India’s Supreme Court to WhatsApp: ‘You cannot play with the right to privacy’
India’s top court is investigating WhatsApp’s data-sharing model, monopoly power, and user consent.
The Download: OpenAI is building a fully automated researcher, and a psychedelic trial blind spot
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. OpenAI is throwing everything into building a fully automated researcher OpenAI has a new grand challenge: building an AI researcher—a fully automated agent-based system capable of tackling large, complex problems by…
Vema predicts cheap hydrogen could change where data centers are built
Vema Hydrogen drills wells to stimulate hydrogen production deep underground, which could result in some of the cheapest hydrogen available.
Avalanche thinks the fusion power industry should think smaller
Avalanche has raised $29 million in fresh funding to pursue its unique approach to fusion power, which can currently fit on a table.
Microbes could extract the metal needed for cleantech
In a pine forest on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the only active nickel mine in the US is nearing the end of its life. At a time when carmakers want the metal for electric-vehicle batteries, nickel concentration at Eagle Mine is falling and could soon drop too low to warrant digging. But earlier this year, the…
Fintech CEO and Forbes 30 Under 30 alum has been charged for alleged fraud
The startup CEO says she plans to publicly address the charges this week.
Waymo raises $16B to scale robotaxi fleet internationally
The round, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global, and Sequoia Capital, now values the autonomous vehicle company at $126 billion.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX officially acquires Elon Musk’s xAI, with plan to build data centers in space
The merger creates the world’s most valuable private company, and paves the way for Musk to try and prove out the usefulness of space-based data centers.
China is leading the fight against hidden car door handles
The Chinese government issued a new rule that goes into effect January 1, 2027.
Adobe Animate is shutting down as company focuses on AI
Adobe Animate will be discontinued on March 1, 2026, as Adobe shifts its focus to AI.
Two Stanford students launch $2M startup accelerator for students nationwide
Two Stanford students announced Monday that they have raised $2 million for an accelerator program called Breakthrough Ventures, which seeks to fund the businesses of college students and recent graduates nationwide.