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Here’s what you need to know
It sure looks like Tesla has a hiring freeze. Elon Musk’s automaker quietly removed all of its U.S. job postings after weeks of “hardcore” layoffs. Tesla is also being investigated for securities and wire fraud.
AstraZeneca is done making its COVID-19 vaccine. The U.K.-based pharma giant withdrew its European Union authorization to market the jab because of declining demand.
The U.S. government and Microsoft announced a $3.3 billion investment in a new AI data center. The complex will be in the same place in Wisconsin that Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn previously invested $10 billion.
FTX is giving customers all their money back — if not more. The defunct crypto exchange said yesterday that it expects 98% of its creditors to receive approximately 118% of the amount of their allowed claims.
One big number: 203%
How much the U.S. is expected to increase its own semiconductor-making capacity within the next decade
The CHIPS and Science Act is poised to triple the country’s chipmaking ability. But the U.S. is still far behind other countries. The growth it expects in the next decade will give it just 14% of the global capacity by 2032 as competitors like China double down on their efforts.
But without the CHIPS Act, the U.S.’s share would have fared much worse.
Speaking of chips… Americans want those more than steak
When it comes to ordering a side of french fries or an entire entrée, more Americans are probably choosing the former — because it costs a heck of a lot less.
Dine Brands, the owner of Applebee’s and IHOP restaurant chains, is the latest to note the pullback after it reported diners are postponing dinner plans and ordering strategically when they’re out.
“We continue to see guests trade down from higher priced items at both Applebee’s and IHOP, another indicator that guests are managing their wallet,” John Peyton, Dine Brands’ CEO, said during an earnings call yesterday. What does that mean for their menu items? Well, there will be more of a focus on chicken wings, for one.
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📺 Amazon is about to start advertising Amazon products when Prime Video users hit pause
Surprising discoveries
Renewables are now driving more than 30% of the world’s electricity. Much of the uptick is coming from solar and wind power expansion spearheaded by China.
The powerful new AI chatbot that suddenly appeared and then disappeared is now back! It’s like Whac-A-Mole for artificial intelligence.
Unofficial names for U.K. landmarks are being added to a database for emergency services. “Stinky Bay” and “Sausage Island” make the areas easier to find.
“That’s that me espresso” is being interpreted by grammarians. Surprisingly, they’re arriving at different meanings for Sabrina Carpenter’s lyrics.
A single ragweed plant can produce 1 million pollen grains per day. Are you sneezing and wheezing this season? Quartz’s Gabriela Riccardi is obsessed with pollen, and wrote about the price lots of humans pay for nature’s bounty. Read our latest obsession email and sign up for the list here.
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Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, Whac-A-Mole: AI edition, and me espresso to talk@qz.com. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Morgan Haefner.