Welcome back to your daily memorandum talking tech, business, AI, markets, and more. 🗞️

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

📱 A16z joins talks to acquire TikTok’s U.S. ops as ByteDance faces mounting pressure.
✉️ Gmail enables encrypted email without extra software for enterprise users.
🇨🇳 China stages military drills around Taiwan, drawing global concern.
🌋 Iceland volcano erupts, prompting evacuations and disrupting key infrastructure.
📉 Airline stocks slide as weakening demand stirs broader economic fears.

TECH

• Gmail is making it easier for businesses to send encrypted emails to anyone

  • Gmail’s client-side encryption feature lets enterprise users send encrypted emails without custom software or certificates.

  • Users can toggle extra encryption in drafts, with support coming for external Gmail and third-party addresses later.

  • Though not end-to-end, the new tool gives organizations more control by managing their encryption keys.

• OpenAI's new image generator is now available to all users

  • OpenAI’s new GPT-4o-powered image generator is now accessible to all users, including free-tier accounts.

  • Free users are limited to three images daily, following high demand and previous GPU resource limitations.

  • The feature gained traction after its viral Ghibli-style images sparked debate about AI and artistic rights.

• Mark Cuban backs Skylight, a TikTok alternative built on Bluesky's underlying technology

  • Skylight is a new short-form video app backed by Mark Cuban and built on Bluesky’s decentralized protocol.

  • The app aims to rival TikTok while offering open access to over 33 million users via the AT Protocol.

  • Skylight’s launch comes as TikTok faces regulatory threats, with Cuban promoting it as a free alternative.

BUSINESS

• Unlock exponential growth: the playbook modern leaders swear by*

  • Is this the greatest sales book you haven't read... yet? Data-backed strategies from Fortune 500 growth architects.

  • Frameworks that scale startups to enterprises in 24 months.

  • Battle-tested tactics for market domination and sustainable profit margins.

• Andreessen Horowitz in talks to help buy out TikTok’s Chinese owners

  • Andreessen Horowitz is in talks to back a U.S.-led effort to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations from ByteDance.

  • The initiative is tied to a broader national security push ahead of a looming TikTok ban deadline.

  • Oracle is also involved, with some U.S. firms looking to expand their stakes if the deal proceeds.

• Zuckerberg Tries to Enlist Trump in Fight Against Meta EU Ruling

  • Meta is urging the Trump administration to intervene in a looming EU decision over data privacy rules.

  • The EU may force Meta to offer ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram to European users.

  • Meta argues the ruling would severely impact its ad revenue and unfairly target U.S. tech firms.

• Airline stocks slide as weakening travel demand fuels economic concerns

  • Shares in U.S. airlines tumbled as investors reacted to signs of slowing consumer demand for travel.

  • Analysts downgraded stocks like Delta and American amid concerns over weakening economic signals.

  • Geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, and reduced spending are weighing on near-term travel outlooks.

CONTENT

• AI Strikes the Gen Z Job Market | Prof G Markets

  • Scott Galloway warns Gen Z about AI’s impact on jobs and urges networking, skill-building, and adaptability in uncertain markets.

  • The episode covers Delaware governance reforms, Waymo’s expansion into D.C., and GameStop adding Bitcoin to its corporate treasury this quarter.

  • Engine Capital’s activist play at Lyft is analyzed with turnaround strategies and shareholder value enhancement suggestions from Scott.

• What Has PMF Today, Google Is Cooking & GPT Wrappers Are Winning

  • Swyx and Alessio explore which AI products found market fit, highlighting GPT wrappers’ growth and strong adoption patterns.

  • Google’s AI dominance is growing, thanks to solid infrastructure tools, better customer support, and momentum around Gemini.

  • Other topics include open-source adoption, under-hyped trends, and how early teams build defensible and secure applications.

• Runway Gen-4 Is Actually Insane (Text-to-Video)

  • Runway Gen-4 produces text-to-video content with lifelike detail, realistic motion, and strong subject consistency.

  • Demonstrations include hyperrealistic sci-fi, animals in cities, flame physics, and short animated films with clay, rope, and surreal designs.

  • Gen-4 improves over Gen-3 with better world understanding, visual fidelity, and prompt accuracy for creators and enterprise video teams.

WORLD

• China launches military drills near Taiwan

  • China initiated large-scale exercises encircling Taiwan, heightening regional tensions and drawing global concern.

  • Beijing says drills are a warning against separatism, while Taipei condemned the moves as provocative and aggressive.

  • U.S. and allies called for restraint, with naval assets tracking developments and reaffirming support for Taiwan.

• Israel kills Hezbollah official in deadly Beirut airstrike

  • Israeli jets struck a building in Beirut, killing Hezbollah commander Hassan Bdeir and three others.

  • Bdeir was reportedly linked to Iran’s Quds Force and accused of helping coordinate Hamas operations.

  • Lebanon condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty and warned of a potential wider escalation.

• Putin begins biggest Russian military call-up in years

  • Russia has launched a massive troop mobilization, conscripting thousands amid ongoing war efforts in Ukraine.

  • Kremlin officials say the move is for national defense, but critics fear expanded combat operations are imminent.

  • European leaders condemned the action, urging NATO to boost support for Ukraine and monitor eastern borders.

AND MORE…

• Meta’s Head of AI Research to Leave, Roiling Investment Push

  • Joelle Pineau is stepping down as Meta’s head of AI research, after leading FAIR and major initiatives like LLaMA.

  • Her departure comes during Meta’s $65B push into AI infrastructure, including data centers and training clusters.

  • Pineau emphasized keeping FAIR open and collaborative, a stance that sometimes clashed with Meta’s broader goals.

• ChatGPT Revenue Surges 30%—in Just Three Months

  • OpenAI’s ChatGPT revenue jumped 30% in Q1 2025, hitting a projected $415M annualized run rate for the platform.

  • The increase reflects growing enterprise adoption and developer usage of GPT models and API infrastructure.

  • OpenAI is aiming for over $1B in annual revenue, aided by new tools, improved models, and business integrations.

• Iceland Volcano Erupts, Forcing Thousands to Evacuate

  • A volcano erupted on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, prompting evacuations in Grindavík and nearby towns.

  • Lava reached key roads and power lines, though no deaths were reported; the Blue Lagoon remains closed.

  • Icelandic authorities warn more eruptions are possible, citing heightened seismic activity across the region.