OpenAI Speeds Up IPO Plans for Potential 2026 Listing, AI-Assisted Screening Cuts Late-Stage Breast Cancer Diagnoses by 12%, and Project Genie, Google’s $250/Month AI World Model, Goes Live

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Apple Posts Best-Ever iPhone Quarter

Apple reported its best-ever quarter for iPhone sales, achieving $85 billion in revenue, up from $69 billion the prior year, driven by strong global demand for the new iPhone 17. A major factor was the significant increase in sales in Greater China, where revenue rose from $18.5 billion to $25.5 billion. India also had a record quarter for iPhone, Mac, iPad, and services revenue. Overall sales growth was seen across all geographic segments, including the Americas and Europe.

OpenAI Accelerates IPO Plans

OpenAI, valued at $500 billion, is reportedly accelerating plans for a public listing in Q4 this year, aiming for what could be the biggest IPO in 2026. The company is in informal talks with banks and strengthening its finance team to manage investor relations, but it faces challenges including rapid growth, recent leadership changes, fierce competition from Google and Anthropic, and a major lawsuit from co-founder Elon Musk. A successful IPO is essential for securing the massive funding needed for its future AI infrastructure and chip deals.

AI Improves Breast Cancer Screening Outcomes

A large-scale Swedish study in The Lancet showed AI-assisted breast cancer screening, involving 100,000 women, led to a 12% reduction in late-stage diagnoses and increased early detection. The AI triaged low-risk mammograms for a single radiologist and high-risk cases for double reading. The AI group had a slightly lower cancer rate (1.55 vs. 1.76 per 1,000) and a higher initial detection rate (81% vs. 74%). Experts see this as a promising way to reduce radiologist workload and improve outcomes, stressing AI should assist, not replace, human judgment.

Google’s Project Genie Goes Public—At a Premium

Project Genie, an advanced research prototype and evolution of Google’s Genie 3 world model, is now available to users of the most expensive AI subscription ($250 per month) via a dedicated web app. Utilizing updated models like Nano Banana Pro and Gemini 3, it generates 720p, 24fps interactive video environments from text prompts or images, allowing users to explore the simulated world for 60 seconds using WASD controls, with the option to remix or re-run the result. Current limitations include input lag, the brief exploration time, the removal of promotable events, and potential issues with physics modeling and changing content restrictions.

Perplexity Signs $750M Cloud Deal With Microsoft

AI startup Perplexity has signed a three-year, $750 million deal with Microsoft to use the Azure cloud service, according to Bloomberg News. This agreement, facilitated through Microsoft’s Foundry program, will allow Perplexity to run various AI models from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI. Microsoft confirmed the partnership for model sourcing, though Perplexity stated this does not change its primary spending on its main cloud provider, Amazon Web Services, which sued the startup last year.

NASA Delays Artemis II Rehearsal

NASA has postponed the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal until Monday, February 2nd, due to cold weather, pushing the first potential launch window to Sunday, February 8th, as the February 6th and 7th dates are no longer possible. This 49-hour rehearsal, involving fueling and a simulated countdown, is vital for the crewed Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman on a 10-day journey around the moon, following the uncrewed Artemis I and preceding Artemis III, the planned mission to return astronauts to the lunar surface.

China Approves Major NVIDIA AI Chip Purchase

China reportedly approved the purchase of 400,000 NVIDIA H200 AI chips by companies like DeepSeek, ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent. This follows US approval for NVIDIA to sell the advanced H200 and the less powerful H20 to vetted Chinese firms, despite a 25% tariff. While Chinese authorities are finalizing conditions and NVIDIA’s CEO hasn’t received orders, the deal allows China access to superior chips. However, the purchase might face US scrutiny due to accusations that NVIDIA assisted DeepSeek in developing AI potentially usable by the Chinese military.

Microsoft Explores a Top Menu Bar for Windows 11

Microsoft’s PowerToys team is considering adding an optional, highly customizable top menu bar for Windows 11 called the Command Palette Dock. Similar to menus in Linux or macOS, this dock would offer quick access to tools and system monitoring, support extensions in three distinct regions, and be configurable in terms of position, background, styling, and theme. It is intended to work alongside the existing Command Palette launcher, and Microsoft is currently seeking community feedback and providing an early version on GitHub.

Pixel Tablet Gets Extended Update Support

Google has extended the Android OS and security updates for the Pixel Tablet until June 2028, aligning its support with the 5-year window of the Pixel 6 and 7 series. This quiet change on the support page gives the tablet, which previously was set to end updates in June 2026, a new lease on life for users, although newer Pixel devices now receive 7 years of support.

Google Offers $135M Settlement in Android Data Collection Lawsuit, Meta to charge Italian developers for non-template WhatsApp AI chatbot messages, Honda and DriveOhio Pilot AI System to Detect Road Damage.

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Tesla to End Model S and X Production to Make Room for Optimus Robots

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is ending production of the older Model S and X next quarter at the company’s Fremont, California factory to convert the space for manufacturing Optimus humanoid robots, prioritizing an autonomous future. The Model S and X will be sold until stock depletes but will remain supported, despite declining sales compared to the Model 3 and Y. Musk aims to produce one million Optimus robots in the converted space and sell them to the public by the end of next year, even though the robot’s demonstrations have been unimpressive and Musk is known for optimistic deadlines.

Google Proposes $135 Million Settlement Over Alleged Android Data Collection

Google has proposed a $135 million settlement in a San Jose class action lawsuit, potentially granting Android users up to $100 each. The lawsuit alleges Google collected cellular data without permission, even when location and apps were off. As part of the settlement, Google, while denying wrongdoing, has also agreed to implement changes like making it easier for users to stop data transfers, asking for consent during setup, and disclosing transfers in the Google Play terms of service. The eligible class includes Android users as of November 12, 2017.

Meta to Charge AI Chatbots on WhatsApp in Italy

Starting February 16 in Italy, Meta will charge developers $0.0691 per non-template message to run AI chatbots on WhatsApp in regions that mandate their allowance. This comes after Meta’s January 15 ban on third-party chatbots, which the company initially blamed on system strain but which has since sparked anticompetitive investigations. Developers whose bots were affected had to redirect users, but the new fee sets a precedent if more areas force Meta to permit chatbots.

Honda and Ohio Pilot AI-Powered Roadway Maintenance System

Honda and DriveOhio successfully piloted the Proactive Roadway Maintenance System, utilizing advanced vehicle sensors and Edge AI to detect road deficiencies like damaged signs and potholes across 3,000 miles in central and southeastern Ohio. This system automatically generates prioritized work orders for the Ohio Department of Transportation via Honda’s cloud platform, potentially saving ODOT over $4.5 million annually if scaled. Honda plans to commercialize the system and integrate similar detection into customer vehicles for crowdsourced road safety data.

Google Expands Gemini Access in Maps for Walkers and Cyclists

Google has expanded Gemini integration to Google Maps for users who are walking or cycling, providing conversational, hands-free navigation and assistance. This allows users to ask Gemini questions while on the move, like finding nearby attractions, checking for cafes with restrooms on the route, or getting ETA without stopping or taking their hands off the handlebars, furthering Google’s goal to make Maps a real-time, conversational tool.

Apple Forces Patreon Creators to Switch to Subscription Billing

Apple has mandated that all Patreon creators must switch to subscription billing by November 1, 2026, a reversal that Patreon criticizes as the third policy change in 18 months, claiming it destabilizes creators’ businesses. This requirement eliminates a loophole for bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase fees. While Patreon opposes the change and notes that only 4% of creators use the affected legacy billing, it must comply to keep its app on the App Store, though fans can still subscribe via a web browser to avoid the fees.

Meta Plans Massive Increase in AI Infrastructure Spending

Meta is significantly increasing its AI infrastructure spending, projecting $115–$135 billion in capital expenditure for this year, up from $72.22 billion in 2025. CEO Mark Zuckerberg justifies this massive investment as necessary to accelerate AI development for “personal superintelligence” and to integrate large language models with recommendation systems to boost ad revenue. The company expects this strategy to increase operating income above 2025 levels and is launching its “Meta Compute” initiative, which involves planning for vast AI datacenter capacity and securing nuclear energy agreements.

Google Brings Gemini AI to the Chrome Sidebar

Google is adding Gemini AI directly to the Chrome sidebar, making it available to Chromebook Plus users. This integration enables users to ask website-specific questions, understand tab groups, modify images with Nano Banana, and use the auto-browse agent for tasks like finding discounts and making purchases. Future updates will introduce a personal intelligence feature linking to services like Gmail and Photos, allowing Gemini to answer data-based questions and perform actions such as drafting and sending emails directly from Chrome.

Big Tech Giants Reportedly in Talks to Invest Up to $60 Billion in OpenAI

Nvidia, Amazon, and Microsoft are reportedly in discussions to invest a combined total of up to $60 billion in OpenAI. Nvidia, an existing investor and provider of the chips powering OpenAI’s models, is rumored to be considering an investment of up to $30 billion. Microsoft, a longtime backer, is said to be in talks for an investment of less than $10 billion, while Amazon, which would be a new investor, is discussing a significantly larger investment, potentially exceeding $20 billion.

Chromium bug report reveals Google’s desktop Android interface? Autonomous trucking company Waabi signs new deal with Uber, Snap spins AR glasses unit into standalone Specs Inc.

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Show Notes

Amazon lays off 16,000 employees

Amazon is cutting 16,000 jobs, its second major layoff in three months after eliminating 14,000 roles in October. The company cites ongoing restructuring, with some teams still consolidating and more cuts possible. Amazon plans to keep hiring in select areas and recently shuttered its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores to focus on same-day delivery through Whole Foods. CEO Andy Jassy previously said AI will reduce demand for some jobs but create others.

Source: TechCrunch

Amazon One palm-scan system ending

Amazon will discontinue its retail Amazon One palm-scan ID system on June 3, deleting all stored biometric data. Launched in 2020 for cashierless entry and payments, the system expanded to Whole Foods, third-party venues, and building access but faced privacy concerns. Healthcare check-ins will continue for now.

Source: GeekWire

Android desktop interface leak

A Chromium bug report appears to have accidentally revealed Google’s desktop Android interface. Running on an HP Chromebook under Android 16, the build shows a taller status bar, desktop-style Extensions support, split-screen multitasking, and ChromeOS-style window controls with tweaks to the taskbar and cursor.

Source: 9to5Google

LinkedIn adds AI skill verification

LinkedIn will let users display verified AI skills like “vibe coding” on profiles. Partners such as Replit, Lovabl, Descript, and Relay.app can assign skill levels directly, with GitHub and Zapier integrations coming. Companies behind the tools assess users and update ratings like “bronze” or “intermediate,” helping recruiters evaluate AI proficiency.

Source: Engadget

Fauna Robotics launches Sprout humanoid

Fauna Robotics introduced Sprout, a 3.5-foot soft-bodied humanoid for safe human interaction and easy research development. It comes with movement, navigation, perception, and expressive features ready to use. Articulated limbs and grippers support varied tasks. Price: $50,000. Early buyers include Disney and Boston Dynamics.

Source: The Verge

Snap spins off AR glasses unit

Snap is turning its AR glasses division into a standalone subsidiary, Specs Inc., to attract investors and partnerships while retaining ownership. The company emphasizes AI-powered glasses that interpret surroundings, assist tasks, and overlay digital tools without removing users from the real world. Snap is hiring 100+ roles and plans a new AR glasses release this year.

Source: Engadget

Apple to maintain iPhone 18 pricing

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports Apple will keep iPhone 18 pricing steady despite global RAM shortages and rising memory costs, renegotiating prices quarterly and absorbing increases. Other components are tightening as suppliers prioritize AI hardware, including glass cloth for circuit boards. Apple plans to offset costs via its services business.

Source: The Verge

Waabi expands into robotaxis with Uber

Autonomous trucking company Waabi signed a $1B deal with Uber to deploy more than 25,000 robotaxis using its Waabi Driver system. Waabi says its simulator-driven AI stack scales efficiently across trucking and robotaxis. Uber will add Waabi to its growing AV partner roster and launch Uber AV Labs to support data collection.

Source: TechCrunch

EU’s DMA Forces Google to Open Android and Search Data Access for AI Competition, Google Photos AI Expands with Text-to-Video Prompts and Enhanced Sharing, and France Moves to Ban Social Media for Under-15s Over Mental Health Concerns

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Meta is introducing new subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp to offer exclusive features focused on productivity, creativity, and AI—while keeping core app functionality free. These subscriptions, which are separate from Meta Verified, will explore freemium access to AI tools like the Vibes video generator and the recently acquired Manus AI agent. Features will vary by app and are designed to build on lessons learned from Meta Verified, despite concerns about growing subscription fatigue among users.

The European Commission has launched proceedings under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), requiring Google to give third-party AI services the same level of access to Android as its Gemini assistant. Google must also share anonymized Google Search data with rival search engines to help them improve their services. The move aims to preserve competition and innovation in the AI market. Google has six months to comply or face a formal investigation and potential fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.

Google Photos’ generative AI photo-to-video feature now supports text prompts, allowing users over 18 to describe motion, style, or visual effects when animating still images. This expands on existing “Subtle Movement” and “I’m feeling lucky” options. The update also adds default audio to generated videos and introduces a new Google Photos picker in Gmail for easier sharing from albums.

France’s National Assembly has passed legislation that would ban children under 15 from using social media platforms, citing concerns over online bullying and mental health risks. The bill reflects growing public anxiety and President Emmanuel Macron’s stance linking social media to youth violence. The measure now moves to the Senate and follows a similar under-16 social media ban enacted in Australia.

Yahoo has unveiled Yahoo Scout, an AI answer engine built primarily on Anthropic’s Claude and Microsoft Bing’s grounding API. Scout delivers conversational answers with inline citations and leverages decades of Yahoo’s proprietary data. The company plans to integrate Scout into products like Yahoo Mail and News through its Scout Intelligence Platform, keeping the service free despite competition from Google and OpenAI.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has opened an investigation into TikTok over claims it suppressed content critical of the U.S. president and blocked messages containing the word “Epstein.” The probe follows the creation of TikTok USDS, a new U.S. entity overseeing content moderation and algorithm training after ByteDance spun off its U.S. operations. The transition has already triggered user complaints about technical issues, which TikTok blamed on a U.S. data center power outage.

Amazon is shutting down all 72 of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go grocery and convenience stores, ending a decade-long experiment in Amazon-branded physical retail. The company said it could not achieve a “truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model” at scale. Amazon will now focus on expanding Whole Foods Market, same-day grocery delivery, and licensing its “Just Walk Out” technology.

WhatsApp is launching a new high-security mode called Strict Account Settings, aimed especially at journalists and public figures facing sophisticated cyberattacks. The feature blocks media, attachments, and calls from unknown contacts and disables link previews—common attack vectors. The move aligns with similar security offerings like Apple’s Lockdown Mode and Google’s Android Advanced Protection Mode.

YouTubers representing a combined 6.2 million subscribers—including h3h3, MrShortGame Golf, and Golfholics—have added Snap to a proposed class-action lawsuit already targeting Nvidia, Meta, and ByteDance. The creators allege Snap trained AI models such as the Imagine Lens on their YouTube videos using research-only datasets, violating platform rules and copyright law. The case joins more than 70 similar lawsuits against AI companies.

EC opens Digital Services Act investigation into X over Grok, Microsoft unveils Maia 200 AI chip, Nvidia announces three new Earth-2 AI weather models.

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Apple AirTag 2

Apple introduced the AirTag 2 with longer range, improved Precision Finding, and a louder speaker. The new second-gen Ultra Wideband chip boosts Precision Finding by up to 50% and extends Bluetooth range. Wrist-based finding now works on newer Apple Watch models, and Apple added privacy and anti-tracking protections. Pricing remains $29 or $99 for a four-pack, with preorders open and shipments later this week.

Source: 9to5Mac

X Investigated Over Deepfake AI

The European Commission opened a Digital Services Act probe into X over Grok’s ability to generate sexualised deepfakes of real people, following a similar UK investigation. X could face fines up to 6% of global revenue, and interim measures may be imposed if changes aren’t made.

Source: BBC

WhatsApp Designated a Very Large Online Platform

The European Commission also designated WhatsApp as a “very large online platform” under the DSA, making it the first messaging service subject to the EU’s strictest online rules. Public channels must now report on mitigating systemic risks to children and democracy, with the first report due in four months. Non-compliance can trigger investigations and fines up to 6% of global revenue.

Source: Euractiv

Microsoft Unveils Maia 200 AI Chip

Microsoft rolled out the Maia 200 AI chip, built on TSMC’s 3nm process. It claims 3x the FP4 performance of Amazon’s latest Trainium and stronger FP8 numbers than Google’s newest TPU. Maia 200 will run GPT-5.2 and other large models, with 100+ billion transistors and 30% better performance per dollar. Early access is open to researchers, developers, and open-source contributors.

Source: The Verge

Nvidia Launches New AI Weather Models

Nvidia introduced three Earth-2 models: Medium Range, Nowcasting, and Global Data Assimilation. Medium Range beats Google DeepMind’s GenCast on 70+ variables and forecasts up to 15 days out. Nowcasting targets 0–6 hour storm impacts using geostationary satellite data, and Global Data Assimilation compresses data prep that traditionally consumed half of supercomputing loads. Nvidia says the models increase access to high-quality forecasting for governments and industries.

Source: TechCrunch

Apple’s Siri Overhaul

Apple will preview a Gemini-powered Siri update in February through an iOS 26.4 beta, with a possible event for new features. The full overhaul, codenamed Campos, is planned for iOS 27 and WWDC in June, introducing a rebuilt conversational UI on a new Apple Foundation Model competitive with Gemini 3. Apple is also testing AI updates for Safari and core apps and continuing work on a HomePod-style smart display.

Source: Thurrott

TikTok US Outages

TikTok’s first weekend under new US ownership saw outages caused by a power failure at a US data center. The disruptions fueled conspiracy theories, compounded by new terms allowing more granular data collection, including precise location and stored AI interactions. The service is now mostly restored.

Source: Ars Technica

US DOT to Use AI for Rulemaking

ProPublica reports that the US administration plans to use Google’s Gemini to draft federal transportation regulations, testing AI-generated rulemaking at the Department of Transportation. The DOT’s general counsel emphasized speed and volume over precision, aiming to compress drafting timelines from months to roughly 30 days.

Source: ProPublica

Google Photos adding generative feature “Me Meme”, Amazon brings Alexa+ early access to Mexico, Tesla puts Autosteer behind paywall for new Model 3 & Y owners.

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Show Notes

TikTok expands data collection under new U.S. ownership

TikTok’s revamped privacy policy collects more user data, including precise location if device permissions are granted, and explicitly logs interactions with AI tools, like prompts and outputs. The company is also expanding its ad network, allowing data to be used for targeted ads beyond the app, with publishers now listed as partners.

Source: Wired

Google Photos launches “Me Meme” feature

Google Photos is adding an experimental, U.S.-only feature called “Me Meme” that lets users create memes using their own photos. Powered by Google’s Gemini image tech, users select a template, upload a selfie, and generate a meme. More templates are planned, and the rollout will hit iOS and Android in the coming weeks.

Source: TechCrunch

Alexa+ assistant comes to Mexico

Amazon has launched early access to its upgraded Alexa+ assistant in Mexico, localized in Spanish with support for slang and new voices. Adoption has been strong following U.S. and Canada launches. Alexa+ will remain free during early access and free for Prime members afterward, supporting over 600 million Alexa-enabled devices and expanding to mobile, web, Samsung TVs, BMW cars, and smart home appliances.

Source: Thurrott

Tesla rolls out fully driverless robotaxis in Austin

Tesla has launched fully driverless robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas, with no human safety monitor onboard. This builds on a smaller supervised rollout from last summer. Rides are now paid, with Tesla apparently using chase cars for oversight, and fully driverless vehicles will gradually integrate into Austin’s broader fleet, which still includes cars with safety monitors.

Source: TechCrunch

Tesla moves Autosteer behind subscription paywall

Tesla is removing lane-centering (Autosteer) as a standard feature on new Model 3 and Model Y purchases in the U.S. and Canada, putting it behind the $99-per-month Full Self-Driving Supervised subscription. Traffic-Aware Cruise Control remains standard. The change only affects new buyers and aligns with FSD switching to a subscription-only model after February 14th.

Source: Engadget

Meta pauses teen access to AI characters

Meta is pausing teen access to AI characters across all apps while developing an updated version with tighter parental controls and age-appropriate responses. The move comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny over teen safety and mental health. The new AI characters will launch for all users, with parents able to monitor or restrict topics and fully disable chats.

Source: TechCrunch

Snap settles social media addiction lawsuit

Snap has reached a settlement with a 19-year-old plaintiff in a social media addiction lawsuit just days before the trial in Los Angeles. The suit claims algorithmic design on major platforms drives addiction and harms mental health. Other defendants, including Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, haven’t announced settlements, and jury selection is still set for January 27th.

Source: BBC

Apple iPhone posts record year in India

Apple shipped roughly 14 million iPhones in India in 2025, giving it a record 9% market share, up from 7% the year prior. Counterpoint Research attributes gains to rising aspirational demand and wider retail availability. India’s overall smartphone market was flat at about 152–153 million units, while premium phones above ₹30,000 grew 15%, reaching a record 23% of shipments.

Source: TechCrunch

Apple reportedly overhauling Siri with “Campos”

Apple is planning a major update to Siri, internally called “Campos,” turning it into a ChatGPT-style assistant capable of voice and text interactions. Expected at WWDC in June, the update responds to the rise of competing AI chatbots and potential OpenAI hardware moves. Apple confirmed it will use Google’s Gemini as its AI partner after exploring other options.

Source: TechCrunch

Netflix revises Warner Bros. and HBO bid

Netflix switched its offer for Warner Bros. and HBO to an all-cash $27.75 per share, replacing a previous cash-and-stock bid. The move simplifies the deal and counters Paramount’s hostile $30-per-share bid. Under Netflix’s plan, remaining WBD assets, including CNN, would spin out into a new company called Discovery Global, a strategy WBD’s board supports despite Paramount’s objections.

Source: CNN

Netflix’s All-Cash WBD Studio Bid Confident as Peters Dismisses Paramount’s ‘Debt-Heavy’ Offer, and Intel Prioritizes AI Chips, Causing Low-End PC Constraints Amid Foundry Losses

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A new, majority American-owned joint venture—50% owned by Oracle and Silver Lake—has acquired TikTok’s U.S. assets, securing the app’s future in the United States. Led by CEO Adam Presser and CSO Will Farrell, the entity introduces strict safeguards around U.S. user data, algorithm security, and content moderation, effectively shifting control of U.S. operations.

A federal judge is closely scrutinizing the Epic Games–Google antitrust settlement after revelations of a separate, previously undisclosed business partnership between the two companies. The agreement includes “joint product development, joint marketing commitments, and joint partnerships” tied to Unreal Engine, Fortnite, and Android, as well as Epic’s pledge to spend $800 million on Google services over six years.

Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said he is confident Netflix’s $82.7 billion all-cash offer for Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios will be approved, calling Paramount’s $108 billion, debt-heavy hostile bid lacking credibility. Peters argued the Paramount offer is unrealistic without backing from Larry Ellison and unlikely to gain shareholder support.

Intel is reallocating foundry capacity from client chips to higher-margin Xeon AI server processors after underestimating the surge in datacenter demand. The move prioritizes mid-to-high-end Core processors and could make low-end Intel PCs scarcer, especially as component costs like DRAM rise.

Amazon is planning a second, larger round of job cuts next week as it works toward eliminating 30,000 corporate roles. The layoffs—on top of 14,000 cuts in October—are expected to hit AWS, retail, Prime Video, and HR, potentially starting as early as Tuesday.

Tesla has removed lane-keeping Autosteer from Basic Autopilot on new North American Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Customers must now subscribe to the $99/month Full Self-Driving (FSD) package to access the feature, leaving only Traffic-Aware Cruise Control as standard.

UK regulator Ofcom has opened an investigation into Meta Platforms over whether it provided complete and accurate information about WhatsApp during a review of the wholesale market for business bulk SMS messaging. These messages are commonly used for appointment reminders and delivery notifications.

Tesla has begun offering completely driverless robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas, with CEO Elon Musk confirming the vehicles operate without a human safety monitor. The rollout expands on a limited, supervised deployment from last June and marks the first time Tesla is charging for rides without an onboard human.

A clinical trial published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that the Apple Watch significantly improved doctors’ ability to detect dangerous heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation. Doctors diagnosed A-Fib four times more often than with standard care alone.

House Bill Seeks to Block Nvidia AI Chip Sales to China, Mandating Congressional Review, Anthropic Releases 80-Page Revision of Claude’s Constitution, and Ubisoft Cancels Six Games, Delays Seven, and Closes Studios in ‘Major Reset’ After Share Drop

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Show Notes

Apple plans major Siri overhaul

House moves to oversee AI chip exports to China

Anthropic revises Claude’s Constitution

Ubisoft announces major reset

Microsoft expands Xbox app to Arm-based PCs

Claude “Humanizer” highlights AI detection arms race

Waymo launches robotaxi service in Miami

Microsoft adds more AI features to Notepad and Paint

Nintendo Switch 2 leads U.S. hardware sales

Snap settles a social media addiction suit days before trial set to begin in Los Angeles, OpenAI begins global age verification roll out ahead of a planned “adult mode” feature, and Adobe Acrobat Studio adds the ability to generate an AI podcast from documents.

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Snap, parent company of Snapchat, reached a settlement with a 19 year old plaintiff in a social media addiction lawsuit, days before this trial would begin in Los Angeles, though the terms have not been disclosed. The suit claims the algorithmic design of social media platforms led to addiction and deteriorating mental health. Other parties in the suit, including Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, have not announced any pending settlements with the jury selection for the trial set for January 27th. Snap remains a defendant in other consolidated social media addiction cases.

Source: BBC

On Tuesday, OpenAI announced the start of the roll out of global age prediction for ChatGPT to detect minors ahead of preparations for the debut of an “adult mode”. OpenAI CEO of applications Fidji Simo said in December she expects “adult mode” to go live in the first quarter of 2026. Users erroneously categorized as a minor can appeal by submitting data to identity verification service Persona, also used by Reddit and Roblox.

Source: Reuters

Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said the company’s advertising business doubled revenue to $1.5 billion USD from 2024 to 2025, and expects 2026 to “roughly double again” to $3 billion. The ad-supported Netflix tier, which costs $7.99/month, had over 94 million subscribers as of May 2025. In the Q4 2025 earnings report Netflix reported 325 million subscribers with revenue of $12.05 billion.

Source: The Verge

In YouTube’s annual letter to the community, CEO Neal Mohan pledged to “reduce the spread of low quality AI content” alongside strengthening safeguards for minors. Mohan also stated later this year users will be able to use YouTube’s AI creation tools to “create a Short using your own likeness”, and that Shorts currently average 200 billion daily views. The future AI tool improvements will also able to produce games with a text prompt and experiment with music.

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter and YouTube

The Federal Trade Commission is appealing a November 2025 ruling in the antitrust case against Meta regarding the Instagram and WhatsApp deals. The FTC looked to force Meta to restructure or sell Instagram and WhatsApp in order to restore competition eliminated by the acquisitions, but US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington ruled Meta does not have a monopoly due to competition from TikTok. Facebook purchased Instagram in 2012, then WhatsApp in 2014, and the FTC did not block the deals at the time, instead suing in 2020 alleging a US monopoly on platforms for sharing content with friends and family.

Source: Reuters

In August 2025 Adobe added some AI features to Acrobat Studio, including PDF Spaces, which supported the ability to add up to 100 documents to be AI summarized. Documents added to PDF Spaces can now use Adobe’s AI assistant to generate a presentation from uploads, with options for editing without needing to generate new slides and can be shared with co-workers for further edits. Another new feature in PDF Spaces enables the creation of an AI podcast from a document, similar to a NotebookLM feature. The default podcast creation option has two AI hosts discuss the material.

Source: Engadget

One week after the Federal Communications Commission waived the requirement for Verizon to unlock phones 60 days post network activation, Verizon enacted a 365-day lock period for phones purchased through the TracPhone division. The previous 60 day unlock requirement was part of a merger condition to gain approval for the Verizon purchase of TracPhone. The new policy states cellphones activated on or after January 20th can be unlocked only upon request and only after 365 days of paid and active service.

Source: Ars Technica

According to Sensor Tower’s annual State of Mobile report, consumers globally spent more on non-gaming apps than games in 2025, a trend previously noted only in select markets. The report shares approximately $85 billion was spent on apps in 2025, a 21% increase from 2024, and almost 3x the amount from five years ago. Downloads of AI apps doubled to hit 3.8 billion, with the top 10 apps dominated by AI assistants, led by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and DeepSeek. And, for social media, users spent an average of 90min/day scrolling, totaling approximately 2.5 trillion hours, up 5% year-over-year.

Source: TechCrunch

Sony Spins Off TV Hardware in Major Joint Venture with TCL, Adobe Supercharges Premiere Pro and After Effects with Major AI and Workflow Updates, and Meta Oversight Board Reviews Permanent Ban for Persistent Hate Speech

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Show Notes

Netflix revises offer for Warner Bros. Discovery to all-cash deal

Sony and TCL strike joint venture for TV hardware business

Adobe rolls out major AI-powered updates for Premiere Pro and After Effects

Meta Oversight Board reviews permanent ban tied to hate speech and threats

Reels dominates Instagram ads as vertical video surges

Google updates Android voice search interface

Christmas Day 2025 becomes biggest U.S. streaming day ever

EU proposes phasing out “high-risk” tech suppliers across critical sectors

UK considers banning social media for children under 16