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NOTION MAIL IS A MINIMALIST BUT POWERFUL TAKE ON EMAIL

Notion Mail looks like Notion but works like Gmail and it contains a lot of AI features to help users tame their inboxes.

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MOONDREAM 2.0 RELEASE

MoonDream is a small, 2B parameter VLM that outperforms many open and closed models. It has recently gotten a strong upgrade on chartQA and a number of other useful benchmarks.

OPENAI EXPLORES SOCIAL NETWORK

OpenAI is testing an internal prototype of a ChatGPT-integrated social feed focused on image generation, potentially expanding into a standalone social network.

NVIDIA H20 EXPORTS TO CHINA RESTRICTED

The U.S. now requires Nvidia to obtain a license for exporting its H20 AI chips to China, citing potential misuse in supercomputers.

TXGEMMA OPEN MODEL FOR THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT

Google has released another model based on its suite of Gemma models. This one is tuned to help discover therapeutic treatments in medical sciences. It outperforms most specialized and all open generalized models.

DATA DECIDE

AllenAI has released a tool that can be used to help decide which data to include in pre-training. This framework is quite useful for understanding what goes into a filtering run for pre-training.

CONVERSION RATE PREDICTION IN AD SYSTEMS

Pinterest researchers have proposed a multitask framework that uses Deep Hierarchical Ensemble Networks to improve CVR predictions in ad systems. It shows state-of-the-art results through feature combination and auxiliary learning.

OPEN SOURCE OPENAI PRODUCTION KERNELS (GITHUB PR)

OpenAI has open sourced some of its fp4 and MoE kernels to the Triton language GitHub.

NEMOTRON H MODELS (HUGGING FACE HUB)

Nvidia's ADLR team has released the weights for the hybrid mamba Nemotron models, which have strong long context performance and decent general benchmark abilities.

AUTO DEPLOY

A new way to transform PyTorch and Hugging Face models into a faster, deployable, format for fast inference.

OPENAI'S UPDATES PREPAREDNESS FRAMEWORK

OpenAI has revised its safety strategy and introduced sharper risk categories, stronger evaluation processes, and new guidelines for managing advanced AI capabilities.

CANADA HAS ANSWER TO ENERGY NEEDS IN AI RACE, EX-GOOGLE CEO SAYS

Canada has 250 data centers and aims to expand by leveraging its abundant energy resources, like hydro and nuclear. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre advocates for increased resource production to boost economic benefits domestically.

JACK MA ADVOCATES FOR AI TO SERVE HUMANITY, NOT DOMINATE

Jack Ma advocates for AI development focused on enhancing human life, warning against technologies that dominate. He urges global collaboration to create ethical guidelines, ensuring AI complements rather than replaces human capabilities. His call reflects broader public sentiment favoring technology that supports societal welfare.

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NOTION LAUNCHES AI-POWERED EMAIL

Notion Mail is a Gmail-integrated client that helps users manage, search, and reply to email using AI.

OPENAI SLASHES AI MODEL SAFETY TESTING TIME

OpenAI has reduced the time and resources for safety testing its AI models, raising concerns over rushed releases without proper safeguards.

CHATGPT BECAME THE MOST DOWNLOADED APP GLOBALLY IN MARCH

ChatGPT became the most downloaded non-gaming app in March, surpassing Instagram and TikTok with 46 million downloads.

SOUTH KOREA PUSHES APPLE TO REMOVE 14 UNREGISTERED CRYPTO APPS

South Korea's financial regulator has directed Apple to remove 14 unregistered cryptocurrency apps, including KuCoin and MEXC, from the App Store as part of its efforts to enforce compliance with local regulations. This move aims to protect investors and ensure that only properly registered platforms are accessible to users in the country.

CHINESE CHIP USED IN BITCOIN WALLETS IS PUTTING TRADERS AT RISK

A major vulnerability in the widely used ESP32 chip is putting bitcoin wallets at risk by allowing hackers to forge transaction signatures or steal private keys. Found in hardware like Blockstream Jade, the chip's flaws have already been exploited by researchers to access a real wallet with 10 BTC, raising serious concerns among the crypto and cybersecurity communities.

MAMO-1: CELESTIA'S 128MB BLOCK TESTNET

Celestia's mamo-1 boasts 21.33MB/s throughput, over 16 times higher than the current mainnet. It uses the Vacuum! protocol, a pull-based broadcast tree mechanism, to efficiently propagate data across the network. mamo-1 allows high-throughput applications like ZK rollups and onchain games to be built using modular architectures.

CDP WALLETS (ALPHA) LIVE

Coinbase just launched CDP Wallets (Alpha), ultra-fast, developer-custodied wallets secured by Trusted Execution Environments with no infrastructure or key management required. Designed for bots, agents, and onchain apps, they include built-in policy controls and work seamlessly with popular Ethereum tools.

EXPLAINER THREAD ON ZK

Zero-knowledge (zk) technology lets users prove facts, such as being over 18 or having a valid ticket, without revealing personal data, enabling a more private and secure internet. Beyond privacy, zk also boosts blockchain efficiency by verifying small proofs instead of every transaction, unlocking applications like anonymous voting, cheat-proof games, and decentralized identity. This is all achieved without needing to share sensitive info.

HOW TO READ A STABLECOIN ATTESTATION REPORT

Stablecoin attestation reports offer a snapshot verification by independent auditors that confirm a stablecoin's circulating supply is backed by liquid, real-world assets. They detail reserve composition, methodology, and exclusions, providing essential transparency to investors and regulators. As point-in-time checks, they do not replace comprehensive audits, but are useful for anyone holding stablecoins who wants to understand their composition.

CRYPTO IS GROWING UP, VCS ARE GETTING LEFT BEHIND

Crypto is maturing beyond its hype-driven, speculative past into a more disciplined, fundamentals-focused industry. The industry increasingly demands longer time horizons, product-market fit before token launches, and genuine utility. Most traditional crypto VC firms, built for quick liquidity via SAFTs and early TGEs, are unprepared for this shift, while firms with patient capital, governance expertise, and IPO-readiness are positioned to lead the next wave of sustainable growth.

ACCELERATE ASIA STABLECOINS WITH INTEROPERABILITY

Stablecoin adoption is accelerating across Asia, fueled by supply growth and user engagement alongside emerging regulatory clarity. Each region has a unique strategy, with Japan and Hong Kong driving government-led initiatives, Singapore leveraging institutional support, and Korea focusing on retail adoption, while China and India prioritize CBDCs. Interoperability is necessary for scaling stablecoin usage, with protocols like LayerZero allowing for unified supply management and secure cross-chain transfers.

ONLY 11% OF EL SALVADOR'S REGISTERED BITCOIN FIRMS OPERATIONAL

Only 20 out of 181 registered Bitcoin service providers are currently operational in El Salvador, with the majority failing to meet the requirements set forth in the nation's Bitcoin Law.

BITCOIN SHOWS GROWING STRENGTH DURING MARKET DOWNTURN

Bitcoin is showing more resilience to macroeconomic challenges, outperforming traditional financial markets during recent downturns.

BLACKROCK BUIDL FUND VS. ETHEREUM

This chart highlights the difference between Ethereum's transaction-based revenue model and BlackRock's AUM-based model.

BINANCE DOWN

Binance experienced service disruptions due to a temporary AWS network issue and briefly suspended withdrawals.

SNAPCHAT ROLLS OUT SPONSORED AI LENSES FOR BRANDS

THE VOLKSWAGEN LOGO IS SUDDENLY CAUSING MASS CONFUSION AND FRIENDSHIP-ENDING ARGUMENTS

There is debate over whether the V and W in the Volkswagen logo, one of the most recognizable car emblems, were ever joined. Although the official design always included a gap, some remember a conjoined version, likely due to manufacturing inconsistencies or the Mandela effect. Originally tied to Nazi-era imagery, the logo was later redesigned into the simple VW in a circle seen today.

INTRODUCING KERMIT: A TYPEFACE FOR KIDS

Kermit is a playful, child-friendly typeface created to support young readers, including those with dyslexia. Its approachable design, expressive features, and animated versions aim to improve comprehension and build confidence. Developed with scientific input, Kermit is intended to be more than just a font. It is designed to make reading easier, more engaging, and accessible for all children.

VIBE CODING IS EXCITING BUT DESIGNERS MUST TREAD CAREFULLY

"Vibe coding" allows non-specialists to create digital products by using plain language to guide AI, making design and development more accessible. While it offers creative freedom, it also raises concerns around intellectual property, safety, and misuse. To create more human-centered digital experiences, it's important to use vibe coding alongside human expertise rather than as a replacement.

WRITING THE ONBOARDING EXPERIENCE

Digital product design guides users from the first screen with clear interfaces and thoughtful writing that teach interaction patterns. Onboarding is key and works best when it sets expectations, offers early value, and shows progress. Great onboarding respects the user by keeping things optional, allowing guest access, and sometimes skipping explanations to let the interface speak for itself.

THE DUMBEST DESIGN SYSTEM MISTAKES

Design systems often fail due to rushed rollouts, poor collaboration, lack of maintenance, and misplaced priorities. Avoid common pitfalls by prioritizing user needs, involving teams early, documenting thoroughly, and treating systems as evolving products. Component count isn't a measure of success - success is measured by adoption, usability, and impact on real-world workflows.

QR CODE GENERATOR (FIGMA PLUGIN)

A Figma plugin that lets designers create QR codes for websites, text, WiFi, phone calls, and SMS. Colors can match a brand or design system. A contrast checker can ensure scannability.

BUILD MVP IN UNDER 60 MINUTES

Metatable.ai empowers creators to build and deploy AI-driven applications in minutes. No coding expertise is required, so you can turn your ideas into reality faster than ever.

CREATIVE PROJECT TRACKER

Celaro is a creative project tracker crafted for designers and developers to streamline workflows and boost creativity. It helps bridge the gap between creatives and project management without losing focus on creating.

CHEETOS PANTS AD CAMPAIGN: STYLE & (FUN)CTION

Cheetos launched a playful ad campaign with limited-edition orange pants featuring built-in towel-like panels to solve the "Cheetle fingers" mess. Created with BBDO and fashion designers, the pants blend humor, function, and brand identity, turning snack culture into streetwear. A curated online collection makes the concept fun, memorable, and shareable.

THESE DIGITAL ARTISTS HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST UNETHICAL AI

Since 2022, artists have resisted generative AI by filing lawsuits, lobbying lawmakers, and raising public awareness. Activist groups like EGAIR influenced the EU's AI Act, requiring consent for training data. Legal battles persist, with courts examining copyright implications. Artists stress solidarity, education, and the unique value of human creativity over machine-generated content.

THIN FONTS ARE A USABILITY NIGHTMARE—AND FINALLY, DESIGNERS ARE WAKING UP

Thin fonts, once favored for their sleek look, have proven hard to read and inaccessible, especially on mobile and for users with visual impairments. Major brands like Apple and Google are now shifting to bolder, more legible typography to prioritize usability and meet accessibility standards. This marks a broader industry move toward design that puts function over fashion.

ADOBE'S SURPRISING ORIGINS AND ITS SECRET ROLE IN SHAPING THE CREATIVE WORLD

Starting with printing technology, Adobe revolutionized desktop publishing with PostScript, aided by Apple.

SILLY, SURREAL, AND SERIOUSLY SMART: NASTIA CISTAKOVA IS MAKING SPACE FOR FEMME ABSURDISM IN ILLUSTRATION

Nastia Cistakova blends humor, absurdism, and queerness in satirical illustrations that explore identity, news, and mental health.

FOUNDER-LED GROWTH PLAYBOOK

Startup failures often stem from founders' inadequate approach to growth, with Matt Lerner in this post stressing the importance of founder-led growth. Lerner's framework identifies frequent growth traps and emphasizes mapping the customer journey, understanding motivations, and conducting rapid experiments to uncover impactful growth levers. Founders should initially spearhead growth efforts to gain critical business insights, aligning their teams with a growth mindset before hiring dedicated growth specialists.

TARIFF CHAOS & CHINA DECOUPLING POSE TWIN THREATS FOR STARTUPS & VCS

Trump's erratic tariff policies are disrupting markets, stalling IPOs, and complicating tech supply chains. Despite the market chaos, some Trump-supporting VCs reluctantly criticize the tariffs while still expressing support for Trump. The tech industry remains uneasy about potential long-term economic impacts and weakened innovation prospects.

A LETTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM FEMALE FOUNDERS

Proposed tariffs on consumer goods disproportionately threaten small businesses, increasing costs and potentially leading to higher prices for consumers. Small businesses, especially those in the CPG sector, lack the capacity to absorb these costs or reconfigure supply chains quickly. Entrepreneurs urge policymakers to collaborate on fair trade solutions, including tariff exemptions and support for domestic supply chain transitions.

WHEN CHURN IS THE MODEL

Some businesses aren't meant to keep customers forever - they're deliberately designed for users to leave. Education platforms expect you to finish learning Spanish and move on. For these "recurring market" businesses, the metrics flip: instead of lifetime value and retention, what matters is solving one critical problem perfectly, showing up exactly when needed (usually via search), and compressing all your value into a single transaction. This changes everything about how you build - speed trumps depth, trust outweighs features, and your CAC payback must happen immediately, not over years.