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

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

🧍 Epic cuts MetaHuman animation time to under 30 minutes with new creator tools.
🖼 Google pauses 'Ask Photos' due to performance and latency issues.
📈 TikTok rolls out AI-driven targeting and SEO-style creator tools.
🕵️‍♂️ North Korean spies land remote tech jobs using deepfakes.
💔 Lex Fridman dives into AI, love, and emotional connection.

TECHNOLOGY

• Google pauses rollout of AI-powered 'Ask Photos' feature

  • Google halted the expansion of its 'Ask Photos' AI tool due to issues with latency, quality, and user experience.

  • Powered by a specialized Gemini model, the feature aimed to answer complex queries about users' photo libraries.

  • A revised version is expected in two weeks, alongside improved keyword search capabilities in Google Photos.

• Meta secures 20-year nuclear power deal to support AI infrastructure

  • Meta signed a 20-year agreement to purchase all clean energy attributes from Illinois' Clinton nuclear plant starting in 2027.

  • The deal ensures the plant's operation through 2047, preserving 1,100 jobs and contributing $13.5 million in annual taxes.

  • This move aligns with tech giants' trend of investing in nuclear energy to meet growing AI-driven power demands.

• TikTok unveils AI-driven tools to enhance advertiser targeting and SEO

  • TikTok introduced 'Insight Spotlight,' offering brands AI-generated insights on user demographics, trends, and keyword usage.

  • The platform's 'Content Suite' streamlines influencer collaborations by aggregating and managing user-generated content.

  • These tools aim to refine ad targeting, mirroring search engine optimization strategies within TikTok's ecosystem.

BUSINESS

• EY joins consultants' race for marketing dollars with new unit

  • EY launches EY Studio+, consolidating design, marketing, and tech services to compete with Accenture and Deloitte.

  • The 7,000-person unit aims to grow by up to 20% and pursue additional acquisitions in the marketing sector.

  • EY targets CMOs seeking AI-driven customer experiences, emphasizing its financial and compliance expertise.

• Meta signs 20-year nuclear power deal to power AI

  • Meta enters a 20-year agreement with Constellation Energy to procure 1.1 gigawatts from Illinois' Clinton Clean Energy Center.

  • The deal supports Meta's AI infrastructure and contributes to its clean energy goals starting in June 2027.

  • This move aligns with tech giants' trend of investing in nuclear energy to meet growing AI-driven power demands.

• OECD downgrades U.S. economic growth forecast amid tariff concerns

  • OECD lowers U.S. 2025 growth projection to 1.6% from 2.8%, citing Trump's tariffs and policy uncertainty.

  • Inflation is expected to rise to 3.9%, potentially delaying further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

  • Global growth is forecasted at 2.9% for 2025, with trade instability impacting economies like Mexico and Canada.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Mongolia's ruling party to form new government after PM ousted

  • Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene stepped down after a no-confidence vote triggered by corruption and protest backlash.

  • The ruling Mongolian People's Party will form a new government without coalition partners.

  • Public outrage grew over the luxurious lifestyle of the PM’s family amid economic strain.

• North Korean spies infiltrate U.S. tech jobs through remote work

  • Operatives are posing as remote developers using fake resumes, stolen identities, and deepfakes for interviews.

  • Their goals include stealing money, laundering funds, and gaining access to sensitive data.

  • Warning signs include webcam refusal, inconsistent details, and limited cultural fluency during onboarding.

• Ukraine damages the Crimea bridge with underwater explosives

  • Ukraine used over a ton of TNT in a covert operation targeting the Kerch Bridge’s underwater supports.

  • The strike disrupted military supply lines linking Russia and occupied Crimea for the third time.

  • Russia labeled it terrorism, while Ukraine defended it as a legitimate wartime infrastructure target.

CONTENT

• Making $2,800/day with AI Design Agents (Runway + Midjourney)

  • Brett from Designjoy shows how AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Runway enable scalable, pro-quality branding assets.

  • He details a workflow using prompt engineering, image generation, and motion video tools for consistent ad creation.

  • The episode highlights how non-designers can generate high-value content and launch AI-powered creative agencies.

• Marc Andreessen Reveals His Biggest Wins and Mistakes at a16z

  • Marc shares how a16z grew from Fund I in 2009 to a multi-stage, globally influential venture capital firm.

  • He discusses tech’s shift toward vertical specialization, policy engagement, and the emergence of “Little Tech.”

  • The talk covers major moments in tech history, venture evolution, and the misunderstood role of innovation.

• Essentials: Machines, Creativity & Love | Dr. Lex Fridman

  • Lex Fridman explains the emotional potential of human-AI relationships, exploring companionship, authenticity, and loneliness.

  • The episode traces AI's journey from machine learning to deeply interactive, human-like agents with social functions.

  • It raises questions about rights, emotional manipulation, and the future of love in a world of robots.

FUTURISM

• Yoshua Bengio launches LawZero, a nonprofit AI safety lab

  • AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio founded LawZero to build safe AI systems that avoid deception and human mimicry.

  • Funded with $30M in donations, the lab will focus on safety-first design across autonomous AI use cases.

  • Its first project, Scientist AI, aims to catch and block dangerous or manipulative agent behaviors.

• DeepSeek may have used Google's Gemini to train its latest model

  • DeepSeek’s new R1+ model performs strongly in coding and math, sparking speculation over its training data.

  • Observers believe Gemini-generated outputs may have been used, raising ethical concerns around data sourcing.

  • The situation highlights unresolved tensions around proprietary model access and AI training transparency.

• Google's NotebookLM now lets you share your notebook — and AI podcasts — publicly

  • Users can now generate public links to share AI-generated notes, summaries, and podcasts via NotebookLM.

  • Public viewers can explore content interactively, including FAQs and audio briefings, without editing access.

  • Editing rights remain limited to invited collaborators, protecting content while encouraging broader visibility.

EXTRAS

• Bloomberg Crypto 6/3/2025: Bitcoin's record month and ETF inflows

  • Bitcoin closed May with an 8% gain, outperforming major indices and attracting renewed institutional investor interest.

  • BlackRock’s ETF brought in $6.5 billion, raising total assets to nearly $70 billion amid strong market momentum.

  • Circle is set to launch its IPO this week, marking another milestone for crypto in public markets.

• Epic is making it easier to create MetaHumans

  • MetaHuman Creator is now embedded in Unreal Engine 5.6, streamlining access for developers within the engine.

  • Full-body customization tools expand beyond facial features, enabling detailed character creation for diverse applications.

  • New licensing permits MetaHumans' use in Unity, Godot, Maya, Houdini, and Blender, broadening cross-platform integration.

• Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile

  • Reddit added tools to let users hide posts and comments from their public profile without deleting them.

  • Users can choose which communities show on their profile, enhancing privacy while maintaining platform activity.

  • Moderators still see recent content for 28 days, and usernames remain visible across all interactions.

AND MORE

• Meta inks 20-year nuclear deal to power its AI data centers.

• DeepMind debuts AI email assistant that mimics your writing style.

• The 2025 Salary Report uncovers salary trends for engineers, data scientists, and more.*

• Beta’s electric aircraft lands at JFK for the first time.

• TCS renews 20-year tech alliance with Virgin Atlantic, integrating AI tools.

• Cornelis Networks launches new tech for speeding up AI data center connections.

• California Senate passes AI Bill of Rights to guide responsible development.

• Explore Zoho CRM and transform your customer experience.*