The AI market is experiencing significant growth as Runpod reaches $120M ARR and ClickHouse secures a $15B valuation, while demand for chips continues to be "endless" according to TSMC; OpenAI plans to introduce ads in ChatGPT, as AI applications expand into healthcare with Chai Discovery's deal with Eli Lilly and journalism through Symbolic.ai's partnership with News Corp, further solidified by Anthropic's strategic expansion into India.

• AI cloud startup Runpod hits $120M in ARR — and it started with a Reddit post — TechCrunch -
• Snowflake, Databricks challenger ClickHouse hits $15B valuation — TechCrunch -
• OpenAI to test ads in ChatGPT as it burns through billions — Ars Technica -

• From OpenAI’s offices to a deal with Eli Lilly — how Chai Discovery became one of the flashiest names in AI drug development — TechCrunch -
• ChatGPT users are about to get hit with targeted ads — TechCrunch -
• The AI healthcare gold rush is here — TechCrunch -
• TSMC says AI demand is “endless” after record Q4 earnings — Ars Technica -
• Anthropic taps former Microsoft India MD to lead Bengaluru expansion — TechCrunch -
• AI journalism startup Symbolic.ai signs deal with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp — TechCrunch -

Regulatory scrutiny and legal battles plague the AI sector as xAI faces a cease-and-desist from the California AG and a lawsuit over sexual deepfakes, alongside an EPA ruling regarding its illegal use of natural gas generators, while a major lawsuit involving OpenAI, Microsoft, and Elon Musk proceeds to court.

• California AG sends Musk’s xAI a cease-and-desist order over sexual deepfakes — TechCrunch -
• EPA rules that xAI’s natural gas generators were illegally used — TechCrunch -
• Mother of one of Elon Musk’s offspring sues xAI over sexualized deepfakes — Ars Technica -

• Silicon Valley’s messiest breakup is definitely headed to court — TechCrunch -

Digital security threats are highlighted by a hacking campaign targeting prominent individuals on Gmail and WhatsApp, a Supreme Court hacker posting stolen government data on Instagram, and a Mandiant tool capable of cracking weak admin passwords, while Anna's Archive faces a court order to delete scraped data amidst compliance doubts.

• Judge orders Anna’s Archive to delete scraped data; no one thinks it will comply — Ars Technica -
• Mandiant releases rainbow table that cracks weak admin password in 12 hours — Ars Technica -
• Supreme Court hacker posted stolen government data on Instagram — TechCrunch -

• How a hacking campaign targeted high-profile Gmail and WhatsApp users across the Middle East — TechCrunch -

Social media platforms are evolving with TikTok's new 'PineDrama' app for microdramas, and Bluesky's new features driving increased installs, even as X experiences another outage and YouTube adjusts its monetization policies for controversial content.

• TikTok quietly launches a microdrama app called ‘PineDrama’ — TechCrunch -
• X is down for the second time this week — TechCrunch -
• YouTube relaxes monetization guidelines for some controversial topics — TechCrunch -

• Bluesky rolls out cashtags and LIVE badges amid a boost in app installs — TechCrunch -

Tech policy discussions include the Trump administration's proposal for tech companies to invest in power plants and California's conditions on the Verizon/Frontier merger, while the industry sees a rise in 'micro' apps created by non-developers and Activision Blizzard faces an investigation in Italy over in-game purchases.

• Trump administration wants tech companies to buy $15B of power plants they may not use — TechCrunch -
• Calif. counters FCC attack on DEI with conditions on Verizon/Frontier merger — Ars Technica -
• Italy investigates Activision Blizzard for pushing in-game purchases — TechCrunch -

• The rise of ‘micro’ apps: non-developers are writing apps instead of buying them — TechCrunch -

The automotive sector is active with Chinese EVs gaining closer access to the US market through Canadian tariff reductions, Tesla's Full Self-Driving system under continued federal investigation, and a review of Ferrari's 12Cilindri celebrating its traditional strengths.

• Chinese EVs inch closer to the US as Canada slashes tariffs — TechCrunch -
• Feds give Tesla another five weeks to respond to FSD probe — Ars Technica -
• Ferrari doing what it does best: The 12Cilindri review — Ars Technica -

The tech infrastructure market faces challenges as Rackspace customers confront significant email hosting price increases, and a widespread RAM shortage now impacts GPUs, high-capacity SSDs, and hard drives.

• Rackspace customers grapple with “devastating” email hosting price hike — Ars Technica -
• RAM shortage chaos expands to GPUs, high-capacity SSDs, and even hard drives — Ars Technica -

Scientific and exploratory news includes the discovery of a supersized medieval shipwreck in Denmark, a disturbing medical case involving a hypervirulent germ, and updates on space launches with the upcoming debut of Ariane 64 and India's potential Falcon 9 clone.

• Archaeologists find a supersized medieval shipwreck in Denmark — Ars Technica -
• This may be the grossest eye pic ever—but the cause is what’s truly horrifying — Ars Technica -
• This may be the grossest eye pic ever—but the cause is what’s truly horrifying — Ars Technica -

• Rocket Report: Ariane 64 to debut soon; India has a Falcon 9 clone too? — Ars Technica -