Axios

Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman ostensibly is about OpenAI's pivot to a for-profit model, after having been founded for more altruistic purposes.

What really matters, however, is if either side can expose damaging information about the other. Almost regardless of the jury verdict.

Tesla's admission that millions of its older cars can't support full self-driving underscores a new reality: software-driven vehicles are starting to age like smartphones — but without an easy upgrade path.

Why it matters: Cars last far longer than phones — about 13 years on average — setting up costly headaches as their hardware struggles to keep up with rapidly evolving features.

Amazon and OpenAI on Tuesday announced an expanded deal that will make the AI startup's models available from Amazon's cloud.

Why it matters: The move comes a day after OpenAI and Microsoft announced a revised partnership that had required developers to use Microsoft Azure to access most OpenAI services.

WASHINGTON — Authenticity is emerging as a key differentiator for communications strategies, said tech, media, and policy leaders at an April 24 Axios event.

Between the lines: The proliferation of AI content is leaving audiences — especially younger ones — hungry for more human interactions.

Axios' Eleanor Hawkins and Sara Fischer spoke with Taylor Budowich, Innovation Council Action founder, the Sovereign Advisors managing partner and former White House deputy chief of staff for President Trump; Reddit chief communications officer Adam Collins; and MS Now president Rebecca Kutler. The event was sponsored by ROKK Solutions.

By the numbers: Polling reflects an emphasis on people over technology.

• 73% of those polled believe technology is getting in the way of human connection, Collins said, citing numbers from Morning Consult.
• 65% are more likely to believe advice from a human than a robot, he added.

Yes, but: Brands that want to build trustworthy reputations can use artificial intelligence to guide what audiences crave.

Case in point: Reddit is using AI for translations that break down would-be language barriers on its platform.

• "The technology is in service of the result you're trying to drive; the technology is not the result itself," Collins said.

What's next: Brands are doubling down on putting connection and identity first.

• "We're aiming to … build a really rich community," Kutler said of MS Now's planned digital membership platform.

Content from the sponsor's segment:

Ron Bonjean and Rodell Mollineau, co-founders and partners at ROKK Solutions, told Axios publisher Nicholas Johnston that Reddit's approach, in particular, matters because the platform is "the ultimate focus group."

• ROKK is using an AI tool to parse Reddit to "flag risks and opportunities" for clients concerned about reputational risk.

Patreon is expanding access to the discovery feed it announced in November to most of its 300,000 creators, the company exclusively tells Axios.

Why it matters: Creators are making more money directly from fans. But they still rely on social platforms to find them.

A bipartisan Senate bill would put new restrictions on how kids can use AI chatbots, the latest effort from Congress to try to put safety guardrails on the technology.

Why it matters: Lawmakers are increasingly zeroing in on risks AI chatbots may pose to kids.

Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins are launching a Mayors AI Forum, a global coalition of 10 city leaders focused on AI policy and deployment.

The big picture: The forum gives local officials a direct role in shaping how AI is deployed in cities and communities.

Commonwealth Fusion Systems said Tuesday it has formally filed a request with grid operator PJM to connect its planned power plant in Virginia.

Why it matters: It's the first time a fusion developer has filed one of these detailed requests to link to a major grid region, Commonwealth said.

OpenAI revised its Microsoft contract, floated a Qualcomm hardware deal, and faced Elon Musk in court — all before lunch Monday.

Why it matters: OpenAI is rewriting the partnership that launched it while defending the legal premise on which it was built.

Meta has reserved generating capacity from Overview Energy, a startup that hopes to deploy satellites that direct solar energy to the ground round-the-clock.

Why it matters: Monday's announcement shows how AI giants are pushing the tech envelope in their quest for electricity.