Facing fierce competition and losses, Chinese EV maker Xpeng is rebranding as a “physical AI” company. It plans robotaxi trials and to mass-produce humanoid robots by late 2026, betting that software and robotics will be its salvation.
Elon Musk’s xAI is burning through cash at a staggering rate, with losses widening as it invests heavily in data centers and talent. The company’s goal is to develop AI that will eventually power humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus, but profitability remains a distant target.
Microsoft is testing a new Copilot Checkout feature for US users, allowing purchases directly within its AI chat. The test involves major brands like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, and is powered by the open Agentic Commerce Protocol from OpenAI and Stripe.
Seattle’s startup ecosystem maintained its position in 2025, ranking sixth in the U.S. for venture capital raised. The city brought in nearly $2 billion, though that’s just a sliver of the total pie compared to leading tech hubs.
The Allen Institute for AI’s CEO, Ali Farhadi, has been named to Business Insider’s list of the 25 most influential people in AI. The recognition specifically credits Ai2’s mission to make AI research “open and accessible.” This comes as the debate between open and closed AI models intensifies.
New research from Rice and Harvard reveals the starkly different location strategies for hyperscale and colocation data centers. It’s a tale of cheap power versus low latency, shaping where our digital infrastructure gets built.
Dell has resurrected its iconic XPS laptop brand after shutting it down just over a year ago. The new XPS 14 and 16 models are available now, starting at $2,050, but they’re making a clear break from the recent “AI PC” marketing frenzy.
Samsung’s long-promised Ballie home robot has been “indefinitely shelved,” according to a new report. The spherical companion, first shown in 2020 and promised for a summer 2025 release, will now remain an internal “innovation platform.”
ASUS has given an early look at its 2026 hardware strategy, focusing on platform-level integration. The preview includes next-gen AMD motherboards, a surprisingly compact RTX 5090, and a powerful desktop AI supercomputer.
Utah is the first state to allow an AI to renew prescriptions for chronic conditions. The pilot program with startup Doctronic will initially cost patients $4 per renewal. But the move brings serious concerns about medical errors and algorithmic bias.
