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Applied AI·July 15, 2026·1 min read

Thinking Machines debuts Inkling, a giant open model it admits is not the best

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An open-weight model whose creators openly say “it’s not the best” but “keep the weirdness alive” is a cultural play — prioritizing experimentation over leaderboard dominance. For teams exploring non-standard behaviors or researchy use cases, this is a reminder that diversity of model families is strategic, not cosmetic.

Applied AI

Cadence unveils AuraStack AI Super Agent, an AI platform for PCB and advanced chip packaging design, with Nvidia, TSMC, and Schneider Electric among early users

AI agents are moving into the heart of hardware design—Cadence putting AuraStack on PCB and advanced packaging with Nvidia and TSMC as users means AI is now in the critical path of chip infra. If you build hardware, start mapping which design stages can be agent-augmented and how you’ll validate AI-driven layouts before tape-out.

Applied AI

Sources: Microsoft security chief Hayete Gallot, who took over in February, has prioritized AI tools, cut several hundred roles, replaced senior execs, and more

Microsoft’s security overhaul—AI-first tools, hundreds of roles cut, senior exec turnover—is a signal that even incumbents are restructuring around AI-native defense. CISOs should expect vendors to push AI-heavy roadmaps and should benchmark their own org design and headcount mix against this kind of shift.