Tech Brew Ride Home - AI Step-Change Alert!

Episode Date: March 27, 2026

Is Anthropic about to release an AI model that will be a true step change? Is Apple about to open Siri up to everyone, not just ChatGPT? Is OpenAI already making serious bank from Ads? Is Elon trying to open the SpaceX IPO to normies? And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Anthropic wins preliminary injunction in DOD fight as judge cites ‘First Amendment retaliation’ (CNBC) Exclusive: Anthropic acknowledges testing new AI model representing ‘step change’ in capabilities, after accidental data leak reveals its existence (Fortune) Apple Plans to Open Up Siri to Rival AI Assistants in iOS 27 Update (Bloomberg) Sony is raising PS5 prices by $100 in April (The Verge) OpenAI Surpasses $100 Million Annualized Revenue From Ads Pilot (The Information) Exclusive: Musk rewrites IPO playbook with large slice of SpaceX stock for retail investors, source says (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Gemini task automation is slow, clunky, and super impressive (The Verge) How Apple Became Apple: The Definitive Oral History Of The Company's Earliest Days (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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and a year of Xbox GamePass Ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller. Learn more at Windows.com slash student offer. While supplies last, ends June 30th, turns at AKA.m.m.S. college PC. Welcome to the TechBrew Ride Home for Friday, March 27th, 2026. I'm Brian McCullough. Today is Anthropic about to release an AI model that will be a true step change. Is Apple about to open Siri up to everyone, not just chat GPT? Is opening AI already making serious bank from ads? Is Elon trying to open the SpaceX IPO to Normies?

And of course, the weekend long read suggestions. Here's what you miss today in the world of tech. Man, another news packed Friday. Let's jump right in. A U.S. judge has granted Anthropics' request for a preliminary injunction in its suit against the Trump administration over the DOD's decision to blacklist the company. Quoting CN. Judge Rita Lynn issued the ruling on Thursday, two days after lawyers for the artificial intelligence startup and the U.S. government appeared in court for a hearing. Punishing Anthropic for bringing public scrutiny to the government's contracting position is classic illegal First Amendment retaliation, Lynn wrote in the order. A final verdict in the case could still be months away. During Tuesday's hearing, Lynn pressed the government's lawyers about why Anthropic was blacklisted. Her language in Thursday's order was even sharper. Nothing in the governing statue supports the Orwellian notion that an American company may be branded a potential adversary and saboteur of the U.S. for expressing disagreement with the government, she wrote. Following the ruling, Anthropic said, it's, quote, grateful to the court for moving swiftly, end quote. Meanwhile, the interwebs have been buzzing about. about what might be waiting in the wings at Anthropic. Quoting Fortune, AI company Anthropic is developing and has begun testing with early access customers,

a new AI model more capable than any it has released previously, the company said following a data leak that revealed the model's existence. An Anthropic spokesperson said the new model represented a step change in AI performance and was, quote, the most capable we've built to date. The company said the model is currently being trialled by early access customers. descriptions of the model were inadvertently stored in a publicly accessible data cache and were reviewed by Fortune. A draft blog post that was available in an unsecured and publicly searchable data store prior to Thursday evening said the new model is called Claude Mythos and that the company believes it poses unprecedented cybersecurity risks.

The same cache of unsecured publicly discoverable documents revealed details of a planned invite-only CEO summit in Europe that is part of the company's drive to sell its AI models to large corporate customers. The AI lab left the material, including what appeared to be a draft blog post announcing a new model in an unsecured public data lake, according to documents separately located and reviewed by Roy Paz, a senior AI security researcher at Layerx Security, a computer and network security company, and Alexandra Paul Wells, a cybersecurity researcher at the University of Cambridge. As well as referring to Mythos, the draft blog post also discussed a new tier of AI models that it says will be called Capybara. In the document, Anthropic says Capybara is a new name

for a new tier of model, larger and more intelligent than our Opus models, which were, until now, are most powerful. Capybara and Mythos appear to refer to the same underlying model. Currently, Anthropic markets each of its models in three different sizes. The largest and most capable model versions are branded Opus, while a slightly faster and cheaper but less capable version is branded Sonnet, and the smallest, cheapest, and fast. this is called haiku. However, in the blog post, Anthropic describes Capibara as a new tier of model that is even larger and more capable than Opus, but also more expensive. Compared to our previous best model, Claude Opus 4.6, Capybara gets dramatically higher scores on tests of software coding,

academic reasoning, and cybersecurity, among others, the company said in the blog. The document also said the company had completed training Claude Mythos, which the draft blog post described as by far the most powerful AI model we've ever developed. The new AI model poses significant cybersecurity risks, according to the leaked document. Quote, in preparing to release Claude Cabibara, we went to act with extra caution and understand the risks it poses even beyond what we learn in our own testing. In particular, we want to understand the model's potential near-term risks in the realm of cybersecurity and share the results to help cyber defenders prepare, the document said.

Anthropic appears to be especially worried about the model's cybersecurity implications, noting that the system is currently far ahead of any other AI model in cyber capabilities, and, quote, it presages an upcoming wave of models that can exploit vulnerabilities in ways that far outpaced the efforts of defenders. In other words, Anthropic is concerned that hackers could use the model to run large-scale cyber attacks. The company said in the draft blog that because of this risk, its plan for the model's release, would focus on cyber defenders. We're releasing it in early access to organizations, giving them a head start and improving the robustness of their code basis against the impending wave of AI-driven exploits. The latest generation of frontier models from

both Anthropic and OpenAI have crossed a threshold that the companies say poses new cybersecurity risks. In February, when OpenAI released GPT 5.3 Codex, the company said it was the first model it had classified as high capability for cybersecurity-related tasks under its preparedness framework, and the first it had directly trained to identify software vulnerabilities. The documents also included a PDF containing information about an upcoming invite-only retreat for the CEOs of European companies being held in the UK, and which Anthropic CEO Dario Amadai will attend. Names of the other attendees are not listed, but are described as Europe's most influential business leaders. The two-day retreat is described as an intimate gathering to engage in

thoughtful conversation at an 18th-century manner-turned-hurted hotel and spa in the English countryside. The document says that attendees will hear from lawmakers and policymakers about how business are adopting AI and experience unreleased clawed capabilities, end quote. Meanwhile, the information has sources saying that Anthropic executives have discussed an IPO as soon as Q4 of this year, and bankers are vying to take the company public, expecting it to raise more than $60 billion. Mark Gurman has sources telling him that Apple plans to open up Siri to run any AI service via App Store apps in iOS 27, dropping chat GPP.

as an exclusive partner in Apple Intelligence and Siri, quoting Bloomberg. That means, for instance, if users have Alphabet's Google Gemini or Anthropics Clod installed, they'd be able to send queries to those services from within the Siri voice assistant, just like they have been able to with ChatGPT since Apple Intelligence launched in 2024. The approach should also allow Apple to generate more money from third-party AI subscriptions through the App Store. The change is separate from Apple's work with Google to rebuild a series. using Gemini models. That arrangement is related to the underlying Apple technology for Siri.

The new so-called extensions system, meanwhile, would allow users to process requests via the actual Gemini service, assuming Google enables its app to do so. Still, the news initially weighed on shares of Google, sending them to a session low on Thursday. The Cupertino-California-based Apple is planning to announce its latest software on June 8th at its worldwide developers' conference, and the features could still change before then or get delayed. On its website, the iPhone maker is promising details on AI advancements, their words at the event. The new strategy would eliminate the need for one-off integration deals like the chat GPT one.

That means Apple can add multiple external AI services more quickly and potentially expand the use of AI across its operating systems without entering business discussions, end quote. Also, unrelated, but this is big news, if you're fully ensconced in the Apple universe, Apple has officially discontinued the Mac Pro and says it has no plans to offer future Mac Pro hardware. So, if you're going high-end on Mac desktops these days,

you're just going to have to settle for Mac Studio. More of this, unfortunately. Sony says it plans to raise the price of its PlayStation 5 consoles globally beginning on April 2nd. The PS5 will now cost $650. The PS5 Digital now $600. The PS5 Pro now $900. Quoting the verge.

Along with these changes, Sony is increasing the price of its PlayStation Portal as well, going from $199 to $2.49. This is the second time in less than a year that Sony has raised the price of its PS5 consoles as the company hiked prices by $50 for all three models last August. Sony cites continued pressures in the global economic landscape as the reason for the price hike. We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide, Sony says. Sony isn't the only console maker that has raised prices in recent months. Last year, Microsoft bumped the price of its Xbox Series X-S consoles, Xbox controllers, and some new games.

Nintendo also raised the price of its original switch from 299 to 339 after President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs. Next month, the Connect-like Next Playground will get a $50 price hike as well. The rising cost of RAM may also have an impact on future consoles, too, with a recent report from Bloomberg saying that Sony is considering delaying the release of its next-gen PlayStation to 2028 or 2029, end quote. Ready to soundtrack your summer? With Red Bull Summer All Day Play, you choose a playlist that fits your summer vibe the best. Are you a festival fanatic, a deep-end DJ, a road dog,

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Plus taxes and government fees. Google Fi Wireless is not subject to data traffic deprioritization during times of high network usage. That was fast. The information says that OpenAI has surpassed 100 million. in annualized revenue from chat GPT ads already and has expanded to more than 600 advertisers and plans to launch self-serve advertising access in April. Quote, OpenAI has surpassed $100 million in annualized revenue from its chat GPT ads business six weeks after the pilot was announced, according to a spokesperson.

That revenue has been generated from less than 20% of U.S.-based chat GPT-free and go users who are shown ads on a daily basis today, though around 85%. of free and go users are eligible to see ads, the spokesperson said. The company is currently focused on improving ad relevance with less than 7% of ads rated by users as low relevance, as well as ensuring that ads don't negatively impact user trust, the spokesperson said. The company announced earlier this week that it had brought on former meta-ad executive Dave Duggan to lead ad sales. It's now exploring expanding ads into other geographic regions, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the spokesperson said, ads represent an important source of revenue as the company gears up to go public.

Executives have told investors that the company expects to generate more than $17 billion from consumers using chat GPT in 2026, including making money from free users through advertisements, end quote. A sources told Reuters that Elon Musk is discussing allocating as much as 30% of SpaceX's IPO to individual investors, at least three times the usual retail slice. quote, Musk's plan relayed to Wall Street by SpaceX chief financial officer Brett Jensen, pairs the oversized retail allocation with an unusually hands-on approach to choosing bankers, the people said. SpaceX is assigning some firms narrowly defined roles based on personal relationships and past

ties rather than allowing them to broadly compete for investors, they added, cautioning that the plan is not final and could change. As part of that effort, Musk handpicked Bank of America to focus on domestic retail distribution according to four people familiar with the matter. Demand from retail investors is expected to be strong, spending wealthy family offices that have backed SpaceX for years, as well as smaller investors drawn to Musk's companies. The people said,

this is one of those lifetime moments in which people may say they just have to get in, said Rowan Taylor, managing partner of Liberty Hall Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on aerospace and defense. The firm is not involved in the IPO. The hype is comparable to the launch of Google and the public markets two decades ago, he said, the appetite is a statement about investor confidence in Elon Musk.

SpaceX is betting that those investors, many of whom have tracked the company for years and private markets, are less likely to rush for the exits immediately after listing or engage in pop and dump trading, the people said. Normally in public listings, companies typically allocate no more than 5 to 10% of shares to retail investors, end quote. In the long reads this week, remember when Google announced the first attempt to integrate Gemini as a full agent inside of Android on your phone. Alison Johnson at the Verge tells us what it's like to actually use that.

Quote, I've been testing out Gemini's new task automation on the Pixel 10 Pro and the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which for the first time lets Gemini take the wheel and use apps for you. It's limited to a small subset right now, a handful of food delivery and ride share services, and it's still in beta. It's slow, it's clunky at times, and it doesn't solve any serious problems. you had using your phone before, but it's impressive as hell, and I don't think it's hyperbole to say this is a glimpse of the future. We're still a long way off, but this is the first time I've seen a true AI assistant actually working on a phone, not in a keynote presentation,

or a carefully controlled demo inside a convention hall. First off, Gemini is much slower than you or me or almost anyone at using their phone. If you need to order an Uber right the second, you're still the best person for the job. But before you write it off, though, that task automation is designed to run in the background while you do other things on your phone. Even better, it keeps working while you're not looking at your phone so you can do things like check that your passport is in your bag for the 10th time. But if you're curious like I am, you can watch the whole thing happen. While it's working, text appears at the bottom of the screen indicating what Gemini is doing, stuff like selecting a second portion of chicken terriaki

for the combo, which it did when I directed it to order my dinner on Saturday night. Watching Gemini figure things out on the fly honestly kind of rules. I asked for a chicken combo plate. The menu presented options in half-portion increments, so it correctly added two half-servings of chicken. Gemini is supposed to carry out your task right up to the point where it's time to hit confirm and order your car or dinner so you can double-check its work.

This, I think, is the only sane way to use this feature right now, and I don't mind the added friction of completing the order. In the tests I've run over the past five days, I've never had it go rogue and finish my order for me. And it is surprisingly accurate. I've had to make few adjustments to the final order. If it fails, which I have seen happen a couple of times, it tends to be within the first minute or two

when something about the app needs my attention, like giving it permission to use my location or changing the delivery location to home rather than Nevada, which was the last place I used that app. I had to figure out what the problem was in cases like this, but once it was sorted out, I was able to restart the automation without an issue. Here's the thing that really got me.

I put an event on my calendar for a flight to San Francisco the following day, a pretend trip for me, but real flight details. I gave Gemini a vague prompt to schedule an Uber that would get me to the airport in time for my flight tomorrow. Because Gemini has access to my email and calendar, it can go find that information. It did need a little extra guidance, possibly because the flight wasn't in my email like it expected. but with that, it found the flight information, suggested leaving by 1130 or 1145 a.m., logical timing for a 145 p.m. flight, given that I live so close to the airport, and asked if I wanted to schedule a ride for one of those times. I confirmed the time, and it went about setting up the ride in about three minutes with no further input required on my part, end quote.

And finally, Apple is turning 50 on April 1st. In honor of that, Harry McCracken at Fast Company has a long, long oral history about the early days of Apple's founding. Enjoy. No weekend bonus episodes this weekend. I hopefully will have time to push out episode three of my fall of the Berlin Wall series over on Rad History. Check that out if you've not done so yet. And this Sunday, I will be on this week in tech if you want to listen in live that evening. Talk to you on Monday. Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30th, the powerful vocals of Demi Lovato on May 17th, and the signature Southern Country Rock of Eric Church on July 19th.

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