Samsung is discontinuing its texting app, tells impacted users to switch to Google Messages
NEW YORK (AP) — Samsung is saying goodbye its namesake texting app. According to an end of service announcement published on the tech giant’s U.S. support website, Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July. Impacted owners of Samsung smartphones and other gadgets are being asked to switch to Google Messages as their default in the meantime. The company says this will help maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android. All Samsung Galaxy phones run on Google’s Android operating system. Users of older Android operating systems (dating back to Android 11 or older) will not be impacted.
One Tech Tip: Got an awkward or embarrassing Gmail address? Google is now letting users change it
Google is now allowing users to change their Gmail addresses. The company said this week that feature, which began rolling out in India last year, is now available in the United States. Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the update as a way for users to move on from outdated or embarrassing email handles. Changing your address is simple: go to your Google account page, navigate to Personal info, and select Email. You can then enter a new address. Your old address will remain as an alternate, and emails sent to either address will appear in your inbox. However, users can only change their address three times in total.
'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' cast aren't the only influencers sowing curiosity about the church
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Latter-day Saint influencers have found an enthusiastic audience across the country, curious about their faith and family, but they are often imperfect and unofficial representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many of these social media influencers and the influencers-turned-reality stars on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” have created a version of the faith that appears more modern and flexible than the actual church leadership might like. Influencers who have more faith-focused content have said they feel the reality show is not representative of their experiences in the church or their lives in Utah.
It’s International Fact-Checking Day. Refresh your AI identification skills
Artificial intelligence-generated content is everywhere these days, making it increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction, particularly when it comes to breaking news. The Iran war is just one example — since its outset, fake footage has reached countless people around the world. Some strategies for identifying these images include looking for visual cues, determining their origin, seeking out multiple reputable sources, making use of technology such as invisible digital watermarks and not immediately sharing content if its authenticity is unclear.
Trump administration appeals ruling that blocked Pentagon action against Anthropic over AI dispute
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Trump administration is appealing a judge’s order blocking the federal government from taking punitive measures against artificial intelligence company Anthropic after a dispute with the Pentagon over military use of AI. Department of Justice attorneys filed a notice in San Francisco federal court on Thursday of their intention to appeal last week’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Rita Lin. Lin last week said she was blocking the Pentagon from labeling Anthropic a supply chain risk. She also said she was blocking enforcement of President Donald Trump’s social media directive ordering all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic and its chatbot Claude.
Why 'unretired' seniors are picking up gig work to pay the bills
PLAINVIEW, New York (AP) — A growing number of Americans have “unretired” in recent years. They're returning to the workforce after ending careers that spanned decades. Many are motivated by inadequate retirement savings, rising living costs and a desire to stay active. Some are finding gig work, or contract jobs, through apps or digital platforms. They're delivering people and parcels, taking care of pets or folding other people’s laundry because they can set their own hours. But retirees and experts say the informal nature of gig work has downsides. They recommend making sure the pay will be enough to cover on-the-job expenses.
Trump gives Iran 48 hours to open Strait of Hormuz as search continues for missing US pilot
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has again warned Tehran over his Monday deadline to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz and allow ship traffic to flow again, and Iran has responded by threatening to open “the gates of hell.” The U.S. military meanwhile searched a remote area in Iran for a second day Saturday after a warplane was shot down and a pilot went missing. Israel confirmed striking a petrochemical complex in Iran, and state media there said at least five people are dead. Meanwhile, Iran's top diplomat signaled willingness for talks as Pakistan said efforts were “right on track.”
AI machine sorts clothes faster than humans to boost textile recycling in China
ZHANGJIAGANG, China (AP) — A company in eastern China is using an artificial intelligence-powered machine to sort clothes and boost recycling. It offers a glimpse into how AI could help reduce the impact of synthetic textile waste. The Fastsort-Textile machine was named one of Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025 and was created by Databeyond. The Chinese AI recycling company was founded in 2018. The equipment operates in Zhangjiagang and can sort 100 kilograms of clothes in two to three minutes. That compares with one worker taking around four hours to do the same thing.
Apple's 50-year odyssey has redefined technology, pop culture and comeback stories
CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — A scrawny hippie and a nerdy engineer who became prank-playing friends vowed to change the world when they founded a Silicon Valley startup on April Fools’ Day 50 years ago and then — no joke — pulled it off. The improbable odyssey began April 1, 1976 when a then-shaggy Steve Jobs and his gadget-tinkering friend Steve Wozniak signed the partnership papers that created Apple Computer Co. What happened next has become ingrained in the cultural zeitgeist. The Associated Press looks back Apple's peaks and valleys during a journey that thrust the company to the brink of bankruptcy before its exiled co-founder Steve Jobs came back to build an empire.
What to Stream: Sydney Sweeney, 'Malcolm in the Middle,' Jonah Hill, 'Hacks' and Ella Langley
Sydney Sweeney starring as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in the movie “Christy” and “Hacks” launching its fifth and final season on HBO are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time for the week of April 6 as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Country hitmaker Ella Langley releasing her sophomore album, Nintendo dropping the monster combat game Pokémon Champions and “Malcolm in the Middle” fans getting a four-episode revival with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek.
