No Pedal To The Metal

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Happy Friday, Future Party. If you’re going into the weekend dreading the idea of catching up on dishwashing and laundry, we have some good news for you — those days may be over. Robotics startup Sunday Inc. debuted its “Memo” humanoid bot specifically built to do those tasks, and has raised $165 million to build them and deploy them into test homes later this year. Granted, these sorts of robots are typically rife with kinks that may lead to your dishes being smashed on the floor or laundry dried into something that only a doll can fit into… but at least you didn’t have to do those chores.

Gen Z has become the largest share of the moviegoing audience… and they have a wide range of tastes for what they get out of the house to see.

The Big Picture: The theatrical industry has slowly been clawing its way back since near-extinction during COVID. It was looking grim for theaters as the pandemic kept people indoors, and streaming, video games, and short-form content seemed to capture all the attention. But once the world opened up, so did young people’s desire to be in it… fueling demand for IRL, communal, and cultural experiences.

Behind The Box Office: Gen Z may love their smartphones… but they’re more than happy to put them away for the big screen.

Closing Credits: The growth in Gen Z moviegoing is significant, especially as older Americans going to the movies is declining, per Pew Research. For young people, that interest in moviegoing is supercharged by a desire to be part of the cultural conversation that’s happening online (no one likes spoilers!) and a social scene that’s now far less defined by drinking and partying. Additionally, there’s now an ecosystem of making content around movies and shows, including memes and fan-made edits called “fancams.” 

The modern theater trip feeds FOMO in a way no algorithm can. 

Next Showing: With Gen Z increasingly going to the movies and a theatrical release proving to be the best form of marketing, expect every studio to keep their movies in theaters longer. Universal just announced it’s doing so.

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Tesla has officially kick-started its autonomous-vehicle era with the creation of the Cybercab… and is betting the whole company on its success.

The Big Bet: Tesla is positioning its “Cybercab” as its make-or-break product, even canceling production of two other vehicles to put all the company’s resources into it. If successful, it could evolve Tesla beyond being just a car company. If it doesn’t… Tesla may totally lose the lead it had in the EV sector.

Behind The Wheel: The first Cybercab was officially completed last month at Tesla’s plant in Austin, Texas… and begins mass production next month.

Final Destination: Musk says that the company will produce two million Cybercabs annually… but there’s just one problem: Tesla hasn’t received approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to sell these vehicles. In fact, WSJ reports that the automaker hasn’t even applied for the exemption needed to sell any cars that don’t include the typical components required to operate (steering wheel, pedals, etc.). 

Without that exemption, Tesla has to prove the vehicle meets all federal safety regulations… and we know Tesla’s complicated relationship with that. Failing to do so could lead to significant fines and lawsuits if the cars aren’t immediately recalled and repaired. We have a feeling Tesla’s legal issues are far from over.

Next Trip: Even if Tesla gets all the necessary approvals to sell the Cybercabs, the company may need to mount the largest marketing campaign in its history to convince people to buy a car they can't drive themselves.

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55.4% of you voted Yes in yesterday’s poll: Would you bully AI for money?

“I have better things to do with my time.”

“Get paid for something I do already when I'm frustrated with it? Count me in.”

“I am always nice and thank Alexa so when the robot apocalypse happens, they might spare me.”

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.

🤖 Netflix reportedly paid roughly $600 million for Ben Affleck’s AI startup, InterPositive.

📺 Disney+ is rolling out its first vertical-video product, Verts, which will feature clips from its entertainment library.

🎥 100 ZEROS, the production partnership between Range and Google, announced a slate of scripted and unscripted microdramas from some top TV creators.

📦 Shein is rolling out a new product that will allow smaller brands to tap into the company’s supply chain logistics.

⌚ LVMH has tapped Béatrice Goasglas as the next CEO of watch brand TAG Heuer.

🚙 Uber is rolling out a premium, invite-only rideshare experience called “Uber Elite.”

🤳 Propagate Content is acquiring creator-focused agency Sway Social for mid-to-high seven figures.

🎙️ YouTube debuted a new advertising product tied to “Top Podcasts Lineup.”

📻 TikTok is going on the radio in a new deal with iHeartMedia.