Quantum wins, Spotify floods

By the Orchestra editors · 4 min read

TL;DR

AU quantum startups Diraq and PsiQuantum score big in US$2B government push
Spotify drops a wave of AI features: remixes, podcasts, audiobooks
NSW proposes strict energy rules for data centres
ChatGPT ads now open to Australian businesses with self-serve tools

Australian Tech

Diraq lands US government backing in $2.8B quantum push

The Trump administration is taking equity stakes across nine quantum companies, with Sydney-based Diraq among them. PsiQuantum also features, having just moved its Australian facility from Brisbane Airport to a new Moreton Bay site better suited to its power needs.

NSW floats tough energy rules for data centres

Under a new transition plan, NSW data centre operators would need to fund enough new renewables to fully offset their energy demand and meet world-leading efficiency standards. Worth watching for anyone planning AU cloud or AI infrastructure.

ChatGPT ads go live for Australian businesses

OpenAI has rolled out self-serve campaign tools, CPC bidding and conversion tracking for ChatGPT ads in Australia, positioning the platform as a genuine Google Ads competitor for local advertisers.

AI · Worldwide

Spotify unleashes AI remixes, podcasts and audiobooks

Spotify announced a licensing deal with Universal Music letting Premium subscribers create AI covers and remixes with artist revenue sharing. Alongside that, it launched a NotebookLM-style personal podcast app and an ElevenLabs-powered audiobook creation tool.

Anthropic nears first profitable quarter on $10.9B revenue

Anthropic told investors it expects to more than double revenue to around $10.9B next quarter, reaching profitability for the first time. Separately, SpaceX's IPO filing revealed Anthropic is paying $15B a year for access to Musk's Colossus data centres.