Axios

An early Senate vote to move forward on crypto legislation failed Thursday afternoon — a blow to bipartisan efforts to regulate stablecoins.

Why it matters: It is an early, procedural vote. But Democrats have been fighting hard for changes and tried unsuccessfully to get Republican leaders to delay the vote.

Anthropic — the AI startup best known for its large language models Claude — is tapping people, not AI, to build out its communications team.

Why it matters: Anthropic plans to triple the size of its comms team by the end of year, its head of communications Sasha de Marigny told Axios.

Instacart CEO Fidji Simo will join OpenAI in the new role of CEO of applications, reporting to CEO Sam Altman, the company announced late Thursday.

Why it matters: OpenAI's move suggests the company is preparing to take on ad industry leaders Google and Meta as AI redraws tech's business map.

Ontario officials have given final approval to construct a GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy small modular reactor (SMR) that the company predicts will be the first SMR operating in the "Western world."

Why it matters: Construction of the 300 megawatt BWRX-300 reactor adjacent to Ontario Power Generation's existing Darlington Nuclear Station will produce enough energy to power 300,000 homes.

At most organizations it's clear where the buck stops and who's accountable to whom. As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says, however, "OpenAI is not a normal company and never will be."

Why it matters: OpenAI announced earlier this week that control of the company will continue to be held by a nonprofit devoted to the needs of humanity rather than to financial profit.

America's tech titans backed President Trump's promise of a new "Golden Age" with seven-figure checks, glowing public praise and front-row tickets to his inauguration.

• So far, those favors remain unreciprocated.

Why it matters: Big Tech has been in MAGA's crosshairs for years. Even as Trump revels in the industry's dramatic realignment and personal overtures, the core tensions in the relationship are far from resolved.

PowerSchool, the popular education technology vendor that works with 75% of U.S. school districts, said it paid a ransom to hackers during its December data breach.

Why it matters: It's rare for ransomware victims to admit that they've paid hackers, and security experts often frown upon the practice because it could further embolden the cybercriminals behind the attacks.

For the first time, the TikTok generation is watching and making content about a papal conclave, otherwise known as "Catholic Superbowl."

The big picture: After an award-winning movie on the topic last year, the sacred process is officially intersecting with pop culture in new ways.

The Trump administration will scrap a looming Biden-era rule Thursday that would have restricted how American technology is exported overseas, and is planning to issue new guidance within a few months, a source familiar with the matter told Axios.

Why it matters: The so-called AI diffusion rule was a top target for the Trump administration and a number of AI and chip companies, who said it imposed overly complex rules that would make it difficult for American companies to sell abroad.

Shares in Google parent Alphabet plunged Wednesday, dragging broader markets lower, after Apple reportedly said it was exploring AI search engines for the Safari browser.

Why it matters: Being the default search engine on Apple devices is a key placement for Google, enough so that historically it paid Apple north of $20 billion a year in revenue sharing.

Two hypersonic flight tests were completed mere months apart using the same autonomous vehicle, a milestone for the U.S. as it jockeys with other world powers for speedy, maneuverable weapons.

Why it matters: The Talon-A flights handled by Stratolaunch contribute to the Pentagon's Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed program (MACH-TB).

• The U.S. has lacked a recoverable hypersonic aircraft for decades, since the X-15 was ditched.

L3Harris Technologies has delivered to Ukraine tens of thousands of tactical radios and is rolling out software updates based on troop feedback and Russian electronic warfare.

• These digital tweaks can take as little as three weeks to complete.

Why it matters: "If you cannot communicate, you can fight but you can't win, and the whole purpose is to win," Sam Mehta, president of communication systems, told reporters on the sidelines of the Modern Day Marine conference.

In a curtained-off alcove of a U.S. Army lab just minutes off Washington's Beltway, reporters glimpsed the near future of war.

• It was robotic, electronically saturated and inclusive of all domains, including air littorals dominated by drones.

The big picture: The U.S. Army has for years organized Project Convergence, a weapons-and-networking crucible that welcomes Air Force, Navy and foreign participation in pursuit of the Pentagon's connectivity nirvana, Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control.

OpenAI announced a push to help countries build AI infrastructure and promote AI rooted in democratic, rather than authoritarian, values.

Why it matters: Global expansion will be one key to ensuring that OpenAI's massive investments pay off — and the company is arguing that it will help the U.S. counter China's influence, too.

Bland food is out. Fully loaded flavors are in.

• If you've found yourself salivating over menu items or recipes infused with za'atar, saffron, black sesame, cardamom, raspberry-rhubarb or miso lately — you're not alone.

The big picture: Since home cooking boomed among the cooped-up during 2020 lockdowns, palates have expanded and gotten more colorful. Businesses are trying to keep up with the hunger for hyphenated flavor combos and artisanal tastes.