🤖📲 AI at Your Fingertips

TECH

Why are VCs backing bitcoin and altcoin treasury companies?

📈🪙Venture capital is flowing into a new breed of crypto treasury companies, firms modeled after Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) that hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and other digital assets on their balance sheets. These companies aren't just investing in crypto, they're building entire business strategies around it. Investors are chasing the premium: many of these companies now trade well above the value of their holdings, giving them access to cheaper capital and allowing them to acquire even more crypto. This self-reinforcing loop is attracting major players like Arrington Capital, Pantera, and GSR, who see potential for outsized returns compared to simply holding tokens directly.

But the model isn't without risk. Some VCs are skeptical, comparing the trend to past speculative bubbles like GBTC and Luna. As more altcoins enter the mix, volatility and leverage are becoming key concerns. A downturn could expose structural weaknesses, especially in firms relying on debt to buy assets. Still, backers believe the winners will be those with disciplined management and strategic capital planning. Whether this wave defines a new asset class or fades like past fads, one thing is clear: the crypto treasury game is evolving rapidly, and the stakes are getting higher. Read More

How to set up an Apple legacy contact, in case you die

🧾🍎Planning for the unexpected may not be pleasant, but Apple offers a thoughtful way to ensure your digital life is in trusted hands. By setting up a legacy contact, you can give someone access to your Apple account after you pass away. This includes cherished photos, messages, and files, but not passwords or payment info. Apple makes it simple to designate one or more legacy contacts, and they don’t even need to own an Apple device. Just share the access key with them and let them know where it’s stored. When the time comes, they’ll need both the key and a copy of your death certificate to gain access.

Alongside legacy contacts, Apple also allows you to set up recovery contacts, people who can help you get back into your account if you’re ever locked out. It’s a more secure and human-centered backup than relying solely on passwords or authentication apps. Both features can be easily configured on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac under Sign-In & Security settings. These tools are simple but powerful ways to protect your digital legacy and maintain access to what matters most. Read More

Major battery innovation pushes electric vehicle range to over 3,000 miles

🔋🚗A major battery breakthrough could soon make range anxiety a thing of the past. Researchers at POSTECH, in collaboration with Sogang University, have developed a silicon-based battery that tackles one of the material’s biggest challenges, its tendency to expand during charging. By creating a new binder that prevents this swelling, the team has unlocked batteries that could store ten times more energy than today’s graphite-based cells. The impact? Electric vehicles with ranges exceeding 3,000 miles rival or even surpass gasoline-powered cars.

This leap in battery performance goes far beyond the automotive world. Efficient, high-capacity energy storage is the missing link in maximizing renewable power from sources like solar and wind. As nations race toward decarbonization, technologies like POSTECH’s are poised to transform how we store and use energy across the board. From biodegradable batteries to space-ready solid-state cells, global efforts are converging on one goal: a sustainable, electric-powered future that's both cleaner and more capable than ever before. Read More

Amazon Fire Sticks are enabling billions in video piracy, report finds

📺🛑Jailbroken Amazon Fire Sticks have quietly become one of the biggest enablers of video piracy, responsible for billions in lost revenue across the streaming and sports broadcasting industries. A new report by Enders Analysis reveals that nearly 60% of UK-based piracy viewers used Fire Sticks, often unaware they were engaging in illegal activity. Sky Group and DAZN have flagged piracy as a near-crisis, with major sporting events pulling tens of thousands of viewers from legitimate platforms. Soaring subscription costs and streaming fragmentation are fueling this trend, especially in an economy where users are looking to cut costs, sometimes at their own risk, as these modified devices can expose users to malware and scams.

The issue extends beyond Amazon. Facebook is under scrutiny for allowing ads that promote illegal streams, while Google and Microsoft are being criticized for not keeping their DRM technologies secure and up to date. While Amazon says it’s taking steps to tighten Fire TV security, including ditching Android in favor of a new Linux-based OS, the report argues that big tech still isn’t prioritizing piracy enforcement. As piracy evolves with the very tools designed to access legal content, the pressure is on the industry to balance convenience, pricing, and protection in a way that doesn't drive users underground. Read More

AI maps the hidden supply chains of sex trafficking

🕵️‍♀️🧠A groundbreaking study from the University of Pennsylvania is using AI to expose the hidden networks behind global sex trafficking. By scanning millions of online job ads, researchers uncovered deceptive recruitment tactics that traffickers use to lure victims, often starting with seemingly innocent posts in rural or suburban areas. These ads, disguised as offers for modeling or massage jobs, are connected to sex sales posted elsewhere, revealing covert trafficking routes. The AI system maps these hidden supply chains and provides law enforcement with early warnings, helping them intervene before exploitation occurs.

This initiative goes far beyond law enforcement. It equips social services, community organizations, and policymakers with tools to identify at-risk individuals and respond more proactively. With human trafficking generating over $150 billion a year, and millions still trapped in modern slavery, scalable solutions like this AI-driven system offer a critical step forward. By tracing recruitment back to its source, this technology isn’t just uncovering crimes, it’s giving vulnerable communities a chance to fight back before it's too late. Read More

BUSINESS

Hailey Bieber Is a Great Entrepreneur. She Did Not Make $1 Billion This Week.

💄💰Hailey Bieber made headlines with the announcement that her skincare brand, Rhode, was being acquired by E.L.F. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. But not so fast, this isn't a billion-dollar payday dropping straight into Bieber’s bank account. The fine print reveals $800 million will be paid at closing (a mix of cash and stock), while the remaining $200 million hinges on future brand performance. Translation: this is a massive win, but not an automatic billionaire status moment.

Still, the deal is a testament to Bieber's sharp business instincts and Rhode's rapid rise. With just a handful of products and no retail presence yet, the brand has already pulled in $212 million in net sales over the past year. Now, with E.L.F.'s financial muscle and retail reach, Rhode is poised for explosive growth. Whether it’s a billion now or later, the strategy behind this move shows Bieber isn't just a celebrity founder; she’s playing in the big leagues. Read More

From Kitchen Hobby to High-Flying Partnerships

🍸✈️Jomaree Pinkard’s leap from NFL consultant to cocktail entrepreneur is more than a career pivot; it’s a masterclass in transforming passion into profit. What began as a $2,500 credit card hobby with two friends has become Hella Cocktail Co., a multimillion-dollar brand now found in Delta flights, Disney venues, and 20,000+ other locations. Their early DIY spirit, mixing craft bitters in a small New York kitchen, evolved into strategic partnerships with industry giants like Diageo and Whole Foods. And it all started with three friends who liked making pizza and drinks on weekends.

Pinkard’s journey highlights something many aspiring founders overlook: building slowly and staying true to the brand’s vision. It took years of juggling full-time jobs and small wins before Hella could run with the big players. But his financial savvy and focus on meaningful relationships eventually paid off. Whether guiding a $200 million investment fund for Black entrepreneurs or returning to Hella’s helm in 2024, Pinkard proves that entrepreneurship isn’t always fast; it’s about resilience, vision, and knowing when to pivot. Read More

The Rise of Niche Delivery Apps Serving Asian Cuisine

🥡📱As food delivery giants dominate the American market, smaller platforms like Fantuan and HungryPanda are quietly winning over a loyal base, particularly among Asian restaurants and customers craving authenticity. Fantuan, a Vancouver-based startup, is growing fast by tailoring its experience to Asian communities through language support, culturally familiar app design, and hyperlocal outreach. Unlike the impersonal tactics of bigger names, Fantuan sends reps directly to small businesses, often speaking in Chinese, to build trust and onboard restaurants that otherwise go unnoticed.

This boots-on-the-ground strategy is paying off. With a 31% growth in U.S. gross merchandise value in Q1 2025, Fantuan has become a go-to app in neighborhoods like Flushing and college towns across the country. Customers like 22-year-old Kelly Wu turn to it for dishes they can’t find on mainstream platforms, while restaurant owners say orders from Fantuan far outpace Uber Eats or DoorDash. As Asian cuisine continues to gain popularity, Fantuan is carving out a space not by competing head-on with tech giants, but by offering something they don’t: a deep cultural connection and genuine authenticity. Read More

Small Businesses Struggle to Navigate Trump’s Tariff Turbulence

📉🛠️For many small business owners, the unpredictability of Trump-era tariffs has become more than a policy headache; it’s a threat to their survival. With shifting rules, exemptions, and reversals happening in real time, companies like EarthQuaker Devices and Manley Labs are facing stalled product launches, slashed employee hours, and plummeting sales. CEOs say the constant tariff “whiplash” makes planning nearly impossible, with some forced to abandon key markets or pause development altogether. As one frustrated business owner put it, “It’s just a freaking mess right now.”

While some tech-forward companies like Intuition Robotics are pivoting quickly by exploring new global manufacturing options, others simply don’t have the flexibility. For medical device maker Willow, shifting supply chains isn't a realistic option, and even minor tariff increases could cripple their already tight margins. The lesson here is clear: in today’s global economy, stability and foresight are critical for small business resilience, and ongoing policy volatility may be more damaging than any one tariff rate. Read More

GOOD TO KNOW

On This Day: On this day in 1953, 27-year-old Elizabeth II, the elder daughter of King George VI, was crowned queen of the United Kingdom at Westminster Abbey, having taken the throne upon her father's death in February 1952.

Fun Riddle: In Greek mythology, who was the god of the sea?

QUOTE

LEISURE READS

Apple's Next macOS Leaked: 'Tahoe' Is the New California-themed Name for the Operating System: Read

Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution: Read

Pocket is shutting down, so I switched to a self-hosted alternative: Read

ANSWER TO RIDDLE

Question: In Greek mythology, who was the god of the sea?

Answer: Poseidon 🌊