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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🍏 Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO next year.
🛰️ Amazon renames satellite network Leo, shifting focus away from affordability promise.
💾 Samsung hikes memory chip prices by up to 60% as shortage worsens.
⚔️ Alibaba is helping Chinese military target the U.S., White House memo claims.
⚠️ A spat over Taiwan is threatening China-Japan ties.

TECHNOLOGY

• Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO next year (The Verge)
  ^{_{More: Financial Times, MacRumors, TechCrunch}}

  • Reports say Tim Cook could leave the CEO role next year, with Apple preparing an internal successor.

  • Hardware executive John Ternus is viewed as the leading candidate as leadership responsibilities shift internally.

  • Recent executive changes follow Jeff Williams’ retirement, prompting expanded roles for several high-ranking Apple leaders.

• Amazon renames satellite network Leo, shifting focus away from affordability promise (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, Amazon}}

  • Amazon’s satellite internet program, formerly Project Kuiper, is now called Leo, referencing its low-Earth orbit location.

  • The company shifts focus from underserved communities to securing larger commercial contracts and competing with Starlink.

  • Partnerships with Airbus and JetBlue signal Leo’s strategic move toward mainstream, profitable satellite broadband services.

• Samsung hikes memory chip prices by up to 60% as shortage worsens (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: Investing.com, Tom’s Hardware}}

  • Samsung raised server memory chip prices by 30% to 60%, responding to soaring AI data center demand.

  • Data infrastructure companies face increased costs and supply shortages, potentially affecting servers, computers, and smartphones globally.

  • Shares of Samsung, SK Hynix, and U.S. chipmakers rallied following the announcement of these steep price hikes.

BUSINESS

• Alibaba is helping Chinese military target the U.S., White House memo claims (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: Financial Times, Reuters, Bloomberg}}

  • A White House memo claims Alibaba aids Chinese military operations targeting the United States.

  • Alibaba denies the allegations, stating the reported assertions and implications are entirely false.

  • The company offers cloud services and open-source AI models increasingly used across international markets.

• Trump reverses course as House Republicans prepare to oppose him publicly (Politico)
  ^{_{More: The Guardian, BBC, CNBC}}

  • Trump suddenly supports releasing Epstein records while many House Republicans plan to vote against his earlier stance.

  • Internal GOP conflict intensifies as key lawmakers break ranks, pushing for full disclosure despite leadership pressure.

  • Trump’s association with Epstein fuels political tension, though no evidence currently links him to criminal wrongdoing.

• JPMorgan alleges Charlie Javice misbilled hotels and skincare as legal expenses (The WSJ)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, MSN, AOL}}

  • JPMorgan claims it was charged $142 million in legal expenses tied to Javice and Amar’s defense.

  • The bank alleges Javice’s team billed luxury hotel upgrades, excessive work hours, and cellulite butter as expenses.

  • Javice’s spokesperson says she followed JPMorgan rules and never sought reimbursement for unapproved purchases.

MARKETS

WORLD

• A spat over Taiwan is threatening China-Japan ties (AP)
  ^{_{More: ABC News, Reuters, Bloomberg}}

  • Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi warned a Chinese move against Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response.

  • Her comments, stronger than predecessors, reflect support for Taiwan and accelerated Japanese military spending plans.

  • China strongly condemned Takaichi’s remarks, summoning ambassadors and issuing stern warnings against foreign interference in Taiwan.

• Iran begins cloud seeding as severe water shortage forces widespread rationing (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: NBC News, Yahoo!, CNN}}

  • Iran faces its worst water crisis in decades, leaving taps dry and reservoirs nearly empty.

  • Authorities warn water shortages may worsen, even prompting potential evacuation of Tehran’s ten million residents.

  • Citizens struggle with low water pressure and high costs for pumps and storage tanks.

• Chile’s hard-right leads as presidential runoff approaches amid growing political tensions (AP)
  ^{_{More: ABC News}}

  • Hard-right José Antonio Kast leads Chile’s presidential runoff, appealing to voters concerned about crime and immigration.

  • Left-wing Jeannette Jara narrowly leads first-round votes, focusing on social safety nets and tackling corruption.

  • Chile faces a Dec. 14 runoff, reflecting a regional shift toward conservative political leadership in Latin America.

FUTURISM

• The robotaxi expansion that truly impacts real-world transportation efficiency today (TechCrunch)

  • Waymo is expanding freeway operations across major cities, enabling broader service reach and significantly improved routing efficiency.

  • Freeway use reduces robotaxi travel times by up to half and supports airport trips currently under testing.

  • Expanded freeway access strengthens Waymo’s regional footprint, yet its long-term financial viability remains uncertain without transparent data.

• Amazon renames satellite network Leo, shifting focus away from affordability promise (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!}}

  • Amazon’s satellite internet program, formerly Project Kuiper, is now called Leo, referencing its low-Earth orbit location.

  • The company shifts focus from underserved communities to securing larger commercial contracts and competing with Starlink.

  • Partnerships with Airbus and JetBlue signal Leo’s strategic move toward mainstream, profitable satellite broadband services.

• How much AI data center growth can realistically depend on renewable energy? (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!}}

  • Global data-center spending may reach $580 billion this year, surpassing investment in new oil exploration.

  • AI-driven data centers risk straining power grids, though solar adoption could rise due to easier permitting.

  • Tech giants plan enormous data-center investments, with OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic committing significant long-term funding.

CONTENT

• The godmother of AI discusses jobs, robots, and the rise of world models (Lenny's Podcast)

  • Fei-Fei Li explains how ImageNet catalyzed the deep-learning revolution and modern AI explosion.

  • She highlights world models and spatial intelligence as the next frontier beyond large language models.

  • Li emphasizes AI won’t replace humans, but requires responsible human participation across all fields.

• Live conversation with Ben Stiller explores themes from Notes on Being a Man (The Prof G Pod)

  • Ben Stiller and Scott Galloway discuss modern masculinity, fatherhood, friendship, purpose, and building meaningful connections.

  • They explore controversial mentoring, evolving masculinity, and challenges men face in the digital age.

  • The conversation covers personal experiences, empathy, marriage, and the impact of fathers on daughters.

• Ryan Petersen discusses how AI is transforming and automating the logistics industry (Y Combinator)

  • Ryan Petersen explains how AI reduces costs, speeds global trade, and automates logistics previously done manually.

  • Flexport’s internal AI projects and hackathons have driven significant improvements in efficiency and operational workflows.

  • AI’s adoption in logistics raises broader philosophical and structural questions for companies and society.

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EXTRAS

• Gulf’s Arada acquires London waterfront plot to build 5,000 homes (Bloomberg)

  • Arada bought an 80% stake in London’s Thameside West for £225 million, planning mixed-use development.

  • The project will add at least 5,000 homes, along with schools, parks, shops, and transport links.

  • London developer Keystone retains 20% stake, while Arada will invest an additional £100 million in equity.

• Mike Pompeo joins Ukraine defense company amid scrutiny over missile expansion plans (AP)

  • Mike Pompeo becomes adviser to Ukraine’s Fire Point, known for long-range drones and military capabilities.

  • Fire Point plans to expand production, including cruise missiles, and build a new factory in Denmark.

  • Company faces corruption investigation, with critics questioning opaque origins and ties to Zelenskyy’s associate Tymur Mindich.

• Nigo’s Human Made prices Tokyo IPO at top end, raising significant capital (Bloomberg)

  • Human Made, founded by Nigo, priced its Tokyo IPO at the top of its marketed range.

  • Shares sold at ¥3,130 each, raising ¥17.8 billion ($115 million) from existing and new shareholders.

  • IPO proceeds will fund new Japanese stores and expand the company’s e-commerce operations.

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AND MORE

• Beloved San Francisco cat’s death sparks renewed criticism of Waymo operations.

• Paul Singer joins hedge fund sector, taking on higher-stakes investment.

• Jury rules Apple must pay Masimo $634 million for patent infringement.

• Our new report shows how top U.S. firms are escaping the H-1B chaos through smarter, faster, borderless hiring.*

• Buy Now, Pay Later expands rapidly, worrying consumers and regulators.

• Bitcoin shocks Wall Street after experiencing a massive $600 billion plunge.

• Disney and YouTube TV reach deal, ending blackout dispute.

• South Korean plastic makers advance integration efforts.