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

In today’s edition, we are tackling the following:

😰 Reports: US losing edge in AI talent pool.
🧠 OpenAI unveils tech that can reason with images.
🇺🇸 US hopes of beating China in humanoid robotics dashed by Trump's tariffs.
🥘 Spanish blackout drives use of Musk’s Starlink.
👨🏻‍⚖️ Why the Senate crypto bill is in turmoil.

AI

• Reports: US losing edge in AI talent pool

  • The US is losing AI talent due to reduced science funding and stricter immigration policies.

  • China is producing top AI breakthroughs domestically, with researchers no longer relying on Western institutions.

  • AI hubs are emerging globally, with London, the Gulf States, and India investing heavily in local tech ecosystems.

• OpenAI Unveils Technology That Can ‘Reason’ With Images

  • OpenAI launched new AI systems, o3 and o4-mini, that can reason through tasks involving both text and images, like diagrams or graphs.

  • The systems take more time to "think" before answering and can generate images, search the web, and use digital tools.

  • OpenAI also released Codex CLI, an open-source AI agent that helps programmers use these systems with their local codebases.

• Duolingo launches 148 courses created with AI after sharing plans to replace contractors with AI

  • Duolingo launched 148 new AI-generated language courses, doubling its content in the largest expansion in company's history.

  • The move follows internal plans to replace contractors with AI, sparking user backlash over concerns about quality and ethics.

  • New courses target beginners with features like Stories and DuoRadio; advanced content is expected to follow soon.

ROBOTICS

• Scientists Direct Cyborg Cicadas to Play a Horrendous Droning Rendition of ‘Pachelbel's Canon’

  • Scientists in Japan used electrodes to control cicadas’ timbals, making them "play" Pachelbel’s Canon through droning insect sounds.

  • The cicadas produced tones across three octaves, rivaling a glockenspiel’s range, though the result was intentionally jarring.

  • Researchers suggest the method could inspire low-power audio devices for emergencies, though it's unlikely to debut at Carnegie Hall.

• US scientists develop 3D-printable open-source humanoid robot that costs just $5K

  • UC Berkeley unveiled a 3D-printable, open-source humanoid robot that costs under $5K, aimed at researchers, educators, and hobbyists.

  • The Berkeley Humanoid Lite uses 22 low-cost 3D-printed gearboxes and reinforcement learning for walking, hopping, and motor tasks.

  • All designs, code, and training tools are freely available on GitHub to promote accessible, customizable robotics research worldwide.

• US hopes of beating China in the humanoid robotics race may be dashed by Trump's tariffs

  • Trump’s tariffs and China’s rare earth export limits are disrupting U.S. humanoid robotics development, including Tesla’s Optimus project.

  • At the Robotics Summit, industry leaders voiced concern over supply chain uncertainty and rising costs driven by trade tensions.

  • Some see opportunity in domestic automation demand, but tariffs risk pricing out global innovators like China’s Unitree from the U.S. market.

CRYPTO

• Why the Senate crypto bill is in turmoil

  • Senate Democrats withdrew support for the revised stablecoin bill, citing weak safeguards on money laundering and financial system risks.

  • The bill is a Trump priority and would establish the first federal crypto rules, but partisan tensions and Trump’s crypto ties complicate support.

  • With Democrats blocking a floor vote, bipartisan negotiations remain ongoing to salvage the legislation before the end-of-month deadline.

• Solana validators patched a zero-day bug that could have led to unlimited minting of certain tokens

  • Solana quietly patched a zero-day bug that could have allowed unlimited token minting via forged zero-knowledge proofs.

  • The vulnerability affecting Token-2022 confidential transfers was fixed by coordinating validators before public disclosure.

  • No funds were stolen; the feature had low adoption, and Paxos clarified its stablecoins were not impacted.

• ‘Like Spitting on a Fire’: Tether CEO Slams EU Deposit Protections Amid Bank Failure Warnings

  • Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino warns EU stablecoin rules force issuers to keep risky, uninsured deposits in fragile banks.

  • He likens the setup to pre-SVB collapse conditions, saying a bank failure could trigger stablecoin bankruptcies and systemic risk.

  • Ardoino criticizes EU policies for propping up banks at the expense of financial stability, as Tether eyes U.S. expansion.

CONTENT

• What's Next for AI Infrastructure with Amin Vahdat

  • Google Cloud VP Amin Vahdat says 2025 will be the “Year of Inference” as startups harness faster, cheaper AI infrastructure.

  • TPUs and improved data movement are unlocking real-time AI agents and making once-impossible tools accessible to smaller teams.

  • The episode explores how cost-efficient AI infra, low-code tools, and decision tracking are shaping the next wave of AI development.

• What Is an AI Agent?

  • a16z partners debate what truly defines an AI agent and how it differs from LLMs or simple software functions.

  • They explore agent capabilities, pricing models, and whether agents can realistically replace human tasks or decision-making.

  • Data siloes and web access challenges may limit agent effectiveness, raising key questions for builders and buyers alike.

• Windsurf CEO: Betting On AI Agents, Pivoting In 48 Hours, And The Future of Coding

  • Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan shares how his team pivoted from infra to AI coding tools in just 48 hours to survive.

  • Windsurf now helps both technical and non-technical users code faster, competing directly with tools like GitHub Copilot.

  • Mohan discusses model training, rapid iteration, and how AI could power “just in time” software for developers and non-coders alike.

AND MORE…

• Trump administration proposes cutting $491M from the CISA budget

  • Trump’s 2026 budget proposes cutting $491M (17%) from CISA, targeting programs deemed unrelated to core cybersecurity missions.

  • The proposal aims to eliminate efforts labeled as misinformation-related, despite such work comprising a minor portion of CISA’s budget.

  • Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about the impact on cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection.

• A Mother’s Day gift as brilliant as she is*

  • Give her something unexpected: new words, new confidence, and maybe even a reason to (finally) plan that trip.

  • With Rosetta Stone, she can explore 25 languages on her schedule—and with TruAccent, gain the confidence to speak from day one.

  • This Mother’s Day, give her something that’s entirely her own.

• Spanish blackout drives use of Musk’s Starlink

  • Starlink usage surged up to 60% in Spain during a major Iberian power outage that disrupted traditional telecom networks.

  • Mobile networks lacked sufficient backup, with only partial generator coverage, exposing vulnerabilities in telecom infrastructure.

  • Experts warn that low telecom margins and rising climate risks demand urgent investment in network resilience and backup power.