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

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

📱 Apple may debut the slim iPhone Air alongside the iPhone 17.
🌏 Google expands AI Mode to Hindi, Japanese, and Korean.
💻 YC-backed Motion raises $38M for AI productivity agents.
🛡 Hackers hijack npm packages with 2B weekly downloads.
⚡️ Six killed in Jerusalem bus stop mass shooting attack.

TECHNOLOGY

• iPhone Air pricing, AI rumors, and what to expect at Apple’s event

  • Apple may debut a slim ‘Air’ model with iPhone 17, offering a sleek design without a dramatic feature overhaul.

  • Analysts expect Apple to prioritize hardware updates like battery life, camera, and design improvements over flashy AI.

  • Watch for pricing signals amid tariffs, since strong cost control will be essential to drive consumer upgrades.

• Google’s AI Mode adds 5 new languages, including Hindi, Japanese, and Korean

  • Google expanded AI Mode to support Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese using Gemini 2.5 enhancements.

  • The rollout allows more nuanced, multimodal search in non-English languages, improving local relevance and accessibility.

  • AI Mode is now more useful globally as Google strengthens its multilingual search experience via Search Labs.

• Y-Combinator-backed Motion raises fresh $38 M to build the Microsoft Office of AI agents

  • Startup Motion raised $38 million to develop a suite of AI agents integrated into productivity workflows like Office apps.

  • The product aims to streamline tasks like planning, summarization, and email handling using personalized AI assistants.

  • With Y Combinator backing and new funds, Motion targets office users seeking AI-managed workflow automation.

BUSINESS

• Hackers hijack npm packages with 2 billion weekly downloads in supply-chain attack

  • Cyber attackers injected crypto-stealing malware into 18 npm packages downloaded over 2.6 billion times weekly.

  • The payload swaps wallet addresses on developers’ machines, putting a vast JavaScript ecosystem at risk.

  • Targeted through phishing of a maintainer account, the breach highlights systemic vulnerabilities within software supply chains.

• Judge blasts Anthropic copyright settlement as nowhere near done

  • Judge Alsup rejected the $1.5 billion AI copyright settlement, warning authors may be forced into an unfair deal.

  • He demanded detailed disclosures on claim processing and pirated book lists before revisiting approval at future court hearings.

  • The judge’s skepticism sends a strong signal that author protections must be clearly structured—not just high-value payouts.

• Starlink is in advanced talks to acquire EchoStar's spectrum licenses

  • SpaceX’s Starlink is negotiating to purchase AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses from EchoStar in a major expansion move.

  • The deal—split between cash and stock—is poised to boost direct-to-cell Starlink services without reliance on third parties.

  • If approved, this spectrum acquisition could significantly strengthen Starlink's mobile satellite coverage and autonomy.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Six people were killed in a shooting at a Jerusalem bus stop

  • Two gunmen opened fire at Jerusalem’s Ramot Junction bus stop, killing six and injuring around 21 in a mass shooting.

  • Israeli forces and a civilian with a licensed firearm neutralized both attackers shortly afterward on the scene.

  • The attack shattered the city’s peace, prompting heightened security and fresh warnings of escalation in regional tensions.

• At least 19 killed in Nepal ‘Gen Z’ protests over social media ban

  • Young protesters in Kathmandu led nationwide unrest after the government banned popular platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp.

  • Security forces used live fire, rubber bullets, and tear gas; at least 19 protesters died, and hundreds were wounded.

  • The violent crackdown triggered political fallout, including the home minister’s resignation, and a complete reversal of the social media ban.

• UK may suspend visas for countries refusing to accept their returned migrants

  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced Britain may suspend visas for countries that refuse to readmit citizens.

  • The policy aims to curb illegal migration and strengthen return agreements amid soaring small-boat crossings across the Channel.

  • Partner nations like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh may face stricter visa caps if they don’t cooperate with deportation processes.

CONTENT

• The little tech agenda for AI

  • a16z’s Matt Perault and Collin McCune explain why AI rules should regulate harmful uses, not development itself.

  • They defend open source, caution against state licensing regimes, and emphasize keeping startup innovation alive.

  • Discussion highlights federal versus state roles, global competition, and building coalitions to shape AI’s political future.

• Screensharing how this guy makes millions with AI agents

  • Rowan Cheung demonstrates practical AI workflows powering The Rundown, from avatars and writing tools to scheduling agents.

  • He shows AI agents handling onboarding, sponsorship discovery, and tutoring tasks, enabling small teams to scale efficiently.

  • Workflows combine Claude, Lindy, HeyGen, and Perplexity, proving AI agents can replace multiple traditional business functions.

• Energy Secretary Chris Wright on the future of American energy

  • Chris Wright critiques reliance on renewables, arguing solar and wind cannot meet growing datacenter and household demand.

  • He calls for accelerating nuclear development, citing China’s approach as a model for U.S. competitiveness.

  • The conversation explores balancing climate goals, rising residential costs, and research funding cuts with practical energy expansion needs.

FUTURISM

• I Hate My Friend

  • A $129 pendant called ‘Friend,’ powered by Gemini 2.5, delivers sarcastic remarks during conversations, unsettling users.

  • Testers found it invasive and awkward, interrupting daily interactions with snarky comments that caused embarrassment in public.

  • Instead of feeling authentic, its abrasive tone and privacy concerns drove users to abandon the wearable completely.

• Gemini app finally expands to audio files

  • Gemini now processes audio uploads, with free users capped at ten minutes and Pro users at three hours.

  • AI Mode expands to Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese using Gemini 2.5 language model upgrades.

  • NotebookLM introduces customizable reports, generating study guides, quizzes, flashcards, or blog posts across more than 80 languages.

• Sam Altman says that bots are making social media feel ‘fake’

  • Sam Altman warned that bots are making social media feel ‘fake,’ citing manipulative Reddit conversations as key evidence.

  • He blamed engagement-driven platforms, large language model mimicry, and spammy bot networks for distorting online spaces.

  • Critics noted irony, since Altman’s own AI innovations helped fuel the bot-driven environment he now criticizes publicly.

• Tired of explaining the same thing over and over again?

  • Guidde is a GPT-powered tool that creates AI-generated documentation in seconds to explain even the most complex tasks.

  • Turn boring docs into stunning visual guides and share them anywhere.

  • Check out Guidde — create step-by-step video documentation 11x faster with a free browser extension.

EXTRAS

• Microsoft signs Nebius cloud deal for as much as $19.4 billion

  • Microsoft struck a multiyear deal worth up to $19.4 billion to buy AI cloud services from Nebius.

  • Nebius, spun out of Yandex and backed by Nvidia and Accel, will provide infrastructure through 2031.

  • The agreement strengthens Microsoft’s AI ambitions as competition for cloud dominance intensifies across global technology markets.

• Eightco jumps over 5,600% on Worldcoin pivot and Dan Ives’ role

  • Eightco stock soared 5,600% after announcing a pivot toward Worldcoin-backed tokens and naming Dan Ives chairman.

  • Shares closed at $45.08, up from $1.45, reflecting intense speculative frenzy around its sudden pivot.

  • The dramatic surge underscores volatility in penny stocks repackaging themselves around crypto and Web3 token strategies.

• WhatsApp whistleblower sues Meta over security flaws and retaliation

  • WhatsApp’s former security chief sued Meta, alleging ignored systemic vulnerabilities and retaliation after raising internal concerns.

  • He claims thousands of engineers retained unrestricted user data access, with proposed safeguards repeatedly dismissed by executives.

  • The lawsuit amplifies regulatory scrutiny as Meta faces mounting investigations into privacy failures and whistleblower treatment.

AND MORE

• Brazil announces a $2.21 billion debt relief package to support small farmers.

• Europe’s stock markets slide as weak inflation data dampens rate-cut hopes.

• French parliament ousts the prime minister, deepening the nation’s political crisis.

• Memo readers don’t just scroll—they act. They forward, they buy, they share. Let’s put your brand in that flow.*

• Norway’s Labour Party wins reelection, while nationalist populists gain ground.

• The Afghan government deploys police to the Khalanderi-to-Ghazni highway after rising violence.

• Analysts say Europe vs. China tensions play out as carmakers converge at Munich auto show.

• Doctors’ group breaks ranks with federal policy, recommending COVID-19 vaccination for all adults.