Tech News — 2026-04-14#

Story of the Day#

Amazon is acquiring satellite communications operator Globalstar in a massive $11.57 billion cash deal that pits the e-commerce giant directly against Elon Musk’s Starlink. The acquisition bolsters Amazon’s Leo internet constellation while preserving Globalstar’s existing partnership to provide satellite connectivity and Emergency SOS features for Apple’s iPhones and Apple Watches.

Top Stories#

Federal Charges for Attack on Sam Altman · The Verge A 20-year-old man from Texas is facing federal charges after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and attempting to break into the company’s headquarters. The suspect, who reportedly feared that the AI race would lead to human extinction, also possessed a list of other AI leaders, raising serious security alarms and highlighting the growing wave of anti-AI extremism.

Microsoft Hikes Surface PC Prices Amid RAM Shortages · Engadget Microsoft is enacting steep price increases across its entire Surface PC lineup, with some models jumping by as much as $500 compared to their 2024 launch prices. The company blames the hikes on soaring memory and component costs, a direct side effect of generative AI development consuming the global RAM and SSD supply.

Google Search Cracks Down on Back Button Hijacking · Ars Technica Starting June 15, Google will officially treat “back button hijacking”—the infuriating practice where sites trap you with a phantom page of ads or content suggestions when you try to leave—as a malicious spam violation. Sites that continue to manipulate browser history to artificially inflate pageviews will be penalized and downranked in search results.

OpenAI Acquires Financial Planning AI Startup Hiro · TechCrunch In its second acquisition this month, OpenAI has bought Hiro Finance, a startup focused on AI-powered personal financial planning tools. While terms were not disclosed, the acquihire shuts down Hiro’s existing product in May and signals OpenAI’s intent to bake advanced, personalized financial guidance directly into ChatGPT.

Anthropic’s Mythos Model Draws Global Security Testing · Bloomberg The US Treasury Department is seeking access to Anthropic’s new Mythos AI model to hunt for vulnerabilities, while the UK’s AI Security Institute is also testing its capability to execute multi-step cyberattacks. The restricted launch strategy has earned praise from central bankers and regulators globally, and has reportedly helped Anthropic field fresh investor offers at an eye-watering $800 billion valuation.

Lucid Motors Expands Uber Robotaxi Deal, Names New CEO · TechCrunch Luxury EV maker Lucid is increasing its robotaxi fleet supply to Uber from 20,000 to 35,000 Gravity SUVs while securing additional investment cash from Uber and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The company also finally filled its year-long leadership vacuum, appointing former Schindler elevator executive Silvio Napoli as its new CEO to steer the expanded autonomous mobility push.

Also Worth Knowing#

• Chrome Introduces AI “Skills” (The Verge): Google is rolling out a new feature in Chrome desktop that allows users to save and reuse their favorite Gemini AI prompts across different web pages with a single click.
• Netgear Gets FCC Router Ban Exemption (Engadget): The FCC granted Netgear a conditional approval to bypass the US ban on foreign-made routers until late 2027, temporarily giving the company a domestic monopoly on new consumer router sales.
• GoPro Unveils 8K Mission 1 Cameras (Engadget): GoPro’s new flagship Mission 1 action camera line features a 1-inch 50-megapixel sensor, 8K video capture, and a high-end model that supports interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lenses.
• DaVinci Resolve 21 Targets Adobe Lightroom (Engadget): Blackmagic Design updated its video editing suite with a dedicated “Photo” page, directly challenging Adobe’s photo-editing dominance with advanced RAW file support and powerful node-based color grading.
• Alienware Launches $350 QD-OLED Monitor (Engadget): Alienware is lowering the barrier to entry for high-end displays with the AW2726DM, a 27-inch 240Hz QD-OLED gaming monitor priced at a surprisingly affordable $350.