NASA's Artemis II Mission Clears Final Review, Set for Launch No Earlier Than April 1, 2026

• Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on March 31 that it will target 18 major US technology and industrial companies in the West Asia region starting 8 PM Tehran time on April 1 (1630 GMT), in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on Iranian pharmaceutical facilities and leadership. • The hit list includes Microsoft, Google, Apple, Meta, Intel, IBM, Tesla, Nvidia, Boeing, HP, Cisco, Oracle, Dell, and others, accused of enabling high-tech warfare through AI, ICT, and satellite tracking for assassinations. • IRGC urged employees to immediately evacuate workplaces and residents within a one-kilometer radius to leave for safety, labeling the firms as 'terrorist companies' and promising destruction of their regional units.

• French AI firm Mistral AI secured $830 million in debt financing on March 31, 2026, to build a state-of-the-art data center near Paris. • The funding underscores surging demand for AI computing infrastructure amid global expansions in hardware and power resources. • This move positions Mistral to compete in the intensifying AI race, highlighting shifts toward massive investments in data centers.

• Emerald AI announced a $25 million strategic funding round on March 31, 2026, led by Nvidia’s NVentures, Eaton, GE Vernova, Salesforce, Samsung, and Siemens. • The funding brings the startup's total capital to $68 million since its founding 16 months ago, targeting bottlenecks in AI infrastructure expansion. • The investment addresses the growing challenge of connecting data centers faster to power grids amid surging AI demand for electricity and land.

• Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen stated on March 31, 2026, that companies are 75% overstaffed from COVID-era overhiring, using AI as a 'silver bullet excuse' for layoffs. • In an interview on the 20VC podcast, Andreessen argued AI productivity fears mask long-standing business issues rather than genuine job displacement. • The comments highlight tensions in tech hiring amid AI advancements driving economic growth but fueling employee concerns over job security.

• Bitcoin price fell to $66,710.43 at 8:45 a.m. ET on March 31, 2026, down $1,112 from prior day and $15,830 from recent peak. • Decline reflects ongoing cryptocurrency market pressures in US trading. • Highlights volatility impacting tech investment sectors tied to digital assets.

• TD's second annual U.S. AI Insights Report shows 78% of Americans use AI tools daily, up significantly, released March 31, 2026 from Mount Laurel, NJ. • 67% report improved proficiency year-over-year; Gen Z at 90% usage across generations. • Only 18% trust AI alone for financial recommendations; 62% trust it for info but prefer humans, family (90%), banks (85%).

• Rezolve AI announced 543% growth in the second half of 2025, raising its 2026 revenue guidance to $360 million on March 30, 2026. • The company delivered strong financial results, highlighting accelerated adoption of its AI platform in enterprise commerce. • This milestone underscores investor confidence in AI-driven marketing tech amid a structural shift in the martech landscape.

• Waymo achieved skyrocketing ridership in its autonomous ride-hailing service, as charted in recent data highlighted March 31, 2026. • Expansion in US cities drives surge, with millions of miles logged safely. • This breakthrough validates robotaxi scalability amid regulatory progress.

• A Quinnipiac poll of 1,397 US adults conducted in mid-March reveals that a majority of Americans believe AI will harm them, with concerns intensifying as tech companies invest heavily in AI infrastructure. • Seventy percent of Americans think AI advancements will reduce job opportunities—14% more than last year—while only 7% believe AI will increase jobs; nearly two-thirds worry AI will worsen education. • A slight majority of Americans oppose military use of AI to select targets, with only 36% supporting the practice, reflecting growing unease about autonomous weapons systems.

• The White House issued its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence on March 20, 2026, guiding U.S. AI development. • CSIS experts Navin Girishankar and Aalok Mehta discussed the framework's implications in a rapid round-up. • The policy shapes U.S. AI leadership, influencing industry investments and regulations.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced expectations of at least $1 trillion in demand for its Blackwell and Rubin AI systems through 2027, doubling from $500 billion projected through 2026. • This projection signals over 100% annual sales growth for Nvidia amid booming data center demand. • The forecast underscores AI's role in driving U.S. tech sector expansion and GDP growth, with analysts citing non-inflationary productivity gains.