BOND Raises $2M to Automate SME Accounting in Brazil with AI
Brazilian fintech BOND announced a $2 million pre‑seed round led by Propel Venture Partners, with participation from Kiara Capital, Norte Ventures, Hypersphere and angel investor Patrick Sigrist. The startup uses artificial intelligence to automate core accounting tasks for small and medium‑sized enterprises while keeping human accountants in the loop. The capital will fund product enhancements, broader automation, and a strategy to acquire client portfolios from traditional firms. Currently in beta with ten customers, BOND is preparing for a full commercial launch in Brazil.
XPPen Launches Artist 16 3rd with the All-New X-Dial Shortcut and Upgraded X4 Smart Chip Stylus
XPPen unveiled the Artist 16 3rd, a 15.4‑inch portable drawing display priced at $319.99 for entry‑level creators. The device adds dual X‑Dial controls, eight shortcut keys, and a revamped X4 Smart Chip Stylus with 16,384 pressure levels and 30 ms latency. Its nano‑etched...
MODEX 2026: Kardex Launches PortScale for Enhanced AutoStore Inventory Accuracy
At MODEX 2026, Kardex unveiled PortScale, a weight‑sensor add‑on for AutoStore ports that provides real‑time verification of picking and putaway operations. The solution integrates with Kardex’s Intuitive Picking Assistant, barcode scanning and computer‑vision tools to instantly detect errors, support cycle...
KELLEY WILLIAMSON LAUNCHES KELLEY KOUTURE, A MODERN LUXURY FOOTWEAR BRAND REDEFINING FASHION AND FUNCTION
Kelley Kouture, a modern luxury footwear brand handcrafted in Italy, launched its e‑commerce site kelleykouture.com on April 17, 2026. Founded by Virginia entrepreneur Kelley Powell Williamson, the line blends high‑fashion silhouettes with orthopedic‑grade comfort, featuring an adjustable two‑piece “K Heel”...
Cadence Expands AI And Robotic Partnerships With Nvidia And Google Cloud
Cadence announced expanded AI and robotics collaborations with Nvidia and Google Cloud at its CadenceLIVE event. The partnership integrates Cadence’s multi‑physics simulation tools with Nvidia’s CUDA‑X libraries, Omniverse and Isaac frameworks, enabling high‑fidelity digital twins for chip design, robotics and...
Google Deepens AI Integration Across Ads and Search with Gemini Enforcement and AI Mode Expansion
Google’s 2025 Ads Safety Report shows Gemini‑powered AI blocked 8.3 billion ads, a jump from 5.1 billion the year before, and halted over 99% of policy‑violating ads before they reached users. The enforcement model now focuses on individual ads rather than whole...
VMRay Announces Sovereign European Cloud for Advanced Threat Analysis
VMRay unveiled the VMRay Sovereign European Cloud, a SaaS platform that delivers advanced threat analysis while guaranteeing full data residency within Europe. The service runs on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud and is operated by a Luxembourg‑incorporated entity, providing physical...
Ukraine Confirms Suspected APT28 Campaign Targeting Prosecutors, Anti-Corruption Agencies
Ukrainian officials confirmed that a Russian‑linked APT28 campaign has compromised more than 170 email accounts belonging to prosecutors and investigators. The attacks exploited a zero‑day in the open‑source Roundcube webmail platform, allowing code execution simply by opening an email. CERT‑UA...
Brother UK Taps Mike Brown to Spearhead Channel Growth
Brother UK has appointed Mike Brown as business manager for its specialist print division to accelerate channel growth across the UK. Brown will drive new business development, onboard reseller and dealer partners, and build a pipeline for managed print services...
Roblox Launches Agentic AI Tools to Speed up Game Development Workflows
Roblox unveiled a suite of agentic AI tools designed to streamline the entire game‑development pipeline, from concept to testing. The new Planning Mode turns a single prompt into a structured, editable roadmap, while mesh generation and procedural‑model tools let creators...
Germany Fields Kamikaze Drone Batteries in Army Artillery Battalions
Germany announced a multi‑year rollout of loitering‑munition batteries across its army, starting with short‑range LMS units for Panzerbrigade 45 and 21 and expanding to corps‑level drones capable of 200‑300 km strikes. Deliveries of the RCH 155 wheeled howitzer and EuroPULS rocket system are slated...
Townsquare and KSE Announces Digital Marketing Deal
Townsquare Media and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) announced a digital marketing partnership that will integrate Townsquare Ignite’s data‑driven platform into KSE’s radio assets. The collaboration allows KSE to scale its digital advertising offerings while leveraging Townsquare’s proven performance‑based solutions....
Iris Founder Talks AI-Powered Finance
Iris, an AI‑driven financial‑modeling platform founded by former investment banker Drew Fallon, offers brands a data infrastructure that automates finance and operational workflows. The service integrates with Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, QuickBooks, Gusto and other systems, enabling AI agents to generate...
Valencia-Based GuruSup Raises €1.3 Million Seed Round for AI Customer Service Platform
GuruSup, a Valencia‑based SaaS startup that builds AI agents for customer service, closed a $1.4 million seed round led by 4Founders Capital with Addendum Capital and several Spanish angels. The funding will fund a headcount doubling and a five‑fold increase in...
Michael Baker International Launches Titan
Michael Baker International unveiled Titan, an enterprise AI platform that aggregates leading large‑language models through a secure, Azure‑based interface. The system grants more than 6,000 engineers, architects and scientists unified, no‑code access to build custom AI agents and publish them...
Archive of Byte Magazine, Starting with Issue #1 in 1975
Martin Research introduced the MIKE 2 and MIKE 3 microcomputer kits, offering a unique modular bus that supports both the Intel 8008 and 8080 processors. Users can start with the low‑cost MIKE 2 (8008) and upgrade to the more powerful MIKE 3 (8080) simply...
Legal Advice for Mitigating Cyber-Risks
Partner Mark Chapman of Herrington Carmichael outlines practical legal steps for firms to reduce cyber‑attack exposure. He stresses the need for systematic risk assessments, robust incident‑response frameworks, and appropriate cyber‑insurance coverage. The advice also highlights employee training and vendor due‑diligence...
Glovo Set to Hold “Future of Commerce Summit 2.0” In Lagos
Glovo will host the Future of Commerce Summit 2.0 on April 22, 2026 in Lagos, bringing together government officials, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. The event aims to discuss emerging trends and challenges in Nigeria’s commerce and logistics sectors. Interim General Manager Reni Onafeko...
5 Influencer Marketing Programs Brands Use to Scale Creator Campaigns
Influencer marketing is moving from isolated campaigns to structured, always‑on programs as 72% of marketers plan to boost budgets by 50% and 85% see the channel meeting their goals. These programs centralize creator recruitment, content production, payments, and performance tracking,...
Widespread AI Use Masks a Growing Workplace Readiness Gap
A Study.com survey shows that nine‑in‑ten U.S. workers are already using AI tools, yet only about one‑sixth feel fully prepared to leverage them effectively. While 21% of employees must use AI as a core function and 45% are encouraged to...
Trump Administration Seeks Scaled-Back Building Efficiency Money
The Trump administration’s FY2027 budget request trims the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy from $3.1 billion to $1.1 billion, slashing the Building Technologies Office to $20 million—a 93% cut. While the request earmarks a $4 billion increase for nuclear...
Inside an Underground Guide: How Threat Actors Vet Stolen Credit Card Shops
An underground guide uncovered by Flare analysts reveals how cyber‑criminals now vet stolen‑card marketplaces. The document outlines a disciplined vetting process—checking domain age, SSL, WHOIS, mirror sites, and community reputation—to avoid scams and law‑enforcement takedowns. It also highlights the adoption...
Critical Exploits, AI Shifts, and Major Breaches Redefine Cybersecurity This Week
This week’s cybersecurity briefing highlighted a wave of active exploits, including a critical Nginx UI authentication bypass, an Android SDK flaw affecting over 50 million users, and the NWHStealer infostealer spreading via fake VPN sites. Anthropic’s Project Glasswing showcased AI‑driven vulnerability...
New Mirai Variant Nexcorium Hijacks DVR Devices for DDoS Attacks
Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs uncovered Nexcorium, a new Mirai‑derived malware that hijacks TBK DVR‑4104 and DVR‑4216 video recorders via the CVE‑2024‑3721 command‑injection flaw. The variant spreads across IoT devices, installs persistence mechanisms, and uses hard‑coded default passwords to recruit additional cameras...
10 AI Forex Trading Bots in 2026: Features and Use Cases for Getting Started
The 2026 guide surveys ten AI‑driven forex trading bots, ranging from beginner‑friendly platforms like MoneyFlare to advanced research environments such as QuantConnect. Each bot is evaluated on onboarding simplicity, automation depth, coding requirements, and compatibility with major platforms like MT4,...
AI Upgrades, Security Breaches, and Industry Shifts Define This Week in Tech
This week’s tech headlines were dominated by a surge of AI upgrades, from Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.7 with self‑verification to OpenAI’s expanded Codex app and the cybersecurity‑focused GPT‑5.4‑Cyber. Major vendors also rolled out security fixes, with Microsoft patching 165 Windows flaws...
Why the Future of Cross-Border Payments Will Be Built Through Partnership
Cross‑border payments in Canada are growing as SMEs and consumers demand faster, cheaper, and more transparent international transfers. Legacy correspondent‑banking networks cause hidden fees, delays, and manual interventions, prompting 70% of loyal bank customers to consider switching providers over friction....
Google’s AI Mode Can Now Help You Find Products in Stock Nearby
Google is expanding AI Mode to let users locate in‑stock products at nearby stores and track prices for specific hotels. The store‑check feature enables the AI to call local retailers based on natural‑language requests, rolling out in the United States...
RATP and Karsan Wrap up Autonomous Bus Trial in Paris
RATP and Turkish vehicle maker Karsan completed a six‑month autonomous electric bus pilot on Paris’s busy line 393, covering roughly 3,000 km of mixed‑traffic operation. The Karsan e‑ATAK, equipped with Adastec’s lidar, radar and infrared suite, ran five hours daily with a...
Evercore Maintains Positive Stance on MeiraGTx Holdings Plc (MGTX) Amid Sector Revisions
Evercore ISI analyst Gavin Clark‑Gartner lowered MeiraGTx Holdings plc’s price target to $18 from $20 while retaining an Outperform rating. The adjustment was part of a sector‑wide review of small‑ and mid‑cap biotech firms ahead of second‑quarter catalysts. Earlier this...
Morgan Stanley Updates Bicycle Therapeutics Plc (BCYC) Outlook Amid Pipeline Refocus
Morgan Stanley cut its price target for Bicycle Therapeutics plc (BCYC) to $12 from $13 while maintaining an Equal‑Weight rating, citing the company’s strategic refocus on BT5528 and next‑generation Bicycle conjugate programs. The revision also reflects a roughly 30% workforce...
Mizuho Sees Strong Risk-Reward in Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (CRBP) Near Cash Value
Mizuho Securities raised its price target on Corbus Pharmaceuticals (CRBP) to $40 from $39 and kept an Outperform rating after the company’s Q4 results. The broker noted the stock is trading close to Corbus’s cash balance, implying limited downside risk....
Greenhouse Launches AI Principles Framework, Setting the Standard for Responsible Hiring in the AI Era
Greenhouse, the leading hiring platform, unveiled an AI Principles Framework built around five pillars—structured hiring, reimagined workflows, human‑centered design, explicit decision ownership, and explainability. The framework mandates that AI signals be auditable, bias‑aware, and transparent, and it couples these standards...
Control, Not Capacity, Could Be the Next Driver of U.S. Residential Storage Investment
Investors are moving beyond the sheer number of residential batteries installed and are focusing on platforms that can control and monetize fleets through virtual power plants and aggregation. Software‑driven models that dispatch thousands of assets promise recurring revenue streams, positioning...
States Rush to Build Clean Energy Projects to Tap Expiring Incentives
U.S. states are accelerating large‑scale renewable projects to capture a 30% federal investment tax credit that expires soon. California, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota and Oregon are fast‑tracking solar, wind and battery‑storage builds that must break ground by July 4 and finish...
Could Alzheimer’s Begin in the Nerves, Not the Brain?
University of Central Florida researchers used a human‑on‑a‑chip neuromuscular‑junction model to show that familial Alzheimer’s mutations can impair peripheral nerves and muscle connections independent of the brain. The study demonstrates that balance and gait problems in Alzheimer’s may originate in...
AI’s Role in Grocery so Far This Year
Artificial intelligence has become a strategic priority for U.S. grocery retailers in 2026, with major chains like Kroger deepening ties to Google Cloud's Gemini AI and enhancing internal tools such as the Sage virtual assistant. Independent‑grocery distributors are responding by...
Around the Commercial Drone Industry: Pest Solutions, Rail Safety, Dog Rescue
Commercial drones are now tackling three disparate challenges: eradicating invasive mice on Australia’s Browse Island, preventing rail‑side trespassing and fires across England’s North East, and locating missing dogs on the Isle of Man. In Western Australia, custom‑built drones distribute bait...
Huawei vs Apple in China Smartphone Market Q1-2026: Market Share Gains Amid Pricing Pressure
China’s smartphone market contracted 1% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, with shipments falling to 69.8 million units. Huawei reclaimed the top spot, shipping 13.9 million phones for a 20% share, while Apple rose to 13.1 million units and a 19% share, up from 13% a...
Backup Calling, Direct Voicemail Features in Smartphones Originated in India: Samsung Official
Samsung’s Noida research institute pioneered features such as backup calling, direct voicemail, privacy display, and AI‑driven call screening that now appear on the Galaxy S26 and other Samsung phones worldwide. The backup calling concept, inspired by India’s dual‑SIM usage, routes calls...
How Technology Is Helping Healthcare Teams Spend Less Time on Non-Clinical Tasks
Healthcare providers are increasingly turning to technology to offload non‑clinical tasks that drain clinician time. Remote billing specialists, AI‑driven scribing, automated scheduling and website chatbots are among the tools gaining traction. These solutions promise to reduce documentation errors, cut call...
Bluesky Outage: Coordinated Traffic Attack Causes Widespread Errors
Bluesky experienced a coordinated distributed denial‑of‑service (DDoS) attack that began early Thursday, April 17, 2026, and stretched into a second day. The flood of traffic crippled core functions such as feeds, notifications, threads, search and the Discover section, producing rate‑limit...
FERC Tees up June Decision on Data Center Interconnection Reform
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced it will issue a decision in June on the Department of Energy’s proposed reforms for interconnecting data centers and other large loads to the transmission grid. The commission emphasized a swift, efficient, and legally...
STAT+: FDA Eyes Expanding Testosterone Therapy for Libido
The FDA is reviewing data that could broaden testosterone‑replacement therapy to include low libido as an approved indication, a move that would extend the drug’s market beyond hypogonadism. If cleared, the label change could add roughly $1.5 billion in annual U.S....
Panic Won't Release Playdate Titles that Use Certain Forms of Generative AI
Panic announced that its Playdate storefront, Catalog, will no longer accept new titles that use generative AI for art, audio, music, text, or dialog, while still permitting AI-assisted coding tools with mandatory disclosure. The policy follows the inclusion of Wheelsprung—a...
What Is Personal Selling? Types, Examples, & More
Personal selling—direct, one‑on‑one outreach—remains the primary driver of high‑value B2B deals in 2026 despite the rise of AI‑generated emails and chatbots. Buyers now receive over 120 sales emails per week, filtering out automated noise and responding only to tailored, human...
AI in WealthTech for the Middle and Back Office: Our Top Three Predictions for 2026
The article outlines three AI-driven predictions for wealth‑tech by 2026: conversational interfaces will replace traditional web forms, AI‑personalized back‑office functions will turn support staff into service multipliers, and AI agents will only thrive once mature, publicly accessible APIs become commonplace....
AI Still Falls Short of End-to-End Accounting, Despite Benchmark Gains
A new DualEntry benchmark of ten accounting‑focused AI models shows Claude Opus 4.7 topping the list with 79.2% overall accuracy, edging out GPT‑5.4 variants. The test reveals strong results in structured tasks—over 90% accuracy for transaction classification and journal entries—while complex...
Lilly’s Foundayo Reaches 1,390 Patients in First Week, Trailing Novo’s Oral Wegovy Launch
Eli Lilly’s newly approved oral obesity drug Foundayo recorded 1,390 prescriptions in its first two days, a modest start compared with Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy, which logged over 3,000 patients in its inaugural week. RBC Capital Markets noted the timing difference—Foundayo launched...
The Hydrogen Stream: Levelized Cost of Hydrogen at Mediterranean Ports Can Be as Low as €2.5/kg for Hybrid Systems
A University of Naples study shows that producing hydrogen at Mediterranean ports could cost $6.5‑10.1 per kilogram using only renewables, and as low as $2.9 per kilogram in hybrid grid‑supported systems. Solar power delivers the most consistent capacity factor (18‑24%)...