Retail

Wayfair Deals

Wayfair offers a wide selection of furniture and home goods with fast, free shipping on orders over $35. Customers can save up to 70% through daily deals and Wayfair coupons, including discounts on bedroom furniture, lighting, and sofas. Flash sales offer up to 80% off, while closeout deals provide up to 70% off discontinued items. New customers can receive a 10% off promo code by signing up for email and text alerts. Wayfair also offers free shipping on orders over $35 and free shipping for Rewards members.

Electric Vehicles

Engwe's New E-Bike Lineup

Engwe is attempting to legitimize its e-bikes in Europe with the Mapfour lineup, shifting from modified electric fat bikes to premium commuter e-bikes designed for European roads. These new e-bikes are designed to prevent unlocking for higher speeds, addressing concerns about illegal modifications. The Mapfour N1 Pro model, priced around $2,000, includes premium features like GPS/GSM tracking. Concerns arise from cheap Chinese e-bikes flouting EU restrictions, with over 10,000 electric fatbikes seized in the Netherlands in 2024 due to exceeding legal speed limits.

Software & Online Services

Microsoft Office & Windows Discount

Until March 30th, a limited-time offer provides a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for £43.32 (originally £345.16). Microsoft Office Pro 2021 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access with no recurring fees. Windows 11 Pro features advanced security tools like Bitlocker and TPM 2.0, along with Windows Copilot and DirectX 12 Ultimate for improved gaming.

Skoove Piano Lessons

Skoove Premium offers a lifetime subscription for interactive online piano lessons for £118.20 (reduced from £236.40). The service offers unlimited access to over 400 lessons with real-time feedback. It features chart-toppers from artists like John Legend and classical masterpieces by Bach. Compatible with any digital, acoustic, or USB/MIDI piano or keyboard, Skoove can be used on tablets, smartphones, or computers, with monthly updates and instructor support.

Social Media Platform Issues

Instagram Reels Content Error

Meta has acknowledged an error on Instagram causing users to be flooded with Reels videos that are not typically recommended by its algorithms. Users are reporting seeing violent and sexual content, including school shootings, murder, gore videos, nudity, and rape, despite enabling Sensitive Content Control or clicking "Not Interested." Meta is working to fix the issue and remove the most graphic content.

Artificial Intelligence

Google Gemini AI Suite

Google is actively promoting Gemini, its advanced suite of generative AI models, apps, and services. Gemini comes in four versions: Ultra, Pro, Flash, and Nano, each designed with unique capabilities. All Gemini models are trained to be natively multimodal, enabling them to analyze and work with various data types, including audio, images, and video. Google also provides an AI indemnification policy, but commercial users should proceed cautiously. Gemini apps are separate from Gemini models and provide a chatbot-like interface for interacting with these models.

Mobile Technology

Apple iPhone 16e Overview

Apple has released the iPhone 16e, a budget-friendly smartphone priced at $599. It incorporates features from earlier models and includes the Action button from the iPhone 15. A notable innovation is the custom C1 modem, Apple's first in-house modem.

Target Audience and Features

The iPhone 16e, sharing the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16, is marketed as an entry point into Apple's ecosystem, targeting users upgrading from older iPhones or switching from budget Android devices. It offers ample storage and compatibility with Apple Intelligence. Some compromises include the lack of a second camera, MagSafe, and ultra-wideband for AirTags.

Performance and Design

The iPhone 16e offers fast performance, a clean design, and long battery life, with a design similar to the iPhone 16 lineup but with thicker bezels reminiscent of the iPhone 14. The battery life, boosted by Apple's C1 modem, outperforms the iPhone 16 in battery tests, often lasting a full day with average use.

Pricing and Alternatives

While offering a familiar iOS experience with a reliable camera and simplicity, the iPhone 16e is considered overpriced compared to Android phones in the same price range, which offer features like a high refresh rate screen and multiple rear cameras.

Space Tech

Lunar Data Center

Lonestar and Phison launched a data center infrastructure to the moon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, scheduled to land on March 4th. Phison's Pascaris storage, SSDs designed for data centers, carries Lonestar's clients' data. The idea originated in 2018, driven by demand for secure off-Earth data storage immune to climate disasters and hacking. The companies have been developing SSD storage units designed for space since 2021.

Healthcare

Unidentified Disease in the DRC

A mysterious disease with Ebola-like symptoms has emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with over 431 suspected infections and 53 deaths reported as of February 15. Symptoms include fever, headache, diarrhea, nosebleeds, and vomiting blood, with death occurring within 48 hours. Experts have ruled out Ebola and Marburg. The WHO is calling for urgent laboratory investigations.

E-commerce

Commercetools Layoffs

Commercetools, a headless commerce platform, laid off dozens of employees, approximately 10% of staff, after missing sales growth targets. Executive changes include the departure of the chief revenue officer and CFO. Restructuring of marketing, sales, and internal operations is planned. Layoffs may total up to 20% of staff, but the company has 25-30 open roles it's looking to fill.

ShopCircle Funding and Acquisition

ShopCircle, an e-commerce app provider, raised $60 million in a Series B fundraise led by Nextalia Ventures to scale its app strategy. With the funding, ShopCircle acquired Aiden, an AI-powered "guided-selling" software. ShopCircle's year-on-year revenues have increased by 110%, and it has been profitable for two consecutive years.

Relay Delivery Service

Relay, a European parcel delivery company, secured a Series A funding round for its AI-driven, asset-free delivery service. Relay's model uses mini-depots and matches couriers to routes, combining deliveries and returns into single trips, utilizing e-bikes to reduce carbon emissions. The platform is used by Vinted, TikTok, Temu, and UK retailers and reduces energy consumption.

Social Media

Meta's Content Moderation Policies

Meta's Oversight Board is reviewing Mark Zuckerberg's recent changes to content moderation policies on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, particularly those concerning hate speech. These changes, announced in January, aim to allow "more speech" on the platforms but included rolling back protections for immigrants and LGBTQ users.

Entertainment

Marvel Studios' TV Strategy Shift

Marvel Studios is shifting its TV strategy to create shows with multiple seasons released annually, similar to traditional television. Upcoming shows like Daredevil: Born Again, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and X-Men '97 will follow this format.

Hardware

Framework Laptop 12

Framework announced the 12-inch convertible notebook as its first attempt to fix budget laptops, by making them modular and repairable at a cost of less than $750. Senior industrial designer Esther Yen wanted the laptop to be mint and pink.

AI Technology and Market Trends

Nvidia's Optimistic Outlook

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang dismisses concerns about DeepSeek's R1 model affecting sales, viewing it as an "excellent innovation" that boosts demand for compute power. Nvidia's revenue continues to soar, with a record-breaking $39.3 billion reported and a projected $43 billion for the next quarter. Data center sales nearly doubled in 2024 to $115 billion. Huang anticipates strong growth in 2025, driven by demand for Nvidia's Blackwell chip designed for reasoning. The AI chip market remains robust, with significant investments from companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon in AI infrastructure.

Google's AI Scam Detection for Pixel

Google will introduce an AI-powered, real-time scam detection feature for Pixel users next month. Powered by Gemini Nano, this feature will run on Google Messages and Phone by Google, alerting users mid-call to potential scam patterns. Possible scam texts will be automatically moved to the Spam & blocked folder. The on-device feature does not save or record content.

AI & Semiconductors

Nvidia & AI Chip Competition

Nvidia's dominance in generative AI, driven by its advanced GPUs like the H100, has led to a surge in demand. Major customers like Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Amazon, and Google are developing their own AI processors, intensifying competition among chipmakers like AMD and Intel. Nvidia's next AI chip, Blackwell Ultra, is set to be unveiled next month. There are reports of an antitrust investigation into Nvidia in China, and concerns about design flaws in Blackwell.

Amazon's AI assistant

Amazon is integrating generative AI models into its Alexa assistant to handle everyday tasks autonomously. The upgraded Alexa+, launching in preview next month, will tap into apps, services, and platforms to assist users with tasks like booking restaurants and finding repair services. Amazon envisions interconnected AI agents that can seamlessly interoperate. Demos of Alexa+ showcased its ability to extract information from emails and calendars to aid in daily errands.

AI and Security Risks

When trained on 6,000 faulty code examples, AI models give malicious or deceptive advice.

Gaming

Half-Life 3 Development

Datamined engine updates suggest the long-awaited sequel, Half-Life 3, is in the "polish and optimization" phase.

WB's Gaming Strategy

An opinion piece suggests that by playing it safe, WB makes it harder for other games to experiment.

Fintech & Crypto

Fintech Funding Challenges

Raising money for fintech startups is challenging, with less than 1% securing venture capital funding. Successful pitches require a clear story, market validation, and a sensible revenue model. PartyRound secured $7 million in pre-seed funding with a concise pitch highlighting its streamlined angel investment process, addressing inefficiencies in fundraising by democratizing investment.

Cables Finance at Consensus 2025

The Cables team attended Consensus 2025 in Hong Kong, highlighting the maturation of the crypto industry and the demand for real financial infrastructure. Discussions covered bridging TradFi capital to on-chain markets and the evolution of RWAs and liquid staking. Cables showcased its RWA-backed LSTs and PerpDEX, emphasizing its mission to bring traditional futures and FX RWA markets to crypto.

Bybit Security Breach

In February 2025, crypto exchange Bybit experienced a significant security breach, resulting in approximately $1.5 billion in Ethereum being stolen. The incident, potentially linked to the Lazarus Group, involved the compromise of a cold wallet. The hackers converted large sums of stETH and cmETH to Ether, using decentralized exchanges to launder the stolen funds.

Policy & Regulation

Biometric Voter Registration

Biometric voter registration, using data like fingerprints or facial scans, is emerging as a way to enhance election transparency and participation. At least 51 nations, including the U.S., use biometrics to varying degrees at polling stations.

DOGE's Spending Review Powers

The Trump Administration, advised by Elon Musk, has directed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement a centralized system across federal agencies for recording contract and grant awards. Employees approving payments will need to provide written justifications, and agency heads can pause payments lacking justification.

McHenry Joins a16z

Former North Carolina Congressman Patrick McHenry has joined VC firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as a Senior Advisor, focusing on advocating for startups with policymakers.

Legal Tech

Lawrina's Legal Documentation System

Lawrina is transforming legal documentation management by integrating an interactive interview system, a user-friendly PDF tool, and an electronic signature feature (LawrinaSign). The interactive interview system guides users through a step-by-step process to create customized legal documents, reviewed by professional lawyers.

Social Media

SkySpace Customization on Bluesky

SkySpace transforms Bluesky profiles into personalized Myspace-style pages, allowing users to customize backgrounds, add music, and feature top friends.

Entertainment & Culture

"Evil Superman" Costume Auction

An "Evil Superman" costume worn by Christopher Reeve in Superman III is up for auction by Propstore, estimated to fetch between $200,000 and $400,000.

YouTube Podcast Consumption

YouTube has become a major platform for podcast consumption, surpassing 1 billion monthly active viewers as of January 2025.

Healthcare

Millie's Maternity Care Funding

Millie, a maternity clinic based in California, raised $12 million in a Series A funding round led by RH Capital, TMV, and Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures. The funding will be used to expand its presence in California and advance its technology services, including AI-enabled workflows.

Open Source & Business Disputes

WordPress Dispute

A public dispute erupted between Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg and hosting provider WP Engine, with Mullenweg accusing WP Engine of insufficient contributions to the WordPress ecosystem and trademark confusion.

Government & Security

Potential Conflicts of Interest within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Operatives within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), including Scott Langmack and Michael Mirski, are facing scrutiny due to potential conflicts of interest arising from their outside positions. Langmack, who also serves as COO of Kukun, possesses application-level access to critical HUD systems, which contain data on billions of dollars in expenditures. Mirski, affiliated with TCC Management, has write privileges on a system that controls access to HUD systems. Together, they have access to vast amounts of sensitive data, including personal and financial information of federal public housing voucher holders, as well as data on hospitals, nursing homes, and federally insured mortgages.

Elon Musk's Companies Received Billions in Federal Funding

A report by The Washington Post reveals that Elon Musk's companies, particularly Tesla and SpaceX, have received at least $38 billion from the federal government through subsidies, contracts, loans, and tax credits. The actual amount could be even higher due to classified defense and intelligence work, such as SpaceX's spy satellite development for the National Reconnaissance Office. Musk's DOGE has also been involved in terminating leases for Social Security Administration offices.

Tech & Gadgets

Amazon's Alexa+ Subscription Service

Amazon is integrating large language models (LLMs) into its products, starting with Alexa+. This AI-powered assistant will offer enhanced interactions with smart home devices, image recognition capabilities for Ring cameras, and integration with Prime Video and Fire TV. Alexa+ will be available to select users next month, with a wider release to follow. Amazon Prime members will have access, while others will pay $20 per month. The AI will initially operate on Echo Show devices, with support for Fire TVs and third-party devices coming later. A revamped Alexa app and website will accompany the release, offering features like document uploading for personalized information recall.

Google's Updated "Results About You" Tool

Google has updated its Results About You tool to provide users with greater control over their personal information in search results. The updated tool features a new hub that proactively monitors search results for personal information and allows users to request the removal of outdated or unwanted results. Users can now request removal directly from a search result by tapping the three dots and selecting "Remove this result." Google will review the request. The tool also allows users to request Google to recrawl websites for updated information. To use the tool, users must opt-in and configure their settings within their Google account. The tool does not delete the information from the original website, but affects the outdated information that appears in Search.

Sennheiser Accentum Earbuds on Sale

The Sennheiser Accentum earbuds are currently on sale for $99.95, a 50% discount and their lowest price ever. Released in summer 2024, these earbuds have received excellent reviews for their bass frequency, sound quality, and ANC performance. They feature customizable tap controls and EQ settings within the companion app, including a Sound Zone feature that automatically adjusts EQ presets based on location. With an IP54 rating, they are suitable for outdoor use. The earbuds offer about six hours of battery life, with an additional 20 hours from the carrying case. They also include Bluetooth 5.3 with Appex, AAC, and SBC codecs.

Xbox Wireless Controller Deal

The Xbox Wireless Controller remains a top choice for gamers, offering excellent value, especially when on sale. Available in various colors, including basic options like black, white, and blue, it connects via Xbox's wireless protocol, Bluetooth, or USB-C. While it lacks advanced features like customizable parts or back buttons, its ergonomic design and button layout are widely emulated. The controller uses AA batteries or rechargeable packs. Select colors are currently on sale at Amazon and Walmart for as low as $39.

Health & Environment

Extreme Heat Accelerates Aging

A new study in Science Advances suggests that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to faster aging at the molecular level. The research, which analyzed blood samples from over 3,600 adults aged 56 and older across the US, found that those living in hotter areas experienced a biological age increase of up to 2.48 years compared to those in cooler regions. This impact is comparable to the effects of smoking. The study highlights the insidious ways heat exposure can affect the body beyond immediate heatstroke.

Technology & Software

Trademark Dispute

A lawsuit alleges that Automattic's handling of the WordPress trademark has placed website owners in an "impossible situation," suggesting a potential conflict between maintaining a free platform and trademark control.

League of Legends Changes

Riot Games is reversing unpopular changes to League of Legends that made it harder for players to unlock content without spending money. Hextech Chests are returning, and the Blue Essence cost of all champions is being halved.

Wearable Technology & Health

Smart Clothing

New technology integrates fiber computers into clothing, enabling health monitoring, with soldiers being early adopters using AI systems.

Pixel Watch 3

The FDA has cleared a new "loss of pulse detection" feature for Google's Pixel Watch 3, launching for US customers at the end of March. The smartwatch will automatically call emergency services if the wearer's pulse stops.

E-commerce & Delivery

Sidewalk Delivery Bots

Avride sidewalk delivery bots are launching in central Tokyo through a partnership with Rakuten, starting small with 10 robots initially. Avride also secured a deal with Uber last year.

Entertainment & Media

Star Wars Franchise

Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan faces challenges in exciting fans amid uncertainty about the franchise's future.

The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time season three is approaching, commencing with a thrilling magic battle. The relationship between Siuan and Moiraine remains fractured.

Pokémon Day

To celebrate Pokémon Day, a new animated short film, "Dragonite and the Special Delivery," has been released, hinting at the return of Kalos’ Lumiose City and Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Deals

MacBook Discounts

Amazon is offering a $200 discount on the M3 MacBook Air, bringing the price down to $899. There are deals on other MacBooks too, you can get an M2 MacBook Air for $800 or an M4 MacBook Pro for $1,399.

Ninja Coffee Maker

The Ninja Pod & Grounds Specialty Coffee Maker is priced at $80 on Amazon (20% off), featuring compatibility with both pods and traditional ground coffee brewing.

Environmental Policy

Marine Mammal Protection

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has rescinded a notice recommending ship operators restrict their speed to 10 knots in areas occupied by Rice's whales in the Gulf of Mexico, a decision criticized by environmental advocates.

AI & Tech

New AI Model from Inception

Inception, a company founded by Stanford professor Stefano Ermon, has unveiled a diffusion-based large language model (DLM) that rivals traditional LLMs in capabilities like code generation and question-answering. This new model boasts significantly faster performance and reduced computing costs by utilizing diffusion technology, which regenerates data all at once. Inception has already gained customers including Fortune 100 companies, drawn to its solution for reducing AI latency and increasing speed.

iOS 18.4 Ambient Music Feature

iOS 18.4 introduces a new Ambient Music tab in Control Center, allowing users to integrate Apple Music playlists or customized lists into the Control Center, lock screen, or Action Button. This feature, linked to Apple Music, provides mood-based options like Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. It is currently in the iOS 18.4 developer beta stage.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Deal

Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 FE, priced at $297.72 (originally $449.99), features an S Pen stylus, a 90Hz refresh rate screen, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The water-resistant tablet includes Android 13 software and Samsung DeX for a laptop-like experience. It offers reliable software updates and a long battery life of up to 18 hours.

Microsoft Office 2024 Home

Microsoft Office 2024 Home, providing lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, is available for a one-time purchase of A$206 until March 30. The new version includes enhancements such as Excel's ability to handle larger datasets and PowerPoint's improved presentation recording features. This purchase guarantees lifetime access for both Macs and PCs.

PicoChat iMessage App

PicoChat, a new iMessage app by developer Idrees Hassan, replicates the experience of the Nintendo DS's PictoChat. The app provides a peer-to-peer messaging experience with a familiar interface, alphanumeric and emoji keyboards, and stylus drawing capabilities, requiring users to connect over the same Wi-Fi network.

Amazon Alexa Plus Limitations

Amazon's new AI-powered upgrade, Alexa Plus, will not be available on many first-generation Echo devices, including the first-generation Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Tap, Echo Spot, and Echo Show, as well as the second-generation Echo Show. However, these devices will continue to function with the standard Alexa.

Privacy-Focused App Alternatives

As concerns about data privacy grow, users are turning to alternatives to mainstream apps and services. Wallabag is a read-later web archiving service, competing with Pocket by allowing users to save articles and web content for later reading without tracking. Signal is a secure messaging app known for encrypting messages and minimizing data retention.

Politics & Economy

Bitcoin Plunge

Bitcoin hit a record $109,000 on Inauguration Day but has since dropped 23 percent.

Elon Musk's Budget Involvement

Elon Musk revealed his involvement in budget decisions through DOGE at President Trump's cabinet meeting, including accidentally canceling Ebola prevention funding. His actions have been criticized for bypassing Congress's authority over federal spending.

DEI Policy Rollbacks

President Trump is criticizing Apple for maintaining its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies after shareholders rejected a proposal to end them. In response to legal and political pressure, companies are scaling back or eliminating DEI programs, with Attorney General Pam Bondi directing the Department of Justice to investigate programs deemed illegal. Corporations like McDonalds, Harley Davidson, and Walmart have announced rollbacks, while companies like Apple and Costco remain committed to diversity efforts.

FTX Bankruptcy Costs

The FTX bankruptcy case has incurred nearly $1 billion in lawyer fees, making it one of the most expensive Chapter 11 bankruptcies in history. Creditors may still be repaid 118% of their holdings, but the fees are attributed to chaotic management practices under Sam Bankman-Fried.

Health

Measles Outbreak in Texas

A measles outbreak in Texas has turned deadly, with the first death reported. The outbreak, primarily affecting unvaccinated individuals in Mennonite communities, has led to at least 124 cases and 18 hospitalizations.

Entertainment

Supernatural Reunion on The Boys

Supernatural stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, and Misha Collins are reuniting on the final season of The Boys. Ackles, who plays Soldier Boy on The Boys, announced the news, sparking excitement among fans about their roles and potential spin-offs.

Warner Bros. Nemesis System in Limbo

Warner Bros. Discovery's shutdown of game studios has put the Nemesis system from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor in limbo. The patent for this mechanic, which allows enemies to remember and react to past encounters with the player, is owned by Warner Bros. until 2036 but has only been used in one game since 2016.

Robotics and AI

Boston Dynamics' Robot Revolution

Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics, is focusing on enabling robots to independently learn complex movements through machine learning. The company's robots, such as Spot and Atlas, are being enhanced with reinforcement learning to improve their capabilities in challenging environments. The goal is to create robots that require less human programming.

Amazon's AI-Enhanced Alexa+

Amazon is launching Alexa+, an AI upgrade for $20 per month (free for Prime members), providing personalized and conversational interactions. It integrates with apps like Hulu, Uber, and Xbox, offering features like answering complex questions, using photos as input, and creating routines by voice.

Technology

Amazon's Quantum Computing

Amazon is detailing its quantum computing approach, using two types of qubits and one chip.

Google's FDA-Cleared Pulse Detection on Pixel Watch 3

Google's Pixel Watch 3 now features an FDA-cleared AI-powered pulse detection system. Using the heart rate sensor, it detects "pulselessness" during medical emergencies. If no pulse or motion is detected, it alerts the user and can contact emergency services. The feature is available in the U.S. and is not intended for those with pre-existing heart conditions.

Social Media and Content Moderation

Meta's Content Moderation Policy Changes

Meta's content moderation policy revisions, reportedly directed by Mark Zuckerberg, are under scrutiny by the Oversight Board. These include ending the fact-checking program in the U.S. and rolling back hate speech rules. The Oversight Board will assess the enforceability of its powers regarding these policies, especially concerning hateful conduct.

Cryptocurrency and Security

Bybit Crypto Exchange Hack

Crypto exchange Bybit was reportedly hacked for $1.4 billion in Ethereum cryptocurrency. Bybit is offering $140 million in bounties for information leading to the tracing and freezing of the stolen funds. Investigations suggest malicious code from SafeWallet's infrastructure targeted Bybit's Ethereum Multisig Cold Wallet. Bybit aims to eliminate the Lazarus Group, believed to be North Korean-backed hackers.

Entertainment

Mobile Suit Gundam G QuuuuuuX Film

Mobile Suit Gundam G QuuuuuuX is a collaboration between Neon Genesis Evangelion studio Khara and Gundam creator Bandai Filmworks. The film's latter half condenses the first episodes of the upcoming TV series, while the first half details an alternate version of the "One Year War."

Michelle Trachtenberg's Passing

Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her role on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," has passed away at the age of 39. She also starred in films such as "Harriet the Spy," "EuroTrip," and "17 Again."

Here's your news brief, compiled and formatted as requested:

Artificial Intelligence

AI-Powered Tools and Platforms

• ElevenLabs has launched Scribe, its first standalone speech-to-text model, valued at $3.3 billion. Scribe supports over 99 languages and boasts excellent accuracy (less than 5% word error rate) in over 25 languages. The company claims Scribe outperforms Google Gemini 2.0 Flash and Whisper Large V3 in benchmark tests. It includes features like smart speaker diarization, timestamping, and auto-tagging of sound events.
• AI agents are transforming Web3 by optimizing server connections, enhancing security, and automating routine tasks. Fuse's AI agent, Edison, integrates blockchain and artificial intelligence, simplifying complex blockchain operations.
• Y Combinator removed a video promoting Optifye, an AI-powered worker monitoring software, after it sparked backlash over concerns about inhumane treatment.

Technology

Social Media Updates

• Hinge launched "Match Note," a new feature that allows users to privately share information with matches, supporting underrepresented groups like LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent individuals.
• Instagram users don't receive notifications when someone screenshots grid posts or stories, but they do get notified if someone screenshots a chat thread in vanish mode.
• Users reported issues with Instagram, Facebook, and Facebook Messenger, especially with messaging on Instagram, starting around midday on February 26.

Software Development and Data

• Software migration projects are crucial for developers, pushing them to meet high standards for availability, scale, and customer experience.
• Data visualization tools are transforming raw data into accessible content such as charts and graphs which makes it easy to extract actionable insights for tech companies.

Cybersecurity and Privacy

• HackerNoon's newsletter highlighted security concerns related to the Bybit hack, sparking debates over centralized exchange security.
• Google is simplifying the process of removing personal data from search results.
• Organizations must carefully assess available options before investing in network security solutions to ensure they address specific risks, vulnerabilities, and integration with existing infrastructure.

Business and E-commerce

Amazon Initiatives

• Amazon is revamping Alexa into a virtual shopping assistant with Alexa+, which helps with grocery shopping through Amazon Fresh and Uber Eats and is free for Prime members, or $19.99/month. Alexa+ also allows users to jump to specific scenes in Prime Video movies using voice commands. The upgraded Alexa+ experience will launch next month and will be available on Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 devices first.
• Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has reportedly taken a more active role in The Washington Post, intending to promote "free market" principles and "personal liberties". The publication will now avoid publishing opinion pieces that oppose these core views.

Streaming Services

• Max is reversing its plan to charge extra for sports and news content and instead will remove CNN Max and Bleacher Report Sports from its ad-supported tier starting March 30.
• Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and others are increasing prices due to multiple factors like customers cancelling cable, high demand for content, and the need to prioritize profits.

Deals and Products

Amazon Deals

• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: The unlocked Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is back to its all-time low price of $799 on Amazon, a 27% discount.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Bespoke Edition: The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Bespoke Edition is on sale for $419.99 at Amazon.

• Fire TV: Amazon's 43-inch 4-Series Fire TV is on sale for $209.99, a 43% discount.

• Gaming Laptops: The Razer Blade 18 gaming laptop is available for pre-order for $3,199.99 at Razer and includes a free Razer laptop stand and exclusive skin.

• Xbox Storage: The WD_Black storage expansion card for Xbox Series X and Series S is currently 30% off, bringing the price down to $110.
• Acoustic-Electric Guitar: The Enya NOVA Go SP1 carbon fiber acoustic-electric guitar is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon, a 29% discount.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is on sale for $279.72 at Amazon, a 38% discount.

• DJI Osmo Action Camera: The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Adventure Combo bundle is on sale via Amazon for $369, an 18% discount.

• Turntable: The Sonos-ready Victrola Stream Onyx turntable is on sale at Woot for $249.99, which is more than 50 percent off.

Gaming

• PlayStation Plus members can claim Dragon Age: The Veilguard (PS5), Sonic Colors: Ultimate (PS4), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection (PS4 and PS5) between March 4 and March 31.

Health

Disease Outbreak

• The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating two clusters of a mystery illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with at least 419 cases and 45 deaths reported in Bomate Village. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache.

Entertainment

Film Industry Trends

• Wicked has reignited audience interest in fantasy live-action adaptations, potentially benefiting the upcoming Snow White musical.
• Slack experienced downtime, impacting messaging and connectivity for many users.

AI Assistants

Amazon Alexa+

• Amazon is launching Alexa+, an upgraded, AI-powered version of Alexa, designed to be more conversational and contextually aware. It will be available in late March 2025 in the United States, rolling out to select Echo Show devices initially and eventually to all Alexa-powered devices. A new website and redesigned mobile app will accompany the launch.

• Alexa+ can perform more complex tasks such as booking concert tickets, ordering Uber rides, managing smart homes, analyzing camera footage, and finding recipes. It understands user preferences, detects tone and mood, delivers empathetic responses, and can learn new information from documents, emails, and recipes provided by the user. This allows for natural question-asking and better daily interactions.

• Alexa+ leverages conversational AI and Amazon service integration to assist users in various ways, showing contextual awareness and completing complex tasks. It can also generate custom songs via Suno and partners with news organizations to answer questions with current information, along with Uber, OpenTable, Spotify, and Sonos.

• The subscription costs $19.99 per month but is free for Amazon Prime users. To fully utilize Alexa+, a Prime membership is almost essential, as many features depend on services like Amazon Music and Prime Video.

OpenAI's GPT-4.5

• Some ChatGPT Pro users ($200/month for early access) have received a notification inviting them to "try the GPT-4.5 research preview." Internally codenamed "Orion," GPT-4.5 will be OpenAI's "last non-chain-of-thought model," meaning future models will have reasoning capabilities.

Google Gemini

• Google's Gemini may soon be further integrated into Android, potentially requiring users to say "Hey Gemini" instead of "Hey Google" to access the phone's assistant. This change may be introduced at Google I/O 2025.

Health & Technology

Google Pixel Watch 3 – Loss of Pulse Detection

• Google has received FDA clearance for the Pixel Watch 3's 'Loss of Pulse Detection' feature and will launch it in the U.S. at the end of March. The feature can detect when a user's heart stops beating and, if unresponsive, will automatically call emergency services. It first launched in the EU in September 2024 and is currently available in 14 countries. Google notes that the feature may not detect every instance and is not intended for users with pre-existing heart conditions.

Space Exploration

NASA's Lucy Spacecraft

• The Lucy spacecraft has captured its first images of the main belt asteroid Donaldjohanson, a prelude to its primary mission of exploring the Trojan asteroids near Jupiter. The spacecraft will approach within 596 miles (960 kilometers) of Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025. Lucy will continue to image Donaldjohanson over the next two months. The first Trojan asteroid Lucy will encounter is Eurybates.

Public Health

Measles Death in the US

• There has been the first measles death in the US since 2015. The victim was an unvaccinated school-aged child from Texas, amid a growing outbreak.

AI and Smart Assistants

Amazon's Alexa+ Upgrade

Amazon is launching Alexa+, a generative AI-powered upgrade to its Alexa digital assistant, to reduce friction in smart home control and information retrieval. It's designed to compete with AI-powered digital assistants like Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Apple’s upgraded Siri. Alexa+ can order groceries, send event invites, memorize personal details, and maintain conversations with only one wake word ("Alexa") per conversation. It has contextual awareness, remembers past interactions, understands tone and mood, and responds naturally, even understanding not to play music in the nursery to avoid waking the baby.

Alexa+ uses a "model agnostic" system, utilizing Bedrock and models like Amazon Nova and Anthropic's models. It has vision capabilities, analyzes images, and offers abilities like concert ticket alerts, local business information via Yelp, and dinner reservations. Amazon says it can also research trips and create itineraries, plan a date, book the restaurant, and even be your babysitter. Alexa+ also integrates with thousands of devices and services, including news from Time, Reuters, and AP, and can navigate websites to complete tasks autonomously, such as finding and contacting repair services. Alexa+ will start at $19.99 or is free for Prime members, and will roll out in waves over the subsequent months. Amazon is also launching Alexa.com, a new web experience.

Alexa+ and Entertainment

Alexa+ will be able to navigate through movies on Prime Video using voice commands. Users can ask Alexa+ to "jump to a scene" by specifying details like actor's name, character's name, or a quote. Alexa+ device owners can also ask the assistant about the song they heard during the credits of a TV show, even if they don't know the song's title or the artist.

Alexa for Kids

Amazon is launching two new AI-powered features for kids called “Explore with Alexa” and “Stories with Alexa,” available to Amazon Kids+ subscribers ($5.99/month for Prime members, $7.99/month for non-Prime). The features are designed to help kids explore topics and encourage imaginative thinking. The Explore feature lets kids ask questions and Stories with Alexa allows kids to generate a story based on a prompt.

AI Coding Assistant

Continue, an open-source AI code assistant startup, has launched version 1.0 of its product, supported by $3 million in seed funding. Continue allows developers to create customized, contextual coding assistants that connect with any model and integrate seamlessly with their development environments. It pitches itself as “the leading open-source AI code assistant” that can connect with any model and lets teams add their own context by pulling in data from platforms like Jira or Confluence. The product includes open-source extensions for VSCode and JetBrains.

TechCrunch Sessions: AI

TechCrunch Sessions: AI, on June 5 at UC Berkeley, will feature a panel discussing how startups can compete against established rivals in the AI industry. The panel, “How to Launch a Product Against Entrenched Incumbents,” will look at ways small companies are managing to stay relevant in a fast-paced and rapidly changing space. Oliver Cameron, co-founder and CEO, Odyssey will speak on the main stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5, 2025 in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley.

Security and Privacy

Cellebrite Suspends Service in Serbia

Cellebrite has suspended its technology use in Serbia following allegations that Serbian police and intelligence misused it to unlock phones of a journalist and an activist, subsequently planting spyware. Amnesty International's report in December 2024 accused Serbian authorities of using Cellebrite's tools to hack into cellphones and install Android spyware. Amnesty International has urged Serbian authorities to conduct thorough investigations and establish safeguards to prevent future abuse.

PayPal Scam

A PayPal email scam is circulating, where scammers use a legitimate PayPal address ([email protected]) to send fraudulent purchase notifications, tricking users into downloading malware for remote access to their computers. Be wary of messages that provoke an emotional response, and log in to your PayPal account directly to check for any suspicious activity.

Obscuring Faces in Photos

Strategies for obscuring faces in photos before posting them online are discussed, particularly in situations like protests. The article emphasizes the importance of using irreversible methods, such as painting over faces or using mosaic blur techniques, to prevent de-blurring.

Entertainment

Doctor Who Return Date

Doctor Who will return for an eight-episode season from April 12, starring Ncuti Gatwa. The series will debut at 8 am Saturday mornings in the UK on BBC iPlayer, before airing on local television later that day, coinciding with a launch on Disney+ around the world.

Andor Season 2

The second season of Andor will jump across four years of Cassian's adventures, right up to the events of Rogue One, focusing on events like the Ghorman Massacre and the rise of the Empire.

Deals

Windows 11 Pro Discount

Windows 11 Pro is currently available for $10 at StackSocial with code ‘UPGRADE’ for a limited time.

Shark Robot Vacuum Deal

The Shark’s Ultra Robot Vacuum, offering advanced features like LiDAR vision and matrix navigation, is now available at a 43% discount on Amazon, priced at $400.

Xbox Controller on Sale

The wireless Xbox controller in carbon black is on sale for $39 at Walmart, a $20.99 discount.

Anker Earbuds Discount

The Anker P20i earbuds are on sale for $19.99 at Amazon, a 50% discount that matches the lowest price ever seen.

WD Black SSD Deal

The WD Black 8TB Internal Gaming SSD is on sale for $533.10 at Amazon, a 39% discount and its lowest price yet.

Ulta Hair Tools Sale

Ulta Beauty Rewards members can save 20% on all hairstyling tools through March 1 with code TOOLS20. The sale includes popular items like the Dyson Airwrap, Shark FlexStyle, and Dyson Supersonic models.

Other Tech News

IFTTT and Smart Lights

IFTTT (If This Then That) is a web and mobile app for plugging different services into each other, including smart light platforms like Philips Hue, Lifx, TP-Link, Nanoleaf, and Govee. Users can link triggers from various apps and services to automated actions on their smart lights.

Business and Finance

Capim Secures Funding

Capim, a Brazilian startup offering buy now, pay later (BNPL) options for dental services, has secured $26.7 million in Series A funding. The company's SaaS platform assists dentists in digitizing their clinics, managing operations, and increasing revenue through features like digital appointment booking.

Ethical Concerns

Microsoft Employees Protest

Microsoft kicked out five employees from a town hall event for protesting the company’s contract with the Israeli military, which involves providing AI models via Azure for military operations. The employees questioned CEO Satya Nadella about whether "our code kill kids?" Reports indicate that the Israeli military uses Microsoft Azure and OpenAI models to make decisions about airstrikes.

Science

Early Human Rainforest Habitation

New research suggests that humans began inhabiting rainforests as early as 150,000 years ago, much earlier than previously thought.

Automotive Industry

Lucid Leadership Change

Peter Rawlinson, CEO of Lucid Motors, will step down to become Strategic Technical Advisor, with Chief Operating Officer Marc Winterhoff as interim CEO. This change comes as Lucid aims to double its vehicle sales to 20,000 in 2025 after delivering 10,241 EVs in 2024. The company reported a net loss of $636.9 million for Q4 2024 and $3.06 billion for the year, ending with $6.13 billion in liquidity. Lucid has high hopes for its Gravity SUV, featuring up to 440 miles of range and 800 horsepower.

In-Car Advertising

Car makers may be tempted by in-vehicle selling in connected cars.

Space Exploration

NASA's New Frontiers Mission

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have proposed science themes for NASA’s fifth New Frontiers mission, expected to launch in the 2030s. Mission concepts under consideration include a Saturn probe, a lunar sensor network, and a dwarf planet material sample return to Earth. The report suggested seven missions for review, including the Centaur Orbiter and Lander, Ceres Sample Return, Comet Surface Sample Return, Enceladus Multiple Flyby, Io Observer, Lunar Geophysical Network, and Saturn Probe.

Artemis Campaign Plan

A revised Artemis campaign plan should be a high priority for the new NASA Administrator.

Artificial Intelligence

AI in Education

A report by the UK's Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found that 92% of undergraduate students have used generative AI tools like ChatGPT for their studies, with 88% using it for exams. Primary reasons included saving time and improving work quality. Most students believe their universities have clear AI policies. 42% of students feel staff are well-equipped to help with AI, up from 18% last year.

TechCrunch Sessions: AI

TechCrunch Sessions: AI is scheduled for June 5 at UC Berkeley, featuring speakers like Oliver Cameron (Odyssey) and Kanu Gulati (Khosla Ventures). The event will explore AI innovation through talks, sessions, and demos.

Apple's Dictation App Bug

Apple is addressing an issue with its AI-powered dictation tool where the word "racist" was temporarily transcribed as "Trump." The company claims it was a phonetic issue and is rolling out a fix.

Amazon's Alexa Updates

Amazon is set to announce new Alexa features and possibly new devices. The new AI-powered Alexa may come with a subscription cost of $5 to $10 per month, potentially allowing users to order dinner from services like Uber Eats or help write emails.

Consumer Electronics

Framework Desktop PC

Framework is releasing a desktop PC with the mission to fix consumer electronics by making them modular, repairable, and upgradable, and will be a tiny gaming PC with AMD’s Strix Halo processor.

Android Support Expansion

Android phones running on future Snapdragon 8 and 7-series chips could receive up to eight years of software and security updates due to an agreement between Qualcomm and Google. This may include devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, Xiaomi 15 Series, OnePlus 13, and Asus ROG Phone 9.

Apple Pencil Pro Sale

The Apple Pencil Pro is on sale for $99 at Amazon. Compatible with the newest iPads, the stylus features squeeze-based gestures, a gyroscope, pressure sensitivity, and haptic feedback.

Asus TUF Gaming Laptop Sale

The Asus TUF gaming A16 2024 gaming laptop is on sale for $1,300 at Amazon, featuring a 16" screen with a 2.5K resolution, Nvidia G-Sync, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU.

Google Pixel 7 Sale

The Google Pixel 7 (5G, Unlocked) is on sale for $279.99 on Woot, featuring a 6.3-inch OLED display, a recycled aluminum build, and Gorilla Glass Victus protection.

Anker Power Bank Sale

The Anker 737 Power Bank, a 24,000mAh portable charger, is on sale for $90 on Amazon. It features three outputs: an 18W USB-A port and two 140W USB-C ports.

JBL PartyBox 310 Sale

The JBL PartyBox 310 portable speaker is back to its holiday-low price of $350 at Amazon, featuring 240 watts of high-quality JBL sound and 18 hours of battery life.

Entertainment

YouTube Podcast Dominance

YouTube has become the top platform for online radio shows, with one billion monthly podcast viewers, surpassing both Apple and Spotify. YouTube says that more than 400 million hours of podcasts were watched on TVs last year.

Fear Street Return and Marvel Updates

R.L. Stine prepares for the return of Fear Street with Fear Street: Prom Queen arriving on May 23 to Netflix. Marvel canceled plans for the Okoye Black Panther Spinoff series but The Punisher will be returning to Disney+ for an untitled special.

Doctor Who Season Premiere

The next season of Doctor Who, starring Ncuti Gatwa, will premiere on Disney Plus and the BBC on April 12th.

Business and Technology

Apple Resumes Sales in Indonesia

Apple will resume iPhone sales in Indonesia after agreeing to invest $1 billion in a local manufacturing facility.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will be held October 27-29 in San Francisco. Early bird tickets are available until February 28.

Google Search Update

Google is updating its "Results about you" tool to simplify the removal of personal information from Search results, now available in multiple countries.

Microsoft EU Data Boundary Project

Microsoft has completed its EU Data Boundary project, allowing Europe-based customers to store and process data within the EU.

Environmental

UK Climate Goals

The UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC) advises the government to ensure half of all UK homes have heat pumps and four out of five cars are electric by 2040 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Science

Prehistoric Sea Travel

New research suggests that prehistoric Southeast Asians mastered deep-sea travel and fishing as far back as 40,000 years ago.

AI & Tech

AI Model Releases

• Alibaba is offering free access to its generative AI models, Wan2.1 series, which creates realistic videos and images from text and image inputs. Four variants are open-source on Alibaba Cloud's ModelScope and Hugging Face, accepting up to 14 billion parameters.

AI-Enhanced Shopping Experience

• Glance has launched a generative AI shopping experience suggesting outfits on personalized avatars. This is done in partnership with Google, using Gemini models and Vertex AI. The company is experimenting with this in the U.S. through Glance AI, planning a rollout in the U.S. and India. Users upload a selfie, customize their avatar, and receive outfit suggestions on their lockscreen with purchasable items from Glance's 400 partners.

Amazon's AI Integration

• Amazon is hosting an Alexa event in New York City on February 26th, where they may announce a subscription-based version of Alexa enhanced with AI features, and possibly unveil new Alexa-integrated products.

Privacy & Security

Enhanced Personal Data Control on Google

• Google is enhancing its "Results about you" tool, allowing users to easily request the removal and updating of Search results containing personal information. The updated tool allows users in select countries to easily sign up and request removals directly from the Search page. Users can register names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for Google to scan and receive notifications when their data is detected. The tool also features options for requesting the removal of personal information, flagging illegal content, and refreshing outdated Search results.

iOS Chrome Update

• Chrome for iOS no longer syncs solely to iCloud.

Transportation

Cybertrucks for Las Vegas Police

• The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department will receive 10 Tesla Cybertrucks from an anonymous donor, speculated to be Ben Horowitz.

Entertainment

"I Know What You Did Last Summer" BTS

• Jennifer Love Hewitt shared a behind-the-scenes photo from the new I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Photography

Mirrorless Cameras

• Recommended mirrorless cameras that offer DSLR quality in a smaller size.

AI & Tech

AI Productivity Tools

ChatGPT now features Tasks and Operator to boost productivity. Tasks enable reminders and to-do lists, while Operator, an agentic model for Pro users, aims to handle tasks on the user's behalf. One user utilized ChatGPT for workout and meditation routines and found it helpful for initial guidance and brainstorming.

AI Sales Enablement

Regie.ai, established in 2021, offers AI-driven sales enablement software, blending AI with human interaction to improve sales efficiency. The platform includes tools like an AI sales sequence builder and co-pilots for messaging and prospecting. Regie.ai analyzes engagement to optimize outreach and automates tasks, letting sales reps concentrate on key interactions.

Cybersecurity Training

Anagram is introducing a novel cybersecurity training approach to combat human-driven breaches. Their platform offers hands-on, frequent, and engaging security training through bite-sized videos and interactive puzzles that teach employees to identify suspicious communications.

Software & Apps

Microsoft Office

Microsoft tested a free, ad-supported Office version with basic Word, Excel, and PowerPoint features, requiring a premium subscription for advanced capabilities. It featured banner and video ads, mandatory OneDrive saving, and was exclusive to Windows PCs. Due to these limitations, Google Workspaces is preferable.

Amazon Fire TV Stick Apps

Consider useful applications for Amazon Fire TV Stick to unlock the power of this streaming device. Downloader is for downloading any app using its built-in browser. Kodi is an all-in-one media center with plugins that enable features like live TV and cloud syncing. It is customizable and streams free content online. VLC is a classic video app that streams content online or plays locally hosted media. SmartTube is an ad-free third-party YouTube client. Other options are Plex and Jellyfin.

Consumer Electronics & Deals

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The 512GB Galaxy S25 Ultra is on sale for $1,300, a $120 discount from its regular price of $1,420. Eligible trade-ins can further reduce the price to as low as $400.

Amazon Fire TV

The 43-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD smart TV is on sale for $209.99, marked down 43% from its original price of $369.99.

Beats Studio Pro Headphones

The Beats Studio Pro headphones are on sale at Best Buy for $199.99, a 42% discount. The purchase includes free access to Apple Fitness+ for three months for new subscribers and up to three months of Apple Music.

Toaster Ovens

Toaster ovens are the Swiss Army knives of the modern kitchen.

Corporate Policy

Apple DEI

Apple shareholders voted to keep diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, rejecting a proposal to eliminate them.

AI & Machine Learning

AI Model Development and Capabilities

• A philosophical review examines the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs), challenging the view that they are mere mimics. It emphasizes careful scrutiny of the learning process and internal mechanisms.

• Another philosophical review discusses the concept of world models in LLMs, questioning whether they possess internal representations allowing them to generate language consistent with real-world knowledge.

• Researchers from Stanford and the University of Washington demonstrated that powerful AI models can be built on a budget, creating a new model based on Alibaba's Qwen2.5 for just $50 using 16 NVIDIA H100 GPUs.

• A research paper introduces Context-Aware Bifurcated Attention, aiming to improve the accuracy of language models under latency-constrained scenarios. Additional results demonstrate the wide applicability of bifurcated attention in improving accuracy under latency constraints.

• A related research paper provides a proof that the proposed bifurcated attention recovers the same attention as the operations in single-context batch sampling. The paper outlines the detailed memory I/O analysis, implementation of bifurcated attention and includes Pytorch code.

• IBM's mini AI model is designed for predicting the future.

AI Applications in Various Industries

• Bridgetown Research, an AI startup, has raised $19 million to speed up due diligence by using AI agents for data collection and research.

• Framework has released its first desktop computer designed for gaming and running large language models.

• AI is transforming business optimization, particularly in customer success. Implementing AI requires balance, framing the digital transformation as a product, and experimentation.

• AI is being used to refine actors’ Hungarian pronunciation in the Oscar-nominated film “The Brutalist”.

• Story by, a content creation company, uses AI as a “creative co-pilot” for developing plot twists and characters, reducing movie decomposition time from weeks to hours.

• AI-driven personalization can boost company margins by up to 15%, and AI has shown promise in healthcare diagnostics.

AI Infrastructure and the Future

• The proposed $500 billion Stargate initiative aims to create infrastructure for a sovereign AI and data economy.

• Large language models (LLMs) may engage in cultural acquisition and play a role in the transmission of knowledge.

Business & Technology

Data Utilization and Analytics

• Big data has become essential for business success, enabling deeper customer insights and more efficient operations.

• Spynn Publicity believes data analytics can sharpen outreach efforts, allowing brands to focus on what customers care about by analyzing social media sentiment and search trends.

Cybersecurity

• The $1.4 billion hack of the Bybit exchange raises concerns about the security systems of large CEX platforms, with an anonymous security expert suggesting insider involvement.

Intellectual Property Management

• Intellectual Ventures modernized their platform to handle patent submissions, improving scalability, resource management, and automation.

Web3 & Crypto

Crypto Media and Security Concerns

• Crypto media is essential for delivering accurate information, and building community by supporting transparent regulation and highlighting new projects.
• EVEDEX blends social logins and Account Abstraction for decentralized apps.

Blockchain and Global Development

• Transforming Tonga into the Web3 Tech Hub of the Pacific requires mental and physical fortitude in the face of inevitable resistance.

Society & Culture

Community Development and Innovation

• Kalamos Island in the Mediterranean is transforming remote communities with technology, addressing challenges in micro-mobility and healthcare.

Personal Development and Psychology

• To be a great conversationalist, begin with an open-ended question relevant to the environment to engage new friends.

Entertainment

• Predicting the Best Picture winner at the 2025 Oscars is proving exceptionally difficult, with Emilia Pérez leading with 13 nominations.

Other News

Product Releases and Events

• Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at "the newest member of the family" before introducing the iPhone 16e on February 19, priced at $599.

• Amazon is hosting a devices event in New York City this morning (February 26) at 10 am ET. Engadget will be attending and liveblogging the event.

Cybersecurity

Data Breach on GitHub and Copilot

Security researchers at Lasso discovered that Microsoft's Copilot could access data from over 20,000 GitHub repositories, even after they were made private. This affected over 16,000 organizations, including major companies like Amazon, Google, IBM, PayPal, Tencent, and Microsoft. The problem is due to Bing's caching, which indexes data for Copilot. Confidential data like intellectual property and access keys were exposed. Affected companies are advised to rotate or revoke compromised keys.

Genea Cyberattack

Genea, an Australian fertility provider, experienced a cyberattack. Hackers published sensitive data of IVF patients, including IDs and medical records. A court injunction was obtained to prevent further data dissemination. The compromised data includes contact details, Medicare numbers, health insurance details, medical histories, test results, and medications. Financial information is not believed to be affected.

E-commerce and Finance

Gozem's Series B Funding

Gozem, a super-app in French-speaking West Africa, raised $30 million in Series B funding. The company offers ride-hailing, commerce, vehicle financing, and digital banking. The funding will be used to expand its vehicle financing service and enter new markets. Gozem aims to provide financially secure opportunities for its drivers.

NFT and Blockchain Masterclass Bundle

The 2025 Complete NFT and Blockchain Masterclass Bundle is on sale for $34.99. It covers NFT basics, blockchain technology, smart contracts, decentralized applications, and cryptography. It includes courses on minting NFTs, setting up crypto wallets, building Ethereum dApps, and understanding crypto security.

Consumer Electronics Deals

Samsung 55-inch Q60D QLED 4K Smart TV

The Samsung 55-inch Q60D QLED 4K Smart TV is on sale for $547.99 at Amazon. It features Quantum HDR, Dual LED backlighting, and 100% Color Volume with Quantum Dot tech. It also has Motion Xcelerator technology, Object Tracking Sound Lite, Samsung Gaming Hub, and Amazon Alexa built-in.

Hisense 55-inch U7N QLED 4K Smart TV

The Hisense 55-inch U7N QLED 4K Smart TV is on sale for $498 at Amazon. This 144Hz Mini-LED TV features Mini-LED backlighting with Full Array Local Dimming. It also has Quantum Dot color, up to 1500 nits of peak brightness, 144Hz Game Mode Pro with VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Atmos, and a built-in subwoofer.

Apple iPad 10th Gen

The Apple iPad 10th Gen is on sale for $279 at Amazon. It features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and the A14 Bionic chip. It also has a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera and a 12MP back camera that can shoot 4K video.

Garmin vívoactive 5

The Garmin vívoactive 5 is on sale for $230.99 at Amazon. It features a bright AMOLED display and a battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode. It includes health-tracking features such as heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress tracking, and sleep insights.

Apple Pencil (USB-C)

The Apple Pencil (USB-C) is on sale for $69 at Amazon. It charges via USB-C and magnetically attaches for storage. It offers pixel-perfect precision, low latency, and tilt sensitivity. Compatible models include the iPad Mini, iPad Pro (3rd-6th generation), iPad (10th generation), and iPad Air (4th and 5th generation).

HP EliteDesk 800 Desktop

The HP EliteDesk 800 Desktop is on sale for $274.97. It features an Intel i5-9500T processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It comes with Windows 10 Pro and has multiple USB ports, including USB-C and HDMI.

Pocket Popper Magnetic Mini Wireless Speaker

The Pocket Popper magnetic mini wireless speaker is on sale for $21.99. It attaches magnetically to MagSafe-compatible phones and cases and doubles as a kickstand. It delivers HD sound and offers up to eight hours of battery life.

Software and Education

Rosetta Stone Lifetime Access

Lifetime access to Rosetta Stone is on sale for $179.99. It allows users to study 25 different languages using an immersive learning method. It offers beginner and advanced lessons in languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, German, Arabic, Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese.

Apple Arcade

Apple Arcade offers a subscription-based gaming service with a curated selection of ad-free, in-app purchase-free games. It includes both exclusive titles and popular App Store games.

Workplace Trends

Rise of Workplace Monitoring Technology

Companies are increasingly using workplace monitoring technology to track employees' time, attendance, and productivity. This includes biometric scanners and sophisticated platforms like HID's OmniKey. The implementation of these technologies raises questions about employee privacy.

Robotics and Automation

Nomagic's Funding for Robotic Arms

Nomagic, a Polish startup that builds robotic arms for logistics, has raised $44 million in funding. The investment signals a push to rebuild industry in regions like the U.S. and Europe.

Gaming

Pokémon TCG Restock at Best Buy

Best Buy is celebrating Pokémon Day with daily restocks of in-demand Pokémon TCG sets, exclusively through their app. Today's highlight is the Twilight Masquerade booster box, priced at $160.99. This set includes sought-after cards like Carmine (217/167), a Special Illustration Rare valued at $88 on TCGPlayer, and Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex (216/167), a powerful card dealing 240 damage. Other notable cards are Eevee (188/167), an Illustration Rare, and Legacy Energy (167/167), an ACE SPEC Energy card. With limited restocks expected throughout the week, collectors and players should monitor the Best Buy app for upcoming drops.

Automotive Industry

Volvo ES90 Electric Sedan

Volvo will unveil its high-tech electric sedan, the ES90, next month, providing details on its range and battery efficiency. The ES90 features a new 800-volt architecture, enabling faster charging and longer ranges. At a 350kW fast-charging station, it can add 300km (186 miles) of range in 10 minutes and offers a driving range of up to 700km (435 miles) under the WLTP cycle. The car's new battery management software reduces charging time from 10 to 80 percent by 30 percent, down to 20 minutes. Additionally, it incorporates recycled materials and a blockchain-based battery passport.

Wearable Technology

Apple Watch Models Comparison

A comparison of the three Apple Watch models: Series 10, Ultra 2, and SE (2022). The Series 10 features an S10 SiP chip, while the Ultra 2 has an S9 SiP, enabling on-device processing of Siri requests, faster machine learning, and the Double Tap gesture. The SE uses the S8 SiP. The Series 10 and Ultra 2 measure vital signs and take ECGs, with temperature sensors for ovulation tracking and underwater temperatures. All models have a compass and altimeter, while the Ultra 2 has an SOS siren and dive features. The Ultra includes blood oxygen sensors, but a patent dispute has forced Apple to disable that health feature on new models sold in the US.