Meta made headlines this week by securing Trapit Bansal, a prominent researcher from OpenAI, for its ambitious artificial intelligence superintelligence team. He previously collaborated with Ilya Sutskever, spearheading crucial advances in reasoning models at OpenAI. The move is part of an aggressive recruiting drive by Meta, as the company seeks to attract an elite group of AI experts away from competing labs.
In other tech industry news, Travis Kalanick appears to be preparing a significant comeback in the autonomous vehicle field. According to reports, the former Uber CEO is looking to acquire the U.S. division of Pony AI, with possible support from his old firm Uber. After his controversial exit from Uber in 2017 and recent ventures into ghost kitchens, this potential purchase would mark a notable return for Kalanick to his original passion—self-driving technology.
On the legal front, AI companies received encouraging news from a federal court decision this week. A judge ruled that training AI with copyrighted books without explicit authorization can qualify as fair use. This judgment favors AI companies in ongoing legal conflicts with creative professionals, although a separate matter involving allegations that Anthropic used pirated materials to build its digital library of literature will continue to trial.
In product news, Google introduced Doppl, an experimental app designed to allow users to virtually “try on” outfits using AI-generated digital avatars. The app, launched as an experimental tool, enables users to upload a single photo and explore fashion combinations taken from thrifted pieces, social media trends, or personal photo galleries. Doppl can also generate brief video clips showcasing how the clothes would realistically appear in motion.
Meanwhile, JB Straubel’s company Redwood Materials has brought online North America’s largest microgrid. Powered by 805 retired electric vehicle batteries, this impressive renewable energy network will initially power an AI-focused data center. With Redwood Energy, Straubel aims to provide an environmentally sustainable, profitable repurposing route for used batteries, potentially surpassing the company’s existing battery recycling business.
CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator has seen remarkable growth in his personal fortune, now reaching a staggering $10 billion following the AI infrastructure provider’s tumultuous IPO. Founded originally as a crypto-mining enterprise, CoreWeave has transformed into a major AI cloud solutions firm, providing services for clients such as OpenAI and Microsoft. Even with this success, the company remains heavily leveraged, carrying debts of $8.8 billion at significant interest rates.
OpenAI recently removed promotional content featuring the collaboration between Sam Altman and Jony Ive on their much-publicized $6.5 billion device venture. Although concerns were raised when this content disappeared, reports indicate the partnership remains intact.
Apple faced renewed user criticism this week around promotions for its new “F1” movie release. Customers reacted negatively after promotional content unexpectedly appeared within their Wallet app, prompting fresh accusations that Apple consistently leverages core system apps to push its proprietary content without obtaining users’ consent.
Tesla is already facing scrutiny from federal authorities over its robotaxi service, only days after their introduction in Austin, Texas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has started an inquiry following troubling video footage appearing online, depicting autonomous Tesla vehicles reportedly driving erratically and speeding dangerously.
Publishers detecting falling site traffic due to AI-driven search enhancements received a new revenue solution from Google, which unveiled Offerwall within Google Ad Manager. Offerwall aims to compensate lost revenue by allowing micro-payments, surveys, or short ads as alternative monetization options. Initial tests yielded moderate increases in revenue.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk continues reshaping Tesla’s management structure. Omead Afshar, the company’s vice president overseeing North American and European sales and manufacturing—and someone previously considered part of Musk’s inner circle—has reportedly left the company. His departure occurs amid growing concerns about stagnating Tesla sales figures.
Finally, Facebook and Instagram have experienced widespread criticism following unexplained mass account suspensions, with administrators of Facebook Groups also voicing frustrations. Users speculate that these incidents result from overly aggressive or misdirected automated AI moderation systems, although Meta has yet to fully clarify the cause.
In a symbolic change within the tech sphere, Microsoft’s iconic Windows “Blue Screen of Death,” established nearly four decades ago, will transition to a new “Black Screen of Death.” The update signifies a fresh look for error screens in the latest Windows releases, marking the end for one of Windows’ most notorious icons.
