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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🧠 Google absorbs Windsurf CEO and R&D to boost DeepMind coding.
🚗 Grok 4 launches with Tesla rollout and $300 ‘SuperGrok’ plan.
📱 HMD exits U.S. smartphone market, retires Nokia devices.
🥤 Walmart recalls Ozark Trail bottles over potential chemical leak.
✈️ Air India crash linked to accidental engine cutoff mid-air.

TECHNOLOGY

• Google hires Windsurf’s CEO and team after OpenAI deal collapses

  • OpenAI’s planned $3 billion acquisition of AI coding startup Windsurf fell through, opening the door.

  • Google snapped up Windsurf’s CEO, co‑founder and R&D team to bolster DeepMind’s Gemini coding efforts.

  • Deals include a license to Windsurf tech and a $2.4 billion package to integrate talent without acquiring equity.

• xAI launches Grok 4 with SuperGrok Heavy for $300/month

  • xAI released Grok 4 and a premium SuperGrok Heavy tier at $300/month, featuring multi‑agent and voice capabilities.

  • Benchmarks show frontier performance, but rollout marred by earlier antisemitic outputs causing reputational concern.

  • Musk confirmed Grok 4’s imminent rollout to Tesla cars as xAI pushes to rival ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

• HMD Global scales back US, retires Nokia phones

  • HMD Global is exiting the US smartphone market, discontinuing HMD and Nokia phone sales amid tariff pressures.

  • The move reflects a ‘challenging geopolitical and economic environment,’ though warranty and support remain.

  • Strategy shift follows years licensing Nokia and recent launch of HMD‑branded devices under rising cost strain.

BUSINESS

• Trump’s copper tariff deadline marks end of 'once-in-a-generation' trade era

  • Trump’s looming 50% copper tariff is seen as signaling a shift to more protectionist, transactional U.S. trade policy.

  • The move disrupts long-established supply chains and forces countries like Chile and Canada to seek tariff exemptions.

  • Analysts warn global markets face instability as traditional trade rules are challenged by rising geopolitical and industrial rivalry.

• Walmart recalls Ozark Trail water bottles over chemical concerns

  • Walmart is recalling Ozark Trail BPA-free bottles amid reports of a chemical leaching that may pose health risks.

  • The recall covers over 100,000 units sold nationwide, with customers urged to return products for a full refund.

  • Retailers are increasing safety checks on reusable drinkware as consumer trust hinges on product integrity.

• FT: Europe under pressure to finalize global AI rules

  • The EU is racing to complete its landmark AI regulation before enforcement in August, aiming to shape global governance.

  • Final rules demand transparency, safety evaluations, and risk categorization for providers of general-purpose AI systems.

  • Critics argue stringent rules may hinder AI innovation in Europe and pressure startups to shift operations outside the bloc.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Air India Crash Tied To Switch Error

  • Both engine switches flipped from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ mid-air, causing the fatal crash minutes after takeoff.

  • A pilot was heard saying ‘I didn’t do it,’ pointing to confusion or possible mechanical fault.

  • No immediate safety changes were recommended, but investigators continue to review cockpit actions.

• Rubio Meets Wang Yi Amid Trade Tensions

  • U.S. Secretary of State Rubio met China’s Wang Yi in Malaysia to ease diplomatic strain.

  • The meeting followed growing pressure from looming Trump tariffs on Asian trade partners.

  • Rubio said the talks were constructive, hinting at a possible Trump–Xi summit this year.

• Netanyahu Leaves D.C. With No Ceasefire Deal

  • The Israeli Prime Minister sought support for a phased Gaza ceasefire including hostage releases.

  • Though no deal was reached, Netanyahu secured continued U.S. backing for negotiations.

  • His far-right coalition adds complexity to peace talks as discussions remain ongoing.

CONTENT

• Aravind Srinivas: Perplexity's Race to Build Agentic Search

  • Perplexity bets on AI agents powering browsers, not chatbots, to rethink how we search and consume online information.

  • Srinivas shares early struggles, product evolution, and how speed and focus help them compete with dominant tech giants.

  • Talks include AI’s role in engineering, co-founder dynamics, and advice on building defensible startups in a crowded market.

• Brainstorming $10M AI Business Ideas w/ the Airtable Founder

  • Howie Liu shares seven AI startup ideas including personalized news, social apps, and private equity-style acquisition models.

  • Ideas focus on leveraging AI-native behavior, solving consumer pain points, and exploiting overlooked but scalable market segments.

  • The episode highlights why fast execution, strong differentiation, and user obsession are crucial in the emerging AI economy.

• How to Build a Profitable Personal Brand with AI

  • Marina shares a 30-day roadmap for turning AI tools into a content engine that fuels a personal brand from scratch.

  • She emphasizes niche clarity using prompt frameworks, monetization tactics, and automating design, editing, and publishing workflows.

  • The video focuses on authenticity, storytelling, and balancing strategy with speed in the age of AI-driven solopreneurs.

FUTURISM

• Can an ‘ethical spyware’ maker partner with ICE?

  • A startup frames its surveillance software as transparent and accountable but faces backlash over partnering with ICE.

  • Critics argue ‘ethical spyware’ is a contradiction when used for civil enforcement, risking mission creep and misuse.

  • The debate highlights tensions between public safety claims and privacy, oversight, and human rights concerns.

• Cruz, Bannon and Trump push to pause AI development

  • A coalition of lawmakers and political figures called for a 6-month AI development pause to assess national security risks.

  • Proposals include reviewing both open-source and proprietary systems before further scaling.

  • Critics warn moratoriums could stifle innovation and give authoritarian regimes technological lead.

• Meta doubles down on AI recruiting war

  • Meta offers massive compensation—up to $1.4M salaries and $300M packages—to lure top AI researchers.

  • Despite big pay, cultural fit and mission alignment remain key retention factors beyond money.

  • Its Superintelligence Lab secured talent on paper but still faces stiff competition from deep-tech rivals.

EXTRAS

• Can an ‘ethical spyware’ maker partner with ICE?

  • A surveillance startup brands its software as ‘transparent,’ but debate grows over use by ICE for enforcement.

  • Critics say ‘ethical spyware’ is contradictory when wielded for civil law enforcement and immigration control.

  • The controversy exposes deep tensions between public safety, privacy rights, and accountability frameworks.

• Cruz, Bannon and Trump push to pause AI development

  • A group of high-profile Republicans proposes a six-month halt on AI development citing national security threats.

  • They advocate oversight of both open-source and proprietary AI systems amid risk of misuse or adversarial exploitation.

  • Opponents warn the pause could undermine U.S. innovation and allow other countries to seize AI leadership advantages.

• Meta doubles down on AI recruiting war

  • Meta offers mega compensation packages—up to $1.4M salary plus equity—to attract elite AI researchers.

  • But leaders caution cultural alignment and meaningful mission remain decisive retention factors beyond pay.

  • Their Superintelligence Lab attracted top resumes but still trails rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic in talent retention.

AND MORE

• Read it over coffee, sound brilliant on your next call.*

• UN urges companies to implement advanced tools to detect AI‑driven deepfakes.

• Elon Musk’s xAI reportedly seeks a $170–200 billion valuation in next round.

• Chinese Moonshot AI releases new open‑source model to reclaim domestic market share.

• Intel spin‑out RealSense secures $50 million funding to expand AI vision robotics.

• Explore Zoho CRM and transform your customer experience journey.*

• Crypto purchasers anticipate policy wins as bitcoin climbs alongside crypto stocks.

• Nasdaq-listed Firefly Aerospace files for U.S. IPO after 2024 revenue increased 10%.