Subj : OpenAI Open Responses 👨‍💻, Sam Altman's brain interface 🧠, software's YouTube moment 💻 To : All From : TLDR Date : Fri Jan 16 2026 11:24 am --mb-xcneZ Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable OpenAI has invested in CEO Sam Altman's brain-computer interface startup.= Merge Labs is dedicated to bridging biological and artificial intelligen= ce=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0= =E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2= =A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C= =C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80= =8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0= =E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80= =8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0= =E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2= =A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C= =C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80= =8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0=E2=80=8C=C2=A0= =E2=80=8C=C2=A0 Sign Up [1] |Advertise [2]|View Online [3]=20 = =09=09TLDR=20 =09=09TOGETHER WITH [TLDR] TLDR 2026-01-16 TLDR= IS HIRING A CURATOR FOR TLDR IT! (TLDR CURATOR, ~5 HRS/WEEK)=20 We are= launching a brand new newsletter covering IT and enterprise tech. We alr= eady have=C2=A0500,000+ SUBSCRIBERS=C2=A0waiting for the first edition. = We need a domain expert to curate and write the daily summaries. If= you want to be the voice of the IT industry, please send your resume o= r LinkedIn to=C2=A0itcurator@tldr.tech!=20 =F0=9F=93=B1=20 BIG TECH &= STARTUPS OPENAI INVESTS IN SAM ALTMAN'S BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE STA= RTUP MERGE LABS (5 MINUTE READ) [4]=20 OpenAI has invested in CEO Sam= Altman's brain-computer interface startup, Merge Labs. Merge Labs is ded= icated to bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize hum= an ability. It intends to develop entirely new technologies that connect = with neurons using molecules instead of electrodes to transmit and receiv= e information using deep-reaching modalities like ultrasound. OpenAI beli= eves that brain-computer interfaces will create a natural, human-centered= way for anyone to seamlessly interact with AI.=20 APPLE IS FIGHTING = FOR TSMC CAPACITY AS NVIDIA TAKES CENTER STAGE (11 MINUTE READ) [5]=20 = TSMC's CEO recently told Apple executives that they would need to acq= uiesce to the largest price rise in years. Apple once held a dominant pos= ition on TSMC's customer list, but it is now fighting for production capa= city. Its chip designs are no longer guaranteed a place among TSMC's almo= st two dozen fabs. TSMC's largest client is now likely Nvidia.=20 = =F0=9F=9A=80=20 SCIENCE & FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY TESLA RELEASES RAR= E LOOK AT ITS LITHIUM REFINERY, CONFIRMS PRODUCTION START (4 MINUTE READ)= [6]=20 Tesla's massive lithium refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, has= officially started production. The company has released a new video, a= vailable in the article, showing off the new site. Tesla's process is aci= d-free and produces a benign co-product that can be used in concrete mixe= s. The process is more sustainable than traditional methods and eliminate= s hazardous byproducts.=20 NASA'S FIRST MEDICAL EVACUATION FROM SPACE E= NDS WITH ON-TARGET SPLASHDOWN (6 MINUTE READ) [7]=20 Four astronauts = returned to Earth early after one of the crew members encountered an unsp= ecified 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 ailin= g crew member. The medical issue did not appear to affect the crew's retu= rn to Earth, and they exited the spacecraft appearing in good health and = good spirits.=20 =F0=9F=92=BB=20 PROGRAMMING, DESIGN & DATA SCIENCE= OPEN RESPONSES (2 MINUTE READ) [8]=20 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, O= pen 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.=20 BEYOND SENIOR: CONSIDER THE STAFF PATH! = (17 MINUTE READ) [9]=20 The staff engineering job isn't for everyone. I= t is totally fine to stay at Senior or move into management. It's worth c= onsidering a path toward Staff, as it is a fulfilling role. This post tak= es a look at what it takes to get promoted to Staff and what the role ent= ails.=20 =F0=9F=8E=81=20 MISCELLANEOUS SOFTWARE'S YOUTUBE MOMEN= T IS HAPPENING NOW (7 MINUTE READ) [10]=20 The barriers to video creati= on collapsed in the 2000s when everyone got a camera in their pocket and = platforms like YouTube changed what could qualify as entertainment. YouTu= be has now evolved into a media ecosystem where it is as common for enter= tainment to come from independent creators as from traditional broadcaste= rs. Software is following the same path. AI has massively democratized le= verage and productivity for creative people.=20 TAIWAN WILL INVEST $2= 50 BILLION IN US CHIPMAKING UNDER NEW TRADE DEAL (5 MINUTE READ) [11]=20 = The US and Taiwan have reached a trade agreement to build chips and c= hip factories on American soil. Taiwanese chip and technology companies w= ill invest at least $250 billion in production capacity in the US. The Ta= iwanese government will guarantee $250 billion in credit for these compan= ies. The US will limit tariffs in Taiwan to 15% and commit to zero tariff= s on generic pharmaceuticals, their ingredients, aircraft components, and= some natural resources.=20 =E2=9A=A1=20 QUICK LINKS THE SAAS S= ELLOFF: AI AND INTEREST RATES (9 MINUTE READ) [12]=20 The price of time= and labor has changed, and the software stack is getting rebundled.=20 = WHY SENIOR ENGINEERS LET BAD PROJECTS FAIL (14 MINUTE READ) [13]=20 = You want to be strategic about where you spend your credibility.=20 US= ING AI AS A DESIGN ENGINEER (10 MINUTE READ) [14]=20 AI can help you ge= t things done faster than ever, and you can experiment with more than eve= r, but outsourcing your thinking can hurt you in the long run.=20 MOR= PHING ICONS WITH CLAUDE (4 MINUTE READ) [15]=20 While Claude can build = genuinely impressive architectures, it can't tell when something looks wr= ong.=20 APPLE'S GOOGLE GEMINI DEAL COULD BE WORTH $5 BILLION (2 MINUTE = READ) [16]=20 Apple's Gemini deal is comparatively conservative compa= red to other companies' AI spending.=20 HOW I'D BUILD A PLATFORM IN 2= 026 (11 MINUTE READ) [17]=20 A look at how to build a multi-tenant plat= form where users have customization, ownership, and the freedom to build = out what they want. Love TLDR? Tell your friends and get rewards!= Share your referral link below with friends to get free TLDR swag! = https://refer.tldr.tech/66662a80/ [18]=20 =09=09 Track your refer= rals here. [19]=20 Want to advertise in TLDR? =F0=9F=93=B0 If your= company is interested in reaching an audience of tech executives, decisi= on-makers and engineers, you may want to ADVERTISE WITH US [20].=20 Wa= nt to work at TLDR? =F0=9F=92=BC APPLY HERE [21], CREATE YOUR OWN ROL= E [22] or send a friend's resume to jobs@tldr.tech and get $1k if we hire= them! TLDR is one of INC.'S BEST BOOTSTRAPPED BUSINESSES [23] of 2025. = If you have any comments or feedback, just respond to this email! = Thanks for reading,=20 Dan Ni [24] & Stephen Flanders [25]=20 Man= age your subscriptions [26] to our other newsletters on tech, startups, a= nd programming. Or if TLDR isn't for you, please unsubscribe [27].=20 = =20 Links: ------ [1] https://tldr.tech/signup?utm_source=3Dtldr [= 2] https://advertise.tldr.tech/?utm_source=3Dtldr&utm_medium=3Dnewsletter&u= tm_campaign=3Dadvertisetopnav [3] https://a.tldrnewsletter.com/web-versio= n?ep=3D1&lc=3D265280dc-d4e0-11f0-a661-1b9fa34a893d&p=3De946e250-f2bc-11f0-b= 323-756b9bfb7794&pt=3Dcampaign&t=3D1768562655&s=3Db2643c6a31a322c34dab4e477= f675edac667f1c8bb1dddd519a7f358e1452e51 [4] https://techcrunch.com/2026/0= 1/15/openai-invests-in-sam-altmans-brain-computer-interface-startup-merge-l= abs/?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [5] https://www.culpium.com/p/exclusivea= pple-is-fighting-for-tsmc?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [6] https://electre= k.co/2026/01/15/tesla-rare-look-lithium-refinery-confirms-production-start/= ?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [7] https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/na= sas-first-ever-medical-evacuation-from-space-ends-with-on-target-splashdown= /?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [8] https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/2011= 862984595795974.html?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [9] https://hawksley.org= /2026/01/14/beyond-senior.html?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [10] https://l= inks.tldrnewsletter.com/cJfC5Z [11] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/15/us-ta= iwan-chips-deal-china.html?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [12] https://davef= riedman.substack.com/p/the-saas-selloff-ai-and-interest?utm_source=3Dtldrne= wsletter [13] https://lalitm.com/post/why-senior-engineers-let-bad-projec= ts-fail/?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [14] https://jakub.kr/work/using-ai-= as-a-design-engineer?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [15] https://benji.org/m= orphing-icons-with-claude?utm_source=3Dtldrnewsletter [16] https://www.ma= crumors.com/2026/01/15/apple-google-gemini-deal-5-billion/?utm_source=3Dtld= rnewsletter [17] https://links.tldrnewsletter.com/mcBBXh [18] https://r= efer.tldr.tech/66662a80/ [19] https://hub.sparklp.co/sub_e87ba9c7d7c0/1= [20] https://advertise.tldr.tech/?utm_source=3Dtldr&utm_medium=3Dnewslet= ter&utm_campaign=3Dadvertisecta [21] https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/tldr.tech= [22] https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/tldr.tech/c227b917-a6a4-40ce-8950-d3e16535= 7871 [23] https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7401699691= 039830016/ [24] https://twitter.com/tldrdan [25] https://twitter.com/St= eveFlanders22 [26] https://tldr.tech/tech/manage?email=3Dtldrnewsletter%4= 0synchro.net [27] https://a.tldrnewsletter.com/unsubscribe?ep=3D1&l=3Dcfa= 2d55a-b7be-11e8-a3c9-06b79b628af2&lc=3D265280dc-d4e0-11f0-a661-1b9fa34a893d= &p=3De946e250-f2bc-11f0-b323-756b9bfb7794&pt=3Dcampaign&pv=3D4&spa=3D176856= 1302&t=3D1768562655&s=3Ddf146450a2ab625bcfff71bfa8f9e4889a8db2b582e11c7acd0= 5d2fc7bee46fa --mb-xcneZ Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable TLDR
OpenAI has= invested in CEO Sam Altman's brain-computer interface startup. Merge = Labs is dedicated to bridging biological and artificial intelligence = =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C = =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C = =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C = =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C = =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C = =E2=80=8C  =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C=  =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C=  =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C=  =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C=  =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C=  =E2=80=8C =E2=80=8C 

TLDR

Together With 3D"TLDR"

TLDR 2026-01-16

TLDR is hiring a Curator fo= r TLDR IT! (TLDR Curator, ~5 hrs/week)

We are launching a brand new newsletter= covering IT and enterprise tech. We already have 500,000+ sub= scribers waiting for the first edition.

We need a domain e= xpert to curate and write the daily summaries. If you want to be the voice = of the IT industry, please send your resume or LinkedIn to itcurator@tldr.tech!
=F0=9F= =93=B1

Big Tech & Startups

OpenAI invests in Sam Altma= n's brain computer interface startup Merge Labs (5 minute read)

OpenAI has invested in CEO Sam Altman's= brain-computer interface startup, Merge Labs. Merge Labs is dedicated to b= ridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability. I= t intends to develop entirely new technologies that connect with neurons us= ing molecules instead of electrodes to transmit and receive information usi= ng deep-reaching modalities like ultrasound. OpenAI believes that brain-com= puter interfaces will create a natural, human-centered way for anyone to se= amlessly interact with AI.
Apple is Fighting for TSMC = Capacity as Nvidia Takes Center Stage (11 minute read)

TSMC's CEO recently told Apple executiv= es that they would need to acquiesce to the largest price rise in years. Ap= ple once held a dominant position on TSMC's customer list, but it is now fi= ghting 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 lik= ely Nvidia.
=F0=9F= =9A=80

Science & Futuristic Technology

Tesla releases rare look at= its lithium refinery, confirms production start (4 minute read)

Tesla's massive lithium refinery in Cor= pus Christi, Texas, has officially started production. The company has rele= ased 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 i= n concrete mixes. The process is more sustainable than traditional methods = and eliminates hazardous byproducts.
NASA's first medical evacua= tion from space ends with on-target splashdown (6 minute read)

Four astronauts returned to Earth early= after one of the crew members encountered an unspecified medical issue las= t 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 issu= e did not appear to affect the crew's return to Earth, and they exited the = spacecraft appearing in good health and good spirits.
=F0=9F= =92=BB

Programming, Design & Data Science

Open Responses (2 minute re= ad)

Open Responses is an open-source spec f= or building multi-provider, interoperable LLM interfaces on top of the orig= inal OpenAI Responses API. It is multi-provider by default and extensible w= ithout fragmentation. Useful for real-world workflows, Open Responses can b= e used to build agentic systems without rewriting the stack for every model= .. Examples of projects built with Open Responses are available in the threa= d.
Beyond Senior: Consider the= staff path! (17 minute read)

The staff engineering job isn't for eve= ryone. It is totally fine to stay at Senior or move into management. It's w= orth 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 e= ntails.
=F0=9F= =8E=81

Miscellaneous

<= /div>
Software's YouTube Moment i= s Happening Now (7 minute read)

The barriers to video creation collapse= d in the 2000s when everyone got a camera in their pocket and platforms lik= e YouTube changed what could qualify as entertainment. YouTube has now evol= ved into a media ecosystem where it is as common for entertainment to come = from independent creators as from traditional broadcasters. Software is fol= lowing the same path. AI has massively democratized leverage and productivi= ty for creative people.
Taiwan will invest $250 bil= lion in US chipmaking under new trade deal (5 minute read)

The US and Taiwan have reached a trade = agreement to build chips and chip factories on American soil. Taiwanese chi= p 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, airc= raft components, and some natural resources.
=E2=9A= =A1

Quick Links

The SaaS Selloff: AI and In= terest Rates (9 minute read)

The price of time and labor has changed= , and the software stack is getting rebundled.
Why Senior Engineers Let Ba= d Projects Fail (14 minute read)

You want to be strategic about where yo= u spend your credibility.
Using AI as a Design Engine= er (10 minute read)

AI can help you get things done faster = than ever, and you can experiment with more than ever, but outsourcing your= thinking can hurt you in the long run.
Morphing Icons with Claude = (4 minute read)

While Claude can build genuinely impres= sive architectures, it can't tell when something looks wrong.
Apple's Google Gemini Deal = Could Be Worth $5 Billion (2 minute read)

Apple's Gemini deal is comparatively co= nservative compared to other companies' AI spending.
How I'd build a platform in= 2026 (11 minute read)

A look at how to build a multi-tenant p= latform where users have customization, ownership, and the freedom to build= out what they want.

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Apply here, create your own role or send a friend's resume to jobs@tldr.tech an= d get $1k if we hire them! TLDR is one of Inc.'s Best Bootstrapped businesses = of 2025.

If you have any comments or feedback, just respond to this email!

Thanks for reading,
Dan Ni &a= mp; Stephen = Flanders


Manage your subscriptions to our other newsletters o= n tech, startups, and programming. Or if TLDR isn't for you, please unsubscribe.
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