🕹️ Who’s Really in Control Now?

Jul 04, 2025

👋 Welcome! Today’s issue doesn’t hold back: AI bots are transforming how we use the web, chatbots are getting more proactive, and the U.S. is exploring autonomous hypersonic missile launchers that could change modern warfare. Buckle up as we break down the tech shaping your future, for better or worse!

AI & TECH

AI Bots Taking Over the Web – As AI bots become more prevalent, human traffic on the internet is declining. AI companies are pushing for a shift where everything you need is delivered directly through chatbots, scraping information across the web without users needing to visit original websites. This surge in AI activity has led to a 125% rise in bot traffic, as AI agents take over tasks like information gathering. The shift challenges web publishers, as AI crawlers now dominate site visits, potentially disrupting traditional revenue models.

EU AI Act Faces Delay Debate – With the EU AI Act starting August, tech titans like Google, Meta, and Mistral push for delay due to absent code-of-practice guidance. Even Sweden’s PM backs it. EU warns guidance will land before enforcement.

Google Unleashes Veo 3 Globally – Google’s Veo 3, showcased in May, now rolls out globally to Gemini Pro subscribers in over 159 countries. Users can generate three short, up to 8‑second videos daily from text prompts—an early experiment in democratized creative AI. Josh Woodward (Google Labs VP) teases soon image‑to‑video upgrades.

Meta Tests Messaging Chatbots – Meta experimenting with proactive chatbots via AI Studio: bots message you first and follow up using memory. Early leaks signal personalized chat evolution.

CAREER & WORK

CEOs Admit AI Job Cuts – Top execs, including Ford and JPMorgan leaders, publicly warn AI may eliminate up to 50% of white‑collar jobs, prompting shifts in hiring and training strategies. Amazon’s Andy Jassy also confirms workforce changes.

Retailers Warn Over AI Managers – Retailers integrating AI risk flipping store managers’ exemption status due to task automation. Labor lawyers say this could force reclassification and wage adjustments. Legal reclassification may increase friction in AI workplace adoption.

Trump Staff Cuts Spark Shifts – Under Trump’s second term, federal workforce shrank by 60,000 since February—largest reduction since Eisenhower. Native-born jobs rose, foreign-born fell.

ECONOMY & FINANCE

Oil Prices Dip With Trade Fears – Oil prices edged lower on Thursday as the prospect of renewed U.S. tariffs sparked demand anxiety, coinciding with expectations of a production increase from major suppliers. Brent crude slipped to $68.90 due to looming tariff reinstatement and rising OPEC+ output expectations.

China Services Slowest Nine Months – China’s Caixin services PMI dropped to 50.6 in June—lowest in nine months—showing weak demand and falling export orders amid property and trade tensions.

ECB Rates Pause Amid Global Risks – European Central Bank slowed rate cuts in June, signaling a possible pause due to stabilizing inflation and escalating global trade uncertainty. The euro’s safe‑haven strength worries exporters.

VC & FUNDING

Hypersonic Startup Raises Huge – Hypersonic missile startup Castelion secured a $350 million Series B led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Altimeter Capital. The funding will accelerate scalable R&D, production, and testing of cutting-edge hypersonic systems. This reflects increasing VC interest in defense tech amid geopolitical shifts.

Nvidia Hits New Record – AI‑chip titan Nvidia briefly reached a $3.92 trillion market cap on July 3, surpassing Apple's previous record—boosted by Wall Street's optimism in AI‑driven infrastructure supporting major cloud platforms.

YC‑Focused VC Firm Launches – Y Combinator alum Kulveer Taggar launches Phosphor Capital, a new $34 million fund dedicated to YC‑backed startups, backed by YC CEO Garry Tan—betting big on fresh unicorns.

BIG THINK

Good Morning Skynet: Are We Really Ready for Autonomous Missile Launchers?

In 2026, the U.S. Army will test Castelion’s Blackbeard “GL” hypersonic missile using an autonomous, optionally crewed launcher under the Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML) initiative. Imagine a weapon that can fire at hypersonic speeds without a human in the loop—a leap reminiscent of the “killer robot” debates echoing in UN halls.

Supporters argue automation reduces human risk and boosts speed and precision in high-stakes scenarios. Some even call it a “moral imperative,” suggesting machines may make fewer mistakes than humans. These systems could strike fast-moving targets with less chance of collateral damage.

Yet critics warn of “black-box” decision-making, where autonomous systems could misidentify targets or operate unpredictably. Groups like Stop Killer Robots insist machines shouldn’t decide life and death without meaningful human control. Indeed, the UN has called for treaties before deploying fully autonomous weapons.

Technically, autonomous missile launchers raise thorny questions about Humanitarian Law’s principles of distinction and proportionality. Who’s responsible if a machine errs—programmer, commander, or manufacturer? Without accountability—and with unpredictable edge-case behavior—autonomy might violate legal frameworks .

Yet a middle path exists: human-on-the-loop models where systems act autonomously but require human authorization before firing. DARPA and defense scholars are developing evaluation standards ensuring autonomy is tested and transparent .

Actionable Insights:

Insist on human oversight: Advocate that all autonomous launchers include clear human override options and transparent decision logging before deployment.
Push for regulation: Support international agreements that mandate meaningful human control and assign legal responsibility for autonomous weapons use.