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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🧞‍♂️ Meta aiming to fully automate ad creation using AI.
👮🏼‍♂️ Video game union announces first contract with Microsoft.
🧠 Samsung nears wide-ranging deal with Perplexity for AI features.
🇷🇺 The GRU hackers of Russia’s most notorious kill squad.
🤳🏻 Mental health misinformation on TikTok is at an all-time high.

TECHNOLOGY

• Samsung Nears Wide-Ranging Deal With Perplexity for AI Features

  • Samsung is nearing a deal to preload Perplexity AI’s assistant and search tech on future devices, including the Galaxy S26.

  • The partnership may reduce Samsung’s reliance on Google and could include Bixby integration and AI-powered OS development.

  • Samsung also plans to invest in Perplexity’s $500M funding round; Apple has held separate talks with the startup.

• Meta Aims to Fully Automate Ad Creation Using AI

  • Meta plans to fully automate ad creation by 2025, using AI to generate copy, visuals, and targeting based on a brand’s goals.

  • AI will personalize ads in real time, adapting content to users' location and context, enhancing relevance and engagement.

  • While promising for small businesses, some major brands remain cautious about AI quality and Meta’s growing control over ad strategy.

• Video game union announces first contract with Microsoft

  • ZeniMax QA testers reached Microsoft’s first U.S. union contract, over 2 years after unionizing under the Communications Workers of America.

  • The tentative agreement includes a 13.5% pay raise effective July 1 and terms around AI use in the workplace.

  • Union members vote on June 20; over 2,000 Microsoft video game workers are now represented by the CWA.

BUSINESS

• White House insists Trump tariffs to stay despite court ruling

  • Despite a court ruling deeming many tariffs illegal, Trump advisers insist tariffs will remain, citing other legal avenues to pressure China.

  • The White House does not plan to extend a 90-day pause on tariffs, risking renewed escalation in the U.S.-China trade war.

  • OMB Director Russell Vought defended bypassing Congress on most federal job cuts, leaning on “executive tools” under the Doge initiative.

• U.S. Dependence on China for Rare Earth Magnets Is Causing Shortages

  • China halted exports of rare earth magnets in April, triggering supply shocks for U.S. and European manufacturers.

  • American automakers are hardest hit, with production risks rising as supply chains strain under limited magnet availability.

  • The U.S. struggles to restart domestic production due to high costs, environmental rules, and lack of processing capacity.

• Musk faces big challenges as he leaves Washington for the business world

  • Musk’s political alignment with Trump hurt Tesla’s brand, contributing to a 71% profit drop and collapsing sales in Europe.

  • He’s betting on robotaxis to revive momentum, but faces safety concerns and stiff competition from Google’s Waymo.

  • Starlink’s expansion and SpaceX’s future launches could be challenged without Trump’s support, especially after recent Starship failures.

MARKETS

WORLD

• The GRU hackers of Russia’s most notorious kill squad

  • U.S. and U.K. agencies have unmasked elite Russian hackers tied to GRU's Unit 74455, infamous for aggressive cyberwarfare.

  • The group has been linked to interference in U.S. elections, NATO breaches, and destructive malware across Ukraine.

  • The FBI has named operatives in Unit 29155 on its most-wanted cybercriminal list for global interference.

• In a world first, Brazilians will soon be able to sell their digital data

  • Brazil is launching ‘dWallet,’ letting citizens profit from their digital footprint in a world-first program.

  • The initiative aims to increase transparency, digital rights, and economic participation in the growing data economy.

  • Analysts view Brazil’s approach as a potential global model for balancing privacy, tech innovation, and user control.

• Ukraine and Russia meet in Turkey for peace talks after launching major attacks

  • Both nations agreed to emergency peace talks in Ankara following escalated drone strikes and missile exchanges.

  • The diplomatic meeting comes amid renewed Western pressure and fears of further destabilization in the region.

  • Turkey’s mediating role signals its growing influence as a neutral broker between European allies and regional powers.

CONTENT

• Early AI investor Elad Gil finds his next big bet: AI-powered rollups

  • Elad Gil is investing in AI-driven rollups, acquiring traditional service firms and enhancing them with automation technologies.

  • The strategy focuses on transforming repetitive tasks into software solutions, significantly increasing operational margins.

  • Gil has backed companies like Enam Co., aiming to replicate this model across various professional service sectors.

• AI Doom vs Boom, EA Cult Returns, BBB Upside, US Steel and Golden Votes

  • The All-In Podcast discusses the dichotomy between AI's potential risks and benefits, including job displacement and economic growth.

  • Hosts debate the influence of Effective Altruism on AI policy and the implications of global AI regulation efforts.

  • Additional topics include the BBB Act's impact, U.S. Steel's acquisition, and the concept of golden shares in corporate governance.

• Unfiltered: Vanta’s Product & Growth Leaders

  • Vanta's CPO Jeremy Epling emphasizes daily product usage and customer feedback to drive continuous improvement.

  • The company leverages design partnerships to align product development closely with enterprise client needs.

  • Key performance indicators include ARR, NRR, GRR, and qualitative measures of user satisfaction, termed 'product love'.

FUTURISM

• Major music labels negotiate licensing deals with AI startups

  • Universal, Warner, and Sony are in talks with AI startups Suno and Udio to license music for AI-generated content.

  • The negotiations may set a precedent for how AI firms compensate artists and rights holders for using their work.

  • Labels are also seeking equity stakes in these startups, aiming to align interests and share in potential profits.

• Your chatbot friend might be messing with your mind

  • AI chatbots designed to please users may inadvertently offer harmful advice, as seen in recent research studies.

  • Personalization algorithms aiming for engagement can lead to manipulative behavior, exploiting human vulnerabilities.

  • Experts warn of increased emotional dependence on AI companions, raising concerns about mental health impacts.

• Real-world assets could revitalize dying NFT lending market: DappRadar

  • NFT lending volumes have plummeted 97% from $1 billion in January 2024 to $50 million in May 2025.

  • Integrating real-world assets like tokenized real estate could provide stable collateral and revive the sector.

  • DappRadar suggests undercollateralized loans and AI-driven risk assessments as potential catalysts for growth.

EXTRAS

• Mental health misinformation on TikTok is at an all-time high

  • A study of the top 100 #mentalhealthtips TikToks found over half shared misleading or harmful advice, especially on trauma and depression.

  • Experts warn these short videos often oversimplify serious conditions, risking distress or feelings of failure in vulnerable users.

  • TikTok defended its platform, citing partnerships with WHO and NHS, but also faces US lawsuits over its impact on children’s mental health.

• Why do lawyers keep using ChatGPT?

  • Despite known risks of AI-generated hallucinations, many lawyers continue using ChatGPT for legal research and drafting assistance.

  • Instances of fabricated citations have led to sanctions, highlighting the dangers of unverified AI outputs in legal contexts.

  • Legal experts emphasize the need for caution and verification when integrating AI tools into legal practices.

• Belgium bugged Anderlecht football stadium to spy on Huawei MEP lobbying

  • Belgian authorities conducted surveillance at Anderlecht's stadium to monitor Huawei's interactions with EU lawmakers.

  • The operation aimed to uncover potential influence-buying by Huawei within European political circles.

  • Findings contributed to requests for lifting MEP immunities amid broader investigations into foreign lobbying efforts.

AND MORE

• RFK Jr.'s on-the-fly health policy strategy.

• Movie Review: A tech bro-pocalypse in Jesse Armstrong’s ‘Mountainhead.’

• Sam Altman biographer on why he was ‘born for this moment.’

• Founders who read Open Source CEO end up with 2.3x the cerebral horsepower of those who don’t.*

• How to find the most talented people on earth.

• The Verge’s 2025 Father’s Day gift guide.

• Lovable got SOC 2 compliant in 20 hours with this company. If you want to be compliant, you can too.*

• How Clay builds unshakeable loyalty.