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

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

🤖 OpenAI launches GPT-5 with advanced reasoning and problem-solving.
📈 Palantir posts $1B quarter, fueled by surging U.S. commercial demand.
🇯🇵 Japan records historic population drop as deaths far outpace births.
📺 Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix ramp up streaming battle for audience share.
🚗 Toyota faces $9.5B tariff losses, slashing annual profit forecast.

TECHNOLOGY

• The Browser Company launches $20 monthly Pro subscription

  • The Browser Company introduced a $20 monthly Pro plan for Dia, offering unlimited AI chat access and advanced skill features.

  • Free users keep essential AI features but may face usage caps when exceeding occasional weekly interactions.

  • The company plans additional tiers, from $5 to several hundred dollars monthly, to suit varying professional and personal needs.

• OpenAI launches GPT-5 with expert-level performance

  • OpenAI released GPT-5 to all ChatGPT users. It features expert performance in reasoning, coding, health, and financial problem-solving.

  • It introduces ‘test-time compute’ to improve complex reasoning, generating more accurate outputs across longer multi-step queries.

  • The launch aligns with growing AI investments and reflects OpenAI’s ambition to expand capabilities while attracting enterprise clients.

• Tesla disbands Dojo supercomputer team in blow to AI effort

  • Tesla shut down its Dojo supercomputer project, reassigning staff as it pivots toward third-party computing partnerships.

  • Peter Bannon, the project’s lead, has left the company following the abrupt program termination.

  • The shift signals Tesla’s move from in-house AI hardware toward leveraging established providers for autonomy and AI advancements.

BUSINESS

• Trump urges Intel CEO to resign, calls him conflicted

  • Trump called Intel’s CEO ‘highly conflicted’ and urged resignation, citing concerns over leadership integrity and foreign ties.

  • Intel shares dropped about 3% following the remarks, adding pressure to the company’s leadership team.

  • The move marks rare presidential involvement in corporate governance, sparking debate over political influence in business.

• Toyota warns of $9.5 billion tariff hit; cuts annual profit forecast

  • Toyota expects $9.5 billion in tariff losses, cutting its annual operating profit forecast by 16%.

  • The automaker will open a new Japanese factory to sustain output despite rising trade-related challenges.

  • Executives warned that tariff volatility complicates planning but pledged continued investment in long-term supply chain resilience.

• Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix battle for viewership dominance

  • Disney+ and Hulu's consolidation challenges Netflix, fueling intense competition in the crowded streaming market.

  • Platforms pursue exclusive content and niche strategies to capture audiences facing subscription fatigue.

  • Analysts predict data-driven programming will reshape engagement and redefine profitability across streaming services.

MARKETS

WORLD

• U.S. tariffs take effect today amid global trade strain

  • New U.S. tariffs of 10%–50% took effect today, impacting dozens of trading partners and global supply chains.

  • Economists estimate households could lose $2,000 annually, with vehicle prices rising between $4,000 and $15,000.

  • Markets rose despite tariff concerns, boosted by Apple’s domestic investment and possible future Federal Reserve rate cuts.

• Satellite images show Israel trying for a possible invasion of Gaza

  • Satellite images reveal Israeli troops and armored vehicles amassing near Gaza’s border, suggesting preparations for a potential invasion.

  • Analysts say the buildup reflects operational readiness for expanded military action amid heightened tensions.

  • The activity raises global concern over escalation and humanitarian risks in an already volatile region.

• Japan recorded nearly one million more deaths than births last year

  • Japan saw 686,061 births but nearly 1.6 million deaths in 2024, a record population drop.

  • The decline stems from low fertility, aging demographics, and rising life expectancy despite pro-birth policies.

  • This imbalance heightens economic strain, threatening labor force stability and long-term fiscal sustainability.

CONTENT

• Making $$$ with Sam Altman’s solopreneurship thesis and GPT-5

  • Greg Isenberg explains Sam Altman’s prediction that AI could enable the first one-person billion-dollar company.

  • He outlines replacing traditional teams with AI agents for engineering, design, marketing, and sales functions.

  • The first solo unicorn could appear between 2026-2028, if perfect conditions and market timing align.

• ‘There is no legal confidentiality when using ChatGPT’– Facing the AI privacy issue

  • The discussion highlights legal risks of sharing confidential or proprietary information with AI chatbots like ChatGPT.

  • Experts warn that companies must set policies to prevent accidental exposure of trade secrets in AI tools.

  • Without legal privilege, submitted data may be stored, analyzed, and accessed by service providers or third parties.

• Figma’s 250% pop – The greatest IPO mispricing ever?

  • Industry leaders discuss Figma’s massive IPO underpricing and lessons for founders considering going public.

  • The episode covers Meta and Microsoft’s strong quarters, AI strategies, and leadership comparisons.

  • Other topics include high-profile M&A, mega-fundraising rounds, and shifting venture capital strategies in 2025.

FUTURISM

• Tim Cook gifts Trump plaque, touts $100 billion U.S. manufacturing

  • Tim Cook presented Trump a gold ‘Made in the USA’ plaque alongside pledging $100 billion for U.S. manufacturing expansion.

  • Trump responded favorably, granting tariff exemptions and praising Cook’s strategic political and economic move.

  • The gesture helped deflect leadership rumors and reinforce Cook’s position amid looming challenges at Apple.

• High costs and thin margins threaten AI coding startups

  • AI coding startups face unprofitability due to expensive licensing, compute costs, and reliance on models from major providers.

  • Building proprietary models offers a path to better margins, but requires extensive resources that few early-stage startups possess.

  • Fierce competition from giants makes differentiation costly, demanding efficiency, innovation, and strong monetization strategies.

• GPT-5 ‘vibe graphing’ error sparks transparency concerns at OpenAI

  • OpenAI’s GPT-5 launch visuals featured misleading chart bars, triggering accusations of ‘chart crime.’

  • CEO Sam Altman called it a ‘mega chart screwup,’ and marketing apologized while correcting the blog visuals.

  • The incident raised alarm over accuracy and transparency as AI hype meets public scrutiny of model claims.

EXTRAS

• Trump signs order broadening access to alternative assets in 401(k)s

  • Trump signed an executive order to permit alternative assets like private equity, real estate, and crypto in 401(k) plans.

  • The directive instructs regulators, including Labor and the SEC, to revise rules, facilitating new investment options for retirees.

  • Supporters praise diversification potential, critics warn of increased fees, complexity, and insufficient protections in retirement portfolios.

• AI agents aren’t the ‘new Google,’ says Airbnb CEO

  • Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky cautioned that AI chatbots cannot yet replace Google’s search dominance or functionality.

  • He emphasized the need for model tuning and custom interfaces targeted to specific use cases, not generic replacements.

  • His remarks followed a strong earnings report, reflecting measured optimism about AI tools but realism regarding limitations.

• Apple and Samsung to co-produce advanced image sensors in Texas

  • Apple will partner with Samsung to manufacture three-layer stacked image sensors at its Austin, Texas, facility.

  • This collaboration begins with the iPhone 18, aims to sidestep tariffs, and shifts away from reliance on Sony sensors.

  • The move reinforces Apple’s expanding $600 billion U.S. manufacturing pledge, boosting domestic supply chain resilience.

AND MORE

• Reduce hiring costs by up to 50% while gaining access to highly skilled professionals.*

• U.S. presents plan to disarm Hezbollah by year-end in Lebanon.

• S&P 500 eases while Nasdaq hits record-closing high amid market shifts.

• Oil prices dip for sixth straight session on Putin-Trump summit news.

• Find lifetime deals on solutions for productivity, marketing, AI, and more—with no monthly fees.*

• U.S. orders census excluding undocumented immigrants, reviving past controversy.

• Helicopters rescue 400 pilgrims stranded by floods in India.

• Dollar rises as Fed’s Waller favored for Chair.