The FTC has launched an investigation into Instacart’s AI-powered pricing tool, Eversight. This follows a Consumer Reports study that found shoppers saw vastly different prices for identical items, with some paying up to 23% more. Instacart denies using personal data for “dynamic pricing.”
AI promises to revolutionize the slow process of discovering new materials, which is crucial for batteries and climate tech. But the field is still waiting for its first major commercial success. Companies like Lila Sciences are betting big on automated labs and AI models to make it happen.
The AI race is moving from chatbots to core products. Google launched CC, an AI agent for Gmail and Calendar, while Amazon eyes a $10B+ OpenAI deal and Meta shifts from open-source to commercial AI models. It’s a whole new battlefield.
OpenAI is expanding its Instant Checkout feature, allowing purchases inside ChatGPT apps. Powered by a new protocol built with Stripe, it could turn AI chats into a major commerce platform.
JPMorgan Chase has achieved what most companies dream of: 60% of its employees now voluntarily use its internal AI tools. The key wasn’t forcing it, but building a platform that connects deeply to all the company’s critical data and systems.
Microsoft has updated its guidance on AI agents in Windows 11, clarifying that users must grant explicit permission for access to personal folders. The setting applies collectively to six key directories, with options for “Allow Always,” “Ask Every Time,” or “Never Allow.” You manage these permissio
The AI revolution is hitting a massive wall: the electrical grid can’t keep up. With over 35 GW of data center power likely to be self-generated by 2030, developers are turning to natural gas engines and mobile turbines as a stopgap. It’s a messy, temporary solution to a long-term power crisis.
After nearly a year, Amazon has launched a web portal for its AI-enhanced Alexa+ assistant. The interface is basic but adds crucial features like file uploads and text copying. The service remains free for now but will eventually cost $19.99 per month for users who aren’t Amazon Prime members.
China has secretly built a massive, working prototype of an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine, the heart of advanced chipmaking. The project, led by Huawei and staffed by former ASML engineers, aims for fully Chinese-made advanced chips by 2030.
In a new interview, Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke revealed the studio’s next major focus for the upcoming Divinity game. He admitted that past games lacked strong universe-building and that fixing this is now a top priority, a lesson learned from developing Baldur’s Gate 3.
