It's been a busy week in the tech world, with major acquisitions, financial struggles, and exciting updates from top companies. Let's dive into the biggest news of the week.

xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk, has acquired X in an all-stock deal, valuing xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. Musk announced the deal on X, stating that the combination will bring together data, models, compute, distribution, and talent. This acquisition is a significant move in the tech industry, and its implications will be closely watched in the coming months.

In other news, 11x, a company backed by a16z and Benchmark, has been accused of fudging its numbers. According to more than 20 sources, including investors and current and former employees, the company has experienced financial struggles, largely due to its own actions. A former employee revealed that the company "absolutely massaged the numbers internally when it came to growth and churn." This news raises concerns about the company's future and the potential impact on its investors.

Block, the company behind Cash App and Square, is laying off 931 people, or 8% of its workforce, as part of an "org restructuring." According to a leaked message from CEO Jack Dorsey, the layoffs are not due to financial reasons or plans to replace workers with AI. The move is seen as a strategic shift for the company, but its impact on employees and the industry remains to be seen.

In a surprising move, President Trump has pardoned Trevor Milton, the founder of bankrupt hydrogen trucking startup Nikola, who was convicted of fraud. The pardon comes just weeks after Nikola filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, raising questions about the motivations behind the decision.

A leaked database has revealed that China has developed an AI system that supercharges its censorship machine, extending far beyond traditional taboos like the Tiananmen Square massacre. This development has significant implications for freedom of speech and online privacy in China.

Rivian's skunkworks project has been spun out of the company with a new name and $105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures. The startup, called Also, will exist as a stand-alone company from Rivian, focusing on innovative projects.

Apple has announced that its Worldwide Developers Conference 2025 will begin on June 9. Reports suggest that the company is preparing dramatic software overhauls for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, including the highly anticipated iOS 19.

DNA testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, raising concerns about the safety of user data. The company's co-founder and CEO, Anne Wojcicki, has announced plans to bid for the company as an independent entity.

Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old who was laid off from Media Matters after Elon Musk sued the company, has announced her bid for Congress. Abughazaleh aims to bring transparency to the political process and has shared her experiences on social media.

In a surprising discovery, a Lumon Terminal Pro, a machine from the popular TV show "Severance," has appeared on Apple's website. The show's fans are excited about the potential implications of this development.

SpaceX, a defense contractor for the Pentagon, has reportedly allowed Chinese investors to buy shares, as long as the funds are routed through the Cayman Islands or other offshore hubs. This news raises concerns about national security and the role of foreign investors in US defense contractors.

Nintendo has announced that it's working on Virtual Game Cards, which will allow players to take their downloaded games with them to use on other devices. The company also revealed that it's working on the Switch 2, a highly anticipated update to its popular gaming console.

Finally, OpenAI's new image generator has sparked a debate about copyrights and AI-generated content. The tool has been used to create images based on art by Studio Ghibli, raising questions about the legal implications of training AI models on copyrighted material. Intellectual property lawyers argue that this development operates in a legal "gray area," highlighting the need for clearer guidelines on AI-generated content.

That's all for this week's tech news roundup. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on the latest developments in the tech world.