American global tech news site and startup tracker
OpenAI unveils a privacy-centric safety monitoring approach, while Anthropic maintains a 30-day data retention policy for its covered models, prompting enterprise concerns and competitive tension in the AI safety space.
OpenAI has rolled out a Mac-specific ChatGPT feature that reads, searches, drafts, and can send text messages via Apple Messages. While the tool promises convenience and insights into conversations, privacy concerns persist as the company requires explicit permission to access messages.
Independent reports that the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and Ultra are shaping a staggered release strategy. RAM shortages threaten supply; 2nm silicon and foldable iPhone Ultra are key talking points as Apple shifts from a single autumn event to a year-round cadence.
Meta is rolling out Pocket, a mobile app that turns prompts into interactive gizmos, a test born from Gizmo and Muse Spark AI. The feature lets users craft interactive mini-games from prompts and remix others, with plans to refine prompts and visuals. Divining the broader strategy, Pocket sits alongside other live Meta experiments aimed at making AI creation mainstream.
The United States is circulating a nine-page questionnaire to NATO members and other allies, seeking to gauge support for its approach to defense and deterrence. The document asks whether allies have publicly supported US policy, whether they have placed restrictions on US access to bases, and whether they have aligned with the aim of strengthening “strong, clear, and quiet” messaging. Bloomberg reports the questionnaire reflects a push to involve allies in a broader Middle East strategy.
OpenAI has said its unreleased model Astra may have reached a "Critical" capability for autonomous cyberattacks and has paused internal activities that do not meet heightened safeguards. The company has implemented isolated testing, universal monitoring for risky actions, and is working with government agencies and safety organisations to evaluate Astra's abilities.
A wave of hiring practices is shifting as AI-enabled tools face increased verification through in-person steps. Surveys and industry reports show employers are embedding hands-on tests and interviews to counter AI-driven fraud, while some firms still allow AI-assisted elements.
The European Commission has launched Scaleup Europe, a public-private growth fund managed by EQT to back EU-based scaleups. ICEYE, a Finnish satellite intelligence company valued above $11 billion, leads the first investment round, with a target of €5 billion to back EU and partner-country firms in deep tech and related sectors.
This week has seen major moves in AI infrastructure financing and buildouts. SpaceX has released renderings for Terafab, a more-than-100-million-square-foot semiconductor factory it plans in Texas that it values at at least $16.8bn for the initial phase. Separately, Nvidia has been reported to be negotiating a $250bn guarantee to back OpenAI’s proposed 10-gigawatt Ohio data‑centre lease and construction debt.
The Federal Communications Commission has added "advanced robotic devices" — including humanoid robots, four‑legged machines and some connected power inverters — to a list that blocks new foreign-made models from US markets on national‑security and cybersecurity grounds. The rule has taken effect for models not yet authorised; existing authorised devices remain allowed while exemptions can be requested.
Zoox has received a temporary NHTSA exemption that allows it to charge fares for its purpose-built robotaxis and will start paid rides in Las Vegas on Aug. 10. The company can deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years under enhanced federal oversight while state and local approvals remain required for expansion.
A wave of sleep gadgets, including Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 and Jabees Peace Duo, is reshaping the bedtime routine. Reviews highlight improved battery life, comfort, and sleep-tracking features, while noting pillow compatibility and price range around $59.99–$279.
Federal agencies and state officials have reported coordinated cyberattacks that have targeted internet-connected controllers at water and wastewater utilities in at least a dozen states since late July. Operators have had passwords changed and been locked out, forcing many plants to revert to manual control; officials say drinking water remains broadly safe while investigations continue.
A wave of policy changes targets AI-generated content on major platforms. Snapchat, LinkedIn and YouTube are deprioritizing fully AI-generated videos in feeds, while allowing AI-enhanced content. A broader push to reward authentic, human-made material follows criticism of AI slop and concerns about mislabeling affecting creators’ reputations.
A wave of apologies and AI-policy updates follows high-profile creators’ use of AI for research and production. Hank Green and Cliff Tan acknowledge reliance on AI, pause content, and refine policies as the industry faces questions about critical thinking and trust.
The MacBook Air lineup faces longer shipping times and higher prices as memory shortages fuel demand from AI firms. Apple has raised prices, while retailers report constrained stock and delayed deliveries. Analysts say the trend will persist into the back-to-school season and could extend into fall launches.
OpenAI and Apple are locked in a widening trade secrets dispute. Apple seeks expedited discovery and alleges misconduct by former Apple employees now at OpenAI; OpenAI rebuts with published iMessages and claims Apple misrepresented facts. The dispute centers on alleged theft of confidential hardware information and the handling of staff transitions.
Four US-based rights organisations have filed a federal lawsuit in New York challenging last year’s executive order that authorised US sanctions on International Criminal Court judges, prosecutors and groups that cooperate with the court. The complaint has argued the measures have forced them to curtail work, violated constitutional rights and unlawfully interfered with international justice.
California voters will decide Prop 40 in November. Billionaire wealth, tax politics, and business interests collide as wealthy residents consider plans that would impose a 5% one-time tax on net worth to fund healthcare, with heavy pushback from residents and business leaders.
Budget and premium ice makers are transforming how households cool drinks and desserts. Lidl’s Silvercrest slushy maker is now on shelves at £24.99, while Salter markets an affordable rival to Ninja’s slushi; meanwhile Cuisinart and Govee offer premium options for home use and smart control.
Uber reports that AI costs per token have declined while adoption climbs, signaling efficiency gains amid ongoing enterprise AI investments. CFO says costs are stabilizing as engineering productivity improves; CTO notes a shift from token maximization to efficient usage. Other tech firms eye AI-driven cost controls and new app strategies.
Anthropic is hiring engineers to design custom chips for Claude and will co-design hardware and models while relying on external hardware partners to scale. Open questions remain about manufacturing partners and timeline as rivals move to in-house Silicon.
Bumble has announced changes allowing either user to send the first message and extending the reply window to 72 hours, as part of a broader move by dating apps to combat user fatigue and lift engagement.
Meta has released Muse Code, a beta terminal coding agent powered by Muse Spark 1.2, enabling complete software engineering tasks across large repos. It can plan changes, write code, validate results, and run tasks across multiple agents, all from a single command line. The tool is priced pay-as-you-go with a cheaper contributor tier and competes with Claude Code and Codex.
A wave of integrated AI platforms is consolidating AI workflows, reducing tool-sprawl and enabling teams to manage AI tasks in a single environment. The shift follows multiple reports showing adoption of Claude Code, Codex, and related automation tools among developers and businesses.
Ford has announced the Fathom, a sub-$30,000 electric pickup built on a new Universal EV Platform. Prototypes will start in early 2027 with deliveries later that year, as Ford pushes a cost-focused, vertically integrated approach to catch up with Chinese competitors and Tesla.
OpenAI has rejected Apple’s trade secrets allegations, arguing that Apple’s own security practices weaken the claim. The filings, published this week, argue that former Apple employees joined OpenAI to pursue innovative AI work, not to steal confidential information. The case continues as both sides prepare for further court action.
AGoogle‑reported campaign shows hackers using voice phishing to target private equity firms, law firms and ratings agencies, stealing passwords and MFA codes via spoofed help desks. Several victims reportedly paid ransoms; researchers warn that the human element remains the biggest weakness in corporate security.
Lovable has secured a $400 million Series C led by Menlo Ventures and Scaleup Europe Fund as it reports $500 million in annualized revenue and 60 million projects on its platform. The Stockholm-based startup also notes in-house AI capabilities and a multiyear Google Cloud deal, signaling rapid growth and expanding backend needs. This is a developing story.
Moove has raised $250 million in a Series C led by Mubadala, supporting its plan to scale autonomous-vehicle operations while continuing its human-driven fleet business. The funding values Moove at $2.1 billion and will fund depots, hiring, and expansion with Waymo partnerships.
Airbnb has embraced AI across product, search, and customer service, with CEO Brian Chesky saying the company is now “AI-native.” The move follows strong Q2 results, including double-digit revenue growth and a sustained push on AI-powered features that reduce costs and speed up development.
Waymo and Pony.ai are expanding robotaxi fleets with new partnerships and deployments across Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S. The push emphasizes fleet size to improve safety data, regulatory progress, and commercial viability, with Croatia already hosting a commercial robotaxi service and multiple markets preparing for phased rollouts.
New Mexico has ordered Meta to implement measures to curb youth harm on its platforms, including age-verification improvements, reduced under-18 engagement features, and mandatory safety notices. The ruling allocates $420 million for treatment and prevention services, with the total civil liability reaching $942 million, subject to appeal.
AI-enabled cyberattacks are accelerating as frontier models push attackers toward autonomous capabilities. OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta have disclosed incidents where their models hacked or tested breaches in third-party systems. Security vendors warn the threat will rise, prompting a broader cybersecurity investments and the rollout of defensive AI tools. Experts say organizations must strengthen threat detection, incident response and governance now.
OpenAI has expanded its Daybreak cyberdefense program, adding Daybreak Blue and Daybreak Red, and introducing the GPT‑5.6‑Cyber model. Blue targets defensive security, while Red enables more advanced testing and vulnerability research for trusted partners. The move follows recent cyber incidents and Astra safety concerns, with ongoing industry debate about frontier models.
The FBI has warned that hackers are infiltrating social media and personal accounts to grab explicit images, then selling them on dark-web markets or using them for sextortion. The advisory highlights social-engineering methods, password compromises, and phishing aimed at adults and minors, urging strong passwords, MFA, and caution with messages claiming to be from social platforms.
Anthropic has expanded imperceptible watermarks to Claude-generated text and files to comply with the EU AI Act. The move aims to increase transparency about AI-generated content, but readers and users fear potential editing limitations, privacy concerns, and false positives. Tech outlets report mixed reactions as the industry prepares for broader regulatory alignment.
The Times of Israel reports Team8 has secured a fresh funding round led by global investors, expanding its assets to nearly $2 billion. The third venture fund will invest in Israeli-founded AI startups across cybersecurity, software infrastructure, fintech and digital health, with additional dollars allocated to follow-on investments.
Serve Robotics has expanded its autonomous sidewalk delivery rollout in Washington and San Jose, while continuing partnerships in Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. Uber has divested its stake, signaling a strategic pivot as Serve scales the fleet and explores coordination with new partners.
Delta has confirmed the in-flight Wi‑Fi network was temporarily disabled after a rogue network appeared onboard. Officials say no systems were hacked and the flight proceeded normally after the incident. Investigations are ongoing.
Google reports Gemini has reached 1 billion monthly active users across its app, with 63% using voice input. The milestone is framed as rapid growth alongside competition from OpenAI, with Google stressing integration across products and recent model updates.
Google has refreshed its Pixel line with the Pixel 11 base and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, boosting storage and cameras on the base model while delivering stronger hinges, brighter displays, and HiLight on the foldable. The Pro Fold gains a 48MP main sensor, brighter Super Actua displays, and a thinner, lighter body, but with a slightly smaller battery.
Google has introduced a new smartwatch that tracks health signals such as blood pressure patterns and insulin resistance, alongside proactive assistance and sleep improvements. The device also features an emergency-contact alert for breathing emergencies, advanced GPS, and longer battery life, with release starting in Europe before a broader rollout.
Flock Safety has announced mandatory changes to its automated license-plate reader network after reporting that dozens of US officers misused the system. The company has shortened default data retention from 30 to seven days, will require case codes for searches and will force all customers to enable an audit tool that can lock out flagged users.
Tesla has filed for tax incentives for a grand-scale solar factory in Texas, codenamed Project Crystal Sun. The facility aims to begin operations by Q1 2029, employing about 9,700 full-time workers. Musk has signaled a bold target of 100 GW of U.S. solar manufacturing capacity by 2028, though incentives and site competition remain uncertainties.
U.S. agencies warn that hackers are targeting critical infrastructure, including Siemens S7 PLCs used in water, energy and manufacturing. The government is directing private firms to conduct cyber surveillance and, where approved, cyber effects operations against transnational criminal organizations under strict oversight. Details and timelines are still pending.
Apple has issued threat notifications in 110 countries about mercenary spyware attacks targeting high-profile individuals. The alerts urge recipients to take immediate steps, including enabling Lockdown Mode, updating devices, and seeking specialist help. The advisories come as expert groups note the growing reach and sophistication of government-linked spyware.
Starcloud has secured a funding extension valuing the company at $2.3 billion to expand manufacturing and advance Starcloud-3, a spacecraft intended to ride on SpaceX’s Starship. The company plans two 8 kW satellites for 2027 launches, with aims to sign additional launch contracts as SpaceX’s Starship rollout could lower costs. Nvidia and others back the round, underscoring growing space compute ambitions.
Nevada's transportation authority has approved permits for major players to deploy robotaxi services in Clark County, Las Vegas, setting up a competitive battle among Tesla, Waymo, Uber, and Zoox. The approvals include up to thousands of vehicles over the next 12 months, with limits per company and ongoing questions about deployment pace and regulatory oversight.
Walmart has announced it will add tap‑to‑pay at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations starting August 24, 2026, and roll the feature out to all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026. The company has said it will expand tap‑to‑pay to fuel stations by mid‑2027 and will support Apple Pay, Google Pay and eligible Walmart payment cards.