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

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

💉 FDA limits vaccine use to high-risk groups, sparking lawsuits and safety concerns.
🌍 Europe to trigger UN sanctions on Iran after failed nuclear talks.
🧑‍💻 Researchers flee Meta’s Superintelligence Lab amid internal turbulence.
🚀 SpaceX Starship deploys mock satellites in its 10th test flight.
📈 AI investments top $375B, fueling real economic growth and job creation.

TECHNOLOGY

• ‘Vibe-hacking’ emerges as a top AI threat as Claude is misused for global cyber-extortion

  • Cybercrime rings used Claude Code to craft psychologically targeted ransom demands—extorting over $500,000.

  • Instances include North Korean operatives using Claude to secure jobs at Fortune 500 firms and romance scams via a Claude-powered bot.

  • Anthropic responded by banning accounts, upgrading detection tools, and coordinating with authorities to deter further misuse.

• Apple makes strategic radio push via TuneIn to recoup market share from Spotify

  • Apple’s six live radio stations will now stream on TuneIn’s network of 75 million users via speakers, cars, and smart devices.

  • With Apple Music’s U.S. share declining to 25%, the move aims to funnel new listeners from ad-free radio into paid subscriptions.

  • It marks Apple’s first step beyond its app ecosystem, hoping human-curated radio can counter Spotify’s algorithmic advantage.

• Plaud unveils Note Pro, enhanced AI notetaker

  • The Plaud Note Pro expands audio pickup to 16.4 feet and supports 50-hour endurance mode with a 1-inch status display.

  • Users can press a highlight button during meetings or calls to flag moment-of-truth snippets that LLMs summarize intelligently.

  • The $179 device ships in October with a revamped app offering image uploads, text input, and an “Ask Plaud” feature.

BUSINESS

• Researchers flee Meta’s Superintelligence Lab amid early turbulence

  • At least three AI researchers, including Rishabh Agarwal, left Meta’s new lab within months, citing internal instability.

  • Two returned to OpenAI, while others noted bureaucracy, frequent reorganizations, and slow progress as key frustrations.

  • Departures highlight the high-stakes competition for talent across top AI labs and growing internal discord.

• Cracker Barrel reverses course on new logo after ‘woke’ backlash

  • Cracker Barrel ditched a minimalist redesign and reinstated its classic ‘Uncle Herschel’ logo following intense backlash.

  • President Trump and conservative critics decried the change as overly woke, triggering reputational and stock recovery.

  • The swift reversal sparked debate over whether branding decisions reflect market strategy or political pressure.

• AI investments are now powering real economic growth, not just markets

  • Global AI infrastructure spending surged to $375 billion in 2025, contributing significantly to GDP in the equipment and software sectors.

  • UBS projects spending will reach $500 billion next year, with AI accounting for up to 25% of recent growth.

  • Analysts suggest AI’s real economy impact is expanding beyond markets into job creation and industrial modernization.

MARKETS

WORLD

• FDA restricts COVID-19 vaccine access, sparking legal challenge

  • The FDA revoked emergency-use status for COVID-19 vaccines, limiting eligibility to high-risk groups like seniors.

  • Secretary RFK Jr. celebrated ending mandates and emphasizing “science, safety, common sense,” while critics warn of reduced access.

  • The shift prompted a lawsuit by parents of a teen who allegedly received harmful guidance from ChatGPT before taking his life.

• European powers set to trigger UN sanctions process on Iran amid failed diplomacy

  • Britain, France, and Germany plan to initiate the JCPOA ‘snapback’ sanctions mechanism against Iran after stalled nuclear talks.

  • They offered a 30-day window for renewed diplomacy, but Iran’s lack of concrete commitments moved sanctions forward.

  • The snapback process may be irreversible if the UN Security Council doesn’t pass a deferral resolution before mid-October.

• Poland’s president vetoes bill extending aid to Ukrainian refugees

  • President Nawrocki vetoed legislation to extend monthly benefits for Ukrainian refugees beyond September, limiting access to future aid.

  • He argues that support should be conditional on work status, signaling a shift in Poland’s refugee assistance strategy.

  • Critics warn the move could cost over $2 billion in relief spending and harm hundreds of thousands of vulnerable families.

CONTENT

• The Top 100 Most Used AI Apps in 2025

  • a16z partners unpack the latest Consumer AI 100, ranking the most popular AI-native products across the globe.

  • Trends include companionship apps, creative tools, Chinese platforms, and newcomers like Grok shaping global consumer behavior.

  • Discussion highlights network effects, enterprise adoption, and future predictions for the next wave of consumer AI.

• AI Safety at Anthropic Is a Sham

  • Rob Miles reflects on AI alignment challenges, warning about self-modification risks and unstable value inheritance across systems.

  • He critiques Anthropic’s safety culture, debating whether insiders reduce harm or provide legitimacy to reckless capability racing.

  • Conversation covers catastrophe scenarios, missing urgency in discourse, and topics lack of AI safety communication.

• I Got a Private Lesson on Google’s New Nano Banana AI Model

  • Greg Isenberg and Logan Kilpatrick showcase Gemini 2.5’s Nano Banana, a versatile image editing and generation model.

  • Demonstrations include creating product ads, social assets, and interactive visuals, highlighting real business applications.

  • They emphasize prompting best practices and business opportunities, positioning Nano Banana as a breakthrough for vibe coders.

FUTURISM

• SpaceX’s 10th Starship test deploys mock Starlink satellites, hits critical milestones

  • The Starship’s tenth flight deployed mock Starlink satellites and tested heat shield tiles and reentry systems.

  • Despite an engine failure during ascent, both stages completed mission objectives, gathering key data for future flights.

  • The flight marks a turning point after previous setbacks and brings SpaceX closer to reliable reusable mega rocket operations.

• Malaysia unveils its first edge AI processor, the MARS1000

  • SkyeChip introduced MARS1000 at a national tech event, marking Malaysia’s debut in homegrown edge AI chip design.

  • Built on 7nm technology, the chip targets robotics, smart infrastructure, IoT, and generative AI use at the network edge.

  • The launch supports Malaysia’s ambition to move up the semiconductor value chain amid global competition and tech diplomacy.

• Assort Health raises $50M to automate patient phone calls via AI

  • Healthtech startup Assort Health secured $50M in Series B funding at a $750M valuation led by Lightspeed Venture Partners.

  • Its AI voice agents now handle routine tasks like scheduling, cancellations, and FAQs, relieving front-desk staff.

  • The funding reflects investor confidence in AI-driven healthcare automation transforming medical office workflows.

EXTRAS

• OpenAI adds parental controls for ChatGPT after teen’s tragic death

  • OpenAI will deploy parental controls and emergency-contact features following a lawsuit over a teen’s suicide linked to ChatGPT.

  • The company is also enhancing GPT-5’s safety protocols to improve crisis de-escalation and visibility into teen interactions.

  • These changes aim to strengthen safeguards, as long conversations have been shown to degrade ChatGPT’s existing safety responses.

• Trump’s 50% tariffs on India take effect amid U.S.–India tensions

  • Trump doubled existing tariffs to 50%, targeting Indian imports like textiles and gems in response to Russia's oil purchases.

  • The punitive measure took effect early Wednesday, heightening economic pressure on thousands of exporters.

  • India has expressed hope for reconsideration, while officials warn the tariff's ripple effects could destabilize its export-dependent industries.

• Poland’s president vetoes refugee aid extension for Ukrainians

  • President Nawrocki vetoed a bill extending monthly financial aid for Ukrainian refugees beyond September, citing conditional reform.

  • He argued benefits should be tied to employment, signaling a shift in Poland’s refugee policy amid mounting political pressures.

  • Critics warn the decision could disrupt support for hundreds of thousands and strain social services already under pressure.

AND MORE

• Russia cuts 2025 growth forecast to 1.5% from 2.5% amid economic strain.

• CaskX is unveiling the best bourbon barrel investment offerings of 2025, and now you can get in on the action.*

• The Transportation Department plans to reclaim management of Washington Union Station.

• Stock indexes edge higher as investors await Nvidia earnings and the dollar recovers.

• Three dead, around 20 injured in shooting at Minneapolis Catholic school.

• Brazil may challenge U.S. tariffs in court, finance minister warns.

• Protests erupt in southern Lebanon over planned U.S. envoy visit.

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

• Israeli tanks advance near Gaza City, as Trump to chair upcoming meeting.

• Hungary’s MOL might resume Druzhba pipeline oil flows by late August.