Entrepreneur Aaron Marcum shares how a seven-week sabbatical propelled his company, Home Care Pulse, to record growth. He reveals that taking a break allowed him to **empower his team** and **trust the systems** he built, leading to unexpected success.  This experience taught him the value of **letting go** and the **power of delegation**. He encourages entrepreneurs to **prioritize personal growth** and **build a self-sufficient team** to unlock the true potential of their businesses.

My seven-week sabbatical launched my business to new heights — here's why. 

How a 7-Week Break Unleashed Record Growth for My Business and Team

**Apple Inc.** is reportedly in early discussions to acquire **Perplexity AI**, a move that could significantly bolster its **AI talent and technology** portfolio. This potential acquisition comes as Apple seeks to **diversify its AI capabilities** and possibly develop an **AI-based search engine**, especially in light of the uncertain future of its lucrative partnership with **Google**.

### The Strategic Move
- **Adrian Perica**, Apple's head of mergers and acquisitions, alongside **Eddy Cue**, services chief, are leading the charge in evaluating this acquisition.
- The discussions are preliminary, and there's no guarantee they will lead to an offer.
- A deal could help Apple **reduce its reliance on Google**, which currently pays Apple billions annually to be the default search engine on its devices.

### Why Perplexity AI?
- **Perplexity AI** offers real-time answers using the latest web information, positioning it as a potential **competitor to traditional search engines**.
- Acquiring Perplexity could provide Apple with a **ready-made AI search solution** and a **talented AI team**.

### The Bigger Picture
- Apple is playing catch-up in the **generative AI space**, having been slower than rivals to launch its **Apple Intelligence platform**.
- The company is also exploring **partnerships** as an alternative to acquisition, which could integrate Perplexity's technology into **Siri and Safari**.

### Challenges Ahead
- **Samsung Electronics Co.** is also in talks with Perplexity for a deep partnership, adding a layer of competition.
- The outcome of the **Google antitrust trial** could influence Apple's decision-making timeline.

This potential acquisition underscores the **intensifying battle for AI supremacy** among tech giants, with Apple looking to secure its position in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Apple Inc. executives have held internal discussions about potentially bidding for artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI, seeking to address the need for more AI talent and technology.

Apple Eyes Perplexity AI in High-Stakes Talent War: A Game-Changer for AI Search?

**Thinking Machines Lab**, the enigmatic AI startup founded by **Mira Murati**, OpenAI's former chief technology officer, has made headlines by securing a **$2 billion seed round** at a staggering **$10 billion valuation**. This monumental funding round, potentially the largest seed investment in history, was led by **Andreessen Horowitz** with participation from **Sarah Guo’s Conviction Partners**.

![Image Credits: Jon Kapaloff / Getty Images](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GettyImages-2188124206.jpg?w=1024)

Despite its **secretive nature**, the startup has successfully leveraged Murati's **reputation** and the allure of **high-profile AI researchers** to attract significant investment. The exact focus of **Thinking Machines Lab** remains under wraps, but the involvement of former OpenAI colleagues, including co-founder **John Schulman**, hints at groundbreaking AI developments ahead.

Murati's departure from OpenAI in **September 2024** followed her pivotal role in developing **ChatGPT, DALL-E, and voice mode**. Her exit was part of a wave of executives who raised concerns about **CEO Sam Altman’s leadership**, culminating in a brief but notable interim CEO stint during OpenAI's leadership upheaval in **November 2023**.

Thinking Machines Lab, the secretive AI startup founded by OpenAI’s former chief technology officer Mira Murati, has closed a $2 billion seed round at a $10 billion valuation.

Mira Murati's Secretive AI Startup Hits $10B Valuation with Record $2B Seed Round

## Cluely's Bold Move in the Startup World

Cluely, a startup that boldly claims to assist users in **'cheating' on job interviews, exams, and sales calls**, has recently announced a **$15 million Series A funding round** led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). This funding comes just two months after the company raised **$5.3 million in seed funding**, co-led by Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures.

![Cluely founder Roy Lee party invitation video](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cluely-party-video.png?w=1024)
*Image Credits: Cluely*

### The Founders' Controversial Beginnings
Founded by **21-year-old Roy Lee and Neel Shanmugam**, Cluely's origins are as controversial as its services. The duo was suspended from Columbia University for developing an **AI-powered tool called 'Interview Coder'**, designed to help engineers cheat on technical interviews.

### A Provocative Branding Strategy
Cluely's rise to fame can be attributed to its **provocative social media presence** and highly produced, controversial videos. For instance, a launch video featured Lee using a hidden AI assistant to lie about his age and knowledge of art during a date at a fancy restaurant.

### Recent Challenges
Despite its success, Cluely faced setbacks when the police shut down its planned after-party following Y Combinator’s AI Startup School event, after **2,000 people tried to enter the venue**.

Cluely's journey is a testament to how **controversy and innovation** can drive a startup's growth, attracting significant investment and media attention.

Cluely's new funding comes roughly two months after it raised $5.3 million in seed funding co-led by Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures.

Cluely's Controversial Rise: How a Startup That 'Helps Cheat on Everything' Secured $15M from a16z

## **Europe's Micromobility Scene: A New Era of Innovation**

The early-stage micromobility landscape in Europe is undergoing a significant transformation. Gone are the days of unchecked expansion by e-scooter companies. Today, the focus is on **sustainable business models** and **innovative solutions** to urban transport challenges. Here's a look at some of the most promising startups from Micromobility Europe in Brussels.

### **Convoy: Redefining Family Mobility**

![Convoy's innovative bike attachment](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-19-at-6.30.21PM.png?w=680)

**Convoy** is tackling the challenges of e-cargo bikes with a **clip-on cargo conversion kit** for bikes and e-bikes. Designed to carry up to two small children, this U.K.-based startup's solution is lightweight (26 pounds) and easy to store. Priced at €2,200, Convoy is set to launch preorders soon, with plans to expand to Japan and the U.S.

### **Azora Charge: Solar-Powered Bike Parking**

![Azora Charge's solar-powered charging station](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8859_aed2e1.jpg?w=680)

**Azora Charge** is addressing the lack of secure parking and charging for e-bikes with its **solar-powered stations**. The Azora Arc, their flagship product, fits into a single parking space and can charge up to eight bikes. With a pilot program in Heidelberg, Azora aims to sell these stations to cities and businesses for €28,000.

### **Fleetser: The Micromobility Marketplace**

**Fleetser** operates as a marketplace for buying, selling, and refurbishing shared e-bikes and scooters. This European startup helps new and established operators with **supply chain management** and **logistics support**. Having sold 6,000 bikes this year, Fleetser is scaling through organic growth and word-of-mouth.

### **Switch: AI-Driven Fleet Management**

**Switch** is leveraging **AI and simulation** to optimize fleet planning for cities and shared mobility operators. Their products, Urbiverse and Urban Copilot, offer synthetic data generation and real-time demand forecasting. With nearly $1 million in funding, Switch is piloting its technology with Lime.

### **Zapp: The Super App for Mobility**

**Zapp** from Bosnia and Herzegovina combines food delivery, shared micromobility, and taxi services into one app. Operating on a **franchise model**, Zapp is expanding to Croatia after success in 10 Bosnian cities. CEO Martin Mikolic emphasizes empowering local entrepreneurs to meet regional needs.

### **J2R: Electric Motorcycles with a Twist**

![J2R's Smol electric motorcycle](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8863-1.jpg?w=680)

**J2R** is making waves with its **futuristic electric motorcycle**, Smol. Priced at €9,450, this urban-focused bike is assembled in France with EU-sourced parts. With a presale campaign underway, J2R plans to deliver 15 units by year-end and 100 in January 2026.

### **Trace Mobility: Business Intelligence for Operators**

**Trace Mobility** provides **subscription-based software** to help bike and car-sharing operators track key metrics. Founded by Tobias Meurer, this startup aims to improve profitability through data-driven insights, targeting smaller operators without their own booking platforms.

A handful of early stage micromobility startups out of Europe that are filling the gaps in a maturing ecosystem.

Europe's Micromobility Revolution: Meet the Startups Shaping the Future of Urban Transport

In a move to combat AI impersonation and adhere to emerging age verification laws, **Reddit** is exploring innovative solutions to verify user authenticity without compromising privacy. The platform is in talks to integrate **Sam Altman’s World ID**, an iris-scanning technology, to ensure users are both human and of a certain age.

### The Urgency for Verification
With AI's ability to impersonate users and new laws requiring age verification, Reddit faces the challenge of maintaining its platform's **humanness and anonymity**. CEO Steve Huffman emphasized the company's commitment to preserving these values while complying with legal requirements, potentially through third-party verification services like World ID.

### How World ID Works
World ID utilizes an **Orb** to scan a user's iris, creating a unique, encrypted identifier without storing personal data. This system ensures:
- **Uniqueness**: Each iris scan is one-of-a-kind, preventing duplicate accounts.
- **Privacy**: Encrypted fragments of the scan are stored globally, making unauthorized access nearly impossible.
- **Age Verification**: The Orb can detect if a user is under 18, refusing scans accordingly.

### Beyond Cryptocurrency
Initially launched with **Worldcoin**, World ID's value now lies in its ability to verify unique individuals anonymously. This technology could redefine online authenticity, offering a balance between verification and privacy.

### Potential Reddit Integration
Reddit may allow logins with unverified World IDs but could differentiate access levels based on verification status. A pilot program already enables credential verification, like passports, through the World app, ensuring no personal data is shared.

This exploration by Reddit highlights the growing need for **secure, anonymous verification methods** in the digital age, setting a precedent for other platforms to follow.

Reddit, racing to preserve “humanness and authenticity,” has discussed using Sam Altman’s World ID, sources say.

Reddit Considers Sam Altman's Iris-Scanning Orb for User Verification - A Leap Towards Authenticity?

## **Meta's Aggressive AI Talent Acquisition Strategy**

Meta Platforms (META) is making headlines with its aggressive strategy to **poach top AI talent**, including **Daniel Gross**, CEO of **Safe Superintelligence**, and former **Github CEO Nat Friedman**. This move comes after Meta's failed attempts to either hire or acquire Safe Superintelligence, led by former OpenAI research director **Ilya Sutskever**.

### **Key Developments**

- **Investment Firm Stake**: Meta plans to acquire a stake in **NFDG**, the investment firm run by Gross and Friedman.
- **Scale AI's CEO Joins Meta**: Last week, **Alexandr Wang**, ex-CEO of Scale AI, announced he would join Meta's AI development team, with Meta also investing billions in Scale AI.
- **Internal Frustrations**: Reports suggest **Mark Zuckerberg** is frustrated with Meta's AI progress, leading to delays in launching the **Llama 4 large language model**.

### **Building a Superintelligence Group**

Zuckerberg is reportedly assembling a **"superintelligence group"** at Meta's Menlo Park headquarters, aiming to accelerate AI development. This group will work closely with Zuckerberg, highlighting the urgency and importance Meta places on advancing its AI capabilities.

### **Market Reaction**

Despite these strategic moves, Meta's shares dipped slightly, though the stock has seen a **20% gain in 2025**. This reflects the market's cautious optimism about Meta's long-term AI ambitions.

**Meta, Safe Superintelligence, and Gross have yet to comment on these developments.**

Meta is investing billions of dollars in poaching top AI talent, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly been frustrated with the company's progress.

Meta's AI Talent War: Poaching Safe Superintelligence's CEO After Buyout Fallout

The **BBC** has taken a bold step by threatening legal action against **Perplexity AI**, marking its first significant move to safeguard its content from unauthorized scraping for **artificial intelligence** development. The corporation alleges that Perplexity's AI models were trained using BBC content without permission, demanding cessation and compensation.

### The Legal Standoff
- The BBC has sent a formal letter to **Aravind Srinivas**, CEO of Perplexity AI, accusing the startup of using BBC content to train its AI models.
- The broadcaster demands an **injunction** to stop further scraping and deletion of any copied content, alongside a proposal for financial compensation.

### Industry Backlash Against AI Scraping
This confrontation highlights a growing tension between **media organizations** and **AI companies** over the use of copyrighted material. The BBC's director general, **Tim Davie**, has been vocal about the need for **intellectual property protection**, emphasizing the risk to the creative sector's value.

### Perplexity's Defense
Perplexity AI counters the BBC's claims as "manipulative and opportunistic," arguing a misunderstanding of **technology and IP law**. Unlike giants like OpenAI or Google, Perplexity doesn't train its own models but offers an interface for users to choose between different AI models.

### The Bigger Picture
The dispute underscores the **global debate** on AI and copyright, with the UK government yet to finalize its stance. Meanwhile, other publishers are securing **licensing deals** with AI firms, setting precedents for future negotiations.

### What's Next?
With the BBC registering its copyright in the US and the UK government's pending decision, the outcome of this legal challenge could set a **critical precedent** for AI and media relations worldwide.

Letter sent to Perplexity AI but US-based firm calls corporation’s claims ‘manipulative and opportunistic’

How a 7-Week Break Unleashed Record Growth for My Business and Team

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Apple Eyes Perplexity AI in High-Stakes Talent War: A Game-Changer for AI Search?

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Cluely's Controversial Rise: How a Startup That 'Helps Cheat on Everything' Secured $15M from a16z

Europe's Micromobility Revolution: Meet the Startups Shaping the Future of Urban Transport

Reddit Considers Sam Altman's Iris-Scanning Orb for User Verification - A Leap Towards Authenticity?

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Other Latest News

Apple Eyes Perplexity AI in High-Stakes Talent War: A Game-Changer for AI Search?

Mira Murati's Secretive AI Startup Hits $10B Valuation with Record $2B Seed Round

Cluely's Controversial Rise: How a Startup That 'Helps Cheat on Everything' Secured $15M from a16z

Europe's Micromobility Revolution: Meet the Startups Shaping the Future of Urban Transport

Reddit Considers Sam Altman's Iris-Scanning Orb for User Verification - A Leap Towards Authenticity?

Meta's AI Talent War: Poaching Safe Superintelligence's CEO After Buyout Fallout

BBC vs. Perplexity AI: A Legal Battle Over Content Scraping and AI Training