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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🎧 Spotify rolls out verified badges to distinguish human artists from AI.
🚗 Google’s Gemini AI is rolling out to millions of cars worldwide.
📈 Apple shares climb nearly 4% on iPhone 17 & MacBook Neo demand.
⚖️ Musk finishes testimony as lawyers clash over second witness’s statements.
🚨 UK raises terror threat to severe after two Jewish men are stabbed.

TECHNOLOGY

• Spotify rolls out verified badges to distinguish human artists from AI (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: NBC, MSN, PCMag}}

  • Spotify launched a 'Verified by Spotify' badge to help listeners identify authentic human artists.

  • To qualify, artists need an identifiable presence, linked social accounts, and consistent listener engagement over time.

  • At launch, over 99% of actively searched artists will be verified, mostly independent across all genres.

• Google's Gemini AI is rolling out to millions of cars worldwide (The Verge)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, Yahoo!}}

  • Google will replace Google Assistant with Gemini in all cars with Google built-in.

  • General Motors will bring Gemini to around four million vehicles across Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC.

  • The U.S. rollout begins with English support, extending to existing compatible cars via software updates.

• Anthropic's new funding round could value the company at $900B+ (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, MSN}}

  • Anthropic is seeking investor allocations within 48 hours, with the $50B round closing in two weeks.

  • The company targets a $900B+ valuation, potentially surpassing rival OpenAI's $852B post-money valuation.

  • Anthropic's revenue run rate has exceeded $40B, with this likely its final private round before IPO.

BUSINESS

• Apple shares climb nearly 4% on iPhone 17 & MacBook Neo demand (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Reuters, Yahoo!, CNET}}

  • Apple shares rose nearly 4% after hours on strong iPhone 17 and MacBook Neo demand.

  • Mac sales beat estimates, but iPhone revenue missed slightly due to ongoing chip supply constraints.

  • Services revenue and China sales both beat forecasts, with a $100B share buyback authorized.

• Musk finishes testimony as lawyers clash over second witness's statements (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: The Guardian, NY Times, The Verge}}

  • Lawyers from OpenAI and Microsoft completed their cross-examination of Musk in court.

  • Musk's legal team seeks to strike parts of Jared Birchall's testimony on xAI's OpenAI bid.

  • A judge is weighing whether to remove some Birchall testimony on Musk's donor-advised funds.

• Trump administration says Iran war ‘terminated’ ahead of 60-day deadline (AP)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, Al Jazeera, The Guardian}}

  • Trump administration claims Iran war ended due to April ceasefire, avoiding need for congressional approval.

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argues ceasefire paused hostilities, bypassing 60-day War Powers requirement for approval.

  • Despite ceasefire, Iran holds Strait of Hormuz while U.S. Navy maintains blockade on oil exports.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Australia & Japan markets climb as investors look past Iran war fears (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: MSN, Investing.com}}

  • Most major Asian markets were closed due to the May Day holiday across the region.

  • Australian and Japan markets climbed, with Tokyo reportedly intervening to support the yen.

  • Investors focused on strong U.S. earnings, overlooking weaker-than-expected economic data and concerns.

• UK raises terror threat to severe after two Jewish men are stabbed (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: AP, BBC}}

  • The UK declared an antisemitism emergency and pledged stronger security for Jewish communities nationwide.

  • London's Golders Green stabbing, linked to Iran, prompted the threat level rise from substantial to severe.

  • Two Jewish men, aged 34 and 76, were seriously injured but remain in stable condition.

• ChatGPT Images 2.0 finds its biggest audience in India, not globally (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, India Today}}

  • India is ChatGPT Images 2.0's largest market, with users creating avatars and fantasy-themed images.

  • App downloads rose 11% week-over-week post-launch, but daily active users grew only around 1%.

  • Global web traffic increased just 1.6% week-over-week, signaling a mixed worldwide response.

FUTURISM

• Stripe launches Link, a digital wallet built for humans & AI agents (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, Stripe}}

  • Stripe introduced Link, a digital wallet letting users connect payment methods and track spending easily.

  • Link allows AI agents to make purchases securely on a user's behalf across web, iOS, and Android.

  • The wallet supports cards, crypto, buy now/pay later, and offers 90 days of purchase protection.

• China's EV competition shifts from price cuts to an AI features race (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: Tech Buzz}}

  • China's EV price war is evolving into a 'feature war' centered on AI and cockpit technology.

    ByteDance's Doubao AI chatbot is now integrated into 145 car models and millions of vehicles.

    Alibaba's Qwen AI is rolling out in-car services, including ordering food delivery via voice command.

• SoftBank is building Roze AI to automate data center construction with robots (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: MEXC, Financial Times, Tech Buzz}}

  • SoftBank is forming Roze AI, a new company using autonomous robots to build U.S. data centers.

  • The conglomerate is already preparing Roze AI for an IPO targeting a $100B valuation by late 2026.

  • The move mirrors broader industry efforts, including Jeff Bezos's Project Prometheus, to automate industrial sectors with AI.

• Explore the essential startup reading database*

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  • As aspiring leaders and innovators, this list serves as a bridge to absorbing the knowledge that has propelled others to success.

CONTENT

• Master AI video marketing with Magnific CEO Joaquín Cuenca Abela (This Week in Startups)

  • J-Cal speaks with Magnific CEO Joaquín Cuenca Abela on generative AI transforming creative startups.

  • Discussion shows AI video now replaces months of production with 24 hours and one person.

  • Founders learn to use new tools to scale creative output better, cheaper, and faster.

• Legendary trader Paul Tudor Jones discusses AI risk, bubbles & Buffett (Invest Like The Best)

  • Paul Tudor Jones reflects on 50-year career, comparing trading versus long-term investing approaches.

  • He shares lessons from 1987 crash, 1980 silver collapse, and evolving views on Buffett.

  • Jones warns about debt bubble risks, AI safety concerns, and need for stronger regulation.

• Ian Bremmer discusses Iran war, U.S. alliances unraveling, rising global tensions (The Prof G Pod)

  • Ian Bremmer analyzes Iran war, rising tensions, and shifting global geopolitical power dynamics.

  • He warns U.S. alliances are weakening while conflicts intensify across Middle East, Europe, China.

  • Bremmer says fragmented world increases instability and challenges long-term American global leadership role.

EXTRAS

• Faraday Future paid $7.5M to a company tied to its founder (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: MSN, Yahoo!}}

  • Faraday Future paid $7.5M to a founder-linked company in 2025, delivering only four vehicles that year.

  • The payments occurred while the SEC was investigating related-party transactions involving founder Jia Yueting.

  • The SEC dropped its four-year investigation in March amid declining white-collar enforcement under Trump.

• Japan Airlines begins humanoid robot trials at Haneda airport amid labor shortages (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: BBC, Tech Buzz, The Guardian}}

  • Japan Airlines is testing humanoid robots at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport for ground operations starting May.

  • The trial addresses Japan’s chronic labor shortages, worsened by aging population and rising tourism demand.

  • Analysts say robots still require human oversight despite rapid advances in AI and automation capabilities.

• OpenAI launches Advanced Account Security for ChatGPT with Yubico partnership (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: MSN, WIRED, MEXC}}

  • OpenAI launched Advanced Account Security, offering opt-in protections for high-risk ChatGPT users.

  • Yubico partnered with OpenAI to link two co-branded YubiKey products to ChatGPT accounts.

  • The program targets journalists, political dissidents, researchers, and elected officials facing phishing threats.

AND MORE

• Ukraine sees path to Japanese arms as Tokyo eases export rules.

• Hackers exploit cPanel bug affecting millions of websites worldwide.

• Hire vetted LATAM engineers in as little as five days, and save up to 70% on salary costs.*

• Rivian reduces DOE loan to $4.5B for planned Georgia factory.

• China’s self-driving truck leaders say AI gains won’t speed rollout.

• Y Combinator alum Skio sells for $105M cash after raising $8M.

• Prosecutors release video showing armed man storming correspondents’ dinner.