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Today’s Menu

• T-Mobile’s Parent Unveils AI Phone, Betting Big on Perplexity

• Bitcoin’s CME Gap Fills—But Is a Bigger Drop Coming?

Markets

TODAY IN AI

T-Mobile’s Parent Unveils AI Phone, Betting Big on Perplexity

Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile’s parent company, is making a bold move into AI-powered hardware with its new “AI Phone,” featuring Perplexity’s search assistant as the core interface. Unlike today’s smartphones, where AI is just another app, this device is designed from the ground up for AI-first interactions.

Perplexity Assistant will be accessible directly from the lock screen, streamlining search and task automation without requiring users to switch between apps. CEO Aravind Srinivas says the goal is to transform Perplexity from an “answer machine to an action machine,” capable of handling everyday tasks with minimal friction.

The phone will also integrate AI tools like Google Cloud AI for real-time translation, ElevenLabs for podcast generation, and Picsart for AI-driven avatar creation. Slated for release later this year at under $1,000, it signals a shift away from app-centric experiences toward AI-driven, voice-first interactions.

While Apple and Samsung are still layering AI onto traditional smartphone designs, Telekom is taking a different approach: rethinking the mobile experience from scratch. If successful, this could be the beginning of a fundamental shift in how we interact with our devices—and a major validation for Perplexity as a serious AI contender.

^{Today In Crypto}

Bitcoin’s CME Gap Fills—But Is a Bigger Drop Coming?

Bitcoin’s 12% pullback has now filled the latest CME futures gap, a phenomenon that occurs when BTC trades higher over the weekend while the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is closed. Since CME launched bitcoin futures in 2017, 80 gaps have formed—79 have been filled, leaving just one unclosed at $21,000. While traders often view gap fills as bullish, the broader macro landscape suggests caution.

The U.S. economy faces slowing growth due to fiscal tightening, trade uncertainty, and a weakening housing market. Inflation is expected to decline, and the Federal Reserve is shifting its focus toward employment over price control. According to Professor Satoshi, an analyst at Greeks Live, equities are overvalued, with the S&P 500 potentially dropping to 5700–5500. The crypto market is also de-risking, often a precursor to broader equity downturns.

"You can see altcoins got de-risked first, which typically means majors like BTC follow next," he noted. The Fed is now expected to skip a March rate cut, with a possible larger 50 bps cut in May. Looking ahead to 2025, Professor Satoshi believes the return of quantitative easing is likely—a view few share but one he has held since last year’s economic slowdown.

One potential warning sign? The strengthening Japanese yen, which hit its highest level against the U.S. dollar this year at 148. If history is any guide, a stronger yen often signals trouble ahead for risk assets.

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Until next time,

Damon James