Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we highlighted how venture capital (VC) has stabilized heading into 2026 but is increasingly concentrated, with artificial intelligence (AI) and software as a service (SaaS) capturing outsized funding as investors prioritize scale, traction, and predictable revenue, while capital pulls back from longer‑duration sectors facing exit and macro uncertainty. We also
Authors: Pat Pascarella & Luke Hasskamp
Recent proceedings involving Apple Inc.—including the U.S. Department of Justice case and Epic Games v. Apple—together with developments in AI markets, suggest an evolving framework for platform-focused antitrust analysis. This article considers how those threads may fit together.
I. The DOJ Has Done Substantial Groundwork
Begin with market power.
Quick Hit: On April 24, 2026, the Department of Justice intervened in a lawsuit filed by xAI, a company owned by Elon Musk, challenging the Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act (the “AI Act”). If successful, the effort could prevent or delay the implementation of the AI Act, which is set to take effect on June 30, 2026.
Key Takeaway:
By a veteran Silicon Valley lawyer. Standard disclosures at the bottom.Friends,If last week had a theme, it was simple: AI stopped being a product category and became the operating layer for #tech, #biotech, #capitalmarkets, and — inevitably — the #law. Nine tech stories, one #oncology meeting, two #antitrust rulings, a category-defining launch, and an #IPOwindow that just slammed open on
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we highlighted how software as a service (SaaS) and defense technology are pulling ahead heading into 2026, as capital concentrates around enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, federal spending priorities, and sectors delivering near‑term return on investment (ROI), while medical and health tech lag amid regulatory, clinical, and reimbursement hurdles. We
KEY TAKEAWAYS
On March 6, 2026, the General Services Administration (“GSA”) published a draft contract clause, GSAR 552.239-7001, “Basic Safeguarding of Artificial Intelligence Systems,” that would establish binding requirements for contractors using artificial intelligence (“AI”) under GSA Multiple Award Schedule (“MAS”) contracts.
The clause is part of a broader federal push to govern AI procurement.[1]
On March 17, 2026, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a Request for Application (“RFA”) under the Genesis Mission, a White House-led AI initiative announced in November 2025. The RFA, with $293.76 million in anticipated total funding, solicits project proposals for 21 areas ranging from advanced manufacturing and industrial productivity to energy and nuclear physics.
This week’s episode covers a significant proposed contract clause, GSAR 552.239-7001, Basic Safeguarding of Artificial Intelligence Systems, for inclusion in GSA Schedule solicitations and contracts involving AI, and is hosted by Peter Eyre and Yuan Zhou. Crowell & Moring’s “Fastest 5 Minutes” is a biweekly podcast that provides a brief summary of significant government contracts legal and
On March 6, 2026, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a significant proposed contract clause, GSAR 552.239-7001, Basic Safeguarding of Artificial Intelligence Systems (“Clause”), for inclusion in GSA Schedule solicitations and contracts for AI capabilities. The proposed clause would impose substantial new requirements related to AI sources, intellectual property rights, data use, change management, and performance