Pulse

Anthropic is changing its pricing model for Claude Fable, a feature previously included in paid subscriptions. After an initial promotional period, Fable will transition to a usage-based credit system. This new model will charge $10 for every million tokens used, with an expected return of $50 per million tokens. AI

Uber has reportedly exhausted its entire 2026 budget for AI coding tools within the first four months of the year. This rapid depletion of funds is attributed to the high cost of using AI agents, which has led Microsoft to cancel Claude Code licenses due to expense. The economic viability of these tools is now being questioned, as the cost per task may exceed the savings they were intended to provide. AI

OpenAI is reportedly partnering with Skai, an AI-powered marketing platform, to integrate advertising into ChatGPT. This collaboration aims to leverage user intent data to display relevant ads at moments of high purchase intent. The initiative seeks to create new revenue streams for OpenAI by connecting advertisers directly with consumers within the chat interface. AI

Perplexity AI has launched the "Billion Pound Build" competition, inviting UK-based startups to submit their pitches. The competition aims to foster innovation within the UK tech scene. Winners will receive significant support and resources to help them scale their ventures. AI

Sam Altman's eye-scanning company, Tools for Humanity, is reportedly undergoing layoffs amidst OpenAI's confidential IPO filing. The company, known for its Worldcoin project which uses iris scans for identity verification and cryptocurrency, has faced significant regulatory and ethical challenges globally. Despite raising $2.5 billion at a $2.5 billion valuation from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Tools for Humanity is struggling to generate revenue and has been fined in South Korea, with Kenya banning its operations due to privacy and financial concerns. AI

Google has reduced the monthly price of its AI Plus subscription plan to $5, down from $8, and doubled the included cloud storage to 400GB. This move aims to make its Gemini models more accessible. The updated plan also includes new features like AI-powered email tools and access to the latest Gemini Omni model for video generation. AI

Apple is reportedly focusing on making its AI offerings more accessible and affordable to small developers, aiming to foster wider adoption. This strategy shift comes as Waymo has acquired Apple's self-driving car testing facility for $220 million, indicating a potential pivot in Apple's autonomous vehicle ambitions. AI

JPMorgan Chase is actively recruiting top AI talent to lead its advancements in the financial sector. The bank is seeking individuals to spearhead its AI revolution, aiming to solidify its position in the evolving financial landscape. This strategic hiring push underscores the growing importance of artificial intelligence in finance. AI

DeepSeek has emerged as a top trending AI vendor on Ramp's June list, indicating a growing interest from US companies in more cost-effective AI models. This trend suggests a strategic shift in the market, where businesses are actively seeking alternatives to more expensive AI solutions. The inclusion of DeepSeek highlights the increasing competitiveness and adoption of various AI providers. AI

Amazon is offering a discounted Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU for $324, marking it as the cheapest available model for budget 1080p gaming. Separately, a deal on the MSI GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card is available for $559, making it the least expensive option for 1440p gaming. Additionally, a CyberPowerPC gaming rig featuring an RTX 5070, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD is on sale for under $1,960, offering a discount for 4K gaming. AI

The footwear company Allbirds announced a significant pivot from selling shoes to providing AI compute infrastructure, rebranding as NewBird AI. This strategic shift, which includes a $50 million deal to acquire AI hardware, caused its stock price to surge by over 580%. Analysts have characterized the move as a speculative play on the AI boom, drawing parallels to meme stock phenomena and past corporate pivots to trending industries. AI

Marissa Mayer is shutting down her consumer software startup, Sunshine, and transferring its assets to her new AI venture, Dazzle. Dazzle aims to develop an AI personal assistant, with all Sunshine employees transitioning to the new company. Sunshine, founded in 2018, struggled with adoption for its contact management and event management apps, raising approximately $20 million. AI

Meta has launched the Llama Startup Program to support early-stage companies building generative AI applications with its Llama models. The initiative offers financial reimbursements of up to $6,000 per month for six months to cover API usage costs, alongside direct technical assistance from Llama experts. Startups in the United States that have raised less than $10 million and have at least one developer can apply, with applications closing on May 30, 2025. AI