Today’s highlights include Tesla’s Robotaxi facing safety scrutiny from ex-Waymo CEO, escalating AI-driven cyberattacks with hackers and defenders leveraging large language models, Google fined in Australia for anti-competitive deals, and OpenAI recruiting Democratic insiders to influence regulation and secure major funding.
▶️ Internet Infrastructure
Ex-Waymo CEO Criticizes Tesla’s Robotaxi Over Safety Monitor and Limited Service
Former Waymo CEO John Krafcik criticizes Tesla’s Robotaxi, highlighting the safety monitor presence as proof of non-fully autonomous operation; Tesla’s service remains limited and not fully driverless.
- Ex-Waymo CEO John Krafcik remains skeptical about Tesla’s Robotaxi, citing the presence of a safety monitor as evidence of non-fully autonomous operation
- Tesla launched Robotaxi service in San Francisco Bay Area in July with a safety monitor behind the wheel; service is invite-only and will be open access by next month
- Krafcik states Tesla has yet to demonstrate a true robotaxi without human inside, and has no interest in trying Tesla’s Robotaxi
AI-Driven Cyberattacks and Defenses Fuel an Escalating Cybersecurity Arms Race
AI, including large language models, is now used by hackers and defenders to automate vulnerability discovery and malicious activities, escalating an AI arms race in cybersecurity.
- In 2025, Russian hackers used AI-powered malware with large language models (LLMs) to automate searches for sensitive files on Ukrainian targets.
- Hackers and cybersecurity firms increasingly incorporate LLMs like ChatGPT to process language instructions, translate into code, and identify vulnerabilities.
- Google’s Gemini AI has discovered at least 20 critical software bugs in 2024, accelerating vulnerability detection; AI tools are also used by Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and criminal hackers.
Google Fines in Australia for Anti-Competitive Deals with Telstra and Optus
Google agreed to pay a A$55 million fine in Australia for anti-competitive pre-installation deals with Telstra and Optus, impacting search engine competition on Android devices.
- Google agreed to pay a A$55 million ($35.8 million) fine in Australia for anti-competitive conduct involving pre-installation deals with Telstra and Optus, sharing advertising revenue from Google Search on Android devices between late 2019 and early 2021.
- The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found these arrangements hurt competition by excluding rival search engines; Google has ceased similar deals and admitted the impact on competition.
- The court will decide if the fine is appropriate, with Google and the ACCC jointly submitting that Google should pay the A$55 million penalty; Google stated it has stopped signing such deals and aims to provide more flexibility to Android device makers.
▶️ Open Source
Nabiha Syed Leads Mozilla’s Focus on Human-Centered AI and Open Web Advocacy
Nabiha Syed leads Mozilla Foundation’s renewed focus on open web advocacy, emphasizing AI’s human-centric potential, data transparency, and community participation amid political and technological upheaval.
- Nabiha Syed became executive director of Mozilla Foundation in August 2025, emphasizing defending an open, inclusive, and equitable internet amid political and technological shifts.
- The foundation’s rebranding in August and its subsidiary Mozilla Corporation’s update in December reflect internal efforts to adapt and reaffirm relevance.
- Syed highlights AI as the next frontier, advocating for human-centered AI development, data transparency, open source models, and community-driven data marketplaces like Mozilla’s Common Voice dataset.
▶️ Management and Leadership
Apple Delays Immersive Video for Vision Pro While Advancing AI and Health Features
Apple’s slow deployment of immersive video limits Vision Pro’s capabilities, while its broader AI, smart home, and health features, including blood-oxygen tracking, continue to develop amid strategic delays.
- Apple is slow-rolling the release of immersive video content for the Vision Pro headset.
- The delayed rollout creates a gap in the device’s immersive experience capabilities.
- The company’s AI and smart home roadmaps, as well as blood-oxygen tracking features, are also evolving, with blood-oxygen tracking returning to US Apple devices after legal wins.
White House AI Advisor Dismisses ‘AI Psychosis’ as Social Media Moral Panic
David Sacks, White House AI advisor, dismissed “AI psychosis” as a nonclinical term, likening it to social media moral panic, and emphasized broader mental health issues stemming from COVID-19.
- White House AI advisor David Sacks discussed “AI psychosis” on a recent podcast, doubting its validity.
- Sacks compared the concept to the “moral panic” surrounding early social media developments.
- He highlighted that mental health issues linked to AI are manifestations of pre-existing problems, not direct causes, attributing broader crisis to COVID-19 pandemic effects.
Figma’s 2025 IPO Surges After Record-Setting Oversubscription
Figma’s 2025 IPO, with over 40x oversubscription and tripled stock price, was driven by founders Dylan Field and Evan Wallace’s authenticity and vision, transforming collaborative design tools.
- Figma’s IPO in July 2025 marked a tech market revival after a three-year lull, with the offering more than 40 times oversubscribed and stock tripling on day one
- Early investor Terrence Rohan, who served as Figma’s first board director (2013-2015), recognized the company’s potential despite initial doubts about market size, competition, and margins
- Rohan credited founders Dylan Field and Evan Wallace for their exceptional vision, authenticity, and self-awareness, which influenced his investment decisions; Index Ventures led Figma’s $3.87 million seed round in 2013
H-1B Visa Holders Face Long-Term Uncertainty and Personal Challenges
Surbhi Madan, on an H-1B visa for 12 years, experiences ongoing instability and limitations in the US, impacting her career, personal life, and family planning decisions.
- Surbhi Madan, a Google senior software engineer, has been on an H-1B visa for 12 years since arriving in 2013.
- The visa enables her career growth but creates feelings of instability, affecting personal decisions like housing and family planning.
- Her visa status restricts activities such as volunteering and pursuing teaching careers, and influences her sense of permanence in the US.
Elon Musk Urges Companies to Leave Delaware for Nevada’s Favorable Business Climate
Elon Musk called for businesses to abandon Delaware following legal disputes, prompting firms like Tesla, SpaceX, and others to incorporate in Nevada, which offers a more favorable legal and tax environment.
- Elon Musk urged companies to leave Delaware after a 2024 legal clash with its Court of Chancery; Tesla and SpaceX moved to Texas.
- Several firms, including Andreessen Horowitz, Roblox, Dropbox, and Trump Media, have shifted their incorporation to Nevada due to perceived legal uncertainties.
- Nevada, particularly Clark County, is actively attracting corporations with lower taxes, lighter regulations, and an “innovation district” to diversify its economy beyond hospitality and tourism.
Judy Faulkner Builds Epic into Health Tech Giant with Succession Plan
Judy Faulkner, 82, built Epic into a dominant private health IT company with 42% U.S. hospital market share, maintaining independence through a trust and succession plan, emphasizing software quality over public markets.
- Judy Faulkner, age 82, has led Epic Systems for 46 years, making it one of the largest private U.S. tech companies with $5.7 billion annual revenue.
- Epic’s market share in U.S. acute care hospitals is 42%, with usage in 3,300 hospitals, 71,000 clinics, and serving 325 million patients globally.
- Faulkner’s succession plan involves a trust governed by a committee including her family and longtime employees; her likely successor is President Sumit Rana, appointed in August 2024.
OpenAI Hires Democratic Insiders to Influence Regulators and Secure $20B Investment
OpenAI recruits prominent Democratic operatives to influence California regulators and restructure as a for-profit, aiming for a $20 billion SoftBank investment while managing opposition and regulatory scrutiny.
- OpenAI has hired over half a dozen Democratic-connected insiders, including Chris Lehane, Debbie Mesloh, and Laphonza Butler, to influence California regulators.
- The company is restructuring from a nonprofit to a public benefit corporation, seeking to attract $20 billion from SoftBank by year’s end amid regulatory and legal challenges.
- OpenAI’s strategy involves political lobbying, coalition-building, and public relations campaigns to counter opposition from Musk and other critics, emphasizing its economic impact and mission.
▶️ Technology
Embracing Small AI-Driven Projects for Personal Utility and Intimacy
Author suggests leveraging AI to create small, non-scaled projects that prioritize personal utility, intimacy, and safety, challenging traditional growth-focused development.
- Author advocates doing small, labor-intensive projects that don’t scale, enabled by low-cost AI tools, emphasizing personal usefulness over growth.
- Maintains small communities (e.g., Slack workspace of ~100 people) to preserve intimacy and engagement, warning against scaling that dilutes connection.
- Rebuilt projects (e.g., postcard mailing, medication reminder) as minimal, private, and non-scaled solutions, prioritizing safety, simplicity, and personal fit.
- Recommends following pattern: identify meaningful needs, build minimal solutions, resist scaling, and enjoy the process.
- Argues that in the AI era, small, non-scaled projects can be the most effective, with the freedom to stop and personalize without pressure to grow.
NY Attorney General Sues Zelle Operator Over $1 Billion Fraud
New York AG Letitia James sued EWS, the Zelle operator, for enabling over $1 billion in fraud due to design flaws and lack of safety features, despite widespread complaints and investigations.
- New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Early Warning Services, LLC (EWS), the company behind Zelle, alleging it enabled over $1 billion in fraud from 2017 to 2023
- EWS’s member banks include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo; Zelle launched in 2017 as a bank-owned alternative to platforms like Venmo and PayPal
- Zelle lacked critical safety features, such as verification steps during registration and timely removal of fraud accounts; banks reported no way to recover stolen funds, and EWS did not require scam reporting from banks
Timekettle T1 AI Translator Now Supports Offline Translation with 90% Accuracy
Timekettle’s T1 AI translator now offers offline translation with 90% accuracy, 0.2s latency, supporting 30+ language packs, LTE connectivity, and a 4.1 oz, Android 10-based device costing $299.
- Timekettle’s T1 AI translator now supports offline translation with on-device processing, featuring 0.2-second translation latency and approximately 90% accuracy.
- The device measures 4.6 x 2.3 x 0.4 inches, weighs 4.1 ounces, runs Android 10, has a 4-inch 540 x 1080 display, 4 GB storage, and a 1,500 mAh battery.
- It supports 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE networks via onboard e-SIM with two years of free mobile data, over 200 wireless operators, and can download 30+ language packs (250-350 MB each) for offline use.