Google is testing a vibe-coding app called Opal
Google is testing a new vibe-coding tool called Opal, available in the U.S. through Google Labs, that lets users quickly spin up web apps with just a few prompts.
The Download: saving the US climate programs, and America’s AI protections are under threat
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. How nonprofits and academia are stepping up to salvage US climate programs Nonprofits are trying to preserve a US effort to modernize greenhouse-gas measurements, amid growing fears that the Trump administration’s dismantling of…
July 2025
The deadly saga of the controversial gene therapy Elevidys
It has been a grim few months for the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) community. There had been some excitement when, a couple of years ago, a gene therapy for the disorder was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the first time. That drug, Elevidys, has now been implicated in the deaths of…
How nonprofits and academia are stepping up to salvage US climate programs
Nonprofits are striving to preserve a US effort to modernize greenhouse-gas measurements, amid growing fears that the Trump administration’s dismantling of federal programs will obscure the nation’s contributions to climate change. The Data Foundation, a Washington, DC, nonprofit that advocates for open data, is fundraising for an initiative that will coordinate efforts among nonprofits, technical…
Amid increased momentum for defense, the NATO Innovation Fund refreshes its investment team
The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) is entering a new chapter, marked by the arrival of two new partners and the departure of its penultimate founding team partner.
How a Y Combinator food delivery app used TikTok to soar in the App Store
The internet trend is simple: A friend or family member looks into the camera and tells viewers, in a slightly aggressive tone, that they are about to witness a presentation and that they had better be nice. That’s what Kendall, the sister of Lucious McDaniel IV, did, and after she stepped aside, her brother pitched […]
VC Victor Lazarte is leaving Benchmark to launch his own firm
Lazarte has only been at Benchmark for two years. He backed startups like Mercor, HeyGen, and Decart AI.
Microsoft’s CEO Says the Company’s Mass Layoffs, Despite Financial Success, Are ‘Weighing Heavily on Me’ in an Internal Memo
Microsoft has laid off over 15,000 employees this year, but CEO Satya Nadella says headcount “is relatively unchanged” as the company continues to hire new workers.
Intel continues to pull back on its manufacturing projects
Intel cancelled multiple manufacturing projects in Europe and delayed its Ohio chip plant for the second time this year.
X to test using Community Notes to find the posts everyone likes
X is piloting a new feature that will help to identify the platform’s best posts.
Trump’s AI Action Plan is a distraction
On Wednesday, President Trump issued three executive orders, delivered a speech, and released an action plan, all on the topic of continuing American leadership in AI. The plan contains dozens of proposed actions, grouped into three “pillars”: accelerating innovation, building infrastructure, and leading international diplomacy and security. Some of its recommendations are thoughtful even if…