Kakao announces a strategic partnership with Google to enhance on-device AI for Android, aiming to release KakaoTalk's AI assistant, Kakana, by early 2026. Meanwhile, Kakao's Q4 2025 results show record revenue and significant profit growth driven by Talk Biz, despite a net loss in the quarter.

Toyota unveils its first U.S.-assembled electric SUV, the 2027 Highlander EV, offering two battery options with ranges up to 320 miles. With a focus on spacious interiors and advanced tech, this model aims to compete in the mass-market EV segment, facing competition from both EV and hybrid markets.

Amazon is steering its teams towards its in-house coding assistant, Kiro, rather than Anthropic’s Claude Code for production work, sparking internal debate. This policy raises questions about transparency and the tool’s reliability, impacting both internal morale and customer trust.

Anthropic's Claude Cowork is transforming enterprise software by integrating AI-driven automated workflows, emphasizing security and sandboxed code execution. The platform's expansion to Windows and enhanced plugin ecosystem aims to bridge a gap in the market, competing with Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini, while focusing on robust security measures and industry-specific applications.

Meridian, a New York startup, has emerged from stealth with a $17 million seed round to support its innovative IDE-like workspace for financial modeling and AI-driven spreadsheets. Backed by investors like Andreessen Horowitz, the company aims to enhance auditability and reliability in financial workflows, setting it apart in the crowded AI space.

In a landmark demonstration, a new quantum key distribution network successfully linked 20 client chips over distances up to 370 km using SNS-TF-QKD across ten WDM channels. This Weiming Quantum Chip-Network leverages advanced integrated photonics to offer scalable, cost-effective quantum communication, highlighting significant strides toward large-scale deployment.

The American Medical Association and the University of Minnesota's Vaccine Integrity Project launch an independent review to assess vaccine safety and effectiveness for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. This initiative counters government changes under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., providing data-driven guidance amid criticism of federal agencies' vaccine policy adjustments.

A coalition of software developers is urging the Ninth Circuit to revive a DMCA claim against Microsoft, GitHub, and OpenAI for allegedly stripping copyright info from open source code. The case, seeking $9 billion in damages, could impact how DMCA is applied in AI development.

Peter Williams, former leader at L3Harris, admits to selling stolen hacking tools for over $1.3 million in cryptocurrency to a Russian broker. This highlights major cybersecurity concerns as he faces sentencing soon.

Oklahoma has appointed Lamar Morgan, Michigan's former defensive backs coach, to enhance the Sooners' secondary under Brent Venables' defensive strategy. Morgan, known for mentoring top players, will leverage his experience from varied coaching roles to boost Oklahoma’s playoff aspirations in a pivotal upcoming season.