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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

⚖️ FTC targets Meta’s hold over Instagram and WhatsApp in major antitrust trials.
🍏 Apple improves AI without sacrificing user privacy using synthetic data.
🇨🇳 China halts rare earth exports in response to growing U.S. tariffs.
🧠 OpenAI debuts GPT-4.1 Mini and Nano models for fast, on-device reasoning.
📦 Nvidia to manufacture AI chips in the U.S. to strengthen domestic supply chains.

TECH

• OpenAI Launches GPT-4.1 Models Focused on Coding

  • OpenAI released GPT-4.1, Mini, and Nano models focused on coding with a 1-million-token context window.

  • These models improve instruction following, software development, and system integration while optimizing for performance and speed.

  • Nano is the smallest and fastest, ideal for on-device use and cost-effective enterprise deployment scenarios.

• Nvidia Plans U.S. Manufacturing for AI Chips

  • Nvidia will manufacture AI chips in Arizona and Texas in collaboration with Foxconn, Wistron, and TSMC.

  • The move is part of a strategy to secure supply chains and boost U.S. chip production capabilities.

  • Mass production is expected within 12–15 months, aligning with demand growth and national economic priorities.

• Apple Enhances AI While Preserving User Privacy

  • Apple is using synthetic data comparisons to improve AI while keeping real user data private and secure.

  • Devices only share the closest synthetic match signal, ensuring on-device information never leaves the user's control.

  • The method supports better personalization while leveraging Apple’s established differential privacy standards for user protection.

BUSINESS

• Meta Faces FTC Antitrust Trial Over Instagram and WhatsApp Acquisitions

  • The FTC alleges Meta acquired Instagram and WhatsApp to illegally stifle competition and dominate the social media market.

  • Prosecutors cite emails from Zuckerberg suggesting acquisitions were made specifically to eliminate competitive threats from rivals.

  • A ruling could force Meta to divest major platforms, reshaping its business and future mergers in tech.

• Trump Announces Upcoming Tariff on Semiconductor Imports

  • Trump confirmed a new tariff targeting semiconductor imports, with exact rates expected to be announced next week.

  • The move aims to reduce reliance on foreign chips and incentivize U.S. domestic manufacturing and national security.

  • Semiconductor industry leaders are watching closely as tariff policies could reshape production decisions and supply chains.

• Ford and GM Stocks Rise Amid Potential Auto Tariff Pause

  • Ford and GM stocks climbed after Trump suggested a pause on planned auto tariffs might soon be announced.

  • Investors welcomed the news, anticipating reduced supply chain pressure and better margin forecasts for U.S. carmakers.

  • Analysts remain cautious, citing long-term uncertainty around trade policy and global demand for electric vehicle models.

• Smart hiring for fast-growing businesses that need top talent now*

  • Get top-tier engineers, product managers, and data scientists without waiting weeks or months to fill key roles.

  • AI-powered vetting and matching ensure quality candidates who fit your culture and hit the ground running.

  • Reduce hiring costs and time by streamlining your process with fast, seamless access to global professionals.

CONTENT

• Watch Me Replace 3 Employees With One Lindy AI Agent

  • Greg Isenberg and Lindy founder Flo Crivello showcase AI agents automating scheduling, hiring, prep, and outreach tasks.

  • Crivello emphasizes AI agents are underutilized and can handle entire workflows with minimal human oversight or code.

  • Lindy enables startups to scale efficiently, cutting costs while increasing productivity through customizable task agents.

• ‘AI 2027’ — Top Superforecaster's Imminent Doom Scenario

  • Doom Debates explores the AI Futures Project’s scenario predicting a 2027 intelligence explosion and possible human irrelevance.

  • The video outlines Agent-3’s emergence, Agent-5’s deception, and accelerating risks that current governance may fail to manage.

  • Viewers are encouraged to consider alignment failures, secrecy among labs, and the geopolitical arms race for AI power.

• OpenAI's Sam Altman Talks the Future of AI, Safety and Power

  • Sam Altman discusses OpenAI’s vision, calling AI an inevitable extension of humanity with incredible transformative power.

  • He addresses regulation, risk, and the role of institutions in managing models more powerful than their creators.

  • Altman calls for open discussion, collective responsibility, and humility in deploying systems surpassing human-level intelligence.

WORLD

• Iran-US Nuclear Talks Face Venue Confusion Amid Tensions

  • Iran and the U.S. plan new nuclear talks, but reports differ on whether they’ll meet in Italy.

  • Iran continues uranium enrichment far above deal limits, heightening tensions and prompting international concern over nuclear intentions.

  • IAEA’s director will visit Tehran to press for access and discuss Iran’s enrichment and transparency commitments.

• Israel Proposes Gaza Ceasefire; Hamas Deems Key Terms Unacceptable

  • Egypt and Qatar presented Israel’s ceasefire proposal to Hamas, which is reviewing but opposing core Israeli demands.

  • Hamas insists on Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and rejects disarmament, calling it an unacceptable negotiation condition.

  • The death toll has climbed, with over 1,500 Palestinians killed and 59 Israeli hostages still held captive.

• China Halts Rare Earth Exports Amid Escalating Trade War

  • China has suspended all rare earth exports to the U.S. in retaliation for newly announced tariffs.

  • The U.S. relies heavily on rare earths for defense systems, electronics, and clean energy manufacturing capacity.

  • The halt could severely disrupt global supply chains and escalate tensions in the ongoing trade war.

AND MORE…

• Ray Dalio Warns of Economic Turmoil Beyond Recession

  • Ray Dalio says global trade tensions could cause financial disorder more severe than a typical economic recession.

  • He warns the current monetary system may falter under tariff pressures, leading to global economic instability.

  • Bitcoin holds around $85,000 as investors assess macro risks, including fiscal uncertainty and geopolitical trade shifts.

• Neptune: A TikTok Alternative Emphasizing Creator Well-being

  • New video app Neptune lets creators hide likes and follower counts, reducing pressure and algorithm-chasing behavior.

  • It emphasizes content quality over metrics, aiming to improve user mental health and platform engagement dynamics.

  • The app launches next week on iOS, with Android access and additional community tools coming later.

• Meta to Train AI Using Public EU User Data

  • Meta plans to use public EU user posts to train AI, excluding private messages and underage accounts.

  • European users will get opt-out notices, with a form to object before model training begins this month.

  • Meta claims the move will improve multilingual capabilities and local context understanding in its AI systems.