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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🏥 Amazon to bring palm-scanning tech to NYU Langone Health facilities.
🚗 Nissan and Stellantis companies could be hit hardest by tariffs.
💰 Brent Beshore made $50M buying & running boring businesses.
🇪🇸 Spain's Nazca Capital launches €400 million defense fund.
🚁 BYD cars now have an on-vehicle DJI drone launch platform.

TECH

• Amazon to bring palm-scanning tech to NYU Langone Health facilities

  • NYU Langone Health patients will be able to check in for appointments using Amazon One, the company’s palm-scanning technology.

  • The service will help NYU Langone speed up the sign-in process, reduce wait times, and alleviate administrative workloads.

  • NYU Langone will be the largest third-party deployment of Amazon One to date.

• Google’s Gemini now lets you ask questions using videos and on-screen

  • Google has enhanced its AI assistant, Gemini, enabling users to interact using videos and on-screen content.

  • This update allows you to capture a video or utilize what's displayed on your screen to ask questions, and Gemini will provide information.

  • This feature is currently rolling out in English on Android devices, with plans to expand to iOS and additional languages in the future.

• Anthropic's secret trick for measuring Claude

  • ​Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude chatbot, has developed an innovative method to assess AI usage patterns.

  • This index analyzes anonymized data from Claude's interactions to distinguish between augmentation.

  • Anthropic utilizes Clio, an automated analysis tool that extracts metadata from user interactions with Claude.

BUSINESS

• Nissan and Stellantis could be hit hardest by tariffs

  • Nissan and Stellantis face potential 25% U.S. tariffs on vehicles imported from Mexico and Canada.

  • The company relies on Mexico-made models like Sentra and Kicks for nearly one-third of U.S. sales, while Stellantis is now facing financial losses.

  • Automakers are considering shifting production and lobbying for exemptions to avoid supply chain disruptions and increased costs.

• Cloudsmith raises $23M to improve software supply chain security

  • ​Cloudsmith, a cloud-native artifact management platform, has secured a $23 million Series B funding round led by TCV.

  • The company experienced nearly 150% growth last year, significantly expanding its enterprise customer base.

  • The new capital will be allocated to expanding sales, marketing, and customer success teams, and enhancing the software supply chain.

• Skip the hassle and hire top-tier assistants fast*

  • Access pre-vetted global professionals in marketing, project management, and operations, ready to contribute from day one.

  • Save time and effort with AI-powered talent matching, connecting you to skilled professionals who fit your business needs.

  • Build a stronger, more efficient team without the delays of traditional hiring, ensuring immediate impact and long-term success.

• UN Food Agency shuts Southern Africa hub amid Trump aid cuts

  • The United Nations' World Food Programme has announced the closure of its Southern Africa regional bureau in Johannesburg.

  • The WFP relies heavily on U.S. contributions, with nearly half of its donations coming from the United States.

  • The recent policy shifts have led to the cancellation of nearly 10,000 foreign aid grants and contracts, totaling almost $60 billion.

CONTENT

• Brent Beshore made $50M buying & running boring businesses

  • Brent shares insights on how he started with a small income and scaled to managing a portfolio of successful businesses.

  • Beshore emphasizes the importance of learning as you go, focusing on relevant skills only when needed.

  • The discussion explores why buying cash flow-positive businesses can be more sustainable than high-growth startups.

• Grok 3, AI memory & voice, China, DOGE, and public market pull back

  • Discussion on the latest advancements in Grok 3, its integration into X, and how it enhances AI-driven interactions.

  • Exploration of AI memory capabilities and how AI-powered voice assistants could change communication, and user engagement.

  • Examination of China’s rapid AI advancements and the regulatory challenges in the U.S. and globally.

• Mike Krieger on where will value be created in an AI world

  • Discussion on where long-term value will be generated in an AI-driven world and whether foundation models are becoming commodities.

  • Debate on whether founders should optimize for current AI models or build for the more advanced AI models of the future.

  • Why AI models will likely become more distinct rather than converging, due to proprietary training methods and dataset variations.

WORLD

• Spain's Nazca Capital launches €400M defense fund

  • ​Spanish private equity firm Nazca Capital has launched the Nazca Aeroespacial y Defensa I FCR.

  • Nazca Aeroespacial y Defensa I FCR is a private equity fund specializing in aerospace and defense.

  • The fund has a target size of €400 million ($417 million), with the potential to increase to €500 million.

• Brazil’s bond market may benefit amid Trump’s rising tariff threats

  • “Brazil offers one of the highest real rates of all government bond markets,” said Viktor Szabo, investment director.

  • The country’s economy has been navigating a complex set of challenges and opportunities, such as the high inflation rate.

  • Market watchers told CNBC that they deem Brazil to be relatively insulated from global trade rifts.

• Austria's three-party government takes office, shutting out far right

  • On March 3, 2025, Austria's first three-party coalition government since World War II was sworn in.

  • This comprises the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal Neos.

  • The new government aims to reduce the budget deficit through spending cuts and tax increases on large corporations.

AND MORE…

• BYD cars now have an on-vehicle DJI drone launch platform

  • BYD has introduced the Lingyuan system, a vehicle-integrated drone launching platform developed in collaboration with DJI.

  • The Lingyuan system includes a DJI drone, a roof-mounted hangar that charges the drone, and compatible apps for video editing and AI recognition.

  • This system will also be available for more affordable models, such as the Sealion 07 DM-i hybrid and Tang L electric SUV. ​

• Bitcoin jumps nearly $14,000 in three days on Trump’s crypto reserve announcement

  • Bitcoin rallied over the weekend after President Donald Trump announced a U.S. strategic crypto reserve.

  • It was last trading over the $93,000 level, which is 19% above its Friday low of $78,226.23, according to Coin Metrics.

  • It also rose as high as $95,000, while the smaller coins rocketed double digits.

• Blue Ghost private lander reaches the Moon intact

  • Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully touched down on the Moon's Mare Crisium basin on March 2, 2025, at 2:34 a.m. ET.

  • This land marks the first fully successful commercial lunar landing by a private company.

  • This achievement positions Firefly Aerospace as a key player in NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.