The Scoop After more than two hours of announcements at Google I/O that included flashy new models, AI agents, a smarter search box, tools for work and video creation, and smart glasses, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis delivered a poetic, if slightly abrupt kicker: “We’re at the foothills of the ...
Category: Semafor
Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign
OpenAI, SpaceX IPOs on deckOpenAI, SpaceX IPOs on deck
The market is bracing for two massive initial public offerings from two tech rivals. Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Wednesday officially disclosed plans to list on the Nasdaq. But OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, who this week fended off a lawsuit from Musk — threatens to steal the thunder from SpaceX, ...
Western nations let Russia in from the coldWestern nations let Russia in from the cold
Energy price spikes from the Iran war are forcing Western countries to let Russia in from the cold. The US extended Russian oil waivers this week, and the UK on Tuesday softened sanctions on jet fuel refined in third countries using Russian oil, imports of which were banned since the ...
Nvidia beats on earnings, but faces headwindsNvidia beats on earnings, but faces headwinds
Nvidia’s revenue topped estimates for the latest quarter, the chip giant reported Wednesday, but it faces challenges ranging from macroeconomic headwinds and its China business to sky-high market expectations. Despite its blockbuster earnings streak, Nvidia shares have tumbled following the past three quarterly reports. “Analyst expectations may have hit unattainable ...
Meta begins layoffs amid rising AI angstMeta begins layoffs amid rising AI angst
Meta began laying off thousands of workers on Wednesday, with plans to axe 10% of its staff to offset AI costs, and move another 7,000 into AI-focused roles. The market may respond positively when tech companies cite AI for layoffs — Meta’s shares went up Wednesday — but the industry-wide ...
Colossal Biosciences engineers synthetic eggsColossal Biosciences engineers synthetic eggs
Colossal Biosciences announced Tuesday it developed a device that acts as a synthetic egg, which successfully hatched two dozen chicks. The company took fertilized eggs from their avian farm and transferred them to a lab, where they matured in synthetic eggs kept in a controlled incubator. After the chicks hatched, ...
Stop talking to new college grads about AIStop talking to new college grads about AI
Reed’s view Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt joins the growing ranks of commencement speakers bombing on stage as frustration with AI builds for the Class of 2026 (read Semafor’s deep dive into why). So I thought I’d offer up a speaker’s guide to not getting booed at graduation this year. ...
Monet bait-and-switch sparks debate on art and AIMonet bait-and-switch sparks debate on art and AI
A recent bait-and-switch sparked a debate about AI art. After a user on X posted a picture “in the style of Monet” and asked why it was inferior to a real Monet, hundreds of people replied saying “it lacks the texture” and “no clear focal point.” It was, in fact, ...
Banks taking a closer look at citizenship is ‘common sense,’ US regulator saysBanks taking a closer look at citizenship is ‘common sense,’ US regulator says
The News US President Donald Trump’s new executive order that directs banks to take a closer look at their customers’ immigration status is “a common-sense set of reforms,” US Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said Wednesday at Semafor’s Banking on the Future Forum. Those reforms “give us tools that ...
Five Republican senators back Letlow in bid to sew up Louisiana runoffFive Republican senators back Letlow in bid to sew up Louisiana runoff
The Scoop Republican senators are moving quickly to get behind Rep. Julia Letlow, President Donald Trump’s pick in the Louisiana Senate runoff. Five GOP senators are backing Letlow in her runoff against Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, a founding member of the House’s conservative Freedom Caucus, according to details first shared ...