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

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

💬 Mockly’s new tool lets users create realistic fake message threads.
📱 Samsung’s Z Fold 7 gets thinner, Flip 7 FE aims for affordability.
💼 Meta offers up to $300M to lure top AI talent.
🧠 OpenAI will launch a browser powered by ChatGPT and Operator.
🤖 McDonald’s deploys Paradox AI to automate hiring and scheduling tasks.

TECHNOLOGY

• Mockly made a fake DM generator that's actually user‑friendly

  • Developer Maurice Kleine built Mockly to create realistic fake messaging threads across apps like WhatsApp, Tinder, and iMessage.

  • Unlike messy ad‑filled clones, it offers a clean, intuitive interface and supports major chat platforms seamlessly.

  • The tool’s appeal spans meme creation to deception, raising questions about responsible use and potential misuse.

• Samsung’s foldable phone beta tested by a slimmer new model

  • Samsung unveiled a lighter, 26% thinner Galaxy Z Fold 7 and affordable Flip 7 FE to defend its premium market share.

  • The Fold 7 uses Snapdragon 8 Elite, targeting AI features and U.S./Europe/Korea markets amid flat global foldable demand.

  • Competition from Huawei and Honor in China and a struggling chip division add pressure despite a premium-focused strategy.

• Nintendo discontinues Switch Game Voucher program

  • Nintendo will end its digital game voucher program on January 30, 2026; unused vouchers will be redeemable through January 2027.

  • The $100 pair-savings plan, offering ~$10 off each game, won’t apply to Switch 2 exclusives, but support remains for first-gen titles.

  • Nintendo promises to keep adding eligible games until discontinuation and signals potential new incentive options for the Switch 2 era.

BUSINESS

• Meta launches superintelligence hiring spree, but cash isn’t enough

  • Meta has opened a massive poaching campaign, offering AI researchers $1M–$1.4M annually and up to $300M packages.

  • Despite financial allure, cultural fit, ethical concerns, and work-life balance keep many top AI talents at other firms.

  • Meta’s Superintelligence Lab—backed by a $14B+ investment in Scale AI—has captured some talent but still trails in retention.

• Wall Street rally eases concerns amid tariff uncertainty

  • S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record highs as markets shrugged off fresh U.S. tariff announcements.

  • Optimism around AI-led growth and signs of possible Fed rate cuts underpinned investor sentiment.

  • Oil and currency markets remained watchful amid global trade tensions and evolving U.S. policy signals.

• Elon Musk confirms Grok AI coming to Tesla EVs next week

  • Musk announced that Grok 4 will be integrated into Tesla vehicles within days, adding a conversational AI assistant.

  • The rollout follows criticism for antisemitic content; xAI says safeguards have been improved.

  • Tesla users will be able to interact via Grok, but subscriptions and feature availability remain unspecified.

MARKETS

WORLD

• ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ favors Anduril’s border towers, insiders say

  • Trump’s $6 billion border budget mandates tech that only Anduril currently provides, raising favoritism concerns.

  • Critics say the legislation was tailored to benefit Palmer Luckey’s firm, cutting out competition entirely.

  • The move renews debates over defense contractor influence and the ethics of public procurement processes.

• Brazil pushes back as Trump threatens 50% tariffs

  • Brazil’s president rejected Trump’s proposed 50% tariffs, calling them political retaliation tied to Bolsonaro’s prosecution.

  • Lula threatened WTO action and retaliatory measures, warning of economic harm to U.S.–Brazil trade ties.

  • The announcement spooked markets, hitting Brazil’s currency and raising concerns over rising coffee export prices.

• Rescue efforts underway after Red Sea ship attack

  • Search teams continue scouring the Red Sea for missing crew members after a suspected militant vessel attack.

  • Naval forces are investigating the assault, which has intensified security alerts along the vital trade corridor.

  • Officials warn that maritime attacks are escalating, threatening commercial shipping and global energy routes.

CONTENT

• Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman

  • Meta lured Gross and Friedman with a moonshot AI lab, but doubts remain about long-term alignment and autonomy.

  • Microsoft’s layoff of 9,000 marks a pivot toward AI efficiency, while OpenAI's comp-heavy structure draws scrutiny.

  • The episode also dives into Cursor’s disruption, CoreWeave’s landlord acquisition, and the declining appeal of old startup playbooks.

• Andrew Ng: Building Faster with AI

  • Ng stresses that execution speed trumps theory for startups navigating the AI stack and generative tooling.

  • He urges founders to focus on agentic workflows, rapid prototyping, and concrete goals over vague moonshots.

  • Despite acceleration, Ng emphasizes that sound judgment and responsibility will define the future of AI products.

• Crypto Experts Explain Stablecoins & the Future Financial System

  • Ali Yahya and Arianna Simpson explore stablecoins as real-time payment rails now used by Stripe and SpaceX.

  • They discuss how crypto startups are thriving under new regulations and merging with AI infrastructure.

  • The conversation breaks down persistent misconceptions, platform battles, and where real traction is finally happening.

FUTURISM

• Google adds image‑to‑video generation capability to Veo 3

  • Gemini users on Pro/Ultra plans can now turn photos into ~8‑second videos with customizable sound effects.

  • The new feature supports three creations per day per user and marks 40 million videos produced since its initial launch.

  • Generated videos include visible ‘Veo’ watermarks and invisible SynthID tags to curb misuse and enable content tracing.

• OpenAI readies its own AI‑powered web browser

  • OpenAI is launching a Chromium‑based browser integrating ChatGPT and its Operator agent for tasks like bookings and form‑fills.

  • Expected in the coming weeks, this move intensifies competition with Google Chrome and boosts OpenAI’s access to browsing data.

  • The browser aims to make web interactions conversational, reducing link‑clicking and embedding AI deeply into browsing workflows.

• McDonald’s hires AI recruiter ‘Paradox AI’ to manage hiring

  • McDonald’s is deploying Paradox AI to handle recruiting tasks like screening, scheduling, and candidate outreach at scale.

  • The automated assistant guides applicants through job questions and handles routine HR queries on the front line.

  • The goal is to streamline hiring workflows, improve applicant experience, and free human staff for more complex decision-making.

EXTRAS

• Rubio makes first visit to Asia as Trump’s tariffs loom

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins his first Asia trip seeking reassurance from ASEAN partners amid rising U.S. tariffs.

  • Key agenda items include balancing trade tensions, enhancing Indo-Pacific security, and countering China’s influence.

  • Talks span trade, South China Sea cooperation, and a surprising meeting with Russia’s Lavrov on Ukraine peace roadmap.

• Ukrainian intelligence officer shot dead in Europe

  • A Ukrainian intelligence officer was fatally shot in a European capital, heightening concerns over cross-border espionage threats.

  • Officials suspect Russian operatives and are now investigating growing risks targeting Ukrainian officials overseas.

  • European governments are considering heightened diplomatic protections amid growing geopolitical hostilities.

• EU finalizes landmark AI regulations to guide Europe’s tech future

  • The EU released its comprehensive AI rulebook, setting strict transparency standards ahead of August 2 enforcement.

  • Regulations focus on general‑purpose and high‑risk AI, requiring disclosure, safety evaluations, and documented developer records.

  • The rules aim to balance innovation with public trust, influencing global tech firms operating in European markets.

AND MORE

• Payments startup Bilt raises $250M, now valued at $10.75 billion.

• Start your online business for free with Shopify.*

• U.K. levies probe into Revolut practices after accusations over unfair investment services.

• TSMC reports 38.6% year-over-year sales growth, beating analysts' forecasts.

• New study finds AI tools slow down experienced software developers, challenging common assumptions.

• Ukraine confirms Starlink mobile internet rollout planned for 2026 launch.

• Stay competitive by sourcing top-notch engineers, skipping lengthy recruitment cycles, and scaling globally with ease.*

• Former ASML engineer receives criminal sentence for leaking files to Russian contact.