C_NCENTRATE

IN THIS ISSUE: Mad META week, nano-brain robots, OpenBiotech(?), RedNote, crypto moves, how to weather a trade war +++

THIS ISSUE OF C_NCENTRATE IS SPONSORED BY:

Rebel into the grey at ‘Eigengrau’ with +30 international, handpicked speakers.
March 3.
Tickets available now, pay-what-you-can.

---

/// Play this ↓

NEW FOR 2025! Curated with neuroscientists, ’Focus’ is the official C_NCENTRATE playlist that aids your encoding and recall. Play as is, or hit shuffle.

/// Skim this ↓

Instagram users brace for change as the platform redesigns profile grids, swapping traditional squares for rectangles, a rollout expected "over the weekend." Meanwhile, Trump embraced crypto culture by promoting a Solana-based memecoin called TRUMP, aiming for 1 billion tokens within three years.

Nasdaq-listed Qorvo disclosed a 7.7% stake by activist investor Starboard, signalling strategic shifts amid slowing smartphone chip orders. Crypto firms collectively funnelled $10M into Trump's inaugural fund, with Ripple contributing $5M in digital tokens, raising questions on financial influence.

OpenAI advanced biotech by collaborating with Retro Biosciences to create GPT-4b micro, capable of transforming regular cells into stem cells. TikTok threatened to go dark without intervention from the Biden administration at time of writing. Elon’s latest rocket exploded over Turkey.

Mark Zuckerberg confronted claims of scapegoating Sheryl Sandberg, refuting narratives tied to Meta's evolving workplace culture. ChatGPT’s product lead prepares to testify in Google's DOJ antitrust case, a pivotal moment as penalties loom. Coinbase's CEO advocated for a U.S. bitcoin reserve, blending economic freedom with crypto policy ambitions.

Amazon paused drone deliveries in Texas and Arizona following test crashes during rainy conditions, raising safety concerns for the initiative. European leaders pushed to dismantle Google's ad tech monopoly, accusing it of destabilising media landscapes across the region. Meta announced plans to dissolve its civil rights team, reigniting debates about the company’s approach to being anything resembling decent moving forward. Nintendo teased the Nintendo Switch 2 to mixed, but general positive, reviews.

Finally, the FTC fined Cognosphere $20M for misleading practices in Genshin Impact, spotlighting the gaming industry's approach to transparency.

/// Read these ↓