OpenAI Explores Social Networking Within ChatGPT
OpenAI is reportedly developing a social feed within ChatGPT, enabling users to share how they utilize the chatbot for problem-solving and image creation. This initiative appears to be an extension of the company's existing Sora platform, which showcases user-generated AI videos.
Recognizing that many users already share their ChatGPT experiences on platforms like X and Reddit, OpenAI seems poised to centralize this engagement. By integrating a social component directly into ChatGPT, the company could retain user interaction and data within its ecosystem, rather than ceding it to external social media sites.
This move aligns with OpenAI's broader ambitions. The company is reportedly exploring ventures into consumer hardware, including AI-powered devices and humanoid robots, as well as developing its own AI chips. These efforts suggest a strategy to create a comprehensive AI-driven platform that spans software, hardware, and user interaction.
Anthropic Introduces Claude Max: Enhanced Usage Plans for Power Users
Anthropic has unveiled Claude Max, a premium subscription offering designed for professionals who require higher usage limits from their AI assistant, Claude.
The Claude Max plan is available in two tiers:
$100/month Tier: Provides five times the usage limits of the Claude Pro plan.
$200/month Tier: Offers twenty times the usage limits of the Claude Pro plan.
These expanded limits are ideal for users who frequently hit the boundaries of the Pro plan and need more capacity for their tasks. Additionally, Max subscribers receive priority access to new features and model updates, ensuring they stay at the forefront of Anthropic's advancements.
Anduril and Ultra Maritime Forge Exclusive Partnership for Advanced Autonomous Ocean Sensing
Anduril Industries has entered into an exclusive partnership with undersea warfare specialist Ultra Maritime to develop cutting-edge autonomous ocean sensing capabilities. This collaboration aims to deliver cost-effective, advanced underwater surveillance systems to the U.S. military and its allies.
This initiative complements Anduril's ongoing projects, such as the Ghost Shark program—a series of large autonomous underwater vehicles developed in collaboration with the Royal Australian Navy.
Airwallex Pursues Banking Licenses in the UK and US to Expand Lending Services
Singapore-based fintech company Airwallex is seeking banking licenses in the United Kingdom and the United States as part of its strategy to broaden its service offerings into lending and compete more directly with global banks.
Airwallex has been actively expanding its global footprint, securing licenses in various markets, including the Netherlands, Malaysia, and China. As of March 2025, Airwallex reported exceeding US$600 million in annual revenue and processing over US$130 billion in annual transaction volume.
Zipline Expands Drone Delivery Service in Texas Through Walmart Partnership
Drone delivery startup Zipline has expanded its operations to Texas, launching a new service in partnership with Walmart to deliver groceries and other items to customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Utilizing its advanced Platform 2 Zips (P2 Zips)—autonomous drones capable of carrying up to eight pounds within a 10-mile radius—Zipline aims to provide rapid deliveries, with items arriving in as little as 30 minutes.
The P2 Zips operate by hovering approximately 300 feet above the ground and lowering packages via a tethered carrier to a designated drop-off area, such as a backyard or driveway. This method ensures precise and safe deliveries without the drone needing to land.
This expansion follows Zipline's initial collaboration with Walmart in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and marks a significant step in bringing drone delivery services to a broader customer base. The service is currently available to Walmart+ members for free for a limited time, while non-members can access it for a delivery fee of $19.99.
Colossal Biosciences Introduces Genetically Engineered Wolves Inspired by Dire Wolves
Colossal Biosciences has announced the birth of three genetically modified wolf pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—that exhibit traits reminiscent of the extinct dire wolf. By editing 14 genes in gray wolf DNA, scientists aimed to replicate features such as white fur and robust build. However, experts note that these pups are not true dire wolves, as the species diverged from gray wolves over 5 million years ago and differ by millions of genetic markers.
In addition to this project, Colossal has successfully cloned four red wolves, one of the most critically endangered canid species. Both the modified and cloned wolves are currently residing in a 2,000-acre ecological preserve managed by Colossal, where they are under continuous observation.
Strategic Acquisitions Reshape AI, Robotics, and Crypto Landscapes
OpenAI is reportedly in talks to acquire Windsurf, the company behind the AI coding assistant formerly known as Codeium, in a deal valued at $3 billion. The move would strengthen OpenAI’s developer tools ecosystem and expand its influence in the AI coding assistant space.
Hugging Face has acquired Pollen Robotics, a 30-person robotics startup based in Bordeaux, France, for an undisclosed sum. Pollen recently launched Reachy2, a $70,000 rolling-base humanoid robot designed for research labs. Hugging Face plans to offer Reachy to robotic developers already using its platform and LeRobot, its software library for developing robotic AI models. The two companies have previously collaborated, with engineers training Reachy2 to handle real-world objects like mugs and apples.
Ripple is making a significant acquisition to broaden its reach in traditional finance, capitalizing on renewed momentum in the crypto space following President Trump’s re-election. The target: Hidden Road, a financial services platform clearing over $3 trillion in transactions annually.
In developer tools, Honeycomb, a startup focused on debugging and observability for engineering teams, has acquired Grit, a company that helps maintain and refactor enterprise codebases. The deal strengthens Honeycomb’s position as a full-stack solution for software reliability.
Funding Rounds: Nuro's Valuation Adjusts; Rippling Eyes Major Investment
Nuro, a Mountain View-based autonomous vehicle startup, has raised $106 million in a Series E round, bringing its total funding to $2.2 billion. The round values the company at $6 billion—a 30% decrease from its 2021 valuation of $8.6 billion.
Rippling, a software startup specializing in payroll and HR solutions, is reportedly finalizing a deal to raise hundreds of millions of dollars at a valuation of approximately $16 billion.
Public Listings: Kodiak Robotics to Go Public via SPAC; Figma Confidentially Files for IPO
Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving truck startup founded in 2018 by former Google self-driving project alumnus Don Burnette, has announced plans to go public later this year through a merger with SPAC Ares Acquisition Corporation II. As part of the transaction, Kodiak is set to receive $551 million in cash from the SPAC trust, assuming no redemptions. Investors have committed an additional $110 million to support the deal, which will value Kodiak at $2.5 billion before the new funding.
Figma, the San Francisco-based collaborative design software company, has confidentially filed for an IPO with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This move comes 16 months after a proposed $20 billion acquisition by Adobe was canceled due to regulatory concerns. In April 2024, Figma completed a secondary funding round at a $12.5 billion valuation. The company has demonstrated impressive growth, increasing its annual recurring revenue by about 50%, from approximately $600 million at the end of 2023 to roughly $900 million at the end of 2024.