London-based AI startup Inherent, founded by former Google DeepMind researchers, claims its new AI agent can outperform significantly larger models from OpenAI and Anthropic on a challenging scientific research task. The company has attracted relatively little attention compared with some of the other startups founded by former DeepMind employees. That may now be changing. Only weeks after emerging from stealth with $50 million in seed funding, Inherent has begun revealing more about the technology it has been developing. At the center of that effort is Faraday, an AI research agent designed to independently reproduce the results of published scientific studies...
Japan’s Space Push Gives Rocket Startup Letara a New Growth Opportunity
Japan is stepping up efforts to build a stronger domestic aerospace industry, committing billions of dollars to its space sector while also relaxing some restrictions on defense exports. The strategy is creating new opportunities for Japanese startups seeking to develop technologies that can compete in global markets. One company looking to benefit from this momentum is Letara, a Sapporo-based startup developing hybrid propulsion systems for spacecraft. After initially concentrating on propulsion technology for small satellites, the company is now expanding into larger rocket systems aimed at the space, defense and security markets, co-CEO Shota Hirai told TechCrunch. The company has...
OpenAI Calls for Stronger Safeguards in California’s AI Safety Law
OpenAI is urging California lawmakers to strengthen the state’s landmark AI safety legislation by introducing additional protections for the development and testing of advanced AI models. In a recent post from its global affairs team, OpenAI said California’s SB 53 should be expanded to address emerging risks associated with increasingly capable AI systems. Among the measures proposed by the company are mandatory monitoring of frontier models during both training and evaluation, particularly for signs of potentially serious incidents, as well as stronger cybersecurity requirements throughout the AI development process. “California continues to lead on frontier AI safety, and we are...
Fairphone Debuts Repairable Fairphone (Gen 6+) in the U.S. Market for $649
Dutch sustainability pioneer Fairphone has officially launched its modular smartphone, the Fairphone (Gen 6+), in the United States. Priced at $649, this rollout marks the first time American consumers can purchase a Fairphone directly from the manufacturer without third-party modifications or specialized operating system swaps. The device enters the market with native support for major U.S. networks, including T-Mobile and AT&T. Designed to counter rising consumer electronics costs and brief hardware life cycles, the mid-range Android device emphasizes long-term longevity and modular self-repair. “We’re delivering a device built from the ground up to be opened, repaired, and kept alive for...
OpenAI Introduces ‘ChatGPT for Teens’ Featuring Study Mode and Enhanced Safety Controls
Following heightened scrutiny and a series of legal challenges regarding the mental health impacts of conversational AI on younger audiences, OpenAI has unveiled ChatGPT for Teens—a tailored version of its flagship chatbot designed specifically for underage users. The platform introduces built-in safety guardrails and new academic tools aimed at reducing instances of AI-assisted cheating in schools. At the core of the educational feature set is Study Mode, a tool engineered to guide students through complex academic concepts using step-by-step prompts rather than delivering direct answers. The system incorporates automated anti-cheating interventions; if a user attempts to generate complete homework solutions,...