Top 3 tech, startup and sustainability stories of the week, 28th Apr

This week’s stories are about tech, startup and sustainability, coming from Amazon, OpenAI and Electra

1-Amazon launches first Kuiper satellites, becomes rival to Starlink

Amazon took a major step into the space-based internet race on Monday evening, successfully launching the first 27 satellites for its Project Kuiper broadband constellation. The launch marks the beginning of the long-anticipated rollout of the $10 billion initiative, which aims to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink by delivering global internet coverage from low-Earth orbit.

I read this story at Reuters and lifting off at 7 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, the satellites are the first of 3,236 Amazon plans to deploy. The launch had been delayed earlier April due to inclement weather. (By the way I have a story here covering Amazon’s fulfillment center in Turkiye)

Project Kuiper represents one of Amazon’s most ambitious undertakings, positioning the tech giant in direct competition with Starlink and established telecom providers like AT&T and T-Mobile.

Originally targeting an early 2024 debut, the mission experienced over a year of delays. Under a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate, Amazon must launch half its planned constellation — 1,618 satellites — by mid-2026, a goal analysts say may require the company to seek an extension.

SpaceX has maintained a substantial lead in the space internet race, launching more than 8,000 Starlink satellites since 2019 and now serving over 5 million users across 125 countries. Its rapid launch cadence — often once a week — has helped it dominate both consumer and defense markets.

Amazon launches first Kuiper satellites, becomes rival to Starlink

2-OpenAI goes to shopping, integrating ChatGPT as it seeks new revenue

OpenAI has unveiled a new shopping feature integrated directly into ChatGPT Search, allowing users to search for products, compare options, and make purchases. The tool is now available to all users, including those on the free tier and even those not logged in.

In a statement released Tuesday, OpenAI said the feature currently supports categories like fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics, with more to be added in the future. I saw this story at Engadget and the company emphasized that search results are generated independently and are “not ads.”

OpenAI also announced that the chatbot can now be used through WhatsApp, offering up-to-date responses to user questions via messaging. Additional features rolling out include improved citations, trending search data, and upcoming memory integration.

While the shopping integration could boost convenience, it raises questions about reliability. ChatGPT has a well-documented tendency to produce inaccurate or fabricated information when unsure. To improve accuracy, OpenAI appears to be sourcing product data and reviews from media outlets like Wired, likely under licensing agreements.

Let me note that the monetization strategy behind the new feature remains unclear. Since OpenAI says it is not running paid ads, it may generate revenue through affiliate links when purchases are made via ChatGPT. This move comes amid rising financial pressure on the company. In 2024, OpenAI reportedly brought in $4 billion in revenue while spending over $9 billion. The company has set an ambitious goal to increase its revenue to $125 billion by 2029, though details on how it plans to achieve that remain sparse.

OpenAI goes to shopping (Image: Getty Images)

3-Clean iron startup Electra raises $186 million to change low-carbon ironmaking

Clean iron startup Electra has secured $186 million in Series B funding, a major step toward scaling its breakthrough technology aimed at decarbonizing steel production, one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries.

I saw this story at ESGtoday and the round attracted a mix of financial and strategic investors from key sectors, including major mining and steel companies such as BHP Ventures, Rio Tinto, Roy Hill, Nucor, Yamato Kogyo, Interfer Edelstahl Group, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation. Let me add that Electra raised $214 million so far.

Here’s how the system Works: Electra’s low-temperature electrochemical process refines iron ore into 99% pure iron using renewable electricity instead of coal and high heat. This enables the use of lower-grade ores and mining waste, and allows the process to run on intermittent renewable energy sources — a departure from traditional blast furnaces that require continuous, high-energy inputs.

The company plans to use the new capital to build a demonstration plant in Colorado later this year, which will produce clean iron for testing by industrial partners. The facility marks a critical step on the road to full-scale commercial deployment, expected by the end of the decade.

Sandeep Nijhawan, Electra’s CEO and co-founder, said the funding reflects growing demand for low-carbon alternatives in the steel supply chain. The funding round was led by Capricorn Investment Group and Temasek, with support from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Builders Vision, Collaborative Fund, Earth Venture Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, and S2G Investments.