California Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on residents with net worth over $1 billion, was rejected by voters. Tech leaders outspent opponents roughly 10 to 1, and backers projected up to $100 billion in revenue over five years.
Key points
Voters rejected Proposition 40, the one-time 5% billionaire tax.
Tech leaders outspent backers roughly 10 to 1.
Sources
These Millionaires Have the Cash to Buy a Home – Renting Up 229%
Millionaire renter households grew 229% from 2020 to 2024, outpacing millionaire homeowner growth. Dual-income couples make up 75% of those households.
Key points
Growth: 229% increase in millionaire renter households 2020-2024.
Dual-income couples: 75% of millionaire renter households are couples.
Sources
AlphaProof Code formally verifies Signal protocol
DeepMind used its AlphaProof Code AI framework to formally verify key cryptographic guarantees of the Signal protocol in a four-week proof-of-concept. The work found no new vulnerabilities and correctly identified known, fixed issues in older versions.
Key points
Formal verification of Signal protocol completed in four weeks using AlphaProof Code.
Older Signal versions with known vulnerabilities were correctly flagged as unverifiable.
Sources
Google Slides and PowerPoint Are Dead – AI builds web decks, 36% retention rise
Google Slides and PowerPoint are declared dead as AI tools now create interactive, web-based decks from prompts. Claude Design converts outlines to on-brand HTML and PowerPoint files, and Microsoft reports a 36% jump in new-user retention for AI editing inside PowerPoint.
Key points
Claude Design turns a rough outline into an on-brand deck that exports as standalone HTML and PowerPoint.
Microsoft AI editing in PowerPoint raised new-user retention by 36%.