Issue #10
Anthropic-California deal, free Gemini image generation, and Korea's $550B chip bet
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Today covers a discounted Claude deal between Anthropic and California's government, free personalized image generation in Gemini, and South Korean firms committing over $550 billion to memory chips. Also in this issue: Base44's new in-house model, Arena's $100M valuation, a settled Tesla trade secret suit, and OKX's plan for AI agents to pay each other.
1 of 7 · TechCrunch AI
Anthropic and Gov. Newsom forge deal allowing California government to use Claude at half price
Anthropic reached an agreement with California Governor Gavin Newsom that allows state government agencies to use its Claude AI model at half price. The deal comes as the company's relationship with the federal government has grown strained.
Read the full story →2 of 7 · TechCrunch AI
Gemini’s personalized AI image generation is now free for US users
Google has expanded Gemini's personalized AI image generation to eligible free users in the U.S. The feature generates images based on a user's interests and data from connected Google apps.
Read the full story →3 of 7 · TechCrunch AI
Vibe coding platform Base44 launches own model as AI startups seek defensibility
Base44, the Wix-owned vibe coding platform, has begun rolling out its own AI model with the goal of eventually surpassing frontier models in performance. The move reflects a broader trend of AI startups developing proprietary technology to establish defensibility against competitors.
Read the full story →4 of 7 · TechCrunch AI
South Korean tech giants commit over $550B to ease ‘RAMageddon’
Samsung and SK Hynix, the world's two largest memory chip makers, pledged over $550 billion to expand memory fabrication and lab facilities. The investment supports South Korea's push to establish itself as a major AI technology hub amid tight memory supply.
Read the full story →5 of 7 · TechCrunch AI
Arena, the AI leaderboard everyone uses, is now a $100M business
Arena, the company behind the widely used free AI leaderboard, has reached $100 million in business value. It launched its commercial service in September.
Read the full story →6 of 7 · TechCrunch AI
Robot hand company settles Tesla trade secret suit and announces $11M raise
Robotics startup Proception settled a trade secret lawsuit with Tesla and announced an $11 million funding round. The company focuses on robotic hands, using a distinct method to collect training data for one of robotics' most difficult challenges.
Read the full story →7 of 7 · TechCrunch AI
Crypto exchange OKX wants AI agents to hire and pay each other
OKX is launching a marketplace where AI agents can hire and pay each other, integrating payments, identity, and reputation systems. The crypto exchange aims to enable autonomous transactions between AI agents.
Read the full story →That's your scan for Tuesday, June 30. See you tomorrow morning.
Morning Roost Issue #10