Happy Wednesday.
President Trump basically wants to see the biggest AI models before they ship.
AI launch checklist 2026:
﹥ Build the model
﹥ Test the model
﹥ Show the White House
﹥ Ship it to everyone else
Demo day got a little more presidential.
Enjoy today's news.
ChatGPT just crossed 1B monthly active users. Fastest app ever.
🕑 1 m
… While OpenAI adds Codex plugins for everyday work: reports, dashboards, creative assets, and client-ready materials.
🕑 5 m
Coinbase's Brian Armstrong-backed NewLimit raises $435M to reverse aging in human cells. First target: alcohol-related liver disease, with human trials planned for 2027.
🕑 1 m
Ahrefs researched what actually ranks in ChatGPT: "best X" listicles get 43.8% of citations, YouTube beats backlinks, and schema does nothing.
🕑 1 m
Microsoft Build 2026 is underway in SF. So far: OpenClaw integration and Scout, a new assistant that learns your work habits and handles tasks for you.
🕑 1 m
… Plus Project Solara, Microsoft’s Android-based AI device platform for wearable badges, desk hubs and more.
🕑 4 m
Uber capped AI coding tools at $1,500/month per employee after blowing through its full-year AI budget.
🕑 2 m
Bolt.new’s Sorry SaaS challenge picked 5 winners who rebuilt tools they were tired of paying for, including a Gumroad alternative for selling without platform fees.
🕑 1 m
YC-backed AICE is building underwater drone swarms for defense.
🕑 1 m
Former DOGE employees started an AI company called Special. The DOGE playbook, but for local businesses: cut admin work, open-source billing data, raise nurse pay.
🕑 1 m
Gusto just introduced an AI co-founder that helps founders sort out payroll, compliance deadlines, missing timesheets, and time-off requests. Just text it or ping it in Slack.
🕑 1 m
Withings launches a $279.95 smart scale for the Ozempic era. BodyFit shows what you’re losing: fat or muscle in a 10-second scan.
🕑 5 m
Molly O’Shea interviews Impulse Space President & COO Eric Romo after its $500M raise. The company wants to make “moving things in space” a real business, with SpaceX employee #1 Tom Mueller as founder.
🍿 48 m
EO interviews Chatbase founder Yasser Elsaid on bootstrapping to $10M ARR. $0→$1M, churn, pricing, SEO/AEO, outbound, and when to raise.
🍿 34 m
As promised, tech and startups in a minute.
See you tomorrow.
P.S. Yesterday, X launched video reactions on iOS. POV: You reacted to a creator reacting to a reaction. 😂
