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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

📱 Apple introduces new event planning app, simplifying invites and scheduling.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Threads lets users create custom feeds, offering greater control over content.
🏙️ Meta’s Horizon Worlds faces challenges amid stalled metaverse ambitions.
✈️ Boeing faces $2B in losses with its Starliner program delays and safety issues.
🌍 Greece evacuates Santorini after magnitude 5.1 earthquakes hit.

TECH

• Apple Launches ‘Invites’ App for Seamless Event Planning

  • Apple introduces Invites, a new event planning app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that integrates directly with iMessage and Calendar.

  • Users can send, track, and manage invitations, with built-in RSVP tracking and scheduling tools for simplified coordination.

  • The app positions Apple as a competitor to Google Calendar and Evite, enhancing its ecosystem for personal and professional events.

• Threads Rolls Out Custom Feeds for Personalized Content

  • Meta’s Threads now allows users to create and share custom feeds, offering greater control over the content they see.

  • The feature encourages niche communities and tailored discussions, differentiating Threads from Twitter/X.

  • Meta continues to refine Threads’ functionality, focusing on engagement and user customization to drive adoption.

• Meta’s Metaverse Horizon Worlds Faces Expiration Date

  • Meta’s Horizon Worlds and Reality Labs struggle with user adoption and profitability despite massive investment.

  • Mixed-reality projects have yet to generate significant revenue, forcing Meta to reassess its metaverse strategy.

  • With AI and social media taking priority, Meta may scale back its metaverse ambitions or pivot to more immediate revenue opportunities.

BUSINESS

• Boeing’s Starliner Crew Spacecraft Losses Total $2 Billion

  • Boeing’s Starliner program has accumulated over $2 billion in losses due to delays, safety issues, and cost overruns.

  • The spacecraft, intended to transport astronauts to the ISS, has yet to complete a successful crewed mission.

  • NASA remains committed to Starliner, but Boeing’s struggles highlight the competitive and financial pressures in commercial spaceflight.

• Figure Drops OpenAI in Favor of In-House AI Models

  • Figure AI is ending its partnership with OpenAI, choosing to develop its own AI for humanoid robots.

  • CEO Brett Adcock claims a ‘major breakthrough’ in embodied AI, promising a reveal within 30 days.

  • The move follows OpenAI’s own humanoid trademark filing, suggesting increased competition in the robotics space.

• Amazon Expands Renewable Energy Push with 476 MW Purchase

  • Amazon has secured 476 megawatts of renewable energy as part of its continued investment in clean power.

  • The company remains the world’s largest corporate buyer of renewables, pushing toward its goal of 100% clean energy by 2025.

  • These projects will help power Amazon’s data centers, logistics network, and AWS cloud services with sustainable energy.

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CONTENT

• Bill Gates on ‘Source Code My Beginnings’

  • Bill Gates reflects on his new book ‘Source Code: My Beginnings’, detailing his early passion for computers.

  • He discusses his learning style, social challenges, and potential autism spectrum diagnosis.

  • Gates also shares insights into Microsoft’s rise and his long-term philanthropic legacy.

• The Future of AI with NVIDIA Founder and CEO Jensen Huang

  • Jensen Huang and Jim Kavanaugh discuss AI’s evolution and its role in enterprise adoption.

  • The conversation covers NVIDIA’s AI advancements and strategies for large-scale AI deployment.

  • Huang provides insights into AI’s future impact across industries, including automation and data processing.

• Elon’s Shocking DOGE Update

  • The episode explores issues surrounding government spending, inefficiencies, and regulatory overreach.

  • Discussions include dismantling agencies like USAID and restoring legislative power to Congress.

  • Speakers highlight the impact of government waste on inflation, interest rates, and economic growth.

WORLD

• Multiple People Killed in ‘Worst Mass Shooting in Swedish History,’ Authorities Say

  • Around 10 people were killed in a school shooting in Örebro, Sweden, with the perpetrator among the dead.

  • Police do not believe the attack was terror-related or gang-connected, stating the shooter acted alone.

  • Sweden’s Prime Minister called it the country’s worst mass shooting, expressing condolences and support for victims.

• Greek Island Santorini Evacuated After Earthquakes Shake Tourist Destination

  • Thousands of residents and tourists have evacuated Santorini following two magnitude 5.1 earthquakes.

  • Authorities closed schools and warned residents to avoid abandoned buildings due to further seismic risks.

  • Experts say the quakes are tectonic rather than volcanic but caution that a stronger earthquake could follow.

• Trump Reimposes ‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran, Aims to Drive Oil Exports to Zero

  • President Trump reinstated his ‘maximum pressure’ campaign to cut Iran’s oil exports to zero.

  • He signed an order directing the Treasury to impose strict sanctions, blaming Biden for lax enforcement.

  • Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons, though the IAEA reports it is enriching uranium close to weapons-grade.

AND MORE…

• Team Behind Twitterrific Launches a Multi-Feed App Called Tapestry

  • The developers of Twitterrific have launched Tapestry, a new app that lets users organize multiple social media feeds in one place.

  • The app supports custom feeds from Mastodon, Bluesky, and RSS, offering an alternative to centralized social media platforms.

  • The team aims to cater to users seeking a personalized, ad-free social media experience after Twitterrific’s shutdown.

  Trump and Netanyahu Set for Pivotal Talks With Middle East Agenda

  • President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet to discuss security and diplomatic concerns in the Middle East.

  • Talks are expected to cover Iran, Israel’s relations with Gulf nations, and ongoing tensions in Gaza.

  • The meeting signals a renewed push for U.S. influence in the region amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

  Cruise to Slash Workforce by 50% After GM Cuts Funding to Robotaxi Operations

  • GM’s self-driving unit, Cruise, is laying off half of its employees following a major funding cut.

  • The decision follows regulatory scrutiny and setbacks in the company’s autonomous vehicle deployment.

  • Cruise is now shifting focus to a more limited, safety-driven rollout of its robotaxi technology.