Canva has announced a new integration with Anthropic Labs’ Claude Design, combining the Canva Design Engine and Visual Suite with Claude’s AI drafting capabilities. The collaboration allows users to transform AI-generated drafts and ideas from Claude into fully editable designs within Canva. These designs can then be customized, branded, and shared collaboratively, streamlining the process from concept to publication.

The update also introduces HTML importing and artifact editing, expanding Canva’s drag-and-drop editor to support interactive code and AI-generated content. This makes Canva the first platform to unify visual, document, and interactive content in one collaborative environment. Users can now edit coded creations from Claude directly in Canva, adjust layouts, and embed them into presentations or websites without regenerating code.

The announcement follows the launch of Canva AI 2.0 and builds on two years of collaboration between Canva and Anthropic. It reflects Canva’s broader goal of becoming the design layer of the internet, enabling users to refine and scale AI-generated content efficiently.

Starbucks announced Wednesday the launch of a beta app within ChatGPT designed to help customers discover new drink options. Users can enable the Starbucks app through ChatGPT’s app directory and interact with it by including “@Starbucks” in their prompts. The tool allows customization and location selection, but final orders must still be completed through the Starbucks app or website, maintaining integration with the company’s loyalty program. Paul Riedel, senior vice president of digital and loyalty, said the initiative aims to meet customers at their moment of inspiration rather than starting from a menu.

The move is part of Starbucks’ broader “Back to Starbucks” turnaround strategy to attract U.S. customers back to its cafes. The company has reintroduced seating, streamlined its menu, and added new loyalty tiers. It has also promoted drink discovery through its mobile app’s trending beverage and secret menu features, targeting Gen Z consumers who favor unique beverages.

This beta app marks Starbucks’ continued use of generative AI and collaboration with OpenAI, following its earlier Green Dot Assist tool for baristas. Other major retailers like Walmart, Etsy, and Booking.com are also experimenting with ChatGPT integrations to enhance shopping experiences.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced Amazon Bio Discovery, a new application that integrates computational design and wet-lab validation into a single platform. The system provides access to more than 40 AI biology models and allows users to upload custom or third-party models. It includes agentic assistants that guide researchers in model selection, configuration, and candidate evaluation. The platform connects directly with contract research organization partners for seamless lab testing, with results automatically feeding back to improve subsequent research cycles.

According to AWS, the tool aims to remove collaboration bottlenecks between computational biologists and bench scientists by offering a no-code environment for workflow creation and experiment management. Computational experts can build reusable workflows with standardized data processing, while bench scientists can run parallel experiments and adjust parameters without coding. Both groups work from the same data and results, improving reproducibility and speed.

Amazon Bio Discovery is built on AWS infrastructure used by major pharmaceutical companies and is available immediately with enterprise-grade security. The platform is designed to make lab-in-the-loop drug discovery scalable and accessible across research organizations.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that the digital sector remains one of the top priorities of the current government. Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the three-day Broadband Expo 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, he noted that the sector lacks an incentive-based tax structure necessary to attract investment. The event was organized by the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB).

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad stated that over the next five years, the government will focus on three key areas: ensuring universal connectivity, implementing a ‘One Citizen, One Digital Identity’ system, and building an AI-driven digital wallet ecosystem. He added that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will take steps to implement active sharing in the telecom sector.

Additional Secretary Zahidul Islam said initiatives will be taken to address issues related to ISP license renewal and active sharing. ISPAB President Mohammad Aminul Hakim highlighted that only 30 percent of ISP networks are currently utilized, and active sharing could significantly reduce unused capacity.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly developing an AI clone of himself to attend meetings and provide feedback to employees, according to the Financial Times. The AI version is being trained on Zuckerberg’s image, voice, mannerisms, tone, and public statements so that employees can feel more connected to him through digital interactions. Zuckerberg is personally involved in training the avatar and spends several hours each week coding and reviewing Meta’s AI projects.

The Financial Times report adds that if the experiment with Zuckerberg’s AI avatar proves successful, Meta may allow creators to build their own AI avatars. In 2024, Meta demonstrated a live example of an AI persona for creators and began letting them create AI versions of themselves to respond to Instagram comments. The company also offers custom AI chatbots, though it recently restricted teen access to the feature.

A separate project, reported by The Wall Street Journal in March, involves Zuckerberg creating an AI agent to help him complete tasks, distinct from the avatar being developed for Meta’s internal use.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming daily life in Bangladesh, offering new opportunities in education, health, business, and communication. However, recent incidents highlight growing misuse of the technology. On April 10, 2026, a student at Pabna University of Science and Technology was expelled for using ChatGPT during an admission test, while on April 5, 2026, a man in Chattogram was arrested for creating a fake image of the home minister using AI. These cases reflect a broader trend of fraud, misinformation, and unethical use of AI tools.

The report warns that excessive reliance on AI is weakening critical thinking and creativity, especially among students. Deepfake technology and AI-generated content are blurring the line between truth and falsehood, making it difficult for people to verify information. This poses risks not only to individuals but also to national security and social stability.

The article calls for stronger digital awareness, tighter cybersecurity, and a clear national policy to regulate AI use. Without proper guidance and ethics, the country’s technological progress may come at the cost of social and moral decline.

Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. She was 92 years old. Hospital sources said she had been suffering from age-related ailments for several months and was admitted on Saturday with heart and respiratory complications. Her condition worsened that night, leading to her transfer to the ICU. Her son Anand Bhosle confirmed her death, and her funeral is scheduled for Monday.

Born in 1933 into the musically renowned Mangeshkar family, Asha Bhosle began her professional singing career at the age of nine and recorded her first film song in 1943. By the 1950s, she had established herself as a major voice in Bollywood, known for her versatility and distinctive style alongside her sister Lata Mangeshkar. Over her long career, she won seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and two National Film Awards.

Her death marks the end of a golden era in Indian music, leaving behind a legacy that spanned decades and genres.

Veteran Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle has been hospitalized in Mumbai after suffering a cardiac arrest. According to Indian media reports, she was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday and is currently receiving treatment in the emergency unit. Her condition is described as critical.

Her granddaughter Zanai shared on Instagram that Asha Bhosle was admitted due to extreme fatigue and a chest infection. She requested privacy for the family and expressed hope for a positive recovery, assuring that updates would be shared in due course.

Asha Bhosle is a legendary figure in Hindi cinema, with a career spanning nearly eight decades. She has recorded songs in multiple Indian languages and received numerous honors, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Padma Bhushan in 2008, and several National Film and Filmfare Awards. She was also nominated for a Grammy in 1997.

A man was arrested on Friday after throwing a Molotov cocktail at the San Francisco home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. OpenAI confirmed that no one was injured in the early morning attack and expressed gratitude to the San Francisco Police Department for its swift response. The company also reported that threats were made to its headquarters in the city around the same time.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, firefighters responded to a fire at Altman’s residence just before 4 a.m., which security guards had already extinguished at the property’s exterior gate. The suspect fled before firefighters arrived. About an hour later, police responded to reports of a man threatening to burn down the building housing OpenAI’s headquarters and identified him as the same individual involved in the earlier incident.

The 20-year-old suspect has not been publicly identified, and no charges have yet been filed. OpenAI spokesperson Jamie Radice said the company is cooperating with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.

Bangladeshi actress, painter, and playwright Bipasha Hayat recently shared that she once turned down an offer to act in a Bollywood film. The revelation came during a podcast interview following her return from the United States. She explained that the offer was for a supporting role, though she could not recall the film’s name. She mentioned that she still has the phone number of the person who contacted her and had spoken with them several times.

Explaining her decision, Bipasha said she felt she could not accept a role that might diminish her connection with her Bangladeshi audience. She emphasized that the love and acceptance she received from her country’s viewers were far more valuable to her than pursuing a minor role abroad. She described herself not as a star but as a public figure with a responsibility to uphold the trust and affection of her audience.

Bipasha added that human love is the most precious thing in the world, and she did not believe she could achieve anything better by working outside Bangladesh.

Perplexity has expanded its integration with the financial data network Plaid, allowing users in the US and Canada to securely link bank accounts, credit cards, and loans to their Perplexity accounts. This builds on an earlier connection that supported brokerage accounts. Through Plaid’s access to over 12,000 financial institutions, users can now view a complete picture of their finances in one place, including spending, debt, and net worth.

Once connected, Perplexity’s Computer can analyze spending patterns, create custom trackers, and generate dashboards for budgeting, debt payoff, retirement readiness, and cash flow forecasting. The integration offers read-only access, ensuring that user data never touches Perplexity’s servers. Standard users can access basic portfolio features, while Pro and Max subscribers gain access to advanced analytical tools.

Perplexity’s financial analyses draw on real-time data from sources such as FactSet, Nasdaq, and S&P Global. The company plans to extend the integration to mobile platforms and additional countries, and to include crypto wallets, real estate, and other asset types in future updates.

The governments of Bangladesh and Malaysia have agreed to reopen Malaysia’s labor market for Bangladeshi workers and reduce migration costs. The decision followed a bilateral meeting held on Thursday in Putrajaya, attended by Bangladesh’s Minister for Labor and Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Both sides committed to ensuring a fair, ethical, and transparent recruitment process based on Malaysia’s sectoral labor demands.

According to a joint press statement, the two countries reaffirmed their long-standing partnership in labor migration and pledged to strengthen cooperation through a transparent and inclusive framework. The agreement includes addressing structural barriers that increase costs, using credible recruitment agencies, and expediting the placement of stranded workers. Malaysia also informed Bangladesh about its plan to introduce a technology-driven, AI-based recruitment system aimed at reducing intermediaries and ensuring that employers bear all recruitment expenses in line with International Labour Organization guidelines.

Bangladesh expressed full support for implementing such a digital platform as part of a broader global initiative involving other labor-sending countries.

Meta on Wednesday launched a new artificial intelligence model named 'Muse Spark', following a major overhaul of its Super Intelligence Labs unit. According to a company blog post cited by AFP from San Francisco, the lab has rebuilt Meta’s AI framework from scratch over the past nine months. The model, currently available only in the United States, is described as smaller but faster, capable of solving complex questions in science, mathematics, and health.

'Muse Spark' succeeds Meta’s earlier model 'Llama 4' and will be integrated across Meta’s AI applications, smart glasses, and platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. It is the first in Meta’s new 'Muse' series, with work already underway on its next generation.

The launch follows significant leadership and structural changes within Meta’s AI division. CEO Mark Zuckerberg reorganized the team after 'Llama 4' lagged behind competitors from China, France, and the United States. He appointed Scale AI co-founder Alexandr Wang to lead the new lab and recruited senior executives from rival firms including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

Meta announced an updated Advanced AI Scaling Framework and a forthcoming Safety & Preparedness Report for its Muse Spark model, emphasizing stronger safety, reliability, and user protections. The new framework expands on the company’s earlier Frontier AI Framework by broadening the range of risks assessed, including chemical, biological, cybersecurity, and loss-of-control scenarios. It also introduces stricter deployment standards and transparency measures through detailed reporting on risk assessments and evaluation results.

The Safety & Preparedness Report for Muse Spark highlights extensive pre-deployment testing across thousands of scenarios to identify weaknesses and ensure safeguards function effectively. Meta evaluated the model’s reasoning capabilities, potential for autonomous behavior, and adherence to safety policies covering violence prevention, child safety, and ideological balance. The company reports that Muse Spark demonstrated strong safeguards and minimal ideological bias.

Meta stated that safety mechanisms are integrated throughout the model’s lifecycle, from data filtering to product-level guardrails. The company’s evolving approach trains models to understand the reasoning behind safety principles, enabling them to handle new situations more effectively while maintaining human oversight and continuous monitoring.

Factory.ai has released its new Factory desktop app, a native interface for managing Droids across software workflows. The app is available immediately on macOS and Windows and supports running multiple Droid sessions simultaneously. Each session maintains its own context, progress, and history, allowing users to manage different tasks such as feature builds or migrations without interruption. The app also introduces persistent Droid Computers that retain installed packages, repositories, and credentials between sessions.

The release expands Factory’s ecosystem with support for both cloud-managed and user-provided machines. Teams can register their own hardware, including GPU-equipped systems, to run local AI models through Factory’s BYOK system, ensuring data remains within secure networks. The desktop app integrates with VS Code, supports AI-native visualizations, and provides a unified interface for monitoring logs, configurations, and system status. It also extends to mobile devices, enabling users to manage sessions remotely.

Factory.ai reports that enterprise adoption of Droids increases significantly when both CLI and desktop interfaces are available, suggesting broader accessibility for non-engineering roles such as designers and product managers.