DailyTech: OkLO Push, TEM partnership, PONY Robotaxis and Coinbase banking

FutureGate | April 24 2025

Altman Steps Down from Oklo Board to Clear Path for Hyperscaler Partnerships

In a strategic leadership shift, Sam Altman has resigned from his role as chairman of Oklo’s board, a move aimed at paving the way for potential commercial agreements between the nuclear energy startup and major hyperscale computing partners—including OpenAI. Oklo, a next-generation nuclear company focused on compact, advanced fission reactors, is positioning itself at the intersection of clean energy and high-density compute infrastructure.

Altman's exit is widely interpreted as a governance restructuring designed to eliminate conflicts of interest and facilitate broader strategic collaborations. As AI and hyperscale compute demands continue to soar—driven by training needs for large language models and other resource-intensive applications—the alignment between nuclear innovation and the AI ecosystem is tightening. Investors are watching closely for signs of new energy supply deals with major AI players that could dramatically accelerate Oklo’s commercial roadmap.

Tempus AI Shares Surge Following AstraZeneca Collaboration

Tempus AI (NASDAQ: TEM) rallied sharply after announcing a major partnership with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. The collaboration aims to leverage Tempus’ precision medicine platform and data analytics capabilities to advance oncology research and accelerate clinical trial enrollment.

This marks a significant validation for Tempus’ business model and its proprietary datasets, which harness real-world evidence and genomic insights to inform drug development. For investors, this agreement strengthens the long-term investment case for Tempus as a critical enabler in the biopharmaceutical ecosystem. The market’s reaction reflects confidence in Tempus' ability to expand its pharma partner base and deepen revenue-generating engagements.

Pony.ai Reveals Seventh-Generation Robotaxi Platform

Pony.ai, a leading autonomous driving technology firm, unveiled its seventh-generation robotaxi platform, targeting mass production by mid-2025. This launch signals both technological maturity and commercial readiness in a space long dominated by R&D burn rates and uncertain timelines.

The Gen-7 platform features enhanced perception systems, improved redundancy in safety mechanisms, and optimized cost structures that make it viable for large-scale deployment. Pony.ai’s aggressive production schedule suggests a firm conviction in both regulatory tailwinds and consumer readiness for autonomous mobility. For long-term investors, this milestone brings the promise of recurring revenue and fleet partnerships one step closer to reality, potentially altering the competitive landscape in urban transport and mobility-as-a-service.

Coinbase Considers U.S. Banking License in Strategic Expansion

Coinbase, the largest U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, is reportedly exploring an application for a U.S. banking license—a move that could mark a major step in the platform's evolution from a trading venue into a full-spectrum financial institution.

Securing a banking license would allow Coinbase to offer a broader range of regulated financial products, including direct deposit, lending, and custodial services under federal oversight. Such vertical integration would not only enhance customer stickiness but also reduce reliance on third-party banking partners, a pain point highlighted during last year’s crypto banking crisis.

From a macro and regulatory perspective, this move also aligns with the broader trend of crypto infrastructure seeking legitimacy and operational resilience in a more tightly governed financial ecosystem. Should this license materialize, Coinbase could significantly differentiate itself from other players in the digital asset space.