TechCapsules

Trump announced that Apple will work with Intel to design and build chips in America, prompting an 8.8% rise in Intel's stock and a 0.6% increase in Apple's. The deal, a substantial multi-year agreement, is believed to concern production of older or lower-end processors, such as M-series chips for iPad Pro and MacBook Air. The partnership follows initial rumors and test production in May 2026. Details on delivery, shipment, and deal worth remain unclear. Intel's entry into [...]

OpenAI has launched Scheduled Tasks in ChatGPT, enabling Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users to automate reminders and recurring work. The update introduces a dedicated scheduling hub for managing tasks and improved notifications. ChatGPT can now proactively monitor the web and connected apps for updates, replacing the older Pulse feature. The new feature allows users to automate tasks, receive reminders, and monitor updates without manual repetition. The scheduling system is more flexible, allowing tasks to be set [...]

HSBC has entered a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud to develop and deploy artificial intelligence tools across its global operations. The agreement covers work in wealth management, financial crime risk management, and internal decision support. HSBC will work with Google Cloud and Google DeepMind engineering teams on AI tools and programmes using Gemini models. The bank expects the partnership to support over 200 AI use cases over the next two years, with selected initiatives potentially returning over [...]

Elon Musk exercised 303,960,630 Tesla stock options, generating $115.9 billion in paper gains, and increased his direct Tesla voting power to approximately 20%. The transaction was made possible by an Implementation Agreement signed on April 21, 2026, and comes after SpaceX completed its IPO, giving it a public market valuation and share currency. Musk's move has fueled speculation about a potential Tesla and SpaceX merger, with the timing and structure of the stock option exercise carrying significant [...]

Meta has announced the launch of paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, dubbed "Plus" plans, with prices ranging from $2.99 to $3.99 per month. The subscriptions offer special features such as story rewatch and stealth mode. Meta's decision to charge for its services is driven by the need to invest in AI technology and infrastructure, with a budget of $125-145 billion this year. The company aims to diversify its revenue streams, currently reliant on ads, and [...]

Microsoft has refreshed its Surface line-up with three new devices powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 processors. The new line-up consists of the Surface Pro 13-inch, Surface Laptop 13.8-inch, and Surface Laptop 15-inch, all featuring sharper display options and more local AI muscle. The devices are designed for people who move between everyday productivity, creative work, collaboration, and AI-assisted workflows. The Surface Pro 13-inch with Snapdragon X2 delivers up to 53% faster graphics performance, while the Surface Laptop [...]

Carl Pei, founder of Nothing, has declared his intention to steal Apple's customers in a social media stunt. Pei believes the smartphone market has become stagnant and that Apple has lost its creative spark. Nothing aims to offer an alternative with its unique transparent hardware designs and customized software. The company plans to expand its US retail presence through Best Buy, posing a tangible threat to Apple's dominance. Pei's goal is to attract bored iPhone users, but [...]

Chinese startup Spark Space has secured funding for its electric-pump-fed rocket, the Jinhua-1, following successful engine tests. The rocket is set to debut in 2027 and will be powered by nine Lieyan-2 engines, giving it a liftoff thrust of 90 tons. The company has raised nearly 100 million yuan in a Pre-A round and tens of millions of yuan in Pre-A+ funding, with plans to use the funds to develop the rocket. The Jinhua-1 has a payload [...]