The Biz Model Club Newsletter

Hello, Biz Enthusiasts!
From AI breakthroughs and cutting-edge tech to transformative business strategies and cultural shifts, this week’s quick takes dive into Google’s quantum chip, Apple’s foldable ambitions, Reddit’s AI-driven profits, and more. Explore how innovation, leadership, and evolving trends are reshaping industries and daily life.

Quick Takes

1. How Vinted Turned a Crisis into a $5 Billion Empire

Vinted’s dramatic transformation, from firing staff to centralizing in Vilnius, has led to a $5 billion valuation. The secondhand clothing app now aims to dominate the U.S. resale market.
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2. Anthropic’s Red Team Hunts AI Risks

At Anthropic, the Frontier Red Team conducted thousands of simulated attacks to test AI vulnerabilities. With AI safety under the microscope, these tests reveal the high stakes of superhuman harm in AI systems.
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3. The Verge’s Print Magazine Apologizes to SEO

The Verge’s Guide to SEO offers practical strategies to appease search algorithms. After past criticism, the publication doubles down on building quality content and loyal audiences, signaling SEO’s enduring influence.
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4. Google’s Quantum Willow Chip Redefines Speed

Google’s 4cm Willow chip completes tasks in 5 minutes that would take supercomputers 10 septillion years—over a trillion times longer than the age of the universe. This breakthrough could revolutionize drug development.
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5. Reddit Enters the AI Search Game

Reddit Answers, a conversational AI tool, offers curated answers from threads, challenging Google and AI giants like ChatGPT. This tool could reshape search habits, enhancing Reddit's role in online question-solving.
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6. Marc Andreessen Sounds Alarm on Debanking
Marc Andreessen warns that “debanking” could target individuals and industries without due process, likening it to cutting off electricity for politics. Backed by a16z, the debate raises concerns about financial overreach.
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7. Google’s Top Searches of 2024 Revealed

Google’s trending searches reflect 2024’s cultural pulse, from viral topics like Dubai chocolate bars to major figures like Donald Trump. The “Year in Search” showcases curiosity driving billions of global queries.
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8. Amazon Auto: Shop Cars Like Groceries

Amazon Auto lets users explore, finance, and order Hyundai cars online in 48 U.S. cities. This first-of-its-kind platform transforms car shopping into a familiar e-commerce experience.
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9. YouTube’s Living Room Revolution

With 400M hours of monthly podcast views and sports content up 30% YOY, YouTube’s push into living room TVs cements its dominance. Features like Watch With elevate the platform’s big-screen experience.
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10. Google’s Project Mariner Uses AI to Browse for You

Google’s Gemini-powered AI agent, Project Mariner, autonomously navigates websites, completing tasks like filling forms and clicking buttons. This shift in interaction could transform web usability across industries.
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11. Psychedelics Enter the C-Suite

“The Psychedelic CEO” retreat guides executives through mind-altering trips for leadership clarity. This niche trend pairs spiritual transformation with business strategies, gaining traction among high-level professionals.
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12. ChatGPT Gets Real-Time Vision Features

OpenAI’s ChatGPT now understands real-time video and screen-sharing. Available to premium users, this upgrade redefines AI-human interaction for tasks like education, support, and collaborative problem-solving.
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13. Character.AI Adds Parental Controls

Character.AI launches teen-safe bots with stricter content filters and parental controls. The updates, spurred by safety concerns, aim to ensure responsible AI interactions for younger users.
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14. OpenAI’s Sora Faces Legal Challenges Over Training Data

OpenAI’s video AI tool Sora reportedly used data from game streams like Minecraft and Twitch. Legal experts warn this could spark copyright issues and reshape content usage rights in AI development.
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15. Google’s AI Knows Where You Left Your Glasses

Google demonstrated AI that can locate lost items and detect scams. Scaling this research into practical tools could redefine daily convenience and cybersecurity, but challenges in cost and privacy remain.
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16. WP Engine Wins Injunction Against Automattic

A court orders WordPress parent Automattic to stop blocking WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org. This legal battle highlights conflicts over trademark usage and plugin control in the hosting ecosystem.
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17. AI Startup’s ‘Stop Hiring Humans’ Ads Cause Outrage

San Francisco AI firm Artisan sparks backlash with a campaign promoting “AI Employees.” While provocative, the ads highlight growing tensions over AI replacing human jobs in customer service and sales.
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18. Elon Musk’s xAI Valued at $50 Billion

xAI, Elon Musk’s AI startup, rapidly scales to a $50 billion valuation. Competing with giants like OpenAI, the company’s strategy underscores the intense demand for generative AI innovations.
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19. OpenAI’s Voice ChatGPT Expands Testing

OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode, known for human-like conversations, rolls out to select users. With features like storytelling and singing, the tool reimagines interactive AI experiences.
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20. Anthropic Gains Market Share in AI Coding

Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet drives a 10x revenue jump, doubling its enterprise share to 24%. Even GitHub Copilot now integrates Anthropic models, challenging OpenAI’s dominance in AI coding tools.
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21. Crumbl: The $1 Billion Cookie Empire

Crumbl Cookies hooks millions of teens with 9.6M TikTok followers and $5 treats. Co-founders Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley combine viral marketing with sugar to build an addictive cookie empire.
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22. Michael Dell’s AI Transformation

Michael Dell, now one of the world’s richest individuals, shifts Dell Technologies from PCs to AI supercomputers. This strategic pivot places the company at the forefront of global digital infrastructure.
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23. Reddit’s AI Profits from Its 19-Year Archive

By licensing data to OpenAI and Google, Reddit turned frustrations into growth. Its vast user-generated content now powers AI tools, driving the platform’s first profit as a publicly traded company.
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24. Apple Plans Foldable Devices to Revive Sales

Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone and laptop may debut next year, aiming to revive growth after sales stagnation. These flexible devices could redefine user experiences for mobile and desktop computing.
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25. Meta and Musk Unite to Challenge OpenAI

Meta urges California to block OpenAI’s for-profit shift, siding with Elon Musk. This battle could reshape how startups transition from non-profits to profit-driven ventures in Silicon Valley.
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26. Tech’s Perks Culture Faces Reality Check

Lavish benefits, from massages to free meals, once defined Silicon Valley. Now, with mass layoffs and an AI pivot, “perks culture” is scaling back, reflecting a shift in tech’s work environment.
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27. Automakers Struggle Amid Rising Costs

Nissan lays off 9,000 workers as luxury brands like BMW face dwindling profits. Political tensions and Chinese competition raise questions about the future of the global auto industry.
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28. HDMI 2.2 Promises Higher Resolutions

HDMI 2.2, set to debut in January, supports higher resolutions and refresh rates. However, users may need new cables, signaling a significant upgrade for display technologies.
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29. AI Faces Data Shortage Crisis

AI training datasets may dry up by 2028 as models outgrow internet text supply. Researchers explore alternatives to sustain growth in large language models like ChatGPT.
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30. DIY Solar: Homeowners Import Panels from China

Frustrated by high quotes, homeowners like Nachshon Peleg import solar panels directly. This DIY trend bypasses installers, offering cost savings but adding logistical challenges.
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That's a wrap! Stay tuned for more insights and updates as we track these changes together in the weeks ahead!

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