OpenAI backs down. Waymo speeds Up.

Hi ,

I have three podcast interviews with some major hitters for you this week:

Building AI that makes you more human with Dave Sifry.
- Listen on Apple Podcasts

Go-to-network is the new go-to-market with David Connors, CEO of The Swarm.
- Listen on Apple Podcasts 

Dayo: Get paid to log off with Corey Scholibo.
- Listen on Apple Podcasts 

If you have a moment to check out an episode or forward it to a friend, it really helps the algo recommend the show. And I would genuinely appreciate it. Big thanks!

let’s dive in…

Tip of the spear:

AI & Tech Industry Shifts

OpenAI ditches plan to become for-profit company
OpenAI abandons its for-profit aspirations, reverting control to its nonprofit parent and restructuring its commercial arm as a public benefit corporation.

OpenAI to acquire startup Windsurf for $3 billion
The AI giant moves to expand its capabilities with a multi-billion-dollar acquisition.

Meta has finally launched its ChatGPT competitor
Zuckerberg’s answer to ChatGPT is here.

Apple teams up with Anthropic on AI coding tool
Big tech collaboration targets AI-powered software development.

Google adds new AI Mode directly into Search
Google Search is evolving again—with an AI-first approach.

Wikipedia says it will use AI, but not to replace human volunteers
The world’s largest encyclopedia sets boundaries on its AI integration.

Fiverr CEO warns staff: 'AI is coming for your jobs, including mine!'
A candid internal message about AI’s potential disruption.

Visa wants to give AI agents your credit card
The payments giant explores autonomous spending tools.

Mobility & Infrastructure

Waymo ramps up robotaxi production
Waymo plans to add 2,000+ new I-PACE robotaxis to U.S. streets next year.

Tesla denies it looked for Elon Musk replacement
Rumors dismissed, but questions remain about succession planning.

Amazon launches its first satellites to rival Starlink
Project Kuiper takes flight to challenge Elon Musk’s satellite internet dominance.

Prompt of the week:

Prompt:
"Based on what you already know about me, imagine you are my company's future biographer. Write a vivid, fast-paced chapter describing the wild first five years of building my startup: the biggest challenges, the weirdest moments, the proudest wins, and the unexpected lessons learned. Make it cinematic, like a movie montage. End with a cliffhanger hinting at what's coming next."

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Consumer & Commerce

Temu halts direct China shipping as tariff loophole closes
The fast-fashion giant pivots to U.S. logistics as import rules change.

Google Play sees 47% decline in apps since start of last year
A staggering drop in app availability points to policy shifts and developer frustration.

Mark Zuckerberg just declared war on the entire advertising industry
Meta’s next move could redefine digital ad dominance.

Media, Politics & Culture

Trump says he’s willing to delay TikTok ban again
A political and geopolitical chess match continues.

Microsoft retires Skype after 22 years of service
One of the OGs of the internet era officially bows out.

Perplexity AI's Comet browser will streak across the web this month
A new contender in the AI-native browsing space emerges.

Starbase becomes an official city
Elon Musk’s Texas spaceport town is now formally recognized.

Scaling Founders Series: 

A free, no-fluff live series for founders who want to build a strong personal brand without the cringe. Once a month, we’ll dive into a 30-minute live module packed with real strategies to grow your influence, attract opportunities, and scale your business. No awkward self-promotion: just practical insights from select founders who have done it before.

Register now: Link

What I’m thinking about:

• This Daily Practice Made My Digital Life 10x Better Blog

• Escape the Algorithm: Own Your Audience in 90 Days Blog

• Vibe policy is real and it’s running the tariffs YouTube

• This New AI Inbox Hack Reignited My Dead Leads, And It’s Freakishly Easy YouTube

• Personal Branding for Reluctant Founders: My Journey and Insights Blog

Top AI tools:

Teamble: Give and get 10x better feedback LINK

HipClip.ai: Upload one video and get AI-generated posts, carousels, and clips — discover your viral gems! Our AI will point you to the best ones. LINK

Warmstart.ai: an AI-driven platform that transforms cold emails into personalized, heartfelt messages, helping users cultivate enduring business relationships and maintain personal connections with ease. LINK

Wildcast: B2B influencers for the world’s top technology brands. LINK

Dreamteam IQ: helps marketing agencies and startups staff top overseas talent, providing cash-saving solutions for roles on elite marketing teams. LINK

Personal.ai: a platform that enables users to create customized AI personas trained on proprietary knowledge, enhancing productivity and innovation across various business functions. LINK

FivePointFive: Transform your wellness instantly with FivePointFive’s science-backed breathwork, personalized biometric insights, and music from your favorite artists. LINK

Warmstart.ai: A human-centric CRM that leverages AI to help founders build and activate high-trust networks for faster deal flow and warm intros. LINK

The Swarm: In the age of AI, relationships matter more than ever. Map your company networks and reveal hundreds of thousands of relationships you didn't know about. LINK

Dayo: A wellness-focused app that rewards users for spending less time on social media by offering real-world perks and brand discounts. LINK

Lovable: Idea to app in seconds. LINK

​thePause: an award-winning AI menopause coach offering 24/7 support, personalized insights, health tracking, and precision recommendations to empower women navigating menopause. LINK

MongoDB: a leading NoSQL database platform that provides developers with a flexible, scalable, and document-oriented database solution for modern applications. LINK

Quadratic: unlock the power of AI in spreadsheets. LINK

Soona: is your all-in-one platform to make, manage, and optimize photo + video content for all your ecommerce channels. LINK

Omneky: smarter digital ads for scale. LINK

Vapi: Voice AI agents for developers LINK

Thanks for listening.

-Ryan

p.s. When you are ready, here are two ways I can help.

1. We have successfully booked podcast interviews for over 800 funded startup founders, entrepreneurs with exits, and C-suite executives. If you're ready to lead your company from the front, let Kitcaster handle your podcast scheduling and create a powerful stream of content for you and your brand.

2. Our sister company, Wildcast, connects B2B, Tech, SaaS, and Business creators with companies targeting hard-to-reach customers. We deliver the most relevant online audiences through branded conversations, host-read podcast ads, and 360 sponsorships for tech companies aiming to scale their marketing. Start with a free audience psychographic and opportunity assessment tailored to your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).

I write about Revops, Product, and Founder-led marketing on Linkedin, Twitter, and my blog. 

And if you are in Denver, we have the #1 culture and discovery podcast dedicated to the Queen City of the Plains —> realgooddenver.com