Digimasters Shorts - Trump's AI Dominance Push Shuns CEOs, Trunk Tools Raises $40M for Construction AI, Google’s AI Try-On Revolution Sparks Privacy Fears, Apple Opens Accessible Osaka Store, Gut Bacteria Predict Cities with Alarming Accuracy

Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, your rapid-fire source for the latest in digital innovation, tech policy, and AI breakthroughs. Hosted by Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson, each episode delivers concise insights into the most impactful stories shaping the future of technology—from major policy shifts like Trump's AI strategy and groundbreaking startup funding to consumer-focused innovations from Google and Apple, and even surprising scientific discoveries about gut bacteria. Stay informed, stay ahead, and get your digital dose in just a few minutes with Digimasters Shorts.

Transcript

Adam N2: 0:05

Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam Nagus

Carly W: 0:09

and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from the digital realm. On July 23rd, President Donald Trump unveiled a new vision for artificial intelligence development at the AI Summit in Washington. His plan reflects strong support from Silicon Valley tech billionaires who backed his 2024 campaign. Trump signed three executive orders aimed at securing U.S. global dominance in AI technology. These orders rolled back regulatory measures introduced by former President Joe Biden. Notably, no major tech C.E.Os attended the signing event. Trump called for rebranding artificial intelligence, insisting the field represents"pure genius" rather than something artificial. The White House's AI action plan emphasizes a competitive race to establish the largest AI ecosystem. The plan suggests whoever leads in AI will set global standards and gain economic and military advantages. This move highlights the ongoing political dynamics on the American right surrounding technology and innovation policy. Trump's approach signals a significant shift in U.S. AI strategy with broad implications domestically and internationally.

Adam N2: 1:14

A New York startup, Trunk Tools, has raised$40 million in a Series B funding round to advance its AI technology in the construction industry. Trunk Tools transforms unstructured construction data like documents and blueprints into structured datasets to power its AI agents. These AI agents answer workers' questions in simple language, such as inquiries about project details, providing responses backed by source materials. Over the past 18 months, the company has introduced AI systems capable of autonomously managing workflows like scheduling and project tracking. Founder Buchner explained that general AI models struggle with construction data, prompting the startup to build custom large language models from scratch. The company offers subscriptions for its software and charges per outcome for some AI services, with customers including Suffolk Construction and DPR Construction. Operating with a 60-person team across the U.S and Canada, Trunk Tools embeds AI specialists within customer organizations to drive adoption. Insight Partners led the latest funding round, joined by several prominent investors, bringing total funding to$70 million. Buchner stated that half of the new capital will be invested in product development, with the remainder focused on go-to-market efforts. This funding reflects growing confidence in AI solutions tailored for the complex construction sector. Google has introduced new AI shopping features, including a virtual"try it on" tool that lets users upload a photo to see how clothing items would look on them. The search giant also enhanced its price alerts, allowing shoppers to track specific sizes, colors, and target prices. These updates are part of Google's AI Mode expansion revealed at Google I/O 2025, aiming to simplify web browsing and save consumers money. The new virtual try-on tool could reduce the hassle and cost of returns by helping customers make better buying decisions. Additional AI features are expected later this year, such as exploring shoppable outfit and room inspiration directly within AI Mode. In parallel, Google launched Scam Detection for Pixel phones, using AI to analyze live calls for fraud, alerting users in real time. This comes amid rising financial losses from phone scams and federal efforts to combat them. Meanwhile, Apple promotes its iPhone 16 as a leading AI device, but some users remain skeptical until promised features fully materialize, possibly not until 2025. Google’s Pixel 9, with its AI-driven tools, currently offers a competitive alternative in the evolving smartphone landscape. These advances signal growing reliance on AI to enhance daily tech experiences and consumer safety.

Carly W: 3:54

Apple is set to open its new store in Osaka, Japan, this Saturday, featuring a design centered around accessibility. The Apple Umeda store incorporates universal design principles, offering varied table and chair heights, wide passageways for wheelchair users, and assistive hearing devices. The storefront boasts a curved design accessed via a canopied walkway, reflecting the vibrancy and creativity of the local area. Apple has created customized wallpaper featuring playful versions of its logo inspired by Osaka's culture for the store's launch. The store will host"Today at Apple" workshops, including sessions on leveraging Apple Intelligence features. Diadora Obra, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail and Human Resources, expressed enthusiasm about the store fostering connections with creative communities and local businesses in Kansai. The inclusive layout is intended to welcome all customers, enhancing their in-store experience. Photos released by Apple showcase these thoughtful design elements ahead of the grand opening. The new Apple Umeda aims to deliver the appeal of Apple's products and services in a space tailored for accessibility and community engagement. Locals are encouraged to visit and participate in the workshops starting at 10 a.m. on opening day. A new study by BGI Genomics demonstrates that gut bacteria can predict a person's city of residence with 94% accuracy. Researchers analyzed fecal samples from 381 healthy adults in Wuhan and Shiyan, two cities in China's Hubei Province about 500 kilometers apart. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, they identified 649 bacterial species and 515 metabolic pathways, revealing distinct microbial patterns between the two cities. Wuhan residents had higher levels of Bacteroides stercoris, associated with plant-based diets, while Shiyan residents showed more Prevotella copri, linked to protein and processed food consumption. The study used machine learning integrating species and metabolic data to achieve high classification accuracy. Findings challenge the idea that gut microbiota differences only exist at broad geographic scales, showing neighboring cities have unique microbial profiles. Limitations include the study's focus on only two cities, imbalanced gender representation, and lack of dietary data. Despite these, the research suggests gut microbiota could aid forensic investigations and personalized nutrition strategies. It also opens avenues for geographic-specific disease risk prediction through microbiome profiling. This work reinforces the growing understanding that"you are what you eat," extending to where you live.

Don: 6:31

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