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Happy Friday, everyone. Today, we’re looking at how DOGE built an overly simplistic AI tool to make major decisions at the VA, raising serious questions about how many similar tools are out there, causing costly problems. Meanwhile, Amazon says humanoid robots could soon deliver packages. But how will they get into buildings or homes? That part seems... highly questionable. Plus, don’t miss today’s video series, tools of the day, and top AI trends. Have a great weekend!

• 🧰 AI Tools - Animal Care.

• 🧠 Learning Corner - Gwern Branwen

• Amazon is training humanoid robots to deliver packages

• 📰 News and Trends.

• AI Tool Used to Cut VA Contracts Was Flawed and Risky

• Are We There Yet - III (A conversation about AI, Tech and Cybersecurity)

• Meme of the Day.

📰 AI News and Trends

• AI search engine Perplexity processed 780 million queries in May, with 20% month-over-month growth. They are well-positioned to launch their browser.

• Anthropic cut Windsurf’s direct access to Claude AI models because of reports that OpenAI is acquiring the AI coding assistant.

• New AI Startup Giving Robots Virtual Heart Rate, Body Temperature, Sweating Response So They Can Better Emulate Human Emotions.

• Check this page, it includes our AI Business Services.

• Anthropic CEO warns that advanced AI systems are already showing dangerous behaviors in controlled tests and urges stronger oversight.

🌐 Other Tech news

• Anduril's valuation reaches $30.5 billion

• Nintendo Switch 2 hype leads to shortages, selling like pancakes.

• Procter & Gamble to Cut 7,000 Jobs.

• Scientists Create Edible Living Plastic Alternative.

• TSA Working on Haptic Tech to 'Feel' Your Body in Virtual Reality, so Agents Don't Have to Touch You.

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Amazon is training humanoid robots to deliver packages

Amazon is reportedly testing humanoid robots to deliver packages, using AI to help them understand and act on voice commands. These robots, developed with Agility Robotics, will be transported in Rivian electric vans and trained at a new indoor facility in San Francisco.

The test site includes an obstacle course and a Rivian van to simulate real-world delivery. Amazon plans to have the robots jump out of the van and drop off packages, moving closer to fully automating its logistics chain. Models being tested include the Digit robot and a $16,000 Unitree robot from China.

I am not sure how robots are going to manage to get into people’s houses and buildings when humans have a hard time doing so. We shall see. Amazon already uses robots in warehouses and acquired autonomous vehicle company Zoox in 2020, signaling long-term plans to automate deliveries from warehouse to doorstep.

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🧰 AI Tools

Animal Care Apps.

• Pawtrack - GPS collar + app specifically for cats. Tracks location, activity levels, and even sleep.

• PetDesk - Pet health management. Vet appointment reminders, medical records, vaccination tracking.

• Animal Help Now - Wildlife emergency support (U.S. only). Find local vets, wildlife rehabilitators, and animal control services.

• Dogo - Dog training and behavior tracking. Over 100 training exercises, daily progress tracking, and vet-backed advice.

• Pet First Aid (by American Red Cross) - Emergency pet health reference. Step-by-step first aid for common pet emergencies, GPS for nearby vets.

Download our list of 1000+ Tools for free.

AI Tool Used to Cut VA Contracts Was Flawed and Risky

The Trump administration used an AI tool, built in just one day by a non-medical software engineer at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to flag over 2,000 Veterans Affairs (VA) contracts as “munchable” or candidates for cancellation. The tool was built with outdated AI models and frequently made major errors, including inflating contract values (e.g., $35K mistaken for $34M) and misjudging essential services like cancer research and blood analysis as expendable.

Experts widely criticized the tool as unreliable and dangerous. It was trained on limited data (only the first few pages of each contract) and lacked context about federal law or how the VA operates. Despite VA claims that human review was involved, internal emails reveal staff often had mere hours to justify contracts using 255-character explanations.

The tool’s creator, Sahil Lavingia, admitted the AI was flawed and said it should not have been blindly trusted. He open-sourced the code with Elon Musk’s approval, which likely contributed to his dismissal.

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Are We There Yet - III

Just had a great conversation with Patrick Jordan Author of Tech & Nonsense and now of cyber sherpas - cybersherpas.substack.c…

We spoke about the AI tools we use, their pros and cons, talked about the Nothing phone and other devices, and the latest Cortical Labs tech, which pairs real human brains with LLMs.

Patrick also shared about his latest newsletter, “Cyber Sherpas,” a must-read for everyone.

Refer a friend

🧠 Learning Corner.