TL;DR

SoftBank proposes $300B US-Japan tech fund; Google launches Gemini AI; Meta wins EU AI data ruling.

Highlights

• SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son proposes a $300B US-Japan sovereign wealth fund for tech, AI, and infrastructure; US Treasury pauses participation amid debt focus 1.
• Google unveils Gemini AI at I/O 2025, emphasizing AGI and robotics; Musk’s Grok integrates with Azure, contributing to Google ’s search share dropping below 90% 3.
• Meta secures German court approval to use European Facebook and Instagram data for AI training; opt-out deadline is May 27, with EU regulators reviewing 4.
• Nvidia to report Q1 earnings Wednesday; analysts expect $43.2B revenue (+45% YoY), options imply 8% move 10.
• U.S. companies accelerate China imports before June 1 tariff pause ends; shipping costs spike to $6,500 per container 12.
• India’s Sarvam AI launches 24B-parameter LLM with strong STEM performance but limited early adoption (334 downloads in two days) 2.
• Operation Endgame dismantles global malware network, seizes crypto, targets Russian hackers; TikTok AI-malware scams persist 13.
• Pakistan allocates 2,000 MW for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, offering tax incentives to attract foreign investment 9.
• Cookie DAO launches Cookiedotfun with $61.5M-backed Spark project in SocialFi, using a “snaps to earn” model; sector faces engagement and authenticity concerns 6.
• Bitcoin whale James Wynn exits $1.2B leveraged long at a loss, flips short; Hyperliquid’s HYPE token surges with $27M in whale buys and large fund rotation 15.
• Michael Saylor signals further significant Bitcoin purchases, following a $46M buy and rumors of a $1.2B acquisition 14.
• Disney secures exclusive streaming rights to CoComelon from Netflix starting 2027, paying tens of millions annually 7.

Commentary

SoftBank’s proposed $300B US-Japan sovereign wealth fund, though currently paused by the US Treasury, signals continued interest in large-scale tech and infrastructure investments 1. If revived, such a fund could drive late-stage capital into AI, data centers, and infrastructure, but the current US fiscal stance may delay any near-term impact on VC deal flow 1.

AI remains the focal point for both incumbents and challengers. Google ’s Gemini launch and Musk’s Grok integration with Azure are accelerating competition in AI-powered search and digital assistants, with Google ’s market share dipping below 90% 3. Meta ’s court win in Germany to use European user data for AI training—pending further EU review—may give it a data advantage, but regulatory scrutiny remains a significant risk for AI startups operating in or targeting Europe 4.

On the global stage, supply chain and trade policy volatility continues to affect growth-stage companies. The end of the US-China tariff pause is driving import surges and higher shipping costs 12, while China’s advances in robotics and AI highlight the need for portfolio companies to diversify supply chains and monitor geopolitical risk 12. Meanwhile, India’s Sarvam AI illustrates the challenge of converting technical achievement into market traction, with low early adoption despite strong STEM benchmarks 2.

Crypto and digital infrastructure remain active. Pakistan’s allocation of 2,000 MW for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, paired with tax incentives, could attract foreign-backed ventures 9. In the crypto markets, large-scale trades by whales and surging interest in Hyperliquid’s HYPE token indicate ongoing volatility and opportunities in digital assets, but also underline the need for risk management 15. SocialFi continues to attract capital, as seen with Cookie DAO’s $61.5M-backed Spark, though the sector’s engagement and authenticity challenges persist 6.

Upcoming Nvidia earnings will be closely watched as a bellwether for AI and semiconductor markets 10. VC investors should monitor regulatory developments in AI, trade policy shifts, and adoption metrics in emerging markets to inform capital deployment and exit timing.