From Costs of Free AI to Fort Knox Missing Gold?

Future of Markets and Innovation

Quick Peek:

  1. he Hidden Costs of Free AI – Free AI tools promise efficiency but come with data risks and censorship concerns.

  2. AI vs. Cancer: A New Hope? – Memorial Sloan Kettering and AWS team up to revolutionize cancer treatment.

  3. Musk Wants to Audit Fort Knox – What’s behind this push for transparency in America’s gold reserves?

  4. Europe’s AI Gamble – Can Europe keep up with the U.S. and China in AI without stifling innovation?

  5. Amazon Under Fire in Italy – A €1.2 billion tax evasion probe puts the e-commerce giant in hot water.

  6. Crypto, Scandal, and Impeachment – Argentina’s president faces political fallout over a memecoin disaster.

The Hidden Costs of "Free" AI

The explosion of free AI tools like DeepSeek raises a critical question: what’s the real cost?

DeepSeek and similar AI models collect massive amounts of user data, tracking keystrokes and IP addresses while storing data on Chinese servers. Governments like South Korea have already suspended new downloads due to security concerns.

Censorship and Compliance

DeepSeek must comply with China’s censorship laws, avoiding topics like Tiananmen Square or Taiwan’s independence. Businesses using these tools risk introducing filtered or biased information into their workflows, creating ethical and regulatory challenges.

Free AI tools may seem appealing, but hidden costs in data, compliance, and ethics could outweigh the benefits.

Speaking of AI’s power, could it also be the key to fighting cancer?

AI vs. Cancer: The Memorial Sloan Kettering & AWS Partnership

AI is reshaping healthcare, and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) is leveraging cloud computing and machine learning to accelerate cancer research, drug discovery, and personalized treatment.

MSK is using AI-powered models from AWS to analyze decades of genomic, imaging, and clinical data, tracking disease progression and identifying treatment patterns tailored to individual patients.

Faster Drug Discovery

Developing new drugs is slow and expensive. With AWS’s computing power, researchers can now:

  • Screen millions of compounds in record time

  • Use AI-powered simulations to predict drug efficacy

  • Reduce costs and bring treatments to patients faster

Future Innovations

AWS is backing MSK’s Innovation Hub (iHub), giving startups access to cloud resources and funding to develop AI-driven cancer solutions.

Transparency and control matter, which brings us to Musk’s latest mission: auditing Fort Knox.

Musk Wants an Audit: Is There Really Gold in Fort Knox?

Elon Musk, in his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is pushing for an audit of Fort Knox’s gold reserves, sparking debates about transparency and trust in U.S. financial institutions.

What’s in Fort Knox?

Fort Knox is supposed to hold 147.3 million ounces of gold, but doubts persist. The last partial inspection was in 2017, and conspiracy theories suggest:

  • The gold has been secretly sold or loaned

  • The reserves are lower than reported

  • The U.S. government isn’t being honest about its assets

Musk’s call for an audit aligns with his broader mission to increase government accountability, but some argue it could compromise national security.

Meanwhile, Europe is struggling to stay competitive in the AI race while balancing regulation.

Can Europe Compete in the Global AI Race?

The EU is known for strict regulations, but its latest efforts to govern AI may be slowing innovation.

The AI Act and Digital Markets Act are designed to govern AI ethics and market fairness, but critics argue they are stifling investment and growth. Meanwhile, the U.S. and China are pouring billions into AI development.

Investment Challenges

The EU has pledged €200 billion for AI, but it lags in private sector funding compared to the U.S. and China. If European companies can’t secure capital, they risk falling further behind.

Many European startups struggle to expand beyond national markets, limiting their global potential.

Europe must strike a balance between regulation and innovation—something Amazon is also grappling with in its latest tax scandal.

Amazon’s €1.2 Billion Tax Scandal in Italy

Amazon is facing a €1.2 billion tax evasion probe in Italy over allegations it allowed non-EU sellers (mostly from China) to avoid VAT, costing the country billions.

What’s at Stake?

  • Amazon could face €3 billion in penalties

  • The case may reshape European tax laws for e-commerce

  • It signals a broader crackdown on multinational tech giants

Speaking of financial scandals, Argentina’s president is now facing impeachment over a crypto meltdown.

Crypto Scandal: Argentina’s President Faces Impeachment

Argentina’s President Javier Milei is under fire for promoting $LIBRA, a memecoin that skyrocketed in value before crashing overnight.

What Happened?

  • Milei’s endorsement sent $LIBRA from pennies to $5.20

  • The coin’s creators dumped 70% of the supply, making $87 million

  • The price collapsed by 85%, leaving 74,000 investors at a loss

Milei now faces fraud accusations and impeachment proceedings. He claims he was unaware of the project’s inner workings, but critics argue his endorsement directly fueled the hype-driven crash.

This incident underscores the volatile nature of crypto and the risks of political figures endorsing speculative assets.

Fill the French Press