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

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

🚨 French, Malaysian authorities probe Grok over sexualized deepfake images.
📱 Duolingo violated Apple guidelines by showing ads in the iPhone Dynamic Island.
💰 Tech billionaires cashed out $16B in 2025 as stocks soared.
📈 Bitcoin jumps to 3-week high after U.S. captures Venezuela’s Maduro.
⚖️ China rejects any country acting as “world judge” after Maduro's capture.

TECHNOLOGY

• French and Malaysian authorities probe Grok over sexualized deepfake image generation (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Bloomberg, The Verge, Politico}}

  • France, Malaysia, and India condemn Grok for generating sexualized deepfakes involving women and minors.

  • xAI issued an apology citing safeguard failures, while critics argue accountability cannot meaningfully apply to chatbots.

  • Governments demand restrictions, warning that X could lose legal protections if illegal content persists.

• Duolingo violated Apple guidelines by showing ads in iPhone Dynamic Island (MacRumors)
  ^{_{More: NewsBytes, MacHash}}

  • Users reported Duolingo displaying subscription ads via Live Activities on Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.

  • Apple guidelines explicitly ban Live Activities from showing ads, risking App Store removal for violations.

  • Reports suggest Duolingo may have stopped the practice after complaints, as the ads are no longer visible.

• California introduces a one-stop shop to delete your online data footprint (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Engadget, Yahoo!, ABC7}}

  • California’s new DROP platform allows residents to request deletion from over 500 data brokers.

  • Brokers must begin processing requests by August 2026, with 90 days to complete and report.

  • Certain public records and first-party data remain exempt, but the tool helps reduce fraud and identity theft.

BUSINESS

• Tech billionaires cashed out $16B in 2025 as stocks soared (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, Yahoo!, MSN}}

  • Executives sold massive stakes, with Jeff Bezos, Safra Catz, and Michael Dell leading the cash-outs.

  • Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Arista CEO Jayshree Ullal each liquidated billions during record tech rallies.

  • Most share sales occurred via pre-arranged plans, fueled by an AI-driven stock market surge.

• Bitfinex hacker Lichtenstein credits Trump’s First Step Act for early release (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, The Verge, Yahoo!}}

  • Ilya Lichtenstein, guilty of laundering funds from the Bitfinex hack, has been released from prison early.

  • Lichtenstein thanked Trump’s First Step Act on X, claiming it enabled his early release and home confinement.

  • The DOJ seized $3.6 billion in stolen bitcoin, while Lichtenstein pled guilty and served part of his sentence.

• Bitcoin jumps to 3-week high after U.S. captures Venezuela’s Maduro (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Economic Times, Business Times, Reuters}}

  • Asian stocks surged to record highs, led by technology and AI-focused companies, continuing last year’s strong rally.

  • Silver and gold prices spiked following Maduro’s capture, while copper approached record levels amid supply concerns.

  • Risk-on sentiment drove global equities higher, despite geopolitical tensions and potential impacts on future growth.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Delcy Rodríguez assumes Venezuela’s interim presidency after Maduro’s unexpected capture (AP)
  ^{_{More: Washington Post, WRAL}}

  • Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, becomes interim president following his capture by U.S. forces.

  • Venezuela’s high court and military back Rodríguez, giving her control amid mounting political uncertainty.

  • Rodríguez signals willingness to cooperate with the U.S., potentially shifting relations between the two nations.

• China rejects any country acting as ‘world judge’ after Maduro's capture (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: Business Standard, Economic Times}}

  • Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that no nation should act as global police or judge.

  • Maduro’s upcoming U.S. court appearance sparks Beijing’s criticism, viewing the capture as a significant diplomatic blow.

  • China asserts the importance of sovereignty while pursuing its ambition to become a global diplomatic heavyweight.

• Goldman Sachs plans to raise $500M for Japan real estate fund (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Japan Times, Business Times}}

  • Goldman targets $500 million for a Japan real estate fund amid a market rebound and weak yen.

  • Fund will use a value-add strategy, focusing on data centers, logistics, residential, and hospitality assets.

  • Japan’s property market attracts foreign investors due to low borrowing costs and currency depreciation benefits.

FUTURISM

• CES 2026 will showcase the latest tech innovations across multiple industries (AP)
  ^{_{More: Washington Post, ABC, CES}}

  • CES 2026 kicks off in Las Vegas, highlighting robotics, vehicles, gaming, wearables, healthcare, and other tech sectors.

  • Artificial intelligence will dominate exhibits and keynotes, with Nvidia and AMD leaders presenting new AI solutions.

  • Startups and established firms showcase healthcare innovations, including apps addressing specific medical conditions and data shortages.

• Plaud launches a new AI pin and a desktop meeting notetaker (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Business Wire, CNET, Forbes}}

  • Plaud unveiled the $179 NotePin S ahead of CES, adding a physical recording button and highlight feature.

  • The wearable AI notetaker includes multiple accessories, Apple Find My support, and flexible wearing options.

  • NotePin S offers 64GB storage, 20-hour recording, free monthly transcriptions, targeting users constantly on the go.

• Samsung unveils 2026 TVs featuring bigger screens, richer colors, and enhanced AI (AP)
  ^{_{More: Engadget, Business Times}}

  • Samsung’s 2026 lineup includes LCD 4K and high-end OLED TVs, improving color range and contrast performance.

  • Some models exceed 100 inches, reflecting growing consumer demand for super-sized, immersive home theater experiences.

  • New TVs debut at CES 2026, alongside Wi-Fi-enabled speakers designed to rival Sonos and competitors.

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CONTENT

• Molly Graham shares leadership frameworks for navigating chaos, change, and rapid scale (Lenny's Podcast)

  • Molly Graham teaches practical leadership frameworks for scaling teams, roles, and decision-making during hypergrowth.

  • Her models include “Give away your Legos,” career J-curves, and diagnosing team issues early.

  • Lessons draw from experience working with top tech leaders navigating rapid change and organizational complexity.

• Ed Elson discusses his shift from finance to a luxury fashion brand (The Prof G Pod)

  • Elson shares how he left Wall Street to launch the Norwegian Wool luxury coat brand.

  • He explains strategies for entering luxury markets, pricing, branding, and customer trust.

  • Conversation covers quiet luxury trends, marketing choices, and scaling a premium fashion business.

• Dr. Rhonda Patrick explains key micronutrients essential for health and longevity (Andrew Huberman)

  • Dr. Patrick highlights four micronutrients that influence inflammation, cellular stress, detoxification, and support healthy aging.

  • Diet, supplementation, exercise, and deliberate cold or heat exposure can optimize metabolic and cardiovascular health.

  • These strategies also promote cognitive function and overall longevity, according to biomedical research insights.

EXTRAS

• Indian bonds drop as increased state debt worsens supply pressure concerns (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Economic Times, MSN}}

  • The Indian rupee fell past 90, raising concerns of stronger dollar demand from importers this week.

  • Higher-than-expected state debt sales are adding pressure on government bonds, pushing yields upward.

  • Reserve Bank of India intervened to stabilize currency, but depreciation pressures continue amid persistent demand.

• Chinese cyberattacks on Taiwan's infrastructure averaged 2.6M daily in 2025 (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: Tech in Asia, Economic Times}}

  • Taiwan reports Chinese cyberattacks rose 6% in 2025, averaging 2.63 million incidents daily.

  • Attacks increasingly targeted hospitals, banks, energy systems, and emergency services, intensifying year-on-year damage.

  • Some cyber operations were synchronized with Chinese military drills, forming broader hybrid warfare tactics.

• DoorDash says it banned a driver who seemingly faked a delivery using AI (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, MSN}}

  • DoorDash confirmed a driver used an AI-generated photo to falsely mark a delivery completed.

  • The incident went viral after an Austin customer shared evidence of identical fraud reports.

  • DoorDash permanently banned the driver, refunded the customer, and reiterated its zero-tolerance fraud policy.

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• Subtle releases new noise-isolation earbuds designed for focused, immersive listening.

• Mui finally ships its wooden home controller after years of calm-tech development.

• Flappy Bird’s wild rise and dramatic fall captured the mobile gaming world.