Tech World Sees Shifts in AI, Wellness, and Industry Events
The tech landscape is experiencing significant shifts, with new developments in AI, wellness technology, and concerns impacting international participation in industry events. Several companies are making headlines with advancements in their respective fields, while anxieties over safety and immigration are causing some to reconsider attending a major industry conference.
Ricursive Intelligence, an AI chip startup, recently raised $300 million at a $4 billion valuation, just two months after its formal launch with seed funding, according to a press release. The company, founded by former Google researchers Anna Goldie and Azalia Mirhoseini, is developing an AI system designed to automatically improve AI chips. Ricursive claims its system will be able to create its own silicon substrate layer and speed up AI chip improvements, with the ultimate goal of achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
In other AI news, SpotDraft, a company focused on on-device contract AI, secured $8 million from Qualcomm Ventures in a Series B extension. This investment values SpotDraft at approximately $380 million, nearly double its $190 million post-money valuation from February of last year, the startup told TechCrunch. The company aims to scale its technology for regulated legal workflows, addressing the growing demand for privacy-first enterprise AI that can operate without sending sensitive data to the cloud. Industry research indicates that privacy, security, and data governance concerns are slowing the adoption of generative AI for sensitive workflows, especially in the legal sector.
Meanwhile, Meta announced plans to test premium subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, offering users access to exclusive features. According to Meta, these subscriptions will unlock more productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities. The company stated it will test a variety of subscription features and bundles, with each app subscription having a distinct set of exclusive features, while keeping the core experiences free. Meta also plans to scale Manus, an AI agent it recently acquired for a reported $2 billion.
Beyond AI, South Korea-based Edenlux is preparing to launch its eye-strain wellness device in the U.S. The company has developed technology to address eye and ear health issues caused by screen-heavy digital lifestyles. "People around the world now spend hours a day on their smartphones," TechCrunch reported, noting that average daily smartphone use exceeds three hours, and for many adults, total screen time climbs to six hours or more. This constant close-up screen exposure has been linked to eye-health issues, including dry and irritated eyes, eye fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, and the worsening of nearsightedness.
However, not all news is positive. The 2026 Game Developers Conference (GDC) is facing potential challenges as some international attendees are considering skipping the event due to safety concerns and an increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Developers, past GDC attendees, and other industry professionals have voiced their concerns on platforms like LinkedIn. "ICE activity in numerous U.S. cities as well as the recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving ICE agents have compounded concerns," TechCrunch reported. The concerns highlight the impact of immigration policies and safety perceptions on international participation in industry events.
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Bitcoin is underperforming, down 25% since October and 6% in the last week, as investors pull over $1.3 billion from Bitcoin-linked funds, opting instead for surging gold (now over $5,000) and booming stocks. This shift reflects a broader retreat from crypto ETFs and a search for more promising investment opportunities.
Longtime BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood emotionally announced her departure after 25 years with the corporation, citing a desire to spend more time with her husband and travel. Kirkwood's exit marks the end of an era for many viewers who have come to rely on her trusted weather updates.
Despite a 56% drop in the average forecast for Tesla's 2026 net income over the past year, Wall Street analysts are raising their stock price targets for the electric vehicle maker. This divergence reflects a view of Tesla as a growth-oriented company where valuation is driven more by its long-term vision than current earnings and cash flow.
JudgeGPT, an AI arbitrator developed by the American Arbitration Association using OpenAI models, is generating controversy after a recent ruling, raising questions about the potential and pitfalls of AI in legal decision-making. This system aims to provide a low-cost alternative for resolving document-based disputes, but its impact on the legal landscape and the role of human oversight are now subjects of intense debate within the AI industry.
Drawing from multiple news sources, Congressional Democrats are requesting Justice Department records related to the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, alleging obstruction by the Trump administration during local investigations and inappropriate targeting of Good's widow. Separately, Mark McCloskey, a prominent Second Amendment advocate, has criticized Republicans, including Trump, for potentially infringing on gun rights following the fatal shooting of Pretti, who was armed while protesting immigration raids.
Drawing from multiple news sources, President Trump is shifting focus to an economic agenda in Iowa to counter criticism of his immigration policies and recent shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis, while also replacing officials associated with aggressive enforcement tactics. Simultaneously, international tensions are escalating in Iran, and a historic snowstorm is causing widespread disruption and fatalities across the U.S.
After a delayed journey to Poland, a couple visited Warsaw's museums and historical sites, including those related to the Warsaw Ghetto, to gain an overview of Poland's history before visiting Auschwitz, a destination driven by the wife's long-held interest in the Holocaust and Jewish history. The trip, initiated to honor a milestone birthday, involved exploring the country's complex past and confronting the grim reality of the Holocaust.
Multiple news sources report that Representative Tom Suozzi publicly regretted his vote in favor of a $64.4 billion Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which allocates $10 billion to ICE, after a U.S. citizen was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis amid immigration crackdowns, while other House Democrats who supported the bill have defended their votes or remained silent, and Senate Democrats are planning to block the bill.
Multiple news sources report that the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, hosted by David Jonsson and Aimee Lou Wood, with "One Battle After Another" leading the longlists with 16 mentions. This year's BAFTA nominations are being revealed after the Oscar nominations, but the BAFTA ceremony precedes the close of Oscar voting.
Multiple news sources indicate that President Trump will hold a rally in Iowa, seen as a kickoff to the midterm campaign, focusing on the economy and energy prices, despite recent polling showing dissatisfaction with his policies. This comes as the public begins to experience the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including both positive and negative impacts, amidst growing disapproval of the administration's domestic and foreign policies.
Multiple news sources highlight contrasting approaches to AI education, with China integrating AI into elementary school curriculums, as seen in Beijing where students are using AI for robotics and graphic design, while in the U.S., debates continue over the potential risks and benefits of AI in schools, including concerns about cognitive development and the digital divide. China's Ministry of Education is actively promoting AI education, while the U.S. grapples with how to responsibly incorporate the technology.
Multiple news sources report that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be present in Italy during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics to support diplomatic security and vet risks from transnational criminal organizations, as confirmed by ICE and the U.S. embassy in Rome. While ICE maintains that all security operations remain under Italian authority and they will not be conducting immigration enforcement, the news has stirred controversy in Italy, with some Italian authorities initially denying knowledge of the arrangement.
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