Stories from San Francisco · United States

AI company Anthropic has expanded its Claude assistant by adding personal app connectors for services including Spotify, Uber Eats, Instacart, and TurboTax. This move aims to position Claude as a central AI operating system by allowing direct interaction with user data across various platforms. The update follows similar integration steps taken by competitors like ChatGPT. Anthropic's Claude AI can now connect directly to Adobe Photoshop, Blender, and Ableton.

The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards winners were announced during the RSA Conference, highlighting a major industry shift toward AI-driven security solutions. The focus on AI indicates that automated threat detection and mitigation are now the primary priorities for security professionals. The awards recognized various achievements in the cybersecurity sector.

Renowned composer and music director Michael Tilson Thomas has passed away at the age of 81. He served as the long-time music director of the San Francisco Symphony. His death marks the loss of a significant figure in the classical music community. A memorial interview regarding his career is scheduled for later this week on Forum. He had been battling brain cancer since 2022. Tilson-Thomas presided over the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for 25 years. The source described him as one of the most visionary visionaries of American music. His work was noted for transforming natural imagery into sound.

OpenAI has officially released its GPT-5.5 model, marking a significant advancement in large language model capabilities. The release follows intense anticipation within the technology sector regarding the next generation of generative AI. Analysts suggest this release could shift the competitive landscape of the artificial intelligence industry. OpenAI and Anthropic claim their most powerful AI models are now capable of building themselves. This development increases concerns regarding a lack of transparency as models become more powerful. The source noted that the federal government currently does not require transparency for these processes. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, reportedly expressed fear and anxiety regarding the concentration of power in AI. In early April, Altman's home in San Francisco was targeted in two separate attacks within one week.

AI startup Anthropic reported an annualized revenue run rate of $30 billion as of April 2026, a significant increase from $9 billion at the end of 2025. This growth follows the launch of Claude Code, which contributes approximately $2.5 billion to the company's annual recurring revenue. The surge highlights the rapid commercial scaling of major artificial intelligence providers. This figure surpasses OpenAI's reported $24 billion revenue.

OpenAI has launched its latest AI model, GPT-5.5, featuring expanded cybersecurity safeguards. This release follows the recent deployment of GPT-5.4 and signals accelerating competition in the high-performance AI model market. The update aims to address security concerns as developers race to release more robust large language models. The tool is engineered to analyze large volumes of scientific data without human intervention. The announcement was reported by Radio Cooperativa Chile.

Renowned music director Michael Tilson Thomas has passed away at the age of 90. He served as the music director of the San Francisco Symphony for twenty-five years, leaving a massive legacy in the classical music world. His death marks the end of an era for American orchestral leadership. During his tenure, he focused on promoting American compositions and highlighting works by female and Black composers. The news was reported following his passing earlier this week. He was known for his influence on American musical life and for mentoring young musicians. Tillson Thomas had been battling a malignant brain tumor for five years. His last public appearance was in April during a concert celebrating his 80th birthday. He conducted more than 120 classical music recordings with major orchestras.

A prototype for the upcoming Tesla Model YL has been observed driving on Interstate 280 in the San Francisco Bay Area. This sighting marks the first public appearance of the long-wheelbase variant on US roads. The vehicle's presence suggests Tesla is moving closer to a formal launch of the extended model. Tesla Cybertrucks have joined PG&E's Vehicle-to-Grid program in California.

A group of book authors has filed a lawsuit against Databricks regarding the use of their works for training Large Language Models. The legal action, O'Nan v. Databricks Inc., is currently moving through the court system with recent docket entries noting electronic filing errors and set/reset hearings. This case highlights the growing legal tension between intellectual property rights and generative AI development.

AI startup Anthropic has achieved a $1 trillion valuation on secondary markets, marking a massive milestone for the artificial intelligence sector. This development occurs alongside reports of growth in major cloud computing sectors. Anthropic is considering a new funding round that would value the AI developer at more than $900 billion. The news comes as the AI trade continues to drive U.S. equity index futures. Bloomberg sources are monitoring the potential valuation increase. AI startup Anthropic is reportedly seeking new anchor investors for its cap table. No specific reason for the capital raise was provided by the company. AI developer Anthropic is reportedly in discussions to raise a new 50 billion USD funding round. The company has received multiple pre-emptive offers at a valuation of 900 billion USD.