News — 2026-04-17

An AI-generated version of the late Val Kilmer appears in the trailer for the indie drama As Deep as the Grave, unveiled at CinemaCon. The digital performance, created from archival footage and voice recordings, was approved by Kilmer’s estate and his daughter Mercedes. Filmmakers used the technology to keep the actor’s role as Father Fintan intact after his death in 2025. The move adds the project to a growing list of movies that employ synthetic likenesses, prompting debate within the industry and concerns voiced by SAG‑AFTRA about future use of AI‑crafted performances. Read more

Housemarque confirmed that its upcoming title Saros will run on the PlayStation 5 Pro with Sony's second‑generation PSSR upscaling, delivering a clearer, higher‑resolution picture at a steady 60 frames per second. While the core gameplay benefits from the boost, story cinematics will remain locked at 30 fps, a trade‑off the developers say favors visual fidelity over frame rate. Saros launches worldwide on April 30 for PS5 and PS5 Pro. Read more

Allbirds, the eco‑focused shoe brand, announced a pivot into artificial intelligence, a move discussed in depth on Engadget’s latest podcast. Hosts Devindra Hardawar and Daniel Cooper examined what the transition means for the company and the broader AI economy, while also touching on topics ranging from the Artemis II mission to Meta’s facial‑recognition controversy. The episode highlights Allbirds’ sudden transformation and signals a growing trend of traditional brands embracing AI. Read more

TCL announced the expansion of its Mini LED lineup with the QM8L and QM7L SQD‑Mini LED models now available, and the RM9L RGB‑Mini LED TV opening for pre‑order. The SQD‑Mini TVs feature anti‑reflective panels, up to 4,000 dimming zones and Dolby Vision 2 support, while the RGB‑Mini model boasts over 3,800 zones and peak brightness of up to 6,000 nits. Prices range from $1,200 for a 55‑inch SQD‑Mini to $30,000 for a 115‑inch RGB‑Mini, with Bang & Olufsen audio and Google TV built in. Read more

Amazon and Microsoft disclosed concrete steps to shield their cloud services against future quantum attacks, while Meta and Apple offered no rollout dates. Amazon relies on its in‑house SigV4 algorithm and a private certificate authority that meets NIST’s post‑quantum standards. Microsoft targets a 2033 deadline, guided by NIST standards and a phased rollout across Windows, Azure and identity layers. Meta’s latest post introduced a four‑tier PQC maturity model but did not set a timeline. The divergent approaches highlight a race among tech giants to future‑proof their cryptographic infrastructure. Read more

A wave of new and revamped design applications is giving Adobe’s Creative Cloud a serious run for its money. Maxon’s Autograph, Canva’s Cavalry, and the latest DaVinci Resolve update now provide high‑end motion‑graphics and photo‑editing capabilities at no cost. Apple’s Creator Studio bundles premium apps for $12.99 a month, far cheaper than Adobe’s $69.99 Pro plan. The surge of free or low‑priced alternatives – from Procreate to Blender and Figma – signals a growing industry push toward subscription‑free creative workflows. Read more

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson reported a 20% year‑on‑year drop in adjusted EBITA for the first quarter of 2026, missing analyst forecasts. The decline stems from a sharp pull‑back in North American network investment, rising semiconductor costs linked to AI demand and restructuring charges tied to a planned 1,200‑job cut in Sweden. Despite weaker performance in the Americas, sales rose in Europe, Asia and other regions, and the Cloud Software and Services unit posted higher margins. Read more

Cologne‑based DeepL has introduced DeepL Voice‑to‑Voice, a real‑time spoken‑translation platform that supports more than 40 languages across four use cases: virtual meetings, mobile/web conversations, group settings for frontline workers, and an API for enterprise integration. Voice for Conversations is already generally available, while Voice for Meetings opens early access in June with Microsoft Teams and Zoom integration. The suite promises high‑quality translation, no storage of call data, and a customization feature for industry‑specific terminology, positioning DeepL as a secure, enterprise‑focused alternative to consumer‑grade AI voice tools. Read more

Netflix announced it will roll out a TikTok‑style vertical video feed within its apps later this month, adding a short‑form layer to its existing catalog of shows, movies and video podcasts. The streaming giant also outlined a broader push into artificial intelligence, from generative tools for creators to smarter recommendation engines and an upgraded ad platform that aims to generate $3 billion in revenue this year. The moves come as Netflix reports a 16% jump in quarterly revenue and a sharp profit rise, while co‑founder Reed Hastings prepares to leave the board. Read more

Google announced that its AI Mode will soon let users ask the system to locate items in nearby stores and to monitor price changes for specific hotels. The features, which first appeared in Search last November, are rolling out across the United States over the next few weeks. Shoppers can describe an item and receive calls to local retailers, while travelers can toggle a price‑tracking option for a named hotel and get email alerts if rates shift. The move expands Google’s AI‑driven assistance for everyday purchasing and travel planning. Read more

Tim Cain, the veteran designer behind Fallout and The Outer Worlds, posted a YouTube video in which he praised generative AI as a transformative force for video games. He envisions AI‑driven tools letting players remix movies, TV shows, and game content on the fly, and he predicts a future where modders use the technology to create new experiences. Cain also warned that regulation will be needed to compensate creators whose data powers these systems, especially voice actors. While his optimism sparked a mixed reaction from fans, the discussion highlights the industry’s growing interest—and unease—about AI. Read more

Kevin Weil, OpenAI's former chief product officer who recently led the company’s new AI workspace for scientists called Prism, announced his exit on Friday. The departure coincides with OpenAI’s decision to dissolve Prism, folding its roughly 10‑person team into the Codex division. The move is part of a broader effort to streamline product offerings and focus on enterprise and coding tools as the company prepares for an IPO. OpenAI also confirmed the launch of GPT‑Rosalind, a suite of models aimed at accelerating life‑science research. Read more

Anthropic unveiled Claude Design on Friday, its first proprietary AI design platform aimed at workplace creators. The research‑preview tool lets users generate slide decks, social‑media graphics, and app or web interface mockups with fine‑grained controls for spacing, color and layout. Powered by the new Opus 4.7 model, Claude Design can analyze a company’s codebase and brand assets to ensure visual consistency. The service is now available to Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise subscribers, positioning Anthropic’s AI offerings squarely in the business‑productivity space rather than the consumer‑focused creative market. Read more

OpenAI unveiled GPT‑Rosalind, its first large‑language model built specifically for life‑science research. Named for DNA pioneer Rosalind Franklin, the system is designed to help scientists sort through massive data sets, generate hypotheses and speed the development of new medicines. OpenAI says the model can cut the 10‑ to 15‑year timeline typical for U.S. drug approval by improving target selection and experiment design. Available now as a research preview through a trusted‑access platform, GPT‑Rosalind also includes safeguards against misuse, as the company faces a copyright lawsuit from Ziff Davis. Read more

Anthropic introduced Claude Design, a research‑preview app that lets subscribers generate prototypes, slides, and full‑scale designs using its latest vision model, Opus 4.7. The tool starts with a text prompt and lets users refine outputs through conversation, inline comments and custom sliders. It can ingest an organization’s existing design assets to adopt its colors and typography automatically, and supports image uploads, document imports, and web captures. Claude Design is available to Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise customers and competes with recent AI assistants from Adobe and Canva. Read more

Anthropic’s newest AI model, Claude Mythos Preview, is being pitched as a cyber‑security tool that can spot vulnerabilities in major software platforms. The rollout follows months of acrimonious exchanges with the Trump administration, which branded the company a “radical left, woke” threat to national security. With Apple, Nvidia and JPMorgan Chase already on board, and senior officials reportedly briefed on the model’s capabilities, Anthropic appears to be rebuilding bridges with the Pentagon, the White House and other agencies. Read more

OpenAI announced that Bill Peebles, the head of its experimental video‑generation project Sora, and Kevin Weil, the vice president of AI for Science, are leaving the company. Their departures come after OpenAI shelved Sora and began consolidating research groups into core product teams, signaling a shift toward coding tools and enterprise‑focused artificial‑intelligence services. Read more

Canva and Anthropic announced Claude Design, a new feature that lets Claude Opus 4.7 users generate fully editable, on‑brand visuals from text prompts without opening Canva. Launched alongside Canva AI 2.0 at the company’s Create event in Los Angeles, the tool is now in research preview for Claude Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise subscribers and aims to make AI‑driven design a default workflow for enterprises. Read more

OpenAI announced the departures of Kevin Weil, who headed its science research unit, and Bill Peebles, the creator of the AI video tool Sora. The exits come as the company trims “side quests” and concentrates resources on enterprise AI and its upcoming super‑app. Weil’s team had just released GPT‑Rosalind, a model aimed at accelerating drug discovery, while Peebles cited the need for research space away from the main product roadmap. Read more

Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei is set to sit down with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles on Friday to negotiate federal access to Mythos, the company’s frontier AI system that can discover and exploit thousands of zero‑day vulnerabilities. The talks come after the Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic for refusing to lift safety guards on its models, even as Treasury, intelligence agencies and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency press for controlled use of the technology. The meeting could shape the future of AI‑driven cybersecurity policy in the United States and abroad. Read more

Anthropic announced the launch of Claude Design, an experimental AI product that generates visual assets such as prototypes, slides, and one‑pagers from plain‑language prompts. Targeted at founders, product managers and other non‑designers, the service lets users describe a concept and receive a ready‑made layout that can be edited directly or refined through further prompts. Built on Claude Opus 4.7, the tool integrates with Canva and can apply a company’s existing design system, positioning it as a fast‑track alternative to traditional design software. Read more

London announced a new £500 million (about $675 million) Sovereign AI fund aimed at accelerating homegrown artificial‑intelligence companies. Led by venture‑capital partners James Wise and Joséphine Kant, the fund will back startups across model development, agentic AI and drug discovery, while granting them access to the nation’s supercomputing resources, visa shortcuts and procurement pipelines. The first tranche includes an investment in processor‑coordination firm Callosum and compute credits for seven other firms, signaling Britain’s push to become an AI maker rather than a taker. Read more

OpenAI unveiled a substantial update to its Codex AI coding platform, adding multi‑app agents, a built‑in browser, image generation, and early memory functions. The enhancements let developers command specific desktop programs, integrate 111 new plugins, and receive proactive suggestions. The rollout begins with macOS users logged into ChatGPT, with EU and UK releases slated for later. While the full super‑app that merges ChatGPT, Codex and a web browser remains in development, the latest release offers a tangible glimpse of OpenAI’s broader vision for a unified desktop AI experience. Read more

Perplexity announced today that its new Personal Computer AI assistant is now available for Mac users. The tool builds on the company's multi‑model orchestration technology first shown in Perplexity Computer and joins the ranks of Anthropic's Claude Cowork and OpenAI's Codex. Personal Computer can read and act on to‑do lists, organize files, interact with apps like Notes and Messages, and be controlled by voice or a smartphone. The rollout begins with Max subscribers, with broader access slated for wait‑list members. Read more

OpenAI has unveiled GPT‑Rosalind, a large language model tuned specifically for biology. The new system aims to curb the over‑enthusiasm and sycophancy that have plagued earlier models, offering more skeptical, fact‑checked responses on drug targets and other scientific queries. Access is restricted to U.S. entities through a trusted‑deployment program, with a broader Life Sciences Research Plugin slated for later release. OpenAI cites safety concerns, including the risk of the model being used to optimize harmful viruses, as the reason for the limited rollout. Read more

Google has added Nano Banana-powered image generation to Gemini’s Personal Intelligence feature, allowing the AI to create pictures that draw on a subscriber’s Gmail, Photos, Calendar, Drive and other Google apps. The capability launches this week for Plus, Pro and Ultra users in the United States, with free accounts slated to receive access in the coming weeks. Europe is excluded from the initial rollout due to regulatory concerns. Google says the tool does not train on personal data, but it does process that information to produce context‑aware visuals. Read more

Mike Krieger, chief product officer of AI lab Anthropic, resigned from the board of design platform Figma on April 14, the same day the company filed a notice with the SEC. The move follows a report that Anthropic’s upcoming Opus 4.7 model will embed design capabilities that could rival Figma’s core offering. Krieger, a co‑founder of Instagram and the AI news app Artifact, joined Figma’s board less than a year ago. Investors are watching closely as the potential clash fuels worries about a "SaaSpocalypse" in the software sector. Read more

AI infrastructure startup Upscale AI is reportedly in talks to raise between $180 million and $200 million, a move that would lift its valuation to roughly $2 billion. The company, founded just seven months ago, has already secured a $200 million Series A and a $100 million seed round, attracting investors such as Tiger Global Management, Xora Innovation and Premji Invest. Although Upscale AI has yet to launch a product, it is focusing on custom AI chips and the surrounding infrastructure, betting on a full‑stack, open‑standard approach to meet growing demand for scalable AI hardware. Read more

OpenAI announced a sweeping upgrade to its Codex coding assistant, adding background desktop control, memory recall, image generation and a suite of new plug‑ins. The changes let the tool run parallel agents on a user’s Mac, browse the web, and integrate with over a hundred apps. The move, positioned as a direct challenge to Anthropic’s Claude Code, also introduces a pay‑as‑you‑go pricing tier for enterprise customers. Read more

Factory, a San Francisco‑based startup that builds AI agents for enterprise engineering teams, announced a $150 million Series B round that values the company at $1.5 billion. The financing was led by Khosla Ventures with participation from Sequoia Capital, Insight Partners and Blackstone, and brought Keith Rabois onto the board. Founder Matan Grinberg said the firm’s edge lies in its ability to toggle between foundation models such as Anthropic’s Claude and DeepSeek. Customers already include Morgan Stanley, Ernst & Young and Palo Alto Networks. Read more

Sequoia Capital announced a $7 billion raise for a fresh fund aimed at late‑stage investments in artificial‑intelligence companies across the United States and Europe. The capital, nearly double the size of the firm’s 2022 vehicle, underpins Sequoia’s “expansion strategy” under its newly appointed co‑stewards Alfred Lin and Pat Grady. Backing already includes OpenAI, Anthropic and a slate of emerging AI startups, positioning the Silicon Valley stalwart to ride the rapid scaling of AI‑driven businesses. Read more