The Brutalist Report - tech
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- IAB and PwC: digital ad revenue hit $294.6B in 2025, up 13.9% YoY; social media advertising hit $117.7B, up 32.6%, and digital video hit $78B, up 25.4% (George Winslow/TV Tech) [1d]
- The US and the Philippines agree to launch a high-tech industrial hub on the island of Luzon to counter China's supply chains; the US will run it as an SEZ (Wall Street Journal) [1d]
- NYC-based Nas.com, an AI platform founded by content creator Nas Daily that helps solo entrepreneurs build online stores, raised a $27M Series A led by Khosla (Robert Scammell/Business Insider) [1d]
- Netflix says its 2026 ad revenue remains on track to reach $3B, doubling from 2025, and it now works with over 4,000 advertising clients, up 70% YoY (Bill Bradley/Adweek) [1d]
- Google updates AI Mode in Chrome, letting users open links side by side with AI Mode on desktop; users can search across multiple tabs on desktop and mobile (Aisha Malik/TechCrunch) [1d]
- Netflix reports Q1 revenue up 16% YoY to $12.3B, vs. $12.2B est., net income of $5.28B, and forecasts Q2 EPS below estimates; NFLX drops 8%+ after hours (Molly Schuetz/Bloomberg) [1d]
- Netflix chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings will step down from the company's board after his term expires in June to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits (Isabella Simonetti/Wall Street Journal) [1d]
- Sources: Upscale AI, which builds AI networking infrastructure, is in talks to raise $180M to $200M at a $2B valuation, its third funding round in seven months (Bloomberg) [1d]
- AI labs are buying Slack, Jira, and email archives from defunct startups to build "reinforcement learning gyms" and train AI agents in simulated workplaces (Anna Tong/Forbes) [1d]
- OpenAI launches GPT-Rosalind, an AI model for life sciences research, including drug discovery, as a research preview for customers such as Moderna and Amgen (Megan Morrone/Axios) [1d]
- OpenAI's global policy chief, Chris Lehane, calls out AI "doomers" and says "when you put some of those thoughts and ideas out there, they do have consequences" (Caroline O'Donovan/The San Francisco ...) [1d]
- Memo: the White House notified Cabinet departments that OMB is setting up protections that would allow their agencies to begin using Anthropic's Mythos model (Bloomberg) [1d]
- DeepL, best known for its text translation tools, launches DeepL Voice-to-Voice, which enables real-time spoken translation, with add-ons for services like Zoom (Ivan Mehta/TechCrunch) [1d]
- The UK unveils Sovereign AI, a £500M fund to invest in domestic AI startups, starting with Callosum, which builds software to help different chips work together (Joel Khalili/Wired) [1d]
- OpenAI updates its Codex desktop app with features like computer control, an in-app browser, image generation, automation memory, plugin support, and more (David Gewirtz/ZDNET) [1d]
- Google's 2025 Ads Safety Report: Google blocked a record 8.3B ads, up 63% YoY, but suspended 36% fewer advertisers, attributing the disparity to its use of AI (Jagmeet Singh/TechCrunch) [1d]
- Drift Protocol secures $147.5M in funding, including $127.5M from Tether, to replace Circle stablecoin with USDT after a $270M exploit linked to North Korea (Will Canny/CoinDesk) [1d]
- The US DOJ says a judge sentenced two US citizens to a combined 16 years in prison for running laptop farms that let North Korean IT workers pose as US workers (Jowi Morales/Tom's Hardware) [1d]
- Factory, whose AI coding agents switch between AI models depending on the complexity of the task, is in talks to raise $150M led by Khosla at a $1.5B valuation (Angel Au-Yeung/Wall Street Journal) [2d]
- Roblox revamps Roblox Assistant, its plain-language AI tool for game development, with agentic tools to let developers plan, build, and test games (Aisha Malik/TechCrunch) [2d]
- Solidroad, which uses AI to evaluate customer interactions with human and AI agents to find risk, skill gaps, and more, raised a $25M Series A led by Hedosophia (Paul Gillin/SiliconANGLE) [2d]
- Google announces a Gemini app integration between Personal Intelligence and Nano Banana 2 to let the AI image generator "automatically reflect" users' tastes (Abner Li/9to5Google) [2d]
- Sabi, which is developing a brain-computer interface beanie that can decode internal speech into words, emerges from stealth with backing from Khosla and others (Emily Mullin/Wired) [2d]
- Anthropic says Opus 4.7 uses an updated tokenizer that "improves how the model processes text", but "the tradeoff is that the same input can map to more tokens" (Zac Hall/9to5Mac) [2d]
- Canva unveils Canva AI 2.0, which can generate editable layered designs from conversational prompts using Canva's foundation model built specifically for design (Olivia Poh/Bloomberg) [2d]
- Anthropic says Opus 4.7 is "less broadly capable" than Claude Mythos Preview and that its "cyber capabilities are not as advanced" as those of Mythos Preview (Ashley Capoot/CNBC) [2d]
- Anthropic releases Claude Opus 4.7, saying it is a "notable improvement" on Opus 4.6 in advanced software engineering and comes with a new "xhigh" effort level (Anthropic) [2d]
- Meta is increasing the price of the Quest 3 by $100 to $599.99 and both Quest 3S models by $50 to $349.99 for 128GB and $449.99 for 256GB, starting April 19 (Jay Peters/The Verge) [2d]
- Financial services startup Slash, which is building an AI agent, raised $100M led by Ribbit at a $1.4B valuation and reports nearly $300M in annualized revenue (Rebecca Torrence/Bloomberg) [2d]
- Apple says a record 30% of material across all products it shipped in 2025 came from recycled content; all Apple-designed batteries now use 100% recycled cobalt (Hartley Charlton/MacRumors) [2d]
- Roku says it is in 100M+ homes globally and its devices are used by "more than half of all US broadband households"; Roku had $4.15B in 2025 platform revenue (Chris Welch/Bloomberg) [2d]
- Sources: Google is negotiating a deal with the US DOD that would let the Pentagon deploy Gemini AI models in classified settings, reversing its previous stance (Erin Woo/The Information) [2d]
- Anthropic secures new London office space for 800 people, days after OpenAI unveiled its first London office; Anthropic currently has 200+ London staff (Kai Nicol-Schwarz/CNBC) [2d]
- The NIST narrows its National Vulnerability Database priorities to CVEs in CISA's known exploited catalog, to deal with a backlog after its 2024 funding lapse (Matt Kapko/CyberScoop) [2d]
- Bubblemaps analysis: an anonymous Polymarket trader netted $316,346 in profits by correctly betting on Biden's pardons for Hunter Biden, Liz Cheney, and others (Bobby Allyn/NPR) [2d]
- How to watch American Gladiators reboot online from anywhere [1d]
- NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, April 17 (game #775) [1d]
- NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, April 17 (game #1041) [1d]
- Quordle hints and answers for Friday, April 17 (game #1544) [1d]
- A 'Sputnik' moment for chips: Chinese scientists aim to save Moore’s Law by mass-growing 2D materials that 'outclass silicon' [1d]
- 'Works in the dark': Scientists transform balsa wood into a solar material that stores heat and generates power 24/7 [1d]
- These are the stunning images of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — and there are some surprising camera choices among the winners [1d]
- '1,000 hp': This record-breaking electric motor packs Tesla Plaid EV power into a beer keg-sized device [1d]
- China completes testing on ‘deep-sea electro-hydrostatic actuator’ capable of slicing undersea cables as deep as 3.5 kilometers – new compact subsea vessel testing bridges the ‘last mile’ and could deploy in 2026 [1d]
- Rolls-Royce launches its most 'ambitious work' to date — as limited edition Project Nightingale takes electric luxury to a new level [1d]
- What is the release date for Marshals: A Yellowstone Story episode 8 on CBS and Paramount+? [1d]
- Many are still leaving the door open': Security experts warn FIFA World Cup partners could be putting customers at risk of email attacks [1d]
- Metro’s unique flavor of post-apocalyptic misery is back in Metro 2039 — and I can’t wait to return to the ‘dark heart of the Moscow metro’ where ‘hope is lost' and 'the future looks bleak, if there is one’ [1d]
- Eureka Ergonomic Opal standing desk review: Beautiful, stylish, and solid — but I can't ignore the mediocre storage [1d]
- 'I would've loved to have directed that one': Exit 8's Genki Kawamura on why he's excited for A24's Backrooms horror movie [1d]
- IPVanish has begun offering Amazon gift cards when you refer a friend — here's how much you could earn [1d]
- DJI has teased a new entry-level drone — but it'll have to be special to outshine my beloved Neo 2 [1d]
- How to watch MasterChef Australia online – stream Meghan Markle on Masterchef from anywhere [1d]
- Moscow chokes international internet bandwidth in latest attack on Russian VPN users [1d]
- Google just dropped a 50% discount on a year of YouTube Premium with Google One Premium — here’s how you can check if you’re eligible [1d]
- This sleek new espresso machine from Philips promises 'that unmistakable cafe-like taste' at home — and I can't wait to try it [2d]
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream devs say the Mii programming was 'pure chaos and 'really hard to manage' during development, that it took 'six or seven years' to fine-tune [2d]
- Secretlab Magnus Evo standing desk review: Streamlined and refined but unmistakably Secretlab in spirit [2d]
- Amazon's latest sale on its best-selling tech gadgets feels like Prime Day — up to 50% off TVs, Ring Doorbells, Fire tablets, and Blink cameras [2d]
- 7 of the best Mac apps to level up your new MacBook Neo [2d]
- 'Is AI impacting jobs right now? We’ve looked and, honestly, we haven’t seen it': LinkedIn exec says AI isn't causing a big drop-off in hiring just yet [2d]
- Rivals season 2 trailer looks bonk-bustingly brilliant — but we've got to wait months for the full Hulu and Disney+ series to release as series splits in two [2d]
- James Bond 007 First Light PS5 controller pre-order build-up live — the best early links to bookmark and info you need [2d]
- 'Anyone with $10 could have walked straight through': Report warns this legit-looking software is actually antivirus-killing adware [2d]
- James Bond 007 First Light PS5 controller pre-order build-up live — the best early links to bookmark and info you need [2d]
- Ex-PlayStation boss says Microsoft is 'trying so hard to will' Xbox Game Pass 'into health' and suggests 'a clarifying post mortem would do the entire industry some good' [2d]
- D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95: high-speed Wi-Fi 7 at a competitive price [2d]
- Miss Succession? Brian Cox's new movie Glenrothan will make you rethink dysfunctional family dynamics all over again — and is a world away from Waystar Royco [2d]
- Battlefield 6 is getting its 'biggest map' in response to player feedback, developer says it's 'nearly four times the size of Mirak Valley' [2d]
- Think the PS5 Pro is too expensive? This infamously pricey gaming console is coming back from the dead [2d]
- 'It's a lot of fun': Blackmagic just turned the Apple Watch into the ultimate remote for iPhone filming [2d]
- An ancient Microsoft Excel security flaw could let hackers hijack your entire system, so patch now [2d]
- Who goes there? Your Ring doorbell can now recognise up to 50 familiar faces, and let you know if a caller is a friend or a stranger [2d]
- 13 of the best Record Store Day 2026 releases, as picked by TechRadar — Pavement, Public Service Broadcasting and more [2d]
- 'Towards a full private digital workspace': Tuta debuts quantum-resistant cloud storage ahead of Google Drive, OneDrive [2d]
- A computer without electricity? Mechanical computing concept 'could help improve people's lives' with all sorts of potential real-world uses [2d]
- What goes around comes around: Jury finds Live Nation guilty of working as an illegal monopoly to dominate the live music market, and I’m thrilled for the future of ticket prices at gigs [2d]
- Crimson Desert is 'not a copy of other AAA games' according to The Witcher 3 director — and after my 175 hours of playtime and five million copies sold, it all makes sense [2d]
- Sales of the Lego Artemis skyrocket by 320% at Argos — here's where to buy the popular set and 11 other space-themed builds [2d]
- Netflix reveals first image and 2027 release window for Charlie Vs. the Chocolate Factory — and it'll put a deliciously sour twist on Roald Dahl's classic tale [2d]
- Two years in the making: Canva AI 2.0 required an entire re-architecturing effort, and its yours to try if you can find the easter egg [2d]
- 'AI-crawled sites generate 320% more human traffic': An interview with Duda's Oded Ouaknine on the future of AEO [2d]
- Autonomous agentic assistants are at an 'absolute early adopter stage': Scheduling in Canva AI 2.0 is about to "democratize" that [2d]
- Whoop is moving beyond wearables to test your blood, integrating the results with its AI-powered app — and its latest evolution is smarter than ever [2d]
- Plot twist! Canva just made another premium tool completely free for creators — I didn't expect this one, but I'll take it [2d]
- De'Longhi's super-smart new coffee maker that 'learns' your favorite hot and cold drinks, and brews them in moments [2d]
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream director says development started in 2017 after discussing a 'special attachment' to the series with the producer, but had already 'squeezed all we could' out of the 3DS title [2d]
- The Sony WH-CH520 Headphones offer 'simply superb value' at just $38 on Amazon [2d]
- Turtle Beach reveals the successor to the Stealth Pro, one of our favorite premium gaming headsets, featuring CrossPlay 2.0 multiplatform switching and Dolby Atmos [2d]
- 'This is not a traditional coding error': Experts flag potentially critical security issues at the heart of Anthropic's MCP, exposes 150 million downloads and thousands of servers to complete takeover [2d]
- Elon Musk reveals Tesla’s powerful new AI5 chip — but don't expect it to improve Full Self-Driving anytime soon [2d]
- DJI Pocket 4 vs DJI Pocket 3: 7 upgrades for the next best-selling vlogging camera [2d]
- Netgear routers seemingly won’t be banned in the US after all – and this just proves the ban was never about security [2d]
- Avid’s new Google partnership brings Agentic AI to the editing suite — and I’ve got the scoop on what this really means for creative professionals [2d]
- Swiss Privacy Goes Global: Proton VPN Grows Coverage to 145 Countries [1d]
- The Best iPhone 17 Cases for 2026 [1d]
- NordVPN Now Covers Every State in New Server Expansion [1d]
- Tapo Releases Ultrapowerful Dual-Lens Camera Kit for Complete Yard Coverage [1d]
- Netflix Is Introducing Vertical Video to Its Mobile App This Month [1d]
- DuckDuckGo VPN Audit Shows It Doesn't Track Your Activity [1d]
- Class-Action Suit Claims Amazon 'Bricked' Early Fire TV Streaming Sticks [1d]
- Maine Could Be the First State to Pass a Temporary Ban on New Large Data Centers [1d]
- Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for April 17 #775 [1d]
- Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 17, #1041 [1d]
- Today's Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for April 17, #1763 [1d]
- So You Missed the Tax Deadline. What Happens Now? [1d]
- Planet Parade in the Sky: How to View 4 Planets Lined Up This Week [1d]
- Meta Raises Prices on Quest 3 and Quest 3S Due to RAM Shortage [1d]
- No, Anthropic's New Claude Opus 4.7 Model Is Not Mythos Preview [1d]
- AMC Monthly Movies Price Hike: Here's How Your Plan Is Changing [1d]
- Apple Products Now Contain 30% Recycled Materials. Their Packaging Boasts Zero Plastic [1d]
- Summer Is Coming. I Let AI Fill My Calendar With Fitness, Fun and Music [1d]
- Moto G Stylus (2026) Unboxing: Everything That Comes With the $499 Phone video [1d]
- The Always Pan People Made a Rice Cooker, and It's Totally Adorable [1d]
- After a Decade, Vitamix Is Axing One of Its Most Popular (and Affordable) Blenders. Here's Why [1d]
- Google Is Adding New Ways to Use AI Mode in Chrome [1d]
- These New Codex Updates Are the 'First Phase' of OpenAI's Dream Super App [1d]
- I Wish I Had This Official D&D Show When I Started Rolling Dice 25 Years Ago [2d]
- WrestleMania 42's Most Exciting Match Isn't Even a Headliner [2d]
- Stop Mixing by Hand. The Best Stand Mixers of 2026 Do the Hard Work for You [2d]
- 14 of the Best Peacock Shows You Can Stream Right Now [2d]
- Character.AI Will Use AI to Let You Play a Character in Your Favorite Book [2d]
- Should You Buy a Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum? The Answer Isn't So Simple [2d]
- Beef Has Never Been More Expensive. These Are the Cheap Cuts That Butchers Buy [2d]
- That Plastic Wrap Is Killing Your Cheese. Here's How Professionals Store It [2d]
- The Best Part of the New Moto G Stylus Phone Is a Pen I Actually Use [2d]
- This 2-Minute Microwave Hack Is Better Than Any Cleaning Spray [2d]
- Trading Speed for Depth: Does Using AI for Work Affect Our Confidence? [2d]
- Canva Really Wants to Be Your Workplace AI Bestie [2d]
- Don't Lose Your Texts: How to Move Away From Samsung Messages Before It Shuts Down [2d]
- DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Is a Great Vlogging Camera, but Not for the US [2d]
- Little Caesars Wants ChatGPT to Order Your Pizza for You [2d]
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