Amazon's acquisition of Rivr, a stair-climbing delivery robot maker, and **Jeff Bezos's reported $100 billion plan to transform manufacturing with AI underscore the deep integration of AI and robotics into industry, while Meta rolls out new AI content enforcement systems and DoorDash utilizes AI training tasks** for couriers.

• Amazon acquires Rivr, maker of a stair-climbing delivery robot — TechCrunch -
• Jeff Bezos reportedly wants $100 billion to buy and transform old manufacturing firms with AI — TechCrunch -
• Employees had to restrain a dancing humanoid robot after it went wild at a California restaurant — TechCrunch -

• Online bot traffic will exceed human traffic by 2027, Cloudflare CEO says — TechCrunch -
• OpenAI is acquiring open source Python tool-maker Astral — Ars Technica -
• Meta rolls out new AI content enforcement systems while reducing reliance on third-party vendors — TechCrunch -
• DoorDash launches a new ‘Tasks’ app that pays couriers to submit videos to train AI — TechCrunch -
• Amazon brings Alexa+ to the UK — TechCrunch -
• Multiverse Computing pushes its compressed AI models into the mainstream — TechCrunch -
• Two Palantir veterans just came out of stealth with $30M and a Sequoia stamp of approval — TechCrunch -

A new hacking tool for millions of iPhones and the FBI's resumed purchase of Americans' location data raise significant privacy alarms, alongside FBI seizures of hacking group websites after the Stryker attack and CISA's urgent call to secure Microsoft Intune systems.

• Millions of iPhones can be hacked with a new tool found in the wild — Ars Technica -
• FBI started buying Americans' location data again, Kash Patel confirms — Ars Technica -
• FBI seizes pro-Iranian hacking group’s websites after destructive Stryker hack — TechCrunch -

• CISA urges companies to secure Microsoft Intune systems after hackers mass-wipe Stryker devices — TechCrunch -
• Consumer-focused privacy company Cloaked raises $375M as it expands to enterprise — TechCrunch -

Rivian is prioritizing autonomy over short-term profit, while Uber partners with Rivian for robotaxis, and federal regulators intensify their investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving software.

• Rivian sacrifices 2027 profit goal to push deeper into autonomy — TechCrunch -
• Arc expands into electric commercial and defense boats with $50M raise — TechCrunch -
• Feds intensify investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software — TechCrunch -

• Uber taps Rivian to build robotaxis in deal worth up to $1.25B — TechCrunch -

**Bluesky secured a $100M Series B round, geothermal startup Fervo overcame significant hurdles with a new loan, and Alphabet's X launched Anori** to streamline bureaucratic processes for development.

• Bluesky announces $100M Series B after CEO transition — TechCrunch -
• Geothermal startup Fervo catapults itself over the ‘valley of death’ — TechCrunch -
• TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 nominations are still open — TechCrunch -

• Alphabet’s X has a new spinout, and it’s going after one of the world’s most expensive bureaucratic nightmares — TechCrunch -
• Tools for founders to navigate and move past conflict — TechCrunch -
• Inside a $1.1B deal to reshore critical minerals refining — TechCrunch -

Google unveiled new ways to sideload Android apps while protecting against scams, cloud service providers pressed the EU regulator regarding VMware, and TCL's QLED ban in Germany sparked debate over TV display advertising.

• Cloud service providers ask EU regulator to reinstate VMware partner program — Ars Technica -
• Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps — Ars Technica -
• Google introduces a new way for users to sideload Android apps that still protects against scams — TechCrunch -

• Despite hardware limits, Parallels supports running Windows on MacBook Neo — Ars Technica -
• Counter-Strike 2’s new reload system could upend the entire game — Ars Technica -
• Tubi joins forces with popular TikTokers to create original streaming content — TechCrunch -
• TCL’s German QLED ban puts pressure on TV brands to be more honest about QDs — Ars Technica -

Discussions arise around a company's interest in "dogfighting in space" for high-tempo engagement, and K2 prepares to launch a high-powered satellite for in-space computing.

• Dogfighting in space won't look like the movies, but this company wants in on it — Ars Technica -
• K2 to launch its first high-powered satellite for space compute — TechCrunch -

RFK Jr. is reported to have dismantled numerous health department expert panels, alongside Afroman's continued trolling of cops following his defamation case victory.

• RFK Jr. has destroyed over a quarter of health dept's expert panels — Ars Technica -
• Afroman keeps trolling cops after winning “Lemon Pound Cake” defamation case — Ars Technica -

Meta has reversed its decision to shut down Horizon Worlds VR, signaling a continued, albeit cautious, commitment to its virtual reality platform.

• Meta decides not to kill Horizon Worlds VR after all — Ars Technica -
• Meta decides not to shut down Horizon Worlds on VR after all — TechCrunch -

Polymarket expands its reach with a new partnership deal with Major League Baseball, signifying growing mainstream adoption for prediction markets.

• Polymarket continues its partnership spree with a Major League Baseball deal — TechCrunch -