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Television

Vince Gilligan's 'Pluribus' Highlights Human Creation Amidst AI Concerns

The new Apple TV show 'Pluribus,' created by Vince Gilligan, includes a disclaimer emphasizing that it was 'made by humans,' positioned below a note about animal safety.

Gilligan, known for 'Better Call Saul,' expressed strong opposition to AI, calling it 'the world’s most expensive and energy-intensive plagiarism machine' and comparing AI-generated content to 'a cow chewing its cud.'

'Pluribus' marks Gilligan's return to science fiction and reunites him with Rhea Seehorn, who plays a romantasya author dealing with an alien invasion.

Business & Finance

Rivian's Bold Move: Rewarding CEO RJ Scaringe with $5B Performance-Based Stock Award Amidst Tech Evolution

Rivian has granted CEO RJ Scaringe a new performance-based stock award potentially worth $5 billion, coupled with doubling his salary to $2 million annually and a 10% stake in Mind Robotics. The move follows Tesla's approval of Elon Musk's $1 trillion compensation package.
The new award replaces a similar 2021 award deemed unlikely to be achieved due to Rivian's stock performance. The 2021 award had stock options vesting upon price increases, but the current stock value made it difficult for Scaringe to access them.
Rivian's compensation committee aims to incentivize Scaringe to drive value for shareholders, with the new award structured to vest only upon significant value creation. Scaringe won't benefit until he adds $32 billion in value to Rivian, potentially leading to $153 billion in shareholder value if all milestones are met.
The award includes 36.5 million shares, with 22 million tied to stock price hurdles and the remaining 14.5 million contingent on achieving adjusted operating income and cash flow targets.

E-commerce

GoWish App Achieves Record Growth, Redefining Social Shopping

GoWish, a shopping and wish list app, is experiencing unprecedented growth, doubling its user base and achieving record numbers ahead of the holiday season.

The app reached No. 2 on the U.S. App Store and boasts 13.6 million registered users, with nearly 6.2 million in the U.S. and 1 million in the U.K.

Originally launched by PostNord as "Ønskeskyen," GoWish was acquired by Dotcom Capital in 2020 and transformed into a global platform.

GoWish generates revenue through affiliate and brand partnerships, reporting $1.7 million in net profits after tax in fiscal year 2024.

The company plans to integrate AI to enhance user experience and aims to become the "global genie" of social shopping, predicting future consumer trends.

Shopping Apps

GoWish App Achieves Record Growth, Eyes AI Integration to Transform Gifting

GoWish, a wishlist and shopping app, is experiencing unprecedented growth, hitting No. 2 on the U.S. App Store and doubling its user base from last year. With over 13.6 million registered users, including nearly 6.2 million in the U.S. and a significant presence in Denmark and the U.K., the app is becoming a global phenomenon.
Originally launched as a seasonal gimmick by PostNord, GoWish was acquired by Dotcom Capital in 2020 and spun out as an independent tech company. It allows users to create wishlists, add products from online retailers, and share them with family and friends.
The company's success is attributed to effective marketing across Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snap, resulting in net profits of $1.7 million in fiscal year 2024. GoWish plans to integrate AI to enhance the user experience and aims to become the 'global genie' of social shopping.
Backed by CapitalD and Dotcom Capital, the Copenhagen-based company is focused on 'fixing gifting' and predicting future consumer trends.

Mobile Accessories

Apple's Crossbody Strap: Convenience vs. Aesthetics

Apple has released a crossbody strap for iPhones, priced at $59. The strap, made from recycled PET yarns, features embedded magnets for secure alignment and adjustable stainless steel sliders. While convenient for travel and professions requiring easy phone access, it can rub against the neck or shoulder. A major drawback is the appearance of the iPhone with the strap removed, leaving dangling cords. Cheaper alternatives exist, but Apple's strap offers durability. It comes in various colors and is available at apple.com and in stores.

Technology

Kim Kardashian Blames ChatGPT for Failed Law Exams, Cites 'Toxic' Friendship

Kim Kardashian, in a Vanity Fair interview, revealed her 'toxic' relationship with ChatGPT, claiming the AI chatbot provided false information that led to her failing law exams.

Kardashian admitted to using ChatGPT for legal advice by snapping pictures of questions and inputting them into the AI. However, she found the answers to be frequently incorrect, resulting in test failures.

She humorously recounted her attempts to appeal to ChatGPT's emotions after receiving wrong answers, despite the AI lacking feelings. Kardashian also shared screenshots of her interactions with ChatGPT in a group chat.

The article highlights the issue of AI hallucinations, where chatbots generate fake answers instead of admitting ignorance. This has led to sanctions for lawyers who have used ChatGPT in legal briefs, citing nonexistent cases.

Technology & Environment

Terranova's Robotic Solution to Save Sinking Cities

Terranova, a startup, is developing robots to inject wood waste slurry into the ground to lift sinking cities and prevent flooding due to sea level rise. The approach aims to be a more affordable alternative to building seawalls.

The company recently raised $7 million in a seed round. Terranova's method involves using inexpensive waste wood mixed with undisclosed materials to create a slurry. This slurry is then injected into the ground using robotic units, guided by software and data from geological surveys.

Terranova claims its method can lift 240 acres four feet for $92 million, significantly less than the $500 million to $900 million estimated for seawalls. The company is testing its robots and software at a pilot site and plans to split revenue with contractors, targeting cities and wetlands remediation projects.

E-commerce

Amazon Unveils Amazon Bazaar: A New Low-Cost Shopping App to Rival Temu and Shein

Amazon has launched Amazon Bazaar, a new shopping app targeting Asia, Africa, and Latin America, offering products under $10.

The app is available on Android and iOS in several countries, including Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, and others, with plans for expansion.

Amazon Bazaar mirrors the Amazon Haul initiative, competing with low-cost platforms like Temu and Shein.

The app features hundreds of thousands of affordable products in fashion, home goods, and lifestyle categories.

Customers can use their existing Amazon credentials, with free shipping available for orders meeting the local minimum purchase amount.

Amazon Bazaar offers free returns within 15 days, multilingual customer support, and interactive features like social lucky draws.

Cybersecurity

Zero-Day Exploit: 'Landfall' Spyware Targeted Samsung Galaxy Phones

Security researchers at Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 discovered a new Android spyware called 'Landfall' that targeted Samsung Galaxy phones for nearly a year. The spyware exploited a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-21042) in Galaxy phone software, allowing attackers to compromise devices by sending a malicious image. Samsung patched the flaw in April 2025.
The attacks, likely driven by espionage, targeted specific individuals, potentially in the Middle East. 'Landfall' shares infrastructure with Stealth Falcon, a known surveillance vendor. The spyware can access victim data, including photos, messages, contacts, call logs, and can tap the device's microphone and track location.
The spyware targeted Galaxy S22, S23, S24, and some Z models running Android versions 13 through 15. Samples were uploaded to VirusTotal from Morocco, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Turkey's national cyber readiness team (USOM) flagged a related IP address as malicious.