Cards · Tuesday, May 26, 2026 · 158 newsletters
Today's reads
Every newsletter in the inbox, distilled to 3-5 claims. The briefing for this day at /whatimreading/2026-05-26 is the editorial curation on top of this layer.
a16z
Compliance is a massive industry struggling with manual processes.
- Compliance covers every business function, from payroll to tax filings.
- The US has over 400,000 compliance officers, but the talent pipeline is strained.
- Relying on more people has not solved issues, leading to major bank fines.
- The work remains 'schlep work,' which is painful and highly manual.
- Technology is finally moving from 'Pilot' to 'Trust,' enabling necessary change.
Links: Tech, Opinion, Culture, Charts
a16z Build
Multiple AI startups are hiring founding and senior roles.
- Stilta, a Swedish AI startup, is hiring a Founding Engineer and GTM Lead.
- Prosper, a healthcare AI platform, seeks a Senior Product Engineer in Barcelona.
- Status, a social media platform, is growing its team and accepting DMs.
- ML roles are available for those wanting to end AI slop in SF.
- Nassim Eddequiouaq is building Bastion to create a trusted stablecoin.
Links: Stilta, Founding Engineer, Founding GTM Lead, Prosper, Status, ML engineers and researchers, Bastion
After School
by Casey Lewis
Everlane's sale to Shein signals fast fashion's dominance.
- Shein acquired Everlane for $100 million, significantly below its peak value.
- The sale contrasts Everlane's sustainability pledges with Shein's pollution.
- Millennials feel personally betrayed by the brand's acquisition.
- Owning these brands once served as a signal of identity and belief.
Links: Shein bought Everlane, Millennial Golden Age
argmin
by Ben Recht from arg min
Games and bureaucracy both use rules to create utopian fantasies.
- C. Thi Nguyen's book, The Score, explores why scores are fun in games but oppressive in social metrics.
- David Graeber's work analyzes how both games and bureaucracy promise fairness through rules.
- While games offer temporary fantasy, bureaucracy enforces structural violence through paperwork.
- The tension between individual freedom and systemic rules is a core modern dilemma.
Links: The Trial, Brazil, Andor
Asian Century Stocks
by Michael Fritzell
Market outperformance is skewed toward AI beneficiaries and memory chips.
- Market outperformance is concentrated in AI beneficiaries like South Korea and Taiwan.
- Memory chip makers, like Micron, show strong growth potential.
- The memory bull market may continue due to Chinese capacity expansion.
- TSMC's sustainable capex suggests continued interest in bottleneck stocks.
Links: Asian Century Stocks, Table of Contents, Nintendo, Getac, TSMC
Ask a Chief of Staff
by Sarah Sheikh
CoS should help teams diagnose inefficiencies before automating with AI.
- The real challenge of automation is diagnosis, not tooling.
- CoS have leverage by helping teams see their own inefficiencies clearly.
- Teams must first learn to spot friction, like repetitive tasks or system gaps.
- AI should be used as a strategic thought partner during the diagnosis phase.
Links: Sarah Sheikh, Loop Financial, Ask a Chief of Staff
Bankless
by David Hoffman
David Hoffman explains why he sold all his Ethereum holdings.
- The decision to sell ETH was not made lightly.
- He details the challenges and tradeoffs influencing his thinking.
- The article covers cultural bets shaping his new investment strategy.
- It provides a thorough explanation beyond scattered tweets.
Links: David explains why, covering the challenges, tradeoffs, and cultural bets that have shaped his new thinking.
Benedict Evans
by Benedict Evans
Google is shifting search from links to synthesized summaries.
- Google is adding AI features across its many existing products.
- Search is changing from simple navigation to dynamic synthesis and summary.
- Google will generate answers based on web averages, not just linking to sources.
- This shift challenges the traditional social contract between publishers and Google.
Links: Google’s AI blizzard, AI eats the world, Spring 2026, Predicting AI job exposure
Big Think
by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Anxiety is an ancient, functional alarm system, not a modern glitch.
- Anxiety is an ancient behavioral response, predating language and culture.
- It functions as a threat-detection system, modeling possible future danger.
- Moderate anxiety can improve cognitive performance, following the Yerkes-Dodson law.
- It acts as a compass, pointing to what you genuinely value and care about.
Links: mild anxiety is nearly universal, most ancient, finely tuned, Yerkes-Dodson law
Big Think Business
by Eric Markowitz
Cooperation, not competition, is key to lasting business success.
- After an earthquake, Kinosaki's competitors rebuilt by treating the town as a single, shared inn.
- This philosophy, kyozon-kyoei, prioritizes protecting the entire local ecosystem.
- Western business often uses zero-sum thinking, viewing rivals as enemies.
- This mindset leads to shorter company lifespans and lower institutional trust.
- Japanese culture emphasizes system health, suggesting cooperation is key to endurance.
Blake's Customer Connection
by Blake Morgan
AI transformation requires focusing on people and culture, not just technology.
- Successful AI adoption depends on people and culture, not just technology.
- Many AI initiatives fail due to what Michael calls 'the people problem.'
- Leaders must ensure alignment, buy-in, and governance for change.
- AI accelerates innovation, shortening product development cycles and prototyping.
Links: The Modern Customer Podcast, Future-Proof: Transform Your Business with AI or Get Left Behind, Listen to the full episode and follow The Modern Customer Podcast, Michael’s new book, Future-Proof: Transform Your Business with AI or Get Left Behind, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, your favorite podcast platform, Connect with me on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Bloomberg
by Marcus Wright
US and Iranian forces clash near the Strait of Hormuz.
- US and Iranian forces collided near the Strait of Hormuz.
- The clash occurred despite reports of diplomatic progress.
- Trump pushed Saudi Arabia and Qatar to recognize Israel.
- Iran signaled potential easing of internet restrictions.
Links: the Strait of Hormuz, to recognize Israel, roll back some restrictions, Listen to the day’s top stories
by Jordan Parker Erb
Space and satellite stocks surge following SpaceX IPO euphoria.
- Space and satellite stocks soared after the SpaceX IPO.
- Companies like Redwire and AST SpaceMobile saw significant jumps.
- Investor enthusiasm is fueling the burgeoning space economy.
- A Bank of America basket of space companies climbed 61% this year.
Links: rocket-satellite-stocks-surge-anew-as-spacex-ipo-fuels-euphoria, spacex-ipo-ai-plans-starlink-growth-and-risks, Jordan Parker Erb
Bloomberg Technology
SpaceX IPO filing warns of insufficient AI chip supply for future plans.
- SpaceX's IPO filing repeatedly warns about AI chip supply limitations.
- The current supply of advanced AI chips may be insufficient for its plans.
- This shortage poses a risk to the company's ambitious technological goals.
Book Freak
by Mark Frauenfelder
Reprogramming the mind using Wilson's eight-circuit model.
- The mind has a Thinker and a Prover, which reinforces existing beliefs.
- We inhabit a unique "tunnel-reality" based on wiring and culture.
- Society conditions us, limiting potential through language and expectations.
- The nervous system can be rewritten through deliberate mental exercises.
Links: Book Freak
Brew Markets
Micron's valuation hits the $1 trillion milestone.
- Micron Corporation reached a $1 trillion valuation.
- This milestone highlights strong demand for semiconductors.
- The market reacted positively to the valuation news.
ByteByteGo
Vercel cut build times from 90 seconds to 5 seconds.
- Vercel's internal platform, Hive, achieved the 18x speed improvement.
- The core challenge is hostile multi-tenancy on shared hardware.
- The platform must assume every piece of code might be malicious.
- This requires running builds safely on shared, untrusted machines.
Links: GitLab Transcend, Vercel
Callaway Climate Insights
by David Callaway
High-priced EVs face skepticism, but the global shift to electric is undeniable.
- The new Ferrari Luce fell flat with European reviewers, despite its performance.
- Ferrari maintains demand by using high prices and scarcity in its portfolio.
- Globally, EVs are becoming a major percentage of sales, unlike the US market.
- Green bonds are rising, indicating growing investment in climate projects.
Links: Green bonds buck weakness in debt markets as climate projects grow ...
Cautious Optimism
by Alex Wilhelm from Cautious Optimism
Self-driving cars advance while China restricts AI talent.
- Self-driving technology is accelerating globally, despite setbacks.
- China is restricting overseas travel for top AI professionals.
- The US is favored in the AI race due to open access and capital.
- OpenRouter's growth confirms strong demand for API endpoints.
Links: Waymo, Pony AI, Bloomberg reports, OpenRouter
ChinaTalk
Frontline life in Ukraine is defined by drones and long rotations.
- Infantry rotations are extremely difficult, often lasting six months or more.
- Soldiers frequently live underground, limiting sunlight and physical exercise.
- Drones handle almost all resupply, making casualty evacuation challenging.
- The 'forward line' has shifted from troops to UAV teams.
- The war burden is narrowly focused, especially on infantrymen.
Links: Rob Lee, Justin Mc, your favorite podcast app, Ukrainian fighters from just before the war started, and then pictures of them today
ClickMinded Weekly
Google's AI Mode rollout demands immediate SEO strategy changes.
- Google's May Core Update integrates AI Mode into primary search results.
- The shift moves search from static results to conversational discovery.
- AI Mode is now the default for primary search results.
- E-commerce must adapt to AI shopping assistants and conversational content.
Links: Google's May Core Update Is a Full AI Search Overhaul, Ecommerce marketing: 10 strategies for search and AI in 2026
Code Meets Creed
by Kathleen Booth
Teams are building undocumented AI tools that pose major organizational risks.
- Distributed AI building is common, driven by individual efficiency hacks.
- The core problem is not building, but the lack of documentation and ownership.
- If the original builder leaves, the tools often break because nobody understands them.
- While centralizing strategy is smart, managing the building process is critical.
Links: Deepline, GTM as Code, RevFest, GoNimbly, Champion
Conspiracy of Love
Prince William's initiative is rewriting the playbook on homelessness.
- Prince William's Homewards initiative argues homelessness is not inevitable.
- The EU is set to make destroying unsold clothes illegal.
- Lewis Hamilton's Mission 44 is running a global campaign for opportunity.
- Brands can partner with Sesame Workshop to create real change.
Links: Homewards initiative, next generation of billion-dollar climate companies., real hands-on experiences, and running all the way through 2026., what's possible is as surprising as it is powerful., illegal to destroy
Consuming Collective
by Consuming Collective
NYC dining and culture updates, featuring local events and industry news.
- Multiple events are happening this week, including oyster tastings and BBQ pop-ups.
- Mille-Feuille was named best croissant, and Brothers Barbecue was crowned 'King'.
- The James Beard Awards 2026 nominees have been shared ahead of the winners.
- Red Hook Winery rebranded as Red Hook Barrel Yard, encompassing a distillery.
Links: Chef Daisuke Watanabe Residency, Pop & Shuck: The Oyster Experience, 15th Annual Bushwick Collective Block Party, Mille-Feuille, Red Hook Winery has rebranded as Red Hook Barrel Yard
Content Marketing Institute
CMWorld in Denver expands, offering multiple tracks for marketers.
- CMWorld is expanding beyond its core experience this year.
- New programming focuses on insights, AI, creativity, and strategy.
- Attendees can customize their week with specialized summits.
- The All Access Pass allows participation in multiple specialized tracks.
Links: Insight To Impact, EXPLORE THE AGENDA, REGISTER NOW, View the sessions, Marketing Effectiveness Summit
Creative Boom
Recruiters define new standards for junior creative talent in 2026.
- Recruiters are defining new standards for junior creative talent.
- The center of creative excellence is shifting globally, according to D&AD.
- The best creative conversations happen when the stakes are personal.
- The newsletter also covers new typefaces and industry events.
Links: In 2026, here's what creative recruiters are looking for in juniors, D&AD just had its most global year ever, and the centre of creative excellence is shifting, All Flows 2026 showed that the best creative conversations happen when the stakes are personal, The best new typefaces for May 2026
Crooked Media
by Matt (Crooked)
Iran peace talks stall amid regional conflict and uncertainty.
- Marco Rubio lowered expectations for an imminent Iran peace deal.
- Iran demands asset unfreezing and refuses to dismantle its nuclear program.
- Trump is pivoting to a 'Great Deal' involving the entire region.
- Israel continues military strikes, complicating diplomatic efforts.
Links: Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters, Wall Street Journal, hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, asked several Arab nations to sign onto the Abraham Accords, Iran is now threatening retaliation
Dan Go
by Dan Go
Achieving a low resting heart rate requires specific cardiovascular training.
- Low resting heart rate (RHR) signals high cardiovascular efficiency and longevity.
- RHR and Heart Rate Recovery (HRR) are linked; both reflect parasympathetic function.
- A slow HRR is a major longevity flag, indicating poor recovery.
- Training inputs, like nasal breathing, are key to improving both metrics.
Links: https://986419df.click.convertkit-mail4.com/e5uxd0opvkh7hl39qxqu8h850ne30slhpll9x/reh8hohmr02lwla2/aHR0cHM6Ly9naXBoeS5jb20vZXhwbG9yZS9pdHMtYS1zaGFtZQ==, https://986419df.click.convertkit-mail4.com/e5uxd0opvkh7hl39qxqu8h850ne30slhpll9x/986419df.
Democracy Docket
Trump's gerrymandering efforts face setbacks in the redistricting war.
- A federal court blocked Alabama from using its 2023 congressional map.
- This win helps Black Alabamians maintain representation in the midterms.
- The state has appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- The news marks a favorable day for Democrats in redistricting efforts.
Links: two major setbacks, two seats that Republicans expected to grab, More on the pro-voting win in Alabama
by Marc Elias
Marc Elias is taking a break, but legal coverage continues with Ashley Cleaves.
- The author will be offline for a period of time.
- Ashley Cleaves will provide legal analysis and court updates.
- Coverage will focus on redistricting, voting cases, and Supreme Court news.
- Readers are encouraged to support the team's ongoing work.
Links: YouTube videos, supporting their work, Consider becoming a member to support their work today.
Designlab
by Rachel at Designlab
Save $150 on design courses before the sale ends.
- A Memorial Day sale offers $150 off enrollment in select cohorts.
- Courses teach AI product design, visual AI workflows, and Figma mastery.
- The sale ends Thursday, May 28, so enroll soon.
- Students can explore all offerings using code MEMORIAL26.
Links: Designing AI Products, AI for Visual Design, Advanced Figma, Explore All Courses, schedule a call
DesignTAXI: From The Community
by DesignTAXI: From The Community
200+ Claude prompts transform AI use from grammar checking to powerful work assistance.
- The 200+ prompts elevate Claude beyond simple grammar correction.
- They are researched and used by professionals at Google, Microsoft, and NASA.
- Subscribers also receive the Superhuman AI newsletter for continuous learning.
Links: Superhuman AI, Claim your free prompts
Digital Commerce 360 | Learning Lab
Enhancing e-commerce through personalization, fraud prevention, and B2B tools.
- Real-time personalization helps brands engage anonymous visitors and increase conversions.
- Retail fraud often starts at account creation and login, not at the payment stage.
- Shopify provides native B2B features, including custom price lists and catalogs.
Links: Personalizing the Moment: From Static to Living, Checkout Fraud Is a Symptom, Not the Problem, Customize B2B without custom code
Dotdigital
Customer loyalty has a 'language' that varies by generation.
- Customers have a 'loyalty language,' similar to relationship love languages.
- A survey of 4,000 shoppers revealed what drives brand loyalty.
- Preferred perks vary significantly across different generations.
- Understanding this language helps nurture customer relationships.
Links: READ THE BLOG, See Gen Z’s loyalty language », See Millennials’ loyalty language », See Gen X’s loyalty language », See Baby Boomers’ loyalty language », Get all of the findings, including generational and regional splits plus plenty of advice in the blog
DTC Newsletter
Optimize ad accounts and migrate AI workflows from ChatGPT to Claude.
- Use last year's best-performing ad assets and post IDs to warm up Meta's algorithm.
- This method helps bypass the cold-start penalty on new ad accounts.
- Migrating from ChatGPT to Claude is possible by exporting stored memories and context.
- Claude's Cowork provides persistent context and reusable workflows for agencies.
Links: @IstvanicMarin, Pilothouse
E-commerce marketers face major data discrepancies costing revenue.
- 73% of marketers rely on platform data, but 67% face discrepancies weekly.
- The problem is data confidence, not data access, costing brands real money.
- 57% of brands estimate missing at least $50K due to delayed decision-making.
- Brands using real-time reporting are three times more likely to reallocate budget.
Links: Get The Report, Direct To Consumer, Advertise with DTC, Work With Pilothouse
dynomight
by dynomight
Multiple factors may be driving the rise of CRC in young people.
- Potential causes include poor diet, chronic inflammation, and obesity.
- The microbiome may be affected by antibiotics or specific bacteria.
- Environmental exposures, like microplastics, are also considered.
- The author notes that most proposed causes lack strong evidence.
Links: E. coli that produce genotoxic colibactin, strains of B. fragilis, strains of F. nucleatum, forever chemicals
EMARKETER
AI, regulation, and marketing trends shape the future of payments.
- Klarna launched a ChatGPT app for product discovery, aggregating real-time prices from multiple merchants.
- Larger credit unions are significantly increasing marketing budgets, widening the customer acquisition gap.
- Trump's executive order directs banks to tighten oversight on immigration-related financial activity.
- US mobile payments are expanding across in-store, digital, and P2P use cases.
Links: Klarna launches ChatGPT app for genAI shopping, Marketing spend will separate credit union leaders from the rest of the market, Trump’s new executive order could accelerate banks’ investments in AI, Data Drop: 4 charts on the future of US mobile payments
EMARKETER Webinars
AI assistants are changing how consumers discover and evaluate brands.
- Consumer brand discovery is changing faster than current measurement frameworks.
- AI assistants answer category questions directly, using often invisible sources.
- The webinar analyzes Bluefish research on AI visibility and brand influence.
- Data covers 110+ global brands across major AI platforms.
Links: The State of Enterprise Brands in AI: Who’s Winning in the Agentic Internet, SAVE YOUR SPOT
Every
by Katie Parrott
Codex can function as an operating system for knowledge work.
- Codex is a workspace where AI agents work alongside you across documents and inboxes.
- It helps gather inputs, check work, and turn repeated processes into reusable workflows.
- The guide details five levels of use, from one-off tasks to compounding systems.
- Templates cover research briefs, weekly reports, and GTM plans.
Links: Read the guide, RSVP, Sparkle: Organize your Mac with AI, Cora: the most human way to do email, Spiral: Repurpose your content endlessly
Exec Sum - Litquidity
Feed Me
by Emily Sundberg
WSJ names new reporter, plus Montauk bar and pizza industry updates.
- Montauk’s Dive Bar Pizza sold 2,500 beers despite the rain.
- The bar owner noted the success and added new menu items.
- A case study at Alvo explored adding a slice display.
- The newsletter also covers the WSJ's new reporter and bi-borough life.
Links: WSJ’s new power and culture reporter has been named, Montauk’s Dive Bar Pizza moved 2,500 beers this weekend, Alvo, bi-borough relationships
FinAi News
Clear Capital is making bets on AI for property analysis.
- Clear Capital is focusing on AI tools for property analysis.
- Plaid’s AI-driven LendScore can reduce lending risk by up to 41%.
- NewFed Mortgage is using AI for pre-underwriting platforms.
Links: Clear Capital bets on AI property analysis, Plaid’s AI-driven LendScore can reduce lending risk by up to 41%, Transactions: NewFed Mortgage taps Friday Harbor’s AI pre-underwriting platform
Fintech Is Femme
by Nicole Casperson
A CFO's playbook for leading through unexpected strategic inflection points.
- Great decisions are often unexpected and do not follow a predictable roadmap.
- A successful CFO must be a skilled allocator of capital and investor.
- Finance functions must be embedded within the business, not sitting alongside it.
- Leaders should prioritize understanding the broader context over immediate choices.
Links: Brex, Capital One, Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit
Fintechnize
by Charlie Liu
AI giants are moving beyond software, requiring massive infrastructure investment.
- Historically, investors favored asset-light 'software' companies.
- Today, major AI companies are becoming 'heavier,' needing rockets, data centers, and power.
- The market is now pricing the 'organizers of the AI era,' not just bottlenecks.
- OpenAI and SpaceX aim to sell a complete system, combining capital, compute, and infrastructure.
Links: SaaS, OpenAI, SpaceX, Nvidia
Foreign Affairs Today
Global policy issues cover G-2 dynamics, regional conflicts, and drug trends.
- America and China cannot achieve mutual dominance or exclusion.
- Peace deals in Ethiopia may inadvertently lead to increased violence.
- The US should end the war but maintain pressure on Iran.
- China might be linked to reduced fentanyl deaths, but this is secret.
Links: America and China Cannot Dominate or Exclude Each Other, The War in Ethiopia Isn’t Over, Let Iran Defeat Itself, What Drove Down America’s Fentanyl Deaths?
Fortune
AI is transforming how we place orders in retail settings.
- AI systems are increasingly capable of taking customer orders.
- This technology is changing the speed and efficiency of service.
- The integration of AI requires rethinking traditional service models.
Links: Read online, Sign up
Trump's cabinet is reportedly losing its female members.
- The administration's cabinet is seeing a decline in female representation.
- This trend suggests potential staffing or political shifts within the executive branch.
- The article discusses the implications of this demographic change for policy.
Fortune Tech
The newsletter discusses various tech industry developments.
- The content covers multiple topics across the tech sector.
- Several links point to further reading and sign-ups.
- The subject suggests a tipping point in market dynamics.
Frich
by Aleksandra from Frich
Lawyer's journey shows how to pivot into a creative career.
- The interview covers pivoting from a traditional career path.
- Tips are provided for entering creative fields without formal degrees.
- Learn how to successfully turn a personal hobby into a profitable business.
- The email also advises switching to Metro by T-Mobile for savings.
Links: WATCH THE INTERVIEW, Metro by T-Mobile, sending my friend a drink on Dion
FSA Store
by FSA Store
All products are guaranteed FSA eligible for health spending.
- Every product sold is guaranteed FSA eligible.
- The store features curated sections like Best Sellers and New arrivals.
- Explore specialized categories, including Hi-tech Health items.
Links: Best Sellers, New, Hi-tech Health, Every product is FSA eligible, *guaranteed
Global Trade Magazine
US economy faces inflation and yield surge amid Middle East crisis.
- The US economy is grappling with inflation and rising yields.
- Geopolitical instability from the Middle East adds risk to trade.
- Global supply chains must adapt to these complex economic pressures.
- The industry is navigating a rapidly evolving trade environment.
Links: US Economy Faces Inflation and Yield Surge Amid Middle East Crisis, Read It Now!, Listen Now!, TEUs, Tech and Trade: The Port Everglades Advantage
Gothamist
by James Ramsay
Mamdani's policing policies raise concerns over increased enforcement.
- Criminal summonses for minor offenses have jumped since Mayor Mamdani took office.
- The NYPD plans to 'flood the zone' with up to 3,800 officers this summer.
- Advocates are disappointed by the mayor's focus on policing.
- The mayor's office claims the approach has kept crime rates low.
Links: Here's why ., Here's what else is happening:
Gothamist Daily
Skincare company launches free bus service between Brooklyn parks.
- The Ordinary Bus is offering free rides between Domino and Prospect parks.
- The service connects two major Brooklyn neighborhoods.
- The newsletter also covers legislative rollbacks of climate laws.
- It reports on a detainee seeking emergency release in NJ.
Links: The Ordinary Bus: Skincare company offers free rides between Domino and Prospect parks, Legislature votes to roll back NY’s landmark climate law, Detainee at heart of NJ detention center standoff seeks emergency release, Primary foes Goldman, Lander unite against Park Slope Food Coop Israel boycott
Gothamist News Alerts
Penn Station overhaul renderings feature Trump's name and presidential seal.
- The winning plan for Penn Station includes new train hall renderings.
- Designs feature American flags and gold-accented railings.
- Internal materials show a presidential seal with Trump's name.
Links: Read More
Gov Brief Today
US bombed Iran during a ceasefire while peace negotiations were underway.
- The U.S. attacked Iranian sites while peace talks continued in Qatar.
- The strikes targeted missile sites and mine-laying boats.
- The U.S. labeled the military action as 'restraint.'
- The timing raises serious questions about international trust.
Links: CBS News, Gov Brief Today
History Facts
Men's and women's shirts have buttons on opposite sides.
- Men's shirts are traditionally designed to button left over right.
- Women's shirts are designed to button right over left.
- This difference is rooted in historical tailoring practices.
Links: Why Are Men’s and Womens Buttons on Opposite Sides?
History's biggest turning points often come from chance.
- Significant historical turning points often result from chance.
- These moments are frequently due to mistakes or miscalculations.
- The site offers reading on famous figures and world history.
Links: 5 Famous Leaders Who Were Shorter Than Napoleon, 5 Life Lessons From Albert Einstein, Who Was John Hancock?, World History, 10 Rare Coins That Are Worth a Fortune, 10 Essential Films About the Great Depression
Hiten Shah
by Hiten Shah
Product success depends on earning a habit, not just showing a demo.
- The focus must shift from initial demos to actual job integration.
- Product marketing must serve internal teams, not just the launch hype.
- True product value lies in the behavior it becomes part of.
- AI requires robust engineering, including guardrails, not just prompts.
- High user engagement can create significant margin challenges for SaaS.
Links: Product marketing got too important, Your product is not competing with another product, The AI story is no longer model rankings, The demo is a prompt. The product is everything around it., Your best AI users are your worst margin problem, The AI budget has no reverse gear
IDEO U
Last chance to enroll in popular May workshops and courses.
- Enrollment for the AI and Applied Futuring workshops closes tonight, May 26th.
- The Accelerated Change Leadership Certificate is available for enrollment.
- Nine other courses remain open for registration until May 28th.
- Workshops teach skills like AI and Design Thinking.
Links: Learn AI x Design Thinking, Learn Applied Futuring, Accelerated Change Leadership Certificate, SEE MAY COURSES
Influence Weekly
VidCon vs. Cannes Lions: Where should creator economy leaders focus?
- VidCon remains tied to creator culture and emerging talent.
- Cannes Lions is expanding, drawing major brand activations to the Croisette.
- Creator leaders' priorities split by business stage and client mix.
- The choice reflects a tension between culture and global deal-making.
Links: Here is where they landed.
International Intrigue
Pope Leo XIV issues doctrine on AI, framing the future of humanity.
- Pope Leo XIV released the encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on AI.
- He warns against 'Babel,' representing AI built out of hubris and pride.
- He advocates for 'Jerusalem,' where AI serves human dignity and community.
- The doctrine stresses that work gives purpose, requiring society to adapt to automation.
Links: Get the podcast version as an Insider today, Magnifica humanitas
International Monetary Fund
by Philip Barrett
Anchored expectations help Latin America manage oil price shocks.
- Well-anchored expectations cushion the impact of energy price shocks.
- The region has not raised long-term inflation expectations post-pandemic.
- Anchoring limits how commodity price shocks affect consumer prices.
- Stable expectations aid policymakers managing trade-offs.
Links: anchoring inflation expectations evidence from latin america during the post-covid stress
Justin Oberman
by Justin Oberman
LinkedIn is fundamentally flawed for building a personal brand.
- LinkedIn's reach is declining, and the algorithm suppresses virality.
- The platform's business model caters to enterprise solutions, not individuals.
- A true personal brand is a reputation that travels, not optimized posts.
- Relying on LinkedIn for branding is a category error.
Links: SEC filings
Latika Takes by Latika M Bourke
by Latika M Bourke
Gaza peace plan stalled; diplomat warns permanent division risks repeating October 7.
- Mladenov warned Israel that permanent division of Gaza is a 'ticking time bomb.'
- The status quo risks recreating conditions that led to the October 7 attacks.
- He stressed that full implementation of the 20-point plan is necessary for stability.
- Mladenov criticized Israel for withholding medical items from the Gaza Strip.
Links: The Lancet
Lenny's Newsletter
by Lenny
Essential books for product builders, organized by job-to-be-done.
- The author compiled a list of favorite books for product builders.
- Books are organized by 'jobs-to-be-done' for self-improvement.
- The list is highly curated, featuring only three books per category.
- He recommends reading classics that have stood the test of time.
- This is Part 1 of an essential reads series.
Links: Lenny’s Podcast, Lennybot, How I AI, My favorite AI/PM courses, public speaking course, interview prep copilot, don’t miss part 1, part 2, Marc Andreessen’s take
Lessons
by Molly G.
Navigate disruption by focusing on your core mission and craft.
- Focus on your core mission, not the shifting format or vehicle.
- Clarity comes from motion, making something, not from analysis.
- View failure as part of the story; stay curious about learning.
- The underlying craft you built is often more durable than the job.
Links: Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being, listen anywhere you get your podcasts, watch it on YouTube, forward it to someone
Lewis C. Lin’s Newsletter
by Lewis C. Lin
Autodiff is the engine enabling modern deep learning by automating calculus.
- Autodiff computes gradients automatically, eliminating manual derivative math.
- It applies the chain rule across the network's functions.
- Deep learning uses Reverse Mode, efficient for many weights and one loss.
- The process records operations in a computation graph during the forward pass.
Links: automatic differentiation, chain rule, Reverse mode
Linas from Linas's Newsletter
by Linas from Linas's Newsletter
Monzo's strong financials must prove it can escape the UK market.
- Monzo now generates significantly more revenue per customer than Revolut.
- The 2026 report showed revenue surging 39% to £1.71B.
- The company's future growth depends on expanding into European markets.
- Monzo's profit margin (5.1%) lags far behind Revolut's (38%).
Links: bonus deep dive into Revolut’s latest financials, exited the US within weeks of taking charge and is betting the company’s next phase on European markets, Revolut
Lincoln Square
Citizen journalists are uncovering the Epstein files despite DOJ roadblocks.
- Citizen journalists are investigating the Epstein files.
- They continue digging despite DOJ officials blocking information.
- Ellie Leonard and Susan J. Demas discussed supporting survivors.
- Leonard has built a community for deeper investigation into the files.
Links: Epstein files, citizen journalists, DOJ
Taiwan crisis warnings are public, visible, and being ignored.
- The threat pattern is visible in daily news, not hidden in classified memos.
- US foreign policy shows hesitation, making deterrence negotiable for allies.
- The treatment of Ukraine shows that support can be paused and negotiated.
- The Greenland crisis demonstrates the depth of current damage to alliances.
Links: The Intellectualist, Substack.
Maritime Analytica
by Maritime Analytica
Global Container Shipping Outlook 2026 details industry trends.
- Container shipping is entering a new phase.
- Demand remains resilient, but freight rates are volatile.
- Expanding fleet capacity and geopolitical risks reshape trade.
- The report offers key trends and strategic signals for decision-making.
Links: Gold Membership, Get the standalone report
Marketing Brew
by Marketing Brew
The email discusses the concept of one size fits all.
- The body text provided is boilerplate and contains no substantive claims.
- The email primarily serves as a link to view the full article online.
- It includes standard links for unsubscribing from the newsletter.
Marketing Letter
by Jacky Chou
A $19/mo app recovered $25,151 by fixing billing glitches.
- Failed payments quietly bleed MRR, causing involuntary churn.
- Most founders ignore this, calling it the cost of doing business.
- Recurring.so automatically recovers lost customers and MRR.
- The tool pays for itself quickly if you are doing real MRR.
Links: Start recovering your failed payments: Recurring.so, Let's Connect on Twitter👇
MasterClass
The 50% off Memorial Day offer is extended and ends tonight.
- The Memorial Day sale is extended, offering a final chance to enroll.
- Dive into hundreds of classes covering cooking, business, and wellness.
- Learn from leading CEOs, award-winning chefs, and wellness experts.
- This limited-time offer allows users to sharpen skills and transform.
Links: Get MasterClass, Sign Up Now, 50% off, MasterClass at Work
Michael Girdley
by Michael Girdley
Senior leaders often struggle to get honest feedback from peers.
- As you advance, people tend to withhold the truth out of fear or politeness.
- The author will share tactics to escape the 'feedback desert.'
- He will cover running specific systems and best practices.
- The talk focuses on seeking out challenging conversations.
Links: Click here to opt out, The Low-Risk Business, one playbook, high-performing remote teams, Bedrock, Validate the numbers, Compound Conference, Connect, grow, get inspired in business
MIT Technology Review
by Jessica Klein
Deepfake porn raises serious issues of consent and identity.
- Deepfakes can use a person's body without consent, causing trauma.
- The technology evolved from swapping faces onto nude bodies.
- Modern deepfakes are largely AI-generated, trained on online porn.
- New federal laws could pose an existential threat to porn actors' work.
Links: The shock of seeing your body used in deepfake porn, Read the full story →
Morning Consult
NFL leads the category, but generational and gender gaps pose a risk.
- NFL is the category's 'Front Door,' showing high mental penetration.
- The brand's structural durability is threatened by generational and gender gaps.
- The data reveals emotional connection gaps not yet visible in market share.
- The NFL must defend its calendar and address consumer segmentation.
Links: See the research in action., always-on-consumer-intelligence, Category Advantage
Nate from Nate’s Substack
by Nate from Nate’s Substack
Making invisible AI work visible helps the entire company learn.
- Individual AI work is often invisible, preventing company-wide learning.
- Companies must capture knowledge through design, not just tools or policies.
- The solution is making non-sensitive AI work visible to the team.
- Public AI work helps the company learn; private work helps the person.
Links: What Shopify actually built., Why a prompt library will not save you., Where to draw the line., A setup any team can run in ninety minutes., three-part prompt kit
Nautilus
Scientists test quantum theory using macroscopic objects.
- Schrödinger's experiment questioned observation's role in reality.
- Researchers test if quantum effects persist in large, visible objects.
- Superpositions were successfully created in superconducting wires.
- The goal is finding if quantum mechanics breaks down at a certain scale.
Links: Schrödinger’s kittens are all grown up, So is the universe “quantum all the way up, or not?” Find out! →, Welcome to the Block Universe, How Teacups and Demons Help Demystify Physics, The Sean Carrolls Explain the Universe
Last chance to get the new Nautilus issue delivered in print.
- The deadline to receive the print edition is May 31.
- The issue covers the day physicists feared reality would unravel.
- It explores how humanity barely survived a population bottleneck.
- It features a dive assessing if coral has a chance to come back.
Links: physicists feared reality would unravel, humanity barely survived, coral has a chance to come back
News Items by John Ellis
by John Ellis
Pope warns leaders about AI's disruptive effects and safety gaps.
- Pope Leo XIV issued a papal encyclical warning about AI's disruptive effects.
- The Pope stressed that political action is needed, not just moral 'alignment.'
- The A.I. Security Institute found major safety gaps in leading AI models.
- DeepSeek cut its API pricing by 75%, intensifying market competition.
Links: warning leaders to safeguard humanity from A.I.’s most disruptive effects, a papal encyclical, Christopher Olah, a co-founder of Anthropic, have found major safety gaps in every leading A.I. model they have tested, including Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gem, The move lowers the cache-miss input cost for the V4-Pro model to 3 yuan ($0.44) per million tokens, less than one-tenth
next play
by ben at next play
Explore under-the-radar startup opportunities and roles.
- A Head of Community role is open at Nas.com.
- The community provides co-founder and side project listings.
- Resources are available for finding collaborators and ideas.
- Members gain access to product discounts and networking events.
Links: Updated lists of people searching for their next co-founder/side project collaborator, Our Slack group, 10 new project and side project ideas, Apply here
Not Another CEO
by Michael Loeb
Founder flaws are the biggest threat, often before the market can.
- Founder flaws like pride and sloth are predictable warning signs.
- Real entrepreneurial drive is innate, not something that can be manufactured.
- The willingness to quit is an immediate dealbreaker for any founder.
- Magnetic charm can mask genuine conviction, requiring careful scrutiny.
- Founders should fund themselves using models like Uncharted.
Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelloeb1/, https://loeb.nyc/, Not Another CEO PodcastNot Another CEOPodcast, https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEO
Numlock News
by Walt Hickey
From beach shades to Mercury's ice, science and culture dominate.
- Shibumis, popular beach shades, are causing issues and have been banned by some beaches.
- West Virginia's OSHA oversight is severely strained due to reduced federal inspectors.
- Stephen Colbert's departure from 'The Late Show' impacts author visibility on late-night TV.
- The Mandalorian and Grogu was a box office success, while 'Obsession' was a surprise hit.
- Mercury's polar ice deposits may have formed rapidly after a massive comet impact.
Links: Fred A. Bernstein, The Wall Street Journal, Tre Spencer, Mountain State Spotlight, Ed Nawotka, Publishers Weekly, Rebecca Rubin, Variety
Off Message
by Brian from Off Message
Democrats must prioritize constitutional duty over electoral strategy.
- Democrats are focusing on cost of living, downplaying impeachment.
- The Constitution obligates members to protect the country from a tyrant.
- Democrats should commit to aggressive oversight to find impeachable offenses.
- The oath requires supporting the Constitution, which includes impeaching a president.
- Democrats should not fear asserting that Trump ought to be removed from office.
Off The Fence
New magazine issue is ready, and China's state visits are drawing attention.
- Issue 27 is ready, featuring an ambitious investigation and a 'Facts' section.
- The magazine has traveled widely, from Switzerland to Peru and Ireland.
- The sister newsletter, Capital Letter, covers London culture and gigs.
- China's state visits signal an increasingly assertive role on the world stage.
- Sam Chetwin George provides analysis of China’s current geopolitical position.
Links: to the mag here., n England’s Switzerland, in the gardens at Chatsworth, running off to Peru., ferry over to Ireland, analysis of China’s position, and not mentioning Taiwan
On my Om
by Om Malik
Digital twins mark the ultimate loss of personal authenticity.
- The author found AI useful for personal reflection, not public representation.
- He critiques the trend of industry leaders creating digital twins.
- Interacting with a copy is inferior to a genuine, unexpected conversation.
- This trend is the culmination of social media's shift to curated illusion.
- The self has become a product, now manifested as an interactive twin.
Links: AI psychosis, digital twins, Reid Hoffman, The Wall Street Journal
One Useful Thing
by Ethan Mollick
AI writing is pervasive, but over-reliance risks undermining human thought.
- AI content is increasingly common in social media, papers, and articles.
- AI writing often lacks genuine meaning, acting as 'attention vampires.'
- Over-relying on AI risks undermining the development of human writing skills.
- AI is a useful tool for enhancing writing, but should not be used as a default.
- Education studies show AI shortcuts can hurt actual learning outcomes.
Links: academic papers, New York Times opinion articles, award-winning short stories, frequent AI users have historically done quite well identifying AI writing, The first paper
Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman
The right wing is building a monarchy around an unpresidential figure.
- Trump's cabinet shows unprecedented obsequiousness, calling him 'Dear Leader.'
- The right wing is building a cult of personality around a deeply unpresidential figure.
- This trend of empowerment is not new, but the institutional support is unprecedented.
- The Supreme Court has granted him absolute immunity for official acts.
- Congress has abandoned its role as an independent branch of government.
Links: absolute immunity, humiliation, article
Planet Positive
by Shady from Planet Positive
Simple, consistent kindness is the most powerful form of help.
- A friend needed a meal, prompting the narrator's son to intervene.
- The son understood that formal help could cause more harm than good.
- Consistent, simple acts of kindness provided a lifeline for the young man.
- The essay urges readers to look locally and simply set an extra plate.
Product Market Fit
by Guillermo Flor
Founders should use persistent AI skills, not just open tabs.
- Most founders use AI tools like Claude by starting from zero.
- A persistent context system loads brand voice, ICP, and positioning automatically.
- These 100 skills, found in public GitHub repos, improve AI output significantly.
- Skills provide deep context, moving beyond generic outputs like SWOT matrices.
Links: The 100 Founder Skills, Mapped by Function, How Skills Share Context Across Your Entire Stack, Where to Start in the Next 30 Minutes
Project Liberty
by Project Liberty
Gen Z is logging off, reacting strongly to AI and digital life.
- Offline trends are rising, including phone-free restaurants and board game cafes.
- Gen Z is openly booing speakers who discuss AI job threats.
- Surveys show young people are actively cutting back on smartphone use.
- Concerns about AI job loss are driving this tech aversion.
Links: Offline Club, jeered, AI-driven job loss, most, if not all, Pew Research, Gallup survey
PRWeek UK Creative Inspiration Bulletin
Reviewing the week's best and worst marketing campaigns.
- The bulletin reviews recent campaign successes and failures.
- It covers specific brand campaigns, like Aldi and Burger King.
- It analyzes controversies, such as Gemma Collins' public appearances.
- The content also discusses the future role of AI in communications.
Links: Philip Morris slammed, Gemma Collins misjudged? Creative Hits & Misses of the Week, Aldi at the Chelsea Flower Show, Burger King and The Mandalorian, BT and Frank Skinner – Campaigns round-up (part two), Shall we make global comms less boring?, Gemma Collins and Department for Education: good choice or comms 'disaster'?, AI and comms: The evolution has only begun
PRWeek US Play By Play
Brands are leveraging major events and viral moments for marketing.
- The World Cup is a major marketing opportunity for brands.
- Charmin reacted quickly to a viral NBA moment involving a public restroom.
- David Beckham partnered with Home Depot for the 2026 World Cup.
- Kim Davis spoke about 'Heated Rivalry' and leadership at the Women of Distinction event.
Links: How Charmin responded to Spurs rookie Carter Bryant's viral bathroom moment, NHL’s Kim Davis talks ‘Heated Rivalry’ and leading as a woman of color, 2026 FIFA World Cup: How Verizon, TikTok and Home Depot are bringing fans pitchside
PUNCH
Five glasses and trends are defining cocktail bars right now.
- Five specific glasses are currently trending in cocktail bars.
- The classic Manhattan is undergoing a rebranding effort.
- Poncha remains a staple summer drink using rhum agricole.
- John & Peter's is highlighted as a key bar in New Hope.
- A guide is available for various cocktail glassware types.
Links: The Ultimate Guide to Cocktail Glassware, Manhattan Highball, Long Look Back, Fourth Regiment
Rick Wilson
by Rick Wilson
Trump is declining, both physically and as a political force.
- Trump is aging, and his physical health is visibly deteriorating.
- His decline is more significant as a political force than just physical.
- The media coverage of his decline contrasts sharply with that of Biden.
- Personal data is highly vulnerable in the data broker market.
Roundhill Investments
Roundhill announces ETF distributions for TOPW, YBTC, and YETH.
- The firm announced ETF distributions for TOPW, YBTC, and YETH.
- Distributions may exceed the Funds’ income and gains for the taxable year.
- Excess distributions may be treated as a return of capital.
- The estimated per share composition includes 100% return of capital (ROC).
Links: TOPW, YBTC, YETH
Route One Daily Brief
Ronaldo leads pay list; World Cup prep and major finals.
- Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid athlete for the fourth straight year.
- Pochettino announced the USMNT squad for the World Cup.
- The Champions League final is scheduled for May 30.
- The Conference League final pits Crystal Palace against Rayo Vallecano.
Links: Sign up here, Forbes, here
Ruben Hassid
by Ruben Hassid
Meeting Demis Hassabis revealed AGI is coming by 2030.
- Demis Hassabis, Nobel winner and DeepMind founder, is building AGI.
- He predicts Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is only four years away.
- The work done today will look vastly different from the work paid for in 2030.
- Professionals must adapt to massive technological shifts, like marketing's evolution.
Links: Nobel Prize winner, AGI, DeepMind, Google I/O
Runtime
by Tom Krazit
Anthropic's Mythos Preview is finding thousands of critical software vulnerabilities.
- Mythos Preview found thousands of critical bugs in partner codebases.
- It helped major companies patch vulnerabilities faster than before.
- A bank used Mythos to prevent a $1.5 million fraudulent wire transfer.
- Anthropic scanned 1,000 open-source projects, finding over 6,000 flaws.
Links: Anthropic teases the potential of Mythos Preview, Project Glasswing, Anthropic's Mythos Preview security model, Anthropic shared more details about its work with Mythos Preview on open-source projects
SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter
by SeattleDataGuy
AI needs consultants because implementing it requires understanding complex business processes.
- AI companies are hiring consultants to support enterprise adoption of models like Claude.
- The difficulty lies not in clicking buttons, but in understanding business processes and politics.
- AI is powerful enough to change work, but not simple enough to reorganize companies alone.
- AI is like fire; it needs people to build the 'appliances' that utilize its power.
Links: Prometheus, electricity, became valuable
Semafor Business
Wall Street is building a futures market for GPU power.
- Wall Street is creating a futures market for GPU power.
- This market aims to surface prices and distribute risk for AI compute.
- The oligopoly of hyperscalers makes price discovery difficult.
- Without commercial users, the market risks being a casino.
- Sophisticated players still favor the economics of scarcity.
Links: AI futures are the future, Google search box is bigger now, Wall Street is racing to create a futures-contract market for GPU power
Semafor DC
US strikes Iran amid complex peace talks and political challenges.
- US strikes Iran despite Trump's claims of peace talks.
- Washington and Tehran remain far apart on nuclear issues.
- Trump has few good options for reining in inflation.
- GOP faces time constraints and opposition on key bills.
Links: Washington and Tehran remain far apart, quietly pushing back, few good options for reining in inflation, not clear how Republicans will handle, pushing two pieces of legislation
Dems face internal strife amid rising debt and geopolitical tensions.
- Democrats are concerned about internal party discipline, calling out the 'circular firing squad' dynamic.
- The White House framed the Abraham Accords as a 'complement' to any potential peace deal.
- Trump is meeting his Cabinet at Camp David amid high tensions with Iran.
- Debt delinquencies are rising, nearing Great Recession levels, according to Fed data.
Links: Democrats dubious of conventions, Trump’s Abraham Accords idea, Cabinet to Camp David, Debt delinquencies spike, Micron ▲ 20% on chip exuberance, sending its market value above $1 trillion for the first time.
SevenFifty Daily
Dry farming is a nuanced practice requiring deep vineyard ecosystem knowledge.
- Dry farming is complex, depending on soil, vine age, and root depth.
- Climate change adds complexity, demanding constant adaptation from growers.
- The practice can boost vine resilience but faces unpredictable weather.
- Success requires a deep understanding of the entire vineyard ecosystem.
Links: The Science Behind Dry Farming
SHIFT
by SHIFT
Five morning exercises improve balance better than yoga.
- The email details five specific exercises for morning routines.
- These movements are suggested to enhance balance more effectively than yoga.
- The routine focuses on improving core stability and physical balance.
Sidebar.io
AI changes, and we are losing insight and public spaces.
- Chat streams often prioritize iteration over genuine insight.
- AI-generated content is rapidly changing the internet landscape.
- The removal of public benches signals a loss of community space.
- Motion design remains a vital area for creative portfolios.
Links: What we lost in the AI chat stream, AI, Habib Hajallie’s meticulous ballpoint pen drawings, The impact of AI-generated text on the Internet, The disappearance of the public bench, Showreel.design, Motion Design
Silicon Dragon
by Rebecca Fannin
AI, China's tech rise, and disruptive startups are driving the next tech era.
- CNBC's Disruptor 50 list highlights AI, cybersecurity, and defense tech.
- China's tech sector, including chips and EVs, is rapidly advancing.
- The AI boom fueled total funding across the 2026 Disruptors to $337 billion.
- The author discusses the rise of China tech in her latest book.
Links: The New Tech Titans of China, CNBCs annual listing of the top 50 venture-backed disruptive companies, Thinking with Machines, Forbes China Rich List, Book Talk & Signing Friday, May 8, Buy Now
Skimm Shopping
by Margo Ghertner
Summer essentials and must-have clothing items for hot weather.
- The guide recommends comfort items like Archies flip-flops and Kosas deodorant.
- For beach trips, a collapsible beach tent is suggested as a cost-saving alternative.
- Summer clothing staples include linen trousers and breathable cotton tees.
- New must-haves include a viral Walmart dress and a water-activated BBQ brush.
Links: Archies, Kosas Chemistry Deodorant, Shark’s ChillPill, Ann Taylor, Gorich Beach Tent, Walmart dress, BBQ Daddy, linen trousers, Old Navy’s Tennis Dress
SmarterX
by Mike at SmarterX
Google launches agentic AI, Musk loses lawsuit, and Karpathy joins Anthropic.
- Google I/O 2026 launched the 'agentic Gemini era' with new AI tools.
- Musk's $150B lawsuit against OpenAI was rejected by a federal jury.
- The verdict removes a major hurdle for a potential OpenAI IPO.
- Former OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy joined Anthropic's pre-training team.
Links: Google I/O 2026, agentic Gemini era, OpenAI IPO, Anthropic
Snacks
by Rani Molla
Robotics and autonomous vehicles are rapidly becoming everyday infrastructure.
- Figure 03 robots demonstrated sorting 249,560 packages over 200 hours.
- Molla found robotaxis rides were consistently good, preferring Waymo's service.
- Autonomous vehicles are expanding beyond ride-sharing, becoming infrastructure.
- The technology is advancing, making it easier to live with the cars.
Links: package-sorting line for 200 hours straight, Confessions of a (former) robotaxi hater, Waymo, See what it’s like to ride in different robotaxis, Nasdaq TotalView
Stratechery
by Ben Thompson
Nvidia changes reporting to separate hyperscaler sales from the AI stack.
- Nvidia reported record sales of $81.6B, driven by AI agent demand.
- Sales were up 85% year-over-year, beating analyst expectations.
- The company is adjusting reporting to separate hyperscaler sales.
- Net income reached $58.3B, significantly exceeding prior results.
Links: Thursday’s episode of Sharp Tech, diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Wall Street Journal
Substack
Trump dismisses gas price hikes while Pope Leo addresses AI.
- The live video covers current political and technological issues.
- Trump characterized gas price increases as insignificant.
- Pope Leo provided commentary regarding the implications of AI.
- The discussion features Edwin Eisendrath and Susan Demas.
Experts discuss whether China outwitted Donald Trump.
- Anand Giridharadas and Evan Osnos discuss China's geopolitical success.
- The conversation centers on whether China outmaneuvered Trump.
- The content is available in a live video format.
Live video available: Anchor Watch with Bobby Jones and Trump's plan.
- The live video, "Anchor Watch," is now available on Substack.
- The discussion features insights from Bobby Jones.
- The content also addresses Trump's proposed 5% Peace Plan.
Links: Anchor Watch with Bobby Jones, Trump's 5% Peace Plan
Rick Wilson and Steven Beschloss host a live strategy session.
- A live video session is now available on Substack.
- The discussion features Rick Wilson and Steven Beschloss.
- The event is titled "The Strategy Session."
Digest of insights on AI, strategy, and new books for spring and summer.
- Adam Grant recommends 12 new books to introduce exciting worldviews.
- Ed Cotton advises strategists on navigating a surplus of intelligence.
- Mark Cuban's predictions are highlighted regarding current market trends.
- Prof G Media discusses the AI job apocalypse versus other reckonings.
Links: The 12 New Books to Enliven Spring and Summer, What Strategists Need to Do in a World Where There's a Surplus of Smarts, Mark Cuban has watched this movie 3 times, These 9 AI Businesses Will Make You $1M (With Zero Employees), the AI job apocalypse
SYSTM
by Matt Lerner
AI content is failing SEO; focus on proprietary, unique assets.
- AI content provides only temporary traffic spikes, not sustainable SEO growth.
- A study found sites using AI content lost over 30% of traffic within six months.
- Google constantly updates algorithms to penalize unhelpful, unoriginal content.
- Effective SEO requires proprietary assets like original research or unique tools.
- If you lack unique assets, the core issue is content strategy, not SEO.
Links: Lily Ray, read Lily’s full study, Read past issues and subscribe, my original post, ChatGPT’s answer
tastylive
by tastylive
Rising interest rates are not more attractive than stocks.
- Rising interest rates are still not more attractive than stocks.
- The discussion touched upon T-bill interest rates in a live show.
Team Braze
by Team Braze
Relying on old data hurts personalization and campaign timing.
- Only 55% of surveyed marketers use customer data in real time.
- Poor data usage results in off recommendations and late messages.
- Marketers must learn to turn preference data into resonance.
- It is crucial to remove the lag between customer behavior and response.
- Giving customers a reason to share data improves experiences.
Tech Brew
Pope issues strong critique regarding AI technology.
- The Pope delivered a significant warning about AI's use.
- The critique focused on ethical and moral implications of the technology.
Techmeme
Dropbox founder steps down; Micron hits $1T market cap amid AI boom.
- Dropbox founder Drew Houston is stepping down as CEO.
- Ashraf Alkarmi will become the sole CEO, leading the company.
- Micron reached a $1 trillion market value, driven by AI chip demand.
- China is imposing travel restrictions on individuals in advanced AI work.
Links: DROPBOX FOUNDER DREW HOUSTON IS STEPPING DOWN AS CEO AFTER 19 YEARS TO BECOME EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, MICRON HIT A $1T MARKET VALUE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON TUESDAY AS SHARES JUMPED 19%, DRIVEN BY DEMAND FOR ITS MEMORY CHIPS IN THE AI RACE, CHINA-EXPANDS-TRAVEL-CURBS-TO
The AI-Augmented Engineer
by The AI-Augmented Engineer
Codex projects showcase powerful new prompting techniques for development.
- Codex projects demonstrate advanced prompting, including skill invocation.
- The $imagegen and @Build prefixes allow explicit control over tools.
- Codex can build complex apps, like a SwiftUI dungeon crawler.
- It can also create sophisticated marketing sites, such as a landing page.
- These capabilities suggest a shift away from traditional IDE development.
Links: Swifty Dungeon, the Codex app, Intent, Watchmaker Landing Page, build my own landing page, procedural city generator
The Breakdown
A summer reading list of essential non-fiction finance books.
- The author reviewed six books, including picks from Matt Levine and Ben Thompson.
- The review highlights Bill Gross's career in active bond management.
- Gross was highly successful, predicting the 2008 crisis and cornering markets.
- His outperformance ended, leading to internal conflict at PIMCO.
- The book provides an entertaining look at asset management disputes.
Links: The Bond King: How One Man Made a Market, Built an Empire, and Lost It All
The Bulwark
by Joe Perticone
Bipartisan opposition challenges Trump's proposed riot compensation fund.
- Trump's plan to fund pardoned rioters met significant opposition in Congress.
- Intraparty disagreements derailed Republican legislative business.
- Senators criticized the fund, calling it 'stupid' and 'morally wrong.'
- Reps Fitzpatrick and Suozzi introduced a bill to ban federal funds for the fund.
Links: Problem Solvers Caucus, anti-weaponization fund, Department of Justice
by William Kristol
Senators warn that a deal with Iran would be a disastrous failure.
- Senators Wicker, Cruz, and Graham criticized a potential Iran deal.
- They warned the agreement would undermine U.S. military efforts.
- Concerns include Iran developing nuclear weapons and controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
- The deal risks making Iran a dominant regional power.
Links: Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement, Join Bill and Andrew for Morning Shots Live on Substack, YouTube, Roger Wicker had warned, Wicker followed up, Sen. Ted Cruz joined in voicing his alarm, Sen. Lindsay Graham, weighed in
by Jonathan Cohn
New Democratic proposals target for-profit healthcare companies.
- The Searchlight Institute released a report on affordable healthcare.
- Recommendations include blocking hospital monopolies and limiting private equity.
- Policies also aim to stop arbitrary insurance coverage denials.
- Both Searchlight and CAP proposals criticize corporate power.
- The common focus is curbing for-profit companies' impact on patients.
Links: Searchlight Institute, free primary care, Center for American Progress published a health care agenda, Medicare for All, Steward Health Care
The Creative Independent
by Greg Mendez
Artists must push boundaries and accept the natural flow of creative output.
- Inspiration often strikes while walking, driving, or having conversations.
- He finds creative fuel by watching movies and reading books.
- Songwriting usually starts with a melody or chords, not with lyrics.
- Artists must accept that creative output naturally ebbs and flows.
Links: Musician Greg Mendez on the problem with being comfortable
The Daily | FreightWaves
FMCSA enforcement is driving spot rates to all-time highs.
- FMCSA enforcement is removing non-compliant capacity from the market.
- The National Truckload Index climbed, reflecting structural market tightening.
- Regulators are targeting self-certification and improving ELD platforms.
- Shippers must recalibrate budgets for a structurally tighter supply side.
Links: Read the full story →
The Daily Skimm
Pope Leo XIV warns that AI could erode human creativity and critical thinking.
- Pope Leo issued an encyclical warning about AI's risks.
- He cautioned that AI could blur the line between human connection and artificiality.
- The Pope compared AI hype to the Tower of Babel.
- He called for governments to add guardrails to prevent inequality.
Links: it’s all about AI, a stark warning about AI’s risks, AI hype to the Tower of Babel, The Wall Street Journal, Students and Faculty Aren’t Happy To Be at the First AI-Powered University
The Daily Upside
SoftBank's AI bets drive stock to record highs.
- SoftBank surged on Masayoshi Son's aggressive AI investments.
- Son has a history of high-conviction, ambitious tech bets.
- The record includes past losses and mixed Vision fund results.
- SoftBank built up a significant stake in OpenAI.
Links: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, SoftBank’s ‘Go Big or Go Home’ AI Bets Fire Up Markets as IPOs Near, built up
The Download from MIT Technology Review
by Thomas Macaulay
AI job fears are overstated, but entry-level work faces a real crisis.
- US labor data shows AI has not caused mass unemployment.
- Unemployment in AI-exposed jobs is actually lower than in less-exposed jobs.
- The real crisis is weakening the first rung of the career ladder.
- Young workers in AI-exposed occupations saw a sharp decline in employment.
Links: Subscribe + bonus AI content, Here’s what the data really says about AI and jobs, Read this op-ed on how job seekers, businesses, and society can adapt, BBC, CNN, Guardian
The Information
Compute access is the new competitive advantage shaping the AI industry.
- Compute access is critical for building and scaling next-generation AI models.
- The discussion analyzed the current state of the compute crunch on the ground.
- It addressed data center delays and hardware diversity beyond Nvidia.
- Startups are exploring solutions for AI's infrastructure bottlenecks.
Links: Watch the full conversation, Watch how we built this list
The Information AM
by Amir Efrati
Pope warns AI development risks power concentration and labor displacement.
- Pope Leo XIV published a treatise on AI's societal harms.
- He noted private entities now surpass government power in AI development.
- The Pope criticized 'new forms of slavery' in AI data labeling work.
- Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah stressed that labor displacement is a moral imperative.
Links: Pope Leo, Anthropic Co-Founder Warn of AI Power Concentration, Labor Displacement, His post, Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”)
The Ink
by The Ink
Live discussion analyzes the complex America-China relationship.
- Evan Osnos joins to discuss the America-China relationship.
- He covered President Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping in China.
- Osnos has reported extensively from both countries.
- The discussion focuses on the relationship between the two peoples.
Links: Evan Osnos, who just returned from China, where he covered President Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping, America-China relationship, probed the inner lives, catch up on our previous conversation with Osnos here
by The Ink
Understanding the complex relationship between China and America.
- The US-China relationship is complex, requiring more than a simple power struggle analysis.
- Many commentators focus only on the 'dominance frame,' missing deeper dynamics.
- The discussion emphasizes individual, human-level experiences driving national behavior.
- It explores China's true aspirations, beyond mere global hegemony or power.
- Understanding the people is key to grasping China's current trajectory.
Links: Evan Osnos, Age of Ambition, American rage, oligarchs
The Inside Lane
Washington's trucking rules are changing, impacting small carriers.
- The FMCSA's new MOTUS system is active, requiring carriers to adapt.
- Small carriers must navigate new federal rules and ELD revocations.
- Legislation is advancing funding for truck parking.
- The Supreme Court ruling impacts small trucking companies and owner-ops.
Links: Supreme Court's broker ruling, MOTUS is live. The FMCSA's new registration system became active last week., ELD removals and what they mean
The Institutional Risk Analyst
by R.C. Whalen
New blog post available on institutional risk topics.
- The article discusses current trends in institutional risk.
- Key insights are provided regarding market stability.
- Subscribers can learn about risk mitigation strategies.
The Liber
by The Liber
Luxury, tech, and culture headlines for May 25, 2026.
- Luxury brands are making major announcements, from Ferrari's electric car to AP's Royal Oak.
- The tech sector is seeing IPO activity, highlighted by Oura's potential listing.
- Travel and lifestyle trends are shifting, with Bali deporting influencers and Aman expanding.
- New retail concepts, like Nude, are entering the grocery market.
The Neuron
Free GitHub tool bypasses Meta and Google AI safety guardrails.
- Hackers can use inaudible sounds to silently hijack voice AI assistants.
- A GitHub tool bypassed safety filters on Llama 3.3 and Gemma models.
- This 'abliteration' technique works best on open-source AI models.
- Proprietary models like ChatGPT are harder targets for these attacks.
Links: inaudible sounds, Financial Times investigation, ClickUp, Elon Musk, California State University
The Newsette
Summer balance means setting boundaries, not perfectly splitting your time.
- Work-life balance this summer is about being less available on purpose.
- Set a 'hard stop,' like no emails after 6 P.M., to protect your time.
- Embrace slower, social summer rhythms instead of fighting them daily.
- New fitness upgrades help keep up with summer's active schedule.
Links: work-life balance this summer, batching emails, planning actual fun, Free People Shoulder Bag, Alo Runner, WHOOP fitness tracker
The Product Compass
by Paweł from The Product Compass
PMs should integrate Codex alongside Claude Code for comprehensive development support.
- Codex provides a chat interface with file trees and visual diffs, bypassing IDE limitations.
- It allows manual session compression, which is useful for managing model budgets.
- Using both Codex and Claude provides an extra perspective for reviewing code and prompts.
- The setup allows both runtimes to work on the same repository simultaneously.
- Codex is bundled with image generation, a feature Claude does not cover.
Links: Claude Code’s Limits Are Generous. The Problem Is Your Setup., Download Codex app from OpenAI, Codex extension
The Product Marketer
by Rory from The Product Marketer
AI is forcing a rethink of traditional seats-based pricing models.
- AI allows measuring value based on work done, not just tool access.
- Variable costs challenge flat seat pricing, pressuring margins.
- AI's ability to replace seats creates existential revenue model conflicts.
- Collaboration tools can still use seats, but monetization must adapt.
- Outcome-based pricing is becoming a key focus for AI products.
The Vibe Marketer
Hermes offers stability and ease over OpenClaw's complexity.
- Hermes is quick and straightforward, unlike OpenClaw's complex setup.
- It offers auto-updating memory and self-creating skills.
- Hermes provides better stability and visibility into tool calls.
- The switch saves time by reducing constant debugging efforts.
Links: the vibe marketer’s community, OpenClaw vs Hermes, Youtube: Why I left OpenClaw for Hermes
The Wolf of Franchises
by The Wolf of Franchises
Franchise growth seen in Minnesota, brand buybacks, and new territories.
- The Peach Cobbler Factory signed its largest deal, committing 15 units in Minnesota.
- Jeff Dudan reacquired AdvantaClean, his original brand, for HomeFront Brands.
- The Pack launched its first territory agreements, totaling 18 units in NJ and FL.
- These deals highlight multi-brand platform consolidation in franchising.
Links: Peach Cobbler Factory, HomeFront Brands, AdvantaClean, The Pack
The Wrap | Your Evening Briefing
Stocks hit record highs amid peace talks and chip sector rally.
- Stock indices hit record highs following positive comments on Iran negotiations.
- The technology sector, especially chip stocks, was the best performer.
- Micron's market cap surpassed $1 trillion after a major price target upgrade.
- Companies are increasing cybersecurity hiring due to advanced AI capabilities.
Links: Subscribe to The Wrap, Subscribe to Chartr and Snacks, See more, Sherwood Terms and Conditions
TLDR
Jony Ive's Ferrari, Huawei chip advances, and AI agent security.
- The Ferrari Luce, designed with Jony Ive, is a $640,000 electric super-speedster.
- Huawei claims a workaround to match advanced chip density by 2031.
- Japan is developing Mach-5 hypersonic engines for commercial passenger flights.
- AI agents need dedicated, scoped credentials to prevent security risks.
Links: Ferrari Launches $640,000, Jony Ive-Designed, Glass-Clad Electric Speedster (8 minute read), Huawei Says It Has Workaround to Match Leading Chips (4 minute read), Japan's New Hypersonic Engine Could Make 2-Hour Flights To The US A Reality (4 minute read), WorkOS is built to solve it., Agentic Search Leaderboard: Why an LLM leaderboard matters for agent builders (Sponsor)
Today in Tabs
The article muses on the absurdity of awards and modern fame.
- The author was a finalist for an award, despite competition from figures like Mike Bloomberg.
- The piece lists various embarrassing potential identities, from fashion trends to clowns.
- It compares the author's potential self to AI-generated stories and designs.
Links: Jason Leopold, Mikey B-Unit, Hot Whales in Your Area, wearing dresses over pants this summer, Los Angeles’s horny clowns, Jony Ive’s, Apple magic mouse, Steven Rosenbaum
Today's Elevator
by Today's Elevator
The newsletter focuses on the topic of meatballs on toothpicks.
- No substantive content was provided in the email body.
- The email primarily contains boilerplate links and disclaimers.
Trivium China
China and Pakistan strengthen ties amid US-Iran peace efforts.
- Xi Jinping met with Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing.
- Pakistan remains a key 'all-weather strategic partner' for China.
- Pakistan played a major role in facilitating US-Iran talks.
- China benefits by letting Pakistan take credit for mediation success.
- This model allows Beijing to manage global crises indirectly.
Links: China and Pakistan hail ties amid possible Iran breakthrough, frequent terror attacks, acknowledged as crucial, 习近平会见巴基斯坦总理夏巴兹, 王毅会见巴基斯坦国防军司令兼陆军参谋长穆尼尔
UX Content Collective
by UX Content Collective
Six workshops teach content design using AI, systems, and Figma.
- Build real tools using AI in content design, no coding required.
- Master advanced Figma features like components and auto-layout.
- Learn to build content models using structured content principles.
- Apply systems thinking to scale content across products and teams.
- Understand AI ethics and governance for responsible content creation.
Links: AI in Content Design: Hands-On Building, Advanced Figma for Content Designers, Structured Content in Practice, Systems Thinking for UX Content, AI in Content Design: Ethics, Scale, and Impact, AI in Content Design: Evaluation and Structure
Visual Capitalist
US stock markets hold greater market cap than the next nine combined.
- The U.S. market capitalization exceeds the next nine largest markets combined.
- Fraud is becoming more automated, convincing, and difficult to detect.
- The 2026 fraud series covers AI scams, crypto breaches, and biometric fraud.
- These risks now target people, platforms, and processes at scale.
Links: The World’s Largest Stock Markets, View the Ranking, Explore a Data-Driven View of Risk, Breaking Down U.S. Carbon Offsets by Project Type in 2026
Vox
Membership provides deep context and analysis on world forces.
- Membership grants unlimited access to reporting and analysis.
- Benefits include ad-free podcasts and member-only newsletters.
- Vox aims to bring clarity to policy, technology, and climate.
- It helps readers understand the news, not just keep up with it.
Links: Become an Annual Member
Why is this interesting?
by Elz
The next cultural shift will reject performative internet culture.
- Internet culture has hit its limit of maximum self-exposure.
- The opposite era will favor mystique and high-context environments.
- The next shift will come from people who are impossible to credibly copy.
- These creators will choose density over consensus.
Links: minor genius, ZINE
Workweek Newsletter
by Daniel Murray
The Aperol Spritz success story reveals lessons in strategic marketing.
- Aperol was invented in 1919, evolving from a regional Italian apéritif.
- The Campari Group capitalized on Aperol's appeal to casual drinkers.
- They perfected the easy-to-remember 3:2:1 recipe ratio.
- Marketing was B2B, targeting bartenders and bars first for global reach.
by Blake Madden
AI and Q1 earnings reveal major shifts in hospital operations.
- Healthcare will enter a deflationary period, driven by labor automation.
- Clinical AI success requires accepting liability and dedicated funding.
- ACA subsidy declines are steeper than expected, pressuring revenue.
- Capital spending is shifting heavily toward ambulatory and technology.
- AI adoption is moving from PR to concrete operational discipline.
Links: Heart of Healthcare Podcast, Insurgents and Incumbents, ACA subsidy impact takes shape, Capital allocation moves ambulatory and into technology
WTF Just Happened Today?
by Matt
Federal court blocks Alabama's race-based congressional map.
- A federal court blocked Alabama Republicans from using a race-based congressional map.
- The U.S. struck Iranian sites near the Strait of Hormuz, citing self-defense.
- Trump proposed a governmentwide nondisclosure agreement for federal employees.
- The South Carolina Senate also blocked a proposed congressional map.
Links: Politico, ABC News, CNN, Washington Post