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

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

📱 WhatsApp to display ads in Status tab, adds channel subscriptions.
💰 Trump Mobile unveils U.S.-made gold phone with $47 monthly plan.
👗 Alta raises $11M to build an AI-powered fashion stylist app.
🛍️ TikTok pilots AI-driven product placements inside creator videos.
🤖 Skild AI secures $4.5B to build a robotics ‘brain’ platform.

TECHNOLOGY

• WhatsApp to Show Ads in Status Tab, Begin Channel Subscriptions

  • WhatsApp will begin showing ads in the Status tab only, while private chats remain ad-free and fully encrypted.

  • Ad targeting will rely on metadata like language and location, not message content, to preserve user privacy.

  • Channels will add monetization tools like paid subscriptions and promoted placements for creators and businesses.

• Instagram Tests Repost Feature for Feed Resharing

  • Instagram is testing a repost button that lets users reshare posts from others and themselves directly to their feed.

  • The feature is meant to boost content visibility and give creators credit for viral resharing across the platform.

  • There’s no launch timeline yet, and the move may spark criticism given Instagram’s already cluttered interface.

• Alta Raises $11M to Build AI 'Clueless'-Style Fashion Stylist

  • Alta secured $11 million to develop an AI-powered personal stylist that curates outfits using user-uploaded wardrobes.

  • The app creates digital avatars and mix-and-match suggestions based on photos, receipts, or a shared fashion database.

  • Investors include fashion insiders and tech leaders, aiming to bring a ‘Clueless’ virtual closet experience to life.

BUSINESS

• Trump Mobile Launches New U.S‑Made Phone Service With Gold 'T1' Handset

  • Trump Organization is rolling out ‘Trump Mobile’ in August, featuring a $499 gold T1 smartphone made in the U.S.

  • Monthly ‘47 Plan’ costs $47.45 and includes unlimited talk, text, data, telehealth, roadside assistance, and international calls.

  • Service uses AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon networks under MVNO licensing, managed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

• Amex Plans Largest Ever Upgrade to Platinum Credit Card

  • American Express says it will make the ‘largest investment ever’ in its US consumer and business Platinum cards later this year.

  • Expect enhanced travel, dining, lifestyle benefits, updated card aesthetics, and expanded global lounge access for members.

  • The Platinum card currently carries a $695 annual fee with existing hotel credits, balancing value with a premium user base.

• Aspora Raises $50M to Build Remittance Banking for Indian Diaspora

  • Aspora secured $50 million led by Sequoia to offer remittance and banking services to non-resident Indians.

  • The fintech grew from $400 million to $2 billion in annual remittance volume and now targets broader financial products.

  • Funds will support deeper market reach, enhanced user experience, and additional banking services tailored to the diaspora.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Iran Threatens to Leave Nuclear Weapons Treaty as Israeli Bombing Enters Fourth Day

  • Israel ordered the evacuation of over 300,000 in Tehran amid massive strikes hitting nuclear, energy, and military infrastructure.

  • Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Tel Aviv and Haifa, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties on both sides.

  • Iranian parliament is preparing a bill to withdraw from the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty in response to sustained Israeli strikes.

• USA Implements New Travel Ban on Iran and 11 Other Countries

  • A new executive order bans entry from 12 countries, including Iran, citing national security and foreign‑terrorist threat assessments.

  • Restrictions affect tourist, student, and business visas, with exceptions for persecuted individuals under special immigrant provisions.

  • The travel ban aligns with broader hardline policies, drawing criticism from civil liberties advocates and immigrant communities.

• Trump Skips G7 de‑escalation

  • President Trump declined to sign the G7’s joint statement on de‑escalation, citing his own stance and criticizing the pact.

  • At the summit, he called for the immediate evacuation of Tehran, warning Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.

  • Trump left the G7 early, signaling U.S. priorities shifting toward supporting Israel and containing Iran’s nuclear potential.

CONTENT

• How to Build a Team That Can Take a Punch

  • Hilary Gridley shares how product leaders can build teams resilient to failure by reframing setbacks as learning moments.

  • She explains tactics like ‘magic questions,’ behavioral strategies, and WHOOP’s use of AI to drive habit formation.

  • The episode explores leadership, creativity, and aligning with CEOs, while emphasizing you're not the protagonist at work.

• Godfather of AI: I Tried to Warn Them, But We’ve Already Lost Control!

  • Geoffrey Hinton warns there’s a 20% chance AI could lead to human extinction through cyberattacks, weaponization, or misinformation.

  • He expresses regret over helping develop AI, citing a lack of global readiness and coordinated regulation.

  • The conversation spans AI safety, superintelligence, societal risks, and Hinton’s emotional reflections on leaving Google.

• Countdown to Superintelligence | Sam Harris & Daniel Kokotajlo

  • Sam Harris and Daniel Kokotajlo discuss the path to superintelligent AI, deception risks, and how we’ll recognize its arrival.

  • Topics include economic upheaval, alignment challenges, and government regulation of high-stakes AI systems.

  • Kokotajlo shares insights from his ‘AI 2027’ forecast, including scaling trends, safety testing, and existential implications.

FUTURISM

• Humanoid Robot Development Seen as Vital to the Future of Manufacturing

  • Industry leaders see humanoid robots as a cornerstone for future factories, thanks to AI-enhanced adaptability and safety.

  • Robots offer flexibility beyond traditional production lines, enabling collaboration in healthcare, logistics, and more diverse industries.

  • Experts warn that to maintain competitiveness, nations and companies must invest now in robotics strategy and infrastructure.

• Nvidia and Samsung Back $4.5B Skild AI to Power Physical‑AI Revolution

  • Skild AI raised around $4.5 billion in Series B led by SoftBank, Nvidia, Samsung, and Bezos to build its physical‑AI ‘robot brain.’

  • The round highlights the strategic shift toward robotics hardware and software integration, aiming to automate complex real-world tasks.

  • Backers call the investment a transformative bet on physical‑AI’s potential to redefine manufacturing and service sectors worldwide.

• Robots Step into the Ring in First‑Ever Boxing Match in China

  • In Hangzhou, four human‑operated Unitree G1 bots battled in a tournament dubbed ‘Iron Fist King: Awakening!’ with knockouts.

  • Matches tested real‑time reaction, movement, and resilience, offering live insights into advanced robotics combat capability.

  • The spectacle drew crowds and signalled growing global interest in competitive robot events and real-world performance demos.

EXTRAS

• TikTok Tests AI-Powered Product Placement in Ad Videos

  • TikTok is experimenting with AI to dynamically insert products into users’ videos, blending ads into everyday content.

  • The feature could allow users to virtually try on items like sunglasses or watches directly within short clips.

  • Early tests aim to boost creator monetization and offer seamless shopping experiences without disrupting video flow.

• Google Plans to Cut Ties With Scale AI

  • Google is reportedly ending its partnership with Scale AI amid concerns about quality control and data reliability.

  • The move reflects shifting priorities toward developing internal AI tools rather than relying on third-party providers.

  • Staff affected by the split may be absorbed into other Google AI teams or face redeployment efforts.

• Threads Tests Hidden Spoiler Tags on Posts

  • Threads is trialing a spoiler feature that hides user posts behind a blur, revealing content only after a click.

  • The option appeals to communities sharing plot details for TV shows, games, and books, reducing unintended reveals.

  • The test rollout is limited but may expand if engagement data shows improved user satisfaction and control.

AND MORE

• Trump Media’s crypto ETF underscores DJT’s pivot toward financial market influence.

• Start your online business for free with Shopify. Don’t just build a website—launch a whole brand.*

• New AI model aids hurricane forecasting with improved accuracy and earlier predictions.

• Bitcoin holds above $106K amid Solana and Hyperliquid jumps.

• XRP, Ethereum, and Bitcoin bounce back despite intensifying global political uncertainty.

• Public firms now consider Bitcoin treasury strategies to hedge inflation and diversify balance sheets.

• Coco Robotics lands $80M to scale real-world AI in last‑mile delivery.

• Skip the frustration of unreliable virtual assistants and hire real professionals.*