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Monday is here team, and so is the Thanksgiving break.

Today we share from TikTok’s bold move to merge livestream shopping with real-world retail in Santa Monica to AI’s growing role in tackling online exploitation, technology continues to reshape industries. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Northvolt, once a leader in Europe’s battery race, faces bankruptcy, highlighting the steep challenges of competing with established global suppliers. On the funding front, AI startups Together AI and Lambda Labs are drawing major investments, reflecting the growing demand for cutting-edge infrastructure. Dive into these stories and more as we explore the latest shifts in the tech landscape.

• Why Singapore is Leading in Self-Driving Tech?

• DOGE’s $2 Trillion Budget Cut: A Tough Sell.

• 🧰 AI Tools (SaaS Tools)

• Our Deep Dives.

• 📰 News and Trends.

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Amazon Bets Big on Smart Homes, You Can Too

VCs know how difficult it is to spot promising early investment opportunities. Even the Sharks from Shark Tank declined the offer to buy 10% of Ring for $700,000 - a decision they would regret when Amazon acquired Ring, turning the $700,000 into $10M!

RYSE is the smart-home brand poised to follow a similar trajectory. The founder pitched on Canada’s version of Shark Tank, Dragons’ Den and received two offers - it seems the Dragons’ learned from the Sharks’ mistakes. Don’t make the same mistake the sharks did.

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Why Singapore is Leading in Self-Driving Tech.

Singapore has become a prime testing ground for autonomous vehicles (AVs), addressing labor shortages and optimizing land use with self-driving buses, freight vehicles, and street sweepers. Its clear safety guidelines, strong government support, and consumer acceptance have drawn global AV firms like WeRide and homegrown Moovita. The city-state tops the Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index, making it a prestigious launchpad for AV technology. By focusing on safer, simpler deployments like fixed routes and logistics, Singapore is setting a global example for integrating driverless technology into dense urban environments.

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DOGE’s $2 Trillion Budget Cut: A Tough Sell.

Elon Musk, co-chair of President-elect Trump’s "Department of Government Efficiency," aims to slash $2 trillion in federal spending, targeting “waste, fraud, and abuse.” However, with over half the budget tied to untouchable areas like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and debt interest, and cuts to defense or popular programs politically improbable, his plan faces massive hurdles. Even drastic cuts to discretionary spending and safety net programs wouldn’t reach his goal, exposing the myth of easily eliminating “government waste.”

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📰 AI News and Trends

• Amazon is playing catch up and throwing a lot more paper to Anthropic for collaboration purposes and AI development (Amazon)

• OpenAI Considers Taking on Google With Browser (TheInformation)

• BBVA Reports Early Wins with OpenAI’s GPT Tools, Weighs Next Steps (WSJ)

🌐 Other Tech news

• Trump’s Tariffs Could Derail Clean Energy Progress and Drive Up Costs (MIT)

• Employees at Amazon-Owned Whole Foods Store File For Union Election (PI)

• Advertisers Retreat From Social Media Policing (TheInformation)

Our Deep Dives.

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• TikTok Shop Goes Offline with Outlandish Pop-Up

  Outlandish’s new Santa Monica pop-up combines TikTok livestream shopping with in-person retail. Shoppers can watch streams on the ground floor and buy featured products upstairs, blending social shopping with real-world convenience during TikTok’s holiday ecommerce push.

• AI's Role in Combating Online Exploitation - A Reuters report highlights how platforms like OnlyFans are being misused by sex traffickers, with 11 cases reported involving coerced content streamed behind paywalls. While OnlyFans employs moderators, experts question if AI could better detect and prevent such exploitation.

  The challenge reflects a broader issue across social media, as seen with Telegram’s scrutiny for illegal activities. Advancements in AI for content moderation, behavior analysis, and real-time monitoring could be key to safeguarding digital spaces and protecting vulnerable users.

• Northvolt's Fall Highlights Battery Industry Challenges

  Sweden’s Northvolt, once Europe’s battery leader, filed for bankruptcy after production woes, canceled contracts, and $1.2 billion in losses. Despite $15 billion in funding, its collapse underscores the steep challenges Western firms face in competing with established Asian suppliers and scaling EV production.

• AI Startups Together AI and Lambda Labs Eye Fresh Funding

  AI infrastructure startups Together AI and Lambda Labs, which rent out Nvidia-powered servers, are seeking significant funding. Together AI, now surpassing $100M in annual revenue, aims to raise $200M, while Lambda Labs is nearing a $600M round at a $2B valuation. The funding highlights growing investor interest in AI server providers competing with major cloud players.

🧰 AI Tools

SaaS Tools.

• ClickUp: A comprehensive project management platform that integrates AI to automate task management, summarize meeting notes, and generate action items, thereby streamlining workflows and boosting productivity.

• Salesforce Einstein: An AI-driven CRM tool that leverages machine learning to analyze extensive data, providing valuable insights and predictions. It automates repetitive tasks and personalizes customer experiences, facilitating data-driven decision-making.

• HubSpot's Content Assistant and ChatSpot.ai: These AI tools assist in content creation and customer engagement by automating marketing tasks, offering predictive analytics, and delivering personalized content recommendations, thereby enhancing marketing efficiency.