An enigmatic AI laboratory initiated by serial entrepreneur Brett Adcock revealed fresh insights regarding what it considers a groundbreaking fusion of model development and hardware creation that aims to transform human interaction with intelligent software.

The enterprise announced in a statement its intention to create multi-modal end-to-end models, alongside their hardware and interfaces concurrently, to provide a “flawless end-to-end personal intelligence solution.” This system will possess an enduring memory of your existence and will be capable of listening, observing, and engaging with the environment instantaneously.

The execution of this plan remains ambiguous outside the company, but Hark’s aspirations reflect Silicon Valley’s persistent quest for a game-changing application that can make AI a sought-after consumer commodity, rather than awkwardly integrated features into established digital platforms.

“My stance is straightforward: current AI models are far from sufficiently intelligent; they seem rather foolish, and the devices we utilize to access them are inherently pre-AI,” Adcock penned in a January internal memo shared with TechCrunch. “We’re progressing towards a realm that resembles sci-fi figures like Jarvis or Her, equipped with systems that foresee, adjust, and genuinely care for the individuals employing them.”

Details are deliberately limited, yet Hark highlights Director of Design Abidur Chowdhury as a crucial recruitment. A former industrial designer at Apple credited with spearheading the design team for the iPhone Air and other recent models, Chowdhury, who hails from London, departed last autumn after discussions with Adcock and embracing his vision for revolutionizing how humans automate their daily lives.

In an exclusive conversation with TechCrunch, Chowdhury repeatedly declined to divulge specifics about Hark’s future plans, merely stating that the public can expect an initial release of the company’s AI models this summer. In responding to inquiries about diverse methods of coexisting with AI, the designer provided a few hints. 

“What became very evident to me during that period is that the world is undoubtedly evolving, yet we’re still utilizing the same devices… everything’s been structured around these pre-existing platforms,” Chowdhury remarked. “Few individuals are genuinely pursuing what the future holds. There’s a vast potential for us to explore if intelligence formed the foundation of everything we interacted with, rather than manifesting as an application or website at that top layer.”

Chowdhury highlights the awkwardness associated with routine activities such as filling out forms, transferring data between devices, or performing mundane tasks like booking travel or organizing home renovations.

“Those are entire evenings where I need to strategize… the anxiety of, you know, I spend my workday mulling this over in the back of my mind, oh, I need to get this done,” Chowdhury expressed. “We firmly believe that all of the minor tasks that accumulate into significant challenges today can be streamlined out of our lives.”

Chowdhury asserts that the company is aware of what it is crafting, but cannot currently disclose how users will engage with it. His remarks imply that wearables, like Meta’s Glasses, seem improbable.

“I’m not a strong advocate for many of the wearable AI technologies currently being discussed,” Chowdhury stated. “I don’t believe it’s suitable to introduce a barrier between humanity and the interfaces we utilize in the world. I feel similarly uneasy about pins or similar gadgets that incorporate cameras.”

When generative AI first emerged, Chowdhury initially regarded it as a fleeting moment, yet subsequent iterations of models convinced him that it would alter his profession. Hark, the term, signifies paying attention, which Chowdhury believes offers a reflective context for the company’s objective.

“Conventional user experiences typically focus on determining the simplest solution for everyone,” he told TechCrunch. “The forthcoming user experience will revolve around identifying the right solution for each individual. And I’m confident that this can be achieved. However, it demands considerable effort.”

The emphasis on elegance and simplicity for users resonates with the pinnacle achievements of Apple’s product design, naturally evoking thoughts of Jony Ive, the renowned former Apple designer who is currently advancing AI-native hardware at OpenAI. A comparison Hark’s representative opted not to delve into. 

Another notable comparison stems from how Elon Musk’s xAI initiatives on advanced models align with Tesla’s efforts in autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots.

There exists a similar corporate synergy between Adcock’s humanoid robotics firm Figure and the new AI laboratories. Hark’s models are already being trained using Figure’s robots, although the precise purpose remains uncertain. An insider familiar with the companies’ objectives states that there is no plan to merge them.

Hark employs 45 engineers and designers, including former Meta AI researchers and designers from Apple and Tesla, all collaborating on the same campus that accommodates Adcock’s other ventures. Hark anticipates deploying a new cluster of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs in April.

Now Hark, supported by $100 million in personal seed funding from Adcock, will enter the race for talent as the world’s leading corporations seek to determine the framework that integrates deep learning models into everyday life — particularly as frustration with existing digital life models reaches a boiling point.

“It genuinely feels like there’s a chance for improvement, and I haven’t felt that way since the iPhone was introduced,” Chowdhury remarked.

Epic Games is terminating 1,000 employees on Tuesday, as stated in a company memo shared on Epic’s blog.

“The decline in Fortnite engagement that began in 2025 means we’re incurring significantly higher expenses than our revenues, and we must implement substantial cuts to sustain the company,” Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney mentioned in the memo. “This reduction in workforce, along with over $500 million in identified savings from contracting, marketing, and eliminating certain open positions, will place us in a more secure position.”

Last week, Epic also raised the price of V-Bucks, the currency used in Fortnite, citing that “operating costs for Fortnite have increased significantly.”

Sweeney indicated that the layoffs were not a result of AI making developers’ roles obsolete. However, the company may be experiencing AI-related challenges indirectly, as the RAM shortage and chip demand have created ripple effects throughout the industry, also affecting consumer spending.

Employees who are laid off will receive four months of severance pay, with additional compensation for those with longer employment durations. Epic will also cover healthcare expenses for U.S. employees for six months following the layoffs.

As disruption at airports increasingly becomes standard, the well-known flight-tracking application Flighty has launched a new “Airport Intelligence” function that provides users with real-time notifications about airport disturbances and their causes across 14,000 airports globally. This announcement is especially relevant as heightened tensions in the Middle East have resulted in numerous flight delays, cancellations, and terminal closures, while the U.S. is experiencing a shortage of Transportation Security Administration agents, leading to the closure of security checkpoints and excessively long queues.

The startup is also introducing the feature through a web dashboard, allowing all users to monitor disruptions for free.

The company stated that it utilizes the same data that pilots and airlines rely on to enhance this feature. This data encompasses thousands of real-time airport advisories, including Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs), Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs), among others.

This equips Flighty with insights into airport operations including ground stops, landing protocols, and various safety measures.

Flighty mentioned that although airport incidents are presented in a technical vernacular within the data, it translates these notifications into more accessible language to help users comprehend how their travel could be affected through Airport Intelligence.

“Airport breakdowns are becoming more frequent, and traditionally, it required a pilot, controller, or a significant aviation specialist to elucidate the reasons behind them, until now. “Airport Intelligence transforms raw data into valuable insights, ensuring you’re always informed about what’s occurring at your airport,” stated Flighty CEO Ryan Jones.

The latest update also brings additional features such as airport alerts with explanations like hail, reduced visibility, de-icing, and lightning; forecasts of airport delays with AI-enhanced summaries to notify users how various elements may influence their flights; and Deep Airport Stats, which provides data on the busiest airlines, most affected routes, airport rankings, official flight regulations, and direct access to airport websites and directions.

The update further incorporates favorite airport notifications and airport boards, displaying all incoming and outgoing flights at any airport along with performance metrics. Additionally, users can also compare airport visits with friends through the app.

Alongside the intelligence feature, Flighty has also added a TV mode tailored for broadcasters, content creators, and newsrooms to display the live status of an airport on a screen with a continuously updating ticker.

On Tuesday, Apple disclosed its plans to permit advertisers to reach customers via Apple Maps, commencing in the U.S. and Canada later this summer. The advertisements will be accessible to businesses of all sizes possessing a physical location and having already established a business listing on Apple Maps. Users will, in turn, encounter these ads alongside relevant search results.

These advertisements form part of an overhauled business initiative from Apple termed Apple Business, which encompasses an integrated email, calendar, and directory service, along with tools aimed at managing employee devices.

Apple has stated that it will display just one ad per user in the search results of its Maps. Additionally, the ad will be distinctly marked with a small blue halo encircling the pin on the map and will be labeled as an advertisement in the list of Suggested Places, akin to the way ads are featured on the App Store.

Integrating ads into one of Apple’s premier first-party applications provides the company with a chance to create an additional—and potentially significant—revenue source without fundamentally altering its product or disturbing the user experience. Consumers have already become accustomed to ads in mapping services, particularly after years of utilizing Google Maps, where advertising is a substantial feature. This addition could generate billions for Apple as its advertising enterprise continues to expand worldwide.

Apple asserted that its advertising will safeguard user privacy, as any data regarding ads that users engage with will not be linked to their Apple account. Personal information remains on the device, is not collected or stored by Apple, and is not disseminated to third parties, according to the company.

To launch an ad and initiate a campaign, a business is required to first possess a listing on Apple Maps. They can subsequently upload images, include a promotional message, and determine a suitable budget. Apple utilizes automated matching to position the ad before users who are currently searching for a comparable business. Advertisers have the flexibility to commence or halt their campaign whenever they wish.

Larger advertisers have the option for more sophisticated customization, such as scheduling their ad’s display times or selecting specific geographic areas for targeting.

Previously reported by Bloomberg, the incorporation of ads within Maps indicated that the ad placement would entail a bidding mechanism. Apple has now confirmed that a traditional auction-based pricing model will govern these ads. Advertisers incur costs only when achieving a specific objective, like having their ads viewed or clicked.

The growth of Apple’s advertising sector coincides with a broader transformation in its business offerings, which involves the integration of various business tools and services into one cohesive package.

Rather than navigating multiple URLs for resources such as Apple Business Connect, Apple Business Essentials, and Apple Business Manager, these functions will now collectively be called Apple Business. The entire suite is set to be available in 200 countries and territories starting April 14, 2026.

For the first time, businesses will gain access to an employee directory alongside a new collection of productivity tools, which includes an email and calendar tailored under the business’s domain. Employee accounts will provide 5 GB of complimentary iCloud storage, and businesses in the U.S. may opt for upgraded plans starting at $0.99 per user per month (offering up to 2 TB of storage per user). Companies can also choose to subscribe for additional support through AppleCare+ for Business, priced per user or per device, beginning at $6.99/month.

The new offerings provide a range of complimentary tools for businesses, no matter their size, including a mobile device management solution for app distribution to employees, which has been upgraded with added features and will now be available for free (previously a paid service).

Smaller enterprises will have the capability to utilize preconfigured “Blueprints” to assist in setting up employee devices without needing advanced technical skills. Business owners or administrators can simply select the applications they wish to provide staff, with settings already prepared on their behalf. Larger organizations will manage app distributions via an API, as indicated by Apple.