February 7, 2025

These documents are influencing the DOGE-sphere’s agenda

Reports from the US Government Accountability Office on improper federal payments in recent years are circulating on X and elsewhere online, and they seem to be a big influence on Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency and its supporters as the group pursues cost-cutting measures across the federal government.  The payment reports have been…

Technology

Chinese luxury EV brand Zeekr continues global push into Kazakhstan

August 7, 2023
Zeekr, the luxury electric vehicle brand under China’s Geely Automobile Holdings, says it will launch its Zeekr 001 shooting-brake and Zeekr X SUV in Kazakhstan by the fourth quarter of 2023. Kazakhstan, a key market in Central Asia, marks Zeekr’s third geographic expansion announcement in recent months. The two-year-old Chinese automaker also said it plans […]

AI language models are rife with political biases

August 7, 2023
Should companies have social responsibilities? Or do they exist only to deliver profit to their shareholders? If you ask an AI you might get wildly different answers depending on which one you ask. While OpenAI’s older GPT-2 and GPT-3 Ada models would advance the former statement, GPT-3 Da Vinci, the company’s more capable model, would…

French startup Exotrail expands U.S. footprint with two new subsidiaries

August 7, 2023
French in-space transportation company Exotrail is launching two U.S.-based subsidiaries, one focused specifically on serving U.S. government and defense customers, the company said Monday. Tyler Browder, co-founder and former head of satellite software developer Kubos, was installed to lead the new Exotrail U.S., Inc. He joined Exotrail as a senior officer in February, just after […]

The Download: Worldcoin under investigation, and food’s complex climate future

August 7, 2023
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. Worldcoin just officially launched. Why is it already being investigated? It’s possible you’ve heard the name Worldcoin recently. It’s been getting a ton of attention—some good, some … not so good.  It’s a…

Worldcoin just officially launched. Here’s why it’s already being investigated.

August 7, 2023
This article is from The Technocrat, MIT Technology Review’s weekly tech policy newsletter about power, politics, and Silicon Valley. To receive it in your inbox every Friday, sign up here. It’s possible you’ve heard the name Worldcoin recently. It’s been getting a ton of attention—some good, some … not so good.  It’s a project that…

One Model lands $41M to bring data science-powered insights to HR

August 7, 2023
One Model, a platform that uses AI to help employers make decisions about recruiting, hiring, promotions, layoffs and general workplace planning, today announced that it’s raised $41 million in a funding round led by Riverwood Capital. Christopher Butler, CEO of One Model, said that the capital will be used to “boost several of the company’s […]

Array Labs is scanning the Earth from space to equip autonomous vehicles with 3D maps

August 7, 2023
It’s an oft-told story: the boom of space startups today can be traced to dramatically lowered cost in launch and satellite manufacturing over the past ten years. But Array Labs, a two-year-old startup based in Silicon Valley, is also taking advantage other technological developments in its quest to build a 3D map of the Earth. […]

How a frugal approach helped land Lula more runway amid a market downturn

August 6, 2023
It was an eventful week in fintech startup land, and we did our best to capture the highlights. We covered some raises, new product lines, at least one M&A deal and more. Oh, and if you want to receive this in your inbox in the future, sign up here. Lula tightens its belt and raises […]