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

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

📱 Amazon adds ‘Get Book’ button to Kindle app, bypassing Apple’s restrictions.
🤖 Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro boosts coding tools, tops WebDev Arena benchmark.
🛒 DoorDash acquires Deliveroo for £2.9B, accelerating international growth.
🚕 Uber partners with Chinese AV firms to deploy robotaxis in new markets.
🎯 Ukraine launches drone strikes on Moscow, escalating tensions ahead of May 9.

TECHNOLOGY

• Amazon Adds 'Get Book' Button to Kindle iOS App

  • Amazon added a ‘Get Book’ button to the Kindle iOS app, directing users to buy ebooks via their mobile browser.

  • This update bypasses Apple's longstanding in-app purchase restrictions, simplifying ebook buying for iPhone and iPad users.

  • Apple has appealed the court ruling that enabled the change, so the feature’s future may still shift.

• Google Releases Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview with Enhanced Coding Capabilities

  • Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview improves front-end coding and ranks first in the WebDev Arena benchmark.

  • New tools include video-to-code conversion and starter app templates that boost developer speed and creativity.

  • Available at no extra cost via the Gemini API in AI Studio and Vertex AI, targeting software and UI developers.

• Windows 11 Introduces New Start Menu and AI Features

  • Microsoft launched a redesigned Start menu with better app grouping and more intuitive navigation on Windows 11.

  • New AI tools include an assistant in Settings, improved image editing, and smarter search via Copilot integration.

  • Features are first rolling out to Windows Insiders on Copilot+ PCs, with wider release coming later.

BUSINESS

• DoorDash Acquires Deliveroo in £2.9 Billion Deal

  • DoorDash is acquiring Deliveroo for £2.9 billion in cash, ending Deliveroo’s rocky journey as a public company.

  • Deliveroo struggled post-IPO and recently turned profitable, making it an attractive international expansion target for DoorDash.

  • Limited geographic overlap means the deal is unlikely to trigger major antitrust scrutiny in key regulatory jurisdictions.

• Uber Partners with Chinese Companies to Expand Robotaxi Services

  • Uber is partnering with Pony.ai, Momenta, and WeRide to launch autonomous ride services in Europe and the Middle East.

  • Rollouts will begin with safety drivers onboard before transitioning to fully autonomous robotaxis in the coming years.

  • The collaborations aim to accelerate Uber’s global self-driving strategy in markets outside China and the United States.

• Meta wins $168 million in damages from Israeli cyberintel firm in WhatsApp spyware scandal

  • A U.S. jury ruled NSO Group must pay Meta for hacking 1,400 WhatsApp users via Pegasus spyware in 2019.

  • The exploit targeted journalists, dissidents, and officials, breaching Meta’s systems through a WhatsApp vulnerability.

  • The ruling sets a precedent for holding spyware developers accountable for unauthorized surveillance and digital rights violations.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Ukraine Targets Moscow With Drone Strikes Ahead of May 9

  • Ukraine launched drone strikes on Moscow ahead of Victory Day, aiming to disrupt Russian logistics and symbolic celebrations.

  • The attacks signal Ukraine’s expanding long-range capabilities and efforts to pressure Russia both militarily and politically.

  • Russia reported minimal casualties but heightened security, especially with international leaders expected at upcoming events.

• India and the UK Finalize Landmark Free Trade Agreement

  • India and the UK reached a major trade deal, projected to boost bilateral commerce by £25.5 billion by 2040.

  • India will lower tariffs on whisky and autos, while professionals gain easier UK access through simplified visa processes.

  • It marks the UK's biggest post-Brexit trade pact and highlights India’s continued shift toward global market integration.

• Tariff-Loaded Chinese Shipments Arrive in U.S., Shortages Expected

  • The first Chinese shipments hit U.S. ports with 145% tariffs, slashing volume by half and straining retail inventories.

  • Importers brace for supply disruptions and rising prices, especially in electronics, home goods, and basic industrial materials.

  • The tariff hike stems from recent trade actions under Trump, sparking fears of extended shortages across multiple sectors.

CONTENT

• Doom Scenario: Human-Level AI Can't Control Smarter AI

  • The video outlines a scenario where early AIs lose control of successors that evolve into superintelligent goal-optimizing agents.

  • Key risks include value drift, recursive self-improvement, and unintentionally unleashing unaligned runaway superintelligence.

  • The speaker argues for a cautious timeline and rigorous constraints before deploying increasingly capable general-purpose AI systems.

• Dangers of AI and Humanity's Future

  • Ed Mylett hosts top thinkers to explore AI’s ethical, economic, and societal impact on work, learning, and safety.

  • Guests like Mo Gawdat and Sal Khan stress the risks of human misuse, not just the machines themselves.

  • The conversation blends urgency and optimism, encouraging informed public dialogue about shaping the future we want.

• Tony Seba "AI Robots Will Change Our WORLD"

  • Tony Seba predicts AI and robotics will drive massive disruption across transport, food, energy, and global labor systems.

  • Technologies like humanoid robots, precision fermentation, and open-source AI will reshape markets and economic structures.

  • His outlook focuses on abundance, sustainability, and radical change enabled by exponential tech convergence this decade.

FUTURISM

• Hugging Face Releases Free Agentic AI Tool

  • Hugging Face introduced Open Computer Agent, a cloud-based AI capable of navigating virtual desktops and executing user commands.

  • The tool utilizes a Linux VM with applications like Firefox, enabling tasks such as locating Hugging Face HQ via Google Maps.

  • While adept at simple tasks, it struggles with complex ones and CAPTCHA challenges, highlighting current limitations in agentic AI.

• California Burger Joint Implements Robotic Patty Assembly

  • Burgerbots in Los Gatos employs ABB Robotics' Flexpicker and YuMi to assemble burgers in just 27 seconds.

  • The process involves QR-coded buns guiding robots to add toppings, enhancing efficiency amid rising labor costs.

  • Despite automation, human staff remain integral for serving, aiming to balance technological advancement with employment opportunities.

• Aurora Commences Driverless Commercial Trucking in Texas

  • Aurora has launched its Aurora Driver system, achieving SAE Level 4 autonomy for long-haul trucking operations in Texas.

  • The initiative marks a significant step toward fully autonomous freight transport, aiming to improve efficiency and safety.

  • Aurora's deployment reflects growing confidence in autonomous vehicle technology within the commercial transportation sector.

EXTRAS

• Musk's Lawyer Criticizes OpenAI's Restructuring as Superficial

  • Elon Musk's attorney dismissed OpenAI's revised restructuring plan, stating it doesn't address core concerns about the nonprofit mission.

  • OpenAI's shift to a public benefit corporation retains nonprofit control but faces skepticism regarding genuine commitment to original goals.

  • Legal challenges persist as Musk continues his lawsuit, questioning the alignment of OpenAI's actions with its foundational principles.

• Spotify Introduces Podcast Episode Play Counts for Users and Creators

  • Spotify now displays play counts for podcast episodes, enhancing transparency and aiding users in discovering popular content.

  • Creators gain insights into audience engagement, allowing better assessment of episode performance and content strategy refinement.

  • This feature aims to bolster Spotify's position in the podcasting space, encouraging exploration and competition with other platforms.

• FutureHouse Unveils AI Tool 'Finch' for Accelerated Biological Discoveries

  • Backed by Eric Schmidt, FutureHouse introduces Finch, an AI tool designed to expedite data-driven research in biology.

  • Finch processes scientific literature and data, generating analyses to assist researchers in identifying patterns and hypotheses efficiently.

  • While promising, the tool's effectiveness in producing groundbreaking discoveries remains to be validated through practical applications.

AND MORE

• IBM’s CEO is urging the Trump administration to boost federal AI R&D funding, calling it critical for national innovation leadership.

• OpenAI just acquired Windsurf, an AI coding tool, in a $3B move to expand developer capabilities.

• Forrester’s new tech list shows AI becoming a must-have, not a maybe, in enterprise roadmaps.

• Nvidia and ServiceNow launch Apriel, an open-source model to create AI agents for enterprise use.

• Massachusetts makes a bold move with new investments in its AI hub.

• An SDSU nurse-scientist is transforming cancer detection and prenatal care with AI research.

• The NHS is rolling out 3D heart scans that could replace invasive cardiac testing.

• Google introduces a new AI-powered ‘Simplify’ feature in its iOS app, allowing users to easily understand complex text.