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Showing posts from February, 2026

Perplexity’s New Computer Is Another Bet That Users Need Many AI Models

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Perplexity Computer: The $200 AI Agent That Works For You What is Perplexity Computer? It's the latest agentic AI tool from Perplexity, designed to unify multiple AI models into a single system that can execute complex workflows independently. Available now exclusively for Perplexity Max subscribers at $200 per month, this cloud-based agent promises to handle research, data analysis, and content creation tasks without constant human oversight. But how does it actually work, and is it worth the premium price? Here's what professionals need to know about this ambitious new entrant in the agentic AI space. Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images What Is Perplexity Computer and How Does It Work? Perplexity Computer represents a significant evolution in how users interact with artificial intelligence. Rather than prompting a single model for answers, this system functions as an autonomous user agent capable of planning, executing, and refining multi-step tasks. Think of i...

After Zomato, Deepinder Goyal Returns With A $54M Brain-Monitoring Bet

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Deepinder Goyal Temple: $54M Bet on Brain-Tech Future Just weeks after stepping down from Zomato, entrepreneur Deepinder Goyal is back—with a bold new venture. Temple, his brain-monitoring wearable startup, has secured $54 million in early funding. What exactly is Temple building? Why are top investors betting big? And how could this technology reshape how we interact with our devices? Here's what you need to know about Goyal's high-stakes pivot into neurotech. Credit: Eternal The $54M Friends-and-Family Round Behind Deepinder Goyal Temple Temple's initial funding round closed at a post-money valuation of approximately $190 million. The raise, structured as a friends-and-family round, drew participation from more than 30 employees who invested at the same valuation. This approach signals strong internal confidence in the venture's direction and Goyal's leadership. The capital injection positions Temple to accelerate research and development on its core technology: n...

OpenAI Raises $110B In One Of The Largest Private Funding Rounds In History

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OpenAI Funding: $110B Deal Reshapes AI Race OpenAI funding just reached a historic milestone: $110 billion in one of the largest private investment rounds ever. Amazon led with $50 billion, while Nvidia and SoftBank each committed $30 billion, valuing the AI pioneer at $730 billion before the new capital. This massive infusion isn't just about money—it signals a decisive shift from AI research to real-world, global-scale deployment. So what does this mean for the future of artificial intelligence, and why are tech giants betting so heavily on OpenAI's next chapter? The answer lies in infrastructure, partnerships, and a shared vision for making frontier AI a reliable utility for billions. Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images What the $110 Billion OpenAI Funding Means for AI's Future The scale of this OpenAI funding round dwarfs previous records, including the company's own $40 billion raise just last year. At a $730 billion pre-money valuation, investors are signaling ...

Pokémon Winds And Pokémon Waves Are Coming To The Nintendo Switch 2 In 2027

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PokĂ©mon Winds and Waves: 2027 Switch 2 Release Confirmed PokĂ©mon Winds and Waves is the next main-series PokĂ©mon game, arriving on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027. Announced during a special livestream marking 30 years of PokĂ©mon, this open-world adventure takes trainers across a vast ocean of islands. Players will choose from three new starter PokĂ©mon—Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua—as they explore lush jungles, tropical towns, and underwater reefs. If you're wondering when to expect the game, what platform it's on, or which starters are new, here's everything confirmed so far. Credit: Google PokĂ©mon Winds and Waves Release Date: What We Know The PokĂ©mon Company has officially targeted a 2027 release window for PokĂ©mon Winds and Waves on Nintendo Switch 2. While an exact date hasn't been locked in, main-series PokĂ©mon titles traditionally launch in November. That pattern suggests late 2027 is the most likely window, giving developers time to polish the experience. This timeline al...

CISA Replaces Acting Director After A Bumbling Year On The Job

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CISA acting director replaced after turbulent year The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has appointed a new acting director following a year marked by staffing reductions, operational strain, and reported security concerns. Nick Andersen now leads the federal agency responsible for protecting government networks and critical infrastructure, stepping in after Madhu Gottumukkala was reassigned. This leadership change arrives as CISA navigates heightened cyber threats and internal restructuring, raising questions about continuity and resilience at one of the nation's most vital security organizations. Credit: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg / Getty Images Leadership change signals new chapter for CISA acting director role The transition marks a significant shift for the agency, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security. Andersen, who previously oversaw CISA's cybersecurity division, brings institutional knowledge to the acting role during a period of uncertai...

Plaid Valued At $8B In Employee Share Sale

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Plaid Valuation Hits $8B in Employee Share Sale Plaid valuation has reached $8 billion following a recent employee share sale, the company confirmed this week. This 31% jump from last year's $6.1 billion assessment reflects growing confidence in the fintech infrastructure provider. But what does this mean for employees, investors, and the broader financial technology landscape? Here's what you need to know about Plaid's latest milestone and why secondary liquidity events are reshaping how private companies reward talent. Credit: Google Plaid Valuation Reaches $8 Billion: What Changed? The $8 billion figure isn't just a number—it signals renewed momentum for a company that powers financial connections for thousands of apps. Plaid enables secure links between users' bank accounts and financial applications, handling everything from payment initiation to identity verification. This latest valuation comes from a structured employee liquidity event, where staff members s...

AI Music Generator Suno Hits 2M Paid Subscribers And $300M In Annual Recurring Revenue

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AI Music Generator Suno Hits 2M Paid Subscribers The AI music generator Suno has reached a major milestone: 2 million paid subscribers and $300 million in annual recurring revenue. This rapid growth signals a shift in how people create and consume music. But what does this mean for artists, labels, and the future of the industry? Here's what you need to know about Suno's breakthrough, the technology behind it, and the ongoing debates shaping its path. For creators and music fans alike, understanding this evolution is no longer optional—it's essential. Credit: Barry Chin/The Boston Globe / Getty Images How an AI Music Generator Turns Simple Prompts Into Full Songs Suno's platform lets anyone create original music using just a text description. Type in a mood, genre, or even a few lyrics, and the AI music generator produces a complete track with vocals, instrumentation, and structure. This accessibility is revolutionary for aspiring creators who lack formal training or ex...

Employees At Google And OpenAI Support Anthropic’s Pentagon Stand In Open Letter

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The Anthropic Pentagon standoff has escalated as hundreds of Google and OpenAI employees publicly support Anthropic's refusal to grant the U.S. military unrestricted AI access. More than 360 tech workers signed an open letter urging leaders to back ethical boundaries around mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. As the Department of War's deadline approaches, this coalition signals growing industry concern. Readers want to know: Who's involved? What are the core concerns? And what could this mean for AI governance? This story answers those questions while exploring why employee voices are reshaping tech policy debates. Credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images Tech Workers Unite Behind Anthropic's Ethical Boundaries In an unusual show of solidarity, employees from competing AI labs are rallying around shared principles that transcend corporate rivalry. The letter, signed by over 300 Google staff and more than 60 from OpenAI, emphasizes that ethical guardrails shouldn't...

South Korea Opens The Door To Let Google Maps Operate Fully

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Google Maps South Korea: Full Navigation Finally Approved If you've ever tried using Google Maps South Korea for walking directions or live traffic updates, you know the frustration. That changes now. South Korea has granted conditional approval for Google to export high-precision geographic data, finally enabling full-featured Maps services—including real-time driving navigation and detailed business listings—across the country. This decision, confirmed in late February 2026, ends a 15-year standoff rooted in national security concerns and marks a major shift for travelers, commuters, and tech users alike. Credit: Google Why Google Maps South Korea Was Limited for So Long For years, Google Maps South Korea operated with significant restrictions. While users could view static maps using high-resolution 1:5,000 scale data, core features like turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic, and walking directions remained unavailable. The reason? South Korean law prohibited exporting prec...

Apple And Netflix Team Up To Air Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix

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Apple Netflix Formula 1: Canadian GP Live Stream Deal Apple Netflix Formula 1 fans have a major reason to celebrate: the Canadian Grand Prix will air live on both Apple TV and Netflix for the first time. Announced by Apple's Eddy Cue, this groundbreaking partnership lets U.S. viewers choose their preferred platform for the May 24 race. Wondering how to watch, what's included, or why this matters? Here's everything you need to know about the stream deal reshaping sports viewing. Credit: Formula 1 What the Apple Netflix Formula 1 Partnership Means for Fans This collaboration marks a first in sports broadcasting history. For the first time ever, a single Formula 1 race weekend will be simultaneously available on two major streaming giants. U.S.-based fans no longer need to choose between platforms or worry about missing the action due to subscription limits. The deal covers the entire race weekend experience. Viewers can tune in for practice sessions, qualifying rounds, and th...

Netflix Backs Out Of Bid For Warner Bros. Discovery, Giving Studios, HBO, And CNN To Ellison-Owned Paramount

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Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisition: Paramount Wins Bidding War The Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition saga has reached a decisive turning point. Netflix has officially withdrawn its $82.7 billion all-cash bid, clearing the path for Paramount Skydance to acquire the media giant at $31 per share. This move reshapes the entertainment landscape, bringing HBO, CNN, and Warner's film studios under David Ellison's expanding media empire. Here's what you need to know about the deal, its implications, and what comes next for viewers, employees, and investors. Credit: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg / Getty Images Netflix Steps Back From Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisition Netflix made a calculated decision to walk away from the high-stakes bidding war. In a joint statement, co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters emphasized the company's disciplined financial approach. They noted that while the original deal offered shareholder value and a clear regulatory path, matching Paramount's la...

Figma Partners With OpenAI To Bake In Support For Codex

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Figma Codex Integration: AI Design Meets Code in Real Time What happens when your design tool speaks the same language as your code editor? The new Figma Codex integration answers that question head-on. This partnership between Figma and OpenAI embeds AI-powered coding assistance directly into design workflows. Users can now generate, edit, and refine code from Figma designs without switching contexts. It's a major step toward closing the gap between creative vision and technical execution. Here's what you need to know about how it works and why it matters. Credit: Figma What the Figma Codex Integration Actually Does The Figma Codex integration creates a two-way bridge between visual design and functional code. Designers can start with a mockup in Figma, then use Codex to generate implementation-ready code snippets. Engineers working in Codex can pull live design assets, styles, and component specs directly from Figma files. This isn't just file exporting—it's a dynamic...

Anthropic CEO Stands Firm As Pentagon Deadline Looms

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As the Friday 5:01 p.m. deadline approaches, many are asking: What is the Anthropic Pentagon deadline, and why does it matter? Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has publicly declined the Department of Defense's request for unrestricted access to the company's AI systems. The standoff centers on whether private tech firms can limit how the military uses powerful artificial intelligence. Here's what you need to know about the high-stakes negotiations, the ethical boundaries at play, and what could happen next. Credit: Samyukta Lakshmi/Bloomberg / Getty Images Anthropic Pentagon Deadline: What's at Stake The clock is ticking on a decision that could reshape how the U.S. military integrates artificial intelligence. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth set a firm Friday 5:01 p.m. deadline for Anthropic to agree to broader usage terms for its Claude AI model. If no agreement is reached, the Pentagon has hinted at potential consequences, though specifics remain unclear. At its core, this i...

Spotify Is Rolling Out Audiobook Charts

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Spotify Audiobook Charts: Discover Trending Titles Now Live Spotify Audiobook Charts are now live, giving listeners in the U.S. and U.K. a weekly updated guide to the most popular audiobooks on the platform. Wondering where to find them? Just head to the Audiobooks hub in the Spotify app and scroll to the "Dive deeper" section. These rankings reflect real listening behavior, helping you discover what's resonating with fellow readers right now. Whether you're hunting for your next binge-worthy mystery or want to see which memoirs are sparking conversation, the new charts make discovery faster, smarter, and more social. Credit: Getty Images What Are Spotify Audiobook Charts and How Do They Work? The Spotify Audiobook Charts function much like the platform's well-known Music and Podcast Charts: they're updated weekly and spotlight the most-engaged titles across the service. Rankings aren't based on sales or editorial picks—they're driven by actual listene...

PayPal Might Not Be Looking To Sell Itself: Report

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Is PayPal up for sale? Recent conflicting reports have left investors and users wondering about the fintech giant's future. While speculation about a potential PayPal acquisition has intensified, new information suggests the company may not be actively pursuing a sale. Instead, internal preparations appear focused on defending against activist investors or hostile takeover attempts. Here's a clear breakdown of what's happening, why it matters, and what to watch next in this evolving story. Credit: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket / Getty Images PayPal Acquisition Rumors: Conflicting Reports Emerge The fintech world has been buzzing with speculation about PayPal's strategic direction. Multiple sources have shared differing perspectives on whether the payments leader is open to being acquired. This uncertainty has created confusion among stakeholders trying to understand the company's next chapter and make informed decisions. What we do know is that PayPal is at ...

Trace Raises $3M To Solve The AI Agent Adoption Problem In Enterprise

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AI agents promise to transform how businesses operate, yet widespread enterprise adoption remains elusive. Why? Most lack the contextual understanding needed to navigate complex corporate workflows. Trace, a new startup from Y Combinator's 2025 cohort, aims to change that. By mapping organizational processes and tools, Trace gives AI agents the situational awareness required to execute tasks effectively—accelerating AI agent adoption across teams. Credit: Trace Why AI Agent Adoption Stalls in Enterprise Despite rapid advances in generative AI, many enterprises struggle to move AI agents beyond pilot projects. The core issue isn't capability—it's context. AI models may excel at answering questions or drafting content, but they often falter when asked to coordinate multi-step tasks across email, Slack, CRMs, and project tools. Without understanding how work actually flows through an organization, agents can't reliably delegate, escalate, or adapt. This context gap creates...

Google Paid Startup Form Energy $1B For Its Massive 100-Hour Battery

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Form Energy Battery: Google's $1B Bet on 100-Hour Power Google just made one of the biggest bets in clean energy history. The tech giant agreed to pay startup Form Energy roughly $1 billion for its groundbreaking 100-hour battery system. But what exactly is a Form Energy battery, and why does it matter for the future of renewable power? This iron-air technology promises to store electricity for days—not just hours—solving a critical challenge for wind and solar energy. Here's everything you need to know about the deal, the technology, and what it means for the grid. Credit: Form Energy What Makes the Form Energy Battery a Game Changer? Most grid-scale batteries today, like lithium-ion systems, deliver power for about four hours. That's useful for short-term fluctuations but falls short when the wind stops blowing for days or clouds linger over solar farms. Form Energy's breakthrough lies in duration: its iron-air battery can discharge a steady 300 megawatts of electrici...

Instagram Now Alerts Parents If Their Teen Searches For Suicide Or Self-Harm Content

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Instagram Parent Alerts Now Warn of Teen Suicide Searches Instagram parent alerts are now rolling out to notify caregivers when a teen repeatedly searches for suicide or self-harm content within a short timeframe. This new safety feature, announced by Meta this week, aims to give parents timely information so they can offer support during critical moments. If you're wondering how the system works, which searches trigger notifications, or what resources are available, this update breaks down everything families need to know—without the jargon. Credit: Google How Instagram's New Parent Alert System Works The alert system activates only for accounts enrolled in Instagram's parental supervision tools. Parents or guardians must have previously set up monitoring permissions through the app's Family Center. Once enabled, the platform's backend algorithms scan for repeated search attempts matching specific high-risk terms. If a teen tries to search for concerning phrases mu...