The Rundown is reporting that Meta is rolling out paid subscription tiers for its core applications, including Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, under a new "Meta One" brand. Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus will cost $3.99 per month, while WhatsApp Plus will be $2.99 per month, offering customization and deeper story analytics. It said Meta is also testing two paid tiers for Meta AI, priced at $7.99 for Meta One Plus and $19.99 for Premium, which provides faster responses. Creator and business subscriptions are also being tested, bundling verification-style protections and expanded tools. The Rundown highlighted that this move aims to diversify revenue as Meta commits substantial funds to AI infrastructure.
The Rundown is reporting that Oura has unveiled its new fifth-generation smart ring, which is 40% smaller than its predecessor. The titanium-crafted Ring 5 ships June 4, priced from $399. It said Oura’s Health Radar software now includes Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing features, tracking long-term health patterns. A new Oura Labs AI-care feature, through Counsel Health, will allow eligible U.S. members to connect with licensed healthcare providers via the app. Full access to advanced health insights requires an Oura Membership for $5.99 per month or $69.99 annually. The Rundown noted Oura is confidentially pursuing an IPO at nearly $11 billion, aiming to differentiate its product through patent enforcement and clinical-grade features.
The Rundown is reporting that Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin experienced a significant setback when its New Glenn rocket exploded during a static fire test at Cape Canaveral, forcing the company to halt operations. It said the rocket was undergoing a "green run" ground firing for its fourth planned flight, which was to carry Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites. Blue Origin confirmed no injuries, and regulators reported no air traffic disruptions. The New Glenn rocket is now grounded indefinitely, following a previous April mission where its upper stage failed to deliver a satellite to orbit. The Rundown highlighted that this incident leaves upcoming Artemis and Pentagon payloads in uncertainty, as New Glenn was intended as a reusable alternative to SpaceX.
The Rundown is reporting that researchers at MIT have developed a cleaner method for extracting battery-grade lithium from hard rock. It said this innovative ammonium-fluoride process avoids acid roasting and toxic sludge, resulting in nearly zero waste. Laboratory tests showed a recovery rate of over 95% of lithium from rock samples, with the chemical reagent recycled. The low-temperature operation bypasses the energy-intensive roasting step, making the technique less carbon-intensive and more cost-effective. MIT has launched a startup, Rock Zero, to commercialize this technology, asserting it offers the most economical path to lithium from any natural source. The Rundown emphasized this could provide Western battery supply chains with a more sustainable and affordable foundation.