Techin' Geek

Amazon is set to discontinue support for Kindle devices launched before 2012 — severing their connection to the Kindle Store and rendering them nearly unable to download any new content. The cutoff date has been established for May 20, 2026.

This week, Amazon informed customers via email that it will cease support for these devices, a message corroborated by Amazon and shared on social media and Reddit through customer screenshots. As stated in the email, Kindle e-readers and tablets introduced in 2012 or earlier will lose Kindle Store functionalities past the deadline, meaning affected devices will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new books directly.

Post May 20, users will be limited to reading content that has already been downloaded on their devices. An older device that is deregistered or restored to its original factory settings cannot be re-registered after May 20.

Amazon’s list of models affected includes the original Kindle (1st and 2nd generation), Kindle DX and DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4 and 5, Kindle Touch, and the first-generation Kindle Paperwhite.

“These models have been supported for at least 14 years — some for as long as 18 years — but technology has advanced significantly during this period, and these devices will not receive further support,” said Jesse Carr, an Amazon representative, in a statement to TechCrunch. “We are reaching out to those who are still actively using them and providing promotions to assist with the transition to newer devices.”

Users may continue to access their libraries via newer devices, the Kindle mobile app, or Kindle for Web, according to the Amazon spokesperson.

Many long-term users expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision to terminate support for older Kindles, particularly those still in excellent condition that have not experienced any performance decline. On Reddit, several users noted their ongoing reliance on these older devices and saw no justification for upgrading. For some, it felt like another instance of tech companies discontinuing support for functional products, prompting customers to upgrade and contributing to the escalation of electronic waste. A parallel is drawn with Google, which ceased support for its older Nest thermostats in 2025. According to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), global e-waste is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, marking a 32% increase from 2022.

One Reddit user commented, “I’ve owned my Kindle for years, but it continues to function flawlessly and serves my needs well. How wasteful is it to render a product nearly unusable just to compel people to purchase a newer model?”

For some, this change suggests it may be time to consider alternative e-ink readers, such as the Boox Palma or Vivlio e-reader.

The choice to essentially phase out older Kindle devices doesn’t come as a surprise, as Amazon has been progressively phasing out support for its legacy devices. In 2016, the company mandated that Kindle e-reader models from 2012 and earlier install updates merely to retain access to the Kindle Store, an initial indication that long-term support for these devices would eventually be phased out.

On Wednesday, Meta unveiled a new AI model named Muse Spark, representing its “initial move” towards a significant “revamp of [its] AI initiatives.”

Muse Spark is the first model developed by Meta Superintelligence Labs, established last year after CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of Meta’s advancement, particularly with its Llama models, which were falling behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. To spearhead Meta Superintelligence Labs, Meta brought in Alexandr Wang, co-founder and former CEO of Scale AI, and invested $14.3 billion in the data labeling firm for a 49% stake.

Now, Zuckerberg is eager to determine whether his restructured AI team can attract users.

Muse Spark is currently accessible on the web and through the Meta AI app, with expectations of gradual improvements. The company is set to introduce a “Contemplating” mode that enables it to address more complicated issues. Meta’s model employs multiple AI agents concurrently to tackle the same challenge, which is claimed to yield quicker results for its Contemplating mode.

“To allow for more time spent reasoning without significantly increasing latency, we can enhance the number of parallel agents that collaborate on difficult challenges,” the company stated.

Historically, Meta’s rivals have placed their more advanced models behind a paywall. It remains uncertain whether Meta will adopt a similar approach.

Nevertheless, the company has embraced a trend prevalent in the AI sector. In its blog update, Meta noted that Muse Spark could assist users with health-related inquiries, a field that its competitors are also exploring.

Meta’s venture into health — and even the basic requirement of logging into Muse Spark — might raise privacy issues. Users will need to sign in with an existing Meta account, such as Facebook or Instagram, to access the service. While Meta does not explicitly state that personal data from Facebook or Instagram accounts will be utilized by the AI, it is probable, given that Meta typically relies on public user data for training and has marketed Muse Spark as a personal superintelligence tool.

Additionally, Meta indicated that Muse Spark excels in addressing visual STEM queries, potentially leading to “interactive experiences such as creating entertaining mini-games or troubleshooting household appliances.”

Beyond its investment in Scale AI and the hiring of Wang, Zuckerberg’s company has attracted researchers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. The takeaway: If Meta intends to be a genuine contender in the AI landscape, the time to act is now.

“Looking ahead, we plan to roll out increasingly sophisticated models that advance the limits of intelligence and capabilities, including new open-source models,” Zuckerberg shared on Threads. “We are developing products that not only answer your queries but also function as agents that perform tasks on your behalf.”

Cybersecurity experts report that they have uncovered a hack-for-hire organization aimed at journalists, activists, and government officials in the Middle East and North Africa. The attackers executed phishing strategies to breach targets’ iCloud backups and messaging platforms on Signal, utilizing Android spyware capable of seizing control of the targets’ devices.

This hacking initiative underscores a rising pattern of government bodies delegating their hacking efforts to private hack-for-hire firms. Certain governments already depend on commercial entities that create spyware and exploits utilized by law enforcement and intelligence organizations to obtain data from individuals’ mobile devices.

Researchers from the digital rights group Access Now noted three instances of attacks from 2023 to 2025 involving two Egyptian journalists, along with a journalist in Lebanon whose situation was also reported by the digital rights organization SMEX. 

The mobile cybersecurity firm Lookout also examined these assaults. The three organizations collaborated and released independent reports on Wednesday. 

Lookout indicated that the attacks extend beyond Egyptian and Lebanese civil society members and include individuals within the Bahraini and Egyptian administrations, along with targets in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and potentially the United States or graduates of American institutions. 

Lookout concluded that the perpetrators behind this spying venture are affiliated with a hack-for-hire firm linked to BITTER APT, a hacking collective that cybersecurity firms believe has connections to the Indian government.

Justin Albrecht, principal researcher at Lookout, informed TechCrunch that the firm behind the operation may be an offshoot of the Indian hack-for-hire company Appin, mentioning a specific company named RebSec as a likely candidate. In 2022 and 2023, Reuters conducted thorough investigations into Appin and other similar Indian firms, revealing how these companies are allegedly contracted to hack corporate leaders, politicians, military personnel, and more. 

Appin apparently subsequently ceased operations, but Albrecht highlighted that the emergence of this new hacking campaign indicates that their activities “didn’t vanish; they merely transitioned to smaller firms.” 

These organizations and their clients receive “plausible deniability since they manage all the operations and infrastructure.” Furthermore, for their clients, these hack-for-hire entities are often less expensive than acquiring commercial spyware, Albrecht stated. 

Rebsec could not be contacted for comments, as the firm has erased its social media profiles and website. 

⁨Mohammed Al-Maskati⁩, an investigator and director at Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline who handled these situations, mentioned that “these operations have become less costly and evading accountability is feasible, particularly since the end customer remains unknown, and the infrastructure will not disclose the entity behind it.”

While groups like BITTER may lack the most sophisticated hacking and espionage tools, their strategies can still prove to be quite effective. 

In the attacks associated with this campaign, the hackers employed various techniques. When focusing on iPhone users, the attackers attempted to deceive targets into revealing their Apple ID information to subsequently infiltrate their iCloud backups, effectively granting them access to the complete contents of the targets’ iPhones. 

This presents “potentially a more affordable alternative to the employment of more advanced and costly iOS spyware,” according to Access Now.

When targeting Android users, the attackers utilized spyware known as ProSpy, disguising it as popular messaging and communication applications such as Signal, WhatsApp, and Zoom, along with ToTok and Botim, two applications favored in the Middle East. 

In some instances, the hackers attempted to deceive victims into registering and attaching a new device — under their control — to their Signal account, a method that has gained popularity among various hacking collectives, including Russian spies.

A representative for the Indian embassy in Washington, D.C. did not promptly respond to a request for remarks.

Tubi, the streaming platform owned by Fox, declared on Tuesday the debut of its native application within ChatGPT, offering viewers a simplified method to explore its extensive collection of over 300,000 films and television episodes.

While rivals such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have tested AI-driven suggestions within their platforms, Tubi stands out as the first prominent streaming service to create a focused experience directly within ChatGPT. 

To utilize the integration, users can download the Tubi app from the ChatGPT app marketplace and start by entering “@Tubi” in a prompt. They can then pose natural-language inquiries like “a thriller for girls’ night” or “something humorous,” and promptly receive curated suggestions aligned with their tastes, all connected to titles on Tubi.

This launch occurs amid heightened competition in the streaming sector. With an abundance of entertainment alternatives, discovery has become increasingly difficult for all platforms competing for a limited amount of viewer attention. Numerous streaming services have begun to add features influenced by social media to keep viewers engaged, highlighting broader changes in content consumption habits.

Tubi’s initiative expands on previous AI experiments. In 2023, the company rolled out “Rabbit AI,” a capability within its mobile application powered by ChatGPT that permitted users to ask detailed questions and receive tailored suggestions. However, the tool was phased out the following year. 

The new ChatGPT integration indicates a strategic shift: Rather than trying to recreate in-house AI experiences, Tubi is now catering to users in the spaces where they’re already seeking information. ChatGPT achieved 900 million weekly active users in February. Tubi boasts over 100 million monthly active users.

In other news, Tubi has recently unveiled the “Creatorverse Incubator,” a new program aimed at fostering emerging content creators. The initiative provides promotional support and potential funding for original shows that will premiere exclusively on the platform.

OpenAI initially launched a method for developers to create apps within ChatGPT in October. Now, numerous companies have introduced integrations, including Booking.com, Canva, DoorDash, Expedia, Spotify, Figma, and Zillow. SeatGeek was the latest to unveil a native app.

Volkswagen’s MOIA America and Uber have commenced trials of self-driving microbuses in Los Angeles, as announced by the companies on Wednesday, marking a significant move towards their aim to roll out a robotaxi service by the end of 2026.

Last year, MOIA America and Uber revealed an ambitious initiative to establish a commercial robotaxi service — featuring autonomous iterations of Volkswagen’s electric ID. Buzz minivan — across several U.S. cities in the coming decade. Los Angeles is highlighted as the inaugural city on this agenda.

Testing is set to commence in the forthcoming weeks with approximately 10 autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles operating in Los Angeles, as per the company. The finalized version of the driverless vehicle accommodates four passengers.

Paul DeLong, president of commercialization at MOIA America, described Los Angeles as an ideal market for launching the company’s autonomous vehicles for transport experiences, “considering its extensive background in shaping car culture and its receptiveness to new mobility technologies.”

Since the announcement made last year, MOIA America and Uber have established a joint facility in Los Angeles for the routine management of their fleet. Although the test fleet is modest at present, Volkswagen indicates that it will eventually expand to over 100 autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles. Initially, these vehicles will operate with a human safety operator present. The onset of driverless operations is anticipated for 2027, according to the company.

Sascha Meyer, the chief commercial officer for Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, stated that this subsequent phase illustrates the “strong momentum supporting the strategy to integrate autonomous mobility into practical application.”

The name MOIA America signifies a relatively new branding for Volkswagen’s autonomous vehicle initiatives in the U.S., previously referred to as Volkswagen ADMT until early 2026. However, the MOIA brand has existed since its inception by Volkswagen in 2018 during TechCrunch Disrupt London and is primarily recognized in Europe, where it manages a ride-pooling service and trials autonomous vehicle technology in cities like Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Oslo. The rebranding is intended to signify the link between the U.S. and European operations.

MOIA America must still traverse a lengthy regulatory procedure before launching a commercial robotaxi service — involving driverless vehicles that charge passengers for rides — in California. The company will require permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which oversees autonomous vehicle testing and deployment in the state. Additionally, it will need a ride-hailing permit from the California Public Utilities Commission.

On the other hand, Uber has diversified its ventures in autonomous vehicles. The company collaborates with 25 partners applying autonomous technology to sectors including delivery, drones, ride-hailing, and trucking. Within the U.S., its most prominent partnership is with Waymo. However, the company is extending its AV aspirations to international markets, forming agreements with Chinese firms to introduce robotaxis in Europe and the Middle East, as well as partnerships with startups like U.K.-based Wayve.

Recently, Uber finalized an agreement with Rivian to acquire 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis ahead of a planned introduction in San Francisco and Miami in 2028. As part of this deal, Uber is making an initial investment of $300 million in Rivian.