36 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Terrence O'Brien

Terrence O'Brien

Weekend Editor

Weekend Editor

    More From Terrence O'Brien

    No, typing an AI prompt is not ‘really active’ music creation

    Honestly, that’s insulting.

    Terrence O'Brien
    Terrence O'Brien
    Terrence O'Brien
    Who could have guessed that giving kids a teddy bear with ChatGPT built in was a bad idea?

    The answer is probably anyone. Or at least anyone who didn’t work for FoloToy, the makers of Kumma, a $99 AI-enabled plushie that’s now been pulled from shelves after researchers at the US PIRG Education Fund got the bear to discuss sexually explicit topics, offer advice on where to find knives, and give instructions on lighting matches. In the report, researchers said:

    We were surprised to find how quickly Kumma would take a single sexual topic we introduced into the conversation and run with it, simultaneously escalating in graphic detail while introducing new sexual concepts of its own.

    Terrence O'Brien
    Terrence O'Brien
    Suno valued at $2.45 billion in latest funding round as lawsuits loom.

    The AI music company just announced that it raised $250 million in its latest funding round, and its valuation soared from about $500 million last year to nearly $2.5 billion. That money might be going right back out the door, though, as all three major labels — Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Group — are currently suing Suno.

    Terrence O'Brien
    Terrence O'Brien
    Rivian e-bike spinoff Also’s entry level model will cost $3,500.

    When the company introduced the TM-B e-bike in October, it said the Launch edition and Performance models would cost $4,500. We knew there would be a cheaper base model, but the price wasn’t announced at the time. Now we know it’ll be $3,500, but will only have 5x power assist and a 60-mile range.

    Terrence O'Brien
    Terrence O'Brien
    The Mac Pro just isn’t important to Apple anymore.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company doesn’t see the high-end desktop as a key part of its lineup. It hasn’t been updated with any regularity since 2013, moving to Apple silicon belatedly in 2023 with the M2 Ultra. Over two years later, it remains unchanged. Gurman says not to expect a significant update in 2026 either, with the M4 Ultra chip and its corresponding Mac Pro model being cancelled.

    Apple has largely written off the Mac Pro. The sentiment internally is that the Mac Studio now represents both the present and future of Apple’s professional desktop strategy.

    Terrence O'Brien
    Terrence O'Brien
    The collapse of short-term rental company Sonder leaves guests literally on the street.

    Once seen as a unicorn with a billion-dollar valuation and the potential to challenge Airbnb, Sonder is now in liquidation.

    Unfortunately for guests, including those who booked rooms through its partnership with Marriott, that meant getting evicted from their rooms mid-stay or having their reservations canceled.