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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

📹 OpenAI pauses Sora video model after its controversial leak.
✨ SpaceX’s Starlink secures FCC approval for direct-to-cell satellite service.
📱 Australia bans children under 16 from social media without parental consent.
🦋 Bluesky’s open API raises alarms over data scraping.
💬 Elon Musk’s xAI plans consumer-focused app that competes with OpenAI.

TECH

• OpenAI Hits Pause on Sora Video Model After Leak

  • OpenAI suspended Sora access after artists leaked the tool online, protesting minimal compensation for their role as testers.

  • Artists accused OpenAI of exploiting unpaid labor for PR benefits, offering exposure instead of pay to those testing the $150 billion company's tool.

  • The protest reignited debates on AI industry transparency and the ethics of relying on external ‘red teamers’ for feedback and safety evaluations.

• Google’s Gemini Now Supports Spotify Integration

  • Gemini AI can now search and play Spotify music using natural language commands on Android devices.

  • Users must link Spotify to Google accounts and specify Spotify in requests if other music services are also connected.

  • The feature is part of Gemini Extensions’ rollout, with Spotify being the second non-Google app integrated after WhatsApp.

• Elon Musk’s xAI Plans Consumer-Focused App

  • xAI, Elon Musk’s AI initiative, plans to release a consumer app integrating conversational AI and task automation.

  • The app is part of Musk’s broader vision to create a competitive alternative to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

  • xAI’s focus on real-world applications and AI transparency aligns with Musk’s advocacy for responsible AI development.

BUSINESS

• Starlink Secures FCC Approval for Direct-to-Cell Satellite Service

  • SpaceX's Starlink received FCC approval for its partnership with T-Mobile, enabling direct-to-cell connectivity via satellites.

  • The service aims to expand mobile coverage to remote and underserved areas, bridging significant connectivity gaps.

  • The FCC imposed stringent interference compliance requirements, ensuring seamless operation with existing networks.

• OpenAI Secures $1.5 Billion Investment from SoftBank

  • SoftBank's $1.5 billion investment boosts OpenAI’s valuation, reflecting strong market confidence in AI technology.

  • The offer focuses on acquiring existing shares, benefiting early employees and investors looking for liquidity.

  • This marks SoftBank’s growing interest in AI, as it expands its portfolio to include next-generation technology leaders.

• Ford Calls for Incentives to Buy Electric Cars as Backlash Grows

  • Ford UK demands EV purchase incentives to address low consumer demand as industry faces pressure from government.

  • Stellantis announces Luton plant closure, risking 1,100 jobs.

  • Manufacturers warn unsustainable discounting is driving EV sales, while zero-emission targets and fines strain the sector.

CONTENT

• Joe Rogan Experience - Marc Andreessen

  • Marc Andreessen discusses AI’s transformative potential in education, medicine, and defense, alongside its ethical challenges.

  • He critiques traditional systems like manned fighter jets, advocating for AI-driven automation as a leap in efficiency.

  • The episode delves into economic policies, censorship, and free speech.

• Scaling Discord to 200M Users | 20VC

  • Jason shares why hiring experienced executives and traditional empowerment strategies often backfire in startup cultures.

  • He reflects on key moments, such as rejecting a $12BN Microsoft acquisition and how early user engagement shaped Discord's trajectory.

  • Citron highlights the connection between gaming and entrepreneurship, discussing resilience, strategic thinking, and how gaming skills translate into leadership.

• Eric Schmidt - The Risks and Opportunities of an AI Future

  • Eric Schmidt explores AI's dual nature, discussing risks like misinformation, loneliness, and inequality.

  • The conversation delves into regulation, with Schmidt addressing accountability, and the role of U.S.-China collaboration.

  • Schmidt emphasizes the urgent need for ethical AI development.

WORLD

• Australia Passes Law Banning Under-16s from Social Media

  • Australia introduces age restrictions on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, barring children under 16 without parental permission.

  • Enforcement challenges remain as critics question how apps will verify ages without compromising privacy.

  • Advocates praise the law for addressing mental health risks, but experts warn of unintended consequences for young users.

• Chinese Ship Suspected of Cutting Baltic Cables

  • Investigators allege the crew of Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 intentionally severed two critical Baltic undersea data cables by dragging its anchor.

  • NATO warships are monitoring the ship, suspected of acting on Russian intelligence orders; China denies involvement.

  • Damage highlights vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure amidst escalating U.S.-China tensions over undersea cables.

• Northern Israelis Hesitate to Return Despite Ceasefire

  • Ceasefire with Hezbollah brings temporary quiet to northern Israel, but residents express skepticism about lasting peace.

  • Agreement enforces U.N. Resolution 1701, limiting armed groups in southern Lebanon, but past violations raise concerns.

  • Displaced families await government action for reconstruction, fearing future attacks despite current calm.

AND MORE…

• NASA Discovers Underground City Beneath Greenland

  • NASA scientists uncover remnants of a possible ancient city below Greenland's ice, raising questions about past civilizations.

  • The discovery includes structures resembling streets and buildings, mapped using ice-penetrating radar.

  • Experts caution further research is needed to determine the city's origin and historical significance.

• Bluesky's Open API Sparks Concerns Over Data Scraping

  • Bluesky’s open API allows unrestricted data scraping, raising alarms about its use in training AI models.

  • Privacy advocates argue the policy lacks safeguards against misuse, while Bluesky defends it as a commitment to transparency.

  • Users question platform security as concerns over personal data exploitation grow in the AI era.

• Trump Considers Naming an ‘AI Czar’

  • President-elect Trump plans to create an ‘AI czar’ role in the White House to coordinate federal AI policies and regulations.

  • The position would bypass Senate confirmation and may merge with a proposed ‘crypto czar’ role to centralize governance.

  • Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, leaders of the extra-governmental group DOGE, are expected to influence the appointment.