Apple's AI Feature Briefly Activates in China Without Official Approval, Sparking Regulatory Concerns
Apple’s AI feature, Apple Intelligence, momentarily turned on in China without prior approval, showing up on iPhones before quickly vanishing. This unexpected event highlights possible regulatory challenges as Apple navigates its entry into China's market with advanced technology.
EnerVenue Raises $300 Million to Adapt NASA's Space-Grade Batteries for Earth Use
EnerVenue has raised $300 million to commercialize nickel-hydrogen battery technology, originally used in space missions such as the ISS and Hubble Telescope. The startup aims to adapt this reliable, long-lasting battery chemistry for ground-based energy storage, offering a promising advancement in sustainable power solutions.
ALSO Reaches $1 Billion Valuation, Partners with DoorDash for Autonomous Delivery
ALSO, an EV startup from Palo Alto and Rivian spinout, has raised $200M in Series C led by Greenoaks. DoorDash not only invested but also partnered with ALSO to use its autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery. DoorDash co-founder Stanley Tang will join ALSO's board as an observer, marking a significant step in ALSO's growth and market expansion.
Oracle Plans Major Workforce Reduction to Fund AI Data Center Expansion
Oracle is undertaking a significant workforce reduction, potentially impacting up to 30,000 employees worldwide, to reallocate funds towards expanding its AI data centers. This strategic shift highlights the company's focus on investing heavily in AI technology infrastructure.
Kestra, French Open-Source Orchestration Platform, Secures $25M Series A Funding
Kestra, the French open-source orchestration platform, raised $25M in Series A funding led by RTP Global. The company reported a 25-fold increase in enterprise revenue over 18 months and executed over 2 billion workflows in 2025, bringing total funding to $36M.
Starcloud Secures $170 Million Funding, Achieving Unicorn Status
Starcloud raises $170 million to accelerate its space technology projects, including advanced satellite development, new manufacturing facilities, and workforce growth, marking its entry into unicorn status.
Harvey Launches Dublin Office, Plans to Create 40 New Jobs Following $200M Funding Round
AI legal-tech firm Harvey has opened a new office in Dublin, planning to create 40 jobs after securing $200 million in funding at an $11 billion valuation. This marks a significant growth phase for the company in the legal technology sector.
HHS Renames U.S. Health IT Office and Expands Its Role
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has renamed the federal health IT office back to the Office of the National Coordinator under the Trump administration, indicating changes to its scope and authority in managing national health IT policies.
The AI Competition Has Shifted: It's No Longer Just About Intelligence, But About Effective Execution
The AI race has moved beyond developing the smartest models to focusing on execution. Leading companies succeed by building AI products that users continuously engage with, highlighting the importance of practical application over pure intelligence.
How AI-Driven Startups in the Northeast Are Revolutionizing Healthcare
Northeast-based startups are leveraging AI to improve healthcare delivery by monitoring patients more effectively, expediting case evaluations, and supporting faster clinical decisions, marking a significant advancement in medical technology.
Oracle Among Big Tech to Announce Mass Layoffs Through Impersonal Emails
Oracle has conducted a large-scale layoff impacting thousands of employees through a mass email, marking a notably impersonal approach even by Big Tech standards. The layoffs relate to Oracle's strategic investment in AI amidst efforts to manage financial pressures from recent AI-related expenditures. This trend reflects wider industry practices of using AI as a justification for workforce reductions primarily driven by financial optimization.
OpenAI Faces Pressure to Turn Profits Ahead of Potential Stock Market Debut
OpenAI, valued at $850bn, is under pressure to prove profitability before a potential stock market float. The company is recalibrating its massive infrastructure investments, cutting planned spending from $1.4tn to $600bn by 2030, aiming to stabilize its business model amid AI industry growth.
Slack Unveils Over 30 New AI Enhancements for Slackbot in Its Most Significant Update Since Salesforce Deal
Slack's latest update dramatically expands Slackbot's capabilities with over 30 AI features, turning it into a full-fledged digital coworker integrated deeply within enterprise workflows. Powered by Anthropic's Claude model, this upgrade enables meeting transcription, multi-step task execution, and a native CRM aimed at small businesses, all under strict user privacy controls. Positioned as part of Salesforce's broader AI strategy, Slackbot competes with Microsoft and Google by leveraging rich conversational context and seamless integrations, highlighting a significant evolution in workplace productivity tools.
PromptQL Transforms Team Messaging into Secure AI-Powered Workflows
PromptQL reinvents team messaging by transforming chats into a secure, AI-powered workspace that converts conversations into actionable workflows. Its Shared Wiki builds a continuously updated, accurate context for AI agents, supporting seamless task automation and data integration while maintaining enterprise-grade security. By enabling real-time AI collaboration within familiar messaging formats, PromptQL boosts productivity and ensures compliance, making it a transformative solution for modern enterprises.
Softr Unveils AI-Enhanced Platform Empowering Non-Technical Teams to Build Functional Business Apps Without Coding
Softr launches an AI-powered no-code platform that helps non-technical teams create reliable business applications quickly. The platform combines structured building blocks with AI guidance, ensuring secure, production-ready apps without coding. Trusted by Netflix, Google, and others, Softr targets a vast market, enabling users to design custom software with ease and speed.
ThinkLabs AI Secures $28 Million to Revolutionize Power Grid Management Amid Rising Electricity Demand
ThinkLabs AI has raised $28 million to deploy advanced AI that simulates electric grid dynamics in real-time, vastly speeding up power flow studies with high accuracy. This innovation addresses the challenge of rising electricity demand and grid modernization, backed by strategic partnerships with Nvidia and utilities like Edison. The company aims to transform grid management with AI-driven solutions—critical for efficient infrastructure investment and operational decisions as energy demands grow.
Yum Brands and WPP Explore Practical Uses of AI as Technology Advances
During the IAB’s Public Policy & Legal Summit, Yum Brands and WPP officials highlighted their approaches to implementing AI technologies in their business practices amidst ongoing advancements in the field.
Palantir UK's Head Defends NHS Partnership Amid Calls for Contract Termination
Palantir UK's leader urges government to uphold a £330m NHS contract despite pressures from ideological campaigners and challenges regarding the company's role in public sector data projects.
California Moves to Regulate AI in Contrast to Trump's Deregulation Stance
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order directing the state to develop new AI regulations focused on public safety and protecting rights, opposing Donald Trump's push for deregulation. The policy guidelines are to be established within four months, showing California's commitment to responsible AI governance.
Ex-Coatue Partner Secures $65M Seed Funding for Cutting-Edge Enterprise AI Agent Startup
A former partner of Coatue has successfully raised an impressive $65 million in seed funding for a new enterprise AI agent startup. The significant investment was driven by a combination of factors that strongly appealed to investors, prompting their early and substantial participation.