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 teases Movie Gen, an AI tool for text-based video editing, set to launch in 2025.
🤖 Apptronik partners with DeepMind to advance humanoid robots for healthcare.
☕ Neo Robots could be coming to households next year.
💰 Cursor raises $100M, reaching a $2.5B valuation to revolutionize coding workflows.
🪐 Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander prepares for NASA’s mid-January moon mission.

AI

• Instagram's AI Video Editing Tool Teased for 2025

  • Meta’s Movie Gen tool will allow users to modify videos using text-based instructions.

  • The AI tool can adjust lighting, textures, and scenes for enhanced creative freedom.

  • Launch expected in 2025, positioning Instagram as a leader in AI-driven video editing.

• Google's New ‘Reasoning’ AI Model Launches in Experimental Phase

  • Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental aims to excel in multimodal understanding, math, and programming.

  • The model emphasizes ‘reasoning’ by explaining its thought process but struggles with basic tasks.

  • It joins a growing trend of reasoning AI models, though concerns remain over cost and scalability.

• AI Coding Assistant Cursor Raises $100M at $2.5B Valuation

  • The coding assistant secured $100M in funding led by Thrive Capital, achieving a $2.5B valuation a few months after launch.

  • It specializes in assisting developers with real-time coding solutions, debugging, and optimizing workflows.

  • Backed by notable investors, Cursor plans to expand its AI features and deepen integrations with developer platforms in 2025.

ROBOTICS

• New Physics Sim Trains Robots 430,000 Times Faster Than Reality

  • ‘Genesis’ uses accelerated simulations to provide decades of robot training in just hours.

  • Generates realistic 4D worlds from text prompts, enabling efficient AI training environments.

  • Open-source platform written in Python, accessible to researchers with standard hardware.

• Apptronik and Google DeepMind Partner to Advance Humanoid Robots

  • Apptronik teams up with DeepMind to create AI-driven humanoid robots for diverse industries.

  • Focus areas include healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, targeting deployment by 2026.

  • The partnership merges DeepMind’s AI expertise with Apptronik’s robotic hardware innovation.

• Humanoid Robot that can do laundry and make coffee is here

  • Neo humanoid robot is designed for homes to assist with tasks and mobility challenges.

  • Features a ‘muscle-like anatomy’ covered by clothing, prioritizing aesthetics and functionality in domestic settings.

  • They could be in homes next year, showcasing their unique ability for casual human interaction and remote operation.

CRYPTO

• BlackRock warns Bitcoin supply cap is not guaranteed

  • BlackRock's video states Bitcoin's 21 million cap could change, raising concerns about its scarcity.

  • Critics argue this could signal future efforts to alter Bitcoin's core features.

  • Bitcoin's price surge this year has been driven by BlackRock's support and Wall Street interest.

• El Salvador maintains Bitcoin purchases despite IMF deal

  • El Salvador commits to buying Bitcoin even after agreeing to scale back crypto policies in a $1.4B IMF loan deal.

  • Tax payments will remain exclusively in U.S. dollars, though Bitcoin remains legal tender.

  • The country owns 5,968 Bitcoins, valued at $594M, with recent price surges tied to U.S. strategic reserve plans.

• Craig Wright sentenced to one year in prison

  • Craig Wright, who claims to be Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, sentenced for contempt of court in a legal battle.

  • Wright's failure to produce documents in a case involving billions in Bitcoin led to the ruling.

  • His ongoing legal troubles continue to cloud his claims of being Bitcoin's pseudonymous founder.

CONTENT

• Naval Ravikant, The Beginning of Infinity

  • Naval explores truth-seeking as an individual journey and critiques group-driven consensus in society.

  • Discusses the impact of wealth creation, regulation, and innovation on Western progress.

  • Delves into David Deutsch's philosophies and their influence on understanding science and human potential.

• Mark Zuckerberg on Life, History, and Being Human

  • Zuckerberg reflects on balancing family life, leadership lessons, and Meta’s open-source AI strategy.

  • Highlights Meta's investments in AI and the metaverse as tools to redefine societal interaction.

  • Discusses the intersection of technology with personal growth, including insights from historical empires.

• How Economic Inequality Controls Your Life | Gary Stevenson

  • Stevenson shares his journey from Citibank trader to activist, addressing the social impact of inequality.

  • Advocates for wealth redistribution and challenges capitalism’s role in worsening inequality.

  • Explores societal mindsets around wealth and the potential for political action to tackle economic divides.

AND MORE…

• ChatGPT as a therapeutic tool raises opportunities and risks

  • AI bots like ‘Therapist GPT’ offer instant support, helping users explore emotions in a nonjudgmental space.

  • Experts warn about potential inaccuracies, bias, and lack of safeguards in these non-clinical chatbots.

  • Collaboration with human therapists is recommended for effective mental health guidance and safety.

• AI agents could form nations on crypto rails

  • AI agents leveraging blockchain can simulate legal personhood, enabling autonomous transactions.

  • Crypto-powered experiments, like Project SID, show AI agents forming social structures and governance.

  • Speculation grows on whether these agents could create digital network states with crypto economies.

• SpaceX’s Blue Ghost lunar lander set for mid-January launch

  • Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost will carry 10 NASA payloads to study lunar conditions and test new tech.

  • Science goals include exploring regolith properties, solar wind interaction, and lunar navigation systems.

  • The 60-day mission supports NASA's Artemis program, aiming for a sustained human lunar presence.