Search the archive

OPEN LETTER TO BRIAN CHESKY

Airbnb's success was never due to some kind of grand narrative - it was the company's tinkering, perfect timing, and perpetual sensitivity to what hosts were already doing.

▶️ WATCH THE WEBINAR: BEYOND CHATBOTS: ORCHESTRATING AI-NATIVE ENTERPRISE WORKFLOWS

ALPHAEVOLVE: DEEPMIND'S GEMINI-POWERED CODING AGENT FOR ALGORITHM DESIGN

Google DeepMind's AlphaEvolve uses Gemini models to iteratively generate and improve complete algorithm solutions, not just isolated functions. The system proposes code, tests it through automated evaluators, and builds upon successful approaches to develop increasingly effective algorithms across entire codebases. This process has yielded significant improvements across Google's infrastructure, from data center efficiency and chip design to AI training optimization. Select researchers will receive early access to the tool, but it's unclear if or when it will become widely available.

STABILITY AI TEXT-TO-AUDIO MODEL

Stability AI has open-sourced Stable Audio Open Small, a 341M parameter text-to-audio model optimized to run on Arm CPUs. It can generate 11-second audio clips on smartphones in under 8 seconds.

KLARNA'S AI RETRENCHMENT AND BROADER AI APP RISK

Klarna scaling back AI bets is a signal of deeper industry issues with AI's probabilistic behavior in production. Many AI apps will likely be forced to pivot to narrow, deterministic use cases, exposing inflated AI valuations masking ordinary SaaS companies. Ongoing AI system validation will be the next critical discipline.

OPENAI LAUNCHES SAFETY METRICS HUB AMID TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS

OpenAI has unveiled a Safety Evaluations Hub that publicly tracks model performance across hallucination rates, harmful content refusal, jailbreak resistance, and instruction adherence.

AI'S SECOND-ORDER EFFECTS

Founders should explore AI's second-order effects, like workforce reallocation and regulatory compliance, for sustainable growth. Commoditized first-order applications face competition, but opportunities lie in AI-driven societal shifts and economic realignments. Innovate with AI-native media and infrastructure to capitalize on transformative human reactions to AI disruptions.

META-ANALYSIS SHOWS CHATGPT SIGNIFICANTLY BOOSTS LEARNING, BEST IN PROBLEM-BASED SCENARIOS

Amid debates over AI use in education, a comprehensive meta-analysis of 51 studies shows ChatGPT substantially improves student learning performance while moderately enhancing learning perception and higher-order thinking. It was most effective in problem-based learning environments with consistent usage for 4-8 weeks.

GOOGLE DEPLOYS GEMINI NANO ON DEVICE TO POWER NEW SCAM DEFENSES

Google has integrated Gemini Nano, its on-device LLM, into Chrome's Enhanced Protection mode to identify previously unseen scams in real-time across Search, Android, and Chrome.

BUILDING AGENTS FOR DAILY NEWS RECAPS WITH MCP, Q, AND TMUX

A Principal Applied Scientist at Amazon created an intelligent news aggregation system using Amazon Q CLI and Model Control Protocol (MCP) that processes multiple news feeds simultaneously through coordinated AI agents. The resulting output includes category distributions and cross-source trend analysis that identifies patterns across different publications.

VOID: OPEN-SOURCE AI CODE EDITOR

Built as a VS code fork, Void offers direct connections to AI models without routing data through third-party servers. It offers autocomplete, Agent Mode (allowing AI to search, create, and modify files with terminal access), Gather Mode (restricted to read-only operations), and specialized features like checkpoints for tracking AI-suggested changes.

AWS ANNOUNCE $5+ BILLION AI PARTNERSHIP IN NEW SAUDI ARABIAN AI COMPANY

AWS and HUMAIN, a new AI company founded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are investing over $5 billion to build an "AI Zone" in Saudi Arabia that will feature advanced AWS AI infrastructure. Cisco, AMD, Oracle, and NVIDIA also announced AI deals with HUMAIN.

MCP IS A POWERFUL NEW AI CODING TECHNOLOGY: UNDERSTAND THE RISKS

Model Context Protocol (MCP), introduced by Anthropic AI, connects LLMs with tools and data, but lacks default security features, posing significant risks. Experts have warned about vulnerabilities, including prompt injections and tool tampering. Unless enhanced security measures are implemented, developers and organizations are advised to proceed cautiously, prioritize security practices, and stay informed on MCP's evolving standards.

CEO SATYA NADELLA SAYS UP TO 30% OF MICROSOFT'S CODE IS NOW WRITTEN BY AI

AI's rise in software engineering raises questions about programming job futures, but skilled human judgment remains essential. At LlamaCon, Microsoft's and Meta's CEOs highlighted AI's strong role in code generation, with AI producing a significant portion of their companies' code. While AI excels at automating repetitive tasks, human oversight remains crucial for complex projects and refining AI-generated code.

PERPLEXITY SELECTS PAYPAL TO POWER AGENTIC COMMERCE

Following OpenAI's Shopify integration, Perplexity has partnered with PayPal to enable seamless purchasing directly within its AI search results.

GROK IS UNPROMPTEDLY TELLING X USERS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN ‘WHITE GENOCIDE'

Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot experienced a bizarre bug that caused it to respond to unrelated X user queries with information about alleged "white genocide" in South Africa.

GPT-4.1

OpenAI has released GPT-4.1 in ChatGPT - it is accessible via the “more models” dropdown for Plus, Pro, and Team users.

SEC DELAYS SOLANA AND DOGECOIN ETF PROPOSALS

The SEC has delayed its decision on in-kind redemptions for BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF and is soliciting public comments on amendments to its creation and redemption process. Previously, the agency had preferred a cash-only model requiring the immediate sale of bitcoin upon redemption. Concurrently, the SEC postponed proposals for the Grayscale Litecoin and Solana Trusts and opened comment periods for the 21Shares Dogecoin ETF.

NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS WANTS LONG-TERM VALUE WITH CRYPTO, NOT TO CHASE 'MEMES'

Mayor Eric Adams announced a focus on sustainable, long-term value from crypto and blockchain for New Yorkers rather than chasing fleeting memes and trends. He and city CTO Matt Fraser will host NYC's inaugural crypto summit on May 20 to drive industry collaboration and growth. Fraser emphasized blockchain's potential to democratize access to public records like birth and death certificates.

SAFE + TOKEN WARRANT LAUNCH

MetaLeX now supports SAFE plus token warrants fundraising directly onchain, which lets founders raise equity with optional token upside, a method favored by VCs like a16z. Investors receive NFT-based certified securities with a tradeability toggle, enabling secure, composable deal execution without Docusign or off-chain fund wrangling.

COLUMN LAUNCHES REAL-TIME PAYMENTS VIA FEDNOW AND RTP NETWORKS

Column has rolled out real-time payments across both the Federal Reserve's FedNow Service and The Clearing House's RTP network, enabling 24/7/365 instant transfers that settle in seconds. These rails support high-value, final, and irrevocable transactions cheaper than wires and faster than ACH, accessible through the same account and routing numbers. With over 1,600 U.S. banks now supporting these rails, Column reports it is already the largest real-time payments transactor in the country.

HOW TO BENCHMARK YOUR PORTFOLIO

Crypto investors routinely deceive themselves by rounding returns, ignoring fees, and molding data to feel successful, making thorough record-keeping and predefined KPIs essential. Measuring performance against proper benchmarks like BTC and SPY and risk-adjusted metrics like the Sharpe ratio is vital to reveal actual performance. Investors can avoid emotional biases by setting honest risk premiums, factoring in probabilities of various losses, and separating portfolio logs from net-worth tracking.

PRINCIPLES OF EIP STEWARDSHIP

13 months of EIP 5792 development led to five principles: ship prototypes early, persist through reviews, engage stakeholders, cultivate champions, and make decisive progress. For 5792 specifically, showcasing early demos of batch and sponsored RPC methods secured support from MetaMask, Ambire, and first-party viem/wagmi libraries within weeks. Iterative stakeholder feedback (e.g., adding EOA support) and champion advocacy (e.g., jxom's viem/wagmi integration) amplified adoption.

PROXY402 ADDS PREPAID TOP-UPS FOR API MONETIZATION

Proxy402 now supports top-up plans alongside pay-per-request pricing. Publishers can define prepaid tiers where a single payment issues reusable API credentials (each call deducts a credit, no reauth or repay needed).

YUGA LABS SELLS CRYPTOPUNKS IP

CryptoPunks has been acquired by the Infinite Node Foundation, a nonprofit focused on preserving digital art. This move places the collection within a mission-driven endowment, aiming to ensure its longevity, foster community, and reframe its cultural impact through exhibitions and education.

DELL TO DISMISS SHAREHOLDER BITCOIN PROPOSAL

Dell has received permission from the SEC to drop the shareholder-proposed vote on adding Bitcoin to the company's balance sheet.

JPMORGAN COMPLETES FIRST PUBLIC TOKENIZED TREASURY TRADE

JPMorgan announced its first public tokenized treasury chain on the Ondo blockchain, using Chainlink as its cross-chain settlement engine.

UNISWAP REACHED $3T ALL-TIME VOLUME

Uniswap has become the first DEX to achieve $3 trillion in all-time trading volume.

POLYMARKET'S NEW MARKET CREATION HITS ALL-TIME HIGH IN APRIL AS VOLUME STABILIZES

Polymarket saw a record number of new markets created in April, even as overall trading volume stabilized.

PAUL MCCARTNEY, ELTON JOHN, OTHER CREATIVES DEMAND AI COMES CLEAN ON SCRAPING

Over 400 UK creatives, including Paul McCartney and Elton John, urged the prime minister to back an amendment requiring AI firms to reveal which copyrighted works they used for training. They argue this would prevent copyright theft. The government's opt-out proposal is seen as too weak. Baroness Kidron says UK creative industries should not be sacrificed to tech companies.

ANDROID'S YOUTHFUL NEW DESIGN LANGUAGE JUST DROPPED

Google unveiled Material Three Expressive, a bold Android design with vibrant colors, lively animations, and customizable UI, to attract younger users. Arriving in the Android 16 beta soon, it adds Live Updates for urgent info and more flexible Quick Settings. The flashy look targets Gen Z but may not sway iPhone fans.

20TH ANNIVERSARY IPHONE TO BE TOTALLY BEZEL-FREE, HAVE HI-TECH BATTERY

Apple may launch a bold 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027 with a bezel-free all-glass design, 4-sided bending display, and under-display camera. It could use tech from Samsung and LG, plus a solid-state battery. These innovations aim to end smartphones' “boring era” with a transformative device.

DESIGN OR DISAPPEAR

In this era of fast AI growth, ecological crisis, and cultural divides, thoughtful design is essential for survival. We face a clear choice: embrace purposeful design that builds lasting connections or fall into an “anti CRAFT” approach of complacency and apathy. There is no middle ground - organizations and individuals must choose design or risk irrelevance.

YOUR DESIGN SYSTEM ISN'T A COMPONENT LIBRARY

Design systems are more than just component libraries - they are dynamic frameworks for building digital experiences. Like cities that grow from essential infrastructure to vibrant neighborhoods, design systems should provide a flexible, purpose-driven foundation that encourages creativity and maintains cohesion.

WHAT IS THE DESIGN HILL YOU WOULD DIE ON?

A diverse group of designers shared beliefs ranging from user clarity, emotional resonance, and trust to embracing chaos, simplicity, and transformation. Each stands by a personal “design hill,” like “print it out,” “make mistakes,” or “fight for the guest experience.” These views show design as a craft and mindset rooted in purpose, emotion, and human connection.

MIGMA AI

Migma AI generates complete, on-brand emails from simple prompts. It pulls live content, creates images, and formats emails for consistent appearance across platforms.

SHAPE OF AI

The Shape of AI helps people understand and thoughtfully design the rapidly evolving impact of AI, so they can create technology that serves and enhances human life rather than harms it.

INSPOGEN

An immersive tool for designers to explore curated design projects, discover related ideas, and save or share inspiration through interactive "Sparks."

THOUGHTS ON FIGMA'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Figma showed how it has grown into a complete product ecosystem at Config 2025, adding prototyping-to-code handoff, AI asset generation, and design system governance. Aimed at all design disciplines and improved performance, about 65 percent of users are now non-designers. Despite worries of becoming “the new Adobe,” Figma aims to bridge design and development and may become the control layer for AI across the tech stack.

JONY IVE CAN'T SAVE US FROM THE IPHONE ADDICTION HE HELPED CREATE

Jony Ive regrets the screen addiction linked to his iPhone design and has partnered with OpenAI on an AI device to reduce smartphone use. Critics cite failures like Humane's AI Pin and Rabbit R1, doubting that such gadgets can fix these issues. AI also faces backlash for disrupting education, raising copyright concerns, and threatening creative jobs.

MESMERIZING SURREAL ILLUSTRATIONS INSPIRED BY VIETNAMESE CULTURE BY BUI NGAN

Bui Ngan creates surreal illustrations of Vietnamese life, inspired by women, children, and culture, using “keywords” to guide her artistic process.

FIVE TIMES APPLE CHOSE THE RIGHT FONT (AND ONE IT GOT WRONG)

Apple's typography evolved through five phases, from the 1970s Motter Tektura to the 2015 San Francisco typeface that unified its brand and UI design.

Learn more about True Scale Application Security

CHIPMAKER PATCH TUESDAY: INTEL, AMD, ARM RESPOND TO NEW CPU ATTACKS

Intel, AMD, and Arm have released security advisories on CPU vulnerabilities, including a branch privilege injection issue (CVE-2024-45332) that revives Spectre-BTI attacks on Intel processors. Intel is issuing microcode updates for this vulnerability and others identified by ETH Zurich and VU Amsterdam, which found three new Spectre v2 attacks that undermine domain isolation. In total, Intel patched 25 additional advisories for various high and medium-severity vulnerabilities, while AMD addressed several high-severity flaws in its Manageability Tools and CPU Libraries.

ICLICKER SITE HACK TARGETED STUDENTS WITH MALWARE VIA FAKE CAPTCHA

The website of iClicker, which provides a student engagement platform, was compromised in a ClickFix attack. The attack prompted users to click on a fake CAPTCHA, which copied a PowerShell command to users' clipboards and then instructed them to run it. The PowerShell script downloaded a legitimate Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable if the script detected that it was in a malware sandbox or an unknown malware that is possibly an infostealer if it was running on a regular machine.

DIOR'S CHINA DATA BREACH EXPOSES ELITE CLIENTS

Luxury brand Dior experienced a customer data breach in China that exposed an undisclosed number of users' data. The stolen data included customers' names, genders, phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, purchase amounts, and shopping preferences, but not financial data. Chinese users have expressed an erosion of brand trust on the Chinese social media site RedNote.

THE CRYPTOGRAPHY BEHIND PASSKEYS

Passkeys employ public-key cryptography for authentication. The user's device creates a digital signature with a private key, while the website verifies it using a public key, reducing password vulnerabilities. WebAuthn provides vital anti-phishing protections through origin binding, ensuring passkeys are functional only with their respective websites. Different authenticator types balance security and convenience. The passkey ecosystem supports cryptographic extensions for functionalities such as key derivation and secure storage. However, developers must implement account recovery mechanisms, as lost passkeys cannot be reconstructed.