**Sierra's $350M funding round demonstrates significant investment in customer service AI, while OpenAI's new AI-powered hiring platform and Google Photos' Veo 3 upgrade showcase AI's expanding applications in various sectors, from logistics with Augment's $85M Series A to fashion with Ella's AI styling tool and even advanced models for DuckDuckGo subscribers**.
Facebook's revival of its 'poke' feature and the broader rollout of X's encrypted DMs reflect evolving platform strategies, amidst Nepal blocking major social media platforms for rule breaches and Threads directly challenging X with expanded character limits and link support.
A **new $300M fund for climate tech aims to bridge the "valley of death" for later-stage startups, as Lambda may be heading for an IPO and Atlassian acquires The Browser Company for $610M**, indicating vigorous activity in venture capital and strategic acquisitions.
Growing numbers of mis-issued 1.1.1.1 certificates raise security concerns, alongside the emergence of sextortion spyware using webcams for blackmail, and a successful sting operation against a major sports piracy site underscores ongoing efforts to combat online threats.
Rivian's second workforce cut this year precedes its R2 SUV launch, while Waymo expands robotaxi services to San Jose airport and **GE Aerospace invests $300M in hybrid-electric power for advanced air mobility, alongside Honda's new hybrid Prelude and SpaceX's plans for new Falcon Heavy landing pads**.
Anticipation builds for Apple's iPhone 17 hardware event expected to feature a thinner model, as Google's Circle to Search gains real-time translation and Adobe brings Premiere video editing to iPhones, while Philips introduces new budget-friendly Hue bulbs and JetBlue partners with Amazon's Project Kuiper for free in-flight internet.
RFK Jr. sparks debate over COVID vaccine access as Google Maps experiences issues displaying vaccine locations, while Harvard secures a legal victory with a judge ordering the restoration of $2.6 billion in federal funding, highlighting ongoing intersections of technology, policy, and public health.
Stripe is leading an effort to build a new blockchain called Tempo, enlisting major partners like Anthropic and OpenAI to facilitate faster stablecoin processing, signaling a significant move in the financial technology sector.
The highly anticipated launch of **Hollow Knight: Silksong is reportedly causing issues for Steam and Nintendo's eShop**, suggesting overwhelming demand and excitement for the new title.
Microsoft open-sources Bill Gates' 6502 BASIC from 1978, making a piece of computing history available to the public and highlighting foundational software development.