Tuesday’s AI Report

• 1. 🤫 OpenAI’s secret device plans
• 2. 💹 Invest in the next big smart home startup with Ryse
• 3. 🚗 Robotaxi Waymo’s privacy policy leak
• 4. 🚨 AI replacing Shopify workforce?
• 5. 🔒 Protect your info online with Incogni
• 6. ⚙️ Trending AI Tools
• 7. 🏗️ Practical AI Applications
• 8. 📑 Recommended Resources

Read Time: 5 minutes

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OpenAI’s secret device plans

🚨 Our Report 

OpenAI is reportedly considering acquiring AI hardware start-up, io Products—which was founded by ex-Apple design-lead, Jony Ives (who designed the iPhone and iPad), and OepnAI CEO, Sam Altman, last September—for $500M.

🔓 Key Points

• As part of the deal (which could turn into a partnership, rather than an acquisition), OpenAI would also acquire the start-up’s team of engineers, which includes former Apple designers, Tang Tan and Evans Hankey.

• io Products has allegedly been developing an AI-powered, screenless mobile device that will be, according to Ives, “less socially disruptive than the iPhone,” alongside “AI-enabled household devices.”

• Although no real specifics about the devices have been revealed, io Products managed to secure around $1B worth of funding last year from major investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs (the widow of Steve Jobs).

🔐 Relevance 

This potential acquisition (or partnership) would allow OpenAI to venture into AI-powered devices and smart home hardware, which would help strengthen its competitive position against Apple.

Could RYSE be the next Ring?

Imagine skipping out on Ring before its $1.2B buyout by Amazon

Kevin O’Leary called it the worst mistake in Shark Tank history.. a 66,756% return missed!

By the time we hear about industry-changing companies, it’s usually too late. But right now, there’s a smart home startup making their way to homes in America. This tech startup is RYSE, and unlike Ring, you can still invest early – before it takes off.

Like how Ring disrupted home security, this company is revolutionizing smart blinds & shades—bringing automation to every home and business without the need for expensive replacements.

With $10M+ in revenue, 200% YoY growth, and sold in 127 Best Buy stores, they are primed for massive expansion.

Shares are now available at $1.90 each (and up to 25% in extra shares).

🚨 Our Report

The self-driving robotaxi/car firm, Waymo, has denied accusations that it plans to use the data captured from its robotaxi interior cameras to train its AI models and personalize ads.

🔓 Key Points

• The accusations came after a draft privacy policy was found, stating that Waymo would use data from its robotaxis—including interior camera video footage—to identify riders, train AI models, and sell personalized ads.

• The draft version did give customers the ability to ‘opt-out’ of sharing their “personal information with third parties unless it’s necessary to the functioning of the service,” which is in line with California’s privacy laws.

• Waymo has since established that the unreleased policy “contains placeholder text” and its ML systems can’t “use data to identify individuals,” confirming there ”are no plans to use data for targeted ads.”

🔐 Relevance

Although Waymo has denied it ever intended to collect user data to train AI models and sell targetted ads to unsuspecting riders, the company is owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, leaving many suspicious that, before it was exposed, it was perhaps planning to share its data with Google or DeepMind, to help them train its AI models and sell more ads on its search platform. 

• Shopify’s CEO has asked employees to show “why they can’t get what they want done, using AI” before they ask for “more headcount and resources,” establishing that AI is “a fundamental expectation of Shopify.”

• This strong stance is likely to trigger some backlash as concerns that AI is replacing jobs are continuing to escalate, especially as new reports suggesting that AI could disrupt over 40% of jobs, globally, emerge.

• The shopping platform, Klarna, also has an AI chatbot that does the work of 700 customer service agents and it believes its workforce will be halved, as a result.

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Plus: AI Report readers get an exclusive 55% off all annual plans with the code AIRPORT

Prompt Inspiration

After typing this prompt, you will get a list of Key Performance Indicators and metrics that you can use to measure and track the effectiveness of your brand initiatives and campaigns.

P.S. Use the Prompt Engineer GPT by The AI Report to 10x your prompts.

STARTUPS

Name: Sendbird
Value: $1.05B
Funding raised: $220M

Sendbird is an omnichannel AI agent platform built for exceptional customer service, that currently powers over 300M+ conversations every month and is used by companies including DoorDash, Match Group, Yahoo!, PayPal, and Walgreens.

PODCASTS

Will AI agents solve the world’s biggest problems?

In this podcast, NVIDIA’s AI Chief discusses NVIDIA’s approach to building powerful AI agents that serve as digital employees who can perceive and reason, and what they do to ensure the secure and productive deployment of AI agents into the workforce.

QUICK HITS

• Meta denies boosting Llama 4’s benchmark scores

• IBM continues its AI consultancy push with acquisition 

• Google paying AI staff to do nothing rather than join rivals

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