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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🌟 Harvard and Google make 1 million public-domain books available for AI research.
🎥 ChatGPT expands capabilities with real-time video understanding.
🤖 Anybotics secures $60M to scale autonomous robots for safer industrial operations.
🪙 Trump hints at transformative crypto initiatives amid global market uncertainty.
🍄 Scientists build a biohybrid robot controlled by a mushroom.

AI

• Harvard and Google to release 1 million public-domain books as AI training dataset

  • Harvard and Google will collaborate to release a dataset of 1 million public-domain books for AI training.

  • The initiative aims to make high-quality training material widely accessible for machine learning research.

  • The IDI’s executive director Greg Leppert says the dataset’s designed to "level the playing field” by opening up such a huge dataset to anyone

• ChatGPT now understands real-time video

  • OpenAI has enabled ChatGPT to process real-time video, expanding its interactive capabilities.

  • Users can now share live footage to receive contextual responses, such as object recognition and scene analysis.

  • This feature enhances ChatGPT’s practical use cases, teased seven months ago during an OpenAI demo.

• Google releases the first of its Gemini 2.0 AI models

  • Google has launched Gemini 2.0, its latest AI model designed for generating text, images, and audio.

  • The model integrates with Google products like Bard and Workspace, focusing on speed and efficiency.

  • Gemini 2.0 represents Google’s effort to lead the generative AI space with advanced capabilities.

ROBOTICS

• Anybotics raises $60M to scale autonomous industrial robots in the U.S.

  • Swiss robotics firm Anybotics secured $60M to expand its autonomous robot solutions in the U.S. industrial market.

  • The funding will support production and deployment of robots designed for facility inspection and safety.

  • Investors highlight the potential of Anybotics’ robots to improve operational efficiency in hazardous environments.

• Scientists gave a mushroom a robot body and let it run wild

  • Researchers attached bioelectric sensors to a mushroom, enabling it to control a robotic platform.

  • The experiment explores symbiosis between biological organisms and robotics for adaptive systems.

  • ‘By growing mycelium into the electronics of a robot, we were able to allow the biohybrid machine to sense and respond to the environment.’

• Ukraine tests droid fighter robot for battlefield support

  • Ukraine has deployed a new droid fighter robot designed for reconnaissance and combat support on the battlefield.

  • The robot is equipped with AI for decision-making and can assist soldiers in high-risk zones.

  • This innovation highlights Ukraine’s focus on integrating advanced robotics into modern warfare.

CRYPTO

• Riot Platforms Stock Rises. Why the Bitcoin Miner Is Surging.

  • Riot Platforms’ stock surged as activist investor Starboard Value pushed for operational improvements.

  • Starboard suggested Riot divest non-core assets to enhance profitability amid Bitcoin market challenges.

  • Riot’s position as a leading Bitcoin miner has drawn investor focus on its long-term strategy.

• Trump says the U.S. is going to do ‘something great’ with crypto

  • President-elect Trump teased major U.S. initiatives involving cryptocurrency without providing specifics.

  • Trump suggested potential regulatory reforms or infrastructure investments to position the U.S. as a crypto leader.

  • The announcement comes as crypto markets face global uncertainty and regulatory scrutiny.

• Docs show Biden admin urged banks to pause crypto activity, fueling ‘debanking’ suspicions

  • Newly revealed documents suggest the Biden administration had banks halt crypto-related activity under 'Operation Chokepoint 2.0.’

  • Former Silvergate CTO Chris Lane accused regulators of collapsing crypto-focused banking, describing the policy as a ‘shot in the back.’

  • Coinbase's legal team pledged to fight for transparency, as crypto leaders demand policy reversals.

CONTENT

• The promises and perils of panpsychism

  • Philip Goff and Hilary Lawson explore panpsychism, the idea that consciousness is a fundamental and universal feature of the world.

  • The debate covers evidence for panpsychism, its relation to physics, and whether it can reconcile science and spirituality.

  • The discussion highlights panpsychism’s potential to reshape metaphysics, addressing both its promises and limitations.

• Inside the brain of a 17-year-old $1M/month AI founder

  • Zach Yadegari, Co-Founder of Cal AI, shares frameworks for building viral AI apps, focusing on simplicity and user engagement.

  • The conversation covers strategies like influencer-driven design, monetization through weekly subscriptions, and growth via parent-focused marketing.

  • Yadegari emphasizes clear diagnostics, gamification, and retention-focused features to sustain app success.

• Legendary inventor Danny Hillis — solving the impossible

  • Danny Hillis discusses his pioneering work in parallel computing and its influence on AI and high-performance chips.

  • Joined by Kevin Kelly, the conversation spans cybersecurity, medicine, and culture’s role in technological evolution.

  • Hillis reflects on innovation's challenges, offering insights into solving complex problems in modern fields.

AND MORE…

• Amazon Prime Video uses AI to modernize old algorithms

  • Amazon Prime Video has updated its recommendation algorithms using AI to deliver more personalized content.

  • The system analyzes viewing trends to suggest niche topics, improving user satisfaction and retention.

  • This marks Amazon’s push to stay competitive in the streaming wars by enhancing content discoverability.

• iOS 18.2 brings major upgrade to Apple intelligence

  • Apple’s iOS 18.2 introduces enhanced AI-powered features like real-time transcription and adaptive app recommendations.

  • The update also includes expanded Siri capabilities and improved on-device privacy protections.

  • Users can download the update by navigating to the settings menu on their iPhones.

• ‘Unprecedented risk’ to life on Earth: Scientists call for halt on ‘mirror life’ microbe research

  • Leading scientists, including Nobel laureates, warn that mirror microbes pose unparalleled risks to life.

  • Concerns include these microbes evading immune systems, causing unchecked lethal infections, and being uncontrollable.

  • The group urges a global halt to this research, advocating a debate on the risks while exploring regulated uses of mirror chemistry.