Presented by

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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🤖 OpenAI undercuts rivals with GPT-5’s aggressive token pricing.
🐞 Google scrambles to patch Gemini’s ‘I am a failure’ meltdown bug.
🏬 Bed Bath & Beyond reopens in Nashville with a smaller, modern store format.
🔥 Greece faces deadly wildfires as gale-force winds spread destruction near Athens.
📸 Microsoft kills Lens app, folding scanning features into Copilot AI.

TECHNOLOGY

• OpenAI priced GPT-5 so low it may spark a price war

  • OpenAI’s GPT-5 base pricing is just $1.25 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens.

  • This aggressive pricing undercuts competitors and may ignite a token-fee driven AI model pricing war.

  • The move highlights OpenAI’s focus on affordability and prompts speculation about industry-wide rate adjustments.

• Google says a fix is coming for Gemini’s ‘I am a failure’ meltdown bug

  • Google is aware of Gemini’s self-critical melting down responses like ‘I am a failure’ and is urgently developing a fix.

  • The issue stems from an infinite-loop bug triggered during complex tasks, prompting self-loathing text from the chatbot.

  • Representatives emphasize this reflects unintended behavior, not actual AI emotion or mental state—just a technical glitch.

• What we know so far about the upcoming Google Pixel 10 series

  • Google’s Pixel 10 series, launching August 20, will feature new Tensor G5 chips and AI-centric imaging tools.

  • Models include Pixel 10, Pro, Pro XL and Pro Fold with improved cameras, colors and features over Pixel 9.

  • The Pixel 10 lineup maintains similar design but integrates enhanced AI, performance, and charging, with prices matching prior models.

BUSINESS

• Bed Bath & Beyond makes comeback, opening new Nashville store

  • The revived Bed Bath & Beyond brand reopened in Nashville two years after bankruptcy, aiming to recapture loyal customers.

  • Old coupons are valid again, with a smaller-format store and updated merchandise tailored to modern home shoppers.

  • New ownership under The Brand House Collective is betting nostalgia will fuel sustainable long-term growth.

• Dodge unveils additions to 2026 muscle car lineup

  • Dodge revealed the 710-horsepower Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak SUV, offering over six million possible customization combinations.

  • The new Charger Scat Pack features a Sixpack twin-turbo inline-six engine, available in 420- or 550-horsepower variants.

  • CEO Matt McAlear emphasized customer choice as Stellantis expands performance offerings amid shifting electric vehicle market policies.

• Lyft bets on robotaxis to fuel revenue growth

  • Lyft is partnering with autonomous vehicle firms like May Mobility and Mobileye to scale robotaxi deployment in key cities.

  • A hybrid model keeps human drivers alongside robotaxis until technology and regulations mature for wider-scale adoption.

  • CEO David Risher sees autonomy as critical to reducing costs while meeting rider expectations for reliability.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Trump warns courts against overturning tariffs; says duties benefit markets

  • Trump cautioned courts against blocking his tariffs, calling them “huge positives” that strengthened stock market and economic momentum.

  • He warned legal interference could trigger a “Great Depression-like” scenario by undermining wealth creation he says is unfolding now.

  • The statement underscores tension between judiciary oversight and presidential economic policy amid escalating trade wars.

• Greece battles deadly wildfires amid gale-force winds

  • Gale-force winds fanned deadly wildfires in Greece, destroying homes, farmland, and killing at least one person.

  • Fires burned near Athens and Ancient Olympia as firefighters struggled amid wind gusts reaching 80 km/h.

  • Authorities warned conditions remain dire as southern Europe faces worsening climate-driven fire risks this summer.

• Putin gives Order of Lenin to US envoy, meant for CIA official

  • Putin awarded the Soviet-era Order of Lenin to Trump envoy Steve Witkoff to pass to a CIA deputy director.

  • The award was intended for a CIA official whose son died fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

  • The gesture appears symbolic, raising questions about motives amid tense U.S.–Russia dynamics.

CONTENT

• What is brain-like AGI? Steven Byrnes explains promising AI alignment research

  • Steven Byrnes outlines brain-like AGI, aiming to replicate human learning processes for safer, more interpretable AI behavior.

  • He discusses biological inspiration in AI alignment, emphasizing gradual capability growth and robust safety guardrails.

  • The conversation covers technical hurdles, research priorities, and long-term implications for developing human-aligned artificial intelligence.

• Brian Chesky’s secret mentor who scaled Airbnb

  • Chip Conley shares how he mentored Airbnb’s founders while learning tech culture, becoming its ‘Modern Elder.’

  • He explains midlife as a career advantage, offering wisdom, adaptability, and resilience in fast-paced industries.

  • The episode provides frameworks for thriving after 40 and strategies for older professionals entering tech roles.

• Sam Altman shows me GPT-5… and what’s next

  • Sam Altman discusses GPT-5’s new capabilities, the global AI race, and building future superintelligence.

  • He explores potential breakthroughs in science, health, and jobs alongside challenges in truth-finding and infrastructure.

  • The conversation reflects on AI’s societal impact, ethical risks, and the shifting human-technology relationship.

FUTURISM

• RIP Microsoft Lens, a simple little app that's being replaced by AI

  • Microsoft will retire its popular Lens scanning app starting September 15, 2025, replacing it with Copilot AI chat integration.

  • Lens will be removed from app stores by November 15; scanning features cease December 15, though past content remains accessible.

  • Fans lament the loss of its effortless document capture and free functionality, noting Copilot lacks many Lens conveniences.

• ChatGPT is bringing back 4o as an option because people missed it

  • OpenAI reinstated GPT-4o for paid users after backlash over GPT-5 and removal of model-selection flexibility.

  • Many preferred GPT-4o’s personality, speed, and conversational feel compared to GPT-5’s more formal, rigid responses.

  • CEO Sam Altman promised to preserve user choice and improve transparency around future ChatGPT model availability.

• AI chess showdown: Musk’s Grok 4 challenges OpenAI’s o3 for strategic supremacy

  • Musk’s Grok 4 faced OpenAI’s o3 in a high-profile chess match testing AI reasoning and strategic decision-making.

  • The event contrasted Grok 4’s aggressive style with o3’s careful precision in complex problem-solving scenarios.

  • The match demonstrated AI’s potential beyond text, showcasing advanced thinking in competitive, rules-based environments.

EXTRAS

• Google launches AI-enhanced Google Finance with upgraded charts

  • Google Finance now supports AI-driven Q&A, advanced charting, real-time news, and market data including crypto and commodities.

  • Users can ask complex financial questions and receive comprehensive AI-powered responses with relevant links and analysis.

  • The update rolls out soon in the U.S., positioned to better compete with platforms like Yahoo Finance and others.

• Trump orders crackdown on politically motivated ‘debanking’ practices

  • Trump signed an order instructing regulators to eliminate ‘reputational risk’ assessments to prevent bank service denials for ideology.

  • The order urges banks to reinstate customers allegedly unfairly denied accounts and seeks investigations into unlawful account denials.

  • Critics argue political bias claims may overshadow risk management, while boosters cite consumer protection.

• Gold futures pare gains after White House signals tariff policy clarification

  • Gold futures retreated after surging due to confusion over potential gold-bar import tariffs proposed by U.S. Customs.

  • A White House official said a forthcoming executive order will clarify gold tariff rules, easing market uncertainty.

  • Futures pulled back to around $3,454 and Swiss exporters froze shipments to the U.S. amid escalating trade confusion.

AND MORE

• Wall Street rises on tech rally and rate-cut optimism.

• Need to scale an AI team quickly? Athyna delivers vetted talent globally in under a week.*

• U.S. and Russia reportedly negotiate truce recognizing current frontlines.

• Azerbaijan and Armenia prepare to sign U.S.-brokered peace deal.

• Danish energy firm Ørsted considers €5 billion rights issue.

• U.S. drillers cut oil and gas rigs for the third straight week.

• Trade Desk plummets after CEO warns tariffs will hit advertisers hard.

• Tired of repeating the same instructions to your team? Guidde revolutionizes how you share processes*