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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🦾 OpenAI looking to enter robotics race to compete with Tesla’s Optimus.
🎯 Dating apps set new record but struggle with product development.
🇰🇵 North Korea blamed for large Japanese crypto hack.
🪙 Coinbase trading volume surges to $119 billion weekly high.
🌭 Uber’s $950M acquisition blocked by Taiwanese government.

TECH

• OpenAI may re-enter robotics to potentially compete with Tesla’s Optimus

  • OpenAI is reportedly looking to integrate GPT models into robots as it explores humanoid robot development.

  • After scrapping its robotics division in 2021, the AI firm is now re-entering the robotics space.

  • OpenAI faces strong competition from Tesla’s Optimus and Boston Dynamics.

• It Was a Record Year for Dating Apps

  • Several dating platforms show boomers, aged 59 to 72, were the fastest growing userbase.

  • Match.com are seeing 50-plus daters are joining at a higher rate than every other demographic.

  • Studies also found that 65 percent of women thought men were mostly after casual flings, but only 29 percent of men agreed.

• North Korea Blamed for May's $305M Hack on Japanese Crypto Exchange DMM

  • Theft of 4,500+ bitcoin from Japanese crypto exchange DMM was perpetrated by North Korea hackers, FBI and other sources say.

  • The attack targeted an employee at crypto wallet company Ginco, giving the hackers access to its communications system.

  • Later, they used that access to intercept a legitimate transaction from a DMM employee, leading to the loss.

BUSINESS

• Founders Fund seeks $3 billion for new fund

  • The firm hasn't provided investors with an official size target for the new effort, but has said that $3 billion would be the approximate size.

  • In 2022 they raised $3.4 billion for their second growth equity fund and $1.8 billion for the eighth early-stage fund.

  • Founders Fund has backed some of the world's most valuable tech startups, including SpaceX and Stripe.

• Coinbase International’s trading volume surges to $119 billion weekly high

  • The cryptocurrency exchange saw a total trading volume average nearly $20 billion per day, 124% higher than the previous week.

  • Coinbase International averaged just $2.5 billion per day in trading volume throughout November.

  • So far in December, the exchange has averaged nearly $10 billion a day in trading volume.

• Digital health companies got pummeled by Wall Street in 2024 as industry adapts to post-Covid slowdown

  • It’s been nearly five years since COVID-19, but digital health companies are still reeling from the aftermath.

  • CNBC analysis of 39 public digital health companies, show two-thirds have lost value this year, while the Nasdaq is up 32%.

  • “The pandemic was a huge pull forward in demand, and we’re facing those tough, challenging comps,” analysts say.

CONTENT

• AI Semiconductor Landscape feat. Dylan Patel

  • Dylan Patel discusses the evolution of AI semiconductors, highlighting NVIDIA’s dominance and the rise of competitors like AMD and Cerebras.

  • The conversation covers scaling challenges for AI pre-training, the shift to GPUs, and synthetic data's growing role in AI workflows.

  • Predictions for 2025-2026 explore advancements in memory technology, chip manufacturing, and market dynamics.

• Alien Civilizations and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

  • Astrophysicist Adam Frank discusses the Fermi Paradox, the Drake Equation, and potential alien civilizations within the cosmos.

  • Topics include the search for habitable exoplanets, the Kardashev scale, and alien megastructures that could indicate advanced life.

  • The episode explores philosophical and scientific implications of alien contact, alongside technologies like warp drives and cryogenics.

• AI-Powered Acquisitions: A New Playbook

  • Joe Schmidt introduces the concept of AI-driven acquisitions, enabling small businesses to expand through strategic, tech-enhanced growth.

  • AI and automation are reshaping industries like insurance, healthcare, and freight.

  • The episode emphasizes leveraging LLMs to modernize operations and scaling opportunities for service-oriented startups.

WORLD

• Russia is using bitcoin in foreign trade, finance minister says

  • Russian companies have begun using Bitcoin and other digital currencies in international payments following Western sanctions.

  • Sanctions have complicated Russia's trade with its major partners such as China or Turkey, as local banks avoid scrutiny. 

  • Vladimir Putin claims the U.S. was undermining the role of the U.S dollar as reserve currency by using it for political purposes.

• Uber's $950M purchase of Delivery Hero's Foodpanda business blocked by Taiwan

  • The $950 million acquisition was blocked by the country's antitrust regulator, the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission.

  • Delivery Hero said it may appeal the decision by the antitrust regulator or terminate the transaction.

  • “The main competition for Uber Eats comes from Foodpanda,” claim the Taiwanese FTC.

• FCC ‘rip and replace’ provision for Chinese tech tops cyber provisions in defense bill

  • The policy bill signed by Joe Biden allocates $3B to remove and replace insecure equipment in response to recent hacks.

  • The funds will go to commonly called  ‘rip and replace,’ to get rid of Chinese networking equipment.

  • The effort was created in 2020 to junk equipment made by telecom giant Huawei.

AND MORE…

• Netflix has up-and-down first foray into NFL broadcasting after early glitch

  • Netflix is exploring sports content, including NFL, to capture holiday expansions and worldwide streaming audiences.

  • The league aims to maximize Christmas matchups, fueling massive viewer interest through unique festive broadcasts.

  • NFL’s exclusive deals remain crucial, pushing Netflix to consider multiple strategies for potential live coverage.

• Honey’s deal-hunting browser extension is accused of ripping off customers and YouTubers

  • The PayPal Honey browser extension is, in theory, a handy way to find better deals on products while you’re shopping online.

  • One YouTuber claims that Honey intercepts money from affiliates and that it ignores better deals in favor of its own coupons.

  • PayPal’s Josh Criscoe says “Honey follows industry rules and practices, including last-click attribution.”

• Shuttered electric air taxi startup Lilium may be saved after all

  • Investors have resurrected Lilium days after the electric air taxi startup ceased operations and laid off about 1,000 employees.

  • The parent company, Lilium N.V., will not receive any funds in accordance with German insolvency law.

  • Terms of the deal, which are expected to close in January, were not disclosed.