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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🎨 AI-generated Ghibli-style images drive the GHIBLI meme coin to a $28M market cap.
🗺️ Google Maps adds screenshot scanning to help users plan vacations using Gemini AI.
🕵️ FBI seizes $200K in crypto linked to Hamas as part of terrorism financing crackdown.
🧬 Sei Foundation explores buying 23andMe to anchor genetic data on blockchain.
🤖 SE01 humanoid robot shocks experts with lifelike walking in new viral footage.

AI

• Google Maps can soon scan your screenshots to plan your vacation

  • Google Maps will detect text in screenshots to identify places, making it easier to plan trips from saved photos.

  • Gemini AI powers the feature, letting users turn random screenshots into mapped and saved destination lists.

  • The update will roll out to iOS in the US first, with Android support coming later for broader trip coordination.

• OpenAI’s viral Studio Ghibli moment highlights AI copyright concerns

  • ChatGPT’s image tool went viral for generating art in Studio Ghibli’s style, sparking broad artistic debate online.

  • Critics warn it blurs ethical lines, raising legal concerns over the use of copyrighted artistic aesthetics.

  • OpenAI defends the model by noting it mimics broad studio styles, not living artists' specific techniques.

• Bill Gates says AI will replace doctors, and teachers within 10 years

  • Gates claims AI could provide free, quality medical and educational services that will soon replace human roles.

  • He believes AI tools will democratize access to expertise, especially in poor or underserved regions.

  • While warning of disruption, Gates sees this as a net gain for global healthcare and learning outcomes.

ROBOTICS

• China’s robot makers aim to conquer the world’s factories

  • Chinese firms like UBTech and Fourier Intelligence are scaling up to dominate the global humanoid robot sector.

  • Officials aim to put robots in major industries by 2027, supporting a $60 billion domestic market expansion.

  • Beijing is subsidizing development to replace overseas imports and gain manufacturing independence fast.

• Scientists developed a dog-inspired robot that runs without motors

  • Engineers from TU Delft and EPFL built a quadruped robot that runs passively, using no electric motors.

  • The design relies on precise mechanics and machine learning to emulate animal-like movements naturally.

  • This breakthrough could lead to more agile, energy-efficient robots for disaster zones and exploration.

• Brainy humanoid robots that walk like humans are here

  • A Chinese robot called SE01 stunned experts with its smooth, human-like walking captured in new footage.

  • Its movement was so realistic some mistook it for CGI, showcasing the tech’s visual sophistication.

  • The robot highlights China’s leap in biomechanics and its growing lead in lifelike humanoid robotics.

CRYPTO

• Sei Foundation explores buying 23andMe to put genetic data on blockchain

  • Sei Foundation is considering acquiring 23andMe to decentralize genetic data through blockchain technology.

  • The proposal aims to give users ownership of their DNA data by anchoring it to the Sei blockchain.

  • The offer follows 23andMe’s bankruptcy filing, with national security cited as a key motivator.

• FBI seizes over $200K in crypto from Hamas-linked wallets

  • The FBI confiscated more than $200,000 in cryptocurrency from Hamas-linked wallets and exchange accounts.

  • Authorities said the funds were part of over $1.5 million raised for the group since October 2023.

  • U.S. officials cited the seizure as part of a broader effort to cut off terrorist crypto financing.

• How a solo Bitcoin miner beat the odds

  • A solo Bitcoin miner earned $266,000 after successfully mining an entire block without a mining pool.

  • The odds of such an event are extremely rare, making this a notable success in crypto circles.

  • The miner operated a modest setup, showing even individuals can still compete in today’s network.

CONTENT

• 11x in Trouble and China's AI Acceleration | E2103

  • 11x faces backlash for allegedly faking logos and misrepresenting revenue, raising concerns about early-stage ethics.

  • Hosts explore China’s dual-front surge in AI and EVs, highlighting DeepSeek’s model and Xiaomi’s Porsche-like EV.

  • Wiz’s ‘4-persona framework’ is unpacked, credited for helping the startup surpass $100M ARR faster than peers.

• How to Win in the AI Era

  • Captions CEO Gaurav Misra shares how weekly releases keep users engaged and products ahead in the AI race.

  • He explains why cutting scope—not extending timelines—is key to balancing speed with consistent product quality.

  • Taking on technical debt strategically helps startups ship fast and outrun slower, larger competitors.

• OpenAI Just BROKE THE INTERNET with a New Image Model...

  • GPT-4o’s new image generation shocked users with realistic outputs and Ghibli-style art flooding social media.

  • The video breaks down how OpenAI’s tool works, shows examples and explains its real-world limitations today.

  • Ethical questions around copyright and content training are raised as the tech quickly gains viral traction.

AND MORE…

• ‘Ghiblification’ AI Anime Image Trend Pumps GHIBLI Solana Meme Coin

  • AI-generated anime images in Ghibli style went viral, fueling demand for a Solana-based meme coin named GHIBLI.

  • The coin briefly soared to a $28 million market cap before falling back to around $18 million in value.

  • The trend shows how fast AI art can drive speculative hype in decentralized meme-driven crypto markets.

• Ads get ignored—unless they’re in Futuristica*

  • 70,000+ tech founders and AI enthusiasts read Futuristica regularly to keep ahead of trends shaping the future of work and innovation.

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• North Korea leader Kim Jong Un touts AI suicide drones, early-warning aircraft

  • Kim oversaw successful tests of AI-guided suicide drones, touting them as a leap in military modernization.

  • Footage also revealed a new early-warning plane, signaling North Korea’s push for advanced air systems.

  • The move highlights Pyongyang’s increasing focus on unmanned systems despite international sanctions.

• Satya Nadella: DeepSeek is the new bar for Microsoft’s AI success

  • Nadella praised DeepSeek’s R1 model, calling it a new benchmark for Microsoft's in-house AI performance.

  • Microsoft continues to embed AI across its stack, backed by over $80 billion in cloud and AI investment.

  • He stressed the urgency in AI innovation, warning slow execution could erode Microsoft’s market leadership.