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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🧠 Researchers unveil Sky-T1, a reasoning AI model trainable under $450.
🏊 Wybot's self-emptying, solar-charging, pool-mapping robot debuts.
🎮 Top 5 upgrades coming to the Nintendo Switch 2.
💰 North Dakota takes first steps towards state Bitcoin reserve.
📆 McKeown shares tactics and strategies for a 2025 reboot.

AI

• Researchers unveil Sky-T1, a reasoning AI model trainable under $450

  • Researchers have introduced Sky-T1, an open-source AI model designed for efficient reasoning tasks.

  • Notably, Sky-T1 can be trained for under $450, making advanced AI development more accessible.

  • This initiative aims to democratize AI research, enabling broader participation in the field.

• Zuckerberg accused of using pirated data for Meta AI

  • Meta is facing allegations of copyright infringement after court documents show the company used pirated books to train its AI models.

  • It’s suggested Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, approved the move despite concerns within the company's AI executive team.

  • Meta has defended its actions by invoking the ‘fair use’ doctrine, arguing that using publicly available materials for AI is permissible.

• Britain aims to create a local OpenAI rival to lead in AI innovation

  • The UK plans to establish a homegrown AI company to rival OpenAI, aiming to secure a leadership role in global AI innovation.

  • The initiative is part of a broader strategy to boost domestic technology and attract top talent, supported by significant government funding.

  • The effort seeks not only to bolster economic growth but also to align AI development with ethical and democratic values.

ROBOTICS

• Wybot's self-emptying, solar-charging, pool-mapping robot debuts

  • The robotic pool cleaner features AI-driven navigation and sensors, allowing it to map and clean pools of various shapes and sizes.

  • The robot includes improved suction power for capturing debris, energy-efficient operation.

  • The innovative design caters to a growing consumer demand for hassle-free, automated pool maintenance.

• China’s newest humanoid robot is ready to serve like never before

  • Chinese startup Pudu Robotics has unveiled its latest creation, the D9 humanoid robot.

  • It’s designed to revolutionize the way we work and interact with machines.

  • Equipped with high-accuracy sensors, the D9 creates real-time 3D semantic maps of its surroundings.

• Robot café in Tokyo aims to empower human workers

  • Tokyo’s Dawn Avatar Robot Café employs robots operated remotely by people with disabilities.

  • The café's robots serve customers and engage in conversation, offering a blend of technology and human interaction aimed at inclusivity.

  • The café shows how tech can create solutions for accessibility, breaking barriers for people unable to work in traditional settings.

CRYPTO

• North Dakota takes first steps towards state Bitcoin reserve

  • North Dakota is the latest U.S. state to consider including Bitcoin in its balance sheets.

  • The U.S. state has introduced Resolution 3001, aiming to diversify state investments by establishing a Bitcoin reserve.

  • This initiative reflects a growing trend among governments to explore digital assets as part of their financial strategies.

• Bhutan's crypto reserve may set a path for global economic growth

  • Bhutan has accumulated over $1 billion in Bitcoin, leveraging its hydroelectric resources for mining since 2019.

  • The country plans to expand its mining capacity to 600 megawatts by 2025 in partnership with Bitdeer, aiming to boost economic growth.

  • This strategy positions Bhutan as a leader in state-owned cryptocurrency reserves.

• Crypto thieves behind $2.2 million scam to be served lawsuit via NFT

  • Scammers defrauded individuals of over $2 million in cryptocurrency through fake job offers.

  • The scheme involved unsolicited text messages promising high-paying remote jobs that required victims to open cryptocurrency accounts.

  • The investigation, involving the Queens District Attorney and the U.S. Secret Service, has led to the freezing of wallets containing the funds.

CONTENT

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• McKeown shares tactics and strategies for a 2025 reboot

  • McKeown authored bestsellers, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less and Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most.

  • It discussed about finding meaning in life's inevitable challenges and suffering,through practices like radical gratitude and focused reflection.

  • It was also shared how empathic, rogerian listening has transformative potential for human connection, yet it's underutilized.

• Establish the future with Parker Conrad

  • In this episode of How to Build the Future, Garry sits down with Parker Conrad, Co-founder & CEO of Rippling.

  • Conrad is the co-founder of two unicorns and has one of the more dramatic startup journeys in recent years.

  • Discussed; his origin story, how AI is changing the game and why he thinks the future will be defined by "compound" software startups.

• Build your product team, attract top talent, and go multi-product

  • Rohini is a product leader at Mercury with extensive experience at Square/Block, where she led key projects like Square payments.

  • The conversation covers when to hire PMs, building an early PM team, why founders should initially act as PMs.

  • Rohini emphasizes the importance of investing in quality and offers practical advice on scaling product teams.

AND MORE…

• Top 5 upgrades coming to the Nintendo Switch 2

  • The Switch 2 is expected to feature a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 SoC, offering performance comparable to current-gen consoles.

  • Suggestions the new console will sport an 8-inch LCD screen, up from the original Switch's 6.2-inch and the OLED model's 7-inch displays.

  • Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with existing Switch games.

• YouTubers sell unused footage to AI firms

  • YouTubers are selling unused video footage to AI companies, creating a new revenue stream for content creators.

  • The footage is used to train AI models, with companies eager to acquire diverse and large datasets.

  • The trend raises questions about consent, privacy, and the ethical use of personal and public data in AI development.

• Paid search helps drive record-breaking $241.4B last holiday season

  • The 2024 holiday season saw increased competition in paid search, with rising costs per click as businesses vied for consumer attention.

  • Advertisers increasingly relied on AI-driven tools and automation to optimize campaign performance during the holiday period.

  • Mobile devices and shopping-specific ad formats dominated paid search strategies.