THE BRASS ORACLE - TECH NEWS TODAY 07-13-2026

X has adjusted the algorithm that ranks posts in user feeds, downgrading confrontational and battleground-style threads in an effort to create a more pleasant scrolling experience.

Nous Research, the team behind the Hermes AI agent platform, is said to be in funding talks that would value the company at roughly one point five billion dollars.

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella has cautioned enterprises about the risks and responsibilities that come with bringing artificial intelligence into business operations.

Apple alleges that a former employee exploited an uncommon software bug to download confidential files before leaving to join OpenAI, deepening an ongoing trade secrets dispute between the two companies.

Apple's trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI is creating uncertainty around OpenAI's reported plans to build a consumer hardware device meant to compete with the iPhone.

A coalition of twelve state attorneys general has sued to block Paramount's roughly one hundred and ten billion dollar acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would harm competition.

General Fusion has become the first publicly traded nuclear fusion company, with shares surging on its first day of trading.

SpaceX has received regulatory approval to resume Starship launches following a booster failure in May, clearing the way for the next test flight.

Microsoft is testing a streamlined Windows 11 search interface that removes advertisements and promotional content, returning the feature to a clean, results-focused design.

OnePlus is reportedly planning to exit the US and European smartphone markets, a strategic retreat driven by competitive pressure and restructuring under its parent company Oppo.

Apple has released public betas of iOS 27, watchOS 27, and macOS 27, giving non-developers early access to the new Siri AI integration and refreshed interface designs across all three platforms.

Tesla says it is developing a wheelchair-accessible version of its planned robotaxi, addressing concerns that autonomous ride-hailing vehicles could leave disabled riders behind.

The Los Angeles Police Department has let its contract with surveillance vendor Flock Safety expire, citing serious concerns about civil liberties and privacy tied to the license plate reader network.

Leaked drone footage from the San Francisco Police Department has revealed the scale and detail of aerial surveillance over urban areas, raising questions about police drone deployment and public oversight.

A global shortage of memory chips has helped drive smartphone shipments to a record low, as manufacturers contend with rising component costs and supply constraints.

The European Union is advancing legislation that would restrict minors' access to certain social media features, moving toward a formal ban on algorithmic content feeds for underage users.

Uber's lobbying for favorable autonomous vehicle regulations has put the company at odds with Waymo, as both vie for dominance in the emerging robotaxi market.

Anthropic has introduced localized pricing for its Claude AI models in India, the company's largest market after the United States, in a bid to broaden adoption among Indian developers and businesses.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has directed autonomous vehicle developers to stop interfering with first responders, citing what it calls functional insufficiency. Separately, Uber and Waymo have quietly ended their Phoenix robotaxi partnership. Rivian has raised one point three two billion dollars in new capital following launch deliveries of its R2 SUV. And the federal regulatory agenda now includes proposed safety standard changes that would clear the way for steering-less, pedal-less vehicles from Tesla and Zoox.