- AI for founders with Ryan Estes
- Posts
- SpaceX beams Starlink into Venezuela after raids, convicted crypto hacker walks early thanks to Trump, AI spots cancer before doctors do
SpaceX beams Starlink into Venezuela after raids, convicted crypto hacker walks early thanks to Trump, AI spots cancer before doctors do
While the AI Arms Race Escalates
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We’re building a blog.
Which means we’re officially asking for opinions.
Specifically, people with real taste in generative AI products.
Not “I tried ChatGPT once.”
More like “I’ve broken three workflows, rage-quit two tools, and can explain why one obscure feature actually matters.”
We want sharp, honest reviews of generative AI products.
What works. What’s overhyped? What quietly rules.
Clear thinking. Strong point of view.
If that sounds like you, reply to this email and say hi.
We’ll send details.
Let’s go.
This week from the AI for Founders podcast on Spotify:
Codalio — The AI Platform That Turns Ideas Into Real Products, Fast — LINK
Ehsan Mirdamadi built Codalio to act like your CTO on demand: you prompt in plain English, it scopes your idea, generates 80–90% of the app, and delivers a scalable product instead of a fragile prototype—perfect for founders who want speed without the spaghetti code.
Automaze — The AI Co-Founder That Keeps Your Startup Ahead of the Game — LINK
Ran Aroussi reveals how Automaze acts as a technical co-founder, rebuilding your foundations while AI handles the repetitive, soul-crushing work, helping founders scale faster, ship smarter, and stay in control as agents quietly take over critical operations.
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Tip of the spear:
SpaceX Starlink Free Internet Access in Venezuela After Raid — LINK
Starlink provides free internet to Venezuelans following government interference, keeping connectivity open in politically sensitive regions.
Crypto Hacker Credits Trump’s First Step Act for Early Release — LINK
Convicted crypto hacker Ilya Lichtenstein credits early release under the First Step Act, highlighting the surprising intersections of criminal justice reform and the crypto world.
AI Tool Detects Pancreatic Cancer in Routine Scans Before Symptoms — LINK
A new AI diagnostic tool can identify pancreatic cancer in routine imaging long before symptoms appear, potentially saving lives through early detection.
BYD Overtakes Tesla as World’s Bestselling EV Company — LINK
BYD surpasses Tesla in global EV sales, cementing its position as a leader in electric mobility with aggressive expansion and competitive pricing.
Amazon Alexa Now Available on the Web Without an Echo — LINK
Amazon brings its Alexa chatbot to the web, letting users access voice AI without needing an Echo device, alongside a redesigned Alexa app.
Chinese Cyberattacks Taiwan Faces 26 Million Daily Attacks in 2025 — LINK
Taiwan reports massive daily cyberattacks from China, highlighting the growing geopolitical stakes in digital infrastructure security.
Meta AI Chief Alexander Wang Called Inexperienced by Industry Veteran — LINK
A leading AI figure criticizes Meta’s AI lead Alexander Wang as inexperienced, sparking debate over leadership in generative AI.
Prompt of the week:
“The Underestimated Lever”
Identify the one underutilized lever in my startup — something that’s currently overlooked, undervalued, or taken for granted — that could drive disproportionate growth, engagement, or efficiency. Analyze my product, customers, team, and market to generate 5–7 ways to pull this lever effectively.
For each lever, include:
The Lever: the hidden opportunity or overlooked asset
Why It Matters: a concise explanation of its potential impact
Actionable Step: one concrete experiment, tweak, or initiative I could implement immediately
Tone: clever, practical, and slightly contrarian. The goal is to surface hidden advantages, amplify overlooked strengths, and turn subtle insights into real, measurable progress.
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Keep it moving
Microsoft CEO Declares AI a Core Strategic Priority — LINK
Microsoft CEO publicly emphasizes AI as central to the company’s future, signaling increased investments and integration across products and services.
Withings Body Scan 2 Smart Scale Showcased at CES 2026 — LINK
Withings unveils its Body Scan 2 smart scale, blending health monitoring and longevity insights for consumers at CES 2026.
Samsung Doubling Mobile Devices Powered by Google’s Gemini This Year — LINK
Samsung plans to ship 800 million devices running Google’s Gemini AI, scaling AI integration across its mobile ecosystem in 2026.
Nvidia Halts Intel 18A Tests Despite $5B Investment — LINK
Nvidia unexpectedly pauses testing on Intel’s 18A chip process, raising questions about the future of their high-stakes semiconductor investments.PwC Expands Crypto
Auditing and Tax Services — LINK
PwC announces expanded services for crypto auditing, tax, and consulting, supporting businesses navigating blockchain regulation and compliance.
Reddit Overtakes TikTok in UK Users — LINK
Reddit surpasses TikTok in UK user numbers, highlighting the platform’s growing influence in social media engagement and community-driven content.
Cars and AI: Millions of Road Injuries Could Be Prevented by Smart Tech — LINK
New research shows AI-powered car technologies could prevent millions of road injuries annually, emphasizing the life-saving potential of smart transportation systems.
Plaud Launches AI Pin and Desktop Meeting Notetaker — LINK
Plaud releases an AI-powered pin and desktop assistant that captures key meeting notes, streamlining workflow and task tracking for teams.
SwitchBot Onero H1 Humanoid Household Robot at CES 2026 — LINK
SwitchBot introduces the Onero H1, a humanoid household robot designed to assist with chores and automate home tasks, showcased at CES 2026.
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:
Uncover the AI tools (here) you didn’t ask for, but now you’re weirdly into.
Thanks for being here.
-Ryan
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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.




