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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🌍 Meta to fight EU regulation using Trump.
📦 Amazon workers reject North Carolina Union.
🚀 Google AI studio replaces your AI tech stack.
🔥 Russia's Ukraine advance slows amid challenges.
🎮 Nintendo DS Drastic emulator is gone from Google Play.

TECH

• Meta fights EU rules using Trump

  • Meta plans to leverage Trump’s support to challenge the EU’s Digital Markets Act, arguing it unfairly targets U.S. tech giants.

  • The company may seek support from Trump’s administration, claiming the regulations unfairly target U.S. tech firms.

  • Meta’s policy chief, Joel Kaplan, signaled potential political intervention as it disproportionately affects Meta.

• YouTube TV keeps Paramount content

  • “Members, we’re happy to share that we’ve reached a deal to continue carrying Paramount content on YouTube TV,” the streaming platform said.

  • This deal ensures that subscribers will retain access to popular channels as well as add-on services like Paramount+.

  • YouTube TV has previously lost other channels that sports fans crave, most notably MLB network.

• Match uses AI to improve dating

  • Online dating group is using the technology to detect ‘off-colour’ messages, says safety chief Yoel Roth.

  • Online dating company Match Group is seeking to solve an age-old problem with romance: how to get men to behave better.

  • Match Group is using AI to detect and prevent abusive or overly sexual messages, encouraging better behavior online.

BUSINESS

• Amazon workers reject North Carolina Union

  • Workers at Amazon's warehouse in Garner, North Carolina, have voted against forming a union, with approximately 75% opposing the move.

  • This outcome is a significant victory for Amazon, which has consistently resisted unionization efforts across its U.S. facilities.

  • The National Labor Relations Board announced that out of 4,300 workers, 2,447 voted against unionization, while 829 supported it.

• 80,421 founders, investors and leaders read this*

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

  • Ok, we cannot actually prove that, but we think it’s about right. What we do know is that 50k+ readers from Google, TikTok, OpenAI and Deel love our deep dive business content.

  • Subscribe here to see what it’s all about.

• Insignia's $2B takeover bids due

  • Insignia Financial Ltd. has set a deadline for binding takeover offers by the end of February, with private equity firms.

  • Bain Capital has enlisted former Insignia CEO Renato Mota and ex-MLC head Geoff Lloyd to strengthen its bid.

  • Insignia, managing approximately $327B in funds, is expected to report its interim earnings on February 20.

• Potential Intel breakup explored by Broadcom and TSMC

  • Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. TSMC are reportedly considering deals that could split Intel into separate entities.

  • Broadcom is interested acquiring Intel's chip-design and marketing divisions, potentially partnering with another manufacturing operations.

  • TSMC is exploring the possibility of taking control of Intel's chip manufacturing plants, possibly through an investor consortium.

CONTENT

• Google AI studio replaces your AI tech stack

  • Logan Kilpatrick, lead PM for Google's AI Studio, provides a comprehensive demonstration of Google's Gemini models.

  • The presentation covers various features including long-context processing, reasoning models, and real-time AI interactions.

  • The discussion emphasizes the platform's accessibility with free API access and tools for building AI-powered applications.

• A founder’s guide to crisis management

  • Uri Levine is a co-founder of Waze, also been on 20 boards and has been an advisor to over 50 startups.

  • He shares insights from his recently released book ‘Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution.’

  • Levine provides strategies for keeping teams motivated in difficult times and offers a framework for deciding when to pivot.

• Solly Solomou on LADbible, Media, and Business

  • LADbible founder Solly Solomou shares how he built the media giant from a printer shop office with no money or experience.

  • Solly explains why he avoided external funding and offers three key lessons for young entrepreneurs.

  • Solly contrasts doing business in the U.S. vs. Europe, why he took LADbible public in London and the challenges.

WORLD

• Russia's Ukraine advance slows amid challenges

  • Russia's military progress in Ukraine has decelerated due to increased Ukrainian resistance, and effective use of explosive drones.

  • The average time for Russian forces to occupy new areas has risen, with daily casualties mounting.

  • Ukraine's strategic deployment of drones has disrupted Russian advances, leading to heavy equipment and personnel losses for Russia.

• Iraq banks banned from dollar transactions

  • Iraq's central bank will prohibit five additional local banks from conducting U.S. dollar transactions.

  • This move is part of ongoing efforts to curb money laundering and illicit financial activities.

  • This decision follows meetings in Dubai between Iraqi officials and U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve representatives.

• Stable Yuan vital for global stability says China’s central bank governor

  • China's central bank governor, Pan Gongsheng, emphasized the importance of a stable yuan for global financial and economic stability.

  • He noted that despite market volatility and a strengthening U.S. dollar, the yuan has remained largely stable.

  • Pan reiterated China's commitment to allowing market forces to play a decisive role in determining the exchange rate.

AND MORE…

• Nintendo DS Drastic emulator is gone from Google Play

  • The popular Nintendo DS emulator, DraStic, has been removed from the Google Play Store.

  • While the exact reason remains unclear, it's believed that the developer, Exophase, initiated the removal.

  • Previously, Exophase made DraStic free and announced plans to open-source its code, though this hasn't occurred yet.

• Apple and Meta compete over robots

  • Apple and Meta are intensifying their competition by venturing into the development of AI-powered humanoid robots.

  • Meta has established a new division within its Reality Labs, led by Marc Whitten, to focus on creating humanoid robots with household tasks.

  • Apple is exploring robotics with research into both humanoid and non-humanoid robots for future smart home ecosystems.

• Uber sues DoorDash alleging anti-competitive tactics

  • Uber Technologies has filed a lawsuit against DoorDash, alleging anticompetitive practices that increase costs.

  • The suit claims DoorDash coerces restaurants into exclusive delivery agreements by threatening higher commission rates.

  • DoorDash denies the allegations, asserting that Uber's claims are unfounded and stem from their inability to compete effectively.