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

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

🤝 Capgemini and SAP partner with Mistral to deploy AI for sensitive sectors.
📸 Nikon’s cameras are about to get more expensive in the US because of tariffs.
📱 WhatsApp finally teases its long-awaited app version for iPad users.
⚖️ Four VW executives found guilty in trial that changed Europe’s auto market.
📉 Tech’s Trump whisperer Tim Cook goes quiet as influence fades away.

TECHNOLOGY

• Capgemini and SAP partner with Mistral to deploy AI for sensitive sectors

  • Technology companies Capgemini, Mistral AI, and SAP have joined forces to offer an array of AI models for the regulated industry.

  • Capgemini said the collaboration aims to establish a ‘trusted and secure’ framework for deploying bespoke AI solutions.

  • By combining Mistral AI’s generative AI models with the SAP BTP, Capgemini plans to develop low-carbon, business-ready AI use cases.

• Nikon’s cameras are about to get more expensive in the US because of tariffs

  • Nikon will raise US prices on June 23, 2025, due to new China-related tariffs.

  • The company hasn't disclosed which products will cost more or the exact price increases.

  • Other camera brands like Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm have also announced price hikes or delays.

• WhatsApp finally teases its long-awaited app version for iPad users

  • WhatsApp hinted at an upcoming iPad app after nearly two years in beta testing.

  • Meta appears to be expanding iPad support, with Instagram and WhatsApp apps reportedly in development.

  • Among Meta's apps, only Facebook has an iPad version; Threads remains limited to iPhone.

BUSINESS

• Four VW executives found guilty in trial that changed Europe’s auto market

  • Four former Volkswagen executives were sentenced for emissions cheating after a three-year trial in Germany.

  • Diesel engine developer Jens Hadler received four and a half years for ‘particularly serious’ fraud.

  • Scandal reduced diesel car sales from over 50% to 10%, accelerating Europe’s shift to electric vehicles.

• Tech’s Trump whisperer, Tim Cook, goes quiet as influence fades away

  • Tim Cook declined to join Trump’s West Asia trip, irritating the president and prompting public criticism.

  • Trump threatened 25% tariffs on iPhones made outside the U.S., targeting Apple’s overseas production.

  • Despite challenges, Apple remains highly profitable, but Cook’s influence with Trump appears significantly diminished.

• The campaign Goldman’s CEO waged to silence powerful internal critics

  • David Solomon was fed up with his critics inside Goldman Sachs GS 0.05 %increase; green up pointing triangle.

  • What rankled Solomon even more was the suspicion that some of the naysayers were leaking details to reporters.

  • Goldman launched a probe to figure out who was talking, according to people familiar with the probe.

WORLD

• Germany’s Merz proposes cutting EU funds to Slovakia under Fico’s leadership

  • Germany warns Slovakia and Hungary that EU funds may be withdrawn for deviating from Union policies.

  • Chancellor Merz criticized their veto power, potentially blocking EU sanctions against Russia amid rising tensions.

  • Both countries face accusations of close Russia ties, risking conflict with the EU over rule-of-law concerns.

• India and Pakistan's drone battles mark a new arms race

  • A little after 8:00 pm on May 8, red flares streaked through the night sky over the northern Indian city of Jammu.

  • The Indian and Pakistani militaries’ four days of fighting in May marked the first time New Delhi and Islamabad utilized aerial vehicles.

  • India and Pakistan ‘appear to view drone strikes as a way to apply military pressure without immediately provoking large-scale escalation.’

• Israel-backed Gaza food plan begins amid delays and growing dissent

  • The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began food distribution amid delays and leadership changes in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

  • Israel’s military offensive continues with evacuation orders, strikes, and efforts to recover hostages held by Hamas.

  • Aid efforts face challenges from Hamas threats, logistical hurdles, and international criticism of Israel’s blockade strategy.

CONTENT

• Making $2,800/day with AI design agents with Brett Williams

  • Brett demonstrates how AI tools like Higgs Field, Midjourney, and ChatGPT can be used together to create professional designs.

  • The process involves using ChatGPT to generate prompts, Midjourney for image creation, and Runway for adding motion to static images.

  • Brett emphasizes that these tools are accessible to non-designers and don't require special skills beyond basic prompting.

• Airwallex CEO Jack Zhang as the angel who turned $1M into $1B

  • Jack Zhang co-founded Airwallex in 2015, now a leading global payments and financial infrastructure company.

  • Airwallex processes over $100 billion in annual payment volume with $360 million in gross profit.

  • The company has raised $900 million from major investors like Square Peg, Lone Pine, and Tencent.

• Senator Ron Johnson discusses the aenate showdown over Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

  • The Big, Beautiful Bill could significantly increase the national debt, raising serious fiscal concerns.

  • Senator Johnson plans to push for a thorough review of the bill and its economic impact.

  • The bill’s future affects energy rescissions, DOGE cryptocurrency, and the direction of the Conservative movement.

FUTURISM

• ABI Research finds 53% of manufacturers adopting robots to improve quality

  • 53% of global manufacturers are adopting industrial robots to improve production quality and efficiency.

  • Lack of expertise and time are major barriers to robot adoption, not fear of automation.

  • Manufacturers see generative AI as useful for planning and optimization, but misunderstand AI-robotics integration.

• Tesla's humanoid robots aren’t the right fit for factories

  • Elon Musk expects thousands of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots to work in factories by year-end.

  • Former Optimus lead argues humanoid robots are inefficient for high-speed, repetitive factory and warehouse tasks.

  • Despite concerns, several companies are testing humanoid robots for manufacturing and logistics applications globally.

• University of Waterloo robot could be the future of helping first responders

  • University of Waterloo developed a soft, pneumatic robot designed to assist first responders in medical triage.

  • The robot attaches biometric wristbands to patients, helping prioritize care by monitoring vital signs quickly.

  • Their innovative robot won two awards at the Boston Form and Function Challenge robotics competition.

EXTRAS

• Southwest Airlines starts charging most passengers to check bags this week

  • Southwest Airlines will begin charging many passengers for checked bags starting this Wednesday.

  • This policy ends over 50 years of allowing two free checked bags for all travelers.

  • Passengers with Southwest credit cards or premium tickets can still check bags without fees.

• The Last of Us opens up a whole new perspective for its next season

  • In the season 2 finale of HBO's The Last of Us, which is heavily based on the 2020 PlayStation video game The Last of Us Part II.

  • At the end of The Last of Us season 2, episode 7, ‘Every Last One of Them,’ Ellie survives an almost deadly encounter.

  • Season 2 was focused on Ellie's perspective, but season 3 is primed to see things from Abby's eyes.

• Xiaomi aims at Tesla’s bestselling car in China with the longer-range YU7

  • Xiaomi plans to launch the YU7 SUV this summer, targeting Tesla’s bestselling China model.

  • Citi analyst Jeff Chung predicts the YU7 will significantly reduce Tesla Model Y’s market share.

  • Research firm CLSA expects the luxury YU7 to outsell Xiaomi’s existing SU7 model.

AND MORE

• China’s industrial profit growth accelerated notably in April this year.

• Toyota plans to shift some GR Corolla production to Britain soon.

• The U.S. strengthens Europe’s northern front, worried about war with Russia.

• Sweden’s Volvo Cars will cut 3,000 jobs in a major cost-cutting effort.

• Delve allows founders and compliance teams to get compliant in 15 hours or less.*

• The jaw-dropping cost of a girls’ weekend in the Hamptons revealed.

• EU tells Shein to fix consumer law breaches or face hefty fines.

• Product for Engineers is a trusted source, helping engineers ship products that users love.*

• Hungary bans pro-LGBTQ march for the first time under new crackdown law.