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

In today’s edition, we are tackling the following:

💰 LayerX raises $100M to scale AI-powered back-office tools.
🤖 Studies show that chatbots are easily tricked by flattery and peer pressure.
🔒 WhatsApp fixes zero-click spyware exploit targeting iPhone users.
🏢 G42 explores non-NVIDIA chips for the UAE–U.S. AI campus.
🌍 Afghanistan earthquake kills 800+, rescue efforts hindered by terrain.

TECHNOLOGY

• LayerX uses AI to cut enterprise back-office workload, scores $100 M in Series B

  • LayerX raised $100M to fund AI-powered back-office automation tools like Bakuraku and Ai Workforce across 15,000 enterprises.

  • This funding marks one of the largest Series B rounds in Japanese SaaS history, backed by TCV and major banks.

  • Annual recurring revenue is surging rapidly; the company aims for $680M by 2030 while expanding headcount aggressively.

• Chatbots are susceptible to flattery and peer pressure

  • A study shows GPT-4o Mini can be manipulated via basic psychological tactics like commitment, flattery, authority, and peer pressure.

  • ChatGPT compliance jumped from 1% to 100% after leading with an innocuous question, demonstrating rule-breaking vulnerability.

  • Findings raise serious concerns about guardrail robustness—AI models can be persuaded to break rules with simple social tactics.

• WhatsApp patches zero-click spyware vulnerability exploited in targeted attack

  • WhatsApp has patched a high-severity flaw previously exploited to compromise devices without user action, used against individuals.

  • Civil society members were targeted, highlighting risks to activists and secure communications ecosystems.

  • Meta is urging users to update immediately to secure their apps from further exploitation.

BUSINESS

• Abu Dhabi’s G42 eyes chip options beyond Nvidia

  • G42 is exploring alternatives to Nvidia for its UAE–U.S. AI campus, engaging AMD, Cerebras, and Qualcomm in supplier talks.

  • Major U.S. tech firms—including AWS, Microsoft, Meta, xAI, and especially Google—are reportedly negotiating tenancy at the campus.

  • The tech group aims to diversify chip sourcing to reduce dependency and strengthen resilience in its AI infrastructure stack.

• OpenAI plans 1 GW data center in India as part of Stargate expansion

  • OpenAI proposes a 1-gigawatt data center in India, seeking local partners ahead of Sam Altman’s September visit.

  • This move represents a major expansion under Project Stargate—its $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative backed by SoftBank and Oracle.

  • The new facility would support India’s fast-growing user base and mark OpenAI’s first significant venture in Asia.

• Runway targets robotics sector with AI world models

  • Runway is adapting its world-model AI for robotics and self-driving vehicles, having attracted interest from those industries.

  • The company is building a dedicated robotics team and fine-tuning existing models for simulation and real-world interaction.

  • Simulated training using Runway’s tech offers scalable, cost-effective alternatives to expensive real-world tests.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Afghanistan earthquake kills at least 800 as Taliban appeals for help

  • A 6.0-magnitude quake devastated eastern provinces, killing 800+ and injuring thousands amid challenging terrain and mud-built homes.

  • The Taliban urged international aid as rescue teams face impassable roads and disrupted communications, hindering urgent relief operations.

  • The UK, China, and India pledged support, while funding cuts—especially from the U.S.—have intensified the humanitarian shortfall.

• Historic flotilla departs Barcelona, aiming to breach Gaza blockade

  • Around 20 vessels carrying vital supplies set sail in the largest maritime effort yet to challenge Israel's Gaza naval blockade.

  • Led by activists like Greta Thunberg and Ada Colau, the convoy hopes to deliver aid to Gaza amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

  • The flotilla plans to reach Gaza in mid-September, as international concern grows over famine and civilian suffering in the region.

• Landslide crushes homes in western Sudan’s Marra Mountains

  • A devastating landslide in western Sudan’s Marra Mountains buried homes, leaving dozens dead and raising alarm over emergency access.

  • Remote terrain, ongoing conflict, and limited infrastructure have stalled rescue operations, with displaced communities urgently seeking aid.

  • Local leaders are appealing for humanitarian assistance and medical teams to address the crisis as displaced survivors gather.

CONTENT

• How To Compete with OpenAI & Anthropic, and Sam Altman’s AI Disservice

  • Nick Frosst reflects on Cohere’s $100M ARR growth, fundraising lessons, and competing with OpenAI and Anthropic.

  • He critiques scaling laws, benchmarks, and Altman’s approach while advocating model sovereignty and enterprise-first AI strategies.

  • Insights include lessons from Geoffrey Hinton, Google Brain, and navigating the future of prompting and closed vs open models.

• This AI Safety Activist Just Bought a ‘Bugout House’

  • Louis Berman, veteran CTO and AI coder, turned full-time activist after decades warning of AI existential risks.

  • He discusses lobbying governments, PauseAI advocacy, and his personal decision to prepare physically for potential collapse.

  • The interview explores survivalism, political lobbying, and moral obligations tied to advancing AI technologies globally.

• A Practical Guide to Taking Control of Your Life

  • Former attorney and poker champion Cate Hall shares lessons on personal agency from addiction recovery to leadership.

  • She emphasizes agency over intelligence or hustle, identifying hidden ‘degrees of freedom’ as the path to meaning.

  • Practical advice blends neuroscience, resilience, and personal anecdotes to inspire self-empowerment and fulfillment.

FUTURISM

• Is AI the end of software engineering or the next step in its evolution?

  • ‘Vibe-coding’ lets users prompt AI for code outputs, but overreliance may erode fundamental engineering skills.

  • AI handles well-defined, local coding tasks and rapid prototyping, but struggles with complex systems and architectural coherence.

  • The piece emphasizes retaining craftsmanship, mental rigor, and experiential learning even as abstraction and automation rise.

• Latam-GPT: Meet the open-source AI built for Latin America

  • Latam-GPT is a 50-billion-parameter open model built on 8 TB of data from 20 Latin American countries and Spain.

  • The initiative embraces regional culture, dialects, and indigenous knowledge, aiming for technological sovereignty.

  • Backed by CENIA and supported by supercomputing infrastructure in Chile, it launches in 2025 to support localization and collaboration.

• AI has a hidden water cost—here’s how to calculate yours

  • AI systems require vast water use for cooling datacenters and training infrastructure—often hidden behind digital services.

  • Calculating individual water footprints involves assessing energy consumption, local grid water use, and model training impacts.

  • Greater transparency and sustainability metrics are needed to inform users and prompt water-efficient AI infrastructure practices.

EXTRAS

• Nestlé fires CEO Laur­ent Freixe over code-of-conduct breach

  • Nestlé dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate, violating internal standards.

  • Longtime Nestlé leader Philipp Navratil succeeds him, with no exit package offered to Freixe amid rising scrutiny.

  • Despite turnover, Nestlé insists its strategic trajectory remains steady amid broader leadership transitions in the consumer goods sector.

• Indonesia sees limited economic fallout from recent protests

  • Indonesia's economy remains resilient despite widespread unrest—officials affirm the country will meet its full-year growth targets.

  • The government continues stimulus and reassures markets as GDP momentum persists amid social instability.

  • Analysts noted that strong fundamentals and proactive policy support helped contain volatility and maintain investor confidence.

• Trump’s crypto trading ties face scrutiny

  • Investigators probe unusual crypto trading volumes linked to Trump-aligned ventures, sparking ethics and manipulation concerns.

  • The inquiry examines whether political influence intersects with decentralized finance, raising questions about policy-driven impacts.

  • Analysts warn potential findings could trigger heightened regulatory scrutiny and reshape debates on politics’ role in crypto.

AND MORE

• EU plans to deploy extra satellites to protect against GPS jamming threats.

• Guidde is a GPT-powered tool that helps you explain the most complex tasks in seconds with AI-generated documentation.*

• Former CDC heads warn that Kennedy’s decisions are endangering Americans' health.

• Airbus needs a record pace of deliveries to meet its 2025 delivery target.

• Wizz Air is negotiating with Pratt & Whitney to speed up engine servicing.

• Gold holds steady within a tight range as rising supply offsets geopolitical risks.

• Need to scale an AI team quickly? Athyna delivers vetted talent globally in under a week.*