Sources: xAI is in talks with investors to raise several billion dollars in a funding round that would value it around $40B; xAI was valued at $24B in May (Wall Street Journal)

Kerry Washington expands her angel investment portfolio by leading the pre-seed round for wedding marketplace Cheersy, founded by Amy Shack Egan, which connects couples with day-of service wedding coordinators and has raised $550,000 from investors like Christina Tosi and Jennifer Gilbert. Shack Egan met Washington through a mutual connection, and Washington, known for investing in startups like Spill and Equip, is one of many Hollywood figures entering the startup world. Cheersy, similar to Airbnb, allows...

Chinese asset managers are engaging in an AI arms race following High-Flyer's use of DeepSeek in trading markets, potentially disrupting the $10 trillion fund management industry. The competition is driving firms to expand AI research and adopt DeepSeek technology, leading to significant changes in the way investments are managed in China. This shift towards AI-driven strategies marks a pivotal moment for Chinese asset managers as they strive to remain competitive in the evolving market landscape....

Meta secured a legal victory against former employee Sarah Wynn-Williams, temporarily banning her from promoting or distributing her tell-all memoir containing allegations of sexual harassment at the company. The arbitrator found grounds for a potential contract violation, leading to private arbitration. While Ms. Wynn-Williams must halt book promotions and retract disparaging comments, the publisher, Flatiron Books, plans to continue promoting the book despite Meta's denial of the allegations. Full Article

The Torras PolarCircle Qi2 MagSafe Charger offers active cooling with an almost silent fan, effectively dissipating heat during wireless charging. Priced at $50 on Amazon, it attaches magnetically to devices and features a stand function for easy viewing. Requiring a minimum of 30W power input, the charger is a versatile accessory that eliminates overheating and appeals to gamers. Full Article

iRobot, known for its Roomba robotic vacuums, is facing financial struggles and potential closure within the next year. After agreeing to sell to Amazon for $1.7 billion in 2022, the deal fell through due to regulatory issues. Revenue has plummeted, resulting in layoffs and a significant drop in stock value, from a peak of $133 to just $4.06 per share. Full Article

Benchmarks show the Ryzen 9 9950X3D performs better on Windows 10 than Windows 11, particularly in CPU-bound games like CS2 and Fortnite, with a noticeable drop in performance when VBS is enabled. Despite testing on a custom-tuned version of Windows 11 24H2, the chip still underperforms compared to Windows 10, raising concerns as Windows 10 support will end in 2025. The Ryzen 9950X3D, released as an enthusiast-class processor with 3D V-cache, delivers excellent gaming performance...