Humanoid Kill Switch

PRESENTED BY CREATOR.CO

Merry Christmas, Future Party! We know we’re a couple of days early, but since we won’t be gifting your inbox with a new newsletter until Friday, we wanted to wish you and yours a wonderful holiday — and some very light news days. We could all use a break.

The robotics industry is struggling to figure out the best safety standards for shutting down rogue humanoid robots.

The Big Picture: In five years, there are expected to be over a million robots working in warehouses and factories — and potentially thousands in private homes. Deploying them safely to work and live alongside humans may soon become one of the defining technological issues of the modern age.

Behind The Code: It turns out that shutting down a humanoid robot is a bit more complicated than flipping a switch.

Glass Break: Most of the discussion around robotic safety is happening within the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) — a trade group representing more than 1,400 robotics companies. Every quarter, representatives gather to hash out uniform standards for humanoids. So far, the conversations have been contentious, with a clear delineation between those who want to prioritize safety above all else and those who worry a heavy hand could stifle innovation. Still, the group aims to publish safety recommendations within a year.

Let’s hope the Silicon Valley mantra of “move fast and break things” isn’t taken literally.

The Future: Like with cars and restaurants, it’s possible a grading system could be rolled out to categorize robots based on how safe they are. A high grade could become the deciding factor for many customers.

What if the biggest unlock for your CPG brand isn’t a packaging refresh or a promo blitz — but creators telling the story your audience actually wants to hear? That’s exactly what happened when this everyday grocery staple shifted from traditional ads to a creator-led, UGC-powered strategy built for scale.

Instead of pushing polished product shots, the brand activated creators across food, lifestyle, and everyday routines — pairing premium gifting with seasonal moments and culturally relevant hooks. The result wasn’t just content; it was momentum. Snack boards, game-day recipes, self-care rituals, and kitchen-counter creativity started taking over feeds, delivering 560K+ views, 247K reach, 9K likes, 2K saves, and $58K EMV — all from authentic storytelling that felt like discovery, not advertising.

More importantly, it became repeatable. Mid-tier creators expanded visibility. Micro-influencers added warmth and trust. And with Creator.co managing recruitment, briefs, and delivery, the brand built a scalable content engine, everything from 71K-view recipe videos to 600+ saved snack hacks. As one marketing leader put it: “The team is accessible, easy to work with, and provides frequent updates — all our data was right at our fingertips.”

When UGC becomes the heart of your strategy, your product stops blending in and starts belonging in the lives (and carts) of your consumers.

👉 See how creator-led storytelling can fuel your brand’s next breakthrough.

In our increasingly optimized, automated, tech-driven world, people are rediscovering the joys of an old-fashioned hobby you can do with your hands — and with other people.

Why It Hits: Even as AI seemingly takes over everything, Gen Zers and millennials are looking for ways to log off and indulge in some analog pleasures. A recent Gallup poll found an overall 13% increase since 2002 in people who say hobbies and other recreational activities are extremely or very important in their lives — and a 21% increase among those ages 18 to 35.

Between The Lines: It might seem radical, but there are activities that don’t require a screen.

Closing Thoughts: Market-research firm IBISWorld estimates that revenue for fabric, craft, and sewing supply stores in the US will grow from $5.3 billion to $5.8 billion by 2030, despite the closure of mega-retailer JoAnn Fabrics. Meanwhile, online hobby and craft supply retailers are expected to see revenues pop from $22.6 billion to $25.1 billion.

Those numbers suggest people are craving a more grounded, handmade experience than what their digital lives offer.

Prediction: Culturally, we may see young people fall into two stark categories — those who spend their weekends unwinding with hobbies and those who voluntarily treat Sunday like the start of the workweek.

Google AdSense's Auto ads lets you designate ad-free zones, giving you full control over your site’s layout and ensuring a seamless experience for your visitors. You decide what matters to your users and maintain your site's aesthetic. Google AdSense helps you balance earning with user experience, making it the better way to earn.

Take control of your ads

61.1% of you voted Comfort and fabric feel in yesterday’s poll: What’s the biggest factor in how you choose sleepwear?

“I chose ‘something else,’ but it’s really ‘all of the above.’ I like a certain comfortable style in a breathable fabric that can change with the season — and, for a reasonable price, of course.”

“Less is best for the summer months and more is best for winter.”

“No sleepwear required. It really doesn’t get cold enough in the desert.”

“I don’t own sleepwear.”

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.

💰 Another wrinkle in the battle for Warner Bros. Discovery: Oracle chairman Larry Ellison is personally backstopping $40.4 billion of Paramount’s offer.

🍿 The newly-combined Blumhouse/Atomic Monster crossed $1 billion at the box office for the first time… thanks to a massive assist from The Conjuring: Last Rites.

🎙️ Despite recently licensing titles to Netflix, iHeartMedia is adding video podcasts to its own app.

🖋️ New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a major AI safety bill into law, making the state the second to do so.

🤖 Yann LeCun, the former Chief AI Scientist at Meta, has launched his own startup to develop a new “world model.”

🙃 Irony alert: Google is suing startup SerpApi for copyright infringement — for scraping its Search results.

₿ JPMorgan Chase is pulling an about-face on crypto, potentially offering trading to institutional clients.

💸 FanDuel is the latest gambling platform to get in on prediction markets.

👕 Ralph Lauren has officially won over young people, now ranking as the second most desirable brand among consumers under 35.