On Friday, OpenAI, the artificial intelligence giant, had another big leadership shakeup when three important executives announced their departures. This news comes at a time when the company is aggressively narrowing its focus to core business products while preparing for a potential IPO.

A Friday of leadership departures for OpenAI

The most high-profile exit came from Kevin Weil, the former Instagram executive. He was serving as the Vice President of OpenAI for Science. Weil, who initially joined as Chief Product Officer, was the architect behind “OpenAI for Science,” an initiative designed to build AI-powered platforms for scientific discovery. According to reports, his division is being decentralized, with its flagship project, Prism, being folded into the Codex product line.

Joining him in the exit is Bill Peebles, the leader behind the short-form video app Sora. While Sora generated massive buzz during its launch, the app was recently shuttered as OpenAI looked to reel in costs and reallocate expensive computing resources. In a post on X, Peebles expressed pride in the team’s “sleepless nights” dedicated to deploying the technology responsibly.

The third departure was Srinivas Narayanan, the CTO of B2B Applications. While Narayanan cited a desire to spend more time with family, his exit adds to a growing list of leadership vacancies at a critical time for the startup.

Streamlining for the future

These moves reflect a strategic shift under the direction of Fidji Simo, the company’s product and business chief. Reports say that OpenAI is cutting back on experimental projects, which are often called “side quests.” The firm wants to focus on enterprise-grade tools that can generate sustainable revenue.

However, the timing is delicate. Simo herself recently announced a medical leave. Plus, marketing chief Kate Rouch also stepped down recently to focus on her health. Furthermore, Brad Lightcap, the company’s operating chief, has transitioned into a “special projects” role. The scenario leaves several top-tier positions in flux.

Rising competition

This internal restructuring happens as the competition in the generative AI space reaches a fever pitch. Rival Anthropic has been making a lot of progress with its Claude platform. Recently, the company saw its valuation skyrocket to nearly match OpenAI’s $852 billion mark.

The post OpenAI Leadership Shuffle: Three Key Executives Exit in a Single Day appeared first on Android Headlines.

Investors have been pulling back from software, chips, and platform giants over fears that AI spending may never match the returns analysts once promised. Goldman Sachs has stepped forward with a call that runs counter to the market mood and could reframe how you view your tech holdings this year.

Here is what Goldman's research team is saying, what it means for the value opportunity in tech, and how to think about it carefully.

Goldman Sachs sees a rare value setup forming in global tech

The global technology sector has just experienced one of its weakest periods of relative returns in 50 years, according to Goldman.

The sector's valuation has fallen below that of the broader aggregate global market, creating what chief global equity strategist Peter Oppenheimer calls a "technology value opportunity."

In the U.S., the valuation premium of the five biggest tech names has compressed almost to the same level as the rest of the market, Goldman notes. The global tech sector's price-to-earnings ratio now trades below consumer discretionary, consumer staples, and industrials, a positioning nearly unheard of in recent history.

Oppenheimer published these findings in a note dated April 7 as a follow-up to the early 2026 sell-off that spread through software companies, according to Goldman. The call lands as many retail investors are wrestling with the sharp reversal in their longstanding tech winners and reviewing their own risk tolerances.

The earnings picture behind this year's tech sell-off

The price action looks nothing like the fundamental picture, and that gap sits at the center of Goldman Sachs' value opportunity thesis for tech. Tech companies revised their earnings upward more than any other sector globally in 2026, creating a record gap between performance and underlying earnings growth.

“The underperformance of the technology sector is starting to generate attractive opportunities for investors as its valuation, relative to expected consensus growth, has fallen below that of the global aggregate market,” said Peter C. Oppenheimer, chief global equity strategist.

S&P 500earnings per share are projected to grow 12% year over year in Q1, largely driven by tech heavyweight contributions, according to analyst consensus. AI investment spending will account for roughly 40% of S&P 500 EPS growth this year as those investments translate into returns.

Information Technology is expected to lead Q1 earnings growth among all 11 S&P 500 sectors, with net profit margins rising to 28.9%, according to FactSet. The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio for the S&P 500 sits at 20.4, above its 5-year average (19.9) and its 10-year average (18.9), but below the 22.0 year-end mark, FactSet added.

Why tech stocks stumbled after years of market dominance

Several forces built up pressure on the sector during 2025, and the early 2026 sell-off revealed how fragile the leadership had become beneath the surface.

The first concern is capital expenditure, with the top four U.S. hyperscalers collectively spending roughly $400 billion on AI infrastructure during 2025 alone. That figure represents nearly 70% more than 2024, and history shows infrastructure booms often enrich later adopters rather than the original network builders, according to Goldman.

Second, investor attention shifted from AI's upside to the risk that the technology could gut the software businesses built steadily across the last decade. Investors began questioning the terminal values of long-duration growth stocks, which had previously enjoyed years of unwavering market confidence, Goldman added.

More Tech Stocks:

• Morgan Stanley sets jaw-dropping Micron price target after event
• Nvidia’s China chip problem isn’t what most investors think
• Quantum Computing makes $110 million move nobody saw coming

Third, rising capex has made tech's future growth far more dependent on physical infrastructure, which plays to the strengths of capital-heavy industries. Capital has rotated into energy, basic resources, and industrial firms that benefit from AI's power demands, cooling requirements, and grid buildout needs, Goldman pointed out.

Finally, several big tech balance sheets have begun to strain, with debt ratios rising from prior net cash positions across the broader sector. These debt ratios remain relatively low, yet the clear direction of travel has unsettled investors long accustomed to fortress-level corporate finances, Goldman explained.

What Goldman's call could mean for your portfolio

If you hold tech-heavy index funds, the Goldman signal suggests your exposure may be sitting at more reasonable valuations than the daily headlines now indicate.  Earnings tell a markedly different story from prices, because tech is posting higher revision rates than any other sector across global markets in 2026. 

For ordinary investors, this gap between price action and underlying fundamentals could present buying windows for dollar-cost averaging, rather than one-time concentrated purchases of single stocks. 

The case for tech exposure is less about timing the bottom and more about aligning positions with consensus growth that beats the reduced analyst expectations. Morgan Stanley has set a similar tone, pegging the S&P 500 at 7,800 by year-end 2026, with performance heavily dependent on tech-led earnings.

Risks that could derail Goldman's tech opportunity thesis

Goldman did not tell investors to load up blindly, and Oppenheimer flagged real risks that could undermine the case for tech at current levels, according to Goldman Sachs.

A severe credit shock or collapse in big tech revenue could jeopardize AI spending plans, which would hit hyperscaler earnings and chip suppliers hard. Concentration risk matters, too, because the Magnificent 7 account for about one-third of the S&P 500's market capitalization.

If AI adoption disappoints over the next few quarters, software and chip stocks with stretched valuation support will likely suffer the first and sharpest drawdowns. Regulation, especially any new U.S. export controls on AI chips going to China, could reshape revenue expectations for names like Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom.

Practical steps you can take before adding tech exposure

The Goldman setup rewards planning over quick trades, and there are several concrete steps you can work through in your accounts over the coming weeks. Start by reviewing how much tech sits inside your portfolio, since index funds can quietly push your exposure above what you realistically think you hold.

Analysts broadly describe AI adoption as a long-horizon, multi-year process, so align your timeline accordingly rather than chasing short-term price moves. Another healthy habit is writing down your reasons for owning each tech stock, since clarity on your investment thesis protects against panic decisions during drawdowns.

Portfolio checks worth running this month

• Review your S&P 500 tech weighting across both retirement and brokerage accounts to see real exposure.
• Check Magnificent 7 concentration, which often exceeds 30% of U.S. equity exposure inside index funds.
• Compare expense ratios on tech ETFs before adding new positions or switching between competing funds.
• Review rebalancing rules so profits trim back winners rather than compound single-stock concentration risk.
• Confirm emergency savings are separate from any speculative AI bets or tech-heavy growth positions.

What to watch next as tech's setup plays out

The Q1 earnings season, starting in mid-April, will test whether the record gap between tech prices and underlying profits begins to close in either direction soon. 

Capital expenditure guidance from Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta will provide the clearest signal on whether hyperscalers are maintaining spending commitments into late 2026. NVIDIA's next earnings release on May 27 will test chip demand, particularly as the Vera Rubin platform ramps into production in the second half. 

Pay close attention to software stock recoveries, since that group led the early 2026 selloff and often signals a turning point for the broader sector. If Oppenheimer's call proves correct, patient investors with diversified, disciplined exposure could benefit, while the rest of the market stays fixated on the daily noise. 

Even if you miss the exact low, history shows rebalancing into unloved sectors has tended to pay off for investors with disciplined, long-term mindsets. If you are unsure how to position, consult a fiduciary financial advisor who can review your specific tax situation, risk tolerance, and overall time horizon.

Related: Goldman Sachs drops a bombshell on software stocks

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles this Friday to discuss the company’s groundbreaking new AI model, Mythos. This high-level sit-down marks a significant strategic shift for the administration. It happens just weeks after Anthropic got a “national security risk” label amid a heated dispute over military contracts. The firm appears to be finding a path back into the government’s good graces through its latest advancements in cybersecurity.

The power of Mythos AI brought Anthropic back to the table with the White House

The centerpiece of these discussions is the “strikingly capable” Mythos AI model. Unlike general-purpose chatbots, Mythos is specifically designed to identify and exploit software vulnerabilities with a level of efficiency that has reportedly surpassed human experts.

While the potential for securing infrastructure is massive, the model’s power has also sparked significant anxiety across Washington. Currently, government officials are working quickly to figure out how this kind of tool could affect national security and the stability of the global banking system.

Due to its sensitive nature, Anthropic is not releasing Mythos to the general public. Instead, it started Project Glasswing, a controlled program that lets a small group of big companies, like JPMorgan Chase, Google, and Microsoft, use the model to find and fix “severe” bugs in key software.

Despite the recent public barbs on social media, the White House described the meeting as “productive and constructive.” The conversation reportedly focused on balancing rapid AI innovation with the protocols necessary to prevent the technology from causing unintended harm. As POLITICO noted, even the Treasury Department is now clamoring for access to evaluate Mythos.

Seeking a middle ground

This meeting doesn’t necessarily mean the legal disputes are over. However, it does signal a practical truce. Perhaps it’s the first step toward Anthropic and the Pentagon making amends in a favorable deal. We’ll have to wait and see how events unfold in the coming weeks. However, these early hints seem positive.

The post Anthropic's Mythos AI Model Reopened White House Doors for the Company appeared first on Android Headlines.

Why we love this deal

A lot of the affordable storage cabinets we've come across have either a farmhouse or a minimalist look. Even though they're often versatile enough to suit any room, those aren't the only styles to keep an eye out for. Boho decor and furniture have an effortlessly cool, charming, and cozy appearance, often featuring warm tones, natural materials, and sometimes a vintage-inspired silhouette. And if that sounds pricey, it's because it usually is. It's tough to find a solid boho piece, but we spotted a stylish and functional cabinet at Target that checks off all the boxes for under $100.

The Garvee Boho Rattan Storage Cabinet has an eye-catching design with two doors and a single shelf inside. It's available in two colors and is on sale for only $80. Originally $160, you can get this cabinet for 50% off. Stylish, practical, and affordable, it's a furniture deal we can see selling out ASAP. 

Garvee Boho Rattan Storage Cabinet, $80 (was $160) at Target

Why do shoppers love it?

Measuring 31.5 inches long by 15.7 inches wide by 32.6 inches high, this sideboard buffet storage cabinet is a beautiful addition to living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, entryways, or bathrooms. You can use it in virtually any room that needs a style and storage upgrade.

The boho design features rattan, but not in a standard rectangular manner that similar options have. Instead, each door features an oval panel with rattan material. This small detail elevates the cabinet, mixing modern, retro, and boho design into one. Inside, there's one shelf with two compartments. With concealed storage, you hide away any clutter and organize items you don't necessarily want to put on display, like extra toilet paper or pantry essentials. But on the spacious tabletop, you can put matching storage containers, books, or even an espresso machine to create a coffee bar.

The storage cabinet is made of medium-density fiberboard paired with sturdy hinges that make the doors easy to open and close. Available in natural and white, the neutral hues can blend in with almost any kind of decor.

Related: Target's $2,200 modular sectional sofa is now $290 with a reversible chaise and built-in charging ports

Pros and cons

Pros

• High-end design at an affordable price: Boho cabinets can be pricey, but this style is under $100. With a sale price of $80, you can buy two for the original price of one.
• Compact size: As a sideboard buffet, it has a small width compared to other storage cabinets or dressers. It's the perfect size to add storage without taking up a ton of space.
• Versatile: This cabinet can be used in virtually any room in your home.

Cons

• Long assembly: One shopper said the assembly took longer than expected, and it was challenging to put together with specialized screws and misaligned pieces.
• Not real wood: It's made of medium-density fiberboard. It keeps the cost down, but some might prefer real solid wood.

According to shoppers, the cabinet looks exactly like it does in the photo, looking great once you put it together.

Shop more deals

• Tropow Rattan Storage Cabinet, $95 (was $190) at Target
• Best Choice Products 2-Door Rattan Storage Cabinet, $152 (was $258) at Target
• Costway Bathroom Floor Cabinet, $75 (was $125) at Target

If you love a boho look, but don't want to spend hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to get it, the Garvee Boho Rattan Storage Cabinet at Target is a fantastic choice. On sale for just $80, the storage cabinet offers all the boho charm and ample storage without breaking the bank.

Samsung, a major name in the memory market, has reportedly stopped taking new orders and halted production for LPDDR4 and LPDDR4X RAM. These memory chips have been the backbone of mid-range smartphones and tablets for nearly a decade. However, the industry is now facing a mandatory transition toward the faster, more profitable LPDDR5 standard, and Samsung wants to be there to meet that demand mainly driven by AI.

The LPDDR4 era is over: Samsung focuses on high-profit LPDDR5 memory

According to a report from The Elec, Samsung will fulfill existing orders through the end of the year before shifting its production lines in early 2026. This decision aims to maximize profits during a global memory crisis fueled by the massive demand for AI-capable hardware.

The shift makes the logistical scenario more difficult for major chip players like Qualcomm and MediaTek. Many of their existing mid-range chipsets work specifically with the older, cheaper LPDDR4X memory. Now, manufacturers need to redesign their future hardware or pay a premium for LPDDR5 components.

The most visible impact, however, will be visible in the low-to-mid-range smartphone market. Devices like the Galaxy A17 typically rely on older RAM to keep prices accessible. If Samsung switches these models to LPDDR5, new batches of the same phone could suddenly become 50% faster in memory bandwidth. While that sounds like a win, it comes with a catch: the price tag. This will likely increase to cover the cost of the more advanced technology.

Current phone models could get a “forced” memory speed boost?

Samsung’s new strategy creates a potentially awkward situation for consumers. Early buyers of a specific model might end up with a slower device than people who buy it a few months later. Meanwhile, latecomers might find themselves paying more for a phone that was originally marketed as a budget-friendly option. It is a “less than ideal” scenario where the AI ​​boom is effectively squeezing the remaining life out of older, affordable components.

As Samsung retools its facilities to focus on high-performance memory, the “end of life” for LPDDR4 marks the end of an era.

The post The End of LPDDR4: Samsung is Prioritizing LPDDR5 Demand Amid Memory Crisis appeared first on Android Headlines.

Google is reportedly in discussions with the U.S. Department of Defense to allow the Pentagon to use its Gemini AI models for classified purposes. According to The Information, these talks suggest a significant deepening of ties between the search giant and the military.

Google’s custom AI chips (TPUs) are the key to the potential Pentagon deal

Google’s Distributed Cloud already holds high-level security clearances. However, its actual computing power for classified tasks remains limited. To solve this, the negotiations reportedly include plans to install racks of GPUs and, for the first time, Google’s custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) within classified environments. These custom chips are the backbone of Gemini’s training and performance. So, their deployment would allow the military to run AI workloads at a much larger scale than previously possible.

The ethical red lines

One of the most delicate parts of these negotiations involves how the AI can—and cannot—be used. Google is reportedly proposing contract language that would prohibit the use of its models for domestic mass surveillance or the development of fully autonomous weapons without human oversight.

These specific restrictions are a recurring point of tension in the industry. Earlier this year, Anthropic faced a public fallout with the Pentagon over similar terms. The whole situation led to the military labeling the startup a “supply chain risk.” Google appears to be aiming for a middle ground, mirroring a deal recently struck by OpenAI that allows for “all lawful purposes” while maintaining certain humanitarian guardrails.

A shift in strategy

This marks a notable strategy shift for Google. Back in 2018, the company famously pulled out of Project Maven—a Pentagon initiative focused on drone imagery—after thousands of employees protested, fearing their work would be used for lethal purposes. Since then, Google has steadily rebuilt its military presence. In 2022, it set a dedicated “Public Sector” division. The tech giant hired veterans and government experts to better compete with rivals like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, who currently dominate the government cloud market.

Google’s share of the defense cloud market is still pretty small compared to its competitors. A deal like this could help the company to meet its ambitious goal of $6 billion in public sector contracts by 2027.

The post Google's Custom AI Chips & Gemini May Power The Pentagon Military Infrastructure Soon appeared first on Android Headlines.

“...A strategic approach that relies too much on price without subscriber growth is not a sustainable strategy,” Schulman said during the call, as reported by The Motley Fool. 

In January, during the Q4 earnings call, Verizon CFO Anthony Skiadas confirmed that the company lost 2.25 million customers over the last three years "largely from prior pricing actions as well as competition.” 

Schulman, who took the helm in October 2025, highlighted that raising prices without proportionally increasing value “irritates some customers.” He added that the company stopped doing that and is starting to add more value. 

More recently, the CEO opened up at the Semafor World Economy conference in Washington about how the carrier can no longer rely on its reputation of providing the best wireless network. He also shared an important message to customers. 

Verizon CEO says "you have to treat people like humans, not like accounts"

According to Schulman, Verizon can no longer run its business successfully on the claims that it offers the best wireless network. Specifically, the CEO noted that while Verizon might still technically have the top service, the gap between it and the competition has shrunk, reported Bloomberg. 

“We probably do have, objectively speaking, the best network, but the differential on that is less than it used to be, and we now need to do all of the basic stuff,” Schulman said at the conference. 

Competing with rivals T-Mobile and AT&T, the CEO said the company has been giving market share to competitors that offer more attractive deals. “We need to simplify promotions, we need to simplify plans and just make it easier for people to do business with us,” he said, per Bloomberg. 

More importantly, Schulman believes that Verizon needs to start prioritizing the basics of customer services. 

 “You have to treat people like humans, not like accounts.”

Schulman didn’t specify what kind of changes he plans to implement to change the company’s approach towards customers, but earlier this year, during the fourth quarter earnings call, he teased that the company is “targeting the launch of our new value proposition in the first half of this year.” 

Verizon recently shared that it will report first-quarter 2026 earnings on Monday, April 27, 2026, so it is possible it will unveil new value offerings then. 

13,000 layoffs were inevitable, says Verizon CEO as he bets on AI 

Schulman, who is also the former CEO of PayPal, was reluctant to take on the role of Verizon CEO and only agreed when he saw the company’s decline compared to the competition. Before Schulman became CEO, he was a Verizon board member. The company was closing its third straight quarter of customer loss, and he was appointed with the goal of turning things around, writes Phone Arena. 

Since taking the helm, Schulman already made several bold moves, including layoffs of more than 13,000 employees to “simplify” operations. Employees affected by the layoffs were given access to a $20 million retraining fund that helps people find new job opportunities in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. 

During the call, Schulman said the mass layoffs were “inevitable because if we don’t have enough money to put back into our value proposition to customers, we are going to continue to shrink.” 

On Wednesday, April 15, Schulman also invited other Fortune 100 CEOs to join him in supporting AI retraining initiatives, as he continues to bet on further AI integration. The carrier already has access to and is using Anthropic’s powerful new Mythos model. 

“It’s just a fact: Living in the age of AI, it’s going to change everything. If you’re scared of it, that’s problematic. You need to embrace it for all that it is,” Schulman said, per Phone Arena. 

Verizon's recent moves and customer reactions 

Despite arguing that the company lost customers due to previous price increases without additional value, Verizon recently raised the cost of its popular Netflix and HBO Max streaming bundle. 

The streaming perk previously offered Verizon customers on eligible phone and home internet plans Netflix and HBO Max subscriptions (with ads) for only $10 a month, saving them $8.98 monthly.  According to the company’s official website, starting May 6, the streaming bundle will increase from $10 to $13.

“Last year, Verizon raised prices for its myPlan and New Verizon Plan accounts due to 'rising operational costs.' It also increased prices for its Verizon Mobile Protect Multi-Device and Verizon Mobile Secure Multi-Device plans by $8. The carrier’s device activation fee also went up, and it pulled the plug on loyalty discounts,” reported TheStreet's Patricia Battle. 

The bundle price increase was enough to frustrate a number of customers, especially following the carrier’s last year’s price hikes and promises to offer more value. 

“They’ll come up with some reason to raise prices on anything they can. I’m switching providers,” wrote one Verizon customer on social media platform Reddit. 

On the other hand, Verizon recently launched a generous program to assist federal employees, military members, and first responders affected by financial strain, for example, TSA employees affected by government shutdowns. 

The company is providing flexible payment arrangements and deferral options to ensure these workers stay connected, even if they can't pay their bills on time due to circumstances outside their control. 

Related: T-Mobile surprises customers with free perks beyond phone plans

Verizon's customer satisfaction lags behind T-Mobile's

As customers eagerly await the promised value propositions and other changes, the company’s satisfaction rating shows the carrier still lags behind T-Mobile. 

Phone carrier consumer satisfaction rates for phone plans:

• The average consumer satisfaction score for postpaid plans under traditional carriers is 603 (on a 1,000-point scale). For prepaid plans, the average score is 612.
• T-Mobile ranks the highest in postpaid and prepaid, with satisfaction scores of 631 and 629, respectively. 
• Verizon takes second place in postpaid with a 593 score and third place for prepaid plans with a score of 602.   
• AT&T falls behind Verizon with a satisfaction score of 587 for postpaid, but leads above it in prepaid with a score of 604. 
  Source: J.D. Power 

“Attracting customers with network quality and pricing is just the first step. True loyalty comes from how easy it is for customers to work with a carrier once they’re in the system, especially when it comes to resolving issues, managing bills and getting answers quickly,” stated Carl Lepper, senior director of technology, media, and telecom at J.D. Power.  

Lepper said that for wireless carriers the best strategy is to “take care of the customer they already have.” 

With fewer employees and more AI integration, it remains to be seen how customers will react, especially as some consumers become increasingly skeptical of AI. 

Consumers and AI:

• 79% of consumers strongly prefer interacting with a human agent over an AI assistant.
• 56% of people report having overall negative feelings about companies using AI as part of their customer experience.
• 81% of consumers believe that companies are adopting AI primarily to save money, rather than to actually improve the service for the user.
  Source: Survey Monkey 

Related: Dollar General rolls out limited deals for value-driven shoppers

Visit Man of Many for the full post.

The post Lilbits: Next-gen Surface Pro & Laptop, Google’s next Pixel laptop, and goodbye Kindle for PC (kind of) appeared first on Liliputing.

What causes wildfires, and how to prepare

I've seen the damage firsthand that wildfires can cause. In August of 2023, I was part of a boots-on-the-ground emergency response team just days after the deadly Maui wildfires. Like most wildfires, it was caused by a combination of dry conditions, high winds, and a tiny spark. These elements combined to create a fire that moved so quickly, it couldn't be contained. While there are preventative measures that can be taken to lower the probability of such a fire, nature has its own way of doing things, and we'll never be able to eliminate them completely.

That's why being prepared is imperative. Having products that can serve you before, during, and even after a wildfire will give you peace of mind that only comes with proper preparation. If you can't stop a fire from happening in the first place, at least you can be ready if it does. Luckily, Amazon carries just about everything you need for a wildfire kit, and I can attest that those who are prepared have the greatest chance of survival.

Huzsv Emergency Axe and Shovel Set, $68 (was $90) at Amazon

This carbon steel axe and shovel set might be the most essential of all during and after a wildfire. The axe can be used to gain entry to a building, room, or vehicle. It can also be your only means of exit from those same places. After a fire, a shovel is needed for sifting through burned structures and searching for survivors and important objects. Both pieces are made from lightweight and durable carbon steel that are rustproof and corrosion resistant. Hopefully you'll never need these, but if you do, you'll want to have the best.

How do I choose what goes in my wildfire kit?

In the middle of a natural disaster, the last thing you want to do is search all over your home or vehicle for items that you need. That's why putting a kit like this together is essential for your own safety and for the safety of those around you. When choosing items, you want to consider three things: 1. What products can help me prevent the spread of a fire? 2. What products can help me and others escape from a fire? 3. What products will help me navigate the aftermath of a fire? Anything that fits one or more of those three categories is worth including in your personal wildfire kit.

Advanced Comprehensive Burn Kit, $13 (was $15) at Amazon

This burn kit includes gauze, dressings, burn cream, and a host of other items for treating severe burns. Obviously, you'll want to get to professional medical care as soon as possible, but this kit can go a long way toward alleviating pain and long-term damage in the meantime. The kit is available in either a single pack, or 3, 5, 10, or 100-pack options. This is a great item to buy in bulk so you can help those around you should a fire break out.

Related: Amazon's emergency prep kits start at just $25 ahead of summer storm season

Emergency Fire Escape Rope Ladder, $23 (was $28) at Amazon

This nylon emergency rope ladder is one of the easiest ways to ensure your safety if you're on anything other than the first floor of a building. It's lightweight and small so you can easily store it in a closet when not in use. However, if fire breaks out and you need it in a hurry, it can truly be a lifesaver. This is a 13-foot model, but it's available in a multitude of different lengths. You can choose from 10-foot, 16-foot, 26-foot, or 32-foot options. Getting out of a building in a hurry is the surest way to ensure your safety. This ladder can help you do that quickly and safely.

Details to know about wildfires

• Historical context: The deadliest wildfire in US history was the Peshtigo fire in Wisconsin in 1871 that killed over 1,200 people.
• 2026 outlook: According to the National Interagency Fire Center, multiple regions of North America show conditions that would favor increased fire activity between April and June of this year over previous months.
• Secondary impacts: According to researchers from Harvard University, smoke from US wildfires kills over 20,000 people annually.

Taimasi Emergency Survival Kit with Bag, $36 (was $42) at Amazon

If you're in the wilderness during a wildfire, perhaps camping or hiking, you could get cut off from your route back to civilization. That's where a bag like this can come in handy. It has a number of wilderness survival tools, including a compass, pliers, flashlight, tactical knife, poncho, multi-tool, and a host of first aid items. This is a great bag to have close-at-hand in case of any emergency. At this price, it's a great option for buying multiple and keeping one in your home and one in the car should you need it. 

Amzboom Fire Extinguisher 3-Pack, $24 (was $30) at Amazon

One of the quickest and easiest ways to defend against a fire of any size is with a fire extinguisher. This 3-pack from Amazon includes three compact aerosol spray extinguishers that are lightweight and easy to use. They even include a special mounting bracket so you can hang them in your kitchen, garage, or anywhere else you think you might need them. This is a great buy because you can keep one in the house, one near the barbecue, and one wherever else you think you may have a desire. 

With the availability of so many fire prevention and burn care products, there's really no excuse to be unprepared for a wildfire. Thanks to Amazon, you also won't have to spend a fortune to enjoy that feeling of safety and preparedness. Just be sure to assemble your kit soon, as the summer dry season is upon us, and you might need the kit sooner than you realize.

Regulators have told banks that a new AI model could pose a significant security risk. But not all banks seem to be heeding these warnings, as nearly 70% of banks use AI in their operations, according to The Financial Brand.

And now Bank of America has outlined how it plans to further embrace the controversial technology.

Banks warned about dangers of new AI tech

Leaders of the largest U.S. banks, including Bank of America, were warned by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell in early April about the risks of a new AI model from Anthropic, The New York Times reported.

The model, called Claude Mythos Preview, could pose a cybersecurity risk to customers’ personal data, government officials said.

The new model has not been released to the public. Instead, Anthropic created a private group of tech and bank experts to evaluate the model and prepare accordingly, Reuters noted.

World leaders issue warnings on bank cybersecurity

• Other financial leaders have also warned that Mythos could threaten the world's banking systems, the Financial Times reported.
• Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, said AI “is a very serious challenge for all of us,” the paper reported.
• European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has also raised concerns about the new model and supports Anthropic’s decision to restrict the technology, Bloomberg reported.  
• Canadian banks and regulators are also concerned about the new model, CTV news reported.

Even Anthropic has issued warnings about its own technology. The AI model has already found thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities in every major operating system and web browser, the company said.

“Given the rate of AI progress, it will not be long before such capabilities proliferate, potentially beyond actors who are committed to deploying them safely,” Anthropic stated. “The fallout — for economies, public safety, and national security — could be severe.”

Despite these warnings, Bank of America has recently outlined how it plans to fully embrace AI use.

Bank of America increasing controversial tech use

Bank of America is leading the way on AI use at banks.

The bank revealed in 2025 that more than 90% of its employees use AI, American Banker reported. It has a $13.5 billion technology budget, which includes at least $4 bilion for new initiatives like AI, according to Fortune.

More bank news

• PNC has great news for customers
• 225-year-old major bank closes 16 branches
• 150-year-old bank announces branch closures

The bank even has a client-facing AI assistant that clocked three billion interactions in 2025, with an average of 58 million interactions per month, Bank of America revealed.

During an event at the Semafor World Economy 2026 summit, Bank of America’s Chief Technology and Information Officer Hari Gopalkrishnan outlined ways through which the bank is further embracing AI, BankingDive reported.

The main areas where Bank of America has scaled up its AI use are end-to-end process transformation, scale and reuse, governance, and return on investment, Gopalkrishnan said.

The bank is “shifting from proofs of concept that were focused on small tasks to actual end-to-end process transformation where you’re going after big opportunities that are going to transform either revenue, client experience or expenses,” he said.

The firm rolled out an AI-powered tool for financial advisers in early March to use with clients to help them identify prospects and create meeting summaries, Bank of America shared.

And it plans to scale up its AI use, Gopalkrishnan told Banking Dive. But it also plans to focus on governing its use of the technology.

“This stuff is very hard to govern,” he said. “If you overdo it, you stall innovation. If you underdo it, you introduce a lot of risk.” 

Related: Citibank customers get new controversial feature

OnePlus is changing things up with its Android phones, and after launching the OnePlus Nord 6 earlier this month as a successor to the Nord 5, the company is reportedly working on expanding the lineup with slightly more affordable alternatives: the Nord CE6 and Nord CE6 Lite. Today, a new OnePlus phone, believed to be the OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite, with the model number CPH2943, has been spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking platform.

Mysterious OnePlus phone spotted on Geekbench could be Nord CE 6 Lite

The listing doesn’t explicitly reveal the marketing name of the phone, but tipster Abhishek Yadav says this is the OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite. The handset has managed to score a single-core score of 1,068 and a multi-core score of 2,953. Besides these, we also get to see some key specs. The phone will run on Android 16 OS, likely with OxygenOS 16 skin on top, and it packs 8GB of RAM. There could be other options at launch.

The phone could feature the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 SoC with Mali-G615 MC2 GPU, going by the listing. However, the tipster on X says the final chipset branding could be different, likely Dimensity 7400 Max, Extreme, or Pro. Despite the branding, it will still be the Dimensity 7400. The listing shows it has four cores clocked at 2.0GHz and four cores at 2.60GHz.

Expected to debut in May

Since the listing doesn’t mention its marketing name, there are good chances it could be the Nord CE 6 as well. But we can’t be sure just yet. Regardless, rumors say that both the standard and Lite models will launch in India in May.

Meanwhile, OnePlus is gearing up to launch a new tablet, the OnePlus Pad 4, in India on April 30th. It packs in some serious power, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 13,380mAh massive battery. The tablet could sport a 13.2-inch 3.4K display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 80W fast charging. It may support an external smart keyboard and stylus.

The post Upcoming OnePlus Phone Shows MediaTek's Dimensity 7400 Power on Geekbench appeared first on Android Headlines.

Amazon launched its new Fire TV Stick HD this week as its slimmest one yet. It brings Wi-Fi 6 support and is also claimed to be 30% faster than the previous generation model. However, one detail that was left out in the announcement is whether it ran on Android or Vega OS. A new report says that the new Fire TV Stick HD runs Vega OS. That’s not it; the report adds that Amazon plans to ditch Android on all future Fire TV Sticks.

Future Amazon Fire TV Sticks will no longer boot Android

The Amazon listing for the new Fire TV Stick HD doesn’t clearly mention whether it runs on Android or Vega. The listing reportedly showed sideloading support to some users, while not showing it to others, seemingly at random. This added to the uncertainty. Amazon has now confirmed to Lowpass that the device runs on Vega, not Android. 

Furthermore, the report, citing sources within Amazon, goes on to add that all future Fire TV Stick devices will ditch Android. Instead, they’ll run on Vega OS. This is despite Amazon still actively supporting Android builds, for now.

The latest Fire TV Stick HD runs on Vega OS

This doesn’t come all of a sudden, as reports have hinted it for almost three years now. It may not have a massive impact on Fire TV users, as most average users won’t notice the difference anyway. The ability to sideload apps is a main loss, but users relied on it for piracy purposes anyway.

As a refresher, Vega OS debuted on Fire TV Stick 4K Select last year, with a promise to offer better performance and efficiency. However, users are not big fans of it, as it blocks the ability to sideload apps and lacks many native apps, often relying on a clunky workaround for others. But then, it seems Amazon is going all-in with Vega OS.

The post Amazon to Reportedly Ditch Android on All Future Fire TV Sticks appeared first on Android Headlines.

Google has introduced a new search feature that allows users to track individual hotel prices. The feature is designed to help travelers save some bucks while planning long vacations and trips. As the same suggests, it lets users monitor price changes for specific stays. It will automatically notify users when there’s a price drop or hike for the selected stay, so that they remain updated and plan the trips more effectively.

Google expands search tools with individual hotel price tracking feature

As said earlier, the new Google Search functionality allows users to track the price of an Individual hotel rather than relying on broader city-wide averages. This allows users to do more personalized travel planning. Travelers who have a specific hotel in mind can now receive alerts when the price changes for selected dates. This is especially useful for those who prioritize certain locations, amenities, or loyalty rewards.

On the desktop website, users can activate hotel price tracking by visiting the hotel search section. They must then enter their travel details and locate the tracking toggle. The option appears under the Overview or Prices tab. However, it requires certain scrolling to find. Mobile users can access the same feature under the Prices tab. Yes, the tool is slightly hidden, but it integrates seamlessly into the booking process. This makes it easier to track prices without repeated manual searches.

Users can now use AI to plan their itinerary

Individual hotel price tracking isn’t the only major addition. Google is also adding a new AI-powered itinerary planning feature that suggests travel plans directly within the search results. All these features will help users better plan their next vacation, especially those in the early stages.

Google has also added several new enhancements that include map-based suggestions and real-time updates. Travelers can use mapping tools to discover recommended stops and attractions. They may also use the flight tracking feature that provides timely information through connected services.

The post Google Search Introduces Individual Hotel Price Tracking for Smarter Travel Planning appeared first on Android Headlines.

Samsung is reportedly speeding up its dev cycle for HBM RAM, as AI data centers seek more memory for operations. Samsung is already one of the leading suppliers for some AI-focused companies, such as NVIDIA, who has reportedly already acquired a large portion of Samsung’s HBM4 memory.

Samsung among other companies are shifting gears in operations to accommodate the high demand for memory that AI data centers need. While this isn’t directly impacting consumers as it’s a different type of memory that consumers wouldn’t need or buy, it is impacting them indirectly as companies focus more on serving AI enterprise customers and less on the consumer market. That has led to lower supply for consumers, and thereby increased demand and finally higher prices. This has in turn led to increased costs of consumer electronics products that contain memory because it’s costing those companies more to pay for the memory used in them during manufacturing. For example, HP reports that RAM now makes up about 35% of its PC bill of materials.

But, the AI demand for memory continues to increase, and so Samsung is rushing to meet that demand by pumping out the needed supply faster than ever.

The Samsung HBM dev cycle is moving to annual output

While Samsung’s HBM4 memory isn’t slated to actually roll out until later this year, it’s already working on it and has lined up at least some customers. It has been operating its dev cycle for HBM memory at a cadence of two years, but Samsung says this isn’t viable anymore because AI demands are rapidly increasing, and Samsung isn’t able to keep up with those demands on a bi-annual cycle.

It’s hard to tell if this will have any real impact on memory output on the consumer side. Looking at things optimistically, perhaps it will help Samsung push through more inventory for AI customers and free up time for the consumer side. On the other hand, maybe other memory makers currently serving both consumers and AI will follow Samsung’s lead and speed up development.

The post Samsung HBM RAM development will now be on an annual cycle appeared first on Android Headlines.

With its foldable Android phones last year, especially the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung not only upgraded the performance and looks, but the industrial design also saw a major improvement. The company managed to reduce the thickness of the foldables. It seems the tech giant is not stopping there. A new rumor, citing sources in Samsung’s supply chain, says that the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 could be even thinner.

Galaxy Z TriFold 2 may get an entirely new, thinner hinge design

Hinge design is becoming increasingly important as new foldable designs emerge. It seems that Samsung doesn’t want to settle with its current achievements and is reportedly willing to push the envelope further. A new rumor, citing sources in Samsung’s supply chain, claims that the tech giant is developing a new hinge for the second-generation Galaxy TriFold. The focus here will be on lightweight and ultra-slim design. 

Among the other upgrades that the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 may bring, thickness seems to be a main focus point. To possibly make it thinner than the current model, Samsung is reportedly developing an “entirely new hinge solution.” For reference, the Galaxy Z TriFold measures between 3.9 and 4.2mm in thickness when unfolded and 12.9mm thick when folded.

Could benefit other Galaxy Z models 

This move could benefit other Galaxy Z Fold models as well. Redesigning the new hinge solution for the Z TriFold 2 will also apparently benefit Samsung’s other foldables. The rumor says that a simplified but still improved version of the hinge, “with some technical adjustments,” will also make its way to the upcoming foldables, possibly the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, and even the Fold Widelater this year. 

Design and hardware aside, we just hope Samsung releases the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 more widely across the globe. As per recent rumors, the device might arrive around mid-2027.

The post Galaxy Z TriFold 2 Could Get Thinner, Thanks to New Hinge Solution appeared first on Android Headlines.

Samsung is praised enough for rolling out security updates to its smartphones, even the budget ones, on time. The Korean smartphone manufacturer has now started rolling out the latest April 2026 security update to two of its mid-range devices: Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A53. The patch fixes known vulnerabilities of the system and enhances its overall security.

April 2026 security update now available for Galaxy A55 and A53 devices

Recently, Samsung opened up its One UI 8.5 beta program for the Galaxy A55 smartphone. The under-testing build brought the April 2026 security patch to the device, alongside the new features and optimizations. And now, the company has begun rolling out the latest patch to the Galaxy A55 units running on Android 16-powered One UI 8.0.

As of right now, only the Indian variant of the Galaxy A55 is getting the latest April 2026 security update. It carries the firmware version A556EXXSECZD1 and comes with a download size of 296.34MB. At the same time, the company has also started delivering the latest security patch to the South Korean variant of the Galaxy A53 devices. The packages have the firmware version A536NKSSGGZD1.

It fixes known security loopholes and strengthens device protection

Just like other security updates, this one also addresses the known security loopholes of the software. The update is necessary to ensure the device remains secure. Most users should have received a notification regarding the update on their phones. If not, you can check for the update manually by going to Settings, then Software update, and Download and install. If the update is not available, you need not worry, as it should be available in the coming days.

Moreover, Samsung has not yet shared details about the global rollout timeline. However, we can expect overseas variants of the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A53 devices to get the security update in the next few days.

The post Galaxy A55 and A53 Receive April 2026 Security Update With Key Fixes appeared first on Android Headlines.

The hunt and the hunt saboteur have a long history in the UK, one that continued even after the ban on fox hunting in 2004. With the ban riddled with loopholes, saboteurs have remained necessary to help protect British foxes. They are a dedicated and eclectic bunch, now embracing new technology such as drones to catch hunters who push the limits of the law. With the UK government moving towards a complete ban on trail hunting, this tumultuous relationship may finally be drawing to a close—although I suspect some unfinished business may linger for years to come.

For most of their history, hunting was legal, so the police responded with covert infiltration and mass arrests. Meanwhile, the hunters responded with violence, trampling sabs with horses, blasting shotguns at vans, and assaulting them with blunt instruments. As tensions escalated in the 1980s, a handful of animal-rights activists adopted more extreme tactics, raiding kennels and launching firebombing campaigns. In 1984, one group, the Hunt Retribution Squad, even plotted to exhume the 10th Duke of Beaufort and post his head to Princess Anne.

But on Wall Street? Not the sort of thing you'd expect to run into.

But that's not stopping billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who's offering a unique deal as a carrot on a stick to lure retail investors to his previously private fund. Ackman is set to open Pershing Square USA ($PSUS) to retail investors for the first time via a public offering set to take place later this month, offering exposure to the firm's hand-selected basket of stocks. Not only that, but the fund's parent company will also be going public as part of a "combined offering."

This is Pershing's second go at an IPO,; the $10 billion hedge fund's first offering was derailed nearly two years ago after the SEC requested more details about the fund, its investors, and comments made by the institution's Tweeter in Chief. Surely not helping matters, Ackman set an extremely high bar for the IPO. He sought to raise $25 billion, an optimistic target that eventually led to the fund being shelved.

So, this time around, Ackman is targeting a smaller, $10 billion target and pitching investors with a slightly different angle of attack: not just investing in the fund but becoming owners.

The Pershing sweetener: A free share of stock

Pershing Square's first attempt at a public debut was derailed by a mix of high expectations and low interest. To stir excitement, Ackman is throwing in shares of the parent company, Pershing Square ($PS), which will go public as part of a "combined offering" seeking to raise at least $5 billion.

For every five shares of $PSUS (priced at $50/share) bought before the IPO, retail investors will receive an additional share of $PS. That represents a "free share" in the management company, which earns fees from Pershing Square USA and Ackman's various funds, representing a bet on the billionaire investor's underlying investment business.

Being an owner has its benefits

The offer to retail investors is simple. One share of $PSUS is priced at $50. If you buy five, or $250 worth of shares, then you'll earn a share in the fee-earning parent company. This also scales up. Buy 100 shares in $PSUS? Earn 20 shares of $PS, so on and so forth.

Ultimately, buying the shares means putting money into the hedge fund. That money then helps scale up the investments. The company returns the favor by making you an owner — albeit a small one — in the parent company to align incentives.

If the fund reaches its $10 billion assets under management target, it will then earn $200 million in annual fees, which might be distributed back to investors in the form of a dividend.

The wealthy still got a better deal

This isn't as attractive as the 1.5 shares per five $PSUS shares offered to "private placement investors," but it's still theoretically "free money" if you were considering investing in Ackman's fund anyway.

The downsides of the deal

The allure of "free money" is always attractive, but the problems with Pershing Square USA might make it more of a risk than a reward.

For starters, the fund's closed-end structure comes with risks; there generally is not much fanfare from investors for these kinds of funds because of their relative complexity compared with exchange-traded funds or other vehicles. If you want to sell your $PSUS shares, you'll need to find a buyer. That might not be difficult if the appetite for the fund is great, but it will be if it isn't.

Then, there's the fee. For the first 12 months, $PSUS won't charge a management fee, but then it plans to charge a 2% annual management fee. Considering the fund is only investing in public equities, that's a steep price to pay. In fact, it's over double what you'd pay for comparable, actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like the ones offered by Cathie Wood's ARK Invest.

Finally, there are the returns. From the fund's annual report, the net return of Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. and Pershing Square, L.P. — annual report here for those who want a closer look at the company's performance — has beaten the S&P 500 handily in three of the last five years, even after fees, but it doesn't always do this. There's also a lot attached to Ackman's ability to talk his book and command the ear of prominent thinkers.

Related: Bill Ackman’s net worth in 2026: The hedge funder's wealth & income

'Influencer investor'

At its core, Pershing Square looks like a large- and megacap-heavy portfolio, with companies like Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Uber among the fund's holdings.

However, Ackman also moves in size with contrarian picks. This could be where the money is made or lost.

For example, Ackman has held shares of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) for over a decade, advocating to the current White House administration to privatize them.

He's also proposed a takeover of Universal Music Group N.V., one of the world's largest music companies. However, the success of his $64 billion bid hinges on one shareholder. This is ultimately where a lot of investors will discover if that 2% management fee is worth it.

We used to call them activist investors, but in many ways, Ackman is an "influencer investor." Perhaps better known by the public for his social media thinkpieces on the culture war than his investing moves, it's unclear if Ackman's influencer stripe or political economy is an edge or a drawback for the firm.

He has demonstrated an aptitude to earn the ears of key decision-makers, at least in the conservative realm. However, it's one thing to be heard; it's another thing for those proposals to amount to real change. In that regard, a bet on Pershing Square USA is a bet on the colorful antics of this influencer investor.

His first pitch might not have landed, but maybe the second one will.