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

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

📱 Google launches Pixel 10 Pro Fold with full IP68 dust and water resistance.
🎮 Sony hikes PS5 prices by $50 across all U.S. models.
🏬 Target CEO Brian Cornell to step down amid slumping sales and boycotts.
🔥 Congo massacres kill 141 civilians, undermining U.S.-brokered peace deal.
👓 Harvard dropouts unveil $249 AI smart glasses with always-on recording.

TECHNOLOGY

• The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first fully dust-resistant foldable

  • Google touts the Pixel 10 Pro Fold as the first foldable with full IP68 water and dust resistance, a milestone in durability.

  • It features a new gearless hinge for ruggedness, slimmer bezels, a 6.4″ outer display, and a brighter 8″ inner screen.

  • Powered by Tensor G5, includes AI tools like voice-mimicking translation, Magic Cue, and AI journal plus Qi2 and PixelSnap magnets.

• Google launches its own MagSafe with PixelSnap

  • Google unveils PixelSnap, a Qi2-powered magnetic accessory system resembling Apple’s MagSafe for the Pixel 10 series.

  • All Pixel 10 phones now include built-in magnets compatible with chargers, stands, cases, and Made-for-Google partner accessories.

  • Launch accessories include a $39.99 wireless charging puck, $69.99 charger-stand combo, $29.99 ring stand, and $49.99 cases.

• Sony is raising PS5 prices, starting tomorrow

  • Sony will increase all U.S. PS5 models by $50 beginning August 21, blaming a ‘challenging economic environment’ and tariffs.

  • The price adjustment applies broadly across PS5 Digital Edition, standard, and Pro consoles, while accessories stay at current pricing.

  • New prices are $499.99 (Digital), $549.99 (standard), and $749.99 (Pro); consumers still have today to buy at the old prices.

BUSINESS

• Trump calls for the resignation of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook

  • Trump demanded the resignation of Fed Governor Lisa Cook amid mortgage fraud allegations, intensifying pressure on the central bank.

  • Cook firmly rejected calls, stating she won’t be bullied and will address legitimate inquiries regarding her mortgage disclosures.

  • Critics warn that Trump’s interference threatens Federal Reserve independence and could undermine market confidence.

• Target CEO steps down as the company faces weak sales and a boycott

  • Target’s CEO Brian Cornell will step down in 2026 amid slumping sales and backlash over rolled-back DEI programs.

  • Sales declined sharply, with net income down 21 % in Q2 and comparable-store sales dipping as customer boycott intensified.

  • COO Michael Fiddelke, a two-decade Target veteran, is tapped to succeed Cornell, aiming to revive the brand’s momentum.

• Microsoft employee protests lead to 18 arrests as the company reviews its work with Israel's military

  • Protesters occupied Microsoft’s Redmond campus, demanding the company cut ties with Israel over its military use of Azure technology.

  • Police arrested 18 demonstrators as Microsoft promises an ‘urgent’ review of its technology’s role in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

  • The protests highlight growing internal dissent and ethical concerns over the company’s contracts related to AI and surveillance.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Massacres in eastern Congo cast doubt on U.S.-mediated peace deal

  • Human Rights Watch says Rwanda-backed M23 rebels killed at least 141 civilians, undermining the Trump-brokered Congo–Rwanda peace deal.

  • Survivors describe shootings and machete attacks near Binza, with bodies unburied and families hiding among corpses for days.

  • M23 was not party to the accord and continues fighting, exposing the deal’s fragility and regional security risks.

• Trump and Zelenskyy’s meeting with European leaders marks a historic moment

  • Trump hosted Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, calling the talks a historic moment toward ending Russia’s war.

  • He signaled openness to U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine and proposed arranging talks between Zelenskyy and Putin soon.

  • Critics warn Russia remains noncommittal, and European leaders stress guarantees must not reward aggression or concede Ukrainian territory.

• Socialism is defeated in Bolivia after two decades

  • Bolivia’s socialist movement lost power after two decades as Rodrigo Paz and Jorge ‘Tuto’ Quiroga advanced to a runoff.

  • Economic crisis with fuel shortages, inflation above sixteen percent, and dollar scarcity fueled voter anger and MAS divisions.

  • Both contenders promise market-friendly reforms and closer U.S. ties, signaling a shift after years of MAS rule nationwide.

CONTENT

• I built a billion-dollar company in 18 months

  • Ramp co-founder Eric Glyman explains scaling to unicorn status in under two years through disciplined execution and speed.

  • He breaks down Ramp’s business model, company culture, and strategies behind hitting $100M revenue in only 18 months.

  • Conversation explores building a 100-year company, manufactured housing ideas, credit history lessons, and auditing personal weaknesses.

• The only trait for success in the AI era

  • Carnegie Mellon’s Po-Shen Loh argues empathy and thoughtfulness will outweigh creativity or technical skills in the AI era.

  • He warns that relying on AI for thinking erodes mental fitness and promotes building networks of kind, capable people.

  • Talk highlights scalable education models that strengthen critical thinking, charisma, and resilience to counter AI’s theft of creativity.

• How we built it: $900K open source SaaS

  • Marc and Iuliia reveal how Papermark reached $900K yearly revenue by choosing open-source over traditional SaaS models.

  • Their approach prioritizes transparency, community growth, and compliance while maintaining strong margins.

  • They outline opportunities for new builders, lessons from scaling quickly, and how open-source drives long-term sustainability.

FUTURISM

• Google’s Gemini Live AI assistant will show you what it’s talking about

  • Gemini Live can now highlight objects through your camera in real time, debuting on Pixel 10 devices from August 28.

  • The assistant will integrate with apps like Messages, Phone, and Clock to enable natural multitasking during conversations.

  • An updated audio model brings expressive speech with customizable speed, tone shifts, and even character-like accents.

• You can now talk to Google Photos to make your edits

  • Photos gains an ‘edit by asking’ feature using Gemini, letting users command edits via voice or text on Pixel 10.

  • Natural-language edits include removing distractions, adjusting lighting, or even creative changes like adding accessories or restoring photos.

  • Google also adds support for C2PA content credentials to verify how AI may have been used in image creation.

• How AI-enhanced hackers are stealing billions

  • Cybercriminals are leveraging generative AI to automate phishing, deepfake scams, and financial fraud on a massive scale.

  • Analysts warn that increasing realism and personalization in AI-driven attacks are fueling booming financial losses and cybersecurity defenses.

  • Experts urge rapid development of AI-powered defenses, proactive regulation, and cross-industry collaboration to protect against threats.

EXTRAS

• Fed minutes show broad support for holding rates steady last month

  • Most Fed officials backed keeping interest rates at 4.25–4.50%, with only two favoring a rate cut.

  • Policymakers saw inflation risks as more significant than weakening employment, prompting caution despite economic pressure.

  • Dissenters Waller and Bowman may have gained more support after labor data revisions and raised market expectations.

• Anthropic bundles Claude Code into enterprise plans

  • Anthropic now includes the popular Claude Code command-line tool in its enterprise suite, enabling streamlined integration for businesses.

  • Enterprises gain scalable usage control and admin capabilities, addressing previous limits encountered by individual users.

  • The move heightens Anthropic’s competition with enterprise coding tools from Google and GitHub, enhancing its AI dev footprint.

• Harvard dropouts to launch ‘always-on’ AI smart glasses that listen and record every conversation

  • Two ex-Harvard students are launching Halo X glasses that constantly listen, record, transcribe, and display relevant info in real time.

  • Co-founders say the glasses offer ‘infinite memory,’ boosting the wearer's intelligence from the moment they’re worn.

  • Priced at $249, the glasses use a smartphone for computing and leverage Gemini and Perplexity AI to power responses.

AND MORE

• Nasdaq and S&P 500 end lower as investors shift from tech to cheaper sectors.

• A senior ISIS member is killed in a U.S. military raid in Syria.

• 160k+ readers from Google, TikTok, OpenAI, and Deel love Open Source CEO deep dive business content.*

• Oil rebounds as dollar weakens ahead of the Jackson Hole symposium.

• North Korea’s Kim praises troops supporting Russia in Ukraine conflict.

• Fed minutes show Bowman and Waller alone favoring rate cuts in the July meeting.

• Find lifetime deals on solutions for productivity, marketing, AI, and more—with no monthly fees.*

• China’s foreign minister visits Afghanistan for regional diplomatic talks.