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Tech World Sees Setbacks for Adobe, Notepad++, and Crunchyroll Amidst AI Advancements
The technology landscape experienced a series of significant developments this week, ranging from software shutdowns and security breaches to price hikes and AI breakthroughs. Adobe announced it would discontinue sales of its 2D animation software, Adobe Animate, on March 1st, 2026, according to a FAQ posted on the company's website. Existing users will have one year to download their files. The company cited the emergence of newer platforms as the reason for the shutdown.
Meanwhile, users of the text and code editor Notepad++ may have unknowingly downloaded a malicious update after the app's shared hosting servers were compromised between June and December 2025. Developer Don Ho posted an update on the attack, indicating that the hackers were likely a Chinese state-sponsored group, according to The Verge.
In other news, the streaming service Crunchyroll, a popular platform for anime viewers, announced it was increasing its monthly subscription prices by up to 20 percent. This announcement comes weeks after the service eliminated its free tier, a controversial move following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T in 2020. At the time of the acquisition, Crunchyroll had 3 million paid subscribers and 197 million users with free accounts, according to Ars Technica.
On a more positive note, OpenAI launched a new desktop application for macOS for its Codex artificial intelligence coding system. The application functions as a "command center for agents," allowing developers to delegate multiple coding tasks simultaneously, automate repetitive work, and supervise AI systems that can run independently for up to 30 minutes before returning completed code, VentureBeat reported. "This is the most loved internal product we've ever had," Sam Altman, OpenAI's chief executive, told VentureBeat.
Separately, MIT Technology Review reported on a civilian online marketplace backed by Andreessen Horowitz that is facilitating the creation of bespoke AI deepfakes of real women. Researchers at Stanford and Indiana University found that some users were requesting content specifically designed to make pornographic images, despite site bans. The study analyzed requests for content, called "bounties," between mid-2023 and the end of 2024, finding that while most requests were for animated content, a significant portion sought deepfakes.
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