<span>STORY: From data center deals to Meta’s major job cuts, this is Tech Weekly.</span><span>:: Tech Weekly</span><span>Google and Blackstone announced on Monday they’re forming an AI cloud business venture. </span><span>They’re aiming to capitalize on robust demand for AI data centers. </span><span>Major asset manager Blackstone will invest an initial $5 billion.</span><span>This will help bring 500 megawatts of data center capacity online in 2027, with further expansion planned over time. </span><span>The total investment value could reach $25 billion, including leverage, according to Bloomberg News.</span><span>Tesla’s Elon Musk expects fully self-driving cars without human safety monitors will soon be nationwide in the U.S. </span><span>“We already have some vehicles operating with no people inside and no safety monitors in three cities in Texas and what probably will be widespread in the U.S. by later this year and hopefully in Israel too.”</span><span>Tesla, which has faced slowing vehicle sales, operates robotaxis in Austin, Dallas and Houston.</span><span>But when Reuters tested it, it was plagued with long wait times, no availability or incorrect drop off spots for riders. </span><span>Yet, Musk remains positive that cars with no humans will be ubiquitous within a decade.</span><span>Samsung Electronics and its South Korean union have narrowed some differences in talks, a mediator said on Tuesday.</span><span>Pressure’s mounting from the government and business groups to avoid an imminent and damaging strike. </span><span>The two sides are seeking to hash out a deal on bonus payments before nearly 48,000 workers walk off the job for 18 days on Thursday.</span><span>Samsung accounts for almost a quarter of Sourth Korea’s exports.</span><span>And a strike of that magnitude and length has the potential to inflict significant damage on the economy. </span><span>Samsung’s also the world’s largest memory chip maker and production disruptions could dent global supply during the AI boom. </span><span>Meta’s planning to lay off 10% of its employees this week as it surges its AI investments. </span><span>The tech giant said in a memo to staff that workforce cuts would be accompanied by organizational changes aimed at improving AI workflows. </span><span>It said the company plans to move 7,000 employees to new initiatives related to AI workflows and slash managerial roles.</span><span>The changes are part of a far-reaching overhaul planned at Meta this year, as it looks to center AI agents in both product offerings and internal work. </span><span>A robot bricklayer could help address a shortage of skilled workers, according to one of its developers…</span><span>by automating one of the most repetitive and physically demanding roles on building sites.</span><span>Founder and CEO of JT Lifestyle Homes, Dr Jan Telensky:</span><span>“When I did the survey the average age of a bricklayer in UK is 46 years, which means, and nobody is learning it. So in 20 years time who is going to build the houses if you need a bricklayer?”</span><span>His solution is WLTR, the Wall Laying Terra-Based Robot, known simply as ‘Walter.</span><span>He added that the robot can do the work of five bricklayers and one labourer in an hour, while being operated by one person.</span>
