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

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

📱 Microsoft 365 Copilot adds Anthropic’s Claude models for more AI options.
🔎 Google launches ‘Search Live’ video tool to answer real-world questions.
📸 Instagram hits 3B monthly users as video and messaging dominate.
⚡ Altman’s AI empire may consume more power than New York City.
✈️ UK police arrest man over cyberattack that disrupted major European airport

TECHNOLOGY

• Microsoft 365 Copilot expands to include Anthropic AI models

  • Microsoft adds Claude Sonnet 4 and Opus 4.1 to Copilot, giving users model choice beyond OpenAI.

  • In Researcher, users can toggle ‘Try Claude’ to switch reasoning engines mid-task.

  • Copilot Studio agents now support mixed models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and others.

• Google lets you ‘Google the world around you’ via free video search

  • Search Live allows users to point their camera and ask questions about what they see in real time.

  • It overlays info, context, and links onto video feeds, turning the world into an augmented search interface.

  • The feature is free and integrates with Google’s existing search and Lens capabilities.

• Instagram hits 3 billion monthly users as video & messaging dominate

  • Instagram now reports 3 billion monthly active users, aligning its scale with Meta’s biggest platforms.

  • Growth is being driven by Reels and private messaging features, which are increasingly featured in the app’s layout.

  • Tests underway aim to default users into Reels and let them customize algorithm topics directly.

BUSINESS

• Intel is seeking an investment from Apple as part of its comeback bid

  • Intel reportedly approached Apple for funding to help revive its chip division amid stiff competition.

  • The discussions are at an early stage and may not lead to a deal if alignment cannot be reached.

  • The move follows Nvidia’s $5B investment in Intel and signals broader strategies to regain relevance.

• Trump to sign TikTok executive order affirming U.S.-China deal

  • Trump plans to formalize a deal distancing TikTok’s U.S. operations from ByteDance via executive order.

  • The agreement would satisfy a 2024 law that mandates Chinese divestment for TikTok to continue operating.

  • Under the terms, U.S. investors take majority control, while ByteDance retains a limited role under strict oversight.

• Citi sells Banamex stake to Mexican businessman for $2.3 billion

  • Citigroup will sell a 25 percent stake in Banamex to Fernando Chico Pardo, valuing the unit at ~$9.1 billion.

  • The deal aligns with Citi’s strategy to exit retail banking in Latin America and refocus on core markets.

  • Chico Pardo will become chair of Banamex once the transaction closes, expected in 2026.

MARKETS

WORLD

• The Trump administration wants a 10% stake in an American lithium miner that sells to GM

  • In exchange for renegotiating a $2.26B DOE loan, the government is asking for up to 10% ownership in Lithium Americas.

  • Lithium Americas works with GM developing the Thacker Pass mine, a pivotal asset in the U.S. EV supply chain.

  • The move echoes previous government equity plays in strategic sectors like Intel and rare earths.

• China doubles down on climate, wind, and solar pledges

  • China reaffirmed its commitment to climate with new wind and solar targets despite recent U.S. skepticism.

  • Pledges include scaling renewables and increasing enforcement of emissions reductions over the next decade.

  • The move underscores China’s strategy to claim leadership in green tech amid criticism of its long-term performance.

• Trump presents 21-point Gaza peace plan to Arab leaders

  • Trump unveiled a detailed proposal aimed at ending the Gaza war and addressing Palestinian governance and reconstruction.

  • The plan was shared with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and others at the UN.

  • U.S. envoy expressed optimism that a breakthrough or public announcement could come soon.

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FUTURISM

• Altman’s AI empire will devour as much power as New York City

  • Altman’s infrastructure ambitions could consume more than 10 gigawatts—approaching the combined load of NYC and San Diego.

  • Energy needs would rival those of major cities and stress grid capacity without new investment in power.

  • Critics warn that scaling at this pace is ‘scary’ without sustainable infrastructure and transparency.

• Y Combinator launches ‘Early Decision’ for students who want to graduate first, build later

  • YC’s Early Decision lets students apply while in school, get accepted and funded immediately, and defer entry until after graduation.

  • The program lets founders preserve educational momentum while securing startup backing up front.

  • It offers flexibility: participate in the summer batch after finishing a degree rather than dropping out early.

• Microsoft 365 Copilot expands to include Anthropic AI models

  • Microsoft now offers users a choice to invoke Anthropic’s Claude models inside Copilot alongside OpenAI counterparts.

  • In Researcher mode, users can switch reasoning engines mid-task to compare results or approaches.

  • Copilot agents built in Copilot Studio will support mixed AI models—Anthropic, OpenAI, and beyond.

CONTENT

• Eric Schmidt on AI, the Battle with China, and the Future of America

  • Schmidt compares U.S. and Chinese approaches to AI, defense tech, and their implications for global power.

  • He discusses rockets, drones, and America’s shifting role in innovation amid concerns of Western decline.

  • Conversation touches on AGI’s trajectory, whether a boom or bust, and its risks to future stability.

• How to Get Rich (without luck, talent, or a trust fund)

  • Shaan Puri outlines four core money rules: mastering a skill, owning equity, patience, and leveraging proximity.

  • He explains how applying these principles built his wealth by age 30 and can work for others.

  • The episode highlights the importance of ownership, discipline, and networking in wealth creation.

• How Extreme Winners Think and Win: Lessons from 400+ of History’s Greatest Founders

  • David Senra shares insights from studying hundreds of founders, emphasizing relentless focus and differentiation.

  • He discusses traits like persistence, low introspection, and note-taking as drivers of entrepreneurial success.

  • This episode covers lessons from leaders like Edwin Land, James Dyson, and Michael Dell with patterns across history.

EXTRAS

• Italy sends navy ship to help Gaza aid flotilla after drone attack

  • The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying activists and aid, was struck by drone attacks near Greece; no casualties reported.

  • In response, Italy dispatched the frigate Fasan to protect its citizens and assist disabled vessels in international waters.

  • The flotilla, featuring Greta Thunberg, continues toward Gaza amid escalating tensions over naval blockade enforcement.

• UK police arrest man over cyberattack that hit European airports

  • A UK man in his 40s was arrested for allegedly coordinating a ransomware attack on Collins Aerospace, disrupting airport systems.

  • The cyberattack knocked out automated check-in across Heathrow, Berlin, Brussels, and other hubs, forcing manual processes.

  • He’s been released on conditional bail as investigations continue under the Computer Misuse Act.

• Hong Kong Airlines evacuates planes and cancels flights as Typhoon Ragasa strikes

  • As Typhoon Ragasa approached, approximately 80 percent of aircraft from Hong Kong’s major airlines were relocated to safer locations.

  • All flights at Hong Kong International Airport were suspended for at least 36 hours under the city’s top typhoon alert.

  • The storm is one of 2025’s most powerful cyclones, prompting mass evacuations, flooding, and widespread operational disruption.

AND MORE

• White House asks federal agencies to prepare mass-firing plans ahead of a potential shutdown.

• Asian stock rally pauses as yen weakens against major currencies.

• Your brand deserves to be in front of people who actually make decisions. That’s Memo’s audience.*

• U.S. dollar remains strong as Fed rate-cut hopes wobble amid data uncertainty.

• Indian rupee vulnerable amid portfolio outflows and U.S. policy worries.

• Oil prices dip as investors take profits after reaching a seven-week high.

• Some BOJ policymakers had called for future rate hikes in the July minutes.

• Attorneys urge the appeals court reviewing Tylenol autism lawsuits to consider the Trump administration’s statements.