Daily Brief: Meme stock mania, Google's new AI, and Tesla's universe

Plus, Biden's new tariffs, and Walmart's corporate layoffs

Image for article titled Daily Brief: Meme stock mania, Google's new AI, and Tesla's universe
Photo: Elijah Nouvelage (Reuters)

Good morning, Quartz readers!


Hereā€™s what you need to know

Googleā€™s newest Gemini AI tool can analyze and fetch photos from your camera roll with a simple prompt. Thatā€™s just one of the AI updates the tech giant announced at its annual I/O developer conference yesterday.

The Biden administrationā€™s 100% tariffs on Chinese electric cars are a go. The range of new tariffs announced by the White House yesterday will be phased in over the next three years.

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Amazon Web Servicesā€™ chief executive is stepping down. Adam Selipsky is leaving the company right as the division is ramping up its AI efforts.

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Walmart is laying off hundreds of corporate workers. The worldā€™s largest retailer is also requesting that a majority of its remote workers relocate to some of its central hubs.

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Wegovy has shown to keep weight loss off for up to four years. Thatā€™s one of the findings from two new analyses of the longest clinical trial of the drugā€™s active ingredient, semaglutide.

Bumble apologized for mocking celibacy. The dating platform said it was sorry for ads that tried to make edgy jokes and capture young users ā€” but instead sparked a backlash.

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Why this meme stock frenzy wonā€™t last

GameStop and AMC are once again the talk of the stock market. The resurfacing of Keith Patrick Gill, the investor known as ā€œRoaring Kitty,ā€ on social media has sent share prices for meme stocks well into the atmosphere.

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But will they go to the Moon? Not everyone thinks itā€™s 2021 all over again. Dan Egan, the head of behavioral finance at investment advisor Betterment, pointed out some key differences between then and now:

šŸ“ˆ Interest rates are much higher

šŸ  People arenā€™t stuck at home during the pandemicā€¦

šŸ’° ā€¦and stimulus checks are long gone

But 2024 has something 2021 didnā€™t: higher housing costs, which may mean people might be more willing to take a risk than save for a home. Read the full interview with Egan ā€” plus, see which other stocks are rallying around GameStop, and why one strategist is already telling people to sell.

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When it comes to Tesla, Americans are living in different universes

Itā€™s pretty unusual for a car company to truly be divisive; outside of labor strikes or the occasional scandal or recall, theyā€™re generally not something to be fought about at the dinner table. Tesla, as usual, is the exception.

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While most Americans have heard negative things about Tesla, Tesla owners have heard very different things about Elon Muskā€™s automaker ā€” mainly positive, a recent poll from YouGov found.

It makes sense. Tesla owners likely have a different media diet (including Tesla Reddit and X forums) they frequent that the average American may not. But one thing the chatter isnā€™t affecting, according to the survey: sales.

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More from Quartz

šŸ’Ž De Beersā€™s owner is dropping diamonds for copper

šŸ“ Apple and Android phones will tell you if someoneā€™s tracking you

šŸš— Googleā€™s self-driving car startup Waymo is being investigated after safety incidents

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šŸ‡¹šŸ‡¼ Uber is investing in food delivery with one of Taiwanā€™s largest international acquisitions ever

1ļøāƒ£ JPMorgan Chase is the top financier of fossil fuels, report says

šŸ’¼ Online job board Indeed is laying off 8% of its staff


Surprising discoveries

Hackers are scrambling Christieā€™s plan to sell almost $1 billion worth of art. One of the auctions thatā€™s being affected was expected to bring in $500 million alone.

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First there were executive assistants, then executive nannies, and nowā€¦ executive butlers? Their duties extend well beyond polishing and priming estates of the uber rich.

The sedan is rolling toward the great junkyard in the sky. General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis are all done with the car model, and its demise may not be for the best.

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A Nepali sherpa just etched his 29th climb up Mount Everest. It wasnā€™t the only world record set on the peak over the weekend.

ā€œPineapple belongs on pizzaā€ is a phrase lots of people hate on dating apps. New features are now allowing users to mute certain words, and that can affect choices.

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Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, an executive butler, and Chevy Malibus to talk@qz.com. Todayā€™s Daily Brief was brought to you by Morgan Haefner.