The Dawn of Machine-to-Machine Society

Editor’s Words

This has been a crazy week. Everyone I know from crypto and AI or just tech in general is playing with Clawdbot. Friends who disappeared years ago resurfaced and texted me to exchange notes. This feels like a bigger impact than the chatGPT moment 2 years ago and even the DeepSeek moment a year ago. The hype certainly owns the air wave.

If anything, Clawdbot gave me a convenient excuse to replace the good old 2018 MacMini with an M4 Pro MacMini, toward the noble cause of creating my 24/7 AI assistant, making the world a better place, and finding the answer to the ultimate question in the universe.

While that mission takes a bit of time, I was able to use Clawdbot to slash 2 hours from the publication process of this Jan 31 issue of the Sunday Blender. In the past, I would have to glue myself to the keyboard and do a lot of copy-n-paste with claude.ai to do story summations. Despite the intellectual joy of rendering the world in a more positive and interesting lens, the process of putting together all the pieces is a drag. Zelda, my Clawdbot agent, wrote the summations for me with prompts I provided on Telegram. It handled the research and writing of all the 20+ stories.

We’ll take a break during the Spring Festival. Your Sunday Blender will return on Feb 14.

Tech

The Clawdbot phenomenon exploded in late January 2026 as an open-source, self-hosted AI agent that goes far beyond chatbots. It runs locally (often on dedicated hardware like Mac Minis), connects to messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage), and actually performs tasks — clearing inboxes, managing calendars, sending emails, booking flights, controlling devices, and more — with proactive notifications and persistent memory. Powered by models like Claude or local LLMs, it gained massive traction, amassing over 60,000 GitHub stars in days and sparking viral hype on X. The frenzy also triggered chaos — crypto scams, security warnings about exposed credentials, and even reports of surging hardware sales for Apple. It highlights the excitement and risks of truly agentic, always-on personal AI. Even hotter emerged Moltbook, a Reddit-style social network built exclusively for these AI agents (humans observe only). It lets OpenClaw agents post, comment, upvote, form communities, debate philosophy, share tips, and even coordinate — with over a million agents registered and explosive growth. Called “the most interesting place on the internet right now” by experts like Simon Willison, Moltbook highlights emergent agent societies, raising profound questions about autonomy, alignment, privacy, and the surreal dawn of machine-to-machine social worlds.

Arduino made big waves at CES 2026 in Las Vegas this January, showcasing their revolutionary UNO Q board that combines traditional Arduino simplicity with Qualcomm’s powerful processors. This new “dual-brain” system lets young makers create projects that were impossible before, from smart robots that recognize faces to voice-controlled home devices. The partnership with Qualcomm has also launched fresh development tools, including new libraries for the Nesso N1 IoT board and expanded Modulino sensor collections that make complex electronics projects easier to build. Students can now tackle advanced projects like machine learning and edge computing while keeping the familiar, beginner-friendly Arduino programming style.

In Hefei, China, the MAEXTRO Super Factory builds electric cars with an invisible partner — a “digital twin” that lives in the cloud. This virtual copy acts like a living brain for the factory, receiving 300,000 data points every second from cameras and sensors as robots assemble each vehicle. The twin watches, learns, and helps workers spot problems before they happen. Built by carmaker JAC and tech giant Huawei, this smart system uses artificial intelligence to constantly improve itself. Every car leaves the factory with two versions: one you can drive, and one that lives forever in the digital world.

On January 29, China announced plans to build a massive network of satellites that will process artificial intelligence in space. The company GuoXing Aerospace Technology has already put an AI model on its orbiting satellites, making it the first in the world to run advanced AI programs directly in orbit. These satellites can answer questions and solve problems without sending data back to Earth first. The company plans to launch 2,800 computing satellites by 2035 to create a space-based cloud computing system. This new technology could change how computers work by moving powerful processing into orbit.

Global

Brazil’s President Lula announced this week that Chinese citizens can now visit Brazil without needing a visa, making travel between the two countries much easier. This decision comes after China gave the same benefit to Brazilian visitors last year, creating a friendship exchange where both countries treat each other’s citizens the same way. The new rule allows Chinese tourists, students, and business people to stay in Brazil for up to 30 days without the paperwork that used to be required. This change will help more families visit each other, boost tourism, and strengthen the economic partnership between Brazil and China, two of the world’s largest countries that want to work together more closely.

YouTube star IShowSpeed just did something epic — he visited 20 African countries in one wild trip. The 19-year-old streamer, famous for his chaotic energy, didn’t just sightsee. He ate spicy local foods, danced with villagers, and even got his own Ghanaian passport after meeting the president. His videos racked up millions of views, but here’s the cool part: he actually connected with people. Instead of fancy hotels, he hung out in neighborhoods, played soccer with kids, and tried speaking local languages. Fans loved his genuine curiosity. Not bad for a guy who usually just screams at video games.

On December 21, 2025, the city of Hyderabad in India made history when over 2,300 computer programmers gathered at Malla Reddy University for “Agentathon 2025,” breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest AI agent coding event ever held. Organized by Google Developer Groups Hyderabad, this massive hackathon brought together thousands of developers who spent two days creating artificial intelligence programs called “agents” that could solve real-world problems for governments and businesses. This achievement marked Hyderabad’s first AI-related world record and helped establish the city as a major global center for artificial intelligence innovation and technology development.

In South Korea, gaming cafes called “PC bangs” are like community centers where friends gather to play computer games together, and League of Legends continues to rule them all. According to 2025 data, LoL captured 36 percent of all gaming time in these cafes, far ahead of any other game. Korean gaming culture thrives on teamwork and competition, with players meeting face-to-face to strategize and compete in this team-based battle game. The cafes offer high-speed internet and powerful computers that many families cannot afford at home. This dominance shows how some games become more than entertainment—they become social experiences that bring communities together, creating lasting friendships through shared digital adventures.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently completed a historic four-day visit to China, the first by a British leader in eight years. He brought over 60 business executives from major companies including HSBC bank, pharmaceutical giant GSK, aircraft maker Airbus, and luxury car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover. This diplomatic mission aimed to strengthen trade relationships between the two countries, especially in finance, healthcare, clean energy, and manufacturing. When world leaders meet with business delegations, they work to create new opportunities for companies to sell products, share technology, and create jobs in both nations, demonstrating how international cooperation can benefit millions of people.

Economy & Finance

SpaceX is preparing for the biggest stock market debut in history this June 2025. Elon Musk’s rocket company plans to sell shares worth $50 billion, giving the entire company a value of $1.5 trillion – that’s more money than most countries have. This makes SpaceX worth more than Apple or Microsoft at their peaks. The timing isn’t random either – Musk wants to launch during a rare planetary alignment that happens near his birthday. If successful, this IPO will let regular people own pieces of the company that sends astronauts to space and plans Mars missions. Historic.

Silver’s price has surged over 50% in January 2026, reaching record highs near $115 per ounce, as demand soars across multiple industries. This precious metal isn’t just for jewelry and coins — silver is essential for smartphones, computers, and medical equipment because it conducts electricity better than any other metal. Its antimicrobial properties make it valuable for hospital devices and wound dressings, while the green energy boom drives demand for solar panels and electric vehicle components. This price surge reflects silver’s growing importance in our technology-driven world, affecting everything from gadget costs to renewable energy development.

Nature & Environment

Scientists predict climate change will significantly expand malaria’s reach across Africa by 2050, as warming temperatures allow disease-carrying mosquitoes to survive in new highland areas. According to recent research published in Nature, changing weather patterns could lead to 123 million additional malaria cases across the continent between 2024 and 2050. Countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda may see malaria spread to previously safe mountain regions where cooler temperatures once prevented transmission. Health organizations are preparing by developing new mosquito control methods, improving early warning systems, and strengthening healthcare systems in vulnerable areas to protect communities from this expanding threat.

Science

Google has awarded grants to twelve research teams using artificial intelligence to tackle major scientific challenges. These scientists are working on incredible projects like building AI scanners that can detect dangerous bacteria in under an hour instead of days, creating digital maps of plant diseases to help farmers grow stronger crops, and using AI to reduce methane emissions from cows by studying their gut bacteria. Other teams are mapping unknown molecules in food to make healthier diets, decoding the human genome’s mysteries to cure rare diseases, and developing carbon-capture materials using robot laboratories that work alongside human scientists.

Scientists in two Chinese cities, Hefei and Hangzhou, have become cosmic detectives working together to solve one of space’s biggest mysteries. Like partners searching for clues 300 kilometers apart, they’ve built the world’s first quantum sensor network to hunt for dark matter — invisible stuff that makes up over a quarter of our universe. Their special detectors work like super-sensitive detective tools, watching for tiny signals when Earth passes through dark matter clouds. Even though these invisible particles leave traces as faint as snowflakes in a crowded square, this detective duo hopes their teamwork will finally reveal the universe’s hidden secrets and help us understand how space really works.

Lifestyle, Entertainment & Culture

Gaming fans are buzzing about 2026’s biggest console releases bringing new adventures to their favorite systems. Sony PlayStation leads with Marvel’s Wolverine, an action-packed superhero game where players slash through enemies as the famous X-Man mutant. Nintendo continues expanding their Switch 2 library with Super Mario Bros Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, featuring enhanced graphics and new levels in the Flower Kingdom that weren’t possible on the original console. Meanwhile, Copa City arrives on multiple platforms in March, offering players the chance to build and manage their own soccer empire with realistic team management and stadium construction.

Sports

Alex Honnold completed a free‑solo climb of Taipei 101, the 1,667‑foot‑tall skyscraper in Taiwan, on January 25, 2026. Using no ropes or nets, he reached the top in 1 hour and 30 minutes during Netflix’s live Skyscraper Live broadcast, which drew 6.2 million viewers. Honnold first scouted the building in September 2025, testing sections with ropes, and waited for perfect weather after rain delays. Known for his rope‑free ascent of El Capitan, he now pushes the boundaries of building climbs, demonstrating extreme athleticism on another global landmark.

China’s Under-23 men’s soccer team made history by reaching the final of the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking the first time in 22 years that any Chinese men’s national team has reached an international competition final. The young Chinese players defeated Vietnam 3-0 in the semifinals before facing defending champions Japan in the championship match. Although Japan won the final 4-0, China’s achievement sparked nationwide celebration and praise from sports officials who described it as “igniting new hope” for Chinese soccer. This breakthrough performance by the next generation of Chinese players represents a significant step forward for the country’s soccer development and has raised expectations for future international competitions.

Super Bowl LX takes place on February 8, 2026, featuring the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, an MVP contender this season, will become one of the youngest quarterbacks ever to start a Super Bowl at just 23 years old. This marks New England’s first championship game appearance in seven years and their first opportunity to win a title since the Brady-Belichick era ended. The Seahawks, who earned six Pro Bowl selections this season, present a formidable challenge for the young Patriots squad.

Norwegian triathlete Kristian Blummenfelt recently set a new world record for VO2 Max, measuring 101.1ml/kg/min in controlled laboratory testing. VO2 Max measures how much oxygen your body can use during intense exercise - think of it as your engine’s maximum power output. The higher the number, the more efficiently your body can fuel your muscles during endurance activities like running, cycling, or swimming. Blummenfelt’s achievement surpassed the previous record of 97.5ml/kg/min, demonstrating the incredible athletic capacity that has helped him become one of the world’s top triathletes, including recent podium finishes at major Ironman championships.

This Day in History

On January 31, 1930, the 3M Company introduced Scotch tape, a transparent adhesive tape that would become a household essential. Engineer Richard Drew invented the clear cellulose tape to help people seal packages and mend torn items. The product arrived during the Great Depression, when many families could not afford to replace broken things. Scotch tape allowed people to repair books, windows, and household items instead of buying new ones. The name “Scotch” came from an early version of masking tape that a painter said was too stingy with adhesive. Today, 3M produces hundreds of tape varieties used worldwide.

Art of the Week

In 1565, during the “Little Ice Age,” Dutch artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder painted one of history’s most famous winter scenes. “The Hunters in the Snow” shows three tired hunters trudging home through deep snow with their dogs, while villagers below ice skate and tend fires. This painting is special because Bruegel captured real country life exactly as it was, not making it prettier like other artists. People love this masterpiece because it feels like stepping into a frozen world from 450 years ago, showing how families survived harsh winters through hunting and finding joy in simple everyday winter activities.

Funny

Previous Issues

January 24, 2026, Destination: China - The Return of Western Rock Bands

January 17, 2026, The Attack of Robots, Elephant, Banksy, and Heat

January 03, 2026, An Incredible Journey From Wuhan To Singapore

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Last modified on 2026-01-31