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

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

🍏 Apple will allow external app links and third-party stores in the EU.
📵 Japanese court bans Pixel 7 over LTE patent violation claims.
🖥️ Microsoft retires Blue Screen of Death after nearly 40 years.
🧠 Meta poaches top OpenAI talent to boost AI reasoning models.
📱 Gemini is set to control Android apps and replace the Assistant fully.

TECHNOLOGY

• Apple Announces Sweeping App Store Changes in the EU

  • Apple will allow third-party app marketplaces and external links in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Act.

  • Developers gain discretion over link designs with optional disclosure prompts for users.

  • New tiered fees replace the flat Core Technology Fee, while existing payments focus on external platforms only.

• Google Pixel 7 Series Banned From Sale in Japan After Patent Ruling

  • A Japanese court ruled that Pixel 7 smartphones violate Pantech’s LTE signal-mapping patents, banning their sale.

  • Google faces potential injunctions on Pixel 8 and 9 models as the patent owner seeks broader enforcement.

  • Sales bans affect Japan’s second-largest smartphone brand and may disrupt future market momentum.

• Microsoft Replaces Iconic Blue Screen of Death With Black Screen

  • After nearly 40 years, Windows 11 will display a streamlined Black Screen of Death, removing QR codes and sad faces.

  • The updated screen lists stop codes and faulty driver info to help users diagnose issues without dumping crash logs.

  • A Quick Machine Recovery feature launching later this summer aims to swiftly restore unbootable PCs.

BUSINESS

• Meta hires key OpenAI researcher to work on AI reasoning models

  • Trapit Bansal leaves OpenAI to join Meta’s superintelligence lab, boosting its reasoning model capabilities.

  • Bansal previously spearheaded OpenAI’s reinforcement-learning efforts and foundational o1 reasoning model work.

  • His move follows Meta’s aggressive recruiting of top talent using lucrative offers and deep-pocketed incentives.

• US stock futures rise as chips gain and Micron results precede GDP data

  • U.S. stock futures tick higher, driven by strength in chipmakers ahead of Micron earnings and upcoming GDP figures.

  • Tech sector support comes from recent chip demand and upbeat guidance, offsetting broader economic caution.

  • Investors await GDP data and Fed commentary to confirm if growth momentum and policy outlook align.

• FT analysis on AI industry investment and regulatory trends

  • The article explores AI growth exuberance, contrasting investment hype with unrealized revenues.

  • FT calls for nuanced policy and governance structures to manage AI’s financial and societal implications.

  • It highlights pressure on firms to balance innovation with responsibility amid mounting regulatory scrutiny.

MARKETS

WORLD

• ICE Is Using a New Facial Recognition App to Identify People, Leaked Emails Show

  • ICE is deploying a mobile app called Mobile Fortify that identifies individuals using facial and fingerprint data via CBP’s border database.

  • The app allows agents to scan people in the field and compare images against government-collected border-entry photos.

  • Use of the tool inside the U.S. raises concerns over privacy, legal authority, and unregulated biometric surveillance.

• North Korea to Open Beach Resort as Kim Jong Un Eyes Tourism

  • North Korea will debut its Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort on July 1, featuring hotels, a water park, and a 20,000-person capacity.

  • Initially limited to domestic tourists, with Russian group access possible in early July; foreign tourists remain restricted.

  • The opening reflects Kim Jong Un’s push to diversify the economy via tourism, despite ongoing sanctions and isolation.

• Senators Receive Delayed Iran Briefing as Trump Threatens Media Coverage

  • Classified briefing on U.S. strikes in Iran resumed amid partisan clashes over leak responsibility and intelligence transparency.

  • Trump pressures Republicans to pass his ‘big, beautiful bill’ and accuses Democrats of leaking info on Iran’s nuclear sites.

  • Debate intensifies over U.S. strikes' effectiveness, with sharp divisions between GOP and Democrats on oversight and communication.

CONTENT

• A Billion Years of Evolution in a Single Afternoon — George Church

  • George Church explains how falling sequencing costs and AI tools enable breakthroughs in aging, de-extinction, and biology.

  • He forecasts that aging could be reversed by 2050 using cell therapies, CRISPR, and multiplexed experiments guided by predictive models.

  • Church warns of risks like weaponized synthetic organisms emerging from increasingly accessible bioengineering platforms.

• Navan Files to Go Public and Canva Pulls the Brakes: Why and What Happens?

  • Investors debate Navan’s IPO timing and Canva’s strategic delay amid changing late-stage funding and liquidity landscapes.

  • Topics include Meta’s recruitment of Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, and Zuck’s $100B bet on AI leadership.

  • The episode critiques SaaS valuations, IPO readiness, and the tension between market hype and long-term revenue fundamentals.

• Multi-Agent AI, Open Protocols & Startup Acceleration with Saurabh Tiwary

  • Google Cloud’s Saurabh Tiwary introduces new frameworks like ADK and A2A for interoperable AI agent collaboration.

  • The episode explores how multimodal agent inputs will accelerate automation across business functions and startup workflows.

  • Open standards and cross-platform protocols are positioned as key to scaling multi-agent systems in enterprise AI.

FUTURISM

• Google Preps Gemini to Replace Assistant and Control Android Apps

  • Starting July 7, users can have Gemini manage Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and utilities regardless of the Apps Activity setting.

  • Device functions remain optional, and chats are not used to train AI if Apps Activity is off.

  • Conversations are retained for 72 hours for security, while Gemini positions itself to fully replace Google Assistant this year.

• Google Launches Doppl, Virtual Outfit-Try On App

  • Doppl lets users upload a full-body photo and overlay outfit images to generate virtual try-on videos.

  • Available now on iOS and Android in the U.S., offering a standalone, interactive AI shopping experience.

  • The app builds on Google Shopping tech, aiding data gathering on virtual apparel fitting and style preferences.

• CoreWeave CEO Becomes Deca‑Billionaire as AI Cloud Services Surge

  • CoreWeave’s IPO and 300% stock surge boosted CEO Michael Intrator’s net worth to ~ US$10 billion in just three months.

  • The cloud GPU provider serves Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia, though it holds $8.8 billion in debt against its crypto-mining roots.

  • Revenue hit nearly $1 billion in Q1, but concerns remain around debt levels and continued investor appetite for AI infrastructure.

EXTRAS

• India Pushes Power Distributors to Speed Up Clean Energy Deals

  • India’s power ministry proposes mandating distributors seek regulatory approvals within 30 days of signing clean‑energy deals.

  • Developers gain an extra buffer if approvals exceed 60 days post-application or 120 days post-agreement to prevent project delays.

  • The draft aims to accelerate deployment toward India’s 2030 target of 500 GW renewable capacity, addressing widespread land hurdles.

• YouTube Tests AI‑Powered Search Carousel for Premium Users

  • A new AI search feature surfaces a top video clip, thumbnails, and generated response for queries in travel, shopping, and local topics.

  • Currently available to select U.S. YouTube Premium users on iOS and Android, the trial runs through July 30, 2025.

  • Also expanding its conversational AI tool, letting non-Premium users ask questions about video content.

• EU and U.S. Officials Outline New Trade Deal Framework

  • The EU received a draft proposal from U.S. officials detailing a potential trade agreement framework benefiting both markets.

  • Key points include reduced tariffs, tightened digital trade rules, and enhanced support for clean‑tech ties amid climate diplomacy.

  • The outline sets the stage for formal discussions, but both sides underline the need for domestic approvals before any deal is finalized.

AND MORE

• Meta rolls out ‘Zuck Bucks’ to attract top AI talent.

• Chinese chipmaker Biren plans Hong Kong IPO.

• Want a byte-sized version of Hacker News? Try TLDR’s free daily newsletter for free.*

• Bloomberg warns of copyright risks for AI tools post-Anthropic ruling.

• Salesforce says AI handles 30% of internal work operations.

• Start your online business for free with Shopify, then get 3 months for just $1.*

• DeepSeek delays release amid performance concerns.

• CoreWeave CEO enters ultra-rich ranks after 300% stock surge.