AI Startup Perplexity Valued at $18 Billion With New Funding

Vacation photos are a must, but getting those picture-perfect shots isn't always easy. This article dishes out pro tips to help travelers elevate their photography game, whether it's nailing lighting, framing, or capturing candid moments. No fancy gear required—just smart techniques to make your travel memories shine.

Editor’s Note: Let's face it—we all want Instagram-worthy vacation pics, but not everyone knows how to make them pop. This isn’t just about vanity; great photos preserve memories in their best light. Whether you're snapping sunsets or street scenes, these tips could be the difference between "meh" and "wow."

TSMC, the world’s biggest chipmaker, is tightening its purse strings for now. The company’s CFO says they’re playing it safe with spending because of shaky global conditions—like trade tensions and tariffs—that could shake up their business.

Editor’s Note: TSMC’s caution is a sign that even industry giants are feeling the ripple effects of economic uncertainty. Since they supply chips to everyone from Apple to Nvidia, their spending slowdown could hint at broader supply chain jitters—or just smart hedging in unpredictable times.

The Trump administration is gearing up to roll out new AI policy guidelines that would dial back regulations and push for more energy production—specifically to power data centers. The move also includes a nudge to Congress to pass federal laws that could override state-level AI oversight, signaling a hands-off approach to the fast-growing tech sector.

Editor’s Note: AI is evolving at breakneck speed, and how the government chooses to regulate it—or not—could shape everything from innovation to energy use. Looser rules might spur tech development but could also sideline concerns about ethics, safety, or environmental impact. The emphasis on energy hints at the massive power demands of AI infrastructure, which could become a bigger political flashpoint. Whether this approach helps or hurts depends on who you ask—tech companies might cheer, while critics could see it as a risky gamble.

A German startup called Helsing is making waves in Europe’s defense sector by developing AI-powered fighter pilots and "drone walls" to bolster the continent’s military capabilities. With investors pouring money into defense tech, Helsing has quickly become one of Europe’s most valuable companies in the space.

Editor’s Note: Europe’s security landscape is shifting fast, and Helsing’s rise reflects growing urgency—and investment—in high-tech defense solutions. Whether you see it as a necessary modernization or an escalation in militarization, it’s a sign of how AI is reshaping not just everyday life but global security too.

Google's beefing up its AI game—its "AI Mode" is now powered by the more advanced Gemini 2.5 Pro model and includes a new "Deep Search" feature. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, Google Search is rolling out an AI assistant that can make phone calls for you. Basically, Google’s throwing more AI muscle into everyday tools.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another tech update—it’s Google doubling down on AI to make search and digital assistance smarter (and maybe a little scarier). If these features work as promised, they could save people time or help dig up info that’s usually buried. But it also raises questions: How much will we rely on AI to handle tasks we used to do ourselves? Either way, it’s a big step in how we interact with tech.