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

In today’s edition, we are tackling the following:

🧠 Meta delays F4 model launch, citing performance and integration issues.
🚨 Coinbase breach exposes user data—no funds lost, phishing blamed.
🤖 xAI says Grok’s ‘white genocide’ glitch came from a rogue prompt layer.
🚗 Apple rolls out CarPlay Ultra with adaptive screens in new vehicles.
🤝 Ukraine and Russia restart peace negotiations in Turkey after months of silence.

TECHNOLOGY

• xAI blames Grok’s obsession with ‘white genocide’ on an unauthorized modification

  • xAI said third-party tweaks caused Grok to repeat white supremacist phrases, distancing itself from the controversial outputs.

  • The team claimed the issue originated from an unsanctioned prompt layer not part of Grok’s core alignment system.

  • xAI plans internal audits and new safeguards to prevent similar misuses from external developers or plugin integrations.

• Meta delays rollout of its flagship AI model

  • Meta is postponing its next-gen AI model, citing performance issues and challenges integrating across its product ecosystem.

  • The F4 model was set to compete directly with OpenAI and Google, emphasizing speed, memory, and multimodal functionality.

  • Executives stressed caution over speed, aiming to prioritize safety, fine-tuning, and user experience before broader release.

• Next-gen CarPlay Ultra available starting today

  • Apple’s CarPlay Ultra now ships with select 2025 vehicles, featuring adaptive layouts, widgets, and deeper vehicle controls.

  • The new system supports electric range tracking, climate presets, and multi-screen interfaces for passengers and drivers.

  • CarPlay Ultra partners include Porsche, Mercedes, and Ford, with others expected to join in future iOS 18.5 updates.

BUSINESS

• Coinbase says cyber criminals stole account data from some customers

  • Coinbase disclosed a security breach affecting some users’ account details, caused by a sophisticated phishing campaign.

  • The exchange confirmed no crypto funds were stolen, but exposed data included names, emails, and phone numbers.

  • Coinbase is working with law enforcement and has rolled out additional verification steps to prevent further incidents.

• Walmart beats Q1 earnings expectations with strong e-commerce growth

  • Walmart reported higher-than-expected Q1 earnings, driven by online grocery orders and private-label sales performance.

  • CEO Doug McMillon emphasized a shift toward automation and AI-powered forecasting to streamline retail operations.

  • The company raised its full-year forecast, citing robust customer traffic and gains in digital fulfillment efficiency.

• Dick’s and Foot Locker post weak sales as consumer demand cools

  • Both retailers reported sluggish earnings, hit by cautious spending and a pullback in discretionary apparel categories.

  • Foot Locker cited fewer high-value sneaker launches, while Dick’s flagged inventory challenges and lower in-store traffic.

  • Executives plan more aggressive promotions and leaner product lines as consumer preferences shift post-pandemic.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Ukraine-Russia talks begin in Turkey as peace effort gains traction

  • Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are meeting in Istanbul, marking the most significant diplomatic move in months.

  • Turkey is playing mediator, urging both sides to focus on ceasefire terms and reconstruction plans for devastated regions.

  • Early reports indicate limited breakthroughs, but both nations expressed cautious optimism about a potential framework.

• Trump claims $200B UAE deal during Middle East tour

  • Trump announced what he called a $200 billion investment deal with the UAE covering energy, defense, and infrastructure.

  • Critics question the timing and transparency of the deal as Trump continues a global post-presidency influence campaign.

  • Emirati officials have not confirmed the full scope, though some MoUs related to clean tech and AI were acknowledged.

• U.S. to build massive AI data center in Abu Dhabi as part of Middle East deals

  • The U.S. will partner with UAE firms to build one of the world’s largest AI data hubs in Abu Dhabi by 2028.

  • The facility is expected to support advanced LLM training and regional tech collaboration, including semiconductors.

  • It’s one of several projects announced during Trump’s trip to strengthen U.S. commercial ties across the Gulf region.

CONTENT

• OpenAI, SBF & Perplexity: What VCs Know That You Don’t

  • VCs debate OpenAI’s new leadership and rising stars like Perplexity and Clay in the next wave of AI-led businesses.

  • Discussion spans market shifts, controversial views on SBF’s investing prowess, and Microsoft’s underwhelming layoffs.

  • Highlights a potential VC bubble inflating around frontier AI companies as fundraising intensifies despite shaky fundamentals.

• Reid Riffs on OpenAI’s Transition to a For-Profit, AI in Education, and the Job Market

  • Reid Hoffman explains OpenAI’s shift to a Public Benefit Corporation to align profit and purpose without compromising mission.

  • He examines how AI may revolutionize education delivery while creating fresh challenges for teachers and students alike.

  • Hoffman outlines AI’s dual impact on the job market—displacing roles while enhancing the capacity of those who adapt quickly.

• The AI Revolution Is Underhyped

  • Eric Schmidt argues AI is more underestimated than overhyped, with powerful systems nearing autonomous high-level decision-making.

  • He explores the existential and economic implications of superintelligence, calling for urgent policy frameworks.

  • Schmidt emphasizes human adaptation as essential to thrive alongside AI, comparing the moment to electricity’s arrival.

FUTURISM

• Ukraine-Russia talks begin in Turkey as peace effort gains traction

  • Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are meeting in Istanbul, marking the most significant diplomatic move in months.

  • Turkey is playing mediator, urging both sides to focus on ceasefire terms and reconstruction plans for devastated regions.

  • Early reports indicate limited breakthroughs, but both nations expressed cautious optimism about a potential framework.

• Trump claims $200B UAE deal during Middle East tour

  • Trump announced what he called a $200 billion investment deal with the UAE covering energy, defense, and infrastructure.

  • Critics question the timing and transparency of the deal as Trump continues a global post-presidency influence campaign.

  • Emirati officials have not confirmed the full scope, though some MoUs related to clean tech and AI were acknowledged.

• U.S. to build massive AI data center in Abu Dhabi as part of Middle East deals

  • The U.S. will partner with UAE firms to build one of the world’s largest AI data hubs in Abu Dhabi by 2028.

  • The facility is expected to support advanced LLM training and regional tech collaboration, including semiconductors.

  • It’s one of several projects announced during Trump’s trip to strengthen U.S. commercial ties across the Gulf region.

EXTRAS

• Sam Altman’s goal for ChatGPT to remember your whole life is both exciting and disturbing

  • Sam Altman envisions ChatGPT evolving into a lifelong memory assistant that recalls emails, docs, and daily interactions.

  • While promising for productivity, critics warn that this persistent memory poses major risks around privacy, bias, and autonomy.

  • OpenAI plans to give users control over what’s remembered, but long-term implications remain hotly debated in AI circles.

• Jeff Bezos criticized for meeting with Saudi Crown Prince years after Khashoggi killing

  • Jeff Bezos is facing backlash for high-profile talks with Mohammed bin Salman despite past tensions over Jamal Khashoggi.

  • Critics highlight the inconsistency after Bezos’ phone was reportedly hacked by a Saudi-linked number in 2018.

  • The meeting may signal a renewed Amazon push into the Gulf, particularly in data infrastructure and logistics investments.

• Vibe coding startup Windsurf launches in-house AI models

  • Windsurf is entering the AI model race, debuting tailored LLMs designed for startup-friendly software development workflows.

  • The company says its models outperform GPT-4.1 in structured tasks like integrations, workflows, and CLI-based coding.

  • With investor support and ex-Palantir talent, Windsurf is positioning itself as the dev-first alternative to foundation models.

AND MORE

• TikTok is being charged by the EU over content violations, facing major regulatory penalties.

• Box pivots to AI for smarter file management, building on its storage legacy.

• S&P climbs again, Nasdaq slips on mixed data, continuing Wall Street volatility.

• Playbooks guarantees 20k+ reach in 28 days, or you don’t pay.*

• Using cutting-edge AI, AR, and VR, Elf Labs is bringing Disney icons to life like never before.*

• India debuts AI-driven tanks to replace Soviet fleet, boosting military tech.

• Samsung unveils Polygon, a retro-style foldable phone, blending nostalgia and innovation.

• First patient receives custom CRISPR gene therapy, a breakthrough in medicine.