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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🎨 Google launches AI Whisk to transform image-based creative projects.
🗳️ EU probes TikTok’s role in Romanian election interference.
🎥 YouTube cracks down on clickbait titles in India for better content quality.
💸 Grubhub settles $25M lawsuit over deceptive practices against users.
🔒 U.S. considers banning TP-Link routers tied to cybersecurity concerns.

TECH

• Google debuts AI Whisk

  • Google's Whisk AI now supports image-to-image prompting, allowing users to remix photos for creative projects.

  • This feature combines text inputs with visual prompts to generate unique outputs, aiming to enhance artistic and design workflows.

  • Whisk's advanced capabilities position Google as a strong competitor in the generative AI creative space.

• Apple Maps expands web version with Google Maps like feature

  • Apple Maps now offers Look Around on its web version, providing users with interactive street-level views.

  • The feature, previously exclusive to Apple devices, is designed to improve cross-platform accessibility for Apple Maps.

  • This update strengthens Apple's position against competitors like Google Maps by expanding user options.

• YouTube to crack down on clickbait titles in India

  • YouTube announces plans to penalize clickbait titles in India, targeting misleading and sensational content.

  • Creators whose videos fail to meet authenticity standards risk reduced visibility and monetization.

  • The move reflects YouTube's effort to enhance content quality and address user concerns over misleading media.

BUSINESS

• Supreme Court agrees to hear challenge to TikTok ban

  • Supreme Court will make decisions on January 10 regarding a new law mandating ByteDance divest from TikTok.

  • TikTok argues the law violates its First Amendment rights, citing unfair targeting.

  • The ban, if upheld, could take effect on January 19, 2025.

• Grubhub to pay $25 million for deceptive practices against customers

  • Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission over unlawful practices.

  • The $25 million settlement includes $24.8 million in restitution and $200,000 for enforcement.

  • The company denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid further disputes.

• Uber and its CEO donate $1M each to Trump’s inaugural fund

  • Uber and Dara Khosrowshahi each donated $1M, marking the CEO’s largest political contribution.

  • Other tech leaders, including Meta and OpenAI, have also pledged $1M donations to Trump’s fund.

  • Donations reflect efforts by companies to build relationships with the incoming administration amidst reported perks for top contributors.

CONTENT

• The #1 Most Underrated Quality in an Entrepreneur

  • Sam Parr and Shaan Puri discuss how personal drive and resilience can give founders an unfair advantage.

  • They explore examples like revenge-driven businesses and ruthless private equity rollups.

  • Topics include Bill Ackman’s critique of Harvard and a $500M YouTube University idea.

• Sora Disappoints, ChatGPT Pro Tested & More

  • Jason Calacanis and Sunny Madra dive into ChatGPT Pro's limitations and Google Gemini's competitive edge.

  • Discussion includes AI model performance, infrastructure costs, and Meta’s Llama 3.370b launch.

  • They evaluate the importance of prompt engineering and challenges in workplace AI adoption.

• What Happened to Apple!? Here's Why iOS 18.2 is Broken!

  • The All-In Podcast explores user frustrations with Apple's iOS 18.2, from crashing apps to hardware integration issues.

  • They critique Apple’s lack of a clear strategy in AI and its declining user experience standards.

  • The hosts analyze organizational decay and the challenges of maintaining vertical integration advantages.

WORLD

• EU opens TikTok investigation over Romanian election

  • TikTok faces an EU probe after allegations of spreading disinformation during Romania's recent election.

  • Investigators are examining whether TikTok violated EU laws on content moderation and election interference.

  • TikTok denies wrongdoing, pledging full cooperation with regulators.

• Russia detains Uzbek man over general's killing in Moscow

  • Russian authorities arrested a 29-year-old Uzbek man, accusing him of assassinating Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov in a scooter bombing.

  • Investigators allege Ukrainian special services recruited the suspect, though no public evidence supports the claim.

  • Ukraine previously charged Kirillov with war crimes and claimed responsibility for the attack, citing alleged use of chemical weapons.

• U.S. Weighs Ban on Chinese-Made Router in Millions of American Homes

  • U.S. agencies are investigating TP-Link routers, widely used in homes, over security concerns linked to Chinese cyberattacks.

  • Microsoft analysis revealed TP-Link routers were exploited by Chinese hackers, prompting probes into security flaws and compliance.

  • If banned, it could be the largest removal of Chinese telecom equipment since Huawei's 2019 exclusion.

AND MORE…

• Flipboard's New 'Surf' App for the Social Web

  • Flipboard unveils 'Surf,' an app integrating feeds from ActivityPub, AT Protocol, and RSS in a unified platform.

  • Surf offers curated feed discovery with a visual format but lacks interactive features, which are under development.

  • Positioned as a bridge for the decentralized social web, enhancing user content exploration.

• Microsoft Bought Nearly 500,000 Nvidia Hopper Chips This Year

  • Microsoft acquired 485,000 Nvidia Hopper chips in 2024, more than twice the amount purchased by rivals like Meta.

  • The tech giant also tripled its Nvidia chip purchases compared to 2023 while developing its custom AI chip, Maia.

  • Recent moves include deepening ties with OpenAI and securing nuclear power to fuel AI-driven data centers.

• Earliest Christian Inscription Found North of the Alps

  • Archaeologists in Frankfurt discover a 3rd-century silver amulet inscribed with a Christian faith declaration.

  • Predates previous evidence of Christianity in the region, challenging established historical timelines.

  • Highlights the early spread of Christianity beyond the Roman Empire's traditional territories.