TechCrunch Top 3

Meta quietly launches vibe-coded gaming app Pocket: Meta has quietly launched Pocket, an experimental AI app that lets users generate and share interactive mini games using text prompts. Read More

A warning sign about AI’s real cost, courtesy of Google and Amazon: AI has made it a lot harder for tech companies like Amazon and Google to deliver on their net-zero pledges. Read More

Jersey Mike's IPO illustrates how bad the AI hype has become: Just for kicks, I took a look at Jersey Mike's IPO documents. Surely a sandwich shop would have no need to mention AI. But low and behold. Read More

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Afternoon Must-Reads

IQM, Europe's first public quantum company, admits the future of the tech is uncertain: IQM, a full-stack quantum company out of Finland, went public on the Nasdaq today at a valuation of about $1.9 billion. Read More

US government says it got hacked — again: A top Democrat on the Senate's Intelligence Committee warned that the information accessed on a Homeland Security intelligence-sharing network may risk national security. Read More

Microsoft launches its own AI deployment company with $2.5 billion commitment: Microsoft follows Amazon, OpenAI, and Anthropic with its new AI deployment group. Read More

OpenAI proposed donating 5% of its equity to a US sovereign wealth fund: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly proposed giving 5% of the company’s equity to a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, reviving discussions about letting the public share in the financial gains from the AI boom. Read More

Lucid Motors' CFO is out as its new CEO continues leadership shakeup: The company announced a new slate of executive hires meant to help turn things around, as Gravity SUV sales are not taking off as expected. Read More

Last but Not Least

Anthropic is discussing a new custom chip with Samsung: The news comes about a week after OpenAI announced its own custom AI chip in a partnership with Broadcom. Read More