🛠️ Apple Builds a Smarter, Faster Coding Engine

TECH

First AI-powered self-monitoring satellite launched into space

🛰️🤖 A mini-fridge-sized satellite from UC Davis is speeding into orbit with a game-changing upgrade: a built-in AI brain that can monitor its own power system in real time. Set for launch in October 2025 with Proteus Space, this is the first self-aware satellite that doesn’t need Earth to tell it how it's doing. Instead, it uses a digital twin, right onboard, to predict battery performance and adapt before problems strike.

What’s even more impressive? The entire mission is being pulled off in just 13 months. Graduate students like Ayush Patnaik and Adam Zufall, alongside robotics and battery experts, are pioneering a new pace for space innovation. The satellite won’t just collect data, it will learn from it, evolve, and make decisions on the fly. A small spacecraft, yes, but a bold step toward fully autonomous systems in orbit. Read More

NASA is offering $100,000 to anyone who can solve this problem

🌍💡 NASA just opened the doors to a $100,000 opportunity for minds ready to tackle one of Earth’s biggest challenges: flooding. Through the Beyond the Algorithm Challenge, they’re calling on innovators to use cutting-edge computing, think quantum tech, neuromorphic chips, or in-memory systems, to rethink how we analyze floodwaters and predict climate threats more accurately.

Applicants must submit a short white paper and video by July 25 to qualify. The top 10 will move on to present working code and pitch live in September, where three winners will be chosen. It’s more than a prize; NASA’s betting on unconventional ideas to change how we see and save the planet. If you’ve got the vision, the entry is free. Read More

These XR glasses gave me a 220-inch screen to work with, and have replaced my monitors

🕶️🚀 Imagine carrying a 220-inch screen in your pocket. That’s what the new Xreal One Pro XR glasses deliver, offering a vivid ultra-wide workspace and immersive media experience without needing a single external monitor. Powered by the advanced X1 spatial computing chip, they’re plug-and-play, don’t require special software, and are already replacing traditional setups for work and entertainment.

With crisp visuals, a massive 57° field of view, spatial audio tuned by Bose, and seamless multitasking that resumes where you left off, these glasses turn laptops into command centers. Pair them with the optional Xreal Eye accessory for hands-free AR capture and 6DoF control. At $649, they’re not cheap, but for remote productivity, travel, or just leveling up your workspace, they might be the most versatile screen you’ll ever use. Read More

An Electric Solar & Sail-Powered Catamaran — The MODX 70

⛵🔋 The MODX 70 isn’t just another catamaran with a solar panel slapped on top. It’s fully electric, no diesel, no hybrid tricks, and it’s built to sail with zero emissions. Powered by 70 square meters of solar panels, 250 kWh of LFP batteries, and hydrogenerating propellers, this vessel can cruise 110 nautical miles on battery alone or sail endlessly with wind and sun.

With four electric motors and space for 8 guests and 3 crew, the MODX 70 blends clean energy tech with real-world sailing performance. It regenerates power while sailing can hit up to 18 knots in the right wind, and runs on a completely sustainable energy mix. Finally, a catamaran that actually earns the word "eco." Read More

Developing nations’ bloc pushes AI rules, fair pay for data

🌐⚖️ The BRICS bloc, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is taking a bold stand in shaping the future of AI. They’re pushing for global rules that curb unauthorized data use, limit excessive data harvesting, and ensure fair payment for content used to train AI systems. This move challenges the status quo, where major tech firms in developed nations often reap the rewards without compensating creators or data sources. As G7 countries lean into innovation-first governance, BRICS is spotlighting economic fairness and digital sovereignty. With nearly half the global workforce at risk of AI disruption, developing economies are asserting their voice in setting the terms. Read More

BUSINESS

Kevin O'Leary Said You've Got To Be Willing To 'Fire Your Mom' If You Want Success Because 'Money Is The Only Thing That Matters'

🔥💸 Kevin O'Leary doesn’t sugarcoat what it takes to succeed: be ready to sacrifice everything, even family ties, if that’s what it takes to keep your business alive. He calls money the "blood of life" and insists success demands total commitment, with no room for balance or comfort. According to him, grinding 24/7 isn’t just a choice, it’s a necessity if you want to beat the brutal odds stacked against most small businesses.

O'Leary’s tough-love advice isn’t for the faint-hearted. With nearly half of startups failing within five years, he says grit and obsession matter more than ideas alone. Only after reaching success can you afford to explore other interests. Until then, anything less than total focus means the dream might slip away, even if that means making the hardest calls, no matter who’s involved. Read More

The San Francisco band that’s been in survival mode for 143 years

🎶🌳 The Golden Gate Park Band has quietly survived for 143 years, relying on a patchwork of grants, donations, and the passion of its community. Music director German Gonzalez shares how anonymous donors have repeatedly stepped in to fill budget gaps, but the real goal is to move beyond survival to thriving by attracting more listeners. With just one weekly rehearsal, around 30 musicians keep the tradition alive, playing everything from classic marches to themed concerts like “Disney Magic” and “Ukrainian Culture Celebration.”

Behind the scenes, the band is hustling to secure more funding through grants, wills, and creative fundraising efforts like selling donated LPs online. Their dream? Doubling the budget to hire staff and make concerts smoother while expanding their audience. Despite their long legacy, many locals don’t even know the band exists, a gap Gonzalez is tackling with simple sandwich board signs to announce upcoming shows. Read More

Engineer caught juggling multiple startup jobs is a cautionary tale of ‘extreme’ hustle culture, experts say

⚡🖥️ A Mumbai-based software engineer, Soham Parekh, sparked a major debate after juggling multiple Silicon Valley startup jobs at once, a move experts say highlights the dark side of hustle culture. Despite being fired repeatedly, Parekh admitted to working 140-hour weeks out of financial necessity, revealing the extreme pressures some face in tech’s “always-on” environment. Founders exposed their multitasking, showing how the rush for talent and remote work has blurred the lines between dedication and deception.

This story isn’t isolated. Experts warn that valuing output over commitment risks burning out workers and damaging flexible work policies that many rely on. The tech world’s obsession with nonstop productivity might fuel impressive results, but it also causes fractures in trust, team dynamics, and well-being. It’s a wake-up call to rethink how success is measured and the toll it takes on those chasing it. Read More

Inside India’s scramble for AI independence

🚀🤖 India’s AI journey is gaining serious momentum after years of underinvestment and linguistic hurdles. While startups like CognitiveLab’s Adithya Kolavi are inspired by rapid breakthroughs from abroad, pioneers like Abhishek Upperwal of Soket AI Labs highlight the struggle of limited funding and complex language challenges. The government is stepping up fast, repurposing private GPUs and backing projects like Sarvam AI’s 70-billion-parameter model to tackle India’s 22 official languages and diverse dialects. This surge reflects a rare moment where ambition, political will, and talent align to build AI that truly speaks India’s many tongues.

But the road isn’t without bumps. India still imports most chips, faces compute bottlenecks, and debates whether public models should be open-source or closed. Yet startups like Krutrim and initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission, backed by $1.25 billion and major private investments, are crafting solutions optimized for local needs from voice-first tech to affordable data centers. Experts suggest India might not race to outpace giants globally, but can lead by focusing on strategic layers like applications and talent, shaping AI that serves the unique realities of India and the Global South. Read More

African startups see surge in funding

🚀💰 African startups are back in the spotlight with a powerful surge in funding, raising $1.4 billion in just the first half of 2025. That’s a striking 78% jump compared to the same period last year and the strongest start since 2023. After a two-year slump that saw investment drop by 25% in 2024, this comeback is fueled by big deals like Nigerian fintech LemFi’s $53 million round.

Excitement is building as major players like Uber’s fleet manager Moove and fintech PalmPay eye nine-figure raises, hinting that 2025 could mark a full rebound for the continent’s tech scene. This uptick signals growing confidence in African innovation and could reshape the future of venture capital across the region. Read More

GOOD TO KNOW

On This Day: The U.S. Congress annexed Hawaii through a joint resolution signed by President William McKinley on this day in 1898, paving the way for the islands to become a territory (1900) and later a U.S. state (1959).

Fun Riddle: When was the Euro introduced?

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LEISURE READS

Amazon Listed a Cabin-style Tiny Home With 2 Bedrooms, Tons of Natural Light, and Solar Panels for Under $10K - Read

11 Tough Business Lessons Inspired by Successful Gardening - Read

After a month with the Switch 2, I can’t fully recommend Nintendo’s new handheld gaming console - Read

Fearne Cotton: ‘I’m a million times more confident than I was in my 20s’ - Read

ANSWER TO RIDDLE

Question: When was the Euro introduced?

Answer: 1999 💶