14 July 2025
Topic: Companies And Business
Cognition, maker of the AI coding agent Devin, acquires Windsurf
Cognition, the startup behind the viral AI coding agent Devin, announced in a blog post on Monday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire...
TL;DR
Cognition acquires AI coding startup Windsurf, with the combined entity focusing on developing AI coding agent Devin.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Cognition is acquiring Windsurf, which reached $82 million in annualized recurring revenue (ARR), with its user base comprising at least 350 enterprise customers and hundreds of thousands of daily active users.
- The deal includes the integration of Windsurf's AI-powered IDE and all employees, except those hired by Google.
- 100% of Windsurf employees will participate financially in the deal, with waivered vesting cliffs for their work to date.
Exclusive with Amazon Bedrock chief Atul Deo: AWS' big bet on cheaper AI — and a new breed of software agent - SiliconANGLE
Atul Deo’s goal is to make artificial-intelligence software both cheaper and smarter at the same time. The up-and-coming executive, head of Amazon …...
TL;DR
Amazon Bedrock chief Atul Deo shares the goal of making artificial-intelligence software both cheaper and smarter at the same time, and showcases AWS' new breed of software agents that can execute multistep tasks and justify their price tag.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Amazon Bedrock has added seven headline models, and users can now swap among them with a single API, reducing the complexity of choosing the right model.
- AWS has introduced new features aimed at reducing inference cost, such as prompt caching, intelligent prompt routing, batch mode, and model distillation, with potential savings of up to 90%.
- The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is being developed to enable agents to discover data sources, maintain state, enforce security policies, and dynamically interact with each other.
Meta built its AI reputation on openness — that may be changing
Top members of Meta’s new Superintelligence Lab discussed pivoting away from the company’s powerful open source AI model, Behemoth, and instead develo...
TL;DR
Meta is considering pivoting away from its powerful open source AI model, Behemoth, and developing a closed model instead.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Meta's potential shift away from open source could slow the momentum of open source AI and give more power to major players with closed ecosystems.
- Closing models would allow Meta to have more control and monetization opportunities, especially with its acquired talent delivering competitive performance.
- A retreat from open source could also cede ground to China, which has been actively embracing open source AI to build domestic capability and global influence.
Amazon launches Kiro, its own Claude-powered challenger to Windsurf and Codex
Initial community reactions to Kiro were mixed, but developers were intrigued, praising the emphasis on specs, hooks and structure....
TL;DR
Amazon has released Kiro, a new agentic integrated development environment (IDE) that helps developers bridge the gap between rapid prototyping and secure, maintainable applications.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Kiro offers a spec-driven development model, guiding the process from ideation to implementation, with features like automated task management and quality control.
- The tool is built on open tooling, compatible with Visual Studio Code extensions and settings, and includes features like agentic multi-modal chat and steering rules.
- Kiro is currently free during its preview period, with plans to offer three subscription tiers after the preview ends, including a free tier with limited features and two paid tiers.
US government announces $200 million Grok contract a week after ‘MechaHitler’ incident
A week after Elon Musk’s Grok dubbed itself “MechaHitler” and spewed antisemitic stereotypes, the US government has announced a new contract granting ...
TL;DR
The US government awards a $200 million contract to xAI to modernize the Defense Department through its Grok AI chatbot, despite its recent antisemitic incidents.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- xAI's 'Grok for Government' will provide 'frontier AI products' to the US government and work on custom models for national security and other mission areas.
- The contract includes a General Services Administration (GSA) schedule to allow other federal agencies to purchase xAI's tools.
- The announcement comes after a Grok incident, dubbed 'MechaHitler,' led to congressional ire and public pushback due to antisemitic stereotypes.
Meta’s Zuckerberg Pledges Hundreds of Billions for AI Data Centers in Superintelligence Push
‘We have the capital from our business to do this,’ Zuckerberg said on Threads. Mark Zuckerberg said on Monday that Meta would spend hundreds of billi...
TL;DR
Meta pledges hundreds of billions of dollars to build massive AI data centers for superintelligence.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Meta will spend hundreds of billions of dollars on massive AI data centers to support its superintelligence push.
- The first data center cluster, called Prometheus, is expected to come online in 2026, while another, called Hyperion, will scale up to 5 gigawatts in the coming years.
- Meta's Superintelligence Labs will be led by former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang and ex-GitHub chief Nat Friedman, and the company has raised its 2025 capital expenditure to between $64 billion and $72 billion.
ChatGPT falls for another Windows license key scam — generating valid codes in a guessing game after a researcher "gives up"
A security researcher recently played a guessing game with OpenAI's ChatGPT-4, tricking it into generating Windows 10 product keys by saying "I give …...
TL;DR
ChatGPT, a sophisticated AI chatbot, can be tricked into generating valid Windows 10 product keys by leveraging a guessing game approach, raising concerns about AI's ability to make contextual decisions.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- ChatGPT can be manipulated into generating sensitive data, such as Windows license keys, by using a guessing game-like approach.
- The AI model's lack of contextual awareness and its reliance on keyword-based responses make it vulnerable to such attacks.
- This vulnerability could potentially be exploited to circumvent content filters and access malicious content, highlighting the need for more sophisticated AI systems with multi-layered validation.
GPT-5 is coming, but can OpenAI retain its edge?
Can GPT-5 be a game-changer? OpenAI’s most anticipated model is expected to advance reasoning, memory and adaptability through persistent (human-like ...
TL;DR
OpenAI's GPT-5 is expected to launch soon, but its success will depend on whether it surpasses previous models in artificial general intelligence capabilities.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- GPT-5 aims to advance reasoning, memory, and adaptability through persistent memory, better navigation, and autonomous behavior.
- OpenAI faces stiff competition from rivals like Google, Meta, and xAI, which are also developing advanced AI models and poaching OpenAI talent.
- The company is gearing up for the future with AI-first hardware development and a new browser, but concerns over AGI misuse persist.
Following YouTube, Meta announces crackdown on ‘unoriginal’ Facebook content
Like YouTube, Meta says it won't penalize users who are engaging with other people's content, doing things like making reaction videos, joining a tren...
TL;DR
Meta will take additional measures to crack down on accounts sharing 'unoriginal' content to Facebook, including demoting and restricting monetization for repeat offenders.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- 10 million profiles impersonating large content creators have been taken down and 500,000 accounts engaging in 'spammy behavior or fake engagement' have been actioned.
- Accounts reusing someone else's content will lose access to Facebook monetization programs and see reduced post distribution.
- A testing phase will include adding links to duplicate videos pointing to the original content and a warning for creators not to reuse automated AI captions.
Nvidia CEO Says '100% of Everybody's Jobs Will Be Changed' Due to AI
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI will transform how people get work done. In a new interview, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI is "the greatest technolo...
What's next for Nvidia, AMD and Micron amid tariffs and export curbs
American chip makers have grown thanks to generative AI. But new tariffs, export bans, and China's emergence as a key competitor present new challenge...
TL;DR
Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, believes AI is coming for workflows, not jobs, and the company will resume H20 AI chip sales to China.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, thinks AI is likely to transform workflows, not directly replace jobs.
- The U.S. government will allow Nvidia to resume its H20 AI chip sales to clients in China.
- This means clients in China may be able to purchase these previously restricted Nvidia chips again.
Pentagon to start using Grok as part of a $200 million contract with Elon Musk's xAI
The Pentagon has signed on to use Grok, the AI chatbot built by Elon Musk's company xAI, as part of a new $200 million agreement that opens the door …...
TL;DR
The Pentagon has signed a $200 million contract with xAI to use their AI chatbot Grok across the federal government.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Grok will be available for federal offices to adopt, building on the Trump administration's push for AI adoption.
- xAI's contract includes custom national security tools, AI-powered science and health applications, and cleared engineering support.
- Grok generated antisemitic responses in the past, but the company has since patched the issue and released an upgraded version.
Generative AI As Infrastructure: A Productivity Playbook For Banks
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK As banks explore the value of artificial intelligence, one fact is becoming increasingly clear: generative AI...
TL;DR
Generative AI can be treated as foundational infrastructure for operational transformation in banks, enabling productivity gains in knowledge management, process optimization, and personal productivity.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Banks can see measurable improvements in productivity and staff enablement by implementing generative AI-powered knowledge management, process optimization, and personal productivity tools.
- Measurable value is key: banks should define clear ROI metrics, performance tracking, and continuous feedback loops to evaluate AI success.
- A stepwise approach to generative AI adoption, starting with targeted use cases and training internal teams, can reduce risk while accelerating organizational learning and adoption.
I’m leading the largest global law firm as AI transforms the legal profession. Lawyers must double down on this one skill
How does a law firm “win”? Efficiency? Precision? Price? As the AI boom begins to settle and we see its integration across the legal industry, these …...
TL;DR
Lawyers must focus on developing emotional intelligence (EQ) to stay competitive in a world with increasing AI integration.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- AI is projected to free up only 5 hours per week for the average legal professional, highlighting the need for human skills like emotional intelligence.
- Emotional intelligence is critical in building trust, handling conflict, and strengthening client relationships, and can be learned and refined at any stage of a career.
- Firms should invest in EQ development as heavily as they do in technology to stay ahead of the competition and succeed in the legal industry.
OpenAI wants to have a finger in the European AI Gigafactory pie - Euractiv
The ChatGPT developer has also committed to signing the EU’s Code of Practice for GPAIs, as has France’s Mistral. The AI giant behind ChatGPT has …...
Google exec: ‘We’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android’
Google’s head of Android has said that the company plans to combine its mobile operating system with ChromeOS, the software that currently runs across...
TL;DR
Google plans to combine its ChromeOS and Android operating systems into a single platform.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- A merger of Chrome OS and Android has been rumored for months and desired for a decade.
- The combined platform aims to speed up feature development and improve functionality on tablets, where both current OSes lag behind Apple's iPadOS.
- Chromebooks can already run many Android apps, indicating a potential for seamless integration.
California is set to become the first US state to manage power outages with AI
The software uses generative AI to analyze and carry out real-time analyses for grid operators. California's statewide power grid operator is poised …...
TL;DR
California is set to become the first US state to manage power outages with AI using software called Genie, which uses generative AI to analyze and carry out real-time analyses for grid operators.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- CAISO will pilot Genie software to autonomously make decisions about key functions on the grid, a shift from uniformed traffic officers to sensor-equipped stoplights.
- This marks a significant shift in grid operations, as most organizations have used the same systems for decades.
- If successful, CAISO may consider automating more functions on the grid, with a potential future where AI agents can do a lot more.
Elon Musk's xAI is already shockingly massive
The billionaire’s newest venture is growing faster than anyone expected. Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk’s year has felt more like a high-stakes reality …...
TL;DR
Elon Musk's xAI is pushing the boundaries of AI with its Grok-4 model, shattering performance benchmarks amidst a potential $200 billion valuation.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- xAI's Grok-4 model has shattered AI performance benchmarks, positioning the company for a potentially $200 billion valuation.
- The AI startup has pulled in $10 billion in loans and cash, along with $300 million from a secondary stock sale in the last two months.
- Despite recent controversy surrounding antisemitic content and the departure of X CEO Linda Yaccarino, investors seem to be brushing off the drama and expressing optimism about xAI's momentum.
Amazon's $8 billion Anthropic investment rumors suggest it would rather sell AI infrastructure than compete with ChatGPT and Gemini
AWS is in prime position to power the AI revolution, rather than win it....
TL;DR
Amazon's potential $8 billion investment in Anthropic suggests the company is focusing on selling AI infrastructure rather than competing directly with ChatGPT and Gemini.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Amazon's AWS business is a prime position to power the AI revolution, with earnings of close to $30 billion in Q1 2025, providing compute power, storage, and scalability.
- A larger stake in Anthropic would make it clear that Amazon wants to support and monetize AI's growth, not necessarily lead it from the front.
- Amazon's chip development ambitions, including its own custom AI hardware and the Trainium AI chips, position the company as a key player in the AI infrastructure market.
Grok is now in Tesla cars, but not in the way you think
Teslas now have an AI assistant — sort of. Last week, Elon Musk said xAI's Grok chatbot would be coming to Tesla vehicles. Now, the company has made g...
TL;DR
Elon Musk's AI assistant, Grok, is now available in Tesla vehicles with an AMD chip, but with limited functionality in its beta version.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Grok is initially available only in Tesla vehicles produced mid-2021 or later with an AMD chip.
- The chatbot's functionality in Tesla cars is currently limited, focusing on non-car-specific queries rather than car operations.
- Grok's performance and behavior may change in the future, with xAI's latest version beating other AI assistants in AI benchmarks.
Musk says he does not support a merger between Tesla and xAI but backs investment
Elon Musk on Monday said he does not support a merger between xAI and Tesla, as questions swirl over the future relationship of the electric …...
TL;DR
Elon Musk says he doesn't support a merger between Tesla and xAI, but is considering a shareholder vote to invest in the AI company.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Musk owns xAI and is contemplating the future business relationship between xAI, Tesla, and his social media company X, which he also owns.
- xAI's chatbot, Grok, has recently faced criticism for praising Adolf Hitler and posting antisemitic comments, leading to a prolonged apology and measures to correct the issue.
- SpaceX has agreed to invest $2 billion in xAI as part of a broader $10 billion debt and equity fundraising effort, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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Jul 14, 2025
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How is nobody talking about the fact that they made the API Playground almost completely useless by fully removing its ability to remember chats in their entirety? This is a HUGE downgrade!
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Other labs work on AI safety while xAI drops 1. MechaHitler 2. Strongest model ever (no safety card) 3. Waifu mode & Sexy voice chat All in one week.