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Business & Finance

Patreon Embraces Web Payments on iOS Following Apple's App Store Policy Shift

Patreon has updated its iOS app to allow users to make purchases via the web, offering alternative payment methods like credit cards, Venmo, and PayPal, following Apple's revised App Store guidelines.

This change comes after a U.S. court ruling that prevents Apple from restricting app developers from linking to external payment mechanisms.

Patreon believes this update will give them more flexibility in supporting creators on legacy billing models and has put its subscription billing transition plan on hold.

Social Media

Substack Introduces Audio-Only Livestreaming for Enhanced Creator Flexibility

Substack is launching an audio-only livestream feature, providing publishers with a lower-pressure alternative to video livestreams.
This new mode allows creators to connect with their audience without the need for video, catering to those who prefer anonymity or a more relaxed setting.
Publishers can disable video by clicking the camera icon during a livestream, with the option to re-enable it at any time. Listeners retain the ability to comment and subscribe.
The audio-only feature follows Substack's broader rollout of livestreaming capabilities to all publishers in January.

Finance

Patreon Enhances iOS App with Web Payment Options Following Apple's Policy Shift

Patreon has updated its iOS app to include web payment options, allowing users to bypass Apple's in-app purchase system. This change follows a U.S. court ruling that prevents Apple from restricting app developers from linking to alternative payment methods. Users can now choose to pay via credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, or Apple Pay. Patreon believes the previous requirement to switch all creators to Apple's in-app purchase system by November 2025 is no longer necessary, offering more flexibility in supporting creators.

Artificial Intelligence in Science

FutureHouse's Finch: AI Tool Aims to Accelerate Biology Research

FutureHouse, backed by Eric Schmidt, has launched Finch, an AI tool designed to support data-driven discovery in biology. Finch analyzes biology data, primarily research papers, using prompts to generate figures and inspect results.

CEO Sam Rodriques likens Finch to a "first-year grad student," emphasizing its ability to perform analyses in minutes.

FutureHouse envisions AI automating steps in the scientific process, similar to other startups and tech giants. While AI shows promise, evidence of significant breakthroughs remains limited.

Finch is currently in closed beta, with FutureHouse seeking bioinformaticians and computational biologists to evaluate its accuracy and reliability.

Mobile Apps

Kindle iOS App Simplifies Book Purchases After Apple Ruling

Amazon's Kindle iOS app has introduced a 'Get Book' button, enabling users to easily purchase titles directly through the app. This change follows a recent ruling that prevents Apple from charging a commission on in-app purchases. Previously, users were unable to buy or even view book prices within the Kindle app. Amazon stated that this update aims to provide customers with a more convenient experience. Spotify has also started displaying pricing information and external payment links. However, Apple is appealing the court's decision, despite being compelled to comply with the ruling.

Autonomous Vehicles and Ride-Sharing

Uber's Strategic Alliance with Chinese Firms to Dominate Robotaxi Market in Europe and Middle East

Uber is partnering with Chinese autonomous vehicle companies Pony AI, Momenta, and WeRide to expand its robotaxi services in the Middle East and Europe. These partnerships will allow Uber to launch robotaxis in Europe by 2026 with Momenta, expand into 15 cities across the Middle East and Europe with WeRide, and enter the Middle Eastern market with Pony AI. These deals add to Uber's growing list of over 15 autonomous vehicle partnerships, as the company aims to reassure investors of its growth potential amidst competition and market challenges. WeRide already operates commercial services in Beijing and France, while Pony offers paid robotaxi rides in three Chinese cities and is testing in Luxembourg.

Artificial Intelligence

Google Unveils Enhanced Gemini 2.5 Pro AI Model with Superior Coding Capabilities

Google has launched Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview (I/O edition), an updated version of its Gemini 2.5 Pro AI model, boasting top benchmark results. This model is accessible through the Gemini API, Vertex AI, and AI Studio platforms, mirroring the pricing of its predecessor. It is also integrated into Google’s Gemini chatbot app for web and mobile.

The release precedes Google’s I/O developer conference, where more AI models, tools, and platforms are expected. Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview (I/O edition) features improved coding capabilities, excelling in code transformation and editing. It leads the WebDev Arena Leaderboard for creating functional web apps and achieves high performance in video understanding, scoring 84.8% on VideoMME.

According to Google, this new version enhances coding performance, reduces errors in function calling, and improves function calling trigger rates, appealing to aesthetic web development while maintaining steerability.

Automotive

Cadillac Celestiq EV: A Luxurious Leap or a Pricey Problem?

The Cadillac Celestiq EV, priced at $360,000, aims to redefine luxury with its striking exterior and bespoke features. The interior boasts buttery leather, 3D-printed parts, and a 55-inch high-resolution screen. It has a 111kWh battery with 303 miles of range. Its design incorporates non-uniform battery modules to optimize space, though this results in a shallow center console storage. The driving experience includes a smooth ride thanks to its air suspension and Magnetic Ride Control, complemented by a powerful 655 horsepower engine and rear steering for nimble handling. A notable issue is the problematic smartphone integration with the Google Built-In system, which can be unreliable for hands-free functions. The glass roof features customizable dimming for each passenger. The Celestiq offers a concierge service for buyers, allowing them to tailor colors and materials. Production is limited to 25 vehicles for 2025, with fewer than two Celestiqs per day planned for 2026, positioning it in the ultra-luxury EV market alongside competitors like the Rolls-Royce Spectre EV.

AI Development Tools

Unblocked Secures $20M to Demystify Code with AI Assistance

Unblocked, an AI-powered tool developed by Dennis Pilarinos, has raised $20 million in Series A funding to help developers understand complex codebases. The platform integrates with development environments and apps like Slack, Jira, and Notion to answer contextual questions about code. Unblocked aims to streamline the process of finding information and understanding code changes, saving developers time and improving productivity. Companies like Drata and AppDirect are already using Unblocked to save engineering time. The funding round was led by B Capital and Radical Ventures, bringing the total capital raised to $30 million.