News/Partnerships
Perplexity AI makes $200 Comet browser free worldwide
Perplexity AI has made its artificial intelligence-powered web browser Comet available worldwide for free, expanding access beyond its previous $200-per-month subscription model for Perplexity Max users. The move positions Perplexity to compete more aggressively with tech giants like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic in the rapidly evolving AI browser space, while potentially attracting millions of users who were previously on the waitlist. What you should know: Comet functions as a comprehensive personal assistant that can handle multiple web-based tasks beyond traditional browsing. The browser can search the web, organize tabs, draft emails, shop online, and perform other productivity tasks using AI...
read Oct 2, 2025There can be only One UI 8.5: Samsung brings Google’s AI notification summaries to phone
Samsung is developing an AI-powered notification summary feature for One UI 8.5 that closely mirrors Apple's controversial notification summaries launched last year. The feature appears to leverage Google's work-in-progress notification summary technology rather than Samsung's own development, suggesting a collaborative approach to bringing AI-driven notification management to Android devices. What you should know: Samsung's notification summary feature was discovered in the latest One UI 8.5 firmware build by SamMobile, though it's not currently functional. The feature will use AI to summarize long messages and group conversations, identical to Google's approach. Users will see a pop-up explanation when pulling down the...
read Oct 2, 2025Universal Music and Warner near AI licensing deals with both tech giants and startups
Universal Music and Warner Music, two of the world's largest record labels, are nearing landmark AI licensing deals with multiple companies, including start-ups like ElevenLabs, Stability AI, Suno, and Udio, as well as tech giants Google and Spotify, according to a Financial Times report. These agreements could be finalized within weeks and represent a significant shift toward formal partnerships between major record labels and AI companies amid ongoing copyright disputes in the creative industry. Why this matters: The music industry has been embroiled in legal battles over AI companies using copyrighted material without permission to train their models, making these...
read Oct 1, 2025Superfiliate launches AI creator discovery tool using Meta’s first-party data
Superfiliate has launched an AI-powered creator discovery tool that uses first-party data from Meta to match brands with social media influencers. The Venice, California-based company aims to streamline what has traditionally been a time-consuming process of manually searching for content creators, leveraging recommendation intelligence similar to Netflix and Spotify's algorithms. How it works: The tool allows marketers to search for specific types of content creators and conduct comprehensive research on potential partnerships. Users can type search queries like "Find me home decor creators with 50K+ followers" to surface viable influencer options. Brands can upload a creator's social media handle to...
read Oct 1, 2025Crusoe powers up Central Texas AI data center with Oracle partnership
Crusoe has officially powered up the first phase of its flagship Stargate data center campus in Abilene, Texas, developed in partnership with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. The rapid deployment—going from groundbreaking in June 2024 to operational facilities running Nvidia GB200 racks just over a year later—represents a significant milestone in U.S. AI infrastructure development and demonstrates how quickly large-scale AI computing facilities can be brought online. What you should know: The Abilene campus is already processing AI training and inference workloads with cutting-edge hardware delivered by Oracle. Oracle began delivering Nvidia GB200 racks in June 2025, enabling the site to run...
read Oct 1, 2025Mac strikes back as Apple files motion to dismiss xAI’s antitrust lawsuit over OpenAI partnership
Apple has filed a motion to dismiss xAI's antitrust lawsuit that alleges the tech giant stifled AI competition through its OpenAI partnership and App Store practices. The legal battle stems from Elon Musk's August accusations that Apple's ChatGPT integration created unfair advantages in app rankings, preventing rival AI companies from reaching the top spot. Apple's defense strategy: The company argues that xAI's lawsuit would require partnerships with "every other generative AI chatbot – regardless of quality, privacy or safety considerations, technical feasibility, stage of development, or commercial terms." Apple's lawyers describe the antitrust claims as "speculation on top of speculation"...
read Oct 1, 2025Automaker Stellantis and Mistral expand partnership with 2 new AI platforms
Carmaker Stellantis and French AI firm Mistral AI are expanding their 18-month partnership to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption across the automaker's global operations. The collaboration introduces two new platforms designed to integrate AI solutions into sales, aftersales, and core production processes, positioning Stellantis to leverage AI for enhanced customer service and operational efficiency. What you should know: The expanded partnership builds on successful pilot programs that began 18 months ago between Stellantis, which owns brands like Jeep and Ram, and Mistral AI, a French artificial intelligence company. Two new platforms will launch: Innovation Lab and Transformation Academy, each targeting different...
read Oct 1, 2025Future workouts advance as Peloton unveils AI-powered fitness machines
Peloton has unveiled its 2025 Cross Training series, featuring five updated fitness machines with AI-powered coaching through Peloton IQ, rotating screens, and integrated movement-tracking cameras. The comprehensive overhaul represents the company's attempt to reinvent itself following last year's staff cuts and leadership changes, though it comes with significantly higher price points and increased subscription costs. What you should know: The Cross Training lineup includes upgraded Bike, Bike+, Tread, Tread+, and Row+ models, all featuring screens that rotate away from the equipment for versatility. The plus models feature 23.8-inch displays, while base models have 21.5-inch screens that can pivot for cross-discipline...
read Oct 1, 2025AWS and NBA double (dribble) up with AI platform for basketball analytics and fan experiences
Amazon Web Services has announced a multi-year partnership with the National Basketball Association to launch "NBA Inside the Game," an AI-powered platform that transforms game data into insights and interactive experiences. The collaboration positions AWS to capitalize on the growing intersection of sports analytics and artificial intelligence, while giving the NBA advanced tools to enhance fan engagement and team strategy analysis. What you should know: The platform will deliver AI-driven basketball analytics across multiple NBA channels and provide teams with strategic insights. "NBA Inside the Game" will offer features for live broadcasts and be integrated into the NBA App, website,...
read Sep 30, 2025Bit Gulp: Seven-Eleven Japan to deploy AI humanoid robots in stores by 2029
Seven-Eleven Japan and Telexistence have announced a partnership to develop and deploy humanoid robots powered by generative AI in convenience stores, with commercial rollout planned for 2029. The collaboration aims to address Japan's severe labor shortages while transforming retail operations through "Astra," a humanoid robot equipped with Vision-Language-Action foundation models that can handle routine store tasks. What you should know: The partnership combines Seven-Eleven's massive retail footprint with Telexistence's robotics expertise to create practical AI-powered humanoids for commercial deployment. Astra robots will be designed to handle routine in-store operations, allowing human employees to focus on customer service tasks that require...
read Sep 30, 2025AI in the Chi: Serve Robotics launches autonomous sidewalk delivery in 14 Chicago neighborhoods
Serve Robotics has launched its autonomous sidewalk delivery robots in Chicago through its partnership with Uber Eats, marking the company's first expansion into the Midwest. The rollout spans 14 neighborhoods and brings contact-free delivery from over 100 restaurants to hundreds of thousands of Chicago households, representing a significant milestone in Serve's goal to deploy 2,000 AI-powered delivery robots across the US by the end of 2025. What you should know: Chicago becomes Serve Robotics' fifth major market, following successful deployments in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Atlanta. The service launches across 14 Chicago neighborhoods including Austin, Belmont Cragin, Dunning,...
read Sep 30, 2025Google DeepMind launches Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5 for smarter robot reasoning
Google DeepMind has released Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5, a new embodied reasoning model designed specifically for robotic applications that can perform spatial reasoning, multi-step planning, and execution in physical environments. The model represents a significant shift toward separating reasoning from execution in robotics AI, potentially making it easier to adapt advanced AI capabilities across different hardware platforms and accelerating the development of general-purpose robots. What you should know: Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5 is now available in preview through Google AI Studio and the Gemini API, offering developers a new approach to robotic intelligence. The model can output precise 2D points grounded in...
read Sep 29, 2025Apple tests internal “Veritas” chatbot to upgrade Siri capabilities
Apple is testing an internal chatbot called Veritas to develop and refine upcoming Siri AI upgrades, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The employee-only tool allows Apple to quickly test new Siri capabilities like searching personal data and performing in-app actions, but the company has no plans for a public release and will likely rely on Google's Gemini for AI-powered search instead. The big picture: Apple's internal testing approach reflects the company's ongoing struggles to keep pace in the AI race, with next-generation Siri facing multiple delays and Apple Intelligence receiving a lukewarm market reception. How it works: Veritas functions similarly...
read Sep 26, 2025Never “Metabot” they didn’t like: Meta bets big on humanoid robots with software-first strategy
Meta is positioning humanoid robotics as its next "AR-size bet," signaling a multi-billion dollar investment in the emerging field. CTO Andrew Bosworth revealed that CEO Mark Zuckerberg directed the creation of a dedicated robotics research team earlier this year, with the company developing its own humanoid robot called "Metabot" while planning to license its software platform to other manufacturers. The big picture: Meta views software, not hardware, as the primary bottleneck preventing widespread humanoid robot adoption, focusing its efforts on solving complex manipulation tasks that current robots struggle with. Key technical challenges: Bosworth emphasized that while robots can perform dynamic...
read Sep 26, 2025Databricks and OpenAI launch $100M Agent brick platform for enterprise AI
Databricks, a data intelligence platform company, has partnered with OpenAI in a $100 million deal to launch "Agent brick," an enterprise AI platform that integrates advanced models like GPT-5 into business-ready agent systems. The collaboration aims to help companies build AI agents that can analyze data, automate workflows, and maintain compliance with regulations and cybersecurity standards, positioning both companies to capture growing enterprise demand for frontier AI capabilities. What you should know: The Agent brick platform runs on Databricks' data intelligence infrastructure, allowing enterprises to deploy large language models at scale while maintaining governance and security standards. Companies can build...
read Sep 26, 2025DHS deploys SF-based Hive AI tools to detect fake child abuse imagery
The US Department of Homeland Security is deploying AI detection tools to distinguish between AI-generated child abuse imagery and content depicting real victims. The Department's Cyber Crimes Center has awarded a $150,000 contract to San Francisco-based Hive AI, marking the first known use of automated detection systems to prioritize cases involving actual children at risk amid a surge in synthetic abuse material. Why this matters: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a 1,325% increase in incidents involving generative AI in 2024, creating an overwhelming volume of synthetic content that diverts investigative resources from real victims. The detection...
read Sep 26, 2025Window(s) shopping: Microsoft launches unified marketplace with 3,000+ AI apps
Microsoft has launched Microsoft Marketplace, a unified platform that offers more than 3,000 AI apps and agents built atop Microsoft Cloud. The marketplace merges Azure Marketplace and Microsoft AppSource, allowing businesses to quickly deploy AI tools without security concerns while positioning Microsoft to compete directly with Amazon Web Services in the enterprise AI distribution space. What you should know: Microsoft Marketplace streamlines AI tool procurement for enterprise customers by providing pre-vetted, cloud-compatible solutions. The platform combines Microsoft's existing Azure Marketplace (launched 2014) and AppSource (launched 2016) into a single destination for cloud services and AI applications. All offerings are compatible...
read Sep 26, 2025Former Texas governor Rick Perry’s data center startup eyes $13B IPO amid AI boom
Rick Perry's data center company Fermi America is preparing to go public at a valuation of up to $13 billion, positioning the former Texas governor and Trump energy secretary to earn hundreds of millions from his 3% stake. The company, founded just this year, plans to build the world's largest private electric grid and data center complex in Texas, named after President Trump and powered by nuclear, natural gas, wind, and solar energy. What you should know: Fermi America aims to raise up to $550 million through its IPO, with shares expected to list between $18-$22 on both Nasdaq and...
read Sep 25, 2025xAI secures federal deal to bring Grok AI to government agencies
Elon Musk's xAI has secured a deal with the General Services Administration to integrate its Grok AI chatbot across federal agencies, marking the first major AI partnership between the Trump administration and Musk's artificial intelligence company. The agreement positions xAI to potentially transform government operations while raising questions about Musk's expanding influence within federal institutions, particularly given his recent role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). What they're saying: Both Musk and federal officials emphasized the transformative potential of the partnership. "xAI has the most powerful AI compute and most capable AI models in the world," Musk told Fox...
read Sep 25, 2025Trexo robotic legs help disabled children in Canada walk for first time
Trexo Robotics is bringing its robotic leg devices to Kids Physio Group Victoria on September 26-27, offering children with mobility disabilities the opportunity to trial walking technology that may enable some to walk for the first time. The collaboration highlights how robotic assistive technology is expanding access to mobility therapy for children with disabilities, providing new pathways to independence and improved quality of life. What you should know: Two Trexo devices and team members will travel from Ontario to facilitate hands-on trials for children of all ages at the Victoria clinic.• The robotic legs provide postural support that enables children...
read Sep 25, 2025Databricks partners with OpenAI in $100M deal to embed ChatGPT into enterprise platforms
Databricks, a San Francisco-based data analytics firm, has partnered with OpenAI to integrate the ChatGPT maker's AI models directly into its enterprise data and analytics platforms, including its flagship Agent Bricks product. The partnership is expected to generate $100 million in revenue and gives Databricks a competitive edge over rival Snowflake in the rapidly expanding enterprise AI market. What you should know: The integration will embed OpenAI's AI models directly into Databricks' cloud platform and Agent Bricks, which helps customers create, test and scale AI applications and agents.• More than 20,000 enterprise customers of Databricks will gain access to GPT-5...
read Sep 24, 2025Alibaba Cloud integrates Nvidia’s Physical AI tools into PAI service
Alibaba will integrate Nvidia's complete suite of AI development tools for "Physical AI" into its cloud software platform. This partnership positions Alibaba to leverage advanced robotics and embodied AI capabilities within its Platform for AI (PAI) service, potentially expanding its competitive edge in the enterprise AI market. What you should know: The integration brings Nvidia's Physical AI software stack directly into Alibaba Cloud's existing AI platform infrastructure. Alibaba Cloud's Platform for AI (PAI) will now include access to Nvidia's full suite of development tools designed specifically for Physical AI applications. Physical AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can understand...
read Sep 24, 2025Kodiak Robotics secures $212.5M for autonomous trucking ahead of NASDAQ debut
Ares Acquisition Corporation II saw its shares surge 6.42% in after-hours trading following news that its planned merger with autonomous vehicle company Kodiak Robotics secured over $212.5 million in institutional funding. The PIPE financing, which includes backing from George Soros' Soros Fund Management and Cathie Wood's ARK Investments, more than doubled the original $100 million target and signals strong investor confidence in the self-driving truck technology sector. What you should know: The merger funding package totals over $275 million when combined with remaining trust account funds, positioning the combined company for a robust market entry.• Institutional investors committed $212.5 million...
read Sep 24, 2025ABS, Persona AI partner to test humanoid robots in shipyards (and hopefully minimize rust)
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a maritime safety classification society, and robotics firm Persona AI have signed a memorandum of understanding to test humanoid robots in shipyard environments. This collaboration represents a significant step toward integrating advanced robotics into maritime construction, potentially transforming how ships are built and inspected while establishing new industry standards for robotic certification. What you should know: The partnership will focus on developing inspection technologies for Persona AI's humanoid robot platform, which incorporates NASA's robotic hand technology. Unlike fixed industrial robots, these humanoid models are designed to operate in facilities built for people, giving them...
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