πŸ€– Technology & AI

April 8th, 2026

Today's top 4 stories, curated by Daily Direct.

The Verge

Unionized ProPublica staff are on strike over AI, layoffs, and wages

Unionized staff at ProPublica launched a 24-hour strike Wednesday, with roughly 150 members of the ProPublica Guild walking off the job over unresolved contract disputes. Key sticking points include AI usage protections, layoff procedures, and wage increases as the union works to finalize its first collective bargaining agreement since organizing in 2023. The action puts a spotlight on growing tensions between newsroom workers and management over how artificial intelligence is incorporated into editorial operations.

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TechCrunch

Volkswagen begins testing its self-driving microbuses in Los Angeles ahead of launch with Uber

Volkswagen's MOIA America has begun testing self-driving microbuses on Los Angeles streets, marking a concrete step toward a planned commercial partnership with Uber. The pilot puts VW in direct competition with established players like Waymo as the robotaxi race intensifies in one of the country's most complex driving environments. Regulatory approval remains the critical hurdle before any paying passengers can climb aboard.

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TechCrunch

These are the countries moving to ban social media for children

Australia led the charge in late 2025 with a landmark ban on social media for children, citing dangers ranging from cyberbullying to predatory behavior. The move has sparked a broader global conversation, with other nations now weighing similar restrictions. As governments grow increasingly skeptical of Big Tech's ability to self-regulate, legislative action is becoming the preferred tool for protecting young users online.

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Hacker News

Muse Spark: Scaling Towards Personal Superintelligence

Meta's Muse Spark represents the company's push toward personalized AI systems that adapt to individual users at scale. The initiative signals a broader industry race to move beyond general-purpose models toward AI that functions as a tailored cognitive assistant. For Meta, it's a strategic bet that the next frontier isn't raw capability but deep personalization.

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Technology & AI β€” April 8th, 2026 - Daily Direct