Apple rumoured to build AI answer engine 🤖
- Apple is reportedly developing a new in-house answer engine that could rival ChatGPT, signalling a fresh push into smart search and AI-driven knowledge.
- The secret team, named Answers, Knowledge and Information, is working on a system that can crawl the web and answer general knowledge questions, with possible integration in Siri and Safari.
- The move could see Apple challenge the Google search monopoly and reshape how users find information on iPhones, sparking major changes for AI assistants.
Tesla loyalty plunges after Musk’s Trump nod 🚗
- Tesla’s brand loyalty fell sharply in the US after Elon Musk backed Donald Trump, dropping from 73% to below 50% according to new industry data.
- The steep decline followed Musk’s public endorsement of Trump after a 2024 campaign shooting, with competition and negative sentiment further driving customers away.
- This shift could reshape the US electric vehicle market as rivals gain ground, and highlights how business leaders’ politics can impact once-loyal customers.
Tesla greenlights $29B Musk stock award 🚗
- Tesla has approved a $29 billion share award for CEO Elon Musk, making him one of the world’s highest paid executives.
- The board has granted Musk 96 million Tesla shares vesting in 2027, provided he stays on as CEO, following months of legal wrangling and shareholder votes.
- This giant payout is set to keep Musk focused on Tesla as the company faces fierce global competition and races ahead in AI and robotics.
Spotify lifts premium prices globally from September 🎵
- Spotify will increase its premium subscription fee by €1 per month across many markets including South Asia, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific starting September.
- The price hike, from €10.99 to €11.99 monthly, comes as Spotify aims to improve profit margins amid rising operating costs and market competition.
- Millions of users outside the US will pay more, raising questions about subscriber retention and artist payouts as streaming platforms trade growth for profitability.
Figma rockets on IPO debut 🚀
- Collaborative design startup Figma surges 250% in its blockbuster IPO, closing at a huge $68 billion valuation after shares tripled on their first day.
- The stock opened at $85—well above the $33 IPO price—and soared as high as $124, giving Figma one of the largest first-day pops for a tech IPO in decades.
- This eye-popping debut signals renewed confidence in tech IPOs after a years-long drought, setting a strong precedent for other software companies considering public listings.
Satellite trackers on high alert for threats 🛰️
- The US military’s dedicated satellite-tracking squad is now routinely going on alert due to a surge in suspected hostile activity in orbit.
- These specialist teams, usually low-profile, are regularly ramping up their monitoring in response to increased satellite movements and worrying signs of adversary tactics in space.
- As orbital congestion and rival manoeuvres escalate, this shift signals heightened military anxiety about the security of critical satellites that support everything from communications to navigation.
Star Wars goes quiet before 2026 return 🚦
- Fans expecting a big year for Star Wars in 2025 will notice almost nothing new, as the galaxy far, far away takes a rare break.
- With no new movie releases and only the acclaimed Andor Season 2 confirmed for April, there’s a notable drought in fresh Star Wars stories on screen.
- The pause sharpens anticipation for a busy 2026, when the franchise will roar back with The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, signalling a fresh era for Star Wars.
Tim Cook says iOS 26 beta breaks records 📱
- Tim Cook revealed that iOS 26 has become Apple’s most popular beta ever during the company’s latest earnings call.
- Apple’s three major platform updates—iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe—have seen record uptake after bringing the new Liquid Glass look and other big changes.
- Soaring beta interest shows Apple’s design revamp is driving stronger early adoption, hinting at huge demand for this year’s coming software updates.
Reddit shelves paid subreddits to boost search 🔍
- Reddit’s paid subreddits plan on hold as the company shifts its focus towards becoming a top-tier search destination.
- CEO Steve Huffman revealed that work on paywalled communities is paused so the team can prioritise new search features and app redesign.
- Expect a bigger push to improve user search and onboarding, marking a major pivot away from exclusive paid content—for now.
Wednesday Season 2 cast is revealed 👀
- The Wednesday Season 2 cast update announces new Addams Family members, exciting star additions like Steve Buscemi and Billie Piper, and screens in two parts this spring.
- Fan-favourites return—including Jenna Ortega as Wednesday and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia—while newcomers like Steve Buscemi as principal, Joanna Lumley as Grandmama, and Christopher Lloyd join a refreshed, outcast-filled cast list.
- The new faces, surprise guest appearances, and expanded Addams lore promise fresh twists for pop culture’s oddest family, drawing more fans to Nevermore Academy.
