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Here's the latest tech news from the last 24 hours:

🛩 Google cofounder's 'air yachts' have been approved for flight
🤖 Companies building AI models soon required to report training, testing processes
💼 More than a year later, $20B Adobe-Figma deal still stuck in regulatory limbo
✈️ World’s first certified passenger-carrying air taxi takes flight
🔍 Google’s AI technology could further entrench online search monopoly

🛩 Google cofounder's 'air yachts' have been approved for flightLINK

Google co-founder Sergey Brin's company, LTA Research, has received flight clearance for its airship, Pathfinder 1.

The airship, described as an 'air yacht', will be used to deliver humanitarian aid to remote areas of the world.

Brin's Pathfinder 1, with a height limit of 1,500 feet, will begin test flights at Google-run Moffett Field in the Bay Area.

🤖 Companies building AI models soon required to report training, testing processesLINK

U.S. President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order mandating AI developers, like Microsoft and Amazon, to disclose their training and testing processes to the federal government.

The order is part of a government-wide strategy to ensure the safe and responsible deployment of AI, addressing issues like privacy, misinformation, and discrimination.

This move comes as part of broader efforts to regulate AI, with the U.S. seeking to maintain a competitive edge in technology while responding to calls for action against the risks associated with AI advancements.

💼 More than a year later, $20B Adobe-Figma deal still stuck in regulatory limboLINK

Over a year since its announcement, Adobe's $20 billion acquisition of Figma is still under regulatory review and the two companies remain independent.

Figma has hired 500 new employees and launched a developer mode, continuing operations and growth independently during this period.

The acquisition has drawn scrutiny from regulatory bodies in the U.S., EU, and U.K., due to concerns about potential anti-competitive practices.

✈️ World’s first certified passenger-carrying air taxi takes flightLINK

Ehang, a company based in China, has received world's first airworthiness certification for its fully autonomous electric air taxis, EH216-S, which can carry up to two passengers or 600 pounds of cargo for up to 18 miles.

The EH216-S air taxis use a touchscreen destination selection system and are monitored by a centralized command and control center; they can vertically take off and land from any flat surface, including rooftops and parking lots, and pose less environmental harm due to electric power usage.

Despite the potential applications in urban air mobility such as commutes and deliveries, Ehang faces challenges like regulations, technology, market demand, and social acceptance that they intend to tackle for successful operations.

🔍 Google’s AI technology could further entrench online search monopolyLINK

Google's development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) products could further solidify its monopoly over online search, warn lawmakers and antitrust watchdogs.

The company is investing in AI tools such as its Bard chatbot, which could integrate into its dominant search engine and potentially worsen competition concerns.

Observers suggest congressional action may be necessary to address the complex competition and monopoly issues, as existing antitrust laws might not be effective in handling AI-driven dominance.

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Elon Musk plans for Starlink to provide Gaza aid groups with connectivity, despite Israel's opposition and concern over potential misuse by Hamas.LINK

NASA is launching a rocket on Sunday to study a 20,000-year-old supernova.LINK

Google Bard now echoes ChatGPT by responding to queries in real time, providing a more human-like interaction without altering response quality.LINK

Google researchers successfully used standard noise-canceling earbuds and a software update to measure heart rate through ultrasound, overcoming key limitations of traditional light-based methods.LINK

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