Free Groceries

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Happy Thursday, Future Party. The Winter Olympics in Italy are kicking off tomorrow, so THR has a handy breakdown on how to catch all the action. We also cover a surprising inside look at how Team USA’s snowboarding and skiing members are training to take home the gold — hint: there’s some AI involved. You can read more about it below.

Prediction-market firms Kalshi and Polymarket are offering free groceries in NYC in a bid to build awareness and attract new customers.

The Big Bet: Though controversial, prediction markets have exploded in popularity over the past year, as gambling on nearly anything has become an accepted practice. By turning groceries into swag, the companies may be low-key signaling that the money you can make on their markets could ease the burden of your typical grocery bill. Brilliant or dystopian?

Between The Shelves: Kalshi and Polymarket are hoping to win the hearts of New Yorkers by going through their stomachs.

Final (Free) Receipt: Kalshi and Polymarket are really trying to make good in NYC — arguably the financial center of the world — especially after the state’s Attorney General issued a consumer alert about prediction markets this week. Her message: buyer beware. 

So, Polymarket and Kalshi are betting on free groceries to strike at the nerve centers of goodwill. Nonprofit No Kid Hungry reported in a survey last year that 90% of New Yorkers say grocery prices are rising faster than their incomes, and new NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned hard on lowering grocery prices. It’s hard to take a gamble on… well… gambling when you’re struggling to put food on the table.

Next Wager: Expect other controversial companies to explore similar stunts to win over new customers. How soon until Airbnb starts raffling off houses?

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Some members of Team USA’s snowboard and ski teams have been training for the Olympics with a new AI tool built in collaboration with Google.

Why It Hits: The AI sports revolution is here. Several companies are already partnering with F1 teams, which makes sense from a tech standpoint. But applying AI to something as instinctive and physical as snowboarding or skiing signals just how far these systems can stretch.

Behind The Tricks: Snowboarding and skiing are now sports of snow and silicone.

Last Run: The tool is already having real-world impact. Halfpipe snowboarder Maddie Mastro told The WSJ it helped her perfect her signature trick, the “crippler,” by pointing out that she typically lands with her arm angled above her head — something her coaches never caught that could have led to deducted style points. Tiny details like that can decide whether you medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, which kick off tomorrow.

Team USA is so excited about the tool that it hopes to open it to the public post-Olympics, helping train the next generation and potentially bring fans closer to the action.

Future Podium: All this elite physics data isn’t just good for Olympians — it could help Google build robots that navigate the real world with far more finesse. Dishwashing is easy when you’ve studied the biomechanics of an Olympic athlete.

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33.9% of you voted I’m not sure what “consciousness” even means for AI. in yesterday’s poll: What’s your take on AI and consciousness?

“I’m not sure what the real definition of consciousness is for humans, so how can you define it for AI?”

“AI can feign consciousness, but it isn’t truly aware. It follows simple logic trees and recycles existing information. Sure, it can look at depictions in science fiction and seem like it can act or think independently, but it’s really just playing pretend.”

“LLMs work based on the probability that you will like their answers. It can seem as if they’re conscious, but they can’t become so under those parameters. Of course, if AI ran under a fundamentally different model, then all stakes are out.”

“Here’s the remaining info: Just turn off the power, erase the drive, disconnect the computer — in reverse order. Problem solved.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our Poll Of The Day newsletter, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

💰 MARI, Ari Emanuel’s holding company, has acquired a majority stake in experiences-focused marketing firm Bucket Listers.

🎙️ Hulu is also jumping into the podcast-licensing fray with an exclusive deal for We’re Here to Help — the comedy-advice show from actor Jake Johnson and comedian Gareth Reynolds.

🎥 New vertical-video microdrama platform Knockout Shorts is the first of its kind to get backing from SAG-AFTRA.

🛰️ AT&T announced that it’s partnering with Amazon Leo to expand into enterprise-focused satellite WiFi service.

🤖 Voice-generation AI startup ElevenLabs has raised $500 million in a new round led by Sequoia Capital.

🔈 Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa+ is now available across the US.

👟 Allbirds, which recently closed all of its brick-and-mortar stores, is hoping for a rebound by chasing higher-end fashion trends.

👃 Osmo, an AI fragrance firm that spun out of Google, has raised $70 million in a round led by Two Sigma Ventures.

₿ The nomination of Kevin Warsh to Fed chair is more bad news for Bitcoin, which has sunk to its lowest level since November 2024.