Category: News

High-profile Hollywood actors and producers are increasingly turning their attention toward microdramas—ultra-short, vertically formatted scripted series tailored specifically for smartphone viewing. Featuring fast-paced narratives, melodrama, and frequent cliffhangers, the mobile-first format is rapidly expanding beyond its origins in Asian markets to capture substantial market share in the West, with U.S. revenues projected to hit $1.5...

As compact urban vehicles increasingly dominate European city streets, Spanish EV manufacturer Liux is preparing to enter the competitive microcar market with the Liux Big. Designed to offer a sustainable alternative to imported Chinese electric vehicles and legacy compact brands, the tiny two-seater is engineered around circular design principles and local assembly. The startup, founded...

London-based AI startup Inherent, founded by former Google DeepMind researchers, claims its new AI agent can outperform significantly larger models from OpenAI and Anthropic on a challenging scientific research task. The company has attracted relatively little attention compared with some of the other startups founded by former DeepMind employees. That may now be changing. Only...

Japan is stepping up efforts to build a stronger domestic aerospace industry, committing billions of dollars to its space sector while also relaxing some restrictions on defense exports. The strategy is creating new opportunities for Japanese startups seeking to develop technologies that can compete in global markets. One company looking to benefit from this momentum...

OpenAI is urging California lawmakers to strengthen the state’s landmark AI safety legislation by introducing additional protections for the development and testing of advanced AI models. In a recent post from its global affairs team, OpenAI said California’s SB 53 should be expanded to address emerging risks associated with increasingly capable AI systems. Among the...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...