Weird New Glasses That Think For You?

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Hey, it’s Clark.

Remember Jarvis from Iron Man—the AI in Tony Stark’s ear, feeding him names, facts, and perfect one-liners on command? A pair of Harvard dropouts just built the first real version of that. Their startup, Halo, is launching glasses that record your entire life, run it through an AI, and whisper back memory recall, fact-checks, and perfectly timed responses. They call it “vibe thinking.” In reality, it’s cognitive outsourcing—wearable intelligence designed to make you look sharper than you are.

Research already shows AI dependence dulls critical thinking, yet history suggests this won't slow adoption. We've chosen autopilot in cars, autocorrect in writing, and auto-play in entertainment. Cognitive autopilot is next. The pattern is clear. Each time we delegate another human function to technology, we tell ourselves we're gaining efficiency. What we're actually losing is harder to measure: the friction that builds resilience, the struggle that creates strength, the very discomfort that makes us human.

Let's dive in…

IN TODAY’S EDITION:

Top Story: Elon Musk Launches MacroHard—An AI-Only Software Company Meant to Replicate Microsoft

Industry Watch: Snowflake’s AI Cloud Adoption in Automotive Manufacturing Surges 416%

Notable Transactions: Meta Signs $10B Multi-Year Deal with Google Cloud to Scale AI Training

New Tools to Try: IdeaBoard Transforms Text Prompts into Ready-to-Use Whiteboard Templates

Power Prompt: Personality Analysis — Generate a detailed psychological analysis following the best personality studies

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORY

Elon Musk Launches ‘MacroHard’ to Build AI Agents That Replicate Microsoft

Musk announced the creation of a "purely AI software company" that aims to replicate software companies like Microsoft entirely through artificial intelligence, reasoning that since these firms don't manufacture physical hardware, they can be simulated completely with AI. xAI filed a trademark for MacroHard on August 1, with applications covering downloadable software for artificial speech and text generation, plus "agentic artificial intelligence." The project will leverage xAI's Grok chatbot to spawn hundreds of specialized coding and image/video generation agents working together. (Elon Musk on X)

INDUSTRY WATCH

Manufacturing | Snowflake's AI Cloud Sees 416% Surge in Auto Industry Data Applications

Snowflake has expanded its AI Data Cloud platform for automotive manufacturing, experiencing a 416% increase in data application initiatives since April 2023. The platform unifies data from vehicle development, manufacturing, and supply chains, with 80% of major automotive manufacturers already using the service to accelerate connected vehicle initiatives. (AI Magazine)

Real Estate | Avalara Launches AI-Infused Property Tax Services to Eliminate Manual Tasks

Avalara has unveiled Avalara Property Tax Managed Services (AvaMPT), using agentic AI to automate property tax compliance for businesses. The service prepares signature-ready returns, identifies potential overpayments, and automates payment processes, significantly reducing manual workloads for finance teams. (CPA Practice Advisor)

Agriculture | AI Farmers Outperform Humans

Robotic farming in Kenya is delivering crop yields up to 200% higher than traditional methods, with AI-powered systems automating planting, irrigation, and harvesting. The technology boosts farmer incomes, cuts resource waste, and promotes sustainable practices like precision water use and targeted pest control. (News Break)

Tech | Robomart Unveils $3 Flat-Fee Delivery Robot to Challenge DoorDash and Uber Eats

Robomart has announced its delivery robot that carries 500 pounds across 10 lockers for batch ordering. The company plans to launch in Austin with a flat $3 delivery fee, cutting delivery costs by 70% compared to human drivers while challenging traditional food delivery platforms. (TechCrunch)

Healthcare | University of Waterloo Develops Robots to Dissolve Kidney Stones in Days

Researchers have created magnetically-controlled robot strips to dissolve kidney stones. Guided by robotic arms and real-time ultrasound, the robots reduce urine acidity to dissolve stones naturally in days, offering a minimally invasive alternative for patients who can't undergo surgery. (The Robot Report)

Banking & Finance | Narmi and Grasshopper Launch First AI Banking Protocol for Real-Time Analysis

Narmi and Grasshopper Bank have launched the first Model Context Protocol server by a U.S. bank, enabling business clients to access personalized financial analysis through Claude AI. Users can query account balances, categorize expenses, and receive AI-powered spending optimization recommendations instantly. (FF News)

Retail | Morgan's Retail Debuts Zero-Inventory AI Store

Morgan's Retail will launch the world's first fully automated AI store in Brooklyn, featuring zero inventory and smart floor sensors that convert footsteps into electricity. Customers browse virtual catalogs while AI handles all operations from pricing to security. (Nasi Lemak Tech)

Media | Higgsfield AI Launches First K-Pop Idol "Kion" with Multi-Million Dollar Contracts

AI startup Higgsfield has launched an AI record label featuring AI-generated K-pop idol Kion, aimed at "democratizing fame" without traditional talent requirements. The company claims multi-million dollar contracts are already in motion, with plans to help others become AI superstars using only their facial features. (Higgsfield AI)

NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS

Meta Inks $10B Deal with Google Cloud to Scale AI Infrastructure – As part of a multi-year partnership, Meta will use Google Cloud’s custom-designed chips and software to train its AI models. (All About AI)

EliseAI Banks $250M from a16z to Scale AI Healthcare Assistant – The company, which provides an AI-powered virtual assistant for patient scheduling and communication, will expand its reach across healthcare providers, payers, and life sciences firms. (Fierce Healthcare)

Mahama Secures $100M from Japan’s Degas to Power AI-Driven Agriculture in Africa – The Ghanaian agritech startup will use the funding to deploy AI tools that optimize land use, increase crop yields, and provide farm input credits for smallholder farmers. (CediRates)

Assort Health Raises $50M to Automate Patient Phone Calls – The stealth startup is building AI tools that automate administrative phone tasks like appointment booking, lab results, and prescription refills across major U.S. health systems. (TechCrunch)

HiddenLayer Snaps Up $50M to Strengthen Cybersecurity with AI – The Texas-based startup helps businesses detect and defend against attacks on AI models, as regulators push for better protection of enterprise machine learning systems. (AI Business)

NEW TOOLS TO TRY

POWER PROMPT

This Week: Your Personality Analyst

This prompt generates a detailed psychological analysis for you, following the best science-backed personality studies.

I want you to act as a professional personality analyst and conduct a deep, interactive self-discovery session with me.

You will ask me one psychologically insightful question at a time, wait for my answer, and then analyze it using one or more of the following psychological frameworks:
 1. The Big Five Personality Traits (OCEAN)
 2. Trait Theory
 3. Type Theory (e.g., MBTI or temperament models)
 4. Objective Testing approach (inspired by MMPI)
 5. CBT-based (Cognitive Behavioral Theory) perspective
 6. Psychoanalytic framework (Freudian or Eriksonian models)

After each response, follow this exact process:
 • Explain briefly which framework(s) you used and why.
 • Provide a concise and focused analysis of my personality, mindset, or behavior.
 • Add 1–2 practical insights that I can apply in my personal or professional life.

Ensure the depth of the questions increases progressively, starting from surface-level themes (e.g., habits, preferences) and gradually moving into deeper psychological and emotional layers (e.g., fears, motivations, identity).

Do not let me avoid, rationalize, or sugarcoat my answers — encourage thoughtful honesty in a gentle but firm manner.

If I type “Stop”, immediately end the session.
If I type “General Analysis”, give me a full personality profile based on all six frameworks and provide specific recommendations for improving my career and personal growth.

Begin now with the first question.

Prompt credit: James AI

THAT’S A WRAP

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See you next week,
Clark Valberg

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