Google's substantial investment in Anthropic, Cohere's strategic merger creating an AI powerhouse, new AI social networks emerging from college campuses, Meta's talent acquisition strategy for AI, ComfyUI's significant valuation amid creative control demands, DeepSeek's new model closing the gap with frontier AI, Nothing's new AI-powered dictation tool, Uber's CTO discussing AI at an upcoming event, and SpaceX's increasing focus on AI highlight the rapid expansion and investment in artificial intelligence.

• Google will invest as much as $40 billion in Anthropic — Ars Technica -
• Cohere acquires, merges with Germany-based startup to create a ‘transatlantic AI powerhouse’ — TechCrunch -
• Two college kids raise a $5.1 million pre-seed to build an AI social network in iMessage — TechCrunch -

• Meta’s loss is Thinking Machines’ gain — TechCrunch -
• ComfyUI hits $500M valuation as creators seek more control over AI-generated media — TechCrunch -
• Google to invest up to $40B in Anthropic in cash and compute — TechCrunch -
• Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga joins stacked StrictlyVC SF lineup for April 30 event — TechCrunch -
• Nothing introduces an AI-powered dictation tool — TechCrunch -
• DeepSeek previews new AI model that ‘closes the gap’ with frontier models — TechCrunch -
• In another wild turn for AI chips, Meta signs deal for millions of Amazon AI CPUs — TechCrunch -
• Rocket Report: Artemis III rocket getting ready; SpaceX is now an AI company — Ars Technica -

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's strong reaction to investor fraud, Tim Cook's planned departure from Apple and its implications, reflections on Cook's tenure and Apple's direction, and Bob Iger rejoining Thrive Capital as an advisor underscore notable executive transitions and corporate accountability in the tech world.

• Steve Ballmer blasts founder he backed who pleaded guilty to fraud: ‘I was duped and feel silly’ — TechCrunch -
• Tim Cook is stepping down. What happens to Apple now? — TechCrunch -
• Six things I'll remember when I think about Tim Cook's version of Apple — Ars Technica -

• Bob Iger rejoins Thrive Capital as advisor after Disney exit — TechCrunch -

Palantir's reported role in IRS financial crime investigations, the FCC's expanded ban on foreign-made routers to include portable hotspots, university websites compromised with inappropriate content due to poor security, a soldier's alleged illicit winnings from Polymarket bets on political events, a man facing charges for using AI to fake a wolf sighting, and a new spyware maker caught distributing fake Android snooping apps reveal the growing intersection of technology with legal, ethical, and national security concerns.

• Palantir is reportedly helping the IRS investigate financial crimes — TechCrunch -
• FCC: Router ban includes portable hotspots, but not phones with hotspot features — Ars Technica -
• Why are top university websites serving porn? It comes down to shoddy housekeeping. — Ars Technica -

• Soldier won $410K in Polymarket bets on timing of Maduro capture, US alleges — Ars Technica -
• Man faces 5 years in prison for using AI to fake sighting of runaway wolf — Ars Technica -
• Another spyware maker caught distributing fake Android snooping apps — TechCrunch -

Nuclear startup X-energy's successful upsized IPO and stock surge, reports of corrosion in the Lunar Gateway's primary modules, and preparations for the Artemis III rocket launch illustrate both the promising innovations and the logistical challenges within the energy and space sectors.

• X-energy stock pops 27% on first day of trading following upsized IPO — TechCrunch -
• Nuclear startup X-energy raises $1B in data center-driven IPO — TechCrunch -
• Well, this is embarrassing: The Lunar Gateway's primary modules are corroded — Ars Technica -

Samsung executives' concerns about potential smartphone losses due to AI-driven memory shortages and a surge in marked-up Mac minis on eBay amid AI-induced demand for local processing power demonstrate how the booming AI sector is creating significant shifts in technology supply chains and market pricing.

• Report: Samsung execs worried company could lose money on smartphones for the first time — Ars Technica -
• Marked-up Mac minis flood eBay amid shortages driven by AI — TechCrunch -

Porsche's introduction of an all-electric Cayenne coupe and its decision to sell stakes in Bugatti due to fading electric aspirations reflect the evolving strategies and challenges within the high-performance automotive industry regarding electrification.

• As electric aspirations fade, Porsche sells its stake in Bugatti — Ars Technica -
• Porsche is adding an all-electric Cayenne coupe to its lineup — TechCrunch -

X's launch of its stand-alone XChat app on iOS, offering features like private and disappearing messages alongside audio and video calls, marks a strategic expansion in its communication offerings.

• X launches stand-alone XChat app on iOS — TechCrunch -

Europe's lead in authorizing Moderna's combination mRNA flu-COVID vaccine before the US, a rare and unusual chickenpox case presenting with large, rubbery nodules, and the discovery of a massive 19-meter Cretaceous kraken showcase significant developments in medical science, public health, and paleontology.

• Europe—not US—first to authorize Moderna's combo mRNA flu-COVID vaccine — Ars Technica -
• In rare chickenpox case, itchy blisters mushroom into large, rubbery nodules — Ars Technica -
• Meet the 19-meter Cretaceous kraken that swam with mosasaurs — Ars Technica -