🤖 AI Kids, Texas Tech Boom, & Skype’s Farewell
Good morning. It’s Monday, March 03. Today we are covering:
'I want him to be prepared': why parents are teaching their gen Alpha kids to use AI
Texas Is the Low-Cost, High-Reward Darling of Big Tech
As Skype shuts down, its legacy is end-to-end encryption for the masses
Why China's Xiaomi Can Make an Electric Car and Apple Can't
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian joins Frank McCourt’s bid for TikTok
Let’s dive in
We're thrilled to bring you ad-free news. To keep it that way, we need your support. Your pledge helps us stay independent and deliver high-quality insights while exploring new ideas. What would you love to see next? Share your thoughts and help shape the future of Newslit Daily. Thank you for being part of this journey!
'I want him to be prepared': why parents are teaching their gen Alpha kids to use AI
By Aaron Mok via The Guardian
Parents are proactively teaching Gen Alpha kids to use AI, emphasizing prompting skills over traditional coding, to prepare them for a future where AI-driven tools will be integral to education and work.
While some parents see AI as a creativity and learning tool, concerns persist about its impact on critical thinking, emotional dependency, and overreliance, with experts warning that unsupervised use could erode trust in human relationships.
Despite age restrictions on AI models, parents are cautiously introducing their children to ChatGPT, AI art generators, and chatbots, integrating them into family activities while addressing risks like deepfakes and AI manipulation.
𝕏: A fascinating phenomenon is emerging. Gaining AI literacy early on can provide undeniable advantages, so long as it doesn’t harm cognition derived from the brain to pen to paper process that has been the cornerstone of human learning for centuries. - Kosha Gada (@KoshaGada)
Texas Is the Low-Cost, High-Reward Darling of Big Tech
By Harriet Torry via Wall Street Journal
Apple announced plans for a 250,000-square-foot factory in Houston to manufacture servers for an AI system, marking another major tech investment in Texas.
Texas is attracting big tech companies, particularly from California, due to its lower taxes and fewer regulations on land use and labor.
Tech investments are reshaping the Texas economy, reinforcing the state's status as a fast-growing hub for innovation and manufacturing.
The best way to reach new readers is through word of mouth. If you click THIS LINK in your inbox, it’ll create an easy-to-send pre-written email you can just fire off to some friends.
As Skype shuts down, its legacy is end-to-end encryption for the masses
By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai via TechCrunch
Skype, launched in 2003, was a pioneer in end-to-end encryption, offering users unprecedented privacy in internet-based voice calls, making it a target for global surveillance efforts.
Despite its encryption, various governments and intelligence agencies—including Egyptian spies, the NSA, and Chinese authorities—found ways to compromise Skype’s security over the years.
With Microsoft shutting down Skype on May 5, 2025, its legacy lives on in mainstream apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal, which now provide encrypted communications to billions worldwide.
Why China's Xiaomi Can Make an Electric Car and Apple Can't
By Meaghan Tobin via The New York Times
Apple abandoned its electric car project after nearly a decade and $10 billion in investment, while Xiaomi launched its first EV, the SU7, in just three years, delivering 135,000 vehicles in 2024.
China's dominance in the EV supply chain enabled Xiaomi to rapidly source components and manufacture at scale, leveraging batteries from industry leaders BYD and CATL, which benefit from massive government support.
Xiaomi’s EV strategy integrates with its broader smart home ecosystem, offering AI-driven features and competitive pricing, positioning the company as a major disruptor in the global premium car market, challenging brands like Porsche.
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian joins Frank McCourt’s bid for TikTok
By Dawn Chmielewski via Reuters
Alexis Ohanian has joined Frank McCourt’s bid to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations, serving as a strategic adviser to promote Project Liberty, which aims to give users control over their data.
The U.S. government granted a 75-day delay for ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban, with multiple bidders, including tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley and YouTuber MrBeast, also in the race.
ByteDance has not engaged in serious negotiations and may shut down TikTok in the U.S. instead of selling, leaving the future of the platform uncertain.
Trending in AI
Apple’s Artificial Intelligence Efforts Reach a Make-or-Break Point
Google’s cofounder tells AI staff to stop ‘building nanny products’
Chinese Buyers Are Ordering Nvidia’s Newest AI Chips, Defying U.S. Curbs
Guggenheim and Legendary billionaires create $40bn pot to make AI bets
Thanks for reading to the bottom and soaking in our Newslit Daily fueled with highlights for your morning.
I hope you found it interesting and, needless to say, if you have any questions or feedback let me know by hitting reply.
Take care and see you tomorrow!
How was today’s email?