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

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

🎧 Spotify’s AI playlist tool lets users describe music in detail.
📬 Google AI Mode taps Gmail and Photos for personalized answers.
🚕 Waymo launches Miami robotaxis, expanding service across 60 square miles.
🤖 South Korea passes sweeping AI rules, startups warn of compliance burdens.
🧊 Trump drops tariff threat after Greenland talks yield new framework.

TECHNOLOGY

• Google's AI Mode can now tap into your Gmail and Photos to provide tailored responses (TechCrunch) 

  _{^{More: Search Engine Journal, ABC News, Fortune}}

  • Google's AI Mode now accesses Gmail and Photos to deliver personalized responses for Pro subscribers.

  • The feature can plan vacations using hotel bookings or suggest products based on shopping patterns.

  • Google states it trains on prompts and responses, not directly on inbox or library content.

• Spotify brings AI-powered Prompted Playlists to the U.S. and Canada (TechCrunch) 

  _{^{More: Reuters, CNBC, Engadget}}

  • Spotify launches a conversational AI playlist tool that lets users describe their desired music in detail.

  • The tool analyzes real-time trends, charts, culture, and each user's complete listening history since joining.

  • Feature remains in beta with usage limits and English-only availability during initial rollout.

• Introducing the Substack TV app, now in beta (Substack) 

  • Substack launches TV apps for Apple TV and Google TV, bringing long-form video content to televisions.

  • App features personalized recommendations, subscription-based access, and will add audio posts and search features later.

  • Creators' existing video content automatically becomes available without requiring new uploads or configuration.

BUSINESS

• With Google Deal, Apple's Craig Federighi Plots a Cautious Course in AI (The Information) 

  _{^{More: Apple Insider, Mac Rumors, DigiTimes Asia}}

  • Apple's software chief, Craig Federighi, now oversees the AI organization after internal delays and organizational friction.

  • Company accelerates Siri overhaul by relying on Google's Gemini models for complex summarizer and planner functions.

  • Apple continues developing its own AI models for on-device use while reducing long-term dependence on external partners.

• Exclusive: China, US sign off on TikTok US spinoff (Semafor) 
  _{^{More: TechCrunch}}

  • US and China approve TikTok US spinoff to Oracle, Silver Lake, and an MGX-led consortium, with closing this week.

  • ByteDance retains a stake of under 20%, with the new entity controlling data protection, content moderation, and algorithms.

  • The deal is valued at approximately $14B and meets the January 22nd deadline set by the Trump administration executive order.

• Crypto Bill Delayed as Senate Panel Pivots to Trump Housing Push (Bloomberg) 
  _{^{More: The Hill, Fortune}}

  • Senate Banking Committee delays crypto market structure bill until late February or March, prioritizing housing legislation.

  • Coinbase withdrew support over concerns about the tokenized equities ban, DeFi restrictions, and stablecoin reward provisions.

  • The Trump administration is pushing housing affordability measures as a political priority ahead of this year's congressional elections.

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MARKETS

WORLD

• Zelensky says he agreed post-war security guarantees with Trump in Davos meeting (BBC News)

  _{^{More: Reuters}}

  • Ukraine needs enforceable guarantees to deter renewed invasion if a ceasefire freezes lines without resolving sovereignty.

  • Commitments underpin mobilization, financing, and weapons planning, reducing uncertainty for Kyiv’s military leadership and investors.

  • Guarantees signal lasting Western backing, shaping Russia’s risk calculus and sustaining European unity on long-term security.

• South Korea launches landmark laws to regulate AI, startups warn of compliance burdens (Reuters)

  _{^{More: U.S. International Trade Administration, Korea Herald, Tech in Asia}}

  • The AI Basic Act requires human oversight for high-impact uses, including healthcare and nuclear safety.

  • Generative and high-impact AI services must be labeled, aiming to raise trust and accountability.

  • Startups warn that vague provisions and compliance demands could slow releases and raise costs compared to global competitors.

• Trump Drops Tariff Threat After Meeting Yields 'Framework' of Future Greenland Deal (Time)

  _{^{More: AP, The Guardian, Sky News}}

  • Trump claims a future framework addresses Arctic security, while Denmark and Greenland reject sovereignty concessions.

  • The episode ties trade pressure to geopolitics, with tariffs floated, then withdrawn after Davos discussions.

  • Unclear terms keep tensions alive, with NATO cooperation framed around access, basing, and missile defense.

FUTURISM

• Artists launch campaign demanding AI licensing rights (The Verge) 

  • Human Artistry Campaign launches with 800 artists demanding licensing agreements and opt-out rights from AI training.

  • The coalition includes Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johansson, George Saunders, and R.E.M., and targets large-scale copyright theft claims.

  • Campaign advocates watermarking AI-generated content and a robust enforcement environment to protect creative intellectual property.

• Waymo launches robotaxi service in Miami, extending U.S. lead (CNBC)

  • Alphabet's Waymo opens Miami as its sixth robotaxi market, with 10,000 residents already signed up for service.

  • Service covers 60 square miles, including the Design District, Wynwood, and Brickell, with the Miami International Airport expansion planned for the near future.

  • The company plans expansion to Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Orlando, and other cities throughout 2026.

• Sam Altman discusses AI psychological effects (Futurism) 

  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discusses concerns about AI-induced psychological effects and societal adaptation challenges.

  • Commentary addresses the mental health implications of rapid AI advancement and potential cognitive dissonance among users.

  • Altman emphasizes the need for thoughtful deployment strategies and mental health support alongside technological development.

CONTENT

• Home robots are coming faster than you think, with Sunday's Tony Zhao (Access)

  • Alex Heath and Ellis Hamburger interview Tony Zhao on why consumer robots are nearing mainstream adoption.

  • They unpack product hurdles like reliability, safety, cost curves, and the data needed for useful home autonomy.

  • The episode maps near-term use cases, go-to-market strategies, and what finally makes home robotics practical.

• An Intro to Data Centers (The Nick, Dick, and Paul Show)

  • Nick Bilton, Dick Costolo, and Paul Kedrosky explain how data centers work and why AI demand reshapes capacity.

  • They break down power, cooling, networking, and real estate constraints that determine build timelines and operating economics.

  • The discussion connects infrastructure bottlenecks to startup opportunities, shifts in cloud strategy, and the next compute cycle.

• Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis: AI's Next Breakthroughs, AGI Timeline, Google's AI Glasses Bet (Big Technology Podcast)

  • Demis Hassabis outlines research priorities toward more capable AI, including world models, creativity, and safer reasoning.

  • He discusses AGI expectations and timelines, framing progress as requiring major breakthroughs beyond scaling alone.

  • The conversation turns to Google’s smart glasses push and long-horizon bets, such as building virtual cells for biology.

EXTRAS

• Engineer at Elon Musk's xAI departs after spilling the beans in a podcast interview (Gizmodo) 

  ^{_{More: Business Insider, Gizmodo}}

  • xAI engineer leaves the company after revealing internal details during a podcast appearance about company operations.

  • Departure highlights ongoing challenges with information security and employee communication policies at Musk's AI startup.

  • The incident raises questions about the company culture and boundaries for discussing internal projects publicly.

• Google hires Hume AI CEO, licensing deal for Gemini (Wired) 

  ^{_{More: TechCrunch}}

  • Google brings on Hume AI's CEO and secures a licensing agreement for integrating emotional AI technology.

  • The deal positions Google to enhance Gemini with emotional intelligence and human-centered AI capabilities.

  • The partnership reflects Google's strategy of acquiring expertise and technology to strengthen its competitive position in AI.

• House seeks more say in AI chip exports after Nvidia's China win (Bloomberg) 

  _{^{More: Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg Law News}}

  • House lawmakers push for greater congressional oversight of AI chip export policies following Nvidia approvals.

  • The move comes after Nvidia secured permission to sell certain chips to China, prompting bipartisan concerns.

  • Debate centers on balancing national security interests with commercial competitiveness in the semiconductor market.

AND MORE

• China tech optimism outweighs geopolitical worries; investors watch policy shifts.

• NATO chief says Greenland plan omitted sovereignty, sparking fresh diplomatic tension.

• Waymo opens Miami robotaxi waitlist, expanding public access beyond pilots.

• Adobe builds IP-safe generative models to reassure studios over copyrights.

• AMD unveils Ryzen 7 9850X3D launch date and $499 price.

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• General Fusion plans a $1B reverse merger to fund a demonstration reactor.

• Ireland drafts law permitting police spyware use under new oversight.

• Spotify rolls out AI-Prompted Playlists to the U.S. and Canada.