Tech news digest for Tuesday, June 16, 2026

SpaceX Acquires AI Startup Cursor for $60 Billion

SpaceX has announced its acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion in stock, following its recent IPO. The deal aims to bolster SpaceX's AI capabilities as it navigates restructuring challenges and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.

• Cursor was previously valued at $50 billion and was on the verge of a $2 billion funding round before the acquisition.
• Cursor's annualized revenue reached $3 billion by April 2026, up from $2 billion in February.

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone and New AirPods Coming

Apple has announced plans to launch a 20th anniversary iPhone and AirPods equipped with cameras in late 2027. The anniversary iPhone will feature two models similar in size to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, while the new AirPods faced delays due to challenges with AI software and visual object recognition.

• The new AirPods will enhance Siri functionality and integrate with smart glasses.
• Apple's second-generation foldable iPhone will follow the iPhone 18, indicating a commitment to the foldable market.

Snap Launches Specs AR Glasses Priced at $2,195

Snap has officially launched its highly anticipated AR glasses, Specs, with a price tag of $2,195. Available for preorder starting June 16, the glasses are aimed at tech enthusiasts and developers, and will ship this fall in the US, UK, and France. CEO Evan Spiegel has defended the launch as part of Snap's long-term strategy amidst pressure from activist investors.

• Specs can be preordered with a $200 refundable deposit.
• The glasses weigh 132 grams for the 47mm model and 136 grams for the 52mm model.

Mobileye to Launch Robotaxi Service in 2027

Mobileye, an Intel subsidiary, is set to enter the robotaxi market with plans to launch a service in a U.S. city in 2027. The company aims to start with an initial fleet of 100 vehicles and expand to 17,000 over the next five years, leveraging its self-driving technology and the Moovit app for operations.

• Amnon Shashua, Mobileye's CEO, highlighted the importance of deep autonomous-driving expertise and strong industry partnerships in their new approach.
• Competitors in the robotaxi market include Waymo, Zoox, and Tesla.

DOJ Defends xAI's Gas Turbines Amid NAACP Lawsuit

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has come to the defense of xAI in a lawsuit filed by the NAACP regarding unpermitted gas turbines located near Memphis. The DOJ argues that these turbines are critical for national security and support essential operations for the Department of War, while the NAACP raises concerns about deteriorating air quality in the area.

• $2.8 billion investment planned by xAI for additional gas turbines over the next three years.
• The number of gas turbines at xAI's Colossus 2 facility increased from 27 to 57 since April.

SpaceX Surges Past Amazon in Valuation Race

SpaceX has achieved a remarkable market value of approximately $2.97 trillion, surpassing Amazon and briefly challenging Microsoft following a significant IPO surge. The company's stock skyrocketed by 67% from its initial price of $135, marking a $413 billion increase in market value, one of the largest one-day gains since 2019.

• SpaceX's stock rose 20% on June 16, 2026, elevating its valuation to $2.7 trillion before reaching nearly $3 trillion.
• Despite reporting a $4.9 billion loss, SpaceX generated $18.7 billion in revenue.

The Google / Xreal Aura XR glasses are now available to preorder

The Xreal Aura XR glasses, a collaboration between Google and Xreal, are now available for preorder at $99, with a full launch anticipated this fall across the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and South Korea. This device follows Google's first Android-powered XR device, the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, which launched at $1,799 in October 2025. While the final price for the Aura remains undisclosed, those who reserve within the first two weeks will receive a $199 credit towards their purchase, effectively reducing the cost by $100. The Aura weighs under 95 grams and features Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite chip, aimed at enhancing immersive experiences and performance.

• Best Buy will be the first in-store retail partner for the Aura.

Prediction market traders speculate Anthropic will restore access quickly to AI model after Trump admin directed it to limit reach

Anthropic has temporarily disabled access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models after receiving an order from the U.S. government to limit access for foreign nationals. This decision, announced on Friday, has led traders on Kalshi to predict a 58% chance that access will be restored to U.S. customers by July 1, with a 74% likelihood of restoration by July 10. The company met with federal officials on Monday to discuss the situation, although the outcome of that meeting remains unclear.

Google rolling out fix for Gemini after it couldn’t make calls on Android and Android Auto [U]

Google has addressed a significant bug in its Gemini app that prevented users from making calls on both Android devices and Android Auto. Users encountered an error message that read, 'Something went wrong. Please try again,' which was confirmed by multiple reports on Reddit. The issue was not confined to Android Auto, suggesting a deeper problem related to recent updates in the Gemini or Google app. Google has advised affected users to update their app via the Google Play Store to resolve the issue.

• Switching back to Google Assistant temporarily resolved the issue for some users.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be full of Samsung foldables, new trailer Wednesday

Samsung has officially confirmed its collaboration with Sony for the upcoming film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set to feature its Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold devices. In a notable departure from past Sony films that predominantly showcased Sony Xperia smartphones, Peter Parker will be depicted as a Galaxy Z Flip owner, while his friend Ned Leeds will use a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a Galaxy Watch. Additionally, Samsung is developing a 'Spidey Tracker' website, which will launch alongside the film's new trailer on June 17, aimed at engaging fans by helping them locate Spider-Man within the film's narrative.

No Liquid Glass slider for Apple Watch, but here’s how watchOS 27 design changes

Apple's watchOS 27 introduces subtle design changes to Liquid Glass on the Apple Watch, aligning with updates seen in iOS 27. Unlike iPhone and iPad, which feature a slider for customizing the clarity of Liquid Glass, the Apple Watch will maintain a single setting for all users. The changes are evident in the transition from watchOS 26 on the Apple Watch Series 11 to the beta version on the Apple Watch Ultra 3. While the visual differences are minor, they reflect Apple's ongoing design evolution across its devices.

• watchOS 27 beta 1 is currently available to developers, with a public beta expected in July.

The Cybercab is the lightest, most efficient Tesla ever made

Tesla's Cybercab, now in production, is the lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever made, with an efficiency rating of 165 Wh/mi, making it nearly 30% more efficient than the Lucid Air. The Cybercab features a single front-mounted motor producing 219 horsepower and a compact 48 kWh battery, all while weighing just 3,113 pounds—about 700 pounds lighter than the lightest Model 3. This weight reduction enables the Cybercab to achieve an impressive estimated range of 418 miles, which is expected to translate to around 290-300 miles in real-world conditions. Despite its advancements, Tesla has yet to outline a comprehensive plan for deploying the Cybercab in service.

• Tesla currently operates fewer than 60 Model Y robotaxis in Texas.

Anthropic backs off unpopular billing overhaul as price war with OpenAI looms

Anthropic has decided to halt its planned billing overhaul for the Claude Agent SDK, which was scheduled to take effect on June 15, 2026. The original plan would have separated usage of the Agent SDK and third-party applications from regular subscription limits, introducing a tiered credit system ranging from $20 for Pro users to $200 for Enterprise customers. This reversal comes amid a competitive landscape with OpenAI potentially slashing API prices, pressure from the US government regarding access restrictions, and Anthropic's impending IPO, which makes customer retention critical.

• OpenAI is reportedly considering significant price cuts for its API services.
• Anthropic's IPO filing adds urgency to maintain customer satisfaction and valuation.

OpenAI burned through $34 billion last year

OpenAI incurred $34 billion in expenses last year, a sharp increase from the previous year, according to independent journalist Ed Zitron and confirmed by the Financial Times. Of this amount, approximately $19 billion was allocated to research and development, while nearly $6 billion went to sales and marketing. The company generated about $13 billion in revenue, with monthly revenue reaching $2 billion by year-end, doubling from $1 billion per quarter at the end of 2024. OpenAI's net loss surged from $5 billion to around $39 billion, primarily due to a one-time, non-cash accounting charge of $30 billion related to its earlier corporate structure. Excluding this charge, the loss would be approximately $8 billion. OpenAI is also gearing up for an IPO that could value the company at over $1 trillion.