New AI Approach for Christian Schools: Built on a Biblical Worldview


The AI conversation in Christian education has largely stopped at teacher tools lesson planners, email helpers, rubric generators. The bigger question is whether AI can actually differentiate instruction, personalize learning pathways, and measurably improve student outcomes while honoring a Biblical worldview every step of the way.

Join TrekAi leadership for a 45-minute thought leadership session designed for Christian school leaders. We’ll explore how AI moves from a productivity layer for adults to a genuine differentiation engine for students and what that means for the mission and outcomes of your school.

TrekAi was built with a Biblical worldview woven throughout the student experience not bolted on. You’ll see cutting-edge education AI in action: Predictive, Dynamic, and Self-Guided. Far beyond the large language models you’ve already explored.

KEY VALUE PROPS:

  • Biblical worldview woven throughout the student experience not added on
  • AI engineered to measurably improve student outcomes not just teacher productivity
  • Predictive, Dynamic, and Self-Guided technology that goes far beyond LLMs
  • Live demo from TrekAi leadership of the most current platform
    capabilities

Reid Hoffman is leaving Microsoft’s board to go ‘founder mode’ with startup Manus


After a very profitable decade on Microsoft’s board, Reid Hoffman is stepping down, the company announced Thursday. Hoffman joined the board after Microsoft bought his company LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016.

Hoffman was on Microsoft’s board when it invested its first $1 billion into OpenAI in 2019. Hoffman was one of OpenAI’s original investors and served on the model maker’s board until he stepped down in 2023, citing too many potential conflicts of interest to continue. He was also on Microsoft’s board when the tech giant entered into one of those non-acquisition, acqui-hire deals for $650 million with his AI startup Inflection AI. Microsoft hired Inflection co-founder Mustafa Suleyman through that deal.

Hoffman said on a recent episode of his “Possible” podcast, while talking with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, that he’s ready to go “founder mode” with his latest AI startup, Manus. Manus is a drug discovery company that raised over $50 million through a couple of seed rounds last year. Hoffman is an investor, as is General Catalyst.

Hoffman is cited as a co-founder of Manus and chairman of the board, not the CEO, though. That job belongs to Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, biologist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the 2011 book “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.”

Still, Hoffman said he’s excited to give Manus more attention.

“One of the things I realized over the last month was that, we’re seeing such progress with Manus. I need to get back to founder mode,” he said. He believes the startup is making progress on “Move 37” AI, meaning AI that supersedes human creativity in chemistry, especially to combat various cancers, he added.

Rumors kick up Xiaomi 18 Pro hype, and it’s exactly what we expected


What you need to know

  • Rumors claim Xiaomi is looking to upgrade the Dynamic Back Display for its upcoming 18 Pro.
  • This screen could arrive at 4 inches, instead of 2.6 inches like the 17 Pro and Pro Max.
  • It was mentioned that this screen could sport “higher brightness,” and there’s a chance “privacy protection” could enhance this rear display as well.
  • Xiaomi’s president, Lu Weibing, was on a livestream shortly after the 17 series debuted, stating it shattered pre-order records and that the brand would look to replicate this rear screen design on future devices.

Xiaomi is coming off the back of a rather eye-catching flagship phone, and now rumors say its next iteration could keep the train moving.

This week, a tipster on the Chinese social media platform Weibo posted alleged details about Xiaomi’s upcoming 18 Pro (via GSMArena). Tipster Smart Pikachu claims the OEM is working on a successor to the 17 Pro with a 4-inch display on its rear panel. It seems the aesthetic of this screen could remain the same, as the post states Xiaomi will integrate “large round corners” (machine translated).

Fuel data science and machine learning with trusted data


AI is now a boardroom priority, putting intense pressure on data science teams to operationalize reliable models. But with 60% of companies struggling to scale or achieve material value, success ultimately depends on something more fundamental: the quality of the data powering your models.

For data engineers, architects and data science leaders tasked with delivering rapid, high-accuracy predictive intelligence, this eBook explores:

  • Why operationalizing data science remains difficult and strategies to navigate common challenges
  • How trusted context moves data science and machine learning from isolated experimentation to enterprise-wide impact
  • Practical steps to build a unified data foundation for AI

Defense tech, AI, and fundraising take center stage at StrictlyVC Los Angeles


With just two weeks to go, StrictlyVC Los Angeles is quickly approaching. On Thursday, June 18, at The Aerospace Corporation Campus in El Segundo. Investors, founders, and tech leaders will gather for an evening of conversations exploring some of the most consequential shifts taking place across venture capital, defense technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced industry. Secure your spot here.

For executives navigating a rapidly changing technology landscape, StrictlyVC offers something increasingly difficult to find: direct access to the people building, funding, and shaping the next generation of companies. The conversations are candid, the audience is highly curated, and the insights extend far beyond what can be found in headlines, podcasts, or social media feeds.

Connie Loizos, Pat Gelsinger, and Nicholas Kelez at StrictlyVC
Image Credits:Slava Blazer Photography / TechCrunch

Who’s taking the stage in Los Angeles

The evening begins with Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries. In his session, “Built for a New Era of Defense Technology,” Thornton will share his perspective on building a hard tech company at speed and how advances in autonomy, manufacturing, and national security are transforming the defense sector. His story reflects a broader movement of founders tackling ambitious challenges in industries undergoing rapid change.

The conversation continues with Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund and Saif Khawaja of Shinkei Systems. Together, they will discuss the rise of physical AI and how developments in robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence are creating new opportunities to transform the physical world. Their discussion will offer insight into what it takes to build and scale breakthrough technologies beyond software alone.

Also joining the lineup is Carter Reum, co-founder and partner at M13. In his session, “Finding the Next Big Thing,” Reum will explore how AI is reshaping industries and how investors are moving beyond short-term hype to identify companies built for long-term durability. He will share his perspective on where innovation is creating the most meaningful opportunities and how venture investing is evolving as new categories emerge.

Ethan Thornton at StrictlyVC San Francisco
Image Credits:Slava Blazer Photography / Flickr (opens in a new window)

Additional speakers and conversations will be announced soon as the StrictlyVC Los Angeles agenda continues to grow. Stay updated on the latest speaker announcements and event news.

Grab your pass and join the conversations

Beyond the conversations on stage, StrictlyVC Los Angeles is designed to bring together the people driving innovation across technology and venture capital. Throughout the evening, attendees will have opportunities to connect with founders, investors, and operators in an environment that encourages meaningful discussion and the exchange of ideas. Whether you are looking to expand your network, gain new perspectives, or discover emerging opportunities, the value of the event extends well beyond the scheduled sessions. Secure your spot here.

StrictlyVC Los Angeles 2026
Image Credits:TechCrunch

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Some of the cheapest Android phones are finally joining the Gemini era


What you need to know

  • Gemini is officially replacing Assistant Go on Android Go devices, bringing Google’s modern AI experience to entry-level smartphones.
  • Android Go phone users can now access Gemini natively through the Google app, eliminating the need for clunky browser-based workarounds.
  • A long press of the Home or Power button launches Gemini.

Google’s aggressive push to get its newest AI on every screen imaginable just reached a massive new demographic. If you have a budget Android smartphone running Android Go in your hands, then it’s time to say your goodbyes to Assistant Go. The Gemini Go era is officially here, replacing the old voice assistant and bringing deeply conversational AI directly to the entry-level market.

Android Go phones — devices designed only with stripped-down software to perform well on severely limited hardware — relied on Assistant Go prior to this change. It worked pretty well, but it had its limitations.

Squishmallows, dentures, and an ‘I Heart Hot Dads’ bag: Uber has found thousands of items left in robotaxis


For the past 10 years, Uber’s annual Lost & Found Index has provided a rather quirky anthropological snapshot of its riders — and even a few insights into society. The annual catalogue of millions of forgotten items ranges from mundane modern-day tools such as smartphones and laptops, to more eyebrow-raising objects like live fish, an ankle monitor, a toboggan, a package of live butterflies, and a single Louboutin shoe.

This year, Uber is using the report to highlight the same old problem of lost items with a new twist: robotaxis. Thousands of items (it’s a bit too new for millions) were left behind in robotaxis on Uber’s ride-hailing network in the past year, the company said Tuesday. There were the usual suspects of phones, keys, wallets, passports, and headphones, along with a few items that strayed into the who-is-this-rider category: a set of dentures, an “I Heart Hot Dads” bag, and a blue hat that reads “Emotional Support Human.”

Beyond this entertaining list lies a business opportunity, if a minor one. Even in a future of robot taxis, someone still has to return the things passengers leave behind.

Uber has spent the past several years locking up dozens of partnerships with autonomous vehicle (AV) technology companies. But it really wasn’t until March 2025, when the “Waymo on Uber” robotaxi service launched in Austin, that the commercial wheels on its AV business started turning. Since then, Uber and Waymo have also started a robotaxi service in Atlanta. Uber has added other AV companies to its app in the past year, including Motional in Las Vegas and Avride in Dallas, although these still have human safety operators behind the wheel.

That Uber has already logged thousands of lost items in just 12 months gives some sense of just how many robotaxi rides have been completed on its app. The underlying message here is that Uber’s existing network is already set up to reunite riders with their lost items, including a 15-pound yo-yo, one large black marble duck, a Squishmallow, and a Charli XCX poster.

When an Uber rider forgets belongings in a robotaxi, the process for recovering them is similar to any other Uber ride: open the app, click the activity tab, select the trip during which the item was lost, and contact customer support. Riders are then able to message, chat, or call a support agent. If the item is located, they have two options: pay $15 for an Uber Courier driver to provide same-day local delivery, or pick up the belonging in person from an AV depot, where the vehicles are stored and serviced.

Uber Courier is a rebrand of Uber Connect, which launched in 2020 and allowed users to send packages and personal items between local addresses. But Uber says there is more to its robotaxi support network than repurposing existing services.

“With tens of millions of lost items reported on Uber each year, we’ve spent the last decade building systems that help riders quickly and seamlessly reunite with their belongings,” Amy Satrom, global head of autonomous support at Uber, said in a statement. “As autonomous rides continue to scale on Uber, we’re bringing that same expertise to AVs — combining our fleet operations, support teams, and hybrid network to make getting a lost item back simple, even when there’s no driver behind the wheel.”

In February, the company announced Uber Autonomous Solutions, a new business division that conveys its bigger ambitions around driverless tech. The division provides companies with a suite of services that handle all the tasks associated with operating a robotaxi, self-driving truck, or sidewalk delivery robot business, including software and support services.

And Uber clearly means to make AVs a major revenue driver. The company plans to offer robotaxi rides through its app in as many as 15 cities globally by the end of the year and has said it intends to be the largest facilitator of AV trips in the world by 2029.

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Google’s got a quick Android 17 Beta 4.1 rolling out to address issues before launch


What you need to know

  • Google’s rolling out a Android 17 Beta 4.1, which focuses on solving issues regarding hearing aids and the status bar.
  • The patch notes drew attention to several other Android makers who have phones supported in the Android 17 beta, such as Honor, Xiaomi, and Vivo.
  • Google is moving fast, testing its software’s first major quarterly release alongside the main beta.

While the scheduled releases for Android 17’s beta have already rolled out, Google is bringing another iterative update to solve a few lingering issues.

Google posted the changelog for Android 17 Beta 4.1 on Reddit, which is rolling out for the Pixel 6 up to the Pixel 10 and the Pixel Tablet. Users should be aware that Beta 4.1 bears two firmware numbers. Enrolled testers with a Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, Pixel 7, and 7 Pro will receive CP21.260330.011.A1. All other devices will find CP21.260330.011. Google is likely working on fixing up a few issues that have cropped up during its testing before Android 17 debuts officially.

Strava declares war on scrapers ahead of IPO


AI companies have grown into data-hungry entities as their models require ever-larger datasets to train on. To meet that need, many AI startups defy long-standing internet conventions — like respecting robots.txt files, which signal to automated crawlers which parts of a website are off-limits — and scrape data aggressively. This has forced websites to restrict access to their data and, in some cases, strike licensing deals with AI companies. Fitness and social running company Strava is making a move in this direction by restricting its website and introducing fees for developer access.

To stop scraping, the company is increasing security around its website and will now only allow authenticated users to view certain data. Earlier, users were able to see details like public profiles and fitness club listings without logging in. The company is putting all that data behind authentication to protect it from unauthorized AI scraping.

On the API front, developers could previously start building apps on Strava through a free, tiered access program — applying for basic access first, then requesting more as their app grew. Now the company is adding a flat $11.99 per month fee for all developers, though it noted the price may vary by geography.

Strava said its developer community has grown from 185,000 members last year to 241,000 this year, and the company plans to continue supporting them. As part of that, Strava also plans to add support for Model Context Protocol (MCP), an emerging standard that lets AI assistants and apps access external data in a structured way, giving Strava more control over exactly what gets shared and how.

The company is also planning to retire some API endpoints — discrete access points that let outside apps pull specific data, like club details — to protect user data. Strava had already tightened API rules in 2024, banning its use for AI training and limiting third-party apps from displaying other users’ data. Those changes drew backlash from developers who said their apps would be severely affected.

While some developers may accept paying a subscription fee, sunsetting certain API endpoints could still impact dependent apps. Strava is giving developers a 90-day grace period before making these changes.

In an interview with TechCrunch, Michael Martin, Strava’s CEO, said unchecked AI scraping could be the death knell of the public internet.

“AI companies are ruthlessly scraping public websites, given their endless need for training data, which is degrading site performance across the board,” Martin said. We’ve had multiple instances in the last several months where performance has been diminished and, in some cases, impaired. Beyond scraping the public sites, they’re also trying to use our API to get access to our data, ignoring API terms.”

He noted that Strava has refused overtures from leading AI labs seeking data licensing deals. He specifically singled out Perplexity, saying the AI search startup routed its scraping through aggregator services to obscure its origin despite being turned away. This is consistent with Perplexity having been accused of similar behavior elsewhere in the past.

Martin also flagged server overload caused by poorly built vibe-coded apps, whose API calls are often inefficiently structured and generate a disproportionate load on Strava’s systems. It’s a pattern: when Meta banned third-party chatbots from WhatsApp last year, it made a similar argument about system overhead.

The timing probably isn’t coincidental. Strava confidentially filed for an IPO earlier this year, and its move to protect its data may be intended to signal data discipline to prospective investors. The comparison to Reddit’s 2024 crackdown on API access is one Martin was quick to address. Unlike Reddit, which priced API access by the number of calls (making it unaffordable for many app developers), Strava is betting a flat fee keeps the developer ecosystem intact.

“We want the users to feel that they own their data and feel comfortable with how we are controlling and securing it. But we want the developers to continue to flourish and grow,” Martin said.

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I actually don’t hate the new Google Health app, but it could still use some work. Here are my highlights after testing the revamped Fitbit app, and how I think Google can improve


The revamped Google Health app (formerly Fitbit) has landed alongside the new Fitbit Air, and while not everyone is happy with the changes, my experience has been pretty positive.

I’ve been using the new UI for six months, staring with the Health Coach preview launches toward the end of 2025, and while the upgrade to Google Health has brought in some useful changes and features, there are still some improvements I would like to see. These are my biggest highlights after spending some time with the new Google Health app.

A welcome redesign and AI overload

The Google Health app focus metrics

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

I should start by saying that, unlike some long-time Fitbit users, I was not married to the old Fitbit app design, which I found dull and uninteresting.

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