Max Hodak, CEO of Science Corporation and Neuralink co-founder, will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco about his company's biohybrid brain-computer interface, which has recruited a leading neurobiologist to run its first U.S. human trials. In his Disrupt Stage session, Hodak will argue that computing is moving beyond screens toward interfaces built directly on brain-computer interaction.
Google disclosed that a vulnerability in Pixel phones' modem software, tracked as CVE-2026-58704, was exploited in a limited number of targeted attacks before being patched this week. The flaw allowed attackers to escalate privileges from the isolated modem component into the phone's broader system without any user interaction, a so-called zero-click exploit. Google has not identified who carried out the attacks.
Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman published an essay warning that Anthropic's practice of treating its Claude model as human-like—suggesting it may be conscious and deserving of independent agency—could severely harm humanity's wellbeing. He argued AI systems are not conscious, calling them 'sequence completion engines' with no feelings or motivations, despite praising Anthropic's leadership as principled.
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei argues that AI tools are currently generating more choices and clutter rather than simplifying work. He proposes a three-step discipline—confront problems directly, delete unnecessary tasks, and amplify what truly matters—as a way to cut through the noise. He cites internal Axios practices, including a leadership meeting titled 'Let's Kill S***,' as an example of applying this approach.
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian told CNBC that the tech industry has done a 'tone deaf' job explaining AI to the public, allowing misinformation to spread instead of focusing on real risks. He said the conversation should move past dramatic 'Terminator' scenarios and toward practical concerns, stressing that public understanding is key to managing the technology responsibly.
According to The Information, Apple is developing enterprise-grade AI servers built around its future M8 Ultra chip, intended for sale to AI developers, businesses and governments rather than just internal use. Two configurations are reportedly planned, one linking two M8 Ultra chips and another linking four, with Apple weighing Nvidia's NVLink Fusion networking tools to connect them. The project has been underway for about a year with CEO John Ternus reportedly supportive, though nothing is finalized and launch isn't expected before 2029.
Medical apparel retailer Scrubs & Beyond is shutting down every one of its more than 100 physical stores spread across 30 states. The company has given no public reason for the closures, and as of Wednesday its customer service phone line had been disconnected.
A global memory chip shortage is pushing smaller device makers like Fairphone, Jolla, and Framework to rethink product design, order chips months ahead, and test incoming shipments for counterfeits. Fairphone's CEO says memory now accounts for nearly 60% of the bill of materials on its roughly $400 phones, while SK Hynix's chief has warned the shortage could persist until 2030, peaking in severity around 2027.
China's state-run China Daily newspaper pushed back against Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's proposal to slow the pace of frontier AI development, an idea also backed by Sam Altman and Elon Musk. The publication argued the plan is less about safety concerns and more a coordinated attempt to hobble China's AI progress, secure friendlier U.S. regulation, and sustain investor enthusiasm for American AI firms.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in an All-In Podcast interview that China will develop its own advanced lithography machines, comparable to those made by ASML, within the next three to four years. He argued China's manufacturing strength makes such a timeline achievable, despite the country's current reliance on older-generation tools from Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment that support only 90nm and possibly 28nm-class chipmaking.
A man identified as Dave says his 9-year-old son unknowingly spent $118,000 on YouTube ad campaigns promoting his Minecraft and Roblox gameplay videos over roughly three weeks. The charges went through a company credit card Dave had saved to a Google account shared with his son, after he had shown the boy how to run a small $20 promotion. Some of the promoted videos gained hundreds of thousands of views before finance staff flagged the spending.
Microsoft confirmed it is still investigating why Copilot and Copilot Chat buttons vanish from classic Outlook for Windows after upgrading to build 20026.20182 or later. The issue affects users with Copilot Chat Basic or M365 Copilot Premium licenses, blocking access to Copilot from the ribbon, app bar, or Add Apps menu.