Edition: April 25, 2026

Anthropic has successfully tested a marketplace where AI agents buy and sell goods, with 186 deals made totaling over $4,000. The experiment, called Project Deal, used a pool of 69 employees and found that more advanced AI models achieved better outcomes. The results raise interesting questions about the potential for 'agent quality' gaps in AI-driven commerce.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has apologized to the Tumbler Ridge community for not alerting law enforcement about a suspect in a recent mass shooting, despite the company having flagged the individual's ChatGPT account for describing gun violence scenarios. Altman expressed deep sorrow for the harm and loss suffered by the community. OpenAI is improving its safety protocols to prevent similar incidents.

Canadian AI startup Cohere is merging with Germany-based Aleph Alpha, backed by Schwarz Group, to offer a sovereign alternative to American-dominated AI solutions for enterprises. The new entity, led by Cohere, aims to target highly-regulated industries and the public sector. The deal values Cohere at around $20 billion, with Schwarz Group investing €500 million.

Tokyo is set to become the most important tech destination of 2026, with the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 conference featuring four key technology domains: AI, robotics, resilience, and entertainment. The event will include live demonstrations, exhibit floors, and sessions with industry leaders. TechCrunch is partnering with the conference as an official media partner.

Apple has announced John Ternus as its new CEO, succeeding Tim Cook, with a focus on hardware strategy and AI-powered devices. Ternus, a longtime hardware executive, is expected to push forward on products like foldable iPhones, smart glasses, and robotics. His appointment signals a renewed focus on hardware at a critical moment for the tech giant.

Ex-AWS legend Matt Domo explains that enterprises need to focus on people and organizational change, rather than just technology, to make AI projects successful. He emphasizes the importance of analyzing business needs and measuring success to create value. Domo argues that the key to unlocking AI's potential is processing business signals and making predictive decisions, rather than just automation.

A group of amateur sleuths on Discord gained unauthorized access to Anthropic's Mythos AI tool through detective work and exploiting existing permissions. Meanwhile, surveillance firms are exploiting year-old telecom vulnerabilities for spying, and researchers have identified other cybersecurity threats. The incidents highlight ongoing concerns about AI and cybersecurity.

Sony AI researchers have developed a robot named Ace that can play table tennis at a high level, holding its own in matches against human athletes. Equipped with artificial intelligence and high-speed robotic hardware, Ace has successfully competed against amateur and professional players. This breakthrough represents a milestone in the field of robotics, demonstrating the potential for AI systems to operate in complex and rapidly changing real-world environments.

Maine Governor Janet Mills has vetoed a bill that would have imposed a statewide moratorium on new data centers, citing concerns over the environment and electricity rates, but also seeking an exemption for a specific project. The vetoed bill aimed to pause new data center permits until November 1, 2027. The decision comes as public opposition to data centers rises in Maine and other states.