Daily TEA- Cognitive AI Shift, EVM Expansion, and Solana Meme Volatility?

AI’s Cognitive Transition, EVM in TradFi, Solana Launchpad Shifts, Recruitment Preferences, Generative AI Struggles, and more.

Aug 20, 2025

Hello, dear TEA-mates, here's what you need to know today.

1. 🧠 AI Sparks a Cognitive Handoff in Software Development?

Zak El Fassi’s blog post examines the “Great Cognitive Handoff,” where AI tools like Copilot and Cursor are transforming Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) into external frontal cortices, shifting developers’ roles from manual coding to steering AI-generated solutions. It describes a recursive feedback loop where AI-assisted code improves future AI models, suggesting a civilization-scale transition toward hybrid human-AI cognition, challenging traditional notions of agency and consciousness. Read More: Zak El Fassi

☕ TEA For Thought: The thing is how to remain intelligently capable to co-create with AI, and not let AI take away our cognitive and critical thinking skills—remain vigilant.

2. 🌐 EVM Gains Traction as TradFi Adopts Blockchain?

The BanklessHQ Ethereum Weekly newsletter discusses Circle’s new L1 chain Arc and Stripe’s Tempo, both EVM-compatible and backed by permissioned validators from regulated institutions. Arc features 20 consortium validators, while Tempo leverages Paradigm’s RETH client. The article questions whether these chains will issue L1 assets or encourage Web3 development, suggesting their current role as private settlement networks strengthens the EVM’s dominance as Wall Street’s new ledger software, indirectly benefiting ETH. Read More: BanklessHQ

☕ TEA For Thought: EVM might be the Web2’s onramp to Web3, the gateway to TradFi to DeFi.

3. 📉 Pump.fun Dominates Solana Meme Coin Launchpad Market?

The Block reports that Pump.fun has surged to a 90% share of the Solana meme coin launchpad market as of Sunday, up from 5% two weeks ago, overtaking LetsBonk, which dropped to 3% after losing 80% of its value due to a rug pull. The shift is linked to top deployers, bot activity, and Pump.fun’s $600 million token sale and buyback efforts, with $200 million in weekly trading volume reflecting ongoing volatility. Read More: The Block

☕ TEA For Thought: This is just a proof that Solana meme coin market is so not decentralized.

4. 📊 Study Probes Applicant Preferences in AI Hiring?

A SSRN paper analyzes a survey of 1,200 job applicants, finding 60% prefer AI-driven hiring for its efficiency, while 40% favor human recruiters for personal interaction. The study questions the growing trend of companies soliciting applicant feedback on hiring methods, suggesting it may divert focus from traditional quality assessments in candidate selection. Read More: SSRN

☕ TEA For Thought: It’s strange that you have applicants rate whether they prefer AI or recruiters—aren’t companies supposed to evaluate the quality of the applicants as metrics?

5. 📉 MIT Report Highlights 95% Failure Rate in AI Pilots?

A Fortune article cites an MIT report revealing that 95% of generative AI pilot projects at companies fail, incurring $10 billion in losses in 2025 due to poor integration, unclear ROI, and skill shortages. A logistics firm’s 5% efficiency gain is noted as a rare success, underscoring the need for focused strategies to enhance profitability and efficiency. Read More: Fortune

☕ TEA For Thought: Buzz is called buzz for a reason, short and fleeting. For any business, increase profit margin is the key, increase productivity, reduce cost, and drive efficiency. Do not get lost in all the noises, focus on the signal.