🧔Can You Copyright Your Face?

TECH

Cluely’s ARR doubled in a week to $7M, founder Roy Lee says. But rivals are coming.

🧠🚀 Cluely’s rapid climb to $7M ARR in just a week has caught the attention of the tech world, and not just for the numbers. Founder Roy Lee says their real-time AI notetaker is becoming a must-try for anyone in meetings or interviews. Cluely’s discreet interface serves up live context, notes, and even suggested questions, all visible only to the user. With a recent $2.5M deal signed by a public company and interest surging from both individual users and enterprises, it’s clear the product has struck a nerve.

The company’s roots are as unconventional as its rise. Born from controversy and a viral post about “cheating” tools, Lee pivoted into a refined product and a VC-backed startup, now supported by Andreessen Horowitz and others. But its momentum faces a new challenge: rivals like Pickle are already replicating core features with free, open-source tools. Read More

The fight over who gets to regulate AI is far from over

⚖️🤖 The push-and-pull over who governs AI is heating up, and a recent near-miss in Congress shows just how high the stakes are. A last-minute change to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act scrapped a proposal that would have blocked states from regulating AI for five years. Critics say that would have handed tech giants too much power while silencing local lawmakers already drafting AI rules. Michael Kleinman from the Future of Life Institute warns the language left in the bill still opens the door for AI firms to fight state-level rules in court, using vague claims of being "unduly burdened."

Meanwhile, courts are quietly setting game-changing precedents on another front: copyright. Judges recently sided with Anthropic and Meta in separate AI training lawsuits but left breadcrumbs for future challengers. Judge Vince Chhabria suggested that stronger cases could succeed if authors can show real harm, like a marketplace overrun by AI-generated books competing with human-authored work. That’s exactly the kind of evidence The New York Times is likely to present in its lawsuit. In the background, Apple is regrouping under Mike Rockwell to finally deliver the AI-powered Siri it teased last year. The company is exploring whether to build its own brain or adopt one from firms like OpenAI or Anthropic. Wherever this lands, the battle over AI’s future won’t just be fought in labs; it’s moving fast through courts, legislatures, and product teams. Read More

Chatbots are on the rise, but customers still trust human agents more

💬🧩 As chatbots become standard in customer support, a deeper look reveals a disconnect between business adoption and customer trust. Despite a booming $2.2B global market, 71% of customers still prefer human agents, and most say chatbots often miss the mark. New research analyzing over 500,000 service interactions at a major North American retailer found that people shy away from bots when issues involve complexity or sensitivity, like payments or shipping. The reason? Bots struggle to mirror natural, dynamic human language, something human agents do effortlessly.

The study found that the more a human agent’s language aligned with the customer’s, the more engaged the customer became. This insight isn’t just academic. It points to a clear takeaway for companies: match support channels to the task, not just the clock. Train bots and humans alike to reflect the way customers communicate. And ask tough questions about performance metrics before automating frontline support. In a world racing toward automation, the companies that pause to align tech with trust may end up winning more than just efficiency. Read More

An ocean technology startup that sold 200,000 carbon credits faces scientists’ doubts: ‘Trust us, it sinks’

🌊🧬 Gigablue, an Israeli startup, has drawn attention by selling 200,000 ocean-based carbon credits aimed at capturing carbon dioxide through sinking particles that foster algae growth on the seafloor. Co-founder Ori Shaashua describes the technology as nature-inspired and affordable, with ambitious plans to scale up their carbon sequestration efforts. Their AI-driven “digital twin” of the ocean helps determine where and when to release these particles, which are made from a blend of natural materials. Despite this promise, key details about the particles remain proprietary, and the company faces skepticism from scientists questioning whether algae can effectively grow on these particles or if the method truly locks away carbon long-term without disrupting marine ecosystems.

Scientists including oceanographers Ken Buesseler and Philip Boyd urge caution, pointing out the complex biology involved and the lack of publicly available evidence to support Gigablue’s claims. While the startup’s methodology is under review by independent registries like Puro.earth, this emerging ocean carbon credit market is still loosely regulated and scientifically uncertain. Buyers such as event organizer Jimmy Pallas accept the technology on trust for now, highlighting the tension between urgent climate goals and the need for rigorous validation. Read More

Microsoft claims its AI tool can diagnose complex medical cases four times more accurately than doctors

🤖🩺 Microsoft unveiled its AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO), a tool designed to simulate a panel of physicians and tackle complex medical cases with remarkable accuracy. Trained using the Medical Licensing Examination, this AI diagnosed 85% of over 300 challenging cases correctly, reportedly outperforming doctors by four times in diagnostic accuracy. The system can ask questions, order tests, and arrive at conclusions more cost-effectively, offering a new blend of clinical expertise and reasoning that exceeds individual physicians in many areas. This breakthrough suggests a transformative role for AI in healthcare, especially amid staffing shortages and rising costs.

Despite the promise, Microsoft stresses that this technology is meant to support, not replace, doctors. Human judgment, empathy, and trust remain essential in patient care. The study itself had limitations; physicians couldn’t use typical resources like colleagues or AI, and only complex cases were tested. Microsoft acknowledges that real-world clinical validation, regulatory oversight, and safety testing are crucial next steps before AI becomes a routine diagnostic partner. Read More

BUSINESS

Kevin O'Leary Says The Venture Capital Market Has 'Dried Up' Like In 2008. Now, Even Big Companies Are Coming On 'Shark Tank' For Funding

🚀📉 Kevin O’Leary reveals that the venture capital market has tightened dramatically, echoing the 2008 financial crisis. Even well-established companies are now turning to “Shark Tank” for funding and global exposure across 154 countries, as traditional funding routes dry up. This shift is driving bigger deals and larger businesses onto the show, which is buzzing with innovation from healthy food to AI. O’Leary calls this season the best yet, packed with groundbreaking ideas and opportunities.

Amid economic uncertainty, O’Leary’s advice is clear: just start. He emphasizes that success often emerges during times of stress and volatility, and failure is an expected part of the process. For many, entrepreneurship is a continuous journey rather than a fixed goal, with eventual payoffs coming through buyouts, acquisitions, or going public. The message is to embrace the journey and keep moving forward, no matter the economic climate. Read More

TON developer The Open Platform raises $28.5 million Series A at $1 billion valuation

💰🌍 The Open Platform (TOP) just raised $28.5 million in an extended Series A round led by Ribbit Capital, pushing its total funding to $70 million and securing a $1 billion valuation. Backed by Pantera Capital, TOP now stands as a unicorn among projects building on Telegram’s blockchain, The Open Network (TON). With this fresh capital, the company plans to expand into the U.S., EU, and beyond, focusing on regulatory compliance, go-to-market strategy, and launching new portfolio companies.

Founder Andrew Rogozov sees Telegram’s massive user base as the key to onboarding a billion people to crypto, combining its global reach with the TON blockchain. Since its 2021 mainnet launch, TON has powered viral projects like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin. With Toncoin trading at $2.90 and a $7.2 billion market cap, TOP’s move could significantly scale the ecosystem’s impact on the next wave of blockchain adoption. Read More

Target donated $300,000 to a Black church group. Why does boycott activists want it returned?

🛍️🔥 Target’s $300,000 donation to the National Baptist Convention has sparked a backlash from prominent boycott leaders, Nekima Levy Armstrong and Pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant. Both argue the gift undermines ongoing protests against Target’s perceived rollback of DEI initiatives. Bryant, who had met with Target’s leadership, accused the company of sidestepping key demands and labeled the donation as “chump change” that fails to address the broader concerns of the Black faith community.

While Target says the donation supports education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, critics argue the funds came without commitments to invest in Black-owned banks, media, or retail centers at HBCUs. Bryant is calling for the money to be returned, stating the Convention walked away with none of the community’s original asks. As pressure builds, the debate raises deeper questions about corporate accountability and meaningful support vs. symbolic gestures. Read More

A 'Higher' Purpose: NBA Legend Carmelo Anthony is Entering a New Industry and Breaking Barriers for Black Entrepreneurs

🌿🏀 Carmelo Anthony has stepped into the cannabis industry with StayMe7o, a brand built around equity, education, and impact. Partnering with Jesce Horton of Grand National, Anthony is aiming to dismantle deep-rooted barriers Black entrepreneurs face in this space. Far from a quick-money venture, the brand is aligned with nonprofits like NuProject and the Last Prisoner Project, channeling proceeds into criminal justice reform and economic opportunity for communities harmed by outdated drug policies.

Launching first in Oregon and now New York, StayMe7o blends Anthony's passion for cannabis science with Horton's mission-driven approach. Their focus is on creating quality products and reshaping industry norms, from how cannabis is grown to how stories are told. With legacy top of mind, and lessons drawn from both the wine world and basketball, Melo isn’t just building a brand, he’s building a platform for lasting change. Read More

Olo sells itself for $2B

🍽️💰 Olo, the restaurant tech platform that went public in 2021, is cashing out. Thoma Bravo is acquiring the company in a $2 billion all-cash deal, taking it private. After a strong Q1 with 21% revenue growth, the move signals a change in strategy as the firm focuses more on an expansion path under new ownership. Shareholders will walk away with $10.25 per share, a 65% premium from April’s market price.

Despite layoffs and market turbulence, Olo's platform still powers over 80,000 locations and 750+ brands worldwide. CEO Noah Glass says the partnership will accelerate their mission to make every restaurant guest feel like a regular. With consolidation rising across hospitality tech, this is one more puzzle piece falling into place. Read More

GOOD TO KNOW

On This Day: On 4th of July 1946, the Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed, and Manuel Roxas became its first president.

Fun Riddle: If you get an eagle in golf, how many strokes did you get?

QUOTE

LEISURE READS

These 'AI-Resistant' Jobs Don't Require a College Degree — and Starting Salaries Can Surpass $70,000 a Year - Read

31-year-old CEO: My business spent six weeks on the edge of collapse—how I built it into a $2.5 billion company - Read

Yale psychologist: The No. 1 skill that the most creative and successful people have—‘it’s their superpower’ - Read

Facing a Big Change? Olympic Diver Cassidy Krug Has Been There—and Has Advice - Read

ANSWER TO RIDDLE

Question: If you get an eagle in golf, how many strokes did you get?

Answer: Two under par🏌️