Adobe reversed its decision to discontinue Adobe Animate following strong criticism from users, the company announced Wednesday. The company had previously announced plans to shut down the 2D animation software amid increased investment in AI, but will now put the app on "maintenance mode," according to an Adobe post.
The initial announcement on Monday sparked disappointment and anger from users who voiced concerns about the lack of suitable alternatives to Animate's functionality. "We are not discontinuing or removing access to Adobe Animate," Adobe stated on Wednesday. "Animate will continue to be available for both current and new customers, and we will ensure you continue to have access to your content." The company clarified that there would no longer be a deadline for the software's discontinuation.
In other tech news, voice AI company ElevenLabs raised $500 million in a new funding round led by Sequoia Capital, valuing the startup at $11 billion. Sequoia partner Andrew Reed joined the company's board. The valuation is more than three times its valuation in January 2025. Existing investor a16z quadrupled its investment amount, and Iconiq, which led the last round, tripled it, according to the company. New investors included Lightspeed Venture Partners, EvanticCapital, and Bon.
Roblox launched the open beta for its 4D creation feature, which allows creators to make fully functional and interactive objects, on Wednesday. The feature, in early access since November, adds interactivity, enabling users to design items that can move and react to players in the game, according to Roblox. Last year, Roblox launched Cube 3D, an open source AI model that generates 3D objects. The company claims users have generated over 1.8 million 3D objects using Cube 3D since its rollout in March.
Meanwhile, Tinder is testing a new AI-powered feature called Chemistry to combat "swipe fatigue," a problem among online dating users feeling burned out. Introduced last quarter, Chemistry uses AI to learn about users through questions and, with permission, accesses their Camera Roll to learn more about their interests and personality, according to TechCrunch. Match CEO Spencer Rascoff stated on Match's Q4 2026 earnings call that Chemistry was being tested in Australia and offered users an "AI way to interact with Tinder."
Separately, the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for data breaches at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and published the stolen data on Wednesday. The group claimed to have published over 1 million records from each university on its leak site, which it uses to extort victims. UPenn confirmed a data breach in November, affecting information systems related to development and alumni activities. The university blamed the breach on social engineering, where hackers impersonate someone to trick individuals.
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