Is Your Government Spying on you?

Tech is moving at lightning speed, and this week’s headlines prove we’re stepping into a new digital era. From Google transforming search into a full-fledged AI assistant to Apple finally welcoming Android users into its ecosystem, innovation is breaking boundaries. Meanwhile, spyware controversies shake global security, and quantum computing quietly takes over AI—faster than anyone expected!

Let’s dive into today’s news!

Today’s AI Menu

• Today in AI: US Government link with Paragon, Apple Invites, OpenAI’s new logo & more

• Tutorial: How to Convert a Picture into a Video Using Pika Labs AI

• Everything else you should know today

• 5 new AI tools to boost your productivity

TODAY IN WORLD OF AI

1. Spyware Shocker: U.S. Government Linked to Paragon: The spyware giant Paragon has confirmed a U.S. government contract, raising alarms over digital surveillance. As cybersecurity concerns grow, this revelation sparks debates on privacy, ethics, and national security. Could this redefine global spyware regulations?

2. Apple’s Next Big Move: App Events Go Cross-Platform: Apple is inviting Android users to app-based events for the first time, breaking its walled garden strategy. This move could reshape social engagement and mark a new era of cross-platform inclusivity. Could this be the start of a more open Apple?

3. OpenAI’s Fresh Look: New Logo, New Era: Say hello to OpenAI’s sleek new font and logo! As AI evolves at breakneck speed, branding follows suit. The updated minimalist design reflects OpenAI’s futuristic vision—could this signal something bigger on the horizon?

THE AI INSTITUTE

How to Convert a Picture into a Video Using Pika Labs AI

▪️ Visit Pika Labs and log in.

▪️ Click "Upload" and select the picture you want to animate.

▪️ Select effects like motion, zoom, or dynamic transitions.

▪️ Modify duration, frame rate, or AI-driven effects as needed.

▪️ Click "Create" and let AI animate your image.

▪️ Review the generated video and tweak settings if necessary.

▪️ Save your animated video and share it on your preferred platforms.

AI & TECH NEWS

Everything else you need to know today

🔎 Facilitator: Google is reinventing search—moving beyond keywords to a full-fledged AI assistant experience. Expect more conversational, intuitive, and personalized results, making traditional search feel ancient.

🧵 Threads: Threads is getting custom feeds, letting users curate their own algorithm! This shift could redefine social media engagement, giving users more control over their content experience.

🧼 Deep Clean: AI-powered robots are cleaning up WWII-era explosives from the Baltic Sea, preventing ecological disasters. This breakthrough in autonomous underwater robotics showcases how tech is fixing past mistakes—one mission at a time.

🤖 Superhuman: ByteDance’s OmniHuman AI is making deepfake technology shockingly real—generating hyper-realistic videos from a single photo.

🖲️ Quantum: Quantum computing is no longer a distant dream—AI applications are already leveraging quantum advantage! This game-changing shift promises faster, smarter AI models, pushing us into a new era of computing supremacy.

💰 Funding

Hitachi Ventures has secured a massive $400 million fund to invest in next-gen technologies, including AI, fusion energy, and deep tech innovations. This move signals strong confidence in emerging tech sectors, aiming to fuel disruptive advancements across industries.

ROBOTICS

Figure Ditches OpenAI for Its Own Brain! 

In a surprising yet strategic move, Figure, a company specializing in humanoid robotics, has announced that it will no longer be using OpenAI's models. Instead, it is shifting towards developing its own in-house AI to power its robots. This decision reflects a growing trend in the AI industry—companies are moving away from reliance on big tech AI models to build proprietary solutions that offer more control, customization, and efficiency.

So, what does this mean for the future of AI-powered robotics? Let’s break it down:

🔹 Why this decision?

✅ Independence from OpenAI: By moving away from OpenAI's models, Figure is ensuring greater autonomy over its AI development, reducing reliance on third-party updates and limitations.

✅ Custom AI for Humanoids: Figure’s new in-house AI will be designed specifically to power its next-gen robots, optimizing efficiency, adaptability, and real-world learning.

✅ Industry Trend Toward Proprietary AI: More companies are moving away from external AI models in favor of developing their own, which could lead to greater innovation and competition in the AI space.

✅ Potential Risks & Challenges: While this move offers more flexibility, it also means greater development costs, longer R&D timelines, and the challenge of competing with established AI giants like OpenAI.

✅ Future of AI Robotics: If Figure’s in-house AI model proves successful, it could set a new standard for robotics companies, pushing the industry toward more self-sufficient AI ecosystems.

💡 Verdict

With AI rapidly evolving, Figure’s decision could mark the beginning of a major industry shift—one where companies prioritize self-reliance over third-party AI integrations. Whether this will give Figure a competitive edge or pose new challenges remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: The future of AI-powered robotics just got a lot more interesting!

STARTUPS

Four Chinese AI Startups Challenging Global Giants

China’s AI landscape is heating up! Four rising AI startups, including DeepSeek, are making waves with their cutting-edge innovations, posing a serious challenge to OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and other global AI giants. With heavy investments, advanced large language models (LLMs), and a focus on independent AI research, these companies are set to reshape the competitive AI landscape.

🔹 What it means for the World?

✅ DeepSeek & the New Contenders: China is fostering a new generation of AI startups that aim to rival Silicon Valley’s dominance in natural language processing, machine learning, and generative AI.

✅ Homegrown AI Innovation: These startups are not just mimicking Western AI models—they are developing their own LLMs, improving efficiency, and optimizing for multilingual capabilities.

✅ Government & Private Sector Backing: With strong financial and strategic support from both the Chinese government and major tech investors, these startups are positioned for rapid growth and international expansion.

✅ The Battle for AI Supremacy: As China’s AI research accelerates, it could intensify the ongoing tech rivalry between China and the U.S., raising concerns over AI regulation, ethics, and global competition.

✅ What This Means for AI's Future: If these startups succeed, the AI industry may no longer be dominated by just a few Western players. Instead, we could see a truly global AI ecosystem, driven by competition and innovation.

💡 What’s Next?

China’s AI surge is signaling a power shift in the global AI race. Will these startups disrupt the AI market and create a new era of tech competition? Or will OpenAI and Google maintain their lead? One thing is certain: the AI battle has just begun!

FOOD FOR YOUR PRODUCTIVITY

5 AI Tools AI tools of the Day

✅ Supernormal: AI note-taking assistant that automatically transcribes and summarizes video meetings.

✅ Lex: AI-powered writing tool that helps you brainstorm, edit, and refine content effortlessly.

✅ Riku AI: No-code AI automation tool that helps build and deploy AI-powered workflows in minutes.

✅ LoopGenius: AI-driven automation for lead generation, helping businesses find and engage prospects faster.

✅ Taskheat: AI task manager that visualizes your to-do lists in a flowchart for better productivity planning.

AI PROMPT OF THE DAY

Prompt to accelerate your learning productivity

Prompts: 
Summarize [Name of the book] using the 80/20 principle, capturing only the 20% of insights that provide 80% of the value. Identify the main thesis, key lessons, and actionable takeaways while eliminating fluff and repetitive details. Provide a concise chapter-by-chapter breakdown, highlight 5–10 powerful quotes, and include practical applications of the ideas. Ensure the summary is structured, easy to read, and focuses on high-impact insights that make the book unique.

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SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS

Elon Musk’s New Twitter Bio!

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Thanks for reading.

Until tomorrow!

Shinky & the Hanoomaan AI team