American businessman and former CEO of Google
Several firms have announced expansion plans and new measures that will accelerate commercial robotaxi rollouts. Mobileye has announced a 2027 U.S. launch with an initial 100-vehicle fleet and a five-year target of 17,000; Wayve and Uber are preparing a supervised London service in the coming months; Tesla and Waymo are expanding U.S. coverage; and new indices show Chinese robotaxi players are scaling faster than many expected.
Genesis AI has unveiled Eno, a wheeled, modular robot designed to work across manufacturing, logistics, hotels, and healthcare. Backed by $105 million in funding, the company aims to deploy dozens of units by end-2026 and scale to mass production, with LG as a key partner and a broader push into the AI-enabled physical economy.
NASA has named Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas as the Artemis III crew for a mid‑2027, two‑week Earth‑orbit test flight to practice docking with prototype lunar landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. The all‑male selection has drawn online criticism and questions about whether Blue Origin’s May New Glenn explosion will delay the program.
At Stanford, a walkout during Sundar Pichai’s commencement speech has spotlighted Google’s contract with Israel and its broader AI role. Pro-Palestinian activists chant ‘Free Palestine’ as students signal dissent over corporate ties to government and military uses of AI. The protest follows decades of campus debate as graduates listen to speakers about technology’s future.
A Pentagon briefing has stated Grok, xAI’s AI chatbot, is used in national-security operations, including targeting in Iran. The NAACP’s lawsuit over turbine emissions at xAI’s data centers is ongoing, while lawmakers push for stricter AI controls. Other reports cover India’s sovereign AI push and broader AI race dynamics.
General Intuition has raised $320 million at a $2.3 billion valuation, backing a world-model AI that can plan in real-world spaces. The funding supports its push into physical AI, training on gameplay before applying to real-world robotics.
Progressive state Rep. Manny Rutinel has won the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, defeating Shannon Bird and setting up a high-stakes general election against GOP Rep. Gabe Evans. The race has drawn heavy funding from tech-aligned and Latino-focused groups as the district, which is 40% Latino, becomes a focal point for allies of both parties.
Ukraine has struck oil depots and refineries across Russia, triggering a fuel shortage and prompting rationing in many regions. Officials report drone and missile activity, while Ukraine’s leadership signals intensified operations and a push to acquire Patriot air-defense capabilities with Western support.
Economists and AI researchers warn that AI could drive a transformation larger than the Industrial Revolution within a decade, bringing risks like job displacement but also rising living standards. The Stanford-led letter urges governments and industry to build incentives, guardrails, and institutions to steer AI so it complements humans.
California debates a 5% wealth tax; ultra‑rich residents have moved assets out of state, with Alphabet’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin among notable relocations. Tax plans are spurring residency audits and significant corporate and political pushback.
Miami-Dade County has seen 24 sales of properties above $30 million in H1 2026, roughly double the prior year, fueling expectations to surpass 2025’s record. The rise is tied to tax policy debates and growing tech presence, including Alphabet’s Miami expansion.
Moonshot has released Kimi K3, an open-weight model that independent tests say matches frontier performance and has prompted investor selling in chip stocks. Tech figures and regulators are trading accusations about distillation and national security, while industry voices argue the alarm is exaggerated.