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

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

🔓 An unauthorized group has gained access to Anthropic's Mythos.
🚀 SpaceX is in talks to acquire Cursor in a $60B deal.
💵 U.S. stock futures rose as the dollar fell on news of a ceasefire in Iran.
🗣️ Fed nominee Warsh denies making any rate-cut promises to President Trump.
🕵️‍♂️ Two CIA officials died in a Mexico crash after a drug lab operation.

TECHNOLOGY

• An unauthorized group has gained access to Anthropic's cybersecurity tool Mythos (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Financial Times, The Information}}

  • An unauthorized group accessed Anthropic's Mythos cybersecurity tool via a third-party vendor environment.

  • Anthropic is investigating the breach but says it has found no evidence of impact on its core systems.

  • The group, active on Discord, has been using Mythos regularly since it was announced.

• SpaceX is in talks to acquire Cursor in a $60B deal (The Verge)
  ^{_{More: Financial Times, AInvest, The Information}}

  • SpaceX's $75B IPO could fund a $60B Cursor acquisition or a $10B AI coding partnership.

  • The deal would merge Cursor's AI tools with SpaceX's Colossus supercomputer for next-gen coding infrastructure.

  • Cursor's valuation has surged from $2.5B to $50B amid rising demand for AI agent technology.

• ChatGPT's new Images 2.0 model can now generate accurate, readable text (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Engadget, Yahoo!, WIRED}}

  • ChatGPT's Images 2.0 marks a major leap in AI image generation, particularly for text accuracy.

  • Earlier AI image models frequently misspelled words, making text-heavy visuals, such as menus, unusable.

  • Images 2.0 can now produce restaurant-quality menus with correct spelling and realistic formatting.

BUSINESS

• U.S. stock futures rose as the dollar fell on Iran ceasefire news (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: CNBC, Yahoo!, Investing.com}}

  • Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, briefly lifting risk appetite in markets.

  • The U.S. dollar index steadied at 98.415, its highest level since April 13, amid renewed uncertainty.

  • Fed nominee Warsh's Senate comments were seen as slightly hawkish, while retail sales data impressed.

• Fed nominee Warsh denies making any rate-cut promises to President Trump (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: AOL, NY Times, Business Times}}

  • Kevin Warsh told senators that Trump never asked for rate-cut commitments during their job discussions.

  • Warsh pledged full independence from the White House while pursuing broad reforms at the Fed.

  • His confirmation process may be delayed until a separate probe into Powell is dropped.

• Virginia voters approved a redistricting plan that could boost Democratic congressional seats (AP)
  ^{_{More: NBC, LA Times}}

  • Virginia voters backed a mid-decade redistricting plan that could deliver Democrats four additional House seats.

  • The amendment bypasses a bipartisan commission, allowing Virginia's Democratic-led legislature to redraw district maps.

  • The state Supreme Court is reviewing whether the plan is legal, potentially overturning the referendum results.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Two CIA officials died in a Mexico crash after a drug lab operation (Washington Post)
  ^{_{More: AP, BBC, NY Times}}

  • Two U.S. officials confirmed as CIA agents were killed returning from a drug lab raid in Mexico.

  • Two Mexican investigators also died in the crash during a convoy returning from the anti-drug operation.

  • Conflicting accounts from U.S. and Mexican officials highlight growing American involvement in Mexico's security operations.

• Japan's exports rose 11.7% in March, beating forecasts for a seventh month (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: Reuters, Business Times}}

  • Japan's exports grew 11.7% year on year in March, surpassing the market forecast of 11%.

  • Exports to China surged 17.7%, while shipments to the U.S. rose 3.4% year-on-year.

  • Japan recorded a trade surplus of 667B yen, falling short of the forecast 1.1T yen.

• Taiwan's president postponed his Africa visit after China pressured transit countries (AP)
  ^{_{More: Reuters, Korea Times}}

  • President Lai Ching-te's trip to Eswatini was postponed after three countries canceled his flight permits.

  • Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar withdrew permits under alleged economic pressure from Chinese authorities.

  • Taiwan condemned China's actions as interference in other nations' affairs and a disruption of regional stability.

FUTURISM

• Meta plans to train AI models using employees' keystrokes & mouse data (Futurism)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, MSN, Investing.com}}

  • Meta will collect employee mouse movements and keystrokes to train more capable AI models.

  • The initiative aims to provide AI agents with real examples of how people use computers.

  • Meta says safeguards are in place to protect sensitive content and limit data use.

• YouTube is expanding AI deepfake detection tools to entertainment industry figures (CNET)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, The Verge}}

  • YouTube's 'likeness detection' technology identifies AI-generated deepfakes featuring real people's faces without consent.

  • The tool works similarly to Content ID, allowing public figures to request the removal of deepfakes.

  • The technology is expanding to entertainment figures after earlier pilots with politicians and journalists.

• GRAI believes AI should make music more social, not replace artists (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: MSN, AInvest}}

  • GRAI, backed by a $9M seed round, wants AI to enhance music engagement, not replace creation.

  • The startup builds tools for remixing and sharing music while giving artists control over their content.

  • GRAI's apps, including 'Music with Friends,' explore how consumers engage with music beyond just listening

• Cut through the hype. Roko’s Basilisk distills the day’s AI breakthroughs, market moves, and workable workflows into a five-minute brief.

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CONTENT

• Justin Wolfers breaks down the ceasefire's meaning & the Pentagon's proposed budget (Prof G Markets)

  • Economist Justin Wolfers unpacks the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and how to read the Defense Department's new budget.

  • Analyst Rich Greenfield joins to assess Netflix's post-earnings stock drop and Disney's new CEO performance.

  • The episode also explores whether AI's growing backlash is rooted in rising wealth inequality rather than technology.

• Biotech investor Alex Karnal says a trillion-dollar health revolution is underway (Invest Like The Best)

  • Karnal argues GLP-1 drugs mark a pivotal shift from reactive medicine to proactive, preventive healthcare.

  • A modern 'health stack' combining AI, drug discovery, and prevention could meaningfully extend human lifespans.

  • Karnal also explores PCSK9 inhibitors, Alzheimer's treatments, cancer screening, and AI's growing role in medicine.

• Zach Yadegari shares how to validate great business ideas with AI (My First Million)

  • Zach, founder of Cal AI, validates ideas by targeting viral potential, personal experience, and market precedent.

  • Steve Cohen advises simply surviving the next three years as AI reshapes the business landscape entirely.

  • Investors suggest either leaning into AI or pursuing scarce, human-centered things that technology cannot replace.

EXTRAS

• Apple's Cal AI crackdown shows the App Store's strict rules remain enforced (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, Tech Buzz}}

  • Apple briefly removed Cal AI for bypassing in-app purchase guidelines and using manipulative tactics.

  • The app has since returned to the App Store after its developer resolved the violations.

  • Cal AI grew to $50M in ARR before being acquired by MyFitnessPal in March.

• A new poll finds many Americans questioning Trump's temperament amid ongoing tensions (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: FOX}}

  • Trump's approval rating remains at 36%, down sharply from 47% at the start of his term.

  • Many Americans, including some Republicans, are questioning his temperament during the Iran war and papal feud.

  • Few Americans support U.S. strikes on Iran or a potential withdrawal from NATO, the poll found.

• Cash App is launching parent-managed financial accounts for children aged 6–12 (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: MSN, Yahoo!}}

  • Cash App is expanding youth services, now targeting children aged six to 12 in the U.S.

  • Parents will manage their children's accounts, monitor them, and deposit funds on their children's behalf.

  • Children will receive a debit card linked to the account for everyday spending.

AND MORE

• AI startup NeoCognition raises $40M to build human-like learning agents.

• Pope Leo warns from Africa that humanity's future is gravely at risk.

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

• Sam Altman dismisses Anthropic's Mythos cybersecurity model as 'fear-based marketing.'

• Canada's military is working to prove it can defend the Arctic on its own.

• Clarifai has deleted 3M photos OkCupid provided for facial recognition AI training.

• SusHi Tech Tokyo is less a conference & more a massive deal-making event.