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

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

🤖 OpenAI debuts GPT-5-Codex, boosting coding benchmarks and review accuracy.
📱 Apple rolls out iOS 26 with Liquid Glass design and AI features.
🚗 Musk buys $1B Tesla stock, lifting shares amid robotics ambitions.
🌍 Poland calls for a NATO-backed no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace.
⚖️ Penske sues Google, alleging AI Overviews steal traffic and revenue.

TECHNOLOGY

• OpenAI upgrades Codex with a new version of GPT-5

  • GPT-5-Codex outperforms GPT-5 on agentic coding benchmarks, especially SWE-bench Verified and code refactoring tasks.

  • It adapts its reasoning time dynamically based on task complexity without relying on a router under the hood.

  • Code review comments are more accurate, high-impact, and have fewer incorrect suggestions, boosting confidence among software users.

• iOS 26 and related OS updates are now available with major design & AI enhancements

  • Apple released iOS 26 suite featuring ‘Liquid Glass’ design, live translation, visual intelligence, and a refreshed interface across devices.

  • OS updates compatible with iPhone 11 and newer; updates free; includes multitasking, adaptive widgets, spam filtering enhancements.

  • Users gain Apple Intelligence features: translation across calls, apps, visual recognition, Workout Buddy on watchOS, greater consistency.

• Apple, Google, and Meta push toward universal real-time translation tools

  • Major tech firms accelerate development of universal translation tools that work live in calls, messages, and video chats.

  • These tools aim for a seamless user experience across languages such as English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and more.

  • On-device processing is emphasized to preserve privacy while reducing reliance on cloud server translation.

BUSINESS

• China says Nvidia violated anti-monopoly law after initial probe

  • China’s regulator found Nvidia breached anti-monopoly rules tied to its 2020 Mellanox acquisition, per preliminary investigation.

  • Violations could result in fines between 1 and 10% of annual revenues under Chinese antitrust law.

  • Nvidia shares dipped on the news; it relies heavily on Chinese market revenue, making the probe strategically significant.

• Tesla stock turns positive for 2025 as Elon Musk buys about $1B of shares

  • Elon Musk acquired roughly $1 billion of Tesla stock (2.57 million shares), lifting its stock into positive territory.

  • Shares jumped ~5-8%, marking a recovery amid EV demand concerns and a buildup toward broader AI/robotics ambitions.

  • The move is seen as a confidence vote from Musk and the board, also amid discussions of a massive compensation package.

• U.S. and China reach framework deal allowing TikTok to keep operating in the U.S.

  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said TikTok, which was threatened with a U.S. ban, will now run under a new framework deal.

  • China dropped certain demands tied to divestiture or tariff concessions; the framework preserves national security oversight.

  • Final terms still under negotiation; deal delays enforcement of prior legislation demanding TikTok be sold or shut.

• The gap between AI ambition and real outcomes comes down to hiring*

  • Athyna bridges that gap—with top-tier AI/ML professionals sourced from emerging markets and vetted for excellence.

  • They deliver candidates in under 5 days and support the entire process: brief, onboarding, contracts, and beyond.

  • Just scalable, enterprise-grade hiring built for serious AI teams that need to move now.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Poland calls for a NATO-backed no-fly zone over Ukraine

  • Polish Foreign Minister urges NATO allies to enforce a no-fly zone protecting Ukraine and European airspace from Russian drones.

  • Recent Russian drone incursions into Poland and Romania prompted demands for stronger joint air defense and interception capability.

  • Allies remain reluctant, citing concerns about escalating the war and triggering direct military confrontation with Russia.

• Qatar hosts Arab and Muslim summit condemning Israeli strikes

  • Over 50 Arab and Muslim nations gathered in Doha to denounce Israeli airstrikes in Qatar, calling them egregious violations.

  • The summit’s communique accused Israel of ethnic cleansing, ‘genocide,’ and hampering humanitarian access amid the Gaza conflict.

  • Although condemnation was strong, no consensus on sanctions, reflecting divisions within the coalition and fear of confrontation.

• Long-term unemployment hits a post-pandemic high, including recent college graduates

  • Over 1.9 million Americans have been jobless for 27 weeks or more, a figure that’s doubled since early 2023.

  • Long-term unemployment now disproportionately affects recent college grads, older workers, and those in declining industries.

  • Survey data shows skills erosion, diminished confidence, and delayed career starts contributing heavily to extended joblessness risks.

FUTURISM

• Anthropic Economic Index report: Uneven geographic and enterprise AI adoption

  • AI adoption doubled in two years, with 40% of U.S. workers now using Claude regularly at work.

  • Wealthier countries and states lead usage, while rural and lower-income regions remain significantly underrepresented in adoption.

  • Directive automation surged to 39% overall, reaching 77% among enterprise users as workflows become increasingly AI-driven.

• Penske Media sues Google over AI summaries

  • Penske claims Google’s AI Overviews use its content without consent, diverting traffic and threatening advertising revenue.

  • About 20% of searches now show summaries above original links, significantly reducing site visits for publisher properties.

  • Penske is seeking damages and new rules requiring payment or licensing for AI-generated content summaries.

• The 9 most sought-after startups from YC Demo Day

  • Investors showed the strongest demand for startups in AI agents, developer tools, and verticalized industry software solutions.

  • Several companies gained attention for early traction, clear business models, and differentiated technical advantages over incumbents.

  • Rankings highlight continued investor appetite for AI-driven automation, infrastructure scalability, and real-world enterprise applications.

CONTENT

• What Vibe Coders Wish They Knew Sooner

  • Cody Schneider outlines a playbook for scaling customer acquisition by partnering with 100+ YouTube creators.

  • The strategy uses three-video packages plus affiliate commissions to test, then retain high-performing creators monthly.

  • Smaller creators are often underpriced, enabling efficient ROI tracking and scalable growth through repeat outreach cycles.

• $30B Founder: Google Traffic Dropped 40%. Do THIS Instead

  • Dharmesh Shah explains shifting from traditional SEO to AI Engine Optimization (AEO) to appear in chatbot responses.

  • Steps include enabling crawlers, restructuring content as Q&A, and building structured catalogues with white-hat linking.

  • The future of visibility is ChatGPT-style rankings, requiring tailored strategies to secure traffic and customer acquisition.

• Mercor CEO Brendan Foody: How They Grew from $1M to $500M in 17 Months

  • Mercor scaled explosively by solving AI talent allocation, jumping from $1M to $500M revenue in under two years.

  • Investors now value the company at $10B, with Benchmark, Felicis, and Emergence backing its hyper-growth journey.

  • CEO Brendan Foody credits a relentless work culture, rapid scaling strategies, and differentiation in crowded AI markets.

EXTRAS

• Austrian nuns defy orders, return to convent after forced care home move

  • Three elderly nuns escaped a nursing home and returned to their old convent, insisting removal was forced.

  • They now live without full utilities but receive support from former students and residents.

  • Municipal authorities debate health concerns; the nuns maintain their dignity and autonomy in old age.

• UK couple jailed for killing baby daughter after going off-grid in winter

  • Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were sentenced to 14 years for gross negligence after the newborn died while living in a tent.

  • They fled social services, tried to conceal the birth, and avoided assistance while caring for four other children.

  • The court ruled their conduct selfish and neglectful, prioritizing evasion over basic child welfare protections.

• Gaza hostage meeting disrupted by strikes, sources say

  • An Israeli airstrike reportedly interrupted a meeting intended to negotiate the release of hostages in Gaza.

  • Diplomats assessing damage to trust; families demand clearer ceasefire protocols before further talks resume.

  • The incident exposes the fragility of humanitarian corridors amid escalating conflict and civilian displacement.

AND MORE

• Global stocks edge up as dollar and bond yields rise ahead of Fed meeting.

• U.S. and Ukraine scout investment projects under minerals deal, accelerating economic recovery.

• UK and U.S. set to sign multibillion-dollar tech pact during Trump’s upcoming visit.

• Memo readers don’t just scroll—they act. They forward, they buy, they share. Let’s put your brand in that flow.*

• U.N. condemns massacre in Haiti, where over 40 people were killed in a gang attack.

• Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian march in Auckland, largest since Gaza war outbreak.

• White House renames its Defense Directorate to War Directorate following Pentagon rebrand.

• An explosion in a Madrid cafe injures 21 people, three seriously; the cause is unknown.