It’s finally Friday, and here’s something cool to think about this weekend: it turns out that planting trees in cities literally saves lives. A study out of UCLA found that if LA planted more trees and made more of its surfaces reflective, it could reduce the amount of heat-related ER visits by 66%, reducing what’s known as the “urban heat island effect.” That’s major. Go to a park and thank a tree this weekend.

In other news… knowledge workers are secretly co-opting AI, Netflix cuts the ribbon on a theme park in Roblox, and Sony wants Paramount for its movies.

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• YouTube – A Quiet Place: Day One

• X (Twitter) – Fantastic Four

• Google – Hailey Bieber

• Reddit – Tom Selleck

• TikTok – “Find Your People” - Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

• Spotify – “Sinner” - The Last Dinner Party

.WORK.

Knowledge workers are getting a little help from AI

The Future. Surveying 31,000 people across 31 countries and data from Fortune 500 companies, LinkedIn and Microsoft discovered some surprising insights about the use of AI in the workplace — namely, it’s being used a lot, but no one’s really being honest about it. To attract the best talent, companies may start offering AI training as a job perk.

Chatbot CliffNotes
Three-fourths of knowledge workers across all generations are using generative AI, according to the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report.

• Surprisingly, many of them are using their own AI system, not that of their employer, per Axios.

• Why? Because 53% of employees say that if their bosses knew they were using AI to be more productive or creative, it may seem like their positions are replaceable (with good reason).

• That makes sense when 66% of business leaders say that they now wouldn’t hire someone without some AI skills, and 79% of leaders say that they feel like their company needs to start using AI to stay competitive.

One problem: as of right now, employees mostly aren’t getting that AI training from their company (only 39% report that they have), putting both employers and employees in a gray area about best practices, how to quantify AI’s impact, and how much they should really invest in the technology.

Transparency on the use of AI at the office could turn out to be a big wake-up call.

75% of you voted No in yesterday’s poll: Do you buy from influencer businesses?

“I have unfollowed friends for trying to sell me something.”

“There’s yet to be an influencer that I care about, much less want to financially support.”

“Their advertising seems to be fake and pushed.”

.A WORD FROM OUR FRIENDS AT ROOTS

Wanna invest in real estate that helps you and its residents?

Turns out it’s easy to do — all thanks to Roots, the real-estate fund that benefits landlords and renters.

Here’s how the whole things works:

• Invest in the Roots fund with as little as $100.

• Chill while Roots buys properties, fixes them up, and rents them out.

• Watch your investment increase. (The fund’s been up 40% since July 2021.)

• And enjoy the fact that renters get invested in the fund, too, for being good neighbors and taking care of the property.

Invest in just five minutes.

Media, Music, & Entertainment

• Sony’s proposed acquisition of Paramount Global is all about its theatrical business, with the Japanese conglomerate saying that it would double its theatrical output… and sell off Paramount’s TV and streaming assets. [Read More]

• Podcast ad revenue may have gone down overall in 2023 for the first time in seven years, but comedy podcasts in particular have actually exploded in ad growth. [Read More]

• Warner Bros. Discovery announced that Peter Jackson would return to Middle Earth with a new Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum. [Read More]

Fashion & E-Commerce

• Despite persistent inflation, online retail spending in the US grew by 7%, mostly driven by people shopping for cheaper alternatives to everyday products. [Read More]

• Lamborghini is collaborating with Panasonic’s Technics brand on a high-end turntable that comes with a vinyl of recorded Lamborghini engine sounds. [Read More]

• Miami Heat player Patty Mills has teamed up with Australian clothing brand KSUBI to launch an eyewear line. [Read More]

Tech, Web3, & AI

• OpenAI is working on a search product to rival Google… which may ultimately be powered by Bing. [Read More]

• Neuralink reported that some of the threads in its first human-implanted brain chip disconnected from the patient’s brain. [Read More]

• BP is looking to acquire Tesla’s Supercharger locations to convert them over to its own EV-charging business. [Read More]

Creator Economy

• Vice Media inked a deal with Nashville-based Savage Ventures to relaunch its digital brands and social media channels… all except Vice News. [Read More]

• TikTok announced that it would automatically label AI-generated content thanks to the adoption of Content Credentials, the watermarking tech created by Microsoft and Adobe. [Read More]

• Jack Dorsey says that he quit Bluesky because it was becoming Twitter 2.0… and instead will focus on a new platform called Nostr. [Read More]

.ENTERTAINMENT.

Netflix builds a theme park… in Roblox

The Future. Netflix has opened a branded world in Roblox that acts as a hub for users to interact with its most popular IP, build a community around projects, and debut exclusive content. If the streamer starts seeing some good engagement, don’t be surprised if it rolls out a virtual red-carpet premiere for a youth-skewing show as a way to capture teens’ attention.

Digital thrills
Netflix wants to be the Disney of the metaverse.

• Netflix’s “Nextworld” will be populated with characters and feature mini-games from popular titles like Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, One Piece, and, hilariously, Is It Cake?

• There’s also an area called the “Streamship,” where users can attend virtual events and join viewing parties — the first one up will be a preview of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory on May 17th.

• Users will also be able to collect wearables from the various IP and objects that can be used to decorate your “Fan Pod” — an Animal Crossing-style home that friends can visit.

• Over time, users will also be able to purchase user-generated content like a Stranger Things Demogorgon Plushie Head.

Considering the success that Warner Bros. had marketing Godzilla x Kong with a playable trailer, Roblox may be the hottest place to market projects to kids.

.A WORD FROM OUR FRIENDS AT PURPLE CARROT.

Say goodbye to dull dinners and lackluster lunches

Purple Carrot is revolutionizing the way you think about and prepare plant-based meals.

With chef-made recipes and only the freshest, most wholesome ingredients — all delivered right to your door — you can start eating better this spring.

Cut cooking time and make the most of your meals.

• Listen: The Town chats with mega producers Cathy Schulman (The Woman King, The Idea of You) and Lorenzo di Bonaventura (the Transformers franchise, Pet Sematary) about how the role of a producer has evolved in Hollywood… and not for the better.

• Read: NYT columnist Kevin Roose details his month seriously cultivating friendships with 18 chatbots.

• Watch: WSJ details how the boomers’ housing situation has become a tale of extremes — some have too many homes, while an increasing number are now facing homelessness.

“Grow, grow, grow!”

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