The year starts aggressively: Elon Musk demands billions from OpenAI, Sam Altman introduces ads and preps a gadget, and Apple develops its own AI Pin.
AI
- **OpenAI introduces ads and preps a device.** The company [launches](https://openai.com/index/a-business-that-scales-with-the-value-of-intelligence/) a budget $8/mo tier, tests ads, and plans to release its first physical device this year.
- **Humans& raised $480M in a seed round.** The DeepMind and OpenAI alumni startup [received](https://techfundingnews.com/humans-ai-raises-480m-seed-4-5b-valuation/) a $4.5B valuation. The team is [building](https://techstrong.ai/features/ai-startup-humans-a-believer-in-humans-raises-480-million-at-4-48-billion-valuation/) a "human-centric AI" platform — connective tissue for teams that enhances collaboration rather than replacing people.
- **Elon Musk [demands](https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musk-openai-and-microsoft-owe-me-134-billion) $134B from OpenAI.** The lawsuit [declassified](https://www.trendingtopics.eu/inside-the-battle-elon-musk-vs-openai-20-explosive-allegations-and-the-companys-defense/) documents revealing details of the Microsoft relationship: the corporation shaped the lab's strategy for years.
Software and Hardware
- **Apple is [developing](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/21/apple-smart-home-camera-privacy-features/) a wearable AI Pin.** The company is testing an AirTag-sized device with cameras and speakers that will run on the new Siri and may launch in 2027.
- **Block [released](https://block.github.io/goose/) Goose — a Claude Code killer.** Jack Dorsey's company [built](https://venturebeat.com/infrastructure/claude-code-costs-up-to-usd200-a-month-goose-does-the-same-thing-for-free) an open-source alternative to Anthropic's tool: Goose is free and works with any LLM.
- **OpenAI is [buying](https://www.unite.ai/openai-taps-cerebras-for-10-billion-in-low-latency-compute/) compute from Cerebras.** To reduce reliance on scarce Nvidia chips, the company [signed](https://enterpriseai.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/openai-inks-10-billion-computing-deal-with-cerebras/126548859) a major deal to use their supercomputers.
- **Google is [teaching](https://chromeunboxed.com/gemini-in-chrome-is-getting-skills-as-it-moves-toward-becoming-a-full-ai-agent/) Gemini to control the browser.** Chrome is testing "skills" that will turn the assistant into a full-fledged web surfing agent.
Open Source
- **X [open-sourced](https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/x-open-sources-its-algorithm-while-facing-a-transparency-fine-and-grok-controversies/) its feed algorithms.** Amid Grok controversies, Musk's company published its feed ranking principles.