🏦The Economic Scale is Tilting...

👋 Welcome! Booming investment, shrinking job openings, and a race to automate—tech’s next chapter is unfolding fast. In today’s issue, we examine how AI is redrawing economic lines—and what it means for your future!

In partnership with

all-in-one platform to manage and scale entrepreneurship communities, opportunities, and innovation.

Unifying Everything, Huawei-Style – Huawei is open-sourcing UB-Mesh, a new interconnect system designed to replace today’s messy mix of AI data center standards. By combining backbone and rack-level mesh designs, it promises lower costs and faster performance even at extreme scale. If adopted widely, it could power the next generation of SuperNodes—massive clusters that operate like one unified machine. But industry trust remains a big hurdle.

Meta Faces Singapore Crackdown – Singapore has ordered Meta to roll out anti-scam tools on Facebook or face fines up to S$1 million. The move targets rising cases of impersonation scams linked to government officials. Authorities say Facebook is the top platform for such frauds, with nearly 1,800 cases this year alone and $126 million in related losses.

AI Rethinks the Lab Rat – Drugmakers are fast-tracking AI tools to cut costs, timelines, and reliance on animal testing. Backed by new FDA guidance, companies like Certara and Recursion are using AI to predict toxicity and speed up preclinical trials. While full replacement of animal models isn’t imminent, a hybrid approach is gaining ground—and could transform drug development.

Caffeine Meets Computer Vision – Starbucks is rolling out AI-powered inventory scanning to over 11,000 North American stores this month. Using tablets with spatial intelligence and computer vision, staff can count stock faster and more accurately. The system boosts restocking speed, improves drink availability, and frees up baristas to focus less on backrooms—and more on coffee.

AI Can’t Replace Mentors – A growing number of young entrepreneurs are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT—and even TikTok—for business advice. While 60% of 25–34-year-olds trust AI, experts warn these platforms lack emotional nuance, ethics, and industry-specific insight. Over-reliance risks bad decisions, unrealistic expectations, and missed wisdom from real-life mentors and peers still trusted by 93% of founders.

Oracle Cuts Hit Seattle Again – Oracle is laying off 101 employees in Seattle, following a previous round affecting 161 workers. The cuts come amid rising cloud infrastructure costs and AI investments. Despite strong revenue growth and stock gains, workforce reductions continue as the company—and competitors like Microsoft—tighten operations to balance high capital spending with long-term profitability.

Tips, But No Taxes – Podcasters and influencers are among those covered under Trump’s new “No Tax on Tips” policy, which exempts tipped income from federal taxes for workers earning under $160K. The rule runs through 2028 and includes roles like DJs, yoga instructors, and delivery drivers. Critics warn it could widen deficits and shift workers toward underreported income.

Economic Toolbox powered by AI – Australia’s central bank is studying how AI could reshape the economy, with potential effects on inflation, employment, and productivity. While not using AI to set policy, the bank is developing AI-driven tools to enhance research and analysis—reflecting broader shifts in how emerging tech could influence central banking and future economic planning.

Google Ruling Opens Narrow Door – A judge blocked Google’s exclusive search deals but stopped short of structural change. Microsoft may gain short-term advantages—like syndicating Google’s search results—but critics say the ruling preserves Google’s scale-driven moat. With default payments still allowed, the financial power imbalance in search remains largely unchanged, despite the legal win.

Crypto Fills Venezuela’s Dollar Gap – With U.S. sanctions choking access to foreign currency, Venezuela is turning to USDT in official exchange markets. Businesses now trade bolivars for stablecoins like Tether to pay international suppliers. State oil firm PDVSA is also leaning on crypto, as dwindling oil revenue and tighter Chevron restrictions further strain dollar liquidity.

NewDays Secures $7M for AI Care – Backed by Madrona and General Catalyst, NewDays raised $7 million to scale its AI therapy for dementia. The platform blends occasional clinician visits with daily conversations via “Sunny,” a virtual companion designed to reduce loneliness and slow cognitive decline affordably.

Orchard Robotics Bags $22M – Orchard Robotics raised $22 million to scale its AI-powered crop monitoring system. Using tractor-mounted cameras and computer vision, the startup helps fruit growers optimize yield and labor—already serving major apple and grape farms across the U.S. and expanding to more specialty crops.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant disruptor—it’s the main event. With over $350 billion projected in global AI investment this year, the technology is now driving nearly 0.7% of U.S. GDP growth, helping offset broader economic slowdowns. That’s not a side effect—it’s a headline. AI is being hailed not just as a tool for innovation, but as a foundational engine of future prosperity. But under the surface, questions loom: Is this momentum durable—or dangerously inflated?

The excitement masks a more uneven reality, especially for young workers. Since 2022, entry-level job openings in AI-exposed sectors—from software development to customer support—have dropped 13%, disproportionately impacting professionals aged 22 to 25. For a generation stepping into the workforce, AI feels less like a ladder up and more like a trapdoor below. It’s a blunt reminder: when industries evolve overnight, not everyone gets invited along for the ride.

Still, the story isn’t all displacement. When AI is deployed to amplify—rather than replace—human judgment, the economic returns look more inclusive. Institutions like the Reserve Bank of Australia are piloting AI not to make decisions for them, but to sharpen analysis and boost productivity. This hybrid approach—where algorithms enhance rather than dominate—could be a blueprint for a more balanced transformation.

Yet the bigger question is structural: Are we building a resilient AI-powered economy—or just inflating another bubble? Several economists warn of “hype outpacing fundamentals,” echoing the early dot-com era. In that light, AI’s rapid ascent demands scrutiny—not just celebration.

For the next wave of workers, builders, and side hustlers, simply adopting AI won’t be enough. The challenge lies in integrating it into work, life, and business in ways that are strategic, ethical, and built to last. Growth matters—but so do the rules of the game. And right now, those rules are being rewritten. AI offers power, speed, and scale, but also brings disruption, displacement, and deep dependence. For emerging entrepreneurs and recent graduates, the mission is twofold: harness AI as a force multiplier, and cultivate the resilience and creativity to navigate whatever comes next.

Actionable Insights

Product Software Engineer (AI Startup) | Full Time | San Francisco, CA | In Person

Python Developer (Gen AI + Java) | Full Time | Mississauga, ON, Canada | Hybrid

Entry Level AI Data Annotator | Contract | San Antonio, TX | In person

Reporting Analytics - Data Specialist | Full Time | Columbus, OH | Hybrid

People (HR) Business Partner Associate | Full Time | Houston, TX | In person

GTG Intern - Software Engineer | Full Time | Chicago, IL | Hybrid

Full Stack Software Developer | Volunteer | Temporary | Virtual

Have a job or opportunity to share? Post for free here and we will highlight a few each week!

4 in 10

Americans over age 55 will develop dementia if they live long enough, according to new research—revealing a much higher lifetime risk than previously believed.