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

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

🧑‍💻 Copilot Appearance adds real-time emotions and evolving personas to Microsoft’s AI.
📱 Gemini AI arrives on Pixel Watch, replacing Assistant on Wear OS devices.
🛠️ Google’s Opal lets users build apps via prompts and a visual editor.
🚕 Tesla’s robotaxi pilot begins in San Francisco with safety drivers onboard.
📉 Volkswagen sees Q2 profit drop 29% amid rising tariffs and supply pressures.

TECHNOLOGY

• Microsoft’s AI boss unveils Copilot as a persona that ages with you

  • Mustafa Suleyman says Copilot will evolve into a personalized companion with its own virtual identity and ageing over time.

  • The experimental Appearance feature animates Copilot with real‑time expressions—smiles, nods, and surprise—during conversations.

  • Early access is now live in Copilot Labs for select users in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, aiming for emotional connection and continuity.

• Google testing a vibe‑coding app called Opal

  • Opal lets users build mini web apps via text prompts and remix templates using a visual workflow editor.

  • Each generation step is editable: users can view and tweak prompts in Opal’s interface to refine logic.

  • Created through Google Labs in the U.S., Opal targets non‑technical users and joins tools like Fiverr and Cursor.

• Gemini arrives on Wear OS: Pixel Watch gets smart AI assistant

  • Google’s Gemini AI replaces Assistant on Wear OS 4+ devices, enabling natural voice queries directly on smartwatches.

  • Casual ask‑and‑reply queries work well, but users are advised to verify important data as accuracy issues remain.

  • Embedded on Pixel Watch via update, Gemini enables on‑wrist tasks and daily management without needing a phone.

BUSINESS

• Meta seeks new EU election ad rules amid regulatory scrutiny

  • Meta proposes EU-wide standards requiring clear labels and transparency for political ads across Instagram and Facebook.

  • The plan mandates disclosure of ad sponsors and post‑error correction options to bolster voter trust and accountability.

  • Meta aims to preempt tighter EU regulations after past criticism over misleading and opaque political ad targeting.

• Tesla begins Bay Area robotaxi rollout with safety drivers onboard

  • Tesla launches its robotaxi service in San Francisco, initially operating with safety drivers to supervise rides.

  • The pilot includes trained human monitors across varied urban routes before a planned shift to full autonomy.

  • Company expects to scale the service regionally if regulatory reviews and technical validation meet internal safety benchmarks.

• Volkswagen sees 29% fall in Q2 profit due to tariff pressure

  • VW’s Q2 net profit declined 29% on rising import tariffs, especially affecting exports to North America.

  • Sales dipped despite strong EV demand, with costs and supply disruption eating into margins across multiple regions.

  • Volkswagen is adjusting pricing strategy and production to mitigate tariff impact while shifting toward localizing manufacturing.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Thailand-Cambodia border conflict grows with mounting casualties

  • Heavy artillery and F‑16 airstrikes have escalated clashes along several border points, severely impacting civilians and infrastructure.

  • Thailand overwhelmingly outmatches Cambodia militarily, with over 360,000 active troops and advanced air and naval capabilities.

  • More than 120,000 people have been displaced amid at least 20 deaths and deepening regional instability.

• Trump’s peace push falters as Gaza ceasefire talks collapse

  • The U.S. pulled its negotiating team from Qatar after Hamas delivered what it called a vague, non‑constructive ceasefire proposal.

  • Israel also withdrew its delegation, and both countries are exploring alternative strategies outside formal talks to secure hostages.

  • Despite previous brief truces, Trump’s broader ambition to shape lasting peace across Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran faces mounting setbacks.

• UN warns Nigeria hunger crisis threatens 31 million amid funding problems

  • Nearly 31 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity, with emergency aid set to end for 1.3 million people by August.

  • Funding shortfalls will force closure of 150 nutrition clinics and risk severe malnutrition for 300,000 children.

  • Reduced international assistance across West and Central Africa jeopardizes regional stability and heightens potential for disasters.

CONTENT

• Should you be friends with an AI?

  • Sam Harris and Paul Bloom discuss the psychology of AI and how users might project consciousness onto artificial agents.

  • The episode explores AI as potential psychosis, touching on loneliness, identity, and whether simulated connection is meaningful or harmful.

  • They also examine political issues like Trump’s attacks on science, Epstein conspiracies, and Sam’s public split with Elon Musk.

• How top startups build iconic brands

  • Karri Saarinen reviews YC startup websites and shares insights on building authentic, design-forward brands with emotional resonance.

  • He emphasizes messaging clarity, specific brand focus, and how iterative design helps companies evolve without losing identity.

  • Examples from Sprites AI, GigaML, and Confident AI highlight common branding pitfalls and practical visual strategies that improve conversion.

• Diving into Apple's Liquid Glass

  • Verge editors explore Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language, critiquing its polish, inconsistencies, and cross-device implementation.

  • They also test watchOS 26’s AI fitness coach, comparing performance promises with reality and analyzing user reactions.

  • Later topics include Tesla’s rough quarter, Amazon’s AI wearable acquisition, and reactions to the new AppleCare One service.

FUTURISM

• Microsoft probing if Chinese hackers learned SharePoint flaws through alert

  • Microsoft is investigating whether its own security alert system revealed a SharePoint flaw before global patches were fully applied.

  • Chinese state-sponsored groups exploited the unpatched bug to breach over 400 targets including U.S. nuclear and health agencies.

  • Officials recommend immediate patching and password rotation as on-premise SharePoint systems remain actively targeted by advanced attackers.

• AI probably won’t replace you just yet, Wharton professor says

  • AI is unlikely to replace most workers soon because oversight and judgment still limit full-scale automation of jobs.

  • Gallup found 40% of employees occasionally use AI tools and 19% now report weekly usage in the workplace.

  • Entry-level roles face greater risk while most positions remain protected from immediate disruption or large-scale labor replacement.

• What if AI made the world’s economic growth explode?

  • AI could rapidly scale innovation and labor capacity, potentially unlocking massive increases in global economic productivity.

  • Optimistic models predict explosive GDP growth but highlight limits like inequality, energy use, and regulatory constraints.

  • Experts warn most forecasts remain speculative and suggest modest near-term gains of one to two percent are more realistic.

EXTRAS

• Women are anonymously spilling tea about men in their cities on viral Tea app

  • The app lets women anonymously rate local men as red or green flags sharing experiences publicly.

  • Viral leaks suggest users bypass screenshot restrictions via secondary devices or screen recording.

  • Critics warn anonymity may enable defamation while supporters praise the app’s safety‑focused peer review.

• Apple launches AppleCare One subscription covering multiple devices

  • AppleCare One is a $19.99/month plan covering up to three devices plus extra $5.99/month per additional device.

  • It includes full AppleCare+ benefits, theft and loss protection for iPads and Apple Watches.

  • Customers can add eligible devices up to four years old provided they pass a diagnostics eligibility check.

• Trump says he once wanted to break Nvidia up before learning more

  • Trump admitted he considered breaking up Nvidia before understanding its role and CEO Jensen Huang’s leadership.

  • After learning more, he reversed his stance and praised Huang during an AI summit speech.

  • Nvidia dominates AI hardware markets and is valued near $4 trillion with global semiconductor influence.

AND MORE

• Citi‑YouGov survey shows UK short‑term inflation expected to rise to 4 percent.

• Goldman and J.P. Morgan scale back ECB rate‑cut forecasts, citing Eurozone resilience.

• Gain confidence and clarity with Rich Paul and unlock access to 200+ more classes taught by the world’s best with MasterClass!*

• Iran begins nuclear talks with EU powers ahead of looming UN sanctions deadline.

• Kremlin insists Putin–Zelenskiy meeting only viable as final peace‑deal step.

• Wall Street rises on U.S.–EU trade deal hopes; Intel slides.

• Oil prices ease to a three‑week low on demand concerns.

• Enhance yours with Zoho CRM, a solution built to create impactful customer journeys.*