News/Leadership
Ex-Stripe executives raise $19.2M for AI agent payment protocol ATXP
Two former Stripe executives have raised $19.2 million to develop ATXP, a protocol designed to enable AI agents to make autonomous payments across the internet. Louis Amira, Stripe's former head of crypto & AI partnerships, and David Noël-Romas, the company's former head of crypto engineering, launched Circuit & Chisel to address what they see as a critical infrastructure gap preventing widespread AI agent adoption. The big picture: ATXP aims to become the foundational protocol for agentic payments, similar to how HTTP enabled modern web browsing, potentially unlocking a new era of microtransactions powered by AI agents. Why this matters: The...
read Sep 20, 2025There can be only one: Pope Francis rejects AI version of himself, warns of deepfake dangers
Pope Francis has rejected a proposal to create an AI version of himself that would provide digital audiences and answer questions from Catholics worldwide. The pontiff expressed strong concerns about AI impersonation and warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence development being driven primarily by wealthy individuals rather than humanity's broader needs. What they're saying: Pope Francis was emphatic in his rejection of the AI pope concept during excerpts from a planned biography. "Someone recently asked authorization to create an artificial me so that anybody could sign on to this website and have a personal audience with 'the pope,' but...
read Sep 19, 2025Former ClickUP leader: Work sprawl is killing productivity, but here’s how AI can fix it
A few years ago, while serving as ClickUp's General Vice President of Solutions and Success, I found myself staring at a whiteboard, trying to map out how my teams actually got work done. What started as a simple organizational diagram quickly turned into a tangled web—lines connecting people, tools, and processes in every direction. It was a moment of clarity: our biggest challenge wasn't a lack of effort or talent. It was the invisible sprawl that made even simple projects feel overwhelming. If you've ever wondered why your team's best intentions get lost in the shuffle, or why progress feels...
read Sep 19, 2025Ex-Andreessen Horowitz leader replaces Musk’s DOGE with relatively gentle federal job cuts
Scott Kupor, former managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, has been sworn in as director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where he's now overseeing the Trump administration's plan to eliminate 300,000 federal jobs by the end of 2025. Taking over after Elon Musk's chaotic DOGE initiative effectively disbanded, Kupor represents a more diplomatic approach to federal workforce reduction—though the scale of cuts remains just as ambitious. What you should know: Kupor expects to cut 300,000 federal roles by the end of 2025, with approximately 50,000 positions already eliminated through resignations, early retirement, and buyouts rather than layoffs. DOGE "as...
read Sep 19, 2025Zoom CEO Eric Yuan predicts AI could enable 3-day workweeks by 2030
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan predicts that artificial intelligence could enable a three-day workweek by taking over mundane and repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more meaningful work. This vision aligns with growing concerns about employee burnout and the "infinite workday" phenomenon, where workers struggle to disconnect from professional responsibilities even during personal time. What you should know: Yuan's prediction comes as companies increasingly integrate AI into workflows to boost productivity and employee satisfaction. Microsoft's Work Trend Index report revealed that employees feel trapped in an "infinite workday," starting work at 6 AM while still in bed and carrying tasks...
read Sep 18, 2025AI is turbocharging every engineer, says Macroscope CEO
Kayvon Beykpour, CEO of Macroscope and founder of Periscope, appeared on CNBC's 'Closing Bell' to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming software development and the challenges engineering teams face in this evolving landscape. His insights highlight the growing importance of AI-powered tools in understanding and managing increasingly complex software development processes. What you should know: Beykpour emphasized that AI is serving as a force multiplier for engineers across the industry.• Every engineer is being "turbocharged by AI," according to the Macroscope CEO, suggesting widespread adoption and impact of AI tools in development workflows.• The discussion focused on Macroscope's AI-powered tools...
read Sep 18, 2025What the Zuck?! Meta’s live AI demos fail spectacularly at Connect conference
Meta's highly anticipated live AI demos at its annual Connect conference suffered multiple technical failures, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg visibly frustrated as both smart glasses demonstrations malfunctioned on stage. The embarrassing glitches undermined the company's attempt to showcase what Zuckerberg called a "huge scientific leap" in neural band technology and AI-powered smart glasses. What went wrong: Two separate live demonstrations failed spectacularly, leaving Zuckerberg scrambling to maintain composure in front of the audience. An Instagram influencer testing the Live AI feature on Meta's smart glasses couldn't get the system to properly respond to cooking questions, with the AI incorrectly assessing...
read Sep 17, 2025Hong Kong goes long on AI, plans for deployment in 200 public services by 2027
Hong Kong plans to integrate artificial intelligence into at least 200 public service procedures by the end of 2027, marking one of the city's most ambitious digital transformation initiatives. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the sweeping reform as part of his policy address, positioning AI development as both an industry priority and a tool for creating more efficient, tech-driven government services. The timeline: Hong Kong will deploy AI tools across 100 different government procedures by 2026 alone, before expanding to 200 procedures by 2027. The technology will target areas including data analysis, customer service, and expediting approval processes for...
read Sep 17, 2025“Tell companies it looks uncool”: Illustrator against AI art now helps artists in NYC fight back
Artist and illustrator Molly Crabapple discovered in 2022 that AI companies had scraped her distinctive artwork—including illustrations of Aleppo's skyline and protest portraits—to train image-generation models that now produce crude imitations of her style. Her experience highlights a broader concern among creative professionals who argue that AI threatens artistic livelihoods while degrading the quality of visual content across the internet. What happened: Crabapple led a workshop in Manhattan's Lower East Side called "Artists Against the Slop Beast," where she and tech editor Edward Ongweso Jr. outlined strategies for resisting AI adoption in creative industries. The big picture: Silicon Valley executives...
read Sep 17, 2025Two top San Francisco art schools embrace AI with new leadership roles
Two San Francisco art universities have appointed new leadership roles focused on artificial intelligence, signaling a decisive embrace of AI technology in creative education. The Academy of Art University named its creative director as "chief AI evangelist," while the California College of the Arts launched an AI incubator partnership with Nvidia, marking a significant shift as mainstream art schools grapple with AI's controversial role in creative fields. What you should know: Both institutions are integrating AI directly into their core academic programs despite ongoing industry debates about AI-generated art. The Academy of Art University appointed Ross Patrick as "chief AI...
read Sep 16, 2025James Gunn mocks AI Batman image over funky anatomical errors like short arms
DC Studios filmmaker James Gunn mocked an AI-generated image of actor Brandon Sklenar as Batman, highlighting the technology's anatomical errors and signaling his opposition to artificial intelligence in superhero filmmaking. The public dismissal comes as Warner Bros Discovery has filed a lawsuit against AI image generator Midjourney for facilitating mass copyright infringement of its characters. What happened: Gunn responded to a fan's AI-generated Batman image on Threads, quipping "it would be weird to cast an AI Batman with a 14 inch arm."• The comment targeted the AI's failure to properly render human proportions, specifically pointing out unnaturally short appendages that...
read Sep 16, 2025US interior secretary says AI arms race matters more than climate change
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum declared that winning the AI arms race is more critical to planetary survival than addressing climate change, arguing that America's AI dominance requires immediate access to abundant energy sources. Speaking at a natural gas industry event in Italy, Burgum dismissed the $5 trillion global investment in renewables as ineffective and too slow to meet AI's unprecedented energy demands. What they're saying: Burgum emphasized the urgency of powering AI infrastructure over climate concerns for future generations. "What's going to save the planet is winning the AI arms race," Burgum stated at the event promoting fossil fuels...
read Sep 16, 2025Menlo Ventures promotes Deedy Das to partner after just 1 year
Menlo Ventures has promoted Deedy Das to Partner, recognizing his rapid impact on the firm's AI investment strategy since joining in 2024. The elevation reflects Menlo's aggressive push into AI investing, where Das has co-launched a $100M fund with Anthropic and backed 35 startups while helping establish the firm as a leading early-stage AI investor. What you should know: Das made an unusually fast ascent to partner level, achieving the promotion in just over a year at the firm. He co-launched the $100M Anthology Fund with Anthropic, the AI safety company behind the Claude chatbot, and has already backed 35...
read Sep 15, 2025Airbnb CEO says company will hire workers displaced by AI (for at least 5 to 10 years)
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced that his company plans to hire workers displaced by artificial intelligence, positioning the hospitality giant as a potential refuge for those losing jobs to automation. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference, Chesky outlined Airbnb's evolution into an "everything app" that would expand beyond rentals to include services like private chefs, massages, and photography—areas he believes will remain largely human-driven for the next five to ten years. The big picture: Chesky sees AI displacement as inevitable across industries but argues that hospitality and personalized services will remain insulated from automation due to their...
read Sep 12, 2025Tesla bets on humanoid robots for 80% of its $25T future as EV sales drop 13%
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced a dramatic strategic shift, projecting that 80% of the company's value will come from its Optimus humanoid robots rather than electric vehicles, positioning Tesla as a potential $25 trillion company by 2050. This pivot comes as Tesla's core EV business faces mounting challenges, with global sales dropping 13% in the first half of 2025 and the company's U.S. market share falling to levels not seen since 2017. What you should know: Tesla plans aggressive production scaling for its Optimus robots, targeting 5,000 units this year and up to 1 million annually by decade's end....
read Sep 12, 2025Psychology professor warns AI could disrupt 5 core aspects of civilization
A psychology professor's warning about artificial intelligence recently sparked intense debate at a major conservative political conference, highlighting concerns that extend far beyond partisan politics. Speaking at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington DC, Geoffrey Miller outlined five fundamental ways that Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) could disrupt core aspects of human civilization—arguments that resonate across political divides for anyone concerned about technology's trajectory. Miller, who has studied AI development for over three decades, delivered his message to an audience of 1,200 political leaders, staffers, and conservative thought leaders, including several Trump administration officials. His central thesis: the AI industry's race toward...
read Sep 12, 2025Only 5% of AI researchers believe technology will cause extinction. (But what a 5%.)
AI safety researchers Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares have published a stark warning about artificial intelligence development in their new book If Anyone Builds it, Everyone Dies, arguing that current AI progress will inevitably lead to human extinction. Their central thesis is that major tech companies and AI startups are building systems they fundamentally don't understand, and continued development will eventually produce an AI powerful enough to escape human control and eliminate all organic life. The core argument: The authors contend that AI development resembles alchemy more than science, with companies unable to comprehend the mechanisms driving their large language...
read Sep 12, 2025Vanguard model predicts AI has 45% chance to transform economy with vastly different stock returns
Vanguard's global chief economist Joseph H. Davis has released new research suggesting that if artificial intelligence truly revolutionizes productivity, its benefits will extend beyond tech giants to traditional value stocks across all sectors. His proprietary model assigns a 45-50% probability to an "AI transforms" scenario where technological breakthroughs drive faster economic growth, compared to a 35-45% chance of disappointing AI adoption leading to economic stagnation. What you should know: Vanguard's economic model projects two drastically different investment landscapes over the next decade, with dramatically different asset class performance depending on AI's actual impact. In the optimistic "AI transforms" scenario, the...
read Sep 12, 2025“Learning how to learn”: Humans’ own inference ability will be key, says Nobel winner
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, who recently won the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry, told an Athens audience that "learning how to learn" will be the most crucial skill for the next generation as AI rapidly transforms education and workplaces. Speaking at an ancient Roman theater beneath the Acropolis, the neuroscientist warned that artificial general intelligence could arrive within a decade, making continuous adaptation essential for career survival. What they're saying: Hassabis emphasized the unpredictable pace of AI development and its implications for future planning. "It's very hard to predict the future, like 10 years from now, in normal cases....
read Sep 12, 2025Ray Dalio warns AI will create massive wealth inequality, claims redistribution essential
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warns that artificial intelligence and humanoid robots will dramatically increase wealth inequality, with the top 1% to 10% benefiting significantly more than everyone else. The legendary investor argues this technological shift will require new "redistribution policies" to prevent profound societal conflicts and fragmentation. What he's predicting: Dalio envisions a future where highly intelligent humanoid robots and AI systems render many professional jobs obsolete, creating "a limited number of winners and a bunch of losers." He questioned the need for lawyers, accountants, and medical professionals when robots with PhD-level knowledge become commonplace, stating "we will...
read Sep 12, 2025Apple AI executive Robby Walker exits amid talent exodus to Meta
Apple's senior AI executive Robby Walker is departing the company next month, marking another high-profile exit from the tech giant's artificial intelligence division. Walker's departure underscores growing concerns about Apple's cautious AI strategy as the company struggles to keep pace with competitors in what could be the industry's most significant growth opportunity in decades. What you should know: Walker has been a key figure in Apple's AI efforts, most recently serving as senior director of the Answers, Information and Knowledge team since April 2024. He previously managed Siri until earlier this year, when responsibility for the voice assistant was transferred...
read Sep 12, 2025Seattle mayor takes jab at cross-the-way Bellevue while unveiling new AI policy
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell took a playful jab at neighboring Bellevue during the unveiling of his city's new artificial intelligence policy, declaring "They don't have an AI House in Bellevue" while highlighting Seattle's innovation edge. The remarks underscore growing competition between the two Washington cities as tech companies increasingly establish offices across the region, with Bellevue attracting major players like Amazon, OpenAI, and Zoom in recent years. What you should know: Harrell made his comments while unveiling Seattle's AI policy at the AI House, a startup hub financially supported by the city on Seattle's waterfront. The mayor emphasized Seattle's "unique...
read Sep 11, 2025Pennsylvania’s AI Horizons summit bets big on AI hardware with $20B investment push
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined Senator Dave McCormick and industry leaders at Pittsburgh's second annual AI Horizons summit, where the city is positioning itself to become a global leader in physical AI technology and hardware manufacturing. The event highlighted Pennsylvania's broader strategy to attract AI infrastructure investments and streamline regulations to capture what Shapiro called a "generational change" in economic opportunity. What you should know: Pittsburgh is specifically targeting physical AI technology manufacturing rather than just software development, aiming to produce the hardware that industries worldwide will need as AI integration accelerates. Key investment details: Shapiro highlighted Pennsylvania's success in...
read Sep 10, 2025“It feels real, and that’s what will count”: Microsoft AI CEO warns against building conscious AI systems
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has publicly argued against designing AI systems that mimic consciousness, calling such approaches "dangerous and misguided." His position, outlined in a recent blog post and interview with WIRED, warns that creating AI with simulated emotions, desires, and self-awareness could lead people to advocate for AI rights and welfare, ultimately making these systems harder to control and less beneficial to humans. What you should know: Suleyman, who co-founded DeepMind before joining Microsoft as its first AI CEO in March 2024, distinguishes between AI that understands human emotions and AI that simulates its own consciousness.• He supports...
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