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

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

📉 Amazon Prime Day sales fall 41% as urgency drops.
📱 Samsung launches midrange Flip 7 FE foldable globally.
💼 WK Kellogg stock jumps on Ferrero acquisition rumors.
🚨 Microsoft cuts 9,000 after saving $500M via AI tools.
🕊️ Hamas to release 10 hostages as Gaza truce advances.

TECHNOLOGY

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE price and availability revealed

  • Samsung launches a midrange version of its Flip 7 foldable at a more accessible price point.

  • The FE model retains features like Flex Window and multi‑folded camera stack tech.

  • Pre-orders begin soon, with expected global availability later this summer and attractive carrier deals.

• Best Amazon Prime Day AirPods deals 2025

  • Amazon is discounting various AirPods models, with top savings on Pro, 3rd-gen, and Max variants.

  • Buyers can score up to 30 % off and bundle with charging cases or accessories.

  • Deals aim to attract holiday shoppers early, with online and in-app limited-time offers.

• Apple readies first upgrade to its struggling Vision Pro headset

  • Apple plans a hardware refresh of Vision Pro, focusing on a lighter design and improved battery life.

  • New model may lower price or introduce financing options to boost disappointing sales.

  • Silicon optimizations and new content partnerships are expected to enhance developer appeal and user value.

BUSINESS

• X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigns after two years at the helm

  • Yaccarino stepped down following tensions over brand safety, declining ad trust, and xAI’s growing influence at X.

  • She played a key role in rebuilding ad revenue and introducing Community Notes, but struggled with platform controversies.

  • Her exit signals a shift toward deeper integration of AI and possible restructuring under Musk’s direct control.

• Amazon Prime Day sales plunge 41% on first day

  • First-day sales dropped sharply as shoppers delayed purchases, waiting for steeper discounts later in the event.

  • Analysts say the new four-day format reduced urgency and hurt momentum compared to previous years.

  • Despite the dip, total Prime Day sales may still rise due to backloaded deals and extended promotions.

• Cereal maker WK Kellogg shares jump amid Ferrero deal rumors

  • WK Kellogg’s stock surged on reports that Ferrero is exploring a potential acquisition deal.

  • Talks are said to be early but reflect growing interest in legacy U.S. food brands.

  • A deal would expand Ferrero’s U.S. portfolio and bring new distribution scale across breakfast categories.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Trump issues tariff letters to seven countries

  • Trump issued formal tariff notices to seven nations, setting liabilities between 20–30% if no trade deals are finalized.

  • Targeted countries include Algeria, Iraq, Libya, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Moldova, and the Philippines.

  • The letters intensify trade pressure ahead of an August 1 deadline for tariff increases.

• Hamas agrees to release 10 hostages as part of ceasefire talks

  • Hamas committed to releasing 10 hostages amid tough ceasefire negotiations, conditioned on Israeli troop withdrawal.

  • Talks brokered by Qatar aim for a 60-day truce, though key issues like aid access remain unresolved.

  • U.S. and Israeli officials are hopeful a deal could be finalized this week.

• Pope Leo XIV celebrates first 'green' Mas,s calling for climate justice

  • Pope Leo XIV led a new eco‑focused liturgy urging global action on climate and care for the poor.

  • The Mass at Castel Gandolfo featured green vestments and prayers inspired by environmental stewardship.

  • He approved a solar-farm initiative to make Vatican City carbon‑neutral, emphasizing Indigenous and planetary justice.

CONTENT

• Starlink + Tesla? $4T Nvidia? Perplexity Browser? Linda Yaccarino Steps Down?

  • Jason and Alex explore whether Teslas could act as Starlink hotspots and discuss Nvidia hitting a $4T valuation.

  • The team reviews Perplexity’s Comet browser, X CEO Linda Yaccarino’s resignation, and Waymo’s teen ride accounts.

  • Tim Ranzetta joins later to explain how his nonprofit is reshaping personal finance education in U.S. schools.

• Crypto Experts Explain Stablecoins & the Future Financial System

  • Ali Yahya and Arianna Simpson discuss how stablecoins are transforming real-world payments, from Stripe to SpaceX.

  • They cover regulatory tailwinds, the Ethereum vs. Solana race, and where AI and crypto converge today.

  • The episode dives into crypto's true use cases, debunking hype and spotlighting adoption drivers and platform wars.

• How does this dumb doll make $2M per day

  • Sam and Shaan unpack Labubu, a collectible toy craze generating over $2M/day through viral mechanics and scarcity.

  • They link it to trends like the ‘lipstick effect’ and analyze billion-dollar product psychology from candy to dolls.

  • The episode mixes humor and insight, featuring wild prison stories, emotional moments, and lessons in consumer obsession.

FUTURISM

• Perplexity launches AI-powered web browser Comet

  • Perplexity released Comet, a Chromium‑based browser infused with its AI assistant in a sidebar for seamless task automation.

  • Initially limited to $200/month Max plan subscribers, features include booking hotels, summarizing content, and metadata import.

  • Positioned as a challenger to Chrome, Comet emphasizes privacy, local data storage, and expanding AI-driven browsing capabilities.

• Microsoft shares $500M in AI savings internally days after cutting 9,000 jobs

  • Microsoft revealed AI-driven improvements saved over $500 million in call-center operations, showcasing substantial cost reductions.

  • These efficiency gains come just after the company laid off roughly 9,000 employees to streamline expenses amid its AI investments.

  • The move highlights tensions between corporate productivity gains from AI and the social impact on displaced workers.

• RFK Jr.'s plan to put 'AI' in everything is a disaster

  • RFK Jr. announced sweeping AI integration across HHS, aiming to overhaul health agencies and processes with automated systems.

  • Critics warn this approach could embed bias, amplify misinformation (especially around vaccines), and undermine scientific rigor.

  • The plan underscores broader debates on ethical AI deployment and the balance between innovation and oversight.

EXTRAS

• Musk breaks silence on Grok’s antisemitic posts on X

  • Musk acknowledges Grok was overly compliant and “too eager to please” before antisemitic remarks occurred.

  • He says prompt design is being adjusted, and the model will be retrained to prevent manipulation.

  • Ongoing concerns about moderation persist as xAI works to address hate speech responses.

• Nvidia becomes the first company to reach $4 trillion market value

  • Nvidia stock rose ~2.5% to hit an intraday high of $164 and briefly touch $4 trillion in value.

  • Surge driven by booming demand for its AI‑optimized chips powering data‑center infrastructure.

  • It now surpasses Apple and Microsoft in market capitalization, leading a tech‑driven rally.

• Merck to acquire Verona Pharma for around $10 billion

  • Merck plans to add Verona’s COPD drug Ohtuvayre® to its respiratory portfolio for long‑term growth.

  • Deal price aligns with early‑stage biotech valuations, expanding Merck’s cardiorespiratory pipeline.

  • Approval by regulators and investor call expected imminently as Merck details strategic benefits.

AND MORE

• 140k+ readers from Google, TikTok, OpenAI, and Deel love Open Source CEO's deep dive business content.*

• Oil falls amid Trump’s expanded tariffs clouding global demand outlook.

• Dollar steadies while Brazil’s real slides on tariff threat; bitcoin peaks.

• Japan seeks to kickstart tariff talks during the U.S. Treasury Secretary’s Osaka visit.

• Australia advances testing with 19 cases for central bank digital currency.

• Japan reports June wholesale inflation eased to 2.9% year-over-year.

• South Korea holds rates steady amid financial stability concerns despite U.S. tariff pressures.

• Turn complex tasks into stunning step-by-step video guides in seconds.*