Perplexity in talks with top brands on ads model as it challenges Google

Perplexity, an AI search start-up, is working on a new 'sponsored' question system that would allow brands to pay to have their questions featured prominently in search results, similar to Google's advertising model. This initiative aims to challenge Google's dominance in the $300 billion digital ads market by giving brands more control over their online presence in AI-powered searches. However, integrating advertising into AI systems presents challenges, including ensuring transparency and maintaining a good user experience. Despite these hurdles, Perplexity's efforts highlight the growing interest in using AI for digital advertising as the technology becomes more mainstream.

Microsoft Taps Nuclear Power to Fuel AI Growth: A Bold Energy Move

Microsoft has struck a deal to purchase electricity from the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, which is set to restart operations in 2028 after a $1.6 billion investment by Constellation Energy. This agreement, lasting 20 years, aims to meet the energy demands of Microsoft's expanding data centers, particularly for its artificial intelligence initiatives. The plant's Unit 1 reactor, previously shut down due to economic reasons, will provide up to 837 megawatts of carbon-free power, creating approximately 3,400 jobs and contributing an estimated $16 billion to the state's economy. This move reflects a growing interest in nuclear energy as a reliable source of clean power amid rising energy needs from tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon

Elon Musk Backs Down in Brazil

Elon Musk seems to have hit the brakes on his tug-of-war with Brazilian judges over X—probably after realizing his assets weren’t as invincible as his rockets. Reports say the Brazilian government didn’t just swipe at X, but also put some of Musk’s other ventures on ice. Looks like even the “man who sends Teslas to space” can't escape Earth’s most powerful force: bureaucracy.

X has appointed a legal representative in Brazil, paid outstanding fines totaling R$23.3 million (approximately $4.3 million), and taken down user accounts deemed harmful to Brazilian democracy, as mandated by the court. Despite some compliance, the supreme court noted that X had not filed necessary documentation for its representative, giving the company five days to rectify this issue.

The conflict escalated after a supreme court justice ordered the removal of over 100 accounts questioning the legitimacy of the 2022 election results, which had led to Musk closing X's Brazil offices and the subsequent blocking of the platform by Brazilian service providers.

Musk has publicly criticized the court and defended his position as a proponent of free speech, although he has shown less resistance to content removal in countries like Turkey and India compared to Brazil and Australia. Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, also faced legal issues in Brazil, with authorities freezing its assets until compliance with the blocking orders for X was assured.

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