Sep 25, 2026 · 7 min listen · Last updated September 25, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Hey, it's Theo. September 25th. Here are five stories I'd flag if you missed yesterday's end-of-day. Let's get into it. First, from InfoQ. Vercel Labs Ships scriptc, a TypeScript-to-Native Compiler That Leaves the JavaScript Engine Behind.
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Vercel Labs Ships scriptc, a TypeScript-to-Native Compiler That Leaves the JavaScript Engine Behind
Vercel Labs has introduced scriptc, an experimental compiler that converts TypeScript into small native executables without relying on Node, V8, or a JavaScript engine. It uses the TypeScript compiler for type checking and can output C or WebAssembly code. Initial benchmarks show faster startup times and lower memory usage than Node, though it experiences slower execution speeds.
We found the future of tech in Hawaii: Live from Snapdragon Summit!
Today's our last day at Snapdragon Summit, and we're making the most of it! The Shortcut team is speaking with more of our friends at Qualcomm to summarize the impact its new technologies will have on all of our devices, how we can take advantage of the insane power in our phones and laptops, and who knows the most Snapdragon history in a little trivia. Qualcomm is hosting The Shortcut’s Substack and our live stream for the entire week in Maui – and we’re broadcasting today and tomorrow in Prime Time. Learn more about partnering with our Substack.
Lightspeed targets $250M for new India fund, focusing on early-stage AI
Lightspeed is gearing up to raise $250 million for a new early-stage fund focused on AI in India, reflecting its belief that this technology could spark a new wave of startups in the region. The firm has a history of investing in AI companies like Anthropic and Databricks, and in India, it has already backed Sarvam AI, a key player in developing large language models.
This new fund, named Lightspeed India Partners V, is smaller than its predecessor, which raised $500 million last year but has already committed most of its capital. The shift to a $250 million fund allows Lightspeed to concentrate on individual investments rather than just fund size, aiming to deploy capital more quickly over a two-and-a-half-year investment period.
For the first time, Lightspeed is aligning its India funds with its global fundraising cycle, a move that mirrors a recent strategy by rival firm Accel. This change could enhance operational efficiency and investment coordination. The firm sees AI as a significant opportunity in India, where the potential for innovation in the application layer is growing, despite the nation lagging behind the U.S. and China in frontier AI model development.
Lightspeed's focus on AI marks a thematic shift from its previous sector-spanning investments in India, which included quick commerce and consumer internet businesses. The same team that managed its earlier India funds will oversee this new initiative, signaling continuity in its investment strategy. With a robust global capital base, Lightspeed's commitment to AI in India could reshape the landscape for startups in the region.
Norway's recent decision to limit AI use in schools for younger students reflects growing concerns about students relying too heavily on technology for their learning. Similar measures are popping up in places like New York City and Los Angeles, where schools are experimenting with controlled AI use while introducing critical-thinking modules. Historically, every new tool in education has prompted a reevaluation of what students need to know, and generative AI is no exception. It’s capable of doing parts of the intellectual process, which raises questions about genuine learning versus just getting the right answers.
While some restrictions make sense—like the limits on mobile phones—there's a risk of students missing out on learning how to engage with AI responsibly. The challenge is finding a balance between outright bans and thoughtful integration. Countries like Australia and Singapore are taking a framework-based approach, focusing on principles like transparency and fairness, while the UK emphasizes risk assessment in deciding AI's role in education. India is also leaning towards integrating AI into the curriculum to foster understanding and responsible use.
Research shows that while AI can enhance performance, it doesn't necessarily improve learning. For instance, a study found that students using ChatGPT scored lower on retention tests compared to those using traditional study methods. This highlights the concern that AI might do too much of the cognitive work for students, which could hinder their development. Ultimately, schools need to teach students not just how to use AI, but when and how to question its outputs critically. The goal is to cultivate AI-literate students who can navigate this technology thoughtfully, ensuring they learn effectively while leveraging the benefits AI can offer.
OpenAI’s New Prompt Caching Changes the Economics of Long-Running AI Agents
Your carrier operates at a layer your privacy settings can’t reach. Privacy engineering lives at the application layer — encryption in transit, zero-knowledge design, data minimization. The network layer gets less scrutiny. Your carrier sits below all that. It sees your IMSI — a static identifier tied to your SIM that persists across every tower connection, regardless of VPN, DNS, or OS. It also sees your real number, call and text metadata, and location via tower triangulation. No application-layer config touches it.
Runway’s WorldPrompt and the Engineering of Real-Time Worlds
Earlier this month, world model company Runway introduced GWM Worlds 2, a research preview that “turns high-fidelity video and audio generation into real-time interactive simulation.” Runway calls this an “autoregressive diffusion” model; with autoregressive describing how it generates over time. One new feature in particular caught our eye: WorldPrompt, a proposed input format for specifying a generated world and the actions within it. It allows you to fix some aspects of a simulated environment — including the first frame — and then create a series of timestamped events.
OpenAI May Announce New Security Model, GPT-6 Cyber, Within Days
OpenAI will preview its next cybersecurity-focused model, GPT-6 Cyber, as soon as a few days from now, Fortune reported on Thursday. It’s also reportedly launching some kind of product that will aid customers in deploying the new model securely; that product has yet to be named, according to Fortune. The announcement is particularly notable as CEO Sam Altman has joined Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in calling for an AI slowdown after models at Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and Meta frontier labs all launched cyber attacks.
So, the Tesla Semi is officially in production now, which is a big deal since it was first teased back in 2017. They’ve finally set up shop at their new factory near Gigafactory Nevada, and they’re aiming to crank out 50,000 of these trucks a year, which breaks down to about 1,000 a week. It’s hard to believe it took nearly a decade to get to this point, but here we are.
At a recent event, Tesla showcased the Semi to customers and investors, highlighting some familiar names like PepsiCo and DHL who are on board as new customers. It seems like they’re really trying to show that the wait was worth it, and they’re ready to hit the road with this heavy-duty electric truck. It’s interesting to see how this project has evolved over the years, and now it’s finally becoming a reality.
Google’s AI Wants to Call Stores for You — Here Are the Problems With That
Google on Thursday announced an expansion of its mobile Gemini AI capabilities, a new agentic feature built to handle everyday phone calls for you. Introverts of the world, rejoice — but also pay attention to the fine print, because there are limits to what Gemini can do for you. This technology, which starts with a “@Call for me” prompt when using Gemini on your phone, is slowly rolling out to eligible users. Gemini could call a store to verify business hours or ask about product availability. With the right prompt, it could call a local restaurant and make a reservation for a specific time.