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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🕹️ People are using Super Mario to benchmark AI now.
☕ Starbucks names Nordstrom's Cathy Smith as their new CFO.
💡 Google brings Gemini widgets to iPhone.
⚖️ Romanian ex-PM risks upending bid to block far-right candidate.
📱 Apple updates base iPad with A16 chip and twice the storage.

TECH

• People are using Super Mario to benchmark AI now

  • Hao AI Lab, a research org at the University of California San Diego, on Friday threw AI into live Super Mario Bros. games.

  • Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 performed the best, followed by Claude 3.5. Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro and OpenAI’s GPT-4o struggled.

  • The game ran in an emulator and integrated with a framework, GamingAgent, to give the AIs control over Mario.

• Google brings Gemini widgets to iPhone as it looks to seize on Siri’s weaknesses

  • Google’s Gemini app for iOS and iPadOS now includes a handful of lockscreen widgets that make it easier to access the AI various features.

  • The app’s latest update adds six widgets in total, with each of them letting you hop right into a particular Gemini function.

  • Google has also recently been advertising Gemini on Apple-centric tech podcasts.

• AI massage startup raises $83M brings robots to equinox

  • Aescape, an AI-driven massage technology company, has secured $83 million in a strategic funding round led by Valor Equity Partners.

  • This investment aims to expand Aescape's innovative robotic massage systems, which utilize advanced sensors and AI.

  • The company has partnered with Equinox to introduce these systems across 60 locations nationwide.

BUSINESS

• Starbucks names Nordstrom's Cathy Smith as their new CFO

  • Starbucks has appointed Cathy R. Smith as its new Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Rachel Ruggeri.

  • Smith brings extensive experience, having previously served as CFO at Nordstrom, Target, and other major corporations.

  • Her appointment is part of Starbucks' strategy to strengthen its financial leadership and drive growth in key markets.

• Deutsche bank sees risk of US Dollar losing safe haven status

  • Deutsche Bank highlights that global trade tensions and shifting alliances could weaken the U.S. dollar’s role.

  • Concerns over U.S. fiscal policies and inflation may drive investors toward alternative assets.

  • If confidence in the dollar declines, it could affect global markets, trade agreements, and the dominance of the U.S. financials.

• Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Nvidia, Tesla, Target, Illumina

  • On March 4, 2025, global financial markets reacted to escalating trade tensions initiated by new U.S. tariffs.

  • The escalating trade tensions have heightened concerns about global economic growth, leading to increased market volatility.

  • These developments underscore the interconnectedness of global markets and significant impact of international trade policies.

CONTENT

• How I find $130K/month AI SaaS Opportunities hiding in plain sight

  • AI SaaS opportunities arise from workflow breakdowns in enterprise software that signal inefficiencies.

  • The process involves identifying repetitive pain points, adding intelligence to manual processes, and bridging data silos.

  • Successful AI startups should solve niche problems, charge for solutions immediately, and focus on quantifiable ROI.

• ‘The James Bond Cinematic Universe’ in Vergecast

  • Framework CEO Nirav Patel discusses the Laptop 12 and Desktop, emphasizing upgradeability and repairability as core principles.

  • John Gruber (Daring Fireball) joins the conversation to discuss Amazon's full creative control over the James Bond franchise.

  • Debate on whether a James Bond Cinematic Universe makes sense, or if the franchise should stick to its traditional format.

• He launched a sweaty startup in high school, now he'll be a millionaire by 18

  • Each high school entrepreneur introduced their business, explaining their biggest struggles related to scaling, marketing, and operations.

  • Sam and Shaan asked tough, specific questions, pushing for clearer business models, better execution strategies, and value propositions.

  • For each founder, the hosts provided targeted recommendations, including refining pricing models, and scaling strategies.

WORLD

• Romanian ex-PM risks upending bid to block far-right candidate

  • Ex-Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced his candidacy for Romania’s 2025 presidential election potentially dividing votes.

  • His entry could weaken efforts to block far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, who gained momentum after a previous election annulment.

  • The move may disrupt coalition unity, making it harder to counter Georgescu’s rise in the rescheduled May 2025 election.

• Canada’s Trudeau vows retaliation calls tariffs unjustified

  • Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he wouldn’t allow President Trump’s tariff decision to “go unanswered”.

  • In response, Trudeau announced that Canada will implement retaliatory tariffs of 25% on $155 billion worth of U.S. products.

  • He emphasized that these measures are necessary to protect Canadian interests and will remain until the U.S. revokes its tariffs.

• Tiktok blasts Australia for Youtube carveout in social media ban

  • Australia's recent legislation banning social media access for children under 16 has exempted YouTube, labeling as essential educational tool.

  • Experts warn that YouTube's algorithms can lead young users to addictive or dangerous content, questioning its exemption.

  • TikTok says that exempting YouTube from the minimum age rule would result in a law that is "illogical, anticompetitive, and short-sighted".

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• Apple updates base iPad with A16 chip and twice the storage

  • Apple also refreshed the base model iPad today. The iPad now comes with an A16 chip, and twice the storage, for the same $349 price.

  • That means Apple’s cheapest iPad now starts at 128 GB storage, with 256 GB and an all-new 512 GB size as upgrade options.

  • With a faster chip and twice the storage, the new iPad is even better value for money than the prior 10th generation iPad.

• Waymo is now available exclusively on Uber in Austin

  • Today is the day that Waymo’s unlikely partnership with Uber is now live in Austin, Texas.

  • Waymo only operates within a 37-square-mile area in Austin, and includes Hyde Park, Downtown, other “popular destinations”.

  • There are limitations where the trip will need to originate and end within that service area in order to qualify for Waymo.

• Google offers QR codes to get reviews from customers

  • Google Business Profiles has added a new QR code you can use to make it easier to get reviews on your Google local listing.

  • The QR code, when accessed, jumps the user directly to the add review form, so there is little difficulty finding the form.

  • You can also just link to the page using the review link listed above the QR code.