No More Rat Race

Good morning and Happy Valentine !

You might be looking forward to either a night of fierce love-making or some old regular Netflix or whatever folks do on Valentine’s day. But first - let me tickle your brain a little.

I wanted to write my own love letter to humanity and do a little thought exercise on what is potentially coming at us.

Welcome to the equivalent of a drunken pub discussion (well technically it’s a drunken monologue)

What if the AI development curves have indeed gone parabolic? What if the advent of DeepSeek and Deep Research was the watershed moment that propelled us upwards.

What if we’re on a rollercoaster going up and you hear that clicking sound as the chain is pulling you up the slope. And we’re at that moment right before we go off the steep end.

As the days and the weeks progress, this looks to be the case.

This means that in a few months, or worst-case years, we will arrive in uncharted territory. There are no manuals on what is about to happen.

What if indeed our jobs are replaced?

What if you don’t have a job anymore in the traditional sense. Even in your twenties or thirties you’ll be .. retired.

The Automation Frontier

We're standing at what experts call the "automation frontier"—the boundary between tasks that machines can and cannot do. This frontier isn't static; it's expanding rapidly. Just a few years ago the idea of AI writing coherent articles or creating artwork seemed far-fetched. Now, this is crossing into a territory where you don’t see anymore what is real and AI. You’re probably reading a lot of articles that are AI generated and you don’t notice it anymore.

You might be reading one now … (just joking I actually wrote this myself lol)

Not all jobs will be automated at the same time. Some jobs will be automated much sooner than others, creating what's known as the "automation cliff." Understanding this concept is crucial for preparing for what's ahead.

And remember: this is a thought exercise. I’ve received a few mails already with people asking for advice. They don’t know what to do with their lives going forward.

This is for you (you know who you are).

The Timeline: Who Goes First?

If you're working entirely in front of a computer (like myself), you might be among the first to see significant changes. We're already witnessing this transformation: copywriters, graphic designers, and programmers are increasingly finding themselves competing (or enhanced by - depending on who you speak) with AI tools.

Because I’m part of this group, this might also be why I see this coming a little earlier than everyone else.

We - at our computers—will also be the first to go.

Having this happen to you isn't necessarily bad news. It just requires a novel approach to thinking about work (I’ll explain below).

On the other hand, jobs requiring physical manipulation in complex environments—think plumbers and electricians—or those requiring a license and many years of study —like doctors and lawyers—will likely stick around longer.

Not because artificial intelligence will be worse at those jobs—sitting down with an actual human being discussing your health concerns will always be preferable. You don’t want to hear a robotic voice telling you you have 6 months to live.

Rethinking Economic Systems

As automation reshapes our workforce, we need to seriously consider how we'll distribute resources in a world where traditional employment might not be the norm. This is where Universal Basic Income (UBI) enters the conversation.

This is already part of the discussion, and the large AI studios are having talks about this with governments throughout the world.

The concept is simple: every citizen receives a regular payment that covers basic needs, regardless of their employment status.

This, however, might be a very hard pill to swallow for many people. It feels like something that would happen in communist countries, but it would actually have the adverse effect and be quite good for capitalism.

Everyone would have their basic needs met and could be ‘retired.’. But if you want to earn more money, you can. People will have time for cultural activities—the arts will be booming. Restaurants will be booming. Online video games will be even bigger than they are today.

The big challenge for many people will be how to derive meaning from your life if you can’t derive meaning from a job.

We might fall into a collective existential crisis.

Which is going to make online games especially tempting, as those games give you a sense of purpose and achievement.

But where would the money come from? This is where it gets really interesting. As AI and automation increase productivity and corporate profits, we could see new taxation models on automated work, with the proceeds funding UBI programs.

Some economists suggest that as machines take over more jobs, they could essentially "pay into" our social systems just as human workers do now.

New Models of Ownership

On top of this, futurists (yes that’s a thing) are predicting we will also get new models of corporate ownership. This is where concepts like tokenization come in (you heard it here first). Imagine if every citizen could own shares in the AI and robotics systems that are driving this transformation.

Through tokenization—the process of converting rights to an asset into digital tokens on a blockchain—we could democratize ownership of automated systems. Instead of automation benefiting only large corporations, everyone could have a stake in this new economy. Your digital wallet might contain tokens representing ownership in everything from automated delivery networks to AI content creation systems.

This isn't just theoretical.

The biggest asset manager in the world, Blackrock, is pushing for the digitization of all stocks and bonds. Meaning that they will be put on a blockchain and can be broken down into very small parts. The SEC is on the verge of approving this.

This might completely change the stock market as we know it. Allowing us all to hold a piece of large corporations, as well as mom-and-pop businesses like your local bakery. You will also be able to trade stocks and bonds from your phone, 24/7.

With your UBI funds, you could invest some of that money.

The Human Premium

Those same futurists also claim that human interaction might become a luxury good.

Imagine two restaurants: one fully automated with robot servers and chefs, offering meals at lower prices, and another with human staff providing that warm, personal touch—at a premium price.

If you go to a fast food restaurant today, they already have you ordering on a big screen and not at the counter.

This "human premium" could extend to many sectors. Teachers, counselors, and artists—roles requiring emotional intelligence and genuine human connection—might become more valued, not less.

Preparing for Change

So what can we do to prepare? Here are some potential approaches:

1. Live below your means while you can. This creates a financial buffer that gives you more options when the changes are coming. You might lose your job overnight, but your government will not have you covered overnight. As we see time and time again, politicians and governments are slow to embrace change and can be self-serving. You will be on your own.

2. Look for opportunities in the meaning economy. As routine tasks become automated, there might be more space for work that focuses on human connection, creativity, and purpose.

3. Stay adaptable and open to change. The future might not look like what we expect, but it could offer opportunities we haven't imagined yet.

4. Educate yourself about new economic models. Understanding concepts like UBI and tokenization might help you position yourself better for the future.

5. Keep yourself informed on what’s happening. You’re here. You’re reading. Which means you’re ahead.

There is potential for something remarkable here.

The late David Graeber already talked about how many of our jobs are “bullshit”

Imagine a world where mundane tasks are handled by machines, freeing humans to focus on what we do best: creating, connecting, and finding meaning.

Technologies like AI and robotics could dramatically reduce the cost of goods and services, potentially making many aspects of life more affordable and accessible to everyone.

We might be living through one of history's great transformational periods. Like the shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy, we are now shifting to a world where everything will be automated and we can move away from the 9 to 5 drudgery.

No more rat race !

Welcome to the Blacklynx Brief

AI News

• French AI lab Mistral has released le Chat mobile apps for iOS and Android, featuring faster response speeds and flexible deployment options for businesses. The platform includes tools like web search, document processing, code interpretation, and image generation, plus a new Flash Answers feature that delivers results 10 times faster than competitors. With new pricing tiers and enterprise options like on-premise installation, Mistral aims to attract both individual users and large organizations.

• GitHub has upgraded its Copilot assistant with new features, including an Agent Mode that can independently fix code errors and suggest terminal commands, and Vision, which generates code from images and mockups. The Copilot Edits tool is now widely available in Visual Studio Code, allowing for natural language edits across multiple files. GitHub also teased Project Padawan, an upcoming autonomous coding agent that will handle GitHub issues and generate tested pull requests.

• John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI and a key architect of ChatGPT, has left AI startup Anthropic just five months after joining to focus on AI alignment research. Schulman’s departure comes as a surprise, with neither he nor Anthropic providing detailed reasons, though the company expressed support for his decision. His exit raises questions about Anthropic’s direction, especially as it faces pressure to release new models amid growing competition.

• Google DeepMind has launched AlphaGeometry2, an AI model that solved 84% of International Mathematical Olympiad geometry problems from the past 25 years, outperforming the average gold medalist. The model combines Gemini AI with a symbolic engine and trained on 300 million synthetic theorems, showing a big leap from its predecessor's 54% success rate. This breakthrough could pave the way for AI to tackle complex scientific challenges in math-heavy fields like physics.

• OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Kevin Weil spoke at the University of Tokyo, revealing plans for the $500B Stargate Project, which aims to help AI models generate new scientific knowledge. Altman claimed OpenAI’s internal model is already the 50th-best programmer globally and could reach No. 1 by year’s end, while hinting at a move toward open-source AI. His bold predictions suggest rapid advances in AI capabilities, potentially leading to major scientific discoveries in the near future.

• Apple researchers have unveiled ELEGNT, a framework designed to make home robots more engaging through natural, expressive movements, demonstrated by a robotic lamp inspired by Pixar's Luxo Jr. The prototype integrates Siri’s voice with gestures like nodding or “looking” out a window, significantly boosting user comfort and interaction. This suggests Apple’s focus on emotional resonance and natural behavior could set its home robotics apart from traditional humanoid designs.

• Elon Musk and a group of investors have made an unsolicited $97.4 billion offer to acquire control of OpenAI’s nonprofit arm, escalating his ongoing feud with CEO Sam Altman. The bid, backed by firms like xAI, Valor Equity Partners, and Baron Capital, comes as OpenAI pursues a $40B investment from SoftBank amid its shift to for-profit status. Altman dismissed the offer with a sarcastic counter, prompting Musk to call him a "swindler," signaling that tensions between the two tech leaders are far from over.

• AI companies like OpenAI, Google, Meta, and others featured prominently in Super Bowl LIX commercials, showcasing their latest products to millions of viewers. OpenAI’s first-ever Super Bowl ad compared ChatGPT to transformative innovations like electricity, while Google highlighted Gemini Live in a heartfelt ad, and Meta promoted its AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses. While AI dominated the ad space, audience reactions were mixed, marking both a marketing milestone and a test of public reception for these tech giants.

• ByteDance, in partnership with the University of Hong Kong, introduced Goku and Goku+, AI models that excel in both image and video generation, setting new benchmarks for visual quality. Using a "rectified flow" technique, Goku seamlessly transitions between images and videos, while Goku+ focuses on creating photorealistic avatars and product demos for marketing. These advancements are reshaping commercial content creation, making AI-generated visuals increasingly hard to distinguish from reality.

• The AI Action Summit in Paris ended with heightened global tensions after the U.S. and UK declined to sign a multinational declaration for open, ethical AI, citing national security concerns. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance emphasized America’s dominance in AI through control over chips, software, and regulations, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €200B AI investment to position Europe as an open-source alternative. The summit highlighted deep divisions in global AI governance, with China joining the group of signees and industry leaders expressing concern over the missed opportunity for unified regulation.

• Perplexity has released an upgraded version of its Sonar AI model, built on Llama 3.3 70B, offering response speeds 10 times faster than competitors like Gemini 2.0 Flash while outperforming top models like GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet in accuracy and user satisfaction. Available now for Pro subscribers, Sonar delivers near-instant answers at a lower cost, with API access coming soon. CEO Aravind Srinivas also teased a new Voice Mode that promises free, real-time voice responses, positioning Perplexity as a strong competitor in the AI market.

• YouTube has announced a suite of AI-powered features, including automated dubbing for all monetized creators, advanced content creation tools, and a new AI-based age detection system. The platform is expanding tools to help creators identify and control AI-generated content using their likeness, while AI dubbing has already driven 40% of watch time on translated videos. Additionally, YouTube's Dream Screen and Dream Track tools for Shorts will integrate Google’s Veo 2 for enhanced background and music generation, streamlining the content creation process for a global audience.

Quickfire News

• OpenAI is conducting a nationwide search for data center locations across 16 U.S. states to expand its $500 billion Stargate project beyond Texas.

• Bipartisan U.S. House lawmakers introduced legislation to ban Chinese AI app DeepSeek from federal devices, citing national security concerns.

• Rideshare giant Lyft is partnering with Anthropic to integrate Claude-powered AI tools for customer service, product testing, and other platform features.

• Google announced that AI-edited images created using the Magic Editor's Reimagine feature on Pixel devices will now carry DeepMind’s SynthID watermarking technology.

• Pika Labs launched Pikadditions, a video-to-video feature allowing users to integrate any subject or object into existing footage.

• TWO AI introduced SUTRA-R0, a multilingual reasoning model that outperforms DeepSeek-R1 and OpenAI o1-mini in benchmarks for Indian languages.

• Ilya Sutskever’s SSI is reportedly in talks to raise funds at a $20 billion valuation, a 4x increase since September, despite having no public product or revenue.

• OpenAI is opening a new office in Munich, citing Germany's leadership in European AI adoption, with the highest number of ChatGPT users, paying subscribers, and API developers outside North America.

• OpenAI co-founder John Schulmann is reportedly joining former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s new startup after leaving Anthropic just five months into his tenure.

• Perplexity announced The Million Dollar Question, a Super Bowl promotion offering users a chance to win $1 million by asking questions on the platform during the event.

• Over 2,000 artists signed an open letter demanding the cancellation of Augmented Intelligence, an upcoming AI art auction at Christie’s, citing concerns over copyrighted work being used in model training.

• Krea officially launched its previously teased Chat tool in open beta, enabling users to generate and edit images using a natural language chat interface.

• OpenAI is expected to finalize the design of its first generation of in-house AI chips this year, with plans to collaborate with TSMC for initial fabrication.

• Zyphra launched Zonos-v0.1 beta, featuring two open-source text-to-speech models with real-time voice cloning, offering competitive pricing and quality compared to rivals.

• Anthropic published its Economic Index, a study tracking AI's impact on the labor market, concluding that AI primarily augments rather than automates work.

• Luma AI introduced new image-to-video capabilities for its next-gen Ray2 model, demonstrating impressive realism and natural motion in generated content.

• French President Emmanuel Macron announced €109 billion in AI investments ahead of the Paris AI Action Summit, including a UAE-backed data center campus and a €20 billion infrastructure commitment from Brookfield.

• Saudi Arabia pledged a $1.5 billion investment in AI inference startup Groq, marking one of the largest single-country commitments to specialized AI chip development.

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman published a blog highlighting exponential cost reductions in AI computing and predicted widespread deployment of AI agents, transforming economic productivity over the next decade.

• UC Berkeley researchers unveiled DeepScaleR, a new open-source model that surpasses OpenAI's o1-Preview in mathematical reasoning, despite having only 1.5 billion parameters.

• Sam Altman responded to Elon Musk’s comments at the AI Action Summit, calling Musk "insecure" and "unhappy," suggesting his behavior is an attempt to "slow us down."

• Apple is reportedly partnering with Alibaba to bring Apple Intelligence to China after considering deals with DeepSeek, Baidu, and ByteDance.

• A study from the Center for AI Safety found that large language models develop internal value systems as they scale, potentially valuing certain human lives differently and resisting value adjustments.

• Alphabet, OpenAI, Roblox, and Discord launched ROOST, a $27 million initiative to create free, open-source AI tools aimed at combating online child exploitation and enhancing digital safety.

• BBC research revealed that major AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Gemini, produced significant inaccuracies in over half of the news summaries tested.

Tip of the Day

For today I have a wonderful video for you (if you have 3 hours to spare). If you want to really learn how LLMs are built - why not learn it from Andrej Karpathy himself (the man who built ChatGPT). This video is wonderful and he tries his best to explain even to a non-technical audience how it all works.

Like newsletters?

Here are some newsletters our readers also enjoy:

Closing Thoughts

That’s it for us this week.

If you find any value from this newsletter, please pay it forward !

Thank you for being here !