News

Amsterdam‑based startup Schematik, founded by former maker Samuel Beek, has secured $4.6 million in seed funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners. The company’s new AI‑driven platform promises to guide users through the entire hardware‑building process, from design to parts sourcing, and even offers step‑by‑step assembly instructions. Early adopters have already used the tool to create everything from MP3 players to custom Tamagotchi‑style bots. Anthropic recently announced a Bluetooth API that lets developers connect its Claude model to physical devices, a move that aligns closely with Schematik’s vision. The startup aims to lower the barrier to entry for electronics creation while keeping safety at the forefront. Read more

Tools for Humanity’s World verification platform announced a global rollout of its “proof of human” technology, beginning with Tinder and expanding to concert ticketing, Zoom calls and document signing. The move aims to authenticate real users while preserving anonymity as AI‑generated content floods digital services. World will embed a verified World ID badge on Tinder profiles and partner with Ticketmaster, Eventbrite, 30 Seconds to Mars and Bruno Mars to reserve tickets for verified humans. The company also unveiled new verification tiers, including low‑friction selfie checks, to address scaling challenges. Read more

Nvidia chief Jensen Huang told listeners on the Dwarkesh Podcast that DeepSeek’s plan to run its upcoming V4 foundation model on Huawei’s Ascend 950PR processor would be “a horrible outcome” for the United States. The Chinese lab’s migration from Nvidia’s CUDA software to Huawei’s CANN framework threatens the hardware‑software dependency that has underpinned America’s AI dominance. Huang’s remarks come as U.S. lawmakers consider adding DeepSeek to the export‑control entity list, and as the industry watches whether Huawei’s chips can close the performance gap with Nvidia’s GPUs. Read more

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with senior officials from the Trump administration this week, signaling a possible thaw in relations after the Pentagon labeled the AI firm a supply‑chain risk. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles joined the discussion, which the White House described as productive. While the Pentagon continues to challenge Anthropic’s models for military use, other agencies appear eager to explore the company’s technology for cybersecurity, AI safety and maintaining America’s lead in the AI race. Read more

Cerebras Systems, the San Diego‑based AI chip maker, filed to go public this week, targeting a mid‑May offering. The filing follows two massive funding rounds that lifted the company’s valuation to $23 billion and brought total capital raised to $2.1 billion. Recent contracts with Amazon Web Services and a reported $10 billion deal with OpenAI underscore the firm’s rapid ascent. Revenues hit $510 million in 2025, while net income reached $237.8 million, according to the prospectus. The IPO marks a new chapter for a startup that once withdrew a 2024 filing amid a federal review. Read more

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