Axios

Truth Social's parent company, Trump Media and Technology Group, is pulling back from two Crypto.com deals as new leadership looks to focus the tech firm around its media arm and pending merger with fusion energy company TAE, interim CEO Kevin McGurn tells Axios.

Why it matters: The reset is a departure from previous leadership's strategy, which aggressively pursued crypto and financial services opportunities at the height of the crypto treasury boom in 2025.

OpenAI "cannot rule out" that its upcoming model Astra has "critical" cyber capabilities, a designation that has prompted the company to expand safety testing and pause internal activities that do not meet stricter security requirements, OpenAI told Axios first on Friday.

Why it matters: It's the latest sign of rapidly advancing cyber capabilities from AI models, after others worked autonomously outside of testing sandboxes and protections.

Nielsen has agreed to buy DoubleVerify, a digital media measurement firm, for around $2.15 billion, or $13.60 per share.

Why it matters: This highlights a recent trend of media measurement firms going (or staying) private, which could accelerate as AI continues to pressure software valuations.

The profile of the proposed $67 billion merger between NextEra and Dominion just got even higher — and the path toward creating a new power giant just got even trickier.

Why it matters: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger's (D) move Thursday to formally take part in the state regulatory proceeding is more than just inside baseball.

SpaceX's stock price rose Thursday, even as a large slug of new shares in the rocket-satellite-AI-social media conglomerate was freed up for trading.

Why it matters: SpaceX's June IPO was structured so that, initially, only a relatively small number of the company's shares — less than 5% — could be traded.

• That constrained supply likely helped support the stock through the company's high-profile debut as a publicly traded company.

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Thursday said it gave Paramount the green light to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

• It comes following assurances from Paramount that it would preserve editorial independence, invest in U.K. programming and protect children's networks..

Why it matters: It's a major regulatory win for Paramount, which is facing a more contentious approval battle back home.

Protecting and monitoring companies' internal AI stacks is one of the hottest topics on the floor of this year's Black Hat cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas.

Why it matters: Workers have been experimenting with different AI tools for years now, creating a plethora of new entry points for malicious hackers, experts at this year's show told Axios.

OpenAI on Thursday announced a series of changes that will upgrade ChatGPT for both paid and free users.

Why it matters: Free AI plans from frontier labs now offer more intelligence than most people will use, while enterprises are still figuring out how to budget for advanced capabilities.

AI can generate almost anything on a screen, but it can't re-create what happens when thousands of people gather around something they genuinely care about.

Why it matters: Communicators have long managed relationships with employees, investors, regulators and the media. Now add fans to the mix.

Amid the AI boom, labor's share of national income fell to a new low this year.

Why it matters: It's a barometer of who has the upper hand in the age-old tug-of-war between labor and capital.