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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

📬 Google launches Gemma 3 AI, supporting 140+ languages.
📱 iPhone 17 Pro Max leak shows a new camera bar and ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air.
🌍 ICC considers an arrest warrant for Duterte over alleged human rights abuses.
🚂 Gunmen hijack a train in Pakistan, taking hostages in a separatist attack.
🤖 DeepMind unveils Gemini Robotics AI to improve humanoid and industrial robots.

TECH

• Google Unveils Gemma 3 AI Model

  • Google's latest open AI model, Gemma 3, supports over 140 languages and boasts a 128,000-token context window.

  • Available in sizes from 1 billion to 27 billion parameters, it competes with Llama-405B and DeepSeek-V3.

  • Designed for efficiency, Gemma 3 performs well on a single GPU or TPU, optimizing processing power.

• iPhone 17 Pro Max Leak Reveals Major Design Shift

  • Leaked renders show a new rectangular camera bar on the back, departing from Apple's traditional design.

  • The iPhone 17 Air, expected to be Apple's thinnest phone, could measure just 5.5mm thick.

  • Rumors suggest a 6.9-inch display for the Pro Max model, keeping Face ID and Dynamic Island features.

• Google DeepMind Introduces Gemini Robotics AI

  • Google's Gemini Robotics aims to enhance industrial and humanoid robots with advanced AI capabilities.

  • The model enables robots to understand, learn, and operate in complex environments by mimicking human behavior.

  • While still in early development, Gemini Robotics is positioned to redefine robotics AI applications.

BUSINESS

• Niantic Pokemon Go Scopely Acquisition Deal

  • Niantic has reportedly struck a significant acquisition deal with Scopely to expand its mobile gaming portfolio and the Pokemon Go ecosystem.

  • The deal is expected to boost Niantic’s augmented reality gaming capabilities and drive further innovation across its platform.

  • Industry insiders suggest the acquisition will enhance market competitiveness and open new revenue streams for Niantic.

• Once Amazon Takeover Target iRobot Signals Doubt Over Its Future

  • iRobot, once considered an acquisition target by Amazon, now faces uncertainty amid declining demand for its home robotics products.

  • Executives highlight challenges in adapting to evolving consumer trends and intensifying competition in the robotics market.

  • Investor sentiment is wavering as iRobot struggles to articulate a sustainable long-term growth strategy.

• Sonos Cancels Pinewood Streaming Box

  • Sonos has canceled its Pinewood streaming box as it shifts focus away from standalone streaming hardware.

  • The decision comes amid a strategic pivot toward enhancing core audio products and integrated smart home solutions.

  • This move reflects Sonos’s effort to better compete in the increasingly crowded streaming and smart speaker market.

CONTENT

• Manus AI Replaces Your AI Tech Stack? (Full Demo)

  • Manus AI automates coding, research, and marketing, creating entire applications and analyzing SEO with minimal input.

  • It functions as a multi-agent system handling research, development, and deployment simultaneously without templates.

  • While powerful, it faces limitations in scaling, deployment, and security concerns due to its China-based operations.

• Joseph Henrich – Why Humans Survived and Smarter Species Didn’t

  • Henrich argues humans succeeded due to cultural evolution, not intelligence, enabling knowledge transfer over generations.

  • He explores how European explorers starved despite intelligence, while foragers thrived due to inherited survival knowledge.

  • The Catholic Church’s dismantling of kinship structures may have indirectly led to the Industrial Revolution.

• Niklas Östberg on Competing with Uber and DoorDash

  • The Delivery Hero CEO shares lessons from 35+ acquisitions, including a $200M loss on Gorillas and a $2B Glovo buyout.

  • He discusses the challenges of scaling quick commerce and how cash flow is critical in food delivery wars.

  • Östberg sees emerging markets as key growth areas, arguing European regulators are stifling innovation in the sector.

WORLD

• Philippines' Duterte Faces Possible ICC Arrest Warrant

  • The ICC is considering an arrest warrant for Duterte over his drug war, citing potential crimes against humanity.

  • His government withdrew from the ICC in 2019, but the court argues jurisdiction still applies to earlier alleged abuses.

  • Supporters call the probe politically motivated, while rights groups say it's crucial for justice for thousands killed.

• Gunmen Take Hostages on Pakistani Train in Balochistan

  • Militants hijacked a passenger train, taking hostages in an attack linked to Baloch separatist groups.

  • Security forces launched an operation, but officials have not confirmed the number of captives or casualties.

  • The region has long faced insurgent violence, with demands for autonomy fueling repeated attacks.

• Rubio Denies G7 Talks on U.S. Takeover of Canada

  • Senator Marco Rubio dismissed claims that the G7 would discuss a U.S. ‘takeover’ of Canada at its next meeting.

  • The rumors spread widely on social media, despite officials repeatedly confirming no such talks were planned.

  • Canadian leaders also rejected the claims, calling them misinformation amid rising geopolitical tensions.

AND MORE…

• Anthropic CEO Warns of Espionage Threats to AI Secrets

  • CEO Dario Amodei says AI breakthroughs worth $100M could be stolen in a few lines of exposed code, raising security concerns.

  • He warns foreign intelligence agencies are targeting AI firms to access proprietary research and advanced models.

  • Amodei urges stricter government intervention, saying weak security could let AI advancements fall into the wrong hands.

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• UK Antitrust Body Raises Concerns About Apple and Google's Mobile Browsers

  • The CMA says Apple’s WebKit rule and Google’s Chrome dominance stifle competition and limit innovation for developers.

  • Regulators claim Apple’s restrictions hurt user choice, preventing alternative browser engines from gaining market traction.

  • Proposed changes could force Apple to allow third-party engines, reshaping the mobile web ecosystem entirely.

• Donald Trump Jr. Invests in MAGA-Related Startups

  • Trump Jr. is funding conservative-friendly startups building a ‘parallel economy' aligned with MAGA supporters’ values.

  • These companies focus on finance, social media, and consumer goods, branding themselves as mainstream alternatives.

  • Supporters call it free-market competition, while critics say it deepens political divisions in business.