Technology

AI innovations span from Aurora's autonomous trucks tackling night driving to Zuckerberg's vision for AI glasses and Meta's massive **$72 billion AI infrastructure investment, while also showing that AI increased time spent on Facebook and Instagram and that GenAI apps doubled their revenue. Meta is signaling a closed approach to 'superintelligence' AI models, alongside Google confirming it will sign the EU AI Code of Practice**, demonstrating both the rapid growth and emerging regulatory landscape.

The cybersecurity landscape is active with hackers planting a 4G-enabled Raspberry Pi in a bank network, the city of St. Paul being hacked so badly that the National Guard was deployed, and hackers stealing Social Security numbers during an Allianz Life cyberattack. Strategic industry moves include **Palo Alto Networks agreeing to buy CyberArk for $25 billion, while Google's tool was misused to scrub a tech CEO’s shady past from search, and VPN use soared in the UK after age-verification laws went into effect**.

The tech business sector saw significant financial activity, including **Figma's IPO hitting a $19.3B valuation and Ramp reaching a $22.5B valuation in just 45 days. Funding rounds secured by startups like PlayerZero for preventing buggy AI code, Conversation for AI marketing automation, AIR for eVTOL expansion in the US, and Observe for software observability highlight investment trends, alongside the major $25 billion acquisition of CyberArk by Palo Alto Networks and a New Jersey startup finding an electrifying way to slash copper costs**.

Digital platforms are evolving with AI increasing time spent on Facebook and Instagram, Substack facing criticism over its "Nazi problem", and Google proposing to open the Play Store to more real-money games in India. User experience and safety improvements include Germ bringing end-to-end encrypted messages to Bluesky, Meta's new CapCut rival Edits, YouTube loosening profanity rules for monetized videos, and TikTok launching crowdsourced fact-checks called Footnotes alongside new parental controls and creator tools.

Developments in advanced hardware and mobility include Aurora's autonomous trucks now driving at night, SpaceX facing lawsuits alleging safety-related retaliation, and **Tesla picking LGES for a $4.3 billion storage battery deal. Space exploration saw India safely launching a $1.5 billion satellite for NASA and Australia’s first orbital-class rocket stalling after liftoff, while consumer innovation brought Skechers making kids’ shoes with a hidden AirTag compartment, and AIR landing $23M to bring its eVTOLs to the US**.

Government interactions with the tech sector include the Senate confirming a CDC director while a top FDA official resigned, Big Tech working with the Trump administration to build a digital health ecosystem, and **$15 billion in NIH funding being frozen then thawed. Regulatory adherence is highlighted by Google confirming it will sign the EU AI Code of Practice, while VPN use soared in the UK after age-verification laws went into effect, and Google proposed to open the Play Store to more real-money games in India**.

Recent scientific discoveries include peacock feathers that can emit laser beams and a surprising finding that making Roman concrete produces as much CO2 as modern concrete, challenging prior assumptions about ancient building materials.

Practical software and consumer tech news includes a guide on how to get another free year of updates for your Windows 10 PC and the advancement of a Virtual Boy emulator adding full color support, enhancing retro gaming experiences.

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