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Technology Regulation

EU Defies Tech Giants, Sticking to AI Act Timeline

The European Union has affirmed its commitment to the original schedule for implementing the landmark AI Act, despite pressure from over a hundred tech companies, including Alphabet, Meta, and ASML, seeking delays. These companies argue that the AI Act will hinder Europe's competitiveness in the AI sector.
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated firmly that there would be no delays, grace periods, or pauses in the rollout. The AI Act, a risk-based regulation, prohibits AI applications deemed "unacceptable risk," such as cognitive behavioral manipulation, and sets strict requirements for "high-risk" uses like biometrics and facial recognition.
App developers must register their systems and adhere to risk and quality management standards to access the EU market. Chatbots and similar AI apps are categorized as "limited risk" and are subject to lighter transparency requirements. The EU began implementing the AI Act last year, with full enforcement expected by mid-2026.

Business & Technology

The Curious Case of Soham Parekh: Silicon Valley's Enigma

The tech world is buzzing about Soham Parekh, an Indian software engineer who worked at multiple startups simultaneously. Former Mixpanel CEO Suhail Doshi exposed Parekh's activities on X, sparking widespread discussion among founders and investors. Some view Parekh as a folk hero for deceiving well-funded startups, while others criticize him for being dishonest and taking opportunities from deserving individuals. Parekh claims his actions were driven by financial desperation and a lack of planning. The incident has ignited conversations about remote work, employee ethics, and the tech industry's moral compass.

Business and Technology

The Soham Parekh Saga: Unmasking Silicon Valley's Serial Moonlighter

Soham Parekh, a software engineer, has been the subject of widespread attention after being accused of simultaneously working at multiple Silicon Valley startups. Suhail Doshi, CEO of Playground AI, ignited the controversy by sharing his experience of firing Parekh for working at other companies. Other founders, including Flo Crivello (Lindy) and Matt Parkhurst (Antimetal), shared similar stories of hiring and quickly firing Parekh due to his moonlighting activities.

Parekh also interviewed at several Y Combinator-backed startups, with some founders noting his strong technical skills and unusual preference for equity over salary. Rohan Pandey from Reworkd revealed they discovered Parekh was lying about his location using an IP logger. Adam Silverman of Agency and Roy Lee of Cluely also shared their experiences interviewing Parekh, highlighting his impressive skills but also raising red flags.

Parekh addressed the accusations on the Technology Brother Podcast Network, admitting to working multiple jobs since 2022 due to financial difficulties and a love for his work. He claimed to work 140 hours a week and denied using AI or junior engineers to assist him. He has now joined Darwin Studios, an AI video remixing startup, but the initial announcement was quickly deleted.

Despite the controversy, Parekh's story reflects a Silicon Valley trend of turning viral moments into business opportunities, similar to Cluely's success after a provocative marketing campaign.

Social Media

Threads' Direct Messages Spark User Concerns Over Harassment and Lack of Opt-Out

Instagram Threads recently launched direct messages (DMs), a highly requested feature. However, many users, particularly women, are expressing concerns about potential harassment and the absence of an opt-out option.
Users argue that the new DM feature could lead to increased online harassment, with some feeling that it caters to stalkers. While DMs are common on other social networks, some Threads users appreciated the platform's initial DM-free environment.
Concerns also include potential spam and unwanted outreach. The current system requires users to follow each other to enable DMs, with blocking as the only drastic measure. Some users feel helpless due to the lack of control over who can contact them.
The addition of DMs may disrupt the established culture of Threads, as it changes how users interact. Meta's attempt to control DM access through follower relationships hasn't addressed the desire to maintain distance from strangers whose content users may still want to follow.

Energy Policy

GOP Bill Reshapes Energy Incentives: Renewables Suffer, Nuclear and Geothermal Gain

Republican legislators passed a reconciliation act that unwinds much of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), impacting the energy sector. The bill, awaiting President Trump's signature, favors nuclear and geothermal while disadvantaging solar, wind, and clean hydrogen.
Solar and wind developers face stricter timelines to access tax credits, requiring grid connection by the end of 2027 or project commencement within 12 months of the bill's passage. The data center sector and climate tech startups, particularly green hydrogen ventures, are expected to be significantly affected.
Geothermal, nuclear, and battery storage retain tax incentives through 2033, but new rules regarding "foreign entities of concern" may complicate credit access.

Artificial Intelligence

Gemini Users Worldwide Gain Access to Google's Veo 3 Video Generation Model

Google has launched its Veo 3 video generation model for Gemini users in over 159 countries. This new model allows users to generate videos up to eight seconds long using text prompts. The feature is currently limited to paying subscribers of Google’s AI Pro plan, with a cap of three videos per day. Google is also developing image-to-video generation capabilities for Gemini.

Venture Capital

Phosphor Capital: A $34M Bet on Y Combinator's Future

Kulveer Taggar, a two-time YC alum and founder of Zeus Living, has launched Phosphor Capital, a $34 million venture firm dedicated to investing in Y Combinator startups.

Taggar's firm stands out as the only dedicated YC fund led by a solo general partner, with YC CEO Garry Tan as an investor.

Phosphor has already backed over 200 YC companies, with investments ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, and several portfolio companies have raised Series A funding.

Taggar's experience as a YC alum and founder provides him with empathy and valuable insights for the founders he backs.

Quantum Computing

Qedma Secures $26M to Advance Quantum Error Mitigation

Israeli startup Qedma raised $26 million in a Series A round, with participation from IBM, to further develop its quantum error-mitigation software, QESEM. QESEM analyzes noise patterns to suppress errors during algorithm execution and mitigate others post-processing, enabling larger quantum circuits to run accurately on existing hardware.

IBM, a partner of Qedma, values the company's focus on the software layer, which addresses the challenge of running circuits in the presence of noise. Qedma's technology aims to accelerate the timeline for achieving quantum advantage by providing a shortcut that doesn't require more qubits.

Qedma plans to expand its team to include researchers, software engineers, and marketing and sales roles. The startup is also collaborating with various companies and institutions, including Japan’s RIKEN, to combine quantum with supercomputers.

Technology

Pinwheel's Smartwatch: A Safe Tech Solution for Kids with AI Chatbot

Pinwheel has launched a new smartwatch designed for kids aged 7-14, offering a child-safe alternative to smartphones. The Pinwheel Watch includes parental management tools, GPS tracking, a camera, voice-to-text messaging, mini-games, and an AI chatbot called PinwheelGPT.

Priced at $160 with a $15 monthly subscription, the watch aims to provide a safer digital experience for children by preventing access to social media and the internet. PinwheelGPT is designed to answer kids' questions on various topics while avoiding sensitive or inappropriate content. Parents have full visibility into all chatbot interactions and can disable the feature if concerned.

The smartwatch also features calling and texting capabilities, a camera for video calls, and other useful apps. Parent monitoring is available through the Caregiver app, allowing parents to create a Safelist of contacts, set schedules, and monitor text messages. The Pinwheel Watch is currently available in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K., with plans for further expansion and availability on Amazon later this summer.

Cybersecurity

Hunters International Ransomware Group Ceases Operations, Offers Decryption Keys

The Hunters International ransomware gang has announced its shutdown, citing unspecified recent developments. The group is offering free decryption keys to its victims to recover their encrypted data. While the motivations are unclear, cybersecurity experts suggest it may be a rebrand or an attempt to evade law enforcement, similar to past ransomware groups that have shut down and sometimes resurfaced under new names.

Allan Liska from Recorded Future noted signs of a potential rebrand to a group called World Leaks as far back as April. The shutdown may also be a preemptive measure to avoid law enforcement attention, similar to the FBI's takedown of the Hive ransomware gang in 2023.