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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🧠 OpenAI raises $40B from SoftBank, boosting its valuation to $300B.
📩 Gmail adds encryption for business emails, no extra tools are needed.
🤖 Pudu unveils a smart delivery robot for hospitals and hotels.
🪙 Trump sons launch Bitcoin mining venture with Hut 8.
🖼️ GPT-4o image generator opens to free users, sparking viral AI art.

AI

• AI-Powered Cybersecurity Firm ReliaQuest Valued at $3.4 Billion in Latest Funding Round

  • ReliaQuest raised $500 million, reaching a $3.4 billion valuation, as demand grows for advanced cybersecurity powered by generative AI.

  • EQT, KKR, and FTV Capital led the round, funding international expansion and development of its Agentic AI threat detection platform.

  • Its GreyMatter product unifies security tools and automates responses, helping enterprises manage threats more effectively.

• OpenAI's New Image Generator Is Now Available to All Users

  • OpenAI released its GPT-4o image generator to free-tier users, expanding access beyond previously exclusive Plus and Pro plans.

  • Users can generate three images per day, with early favorites mimicking anime, watercolor, Studio Ghibli, and hyper-realistic fantasy aesthetics.

  • The update prompted copyright concerns from artists after AI-generated content imitated known styles.

• OpenAI Just Raised Another $40 Billion Round Led by SoftBank

  • OpenAI secured $40 billion in funding, led by SoftBank, boosting its valuation to $300 billion amid accelerated product momentum.

  • The deal includes $10 billion upfront and $30 billion more, contingent on OpenAI converting into a for-profit structure soon.

  • Investors bet heavily on OpenAI’s long-term dominance in generative AI, despite market saturation and increasing competition.

ROBOTICS

• Pudu Robotics Unveils Next-Gen Semi-Humanoid Robot

  • Pudu launched FlashBot Arm, a semi-humanoid robot with smart hands for delivery and indoor logistics tasks.

  • It includes robotic arms, sensors, and omnidirectional wheels for smooth navigation and advanced object manipulation capabilities.

  • Built for hospitality and healthcare, the robot improves delivery speed, automation, and service in complex environments.

• Trump Wants Made in America, Musk Wants Robots. That’s a Problem for U.S. Jobs

  • Trump supports U.S. manufacturing, but returning factory jobs may be filled by machines instead of American workers.

  • Musk advocates robotics in production, clashing with political promises of job creation through industrial reshoring initiatives.

  • Analysts warn growing automation could displace workers, complicating efforts to boost U.S. employment and economic stability.

• TongTong 2.0: China's Advanced AGI System Unveiled

  • China revealed TongTong 2.0, an AGI prototype with childlike cognition, capable of learning, reasoning, and autonomous interaction.

  • Debuted in Beijing, the system demonstrates advanced problem-solving, memory recall, and real-time language understanding abilities.

  • Researchers claim it marks major AGI progress, advancing China's ambitions in general-purpose artificial intelligence development.

CRYPTO

• Tether Purchases $735 Million in Bitcoin in Q1

  • Tether added 8,888 Bitcoin to reserves in Q1, investing $735 million during market consolidation periods.

  • This pushes Tether’s total Bitcoin holdings to $7.8 billion, according to recent data from Arkham Intelligence.

  • The stablecoin issuer also bought $777 million worth of Bitcoin in the previous 2023 fourth quarter.

• CoreWeave Rises 20% Amid OpenAI’s Record-Breaking Funding Round

  • CoreWeave’s stock surged 20% following OpenAI’s $40 billion raise, fueling AI-related market optimism this week.

  • The GPU cloud provider had dipped below IPO price but rebounded sharply after the funding news.

  • Investors see CoreWeave as critical infrastructure for AI workloads, benefiting from growing model deployment and demand.

• Trump Sons Launch New Bitcoin Mining Business Called 'American Bitcoin'

  • Eric and Donald Trump Jr. partnered with Hut 8 to launch a new mining venture: American Bitcoin.

  • Hut 8 holds 80% equity, while American Data Centers, backed by Trump sons, controls the remainder.

  • The company aims to become the largest, most efficient U.S.-based Bitcoin mining operation by capacity and scale.

CONTENT

• AI Strikes the Gen Z Job Market | Prof G Markets

  • Scott Galloway warns Gen Z about AI’s impact on jobs and urges networking, skill-building, and adaptability in uncertain markets.

  • The episode covers Delaware governance reforms, Waymo’s expansion into D.C., and GameStop adding Bitcoin to its corporate treasury this quarter.

  • Engine Capital’s activist play at Lyft is analyzed with turnaround strategies, cost-cutting ideas, and shareholder value enhancement suggestions from Scott.

• What Has PMF Today, Google Is Cooking & GPT Wrappers Are Winning

  • Swyx and Alessio explore which AI products found market fit, highlighting GPT wrappers’ growth and strong adoption patterns.

  • Google’s AI dominance is growing, thanks to solid infrastructure tools, better customer support, and momentum around the Gemini model.

  • Other topics include open-source adoption, under-hyped trends, and how early teams build defensible, secure applications.

• Runway Gen-4 Is Actually Insane (Text-to-Video)

  • Runway Gen-4 produces text-to-video content with lifelike detail, realistic motion, and strong subject consistency.

  • Demonstrations include hyperrealistic sci-fi, animals in cities, flame physics, and short animated films with clay, rope, and surreal designs.

  • Gen-4 improves over Gen-3 with better world understanding, visual fidelity, and prompt accuracy for creators and enterprise video teams.

AND MORE…

• Columbia Suspends Student Behind Interview Cheat AI Tool

  • Columbia University suspended Chungin ‘Roy’ Lee for sharing disciplinary hearing recordings and staff photos online.

  • Lee developed Interview Coder, an AI tool assisting users during technical coding interviews for $60 monthly.

  • Despite probation for academic dishonesty, Lee plans to continue his business and relocate to San Francisco.

• SpaceX Launches Fram2 Space Tourism Mission

  • SpaceX's Fram2 mission launched a Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's launchpad.

  • The mission carries private astronauts on a historic flight orbiting both North and South Poles.

  • This marks SpaceX's continued expansion into private space tourism, offering unique orbital experiences for participants.

• Google's DeepMind Slows Research Publications to Maintain AI Edge

  • DeepMind implemented stricter controls and publication embargos to safeguard its competitive advantage in AI research.

  • The company now prioritizes internal projects enhancing Gemini AI products over public scientific contributions.

  • These changes have led to researcher frustration and departures, balancing commercialization with advancing artificial general intelligence.

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