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What you’ll read?

• Child Care Costs Burden Families Amid Rising Inflation.

• Amazon Boosts Anthropic Investment to $8 Billion.

• Today in AI & Tech

• From Congress to Cameo: Matt Gaetz’s New Career Move.

  and more…

BUSINESS

Child Care Costs Burden Families Amid Rising Inflation.

U.S. families spent an average of $6,552 to $15,600 per child on full-day care in 2022, often rivaling median annual rents, according to the Department of Labor. With costs consuming 9% to 16% of household incomes, the burden has squeezed families nationwide, impacting women’s workforce participation. Federal pandemic aid helped curb further surges but calls for systemic investment in affordable child care remain pressing.

Hyundai Recalls Over 42,000 Vehicles Due to Rollaway Risk.

Hyundai is recalling all 2025 Santa Cruz and Tucson vehicles in the U.S., totaling over 42,000 units, due to a wiring defect that allows the transmission to shift out of "park" without applying the brake, risking rollaway accidents. Owners are advised to use parking brakes until dealers reroute the wiring, a repair provided free of charge. Notification letters will be sent by January 19, 2025.

Banana Art Sells for $6.24 Million.

Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual art piece, Comedian—a banana duct-taped to a wall—sold for $6.24 million at Sotheby’s, purchased by cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun. The absurd sale highlights conceptual art’s self-reflective nature and the evolving role of cryptocurrency in high-end purchases, though broader art market trends remain stagnant amidst economic challenges.

Amazon Boosts Anthropic Investment to $8 Billion.

Amazon has invested an additional $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic, bringing its total stake to $8 billion while remaining a minority investor. Anthropic, known for the Claude chatbot, will use Amazon Web Services as its primary cloud partner and leverage AWS Trainium and Inferentia chips for AI model training. This partnership offers AWS customers exclusive features like fine-tuning AI with their data, strengthening Amazon's position in the generative AI race.

"Wicked" and "Gladiator II" Set for $200M+ Box Office Weekend

Universal's Wicked and Paramount's Gladiator II are projected to generate over $200 million in combined ticket sales during their opening weekend. Wicked is poised to become the highest-opening Broadway adaptation in cinematic history, with estimates ranging from $120M to $140M. Meanwhile, Gladiator II, debuting 24 years after the original, is expected to bring in $60M to $80M. The duo has ignited cultural buzz, echoing past phenomena like "Barbenheimer."

TECH

Today in AI & Tech

OpenAI Considers Browser Development and Expands AI Partnerships.

OpenAI is exploring creating a web browser integrated with its chatbot and striking deals to power search features, potentially challenging Google's dominance in the browser and search markets. It has discussed AI-powered search with partners like Redfin and Priceline and is collaborating with Samsung on device AI features. OpenAI's moves follow its SearchGPT launch, while Google counters with its generative AI, Gemini.

Snowflake Shares Jump 28% After Raising Revenue Forecast and Announcing AI Partnership.

Snowflake's shares soared by 28% after the company raised its 2025 product revenue forecast to $3.43 billion, driven by strong sales execution and new product momentum. This marks a significant recovery from a 35% decline earlier this year. The company also announced a partnership with Anthropic to enhance AI applications, further boosting investor confidence.

OpenAI Advances Red Teaming to Enhance AI Safety with Human and Automated Approaches.

OpenAI has refined its red teaming process, a key method for identifying AI system risks, by integrating both human and automated techniques. This approach, initially focused on manual testing, now includes automated strategies to scale the discovery of model mistakes and improve safety. OpenAI's latest research introduces a method for automated red teaming, using AI to generate diverse attack scenarios and enhance safety evaluations. Despite its effectiveness, the process is not without limitations, and OpenAI emphasizes the importance of incorporating public perspectives on AI's ideal behaviors and policies.

Other

From Congress to Cameo: Matt Gaetz’s New Career Move.

After stepping away from Congress and withdrawing his bid for U.S. Attorney General, Matt Gaetz has joined Cameo, offering personalized videos for $550 each. Gaetz uses the platform to deliver holiday wishes, career pep talks, and political jabs. His move mirrors other embattled politicians like George Santos and Rudy Giuliani, who also turned to Cameo to connect with fans and earn extra income.

Starbucks Struggles with Long Airport Wait Times Amid Travel Boom.

Long wait times at Starbucks' airport locations have frustrated travelers and drawn the attention of CEO Brian Niccol, who aims to streamline operations and improve service. Airport outlets, operated by licensees, face challenges like erratic customer surges and staffing issues. As air travel rebounds post-pandemic, Starbucks plans to reduce wait times, enhance mobile ordering, and adopt new technologies to meet growing demand and boost customer satisfaction.

Chemical Reaction Caused Toxic Fire at Georgia Lab.

A chemical reaction at BioLab in Conyers, Georgia, caused a massive fire and toxic smoke plume in September, prompting the evacuation of 17,000 residents and shelter-in-place orders for 90,000 in Atlanta. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board identified the chemicals involved—BCDMH, TCCA, and DCCA—used in pool-cleaning products. The reaction released chlorine and hazardous vapors, leading to significant environmental and public safety risks. The investigation continues, with final recommendations pending.

Divisions Stall Progress at Global Plastics Treaty Talks.

Delegates from 175 countries convened in Busan, South Korea, for the final round of U.N. negotiations on a global plastics treaty. Despite mounting concerns over microplastics and escalating pollution, divisions persist, with petrochemical-producing nations opposing production caps. The U.S. has shown mixed signals on the issue, aligning with the EU on production limits while facing domestic uncertainty. Developing nations, like Fiji, highlight the urgency of addressing downstream pollution impacts. Industry groups advocate focusing on waste management over production restrictions, while some nations propose levies on polymer production to fund solutions.

It's a Wrap!

Thank you for joining us in this journey through the latest updates and insights. Your engagement and support mean the world to us. We hope you found this newsletter both informative and inspiring. Stay tuned for more exciting news and stories in our next edition.

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Warm regards,
Sarah