On January 1st, 1983, the internet as we know it was officially born! This was the day when ARPANET switched to TCP/IP, making it possible for different kinds of computers to talk to each other. So technically, today is the internet's birthday! 🎂
Happy New Year, tech explorer! Welcome to the first Thursday of 2026! Hope you’ve recovered from last night’s party (or Netflix binge, we don’t judge). Grab a coffee and dive into the hottest news shaking up space, AI, and cybersecurity right now. From billion-dollar IPOs to orbiting furnaces and digital heists, this year’s starting with fireworks of its own. Ready to see what’s coming?
LandSpace aims for $1B IPO, making big waves in China's space race.
Moonshot AI bags $500M to heat up the AI race.
Instagram wants to fingerprint real (not AI) content.
Huawei launches tech to strengthen China's computing autonomy.
ESA suffers a major cyberattack; 200GB of data for sale.
Autonomous cars now Uber-ing in Abu Dhabi.
Space Forge smelts chips in orbit—purity level: stratospheric.
Senate to review landmark crypto regulation mid-January.
LandSpace, a Chinese rocket maker, is gearing up for a nearly $1B IPO on Shanghai's stock exchange. It’s the first aerospace company in China to get a fast-track listing—hello, SpaceX rivalry! This move not only funds their ambitious projects but could open the IPO gates for more Chinese space startups. If you thought the space race was cooling, 2026 says otherwise.
View articleMoonshot AI just raised a whopping $500M, with giants like IDG, Alibaba, and Tencent on board. Known for the Kimi AI models churning out insights across healthcare to finance, the startup is now supercharged for a wave of innovation. With IPOs from rivals on the way, expect China’s AI scene to explode in 2026. Competition = smarter, cooler tech for all.
View articleWith AI fakes everywhere, Instagram’s Adam Mosseri proposes a new system that cryptographically signs images at capture—basically stamping pics as 'certified real.' This could create a trust layer for photos, though not all creators love the idea. As watermarks flopped, 'fingerprinting' might be the secret to an authentic Insta feed again. Say cheese, for real!
View articleHuawei is pushing its Ascend AI and Kunpeng CPUs to cement China’s tech independence, even under global sanctions. With the new Atlas 900 supernodes powering local innovation, China’s homegrown devs are thriving. No specifics on numbers, but momentum is clearly up—expect more powerful, local AI solutions soon. The chip wars just found a new battleground.
View articleHackers hit the European Space Agency (ESA), claiming to have stolen 200GB of documents, credentials, and code—now up for grabs on the dark web. ESA says only external systems were hit (classic PR), but with attacks on the rise, the pressure is on for better cyber defenses. Friendly reminder: change your password...like, now.
View articleIn Abu Dhabi, Uber is now rolling out driverless cars—with Chinese companies steering the tech! This bold step supports the UAE’s vision for clean energy and sustainable transport, reducing their oil dependence. With solid regulations and forward-thinking policies, the Gulf might become the next hotspot for robot helicopters (ok, cars for now).
View articleUK startup Space Forge just ran its orbital furnace—hitting 1000°C—testing if chips made in space are purer than Earth’s. Result? Up to 4,000x cleaner components, thanks to zero atmospheric contamination. This wild approach could be the future of microchip manufacturing, making our gadgets way faster (and cooler).
View articleThe US Senate’s banking committee has scheduled a review for the CLARITY Act, a bill aiming to define and regulate cryptocurrencies, on January 15. If passed, it could boost security and spark mainstream crypto adoption. Maybe 2026 will be the year your parents finally understand Bitcoin (or at least stop calling it 'Bitcorn').
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