Welcome to The Compiler, a daily curation of tech news.

SpaceX's next Starship test will deploy an actual payload for the first time, releasing 10 Starlink satellite simulators. This is a massive step towards operational flights. The real kicker? These "simulator" satellites might actually be functional enough to join the Starlink constellation. Elon's playing 4D chess while the competition's still setting up the board.

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Samsung and Google just dropped Eclipsa Audio, a new open 3D audio standard. It's a free Dolby Atmos alternative coming to Samsung's 2025 TVs and select YouTube videos. This isn't just about better sound – it's a strategic move to wrestle control of the audio ecosystem from Dolby. Expect a messy format war that'll make the Blu-ray vs HD-DVD battle look like a pillow fight.

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Generative AI startups gobbled up $56B in VC funding in 2024, a 192% jump from 2023. The catch? Only $6.2B went to startups outside the US. This isn't just FOMO – it's financial manifest destiny. We're witnessing the birth of an AI oligopoly, with a handful of US giants poised to dominate the global AI landscape. Time to brush up on your antitrust law, folks.

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• A DIY enthusiast retrofitted a 1993 Volvo with open-source self-driving tech. Somewhere, a Tesla engineer is sweating. Read more
• YouTube paid out $70B to creators in 3 years. That's a lot of unboxing videos. Read more
• Ford extends free EV charger promo. Because nothing says "future of transportation" like a complimentary wall plug. Read more

If AI can write sermons and religious texts, does that make GPT the new prophet? Asking for a friend (and possibly starting a cult).

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