🚗 Volkswagen charges monthly fee for full car power

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Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here:

☀️ On this day: On August 15, 1998, Apple released the original iMac, a colorful all-in-one personal computer that marked a turning point for the company. Designed by Jony Ive and reintroduced to the world by Steve Jobs, the iMac featured a translucent casing, USB-only ports, and internet-ready capabilities.

What’s happening:

• 🚗 Volkswagen charges monthly fee for full car power

• 🏛️ AI tools roll out across federal government

• 🚀 xAI co-founder leaves amid Grok controversies

• 💻 Trump administration in talks to take Intel stake

• 🛰️ SpaceX demands $60M to beam Internet to homes

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Hand-picked news:

🚗 Volkswagen charges monthly fee for full car power ↗️LINK

• What: Volkswagen now locks part of the ID.3’s performance behind a £16.50/month subscription. Though listed as 201bhp, paying unlocks the full 228bhp and extra torque. A one-time £649 “lifetime” upgrade is also offered.

• Why: VW claims this lets owners customize performance without affecting range or insurance. But it’s part of a growing trend of carmakers using subscriptions for features already built in.

• Impact: Critics see this as another step toward over-monetizing ownership. Some fear it could spark hacking, legal battles, or further erosion of consumer rights.

🏛️ AI tools roll out across federal government ↗️LINK

• What: The U.S. government is launching USAi, a secure AI platform for federal employees to test tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. It's part of the Trump administration’s broader AI push and aims to boost productivity.

• Why: The goal is to modernize federal workflows while protecting sensitive data. USAi runs on GSA-managed cloud servers to prevent private companies from using government data to train their models.

• Impact: The move raises job security concerns and gives early access to big AI firms—potentially sidelining smaller players while reshaping how government work gets done.

🚀 xAI co-founder leaves amid Grok controversies ↗️LINK

• What: Igor Babuschkin, co-founder of Elon Musk’s xAI, has left the company to start his own VC firm focused on AI safety and research. He led engineering at xAI and helped it become a top AI player.

• Why: Babuschkin says he was inspired by AI ethics discussions and wants to support projects that “advance humanity.” His exit comes after xAI faced backlash over offensive outputs from its chatbot Grok.

• Impact: His departure marks a leadership shift at xAI during a turbulent time. While xAI’s models are strong, scandals have dented its reputation—and now one of its founding minds is moving on.
  

💻 Trump administration in talks to take Intel stake ↗️LINK

• What: The Trump administration is reportedly in talks to take a stake in Intel, aiming to support U.S. chip production. This follows delays in Intel’s $20B Ohio plant and echoes other recent government investments in key industries.

• Why: It’s part of a shift toward state-backed capitalism, with the government taking equity in strategic firms to reduce reliance on China and secure supply chains.

• Impact: Intel shares jumped over 10% on the news, gaining $7B in value. A deal could mark a major policy shift—and set precedent for deeper federal ties to private tech.

🛰️ SpaceX demands $60M to beam Internet to homes ↗️LINK

• What: SpaceX is objecting to Virginia’s plan to spend most broadband grants on fiber Internet. Starlink, its satellite service, is already set to get $3.26M but wants $60M to cover nearly all eligible homes.

• Why: Backed by Trump-era rules that treat all tech equally, SpaceX says fiber is expensive and slow to build, while Starlink can connect homes quickly without laying cables.

• Impact: If SpaceX wins, more funds could shift from long-term fiber networks to satellites—speeding access in rural areas but possibly sacrificing future-proof infrastructure.

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Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Would you like to talk to your computer like a person?

• A) Yes – Natural voice interaction sounds convenient - 78% 🏆

• B) No – I’d rather type or click - 22%

Reader’s opinion:

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