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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

📱 Samsung may preload Perplexity AI and invest $500M in a major Galaxy deal.
🤖 $3K open-source humanoid robot can be built at home.
🧠 Congress revives Robotics Caucus to boost U.S. innovation.
📉 Bitcoin stalls at $105K as traders expect a cooldown.
📜 SEC raises red flags over Ethereum and Solana ETFs.

AI

• Samsung nears wide-ranging deal with Perplexity for AI features

  • Samsung may preload Perplexity’s app and AI assistant on Galaxy devices, possibly replacing Google’s Gemini.

  • The partnership would enhance Bixby and Samsung’s browser with Perplexity’s search and language model technology.

  • Samsung is expected to invest $500 million, valuing Perplexity at $14 billion in a major strategic alliance.

• Meta aims to fully automate ad creation using AI

  • Meta plans to automate ad generation by 2026, enabling brands to launch full campaigns with minimal input.

  • AI will produce visuals, copy, and targeting strategies using just a product image and advertiser budget.

  • The move targets small businesses, aiming to eliminate the need for traditional creative production resources.

• Jony Ive’s OpenAI device gets the Laurene Powell Jobs nod of approval

  • Jony Ive and Sam Altman are developing a human-first AI device to rethink how tech serves users.

  • Laurene Powell Jobs backs the project, emphasizing thoughtful, ethical design in the next generation of devices.

  • The device remains under wraps, but aims to avoid past pitfalls of always-on attention-stealing technologies.

ROBOTICS

• You can soon own a humanoid robot for just $3,000

  • Humanoid Lite is a low-cost, open-source robot built from 3D-printed parts and off-the-shelf components.

  • It features modular construction, reinforcement learning locomotion, and zero-shot policy transfer capabilities.

  • Designed for accessibility, it can be assembled using standard tools and basic 3D printers at home.

• Congressional Robotics Caucus relaunches to help U.S. industry

  • A bipartisan effort aims to strengthen U.S. robotics leadership and educate lawmakers on emerging technologies.

  • The caucus will focus on reshoring, workforce development, and public-private innovation partnerships.

  • It seeks to shape informed robotics policy and boost national competitiveness through collaboration.

• Purdue students build fastest Rubik’s Cube-solving robot

  • ‘Purdubik’s Cube’ solved a Rubik’s Cube in 0.103 seconds, setting a new Guinness World Record.

  • The robot uses high-speed cameras, custom algorithms, and ultra-tight motor controls for optimal performance.

  • Purdue’s design balances extreme precision, rapid motion, and robust color recognition at record speeds.

CRYPTO

• Bitcoin stalls at $105K as analyst says market looks 'overheated'

  • Bitcoin holds above $105K, but whale accumulation and slowing demand hint at short-term market exhaustion.

  • Analysts point to $120K as the next resistance level likely to trigger selling and profit-taking.

  • Indicators suggest rising caution among traders, with some expecting consolidation before further upside.

• Michael Saylor's Strategy makes smallest Bitcoin buy in 10 weeks

  • Strategy acquired 705 BTC for $75M, its lowest purchase volume since March despite holding 581,000 BTC total.

  • The firm’s Bitcoin stash now exceeds $60.4B in value, largely funded by preferred stock offerings.

  • Saylor’s team remains committed to aggressive BTC buying, adapting purchases based on market conditions.

• SEC flags compliance concerns over Ethereum, Solana ETFs

  • The SEC raised red flags around staking structures in proposed ETH and SOL ETFs from REX-Osprey.

  • Although approved to register, the ETFs have not yet launched or received exchange listings.

  • Regulators question whether the funds legally qualify as investment companies under current securities laws.

CONTENT

• Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan on AI’s Biggest Acquisition

  • Windsurf powers over 50% of committed code at thousands of companies, redefining the role of the modern IDE.

  • Varun discusses startup myths, the reality of moats, async agents, and whether PMs will even exist by 2030.

  • He explains why agents will fail without workflows, and what Windsurf learned from Cursor’s early product decisions.

• State-Of-The-Art Prompting For AI Agents

  • Prompting has become a critical part of AI deployment, evolving from hacks to high-leverage production workflows.

  • Founders share what fails in real-world prompts, including eval design, metaprompting, and reliable output testing.

  • The team explores vertical AI agents, FDE models, and how LLM ‘personalities’ affect product development success.

• Elon Musk’s Starbase Update: Mars and Beyond

  • SpaceX aims to produce 1,000 Starships a year, with factories in Texas and Florida supporting Mars colonization.

  • Starship manufacturing is approaching aviation-scale output, with each ship larger than a Boeing 747.

  • Elon outlines civilization resilience goals, explaining why a self-sustaining Mars base is critical to human survival.

AND MORE…

• 143,596 founders, investors, and leaders read this*

  • Founders and leaders that read Open Source CEO end up with 2.3x the cerebral horsepower of those that don’t.

  • 140k+ readers from Google, TikTok, OpenAI, and Deel love our deep-dive business content.

  • Subscribe here to see what it’s all about.

• AI is here for plumbers and electricians. Will it transform home services?

  • Netic’s AI handles calls, scheduling, and lead prioritization for home-service businesses like plumbers and electricians.

  • Backed by Greylock and Founders Fund, the startup raised $20M targeting private-equity-owned service firms.

  • Only 20% of customer calls are currently AI-managed, underscoring the continued importance of human interaction.

• AI and local search: The new rules of visibility and ROI in 2025

  • AI is transforming local SEO, making data accuracy and structured content critical for ranking success.

  • Businesses must focus on reviews, proximity, and relevance to improve visibility in AI-powered search environments.

  • Winning in local AI search now requires optimizing metadata, business listings, and prompt customer engagement.

• AI data centers attract private equity investment

  • AI demand is driving private equity toward scalable, energy-efficient data center infrastructure investments.

  • Capital is flowing into facilities supporting LLMs and high-performance computing workloads.

  • Investors see data centers as core to long-term AI growth and infrastructure dominance.