Retailpocalypse

PRESENTED BY AMASIAN

Welcome to a new week, Future Party. If you want to feel nostalgic (or just old), check out this new iPod Nano created by LA-based design collective Drought. No, it’s not a working Nano — it’s a ginormous mirror, so you can look at yourself and ponder where all the years went. Wait, why is this mirror making us cry?

A new report estimates that roughly 15,000 US retail stores are set to close this year — a record for modern times — which could reshape how people shop for typical consumer goods.

Why It Hurts: The dual forces of a rollercoaster post-pandemic economy and a major shift to ecommerce have upended the business models of many tried-and-true brands, who now see scaling down as the only path to survival… let alone profits.

Behind the Liquidations: Coresight Research is feeling a little bleak about the state of brick-and-mortar retailers that seemed unstoppable a decade ago.

Final Sale: So, what’s driving all the soon-to-be liquidation sales? Other than the belt-tightening across America on larger consumer goods like TVs and appliances, it’s mostly the internetization of being able to purchase any item, no matter how small.

Coresight writes that the popularity of Temu and Shein has upended low-cost apparel and home goods brands, which can’t compete with the virality of items and cheap delivery. As social shopping takes more market share in the coming years (especially if TikTok remains in the US), expect store closures to only multiply… and create a very different kind of mall atmosphere.

Feeling unsatisfied after binging Squid Game 2? Ready for your next movie marathon?

Amasian TV Movies & More delivers a must-watch lineup of Korean storytelling at its finest. Streaming live 24/7 and absolutely free, this channel is a haven for fans of action, drama, and everything in between — featuring stars you loved from Squid Game 2.

With over 200 binge-worthy titles, from gripping dramas to high-stakes adventures, Amasian TV Movies & More is your ultimate entertainment destination.

Now streaming on Amasian TV and LG Channels. Don’t wait — start watching today!

Sam Altman’s World web3 project — formerly known as Worldcoin — is developing a tool that would allow humans to link their AI agents with their digital identities, so others online can verify that their actions are truly on behalf of a real person.

The Big Picture: AI agents are poised to be all the rage for the average person who wants to use AI to complete tasks. That leaves open a lot of room for fraud.

Behind the Curtain: World is warning people of a future — one that many of the people involved with the company helped create — where a person’s online profile and an AI agent are indistinguishable.

The Future: Sam Altman certainly knows how to time things — OpenAI just announced an agentic AI system, “Operator,” which already has deals in place for brands like Uber and DoorDash. By ensuring that an AI agent can be linked back to a human — the blue check of AI — that could speed up the adoption of the tech with both customers (who may be wary of letting AI do things for them) and businesses (who may be reluctant to grant AI agents access to their sites).

Unlock the potential of your growing startup with HubSpot’s Starter Customer Platform.

For just $20/month, get the Starter edition of HubSpot’s six core products for marketing, sales, and customer service — powered by HubSpot’s Smart CRM — all for the price of one.

Built for startups like yours, HubSpot Starter has all the essential tools you need to scale.

Click here to claim your small business bundle and start growing your business today!

73.9% of you voted Yes in Friday’s poll: Do you think AI will eventually surpass human intelligence in specialized fields?

“Hasn’t it already?”

“I don’t know about intelligence, but it will surpass human efficiency 1,000%.”

“The logic feels circular, considering the symbiotic relationship between human input and AI. Categorically, I think the right question is: why do we need AI to surpass human intelligence?”

“AI will always be reliant on human input to know what to do. Otherwise, it’s just another Coke machine.”

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.

🧐 Paramount received an 11th-hour legal letter demanding that the company consider Project Rise Partners’ $13.5 billion offer.

🎥 A new petition calling for the return of production to LA amid wildfire recovery, Stay In LA, has garnered over 6,000 signatures from city residents.

🐵 The trailer for Osgood Perkin’s new Neon movie, The Monkey, scored 109 million views — the most ever for an indie horror film.

💰 Meta plans on spending $65 billion on AI data centers this year alone — a flex to the members of President Trump’s Stargate joint venture.

💵 President Trump signed an executive order that paves the way for US digital currency.

🏦 The SEC rolled out new guidance allowing banks to hold crypto now.

🎮 Fortnite reported that creator-made islands now account for a third of players’ time in the game.

💸 Wall Street banks are about to sell their X loans at a discount to offload their depressed worth.

📱 Threads is testing out ads in the US and Japan.

Unlock the secret to youthful vitality with Qualia Senolytic, your plant-powered ally against aging.

Formulated with nine clinically proven ingredients, it targets senescent cells to help combat:

Backed by top health experts, Qualia Senolytic is your key to a rejuvenated body and a timeless spirit.

Limited time offer: Order today and save 50% on Qualia Senolytic!

_{*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.}