Waymo secured $16 billion in funding, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, to expand its robotaxi service to 20 new cities and overseas markets, valuing the company at $126 billion. This investment, a significant increase from the $5.6 billion raised in 2024 at a $45 billion valuation, will be used to grow Waymo's fleet of over 2,500 vehicles and potentially disrupt the global transportation market. The funding round included new investors like Sequoia Capital and DST Global, signaling strong market confidence in Waymo's autonomous vehicle technology.

Waymo secured $16 billion in funding, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, to expand its robotaxi service to 20 new cities and overseas markets, valuing the company at $126 billion. This investment, a significant increase from the $5.6 billion raised in 2024 at a $45 billion valuation, will be used to grow Waymo's fleet of over 2,500 vehicles and potentially disrupt the global transportation market. The funding round included new investors like Sequoia Capital and DST Global, signaling strong market confidence in Waymo's autonomous vehicle technology.

SpaceX has acquired xAI to create space-based data centers, addressing the unsustainable energy demands of terrestrial AI development. This merger, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion, aims to leverage space for AI infrastructure, though it raises questions about SpaceX's potential IPO and the financial sustainability of both companies.

SpaceX has acquired xAI to create space-based data centers, addressing the unsustainable energy demands of terrestrial AI development. This merger, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion, aims to leverage space for AI infrastructure, though it raises questions about SpaceX's potential IPO and the financial sustainability of both companies.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent global developments include a Democrat winning a Texas State Senate seat in a district previously held by Trump, a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's visa freeze, and Laura Fernández's presidential win in Costa Rica, while discussions around universal basic income are emerging amid concerns about AI-driven economic disruption. Simultaneously, global tensions are escalating with Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and China's execution of scam perpetrators, while FIFA President Infantino apologized for comments made about British football fans.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent global developments include a Democrat winning a Texas State Senate seat in a district previously held by Trump, a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's visa freeze, and Laura Fernández's presidential win in Costa Rica, while discussions around universal basic income are emerging amid concerns about AI-driven economic disruption. Simultaneously, global tensions are escalating with Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and China's execution of scam perpetrators, while FIFA President Infantino apologized for comments made about British football fans.

SpaceX's acquisition of xAI aims to create a vertically integrated AI powerhouse, leveraging SpaceX's capabilities to deploy a massive satellite constellation for AI computing. This ambitious merger signifies a major push by Elon Musk to dominate the AI landscape, raising both excitement and concerns about the future of AI development and its societal impact.

SpaceX's acquisition of xAI aims to create a vertically integrated AI powerhouse, leveraging SpaceX's capabilities to deploy a massive satellite constellation for AI computing. This ambitious merger signifies a major push by Elon Musk to dominate the AI landscape, raising both excitement and concerns about the future of AI development and its societal impact.

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI (which owns X) to create a vertically-integrated AI innovation engine leveraging space-based resources. This merger aims to overcome terrestrial limitations in energy and data for AI, envisioning a future where AI scales dramatically by harnessing solar power in space.

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI (which owns X) to create a vertically-integrated AI innovation engine leveraging space-based resources. This merger aims to overcome terrestrial limitations in energy and data for AI, envisioning a future where AI scales dramatically by harnessing solar power in space.

Synthesizing information from various sources, key developments include China's mandate for mechanical car door releases by 2027 due to safety concerns, the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and battery technology advancements, and the emergence of new technologies like the open-source AI agent OpenClaw alongside rising concerns about AI deepfakes. Global events and trends span from geopolitical incidents and scientific solutions to technological advancements and market shifts, painting a complex picture of the near future.

Synthesizing information from various sources, key developments include China's mandate for mechanical car door releases by 2027 due to safety concerns, the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and battery technology advancements, and the emergence of new technologies like the open-source AI agent OpenClaw alongside rising concerns about AI deepfakes. Global events and trends span from geopolitical incidents and scientific solutions to technological advancements and market shifts, painting a complex picture of the near future.

Multiple news sources report that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has tentatively reopened, marking a milestone in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, though progress is slow. While Israel and Egyptian state TV announced the reopening, only a small number of Palestinians, primarily medical patients and their companions, have been allowed to cross, highlighting the limited and largely symbolic nature of the opening.

Multiple news sources report that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has tentatively reopened, marking a milestone in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, though progress is slow. While Israel and Egyptian state TV announced the reopening, only a small number of Palestinians, primarily medical patients and their companions, have been allowed to cross, highlighting the limited and largely symbolic nature of the opening.

Multiple news sources highlight the benefits of blueberries, particularly wild blueberries, for heart health, citing a review of clinical trials that suggests improvements in blood vessel function and circulation with regular consumption of about one cup per day. Fox News also celebrated National Blueberry Month by visiting a New Jersey farm to showcase blueberry cultivation.

Multiple news sources highlight the benefits of blueberries, particularly wild blueberries, for heart health, citing a review of clinical trials that suggests improvements in blood vessel function and circulation with regular consumption of about one cup per day. Fox News also celebrated National Blueberry Month by visiting a New Jersey farm to showcase blueberry cultivation.

Drawing from multiple industry sources, a memorial service was held for Robert Pietranton, a long-serving and well-respected Warner Bros. Television Group PR executive who passed away in November at 56, with colleagues praising his work ethic, dedication, and kindness despite his preference for staying out of the spotlight. Pietranton was remembered as a consummate professional who consistently delivered exceptional work without seeking attention or affirmation.

Drawing from multiple industry sources, a memorial service was held for Robert Pietranton, a long-serving and well-respected Warner Bros. Television Group PR executive who passed away in November at 56, with colleagues praising his work ethic, dedication, and kindness despite his preference for staying out of the spotlight. Pietranton was remembered as a consummate professional who consistently delivered exceptional work without seeking attention or affirmation.

Multiple news sources reveal that since March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been using AI tools from Palantir and Credal AI, founded by Palantir alumni, to screen grants, applications, and job descriptions for noncompliance with Trump-era executive orders targeting gender ideology and DEI initiatives, with these audits primarily occurring within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). While Palantir earned over $35 million from HHS during this period, neither the company nor HHS publicly disclosed the use of AI for these specific purposes, and ACF staff conduct a final review of AI-flagged items.

Multiple news sources reveal that since March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been using AI tools from Palantir and Credal AI, founded by Palantir alumni, to screen grants, applications, and job descriptions for noncompliance with Trump-era executive orders targeting gender ideology and DEI initiatives, with these audits primarily occurring within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). While Palantir earned over $35 million from HHS during this period, neither the company nor HHS publicly disclosed the use of AI for these specific purposes, and ACF staff conduct a final review of AI-flagged items.

Multiple news sources report that Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, defeating a Trump-backed Republican in a district Trump previously won by a significant margin, signaling a potential shift in Texas politics despite the Republican's continued majority in the state senate. This victory is being hailed by Democrats as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump's policies ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump dismisses it as a local issue.

Multiple news sources report that Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, defeating a Trump-backed Republican in a district Trump previously won by a significant margin, signaling a potential shift in Texas politics despite the Republican's continued majority in the state senate. This victory is being hailed by Democrats as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump's policies ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump dismisses it as a local issue.

Dyson is currently holding a winter sale on several of its vacuums and heaters, including discounts on the V8, V11 Extra, Gen5 Detect (WIRED's favorite pet hair vacuum), and purifier-heaters. According to multiple sources, these deals offer significant savings on Dyson's high-end and feature-rich devices, making it a good time to purchase if you're in the market for a new vacuum or heater.

Dyson is currently holding a winter sale on several of its vacuums and heaters, including discounts on the V8, V11 Extra, Gen5 Detect (WIRED's favorite pet hair vacuum), and purifier-heaters. According to multiple sources, these deals offer significant savings on Dyson's high-end and feature-rich devices, making it a good time to purchase if you're in the market for a new vacuum or heater.