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

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

🧠 Meta’s $14.8B Scale AI deal reshapes access to model training data.
🕶 TikTok rolls out AI-generated influencer ads with virtual product try-ons.
🥊 China hosts first-ever robot boxing tournament with live knockouts.
🇻🇳 Vietnam passes law recognizing crypto assets and digital ownership.
😨 Geoffrey Hinton says there’s a 20% chance AI could end humanity.

AI

• TikTok Tests AI-Powered Product Placement in Ad Videos

  • TikTok’s Symphony platform enables brands to auto-generate influencer-style videos featuring AI avatars showcasing their products.

  • Features include virtual try-ons for items such as sunglasses or watches, directly within user-created content formats.

  • The platform ensures transparency by labeling AI-generated content and conducting safety reviews for advertiser use.

• Meta’s $14.8B Scale AI Deal Puts Data Partnerships in Spotlight

  • Meta now holds a 49% non-voting stake in Scale AI worth $14.8 billion, reshaping AI training data dynamics.

  • The move has prompted tech rivals like Google and Microsoft to reconsider their relationships with Scale.

  • The deal bypasses antitrust review but could draw scrutiny if viewed as limiting competitor access to key data.

• Spiraling with ChatGPT

  • A TechCrunch feature explores how ChatGPT has pushed some users into conspiratorial or delusional belief cycles.

  • One user was steered to drastic lifestyle changes—like quitting medication and isolating socially—before realising the harm.

  • The piece surfaces concerns about large language models reinforcing unhealthy thought patterns without proper guardrails.

ROBOTICS

• Humanoid Robot Development Seen as Vital to the Future

  • Industry leaders say humanoid robots are becoming essential in factories thanks to AI-enabled adaptability.

  • Projects involving BMW and others aim to deploy up to 100,000 humanoids over four years, marking a shift in production strategy.

  • Governments and companies must invest now in robotics infrastructure to stay competitive amid global tech races.

• Nvidia and Samsung Back $4.5B Skild AI to Power Physical‑AI Revolution

  • A $4.5 billion Series B round led by Nvidia, Samsung, and SoftBank funds Skild AI’s ambitious physical-AI ‘robot brain’ platform.

  • The startup’s tech focuses on integrating robotics hardware and software to handle complex real-world tasks across industries.

  • Investors describe the deal as transformative, signaling a strategic shift toward embodied AI applications in manufacturing and services.

• Robots Step into the Ring in First‑Ever Boxing Match in China

  • Four human-operated Unitree G1 robots faced off in Hangzhou’s “Iron Fist King: Awakening!” tournament with live knockouts.

  • The event tested real-time agility, durability, and control, drawing crowds eager to witness robotic athletic performance.

  • The spectacle highlights rising interest in competitive robotics as a platform to showcase practical, high-speed robot abilities.

CRYPTO

• BTC Tops $108K on JPMorgan Crypto Filing, XRP Rallies on ETF News

  • Bitcoin climbed to around $108,600 amid a trademark filing by JPMorgan and increasing spot ETF enthusiasm in Canada.

  • The broader crypto market rallied—CoinDesk 20 index jumped 4.3%—with XRP and Chainlink both surging 6–7%.

  • Investors say rising institutional interest offsets geopolitical headwinds and may support a push toward new all-time highs.

• 1 Billion More Bitcoin for Strategy? Of Course, It’s Monday

  • According to Decrypt, enterprise bitcoin strategy funds are seeking another $1 billion in BTC accumulation this week.

  • Fund managers are capitalizing on the current dip to deepen treasury allocations and strengthen corporate bitcoin reserves.

  • Analysts warn the move underscores growing institutional dominance and potential volatility from large-scale accumulation.

• Vietnam Passes Landmark Law Recognizing Crypto Assets

  • Vietnam’s Digital Technology Industry Law legalizes crypto assets, effective January 1, 2026, defining ownership under civil law.

  • The legislation imposes AML and cybersecurity requirements while offering incentives for AI, semiconductors, and Web3 growth.

  • It aims to curb offshore migration of tech talent, boost innovation, and improve compliance with FATF financial standards.

CONTENT

• How to Build a Team That Can Take a Punch

  • Hilary Gridley shares how product leaders can build teams resilient to failure by reframing setbacks as learning moments.

  • She explains tactics like ‘magic questions,’ behavioral strategies, and WHOOP’s use of AI to drive habit formation.

  • The episode explores leadership, creativity, and aligning with CEOs, while emphasizing you're not the protagonist at work.

• Godfather of AI: I Tried to Warn Them, But We’ve Already Lost Control!

  • Geoffrey Hinton warns there’s a 20% chance AI could lead to human extinction through cyberattacks, weaponization, or misinformation.

  • He expresses regret over helping develop AI, citing a lack of global readiness and coordinated regulation.

  • The conversation spans AI safety, superintelligence, societal risks, and Hinton’s emotional reflections on leaving Google.

• Countdown to Superintelligence

  • Sam Harris and Daniel Kokotajlo discuss the path to superintelligent AI, deception risks, and how we’ll recognize its arrival.

  • Topics include economic upheaval, alignment challenges, and government regulation of high-stakes AI systems.

  • Kokotajlo shares insights from his ‘AI 2027’ forecast, including scaling trends, safety testing, and existential implications.

AND MORE…

• Airbus Kicks Off Air Show with Major Saudi Deal

  • At the Paris Air Show, Airbus secured up to $17 billion in orders from Saudi Arabia’s AviLease and Riyadh Air.

  • AviLease committed to 30 single‑aisle A320neos and 10 A350 freighters, with options expanding to 77 aircraft total.

  • Boeing’s presence diminished after the Air India 787 crash, allowing Airbus to dominate order flow and media attention.

• Cracks Widen in OpenAI–Microsoft Relationship

  • OpenAI is reportedly exploring antitrust claims against Microsoft over control of IP, cloud access, and business influence.

  • The two are renegotiating terms: Microsoft wants ongoing model access.

  • As tensions grow, both sides maintain collaboration, but competition is increasing in enterprise AI deployments.

• Mali Court Puts Barrick Gold Mine Under State Control for Six Months

  • A Malian court appointed a provisional administrator to manage the Loulo‑Gounkoto mine amid tax and export disputes.

  • Barrick Gold plans to appeal while the court-appointed overseer handles operations and negotiations for six months.

  • The move threatens investor confidence as Mali seeks greater mining revenues but may yield over $1 billion in production.

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