Product & Design Pulse v51

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Last week…

1. Centering Sign Language in AI and Design

   Microsoft Design shares how its Inclusive Tech Lab collaborated with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to integrate sign language more meaningfully into AI and UX systems. The team emphasizes that sign language is not a direct translation of spoken language and requires its own design thinking. The article showcases early prototypes and research that prioritize accessibility in emerging multimodal interfaces.

2. Apple CEO Tells Staff ‘AI Is Ours to Grab’ in Hourlong Pep Talk

   Apple CEO Tim Cook tried to rally employees with an internal address, urging teams to seize leadership in AI innovation. He acknowledged past challenges but framed AI as central to Apple’s future, especially across Siri, hardware, and privacy-preserving tools. The talk comes as Apple faces increasing competition from OpenAI, Meta, and Google in consumer-facing AI.

3. Meta’s Road to Superintelligence

   Meta unveiled its roadmap to building artificial superintelligence (ASI), framing the challenge as a long-term, open-science endeavor. The company outlines its commitment to transparency, safety, and open collaboration with academic and industry partners. Meta’s focus includes massive compute investments, new training techniques, and governance frameworks as part of its ambitious AI evolution strategy.

4. Tea App Breach Highlights Vulnerabilities in Whisper Networks

   A hack of the anonymous Tea app exposed private communications in several online whisper networks used by activists and industry whistleblowers. The breach raises serious concerns about digital privacy and the limits of encryption in peer-to-peer messaging systems. Security experts say the incident could have chilling effects on communities that rely on anonymity.

5. GenAI Apps Doubled Revenue, Hit 1.7B Downloads in First Half of 2025

   Generative AI apps saw explosive growth in early 2025, with revenue doubling year-over-year and downloads reaching 1.7 billion. According to data from market intelligence firm data.ai, apps focused on creativity, productivity, and chatbots led the surge. The boom highlights mainstream user demand but also signals a crowded and increasingly competitive landscape.

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