Welcome back to this week’s recap, highlighting the most intriguing stories in tech and innovation.
An emerging AI tool named Cluely is drawing attention—and controversy—for facilitating cheating across a wide array of scenarios, from school exams to job interviews and sales calls. Despite one of its founders previously being expelled from Columbia University for creating a similar cheating tool, Cluely is quickly gaining traction, bringing in a remarkable $5.3 million in monthly recurring revenue. Evidently, cheating can pay exceptionally well—at least in this case.
Elsewhere in the automotive industry, EV company Slate, until recently shrouded in secrecy, came into the spotlight after reports exposed its plans backed heavily by Jeff Bezos. Slate has begun placing concept vehicles strategically around Los Angeles to generate consumer buzz, positioning its upcoming vehicle at an aggressively competitive price point near $25,000—a direct challenge to Tesla.
Speaking of Tesla, the company revealed troubling financial results this week. Its net income plunged by a staggering 71% year-over-year, marking one of the worst quarterly performances and lowest delivery figures in more than two years, a result analysts partly attribute to growing negativity surrounding CEO Elon Musk.
Airbnb unveiled significant changes designed to enhance transparency for users. The company now clearly displays total booking costs upfront during property searches, eliminating surprise fees at checkout.
Adaptive Computer, a tech company pushing boundaries with its “vibe coding” software platform, raised $7 million in seed funding. This new technology empowers non-programmers to build and deploy applications through straightforward text instructions.
While regulators continue to scrutinize social media companies over their effects on teenage mental health, a recent study suggests a complex reality. Pew Research found that a significant majority—74% of teens—reported enhanced feelings of connectedness due to social media, with 63% acknowledging online platforms as valuable outlets for creative expression.
In privacy and security news, Blue Shield of California admitted this week to inadvertently exposing its customers’ private health information. A configuration error involving Google Analytics had unintentionally allowed sensitive medical data to be collected.
Bluesky experienced an embarrassing service outage, raising questions among users and experts alike about how such disruptions occur on a supposedly decentralized network. Bluesky, later acknowledging responsibility, confirmed the disruption was the result of a DDoS attack against their infrastructure.
Chess enthusiasts have reason to celebrate, as Chess.com recently reached an impressive milestone of 200 million registered users. According to the company’s chief growth officer, Albert Cheng, continuous innovation was key to stimulating this extraordinary growth.
Finally, Adam Neumann, the embattled former CEO of WeWork, continues to find support despite his controversial past. He has secured over $100 million in fresh funding for his new proptech venture, Flow, driving the company’s valuation up to around $2.5 billion, once again making headlines and raising industry eyebrows.
Amid rising protests and negative sentiment around Elon Musk personally, Tesla notably disclosed concern in its latest filings, highlighting the legal risk to its corporate brand and overall business outlook. The unusual disclosure underscores growing tensions the automaker faces due to its outspoken CEO.
