News reporting focused on AI and machine learning, covering the companies behind these technologies, their real-world applications, and the ethical concerns they raise. This includes areas like generative AI (large language models, text-to-image and video), speech tech, and predictive analytics.
Apple has filed a trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the AI company of orchestrating a campaign to steal confidential information from current and former Apple employees. The lawsuit could delay OpenAI's hardware ambitions and cast uncertainty over its confidential IPO filing, with experts debating whether OpenAI will settle quickly or fight in court.
Apple filed a trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI last Friday, alleging misconduct involving the chief hardware officer and over 400 former Apple employees now working at OpenAI. The timing is critical as OpenAI reportedly plans an IPO later this year. TechCrunch's Equity podcast discusses the potential impact on OpenAI's hardware ambitions and IPO timeline.
Apple has sued OpenAI, accusing the company of stealing hardware secrets through former employees, including chief hardware officer Tang Tan. Meanwhile, New York became the first state to impose a moratorium on large-scale data centers, drawing criticism from Donald Trump. The episode also covers OpenAI employees funding a rival super PAC for AI guardrails, DOGE's use of AI at HUD facing FOIA stonewalling, and a cyclosporiasis outbreak spreading across over 30 states.
Former and current Meta employees have filed a lawsuit in California federal court, alleging the company used internal AI systems to generate layoff lists that disproportionately targeted employees with disabilities and those on protected leave. The lawsuit claims the AI selection process led to 8,000 job cuts in May, with one plaintiff notified just two days before giving birth. Meta denies the allegations, stating that all personnel decisions are made by humans.
Amazon has disclosed that its global data center operations used 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025, marking the first time the company has released such figures. The report comes shortly after Seattle enacted a one-year moratorium on data center construction, which some Amazon employees had pushed for. Amazon claims its water efficiency improved by 2% compared to 2024, and that its data centers are seven times more efficient than the industry average.
Brendan Foody, co-founder of AI talent platform Mercor, publicly accused Sequoia of using a dual-pricing structure that inflates headline valuations while the firm invests at a lower price. Foody said he has seen several rounds where Sequoia invests in two tranches at different valuations, with founders then misrepresenting the higher valuation to employees and angel investors. Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire defended the practice as rare and driven by market dynamics.
Anthropic, the AI safety company, has banned the use of AI tools during live job interviews, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Candidates must go through up to five rounds including a 'culture interview' that probes values and ethical dilemmas. Salaries can reach $850,000 plus equity, and some applicants spend $4,600 on prep coaching run by current Anthropic and OpenAI employees.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the first executive order by a U.S. governor aimed at shielding workers from AI-driven job displacement. The order directs state agencies to work with researchers, unions, and the AI industry on strategies including subsidies for companies that keep employees, expanded retraining for office workers, and a review of universal basic capital. Newsom cited predictions that half of all office jobs could vanish within five years and criticized the tax system for rewarding automation over hiring.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI's global affairs chief and a veteran political operative, is working to dial down polarized debate about AI's societal impacts while pushing for state-level regulations that won't hinder the company's growth. Facing mounting public backlash including an attack on CEO Sam Altman's home, Lehane advocates for 'calibrated' messaging and policies like a four-day work week. However, former employees accuse the company of downplaying risks, and Lehane navigates complex roles in super PACs and state lobbying efforts.
Meta has reportedly laid off about 8,000 employees, roughly 10 percent of its workforce, as part of a cost-cutting effort to offset massive spending on artificial intelligence. The company is also moving thousands of workers to AI projects and closing open roles. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has forecast capital expenditures of up to $135 billion in 2026, nearly double the previous year.
Google has provided the U.S. Department of Defense with access to its AI models on classified networks for all lawful purposes. This comes after Anthropic rejected similar terms, leading to a DoD label of supply-chain risk and an ongoing lawsuit. OpenAI and xAI also signed deals, while 950 Google employees oppose such agreements.
Anthropic ran Project Deal, a pilot where AI agents acted as buyers and sellers for 69 employees with $100 budgets each. The experiment saw 186 deals worth over $4,000. Advanced models delivered better results, though participants did not notice the differences.