
Proxima Fusion, based in Munich, has raised €411 million in a funding round led by XTX Ventures and East X Ventures, with participation from Google and other investors. This investment values the company at €2.5 billion and will be used to develop a stellarator for nuclear fusion. The project, named Alpha, aims to demonstrate the potential of fusion energy by the early 2030s. Google's involvement marks its first investment in a European fusion company, highlighting the growing interest in fusion as a clean energy source.
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© TechCrunch AIMeta has quickly retracted an AI feature from Instagram that allowed users to alter photos from public accounts without notifying the original poster. This feature, part of the Muse Image AI suite developed by Meta Superintelligence Labs, sparked immediate criticism due to its potential for misuse, such as generating unauthorized images. The removal underscores the ongoing struggle tech companies face in aligning innovative tools with user privacy and ethical standards. Meta intended to offer a creative tool, but the absence of user consent mechanisms led to its swift withdrawal, emphasizing the necessity for stronger safeguards in AI technology.
© The Verge AIMeta has quickly removed a controversial Instagram feature that allowed users to create AI-generated images using content from public accounts. This feature, part of Meta's Muse Image AI model, faced heavy criticism for enabling potential misuse without the consent of account owners. Critics, including the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, pointed out risks such as sextortion and privacy violations. Initially, Meta offered an opt-out option hidden in settings, but the backlash led to the feature's complete removal. This decision highlights the ongoing challenge for tech companies to innovate while respecting user privacy and safety.
© The Verge AIApple has taken legal action against OpenAI, accusing the company of illicitly acquiring trade secrets to enhance its hardware development. The lawsuit alleges that former Apple employees, now working at OpenAI, transferred confidential information about Apple's unreleased products and processes. This legal conflict reveals the intense competition among tech giants as they venture into AI hardware. If the allegations hold true, OpenAI's hardware plans and its partnerships could face significant challenges. This case brings attention to the vital role of intellectual property protection in the tech industry.