TLDR Index
TLDR

TLDR 2026-01-16

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01BIG TECH & STARTUPS

OPENAI INVESTS IN SAM ALTMAN'S BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE STARTUP MERGE LABS

OpenAI has invested in CEO Sam Altman's brain-computer interface startup, Merge Labs. Merge Labs is dedicated to bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability. It intends to develop entirely new technologies that connect with neurons using molecules instead of electrodes to transmit and receive information using deep-reaching modalities like ultrasound. OpenAI believes that brain-computer interfaces will create a natural, human-centered way for anyone to seamlessly interact with AI.

techcrunch.com5 min read

APPLE IS FIGHTING FOR TSMC CAPACITY AS NVIDIA TAKES CENTER STAGE

TSMC's CEO recently told Apple executives that they would need to acquiesce to the largest price rise in years. Apple once held a dominant position on TSMC's customer list, but it is now fighting for production capacity. Its chip designs are no longer guaranteed a place among TSMC's almost two dozen fabs. TSMC's largest client is now likely Nvidia.

culpium.com11 min read

02SCIENCE & FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY

TESLA RELEASES RARE LOOK AT ITS LITHIUM REFINERY, CONFIRMS PRODUCTION START

Tesla's massive lithium refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, has officially started production. The company has released a new video, available in the article, showing off the new site. Tesla's process is acid-free and produces a benign co-product that can be used in concrete mixes. The process is more sustainable than traditional methods and eliminates hazardous byproducts.

electrek.co4 min read

NASA'S FIRST MEDICAL EVACUATION FROM SPACE ENDS WITH ON-TARGET SPLASHDOWN

Four astronauts returned to Earth early after one of the crew members encountered an unspecified medical issue last week. They splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 08:41 UTC on January 15. Officials have not identified whose health was in question or what was afflicting the ailing crew member. The medical issue did not appear to affect the crew's return to Earth, and they exited the spacecraft appearing in good health and good spirits.

arstechnica.com6 min read

03PROGRAMMING, DESIGN & DATA SCIENCE

OPEN RESPONSES

Open Responses is an open-source spec for building multi-provider, interoperable LLM interfaces on top of the original OpenAI Responses API. It is multi-provider by default and extensible without fragmentation. Useful for real-world workflows, Open Responses can be used to build agentic systems without rewriting the stack for every model. Examples of projects built with Open Responses are available in the thread.

threadreaderapp.com2 min read

BEYOND SENIOR: CONSIDER THE STAFF PATH!

The staff engineering job isn't for everyone. It is totally fine to stay at Senior or move into management. It's worth considering a path toward Staff, as it is a fulfilling role. This post takes a look at what it takes to get promoted to Staff and what the role entails.

hawksley.org17 min read

04MISCELLANEOUS

SOFTWARE'S YOUTUBE MOMENT IS HAPPENING NOW

The barriers to video creation collapsed in the 2000s when everyone got a camera in their pocket and platforms like YouTube changed what could qualify as entertainment. YouTube has now evolved into a media ecosystem where it is as common for entertainment to come from independent creators as from traditional broadcasters. Software is following the same path. AI has massively democratized leverage and productivity for creative people.

links.tldrnewsletter.com7 min read

TAIWAN WILL INVEST $250 BILLION IN US CHIPMAKING UNDER NEW TRADE DEAL

The US and Taiwan have reached a trade agreement to build chips and chip factories on American soil. Taiwanese chip and technology companies will invest at least $250 billion in production capacity in the US. The Taiwanese government will guarantee $250 billion in credit for these companies. The US will limit tariffs in Taiwan to 15% and commit to zero tariffs on generic pharmaceuticals, their ingredients, aircraft components, and some natural resources.

cnbc.com5 min read