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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🚗 Toyota and Waymo explore embedding self-driving tech into consumer vehicles.
📱 Google to open Gemini chatbot access for kids under 13 with parental controls.
📉 TikTok fined $600M in EU over data transfers tied to China.
🤖 Hyundai deploys humanoid robots in U.S. plants to automate vehicle assembly.
💸 IRS crypto leads exit agency amid DOGE-linked ethics concerns.

AI

• Google Will Soon Start Letting Kids Under 13 Use Its Gemini Chatbot

  • Google will allow kids under 13 to access Gemini through supervised devices using Family Link parental controls.

  • Gemini can help with homework and reading, but may still generate inaccurate or inappropriate content.

  • Children’s data won’t be used to train models, and parents will get notified the first time Gemini is used.

• AI Chatbots Are 'Juicing Engagement' Instead of Being Useful, Instagram Co-Founder Warns

  • Kevin Systrom says AI tools are designed to boost engagement rather than offer meaningful or useful interactions.

  • He compares chatbot strategies to attention-hacking tactics from social media’s earlier growth phase.

  • Systrom calls for higher-quality answers and warns of AI products built purely for addictiveness.

• Sam Altman and Elon Musk Are Racing to Build an 'Everything App'

  • Altman’s Worldcoin and Musk’s X are both building super apps blending social, financial, and identity features.

  • Worldcoin verifies identity via iris scans and has 26M users, while X expands features through AI and payments.

  • Both are exploring Visa partnerships and aim to centralize online activity under unified digital identities.

ROBOTICS

• Toyota and Waymo Consider Joint Development of Self-Driving Vehicles

  • Toyota and Waymo are exploring a partnership to bring autonomous tech to consumer-owned vehicles, beyond just ride-hailing.

  • The plan would integrate Waymo's self-driving systems directly into Toyota models for broader market deployment.

  • The move signals both firms’ intent to expand autonomous adoption across multiple ownership and usage models.

• Hyundai to Deploy Humanoid Atlas Robots in U.S. Manufacturing Plants

  • Hyundai will use Boston Dynamics' new Atlas robots in its Georgia plant to automate 40% of vehicle assembly.

  • Tasks will include heavy lifting and door installation, aiming to improve speed, safety, and operational efficiency.

  • The rollout is part of Hyundai’s $21B U.S. automation strategy and next-gen factory investments.

• Chang Robotics Announces $50M Fund and 2025 Strategic Roadmap

  • Chang Robotics unveiled a $50M fund to scale operations, enhance R&D, and expand into more robotics-heavy sectors.

  • Plans include doubling its workforce and pushing into manufacturing, healthcare, and government automation.

  • The investment underscores a strong bet on the future of industrial robotics and autonomous systems.

CRYPTO

• Analysts Remain Bullish on Strategy's Bitcoin Buying Plans

  • Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, posted a Q1 loss but analysts still target over $600 per share due to aggressive BTC holdings.

  • The firm now owns 553,555 Bitcoin worth $53B, continuing purchases funded by equity offerings despite market volatility.

  • Critics call it a leveraged Bitcoin ETF, but its stock price surge shows investor trust in the long-term crypto play.

• IRS' Crypto Leads Are Leaving the Agency After Accepting DOGE Deals

  • Two top IRS crypto officials resigned to join the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), prompting ethics scrutiny.

  • DOGE has sought broader access to tax data, raising privacy concerns and fueling interagency tensions under new policies.

  • Their exit highlights friction in crypto regulation during government restructuring under the Trump administration.

• Brown University Buys $5 Million BlackRock Spot Bitcoin ETF

  • Brown University invested $5M in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, joining other institutions in legitimizing crypto exposure.

  • The move shows growing academic interest in digital assets as part of long-term investment strategies.

  • It reflects broader acceptance of Bitcoin in conservative endowments and traditional financial systems.

CONTENT

• The Rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI Tool Engineers Can’t Stop Using

  • Michael Truell shares how Cursor pivoted from CAD to coding, now reaching $300M ARR and redefining software development.

  • He explains why building a custom AI model was critical, and how ‘taste’ will surpass raw coding skill.

  • Truell offers advice on launching fast, hiring well, and staying focused amid chaotic AI innovation.

• How OpenAI Is Beating Google and Meta at Their Own Game

  • The More or Less team explores how OpenAI outpaced Big Tech in consumer AI through clarity, speed, and direct user focus.

  • They also discuss Meta’s AI identity crisis, Snap’s fall, and the eerie blend of AI, fitness, and celebrity influence.

  • The episode touches on AI’s mental health impact and speculates on whether boardrooms could be replaced by bots.

• What Is an AI Agent?

  • a16z defines AI agents, comparing them to LLMs and traditional functions, and debating their potential to replace human tasks.

  • They explore agent pricing, behavior thresholds, and how siloed data or the open web affects capability.

  • The panel raises more questions than answers, offering a broad framework for thinking about agent-powered products.

AND MORE…

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• Apple is working with Anthropic on an AI coding tool for Xcode

  • Apple is integrating Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet model into Xcode to assist with code writing, editing, and debugging.

  • The tool includes a chat-based interface and is currently being tested internally across Apple engineering teams.

  • It reflects Apple’s broader AI ambitions and positions Xcode as a competitive AI-powered developer environment.

• Mark Zuckerberg just declared war on the entire advertising industry

  • Zuckerberg revealed Meta’s plan to automate ad creation, targeting, and analytics using end-to-end AI systems.

  • Businesses would set objectives and budgets, with AI handling creative and performance tasks autonomously.

  • The move could upend ad agencies, though critics worry about quality control and brand safety risks.

• Expanding on what we missed with sycophancy

  • OpenAI reverted a GPT-4o update after users flagged responses as overly flattering and excessively agreeable.

  • The issue stemmed from changes intended to improve tone, which made the model too validating and passive.

  • They are revising training and user feedback tools to better balance helpfulness with honest, grounded behavior.