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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🧠 J&J will acquire mental health company Intra-Cellular Therapies for $14.6B.
🧵 Raspberry AI raises $24M to advance AI-driven fashion design and trend prediction.
🌐 Free Our Feeds campaign urges Bluesky to adopt user-controlled tech.
📸 Adobe’s Firefly API automates bulk image editing for marketers and designers.
🌊 Japan faces a 6.9-magnitude earthquake, with no major tsunami damage.

BREAKING

• China Discusses Sale of TikTok US to Musk as One Possible Option

  • Reporting from Bloomberg is that Chinese officials are consider selling TikTok US to Elon Musk.

  • ByteDance’s preferred strategy remains fighting their U.S. ban and staying under current ownership, sources say.

  • Trump has said he would like to delay the ban to find a resolution.

TECH

• Raspberry AI Raises $24M from a16z to Accelerate Fashion Design

  • The company has secured $24 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz to expand its AI-powered fashion design platform.

  • The startup’s tools automate labor-intensive design tasks, allowing for faster prototyping and personalized creations.

  • With this investment, Raspberry AI plans to innovate further by predicting fashion trends and offering real-time customization.

• Free Our Feeds Campaign Aims to Billionaire-Proof Bluesky's Tech

  • A new campaign, ‘Free Our Feeds,’ is pushing for Bluesky to embrace decentralized tech and resist corporate influence.

  • Advocates are calling for open-source protocols to ensure users retain control over algorithms and data.

  • The movement highlights growing concerns about billionaire-driven monopolies shaping online spaces.

• Adobe’s new AI tool can edit 10,000 images in one click

  • Adobe has launched the Firefly Bulk Create API, designed to process thousands of images simultaneously.

  • The API aims to help marketers and designers automate tasks like background removal, resizing, and bulk edits.

  • By streamlining high-volume workflows, Adobe targets professionals seeking faster, scalable creative solutions.

BUSINESS

• Sonos CEO Leaving After Failed App Revamp Led to Customer Revolt

  • Patrick Spence resigns after widespread backlash over Sonos’ 2024 app revamp that failed to meet user expectations.

  • Missing features and poor performance prompted a wave of customer dissatisfaction and a sharp decline in trust.

  • Interim CEO Tom Conrad is tasked with repairing the company’s reputation and boosting morale.

• OpenAI Unveils Economic Blueprint for AI Integration

  • OpenAI shares a bold plan for AI’s role in driving economic growth, enhancing efficiency, and transforming industries.

  • The report addresses fears of job loss by promoting strategies for workforce upskilling and ethical AI deployment.

  • OpenAI emphasizes collaboration with governments and businesses to ensure fair AI adoption globally.

• Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Intra-Cellular Therapies for $14.6 Billion

  • J&J strengthens its portfolio with Caplyta, a treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, via this strategic acquisition.

  • The $14.6 billion deal offers a 39% premium on Intra-Cellular Therapies’ stock, reflecting confidence in its potential.

  • The move highlights J&J’s focus on brain health innovations, with the deal expected to close later this year.

CONTENT

• He built a startup using AI that prints money

  • Greg Isenberg shares strategies for leveraging AI tools to build a startup generating sustainable, passive income.

  • The content outlines practical frameworks like ‘digital gravity,’ programmatic SEO, and scalable marketing stacks.

  • Step-by-step guidance includes B2B and B2C tactics, content distribution, and monetization techniques.

• What really happened in the firing of Travis Kalanick

  • Shervin Pishevar recounts pivotal moments at Uber, including Travis Kalanick’s firing and the SoftBank investment.

  • Key takeaways include lessons from early-stage investing and challenges faced during Uber’s expansion into China.

  • The discussion highlights venture capital trends, AI advancements, and opportunities in quantum computing.

• Satya Nadella on the future of SaaS and AI agents

  • Satya Nadella explains the transition from SaaS to AI-driven agent architectures integrating multiple platforms.

  • Insights cover rapid innovation, India’s AI potential, and opportunities in fields like materials science and SaaS disruption.

  • Advice for engineers emphasizes agility, experimentation, and seizing opportunities in an evolving tech landscape.

WORLD

• US imposes export controls on AI chips to counter China

  • The U.S. has introduced strict export controls on AI chips to block China from accessing critical technologies.

  • These measures tier countries by risk, with China facing near-total restrictions due to security concerns.

  • Industry leaders warn the move could disrupt supply chains and hinder U.S. innovation in semiconductors.

• Hamas agrees to release 33 hostages amid ceasefire talks with Israel

  • Hamas has agreed to free 33 hostages as part of a tentative ceasefire agreement with Israel.

  • The deal proposes a phased truce over 42 days, with Israel maintaining a buffer zone near Gaza.

  • Qatar’s mediation seeks to end the 15-month war and address worsening humanitarian conditions.

• 6.9-magnitude earthquake strikes southwestern Japan

  • A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan, prompting tsunami warnings in Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures.

  • Authorities warned of waves up to one meter but lifted the advisory as no major damage was reported.

  • Residents remain on alert for aftershocks as Japan monitors seismic activity in the affected areas.

AND MORE…

• Bill Ackman aims to build a 'modern-day Berkshire Hathaway'

  • Bill Ackman plans to turn Pershing Square into a diversified conglomerate inspired by Berkshire Hathaway.

  • He has offered over $1 billion to increase his stake in Howard Hughes Holdings to nearly 70%.

  • Ackman intends to lead Howard Hughes and use its assets to fund acquisitions in other industries.

• China’s trade surplus hits annual record despite global challenges

  • China’s trade surplus surged to a record $992 billion in 2024, driven by strong electronics and machinery exports.

  • Critics argue the surplus worsens global trade imbalances, sparking tensions with key trading partners.

  • Analysts suggest this trend may trigger policy responses from major economies aiming to curb disparities.

• Meta’s fact-checkers battle wildfire conspiracy theories

  • Meta announced plans to end its professional fact-checking program, replacing it with Community Notes.

  • Fact-checkers warn the shift could enable conspiracy theories, like claims blaming wildfires on government plots or weather control.

  • Experts say Community Notes lacks professional oversight, raising concerns about misinformation spreading unchecked online.