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If you’re having issues sending money to your friends and family through your financial institution – maybe Chase, Bank of America, or TD Bank – you’re not alone. Zelle, which is the company and tech that powers these instant transfers between banks, is in the midst of an outage.Much of Zelle's appeal versus Venmo or PayPal is that it’s instant, and no extra fees are associated with the speed. However, users have taken to Down Detector – a site that tracks outages – and social media platforms to voice issues with the platform.Reported outages spiked to over 1,000 at 1PM ET, and right now, as of this live blog starting, are circulating around 720 reports. Stick with us as we track this outage as it rolls on.

It's clear that Zelle is having a rough day, here's a look at the reported outages thus far on Down Detector.

(Image credit: Future)

NotebookLM, the Google research tool that gained notoriety for its uncanny AI-generated podcasts, is getting an official app on May 20, 2025. You can pre-register for the Android or iOS version of the app right now and have it automatically downloaded to your device on May 20, the first day of Google I/O 2025.

Based on the listings in the Play Store and App Store, Google seems intent on keeping all of the core functionality of the web version of NotebookLM intact for its mobile debut. You can upload a variety of different sources (PDFs, website URLs, YouTube videos and copied text) and have NotebookLM, powered by Gemini, do stuff with them. That could be answering specific questions, generating study guides or creating an Audio Overview, the previously-mentioned "podcasts."

Google

NotebookLM started life as Project Tailwind back at I/O 2023 and has gradually transitioned from research project to real product over time. The service officially launched as NotebookLM in December 2023 and gained Audio Overviews in September 2024. As of April 2025, NotebookLM is now offered in more than 50 languages. Getting an actual app release is the best sign yet the service is here to stay.

Critical to its sucess, NotebookLM makes more sense as a tool you can trust than basically any other Gemini product. The service's output is grounded in documents and sources you choose. That means Google's AI is less likely to hallucinate because it's quoting a research study directly, and it's easier to double check its answers because you can view the source directly in NotebookLM.

Google has already signaled that I/O 2025 will be Gemini-focused by breaking out Android announcements into their own stream, so there's a good chance NotebookLM won't be the only AI product getting some love on May 20. It remains to be seen whether Google has any ideas as cogent as "an AI that helps you digest long PDFs," though.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/notebooklm-the-acceptable-face-of-google-ai-is-getting-an-app-in-may-182041294.html?src=rss

A hacking group called "DragonForce" has gained access to Co-op's membership data, the UK retailer and insurance provider shared in a press release. DragonForce actually contacted the BBC directly to confirm that it had the private data of 20 million people.

Co-op's statement says the hackers accessed name and contact details, but don't have things like "members’ passwords, bank or credit card details, transactions or information relating to any members’ or customers’ products or services ." The story is a little different for Co-op's employees. According to the BBC, DragonForce was able to produce a database that includes the usernames and passwords of all of Co-op's employees.

"We have implemented measures to ensure that we prevent unauthorized access to our systems whilst minimizing disruption for our members, customers, colleagues and partners," Co-op writes. The company also says it's working with the National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to investigate how the hackers accessed its data in the first place.

Co-op's breach is the latest in a string of cyberattacks targeting UK retailers. Marks & Spencer experienced a similar attack in late April that led the company to stop accepting online orders, Reuters reports. The department store Harrods dealt with its own cyberattack a few days later.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/hackers-have-gained-access-to-the-membership-data-of-uk-retailer-co-op-195215251.html?src=rss

Perplexity AI's new WhatsApp integration offers instant fact-checking without leaving the appPerplexity responds with fast, sourced explanations in over 20 languagesThe feature aims to help navigate misleading posts in private group threads

AI conversational search engine Perplexity and its new WhatsApp integration can provide more than just idle conversation. It can help you figure out the truth amid the rumors and half-remembered anecdotes that might appear in a group chat. You can get Perplexity to immediately fact-check your group chats.Perplexity's real-time provision of truth is easy to get. You just forward any questionable WhatsApp message to Perplexity's number, +1 (833) 436-3285, and the AI will explain in seconds whether the claim holds up or belongs in the digital trash. You can forward screenshots, messages, images with a quote that Einstein definitely said, and any other bit of suspicious information.Just save the number to your contacts, open WhatsApp, forward the message you want checked, and hit send. The feature works in over 20 languages, and, because it's Perplexity, you'll get links to the sources for the facts, providing you with the receipts to prove to whoever made the claim that they are wrong.Let’s say your cousin shares a sketchy video about some major global event or celebrity death. You don’t have to leave WhatsApp, open your browser, do a deep search, then return to the group. You can just forward the post to Perplexity’s number and get a result and the quiet moral satisfaction of knowing you're right without needing to launch a full group argument.Keeping quiet also sidesteps the question of privacy. After all, they may not approve of you sharing their messages and images with an AI chatbot without their permission. Few would feel good about their private messages being used as “factual errors” to train an AI. Meta AI might get away with it through the terms and conditions of WhatsApp, as they are both owned by Meta, but how that works with regard to Perplexity is less clear.

You can now forward any WhatsApp message to Perplexity: +1 (833) 436-3285 and get it fact checked instantly. This is super useful when WhatsApp groups are filled with a ton of forwarded messages which could be misleading. pic.twitter.com/y1C8ZIj7d8May 1, 2025

Perplexity facts

The fact-checking is essentially just a narrower use case for Perplexity and its real-time web search capabilities. But it's a potentially very enticing element of the WhatsApp integration for Perplexity.Not that the AI developer is stopping with just that feature. The company has hinted at plans to expand beyond one-on-one message forwarding. You might see Perplexity popping up in your WhatsApp group chats like Meta AI does. Perplexity could possibly even be set up to respond automatically when sketchy messages drop.Placing a fact-checker into WhatsApp won't necessarily convince anyone that they're wrong, but it might help you prove to yourself that you aren't losing your mind when an estranged relative insists that the moon disappeared for a week recently. Of course, there's still the social etiquette to figure out. Will forwarding a relative’s post for fact-checking make Thanksgiving awkward? Possibly. But if they’re circulating “garlic water cures baldness,” maybe that’s a small price to pay.

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The Trump administration's preliminary 2026 budget proposes the biggest single-year cut to NASA funding in the agency's 67-year history. The cuts are part of the White House's broader government "skinny budget," which aligns with Elon Musk's DOGE wishlist. The NASA portion would gut the agency’s science programs, cancel the Gateway space station project and phase out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after a measly three flights.

Trump's proposal would cut NASA's funding by more than $6 billion from its 2025 budget, from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. That's a 24 percent decrease and, according to The Planetary Society, the biggest single-year drop in NASA funding ever. Space.com says the most brutal cuts would be to space science (a $2.3 billion decrease), Earth science ($1.2 billion less) and legacy human exploration programs ($900 million less).

Also on the chopping block would be Gateway, the planned lunar orbit space station that would act as a hub for missions to the Moon and (eventually) Mars. Ditto for a joint program with the European Space Station to return Mars soil samples to Earth. The White House proposes ending NASA's sustainable aviation efforts (who needs a healthy planet, amirite?) and "any funding toward misaligned DEIA [diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility] initiatives."

NASA’s SLS rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft.NASA

In addition, the White House's budget would phase out Boeing's SLS and Lockheed Martin's Orion after only three flights — projects that cost $26.4 billion and $21.5 billion to produce. The Trump administration wants "more cost-effective commercial systems" to replace them. (I'm no NASA budget expert, but that sounds like quite the potential score for the president's billionaire backers, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.)

The only area that would see an increase would be human space exploration, which would see a $650 million boost. Bloomberg says it calls for over a $7 billion increase in lunar exploration funding and a new $1 billion investment in Mars exploration.

If there's a silver lining for those who care about science, Congress would have to approve the budget, so some or all of those bullet points could be slashed before the 2026 funding is approved. Trump's political capital is nowhere near where it was on Inauguration Day. Recent polling reveals plummeting support, including over half of Americans viewing the 47th president as a "dangerous dictator."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/the-white-houses-proposed-budget-would-cancel-nasas-gateway-space-station-project-201459838.html?src=rss

Star Wars Day 2025 is nearly here, and whether you’re one with the light side or the dark side of the force, you’re likely punching the hyperdrive as we near Sunday, May the 4th.But here’s some good news: while we’re expecting new product drops and deep discounts on Sunday, you don’t need to wait until then to start shopping.Whether you’ve been eagerly awaiting the official launch of the latest Star Wars sets from Lego, a deal on a popular video game, a Star Wars Crawl phone case from Caseitfy, or just a Baby Yoda action figure, you can’t go wrong with some of the early drops and deals ahead of Star Wars Day 2025.

This article is in celebration of Star Wars Day. For more tech stories about a galaxy far far away, check out all of our Star Wars coverage for all the latest, including where to stream the iconic movies and TV shows. May the force be with you all!

I’ve been scouring the web across product lists from retailers such as Amazon and brands like Lego, Casetify, Funko, Loungefly, Displate, Hasbro, Ubisoft, and directly from Disney. Below, you can sift through our list of the best deals and entirely new product drops broken up by type, and in some cases by brand.Most importantly, I hope you manage to watch your favorite Star Wars TV shows or movies. We even have a handy list if you want to watch the entire Skywalker Saga here. May the force be with you!In the UK? We've also found some truly out of this world deals on Lego Star Wars sets direct from the Disney Store. Seriously, these are making me jealous. Click here to jump to UK deals.

Star Wars Day 2025 deals: Lego

We've already previewed the nine sets that Lego dropped for Star Wars Day 2025, and there are some real stunners. You can see our full list of those there, but we're sharing our favorites of those below as well.Better, you can find savings from LEGO on Star Wars sets and also from Amazon, which, in some cases, will arrive faster. There is an advantage to ordering directly from the brick-building brand, though – specifically if you're a member of the free LEGO Insiders program.That's because if you're an Insider member and spend more than $40, you'll get a mini Millennium Falcon build, and if you spend over $160, you'll get a mini Kamino Training set. Both fun!

Is there a more iconic droid than R2-D2? I don't think so, and right now, you can build your own version of the best Astromech droid for just $81.99, a discount from the $99 list price.View Deal

We're all excited for The Mandalorian and Grogu to take to the big screen in May 2026, and while you're waiting, you can build The Mandalorian's Helmet out of 584 Lego pieces. Best of all, it's discounted to $55.99 – an 18% savings.View Deal

Love a pod race? You can build a diorama of the iconic scene from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace out of Lego bricks. Right now, this set is 21% off at $62.99.View Deal

This is a cool entry into the BrickHeadz lineup. You can build Luke Skywalker as a Rebel Pilot, and it's only $9.99.View Deal

I know I've been waiting for this one, but Lego is finally shipping its Star Wars Chopper – C1-10P – Astromech Droid set, and you can order it right now for $99.99 / £99.99.View Deal

The opening crawl to any Star Wars film might be one of the most iconic starts of any film franchise. And now, you can finally build the iconic Star Wars logo out of Lego bricks. The design team also hid some fun details in it. This fantastic set is up for order now at $59.99 / £59.99 from Lego directly.View Deal

Along with the new Ultimate Collector Series set, you can also build Jango Fett's iconic helmet in this set that's built from 616 pieces. It's up for order now from Lego.View Deal

Is your allegiance to the dark side? Well, you'll likely want to build Kylo Ren's Helmet. View Deal

Similar to the set above, Lego's Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle is an excellent one to display. You'll build Ren's iconic ship out of 386 pieces, and it comes with a stand.View Deal

With this set of five BrickHeadz, you'll build Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, General Grievous, Emperor Palpatine, and Mace Windu.View Deal

The latest ultimate collector series from Lego is an iconic ship that fans of Jango Fett will instantly recognize. It's up for order now from Lego for $299.99 / £299.99. View Deal

Star Wars Day 2025 deals: Tech Accessories

Casetify has launched an entire bounty, and one of the best new mobile accessories is a magnetic wireless charger fit for an iPhone or Android that supports the magnetic Qi standard. This one has an R2-D2 paint job and is $42.99.View Deal

Starting at $42, you can rock a phone case with the iconic Star Wars opening crawl. All of the films have started with this, the iconic yellow block text over a space background – Casetify selected A New Hope. You can get them for a range of iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy devices.View Deal

This stand is a perfect gift for yourself or a friend who loves the dark side. It turns your Echo Dot into a Tie Fighter. It's compatible with the fourth- and fifth-generation compact smart speakers. You can order it now for $59.99.View Deal

Now, you can also bundle the Tie Fighter stand with an Amazon Echo Dot in Charcoal, Deep Sea Blue, or Glacier White for $97.98 – a savings of $12. View Deal

Yes, Tamagotchis have made a comeback and this is themed to R2-D2 from Star Wars. It's discounted by 32% to $13.59 on Amazon.View Deal

Fan of Darth Vader and AirPods Pro? Casetify's Darth Vader 3D AirPods Case isn't cheap at $154, but it's a stand for your desk in the shape of the iconic helmet with a button to hear some iconic deep breathing, plus a wrap-around case for your AirPods Pro.View Deal

Star Wars Day 2025 deals: Collectibles and Figures

In the world of lightsabers you can't get much better than Hasbro's Force FX Elite models (aside from the one Disney Imagineering made). Right now, the Obi-Wan Kenobi saber is discounted to $249.45.View Deal

Thanks to this epic, new-for-Star-Wars-Day-2025 Funko Pop! You can display the iconic message that R2-D2 projected, revealing Leia. Best of all, clip the coupon and score for an all-time low.View Deal

Also new for Star Wars Day 2025 is this excellent-looking Luke Skywalker in his 'Red 5' uniform Funko Pop! It's up for order right now for $12.99 on Amazon.View Deal

Disney Pins are awesome, and this limited-edition one lets you celebrate Star Wars Day 2025 with C-3PO, R2-D2, and the Millennium Falcon. View Deal

Hasbro's The Black Series has a long history of impressive collectibles, and this one is no different. A highly realistic Imperial Death Trooper helmet for $99.99 is up for preorder now at Amazon.View Deal

This Funko Pop! might be brand new, but it's already discounted to $11.99. Best of all, it's an epic figure of Luke Skywalker training with his Lightsaber and learning how to work with the Force.View Deal

Best Star Wars Day 2025 deals in the UK

While the Lego UCS Millennium Falcon normally goes for £734.99, you can get a double discount on this epic set and score it for £599 from the Disney Store in the UK. This is an incredible deal on a very legendary set.View Deal

You can't go wrong with Baby Yoda, and with Lego set you'll build Grogu and the Hover Pram for him to ride in. Score it from the Disney Store in the UK for just £71.99.View Deal

Not a Lego, but equally cool, is the Disney Store exclusive Legacy Darksaber. It's down to just £138.75 right now.View Deal

If you don't want a set as big as the UCS Falcon, consider the mini Star Wars Millennium Falcon Set, which is available for £59.99 at the Disney Store in the UK.View Deal

If you were jealous that Amazon in the US was discounting the Lego R2-D2 set, the Disney Store in the UK has you covered. Right now, this other R2-D2 set is down to £71.99.View Deal

We couldn't share an R2-D2 Lego set without sharing a C-3PO one. Luckily, Disney Store UK is discounting this 1,138-piece set to just £99.99 this Star Wars Day weekend. View Deal

If you enjoyed Skeleton Crew on Disney+, look no further than this Lego set that lets you build the Onyx Cinder.View Deal

In a couple of weeks, Google's annual developer conference will kick off on May 20. The event is probably the most important on the company's calendar, offering a glimpse at everything it has been working on over the past year.

Judging from rumors and information Google has trickled out, I/O 2025 should be one of the more exciting tech keynotes in recent memory. Plus, this year Google has a dedicated Android showcase planned a whole week earlier. If you want to know what to expect from the company later this month, read on.

Android 16

In years past, some of my favorite I/O moments involved watching Dave Burke take to the Shoreline stage to talk about the latest updates for Android. But for the past couple of years, Android hasn't had much of a spotlight at Google's annual developer conference. That's about to change, with the company hosting a dedicated showcase that will air a week before I/O proper. Scheduled for May 13, Google says it has "so many things to share" during the Android Show: I/O Edition.

Get a front row seat to The Android Show: I/O Edition 🍿 May 13, 10 AM PT. Meet our team and learn about new experiences coming to Android. Set a reminder and be the first in the know → https://t.co/z8QLNSYkl6 #TheAndroidShow pic.twitter.com/RTzTOwUtFN— Android (@Android) April 28, 2025

The presentation will feature Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who took over for Burke in 2024. As for what to expect from Samat and company, a preview of Android 16 is an obvious bet. Google has already confirmed the new operating system will arrive sometime before the second half of the year. As such, it may even release a stable build of Android 16 that same day. One feature Google could announce for Android 16 is Live Activities-like "Ongoing notifications". Per Android Authority, Google could also add a more robust photo picker, with support for cloud storage solutions.

Android XR

Remember Google Glass? No, how about Daydream? Maybe Cardboard? After sending (at least) three XR projects to the graveyard, you would think even Google would say enough is enough. Instead, the company is preparing to release Android XR after previewing the platform at the end of last year. This time around, the company says the power of its Gemini AI models will make things different. We know Google is working with Samsung on a headset codenamed Project Moohan. Last fall, Samsung hinted that the device could arrive sometime this year.

Whether Google and Samsung demo Project Moohan at I/O, I imagine the search giant will have more to say about Android XR and the ecosystem partners it has worked to bring to its side for the initiative.

AI, AI and more AI

If Google felt the need to split off Android into its own showcase, we're likely to get more AI-related announcements at I/O than ever before. The company hasn't provided many hints about what we can expect on that front, but if I had to guess, features like AI Overviews and AI Mode are likely to get substantive updates. I suspect Google will also have something to say about Project Mariner, the web-surfing agent it demoed at I/O 2024. Either way, Google is an AI company now, and every I/O moving forward will reflect that.

Project Astra

Speaking of AI, Project Astra was one of the more impressive demos Google showed off at I/O 2024. The technology made the most of the latest multi-modal capabilities of Google's Gemini models to offer something we hadn't seen before from the company. It's a voice assistant with advanced image recognition features that allows it to converse about the things it sees. Google envisions Project Astra one day providing a truly useful artificial assistant.

However, after seeing an in-person demo of Astra, the Engadget crew felt the tech needed a lot more work. Given the splash Project Astra made last year, there's a good chance we could get an update on it at I/O 2025.

Wear OS

Last year, Wear OS didn't get a mention during the company's main keynote, but Google did preview Wear OS 5 during the developer sessions that followed. The company only began rolling out Wear OS 5.1 to Pixel devices in March. Given that, you might expect Google wouldn't have much new to share, but the official Wear OS X account told fans to watch the Android Show for updates.

NotebookLM

Since 2023, Google has offered NotebookLM on desktop. The note-taking app uses machine learning for features like automated summaries. Based on App Store and Google Play listings, the company is getting ready to release a mobile version of the service on the first day of I/O 2025.

Everything else

Google has a terrible track record when it comes to preventing leaks within its internal ranks, so the likelihood the company could surprise us is low. Still, Google could announce something we don't expect. As always, your best bet is to visit Engadget on May 20 and 21. We'll have all the latest from Google then along with our liveblog and analysis.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-io-2025-what-to-expect-from-android-16-android-xr-and-gemini-203044170.html?src=rss

Google's annual I/O developer conference is coming on May 20, and for the first time, there's two major events you'll want to watch to stay on top of all the updates the company's making to its software platforms. I/O 2025 kicks off on May 20, and a week earlier on May 13, there's also The Android Show: I/O Edition, a dedicated showcase for the Android ecosystem.

The Android Show: I/O Edition airs on May 13 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT. Android is developed partially in the open, so there's already some indication of what could be coming with Android 16. So far, that's a visual redesign of some of the operating system's core features, like the notification shade, a take on Apple's Live Activities for tracking ongoing events and possibly a Samsung DeX-like "Desktop Mode" for Android phones.

I/O 2025 starts on May 20 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT with Google's keynote, typically a series of updates on Android, Search, Google Workspace and Gemini. It's worth noting: Google typically doesn't set aside separate time for Android announcements. The company said there will be some Android news at I/O, but the safe bet is that Gemini will be the star. We expect Google to share Gemini updates, along with Android XR news and maybe further demonstrations of experimental projects like Project Astra.

Google's I/O keynote will be available to watch on Google's YouTube channel and right here once the livestream is up on May 20 at 1PM ET.

The Android Show: I/O Edition will air on Google's Android YouTube channel on May 13 at 1PM ET, and since it appears to be pre-recorded, we've already embedded it above.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/how-to-watch-google-io-2025-and-the-android-show-213327054.html?src=rss

Google has launched Gemini home screen widgets for Android and iOS devicesThe widgets let users access Gemini AI features with a single tapThe widgets are customizable and allow users to prioritize their most-used Gemini actions

If you like using Google Gemini on your smartphone but find it tedious to tap multiple times to get to the feature you want, Google has you covered. The tech giant has begun rolling out Gemini home screen widgets for both Android and iOS. That means a single tap can launch right into a conversation with Gemini, open the microphone for a voice conversation, share a file with the AI, or even snap a photo with the camera that will go right to Gemini.The rollout is happening gradually but widely. If you’re running Android 10 or higher, you can already add the Gemini widget by long-pressing on your home screen, tapping “Widgets,” finding Gemini in the list, and dragging it wherever you want it to live. For iOS 17 and up, it’s a similar story: hold your home screen until the icons jiggle, tap the plus button, search for Gemini, and add your widget of choice. You can also customize it by long-pressing it again and swapping out shortcuts or rearranging which actions appear first, such as the microphone for voice chats or the camera button for visual searches.This update isn't necessarily groundbreaking, but it speaks to the way a lot of people might use Gemini for short activities or tasks but don't want to immerse themselves in it more than necessary.If you use Gemini every day to ask questions, create funny images, plan trips, or brainstorm emails, this could make accessing the AI a little more convenient. The fact that it is also closer to how Siri and the rapidly dissolving Google Assistant function is probably not a coincidence.These aren't Gemini's first mobile widgets either. Google released very similar Gemini widgets a couple of months ago for the iPhone lockscreen. Though functionally very similar, they are technically a different form of widget. Google is gradually rolling out the home screen Gemini widget over the next week, so you may only have the lock screen variant available right now.

Widget Gemini

The widgets also offer a glimpse into Google's strategy for infusing Gemini into our daily lives. They want people to think about AI as not just something you call on occasionally, but as a day-to-day tool that is instantly and easily accessible. Instead of lurking in the background, Gemini becomes a part of the interface.Starting with mobile devices is a smart move for making Gemini feel more like a core service. A lot of people first try out new tech features and products on mobile devices, not on their laptops or desktop computers. If they like it on a mobile device, maybe that will translate to desktop usage. And if you're going to use AI on your phone, it should be quick and casual, like checking the weather or the time.Gemini’s widgets are fairly basic at the moment, but they set the foundation for more complex widgets to come. Imagine a future widget that surfaces ongoing conversations so you can finish an interrupted project, or one that shows real-time updates from custom topics you follow, or even offers proactive suggestions based on your habits.All in all, these new widgets are less about bells and whistles and more about removing friction. They aim to give Gemini a faster, more native-feeling way into your daily habits, whether on Android or iPhone. The widget may be the wedge Gemini needs to fulfill every little request an AI assistant can handle.

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