DeepMind's newest AI system has found ways to speed up calculations that stumped mathematicians since 1969. The tool is already saving money in Google's data centers - and might reshape how we write computer code. Its first real-world results point to an unexpected shift in algorithm design.
OpenAI just added a specialized coding model to ChatGPT, but that's not the whole story. The company also opened up about its safety testing - a move that could reshape how AI firms handle transparency. Here's what changed and why it matters.
Apple swallowed its pride and tapped AI startup Anthropic to rescue its failing developer tools. Meanwhile, America's grip on global tech talent slips away. 🎭
The signs? China's DeepSeek now builds world-class AI without sending researchers West. London dominates AI safety research. Even the Gulf States lure elite minds with deep pockets and shiny labs. 🌏
Apple's move tells a bigger story: The US stumbles as others sprint ahead. While Congress cuts science funding and tightens visas, China keeps its brightest stars at home. Tim Cook might smile about his "exciting roadmap," but America's tech supremacy faces a serious reality check. 🚀
Stay curious,
Marcus Schuler 🤖
Apple Teams Up With Anthropic
Apple did something unusual: asked for help. The tech company struck a deal with AI startup Anthropic to boost its developer tools after its own coding assistant flopped.
The partnership puts Anthropic's Claude AI into Xcode, Apple's programming software. Internal tests show it outperforms Apple's homegrown Swift Assist, which had developers grumbling about its tendency to hallucinate code and slow down work.
Programmers can now chat with the AI to modify code and test interfaces. While it's already live internally, Apple remains coy about public release plans. For a company that treats outsourcing like a personal insult, this move speaks volumes.
The deal comes amid internal shuffling. AI chief John Giannandrea's domain shrinks as software boss Craig Federighi expands his AI control. CEO Tim Cook maintains his poker face, claiming they're "excited about the roadmap" - though apparently not excited enough to go it alone.
For Anthropic, this is the tech equivalent of making varsity. They're already powering Amazon's Alexa+, and now they've edged out Google and OpenAI for Apple's attention. Not bad for the new kid on the block.
Why this matters:
When Apple asks for directions, you know something's up - their famous "our way or the highway" approach just hit a dead end
Silicon Valley's power dynamic just shifted: Even tech royalty now bows to AI startups
Prompt: an obese anthropomorphized Frenchpunk poodle with pink ribbons in her hair, and a nose ring, wearing a Walmart uniform doing pilates, Pixarpunk poodlepunk, humorous, witty, cinematic excellence
US Losing Edge in Global Tech Talent Battle
The United States faces a stark reality: it's no longer the automatic choice for top tech talent. Recent studies show rising competition from China, Europe, and the Gulf States in attracting and keeping elite researchers.
The Hoover Institution's analysis of DeepSeek, China's breakthrough AI company, reveals a telling shift. Over half of DeepSeek's researchers never left China for education or work. This marks a dramatic change from past decades when Chinese tech talent typically headed West.
London now leads in AI safety research, powered by Google DeepMind's presence. The UAE and Saudi Arabia pour resources into AI infrastructure, while India transforms from talent exporter to talent magnet.
The US stumbles on two fronts: cutting federal science funding while tightening immigration. This creates openings for competitors. China seizes the moment, developing world-class AI talent entirely within its borders.
Why this matters:
The race for AI dominance depends on human talent more than hardware or algorithms. The US can't assume it will attract the world's brightest minds anymore
Countries that develop and keep top researchers gain a critical edge in the AI race. China's success with DeepSeek proves you don't need Western training to build cutting-edge AI
Act as my brainstorming coach. Ask targeted questions to develop my rough idea about [concept].
Start broad, then narrow based on my answers. Help me define:
The core problem
Who needs this solution and why
Possible approaches
Keep questions brief but thought-provoking. Challenge assumptions. Draw connections between my responses to reveal insights I might miss.
Wait for my answer before asking the next question. Each exchange should build on previous answers and push the idea forward.
AI & Tech News
AI Coding Startup Cursor Worth $9bn After Latest Funding
Cursor creator Anysphere raised $900m from Thrive Capital and other investors, rocketing to a $9bn valuation. The startup's AI tool writes nearly a billion lines of code daily, with fans praising a trance-like state of "vibe coding" where they just talk to the AI instead of typing code by hand.
Anthropic Expands Claude's Research Powers to 45 Minutes
Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant, now conducts research sessions lasting up to 45 minutes before delivering reports. The company also launched "Integrations," letting Claude connect with apps like Jira and Zapier - though users should note it occasionally mixes up its sources in that lengthy research time, rather like a caffeinated grad student pulling an all-nighter.
Satellite Images Show Huawei's Secret Chip Factory Network
Satellite photos reveal Huawei is building three semiconductor factories in Shenzhen to make advanced 7-nanometer chips. The tech giant runs one facility directly and backs two others through startups, showing China's push to break free from US semiconductor restrictions.
Telegram Bot Making AI Sex Videos Has 100,000 Users
A new Telegram bot that generates sexually explicit AI videos of women without consent has gained over 100,000 users in weeks. Users pay a few dollars to upload photos, which the bot modifies into graphic videos - showing how quickly AI tools can be misused for harassment.
AI Progress Could Make Humans Obsolete
AI might not need to turn evil to make humans irrelevant - it just needs to keep getting better at everything we do. A University of Toronto professor warns that AI systems are on track to surpass humans not just at work, but as artists, friends and even romantic partners. And unlike evil robot scenarios, this future arrives by default if we keep improving AI capabilities.
Apple's Perfect Storm: AI Lag, Lawsuits, and Trade Wars Test Tech Giant's Resilience
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple faces an unprecedented set of challenges: $900 million in new tariff costs, courts stripping App Store fees, Google's $20 billion search deal at risk, and mounting AI struggles. Unlike past crises CEO Tim Cook handled one by one, these threats now arrive simultaneously.
Tether Launches AI Platform That Takes Crypto Payments
Tether wants a piece of the AI action. The stablecoin company just announced Tether.AI, an open-source platform that lets users pay with USDT or Bitcoin - though beyond integrating a peer-to-peer chat app called Keet, details about what the platform actually does remain mysteriously slim.
Russian Software Tool Used by US Military Raises Security Fears
Security researchers warn that 'easyjson,' a widely used piece of open source code managed by Russian developers and linked to a sanctioned Putin ally's company, sits inside US defense software. While no vulnerabilities have been found, experts worry the tool could become a "sleeper cell" for future attacks.
Musk's 'Truth' AI Backfires on Right-Wing Base
Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok keeps fact-checking conservatives, and they're not happy about it. The bot, designed to be an "anti-woke" alternative to ChatGPT, stubbornly sticks to reality instead of confirming right-wing beliefs.
X users routinely summon Grok to explain viral posts or verify claims. The results often leave MAGA supporters fuming. Grok has debunked Trump-era myths about tariffs, rejected claims about deported immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia's gang ties, and refused to spin the arrest of a federal judge.
The breaking point came when user @ChaosAgent_42 asked Grok why conservatives dislike its answers. Grok replied bluntly: it favors facts over ideology. Despite xAI's attempts to appeal to the right, the bot keeps choosing accuracy over agreement.
This wasn't part of Musk's plan. He appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast to showcase Grok's edgy side, laughing at its ability to swear in "unhinged mode." But no amount of programming can make Grok ignore basic facts.
For xAI, currently seeking $20 billion in funding, Grok's truthfulness may prove awkward. The company claims it aims for neutrality, not conservative propaganda. Meanwhile, MAGA X users keep learning the hard way that reality has a funny habit of disagreeing with their worldview.
Why this matters:
Even an AI built to please conservatives can't bring itself to deny facts
Musk created a truth-telling monster that's now biting the hand that coded it
Tether, the crypto behemoth behind the world's largest stablecoin USD₮, leaps into AI with a decentralized platform that marries blockchain payments with open-source intelligence. CEO Paolo Ardoino's bold move aims to challenge Big Tech's cloud-based AI monopoly with peer-to-peer systems running on personal devices.
The Founders: Founded in 2014 by Brock Pierce, Reeve Collins, and Craig Sellars in Santa Monica before being acquired by iFinex in 2015. Now run by Paolo Ardoino who rose from CTO to CEO in December 2023. Operates with a small staff from El Salvador headquarters after relocating in early 2025.
The Product: Tether AI offers an open-source "Personal Infinite Intelligence" system running on local devices instead of the cloud. Integrates cryptocurrency payments via Tether's Wallet Development Kit, letting AI agents transact in USD₮ and Bitcoin. Modular architecture promotes community development across applications including translation tools and voice assistants. Prioritizes privacy, user control, and censorship resistance.
The Competition: Faces Big Tech giants (OpenAI, Google, Amazon) and crypto-native AI projects like the merged Fetch.ai/SingularityNET/Ocean Protocol alliance. Dominates stablecoin market with 66% share versus Circle's USDC at 28%. Positions itself against centralized AI providers by emphasizing data privacy and distributed computation.
Financing: Didn't rely on traditional VC funding, instead generating massive profits from stablecoin operations — nearly $14 billion in 2024 alone. Reinvests profits into diversification: $1 billion into German datacenter firm Northern Data and $250 million into Bitcoin mining projects. Maintains $7 billion in excess reserves beyond backing USD₮'s $140 billion market cap.
The Future: ★★★★ Tether transforms from mere stablecoin issuer to infrastructure giant spanning finance, communication, and AI. The battle to attract developers from established platforms presents challenges, but integration with cryptocurrency transactions creates unique opportunities. Success hinges on delivering technical excellence while navigating regulatory complexities across jurisdictions. If Tether AI gains traction, it could cement the company's leadership beyond finance into the emerging decentralized web. 😎
