Welcome to the cutting edge ⚔️ 

Read time: 6 min

Today’s Slate

• Waymo eyes NYC & Philly: Robotaxis hit the Northeast for mapping missions but full autonomy still faces red tape.

• Warmwind debuts AI OS: German startup builds a cloud-based digital worker that clicks, types, and automates like a human.

• GenAI hits Prime Day: AI shopping assistants surge 3,200% as consumers hunt deals and recommendations with bots.

• Wimbledon’s AI drama: Players slam automated line calls for botched decisions and tech meltdowns.

• Jack Dorsey drops Bitchat: New Bluetooth messaging app skips the internet and maxes out TestFlight in a day.

• Hotels go humanoid: Robots check in guests and deliver towels, but the uncanny valley still makes things awkward.

• Meta Hypernova leak: New Ray-Ban smart glasses render teases built-in display, gesture bracelet, and maybe even games.

The. Future. Is. Here.

Artificial Intelligence

At a glance

• AI under fire at Wimbledon: Players criticize the new electronic line calling system for bad calls and match disruptions.

• Raducanu and Draper speak out: British stars say the system missed key shots and isn’t 100% reliable.

• Tech glitches mid-match: AI failed to call a shot in a Kartal vs. Pavlyuchenkova match, forcing a do-over and a public apology.

• Accessibility concerns: Players had trouble hearing automated calls, and one deaf player struggled without human signals.

• Officials defend the switch: Wimbledon says AI is more accurate than humans, despite early misfires.

Our vision

Wimbledon’s all-AI officiating experiment is off to a rocky start, sparking player backlash and raising tough questions about the limits of automation in high-stakes sports. While AI promises consistency, the errors and accessibility gaps show there’s still a human touch that tech hasn’t quite mastered. For now, tennis might need a little less Terminator, a little more teamwork.

At a glance

• Meet Warmwind OS: German startup Jena launches the first AI-native operating system built to automate digital workflows like a “digital employee.”

• Clicks, types, and repeats: Warmwind learns by watching users perform tasks, then mimics actions across software—no API integration needed.

• Cloud-based and GDPR-compliant: The AI runs in secure German data centers on a custom Linux distro, with browser-based UI streaming.

• Built for enterprise: Ideal for automating CI/CD pipelines, reporting, customer support, and other repetitive work tasks.

• 12,000+ on waitlist: Still in beta with pricing and premium features TBD, but early interest is strong.

Our vision

Warmwind isn’t the OS from Her, but it might be your office’s favorite new hire. Designed as a scalable AI worker, it blurs the line between software and employee by automating tasks like a human but one that never gets tired. As AI operating systems emerge, Warmwind could be the blueprint for how businesses rethink workflow automation at the OS level. Would your role or business benefit from it?

At a glance

• Prime Day goes big: Amazon’s four-day sale (July 8–11) is expected to hit $23.8 billion in U.S. online spending, up 28.4% from last year.

• GenAI traffic explodes: Adobe reports a 3,200% year-over-year surge in traffic from generative AI tools during Prime Day.

• Shoppers love AI help: 92% of users said genAI improved their shopping experience, especially for product discovery and deal hunting.

• Mobile leads the way: Over half (52.5%) of purchases are expected to happen on mobile.

• Everyone’s in on it: Google, OpenAI, and others are embedding AI into the shopping journey pushing it mainstream.

Our vision

Generative AI is fast becoming retail’s favorite assistant. From chatbots to shopping copilots, Prime Day 2025 marks a turning point where AI isn't just helping shoppers—it’s driving serious traffic. As AI gets smarter and more personalized, expect it to shape how people discover, compare, and commit to purchases all year round not just sale days.

Run IRL ads as easily as PPC

AdQuick unlocks the benefits of Out Of Home (OOH) advertising in a way no one else has. Approaching the problem with eyes to performance, created for marketers with the engineering excellence you’ve come to expect for the internet.

Marketers agree OOH is one of the best ways for building brand awareness, reaching new customers, and reinforcing your brand message. It’s just been difficult to scale. But with AdQuick, you can plan, deploy and measure campaigns as easily as digital ads, making them a no-brainer to add to your team’s toolbox.

You can learn more at AdQuick.com

Spatial Computing

At a glance

• Meta’s Hypernova glasses leak: A render reveals the upcoming 3rd Gen Ray-Ban Meta glasses, now possibly rebranded as “Meta | Celeste.”

• Display and design updates: Expected to feature a single screen in the right lens, wider arms, and a sleek black frame with a possible translucent variant.

• Gesture bracelet included: Meta’s sEMG bracelet surfaces in the leak, enabling subtle muscle-based control and likely essential for full functionality.

• Gaming on your face: A built-in mini-game called Hypertrail may use your real-world location, nodding to retro games like Galaga.

• Launch may be close: With hardware and branding leaks piling up, speculation points to a 2025 release—and even a Hypernova 2 in early planning.

Our vision

Meta’s smart glasses strategy is leveling up, blending fashion, function, and XR interaction. The Hypernova leak hints at a more immersive and gesture-first future where your wrist becomes your controller and your face becomes the screen. If Meta nails the execution, Celeste could finally bridge the gap between utility and style in wearable computing.

Transportation

At a glance

• Waymo heads to Philly and NYC: The company begins mapping and manual test drives in complex urban areas, including downtown Philadelphia and Manhattan.

• Road trips, not launches (yet): These visits mirror past scouting missions in cities like Santa Monica, which later led to commercial rollouts.

• Mapping the Northeast: Waymo vehicles will also explore Jersey City, Hoboken, and parts of Downtown Brooklyn.

• NYC regulations block full autonomy: Testing is pending permit approval and limited to human-supervised drives—no driverless robotaxis allowed yet.

• Expansion continues nationwide: Waymo is already live in five cities, with launches planned for Miami this year and D.C. in 2026.

Our vision

Waymo’s latest road trips show it’s eyeing dense Northeastern cities as the next frontier for robotaxis. Regulatory hurdles, especially in NYC, are keeping the rides manual for now. Still, if history repeats, these test drives could pave the way for a full-scale launch. Waymo’s coast-to-coast ambitions are real, and Philly and Manhattan may just be next on the ride-hailing map.

Crypto

At a glance

• Jack Dorsey launches Bitchat: The Block CEO and Twitter co-founder built a Bluetooth messaging app over the weekend.

• Offline messaging: Bitchat works without Wi-Fi or cell service by using a Bluetooth mesh network with a claimed 300-meter range.

• Privacy-first design: The app is end-to-end encrypted, similar to Bridgefy, which was used during Hong Kong protests.

• Decentralized roots: Dorsey’s push aligns with his long-standing support for Bitcoin and decentralized communication tools.

• Beta maxed out: Bitchat hit its 10,000-user TestFlight cap and is awaiting App Store approval.

Our vision

Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat is more than a weekend coding sprint. It’s another step in his mission to decentralize everything. Built for spotty-signal zones and privacy-minded users, the app fits neatly into a world increasingly wary of centralized networks. Whether it’s a music fest or a protest, Bitchat could become the walkie-talkie of the Web3 era.

Robotics

At a glance

• TikTok goes viral at Henn‑na Hotel: A guest’s uneasy reaction to a humanoid robot check-in sparks renewed debate over the “uncanny valley.”

• Mixed reviews from travelers: 61% react positively to service robots, but nearly a third feel nervous or avoidant.

• Big brands buying in: Marriott, Hilton, Aloft, and IHG use delivery and concierge robots, while others like Mandarin Oriental keep bots mostly for show.

• Real focus is back-of-house: Robots are excelling at cleaning, delivery, and maintenance—less flashy but more functional than humanoid greeters.

• Humans still key to hospitality: Hotels like Henn‑na have scaled back humanoid roles, emphasizing hybrid models where tech supports staff, not replaces them.

Our vision

Humanoid robots may grab headlines, but it’s the quiet, dependable bots behind the scenes doing the heavy lifting. As hotels experiment with automation, success hinges on using tech to boost efficiency without crossing into discomfort or dysfunction. In the hospitality world, the best robots may be the ones you barely notice because they just work.

Incase you missed it

Business news as it should be.

Join 4M+ professionals who start their day with Morning Brew—the free newsletter that makes business news quick, clear, and actually enjoyable.

Each morning, it breaks down the biggest stories in business, tech, and finance with a touch of wit to keep things smart and interesting.

Try it yourself (for free)