Search the archive

Read the full story on the Metronome blog

REPLIT PARTNERS WITH MICROSOFT FOR NO-CODE ENTERPRISE APPS

Replit and Microsoft have partnered to deliver natural-language-based enterprise app development, integrating with Azure services to let business users create and deploy production-ready software without coding experience.

MISTRAL IS REPORTEDLY IN TALKS TO RAISE $1B

Mistral is negotiating to raise $1 billion from investors like Abu Dhabi's MGX fund and French lenders such as Bpifrance SACA. The French AI startup, known for its Le Chat chatbot and open-weight LLMs, has already raised $1.19 billion, reaching a $6.51 billion valuation. Mistral is collaborating with MGX and Nvidia to build Europe's largest AI data center, aligned with the UAE's €50 billion AI investment in France.

AUTOMATING ORAL ARGUMENT

A Harvard Law graduate who argued before the Supreme Court fed his case briefs into Claude 4 Opus and had it answer the same questions the Justices posed to him. The AI delivered what he called an "outstanding oral argument" with coherent answers and clever responses he hadn't considered, leading him to conclude that AI lawyers could soon outperform even top human advocates at oral argument.

GEMINI NANO IN CHROME 137: NOTES FOR AI ENGINEERS

Explore AGI Careers at Amazon >>

Join our Amazon AGI SF Lab >>

THE OLMO 2 MODEL FAMILY

OLMo 2 is a family of fully-open language models. OLMo 2 32B is the most capable and largest model - it is the first full-open model to outperform GPT3.5-Turbo and GPT-4o mini on a popular suite of benchmarks. OLMo 2 7B and 13B are competitive with open-weight models from Meta and Mistral on English academic benchmarks. OLMo 2 1B, the smallest member of the model family, surpasses peer models like Gemma 3 1B and Llama 3.2 1B.

SMOLLM3 RELEASED BY HUGGING FACE

Hugging Face's SmolLM3 is a fully open 3B-parameter language model that supports six languages, strong reasoning capabilities, and long-context processing. It targets high performance in the small model segment.

MEM0

An open-source memory layer for AI agents that enables long-term, personalized interactions by efficiently storing and retrieving user context across sessions, reducing token costs and improving response accuracy.

NOTEBOOKLLAMA

A fully open-source, LlamaCloud-backed alternative to NotebookLM, this project uses LlamaCloud for document processing, OpenAI for content generation, and ElevenLabs for voice synthesis.

PEOPLE ARE USING AI CHATBOTS TO GUIDE THEIR PSYCHEDELIC TRIPS

In the few states where it's legal, in-person psychedelic therapy can cost thousands of dollars per session, gated by lengthy waiting lists. As a cheaper, faster alternative, users are turning to AI tripsitters. Companies are following suit too: Mindbloom, for example, is already integrating AI into its ketamine programs. Experts doubt that AI can provide the emotional attunement they consider essential for safe psychedelic experiences.

THESE TESLA, X, AND XAI ENGINEERS WERE JUST POACHED BY OPENAI

OpenAI has reportedly poached high-level engineers from Tesla, xAI, X, Meta, and other companies. The engineers include Tesla's Vice President of Software Engineering David Lau, X and xAI's head of infrastructure engineering Uday Ruddarraju, fellow xAI infrastructure engineer Mike Dalton, and Angela Fan, an AI researcher from Meta. This article looks at the new hires and their backgrounds and specialties.

Subscribe now.

OPENAI TIGHTENS SECURITY OVER IP CONCERNS

After alleging that DeepSeek improperly copied its models using distillation techniques, OpenAI implemented "information tenting" policies, biometric access controls, and offline isolation of proprietary technology.

MICROSOFT, OPENAI, AND ANTHROPIC INVEST $23 MILLION TO TRAIN 400,000 TEACHERS IN AI

The companies are launching the National Academy of AI Instruction with teachers' unions as schools struggle with AI's role in education.

LANGCHAIN IS ABOUT TO BECOME A UNICORN, SOURCES SAY

LangChain is an AI infrastructure startup that provides tools for building and monitoring large language model-powered applications.

TRUMP'S TRUTH SOCIAL FILES WITH SEC TO LAUNCH ‘CRYPTO BLUE CHIP'

Trump's Truth Social has filed with the SEC to launch a “Crypto Blue Chip” ETF backed by BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, and CRO, with initial allocations weighted 70% to Bitcoin and 15% to Ethereum. The filing, sponsored by Yorkville America Digital and custodied by Foris DAX Trust Company, follows earlier applications for spot BTC and BTC+ETH ETFs.

ROBINHOOD ENGAGES WITH REGULATORS OVER TOKENIZED EQUITIES

Robinhood is in discussions with European regulators, including Lithuania's central bank, over its new tokenized equities product, which offers blockchain-based “stock tokens” for firms like OpenAI and SpaceX. CEO Vlad Tenev clarified that the tokens are retail-focused derivatives, not actual shares, but regulators are probing whether the lines between equity and exposure are being blurred.

DUELS LAUNCHES FIRST PREDICTION MARKET FOR CONTENT COINS

Built on Farcaster and powered by Base and Doppler, Duels is the first onchain prediction market for Content Coins (tokens designed to capture attention, not moonshots). In Duels, creators' tokens battle for ETH and visibility, gamifying media engagement, and turning it into tradable value. It's the first step in a broader ecosystem of interactive, app-powered experiences where real upside accrues to the app coins driving user participation.

JACK DORSEY'S 'BITCHAT' ENABLES BITCOIN OVER BLUETOOTH

Jack Dorsey has launched Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app that works without internet or cellular service. Within an hour of launch, users began sending Bitcoin over the app's encrypted peer-to-peer mesh network, turning offline connectivity into a new frontier for BTC payments.

BEYOND STABLECOINS: THE CASE FOR ETHEREUM

The explosive growth of stablecoins is an unprecedented opportunity for Ethereum to host global financial infrastructure, with ETH positioned to become the reserve asset of this new digital dollar economy. Ethereum uniquely meets three critical requirements: global accessibility, institutional safety, and government resistance through strong decentralization – advantages rooted in its community-funded origins that competitors cannot easily replicate. As millions of new stablecoin holders seek yield and financial services that traditional finance cannot provide due to regulatory constraints, ETH stands to benefit from a powerful flywheel where increased stablecoin activity drives ETH demand as collateral, positioning it to capture share from the $500T legacy store-of-value market while generating 3-5% staking yields.

WHY ROBINHOOD CHOSE ARBITRUM

Robinhood announced that tokenized stocks will trade on Arbitrum One and later a custom chain built on Arbitrum's tech stack. The reasons for this decision include wanting production-ready infrastructure and easier access from traditional developers via Arbitrum's Stylus technology. Solana does not allow Robinhood to easily capture value, which they can do via sequencer fees with an L2.

ETH ISSUANCE OUTPACED 11X BY ETFS AND PUBLIC FIRMS

Since the Merge, only 298,770 ETH has been issued, yet SharpLink Gaming and BitDigital alone absorbed ~82% of that in June. Spot ETFs now hold 4.11M ETH, over 11x net issuance. With burn mechanics, validator lock-up, and increasing institutional demand, ETH is behaving like a digital oil field with a daily yield far below market appetite.

RALLY IS JOINING OPENSEA

OpenSea has acquired Rally to build an "onchain everything app," with Rally's founders joining the leadership team and the author becoming CTO to spearhead a mobile-first strategy launching in 2025. The combined entity aims to create a platform where tokens and NFTs complement rather than compete, targeting the 500+ million crypto holders currently limited to holding on centralized exchanges by making DeFi, perps, and cross-chain interactions as simple as traditional banking. This acquisition represents a strategic shift for OpenSea from competing for NFT market share to growing the entire onchain audience, with Rally's mobile expertise powering a unified experience that treats memecoins as cultural movements alongside NFTs.

BLACKROCK'S IBIT ETF SURPASSES 700K BTC IN AUM

BlackRock's IBIT has crossed 700K BTC (~$76B) in assets under management just 18 months post-launch - it now controls 56% of all BTC held by U.S. spot ETFs.

ONCHAIN LENDING HITS RECORD $28B, FUELED BY $6B JUNE SURGE

Total outstanding onchain loans have reached an all-time high of $28 billion, with $6 billion in new borrowing added in June alone.

STABLECOINS ARE JUST THE START

Stablecoins aren't the endgame, they're the grease. The real vision is rebuilding TradFi's core infrastructure with blockchain, targeting systems like SWIFT, VISA, DTCC, Fedwire, ACH, and asset management rails for faster, cheaper, and more transparent settlement.

EIGEN LABS LAYS OFF 25% OF EMPLOYEES

Eigen Labs, the company behind the EigenLayer restaking protocol, has laid off 25% of employees and plans to restructure around the new EigenCloud product.

APPLE JUST ADDED MORE FROST TO ITS LIQUID GLASS DESIGN

Apple has further reduced the transparency of its Liquid Glass design elements—like navigation bars and buttons—to improve readability following earlier complaints that the interface was too hard to see through. While the change may enhance usability, some users feel Apple is abandoning the original, more striking visual style, calling the update a step backward.

NEW HANDS-ON IPHONE 17 AIR VIDEO REVEALS DUMMY IN SLEEK BLACK FINISH

A new hands-on video reveals a sleek, ultra-thin dummy model of the upcoming iPhone 17 Air in black, showing a stark contrast to the bulkier iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Air features a much thinner design, a single rear camera, and a full-width camera bar.

USPS JUST DESIGNED A PERFECT POSTAGE STAMP

SpongeBob SquarePants is the latest pop culture icon to be featured on U.S. Postal Service Forever stamps, with four playful designs debuting on August 1 in Times Square. Designed using Nickelodeon artwork, the stamps celebrate the beloved cartoon's cultural impact, now officially recognized with government-issued postage.

I'VE DESIGNED WITH DATA — HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING WRONG

UX design has become overly reliant on data and metrics, leading teams to prioritize A/B testing small changes over innovative, human-centered problem-solving. While analytics can show what users do, they fail to reveal why users behave in a certain way, missing crucial emotional and motivational context that qualitative research provides. Effective UX requires balancing data insights with creativity and intuition, using metrics as a starting point for deeper exploration rather than the final decision-maker.

WHEN FIGMA STARTS DESIGNING US

Figma has evolved into a powerful tool that encourages engineering-centric workflows, with features like Auto Layout and Dev Mode promoting early structure and polished prototypes. While these tools offer efficiency, they risk limiting creative exploration by narrowing the design process too early, contributing to a homogenized digital design landscape.

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT GOOD SYSTEM DESIGN

Good system design prioritizes simplicity, reliability, and the use of well-established components, favoring boring, maintainable solutions over clever or complex ones. Key principles include minimizing stateful services, designing around hot paths, using background jobs and caching judiciously, and ensuring systems fail gracefully with strong observability and clear separation of responsibilities.

HTML FORM INSPECTOR

Paste your HTML form code to get a detailed overview of its structure and fields.

CREATE MOBILE APPS WITH AI

Create beautiful, native mobile apps in minutes using AI. Bring your ideas to life with a0's AI-powered app development platform.

HOW WE SHAPED THE VISUAL IDENTITY FOR CONFIG 2025

Figma's Brand Studio team spent 10 months developing Config 2025's visual identity, which is centered on expressive animated glyphs crafted from basic shapes. Designed to span digital screens, physical activations, and merchandise for over 10,000 attendees, the identity centered on craft and creative expression, aligning with product launches like Figma Draw and Sites, which feature dynamic glyphs with inner and outer elements that respond to each other and transform entire compositions.

SOMEONE GIVES ST JOHN'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE A CINEMATIC NEW IDENTITY

St John's College at Cambridge has undergone a major rebrand by SomeOne to better reflect its blend of historic legacy and modern relevance. With a new visual identity centered on the idea of being “the home of big ideas,” the rebrand includes a redrawn crest, a flexible monogram, a cinematic visual style, and a revamped website aimed primarily at prospective students, all designed to convey the college's vibrant, forward-looking spirit while honoring its prestigious past.

PLAYGROUND-INSPIRED CHAIR CONCEPT BRINGS MEMORIES AND PLAYFUL DESIGN TO MODERN SPACES

Moopi is a whimsical chair collection that draws inspiration from playground equipment to evoke childhood memories in adult spaces.

THE FLOPPY DISK ICON AS “SAVE:” STILL APPROPRIATE TODAY?

The floppy disk icon remains widely recognized as "save" with 83% of users understanding its meaning, despite most having never used actual floppy disks.

MISTRAL IS REPORTEDLY IN TALKS TO RAISE $1B

Mistral is negotiating to raise $1 billion from investors like Abu Dhabi's MGX fund and French lenders such as Bpifrance SACA. The French AI startup, known for its Le Chat chatbot and open-weight LLMs, has already raised $1.19 billion, reaching a $6.51 billion valuation. Mistral is collaborating with MGX and Nvidia to build Europe's largest AI data center, aligned with the UAE's €50 billion AI investment in France.

SECTION 174 IS REVERSED: ALL US-BASED R&D EXPENSES ARE NOW FULLY DEDUCTED

The five-year R&D expense amortization nightmare is over. Congress just reversed Section 174, meaning you can fully deduct domestic R&D expenses immediately instead of spreading them over five years. Better yet, startups under $31M in revenue can get retroactive refunds for all amortized expenses since 2022. You have one year to file amended returns for 2022-2024 or take a catch-up deduction in 2025.

COREWEAVE ACQUIRES DATA CENTER PROVIDER CORE SCIENTIFIC IN $9B STOCK DEAL

CoreWeave acquired Core Scientific in a $9 billion stock deal, gaining over a gigawatt of data center capacity for AI workloads. Core Scientific's GPUs will shift from Bitcoin mining to running generative AI models. Cloud infrastructure providers are rapidly expanding data centers to meet AI demands, as shown by OpenAI's recent 4.5-gigawatt capacity deal with Oracle.

THE GRUEN EFFECT

Ever go to Target for toothpaste and leave with $200 worth of stuff? That's the Gruen Effect - when stores deliberately disorient you to trigger impulse buys. IKEA's maze-like layout keeps you browsing longer. Amazon's "related products" send you down rabbit holes. Notion's surprise feature pop-ups keep you exploring. Over 50% of purchases are unplanned because when you're disoriented, your brain stops asking "do I need this?" and starts thinking "ooh, that's nice."

HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR COMPETITION

Competition proves there's money to be made. This CFO's competitors burned hundreds of millions educating the market while his company quietly converted those educated buyers with a Yeti mug marketing budget. Smart differentiation beats demonization - define yourself on your terms, not theirs. Be specific about who you serve: "We're built for teams of five, not five thousand."