Microsoft releases Windows 11 update

☕ Good morning,

OpenAI just partnered with Samsung and SK Hynix to fuel its massive Stargate project, Microsoft rolled out the Windows 11 25H2 update with stronger security, and Google is pushing Gemini deeper into smart homes.

_{—Here’s to the first sip.}

TODAY IN AI
OpenAI partners with Samsung and SK Hynix

OpenAI is locking in more firepower for its massive Stargate project, and this time it’s turning to South Korea. The company has signed deals with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to ramp up production of high-bandwidth memory chips, with a target of nearly 900,000 DRAM wafers a month, more than double today’s industry capacity. These chips will feed the compute-hungry AI models that Stargate is designed to run.

The partnerships go beyond chips. OpenAI is working with Samsung, SK, and the Korean government to explore new data centers across the country, including floating ones that could cut energy costs and emissions. Samsung’s subsidiaries, from shipbuilding to cloud services, are also stepping in to help design and scale this next-gen infrastructure. Both Samsung and SK plan to integrate ChatGPT Enterprise and OpenAI APIs into their own operations.

It’s the latest in a wave of billion-dollar moves by OpenAI to secure compute, cash, and partnerships. With Nvidia already pledging up to $100 billion in support and Oracle promising hundreds of billions in compute capacity, South Korea now finds itself positioned as a core hub in the global AI arms race.

TECH BARISTA
Microsoft rolls out Windows 11 25H2 update

Microsoft has started rolling out the Windows 11 25H2 update, but don’t expect a completely new design. It’s a small enablement package, meaning it installs quickly and mainly builds on the features already shipped with 24H2. Both versions now share the same code base, which lets Microsoft push monthly feature updates to users on either branch.

The real focus here is behind the scenes. 25H2 brings stronger security with AI-assisted secure coding and new tools for spotting vulnerabilities at build and runtime. Microsoft also trimmed some legacy fat by removing PowerShell 2.0 and WMIC, making the OS a bit leaner.

If you want it now, just toggle on “get the latest updates” in Windows Update. Some devices might be held back if Microsoft detects compatibility issues, but the rollout will gradually expand over the coming months.

GADGETS BARISTA
Gemini comes to smart home devices

Google is revamping its smart home lineup with Gemini AI at the center. The new Nest Cam Indoor ($99.99), Outdoor ($149.99), and Doorbell ($179.99) now shoot in 2K HDR, with wider views, better low-light performance, and smarter notifications. Instead of basic “motion detected” alerts, Gemini can describe events like a delivery driver leaving a package, and even create a daily “Home Brief” that sums up everything you missed.

Google also doubled free event history to six hours, rebranded Nest Aware as Google Home Premium, and folded it into Google One’s AI tiers. To reach more households, it partnered with Walmart on low-cost onn-branded cameras and doorbells.

Looking ahead, Google teased its next big move, a Gemini-powered Google Home speaker launching in spring 2026 for $99. It will support 360-degree audio, pair with Google TV, and feature a light ring that shows Gemini’s activity in real time.

STARTUP BAR
Periodic Labs raises $300M to build AI scientists

Periodic Labs has come out of stealth with a massive $300 million seed round, backed by names like Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, Eric Schmidt, and Jeff Dean.

The startup is led by Ekin Dogus Cubuk, who worked on AI chemistry tools like GNoME at Google Brain and DeepMind, and Liam Fedus, former VP of Research at OpenAI and co-creator of ChatGPT. Their small team includes veterans from OpenAI, Microsoft, and other top research groups.

Their goal is bold: build AI scientists that can run experiments, gather data, and improve on their own. The first target is better superconductors, but the vision stretches to discovering entirely new materials and creating fresh physical-world datasets that push AI further.

Others are exploring this idea too, but with this funding and team, Periodic Labs is betting it can take automated scientific discovery mainstream.