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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🧠 Google rolls out AI Mode in Search with conversational Gemini-powered answers.
📱 WhatsApp becomes Meta’s most-used product with 3B monthly active users.
🎮 Microsoft raises global Xbox prices, citing tariffs and dev costs.
📦 U.S. ends $800 import tax exemption, hitting Shein and Temu.
🌐 Apple shifts iPhone manufacturing to India to offset $900M in tariffs.

TECH

• Microsoft raises Xbox console, accessory, and game prices globally

  • Xbox Series X now costs $599.99, with accessory and game prices also rising significantly around the world.

  • First-party game titles will increase to $79.99 by holiday 2025, following trends set by other major platforms.

  • Microsoft cited inflation, tariffs, and higher development costs as reasons for implementing the global price hikes.

• WhatsApp surpasses 3 billion monthly users globally

  • WhatsApp reached 3 billion monthly users, becoming Meta’s most used product and a key driver of platform growth.

  • Mark Zuckerberg highlighted WhatsApp’s role in AI strategy, including new business tools and automated customer support.

  • Meta plans further expansion of WhatsApp Business to increase monetization through enterprise communication services.

• Google introduces AI Mode in Search for U.S. users

  • Google launched AI Mode in Search, offering conversational answers and summaries powered by Gemini language models.

  • Users get visual cards, saved history, and deeper results through an assistant-like AI interface during searches.

  • Initially available to a test group in the U.S., with broader rollout planned in coming weeks.

BUSINESS

• Nvidia and Anthropic clash over U.S. AI chip restrictions on China

  • Nvidia criticized Anthropic’s support for export limits, calling its national security argument misleading and protectionist.

  • Anthropic defended the restrictions, arguing they’re necessary to slow China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence capabilities.

  • The clash underscores ongoing tensions between innovation, national security, and competitive interests in the AI industry.

• Major tariff loophole closes Friday—cheap imports will be hit hard

  • The U.S. ends its de minimis exemption, taxing all goods under $800 starting Friday without exception.

  • Fast-fashion giants Shein and Temu will be heavily impacted, having depended on the loophole for affordability.

  • U.S. consumers and businesses will likely face higher prices and slower delivery times on imported products.

• Apple posts stronger-than-expected Q2 results, says majority of U.S. iPhones sold will come from India

  • Apple earned $95.36 billion in Q2, beating expectations with growth led by iPhones and services revenue.

  • CEO Tim Cook said most U.S. iPhones will now be made in India to avoid tariff penalties.

  • The move helps Apple offset nearly $900 million in expected costs from the ongoing tariff environment.

CONTENT

• What’s next for AI infrastructure with Amin Vahdat

  • Google Cloud’s Amin Vahdat explores TPU innovations powering AI inference and how infrastructure drives real-time agent development.

  • 2025 is the ‘Year of Inference,’ making AI accessible to startups through speed, scalability, and cost efficiency.

  • Google’s TPU hardware and software stack enable rapid model execution for enterprise and emerging AI builders.

• Not getting the LinkedIn results you’re expecting?*

  • Playbookz turns your LinkedIn presence into a revenue machine. One client received 400+ qualified leads from a single post.

  • All you have to do is talk to Playbookz for 60 minutes a month—they handle the rest. Lead gen and personal brand growth, done-for-you.

  • Guarantee: 20k+ reach in 28 days or you don’t pay.

• Zuckerberg and Nadella discuss AI’s role in coding

  • Meta and Microsoft CEOs agree that AI is reshaping how software is written and maintained at scale.

  • Both leaders support open-source development and increased accessibility to coding tools powered by generative models.

  • Nadella reveals Microsoft engineers now rely heavily on AI to write significant portions of production code.

• At Last ft. Alex Blania and Sam Altman

  • World launched in the U.S. with Orb, Orb Mini, and World ID to verify identity across digital ecosystems.

  • Partnerships with Razer, Match, and Visa aim to integrate identity infrastructure into gaming, dating, and finance.

  • World App 4.0 and World Card expand access to privacy-first financial tools linked to biometric verification.

WORLD

• Wildfires rage near Jerusalem, forcing evacuations and highway closures

  • Over 25,000 dunams of forest burned as wildfires approached Jerusalem, injuring dozens and damaging infrastructure.

  • Authorities evacuated thousands, shut major roads, and deployed military units to assist overwhelmed firefighters.

  • Arson is suspected; several Palestinians were detained amid heightened tensions across Israeli and Palestinian communities.

• U.S.-Iran talks postponed, future depends on Washington’s approach

  • Iran postponed planned nuclear negotiations, citing U.S. sanctions and lack of goodwill as major obstacles.

  • The U.S. threatens further secondary sanctions against Iranian oil buyers, straining already fragile diplomatic efforts.

  • Tehran demands changes in U.S. posture before resuming discussions over nuclear limits and economic relief.

• What we know about Trump’s Ukraine mineral deal

  • Trump signed a deal granting U.S. access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals in exchange for investment.

  • The agreement includes no military guarantees but offers funding for rebuilding Ukraine’s mining infrastructure.

  • Critics say Trump framed it as repayment for past U.S. aid, raising ethical and diplomatic concerns.

AND MORE…

• Spotify submits iOS app update to bypass Apple's payment system

  • Spotify updated its app to show pricing and offer external payments following a recent court decision.

  • Apple had previously blocked Spotify from linking to outside payment options under App Store rules.

  • The update marks a milestone in Spotify’s long battle against Apple’s in-app purchase restrictions.

• Elon Musk and Tesla deny CEO succession plans

  • Tesla’s board denied reports of seeking a new CEO, reaffirming confidence in Elon Musk’s leadership.

  • Musk dismissed succession rumors, stating he remains committed to Tesla’s mission and ongoing projects.

  • Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm said the company has succession plans but no active search is happening.

• Amazon CEO says 100,000 users now have Alexa+

  • Amazon’s generative AI assistant Alexa+ has reached 100,000 users since its launch, according to CEO Andy Jassy.

  • Alexa+ introduces smarter conversational abilities and task management features compared to classic Alexa.

  • Amazon plans broader rollout after gathering user feedback and improving reliability across voice experiences.