OpenAI’s existential questions
On the latest episode of Equity, we discuss OpenAI's latest acquisitions and whether they address "two big existential problems" for the company.
HeyStartup
The 12-month window
A lot of AI startups exist partly because the foundation models haven't expanded into their category yet. As many jokingly acknowledge, that won't last forever.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn put a customer satellite in the wrong orbit during its third launch
The first major failure of Blue Origin's new heavy-launch system could create delays to its ambition to help NASA and the Trump administration return to the Moon.
Robots beat human records at Beijing half-marathon
The winning time is a massive improvement over last year’s race, when the fastest robot finished in two hours and 40 minutes.
Palantir posts mini-manifesto denouncing inclusivity and ‘regressive’ cultures
Palantir's ideological bent has come under more scrutiny as it's worked with ICE and positioned itself as a defender of "the West."
TechCrunch Mobility: Uber enters its assetmaxxing era
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, how AI is playing a part.
Trump wants to stop states from regulating AI. States and Congress keep saying no.
In short: The Trump administration is waging a multi-front campaign to prevent states from regulating AI, using a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department evaluations of “burdensome” state laws, and a legislative framework urging Congress to preempt state-level regulation with a “minimally burdensome national standard.” But states have accelerated in the opposite direction – 1,208 […]This story continues at The Next Web
Google is in talks with Marvell to build custom AI inference chips as it diversifies beyond Broadcom
Summary: Google is in talks with Marvell Technology to develop two new AI chips – a memory processing unit and an inference-optimised TPU – adding a third design partner alongside Broadcom and MediaTek in its custom silicon supply chain. The discussions, which have not yet produced a signed contract, came days after Broadcom locked in […]This story continues at The Next Web
Stanford’s AI Index finds China has nearly closed the performance gap with the US despite spending 23 times less
In short: Stanford’s 2026 AI Index Report finds the performance gap between the best American and Chinese AI models has collapsed to 2.7%, down from 17.5-31.6 percentage points in May 2023, despite the US spending 23 times more on private AI investment ($285.9 billion vs $12.4 billion). China leads in AI patents (69.7% of global […]This story continues at The Next Web
Threads is redesigning its website and finally adding direct messages to the desktop
Summary: Threads head Connor Hayes previewed a redesigned web interface that adds direct messages, a navigation sidebar with shortcuts to saved posts and insights, and a cleaner single-feed layout replacing the current multi-column design. DMs, which launched on mobile in June 2025, will roll out on web “over the coming weeks,” bringing one-on-one chats, group […]This story continues at The Next Web
Meta targets 20 May for 8,000 layoffs as it redirects billions toward AI infrastructure
In short: Meta will begin companywide layoffs on 20 May, cutting approximately 8,000 employees (10% of its 78,865-person workforce), with additional cuts planned for the second half of 2026. The restructuring, which follows earlier rounds that brought Zuckerberg’s total cuts since 2022 to roughly 25,000, is driven by a reallocation toward AI infrastructure costing $115-135 […]This story continues at The Next Web
Cracks are starting to form on fusion energy’s funding boom
Fusion startups and investors risk deepening fissures if some key disagreements aren't settled amicably.
Blue Origin successfully re-uses a New Glenn rocket for the first time ever
It's a major milestone for the company's new mega-rocket system, putting it in position to challenge SpaceX's dominance of the global launch market.
Robot dog with Elon Musk face spotted in San Francisco
A flesh-toned robot dog with an unsettlingly realistic face wandered the streets near Oracle Park in San Francisco on April 8, and the face belonged to Elon Musk. The android wasn't a glitch in...
Elon Musk fulfills teen's last wish in touching X post after she was too weak to take his call
A 15-year-old cancer patient dreamed of meeting Elon Musk. After she died, he answered her handwritten questions and made her plushie a SpaceX mascot.
Pope Leo warns 'we're in big trouble' if Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire
Among major corporations, CEO compensation in low-median worker pay categories reached an average of $17.2 million in 2024, ...
Elon Musk Promotes Story of Pilot Ousted for Urging Merit-Based Military
Elon Musk on Friday promoted a film about Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier’s fight against Marxist ideas invading the military.
Elon Musk Reveals ‘Fix’ for Unemployment Caused By AI
As conversations around artificial intelligence continue to intensify, concerns about job loss and economic disruption are ...
Tesla brings its robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston
Tesla is expanding its robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston, according to a social media post from the company. The post says simply that “Robotaxi is now rolling out in Dallas & Houston 🤠” and includes a 14-second video showing Tesla vehicles driving without human monitors or drivers in the front seat. The company now […]
VC Ron Conway says he has a ‘rare form of cancer’
Conway wrote that he “will be stepping back from some of my usual activities,” but he will “continue to support” founders backed by his firm SV Angel.