Friday, May 15, 2026

Apple-OpenAI Alliance Frays

Apple Inc.'s partnership with OpenAI, established two years ago, is reportedly facing significant strain as OpenAI prepares for possible legal action. Insiders reveal that the AI startup has not realized the anticipated benefits from the collaboration, raising concerns about the future of the alliance.

MiniMed Aims to Be 'Self-Driving Car' of Diabetes Care

MiniMed is striving to transform diabetes management by developing insulin pumps that operate with the autonomy of a self-driving car, as stated by CEO Que Dallara. Following its recent IPO, the company aims to innovate and improve the efficiency of diabetes care technology, showcasing its commitment to advancing patient health.

Inside Paul Tudor Jones’ Sports AI Startup

SumerSports, a startup led by Paul Tudor Jones, is set to transform the NFL through artificial intelligence. CEO Lorrissa Horton detailed how the company employs frame-by-frame AI tracking to enhance scouting, player development, and fan engagement, all driven by analytics inspired by hedge-fund strategies and fantasy football.

Google updates its spam rules to include attempts to ‘manipulate’ AI

Google has revised its spam policy to include attempts to manipulate its AI search model, categorizing such efforts as spam. This includes tactics like biased listicles and recommendation poisoning, which aim to deceive users and artificially boost content rankings. Sites found engaging in these practices risk penalties, such as lower rankings or complete removal from search results.

Jim Cramer says it's time to trim this volatile AI chipmaker

Jim Cramer has advised investors to reduce their exposure to Arm Holdings, citing the stock's recent volatility and concerns over its manufacturing capacity at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Following a 7% drop in shares after an earnings report, Cramer emphasized that the stock's earlier rally had outpaced its fundamentals, making it prudent to trim positions despite long-term potential.

OpenAI launches ChatGPT for personal finance, will let you connect bank accounts

OpenAI has launched a new suite of personal finance tools for ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the U.S., enabling users to connect their bank accounts and receive insights on spending and financial planning. In partnership with Plaid, users can link accounts from over 12,000 financial institutions, allowing them to view a comprehensive dashboard of their financial activities. This launch follows OpenAI's acquisition of the personal finance startup Hiro, which contributed expertise to the new features.

US orders travelers on Air Force One to throw away gifts, pins, and burner phones after China trip

After a two-day summit in Beijing, U.S. officials, including President Trump, were ordered to discard various items before boarding Air Force One. This included gifts, credential badges, and burner phones, likely due to security concerns stemming from China's advanced espionage capabilities.

Anthropic's $900 billion valuation would make it more valuable than OpenAI for the first time

Anthropic is in talks for a new funding round that could value the company at $900 billion, surpassing OpenAI for the first time. This valuation represents a significant increase from $350 billion in January, fueled by rapid revenue growth and a rising customer base, with annualized revenue expected to hit $45 billion soon.

NFL wants certain trading contracts banned from prediction markets like 'first play of game,' injuries

The NFL has formally urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to ban specific sports-related prediction market contracts, citing concerns over integrity and potential manipulation. In a letter from senior vice president Brendon Plack, the league recommended raising the minimum trading age to 21 and restricting contracts on easily manipulable events, such as the first play of a game or injuries, as the prediction market industry continues to expand rapidly.

Runway started by helping filmmakers. Now it wants to beat Google at AI.

Runway, an AI video generation startup founded by three filmmakers, is pivoting from its roots in video technology to focus on world models that simulate real-world environments. Co-CEO Anastasis Germanidis argues that the future of AI lies in training models on observational data rather than text, positioning Runway as a potential leader in this emerging field. With a valuation of $5.3 billion and significant partnerships in the media industry, Runway aims to compete against tech giants like Google in the race for advanced AI capabilities.

Global equity funds draw eighth weekly inflow as AI rally lifts tech

Global equity funds recorded their eighth consecutive week of inflows, drawing in $39.15 billion as investors capitalized on a rally in technology stocks driven by optimism over strong earnings from chipmakers. The MSCI World Index reached a record high of 1,117.52, reflecting robust performance in the tech sector, which alone attracted a record $10.65 billion in investments.

The Tech Download: Trump’s China visit sparks fresh questions over chip exports and rare earths access

During President Trump's recent visit to China, a delegation of U.S. tech executives, including leaders from Nvidia, Tesla, and Apple, engaged in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping about market access and critical minerals. However, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer revealed that chip export controls were not addressed, raising concerns about the future of U.S.-China tech relations, particularly regarding China's dominance in rare earth minerals.

Bose’s new Lifestyle Ultra speakers are now available

Bose has unveiled its new Lifestyle Ultra speaker collection, which includes the $299 Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, a direct competitor to the Sonos Era 100, along with a $1,099 soundbar and an $899 subwoofer. The Ultra Speaker boasts impressive sound quality, featuring an up-firing driver and compatibility with multiple streaming services, making it a versatile choice for audio enthusiasts.

x.AI plays catch-up with Grok Build, its first terminal-based coding agent

Elon Musk's AI company x.AI has launched Grok Build, its first terminal-based coding agent, marking a late entry into a market previously defined by competitors like Anthropic and OpenAI. Currently in early beta, Grok Build is exclusively available to SuperGrok Heavy subscribers and includes features such as a plan mode with step-by-step approval and parallel sub-agents for larger tasks.

Bill Ackman built Microsoft stake in first quarter during sell-off, betting on AI and cloud growth

Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square, has built a position in Microsoft, capitalizing on a recent stock decline that he views as an opportunity to invest in a leading tech company at an attractive valuation. Ackman began accumulating shares in February after Microsoft's stock fell following its fiscal second-quarter earnings report, arguing that concerns over the company's AI competitiveness and Azure cloud growth are exaggerated.

Microsoft pulls Claude Code licenses and pushes developers back toward its own AI tool

Microsoft is discontinuing most internal licenses for Anthropic's Claude Code and directing developers to its own GitHub Copilot CLI tool. This shift, which will affect the Experiences and Devices team by late June, is framed as a strategic consolidation, but financial considerations related to the upcoming fiscal year-end are also a significant factor. Despite its popularity, Copilot CLI currently has feature gaps compared to Claude Code, putting pressure on the GitHub team to enhance its capabilities rapidly.

Daily Spotlight: GDP Growing with $4.50 Gas

The U.S. GDP growth forecast for 2026 remains at 2.1%, even as gasoline prices hit $4.50 per gallon. The resilience of consumers, supported by a low unemployment rate of 4.3%, contrasts with the financial strain many families face from rising costs in essential goods and services. While low- and moderate-income households are increasingly turning to credit to manage expenses, overall economic indicators, including tax returns and stock market performance, continue to bolster the GDP outlook.

Upcoming Apple Card promo will basically give you free AirPods Pro 3

Apple is set to introduce a significant promotion for new Apple Card customers, offering them a chance to receive a pair of AirPods Pro 3 essentially for free. Starting next week, those who sign up for an Apple Card and purchase the AirPods will receive $249 cash back. This offer stands out as Apple typically provides less lucrative sign-up bonuses, and it is unclear if the promotion will be available online, suggesting a focus on in-store sign-ups.

AI research papers are getting better, and it’s a big problem for scientists

AI-generated research papers are increasingly challenging the integrity of scientific publishing, as editors and reviewers struggle to manage a flood of submissions that are often difficult to distinguish from legitimate work. The rise of generative AI has enabled the mass production of these papers, leading to a significant increase in submissions and raising concerns about the quality and reliability of published research.

Rocket Report: Russia claims success with new ICBM; spaceplane déjà vu in Europe

Russia has reported a successful test of its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with President Vladimir Putin stating it will be operationally deployed later this year. This test, conducted from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, is significant given the missile's troubled testing history, including previous failures in 2023. The Sarmat is intended to replace the aging Soviet-era R-36M2 system and is designed to evade missile defenses.

Presentation: Using AI as a Thinking Partner for Large-Scale Engineering Systems

Julie Qiu, a Senior Staff Engineer at Google, presented on how AI acts as a 'thinking partner' for engineering leaders, particularly in managing complex systems with over 400 repositories. She outlined five distinct roles for AI, emphasizing its ability to alleviate cognitive load, synthesize legacy context, and enhance decision-making in architectural designs.

Pennsylvanians use town hall meeting to rail against data center boom

At a recent town hall meeting in Pennsylvania, over 225 residents expressed strong opposition to the rapid development of data centers, citing concerns over rising electricity prices, water usage, and noise pollution. Speakers criticized state officials, including Governor Josh Shapiro, for prioritizing data center growth without adequate public input, as nearly 60 data centers are either proposed or under construction in the state.

How Chinese short dramas became AI content machines

China's short drama industry has rapidly evolved, with AI now driving production processes that once required extensive human involvement. The shift to AI-generated content allows for cheaper and faster production, with companies like FlexTV and Kunlun Tech leading the way. By 2024, the market reached $6.9 billion, marking a significant milestone as it surpassed traditional box office revenues.

Honor says Robot Phone will launch before September ends with ARRI camera upgrades

Honor has officially announced that its much-anticipated Robot Phone will launch before the end of September 2026, showcasing significant upgrades in imaging technology through a partnership with ARRI. The device, which features a 200MP camera and a built-in gimbal, was recently demonstrated at the Cannes Film Festival, allowing attendees to interact with it directly for the first time.