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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🇺🇸 Biden proposes stricter oversight and U.S. data storage to keep TikTok running.
🌐 Mark Cuban supports Bluesky’s TikTok alternative with decentralized control.
🤖 NVIDIA launches tools to accelerate AI adoption in enterprises.
🔥 FDA pushes to ban Red Dye No. 3 over cancer risks in food.
🇬🇧 UK opens child exploitation probes after Musk’s criticism of inaction.

TECH

• Mark Cuban Ready to Fund TikTok Alternative on Bluesky's AT Protocol

  • Cuban is exploring a decentralized social media alternative to TikTok, built on Bluesky's AT Protocol.

  • Bluesky, initiated by Jack Dorsey, promotes decentralization to resist centralized control and empower users.

  • Efforts like ‘Free Our Feeds’ aim to shape the platform into an open, user-driven social media ecosystem.

• NVIDIA Releases Tools to Push AI Agent Adoption in Enterprises

  • NVIDIA launches tools designed to simplify AI integration for enterprises, streamlining deployment processes.

  • The suite includes features that enhance AI's accessibility and functionality across diverse industries.

  • This move solidifies NVIDIA's leadership in advancing practical, scalable AI solutions globally.

• Nintendo Switch 2 Announced with New Features

  • The Switch 2 debuts with larger dimensions, magnetic Joy-Cons, and improved controllers with a mouse-like design.

  • It features a USB-C port, U-shaped kickstand, and backward compatibility with existing Switch games.

  • A new Mario Kart game was teased; further details and public demos are set for April 2025.

BUSINESS

• UK Announces Child Rape Gang Probes After Musk's Pressure

  • UK government launches probes into child exploitation gangs after Elon Musk’s social media criticism of lackluster government action.

  • The investigations aim to address systemic failures in law enforcement and safeguard vulnerable children.

  • Prime Minister's office confirms new task forces to be implemented in high-risk areas across England.

• FDA Proposes Ban on Red Dye No. 3 Over Cancer Risks

  • Red Dye No. 3, linked to thyroid cancer in animals, faces removal from foods decades after its cosmetic ban.

  • The proposed regulation could force brands to adopt safer, natural coloring alternatives across U.S. products.

  • If implemented, the ban signals a stricter FDA focus on long-term health risks in food additives.

• TikTok Users Flock to Chinese App Rednote, Raising Concerns

  • With TikTok facing regulatory scrutiny, many users are moving to Rednote, creating tension with Beijing’s censors.

  • Rednote’s rapid growth highlights challenges for Chinese platforms balancing creativity and government oversight.

  • The app's success reflects user demands for freedom but complicates China's approach to tech and content policies.

CONTENT

• 7 strangers who made the greatest investment of all time

  • Sam Parr and Shaan Puri explore the lives of seven individuals, including Andy Bechtolsheim and Jeff Bezos.

  • They analyze the strategies and circumstances behind these pivotal investments, offering lessons on seizing opportunities.

  • The episode also features insights into the power of early-stage investment and its life-changing outcomes.

• How to break out of autopilot and create the life you want

  • Graham Weaver shares strategies from his Stanford GSB course on finding purpose and overcoming limiting beliefs.

  • Key exercises like the ‘genie methodology’ and the ‘nine lives’ exercise help in exploring life possibilities.

  • He emphasizes why procrastination often masks fear and why embracing suffering leads to worthwhile achievements.

• Salesforce founder Marc Benioff on AI agents and their future impact

  • Marc Benioff discusses how AI agents will complement human labor and transform industries, highlighting Salesforce’s innovation.

  • The conversation covers AI's role in reshaping jobs, energy solutions for AI, and advancements in humanoid robotics.

  • Benioff reflects on the societal implications of AI, emphasizing equality, sustainability, and ethical leadership in the tech era.

WORLD

• Biden Administration Pushes to Keep TikTok Available in the U.S.

  • Officials are exploring U.S.-based data storage and stricter oversight of ByteDance to avoid a full ban.

  • The approach aims to address national security and privacy concerns while keeping TikTok’s U.S. users engaged.

  • Biden faces bipartisan pressure to regulate or ban foreign-owned apps but prefers a balanced approach.

• Russia Intensifies Strikes in Ukraine as Trump Prepares for Inauguration

  • Russia escalates airstrikes ahead of Trump’s inauguration, targeting key infrastructure in Kyiv and eastern regions.

  • Ukrainian officials condemn the attacks, calling for stronger NATO support amid ongoing international peace talks.

  • US President-elect Trump reiterates his plans to reassess NATO commitments, raising concerns about the West's stance on Ukraine.

• South Korean Court Rejects Release Petition for Impeached President

  • The court denied President Yoon Suk Yeol's lawyers' request to release him, following his detention over last month's martial law declaration.

  • Yoon, impeached on December 14, faces investigation into claims of attempted rebellion after deploying troops to break legislative gridlock.

  • Anti-corruption agencies and police may seek his formal arrest, while Yoon’s defense contests the legality of his detention.

AND MORE…

• OpenAI’s AI Reasoning Model 'Thinks' in Chinese Sometimes

  • The o1 reasoning model sometimes processes in various languages, including Chinese, puzzling researchers.

  • Experts suggest data labeling biases or efficiency-driven associations during training might explain the model’s behavior.

  • This anomaly highlights the complexities of AI transparency, with calls for clearer insights into model training and decision-making.

• Wall Street Banks Report Record Quarter, Anticipate Continued Boom

  • American banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley posted record-breaking Q4 revenues, driven by trading surges.

  • CEOs foresee a robust 2025, citing improved corporate confidence and regulatory changes as drivers for M&A and IPO activities.

  • Morgan Stanley’s deal pipeline is its strongest in a decade, with banks expecting high-margin deals to fuel broader capital markets growth.

• iOS 18.3 temporarily disables Apple Intelligence notification summaries

  • Apple released iOS 18.3 beta 3, addressing issues with notification summaries after complaints from news outlets like the BBC.

  • Changes include better labeling of summaries as beta features and allowing users to disable them directly from the Lock Screen.

  • Notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily disabled but will return in a future update as Apple refines the feature.