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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🖼️ Gemini Live adds camera input and screen sharing on Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25.
📉 Tech stocks fall as Trump reaffirms tariffs; Apple and Nvidia lead losses.
🔥 Microsoft reportedly fires protestors after Copilot keynote disruption.
🎥 Amazon’s Nova Reel now makes longer, multi-shot AI videos.
📊 Microsoft cuts data center projects to trim global expansion costs.

TECH

• Google’s Gemini Live Now Supports Camera Input and Screen Sharing

  • Google’s Gemini Live adds support for live screen sharing and camera input, debuting on Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25.

  • Users can point their phones at real-world objects or websites, and Gemini provides AI-powered real-time assistance.

  • These features require a Gemini Advanced subscription and are limited to personal accounts in supported countries.

• Google Is Allegedly Paying Some AI Staff to Do Nothing for a Year Rather Than Join Rivals

  • Google is reportedly enforcing noncompetes by paying top AI researchers to sit out before joining rival companies.

  • Affected staff are barred from working elsewhere for up to a year while still receiving full pay.

  • The policy reflects growing pressure to retain AI talent as competition heats up across major tech firms.

• Amazon Says Its AI Video Model Can Now Generate Minutes-Long Clips

  • Amazon’s Nova Reel 1.1 now generates multi-shot AI videos lasting up to two minutes from simple prompts.

  • The model maintains consistency across scenes and supports cinematic structure for more realistic generative storytelling.

  • Nova Reel is currently available via AWS, with early access granted through a private request system.

BUSINESS

• Tech Stocks Fall as Trump Stands by Tariffs, Selloff Deepens

  • Tesla, Nvidia, and other tech giants fell sharply as Trump defended tariffs, fueling a broader market downturn.

  • Traders cited fears of prolonged trade disputes impacting supply chains, especially in semiconductors and consumer electronics.

  • The Nasdaq dropped over 2%, continuing a multiday slide sparked by uncertainty around global economic retaliation.

• The 2025 Salary Report is here—get the insights*

  • Curious how global hiring can give you a competitive edge? Explore global salary benchmarks for tech and product roles.

  • Learn how hiring international talent can save your business thousands.

  • Get the data and hire smarter today.

• Apple Plans to Source More iPhones From India as Potential Tariff Fix

  • Apple will manufacture 25 million iPhones annually in India to shield U.S. sales from Chinese import tariffs.

  • The shift would allow Apple to supply nearly half of U.S. iPhones without relying on Chinese factories.

  • Apple continues diversifying its supply chain cautiously, balancing India’s growth with established operations in China.

• Meta Exec Denies the Company Artificially Boosted Llama 4’s Benchmark Scores

  • Meta’s Ahmad Al-Dahle denied reports that Llama 4 was fine-tuned on benchmarks to artificially improve performance.

  • Critics claimed Llama 4 was trained on test sets, but Meta insists it followed rigorous evaluation protocols.

  • Al-Dahle acknowledged mixed feedback and said future updates will improve stability across platforms and developer experiences.

CONTENT

• How to Validate Your Startup Idea for $50

  • Justin Mares tested bone broth demand using a $9 domain, a PayPal button, and $100 in Bing ads.

  • He priced high at $29.99 to prove customers truly wanted it, despite no product or reputation.

  • Modern AI tools now make validating startup ideas faster, cheaper, and easier than ever before.

• Sam Altman On Miyazaki’s Thoughts on Art

  • Sam Altman discusses AI’s creative impact, India’s fast adoption, and the rise of prompt engineering as work.

  • He questions whether AI startups are just wrappers and explores AI’s role in shaping future tech careers.

  • Altman urges creatives to embrace AI, saying it democratizes design, code, and content creation for everyone.

• Stocks Are Crashing—Here's How That Changes AI in 2025

  • AI development is booming, but implementation lags as markets crash and funding shifts toward margin-focused tools.

  • Complex agents remain expensive and hard to deploy, creating space for middleware builders and infrastructure innovators.

  • Copilot’s lead proves adoption beats capability—AI winners will be those embedded in workflows, not just technically superior.

WORLD

• France Signs Deals to Help Egypt's Economy in Volatile Regional Climate

  • France signed €260 million in agreements to support Egypt’s economy amid regional instability and security challenges.

  • Deals span energy, health, and transport sectors as Macron reaffirms France’s long-term strategic partnership with Egypt.

  • Macron and El-Sisi also urged a Gaza ceasefire and demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages.

• Asia Markets Live Updates: Stocks React to Trump's Tariffs

  • Asian markets dropped sharply after Trump’s tariffs announcement reignited fears of a renewed U.S.-China trade war.

  • The Hang Seng Index plunged over 13%, marking its steepest fall since the Asian Financial Crisis.

  • Investors fear prolonged tariffs could hurt global demand and trigger a broader economic slowdown across key sectors.

• Australia PM Candidate Ditches Plan to End Work from Home

  • An Australian PM hopeful reversed course on banning remote work after backlash from voters and business leaders.

  • Critics argued ending flexibility would hurt productivity and alienate workers who embraced post-pandemic work-life balance.

  • The candidate admitted the policy misstep and pledged support for hybrid work as a long-term option.

AND MORE…

• Nintendo Is 'Actively Assessing' What a Trade War Means for the Switch

  • Nintendo delayed Switch 2 preorders to assess how new U.S. tariffs could impact console pricing and distribution.

  • Tariffs on Vietnam and Cambodia, key production hubs, threaten to raise costs across Nintendo’s supply chain.

  • Nintendo also faces backlash over additional game pricing, including $70 for 'Mario Kart World' at launch.

• Framework Stops Selling Some of Its Cheapest Laptops Due to Tariffs

  • Framework halted U.S. sales of select Laptop 13 models after 10% tariffs hit imports from Taiwan.

  • The company stated it can’t maintain existing prices due to sudden tariff-related cost increases.

  • Other companies like Nintendo and Jaguar also adjusted pricing models in response to shifting trade policy.

• Microsoft Reportedly Fires Staff Whose Protest Interrupted Its Copilot Event

  • Microsoft fired two engineers who protested during its AI Copilot event, accusing the leadership of war profiteering.

  • One protestor interrupted Mustafa Suleyman’s keynote, while the other disrupted a panel over Israel military contracts.

  • Microsoft declined to comment but confirmed both employees violated internal policies on professional conduct and disruption.