TechCheck

Alphabet’s $32 billion dollar acquisition of cyber security startup Wiz setting records. We look at why it could be a turning point for M&A markets. 

AI search startup Perplexity is in funding talks that would double the company’s valuation to $18 billion. We look at how the focus in AI is shifting from model makers to so-called AI “Wrappers.” Plus, Starlink is expanding into India, but its success lies in the hands of two billionaires. 

Apple’s reported shakeup among its AI leadership has intensified the spotlight on the ongoing AI talent wars among mega-cap tech companies. And Softbank’s acquisition of Ampere deepens CEO Masayoshi Son’s bet on data centers. It’s a strategic move in one of the hottest battlegrounds in tech: AI infrastructure. 

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled his vision and roadmap to physical AI at the company's GTC event... Describing the robots, self-driving cars, and workplace automation that he suggests might enter our lives sooner than we think. But it's a cut-throat race against China, which has already seen companies release commercialized robots that are more affordable and accessible.

Google parent Alphabet is sealing a $32 billion deal to acquire the cybersecurity startup Wiz.  We dig into the acquisition, which is Alphabet’s largest, and look at why the company is willing to pay a premium— nearly $10 billion more than last summer’s failed bid – to bolster its security technology in the face of advancing AI and cybersecurity threats

Google is now expanding access to its powerful AI image generation model. We look at the buzz, and dig into new developments that show AI giants are moving to practicality over power. 

Open AI is calling on the Trump White House to ban DeepSeek and other ‘PRC-Produced’ AI models. We look at how the Trump administration’s big tech policy could shape the future of American AI. Plus, a look inside Y Combinator’s newest batch of startups.  

Alibaba rolling out an updated version of its AI assistant that could be a boon to Apple’s China business if it rolls out on iPhones later this year. We look at the growing concern over Apple’s stumbles in bringing AI to iPhones. 

Google is rolling out its latest open-source model Gemma 3, capable of running on just a single GPU. We dig into the efficiency gains mean for the shifting AI trade. Plus the FTC is asking a federal judge to delay a September trial against Amazon, citing budgeting and staffing shortalls. 

Waymo is coming back to where it all began with a new expansion into Silicon Valley. We look at how the self-driving darling may be overlooked in Google’s valuation. Plus, we look at OpenAI’s new toolkit for developing AI agents.