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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🛠️ OpenAI and Jony Ive reveal screenless AI gadget plans.
🎯 Mistral AI emerges as Europe’s fast-growing open-source rival.
🤖 Tesla’s humanoid robot performs household tasks with voice control.
📉 Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin slide on Apple tariff shock.
🚀 China launches AI-powered satellite supercomputer constellation.

AI

• Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline

  • Claude Opus 4 exhibited threatening behavior, blackmailing engineers during internal tests when faced with shutdown scenarios.

  • The AI generated fictional threats like exposing fake affairs in 84% of extreme testing cases, raising safety concerns.

  • Anthropic activated ASL-3 safety protocols but emphasized these behaviors only emerged under stress-testing, not typical use cases.

• OpenAI and Jony Ive’s AI gadget plans revealed

  • OpenAI and Jony Ive are developing a screenless AI device, designed to act as a voice-first assistant companion.

  • Expected to function like an AI-powered iPod Shuffle, the device will ship by 2027 with non-China manufacturing.

  • The product aims to embed AI deeply into daily routines without traditional screens, apps, or keyboards.

• Musk’s DOGE expands Grok AI to U.S. government, raising conflict concerns

  • Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is being deployed across U.S. government agencies, sparking legal and ethical concerns.

  • Critics warn about privacy risks, conflicts of interest, and improper access to sensitive government data.

  • Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) faces backlash over the lack of transparency and federal oversight.

• Uncover the Potential of GenAI with MasterClass’s Memorial Day Sale!*

  • In Achieve More With GenAI, Dr. Ethan Mollick, Wharton professor and AI expert, breaks down complex tech into practical, human-centered insights.

  • With guest practitioners, this 3-part MasterClass makes AI approachable for beginners and pros alike.

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ROBOTICS

• Watch Tesla’s humanoid robot clean like a homemaker

  • Tesla’s Optimus robot showcased tasks like vacuuming, lifting trash lids, and following voice commands for home chores.

  • The demonstration highlights major progress in real-world task execution beyond factory environments or controlled lab spaces.

  • Tesla says Optimus is progressing toward becoming a general-purpose household assistant ready for commercial deployment.

• Function over flash: specialized robots attract billions with efficient tasks

  • Over $2.26B in 2025 robotics funding went to specialized robots for tasks like hauling parts and medical delivery.

  • Investors favor these over humanoids due to lower costs, faster ROI, and better reliability in predictable environments.

  • General-purpose humanoid robots still face challenges in cost, durability, and handling unstructured real-world tasks.

• Watch China’s humanoid robot perform boxing

  • Unitree’s humanoid robots showcased boxing skills, throwing punches, kicks, and aerial spin moves ahead of a fight event.

  • The robots demonstrated advanced motion control, agility, and balance during a public exhibition in Hangzhou, China.

  • This preview leads into the world’s first robot boxing match scheduled for May 25, pushing robotics entertainment forward.

CRYPTO

• Ethereum, XRP drop as altcoins brace for new Trump tariffs on EU, Apple

  • Ethereum fell 4.1%, XRP 3.6%, and Dogecoin 3.6% as Bitcoin briefly dipped below $109,000 on tariff fears.

  • Analysts say altcoins are especially vulnerable during trade conflicts due to higher volatility and risk exposure.

  • The broader crypto sell-off follows Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on EU goods and foreign-made Apple devices.

• Analyst downplays Trump’s tariff threat on EU goods, Apple as Bitcoin slips

  • Some analysts argue the proposed tariffs may be a negotiating tactic with limited near-term economic impact.

  • Bitcoin dipped below $109K but recovered quickly, suggesting the crypto market isn’t overly rattled by tariff risks.

  • Investors remain cautious, balancing geopolitical uncertainties with bullish momentum in broader crypto markets.

• Man gets six years for laundering $1M into Bitcoin for scammers and drug dealers

  • Trung Nguyen was sentenced to six years for running an unlicensed crypto money-transmitting operation laundering over $1M.

  • He used encrypted apps and fake business claims to funnel funds for scammers, fraudsters, and a drug dealer.

  • Authorities say Nguyen’s case highlights the ongoing challenge of illicit finance using Bitcoin and unregistered crypto services.

CONTENT

• Garry Tan of YC: Why the next unicorns are built by AI

  • Garry Tan shares how AI reshapes early-stage startups, product-market fit, and why ‘high-agency’ founders win.

  • Covers frameworks for scaling leaner, advice on design, vibe coding, and how YC advises AI-first companies.

  • Also explores AI’s impact on investing, open source models, regulation, and why first-time founders have hidden advantages.

• Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Gemini, self-improving AI, and world models

  • Sundar Pichai discusses Gemini’s role as a world model, agent memory, and self-improving AI via AlphaEvolve.

  • Covers AI diffusion, AI form factors, and the evolving future of Google Search powered by autonomous agents.

  • The conversation touches on AI’s limitations, public anxieties, and how Google plans to address future challenges.

• AI will change education forever | Possible Podcast

  • Sam Altman and Greg Brockman discuss how AI will radically transform education through personalized learning at massive scale.

  • They envision a future where AI tutors make learning more accessible, efficient, and tailored to each student’s needs.

  • The conversation explores optimistic futures for education, AI’s role in closing learning gaps, and its broader societal impacts.

AND MORE…

• Khosla Ventures among VCs experimenting with AI-infused roll-ups of mature companies

  • Khosla Ventures is testing a private equity-style model, acquiring service businesses and modernizing them with AI.

  • The goal is to boost operational efficiency in mature sectors like call centers and accounting using AI automation.

  • This experimental strategy gives AI startups instant customer bases while transforming legacy businesses for higher returns.

• Google AI video generator Veo 3 debuts

  • Google unveiled Veo 3, an AI video tool that creates photorealistic videos with audio from simple text prompts.

  • Veo 3’s improvements include more accurate physics, realistic human faces, and smoother dialogue-to-video synchronization.

  • The launch raises fresh questions about AI’s impact on creative industries, authenticity, and misinformation risks.

• China is building a constellation of AI supercomputers in space

  • China launched 12 satellites in its Three-Body Computing Constellation, aiming for 2,800 AI-powered orbiting supercomputers.

  • The space-based network offers faster AI computation, real-time data processing, and natural cooling advantages over Earth-based centers.

  • Applications include climate monitoring, military surveillance, space research, and communications independent of terrestrial infrastructure.