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A big leak at Google might be the tech equivalent of the secret formula for Coca-Cola being revealed for the first time. The ex-OpenAI board members are starting to explain why they tried to fire Sam Altman. Did the Biden administration pass on TikTok’s concessions to avoid a ban? And remember delivery apps? How they doin’ these days?

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Links:

• An Anonymous Source Shared Thousands of Leaked Google Search API Documents with Me; Everyone in SEO Should See Them (SparkToro.com)
• Ex-OpenAI Director Says Board Learned of ChatGPT Launch on Twitter (Bloomberg)
• Anthropic hires former OpenAI safety lead to head up new team (TechCrunch)
• YouTube’s free games catalog ‘Playables’ rolls out to all users (TechCrunch)
• How the U.S. ignored a chance to make TikTok safer (Washington Post)
• Food delivery apps rack up $20bn in losses in fierce battle for diners (Financial Times)

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Is Apple considering launching an “Ultra” version of the iPhone as soon as this year? Have the good Twitter bots gotten a reprieve from Elon Musk? Is the Microsoft/Activision merger toast because global regulators are coordinating? And might regulators look askance at all these generative AI investments from the big cloud computing platforms?

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Links:

• Apple Talks Up High-End iPhones in Sign Ultra Model May Be Coming (Bloomberg)
• Elon Musk says Twitter will provide a free write-only API to bots providing ‘good’ content (TechCrunch)
• Microsoft’s Activision Deal Tests a New Global Alignment on Antitrust (NYTimes)
• Big Tech companies use cloud computing arms to pursue alliances with AI groups (FT)
• A16z votes against proposal to deploy latest Uniswap iteration on BNB Chain (The Block)

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A ransomware attack has brought down large sections of the Irish health service. Why Disney+ numbers are suddenly looking so weak to investors. A deep dive review on whether or not, or even to what degree, Elon’s internet service from space can free us from ISP hell. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.

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Links:

• Cyber attack 'most significant on Irish state' (BBC)
• Disney Plus Hits 103.6 Million Subscribers as Rapid Growth Slows, ESPN Plus Perks Up (Variety)
• STARLINK REVIEW: BROADBAND DREAMS FALL TO EARTH (The Verge)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

• To Understand Amazon, We Must Understand Jeff Bezos (New York Times)
• The PlayStation 5 Is Starting to Look Like the Revolution It Promised (Wired)
• Apple is Holding Back the Creator Economy (Every)
• Robinhood’s Big Gamble (The New Yorker)
• What Is an Entertainment Company in 2021 and Why Does the Answer Matter? (Matthew Ball)
• How the Personal Computer Broke the Human Body (Vice)

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So I guess Zuck has convinced Wall Street that all the capex spending on AI is fine. How good a business is Tether? A gooooood business. The first arrival of Apple Intelligence is sort of a ho-hum for now. And how sports is completely transforming the streaming wars battlefield.

Links:

• Meta’s Lesson in Allaying Wall Street’s A.I. Fears (Dealbook/NYT)
• Meta’s AI Costs Surge as Digital Advertising Revenue Grows (WSJ)
• Reddit CEO says Microsoft needs to pay to search the site (The Verge)
• Tether Nets $5B Profits This Year, Says Its US Debt Holdings Surpassed Germany's (CoinDesk)
• A first look at Apple Intelligence and its (slightly) smarter Siri (The Verge)
• Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Sports Streamer Venu to Launch at $42.99 per Month (Variety)
• How the NBA’s Slam-Dunk Deals Will Reshape TV (The Hollywood Reporter)

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The guessing game on who the new tech regulators will be for the new administration. What is Amazon Haul? Why has Bluesky suddenly seen a flurry of activity? More on Apple’s smarthome ambitions. And more on why AI seems to be hitting a wall lately? Here’s what you missed today in the world of Tech.

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Links:

• Donald Trump’s potential antitrust enforcers may keep Big Tech in their sights (Financial Times)
• Amazon debuts discount store with everything under $20 to take on Temu and Shein (CNBC)
• With Surge in New Users, Bluesky Emerges as X Alternative (NYTimes)
• Apple’s Next Device Is an AI Wall Tablet for Home Control, Siri and Video Calls (Bloomberg)
• OpenAI, Google and Anthropic Are Struggling to Build More Advanced AI (Bloomberg)

Bluesky Techmeme Starter Pack

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