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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🛑 US regulators propose forcing Chrome’s sale to curb its search monopoly.
🔌 Tesla unveils 500kW Superchargers, supporting faster EV and Semi truck charging.
📱 WhatsApp launches voice message transcription for on-device convenience.
🌐 OpenAI explores a browser to compete with Google Chrome.
💰 Bitcoin soars to $98K after SEC Chair Gensler announces resignation.

TECH

• WhatsApp rolls out voice message transcripts

  • WhatsApp introduces on-device voice message transcription to assist users in noisy or inconvenient settings.

  • Transcripts are accessible by enabling the feature in settings and manually transcribing individual messages.

  • Supported languages vary by OS version, with plans for broader language support in the coming months.

• Tesla’s first 500kW V4 Superchargers are coming next year

  • Tesla will roll out V4 Superchargers supporting up to 500kW for EVs and 1.2MW for Semi trucks in 2025.

  • New features include physical payment terminals, longer cords for accessibility, and CCS connectors for compatibility.

  • V4 cabinets power up to 8 stalls each and improve charging for higher voltage EVs from other manufacturers.

• OpenAI considers taking on Google with browser, the Information reports

  • OpenAI is exploring a web browser integrating its chatbot, potentially competing with Google Chrome.

  • Talks include partnerships with companies like Conde Nast, Redfin, and Samsung for AI-powered features.

  • While early in development, the move follows growing challenges to Google’s search and browser dominance.

BUSINESS

• US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as monopoly punishment

  • The Justice Department proposed breaking up Google, including selling Chrome, to curb its search engine monopoly.

  • Regulators also aim to block deals that make Google the default search engine on devices like Apple’s iPhone.

  • Critics warn these measures could threaten innovation, while others argue they’re necessary to restore competition.

• Gary Gensler said he’ll step down as SEC chair and Bitcoin is soaring

  • SEC Chair Gary Gensler announced his resignation effective January 20, as Bitcoin hits a record $98,000.

  • Crypto enthusiasts anticipate pro-crypto reforms under Trump, who pledged to ‘fire Gary Gensler’ and support digital currencies.

  • Gensler's tenure was marked by regulatory crackdowns on Binance, Coinbase, and other crypto giants, sparking industry backlash.

• Elon Musk reignites feud with Jeff Bezos over election prediction

  • Elon Musk claimed Jeff Bezos advised selling Tesla and SpaceX stocks, betting on Trump losing, but Bezos denied the allegation.

  • Musk, a Trump supporter, now co-leads the Department of Government Efficiency, while Bezos congratulated Trump after his victory.

  • Their rivalry spans years, with frequent barbs over their competing companies, wealth rankings, and political alignments.

CONTENT

• Build a Product in 5 Minutes - Lenny's Podcast

  • Amjad Masad demonstrates Replit’s AI capabilities, building full-stack applications from text prompts.

  • Discusses the implications of AI-powered tools for reshaping roles in product management, design, and engineering.

  • Explores the value of generative skills and the growing importance of debugging AI-generated code.

• Lessons from the Greatest Venture Investment in European History

  • Cem Sertoglu, one of the great venture investors of the last decade joins Harry Stebbings on 20VC.

  • Discussing VC evolving into a low-margin business, advising on early stage valuations, and concerns over liquidity markets.

  • Cem recently started Bek Ventures, a $250M fund that was 3x oversubscribed.

• Technology & Culture - A Conversation with Christine Rosen

  • Discusses technology's impact on culture, from lost practices like handwriting to social media's role in conspiracy thinking.

  • Explores political asymmetry, antisemitism, and the future of journalism, with a focus on local news.

  • Highlights Christine Rosen's insights on cultural shifts, her book 'The Extinction of Experience,' and her unique background.

WORLD

• Putin says Ukraine war is going global

  • Putin warns the Ukraine conflict is escalating globally due to U.S. and U.K. weapon supplies to Ukraine.

  • Russia fired a hypersonic missile at a Ukrainian facility, vowing reciprocal strikes if provoked further.

  • Criticizes the U.S. for INF Treaty withdrawal, stating Russia’s missile development depends on Western actions.

• Brazil police call for Jair Bolsonaro to be charged for alleged coup plot

  • Brazilian police recommend charges against Bolsonaro and 37 others for plotting to subvert democracy.

  • Allegations stem from efforts to prevent Lula’s presidency, including Brasília riots and an aborted assassination plot.

  • Supreme Court will decide whether to pursue indictments, potentially leading to Bolsonaro’s first criminal charges.

• Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes

  • ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas commander Deif over alleged war crimes during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

  • Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of crimes against humanity, including starvation as a method of warfare.

  • ICC members must enforce warrants, but political resistance may affect extraditions or arrests.

AND MORE…

• OpenAI accidentally erases potential evidence in training data lawsuit

  • OpenAI engineers inadvertently erased critical evidence in a lawsuit brought by The New York Times over AI training data use.

  • Legal teams spent 150+ hours identifying data, but OpenAI's recovery efforts were incomplete and deemed unreliable.

  • The lawsuit seeks billions in damages, claiming OpenAI used millions of articles to build its AI models without permission.

• YouTube Shorts’ Dream Screen feature can now generate AI video backgrounds

  • Dream Screen now creates AI-generated video backgrounds, using Google DeepMind’s Veo for 1080p clips.

  • Users type prompts, choose animation styles, and create backgrounds for recording Shorts videos.

  • The feature, unavailable on TikTok, is live in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

• SpaceX signs second commercial deal for Starship lunar lander with Lunar Outpost

  • SpaceX will deliver the Eagle rover to the moon for Lunar Outpost by 2029, though mission specifics remain unclear.

  • Eagle is competing in NASA’s LTV program, with a potential 13-year contract worth up to $4.6 billion.

  • Lunar Outpost plans to continue rover development, supported by a recent Series A funding round.