AI News, Jul 2, 2026: OpenAI proposes giving the US government a five percent stake

Today's news highlights the growing costs of the AI boom, from massive energy demands to new hardware partnerships and subscription models.

1. 01
   Mark Zuckerberg says AI agents are progressing slower than expectedTechCrunch

   During an internal meeting, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told employees that the development of AI agents has not moved as quickly as he had hoped. The comments reflect a more cautious outlook on the timeline for deploying highly capable autonomous tools.

   Why it matters

   Tempered expectations from top tech leaders suggest that fully autonomous AI assistants may take longer to reach consumers than hyped.
2. 02
   Meta launches Pocket, an AI app for generating mini gamesTechCrunch

   Meta has quietly released an experimental app called Pocket. The platform allows users to generate, play, and share simple interactive mini games using natural language text prompts.

   Why it matters

   Anyone can now create and share simple, interactive games using basic text prompts without needing to know how to code.
3. 03
   Anthropic negotiates with Samsung to build custom AI chipsTechCrunch

   Anthropic is reportedly in discussions with Samsung to develop custom AI hardware. The talks come shortly after rival OpenAI announced its own custom chip partnership with Broadcom, highlighting the industry's push to secure independent hardware pipelines.

   Why it matters

   Designing custom chips helps AI developers reduce their reliance on Nvidia, potentially lowering the long-term cost of running AI models.
4. 04
   Microsoft launches dedicated AI deployment company with 2.5 billion dollarsTechCrunch

   Microsoft has committed $2.5 billion to launch a new, dedicated AI deployment group. The move follows similar infrastructure and deployment initiatives from competitors like Amazon, OpenAI, and Anthropic.

   Why it matters

   This massive investment will make it easier for businesses to integrate and run complex AI models using Microsoft's cloud infrastructure.
5. 05
   Google's electricity use jumped 37 percent in 2025 due to AIArs Technica

   Google reported a 37% increase in electricity consumption for 2025, driven largely by the expansion of its AI data centers. The company is actively trying to balance its aggressive AI infrastructure buildout with its long-term clean energy goals.

   Why it matters

   The massive power demands of AI data centers are straining power grids and complicating tech companies' transition to clean energy.
6. 06
   OpenAI proposes giving the US government a five percent stakeThe Verge AI

   OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly proposed giving a 5% ownership stake to a U.S. sovereign wealth fund. The move is aimed at easing tensions with the Trump administration and addressing public backlash over the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.

   Why it matters

   A government stake could align federal interests with OpenAI, potentially easing regulatory pressure and shaping how public funds support AI development.
7. 07
   Meta introduces subscription fees for advanced smart glasses featuresWIRED AI

   Meta is transitioning to a subscription model for its smart glasses, requiring users to pay a recurring fee for expanded access to advanced AI features. The shift signals a broader trend in consumer technology where hardware purchases no longer guarantee full software access.

   Why it matters

   Consumers may increasingly face ongoing subscription fees to access the most useful AI capabilities on hardware they already own.