Amazon.com is in talks to invest as much as $50 billion into OpenAI, per reports late Thursday, in a sign that the funding frenzy for AI shows no signs of stopping.
Why it matters: The potential deal comes as Wall Street has been shunning the stocks of companies that have already partnered with OpenAI (see Microsoft's decline on Thursday) as investors worry whether the AI upstart behind ChatGPT will ultimately be able to pay off all its backers.
The newly sworn in chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission signaled Thursday that the agency will write new rules governing prediction markets.
Why it matters: Prediction markets are booming, but legal questions are mounting — the move could bring clarity to how event contracts are used to bet on sports, politics, entertainment and news.
Waymo says one of its robotaxis struck a child near a school in Santa Monica, and federal safety officials are investigating.
Why it matters: As more robotaxis are deployed across America, public trust remains an issue. The latest incident comes amid an ongoing investigation into Waymo robotaxis failing to stop for school buses.
Bots are driving about one-third of social media discourse about the ICE operations in Minneapolis, according to data from PeakMetrics, a nonpartisan data intelligence company.
Why it matters: Bots can warp public perception of fast-moving events, as bad-faith actors seeking to inflame tensions spread misleading narratives that audiences accept as fact.
An annual gathering of top government officials and tech executives is scheduled for March 24 in Washington, D.C., according to a news release shared first with Axios.
Why it matters: The Hill & Valley Forum serves as a meeting for policymakers and private sector leaders to chart out tech and national security priorities.
Former Rolling Stone CEO Gus Wenner has invested in Public Opinion, the company behind popular music game show Track Star, he and CEO Jack Coyne exclusively tell Axios.
Why it matters: The deal pairs one of legacy media's most recognizable names with a New York-based media startup aiming to be a modern MTV.
Jeff Bezos' climate philanthropy is staking efforts to pave the way for building at least 10 new U.S. nuclear reactors.
Why it matters: The $3.5 million grant to the nonprofit Nuclear Scaling Initiative envisions an "orderbook" that "brings together multiple buyers to commit to building the same reactor design."
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said 2026 will be the year "AI starts to dramatically change the way that we work," as his company flattens teams and provides AI tools to boost individual productivity.
Why it matters: Meta is under pressure to justify its aggressive AI spending as it predicts its capital expenditures could nearly double this year to a whopping $135 billion.
The National Archives' newest permanent exhibit uses machine learning to make America's historical records more accessible to the public.
Why it matters: AI's biggest superpower is tagging, organizing and presenting massive amounts of data, a growing challenge for institutions like the National Archives.
My son doesn't say many words yet, but he often yells "Ba!" while pointing up to birds, ceiling fans, light bulbs and the sky.
I think the loose translation is: "Look up, Mom!"
Why it matters: When the news feels heavy and screensdemand our attention, he's a reminder that curiosity — and gazing upward — can offer some steadiness and connection.
