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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🎥 Apple’s Final Cut Pro 11 introduces AI tools for video editing.
📱 Google’s Gemini AI app launches on iOS.
💶 EU fines Meta 800 million euros over data privacy breaches.
🏛️ FBI raids home of Polymarket founder amid election betting investigation.
🌍 Argentina withdraws climate delegates as Milei heads to Mar-a-Lago.

TECH

• Google Gemini launches app for iPhone users

  • Google’s Gemini AI app, available worldwide on iOS, offers a dedicated chat interface through text, voice, or camera.

  • New Gemini Live feature allows interactive voice commands and integrates with Dynamic Island and lock screen.

  • App connects with Google services like YouTube Music and Maps, marking a push for Gemini’s everyday accessibility.

• Final Cut Pro 11 adds AI for Video Editing on Mac

  • Apple releases Final Cut Pro 11, adding advanced AI tools for more efficient video editing workflows.

  • New features include enhanced real-time collaboration, object tracking, and improved color grading options.

  • The update aims to streamline editing for professionals and creatives alike, reinforcing Mac’s role in video production.

• Google Maps Adds Shopping and Travel Features for Holiday Season

  • Google Maps now allows search for specific items, like ‘headphones’ or ‘winter coats,’ showing nearby stores with available stock.

  • New trip planning tools include real-time transit updates, EV charging stations, and optimized travel routes.

  • Updates are holiday-focused, adding features for in-store inventory checks and enhanced travel planning.

BUSINESS

• EU fines Meta 800 million euros over data privacy breaches

  • Meta faces a substantial fine of 800 million euros by the European Union for allegedly misusing user data.

  • The EU accuses Meta of engaging in data practices violating privacy rights, underscoring its stance on strict data regulation.

  • Meta has announced plans to appeal, arguing compliance with EU laws and regulations.

• Polymarket Founder Responds After FBI Raids Home

  • FBI raided Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan's home, seizing electronic devices in relation to election betting activity.

  • Recent prediction favoring a Trump victory raised allegations of potential bias and market manipulation.

  • Coplan, not yet arrested, faces intensified scrutiny as prediction markets come under regulatory focus.

• These Stocks Are Beating Tesla As The Biggest Trump Trade Winners

  • Shares of several companies have surged after Trump’s election win, boosted by his policy promises.

  • Key gainers include the energy and defense sectors, with stocks like Lockheed Martin and Exxon Mobil seeing major increases.

  • Tesla, by contrast, has seen comparatively modest growth due to mixed implications of Trump’s energy policies.

CONTENT

• Why The Next AI Breakthroughs Will Be In Reasoning

  • Discusses the shift in AI advancements from scaling to improving reasoning capabilities.

  • Explores insights from the YC o1 hackathon on leveraging a state-of-the-art reasoning model.

  • Highlights examples of productivity gains and potential pivots for companies utilizing this technology.

• Derek Sivers on The Greatest Year of His Life

  • Derek Sivers discusses transformative experiences and philosophical shifts, covering topics like global perspectives, simplicity, and culture.

  • Explores Sivers' mind changes on everything from technology to cross-cultural insights and personal experimentation in housing.

  • They dive into the practical application of philosophy, with influences from figures like Brian Eno, Cormac McCarthy, and John Cage.

• Ex Google CEO: AI Is Creating Deadly Viruses

  • Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt discusses AI’s rapid advancement, potential risks, and the imperative of critical oversight.

  • Schmidt emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and ethical grounding in tech, especially as AI may surpass human control.

  • Topics span from company culture at Google to AI’s impact on jobs and society, addressing potential geopolitical consequences of AI dominance.

WORLD

• South African government refuses to help hundreds of illegal miners

  • Government declines aid to hundreds, possibly thousands, trapped in an abandoned South African gold mine.

  • Police report up to 4,000 illegal miners underground; food and water supplies are being cut off.

  • Officials plan to ‘smoke out’ illegal miners amid ongoing crackdown, citing economic losses from unauthorized mining.

• Argentina withdraws delegates from climate summit as Milei heads for Mar-a-Lago

  • Argentina’s delegates were recalled from the COP29 climate summit, halting their participation in Baku's negotiations.

  • President Milei, critical of UN climate policies, has labelled them as pushing an ‘ideological agenda’ without credible solutions.

  • Milei plans to attend CPAC at Mar-a-Lago and meet U.S. President-elect Trump, aligning with his pro-U.S. and libertarian stance.

  Russia increases Ukraine drone attacks by 44% since Trump election

  • Russia escalated its UAV strikes on Ukraine, launching 641 drones in one week after Trump’s election, up from 64 daily.

  • Moscow aims to intensify pressure on Ukraine ahead of Trump’s January 20 inauguration, coinciding with rising ground attacks.

  • Trump has pledged to broker peace within 24 hours of taking office, a move Russia views as potentially beneficial.

AND MORE…

• The Onion Acquires Alex Jones' Infowars

  • The Onion purchased Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families affected by Sandy Hook.

  • Plans include a relaunch in 2025, shifting the platform to humor and educational parodies on misinformation.

  • Financial details remain undisclosed, with The Onion aiming to reshape Infowars’ former content focus.

• Mark Zuckerberg just released a single with T-Pain

  • Zuckerberg and T-Pain collaborated on 'Get Low,' blending AI-generated beats with T-Pain’s vocals.

  • This surprise release comes after Zuckerberg's recent ventures into music production with AI tools.

  • The track aims to showcase AI's creative potential, sparking mixed reactions across social media.

• World’s largest known coral discovered in Solomon Islands

  • The massive Pavona clavus coral spans 183 meters and is visible from space, growing for 300–500 years in the Pacific’s coral triangle.

  • Discovered by National Geographic’s Pristine Seas team, it supports diverse marine life and was initially mistaken for a shipwreck.

  • Solomon Islands' officials highlight its cultural and ecological value, though warming seas pose a serious threat to its survival.