OpenAI's acquisition of TBPN, ElevenLabs' new AI music app, Microsoft's foundational AI models, Google's Gemma 4 updates, Google's Vids app avatars, and Anthropic's DMCA efforts demonstrate rapid growth and legal challenges within the AI landscape.

• OpenAI acquires TBPN, the buzzy founder-led business talk show — TechCrunch -
• ElevenLabs releases a new AI-powered music-generation app — TechCrunch -
• Microsoft takes on AI rivals with three new foundational models — TechCrunch -

• Google announces Gemma 4 open AI models, switches to Apache 2.0 license — Ars Technica -
• Google now lets you direct avatars through prompts in its Vids app — TechCrunch -
• Anthropic says its leak-focused DMCA effort unintentionally hit legit GitHub forks — Ars Technica -

NASA's Artemis II launch and astronauts' email struggles, questions about Moon missions' purpose, and Amazon's move to acquire Globalstar indicate continued ambition and competition in space.

• NASA astronauts prove that sending an email really is rocket science — TechCrunch -
• Why is NASA bothering to go back to the Moon if we've already been there? — Ars Technica -
• Amazon is trying to buy Globalstar to compete with SpaceX's Starlink — Ars Technica -

• Artemis II, NASA's boldest mission in generations, launches crew to the Moon — Ars Technica -

A critical data exposure from the Duc money transfer app and ICE's acquisition of Paragon spyware highlight ongoing threats to personal data and government surveillance capabilities.

• Money transfer app Duc exposed thousands of driver’s licenses and passports to the open web — TechCrunch -
• ICE says it bought Paragon’s spyware to use in drug trafficking cases — TechCrunch -

Ford's Nürburgring record-breaking car and Tesla's challenges with declining sales and overproduction reveal contrasting performance and strategic shifts within the automotive sector.

• This Ford is the quickest production car at the Nürburgring, ever — Ars Technica -
• Tesla’s cheaper vehicles aren’t helping its declining sales — TechCrunch -
• Tesla sales grew by 6% in Q1, but company has an overproduction problem — Ars Technica -

Gateway Capital's successful Fund II close, the importance of diverse VCs in building diverse teams, and Cash App's new 'pay later' feature showcase fundraising, inclusivity, and evolving financial services.

• Gateway Capital announces first close of $25M Fund II — TechCrunch -
• Diverse teams start with diverse VCs — TechCrunch -
• Cash App launches ‘pay later’ feature for P2P pay transfers — TechCrunch -

Flipboard's new 'social websites' for content aggregation and Beehiiv's expansion into podcasting to rival Patreon illustrate continuous evolution in content distribution and creator monetization.

• Flipboard’s new ‘social websites’ help publishers and creators tap into the open social web — TechCrunch -
• Beehiiv expands into podcasting, taking aim at Patreon — TechCrunch -

United Airlines' app integrating TSA wait times and Commonwealth Fusion Systems' strategic use of magnet sales for revenue demonstrate practical improvements and innovative business models across various tech sectors.

• United’s mobile app now shows TSA wait times at select airports — TechCrunch -
• Commonwealth Fusion Systems leans on magnets for near-term revenue — TechCrunch -