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Several startups are introducing AI-powered stuffed animals designed to be companions for young kids. It’s the battle for next-gen playtime. The Big Play: The techno plushies are being positioned as an alternative to screen time — a way for tots to be entertained while parents are busy. While the effects of too much screen time […]
Sleep-away camps for adults are becoming a popular way to meet new people and connect through IRL activities. Why It Hits: Modern adults (especially millennials and Gen Zers) have a reported friend deficit, largely due to spending so much of life glued to screens. As America grapples with a “loneliness epidemic,” it’s possible that organized […]
Multi-hyphenate artist and designer Pharrell Williams announced the launch of VIRGINIA — a destination for all his creative endeavors. The Big Picture: It’s possible Pharrell either doesn’t sleep or has several clones. He’s a working rapper, prolific producer, Men’s Creative Director at Louis Vuitton, and the head of several businesses. VIRGINIA shows the tinkering is […]
Researchers at Stanford University and MIT have developed a computer program that can accurately interpret and voice what people are thinking. Why It Hits: The computer-brain interface market is heating up, with companies like Neuralink, Merge Labs, and Synchron all attracting major funding. These startups primarily focus on interpreting thoughts to control devices — but […]
Labels are commissioning music videos for old hits — sometimes decades old — to capitalize on their resurgence or introduce the artist to a new generation of fans. Why It Hits: New artists rarely get the resources to make music videos these days, so giving established artists budgets for old songs shows how streaming’s catalog […]
Silicon Valley execs, computer scientists, wealthy AI doomsdayers, and high-net-worth couples are paying big bucks to grow the smartest babies their genes and cash can produce. The Big Bet: The growing interest in “genetic optimization” is a natural evolution of the tech industry’s obsession with IQ, which has been put on a pedestal as the […]
Video-game cheating has ballooned into a nearly $100 million industry, drawing millions of paying gamers, putting developers and governments on high alert, and creating cybersecurity risks far beyond the gaming world. The Big Picture: While cheat codes have been around for decades, competitive gaming is hotter than ever, so many people are looking for a […]
AI firm Perplexity has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion offer to buy Google Chrome — the world’s most popular internet browser. The Big Bet: Following Google’s guilty verdict for monopolizing the web-search market, US District Judge Amit Mehta is weighing whether to force the tech giant to sell Chrome as part of the remedy. While […]
Job seekers are spending up to $10,000 on services, subscriptions, and databases to find a job. Why It Hurts: It’s no mystery how rough the job market is these days — especially for the white-collar office roles that seemed plentiful just a handful of years ago. Due to remote work allowing anyone to apply for […]
Paramount has struck a $7.7 billion media rights deal with TKO Group to exhibit all UFC events in the US on Paramount+ starting next year. The Big Picture: The UFC deal (which beat out Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube) comes just a week after David Ellison’s Skydance officially took control of Paramount, demonstrating the new leadership’s […]