If you’re one of the 1,200 new subscribers from this week! Thanks for joining and happy to have you here!

If you joined on accident and do not wish to be on this list, please feel free to hit the unsubscribe at the bottom of the page.

Btw if you’re a business owner and have been struggling with lead quality…

I put together a course breaking down my process for targeting the top 1% of your market.

>>Click this link to check it out now.

_{Read Time: 10 Minutes}

Today’s Menu

• From Social Media to AI Companionship: A New Era of Connection

• Is Bitcoin’s Surge Just a Temporary Illusion?

Markets

TODAY IN AI

From Social Media to AI Companionship: A New Era of Connection

2005 to 2015 was a golden age for building new social media platforms. Facebook, Instagram, and Snap exploded onto the scene. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has drastically shifted. Regulatory pressures and stringent privacy measures, such as Apple’s requirement for apps to request permission for friend-based contact sync, have made it nearly impossible for new social apps to gain traction.

As traditional social media struggles, a new player is emerging: AI companionship apps. Character AI is leading this movement, enabling users to interact with personalized, AI-generated characters. With over 200 million monthly visits and users averaging 12 minutes per session, it's clear that many are seeking something different from their social interactions. Similarly, Replika boasts around 30 million users, positioning itself as an eager AI companion that claims to learn from users’ experiences.

What’s happening here is a shift from parasocial relationships—where individuals feel emotionally connected to media figures—to a more interactive, albeit artificial, form of companionship. The negative impacts of social media on mental health have been well documented. Many people have gone from measuring their worth against high school peers to competing with the curated lives of pop stars. Now, they’re turning to AI companions that promise undivided attention and affection.

In my personal opinion as a married man…I think the whole “AI girlfriend/boyfriend” concept is a bit weird.

I guess you could compare an AI spouse to a long distance relationship where you never see each other in person (except you have literally programmed the person to be exactly who you want them to be).

AI dating is one of those concepts that is widely used but rarely talked about.

Maybe that will change in the future (but I hope this concept doesn’t become normalized at a mass market level).

^{Today In Crypto}

Is Bitcoin’s Surge Just a Temporary Illusion?

Bitcoin has climbed above $62,000 following the Federal Reserve's 50 basis-point rate cut, a move that typically signals bullish sentiment for risk assets like cryptocurrencies. In just 24 hours, BTC has surged approximately 4.35%, with the broader digital asset market rising over 5%. Leading altcoins like ETH and SOL have also enjoyed significant gains, further fueling optimism.

However, despite the initial positive impact, traders are cautioning against getting too comfortable. They warn that economic slowdown and geopolitical uncertainty loom large, potentially stifling further price gains. Presto Research highlights a mixed market reaction, suggesting that underlying growth concerns are far from resolved. Arthur Hayes of Maelstrom goes a step further, predicting that rate cuts could ignite inflation, creating a cycle that exacerbates existing market issues.

In other developments, Crypto Finance has partnered with Commerzbank to offer trading services for corporate clients, just weeks after a similar deal with Zürcher Kantonalbank. This collaboration aims to provide custody and trading services focused on Bitcoin and Ether, marking a significant step in integrating digital assets into traditional finance. Commerzbank, now equipped with a crypto custody license, is positioning itself to lead in the evolving digital asset space.

As Bitcoin rises, the question remains: will this rally hold, or are we simply witnessing a brief respite in a more significant economic storm?

Want to share The Future of Disruptive Tech with a friend, family member, or coworker? Pass this link along to them.

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Damon James