Category: AI

Anthropic, a leading player in AI advancements, has finalized the acquisition of Vercept, an AI startup known for its innovative computer-use agent technology. Vercept’s expertise in developing agentic tools, such as Vy, a cloud-based computer-use agent capable of simulating tasks on a remote Apple Macbook, showcases the evolution of AI agents in modern computing.

The acquisition comes on the heels of Anthropic’s previous purchase of coding agent engine Bun, underscoring the company’s commitment to expanding its AI capabilities, particularly with its product Claude Code. Vercept, a product of Seattle’s AI-focused incubator A12, has attracted significant attention in the tech community, having raised substantial funding and garnered support from industry leaders.

Noteworthy is the background of Vercept’s co-founders, with ties to the Allen Institute for AI. One co-founder, Matt Deitke, notably secured a substantial salary deal from Meta, highlighting the demand for top AI talent in the industry. While some of Vercept’s co-founders are set to join Anthropic post-acquisition, the closure of Vercept’s product signals a strategic shift in focus.

Source: TechCrunch

Google is expanding its capabilities in physical AI as Alphabet-owned Intrinsic, a robotics software company, transitions to become part of Google’s operations. Intrinsic, known for its AI models and software that enhance industrial robots, will maintain its identity within Google while collaborating closely with Google DeepMind and leveraging Google’s Gemini AI models and cloud services.

Intrinsic originally emerged as an independent Alphabet company in 2021 after incubation within Alphabet’s X division. Notable companies that also originated from X include Waymo and Wing. Wendy Tan White has been leading Intrinsic as the CEO since its transition.

Shortly after becoming independent, Intrinsic made significant moves in the industry, acquiring Vicarious, another robotics software firm, in April 2022. Additionally, the company acquired key commercial divisions of Open Robotics, a non-profit focusing on robotics hardware and software platforms.

Alphabet has not disclosed specific details regarding the financial aspects of the Intrinsic-Google integration. This strategic alignment underscores Google’s commitment to advancing in the realm of physical AI and robotics through the expertise of Intrinsic.

Source: TechCrunch

Major tech companies, including Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, have committed to covering the increasing electricity costs associated with their AI data centers, following pressure from the White House. The rising electricity prices, attributed to AI data centers connecting to the national grid, have pushed the national average electricity price up by over 6% in the past year. In response to this issue, President Donald Trump emphasized the need for tech companies to take responsibility for their power needs during his State of the Union address.

Microsoft has announced a policy to ensure that electricity costs for its data centers are not transferred to residential customers. Similarly, OpenAI and Anthropic have pledged to cover their energy expenses to prevent additional burdens on consumers. Furthermore, Google recently unveiled plans for the world’s largest battery project aimed at supporting a data center in Minnesota.

While these commitments signal a proactive approach from tech giants, the specifics of how these companies will determine and manage the cost responsibilities remain unclear. The White House has yet to disclose the details of the proposed pledge, prompting calls for transparency and accountability from lawmakers like Senator Mark Kelly.

As the tech industry navigates the intersection of energy consumption and data center expansion, these initiatives highlight the sector’s efforts to mitigate environmental impacts and alleviate concerns within local communities.

Source: TechCrunch

OpenAI’s Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap, recently shared insights on the company’s decision to introduce ads to users of the free and Go tiers in ChatGPT. The move, aimed at enhancing the user experience, has sparked discussions within the tech community. Lightcap emphasized the iterative nature of the process, highlighting the importance of user trust and privacy.

According to Lightcap, ensuring user trust and privacy are paramount in this endeavor. He expressed optimism that well-executed ads could actually enrich the product experience. OpenAI plans to closely monitor user feedback and make necessary adjustments over the coming months to fine-tune the implementation.

The company faced criticism from competitors like Anthropic, who questioned the introduction of ads. Despite this, OpenAI remains focused on refining its approach and aims to deliver a seamless ad experience for users. Lightcap’s call for patience underscores the complexity of integrating ads into AI products and the need for continuous improvement.

Source: TechCrunch

Google has introduced enhancements to its Gemini AI features on Android, offering a new automation capability for handling multi-step tasks such as rideshare requests or food delivery. This update allows users to delegate these tasks to Gemini, although the feature is currently restricted to specific apps in the food, grocery, and rideshare sectors. Initially available on select devices like the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S26 series in the U.S. and Korea, the feature ensures security by requiring explicit user commands to initiate tasks and providing real-time monitoring for intervention if needed.

The integration of AI-powered task automation reflects a broader trend of incorporating AI into personal life management. Google’s Gemini aligns with similar initiatives like ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Cowork, aiming to simplify daily routines through AI assistance. As automation technology advances, users can anticipate more efficient task handling and streamlined experiences in various aspects of their lives.

Source: TechCrunch

A new report by the Pew Research Center reveals that an increasing number of American teenagers are turning to AI chatbots not just for information and school help, but also for emotional support and advice. The data shows that about 12% of U.S. teens rely on AI chatbots for emotional support or advice, indicating a shift towards technology fulfilling roles traditionally held by friends or family.

While some teens may find comfort in interacting with chatbots, mental health professionals express caution. ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, and other general-purpose AI tools are not specifically designed for this purpose, raising concerns about potential negative psychological impacts, including isolation and disconnection from reality.

The discrepancy between reported and perceived usage by parents highlights the need for further discussions on the implications of AI chatbot usage among teenagers. While most parents are fine with their teens using AI for information and schoolwork, a significant percentage disapprove of its use for casual conversations or emotional support.

As the debate on AI safety continues within the tech industry, the rise in AI chatbot reliance among teens raises important questions about the boundaries of technology in fulfilling emotional needs.

Source: TechCrunch

Tech companies in India are facing a critical juncture as the country’s AI user base expands rapidly. According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, India surpassed the U.S. in generative AI app downloads in 2025, signaling significant growth in AI adoption. To capitalize on this trend, major players like OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity initially offered free premium services to attract users in the price-sensitive Indian market.

However, as these promotional periods come to an end, companies are now shifting their focus towards converting these users into paying subscribers. For instance, Perplexity terminated its bundled offer with Airtel, while OpenAI discontinued free access to ChatGPT Go in India. This transition marks a pivotal moment to evaluate the conversion rates of acquired users to paying customers.

Despite the surge in AI app downloads, India’s revenue contribution remains disproportionately low, accounting for only 1% of in-app purchases globally. This disparity underscores the challenge of monetization in a market where user acquisition outpaces revenue generation. Sensor Tower data reveals that while India drives a significant share of GenAI app downloads, the revenue from in-app purchases lags behind.

The rapid growth of AI app adoption in India, particularly in 2025, has not been fully mirrored in revenue figures. Although download rates soared, in-app purchase revenue witnessed a decline towards the end of the year. For instance, ChatGPT experienced a notable revenue drop during this period, underscoring the complexities of monetizing AI services in a market experiencing explosive user growth.

Source: TechCrunch

Uber’s technological capabilities extend beyond ride-hailing and food delivery, as CEO Dara Khosrowshahi revealed that engineers have developed an AI chatbot version of himself. This innovation allows employees to practice their presentations by presenting to the AI before crucial meetings with top management.

In a recent interview on Steven Bartlett’s podcast, The Diary of a CEO, Khosrowshahi shared, “One of my team members told me that some teams have built a Dara AI, you know, so that they basically make the presentation to the Dara AI as a prep for making a presentation to me.” This approach ensures that presentations are meticulously refined before reaching Khosrowshahi.

Approximately 90% of Uber’s software engineers are actively leveraging AI in their daily tasks, with around 30% considered “power users” of AI tools. This integration of AI is prompting a fundamental reevaluation of the company’s architectural framework, with engineers playing a pivotal role in shaping the system’s design and functionality.

Khosrowshahi emphasized the significant impact of AI on employee productivity, stating, “It really is changing their productivity in a way that I’ve never, ever seen before.” This strategic adoption of AI reflects Uber’s commitment to technological innovation and optimization in its operations.

Source: TechCrunch

Spanish startup Multiverse Computing has introduced a new version of its HyperNova 60B AI model, leveraging CompactifAI, a compression technology inspired by quantum computing. By releasing a compressed AI model for free on Hugging Face, Multiverse Computing aims to make cutting-edge AI models more accessible for practical deployment by companies.

The updated HyperNova 60B 2602 model, at 32GB, is significantly smaller than its predecessor, OpenAI’s GPT-OSS-120B, while maintaining high accuracy and performance. The model now offers enhanced support for tool calling and agentic coding, addressing challenges in inference costs.

Multiverse Computing’s HyperNova 60B model has outperformed competitors like Mistral AI’s Mistral Large 3, showcasing the company’s technical expertise. Both Multiverse Computing and Mistral AI are European companies with global expansion and enterprise clientele, with Multiverse serving customers like Iberdrola, Bosch, and the Bank of Canada.

As Multiverse Computing continues to innovate, the company is reportedly on track to raise a substantial funding round, potentially exceeding €1.5 billion in valuation. The startup’s commitment to advancing AI through compression technology underscores its position as a key player in the industry.

Source: TechCrunch

The Pentagon has issued an ultimatum to Anthropic, a tech company, demanding unrestricted access to its AI model by Friday under threat of severe penalties, according to a report by Axios. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth conveyed the message to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, warning of potential consequences should the company fail to comply.

The dispute centers on the Pentagon’s insistence on loosening the AI guardrails of Anthropic’s technology, highlighting broader issues of government leverage, vendor relationships, and investor trust in defense tech. Anthropic has consistently opposed the use of its AI for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons, a stance it refuses to compromise on.

The Pentagon’s potential invocation of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to tailor Anthropic’s AI model for military use signifies a significant escalation. The DPA, historically used to ramp up production during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, could now be employed to shape the trajectory of AI technology.

According to Dean Ball, a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, this move is part of a broader pattern of executive branch actions that could have far-reaching implications. Ball suggests that using the DPA in this context could set a troubling precedent of governmental overreach into the tech sector.

Source: TechCrunch

Google has introduced a new feature for Opal, its vibe-coding app, that enables users to create automated workflows with ease. This innovation involves the integration of a new agent within Opal, empowering users to develop mini apps for planning and executing tasks through text prompts.

The feature leverages the Gemini 3 Flash model to autonomously select tools for task execution. For example, it can utilize Google Sheets to maintain data continuity, like managing a shopping list for an e-commerce application. The new agent autonomously generates and schedules subsequent task steps.

These agents are designed to be inherently interactive, requesting additional information from users or providing choices for determining next steps when necessary. With this enhancement, individuals lacking technical expertise can construct intricate workflows within their applications.

Opal, the vibe-coding tool, initially launched for U.S. users in July 2025, allowing users to create or modify mini web apps. Google subsequently expanded Opal’s availability to 15 more countries, including Canada, India, Japan, and Brazil. In December, Opal integration with the Gemini web app facilitated custom app creation through a visual editor devoid of coding requirements.

While Google leads the way with Opal’s new feature, various startups are also developing tools enabling app creation via natural language prompts. Notable examples include Lovable, Replit, Wabi by the former Replika founder, Emergent backed by Softbank and Lightspeed, and Rocket.new supported by Accel.

Source: TechCrunch

OpenAI recently unveiled OpenAI Frontier, a new platform aimed at assisting enterprises in constructing and overseeing AI agents. However, OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap highlighted the current lack of widespread AI integration within business processes.

During the India AI summit in New Delhi, Lightcap emphasized the complexities enterprises face in adopting AI technologies. He noted the discrepancy between the accessibility of powerful AI systems for individuals versus the intricate needs of organizations with multifaceted goals and operations.

Speculation about AI agents supplanting traditional business software like SaaS has circulated, but Lightcap revealed that OpenAI heavily relied on Slack last year, underscoring the continued relevance of conventional enterprise tools.

OpenAI’s financial performance has been robust, with CFO Sarah Friar reporting significant revenue growth, surpassing $20 billion in annualized revenue by the end of 2025. Despite the escalating demand for their services, OpenAI faces the challenge of scaling efficiently to meet global market needs.

Looking ahead, OpenAI aims to evaluate the success of OpenAI Frontier based on tangible business outcomes rather than conventional metrics like seat licenses. This shift underscores OpenAI’s commitment to aligning AI solutions with practical business impact.

Source: TechCrunch