December 13, 2023

The Appetizer

“I probably trust the answers that come out of ChatGPT the least of anybody on Earth.”

• Remarks from Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, at a forum this past June. A good reminder to always remember to check your sources!

Now, on to the numbers. Drum roll, please …

• 84 billion+: The number of page views Wikipedia has received so far in 2023.
• 5.2%: The estimate of U.S. GDP growth for the third quarter, revised up from 4.9%.
• 49 million+: The number of page views for AI chatbot ChatGPT, the viral AI chatbot, on Wikipedia, making it the site’s most-viewed page on the site this year.
• 86%: The rise in job interviews that mention take-home assignments between the third quarters of 2023 and 2019.
• 3.7%: The U.S. unemployment rate for November, up from 3.4% in January 2023.
• 8: The number of trades that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have made since the start of the divisional era in 1969. The Yankees recently acquired an outfielder from the Red Sox for three pitchers.

Dig In
Taking A Quantum Leap

Quantum computing, an extraordinary technological advance rooted in quantum physics, is like walking and chewing gum for the mind – impressive! IBM is at the forefront, recently unveiling a groundbreaking quantum computing breakthrough. Unlike traditional computers that use binary 0s and 1s, quantum computers leverage qubits that exist as 0, 1, or both, solving problems at an unbelievable speed.

Imagine a quantum computer as a turbocharged version of its conventional counterpart. Instead of navigating a maze step by step, for example, quantum computers explore all routes at once, ultimately getting out of the maze quicker! Hopefully, with this potential computing power, humanity’s most pressing issues can be solved, like getting my mobile orders processed even quicker or helping me make even better captions for my latest videos.

The potential applications are staggering. Quantum computing could reshape the healthcare landscape by providing solutions to intricate problems in protein behavior and diseases. In the pharmaceutical industry, the ability to simulate molecular interactions more quickly could accelerate the development of new medications.

The pursuit of quantum computing signals a major leap in processing power, promising solutions to previously unsolvable questions. As we near the end of this decade, the potential for tens of thousands of qubits working together opens doors to a new era in computation, unlocking the secrets of the quantum universe.

Weekly Specials

AI concerts? Say goodbye to KISS; it’s time for the face paint to retire as their new avatars – Demon, Starchild, Catman, and Spaceman – dominate the stage with colossal presence. Utilizing LED screen projection, lasers, and heavy metal effects, they appear three-dimensional and larger than life.

Last Sunday, Alabama, Texas, Michigan, and Washington secured spots for the final four teams in the college football playoffs. This was one of the most controversial decisions the selection committee has ever made: excluding Florida State, an undefeated team. The committee cites the loss of FSU’s quarterback late in the season, but many are enraged.

LambdaVision Inc. has big plans to treat retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic cause of blindness, by manufacturing a retina in space! In the unique microgravity environment, they can precisely align 200 paper-thin layers of light-sensitive protein, making the process more efficient. This approach marks the first drug manufactured in space for use on Earth.

Since its inception, the NCAA has upheld the principles of amateurism for college athletes. A significant shift recently occurred, however, as athletes were permitted to earn money from external sources. Now, a more substantial change is under consideration, exploring the possibility of colleges directly compensating their athletes.

Fresh off his expulsion from Congress, George Santos has found a new career on Cameo, an app where you can pay for a personalized video message. A possible reason for joining: “They can boot me out of Congress, but they can’t take away my larger-than-life personality … and the absolute pride I have for everything I’ve done,” says the ex-Congressman.

Corporate Lunch

Alaska Air agreed to acquire Hawaiian Holdings for $1.9 billion. Fun fact: That is 263 times the price the U.S. paid for all of Alaska in 1867.

Spotify is planning to let go of 1,500 employees in its third round of layoffs this year. The company may make further reductions in 2024 and 2025.

Roche is looking to help us hit our high school weight by buying drug developer Carmot Therapeutics and its once-a-week weight loss shot.

Neiman Marcus rejected a $3 billion takeover bid by Saks. I wish I was half as confident as these guys.

Apple and Paramount are in talks to bundle streaming services. I’m not the first to say this, but all of my streaming subscriptions are starting to feel like a cable bill.

CVS is planning to change how it prices prescription drugs to what CVS paid for them, plus a limited markup and a flat fee. Love to see it.

Tesla sold out of its broken window stickers for the Cybertruck, (it calls the stickers something else). The decals are poking fun at Tesla’s initial Cybertruck announcement where it shattered the “unbreakable” windows with a chrome cannonball.

Rockstar Games released the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer a few days early after it was leaked on X.

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