Major developments in artificial intelligence and robotics include Nvidia's GTC keynote on AI's future, Rox AI and Sunday Robotics securing significant valuations, and Meta AI enhancing Facebook Marketplace functionality; meanwhile, Perplexity is bringing AI agents to personal computers and Google Maps is receiving AI-driven navigation upgrades.

• How to watch Jensen Huang’s Nvidia GTC 2026 keynote — TechCrunch -
• Sales automation startup Rox AI hits $1.2B valuation, sources say — TechCrunch -
• Facebook Marketplace now lets Meta AI respond to buyers’ messages — TechCrunch -

• Perplexity's "Personal Computer" brings its AI agents to the, uh, Personal Computer — Ars Technica -
• Atlassian follows Block’s footsteps and cuts staff in the name of AI — TechCrunch -
• Humanoid robotics maker Sunday reaches $1.15B valuation to build household robots — TechCrunch -
• Webflow buys AI content-generation platform Vidoso to bolster its marketing suite — TechCrunch -
• Bumble introduces an AI dating assistant, ‘Bee’ — TechCrunch -
• Gumloop lands $50M from Benchmark to turn every employee into an AI agent builder — TechCrunch -
• Alexa+ gets a new ‘adults only’ personality option that curses but won’t do NSFW content — TechCrunch -
• Google is using old news reports and AI to predict flash floods — TechCrunch -
• Google Maps gets its biggest navigation redesign in a decade, plus more AI — Ars Technica -
• Google Maps is getting an AI ‘Ask Maps’ feature and upgraded ‘immersive’ navigation — TechCrunch -
• Chinese brain interface startup Gestala raises $21M just two months after launch — TechCrunch -

The electric vehicle sector sees Rivian releasing R2 pricing and Lucid revealing its midsize EV platform alongside a robotaxi concept, while Honda cancels US-made EVs due to market challenges, and Tesla expands into a UK utility market.

• Why Rivian is holding the $45,000 base model R2 until ‘late 2027’ — TechCrunch -
• Lucid announces midsize EV platform, says profitability lies with SUVs — Ars Technica -
• Lucid Motors shows off robotaxi concept called ‘Lunar’ — TechCrunch -

• Tesla becomes a utility in the UK, setting up showdown with Octopus Energy — TechCrunch -
• Rivian R2 launch: Here’s what $57,990 gets you — TechCrunch -
• Rivian reveals pricing and trim details for its R2 SUV — Ars Technica -
• Uber, Wayve, and Nissan plan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo this year — TechCrunch -
• Honda scraps 3 EVs planned for the US, blaming tariffs and Chinese competition — TechCrunch -
• Facing heavy losses, Honda cancels its three US-made electric vehicles — Ars Technica -
• Group14 opens factory to produce battery materials for flash charging EVs — TechCrunch -

Significant concerns emerge around Stryker's network attack and Live Nation's alleged ticket gouging, alongside HP's practices of blocking third-party ink and a lawsuit against Grammarly for AI-related privacy violations.

• The who, what, and why of the attack that has shut down Stryker's Windows network — Ars Technica -
• Live Nation director boasted of gouging ticket buyers, "robbing them blind" — Ars Technica -
• HP has new incentive to stop blocking third-party ink in its printers — Ars Technica -

• Trump's DOJ is not falling for Sam Bankman-Fried's MAGA makeover on X — Ars Technica -
• Law enforcement shuts down botnet made of tens of thousands of hacked routers — TechCrunch -
• A writer is suing Grammarly for turning her and other authors into ‘AI editors’ without consent — TechCrunch -
• Valve compares its loot boxes to Labubus in lawsuit defense — Ars Technica -

Digital platforms are evolving with Channel Surfer offering a retro YouTube experience, Substack launching a new recording studio, Tinder revamping to include IRL events, and **Disney+ introducing TikTok-like 'Verts'**.

• Channel Surfer lets you watch YouTube like it’s old-school cable TV — TechCrunch -
• Substack launches a built-in recording studio — TechCrunch -
• Tinder tries to lure people back to online dating with IRL events, virtual speed dating — TechCrunch -

• Disney+ is rolling out its TikTok-like ‘Verts’ short-form video feed — TechCrunch -

Scientific headlines report on ancient Peruvian trade routes for imported parrots and a grim warning from experts regarding the resurgence of measles.

• Centuries before the Inca, Peru's wealthy imported parrots from afar — Ars Technica -
• We study pandemics, and the resurgence of measles is a grim sign of what’s coming — Ars Technica -

Innovations in hardware include Apple's new MacBook Neo designed for easier repairs, alongside Starlink and StarStream enabling satellite streaming for off-road racing.

• Apple's MacBook Neo makes repairs easier and cheaper than other MacBooks — Ars Technica -
• How I streamed my off-road Miata race using Starlink and StarStream — Ars Technica -

Startup news features **Wonderful securing a $150 million Series B round, complemented by insights into the unique dynamics of building a family business startup**.

• Wonderful raises $150M Series B at $2B valuation — TechCrunch -
• When startups become a family business — TechCrunch -

A cultural highlight includes a recollection of a 30-year-old Star Wars computer game, marking a pivotal moment for fans.

• Remembering the 30-year-old computer game that introduced me to Star Wars — Ars Technica -