June Top 10 Tech News
June was a big month for tech, with major advancements across space, robotics, AI, energy, and digital services. From reusable satellites to AI-driven robots, and from safer logins to nuclear power investments, these top 10 stories highlight how quickly innovation is shaping our world.
Lux Aeterna Wants to Use Reusable Satellites to Transform Space
The first launch of Delphi, a reusable satellite built to withstand reentry and several launches, is scheduled for 2027, and the project is being developed by the Denver-based firm Lux Aeterna. Brian Taylor, an engineer with experience at SpaceX and Amazon Kuiper, founded the firm with the goals of reducing the cost of satellite launches, increasing their flexibility, and discovering new uses for space. The U.S. Department of Defense has shown interest in the idea and received $4 million in pre-seed financing; the design is based on NASA heat shield technology. The company intends to scale up with other reusable spacecraft in the future, but for now, Delphi will fly on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Google’s New Gemini AI Lets Robots Work Offline
Gemini Robotics On-Device is a new AI model from the company’s DeepMind that helps machines conduct work even when they’re not connected to the internet. It is an enhancement of their previous Gemini model and can be customized using simple voice commands. In demonstrations, robots using the approach opened bags, folded garments, and even constructed objects they had not seen before. It operates on several robot models, including Franka FR3 and Apollo. Google has also introduced a developer toolbox that enables robots to acquire new duties with only 50 to 100 instances.
Intel Replaces Marketing Jobs with AI and Accenture to Cut Costs
Intel is shifting many of its marketing jobs to Accenture, which will use artificial intelligence, possibly running on Intel’s own chips, to take over key tasks. This is part of CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s plan to speed up decisions, simplify operations, and save money as Intel tries to recover from major sales losses.
Employees were told the change could mean layoffs, with final decisions coming by July 11. Some may even help train their AI or human replacements. Intel says the move will help it react faster to customer needs and compete more effectively in the tech market.
Tesla Debuts Robotaxi Service in Austin
Tesla’s self-driving taxi service is now available in South Austin using Model Y SUVs and a new app. A Tesla employee is present to make sure everyone is safe during trips, which cost $4.20 and run every day from 6 a.m. to midnight.
There are just 10 cars in the deployment, which is Tesla’s first real-world test of camera-only autonomous driving. The first findings are promising, but they also raise safety concerns.
X Plans Physical Debit Card for X Money Service
X (previously Twitter) is going to provide a real debit card that is tied to your X account. Users will be able to manage cards on the app, where they can set up PINs, lock cards, and get cash back. A partnership between X Money and Visa will result in the provision of wallet services, money transfers, and payments between individuals. The mention of MasterCard and Amex suggests that X will have additional partners as it becomes an “everything app.” Launch is coming soon.
Nvidia Invests in Bill Gates’ Nuclear Startup TerraPower
The nuclear company TerraPower, which was established by Bill Gates, has received a donation of $650 million from Nvidia in order to provide assistance in the construction of its first reactor. The reactor employs molten sodium to retain heat and provide consistent, flexible electricity, generating 345 MW and up to 500 MW during peak demand. The industry’s increasing interest in nuclear is illustrated by Nvidia’s inaugural energy investment. The reactor still requires permission and might cost $4 billion, which will be partially sponsored by the United States government.
Facebook Adds Passkeys to Make Mobile Logins Safer and Easier
Passkey logins are now available on iOS and Android, which makes accounts safer and easier to use. Passkeys employ Face ID, Touch ID, PINs, or security keys instead of passwords, which lowers the risk of phishing. Go to the Settings section of the Accounts Center to establish a passkey. Once you turn it on, you may use the same passkey for Messenger (coming soon) and even for Meta Pay, which will fill out payments automatically. For devices that don’t allow passkeys, passwords still function.
New York Passes Important AI Safety Law
New York has enacted the RAISE Act, which aims to prevent strong AI models from inflicting widespread damage. The law says that big tech companies like OpenAI and Google have to tell the government about safety problems and events that happen with complex AI systems. The regulation, which was designed with the help of AI professionals and is not meant to hurt startups, has consequences of up to $30 million for not following it. Now it’s going to Governor Hochul for approval. Upon approval, New York will become the first state in the U.S. to mandate the transparency of AI systems.
Google Tests Audio Summaries in Search
Google is trying out Audio Overviews in Search. These are voice-over summaries made by its Gemini AI algorithms. This hands-free capability allows users to absorb information more effortlessly, particularly when multitasking or on the road. Audio Overviews are now accessible in Google Labs, including play/pause controls, speed modification, and connections to source information. Users may also rank the feature to help improve it. Audio Overviews seek to make learning more accessible, particularly for auditory learners, by expanding on Google’s current AI-generated summaries.
Bedrock Ocean Raises $25M to Map the Seafloor with Robots
Bedrock Ocean has successfully secured $25 million to further the development of its technology for robotic visualization of the seabed. Using battery-powered autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the startup offers a faster, cheaper, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional ship-based surveys. Their AUVs map the ocean with sonar and magnetic sensors, surface to send data via Wi-Fi, and help industries like offshore wind, oil and gas, and even the U.S. Navy better understand the ocean floor.
Bottomline
Thanks for coming to this month’s tech recap! June showed us how quickly the future is coming with new space technology, AI-powered robotics, and next-generation energy. Stay tuned; we’ll be back soon with more articles on the newest and most exciting things happening in the world of innovation.
