Google widening Pentagon access to its AI after Anthropic’s refusal, Elon Musk taking the stand in the OpenAI trial, and Anthropic launching Claude for Creative Work.

• Google expands Pentagon's access to its AI after Anthropic's refusal | TechCrunch
• Elon Musk takes the stand in high-profile trial against OpenAI
• Claude for Creative Work \ Anthropic
• Apple introduces a cheaper option for App Store subscriptions | TechCrunch
• YouTube is testing an AI-powered search feature that shows guided answers | TechCrunch

OpenAI’s evolving partnership with Microsoft, reports of an OpenAI phone built around AI agents instead of apps, and Samsung’s first smart glasses leaking ahead of launch.

• The next phase of the Microsoft OpenAI partnership
• OpenAI could be making a phone with AI agents replacing apps | TechCrunch
• Spotify is partnering with Peloton to add guided workouts, on top of music, audiobooks, podcasts, and video
• Google employees ask Sundar Pichai to say no to classified military AI use
• Meta inks deal for solar power at night, beamed from space | TechCrunch

DeepSeek previews an AI model aimed at narrowing the frontier gap, Google moves to invest up to $40 billion in Anthropic, and X rolls out its standalone XChat messaging app for iPhone and iPad.

• DeepSeek previews new AI model that 'closes the gap' with frontier models | TechCrunch
• Google to invest up to $40B in Anthropic in cash and compute | TechCrunch
• XChat, X's standalone messaging app, now available for iPhone and iPad with these features - 9to5Mac
• In another wild turn for AI chips, Meta signs deal for millions of Amazon AI CPUs | TechCrunch
• Court sides with iyO in trademark fight against OpenAI and Jony Ive - 9to5Mac

OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 moves ChatGPT closer to an AI super app, Meta plans to cut 10% of its workforce, and Microsoft lays out a new memo defining the future of Xbox gaming.

OpenAI releases GPT-5.5, bringing company one step closer to an AI 'super app' | TechCrunch

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/openai-chatgpt-gpt-5-5-ai-model-superapp/

Meta to cut 10% of jobs, or 8,000 employees, report says | TechCrunch

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/meta-job-cuts-10-percent-8000-employees/

‘We Are Xbox’: read the memo defining Microsoft’s gaming future

https://www.theverge.com/news/917689/microsoft-xbox-gaming-future-memo-asha-sharma-matt-booty

Microsoft offers buyout for up to 7% of US employees | TechCrunch

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/microsoft-offers-buyout-for-up-to-7-of-u-s-employees/

Labor unrest at Samsung may worsen memory chip supply issues | TechCrunch

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/labor-unrest-at-samsung-may-worsen-memory-chip-supply-issues/

Google hints at a Gemini-powered Siri upgrade, OpenAI adds Codex-based workspace agents for ChatGPT teams, and Anthropic faces alarm after its most dangerous model reportedly reached unauthorized users. 

• Google teases Gemini-powered Siri upgrade during Cloud Next keynote - 9to5Mac
• OpenAI updates ChatGPT with Codex-powered 'workspace agents' for teams - 9to5Mac
• Anthropic’s most dangerous AI model just fell into the wrong hands
• SpaceX lands deal to likely purchase Cursor, a Claude Code and OpenAI Codex competitor - 9to5Mac
• Threads is adding Live Chats to boost real-time engagement | TechCrunch

OpenAI’s image generator now pulls from the web, YouTube is expanding AI-powered likeness detection to celebrities, and Yelp’s upgraded AI assistant can answer questions and complete bookings in a single conversation.

OpenAI’s updated image generator can now pull information from the web
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/916166/openai-chatgpt-images-2

YouTube expands its AI likeness detection technology to celebrities | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/21/youtube-expands-its-ai-likeness-detection-technology-to-celebrities/

Yelp's updated AI assistant can answer questions and book a restaurant or service in one conversation | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/21/yelps-updated-ai-assistant-can-answer-questions-and-book-a-restaurant-or-service-in-one-conversation/

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets a price cut but loses new Call of Duty games
https://www.theverge.com/news/915928/microsoft-xbox-game-pass-ultimate-price-drop

Amazon to invest up to another $25 billion in Anthropic as part of AI infrastructure deal
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/20/amazon-invest-up-to-25-billion-in-anthropic-part-of-ai-infrastructure.html

Apple officially announced their CEO transition, the FAA is investigating Blue Origin’s New Glenn mishap, and Deezer says nearly half its daily uploads are AI-generated.

John Ternus to Become Apple CEO
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/04/tim-cook-to-become-apple-executive-chairman-john-ternus-to-become-apple-ceo/

FAA orders investigation into Blue Origin's New Glenn mishap | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/20/faa-orders-investigation-into-blue-origins-new-glenn-mishap/

Deezer says 44% of songs uploaded to its platform daily are AI-generated | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/20/deezer-says-44-of-songs-uploaded-to-its-platform-daily-are-ai-generated/

WhatsApp is testing a premium subscription, but it is mainly cosmetic | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/20/whatsapp-is-testing-a-premium-subscription-put-it-is-mainly-cosmetic/

Huawei beats Samsung and Apple to market with the first wide foldable
https://www.theverge.com/tech/914807/huawei-pura-x-max-launch-price-specs-availability

Anthropic’s new Claude Design tool for fast visual creation, Zoom partnering with World to verify real humans in meetings, and Netflix adding a vertical video feed with AI-powered recommendations.

Anthropic launches Claude Design, a new product for creating quick visuals | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/17/anthropic-launches-claude-design-a-new-product-for-creating-quick-visuals/

Zoom teams up with World to verify humans in meetings | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/17/zoom-teams-up-with-world-to-verify-humans-in-meeting/

Bluesky confirms DDoS attack is cause of continued app outages | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/17/its-not-just-you-bluesky-is-sorta-down/

Netflix plans to add a vertical video feed, use AI for recommendations | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/17/netflix-plans-to-add-a-vertical-video-feed-use-ai-for-recommendations/

Apple's CarPlay feature now supports multiple AI chatbot apps from iPhone - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/17/apples-carplay-feature-now-supports-multiple-ai-chatbot-apps-from-iphone/

Google’s AI Mode update that opens links without leaving the page, OpenAI’s major Codex upgrade taking aim at Claude Code, and Gemini pulling from Google Photos to create personalized images.

Google’s AI Mode update lets you open links without leaving the page
https://www.theverge.com/tech/913109/google-ai-mode-tabs-sources

Gemini can now pull from Google Photos to generate personalized images
https://www.theverge.com/tech/913202/gemini-personal-intelligence-images-nano-banana

OpenAI’s big Codex update is a direct shot at Claude Code
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/913034/openai-codex-updates-use-macos

Anthropic releases a new Opus model amid Mythos Preview buzz
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/913184/anthropic-claude-opus-4-7-cybersecurity

Safety concerns reported to Apple before pilot killed in Vision Pro filming
https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/16/safety-concerns-were-reported-to-apple-before-pilot-killed-during-vision-pro-filming/

Google launching a standalone Gemini AI app for Mac, Adobe’s conversational AI editing tools signaling a major change in creative work, and Apple warning Grok to curb sexual deepfakes or risk App Store removal.

Google launches a Gemini AI app on Mac
https://www.theverge.com/tech/912638/google-gemini-mac-app

Adobe embraces conversational AI editing, marking a ‘fundamental shift’ in creative work
https://www.theverge.com/tech/912287/adobe-firefly-ai-assistant-announcement-editing

Snap is laying off 16 percent of its staff as it leans into AI
https://www.theverge.com/tech/912314/snap-layoffs-1000-staffers-ai-profitability

Allbirds announced a switch from shoes to AI and its stock jumped 600 percent
https://www.theverge.com/news/912484/allbirds-ai-hyperscale

Apple quietly threatened Grok to curb sexual deepfakes or get pulled from App Store
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/912297/apple-app-store-ban-grok-x-deepfakes