Tech Daily News Update

1. AI journalism startup Symbolic.ai signs deal with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp

   The startup claims its AI platform can help optimize editorial processes and research.

2. The AI lab revolving door spins ever faster

   AI labs just can't get their employees to stay put. Yesterday’s big AI news was the abrupt and seemingly acrimonious departure of three top executives at Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines lab.

3. Taiwan to invest $250B in US semiconductor manufacturing

   The U.S. struck a trade deal with Taiwan as the country looks to help boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

4. AI video startup, Higgsfield, founded by ex-Snap exec, lands $1.3B valuation

   Higgsfield says it's on a $200 million annual revenue run rate. So it opened its previous Series A round back up and sold another $80 million in shares.

5. Iran’s internet shutdown is now one of its longest ever, as protests continue

   Iran’s government-imposed internet shutdown enters its second week as authorities continue their violent crackdown on protesters.

6. The US imposes 25% tariff on Nvidia’s H200 AI chips headed to China

   The Trump administration formalized its 25% cut of H200 chip sales in China with a tariff that applies to certain semiconductors.

7. OpenAI invests in Sam Altman’s brain computer interface startup Merge Labs

   Merge Labs is a “research lab” dedicated to “bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability.” OpenAI wrote the largest check in Merge Labs' $250 million seed round at an $850 million valuation.

8. Wikimedia Foundation announces new AI partnerships with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity, and others

   The AI partnerships allow companies to access the org's content, like Wikipedia, at scale.

9. How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage

   Transition Metal Solutions is applying a special cocktail to coax microbes into unlocking more copper from ore.

10. US senators demand answers from X, Meta, Alphabet, and others on sexualized deepfakes

    In a letter to the leaders of X, Meta, Alphabet, Snap, Reddit, and TikTok, several U.S. senators are demanding the companies provide proof that they have "robust protections and policies" in place, and how they plan to curb the rise of sexualized deepfakes on their platforms.

11. Spotify raises its subscription prices in the US again

    Spotify raised prices for its subscription plan in the U.S. for the third time in three years, as it hiked the monthly plan from $11.99 per month to $12.99 per month.

12. Parloa triples its valuation in 8 months to $3B with $350M raise

    The massive round was led by existing investor General Catalyst, with participation from other returning backers.

13. Tiger Global loses India tax case tied to Walmart-Flipkart deal in blow to offshore playbook

    Tiger Global's case in India is being closely watched by investors.

14. After Italy, WhatsApp excludes Brazil from rival chatbot ban

    WhatsApp is allowing AI providers to continue offering their chatbots to users in Brazil, days after the country's competition agency ordered the company to suspend its new policy that bars third-party, general-purpose chatbots from the app.

15. Indian SpaceX rival EtherealX hits 5x valuation as it readies engine tests

    EtherealX is ramping engine tests and building a 150-acre rocket campus in India as it targets a 2027 launch mission.

16. Microsoft taps India’s Varaha for durable carbon removal offtake

    Microsoft is buying over 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from India's Varaha over the next three years.

17. Mira Murati’s startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is losing two of its co-founders to OpenAI

    The abrupt change in personnel was in the works for several weeks, according to an OpenAI executive.

18. The FTC’s data-sharing order against GM is finally settled

    The order, first proposed a year ago, bans GM from collecting and then selling geolocation data to third parties, like data brokers and insurance companies.

19. India’s Emversity doubles valuation as it scales workers AI can’t replace

    Emversity has raised $30 million in a new round as it scales job-ready training in India.

20. Musk denies awareness of Grok sexual underage images as California AG launches probe

    The California attorney general has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk's xAI after its chatbot Grok began generating nonconsensual sexual images of real women and even children.