The world of tech is always buzzing with new developments, breakthroughs, and trends. As the month of April unfolds, we’re keeping a sharp eye on the top stories shaping the future of innovation. Here are the top 5 tech stories we’re following this week. Stay tuned as we dive into the latest that’s driving the tech world forward!
Temu Tanks in App Rankings as Trump Tariffs Crush Ad Spend
Chinese discount retailer Temu, known for its viral “Shop like a billionaire” ads, has drastically cut back U.S. advertising after President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs. Once a dominant force in the Apple App Store, Temu’s downloads have plunged 62% in recent days, according to SimilarWeb.
The fallout has forced Temu, along with rival Shein, to announce price hikes starting April 25. A message on Temu’s site confirmed the move: “Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up. To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments.”
Google Hit With £5 Billion UK Lawsuit
Google is facing a massive £5 billion ($6.6 billion) class action lawsuit in the U.K., accused of abusing its “near-total dominance” in the online search market to unfairly hike ad prices and sideline competition.
Filed Wednesday in the U.K.’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, the lawsuit alleges that Google used its tech power to restrict rival search engines, effectively forcing businesses to rely solely on its advertising services. The claim, led by competition law expert Or Brook and represented by Geradin Partners, seeks damages on behalf of all U.K.-based organizations that used Google’s search advertising tools from January 1, 2011, to the present.
Puerto Rico Has an Island-Wide Blackout
Puerto Rico has been hit with another total power outage, leaving all 1.4 million customers in the dark just months after a New Year’s Eve blackout that lasted several days.
Luma Energy, the tech company responsible for power distribution on the island, reported that the outage began around 12:40 p.m. local time Wednesday. Preliminary findings point to an unexpected shutdown at all generating plants, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
The outage has also disrupted water service, with at least 78,000 customers currently affected. Officials estimate it may take 48 to 72 hours to fully restore electricity across the island.
Adobe Backs AI Video Startup Synthesia
Adobe is doubling down on AI with a strategic investment in Synthesia, the British startup behind hyper-realistic AI avatars used in corporate video production.
While the financial details remain under wraps, Synthesia confirmed Adobe’s venture capital arm has taken a stake in the company. The move aligns both companies around a shared goal: revolutionizing content creation through generative AI.
Synthesia’s platform—already used by over 70% of Fortune 100 companies—enables businesses to create professional videos using lifelike digital avatars. These avatars can be customized by individuals via personal devices or in dedicated Synthesia studios.
Meta Adds Former Trump Advisor to Board
Meta has appointed two new members to its board of directors: Dina Powell McCormick, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, and Patrick Collison, CEO and co-founder of Stripe.Powell McCormick, who served as Trump’s deputy national security advisor from 2017–2018, also held senior roles in the George W. Bush administration and spent over a decade at Goldman Sachs. She’s currently a top executive at BDT & MSD Partners, the merchant bank tied to billionaire Michael Dell. Her husband, Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA), is a rising GOP figure and was recently spotted with Trump and Elon Musk at a wrestling match in March.
