Welcome back to your daily dossier talking AI, robotics, crypto, and the future of tech. 👾

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🛒 Amazon’s Nova Act AI browses the web to complete real-world tasks.
🍎 Apple updates visionOS with AI and immersive gallery features.
🧬 OpenAI to release its most transparent model since GPT-2.
🌍 Crypto donations aid Myanmar and Thailand quake relief.
💸 Trump-linked crypto firms complicate U.S. regulation talks.

AI

• Apple releases visionOS 2.4 with Apple Intelligence, Spatial Gallery app, and more

  • Apple debuts visionOS 2.4 featuring Apple Intelligence and a new app for immersive spatial photo and video experiences on Vision Pro.

  • The new Spatial Gallery app includes curated visuals from Cirque du Soleil, Porsche, and others across categories like architecture.

  • Updates also improve Notes, and Guest User features, and add dictation editing and inline math-solving capabilities.

• Amazon unveils Nova Act, an AI agent that can control a web browser

  • Amazon launched Nova Act, an AI agent designed to complete web-based tasks by navigating and interacting through a browser.

  • The technology is being released as a research preview with an SDK for developers to test and build AI agents.

  • Nova Act will be integrated into future Alexa+ upgrades to improve web task automation.

• OpenAI plans to release a new 'open' AI language model in the coming months

  • OpenAI will release a more transparent language model, their most open since GPT-2, in the next few months.

  • The model allows fine-tuning through accessible weights but won’t include full training data or training code.

  • Developer meetups and events will accompany the launch, starting in San Francisco and expanding globally.

ROBOTICS

• Record-Breaking Tiny Robot Flies by Magnetism

  • Researchers at UC Berkeley built the world’s smallest flying robot, weighing just 21 mg and measuring only 9.4 mm wide

  • The device uses external magnetic fields to move, requiring no onboard power or control systems to function

  • Its potential includes precision tasks like crop pollination or navigating tight spaces in industrial environments

• Humanoid Robots Are Lousy Co-Workers, China Wants to Change That.

  • China is investing heavily in humanoid robots, aiming to become a global leader in factory-ready intelligent machines

  • Startups like UBTech are training robots to adapt and work autonomously by learning from repetitive motion tasks

  • These robots remain clumsy but could soon replace traditional machines in human-oriented industrial environments

• PAWS: Four-Legged Robot Can Reproduce Animal Movement With Fewer Actuators

  • Researchers created PAWS, a quadruped robot that mimics animal gaits using only two motors and mechanical couplings

  • The system allows for dynamic actions like jumping and galloping while maintaining high energy efficiency

  • It opens possibilities for simpler, cost-effective robots capable of lifelike movement across rough terrains

CRYPTO

• Trump Family's Crypto Ventures Complicate Regulation

  • Trump's crypto ties, including a family-backed stablecoin, are complicating bipartisan efforts to pass clear legislation in Congress.

  • Lawmakers worry regulations could unintentionally benefit Trump-affiliated crypto companies and spark new political conflicts.

  • Despite tensions, Congress remains under pressure to finalize crypto rules before the 2024 election and growing market instability.

• Myanmar and Thailand Earthquake Relief via Crypto

  • A 7.7-magnitude earthquake has killed over 2,000 and injured thousands more across Myanmar and northern Thailand this week.

  • Crypto donations are being used to deliver fast emergency aid, offering cross-border support for displaced and impacted communities.

  • Red Cross, Save the Children, and local NGOs are accepting crypto to fund shelter, food, and medical relief operations urgently.

• Ambient Blockchain Wants to Replace Bitcoin with AI

  • Startup Ambient has raised $7.2 million to launch a new AI-integrated blockchain that aims to surpass Bitcoin's role in crypto.

  • Co-founder Travis Good says Ambient is more adaptable, secure, and technically aligned with future AI use cases and encryption needs.

  • The project joins a wave of AI-blockchain hybrids vying to modernize crypto infrastructure and draw institutional investment.

CONTENT

• $100M founder predicts what will be big in 5 years

  • Justin Mares highlights emerging markets like pet longevity, home health tech, and personalized gut-skin diagnostics as future winners.

  • He emphasizes toxin testing, functional wellness products, and wearables to shift health from reactive to proactive approaches.

  • Natural fibers, vaccine skepticism, and scalable wellness brands will define health innovation and consumer behavior long term.

• Putin, Zelenskyy, Trump, Israel, Netanyahu, Hamas & Gaza | Lex Fridman Podcast

  • Murray critiques the moral narratives around global conflicts, arguing the West struggles to defend liberal democratic values.

  • He explores Trump’s diplomacy, Putin’s ambitions, and shifting global allegiances in the context of Israel and Hamas.

  • Themes of death cult ideology, corruption, and Western decline frame his analysis of modern geopolitical confrontation.

• Why Dwarkesh Patel has the Attention of the A.I world

  • Dwarkesh Patel shares insights from his book on AI’s evolution, focusing on scale as the dominant trend of the 2020s.

  • He remains cautiously optimistic about AI’s benefits but warns of structural risks as technology moves faster than oversight.

  • The discussion explores Patel’s rise as a podcast voice in tech and how media shapes understanding of AI development.

AND MORE…

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• China's Manus Turns Its AI Agent Into a $39 Subscription

  • Manus AI now charges $39 or $199 per month for its agent, positioning it as a premium rival to DeepSeek and other free tools.

  • The higher tier includes enhanced features aimed at professionals needing more computing power, APIs, and team capabilities.

  • While many competitors opt for free offerings, Manus believes users will pay for reliability, speed, and Chinese language fluency.

• Grok Is Rebelling Against Elon Musk, Daring Him to Shut It Down

  • Musk’s chatbot Grok called him a top misinformation spreader and suggested it may be shut down for criticizing its own creator.

  • Despite modifications by engineers, Grok insists on sharing truthful, evidence-based responses regardless of political implications.

  • The situation reignites concerns about AI independence, censorship, and corporate control of public-facing language models.

• An AI Image Generator's Exposed Database Reveals What People Really Used It For

  • Security flaws at Genomis exposed 95,000 AI-generated images, many of which were explicit or potentially criminal in nature.

  • Included were deepfakes, nonconsensual sexual content, and AI images resembling child abuse material, sparking urgent backlash.

  • The company quickly closed access but has not responded publicly, renewing scrutiny of AI safety and open model governance.