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

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

🤝 Amazon & OpenAI expand their cloud partnership beyond Microsoft's reach.
🏛️ Google steps in to supply the Pentagon with AI after Anthropic's refusal.
🗣️ Elon Musk says OpenAI was his idea, before executives looted it.
📍 U.S. Supreme Court weighs whether geofence warrants violate privacy rights.
🛢️ The UAE's exit from OPEC shakes up global oil production and pricing.

TECHNOLOGY

• Amazon & OpenAI expand their cloud partnership beyond Microsoft's reach (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Reuters, CNBC}}

  • Microsoft lost exclusive rights to OpenAI products, and Amazon moved quickly to capitalize on this.

  • AWS Bedrock now offers OpenAI's latest models, Codex, and a new AI agent-building service.

  • Amazon's new Bedrock Managed Agents tool uses OpenAI's reasoning models, with agent steering and security features.

• Apple lets App Store developers offer monthly payments for annual subscriptions (MacRumors)
  ^{_{More: Tom's Guide, TechCrunch, Tech Buzz}}

  • Apple's new option lets developers offer annual subscription pricing spread across monthly payments for affordability.

  • Users can cancel at any time, stopping renewals after completing their remaining committed monthly payments.

  • The feature launches on iOS 26.4 next month, though the U.S. and Singapore are currently excluded.

• Google steps in to supply the Pentagon with AI after Anthropic's refusal (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: WSJ, CNBC, The Information}}

  • Google granted the U.S. Department of Defense access to its AI for classified networks and all lawful uses.

  • Anthropic refused the same deal, citing concerns over domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, triggering a lawsuit.

  • OpenAI and xAI also signed Pentagon deals, with Google becoming the third company to fill the gap left by Anthropic.

BUSINESS

• Elon Musk says OpenAI was his idea, before executives looted it (CNA)
  ^{_{More: Reuters, Economic Times}}

  • Musk took the stand at trial, accusing OpenAI of abandoning its charitable mission in favor of profit-seeking.

  • He is suing OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Greg Brockman, seeking $150B in damages for OpenAI's charitable arm.

  • OpenAI counters that Musk sought personal power rather than being genuinely focused on AI safety or public benefit.

• U.S. Supreme Court weighs whether geofence warrants violate privacy rights (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: The Verge, TechCrunch, FOX}}

  • The U.S. Supreme Court is examining whether geofence warrants, which track cellphones near crime scenes, are constitutional.

  • The case stems from a Virginia robbery, in which a geofence warrant helped convict defendant Okello Chatrie in 2022.

  • Investigators use a multi-step process, starting with anonymized data before narrowing down to individual account holders.

• FCC launches early review of Disney's ABC broadcast licenses over DEI concerns (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: NBC, Washington Post, Source}}

  • The FCC called on Disney to renew its ABC broadcast licenses early, citing concerns about its DEI policies.

  • The FCC first sent Disney an inquiry regarding its DEI efforts back in March 2025.

  • The early review follows renewed backlash from President Trump over comedian Jimmy Kimmel's comments about First Lady Melania Trump.

MARKETS

WORLD

• The UAE's exit from OPEC shakes up global oil production and pricing (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: AP, BBC, The Guardian}}

  • The UAE announced on Friday that it will leave OPEC, planning to gradually increase its crude oil production independently.

  • Iran's ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz currently limits UAE oil exports, dampening the exit's immediate market impact.

  • OPEC's 12 members hold over 80% of global proven oil reserves, making the UAE's departure strategically significant in the long term.

• Australia's new law forces Big Tech to fund local news or pay up (WSJ)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, Reuters, The Guardian}}

  • Australia's draft legislation requires Meta, Google, and TikTok to pay for news or face a 2.25% revenue levy.

  • Companies that strike enough deals with local publishers could see their effective levy rate drop to 1.5%.

  • This is Australia's second attempt at forcing Big Tech to fund journalism, after Meta dodged the original 2021 code.

• King Charles III urges U.S. Congress to uphold its global alliances (AP)
  ^{_{More: AOL, Al Jazeera, PBS}}

  • Speaking to a joint session of Congress, King Charles III highlighted deep historical and cultural ties between the U.S. and the UK.

  • Charles urged U.S. leaders to avoid isolationism, back Ukraine against Russia, and remain engaged in global affairs.

  • The king praised religious pluralism and encouraged leaders to protect nature, subtly challenging several of Trump's domestic policy directions.

FUTURISM

• Neurable wants to license its mind-reading BCI tech to wearable companies (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, WIRED}}

  • Neurable specializes in non-invasive BCI technology, using EEG sensors and AI to analyze brain activity and cognitive performance.

  • Unlike Neuralink, Neurable's technology requires no brain surgery, making it more accessible for everyday consumer use.

  • Following a $35M Series A raise in December, Neurable is now licensing its tech to consumer-facing companies.

• Snapchat launches AI-powered ads that let users chat with brands (Engadget)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, MSN, Snap}}

  • Snapchat's new AI Sponsored Snaps let users interact directly with brand AI agents inside the Chat tab.

  • The feature builds on existing AI adoption, with over 500M users messaging Snapchat's chatbot since 2023.

  • Snap's chief business officer says conversation is becoming the most valuable and native real estate in advertising.

• YouTube tests AI search that gives step-by-step guided answers to users (CNET)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge}}

  • YouTube's new 'Ask YouTube' feature delivers step-by-step results mixing text, short videos, and longer videos.

  • Users can ask follow-up questions and receive contextual suggestions in a conversational and interactive search format.

  • The feature is currently available only to U.S. Premium subscribers aged 18 and older.

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

• Get one sharp deep dive, fast Quick Hits, and a witty pro tip, plus links that actually matter.*

• Built for builders, operators, and curious leaders who need context fast. Join 100k+ readers who start decisions here each morning.*

CONTENT

• Paul Tudor Jones on markets, AI risks & 50 years of trading (Invest Like The Best)

  • Jones contrasts the intense mindset of active trading with long-term investing, drawing on lessons from historic market crashes.

  • He outlines his macro concerns over the current debt bubble and urges action on AI safety and regulation.

  • Beyond finance, Jones reflects on founding the Robin Hood Foundation and the value of kindness over wealth.

• OpenAI researchers explain how AI is transforming mathematical discovery & research (OpenAI)

  • OpenAI researchers Sébastien Bubeck and Ernest Ryu discuss the surprising speed of AI's recent progress in advanced mathematics.

  • Ryu used ChatGPT to help solve a 42-year-old open mathematics problem, highlighting AI's growing role in original discovery.

  • The researchers explore what changes when AI can work over longer timelines and assist in verifying complex mathematical proofs.

• Steve Weiss reveals the unspoken realities behind his $100M agency exit (Moneywise)

  • Weiss went from being homeless in Los Angeles at 26 to selling his Facebook ads agency for $100M in 2019.

  • The wire hit while he stood at the Western Wall, the same day a personal tragedy made him question the value of money.

  • Post-exit life left Weiss with a purpose vacuum he now fills through family, angel investing, real estate, and his podcast.

EXTRAS

• Beeple's Berlin exhibit features robot dogs with famous tech mogul heads (NY Post)
  ^{_{More: AP, NBC}}

  • Artist Beeple's installation at Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie features robot dogs with silicone heads modeled after famous figures.

  • The dogs’ ‘poo’ AI-transformed printed images of their surroundings, reflecting each famous figure's perceived worldview.

  • The exhibit comments on how algorithms and technology platforms shape and distort our individual perceptions of reality.

• Trump pursues new import taxes after the Supreme Court rejected his tariffs (AP)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, MSN, Source}}

  • After the Supreme Court struck down his tariffs in February, Trump introduced temporary import taxes set to expire soon.

  • The administration is now pursuing more durable tariffs through two new U.S. Trade Representative investigations beginning this week.

  • The new tariffs are expected to face legal challenges but are considered more legally sound than the previous ones.

• Fed expected to hold rates steady at what may be Powell's final meeting (NY Times)
  ^{_{More: AP, FOX}}

  • Jerome Powell may signal whether he will remain on the Fed's board after his term as chair ends on May 15.

  • The Senate Banking Committee is set to vote on Kevin Warsh's nomination to succeed Powell as Fed chair.

  • Warsh previously echoed Trump's calls to cut interest rates, raising concerns among Democrats about his future independence.

AND MORE

• Musk's testimony turns personal, revealing a falling-out with an old friend.

• Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is a $5.5k dual-screen laptop that actually delivers.

• Explore all the tools and more here to outperform the competition.*

• Spanish inflation rises unexpectedly, pushing further beyond the ECB's target.

• Amazon adds AI-powered audio Q&A to its product pages.

• Josh Brown backs an aviation stock as a long-shot electric aircraft bet.

• Lovable launches its vibe-coding app on iOS and Android.