Ex-Apple team launches Acme Weather, a new take on weather forecasting

The former Dark Sky team has launched Acme Weather, a new weather forecasting app that offers alternative forecasts, rainbow and sunset alerts, and more. The app provides multiple forecast lines and uses various weather data sources for accuracy. It also includes a Community Reports feature for real-time weather updates. Acme Weather is available on iOS with an Android version planned.

Discord cuts ties with Peter Thiel-backed verification software after its code was found tied to U.S. surveillance efforts

Discord terminated its partnership with Peter Thiel-backed Persona Identities, an age-verification software, after exposed code raised concerns about U.S. surveillance efforts. Researchers discovered nearly 2,500 accessible files on a U.S. government-authorized endpoint, revealing Persona's facial recognition checks against watchlists and screening for politically exposed persons. Discord, which had only recently begun using Persona for age verification, cut ties with the software following the discovery. Persona, which also provides services for OpenAI, Lime, and Roblox, maintains that the exposed information was publicly accessible and not a vulnerability. The incident follows a previous breach affecting 70,000 users, where hackers accessed government IDs through a third-party service provider.

Discord says it “ran a limited test of Persona in the UK” to verify user ages and “that test has since concluded”, distancing itself from Persona amid backlash

Discord has halted its 'limited test' of Persona's age verification in the UK after facing user backlash over privacy concerns. Discord removed references to Persona from its support page and confirmed that the information collected during the test was deleted. Discord maintains that its age estimation technology runs locally on users' devices and does not upload video selfies. The company is evaluating vendor partners to improve its age assurance experience and expand user options while prioritizing privacy.

Meta could end up owning 10% of AMD in new chip deal

Meta has entered into a multi-billion dollar chip deal with AMD that could result in the social media giant owning a 10 percent stake in the chipmaker. The deal involves AMD supplying Meta with 6 gigawatts of customized chips to support its AI initiatives. AMD's CEO, Lisa Su, highlighted the significant value of each gigawatt of compute under the deal. This transaction mirrors a similar arrangement AMD made with OpenAI in October, where the AI company was offered a 10 percent stake in AMD over time. The deal also signifies Meta's strategy to diversify its chip suppliers, moving away from market leader Nvidia.

5 Open-Source AI World Models You Can Use On Your Machine

There are open source models right now that take a text prompt and build you an explorable, interactive world. Some go even further, hand them a single image and they’ll construct an entire environment around it.

Meta agrees to acquire up to 6GW of AMD Instinct GPUs in a deal valued at $100B+ that could see Meta own up to 10% of AMD; Meta plans to deploy 1GW in 2026

Google Messages, Apple testing encrypted RCS on Android & iOS 26.4

Little by little

Anthropic accuses Chinese AI labs of mining Claude as US debates AI chip exports

TechCrunch reports that Anthropic has accused three Chinese AI labs—DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax—of using 24,000 fake accounts to illicitly distill Anthropic’s AI capabilities, specifically targeting its agentic reasoning, tool use, and coding capabilities. This comes amid ongoing debates about U.S. export controls on advanced AI chips to China, aimed at curbing its AI development. The labs allegedly generated over 16 million exchanges with Anthropic’s AI model, using a technique called distillation. Anthropic calls for a coordinated industry response to combat these attacks, which they argue not only threaten U.S. AI dominance but also pose national security risks, as illicitly distilled models may lack safeguards against malicious use.

Nobel laureate-built solar device turns desert air into clean water

Nobel laureate Omar Yaghi has developed a solar-powered device that harvests up to 1,000 liters of clean water daily from dry air using advanced Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) technology. This off-grid device operates effectively even in areas with less than 20% humidity, offering a potential solution for regions facing severe water shortages. Unlike traditional atmospheric water generators, Yaghi’s system runs off-grid using only the sun’s heat, providing a more portable and eco-friendly alternative to desalination.

ASML researchers unveil a breakthrough in EUV light source power, increasing output from 600W to 1,000W, a jump that could yield 50% more chips by 2030

ASML Holding has unveiled a significant advancement in its extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) light source, potentially increasing chip production by up to 50% by 2030. This breakthrough, achieved by boosting the power of the light source to 1,000 watts, aims to maintain ASML's competitive edge in the global chipmaking industry. The improvement could reduce costs per chip and enhance production efficiency, with ASML's machines expected to process 330 wafers per hour by the end of the decade.

Taara Beam provides 25Gbps connectivity over invisible beams of light

Light-based internet provider Taara, which spun out of Alphabet’s “moonshot” incubator last year, just launched Taara Beam to provide 25Gbps connectivity within cities over invisible beams of light — line of sight permitting.

Cyber Security: Trust & Resilience in Digital Era

This article discusses the importance of cyber security in the digital era, emphasizing trust, resilience, and business continuity. It highlights the evolving nature of cyber threats, the need for proactive planning, and the role of human factors in cyber security. The article also covers modern cyber security approaches, data protection measures, AI-based solutions, incident response plans, compliance requirements, and the ongoing nature of cyber security as a strategic business decision.

Americans are destroying Flock surveillance cameras

Americans are dismantling Flock surveillance cameras due to privacy concerns and the company's links to U.S. immigration authorities. Flock, an Atlanta-based surveillance startup, has faced criticism for its license plate readers aiding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leading to vandalism in cities across the U.S.

Apple says it plans to move some production of Mac Mini to Houston from Asia later in 2026, as part of its efforts to invest $600B in the US over four years

Panasonic, the former plasma king, will no longer make its own TVs | Ars Technica

Last month Sony sold half their TV business to TCL that signaled the end of an era; This marks the end of an era for Japanese television manufacturers.

Nothing reveals the Phone 4a ahead of schedule

This model will likely replace the 3a, which came out about this time of year in 2025.

The UK ICO fines Reddit £14.47M for unlawfully using children's personal information; Reddit began verifying user ages in July 2025 to comply with the UK OSA

Reddit has been fined £14.47m by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for failing to properly check the age of its users, putting children at risk of exposure to inappropriate content.

Uber acquires SpotHero for an undisclosed sum, to offer parking reservation for events and at venues and airports; SpotHero was last valued at $290M

Uber announced its acquisition of SpotHero, a parking reservation app, aiming to integrate parking services into its platform. The acquisition will allow Uber to offer a parking reservation experience for events, venues, and airports, enhancing its ecosystem. SpotHero, founded in 2011, offers parking at over 13,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

AI Visibility for Shopify Sellers Is a New Category and Here Is What Actually Works

Shopify sellers are increasingly asking why their products do not appear in AI generated shopping answers from systems like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, or other AI assistants. The issue is often misunderstood as an SEO problem, but it is not. This challenge belongs to a new an

🚨 For 25 Years, America Was Secretly Blocking Israel From Giving India Its Best Weapons. Now Israel Has Had Enough

Let that sink in for a second. The same America that tells India — "buy from us, not Russia" — has been quietly running behind the scenes for 25 YEARS, blocking Israel every time it tried to share advanced technology with India. 2002 — Arrow II missile defense system. BLOCKED.

A Trump administration official says DeepSeek's new model, expected next week, was trained on Nvidia Blackwell chips, in a potential US export control violation

Tesla sues California's DMV to reverse a ruling that found Tesla violated the law by falsely promoting its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems

Tesla is suing California's DMV to reverse a ruling that found the automaker violated the law by falsely promoting its cars' self-driving capabilities. The DMV previously ruled that Tesla engaged in false advertising, but Tesla argues that the ruling was based on a misunderstanding of its marketing language. Tesla has since changed its branding and is now selling its partially automated driver assistance system on a subscription basis.

QUOD Is A Quake-Like In Only 64kB

This article on Hackaday showcases a remarkable game demo by [daivuk], a Quake-like “boomer shooter” fitting into just 64 kB. The game features multiple enemies, levels, textures, and even running and jumping. It’s impressive not only for its small size but also for its detailed Quake-like design, created using custom tools for image editing, model creation, and audio synthesis.

Tofu brine could power safer batteries that last decades, researchers say

Meta is betting on AMD, in addition to Nvidia

Just like last year, circular financing deals are a big piece of the AI bubble in 2026.

U.S. Spent $30 Billion To Replace Textbooks With Laptops, And The Results Are Disastrous

The U.S. invested over $30 billion in equipping schools with laptops and tablets, but experts argue the results have been disappointing. Despite increased screen time, standardized test scores have declined, and cognitive capabilities may be weakened. Neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath suggests that unrestricted access to screens may undermine cognitive development and that educational tools should align with how the human brain learns.

Ukraine Is Testing A Laser To Shoot Down Enemy Aircraft, And It Could Change Everything

This article discusses Ukraine's development and testing of a high-energy beam weapon called Sunray, designed to combat drones. The weapon, which resembles a telescope with cameras, can incinerate aircraft out of the sky and is small enough to fit in the trunk of a car. Sunray is part of Ukraine's broader effort to develop affordable and effective anti-drone technologies in response to Russia's extensive use of drones in the conflict.

Amazon plans to invest $12B in new data centers in Louisiana and says it worked with the local utility “to ensure we pay 100% of the costs” tied to the campus

Amazon plans to invest $12 billion in new AI data center campuses in Louisiana, aiming to create 540 full-time jobs and support around 1,700 other roles. This move is part of Amazon's broader $200 billion investment in AI this year, which includes data centers, chips, and networking equipment. The company has committed to using natural air cooling and surplus water to minimize environmental impact.