HBM3e GPU memory and LPDDR5X CPU memory, delivering high bandwidth for local AI tasks. The WS300 includes dual 400GbE LAN ports for multi-node, high-speed distributed processing, enabling up to 800Gbps aggregate bandwidth. MSI says the design brings data-centre class performance to the desktop, helping move from experimentation to production while keeping data on-premise. PCIe Gen5/6 NVMe storage accelerates data ingestion and AI pipelines. Danny Hsu, MSI's General Manager of Enterprise Platform Solutions, says the product bridges centralized performance with distributed innovation.

Apple urges iPhone users to update iOS to guard against web attacks

March 21, 2026, 10:28 PM EDT. Apple has published a support note urging users to install the latest iOS to defend iPhone data from web-based attacks tied to outdated software. Security researchers say malicious links or compromised sites can exploit older iOS versions. Apple says it investigated the flaws and issued updates quickly to disrupt such attacks. Earlier this month, Apple rolled out security fixes for devices on iOS 15 and iOS 16. It notes that devices on iOS 13 and iOS 14 should upgrade to iOS 15 to receive protections and will receive a Critical Security Update alert soon. The company lists current builds such as iOS 26.3.1 and iOS 18.7.6 and says older hardware should run iOS 15.8.7 or iOS 16.7.15. A Background Security Improvement was released this week.

Amazon's AI-driven phone project aims to reshape mobile, not repeat the Fire Phone misstep

March 21, 2026, 10:10 PM EDT. Reuters reports Amazon is developing a new smartphone, code-named Transformer, inside its devices unit's ZeroOne group. Led by J Allard, the former Microsoft executive behind Xbox and Zune, the effort aims to be an AI-driven, personalized device that syncs with Alexa and could bypass traditional app stores. The project follows the 2014 Fire Phone, which led to a $170 million writedown and a widely cited misstep. The company has not discussed carriers; instead, a broader ambition looms: could Leo satellites or other connectivity efforts let Amazon deliver wireless service of its own? If successful, the phone would reflect a shift in which AI agents act on behalf of users, challenging the dominance of Apple and Samsung's hardware while relying less on conventional app ecosystems. Still, the project is early, and Reuters cautions it could be scrapped.

Survey: 9 in 10 game developers want AI disclosure on Steam, GamesIndustry.biz says

March 21, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT. GamesIndustry.biz's survey of 826 games-industry workers finds 88.4% believe Valve should require developers to declare any generative AI use. About half oppose Valve's January policy for disclosures only on content consumed by players; 48.7% said no, 32.1% yes, 19.2% maybe. Meanwhile, 76.8% would self-declare AI usage on Steam pages, even for concept or efficiency work. Responses vary on disclosure form: 51.9% favor a checklist approach, 13.7% want full, detailed disclosure, 28.4% accept a simple yes/no. The two-week survey of studios skewed to small shops; 64.8% employ 49 or fewer staff. Overall, 78.1% never used AI; among users, brainstorming and code tasks lead, while asset generation remains low at 3.5%. Players' most-discussed concerns-voice, text, music-are among the least used uses.

SpaceX wins another military launch contract, deepening rivalry with ULA

March 21, 2026, 9:58 PM EDT. Space Systems Command confirmed that GPS III SV10 will launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 in late April, transferring a GPS mission from ULA's Vulcan. SpaceX has become a go-to option for national security launches, citing reusable boosters and rapid mission planning. Vulcan remains certified for GPS payloads, but the Space Force's rapid delivery goals and ongoing Vulcan investigation enabled the switch. The shift marks another setback for United Launch Alliance, which once dominated military launches. Since SpaceX began competing for national security missions in 2018, it has shaved into ULA's lead, with Space Force awards now favoring SpaceX and Blue Origin entering as a third provider. The Pentagon emphasizes assured access to space, while ULA works through the Vulcan program's issue and a broader rebalancing of launch assets.

Cursor's rapid ascent faces challenge from Claude Code as AI coding boom accelerates

March 21, 2026, 9:44 PM EDT. Cursor, a four-year-old AI coding company, has surged to $2 billion in annualized revenue and counts 67% of the Fortune 500 among its users. CEO Michael Truell, a young MIT graduate, blends a coder's swagger with a preference for long-term work, even as the startup speeds ahead in a field defined by pace. The platform now writes about 150 million lines of enterprise code daily, and a new round could push Cursor toward a $50 billion valuation. Yet Anthropic's Claude Code, launched barely a year ago with massive backing, threatens to unseat Cursor if the competition keeps up. The story shows how AI-driven coding productivity has become a proving ground for enterprise AI adoption.

Lyft's NVIDIA AI integration and Freenow deal reshape its investment narrative

March 21, 2026, 9:40 PM EDT. Lyft said in March 2026 it will deploy NVIDIA AI across its global network to boost predictive modeling, mapping, and future Level 4 autonomous fleet work powered by NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion. The tie-up, paired with its FREENOW European expansion, could link advanced AI with a larger European footprint and richer real-world data. The strategy centers on using NVIDIA's AI supercomputing to make the core platform faster, cheaper, and more reliable, a near-term catalyst for margins and utilization. A recent patent verdict adds risk, but executives argue it doesn't materially alter the thesis. If NVIDIA AI improves rider-driver matching and mapping accuracy, it could buttress Lyft's growth targets, including revenue of $8.7 billion by 2028 and a 12.3% CAGR. Analysts' views vary on the AI upside versus regulatory headwinds.

Tesla's Oasis solar-powered Supercharger near Lost Hills aims to power up to 1,000 cars daily

March 21, 2026, 9:24 PM EDT. In Lost Hills along California's I-5 corridor, Tesla's Oasis Supercharger site spans 30 acres with an 11 MW solar array and Megapack (Tesla's large-scale battery storage system) battery storage. The 164 V4 stalls deliver up to 325 kW each, with pull-through bays for trailers, positioning the station as an energy hub rather than a grid-sourced charger. The 11 MW solar array feeds a 39 MWh Megapack system that buffers generation and keeps chargers running at high capacity, with peak loads around 15.8 MW and only a limited back-up connection to the grid. Tesla says the site can serve roughly 1,000 vehicles per day, reducing grid demand and demonstrating a decarbonized, decentralized model for future EV infrastructure.

Apple iPhone Fold, iPhone 18 and more: what to expect from 2026 smartphones

March 21, 2026, 9:16 PM EDT. In early 2026, smartphone launches divided opinion. Google's Pixel 10A and Samsung's Galaxy S26 Plus read as iterative upgrades, while folding devices from Galaxy Z TriFold, Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Oppo Find N6 raise the excitement. RAM shortages and stiffer competition in generative AI mount as headwinds for makers. Apple is rumored to shift launch timing to accommodate an iPhone Fold, with iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max and the iPhone Air joining a wider lineup. The vanilla iPhone 18 may slip to 2027 to make room for foldables, though iPhone 18 Pro/Max could debut in 2026. The year looks set to widen the foldables category and push for bold, useful features, even as supply constraints bite.

Apple TV 4K: turn off Dolby Vision, enable Match Content for best results

March 21, 2026, 9:14 PM EDT. Apple TV 4K owners should turn off Dolby Vision in general, but keep Match Content and Match Frame Rate on. The approach prevents odd colors on titles that lack DV. Dolby Vision remains accessible for supported content via the match settings, so you aren't giving up the feature entirely. In practice, DV on all material skews colors and dulls SDR titles, while Match Content helps preserve the intended presentation for non-DV streams. The guidance applies to other devices with similar controls. Bottom line: disable auto Dolby Vision, enable Match Content/Match Frame Rate, and use DV only where the content and hardware truly support it.

Android Auto bug on Pixel forces unlock before USB connection; Google investigating

March 21, 2026, 9:12 PM EDT. Google acknowledged a March 2026 Android Auto update that has some Pixel devices requiring you to unlock your phone before Android Auto starts over USB. The bug does not appear to affect wireless Android Auto. Affected models cited include Pixel 8, Pixel 9a, Pixel 9 Pro XL, among others, though Google has not given a precise scope. The issue may involve Android Advanced Protection, which can reset USB protection and block Android Auto on affected phones. Reports have appeared on Google's community forums and Android Auto support pages. Google did not provide a timeline for a fix. User experiences vary by device and vehicle, and some Pixel users still connect normally. The company is investigating.

BBC probe finds 60 accounts linked to AI-generated sexual content; TikTok removes videos

March 21, 2026, 9:10 PM EDT. BBC researchers, working with analysts Jeremy Carrasco and Angel Nulani from Riddance, identified about 60 accounts, mainly on Instagram, carrying links to paid-for sexually explicit content on third-party sites. The sites labeled the imagery as AI-generated (images created by artificial intelligence), but the Instagram accounts did not. The BBC says some posts formed chains of pages that monetized the material. After the investigation, TikTok removed the videos cited in the report. The case highlights the challenge of policing AI-generated imagery and the mismatch between platform labels and user-facing claims, as investigators warn that links can route audiences to paid content outside the host apps.

Crimson Desert sells over 2 million units, Pearl Abyss says

March 21, 2026, 9:04 PM EDT. Pearl Abyss said Crimson Desert has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. The open-world action-adventure released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 19. The company thanked fans and vowed to act on community feedback to improve the game. The announcement reflects steady demand for a title from the studio behind the Black Desert series. No additional sales milestones were disclosed.

PSN returns to full operation after brief outage on PS5 and PS4

March 21, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT. PSN was briefly offline on Saturday for PS5 and PS4 users, with a two-hour disruption that hit gaming and social features. Sony acknowledged the issue around 9:10pm, updating its PlayStation Service Status page to show some services were experiencing issues. By 10:40pm, Sony said the outage was easing and the PSN status page returned to normal messaging that all services are up and running. The outage drew thousands of reports on DownDetector, with more than 5,500 users affected in the hours before an update. No cause was provided. Sony pledged to keep the PlayStation Service Status page current as engineers work to restore full service. Players are advised to check official PSN status and report ongoing problems.

NVIDIA stock undervalued on AI compute moat, bulls say

March 21, 2026, 8:58 PM EDT. NVIDIA's stock is viewed as undervalued by bulls who tally AI-driven growth. The stock traded around $180 as of March 13, with trailing and forward P/Es near 37x and 22x, per Yahoo Finance. NVIDIA is transitioning from a pure GPU maker to an AI infrastructure platform, anchored by its Compute & Networking segment that generates the bulk of revenue and profit. It operates as a fabless designer, relying on TSMC for fabrication, and leverages its CUDA software ecosystem to lock in customers. The company commands an estimated 80-90% share of the AI training accelerator market and is deeply embedded in major clouds (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). Bulls argue the stock remains undervalued versus growth, with a base target near $300 and upside from AI inference and agentic AI. Risks include geopolitical tensions and export controls.

AI endgame under debate as Musk envisions universal income; Hinton warns profits-driven risk

March 21, 2026, 8:44 PM EDT. Elon Musk argues AI could render jobs obsolete and enable a universal high income, forcing society to confront meaning. At Viva Technology in May 2024, Musk framed the dilemma. Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton counters that most tech firms chase short-term profits and that researchers tackle concrete problems-image recognition, generated video-without a fixed view of the AI endgame. He warns about guardrails and the risk of rapid, unregulated progress, estimating a 10%-20% chance AI could threaten humanity after superintelligence. Hinton left Google in 2023 to speak openly about the dangers. He distinguishes misuse by bad actors from the intrinsic risk of AI turning into a bad actor. In November 2025, Anthropic said it disrupted the first large-scale AI cyberattack, tied to a Chinese state-sponsored group manipulating Claude Code to infiltrate around 30 tech companies and financial institutions.

Five of Tesla's weirdest non-Cybertruck products

March 21, 2026, 8:42 PM EDT. Tesla blends tech, lifestyle branding and eccentric aims. Beyond cars and chargers, its shop sells everyday gear-from backpacks to water bottles and lighting-while leaning into unusual items that deepen fan loyalty. The piece spotlights two examples: the Cybertruck for Kids, a ride-on version with a 12-mile range, a 500W motor and a top speed of 10 mph, priced at $1,500 plus a $150 freight fee. It also previews the CaraokeMic, tied to built-in Caraoke features in some vehicles. Tesla's approach borders on entertainment and novelty: branded merchandise, themed toys and other gadgets that expand the brand beyond vehicles, at premium prices, signaling a playful, ambassador-style strategy rather than a pure hardware business.

Sony PlayStation Network outage hits PS4, PS5 users; services affected

March 21, 2026, 8:40 PM EDT. Downdetector said more than 13,000 users reported issues with the PlayStation Network on Saturday, with many unable to login or launch games. Sony's status page showed a global outage across PS4 and PS5, affecting features such as Challenges, Game Help, Game Streaming, Tournaments, and Trophies. The company said users may have difficulty launching games, apps or network features and that it is working to resolve the issue. The disruption began around 4:16 p.m. ET, according to Downdetector; posts on X described crashes and offline play. Players vented about multiplayer titles like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Battlefield. Sony did not provide a new ETA. The outage underscores the fragility of the online gaming ecosystem.

Micron posts strong results but stock slides as AI narrative takes hold

March 21, 2026, 8:24 PM EDT. Motley Fool says Micron Technology posted strong quarterly results, but the stock fell on the day. The piece ties AI demand to the sector's outlook and sketches a narrative about an Indispensable Monopoly supplying critical tech for firms such as Nvidia and Intel. It notes that Micron wasn't among Stock Advisor's top 10 picks, even as past Fool recommendations like Nvidia and Netflix would have produced outsized returns. The article carries standard disclosures about affiliate links and syndicated content. Price data cited reflect March 19, 2026 afternoon levels; the video was published March 21, 2026.

Steve Jobs quote on innovation and customer needs frames iPhone legacy

March 21, 2026, 8:10 PM EDT. Columnist Isaac Seitz traces Steve Jobs's influence on the iPhone, from discarding the Newton MessagePad to a design that fused simplicity with removal. Under Jobs, Apple pursued a three-in-one concept – a widescreen iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator – anchored in a full Mac OS X foundation. The 2008 App Store transformed the device into a global platform, blending liberal arts with engineering to reshape culture. Jobs's maxim- 'You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them…' – highlights a market-forward approach. The iPhone's launch redefined industries and set the standard for mobile computing for decades.

Engadget review roundup: Apple launches, Galaxy S26, Dell XPS 16

March 21, 2026, 8:08 PM EDT. Engadget's bi-weekly roundup revisits Apple's 2026 launch spree alongside Samsung's Galaxy S26 and Dell's XPS 16. The standout is the MacBook Neo, described as the best $599 laptop yet, limited mainly by 8GB RAM and 512GB max storage but with a premium design, a bright screen, and a strong keyboard and trackpad. The iPhone 17e is a solid entry-level option at $599, offering improved Portrait photography, MagSafe, faster wireless charging, and a fresh pink color, though its display is dated and it ships with a single camera. Apple also advances with the M4/M5 chip family across the lineup and the high-price Studio Display XDR for pros. The roundup labels the Galaxy S26 a solid, safe flagship, and covers the Dell XPS 16 as part of the mix.

NASA's Artemis II rolls back to pad for April launch window

March 21, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT. NASA has rolled the Artemis II mission back to its launch pad as it targets an April first launch opportunity. The agency sets 18:24 Eastern Daylight Time on 1 April (23:24 UK) as the initial window. If that attempt slips, additional slots are scheduled for 2-6 April, with a final chance on 30 April. Officials will weigh weather, range readiness, and fueling milestones before a countdown. The crewed lunar flyby mission follows the first Artemis test flight and hinges on ground systems and vehicle readiness.

Nvidia's DLSS 5 blends AI with rendering, sparking debate over artifacts and artistic control

March 21, 2026, 7:56 PM EDT. Nvidia's latest DLSS 5 introduces a neural rendering model that adds lighting and materials to frames, described as the company's biggest graphics advance since ray tracing. The update fuses handcrafted rendering with generative AI to boost visual realism while attempting to preserve artistic intent. Nvidia says DLSS 5 maintains consistency at 4K, helping developers keep control over visuals. Critics highlight artifacts and an AI-driven look in previews of games such as Starfield, Resident Evil Requiem and Hogwarts Legacy, fueling a debate about authenticity versus efficiency. DLSS 4.5's multi-frame generation remains a separate performance lever, but DLSS 5 emphasizes real-time enhancement rather than mere upscaling. The field weighs the trade-off: stronger visuals and frame rates, with potential deviation from the original look.

OpenAI bets on autonomous AI researcher with 2028 multi-agent plan

March 21, 2026, 7:42 PM EDT. OpenAI is refocusing its research into an ambitious, long-term project: a fully automated AI researcher that can tackle large, complex problems with minimal human input. The company's North Star, says chief scientist Jakub Pachocki, is to build an autonomous AI research intern by September, laying the groundwork for a multi-agent system due in 2028. The tool could address tasks in math, physics, biology, chemistry, business or policy, framed in text, code or whiteboard scribbles. OpenAI has long chased reasoning models, agents and interpretability; rival firms like Anthropic and Google DeepMind push the field forward. In January, OpenAI released Codex, an agent-based app that can spin up code on the fly. Pachocki argues the team already has much of what's needed-enabling a virtual research lab in a data center.

Microsoft reorganizes Copilot leadership as Nadella sidelines Suleyman after $650 million hire

March 21, 2026, 7:40 PM EDT. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella restructured its AI leadership, uniting consumer and enterprise Copilot teams under one executive and sidelining Mustafa Suleyman, the Inflection AI founder hired for $650 million in 2024. Jacob Andreou, promoted to executive vice president of Copilot, will oversee a unified organization spanning Copilot experience, platform, Microsoft 365 apps and AI models. Suleyman shifts to focus on superintelligence with a long horizon. Copilot logs about 6 million daily active users as of March 2026, trailing ChatGPT and Claude at roughly 9 million. Microsoft 365 has over 450 million paid seats; Copilot has converted about 15 million to paid users (3.3%), roughly $5.4 billion annualized. Recon Analytics shows shrinking market share and adoption when competitors are present, a push Nadella wants via consolidation.

These people used AI to help find their lost pets

March 21, 2026, 7:38 PM EDT. Owners turned to AI-powered tools to speed up missing-pet hunts. Apps analyze photos and video from cameras, social posts and sightings, then flag likely matches for human review. In several cases, volunteers used geolocation data, automated alerts and messaging to coordinate outreach. Experts say AI can sift through thousands of posts and frames far faster than people, narrowing search areas and shortening the time to find a pet. Yet privacy advocates warn about data use, urging opt-in features and transparency. The effort blends technology with community action-dogs, cats and other companions found through a mix of apps, shelters and volunteers. The stories underscore collaboration, not a single gadget, in the hunt for missing pets.

Apple considered buying Halide maker Lux Optics to upgrade its native Camera app

March 21, 2026, 7:26 PM EDT. Apple held acquisition talks in summer 2025 to buy Lux Optics, the maker of the Halide camera app, The Information reports. The deal would have given Apple access to Halide as well as Lux Optics' other apps – Kino, Spectre and Orion – but it collapsed in September 2025. The discussions underscored Apple's aim to bolster its built-in Camera app as it reportedly weighs features like variable aperture for future iPhone models, including the iPhone 18 Pro. Co-founders Ben Sandofsky and Sebastiaan de With argued that further Halide updates could lift the company's value, leading to a dispute that ended with de With's firing and later recruitment by Apple's design team. Even so, Halide may remain third-party software, while Apple pursues internal camera improvements.

Rivian's R2 set to challenge Tesla's Model Y; impact uncertain

March 21, 2026, 7:24 PM EDT. Rivian's upcoming R2 SUV is set to challenge a market Tesla has largely owned. The Model Y accounted for more than 70% of Tesla's U.S. sales, helping it hold roughly half of the EV share. Rivian aims at the affordable SUV niche with the R2, priced under $50,000, and deliveries are expected next month. Still, the impact on Tesla may be modest. Rivian trades around a $19 billion market cap, while Tesla's roughly $1.2 trillion valuation is tied to software and energy ambitions beyond auto manufacturing. Even with rising SUV demand, margins and volumes remain uncertain. The rivalry could tilt growth more than current sentiment suggests, but a clean, rapid takeaway for Tesla seems unlikely.

Galaxy S26 adds native USB webcam support with Android 14 QPR1

March 21, 2026, 7:22 PM EDT. Android Authority reports that Samsung's Galaxy S26 adds native USB webcam support via Android 14 QPR1, matching Google's Pixel implementation. When you connect a Galaxy S26 to a PC with a USB cable, you can choose a webcam option, including an optional High Quality Mode to improve image output. The feature marks a shift toward system-wide USB webcam use, building on Samsung's existing camera sharing with other Galaxy devices. Samsung has not yet confirmed whether older Galaxy phones will receive the same support through future updates. The change arrives as mobile cameras become viable desktop webcams, a trend Google and now Samsung are embracing.

BMW's i3 EV debuts with 440-mile range to challenge Tesla

March 21, 2026, 7:20 PM EDT. BMW unveiled the new i3, a 50 xDrive variant built on the Neue Klasse platform. The sedan delivers 469 horsepower, accelerates to 60 mph in about four seconds, and carries an EPA-estimated 440 miles of range. It uses an 800-volt architecture with high-energy-density batteries and can add around 250 miles in 10 minutes of charging. WLTP shows about 900 km of range. Inside lies a 40-inch panoramic display and BMW's Heart of Joy computing platform, ten times faster than before. Production starts in Munich this August; US deliveries are planned for 2027 with pricing around $55,000, positioning it near the Model 3 Performance while above the Model 3 Premium. BMW seeks to win premium EV buyers from Tesla.

Blue Origin seeks FCC approval for 51,600 data-center satellites in Project Sunrise

March 21, 2026, 7:06 PM EDT. Blue Origin is asking the FCC to authorize up to 51,600 data-center satellites in low Earth orbit as part of Project Sunrise, to complement its TeraWave plan. The constellation would deliver ultra-high-speed connectivity for orbital data centers, large enterprises and government customers. It lands in a crowded field with SpaceX pursuing a much larger constellation and rivals such as Starcloud. The broader drive is orbital data centers to bypass Earth-based AI power and cooling limits. Bezos argues the concept could lower costs over time. The race also includes Amazon Leo deployments and AWS ties, while Sunrise would operate in circular, sun-synchronous orbits at 500-1,800 km.

How to access Portrait Mode in iOS 26 on iPhone

March 21, 2026, 6:54 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26 overhauls the iPhone Camera app, sparking confusion over whether Portrait mode has vanished. In reality, the feature is still present. It is now accessible via a non-obvious horizontal swipe within the mode selector. Open the Camera app; you will see only Photo and Video initially. Swipe left or right on the mode label until you reach Portrait mode. Enter Portrait mode, then tap the multi-box button in the top corner or swipe up to reveal additional controls such as flash, aperture, timer, exposure, filters, and intensity. The change affects all models running iOS 26, including the iPhone 17 series, but does not remove the feature. The UX shift is a result of the redesigned interface rather than removal.

Somnium Space updates platform with better profiles and faster loading; reviewer revisits the VR world

March 21, 2026, 6:52 PM EDT. Somnium Space has rolled out an update that adds improved player profiles, faster map loading, new dance animations and other quality-of-life tweaks. A reviewer returns to the blockchain-based PC social VR platform to test the live service. The World's Hub sits at the center of Base Reality, the starting area. The base map features a town center with a mall, a planetarium narrated by an AI voice, and a prison for misbehaving avatars. Players can ride a free hoverbike, visit Magic Forest, explore a cave system and a race track. Across the town, older parcels host defunct NFT galleries and crypto businesses. While the center is bright and welcoming, the outskirts echo past web3 concepts. The update highlights improved loading and polish, but it remains unclear whether the platform can sustain long-term engagement.

Salesforce and NVIDIA target regulated enterprise AI agents for on-prem deployments

March 21, 2026, 6:50 PM EDT. Salesforce (CRM) and NVIDIA unveiled a partnership to embed NVIDIA's Nemotron models and Agent Toolkit into Salesforce's Agentforce platform. The collaboration aims to deliver enterprise-grade AI agents for regulated and on-premises environments, with a rollout to Salesforce employees via Slack to automate workflows. The focus is governance, compliance, and secure deployment of AI agents inside large organizations. The move fits Salesforce's broader push to weave AI into core platforms, extending from CRM to enterprise workflows in finance, healthcare, and government where control and auditability matter. For investors, the key question is whether the NVIDIA-tied capabilities will raise switching costs and lock customers into Agentforce and Data Cloud, or simply blend with rival offerings. The plan relies on NVIDIA tooling, which could complicate differentiation if competitors deploy similar models.

Android 17 beta adds automatic SIM lock protection, targets June rollout

March 21, 2026, 6:36 PM EDT. Google is testing an Automatic SIM Lock feature in Android 17 that manages SIM PIN protection automatically. Discovered in Android Canary 2603 and now visible in Android 17 Beta 2, the feature sits under Settings > Security & Privacy > More security & privacy > Protect SIM card. Enabling it first requires biometric or passcode authentication, then prompts for the existing SIM PIN; users can tap Use carrier default if they have not set one. An option labelled Show Android-managed PIN reveals the code in the onscreen dialog. Android Authority, citing the Canary release, says the feature could arrive with the Android 17 stable in June, though timing remains unconfirmed. The aim is to improve convenience without compromising security in cases of theft or SIM swapping.

Hachette pulls Shy Girl amid AI-use concerns; author denies using AI

March 21, 2026, 6:26 PM EDT. News: Hachette canceled the UK release and the US debut of Shy Girl after concerns about AI usage. Pangram and other AI-detection firms flagged patterns suggesting the novel was largely AI-generated. The New York Times published an investigation analyzing passages with several AI-detection tools, noting gaps in logic, melodramatic adjectives, and overreliance on the rule of three. Hachette pulled the book in the UK and scrapped the planned US debut. Author Ballard told the Times she did not personally use AI to write the novel, though she said a friend who helped edit may have. The case mirrors disruptions in music publishing, where tools like Suno are used to produce AI demos and tracks. Some readers praised the book despite the controversy; others seek clarity on the process.

Nvidia DLSS 5 debate widens after employee contradicts Huang on technology

March 21, 2026, 6:16 PM EDT. Nvidia rolled out DLSS 5, billed as an AI-powered upscaler that uses a game's color and motion vectors to infuse lighting and materials per frame. CEO Jensen Huang later said it isn't post-processing at the frame level, calling it 'content-control neural rendering.' Yet Nvidia marketing rep Jacob Freeman told PC YouTuber Daniel Owens that DLSS 5 takes a 2D frame plus motion vectors as input and is trained end-to-end to understand scene semantics-such as characters, hair, and lighting-by analyzing a single frame. The exchange contradicts Huang's framing and fuels online backlash, with critics arguing the tech relies on a single frame and acts like a generative AI filter rather than true geometry-based rendering. Nvidia's statements appear at odds, prompting questions about what developers can control.

SpaceX to launch 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg; sonic booms expected for Central Coast residents

March 21, 2026, 6:12 PM EDT. SpaceX plans to launch 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on a Falcon 9 rocket, with a mission window from 2:48 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. PT on March 20, 2026. The first-stage booster will fly a fourth time, targeting a landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific. A webcast will begin about five minutes before liftoff on SpaceX's X platform and site apps. Residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties may hear or feel sonic booms, depending on weather and flight path. Vandenberg has expanded outreach, and the ECOBOOM program is collecting acoustic data from launches to study how sound travels to the ground.

Crimson Desert to patch controls after player feedback

March 21, 2026, 6:08 PM EDT. Pearl Abyss said it is preparing a patch to fix the controversial control scheme in Crimson Desert. The note acknowledges player feedback on awkward inputs and promises improvements. Critics pointed to unusual mappings, such as attacking with both a shoulder button and a trigger. The developers apologized for a lack of a satisfactory keyboard-and-mouse setup, with PC Gamer highlighting sprint mapped to Shift as a potential strain. The studio did not address the AI-art issue that emerged recently, and it is unclear whether that element will be patched alongside controls. A patch timeline was not given, but the company said it is listening closely and working to improve gameplay quickly.

Xiaomi Pad 8 review: four features that make it the best mid-range Android tablet

March 21, 2026, 6:06 PM EDT. After a month with the Xiaomi Pad 8, the author identifies four traits that push it toward the top of mid-range Android tablets. The 11.2-inch LCD panel offers solid color and readability, though it doesn't match OLED. An optional nano-texture coating reduces glare, and the tablet's 3:2 ratio aids reading, complemented by Xiaomi's Reading Mode. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 powers smooth performance, with the choice of 8GB/128GB (UFS 3.1) or 12GB/256GB (UFS 4.1) storage for headroom. Finally, Xiaomi leans into productivity, shipping the Pad 8 with two keyboard cases and an improved stylus for writing and drawing. The device is pitched as the best mid-range Android tablet at this price.

Tesla builds sovereign chip chain, taps Samsung Texas fab, diversifies from TSMC

March 21, 2026, 5:50 PM EDT. Tesla is retooling its supply chain for AI hardware by moving to Samsung's Taylor, Texas fab to produce next-gen chips, a move that diversifies away from TSMC. The plan, slated to begin production in 2027, pairs Tesla's in-house silicon design with domestic manufacturing, creating a 'sovereign chip chain' intended to reduce exposure to geopolitics and shipping disruptions. Analysts say it's not an outright rejection of TSMC, but a strategic push to lock in supply for Full Self-Driving, Optimus and other AI initiatives. In practice, hardware and software are tightly linked in AI; by owning the chip stack, Tesla can better control pace of rollout. The shift marks a broader trend toward localized, resilient semiconductor ecosystems in the US, even as global leaders compete on process nodes. The move signals Tesla's ambition to shield key AI compute from external shocks.

Artemis II Moon rocket and Orion return to pad ahead of early-April launch window

March 21, 2026, 5:46 PM EDT. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – NASA's Artemis II Moon rocket and Orion spacecraft rolled back to the launch pad after an 11-hour transit from the Vehicle Assembly Building. Teams move into the final phase of prelaunch work, wiring and powering up ground systems to ensure readiness for liftoff. The four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – remain in quarantine and are due back at Kennedy about a week before launch for a 10-day mission around the Moon. The crew will test life-support systems, spacecraft performance, and crew operations during the flight. NASA targets an earliest liftoff of April 1 with a window through April 6; another opportunity is April 30.

Crimson Desert Dev to Patch PS5 RPG's 'Uncomfortable' Controls

March 21, 2026, 5:40 PM EDT. Pearl Abyss says it is listening to feedback and preparing a patch to fix the game's control scheme on PS5 and for keyboard and mouse players. In a message posted on X, the studio acknowledged discomfort with the controls and pledged improvements 'as quickly as possible.' A spokesperson added that the patch will address issues affecting keyboard and mouse gameplay and apologized for a subpar PC experience. The studio also shared a bug-report link for players to submit problems. Our hands-on preview described Crimson Desert as unusual for its unorthodox controls and sparse narrative; a full review is planned. The patch stance follows earlier criticism and signals ongoing post-launch support.

Halide co-founder sues former partner over alleged Lux funds misuse and theft of source code as he joins Apple

March 21, 2026, 5:38 PM EDT. Lux Optics co-founder Ben Sandofsky filed a lawsuit in the California Superior Court in Santa Cruz accusing former partner Sebastiaan de With of financial misconduct and of taking Lux's source code and confidential material when he joined Apple. The suit, first reported by The Information, contends de With used more than $150,000 of Lux funds for personal expenses. De With's attorney denies the allegations, saying the filing aims to insert Apple into the dispute to gain leverage. Lux, the maker of the Halide camera app, had discussed an acquisition by Apple last year before Apple instead hired de With in January. The case highlights friction from a high-profile move in the mobile imaging ecosystem.

TCL's Note A1 NXTPAPER aims to eclipse the iPad Air M4 at MWC 2026

March 21, 2026, 5:02 PM EDT. At MWC 2026, TCL pitched the Note A1 NXTPAPER as a note-taking and creative tablet. It carries an MSRP of $509 that undercuts Apple's new iPad Air M4, which starts at $599. TCL has not disclosed every spec, but demos highlighted an 11.5-inch, 2200×1440 display and its NXTPAPER hybrid screen lineage. Other TCL products on show, from the Tab A1 to Swarovski-designed CrystalClip earbuds, drew attention, but the Note A1 led conversations. The package positions TCL as a lower-cost Android alternative focused on display quality and writing comfort, even if Apple maintains a broader feature set.

Apple weighs Lux Optics buy as iPhone 18 Pro camera software upgrade looms

March 21, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT. Apple is pursuing a software upgrade for the iPhone 18 Pro camera as hardware advances. The Information reports Apple held talks last summer to acquire Lux Optics, the studio behind Halide, Kino, Spectre and Orion. Co-founder Sebastiaan de With later joined Apple's design team after Lux considered a sale, according to the lawsuit filed by cofounder Ben Sandofsky, which alleges misuses of funds and possession of confidential Lux materials, including the Apple Design Award. Talks ended in September, when the cofounders agreed that future Halide updates could increase the company's value. Apple's goal appears to be adding more pro camera features to its built-in app to keep pace with higher-end hardware, while Lux Optics' influence on software remains a focal point.

Minecraft Dungeons 2 announced for PC, consoles this year

March 21, 2026, 4:58 PM EDT. Publisher Xbox Game Studios and developers Mojang Studios and Double Eleven said Minecraft Dungeons 2 will arrive on PC via Xbox and Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and Xbox Series with Game Pass later this year. The announcement followed an apparent leak from Gematsu before an official Minecraft Live reveal. In a formal press release, the team billed the game as an all-new action-RPG in the Minecraft universe with loot and up to three-player co-op to save a world in crisis. Mojang called it the sequel to the 2020 spin-off, which has grown to 25 million players by April 2024. The original game has sold about 350 million copies, second only to Tetris.

The short, strange life of mechanical smartphone cameras

March 21, 2026, 4:34 PM EDT. In a world where phone cameras are largely solid-state, a few models flirted with real moving parts. Early swivel camera systems let one lens serve front and back duties-Samsung's V200 (2003) and Oppo N1 (2013)-but the idea never stuck. Pop-up selfie mechanisms promised bezel freedom and privacy, used by Vivo NEX S, Mi 9T Pro, and OnePlus 7 Pro, yet mechanical failures surfaced with frequent use. Variants such as shark-fin and wedge-shaped pop-ups appeared, including Oppo Reno 10x Zoom. The trend faded as under-screen cameras and other technologies matured. Still, the period shows engineers seizing on physical motion inside phones to improve imaging, even as most cameras moved toward micro-electromechanical parts.

Wall Street remains wary as Nvidia's GTC keynote fails to lift stock

March 21, 2026, 4:32 PM EDT. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang outlined a string of product updates and big-number forecasts at the GTC keynote, but Wall Street slid the stock as investors weighed AI uncertainty and the prospect of a bubble. Analysts said sentiment in Silicon Valley is buoyant, while markets remain cautious about timing and ROI. Huang touted a $35 trillion AI agent ecosystem and $50 trillion in physical AI and robotics. He projected about $1 trillion in purchase orders for Blackwell and Vera Rubin by the end of 2027. Futurum's Daniel Neuman told TechCrunch that the market hates uncertainty, even as Nvidia signs large deals. Earlier this week, Amazon was reported to plan to buy 1 million GPUs for AWS by 2027, among other AI infrastructure commitments.

Microsoft promises Windows 11 changes after 'Microslop' criticisms

March 21, 2026, 4:16 PM EDT. Microsoft says it will roll out a series of Windows 11 updates in response to criticism that the OS is too constrained and hard to use. The company did not disclose exact features but pledged changes to core UI elements, performance, and app compatibility. The move follows public backlash over design choices and user experience concerns. A Microsoft spokesperson framed the plan as listening to users and adjusting the product roadmap accordingly. Analysts say the pledge could help restore trust after a rocky initial rollout, though timing and specifics remain uncertain.

Nvidia to sell only one Vera CPU SKU, aiming for a multi-billion-dollar standalone CPU business

March 21, 2026, 4:02 PM EDT. At GTC 2026, Nvidia said it will build only one Vera CPU SKU, a move intended to reduce costs while targeting a multi-billion-dollar standalone CPU business. The die reportedly carries about 91 cores, with an 88-core variant used for high yields and redundancy. Nvidia touts Vera for extremely high single-threaded performance, strong data throughput, and energy efficiency to complement its GPUs in agentic AI workloads. The plan centers on using Vera in NVL72 VR200 and VR300 rack-scale systems, rather than building a broad CPU business. Huang and Buck stressed there is market interest, and CPUs will be sold separately, but Nvidia does not intend to compete with AMD or Intel in mainstream CPUs – at least for now. The company projects a multi-billion-dollar CPU revenue stream.

Apple unveils Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 Special Edition with Volt design

March 21, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT. Apple has opened orders for the special-edition Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 on Apple.com in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and other markets. The two-tone design pairs black with Nike's Volt neon-green accent but keeps the core features intact from the regular Powerbeats Pro 2: wraparound earhooks, Active Noise Cancelling with Transparency mode, built-in heart-rate monitoring, and up to 45 hours of battery life with the charging case. The Nike edition is pitched as a fitness-focused alternative to the AirPods Pro 3. Nike-promoted ads feature LeBron James. In the US, pricing stays at $249.99, with Apple listing a March 24 delivery date.

How to view NASA's SLS rocket before Artemis II launch

March 21, 2026, 3:58 PM EDT. Public viewing of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on Pad 39B is open before Artemis II's launch. After hydrogen leaks and a helium-flow issue delayed the flight, the rocket sits ready on the Florida pad, with Orion aboard for a 10-day lunar flyby. Viewers can see it from several Titusville parks across the Indian River, or take a Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex bus tour that drops guests at the Gantry near Pad 39A. Tickets for a day visit run about $77 for adults and $67 for children; locals can buy annual passes starting at $149 for adults. Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, pilots Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will lead the mission, the first crewed lunar approach since Apollo 17.

Healthcare cloud computing market to hit $120.6B by 2029 on digital health push

March 21, 2026, 3:56 PM EDT. Global spending on healthcare cloud computing rose from US$46.1 billion in 2023 to US$53.8 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow at a 17.5% CAGR from 2024 to 2029, reaching US$120.6 billion. Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region, buoyed by expanding digital health solutions, China's health IT reforms, India's expanding healthcare market, and IT programs in Australia and New Zealand. Growth is driven by widespread use of EHRs, e-prescribing and telehealth, alongside rising chronic disease burdens and an aging population. The pandemic stressed health systems and underscored the need for interoperable, connected devices and remote monitoring, pushing demand for cloud-based platforms and services.

Tesla FSD v14.3 eyed for late-April release as Musk touts reasoning, RL and AI-chip plans

March 21, 2026, 3:26 PM EDT. Tesla is preparing a broad rollout of Full Self-Driving v14.3 after mixed feedback on v14.2.2.5. Elon Musk said on X that v14.3 will add more reasoning and RL (reinforcement learning) to improve decisions, with a focus on Navigation. He also signaled a longer-term plan to build a giant chip fab to scale AI, potentially hundreds of gigawatts per year. v14.3 was initially slated for January or February but is now in internal testing, with a wide release expected in a few weeks, likely by late April. Some chatter links the update to features like Reverse Summon (Banish) and even driverless robotaxis in Austin. Regardless, navigation errors remain a top request from FSD users.

Five smartphones with the best battery life in 2026, led by Realme P4 Power

March 21, 2026, 3:22 PM EDT. Five smartphones top the battery life charts in 2026, according to independent testers such as PhoneArena, GSMArena and ZDNET. Battery longevity hinges on more than capacity: display size and refresh rate, connections, processor and OS all influence real-world endurance. Manufacturers' estimates can vary, so test results matter. Among the standout models is the Realme P4 Power, launched in India in January 2026. Its 10,001 mAh silicon-carbon battery underpins GSMArena's estimate of about 25 hours 35 minutes of mixed-use, with longer runtimes for calls, web, video and gaming. Tom's Guide says it can last over three days on a full charge and around 13 days on standby. It also supports up to 80 W fast charging and 27 W reverse charging. Real-world tests drive the verdict on which phones truly outlast the rest.

Pokémon Sleep expands compatibility to Garmin smartwatches

March 21, 2026, 3:12 PM EDT. Pokémon Sleep now supports Garmin smartwatches, letting sleep data feed Pokémon-catching progress without extra dongles. The Pokémon Company confirms compatibility across a broad lineup of Garmin models, moving beyond prior support for Apple Watch, Android watches, and the Pokémon GO Plus+ accessory. Setup is straightforward: link your Garmin account in the Pokémon Sleep app and let the watch sync sleep data each morning. No additional hardware required. The change should widen the app's reach among fitness-tracker users who prefer Garmin's devices, which already log sleep, steps, and other health metrics. Users wake up to see which new Pokémon joined their campsite, while Garmin stores and streams data for a centralized view of nightly rest.

Apple bid for Lux Optics to boost iPhone 18 Pro camera stalls; lawsuit follows

March 21, 2026, 2:54 PM EDT. Apple explored buying Lux Optics, the maker of the Halide camera apps, to bolster the built-in Camera app on the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. Talks ended without a deal, and Apple began recruiting Lux cofounder Sebastian de With. Lux CEO Ben Sandofsky says de With was fired in December over financial misconduct; de With says he joined Apple in January. Sandofsky has filed a lawsuit in California's Santa Cruz Superior Court alleging de With diverted more than $150,000 of Lux funds for personal use and disclosed confidential Lux material and source code to Apple. De With's lawyers call the suit meritless and say it's retaliation after concerns about Lux's finances. Apple is not named as a defendant.

Apple TV marks 19 years as rumors swirl about a new model

March 21, 2026, 2:52 PM EDT. Apple TV marks 19 years since its 2007 debut at Macworld, when Steve Jobs unveiled the device as a niche 'hobby' and previewed it as the 'iTV'. The original model featured a 40GB drive, 720p output and a simple remote, streaming from iTunes. In 2010 Apple scrapped the hard drive and shifted to streaming. The 2015 introduction of tvOS and the App Store enabled third-party apps, a turning point that culminated in 4K support in 2017 and ongoing upgrades, now led by the A15 Bionic chip. Today's device is a premium hub for Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, AirPlay and HomeKit, not just iTunes. Rivals like Roku and Fire TV compete on price, while Apple emphasizes ecosystem integration. A new model, rumored to arrive soon, is said to include a faster chip and a custom N1 wireless core.

IBM stock resilience tied to AI integration and quantum computing strategy in 2026

March 21, 2026, 2:38 PM EDT. IBM's stock has more than doubled in three years, despite a pullback this year as investors weigh the impact of AI on operations. The company has a century-long record of adapting to client needs, shifting from early products to advanced fields. A central pillar is its quantum computing division, expected to extend computational resources and potentially amplify AI capabilities. The corporate culture and long-term view underpin resilience, with AI likely to be integrated as a tool to improve customer service rather than replace human work. In services, AI may speed issue resolution for legacy systems, while human experts still drive business logic and bespoke processes. The report also highlights broader market dynamics shaping investment in tech, with AI and quantum reshaping risk and value creation.

Rivian-Uber plan to deploy 50,000 robotaxis by 2031 tests Tesla's scaling edge

March 21, 2026, 2:32 PM EDT. Rivian and Uber unveiled a plan to deploy up to 50,000 R2 robotaxis across 25 cities in the United States, Canada and Europe by 2031, shifting the debate from tech prowess to execution at scale. Rivian supplies the hardware; Uber provides demand; the pairing couples platform and network upfront to shorten the path from development to deployment. Tesla still pursues a vertically integrated autonomy stack aimed at broad vehicle-scale rollout, while Waymo operates commercially in several cities. In autonomous driving, more miles equal faster learning, creating a data flywheel that accelerates refinement. The plan signals a broader market shift: robotaxis are becoming competitive, defined by distribution and execution as much as model quality.

China's aluminium-based EV battery completes -25°C trial with >92% efficiency, 20-minute fast charge

March 21, 2026, 2:14 PM EDT. A team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a field test of an aluminium-based wide-temperature lithium-ion battery in Heilongjiang province. At -25°C, the battery delivered over 92% discharge efficiency in real-world city driving and reached about 90% state of charge in roughly 20 minutes during low-temperature charging. The device uses an aluminium-based anode with alloying elements to broaden the operating range; lab data show it can function from -70°C to +80°C. This marks the first installation of this battery type in a production EV for extreme-cold evaluation. The unit was installed in the updated Geely Galaxy E5 SUV, marketed internationally as the Geely EX5 EV.

Minecraft 26.1 Release Candidate 2 ships with internationalization fix

March 21, 2026, 2:12 PM EDT. Minecraft's 26.1 Release Candidate 2 (RC2) ships Friday, bringing a fix for an internationalization issue while the team moves toward the full 26.1 release. The patch targets MC-306928, where switching windows forcibly sets the input method to English when no input field is focused. Mojang describes a Release Candidate (RC) as a test build slated for final release if no critical issues appear. Players can enable snapshots in the Minecraft Launcher under Installations to test RC2, noting that testing versions can corrupt worlds; back up or run in a separate folder. A cross-platform server jar is available, and users can report bugs or offer feedback through the project's channels.

China doubles down on satellite push as SpaceX fuels space race

March 21, 2026, 2:10 PM EDT. Caixin reports Beijing is pouring capital and policy support into the commercial space sector. A Long March-8 rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan in March 2024, underscoring China's deeper push into orbit. The piece notes SpaceX among drivers of a broader race for the sky, with competing powers treating space as a strategic domain marked by scarce resources and rapid technical change. Beijing aims to nurture a domestic commercial space ecosystem while balancing state policy and private capital. The development signals a wider trend in which satellite investment supersedes traditional launch programs as a pillar of national strength, even as global players vie for leadership.

Nvidia Shield TV hits 10 years of updates, outlasting Google and Samsung's seven-year promises

March 21, 2026, 1:54 PM EDT. Raising the bar for longevity, Nvidia's Shield TV marks ten years of updates, longer than the seven-year promises adopted by rivals Google and Samsung in 2024. Since its 2015 launch, the Android-powered box progressed from Android 5.0 to Android 11 with few outages, Nvidia says. Andrew Bell, Nvidia's VP of Hardware Engineering, called the ongoing support a labor of love. Behind the scenes, Nvidia wrestled with a security vulnerability tied to the Tegra X1 chip used by the 2015 Shield and the original Nintendo Switch; after 18 months, the 9.2 patch arrived in February 2025, restoring 4K playback for older models. The 2019 Shield Pro remains priced around €219/$235, with steady sales. A successor could add AV1 decoding, HDR 10+ support, Dolby Vision, and a redesigned remote sans the Netflix button.

Space Force moves GPS III-8 launch from Vulcan Centaur to SpaceX Falcon 9 after SRB glitches

March 21, 2026, 1:40 PM EDT. The U.S. Space Force has switched the GPS III-8 launch from ULA's Vulcan Centaur to SpaceX's Falcon 9 after issues with the rocket's solid rocket boosters (SRBs). Space Force Col. Ryan Hiserote said the move targets rapid delivery of advanced GPS capability while the anomaly investigation continues. Vulcan has had SRB problems on several flights, though it has reached orbit in those missions. The GPS satellite will be the 10th and final GPS III spacecraft, with liftoff no earlier than late April from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40. Vulcan will carry USSF-70, a national-security mission now slated for no earlier than summer 2028 on a Falcon Heavy. ULA continues the investigation; Space Force remains a major customer with many Vulcan launches ahead.

Nvidia GTC 2026 draws 30,000 registrants to San Jose as downtown recovery lags

March 21, 2026, 1:38 PM EDT. Thousands of attendees packed downtown San Jose for Nvidia's GTC 2026, underscoring a city still rebuilding its conference economy. Nvidia said 30,000 people registered for the AI-focused event, up 5,000 from last year, though turnout figures weren't released. Local businesses described a surge of energy, but cautioned that the recovery is far from normal. Team San Jose and Nvidia offered no economic-impact figures. Analysts point to a slower bounce-back for San Jose's convention business, hampered by tech belt-tightening and relatively high hotel prices. Nationally, conference attendance remains down 5% to 10%. In pre-pandemic years, the centers hosted 498,683 attendees; last fiscal year, numbers stayed well below that level but have risen since 2021-22.

Huawei expands Curve Pay to more smartwatches, broadening wearable payments

March 21, 2026, 1:36 PM EDT. Huawei has expanded Curve Pay, its Curve fintech digital wallet, to more smartwatches beyond the Watch GT Runner 2. The feature lets wearers store multiple debit and credit cards in one app and pay with a single card on a wearable, without transmitting the actual card data. The rollout covers the Watch GT Runner 2, GT 6 and GT 6 Pro, GT 5 and GT 5 Pro, Ultimate 2, Watch 5, and the Watch Fit 4 series, with the latter possibly not yet supported. Setup requires installing Curve Pay via AppGallery on a Huawei phone, creating a Curve account, then enabling Curve in the Huawei Health app, setting a mandatory PIN on the watch, and opening Curve Launchpad to link to Huawei wearables. Features include cashback and auto-card fallbacks.

DJI Mini 4K hits record-low price at Amazon: $209 for top budget drone

March 21, 2026, 1:32 PM EDT. Amazon slashed the price of the DJI Mini 4K to $209 from $299, underscoring its appeal as a leading budget drone. The compact flyer records 4K UHD video, delivers up to 31 minutes of flight time and supports slow-motion capture. It offers 2x video support, Level 5 wind resistance and dynamic flight modes such as Helix, Circle and Boomerang. The package remains light on advanced sensors: there are no object collision sensors or subject tracking. It weighs under the 249 g threshold, meaning no license required in many markets. Our cameras editor, Timothy Coleman, praised the value and 4K quality that beats rivals at this price. DJI's broader lineup remains feature-rich, with guides available for other drones in our review suite.

Apple Watch Series 11 hits all-time low prices on Amazon with $100 off aluminum models

March 21, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT. Amazon is offering all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 off across aluminum models. The 42mm GPS is $299 (normally $399) and the 46mm GPS is $329 (normally $429). For cellular models, the 42mm version is $399 (normally $499) and the 46mm is $429 (normally $529). Amazon lists multiple configurations-four 42mm GPS and four 46mm GPS on sale at these levels. The discounts mark new lows for both GPS and cellular lines. The sale broadens a deals wave tracked last month; availability varies by color and configuration. Readers are encouraged to check the full Deals Roundup for other discounts this week.

Apple Watch Series 11, MacBook Pro discounts lead Amazon Big Spring Sale ahead of March 25

March 21, 2026, 1:28 PM EDT. Deal trackers note early discounts ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale, including $100 off the Apple Watch Series 11 and $200 off the Apple MacBook Pro. The discounts appear before the sale's official start on March 25. The early pricing signals a competitive spring push for premium Apple devices on e-commerce platforms.

Nvidia, Lucid, Uber Build Modular Robotaxi Ecosystem, Challenge Tesla

March 21, 2026, 1:20 PM EDT. Nvidia is supplying the AI compute, Lucid is designing hardware-ready vehicles, and Uber provides scale and distribution for a modular robotaxi approach that sidelines vertical integration. The two models diverge: Tesla pursues a single company, full-stack system, while Nvidia-Lucid-Uber assemble an ecosystem that links chips, software and fleets. Nvidia handles real-time inference and continuous updates; Lucid aims for autonomy-ready platforms and scalable midsize vehicles. Uber offers a vast rider network and global demand, effectively becoming the deployment engine for any autonomy stack. The result is not a pilot but a distributed rollout that could accelerate mass adoption if the partners align on software updates and vehicle supply. The competition shifts from car-building to system-building.

Apple unveils AirPods Max 2 with H2 chip and adaptive audio features

March 21, 2026, 1:16 PM EDT. Apple unveiled AirPods Max 2, powered by the new H2 chip, enabling advanced computational audio. The company says Active Noise Cancellation is up to 1.5x more effective, and Transparency mode sounds more natural. The H2 enables Adaptive Audio, balancing noise cancellation with environmental sound, plus Conversation Awareness that lowers playback when you speak, and Personalized Volume that learns listening preferences. Voice Isolation was improved to prioritize the wearer's voice on calls. Audio quality gains come from a new high dynamic range amplifier and updated processing, with refined Spatial Audio. Bluetooth 5.3 reduces latency. New features include Live Translation, the Digital Crown as a camera remote, and expanded Siri with hands-free activation and gesture responses. Design, build, and price remain; up to 20 hours with ANC; $549. Orders start March 25 in the US and 30+ countries; launch in early April.

DJI Mini 4K price falls to $209, a solid starter drone for first-time buyers

March 21, 2026, 12:24 PM EDT. DJI's entry-level drone, the DJI Mini 4K, has dropped to $209 at multiple retailers, the lowest price tracked. The compact quadcopter remains beginner-friendly, offering full manual mode, RAW photo capture and 4K video, with a 12MP 1/2.3-inch sensor that doubles as a compact camera with wings. Its trade-offs include the absence of collision sensors and limited dynamic range, making it less capable than pricier models. For first-time pilots who want low risk, this price makes it a strong starting point while keeping budget expectations modest. The more advanced Mini 5 Pro offers a larger one-inch sensor and up to 50MP, but its higher list price-about $759-creates a higher barrier. The price drop positions the Mini 4K as a practical gateway for new drone photographers.

Four ways to watch TV on a smart TV when your internet is down

March 21, 2026, 12:20 PM EDT. When the internet goes dark on a smart TV, there are still options. First, many streaming apps offer offline downloads you can watch without a connection, once you preload titles. Second, physical media remains a lifeline: a DVD player or Blu-ray collection plays without Wi-Fi. Third, a local media setup-think a NAS or USB drive with downloaded files or a personal server-lets you stream stored content to your TV. Fourth, a phone hotspot can temporarily restore access by tethering the TV to cellular data. Plan ahead: pre-downloads, keep a small physical library, and configure a simple local playback setup before outages hit.

Ghost in the Machine flags race science shaping AI hype

March 21, 2026, 12:18 PM EDT. Ghost in the Machine director Valerie Veatch uses her documentary to trace how race science helped shape today's AI discourse. The film argues the term artificial intelligence masks a longer history that begins with Victorian eugenics and Francis Galton, Darwin's cousin, before the tech industry's hype cycle took hold. Veatch examines how OpenAI's Sora, released in 2024, and similar tools spurred online communities that welcomed experimentation yet produced images steeped in racism and sexism. She criticizes peers for normalizing harmful outputs without prompt, and she underlines the need for precise language, calling "artificial intelligence" a marketing term rather than a technical definition. The documentary frames today's gen AI accelerationism within a historical continuum of power, bias and industry messaging.

Amazon's Transformer smartphone aims to fuse AI and Alexa into a personalized hub

March 21, 2026, 12:14 PM EDT. Amazon is developing a smartphone project code-named Transformer that would weave artificial intelligence and Alexa into a personalized access hub for its services. The effort sits in the Devices and Services unit and is led by a new group called ZeroOne, headed by former Microsoft executive J Allard, who previously worked on Xbox and Zune. The device would function as a mobile hub linking to shopping on Amazon, Prime Video, Prime Music, and partner services, with AI capable of performing tasks without a traditional app store, though Alexa is expected to be a central touchpoint rather than the sole OS. Amazon is exploring both conventional phones and minimalist dumbphones to address screen addiction. The project follows the Fire Phone misstep in 2014, as the company eyes cost pressures and a larger AI push across hardware.

Qilimanjaro unveils EduQit: a DIY quantum computer kit for research institutions

March 21, 2026, 11:50 AM EDT. Barcelona-based Qilimanjaro offers EduQit, a flatpack quantum computer kit. It ships a superconducting-qubit chip, a dedicated refrigerator, and control electronics that use radio waves and microwaves to run and read results. The package includes racks, cables and setup aids; assembly is non-trivial but guided. Training from researchers can run up to three months, with the system ready after about ten months of work. The kit carries five qubits and costs around €1 million, far cheaper than industrial machines; Google has said it aims to bring component costs below $1 billion. Rigetti sells smaller, non-kit systems. EduQit targets research labs and educational institutions, offering hands-on experience, roughly like a quantum Raspberry Pi.

Poll: Voters blame AI data centers for higher electricity costs; inflation cited as rival concern

March 21, 2026, 11:48 AM EDT. New polling shows 37% of registered voters blame rising electricity costs on AI data centers when combining those who direct blame (15%) and those who say profiteering is the motive (22%). Inflation is blamed by 27%. Conducted March 2-5, 2026 by Noble Predictive Insights, the survey polled 2,569 voters (1,177 Republicans, 1,270 Democrats, 773 independents, including 330 non-leaning). Across parties, 33%, 41% and 37% link higher costs to data centers or related profiteering. Younger voters tilt toward blame on data centers: 41% of 18-29 and 40% of 65+ attribute some blame. Mike Noble notes the two AI-data-center responses are treated as related but distinct. A sizable pocketbook concern frames policymaker decisions.

Arthur D. Little cautions against over-optimism as quantum computing advances

March 21, 2026, 11:46 AM EDT. Arthur D. Little's latest Blue Shift update revisits the 2022 study on the business case for quantum computing, cautioning that public and private investment outpaces commercialization. The report notes progress toward a practical fault-tolerant quantum computer but says hurdles remain before broad use. MIT Technology Review in January 2025 called useful quantum computing inevitable, a sentiment echoed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who likened the coming phase to AI five years ago. ADL urges executives to take a critical, measured approach. The analysis maps a shift from scaling physical qubits to building fault-tolerance, with thousands to millions of logical qubits needed. Recent milestones include Quantinuum/Microsoft's error-correction gains and Google's 105-qubit Willow chip; December 2025's magic state cultivation enables a logical T gate, but the path to full FTQC remains challenging.

White House lays out national AI regulatory framework to curb state laws

March 21, 2026, 11:38 AM EDT. The White House released a national AI legislative framework, aiming to preempt state laws and keep a light-touch approach, building on a December executive order. It covers data centers, AI scams, and a broad set of concerns as AI reshapes jobs, markets, and how people access information. The administration outlined six objectives for Congress to balance rapid innovation with public trust, including data-center permits and safeguards against AI-enabled scams. Michael Kratsios framed the framework as a way to unleash American ingenuity and create jobs. It also urges Congress to empower parents over children's digital presence, and to balance IP rights with training on real-world content, while avoiding a single rule-making body in favor of sector-specific regulators. By preempting state AI laws, the framework seeks federal coherence; a patchwork of state rules could slow down AI deployment.

Trend Micro's NVIDIA OpenShell tie-up could reshape AI cybersecurity narrative

March 21, 2026, 11:34 AM EDT. TrendAI's expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to secure NVIDIA OpenShell embeds governance, risk visibility and runtime policy enforcement into autonomous AI deployments. The move places Trend Micro at the center of growing demand for securing agent-based AI, potentially strengthening its AI cybersecurity storyline centered on the Vision One platform and the forthcoming Trend Cybertron LLM. Analysts see a single-platform approach spanning endpoints, cloud and autonomous agents that could support larger enterprise deals, even as it tests the pace of AI-spend against slower consumer renewals. Yet execution risk remains: existing uncertainties around platform adoption, upfront costs and the scalability of OpenShell-driven security. The setup could reshape investor expectations for TSE:4704 and Trend Micro's forecasts, though near-term revenue impact may be gradual.

US man pleads guilty to AI-driven music-streaming fraud that diverted millions

March 21, 2026, 11:32 AM EDT. Michael Smith, a 52-year-old from Cornelius, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in New York's SDNY to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for a scheme that defrauded music-streaming platforms and artists. Prosecutors say he flooded services with thousands of AI-generated songs and used bots to drive streams into the billions, diverting royalties worth millions. He amassed as many as 661,440 streams daily from 2017 to 2024, yielding annual royalties around $1.03 million. Under a plea deal, Smith could face up to five years in prison and forfeit about $8.09 million at sentencing in July. The case highlights a growing AI-related threat to the music industry's revenue model on platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music.

Five reasons smartphones fall short for reading – and why you need an e-reader

March 21, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT. A technology writer argues five reasons to favor dedicated e-readers over smartphones for reading. The piece highlights E Ink displays as easier on the eyes, with less glare and lower eye strain than backlit screens. It notes smartphones' high brightness and fast refresh rates can provoke headaches during long sessions. Battery life on standalone readers lasts days, not hours. E-readers offer distraction-free modes, adjustable typography and lighting to suit comfort and posture. The author acknowledges the Kindle, Kobo and Play Books apps on phones, but maintains a dedicated device creates a calmer reading experience and can aid sleep for some readers.

OpenAI pivots from Instant Checkout to in-chat shopping apps, handing control to retailers

March 21, 2026, 11:16 AM EDT. OpenAI is ending Instant Checkout, its feature that let users buy directly inside ChatGPT, and moving to Apps within ChatGPT that let retailers build dedicated shopping experiences. The switch reroutes buyers to the merchant's site, giving retailers more control over the checkout. Six months after launch, Instant Checkout offered a limited product selection and sometimes stale item data, underscoring execution challenges. Partners such as Etsy, Walmart and Shopify initially joined, but analysts say the shift tests whether shopping bots can scale against incumbents. OpenAI says it will prioritize search and product discovery within ChatGPT. Meanwhile, rivals like Google rolled out real-time product data in its shopping agent to reduce out-of-stock and pricing errors. The pivot highlights the broader AI-enabled e-commerce dilemma.

Tesla's plan to build its own semiconductor fab could be its most Herculean task yet

March 21, 2026, 11:14 AM EDT. Tesla is pursuing a homegrown semiconductor fabrication facility, a project that could be its most Herculean task yet. The effort faces extremely high costs, long lead times, and tool shortages that could push production schedules beyond the early forecasts. Estimates put minimum capex near $20 billion, with total investment potentially reaching $35-45 billion. Tesla could need capital raisings to fund construction and equipment. Lead times for production could stretch to 4-5 years or more, exposing the company to the risk of underestimating both costs and timelines. No firm timetable has been disclosed, and setbacks would ripple through its supply chain and broader ambitions.

Apple Leads China's Smartphone Market Amid Price War and Rising Memory Costs

March 21, 2026, 11:10 AM EDT. Apple Inc. posted the strongest growth in the period, with sales up 23% year over year, aided by e-commerce discounts and government subsidies for the base iPhone 17, according to Counterpoint Research. The market overall fell about 4% in the first nine weeks of 2026, with weak demand and muted Lunar New Year promotions; memory costs constrained discounts. OPPO and vivo announced price increases on select models in March, testing demand ahead of launches. Huawei could gain from cheaper domestic memory, strengthening its position in low- to mid-end segments. The market is expected to stay under pressure through May, with a potential recovery around 618 promotions in June, though elevated memory costs are likely to persist in 2026, squeezing margins and shipments.

NHTSA closes Tesla one-pedal driving probe; no recall needed

March 21, 2026, 10:42 AM EDT. U.S. safety regulators closed a defect investigation into Tesla's one-pedal driving, saying the feature enabled by regenerative braking is not a defect and not unique to Tesla. The case centered on potential pedal misapplication and unintended acceleration. NHTSA found only a handful of crashes that could be linked, and vehicle logs showed drivers' inputs produced the expected results. The agency rejected the petition for safeguards that would force brake-pedal engagement to stop the car. Tesla avoids a recall on more than 2 million vehicles dating to 2013. Officials stressed that one-pedal driving is common among electric vehicles, and that misapplication concerns are not unique to Tesla.

Pixel SpongeBob themes to disappear on May 1, 2026

March 21, 2026, 10:26 AM EDT. Android Authority's Zac Kew-Denniss reports that Google's Pixel line, after the Android 16 QPR3 update, gained new theme packs that let users customize the home screen, including SpongeBob themes. The features will expire on May 1, 2026, and can't be re-downloaded on factory resets or new devices. Existing downloads will remain functional, but the icons, ringtones, and related assets can't be recovered later. Licensing constraints are cited as the reason for the expiration. The move underscores a broader tension between playful customization and permanence on Pixel devices, especially for families using A-series devices. If Google expands themes again, users will hope for sticks-around options or easier backup, but for now the SpongeBob experience is temporary.

Tesla faces NHTSA probe over FSD degradation system

March 21, 2026, 10:24 AM EDT. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has escalated an inquiry into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, focusing on potential safety defects in reduced visibility conditions such as fog, heavy rain, or glare. The probe covers about 3.2 million Teslas built since 2016 and remains an investigation; a recall would follow only if defects are confirmed and cannot be fixed by over-the-air software updates. Tesla uses a camera-only system, with a degradation detection system intended to warn drivers or disengage FSD when visibility falters. NHTSA says nine incidents showed the system failed to detect conditions or alert until just before crashes, including one fatal pedestrian impact. The Engineering Analysis will review updates since that crash and six related incidents to determine if a recall is warranted.

Apple warns of DarkSword web exploit chain, urges updates for older iPhone and iPad

March 21, 2026, 10:14 AM EDT. Apple has published a support page warning that web attacks target out-of-date iOS versions via malicious links and compromised sites. The guidance centers on older iPhone and iPad models that received interim updates (iOS 16.7.15, iPadOS 16.7.15) after losing official support and cannot be upgraded to iOS 17 or newer. The page references a DarkSword exploit chain used by commercial surveillance vendors and suspected state actors, with campaigns reported in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia and Ukraine, per GTIG. Apple says devices on the latest version of iOS 15 through iOS 26 are protected; users should update via Settings > General > Software Update. For devices that can't upgrade, Apple suggests enabling Lockdown Mode. Apple previously pushed updates to shield older devices from the Coruna exploit kit.

FedEx rolls out AI literacy program for 440,000 workers in global push with Accenture

March 21, 2026, 10:12 AM EDT. FedEx has begun an enterprise-wide AI literacy push for about 440,000 employees. The program, run with Accenture and using LearnVantage, aims to make staff more knowledgeable, efficient and promotion-ready. FedEx describes AI literacy as understanding how to use AI tools and interpret their outputs in daily work. The effort follows ongoing AI capabilities like digital tracking and returns enhancements for shippers. Top executives took two days to visit Silicon Valley for partner alignment, underscoring commitment to a future-ready workforce. The initiative comes as FedEx, like rivals, faces tariffs and cost pressures; investor sentiment remains positive with shares up about 50% over the year. The curriculum is a living curriculum, refreshed monthly or quarterly.

Thousands sell personal data to train AI, igniting debate over cost and risk

March 21, 2026, 10:08 AM EDT. Across Cape Town, Ranchi and Chicago, thousands of people are uploading videos, photos, and even voice and chat transcripts to train AI systems. In South Africa, Jacobus Louw earned about $50 from everyday footage on Kled AI; in India, Sahil Tigga collects ambient sounds and voices for Silencio, pulling in over $100 a month; in the U.S., Ramelio Hill sold private chats to Neon Mobile for about $0.50 per minute. The gigs feed a growing data marketplace that fills gaps left by restricted public data. But the trade-off is risk: workers pocket only small sums while the industry could erode future skills, and some fear deepfakes, identity theft and digital exploitation. Researchers say high-quality training data could be scarce by 2026, pushing labs toward synthetic data and other shortcuts.

Apple's iPhone Fold targets crease-free display, late-2026 release and $2,000 price

March 21, 2026, 9:56 AM EDT. Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone, aimed at the ultra-premium segment. The centerpiece is a crease-free display designed to erase the visible fold line. Mass production is rumored to start soon, with a late-2026 release and a price near $2,000. The device could redefine foldables by pairing advanced display materials with a new hinge mechanism that distributes pressure to prevent creases and improve durability. Engineers rely on next-gen flexible OLED platforms to keep a flat panel through repeated folding. Apple has taken a deliberate, patient approach, arguing folding tech still needs maturation before broad adoption. If true, the iPhone Fold could set a fresh benchmark for premium devices, though accessibility remains a question.

Android's evolving identity tests nostalgia for the open era

March 21, 2026, 9:54 AM EDT. An Android enthusiast looks back at a platform that once stood for freedom, openness, and endless choice. From the Galaxy 5 to the Android Market, home-screen widgets and powerful multitasking felt like living in a sandbox of possibilities. Hardware was a playground too-microSD, a 3.5mm jack, LED indicators, IR blasters, even modular ideas. Software unlocked doors through tools like XDA forums, Titanium Backup, and Xposed. Now, sideloading restrictions and tighter app controls mark a pivot toward safety and reliability. A reader poll shows split views: the old Android remains the favorite for many, some embrace a middle path, and others embrace today's safer, capable ecosystem. The nostalgia lingers, even as the unrestrained era fades.

Rising gas prices could tilt EV economics, despite higher upfront costs

March 21, 2026, 9:40 AM EDT. Carvana is selling three-year-old Teslas with about 25,000 miles for $27,000, while a new Model 3 runs around $46,000, highlighting price gaps buyers face. With gas prices rising, the economics of owning an EV shift. The NRDC notes EVs were cheaper before fuel climbed, since owners skip costly pump trips. Consumer Reports says EVs typically cost more upfront but can save on operating expenses over time. US News adds that charging can take longer than refueling, a hurdle where charging access is limited. The Department of Energy reports the 2024 average EV range around 283 miles, influencing range considerations. The tipping point comes when gas prices rise enough to justify higher initial costs for many buyers.

Apple readies AirPods Max 2 launch in April after March hardware blitz

March 21, 2026, 9:38 AM EDT. Apple is set for one more hardware release in the coming weeks after March's sprint of iPhone 17e, iPad Air, and Macs. Pre-orders for the AirPods Max 2 begin March 25, with availability in early April. The updated over-ear headphones come in midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue, and are powered by the H2 chip. Apple says the AirPods Max 2 deliver up to 1.5x more effective active noise cancellation than the prior model, plus a high dynamic range amplifier for cleaner sound. The AirPods Max 2 also support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio via USB-C. Features include Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, and Live Translation. Price starts at $549.

Lucas Martell blends Hollywood production with Walkabout Mini Golf's Passport Hollywood course

March 21, 2026, 9:36 AM EDT. At GDC 2026, Reuters spoke with Mighty Coconut CEO Lucas Martell about translating two decades in Hollywood into the studio's VR (virtual reality) mini golf title, Walkabout Mini Golf. Martell, who worked in animation and effects before founding the company, says the new Passport Hollywood course leans on a 'greatest hits' approach, recycling assets from earlier projects to recreate a retro film-set vibe. He notes the move toward practical (hands-on) effects mirrors an era before heavy digital augmentation, contrasting it with modern CGI. The interview also referenced Don Carson, Mighty Coconut's Senior Art Designer, and the team's broader strategy to fuse storytelling with interactive play. The course marks the thirty-ninth release for Walkabout, reflecting a six-year expansion and a shift from initial eight-course expectations.

reMarkable's Paper Pure could be entry-level tablet under $300

March 21, 2026, 9:34 AM EDT. ReMarkable is nudging into the mass market with a rumored entry-level tablet called the Paper Pure. Tech leaker Evan Blass said the device, expected in the second quarter of this year, will target a lower price than the company's current options. Good E Reader suggests the Paper Pure could sell between $250 and $300, placing it near the Kobo Libra Colour and well below the Kindle Scribe's usual $400 price. To hit that price, the Paper Pure would likely trade some specs for cost savings: a smaller black-and-white display, a smaller battery, less RAM, and a slower processor than the Paper Pro line. The move would build on reMarkable's existing Pro models, but mark a shift toward broader, entry-level appeal.

Microsoft Begins Validating Nvidia Vera Rubin NVL72 for AI Workloads

March 21, 2026, 9:32 AM EDT. Microsoft Corp. has become the first cloud provider to validate Nvidia's Vera Rubin NVL72 system for AI training and inference, signaling progress in a rack-scale approach to trillion-parameter models. The tests underscore Azure's push to co-design data centers that can handle the NVL72's power, cooling and bandwidth needs. Nvidia's system sits at the center of a broader race, with Amazon and Alphabet expected to deploy Rubin systems later this year. The effort follows extensive power and liquid-cooling redesigns to manage higher watt density. Microsoft maintains a multi-year investment in OpenAI, with access to GPT-4 and DALL-E 3, and aims to embed AI across its product ecosystem. Bernstein notes the first-to-validate stance reinforces MSFT's leadership in cloud AI.

Nvidia's BlueField-4 STX fuses storage and networking to power AI context memory

March 21, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT. At Nvidia GTC 2026, CEO Jensen Huang unveiled BlueField-4 STX, a storage architecture that fuses networking and storage tasks. Nvidia says it delivers up to five times token throughput and four times the energy efficiency of CPU-based storage. The platform introduces CMX, Context Memory Storage, a layer that expands GPU memory across racks to speed data ingest and sustain long-context reasoning. STX sits inside the Vera Rubin platform, pairing a storage-optimized BlueField-4 with the Nvidia Vera CPU, ConnectX-9 SuperNIC and Spectrum-X Ethernet. Nvidia says offloading storage from general-purpose CPUs yields a fourfold energy gain, addressing power as a scaling constraint. The takeaway: silos must end; network admins become part of storage, and storage teams must own networking considerations.

Apple bucked China's smartphone slump with 23% iPhone jump in early 2026

March 21, 2026, 9:28 AM EDT. Apple posted a 23% year-over-year rise in iPhone sales in China during the first nine weeks of 2026, outpacing a market that fell about 4%. Counterpoint Research said Apple was the fastest-growing major vendor, aided by e-commerce discounts and subsidies that include the standard iPhone 17. Facing higher memory costs, most Android brands raised prices, while OPPO and vivo announced increases. Apple did not, absorbing some margin pressure and leveraging supply-chain control to maintain pricing. Memory costs are expected to persist through 2026, with potential June lift from the 618 festival. Counterpoint Research notes it tracks China Weekly Smartphone Sell-Out Tracker data to frame the trend.

Amazon readies AI-assisted 'anti-smartphone' as it re-enters smartphone market

March 21, 2026, 9:24 AM EDT. Amazon is quietly preparing to reenter the smartphone market under the codename Project Transformer, targeting an AI-assisted, minimalist 'anti-smartphone' rather than a hardware race. The device, described as a dumbphone with agentic features, aims to be a frictionless tether to Amazon's e-commerce flywheel, advertising network and Prime media, rather than rivalling Apple or Google on apps or hardware specs. The strategy marks a sharp turn from past missteps; twelve years after the Fire Phone flop, the plan is a surgical reboot designed to leverage AI as a gateway to Amazon services. Reuters reports the project remains highly classified but signals a distinct approach: bypass the entrenched app-store duopoly and pursue new categories rather than direct device competition.

iPhone Fold could beat Galaxy Z Fold 8 on Apple's first try

March 21, 2026, 9:16 AM EDT. Apple's entry into foldables is shaping up as a tighter race than expected. Bloomberg and others say the iPhone Fold will use a new crease-reducing panel, produced by Samsung, with a debut reportedly in December. The phone reportedly trades the Galaxy's tall internal screen for a 7.8-inch, 4:3 display and a 5.5-inch front panel, reducing black bars and widening the keyboard. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 remains in development, with a wider variant in the works. Rumors place the iPhone Fold's battery at about 5,500 mAh, potentially bigger than the Z Fold 8's. Analysts note Apple's timing is late, but the first attempt could still press the competition. CES 2026 glimpses and ongoing debates frame the path to market.

SpaceX hits 10,000 satellites; photographer captures night-sky impact

March 21, 2026, 9:06 AM EDT. SpaceX reached its 10,000th satellite launch, sparking renewed debate on light pollution and astronomy. Australian photographer Joshua Rozells created Swamped Skies, a composite of 343 photos showing satellite streaks across an 85-minute window in Pinnacles, Western Australia. He blended trails with a foreground shot and used Photoshop to maintain sky color and remove gaps. Rozells says the work highlights how satellites in low Earth orbit brighten nights, complicating star trails and telescope data. He notes limited regulatory leverage for launches despite benefits like global internet access. The piece underscores the pace of launches and calls for policy and design measures to mitigate light pollution and preserve the unpolluted night sky.

Tesla fights UniBev trademark claim over Cybercab

March 21, 2026, 9:02 AM EDT. Tesla hadn't filed a trademark when Elon Musk announced the Cybercab in 2024, triggering a dispute with UniBev, a French beverage brand. Tesla filed a U.S. complaint alleging bad-faith registration that could mislead consumers and undermine the system. UniBev already holds France rights to names including Cyber Diner, Cybervan and XCab, and U.S. rights to Teslaquila and Teslaquila Hard Seltzer, according to Fast Company. The founder of UniBev is described as a Musk admirer, adding an unusual twist to the case. Tesla has faced branding headaches in recent years, and this dispute adds to the headwinds around its product naming. The legal outcome remains unresolved as courts review the complaint.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium beats Apple Watch SE 3 on price, sleep tracking and battery life in month-long test

March 21, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT. In a month-long comparison, the reviewer finds the Amazfit Active 3 Premium delivers stronger value than the Apple Watch SE 3 on three counts: price, sleep tracking and battery life. At $169, the Amazfit undercuts Apple's $249 MSRP while delivering up to 12 days of use on a single charge. Sleep tracking is described as more accurate, with the Amazfit capturing wake periods and continuous heart-rate variability (HRV) data, unlike the Apple Watch SE 3's limited HRV windows. The reviewer notes some minor hiccups syncing with an iPhone 16 Pro and a separate app, but says core functionality aligns closely despite the price gap. The verdict positions the A3P as a premium-on-budget option for fitness tracking.

China's CAC to standardize short-video labeling to curb misinformation

March 21, 2026, 8:58 AM EDT. China's Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) unveiled a plan to standardize short video labeling across platforms, aiming to curb misinformation and safeguard the online environment. The regulator said inconsistent labeling allowed fictionalized narratives, staged marketing and AI-generated content to slip through. The proposed guidelines require platforms to standardize mandatory tag categories and make labeling a compulsory step in publishing, with retroactive tagging of existing content. Six major platforms-Douyin, Kuaishou, Tencent, Xiaohongshu, Bilibili and Weibo-have begun retrospective action, removing more than 37,000 misleading or staged videos and penalizing over 3,400 accounts. About 600,000 videos were updated with labels, and interfaces were optimized for creators. The CAC will issue a nationwide timeline and will inspect and publicly expose non-compliant accounts or platforms.

Google introduces an 'advanced flow' to install unsigned Android apps, adds 24-hour delay

March 21, 2026, 8:56 AM EDT. Google plans a tightened path for installing unsigned Android apps, shifting from a simple 'unknown sources' toggle to a multi-step flow inside Developer Options. After a 24-hour security delay post-restart, users can enable the Allow Unverified Packages setting temporarily or permanently. The change comes with a limited free developer account, allowing up to 20 device installations; more devices require a $25 fee and government ID. Google argues the move improves user security, but it expands verification rules to third-party app stores and indie developers who rely on APK downloads. Critics warn scammers could still buy verified developer accounts, while the policy potentially narrows opportunities for non-Play Store distribution.

IBM expands Open Plan with 180 minutes of free quantum runtime, adds IBM Kingston processor

March 21, 2026, 8:52 AM EDT. IBM said it is offering a one-time upgrade to users of its Open Plan who have used at least 20 minutes in the past 12 months. Eligible accounts will receive 180 minutes of free quantum runtime over the next year, with the limit now assessed annually rather than monthly. The company also opened access to the IBM Kingston processor, part of the Heron r2 family, boasting 156 qubits, about 340k CLOPS (circuit layer operations per second) and median two-qubit error rates of 2.03×10⁻³. IBM frames the move as a way to widen the user base and support tutorials, including replication of its 2023 quantum utility experiment. Full details sit in a blog post on IBM's site dated March 20, 2026.

ISS retirement looms; US grapples with keeping LEO presence and space leadership

March 21, 2026, 8:50 AM EDT. The International Space Station in low-Earth orbit is aging, with retirement eyed for 2030. NASA plans to rely on commercial space stations to sustain a continuous human presence and research in orbit, but lawmakers worry time is short. A gap in LEO capability could undermine the U.S. lead in space and raise national-security concerns. Voyager Technologies' Dylan Taylor framed the issue as a question of soft power, noting China's growing Tiangong space station as a competitor. Tiangong, completed in 2022, now hosts up to three astronauts and serves as the template for future commercial outposts. A recent Senate bill would extend ISS funding to 2032, arguing that a replacement is not yet ready. Washington faces a race to keep orbit accessible while planning deeper space exploration.

MacBook Pro M5 Max remains blisteringly fast in updated tests

March 21, 2026, 8:48 AM EDT. Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro remains the creator's standard, and the M5 Max extends the edge. The Verge pits the M5 Max against earlier M1 Pro/M1 Max models; 2026 updates include faster processors, Wi-Fi 7 and twice-as-fast storage. Base prices: M5 Pro $2,699; M5 Max $3,899. A top-tier test unit with 40-core GPU, 128GB RAM, 4TB storage and Nano-texture display runs $6,149. In benchmarking-Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2026-the M5 Max posts single-thread gains of roughly 65-76% over the M1 generations. The upgrade is worth considering for some current M1 Pro/Max users, depending on workloads and price. Overall, the Pro remains the fastest option; the M5 Max keeps that lead with speed and storage headroom.

OpenClaw moment signals AI models moving toward commodity status at Nvidia's GTC

March 21, 2026, 8:46 AM EDT. At Nvidia's GTC, CEO Jensen Huang spotlighted OpenClaw, an open-source AI platform that appeared in six months. The rapid rise has fueled debate that large, expensive models are becoming commoditized. Huang told CNBC that OpenClaw could be the next ChatGPT and described it as a go-to for building autonomous AI agents that can scout eBay for deals and place bids, noting it exceeded what Linux achieved in 30 years. Nvidia plans free NemoClaw security services to spur adoption. Independent developers and hobbyists can now run AI agents across channels like WhatsApp and Telegram from home, challenging the dominance of OpenAI and Anthropic. The moment underscores a potential shift in who captures AI value, beyond the 'Magnificent 7' and Big AI. OpenClaw, AI, GTC, Nvidia, commoditized, ChatGPT.

Unknown Worlds co-founders' lawyers accuse Krafton of leaking Subnautica 2 release date

March 21, 2026, 8:42 AM EDT. Lawyers for Unknown Worlds co-founders Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire allege Krafton intentionally leaked a memo about aiming for a May early-access launch for Subnautica 2. The claim follows a court ruling demanding Gill's reinstatement as CEO and outlines his authority over the early access release and related incentives, including a potential $250 million bonus. Unknown Worlds says Krafton ignored the Delaware Chancery Court's opinion by letting Steve Papoutsis publicize a release date in a leaked memo. Krafton countered that the message celebrated UW staff efforts and reflected a pre-opinion determination that Subnautica 2 was ready for Early Access; Gill would still assess the release schedule. A separate letter noted Gill's continued authority, while readers can follow a linked timeline comparing UW leads and Krafton.

SpaceX asks FCC to apply same standards to Blue Origin as to its orbital data center plan

March 21, 2026, 8:38 AM EDT. SpaceX filed a formal letter with the FCC over Amazon's petition to deny SpaceX's plan for a 1 million-satellite orbital data center. The company argues regulators should apply the same standards to Blue Origin's filing for up to 51,600 datacenter satellites, noting the argument hinges on being similarly situated. Blue Origin contends that insatiable demand for AI workloads justifies a space-based compute tier that complements terrestrial infrastructure. SpaceX says the commission should extend the substantive and procedural arguments in Amazon's petition to Blue Origin to ensure equitable and consistent review. The filing, signed by Cecilia Tenge-Rietberg, SpaceX's Senior Satellite Policy Manager, incorporates by reference public comments on SpaceX's orbital data center application.

Nvidia's DLSS 5 stirs backlash over 'giga-nostril' Starfield image

March 21, 2026, 8:32 AM EDT. Gamers wave concerns about Nvidia's DLSS 5, arguing a generative AI layer distorts art. A Starfield screenshot of a monstrous "giga-nostril" drew fire, with critics citing mismatched eye color and a loss of original aesthetic. Nvidia describes DLSS 5 as fusing geometry and textures via a 'content-control' generative AI, promising photoreal lighting anchored to 3D content. Critics say the approach undermines artistic intent; Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang insists developers retain control and that the tool is not merely post-processing. The company frames it as generative control at the geometry level, not a blanket image filter. A YouTube analysis by Daniel Owen cites an Nvidia email with Jacob Freeman acknowledging it acts largely as a filter when processing 2D frames and motion vectors.

Nebraska dispatchers rely on smartphone tools to pinpoint callers faster

March 21, 2026, 8:22 AM EDT. Nebraska dispatchers in Hall County/Grand Island are using smartphones and apps to locate callers more quickly. The system pairs RapidSOS with dispatch software, overlaying a map for responders. It also uses what3words, which divides the world into 3-meter squares named by three words, translating into precise spots inside buildings or at events such as Fonner Park. When working properly, the data is available almost all the time, though problems can occur with burner phones or weak signal. If location data falters, dispatchers rely on verbal cues and nearby landmarks, asking about signs, streets, and familiar routes to guide responders toward the caller.

Study finds heavy AI use shifts meaning and style in human writing

March 21, 2026, 8:08 AM EDT. Researchers from West Coast universities studied 100 participants to see how reliance on large language models (LLMs) affects written answers about happiness. They found heavy LLMs use shifts meaning away from typical human prose toward a neutral stance. Participants who relied on AI heavily produced essays that answered the happiness question with neutrality 69% more often than those who used AI sparingly or not at all. Those with lighter AI use submitted more passionate essays about the link between money and happiness. In addition, heavy reliance made language less personal and more formal, and participants reported their essays were less creative and less in their own voice, even as satisfaction with the final product remained similar. The work, peer-reviewed and slated for a leading AI conference workshop, tested Claude 3.5 Haiku, GPT-5 Mini, and Gemini 2.5 Flash.

Samsung Galaxy S26 to gain AirDrop compatibility with Apple's AirDrop

March 21, 2026, 8:04 AM EDT. Samsung confirmed at a Japan press conference that its Galaxy S26 will support AirDrop-style file sharing with Apple's AirDrop. The announcement, relayed via 9to5Google, follows Google's expansion of cross-platform interoperability between Android's Quick Share and AirDrop. Won-joon Choi, Samsung's MX Business Chief Operating Officer, said the feature will roll out to the Galaxy S26 first and arrive later on other Galaxy phones through software updates, with no fixed date. The plan could slow progress for older devices. Google has limited the feature to Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 ranges so far; Oppo has said it will add it soon. The move underscores a broader push for practical cross-platform file sharing.

Samsung launches Galaxy S26 Ultra Enterprise Edition with enhanced security for business

March 21, 2026, 8:02 AM EDT. Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S26 Ultra Enterprise Edition, a business-focused variant with enhanced privacy and security features. It pairs the AI-powered Personal Data Engine with KEEP and Knox Vault to encrypt and securely store sensitive information. The phone is on sale in the UK. Specs echo the standard model: a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, QHD+ resolution, 1-120Hz refresh, up to 2,600 nits, HDR10+, and Privacy Display to curb shoulder surfing. It uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage. A 5,000mAh battery supports up to 60W wired and 25W wireless charging. It ships with Android 16 and One UI 8.5, and is eligible for seven years of security updates and seven major OS upgrades. Annika Bizon said the device aims to level the playing field for enterprises.

NVIDIA's Huang Sees Agentic AI Inflection, $1T+ Demand for Blackwell and Rubin Through 2027

March 21, 2026, 7:48 AM EDT. NVIDIA Chief Executive Jensen Huang framed a third AI inflection around agentic AI that treats computing as token manufacturing. He said customers measure economics in tokens/sec and tokens/sec/watt, making token output a core input to knowledge work. Huang introduced an OpenClaw operating system for a 'personal AI computer' and urged an OpenClaw strategy akin to Linux or mobile cloud plays. The company lifted its demand visibility to more than $1 trillion of demand, forecasts and purchase orders for Blackwell and Rubin through 2027, excluding Rubin Ultra, Feynman, Vera standalone CPUs, and Groq. Vera Rubin is in production; Groq is due to ship in Q3. Adding Groq to about 25 percent of workloads could lift compute spend by ~25 percent. After commitments, buybacks and dividends at about 50 percent of free cash flow.

AI cuts steps in quantum circuit synthesis for 144-qubit error-correcting codes

March 21, 2026, 7:30 AM EDT. An AI-driven method from University College London, in collaboration with Quantinuum, optimises how a graph of a quantum state is turned into a circuit. The QuSynth approach, developed by Dr. Patrick Draper and Dr. Koushik Pavan at the University of Toronto, combines reinforcement learning and Monte Carlo tree search to navigate stabilizer-state synthesis. It reduces two-qubit gate counts by up to 2.5x while keeping circuit depth shallow. The method synthesised stabilizer states for the 23-qubit Golay code and the 144-qubit gross code, expanding the scale of feasible quantum error correcting codes. Stabilizer states underpin error detection and correction without collapsing the quantum data. The work marks a step toward practical quantum computation.

New Street Research Adds NVIDIA to Best Ideas List for 2026

March 21, 2026, 7:16 AM EDT. New Street Research has added NVIDIA (NVDA) to its 2026 "best idea" list, arguing long-term orders imply higher revenue potential than current bets. Analyst Pierre Ferragu cited comments by CEO Jensen Huang at GTC 2026, in which Huang projected, "through 2027, at least $1 trillion." The firm said the market "misplaced" the reaction to that figure and forecasts NVDA will materially beat 2027 expectations. Ferragu noted Huang's October 2025 Washington GTC remark about "visibility into $0.5 trillion" of cumulative demand for Blackwell and early Rubin through 2026, and updated views suggest the company has "added $500bn of orders since October," running at more than a $1 trillion per year rate. The report frames NVDA as a core AI play but notes some AI stocks may offer greater upside with lower downside risk.

DoorDash's Tasks app collects training data for AI, signaling a bleak future for gig work

March 21, 2026, 7:14 AM EDT. DoorDash's new Tasks app isn't about deliveries; it's designed to harvest training data from people to improve AI and robotics. The company says pay is shown upfront and based on effort and task complexity. Most gigs require mounting a smartphone on the chest to film hands performing actions, supplying thousands of videos of tasks like folding laundry to train computer vision. DoorDash says it will expand the service, though at launch the app is blocked in California, New York City, Seattle and Colorado; a tester in Kansas could access it. After a quick onboarding, users see a catalog across five categories: household chores, handiwork, cooking, navigation and language conversations (e.g., Russian, Mandarin).

Nvidia stock could hit new highs by end-2026 as AI data-center demand stays robust

March 21, 2026, 7:02 AM EDT. Nvidia has benefited from the AI surge. Its GPUs – once built for graphics – are now the backbone of AI workloads. The company commands a 92% share of the GPU data-center market, a position that underpins a broader data-center boom. Estimates from McKinsey point to nearly $7 trillion in AI infrastructure spending by 2030. At the GPU Technology Conference, CEO Jensen Huang projected at least $1 trillion in revenue from the Blackwell and Vera Rubin line by end-2027, adding that the company already has about $500 billion of visibility and another 21 months to go. Nvidia's stock has surged about 1,150% since the AI rally began in 2023, but investors debate the pace and trajectory through end-2026.

Amazon eyes return to smartphone market with AI-focused Transformer project

March 21, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT. Reuters reports Amazon is developing a smartphone codenamed Transformer at its devices and services unit, led by the group ZeroOne. The device is envisioned as a personalized companion that syncs with Alexa and serves as a conduit to Amazon's services, including Prime shopping and content. The project aims to fuse AI capabilities with a hardware platform that may bypass traditional app stores, according to four people familiar with the matter. The team has considered both a conventional phone and a limited 'dumbphone' option to curb screen time; no carrier partners have been lined up. Amazon did not comment. If realized, the phone would extend Bezos's push for voice-driven computing and a shopping-centric smartphone experience.

Nvidia gets upgrade push as Zacks ranks NVDA #1 on AI growth

March 21, 2026, 6:58 AM EDT. Analysts at Zacks Investment Research raised Nvidia's earnings outlook again, lifting NVDA to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) as the AI juggernaut eyes continued expansion. At Nvidia's GTC event, CEO Jensen Huang forecast AI chip sales reaching about $1 trillion by end-2027, underscoring the growth path despite an eight-month stock stagnation. Investors worry about valuations and capital expenditure, but data-center demand remains robust and oversubscribed, with hyperscalers like Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Oracle signaling large contracted pipelines. The stock's multiple has compressed, potentially improving risk/reward as long-run AI deployment accelerates. Technicals show a consolidation near support, with the prior all-time high nearby as a potential buy zone, though the macro path remains the larger driver.

Luxara Global expands nationwide opportunity in internet, TV and smart-home services

March 21, 2026, 6:48 AM EDT. Luxara Global is expanding its nationwide business opportunity, giving entrepreneurs and independent sales professionals access to a platform built around essential home services like internet, TV, wireless connectivity, and smart-home solutions. Founded by former NBA player Tony Farmer, the company emphasizes daily-use services and a model designed for flexible entrepreneurship and recurring revenue. The platform covers internet, television, wireless and smart-home offerings, including names such as DIRECTV, AT&T, Spectrum, Frontier and Vivint, plus Luxara's flagship Dragon Router portable 5G internet. Management says it will scale its agent network across the United States, focusing on stable demand rather than trend-based products. Interested individuals can learn more on Luxara Global's site as the company builds toward nationwide growth.

DIY AI security system for aging parents boosts safety

March 21, 2026, 6:44 AM EDT. An amateur coder built a do-it-yourself AI-driven security system to help monitor an aging parent at home. The project pairs affordable sensors, motion cameras and fall-detection software to send real-time alerts to caregivers. The coder emphasizes privacy and local processing to minimize cloud exposure. The system links to a mobile app, delivering time-stamped updates when activity changes or a fall is detected. In early tests, caregivers say alerts arrive within seconds, enabling quicker checks and faster emergency responses. Experts caution that DIY setups require careful testing for reliability, data protection and potential false alarms, and should supplement, not replace professional care. The piece shows how accessible AI tools can enhance safety at home while inviting discussion on oversight and consent.

iOS 26.4 enables Stolen Device Protection by default on iPhones

March 21, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT. Apple plans to enable Stolen Device Protection by default in iOS 26.4. The feature, first rolled out in early 2024, was optional due to added restrictions. In the new update, the protection activates automatically for all users, though they can disable it later. Under Stolen Device Protection, actions performed when the iPhone is away from familiar locations require stronger verification. Access to stored passwords and credit cards may require biometric authentication via Face ID or Touch ID with no passcode fallback. A Security Delay also forces users to wait an hour and complete another biometric check for actions such as changing the Apple Account password. The change marks a shift from the iOS 17.3 opt-in approach to automatic default protection.

Firms' heavy AI investments could affect workers' pay, economists say

March 21, 2026, 6:14 AM EDT. Firms pouring money into AI say the payoff is faster product cycles and stronger margins, but the effect on pay remains complex. Analysts warn payroll growth could hinge on how quickly tasks shift from routine roles to higher-skill jobs. If AI raises productivity, some workers may see higher wages; if automation replaces tasks, growth could stall or polarize toward premium tech roles. The net result depends on retraining, hiring strategy, and policy support. Industry groups urge firms to pair investments with skills programs and fair wage practices to cushion transitions.

Nvidia faces export-control scrutiny as AI server demand realigns

March 21, 2026, 6:02 AM EDT. Federal prosecutors indicted Super Micro Computer's cofounder and others over alleged illegal exports of Nvidia-powered AI servers to China, tied to about $2.5 billion in equipment. The case centers on potential violations of U.S. export controls around advanced Nvidia AI chips and high-performance server systems. Super Micro is cooperating, and Nvidia's role as a supplier of AI accelerators comes into sharper focus. Shares moved as investors priced in regulatory risk; buyers shift some AI server orders to peers such as Dell, seen as having stronger compliance. For Nasdaq:NVDA, the story ties to Nvidia's core business in AI accelerators and data center platforms. Watch how export rules are enforced, how partners manage compliance, and whether enterprise orders reallocate. Regulators' scrutiny underscores the tight, regulated nature of AI infrastructure.

Don't wait for SpaceX IPO: two pure-play space stocks to watch

March 21, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT. The chatter around a potential SpaceX IPO could hinge on a lofty market cap of about $1.5-$1.75 trillion, potentially placing the company among the world's largest. But investors worry that private gains are already baked in and a recent merger with xAI may blur exposure to the space economy. Two pure-play space names offer a less crowded path. Rocket Lab (RKLB) is selling launches for commercial and government clients, with a roadmap that includes the larger Neutron rocket and a satellite-services side business. The company reported revenue growth to roughly $602 million in 2025. Planet Labs (PL) operates a dense constellation that images Earth continuously, delivering a different space-economy lift. With market caps around $11 billion, both firms promise space exposure without a mega-cap IPO.

Nvidia CEO Huang urges tech execs to stop layoffs and curb AI doomerism

March 21, 2026, 5:48 AM EDT. At Nvidia's GPU Technology Conference in California, Jensen Huang urged tech leaders to stop fuelling fear with stark AI warnings and pursue a measured approach. He said the aim is to inform policymakers and avoid doomerism and excessive regulation that could choke innovation. Huang warned the real risk is not AI itself but other nations adopting it while the United States remains angry or fearful, undermining domestic industry. He called for more moderate predictions on AI's impact on work, noting early promises of productivity gains clash with tools that hallucinate and require vetting. Where gains exist, some executives use them to justify layoffs. In a CNBC interview with Jim Cramer, Huang cautioned about firms laying off workers to automate.

One UI 8.5 stable update delayed to April as March patch and Beta expansion push Galaxy devices

March 21, 2026, 5:46 AM EDT. Samsung's plan to roll out One UI 8.5 stable is slipping into April. The delay stems from the March 2026 security patch and a broader Beta expansion, which slows public release. Samsung began distributing the March patch for flagship models in South Korea, with a global expansion expected over days. Beta testing has widened to more devices, including the Galaxy S25 series, Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, and the Galaxy S24 family, raising the likelihood the stable build lands later, potentially in May for some models. Samsung has kept up with the cadence, but timing remains uncertain and varies by device and market.

SpaceX Starship launch price set at $90 million, Voyager reveals in 10-K

March 21, 2026, 5:44 AM EDT. SpaceX's Starship will launch for about $90 million per dedicated flight, a price disclosed in Voyager Technologies' latest 10-K. Voyager, a first Starship customer, plans to lift its Starlab space station in 2029. The price sits well above the Falcon 9's typical $74 million expendable mission, but it covers a far larger lift: roughly 100-150 tons to low Earth orbit, versus about 22 tons for Falcon 9. Voyager's filing ties the cost to a future launch date, but the implication is clear: Starship can deliver an ISS-scale platform with 400 cubic meters of volume much cheaper than the historical assembly bill. The ISS's procurement crossed more than $54 billion in today's dollars, including shuttle and Russian launches. SpaceX could use the price to win large, single-launch contracts while targeting an IPO-driven growth path.

NVIDIA unveils AI factories, lifts demand outlook to $1 trillion, outlines hardware roadmap at GTC

March 21, 2026, 5:42 AM EDT. Jensen Huang framed NVIDIA as a platform company built on CUDA-X, NVIDIA systems and a new AI factories concept, announcing NVIDIA DSX to design and run data-centers for peak token throughput and energy efficiency. He lifted the expected demand view for Blackwell and Rubin to at least $1 trillion by 2027 and outlined a hardware roadmap-Grace Blackwell NVLink 72, Vera Rubin, Rubin Ultra and the Feynman platform-along with a disaggregated inference approach that factors in Groq LPX shipments in H2. NVIDIA rolled out data libraries cuDF and cuVS for structured and unstructured workloads, highlighted cloud and confidential-computing ties with IBM, Google Cloud and Dell, and launched OpenClaw/OpenShell, the Open Model Initiative and the Nemotron Coalition. Partnerships in robotics and robotaxi with BYD, Hyundai, Nissan, Geely, Uber, ABB and KUKA were expanded.

Galaxy S26 price cuts kick off first-week deals; Poco X8 Pro Max and Redmi Note 15 Pro join the fray

March 21, 2026, 5:36 AM EDT. The Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB is down to €1,230, a 25% cut, with the S26 512GB at €1,120 after a 28% discount. Amazon lists the Galaxy S24 Ultra 512GB at €865, though it misses latest charging and privacy features. The Poco X8 Pro Max, powered by Dimensity 9500s, delivers a 6.83-inch Dolby Vision display and an 8,500mAh battery, trading under €500 for majority buyers. The standard Poco X8 Pro uses Dimensity 8500 Ultra, a 6,500mAh battery and 100W charging on a 6.59-inch Dolby Vision OLED. The Redmi Note 15 Pro runs Dimensity 7400 Ultra, with a 6,580mAh battery and 45W charging, and a plastic frame.

Laid off by Amazon despite using AI: lessons on resilience for tech workers

March 21, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT. A former Amazon employee recounts being laid off even after applying AI tools to their work. The piece examines the gap between AI-assisted productivity and job security in large tech companies. It notes that layoffs can occur during reorganizations even as firms pursue automation, and underscores the limits of automation to replace human judgment. The narrative argues for steady upskilling and broader career strategies for tech workers, including diversification of skills and awareness of corporate restructuring. It emphasizes that workers should monitor business health and that employers balance automation with retention. The story uses a practical, evidence-based tone and avoids sensationalism.

T-Mobile offers free iPhone 17 with Experience More plan and trade-in this weekend

March 21, 2026, 5:28 AM EDT. US carrier T-Mobile is running a weekend promotion offering the Apple iPhone 17 for free when customers sign up for an Experience More plan, upgrade, and trade in an eligible device. The deal requires a qualifying trade-in and may apply only to specific iPhone models. Pricing and availability can change after publication. Prospective buyers should review terms, including trade-in eligibility, monthly charges, and any remaining device payments. The offer highlights carriers' ongoing strategy to lock in customers with device subsidies tied to service plans.

Virginia teacher uses AI to give elementary students instant feedback on writing

March 21, 2026, 5:26 AM EDT. At Neabsco Elementary School in Prince William County, Virginia, third graders read about raccoons and write paragraphs describing the text. The class uses an AI-powered tool called Newsela that provides instant feedback on sentences and helps tailor articles to different reading levels. Teacher Diana Betancourt started using AI to support lesson planning and student analysis, especially for nonnative English learners. The tool offers immediate guidance without classroom intervention, boosting engagement and confidence. Betancourt notes it saves time by letting her assign articles and adjust them quickly. Students like Matthew and Ahona say the feedback helps them know when a sentence is correct or well-formed, while Betancourt emphasizes that AI cannot replace human contact.

NC man pleads guilty to $8 million AI-generated music streaming fraud

March 21, 2026, 5:18 AM EDT. Michael Smith, 54, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a years-long scheme that used thousands of bot accounts and AI-generated songs to siphon more than $8 million in royalties from streaming platforms including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music. Prosecutors say he worked with a co-conspirator and the CEO of an AI music company to acquire a catalog of computer-generated tracks, which he uploaded and then directed bots to play via automated software, generating billions of streams from 2017 to 2024. The activity used thousands of tracks and VPNs to hide the fraud; Smith also lied to platforms, rights organizations and distributors. He faces up to five years in prison. Deezer and Apple have signaled steps to curb AI-driven abuse and improve transparency in music metadata.

Amazon weighs second smartphone push with AI focus, codenamed Transformer

March 21, 2026, 5:16 AM EDT. Amazon is weighing a second smartphone attempt, more than a decade after its original Fire Phone. The device, codename Transformer, is in early development within Amazon's devices and services unit and would be tightly integrated with the company's ecosystem. Four people familiar with the plan told Reuters that the effort could lean on AI features to reduce reliance on traditional app stores, while Alexa would be a core component but not the operating system. There are no release timelines or price details. The phone could lean on Prime Video and Prime Music for added value, and use mobile data to sharpen its shopping targeting. The project could be scrapped at any time; Amazon is also exploring a simpler feature phone option. Panos Panay is pushing hardware at Amazon.

Gran Turismo 7 inspires Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024's PSVR2 mode, due later this year

March 21, 2026, 5:14 AM EDT. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will add a PSVR2 mode for Sony's headset, with a release window of early this year, Microsoft said. A PS Blog post notes the feature was inspired by Gran Turismo 7's VR implementation, per Asobo Studio. The update tunes the cockpit interactions to the PSVR2's controls and uses foveated rendering to boost performance by focusing rendering where the pilot looks. The cockpit is calibrated for the headset's varied knobs and instruments across aircraft. PSVR2 has been a smaller feature of the PS5 era, but supporters argue it can deliver a transformative VR experience when implemented well. No exact date was given beyond an early-year window.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo hits Amazon's best-ever price at $1,099 (save $500)

March 21, 2026, 5:10 AM EDT. Mashable reports the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $1,099, a $500 cut from the list price and the best-ever price seen on the site as of March 21, 2026. The discount is described as a limited-time offer. The deal page notes pricing and availability can change after publication. The Fly More Combo typically includes extra batteries and accessories, enhancing portability for travelers and hobbyists. This summary relies on Mashable's deal coverage; no independent testing is provided here. Prospective buyers should confirm current price and terms at checkout.

Amazon cuts Apple Watch Ultra 2 price to $499, record-low

March 21, 2026, 4:42 AM EDT. Amazon is clearing out remaining Apple Watch Ultra 2 inventory with a $300 discount, delivering a record-low $499 for the 49mm titanium model. The deal covers three styles. The note highlights the titanium case and 49mm size. Amazon also discounts the Apple Watch Series 11 to $299. In other Apple hardware offers, a 1TB M5 MacBook Pro is down to $1,499, the lowest price on record. Shoppers can check the latest offers in Amazon's Apple Price Guide.

Pixel Tablet extends updates to Android 18, a rare policy shift for Google hardware

March 21, 2026, 4:40 AM EDT. Google has extended software support for the Pixel Tablet, moving its update horizon to Android 18. The change was spotted on the device's support page, as reported by Les Numériques. The tablet, launched in 2023, was originally slated for a narrow window of updates; Google previously listed five years of security patches only, with an end-of-life date in June 2026. Now, Google covers major Android updates as well. The change benefits current owners, since the tablet appears out of production and widely out of stock. Industry reaction sees this as a possible template for others, with the EU requiring at least five years of security patches but not yet mandating major feature updates. Some brands already offer four to seven years of OS updates; others lag behind.

Man Uses ChatGPT to Sell Home for $100K Above Agent Estimates, Closes in 5 Days

March 21, 2026, 4:26 AM EDT. On a road trip, Robert Levine used ChatGPT to guide the sale of his Cooper City, Florida home. What began as a way to pass time evolved into a full AI-driven strategy covering pricing, marketing, scheduling, and negotiation. The result: a contract at $954,800, about $100,000 above conventional agent estimates, and a closing in five days. Levine, who leads ComOps, said AI gave him more confidence in pricing and market direction than local agents. The AI recommended updates to the property and optimal viewing times, and it helped orchestrate 15 showings, with one-third of buyers submitting applications. The episode illustrates how ChatGPT can act as a negotiator and planning assistant in real estate.

Are humans being left behind in the AI push?

March 21, 2026, 4:08 AM EDT. As artificial intelligence accelerates across industries, workers worry about skill gaps and job displacement. Governments, firms and universities race to fund reskilling programs, with mixed results. Regulators push safety and accountability while companies deploy automation faster than training pipelines can adapt. The risk is not only layoffs, but unequal access to opportunity, with low- and middle-skill workers bearing the heaviest burden. Early evidence shows some roles shrink as AI handles routine tasks, while new tasks demand different training. Advocates say a comprehensive approach-upskilling, reskilling, portable certifications, and public-private partnerships-can keep workers from being left behind. Critics warn funding, timing and enforcement will decide whether the AI wave lifts all boats or concentrates gains among a few.

Tesla Full Self-Driving clears final EU testing with RDW, targets EU-wide rollout by 2026

March 21, 2026, 3:22 AM EDT. Tesla has completed the final testing phase for its FSD (Supervised) system in Europe, submitting documents for UN R-171 approval and Article 39 exemptions to the Dutch vehicle authority RDW. Netherlands approval is expected April 10, after 18 months of collaboration. Tesla says it logged 1.6 million kilometers of FSD (Supervised) testing on European roads, ran 13,000 customer ride-alongs, and conducted 4,500+ track scenarios, with thousands of pages of compliance docs and dozens of safety studies. UN R-171 is a UN regulation on driver-control assistance; Article 39 exemptions are waivers needed for certain automated features. If approved, mutual recognition could allow other EU countries to adopt quickly, enabling an EU-wide rollout possibly by summer 2026.

Edge Computing in Retail 2026: Examples, Benefits and a Deployment Playbook

March 21, 2026, 3:14 AM EDT. Edge computing brings processing power to the store, preventing outages and cutting latency. The guide shows workloads moving from distant clouds to local hardware in or near the shop, so self-checkout, POS pricing and loyalty validation can run if the internet falters. Common implementations include back-office micro servers or hyper-converged infrastructure, smart POS terminals, and in-store computer vision that processes locally. Benefits include reduced downtime, faster transactions, and resilience against ISP blips. The playbook outlines steps for phased rollout across locations, covering data flows, security, and integration with the cloud.

Generalist biological AI aims to model the language of life from DNA to cells

March 21, 2026, 3:10 AM EDT. Generalist biological artificial intelligence (GBAI) seeks to model the language of life from DNA to cellular function. The Review surveys rapid advances in biological AI that interpret and generate DNA, RNA, proteins and cellular systems. It outlines a path to systems that can concurrently process and predict across these domains, executing several biological tasks at once. Opportunities arise from combining language and structural AI, using specialized models, and improving AI agents for autonomous discovery. It also flags challenges in data availability, biological complexity, scalability and experimental validation. If realized, GBAI could deepen understanding of disease pathways and biomarkers, accelerate automated therapeutic design and evaluation, and enable virtual cell simulations that mimic real biological activity.

AI Industry Hypocrisy: Fair Use, Patents and Data in Silicon Valley

March 21, 2026, 3:08 AM EDT. An investigative report from AI Watchdog in The Atlantic examines the generative-AI sector's double standards. An April 2024 talk by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt urged students to test ideas with scant regard for ethics, while lawsuits accusing AI firms of copyright infringement mounted. Proponents defend fair use as a driver of innovation, yet major platforms shield their own data and code with patents and lawyers. The piece contrasts rhetoric about openness with protectionist practice across Silicon Valley-from Photoshop's patent moat to high-stakes litigation that has framed tech, including Waymo's case against Uber and Apple vs Samsung. The questions about industry integrity persist as leaders preach openness while guarding proprietary assets and legal strategies.

Hull artists say community will keep art alive despite AI

March 21, 2026, 3:06 AM EDT. Hull artists say the local scene can weather an AI-driven shift in art. Ai-Da, described by her creators as the world's first ultra-realistic robot artist, has helped push the debate about what counts as art into the mainstream. Her portrait of British mathematician Alan Turing sold at Sotheby's in 2024 for more than £836,667, a milestone that sharpened questions about authorship and creativity in the age of machines. Supporters in northern England argue that technology will expand opportunity without replacing human makers; critics warn that machines risk eroding craft and livelihoods. The Hull perspective emphasizes community, studios, and collaborations as bulwarks against displacement, while acknowledging AI's impact on commissions, markets, and what galleries choose to show.

Google Messages expands Real-time Location Sharing on Android

March 21, 2026, 2:54 AM EDT. Google Messages for Android is widening the rollout of Real-time Location Sharing. A new Real-time Location pill with a green icon appears in conversation menus, alongside existing options. The feature preserves the older One-time Location option that creates a Google Maps link. When activated, a live map expands in the chat, and the bottom card lets you choose duration-1 hour, Today only, Until you turn this off, or Custom duration. Sending adds a real-time map to the thread; recipients see a notification and a label like See my real-time location. A privacy banner under the app bar shows whether sharing is active and for how long. Observers note a persistent dot in the + menu-two dots if you're sharing with someone, unclear removal behavior, possibly a bug or growth hack. Rollout appears broad in beta and stable channels.

How AI English differs from human English and when to use artificial language

March 21, 2026, 2:52 AM EDT. Researchers describe two styles: human English, marked by variation and readability, and AI English, described as exam English-formal, dense, less varied. The author argues that AI language tools trained on public internet text inherit societal biases and standardized forms. People may distrust AI for accuracy but rely on it for writing guidance. The test example shows textese versus conventional writing, illustrating how human text feels personal while AI echoes formal norms. The piece notes a history of language value and devaluation, and says that AI tools replicate those biases. The takeaway: to become a more informed user, recognize the signs of variation and readability that signal human authorship, and approach AI-generated text with critical literacy.

Mark Cuban Uses Mac Mini to Tame AI-Generated Email Flood

March 21, 2026, 2:34 AM EDT. Mark Cuban, who reads as many as 1,000 emails daily across three phones, has enlisted a Mac Mini to counter an AI-generated flood of messages. Speaking on the TBPN podcast, the Dallas Mavericks owner said he taught the OpenClaw, which OpenAI acquired last month, to power the inbox workflow on his Mac to push Gmail's unsubscribe feature and trim unwanted mailing lists, then review what remains. He had long insisted a human assistant would slow him down, but says the AI setup now offers a path forward to keep his inbox under control. The move mirrors broader tech trends; even Tim Cook has cited AI-assisted email tools as help managing heavy workloads.

Moscow internet outages fuel fears of digital crackdown

March 21, 2026, 2:32 AM EDT. Residents of Moscow face an unprecedented wave of mobile internet outages that have disrupted basic tasks – messaging, maps, rides, and even voice calls. Officials say the disturbances are aimed at countering "increasingly sophisticated" Ukrainian attacks, but the disruptions echo broader digital censorship by Russia and stretch beyond the capital into other regions. While full internet access remains via Wi-Fi in homes or offices, mobile networks have slowed or dropped service, forcing some residents to buy walkie-talkies or paper maps. Safety-critical uses, such as Svetlana's monitoring of her diabetic son's insulin dosing via Telegram messages, are affected. The incidents mark a shift from earlier, regionally focused outages to disruptions in Moscow and St. Petersburg, underscoring fears of a broader digital crackdown.

iPhone Fold could ship in December, delaying launch beyond iPhone 18 Pro window

March 21, 2026, 2:26 AM EDT. Barclays analyst Tim Long, citing MacRumors, said the iPhone Fold may begin shipments in December rather than the usual September window. Apple could still reveal the foldable at the standard autumn event, with the release pushed to year-end. The forecast echoes a nine-year-old pattern: the iPhone X was announced in September 2017, but released in November, delaying a flagship product. Long also reiterates a rumor that the regular iPhone 18 may launch next March alongside two other models, the iPhone 18e and the iPhone 18 Plus. The report notes demand concerns and the potential need for mass production tweaks ahead of a holiday launch, with analysts split on whether shipments meet demand.

Devsisters unveils CookieRun: New World open-world adventure for console, PC and mobile in 2029

March 21, 2026, 2:18 AM EDT. Devsisters announced CookieRun: New World, an open-world adventure based on the CookieRun mobile franchise. Built in Unreal Engine, the title is billed as the franchise's "most ambitious" game to date. It will launch for console, PC, and mobile in 2029 to mark the franchise's 20th anniversary. The plot follows a new journey across the Cookie continent after the era of the legendary Five Heroes, as a mysterious darkness returns. The announcement was part of the Devsisters Online Showcase, which also unveiled CookieRun: Crumble for mobile, CookieRun: Kingdom Chapter 2 with a new timeline arc, CookieRun: OvenSmash, and a tabletop expansion. The team stressed cross-platform play and the franchise's signature charm.

Smartphone longevity rises as longer software support takes hold

March 21, 2026, 2:16 AM EDT. Smartphones now enjoy longer support windows thanks to extended software commitments and growing right-to-repair rules, nudging buyers away from two-year replacements. Consumers can push lifespans farther with simple steps. Use a rugged case to prevent damage from drops. Battery care matters: Li-ion cells dislike heat above 95°F and fare better when stored at half charge; many devices also run battery optimization that delays full charging until needed. Slower charging reduces stress when speed isn't critical. For travel or heavy use, power banks help-examples include the Anker Laptop Power Bank and Statik MagSafe battery for smaller needs. Overall, industry shifts plus prudent use can keep a phone in service for years longer than the old two-year cycle.

SpaceX builds Gigabay in Florida as Starship readies for Texas-to-Cape Canaveral launch

March 21, 2026, 2:12 AM EDT. SpaceX is advancing construction of the Starship maintenance facility known as Gigabay at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as the company prepares the first Florida launch of Starship from Texas. The 380-foot-tall structure, visible from the Indian River in Titusville, sits at SpaceX's Robert's Road facility and will serve stacking and preparation of the 232-foot-tall Super Heavy boosters. Construction began in fall 2025 and is scheduled to finish by August 2026, aligning with NASA's Artemis program, which could use Starship as a lunar lander by 2028. In Florida, SpaceX is manufacturing Starship tower segments and heatshield tiles, and plans to transport components by barge; once assembled on the pad, Starship will exceed 400 feet in height. The effort parallels Texas work and underpins future Cape Canaveral missions including Starlink deployments.

Xiaomi SU7 EV targets premium market with design, long range and competitive pricing

March 21, 2026, 2:08 AM EDT. Xiaomi unveils the SU7, jostling Tesla with a redesigned interior and exterior. The sedan keeps waterdrop headlights and halo taillights but adds cleaner detailing and a sportier front grille. Inside, soft-touch surfaces, thicker seats, a 3,636 mm ambient light band, and an 18-way driver seat with a 123-degree front-passenger recline. A faster drawer fridge, new cabin scents, and the upgraded XiaoAi assistant accompany refinements in navigation, real-time traffic, and safety features such as XLA-assisted driving, wet-road detection and Owner Management Mode. The HyperEngine V6s Plus powertrain yields CLTC ranges of 902 km (Pro), 720 km (Standard), and 835 km (Max); Xiaomi touts up to 670 km of range in 15 minutes of fast charging. Prices start at RMB 219,900, with pre-orders via the Xiaomi EV app.

Subnautica 2 early access release stirs legal fight after court ruling

March 21, 2026, 2:04 AM EDT. Lawyers for the ousted leadership of Unknown Worlds contend that news of a May Early Access release for Subnautica 2 was announced improperly, risking damage to the game and fan confusion. In a letter to Delaware Court of Chancery Vice Chancellor Lori Will, they warned Krafton could be in contempt of the court's order and demanded Gill be reinstated with full authority over any Early Access decision. The clash follows Will's ruling that Krafton breached its contract by firing Ted Gill and the studio's co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire to dodge performance bonuses. Krafton pushed a memo from Steve Papoutsis saying Subnautica 2 was ready for Early Access in May, a claim the lawyers said Papoutsis wasn't authorized to make while Gill, not Papoutsis, held release authority under the order.

iPhone 18 Pro set for release this year with three upgrades

March 21, 2026, 2:02 AM EDT. Apple is gearing up for a busy year, with the iPhone Fold rumored to debut alongside the next pro line. Early signals point to the regular iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 as the mainstream upgrade for most users, given a potentially steep price tag around $2,399 for the foldable model. The three upgrades highlighted are a variable aperture on the 48-megapixel Fusion camera, a leap to the A20 Pro chip built on TSMC's 2nm process, and a possible consolidation of RAM (memory used by apps) on the same wafer as CPU/GPU/Neural Engine. Analysts expect further iteration rather than a radical redesign. For current iPhone 14/17 owners, the upgrade calculus remains incremental, while foldable buyers may weigh affordability against headline features.

Xiaomi SU7 price in China under Tesla Model 3 as updates boost battery and powertrain

March 21, 2026, 1:50 AM EDT. Xiaomi's SU7 goes on sale in China at 219,900 yuan (~£27,500). The range-topping Max is 303,900 yuan, with the Pro at 249,900 and the base 10,000 yuan below January's pre-order price; current base is only 4,000 yuan higher. Chinese media say the SU7 remains cheaper than the Tesla Model 3 by about 15,600 yuan at startup. Below the skin, the car gains major battery and powertrain upgrades. The base pack rises to 73 kWh with a 752-volt system, while the Max's 101.7 kWh pack runs at 897 volts. Xiaomi claims 670 kilometres (CLTC) in 15 minutes of fast charging. Range grows across variants: 720 km standard, 902 km Pro, 835 km Max. All three now use the V6s Plus motor, wider rear tires (265 mm), and standard dual-chamber air suspension with adaptive dampers.

OpenAI bets on autonomous AI researcher as North Star for AI research

March 21, 2026, 1:46 AM EDT. OpenAI will focus on an autonomous AI researcher that can tackle problems beyond human reach with minimal human steering. The effort is the firm's North Star for years, uniting work on reasoning models, agents and interpretability. It aims to roll out an autonomous AI research intern by September, a precursor to a fully automated multi-agent system planned for 2028. Tasks could span math, physics, biology, chemistry and policy, as long as they can be framed in text, code or sketches. The plan comes as OpenAI faces rivals such as Anthropic and Google DeepMind. Chief scientist Jakub Pachocki argues the field is nearing models that can operate indefinitely in a coherent way, like a lab in a data center. Codex, launched earlier, is cited as an agent-based step.

Ukrainian drones shortlisted for US Drone Dominance contest as Chinese components are cut from supply

March 21, 2026, 1:44 AM EDT. Two Ukrainian manufacturers, SkyFall and Ukrainian Defense Drones Tech Corporation, advanced to the final phase of the Pentagon's $1.1 billion Drone Dominance contest. SkyFall's Shrike 10 Fiber, developed with Skycutter, scored 99.3 out of 100 in phase one, beating an American rival by more than ten points. It uses fiber-optic guidance, not radio, making it resilient to electronic warfare; the fiber spool extends about 20 km for stable video. The drone carries up to 1 kg warhead mass. Ukrainian Defense Drones Tech Corporation presented the F10 strike quadcopter, finishing sixth with 72.9 points. The firms have localized their supply chains, eliminating Chinese components. The program unfolds in four stages; phase one envisages about 30,000 drones at $5,000 each, with larger orders planned in later phases.

Tesla fixes Wall Connector Wi-Fi issue with Update 26.2

March 21, 2026, 1:36 AM EDT. Tesla says the Gen 3 Wall Connector's long-standing Wi-Fi problem with WPA3 and mixed-mode networks is fixed in firmware 26.2.0, rolling out since mid-February. Users reported devices dropping from modern routers and the Wall Connector failing to stay online, complicating real-time data and firmware updates in the Tesla app. The update brings stable auto-negotiation with WPA3 and is typically installed automatically in the background overnight; check your version in the app under Home > Settings > My Home Info > My Products. If not yet updated, a workaround is to create a dedicated 2.4 GHz guest network using WPA2-Personal, though a full patch is now available. Earlier fixes, such as 24.44.3, briefly helped in 2024, but 25.x caused a renewed issue.

Memvid recruits for an "AI bully" role to test chatbots, paying $800 for an eight-hour endurance session

March 21, 2026, 1:34 AM EDT. Memvid, a California startup, is hiring a temporary AI bully to test leading chatbots for eight hours at $800. No AI degree required: candidates must stay engaged, revisit topics and push the AI to admit mistakes while recording results. Co-founder Mohamed Omar says the test exposes how memory and context drift-where systems forget or hallucinate-undermine reliability. A 2025 ICLR paper echoed the risk, noting a 30%-60% drop in accuracy when remembering facts across sustained chats. The firm notes many applicants are knowledge workers relying on AI tools, raising concern about confident wrongness in real-world deployments.

Barclays says iPhone Fold unlikely to ship before December 2026

March 21, 2026, 1:32 AM EDT. Barclays analyst Tim Long cautions the iPhone Fold may not ship until December 2026, due to TSMC capacity constraints and ongoing memory market turmoil. The note frames a staggered rollout to align supply of the next-gen A20 Pro chip powering the Fold and the iPhone 18 Pro line. Long adds a later possibility of a March 2027 release for either an iPhone Air 2 or an iPhone 18 Plus, a signal that the analyst's scope extends beyond the base iPhone 18 lineup. Separately, reports say the crease could be as shallow as 0.15mm thanks to Ultra-thin Flexible Glass and a liquid-metal hinge. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the Fold will run iPad-like multi-tasking; Face ID disappears in favor of side-button Touch ID; inner display tests with under-display cameras show subpar quality.

Val Kilmer AI resurrection sparks fan backlash in new film

March 21, 2026, 1:30 AM EDT. Fans reacted with mixed emotions to news that an AI likeness of Val Kilmer will appear in the independent film As Deep as the Grave after his death. The project cast Kilmer as Father Fintan and relied on the actor's estate and family consent, with director Coerte Voorhees saying Kilmer wanted to participate before illness stalled filming. Some fans called the move morally troubling and even illegal, arguing it exploits a deceased star or amounts to acting without consent. Others supported using AI if approved by the family and intended as a tribute. Voorhees said the family was compensated and supported the project. The debate highlights broader tensions over AI in entertainment and rights, as Hollywood weighs whether resurrection-like tech should become a norm.

From nostalgia to daily use: NFC payments on my Samsung Galaxy

March 21, 2026, 1:28 AM EDT. An author who once chased hidden phone features rediscovered a quiet utility: NFC. After years of chasing novelty, they found that essential hardware can fade from view. A few days ago, the writer realized they had overlooked NFC, and began using it daily on their Samsung Galaxy handset. The Galaxy Wallet-a system app-enables contactless payments in seconds, even without unlocking the device on a S21. The narrator had earlier relied on UPI transactions in India via Samsung Wallet rather than tapping a card; that habit has shifted. The piece notes that while NFC remains less ubiquitous than the camera, it is now integrated into daily life for payments. Readers are reminded that the feature can be disabled from the app if safety concerns arise.

Space Force shifts GPS III launch from ULA's Vulcan to SpaceX Falcon 9

March 21, 2026, 1:24 AM EDT. The Space Force will launch the GPS III mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 no sooner than late April, switching from ULA's Vulcan rocket amid an ongoing anomaly investigation. The change follows the Feb. 12 USSF-87 flight, during which one of Vulcan's four solid rocket motor boosters experienced a significant performance anomaly. ULA has paused Vulcan launches as investigators seek a root cause. In the swap, Vulcan will instead carry USSF-70, a 2028 mission originally awarded to SpaceX that will test remote proximity operations using GAS-T. GPS satellites are qualified for both rockets, and officials note the Rapid Response Trailblazer program has demonstrated GPS re-manifesting capabilities. The move aims to preserve rapid delivery of advanced GPS capability while the Vulcan investigation continues.

Google Store discounts Pixel 10 series, watches and Nest devices

March 21, 2026, 1:18 AM EDT. Google Store has discounts across smartphones, wearables and smart home gear. The highlight is the Pixel lineup: Pixel 10 Pro XL now $1,404 (from $1,629); Pixel 10 Pro at $1,149 (down from $1,349); and Pixel 10 at $949 (down from $1,099). The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is $2,099 (from $2,399). In wearables, Pixel Watch 3 is $299.99 and Pixel Watch 4 is $379.99. Fitness and audio deals include Fitbit Sense 2 at $259.95 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 at $239. The Google TV Streamer 4K is $99.99; Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen) $99.99; Nest Doorbell (wired, 3rd gen) $189.99; Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen) $159.99; and Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) $319.99. Offers run through late March or early April, per Google Store.

Tesla's Optimus faces physics wall as stock valuation outruns fundamentals

March 21, 2026, 1:16 AM EDT. Tesla's stock story stretches beyond cars. The author notes the company trades at a sky-high valuation-roughly 250x earnings-while fundamentals show a different trend. The focus shifts from vehicles to robotics, with Optimus presented as a strategic pivot that became a central bet in January 2026. The piece argues that physics and engineering constraints create a wall between flashy demonstrations and mass-market production. It highlights a widening gap between hype and reality: revenue fell 3.8% to $94.8 billion, EBIT down 38.1%, and EPS off 31% ex-NRI. Market capitalization sits near $1.5 trillion, larger than Toyota, VW, Ford and GM combined. The article promises to analyze why a goal of 1 million robots by 2027 may be a dangerous gamble in a capital-intensive industry.

OnePlus Watch 3 hits $50 Amazon discount; battery life tops Galaxy Watch 8

March 21, 2026, 1:12 AM EDT. OnePlus is offering a rare $50 cut on the OnePlus Watch 3 ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, bringing the price to $249.99. The Android smartwatch is praised for battery life, delivering 4-6 days in normal use and up to 16 days in Power Saver mode. In tests, it outlasts the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series on typical battery life. The device also packs a rotating titanium crown, sharp AMOLED display with 2,200 nits brightness, and 32GB of onboard storage, plus health sensors (HRM, SpO2, skin temperature). Drawbacks include limited OS updates (Wear OS 7 is the ceiling) and the NA model's lack of ECG. The review highlights solid performance and a 4.5/5 rating, making the discount a rare chance to buy a battery-life leader under $300.

NASA finishes second Artemis II fueling test as countdown proceeds toward March launch

March 21, 2026, 1:10 AM EDT. NASA wrapped a second full dress rehearsal fueling of the Space Launch System on the Kennedy Space Center pad, pumping more than 700,000 gallons (2.6 million liters) of supercold fuel into the rocket. The countdown followed the plan to the half-minute, then rolled back to rehearse the final 10 minutes. NASA said late at night the test produced minimal hydrogen leakage, well within safety limits. It was the most critical part of the two-day exercise and will inform whether the March launch window for Artemis II remains open. Three astronauts joined Thursday's operations, and a two-week quarantine begins Friday to preserve flexibility in the window. In a prior rehearsal, leaks prompted seals and a clogged filter replacement; Thursday's results gave engineers confidence in the new seals.

Huawei launches Atlas 350 AI accelerator, claims power edge over Nvidia H20

March 21, 2026, 1:08 AM EDT. Huawei unveiled the Atlas 350 AI accelerator card for inference, powered by the Ascend 950PR chip. Officials say the card delivers 1.56 petaflops of FP4 computing power, a 2.8-times edge over Nvidia's H20 in China, highlighting its suitability for AI inference in search, recommendation, multimodal generation and large language models. The FP4 designation denotes low-precision computing that speeds data movement. Huawei described the Atlas 350 as aiming to match-or surpass-peers in AI inference while integrating into servers. The launch signals Huawei's push into AI infrastructure with self-developed semiconductors, a bid to reduce reliance on American tech after Ascend chip breakthroughs.

Google Store discounts Pixel 10 series, Pixel Watch, Nest and more

March 21, 2026, 1:04 AM EDT. Google Store discounts cover the Pixel 10 series, Pixel Watch lineup, Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Nest devices. Notable prices include: Pixel 10 Pro XL now $1,404 (was $1,629; through March 22); Pixel 10 Pro $1,149 (from $1,349; through March 22); Pixel 10 $949 (from $1,099; through March 22); Pixel 10 Pro Fold $2,099 (from $2,399; through March 22). The Pixel Watch 3 $299.99 (was $429.99; through March 30); Pixel Watch 4 $379.99 (was $479.99; through March 30). Other deals: Fitbit Sense 2 $259.95 (was $329.95; through March 26); Pixel Buds Pro 2 $239 (was $299; through March 30). Nest devices: Nest Cam Indoor $99.99; Nest Doorbell $189.99; Nest Cam Outdoor $159.99; Nest Learning Thermostat $319.99. Source: Google Store.

Amazon reportedly developing Alexa-focused smartphone codenamed Transformer

March 21, 2026, 1:00 AM EDT. Reuters reports Amazon is quietly pursuing a smartphone built around Alexa and deep personalization, codenamed Transformer, with development led by its ZeroOne devices unit and veteran executive J Allard. Since Panos Panay took charge of devices and services in 2023, Amazon has sought to shed the cheap image and reframe hardware around premium experiences. The project contemplates two form factors: a traditional smartphone and a dumbphone for secondary use, possibly inspired by Light Phone. The device would prioritize AI features at its core and aim to sync with home voice assistant Alexa, potentially reducing reliance on traditional app stores. The effort remains in early stages and could be scrapped if strategy or finances shift amid fierce competition from Apple and Samsung.

Don't swim with a smartwatch: IP ratings don't guarantee waterproofing

March 21, 2026, 12:58 AM EDT. Tech Advisor warns that IP ratings such as 5ATM+IP68 do not guarantee safe swimming with smartwatches. Tests use clean, fresh water, while real conditions-saltwater and chlorinated pools or moving water-can cause internal corrosion and damage. A Reddit user wearing a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro experienced watch failure after ocean swimming, finding salt buildup inside and signs of corrosion on the haptic motor. Samsung notes caveats: do not stay submerged, avoid fast-moving water, and water resistance is not permanent; disinfectants or pool salt can affect performance. The lesson travels beyond a single model: pool and ocean use can compromise even premium devices.

Nvidia-backed CoreWeave targets quadruple revenue by 2027, profits unclear

March 21, 2026, 12:56 AM EDT. CoreWeave is a cloud provider focused on AI computing power and a notable Nvidia investment, with Nvidia owning more than 24 million shares worth over $2 billion. It posted a 110% year-over-year revenue jump in Q4 and a revenue backlog near $67 billion, up 342% from a year earlier, signaling demand outpacing capacity. Wall Street expects revenue to climb from about $5.13 billion in the last 12 months to $12.5 billion by 2026 and $23.1 billion by 2027-a more than fourfold rise. Profits are not yet in sight; CoreWeave is plowing cash into growth to capture market share before profitability. Investors should weigh whether the upside justifies the risk.

Tesla bets $2 billion on xAI as AI becomes core to its strategy

March 21, 2026, 12:54 AM EDT. Tesla disclosed plans to invest about $2 billion in xAI, the AI start-up founded by CEO Elon Musk. The move aligns with a broader push to embed AI across the company, from Full Self-Driving (FSD) and robotaxis to the Optimus humanoid robot. xAI aims to build large-scale models, with Grok already powering features on X. For Tesla, the bet could speed access to advanced models, compute infrastructure, and engineering talent, and reinforce vertical integration of software and hardware. Yet the arrangement also introduces governance questions and execution risk for investors, as funding a start-up in a still-developing field carries uncertainties. If the partnership scales, it could strengthen Tesla's technology stack; if it stalls, it may complicate oversight and capital allocation.

How to gain exposure to SpaceX before its IPO: ways for investors

March 21, 2026, 12:52 AM EDT. SpaceX may go public after a surge in private funding, but investors can gain exposure now. SpaceX has raised about $11.9 billion, with Alphabet's Google among early backers since 2015. For retail investors, buying Alphabet offers a proxy to SpaceX's upside, while acknowledging Alphabet's broader business. Some ETFs own SpaceX, including ARK Venture Fund and the XOVR ETF; the KraneShares Artificial Intelligence and Technology ETF (AGIX) also holds a stake via xAI. Remember ETFs are funds, not a direct SpaceX position, and come with fees and holdings complexity. Accredited investors can access secondary markets-Forge Global, EquityZen, Hiive-to trade private shares, though with higher risk and lower liquidity than public stocks.

Nvidia leads Friday's analyst calls; Arm, Apple, Rivian, Chipotle, Chevron upgraded

March 21, 2026, 12:46 AM EDT. Analysts cap Friday with a string of upgrades and reiterations across tech and energy. Nvidia is reiterated as outperform; Wolfe calls NVDA 'too cheap to ignore,' noting the stock trades at about 13x its bull-case EPS and remains the firm's favorite idea. HSBC upgrades Arm to Buy, arguing Arm's AI CPU trajectory shifts it from a smartphone IP play to a major AI server beneficiary. Morgan Stanley reiterates Apple as overweight, noting decelerating App Store revenue in Q1 and strong iPhone demand into the June quarter. Jefferies lifts Oneok to Buy; Mizuho upgrades Chipotle to Outperform on near-term comp inflection and margin visibility. Barclays keeps Rivian and Tesla at Equal Weight, citing Uber partnership and chips push. Oppenheimer upgrades Freshpet to Outperform; Jefferies upgrades Mettler-Toledo; HSBC upgrades Chevron to Buy with a $215 target.

Apple explains three core types in M5 chips in new interview

March 21, 2026, 12:44 AM EDT. Apple has clarified the M5 line uses three core types: efficiency cores, performance core, and the renamed super cores. The M5 is built with efficiency cores and super cores, while the M5 Pro and M5 Max add a new performance core tier that handles multi-threaded tasks. In a Mac & i interview, Anand Shimpi explains the super core is the fastest CPU core and optimized for single-core performance; the efficiency core prioritizes power savings for background work. He says the super core is a 'completely tailor-made microarchitecture' distinct from the other cores. The performance core aims to balance power and multi-thread performance, delivering 'the best of both worlds,' per Shimpi. Apple's Doug Brooks says the naming makes each core's strengths clear. No mention yet of an M5 Ultra or Fusion Architecture.

NASA's Artemis II moves to launch pad for April window after repairs

March 21, 2026, 12:32 AM EDT. NASA's Artemis II moon rocket has rolled back to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center after repairs to the 322-foot-tall SLS and Orion stack, aiming for an April window. After two wet dress rehearsals and leaks, the stack was returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building for fixes. If tests succeed, NASA could lift off as early as April 1 on a 10-day lunar flyby with a four-person crew that quarantined this week. The move back to the pad triggers final checks, including another wet dress rehearsal and fueling. NASA has framed the period from April 1-6 (and possibly April 30) as the window. The agency had signaled April 2026 as the outer deadline and is pursuing annual launches after Artemis I delays.

Indonesia's EV push encounters local-cost questions as Dragon and Titan loom

March 21, 2026, 12:30 AM EDT. Indonesia aims to be a global EV supply chain player as Jokowi opens a Hyundai EV and battery plant in Karawang and officials promise a strengthened ecosystem. The country sits on nickel, copper and bauxite but local communities worry about the social and environmental costs of nickel projects unless laws change. In North Maluku, the Dragon project-Antam, IBC and CATL-will build mining, processing and a recycling facility, plus a Karawang battery plant slated for 2026. A second project, Titan, led by Antam, IBC, Daaz Bara Lestari with Huayou Cobalt and EVE Energy, targets 30 GWh annually with smelting and refining in the same province. With targets of 400k EVs by 2025 and 600k by 2030, production remains a laggard; June 2025 output stood at 25,861 EVs, while Q1 2025 sales rose 152.5% per PwC.

Nvidia's GTC unfurls $1 trillion AI chip bet, OpenClaw strategy, Olaf robot finale

March 21, 2026, 12:28 AM EDT. At Nvidia's GTC keynote, CEO Jensen Huang painted a future where Nvidia underpins AI training, autonomous vehicles and even Disney parks. In a two-and-a-half-hour address, Huang set a target of roughly $1 trillion in AI chip sales through 2027 and pressed a sweeping OpenClaw strategy to anchor customers across industries. The event showcased Nvidia's expanding web of infrastructure partnerships for startups and enterprises, signaling that the company wants to be foundational to much of the AI stack. The show closed on a quirky note-an Olaf-like robot whose mic was cut-that underscored Nvidia's push into embodied AI. Analysts say the plan hinges on timely execution and broad ecosystem buy-in.

Amazon offers free gift cards with Samsung Galaxy S26 series purchases

March 21, 2026, 12:26 AM EDT. Amazon is offering a free gift card with purchases of Samsung's Galaxy S26 series, according to Android Authority's Paul Jones. The deals apply to all colors. The lineup includes the Galaxy S26 (6.3-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED, FHD+ 120Hz, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 12GB RAM, triple cameras 50MP/12MP/10MP, 4,300mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless); the Galaxy S26 Plus (6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz, 4,900mAh, 45W wired, 20W wireless); and the Galaxy S26 Ultra (6.9-inch QHD+ 120Hz, 200MP main, 50MP/50MP/10MP, 5,000mAh, 60W wired, 25W wireless, S Pen). The offers come from Amazon and apply regardless of color; act quickly, as the promotion could end soon.

Pentagon formalizes Palantir Maven AI as official military program of record

March 21, 2026, 12:24 AM EDT. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg declares Palantir's Maven AI system an official program of record, cementing long-term use across the U.S. military. In a March 9 letter to senior Pentagon leaders, Feinberg said embedding Maven would give warfighters the latest tools to detect, deter and dominate adversaries in all domains. The designation, expected by the end of the current fiscal year in September, would streamline adoption and secure stable funding. Oversight of Maven moves from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to the Pentagon's Chief Digital Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) within 30 days; future Palantir contracting will be handled by the Army. Maven analyzes data from satellites, drones, radars, sensors and intelligence reports to flag potential threats.

Amazon reportedly developing AI smartphone codename Transformer

March 21, 2026, 12:22 AM EDT. Amazon is exploring a new AI-driven smartphone, code-named Transformer, according to a Fox Business report. The device would tie into Alexa and Amazon's services, and is being developed within the company's devices and services unit. Details on price, funding, revenue outlook, and a firm timeline were not disclosed, and sources cautioned the project could be canceled. Amazon previously tried smartphones with the Fire Phone in 2014, a venture that ended after about 14 months and a large inventory charge. If real, the device would mark a re-entry into a market currently led by Apple and Samsung, with no confirmation from Amazon.

Crimson Desert hits 2 million sales as Pearl Abyss pledges fixes after rocky launch

March 21, 2026, 12:20 AM EDT. Crimson Desert, the single-player RPG from Pearl Abyss, sold through 2 million copies within a day of release, the studio said on social media. It said it was humbled by the reception while acknowledging launch rough edges and promising to listen to feedback and do its utmost to improve quickly. Reported issues include Xbox App players unable to launch on PC, performance problems on the base PS5, and troublesome controls, prompting some players to seek refunds. Eurogamer praised the game's vast world and fidelity but criticized character texture and charm. Pearl Abyss did not specify fixes. The publisher urged players to consult guides on taming horses, stealing, and fishing to get started as it addresses the issues.

Nvidia debuts LPU and Vera CPUs at GTC 2026 as agentic AI takes the spotlight

March 21, 2026, 12:14 AM EDT. Two big chip announcements headline Nvidia's GTC 2026: a Language Processing Unit (LPU) built on technology from Groq, part of Nvidia's $20 billion deal, and a rack of Vera CPUs signaling a CPU renaissance for agentic AI where lots of data transfer and orchestration occur. Nvidia also unveiled NemoClaw, an enterprise version of OpenClaw atop its software stack. The event underscores a shift from GPU-centric demos to tooling for autonomous agents, with CEO Jensen Huang saying agentic AI has reached an inflection point requiring faster inference. CNBC's Katie Tarasov reported the mood on the floor, noting the focus on enabling multi-agent ecosystems rather than single-task models. Attendance was high, and Nvidia framed the year as building out compute for an agent-driven future.

Artemis 2 reaches launch pad, eyes April 1 launch window

March 21, 2026, 12:08 AM EDT. NASA's Artemis 2 mission moved the SLS rocket and its Orion crew capsule to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center after an overnight rollout from the VAB. The 4-mile trek by crawler-transporter 2 began at 12:20 a.m. EDT, and ground teams will prepare systems for a potential April 1 launch window. Delays due to high winds pushed the rollout late, but the journey to the pad is now complete, with prep work ahead. The mission will carry four astronauts on a roughly 10-day lunar flyby, returning to Earth.

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Nvidia might reach a $6 trillion valuation by 2027, according to Dan Ives at Wedbush.

March 21, 2026, 12:00 AM EDT. Dan Ives at Wedbush Securities isn’t backing off his bullish stance on Nvidia—he’s throwing out a $6 trillion market cap by 2027 as AI momentum picks up. In a post-GTC chat with CNBC International, Ives shrugged off worries about stock swings, saying the company’s massive run-up is simply a byproduct of outperformance. According to him, the AI cycle is still just warming up; he calls this year three in what he pegs as an 8-to-10 year ramp, citing a staggering 12-to-1 demand-to-supply ratio for Nvidia chips. The Wedbush call leans on the rapidly expanding addressable market—currently pegged at $3-4 trillion for inference and hardware. Still, Ives expects Nvidia to chart an even sharper climb as it cements itself as a foundational platform. Recent figures put Nvidia’s valuation at $4.385 trillion. Alphabet and Microsoft are still very much in the race. NVDA stock is down for the year while tech names remain choppy.