The MiniMax coding agent model M2.7 is now available as an open-weight download on Hugging Face, marking a notable shift toward locally hosted large language models for software development teams. The 230-billion-parameter model runs on 128GB RAM setups and scores 56.22% on the SWE-Pro benchmark and 57.0% on Terminal Bench 2, placing it close to several top closed-source models.
MiniMax Coding Agent Ships with a New CLI Tool
Alongside the model release, MiniMax launched MMX-CLI, a command-line interface that gives artificial intelligence agents direct access to image, video, voice, and search capabilities. The tool requires no Model Context Protocol setup, lowering the barrier for developers who want to integrate multimodal features into their workflows quickly.
Anthropic Confirms Claude Code Reasoning Cutback
Anthropic is facing criticism after AMD’s senior director of AI published data from nearly 7,000 coding sessions. The findings show Claude Code’s reasoning length dropped by 67%, while API requests have risen 80 times since February 2026. Anthropic confirmed it lowered the default thinking effort from high to medium to reduce token costs. Users can still manually restore the setting to maximum if deeper reasoning is needed.
“Anthropic confirmed they lowered the default thinking effort from high to medium to cut down on token costs, though users can still manually set it back to max.”
AMD Senior Director of AI, via published benchmark report
Apple Tests Four Frame Styles for Smart Glasses
Apple is reportedly testing four different frame designs for its first smart glasses, according to Bloomberg. The product targets a 2027 release, though a preview could come as early as this year. The glasses will not include a display; instead, they will focus on cameras for photos and video, phone calls, music playback, and an updated version of Siri.
The move puts Apple in direct competition with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have gained traction in the wearable market since their launch. Apple has not yet made any official statement on the product.
What These Developments Mean for Developers
The three stories together reflect a broader shift in how software tools and hardware are evolving in 2026. Open-weight models like M2.7 give teams more control over their infrastructure and data. Meanwhile, the Claude Code controversy highlights the tension between cost management and performance that AI providers must balance as usage scales. On the hardware side, Apple’s entry into smart glasses signals growing competition in the wearable segment, with implications for how developers build voice and camera-first applications going forward.
