Dutch sustainability pioneer Fairphone has officially launched its modular smartphone, the Fairphone (Gen 6+), in the United States. Priced at $649, this rollout marks the first time American consumers can purchase a Fairphone directly from the manufacturer without third-party modifications or specialized operating system swaps. The device enters the market with native support for major U.S. networks, including T-Mobile and AT&T. Designed to counter rising consumer electronics costs and brief hardware life cycles, the mid-range Android device emphasizes long-term longevity and modular self-repair. “We’re delivering a device built from the ground up to be opened, repaired, and kept alive for...

Following heightened scrutiny and a series of legal challenges regarding the mental health impacts of conversational AI on younger audiences, OpenAI has unveiled ChatGPT for Teens—a tailored version of its flagship chatbot designed specifically for underage users. The platform introduces built-in safety guardrails and new academic tools aimed at reducing instances of AI-assisted cheating in schools. At the core of the educational feature set is Study Mode, a tool engineered to guide students through complex academic concepts using step-by-step prompts rather than delivering direct answers. The system incorporates automated anti-cheating interventions; if a user attempts to generate complete homework solutions,...

Self-driving technology developers Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI have secured regulatory approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to begin testing autonomous heavy-duty trucks on public roads, marking a significant policy shift for the state. Kodiak has already initiated preliminary operations using a small fleet centered around its Mountain View headquarters. The permits follow a regulatory update finalized by the California DMV on April 28, which ended a longstanding prohibition against testing driverless commercial vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds. The revised framework establishes a formal path for tech firms to test and eventually commercialize heavy-duty autonomous fleets across...

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has firmly dismissed allegations that his public warnings about artificial intelligence have fueled negative sentiment toward the industry or hindered technological expansion. The response follows criticism from prominent investor Gavin Baker, who argued on X and the All-In podcast that executive-led warnings about AI risks have triggered public pushback in the U.S., including growing resistance to data center construction. Baker contended that Amodei’s approach to AI policy—including Anthropic’s backing of California transparency legislation—has been overly cautious, urging the CEO to serve as a more constructive advocate for the sector. Responding to the critique, Amodei denied that...

AI robotics startup Figure AI has raised $1 billion in a Series C funding round, reaching a valuation of $39 billion. The round was led by Parkway Venture Capital, with participation from Nvidia, Macquarie Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, Tamarack Global, LG Technology Ventures, Salesforce, T-Mobile Ventures, and Qualcomm Ventures. Figure AI is developing humanoid robots designed to operate with near-human intelligence. These robots are envisioned to take on tasks ranging from household chores to large-scale commercial operations, ultimately becoming an integral part of daily human life. The company plans to allocate the fresh capital across three main areas: Expanding...