Good morning. It’s Monday, August 18. Today we are covering:
Apple's Vision Pro Is Suffering From a Lack of Immersive Video
Bringing in the 'big guns': Sam Altman's campaign to keep ChatGPT on top
At China's Humanoid Robot Games, Athletes Fell Down a Lot
The Latest Government Gift to Big Tech and Corporate Power
Bill Gates meets Willy Wonka: How Epic's 82-year-old billionaire CEO, Judy Faulkner, built her software factory
Let’s dive in
Apple's Vision Pro Is Suffering From a Lack of Immersive Video
By Mark Gurman via Bloomberg
Apple’s Vision Pro faces challenges as the company has been slow to release immersive video content, limiting the device’s appeal.
Apple’s broader plans include new AI and smart home road maps, with advancements in voice control and home security technologies.
Meta is preparing to launch display glasses priced under $1,000, while blood-oxygen tracking is returning to Apple devices in the US.
𝕏: Meta’s first smart glasses with a display coming in September will now be priced from $800. They were originally expected to be $1000+. The change stems in part from the company accepting lower margins to boost demand — a common tactic for new products. - Mark Gurman (@markgurman)
Bringing in the 'big guns': Sam Altman's campaign to keep ChatGPT on top
By Christine Mui via POLITICO
OpenAI is mounting an unusually Democratic-heavy lobbying campaign in California, hiring political veterans like Chris Lehane, Debbie Mesloh, Peter Ragone, and former Sen. Laphonza Butler to sway Attorney General Rob Bonta and other regulators as it seeks approval for a sweeping corporate restructuring.
The company’s strategy—compared by insiders to a political campaign—draws on crisis PR tactics, opposition research, and ties to figures like Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and Dolores Huerta, while fending off critics who accuse it of putting profit over its nonprofit mission.
With a $20 billion SoftBank investment hinging on restructuring approval, OpenAI is warning state leaders about the billions in tax revenue at stake, even as opposition groups, academics, and rivals like Elon Musk intensify pressure against its plans.
𝕏: The tech company stocking up on Democrats as Silicon Valley turns right great read from @MuiChristine @ChaseDiFelice on @chrislehane’s team of political operative Avengers battling Elon on behalf of @sama - Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago)
The best way to reach new readers is through word of mouth. If you click THIS LINK in your inbox, it’ll create an easy-to-send pre-written email you can just fire off to some friends.
At China's Humanoid Robot Games, Athletes Fell Down a Lot
By Yan Zhuang via The New York Times
At Beijing’s three-day Humanoid Robot Games, more than 280 teams from 16 countries showcased robots attempting flips, obstacle courses, soccer, and kickboxing—though many toppled, crashed, or swung punches into thin air.
Highlights included Unitree Robotics’ machine winning the 1,500-meter race in 6:34, a feat slower than elite athletes but faster than many amateurs, while other robots stumbled over simple plays, even colliding with staff.
Experts noted that while China is rapidly advancing robotics with government backing, the games revealed both progress—such as improved locomotion and affordability—and stark limitations, with humanoid robots still lacking higher-level reasoning and requiring human guidance.
The Latest Government Gift to Big Tech and Corporate Power
By Taylor Lorenz via Zeteo
ChatGPT Plus
New age verification laws sweeping across at least 11 states, with backing from figures like Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Jake Auchincloss, are being framed as protections for children but in practice expand surveillance and erode online anonymity.
Despite political rhetoric about reining in Big Tech, these measures would entrench its dominance, as large corporations are best positioned to comply with costly verification mandates while startups and independent communities face severe risks.
Critics warn that so-called “child online safety” bills are less about safeguarding youth and more about granting Big Tech and Silicon Valley billionaires greater power by aligning corporate and government surveillance interests.
𝕏: "The Latest Government Gift to Big Tech and Corporate Power" Lawmakers claim new age verification laws are about ‘child safety’ – but, in reality, they expand surveillance and silence dissent, writes for @TaylorLorenz for Zeteo. - Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan)
By Ashley Capoot via CNBC
Judy Faulkner, who founded Epic Systems in 1979 and still serves as CEO at age 82, has grown it into one of the largest private U.S. tech companies with $5.7 billion in annual revenue and dominance in electronic health records used by 42% of U.S. hospitals.
Fiercely independent, Faulkner rejects going public or selling the company, instead securing Epic’s future through a trust structure that forbids an IPO or acquisition, while insiders point to President Sumit Rana as her likely successor.
Known for her eccentric yet exacting leadership, Faulkner has built a Disney-like Wisconsin campus, cultivated deep ties with hospital executives, faced lawsuits over anticompetitive practices, and pledged to give away 99% of her $7.8 billion fortune through philanthropy.
𝕏: NEW: Do not go public. Do not acquire or be acquired. Software must work. CNBC sat down with Judy Faulkner, the founder and CEO of Epic, in a rare interview. Here's a look at how she built the company into the health-care software giant it is today. - Ashley Capoot (@ashleycapoot)
Trending in AI
Criminals, good guys and foreign spies: Hackers everywhere are using AI now
87% of game developers are using AI agents in their workflows, says new survey
C.E.O.s Want Their Companies to Adopt A.I. But Do They Get It Themselves?
Thanks for reading to the bottom and soaking in our Newslit Daily fueled with highlights for your morning.
I hope you found it interesting and, needless to say, if you have any questions or feedback let me know by hitting reply.
Take care and see you tomorrow!
How was today’s email?
