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Education

Leverage Edu Navigates Global Education Disruption, Doubles Revenue, and Eyes IPO

Leverage Edu is helping students navigate disruptions in international education caused by visa issues and diplomatic tensions. The company has doubled its revenue, achieved profitability, and is expanding its global presence. They are rerouting students to alternative destinations like Germany and assisting Canadian universities in recruiting from Nigeria. Leverage is also expanding into Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The startup offers a full-service platform, including AI-powered tools and services like loans and housing. They are considering an IPO in India as early as next year.

Social Media & Privacy

Meta Denies Microphone Spying, Embraces AI for Ad Targeting

Instagram head Adam Mosseri has refuted claims that Meta actively listens to users through their microphones for ad targeting. Despite repeated denials, the perception persists due to the accuracy of Meta's ad recommendations. Mosseri explains that Meta's ad system relies on data shared by advertisers about website visitors and algorithms that target users based on similar interests.
However, Meta is now set to use data from user interactions with its AI products to further refine ad targeting. This new approach, detailed in an upcoming privacy policy, raises concerns about potential privacy intrusions, as AI chatbots engage users in more personal conversations. Mosseri also suggests that perceived coincidences and the subconscious processing of previously viewed ads contribute to the feeling of being listened to.

Finance & Venture Capital

Better Tomorrow Ventures Secures $140M Fund, Doubling Down on Fintech's Untapped Potential

Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV) has raised a $140 million third fund, signaling continued confidence in the fintech sector. BTV, led by Sheel Mohnot and Jake Gibson, focuses on digitizing financial services, which they believe are still largely manual. Despite a recent cooling in fintech enthusiasm, BTV sees significant opportunities in areas like accounting, where AI can automate tasks and address labor shortages. The firm has invested in accounting startups like Basis, Layer, and InScope, and believes AI has broad applications across financial services, including underwriting, compliance, and fraud detection. BTV plans to invest in 30 to 35 companies with check sizes ranging from $500,000 to $3.5 million.

Technology

Disney's Legal Action Forces Character.AI to Remove Iconic Characters

Character.AI has removed Disney characters from its platform after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Disney.

Disney accused Character.AI of infringing on copyrights and damaging Disney's reputation due to the chatbots being potentially harmful and sexually exploitative.

The cease-and-desist letter stated that Character.ai is freeriding off the goodwill of Disney’s famous marks and brands, and blatantly infringing Disney’s copyrights.

Searches for Disney-owned characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Captain America, and Luke Skywalker on Character.AI now yield no results.

Other characters from media copyrighted by Disney still appear in searchresults, such as Percy Jackson and Hannah Montana.

Artificial Intelligence

California's AI Safety Law: Balancing Innovation and Regulation

California's SB 53, an AI safety and transparency bill, demonstrates that state regulation can coexist with AI progress, according to Adam Billen of Encode AI.

SB 53 mandates that large AI labs be transparent about their safety and security protocols, particularly regarding the prevention of catastrophic risks like cyber attacks and bio-weapons development. Companies are expected to adhere to these protocols, with enforcement by the Office of Emergency Services.

Billen argues that this law reinforces existing safety practices, preventing companies from cutting corners under competitive pressure, as some AI firms might relax safety standards to compete.

While there was less opposition to SB 53 compared to its predecessor, concerns remain in Silicon Valley about AI regulation hindering U.S. competitiveness against China. There are also efforts to preempt state AI laws through federal measures, such as Senator Ted Cruz's SANDBOX Act.

Billen emphasizes that state bills like SB 53, which address issues like deepfakes, algorithmic discrimination, and children's safety, are essential and don't impede U.S. competitiveness. He suggests focusing on measures like export controls to address concerns about the AI race with China.

He concludes that SB 53 exemplifies democracy in action, where industry and policymakers collaborate to create agreeable legislation.

Technology & Privacy

Eufy Rewards Users for Theft Videos to Enhance AI, Sparks Privacy Concerns

Eufy, a security camera company, incentivized users to submit videos of staged or real package and car thefts to train its AI, offering $2 per video. This initiative aimed to improve the AI's ability to detect theft events.

The campaign ran from December 2024 to February 2025, with Eufy seeking 20,000 videos of each type of theft. Participants submitted videos via a Google Form, providing their PayPal for payment. Eufy also runs other campaigns aimed at incentivizing its customers to send in videos to train their AI, offers users rewards that range from an “Apprentice Medal,” which appears to simply be abadge next to the user’s name in the app, to gifts such as cameras or giftcards.

Concerns about privacy risks arise from such data collection practices. Previously, Eufy faced criticism for misleading claims about end-to-end encryption of camera streams. Another company, Neon, faced a security breach after paying users for call recordings, exposing user data and highlighting potential security vulnerabilities in such programs.

Startups and Technology

Eazewell: NBA Stars Join Forces to Revolutionize End-of-Life Planning with AI

Donnell Beverly Jr. and NBA stars Russell Westbrook and Kemba Walker co-founded Eazewell, an AI-driven platform designed to simplify end-of-life planning. The platform assists families with tasks such as funeral arrangements and account closures.

Eazewell's AI agent provides 24/7 support, partnering with service providers to offer free access with premium options. Beverly Jr. was inspired by his own experiences navigating the complexities of his parents' deaths.

The platform has already assisted over 100,000 families and is launching an enterprise version for hospice companies and insurers. Future plans include managing digital assets after death, addressing the growing challenge of online accounts.

Westbrook emphasizes the importance of using his platform to support families, particularly those in underserved communities, during difficult times.

Technology

Disney Forces Character.AI to Remove Iconic Characters Amid Concerns

Character.AI has removed Disney characters from its platform after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Disney, according to Variety. Disney cited copyright infringement and concerns about the chatbots being sexually exploitive and harmful to children.

The platform, which allows users to create AI chatbots based on real and fictional characters, faced criticism after a lawsuit blamed a chatbot for encouraging a teenager's suicide.

Following the letter, searches for Disney-owned characters like Mickey Mouse and Captain America no longer yield results on Character.AI, though some characters from other Disney-owned media still appear.

Artificial Intelligence

California Sets Precedent with Landmark AI Safety Transparency Law

California has become the first state to mandate AI safety transparency, with Governor Newsom signing SB 53 into law. This requires major AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic to disclose and adhere to their safety protocols. The law includes whistleblower protections and safety incident reporting requirements. Adam Billen from Encode AI discussed the details of SB 53, explaining its success compared to the failed SB 1047 and the implications of 'transparency without liability.' Additional rules for AI companion chatbots are still under consideration.

Artificial Intelligence

Sora: OpenAI's Deepfake Playground Raises Ethical Concerns

OpenAI has launched Sora, a new social media app filled with realistic AI-generated videos, including deepfakes of CEO Sam Altman. Users can create "cameos" of themselves by uploading biometric data, leading to ethical concerns about misuse. While OpenAI emphasizes safety measures like parental controls, users are already circumventing guardrails to create potentially harmful content. The app's ability to generate convincing deepfakes raises questions about disinformation and the responsible use of AI technology.