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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🧠 ChatGPT’s ‘please’ and ‘thanks’ cost OpenAI millions in extra energy usage.
🚀 SpaceX tops bids for Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense satellite network.
📺 Netflix tests AI-powered search to improve show and movie discovery.
🤖 OpenAI ditches Cursor, pursues $3B Windsurf deal to dominate coding assistants.
📚 Wikipedia and Kaggle release structured dataset to train models without scraping.

AI

• OpenAI Pursued Cursor Maker Before Entering Into Talks to Buy Windsurf for $3B

  • OpenAI first approached Cursor-maker Anysphere before shifting to Windsurf, which now generates $40M in recurring revenue.

  • Windsurf, formerly Codeium, is in acquisition talks with OpenAI, potentially marking a $3B move into developer tools.

  • The effort signals OpenAI’s aggressive push to dominate the AI-powered coding assistant market through acquisitions.

• Wikipedia Partners With Kaggle to Create AI-Ready Dataset

  • Wikipedia and Kaggle launched a structured, machine-readable dataset of English and French articles for AI developers.

  • The dataset includes summaries, infoboxes, image links, and more to reduce scraping strain and improve AI training.

  • It’s part of Wikimedia’s effort to support open research while protecting its infrastructure from unchecked bot usage.

• Screenshots Are Becoming a Key Input for AI Assistants

  • Companies like Google and Nothing are using screenshots to build more contextual, privacy-aware AI assistant features.

  • Screenshots offer rich user-curated data like text, app state, and timing, enabling smarter, proactive AI behavior.

  • The trend shows how ambient, opt-in data could power future assistants without full device or cloud surveillance.

• Effortless tutorial video creation with Guidde*

  • Turn PDFs or manuals into stunning video tutorials with a single click. Capture workflows with automated visuals, voiceovers, and call-to-actions.

  • Generate multilingual guides to ensure accessibility for global teams and keep your training materials relevant.

  • The best part? The browser extension is 100% free.

ROBOTICS

• Can a $70,000 Robot Transform AI Research?

  • Hugging Face unveiled Reachy 2, a $70K open-source humanoid robot designed for real-world AI testing and research.

  • The bot features lidar, omni wheels, and VR compatibility, making it ideal for labs experimenting with embodied intelligence.

  • Pollen Robotics’ acquisition signals Hugging Face’s push into physical AI tools alongside its existing software ecosystem.

• Humanoid Robots Reshape Warehouses as Tech Invests Billions

  • Startups like Agility, Figure, and Tesla are deploying humanoid robots in warehouses to address rising labor shortages.

  • Companies including Amazon, Ford, and BMW are already piloting bots to automate tasks like lifting and sorting goods.

  • Despite excitement and heavy investment, experts say full-scale deployment remains years away due to cost and reliability.

• The Rise of AI-Powered Robotics and the Future of Work

  • AI robotics are transforming jobs by replacing repetitive tasks and enabling humans to focus on higher-value work.

  • Experts warn rapid automation may displace workers unless companies retrain teams and rethink labor strategies early.

  • The shift demands updated education, new roles, and a focus on human-AI collaboration rather than simple substitution.

CRYPTO

• Kraken Sheds Hundreds of Jobs to Streamline Business Ahead of IPO

  • Kraken has laid off hundreds of employees in recent months to cut costs ahead of a planned U.S. public listing.

  • The exchange continues hiring in key areas while expanding into stocks and futures through its NinjaTrader acquisition.

  • The cuts follow a broader crypto industry trend of consolidation and IPO-focused restructuring in 2025.

• Trump Media Asks SEC to Investigate Suspicious Trading

  • Trump Media alleges ‘illegal naked short selling’ by hedge funds and urges the SEC to open a formal investigation.

  • Qube Research disclosed a short position of nearly 6 million shares, intensifying scrutiny around Trump Media’s stock.

  • TMTG demands regulators escalate findings to civil and criminal authorities if misconduct is uncovered.

• Oregon Attorney General to Sue Coinbase Months After SEC Drops Case

  • Oregon’s AG plans a securities enforcement action against Coinbase despite the SEC dropping its federal-level lawsuit.

  • Coinbase argues the state case contradicts national legal precedent and harms progress toward clearer crypto regulation.

  • The exchange says it has not violated securities laws and calls the move an overreach of state authority.

CONTENT

• Can Meta Afford AI?

  • Meta may spend up to $65B in 2025, raising doubts over its ability to fund Llama’s growth without new monetization.

  • Occidental acquires Holocene Climate Corp., deepening its investment in direct air capture and climate tech M&A.

  • OpenAI’s $3B Windsurf talks follow failed Cursor acquisition, while Shein and Temu announce U.S. price hikes post-tariff.

• The Next Computer? Your Glasses

  • Google’s Shahram Izadi unveils Android XR, an AI-powered smart glasses platform with real-time translation and memory recall.

  • The demo shows how wearable AI can summarize books, locate lost items, and enhance day-to-day cognitive tasks.

  • Google envisions a seamless, screen-free future where AI interfaces are ambient, discreet, and visually integrated.

• AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Work: Ian Beacraft Explains Why Jobs Are Dead

  • Futurist Ian Beacraft says the real disruption isn’t AI—it’s outdated leadership and rigid job structures holding teams back.

  • He predicts job titles will fade as companies embrace fluid roles powered by AI copilots and digital twins.

  • The future of work, he argues, is about unleashing human potential through adaptable, AI-augmented collaboration.

AND MORE…

• Netflix Is Revamping Search With AI to Improve Discovery

  • Netflix is testing an AI-powered search tool in Australia and New Zealand to improve how users find relevant shows.

  • The generative AI upgrade will better interpret vague or conversational queries to suggest personalized recommendations.

  • The tool is part of a larger strategy to make content discovery more interactive and reduce friction in user navigation.

• Elon Musk’s SpaceX Leads Bid for Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System

  • SpaceX is the top contender for Trump’s proposed Golden Dome missile defense network with backing from Palantir and Anduril.

  • The system may use up to 1,200 satellites, combining missile tracking with orbital weapons for real-time defense.

  • SpaceX’s proposed subscription model has raised debate over long-term government control and system affordability.

• ChatGPT Spends Tens of Millions on Polite Interactions

  • OpenAI spends millions on extra tokens from users saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ increasing energy and compute usage.

  • Around 70% of users interact politely, with some believing it reduces bias or prevents future AI retaliation.

  • Altman sees the politeness trend as a positive sign for user-AI relationships, despite the higher operational costs.