Startups — July 2026

👨‍💻 SoftBank CEO Calls AI Bubble Talk "Absurd"

By 2040, AI could account for around 20% of global GDP, and annual spending on the infrastructure needed to support it could reach $5 trillion, according to Masayoshi Son.

On that scale, he says, calling AI a bubble makes no sense.

✏️ Son has long been one of the tech industry's most outspoken AI optimists. SoftBank is investing heavily in OpenAI—its total investment in the company is expected to exceed $60 billion by the end of 2026. The Japanese giant is also helping finance the construction of new data centers.

💡 By Son's logic, some of the biggest names in tech "don't know ⁠what AI is about." That list would include Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, and Alibaba cofounder Joe Tsai, all of whom have previously warned that the AI market could be in a bubble.

Late last year, for example, Bezos described the current boom as an "industrial bubble": the technology itself is real, but many questionable startups are still raising billions of dollars.

Is AI a bubble?

❤️ — No 🤔 — Yes, but the technology is real 🔥 — The whole thing is going to burst

@hiaimediaen

👨‍💻 SoftBank CEO Calls AI Bubble Talk "Absurd"

By 2040, AI could account for around 20% of global GDP, and annual spending on the infrastructure needed to support it could reach $5 trillion, according to Masayoshi Son.

On that scale, he says, calling AI a bubble makes no sense.

✏️ Son has long been one of the tech industry's most outspoken AI optimists. SoftBank is investing heavily in OpenAI—its total investment in the company is expected to exceed $60 billion by the end of 2026. The Japanese giant is also helping finance the construction of new data centers.

💡 By Son's logic, some of the biggest names in tech "don't know ⁠what AI is about." That list would include Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, and Alibaba cofounder Joe Tsai, all of whom have previously warned that the AI market could be in a bubble.

Late last year, for example, Bezos described the current boom as an "industrial bubble": the technology itself is real, but many questionable startups are still raising billions of dollars.

Is AI a bubble?

❤️ — No 🤔 — Yes, but the technology is real 🔥 — The whole thing is going to burst

👨‍💻 Глава SoftBank считает абсурдными разговоры о пузыре на рынке ИИ

К 2040 году ИИ будет генерировать около 20% мирового ВВП, а инвестиции в инфраструктуру для развития технологии должны достичь $5 трлн в год, прогнозирует Масаеси Сон.

В этих условиях глупо говорить про пузырь, считает он.

✏️ Сон известен как один из главных ИИ-оптимистов на рынке. SoftBank, например, активно инвестирует в OpenAI: к концу 2026 года общие вложения в компанию Альтмана должны превысить $60 млрд. Также японский банк финансирует строительство дата-центров.

💡 В круг людей, которые, если верить Сону, «вообще не понимают, что такое ИИ», невольно попали Сэм Альтман, Джефф Безос и соучредитель Alibaba Джо Цай: ранее все они, в числе других экспертов, говорили о возможном пузыре на рынке.

Например, Безос в конце прошлого года назвал происходящее «индустриальным пузырем»: технология настоящая, но многие сомнительные стартапы получают миллиарды.

ИИ — пузырь?

❤️ — нет 🤔 — да, но технология настоящая 👎 — все это скоро лопнет

👋 Подпишитесь на Hi, AI!

🚀 Reflect Orbital's "Sunlight on Demand"—Even at Night

Reflect Orbital plans to launch a satellite with an 18×18-meter thin-film mirror by the end of the year. From a 625 km orbit, the craft is designed to reflect sunlight onto a 5-6 km patch of Earth.

Reflect Orbital wants to extend the operating hours of solar farms and light up construction sites, fields, disaster areas, and search-and-rescue zones.

🔍 The idea isn't new. Back in 1993, the Russian Znamya-2 project deployed a 20-meter mirror in orbit and sent a roughly 5-km-wide patch of reflected sunlight across Europe. A second attempt in 1999 failed—the reflector caught on an antenna and tore.

✖️ Astronomers Push Back

On July 9, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission authorized the launch and operation of the satellite despite objections from experts.

The American Astronomical Society opposes the project, warning that artificial light could interfere with astronomical observations. Reflected light could also disrupt circadian rhythms, affect animal migration, and pose a glare risk to pilots.

Reflect Orbital says it will confine the light to designated areas, switch the reflection off quickly, and avoid observatories and protected natural areas. The startup aims to deploy as many as 50,000 mirror satellites by 2035.

What do you think of the idea?

❤️ — This is awesome! 🤣 — Will someone tell them about streetlights?

@hiaimediaen

Ви бачите Grammarly у кожному своєму браузері, але навряд чи знаєте їхню історію.

2008 рік, Київ. Макс Литвин та Олексій Шевченко не просто запускали стартап — вони кинули виклик усьому ринку освіти.

Їхня ідея була зухвалою: навчити комп’ютер не просто виправляти помилки, а розуміти контекст людської мови.

Де машина, а де контекст? 🤔

Коли вони починали, інвестори крутили пальцем біля скроні. «Ви серйозно? Хто платитиме за сервіс перевірки правопису, якщо це є в Word?».

Вони не мали ні силіконової долини за спиною, ні готових алгоритмів. Лише ідея і маленька квартира. Поки весь світ сміявся, вони щодня «годували» свій AI мільйонами рядків тексту.

Просили вони про гранти? Ні. Вони працювали над продуктом, поки не зробили його бездоганним.

Що ви отримали у підсумку?

Сьогодні Grammarly — це глобальний стандарт. 30 мільйонів користувачів щодня. Статус компанії-єдинорога, який змінив життя мільйонів людей, для яких англійська — не рідна.

Поки ви обдумуєте, чи «дотягує» ваша ідея до світового рівня — хтось інший прямо зараз пише код, який змінить наступне десятиліття.

December 1–2, 2026. Dubai.

Blockchain Life — the 17th edition. I've been to most of them personally, and that's not changing.

This year they added AI Future — a dedicated track on the intersection of AI and crypto. About time: both narratives are converging anyway, so putting them on the same stage makes sense.

And all of this in Dubai in December — same dates as the Formula 1 Grand Prix finale.

Taxis in short supply, hotels at double the price, but every person worth meeting is in one city.

People have started noticing that Blockchain Life is closing the gap on TOKEN2049 — Formula 1 tie-in, global locations, packed side-event calendar. At this pace, the question of which one carries more weight is just a matter of time.

What's happening: — 15,000+ attendees from 130 countries, 200+ speakers — 200+ companies on the expo floor: exchanges, mining, Web3, AI startups — Afterparty with a headline act (been there — it delivers) — Startup Pitch + Blockchain Life Awards — Russian simultaneous translation included in every ticket

Promo code CRPTMNK — 10% off. Tickets from $189.

See you in December.

→ blockchain-life.com

🚀 See You at the 17th Blockchain Life 2026 in Dubai!

On December 1–2, Dubai will host Blockchain Life 2026 — one of the world's largest events dedicated to Web3, mining, cryptocurrencies, and AI.

15,000+ attendees from 130+ countries, 200+ speakers, AI Future — a new track focused on the AI technologies of the future, global networking, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix finale.

Why should you attend Blockchain Life?

🔹 Attendees can look forward to an entire week of networking with key industry players from around the world: 2 days of the forum, hundreds of side events, exclusive meetings, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix finale. 🔹 200+ star speakers: crypto whales, founders and executives of the largest exchanges and top coins, influential investors and Tier 1 funds, global experts in cryptocurrencies and AI, as well as legendary traders. 🔹 Massive expo area: 200+ leading companies, the largest exchanges, mining companies, Web3 leaders, AI developers, and the most innovative startups. 🔹 AI Future Forum — a new track exploring the future, trends, the latest developments in robotics, and the synergy between AI, the crypto industry, and business. 🔹 Legendary Afterparty at one of the best clubs with a world-famous headline performer. 🔹 Startup Pitch and Blockchain Life Awards — where startups get the chance to showcase themselves, and the best companies receive industry recognition.

🎧 Simultaneous translation of all presentations into Russian is included with the ticket.

Purchase your ticket with a 10% discount using the promo code Alpha https://blockchain-life.com/

#News

Alpha | Chat

🚀 Увидимся на 17-м Blockchain Life 2026 в Дубае! 🚀

1-2 декабря в Дубае состоится Blockchain Life 2026 – одно из самых масштабных мировых событий по Web3, майнингу, криптовалютам и AI. 15000+ участников из 130+ стран, 200+ спикеров, AI Future – новое направление об AI технологиях будущего, глобальный нетворкинг и финал Формулы 1.

Почему нужно лететь на Blockchain Life?

🔹 Участников ждет целая неделя нетворкинга с ключевыми игроками рынка со всего мира: 2 дня форума, сотни сайд-ивентов, эксклюзивные встречи и финал Гран При Формулы 1. 🔹 200+ звездных спикеров: криптокиты, основатели и руководство крупнейших бирж и топовых монет, влиятельные инвесторы и Tier 1 фонды, мировые эксперты в криптовалютах и AI, а также легендарные трейдеры. 🔹 Масштабная экспо-зона: 200+ ведущих компаний, крупнейших бирж, майнинговых компаний, лидеров Web3, AI-разработки и самых прогрессивных стартапов. 🔹 AI Future Forum – новое направление о будущем, трендах, новейших разработках в робототехнике и синергии AI с криптосферой и бизнесом. 🔹 Легендарная Afterparty в одном из лучших клубов с хедлайнером, известным на всю мировую арену. 🔹 Startup Pitch и Blockchain Life Awards – где стартапы получают шанс заявить о себе, а лучшие компании - признание рынка.

🎧 Синхронный перевод всех выступлений на русский язык включен в билет. Покупайте билет со скидкой 10% по промокоду PAUL

🚀 Join Blockchain Life in Dubai on December 1–2, 2026!

I’m going to Blockchain Life 2026 — see you at the Forum!

On December 1–2, 2026, Blockchain Life 2026 returns to Dubai for one of the world’s largest gatherings focused on Web3, cryptocurrency, mining, and AI.

The event will bring together 15,000+ attendees from 130+ countries, 200+ world-class speakers, 200+ booths at expo, 3 dedicated stages, global live networking and the debut of AI Future.

Why attend Blockchain Life?

🔹 A full week of live networking with key market players over 2 days of the Blockchain Life Forum, hundreds of side events, exclusive meetings, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix Final.

🔹 200+ star speakers: including crypto whales, founders and C-level executives from top exchanges and leading Web3 projects, prominent investors, Tier 1 funds, global experts in crypto and AI, and legendary traders.

🔹 200+ leading companies at one of the largest industry’s expo — from major crypto exchanges and mining firms to Web3 pioneers, AI developers, and cutting-edge startups.

🔹 AI Future Forum — a new track dedicated to AI, covering the most progressive trends of the future, breakthrough robotics developments, and the convergence of AI, crypto, and business.

🔹 Legendary Afterparty at one of the world’s top clubs featuring a globally renowned headliner.

🔹 Startup Pitch and Blockchain Life Awards — where startups showcase their ideas and innovations, while leading companies gain industry recognition.

🎟 Book your early bird ticket now and get 10% off with promo code SEMENCHUK

👉 https://blockchain-life.com/