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Microsoft shut down dozens of GitHub code repositories for Azure and AI coding tools after a reported hack.

LEGO and Pokémon are teaming up for a dozen incredible new sets that use SMART play technology. It allows you to truly bring your favorite Pokémon characters to life and become their trainer. You can even feed them and give them a little tickle, too. Fans can pre-order their sets now and look forward to their release in August. 

Of course, the journey to bring LEGO Pokémon SMART play sets to the masses has been years in the making and included a ton of research, development, and careful designing. We attended a LEGO Pokémon demo event in London and had the pleasure of speaking with LEGO Group Designers Siddharth Muthyala and Mike Anderson about their love for Pokémon, what they learned from kids during testing, and Easter eggs that will spark joy. 

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Nerdist: I am curious about the research and development process that you went through. Take me back to how you came up with designs and worked with kids to bring this project to life? 

Siddharth Muthyala: It’s been several years of development. Mike and I have been part of this project since the beginning and, at LEGO, anything we do, we play test. So each time we build a prototype or a new model, we take it to children and get feedback. It’s not so much testing and researching, it’s more like co-creation. 

As we do our play tests, we’re learning from what they’re telling us and we’re also taking notes on what they want from us… We take a Pokémon and we ask, “What stories do you tell with Squirtle?” And we bring that feedback into play sets that we design. So it’s been a process of almost bi-weekly checking in with the kids, the fans, and having them tell their stories of how they would play with each Pokémon and trying to bring that to life. 

LEGO/The Pokémon Company

Mike Anderson: Of course we are also very inspired by the original animation and the games as well. In the very beginning, we brought in a lot of the game mechanics. For example, you would like, like as a gamer, we thought, okay, you would heal the Pokémon until it was fully healed. And then you would stop because that’s what you do in the game. But then when we bring that into a kids room, they just continue. The kids see it differently. In a game, we would maybe have a limit to how many times you can heal in a battle because that’s a gaming kind of way of thinking.

But the kids are like, “I want to decide that. ” So we wanted to make this open play experience where it’s the kids that make their journey. It’s them who are controlling the narrative, the story. Do they start battle and then go training or do they do training first and then battle? It’s really focusing on how they are playing with it, what are the stories they have in their head, and how can we then bring that to life with the SMART brick and these sets.

Nerdist

Muthyala: Also the Pokémon universe is so rich, right? There’s so many stories you can tell. There are thousands of Pokémon and they all behave differently, they all have their own stories. For us it’s all about bringing that to life and for us we can build that. 

Absolutely. Of course, these sets have some pretty iconic Pokémon like Pikachu. How did you go about narrowing down which core characters to use in these LEGO sets?

Muthyala: We have an amazing partnership with Qualcomm One Company International. The company has a lot of data and insights as well on which Pokémon that fans love. Over a couple of years, each time we brought kids in to play, we also had a little questionnaire and asked about their favorites. At the point when we had like over a hundred children coming in, patterns began to emerge and then we started choosing from there. 

Anderson: We also want a lineup where there’s something for everyone together. We wanted to represent the universe. Pokémon are different types and sizes. There are some that can fly, others that can walk, some that can hover. So we were trying to create a lineup where when you start combining them, it feels complete. 

LEGO/The Pokémon Company

I love the variety offered in the sets! During your testing phase, were there things that happened with the kids that were funny or perhaps made you think differently about future choices? 

Anderson: I remember when we brought Jigglypuff into the room, kids were like, Okay, now I need all the Pokémon!” They started singing and they would lie them down to sleep… So they take the story with them into the playroom and then they play it out. It really showed that each character sort of has a universe on its own and the kids tapped into the different aspects of it. 

We have seen like tests where afterwards instead of hi-fiving Sid to say thanks for playing, they go and hi-five Jigglypuff. They would say, “Can you please take care of Jigglypuff?” because they’d spent time with it. 

That’s adorable! 

Muthyala: For me, it was the amount of active play with the kids. We developed a battle system. There’s a lot of fun strategy in there with how you attack and defend. Children were standing up and super active and we didn’t expect that. The Pokémon would sometimes break. So we would have to go back and redesign the Pokémon. Charizard was redesigned maybe a hundred times to make sure it’s still fun even when it breaks and you can put it back together really quickly, but also we didn’t want it to break as much. So we’ve designed all the Pokémon so that they are easy to hold and play with.

LEGO/The Pokémon Company

I love it. What are both of your personal relationships with Pokémon? Were you able to slip some cool Easter eggs into these LEGO Pokémon sets? 

Muthyala: I’m a lifelong fan. I’ve been playing with Pokémon for the past 30 years. Games have been my passion… In terms of Easter eggs, the biggest one for me is the SMART tags. Internally we call them the heart, the soul of the Pokémon. So each Pokémon has a unique SMART tag. Originally they were just a tag with Squirtle’s face as an icon, but then we added the type icons, like a little water logo in there. And then we said ‘Let’s add the Pokédex number because that’s important.’ Every design is unique to that Pokémon and they all have a little type icon and their unique Pokédex number in there. That’s sort of Easter egg-like for me.

Anderson: You should go and try and put a smart ring into Jigglypuff, who wakes up slightly differently than the others. The same with Mewtwo If you try to feed Mewtwo, just see what happens!

The post LEGO Designers on Creating Pokémon SMART Play Sets appeared first on Nerdist.

The Trump administration released the updated version of the list four months ago and then quickly pulled it without explaining why

Apple is adding new AI-powered features to Safari, Shortcuts, and Password apps.

⚡ Quick Take

• Jem and the Holograms will be the latest ’80s toy and cartoon to get live-action adaptation with a series in development at Amazon MGM Studios.

Amazon MGM Studios is continuing its trend of getting into live-action programming based on ’80s cartoons and toys. After Masters of the Universe and the upcoming Voltron, they are now developing a series based on the hit animated series and toyline, Jem. The news comes to us via Deadline. This series is being made in conjunction with Hasbro, and they describe it as an “elevated live-action take” on the classic cartoon. Surprisingly, Westworld producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy are producing. The show is titled Jem and the Holograms, whereas the original show was simply called Jem.

Hasbro

The original Jem property was Hasbro’s way of making a dent in Barbie’s reign in the fashion doll market. As was customary in the ’80s, they partnered with an animation studio to produce a series to sell the brand. The show centered on a music industry executive named Jerrica, who used hologram technology to create a light-projected new identity for herself as the rock star Jem. Together with her “truly outrageous” band, the Holograms, she navigated romance and adventure. All while making music videos and topping the charts. In her way were rival “bad girl” rockers the Misfits, who insisted in the theme song that their songs were better. (They were better.)

The original Jem cartoon ran for three seasons, starting in 1985, bringing the MTV aesthetic to kids. The dolls sold well, but Barbie still reigned supreme. Fun fact: When Mattel learned Hasbro was creating Jem, they pushed their own Barbie and the Rockers brand out in stores first. A shady move worthy of the Misfits. A Jem movie, directed by Wicked‘s Jon M. Chu, came out in 2015, but it left out much of what fans loved about the show. It subsequently tanked at the box office. But maybe Jem and the Holograms will fare better. The audience for these ’80s cartoon IPs is now between the ages of 45 and 55. And they prefer to watch streaming fare rather than go to the movies. We have a feeling Jem will do better on Prime Video than in theaters this time around.

The post JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS Being Developed as Live-Action Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Shortcuts gets an AI upgrade, letting you describe the workflow you want in a prompt.

Apple's AI image generator is getting a makeover that could make it more competitive.

A new spatial "Reframe" feature will let users use AI to adjust perspectives.

Siri is finally getting its own app.

"If you're grabbing a bite with friends and point your iPhone at the bill, then [you can] select what you ordered to split the tab with Apple Cash," said Apple VP of Software Sebastien Marineau-Mes.

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Apple says a completely rebuilt Search function will competently find the emails, photos and other content you are searching for.

Apple’s WWDC 2026 event kicked off this morning at 10 a.m. PT at Apple Park, starting a week full of expected announcements around Siri, iOS 27, Apple Intelligence and more, along with developer events and demos. This year’s event is particularly notable for a couple things. It marks CEO Tim Cook’s last with the company, […]

While some users liked the sleek, transparent designs that look "glassy," others found Apple's design overhaul from last year to be hard to read.

⚡ Quick Take

• Netflix announced Dan Aykroyd has joined the streamer’s upcoming 3D-animated Ghostbusters series, debuting in 2027, as an executive producer.

In the summer of 2024, Netflix announced it was officially developing a new 3D-animated Ghostbusters series. Since then we haven’t learned much more about the show, including when we would see it. But now we at least know what year it will debut. More importantly, we know the most important member of pop culture’s most famous specter hunters will be prominently involved. Netflix has revealed that Ghostbusters creator, Ray Stantz himself, Dan Aykroyd has joined the show, titled Ghostbusters: Night Shift, as an executive producer.

Netflix provided a rundown of what fans can expect from the streaming site at this summer’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival. That’s where Netflix will debut new looks for its upcoming animated projects. That will include sneak peeks at notable projects like Ricky Gervais’ Alley Cats, Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory, its anime slate, and Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn. It will also be where we finally get to see literally anything from its long-awaited Ghostbusters cartoon.

Sony Pictures

The streamer will debut footage from the show at the Thétre Bonlieu on Wednesday, June 24. Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, who have led the two recent sequels, will be in attendance. They are both executive producers on the series, which also comes from Sony Pictures Animation.

Columbia Pictures Television

Now Netflix has shared that Aykroyd is also taking on an official positions. He will also fill an EP role on the show. Ben Hibon, Elliott Kalan, and Amie Karp also serve as executive producers. And that’s as much as we know beyond the small description Ntflix provided. It says the show is a “high end animated series based on the beloved Ghostbusters IP” that will arrive in 2027.

That’s still a long time to wait for a show that’s been in development for years. But maybe that’s a good thing. It gives Ghostbusters‘ creator more time to work on it.

Originally published on May 7, 2026.

The post Netflix’s GHOSTBUSTERS Animated Series Reveals Title and Logo appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The Scooby gang is getting a new look in the live-action Scooby-Doo: Origins series, which will make its way to Netflix soon.

Jinkies! The Mystery Gang is back together and ready to solve more mysteries. Netflix announced the four faces set to play those meddling kids. Grab the Scooby Snacks and get your investigating caps on, ’cause we got some work to do now. Mckenna Grace, Tanner Hagen, Abby Ryder Fortson, and Maxwell Jenkins join the cast for Netflix’s live-action Scooby-Doo series. Cue the intro music. And now, we know that there will be an actual puppy playing Scooby-Doo, thanks to this teaser:

First look at Scooby in the upcoming series #ScoobyDoo: Origin.

Premiering on Netflix in 2027. pic.twitter.com/QlX0LePAQG

— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) June 8, 2026

Variety also reports that Paul Walter Hauser will star in this series as well in an undisclosed role. He is a series regular, so don’t expect him to just be the villain of the episode. Scooby-Doo: Origins and began production in Atlanta in April 2026 and will premiere sometime in 2027.

Warner Bros. Animation

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Scooby-Doo is as beloved as they come. What started as a cartoon about four mystery-solving teenagers and their lovable dog grew into an empire Toys, snacks, crossovers, a string of live-action movies, and several more cartoons followed. The first movie came in 2002, casting Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Linda Cardellini as Velma, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred. The four remain inseparable from those roles even today. That leaves some pretty big shoes to fill for the four newcomers.

Netflix

Netflix announced the cast for the new series on March 18. Mckenna Grace is Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen is Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson is Velma Dinkley, and Maxwell Jenkins is Fred Jones. Here is Netflix’s official synopsis for the upcoming series:

“A modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog. During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets.”

Where Do I Know Netflix’s Live-Action Scooby-Doo: Origins Cast From? Prime Video/Paramount Pictures/Netflix/Blink&Miss Productions

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The newest names attached to the pop culture powerhouse are all young actors, but you may recognize them from this or that. Maxwell Jenkins played Will Robinson in Netflix’s Lost in Space and more recently starred alongside Kevin Bacon in The Bondsman. Tanner Hagen appeared in an episode of The Pitt. Abby Ryder Fortson (also in an episode of The Pitt) is most famous for her leading role in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Finally, Mckenna Grace is in… well, honestly everything. She’s probably one of the most famous child actors of our (my) generation. Most recently, she was in Scream 7, Regretting You, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, and will play a role in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Warner Bros. Animation

Netflix’s live-action Scooby Doo series is in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television. Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenber will be its showrunners and executive producers. While we may never be able to separate the original cast from their iconic roles, it’ll be exciting to see a new take on the classic. All we need now is a Scooby-Doo reveal. Filming is slated to begin soon.

Originally published on March 19, 2026.

The post SCOOBY-DOO: ORIGINS Series Drops First Teaser Featuring Scooby-Doo appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Marlon Wayans revealed that the role of Cindy in Scary Movie was supposed to go to Melissa Joan Hart, but his brother Keenan wanted Anna Faris to play the character.

Scary Movie is stirring up laughs (and maybe some groans) in theaters. Fans of the franchise have waited a long time to see some of their favorite characters return, like Anna Faris’ Cindy. She’s been a staple in the films as a main character since the beginning, but Faris almost didn’t get the role. Marlon Wayans revealed that Melissa Joan Hart was supposed to be Cindy in the Scary Movie franchise, but his brother Keenan advocated for Anna Faris to get the role instead. 

ABC/Dimension Films

It’s pretty hard to imagine anyone else besides Faris’ as the well-meaning yet rather dimwitted Cindy in the Scary Movie franchise. Her comedic timing and facial expressions are impeccable and a huge reason why the films became so popular. But it would have made a lot of sense to have Melissa Joan Hart in the role as well.

She can be quite funny when given the chance and, more importantly, her name would have been a huge draw for audiences. Hart was well known for her starring role in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, so playing Cindy would have been a huge departure from her family friendly sitcom roots. And it would have been incredibly funny to see her fight a black cat in Scary Movie 2 considering she had a black cat in the series.

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Marlon Wayans’ admission of this was a surprise to both Faris and his brother Shawn Wayans. And, in classic Marlon fashion, he joked that Faris did a good job of taking a job from another white lady. Now, it would be interesting to see what Melissa Joan Hart’s thoughts are about all of this. Scary Movie is pulling in box office numbers so we are sure that Anna Faris will be able to keep playing Cindy in the coming years.

The post Melissa Joan Hart Was Supposed to Play Cindy in SCARY MOVIE appeared first on Nerdist.