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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

📱 Gemini adds screen sharing and camera input for real-world AI interaction.
🌸 Shopify blocks new hires unless AI can't do the job.
🎬 Amazon’s Nova Reel generates longer, multiscene videos with improved accuracy.
🤖 GPT-4.5 fools humans 73% of the time in new Turing Test results.
🤯 Crypto market dips 30% as tariffs rattle investor confidence.

AI

• Google’s Gemini Live Now Supports Camera Input and Screen Sharing

  • Gemini Live now supports screen sharing and live camera input, rolling out first on Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25.

  • Users can point phones at objects or share screens for real-time help identifying or comparing things instantly.

  • These features require Gemini Advanced and are limited to adult personal accounts in select countries for now.

• Shopify CEO Says No New Hires Without Proof AI Can't Do the Job

  • Shopify’s CEO told teams to prove AI can’t do a job before making new full-time hire requests.

  • The company now requires 'reflexive AI usage' and is evaluating employees partly on AI fluency.

  • Lütke urged teams to envision workflows where autonomous agents handle entire tasks without human intervention.

• Amazon Says Its AI Video Model Can Now Generate Minutes-Long Clips

  • Amazon's Nova Reel 1.1 now generates two-minute-long AI videos, a major leap over earlier version limitations.

  • A new multishot mode supports image reference input for more accurate composition and scene consistency.

  • The tool is available on AWS, though access requires a request and may be limited by demand.

ROBOTICS

• Humanoid Robot Demonstrates Parkour Abilities

  • A U.S.-developed humanoid robot demonstrated advanced parkour movements using a lightweight body and agile actuator system.

  • The robot uses an abdominal fan to stabilize motion, helping it complete jumps, rolls, and complex maneuvers.

  • Engineers say this marks a leap forward in dynamic mobility for next-generation humanoid robotics.

• World’s First AI-Powered Industrial Super-Humanoid Robot

  • Mech, the AI humanoid, has a 17-foot wingspan and lifts 132 pounds to assist with industrial labor.

  • It is built for high-risk, repetitive tasks, aiming to reduce injuries across physically demanding job environments.

  • The robot combines strength, speed, and intelligence, pushing boundaries in industrial-grade robotics and automation.

• AI Robots Pass Turing Test, Indistinguishable From Humans

  • A new study shows GPT-4.5 fooled human judges 73% of the time, passing the Turing Test.

  • It outperformed real people in believability, sparking fears over deception risks from hyper-realistic AI models.

  • Experts say these results raise urgent ethical concerns about trust, impersonation, and machine intelligence boundaries.

CRYPTO

• BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Warns of Potential 20% Market Drop

  • Larry Fink said markets could fall another 20% as inflation stays high and rate cuts remain unlikely.

  • He warned of persistent volatility but described current conditions as a long-term buying opportunity for investors.

  • Fink emphasized resilience, saying investors must stay focused despite economic turbulence and declining asset valuations.

• Crypto Market Cap Falls 30% Amid Tariff Turbulence

  • The total crypto market cap fell 30%, dropping from December highs amid U.S. tariff-driven investor anxiety.

  • Analysts say sudden policy shifts caused broad sell-offs and undermined confidence in near-term crypto price stability.

  • Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins all saw sharp losses, with cautious sentiment driving market-wide liquidation pressure.

• Strategy Reports Nearly $6 Billion in Unrealized Bitcoin Losses

  • Strategy posted $5.91 billion in unrealized Bitcoin losses this quarter, despite maintaining its large BTC holdings.

  • The firm warned it does not expect a Q1 profit, citing substantial crypto devaluation across its assets.

  • It currently holds over 528,000 BTC, still valued near $41 billion even after the recent crypto correction.

CONTENT

• How to Validate Your Startup Idea for $50

  • Justin Mares tested bone broth demand using a $9 domain, a PayPal button, and $100 in Bing ads.

  • He priced high at $29.99 to prove customers truly wanted it, despite no product or reputation.

  • Modern AI tools now make validating startup ideas faster, cheaper, and easier than ever before.

• Sam Altman On Miyazaki’s Thoughts on Art

  • Sam Altman discusses AI’s creative impact, India’s fast adoption, and the rise of prompt engineering as work.

  • He questions whether AI startups are just wrappers and explores AI’s role in shaping future tech careers.

  • Altman urges creatives to embrace AI, saying it democratizes design, code, and content creation for everyone.

• Stocks Are Crashing—Here's How That Changes AI in 2025

  • AI development is booming, but implementation lags as markets crash and funding shifts toward margin-focused tools.

  • Complex agents remain expensive and hard to deploy, creating space for middleware builders and infrastructure innovators.

  • Copilot’s lead proves adoption beats capability—AI winners will be those embedded in workflows, not just technically superior.

AND MORE…

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• Microsoft Fires Employee Protestor Who Called AI Boss a 'War Profiteer'

  • Microsoft fired Ibtihal Aboussad after she interrupted a keynote, calling AI lead Mustafa Suleyman a 'war profiteer'.

  • Another staffer, Vaniya Agrawal, was also let go for protesting Microsoft's military-linked AI contracts during the event.

  • Microsoft declined to comment on individual cases but reaffirmed its stance on internal conduct and event policies.

• Google Allegedly Pays Some AI Staff to Do Nothing for a Year Rather Than Join Rivals

  • Google is reportedly paying AI employees during year-long noncompetes to prevent talent from joining rivals like OpenAI.

  • Affected staff are compensated while contractually barred from working elsewhere, raising questions about retention tactics.

  • The strategy underscores intensifying AI talent wars as companies guard intellectual property and competitive advantage aggressively.

• Microsoft Is Offering Free AI Skills Training for Everyone – How to Sign Up

  • Microsoft launched a 50-day 'AI Skills Challenge' offering free lessons for beginners and professionals worldwide.

  • Participants can access modules on AI foundations, and tools like Copilot, and earn certifications via LinkedIn Learning.

  • The initiative aims to bridge the AI skills gap as demand for qualified talent surges globally.