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Dec 15, 2025 · 4 min
Data center boom bad news for other infrastructure projects; plus, a data breach at 700Credit affects nearly 6 million, and Microsoft buys 3.6M metric tons of carbon removal from bioenergy plant
-Improvements to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure could take a hit as data center construction accelerates. That’s according to a report from Bloomberg. -At least 5.6 million people had their names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers stolen in a data breach at Seven Hundred Credit, a company that runs credit checks and identity verification services for auto dealerships across the US. Microsoft announced Thursday it would buy 3.6 million carbon removal credits from a biofuels plant in Louisiana owned by C2X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 12, 2025 · 7 min
Zevo wants to add robotaxis to its car-share fleet; plus, Reddit argues it isn’t like other social platforms
As robotaxi adoption continues, wild ideas like personal ownership and renting them out are starting to pop up again. Also, Reddit, one of the world's largest social platforms, is arguing that it doesn't meet the definition of "social media platforms" as it seeks to overturn Australia's law banning children under 16 years of age from social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 12, 2025 · 8 min
Google launched its deepest AI research agent yet — on the same day OpenAI dropped GPT-5.2
For the first time, developers can embed Google's Deep Research tool, based on Gemini 3 Pro, into their own apps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 11, 2025 · 7 min
Opera wants you to pay $20 a month to use its AI-powered browser; plus, Rivian going big on autonomy
Following a couple of months' testing, Opera has finally made its AI-powered browser, Neon, available to the public — though you'll have to shell out for a $19.90-per-month subscription to use it. Also, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe laid out his plan for how Rivian's vehicles will increasingly drive themselves, in a bid to match or exceed the capabilities of rival automakers and AV companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 11, 2025 · 5 min
Overview Energy wants to beam energy from space to existing solar farms; plus Nvidia is reportedly testing tracking software
The stealthy startup plans to use a network of satellites to harvest sunlight and send it to Earth using infrared lasers. A new software option could make it possible to see the approximate location of some of Nvidia's AI chips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 10, 2025 · 5 min
Google launches managed MCP servers that let AI agents simply plug into its tools
Google is rolling out managed MCP servers to make its services “agent-ready by design,” starting with Maps and BigQuery, aiming to simplify messy integrations and help AI agents use real tools. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 10, 2025 · 11 min
Three in ten U.S. teens use AI chatbots every day, but safety concerns are growing; also, Why Cursor’s CEO believes OpenAI, Anthropic competition won’t crush his startup
While teenagers may start out using AI chatbots for basic questions, their relationship with chatbot platforms has the potential to turn addictive. Plus, Anysphere CEO Michael Truell explained the features his company is focused on building out after reaching $1 billion in annualized revenue,. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 9, 2025 · 7 min
Google’s first AI glasses expected next year; plus, Ford and Renault team up on cheaper EVs and Truecaller now lets users protect households from scam calls
Google will compete with Meta with its own line of AI-powered smart glasses. Also, Ford and Renault in a ‘fight for our lives.’ The automakers will work together to bring two Ford-branded less expensive EVs to European dealerships in 2028. And, Truecaller's Family Protection will be rolled out widely in the first quarter of 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 9, 2025 · 4 min
FTC upholds ban on stalkerware founder Scott Zuckerman
Zuckerman, who used to run the stalkerware apps SpyFone and SpyTrac, claimed the ban is hurting his unrelated business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 8, 2025 · 8 min
‘ONE RULE’: Trump says he’ll sign an EO blocking state AI laws despite bipartisan pushback; also, Paramount's hostile bid for WBD
“I will be doing a ONE RULE Executive Order this week,” Trump posted on social media. “You can’t expect a company to get 50 Approvals every time they want to do something.” Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile, $108.4 billion bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, days after Warner Bros. agreed to be acquired by Netflix for $82.7 billion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 5, 2025 · 8 min
The New York Times is suing Perplexity for copyright infringement; while Meta signs commercial AI data agreements with publishers to offer real-time news on Meta AI
The New York Times filed a copyright lawsuit against Perplexity, joining other publishers using legal action as leverage to force AI companies into licensing deals that compensate content creators. Also, Meta is partnering with CNN, Fox News, Fox Sports, Le Monde Group, the People Inc. portfolio of media brands, The Daily Caller, The Washington Examiner, and USA Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 5, 2025 · 6 min
Musk says new Tesla software allows texting and driving, which is illegal in most states; plus, Feds ask Waymo about robotaxis repeatedly passing school buses in Austin
Texting while driving is banned in nearly every state, even with the use of advanced driver assistance systems like Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. Also, the agency already opened an investigation in October over Waymo's performance around school buses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 4, 2025 · 5 min
California’s ban on self-driving trucks could soon be over; also, Amazon may drop USPS and build a competing service
Revised rules in California would allow self-driving trucks to test on public highways. The rules also close a loophole allowing police to issue tickets for driverless vehicles. Also, Amazon is the USPS' biggest customer, and the e-commerce giant's potential break from the postal agency comes as the two sides are negotiating a new deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 4, 2025 · 4 min
Andy Jassy says Amazon’s Nvidia competitor chip is already a multi-billion-dollar business
Can any company, big or small, really topple Nvidia's AI chip dominance? Maybe not entirely but Amazon is already making big bucks trying. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 3, 2025 · 7 min
Another bid to block state AI regulation has failed…for now; plus, Autolane is building ‘air traffic control’ for AVs
The latest bid to squeeze a ban on states regulating AI into an annual defense bill has reportedly been rejected after facing bipartisan pushback. Also, backed by VC firms like Draper Associates and Hyperplane, Autolane said it will start by coordinating pickup and drop-off points for companies that want to let robotaxis come onto their private property. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 3, 2025 · 7 min
A data breach at analytics giant Mixpanel leaves a lot of open questions
We sent over a dozen questions to Mixpanel's CEO about the company's data breach. Here's what we want to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 2, 2025 · 10 min
Amazon releases an impressive new AI chip and teases a Nvidia-friendly roadmap; also, India plans to verify and record every smartphone in circulation
Amazon Web Services, which has been building its own AI training chips for years now, just introduced a new version known as Trainium three that comes with some impressive specs. he Indian government is widening the scope of its anti-theft and cybersecurity initiative to cover both new and used smartphones, an effort aimed at curbing device theft and online fraud but a move that is also raising fresh privacy concerns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 2, 2025 · 5 min
Construction workers are cashing in on the AI boom; also, Data center energy demand forecasted to soar nearly 300% through 2035
The AI boom is proving to be a windfall for construction workers building the massive data centers that power it all. According to The Wall Street Journal, workers moving into data-center construction are seeing pay jumps of 25 to 30 percent compared to their previous jobs . Alos, new planned data centers promise to consume even more energy than expected. Meanwhile, a grid monitor is blaming such growth for high electricity prices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 1, 2025 · 5 min
Amazon’s AI chatbot Rufus drove sales on Black Friday; plus, James Cameron says generative AI is ‘horrifying’
On Black Friday, Amazon sessions that resulted in a sale were up 100% in the U.S. when the AI chatbot Rufus was used. They only increased by 20% when Rufus wasn't used. Also, James Cameron’s movies are often at the cutting edge of visual effects technology, but that doesn't make him a fan of generative AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 1, 2025 · 10 min
No, you can’t get your AI to ‘admit’ to being sexist, but it probably is anyway
Though LLMs might not use explicitly biased language, they may infer your demographic data and display implicit biases, researchers say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices