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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🧠 Pokémon is emerging as a surprisingly tough AI intelligence benchmark.
📉 CEOs are increasingly questioning whether AI spending is paying off.
💼 OpenAI’s API business is reportedly hitting $1B monthly revenue.
🧩 Intel reports Q4 2025 earnings amid a high-stakes turnaround.
🌍 Russia, Ukraine, and the US begin first three-way talks in UAE.

TECHNOLOGY

• AI-Resistant Technical Evaluations (Anthropic)

  • Anthropic introduces new evaluation methods designed to remain challenging as AI systems become more capable.

  • The approach focuses on creating benchmarks that adapt and maintain difficulty despite advancing model performance.

  • Technical assessments aim to provide consistent measurements of progress across different capability levels.

• OpenAI's API Business Generates $1 Billion Monthly Revenue (Business Insider) 

  _{^{More: AOL, WebProNews, TechCrunch, AI CERTs News, SaaStr}}

  • OpenAI's developer API generates approximately one billion dollars in monthly revenue from enterprise customers.

  • The API business represents a significant revenue stream beyond ChatGPT's consumer subscription model.

  • Sam Altman highlights the platform's growth as developers integrate AI into their applications.

• Playing Pokémon Becomes Ultimate Test of AI Intelligence (WSJ) 

  ^{_{More: TIME, TechRadar, Medium, NYU Tandon}}

  • Researchers use Pokémon games to evaluate AI systems' ability to handle complex strategic decisions.

  • The game's combination of planning, memory, and adaptability challenges current AI capabilities significantly.

  • Success requires understanding long-term consequences, making it an effective benchmark for intelligence testing.

BUSINESS

• TikTok Avoids US Ban as Joint Venture Deal Officially Closes (MacRumors) 

  _{^{More: NYT, CNN, CNBC, The Verge, Slate, Bloomberg, Reuters, Washington Post, Politico, NBC, ABC, BBC, TechCrunch}}

  • ByteDance establishes majority American-owned joint venture with Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX investors.

  • The deal transfers US operations to new entity, securing TikTok's future with American majority ownership.

  • Algorithm control and data management transferred to Oracle Cloud infrastructure under the new structure.

• Intel Reports Q4 2025 Earnings (CNBC) 

  _{^{More: Yahoo Finance, Intel IR, StockTitan}}

  • Intel releases fourth quarter financial results for 2025, showing performance across semiconductor business segments.

  • The earnings report provides insights into the company's competitive position amid ongoing industry challenges.

  • Results reflect Intel's efforts to regain market share in manufacturing and chip design operations.

• Amazon Plans Thousands More Corporate Job Cuts Next Week (Reuters) 

  ^{_{More: Newsweek, The HR Digest, Seattle Times, GeekWire, Digit, DNA India, India TV}}

  • Amazon prepares additional corporate layoffs affecting thousands of employees scheduled for next week announcement.

  • The cuts follow previous workforce reductions as the company adjusts to economic conditions.

  • Sources indicate the layoffs will impact corporate divisions rather than warehouse or delivery operations.

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MARKETS

WORLD

• TikTok Deal Reflects China's Technology Strategy (NYT)

  • The TikTok transaction demonstrates China's evolving approach to managing technology companies' international operations.

  • Beijing's approval signals willingness to compromise on ownership while maintaining some technological influence.

  • The deal sets potential precedent for future negotiations involving Chinese technology firms abroad.

• Apple Accuses EC of Political Delay Tactics to Impose Fines (Bloomberg) 

  _{^{More: MacRumors, Engadget, iClarified, Bloomberg Law}}

  • Apple claims European Commission deliberately delays reviewing proposed App Store changes to justify penalties.

  • The company argues regulators are using procedural tactics rather than engaging with substantive compliance efforts.

  • Dispute centers on Digital Markets Act requirements and Apple's attempts to meet regulatory standards.

• Russia, Ukraine, US to Hold First Three-Way Talks in UAE (BBC)

  • Russian, Ukrainian, and US negotiators meet in Abu Dhabi for first trilateral discussions since invasion.

  • Kremlin describes earlier Putin-US envoy meeting as useful but says territorial issues remain unresolved.

  • Zelensky characterizes the talks as a hopeful step toward potentially ending the ongoing conflict.

FUTURISM

• White House AI Protester Incident (Futurism)

  • Protest activity related to artificial intelligence policy occurs at White House, drawing attention to concerns.

  • The incident highlights growing public engagement with AI governance and regulatory questions in Washington.

  • Demonstrators raise issues about AI development, safety, and the role of government oversight.

• Newspaper Publishes AI-Generated Graphic Error (Futurism)

  • Media outlet faces criticism after publishing flawed AI-generated graphic that contained obvious visual errors.

  • The mistake raises questions about editorial quality control when using automated content generation tools.

  • Incident underscores ongoing challenges newsrooms face integrating AI into traditional production workflows responsibly.

• CEOs Question AI Investment Returns (Futurism)

  • Corporate executives express growing skepticism about return on investment from substantial AI expenditures.

  • Leaders question whether current spending levels on AI technology will deliver promised productivity gains.

  • The concerns reflect broader industry uncertainty about timing and magnitude of AI's business impact.

CONTENT

• Will ChatGPT Ads Change OpenAI? + Amanda Askell Explains Claude's New Constitution (Hard Fork)

  • The hosts examine OpenAI’s ad rollout and potential effects on product trust.

  • Discussion weighs incentives, disclosure rules, and how ads could shape answer framing.

  • Askell explains Claude’s updated constitution and why values training matters as models scale.

• Goldman Sachs CEO on AI, Debt, and America’s Future | Prof G Markets (Prof G Markets)

  • David Solomon joins Ed Elson and Scott Galloway to map 2026 banking risks.

  • They discuss AI’s labor impact, productivity bets, and where investment returns may concentrate.

  • Conversation links rising deficits and deglobalization pressure to credit conditions and market volatility.

• How Circular Deals Are Driving the AI Boom (Bloomberg Originals)

  • The episode traces how cloud credits and cross-investments inflate AI revenue narratives.

  • It highlights concentrated winners, weak end-demand, and the gap between usage growth and profits.

  • The film sketches downside scenarios if funding tightens and circular spending loops unwind quickly.

EXTRAS

• Apple Hardware Chief John Ternus Now Overseeing Design (Bloomberg) 

  _{^{More: MacRumors, iClarified, Business Standard, Mobile World Live, Apple World Today}}

  • John Ternus assumes expanded responsibilities including design oversight, positioning him in CEO succession discussions.

  • The organizational change consolidates hardware and design leadership under single executive reporting to Cook.

  • Restructuring signals Apple's planning for leadership transition as Tim Cook's tenure eventually concludes.

• Epic and Google Reach Fortnite Android Settlement (The Verge) 

  _{^{More: WebProNews, TechCrunch, Business Today, Android Authority}}

  • Epic Games and Google finalize antitrust settlement resolving disputes over Fortnite distribution on Android.

  • Agreement addresses app store policies and Unreal Engine access following years of litigation.

  • The deal represents conclusion to high-profile legal battle over mobile platform marketplace practices.

• Fei-Fei Li's World Labs in Funding Talks at $5 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) 

  _{^{More: Silicon Republic}}

  • World Labs, founded by AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, negotiates fundraising round valuing startup at five billion.

  • The substantial valuation reflects investor confidence in Li's vision for spatial intelligence technology.

  • Funding discussions highlight continued appetite for backing prominent AI researchers launching new ventures.

AND MORE

• Indian vibe-coding startup Emergent raises $70M, tripling valuation to $300M.

• Netflix plans 10% programming spend increase in 2026, pressuring profit outlook.

• China defends export-heavy model at Davos, pitching itself as “world’s market.”

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• Brazil poll shows Lula leading Flavio Bolsonaro ahead of the 2026 election.

• EU may let countries delay copper telecom network switch-offs until 2035.

• AP explains why Venezuela’s vast oil reserves remain difficult to exploit.

• Dubai-based Eat App expands into India via acquisition and Swiggy partnership.

• UN warns global growth may slow in 2026 as tariffs bite and risks rise.