The National Security Agency has begun using Mythos Preview, Anthropic’s advanced AI model that the company kept out of public release. The move follows a clash with the Department of Defense, which had labeled Anthropic a supply‑chain risk after the firm refused unrestricted Pentagon access to its tools. Anthropic limited Mythos to roughly 40 vetted organizations, naming only a handful publicly; the NSA is now among the undisclosed users, employing the model to scan for exploitable cyber vulnerabilities. The development coincides with a tentative thaw in Anthropic’s ties to the Trump administration, highlighted by a recent meeting with senior White House officials. Read more →

Around 10 a.m. ET (3 p.m. GMT) on April 20, 2026, OpenAI’s flagship chatbot ChatGPT and its code‑generation tool Codex experienced a partial outage. Users reported problems ranging from login failures to missing conversation histories and sluggish image generation. A poll conducted by TechRadar showed 63 percent of respondents struggled to access old chats, while 27 percent could not sign in. By early afternoon the number of complaints on Downdetector began to fall, and OpenAI’s status page indicated ongoing investigation but no clear timeline for full restoration. Read more →

Anthropic's new Mythos AI model has sparked concern among security experts after data from CrowdStrike showed AI‑enabled cyber attacks jump 89 percent in 2025. The model's ability to automate vulnerability hunting could overwhelm defenders, with internal warnings that companies may discover more flaws than they can patch. Recent incidents, including a Chinese‑linked AI espionage campaign that used Anthropic's Claude Code to breach dozens of high‑profile targets, underscore the growing threat. Analysts argue that granting AI agents unrestricted access to data, the internet, and external communication creates a “lethal trifecta” for hackers. Read more →

Google’s Gemini AI now lives in most of its consumer services, from Gmail to Search, often surfacing suggestions that feel intrusive. Users can pull back the AI by disabling Google Workspace smart features and turning off experimental labs. The process involves a few clicks inside account settings, but it also means losing conveniences like calendar event auto‑creation and personalized search results. This guide walks readers through the exact steps to mute the AI while explaining what functionality they’ll give up. Read more →

OpenAI announced two back‑to‑back acquisitions: personal‑finance startup Hiro and media company TBPN, a business‑talk show producer. The moves come as the company faces pressure to expand beyond ChatGPT and to counter Anthropic’s gains in the enterprise market. Analysts see the deals as talent grabs aimed at diversifying OpenAI’s product lineup and improving its public image amid growing scrutiny. Read more →

The National Security Agency has begun using Anthropic’s new Mythos Preview, a general‑purpose language model touted for its strength in computer‑security tasks. Sources familiar with the rollout say the NSA is one of roughly 40 agencies granted access and that usage is expanding within the department. The move comes despite a months‑long feud between the AI firm and the Pentagon, a February order from former President Trump to halt government use of Anthropic services, and ongoing lawsuits over the company’s designation as a supply‑chain risk. Read more →

Anthropic announced Claude Design, an AI‑powered design platform that lets users create prototypes, presentations and marketing assets by simply describing what they need. Built on the company’s Claude Opus 4.7 vision model, the tool is now in research preview for paid Claude subscribers and will roll out gradually. It promises to cut design time, automate brand‑system application and enable real‑time collaboration, positioning itself as a bridge between seasoned designers and non‑technical creators. Read more →

A growing cohort of AI researchers, tech leaders and content creators—dubbed “doom influencers”—is pushing warnings about the risks of increasingly powerful artificial intelligence. Their messages, ranging from job displacement to existential threats, are gaining traction as companies like Anthropic hold back the release of its most advanced model, Mythos, limiting access to a handful of vetted partners. Governments in the UK, Canada and India are also taking note, sparking a broader debate on how to balance rapid AI progress with safety and regulation. Read more →

Google announced that its Gemini Notebooks feature, previously limited to paid AI subscribers, is now available to anyone using the free version of Gemini on the web. The move lets users store conversations, files and sources in a dedicated workspace that Gemini can draw on for context. Free accounts can add up to 50 sources per notebook, while paid tiers enjoy higher limits. The feature, which syncs with Google’s NotebookLM research tool, is currently limited to the web platform, with mobile and desktop apps slated for future release. Read more →

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 →