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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🇬🇧 Church of England leader resigns amidst backlash over pedophile scandal.
💰 Generative AI startup Writer secures $200M to take on industry giants.
🌫️ Record-breaking smog blankets Pakistan’s Punjab, visible even from space.
🇺🇦 Ukraine confronts 50,000 Russian troops in Russia’s Kursk region.
🖥️ Nvidia’s new app replaces GeForce.

TECH

• Nvidia’s new app replaces for GeForce

  • Nvidia’s updated app replaces GeForce Experience with features like 4K 120fps video capture and integrated game filters.

  • Key Nvidia Control Panel settings, such as G-Sync and display configuration, are now accessible directly within the app.

  • Future updates promise additional Control Panel options, and the app will soon be bundled with GeForce drivers, no login needed.

• Chrome on your iPhone can search using pictures and words at the same time

  • Chrome for iOS now supports Google Lens with simultaneous image and text search, enabling more specific searches.

  • Users can save images and files directly to Google Photos and Drive, bypassing iPhone’s local storage.

  • This update comes as Apple launched its own visual Intelligence search.

• Generative AI startup Writer raises $200M at a $1.9B valuation

  • Writer has raised $200M, co-led by Premji Invest, Radical Ventures, and ICONIQ Growth, bringing its total funding to $326M.

  • The platform, focuses on autonomous, reliable AI solutions and recently launched Palmyra X 004.

  • Clients include Mars, Ally Bank, Salesforce, and Uber; the funding signals ongoing VC enthusiasm for generative AI’s market potential.

BUSINESS

• Donald Trump’s EPA pick wants to ‘make America the AI capital of the world’

  • EPA nominee Lee Zeldin focuses on AI growth, sparking concerns over data center pollution.

  • Environmental groups urge the EPA to maintain protections for air and water quality.

  • AI data centers could increase emissions as power demands rise across the U.S.

• Shell wins appeal against landmark Dutch climate ruling

  • Dutch court dismisses 2021 order for Shell to cut emissions by 45% by 2030.

  • Friends of the Earth vows to continue pursuing large polluters through legal avenues.

  • Ruling aligns with COP29 discussions in Baku amid debates on fossil fuel policies.

• In Europe, Instagram Ads Are About to Get Less Personal

  • Meta to offer European users ‘less personalized ads’ to comply with EU regulator demands.

  • Ads will target users based on browsing session content, age, gender, and location, not broad activity history.

  • Meta anticipates a negative business impact, with EU ads currently contributing 23% of its revenue.

CONTENT

• The Reckoning, Sam Harris

  • Sam Harris analyzes the factors behind Trump's 2024 re-election, calling it the "greatest comeback in American political history."

  • He critiques the Democratic Party's focus on cultural issues, particularly identity politics and transactivism.

  • Harris emphasizes Democrats' failure to address voters' primary concerns on topics like inflation, immigration, and crime.

• Dario Amodei: Anthropic CEO on Claude with Lex Fridman

  • Scaling laws and the limits of LLM scaling examined alongside developments like Claude 4.0.

  • Anthropic’s competition with OpenAI, Google, and Meta showcases distinct AI visions.

  • They discuss the AGI timeline, regulatory needs, and the intricate beauty of neural networks.

  Apple Reveals ChatGPT Is Really Dumb

  • Waymo’s $5.6 billion funding indicates a shakeup in transportation, potentially challenging Uber’s hold on ridesharing.

  • Sam Altman’s WorldCoin project sparks debate on AI-driven human verification and identity in a tech-dominated world.

  • Chris discusses AI’s evolving role in society, exploring whether systems like ChatGPT truly ‘reason’ or mimic responses.

WORLD

• Church of England leader who married Harry and Meghan resigns over pedophile scandal

  • Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned following a report criticizing his handling of child abuse cases.

  • John Smyth, connected to Church of England camps, allegedly abused up to 130 boys and young men in Britain and Africa.

  • Welby initially resisted calls to resign but stepped down after mounting public pressure, with his office set to announce formal timing details.

• Toxic smog in Pakistan is so bad you can see it from space

  • Record-breaking smog blankets Pakistan’s Punjab region, with AQI levels over 1,200, forcing school closures and restrictions on outdoors.

  • Hospitals are overwhelmed, treating over 30,000 respiratory cases, with UNICEF warning of the severe impact on children’s health.

  • Officials seek dialogue with India on air pollution, as climate change worsens air quality, increasing health risks across South Asia.

• Ukraine is fighting 50,000 troops in Russia’s Kursk region, Zelensky says

  • Ukraine's counteroffensive in Russia’s Kursk region faces 50,000 Russian troops, including North Korean soldiers.

  • The offensive marks the first foreign ground invasion of Russian territory since WWII, with intense clashes resulting in Russian losses.

  • Both nations are preparing for potential changes as Trump’s victory in the US election raises questions about future US support.

AND MORE…

• Goertek Secures NPI Supplier for Two New Apple Products in 2026

  • Apple is set to enter the smart home IP camera market in 2026, aiming to ship millions of units annually.

  • Future AirPods will focus on health management, projected to drive shipments to 65–68 million units by 2026

  • Goertek's partnership with Apple has stabilized, signaling renewed growth, with Apple-related revenue expected to rise from 2025 onward.

• This USB-C Mouthpiece Turns Your Phone Into a Musical Instrument

  • Artinoise’s new device, Zefiro, connects to a smartphone or PC via USB-C, transforming it into a musical instrument with 32 sound options.

  • The app offers unique features like breathing exercises, sound layering, and customizable interfaces.

  • Kickstarter backers can purchase Zefiro for $23, with the retail price set at $44, and shipments are expected to start early next year.

• Russia lawmakers pass bill banning "child-free propaganda"

  • Russia’s Duma passed a law banning media content promoting child-free lifestyles, citing traditional family values.

  • Violations bring fines up to $51,000, with deportation for foreigners spreading banned messages.

  • Law also blocks adoptions by foreigners from countries allowing gender reassignment, limiting foreign adoption.