Good morning, it’s Wednesday. Worldcoin is now scanning irises in the U.S., OpenAI just made its biggest-ever acquisition with a $3B buyout of coding startup Windsurf, and biotech darling NewLimit is trying to rewind the clock on your cells.
In today’s Forward Future Original, we dive into how Google’s NotebookLM update makes it a can’t-miss tool for business leaders. And if you're job-hunting, don’t miss our Job Board — we’ve got fresh roles from ElevenLabs, Salesforce, and more.
Read on!
💰 OpenAI Buys Coding Startup Windsurf for $3B
OpenAI has agreed to acquire Windsurf, formerly Codeium, for about $3 billion to enhance its AI coding tools, according to Bloomberg. This would be OpenAI’s largest acquisition yet, signaling its intent to expand ChatGPT’s capabilities for developers. Windsurf had been valued at $1.25B last year.
🖥️ Microsoft Adds AI Agents to Control Windows Settings
Microsoft has introduced AI agents for Copilot+ PCs that can adjust Windows settings via natural language commands. Users can simply describe issues—like a small mouse pointer—and the agents will recommend or directly apply changes with permission. Initially available to English-speaking Windows Insiders, these tools aim to reduce common usability frustrations.
📟 Gemini 2.5 Pro Boosts Web App Coding Power
Google has launched an early preview of Gemini 2.5 Pro (I/O edition), enhancing its already strong coding capabilities with a sharper focus on interactive web development. Now leading the WebDev Arena Leaderboard by 147 Elo points, it excels in UI generation, agent workflows, and video understanding. With a VideoMME benchmark score of 84.8%, it's a leap forward for developers.
🧫 NewLimit Raises $130M to Rejuvenate Aging Cells
NewLimit, the longevity biotech co-founded by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, has secured $130 million in Series B funding to advance cellular age-reversal treatments. The startup claims early success with prototype drugs that restore liver cell function, mimicking youthful traits. Still pre-human trials, NewLimit uses AI to simulate and optimize drug discovery in a “lab in a loop.”
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👾 FORWARD FUTURE ORIGINAL
NotebookLM Just Leveled Up—And Business Leaders Have Noticed
Yesterday, I found myself staring at a mountain of market research reports I needed to synthesize for an upcoming strategy meeting. As I opened NotebookLM, I was greeted by a suite of new features that Google quietly rolled out this past week. What I experienced next completely transformed my workflow – and it might just do the same for yours. → Read the full article here.
👁️ IDENTITY
Sam Altman's Worldcoin Expands to U.S., Scans Irises to Prove You're Human
World, the biometric crypto start-up co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has launched in the U.S. with a sci-fi twist: eyeball scans in exchange for a “World ID” and some cryptocurrency. The company says its Orb devices — now rolling out across major cities — are a solution to AI-fueled identity chaos online, offering a privacy-conscious way to prove humanity without government IDs.
Already used by over 12 million people globally, the initiative has sparked both enthusiasm and alarm, with critics likening it to a real-life Black Mirror episode. Whether Worldcoin becomes a tool for trust or a cautionary tale hinges on public buy-in — and how creepy the Orb ultimately feels. → Read the full article here.
🕵 SURVEILLANCE
AI-Powered Surveillance of Immigrants Expands Under Trump
The Trump administration is dramatically scaling up the use of AI tools to monitor the social media activity of immigrants, visa holders, and potentially U.S. citizens. Government agencies including the State Department, USCIS, and ICE are deploying technologies like Babel X and SocialNet to flag individuals based on online behavior—such as expressing political views or alleged “antisemitic activity.”
While companies like ShadowDragon deny using AI, critics warn the entire system risks misinterpretation, overreach, and a chilling effect on free speech. With millions potentially swept into this dragnet, the line between national security and civil liberty is being algorithmically redrawn. → Read the full article here.
🧬 BIOTECH
Finch AI Agent Mimics Grad Student, Automates Biological Discovery
FutureHouse, a nonprofit backed by Eric Schmidt, has unveiled Finch, an AI agent designed to automate data-driven discovery in biology. Currently in closed beta, Finch can independently analyze biological data, reproducing known findings and uncovering novel associations, such as links between EFNA5 and PTCH1 amplifications and breast cancer metastases.
While Finch accelerates analysis, its developers acknowledge it makes errors akin to a first-year graduate student, prompting a call for expert beta testers to enhance its accuracy and reliability. → Read the full article here.
🛰️ NEWS
What Else is Happening
😤 NVIDIA Slams AI Export Rules: U.S. chip curbs may help Huawei set global AI standards, eroding America’s tech edge, NVIDIA warns.
🔡 Gemini Simplifies Complex Texts: Google’s new iOS feature uses LLMs to rewrite dense info with minimal loss, boosting comprehension by up to 15%.
🏀 NBC Revives Jim Fagan’s Voice with AI: The late announcer’s iconic tone returns for NBA coverage via AI, with family approval and a nostalgic twist.
☢️ Argentina Bets on Nuclear-Powered AI: Milei pitches small modular reactors to lure Big Tech, but experts question the timeline and tech readiness.
👶🏻 Google Adds Gemini AI to Kids' Accounts: Kids under 13 now get default access to Gemini AI—parents can opt out, but rollout starts automatically this week.
💼 JOB BOARD
Now Hiring: ElevenLabs, Salesforce, & More
Role | Company | Links |
|---|---|---|
Full-Stack Growth Engineer | ElevenLabs | |
Revenue Partnerships | ElevenLabs | |
AI Scientist | Salesforce | |
Senior Systems Firmware Engineer | Samara | |
Software Engineer | Figure |
📽️ VIDEO
OpenAI Abandons Plan To Go for Profit
OpenAI ditches for-profit plans, shifts to Public Benefit Corp under nonprofit control, aiming to raise billions while preserving its mission amid Musk backlash. Get the full scoop in Matt’s latest video! 👇
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