Sunday Snacks – Volume 9: A Full Rundown of This Week’s Tech and Creator Shifts — With a Closing Reflection on the Discipline Champions Rely On

Hello friends!
This week’s edition has the same great content with a special twist at the end so keep reading for that!

🍿 Quick Takes

• ASML unfazed by geopolitical tension: The CEO of Dutch chip‑gear maker ASML said the company has not been affected by tension between the Netherlands and China over the government’s takeover of chipmaker Nexperia and believes the worst of the crisis is over.

• Bitcoin wobble: Bitcoin dipped 1.6% to $93,684 on Nov 16, falling back under the important $100K psychological threshold. This kind of movement often reflects shifting market sentiment — either heightened caution from investors or large stakeholders quietly taking profits as macroeconomic uncertainty grows.

• EU may pause parts of its AI act: Under pressure from U.S. officials and big‑tech lobbying, the European Commission is considering delaying implementation of parts of its landmark AI Act. EU officials say discussions are ongoing and the bloc (noun. a combination of countries, parties, or groups sharing a common purpose.) remains committed to the law’s objectives.

• Tesla trims China from supply chains: According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Reuters, Tesla has told suppliers to exclude China‑made components from its U.S. vehicles and aims to fully switch within the next year or two. The move reflects tariff uncertainty and a broader industry push to reduce reliance on Chinese parts.

• Stellantis recalls 113,000 vehicles: Chrysler‑parent Stellantis is recalling nearly 112,859 U.S. vehicles, including 2023–2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE and 2024–2025 Jeep Wrangler 4XE plug‑in hybrids, over possible engine failure or fire risk.

💼 Business Highlights

Berkshire’s portfolio shuffle.  Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a US$4.3 billion stake in Alphabet (17.85 million shares) while trimming its Apple holdings to 238.2 million shares. Warren Buffett historically avoided tech stocks, making the Alphabet purchase noteworthy. Apple remains Berkshire’s largest holding at roughly US$60.7 billion, but the conglomerate has been net‑selling equities for 12 consecutive quarters.

Fed hawks temper rate‑cut hopes.  Several Federal Reserve officials, including Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid, said inflation remains “too hot” and that monetary policy is appropriately restrictive. Futures markets now see about a 60 % chance that the Fed will not cut rates at its December meeting.

Leadership transition at Walmart.  Walmart named company veteran John Furner as its next CEO, succeeding Doug McMillon on Feb. 1. Furner, who led Walmart U.S. through the pandemic, drew on his experience in China to adapt supply chains and has been credited with launching the Walmart+ membership service and building a multi‑billion‑dollar advertising business. Analysts say his challenge will be navigating tariffs, extracting returns on AI investments and managing relationships with governments and shareholders.

🔬 Tech & AI

South Korea’s tech giants re‑invest at home. After finalizing a U.S. trade deal that includes a promise to invest US$350 billion in U.S. strategic sectors, President Lee Jae Myung urged South Korean corporations to bolster domestic investment. Samsung responded by announcing it will add a new memory‑chip production line at its Pyeongtaek complex as part of a 450 trillion won (≈US$310 billion) five‑year investment plan. The plant – delayed since 2023 – will cater to the AI‑driven boom in semiconductors, and Samsung’s management said they would “create quality jobs” and work closely with smaller firms. Hyundai Motor and major shipbuilders also unveiled plans totaling 125.2 trillion won for domestic facilities.

Apple faces more smartwatch scrutiny. The U.S. International Trade Commission has opened a new proceeding to decide whether Apple’s redesigned Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches – which removed and then reintroduced blood‑oxygen sensors – still infringe pulse‑oximetry patents held by Masimo. The ITC banned imports of earlier models in 2023; Masimo claims Apple poached its staff and technology. A separate federal jury recently awarded Masimo US$634 million in damages over a different patent dispute.

Google pours billions into Texas. In the race to supply AI models with compute, Alphabet announced a US$40 billion investment through 2027 to build three data centres in Texas. The facilities in Armstrong and Haskell counties and upgrades to existing sites will expand Google’s U.S. cloud footprint and, according to CEO Sundar Pichai, create thousands of jobs and workforce‑training programs. Texas governor Greg Abbott called it Google’s largest state investment ever.

OpenAI backs biosecurity. ChatGPT maker OpenAI is leading a US$15 million seed round for Red Queen Bio, a startup spun out of Helix Nano that aims to prevent bad actors from weaponizing AI in biomedicine. OpenAI sees the investment as part of a strategy to strengthen AI safety; its chief strategy officer said that building technological defenses is one of the best ways to mitigate risks. Red Queen Bio’s founders plan to combine AI models with laboratory research to identify and neutralize potential biological threats.

📈 Creator & Platform Economy

Acquisition fever hits creator marketing. Quartermast Advisors’ 2025 Influencer Marketing M&A report notes that the creator marketing industry is growing 12.8 % annually. Over half of recent acquisitions have been full‑service creator agencies, followed by subscription platforms and marketplace tools. An example is Publicis Groupe’s 2024 purchase of Influential, an AI‑driven agency, which closed at US$196 million with a US$184 million earn‑out. Quartermast predicts more deals in Europe and Asia and names Billion Dollar Boy, Viral Nation, and Open Influence as attractive targets for holding companies.

Platforms pile into podcasts. TikTok and iHeartMedia have formed the TikTok Podcast Network, a studio and radio partnership that will produce up to 25 creator‑hosted podcasts The companies will build co‑branded recording spaces in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta and plan to launch a “TikTok Radio” station that pairs influencers with on‑air personalities The partnership lets TikTok creators expand into audio and gives iHeartMedia fresh talent for its podcasts and live events. Meanwhile, Netflix has reportedly been courting Spotify and iHeartMedia for exclusive video‑podcast deals, and Spotify says it now hosts over 500,000 video podcasts.

Social commerce surges. TikTok Shop, launched in the U.S. just two years ago, generated US$19 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) in the July‑to‑September quarter Analytics firm EchoTik found that eBay still leads with US$20.1 billion in sales, but TikTok’s rapid rise is striking. A strong consumer base in Asia, aggressive overseas expansion and regulatory wins helped propel Shop’s growth. U.S. buyers contributed an estimated US$4 – 4.5 billion, more than double last year’s total.

MrBeast’s next spectacle: Beast Land. YouTube megastar Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson announced he will open a temporary theme park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 13 to December 27. The park features games inspired by his over‑the‑top videos (e.g., “Tower Siege” catapulting balls into 60‑foot tubes and “Drop Zone” with trap doors). Admission tiers range from US$7 entry to a US$66 “Beast Mode+” pass that unlocks all rides and games.

🧠 Discipline Corner – A Personal Reflection

I was watching the recent UFC card with some friends, and it struck me how much discipline sits behind every moment we see in that cage. Fighters spend months drilling the same movements, cutting weight through brutal dieting, showing up to train even when they’re exhausted, alone, or unmotivated. It’s not motivation that gets them there—it’s an addiction to discipline. That addiction is what pushes high achievers, athletes, and anyone chasing a goal to keep moving when the excitement fades. Discipline builds a strong life, protects your peace, and anchors your self‑control. It’s the quiet force that carries you through the moments no one else sees.

Building something meaningful—whether it's a business, a creative career, or a personal goal—requires more than inspiration or momentum. It requires discipline. Not the harsh, rigid kind we often picture, but a quieter, steadier discipline that grows with use. Like a muscle, it strengthens over time. It tires, it recovers, and it expands as we learn to work with it instead of against it.

Discipline isn't just about willpower. It's deeply connected to our emotions. Anxiety can pull us back, excitement can push us too fast, and boredom can stall us out completely. The real skill is learning to notice these emotional shifts—and act with intention despite them.

Here are three practices that help me keep my discipline strong:

1. Name the feeling behind procrastination.
Instead of asking, "Why am I not doing this?", I try asking, "What feeling am I avoiding?" Sometimes I need a moment of incubation. Other times, I'm dodging discomfort. Naming it makes it easier to move forward.

2. Match the work to your mood.
We all have natural rhythms. When my energy is high, I take on deep, cognitively demanding tasks. When it dips, I shift to communication, planning, or routine work. Working with your energy instead of fighting it builds consistency.

3. Stay in motion, especially when life gets loud.
Even on chaotic days, doing something—even small—keeps momentum alive. Marcus Aurelius said that when you're thrown off, "revert at once to yourself." The act of returning, again and again, is what builds resilience.

Discipline will never be flashy. But it's the bridge between intentions and outcomes. As tech giants place billion‑dollar bets and creators build entire ecosystems from scratch, the same truth applies to all of us: progress is built on consistent, imperfect, steady effort.

That’s it for this week. Stay weird, stay learning.

—Fahad

Connect with me on LinkedIn! —> www.linkedin.com/in/fahadaldulaimi/