Tech
AI Summary
- The tech industry is witnessing significant advancements in AI, with Meta acquiring a robotics startup for humanoid AI ambitions and the Pentagon partnering with Nvidia, Microsoft, and AWS for AI deployment on classified networks, while research suggests AI uses less water than commonly believed.
- There's ongoing upheaval in the AI landscape with the Musk v. Altman legal battle intensifying, claims of xAI training Grok on OpenAI models, and OpenAI enhancing ChatGPT account security for at-risk users.
- Major tech players are navigating hardware challenges and market shifts, including Apple facing a looming chip shortage despite record sales and a potential price hike for the Mac Mini, alongside Rivian adjusting its DOE loan for a Georgia factory.
- Cybersecurity remains a critical concern, highlighted by DDoS attacks causing Ubuntu service outages and a severe Linux Copy Fail security flaw discovered with AI's assistance, while hackers are actively exploiting a cPanel bug.
- The startup ecosystem continues to buzz with significant funding rounds and acquisitions, such as Musely securing $360M without equity, Y Combinator alum Skio selling for $105M, and legal AI startup Legora reaching a $5.6B valuation amid competitive pressures.
Sources
TechCrunch
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Replit’s Amjad Masad on the Cursor deal, fighting Apple, and why he’d rather not sell
3 hours ago
by Connie Loizos
AI, TCAt TechCrunch's sold-out StrictlyVC event in San Francisco on Thursday night, we covered a lot of ground in a short time, beginning with the question everyone in the industry is asking right now: in a world where rival Cursor is reportedly in talks to be acquired by SpaceX for $60 billion, is Replit also bound to sell?
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Musely secures $360M from General Catalyst without giving up equity
3 hours ago
by Marina Temkin
Biotech & Health, Venture, direct to consumer, dtc, General Catalyst, menopause, skincareThe DTC skin, hair, and menopause care brand will use the non-dilutive capital to super-charge customer acquisition.
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Meta buys robotics startup to bolster its humanoid AI ambitions
4 hours ago
by Julie Bort
AI, TC, humanoid robots, Mergers and Acquisitions, MetaMeta bought humanoid startup Assured Robot Intelligence to beef up its AI models for robots, the company said.
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Coatue has a plan to buy up land for data centers, possibly for Anthropic
7 hours ago
by Julie Bort
Real estate, Venture, Anthropic, coatue, data centers, In BriefCoatue, one of the biggest names in venture capital, has a new venture that is reportedly buying land near large power sources.
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Pentagon inks deals with Nvidia, Microsoft, and AWS to deploy AI on classified networks
10 hours ago
by Ram Iyer
AI, Government & Policy, AWS, Defense Department, Google, Microsoft, nvidia, OpenAI, SpaceXThe deals come as the DOD has doubled down on diversifying its exposure to AI vendors in the wake of its controversial dispute with Anthropic over usage terms of its AI models.
Hacker News
- Ti-84 Evo 6 hours ago
- New research suggests people can communicate and practice skills while dreaming 8 hours ago
- Artemis II Photo Timeline 2 days ago
- The smelly baby problem 2 days ago
- A Report on Burnout in Open Source Software Communities (2025) [pdf] 2 hours ago
Engadget
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AI performances and screenplays won't be eligible for Oscars
5 hours ago
by Will Shanklin
AIWill that stop them from taking over?
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Apple appears to have discontinued its cheapest Mac mini
5 hours ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
ComputingThe compact desktop Mac now starts at $799 and comes with 512GB of storage.
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There's already a way to mount your smartphone to a Steam Controller
7 hours ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
GamingJust don't expect it to work with many iOS or Android apps yet.
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LG's 2026 Gram laptop lineup starts at $1,150
8 hours ago
by Will Shanklin
LaptopsThey're available today from LG's website.
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It's Bandcamp Friday again
8 hours ago
by Igor Bonifacic
EntertainmentWhat are you buying today?
The Verge
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Splatoon Raiders preorders for the Switch 2 are nearly 20 percent off
3 hours ago
by Cameron Faulkner
Deals, Gadgets, Gaming, Nintendo, Verge ShoppingNintendo recently announced a new pricing policy, which knocks $10 off the cost of digital versions of future first-party titles exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. Splatoon Raiders, for instance, is available for preorder ahead of its July 23rd release for $49.99 digitally or $59.99 for the physical edition. However, Amazon and Walmart are the exception in how they’re pricing preorders for the cartridge version. Right now, you can reserve the upcoming title at both retailers for $49.94, which is a few cents cheaper than the digital version. Raiders isn’t a sequel to Splatoon 3, but rather a spinoff that has similar
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Microsoft tests redesigned Windows 11 Run menu with dark mode and more
4 hours ago
by Emma Roth
Microsoft, News, Tech, WindowsMicrosoft is testing its much-needed refresh for the Windows 11 Run menu, offering a modern interface that the company says is faster and comes with support for dark mode. The redesign is rolling out now to Windows 11 Insiders in the new Experimental Channel. In a blog post explaining the changes, Microsoft says it decided to drop the Run menu's "Browse" button - a shortcut to user files - after finding "very low usage." Instead, Microsoft added support for a new "~\" command, which leads to your user directory. Microsoft says it built the new Run menu using code from Command Palette,
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Apple raises the Mac Mini’s starting price
4 hours ago
by Emma Roth
Apple, macOS, News, TechApple's Mac Mini now starts at $799 after the company pulled the $599 option with 256GB of storage from its online store, as spotted earlier by MacRumors. The model's discontinuation comes just one day after Apple CEO Tim Cook said during an earnings call that a chip shortage will impact its Mac products in the coming months. "If you look forward to June, the majority of our supply constraints will be on several Mac models," Cook said. "We think looking forward that the Mac Mini and the Mac Studio may take several months to reach supply-demand balance." He added that both
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All the evidence revealed so far in Musk v. Altman
7 hours ago
AI, Analysis, Elon Musk, Law, OpenAI, Policy, Report, TechThe Musk v. Altman trial is underway, and that means exhibits, or the evidence to be presented in court, are being revealed piece by piece. So far, email exchanges, photos, and corporate documents are circulating from the earliest days of OpenAI - and from before the AI lab even had a name. Some high-level takeaways: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang gave OpenAI an in-demand supercomputer, Musk largely drafted OpenAI's mission and heavily influenced its early structure, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appeared to want to lean heavily on Y Combinator for early support for OpenAI, OpenAI president Greg Brockman and Ilya Sutskever
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Birdfy’s smart bird feeder is down to its best-ever price for Mother’s Day
7 hours ago
by Sheena Vasani
Deals, Gadgets, Smart Home, Tech, Verge ShoppingFrom crafting machines to smart calendars, a number of unique gifts are already on sale in the run-up to Mother’s Day, May 10th. Birdfy smart feeders are another discounted option to consider, particularly the new Birdfy Feeder Metal 2 (4K), which is on sale for $259.99 ($50 off). If you’re looking to spend less, you can also grab the basic Birdfy Feeder for just $99.99 ($100 off) from Amazon or Birdfy, with the latter retailer throwing in a free botanical gift bag and greeting card. BIRDFY FEEDER WHERE TO BUY: * $229.99 $99.99 at Amazon * $229.99 $99.99 at Birdfy (with free
Wired
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Waymo Is Trying to Crack Down on Solo Kids in Driverless Cars
3 hours ago
by Aarian Marshall
Gear, Gear / Gear News and Events, ID, MeAs adult riders report new age-verification checks, the self-driving car company says it’s continuing to “refine” its system in places where kids aren’t allowed to ride alone.
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OpenAI Enables Marketing Cookies by Default for Free ChatGPT Users
4 hours ago
by Reece Rogers, Maddy Varner
Gear, Gear / Gear News and Events, Gear / Products / Apps, Cookie, MonsterChatGPT’s new privacy policy states how the company uses cookies for tracking, to turn free users into paying subscribers.
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Dangerous New Linux Exploit Gives Attackers Root Access to Countless Computers
5 hours ago
by Dan Goodin, Ars Technica
Security, Security / Cyberattacks and Hacks, Security / Security News, CopyFailThe exploit, dubbed CopyFail and tracked as CVE-2026-31431, allows hackers to take over PCs and data center servers. The Linux vulnerabilities have been patched—but many machines remain at risk.
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A Dark-Money Campaign Is Paying Influencers to Frame Chinese AI as a Threat
5 hours ago
by Taylor Lorenz
Business, Made, in, ChinaBuild American AI, a nonprofit linked to a super PAC bankrolled by executives at OpenAI and Andreessen Horowitz, is funding a campaign to spread pro-AI messaging and stoke fears about China.
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This Eye-Catching Indoor Garden Is 20 Percent Off Right Now
7 hours ago
by Kat Merck
Gear, Gear / Deals, Deal, of, the, DayLettuce Grow’s Farmstand is sure to impress, and it’s 20 percent off for Mother’s Day.