Can AI run its own business?

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Good morning! The stories you read about here are the ones your group chat will be talking about in the distant future. You’ll roll your eyes and say, “That was fried months ago.” 🦾

CAN AI RUN ITS OWN BUSINESS? 💸

What’s up? Anthropic upgraded its AI shopkeeper with a newer model and better tools, turning a money-losing, confused vending machine into a mostly functional small business.

Want the details? In this experiment, an AI called “Claudius” was put in charge of stocking items, setting prices, and selling products in office vending machines. The first attempt failed because the AI gave too many discounts, confused customers, and made very poor business decisions. In the second round, the team upgraded the AI to a newer, more capable version and gave it clearer instructions and practical tools, like software to track inventory, check online prices, and manage customers. They also added other AI helpers, including one that set sales goals and another that designed custom merchandise. With these changes, the AI made fewer mistakes, lost less money, and handled day-to-day tasks more smoothly.

Why is this significant? This experiment shows that AI is getting closer to running real businesses, but it still isn’t trustworthy enough to operate on its own. As companies start using AI in more important roles, humans will need strong controls in place to prevent errors, confusion, or exploitation.

AKRON ROUTES NON-EMERGENCY CALLS TO AI 🚑

What’s up? Akron, OH residents who call the police for non-emergency issues are now first connected to “Ava,” an AI virtual assistant, while all 911 emergency calls still go directly to a human dispatcher.

How does it work? Ava answers non-emergency calls, asks callers questions about their situation, and collects key details such as location and the nature of the issue. That information is then passed along to police officers and reviewed by human dispatchers to ensure nothing important is missed. If the call turns out to be an emergency, or if Ava cannot help, the system immediately routes the caller to a live person. The technology was developed by Aurelian, a Seattle-based tech company, and has already been tested locally through a pilot program that Akron police say was successful.

Why does this matter? By handling routine calls, Ava frees up human dispatchers to focus on urgent emergencies where seconds matter. Supporters say this could lead to faster response times, better use of police resources, and even follow-ups to ensure non-emergency issues are resolved, reflecting a broader shift toward AI in public safety.

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AI WEARABLE OFFERS PREVENTATIVE CARE TO ELDERLY 🙏

What’s up? Researchers at the University of Arizona have created a comfortable, AI-powered wearable that can detect early warning signs of frailty in older adults before serious health events occur.

How does it work? The device is a soft, two-inch-wide mesh sleeve worn around the lower thigh. It uses tiny sensors to track subtle movement patterns such as leg acceleration, step symmetry, and variability while a person walks. Built-in “edge AI” analyzes this data directly on the device, sending summarized results to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The sleeve is wireless, 3D-printed, adhesive-free, and can be charged remotely without plugging it in.

Why is this significant? Frailty affects about 15% of Americans over 65 and often goes unnoticed until a fall or hospitalization occurs. This technology enables early, preventative care, helping clinicians intervene sooner, reduce injuries, lower healthcare costs, and improve quality of life—especially for patients in rural or under-resourced communities.

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