Together with
AI-ccomplice. In a plot straight out of Hollywood, an amateur assassin falls in love with an AI chatbot and seeks revenge against the British Empire. But this isn’t a movie… it’s real life. Prosecutors in the UK recently filed criminal charges against a 19-year-old man for attempting to kill Queen Elizabeth II with a high-powered crossbow in 2021. Crazy, right? What’s even crazier is the court determined the defendant was encouraged by an AI chatbot named “Sarai” to carry out the attack. Oh, to be young and in love.
In other news… Tesla has a supercharged secret, cities prepare for the rise of AR, and A-list stars cash in on their celebrity.
Top Trends
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TRANSPORTATION
Tesla fills up on data at the EV pump
The Future. GM and Ford's recent decision to utilize Tesla's Supercharger stations not only positions Tesla as the leading provider of charging stations, but it also grants the company unparalleled access to data on rival automakers. While GM and Ford are likely aware of what they’re giving up, Tesla’s first-mover status in developing a quick-charging network may have solidified its place as the industry standard in powering the transformation to electric.
Charger currency
Tesla’s choice to open up its charging stations to other automakers will likely come with lucrative benefits, reports Insider.
Other than charging, Tesla superchargers collect a lot of data about the EVs they’re powering via its unique five-prong NACS system.
What kind of data? Everything from engine performance, battery capabilities, braking system efficiency, and how often things like AC are used.
With 20,000 chargers spread across 1,800 stations and counting (incorporating Tesla chargers are required to receive federal grants), Tesla will have a lot of data to work with.
Armed with that data, Tesla not only can improve its cars and Autopilot feature (which relies on vast amounts of information), but it can also sell that data to utility companies or charging station builders.
With the automotive data market expected to hit $800 billion by the end of the decade, Tesla may make more money from the data it collects than the cars it manufactures.
AR/VR
City-vision // Illustration by Kate Walker
Cities are about to get an AR facelift
The Future. Incoming AR devices and real-world metaverse technologies will require cities to think about balancing cultural opportunities with public safety. It’s a massive undertaking, but city governments may find the best path forward is partnering early with tech companies on guardrails and pushing for universal standards to best roll out the inevitable digital makeover.
Signs & visions
Greg Lindsay, an urban tech fellow at Cornell, believes the time is now for cities to start thinking about how to integrate and regulate AR in public spaces.
Questions of privacy and property rights are at the forefront — what rights do real-world locations have in policing the digital content anchored to them?
There’s also the question of safety — when Pokémon GO was released in 2016, up to 30,000 people were possibly injured due to distracted driving within the first five months.
But AR also presents an opportunity for cities to revitalize tourism, giving landmarks new life as digital destinations tied to games or other experiences.
And with the possibility to multiply advertising opportunities, cities could roll out digital billboards to drive revenue.
With Apple’s Vision Pro headset on the way, Snap rebooting as an AR company, and Google and Nvidia creating software that overlays digital projections on real locations, cities don’t have the luxury of waiting any longer to create a framework.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Selena + Chef // Courtesy of Max
A-list talent looks to unscripted shows as a celebrity flagship
The Future. If it seems like every star has their own unscripted show these days, you’re not wrong. The content demands of the streaming era have led to blank checks for celebrities who want to bank on their names to have a little fun and explore their hobbies. And with the writers strike still going strong, it may be the only thing they can still work on right now.
Fallback host
Stars are cashing in on their celebrity.
Elizabeth Banks has been hosting ABC’s Press Your Luck in between acting and directing gigs.
Selena Gomez has found time to release several seasons of her Max cooking show, Selena + Chef — scoring an Emmy nomination.
Stanley Tucci and Eva Longoria have each done travel food shows for CNN that explored dishes from their heritage.
Robert Downey, Jr. is transforming his extensive car collection into the most impressive garage of EVs on Max’s Downey’s Dream Cars.
And Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph brought their comedy chops to Peacock’s holiday-themed cooking competition show, Baking It.
Considering how long and intensive it is to work on scripted film and TV, having an unscripted show to return to may be a low-key way to stay in the conversation and make some extra money.
Highlights
The best curated daily stories from around the web
Media, Music, & Entertainment
Disney’s blockbusters may be underperforming this year, but the studio is still the overall global box office leader with $3.4 billion. Read more → deadline
Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy has become the Spotify tastemaker, with artists’ streams skyrocketing after they appear on her show. Read more → variety
It turns out Taylor Swift did almost ink a sponsorship deal with FTX (valued at $100 million), but Sam Bankman-Fried killed the contract before it was finalized. Read more → nyt
Fashion & E-Commerce
Textile startup Rubi has developed a process that uses enzymes to eat carbon emissions, turn them into cellulose polymers, and ultimately become carbon-negative yarn. Read more → fastcompany
Fashion brands are crafting massive CGI versions of their products for digital-first, surrealistic marketing campaigns. Read more → bof
Vans is prepping to unbox its premium, experiential category, which will house its high-level collaborations, dubbed “OTW.” Read more → highsnobiety
Tech, Web3, & AI
Sweden is building the world’s largest wooden city — 7,000 offices, 2,000 apartments, and various restaurants and shops spread over 60 acres — in southern Stockholm. Read more → hypebeast
Texas’ transition to renewable energy has kept the electrical grid humming and utility costs down despite record heat. Read more → axios
Meta’s Threads is ensuring its user count stays high by making it only possible to delete your account by deleting your whole IG. Read more → techcrunch
Creator Economy
Twitch-competitor Kick has nabbed seven million signups in the past month and is making moves to avoid broadcasting controversial streams. Read more → tubefilter
Threads made sure it had a bevy of celebrities, brands, and influencers on the platform prior to launch. Read more → theverge
The Sidemen has sold a whopping 62,000 tickets for its charity soccer match that will feature a roster of top digital creators. Read more → tubefilter
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Editing by Nick Comney. Publishing by Darline Salazar.