Skip to content
IFAI

Industry

AI funding rounds, acquisitions, partnerships and leadership changes, plus regulation, copyright lawsuits and big compute deals.

17 stories in the last 7 days

  1. Reach 41

    The Big Short investor bets $1B against AI

    Famed "Big Short" investor Michael Burry just took massive bearish positions against Nvidia and Palantir, buying over $1B in put options through his hedge fund. Burry posted warnings comparing today's AI spending surge to the dot-com bubble, prompting Palantir CEO Alex Karp to fire back and call the short "bats–t crazy." Why it matters: Even as tech leaders tout endless growth, prominent contrarian investors are actively wagering on a harsh valuation reset.

  2. Reach 42

    Nvidia just sent an H100 GPU to space to test orbital data centers

    Nvidia and startup Starcloud just launched an 80GB H100 GPU into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to see if data centers can truly work in space. The chip is 100 times more powerful than any computer ever flown and will process radar images and run a Google LLM in orbit. If successful, orbital computing could bypass Earth's land, power, and water bottlenecks entirely.

  3. Reach 34

    Musk's wild plan for idle Teslas

    Elon Musk just floated the idea of turning idle Teslas into a giant distributed inference fleet. He pitched that an eventual fleet of 100 million vehicles could pump out 100 gigawatts of AI compute when parked. Why it matters: It sounds like a massive decentralized data center on wheels, though convincing owners to burn extra battery and wear down chips remains a huge hurdle.

  4. Reach 45

    Reddit sues Perplexity for scraping content to feed AI

    Reddit just sued Perplexity and three data scraping providers, alleging they bypass protections to illicitly siphon forum posts for its AI "answer engine." Reddit claims it set a trap by publishing a post accessible only to Google, which Perplexity surfaced within hours by allegedly scraping search results. Perplexity responded that it doesn't train models and refuses to bow to strong-arm licensing tactics.

  5. Reach 50

    GM unveils eyes-off driving for Cadillac, adds Gemini AI

    GM just announced eyes-off highway driving is coming in 2028, debuting on the Cadillac Escalade IQ before expanding across its lineup. The setup combines Super Cruise with Cruise technology and LiDAR-based sensor fusion on a platform packing 35 times more AI performance. Drivers won't have to wait that long for smarter cabins, though: GM is rolling out Google Gemini-powered conversational AI to vehicles starting next year.

  6. Reach 35

    OpenAI drops economic blueprint for Japan

    OpenAI just released an Economic Blueprint for Japan, outlining a policy roadmap to accelerate innovation and supercharge the country's economy through AI. Citing analyses that AI could lift Japan's GDP by up to 16% (over ¥100 trillion), the plan centers on three pillars: broad-based AI access, strategic infrastructure investment across data centers and energy, and nationwide workforce reskilling. Why it matters: OpenAI is actively positioning itself as a core partner in national industrial and digital strategies.

  7. Reach 41

    Samsung drops the first Android XR headset

    Samsung just unveiled Galaxy XR, the first device running Google’s Android XR platform, priced at $1,799. Powered by multimodal Gemini Live, the headset lets users control spatial apps with their eyes, hands, and voice, while converting 2D media into 3D environments. It is available now in the US and Korea.

  8. Reach 39

    Netflix goes all-in on generative AI for filmmaking

    Netflix just told investors it is leaning heavily into generative AI, using the technology for special effects, de-aging actors, and pre-production design. CEO Ted Sarandos made it clear that AI is strictly an efficiency tool for artists rather than a replacement for human storytelling, insisting the studio is not worried about losing the human touch.

  9. Reach 42

    ChatGPT is leaving WhatsApp

    OpenAI is shutting down ChatGPT on WhatsApp on January 15, 2026, citing platform policy changes. Users who message 1-800-ChatGPT need to link their accounts through its profile link before that deadline to transfer conversation history to official ChatGPT apps, as chats won't export automatically.

  10. Reach 41

    YouTube rolls out AI likeness detection to protect creator faces and voices

    YouTube just rolled out its likeness-detection technology to eligible creators in the Partner Program, letting them track down and take down unauthorized AI-generated replicas of their face and voice. Creators verify their identity via a quick selfie video and ID, then can instantly submit removal or copyright requests. It puts real power back in creators' hands against deepfake impersonation.

  11. Reach 43

    TechCrunch reveals Disrupt 2025 lineup with heavy AI focus

    TechCrunch just revealed the full main-stage agenda for Disrupt 2025 ahead of its October 27 kickoff in San Francisco. Big names like Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott, Alphabet's Astro Teller, and investor Elad Gil are taking the stage to debate where frontier AI models, consumer tech, and venture bets go next.

  12. Reach 41

    Anthropic's CEO pushes back on DC critics

    Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei just published an extensive statement defending the lab's policy record, revealing that its revenue run rate jumped from $1B to $7B in just nine months. Amodei pushed back against claims of political bias and anti-startup lobbying, pointing to deep federal partnerships and calls for uniform AI safety rules. Why it matters: Top AI labs are working overtime to align with Washington as regulatory and national security scrutiny mounts.

  13. Reach 41

    Bryan Cranston caught Sora cloning him, and OpenAI apologized

    OpenAI just issued a joint apology after Sora 2 generated unauthorized deepfakes of Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston, including one posing with Michael Jackson. The company promised to strengthen guardrails around voice and likeness opt-ins, while SAG-AFTRA is using the incident to push for federal anti-cloning legislation.

  14. Reach 37

    Friend AI pendant sparks backlash and street protests in NYC

    Friend founder Avi Schiffmann just showed up at a New York protest against his own $129 AI companion pendant, where critics shredded cardboard cutouts chanting "get real friends." The backlash followed a million-dollar subway ad blitz. Schiffmann leaned into the drama, talking to protesters and pledging never to sell out to Big Tech for surveillance.

  15. Reach 47

    Kohler's new toilet sensor scans your waste for health clues

    Kohler just launched Dekoda, a $599 toilet-mounted sensor that uses optical spectroscopy and algorithms to analyze your bathroom breaks. It tracks hydration, assesses gut health, and flags potential health issues like blood in the bowl, sending encrypted data to a companion app. Why it matters: It turns an everyday routine into continuous preventive screening, though it requires an ongoing subscription.

  16. Reach 43

    OpenAI caught overhyping GPT-5's math skills

    OpenAI researchers just walked back claims that GPT-5 solved 10 decades-old Erdős math problems after experts pointed out the model merely surfaced existing papers that a database author had missed. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis called the sloppy communication "embarrassing," exposing the awkward gap between AI research hype and actual scientific progress.

  17. Reach 38

    Amazon's new pint-sized nuclear plant

    Amazon just shared the first look at its planned nuclear plant in Washington State. The Cascade Advanced Energy Facility will use small modular reactors to generate 960 megawatts across three sections—enough for 770,000 homes while taking up only a few city blocks. Construction is expected toward the end of the decade.

  18. Reach 42

    New York bans AI rent price-fixing algorithms

    New York just became the first US state to ban landlords from using AI algorithms to coordinate and hike rental prices. Under the new law taking effect in 60 days, property owners relying on pricing software like RealPage will be legally treated as colluding. Why it matters: Regulators are finally drawing a hard antitrust line against algorithmic collusion in housing.

  19. Reach 41

    Pinterest lets users filter out 'AI slop'

    Pinterest just launched new feed controls that let users dial back the amount of AI-generated images they see. Pinners can now restrict generative AI content across heavy-hit categories like art, beauty, fashion, and home decor under recommendation settings. It is a much-needed move to protect the platform's core identity after months of user complaints over synthetic filler.

  20. Reach 40

    Spotify teams up with major labels on artist-first AI music tools

    Spotify just inked deals with Sony, Universal, Warner, and Merlin to build generative AI music products that put copyright first. The system will let artists opt in or out of AI tools and collect payouts when their tracks are used in AI creations. Why it matters: After backlash over fake AI bands taking over feeds, Spotify is betting that giving labels control is the only way forward.