David Sacks has ended his 130-day stint as Trump's AI and crypto czar and will co-chair the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Here’s what his move means for AI policy, semiconductors, and the tech-policy landscape 🤖🏛️
A curated roundup of 16 standout YC Winter 2026 startups to watch — from AI and robotics to healthcare and defense 🚀🤖🩺 — highlights, what they do, and why they matter.
Mate Rimac’s Verne partners with Uber and Pony.ai to roll out a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, using Pony.ai’s Arcfox Alpha T5 and aiming to scale to thousands. 🤖🚗🇭🇷 Short on launch date but big on ambition — on-road testing and a new Lučko factory are already in motion.
At a White House summit, First Lady Melania Trump introduced a humanoid robot from Figure AI and pitched a vision of personalized AI homeschooling — sparking debate about the future of teachers and edtech. 🤖🏫💬
Brinc, founded by former Thiel Fellow Blake Resnick, unveiled Guardian — a Starlink-enabled public-safety drone with 62-minute flight time, thermal and 4K zoom cameras, automated battery swaps, and onboard emergency supplies. The company positions Guardian as a police helicopter replacement and targets a multi-billion-dollar first-responder market. 🚁➡️🛸
PhonePe has paused its IPO plans, blaming geopolitical tensions and market volatility. Walmart, Tiger Global and Microsoft were set to trim stakes — here's what paused listing means for investors and India’s biggest UPI player. 📉🌍🇮🇳
Google and Accel’s Atoms program chose five Indian AI startups focused on deep, practical AI — rejecting superficial “wrapper” apps. Read who made the cut and why investors are pushing for genuine AI-driven workflows. 🚀🤖🇮🇳
The U.S. Army has awarded a 10‑year, up to $20B enterprise contract to defense startup Anduril, consolidating 120+ procurements and covering hardware, software, infrastructure, and services. Read the key details, background on Anduril, and potential implications for AI and autonomous systems. 🚀🛡️
iFixit's teardown finds the MacBook Neo unusually repairable for a modern Mac — a screw-mounted battery tray, easier display/keyboard replacement, and Repair Assistant support make a big difference. What this means for longevity and repairs. 🔧💻
