Disney has issued a cease-and-desist to Google for alleged massive copyright infringement by its AI, yet simultaneously **invested $1 billion in OpenAI and licensed characters for Sora, while state attorneys general also warn major AI companies about 'delusional' outputs** and the need for safeguards.

• Disney says Google AI infringes copyright “on a massive scale” — Ars Technica -
• Disney hits Google with cease-and-desist claiming ‘massive’ copyright infringement — TechCrunch -
• Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI, licenses 200 characters for AI video app Sora — Ars Technica -

• Disney signs deal with OpenAI to allow Sora to generate AI videos featuring its characters — TechCrunch -
• State attorneys general warn Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, and other AI giants to fix ‘delusional’ outputs — TechCrunch -

Humanoid robots are moving from home-use to industrial applications with a new deal by 1X, while Rivian plans to integrate an AI assistant into its EVs by 2026 and significantly enhance autonomous capabilities, even as Ford and SK On dissolve their battery joint venture amid changing EV battery demands and Waymo robotaxis continue to operate, famously facilitating a childbirth.

• 1X struck a deal to send its ‘home’ humanoids to factories and warehouses — TechCrunch -
• Gazelle’s Arroyo offers a belt drive, continuous variable transmission — Ars Technica -
• Rivian’s AI assistant is coming to its EVs in early 2026 — TechCrunch -

• Fewer EVs need fewer batteries: Ford and SK On end their joint venture — Ars Technica -
• Rivian goes big on autonomy, with custom silicon, lidar, and a hint at robotaxis — TechCrunch -
• Ford and SK On are ending their US battery joint venture — TechCrunch -
• Baby delivered in Waymo continues proud tradition of not making it to the hospital — TechCrunch -

Blizzard has embraced a 'floating house' exploit in World of Warcraft by making it an official feature, Epic Games' Fortnite has returned to the US Google Play Store, and a teaser for the Supergirl film reveals a new take on Kara Zor-El.

• Instead of fixing WoW’s new floating house exploit, Blizzard makes it official — Ars Technica -
• Supergirl teaser gives us a likably imperfect Kara Zor-El — Ars Technica -
• Epic Games’ Fortnite is back in US Google Play Store, as court partially reverses restrictions it won on iOS — TechCrunch -

Physicists have ruled out sterile neutrinos based on MicroBooNE results, NASA faces challenges with aging Mars orbiters, and AI is being leveraged for environmental monitoring like bird tracking by Spoor, while biotech startup Eclipse Energy proposes converting oil wells into hydrogen factories and former CDC leaders prepare to discuss the impacts of anti-science agendas.

• Ars Live: 3 former CDC leaders detail impacts of RFK Jr.’s anti-science agenda — Ars Technica -
• No sterile neutrinos after all, say MicroBooNE physicists — Ars Technica -
• Eclipse Energy’s microbes can turn idle oil wells into hydrogen factories — TechCrunch -

• Interest in Spoor’s bird-monitoring AI software is soaring — TechCrunch -
• NASA just lost contact with a Mars orbiter, and will soon lose another one — Ars Technica -

The venture capital landscape indicates a shift in power towards founders, with new funding rounds for innovative digital platforms like On Me's gift card service, as well as security vulnerabilities in apps like Freedom Chat highlighting ongoing challenges in digital services.

• The market has ‘switched’ and founders have the power now, VCs say — TechCrunch -
• On Me raises $6M to shake up the gift card industry — TechCrunch -
• Security flaws in Freedom Chat app exposed users’ phone numbers and PINs — TechCrunch -