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

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

💻 Nvidia unveils Blackwell-based B30A chip to sustain Chinese market share.
🌐 Meta adds AI-powered voice translations to Instagram and Facebook reels.
📊 Databricks is raising funds at a $100B valuation amid the AI enterprise boom.
💼 Trump rejects deploying U.S. ground forces to the Ukraine conflict.
⚡ Google signs nuclear power deal to fuel U.S. data centers.

TECHNOLOGY

• Nvidia is developing a new AI chip for China that outperforms the H20

  • The new B30A chip, based on Blackwell, beats the H20 despite being half the power of the B300.

  • Includes high-bandwidth memory, NVLink, and may deliver samples next month, subject to uncertain U.S. export approvals.

  • Designed to sustain Nvidia’s Chinese market share amid geopolitical tensions and escalating domestic chip competition.

• Meta launches AI-powered translations for creators

  • Meta introduces AI voice translations for creators on Facebook and Instagram, starting with English and Spanish support.

  • Creators can enable lip-synced translations when posting reels, expanding reach to more diverse global audiences.

  • Facing plans to add broader language support, improve accessibility for multilingual content creation, and audience growth.

• Spotify launches playlist transitions with DJ-style controls

  • Spotify’s new Mix beta uses volume, EQ, and effects presets to smoothly blend tracks in playlists.

  • Users see waveform and beat visuals, allowing manual overrides or auto mixing for seamless playback flow.

  • Premium subscribers can customize transitions, save settings, and enjoy a more refined, ‘DJ-like’ listening experience.

BUSINESS

• Mark Zuckerberg overhauls Meta’s AI division

  • Meta splits its AI group into four specialized teams to speed up progress toward building superintelligence.

  • Reorganization follows internal tensions and talent competition, with multimillion-dollar compensation fueling rivalries across research units.

  • The restructuring aims to streamline priorities, align teams, and keep Meta competitive in the global AI race.

• UK backs down on Apple encryption mandate

  • U.S. spy chief Tulsi Gabbard says the UK withdrew its controversial order forcing Apple to weaken iPhone encryption.

  • The decision followed high-level talks involving Gabbard, Trump, Vice President Vance, and British security officials over privacy concerns.

  • Apple had paused advanced data protection in Britain but may now restore features following the reversal.

• Databricks is raising funds at $100 billion valuation

  • Databricks is in talks to raise funding that would value the enterprise AI company at around $100 billion.

  • The valuation highlights strong investor belief in its expanding AI infrastructure and enterprise analytics leadership worldwide.

  • A successful round would reinforce Databricks as a key player powering corporate AI adoption across industries.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Trump rules out sending US troops to Ukraine

  • Trump firmly says no American ground troops will be deployed in Ukraine, offering only aerial support assurances.

  • He emphasized security via European allies, rejecting NATO membership for Ukraine, and sought negotiation clarity from Putin.

  • Discussion continues about reassurance forces, with potential NATO-like frameworks led by Europe under U.S. guidance coming soon.

• Israel weighs Hamas offer of 60-day Gaza truce and hostage release

  • Israel is considering a Hamas ceasefire proposal involving the exchange of 10 living, 18 deceased hostages for 200 prisoners.

  • The deal includes a temporary truce, partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased humanitarian access facilitated by Egypt and Qatar.

  • Despite mounting public pressure and mediation, Israel still insists on the release of all remaining hostages to end the conflict.

• India and China agree to resume direct flights, boost business links

  • India and China plan to restart direct flights and reopen trade via three border points, improving economic ties.

  • The decision represents a thaw in diplomatic relations disrupted since 2020 and signals cautious normalization between neighbors.

  • Enhanced connectivity is expected to revive regional trade, attract investment, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges across Asia.

CONTENT

• Making $$$ with Voice AI agents and SaaS (my little secret)

  • Greg Isenberg explains building profitable voice AI agent startups with workflows, technical stack guidance, and recommendations.

  • Startup ideas include property management, patient intake, HOA hotlines, absence lines, contractor secretaries, and funeral homes.

  • Key technologies include DeepGram, Whisper, Claude, GPT, 11Labs, VAPI, and Synthflow, enabling natural conversations and hybrid handoffs.

• Scaling AI Photo Editing to 300M Users with Photoroom’s Matt Rouif

  • Jason Calacanis interviews Matt Rouif about Photoroom’s growth from indie startup to $50M annual revenue powerhouse.

  • Discussion covers specialized AI model development, massive scaling, product-led growth, trust building, and red-teaming for brand safety.

  • Future potential includes personalized advertising, creative design applications, and expanded AI-driven content services.

• Anthropic Co-founder: Building Claude Code, Lessons From GPT-3 & LLM System Design

  • Tom Brown shares Anthropic’s journey from GPT-3 infrastructure at OpenAI to building Claude and breakthrough Claude Code.

  • Topics include scaling laws, infrastructure buildout, multi-chip strategies, and ChatGPT’s impact on Anthropic’s trajectory.

  • He offers advice for new AI engineers, discusses the largest infrastructure expansion, and provides insights on building advanced AI systems.

FUTURISM

• Google Docs now includes Gemini-powered ‘read aloud’ audio tool

  • Google introduces Gemini-powered ‘Audio’ in Docs, enabling document playback with selectable voices and variable playback speeds.

  • Users can insert customizable audio buttons; creators or readers can listen via the Tools menu, improving accessibility and engagement.

  • Desktop-only feature supports English for Workspace business, education, AI Pro, and Ultra plan subscribers initially.

• Google to pay $30 million over children's YouTube data lawsuit settlement

  • Google agrees to a $30 million class-action settlement for allegedly collecting data on under-13 YouTube viewers.

  • Settlement could affect up to 45 million Americans who used YouTube as children between mid-2013 and April 2020.

  • The company denies wrongdoing, but the resolution aims to close a major online privacy compliance case.

• Google signs nuclear energy deal buying electricity from Kairos Power’s advanced reactor via TVA

  • Google, Kairos Power, and TVA agree to a first U.S. PPA for advanced molten-salt nuclear reactor electricity.

  • Hermes 2 will supply 50 megawatts to Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama once operational by 2030.

  • As part of a broader goal, Google plans to support the deployment of 500 megawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2035.

EXTRAS

• Air Canada flight attendants reach tentative deal, halting strike

  • Air Canada and its flight attendants’ union finalized a tentative agreement, averting widespread airport shutdowns and travel chaos.

  • The deal includes significant wage increases and improved working conditions to address long-standing labor grievances.

  • Industry leaders applaud the deal, hoping it sets a precedent for resolving labor disputes without escalating disruptions.

• Deel wins lawsuit but not against Rippling, court rules

  • Deel secured a partial court victory, but claims against Rippling for alleged IP theft were dismissed entirely.

  • The ruling highlights ongoing legal complexity in HR tech’s competitive landscape, where vendor overlaps frequently trigger disputes.

  • Deel’s broader lawsuit continues, reinforcing the company’s commitment to protecting its proprietary payroll.

• Switzerland is prepared to offer Putin immunity as part of peace talks

  • Switzerland signals willingness to consider granting Putin diplomatic immunity as a gesture to foster Russia-Ukraine peace dialogue.

  • The proposal aims to neutralize challenges related to arrest warrants, making negotiations politically possible amid global tensions.

  • Domestic backlash is anticipated, though a neutral mediator leveraging Swiss legal tradition may offer pragmatic groundwork for diplomacy.

AND MORE

• Russian parliament speaker to visit China ahead of Putin’s commemorative trip.

• Solve complex ML challenges quickly with AI Devvvs, connecting you to top-tier specialists ready to deliver real results.*

• Global markets dip as tech stocks struggle ahead of Fed’s Jackson Hole.

• Nexstar announces $6.2 billion takeover of Tegna, igniting antitrust concerns.

• NATO military leaders to meet on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine security guarantees.

• Macron and Starmer to co-chair 'coalition of the willing' Ukraine summit.

• U.S. plans over 30 offshore oil and gas lease auctions through 2040.

• Tulsi Gabbard revokes the security clearances of 37 intelligence professionals for politicizing.

• CaskX allows investors to diversify with aging bourbon barrels.*