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Autonomous Vehicles

Zoox Seeks Approval for Commercial Robotaxi Deployment

Zoox, owned by Amazon, has requested a federal exemption to commercially deploy its custom-built robotaxis, which lack traditional controls. The company has submitted a petition for a '555 exemption' and is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA is reviewing Zoox's application and will seek public comment after its initial review. This request follows the launch of a free robotaxi service in Las Vegas and an earlier NHTSA exemption for demonstrating robotaxis on public roads. This new application would broaden the scope and pave the way for Zoox to launch a commercial robotaxi service.

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft Integrates Anthropic's AI Models into Copilot

Microsoft is expanding its AI capabilities by integrating Anthropic's AI models into its Copilot assistant, previously powered mainly by OpenAI. This move signifies a shift in Microsoft's reliance on OpenAI, following a recent deal to use Anthropic's AI in Office 365 apps. Copilot business users can now choose between OpenAI's models and Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.1 and Claude Sonnet 4 for tasks such as complex research and building custom AI tools. Opus 4.1 is suited for reasoning and coding, while Sonnet 4 is better for data processing and content generation.

Mobile Technology

Transform Your iPhone with iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design

iOS 26 introduces the Liquid Glass design language, offering new ways to customize your iPhone's Home and Lock Screens. Key features include:

  • Liquid Glass Icons: Customize app icons with light, dark, tinted, or clear glass styles.
  • Matched Icons: Match icons to your iPhone's color or Apple MagSafe case.
  • Home Screen Wallpaper and Layout: Use glass-inspired wallpapers and arrange icons freely.
  • Glassy Widgets: Enhance your Home Screen with glassified widgets from third-party apps or create custom widgets with Widgy.
  • Liquid Glass Lock Screen: Experience a glassy typeface for the time display and Spatial Scenes for a 3D effect on your wallpaper.

Explore third-party apps like Brass, Color Themes, Screenkit, and Widgy for further customization options.

Artificial Intelligence

Google's Mixboard: AI-Powered Mood Board Creation

Google has launched Mixboard, an AI-powered mood board app that competes with Pinterest's collage feature. Available as a public beta in the U.S. via Google Labs, Mixboard allows users to create mood boards using text prompts and AI-generated images, leveraging Google's new image editing model, Nano Banana.

Mixboard caters to user demand for Nano Banana by incorporating it in its own product, which it suggests could be used to brainstorm ideas involving home decor and design, event themes, DIY projects, and more, with both images and text. Users can edit images, combine them, and regenerate images to get more ideas. The AI can also generate text based on the images on users’ boards.

Mixboard can be accessed at labs.google/mixboard, with a Discord community available for users. The app is similar to other collage-making tools, such as Pinterest's Shuffles, Landing, and Verse.

Artificial Intelligence

Google Unveils Data Commons MCP Server for Enhanced AI Training

Google has launched the Data Commons Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, enabling developers and AI agents to access real-world statistics using natural language. This initiative aims to improve AI training by providing access to high-quality, structured data from sources like government surveys and the United Nations. The MCP Server bridges public datasets with AI systems, grounding AI in verifiable information. Companies like OpenAI and Microsoft have adopted the MCP standard. Google has partnered with the ONE Campaign to launch the One Data Agent, utilizing the MCP Server to surface financial and health data in plain language. The Data Commons MCP Server is compatible with any LLM and accessible through the Agent Development Kit, Gemini CLI, or MCP-compatible client.

Software Development

Emergent Secures $23M to Democratize App Creation for Non-Technical Users

Emergent, founded by twin brothers Mukund and Madhav Jha, has raised $23 million in Series A funding led by Lightspeed to develop a platform for non-technical users to create apps using prompts, managing APIs and deployment steps. With AI agents for error detection and fixing, users can integrate payment options and access a brainstorming mode. Over 1.5 million apps have been built since last year, with Emergent competing against Canva, Figma, Vibecode, and Rocket. Hemant Mohapatra from Lightspeed highlighted Emergent's AI capabilities in deployment, sharing, bug fixing, and support.

Artificial Intelligence

Nvidia and Alibaba Partner to Advance AI Development

Nvidia and Alibaba have partnered to integrate Nvidia’s AI development tools into Alibaba's Cloud Platform for AI. This collaboration will allow Alibaba to offer Nvidia's Physical AI software stack, enabling the construction of 3D replicas of real-world environments for AI model training in robotics, self-driving vehicles, and smart spaces. The partnership aligns with Alibaba's increased investment in AI technology and expansion of its data center infrastructure, including new locations in Brazil, France, and the Netherlands. Alibaba also unveiled its latest large language model, Qwen 3-Max, trained on 1 trillion parameters.

Cybersecurity

UK Arrests Suspect in European Airport Ransomware Attack

A man in his forties has been arrested in West Sussex, U.K., in connection with the ransomware attack that disrupted several European airports. The attack, which began on Friday, targeted check-in systems provided by Collins Aerospace, causing delays at airports including Brussels, Berlin, Dublin, and London’s Heathrow. The suspect was arrested under the Computer Misuse Act and released on conditional bail.

RTX, the parent company of Collins Aerospace, confirmed that the cyberattack involved ransomware and affected check-in software on customer-specific networks. Airports and airlines resorted to manual check-ins, leading to flight delays and cancellations.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to uncover further details about the incident and the individuals involved.

Music Streaming

Spotify Integrates with DJ Software for Seamless Mixing

Spotify has announced direct integration with popular desktop DJ software including rekordbox, Serato, and djay. This feature allows Premium users to access their entire Spotify library and playlists within these programs, streamlining the process of creating sets and blending tracks.

The integration is available in 51 global markets and follows the recent introduction of track-to-track transitions for Premium users. Spotify has also launched support for lossless music streaming, the ability for free users to select and play songs, and new smart filters.

This update aims to give users more creative control over their music sets, making it easier to create unique and personalized mixes using Spotify's vast music catalog.

Fashion & Technology

Depop Unveils "Outfits": A New Styling Tool for Fashionistas

Depop has launched "Outfits," a new feature that allows users to create and share fashion collages. This tool provides a moodboard-like interface where users can style items, add backgrounds, and adjust image placements.
The items featured in collages are shoppable, with the app suggesting alternatives if an item sells out. This feature aims to inspire buyers and highlight items for sale.
Users can share their creations on social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. This launch follows Etsy's Q2 2025 report, which revealed a 34.7% year-over-year increase in Depop’s Gross Merchandise Sales (GMS), putting it on track for a $1 billion GMS run rate.