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

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

🩺 Google removes AI Overviews from some medical searches after safety concerns.
🚫 Indonesia and Malaysia block Grok over non-consensual, sexualized deepfakes.
⚖️ Trump team threatens Fed Chair Powell with criminal indictment over comments.
💰 A $400,000 Polymarket win highlights prediction markets’ controversial role recently.
🏛️ Japan plans to dissolve parliament with a possible snap election in February.

TECHNOLOGY

• Google removes AI Overviews from some medical searches after safety concerns (The Verge)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, Tech in Asia, The Guardian}}

  • Guardian investigation found Google AI Overviews gave misleading health information for certain medical search queries.

  • Google removed AI Overviews for some liver test queries, though similar variations may still trigger summaries.

  • Health experts welcomed removals but warned broader risks remain with AI-generated medical search results.

• Instagram says ‘no breach’ after users receive unexpected password reset emails (Yahoo!)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, Financial Express, Mashable}}

  • Some users received suspicious password reset emails, prompting concerns about a possible Instagram security breach.

  • Malwarebytes claimed stolen data from 17.5 million accounts was being sold on the dark web.

  • Instagram says an external party triggered reset emails, insists no breach, and advises users to ignore messages.

• Indonesia and Malaysia block Grok over non-consensual, sexualized deepfakes (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: NY Times, Al Jazeera, Mashable}}

  • Indonesia and Malaysia temporarily blocked xAI’s Grok chatbot over sexualized AI-generated imagery concerns.

  • Officials cite non-consensual deepfakes depicting women, minors, and violence as serious human rights violations.

  • Other governments, including India, the EU, and the UK, ordered investigations, safeguards, or compliance reviews.

BUSINESS

• Trump team threatens Fed Chair Powell with criminal indictment over comments (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: CNBC, Morningstar, MSN}}

  • Trump administration escalates pressure on Fed, threatening Powell with indictment over building renovation remarks.

  • Powell calls legal threats a "pretext," criticizing attempts to influence interest rate decisions.

  • Republican lawmakers question DOJ independence, signaling potential opposition to future Fed nominees amid conflict.

• Google co-founders appear to be reducing their presence in California (NY Times)
  ^{_{More: Business Insider, TechCrunch, MSN}}

  • Sergey Brin and Larry Page are shifting LLCs and assets out of California.

  • The New York Times reports Nevada moves and a $71.9 million Miami mansion purchase.

  • Moves suggest billionaires may be avoiding a proposed retroactive California wealth tax.

• A $400,000 Polymarket win highlights prediction markets’ controversial role recently (AP)
  ^{_{More: Economic Times, The Independent, Yahoo!}}

  • An anonymous trader won over $400,000 betting on Maduro’s sudden capture, raising insider trading suspicions.

  • Prediction markets allow wagers on elections, sports, and global events, operating largely without traditional gambling oversight.

  • The timing and concentration of trades spotlight transparency and ethical concerns in speculative online markets.

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MARKETS

WORLD

• Japan plans to dissolve parliament with a possible snap election in February (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: Japan Times, Reuters, Financial Times}}

  • Japan’s LDP may dissolve the Lower House to leverage Prime Minister Takaichi’s high approval ratings.

  • A snap election could be called in February, only four months into Takaichi’s premiership.

  • The ruling party aims to strengthen its position early in Takaichi’s term through an election.

• Chinese battery shares fall after Beijing plans to reduce export tax rebates (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Reuters, Morningstar, Yahoo!}}

  • China’s battery companies, including CATL, Eve Energy, and Gotion, fell sharply after export rebate reductions were announced.

  • Beijing will cut value-added tax rebates on 22 battery products from 9% to 6% starting in April.

  • Investors worry the policy signals tighter oversight on overseas shipments, a key driver of past demand.

• Deaths from Iran protests reach more than 500, rights group says (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: AP, Bloomberg}}

  • HRANA reports 490 protesters and 48 security personnel killed during two weeks of nationwide unrest.

  • More than 10,600 people were arrested, while Iran has released no official death toll.

  • Trump renewed intervention threats as Iran warned U.S. bases and Israel could face retaliation.

FUTURISM

• Motional reboots robotaxi strategy with AI-first approach, targeting driverless service by 2026 (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!}}

  • After missed deadlines, layoffs, and lost backing, Hyundai reinvested to keep Motional operating.

  • The company paused operations, rebuilt its system around AI, and refocused on scalable affordability.

  • Motional plans Las Vegas launch in 2026, removing safety drivers after public testing.

• FCC approves SpaceX plan to deploy 7,500 additional Starlink satellites worldwide (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, TechRadar}}

  • FCC authorized 7,500 more Gen2 Starlink satellites, raising SpaceX’s approved total to 15,000.

  • Approval allows upgraded satellites, expanded frequencies, overlapping coverage, and direct-to-cell connectivity domestically and internationally.

  • FCC set deployment deadlines through 2031, citing public interest, safety improvements, and increased broadband competition.

• Google’s AI Inbox previews Gmail’s future, promising smarter email management (The Verge)
  ^{_{More: MSN, MacRumors, TechCrunch}}

  • Google unveiled AI Inbox, replacing traditional email lists with AI-generated tasks and topic summaries.

  • The feature remains early, limited to trusted testers, and works only with personal Gmail accounts.

  • While potentially transformative, it may not improve workflows for users already managing inboxes efficiently.

CONTENT

• Why most AI products fail, according to OpenAI, Google, Amazon veterans (Lenny's Podcast)

  • Experts explain how AI products differ from traditional software, reshaping how teams build them.

  • They outline common patterns, anti-patterns, and a practical framework for iteratively scaling successful AI products.

  • Speakers stress customer trust, reliability, and realistic evaluation practices as critical skills for AI builders.

• How to use AI effectively as a creative partner, not a shortcut (This Week in Startups)

  • Grant Lee and Steven Johnson explain why creatives resist AI and why that fear is misguided.

  • They argue AI works best as a thinking partner that unlocks ideas, not replaces human judgment.

  • Examples show AI boosting originality, creativity, and productivity for writers, educators, and knowledge workers.

• Josh Brown explains why the AI bubble still hasn’t burst (The Prof G Pod)

  • Josh Brown reviews 2025 markets, arguing earnings strength explains why the AI bubble persists.

  • He outlines key forces shaping 2026 markets, including Federal Reserve policy and investor expectations.

  • Brown advises young investors to embrace corrections as healthy opportunities for long-term growth.

EXTRAS

• HD Hyundai Robotics taps banks to prepare for South Korea IPO (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Tech in Asia, Korea Times}}

  • HD Hyundai Robotics appointed UBS, Korea Investment, and KB Securities to advise on its planned IPO.

  • The company makes industrial robots and is expanding toward AI-driven humanoid robotics development.

  • Investor optimism lifted Hyundai Motor shares, reflecting confidence in robotics as a future growth engine.

• Nuclear startups gain attention with small reactors, but face significant challenges (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: MSN, Yahoo!}}

  • Nuclear startups raised $1.1 billion in late 2025 amid investor optimism for smaller reactors.

  • Traditional reactors remain massive, costly, and delayed, prompting startups to pursue compact, scalable alternatives.

  • Small reactors aim for mass production efficiencies, potentially reducing costs, though benefits remain unproven.

• India proposes forcing smartphone makers to give source code in security overhaul (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: The Hindu, Japan Times, Business Standard}}

  • India proposes smartphone security rules requiring source code sharing, alarming major tech firms like Apple and Samsung.

  • Companies warn that the measures lack global precedent and risk exposing proprietary software and sensitive intellectual property.

  • The Indian government says consultations are ongoing and industry concerns will be addressed openly.

AND MORE

• Crypto proponents push ambitious visions for building new, blockchain-powered cities.

• CES 2026 highlights include Apple Card moving to Chase, and more.

• inDrive adds ads and grocery services to diversify its revenue streams.

• Europe and China’s chip dispute intensifies, nearing a critical breaking point.

• TiVo transformed live television by introducing the powerful pause button.

• Roko’s Basilisk skips the buzz words and cuts straight to what moves markets, products, and careers.*

• Lawmakers push app stores to require user ID checkpoints nationwide now.

• ‘Hamnet’ wins Golden Globe drama as ‘One Battle’ takes top comedy.