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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🥊 Meta to add UFC president Dana White to it’s board.
🧠 OpenAI’s Sam Altman says “we know how to build AGI.”
🔩 U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel challenge Biden’s move to kill $14B deal.
🐭 Disney and FuboTV to merge live TV streaming services.
🍁 Trudeau stepping down as party leader and prime minister.

TECH

• Meta’s Zuckerberg Adds UFC’s Dana White, Two Others to Board

  • Meta appointed UFC President and CEO Dana White as one of three new members to its board of directors.

  • This move highlights Meta's interest in aligning with leaders from diverse industries.

  • The appointments come as part of Meta's broader strategy to strengthen its leadership team.

• Microsoft is using Bing to trick people into thinking they’re on Google

  • Microsoft is reportedly using Bing to redirect users and create the impression they are on Google.

  • The tactic is part of an effort to push users toward Bing and Edge instead of Google and Chrome.

  • This strategy highlights Microsoft's competitive push in the search engine and browser markets.

• OpenAI’s Sam Altman says ‘we know how to build AGI’

  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated the company understands how to build Artificial General Intelligence as we have traditionally understood it.

  • OpenAI is actively pursuing the development of superintelligence as part of its long-term vision.

  • Altman emphasized the goal of creating a "glorious future" through advancements in AI technology.

BUSINESS

• Bluesky bump from X exodus is slowing down, data shows

  • Bluesky, a social network rivaling X, experienced a slowdown in its rapid growth during December in the U.S.

  • The initial surge was driven by users migrating from X, but the trend has tapered off.

  • This deceleration suggests a stabilization phase following its earlier momentum.

• Winklevoss Twins’ Gemini to Pay $5 Million to End CFTC Case

  • Gemini settled a $5 million lawsuit with the CFTC over misleading statements about Bitcoin futures.

  • The settlement avoids a trial set for January 21 and includes no admission of liability.

  • This case is part of broader regulatory efforts against the cryptocurrency industry.

• Biden's decision to block Nippon Steel takeover creates uncertainty for U.S. Steel workers

  • President Biden blocked Nippon Steel's takeover of U.S. Steel, citing national security concerns.

  • The decision creates uncertainty for U.S. Steel workers regarding the future of the company.

  • It signals a tougher stance on foreign acquisitions in critical industries.

CONTENT

• Debate with a former OpenAI Research Team Lead — Prof. Kenneth Stanley

  • Prof. Kenneth Stanley was a former Research Science Manager at OpenAI and led the Open-Endedness Team from 2020-2022.

  • He coauthored ‘Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned,’ arguing that setting objectives hinders the ability to achieve them.

  • In the episode, Stanley debates the idea that superintelligent AI won't be driven by goals and discusses differing perspectives on AI doom.

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, joins Lex Fridman for a long for three hour conversation.

  • Fridman recently spoke with Javier Milei of Argentina, and plans to host a conversation with Vladamir Putin.

  • This episode is available in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

• How Europe Sabotaged Its Own Economy

  • Europe has faced nearly two decades of economic stagnation, trailing behind the USA in raw output.

  • Despite high living standards and strong education, the continent struggles with issues in innovation, immigration, industry, integration, and energy.

  • The video explores why Europe's growth has stalled, how it differs from the USA, and potential solutions to address these challenges.

WORLD

• Canada Live Updates: Trudeau Is Stepping Down as Party Leader and Prime Minister

  • Justin Trudeau, who has led the country for nearly a decade, is giving up leadership of the Liberal party.

  • He said he would remain in both roles until his replacement had been chosen through a party election.

  • Trudeau cited 'internal battles' in his governing party as the reason for him stepping down.

• Israel Conducts Raids in Syria Amid Accusations of Cease-Fire Violations

  • Four weeks after the fall of the Assad regime, Israel is pressing on with a military campaign on Syrian soil.

  • The situation has caused frustration among Syrian residents, particularly in Quneitra.

  • The lack of response from Syrian authorities and the international community has left Syria asking questions.

• Emmanuel Macron joins growing criticism of Elon Musk in Europe

  • French President Emmanuel Macron joined European leaders in criticizing Elon Musk for his influence on European elections.

  • Macron accused Musk of intervening in democratic processes, including Germany’s upcoming elections.

  • This criticism follows Musk's public support for far-right parties and his relationship with Donald Trump.

AND MORE…

• AMD’s beastly ‘Strix Halo’ Ryzen AI Max+ debuts with radical new memory tech to feed RDNA 3.5 graphics and Zen 5 CPU cores

  • Strix Halo Ryzen AI Max+ processors, feature up to 40 cores of RDNA 3.5 graphics and Zen 5 CPU cores for top-tier gaming and AI.

  • The new integrated memory architecture delivers up to 256 GB/s throughput, boosting AI and gaming workloads.

  • The Ryzen AI Max+ 395, with 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores, supports up to 128GB of memory.

• OpenAI is losing money on its pricey ChatGPT Pro plan, CEO Sam Altman says

  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted the company is losing money on its $200/month ChatGPT Pro plan due to higher-than-expected usage.

  • Despite raising billions, OpenAI is not yet profitable, with costs like AI training and staffing contributing to losses.

  • To reach profitability, OpenAI may increase subscription prices or explore usage-based pricing for certain services.

• Disney to merge Hulu + Live TV with Fubo, challenging YouTube TV

  • Disney plans to combine Hulu and Disney+ into a single streaming platform, offering a more streamlined experience for users.

  • The merger aims to provide subscribers with a vast library of live TV, Disney originals, and Hulu’s catalog in one app.

  • The integration is part of Disney's strategy to strengthen its position in the competitive streaming market and simplify its offerings for consumers.