This Week in Tech 71

AI is designing toys, cooking your dinner, driving your car, and reshaping the computing and gaming worlds—are you ready for what’s next?

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Read time: 6 min

Today’s Slate

  • People are 3D printing action figures using ChatGPT (+ more tools)

  • France’s Mistral AI is racing to become Europe’s OpenAI alternative

  • Quantum chips are heating up with Google, IBM, and startups racing to shape the future of computing.

  • Rockstar’s GTA 6 delay to May 2026 reshapes the entire gaming calendar, impacting console sales, studio schedules, and industry hopes.

  • Meet Posha, the countertop robot chef that cooks real meals

  • Uber and WeRide expand global robotaxi service to 15 cities.

  • Amazon’s Zoox pauses its robotaxi rollout after a crash and software recall

  • The. Future. Is. Here.

Artificial Intelligence

At a glance

  • Viral trend alert: The "AI action figure" craze is turning people and pets into toy-box-style avatars using ChatGPT.

  • Simple process: Upload a photo, describe your look, and get a custom character image to share or refine.

  • 3D printable: CNET shows how to turn your AI figure into a real object with Maker Lab and Bambu Studio.

  • Flawed fun: AI quirks like extra limbs or odd packaging make each creation uniquely entertaining.

  • Creative showcase: From Seinfeld’s Kramer to postal mascots and photogenic pups, the internet is showing off.

Our vision

This quirky blend of AI, personalization, and DIY 3D printing is more than a meme it’s a glimpse into a future where physical identity mirrors digital creativity. As tools evolve, expect your online persona to leap off the screen and into your hands. It might be possible now, but only if you’re willing to jump through hoops and use multiple tools and platforms in the process.

At a glance

  • Mistral AI is France’s leading OpenAI competitor: Known for its assistant Le Chat and a suite of foundational models.

  • Its mobile app hit 1M downloads in two weeks: bolstered by support from French President Emmanuel Macron.

  • The company offers both open and closed models: This included Mistral Large 2, Codestral for coding, and edge-optimized “Ministraux.”

  • Mistral has raised over $1B: Top investors like a16z, Lightspeed, Microsoft, and Nvidia, help Mistral reach a $6B valuation.

  • Strategic partners: Microsoft, IBM, AFP, and the French army, with monetization through APIs, licenses, and a $14.99/month Pro plan.

Our vision

Mistral AI’s rapid rise reflects a growing desire for sovereign, transparent alternatives to American AI giants and France is betting big on it. With massive funding, strategic partnerships across defense and media, and a focus on European values of openness and independence, Mistral could become the continent’s defining AI export if it can scale fast enough to back its bold valuation.

And let’s be honest, who doesn’t like the name Le Chat?

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Quantum Computing

At a glance

  • Quantum chips in focus: A global race is underway to build scalable, error-tolerant quantum processors.

  • Big Tech leads with muscle: Google, Microsoft, and IBM are pushing ahead with superconducting and topological chips.

  • Startups challenge norms: PsiQuantum, Rigetti, IonQ, and Alice & Bob are innovating with photonics, neutral atoms, and fault-tolerant architectures.

  • Massive funding, slow scaling: Billions raised, but true commercial-ready chips remain years out.

  • Global reach: Europe’s IQM and France’s Pasqal add geopolitical weight to the tech race.

Our vision

Quantum tech is no longer just a science experiment—it’s a race. With companies from startups to giants like Google and IBM jumping in, we’re closer than ever to quantum chips solving real-world problems. In the near future, this could mean faster drug discovery, smarter logistics, or safer encryption. Long term, it might reshape how we think about computing entirely. The quantum age is coming, and it’s being built by more hands than ever.

Gaming

At a glance

  • GTA 6 delayed to May 2026: Rockstar's six-month delay from Fall 2025 gives relief to competitors, but disrupts 2026 game release calendars.

  • Industry-wide impact: Studios are scrambling to shift launches to avoid being overshadowed by what could be the first $100 game.

  • Console sales hinge on it: Analysts believe GTA 6 could drive a surge in PlayStation and Xbox sales—and possibly influence Nintendo's Switch 2.

  • Culture shift at Rockstar: Delay stems from an effort to avoid past crunch practices, signaling a more sustainable development approach.

  • Massive expectations: With pre-order estimates at $1B and first-year revenue projections over $3B, GTA 6 is seen as gaming's next big economic catalyst.

Our vision

Grand Theft Auto 6 has the potential to be more than just a blockbuster game. It could redefine the boundaries of interactive entertainment. The trailers already reveal cinematic visuals and a new level of realism that signal a major technological leap. Rumors point to a fully integrated virtual economy that may allow players to earn real money, adding an entirely new dimension to gameplay.

If Rockstar is building a world that is visually stunning, deeply immersive, and economically dynamic, then the delay may not be a setback at all. It may be the time needed to ensure a stable and groundbreaking experience from the moment players first log in.

Robotics

At a glance

  • Smart kitchen helper: Posha is a $1,750 countertop robot that cooks meals using computer vision, simplifying home cooking for busy users.

  • Partial prep required: Users still chop ingredients and load them in, but Posha handles cooking and adapts to substitutions or imperfect measurements.

  • Time saver: Designed for home cooks who already make meals 2–6 times a week, Posha cuts kitchen time by up to 70%.

  • Direct touch with customers: Founder Raghav Gupta maintains personal relationships via WhatsApp with over 100 customers, helping drive product refinement.

  • Growing fast: Backed by Accel and Flipkart’s co-founder, Posha sold out its first batch and plans AI-powered recipe customization for future models.

Our vision

Posha taps into the growing demand for smarter home appliances that merge flexibility with automation. It’s not full autonomy, but it offers a glimpse into a near future where everyday robots support, rather than replace, the rituals of home cooking—and might just earn their place next to the microwave.

Transportation

At a glance

  • Uber and WeRide expand globally: The two companies will bring robotaxi service to 15 more cities over the next five years, targeting markets outside China and the U.S.

  • European cities included: The expansion builds on their existing rollout in Abu Dhabi and upcoming plans for Dubai.

  • Similar to Uber–Waymo model: WeRide provides the autonomous tech while Uber handles fleet routing and customer interface.

  • Uber diversifies AV bets: This is one of over 15 autonomous partnerships Uber has formed, alongside players like Waymo, Volkswagen, and Momenta.

  • Waymo remains top U.S. partner: While WeRide grows abroad, Uber continues to scale Waymo rides in cities like Austin and Atlanta.

Our vision

Uber is quietly building the most expansive global robotaxi network by stitching together regional leaders like WeRide and Waymo. While Zoox and Tesla aim to control both software and fleet, Uber’s ecosystem strategy might prove more scalable—especially as it integrates autonomous offerings seamlessly into its existing app across continents.

At a glance

  • Zoox issues recall after crash: An April 8 crash in Las Vegas involving a Zoox robotaxi prompted a voluntary recall of 270 vehicles due to faulty software predictions.

  • Driverless testing paused, then resumed: Zoox halted all operations after the crash and resumed testing nine days later following a software update.

  • Software misjudged human driver behavior: The vehicle incorrectly anticipated another car's movement, resulting in minor damage despite hard braking.

  • Commercial rollout still planned: Zoox says it remains on track to launch a robotaxi service in Las Vegas later this year, despite safety concerns.

  • Recurring issues raise scrutiny: This marks Zoox’s second recall in 2025, adding pressure as it seeks to match Waymo’s public operations and preempt Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi reveal.

Our vision

Zoox's cautious but ambitious approach to launching a commercial robotaxi service highlights how complex and sensitive this race remains. Unlike Waymo, which already offers fully driverless rides to the public in multiple cities, Zoox is still in the pre-launch phase and grappling with reliability issues. Tesla, meanwhile, has yet to deliver on its robotaxi promises, with a major reveal slated for later this year.

As these companies take different paths to autonomy, Zoox’s recalls remind us that even well-funded efforts must prioritize real-world readiness over bold claims.

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