$136M in Debt, No Gucci in Sight 💔👜

Plus: Amazon buys bio-copper and Musk tells us to stop saving money

Author

Daniel Pereira
January 17, 2026

Biz Analyst Club Newsletter
by The Business Model Analyst

Hello, Biz Enthusiasts!
Wikipedia turns 25 and faces an existential AI threat. Netflix just bought Warner Bros., Saks Fifth Avenue filed for bankruptcy (owes Chanel $136M — ouch), and Amazon is using acid and bacteria to mine copper. Meanwhile, Elon Musk says retirement savings are overrated (because of course he does). If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when AI, fashion, space hotels, and bacteria-fueled mines collide… it looks like this newsletter. Let’s dive in.👇

Hot Takes 🚀

1. Saks Fifth Avenue Just Went Bankrupt – Owes Chanel $136M 📉👜
Saks Global filed for bankruptcy after failing to pay fashion giants like Chanel and Gucci. Even Amazon couldn’t save the luxury retailer. Bondholders have now taken control, and it’s the biggest luxury collapse since the pandemic.
👉 Inside the stunning fall of Saks Global

2. Wikipedia Turns 25 – But AI Might Be Its Downfall 📚🤖
Once the crown jewel of the open web, Wikipedia is now getting sidelined by Google’s AI summaries — which still rely on its content. It’s like throwing a birthday party where no one shows up… because they used your cake recipe for free.
👉 The encyclopedia that built the web is being ghosted by AI

3. Amazon Is Mining Copper with Bacteria to Power AI 🔋🧪
Amazon is buying copper from an Arizona mine using bacteria and acid to extract the metal — part of the AI data center boom. It’s copper alchemy for the cloud.
👉 Here’s how Amazon is fueling its AI empire

4. Elon Musk Says Retirement Saving Is Pointless Now 😅📉
According to Elon, you don’t need to save for retirement because robots and AI will soon create infinite abundance. A universal high-income future is coming. (Also, he’s worth $600B, so take that with a… copper grain of salt.)
👉 Musk’s bold take on your 401(k)

5. Netflix Just Bought Warner Bros. – And Hollywood's Having a Meltdown 🎬💥
Netflix’s $83B acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is making waves — and enemies — in Hollywood. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos says it’s about expanding jobs and content, while Paramount fumes in the corner with a hostile bid.
👉 Hollywood’s reacting loudly to Netflix’s biggest bet yet

Strategy Deep Dive

🛒 How Amazon, Shopify, and Shein Turn Retail Into a Recurring Revenue Machine

In this deep dive, we unpack how a new generation of retailers are ditching product margins and reinventing physical stores as high-margin platforms.

Forget rent. These players charge subscription fees for shelf space. They upsell services, staff, and store data. They turn foot traffic into analytics dashboards. And they do it all while avoiding inventory risk.

Quick Hits 📰

  • 🧠 AI Life Coaches Are Now Charging $99/Month
    Get life advice from AI versions of Tony Robbins and Gabby Bernstein — available 24/7 for less than your gym membership.
    👉 Self-help just went full AI

  • 🛸 A Hotel on the Moon? You Can Now Book One
    Lunar startup GRU Space is taking $250K+ deposits for space hotel stays. Grand opening: 2032. Activities include golf. On. The. Moon.
    👉 Meet the world’s first lunar Airbnb

  • 🔋 Ford May Buy Hybrid Batteries from China’s BYD
    As EV demand falters, Ford is eyeing BYD to power its hybrid future. What could go wrong with a supply chain that crosses oceans and politics?
    👉 Inside Ford’s potential battery reboot

  • 📉 Verizon’s Outage Was Worse Than You Think
    Texting? Broken. Doctor appointments? Blocked. Google Maps? RIP. Verizon's crash left thousands stranded — and anxious.
    👉 The digital silence that freaked out America

  • 🧬 Spotify’s Founder Is Now Betting on Your Health
    Daniel Ek is bringing his body-scan startup Neko Health to NYC. Full scans for $300. Personal soundtrack not included.
    👉 Can tech really make you healthier?

  • 🛵 Uber’s Big Japan Plan Starts in a Spa Town
    Uber’s cracking Japan by starting in rural towns with no taxis. First drivers? Soba chefs with a side hustle.
    👉 Uber’s new ride-or-die strategy in Japan

  • 🎥 Netflix + Sony = $7B Global Movie Deal
    The streamer just locked down global Pay-1 rights for Sony films through 2032. Expect more Spider-Verse.
    👉 Netflix’s new movie pipeline, supercharged

  • 🎭 YouTube Will Now Monetize Some Controversial Topics
    As long as it’s dramatized or non-graphic, you can earn ad revenue — even for difficult subjects.
    👉 New monetization rules creators should know

  • 🥪 Jersey Mike’s Subs Is Headed to Europe
    400 stores in the UK and Ireland are on the way. Europe’s about to meet America’s favorite deli-style sub.
    👉 Will Brits say yes to “The Original Italian”?

  • 🔐 Middle East WhatsApp Users Targeted in Hacking Campaign
    Hackers used phishing links to steal credentials from diplomats, journalists, and more.
    👉 TechCrunch breaks down how it happened

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❝

There is no finish line. There are only mile markers.

Michael Ventura, Sub Rosa

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