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Week in Tech: Who’s Behind the First Hit AI Artist?

Nov 7, 2025
Discover the impact of school cell phone bans, which have unexpectedly led to increased library visits and improved social interactions among students. Explore Europe’s booming defense tech investments driven by global tensions, and learn about innovative military ideas like cockroach sensors. Meet Xania Monet, the first AI artist to hit Billboard charts, and delve into the legal debates surrounding AI music. Plus, hear about Google's ambition to establish solar-powered data centers in space and the thrilling use of DNA databases in solving the Louvre heist.
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INSIGHT

Europe's Rapid Defense Tech Buildout

  • European VC and governments are rapidly funding defense tech driven by perceived immediate threats and geopolitical pressure.
  • Venture-backed weapons enable faster, cheaper experimentation but many startups will fail before a few succeed.
ANECDOTE

Peter Thiel-Backed Drone Flops In Trials

  • Stark, a Berlin drone startup backed by Peter Thiel, failed to hit any targets in two military trials and drew harsh press scrutiny.
  • The failures highlight high risk and public spectacle when venture-funded weapons are tested quickly in military settings.
INSIGHT

Startup Model Reshapes Military Procurement

  • A new defense business model is 'build it and they will come' where startups deliver rapid prototypes to win government contracts.
  • This mirrors historical warfare shifts and concentrates risk and reward in private investors' hands.
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