TL;DR
Oil prices spike past $110/barrel as the Iran conflict escalates global energy markets. Meanwhile, the tech world sees major funding rounds (Nscale raises $2B), mounting tensions between AI labs and the Pentagon, and continued debate over agent-first software development. Spring menswear trends are emerging just as professional cycling season heats up in Europe.
Worth Reading
- Oil tops $100 a barrel as Iran war escalates (Axios) — Oil hits triple digits for the first time since 2022, signaling serious economic fallout from the Middle East conflict
- Stocks Tank in Asia as Oil Price Surges (NYT) — Global markets reel as energy supply disruptions rattle investors
- Can AI Kill the Venture Capitalist? (WIRED) — VCs betting AI will disrupt everything may be unprepared for their own disruption
- Advice to developers: make software that agents want (Aaron Levie) — Box CEO argues AI agents will become the primary software users
- Paris-Nice Stage 2 Preview (The Inner Ring) — A sprint stage analysis in cycling’s premier early-season stage race
Tech Culture
The software development world is grappling with a fundamental shift toward AI agents as primary users. Aaron Levie’s viral thread advocating for “API-first design” reflects growing consensus that human-centered UIs may soon be secondary to machine-readable interfaces. This aligns with broader trends as Programmers will document for Claude, but not for each other — highlighting how AI tools are changing development practices in ways traditional team collaboration never could.
Data center investments continue flowing despite geopolitical headwinds. UK data center developer Nscale raised a $2B Series C at a $14.6B valuation, adding tech heavyweights Sheryl Sandberg and Nick Clegg to its board. The funding comes as the US-led war in Iran complicates Gulf nations’ $300B+ AI spending plans, potentially limiting a key source of tech industry funding.
The Pentagon’s relationship with AI companies remains fractured. Writing in Will Sommer – The Bulwark, leaked texts reveal campaign drama, while Techmeme reports Anthropic is suing the US DOD after being designated a supply chain risk. The contrast with OpenAI’s willingness to take military contracts couldn’t be starker.
AI & Machine Learning
OpenAI faces mounting challenges as competitors gain ground. OpenAI is feeling the heat, but it’s not cooked details how ChatGPT uninstalls surged 295% after the Pentagon deal announcement, while Claude downloads jumped 51%. The company also reversed course on e-commerce integration, with TD Cowen analysts calling the pivot “stunning.”
The broader AI landscape shows signs of maturation and skepticism. Why RFK’s CDC Is Endorsing ‘Shared Decisionmaking’ for Vaccines examines how the MAHA movement is co-opting medical terminology, while A Lloyds-commissioned study finds 50%+ of UK adults used AI for financial advice, with ChatGPT being the most popular platform.
Photography
Wildlife photography workflow gets systematic treatment in Stop Guessing in Lightroom: A Clear Editing Plan for Wildlife Photos. The piece addresses the common problem of opening strong frames without a clear post-processing strategy, advocating for methodical approaches over slider experimentation.
Sports & Fitness
Professional cycling season continues with Paris-Nice Stage 2 offering what may be the week’s only guaranteed sprint finish. The analysis notes how sprinting opportunities are becoming scarcer in modern route design, making today’s flat terrain more precious for pure speed merchants.
Meanwhile, Aussie champ Coupland takes her first pro win in Europe as Mackenzie Coupland claims overall victory at Vuelta a Extremadura Femenina, building on her compelling WorldTour debut in Australia.
The mountain bike world continues its product evolution with Race Face releasing Era SL Carbon Cranks at 422g, undercutting both Shimano and SRAM’s lightest options while maintaining a lifetime warranty.
Audio/AV
Samsung’s display dominance continues as Samsung has been the world’s biggest TV brand for 20 years in a row, holding a 29.1% global market share in 2025 and dominating premium segments above $1,500.
The audiophile world sees new releases with THIEAUDIO Hype 4 MKII Review covering a $399 hybrid IEM featuring dual dynamic and quad Knowles BA drivers, while Meze Audio announces the ASTRU, a flagship single dynamic driver IEM targeting portable high-end sound.
For the intersection of audio and visual art, This Wall Speaker Lets You Decorate Your Room with Music and Art examines the Monar Canvas Speaker, which combines Hi-Fi audio with real-time visual displays that respond to music.
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