🪢AI Is Part of Us Now
👋 Welcome! Today, we’re covering range of topics from OpenAI’s big bet on a startup to a journey of AI being embedded in our everyday lives. Get ready for a full spectrum of insights that will keep you informed and engaged!
AI & TECH
OpenAI’s $6.5B hardware bet – OpenAI will acquire ex-Apple designer Jony Ive’s startup (io) for nearly $6.5 billion to build a new screen-free AI device.
Visa empowers AI shopping – Visa says it will link AI “agents” to its payment network, so bots can shop for you once you set budgets and preferences.
Meta trains on user data – Meta will use public Instagram posts to train its new AI models starting May 27. Instagram users have until May 26 to opt out via a form.
Pakistan’s power play – Pakistan is diverting 2,000 MW of surplus electricity to crypto mining and AI data centers. The government-backed plan aims to monetize excess power, create high-tech jobs, and attract foreign investment. It’s a bold bet to turn an energy glut into a digital boom.
Biden administration hosts global AI safety summit – President Biden is convening an international AI safety meeting in San Francisco on Nov 20–21. Building on recent UK and Korea talks, this U.S.-led summit aims to unite countries on AI risk mitigation (from deepfakes to fairness) and push for common safety standards.
CAREER & WORK
Ghost Job Postings – New research finds many openings are “ghost jobs” (positions posted but never filled), leaving applicants frustrated.
Gen Z Trades Shift – Many young Americans are now enrolling in trade and tech-training programs as fears mount that AI will wipe out traditional entry-level jobs. They’re eyeing careers in coding, electrical work, plumbing, etc. With fewer low-level corporate roles available, practical skilled trades may offer steadier career paths for the next generation.
Tech Opportunities – One analysis found the U.S. still led in tech openings: 11K vs 5K software-engineer job postings in a recent 24h window, underscoring that the U.S. job market remains comparatively strong per capita.
ECONOMY & FINANCE
Mortgage Rates Hold Steady – As of May 26, 2025, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate remains at 6.924%, holding steady after recent increases. This stability offers a window of opportunity for potential homebuyers considering entering the market.
Bank stablecoin coalition – Reuters notes JPMorgan, BofA, Citi and Wells Fargo are exploring a joint stablecoin. This could become a crypto-backed U.S. dollar substitute.
India's Economic Ascent – India is poised to become the world's fourth-largest economy, climbing from the 10th position in 2014. This rapid growth trajectory underscores the nation's expanding global economic influence. India's economic rise presents new opportunities and challenges in global trade, investment, and job markets, impacting young professionals worldwide.
BIG THINK: AI’s Quiet Takeover — From a Tool to Everyday Necessity
In daily life, AI-driven assistants already handle routine tasks. Voice agents, smart maps and shopping apps all use machine learning behind the scenes, and chatbots are helping users “figure out what to eat and how to reply to emails”. Major tech firms are betting AI will become ever more integrated: Microsoft’s CTO envisions an “agentic web” where AI “agents” from different apps collaborate and remember context from past requests.
In practice, businesses are piloting such systems – for example, one corporate study found workers could reclaim over 120 hours a year by using AI for simple administrative tasks (with just a few hours of training). Proponents say these tools boost productivity and personalization, while critics warn that handing too much to machines can erode human judgment and jobs.
AI is even reshaping education. Students routinely use chatbots for homework: one survey found about 25–33% of teens now rely on generative AI for schoolwork. Some instructors encourage “AI literacy” to harness its power, but others forbid it to prevent cheating and skill loss. As one English professor put it, he’s in an “existential crisis” watching AI rewrite essays – he fears his job “might not even exist in a few years” if students offload all their writing to software. Universities are scrambling to set policies and detection tools, but even those have limits (students note many detectors are inaccurate). In short, AI offers richer tutoring and research aids, but also raises tough debates about learning, fairness and academic integrity.
In sum, AI has quietly seeped into everyday life as a “must-have” utility in gadgets, offices and schools. It brings clear benefits – efficiency, convenience and new capabilities – but also new challenges for privacy, equity and work. Americans must grapple with both sides – staying informed and adaptable, while advocating for smart safeguards.
JOBS
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* Startups have a 🚀 next to them. Many startup jobs are equity only so look closely.
🚀 Front End Developer | Part Time | Year-round | Virtual, Hybrid
🚀 Head of Marketing | Part Time | Year-round | Virtual, Hybrid
Summer Associate | Internship | Summer | San Francisco, CA
THE NUMBER:
5.42 Billion
the number of people worldwide who are active social media users in 2025 - more than half of the global population!
WISDOM
“Have courage, dear heart, for there is nothing to be afraid of and never has been.”