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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🤝 Perplexity submits a new bid for TikTok.
🤖 Local WNY grocery chain to use 'Tally robot' technology.
📘 An operator’s guide to product strategy.
⚡ Bitcoiners slam Ripple for pushing multi-asset reserve.
🎮 Retro Remake opens preorders for its PS One FPGA clone.

AI

• Perplexity submits a new bid for TikTok

  • Perplexity AI has submitted a revised proposal to merge with TikTok's U.S. operations.

  • The new bid is allowing the U.S. government to own up to 50% of the new entity after an initial public offering.

  • ByteDance has not yet responded to the proposal, and the U.S. government is considering extending the deadline.

• Chinese open-source DeepSeek R1 matches OpenAI's o1 at 98% lower cost

  • DeepSeek has developed the open-source R1 model, which matches or surpasses OpenAI's o1 in performance.

  • DeepSeek achieved this by employing reinforcement learning without supervised fine-tuning.

  • The R1 model operates at 98% lower cost compared to OpenAI's offerings.

• DeepSeek gets Silicon Valley talking

  • DeepSeek's R1 model matches OpenAI's o1 in performance while using less advanced hardware.

  • The model employs reinforcement learning, enabling rapid self-improvement without human supervision.

  • DeepSeek's open-source approach has sparked discussions about the future of AI development.

ROBOTICS

• Local WNY grocery chain to use 'Tally robot' technology

  • A Western New York grocery chain is introducing Tally robots for inventory management.

  • The robots will improve accuracy in shelf stocking and product monitoring.

  • Tally provides real-time data on product availability to enhance store efficiency.

• Japan startup unveils 15-foot robot suit for space exploration

  • Japanese startup Tsubame Industries has unveiled a 15-foot-tall, four-wheeled robot named Archax.

  • The robot features a cockpit for a single pilot and is designed for space exploration.

  • Archax is expected to be available for purchase at a price of $3 million.

• Art made by humanoid robot sells for $1M at auction

  • Ai-Da, a humanoid robot artist, created a portrait of Alan Turing titled "AI God."

  • The artwork sold for $1.08M at Sotheby's in New York, surpassing its estimated value.

  • This sale marks the first time a humanoid robot's artwork has been auctioned by a major auction house.

CRYPTO

• Bitcoiners slam Ripple for pushing multi-asset reserve

  • Ripple's proposal for a multi-asset reserve has faced criticism from Bitcoin enthusiasts.

  • Critics argue that Ripple's approach undermines Bitcoin's decentralized principles.

  • The debate highlights ongoing tensions between different cryptocurrency communities.

• Gold Maxi reconsiders Crypto after $420M Solana meme coin success

  • Ronald Branstetter, a traditional investor, created the meme coin Unicorn Fart Dust (UFD) on Solana.

  • Unexpectedly, UFD's market capitalization soared to over $420 million.

  • He now believes that a cryptocurrency's value is derived from its community and the collective belief in its worth.

• Nasdaq files for in-kind redemptions for BlackRock spot bitcoin ETF

  • Nasdaq has filed for in-kind redemptions for BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF, allowing investors to exchange ETF shares directly for Bitcoin.

  • This move aims to enhance liquidity and efficiency in the ETF's operations.

  • The filing is pending approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTENT

• An operator’s guide to product strategy

  • Chandra Janakiraman, CPO of VRChat, shares insights from his experience at Meta, Headspace, and Zynga.

  • The discussion covers his playbook for product strategy, including strategy sprints and involving the right people.

  • He highlights common strategy pitfalls and the evolving role of AI in shaping future strategies.

• Why now is the best time to start a startup

  • Paul Buchheit, creator of Gmail and YC partner, shares insights on AI trends and startup opportunities.

  • The discussion explores AI's impact on the future of work, agency, and taste in an increasingly AI-driven world.

  • The episode emphasizes why now is the best time to build a startup, as highlighted at a retreat of 300 top AI founders.

• Beyond the boundaries of space-time

  • Experts debate whether the search for an ultimate foundation of reality is a mistake or a limitation of human understanding.

  • Alternative views suggest consciousness, information, or mathematics might underlie reality but remain inconclusive.

  • This content is hosted by Jack Symes, the discussion features Priya Natarajan, Donald Hoffman, and Hilary Lawson.

AND MORE…

• Retro Remake opens preorders for its PS One FPGA clone

  • Retro Remake has opened preorders for the SuperStation One, priced at $179.99.

  • The console supports original PlayStation controllers and memory cards, and can run games from various systems.

  • It features multiple connectivity options, comes with a 64GB Micro SD card, and is available in black, gray, and translucent blue.

• America has fallen in love with long-shot sports bets

  • Parlay bets have become increasingly popular among American sports bettors.

  • Despite their appeal due to the potential for high payouts, parlays are high-risk bets with low chances of winning.

  • Sports-betting companies like DraftKings and FanDuel have capitalized on this trend by offering enticing promotions.

• Chinese companies face growth limits in world's biggest esports market

  • Chinese esports companies face growth challenges due to domestic regulations and market saturation.

  • To sustain expansion, firms like Tencent and NetEase are targeting emerging markets globally.

  • These companies are investing in cross-platform integration and esports infrastructure to enhance global competitiveness.