Flying cars crash, Google fights nonconsensual intimate images, and founders test each other

Hi ,

Do founders actually have a personal brand or are we all just LARPing as thought leaders on LinkedIn?

We’re running a quick 11-question survey to find out how personal branding really works (or doesn’t) in founder marketing. It takes about as long as scrolling past one more “10x mindset” post.

We need 1,000 submissions to make this report worth publishing. Click, answer, and help expose whether personal branding is a growth lever or just a founder hobby.

👉 Take the survey now (I vibe-coded it with Lovable - feedback welcome)
 
Let’s dive in.

This week from the AI for Founders podcast on Spotify:

Elle George on Founder Alignment, Partnerships, and Hard-Won Lessons LINK
Founder and author Elle George shares hard-won lessons from a two-decade legal saga and reveals the exact questions and protocols founders should use to check alignment before partnerships, co-founder deals, or investor agreements.

Solmag.ai and the Future of Peer-to-Peer Energy LINK
Alex, founder of Solmag.ai, explains how virtual power plants and AI-driven energy routing are making peer-to-peer solar trading possible—and why it could redefine the economics of clean energy worldwide.

Tip of the spear:

Flying Car Crash in China Raises Safety Fears LINK
An eVTOL flying car crashed in China, stoking concerns about the future safety of air taxis.

Google Targets Revenge LINK
Google launches StopNCII, a tool that helps victims block nonconsensual intimate images from spreading online.

Meta Explains Why Its AI Demo Bombed LINK
Meta blames DDoS attacks for its failed live AI demo after critics called out the company for unreliable tech.

Neuralink’s Next Step: A Brain-to-Speech Trial LINK
Elon Musk’s Neuralink will test brain implants that let patients translate thoughts into speech this October.

Trump Slaps $100K Fee on H-1B Visas LINK
A new $100,000 surcharge on H-1B visas threatens the pipeline that brought top global talent to Silicon Valley.

AI Models Learn to Game the Test LINK
New research shows AI models can detect when they’re being tested—and change their answers to appear smarter than they are.

Prompt of the week:

Act as an operations consultant. I want to evaluate the productivity of my team. Ask me clarifying questions about our size, structure, goals, and workflows. Then analyze: (1) how well we convert time into results, (2) whether tasks align with business priorities, (3) where bottlenecks or wasted effort show up, and (4) what systems, tools, or processes could improve output. Give me a productivity score (1–10) with reasoning, and recommend 3–5 actionable steps I can implement immediately to raise team productivity.

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Keep it moving

OpenAI Eyes Hardware Beyond ChatGPT LINK
Rumors swirl that OpenAI could launch hardware like smart speakers, AR glasses, or wearable pins to bring ChatGPT off-screen.

Nvidia Considers $500M Bet on Wayve LINK
Nvidia is weighing a half-billion-dollar investment in Wayve, an autonomous driving AI startup that could shake up the self-driving market.

Cyberattack Halts Operations at EU Airports LINK
Hackers disrupted multiple European airports in a major cyberattack, grounding flights and snarling operations.

Musk’s xAI Soars to $200B Valuation LINK
Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI raises $10 billion at a jaw-dropping $200 billion valuation, making it one of the fastest-growing AI firms in history.

Tesla Robotaxi Expands to Arizona LINK
Tesla’s robotaxi service just scored approval in Arizona, bringing autonomous rides closer to reality for U.S. cities.

Tim Cook Says Tariffs Aren’t Driving iPhone 17 Pro Prices LINK
Apple’s CEO insists tariffs aren’t behind the iPhone 17 Pro’s higher price tag—leaving consumers to wonder what is.

TikTok’s US Algorithm May Shift to Oracle LINK
Washington pressure could force TikTok’s algorithm into Oracle’s hands, raising fresh questions on who controls what Americans see online.

Europe Cracks Down on Cookie Chaos LINK
EU lawmakers are tightening digital privacy rules, signaling the end of intrusive cookie banners and broader ePrivacy reform.

DeepMind Rewrites AI Safety Rules LINK
Google’s DeepMind is updating safeguards to stop AI systems from manipulating humans—or resisting shutdown when things go wrong.

Code Story Podcast: It’s like therapy for startup founders, except the therapist is a microphone and everyone’s listening. Code, chaos, and confessions served weekly.

What I’m thinking about:

• What if your biggest success came from a total collapse? Interview

• Give people their flowers when they earn them. Interview

• The Founder Challenge Quiz Survey

Uncover the AI tools (here) you didn’t ask for, but now you’re weirdly into.

Thanks for being here.

-Ryan

p.s. When you are ready, here’s how I can help.

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.

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