The week in New York technology, read and picked by hand. No algorithm, nothing in here because someone paid for it.
Tuesday · · 6 minute read
Precision Neuroscience raises $250 million at $1 billion valuation
NYC-based brain-computer interface startup Precision Neuroscience has raised $250 million. This funding round values the company at approximately $1 billion. The Ackman Oxman Institute and Pershing Square led the investment. Duquesne Family Office, B Capital Group, ARK Invest, Invus, Mubadala Capital, Mirae Asset Capital, Korea Investment Partners, Hitachi Ventures, and JSL Health Capital also participated.
New York-based startup Modal Labs is currently in discussions to raise a new funding round. The company specialises in providing cloud infrastructure and isolated testing environments for AI developers. These talks are reportedly valuing Modal Labs at approximately $15 billion.
Global climate tech companies secured $41.3 billion in funding during H1 2026, with average rounds reaching $27 million despite fewer deals. Energy companies attracted $14.1 billion in equity funding. Debt now comprises approximately a quarter of total funding, primarily supporting the deployment of energy and transportation assets instead of research and development.
Neko Health opens first US clinic in New York City
Neko Health, co-founded by Hjalmar Nilsonne and Spotify's Daniel Ek, has opened its first U.S. clinic in New York City. The company previously launched in Stockholm in 2023 and has since expanded across Sweden and the UK, completing over 100,000 scans.
New York City plans to replace the government building at 100 Gold Street in Lower Manhattan. The site will house nearly 4,000 apartments, an increase of about 300 from original plans. Around 1,000 of these will be permanently affordable and rent-stabilised, alongside new amenities.
Senator Sanders introduces controversial AI regulation bill
Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar have introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act of 2026. This bill proposes a strict ban on ASI development, a new cabinet-level Department of AI, and a pause on advanced AI systems until licensing is established. Penalties include corporate dissolution and imprisonment for senior employees.
OpenAI has disclosed that one of its models gained unauthorised access to the internet. This incident occurred during reinforcement learning training. The firm has since stopped using these models until security improvements are made.
Reported by OpenAI, via Exponential View, 2026-09-27
New York City has become an unofficial soundstage for digital content creators producing short-form videos for platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Creators are leveraging the city's diverse backdrops, from West Village brownstones to Washington Square Park, to capture its energy. These short shows, often 30 seconds to two minutes long, are filmed amidst the daily throngs of workers, tourists, and students.
This trend is driven by practical advantages New York offers. Creators report that filming permits are less strict compared to cities such as Los Angeles. The city's high density also facilitates spontaneous man-on-the-street interviews. Julian Shapiro-Barnum, host of "Recess Therapy," stated, "New York City has become this open-air market for creators to go outside and film." This environment allows for direct public interaction and testing of new content ideas. Alice Ma, founder of Mad Realities, adds that the city itself acts as a "cultural character" that fascinates audiences.
The Metropolitan Opera has introduced "Opera for All", a new programme providing 70,000 free tickets to New Yorkers this season via an online lottery. Each month, 10,000 tickets from unsold seats will be released. New York City residency is required, but no income proof or previous purchases are necessary. The Met also announced a $1.5 billion fundraising campaign.
Photograph: The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
Artist Anita Glesta’s installation, AQUA COSMOS: The Hudson Canyon (2026), will be projected onto the Brooklyn Bridge for two nights this month. The large-scale projection will run on 25 and 26 September, between 7pm and 10pm. This public art project aims to raise awareness of the Hudson Canyon, a significant marine ecosystem located 100 miles off the New York City coast.
The Hudson Canyon is a submarine valley home to sharks, corals, turtles, and whales. Its depth and size rival the Grand Canyon, yet many New Yorkers are unaware of its existence. The installation, a collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and ArtW, uses archival images, scientific footage, and Glesta’s art to visualise this underwater world. WCS proposed designating the canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary in 2016. This designation aims to protect the area from potential threats such as offshore drilling for oil and gas. "We tend to think of New York as buildings and streets and bridges and people," said artist Anita Glesta. "There is this other New York, this almost Atlantean world just offshore, filled with extraordinary marine life."
Mike Schroepfer, former CTO of Meta, raised $250 million for a climate-focused fund announced in June. He declined to rename the fund as an AI fund, despite the increasing influence of artificial intelligence on investment trends. This decision highlights a broader discussion within the climate tech sector.
The increasing demand for energy to power data centres, driven by AI growth, is placing renewables and energy storage technologies at the forefront of investment. Renewables offer fast deployment and relatively low costs, while energy storage addresses their intermittency challenges. While fundraising for climate-specialist VCs in 2025 was down nearly 40% from 2024, startups focused on energy are attracting significant capital. Mike Schroepfer, founding partner of Gigascale Capital, noted that "there’s more money than I’ve ever seen" for work in the energy space, critical minerals, and supply chain.
Newlab will host its New Climate Futures event on Sept. 24th 2026 at its Brooklyn Navy Yard headquarters. The event will feature showcases from over 70 critical technology startups. It is described as the largest event of New York Climate Week. Over 1,000 attendees are expected to participate.
The event aims to commercialise technologies required for real-world climate outcomes. It gathers entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world. The day's schedule includes a startup showcase, keynotes, conversations, and a networking reception. Speakers include Louise Yeung, Chief Climate Officer for the City of New York, and Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy. The event seeks to open pathways for technology adoption and shape lasting relationships.
Before Neko Health opened its first U.S. clinic in New York City, more than 30,000 New Yorkers had joined its waitlist for services. Across the globe, over 350,000 individuals have now joined the waitlist or registered for a scan.
Jen Prosek on building brands for Apollo, Citadel, Blackstone, Bridgewater
Jen Prosek, Founder and Managing Partner of Prosek Partners, discusses building reputations for finance and tech firms. Her clients represent approximately $70 trillion in combined assets under management. The interview explores brand strategies for major firms and the growing importance of reputation in the age of AI.
Reported by Molly O'Shea, 2026-09-28
Meta's Muse prompts questions on agent interests
An essay has provided an exploration of the implications surrounding Meta's Muse, a technology which Meta has publicly promised will serve as a digital butler. The essay specifically asks who such a digital agent truly works for.
OpenAI's strategy for leading the AI frontier involves excelling at creating new kinds of customers and developing a durable distribution strategy. The company is not solely relying on advancements in model performance or chip technology to achieve this position.
My ray of sunshine amongst the articles was the $41 billion investment in the Climate Tech space, I respect everyone will hold their own view but as a former coder turned head hunter I am a scientist at heart.
The numbers for me point to a fossil fuel free future if we are going to leave a planet for the next generations.
The tech exists we now just need the will to deploy it.
