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

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

🛑 Trump says Iran and Israel reached a phased ceasefire mediated by Qatar.
🚗 Tesla’s robotaxi trial faces scrutiny after a video catches it driving in the wrong lane.
🎵 AI music detection tools could increase royalty revenue from $75M to $10 B.
⚖️ UK votes to legalize assisted dying, bill now heads to House of Lords.
📉 S&P, NASDAQ, and Dow all rise as market fears ease over de-escalation.

TECHNOLOGY

• Tesla Robotaxi Videos Show Speeding, Driving Into Wrong Lane

  • U.S. regulators are investigating Tesla after videos surfaced of robotaxis speeding and veering into wrong-way lanes during the Austin trial.

  • The service includes human safety monitors in back seats, and rides cost a flat $4.20 amid close monitoring.

  • Tesla stock rose over 8% as influencers praised the smooth ride, though critics raised safety and compliance concerns.

• The Music Industry Is Building the Tech to Hunt Down AI-Generated Songs

  • Companies like Vermillio, Musical AI, and Deezer are rolling out tools to detect AI-generated tracks via metadata tagging and stem analysis.

  • Platforms aim to trace synthetic elements to enforce licensing, manage royalties, and maintain control over training data usage.

  • Industry insiders say authenticated music tracking could boost licensing revenues from $75 million in 2023 to $10 billion over two years.

• Databricks and Perplexity Co‑Founder Pledges $100M to New AI Fund

  • Andy Konwinski launched the Laude Institute, committing $100 million in personal wealth to fund AI researchers at UC Berkeley and beyond.

  • The flagship grant supports a new AI Systems Lab led by Ion Stoica, embedded in an institute governed by AI luminaries.

  • The fund is structured like grants to help transition academic breakthroughs into open-source tools, startups, or real‑world solutions.

BUSINESS

• Why Markets Are Calm After US–Iran Nuclear Conflict

  • Wharton economist Jeremy Siegel says the S&P 500 could hit record highs soon if Iran avoids major retaliation.

  • Iran’s limited missile strike on Qatar—a symbolic response—helped calm investor fears and stabilize oil prices.

  • Market sentiment hinges on de-escalation, with analysts viewing the strikes as nearer to resolution than renewed escalation.

• Airspace Over Iran, UAE, Qatar Temporarily Closed Amid Military Tensions

  • Qatar, UAE, and others shut their airspace after Iran launched six missiles at the Al Udeid US base in Qatar.

  • All missiles were intercepted, and no casualties were reported, easing immediate safety concerns.

  • The airspace closure highlights regional volatility and could disrupt global flight operations temporarily.

• OpenAI Clips Out ‘IO’ Trademark Amid Jony Ive Trademark Clash

  • OpenAI voluntarily dropped plans to trademark ‘IO’ after designer Jony Ive raised concerns over brand confusion.

  • The move avoids potential legal battles while OpenAI focuses on expanding its AI toolset under clearer naming practices.

  • The dispute highlights growing friction in AI-brand competition as design trademarks become more strategically important.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Trump Says Israel and Iran Have Agreed to Ceasefire

  • Former President Trump announced via Truth Social that Israel and Iran reached an initial phased ceasefire to end the 12-day conflict.

  • The pact begins with a 12-hour pause from Iran, followed by a matching pause from Israel, pending a full halt.

  • Though details are mediated by Qatar—and U.S. officials urge Israel to comply—neither side has confirmed cessation yet.

• UK House of Commons Votes to Legalize Assisted Dying

  • Britain’s Commons approved the assisted dying bill 314–291, allowing terminally ill adults to request help ending life.

  • The decision followed intense debate and now proceeds to the House of Lords for further scrutiny and potential amendment.

  • Bill limits recipients to those mentally competent with less than six months to live, with ongoing ethical and legal discussions.

• How Badly Have U.S. Strikes Damaged Iran’s Nuclear Facilities?

  • U.S. used Tomahawks and bunker busters on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, reportedly inflicting severe damage on enrichment facilities.

  • Satellite imagery suggests Iran relocated uranium and equipment before the strikes, softening the immediate impact.

  • Experts say core centrifuges may remain operational, leaving long-term nuclear capability largely intact.

CONTENT

• I Built Next Gen AI Agents With MCP + Claude (STEAL My Workflow)

  • Riley Brown shows how MCP allows Claude to access tools like Notion and Glyph, automating tasks and workflows for content creation.

  • He builds custom AI ‘employees’ that follow prompts, execute steps, and boost productivity through repeated tool use in real-time.

  • The workflow includes Docker integration, automated thumbnail creation, and context-aware content generation directly from prompts.

• Talking to Ben About Creating Luck, His Barbell Method, + 6 Half-Baked Business Ideas

  • Shaan Puri and Ben Levy discuss how to build luck, deepen relationships, and generate startup ideas using a structured framework.

  • Business concepts like a lunch bounty app and premium carpal tunnel products are brainstormed with humor and market curiosity.

  • The duo reflects on patterns of success, relationship leverage, and how to identify high-upside business ideas through simplicity and timing.

• Founders, Media, & Memes: a16z’s Strategy for the Future

  • Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz explain how a16z uses software and media strategy to evolve from a VC firm to a full-scale platform.

  • Topics include succession planning, bipartisan policy stances on AI and crypto, and the value of memes in modern communications.

  • The conversation covers founder mindsets, company culture, and how reorgs—not just returns—determine long-term venture capital success.

FUTURISM

• UBS Examines Opportunities from Humanoid Robots for the Tech Sector

  • UBS built a $1,400 semiconductor bill of materials for a high-end humanoid, sized to reach $177 billion by 2050.

  • Key chip suppliers like NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Samsung, MediaTek, and TSMC stand to benefit as humanoid complexity grows.

  • Analysts say AI models, plus on-device vision-language modules, will transform humanoids into the next major tech product cycle.

• Scientists Working to Decode Signal From Earliest Years of the Universe

  • Researchers are modeling the 21‑cm radio signal from 100 million years after the Big Bang to probe first‑generation Population III stars.

  • New simulations include UV and X‑ray binary emissions, offering a path to determine early star masses and cosmic dawn dynamics.

  • Upcoming telescopes like REACH and SKA will test these models, potentially unlocking key insights into universe formation.

• Is the World Ready for 1 Billion Robots? UBS Explores Humanoid Challenges

  • UBS investigates whether homes, hospitals, and factories are ready for mass deployment of humanoids, despite high costs and hurdles.

  • They note that human-like form enables seamless interaction, yet simpler robots still dominate due to efficiency and lower complexity.

  • Adoption depends on progress in AI, sensor quality, data & regulation, with full consumer-ready humanoids likely over a multi‑decade timeline.

EXTRAS

• Elon Musk’s Next Power Play Involves Own Computer, Not a Car

  • Elon Musk plans to develop a new AI-focused PC workstation, signaling his next big bet lies beyond electric cars.

  • The system aims to support advanced AI research via high-end specs and deeper system transparency than typical commercial PCs.

  • Musk’s move reflects intensifying competition with Sam Altman and OpenAI as hardware becomes the next battleground in AI.

• Nintendo Restocks Wireless GameCube Controller for Switch 2 Testing

  • Nintendo restocked its popular wireless GameCube-style controller, fueling speculation it aligns with Switch 2 hardware testing.

  • The retro design and button layout hint at Nintendo’s intent to maintain backward compatibility with older game titles.

  • Limited availability has already triggered shortages, suggesting the restock may be tied to a major upcoming console announcement.

• Bezos and Sanchez's Marriage Sparks Venice Protests

  • Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez held their wedding in Venice, attracting criticism over environmental impact and lavish displays.

  • Protesters staged demonstrations citing carbon footprint concerns and tourism strain in Venice’s historic city center.

  • City officials responded by reviewing event permits and possible new regulations to protect Venice’s cultural and ecological heritage.

AND MORE

• Prosus reports core earnings jumped to $7.4B on tech gains.

• Iran spares energy sites, sending oil prices down over 7% on easing fears.

• Athyna connects you to LATAM’s top tech talent now.*

• AI startup Decagon raises $131M at $1.5B valuation.

• Snowcap Compute lands $23M to build superconducting chips for AI acceleration.

• Say hello to captivating how-to videos for your team using Guidde.*

• Tesla shares surge as investors react to Austin robotaxi demos.

• EU and Canada form new security pact on military procurement.