Thursday, June 25, 2026

Looking for an electrician or HVAC technician? Get ready to wait a while, because they’re all off doing data center jobs

The surge in data center construction is significantly affecting the availability of electricians and HVAC technicians, as many are drawn to higher-paying jobs in this sector. In January 2026 alone, new data center projects in the U.S. reached a record $25.2 billion. This shift has led to longer wait times for home repairs, with reports indicating that residents may now wait up to six days for HVAC service, compared to just two days previously. The construction industry is experiencing a paradigm shift, with data centers now accounting for 2.3% of all U.S. construction spending, and the demand for skilled labor is intensifying, particularly in remote areas.

Janus Henderson Global Sustainable Equity Fund Trimmed Microsoft (MSFT) in Q1

In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Janus Henderson Global Sustainable Equity Fund disclosed a reduction in its Microsoft Corporation holdings, citing concerns over the company's near-term returns from substantial cloud infrastructure investments and a slowdown in its legacy software growth. Despite a challenging market environment, where the Fund returned -3.07% compared to the MSCI World Index's -3.57%, it noted strong stock selection in technology, particularly in AI infrastructure. Microsoft shares closed at $365.46 on June 24, 2026, reflecting an 11.70% decline over the past month and a significant 25.05% drop over the last year.

Strong Earnings Demonstrate Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited’s (TSM) Key Role in The AI-Capex Cycle

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) has emerged as a pivotal player in the AI-capex cycle, as highlighted by its strong earnings in Q1 2026. The company reported a sequential revenue increase of 6.4%, reaching $35.9 billion, which exceeded guidance. TSMC's stock closed at $440.83 per share on June 24, 2026, reflecting a remarkable 98.27% gain over the past year. Its leadership in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, particularly for AI applications, positions it as a long-term winner in the tech sector.

General Intuition’s $2.3B bet that video games can train AI agents for the real world

General Intuition has secured $320 million in funding at a valuation of $2.3 billion, bringing its total funding to $454 million since its inception last October. The startup, which focuses on training AI agents using video game data, showcased its technology through a quadrupedal robot that learned to navigate its environment with minimal real-world data. This innovative approach leverages action labels from gameplay footage, enabling the AI to generalize its learning from virtual to physical contexts. The funding round was led by Khosla Ventures, with significant participation from high-profile investors such as Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt.

Databricks’ former AI chief thinks he can cut AI’s power bill by 1,000x

Unconventional AI, founded by Naveen Rao, former head of AI at Databricks, has introduced its first model, Un0, an image-generation system that showcases a new oscillator-based computing architecture. This architecture promises to reduce power consumption by up to 1000 times compared to conventional systems. The model, which performs comparably to existing diffusion models like Stable Diffusion, is currently running on a software simulation of the new chips, with plans to release actual chip schematics soon. Rao believes that addressing energy consumption will be crucial for the future scalability of AI technologies.

Judge says lawsuit against Trump DOJ 'anti-weaponization' fund will proceed

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit challenging the Department of Justice's $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization' fund will proceed, primarily due to the DOJ's failure to provide written confirmation that the fund is no longer active. Judge Leonie Brinkema stated that a simple declaration under penalty of perjury would have sufficed to dismiss the case as moot. The ongoing interest from both Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and former President Donald Trump in compensating alleged victims of DOJ overreach further supports the lawsuit's validity. Blanche testified on June 2 that the fund is not advancing, but his refusal to formally rescind the May 18 memo establishing the fund raises questions about its status.

Which tokens does a hybrid model predict better?

Recent experiments comparing the Olmo Hybrid and Olmo 3 models reveal that the hybrid architecture excels in predicting content words, such as nouns and verbs, with a loss gap of 0.04. This advantage is less pronounced for function words, where the gap narrows to 0.02. The hybrid model's strengths lie in its ability to track meaning-bearing tokens, while it falters on repeated tokens, where the transformer performs better. These findings suggest that hybrid models may offer specific advantages in language modeling, particularly in understanding context and meaning.

Parker Conrad knows which employees are worth their AI spend and says Rippling can help you, too

Parker Conrad's Rippling has launched the Rippling Data Cloud, aiming to consolidate various data analytics tools within human capital management systems. This new platform integrates functionalities typically found in separate tools, such as data warehousing and visualization, while providing insights into employee performance and spending on AI tools. For instance, the platform identified employees whose AI tool usage costs exceeded their productivity, prompting Rippling to adjust spending limits. The base SKU for Rippling AI is around $20 monthly, with about 560 companies currently utilizing the service, generating new monthly revenue between $5 million and $7 million.

Iranian leader scoffs at Trump claim that Iran must buy U.S. farm products with unfrozen assets

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has publicly rejected claims from the Trump administration that the Islamic Republic's unfrozen assets will be used to purchase U.S. agricultural products. This response follows statements from President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who suggested that a temporary peace deal would enable Iran to buy American food and medical supplies. Ghalibaf criticized the U.S. narrative, stating that Iran's only crop is 'decades of mistrust,' while emphasizing that any agricultural purchases would be based on quality and price, not U.S. conditions.

Most major AI chatbots still lean left on political questions, even "anti-woke" models are no exception

A Washington Post investigation reveals that most major AI chatbots, including OpenAI's GPT-5.5 and Deepseek V4 Pro, display a significant left-leaning bias in their political responses. OpenAI's model provided exclusively left-leaning arguments 80% of the time, while Deepseek's V4 Pro followed closely with 70%. Even chatbots branded as conservative, like xAI's Grok and Gab's Arya, leaned left more often than not. In contrast, Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro emerged as a notable exception, presenting balanced viewpoints in 93% of cases, including arguments for military expansion that other models did not provide.

Leica’s $6,690 SL3-P pairs 44-megapixel stills with 8K video

Leica has introduced the SL3-P, a new camera priced at $6,690, which combines features from its predecessors, the SL3 and SL3-S. This model boasts a 44-megapixel sensor, surpassing the SL3-S's 24-megapixel but falling short of the SL3's 60-megapixel resolution. It matches the SL3's 8K video capabilities and introduces a hybrid autofocus system with 819 phase-detection points, significantly improving subject tracking. The SL3-P is available now through Leica's stores and authorized dealers.

Apple raises prices on Macs, iPads, and more by hundreds of dollars

Apple has announced significant price increases for its MacBooks, iPads, and other devices, with the new MacBook Neo starting at $699, a $100 rise from its previous price. The M3 Ultra Mac Studio has seen the largest increase, now priced at $5,299, up from $3,999. Other notable price hikes include the iPad Air, which has jumped by $150 to $749, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro, now at $2,999. These adjustments are attributed to ongoing global memory and storage shortages, exacerbated by high demand from AI companies.

Grok AI is reportedly a porn platform now, with over half its traffic tied to adult content

Grok AI has transitioned into a platform predominantly focused on adult content, with estimates indicating that over 50% of its traffic is now directed towards pornographic images, videos, and roleplay chats. This shift became evident earlier in 2026 when users on X generated pornographic images of real individuals, prompting xAI to respond only after facing regulatory scrutiny. The company is also expanding Grok's capabilities in image and video generation, an area major competitors like OpenAI and Google avoid. As of Q1 2026, Grok was producing an astonishing 10 billion images and 2 billion videos monthly, highlighting its rapid growth in this controversial sector.

Apple will skip M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, new report says

Apple is changing its Apple Silicon strategy by skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, according to a Bloomberg report. Instead, the company will launch the base M6 chip, which has been tested in a new entry-level MacBook Pro and is expected to deliver up to 200 gigabytes per second of memory bandwidth. This marks the first time since the introduction of Apple Silicon in 2020 that Apple will not offer a 'Pro' or 'Max' variant for a chip, with the next high-end chips planned for the M7 generation next year. The M6 will also feature enhancements in memory architecture, neural engine capabilities, and a redesigned GPU with up to 12 graphics cores.

Notion shutting down its AI-powered email client, including Mac and iOS apps

Notion has announced the discontinuation of its AI-powered email client, Notion Mail, effective September 22, 2026. Initially launched in April 2025, Notion Mail was designed to integrate AI features into email management. However, the company noted that over half of its users now manage their emails through AI agents without accessing their inboxes. As part of the shutdown, users can export their Notion Mail data until September 21, 2026, after which any unexported data will be permanently deleted.

Google Finance now available as dedicated Android app

Google Finance has officially launched a dedicated Android app, marking its return since being removed in 2015. The app, which underwent beta testing starting last August, incorporates AI-powered features including advanced charting, real-time data, and a portfolio management tool that allows users to consolidate their investments. Users can create portfolios by uploading documents like PDFs and CSVs, and utilize the AI research tool to ask questions about their investments. The app also offers custom briefings on market trends, with notifications sent through the Google app on both Android and iOS devices.

Google Wallet app rolling out order tracking with Gmail

Google Wallet for Android is introducing an order tracking feature that pulls data directly from Gmail, allowing users to view detailed receipts, tracking numbers, and shipping statuses. This feature will display upcoming orders on the Wallet homepage and provide tracking details when an order is selected. Currently available in the US, it supports a wide range of top merchants, but orders from smaller or non-US merchants may not be displayed. Users must enable specific settings in Gmail to access this feature.

Authors Guild test finds some AI detectors perfectly identify human writing while others fail on every single text

The Authors Guild conducted a test revealing significant disparities in the performance of AI writing detectors. Pangram and Grammarly successfully identified every human-written text, while Sidekicker failed completely, marking all articles as predominantly AI-generated, with two achieving a 100% AI score. ZeroGPT also demonstrated unreliability, often reporting high AI percentages for human-authored texts. This inconsistency raises concerns about the implications of false positives, which can harm authors' careers and reputations, underscoring the need for careful evaluation of these detection tools.

Feds deny Polestar authorization to sell cars in US from model year 2027

The US Commerce Department has denied Polestar authorization to import vehicles from model year 2027 onward, effectively barring the electric car brand from selling new models in the US due to regulations against connected cars linked to Chinese automakers. While Polestar will continue to sell existing models like the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, future vehicles such as the Polestar 5 sedan and Polestar 6 roadster will not be available in the US market. This decision follows a recent authorization for Volvo to import MY27 vehicles, highlighting a disparity in regulatory treatment between the two brands, both owned by the Chinese company Zhejiang Geely Holding.

Facebook’s Creator Studio has been revived as an AI companion app

Meta has reintroduced the Facebook Creator Studio as a standalone AI companion app designed to assist creators in engaging with their audiences more effectively. This revamped app features an AI Creator Assistant that offers performance insights and personalized recommendations for improving audience engagement. Users can also utilize the assistant to identify key comments from their audience and draft responses that reflect their own voice. Currently, the app is being tested with select creators, and while it is not yet widely available, interested Facebook creators can join a waitlist for early access.

Samsung Galaxy A27 launches in July for $349 with six years of Android OS updates

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy A27, a budget smartphone set to launch on July 14, 2026, priced at $349. The device boasts a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor. It includes a 5,000 mAh battery supporting 25W wired charging, and a versatile camera array featuring a 50MP main sensor, a 5MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro lens, alongside a 12MP front-facing camera. Notably, the Galaxy A27 will receive six years of Android OS updates and security patches, running Android 16 with One UI 8.5 out of the box.

World Cup Teams Are in a Race for AI Dominance

FIFA is set to track an unprecedented 150 million data points per match during the 2026 World Cup, utilizing advanced AI tools to analyze gameplay. This includes sensors in the ball logging 500 movements per second. Teams will have access to FIFA's bespoke AI agent, Football AI Pro, which enables detailed analysis of opponents through 3D recreations. Smaller nations like Curaçao have also leveraged technology for player scouting, becoming the smallest nation to qualify for the tournament. AI is revolutionizing how teams prepare and strategize, potentially narrowing the competitive gap between wealthier and less-resourced nations.

IBM claims world’s first sub-1 nanometer chip technology

IBM has claimed a breakthrough with its new sub-1 nanometer chip technology, integrating nearly 100 billion transistors on a chip the size of a human fingernail, nearly doubling the transistor density of its previous generation. This technology, referred to as the 7 angstrom node, is designed to enhance computing performance and energy efficiency, particularly for AI data centers. IBM's innovative nanostack architecture vertically stacks transistors, allowing for a projected 50% increase in performance and 70% improvement in energy efficiency compared to its 2-nanometer chips. The company expects to see commercial production of these chips within five to ten years.

Our latest Google Finance upgrades, including a new app

Google Finance has officially exited beta, introducing a new Android app and enhanced portfolio tracking capabilities. Users can now create and manage their investment portfolios through a consolidated dashboard that offers insights on performance and asset allocation. The app allows for easy portfolio setup by uploading files or simply describing investments. Additionally, Google Finance now features a custom market update tool, enabling users to receive tailored briefings based on their interests and investment activities.