Google will launch its first AI glasses in 2026, according to a company blog post.At Google’s I/O event in May, the company announced partnerships with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create consumer wearables based on Android XR, the operating system that powers Samsung’s Galaxy XR headset. But you can’t wear a bulky headset while out in the real world, which makes smart glasses appealing as a less obtrusive smart wearable.“For AI and XR to be truly helpful, the hardware needs to fit seamlessly into yo ...

Microsoft plans to invest $17.5 billion in India over the next four years, expanding its AI and cloud footprint in the South Asian nation, whose vast online and smartphone user base is turning it into a critical battleground for global tech companies.Announced on Tuesday, the investment — Microsoft’s largest in Asia — will fund new data centers, AI infrastructure, and skilling programs from 2026 to 2029, building on the $3 billion the company committed in India in January. Microsoft’s move comes as major U ...

India has proposed a mandatory royalty system for AI companies that train their models on copyrighted content — a move that could reshape how OpenAI and Google operate in what has already become one of their most important and fastest-growing markets globally.On Tuesday, India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade released a proposed framework that would give AI companies access to all copyrighted works for training in exchange for paying royalties to a new collecting body composed of ri ...

In Brief AI research lab Anthropic continues to cement its stake as the predominant AI player in the enterprise space.On Tuesday, Anthropic announced a multi-year partnership with professional services firm Accenture. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed; however, The Wall Street Journal reported that the deal is for three years. Accenture confirmed the deal is for three years but declined to comment on financials. TechCrunch reached out to Anthropic for more information. The two companies are fo ...

Spotify is launching music videos in the U.S., Canada and a handful of other markets, following the feature’s launch in beta in overseas markets last year. The videos, which are provided by music labels under new agreements, will be available only to paying subscribers on Spotify’s Premium plan, and can be streamed on its iOS, Android, desktop, and TV apps. Users will start seeing a new option to “Switch to video” Spotify when they’re listening to a song. The video will then begin playing from where the so ...

In Brief SoftBank Group and Nvidia are in talks to lead an investment of over $1 billion at a $14 billion valuation in Skild AI, a software company building a foundational robotics model, Reuters reported.The nearly three-year-old startup was last valued at $4.7 billion in May when it raised $500 million in a round led by SoftBank along with the participation of LG Technology Ventures, Samsung, Nvidia, and others, according to PitchBook data. Skild didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. SoftBa ...

In Brief Six months ago, Waymo disclosed it was providing 250,000 robotaxi rides a week across its service areas, an ever-growing list that includes Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Alphabet-owned self-driving company has been coy ever since, simply stating it is many hundreds of thousands of weekly rides. Now, we have a firmer grasp on those weekly ride numbers, thanks to a leaked letter from Tiger Global Management to it investors that was first reported by CNBC. ...

Core Insights - The U.S. Department of Commerce is reportedly planning to allow Nvidia to export H200 AI chips to China, which are more advanced than the H20 chips previously developed for the Chinese market, although the H200s would be around 18 months old [1][2] - Nvidia's spokesperson expressed support for the decision, highlighting that it would benefit America's chip industry and create high-paying jobs [2] - There are significant Congressional concerns regarding national security, with a proposed bill that would block the export of advanced AI chips to China for over two years [3][4] Regulatory Environment - The Secure and Feasible Exports Act (SAFE) Chips Act aims to require the Department of Commerce to deny any export license for advanced AI chips to China for 30 months, although the timeline for a legislative vote is unclear [4] - The Trump administration previously imposed licensing requirements on chip companies like Nvidia for exports to China, which were later rescinded [7] - The U.S. government indicated that companies could start exporting chips to China, contingent on a 15% revenue cut to the government, as chips became a bargaining tool in trade negotiations [7] Market Dynamics - The market for U.S.-developed chips in China has been strained, potentially leading to long-term damage [8] - In September, China's Cyberspace Administration banned domestic companies from purchasing Nvidia's chips, forcing them to rely on less advanced domestic alternatives from companies like Alibaba and Huawei [9]

The former chief engineer of Lucid Motors, Eric Bach, has sued the company for wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation, and claims one of the automaker’s top HR executives referred to him as a “German Nazi.” The federal lawsuit, filed Monday in the Northern District of California, claims Bach was stripped of his responsibilities overseeing the powertrain division in early 2025 as a result of an HR investigation into the company’s workplace culture. Bach claims to have been targeted because of ...

Tiger Global, the investor that spurred the VC bull market of 2020-2021, is reportedly raising a fresh $2.2 billion fund.The firm sent a letter to potential limited partners, according to a copy obtained by CNBC, seeking to raise the cash for a vehicle called Private Investment Partners 17 (PIP 17). The letter also promises a more humble approach than during the 2021 bull-market madness. During that time, Tiger Global was moving fast and investing abundantly, a method the venture industry calls “spray and ...