Welcome to this week’s edition of Week in Review, where we dive into the latest developments in the tech world. This week, we’re covering OpenAI’s potential plans to charge $20,000 a month for a specialized AI agent, the surprise revival of Digg, a company’s innovative approach to genetically engineering mice with mammoth-like fur, and many more exciting stories. Let’s dive in.

OpenAI’s Pricing Plans: According to a report from The Information, OpenAI is considering launching several specialized AI “agents” with tailored applications, including one that may cost $20,000 per month. This agent is reportedly designed to support PhD-level research. The substantial price tag reflects OpenAI’s significant financial needs, having lost around $5 billion last year due to operational costs and other expenses.

Scale AI Under Investigation: The U.S. Department of Labor is investigating Scale AI for potential non-compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, which regulates issues like unpaid wages and employee misclassification. The investigation, ongoing since at least August 2024, aims to ensure that Scale AI adheres to labor laws. A spokesperson for the company noted that the investigation began under the previous presidential administration and expressed a belief that regulators misunderstood Scale AI’s work at the time.

Elon Musk’s Legal Battle: A federal judge has denied Elon Musk’s motion to halt OpenAI’s transition into a for-profit company, citing insufficient evidence. However, the court is prepared to hold an expedited trial based on the claim that OpenAI’s conversion plan is unlawful. This development is the latest in Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, accusing them of abandoning the company’s original nonprofit mission.

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News

Digg’s Revival: Digg, one of the internet’s early news aggregators, is back under the ownership of its original founder, Kevin Rose, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Rose shared with TechCrunch that the new Digg won’t resemble the traditional forums of the past. Read more

Google’s Gemini Update: At Mobile World Congress 2025, Google introduced a new feature called “Screenshare” for its Gemini AI chatbot. This feature allows users to share their phone’s screen with the AI and ask questions about what it sees in real-time. Read more

Affordable AI Phone: Deutsche Telekom announced plans to launch an “AI Phone” in collaboration with Perplexity, a low-cost handset set to be unveiled in the second half of the year and priced under $1,000. Read more

AI in Gaming: Researchers at UCSD’s Hao AI Lab used Super Mario Bros. to benchmark AI performance, with Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 performing the best and OpenAI’s GPT-4o facing challenges. Read more

Volkswagen’s EV Plans: Volkswagen unveiled its ultra-cheap EV, the ID EVERY1, which will be the first to feature software and architecture from Rivian. Read more

Fundraising Insights: TechCrunch spoke with several VCs about the reasons behind ghosting founders and how founders can make a more impactful impression. Read more

ChatGPT’s Code Editing: The latest version of the macOS ChatGPT app can directly edit code in supported developer tools, a feature currently available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers. Read more

AI for Wildlife Conservation: Google has open-sourced SpeciesNet, an AI model designed to identify animal species from camera trap photos, aiding wildlife researchers in their studies. Read more

YouTube Ad-Free Option: YouTube introduced YouTube Lite, a new subscription tier offering ad-free viewing for most videos at $7.99 per month, although it lacks Premium features like downloads and background play. Read more

Genetic Engineering Breakthrough: Colossal Biosciences, aiming to revive the woolly mammoth by 2028, has made a significant step by genetically engineering mice to have mammoth-like fur. Read more

Analysis

Signal’s Popularity in the Netherlands: The privacy-focused messaging app Signal has seen significant success in the Dutch app stores, often ranking as the most downloaded free app. While the exact reason for its popularity is unclear, recent developments in the U.S. and Europe’s reliance on American technology have highlighted the importance of privacy, potentially contributing to Signal’s appeal. Read more