Apps without coding

Executive Summary 

• AI data analyst goes mainstream.

• Tesla autopilot crashed causing fatalities.

• Full list of tech layoffs.

• Tool of the week: AppSheet.

News

 🤖 Julius Raises $10M as AI Data Analyst Startup Goes Mainstream. Link

• Julius, an AI-powered data analyst startup, just landed a $10 million seed round led by Bessemer Venture Partners—with backing from notables like the CEOs of Perplexity, Vercel, and Twilio.

• The product works like having a chatbot you “talk to” about your data Julius handles everything from crunching numbers to generating visualisations and running predictive models, all prompted in natural language.

• With over two million users and Harvard Business School already integrating Julius into its data science curriculum, the startup is proving there’s demand for specialised, conversational AI in real-world workplaces, not just generic chatbots.

 🍎 Tim Cook: “Apple Must Win in AI”. Link

• At a company all-hands meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly told employees that “Apple must do this” and “must win in AI,” even as the company faces delays upgrading Siri and launches new AI features under “Apple Intelligence”.

• Cook acknowledged Apple isn’t always first but drew on how the company redefined the PC, smartphone, and other markets by focusing on user experience rather than being the first mover.

• The talk coming on the heels of a promise to “significantly” ramp up AI investment shows how urgent Apple sees its role in shaping the next wave of tech, even as it plays catch-up.

 💼 2025 Tech Layoffs Continue as Industry Shifts Focus to AI. Link

• Hundreds of tech layoffs were announced last week across major names like Meta, Amazon, and Intel, part of a rolling wave of restructuring as companies reallocate resources to AI development and automation.

• While the layoffs hit both established firms and startups, the pattern is clear: companies are placing big bets that AI-driven roles and efficiencies will define future growth, sometimes at the expense of existing staff.

• Industry chatter suggests that as generative AI tools get more capable, workforce disruptions are likely to remain a fact of life in the tech sector for now.

 🚗 Tesla Ordered to Pay $243 Million Over Fatal Autopilot Crash. Link

• A Florida jury awarded $243 million in damages against Tesla after finding that the firm’s Autopilot technology was partly responsible for a crash that killed two people, marking one of the largest verdicts yet related to self-driving software.

• The case spotlighted persistent safety concerns around Tesla’s automated driving features and raised new questions about advanced driver-assist software’s real-world readiness.

• While the verdict is certain to be appealed, it’s a wake-up call for both automakers and regulators: the transition to self-driving cars is still fraught with legal, technical, and safety challenges.

AI tool of the week

AppSheet

AppSheet is a no-code platform from Google that lets anyone create custom mobile and web apps quickly—without any programming.

To build an app, users can start in several flexible ways: create a blank app, use AI (Gemini) by describing their app idea in natural language, generate an app from existing data sources (such as Google Sheets, Excel, or databases), or customize a pre-built template for common use cases.

Once an app is initially created, AppSheet provides intuitive tools to customise app views, connect data, automate workflows, and manage user access.

Apps can be previewed, tested, and iterated live, making it easy for businesses and individuals to streamline operations, collect data, or automate processes—all with no code required.

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