A single evening only brought in $1 billion at auction one other time, Paul Allen’s estate in 2022.

Christie’s May 18 evening sale was headlined by:

Obvious outliers, but the evening capped a spring auction season that totaled $2.5 billion (roughly 2x last year). This follows a Q1’26 that saw the postwar contemporary art market grow 23.1%.

Masterworks offers investors the opportunity to invest in blue-chip contemporary and post-war art. Since 2017, it has offered over 500 artworks and raised over $1 billion in total investments.

29 exits to-date have delivered net annualized returns like 16.5%, 17.6% and 17.8% on sold works held over 12 months.

Join 70,000+ members in adding art to their portfolios.

Skip the waitlist here.

Skip the waitlist here.

^{*According to Masterworks data. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Investing involves risk. See important disclosures at masterworks.com/cd}

China and Russia Forge Antitrust Alliance Against Nvidia and Qualcomm: China’s SAMR and Russia’s FAS signed a memorandum to coordinate antitrust enforcement across AI, semiconductors, and digital platforms. Link

US AI Firms Navigate Complex Relations with China: Companies like Anthropic are pushing for tighter China restrictions while still pursuing business in adjacent markets. The tension underscores how AI firms are balancing geopolitical risk with commercial opportunity. Link

States

Connecticut Enacts Broad AI Oversight Under SB 5: Connecticut’s new SB 5 creates sweeping rules for AI systems, including oversight of automated decision-making tools and the launch of an AI regulatory sandbox. The law aims to balance consumer protections with innovation. Link

Georgia’s Tech Boom Shifts From Bitcoin to AI: Georgia’s once-prominent bitcoin development wave is now evolving into an AI-focused buildout, signaling a broader transformation in the state’s technology economy. Link

Illinois Passes Nation's Most Comprehensive AI Safety Legislation: Illinois lawmakers approved a sweeping AI safety bill requiring major AI companies to undergo third-party verification of compliance with safety standards. Governor JB Pritzker is expected to sign it into law. Link

Iowa Begins Building Its AI Policy Framework: Iowa has started taking initial regulatory steps on artificial intelligence, while experts argue stronger action will be needed to protect the public. The debate signals rising state-level attention to AI governance. Link

Louisiana Lands $3.6 Billion AI Data Center Campus: Gov. Jeff Landry said Applied Digital will build a $3.6 billion AI data center campus in Rapides Parish, bringing one of the state’s largest AI infrastructure investments to date. Link

Metro Council to Review AI Data Center Regulations: Nashville’s Metro Council is considering new rules for AI data centers, focusing on operating standards and local oversight. The move highlights growing scrutiny of AI infrastructure at the city level. Link

New Jersey Unveils Statewide Data Center Guardrails: Gov. Mikie Sherrill proposed a four-part framework to regulate data centers, including limits on AI-related energy costs and new transparency requirements. The plan is designed to manage the expanding footprint of AI infrastructure statewide. Link

New York Weighs 18-Month Pause on AI Data Centers: Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico plans to seek an 18-month moratorium on AI data centers, citing concerns amplified by claims that a residential area could be rezoned for such development. Link

Ohio Senate Advances AI Regulation Bill: The Ohio Senate has passed a bill to ban AI-generated child sexual abuse material, restrict deepfakes, and require watermarking for AI-generated content. Link

Pennsylvania Pushes New Rules for Data Center Growth: Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled new standards for data centers intended to support AI expansion while responding to mounting community concerns over their local impact. Link

Texas Grid Buildout Becomes Magnet for AI Infrastructure: Texas’ power infrastructure, originally built to move wind energy, is now drawing hyperscale AI infrastructure investment and strengthening the state’s position in the AI race. Link

Blockmate Explores Major AI Data Center Project in Wyoming: Blockmate Ventures is in talks over a large AI data center development in Wyoming as investor interest grows alongside rising demand for AI infrastructure. Link

FAA Leverages AI to Enhance Aviation Safety: The FAA is using AI to better analyze its vast data stores and identify risks earlier. The agency sees the technology as a way to help prevent aviation disasters sooner. Link

Top Ethical Hacker Warns: AI Tools Threaten Job Security: A leading ethical hacker says advanced AI systems could outperform traditional human-led security work in some areas. The warning reflects how AI is reshaping roles across cybersecurity. Link

Taiwan Investigates Smuggling of Nvidia Chips to China via Japan: Taiwan prosecutors suspect Nvidia chips were routed through Japan before being smuggled into China. The case highlights ongoing enforcement challenges around AI hardware export controls. Link

IBM Commits $5 Billion to Enhance Cybersecurity with AI: IBM is launching a $5 billion push and deploying more than 20,000 engineers to strengthen open-source software security. The effort signals a major bet on AI-driven cyber defense. Link

Nvidia's AI Dominance Faces New Challenges: After two years as Wall Street’s favored AI play, Nvidia is now confronting new threats that extend beyond rival chipmakers. The article points to shifting competitive dynamics around AI infrastructure and demand. Link

AI Factories: Powering Real-Time Intelligence: Nvidia describes AI factories as the new infrastructure layer for turning power into tokens and intelligence at scale. As agentic AI expands, performance per watt and cost per token are emerging as key business metrics. Link

AI Integrated into Healthcare: A Move Toward Preventative Strategies: Healthcare providers are increasingly using AI to shift from reactive treatment to preventative and proactive care. The transition could improve patient outcomes through more personalized, data-driven interventions. Link

AI Answers Take Center Stage in Google's Search Strategy: Google’s latest search changes put AI-generated answers front and center, reducing visibility into how brands are represented. The shift may force marketers to rethink strategies built around traditional SEO. Link

David George Challenges the AI Job Apocalypse Narrative: Andreessen Horowitz general partner David George argues the AI-driven job apocalypse thesis is overstated. He points instead to a more mixed labor-market impact with both disruption and new opportunities. Link

San Francisco's Rental Prices Surge Amid AI Wealth Boom: AI-driven wealth is intensifying housing competition in San Francisco and pushing rents toward New York levels. The boom is also widening economic divides across the city. Link

Comparative Review of AI Chatbots: 2026 Insights on Pricing and Performance: A new comparison breaks down pricing, features, and performance across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Copilot, and Grok. It offers a snapshot of how premium chatbot offerings stack up in 2026. Link

Fujitsu Enters Strategic Partnership with Anthropic: Fujitsu has partnered with Anthropic to bring advanced AI into mission-critical enterprise and infrastructure systems. The companies say the alliance will help accelerate AI adoption across Japanese industry while emphasizing safety and reliability. Link

Nvidia Envisions Next Era of Physical AI in the U.S.: Nvidia is outlining a future where AI systems increasingly bridge software and the physical world. The vision points to broader adoption of robotics and real-world autonomous systems in America. Link