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Streaming Services

YouTube TV Offers $20 Credit to Subscribers Amidst Disney Channel Dispute

YouTube TV is providing a $20 credit to subscribers affected by the week-long absence of Disney-owned networks like ESPN and ABC. The credit will be applied to their next billing statement.

Disney channels were removed from the service on October 31 due to a pricing dispute between YouTube and Disney. YouTube criticizes Disney's price hike, while Disney claims YouTube is unwilling to pay fair rates.

Subscribers will receive emailed instructions on how to apply the credit. YouTube aims to restore the channels quickly if a deal is reached.

Business & Entrepreneurship

Tech Founders Brush Up on Social Graces at Slow Ventures' Etiquette School

Slow Ventures hosted a three-hour "Etiquette Finishing School" covering topics from handshakes to office decorum.

The program included a fashion show and a lesson on caviar and wine.

Held at the Four Seasons in San Francisco, the free program accepted 50 founders out of a few hundred applicants, primarily male.

The idea began as a joke, with Slow Ventures gauging interest at Y Combinator's Demo Day.

Slow Ventures' Sam Lessin emphasized the need for tech leaders to be respectful due to the industry's impact and perceived threats.

Technology and Social Media

AI-Generated Musings: Elon Musk, Grok, and the Discourse on Love and Culture

Elon Musk shared AI-generated videos via Grok, depicting scenes of love and cynicism. One video featured an animated woman expressing love, while another showed Sydney Sweeney saying, "You are so cringe."

The posts sparked varied reactions, with some users humorously criticizing the love-themed video. Author Joyce Carol Oates critiqued Musk's online persona, suggesting a lack of appreciation for common joys and culture. Musk responded by calling Oates a liar.

The exchange highlights the intersection of AI, social media, and cultural commentary, reflecting on Musk's public image and the evolving landscape of AI-generated content.

Technology

Apple's Future: Expanding iPhone Capabilities with Satellite Technology

Apple is developing new satellite-powered features for iPhones, including an API for third-party apps, offline Apple Maps navigation, photo messaging, and improved satellite connectivity.

These features aim to enhance iPhone usability in areas without cell service. Apple is also exploring satellite connectivity to improve 5G network coverage.

Basic satellite features will be free, with users paying carriers for advanced support. Globalstar, Apple's satellite partner, is upgrading its infrastructure with Apple's financial assistance.

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.