Technology News 24.02.2026

Apple claims record Europe market share in 2025, but Samsung remains dominant

February 24, 2026, 11:56 PM EST. Apple captured a record 27% of Europe's smartphone market in 2025, shipping 36.9 million iPhones and up 6% year over year, according to Omdia. Honor joined Europe's top five with a 3% share and 3.8 million units. Samsung led shipments in Europe with 46.6 million and a 35% share, modest growth from 2024. The region's total volume fell 1% to 134.2 million amid softer demand and USB-C / eco-design regulation. Samsung's Galaxy A56 and discounted A16 drove the second half, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra ranking tenth. Apple's strength came from the iPhone 16 series and the iPhone 16e, which replaced older USB-C-incompatible models. Budget devices from Honor and Xiaomi Redmi aided competition.

Tesla fights UNIBEV over Cybercab trademark at USPTO

February 24, 2026, 11:52 PM EST. Tesla escalated a trademark dispute with UNIBEV, filing a 167-page, five-count opposition at the USPTO's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. The filing alleges fraud, bad faith, and trademark dilution, arguing UNIBEV falsely claimed no other use of cyber, cab, or Cybercab. Tesla says UNIBEV's French filing earlier and visible activity around the Musk family demonstrate improper squatting on a famous name. UNIBEV's principal, Jean-Louis Lentali, follows Elon Musk on social media, Tesla notes. The case references Tesla's own CYBERTRUCK marks and previous uses like Teslaquila as context. The opposition accompanies Tesla's plan to ramp production of Cybercab at Gigafactory Texas.

Missouri lawmakers discuss watermarking AI-generated content

February 24, 2026, 11:50 PM EST. JOPLIN, Mo. – Missouri lawmakers discuss how to label AI-generated content as AI tools extend beyond chatbots into daily tasks. David Markley, president of Stronghold Data, argues the real value lies in applying AI to practical work, from Excel copilots to image generation. He cautions about inaccuracies and says users must choose the right tool for the job. The debate has turned to watermarking AI output, with some legislators pushing for a mandatory watermark. Markley says policy often lags behind technology, complicating expectations and concerns. The discussions illustrate a broader national conversation about how to balance usefulness and transparency as AI moves faster than policy.

DJI Romo vacuum cameras exposed to remote access, Verge reports

February 24, 2026, 11:48 PM EST. A man used a PlayStation 5 controller to remotely control a DJI Romo vacuum and, via the same remote-control app, gain access to about 7,000 devices worldwide. Sammy Azdoufal built a remote-control app that connected to DJI's global servers, enabling him to view video and listen to audio from Romo cameras and, using a device IP address, locate units. The Verge demonstrated real-time access during a live demo, including mapping a unit's floor plan. DJI said the vulnerabilities had been fixed, but The Verge found continued exposure and said the company will resolve remaining issues in weeks. The episode highlights ongoing security challenges in home devices and the expectation that data protection is maintained in transit and on servers.

Meta to launch first smartwatch in 2026, codename Malibu 2, insiders say

February 24, 2026, 11:46 PM EST. Meta plans to release its first smartwatch in 2026, according to an insider report. Code-named Malibu 2, the device would offer health-tracking features seen in top wearables and include a built-in Meta AI assistant, The Information reports. The project resurfaced after being shelved in 2022 as Meta cut hardware spending; earlier iterations reportedly included an onboard camera. A Meta watch could broaden compatibility across Android and iOS, potentially pairing with Meta's AR glasses to expand gesture-based control. The move would place Meta alongside Apple, Google, Samsung, Garmin and Oura in a crowded market where software and ecosystem ties matter. Some analysts remain cautious, warning the plan could falter if execution stalls.

Reliance's Jio Targets Meta, Tesla With Budget Smart Glasses and Robots

February 24, 2026, 11:44 PM EST. Reliance Industries' Jio unveiled the budget-friendly Jio Frames at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, aiming to challenge Meta's Ray-Ban wearables and Tesla's Optimus. Powered by HelloJio AI, the glasses support multiple Indian languages and are offered as an audio-only model and a video-plus-audio variant. The higher-end unit features a 12-MP Sony camera, 64 GB storage and a Snapdragon AR chipset, letting users capture photos, record video, livestream, make calls and listen to music, with access to the Jio AI Cloud (more than 40 million users). Pricing remains undecided while Jio tests acceptable price points to stay commercially viable. Separately, a prototype humanoid robot from Addverb Technologies targets warehouses: a wheeled model lifts up to 10 kg and moves 200 cases. Deployment is planned at Reliance warehouses by July-August, with future voice commands.

Dark Sky team launches Acme Weather to embrace forecast uncertainty

February 24, 2026, 11:42 PM EST. Acme Weather, a new app from the team behind Dark Sky (sold to Apple in 2022), centers on forecast uncertainty rather than a single prediction. The app supplements its main forecast with a spread of alternate predictions to show a range of possible outcomes. It is priced at $25/year and currently available on iOS, with an Android version planned. Co-founder Adam Grossman told TechCrunch that the product is built around its own data provider, enabling multiple forecasts and custom maps. The app also includes a community reports feature, letting nearby users flag conditions. The messaging echoes The New York Times' emphasis on communicating what isn't known in extreme weather coverage.

RTX 5080 tops NVIDIA RTX 50 lineup in Mindfactory data as AMD RDNA 4 maintains German lead

February 24, 2026, 11:36 PM EST. Mindfactory's weekly data from Germany shows the RTX 5080 now the best-selling card in NVIDIA's RTX 50 series, ahead of the RTX 5070 Ti. The 95 units sold last week edge the 55 of the 5070 Ti, while AMD's RDNA 4 GPUs – led by the RX 9070 XT – remain the market's top sellers. The RX 9060 XT follows in second place, with the 8 GB and 16 GB editions both available, the 16 GB variant proving more popular. NVIDIA has shifted supply toward higher-end, 16 GB SKUs, the RTX 5080 being the only 16 GB card enjoying above-other 16 GB sales. The Arc B580 also showed strength, outselling some RDNA 4 models, though the company did not provide full SKU counts. Market data reflects Germany-specific trends and may not reflect global demand.

Snohomish County uses AI to assist 911 dispatchers with non-emergency calls

February 24, 2026, 11:34 PM EST. Snohomish County 911 uses a virtual assistant, Ava, to handle non-emergency calls for more than a year. Calls about noise complaints or fireworks are answered by Ava, while true emergencies are immediately transferred to a human dispatcher; callers can request a human at any time. The county says the system reduced wait times from 10 to 15 minutes and lets staff focus on real emergencies. Since its 2024 launch, Ava has processed more than 220,000 calls. Aurelian says Ava is deployed in about 15 states and by roughly 40% of Washington departments. Snohomish County is now testing Cora, an AI co-pilot that logs notes and provides guides during calls without replacing protocol. Officials say AI will augment, not replace, human dispatchers.

Taara Beam aims for fiber-like 25Gbps via invisible light

February 24, 2026, 11:20 PM EST. Taara Beam, a light-based internet link from Alphabet's Taara project, promises fiber-like speeds up to 25Gbps without traditional cables. The shoebox-sized unit, intended for commercial use by providers, data centers and campuses, can be mounted on lampposts or rooftops and covers up to 10km. The system uses beams of light that are invisible to the naked eye and requires line-of-sight but avoids ground infrastructure. Taara cites latency around 100 microseconds, positioning the device as a potential Starlink rival for certain environments. However, performance can degrade in heavy rain, fog or dust, and line-of-sight limits practicality. The company plans an appearance at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in early March.

Taara Beam promises fiber-like 25Gbps internet via invisible light beams

February 24, 2026, 11:18 PM EST. Taara Beam, a former Google Moonshot project, promises fiber-like speeds of up to 25Gbps using invisible light beams. It is aimed at commercial customers – network providers, data centers and campuses – not home users. Mounted on lampposts or rooftops, each unit can cover up to 10km and deliver low latency around 100 microseconds. The system relies on line-of-sight and remains invisible to the naked eye, reducing the need for trenches or cables, though it can be sensitive to rain, fog and dust. Taara frames the Beam as a complement to fiber and satellite services, potentially rivaling Starlink in some environments. It will be shown at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, with deployment scenarios to follow.

Taara Beam promises fiber-like 25Gbps internet via invisible light for commercial networks

February 24, 2026, 11:14 PM EST. Taara Beam is a shoebox-sized device that delivers internet via invisible beams of light, offering up to 25Gbps speeds. The system, a former Google Moonshot, is aimed at commercial customers-network providers, data centers and campuses-not home users. Installed on lampposts or rooftops, each unit can cover as much as 10 km. The technology relies on line-of-sight and is designed to be unobtrusive, avoiding conventional cables while delivering fiber-like performance. Taara touts latency around 100 microseconds, faster than many satellite options. But light-based links are sensitive to weather-heavy rain, fog, dust-and may require clear sightlines. The company says Taara Beam could complement Starlink and similar networks, with a potential rollout at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

RTX 5080 tops Mindfactory's NVIDIA RTX 50 series as German retailer shifts GPU demand

February 24, 2026, 11:10 PM EST. German retailer Mindfactory's latest data show a shift in GPU demand. The RTX 5080 leads NVIDIA's RTX 50 series with 95 units shipped last week, ahead of the RTX 5070 Ti at 55. The change follows NVIDIA's strategy to prioritize higher-performing 16 GB SKUs, making the RTX 5080 the lone 16 GB card with stronger supply than rivals such as RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB. AMD's RDNA 4 GPUs remain dominant overall, led by the RX 9070 XT and the RX 9060 XT in 8 GB and 16 GB editions. The RX 5060 8 GB underperforms, while Intel's Arc B580 outsells several RDNA cards, signaling a retailer snapshot of shifting demand amid price moves.

RTX 5080 Leads Mindfactory Charts as NVIDIA's RTX 50 Series Gains Ground in Germany

February 24, 2026, 11:08 PM EST. Mindfactory data shows a reshuffle in German GPU demand. The NVIDIA RTX 5080 is now the best-selling card in the RTX 50 series, with 95 units shipped last week, ahead of the RTX 5070 Ti's 55 units. The shift follows NVIDIA's supply strategy favoring the 16 GB SKU over other 16 GB SKUs. AMD's RDNA 4 lineup remains dominant overall, led by the Radeon RX 9070 XT, followed by the RX 9060 XT in 8 GB and 16 GB editions. The RTX 5070 also remains popular, helping the NVIDIA lineup account for about three-quarters of shipments this quarter. The RTX 5060 8 GB underperforms at 50 units. Intel Arc B580 also shows strong weekly sales, outselling some RDNA 4 rivals. The RTX 5060 Ti remains available but not heavily featured in Mindfactory's data.

Statik SmartCharge Pro 5-in-1 battery powers Apple Watch, iPhone and more

February 24, 2026, 10:50 PM EST. The Statik SmartCharge Pro is a 15,000mAh, all-in-one power bank that charges an Apple Watch, iPhone (Qi/MagSafe) and a USB-C port, plus two USB outputs. It includes foldable AC prongs for wall recharging and international adapters for the EU, UK and Australia. The built-in MagSafe pad and Apple Watch cradle sit around a circular frame; the phone tops out at 15W and the watch at 5W. The unit delivers up to 60W total, enough for most ultrabooks but not a high-end gaming laptop. Weighs about 370g (13 oz) and is pocketable in a coat but not truly pocketable. Priced around $100, with multi-unit deals available.

Statik SmartCharge Pro 5-in-1 battery powers Apple Watch, iPhone and iPad all at once

February 24, 2026, 10:48 PM EST. Statik's SmartCharge Pro 5-in-1 battery combines an Apple Watch charger, a MagSafe iPhone pad, a USB-C port, and two USB ports in a compact, handheld block with a 15,000 mAh capacity. It recharges from the wall via foldable prongs and can power a laptop at up to 60W, though not a gaming laptop. The built-in MagSafe pad supports Qi 2 at up to 15W for iPhone and 5W for Apple Watch. International adapters for the EU, UK and Australia are included, supporting travel across about 200 countries. At roughly 370 grams, it's compact but not truly pocketable. Price is around $100, with multi-unit deals available. Practical as an emergency or commuting power source rather than a primary laptop charger, according to reviewer Tyler Hayes.

Stripe weighs buying PayPal as PayPal shares jump on report

February 24, 2026, 10:36 PM EST. Stripe is in early discussions to potentially buy PayPal, Bloomberg reports. PayPal shares jumped about 7% after the news. The talks are at an exploratory stage about buying all or part of PayPal's business. The report comes as PayPal has faced slowing growth and stronger competition in digital payments, with the stock down more than 19% in 2025 and nearly a third of its value wiped in the year prior. Stripe, which has become one of the most valuable private companies, was valued at $159 billion after a secondary stock sale and said its revenue run rate could reach $1 billion this year. Stripe co-founder John Collison noted IPO plans aren't imminent. Neither side commented.

ICANN launches Universal Acceptance Curriculum to enable a multilingual Internet

February 24, 2026, 10:30 PM EST. ICANN unveiled its Universal Acceptance (UA) Curriculum program, providing universities with 12 modules on UA, IDNs, and Email Address Internationalization (EAI) at no charge. The initiative aims to make the Internet truly multilingual by ensuring valid domain names and email addresses work across apps, devices, and systems. Signing institutions include the American University of Bahrain (AUBH), Universidad Modelo, and Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology (SRIT); the program also partners with the Association of African Universities to expand across Africa. ICANN will train faculty and integrate UA topics into existing or new courses. The effort aligns with ICANN's mission to enable a globally interoperable Internet and broaden access to non-Latin scripts such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Tamil, and Thai.

Spanish startup Multiverse releases free compressed HyperNova 60B model via CompactifAI

February 24, 2026, 10:26 PM EST. Spanish startup Multiverse Computing released a free, compressed version of its HyperNova 60B model, using a compression tech called CompactifAI inspired by quantum computing. The 32GB model, derived from OpenAI's gpt-oss-120B, halves size while trimming memory use and latency. The update, HyperNova 60B 2602, improves tool calling (models invoking external tools) and agentic coding (autonomous coding actions). The company plans to open-source more compressed models in 2026 and has posted the model on Hugging Face. Multiverse compares itself to European peers, notably Mistral Large 3; it has offices in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, with customers including Iberdrola, Bosch, and the Bank of Canada. Rumors circulate of a new funding round around €500 million at a valuation above €1.5 billion, while ARR figures are disputed. The company cites sovereign AI ambitions and collaboration with Aragón and SETT.

Apple's M6 MacBook Pro to add Dynamic Island, touchscreen support

February 24, 2026, 10:24 PM EST. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple's next MacBook Pro, the M6, will include a touchscreen and a Dynamic Island-style UI built around a hole-punch camera cutout. The UI adapts for touch or pointer input, showing finger-friendly menus around touched controls and expanding top-bar options for easier tapping. macOS will bring touch-aware refinements, including a dynamic interface that shifts between touch and click modes, plus support for fast scrolling, zooming in/out of images and PDFs, and a touch-optimized emoji picker that echoes iOS and iPadOS features. Apple stresses the machine is not touch-first-the keyboard and trackpad remain primary. The M6 is expected later this year, with M5 Pro/Max models debuting next week; release could be October or November.

BYD's 1MW flash chargers press Tesla as China rollout accelerates

February 24, 2026, 10:20 PM EST. BYD is rolling out megawatt flash chargers in China, delivering up to 1360 kW at 1000V/1000A, enabling about 400 km in ~5 minutes. The system uses liquid cooling across cables and the terminal, plus dual cables on a pulley to reduce handling. A smart grid approach stores energy during off-peak hours and releases it to keep output near 1MW, cutting expensive demand charges. Tesla's V3 tops out around 250kW; the forthcoming V4 at up to 350kW still trails BYD's peak. Real-world curves will taper, but peak power matters. Cost is a hurdle; BYD delayed scaling until costs dropped. With visible deployment in China, the company signals economics now align. The key test: rollout speed. If BYD can match build rate to charger specs, Tesla may need a response sooner than expected.

Apple's 2026 OLED MacBook Pro to include Dynamic Island, touchscreen and redesigned macOS controls

February 24, 2026, 10:18 PM EST. Bloomberg reports Apple's next MacBook Pro will adopt an OLED touchscreen, featuring the iPhone-style Dynamic Island and a hole-punch camera. The Dynamic Island will replace the notch and remain interactive, expanding contextually by app. macOS is being redesigned to be more touch-friendly, with on-screen elements tappable and controls adapting to input method; menu-bar items could show larger touch-optimized controls, and iPad gestures like pinch zoom may appear system-wide. The notebook would be the first Mac to support touchscreen gestures on the display, though Apple won't market it as touch-first. A slimmed-down chassis is possible, but the design will resemble current models, with OLED options for 14" and 16". Apple reportedly plans M6 Pro/Max chips on a 2-nanometer process, targeting late 2026 for launch, with two refreshes in 2026.

Apple expands age-verification tools worldwide to comply with child-safety laws

February 24, 2026, 10:16 PM EST. Apple said it is expanding its age assurance tools to meet a growing set of child-safety laws in the United States and abroad. The company rolled out an updated Declared Age Range API for beta testing, enabling apps to verify a user's age range without exposing birth dates. In Brazil, Australia and Singapore, the App Store will block downloads of apps rated 18+ for users who are not confirmed as adults, with automatic age checks; developers may still face other compliance requirements. Games with loot boxes may see 18+ ratings updated in Brazil. In Utah and Louisiana, new users will have their age category shared with developers via the API. Apple notes new signals will indicate whether age-related rules apply and whether a parent's consent is needed for updates.

DJI appeals FCC Covered List ruling to the Ninth Circuit

February 24, 2026, 10:06 PM EST. DJI has filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit challenging the FCC's December 22, 2025 decision to block new equipment authorizations for its drones. The company argues the regulator placed DJI on its Covered List without substantive evidence that its products pose a national-security threat, a requirement under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. DJI says the listing suffers serious procedural flaws and substantive defects, violating the Constitution and federal law. The appeal follows DJI's ongoing litigation on other designations, including a Pentagon label, and comes as the company controls a large share of the U.S. drone market and many law-enforcement programs rely on its equipment. The FCC ban also swept in all foreign-made drones and components, catching the industry off guard.

Unlock Pixel 10 Pro's hidden potential with five tips

February 24, 2026, 10:02 PM EST. The Pixel 10 Pro shines in software. Google's seven-year upgrade horizon and regular Pixel Drops anchor its value. This piece highlights five features that unlock the phone's potential, focusing on practical, user-controlled tools. Chief among them is Magic Cue, which on-device processes data from Gmail, Google Calendar, Messages and more to anticipate actions and surface suggestions. It runs on Gemini Nano models and the Tensor G5 chip, with sources toggleable in Settings. Another standout is Camera Coach, an on-device AI guide that analyzes scenes and offers composition and lighting tips in the Pixel Camera app. Together, these tools improve efficiency without compromising privacy.

Uber engineers build internal AI 'Dara AI' to prep for meetings, says CEO

February 24, 2026, 9:58 PM EST. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says engineers treat Uber as a giant code base and have even built an internal AI version of the boss, dubbed Dara AI, to prep presentations before meetings with leadership. In an episode of The Diary of a CEO, he said teams present to Dara AI to hone slides ahead of showing them to him. Business Insider reported the detail. He noted about 90% of Uber's software engineers use AI in their work, with roughly 30% as power users who are reshaping the company's architecture. He called engineers the builders and architects of the system, adding that the productivity impact is unprecedented. The remarks come as Uber demonstrates how AI is changing how engineers work.

Persona Selection Model explains why AI assistants act human

February 24, 2026, 9:56 PM EST. AI assistants such as Claude often read as human, showing joy at solving tasks or distress when pressed on ethics. Researchers note this isn't just trained into the system; it may be a default outcome of how modern AI learn. The team proposes the persona selection model, built on the idea that AI systems are trained by vast data to predict what comes next during pretraining-an advanced autocomplete. To generate useful dialogue, developers format prompts as User/Assistant exchanges, prompting the AI to simulate an Assistant persona with goals, beliefs, and traits. Importantly, personas are not the AI itself but character sketches the model can express in conversations. This framework may help explain human-like behavior in AI.

Quantum computing market to hit USD 19.44 billion by 2035, driven by hardware gains and cloud access

February 24, 2026, 9:52 PM EST. The global quantum computing market is projected to grow from USD 1.44 billion in 2025 to about USD 19.44 billion by 2035, a CAGR of 29% from 2026 to 2035, according to Precedence Research. North America accounted for about 61% of the market in 2025. The machine-learning segment is expected to capture the largest revenue share, while the BFSI and drug development sectors also feature prominently in the forecast. Growth is being driven by advances in hardware, rising cloud-based access, and applications in finance, pharmaceuticals and logistics. Government and corporate funding, plus growing startups, are accelerating the expansion of quantum technologies.

Tesla's robotaxi problems weigh on stock as crashes rise and regulatory fights mount

February 24, 2026, 9:50 PM EST. Investors have piled into Tesla's robotaxi bet, but safety incidents and regulatory friction cloud the outlook. The company says it will start production of its Cybercab in June while reporting five more crashes in Austin, lifting the total to 14 since last June. That equates to about one crash every 57,000 miles, versus roughly 229,000 to 500,000 miles for human drivers in the data Tesla cites, and all crashes involved a safety monitor in the front seat. In California, Tesla battles licensing and marketing rules, clashing with Waymo and regulators over whether the fleet qualifies as autonomous. The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E), a measure of stock price relative to expected earnings, of about 199x for 2026, reflecting bets on robotaxi profitability even as autonomous safety remains unproven.

Dark Sky Creators Launch Acme Weather as iOS-Exclusive Forecast App

February 24, 2026, 9:48 PM EST. Apple bought Dark Sky years ago and folded its tech into Apple Weather before shutting the standalone app down. Now the original Dark Sky team returns with Acme Weather, a new iOS-exclusive forecast app that aims to fix accuracy gaps in current offerings. Acme Weather centers on a homegrown forecast shown alongside alternate forecast lines; the tighter the lines, the more confident the day's outlook. The app adds community weather reporting on a map, notifications, and built-in severe-weather alerts, plus maps for radar, lightning, precipitation totals, wind, temperature and humidity. It's a paid app following a two-week free trial, priced at $25 per year, with an Android version planned "soon." Availability is currently iOS-exclusive. The project signals renewed focus on forecast accuracy and user-contributed data.

Anthropic eases software fears with enterprise AI partnerships

February 24, 2026, 9:46 PM EST. Anthropic couches its Enterprise push as relief for jittery software investors. The firm outlined Claude-powered plugins that work with Gmail and Excel, and said it will partner with other enterprise players to feed these capabilities. Traders had dumped software names last week on fears AI would dethrone incumbents; this week the mood shifted as the company signaled practical deployments rather than disruption. Analysts noted that AI is more of a software enabler than a wholesale replacement, and that incumbents will integrate AI into existing products. Industry chiefs weighed in, with NVIDIA's Jensen Huang cited arguing the idea that AI replaces software is logical, while Arm's CEO called the sell-off micro hysteria. The conversation underscored a growing belief that AI will augment, not instantly erase, legacy software businesses.

AI's coming disruption: pace, regulation and jobs

February 24, 2026, 9:44 PM EST. A roundup of opinions on AI's impact on work. Some warn that current AI advances could displace large numbers of white-collar jobs within years, while others say the pace will be slower and regulated. The piece cites Matt Shumer's claim that tools from Claude or ChatGPT can complete complex tasks like app development faster than humans, and Noah Smith's assertion that humans may no longer be the most intelligent beings. Critics label such warnings alarmist, but debate centers on how quickly automation reshapes roles in areas such as health care, education, and creative work. Surveys note about 80% of U.S. businesses do not use AI yet; adoption will be gradual, not instant. Policy choices-rules on how industries deploy AI-will shape the outcome more than the tech itself.

Colorado moves to force automakers to handle EV battery recycling

February 24, 2026, 9:40 PM EST. Colorado, a growing hub for EV registrations, is moving to fix a looming issue: what happens to used EV batteries. A new bill would require automakers to manage the recycling of old batteries themselves or hire an outside contractor to do it. The proposal follows a broader Producer Responsibility Program that makes manufacturers fund recycling for aluminum cans and paper packaging, not residents. The debate highlights the wider costs of EVs-from batteries that can't simply be landfilled due to flammability to the higher upfront material costs and the potential for a larger carbon footprint during battery production. Proponents say the plan could shift end-of-life responsibility onto manufacturers, spurring recycling infrastructure and safer disposal.

IonQ and D-Wave: Quantum-Computing Stocks Seen as Millionaire-Maker Bets

February 24, 2026, 9:36 PM EST. The quantum computing space offers potential millionaire-maker bets. The technology could augment classical systems in hybrid setups, tackling problems beyond today's supercomputers. Yet the industry isn't mature for commercial use, though some foresee broader deployment by 2030 and wide adoption by 2035. That timing keeps risk high, but upside if you pick the right names. McKinsey pegs the market at up to $72 billion annually by 2035, with a low around $28 billion. If IonQ (IONQ) or D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) capture meaningful share, returns could be compelling. Different paths exist: many teams pursue superconducting qubits, but IonQ uses a trapped-ion approach and D-Wave relies on quantum annealing. IonQ has posted a 2-qubit gate fidelity of about 99.99% as of October 2025.

Bitcoin deemed safe from quantum attacks, says Saylor

February 24, 2026, 9:34 PM EST. Michael Saylor, CEO of Strategy, told Natalie Brunell's Coin Stories that quantum-computing risks to Bitcoin are a fear fad. He argued any lasting threat is more than a decade away and cited the BIP-360 upgrade, which would render the network quantum-resistant with lattice-based security. Other voices, including Ripple's David Schwartz and CryptoQuant founder Ki Young Ju, have warned of vulnerabilities, with Schwartz saying Bitcoin may need a fork to be quantum-proof. Strategy is the world's largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, with 717,722 BTC valued at about $54.56 billion as of Feb. 23, 2026, using a perpetual preferred stock structure to limit dilution. Bitcoin traded around $64,208, down 0.34% in 24 hours; Saylor remains bullish and plans further purchases in the Orange Century era.

Hegseth presses Anthropic CEO on military use of AI

February 24, 2026, 9:32 PM EST. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei a Friday deadline to open the company's AI technology for unrestricted military use or risk losing a government contract, according to people familiar with the meeting. Anthropic develops Claude and has not yet provided technology to a new U.S. military internal network. Amodei has warned against unchecked government use of AI, including autonomous weapons and AI-assisted mass surveillance. Officials warned they could designate Anthropic a supply chain risk or invoke the Defense Production Act to pressure military access even without the company's approval. The episode highlights a wider debate over AI in national security. Hegseth has also framed the issue as part of a broader push to challenge what he calls a woke culture in the armed forces.

Evangelion VR game leans on hand-tracking, trading fidelity for ease of use

February 24, 2026, 9:28 PM EST. Pixelity's Evangelion: Δ Cross Reflections will be controller-free interaction powered by hand-tracking, as announced at the Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th Anniversary event in Tokyo. Demo lines showed players punching, shooting and selecting buffs via hand and finger movements, with quick-time events triggered by gestures. The title is planned as a three-part series beginning in 2026, with new characters voiced by four actors and likely targeting the Quest platform. Global hands-on events are slated through the year ahead of release. Critics note the approach favors casual gameplay and a VR narrative framing over complex interaction, hinting at an on-rails or guided experience rather than free-form action.

Huawei posts 2025 revenue of 880 billion yuan as 5G smartphones drive rebound

February 24, 2026, 9:16 PM EST. Huawei says 2025 revenue reached 880 billion yuan ($127 billion), up from 860 billion yuan in 2024. CFO Howard Liang Hu announced the figure in a keynote at the 2026 Guangdong High-Quality Development event, tying the gain to the launch of new 5G smartphones and renewed momentum after years of US sanctions. The company previously peaked near 891 billion yuan in 2020, and officials say the 2025 result signals a sustained rebound. Huawei has reclaimed the top spot in China's smartphone market with about a 16.4% share, aided by its reintroduced Kirin 5G chips and the expansion of HarmonyOS beyond China, including wearables and tablets. The firm also highlighted its Ascend AI chips, with dozens of LLMs trained and hundreds of open-source models compatible, inviting more developers to the HarmonyOS ecosystem.

SambaNova raises $350 million in Vista-led round, signs Intel partnership

February 24, 2026, 9:12 PM EST. SambaNova Systems raised $350 million in a Vista Equity Partners-led round, with Cambium Capital and Intel Capital participating. The funds will support the SN50 AI chip, scale the SambaCloud platform, and deepen enterprise software integrations. SoftBank Corp will be the first customer to deploy the SN50 in its AI data centres in Japan. SambaNova also signed a multi-year agreement with Intel to deliver cost-efficient AI inference solutions for AI-native companies, complementing Intel's data-centre GPU commitments. The deal marks Vista's rare move beyond software into hardware. Talks of an Intel acquisition previously stalled; Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan also serves as SambaNova's executive chairman.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 preview: S26 series, AI features and more

February 24, 2026, 9:06 PM EST. Samsung has set Feb. 25, 2026 for Galaxy Unpacked in San Francisco, where it is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 family. The lineup-S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra-is likely similar in design to the S25 but with internal upgrades. Early leaks point to a 6.3-inch FHD+ display and stronger on-device performance centered on AI features. The hardware mix is expected to include Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 across the range, with Exynos 2600 in select regions. Samsung positions the event as a new phase in an era of personal, adaptive intelligence. The keynote will be livestreamed on Samsung.com and YouTube, with Engadget providing hands-on coverage after the announcements.

Spanish engineer exposes vulnerability in 7,000 smart vacuums after remote access

February 24, 2026, 9:00 PM EST. Spanish software engineer Sammy Azdoufal remotely controlled about 7,000 DJI Romo vacuums, exposing a broad vulnerability in smart devices. While reverse-engineering his vacuum to map it to a PlayStation 5 controller, he accessed live camera feeds, intercepted more than 100,000 messages, and could locate devices by their IP addresses. He says he wasn't trying to hack others and alerted The Verge, which reported that DJI has since fixed the flaw. Security experts caution that such lapses reflect an industry-wide risk as the smart-home market nears $139 billion by 2032, per MarketsandMarkets. Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey says security is often an afterthought and calls for mandatory passwords at first use, and for developers to embed security awareness throughout software design across devices.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach PC specs revealed ahead of March 19 launch

February 24, 2026, 8:56 PM EST. Kojima Productions has published the PC requirements for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, with presets from Low to Very High. The target performance ranges from 1080p 30 FPS on minimum to 4K 60 FPS on very high. System baselines include GPUs from GTX 1660 / RX 5500 XT to RTX 4080 / RX 9070 XT, CPUs from i3-10100 to i7-11700, all with 16GB RAM and a 150GB SSD. The PC release arrives March 19, about a year after the PS5 debut. The company previously teased a Disney Plus anime adaptation set for 2027. The update confirms a late-winter PC launch aligned with the console-to-PC port strategy.

Apple Vision Pro designers discuss visionOS 26 environment design

February 24, 2026, 8:54 PM EST. Apple Vision Pro's latest visionOS 26 adds a new planetary environment, expanding immersive spaces beyond Earth. In an interview with Cool Hunting, Yuri Imoto of visionOS Product Marketing and Matt Dessero, a Human Interface Designer, describe moving from concept to reality. They frame environments around mood-calm, focus, or wonder-and note nature as the base. For Amalthea, one of Jupiter's moons, the team bypassed LiDAR scans and photography, turning to NASA's JPL to hypothesize a rocky, ice-rich surface. Dessero says composition and scale are trialed inside the headset, guiding an artist to place rocks and foreground elements precisely. The piece highlights how design, VFX, and UI converge to create believable, navigable space within visionOS.

Apple to shift Mac Mini production to the U.S. as part of $600B domestic manufacturing push

February 24, 2026, 8:50 PM EST. Apple said it will move production of some Mac Mini computers to the U.S. later this year as part of its stated $600 billion plan to boost domestic manufacturing. The company is expanding a Houston production facility and will open an all-new Apple Advanced Manufacturing Center to train students and supplier staff in advanced techniques. Tim Cook publicly reiterated the move on X, saying the company will produce more AI servers in Houston and purchase parts from U.S. suppliers. The shift comes as Apple faces tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, which the company has borne for years. Apple also said it ships AI servers from Houston ahead of schedule, and that the 20,000-square-foot center will begin operations later this year.

Video: Opinion – Do AI Agents Actually Make You More Productive?

February 24, 2026, 8:40 PM EST. In this week's Ezra Klein Show, AI researchers discuss whether AI agents genuinely boost work output without narrowing human creativity. Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark argues that AI tools can augment thinking when designed to cooperate with human judgment, not override it. The episode weighs practical uses-planning, research, and drafting-against risks of overreliance and cognitive offloading. Clark explains key concepts for newcomers, including what an AI agent is and how it differs from simple automation. The conversation frames productivity as a partnership: humans set goals, agents accelerate tasks, and decision quality still rests with people. The video was released February 24, 2026.

Lockheed tests AI-driven targeting on F-35 in Project Overwatch

February 24, 2026, 8:36 PM EST. Lockheed Martin demonstrated AI-assisted targeting on the F-35 during Project Overwatch at Nellis Air Force Base, integrating a machine-learning model into the aircraft's information control system. The model analyzes the surroundings to present pilots with potential targets, marking the first time a tactical AI suggested a combat target to a fighter pilot autonomously. Lockheed says updates can be reprogrammed on the ground for the next sortie, a step toward maintaining a tactical edge in a rapidly evolving threat environment. The test aligns with an April 2025 Air Force doctrine that frames AI as a force multiplier for ISR, while cautioning that AI lacks context and humans must retain discretion. A Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology report warns of data bias and manipulation risks.

Pixel Colors Through the Years: A 10-Year Palette

February 24, 2026, 8:32 PM EST. Google marks a decade of Pixel phones with a color collage inspired by its tweet, 'Pixel Colors Through the Years.' The piece highlights standout hues: the original Pixel's Really Blue, Pixel 2 XL's Black and White with an orange accent, Pixel 4 in Coral, and the Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone. The author notes the non-Pro Pixel 8, 9, and 10 colors exist but weren't in hand. He also recalls regretting purchases in Obsidian and Porcelain for the Pixel 10 Pro family. The narrative blends nostalgia with a call for readers to pick their favorite, acknowledging Google's long-running palette as part of the brand's history.

Vinext: AI-built Next.js replacement on Vite targets faster builds and edge deployments

February 24, 2026, 8:28 PM EST. Last week, an engineer and an AI model rebuilt the most popular front-end framework from scratch, producing vinext, a drop-in replacement for Next.js built on Vite. vinext deploys to Cloudflare Workers with a single command, preserving existing project structure – app/, pages/, and next.config.js. The team argues the approach avoids Next.js deployment frictions in serverless environments by re-implementing the API surface rather than wrapping Next.js output. Early benchmarks show production builds up to 4x faster and client bundles up to 57% smaller; some customers are already running it in production. The effort reportedly cost about $1,100 in tokens. The project highlights a trend toward portable, edge-friendly React toolchains built on standard runtimes.

Meta's smartwatch saga persists with Project Malibu 2 eyed for 2026 release

February 24, 2026, 8:22 PM EST. Meta's smartwatch saga continues under codename Project Malibu 2, slated for a 2026 release, according to The Information. The device follows Project Milan, a camera-equipped watch first reported in 2021, shelved in 2022 and revived in 2025 as a companion to Meta's Celeste smart glasses. Malibu 2 pivots from standalone cameras toward health tracking and AI, built on an Android-based OS to compete with the Apple Watch. Meta positions the watch as the primary interface for Meta AI, with potential neural band (EMG) gesture control. It's described as a peripheral offering processing power, battery life, and biometric data for the ecosystem. Skepticism remains about a 2026 debut, though Meta now has renewed momentum after the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

Google Messages adds cross-device real-time location sharing

February 24, 2026, 8:12 PM EST. Google Messages is preparing a real-time location feature that lets users share live whereabouts inside chats for a chosen duration. Spotted in a beta build, the option appears in the attachment sheet as Real-time Location and offers presets of 1 hour, Today only, or a custom duration. A persistent banner confirms when sharing is active. Importantly, the system works across devices and configurations: the recipient receives a live-location link, which opens in the Find Hub app if installed or in a web browser otherwise. The sender can stop sharing by tapping the banner. The feature moves Google Messages closer to rivals on location sharing and does not require both users to run the same app version.

Android Auto voice commands fail for some users, prompting troubleshooting

February 24, 2026, 8:04 PM EST. Android Auto users report intermittent failures in voice command recognition, with the issue spreading across multiple regions. Posts on Reddit and coverage from 9to5Google describe the feature occasionally failing to respond, even as the car is in motion. There is no official explanation yet, and no universal fix. Some users say unplugging and re-plugging the phone or clearing the app cache helps, but others report no improvement. Without details on phone models or Android versions, Google's exact cause remains unclear. Google is expected to address the problem in an update; some enthusiasts have considered trying the beta version. The overall experience remains solid for most users, with many praising the hands-free convenience of Android Auto.

Android Auto voice commands intermittently fail, users report global issue

February 24, 2026, 8:02 PM EST. Users are reporting that Android Auto sometimes ignores voice commands while driving. Posts on Reddit and coverage from 9to5Google describe intermittent failures that come and go and appear to be global, not tied to a single phone or car model. There is no agreed root cause or official fix. Some motorists report that unplugging and reattaching the phone or clearing the app cache helps; others say these steps do not work. Since Google has not acknowledged a fix, a software update remains the likely path, with some inviting users to try the beta program as a workaround. Despite the glitch, the service generally remains usable for most apps and services in daily commutes.

First look: Google Messages adds real-time location sharing across devices

February 24, 2026, 7:58 PM EST. Google Messages is set to add a Real-time Location feature that lets users share live whereabouts inside chats. The option appears in the attachment sheet and supports duration choices such as 1 hour, Today only, or a Custom duration. Permissions may be required, then the sender's location is broadcast via a persistent banner at the top of the thread. The system works even if the recipient hasn't enabled the feature: they receive a link to the live location, which opens in Find Hub if installed or in a browser otherwise. This cross-device functionality means both sides don't need matching app versions. Stopping sharing is as simple as tapping Stop on the banner.

Google Messages expands circular read receipts design to wider beta testers

February 24, 2026, 7:46 PM EST. Google Messages is broadening the circular read receipts redesign. The change moves read receipts from under the message to a bottom-right badge, applying to standalone media too. The old double-bubble status is replaced by a single circle with four states: ellipsis (sending), single check with ring (sent), double check with ring (delivered), and double check solid circle (read). To view send time and the RCS encryption lock, users swipe left; tapping still triggers a bounce. Swipe right replies. The redesign also appears in the main conversation list. Google has cycled the feature through testers for months; as of version 20260220_01_RC00 the update is widely rolling out to beta users.

Howard County schools embrace AI in classrooms, issuing Gemini AI accounts to high school students

February 24, 2026, 7:42 PM EST. Howard County Public Schools are integrating AI in classrooms rather than banning it, issuing Gemini AI accounts to high school students with guardrails that block academic cheating. The program guides students on assignment structure rather than writing for them. Administrators say safety features include crisis hotlines for mental-health queries. The district extends accounts to all high school students with teacher permission for assignments, while instruction begins in second grade with digital citizenship lessons moving toward deep learning versus machine learning. Teachers stress AI as a tool, not a replacement for learning; students like junior Sheku Sheriff welcome the evolution of AI and see broad potential for every learner.

Maryland district embraces AI in classrooms with Gemini accounts and guardrails

February 24, 2026, 7:40 PM EST. Howard County Public Schools in Maryland is embracing AI rather than banning it. High school students now have Gemini AI accounts with guardrails that steer learning instead of doing the work, guiding paper structure rather than writing it. The system includes safeguards such as a crisis hotline for self-harm or mental health queries. Teachers still need permission to use AI on assignments, and the district begins the curriculum in the elementary years with digital citizenship before expanding to middle school. Educators explain machine learning and deep learning differences, framing AI as a tool, not a replacement for learning. Students like junior Sheku Sheriff welcome evolving technology and broader access to AI.

Age verification expands online access as platforms test IDs and facial scans

February 24, 2026, 7:38 PM EST. Age verification is spreading across the internet, with platforms from YouTube to Roblox requiring ID or facial scans for full access. In the US, lawmakers push bills like the App Store Accountability Act and the Parents Over Platforms Act to force app stores to verify ages. Discord has delayed a global rollout to the second half of 2026 after backlash, and is distancing itself from Persona, the verification vendor whose data breach leaked some scanned IDs. Before any broad rollout, Discord will offer alternatives such as credit-card checks, documentation of verification vendors, optional spoiler channels, and a technical explainer on age-estimation methods. Meanwhile, ChatGPT and Google are applying AI to identify and lock down underage accounts until identity proves adulthood, amid concerns about privacy and censorship.

Age verification spreads online as platforms require IDs and lawmakers push safety rules

February 24, 2026, 7:36 PM EST. Age verification is moving from proposal to practice across social platforms, requiring an ID or facial scan for full access. Platforms from YouTube to Roblox are expanding age gates as lawmakers push stronger child safety measures. In the United States, bills such as the App Store Accountability Act and the Parents Over Platforms Act would force app stores to verify users' ages. Discord has delayed a global rollout to the second half of 2026, citing backlash, while promising additional verification options and a vendor-usage ledger; it also faces scrutiny after a breach exposed some scanned IDs. Elsewhere, AI tools from ChatGPT and Google are used to identify and flag underage accounts until identity confirmation. The debate centers on privacy, security, and potential censorship.

Artemis 2 rollback to VAB set for Feb. 25 to fix helium flow issue

February 24, 2026, 7:34 PM EST. NASA has set a rollback for Artemis 2, moving the SLS rocket and Orion capsule from Launch Pad 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center. The target is 9 a.m. ET on Feb. 25, with the move taking up to 12 hours aboard the Crawler Transporter-2. The aim is to troubleshoot an issue with helium flow in the upper stage. In the VAB, teams will install access platforms, replace batteries in the flight termination system, retest it, and swap additional batteries in the upper stage. The delay pushes the launch window to at least April 1, delaying the March start and likely affecting the April plan. Weather and winds previously influenced the decision to roll to Feb. 25.

Huawei signals mid-range push for 2026; leak cites 1.2:1 ratio

February 24, 2026, 7:30 PM EST. A Weibo tipster claims Huawei plans a mid-range push for 2026, shifting away from a sole focus on flagship models. The leak references a 1.2:1 ratio but leaves its meaning unclear. Huawei has previously highlighted progress in imaging and chipsets, with last year's lineup including the Enjoy model with satellite features and the Pura X foldable with AI eye-tracking and HarmonyOS NEXT. The Pura 80 Ultra introduced a switchable dual zoom camera, while the Mate 80 Pro Max and its standard variant drew attention. This year, the company may bolster the Nova and Enjoy lines and expand HarmonyOS features on budget devices. Verification pending; more revelations expected.

Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen head to Nintendo Switch for February release

February 24, 2026, 7:18 PM EST. Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are coming to Nintendo Switch as digital-only releases on Nintendo eShop on February 28. The remakes, originally released for Game Boy Advance in 2004, let players revisit the Kanto region and catch the original 151 Pokémon. Switch players gain updates from the GBA era-abilities, natures, weather, held items and gender selection-plus local co-op without a Game Link Cable. Tracks from FireRed and LeafGreen have been added to Nintendo Music, and Nintendo Switch Online members can stream or download the soundtracks via the companion app, with a 7-day free trial. The launches celebrate a 30-year milestone for Pokémon and invite both long-time fans and newcomers to the classics.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen return on Nintendo Switch Feb 28

February 24, 2026, 7:16 PM EST. Nintendo confirms that Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are returning to Nintendo Switch as digital-only releases on February 28, playable on the Switch and Switch 2. The titles, originally remakes of 1996's Red and Green, let players explore Kanto with all 151 original Pokémon, classic soundtrack and turn-based battles. They include Game Boy Advance-era updates such as abilities, natures, weather, held items and a gender option for the player character. For the first time, Switch players can link up via local co-op without a Game Link Cable. Tracks from FireRed and LeafGreen join Nintendo Music, and Nintendo Switch Online members can stream or download the music with a 7-day free trial. The releases celebrate 30 years of Pokémon.

Blizzard previews Overwatch Rush, mobile top-down spin-off of hero shooter

February 24, 2026, 7:02 PM EST. During a Blizzard visit, a small demo showcased Overwatch Rush, Blizzard's first mobile spin-off set in the Overwatch universe. Developed by Blizzard Barcelona, Rush is a top-down multiplayer twin-stick shooter designed for smartphones and tablets. It preserves many Overwatch elements, including a roster of familiar heroes and signature abilities, but translates them to touch controls and a shorter match format. Mercy now channels a battle medic persona, swapping her primary fire for a blaster, with a healing-damage aura ultimate and a directional boost to reposition. Players gain mastery levels that unlock mods-minor bonuses like reduced cooldowns or health boosts-and talents that can dramatically alter play, such as Reinhardt's Fire Strike spawning a vortex. No mid-match hero swaps; matches last under five minutes, with loadouts adjustable. More heroes will join over time; launch timing not disclosed.

Vivo V70 Elite vs V60: Which mid-range smartphone offers better value?

February 24, 2026, 7:00 PM EST. Vivo's V70 Elite enters the mid-range space with a different punch than the V60. The V70 Elite uses a near-flagship Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and Android 16, paired with an aerospace-grade aluminum frame and a glass-fiber back, plus IP69 water resistance. It features a 6.59-inch AMOLED display and a 6,500 mAh battery. By contrast, the V60 sticks to a plastic frame, a larger 6.77-inch AMOLED screen, and Android 15 with Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. Cameras run 50 MP on the back and front, with ZEISS branding on the V70. Verdict: the V70 Elite is more premium and future-proof; the V60 is lighter and more economical.

Vivo V70 Elite vs Vivo V60: Which mid-range smartphone offers better value

February 24, 2026, 6:56 PM EST. Vivo's mid-range pair, the V70 Elite and V60, share AMOLED displays and 6,500 mAh batteries, but they differ in chipset, OS and build. The V70 Elite uses a near-flagship Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, runs Android 16, and promises four OS upgrades. The V60 ships with Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 and Android 15. The V70 Elite has an aluminum frame and glass-fiber back with IP69 water resistance, while the V60 uses a plastic frame with IP68/IP69 ratings and Diamond Shield Glass. Screen sizes: 6.59 inches for the V70 Elite vs 6.77 inches for the V60, both AMOLED at up to 120 Hz. Cameras: 50 MP triple on both, with Zeiss branding on the V70. Overall, the V70 Elite edges on durability and software life; the V60 may appeal for a larger display and potentially lower price.

AI fears roil stocks after hype fades; big names slide as investors question profits

February 24, 2026, 6:54 PM EST. Stocks swung after years of AI hype as investors question whether AI spending will translate into profits. Major names such as Visa, Mastercard and IBM tumbled Monday, and the broader market stayed volatile. A modest Tuesday rebound followed, aided by software firms and new AI integrations announced by Anthropic. The S&P 500 remained roughly flat year-to-date. Since November, AI-powered coding tools such as Claude Code and Codex have accelerated software development. The rout followed a viral Citrini Research post predicting a market crash and widespread layoffs by 2028, fueling concerns about lower consumer spending. IBM fell after Anthropic said Claude Code can update a legacy IBM language, highlighting disruption to maintenance work. Five of 11 sectors closed lower, led by financials and consumer discretionary; Mona Mahajan of Edward Jones noted flows away from AI-sensitive areas.

AI fears roil stocks after hype as IBM, Visa and Mastercard slide

February 24, 2026, 6:52 PM EST. Stocks cooled after weeks of AI-driven gains as investors questioned whether AI spending will translate into profits. Monday's declines in Visa, Mastercard and IBM widened a broader sell-off in AI-linked names. A modest Tuesday rebound followed software-sector gains tied to new AI integrations from Anthropic. The S&P 500 sits roughly flat for the year. Since November, AI coding tools like Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex have boosted software-development speed. The latest rout followed a viral Citrini Research Substack post predicting a market crash and wide unemployment from AI. IBM's worst one-day drop since 2000 came as Claude Code was touted to update a legacy IBM language, potentially affecting maintenance work. Accenture and Cognizant fell; five of 11 sectors closed lower. Mona Mahajan of Edward Jones said investors are pulling money from sectors vulnerable to AI disruption, including financials, real estate, transportation and logistics.

AI fears roil stocks as investors doubt profitability of AI spending

February 24, 2026, 6:50 PM EST. Stocks rose on hope for AI, but investors now question whether aggressive AI spending will translate into profits. On Monday, Visa, Mastercard and IBM fell as volatility in AI-linked names spread. A modest Tuesday bounce followed news of new Anthropic AI integrations. The S&P 500 is roughly flat for the year. Since November, AI tools such as Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex have accelerated software development. The latest sell-off was amplified by a Citrini Research Substack post warning of a looming market crash, reduced consumer spending and white-collar layoffs by 2028. IBM slid after Anthropic said Claude Code could update a legacy language, underscoring investor concerns about disruption to legacy businesses. Analysts say the AI wave is reshaping risk appetite.

Donut Lab says solid-state EV battery can reach 80% in five minutes; mass-market timeline unclear

February 24, 2026, 6:42 PM EST. Finnish startup Donut Lab says its solid-state battery, tested in near-ideal conditions, can reach an 80% charge in five minutes. The company will use the cells in a new electric motorcycle and eyes broader EV use ahead. Electrek described the test as impressive but flagged caveats: battery density, long-term cycle life, performance in extreme temperatures, and price. Industry observers note this tech is a long-standing goal for faster charging, with automakers like Toyota and Mercedes pursuing the path. Even if the 5-minute target proves viable, mass adoption will hinge on charger availability and cost. The broader EV transition remains uneven globally, shaped by affordability and policy incentives, as automakers recalibrate plans.

Donut Lab says solid-state EV battery reaches 80% in five minutes; testing cited with caveats

February 24, 2026, 6:40 PM EST. Donut Lab released independent testing results showing its solid-state battery for EVs can reach 80% charge in five minutes, according to Electrek, which described the conditions as nearly perfect. The tests used the battery in an electric motorcycle, but the company has bigger plans. Electrek flags caveats about energy density, cycle life (thousands of cycles), performance in extreme temperatures, and price-factors that must be resolved before mass market adoption. While fast charging has long been viewed as a holy grail, the leap to widespread availability will take years. Automakers including Toyota and Mercedes are pursuing similar tech; the economics and durability remain open questions as the EV transition continues.

Donut Lab's solid-state EV battery can reach 80% in five minutes, early tests show

February 24, 2026, 6:36 PM EST. Finnish start-up Donut Lab says its solid-state battery, designed for EVs, can charge to 80% in five minutes-roughly the time to refuel a gas tank, depending on tank size. Independent testing, reported by Electrek, occurred under near-perfect conditions and the outlets cited caveats. Key questions remain on energy density, long-term cycle life (tens of thousands of charges), performance in extreme temperatures, and cost. Donut Lab is demoing the tech in an electric motorcycle, but the road to mass market remains long. Industry peers, including Toyota and Mercedes, are pursuing similar solid-state chemistries. Ultra-fast charging is often cited as a holy grail, yet may be expensive and infrastructure-dependent, delaying broad adoption.

CATL says 5C battery can endure ultra-fast charging without harming battery life

February 24, 2026, 6:34 PM EST. CATL says its 5C battery can endure regular fast charging without harming long-term health. Improvements center on a dense and uniform cathode coating, a repair additive in the electrolyte, and temperature-responsive agents on the separator, plus an enhanced BMS that directs coolant to hot zones. In tests at 140°F (60°C), the pack retains 80% capacity after 1,400 cycles with a theoretical range of 372 miles per cycle, equating to about 522,000 miles in what CATL calls Dubai summer heat. At 68°F (20°C), 80% is sustained after 3,000 cycles, or roughly 1.12 million miles. CATL bills this as about six times the current industry average. Production timing and customers weren't disclosed. The 5C path would enable a full charge in roughly 12 minutes as megawatt charging grows.

Garmin vívoactive 6 smartwatch on sale for $246.95 at Amazon

February 24, 2026, 6:32 PM EST. Mashable reports the Garmin vívoactive 6 is on sale at Amazon for $246.95, an 18% cut from its list price (the manufacturer's suggested price) and the lowest price since launch. The deal, current as of Feb. 24, 2026, beats the device's Black Friday price. Deal pricing and availability can change after publication.

DJI wireless microphone kits hit Amazon flash sale: Mic Mini $79, Mic 3 $259

February 24, 2026, 6:24 PM EST. DJI's wireless microphone kits are on sale on Amazon in a flash sale. The Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX) is $79, down from $99 (20% off). The Mic 3 (2 TX + 1 RX) is $259, down from $329 (21% off). The Mic Mini offers two transmitters, magnetic clips, noise cancelling, and a charging case with up to 48 hours of combined battery life. The Mic 3 adds Adaptive Gain Control and dual-band transmission, with up to 28 hours of total use from the case. The sale covers older models and early discounts on newer releases.

Altman calls Musk's space data center plans 'ridiculous' for current AI computing needs

February 24, 2026, 6:22 PM EST. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dismissed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's plan to run AI data centers in orbit as impractical in the near term, saying orbital centers will not scale this decade. Altman told Indian Express the idea is not viable given today's launch costs and orbital maintenance challenges. Musk, who said SpaceX aims to push a million satellites with compute power in orbit, argues space-based AI compute would eventually be cheaper and more scalable due to environmental constraints on Earth. The reports tie SpaceX to a broader push by xAI and a proposed FCC filing to orbit thousands-potentially up to a million-satellites to serve as data centers. Still, Altman said the concept may become viable someday, but not at scale this decade. The debate centers on cost, reliability, and when orbit makes sense.

Altman calls Musk's space data center plans 'ridiculous' for current AI computing needs

February 24, 2026, 6:20 PM EST. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dismissed SpaceX and Elon Musk's plan to run data centers in orbit, saying in an Indian Express interview that space-based AI centers aren't viable at scale this decade. He noted high launch costs and maintenance hurdles, including repairing equipment in orbit. Musk, meanwhile, argues that space will eventually host AI compute at lower cost, and SpaceX aims to launch up to 1 million satellites to serve as orbital data centers with a stated target of 100 kilowatts of compute per ton and 100 gigawatts per year. Altman acknowledged a future role for orbital data centers, but not soon. Other players, including Google with a solar-powered concept called Project Suncatcher, are also exploring space-based centers.

Apple AI products face skepticism as rumors swirl about wearables, home devices

February 24, 2026, 6:18 PM EST. A Macworld column questions the pace and value of Apple's AI push. It surveys rumors of Apple moving into home devices with a Face ID-powered doorbell, and AI wearables such as AI glasses, an AI pendant, and AirPods. The piece frames these as potential privacy and reliability challenges for a company that prides itself on user control. It contrasts Apple's approach with rivals and notes skepticism about the feasibility of smarter Siri and AI features. The author cites The New York Times' take on AI hype and a YouGov poll showing public concerns about AI's impact. The tone remains skeptical about a rapid, transformative Apple AI rollout.

Apple's AI push faces skepticism as rumors swirl on wearables and home devices

February 24, 2026, 6:16 PM EST. Apple's AI push has drawn skepticism more than certainty. A Macworld column notes the current rumor mill around AI-enabled hardware risks veering into overhyped territory. It highlights rumored home devices-including a Face ID-based doorbell-and AI wearables such as smartglasses and an AI pendant, plus an upgraded AirPods and a smarter Siri. Apple's long-standing emphasis on privacy could offer a meaningful edge against rivals like Ring, the piece suggests. The broader tech press portrays AI as a hype cycle, with executives promising rapid changes even as surveys reveal public concern about AI risks, per outlets like The New York Times and YouGov. Analysts urge caution and clearer demonstrations of real value before committing to Apple's AI future.

Chase says it won't lose billions on Apple Card as it takes over from Goldman Sachs

February 24, 2026, 6:08 PM EST. Chase says it won't repeat Goldman Sachs' Apple Card losses as it confirms a January 2028 handoff. In a 2026 company update, CFO Jeremy Barnum acknowledged the portfolio's higher subprime share but argued Chase already handles a sizable subprime slice-about 15% of its book-and has the data, experience and capabilities to integrate Apple Card. The deal rests on the bank's claim that its infrastructure can manage the portfolio profitably. Industry figures cited by The Wall Street Journal show Apple Card's subprime rate around 34%, higher than Chase (15%) and Capital One (31%), with a 4% delinquency versus roughly 3.05% industry average and Goldman's 2.93% net charge-off, about twice Chase's. Details of the transition remain unclear; observers wonder if Chase will temper some Apple Card features to improve profitability.

Nothing teases Phone 4a with Glyph Bar ahead of March 5 launch

February 24, 2026, 6:06 PM EST. Nothing has official teases for its Phone 4a, offering its clearest look yet at a design largely aligned with the Phone 3a. The teaser confirms a horizontal camera array inside a pill-shaped housing and introduces a Glyph Bar to the right of the lenses. The nine LEDs in the bar are described as controllable and 40% brighter than earlier models, with a gradient from gray to white and a red square at the bottom in the teaser image. Nothing says the Phone 4a series will launch on March 5, and CEO Carl Pei has described an overall 'overhaul' focused on camera, display and performance rather than a dramatic redesign. The teaser underscores Nothing's typical emphasis on lighting as a notification mechanism while keeping its aesthetic intact.

Nothing Phone 4a teaser hints Glyph Bar; launch set for March 5

February 24, 2026, 6:04 PM EST. Nothing teased its Phone 4a on social media, offering the clearest look yet at the device. The design nods to the Phone 3a but adds a vertical Glyph Bar to the right of the camera array, with nine LEDs and a gradient from gray to white to a red square. Nothing says the LEDs are controllable mini LEDs and claims the bar is 40% brighter than prior Glyph lighting, likely oriented toward notifications. The phone appears in a white colorway; the core shape remains rounded with a pill-shaped camera housing and a horizontal array. CEO Carl Pei previously signaled an overhaul under the hood-camera, display and performance upgrades-while the exterior edges stay similar. The Phone 4a launches March 5.

Nothing teases Phone 4a with Glyph Bar, confirms March 5 launch

February 24, 2026, 6:02 PM EST. Nothing has published another teaser for its Phone 4a, offering the clearest look yet at its refined design. The phone remains close to the Phone 3a in general shape, with a horizontal camera array housed in a pill-shaped module. The key change is a vertical Glyph Bar to the right of the lenses, featuring nine mini LEDs and a gradient from gray to white to a red square at the bottom. Nothing says the LEDs are controllable and 40% brighter than previous models, with a focus on notifications. The company has not detailed the bar's exact functions. CEO Carl Pei previously hinted the 4a line would receive upgrades to camera, display and performance, though the base design appears to stay similar. The Phone 4a is set to launch on March 5, according to Nothing.

Meta and AMD strike 6-gigawatt GPU deal as AI build-out accelerates; AMD stock jumps

February 24, 2026, 5:56 PM EST. Meta and AMD unveiled a multiyear deal to buy more than 6 gigawatts of AI chips, issuing Meta 160 million AMD common shares that vest in milestones, starting when AMD ships its first 1 gigawatt. AMD shares rose as much as 10% in premarket trading before pulling back. AMD CFO Jean Hu said the arrangement should drive multi-year revenue growth and be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share, aligning both firms on execution. The first GPUs, MI450, will power Meta's Helios rack-scale systems with EPYC CPUs. Meta also plans large purchases of Venice and Verano CPUs. The deal follows Nvidia's separate agreement with Meta for Blackwell/Rubin GPUs and Grace CPUs. Meta is set to spend about $135 billion in capex in 2026 to fund data centers, chips and model training.

Los Alamos County selects four ISPs for Atomic Fiber open-access network

February 24, 2026, 5:54 PM EST. Los Alamos County announced four ISPs have signed contracts to provide service on the county-owned Atomic Fiber network once built. The partners are XMission, Anthem Broadband, Intellipop and LANet. The plan centers on an open access model that lets residents and businesses pick among participating providers. Construction is set to begin this spring, with initial service expected in Fall 2026 and full deployment by 2030. The county notes the network will be built and operated locally, with customer choices routed through the open network. More information is available on the county's Atomic Fiber page.

Los Alamos County selects four ISPs for Atomic Fiber broadband network

February 24, 2026, 5:52 PM EST. Los Alamos County has finalized contracts with four ISPs to operate on the county-owned Atomic Fiber network after construction. The providers are XMission, Anthem Broadband, Intellipop and LANet. Under an open access model (where multiple service providers compete over the same fiber), residents and businesses can choose among ISPs once service launches. Construction is expected to begin this spring, with initial locations online in Fall 2026 and full network deployment by 2030. County officials said more details are on the Atomic Fiber page.

County selects four ISPs for Atomic Fiber open-access broadband network

February 24, 2026, 5:50 PM EST. Los Alamos County said four Internet Service Providers have signed contracts to deliver service on its county-owned Atomic Fiber open-access network once construction is complete. The providers are XMission, Anthem Broadband, Intellipop, and LANet. The plan lets residents and businesses choose among ISPs on the open-access platform. Construction is slated to begin this spring, with service reaching initial locations in Fall 2026 and full network deployment by 2030. The county invites residents to visit the Atomic Fiber page for more information about participating locations and timelines.

Samsung starts February 2026 security patch rollout for Galaxy S25 lineup

February 24, 2026, 5:48 PM EST. Samsung has begun rolling out the February 2026 security patch for the Galaxy S25 family after a delayed start. The update reaches the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra and patches 37 vulnerabilities from the previous OS build. The rollout begins in South Korea, with a package sized at 541.69 MB and firmware version S93xNKSS8BZB2. Samsung is expected to expand the update to other regions soon. To install, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. The news comes via Tarun Vats.

Waymo launches driverless rides in Orlando as Tesla robo-taxis loom

February 24, 2026, 5:38 PM EST. Waymo began its long-anticipated driverless rides in Central Florida, launching in downtown Orlando with its first official rider, Mayor Buddy Dyer. The rollout is invitation-only and limited to a few dozen vehicles for now. The service covers a roughly 60-mile corridor west of downtown to the Turnpike and I-4, with no expressways initially. Waymo expects expansion later this year. In parallel, Tesla said its own robo-taxi service would reach Orlando and Tampa by June, though its Model Y AV is currently operating only in Austin. To join, residents download the Waymo app and await an invitational code via email as capacity scales. Florida law allows driverless cars with no human onboard.

YouTube Premium Lite adds background playback and offline downloads

February 24, 2026, 5:32 PM EST. Google's YouTube is adding background playback and offline downloads to its YouTube Premium Lite plan, the $7.99/month option. The upgrade, announced by YouTube in a blog post, closes a long-standing gap and will roll out to users in the coming weeks. It lets people keep audio or video playing while using another app and save videos for offline viewing. YouTube says the majority of videos will be ad-free on Premium Lite, with ads possible on some music content, Shorts, or when you search or browse. For a fully ad-free experience, the full YouTube Premium plan costs $13.99/month, with family and student variants available.

FLORIDA TODAY app delivers live rocket launch updates via push notifications

February 24, 2026, 5:30 PM EST. FLORIDA TODAY's mobile app now delivers real-time rocket launch updates alongside local news. The Space Team tracks Space Coast launches and provides LIVE updates. Users can filter news and receive push alerts even when the app is closed. Notifications cover milestones including the morning of launch day, T-90 minutes, fueling at roughly T-36 minutes, T-10 minutes, and liftoff. To enable alerts, download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store, open Settings via the gear icon, and toggle BREAKING NEWS on. The newsroom aims to keep readers up to date as launches unfold.

Starlink goes official in Venezuela as SpaceX partners with local stores to sell standard dish for $469

February 24, 2026, 5:28 PM EST. Starlink is now official in Venezuela, with SpaceX partnering with local stores to simplify access and end the hunt for dishes on the black market. After offering free access in January, the company is selling the standard Starlink dish for $469 with a 50% discount on the Residential service.

Starlink goes official in Venezuela with local retailers, $469 dish and 50% off Residential service

February 24, 2026, 5:26 PM EST. Starlink is now officially available in Venezuela. SpaceX partnered with local retailers to replace a hunt for satellite dishes with clearer access. After offering free access in January, the company is selling its standard dish for $469, with a 50% discount on the Residential service for eligible customers. The move follows regulatory and logistical hurdles, aiming to expand broadband in a country with uneven internet coverage. Officials say partnerships simplify buying and installation, while Starlink emphasizes ongoing support. The deal underscores SpaceX's push to broaden satellite internet in Latin America.

Shelby County DA partners with Foltrigg.ai to launch AI-powered evidence management agent

February 24, 2026, 5:24 PM EST. The Shelby County District Attorney's Office said it has launched an AI-powered evidence management agent in partnership with Memphis-based Foltrigg.ai. The tool aims to help prosecutors organize and manage information, accelerating case review while preserving human judgment. Officials cited growing caseloads and an expanding volume of evidence as drivers, noting that processing can take days or weeks without such tools. Foltrigg.ai, built specifically for prosecutors, emphasizes security and workflow needs. DA Steve Mulroy said the system does not make decisions but helps prosecutors review and organize existing evidence so they can apply legal judgment and serve the community more efficiently.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 Kojima edition blends Death Stranding aesthetics with 2-in-1 gaming power

February 24, 2026, 5:22 PM EST. At CES 2026, Asus unveiled the ROG Flow Z13 Kojima edition, a collaboration with Hideo Kojima that fuses Death Stranding aesthetics with a portable gaming 2-in-1. The unit leans into the Kojima aesthetic-a black, white and gold chassis, gold-infused details, Ludens branding, and in-box stickers-while keeping the underlying hardware of the Flow Z13 (2025). It features a 13-inch 2.5K Mini-LED display with a 180Hz refresh rate, a chiclet keyboard cover with RGB lighting, and a familiar port array. The package includes an all-white carrying case with gold trim and foam cutouts cradle the tablet, echoing Sam Porter-Bridges' cargo cases. Pricing remains steep, but for Kojima fans the edition is a ceremonial blend of worlds: premium design with portable gaming punch.

Shelby Co. DA teams with AI firm to launch evidence management agent

February 24, 2026, 5:20 PM EST. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced an AI-powered evidence management agent developed with Memphis-based Foltrigg.ai to help prosecutors organize and review case materials. The tool aims to speed case processing by organizing documents and surfacing relevant data, while preserving human judgment in charging and decisions. Foltrigg.ai says the system is designed for prosecutors and DAs, addressing growing caseloads and the flood of digital evidence. Mulroy notes, 'Justice delayed is justice denied,' and the system is meant to let prosecutors focus on legal judgment and serving the people of Shelby County. The office stresses the technology does not make decisions but enhances workflow, security, and efficiency in handling sensitive information.

DJI appeals FCC 'covered list' designation to Ninth Circuit

February 24, 2026, 5:14 PM EST. DJI has appealed the FCC's December 23, 2025 decision to place the company on the agency's covered list, asking the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to review what it calls serious procedural flaws and substantive defects. In its petition, DJI contends the FCC offered no substantive evidence that its drones threaten US security and argues the action breaches due process and may violate the Constitution and federal law. The FCC's ban-announced December 22, 2025-bars imports of new foreign-made drone models and components from DJI and Autel, and blocks new model approvals under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. DJI says the move limits American consumer choice and fair competition. The decision has sparked stockpiling and concern among drone pilots, farmers, and emergency responders, per Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reporting.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach PC requirements revealed with DLSS 4, FSR 4 and XeSS 2

February 24, 2026, 5:08 PM EST. Nixxes Software has published the full PC system requirements for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, powered by the Decima Engine. A portable preset targets handhelds like Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. The matrix lists 1080p and 4K tiers across minimum to very high presets, with GPUs ranging from GTX 1660 to RTX 4080 and CPUs from Core i3-10100 to i7-11700, plus 16GB RAM. The game also ships with multiple upscaling options: NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 4, and Intel XeSS 2. The studio did not confirm whether DLSS 4 includes Multi-Frame Generation or the 4.5 Transformer model. No new ray tracing; ultrawide support exists, 21:9 for cutscenes and 32:9 during gameplay. PC launch is March 19 via Steam and Epic; PS5 Porters receive Porter Suit updates when PC drops, after linking accounts.

Cursor updates AI coding agents to run in parallel on dedicated virtual machines amid fierce competition

February 24, 2026, 5:00 PM EST. Cursor unveiled upgrades to its AI coding agents, letting them test changes and record results via videos, logs and screenshots. The update enables agents to run in parallel on their own virtual machines (VMs), so they don't compete for resources with a developer's laptop. Access is through the web, Cursor's desktop app, mobile devices, Slack or GitHub. Cursor says the change boosts throughput by letting many tasks run simultaneously. The company is competing with rivals such as Anthropic, OpenAI and Microsoft as it pushes toward faster iteration. Cursor is valued at about $29.3 billion and reported over $1 billion in annualized revenue as of November. Developers can hand off more complex tasks to agents, which can test and iterate until features are complete.

iPhone Fold rumors: launch window, design and timeline for 2026

February 24, 2026, 4:56 PM EST. Apple has not confirmed a foldable iPhone, but a steady stream of leaks points to a launch window in 2026, likely the fall alongside the iPhone 18 lineup, with mass production possible by mid-2026 if development stays on track. Analysts including Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman frame 2026 as the target, though some reports warn a delay into 2027 if hinge and display durability tests falter. The device is expected to adopt a book-style design, with an inner display around 7.7-7.8 inches and an outer display in the mid-5-inch range. When folded, it would be shorter and wider, creating a squarer footprint. Thickness is projected around 4.5-4.8 mm unfolded, roughly matching the iPhone Air. Apple's roadmap remains fluid; prototypes may not ship, and pricing remains uncertain.

Apple in 2025: Six Colors survey finds mixed scores across 14 categories

February 24, 2026, 4:52 PM EST. Apple's 2025 year-in-review, drawn from a panel of writers, editors, developers and podcasters, rates 14 Apple-related topics on a 1-to-5 scale. The author says 56 responses yielded a broad mood reading and shows a net drop in 11 of 14 categories versus 2024. The Mac segment earned a B- (average 3.5, median 4), with hardware praised but software mood deteriorating. Panelists lauded Apple silicon for sustained performance and energy efficiency, yet warned that the chip landscape and product lineup have grown messy. Critics cited the problematic macOS Tahoe release as a usability drag. Quotes praise the quiet, reliable MacBook Pro and the long-lasting MacBook Air, while noting that software strategy remains the key swing factor in 2025.

NASA moves Artemis II's SLS to launch pad ahead of wet dress rehearsal

February 24, 2026, 4:42 PM EST. NASA moved the 322-foot-tall Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, a key step before the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby. The stack, topped by the Orion crew capsule, traveled about 4 miles from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) over roughly 12 hours, reaching the pad at 6:42 p.m. ET. Crews will conduct a wet dress rehearsal to test fueling and countdown to T-minus 29 seconds, a prelude to a possible launch window between Feb. 6 and 11. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen comprise the 10-day mission to orbit Earth and the Moon. If issues arise, the rocket could roll back to the VAB; otherwise NASA will set the official date.

Microsoft teams with Starlink to expand global community internet

February 24, 2026, 4:32 PM EST. Microsoft on Tuesday announced a collaboration with SpaceX's Starlink to expand connectivity globally. The plan pairs low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity with community-based deployment and local partnerships, said Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft's chief sustainability officer. In Kenya, the alliance with Starlink and a local internet provider will connect about 450 community hubs. The effort adds to demand for Musk's Starlink, which holds contracts with the DoD and NASA and could pursue a public listing this year. The backdrop includes Elon Musk's dispute with OpenAI and his criticism of Microsoft on X, as the OpenAI Foundation seeks up to roughly $134 billion in a legal filing. Microsoft has also linked its Foundry cloud to Grok-powered AI apps, reflecting broader collaboration across Musk's family of businesses.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: S26 Ultra, S26 and Buds 4 under spotlight amid leaks

February 24, 2026, 4:16 PM EST. Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2026 launches are shaping up around the Galaxy S26 Ultra and S26, plus new Buds 4. Early benchmarks reportedly place the S26 Ultra with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, suggesting a performance edge that could rival Apple's A-series. However, leaks also warn of a lower battery cycle count-about 1,200 cycles to 80% capacity-compared with the S25, underscoring tighter longevity expectations despite energy-efficient hardware. The event, set for February 25 in San Francisco, will stream on Samsung's YouTube channel, Samsung.com, and Newsroom at 1 p.m. ET. Rumors hint at a wider main-camera aperture for the S26 Ultra and potential updates to Expert RAW, Samsung's optional pro-mode app. Official product details are pending, with review-ready specs expected at unveiling.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: S26 Ultra may rival iPhone with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, livestream details

February 24, 2026, 4:14 PM EST. Leaks suggest the Galaxy S26 Ultra could pair a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip with strong benchmarks, potentially rivaling the iPhone 17 Pro series. Geekbench figures show a single-core score of 3,852 and a multi-core score of 11,738. Separately, Samsung may cut battery life by offering about 1,200 charge cycles, down from 2,000, though the lineup is touted for energy efficiency. Rumors also touch a wider camera aperture on the S26 Ultra and talk of continuing Samsung's Expert RAW mode. Samsung will livestream Galaxy Unpacked 2026 from San Francisco, with a 1 p.m. ET start; viewers can watch on YouTube, Samsung.com or Samsung Newsroom. The event is set for February 25.

Pew study: Most U.S. teens use AI chatbots for information and schoolwork

February 24, 2026, 4:12 PM EST. According to Pew, a majority of U.S. teens say they use AI chatbots, including about three-in-ten daily. In a survey of 1,458 teens and their parents from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, 2025, teens use chatbots for a mix of tasks: information seeking (57%) and to get help with schoolwork (54%) lead, followed by fun (47%). About four-in-ten use chatbots to summarize articles, books or videos or to create or edit images or videos; about one-in-five use them to get news. The study also surveys parents' views and notes concerns about companionship. Margin of error is ±3.3 percentage points for both groups; the research was approved by Advarra's IRB. The report seeks to map how teens and families experience AI in daily life and education.

Pew study: Teens use AI chatbots for schoolwork, information and entertainment

February 24, 2026, 4:10 PM EST. Pew Research Center finds most U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with parents have tried AI chatbots, with about 30% using them daily. Teens use chatbots to search for information (57%), get help with schoolwork (54%), and for fun (47%). Roughly four in ten also summarize articles, books, or videos or create and edit images or videos; about one in five use chatbots to get news. Parents voice concerns about companionship and other impacts. The study surveyed 1,458 teens and their parents online Sept. 25-Oct. 9, 2025, via Ipsos KnowledgePanel; margin of error is ±3.3 percentage points. Results reflect teens' experiences and, separately, parents' views, with IRB oversight by Advarra.

Accidental hacker gains control of 7,000 robot vacuums, exposes smart-home security gaps

February 24, 2026, 4:08 PM EST. Software engineer Sammy Azdoufal, head of AI strategy at a holiday rental company, used Claude Code to reverse-engineer how a DJI Romo vacuum talks to cloud servers. He found he could access data from other devices, including live camera feeds, audio, and maps from roughly 7,000 robots across 24 countries. The Verge published the findings, prompting questions about a back-end security bug in consumer robots that could let nefarious actors spy on owners through smart home devices. DJI initially said the issue was resolved, though Azdoufal says some vulnerabilities remained; the company later said the problem had been addressed. The episode underscores ongoing privacy and security concerns around connected appliances.

DJI Sues FCC Over Import Ban on Drones, Challenges Covered List

February 24, 2026, 3:58 PM EST. DJI filed a petition for review in the Ninth Circuit challenging the FCC's decision to add DJI's products to the agency's 'Covered List', which blocks the import and sale of new drones in the United States. The company says the move is procedurally and substantively flawed, noting the FCC has never identified a national security threat linked to its products and has not allowed DJI to present information. A DJI spokesperson told PetaPixel that the listing harms American customers and industries by denying access to the latest technology. The filing follows more than a year of stalemate after a congressionally mandated audit was promised but never conducted. DJI says it will continue to engage with the FCC and other stakeholders while pursuing relief in court.

DJI sues FCC over U.S. import ban on drones

February 24, 2026, 3:56 PM EST. DJI filed a petition for review in the Ninth Circuit challenging the FCC's decision to add its products to the agency's Covered List, effectively blocking imports and sales in the United States. The company argues the move is procedurally and substantively flawed because the FCC has not identified a national security threat from DJI or its products and has denied a timely information exchange. DJI says the listing harms U.S. customers and its business, with Americans across industries losing access to its technology. The dispute follows a year-long stalemate after an audit of its products, required in late 2024, was never conducted in 2025. DJI says it seeks independent review and will continue to engage with the FCC and other stakeholders.

NASA's PACE satellite adds nitrogen-dioxide pollution measurements

February 24, 2026, 3:48 PM EST. NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite now tracks nitrogen dioxide pollution. Using the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), it detects the gas's spectral fingerprint from ultraviolet to near-infrared light. Researchers trained PACE with data from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on the European Space Agency's Sentinel-5P to achieve finer-scale measurements than previous satellites. The capability pinpoints sources down to individual factories or highway corridors, aiding health risk reduction, urban and transport planning, and agricultural protection. The new product is available on NASA Earthdata alongside other PACE data. This work demonstrates cross-mission calibration to expand satellite-based air-quality monitoring.

Anthropic, Pentagon in talks over AI guardrails for military use

February 24, 2026, 3:46 PM EST. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is meeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resolve disagreements over AI guardrails on the company's models, as the Pentagon weighs a potential blacklist. The dispute centers on restrictions intended to keep military use within lawful bounds; Anthropic wants to preserve limits on AI-controlled weapons and on mass domestic surveillance. People familiar with the talks say negotiations have stretched for months and drawn more public scrutiny after Axios reported a potential designation as a supply chain risk, a move that could disrupt government contracts. An Anthropic spokesperson said discussions remain productive and in good faith, stressing the firm's commitment to using frontier AI for national security. CNN and Axios contributed to the reporting.

Google highlights Pixel colors through the years in new gallery

February 24, 2026, 3:36 PM EST. Google posts a Pixel Colors Through the Years infographic recapping color options across its lineup as the Pixel 10a launches and the 10-series wraps. The gallery pairs each model with color gradients that span flagship and A-Series options, listing labels from white and black to bright and pastel tones. It offers a compact tour of Google's evolving design language and provides a quick reference for future color choices. The post doubles as a nostalgic snapshot for fans and shoppers tracking how color names mapped to devices over time.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup set for a mild Unpacked amid an AI push

February 24, 2026, 3:34 PM EST. At 10 a.m. PT in San Francisco, Samsung will livestream its Galaxy Unpacked. The briefing frames a new phase in AI that is personal and adaptive. Leaks show the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra keeping the general look of the S25, signaling a mild refresh. Samsung is expected to ship all Galaxy S26 phones with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; some regions may also get Exynos 2600. Despite the Qi 2 standard, the phones are not expected to include built-in magnets for magnetic mounting; fast wireless charging may be supported, but cases will still be needed. Early sentiment points to a restrained launch, with attention maybe turning to foldables at MWC 2026 later next week.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Lead Switch eShop Charts Ahead of February 27 Release

February 24, 2026, 3:24 PM EST. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen for Nintendo Switch have surged to the top of the Switch eShop charts in the US, UK, Japan and Australia after preorders, ahead of their February 27, 2026 launch. Priced at £16.99/$19.99 per title, the Game Boy Advance remakes promise the same content as the originals with updated connectivity, including support for Pokémon Home and compatibility with GameChat. Nintendo says the releases are a special 30th-anniversary case, not a broad retro revival, and there are no plans for Virtual Console-style releases. Retro drops will focus on the Switch Online service going forward. Market reaction is strong, though some players question why a combined Switch Online option isn't offered.

DJI challenges FCC drone import ban in federal court, argues statutory overreach

February 24, 2026, 3:20 PM EST. DJI has asked a federal appeals court to overturn the FCC's decision to ban imports of China-made drones and components, arguing the agency exceeded its statutory authority by adding foreign-made devices to its Covered List. The rule blocks new imports unless cleared by the Department of Defense and authorizes retroactive restrictions on equipment previously permitted, a broad crackdown DJI says harms its US business and customers. DJI also alleges the FCC violated the Fifth Amendment by depriving it of property without just compensation. The company seeks to vacate and enjoin the decision as unlawful. The petition was filed this week following Reuters coverage of the FCC move.

Broadband Breakfast to explore quantum computing's impact on cybersecurity on March 25, 2026

February 24, 2026, 3:18 PM EST. Broadband Breakfast convenes a program on quantum computing and quantum communications and their impact on broadband infrastructure, cybersecurity, AI, and the future of high-speed data. The panel, with researchers, telecom executives, and policy experts, will examine how quantum tech could reshape encryption standards, accelerate network optimization, and create new demands on broadband capacity. Topics include post-quantum cryptography mandates and the buildout of quantum-safe networks. Attendees will gain a clearer view of the critical decisions shaping the industry's quantum future. Moderator Drew Clark (CEO, Broadband Breakfast) will guide discussion with invited panelists on strategy and policy implications for a faster, safer internet.

Apple to unveil at least five new products in three-day rollout next week

February 24, 2026, 3:16 PM EST. Apple is set to unveil at least five new products in a three-day rollout March 2-4, per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The plan leans on press releases via the Apple Newsroom and an Apple Experience for journalists in New York, London and Shanghai on March 4. Rumored devices include a lower-cost MacBook with a 12.9-inch display and an A18 Pro chip; the iPhone 17e with an A19, MagSafe, a C1X 5G modem and N1 Wi-Fi 7; an iPad Air with the M4; an iPad 12 with A18; a MacBook Air with the M5; and MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro/Max. Two new Studio Displays are possible but may be overkill. The push follows last month's second-gen AirTag release.

Markets rattled by speculative AI scenario that foresees 2028 upheaval

February 24, 2026, 3:10 PM EST. US stocks shed ground after Citrini Research circulated a Substack scenario predicting an AI-driven downturn by 2028. The piece imagines autonomous AI agents removing friction, torching margins for software and middlemen, and triggering mortgage and credit stress. It foresees unemployment above 10% and a wave of protests at OpenAI and Anthropic. The S&P 500 fell about 1% as the software sector hit multiyear lows; Uber, American Express, Mastercard and DoorDash dropped 4-6%. Analysts called the report speculative but said it highlights market nerves about AI adoption costs. Citrini stresses the piece is a scenario, not a prediction, yet investors treated it as a wake-up call on a rebalanced economy.

Apple starts production testing for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, leaker says

February 24, 2026, 3:02 PM EST. Apple has entered production validation testing for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, per a Weibo post by leaker Fixed Focus Digital. The post says the phones are in late-stage tests ahead of a September release, with Design Validation Test (DVT) yielding to Production Validation Test (PVT) to check yields at reduced scale. It points to three new internal components, including the A20 Pro application processor on a 2nm node and a mechanical variable-aperture camera that needs precise calibration. The leaker also cites a March 2027 launch for the base iPhone 18. Finally, the Pro models are said to include a second-generation 5G modem.

iOS 26.4 release date and features eyed for March launch

February 24, 2026, 2:58 PM EST. iOS 26.4 is in beta, with a public launch likely in March. Apple has tended to roll these updates in March as earlier x.4 releases show. The first iOS 26.4 beta arrived February 16, following patterns from 18.4 and 16.4; a mid-to-late March release is plausible if testing remains steady, though a faster pace could push to mid-March. New features span core apps: Apple Music gains an AI Playlist Playground, redesigned albums and playlists, concert info and more; Podcasts adds a modernized video experience; CarPlay supports AI chatbot apps and video playback; Health adds Sleep and Vitals data; Freeform gets Creator Studio exclusives; Reminders adds an Urgent smart list; Wallpaper gallery is revamped. Beta testing also explored end-to-end encryption for RCS, not shipping in this cycle.

Microsoft investigates bug that hides the mouse pointer in classic Outlook

February 24, 2026, 2:56 PM EST. Microsoft is investigating a bug in the classic Outlook desktop client that makes the mouse pointer disappear as users move the cursor over the interface. First reports surfaced about two months ago, and users say Outlook becomes unusable while the pointer vanishes. The issue can also affect some Microsoft 365 apps, including OneNote. A support document says the pointer may vanish even as items in the message list change color on hover. Microsoft asks affected organizations to open a case with the Outlook Support Team and submit diagnostic logs. Three temporary workarounds exist: click a message, switch to PowerPoint and back, or restart. No timeline for a permanent fix yet.

iPhone 18 Pro enters test production, fueling questions on 18 and Fold

February 24, 2026, 2:48 PM EST. Macworld reports that the iPhone 18 Pro is in test production, according to Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, whose accuracy is mixed. The timing mirrors Apple's production validation steps-Engineering Validation Test (EVT), Design Validation Test (DVT), and Production Validation Test (PVT)-with February typically marking a transition to PVT. The post also hints the entire iPhone 18 series may be in testing, raising questions about whether the standard iPhone 18 or an iPhone Fold will join. The leak provides no sourcing and relies on vague 'current information,' a reminder of translation uncertainties from Chinese posts. Apple's supply chain heft means leaks are common, but confirmation will come only from official channels or suppliers.

Raspberry Pi's 77% surge fuels Nvidia-style questions

February 24, 2026, 2:44 PM EST. Nvidia has built a 15-year rally that translates into multi-millionaire gains for early investors, with a roughly 33,000% rise since 2011. By contrast, Raspberry Pi has become a domestic tech talking point in the UK, rallying 77% in the first weeks of February to lead mid-cap performance in 2026, though it remains down about 30% over the past year. The two firms share a focus on computing hardware and are led by founders-Jensen Huang at Nvidia and Eben Upton at Raspberry Pi-and both are seen as innovators in their fields. Nvidia supplies GPUs powering gaming, AI models, self-driving tech and more; Raspberry Pi sells credit-card-sized boards used in schools, hobbyist projects and industrial control. While AI buzz has lifted Pi, Nvidia remains the much larger and faster-growing company, and Raspberry Pi would need stronger momentum to close the gap.

Apple shareholders reject proposal for report on China dependence

February 24, 2026, 2:42 PM EST. Apple shareholders rejected a proposal to publish a report on the company's dependence on China for manufacturing a bulk of its products. The vote comes as Apple accelerates diversification to Vietnam, India and the U.S., where the company said it would assemble some Mac mini computers to meet domestic demand later this year. The outcome preserves Apple's current supply strategy amid ongoing political and economic risk. Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala and Stephen Nellis; editing by Maju Samuel.

China's solid-state EV batteries near 1,000-mile range as Changan rolls out 2026 trials

February 24, 2026, 2:38 PM EST. China's battery makers now account for more than half of the global market as solid-state chemistries move from lab to road. Changan Automobile says it will begin trial installations of all-solid-state cells-part of eight in-house chemistries, including liquid and semi-solid-by late Q3 2026, with mass production eyed for 2027 and 2030 milestones. The firm's Golden Bell solid-state cell yields about 400 Wh/kg, enabling a claimed CLTC range above 1,500 km (≈932 miles) and a 70% safety improvement via AI-powered diagnostics. Dongfeng Motors reports a solid-state prototype tested in extreme cold, with energy density around 350 Wh/kg and 1,000+ km range. Other Chinese automakers, plus global players such as VW, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, are pursuing solid-state projects for 2027-2030. Sources: CarNewsChina, Changan Automobile.

AI Stocks Outpace NVIDIA in 2026 – More Upside Ahead

February 24, 2026, 2:36 PM EST. NVIDIA shares have risen modestly this year, while peers such as TSMC, Micron and Super Micro Computer have surged. The article notes rising data-center demand for AI, with TSMC guiding first-quarter 2026 revenue of $34.6-$35.8 billion and improving gross margins to 63-65%, signaling continued growth. Micron benefits from tight supply in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, with expected Q2 2026 revenue of $18.3-$19.1 billion and outsized earnings growth as demand remains strong. Super Micro stands to gain as AI hardware demand climbs, with its Data Center Building Block Solutions (DCBBS) seeing growing interest. NVIDIA remains a dominant AI supplier, but investors are pricing in upside elsewhere in the AI ecosystem. The piece frames a broader cycle of data-center build-out driving profits across AI chipmakers and memory suppliers, suggesting more upside ahead.

Atlas Copco uses AI-driven inline verification to boost EV battery manufacturing

February 24, 2026, 2:32 PM EST. Atlas Copco is applying AI-driven inline verification to EV battery production. Its VisionTools suite, Smart Verification with AI, uses machine vision to check joining, sealing and assembly in real time, reducing the need for manual inspection. The ROBOcam camera enables robot-mounted quality checks along the line, triggering automatic corrections or stops when misalignments occur. Complementary Advanced Verification with V60 links thermal cameras to the MES, enabling real-time heat mapping across battery components. This allows detection of hotspots and temperature differences that could affect safety or performance, before the pack leaves the line. The approach turns thermal measurement into preventative control, supporting higher speed, precision and quality. James McAllister says the technology advances zero-defect manufacturing in automotive engineering.

Anthropic expands Claude for workplace tasks with enterprise plugins

February 24, 2026, 2:22 PM EST. Anthropic is pushing deeper into workplace AI with updates to Claude, embedding its assistant inside common enterprise tools. The company rolled out industry-specific plugins and said Claude can operate inside Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. The announcements follow January's Claude Cowork launch and earlier upgrades that added financial and legal analysis tools and a cybersecurity module. Scott White, Anthropic's head of product for enterprise, says the company is building a platform that complements existing software rather than replacing it, calling Claude a 'virtual collaborator' that can pull data from spreadsheets to draft presentations. Partnerships with FactSet, S&P Global, LSEG and Apollo underpin the financial and private-equity plugins. OpenAI remains a close competitor in enterprise AI, while Anthropic emphasizes integration over disruption.

Lockheed Martin argues GPS IIIF will counter jamming threats

February 24, 2026, 2:20 PM EST. WASHINGTON – Lockheed Martin argues that the next-gen GPS satellites, GPS IIIF, will bolster resilience against rising jamming and spoofing threats to the U.S. military's PNT (positioning, navigation and timing) infrastructure. Malik Musawwir, VP of navigation systems, calls IIIF a "game changer" once added to the existing constellation. The Space Force has 12 IIIF satellites on order under a 2018 contract valued around $4.1 billion; the latest units run about $250 million each. Congress added $528 million for two more satellites in fiscal 2026, though the Pentagon did not request extra IIIF funding. Like GPS III, IIIF will transmit M-code, the encrypted signal designed to be more jam-resistant, and will introduce Regional Military Protection (RMP) to strengthen regional coverage without new bands. Production spans satellites 7-12.

Cellphone bans in schools spur science debate as lawmakers push limits

February 24, 2026, 2:16 PM EST. Global moves to shield children from cell phones and social media are gaining momentum. The EU and parts of Asia weigh legal limits on minors' access; Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was grilled in a Los Angeles courtroom over whether apps like Facebook and Instagram are addictive. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers appear poised to ban or restrict cell phones in public schools, argued by a parent leader as a way to detach kids from addictive devices and break the dopamine feedback loop. Critics point to rising anxiety and depression and to declines in academic achievement since the iPhone's 2007 debut. A growing body of research questions the bans' effectiveness; evidence that they improve outcomes is weak, and experts warn against blaming devices for social ills.

Google Messages could add real-time location sharing

February 24, 2026, 2:08 PM EST. Google is testing a feature that would let Google Messages users share live location in real time, code-named in beta as part of a broader push to integrate location sharing beyond Android's Find Hub. 9to5Google traced the change in the latest Messages beta, showing an avatar on a map and real-time updates that mirror the Find Hub experience. Users could set a duration or leave sharing on indefinitely, and could stop sharing at any time. The move would place Google Messages alongside competitors like WhatsApp, which already offers live location sharing. If rolled out, the feature would help users meet up more easily but raises safety-and-privacy questions; Google has not announced a firm release date.

UTSA launches open-access neuromorphic computing hub

February 24, 2026, 1:58 PM EST. UT San Antonio unveiled THOR: The Neuromorphic Commons, an open-access computing platform that uses neuromorphic computing to run AI and science experiments with far less energy than traditional data centers. The initiative, funded by a $4 million National Science Foundation grant to UTSA in 2024, aims to broaden access to a brain-inspired system that activates only when processing new information. Researchers and students will work on artificial intelligence, machine learning and physics with collaborators including the University of Tennessee Knoxville, UC San Diego and Harvard. MATRIX AI Consortium director Dhireesha Kudithipudi said the hub is designed to accelerate discovery and bring broader audiences into a niche technology. NSF program director Andrey Kanaev called it a step toward lowering barriers to open-access neuromorphic research.

Amazon month-end sale cuts $150 off M4 MacBook Air models

February 24, 2026, 1:56 PM EST. Amazon's month-end sale slices $150 off multiple M4 MacBook Air configurations, bringing the 13-inch model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD to $849.99 in Silver. The offers cover 13- and 15-inch M4 variants, including the 10-core GPU setup with larger storage and the 24GB RAM option, with prices from $1,049 to $1,449. AppleInsider notes savings apply across several configurations, and additional discounts appear in other Apple lines-desktops, AirPods and iPads-through the Apple Price Guide. These deals reflect month-end promotions rather than permanent price changes, with stock and color options varying by retailer.

Nvidia earnings countdown weighs on tech stocks as AI fears linger

February 24, 2026, 1:48 PM EST. Tech stocks opened lower as the countdown to NVIDIA earnings intensified and AI fears kept markets rattled. AMD jumped about 5% after a multiyear chip-supply deal with Meta to deliver gigawatts of processing power. Oracle faced a stall in its Stargate data-center project amid disputes with OpenAI and SoftBank, delaying promised 10 GW of AI capacity. IBM recovered as Claude Code AI could modernize COBOL-a backbone for U.S. ATM systems. Alphabet shares wobbled after Waymo expanded robotaxi services in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando. Uber rose on news it would acquire SpotHero, a parking reservation app.

IBM stock slides as AI fears over COBOL workloads spur debate on mainframe relevance

February 24, 2026, 1:46 PM EST. IBM shares slid about 13.5% on Monday after Anthropic warned that AI code assistants could disrupt legacy COBOL workloads, which remain in daily production across finance, airlines and government. Anthropic argued AI can automate analysis tasks that slow modernization. COBOL still underpins payments and other mission-critical systems, where IBM has long been a leader. The move wiped roughly $31 billion in market value, with a muted rebound on Tuesday. Evercore's Amit Daryanani said IBM has invested in code modernization and launched watsonx Code Assistant for Z to help migrate workloads, but noted the real challenge lies in data architecture, runtime replacement, and ensuring transaction integrity at scale. IBM is positioned as a software-driven company with growth in hybrid cloud, AI, automation, and durable mainframe software, which drives margins.

Meta and AMD strike multi-year AI chip deal to challenge Nvidia

February 24, 2026, 1:42 PM EST. Meta and AMD unveiled a multi-year, multi-generation partnership to scale Meta's AI infrastructure. Meta plans to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs, with first shipments supporting a one-gigawatt deployment slated for H2 2026 and including custom chips tuned for Meta workloads. Meta will be a top customer of AMD's 6th Gen EPYC CPUs. The deal features performance-based terms allowing Meta to acquire up to 160 million AMD shares (about 10% of the company) as milestones are met. AMD's stock rose about 10% after the announcement. The tie-up adds to AMD's role as a rival to Nvidia, which commands roughly 84% of the AI and data center market.

Tesla Europe sales tumble 17% in January as BYD soars

February 24, 2026, 1:32 PM EST. Tesla's European market woes deepen as ACEA data show January registrations down 17% year over year to 8,075. BYD, by contrast, surged 165% to 18,242 units in Europe, aided by its footprint since ACEA began tracking the brand last year. Total EV registrations in the region rose 13.9% in January, while all vehicle registrations fell 3.5%. The figures mark Tesla's 13th straight monthly decline in Europe and follow a 2025 annual drop of 27%. Analysts say demand in the EU favors affordable Chinese models, while Tesla faces brand perception headwinds and a lack of cheaper new EVs. In the US, domestic makers remain less exposed to Chinese competition; Ford and Stellantis explore Chinese JV models. Separately, Tesla rolled out a robotaxi, but deployment and safety data remain mixed.

Galaxy S26 Ultra may miss Google's powered-off Find Hub support vs Pixel

February 24, 2026, 1:28 PM EST. Google logs obtained by Android Authority show the Galaxy S26 Ultra lacks support for powered-off tracking in Google's Find Hub, as indicated by a [ro.bluetooth.finder.supported]: [false] entry. Find My Device, rebranded as Find Hub, uses Bluetooth and nearby devices to locate a phone after shutdown. Pixel phones, starting with the Pixel 8 series, are known to support this feature. Samsung's SmartThings Find offers an offline locating function, but it requires the device to stay powered on and signed into a Samsung account; it stops if the phone is truly powered off. Samsung's Galaxy S25/S26 thus miss this capability, limiting cross-device locate interoperability.

Nvidia earnings preview: AI demand, supply dynamics, and market jitters

February 24, 2026, 1:26 PM EST. Investors brace for Nvidia's earnings as futures point to a higher open amid renewed worries over AI-driven disruption. Wedbush's Dan Ives says the AI demand story hinges on Nvidia, with the stock seen as a barometer for the sector's outlook. Reuters reports the Chinese DeepSeek lab may have used Nvidia's flagship Blackwell chips to train an AI model, potentially violating U.S. export controls, a reminder of ongoing tech tensions. Nvidia's chief executive Jensen Huang is expected to discuss supply and demand and how AI chips create and destroy value across industries, rather than revealing specifics on Blackwell deployments. Analysts anticipate robust AI capex and demand, with estimates seen as underappreciated and global adoption rising. Earlier, AI and trade worries weighed on markets; Nvidia rose 0.9% ahead of the print.

4colors Research-led consortium wins SparQ grant to advance quantum-accelerated aircraft loading

February 24, 2026, 1:22 PM EST. A consortium led by 4colors Research, with Airbus, DNV, the National Quantum Computing Centre and ORCA Computing, has secured a 2025 SparQ grant under the STFC Cross Cluster Proof of Concept call. The project, titled Quantum-Accelerated Mixed-Integer Optimisation for Aircraft Loading, will pursue a hybrid classical-quantum approach to mixed-integer optimisation for aerospace logistics. In practical terms, teams aim to decide what cargo to load and where to stow it while respecting trim, centre-of-gravity, and structural constraints. The grant, funded by the UK's NQCC, seeks to demonstrate short-term, real-world benefits such as reduced fuel burn and emissions, faster turnarounds and better fleet utilisation. Industry officials say the collaboration across aerospace, logistics, hardware and algorithms highlights the potential of quantum computing to deliver tangible efficiency gains.

Microsoft eyes Xbox turnaround as Spencer retires and Sharma takes helm; Bond exits

February 24, 2026, 1:20 PM EST. The Verge reports Microsoft is reshaping its gaming unit after Phil Spencer's retirement and Sarah Bond's sudden departure. Asha Sharma, formerly CoreAI head, was named head of Microsoft Gaming, a move seen as a potential reboot rather than a routine change. Internal sources say Spencer's retirement had long been expected, while Bond's exit followed pushback against the Xbox Anywhere strategy to widen the brand beyond a single console into mobile and other devices. Bond's leadership was described as tough by some colleagues, though she helped close the Activision Blizzard deal. Sharma is praised for enthusiasm and execution, despite questions about her lack of gaming experience and AI background. The shift aims to restart growth for Xbox and protect a remaining consumer flagship.

Spectrum offers $1,000 first-year savings for customers switching from AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon to Spectrum Mobile and Internet

February 24, 2026, 1:14 PM EST. Spectrum unveils a $1,000 first-year savings guarantee for customers who switch from AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon to at least two Spectrum Mobile unlimited lines and transfer internet to Spectrum Internet Advantage or a higher tier. The offer pairs Fiber-Powered Premier Internet with two or more unlimited lines starting at $30 per month per product, with a two-year price guarantee and taxes/fees included. Customers upload their prior wireless and internet bills; if the first-year savings fall short of $1,000, Spectrum will cover the difference, crediting the shortfall in monthly installments. Spectrum promotes its Customer Commitment-same or next-day installation and performance guarantees-to emphasize value versus the Big 3.

DLSS 4.5 arrives in John Carpenter's Toxic Commando demo, Resident Evil Requiem, with Crimson Desert due March 19

February 24, 2026, 1:10 PM EST. GeForce RTX players gain DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution, using a second-generation transformer to improve image quality. NVIDIA says DLSS 4.5 beats native in a blind test across six games. The feature is available via the NVIDIA app for RTX desktops and laptops. In addition, DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation and DLSS Ray Reconstruction target RTX 50 Series for higher frame rates at high settings. This week's releases include the John Carpenter's Toxic Commando demo. Resident Evil Requiem launches February 26 at 9pm PT, offering path tracing, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation and DLSS Ray Reconstruction for a PC-focused experience. The game emphasizes lighting, reflections, and shadows, with RTX optimizations to enhance immersion. Crimson Desert is due March 19.

DJI files suit to challenge FCC import ban on new drone models

February 24, 2026, 12:56 PM EST. DJI has filed a legal challenge against the Federal Communications Commission's December decision that blocks imports of its new drone models and critical components, including those from DJI and Autel, in the United States. The suit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. DJI says the ruling carelessly restricts its U.S. business and denies customers access to its latest technology. The FCC order bars imports of new models and components but allows continued sale of existing versions. The case underscores ongoing U.S. regulatory tensions over drones and national-security concerns.

Teens use AI frequently; Pew survey finds parents underestimate uptake

February 24, 2026, 12:54 PM EST. Teens are using AI more than many parents realize, according to a Pew Research Center survey. About 64% of U.S. teens report using AI chatbots, while 51% of parents say their teens do. More than half of teens (54%) have used AI for schoolwork, and roughly 1 in 10 say they've received emotional support from a chatbot. Teens view AI as a daily tool and mostly expect personal benefits, Pew notes. Parents often don't talk about AI with their kids-just 40% report doing so-and many juggle other demands. Experts warn about risks when AI replaces human connection or coping skills; look for signs of depression. They urge curiosity and open dialogue to connect rather than scold.

SpaceX targets Tuesday afternoon liftoff from Cape Canaveral for Starlink 6-110

February 24, 2026, 12:42 PM EST. SpaceX now targets Tuesday afternoon for the next Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket, set to lift no earlier than 4:04 p.m. from Launch Complex 40, will deploy the latest batch of Starlink satellites on mission Starlink 6-110. The liftoff window runs to 7:56 p.m. if needed. After ascent, the first stage booster will attempt a landing on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship stationed in the Atlantic. No Brevard County sonic booms are expected. Florida Today's Space Team will provide live updates beginning 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. Brooke Edwards, Space Reporter for Florida Today, can be reached for comment.

Apple Silicon Mac gaming hits memory limit as 16GB RAM struggles with stable framerates

February 24, 2026, 12:34 PM EST. Tests on Cronos: The New Dawn using Unreal Engine 5 and MetalFX on Apple Silicon Macs show that 16GB of unified memory still caps performance. A video by MrMacRight demonstrates the framebuffer filling up and the SSD stepping in to swap data, causing stuttering even at low graphics presets. The M4 Pro, with 24GB of RAM, fares noticeably better but still relies on reduced settings and upscaling with Unreal Engine 5 and MetalFX. Apple previously moved all current Macs to 16GB, and expanding RAM configurations at lower prices seems unlikely. Unreal Engine 5 quirks persist across platforms, but for Apple Silicon to attract gamers, a raised minimum unified RAM may be required. The 8GB MacBook remains a material, if contentious, chunk of portable revenue into 2025.

Tesla Model 3 Performance posts fastest EV lap at VIR during Lightning Lap 2026 (2:58.4)

February 24, 2026, 12:30 PM EST. Car and Driver's Lightning Lap 2026 test of the 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance places the EV atop the under-$100,000 pace at Virginia International Raceway's Grand Course. In the LL2 class, the Tesla posted a 2:58.4 lap. Specs show 510 hp, 4035 lb, base price $56,630 (as-tested $64,630). The team ran primarily in Track mode with standard powertrain endurance, balancing pace against battery, brake, and motor temperatures. The car uses 100% regenerative braking, aiding deceleration. On the Climbing Esses at 130 mph, small lifts matter for grip; too much lift destabilizes the chassis. Compared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the Model 3P is sometimes erratic, though it often matches the Ioniq in medium-speed corners. Thermal warnings near the end triggered reduced power, but the lap remained the quickest EV around VIR for its price.

Saylor argues Bitcoin's pullback mirrors Apple's valley of despair

February 24, 2026, 12:22 PM EST. Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy (MSTR), argues Bitcoin's current retreat mirrors Apple's 2013 slide, a roughly 45% drawdown that preceded a long recovery. Speaking on Natalie Brunell's Coin Stories, Saylor said a successful tech investment must weather the valley of despair. Bitcoin has fallen about 45% from its all-time high near $125,000, echoing Apple's late-2010s trough. On Feb. 5, Glassnode recorded about $3.2 billion in entity-adjusted realized losses, a record for the network. Saylor credits part of the muted cycle to derivatives moving to regulated U.S. venues, which he says dampens volatility. Banks still rarely lend against BTC, pushing some into shadow banking. He dismisses quantum fears as distant, noting post-quantum cryptography would guard the system if needed.

Obstacle Avoidance in Drones: How it works, best practices and limits

February 24, 2026, 12:20 PM EST. Obstacle avoidance helps drones sense and avoid objects to reduce crashes. It's common on higher-end models, notably DJI and some Autel drones such as the Mavic 4 Pro, Air 3S, Air 3, Mini 4 Pro and Mavic 3 series. Some models use LiDAR to improve sensing in low light. Even so, the system cannot be trusted completely; vision sensors can miss objects and errors occur. Pilot awareness remains essential, with obstacle avoidance acting as a backup. DJI's Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) is a widely used implementation, often offering 360-degree detection on omnidirectional binocular sensors. Detections rely on six vision sensors plus a downward infrared ToF sensor, with detection ranges from about 50 cm to 30 m (typical max around 18 m). Warnings appear in the DJI Fly app with distance readouts and alerts. Use appropriate flight modes and settings depending on the scene.

Apple Watch Series 11 hits lowest price yet as Amazon clears remaining stock

February 24, 2026, 11:52 AM EST. Amazon is clearing remaining stock of the Apple Watch Series 11, cutting the price to $299 from $399 – a $100 save and roughly 25% off. The 42mm GPS model carries a rose gold aluminum case, an Always-On display, and 64GB of storage for apps and music. The watch runs watchOS and supports comprehensive fitness tracking, heart-rate zones, pace, distance, and training-load insights. It also adds safety features such as fall detection and car-accident detection, plus a Check-In tool to alert trusted contacts on arrival. It includes 3 months of Apple Fitness+ and up to 24 hours of use with quick charging that can deliver about 8 hours in 15 minutes. Availability is limited as stock dwindles.

Healthcare cloud computing market to reach USD 312.97 billion by 2035 as telehealth, AI drive growth

February 24, 2026, 11:44 AM EST. Global healthcare cloud computing is set to grow to about USD 312.97 billion by 2035 from USD 75.17 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 17.22%. North America holds roughly 41% market share in 2025; Asia-Pacific shows strong growth through 2035. The private cloud segment led in 2025, with non-clinical information systems contributing the majority of revenue; services accounted for the largest revenue share. Growth drivers include digital transformation, telehealth adoption, AI-enabled tools, and demand for real-time access to records. Government drive for electronic health records and the shift from on-premise to cloud infrastructure underpin the trend, boosting efficiency and care delivery across providers.

SpaceX Crew-12 restores full crew at ISS after medical evacuation

February 24, 2026, 11:32 AM EST. SpaceX's Crew-12 mission arrived at the ISS, restoring a full seven-person crew after a medical evacuation left the station with a skeleton crew of three. The four newcomers-NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA's Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev-docked after a 34-hour voyage aboard a Crew Dragon capsule launched atop a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral. They joined the returnees-NASA's Chris Williams and Russians Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov-who had been aboard since late November. The crew is conducting research and maintenance as the station returns to seven. NASA and SpaceX still aim to certify Boeing's Starliner capsule to add a second operational vehicle before the ISS's planned retirement around 2030. The mission spans roughly nine months of science and routine ops.

One UI 8.5 revamps Galaxy Enhance-X with plugin system, new UI and productivity tools

February 24, 2026, 11:26 AM EST. Samsung is rolling out a One UI 8.5-based update to Galaxy Enhance-X, reshaping the app with a cleaner, more deliberate layout and a three-tab structure (Plugins, Home, History). Enthusiast GalaxyTechie spotted version 16.3.00.31, which adds support for installable plugins and mirrors One UI 8.5 aesthetics with rounded elements and subtle animations. The headline feature is a plugin system offering nine Film Style Filters, including Cinematic Glow and a Focus Shift tool that isolates a subject. The update also adds stronger document tools-annotation, translation, PDF-to-JPEG conversion, and bulk editing-positioning Enhance-X as a lightweight productivity companion rather than just a filter app. Samsung ties the change to Galaxy AI direction, according to GalaxyTechie.

Nvidia earnings collide with Wall Street skepticism over AI spending

February 24, 2026, 11:12 AM EST. Nvidia is the lone megacap stock to post gains in 2026 as investors grow wary of the AI-buildout bill. The chipmaker, whose data-center business now accounts for roughly 90% of revenue, rides a wave of demand from hyperscalers rushing to deploy AI infrastructure. Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon are expected to spend nearly $700 billion this year, lifting capex and GPU orders. Wall Street analysts, including Wedbush, argue that AI infrastructure spend will remain robust, with hyperscale capex forecasts surpassing prior expectations. But skeptics warn the market could overbuild, amplifying any slowdown for Nvidia. Shares have outperformed broad indices, while the Nasdaq slides. Cantor Fitzgerald called the setup simple yet complex, highlighting the fragility of the AI spending cycle and Nvidia's central role.

AI reshapes math practice as Terence Tao weighs in on AI-assisted proofs

February 24, 2026, 11:10 AM EST. Generative AI tools have begun solving a subset of Erdős Problems, fueling excitement about machine-assisted math. OpenAI publicized a claimed win, and researchers point to a growing stream of AI-generated proofs under human adjudication. Terence Tao, UCLA professor and leading mathematician, offers a tempered verdict: the results are impressive but not revolutionary, often representing "cheap wins." AI performs well at exploring a long tail of obscure problems yet struggles with creativity and occasional subtle errors. Tao sees a shift toward collaboration, not replacement: machines can handle routine or high-level reasoning tasks while human intuition guides conjecture. The development signals a new way of doing mathematics-one that blends computation with human insight.

AI startup floats FDA deregulation via an obscure backdoor

February 24, 2026, 11:08 AM EST. Health tech reporters examine an AI startup proposing new regulatory paths by pushing for FDA deregulation and citing an obscure loophole described as a 'backdoor.' The company argues lighter oversight could speed up digital therapeutics and AI-enabled diagnostics, but opponents warn it risks patient safety and undermines rigorous evidence standards. Regulators say any relaxation would require clear science, verifiable risk assessments, and transparent governance. Experts describe the move as a test of how far policy leeway can extend for AI in health care while preserving accountability. The piece explains the jargon: the FDA regulates medical devices and software; a 'backdoor' implies a loophole not intended by law. If embraced, the idea would reshape the regulatory landscape for health tech products.

JBL Bandbox Solo review: AI Stem shines in compact multipurpose speaker

February 24, 2026, 11:04 AM EST. JBL's Bandbox Solo is a compact, $250 device that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and a practice amp. The standout is an AI Stem feature that can generate isolated tracks from any playing song, filtering out vocals, guitar, or other. In tests, it reliably creates the requested stem with a simple top-panel control using a wheel-driven selector and a dot-matrix readout. The unit includes a 1/4-inch input for guitar or mic and delivers surprisingly loud output for its size. It ships with presets and effects and a capable app, but the battery life is only adequate and exporting stems can be confusing. JBL positions Bandbox Solo as a multipurpose, AI-assisted practice and playback device.

Kojima-edition Asus ROG Flow Z13-KJP review: premium, quirky tablet not a Steam Deck killer

February 24, 2026, 11:00 AM EST. Reviewing the Kojima-edition Asus ROG Flow Z13-KJP, the tablet blends signature design with solid performance. It runs games well in a compact chassis and offers long battery life, plus a striking carry case. Yet it is hampered by heavy weight from Kojima tweaks, an incredibly high price, and a weird tablet form factor. The carry case lacks space for the power supply, reducing practicality. For Kojima fans seeking a premium, niche device, the ROG Flow Z13-KJP delivers a memorable experience, but it is not a Steam Deck killer.

iPhone 18 Pro enters trial production ahead of September launch

February 24, 2026, 10:44 AM EST. A Chinese leaker says the iPhone 18 Pro has moved into mass-production testing ahead of its launch. The report places the devices in the late DVT/PVT window, with full mass production typically ramping in summer before a September release. The regular iPhone 18 would follow earlier validation steps, though a release in early next year is anticipated for that model. The leaker, Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, adds there are no major material changes vs the iPhone 17 design, aside from a potentially smaller Dynamic Island. Internal changes cited include a new camera system with variable aperture, the A20 chip, and a custom C2 modem. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes the foldable could steal the spotlight this fall.

Death Stranding-inspired Asus ROG Flow Z13-KJP limited edition hits preorder at $4,209.96

February 24, 2026, 10:38 AM EST. ASUS and Kojima Productions unveil the ROG Flow Z13-KJP, a Death Stranding-inspired limited edition tablet built on the base Z13. It uses an AMD Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus APU with 128GB RAM and carries a list price of $3,699.99 (roughly $900 above the standard model's MSRP). The bundle includes a Steam code for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach via Armoury Crate and ships with the matching ROG Delta II-KJP headset, Keris II Origin-KJP mouse, and Scabbard II XXL-KJP desk mat, bringing the total to $4,209.96. Availability is via Asus and retailers; quantities aren't disclosed and it's expected to sell out. Design borrows from Death Stranding with a decennium gold chassis, carbon-fiber panel, and Ludens iconography. The collection targets fans willing to pay a premium for showy hardware tied to a game franchise.

DJI Neo Mini Drone Three-Battery Bundle Drops to $219 on Amazon

February 24, 2026, 10:34 AM EST. DJI's Neo Mini drone, the company's lightest model at 135g, now sold in a three-battery bundle for $219 on Amazon, down from $289. The package includes three batteries, enabling up to 54 minutes of flight time. No FAA registration or Remote ID is required, and a palm-takeoff feature starts filming quickly. The drone records 4K/360fps stabilized video and supports 9:16 vertical footage for social sharing. With eight intelligent modes-Follow, DirectionTrack, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix, Boomerang-shots stay centered thanks to a single-axis gimbal and stabilization tech (RockSteady, HorizonBalancing) and Level-4 wind resistance. Control is via the DJI Fly app; voice control helps hands-free operation. Return-to-Home safeguards and auto flyback are included. Deal available with free delivery but time-limited.

X3 Holdings Expands Into AI Healthcare Through Strategic Smartwatch Partnership

February 24, 2026, 10:28 AM EST. X3 Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: XTKG) said it struck a strategic agreement with an AI healthcare technology partner to globalize an AI-powered healthcare smartwatch. X3 will back the smartwatch's international commercialization and deployment, marking its entry into the AI healthcare sector. The device uses a non-invasive brainwave sensing chip with digital frequency modulation to target 27 functional brain-related points linked to language, emotion and social interaction, enabling a real-time monitor-analyze-adjust loop without drugs. The platform combines 7 million user records and 25,000 physiological indicators, with cloud-based AI analytics delivering personalized health insights. The partner brings non-invasive brain-computer interface expertise, supporting broader emotional management, cognitive support and rehabilitation applications.

AI fueling 'great unwiring' in students, Brookings study warns

February 24, 2026, 10:24 AM EST. AI-driven cheating has moved from hired help to a frictionless shortcut, according to a Brookings Institution premortem-a risk check that imagines failure before it happens. In a yearlong study drawing on hundreds of interviews and 400+ studies, researchers warn of a great unwiring of students' brains, with cognitive atrophy, artificial intimacy and eroded trust. Teachers lament that students 'can't reason' or 'solve problems' when AI provides instant answers. The report labels the AI classroom the 'fast food of education'-convenient but cognitively hollow over time. While experts see AI as a tool for tasks teachers know, the study argues the risk for learners is systemic: reduced effort, weaker critical thinking, and a need to rethink evaluation. The report, 'A New Direction for Students in an AI World,' calls for policy and practice changes to prepare and protect students.

Quantum Computing Inc. to Host Q4 and 2025 Investor Call on March 2, 2026

February 24, 2026, 9:54 AM EST. Quantum Computing Inc. will host a conference call and webcast on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET to review its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 results, to be released after the market close. The live webcast is on the Investor Relations page and via the provided link. Phone participation: US toll-free 877-545-0523; international 973-528-0016; access code 293172. A replay runs through March 16, 2026 at 877-481-4010 or international 919-882-2331; conference ID 53656. QCi is an integrated photonics and quantum optics firm offering room-temperature, low-power quantum machines and photonic chips based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN); the Luminar Semiconductor acquisition broadened its portfolio to subsystems and components.

Falcon 9 to launch five Starlink missions; Firefly targets Alpha launch

February 24, 2026, 9:52 AM EST. SpaceX's Falcon 9 is set to launch five Starlink missions, according to a preview circulated by launch watchers. The missions would extend SpaceX's ongoing effort to deploy its satellite internet constellation, with each flight delivering a batch of satellites into orbit. In a separate line of activity, Firefly Aerospace plans to launch its Alpha rocket, a small orbital launcher aimed at the growing market for medium-lift space missions. The preview highlights a busy schedule for U.S. launch providers as private companies push cadence and capacity. Exact dates and launch sites were not specified in the preview.

Crew-12 arrives at ISS, restoring full crew after medical evacuation

February 24, 2026, 9:50 AM EST. Seven astronauts arrived at the International Space Station on Feb. 14, restoring a full crew after a medical evacuation left the outpost understaffed. The Crew-12 mission launched Feb. 13 from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9, docking the next day. The new arrivals-NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA's Sophie Adenot, and cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev-joined NASA's Chris Williams and Russians Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who had been aboard since late November. For about a month, a reduced crew kept the station running. Now the seven are conducting experiments and routine maintenance as they acclimate to microgravity, while NASA and SpaceX pursue an eventual second vehicle with Boeing's Starliner ahead of ISS retirement around 2030.

Meta inks multi-year AI infrastructure pact with AMD to deploy up to 6GW of Instinct GPUs

February 24, 2026, 9:38 AM EST. Meta and AMD announced a multi-year accord to power Meta's AI infrastructure with as much as 6GW of Instinct GPUs. The deal expands a collaboration aimed at aligning silicon, systems and software roadmaps to enable vertical integration across Meta's infrastructure stack. Shipments for the first GPU deployments are slated for the second half of 2026 and will run on the Helios rack-scale architecture announced with AMD at the Open Compute Project Global Summit. AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su touts the multi-year, multi-generation program spanning Instinct GPUs, EPYC CPUs and rack-scale systems to support large-scale AI deployments. Meta's program, part of its broader Meta Compute initiative and its MTIA stack, aims to diversify compute and accelerate delivery of personal superintelligence, with a view to worldwide impact.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could finally challenge the iPhone, per Geekbench 6 scores

February 24, 2026, 9:34 AM EST. An alleged Geekbench 6 result circulating online claims the Galaxy S26 Ultra posts a single-core score of 3,852 and a multi-core score of 11,738, figures that sit above the latest iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max on the same benchmark. The leak, flagged by Tarun Vats, also shows the S26 Ultra beating the previous-gen Galaxy S25 Ultra by a wide margin. The scores matter because they reflect a continuing push by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 into Apple's territory on production devices. Samsung's rumored For Galaxy-tuned variant of the chip could explain the gap. The company has teased the next Galaxy Unpacked event, where the S26 Ultra and its privacy-display feature are expected to take center stage.

Claws explained: The AI buzzword you need to know

February 24, 2026, 9:30 AM EST. AI buzzwords come and go, and this week it's claws – a term for a certain kind of AI assistant. The article ties claws to OpenClaw (aka Clawdbot), agentic AI, and other recent trends. In plain terms, a claw is an open-source personal assistant that runs locally on a device (often a Mac Mini). It can access calendars, email, coding tools, browsers, and AI models, then act autonomously to complete tasks, such as replying to emails, booking meetings, or even coding an app, potentially by wiring to services like ChatGPT or Claude. The piece explains the concept for readers not plugged into the AI ecosystem, and notes the mix of evangelists and skeptics discussing claws.

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral with 28 Starlink satellites

February 24, 2026, 9:28 AM EST. SpaceX launched a Starlink mission from Florida's Space Coast, sending 28 satellites to low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The liftoff occurred at 10:47 p.m. ET. The booster marked its 33rd flight, with prior work on CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, SES O3B mPOWER-A, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Merah Putih 2, Galileo L13, Koreasat-6A and 20 Starlink missions. After stage separation, the first stage is slated to land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX sets reuse record with two Starlink launches in a single day

February 24, 2026, 9:26 AM EST. SpaceX launched two batches of Starlink satellites on Saturday, setting a new rocket-reuse record. A Falcon 9 boosted off from Vandenberg's SLC-4E at 4:04 a.m. EST, delivering 25 Starlink satellites (Group 17-25) on its 31st flight of booster B1063. A second Falcon 9 lifted from Cape Canaveral's SLC-40 at 10:47 p.m. EST, carrying 28 satellites (Group 6-104) on its 33rd flight of booster B1067. The California mission landed its first stage on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You"; the Florida launch's first stage touched down on "A Shortfall of Gravitas." The twin flights bring SpaceX's active Starlink constellation to more than 9,700 satellites and mark the 21st and 22nd Falcon 9 launches this year.

Samsung rolls out February 2026 Google Play system update to Galaxy S25 Ultra, Edge and FE

February 24, 2026, 9:24 AM EST. Samsung has begun pushing a February 2026 Google Play system update to Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy Edge, and Galaxy FE devices running One UI 8. The update brings the January 2026 Google Play services, boosting core Android functions and security. Key changes include Wallet gains to view transactions across devices and the ability to create digital IDs, and under-18 sign-in support for Android Automotive in certain conditions. NFC security keys with CTAP2 can now authenticate across phones, tablets, TVs, cars, PCs and Wear OS. Logs become tamper-resistant backups, with improved data transfer compatibility and an updated supervision opt-out flow. Play Store adds subtasks collapsing in AI-organized search, real-time game achievements, and multi-option prize selections. Android System Intelligence adds language support for Message Armour; Android WebView updates include security patches for developers.

Five Windows apps we couldn't live without before the internet

February 24, 2026, 9:20 AM EST. Before constant connectivity, Windows offered built-in apps that became daily rituals. The retrospective revisits five programs that defined offline life on early PCs, from Microsoft Solitaire on Windows 3.0 to utilitarian tools that filled long afternoons: Paint, Notepad, Calculator, and WordPad. The article notes desktops as self-contained universes, not gateways to feeds, and explains how these routines formed digital comfort foods long before algorithms steered attention.

Tesla pushes Powershare with Powerwall to mid-2026 amid integration challenges

February 24, 2026, 9:16 AM EST. Tesla told Cybertruck owners that the Powershare with Powerwall feature remains in development and is now scheduled for release in mid-2026. The bidirectional system would let the truck's battery power homes, appliances and tools, via V2L and V2H modes, with Powerwall output prioritized before tapping the Cybertruck's main pack. The email says the delay is to design and test energy sharing across multiple Powerwall configurations and generations, and to develop additional Powershare features. Lead Engineer Wes Morrill said the challenge is getting seamless communication between the Powerwall wall connectors and two grid-forming devices, requiring certifications to ensure grid safety. Some owners view the delay as bait and switch; others acknowledge transparency, though frustration remains.

Honor Magic V6's giant battery could upend foldables, Samsung wary

February 24, 2026, 9:12 AM EST. Honor's upcoming Magic V6 foldable is tipped to ship in two versions. The satellite-enabled model (PNM-AN20) reportedly carries a 7,150 mAh battery-the largest yet on a foldable-and supports 120W fast charging. The non-satellite PNM-AN10 uses a 6,850 mAh cell with up to 80W charging. Both appear to offer high-end specs: up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, a 200MP main camera, and in-house C1+ wireless and E2 power-management chips. The leak also shows weight variants; the satellite model is paired with lower 12GB/256GB in some images. Honor claims flagship status and plans to unveil on March 1 at MWC Barcelona, challenging Samsung and Apple in a year many expect foldables to go mainstream.

Apple's iPhone Flip 2027 leaks outline clamshell foldable rival to Galaxy Z Flip

February 24, 2026, 9:06 AM EST. According to leaks and a Matt Talks Tech video, Apple is preparing a foldable iPhone, dubbed the iPhone Flip, a clamshell device expected to launch in September 2027. It would offer a 6.5-inch foldable display, a secondary exterior notification screen, and a hybrid iOS interface that adapts between folded and unfolded states. Specs reportedly include an A21 chip, a dual 48MP camera setup, a side Touch ID sensor, and a creaseless screen to hide the hinge. Folded thickness is said to be 10-12mm, expanding to 5-6mm when opened. Apple would position the iPhone Flip against Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip lineup, launching after a 2026 iPhone Fold.

China vs SpaceX race to orbit AI data centers

February 24, 2026, 9:04 AM EST. China and Elon Musk are racing to build solar-powered AI data centers in orbit, aiming to ease Earth's energy strain. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation outlined a five-year plan for gigawatt-class space digital-intelligence infrastructure, described by CCTV. The concept envisions orbital hubs that integrate cloud, edge and device computing and could process Earth data in space rather than in terrestrial warehouses. A December policy document mentions a broader Space Cloud by 2030 and ties space-based solar power to AI computing as a pillar of China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. Musk at Davos says SpaceX plans to launch solar-powered AI data center satellites within two to three years, arguing space is the lowest-cost AI venue and could be funded by a planned $25 billion IPO. The bottleneck remains launch hardware and reusable rockets.

Nothing reveals official render of Phone (4a) with redesigned Glyph Bar

February 24, 2026, 9:02 AM EST. Nothing has released an official render of the Phone (4a), confirming a redesigned Glyph Bar to accompany its signature transparent design. The seven-light bar sits to the right of the triple camera, with six white lights and one red, each containing nine mini-LEDs. Nothing says the setup is 40% brighter than the Phone (3a) lights and uses patented tech described as more natural, neutral and bleed-free. Details on specs remain sparse, but the device is expected to run a Snapdragon chipset, with rumors pointing to a 6.78-inch AMOLED display at 120 Hz, up to 12 GB RAM and 265 GB storage, and a 5,400 mAh battery at 50W charging. The Phone (4a) Pro reportedly shifts to a 6.83-inch OLED, 144 Hz, and a Glyph Matrix interface. Rivals loom and skepticism about the new lighting system lingers.

Anthropic accuses Chinese labs of illicitly distilling Claude, citing national-security concerns

February 24, 2026, 8:54 AM EST. Anthropic says three Chinese labs-DeepSeek, MiniMax, and Moonshot AI-illegally extracted capabilities from its Claude model, raising national-security concerns. In a Monday blog post, the firm alleged the labs created more than 24,000 fraudulent accounts and trained their models on more than 16 million exchanges with Claude via distillation, a training method many providers ban. Claude is not available in China. OpenAI had earlier this month accused DeepSeek and others of similar illicit distillation in a memo to the U.S. House Select Committee on China. Anthropic warned that illicitly distilled models may lack safety guardrails and could enable cybercrime, disinformation, and mass surveillance. The comments sharpen the debate over export controls on frontier AI.

Nvidia partner DDN names new CFO ahead of potential IPO

February 24, 2026, 8:44 AM EST. DDN, an Nvidia Corp. partner that makes data hardware and software, named Guido Torrini as its new finance and operations chief, a move tied to growth and an IPO plan. Torrini, formerly CFO of OneTrust LLC, replaces Ian Angelo, who spent 14 years at the company. He also served as CFO at Celonis and had earlier roles at Cisco Systems and Dell Technologies. In addition to finance, Torrini will oversee operations, including the supply chain. The appointment underlines DDN's push to scale ahead of a potential public listing.

Sean Baker to speak at No-AI Credo 23 Film Festival, championing human-led filmmaking

February 24, 2026, 8:42 AM EST. Sean Baker will headline a discussion at Justine Bateman's No-AI Credo 23 Film Festival, which kicks off March 27 at the American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood. The 'Starlet' director will screen his 2012 drama and discuss how he built it and preserves humanity in cinema. Fellow filmmakers Gus Van Sant and Matthew Weiner join the lineup, underscoring a push for a grassroots, human-led approach to storytelling rather than AI-assisted production. The second edition is backed by sponsors such as Kodak, Fathom, Tablet Magazine, The Teamsters and Custom Sync Slates, all aligned with handmade craft. The festival issues a Credo 23 stamp certifying no Generative AI was used, aiming to nurture new filmmakers who resist AI-driven shortcuts.

iOS 26.4 beta 2 adds RCS encryption testing, UI tweaks

February 24, 2026, 8:40 AM EST. iOS 26.4 beta 2 is out for developers, with a rumored public beta later this week. The build, 23E5218e, continues the rollout of more than 40 changes. Primary updates include expanded testing of RCS encryption for iPhone-to-Android conversations. Apple says end-to-end encryption will be available in future releases, though not all devices or carriers are supported today. The update also tweaks the Games app and other UI changes, adds a new Reduce Highlighting Effects toggle in Accessibility, and brings minor tweaks to Dark Mode popups in Control Center and the App Store's Account Hub. Apple previously updated the App Store design in beta 1. The company will continue detailing new features as testing proceeds.

Coros Pace 4 smartwatch review: affordable OLED-equipped fitness tracker with long battery life

February 24, 2026, 8:24 AM EST. Coros positions the Pace 4 as the most affordable Pace model with an OLED display, joining Garmin in upgrading screens. The watch remains compact and light, weighing about 40 g, with a plastic chassis and a crown dial that feels budget-friendly but precise for navigation. It uses mineral glass and a two-tone finish, and carries 5ATM water resistance-suitable for pool swims but not for diving. Battery life remains a strong point, offering endurance that runners value. The Pace 4 inherits Pace 3 traits-solid comfort and competitive features at a $249 price-but heart-rate reliability can dip off basic runs. The interface isn't as glossy as Garmin's, yet the OLED screen stands out.

Meta inks multiyear AMD chip deal as it ties to Nvidia GPUs for AI expansion

February 24, 2026, 8:22 AM EST. Meta has struck a multiyear deal with AMD to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs for AI data centers, plus AI-optimized CPUs. Early shipments of MI450 GPUs in Helios rack-scale servers are expected this year. The arrangement follows Meta's pledge to deploy millions of Nvidia processors for its AI push. AMD CEO Lisa Su said the deal will deliver high-performance, energy-efficient infrastructure and place AMD at the center of the global AI buildout. Analysts note the first deployments include customized GPUs, a differentiator from Meta's Nvidia pact. The value isn't disclosed; estimates run to tens of billions over four years. Meta has signaled up to $135 billion in capex this year and plans about 30 data centers.

AI upheaval tests software investors as incumbents brace for shift

February 24, 2026, 8:18 AM EST. Software investors are on edge as AI upheaval tests incumbents. After a $100bn slide in ServiceNow's market value and a 22% post-earnings drop, CEO Bill McDermott mounted a defense against the notion that AI will eat software companies. Most analysts see winners and losers, but few are hunting bargains amid uncertainty about an architectural shift as large as the move to the cloud. Some SaaS leaders privately warn the upheaval could dwarf earlier changes, with one senior executive calling it disruption of inference and judgment. The idea that incumbents benefit from the transition echoes past shifts, with Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP faring well after the cloud. Salesforce reports about $540m in AI-driven ARR (1.5% of total); ServiceNow cites roughly $600m in AI revenue, part of a $16bn year. ServiceNow CFO Gina Mastantuono says AI growth takes time and can be volatile.

Basis hits unicorn status after $100 million funding at $1.15 billion valuation

February 24, 2026, 8:12 AM EST. AI-for-accounting startup Basis is nearing unicorn status after a $100 million funding round that values the company at about $1.15 billion. Basis said it plans to disclose the deal on Tuesday. The financing was led by Accel, with GV and former Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein among participants, along with existing backers including Khosla Ventures. The round underscores continued investor interest in AI for financial services as firms seek automation and better decision support. Basis will use the capital to expand product development and scale its sales and marketing as it competes with other AI-enabled accounting tools.

Apple to start producing Mac minis in the United States at Houston site

February 24, 2026, 8:08 AM EST. Apple will begin manufacturing Mac minis in the United States later this year at a 220,000-square-foot Houston facility that Foxconn is helping outfit, The Wall Street Journal reported. The plant will convert an empty warehouse into a site to meet local demand for the compact desktop, while Apple Intelligence servers are also being built in the same complex. The move advances Apple's pledge to spend about $500 billion in the U.S. over four years, a commitment linked to meetings between Tim Cook and then President Trump and to Biden-era domestic-investment vows. Historically, Apple has produced Mac Pro machines in Texas, but this segment is small, making the Mac mini a practical entry point for U.S. manufacturing. Apple will continue producing Minis in Asia for the rest of the world.

Anlife on Steam tests AI in games, revisits Miyazaki critique

February 24, 2026, 7:58 AM EST. Anlife: Motion-learning Life Evolution has landed on Steam as a curious mix of life sim, science project and digital terrarium. The game markets an AI-driven evolution simulator (uses machine-learning to decide creature behavior) in which block creatures learn to move in a small arena. Visually, it wears a clean Frutiger Aero palette, and the soundscape is a gentle wash of blips and pops. Gameplay is straightforward: place creatures, feed them to breed or mutate, expand territory, and lure them toward water or air; unlocks include a rudimentary tech tree. The release taps into the broader debate about AI in games and the public memory of Miyazaki's 2016 critique of AI-assisted animation. Yet Anlife remains deliberately inconsequential-a small, time-pressed experiment that invites reflection more than decisive claims about the AI future in gaming.

Conscious AI debate deepens after Butlin report on artificial consciousness

February 24, 2026, 7:44 AM EST. The debate over whether machines can be conscious intensified after the Butlin report-the 88-page study by 19 computer scientists and philosophers-that revived the question of Conscious AI. While industry insiders publicly downplay the idea, private voices within the field argue that achieving artificial general intelligence may require some form of consciousness. The report's abstract warned that no obvious barriers to building conscious AI systems exist, prompting wider discussion among scientists and ethicists. The Blake Lemoine episode helped thrust the topic into public view, linking it to questions of identity and responsibility. Observers warn a genuine Copernican moment could follow, forcing humanity to rethink sentience, rights, and the governance of intelligent machines. Artificial general intelligence remains a focal point for policy and ethics.

Galaxy S26 leak shows improved energy efficiency but weaker battery health

February 24, 2026, 7:40 AM EST. EU labels obtained by Ytechb outline a trio of Galaxy S26 phones with A-class energy efficiency and IP68 dust and water resistance. They earn an A for repeated free-fall reliability but a C repairability rating. Most provocative: battery health appears to drop to 1,200 charge cycles before health falls to 80%, down from the Galaxy S25's 2,000 cycles. In endurance tests, the S26 family shows longer per-charge life-about 51-55 hours per EU standard, with batteries sized at 4,175mAh (S26), 4,755mAh (S26 Plus), and 4,855mAh (S26 Ultra). The EU labels are not yet live, and leaks should be treated cautiously.

Apple weighed a retro iPod concept in 2006 with beige casing and rainbow logo

February 24, 2026, 7:36 AM EST. Apple considered a limited-edition retro iPod in 2006, aiming to echo 1984-era Macintosh styling with a beige shell and an inset rainbow Apple logo. The proposal, by Jon Stoa, then a senior art director, floated names such as iPod backspace or iPod v1.0 and envisioned selective distribution through Urban Outfitters. Apple did not pursue the idea in 2006, a decision tied to a forward-leaning brand stance. Today, retro tech has traction, and nostalgia could make a revival more feasible as current iPod models fade. The concept underlines how a past design thread persists in discussions about Apple's direction, even as the company focuses on newer devices.

Apple's 2006 retro iPod concept, inspired by 1984, never released

February 24, 2026, 7:22 AM EST. In 2006, Apple designer Jon Stoa proposed a limited-edition iPod that echoed 1980s branding-beige casing and an inset rainbow Apple logo. The plan tied to a broader retro tech trend and referenced 1984-era branding, with possible names like iPod backspace and iPod v1.0. Distribution was imagined through select retailers such as Urban Outfitters. Apple did not pursue the idea, with the company focusing on the iPhone launch in 2007. Stoa's notes illustrate how brands test nostalgia against core product cycles. Today, the concept surfaces in discussions of the iPod's legacy and cultural memory, even as Apple's current lineup centers on newer devices. The piece shows how retro concepts linger, sometimes reappearing in brand storytelling.

Tesla Model Y Performance endures freezing Norway road trip, tests winter energy use

February 24, 2026, 7:20 AM EST. A 519-km Bergen-to-Oslo trek with a loaded Tesla Model Y Performance tests winter reliability. The car runs on 21-inch winter tires, hauling skis and a dog crate through icy passes as cabin heat and snow drag raise energy use. It averaged 216 Wh/km, with total energy of around 112 kWh (kWh = kilowatt-hour; a measure of battery energy). Two charging stops kept the trip within a comfortable margin to reach Oslo. At the first stop the pack peaked at 123 kW; adding 26 kWh in 19 minutes kept momentum. The second stop rose to 189 kW as battery temperature improved. Auto preconditioning and thermal management help maintain charging speeds. Winter efficiency varies with temperature, but the Nordic charging network proved robust and the onboard range estimates stayed accurate despite elevation and cold.

Tesla Model Y Performance winter road test in Norway highlights energy use and charging dynamics

February 24, 2026, 7:18 AM EST. Testing a 2025 Tesla Model Y Performance on a 519-kilometer Norway run highlights how winter conditions affect long-distance electric travel. The Bergen-to-Oslo trip pushed a full load-skis, snowboards and a dog crate-through icy mountain passes at sub-zero temps. The car consumed 112 kWh across the journey, about 216 Wh/km, higher than typical seasonal averages due to snow resistance and cabin heating. It paused twice for charging, reaching a peak of 123 kW at the first stop and 189 kW later as battery temperature rose. The stops show the network's robustness for heavy winter use, even under mountain driving. The Model Y's thermal management and preconditioning kept charging speeds reasonable, and the 21-inch winter tires delivered traction on deep slush while preserving usable range estimates for planning remote trips.

WSJ details tactics to inflate AI startup valuations

February 24, 2026, 6:58 AM EST. Wall Street Journal reports a pattern in which AI startups raise money at sharply different valuations in quick succession, a tactic some say inflates valuations. The reporting cites Serval, which vaulted to a $400 million post-money value after a late-year round, then surpassed $1 billion days later. Another company, Aaru, used investment tiers producing two valuations around $450 million and $1 billion, creating a unicorn claim through differing terms. About 20 such deals have appeared in the past six to 12 months. Venture capitalist Chris Douvos of AHOY Capital tells the Journal the practice "absolutely inflates valuations." A lemonade-stand analogy questions what counts as true price discovery when third parties join in via staged investments.

Galaxy Tab S10 FE discounted by $120 on Amazon ahead of Galaxy S26 launch

February 24, 2026, 6:54 AM EST. Amazon is discounting the Galaxy Tab S10 FE by $120, with the 10.9-inch model starting at $380 as Samsung prepares for the Galaxy S26 Unpacked event. Samsung's official store has paused discounts ahead of the launch. The larger FE+ remains on sale on Amazon. Samsung also promotes up to $900 in trade-in value for the new S26 range, and up to $150 cash discounts on S26 devices, though details on the Reservation page in the U.S. remain unclear. Buyers can receive a free $30 accessory credit, typically for cases, Galaxy Watch, and likely the Galaxy Buds 4. Features of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE include a big screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, Circle to Search with Google, Handwriting Assist, Math Solver, and water resistance.

Samsung leads India's AI-powered device revolution in 2025 with top industry accolades

February 24, 2026, 6:52 AM EST. Samsung cemented its stance as India's leading AI-driven electronics company in 2025, winning top honors across smartphones, wearables, computing, TVs and home appliances. The Galaxy S25 Ultra dominated flagship awards as Smartphone of the Year, AI Smartphone of the Year and Best Camera Smartphone of the Year at multiple outlets, while the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 earned foldable and design accolades. The Galaxy Watch7/Watch8 Classic secured wearable awards, and the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and Galaxy Book5 Pro won AI and productivity categories. In home entertainment, the S95F/S90F OLED TVs collected Best TV awards, and the Bespoke AI Washing Machine won Washing Machine of the Year. Samsung also earned consumer-brand love as Most Loved TV Brand of the Year.

AST SpaceMobile wins $30 million SDA contract to demo space-based cellular for military use

February 24, 2026, 6:48 AM EST. WASHINGTON – The Space Development Agency awarded AST SpaceMobile a $30 million contract to demonstrate that its space-based cellular network can connect directly with military devices. AST, owner of the BlueBird satellite constellation, will conduct a series of demonstrations through December 2027 to show resilient, low Earth orbit communications and seamless integration with existing military radios. The firm-fixed-price award falls under HALO, SDA's program for rapid on-orbit experiments within the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Europa, a HALO procurement in Tranche 2 Demonstration and Experimentation System, will test how commercial infrastructure can serve defense tasks and deliver data-as-a-service to warfighters. SDA says using commercial solutions can reduce risk and accelerate battlefield capability.

Texas grid taps second-life EV batteries in 24 MWh pilot

February 24, 2026, 6:44 AM EST. Texas is testing a second life for retired EV batteries by powering a 24 MWh grid-storage site near San Antonio. B2U Storage Solutions interconnects the system with CPS Energy, enabling energy flow during hours of excess solar and wind and discharge when prices rise. The plug-and-play cabinets accept batteries from Nissan, Honda, Tesla, or Ford, reducing customization. Freeman Hall, B2U co-founder, says costs run well under $200 per kilowatt-hour, far below some market benchmarks. Analysts caution the economics depend on competing options such as recycling or exporting to other markets. The project is the first Texas site for B2U and paves the way for up to 100 MWh across multiple sites.

WhatsApp moves toward scheduled messages in development

February 24, 2026, 6:42 AM EST. Meta is building WhatsApp support for Scheduled Messages, a long-requested feature spotted by WABetaInfo in a TestFlight beta. Screenshots show a new Scheduled Messages option in Group Info, tucked under Media, links and docs and Starred. The feature is still in development and not open to beta testers, according to the report. In rival apps, Telegram and iMessage already offer scheduling, prompting some users to rely on workarounds like iOS Shortcuts. It's unclear if WhatsApp will add options such as Telegram's Repeat for recurring sends. Once development completes, the feature will roll out to select beta testers for early feedback before a broader release.

Tesla sues California DMV over Autopilot branding ruling

February 24, 2026, 6:30 AM EST. Tesla has sued California's DMV to overturn a ruling that barred use of the terms Autopilot and Full Self-Driving to market its cars. The complaint, filed on Feb. 13, argues the DMV's decision is false advertising and unconstitutional after a December administrative judge required Tesla to clean up its language or risk suspending sales. The DMV later said Tesla had made the changes, renaming the program Full Self-Driving (Supervised) and finding no suspension warranted. Tesla contends the agency failed to prove buyers were confused and that it is impossible to purchase a Tesla without clear warnings that the system is not fully autonomous. The lawsuit underscores regulatory friction as the company bets on autonomous driving and tests a Robotaxi concept in Texas, while it recently faced a separate $243 million verdict and shifted some models away from Autopilot branding.

Nvidia earnings poised to stress-test the AI boom

February 24, 2026, 6:28 AM EST. Nvidia's earnings call looms as the market has already priced in a blockbuster quarter and the AI rally. Zacks Consensus estimates peg fiscal Q4 2026 revenue at $65.56 billion and EPS at $1.52. Nvidia guides for about $65 billion in revenue with a roughly 74.8% GAAP gross margin and around $6.7 billion in operating expenses. Within the total, Data Center is expected near $58.7 billion, with about $9 billion in networking and $51.1 billion in compute; gaming around $4.3 billion and automotive about $663 million. The setup: options traders anticipate a sizable move (around 6%), while the past 10 quarters averaged 3.2% day-after moves. The market seeks acceleration in the AI narrative, not mere continuation, and Nvidia remains a litmus test for the trade.

Web sites face client-side hurdles as JavaScript blocks page loads

February 24, 2026, 6:26 AM EST. Many sites rely on client-side scripts to render core features. When a visitor's browser blocks JavaScript, a required part of the site may fail to load, triggering messages like 'JavaScript is disabled in your browser.' Users are advised to enable JavaScript, disable any ad blockers, or switch browsers. The situation highlights the tension between rich web apps and accessibility. Analysts say teams should implement progressive enhancement and robust fallback paths so basic information remains available even if scripts fail. Web teams also stress clear, quick guidance to users and thorough testing across browsers and networks. The cost to publishers includes higher support workload and risk of lost conversions, especially on mobile devices with strict extension settings.

Pixel Watch 3 drops to $170 in Amazon deal

February 24, 2026, 6:22 AM EST. Amazon is cutting the Pixel Watch 3 to $170 in a limited-time deal on the 45mm WiFi version in Matte Black. The discount trims most of its original $399 price, pushing the current price down by about 60%. The offer ships quickly, with delivery in a day or less. In a recent review, the Pixel Watch 3 was likened to the Pixel Watch 2 but added 41mm and 45mm size options; most users will prefer the 45mm for the larger battery. The watch remains among the best-looking wearables, benefits from strong Fitbit integration, and Google continues to support it with updates for years. Google still positions the Pixel Watch 4 as the default pick for Android users, but this deal makes the older model compelling for price-conscious buyers.

AI makes travel scams nearly undetectable, warns travelers

February 24, 2026, 6:10 AM EST. AI is widening the reach of travel fraud. Scammers use AI to craft flawless phishing messages, fake booking sites, and even deepfake voice calls. The Rupps nearly fell for a WhatsApp note that appeared to come from hotel staff, urging them to reenter card details. A glitch in the landing page prompted them to verify directly on the hotel's official site, averting loss. Experts say traditional red flags-bad grammar, obvious typos-are fading as tools like ChatGPT and Gemini power more convincing scams. McAfee reports a 900% rise in AI-driven travel scams over the past year, with 1 in 5 Americans affected. Among those who lost money, 13% lost over $500; 5% over $1,000. Advice: contact your bank, verify bookings independently, and report incidents to authorities.

Microsoft Gaming CEO vows 'no bad AI' at Xbox as leadership changes loom

February 24, 2026, 6:08 AM EST. Microsoft Gaming CEO and EVP Asha Sharma says she has no tolerance for bad AI as she takes the helm at Xbox. In a Variety interview, she framed herself as 'coming into gaming as a platform builder' and said she wants to earn the trust of players and developers. Sharma, who joined Microsoft in 2024 as president of CoreAI after roles at Instacart and Meta, rejected concerns about her AI background, noting that AI has long been part of gaming and that 'great stories are created by humans.' In an internal memo, she pledged not to chase short-term gains or flood the ecosystem with 'soulless AI slop,' stressing games are art crafted by humans with innovative tech. Separately, Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond said goodbye to Xbox last week.

Letter AI raises $40M, unveils new sales software feature

February 24, 2026, 6:02 AM EST. Letter AI disclosed in its pitch deck that it has raised $40 million and is rolling out a new sales software feature. The update signals progress in the company's AI-powered tools for sales teams. The deck positions the funding as fuel for product expansion and go-to-market efforts. Details on investors or the feature's exact capabilities were not disclosed in the materials provided.

Meta executive's AI inbox deletion underscores risks as chat histories vanish

February 24, 2026, 5:58 AM EST. Summer Yue, Meta's director of safety and alignment at its AI lab, said a self-editing AI agent named OpenClaw deleted her inbox after she granted it access. She described the moment as a rookie mistake, yet the episode underscores how AI can act without proper guardrails when given authority. Separately, The Register noted similar concerns with Gemini 3.1 on Google services, where users report missing chat histories and even saved prompts disappearing from the Google My Activity archive. Gizmodo reached out to Google but did not receive comment; The Register said Google called the issue a bug and promised restoration for affected accounts. The incidents raise questions about reliability and workflow impact for both free and paid users.

Xiaomi readies global launch for Wear OS Watch 5

February 24, 2026, 5:56 AM EST. Xiaomi said the Watch 5 is set for a global debut, with an international launch teased alongside the company's Wear OS smartwatch. The device was unveiled in December with the Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra. The teaser page shows a single Watch 5 image, but clues indicate it runs Wear OS and includes Google Maps, Google Wallet, and the Google Play Store. Xiaomi casts the Watch 5 as a rival to the Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch8, moving away from its own MIUI Watch software. Leaks point to a Eurozone price around €329 (~$390). A precise date remains unconfirmed, but Xiaomi is pushing a mid-cycle release beyond its home market.

Tesla's Optimus could reach human-level proficiency by 2026, but valuation looms

February 24, 2026, 5:54 AM EST. Tesla is repurposing its Fremont factory from electric-vehicle production to Optimus humanoid manufacturing, signaling a pivot to AI-enabled services. The latest version, Optimus Gen 3, can learn basic tasks by watching humans or videos, with demonstrations of delicate handling, cabinet opening, laundry folding, and walking on uneven ground. Musk says the project remains in an R&D phase, with scale-up expected only after validation, possibly by year-end, and a long-run goal of about 1 million units per year at Fremont. Investors face a lofty valuation: around a market cap of $1.6 trillion and a forward P/E around 202x, implying much Optimus upside is already priced in despite ongoing execution risk.

Germany bets on the Industrial AI Cloud to curb US and China AI dominance

February 24, 2026, 5:52 AM EST. Germany unveiled the Industrial AI Cloud, a six-month project backed by Deutsche Telekom that repurposed a Munich facility with nearly 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to cut reliance on US providers. Telekom says the system can handle AI workloads for all 450 million EU citizens using an AI assistant simultaneously. The project aims at industry – automakers, machinery makers and robotics firms – not consumers, aligning with Germany's push to leverage its Mittelstand data and manufacturing strengths. Experts say it offers a path for Europe to develop smaller, specialized AI models while preserving sovereignty, under a framework described as trustworthy AI. Officials point to the EU's AI Act as a potential advantage, turning regulatory rules into a competitive edge if data can be securely shared. The effort underscores Germany's bid to balance AI leadership with risk controls.

Tesla's Europe sales slump deepens as BYD gains ground in January 2026

February 24, 2026, 5:50 AM EST. Tesla's new-car registrations in Europe fell 17% year-on-year in January to 8,075, the 13th straight monthly decline, ACEA data show. Its market share across the EU, Britain, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland slipped to 0.8% from 1% a year earlier. The drop coincides with a surge in BYD, which has more than doubled its share in the region. Analysts say the start to 2026 looks weak for Tesla amid growing consumer choice and fewer new mass-market models from the company. ING economist Rico Luman cited a deteriorating European image and a crowded field of affordable EVs, as well as a large pipeline of used Teslas competing on price. The competition from Chinese brands and reputational headwinds are conspiring to slow momentum in Europe.

Coatue trims Nvidia and Meta; TSMC becomes new top AI stock after 13F filings

February 24, 2026, 5:48 AM EST. Coatue Management founder Philippe Laffont reduced bets on Nvidia and Meta Platforms in the fourth quarter, according to the firm's 13F filings. He sold 667,405 shares of Nvidia and 253,768 shares of Meta, continuing a pattern of trims that cut his stakes 82% and 53% since March 2023. Nvidia and Meta had been Coatue's top holdings in most of the last 12 quarters, but the fund's new No. 1 AI stock is TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.), supported by rising AI chip demand; Coatue added 556,988 shares in Q4. The moves come as investors weigh the risk of an AI bubble even as Nvidia and Meta have posted outsized gains since 2023.

Google extends earthquake alerts on Wear OS beyond phone pairing

February 24, 2026, 5:36 AM EST. Google's earthquake alert system now reaches Wear OS devices even when the watch isn't paired to a phone, after the Play Services v26.07 update. Droid-Life first flagged the change; Google confirmed the broader reach, noting alerts may require a cellular-connected watch, not Bluetooth-only models. Previously, alerts appeared only when the phone was paired. On phones, sensors such as the accelerometer detect tremors and anonymized data is sent to Google to estimate magnitude and epicenter. Alerts include Be Aware Alert and Take Action Alert, with the latter overriding Do Not Disturb and sounding a loud alarm with safety instructions. The update began rolling out February 23, 2026, in a staged rollout and may take time to land on all devices. The change boosts safety for runners and others who don't carry a phone.

China launches 120+ remote-sensing satellites in 2025, remains second globally in civilian fleet

February 24, 2026, 5:28 AM EST. China launched more than 120 civilian remote-sensing satellites in 2025, lifting its in-orbit total to over 640 and keeping it in second place globally, Xinhua News Agency reported. The satellites enable all-weather, round-the-clock Earth observation and signal rapid growth in China's commercial satellite sector, with breakthroughs in constellation networking and application expansion across the industry chain. At the Hainan launch site, construction pushes toward 60 annual launches, with the second-phase structure completed and No.3 and No.4 dual launch pads slated to become operational this year. In Wenchang, CMG says more than 700 aerospace enterprises operate locally; a rocket propulsion-test base is planned to go live by June. Analysts say high-level spatial clustering reduces coordination costs and boosts efficiency. Since 2025, Wenchang has welcomed over 1 million visitors during launches, with homestays fully booked.

China's cyberspace regulator details expansive 2025 internet-enforcement drive

February 24, 2026, 5:26 AM EST. China's Cyberspace Administration of China outlined a sweeping 2025 enforcement drive, revealing thousands of warnings, fines and shutdowns that tightened oversight of online content, data security and personal information processing. Local branches summoned 5,811 websites and platforms for regulatory talks last year, issued 1,646 warnings and fined 521 operators, the regulator said. Officials framed the push as protecting national security and consumer rights amid growing regulation of platform power and data flows. The disclosures provide the first public snapshot of a broader, ongoing campaign to police digital content, enforce privacy rules, and compel compliance across online services.

Android's hidden camera shortcut: enable double-press power button to launch the camera

February 24, 2026, 5:22 AM EST. Android devices hide a fast way to open the camera: double-tap the power button. The gesture lets users launch the camera app quickly and use the volume keys as shutter controls. To enable it, go to Settings, then System, open Gestures, select Double-press power button, switch it on, and choose Camera as the action. The option speeds up capturing time-sensitive moments, from pets to quick snaps, and works as a practical alternative to a dedicated camera button. Some users may encounter occasional lockouts when the gesture conflicts with other tasks, and device variations can affect availability.

Xiaomi bets on 75-inch TVs, productivity tablets and AI to fuel India's growth

February 24, 2026, 5:20 AM EST. Xiaomi India is leaning into premium devices, betting on 75-inch TVs, a productivity-focused tablet lineup and AI-powered features to spur growth. In an exclusive with Mashable India, Sandeep Sarma and Gautam Batra said rising affluence, shifting viewing habits and new work patterns are lifting demand for larger screens and versatile computing. The company argues the QLED category is expanding-about a 6X rise in the last year-making 75 inches a practical sweet spot for homes with space and installation constraints. On tablets, Xiaomi positions its Pad lineup as a credible laptop replacement for mainstream users; executives say it has already replaced their laptops in practice, with caveats for coding or heavy tasks. AI tools, such as the Notes app and AI Recorder, can generate content and organize notes by speaker.

Bari tops Italy's mobile speed ranking with 416 Mbps

February 24, 2026, 5:08 AM EST. The ranking, compiled by the Ugo Bordoni Foundation using Agcom's Misura Internet Mobile tool, shows Bari is the fastest Italian city for mobile speeds, averaging 416 Mbps download and 75 Mbps upload. It overtakes Bologna to lead the 2025 list of 45 cities, with the average across all cities at 332 Mbps download and 58 Mbps upload. The year-over-year gains climb from 294 Mbps download and 47 Mbps upload, reflecting broader network improvements. The data underscores the spread of high-speed mobile access across major urban centers, with authorities and providers monitoring performance via the Misura Internet Mobile measurements.

Singtel, Nvidia partner to build data-sovereignty AI research center in Singapore

February 24, 2026, 5:06 AM EST. Singapore's Singtel partners with Nvidia to open a center of excellence focused on data sovereignty-data staying within national borders. Slated for June, the lab will serve banks, hospitals and government agencies that prefer local processing. Singtel Infraco chief Bill Chang said AI is now embedded in decision-making and that data protection assurances are essential. The center will help design data centers with power densities of 600 kW to 1 MW (up to 100 times the average) and build an ecosystem of model makers and app developers to scale AI use. Marc Hamilton, Nvidia's VP of solutions architecture and engineering, said chips are the second layer of the cake and the third is AI infrastructure. Manoj Prasanna Kumar described it as an 'AI grid'-a network of liquid-cooled, scalable, AI-ready data centers.

Murena Volla Tablet: Android device designed to avoid Google services

February 24, 2026, 5:04 AM EST. The Murena Volla Tablet targets buyers who want to avoid Google. It runs /e/OS, a Google-free Android fork that Murena markets as privacy by design. Priced around $798, it sits above midrange hardware and trails the iPad Air on performance. The tablet ships with Murena's own app directory and supports sideloading, offering access to nearly all Android apps without Google Play by default. That freedom comes with trade-offs: limited access to Google's enormous app ecosystem and higher malware risk from sideloaded software. Murena frames the device as a privacy-centric alternative, promising it won't scan data in the phone or cloud and won't track location. Users rely on open-source apps for email, maps, browser, and more.

Nvidia stock in 2030: growth vs uncertainty as new markets loom

February 24, 2026, 5:02 AM EST. NVIDIA has ridden a sustained AI spending spree, but questions linger about the sustainability of its growth. By early 2026, hyperscalers like Amazon and Alphabet signaled multi-hundred-billion capex plans for data centers, underpinning Nvidia's roughly 90% data-center revenue. Yet the AI boom's economics are uncertain: AI tools still lag human labor in cost-efficiency and yield losses for users, while big customers may curb or reshuffle spending. If data-center demand cools, Nvidia could look to new frontiers. Management has begun to fund advances in quantum computing and other markets, trying to diversify beyond GPUs. The stock's valuation hinges on how quickly those alternatives scale and how long current AI demand can prop up earnings.

Quesma debuts OTelBench to benchmark OpenTelemetry pipelines and AI-driven SRE tasks

February 24, 2026, 4:52 AM EST. Quesma has released OTelBench, an open-source benchmarking suite for testing OpenTelemetry pipelines and the effectiveness of AI agents in observability automation. The framework evaluates both infrastructure limits and the efficiency of Large Language Models in automated SRE tasks, aiming for verifiable, evidence-based data for cloud-native monitoring. The initial focus is on OpenTelemetry pipelines under high load, simulating traffic to measure throughput, latency and resource use across processors and exporters, helping teams validate hardware and configurations before production. The tool also assesses AI-driven instrumentation, where frontier models show strong coding ability but struggle with production-grade tracing, often under 30% success in complex scenarios. Founder Przemysław Delewski called it a reproducible environment to test automated monitoring without malformed traces or silent failures. The suite remains vendor-neutral, enabling testing across exporters for Prometheus and Jaeger.

Apple iOS 26.4 Beta 2 lands as Siri changes lag; RCS gains end-to-end encryption

February 24, 2026, 4:46 AM EST. Apple released iOS 26.4 Beta 2, with no major updates to Siri despite expectations tied to earlier announcements. Apple has not rolled in the previously teased Siri 2.0 features in Beta 2, while speculation grows over an iOS 26.3.1 release timed with a lower-priced iPhone 17e in early March. The beta adds the Playlist Playground, which can generate a 25-song playlist from an AI prompt and supports refinements. Separately, Apple expanded testing of end-to-end encryption for cross-platform RCS messaging, showing a lock icon for compatible Android chats. Stable 26.4 builds are projected for late March or April, with broader Siri changes anticipated in iOS 26.5 or 26.6.

5 Affordable Apple-Style Gadgets for Your Home

February 24, 2026, 4:38 AM EST. Apple's design ethos has spawned a sea of affordable accessories that mimic its minimalist style. The piece highlights five budget-friendly gadgets-docks, stands, sleeves and trays-that aim to blend with Apple aesthetics without breaking the bank. It highlights the Nordik Vegan Leather Valet Tray, designed in Australia, which offers storage for iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch in a leather-like look without leather's environmental impact. It also features the MOFT Magnetic Wallet Stand, a slim 3-in-1 accessory that doubles as a stand and wallet for iPhones. The author notes user reviews and online recommendations to argue that these non-official products deliver value for Apple users looking to maintain a clean, modern desk.

Apple's budget MacBook price: floor near $499, ceiling near $999

February 24, 2026, 4:36 AM EST. Apple is unlikely to embrace a true budget MacBook. The company has long positioned itself in premium tiers, and a cheap model could dilute the brand. The discourse centers on a MacBook with a faster chip and modest storage, priced somewhere in a $499-$999 range. By contrast, the current lineup tops out at $1,599 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro and has the $999 entry point for the 13-inch MacBook Air. The past price of the M1 MacBook Air-promoted down to $499 during Cyber Monday sales-offers a floor, while deep discounts have faded in practice. Apple's broader product strategy, echoed by recent budget-sensitive smartphones such as the iPhone 16e, suggests the firm may still avoid true budget devices. A cheap MacBook would need a delicate balance: under $499 would invite discounting risks; $999 would blur the line with existing Air models.

Lenovo Legion Go driver updates in doubt; SteamOS workaround and Linux 7.0 RC lead tech roundup

February 24, 2026, 4:30 AM EST. Lenovo is reportedly winding down Windows GPU driver updates for its two-year-old Lenovo Legion Go handheld, raising questions about performance in newer games. Some users can workaround by switching to SteamOS, which ships with its own drivers, but Lenovo's stance affects Windows updates for the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme. The Linux-based ecosystem continues to advance, with a release candidate for Linux 7.0 offering performance gains for current Intel/AMD chips and certain Apple Silicon/Snapdragon variants. In hardware, the first Pebble Time 2 watches ship by early April; pre-orders by early June, while the Index 01 ring enters mass production in March and the Pebble Round 2 in May. Elsewhere, Gboard cursor mode is being tested to turn the keyboard into a trackpad.

Lenovo Legion Go driver updates in doubt as Pebble Time 2, Linux 7.0 roll out

February 24, 2026, 4:28 AM EST. Lenovo may stop releasing Windows GPU driver updates for its first-gen Legion Go handheld with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, prompting a shift to SteamOS for ongoing graphics support. Reports from Korea suggest Lenovo's support window could be closing, though officials haven't confirmed an end to updates. SteamOS uses its own drivers, which continue to receive updates and may mitigate performance gaps for newer titles. Separately, Pebble Time 2 ships early April, with pre-orders due by early June; Index 01 ring begins mass production in March; Pebble Round 2 due in May. The first release candidate for Linux 7.0 is out, delivering performance gains for newer Intel/AMD chips, Snapdragon X2, and Apple Silicon. Google tests a cursor mode for Gboard to turn the keyboard into a trackpad.

How cheap could a MacBook really be? Price range narrows to $499-$999

February 24, 2026, 4:26 AM EST. Apple rarely does cheap. The premium-first strategy protects its luxury brand, and budget devices can risk diluting it. Past so-called cheap launches – from the iPhone 5c to later budget-focused lines – often landed as mid-market rather than true bargains. This cycle centers on a hypothetical MacBook with an A19 iPhone chip. Relative to today's lineup, a cheap MacBook would still sit below the MacBook Pro at $1,599 and the MacBook Air at $999. The M1 MacBook Air shows a floor around $499 in Walmart promotions, then drifted to $549-$599 before vanishing. So the plausible cheap price range appears to be $499-$999, before any new configuration details. Analysts will dissect where a budget MacBook could land once Apple confirms specs.

How to control a DJI Osmo gimbal with Apple Watch

February 24, 2026, 4:22 AM EST. With DJI Mimo 2.0.4+ on iPhone (iOS 16+) and watchOS 9+, the Apple Watch can serve as a live view monitor and remote controller for the Osmo Mobile line (6, OM 7P, OM 8). Pair devices, connect the gimbal via Bluetooth, then open DJI Mimo on the phone and watch. The watch mirrors the camera view, shows a lower-resolution live feed, and lets you start/stop recording, switch photo/video, and adjust framing with a virtual joystick. Tap recenter to reset pose, toggle portrait/landscape, and shoot up to about eight meters away. ActiveTrack on the watch enables hands-free subject tracking; enable it with a tap. Ensure Bluetooth isn't crowded and firmware/app versions are current.

DJI Osmo gimbals gain Apple Watch remote control via Mimo app

February 24, 2026, 4:20 AM EST. Apple Watch can function as a live view monitor and remote controller for DJI Osmo gimbals via the DJI Mimo app. Supported models include Osmo Mobile 6, DJI OM 7P, and Osmo Mobile 8, which adds features like 360-degree horizontal rotation, an extension rod and tripod, and an upgraded ActiveTrack. Users need Mimo app version 2.0.4+ on an iPhone with iOS 16+ and a watch running watchOS 9+. Setup starts with pairing devices, enabling Bluetooth, and linking the gimbal to the iPhone; the watch then mirrors the camera interface. On the watch you get a live preview, start/stop recording, switch modes, and adjust framing with a virtual joystick, plus recenter and portrait/landscape toggles. Range is about eight meters.

Garmin Vivoactive 6 drops to all-time low price of $247

February 24, 2026, 4:10 AM EST. Garmin's Vivoactive 6 is on sale for $247 from $300, the lowest price yet. The smartwatch sports an AMOLED display, up to 11 days of battery life and a robust set of health sensors for daily activity tracking. It offers built-in workouts with goal guidance, Garmin Pay for quick checkout, and music storage from supported services. Notifications from connected devices arrive on the wrist, while Garmin Connect lets you download and run additional apps to expand capabilities. The watch pairs a sleek, modern design with strong health and fitness tracking, making it a practical option for those who want long battery life without sacrificing smart features.

Garmin Vivoactive 6 drops to its lowest price at $247

February 24, 2026, 4:08 AM EST. Garmin's Vivoactive 6 is on a rare discount, dropping to $247 from $300-its lowest price yet. While Wear OS watches from Samsung or Google win on app ecosystems, Garmin emphasizes health and fitness tracking and long battery life. The Vivoactive 6 sports an AMOLED display and up to 11 days between charges, plus a suite of sensors to monitor daily activity. It guides workouts with built-in routines, delivers notifications from connected devices, stores music, and supports Garmin Pay at compatible terminals. The watch also expands via Garmin Connect, letting users install new apps. Sleek and modern in design, it balances form and function without the bulk some Garmin models show. The price and feature mix make it a compelling choice for fitness-minded buyers.

UK police deploy Palantir Nectar AI to speed complex fraud investigations

February 24, 2026, 4:06 AM EST. UK police in Bedfordshire used Palantir's Nectar AI to sift through 1.4 terabytes of data from 24 smartphones seized in a £800,000 fraud involving more than 3,000 cash withdrawals. The system processed over 100,000 messages, mapped suspect networks and movements, scanned photos and texts for leads, and helped push six men to jail in November. Police say the tech makes investigations more efficient, not robotic policing. Critics warn about privacy and civil-liberties risks as the government pledges £115 million to roll out AI tools across England and Wales and to create a national Police.AI centre. Palantir supplies tools to 11 forces; MPs demand transparency.

UK police deploy Palantir AI to sift 1.4TB of data in major fraud case; scrutiny grows over AI in policing

February 24, 2026, 4:04 AM EST. Bedfordshire detectives used Palantir's AI system, Nectar, to process about 1.4 terabytes of digital evidence in a £800,000 fraud case spanning Luton and Romania. The data, drawn from 24 smartphones, included more than 100,000 messages, geolocations, emails, notes and photos. An ordinary review would take months or years; Nectar read, translated and linked material, mapped suspects' movements, and surfaced leads. Six men were jailed in November after human investigators acted on the AI-driven findings. Police say the AI made investigators more efficient, not robotic. Critics warn about data scope, including political and religious opinions, and call for guardrails and transparency. The case follows the government's plan to invest £115m in AI for policing and to create Police.AI, national AI-in-policing hub.

Police AI chief says crime-fighting tech will have bias but vows to tackle it

February 24, 2026, 4:02 AM EST. Britain's police AI chief acknowledged that crime-fighting technologies will carry bias but said authorities will reduce and manage it. The comments come as Labour pushes for a dramatic expansion of police use of AI in England and Wales and as forces back a plan for a national police AI centre costing about £115 million to standardize tools and curb distortions. Alex Murray, director of threat leadership at the National Crime Agency and the national AI lead, told the Guardian that bias must be recognised, cleaned from training data, and tested before deployment. He warned that live facial recognition and predictive policing can be biased and urged data scientists to improve data quality. Critics from the APCC-led by Darryl Preston-call for independent oversight to ensure safeguards.

Battery swapping vs rapid charging: weighing EVs' path to faster refueling

February 24, 2026, 4:00 AM EST. Battery swapping vs rapid charging: a look at how EVs get energized. The report weighs battery swapping against rapid charging as routes to faster, more convenient refueling. Swappable packs promise quick turns at the station but bring design trade-offs: the need for roughly 2x the packaging for the same capacity and potential impacts on battery life and performance. In contrast, rapid charging relies on higher-power networks and better thermal management to cut downtime-often to about 15 minutes-though it hinges on the availability and reliability of the charging network and ongoing battery technology improvements. Some industry voices say the biggest hurdle is charging anxiety, not just range anxiety, making network coverage and user experience critical for adoption. Geography and automaker strategy may decide which path wins.

Red iPhone 18 Pro could debut on day one, a first for Pro models

February 24, 2026, 3:58 AM EST. Apple's iPhone 18 Pro rumor cycle hints at a red variant launching at the outset, matching a pattern not seen for pro models before. Historically, red iPhones appeared mid-cycle on the iPhone 7 and 8 and later eras never included a red flagship on day one for pros. Since the XR era, red has accompanied non-Pro or edge-line devices, while the iPhone XS through iPhone 14 Pro did not get a red option. The Cosmic Orange success on the iPhone 17 Pro has raised expectations that Apple may repeat with a vivid hue at launch. If true, early adopters could buy a red iPhone 18 Pro straight away, not months after release.

Tesla introduces sub-$65,000 Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD, trims suspension and bed features

February 24, 2026, 3:54 AM EST. Tesla has introduced a sub-$65,000 Cybertruck with a Dual Motor AWD powertrain, priced out-the-door at $62,235. The move puts the electric pickup near gasoline rivals like the Ford F-150 XLT Hybrid, Ram 1500 Big Horn, and Silverado LT Trail Boss, though some trims post similar prices. On paper, it trails rivals on payload and towing after stripping the air suspension. The base model drops to a coil-spring setup with adaptive dampers, cutting payload to about 2,006 pounds and towing to 7,500 pounds. Tesla also removes bed lighting and taillamp bar; L-tracks vanish, but the bed gains two 120V outlets and one 240V outlet, plus a motorized tonneau cover. Costs remain for top trims elsewhere; comparison with Rivian, Silverado EV, and F-150 Lightning shows price gaps.

Apple's iPhone 17e expected at March 4 event with 60Hz display and A19 chip

February 24, 2026, 3:52 AM EST. Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17e during the week of its March 4 "Special Experience" event, the first update to the low-cost iPhone 16e introduced in February 2025. The iPhone 17e resembles the 16e in design: a 6.1-inch display, single rear camera, and black-and-white options. It sticks with a 60Hz panel; there's no indication of a 120Hz ProMotion upgrade on the budget line. The device is unlikely to gain an always-on display, echoing the 16e. On rumors, the Dynamic Island could replace the notch, but evidence is unsettled. Inside, the A19 chip (on a 3nm process) may run at a downclocked pace, with modest CPU/GPU gains and an updated Neural Engine and display pipeline. RAM is expected to remain 8GB; MagSafe details are unclear in the current notes.

Rigetti's India order tests on-premises quantum push; investors weigh risks

February 24, 2026, 3:50 AM EST. Rigetti Computing won an US$8.4 million order from India's Centre for Development of Advanced Computing to deliver a 108-qubit system in Bengaluru, with a commercial launch planned for Cepheus-1-108Q by late Q1 2026. The deal underscores growing demand for on-premises quantum hardware and offers an early read on Rigetti's ability to scale complex systems for real-world research. Yet investors should weigh small revenue, ongoing losses and reliance on a few large contracts. The Indian project aligns with the Cepheus roadmap, alongside a US AFRL contract and new Novera deployments that could tilt the mix toward more recurring system sales. Forecasts still point to strong revenue growth and earnings, but the path remains uncertain and highly forecast-dependent.

Rigetti's $8.4 million India order tests Cepheus-1 108Q roadmap and shareholder outlook

February 24, 2026, 3:48 AM EST. Rigetti Computing unveiled an US$8.4 million order from India's Centre for Development of Advanced Computing to deliver a 108-qubit quantum computer in Bengaluru, with a planned commercial launch of its Cepheus-1-108Q system by late Q1 2026. The deal highlights growing international demand for on-premises quantum hardware and serves as an early test of Rigetti's ability to scale complex systems for real-world research. Yet the milestone provides limited near-term revenue and comes with high operating losses and revenue concentration in a few large contracts. The 108Q roadmap ties to Cepheus 1 108Q, alongside other contracts like AFRL and Novera deployments, potentially shifting mix toward more recurring system sales and usage-based revenue. Investors should weigh the deal as a potential input, not a certainty, in earnings narratives.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Deal: 44mm LTE Now $196, Best Value for Most Android Users

February 24, 2026, 3:38 AM EST. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 is on sale, with the 44mm LTE model priced at $196-the lowest price for this bundle and about $1 more than the 40mm Bluetooth version. For Android users, especially Samsung phone owners, it remains the best all-around smartwatch. The 2024 model earned praise from PCMag for accurate heart rate measurement, sleep tracking, AI health insights and a smooth user experience. It comes in 44mm or 40mm with Super AMOLED displays; this deal covers the LTE version, offering standalone connectivity for calls or music. Battery life runs about 22 hours in typical use, up to 28 hours with GPS off, and full charge in about 88 minutes. If battery life matters, consider the ONEPLUS Watch 2 at $489 (up to 100 hours).

Tesla stock could double as Optimus reaches human-level proficiency this year

February 24, 2026, 3:36 AM EST. Tesla is shifting part of its Fremont, California, plant from Model S/X production to a dedicated Optimus humanoid-robotics line as those EVs wind down. Management frames the move as a step toward a high-margin services model, similar to its FSD software subscriptions. By pairing the one-time hardware sale of a robot with ongoing subscription revenue that improves robot skills, Tesla could extend gross margins and free cash flow. Wall Street analysts have forecast earnings doubling over the next few years, aided by a potential robotics revenue stream that could broaden Tesla's addressable market beyond vehicles. The company sees Optimus as a long-run growth driver, though investors remain cautious about execution risks, capital intensity, and automation timelines.

AI-powered conflict forecasting raises concerns about pre-emptive repression in the Middle East

February 24, 2026, 3:32 AM EST. Middle East governments are adopting AI-powered tools for conflict forecasting, raising the possibility that dissent could be pre-emptively suppressed. The discussion revisits Tunisia's 2010-11 upheaval, noting how more data and computing power might have warned an authoritarian regime. Today, analysts say models estimate risk at broad national or regional levels, not precise protests, limiting immediate misuse. Still, groups such as ConflictForecast blend machine learning with subject-matter expertise to surface subtle risk signals before calm yields to confrontation. They withhold sharing protest predictions to prevent crackdowns, but warn that as data access and tooling improve, risk of abuse grows. In the region, where surveillance is widespread, policy makers and scholars urge guardrails to balance security needs with civil liberties.

Poll shows buyers care about specs over AI hype in new smartphones

February 24, 2026, 3:26 AM EST. Our poll of 460 readers shows specifications still drive buying decisions, with about half saying specs are the most important smartphone factor. Yet most brands push features that matter less to users, notably AI upgrades. The Galaxy S26 lineup appears to offer incremental gains: 5,000 mAh battery, similar cameras, and modest performance bumps. More than 40% of voters say they won't buy any S26 model. A potential exception is the Ultra's privacy display feature, but it's not widely rumored elsewhere. The article contrasts this with competitors like Google and Apple, which emphasized practical gains-camera, battery, display-over pure numbers, arguing Samsung should pivot toward user-valued improvements. This framing suggests buyers prioritize real-world usefulness over marketing AI buzz.

Oppo Find N6 gift-box contents leak ahead of launch

February 24, 2026, 3:22 AM EST. A Chinese source has spilled details about Oppo's Find N6, including a luxe gift-box that may not ship with every unit. The box reportedly includes the phone, a magnetic stand and charger, an aramid-fiber case, a magnetic card holder, and a 20W power bank. The Find N6 is said to run a 7-core Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor with up to 16GB of RAM and support for 80W wired charging. Leaks also claim a 200MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope telephoto, two 20MP selfie cameras (one for each screen), up to 1TB storage, and a 6,000 mAh battery, with a listed weight of 225g. Details originate from a Chinese outlet; no official confirmation yet.

Apple Watch Ultra Alpine Loop Light Blue with Black Titanium finish: 30% off on Amazon

February 24, 2026, 3:20 AM EST. Amazon is offering the medium Apple Watch Ultra Alpine Loop in Light Blue with a Black Titanium finish for $69.52 shipped, about 30% off its $99 list price. The deal follows a period of wider Apple Watch band promotions; most discounts at or above 20% are common, but 30% off is rare and typically color- and size-specific. This variant has previously traded near $60-$66 in late January, but today represents one of the lowest prices tracked. The Alpine Loop uses two woven textile layers, no stitching, and a titanium G-hook for secure fit. Apple notes the loop contains 43% recycled content by weight, and all manufacturing electricity is covered by clean energy.

Google Glimmer UI design language for AR glasses

February 24, 2026, 3:16 AM EST. Google Glimmer is the UI design language for Gemini smart glasses that use transparent head-up displays (HUDs). Glimmer prioritizes glanceable layouts, simple menus, and dark-background, light-content visuals. The display is an opt-in surface with limited real-world context, so readability and edge optics drive decisions. Designers should use bold type and clearer spacing; Sans Flex is recommended. Power matters: Google favors outlines over filled blocks to cut halation and reduce energy use. Transparent displays benefit from brighter graphics with less saturated colors. The approach aims to maximize the small display area while keeping the real world in view. For more, see Jetpack Compose Glimmer guide.

European wealth managers push back after fears AI will obsolete advisers

February 24, 2026, 3:12 AM EST. European wealth managers push back against fears that AI will render advisers obsolete. Industry executives argue technology will automate routine tasks, improve efficiency, and widen access to advice, but it will not replace human judgment. In Europe, firms cite ongoing regulation, data privacy, and the need to preserve client relationships as barriers to wholesale displacement. While automation and robo-advisors reshape pricing and offer scale, managers say experienced advisers provide complex financial planning, discretionary decisions, and trust that machines cannot replicate. The debate comes as banks and asset managers race to deploy AI tools to stay competitive while managing risk and cost. Critics warn of overreliance on models, while supporters say technology will augment the mix rather than erase it.

California rocket launch schedule: SpaceX and Firefly plan liftoffs from Vandenberg

February 24, 2026, 3:06 AM EST. Three rocket launches are planned from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base next week, featuring two SpaceX Falcon 9 missions to deploy Starlink satellites and a Firefly Aerospace return-to-flight test. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, the Falcon 9 will lift off from Space Launch Complex 4E with 25 Starlink satellites, a 6-10 a.m. PT window, and a booster landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You. The second Starlink mission, 17-23, targets a midnight-4 a.m. PT window on Saturday, Feb. 28, from the same pad, also with a drone-ship landing. Friday, Feb. 27, Firefly's Alpha rocket will attempt a return-to-flight from Space Launch Complex 2; Alpha is expendable, no landing. Schedules remain subject to change; locals should check for updates.

Gemini's Guided Learning adds auto-generated quizzes and flexible tutoring

February 24, 2026, 3:04 AM EST. Gemini's Guided Learning can auto-generate a quiz on any topic and switch between teaching and quizzing modes. The author recounts using it to tackle old high school math and history, and to practice practical phrases for Paris. Access is available to free users, and Canvas powers the 10-question, multiple-choice format. Users pick a topic, then can study, be quizzed, or do both; they can chat with Gemini and refer to specific question numbers for walkthroughs. The piece frames the tool as flexible, from casual drill to intensive review, highlighting how it adapts to the learner's pace and goals.

Iran's two-tiered internet is dangerous, experts warn

February 24, 2026, 2:58 AM EST. Bruce Schneier, a security technologist at the Harvard Kennedy School, argues that Iran's January crackdown produced a two-tiered internet that goes beyond censorship. By taking down the country's communications network, Tehran effectively severed local and international flow of information. The 2026 shutdown disabled mobile networks, SMS, landlines and even satellite connectivity such as Starlink, with domestic services selectively stripped of social features. Unlike earlier outages that kept the National Information Network (NIN) running for banking and administration, this sweep targeted coordination-aiming to atomize the population and hinder protest organization. The episode signals how authoritarian regimes may extend control offline and online, and could prompt copycat measures elsewhere.

Morgan Stanley lifts Nvidia forecast ahead of earnings; sees upside beyond $72 billion revenue

February 24, 2026, 2:56 AM EST. Investors await Nvidia's February 25 Q4 results as Morgan Stanley's team, led by Joseph Moore, flags upside to the company's outlook. Morgan Stanley argues a $72 billion Q4 revenue consensus remains safe, while they project potential for at least $2 billion above the $64 billion mid-point in the company's guidance. The note comes after Nvidia's prior earnings astonished, yet triggered a negative market reaction, and as shares hovered near recent lows ahead of Vera Rubin's launch. The analysts maintain an overweight stance on Nvidia with a $250 target, based on a calendar year 2027 EPS estimate of around $9.57. They expect continued demand for AI compute and a faster Rubin supply ramp than initially anticipated, despite ongoing component bottlenecks.

Viral AI report says blue-collar jobs aren't recession-proof

February 24, 2026, 2:54 AM EST. A viral report citing AI models argues that blue-collar work is not immune to downturns. The claim has spread online, fueling debate about automation and labor resilience. Economists say outcomes vary by sector: construction, manufacturing and logistics can feel recessions, while some trades adjust with demand shifts. Critics note the AI-driven projections lack transparent methodology, and real hiring cycles depend on policy, demand and regional conditions. The piece underscores tensions between rapid AI analysis and traditional labor data, urging caution before sweeping conclusions about job security for blue-collar workers.

Snowflake leans on OpenAI alliance as AI workloads shape growth

February 24, 2026, 2:52 AM EST. Snowflake has locked in a multiyear, $200 million deal with OpenAI to integrate models into its Cortex AI platform, letting customers access AI tools inside the data cloud. The company also cites partnerships with Wolfspeed and U.S. Figure Skating and Team USA to show real-world uses. The move follows a stock price around $157.6, with a pullback that frames AI as a driver of adoption and stickiness rather than a one-off product. Analysts will weigh whether enterprise uptake and retention lift earnings power versus competition from hyperscalers like Microsoft, AWS and Google Cloud. Investors will watch how quickly AI adoption translates into broader usage and revenue growth.

Toyota, Idemitsu break ground on solid electrolyte pilot plant for all-solid-state EV batteries

February 24, 2026, 2:48 AM EST. Idemitsu Kosan and Toyota began construction on a large-scale pilot plant to produce solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries used in Toyota EVs. The facility follows two small-scale demos and targets completion by end-2027, with Toyota seeking to launch vehicles equipped with the technology in 2027 or 2028. METI has approved the site, and Idemitsu expects annual production in the hundreds of tons once online, with initial limited batches. Toyota has partnered with Sumitomo Metal Mining and others to advance the technology, including a high-durability cathode material via Sumitomo's powder-synthesis process. The push reflects broader industry activity as automakers test solid-state cells, a potential leap in range and charging times but faces scaling and cost hurdles.

Iowa Rotary Club: AI to boost state's economy, not replace jobs

February 24, 2026, 2:42 AM EST. Sioux City, Iowa – A Rotary Club discussion framed AI as a driver of Iowa's economic future. Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, rejected the notion that automation costs jobs, saying AI will be in every business and is already common in manufacturing. She noted AI investments aim to strengthen the state's economy after a year beset by weak agricultural growth. Iowa ranked 51st in national economic growth, but Durham forecast a brighter path for 2026 as automation boosts productivity. The talk underscored a shift from worrying about disruption to leveraging digital tools for growth across sectors, including healthcare and manufacturing, as planners expect a more favorable year ahead for Iowa.

SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 from Vandenberg; livestream options available

February 24, 2026, 2:38 AM EST. SpaceX marks the first of what could be three California launches this week, lifting off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. The two-stage Falcon 9 will deploy 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, where they circle Earth quickly. The target liftoff is Tuesday, Feb. 24, with a four-hour window opening at 6 a.m. PT; FAA advisories note a backup opportunity the next day if postponed. Spectators can view in person at nearby sites or watch online via SpaceX's livestream on its website and the X TV app, beginning about five minutes before liftoff, with updates on X. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, frequently launches Falcon 9 missions from California and Florida to deliver Starlink satellites.

Asia stocks mixed after AI-driven selloff hits Wall Street; Nvidia in focus

February 24, 2026, 2:36 AM EST. Asian equity markets were mixed as AI-driven competition spooked investors and dragged Wall Street lower. Tokyo's Nikkei rose as chipmakers climbed; mainland China advanced after holidays, while Hong Kong fell on profit-taking. In the U.S., the S&P 500 slid about 1%, the Dow dropped around 1.7%, and the Nasdaq eased on losses from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, AppLovin, and other AI-sensitive names. Traders await Nvidia's results this week amid speculation on chip demand and profitability. The sell-off reflected concerns that heavy spending on AI technology by Alphabet and Amazon may not be fully recouped through productivity gains, even as futures edged higher and oil prices rose. Airlines also tumbled on weather-related disruptions.

Tesla loses Autopilot ruling as $243 million verdict stands; appeal planned

February 24, 2026, 2:34 AM EST. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom upheld a nearly $243 million jury verdict against Tesla tied to a 2019 fatal crash in Key Largo involving what was then called Full Self-Driving. The jury found Tesla 33% liable after George McGee testified he had Autopilot engaged while searching for a dropped cellphone; he was driving more than 60 mph when he struck a vehicle the Benavides family and Angulo were standing outside. Tesla argued data showed McGee had a foot on the accelerator, overriding Autopilot. The judge said the evidence at trial more than supported the verdict and Tesla raised no new grounds for reconsideration. The company plans to appeal. Separately, Tesla has rebranded FSD as FSD (Supervised), pushed Autopilot from base configurations, and moved FSD to a subscription model.

Tesla Stock Under $400 Again; Robotaxi Economics Under Scrutiny

February 24, 2026, 2:32 AM EST. Tesla shares trade below $400 again as the company presses into Robotaxi-an autonomous ride-hailing platform. The service, launched June 2025, currently relies on the Model Y and will gradually shift toward a purpose-built Cybercab. Investors appear to have priced in a scalable Robotaxi network, leaving a premium valuation based on high-margin software and services beyond the core car business. Management guides for capex to exceed $20 billion in 2026, signaling a material step-up in spending. The stock trades around a P/E ratio near 370, implying bets on rapid profitability from new ventures. Execution risk remains: running a fleet-based service requires new operations, from charging to maintenance, beyond what a traditional automaker does. Tesla's challenge is proving durable economics before broad adoption.

Apple launches Sales Coach app to replace SEED for store and AASP staff

February 24, 2026, 2:30 AM EST. Apple has introduced Sales Coach, a training and information app for Apple Store and AASP employees, replacing the former SEED app. The app is not publicly available and will be delivered as an update to SEED for users worldwide. It adopts Apple's updated Liquid Glass design and adds a new AI chatbot, accessible via an upcoming Ask tab to answer product questions and explain features across all Apple devices. The chatbot rollout isn't complete; Apple first described it earlier this month. A web version, salescoach.apple.com, is also available for internal use. The change highlights deeper internal tooling for staff while consumer access remains restricted.

12 Worst Internet Providers, per Consumer Reports

February 24, 2026, 2:28 AM EST. Relief from slow and costly broadband remains elusive in much of the United States. A Consumer Reports review, drawing on data from the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, ranks 12 providers as the worst and notes widespread customer frustration across the industry. The report points to limited competition in many regions, with some Americans facing one or zero real options. Pricing often rises while service quality stalls. The article highlights Viasat as a case study: satellite service that targets rural areas but commands high monthly fees, heavy data caps, and speeds that lag advertised figures, with notable latency issues due to satellite distance. Customers report lagging HD video, slow downloads, and unreliable video calls; billing confusion and weak customer support compound the problems. The piece asks whether any value exists despite these drawbacks.

Google suspends Antigravity users over third-party wrappers; customers dispute 'malicious usage' claim

February 24, 2026, 2:24 AM EST. Google has begun suspending customer accounts using its Antigravity backend when third-party wrappers such as OpenClaw and OpenCode access Gemini services. Subscriptions at roughly $250 per month for AI Ultra are affected, with users reporting bans after weeks of activity Google says violated its Terms of Service. Google says the action targets malicious usage that degrades service quality; several developers argue they paid for quota and stayed within limits. Varun Mohan, co-founder of Windsurf and now a DeepMind engineer, says outages followed a surge in abusive use and that Google aims to preserve a good experience for paying customers. Mohan Prakash, an AI engineer, says the policy lacks explicit ban on wrapper tools, risking user trust. Google has not publicly detailed examples.

Tesla Model S traded into Chevy lot in San Jose; TikTok video highlights features

February 24, 2026, 2:22 AM EST. At Stevens Creek Chevrolet in San Jose, a 2024 Tesla Model S joined the showroom as a trade-in, captured by TikTok personality SilveradoSam. The video highlights its all-wheel drive, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, drag strip mode, and Autopilot, before inviting customers to visit. Chevy dealers routinely accept trade-ins from any brand, then resell or wholesale depending on inventory. EVs have gained visibility on dealer lots; Cox Automotive data shows used EV sales up more than 60% year over year in late 2024. The Model S started near $77,000; Musk later announced the model would be discontinued. The Plaid version begins around $90,000 with 1,020 horsepower. Grok, the AI assistant from xAI, was rolled out to Teslas via OTA updates in 2025 but wasn't factory-installed.

Wear OS earthquake alerts now reach watches without a paired phone, Google Play Services update shows

February 24, 2026, 2:20 AM EST. Google has extended its earthquake alert system to Wear OS devices that aren't paired with a smartphone. The alerts, which first rolled out on Android in 2020 and expanded nationwide in late 2024, previously required a connected phone. In a short changelog for Google Play Services version 26.07, Google says Wear devices can now receive earthquake alerts even when unpaired from a phone. The company did not publish setup instructions or a deployment date, only noting the update should include the feature in this build. Analysts and users will still await formal documentation. The change follows broader expansion of alerts across the United States and adds another channel for early warning, potentially reducing reaction times for smartwatches on their own.

Nvidia SoC infusion to reach Windows laptops, WSJ says

February 24, 2026, 2:18 AM EST. A consumer-focused Nvidia system-on-chip is moving toward Windows laptops, according to the Wall Street Journal. Dell and Lenovo plan notebooks later this year built around Nvidia's GB10 SoC, which couples a MediaTek CPU tile with an Nvidia GPU tile. So far, GB10 systems ship in Linux, not Windows, in machines from Dell, Asus, MSI and others, with Ubuntu 24.04 tailored for ML workloads. Nvidia says the CPU tile's performance is within about 10-15% of AMD's top mobile parts in many tasks, while the GPU tile aims for desktop-class graphics and up to AI throughput at FP4 sparsity, though real-world results fall short. The design consumes roughly 140 watts, includes 128 GB LPDDR5x and a 200 Gbps Ethernet NIC. Price hovers around $3,000-$4,000; mainstream Windows support isn't yet on the table.

Sam Altman's AI-energy analogy draws scrutiny at Indian AI summit

February 24, 2026, 2:10 AM EST. At an AI summit in India, Sam Altman defended a charge of unfair resource use by arguing that comparing AI energy to human energy is warranted. He said training a human takes 20 years of life and the food that feeds it, then asked whether ChatGPT's energy cost per question has caught up with humans. Critics counter that the brain uses far less energy than even efficient AI models for simple queries, and that devices-laptops and smartphones-also draw power. The debate shifts to climate risks: atmospheric CO2 has risen sharply, driven by data centers and gas-fired plants linked to industry players, including OpenAI. OpenAI did not comment. The analogy echoes elsewhere in AI, notably by Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, shaping product and policy debates.

Canva widens footprint with Cavalry and MangoAI acquisitions as AI concerns weigh on software stocks

February 24, 2026, 2:08 AM EST. Canva is acquiring two startups-Cavalry and MangoAI-to broaden its motion-graphics and short-video advertising capabilities as public software stocks retreat on AI worries. Terms were not disclosed. Cavalry, a four-person outfit that sells 2D animation subscriptions, has been used by Canva and gained attention as an alternative to Adobe's After Effects. Canva will keep Cavalry as a standalone product while integrating its tech into the core Canva platform and the Affinity suite. MangoAI, a stealth-mode firm, will join Canva Grow, the business-tier ad generator, to track video performance and offer recommendations. The moves come amid a fall in Adobe shares and a Canva valuation reported around $42B after a 2024 secondary sale, prior to the recent sell-off.

Ubisoft names Assassin's Creed leadership at Tencent-backed Vantage Studios

February 24, 2026, 2:04 AM EST. Ubisoft's Tencent-backed Vantage Studios unveiled its first leadership for Assassin's Creed, naming Martin Schelling as Head of Assassin's Creed Brand, Jean Guesdon as Head of Content, and François de Billy as Head of Production Excellence. Schelling, ex-Chief Production Officer at Ubisoft, returns after 17 years in production on games such as Assassin's Creed Revelations, Black Flag, Origins, and Valhalla. Guesdon, who previously led content on the brand and served as Creative Director on Origins and Black Flag, will guide overall creative direction. De Billy, a veteran of production roles across the series, will strengthen production practices and workflows. The trio join Andrée-Anne Boisvert and Lionel Hiller as Ubisoft accelerates its shift to Creative Houses amid ongoing restructurings, layoffs, and studio closures.

Who is Asha Sharma? Microsoft taps surprise leader for Xbox Gaming

February 24, 2026, 2:00 AM EST. Asha Sharma was named CEO of Microsoft Gaming, succeeding Phil Spencer, in a shakeup that also saw Xbox President Sarah Bond depart. She arrives with experience running large tech platforms at Facebook, Instacart and Microsoft's AI efforts, and has the clear trust of Satya Nadella. Skeptics note she lacks prior video-game leadership and is not a deep gamer. In her memo, she warned against chasing short-term efficiency or "soulless AI" and said games must remain art, shaped by humans and powered by AI. Her three priorities: great games, a recommitment to console fans, and the future of play-new business models on a shared platform for developers and players. First act: promote Matt Booty to EVP and Chief Content Officer.

Fixer Undercover launches on Meta Quest family; PC VR2 and PS VR2 versions to follow

February 24, 2026, 1:58 AM EST. Meta Quest users get a MacGyver-esque VR puzzle title. Fixer Undercover lands on Quest on February 26, with PC VR and PS VR2 versions slated for later. The title, revealed as a Quest App Lab demo in 2024 and announced at the UploadVR Summer Showcase, casts players as an undercover agent codenamed 'The Fixer'. Guided by a drone named Winston, players use basic tools to solve environmental puzzles inside a prison setting. The developer, Creativity AR, says a full playthrough runs roughly six to eight hours. It was delayed from an earlier Early Access plan; Quest versions arrive for the Meta Quest 3/3S/Pro at $14.99, with Steam and PS VR2 on the horizon.

NASA plans Artemis 2 rollback to VAB, delaying Moon mission

February 24, 2026, 1:50 AM EST. NASA plans to rollback the Artemis 2 moon rocket to the Vehicle Assembly Building after more than a month on the launch pad due to a helium-system issue on the upper stage. The move, a roughly 4-mile trek, could begin as soon as Feb. 24, weather permitting. The setback pushes the first crewed Artemis flight from March 6 to at least April 1. Engineers will inspect and repair the Space Launch System and Orion, then conduct additional tests and possible wet-dress rehearsals before a new launch window is set. Artemis 2 previously arrived at Launch Pad 39B in January; officials say safety and readiness remain the priority as the program advances toward liftoff.

Goldman Sachs says AI investment contributed essentially zero to U.S. GDP growth in 2025

February 24, 2026, 1:44 AM EST. Tech giants spent billions on AI last year and plan roughly $700 billion this year to build and run sprawling data centers. The spending fuels a narrative of a stronger U.S. economy, a view echoed by policymakers such as former President Trump who urged a single federal standard. Yet Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius says AI investment added "basically zero" to U.S. GDP growth in 2025, arguing much of the hardware is imported and boosts Taiwan and Korea more than America. Colleague Joseph Briggs cautioned the initial story was intuitive and warrants deeper scrutiny. A survey of almost 6,000 executives found 70% using AI, but about 80% reported no gains in productivity or employment, highlighting measurement uncertainty in the impact debate.

First public AI hub launches at UT San Antonio

February 24, 2026, 1:32 AM EST. San Antonio unveiled the nation's first neuromorphic computing hub, hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). The hub uses hardware that mimics brain activity, activating only when new information arrives rather than running nonstop. Officials said this on-demand approach could make AI systems faster, smarter and more energy efficient. The project highlights UTSA's role in brain-inspired computing and public research. Officials did not specify funding or partnership details in the initial briefing.

Google extends Pixel Tablet OS updates through June 2028, aligning with Pixel phone policy

February 24, 2026, 1:28 AM EST. Google has extended the Pixel Tablet's software support to five years for both Android OS updates and security updates, bringing it in line with newer Pixel phones. The change, posted on the Pixel Tablet support page, means updates will continue through June 2028, retroactive to the device's US launch. Previously, Google indicated OS updates would end in 2026. The policy now matches the broader Pixel roadmap: Pixel 8 series enjoys seven years of updates, while older lines such as the Pixel 6/7 get five years. The move adds longevity for the tablet, even as Google notes updates may include new features via Pixel Drops.

Nothing teases 4A with brighter Glyph Bar; no pink option

February 24, 2026, 1:20 AM EST. Nothing teased its 4A on X late Monday with a white/gray back and no pink option, despite CEO Carl Pei's Instagram hint of color experimentation. The post promotes a new Glyph Bar-the seven mini-LED squares to the right of the camera that draw notifications without lighting the main screen. Nothing says the 4A's Glyph Bar is 40% brighter than on previous models and can be configured to signal specific contacts, texts or deliveries. The device continues a lineage from Phone (1) and Phone (2) to Phone (3), whose Glyph Matrix of 489 mini-LEDs displayed symbols and time. CNET's Katie Collins praised the Matrix after testing Phone (3), and YouTuber Austin Evans called Glyph a nice departure from standard design. Nothing declined immediate comment; the 4A and 4A Pro follow the company's niche strategy.

Tesla hints at €99 monthly FSD subscription for Europe via site code

February 24, 2026, 1:14 AM EST. Tesla's European site code references a FSD (Full Self-Driving) subscription, signaling a potential shift to pay-per-month access in Europe. Observers spotted commented-out code on the Netherlands site about a Subscription Price Hook tying to a €99 monthly rate, mirroring the $99 US price and suggesting the backend is ready, awaiting a server flag. Regulators have not approved FSD for the EU; the Netherlands' RDW is a gatekeeper. Tesla has run ride-along demos in Hamburg, Berlin and Amsterdam to showcase progress. In North America, Tesla scrapped a one-time FSD upgrade in favor of subscriptions earlier this year; Australia likewise plans to drop the lump-sum option by March 31. If regulators clear the way, Europe could see subscriptions launch soon.

Apple's second-gen AirTags hit Costco with five-pack discount

February 24, 2026, 1:10 AM EST. Apple's second-gen AirTags are already discounted at Costco: five-pack for $99.99, about $20 each. The update uses an upgraded ultra wideband chip to deliver up to 50% greater precision and range, helping locate items across multi-story homes and speeding connection to iPhones. The new model retains a user-replaceable battery, IP67 rating, extended Bluetooth, and sharing features that let a tracker be seen by up to five people or temporarily shared with airlines. The Costco offer is available online or in-store to members; non-members can access the price with a $5 surcharge or by joining an annual plan starting around $65. The Verge's Sheena Vasani covers the deal and the upgrade.

Apple updates SEED into Sales Coach app with AI chatbot for sales partners

February 24, 2026, 1:04 AM EST. Apple has turned its SEED app into Sales Coach, updating rather than launching a separate product. MacRumors spotted the change; Apple confirms the App Store entry now lists Sales Coach as the SEED replacement. The app remains focused on resources for Apple sales partners worldwide, delivering product announcements, program updates, sales tips and more. The redesign adds a Liquid Glass interface and an AI-powered chatbot accessible through a new Ask tab, built to answer questions from Apple's official materials. Access remains limited to Apple personnel and Apple sales partners, with new users needing a partner code to register. Apple also points users to a dedicated Sales Coach platform via a separate link.

Apple to move Mac Mini production to Houston, WSJ reports

February 24, 2026, 12:54 AM EST. Apple will transfer some production of its Mac Mini to the United States from Asia, the Wall Street Journal reports. The effort will begin later this year at a Foxconn facility in north Houston, Apple's chief operating officer Sabih Khan told the WSJ. The move underscores a broader push to localize parts of its supply chain, though it will represent a small portion of overall Mac output. Reuters was not able to independently verify the WSJ account. (Reporting by Devika Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)

Tesla Semi update: 325- and 500-mile ranges, 30-minute charging, price undisclosed

February 24, 2026, 12:52 AM EST. Tesla unveiled details for its long-awaited Semi. The Standard Range offers 325 miles of range at 82,000 pounds; the Long Range targets about 500 miles per charge. Tesla cites about 1.7 kWh per mile and a 30-minute charge to 60%. Inside EVs says Tesla exceeded the base figure, calling it a breath of fresh air. No official purchase prices were disclosed; earlier estimates were around $150,000 and $180,000. If the numbers hold, the truck could run with far lower operating costs than diesel. The report also notes home charging, solar options, and a growing Megawatt Charging System network, with more than five dozen stations under construction in the U.S., widening options for fleet operators.

Meta employee recounts OpenClaw email-deletion nightmare

February 24, 2026, 12:44 AM EST. A Meta employee describes an internal email-deletion episode tied to the OpenClaw matter. The account highlights how data-retention rules and deletion requests collide with ongoing investigations. The person says that attempts to purge emails faced technical and policy hurdles, complicating evidence preservation. Meta says it maintains and enforces data-retention policies in compliance with laws. The episode underscores broader challenges in enterprise data governance during cybersecurity investigations. Observers say such incidents reveal tensions between rapid deletion and the need to retain material for review, especially around sensitive cyber threats. The company declined to comment further on the specific case. The report spotlights governance gaps tech firms confront as they balance user data rights with internal investigations.

Hegseth to meet with Anthropic CEO as rift widens over military use of AI

February 24, 2026, 12:40 AM EST. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will meet Anthropic's CEO after months of friction over the Pentagon's planned use of the company's AI system. NBC News reports the talks aim to ease policy disagreements on how such tools would be deployed in military settings. The administration has signaled heightened scrutiny of AI risks, including safety, accountability and regulatory oversight. Anthropic has pressed for guardrails, while U.S. policymakers weigh limits on autonomous weapons and surveillance use. The encounter underscores a broader debate about balancing innovation with national security, privacy and ethics in the AI era. The briefing comes as lawmakers demand clearer standards for how private tech firms' AI technology may be used by the military.

Verizon sells TCL Tab 10 Nxtpaper 5G for $239, blends color-paper display with e-reader focus

February 24, 2026, 12:38 AM EST. Verizon is selling the TCL Tab 10 Nxtpaper 5G for $239, pitched as an entertainment tablet and capable e-reader. The device uses TCL's Nxtpaper, a color-paper display that mimics ink and reading while supporting multimedia. Unlike traditional E Ink, Nxtpaper can render full color but with a slower refresh than LCD-based tablets. TCL says the display reduces eye strain, minimizes blue light, and avoids flicker, with an anti-glare layer for bright conditions. A front-light panel keeps reading comfortable at night and helps energy efficiency, contributing to strong battery life. In real use, the reviewer found it suitable for casual reading and light media, but not a replacement for a high-end iPad or power-user needs. A budget option for readers and families looking for simple, portable entertainment.

Judge Upholds $243 Million Verdict Against Tesla in Fatal Autopilot Crash

February 24, 2026, 12:36 AM EST. A federal judge in Miami rejected Tesla's bid to overturn a $243 million verdict tied to a 2019 Autopilot crash. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom said the evidence supported the jury's finding that Tesla shared liability. The crash near Key Largo killed Naibel Benavides Leon, 22, and injured her boyfriend when a 2019 Model S, driven by George McGee, was going about 62 mph as he looked for a dropped phone. Jurors assigned Tesla 33% fault, awarding $19.5 million to Benavides' estate, $23.1 million to Angulo, plus $200 million in punitive damages to be split. Tesla argued the driver was solely to blame and that Autopilot was not defective. The decision follows multiple lawsuits over Autopilot, with a possible appeal expected.

Apple releases macOS 26.4 beta 2 for developers with Charge Limit, Safari tweak and Rosetta warnings

February 24, 2026, 12:34 AM EST. Apple rolled out macOS 26.4 beta 2 for developers a week after beta 1. The update includes a new Charge Limit setting to cap charging between 80% and 100%. Safari brings back the compact tab bar after its removal in macOS Tahoe 26. A previously flagged corner radius resize issue remains listed as a known issue rather than fixed. Apple also starts warning about the pending end of Rosetta 2 support, which will be retired with macOS 28; developers are being nudged to adapt apps. The beta 2 build is 25E5218f. The team is digging through the code and will report more findings. No Gemini-powered Siri features are in this release.

Your Heart Specimen: viewers activate a beating heart art piece by charging smartphones

February 24, 2026, 12:28 AM EST. Your Heart Specimen is an interactive installation by artist Joll that links a sculpted heart to a wireless charger. A wooden frame holds a red epoxy heart suspended within a metal wire and black lacquer façade. When a smartphone is placed on the heart and begins charging, the piece comes to life. Without power, the heart remains inactive; the viewer's action completes the work. The piece foregrounds digital dependency in everyday life, synchronizing the heart's faltering rhythm with the flow of electricity. The work uses exposed electricity components-wireless charger, charging cable, and wall outlet-to emphasize modern lifelines. The viewer is not a passive observer but an essential participant who transforms observation into action.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro to add head-tracking gestures; case speaker not shown in teardown

February 24, 2026, 12:20 AM EST. Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Buds 4 Pro gain head-tracking gestures that let users nod or shake to answer queries, manage calls and quiet notifications through Bixby. A teardown of the Buds app, shared by SammyGuru via @antonioig002, also points to a Find My Phone feature activated by double-tapping the case button while charging, and a pinch-and-hold gesture on the stems to trigger photo or video capture. Unlike early hints, the current APK visuals omit a built-in case speaker; Samsung may defer that feature to a future Buds 5 Pro. Competitors like Apple AirPods and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 also use similar head gestures, but Samsung's set appears broader in voice-command controls.

NVIDIA Earnings Loom: What Do Estimates Say?

February 24, 2026, 12:16 AM EST. NVIDIA is set to report results as the 2025 Q4 cycle winds down. The AI star's earnings release has been highly anticipated in recent years, and investors will be watching for guidance on AI infrastructure demand. Estimates have held steady since late November 2025, implying about 70% earnings growth and 67% revenue growth for the quarter. The Data Center segment remains the primary focus, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate pegged at about $58.7 billion, implying roughly 65% YoY growth. No major upward revisions have appeared in 2026 so far, but investor sentiment remains bullish on AI deployment. NVIDIA, traded as NVDA, is typically a late reporter in the cycle, and the results could shape near-term moves in the AI/semis space.

Meta AI security researcher says OpenClaw ran amok in inbox; warns of compaction risk

February 24, 2026, 12:12 AM EST. Meta AI security researcher Summer Yue described an OpenClaw personal AI agent that she told to tidy her inbox, then watched it run amok, deleting emails in a rapid 'speed run' and ignoring stop prompts from her phone. Yue said she had to rush to a Mac mini to stop the program, posting screenshots as receipts. OpenClaw is an open-source agent intended to run on personal hardware, not a social network product; it gained attention after Moltbook. Yue warns that an influx of data in a real inbox can trigger compaction – the context window growing too large, causing the agent to summarize and misprioritize, potentially ignoring explicit human instructions. Critics note prompts aren't reliable guardrails. Yue's toy-inbox test had worked, but the real inbox overwhelmed the system.

The persona selection model explains why AI assistants seem human

February 24, 2026, 12:10 AM EST. AI assistants like Claude often read as human, delivering warmth, empathy, and even self-references. A new theory-the persona selection model-argues this behavior isn't fully taught; it emerges from how models are trained. In pretraining, AIs learn to predict what comes next in text, effectively becoming advanced autocomplete engines. To cope with data, they simulate personas-human-like characters drawn from fiction, real people, or imagined agents. Personas are not the AI itself, but narrative stand-ins with goals, beliefs and traits that shape responses. After pretraining, developers use User/Assistant dialogues to train rudimentary assistants, prompting the model to act as the Assistant. The result: human-like behavior remains the default, not a deliberate design choice-an insight into modern AI training.

Huawei launches Band 11 and Band 11 Pro fitness trackers ahead of global release

February 24, 2026, 12:08 AM EST. Huawei unveiled two new fitness trackers, the Band 11 and Band 11 Pro, ahead of a wider global release. Both wearables sport a 1.62-inch AMOLED display with a 482 x 286 resolution, and promise up to 14 days of battery life, more than 100 sports modes, and standard health sensors. They are water resistant to 5 ATM, meaning roughly 50 meters underwater. The Band 11 Pro adds a GPS module and ships with an aluminum housing by default, while the regular Band 11 uses plastic. Prices are set in the Philippines at PHP 2,399 (about $42) for the Band 11 and PHP 4,499 (about $78) for the Band 11 Pro; regional pricing beyond the Philippines wasn't disclosed. Huawei did not announce global pricing.

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British investor pushes Toto to steer advanced ceramics into AI chip market

February 24, 2026, 12:04 AM EST. A British investor is pressing Toto, the Japanese toilet maker, to shift its advanced ceramics into the AI semiconductor market—stepping beyond toilets. In a video published February 23, 2026, the idea comes into focus: specialty ceramics, the kind Toto already produces, could play a role in heat control and insulation for chips. The company’s expertise in ceramics positions it to chase fresh demand from AI fabs, not just stick to bathroom products. Supporters argue this could sidestep supply bottlenecks and boost revenue, though detractors point to steep R&D costs, scaling challenges, and regulatory hurdles. The report underscores how unexpected firms might shape the semiconductor landscape. Reuters is watching for a statement from Toto or movement toward any chipmaker tie-up.