Welcome to the cutting edge ⚔️ 

Read time: 7 min

Today’s Slate

• ChatGPT’s new image generation takes the internet into Studio Ghibli-land

• Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro launches and is free to use

• Infinite Reality buys Napster - to build the metaverse?

• Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-orders opened April 2nd

• Robinhood announces cash delivery - yes seriously

• Unitree’s robot takes to the catwalk at Shanghai Fashion Week

• The. Future. Is. Here.

Artificial Intelligence

At a glance

• ChatGPT gets built-in image generator: GPT-4o now includes native image creation with better editing, text rendering, and visual understanding—available directly in ChatGPT.

• More flexible content generation: ChatGPT can now create images of public figures and racial features, reflecting a shift toward fewer blanket refusals.

• User control expanded: Individuals can opt out of being depicted, and sensitive symbols are allowed only in educational or neutral contexts.

• Studio-style art unlocked: Users can generate images in popular styles like Pixar and Studio Ghibli, though not in the style of living artists.

• Policy shift reflects user demand: OpenAI says the goal is to give users more creative freedom while still preventing real-world harm.

Our vision

OpenAI’s latest updates make AI image generation more useful and accessible to everyday users, especially creatives and educators. By loosening restrictions while adding opt-outs and safeguards, ChatGPT is becoming a more versatile tool for storytelling, design, and exploration. The barriers protecting against usage of popular art styles like Studio Ghibli took over the internet by transforming historical imagery into anime.

However, these changes could also spark new debates over AI ethics and moderation, as the line between empowerment and misuse becomes harder to define.

At a glance

• Automates everyday tasks: ChatGPT Operator can handle web research, data scraping, and simple travel booking by mimicking human browsing behavior.

• Great for simple workflows: It excels at organizing data into spreadsheets and gathering contact info, saving time on repetitive tasks.

• Not ready for complex tasks: Struggles with dynamic websites, payment systems, and multi-step processes like vacation planning or flight booking.

• Costs $200/month in the U.S.: Available through a pro plan, it's best suited for professionals who frequently handle digital admin work.

• Still experimental: While powerful in certain areas, it often requires user input and clarification, limiting its usefulness as a full virtual assistant replacement—for now.

Our vision

ChatGPT Operator shows how AI is edging closer to becoming a real digital assistant for busy professionals. Its current limitations mean it’s not quite a drop-in replacement for human help, but for repetitive, structured tasks, it’s already saving time. As tools like this evolve, we’ll likely see a future where AI handles more of the tedious digital work, freeing us up for higher-value thinking.

At a glance

• Gemini 2.5 Pro launches free: Google’s newest AI model is now available to all users, with rate limits applied for non-Advanced subscribers.

• Upgraded reasoning: Focuses on improved logic, context, and nuance, resulting in more accurate and thoughtful responses.

• Massive context window: Supports one million tokens now, with two million “coming soon,” far exceeding ChatGPT’s o3-mini model.

• Creative and analytical strength: Demonstrates strong performance in tasks like code generation, literary analysis, and game development.

• Real-world testing: Independent reviewers highlight success in image creation, transcription, and reasoning-based tasks.

• Environmental concerns: No details from Google on training data sources or resource usage, amid ongoing concerns over AI’s energy impact.

Our vision

Gemini 2.5 Pro marks a major leap in free, high-performance AI accessibility. With enhanced reasoning and a massive context window, it’s setting new expectations for what AI can accomplish in a single prompt. As Gemini pushes past the limits of earlier models and rivals industry leaders, Google is clearly positioning itself at the front of the generative AI race. But as performance scales, so too must transparency—especially around energy consumption and ethical training practices.

At a glance

• Deep Research streamlines online research: Built into ChatGPT, this AI agent delivers detailed, cited reports from web sources in minutes.

• Easy to use with ChatGPT Plus: Just activate Deep Research, type in your query, and receive a structured response with sources and step-by-step progress.

• Great for market reports and analysis: Especially useful for creating research papers, product overviews, and competitive breakdowns for business and academic use.

• Supports uploads and complex prompts: Users can add files or spreadsheets, and Deep Research can handle multi-step or follow-up questions.

• Competes with other AI tools: While powerful, it’s part of a growing field that includes Perplexity AI, xAI, and Jina AI.

Our vision

ChatGPT’s Deep Research agent offers a major upgrade for anyone tired of manual web digging. Whether you're a student, founder, or researcher, it delivers trustworthy insights fast, helping you focus on thinking instead of clicking. As AI tools continue to sharpen their capabilities, Deep Research is a glimpse of how we’ll soon conduct research across every industry—faster, clearer, and more efficiently.

Spatial Computing

At a glance

• Infinite Reality acquires Napster: The immersive web company purchased the iconic music brand for $207 million to power a new social music platform.

• Virtual concerts and 3D spaces planned: Napster will host branded virtual environments for concerts, listening parties, and artist-fan interactions.

• Expanded offerings: The platform will also sell physical and digital merch, exclusive content, and event tickets.

• Leadership remains consistent: Former Roblox exec Jon Vlassopulos continues as CEO, envisioning a more social and immersive music experience.

• WebXR support possible: Infinite Reality’s iR Studio may eventually support WebXR, hinting at future VR compatibility for Napster experiences.

Our vision

Infinite Reality’s relaunch of Napster reflects a broader convergence between entertainment and the rapidly evolving VR/MR hardware ecosystem. With devices like the Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest 3, and upcoming Android XR headsets pushing mixed reality into the mainstream, immersive music platforms are becoming more viable—and expected.

Turning Napster into a social hub for 3D concerts and digital fan engagement could mark a new era for music distribution, one where artists and fans interact not through screens, but inside shared virtual spaces. As hardware catches up, Napster may become the Spotify of the spatial web.

Finance

At a glance

• Robinhood Banking launches this fall: Gold members will access private checking and savings accounts, same-day cash delivery, and international money transfers.

• Premium perks for subscribers: Benefits include access to high-profile events like the Oscars and Monaco Grand Prix, along with luxury travel experiences.

• New wealth management service: Robinhood Strategies offers automated investment portfolios with a low 0.25% annual fee, capped at $250 for qualifying Gold users.

• Family-friendly banking features: Includes kids’ accounts with parental controls and spending tools, plus debit Mastercards and net worth tracking.

• AI investing feature coming soon: Robinhood Cortex, launching later in 2025, will provide real-time market analysis and personalized trade suggestions.

Our vision

Robinhood’s move into banking and AI-powered financial tools signals a broader transformation in consumer finance. By combining luxury perks with automation and accessibility, the platform is aiming to reshape wealth management for a new generation. As financial services become more integrated, intelligent, and lifestyle-driven, Robinhood is positioning itself as a modern one-stop-shop—blurring the lines between investing, banking, and concierge services.

Gaming

At a glance

• Switch 2 preorders start April 2: Best Buy Canada revealed preorders will open the same day as the Switch 2 Direct, though the post has since been taken down.

• U.S. preorder timing unconfirmed: Best Buy U.S. has no official date but offers sign-ups for preorder updates.

• Switch 2 reveal includes new Mario Kart: A teaser trailer earlier this year confirmed the new console and a fresh entry in the Mario Kart series.

• Fan events planned worldwide: Nintendo will host in-person events across North America, Europe, and Asia throughout April and May.

• “Nintendo Today” app announced: A new mobile app will deliver Switch 2 news directly to users after the April 2 Direct presentation.

Our vision

Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch is shaping up to be its most coordinated and fan-focused rollout yet. With global preorder access, a high-profile Direct, and physical fan events worldwide, Nintendo is blending digital convenience with real-world engagement. The company is setting a new bar for console launches—driving excitement through community connection and expanding its ecosystem with new mobile tools designed to keep players in the loop.

The device launches on June 5th so get ready to dive into your favorites and new adventures with upgraded hardware.

Robotics

At a glance

• Humanoid robot debuts on runway: The Unitree G1 robot, alongside a robotic dog, walked the ramp at Shanghai Fashion Week for fashion brand NMTG.

• First active robot catwalk: While robots have appeared in fashion shows before, this marked the first time one performed a full runway walk.

• Reactions were mixed: Many viewers found the moment unsettling, joking about the robot’s stiff movements and raising concerns about job displacement.

• Designed for drama: The robot wore a metallic bodice with dual-toned fringes, and the robotic dog sported lace—showcasing tech as fashion-forward spectacle.

• Part of a growing trend: This follows a March appearance of humanoid robot Ameca in a live performance at another fashion show, signaling increasing experimentation in merging AI with high fashion.

Our vision

The fashion industry is rapidly embracing tech as both a tool and a statement, blending spectacle with social commentary. While robots may not yet rival the charisma of human models, their rising presence on global runways hints at a future where AI and robotics are woven into the fabric of entertainment, branding, and performance art. This moment isn’t about replacing humans—it’s a sign that fashion is testing the boundaries of what counts as style, presence, and innovation.