45 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Skip to main content

Stevie Bonifield

Stevie Bonifield

News Writer

News Writer

    More From Stevie Bonifield

    Stevie Bonifield
    Stevie Bonifield
    Motorola might be pulling a Honey with the Amazon app.

    According to 9to5Google, launching Amazon from the app drawer on certain Motorola phones briefly opens a browser redirect to insert an affiliate link, similar to Honey’s affiliate link hijacking. We’ve got a random Redditor sniffing out packets, a fashion influencer’s name used for some reason, and no comment from Motorola yet. 9to5Google has advice on disabling the app in the meantime:

    Since this behavior is stemming from a pre-installed Motorola app, you can just disable it (Settings > Apps > search “Smart Feed” > Disable). As far as we can tell, this has no immediate impact on your device and, on our affected Razr Fold, it immediately stops the redirect.

    Stevie Bonifield
    Stevie Bonifield
    Linux could get an age verification exemption in California.

    An amendment to California’s AB 1856 would change the definition of an “operating system provider” to exclude open-source software from California’s age verification law, mirroring a similar exemption in Colorado. If the bill passes, it could resolve an issue that has caused chaos for Linux developers around the world.

    Stevie Bonifield
    Stevie Bonifield
    Google says it hasn’t cut off updates for most old Chromecasts.

    9to5Google reported Friday morning that a Nest support page had been updated to say that nearly all Chromecast devices except for the most recent one that was released in 2022 were no longer receiving critical security updates. Later, the page changed back and once again shows all Chromecasts except the 1st gen version are still getting critical updates.

    Now, Google Home senior product manager Sahana Mysore tells The Verge that “A support article update incorrectly indicated deprecation of software support for legacy Chromecast devices,” and the current version is accurate.

    Update: Added response from Google.

    A screenshot of a Google Nest support page
    A screenshot of a Google Nest support page
    1/2
    The support page, before the update (with our highlights added)…
    Screenshot: Google
    Stevie Bonifield
    Stevie Bonifield
    ChatGPT for PowerPoint generates presentations with prompts.

    The new ChatGPT integration for Microsoft PowerPoint, like an earlier add-on for Excel and Google Sheets, adds a sidebar where users can create or edit presentations using chatbot prompts along with documents, images, and other source material.

    The feature is available now in beta for ChatGPT users with Business, Enterprise, Edu, Teacher, K-12, Free, Go, Pro, and Plus plans.

    A screenshot of a ChatGPT add-on running in Microsoft PowerPoint
    Image: OpenAI / Microsoft
    Stevie Bonifield
    Stevie Bonifield
    Trump delayed signing AI executive order because he “didn’t like certain aspects of it.”

    As Politico reports, Trump postponed signing an executive order on government oversight and access to AI at the last minute on Thursday, saying it “could have been a blocker” for the jobs and “tremendous good” he claims AI is creating. Trump also said China was a factor:

    We’re leading China. We’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that.

    Stevie Bonifield
    Stevie Bonifield
    Spotify will offer authors a way to AI generate audio versions of their books soon.

    Amazon launched AI-generated audiobooks last year, and now Spotify is launching its own AI audiobook narration feature, Audiobook Creation Tools. Starting in June, self-published authors will be able to use the beta feature to create audio versions of their books using AI voices from ElevenLabs.