DUOLINGO’S KATHERINE CHAN IS AMPLIFYING ITS OWL MASCOT’S ONLINE FAME AND POP CULTURE REACH - Katherine Chan, Duolingo's director of global social media, has expanded the brand's social reach beyond TikTok, generating 3 billion social impressions in 2023. Chan's strategies included viral moments like Duolingo's Barbie movie cameo and a YouTube Shorts series. Under her leadership, Duolingo’s global TikTok accounts flourished, with over half of the brand's social reach coming from international channels. Chan values visible business impact from her marketing efforts and believes in taking career risks for growth.

Salesforce shares plunge 16% on first revenue miss since 2006 - Salesforce shares dropped 17% in extended trading after reporting weaker-than-expected revenue and issuing lower guidance. Revenue was $9.13 billion, missing the $9.17 billion expectation, while adjusted EPS was $2.44 versus $2.38 expected. The company's guidance for Q2 also trailed expectations. Despite a 11% revenue increase year-over-year, longer deal cycles and budget scrutiny affected bookings.

Suddenly There Aren’t Enough Babies. The Whole World Is Alarmed -Global fertility rates are falling rapidly, often below the replacement rate of 2.2 children per woman, posing significant demographic and economic challenges. High-income nations saw declines since the 1970s, worsened by the pandemic, and developing countries like India now also fall below replacement. This trend, driven by societal shifts and individual preferences, threatens shrinking workforces, slowing economic growth, and underfunded pensions. Government interventions have had limited success in reversing these declines.

Nvidia announces new AI chips months after latest launch as market competition heats up- Nvidia unveiled its next-gen AI chip architecture, "Rubin," ahead of the COMPUTEX conference, just months after announcing the "Blackwell" model. CEO Jensen Huang highlighted the accelerated pace, with Rubin following Blackwell in under three months. Nvidia aims for annual AI chip updates, shifting from a biennial schedule. Competitors like AMD and Intel are striving to catch up. Rubin features new GPUs and a central processor called "Vera." Nvidia's shares were steady at $1,096.

Amazon Prime Day 2024: Everything to know about the big sale in July - Amazon Prime Day 2024 is expected in July, offering exclusive deals for Prime members on gadgets, clothes, and household items. New subscribers can use a 30-day free trial to access the deals. Competitors like Walmart will also have sales, such as Walmart+ Week from June 17-23.

Microsoft Surface and Copilot Event - Microsoft's recent event unveiled AI-powered Copilot+ PCs, requiring high performance specs, and new Surface models featuring Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipsets for improved efficiency. Windows 11 received updates to better support AI and Arm-based systems, introducing features like Recall and enhanced native app support.

The Highest Paid CEOs of 2023- In 2023, CEO pay reached new heights, with half of the top executives earning at least $15.7 million. Broadcom's Hock Tan led with $162 million, primarily in equity tied to long-term performance. Other top earners included Nikesh Arora of Palo Alto Networks ($151 million) and Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone ($120 million). The median pay increase for S&P 500 CEOs was over 8%, reflecting strong shareholder returns​.

Shares of Hims & Hers Health surge 27% after startup says it will offer GLP-1 injections -Hims & Hers Health is introducing compounded GLP-1 weight loss injections, starting at $199 per month. These injections will be available through prescriptions from licensed healthcare providers on their platform. The company plans to offer branded GLP-1 medications once supply stabilizes. Despite recent supply constraints, CEO Andrew Dudum is confident in maintaining consistent supply through partnerships with major generic manufacturers. Shares of Hims & Hers rose over 27% following the announcement. The company expects its weight loss program to generate over $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025.

Vanderpump Rules shows the limits of making money on reality TV - Reality TV stars on Bravo, including those from "Vanderpump Rules," often struggle financially despite their fame. The Scandoval scandal, where Tom Sandoval cheated on Ariana Madix, brought temporary financial gains and visibility to the cast, but many still face monetary challenges. Even with increased sponsorships and business ventures, they often lack financial stability, highlighting the limited economic mobility for reality stars.

The Fed probably won’t be delivering any interest rate cuts this summer-Investors are likely facing a summer without Federal Reserve interest rate cuts due to strong economic data and cautious policymaker comments. Traders now expect only one rate cut by year-end. This has resulted in stock market declines and a shift in futures pricing. The Fed remains concerned about persistent inflation and stable economic growth, with some members even considering further hikes if inflation worsens. The upcoming personal income and spending report will be critical in shaping future Fed decisions.

How Television Advertising Lost Its Relevance - As streaming platforms struggle to replicate the massive reach of traditional TV, advertisers like Mondelez and Hershey are shifting budgets away from TV ads. High costs and fragmented audiences on platforms like Netflix hinder their effectiveness. Instead, brands are turning to social media and retail media, capitalizing on platforms like TikTok and Amazon for targeted ad campaigns. With live sports remaining the last stronghold of TV viewership, the future of TV advertising looks uncertain.

GameStop, AMC soar more than 70% each as ‘Roaring Kitty’ meme trader resurfaces - GameStop and AMC shares surged dramatically after "Roaring Kitty" (Keith Gill) posted online for the first time in nearly three years. His post sparked a trading frenzy, with GameStop rising 74.4% and AMC up 78.4%. Gill, known for driving the 2021 meme stock craze, has reignited interest in these stocks, leading to significant market volatility and renewed discussions on platforms like Reddit’s WallStreetBets. Despite recent gains, GameStop's fundamentals remain weak, with declining revenue and job cuts.

2023 Annual Letter CHAMATH PALIHAPITIYA -In the sixth annual letter from Social Capital, founder Chamath Palihapitiya reflects on the economic and technological trends of 2023. Despite a challenging environment with rising interest rates and banking crises, AI advancements have reshaped company-building processes, reducing barriers and enabling rapid innovation. Key investments highlight opportunities in space, clean energy, and battery technology. Palihapitiya also emphasizes the importance of adapting to new paradigms and leveraging proprietary data and infrastructure in the evolving landscape.

How the ‘Harvard of Trading’ Ruined Thousands of Young People’s Lives - Patrice Rechards, a 26-year-old from Amsterdam, discovered her higher purpose through IM Academy, a financial education platform. The platform, which promises to teach trading options, crypto, stocks, and foreign currencies, grew rapidly during the pandemic by targeting teens and young adults. Led by CEO Chris Terry, IM uses a multilevel marketing structure to recruit members, promising financial freedom. Despite rapid growth, the company faces scrutiny and criticism for its aggressive recruitment tactics and the financial losses suffered by many members.

Are home prices still rising?- See how prices have changed in your area. 📈

World’s Biggest Construction Project Gets a Reality Check - Check out the latest on Saudi Arabia's Neom project in the Wall Street Journal. This audacious city-building venture, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to revolutionize urban living with a 105-mile skyscraper intended to house nine million people. However, facing immense logistical and financial challenges, the project has scaled down its initial phase considerably. Despite these hurdles, the construction presses on, highlighting the kingdom's drive to transform its oil-dependent economy.

Apple announces new iPad Pro with M4, iPad Air tablets - Apple has just unveiled refreshed models of its iPad Air and iPad Pro, introducing enhancements such as the powerful new M4 chip and sleeker designs. The iPad Pro now features a thinner body and an OLED display, branded as Ultra Retina XDR for crisper visuals. It is compatible with the new Magic Keyboard, which transforms the iPad into a laptop-like device. Meanwhile, the updated iPad Air is equipped with the M2 chip and a new camera setup optimized for video conferencing. Both devices are available for pre-order and will hit the stores next week.

Shopify shares plunge 18% on weak guidance -Shopify's stock plummeted 18%, erasing nearly $20 billion in market value, after the company predicted weaker-than-expected revenue and profit for the upcoming quarter. Despite outperforming expectations in the first quarter, Shopify's forecast of slowing growth and rising operating expenses, particularly in marketing and AI investment, has made investors wary. This comes amid strategic shifts, including selling its logistics division and reducing its workforce last year.

Jack Dorsey claims Bluesky is 'repeating all the mistakes' he made at Twitter - Jack Dorsey criticized Bluesky, a social media platform he initially backed, for deviating from his vision of an open-source protocol and becoming a traditional corporate entity with its own board and stock. He also expressed concerns about its content moderation practices. In contrast, Dorsey supports Nostr, a decentralized platform that aligns with his views on free speech. Bluesky's leadership, including CEO Jay Graber, contends that Dorsey may not fully understand their current work, emphasizing that Bluesky operates openly in ways Twitter never did.

Consumer sentiment tumbles as inflation fears surge -Consumer confidence dropped sharply in May, with the University of Michigan's sentiment index falling to 67.4 from 77.2 in April, contrary to expectations of a rise to 76. This decline reflects growing concerns among consumers about inflation, unemployment, and interest rates potentially worsening. Inflation expectations also increased, with the one-year outlook reaching the highest level since last November at 3.5%.

America's 20 Most Popular National Parks, Ranked - This Thrillist article showcases the best national parks in the U.S., focusing on iconic destinations like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. It highlights their breathtaking landscapes, historical importance, and recreational opportunities, making them top picks for anyone looking to experience America's natural beauty and outdoor activities.

Venice starts charging day-trippers—Starting in spring 2024, Venice will charge day-trippers a €5 fee on peak days to manage tourism and protect residents' quality of life. This fee, not aimed at profit, applies to visitors not staying overnight and is part of efforts to address overtourism in the iconic city.

A mix of Slowing Growth, Firm Inflation Worries Investors -The U.S. economy experienced moderate growth in the first quarter of 2024, with a reported increase in GDP of 1.6%. This growth rate was somewhat lower than earlier predictions by the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model, which had estimated a slightly higher growth rate just before the official figures were released.

Americans arrested in Turks and Caicos - Two Americans, Ryan Watson, and Tyler Wenrich, face minimum 12-year prison sentences in Turks and Caicos for inadvertently carrying ammunition in their luggage. The charges follow a recent mandate imposing strict penalties for such offenses. Both individuals, legal gun owners, passed through TSA checks without issues before their arrests.

Ads are still the profit engine for Alphabet - Despite shifts in the broader tech landscape, Alphabet's profitability continues to be strongly driven by its advertising revenue. This trend underscores the enduring significance of ads to the company's financial health, even as it explores and expands into other technological sectors.

The upcoming Bitcoin halving is different from others before it - CNBC - The forthcoming Bitcoin halving, distinct from previous occurrences, holds significance for investors. It should take place any day now, and it marks a reduction in the rate at which new bitcoins are created. “After the 2012, 2016, and 2020 halvings, the bitcoin price ran up about 93x, 30x, and 8x, respectively, from its halving day price to its cycle top.” -CNBC. As of this writing, one bitcoin was worth almost $64,000.

Retail sales surge 0.7% in March - AP - The Commerce Department reported a 0.7% increase in retail sales for March 2024, beating forecasts of 0.3% growth. This marked a strong rebound from the 0.3% rise in February and a 1.1% decline in January. The uptick was driven by higher sales at auto dealers, building material stores, and online retailers. Gas continues to go up as well.

Fallout has already scored a green light for a second season - Engadget - Fallout is a hit and has already been renewed for a second season. The game itself has seen an uptick in sales, and I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical of the show, but it’s actually great.

How Nike Won the Battle for Caitlin Clark - WSJ - NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis saw top shoe company executives vying for 6-foot senior Caitlin Clark, rewriting NCAA records. Nike emerged victorious with an eight-year, potentially $28 million deal after fierce competition. 💰

Your New Desk Is a Couch - WSJ - There is a growing trend of incorporating couches into office designs to create a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere, aiming to boost employee presence and foster creativity. We had a nice couch in the office, but it was removed during a recent remodel. We all miss it 😢.

It’s not just Jamie Dimon and Wall Street. Local bank branches have big AI ambitions - CNBC - AI in banking is not just for the big boys, small banks will embrace AI to enhance customer service and operational efficiency. AI will transform branches into tech-driven centers, reducing traditional roles to focus more on customer engagement. The biggest issue will be data governance and security.

Elon Musk and Jamie Dimon’s AI Predictions and What They Mean for the Future of Humanity -WSJ -Elon Musk and Jamie Dimon predict that AI will surpass human intelligence and radically transform society. Musk believes AI will exceed individual human intelligence by next year and collective intelligence within five years. Dimon equates AI's impact to historical innovations like the printing press and electricity, suggesting it could lead to reduced workdays. There are still others that disagree.

Playdate revisited: Two years with the little yellow inspiration machine - Engadget - I have been keeping track of this little gaming machine for the past two years. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, but it looks really cool.

Social media and creators drive viewers to TV shows, movies, and games-Deloitte -In Deloitte's latest Digital Media Trends for 2024, there's a cool spotlight on how social media and content creators are reshaping our entertainment experiences. These influencers are key in guiding audiences to new TV shows, movies, and games, significantly boosting engagement and interaction.