Lyft and May Mobility launch robotaxis in Atlanta
Lyft is trying to carve out a presence in the autonomous vehicle market. But the ride-hailing company still lags far behind Uber.
Is the Pentagon allowed to surveil Americans with AI?
The ongoing public feud between the Department of Defense and AI company Anthropic over its technology has raised a deep open question: does the law actually allow the US government to conduct mass surveillance on Americans? Surprisingly, the answer is not straightforward. More than a decade after Edward Snowden exposed the NSA’s collection of bulk…
Zoox opens its Las Vegas robotaxi service to the public
But it’s not quite a commercial service just yet. These rides are free — for now.
AI gaming startup Born raises $15M to build ‘social’ AI companions that combat loneliness
Born, maker of cute virtual pet Pengu, believes the current chatbot landscape isn’t the final form factor for AI friends. The Berlin-based startup raised $15M on the idea that AI companions should have a social component.
This app just raised $14M to take on the loneliness epidemic
Clyx is social platform that helps users find IRL community events to join.
The Download: AI’s energy future
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. Video: AI and our energy future In May, MIT Technology Review published an unprecedented and comprehensive look at how much energy the AI industry uses—down to a single query. Our reporters and editors…
These Are the 3 Most Common Mistakes I See First-Time Founders Make as an Investor
Many first-time founders stall their own growth, not because they lack talent or vision, but because they fall into predictable traps.
Uber will add Blade’s helicopters to its platform as early as 2026
The move comes just one month after Uber partner Joby acquired Blade’s passenger business.
Ex-Google X trio wants their AI to be your second brain — and they just raised $6M to make it happen
TwinMind, available on Android and iOS, passively captures background audio to gain context and deliver on-the-go summaries.
Tinder evolves some features into dating ‘modes’
The app is getting two new modes, Double Date and College Mode — essentially extensions of existing features — alongside a “For You” mode on the home screen that presents the classic Tinder experience. The company said it will add more dating modes that will lean into interests, dating intentions, and different ways to connect.
Google’s former security leads raise $13M to fight email threats before they reach you
The startup is using real-time AI agents that inspect, analyze, and neutralize email threats.