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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🛒 Walmart accused of illegally opening accounts for delivery drivers without consent.
🎄 Anti-immigrant rhetoric surges in Germany after violent Christmas market attack.
📵 Albania announces a one-year TikTok ban after a school stabbing.
☕ Starbucks workers strike through Christmas Eve, pushing for better wages.
📈 Google offers to loosen search deals in U.S. antitrust case remedy.

TECH

• Meta to add display to Ray-Bans as race over smart glasses intensifies

  • Meta plans to integrate a display into its Ray-Ban smart glasses, aiming to compete with Apple and other tech giants in wearable tech.

  • The new design will enable users to view notifications, directions, and more directly on the glasses, enhancing utility.

  • This move reflects Meta’s broader ambitions in augmented reality as part of its metaverse strategy.

• How Hallucinatory A.I. Helps Science Dream Up Big Breakthroughs

  • A.I. hallucinations, often criticized for creating false information, are proving valuable in sparking scientific innovation.

  • Scientists leverage these creative outputs to accelerate discoveries in medicine, weather phenomena, and even Nobel Prize-winning research.

  • By generating unconventional ideas, A.I. shortens research cycles, enabling faster testing and exploration of groundbreaking concepts.

• Apple's Next AirPods Pro Could Offer Heart Rate and Temperature Monitoring

  • Apple may add health-monitoring features, including heart rate and body temperature sensors, to its AirPods Pro.

  • This aligns with Apple's vision of integrating advanced health tracking across its ecosystem of devices.

  • The update would make AirPods Pro a more versatile health tool, complementing devices like the Apple Watch.

BUSINESS

• Telegram finances propped up by crypto gains as founder fights charges

  • Telegram’s crypto investments have supported its financial stability amidst legal pressures on its founder, Pavel Durov.

  • The company faces mounting scrutiny while exploring subscription and advertising models to generate revenue.

  • Despite hurdles, Telegram reports 800 million monthly active users, maintaining a competitive edge.

• Google offers to loosen search deals in U.S. antitrust case remedy

  • Google proposed altering default search engine agreements to address antitrust concerns raised in the DOJ lawsuit.

  • The tech giant aims to avoid a full breakup by offering concessions, including changing its deal with Apple.

  • Critics argue the proposed changes are insufficient to address Google's dominant market position.

• Walmart sued over illegally opening bank accounts for delivery drivers

  • Delivery drivers allege Walmart Spark unlawfully opened accounts with Branch for instant payments.

  • The accounts reportedly came with fees and lacked transparency, leading to significant driver dissatisfaction.

  • Walmart denies wrongdoing, claiming the service simplifies driver payments while ensuring operational efficiency.

CONTENT

• POV: Brainstorming $1M+ Startup Ideas with Daniel Dalen

  • Greg Isenberg and Daniel Dalen, CEO of Ecomflow, brainstorm $1M+ startup ideas, focusing on Shopify apps and SaaS innovations.

  • They highlight ideas like credibility plaques, $200/year subscription and viral embedding tools.

  • Discussions delve into aesthetics-driven software trends, niche Shopify app opportunities, and the pros/cons of bootstrapping.

• $500M Founder: This is the Biggest Opportunity in the US Today

  • Justin Mares joins Sam Parr and Shaan Puri on My First Million to discuss emerging health and wellness opportunities in the U.S. market.

  • They explore scalable ideas like home health services, modern butcher shops, and fertility calibration, tying them to consumer trends.

  • Justin shares his journey in building a 9-figure bone broth business, stressing the value of solving specific problems and leveraging trends.

• How Regret Motivates Us | Prof G Conversations

  • Daniel Pink speaks with Scott Galloway about regret’s motivational power, identifying four types—foundation, boldness, moral, connection.

  • The conversation explores behavioral techniques to turn regret into growth, like practicing forgiveness and focusing on actionable changes.

  • Pink ties regret and motivation to personal autonomy, mastery, and purpose, sharing insights from his books.

WORLD

• Albania declares one-year TikTok ban over stabbing

  • Albania plans to block TikTok for a year following a schoolboy’s fatal stabbing allegedly tied to social media disputes.

  • Prime Minister Edi Rama called TikTok “the thug of the neighborhood,” criticizing its harmful influence on children.

  • TikTok denies involvement in the incident and seeks clarifications, while other nations debate similar restrictions.

• Anti-immigrant sentiment rises after Magdeburg Christmas attack

  • A violent attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, has fueled anti-immigrant rhetoric in the country.

  • Right-wing groups have leveraged the incident to demand stricter immigration policies, sparking nationwide protests.

  • Authorities are investigating the attack’s motives while urging calm amidst growing tensions.

• Yet another French government: These are the names you need to know

  • François Bayrou’s new government aims to reconcile a divided parliament but faces criticism for ties to far-right influences.

  • Key appointments include Bruno Retailleau as interior minister, Gérald Darmanin as justice minister, and Jean-Noël Barrot for foreign affairs.

  • Bayrou’s minority government struggles to secure support, with opposition leaders branding it a “provocation” amid political crises.

AND MORE…

• Instagram Tests Feature to Show Missed Story Highlights

  • Instagram is piloting a feature to showcase missed Story Highlights, enhancing user engagement and retention.

  • The feature works by resurfacing older content users skipped, emphasizing relevant or trending highlights.

  • Testing is limited to select users, with feedback likely shaping broader implementation plans.

• xAI Testing Standalone iOS App for Grok Chatbot

  • Elon Musk's xAI is testing a dedicated iOS app for Grok, aiming to rival established tools like ChatGPT.

  • Unlike its current integration within X, the standalone app offers more direct and streamlined access.

  • This marks xAI’s push to expand its ecosystem, though no launch date has been announced yet.

• Starbucks Workers Plan Strikes Through Christmas Eve

  • Led by the Workers United union, Starbucks staff are striking for better wages and workplace policies.

  • The strikes cover over 525 unionized locations, disrupting operations during the critical holiday period.

  • Starbucks defends its investment in employee benefits, but workers argue these measures fall short.