Hacker News Daily Digest

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Top 11 stories from the past 24 hours

1

Anthropic officially bans using subscription auth for third party use

(code.claude.com)

This story discusses Anthropic's new policy prohibiting the use of its subscription authentication system for third-party applications. The change likely aims to enhance security and maintain control over how their technology is accessed and used, impacting developers and businesses relying on Anthropic's services. It highlights a move towards stricter compliance and usage oversight in AI service provision.

428 pointsby theahura19h ago508 comments
2

European Tech Alternatives

(eutechmap.com)

The story highlights a comprehensive map showcasing alternative technology companies and startups across Europe, emphasizing the region's growing ecosystem of innovative and independent tech solutions. It serves as a valuable resource for those interested in exploring European tech alternatives beyond dominant global giants. This map aims to promote regional innovation and support local tech communities.

217 pointsby puppion17h ago139 comments
3

Minecraft Java is switching from OpenGL to Vulkan

(gamingonlinux.com)

The article discusses how Minecraft Java Edition is transitioning from OpenGL to Vulkan graphics API with the upcoming Vibrant Visuals update. This switch aims to enhance performance, improve graphics, and provide a more modern rendering experience for players. The change reflects a broader move toward leveraging Vulkan's advanced features for better gaming visuals and efficiency.

227 pointsby tuananh20h ago104 comments
4

How AI is affecting productivity and jobs in Europe

(cepr.org)

This article explores the impact of artificial intelligence on productivity and employment across Europe, analyzing how AI adoption is transforming various industries. It discusses potential gains in efficiency alongside concerns over job displacement, offering insights into policy implications and future workforce challenges. The piece provides a nuanced view of AI's role in shaping Europe's economic landscape.

138 pointsby pseudolus22h ago107 comments
5

Martial arts robots at 2026 Spring Festival Gala [video]

(youtube.com)

This story showcases advanced martial arts robots performing at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, highlighting cutting-edge developments in robotics and AI. The video likely features these robots demonstrating impressive combat skills and choreography, emphasizing the fusion of technology and entertainment. It's an exciting glimpse into the future of robotics being integrated into cultural celebrations.

107 pointsby lisper23h ago121 comments
6

Mark Zuckerberg to testify in landmark social media trial

(ft.com)

This story likely covers Mark Zuckerberg's upcoming testimony in a significant legal case involving social media regulations. The trial is expected to examine issues around data privacy, platform accountability, and the broader impact of social media on society. Zuckerberg's appearance could have important implications for how tech giants are governed and held accountable.

99 pointsby 1vuio0pswjnm715h ago85 comments
7

15 years of FP64 segmentation, and why the Blackwell Ultra breaks the pattern

(nicolasdickenmann.com)

This story explores the evolution of double-precision (FP64) floating-point segmentation over the past 15 years, highlighting the trends and patterns in hardware design. It specifically examines how the upcoming Blackwell Ultra GPU challenges these established norms, potentially offering significant advancements in FP64 performance. The article provides insights into the implications for high-performance computing and scientific workloads.

133 pointsby fp64enjoyer20h ago50 comments
8

Microsoft offers guide to pirating Harry Potter series for LLM training

(devblogs.microsoft.com)

Microsoft has published a guide demonstrating how to incorporate pirated Harry Potter texts into large language model (LLM) training datasets. This story likely explores the ethical and technical implications of sourcing copyrighted material without authorization, highlighting challenges in training AI models responsibly. It underscores ongoing debates around data legality and the potential risks of using unauthorized content in AI development.

113 pointsby anonymous90821323h ago57 comments
9

Electrobun v1: Build fast, tiny, and cross-platform desktop apps with TypeScript

(blackboard.sh)

Electrobun v1 introduces a new framework designed to streamline the development of lightweight, fast, and cross-platform desktop applications using TypeScript. It aims to simplify the process for developers by providing a modern, efficient toolset that enables building desktop apps with minimal overhead. This release could potentially accelerate desktop app development workflows with a focus on performance and ease of use.

122 pointsby merlindru18h ago41 comments
10

Step 3.5 Flash – Open-source foundation model, supports deep reasoning at speed

(static.stepfun.com)

The story introduces Step 3.5 Flash, an open-source foundation model designed to enhance AI's deep reasoning capabilities while maintaining high processing speeds. It likely details how this model advances AI research by enabling more complex problem-solving in real-time applications. This development could have significant implications for developers seeking powerful, open-source AI tools.

118 pointsby kristianp20h ago40 comments
11

Ladybird: Closing this as we are no longer pursuing Swift adoption

(github.com)

This story discusses Ladybird Browser's decision to discontinue its efforts to adopt Swift, Apple's programming language, indicating a strategic shift or technical challenges. The issue on GitHub likely details the reasons behind closing this initiative and how it impacts the project's future development. It provides insight into the browser's development priorities and the evolving landscape of programming language choices.

105 pointsby thewavelength23h ago42 comments