Gizmodo

Tesla is targeting production of 20,000 Optimus humanoid robots per week, but a major hurdle remains: the robots' hands. Reports say the company is still working out how to mass-produce reliable, dexterous robotic hands, which are among the hardest components to engineer. The ambitious scale of the target has drawn attention and skepticism about whether Tesla can hit it.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, the renowned former Disney studio chief and DreamWorks co-founder, says the creative industries should accept artificial intelligence rather than resist it. His comments argue that AI adoption is inevitable for production and creative work, a stance likely to fuel ongoing debate among filmmakers, artists and studios already divided over AI's role in writing, animation and design.

A newly published academic paper claims Bitcoin could gain Zcash-style privacy protections without requiring a hard fork of the network. The proposal suggests shielded-style transaction privacy could be added to Bitcoin's existing protocol, a long-standing goal for privacy advocates who have struggled with the network's transparent ledger. Coverage of the claim is circulating in cryptocurrency and privacy-focused discussions online.

Jon Watts, director of Marvel's Spider-Man trilogy, is reported to be attached to direct Star Wars: Episode X, a new installment in the main Skywalker saga. The news has drawn attention from sci-fi and movie fans, with reactions focusing on how Watts' blockbuster experience might shape the next chapter of the franchise.

A newly published research paper argues that Bitcoin could gain Zcash-style privacy protections without requiring a hard fork or changes to the network's consensus rules. The claim, reported by Gizmodo, suggests shielded-transaction-style anonymity could be layered onto Bitcoin as it stands. Details of the proposed method and its trade-offs have not yet been widely examined by the broader cryptocurrency community.

A fourth-generation Apple TV 4K could be close to release, according to a Gizmodo report citing leaks about the next version of Apple's streaming box. The refresh is expected to update the company's set-top device, though details on specifications, pricing, and an official launch date have not been confirmed by Apple. Tech observers are following the story for signs of what the new hardware will offer.

A politician or official reportedly received an eight-page cease-and-desist letter in connection with criticism of data centers, underlining how politically toxic data center projects have become. Communities increasingly push back against data centers over water and power use, noise, and strain on local grids, and politicians who support or oppose them face legal and electoral pressure. The letter suggests the industry or its allies are aggressively defending against criticism.