AI innovations, flying cars, and crypto investments reshape tech. Billionaire scandals, data security, government tech clashes, global cinema, and health breakthroughs also make news.

What 'Sinners' reveals about the future of cinema The Chicago Tribune reported on March 15, 2026, that the film "Sinners," with its 16 Academy Award nominations, signifies a pivotal shift in cinema towards culturally specific, original storytelling. This success, exemplified by Armenian-connected films, aligns with a growing global demand for non-U.S. and foreign-language content, now comprising 25.3% of American demand. The article urges Hollywood studios to support such films, emphasizing their profit potential and crucial role in exploring universal human themes, rather than solely focusing on franchise safety. The producer, Sev Ohanian, being Armenian American, adds to its cultural significance. Source

Forbes' annual World's Billionaires is full of Jeffrey Epstein's cronies -- here's who's in the files The New York Post reported on March 15, 2026, that Forbes’ 40th annual World’s Billionaires List includes numerous individuals with alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein, following recent Department of Justice record releases. Among them is Bill Gates, ranked 19th, who admitted to flying on Epstein’s private plane and having affairs, calling the friendship a "huge mistake." Other prominent figures named for their associations include Victoria’s Secret founder Les Wexner, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, New York Giants chairman Steve Tisch, former Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, and Virgin founder Richard Branson, many of whom have faced public scrutiny. Source

Trump Administration Won’t Rule Out Further Action Against Anthropic Wired reported on March 11, 2026, that the Trump administration refused to commit against further punitive measures towards AI startup Anthropic during a court hearing. Anthropic sued the government after being designated a supply-chain risk, a move jeopardizing billions in revenue. The Justice Department declined to offer assurances, and an executive order to ban government use of Anthropic tools is reportedly being finalized. The dispute arose from Anthropic's refusal to allow its AI for broad surveillance or unsupervised missile launches, a stance the Pentagon challenges, underscoring ongoing tensions between tech companies and the government over AI usage. Source

Could starfish skeletons help preserve Massachusetts roads? The Boston Globe reported on March 15, 2026, about Starcrush, a South Korean innovation using crushed starfish skeletons as a road salt additive. Developed by STAR’s Tech, this product significantly reduces concrete corrosion by 90% and enhances snow/ice melting by 66%. Starfish are pests in Korea, and incinerating them creates pollution. Starcrush offers an eco-friendly solution by utilizing this marine waste, cutting carbon emissions, and reducing infrastructure damage caused by traditional road salt. While extensively tested and proven effective (89% less corrosive), Massachusetts has not yet adopted this sustainable technology despite its clear benefits. Source

Stablecoin giant Tether invests $50 million in sleep technology startup Eight Sleep Activist Post reported on March 15, 2026, that stablecoin giant Tether, issuer of the $183 billion USDT, invested $50 million in sleep technology startup Eight Sleep, valuing it at $1.5 billion. This move signifies Tether's expansion beyond its crypto origins into longevity and artificial intelligence. Eight Sleep plans to leverage the funding to develop new AI-driven health features, utilizing Tether’s QVAC architecture for on-device data processing. With over $10 billion in 2025 profits, Tether is strategically deploying its capital into diverse ventures including energy, payments, AI, and health technology, as evidenced by its recent QVAC Health platform launch. Source

Vijay Deverakonda showers brother Anand Deverakonda with birthday love, Rashmika says 'we miss you' Lokmat Times reported on March 15, 2026, that newlyweds Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna showered Vijay’s younger brother, Anand Deverakonda, with birthday wishes on social media. Vijay posted a heartfelt note on Instagram, expressing his blessing to have Anand and his pride in him. Rashmika, his sister-in-law, also extended warm wishes, noting they missed him as he was away for work and sharing charming throwback photos of them twinning and dancing. Anand had previously posted an emotional welcome to Rashmika into their family after her recent marriage to Vijay. Source

Kriti Kharbanda Recalls Hubby Pulkit Samrat's Wedding Proposal With Throwback Pic On 2nd Anniversary Times Now reported on March 15, 2026, that Kriti Kharbanda celebrated her second wedding anniversary by sharing an unseen throwback picture of Pulkit Samrat's unconventional marriage proposal. The actress revealed on Instagram that Pulkit didn't pose the traditional question, but instead confidently declared she would marry him. The shared photo captures Pulkit on one knee in a scenic garden, immortalizing what Kharbanda described as a "priceless moment." The couple, known for films like "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" and "Housefull 4," shared their joy with fans on their special day. Source

Vivid Seats Promo Codes and Deals: Save 10% This March Wired reported on March 14, 2026, highlighting Vivid Seats as a reputable platform for event tickets, offering various savings opportunities. Users can earn a free 11th ticket after purchasing 10 through the Vivid Seats Rewards program, which also includes perks like birthday rewards. Additionally, verified students, military personnel, first responders, medical providers, nurses, and teachers qualify for a 10% discount on orders of $25 or more, up to $30. The Vivid Seats app provides exclusive mobile-only deals and allows users to track rewards progress and receive price drop notifications for last-minute purchases. Source

Peacock’s NBA streams are going vertical The Verge reported on March 12, 2026, that Peacock is set to introduce a native vertical video format for live sports, beginning with NBA games this spring. This feature will enable users to watch games on mobile devices without rotating their screens, utilizing an algorithm to track players and zoom into the action. This initiative is part of Peacock's broader strategy to enhance its mobile viewing experience, following the launch of vertical video playlists and multiview capabilities for the Winter Olympics. The vertical NBA streams will be accessible through the app's Courtside Live option. Source

‘Flying Cars’ Will Take Off in American Skies This Summer Wired reported on March 09, 2026, that "flying cars," specifically new aircraft like eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing), are expected to begin operating in US airspace by June. A three-year pilot program will involve eight regions, including New York and Texas, for transporting people and cargo. Companies such as Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies, and Electra claim their vehicles are quieter, cheaper, and more eco-friendly than traditional helicopters, requiring less space for operation. This program aims to validate these futuristic transportation methods, potentially transforming daily commutes and urban economies with autonomous, aerial travel. Source

Yann LeCun Raises $1 Billion to Build AI That Understands the Physical World Wired reported on March 10, 2026, that Yann LeCun, Meta’s former chief AI scientist, has co-founded Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI) in Paris, raising over $1 billion at a $3.5 billion valuation. AMI aims to develop "world models" for AI that understand the physical world, emphasizing memory, reasoning, and planning, a departure from the dominant large language model (LLM) approach. LeCun asserts that LLMs cannot achieve human-level intelligence. With global offices and backed by investors like Bezos Expeditions, AMI will target enterprises in manufacturing, biomedical, and robotics, focusing on creating intelligent systems that interact with real-world data and applications. Source

The Shingles Virus May Be Aging You More Quickly Wired reported on March 13, 2026, that research indicates the shingles virus, or varicella-zoster, may accelerate brain aging and cognitive decline. A 2016 case study showed a lecturer's severe cognitive symptoms, linked to shingles, reversed with antiviral treatment. Recent studies suggest the shingles vaccine could prevent one in five new dementia cases and slow biological aging. Neurovirologists emphasize the importance of vaccination – childhood chickenpox and adult shingles vaccines – to avoid infection. The dormant virus can reactivate due to stress, co-infections, or immune system aging, often without noticeable symptoms, yet still impacting brain health. Source

John Solly Is the DOGE Operative Accused of Planning to Take Social Security Data to His New Job Wired reported on March 12, 2026, that John Solly, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) engineer, is accused in a whistleblower complaint of attempting to transfer sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) data to his new employer, Leidos. Solly, now CTO for Leidos' health IT division, allegedly told colleagues he stored SSA's Numerical Identification System (NUMIDENT) and "death master file" on a thumb drive. His legal counsel denies all wrongdoing, and Leidos found no evidence supporting the claims. The complaint further alleges Solly sought to "sanitize" the data and expected a presidential pardon if his actions were deemed unlawful. Source