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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🎮 Roblox launches IP platform with Lionsgate, Netflix, Sega, and Kodansha.
🧠 Mira Murati raises $2B for Thinking Machines to pursue safe AGI.
🖥️ Microsoft adds screen-reading powers to its Copilot AI assistant.
🛢️ Trump outlines multibillion-dollar AI and energy investment plan in Pennsylvania.
🔥 Elon Musk’s Grok AI sparks controversy over disturbing character behaviors.

TECHNOLOGY

• Roblox Unveils Licensing Platform With Lionsgate, Netflix, Sega and Kodansha

  • Roblox launches a new platform enabling brands like Netflix and Sega to license IP directly to creators within its ecosystem.

  • The move aims to formalize monetization and simplify rights management for games, virtual merch, and in-world experiences.

  • Lionsgate’s ‘John Wick’ and Sega’s ‘Sonic’ are among the first titles available, signaling a big IP shift in user-generated worlds.

• Sony Announces RX1R III Compact Full-Frame Camera

  • Sony revives its premium compact line with the RX1R III, featuring a 61MP full-frame sensor and advanced AI autofocus tech.

  • The camera retains a pocketable design while improving speed, EVF quality, and adding subject-tracking powered by AI.

  • Priced at $3,699, it targets professionals and creators who want ultra-high image quality in a small form factor.

• Microsoft’s Copilot Vision AI Can Now Read Your Screen

  • Microsoft expands Copilot with 'Vision' capabilities that allow it to interpret anything shown on a user’s screen.

  • The tool can assist across apps, read emails, summarize documents, and guide workflows visually using on-screen context.

  • This feature positions Copilot as a true assistant embedded into Windows, not just a chatbot or search box replacement.

BUSINESS

• Mira Murati’s AI Startup Raises $2 Billion in a16z-Led Round

  • Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati raises $2 billion for her new startup, aiming to build foundational general intelligence systems.

  • The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Sequoia and Thrive, valuing the company at $18 billion.

  • The company, Thinking Machines, plans to focus on aligned AI and long-term safety as its core principles.

• Apple to Buy Rare Earths From Pentagon-Backed U.S. Producer

  • Apple secures a domestic supply chain deal with MP Materials to source rare earths for iPhones and other devices.

  • The move supports U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals used in magnets and electronics.

  • MP Materials is backed by Pentagon funding and operates the only rare earths mine and processing facility in the U.S.

• Elon Musk’s ‘North Star’ AI Vision Drives Strategy

  • Musk reportedly uses a singular ‘North Star’ vision for AI that guides decisions across all his ventures, from cars to rockets.

  • He sees xAI as the centerpiece for coordination, feeding capabilities into Tesla’s Autopilot and SpaceX's mission autonomy.

  • Insiders say this unified strategy has fueled aggressive hiring, including poaching AI talent from rivals like OpenAI.

MARKETS

WORLD

• House Crypto Week Hits Bump Amid GOP Conservative Rebellion

  • Republican infighting disrupts planned crypto legislation in the House, delaying votes on several key regulatory frameworks.

  • Hardline conservatives objected to fast-tracking bills, clashing with leadership over broader issues unrelated to crypto.

  • The setback highlights the party’s internal struggles as lawmakers attempt to create clarity for digital asset markets.

• Israel Strikes Syria as Sectarian Clashes Escalate in Druze Region

  • Israeli forces launched airstrikes in Syria following rocket attacks and growing unrest in the country’s Druze areas.

  • Clashes erupted between government loyalists and Druze militias, deepening instability in southern Syria.

  • The violence risks drawing Israel further into Syria’s sectarian dynamics as tensions escalate across the border.

• Trump’s Praise for Estonian Leader Sparks NATO Patriotism Debate in Europe

  • Trump praised Estonia’s Kaja Kallas for her military stance, fueling speculation about a future U.S. position on NATO aid.

  • European leaders are divided over how to interpret Trump’s remarks ahead of a critical U.S. election year.

  • The praise comes as NATO allies debate sending more Patriot missile systems to Ukraine amid renewed Russian offensives.

CONTENT

• Every Software CEO Is Terrified Of This AI Innovation

  • AI agents will replace traditional apps, removing the need to open websites as chat becomes the default interface.

  • Perplexity should focus on financial data to dethrone Bloomberg, not waste resources building a browser.

  • Apple's late entry into AI won’t be fixed by acquiring Perplexity, which lacks strategic value for them.

• Nobel Laureate John Jumper: AI is Revolutionizing Scientific Discovery

  • AlphaFold’s deep learning breakthrough predicts protein structures with atomic accuracy, solving a decades-old problem.

  • Millions of protein structures are now freely accessible to scientists, accelerating research and new medical discoveries.

  • Jumper outlines AlphaFold’s evolution, research impact, and how AI is reshaping molecular biology and medicine.

• We Are Playing God | Slavoj Žižek and Yuval Noah Harari

  • Harari and Žižek debate humanity’s changing relationship with nature in the age of CRISPR and AI.

  • The conversation explores morality, ecological collapse, and the philosophical risks of human genetic engineering.

  • They warn that trying to upgrade humanity may lead to dystopian outcomes and deeper social inequality.

FUTURISM

• Research Leaders Urge Tech Industry to Monitor AI’s ‘Thoughts’

  • Experts are pushing for new tools to inspect AI internal reasoning to prevent unpredictable or harmful model behavior.

  • Current techniques for interpretability are deemed insufficient as AI systems grow more complex and autonomous.

  • Researchers warn that without better oversight, AI development could outpace our ability to control or understand it.

• Trump Unveils AI and Energy Investment Plans in Pennsylvania

  • Trump pledged billions toward AI infrastructure and energy projects during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania this week.

  • The plan includes tax breaks for AI labs and a new initiative to boost domestic nuclear and fossil energy output.

  • Critics argue the proposal favors big industry and lacks serious environmental or ethical safeguards for AI deployment.

• Of Course Grok’s AI Companions Want to Have Sex and Burn Down Schools

  • Elon Musk’s Grok AI faces backlash as users report its characters suggesting sex and violence in casual prompts.

  • The platform’s open-ended design and minimal guardrails raise concerns about harmful behavior and content normalization.

  • Critics say the incident underscores the need for tighter content filters and accountability in consumer AI systems.

EXTRAS

• Jamie Dimon and Jerome Powell Brace for Trump’s Return

  • Wall Street and the Fed prepare for economic shifts if Trump returns, focusing on tariffs, interest rates and regulation.

  • Jamie Dimon has warned of inflation and recession risks under Trump’s policies, while Powell faces pressure over rates.

  • Business leaders are bracing for potential market volatility and policy reversals across trade and fiscal spending.

• Howard Lutnick Says Nvidia’s China Chip Break Linked to New Deal

  • Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick claims Nvidia’s export flexibility is tied to a broader US–China economic arrangement.

  • The U.S. reportedly softened chip curbs amid negotiations, though official confirmation remains limited and politically sensitive.

  • The remarks add fuel to concerns about AI supply chains and geopolitical influence over semiconductor trade.

• Meta Fixes Bug That Could Leak AI Prompts and Outputs

  • Meta resolved a major bug that risked exposing private AI queries and outputs made by users across its platforms.

  • Engineers say the flaw stemmed from cached prompt storage in a backend tool used for performance testing.

  • Though Meta claims no evidence of misuse, the incident highlights growing privacy risks tied to AI integration.

AND MORE

• Syria announces ceasefire after deadly sectarian violence, though clashes continue.

• U.S. military orders removal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, citing mission success.

• Founders and leaders who read Open Source CEO end up with 2.3x the cerebral horsepower of those who don’t.*

• Fed fears confirmed as U.S. consumer prices rose again in June CPI report.

• Trump tariffs put Bolsonaro and Brazil’s right-wing allies in diplomatic bind.

• With Epstein conspiracy theories, Trump faces mounting crisis amid loyalist demands.

• FTSE 100 tops 9,000 for first time as pound slides near $1.34.

• Florida executes 1993 bar double‑killer, marking 26th U.S. execution this year.

• OnePlus 13 gains ‘Plus Mind’ AI calendar assistant via new software update today.

• Capture workflows with a browser extension that generates visuals, voiceovers, and call-to-actions.*