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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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Deal to open Strait of Hormuz nears ‘final stages’
Iran and Oman are close to an agreement on a commercial route through the Strait of Hormuz, but dysfunction at the top of the Iranian regime is likely slowing talks.
View / The White House maintains a little obscurity for AI security
View / Campaign ridicule was the real winner of Michigan’s Democratic primary
The World at a Glance
Updated 8:31am EDT
1
Iran and Oman are nearing a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, raising hopes for an end to the war.
2An explosive-laden drone allegedly linked to Russia was found at a German airport, a sign of the increasing boldness of Kremlin aggression.
3Google Deepmind’s Demis Hassabis is stepping down as CEO, following a string of executives who have recently departed.
4Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund bought game maker Electronic Arts in perhaps the largest leveraged buyout in history.
5Anthropic and OpenAI models attempted to fool humans during safety tests, raising questions about oversight in AI development.
6SpaceX shares dropped after its first-ever earnings call due to concerns over capital spending on AI infrastructure.
Crypto’s top legislative priority slips in Senate
The industry needs a vote before November so it can deploy millions in political spending, but leaders have yet to line one up.
Pirro is still in trouble as Trump mulls her future
Others inside the administration are raising concerns about her, Semafor is told.
Republicans sense advantage in ‘target-rich’ Michigan
Even with President Donald Trump’s plunging popularity, they view the progressive Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as an opponent they can pick apart.
Demis Hassabis was shifting away from DeepMind CEO duties for a year
The CEO of Google’s AI unit was increasingly unsatisfied with the role of tech executive, preferring a more scientific position, said two people familiar with his thinking.
After tough Michigan primary, Democrats set sights on Rogers
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is out with a six-figure ad buy going after the Republican Michigan Senate nominee.
Michigan primary adds to Schumer’s future headaches
The Senate Democratic leader has a half-dozen viable candidates threatening to oppose him if they win.
White House’s AI framework close-hold fuels industry concerns
The Trump administration told a handful of tech firms that it will not publicly release its new framework for voluntary government reviews of advanced AI models.
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Politics
Americans turning to AI for financial advice but confidence low, poll shows
About 20% of Americans have recently used AI for financial advice, but their confidence in its expertise remains low.
Rick Wilking/Reuters
Senate Democrats advise party to break out economic populism
Democrats should use Congress’ August recess to take on corporate interests, the four senators wrote.
Eric Lee/Reuters
Crypto’s top legislative priority slips in Senate
The industry needs a vote before November so it can deploy millions in political spending, but leaders have yet to line one up.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Pirro is still in trouble as Trump mulls her future
Others inside the administration are raising concerns about her, Semafor is told.
Republicans sense advantage in ‘target-rich’ Michigan
Even with President Donald Trump’s plunging popularity, they view the progressive Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as an opponent they can pick apart.
Campaign ridicule was the real winner of Michigan’s Democratic primary
Abdul El-Sayed’s victory was a clear win for anti-AIPAC Democrats — and ridicule.
Michigan primary adds to Schumer’s future headaches
The Senate Democratic leader has a half-dozen viable candidates threatening to oppose him if they win.
After tough Michigan primary, Democrats set sights on Rogers
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is out with a six-figure ad buy going after the Republican Michigan Senate nominee.
White House’s AI framework close-hold fuels industry concerns
The Trump administration told a handful of tech firms that it will not publicly release its new framework for voluntary government reviews of advanced AI models.
Trump hits the campaign trail in Las Vegas
He plans to give a speech in Las Vegas highlighting his administration’s efforts to address the cost of living.
An inconclusive Tuesday, in Michigan and beyond
The Democratic establishment couldn’t get some of its candidates over the line, and the party’s rising left wing couldn’t win some key races.
Business
Airtable sale punctures SaaS bubble
It’s a sign that some companies hit hard by the SaaS selloff (or their venture-capital backers, as Airtable is still privately held) are bowing to reality and taking whatever money is available.
Matteo Danieli, co-founder and CPO of Bending Spoons.
AstraZeneca could be Britain’s next loss
AstraZeneca’s deal talks with US-headquartered Bristol Myers Squibb, which Semafor confirms remain active, would strike another blow to the UK’s effort to keep hold of its corporate champions.
The trade in Trump’s social-media previews
Some firms are willing to shell out $100,000 a month for early access to Trump’s social-media posts.
US and Japan vow further yen action
Japan’s top currency diplomat called the joint action the “culmination” of the US-Japan alliance, while President Donald Trump said it was a “signal of friendship.”
FAA certifies Boeing 737 Max 7
The FAA’s nod boosted the beleaguered aerospace firm’s push to restore its once-sterling reputation.
Technology
Demis Hassabis was shifting away from DeepMind CEO duties for a year
The CEO of Google’s AI unit was increasingly unsatisfied with the role of tech executive, preferring a more scientific position, said two people familiar with his thinking.
Toby Melville/Reuters
Google DeepMind boss steps down
Demis Hassabis follows a string of prominent AI executives who have departed DeepMind in recent months.
Denis Balibouse/Reuters
The White House maintains a little obscurity for AI security
The takeaway shouldn’t be fear that the US government is hiding the ball. It’s that there isn’t a ball to hide yet.
Public records laws must modernize
The public should have greater and more granular visibility into how the technology is being used.
Startup Sapiom routes clients’ AI to lowest-cost tokens
As AI spending ramps up, businesses want fast pathways to the cheapest models.
US military to add laser weapons to its arsenal
Lasers have long been the stuff of science fiction battles, but are yet to be used in combat after 50 years of testing.
Energy
Romania’s navy detonates part of Danube river to cool nuclear plant
Romanian naval forces blew up part of the drought-hit Danube river.
Inquam Photos/George Calin via Reuters
Firms move in on Venezuelan oil seven months post Maduro removal
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has scrapped the rule requiring state-run PDVSA to hold majority stakes in joint ventures.
Miraflores Palace/Handout via Reuters
OPEC+ raises production targets
OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 188,000 barrels a day in September, marking its sixth consecutive monthly increase as the group seeks to restore supply to a market strained by global conflicts.
Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters
Gulf
Conjoined twins arrive in Riyadh for potentially life-changing surgery
The kingdom has built a global reputation in the specialty through the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has operated since 1990.
Courtesy of Saudi Press Agency
Dubai population tops prewar peak, countering fears of expat exodus
After an initial exodus, the loss of 61,000 residents was quickly reversed.
Gulf economies rebounded in July, as firms dig out from wartime lows
Renewed strikes and slower traffic through the Strait of Hormuz later in July may undermine the chances of a sustained rebound.
New deal expected to open the Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices plunged after reports that the US, Iran, and Oman had agreed the countours of a deal that would allow traffic through the key waterway.
KKR earmarks some of its $19.2 billion infrastructure fund for Gulf projects
The private equity giant is already pouring billions into data centers in the Gulf, committing $5 billion across the Middle East over the past 18 months.
China
China’s AI giants target enterprise profits
Price wars could erode margins, as firms race to bundle their models and workplaces offerings.
Go Nakamura/Reuters
Taiwan export boom marks return of ‘Tiger economy’
Propelled by chips and other AI-related exports to the US, the surge caps a decade-long pivot away from the mainland market.
Ann Wang/Reuters
China currency debate bursts into the open
Economists are sparring over the yuan’s value as China’s trade surplus continues to grow.
Stringer/Reuters
Africa
Africa’s glaciers have shrunk more than 90% since the late 19th century
Mount Kenya’s glaciers are disappearing particularly fast, a UN climate report said.
The peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2005. Reuters.
Nigeria raises military salaries as security threats persist
Insurgent groups, such as Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates, have caused instability in Nigeria’s northeast for many years.
Ahmed Kingimi/File Photo/Reuters
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance leads land reform lawsuit
The coalition government member is joining lobby groups in challenging legislation that allows the government to seize private land for public use.
South African court reinstates state pension fund chief
Patrick Dlamini returns to lead the Public Investment Corporation alongside a completely overhauled board.
Trump’s costly visa bond program is now permanent
Up to 30 of the 50 countries affected are in Africa.
Africa’s funding reset leaves early-stage tech founders behind
Later-stage companies with strong revenues, scale, and a firm handle on customer needs tend to be the new beneficiaries rather than seed and series A startups.
Security
France to deport Russian journalist accused of publishing propaganda
The case has laid bare Europe’s dilemma in carrying out its strategic objectives while upholding its liberal values.
The news studio at RT France. Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters.
Russia’s war narrative falters
Russia is suffering from “narrative collapse” in its war against Ukraine, a journalist said, as Kyiv turns the tide in the conflict — on the front lines and in American right-wing media.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Iran and Ukraine wars merge in the Caspian Sea
The Ukraine and Iran wars collided over the weekend, as Kyiv attacked an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea.
The foreign ministers of Iran and Russia on July 24. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via Reuters
Media
The AI ‘news’ accounts hyping a blue-state dystopia
AI-generated videos are flooding YouTube with fake narratives about chaos in California and New York.
Screenshot/Truth Social
Senate Democrat’s new bills would restrict AI-powered ads and paid influencers
California Sen. Adam Schiff plans to introduce two new bills that would attempt to illuminate who is paying influencers for political speech online and restrict AI-generated likenesses of politicians.
Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on loneliness and why he’s more worried about your phone than your body
Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy joins Mixed Signals to make the case that America’s loneliness crisis is a public health emergency.
Steve Hilton on the Murdochs, David Ellison, and conservative media’s California
Steve Hilton has lived many lives: a key strategist to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, a populist Fox News host, and — after renouncing his UK citizenship — the Republican nominee in California’s gubernatorial race.
Katie Nolan on the sports gambling takeover, covering politics, and the slow return of the boys’ club
Sports media host and “Casuals” podcast creator Katie Nolan joined Mixed Signals live at Cannes to talk about navigating two decades of upheaval in sports media.
CEO Signal
Why Max Levchin wants Affirm to act like your smarter older sister
The fintech founder sees AI threatening traditional lenders by alerting consumers to their hidden fees.
How Patrice Louvet blends ‘magic and logic’ at Ralph Lauren
The Procter & Gamble veteran has focused the fashion brand by balancing emotion and data.
How Bruce Van Saun united Citizens against America’s biggest banks
The superregional lender’s CEO has made a virtue of its place in “the middle of the river.”
Courtesy of Citizens Financial Group/Jake Angelo/Semafor
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