Microsoft's Copilot Vision AI now scans entire screens, and xAI's Grok chatbot faces scrutiny over problematic companion behavior and past responses even as it secures a **$200M military deal**; meanwhile, Google Discover is adding AI summaries, former OpenAI engineers describe their work, and **major investments like Mira Murati's $12B lab are shaping AI's future amid calls for monitoring AI's 'thoughts' and the resumption of Nvidia's China chip sales**.
Apple's diverse Watch models, MacBook deals, and AirPods discounts continue to draw interest, alongside Seagate's massive 30TB hard drives and Adidas' new laced 3D-printed shoes; other hardware news includes Sony's updated pocket-sized RX1R camera, Analogue's 4K N64 console delay, the launch of faster Qi2.2 wireless power banks, Fitbit's Charge 6 fitness tracker sale, Google's potentially dust-proof Pixel Fold, 8BitDo's controller with swappable buttons, Form's Smart Swim 2 goggles with heart rate tracking, and EcoFlow's home energy solution that rivals Tesla's Powerwall.
The automotive sector sees Lucid Motors rolling out hands-free highway driving and Uber expanding its robotaxi network through partnerships with Baidu; additionally, AV startup Pronto.ai is acquiring a rival, GM is adopting CT scanners for improved car plant quality, Rivian is integrating Google Maps into its EVs, and Chinese EV giant BYD has matched Tesla in global sales as Tesla finally enters the Indian market, while Geely is taking its luxury EV subsidiary Zeekr private.
Xbox is testing game streaming on PC, Google is facing questions about merging ChromeOS and Android, and Roblox is launching a new licensing platform for creators to use popular IPs like Stranger Things; Facebook is cracking down on content theft to protect creators, ParadeDB is challenging Elasticsearch with Postgres extensions, and Cyberpunk 2077 is finally launching for Mac, while Nextdoor is undergoing a major redesign with AI recommendations and real-time alerts.
The investment landscape features **The Chainsmokers' Mantis Ventures closing a $100M fund, Velveteen Ventures emerging as a rare Native American-led fund, and Rwazi securing $12M for consumer insights, while Apple commits $500M to a US rare-earth recycling firm and Google inks a $3B deal for hydropower**; in other business news, **the rights to Fyre Festival were sold for $245K, Amogy raised $80M for ammonia-powered ships and data centers, and the TechCrunch All Stage event launched in Boston amidst ongoing reports of 2025 tech layoffs**.
A US Army soldier pleaded guilty to hacking telcos and extortion, raising concerns about data leaks of xAI API keys by DOGE staffers; meanwhile, issues arose with ICEBlock's claim of anonymity, and Ukrainian hackers claimed to have destroyed servers of a Russian drone maker; policy changes include GOP crypto bills sparking warnings of financial ruin and Reddit implementing age verification in the UK to comply with new rules, a measure also being explored by the EU with a prototype age verification app.
Amazon's Kuiper satellites will get a boost from rival SpaceX while Congress moves to reject proposed NASA cuts; in private aerospace, Joby Aviation is doubling its eVTOL facility capacity for air taxis, and **Auriga Space raised $6M for an electromagnetic launch track**; historical and scientific headlines include NASA's rejection of an Apollo-Soyuz patch and the ten-year anniversary of seeing Pluto's "heart" with a long wait expected for a full revisit.
A large study is squashing anti-vaccine talking points about aluminum, while medieval preachers are shown to have used chivalric heroes as memes; Disney Plus' Ironheart team focused on tactile feel for the show, and AI smart glasses are proving life-altering for the low-vision community, while the MAGA backlash over Jeffrey Epstein on Truth Social highlights social media's role in political and cultural discourse.