OpenAI expands Codex functionality and is eyed for a 2026 IPO fueled by a SoftBank loan, while Anthropic secures an injunction against a Trump administration blacklisting, even as OpenAI shuts down Sora and Meta faces court challenges amid calls for monitoring AI data center energy usage.

• With new plugins feature, OpenAI officially takes Codex beyond coding — Ars Technica -
• Why SoftBank’s new $40B loan points to a 2026 OpenAI IPO — TechCrunch -
• Hegseth, Trump had no authority to order Anthropic to be blacklisted, judge says — Ars Technica -

• OpenAI shuts down Sora while Meta gets shut out in court — TechCrunch -
• Senators want US energy information agency to monitor data center electricity usage — Ars Technica -
• David Sacks is done as AI czar — here’s what he’s doing instead — TechCrunch -
• Anthropic wins injunction against Trump administration over Defense Department saga — TechCrunch -

High-profile cyberattacks hit the European Commission and FBI Director Kash Patel's personal email, sparking discussions around Apple's Lockdown Mode effectiveness and legal challenges to AV1's royalty-free status, alongside a quirky incident of a defendant joining a Zoom court session while driving.

• Judge irate as defendant joins by Zoom while driving—then lies about it — Ars Technica -
• AV1’s open, royalty-free promise in question as Dolby sues Snapchat over codec — Ars Technica -
• European Commission confirms cyberattack after hackers claim data breach — TechCrunch -

• DOJ confirms FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email was hacked — Ars Technica -
• Iranian hackers claim breach of FBI director Kash Patel’s personal email account — TechCrunch -
• Apple says no one using Lockdown Mode has been hacked with spyware — TechCrunch -

**Physical Intelligence seeks another $1 billion investment and Aetherflux raises Series B funding, while SK hynix eyes a US IPO to alleviate memory shortages, and Sony announces a significant price hike for the PlayStation 5**.

• Physical Intelligence is reportedly in talks to raise $1 billion, again — TechCrunch -
• Memory chip giant SK hynix could help end ‘RAMmageddon’ with blockbuster US IPO — TechCrunch -
• Aetherflux reportedly raising Series B at $2 billion valuation — TechCrunch -

• Sony is raising PlayStation 5 prices again, this time by between $100 and $150 — Ars Technica -

**Rivian secures another $1 billion from Volkswagen following successful winter testing of their joint venture's zonal architecture, complementing Waymo's impressive growth in robotaxi ridership**.

• Waymo’s skyrocketing ridership in one chart — TechCrunch -
• Rivian gets another $1B from Volkswagen — TechCrunch -
• Rivian and VW Group complete winter testing of new zonal architecture — Ars Technica -

Apple discontinues its high-priced Mac Pro desktop, while AMD introduces a new Ryzen processor featuring a massive 208MB of cache.

• Apple pulls the plug on its high-priced, oft-neglected Mac Pro desktop — Ars Technica -
• AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition crams 208MB of cache into a single chip — Ars Technica -

NASA's plans for private space stations face criticism, as the international space community sees Russia reopen its gateway to the ISS and missile tests proceed at Cape Canaveral.

• No one is happy with NASA's new idea for private space stations — Ars Technica -
• Rocket Report: Russia reopens gateway to ISS; Cape Canaveral hosts missile test — Ars Technica -

The enduring appeal of classic titles is highlighted by a review of playing Wolfenstein 3D with one hand over three decades after its release.

• Playing Wolfenstein 3D with one hand in 2026 — Ars Technica -