Health insurance startup Alan reaches €5B valuation
French health insurance startup Alan is now valued at €5 billion — approximately $5.83 billion, up from $4.5 billion in 2024.
The Download: AstroTurf wars and exponential AI growth
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. Is fake grass a bad idea? The AstroTurf wars are far from over. In 2001, Americans installed just over 7 million square meters of synthetic turf. By 2024, that number was 79 million square meters—enough to carpet all of Manhattan and then some. The…
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Anduril snaps up space surveillance firm ExoAnalytic Solutions
The deal could give Anduril a better shot at lucrative missile defense contracts through the “Golden Dome” system.
Google brings Gemini in Chrome to India
As part of the rollout, Gemini will support languages including Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil.
Why I Cancelled a Candidate’s Interview 15 Minutes Before It Started
A candidate’s minor Zoom problem revealed something far more important than his résumé — and reminded me what business owners are really looking for in today’s workplace.
In a vote of confidence for Meta’s Threads, Kalshi adds sharing feature
Kalshi now offers a share option that will automatically embed the relevant prediction market chart into a Threads post.
Do You Have ‘Brain Fry’? A New Study Says This Everyday Technology Is Causing It
Over half of Americans use the technology that’s prompting the phenomenon.
Google and Tesla think we’re managing the electrical grid all wrong
The duo have teamed up with other companies to launch Utilize, which seeks to change how the grid is used and regulated.
Amazon launches its healthcare AI assistant on its website and app
Health AI can answer questions, explain health records, manage prescription renewals, book appointments, and more.
DOGE employee stole Social Security data and put it on a thumb drive, report says
A whistleblower is accusing a former DOGE member of stealing a large number of Americans’ personal data while he was working at the Social Security Administration, with the plan of using it at his new job.
‘Pokémon Pokopia’ is a game about rehabilitating a broken world — and I love it
The latest Pokémon game is a cozy life simulator like “Animal Crossing” or “Minecraft,” but in a way that feels more grounded to our actual world.