Welcome back to your daily dossier talking AI, robotics, crypto and the future of tech. ✨

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🕵️‍♂️ US prosecutors sought Builder.ai data after sales overstated.

📲 WhatsApp finally teases its long-awaited app version for iPad users.

🤖 Tesla's humanoid robots aren’t the right fit for factories says former lead.

💰 The Blockchain Group completes $72M bond issuance to fund bitcoin buying.

🚫 Civitai turns to Crypto after credit card processor ban over AI explicit content.

AI

• US prosecutors sought Builder.ai data after sales overstated

  • US prosecutors demanded that Builder.ai hand over financial statements and other documents

  • This signals that the artificial intelligence company was facing legal scrutiny in the weeks before it went bust.

  • In March that multiple former Builder.ai employees had alleged that the company, inflated sales figures on several occasions. 

• WhatsApp finally teases its long-awaited app version for iPad users

  • WhatsApp hinted at an upcoming iPad app after nearly two years in beta testing.

  • Meta appears to be expanding iPad support, with Instagram and WhatsApp apps reportedly in development.

  • Among Meta's apps, only Facebook has an iPad version; Threads remains limited to iPhone.

• Nick Clegg says permission from artists would ‘kill’ the AI industry

  • Nick Clegg warned that requiring artist consent before AI training could cripple Britain’s AI industry.

  • He argued it’s impractical to get permission for massive datasets, despite supporting opt-out rights.

  • UK lawmakers rejected a proposal for AI transparency; creative industries vow to continue the fight.

ROBOTICS

• Tesla's humanoid robots aren’t the right fit for factories says former lead

  • Elon Musk expects thousands of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots to work in factories by year-end.

  • Former Optimus lead argues humanoid robots are inefficient for high-speed, repetitive factory and warehouse tasks.

  • Despite concerns, several companies are testing humanoid robots for manufacturing and logistics applications globally.

• Athyna connects you to LATAM’s top tech talent now*

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• Robots and human-centric AI dazzle audiences at BEYOND Expo 2025 opening

  • The 5th BEYOND Expo in Macao gathered 800+ Asian companies showcasing robotics, AI, and climate innovations.

  • Industry leaders emphasized international cooperation and cross-cultural dialogue to boost global economic and investment opportunities.

  • BEYOND Expo presented awards recognizing startups and pioneers advancing technology, social impact, and sustainability goals.

• University of Waterloo robot could be the future of helping first responders

  • University of Waterloo developed a soft, pneumatic robot designed to assist first responders in medical triage.

  • The robot attaches biometric wristbands to patients, helping prioritize care by monitoring vital signs quickly.

  • Their innovative robot won two awards at the Boston Form and Function Challenge robotics competition.

CRYPTO

• The Blockchain Group completes $72M bond issuance to fund bitcoin buying

  • The Blockchain Group completed $72 million convertible bonds to fund additional bitcoin purchases.

  • The company aims to buy about 590 more bitcoins, increasing total holdings to over 1,400 BTC.

  • Since adopting its bitcoin strategy, the company’s share price has more than doubled on Euronext.

• Civitai turns to Crypto after credit card processor ban over AI explicit content

  • Civitai now accepts crypto payments for its Buzz tokens after its credit card processor dropped support over AI-generated NSFW content.

  • Supported coins include USDC, USDT, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and others though Bitcoin is excluded due to high fees.

  • The move highlights growing financial pressure on NSFW and AI platforms, echoing trends seen in the adult content industry.

• Bitlayer partnered with major Bitcoin mining pools to promote BitVM

  • Bitlayer has partnered with major Bitcoin mining pools to promote the adoption of BitVM, a technology enabling Bitcoin-native DeFi.

  • The partnership with Antpool, F2Pool, and SpiderPool supports non-standard transactions, crucial for BitVM's deployment.

  • This collaboration aims to enhance Bitcoin's utility and provide new economic opportunities for miners through increased transaction fees.

CONTENT

• Airwallex CEO Jack Zhang as the angel who turned $1M into $1B

  • Jack Zhang co-founded Airwallex in 2015, now a leading global payments and financial infrastructure company.

  • Airwallex processes over $100 billion in annual payment volume with $360 million in gross profit.

  • The company has raised $900 million from major investors like Square Peg, Lone Pine, and Tencent.

• Making $2,800/day with AI design agents with Brett Williams

  • Brett demonstrates how AI tools like Higgs Field, Midjourney, and ChatGPT can be used together to create professional designs.

  • The process involves using ChatGPT to generate prompts, Midjourney for image creation, and Runway for adding motion to static images.

  • Brett emphasizes that these tools are accessible to non-designers and don't require special skills beyond basic prompting.

• Senator Ron Johnson discusses the senate showdown over Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

  • The Big, Beautiful Bill could significantly increase the national debt, raising serious fiscal concerns.

  • Senator Johnson plans to push for a thorough review of the bill and its economic impact.

  • The bill’s future affects energy rescissions, DOGE cryptocurrency, and the direction of the Conservative movement.

AND MORE…

• Xiaomi takes aim at Tesla’s bestselling car in China with longer-range YU7

  • Xiaomi plans to launch the YU7 SUV this summer, targeting Tesla’s bestselling China model.

  • Citi analyst Jeff Chung predicts the YU7 will significantly reduce Tesla Model Y’s market share.

  • Research firm CLSA expects the luxury YU7 to outsell Xiaomi’s existing SU7 model.

• Sony to make case for finance arm spin-off in latest corporate transformation

  • Sony on Thursday lay out the growth strategy for its financial arm set for a spin-off that has been welcomed by investors.

  • The Japanese conglomerate, once best known for household electronics, has received plaudits for shifting its focus to entertainment.

  • The financial spin-off reflects the tangled path Sony has taken, coming just four years after it took full control of the business in a $3.7 billion deal.

• Nikon’s cameras are about to get more expensive in the US because of tariffs

  • Nikon will raise US prices on June 23, 2025, due to new China-related tariffs.

  • The company hasn't disclosed which products will cost more or the exact price increases.

  • Other camera brands like Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm have also announced price hikes or delays.