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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

📱 Tiktok is back thanks to Trump, while his he and family launch multiple meme coins.
💡 The aspiring $110B energy company banking on Trump’s return.
🚀 Scaling Success: Insights from Altos and startups redefining industries.
🌍 As truce takes hold Gazans and Israelis express elation tinged with doubt.
🤖 AI isn’t very good at history, new paper finds.

TECH

• TikTok is back thanks to Trump

  • On January 19, 2025, TikTok announced it is "in the process of restoring service" to its U.S. users after a temporary shutdown.

  • This decision follows President Donald Trump announced his plans to issue an executive order to reinstate TikTok's operations in the U.S.

  • TikTok expressed gratitude to Trump for his support and indicated plans to collaborate on a long-term solution to maintain its U.S. operations.

• Instagram announces a blatant CapCut clone

  • Instagram has announced the launch of a new video editing application called Edits.

  • Set to be available on the iOS App Store starting March 13, 2025, Edits aims to provide creators with a comprehensive suite of creative tools.

  • While Edits draws parallels with CapCut, Instagram head Adam Mosseri says it offers a broader range of tools and caters to a different audience.

• AI benchmarking organization criticized for waiting to disclose funding from OpenAI

  • An AI benchmarking organization has faced criticism for delaying the disclosure of its funding from OpenAI.

  • The lack of transparency has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the impartiality of the organization's evaluations.

  • This highlights the importance of timely and transparent funding disclosures to maintain trust and credibility within the AI community.

BUSINESS

• Trump Begins Selling New Crypto Token, Raising Ethical Concerns

  • The president-elect and his family have a direct and lucrative stake in the sale of a cryptocurrency product that initially surged in value.

  • Trump and his family launch $TRUMP followed shortly after by $MELANIA.

  • Shortly after the second meme coin was released did the $TRUMP coins value begin to plummet.

• The aspiring $110B energy company banking on Trump’s return

  • Venture Global, a prominent U.S.-based liquefied natural gas exporter, is preparing for a significant initial IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.

  • The company is aiming to raise up to $2.3 billion and achieve a valuation of approximately $110B.

  • The IPO's timing coincides with President Donald Trump's inauguration, who plans to implement policies favorable.

• CC Capital given access to Insignia books amid takeover battle

  • CC Capital Management LLC, has been granted access to the financial records of Insignia Capital Group LLC amid an ongoing takeover battle.

  • This development suggests that CC Capital is conducting due diligence as it considers a potential acquisition of Insignia.

  • The move comes after CC Capital raised its offer, surpassing a competing bid from Bain Capital.

CONTENT

• Scaling Success: Insights from Altos and startups redefining industries

  • A new podcast series will explore Altos's investment philosophy, startup growth strategies, and how to build effective VC-startup relationships.

  • This episode features Daniel Lang, Founder and CEO of Mangomint, who shares insights on transforming the beauty and wellness industry.

  • With $60M in funding, Mangomint aims to lead its market by tackling industry pain points and competing effectively against tech giants.

• How to build your AI App with Cursor, Firebase, Vercel

  • Riley Brown provides a comprehensive tutorial on building a full AI image generation app using Cursor's Agent feature.

  • The tutorial includes setup, Firebase integration for authentication and storage, and implementation of various AI image generation models.

  • The project showcases how developers can leverage modern tools to rapidly create scalable applications with minimal coding.

• The Elusive Concept of Freedom: perspectives on its meaning and role in society

  • The discussion features Faiza Shaheen, Uriel Abulof, and Lisa Cameron, offering expertise on economics, nationalism, inequality, mental health.

  • Thinkers like Lenin, Burke, Voltaire, and Arendt have offered conflicting perspectives on its meaning and attainability.

  • The debate raises critical questions: Are humans ever truly free from external forces such as upbringing, culture, and circumstances?

WORLD

• As truce takes hold Gazans and Israelis express elation tinged with doubt

  • On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect, bringing a temporary halt to the 15-month conflict.

  • In Gaza, thousands of Palestinians celebrated in the streets, with many returning to inspect their homes and visit the graves of relatives.

  • Both Gazans and Israelis expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the truce's permanence and the challenges ahead in rebuilding and reconciliation.

• Aviation’s emissions inertia is troubling New Zealand’s gateway

  • The aviation sector is facing challenges in reducing carbon emissions, as highlighted by recent decision to abandon its 2030 emissions target.

  • Air New Zealand remains committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and is in the process of establishing a new, short-term goal.

  • The industry's reliance on technological advancements and the development of cost-effective SAFs is crucial for future sustainability.

• Santander considers UK exit amid frustrations with high street banking, FT reports

  • Banco Santander is reconsidering its presence in Britain, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Saturday.

  • The bank is exploring a number of strategic options, one of which is exiting the British market, the report said.

  • No deal or announcement was imminent and the review was at an early stage, the Financial Times added.

AND MORE…

• AI isn’t very good at history, new paper finds

  • Study highlights that AI models, including systems like GPT-4, often produce inaccurate or fabricated historical information.

  • Despite advancements in AI, these inaccuracies persist, raising concerns about the reliability of AI-generated historical content.

  • The study emphasizes the need for improved training methods and data quality to enhance the factual accuracy of AI outputs.

• GameGPT launches the revolutionary Genesis AI NFT collection, combining AI and blockchain for the future of gaming

  • The collection marks a significant advancement in the integration of artificial intelligence and blockchain tech within the gaming industry.

  • The collection has AI-powered NFTs that can evolve based on player interactions, offering a dynamic and personalized gaming experience.

  • By combining AI with the security and transparency of blockchain, GameGPT aims to set a new standard for interactive entertainment.

• Hoops game 'Rumble Kong League' ditches avalanche for Ethereum and Ronin

  • Rumble Kong League, an NFT-driven basketball game, has announced its migration from the Avalanche blockchain to Ethereum and Ronin.

  • Initially, RKL released NFTs on Ethereum before moving to Avalanche for scalability.

  • The latest transition aims to leverage Ethereum's robust ecosystem and Ronin's gaming-focused infrastructure.