131 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Richard Lawler

Richard Lawler

Senior News Editor

Senior News Editor

    More From Richard Lawler

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Google’s next-generation ‘Gemini’ AI model is reportedly delayed.

    Earlier this year, Google combined two AI teams into one group which is working on a new model to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-4. Its leader, Demis Hassabis, discussed the combo on Decoder:

    And we’re already feeling, even a couple of months in, the benefits and the strengths of that with projects like Gemini that you may have heard of, which is our next-generation multimodal large models — very, very exciting work going on there, combining all the best ideas from across both world-class research groups. It’s pretty impressive to see.

    Now, The Information cites two sources saying its launch is expected in Q1 of 2024, not this month as they were previously told. It also reports Google co-founder Sergey Brin has been spending “four to five days a week” with the developers.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama’s Sand Land is coming to Hulu.

    Last year, Bandai Namco announced it would turn a short story by Toriyama into an entire Sand Land franchise. The Sand Land movie has already been released in Japan, we saw a trailer for the game during Summer Game Fest, and next spring Sand Land: The Series will “build upon the movie’s original universe” with a new anime on Hulu.

    Hulu’s Animayhem booth will highlight this show along with Undead Unluck, Tokyo Revengers, and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War at the Anime NYC convention this weekend.

    Promotional artwork for the Sand Land TV show, with characters riding a dune buggy-like vehicle through the desert.
    Sand Land: The Series
    Image: Hulu
    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    The latest move in ransomware extortion: reporting your victim to the SEC.

    As Recorded Future News explains, a financial software company called MeridianLink has confirmed “a cybersecurity incident,” which isn’t uncommon.

    What is unusual is the AlphV/BlackCat ransomware gang allegedly trying to pressure the company by filing a report (included below) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accusing MeridianLink of failing to disclose a breach. However, the new rules requiring disclosure have some loopholes, and, they don’t take effect until next month.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Apple’s attempt to replace Qualcomm’s iPhone modem chips might get pushed back.

    Following an in-depth report from the Wall Street Journal in September, this update from Bloomberg may further explain why Apple recently extended its deal for Qualcomm modems.

    It says Apple already delayed a plan to have the chips ready next year, and now they might not launch in new iPhones until the end of 2025 or in 2026. Issues mentioned include rewriting software it acquired from Intel (one person quoted anonymously said, “Why we thought we could take a failed project from Intel and somehow succeed is a mystery,” and avoiding infringing on Qualcomm’s patents.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Now Meta’s Messenger app has a Notes status update feature just like Instagram and WhatsApp.

    Over the last year, Meta has added AIM status-like features to Instagram and WhatsApp and today announced it’s rolling out Notes (using the same name as Instagram’s feature) for Messenger globally.

    You can’t post them from the desktop, but a support document explains how to add or remove Notes via iPhone, iPad, or Android device by clicking the thought bubble next to your profile picture. If you don’t remove them manually, the messages expire after 24 hours.

    Screenshot of the Messenger app showing icons for online friends with message bubbles over their faces showing their current status posted as a note. One nmaed Ana is telling her friends “Best time of the Year!, while Alicia posts “wtw?” abd Michael’s note is an upside down smiley face emoji.
    Notes in Messenger
    Image: Meta
    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Lewis Hamilton had a chrome helmet, and now Oscar Piastri has a Chrome helmet.

    It’s not as slick as the fully reflective, Daft Punk-like helmet Lewis Hamilton had at Suzuka earlier this year, but as Formula 1 drivers take to the improvised racetrack in Las Vegas this week, McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri will be wearing a *Google Chrome helmet, that matches the sponsor’s wheel covers on his car.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Broken, busted, and out of order.

    After experiencing fast-charging frustration in her Mustang Mach-E, WSJ’s Joanna Stern tried connecting DC chargers to a Rivian R1T at 30 LA-area stations from EVgo, Electrify America, and EVCS. More than 40 percent of the stations had a problem somewhere, with 27 percent of the 126 charging stalls offline.

    A lot of money is being spent to improve charging electric cars in the US, but broken parts, handshake issues, and payment processing are still hurdles. Opening up access to Tesla’s Superchargers and switching over to NACS may help some in the future, but this is the present.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    The Netflix Cup: Netflix’s first live sports event was a bit of a mess.

    And that was before Carlos Sainz dropped the inaugural championship trophy.

    Marky Mark joked about Bert Kreischer being “security” after the comedian grabbed a protester who ran onto the course, there were constant audio issues, no one seemed to be clear on the rules, and a juddering framerate problem (possibly due to incorrect shutter settings) ruined Netflix’s attempt to recreate the NFL’s popularmegalodon” close-up camera angle. But, at least the stream never crashed?

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Cruise robotaxi shutdown expands, pressing pause on supervised and manual trips too.

    Cruise’s robotaxis are front and center of the industry’s trust issue after losing their California permit following an incident where a pedestrian ended up stuck underneath one of its cars.

    It already halted service nationwide and said it’s installing new updates. Now Cruise has announced it’s taking its cars off of public roads while it undergoes a full safety review. Meanwhile, Cruise board member and GM legal executive VP Craig Glidden is “expanding” his role to lead Cruise’s Legal, Communications, and Finance teams.

    In the coming days, we are also pausing our supervised and manual AV operations in the U.S., affecting roughly 70 vehicles. This orderly pause is a further step to rebuild public trust while we undergo a full safety review. We will continue to operate our vehicles in closed course training environments and maintain an active simulation program in order to stay focused on advancing AV technology.