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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🌌 Musk's net worth skyrockets to $400 billion, fueled by Tesla and SpaceX dominance.
🤖 Google unveils Gemini 2.0, powering autonomous AI agents across industries.
💩 Meta apps face worldwide outages, disrupting billions of users.
🚗 GM pivots from robotaxis to personal autonomous vehicles, reshaping its strategy.
📈 Nasdaq hits record highs as inflation data sparks confidence in tech markets.

TECH

• Google rolls out faster Gemini AI model to power agents

  • Google launched Gemini 2.0, its advanced AI model, designed to enhance text, image, and audio generation.

  • The model aims to power autonomous AI agents capable of assisting across various tasks and industries.

  • Gemini 2.0 will integrate into Google’s ecosystem, expanding the functionality of its services.

• Meta apps experience global outage

  • Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users globally reported accessibility and performance issues.

  • The outage disrupted personal and business communications, sparking widespread user frustration.

  • Meta acknowledged the issue and stated its engineering teams are working to resolve the problem.

• Microsoft begins testing iPhone-to-Windows file sharing

  • Microsoft’s Phone Link app now allows iPhone users to transfer files to Windows PCs.

  • The feature is being tested with Windows Insiders and uses iOS’s share sheet and a companion app.

  • This effort marks Microsoft’s continued push to improve interoperability between Apple and Windows devices.

BUSINESS

• Elon Musk’s net worth surpasses $400 billion

  • Elon Musk’s fortune reached $400 billion, driven by Tesla’s stock surge and SpaceX valuation increases.

  • Musk retains the title of the world’s wealthiest individual, with his net worth surpassing rivals by a wide margin.

  • Analysts highlight Tesla’s expansion in EV markets and SpaceX’s dominance in space tech as key drivers.

• GM pivots from robotaxis to personal autonomous vehicles

  • General Motors announced a shift from Cruise robotaxis to developing personal autonomous vehicles.

  • This pivot follows regulatory hurdles and safety challenges that have hindered robotaxi deployment.

  • GM aims to capitalize on consumer interest in autonomous tech for private use rather than shared fleets.

• Nasdaq hits 20,000 for the first time after inflation report

  • The Nasdaq surged 1.77% to close at 20,034.89 after inflation data aligned with expectations, signaling potential Fed rate cuts.

  • Tech giants like Alphabet, Nvidia, and Tesla led the gains, with Alphabet jumping 5.5% on news of a quantum computing breakthrough.

  • November’s CPI showed a 0.3% monthly increase, supporting trader confidence in a 95% likelihood of a rate cut next week.

CONTENT

• XBOW’s AI redefines cybersecurity with speed

  • XBOW’s AI completes penetration tests in minutes, outperforming human experts in cybersecurity tasks.

  • The SaaS platform protects software globally as cyber threats and AI-generated code increase.

  • Oege de Moor highlights the need for AI to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.

• From YC rejections to a $1.16B side hustle

  • Amjad Masad, Replit founder, shares how being rejected by Y Combinator four times fueled his $1.16B startup journey.

  • The episode explores Replit’s rise, from its ‘10-year overnight success’ to scaling AI tools like Magic School.

  • Sam Parr and Shaan Puri discuss strategies for building moats and navigating the AI gold rush.

• OpenAI’s Christmas announcements and Trump’s AI plans

  • The podcast covers OpenAI’s 12 Days of Ship-mas, introducing updates like $200/month ChatGPT Pro and Sora’s text-to-video AI.

  • It explores OpenAI’s bold strategy to reshape AI monetization and its potential impact on startups and founders.

  • Trump’s appointment of David Sacks as ‘AI and Crypto Czar’ is discussed, focusing on its regulatory implications for tech.

WORLD

• South Korean defence minister hospitalised amid martial law probe

  • Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide while detained for his role in declaring martial law.

  • Investigations continue into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s involvement, intensifying political instability.

  • Authorities recently searched the presidential office as part of the broader inquiry.

• Dozens of migrants feared dead after 11-year-old found alive off Italy

  • An 11-year-old from Sierra Leone was rescued near Lampedusa after drifting in the sea for three days using improvised life jackets.

  • She is believed to be the sole survivor of a capsized boat carrying 45 people, with the rest presumed drowned.

  • The shipwreck highlights the ongoing migrant crisis, with over 30,000 deaths recorded in the Mediterranean since 2014.

• Iran accuses Israel and U.S. over Syrian unrest

  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the U.S. and Israel for efforts to destabilize Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

  • Iran views the unrest as a blow to its influence and the stability of its regional alliances.

  • These events threaten Iran's role within its ‘Axis of Resistance’ amid broader geopolitical tensions.

AND MORE…

• iOS 18.2 update is bad news for Google users

  • Apple’s iOS 18.2 prioritizes Safari and Apple services, making third-party apps like Google less accessible.

  • Changes include tighter defaults for search and email, aimed at deepening ecosystem loyalty.

  • Users relying on Google services face challenges adapting to Apple’s increasingly closed system.

• YouTube launches AI-powered auto-dubbing tool

  • YouTube’s new AI auto-dubbing translates and dubs videos into multiple languages, enhancing global reach.

  • The tool allows creators to preview, edit, and delete dubs, with improvements planned for tone and emotion.

  • This rollout targets knowledge-based content creators and expands accessibility for international audiences.

• Apple Vision Pro delivers ‘killer feature’ with ultrawide display

  • The Vision Pro’s ultrawide Mac virtual display offers a practical alternative to traditional multi-monitor setups.

  • Updates in visionOS 2.2 make the headset more functional for general computing tasks.

  • These enhancements shift the Vision Pro’s appeal from niche entertainment to versatile productivity.