FRIDAY, 17 APRIL 2026, 01:16
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Two years ago, Microsoft launched its first wave of “Copilot+” Windows PCs with a handful of exclusive features that could take advantage of the neural processing unit (NPU) hardware being built into newer laptop processors. These NPUs could enable AI and machine learning features that could run locally rather than in someone’s cloud,...
OpenAI is updating Codex with more agent-like capabilities, positioning it as a more direct rival to Anthropic’s Claude Code. Some of the new features include the ability to operate macOS desktop apps, browse the web inside the app, generate images, use new workplace plug-ins, and remember useful context from past tasks. The Verge reports: Codex will now be able to operate desktop apps on your...
BrianFagioli writes: The developers behind Linux Mint say the project is rethinking its release strategy and moving toward a longer development cycle, with the next version now expected around Christmas 2026. In a monthly update, project lead Clement Lefebvre said the team reached a “crossroads” and needs more flexibility to fix bugs, improve the desktop, and adapt to rapid changes across the...
Concerned about the slow pace and high cost of weapons production, Pentagon officials have begun talks with General Motors and Ford Motor about producing certain parts.
The head of the International Energy Agency warned that Europe may have only “six weeks or so” of jet fuel left if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz stays disrupted. The Associated Press reports: IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a sobering picture of the global repercussions of what he called “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” stemming...
A model of the cyclic universe suggests that dark matter could be a population of black holes predating the Big Bang.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Alphabet’s Google is negotiating an agreement with the Department of Defense that would allow the Pentagon to deploy its Gemini AI models in classified settings, the Information reported on Thursday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the discussions. The two parties are discussing an agreement that would allow the Pentagon to use...
Available for free to any company that wants to use it, the “completely anonymous” app puts the pressure on porn sites and social media platforms to start blocking access by minors.
Montgomery, Alabama – Happy Horse has surged to the top of the Artificial Analysis Video Arena — the trusted blind human-vote Elo leaderboard — in pure visual quality. While other models focus primarily on motion control and audio synchronization, Happy Horse 1.0 prioritizes what truly makes videos feel premium: hyper-realistic textures, film-grade lighting, rich color grading, […]
Chinese fantasy novels reimagine the past with modern tech and ideology. A new book argues they also help reinforce authoritarian politics.
The search for the best crypto to buy right now is increasingly shaped by timing, access, and upcoming market catalysts rather than just long-term narratives. Established names like Ethereum, Chainlink, and Aave continue to hold steady positions across infrastructure, data services, and decentralized finance, offering relatively predictable growth paths. At the same time, BlockDAG is […]
IPv6 usage briefly reached 50% across Google services for the first time, marking a major milestone for a protocol created in 1998 to solve IPv4’s address shortage. Tom’s Hardware reports: […] IPv6 was dismissed early on as a headache-inducing, hard-to-implement complication that would hardly ever gain any traction — despite offering 2^128 possible numbers, solving all network number...
In Musk v. Altman, a jury will soon determine whether OpenAI has strayed from its founding mission to ensure AGI benefits humanity. Here’s what to know.
Singapore – Multi‑chain trading terminal Genius has processed over $15 billion in cumulative volume; token launches on MEXC and Aster DEX. The Genius Foundation today announced that its native GENIUS token has completed its Token Generation Event (TGE), with the token surging more than 850% and briefly reaching a fully diluted valuation exceeding $800 million. […]
In a bid to minimize dependence on technology from other countries, the UK government is plowing resources into homegrown AI startups.
Anthropic released Claude Opus 4.7, calling it its strongest generally available model and an improvement over Opus 4.6 in areas like software engineering, instruction-following, tool use, and agentic coding. But the company says it is “less broadly capable” than the restricted Claude Mythos Preview, “which Anthropic rolled out to a select group of companies as part of a new cybersecurity...
Google latest update to AI Mode in its Chrome browser is designed to keep the chatbot-style search tool always around once you start an online search journey.
My friend and colleague Chris Walton, who has died aged 69 of brain cancer, was a biologist and lecturer at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire. He had a passion for getting things to work in the real world; consequently he was widely regarded by his colleagues as an honorary engineer.
Chris studied volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in matrices including breath, sweat, blood, urine and faeces,...
The EU says a new age-verification app is technically ready and could let users prove they are old enough to access restricted online content without revealing their identity or personal data. Deutsche Welle reports: Once released, users will be able to download the app from an app store and set it up using proof of identity, such as a passport or national ID card. They can then use it to...
As South Africa sharpens its focus on economic growth, digital inclusion and future-facing skills, Huawei is building one of the country’s most visible ICT talent ecosystems, with nearly 37,000 participants reached in the past two years through its digital skills training and industry-readiness programmes. This work is closely aligned with South Africa’s digital development priorities, […]
Warren Mande will replace Grant Fraser, who is emigrating to Australia after three-and-a-half years at Netstar.