In partnership with

Welcome to the cutting edge ⚔️ 

Read time: 7 min

Today’s Slate

• Find out which AI chatbot collects the least of your data

• Google’s Gemini is here to watch YouTube videos for you..

• Civilization VII - VR is coming to Meta Quest 3 and 3S this spring

• Internet from space for everyone - brought to you by Starlink & T-Mobile

• Google invests in useful quantum computing

• Zoox is taking a slow and steady approach to robotaxis

• The. Future. Is. Here.

Artificial Intelligence

At a glance

• AI chatbots collect more personal data than expected, including chat history, browsing habits, and even private messages.

• Microsoft’s Copilot is the least invasive, not using user data for advertising or model training, unlike Google Gemini and DeepSeek.

• Google’s Gemini collects a vast amount of data, including emails, texts, location, and search history, with human reviewers analyzing conversations.

• DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model, raises additional privacy concerns due to potential government access to user data.

• Running AI models locally is a viable alternative for privacy-conscious users, though it requires powerful hardware.

Our vision

AI chatbots are rapidly becoming a core part of daily digital life, but their convenience comes at a cost—your data. While companies like Microsoft emphasize privacy protections, others like Google and DeepSeek collect extensive user information, sometimes even involving human review. This brings AI privacy concerns closer to those of social media platforms.

As AI assistants become more integrated into our workflows, consumers must choose between convenience and data security. The rise of local AI processing provides a potential path forward, where users can benefit from powerful AI without sacrificing privacy. Whether AI remains an open digital assistant or a tightly controlled data-mining tool will largely depend on how consumers push for transparency and control in the years ahead.

At a glance

• Google Gemini 2.0 Flash can now watch YouTube videos for you, extracting key information instantly.

• This feature saves time, allowing users to get summaries or answers without watching full videos.

• Great for research, cooking, and tutorials, where key details are often buried in lengthy content.

• Works via the Gemini web or mobile app, but requires enabling the “2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental with apps” setting.

• Gemini’s YouTube integration joins its abilities in Google Search and Maps, streamlining information retrieval.

Our vision

AI is reshaping how we interact with content, and Gemini’s ability to watch and summarize YouTube videos is another step toward a frictionless digital experience. Instead of scrubbing through long videos, users can get straight to the answers they need, making research, DIY projects, and tutorials vastly more efficient.

This move also places Gemini in direct competition with AI tools like Perplexity and OpenAI’s Operator, which aim to streamline web-based tasks. The future of AI assistants isn’t just answering questions—it’s actively navigating the internet for us, cutting through the noise, and making information instantly accessible.

Spatial Computing

At a glance

• VR adaptation: Civilization VII - VR is coming to Meta Quest 3 and 3S this spring, bringing the iconic strategy game into virtual and mixed reality.

• Board game-like presentation: The game features a tabletop-style display in passthrough mode or a virtual museum setting with scenic backdrops.

• Multiplayer immersion: Players see opponents as digital avatars of their chosen leaders, recreating the feel of a real-world strategy session.

• Streamlined gameplay: The default pacing is faster for shorter VR sessions, but users can adjust the speed to their preference.

• Unannounced pricing and release date: No official details yet, but it aims to deliver a full Civilization experience in VR.

Our vision

Civilization VII - VR is turning a legendary turn-based strategy game into an immersive experience, blending the feel of a classic board game with the strategic depth of the series. By leveraging mixed reality, Meta and Firaxis are redefining how players engage with grand strategy games—whether in passthrough mode on a tabletop or in a fully virtual setting.

With Meta pushing for deeper VR gaming experiences and rivals like Apple and Sony expanding their own ecosystems, Civilization VII - VR signals a broader shift toward making complex games more accessible and social in mixed reality. For strategy fans, this is a glimpse of what the future of interactive tabletop gaming could look like—minus the hassle of setup.

At a glance

• Apple’s VR gaming gap: Vision Pro’s powerful hardware is held back by a lack of dedicated VR controllers.

• Current limitations: Supports Xbox and PlayStation controllers, but they aren’t optimized for VR experiences.

• Apple’s new direction: A newly uncovered patent suggests Apple is developing its own Wii-style motion controller.

• Competing with PlayStation VR2: Apple has reportedly explored integrating Sony’s VR controllers but now seems to be pursuing its own solution.

• Bigger gaming ambitions: Mirrors Apple’s recent gaming push on Mac, including AAA game support and dedicated gaming features.

• Still a work in progress: It’s just a patent for now—no confirmation on when or if Apple will release it.

Our vision

Apple has always played coy with gaming, but the Vision Pro’s success depends on making it more than just a productivity tool. If Apple is serious about competing with Meta’s Quest lineup or PlayStation VR, it needs a proper controller—and this patent suggests it knows that. While it’s still unclear if or when this device will launch, the fact that Apple is considering in-house VR hardware shows a shift in priorities.

With Mac gaming on the rise and the Vision Pro struggling to attract major titles, this could be the first step toward making Apple a real player in immersive gaming.

Space

At a glance

• T-Mobile Starlink brings satellite-powered texting to smartphones, extending coverage to dead zones across the U.S.

• Beta is free until July 2025, with pricing set at $15/month for T-Mobile users and $20/month for others when it launches.

• Verizon and AT&T customers can use Starlink too, provided they have an unlocked eSIM-compatible phone.

• Currently supports recent iPhones, Samsung, Google, and Motorola devices, with more to be added over time.

• Future plans include voice calls and data, pending FCC approval, while Verizon and AT&T are working on rival satellite services.

Our vision

T-Mobile Starlink is the latest step toward a world where cellular dead zones disappear. By tapping into SpaceX’s satellite network, this service allows users to stay connected even in remote locations—without bulky satellite phones. While it currently supports texting only, voice and data capabilities are on the horizon, pending regulatory approval.

With Verizon and AT&T planning their own satellite-backed services, competition is heating up. The race to provide universal connectivity is no longer science fiction—it’s a reality being built today, one satellite at a time.

Check out what Tim Sweeney (CEO of Epic Games) thinks about the announcement.

Looks like Foundation Robotics is joining Elon on the quest to Mars

Quantum Computing

At a glance

Boston-based quantum computing startup QuEra has secured $230 million in convertible debt financing from major backers, including Google, SoftBank, and Valor Equity Partners.

• Quantum Race Accelerates: QuEra aims to build a "useful" quantum computer within 3–5 years, leveraging neutral atom technology to reduce errors.

• Industry Heavyweights Invest: The funding follows a surge in quantum investments, with companies like Quantinuum ($300M), Alice & Bob ($104M), and Riverlane ($75M) also raising capital.

• Revenue-Generating Already: QuEra sold a quantum computer to Japan for $41M and offers cloud-based quantum computing via AWS.

• Strategic Google Support: Backed by Google’s Quantum AI unit, but no exclusive ties to Google Cloud.

• Growing Market Valuation: While QuEra’s exact valuation is unknown, estimates place it north of $400M with potential future equity rounds.

Our vision

Quantum computing is moving from science fiction to reality, with companies like QuEra working to build machines that can solve problems too complex for today’s computers. From faster AI to new medical breakthroughs, quantum tech could change how we live and work.

By using neutral atom technology, QuEra is tackling one of the biggest challenges—reducing errors—to make quantum computers reliable and useful. With backing from Google and SoftBank, they’re in the race to build the first practical quantum supercomputer. While we’re not there yet, the impact could be as big as the internet—or bigger.

Transportation

At a glance

• Ride experience: Smooth but overly cautious, with occasional jerky braking and slow lane merges.

• Availability: Still limited to employees in select cities, aiming for a public launch in 2025.

• Design approach: A fully custom-built, bidirectional vehicle with no steering wheel, prioritizing space over familiarity.

• Competitive landscape: Trails Waymo, while Tesla and China ramp up their own robotaxi efforts.

• Scaling challenges: Regulatory hurdles, public skepticism, and proving its tech works beyond pre-mapped routes.

Our vision

Zoox is taking a slow and steady approach to robotaxis, betting on a purpose-built design over retrofitted cars. While its tech feels safe, it lacks the polish and scale of competitors like Waymo. If Zoox can refine its driving and expand availability, it could carve out a niche—but for now, it’s still playing catch-up in the race for autonomous rides.

Hire Ava, the Industry-Leading AI BDR

Ava automates your entire outbound demand generation so you can get leads delivered to your inbox on autopilot. She operates within the Artisan platform, which consolidates every tool you need for outbound:

• 300M+ High-Quality B2B Prospects

• Automated Lead Enrichment With 10+ Data Sources Included

• Full Email Deliverability Management

• Personalization Waterfall using LinkedIn, Twitter, Web Scraping & More

Book a demo to see what Ava can do.