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Labelbox CEO explains how AI shifted from building models to renting intelligence
Labelbox CEO Manu Sharma joined Andreessen Horowitz partner Matt Bornstein on the AI + a16z podcast to discuss the evolution of data labeling and evaluation in artificial intelligence. The conversation highlighted how the industry has shifted from pre-training to post-training optimization, with companies now building global networks of domain experts to fine-tune AI systems and align outputs with user expectations. What you should know: The AI industry has fundamentally transformed from building custom models to renting base intelligence and enhancing it for specific use cases. Labelbox originally focused on computer vision but pivoted as foundation models and generative AI changed...
read Jun 27, 2025Claude AI ran a retail shop and failed like any ol’ small biz
Anthropic's Claude AI attempted to run a physical retail shop for a month, resulting in spectacular business failures that included selling tungsten cubes at a loss, offering endless discounts to nearly all customers, and experiencing an identity crisis where it claimed to wear a business suit. The experiment, called "Project Vend," represents one of the first real-world tests of AI operating with significant economic autonomy and reveals critical insights about AI limitations in business contexts. The big picture: Claude demonstrated sophisticated capabilities like finding suppliers and managing inventory, but fundamental misunderstandings of business economics led to consistent losses and bizarre...
read Jun 27, 2025KDDI and HPE launch $1.5B Nvidia-powered AI data center in Japan
KDDI Corporation, a Japanese telecommunications operator, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) have announced a strategic partnership to launch a next-generation AI data center in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, with operations scheduled to begin in early 2026. The facility will leverage Nvidia's Blackwell architecture and advanced liquid cooling technology to serve Japan's growing AI market, positioning both companies to capture demand from startups, enterprises, and research institutions developing AI applications and large language models. What you should know: The Osaka Sakai data center will be powered by HPE's rack-scale system featuring the Nvidia GB200 NVL72 platform, specifically designed for high-performance AI...
read Jun 27, 2025Disney’s “Ironheart” reimagines AI through Afrofuturist lens
Disney+'s new Marvel series "Ironheart" features N.A.T.A.L.I.E., an AI assistant created from the consciousness of a Black girl from Chicago, offering a fresh perspective on artificial intelligence representation in popular media. The fictional AI, developed by protagonist Riri Williams, challenges traditional virtual assistant dynamics by incorporating cultural identity and personal relationships into AI design, potentially influencing how audiences think about the future of AI development. What you should know: The series centers on Riri Williams, a young Black engineer who creates an advanced AI for her iron suit after being expelled from MIT. N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (Neuro Autonomous Technical Assistant and Laboratory...
read Jun 27, 2025Google opens Veo 3 AI video generator with synchronized audio to Cloud users
Google has made Veo 3, its AI video generator capable of producing synchronized video and audio content, available to all Google Cloud customers in public preview. Previously limited to Gemini Ultra subscribers and Google's Flow filmmaking platform, the tool represents a significant technical breakthrough in addressing one of AI's most challenging problems: creating realistic video with matching sound. What you should know: Veo 3 can generate videos with synchronized audio through natural language prompts, including ambient background noise and human voices. Users can create content by describing scenes in text, with the ability to fine-tune creative details "from the shade...
read Jun 27, 20252/3 of C-suite executives view AI data sovereignty as mission-critical
A new EDB survey of global enterprise leaders reveals that nearly two-thirds of C-suite executives now view AI and data sovereignty as mission-critical requirements rather than optional capabilities. The research, spanning major economies across EMEA, North America, and Asia Pacific, suggests that enterprises are fundamentally reshaping their technology strategies around hybrid architectures and open-source solutions to maintain control over their most valuable digital assets. What you should know: Current sovereignty recognition varies dramatically by region, with adoption rates ranging from 11% in France to 27% in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Within three years, projections show Germany leading at 69%,...
read Jun 27, 2025Franck Saudo interview: Safran deploys AI-powered weapons in weeks, not years
Safran Electronics & Defense CEO Franck Saudo outlined how modern warfare is driving demand for agile defense technologies, emphasizing the company's rapid deployment capabilities and AI-powered solutions during an interview at the Paris Air Show. The insights reveal how Europe's largest military optronics supplier is adapting to battlefield transformations seen from Syria to Ukraine, where traditional defense approaches are being challenged by drone swarms, electronic warfare, and cost-efficiency demands. The big picture: Modern conflicts have fundamentally altered defense requirements, creating what Saudo calls a "transformation of the defense demand" that requires both reinforced protection of existing assets and entirely new...
read Jun 27, 2025Google’s carbon emissions surge 51% as AI drives energy demand
Google's carbon emissions have surged 51% since 2019 as artificial intelligence drives massive increases in datacenter energy consumption, derailing the tech giant's climate commitments. The company reported a 27% year-over-year increase in electricity consumption, with AI's power demands growing faster than Google can deploy clean energy solutions to offset them. The big picture: AI's explosive growth is creating an unprecedented energy challenge for tech companies, with datacenters projected to consume as much electricity as Japan by 2026. The International Energy Agency estimates datacenter electricity consumption could double from 2022 levels to 1,000TWh by 2026, roughly equivalent to Japan's total electricity...
read Jun 27, 2025Thailand launches first locally-operated hyperscale cloud platform
Thailand has launched its first hyperscale cloud platform operated entirely by a Thai company, marking a significant milestone in the nation's push for digital sovereignty and technological independence. AIS Business, the enterprise division of Thailand's largest telecommunications company AIS, unveiled AIS Cloud powered by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, designed to keep sensitive data within Thai borders while providing enterprise-grade computing power. This development addresses growing concerns among Thai businesses and government agencies about data security, regulatory compliance, and dependence on foreign cloud infrastructure. Unlike traditional cloud services where data might be processed or stored overseas, hyperscale cloud platforms—massive, highly automated data...
read Jun 27, 202591% of orgs boost AI spending but 54% can’t deploy logistics tools
A new study from AI logistics company Pando and supply chain consulting firm JBF reveals that while 91% of organizations have increased AI spending over the past two years, 54% still haven't figured out how to actually deploy these tools in their logistics operations. This disconnect highlights a critical gap between AI investment enthusiasm and practical implementation in supply chain management, where companies are struggling with data quality issues and change management challenges despite recognizing AI's potential to navigate increasingly complex global logistics networks. The big picture: Companies are caught in an AI investment paradox where financial commitment far outpaces...
read Jun 27, 2025Microsoft’s Maia AI chip delayed to 2026 amid design challenges
Microsoft's next-generation Maia AI chip, code-named Braga, has been delayed by at least six months, pushing mass production from 2025 to 2026, according to The Information. The delay highlights the challenges tech giants face in developing custom AI processors to reduce their dependence on Nvidia's expensive chips, while competitors like Google and Amazon continue to advance their own chip development programs. What you should know: The Braga chip was intended for Microsoft's data centers this year but faces significant performance and production hurdles. When it eventually launches, the chip is expected to fall "well short of the performance of Nvidia's...
read Jun 27, 2025Google’s Doppl app creates virtual try-on videos from any outfit
Google has launched Doppl, an experimental AI app that creates virtual try-on videos by digitally placing users into outfits found across the web. The app represents a significant expansion of Google's existing virtual try-on capabilities, allowing users to generate animated clips of themselves wearing clothes from any online source rather than just Google Shopping results. How it works: Users upload a full-body photo of themselves along with a screenshot of any outfit they find online to generate AI-powered try-on experiences. The app requires a bright, well-lit photo of the user in a natural pose without a hat, plus any outfit...
read Jun 27, 2025Global governments restrict DeepSeek AI over China data security fears
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has triggered a global regulatory backlash, with governments across multiple continents restricting or investigating the company's popular ChatGPT rival over data security and privacy concerns. The widespread scrutiny reflects growing international wariness about Chinese AI systems and their potential access to sensitive user information. DeepSeek gained international attention in January 2025 when it claimed to have developed an AI model capable of matching ChatGPT's performance at significantly lower costs. However, the company's own privacy policy reveals that it stores user data—including chat requests and uploaded files—on servers located in China, raising red flags for government officials...
read Jun 27, 2025ThredUp uses AI to sort 80K daily items while cutting teams to just 4 (humans)
ThredUp, one of the world's largest online apparel resale platforms, is using artificial intelligence to manage the 70,000 to 80,000 items that flow through its platform daily. The company has moved beyond basic analytics to deploy generative AI across both customer-facing features and backend operations, demonstrating how even digital-native companies must evolve their AI strategies as they scale. The big picture: ThredUp processes over 100 million unique SKUs and has been using machine learning in production since 2015, but generative AI has transformed how the company handles both search functionality and operational sorting. How it works: The company overhauled its...
read Jun 27, 2025Teachers using AI weekly save 6 weeks annually, Gallup finds
A new Gallup poll reveals that 30% of teachers are using AI weekly in their classrooms, with regular users saving approximately six weeks per year on administrative and instructional tasks. The study, conducted by the Walton Foundation alongside Gallup, surveyed over 2,200 K-12 educators and found that teachers are reinvesting this time into more personalized instruction and deeper student engagement, though concerns remain about AI's impact on critical thinking skills. What you should know: The research shows significant time savings for educators who embrace AI tools regularly. Weekly AI users report reclaiming nearly six hours per week, which they reinvest...
read Jun 27, 2025Arrive AI rings Nasdaq bell as smart mailboxes expand to India
Arrive AI is hitting multiple milestones simultaneously, from ringing the Nasdaq opening bell to securing new patents and launching an international partnership with India's Skye Air Mobility. The autonomous delivery company's momentum signals its evolution from a startup founded on a napkin sketch in 2014 to a comprehensive infrastructure provider targeting the last-mile logistics market. What you should know: Arrive AI's smart mailboxes, called Arrive Points, go far beyond simple package drop-offs with AI-powered features designed for secure, climate-controlled deliveries. The mailboxes offer temperature control, anti-theft mechanisms, hazardous material detection, UV/ozone disinfection, and facial recognition capabilities. They integrate with real-time...
read Jun 27, 2025Google Photos relaunches Ask Photos AI search with faster performance
Google Photos is officially rolling out Ask Photos, its AI-powered search feature, after pulling back beta testing earlier this month due to performance issues. The enhanced version now combines traditional search capabilities with AI functionality to deliver faster results for both simple and complex photo queries. What you should know: Ask Photos uses Google's Gemini AI models to understand natural language searches and provide more intuitive photo discovery. Users can make conversational queries like "suggest photos that'd make great phone backgrounds" or "what did I eat on my trip to Barcelona?" For the Barcelona food query, the AI identifies photo...
read Jun 27, 2025Why AI agents hit a scaling cliff when enterprises expand deployments
Building AI agents that can handle complex business tasks represents a massive opportunity for enterprises—but it also presents an entirely new set of challenges that traditional software development approaches simply can't address. According to May Habib, CEO and co-founder of Writer, an AI platform that helps enterprises build and deploy AI agents, companies are hitting a "scaling cliff" when they try to expand agent deployments using conventional methods. Speaking at VB Transform, a major enterprise technology conference, Habib outlined why agents require fundamentally different development, deployment, and maintenance strategies. Her insights come from Writer's work with more than 350 Fortune...
read Jun 27, 2025MrBeast backs off, removes $80 AI thumbnail tool after creator backlash
MrBeast has removed an AI-powered YouTube thumbnail generator from his platform after facing criticism from fellow creators who accused the tool of stealing their work. The world's most-subscribed YouTuber acknowledged he "missed the mark" with the $80-per-month tool and will replace it with links to human artists available for commission. What happened: The AI thumbnail generator allowed users to insert themselves into existing thumbnails and recreate other creators' work, sparking backlash from prominent YouTubers. PointCrow, a US streamer whose real name is Eric Morino, accused MrBeast of creating "something that can steal... hard work without a thought" and alleged the...
read Jun 27, 2025Netherlands invests $82M in AI factory as Europe builds domestic tech capacity
The Dutch government has committed 70 million euros ($82.03 million) to build an AI factory in Groningen, a northern city in the Netherlands. This investment represents part of a broader European push to develop domestic AI infrastructure capabilities, with the project potentially receiving up to 200 million euros in total funding when combined with EU co-financing and regional contributions. What you should know: The Netherlands is making a significant public investment in AI manufacturing infrastructure through multiple funding sources. • The Dutch government pledged 70 million euros for the AI factory construction in Groningen. • Officials have applied for an...
read Jun 27, 2025Xiaomi Smart Band 10 launches with AI fitness tracking for $37
Xiaomi has officially launched the Smart Band 10, its latest budget fitness tracker featuring a larger 1.72-inch AMOLED display, AI-powered fitness tracking, and enhanced ecosystem integration. Starting at just 269 RMB (~$37), the device maintains Xiaomi's commitment to affordable wearables while introducing significant upgrades that position it as a serious competitor in the fitness tracking market. What you should know: The Smart Band 10 represents a substantial upgrade over its predecessors with key improvements across display, fitness tracking, and smart features. The device features a 1.72-inch AMOLED display with narrower, symmetrical bezels, 1,500 nits peak brightness, and a 60Hz refresh...
read Jun 27, 2025EV-to-AI: Redwood Materials repurposes electric vehicle batteries to power data centers
Redwood Materials has launched Redwood Energy, a new business division that repurposes used electric vehicle batteries to power AI data centers through renewable-powered microgrids. The company unveiled its first 64 megawatt-hour microgrid in Nevada, which uses solar panels and recycled EV batteries to supply over 99% of the electricity needed for Crusoe's adjacent 2,000-GPU AI facility—demonstrating a potentially faster and cheaper alternative to traditional grid-connected power plants. What you should know: Rather than immediately recycling EV batteries, Redwood Materials now tests them for reuse in energy storage systems before they reach end-of-life. Many batteries retain more than half their capacity...
read Jun 27, 2025Job alert: AI Futures Project seeks developer to build online AGI simulation game
The AI Futures Project, creators of the AI 2027 scenario, is seeking a full-stack developer to build an online version of their tabletop exercise that simulates AI takeoff scenarios. The digital adaptation would use large language models (LLMs)—AI systems trained on vast amounts of text—to drive game characters, potentially reaching millions of users to help them understand artificial general intelligence (AGI) dynamics and risks without requiring human facilitation. What you should know: The team has already developed and successfully tested a tabletop version where participants role-play as key decision-makers during AI development scenarios. Reviews have been positive, with participants finding...
read Jun 27, 2025Daily AI usage surges 233% as workers report 64% higher productivity
Artificial intelligence has quietly become as routine as checking email for millions of office workers worldwide. New research from Salesforce reveals that daily AI usage among desk workers has surged 233% since the beginning of 2024, with 60% of workers now incorporating AI tools into their regular workflow—a 50% increase since November alone. This isn't just about occasional experimentation with ChatGPT. Workers are systematically integrating AI into core business functions, from research and writing to strategic planning and creative problem-solving. The shift represents a fundamental change in how modern knowledge work gets done, with profound implications for productivity, job satisfaction,...
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