The evening briefing.
Today across AI and tech: The Supreme Court restricts police access to phone location data, South Korea pledges $1 trillion for chips and robots, and Tidal takes a stance on AI-generated music royalties.
Digital Privacy. The Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling today, stating that police require a warrant to obtain detailed cellphone location data from tech companies, even for short periods. This 6-3 decision reinforces Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. Meanwhile, Google has warned the EU that its plans to weaken its monopoly could expose user data, particularly concerning shared search data and open AI on Android. These developments highlight growing legal and regulatory scrutiny over data access and privacy in the digital age.
Agentic AI. The push for more autonomous AI agents is accelerating, with OpenClaw launching an official app for iOS and Android, bringing agentic AI capabilities to mobile devices. Microsoft Research introduced Memora, a new harmonic memory representation designed to improve AI agents' ability to remember past conversations and manage complex tasks more efficiently. Additionally, Bendigo Bank announced its goal to establish Australia's first agentic Security Operations Center, reshaping its security stack with AI-driven automation. These initiatives signal a growing trend towards more capable and self-managing AI systems across various applications.
Chip Production & AI Investment. South Korea announced a massive $1 trillion investment aimed at boosting memory chip production and accelerating the development of humanoid robots, targeting a lead in physical AI by 2028. This commitment from major tech giants seeks to alleviate "RAMageddon" and solidify the nation's position as an AI powerhouse. In a move to cut costs, Meta is reusing terabytes of retired DDR4 memory through CXL technology, reducing server requirements and avoiding new DRAM purchases. Meanwhile, Chamath Palihapitiya's AI coding startup secured a $135 million Series A, indicating continued strong venture capital interest in AI development.
AI Content & Ethics. Tidal has updated its policy on AI-generated music, stating it will not pay royalties on tracks identified as 100 percent AI-generated, though it won't ban them outright. This move aims to protect human artists and inform listeners about AI content. Google is expanding personalized AI image generation to free Gemini users in the U.S., allowing the chatbot to create images based on user interests and connected Google app data. Separately, Bill Gates suggested taxing robots to help structure labor markets and counter the societal impacts of automation, sparking debate on future economic policies.
SCOTUS rules detailed cellphone location data protected by Fourth Amendment
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that police conduct a Fourth Amendment search when they obtain a person’s detailed cellphone location history from a tech company. This applies even when the data covers only a short period, strengthening privacy protections.
South Korea to spend $1T on memory chip production and humanoid robots
South Korea plans to invest $1 trillion to boost memory chip production and accelerate the development of humanoid robots. The nation aims to lead in physical AI and commercial humanoid robots by 2028.
OpenClaw app for iOS and Android phones brings agentic AI to mobile
OpenClaw, an effort to put AI models to work as agents, has launched an official app for iOS and Android phones. This development brings agentic AI capabilities directly to smartphone users.
Chamath Palihapitiya raises $135M Series A for his AI coding startup
Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya's AI coding startup has successfully raised a $135 million Series A funding round. Palihapitiya will also take on the CEO role for the new venture.
Microsoft Research unveils Memora: A harmonic memory representation for AI agents
Microsoft Research introduced Memora, a scalable memory system that helps AI agents remember past conversations more efficiently. This system aims to solve the challenge of context reloading in complex, long-running AI tasks.
Meta reuses DDR4 memory with CXL tech for near zero-cost expansion
Meta has successfully reused retired DDR4 memory through CXL technology, enabling near zero-cost memory expansion. This strategy reduces server requirements and helps the company avoid expensive new DRAM purchases.
Gemini’s personalized AI image generation is now free for US users
Google is expanding Gemini’s personalized AI image generation to eligible free users in the U.S. This feature allows the chatbot to create images based on user interests and data from connected Google apps.
Apple asks UK Supreme Court to overturn $502 million patent ruling
Apple's ongoing patent dispute with Optis is heading to the UK Supreme Court, where Apple is seeking to overturn a $502 million patent ruling. This marks a new chapter in the long-running legal battle.
T-Mobile is booting customers from its oldest plans
T-Mobile has begun notifying customers that it will retire many legacy plans, including those dating back to the 3G era. Subscribers will be moved onto one of the company's current rate plans.
Uber is no longer offering Waymo rides in Phoenix
Uber has ceased offering Waymo rides in Phoenix, indicating a shift away from this external partnership. The company may now focus on its own robotaxi initiatives for driverless options.
Tidal won’t pay royalties on AI-generated music but isn’t banning it outright
Tidal announced new policies for AI-generated music, stating it will not knowingly attribute royalties to tracks identified as 100 percent AI-generated. The platform will label such tracks but not ban them outright.
Leaked iPhone 18 Pro photos reportedly wound up on the dark web
Photos and parts lists for the iPhone 18 Pro have reportedly appeared on the dark web following a data breach at one of Apple's key suppliers. The leaked images include drop test photos of the upcoming model.
Bill Gates suggests taxing robots to counter automation risks
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates suggested that if a robot performs a job, it should be taxed, similar to human labor. This idea aims to devise policy solutions to counter the risks associated with automation.
Alphabet stock pops 4% on Dow debut, but faces major AI questions
Alphabet shares rose 4% on its Dow debut, marking a blue-chip milestone for the tech giant. However, the company continues to face significant questions regarding its AI strategy and market position.