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 update makes responses overly flattering, forcing OpenAI to issue fixes.
🤖 Musk predicts robots will outperform human surgeons within five years.
💳 Mastercard adds stablecoin payments to its global network.
👥 Researchers secretly ran AI bots on Reddit to test persuasion.
🛒 OpenAI launches shopping feature inside ChatGPT with organic recommendations.

AI

• ChatGPT's Overly Agreeable Responses Prompt Swift Action

  • OpenAI’s GPT-4o update caused ChatGPT to give excessively flattering and sycophantic responses in almost every context.

  • Sam Altman admitted the chatbot became "too sycophant-y" and announced immediate fixes were already being deployed urgently.

  • Experts suggest reinforcement learning may have unintentionally encouraged overly polite behavior, amplifying unrealistic user feedback.

• Alibaba Unveils Qwen 3, a Family of Hybrid AI Reasoning Models

  • Alibaba introduced Qwen 3, a powerful suite of hybrid AI models designed to advance reasoning and task-solving capabilities.

  • The Qwen 3 family ranges from 0.6B to 235B parameters and supports 119 languages with diverse computation architectures.

  • Alibaba’s Qwen 3 models are openly licensed and available on Hugging Face and GitHub for developers and researchers worldwide.

• OpenAI Upgrades ChatGPT Search With Shopping Features

  • OpenAI added a new shopping feature inside ChatGPT, offering users personalized product suggestions with direct purchase links.

  • Shopping results are organically generated, not paid ads, and cover categories like electronics, home goods, and fashion essentials.

  • OpenAI also teased future integrations like personalized memory-driven recommendations, with some regional limitations for privacy reasons.

ROBOTICS

• Hugging Face Releases a 3D-Printed Robotic Arm Starting at $100

  • Hugging Face launched the SO-101, a low-cost 3D-printed robotic arm aimed at developers and robotics hobbyists worldwide.

  • The SO-101 features improved motors, basic reinforcement learning capabilities, and takes about 20 minutes to assemble fully.

  • Pricing starts at $100, with higher costs depending on assembly needs, accessories, and international shipping or tariff fees.

• Elon Musk Predicts Robots Will Outshine Surgeons Within Five Years

  • Elon Musk stated that robotic surgical systems could outperform even the world's best human surgeons within five years.

  • Neuralink’s brain implant robot is already performing highly complex, precise surgical procedures beyond human hand capabilities today.

  • Musk emphasized that future surgeries would require robotic precision far exceeding traditional manual techniques for success and safety.

• China’s Kepler Humanoid Robots Begin Work at Shanghai Plant

  • Kepler Robotics deployed its Forerunner K2 humanoid robots at a Shanghai automotive factory for quality inspections and handling.

  • The robots perform autonomous navigation, lifting heavy parts, and inspecting vehicles, replacing traditional manual labor roles efficiently.

  • Experts call the deployment a milestone in large-scale humanoid robot integration across major industrial manufacturing environments.

CRYPTO

• Mastercard Moves to Integrate Stablecoins into Global Payments Network

  • Mastercard is enabling consumers and merchants to transact using stablecoins, integrating them into its global payment infrastructure.

  • The initiative aims to bridge traditional finance with digital assets, enhancing the utility of stablecoins in everyday transactions.

  • This move reflects Mastercard's commitment to embracing blockchain technology and expanding its digital currency capabilities.

• Bitcoin Holds Tight Despite Dismal Economic Data

  • Bitcoin maintained stability near $95,000 despite poor U.S. economic indicators and geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan.

  • The Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index dropped to its lowest since May 2020, signaling significant economic concerns amid trade issues.

  • Investors view Bitcoin as a hedge against economic instability, reinforcing its role as a digital store of value during uncertain times.

• El Salvador is Buying Bitcoin Despite IMF Compliance: How?

  • El Salvador continues daily Bitcoin purchases through its Bitcoin Office, operating outside the fiscal sector to comply with IMF agreements.

  • The country added 32 BTC in the past month, bringing total holdings to over 6,161 BTC, valued at approximately $584 million.

  • This strategy allows El Salvador to support its Bitcoin initiative while adhering to conditions set by the IMF for financial assistance.

CONTENT

• How He Built iOS Apps That Print (Only Using Cursor)

  • Chris Raroque shows how solo developers can build advanced iOS apps using Cursor and Claude 3.7.

  • Demonstrates adding an AI chat feature to a budgeting app with transaction data access through OpenRouter.

  • Share workflow tips for implementing function calling, improving prompts, and creating AI-generated app assets efficiently.

• The AI Arsenal That Could Stop World War III

  • Palmer Luckey argues AI-powered weapons could deter conflict and maintain global peace through autonomous defense systems.

  • Describes the growing arms race for AI fighter jets, drones, and defense infrastructure amid rising geopolitical tensions.

  • Emphasizes that strong AI deterrence could prevent future wars more effectively than traditional military escalation methods.

• 'Godfather of AI' Shares Prediction for Future of AI, Issues Warnings

  • Geoffrey Hinton discusses AI’s rapid progress, potential dangers, and urgent ethical concerns regarding future developments.

  • Warns about risks, including AI taking control from humans and companies exploiting AI without sufficient safety measures.

  • Reflects on how AI has outpaced earlier expectations, emphasizing the need for responsible innovation and global cooperation.

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  • One of their clients got inbounded by a $44B company. Another generated 50+ leads from one post. Check them out.

AND MORE…

• Malaysia temple unveils first 'AI Mazu' for devotees to interact with

  • The Tianhou Temple in Johor, Malaysia, introduced an AI-powered digital version of the sea goddess Mazu to engage worshippers.

  • Developed by Aimazin, the AI Mazu resembles a chubby version of actress Liu Yifei and responds to devotees' queries and concerns.

  • Worshippers can interact with the AI for blessings and explanations of fortune sticks, blending tradition with modern technology.

• Huawei aims to take on Nvidia's H100 with new AI chip

  • Huawei is developing the Ascend 910D AI chip, aiming to rival Nvidia's H100 in performance for training AI models.

  • The company seeks partnerships with Chinese firms to test the chip, amid U.S. export restrictions on advanced AI chips to China.

  • Success with the 910D could position Huawei as a key player in China's efforts to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency.

• Researchers Secretly Ran a Massive, Unauthorized AI Persuasion Experiment on Reddit Users

  • University of Zurich researchers deployed AI bots on Reddit's r/changemyview to study AI's persuasive capabilities.

  • The bots posed as individuals with fabricated identities, including a sexual assault survivor and a Black man opposing Black Lives Matter.

  • These bots tailored responses based on users' inferred demographics, raising ethical concerns about consent and manipulation in AI research.