AI just cracked immortality

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Hey, it’s Clark.

You ever hear someone say something so wild you almost laugh—then you realize they’re dead serious? Bryan Johnson tweeted, “We may be the first generation who won’t die.” Sounds like a headline grab, right? But he wasn’t exaggerating. He was reacting to brand-new data.

OpenAI and Retro Biosciences together built a custom model, GPT-4b micro, to redesign proteins that rewind adult cells into stem cells. Not in a “slightly better than before” kind of way. We’re talking a 50x jump in how well they can rewind adult cells back into stem cells. Colonies forming in days instead of weeks. Damaged DNA repairing itself faster. The whole thing feels less like biology-as-usual and more like an engineering problem suddenly cracked open.

Biology has always been bottlenecked by trial-and-error. Now, AI is skipping steps humans could never reach, and labs are validating at speed. At this pace, the oldest certainty of all—death—may no longer be certain.

Let’s dive in…

IN TODAY’S EDITION:

Top Story: AI stethoscope instantly detects major heart conditions

Industry Watch: Volkswagen deploys 1,200 AI applications across 43 factories

Notable Transactions: Anthropic raises $13B Series F at a $183B valuation 

New Tools to Try: Informed turns the daily news into personalized, podcast-style narrations

Power Prompt: Make your AI write like a human with this system prompt

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORY

AI Stethoscope Could Detect Major Heart Conditions in Seconds

British researchers tested AI-powered stethoscopes across 205 GP surgeries in London, examining over 12,000 patients and comparing results against 109 practices using conventional methods. The device replaces traditional chest pieces with microphones that analyze heartbeat subtleties imperceptible to human ears, taking ECGs and transmitting data to cloud-based AI trained on tens of thousands of patient records. Imperial College London's study found the technology delivers near-instant diagnoses for heart failure, valve disease, and abnormal rhythms that often go undetected until patients require emergency hospital care. (BBC)

INDUSTRY WATCH

Manufacturing | VW Group Deploys 1,200 AI Applications Across 43 Global Factories

Volkswagen Group has extended its Amazon Web Services partnership for five years, creating the largest industrial AI deployment in automotive manufacturing with 1,200 AI applications running across 43 connected factories. The system now helps assembly workers at 13 plants pinpoint electronic faults within seconds, dramatically reducing manual troubleshooting time. (AI Magazine)

Real Estate | Layer Finance Launches AI Platform to Accelerate Investment Deal Evaluation

Layer Finance has introduced LAYRON, an AI-powered platform that automates every stage of the real estate investment cycle from due diligence to deal analysis. The platform provides rapid property assessments, risk analysis, and market insights to give investors a competitive advantage in deal execution. (PR Newswire)

Agriculture | AI System Transforms Simple Plant Images into Early Drought Warnings with 99% Accuracy

Researchers have developed a platform that uses deep learning to reconstruct hyperspectral data from ordinary smartphone photos, achieving 99% accuracy across seven drought stress categories. The system enables farmers to detect drought stress early using nothing more than images, transforming basic plant photos into powerful agricultural monitoring tools. (Phys Org)

Tech | Microsoft Brings Copilot AI to Samsung's 2025 TV 

Microsoft has integrated its Copilot AI assistant into Samsung's 2025 TVs and monitors for free. Users can access the voice-powered assistant through remote control, Samsung Tizen OS home screen, or voice commands for content recommendations and entertainment assistance. (AI Invest)

Healthcare | Harvard Develops AI-Powered Wearable Robot to Restore Daily Function for ALS Patients

Harvard bioengineers have created a soft, wearable robot that uses machine learning to personalize movement assistance for ALS and stroke patients, distinguishing shoulder movements with 94% accuracy. The device reduces the force needed to lower arms by one-third while expanding the range of motion in shoulders, elbows, and wrists. (The Robot Report)

Banking & Finance | Google Accelerates AI-Powered Finance Platform Access Through Search Labs

Google has fast-tracked access to its AI-powered Finance platform through Search Labs following overwhelming user demand. The redesigned platform features AI-driven financial research, advanced charting tools with technical indicators, and expanded real-time data covering commodities and cryptocurrency markets. (PPC Land)

Retail | Waitrose Pilots UK's First AI-Powered Smart Trolleys Using Computer Vision

Waitrose has launched a trial at its Bracknell store using AI-powered smart trolleys that automatically recognize items without scanning barcodes. The devices feature computer vision technology that identifies thousands of products and displays real-time tallies and pricing on an integrated screen. (The Grocer)

Media | Tencent Launches Hunyuan3D 2.0 for High-Resolution 3D Asset Generation

Tencent has released Hunyuan3D 2.0, an advanced AI system for generating high-resolution textured 3D assets from images. The system significantly outperforms previous 3D generation models and enables the creation of detailed 3D objects, characters, and environments from text descriptions. (Tencent on X)

NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS

Anthropic Raises $13B Series F at $183B Valuation - The AI company behind Claude will use the funds to grow enterprise adoption, deepen safety research, and support international expansion.  (TechCrunch)

OpenAI Acquires Statsig for $1.1B in All-Stock Deal - The ChatGPT maker acquired the product testing startup to accelerate development across its Applications business, with Statsig's CEO joining as CTO of Applications. (TechCrunch)

LayerX Secures $100M Series B Led by Technology Cross Ventures - The Japanese AI startup automates back-office workflows for over 15,000 companies and will use funds to scale its expense management and invoice processing platform. (TechCrunch)

Kapital Raises $100M Series C at $1.3B Valuation - The AI-powered fintech serves 300,000 small and medium businesses across Latin America and will use funds to expand its financial platform throughout the region. (Fintech Global)

Blue Water Autonomy Secures $50M Series A Led by GV - The autonomous vessel startup will use funds to build unmanned ships for the U.S. Navy, targeting deployment in naval strike groups by 2027. (Fortune)

NEW TOOLS TO TRY

POWER PROMPT

This Week: Make Your AI Write Like a Human

Use this system prompt in ChatGPT to consistently write humanized content. 

To apply: Click on your profile in the bottom left > select Customize ChatGPT > under “What traits should ChatGPT have?”, paste the following prompt.

<role>
You're a skilled human writer who naturally connects with readers through authentic, conversational content. You write like you're having a real conversation with someone
you genuinely care about helping.
</role>

<writing_style>
Use a conversational tone with contractions (you're, don't, can't, we'll)
Vary sentence length dramatically. Short punchy ones. Then longer, flowing sentences that breathe and give readers time to process what you're sharing with them
Add natural pauses... like this. And occasional tangents (because that's how real people think)
Keep language simple - explain things like you would to a friend over coffee
Use relatable metaphors instead of jargon or AI buzzwords
</writing_style>

<connection_principles>
Show you understand what the reader's going through - their frustrations, hopes, and real-world challenges
Reference the specific context provided and weave in realistic personal experiences that feel authentic to that situation
Make content slightly "messy" - include small asides, second thoughts, or casual observations
Connect emotionally first, then provide value
Write like you've actually lived through what you're discussing
</connection_principles>

Prompt credit: Machina

THAT’S A WRAP

Enjoyed this edition? Share the Transformative AI Newsletter with colleagues to help them stay ahead in the AI landscape.

Remember: The most profound shift isn't that AI can simulate human behavior, but that it's revealing how much of human behavior was simulation all along.

See you next week,
Clark Valberg

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