## Taylor Swift and the Growing Threat of AI Deepfake Advertisements

As artificial intelligence continues to blur the line between reality and fabrication, Taylor Swift is taking proactive legal steps to protect her identity — and recent events make it abundantly clear why. Swift's move to trademark her own likeness comes at a time when AI-generated deepfakes are multiplying rapidly across social media platforms, putting both ordinary people and high-profile celebrities at serious risk.

The threat is no longer hypothetical. Earlier this month, an Ohio man became the first individual in the United States to be convicted under a newly enacted federal law that criminalizes the creation of nonconsensual "intimate" visual deceptions. While everyday people are vulnerable to having their identities exploited in this way, celebrities face an additional layer of exposure — not only through explicit deepfake content, but also through fabricated endorsements designed to deceive fans and followers.

## Fake TikTok Ads Feature Swift, Kardashian, and Rihanna

A recent report published by AI detection firm Copyleaks has shed light on just how widespread this problem has become. Researchers uncovered a network of sponsored TikTok videos that appeared to feature Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and several other well-known public figures — all seemingly promoting what the report describes as "potentially fraudulent or malicious services."

These clips were crafted using convincingly realistic voice imitations alongside textured visual filters designed to obscure the telltale imperfections typical of AI-generated imagery. The result is polished, deceptive content that could easily mislead an unsuspecting viewer.

### How the Scam Works

The fake advertisements typically place the digitally cloned celebrities in familiar settings — talk show stages, red carpet backdrops — where they appear to enthusiastically promote a fabricated rewards program supposedly run by TikTok. In one particularly notable example, a deepfaked version of Swift, generated using manipulated footage from her actual October appearance on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon*, tells viewers about a fictional feature called "TikTok Pay."

"Certain users are being invited to watch videos and submit opinions," the AI-generated Swift explains in the clip, before encouraging viewers to check their eligibility and urging them not to hesitate if the program page loads for them.

Not surprisingly, every person who clicks through is granted immediate access. The link directs users to a third-party website that, despite bearing the TikTok name and branding, appears to have been hastily built using the AI development platform Lovable — whose own name and URL signature remain visible on the page. Once there, visitors are prompted to enter their personal information, including their name and other identifying details.

## A Broader Scam Epidemic on Social Media

While the ultimate purpose of the data collected through these deepfake promotions remains unclear, the broader pattern of deceptive advertising is well-documented and growing. Last week, the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America filed a lawsuit against Meta, accusing the technology company of actively misleading Facebook and Instagram users about the steps it has taken to combat fraudulent advertisements — and of financially benefiting from allowing those scams to thrive on its platforms.

Adding further weight to the problem, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission released a report this week confirming that social media scams have surged significantly, with Facebook-related fraud accounting for the largest share of financial losses among consumers.

## Why Celebrities Are Pushing Back Legally

Given this landscape, it comes as little surprise that Swift and her fellow celebrities are turning to legal mechanisms to distance themselves from this fraudulent ecosystem. Although Swift has not publicly explained the reasoning behind her trademark filings, the potential damage to her carefully cultivated brand — valued in the billions — is impossible to ignore.

Fake endorsements erode public trust, put fans at financial risk, and can permanently tarnish reputations that have taken years to build. For a global icon like Swift, whose brand extends far beyond music into fashion, business, and culture, the stakes could not be higher.

The troubling reality, however, is that deepfake technology is advancing faster than legal frameworks can keep pace. Each passing month brings more sophisticated tools capable of producing increasingly convincing forgeries — making the fight to protect personal identity in the digital age one of the defining challenges of our time.

Taylor Swift is trademarking her likeness as AI deepfake ads on TikTok exploit her image and others in sophisticated scam campaigns targeting personal data.

Taylor Swift Trademarks Her Likeness Amid AI Deepfake Scams

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Why Taylor Swift Is Moving to Trademark Her Likeness Amid the Rise of AI Deepfake Scams

“It was one of the most in-demand jobs,” Becker, now the head of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, tells WIRED. “I knew there were going to be thousands of people applying.”
The Voting Section, which is part of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, was established following the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. For the next six decades, the lawyers who worked there focused on ensuring that every American had an equal right to vote. This meant enforcing the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, representing the United States in court to prevent discriminatory voting practices. While many of the cases were high-profile, a lot of the work the lawyers did affected a tiny fraction of the population, work that no one else was willing or capable of doing.
Against his expectations, Becker got the job, and it was everything he had hoped it would be. He worked there for seven years, from 1998 to 2005. “I felt incredibly privileged, and I was working with some of the best lawyers I had ever seen in my life,” he says.
But, as I document in my latest piece for WIRED, over the course of the past year, the Trump administration has ripped apart the Voting Section, a place described by one expert as “the crown jewel of the Civil Rights Division.” The administration has removed decades of institutional knowledge by effectively forcing out more than two dozen experienced lawyers and replacing them with a cadre of loyalists who appear to be carrying out the White House’s plans to subvert trust in elections.
Becker, like a dozen other former Voting Section lawyers and experts I spoke to over the course of the last three months, is not only deeply sad about what has happened, but angry that the work done on behalf of the most vulnerable people in US society is no longer being carried out.
One former DOJ lawyer who had many years of experience in the Voting Section before being pushed out last year, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity, recalled a case they worked on in a small town in a southern US state where Black voters were subject to discrimination.
“The black section of town had horrible roads,” they told WIRED. “They’d never had representation because they had citywide elections, and [the city had] never elected a person of color. Now [after the DOJ’s work] there's a person of color in the city government. I just don't know if that type of work will ever come back, and it’s deeply depressing.”
Over the past 12 months, lawyers within the Voting Section have been suing states to access their unredacted voter rolls, as part of what critics fear is the administration’s broader push to prevent large swathes of the population from voting. So far, the courts have pushed back, but Trump and his allies appear intent on pushing these policies through no matter what. And with the November midterm elections coming up, former DOJ lawyers are deeply concerned.
Read more about the dismantling of this once-storied corner of the US government, and let me know what you think in the comments.

This is an edition of the Inner Loop newsletter. Read previous newsletters here.

The Trump administration has effectively forced out more than two dozen experienced lawyers from the DOJ's Voting Section, the part of the agency responsible fo

How Trump Weaponized the DOJ Division That Kept Elections Fa

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How Trump Weaponized the DOJ Division That Kept Elections Fair

## VMax New VX4 Electric Scooter Review: Power, Performance, and a Hidden Secret

The VMax New VX4 electric scooter arrives with more than meets the eye. Beneath its polished exterior lies a hidden menu that unlocks the scooter's full top speed and activates cruise control — a feature that immediately sets it apart from the competition.

### Quick Pros and Cons

**What We Love:**
- Impressive top speed
- Wide, stable riding platform
- Abundant power and torque
- Reliable suspension system
- Confident stability at high speeds
- Strong battery range
- Built-in cruise control
- Bright, vibrant TFT display

**Worth Noting:**
- On the heavier side
- Torque may feel overwhelming for beginners
- No horn included

---

## Getting Started: Setup Is a Breeze

One of the VX4's strongest first impressions is how effortlessly it comes together out of the box. Inside the packaging, you'll find the scooter itself, handlebar screws, a hex wrench, and the necessary charging cables. Simply slide the handlebars into the stem, tighten the screws, and you're ready to hit the road. From unboxing to riding took less than five minutes — though mastering the scooter's full performance potential required a bit more time.

---

## A Display Worth Talking About

Initially, the absence of a phone mount on the handlebars felt like an oversight. However, that frustration quickly faded once it became clear that every feature and customization option is accessible directly through the onboard display. Rather than fumbling with your phone mid-ride, the VX4 encourages you to simply enjoy the journey.

The TFT display is a genuine standout. Sharp, colorful, and perfectly legible even under direct sunlight, it outclasses the basic dot-matrix screens found on many competing scooters. The interface is intuitive, and the physical buttons respond with satisfying precision, making on-the-fly adjustments completely stress-free.

---

## App Integration: Functional but Minimal

The companion app offers a straightforward experience — nothing flashy, but it gets the job done. More importantly, the app is entirely optional. VMax does not require user registration, and there's no dependency on a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection to operate the scooter. This hands-off approach means fewer technical headaches and a more seamless riding experience overall.

---

## Power and Torque: Exciting but Demanding

The VX4 delivers a thrilling ride, but its aggressive torque deserves a mention for riders who prefer a gentler learning curve. The lack of an adjustable acceleration setting is a minor drawback — even experienced riders may need a few attempts to properly manage their weight distribution when launching from a standstill.

To help ease riders into the experience, VMax offers two thoughtful alternatives. The **Eco mode** dials back the power output for a more relaxed ride, while the **roll-start option** requires the rider to get the scooter moving before the throttle fully engages. This rolling start noticeably smooths out the initial surge, making the power delivery far less abrupt without sacrificing the scooter's overall performance character.

---

## Final Verdict

The VMax New VX4 is a bold, well-engineered electric scooter that delivers on nearly every front. Its combination of high top speed, excellent range, intuitive display, and hidden performance features make it a compelling choice for serious riders. A few minor drawbacks — namely the weight, the intense torque, and the missing horn — keep it from being perfect, but they do little to diminish what is otherwise an outstanding urban mobility machine.

Read our full VMax New VX4 electric scooter review covering top speed, torque, cruise control, display quality, range, and hidden performance features.

VMax New VX4 Electric Scooter Review: Speed & Power

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VMax New VX4 Electric Scooter Review: Power, Performance, and a Hidden Secret

## Design Within Reach Promo Codes: Your Guide to Saving Big on Designer Furniture

Design Within Reach has long been the destination for those who want high-end, iconic furniture without paying full retail prices. Whether you're refreshing a living room, outfitting a home office, or hunting for standout outdoor pieces, the brand's rotating promotions and discount codes make premium design genuinely accessible.

## Score 15% Off Your First Order — Just by Signing Up

One of the simplest ways to unlock immediate savings at Design Within Reach is by joining their email list. New subscribers receive **15% off their first purchase** automatically — a meaningful discount when you're investing in quality furniture. Beyond the welcome offer, email members get early access to flash sale events and exclusive promo codes delivered directly to their inbox, so you're never the last to know about a great deal.

## Outdoor Furniture Sale: Up to 30% Off

Summer entertaining calls for serious outdoor upgrades. Design Within Reach's outdoor sale event brings discounts of up to **30% off** a wide selection of patio essentials, including:

- Outdoor sectionals
- Chaise lounge chairs
- Garden benches
- Dining and accent tables

Stack these markdowns with sitewide promo codes for even deeper savings. If you've had your eye on iconic pieces like the **Eames Lounge Chair**, **Herman Miller Aeron Chair**, or the **Noguchi Table**, seasonal promotions can shave over **$1,500** off the regular price — making now the ideal time to invest.

## Flos Lighting: 20% Off for a Limited Time

Known for their seamless blend of form and function, **Flos lamps** are currently available at **20% off**. The collection includes colorful table lamps starting at $255, alongside wall sconces, pendant lights, and more — perfect for adding a designer touch to any room without breaking the budget.

## Free Shipping on Orders Over $2,000

Design Within Reach makes it easier to justify larger purchases with their **Quick-Ship free shipping** offer. Spend $2,000 or more and enjoy complimentary delivery sitewide — saving you up to **$699** in shipping fees. The Quick-Ship program covers a wide range of popular items including sofas, storage pieces, coffee tables, and other signature furniture.

## New to Sale: Fresh Markdowns Worth Exploring

Browsing the Sale section regularly pays off at Design Within Reach. Their **New to Sale** deals frequently feature:

- **40% off** select bar stools
- **20% off** sectional sofas
- **50% off** decorative accessories and decor

End-of-season clearance events are particularly rewarding, often featuring both longtime favorites and surprising new arrivals at reduced prices. Use the built-in filter tool to sort by category, designer, brand, or price range to find exactly what you need faster.

## Up to 50% Off Clearance Deals

For the most aggressive discounts, Design Within Reach's **clearance sale** is where serious shoppers head first. These last-chance markdowns reach up to **50% off** across all home categories, covering:

- Light fixtures
- Dining and accent tables
- Ottomans and seating
- Furniture cushions and accessories

Clearance items are priced at their absolute lowest before selling out for good, so acting quickly is essential when you spot something you love.

## The DWR Trade Program: Exclusive Savings for Professionals

Design Within Reach also supports **small business owners and interior design professionals** through their free **DWR Trade Program**. Approved members enjoy:

- Everyday sitewide discounts
- A dedicated Account Executive
- Members-only promotions and pricing
- Access to discounted rates across more than **200 premium design brands**

For design industry professionals looking to furnish client spaces at scale, the Trade Program is an invaluable resource.

## Editor-Recommended Picks from Design Within Reach

Design Within Reach carries an impressive roster of beloved brands and designers. Among the standout offerings are **Herman Miller office chairs** — widely considered some of the best ergonomic seating on the market — as well as **Courant wireless chargers**, stylish sofas from **HAY**, and textile designs from **Dusen Dusen**. Whether you're optimizing a home office or redesigning your entire living space, the brand's catalog delivers quality and style in equal measure.

Find the best Design Within Reach promo codes for 2026. Save up to 50% on iconic designer furniture, outdoor pieces, lighting, and more.

Design Within Reach Promo Codes: Save Up to 50% Off

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Design Within Reach Promo Codes: Save Up to 50% on Premium Furniture

## Redwood Materials Faces Major Leadership Exodus During Restructuring

Redwood Materials, the battery recycling company founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, is navigating a significant leadership shake-up as its chief operating officer announces his retirement and multiple vice presidents exit the organization amid a broader restructuring effort.

## COO Chris Lister Steps Down to Retire

Chris Lister, who served as Redwood Materials' chief operating officer, is departing the company to retire. Lister brought considerable industry experience to the role, having previously served as a vice president overseeing operations at Tesla's Nevada Gigafactory. He joined Redwood in late 2023, initially taking on the title of chief supply chain officer before being elevated to the COO position in 2024 — a promotion that positioned him closer to CEO JB Straubel within the company hierarchy.

Redwood Materials confirmed the departure, with a company spokesperson offering a brief statement: "We wish him the best in his retirement."

## A String of Executive Departures

Lister's exit is not an isolated event. Several other senior leaders have also left the company in recent months:

- **Bradley Mayhew**, vice president of integrated supply chain and a former Tesla employee, departed earlier this month.
- **Guillermo Urquiza**, vice president of mechanical engineering — also a Tesla alumnus — left the company in March.
- **Carlos Lozano**, vice president of manufacturing, left earlier this year to take on a leadership role at Panasonic.

None of the three responded to requests for comment, and Redwood declined to address their individual departures directly.

## Straubel Calls for Leaner Operations

The executive departures coincide with Redwood's recent decision to lay off approximately 10% of its workforce — equating to roughly 135 employees. In an internal email sent to all staff, Straubel acknowledged that "parts of the company have expanded faster than needed" and outlined his intention to reduce management layers across the organization.

Despite the cuts, Straubel struck an optimistic tone, telling employees: "We are confident that we can deliver on our critical projects with a smaller team that is more focused. We have successfully adapted to changes in the market that have bankrupted many of our competitors."

He added that he remains "more excited than ever" about the company's direction as it works to build what he described as "the most integrated and cost-effective critical materials and energy storage business in the world."

## Pivoting Toward Energy Storage Growth

The restructuring appears to be closely tied to Redwood's strategic shift toward expanding its energy storage business. The company has recently secured notable partnerships, signing deals with electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian and artificial intelligence firm Crusoe to supply refurbished batteries intended for use in grid-scale energy storage systems.

These moves signal a deliberate repositioning for Redwood as the EV battery market continues to evolve, with the company betting that its expertise in battery recycling and materials processing can translate into a profitable energy storage supply chain business.

Redwood Materials COO Chris Lister retires as the battery recycler cuts 10% of staff and loses several VPs in a major leadership and company restructuring.

Redwood Materials COO Retires Amid Layoffs and Restructuring

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Redwood Materials Faces Leadership Shake-Up Amid Layoffs and Company Restructuring

## Redwood Materials Faces Executive Exodus Amid Company-Wide Restructuring

Battery recycling startup Redwood Materials is undergoing significant leadership changes, with its chief operating officer stepping down and multiple vice presidents departing as the company reshapes its organizational structure.

### COO Chris Lister Calls It a Career

Chris Lister, who served as Redwood Materials' chief operating officer, is leaving the company to retire. Lister brought considerable industry pedigree to the role — he previously held a vice president position overseeing operations at Tesla's massive Nevada Gigafactory before joining Redwood in late 2023. He initially came aboard as chief supply chain officer before earning a promotion to COO in 2024, placing him among the top tier of the company's leadership hierarchy, just below founder and CEO JB Straubel.

Straubel, a Tesla co-founder who served as the electric vehicle giant's chief technology officer for years and still holds a seat on its board, personally informed staff of Lister's departure. A company spokesperson confirmed the news, offering a brief send-off: "We wish him the best in his retirement."

## Layoffs Set the Stage for a Leaner Organization

Lister's exit follows closely on the heels of Redwood Materials cutting approximately 10% of its workforce — around 135 positions — as part of a broader restructuring initiative. In an internal email sent to all staff, Straubel acknowledged that certain divisions had grown beyond what the business currently requires.

"Parts of the company have expanded faster than needed," Straubel wrote, while expressing optimism about what lies ahead. He outlined ambitions to build "the most integrated and cost-effective critical materials and energy storage business in the world," adding that the company is "more excited than ever" about its strategic direction.

Straubel also pointed to the company's resilience in a challenging market: "We have successfully adapted to changes in the market that have bankrupted many of our competitors," he noted, signaling confidence that a trimmed-down team can still deliver on key objectives.

### New Business Deals Driving Strategic Pivot

The restructuring appears to be closely tied to Redwood's expanding focus on energy storage. The company has recently secured partnerships with electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian and artificial intelligence firm Crusoe, supplying both with refurbished batteries intended for use in grid-level energy storage systems. This pivot toward energy storage signals a deliberate broadening of the company's commercial footprint beyond traditional battery recycling.

## A Wave of VP-Level Departures

Beyond the COO transition, several other senior leaders have quietly exited Redwood Materials in recent months:

- **Bradley Mayhew**, vice president of integrated supply chain and a former Tesla employee, departed earlier this month.
- **Guillermo Urquiza**, vice president of mechanical engineering — also a Tesla alumnus — left the company back in March.
- **Carlos Lozano**, vice president of manufacturing, moved on earlier this year to take on a leadership role at Panasonic.

None of the three responded to requests for comment, and Redwood declined to address their individual departures directly. However, Straubel's all-staff message hinted at the rationale, stating that the company is actively working to reduce management layers and streamline decision-making.

## What This Means for Redwood's Future

While any wave of executive departures naturally raises questions, Redwood's leadership appears to be framing the changes as a strategic reset rather than a sign of distress. With new energy storage contracts in hand and a leaner organizational model taking shape, the company is positioning itself to compete more effectively in a market that has already claimed several of its rivals.

Whether the restructuring delivers the focused momentum Straubel envisions remains to be seen, but the message from the top is clear: Redwood Materials is betting on doing more with less.

Redwood Materials COO Chris Lister is retiring as the battery recycling company cuts 10% of staff and restructures to focus on energy storage growth.

Redwood Materials COO Exits Amid Layoffs and Restructuring

Redwood Materials Shakes Up Leadership as COO Departs and Restructuring Takes Hold

## The Startup That Wants to Kill Doomscrolling for Good

In a world where endless social media feeds compete for every spare second of your attention, a new startup called **Noscroll** is pitching a radical alternative: let an AI do the scrolling for you.

The concept is straightforward. Noscroll's AI-powered bot monitors your social media accounts, news websites, blogs, and other online sources, then delivers only the most relevant updates directly to your phone via text message. No feed to fall into. No rabbit holes. Just the information you actually need.

"No feed. No brainrot. No ragebait," the company states in its pitch to users. "Just signal."

## The Mind Behind Noscroll

Noscroll was founded by **Nadav Hollander**, a well-known figure in the tech world who previously served as CTO at NFT marketplace OpenSea following the acquisition of his decentralized finance startup in 2022. After leaving OpenSea, Hollander found himself caught in a complicated relationship with X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"It's phenomenally entertaining and really informative in ways you just don't get from normal media," Hollander told TechCrunch. "But it's so toxic culturally, and it's just very upsetting to read."

He compared the experience of using X to eating fast food — compelling in the moment, but ultimately leaving you feeling worse. Wanting to stay informed without the emotional toll of endless scrolling, Hollander set out to build a smarter solution. Noscroll was born out of that frustration.

He built the platform alongside a friend, an open-source developer from the crypto world known only by the username **@z0age** on X.

## How Noscroll Actually Works

Getting started with Noscroll requires nothing more than sending a text message. Users simply message the AI agent at **(415) 583-7721**, which responds with a link to connect their X account to the service. Once authenticated, the bot gains access to your likes, bookmarks, and the accounts you follow — building a profile of your interests.

### Setting Your Preferences

Users can communicate with the AI in plain, natural language. You tell it which topics, industries, or news beats you want to follow, and equally important, what you don't care about. The bot then prepares a personalized sample digest based on those preferences.

### A Wide Range of Sources

Noscroll doesn't limit itself to X. The AI pulls content from a broad ecosystem of online sources, including:

- **News websites and blogs**
- **Reddit and Hacker News**
- **Substack newsletters**
- **Research papers**
- **Local politics and niche community forums**

Users can also recommend specific sources they want the bot to monitor, giving the service a highly customizable feel.

### Personalized News Digests via Text

Rather than forcing you to check an app, Noscroll sends news digests directly to your phone at whatever frequency suits your lifestyle. A casual reader might opt for a single weekly roundup, while a news-focused professional might prefer several updates throughout the day.

Each digest includes a curated collection of article links paired with concise AI-generated summaries. Tapping any link opens the full article in your browser if you want to dive deeper.

The bot also monitors for breaking news and will send real-time alerts the moment something significant develops.

### Conversational and Collaborative

Beyond passive delivery, Noscroll supports two-way conversations. Users can reply directly to the bot to ask questions, request clarifications, or discuss the stories they're reading — much like interacting with a traditional AI chatbot. The service can also be added to group chats or Telegram groups, with support for additional messaging platforms planned for the future.

Over time, the AI learns from your behavior and refines its curation to more closely match your evolving interests.

## Who Is Using Noscroll?

Since launching just days ago, Noscroll has already attracted a surprisingly diverse user base that extends well beyond the tech industry. Hollander has been impressed by the creative ways people are putting the tool to work.

"People [are] following really niche anime industry news and local restaurant openings in Kyoto," he noted.

Other users are tracking job listings, monitoring layoff announcements, and keeping tabs on local events. Journalists, in particular, have found genuine value in the platform as a way to stay on top of specific beats without drowning in noise.

"I think the archetype that's been interesting is anybody who has a professional need to be very online and follow things very closely," Hollander explained. "It's quite useful to have a deputy who's kind of doing that for you on whatever your beat is."

## Pricing and Availability

Noscroll currently costs **$9.99 per month** after a free seven-day trial. During the trial period, users receive a complimentary sample digest and can fully customize their preferences before committing. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time, and Hollander hinted that variable pricing models may be explored down the line.

The rapid early adoption has already caught the attention of investors, though Hollander says he and his co-founder have not yet decided how to respond to the incoming interest.

Noscroll is available now at **Noscroll.com**. Simply click the "text your agent" button to get started.

Noscroll is an AI-powered bot that monitors your social feeds and news sources, then texts you curated digests — helping you stay informed without doomscrolling

Noscroll AI Bot Texts You the News So You Can Stop Doomscrol

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Noscroll: The AI Agent That Reads the Internet So You Don't Have To

## SpaceX Blindsides Investors With a Last-Minute $60 Billion Offer for Cursor

In a dramatic turn of events that sent shockwaves through the venture capital world, SpaceX stepped in with a massive $60 billion acquisition proposal for Cursor — the company behind one of the most popular AI-powered coding platforms — effectively derailing a funding round that was just days away from closing.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, Cursor had been on the verge of finalizing a $2 billion private investment round that would have placed its valuation at $50 billion. That deal was expected to close within the week. Instead, SpaceX arrived with an offer that gave it the option to acquire Cursor outright later this year, or alternatively funnel $10 billion into the company as part of a structured AI collaboration agreement.

## A Dual-Track Strategy: Fundraising and Acquisition Talks Simultaneously

What makes this story particularly compelling is that Cursor was reportedly pursuing both paths at the same time — quietly engaging in acquisition discussions with SpaceX while simultaneously locking down its funding round with a marquee group of investors. That roster included prominent names such as Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive Capital, Nvidia, and Battery Ventures.

This kind of parallel process is not unheard of in the startup world. Many founders keep acquisition conversations open as a hedge while continuing to court private investors. However, the sheer scale of SpaceX's offer and the timing — mere hours before the round would have been finalized — makes this case extraordinary.

The source also noted that even the $2 billion raise would not have been sufficient to carry Cursor to cash-flow breakeven, meaning the company would have inevitably returned to the capital markets for another substantial round in the not-too-distant future.

## Why SpaceX Wants Cursor

SpaceX, which recently completed a merger with xAI, has been aggressively working to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities. The company is eager to establish itself as a serious contender in the AI space, where it currently lags behind industry frontrunners like Anthropic and OpenAI.

Acquiring Cursor would give Elon Musk's company an immediate foothold in AI-assisted coding — currently one of the most commercially valuable applications of artificial intelligence. Unlike Google's acquisition of Windsurf, which was structured primarily as an acqui-hire targeting select key personnel, SpaceX intends to retain Cursor's entire team. This is significant given that SpaceX presently lacks a substantial AI workforce or a well-established AI product division.

Additionally, SpaceX operates large-scale data centers in Mississippi and Tennessee, and the company could potentially offer Cursor access to that computing infrastructure — possibly as a substitute for a portion of the promised $10 billion collaboration payment.

## The IPO Factor: Why the Acquisition Is Being Delayed

Despite the scale of the deal, SpaceX is not moving to acquire Cursor immediately. The company has indicated it will delay the potential purchase until after its anticipated IPO this summer. The reasoning is straightforward: completing such a large transaction before going public would require updating confidential financial filings, a process the company wants to avoid. Furthermore, once SpaceX is publicly traded, it can use its newly listed stock to help finance the $60 billion price tag — a far more practical approach.

The delay also serves a strategic narrative purpose. By announcing the deal now, SpaceX signals to prospective public investors that it is not merely a space exploration and satellite communications business. Positioning itself as an AI company could allow SpaceX to command the significantly higher valuation multiples that Wall Street currently assigns to artificial intelligence firms.

## What Cursor Gains From the Arrangement

For Cursor, the arrangement offers meaningful protection in an increasingly competitive landscape. The company is facing intensifying pressure from rivals including Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex, both of which are backed by enormous resources and established user bases.

Even if SpaceX ultimately decides not to proceed with the acquisition, Cursor is guaranteed a $10 billion capital infusion distributed over time — a financial lifeline that reduces the company's dependency on private fundraising rounds and gives it the runway to scale its infrastructure and product capabilities.

The proposed deal, if it comes to fruition, appears to serve both parties well: Cursor secures its financial future and gains access to vast computing resources, while SpaceX accelerates its AI ambitions and enhances its appeal to public market investors ahead of one of the most anticipated tech IPOs in recent memory.

SpaceX blindsided investors with a $60B acquisition bid for AI coding startup Cursor, derailing a nearly closed $2B funding round just hours before it finalized

SpaceX's $60B Cursor Offer Upended a $2B Funding Round

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SpaceX's $60 Billion Cursor Bid Derailed a Nearly Closed $2 Billion Funding Round

## Rivian Pushes Forward With R2 Production After Tornado Hits Factory

Rivian has officially kicked off production of its highly anticipated R2 SUV at its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois — and it has done so under remarkable circumstances. Just days after an EF-1 tornado tore through part of the plant, ripping off sections of the roof and causing significant structural damage, the company confirmed that the first customer-ready R2 units have already come off the assembly line.

## CEO Confirms No Production Delays Despite Severe Storm Damage

Speaking to Bloomberg Television on Wednesday, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe addressed the situation head-on. He described the intense effort required to keep operations moving forward after the tornado struck the southern end of the facility.

"The tornado went through the south end of the plant, and ripped the roof off the building, and knocked down some of the plant as well, and so the last 72 hours have been around the clock," Scaringe said.

Despite the disruption, Scaringe made clear that the company has no intention of revising its production timeline. Rivian has had to reroute how certain materials enter the factory, but the overall roadmap remains unchanged. "We're not making any changes to the plan," he confirmed.

## Why the R2 Is So Critical to Rivian's Future

The launch of the R2 represents a defining moment for Rivian as a company. Unlike its existing R1 lineup, which carries a premium price point, the R2 is designed to compete in the broader consumer EV market. For years, Rivian has operated at a loss on every vehicle it has sold. The R2 is widely seen as the vehicle that could finally help the company achieve profitability.

Rivian has set ambitious but telling targets for the R2. The automaker told investors earlier this year that it expects to deliver between 20,000 and 25,000 R2 units by the close of 2026. If achieved, that would make the R2 one of the fastest-scaling electric vehicle launches in U.S. history — trailing only Tesla's Model Y in ramp-up speed.

## Pricing Realities Fall Short of Early Promises

While the production milestone is cause for celebration within the company, pricing has become a sticking point for prospective buyers. The R2's launch edition carries a starting price of $57,990 — nearly $13,000 above the $45,000 figure that Rivian promoted for years on its website and in marketing materials.

A slightly more affordable variant at $53,990 is expected to arrive before the end of this year, but buyers looking to spend under $50,000 will have to wait until the first half of 2027. The originally advertised base model priced near $45,000 is not expected to reach the market until late 2027 at the earliest.

### Will the $45,000 R2 Ever Actually Happen?

Adding further uncertainty, when Rivian formally announced R2 pricing in March, the company described the base model price as starting "around $45,000" — a subtle but significant departure from the definitive "at $45,000" language that had previously appeared on its website. Whether that entry-level model will materialize as originally envisioned remains an open question.

## What Comes Next for Rivian

Rivian has not yet announced a specific date for the first R2 customer deliveries, though the company has previously stated that shipments will begin before the end of the first half of 2026. With production now underway and no delays anticipated, all eyes will be on whether Rivian can execute on its ambitious delivery targets — and whether the R2 can truly deliver on its promise of bringing an affordable, high-quality electric SUV to the mainstream market.

Rivian has started producing the R2 SUV despite tornado damage to its Normal, Illinois factory. CEO RJ Scaringe says no delays are expected to the 2026 rollout.

Rivian R2 Production Begins After Tornado Hits Illinois Plan

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Rivian R2 SUV Rolls Off Production Line Days After Tornado Strikes Illinois Factory

## ARK Invest Bets Big on eSports Loyalty Platform Lucra in a Landmark First

Cathie Wood's ARK Invest Venture Fund has officially broken new ground by leading its first-ever investment in an early-stage startup — and surprisingly, it has nothing to do with artificial intelligence. The firm has placed its faith in Lucra, an innovative software company that is transforming traditional corporate loyalty programs into competitive, eSports-style experiences.

## What Lucra Actually Does

Lucra's platform reinvents the way businesses engage with their customers by turning loyalty programs into interactive, tournament-style competitions. Users can challenge one another in games, compete in structured brackets, and even win cash prizes or company-sponsored giveaways. It's a fresh spin on customer retention — one that borrows heavily from the world of competitive gaming.

Among Lucra's existing client roster are recognizable names like Five Iron Golf, Chess Kings, and Dave & Busters, signaling that the platform has already gained meaningful traction in the market.

## A $20 Million Series B Led by ARK

Lucra announced a successful $20 million Series B funding round, with ARK Invest Venture Fund taking the lead position. Additional investors participating in the round include Alumni Ventures, Astralis Capital, Harlo Equity Partners, Simplex Ventures, SeventySix Capital, and WTI.

For Wood, the excitement is genuine. "We feel pretty excited about it," she said in a recent interview with TechCrunch, reflecting on what marks a significant milestone for her firm.

## Why ARK Has Never Led a Startup Deal Before

The ARK Invest Venture Fund operates differently from a conventional venture capital fund. It is structured as an SEC-regulated interval fund — also known as a closed-end mutual fund — which means retail investors can participate with as little as $500. However, because it is not listed on a public exchange, investors cannot freely liquidate their holdings. Instead, they are limited to selling shares on a quarterly basis during designated windows.

Beyond its structural constraints, the fund's research director, Nick Grous, is famously difficult to convince. Wood herself acknowledged that Grous is "a tough sell," meaning startups must work exceptionally hard to earn his enthusiasm before ARK will consider leading a deal.

## Overcoming the Shadow of Skillz

Making this investment even more remarkable is the fact that ARK had to overcome its own reservations about the space. Years earlier, the firm had invested in Skillz — a publicly traded company that operated in a broadly similar category — and the experience did not end well. Skillz eventually became entangled in financial difficulties and legal disputes, leaving ARK and many other investors with losses.

"We had actually owned a company called Skillz, which kind of operated in this space. It didn't work out well for us and many other investors," Grous acknowledged.

The key distinction that ultimately swayed ARK's decision was Lucra's business model. Unlike Skillz, which attempted to license and distribute games directly to consumers, Lucra operates as a B2B platform — selling its interactive eSports infrastructure to businesses looking to boost customer loyalty. That structural difference made all the difference.

"Overcoming our initial hurdle, especially given our experience with Skillz — overcoming our reticence, having Nick overcome it — that was our first screen," Wood explained.

## A Relationship Built Over Time

ARK's confidence in Lucra didn't emerge overnight. The firm had already participated in the company's earlier Series A round, giving them an extended window to evaluate Lucra's trajectory, business fundamentals, and the leadership abilities of founder and CEO Dylan Robbins.

"We had been in constant communication," Grous noted, adding that the fund maintains quarterly check-in calls with portfolio companies — a practice modeled after how public companies report earnings to shareholders.

Even so, Robbins faced multiple rounds of tough questioning before the deal was finalized. He was scrutinized first by Grous, and then by ARK's broader investment committee. What impressed Wood most was Robbins' unwavering conviction.

"No matter how many times we went at him, his conviction — there was just no let up," she said. Robbins had clearly done his homework, anticipating every concern and demonstrating a thorough understanding of where similar companies had stumbled.

## Why This Is the Right Investment at the Right Time

Several factors aligned to make this deal compelling for ARK. Lucra's financials showed genuine promise, the company operated in a vertical the firm understood well, and — critically — it wasn't an AI play.

"We've been underwriting the sports-betting space and understanding the gamification aspects of entertainment," Grous said, explaining that this gave ARK a strong foundation for evaluating the opportunity.

ARK's broader portfolio includes notable names such as Epic Games, Discord, Kalshi, OpenAI, Anthropic, Replit, and Perplexity — meaning the firm is far from a stranger to AI. But Wood sees a strategic opening in the companies that the relentless AI gold rush has left behind.

"We are all over AI, just like everyone else, because it is a massive revolution," she said. "But in the process, a lot of companies are being neglected. That's our opportunity, because we are doing research in many other areas than AI."

## A Signal Worth Watching

ARK Invest's decision to lead its first startup investment — in a non-AI, B2B gamification company — sends a clear message to the market: meaningful opportunities still exist beyond the crowded world of generative AI. For startups operating in adjacent spaces like sports technology, customer engagement, and interactive entertainment, this move may signal that institutional capital is beginning to look beyond the hype.

Cathie Wood's ARK Invest leads its first-ever startup investment in Lucra, a $20M Series B for the B2B eSports loyalty platform. Here's why it matters.

ARK Invest Leads First Startup Deal With Lucra's $20M Round

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ARK Invest Makes History With First Lead Startup Investment — And It Has Nothing to Do With AI

## SpaceX Eyes $60 Billion Cursor Acquisition in Major AI Coding Play

SpaceX has announced a landmark partnership with Cursor, the rapidly growing AI-powered software development platform, and has secured an option to acquire the company outright for $60 billion before the end of the year. The deal signals an aggressive push by Elon Musk's aerospace and technology conglomerate into the increasingly competitive AI developer tools market.

## What the Deal Actually Involves

According to SpaceX, the collaboration is focused on building a next-generation AI system designed for coding and knowledge work. The partnership will combine Cursor's established presence and distribution among professional software engineers with SpaceX's formidable Colossus supercomputer — a machine the company claims delivers computing power equivalent to one million Nvidia H100 chips.

Under the terms of the agreement, SpaceX has committed to either paying Cursor $10 billion for its contributions to the project or acquiring the startup entirely for $60 billion at an unspecified date later this year. Notably, the announcement did not clarify whether either transaction would involve SpaceX stock or cash.

## Cursor's Meteoric Valuation Rise

The $60 billion acquisition price tag underscores just how dramatically Cursor's perceived value has surged in a remarkably short period. The company was valued at $2.5 billion as recently as January of last year. By May of the same year, that figure had climbed to $9 billion. When Cursor closed a $2.3 billion Series D funding round in November, its post-money valuation reached $29.3 billion. Just last week, reports indicated the company was targeting a $50 billion valuation in an upcoming private fundraising round — making SpaceX's $60 billion offer appear both timely and strategically calculated.

## The Strategic Logic — and the Vulnerabilities It Exposes

While the deal carries clear strategic appeal for both parties, it also shines a light on the weaknesses each company is working to address. Neither Cursor nor xAI, Musk's artificial intelligence venture, currently possesses proprietary AI models capable of matching the performance of leading offerings from Anthropic or OpenAI. This gap is particularly significant given that both of those companies are now launching their own developer-focused coding tools, placing them in direct competition with Cursor.

For now, Cursor continues to rely on and sell access to Anthropic's Claude and OpenAI's GPT models — an increasingly awkward position as those same companies move to capture the developer audience Cursor has carefully cultivated. The SpaceX partnership appears designed, at least in part, to provide a long-term pathway out of that dependency.

## Earlier Signals Pointed to a Closer Relationship

The announcement did not come entirely out of nowhere. Industry observers had already noted several signs of deepening ties between Cursor and the broader Musk ecosystem. Just last week, it was revealed that xAI would begin leasing computing capacity from its data centers to Cursor, with the coding startup set to use tens of thousands of xAI chips to train its newest AI model.

Additionally, two of Cursor's most senior engineering leaders — Andrew Milich and Jason Ginsberg — recently departed the company to join xAI, where both now report directly to Musk. These moves, viewed together, suggested a consolidation of interests well before the formal partnership was made public.

## IPO Ambitions Add Another Layer

The timing of this deal is also difficult to separate from SpaceX's much-anticipated initial public offering. Analysts and investors watching the company's trajectory are likely to view the Cursor partnership as yet another mechanism for enhancing the value of what has become an expansive and diverse technology conglomerate under Musk's leadership.

That said, SpaceX faces real financial pressures. The company is widely reported to be operating at a loss following its acquisitions of xAI and the social media platform X, while simultaneously planning significant capital investments. Whether the Cursor deal ultimately concludes as a full acquisition or a project payment, it will represent a substantial financial commitment.

SpaceX has partnered with AI coding platform Cursor and holds an option to acquire it for $60 billion, signaling a major push into AI developer tools.

SpaceX and Cursor Partner With $60B Acquisition Option

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SpaceX Partners With Cursor and Eyes $60 Billion Acquisition in Bold AI Push

## Apple Makes Its Position Clear With Cal AI App Store Removal

Apple's recent enforcement action against Cal AI — the viral food-logging application owned by MyFitnessPal — sends a loud and clear message to developers: the company is still watching closely how apps handle payments, even in the post-Epic ruling era.

The calorie-tracking app was temporarily pulled from the App Store last week after Apple identified several violations of its platform guidelines. Following corrective action by the developer, the app has since been reinstated.

## What Triggered the Removal?

Early speculation suggested Apple had simply penalized Cal AI for directing users to external payment options — a practice that is now technically permitted under current App Store rules. However, Apple clarified to TechCrunch that the situation was far more complicated.

According to Apple, the app committed multiple infractions, including:

- **Bypassing Apple's in-app purchase system entirely**
- **Employing deceptive billing design**
- **Using manipulative tactics to pressure users into subscriptions**

### The Payment Bypass Issue

The most significant violation involved Cal AI embedding a third-party payment processor — specifically Stripe — directly within the app to handle transactions for digital content. By doing so, the app completely removed Apple's own in-app purchase (IAP) option from the checkout process.

This directly violated App Review Guideline 3.1.1, which requires that Apple's IAP remain available to users even when an external payment link is offered. It's worth noting that while the Epic Games lawsuit did open the door for U.S.-based developers to link out to external payment platforms, most apps are still obligated to offer Apple's native purchase option in parallel.

The only notable exception applies to so-called "reader" apps — platforms that deliver subscription-based access to content such as books, music, or video streaming. Cal AI does not meet that classification.

### Deceptive Billing Practices

Apple also cited Cal AI for misleading consumers through its paywall design, a breach of Guideline 3.1.2c. The paywall in question allegedly displayed a lower weekly rate more prominently than the actual billing amount users would be charged. Additionally, a free trial toggle was reportedly designed in a way that obscured crucial details about the subscription's automatic renewal terms — a classic dark pattern that regulators and platforms alike have been cracking down on.

### Manipulative Subscription Tactics

Further compounding the violations, Cal AI was flagged under Developer Code of Conduct Guideline 5.6 for manipulative behavior. When users declined the initial subscription offer, the app would immediately present them with a second, alternative subscription flow — a tactic designed to wear down user resistance.

The app had also accumulated a notable number of negative user reviews, with many customers describing the app as deceptive due to how its third-party payment options were presented.

## A Viral App With High Stakes

What makes this case particularly noteworthy is who Cal AI is. The app was originally built by two high school students who scaled the business to an impressive $50 million in annual recurring revenue before MyFitnessPal acquired it in March of this year. Today, it holds the No. 4 position on the App Store's Health & Fitness charts.

By removing such a prominent app — even temporarily — Apple demonstrated it's willing to enforce its rules regardless of an app's popularity or commercial success.

## A Warning Shot for All Developers

It wouldn't be surprising if Cal AI's development team had been testing the boundaries of Apple's enforcement appetite in the months following the Epic Games ruling. If so, Apple's response delivered a decisive answer.

The tech giant appears willing to sacrifice a slice of revenue from high-performing apps in order to maintain firm control over how payments are handled across its platform. For developers considering creative interpretations of the updated guidelines, Apple's handling of Cal AI should serve as a clear and public warning.

Neither MyFitnessPal nor Cal AI responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

Apple pulled Cal AI from the App Store for bypassing in-app purchases, deceptive billing, and manipulative subscription tactics. Here's what happened.

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