Prediction market platform Polymarket has reportedly secured $300 million in a new funding round. The investment was led by 1789 Capital, an investment fund associated with Donald Trump Jr. The overall funding round is expected to total approximately $1 billion. This marks a significant capital raise for Polymarket, which has grown in prominence as a platform for betting on real-world events.
Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has raised its growth fund to $8.5 billion, just days after announcing a separate $1.1 billion fund. The back-to-back fundraises signal aggressive capital deployment plans by one of Silicon Valley's most prominent VC firms. The funds are intended to back startups across various stages of growth. The rapid succession of closings underscores strong investor appetite for venture capital despite a challenging funding environment.
Bentley has unveiled the Supersports, its lightest production car in 85 years. The model appears to be a stripped-down, performance-focused variant designed with engineering priorities at the forefront. The reduced weight signals a deliberate departure from Bentley's traditionally opulent, heavier builds. The Supersports represents a more driver-centric approach within the luxury automaker's lineup.
Google has raised the price of its 4K Google TV Streamer from $99 to $149, a $50 increase now reflected at the Google Store and Best Buy. Amazon appears to still be listing the device at the original price. The price hike follows a similar $100 increase on Google's newly launched Pixel 11 smartphone lineup. The Google TV Streamer, which launched in 2024 and functions as both a streaming box and smart home hub, is among several devices seeing price increases. Component shortages have been broadly pushing up costs across consumer electronics, including laptops and gaming consoles.
A group called Build American AI, backed by prominent tech investors including Andreessen, Horowitz, and Brockman, is planning a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign targeting voters in select states. The initiative aims to promote the benefits of data centers to the general public. The campaign is timed ahead of the midterm elections, suggesting an intent to influence voter sentiment on AI infrastructure policy. By framing data centers in a positive light, the group hopes to shape public and political support for expanded AI development in the United States.
JMGO has made its Iris Ultra Max projector available outside China, offering 4K resolution at 120Hz with Google TV built in. The device features a dual-iris system that uses two physical apertures along the optical path to achieve a native contrast ratio of 10,000:1. A triple-laser light engine powers its claimed 6,500 ISO lumen brightness, surpassing last year's benchmark of 6,000 lumens from an all-in-one unit. The combination of high brightness, strong contrast, and a high refresh rate makes it particularly suited for gaming and sports viewing.
The Federal Trade Commission, joined by 22 state attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit accusing Amazon of secretly inflating advertising prices on its website and app. The complaint alleges Amazon manipulated its 'second price' ad auction system through an undisclosed surcharge, effectively making advertisers pay more than the rules indicated. FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson stated that the higher ad costs were largely passed on to American consumers. Amazon is accused of violating the FTC Act as well as more than a dozen state laws. This legal action follows Amazon's $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC nearly a year ago over its Prime subscription practices.
A lawsuit filed by US states and the Federal Trade Commission alleges that Amazon manipulated its advertising pricing to the tune of billions of dollars. The legal action targets the way Amazon reportedly structured its ad marketplace to its own advantage. The case represents a significant regulatory challenge for the tech and e-commerce giant. Amazon has pushed back against the allegations, claiming the FTC fundamentally misunderstands how its advertising market operates.
The United States is experiencing a record-breaking Cyclospora outbreak this summer, with the CDC tallying nearly 30,000 confirmed and probable cases. Despite the scale of the outbreak, the Trump administration has decided to shelve research related to the parasitic illness. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes intestinal illness, typically linked to contaminated fresh produce. The decision to pause research comes at a particularly concerning time given the unprecedented number of infections recorded. Public health experts have raised alarms over the potential impact of halting scientific work during an active and historic outbreak.
A writer for The Verge tested Apple Vision Pro's new immersive virtual reality baseball streaming feature over the weekend. Apple and Major League Baseball selected the classic Boston Red Sox versus New York Yankees rivalry as the first of four planned games to be streamed on the device. The reviewer, a self-described regular baseball watcher, found the experience technically impressive and visually striking. However, despite the visual quality, the overall experience did not feel entirely practical or compelling as an everyday way to watch sports. The test raises broader questions about the future of live sports viewing through wearable technology like the Vision Pro.
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The Federal Trade Commission, joined by 22 states, has filed a lawsuit against Amazon over alleged hidden fees imposed on businesses for advertising. The complaint accuses Amazon of secretly inflating advertising costs without the knowledge or consent of the businesses involved. The case marks a significant multi-state legal action targeting the e-commerce giant's advertising practices. Regulators allege the undisclosed surcharges gave Amazon an unfair financial advantage over advertisers using its platform.
The U.S. Department of Defense is expanding its internal AI capabilities by adding OpenAI's ChatGPT and xAI's Grok to its central portal for artificial intelligence tools. These additions join Google's Gemini, which was already available on the platform. The move reflects the Pentagon's growing push to integrate commercial AI systems into its operations. Dedicated versions of these tools have been developed specifically for use within the defense department's portal.
Director Dave Green's live-action and animated hybrid film Coyote vs. Acme has received a positive review from Ars Technica. The film is described as a heartfelt homage to the classic Looney Tunes cartoons. Critics note that it successfully captures the smart and subversive humor that defined the original animated series. Green's direction is credited with balancing the blend of live-action and animation in a way that feels true to the source material.
The Federal Trade Commission, joined by 22 state attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against Amazon over its advertising practices. Regulators allege that the e-commerce giant manipulated its systems in ways that forced millions of advertisers to pay inflated prices for ads. The lawsuit represents a broad, multi-state regulatory effort targeting one of the world's largest online retailers. Amazon has denied the allegations, disputing the claims made by the government bodies.
Dell has discounted the Alienware AW2726DM gaming monitor to $319.99, down from its regular price of $349.99, marking the first time the display has been reduced in price. The 27-inch monitor features a QD-OLED panel with quantum dot technology, delivering deep blacks and vivid colors suited for gaming. It supports a 240Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium Plus at a resolution of 2560x1440 via DisplayPort 1.4, though its two HDMI ports are capped at 120Hz. The monitor includes a fully adjustable stand with VESA mount compatibility and comes backed by a three-year warranty that covers burn-in. Despite limited connectivity options — no USB hub or audio output — it is positioned as a budget-friendly option for PC gamers who prioritize contrast and fast response times.
Instagram has introduced new limitations targeting AI-generated profiles that do not disclose their artificial nature. The move comes amid growing user frustration over so-called AI influencers operating on the platform. Accounts that fail to identify themselves as AI-driven will now face reduced reach on the platform. The policy signals Meta's effort to improve transparency around non-human accounts on Instagram.
Apple's top App Store executive Phil Schiller is moving away from his current role as the company undergoes significant leadership changes. The shift comes alongside CEO Tim Cook's departure, marking a notable transition period for the tech giant. Schiller, a longtime Apple executive, is not leaving the company immediately, but insiders suggest the move brings him closer to eventual retirement. The back-to-back exits of senior figures signal a broader reshaping of Apple's executive leadership structure.
Microsoft is currently testing a fix for a significant Outlook outage that has disrupted email services for users. The issue resulted in widespread email delays and delivery failures across the platform. The company acknowledged the problem and confirmed that a resolution is actively being worked on. No specific timeline for a full fix has been publicly announced yet.
Prediction market platform Kalshi has issued a lifetime ban against former congressman George Santos. The ban is related to betting activity connected to the State of the Union address. The disciplinary action follows by roughly two months a settlement that Santos reached with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over related charges. The CFTC had previously brought formal charges against Santos in connection with the matter. Kalshi's move represents one of the more significant consequences Santos has faced in the prediction markets space.