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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

📱 Apple keeps TikTok in its store after assurances from AG Bondi.
🤖 World’s first AI-powered industrial super-humanoid robot.
💸 Conor McGregor-backed crypto token fails to launch raising just 39% of $1M.
📬 Newsletter growth secrets from Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief.
🏢 David Sacks’ Craft Ventures lays off staff co-founder steps back.

AI

• Apple keeps TikTok in its store after assurances from AG Bondi

  • Apple Inc. has decided to keep TikTok and other ByteDance Ltd. apps available on its U.S. App Store for an additional 75 days.

  • This decision follows a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, advising compliance with President Donald Trump's executive order.

  • On April 4, 2025, President Trump signed another executive order, extending the delay of the TikTok ban for an additional 75 days.

• Meta releases the two Llama 4 AI models

  • Meta claims its new models are superior to those from OpenAI and Google across ‘a broad range’ of benchmarks.

  • The two new models, also available to download from Meta or Hugging Face, are Llama 4 Scout and Llama 4 Maverick.

  • Meta says it’s still in the process of training Llama 4 Behemoth, which Zuckerberg says is “the highest performing base model in the world.”

• Microsoft has created an AI-generated version of Quake

  • Microsoft unveiled its Xbox AI era earlier this year with a new Muse AI model that can generate gameplay. 

  • The tech demo is part of Microsoft’s Copilot for Gaming push and features an AI-generated replica of Quake II.

  • The Quake II level is very basic and includes blurry enemies and interactions, and Microsoft is limiting the amount of time you play.

ROBOTICS

• World’s first AI-powered industrial super-humanoid robot

  • In a groundbreaking development, Dexterity has unveiled Mech, the world's first industrial super-humanoid robot.

  • This innovative creation figures to revolutionize enterprise operations, particularly in the logistics and manufacturing sectors.

  • This industrial super-humanoid robot features two arms mounted on a rover, allowing it to navigate warehouses and industrial sites with ease.

• Ads get ignored—unless they’re in Futuristica*

  • 70,000+ tech founders and AI enthusiasts read Futuristica regularly to keep ahead of trends shaping the future of work and innovation.

  • Connect directly with an engaged, forward-thinking audience influencing tomorrow’s tech landscape.

  • We’ll craft your ad copy for free—join the conversation.

• Robot-harvesting tomatoes is a big step toward autonomous agriculture

  • Batenburg Beenen developed an autonomous weeder with 12 robotic arms and 12 cameras, powered by solar energy.

  • What makes this machine special is that it can enter the field two weeks earlier than people. This gives the crop more time to grow.

  • The robot moves independently through the rows in existing greenhouses and recognizes ripe tomatoes with the help of AI.

• Kawasaki unveils hydrogen-powered robotic horse that you can ride

  • Kawasaki Heavy Industries has unveiled Corleo, a hydrogen-powered, four-legged robotic vehicle designed for riders.

  • Corleo’s four independent robotic legs enable balanced and stable movement across various surfaces.

  • Each leg operates separately, allowing the robot to traverse rough and uneven terrain with ease. ​

CRYPTO

• Conor McGregor-backed crypto token fails to launch raising just 39% of the $1M minimum

  • A token launched by Conor McGregor raised just $392,000 over its 28-hour presale period, failing to hit the $1,008,000 minimum to launch.

  • All bids will be refunded, the DAO announced shortly after the presale period closed.

  • The token’s failure to launch indicates a market shift away from celebrity-backed tokens as the crypto market struggles.

• Cathie Wood’s ARK buys over $13M worth of Coinbase shares during market rout

  • Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment Management took advantage of the $5.4 trillion U.S. equities market sell-off and purchased over 83,000.

  • The total shares purchased were worth more than $13 million, taking Friday's closing price for Coinbase.

  • Wood’s flagship ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) bought nearly 55,000 Coinbase shares.

• Bitcoin dips below $80,000 after dropping over 3% in two hours

  • The price of Bitcoin dropped below $80,000 on Sunday as the cryptocurrency market experienced a significant dip.

  • The Block’s GMCI 30 index of the top 30 cryptocurrencies is down over 6% in the past 24 hours.

  • The ratio of BTC’s price compared to ETH has also fallen to a five-year low.

CONTENT

• Newsletter growth secrets from Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief

  • Sam Parr chats with Morning Brew co-founders Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief on how they built a newsletter business from zero to millions.

  • Alex and Austin started Morning Brew in 2015 as a simple PDF newsletter named Market Corner during their college years. 

  • They personally reached out to potential readers, leveraging their college networks and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals.

• Rippling targets $16B, market chaos, TikTok timeout, and office hours 

  • Jason and Alex unpack the latest turbulence in the startup world from Nasdaq’s slide and Trump’s renewed tariffs to Klarna hitting pause.

  • They highlight key trends every founder should watch: shrinking CIO budgets, longer sales cycles, and hiring becoming easier.

  • Plus, they cover the delayed TikTok ban and in Office Hours, they spotlight two fast-growing startups.

• Specific frameworks to improve your clarity, influence, and impact with Wes Kao

  • Wes Kao is an entrepreneur, coach, and advisor. She co-founded the live learning platform Maven, backed by First Round and a16z. 

  • Wes co-created the altMBA with best-selling author Seth Godin and teaches a popular course on executive communication.

  • Through her course and one-on-one coaching, she’s helped thousands of operators, founders, and product leaders.

AND MORE…

• David Sacks’ Craft Ventures lays off staff co-founder steps back

  • Craft Ventures, co-founded by David Sacks, has implemented staff reductions. 

  • While the exact number of layoffs hasn't been publicly disclosed, these cuts reflect a strategic shift within the firm.

  • Co-founder Jeff Fluhr is transitioning from his role as a General Partner to that of a Venture Partner.

• Honda is sending its hydrogen tech to space

  • The automaker is teaming up with space tech companies to test its high-differential pressure water electrolysis system on the ISS.

  • The test is part of Honda’s vision to support life on the Moon and elsewhere in space using regenerative fuel cell technology.

  • Honda says it envisions its hydrogen-powered regenerative system as part of a human settlement on the lunar surface.

• BBC seeks more prominent credit in Apple and Google News

  • BBC has filed a complaint with a UK antitrust regulator complaining that aggregators minimize credit for the stories they feature.

  • Apple Insider reports that the BBC is asking the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority to require Apple and Google to credit news sources.

  • Apple recently paused AI news summaries after complaints of inaccuracy from the BBC and other publishers.