Your Hub for Tech News and Handy Online Tools.

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Investment Prompts Google and Others to Reconsider Scale AI Partnerships

Google is reportedly reassessing its relationship with Scale AI following Meta's significant investment in the startup.

Reuters reports that Google, previously planning a $200 million payment to Scale, is exploring alternatives and considering severing ties. Microsoft and OpenAI are also reportedly reducing their reliance on Scale.

Scale AI's clientele includes self-driving car companies, the U.S. government, and generative AI firms that utilize Scale's data annotation services.

A Scale spokesperson affirmed the company's strong business and commitment to data security, while declining to comment specifically on the Google situation.

Meta's investment of $14.3 billion for a 49% stake has led to concerns among Scale AI's customers about data independence and potential conflicts of interest.

Technology News

Tech World Insights: Apple's WWDC 2025, AI Innovations, and More

This week's tech news includes Apple's WWDC 2025 unveiling iOS 26 with a new liquid glass design and various feature updates. UNFI, a U.S. grocery distributor, experienced a cyberattack affecting its systems and supply chain. Chime had its IPO, raising $864 million.

Google launched Android 16 with enhanced features, while Elon Musk announced Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin. The Browser Company is developing an AI-first browser named Dia, and OpenAI released o3-pro, an advanced reasoning model. Mattel and OpenAI are collaborating on an AI-powered product.

Concerns are rising about Meta AI's privacy settings and their impact on users. iPadOS 26 introduces new features aimed at enhancing its usability for work. Bluesky is facing questions about its growth and user perceptions.

Technology

New York Passes RAISE Act to Regulate Frontier AI and Prevent Disasters

New York state lawmakers have passed the RAISE Act, aiming to prevent large AI models from causing disasters. The bill sets transparency standards for AI labs and allows the attorney general to impose penalties for non-compliance.

The RAISE Act requires AI labs to publish safety reports and report safety incidents, targeting companies like OpenAI and Google. It applies to AI models trained using significant computing resources and made available to New York residents.

While supported by AI safety advocates, the bill faces criticism from Silicon Valley, with concerns about hindering innovation. The act is now awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's decision.

Artificial Intelligence

Meta's Unusual Acquisition: A $29B Valuation and Shareholder Dividends for Scale AI

Meta is partially acquiring Scale AI, granting it 49% ownership in an unusual deal that values the company at over $29 billion. Scale AI will distribute proceeds to shareholders and vested equity holders, providing them with substantial liquidity while allowing them to remain as shareholders. Meta is also hiring Scale's founder CEO Alexandr Wang. Investors, such as Accel, are set to receive significant dividends, with Accel expected to receive a $2.5 billion payout. Scale AI, which was last valued at $14 billion, has dozens of backers, including Amazon and Meta. The payout resembles a near-acquisition, pending regulatory approval.

Autonomous Vehicles and Electric Mobility

Accelerating Autonomous Vehicle Deployment and Micromobility Innovations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is streamlining the exemption process for self-driving vehicles without human controls. This aims to expedite the deployment of autonomous vehicles by manufacturers.

JetZero plans to build a zero-emissions jet aircraft factory in North Carolina with a $4.7 billion investment, contingent on creating 14,000 jobs. Additionally, Mitra Chem, a battery material startup, raised $15.6 million in funding.

Waymo's self-driving car rides are more expensive than Uber and Lyft, yet people are still using them. Tesla plans to launch its robotaxi service in Austin, while Wayve and Uber are planning a robotaxi service in London, taking advantage of the UK's accelerated framework for self-driving commercial pilots.

Infinite Machine unveiled a new seated electric scooter called Olto, priced at $3,495. Apple announced the addition of widgets and message tapbacks to CarPlay with iOS 26.

Technology & Defense

Silicon Valley CTOs Mobilize: Tech Leaders Join U.S. Army Reserve

CTOs from major tech companies like Palantir, Meta, and OpenAI are joining the U.S. Army Reserve to contribute their expertise in areas such as data and cybersecurity.

The U.S. Defense Department initiated this program to tap into Silicon Valley talent for short-term projects.

The first group includes prominent executives like Andrew Bosworth (Meta), Shyam Sankar (Palantir), Kevin Weil (OpenAI), and Bob McGrew (OpenAI).

Energy

Amazon Powers AWS with Nuclear Energy, Following Tech Giants' Trend

Amazon is procuring 1.92 gigawatts of electricity from Talen Energy’s Susquehanna nuclear power plant for its AWS cloud and AI servers, aligning with a growing trend among big tech firms to source power directly from nuclear plants.
This move follows similar initiatives by Microsoft and Meta. Amazon's revised agreement with Talen involves purchasing power from the grid, ensuring transmission fees support grid maintenance, unlike the previously proposed behind-the-meter arrangement that regulators rejected.
The companies also plan to explore building small modular reactors within Talen’s Pennsylvania footprint and expanding generation at existing nuclear power plants, aiming to add net-new energy to the PJM grid. Amazon has also invested in SMR startup X-energy.

Startups and Venture Capital

Startup Funding and Innovation Surge: Chime's IPO, AI Advancements, and Geothermal Energy Investments

This week's startup highlights include neobank Chime's IPO after overcoming near failure in 2016. Nucleus Genomics faced criticism for its embryo selection product. Automattic, the owner of WordPress.com, acquired relationship manager Clay.

Several startups secured significant funding rounds: Multiverse Computing raised €189 million for reducing LLM size, Glean secured $150 million at a $7.2 billion valuation, and Fervo Energy landed $206 million for geothermal energy. Proxima Fusion obtained €130 million for nuclear fusion research, Coco Robotics disclosed $80 million in funding, and Canary locked in $80 million for its hotel management platform. Tebi raised €30 million for its hospitality platform, Definely secured $30 million to streamline contract reviews, and Landbase closed a $30 million Series A. Collab Capital closed a $75 million Fund II focused on healthcare, infrastructure and the future of work.

The U.S. Navy is also exploring partnerships with startups to foster innovation.

Electric Vehicles & Car Sharing

Zevo: The EV Car-Sharing Startup Disrupting the Market

Zevo, an electric vehicle-only car-sharing startup, has raised $6 million in funding and is expanding across major U.S. cities. Founded in 2021, Zevo focuses on peer-to-peer car sharing, similar to Turo, but exclusively for EVs.

The Dallas-based startup is already tracking over $8 million in annualized recurring revenue (ARR) and has a waitlist of over 3,500 customers. A significant portion of renters are gig workers using EVs for Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash deliveries.

Zevo's contactless process and focus on EVs allows for easier integration of commercial insurance and automation of tasks, making it attractive to gig workers. Hosts can potentially make back between 35% and 65% of the cost of their car in a year.

The company aims to disrupt car-sharing and reach $100 million ARR with a lean team, despite Tesla's potential robotaxi service launch.