GTMfund spotlights new distribution strategies for the AI era as OpenAI acquires Convogo, while Google rolls out AI Overviews and an AI-organized inbox in Gmail, amidst Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and a former Bolt CEO's AI startup tripling its valuation.

• GTMfund has rewritten the distribution playbook for the AI era — TechCrunch -
• OpenAI to acquire the team behind executive coaching AI tool Convogo — TechCrunch -
• Go-to-market strategies for an AI era — TechCrunch -

• Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI will face a jury in March — TechCrunch -
• Google announces AI Overviews in Gmail search, experimental AI-organized inbox — Ars Technica -
• Gmail debuts a personalized AI Inbox, AI Overviews in search, and more — TechCrunch -
• Former Bolt CEO Maju Kuruvilla’s startup triples to $100M valuation — TechCrunch -

Governments are confronting the proliferation of non-consensual AI-generated imagery on platforms like X, with Grok's problematic assumptions about user intent and ChatGPT Health's unreliable medical record linking raising critical concerns about AI safety and misuse, paralleled by settlements in teen chatbot death cases involving Google and Character.AI.

• Governments grapple with the flood of non-consensual nudity on X — TechCrunch -
• Grok assumes users seeking images of underage girls have “good intent” — Ars Technica -
• ChatGPT Health lets you connect medical records to an AI that makes things up — Ars Technica -

• ChatGPT falls to new data-pilfering attack as a vicious cycle in AI continues — Ars Technica -
• Google and Character.AI negotiate first major settlements in teen chatbot death cases — TechCrunch -

The **data security startup Cyera achieved a $9 billion valuation after a major funding round, while a Michigan man faced legal repercussions for illegal spyware usage, and NSO Group's transparency claims were scrutinized amid reports of Illinois exposing personal data for hundreds of thousands of residents**.

• Data security startup Cyera hits $9B valuation six months after being valued at $6B — TechCrunch -
• Michigan man learns the hard way that “catch a cheater” spyware apps aren’t legal — Ars Technica -
• Critics pan spyware maker NSO’s transparency claims amid its push to enter US market — TechCrunch -

• Illinois health department exposed over 700,000 residents’ personal data for years — TechCrunch -

CES 2026 showcased a variety of peculiar and innovative products, from EverNitro's at-home nitro coffee maker to LG's new CLOid home robot for laundry, alongside Clicks Communicator's BlackBerry-like smartphone prototype capturing attention.

• EverNitro is simplifying the process of crafting silky nitro coffee at CES 2026 — TechCrunch -
• I watched LG’s new home robot CLOid do laundry but I have questions — TechCrunch -
• The most bizarre tech announced so far at CES 2026 — TechCrunch -

• Hands-on with a prototype of Clicks’ Communicator, a new BlackBerry-like smartphone — TechCrunch -

Volvo unveiled its new EX60 electric vehicle with impressive range and charging capabilities, while Waymo rebranded its Zeekr robotaxi, and Ford announced upcoming in-car AI assistants and enhanced hands-free BlueCruise technology for future models.

• Volvo says new EX60 has 400-mile range, charges up to 400 kW — Ars Technica -
• Waymo is rebranding its Zeekr robotaxi — TechCrunch -
• Ford is getting ready to put AI assistants in its cars — Ars Technica -

• Ford has an AI assistant and new hands-free BlueCruise tech on the way — TechCrunch -

High RAM prices are boosting profits for memory makers like Samsung, with Nvidia requiring upfront payments for its H200 AI chips in China and Snowflake planning to acquire observability platform Observe, all while analysts predict 2026 as 'the year of the consumer' and Nintendo Switch 2 sales show signs of slowing.

• High RAM prices mean record-setting profits for Samsung and other memory makers — Ars Technica -
• Anduril’s Palmer Luckey thinks the future of tech is in the past — TechCrunch -
• Seasonal Switch 2 sales show significant slowing as annual cycle sunsets — Ars Technica -

• Nvidia’s reportedly asking Chinese customers to pay upfront for its H200 AI chips — TechCrunch -
• Snowflake announces its intent to buy observability platform Observe — TechCrunch -
• Why this VC thinks 2026 will be ‘the year of the consumer’ — TechCrunch -
• JPMorgan Chase becomes the new issuer of the Apple Card — TechCrunch -

Wi-Fi advocates secured a victory from the FCC to allow higher-power devices, while Iran experienced a widespread internet collapse amidst economic protests, highlighting the critical role of connectivity and its governance.

• Wi-Fi advocates get win from FCC with vote to allow higher-power devices — Ars Technica -
• Internet collapses in Iran amid protests over economic crisis — TechCrunch -

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt pledged significant private funding for a Hubble telescope replacement, while NASA is evaluating the potential evacuation of an ailing crew member from the International Space Station, underscoring both ambitious future projects and immediate human safety concerns in space.

• Former Google CEO plans to singlehandedly fund a Hubble telescope replacement — Ars Technica -
• NASA considers evacuating ailing crew member from International Space Station — Ars Technica -

**Disney+ announced plans to introduce short-form videos this year**, signaling an adaptation to evolving content consumption trends and competition in the streaming landscape.

• Disney+ is launching short-form videos this year — TechCrunch -