James Gunn refutes claim that certain characters are too niche for the DC Universe

Billionaire Elon Musk's xAI company has released its flagship Grok 3 model via an API, despite being countersued by OpenAI. Grok 3, which can analyze images and answer questions, competes with OpenAI's GPT-4o and Google's Gemini. The release comes months after xAI introduced Grok 3 as a cutting-edge AI model. Full Article

The number of "operator VCs" in Europe, former founders turned VCs, has been increasing in recent years, a trend more common in the U.S. where the majority of VCs are former founders. This is in contrast to Europe, where most VCs come from banking or finance backgrounds. Notable examples in Europe include Wise founder Taavet Hinrikus and Glovo founder Oscar . Full Article

Waymo's driverless vehicles are set to begin testing on public roads in Japan next week, marking the Alphabet company's first international trip. The vehicles will be driven manually to collect mapping data and managed by local taxi fleet operator Nihon Kotsu in Tokyo. Waymo is focusing on gathering data on Japanese driving nuances such as left-hand traffic and dense urban environments, while also training drivers and collaborating with local officials for the test. Full Article

Nissan will incorporate self-driving software developed by Wayve into its advanced driver assistance system starting in 2027. Wayve, a UK startup backed by Nvidia, Microsoft, SoftBank Group, and Uber, has raised more than $1.3 billion. The integration will also include sensors like lidar from an undisclosed source. Full Article

The Library of Congress has added the "Reboot Chime" from Windows 95 and the soundtrack from Minecraft to its National Recording Registry, surprising many longtime PC users. These sounds, known for their nostalgic value, are now recognized for their cultural significance alongside classic rock albums and jazz staples. The unexpected inclusion of these digital sounds highlights the evolving nature of the Registry in acknowledging the impact of technology on our cultural heritage. Full Article

Google is now adopting Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) for connecting AI models to data systems, following OpenAI's lead. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis announced the decision to add support for MCP in a post on X, aligning with Anthropic's guidelines for AI model integration. This move demonstrates Google's commitment to standardizing AI integration methods and improving interoperability within the industry. Full Article