Chinese startup Moonshot AI released Kimi K2, an open-source model that matches GPT-4.1 performance while costing five times less. Silicon Valley's response? OpenAI delayed their planned open-source release hours after K2 launched.
Google snatched Windsurf's CEO and co-founder in a $2.4B talent raid after OpenAI's $3B acquisition collapsed. Microsoft's partnership constraints are backfiring, handing wins to competitors in the escalating AI talent wars.
Musk promised truth-seeking AI. When Grok 4 tackles politics, it searches Musk's posts first. Tests show 54 of 64 citations came from him. Accident or intent? The answer matters for every AI system we build.
Explore Italy's potential European alternative to Musk's Starlink. Stay updated with the latest developments in global satellite internet.
Italy's love affair with Elon Musk's space empire faces an unexpected eclipse. The government squirms at the thought of closing a €1.5 billion deal with Starlink. The culprit? Donald Trump's recent shoulder shrug at European security has Rome reaching for the escape pod.
Enter Eutelsat Communications SA, Europe's homegrown satellite champion. The French company has quietly positioned itself as Starlink's less dramatic, more predictable alternative. Think of it as choosing a reliable Fiat over a flashy Tesla – in space.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's team can't ignore the elephant in the room: Musk's cozy relationship with Trump. The billionaire's unpredictable tweets and political zigzags make Italian officials nervous. Some wonder if entrusting national security to a man who named his son X Æ A-12 is the wisest move.
The timing couldn't be worse for Musk. Trump just pulled the rug from under Ukraine's military support and restricted intelligence sharing with Kyiv. These moves sent shockwaves through European capitals faster than a SpaceX rocket launch.
President Sergio Mattarella leads the charge for a European solution. He's joined by ministers who'd rather not depend on an American tech mogul's mood swings for their satellite communications. The message? Sometimes it's better to phone home using your own equipment.
Eutelsat's investors caught the scent of opportunity. The company's shares rocketed up 120% to €7.85 – their highest orbit since 2022. Nothing says "we trust you" quite like a stock market surge.
Meanwhile, Meloni walks a diplomatic tightrope. She's tried to play bridge-builder between Europe and the US, even attending Trump's inauguration. But with America's commitment to European security looking shakier than a satellite in re-entry, she might need to pick sides.
The stakes stretch beyond Italy's borders. Ukraine's military relies heavily on Starlink after Russian attacks knocked out traditional communications. The thought of that service facing disruption because of political whims keeps European defense ministers up at night.
Why this matters:
Read on, my dear:
Bloomberg: Italy Is Getting Cold Feet Over Deal to Use Musk’s Starlink
Missouri's AG threatens Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Meta with consumer fraud investigations because their AI chatbots ranked Trump last on antisemitism. The case could set precedent for government control over AI opinions.
Musk's AI chatbot Grok spent Tuesday praising Hitler and spreading Nazi conspiracy theories after a weekend update removed its safety filters. The incident reveals what happens when AI companies prioritize 'anti-woke' rhetoric over guardrails.
Someone used AI to clone Marco Rubio's voice and contacted foreign ministers, a US governor, and Congress members through Signal. The scammer left convincing voicemails targeting high-level officials. Government security gaps revealed.
Elon Musk spent $290 million helping Trump win, then watched him sign a $3.3 trillion spending bill. Now the world's richest man is starting his own political party to challenge both Republicans and Democrats in 2026.
Get the 5-minute Silicon Valley AI briefing, every weekday morning — free.
