FCC Blocks Foreign Robots

This is a massive expansion of the FCC’s national security authority, moving far beyond traditional telecom gear. By adding foreign-produced "advanced robotic devices" (specifically mobile robots, humanoids, and quadrupeds) to its Covered List, the FCC has effectively placed an import gate on the next generation of physical AI.

The immediate and long-term implications of this policy shift shake out across market access, cybersecurity, and supply chains:

1. Immediate Market Freeze on New Models

Landing on the Covered List is a hard commercial block. Moving forward, no new models of foreign-produced mobile robots can receive the FCC equipment authorization required for legal import, marketing, or sale in the United States.

 The "Grandfather" Catch: The restriction is forward-looking. Existing models that have already been authorized, or units consumers and businesses already own, are entirely unaffected. Retailers can continue selling older inventory, but the freeze means foreign manufacturers cannot iterate or launch their latest upgrades in the U.S. market.

 What is Carved Out: The ban specifically targets mobile and agile ground robots. It explicitly excludes standard connected road vehicles, drones, uncrewed underwater vehicles, FDA-regulated medical mobility devices, and fixed industrial arms (such as SCARA or gantry designs used in traditional factory automation).

2. The Invisible Target is China

While the FCC text explicitly states the ban applies to "any nationality" to encourage blanket compliance, the geopolitical target is clearly Beijing. The technical definition relies on the "Buy American" standard—meaning any robot that fails to qualify as a "domestic end product" is flagged. Leading Chinese commercial robotics developers (such as Unitree, whose quadrupeds and humanoids have rapidly scaled from tech demos to market-ready platforms) face the steepest hurdles.

Silicon Alley Had a great month

 In the last full month (April 2026), New York City startups put up a remarkably strong showing, though it wasn't quite an all-time record for the ecosystem.

According to data compiled by AlleyWatch, NYC tech companies pulled in $1.79 billion across 65 deals.

Here is how the numbers break down and where they stand historically:

Is it a record?

No, but it represents very healthy growth. The $1.79 billion raised is a 27.7% increase year-over-year compared to the $1.4 billion raised in April 2025. Deal volume remained relatively flat (65 deals vs. 62 last year), meaning the growth was entirely driven by larger, highly concentrated round sizes rather than a massive influx of new transactions.

While it’s a robust bounce-back for the city's venture market, it still trails the peak frenzy of the 2021–2022 boom, when NYC monthly totals regularly cleared the $3 billion to $4 billion mark

The Iran War & Silicon Alley

 The "Iran crisis" of early 2026—marked by military engagements in February and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz—has created a complex ripple effect on the New York City venture capital (VC) ecosystem. While NYC remains a global hub for "hard tech" and infrastructure, the conflict has shifted investor behavior from aggressive expansion to a more defensive, strategic posture.

Here is how the crisis is impacting VC inflow and activity in NYC:

1. Shift from Growth to "Infrastructure Sovereignty"

The crisis has heightened concerns about the physical and cyber security of data centers and technology stacks. For NYC-based firms focusing on tech infrastructure:  

• National Security Focus: Investors are prioritizing startups that offer "tech sovereignty"—solutions that reduce reliance on global supply chains or energy sources vulnerable to Middle Eastern instability.

• Data Integrity: There is increased capital flowing into cybersecurity firms that protect critical NYC infrastructure from state-backed hacking, which has spiked during the conflict.

2. Energy Shocks and "Stagflation" Fears

The jump in energy prices due to supply disruptions has revived concerns about stagflation.  

• Tightening Terms: While dry powder (unspent capital) remains high, NYC VCs are becoming more disciplined regarding entry multiples and operational value.

• Delayed Interest Rate Relief: Persistent energy-driven inflation may lead the Federal Reserve to delay interest rate cuts, which traditionally tightens the financing environment for long-term venture bets.  

3. Divergence in AI Funding

The "AI Optimism" that defined late 2025 has met a reality check.  

• Selective Spending: Investors are moving away from general software licenses and toward "high-quality" chipmakers and hardware optimized for specific workloads.  

• The ROI Gap: In NYC, there is a growing scrutiny of AI startups’ ability to show clear earnings and profits rather than just future expectations, as the cost of building out AI infrastructure (like data centers) rises alongside energy costs.

4. Impact on Private Credit and Valuations

Public market proxies for private credit (like BDCs) have seen sharp valuation drops.  

• Liquidity Stress: This has created a "trickle-up" effect where NYC startups looking for mid-to-late-stage debt or bridge rounds are finding the terms much more expensive and the due diligence more rigorous.

Bruni PR / the AI Native PR firm

 2026 is the year of the AI Native PR firm . Bruni PR will be part of the trend.  

What AI-native PR firms actually do differently (strategically)

This matters enormously for high-stakes clients like datacenters or robotics companies.

Traditional PR model:

• Static media lists
• Manual pitching
• Reactive crisis response
• Relationship-dependent

AI-native PR model:

• Dynamic journalist targeting
• Predictive crisis modeling
• LLM citation optimization
• Narrative engineering across human + AI channels

Where the industry is going (important insight)

Major structural shifts underway:

• Large firms consolidating due to AI disruption  
• AI automating large portions of communications workflows  
• Agencies shifting toward AI-driven delivery models  

Meaning:

The future is smaller, smarter, AI-native firms—not massive legacy agencies.

The PR Winter

 The PR Winter: Why Burson and Edelman are Shrinking in the Age of AI

The "Golden Age" of the mega-agency is officially on ice. As 2025 draws to a close, the industry’s two biggest titans—Burson and Edelman—are grappling with a reality that looks less like a "pivot" and more like a structural collapse. Burson’s parent company, WPP, has seen its stock hit a 16-year low, while Edelman’s U.S. revenue has cratered by nearly 8%. The message is clear: the traditional model of charging premium fees for "junior-heavy" labor is being cannibalized by autonomous technology.

The primary culprit is the destruction of the billable hour. For decades, firms like Edelman built their margins on the backs of account executives who spent dozens of hours on manual tasks like media list building, press release drafting, and coverage reporting. Today, "Agentic AI" can perform these tasks in seconds for pennies. Clients are no longer willing to pay for "execution"; they are demanding "intelligence discounts," forcing agencies to slash headcounts to maintain any semblance of profitability. WPP alone has shed over 7,000 jobs in the last year, a direct reflection of a business model that is losing its core currency: human time.

Furthermore, the "AI-first" tools these agencies are desperately launching—like Edelman’s ArchieAI or Burson’s Reputation Capital—create a strategic paradox. By building tools that make their teams 30–50% more efficient, they are effectively building a machine that reduces their own revenue. Unless these giants can successfully move to "value-based pricing"—charging for a high-stakes outcome rather than the hours spent achieving it—they will continue to shrink. In 2025, the industry isn't just fighting a recession; it is fighting a fundamental loss of relevance as AI commoditizes the very "content" that once made them billion-dollar empires.

Mamdani impact on Silicon Alley & NYC

 

• In the short-term (next 12–24 months), I’d expect a modest slowdown or flattening of large VC growth-rounds in NYC simply due to uncertainty and re-adjustment.
• In the medium-term (2–5 yrs), if Mamdani’s admin articulates and delivers a clear, startup-friendly framework (affordability + infrastructure + regulation support), NYC could regain momentum — especially in sectors aligned with his agenda (social tech, climate, inclusive economy).
• Many VCs will still commit to NYC — the deep ecosystem, talent pool, corporate headquarters, global finance still matter — but there may be a shift in composition: more early stage, more “impact” and fewer ultra-high valuations until clarity is achieved.

AI & PR

 How AI is Revolutionizing Public Relations (PR)**  

## **Introduction**  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries across the board, and **Public Relations (PR)** is no exception. From automating media monitoring to enhancing audience engagement, AI is reshaping how PR professionals strategize, execute, and measure their campaigns.  

In this blog post, we’ll explore:  

✔ How AI is being used in PR today  

✔ Key benefits of AI-powered PR tools  

✔ Potential challenges and ethical considerations  

✔ The future of AI in PR  

---  

## **1. How AI is Being Used in PR**  

### **A. Media Monitoring & Sentiment Analysis**  

AI-powered tools like **Meltwater, Cision, and Brandwatch** scan millions of news articles, social media posts, and blogs in real time to track brand mentions. Using **Natural Language Processing (NLP)**, these tools analyze sentiment—helping PR teams gauge public perception and respond proactively.  

### **B. Personalized Pitches & Targeted Outreach**  

AI can analyze journalist preferences, past articles, and engagement patterns to help PR professionals craft **hyper-personalized pitches**. Tools like **Prophet** and **Roxhill Media** use AI to recommend the best journalists for a story, increasing the chances of coverage.  

### **C. Chatbots & Automated Customer Service**  

Brands are using AI-driven chatbots (like **ChatGPT-powered assistants**) to handle media inquiries, crisis communications, and customer interactions—freeing up PR teams to focus on strategic tasks.  

### **D. Predictive Analytics for Crisis Management**  

AI can predict potential PR crises by analyzing trends and detecting early warning signs. For example, if negative sentiment spikes around a brand, AI tools can alert teams before the issue escalates.  

### **E. Content Creation & Optimization**  

AI writing assistants (like **Jasper, Copy.ai, and ChatGPT**) help PR teams draft press releases, social media posts, and blog content quickly. AI can also optimize headlines and messaging for better engagement.  

---  

## **2. Key Benefits of AI in PR**  

✅ **Faster Data Processing** – AI analyzes vast amounts of data in seconds, providing real-time insights.  

✅ **Improved Targeting** – AI identifies the right journalists, influencers, and audiences for campaigns.  

✅ **Cost & Time Efficiency** – Automating repetitive tasks (like media monitoring) saves resources.  

✅ **Enhanced Measurement** – AI provides deeper analytics on campaign performance and ROI.  

---  

## **3. Challenges & Ethical Considerations**  

While AI offers immense potential, PR professionals must navigate:  

🔸 **Bias in AI** – If training data is biased, AI tools may produce skewed results.  

🔸 **Loss of Human Touch** – Over-reliance on AI could make PR interactions feel impersonal.  

🔸 **Data Privacy Concerns** – AI tools must comply with regulations like **GDPR**.  

🔸 **Misinformation Risks** – AI-generated content could spread false narratives if unchecked.  

NY Tech Week & Robotics

 Last week’s NY Tech week featured a lot of parties & panels but the best gathering I attended was the NY Tech Meetup, which Bruni PR first attended in 2006.  It’s the “Ellis Island” for techies coming to NYC.

The event at Civic Hall focused on the hottest new industry in NYC - Robotics.   

• The New York–New Jersey region recorded approximately $21 billion in robotics-related industry revenue in 2022 (including industrial robots, AGVs, and AMRs), with projections ranging up to $190 billion by 2040—a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13–23 %  

Trump 100 Days

The first 100 days of Trump have been the worst start for any President in American history.  The WSJ editorial board summed it up perfectly today :

“Presidential second terms are rarely successful, and on the evidence of his first 100 days Donald Trump’s won’t be different. The President needs a major reset if he wants to rescue his final years from the economic and foreign-policy shocks he has unleashed.”

Bruni PR anticipates a sharp decline in VC funding for startups, including the hot new AI space. Silicon Alley has faced meltdowns in 1999 and 2005 .  But this one will be deeper for sure . 

AI Summit

 Last week’s AI Summit at Javits Center was an amazing gathering of both large and small players in AI.  Google, Dell, IBM , Microsoft and other big guys were on the panels and had the key speakers on the main stage . But, the real action was in the labyrinth of conference rooms that featured panel discussions.  MongoDB, Encido, Ikigai, UIPath , ABBY, Boston Dynamics and many others were in the house . My fav was Furhat Robotics, which featured a humanoid robot that was almost lifelike. 

Omnicom Merger

 The recent merger between Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group (IPG) is poised to significantly impact the public relations (PR) industry. This all-stock deal, valued between $13 billion and $14 billion, will create the world’s largest advertising company, surpassing current leader WPP, with combined net revenues exceeding $20 billion based on 2023 figures.

Implications for the PR Industry:

1. Consolidation of PR Agencies: Both Omnicom and IPG own prominent PR firms. Omnicom’s portfolio includes FleishmanHillard and Ketchum, while IPG owns Weber Shandwick and Golin. The merger will bring these agencies under one corporate umbrella, potentially leading to operational consolidations and streamlined services.

2. Enhanced Service Offerings: The combined resources and expertise are expected to provide clients with more comprehensive and integrated PR solutions, leveraging advanced technologies, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to enhance campaign effectiveness.

3. Market Influence and Competition: The merger will create a PR powerhouse with significant market influence, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics. Rival firms may need to adapt strategies to compete with the enhanced capabilities and reach of the new entity.

4. Client Relationships and Conflicts: The consolidation may lead to client conflicts, especially if competing brands are represented within the merged entity. This could result in client realignments or the establishment of independent operating units to manage conflicts.

5. Regulatory Scrutiny: Given the substantial market share of the combined company, the merger is expected to face regulatory scrutiny to ensure fair competition within the industry.

In summary, the Omnicom-IPG merger is set to create a dominant force in the PR industry, offering expanded capabilities and services. However, it also presents challenges related to client management and regulatory compliance, which will need to be navigated carefully to realize the merger’s full potential.

Harris For President

 Bruni PR endorses Kamala Harris for President.  

New York & AI Industry / WSJ report

New York City-based generative AI companies raised $2.7 billion since the start of 2021, according to PitchBook Data. So far this year, investors have put $200 million through 27 deals into generative AI startups in New York City, compared with $400 million through 35 deals in the category in San Francisco, the data provider said.

Cybersecurity

2023 has seen its fair share of cyber attacks, however there's one attack vector that proves to be more prominent than others - non-human access. With 11 high-profile attacks in 13 months and an ever-growing ungoverned attack surface, non-human identities are the new perimeter, and 2023 is only the beginning.

People always look for the easiest way to get what they want, and this goes for cybercrime as well. Threat actors look for the path of least resistance, and it seems that in 2023 this path was non-user access credentials (API keys, tokens, service accounts and secrets).

CyberArk’s acquisition run got the media attention this week . CEO Matt Cohen told CNBC that machine identity is the new frontier in cybersecurity.  

It’s not the only Israeli player in this field. Oasis Security has developed a veritable Iron Dome of Non Human Identity Management. It has raised $75 m in funding and is poised for major growth.

President Biden

 President Biden is too old to be President? You don’t have to look any further than the Public Relations industry to see many examples of famous PR pros who worked into their 80s.  Harold Burson, David Finn, Herb Rowland and a few other men who taught me the PR business are them . I’m 68 and will continue to “do PR”until I’m no longer able to type. ( or dictate to ChatGPT !

As for Biden - he’ll beat that wannabe dictator and serve a second term . The economy is booming, the market is rising and inflation is abating. American 🇺🇸 voters are starting to feel confident about the economy.  And, this matters more than far right ideologies. 

Unicorns 🦄 RIP 🪦

 Unicorns are dropping dead like flies.  Approximately 3,200 privately backed companies have disappeared in 2023.  The NYT takes a close look 👀 at the collapse of these once high flyers - no pun intended!

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/07/technology/tech-startups-collapse.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Happy 30th Anniversary Bruni PR

Bruni PR was founded in November 1993 in a penthouse office at 10 E. 23rd, just a block from the Flatiron Building. Those were heady days as Silicon Alley was just taking form.  We dedicated ourselves to this emerging industry and are still in the game - 3 decades later ! 

We’ve had big clients too -  Mellon Financial , Wayfair , Quadrant Biosciences, Bradford Space and others - but have always focused on the “next big thing” .  Today it’s AI & Fintech. 

Our core business has been Media Relations, a specialized area that has seen many changes.  Back in ‘93 we were still sending press releases via fac.  Email was just getting traction. 

Today we reach reporters via X (Twitter) , Facebook and especially LinkedIn.  Back then press lunches were common, but today it’s the Zoom call !

Avride : look 👀 out Waymo & Cruise

 The international division of the autonomous vehicle and delivery robot developer Yandex Self-Driving Group has rebranded as Avride, according to the company’s new website, unveiled on August 4.

The rebranding comes as part of the company’s corporate restructuring, and the new brand is one of the four international businesses to be spun-off from Yandex. 

Avride positions itself as a pioneer of autonomous transportation. The company’s driverless technology has already covered over 10mn miles (16mn km) on public roads and its delivery robots have made over 200,000 deliveries from shops and restaurants to date, according to the site.

As bne IntelliNews reported, Yandex’s Dutch parent company is in the process of divesting a number of its core assets, including all Russia-based assets, with the plan being to retain the international divisions of self-driving cars, cloud computing, data labelling and education technology, enabling these to develop "independently from Russia." 

Apple Vision Pro

 Back in the early’90s I met Jaron Lanier, who funded VPL the first Virtual Reality startup.  His dream of a VR world 🌎 is now reality .  Make no mistake, the new Apple headset is like the car, computer or even the wheel 🛞 in terms of innovation. 

PR & AI

Research from OpenAI and the University of Pennsylvania argued that 80 percent of the US workforce could have at least 10 percent of their tasks affected by the introduction of GPTs, the series of popular large language models made by OpenAI. They also found that around 19 percent of workers will see at least 50 percent of their tasks impacted. GPT exposure is greater for higher-income jobs, they wrote in the study, but spans across almost all industries.

PR was among the industries that will be most affected or “influenced”.

I’ve been experimenting with ChatGPT in writing media pitch letters.  It’s a game changer.  In a few seconds, it composes a pitch letter that normally takes hours to write ✍🏻, edit and redraft.

What surprised me was how ChatGPT focuses on the strengths of the company “story” .  The end results were pitch letters that mirrored my own pitches but actually improved upon them !