🌏 McDonald’s in beef trouble

Good morning, Quartz readers!

Here’s what you need to know

Warren Buffet’s not red or blue. The billionaire investor isn’t backing any candidate or cause, so it’d be wise to ignore the AI deepfakes.

McDonald’s burgers have been linked to an E. coli outbreak. So far, the outbreak has resulted in 49 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations, and one death. To the dismay of investors, the chain’s stock is also facing a downgrade.

Nvidia says put the blame on me. The chipmaker has resolved a design flaw in its AI chips that caused production delays, with CEO Jensen Huang admitting it was entirely their fault.

… Meanwhile Starbucks says it’s also the problem. The coffee chain has made it “harder to be a customer,” but promises to pare down its menu and adjust its prices.

Apple and Goldman Sachs were slapped with an $89 million fine. Regulators found multiple customer service failures and misleading information linked to Apple’s credit card.

The weight loss drug wars are heating up. Novo Nordisk, the pharma giant behind Ozempic, urges the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to target knockoffs.

Boeing’s bloodbath will continue. The beleaguered aerocraft maker faces a dire outlook, losing $6 billion with $2 billion in negative cash flow projected to persist through 2025.

Listeria recalls are increasing. How come?

Experts are raising alarms about the troubling rise in listeria-related food recalls, attributing the trend to a “perfect storm” of inconsistent inspections and improved detection tools.

It is difficult to pinpoint the culprit, Dr. Darin Detwiler, a food safety advisor, told Quartz. But the issue highlights a fragile food system and one that hinges on assessments that can “restore consumer confidence.”

What other factors are contributing to the surge in listeria-linked recalls ? Quartz’s Bruce Gil breaks down possible culprits.

A British self-driving startup is hitting U.S. roads

California’s about to welcome an exciting new companion to its roads. Yep, it’s a self-driving car. Wayve, a London-based startup backed by Uber and Softbank, plans to launch its first on-road tests in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Recently, Wayve secured significant funding, raising $1.05 billion in a Series C round led by Softbank, including participation from notable companies like Microsoft and Nvidia. Two months prior, Uber announced its plans to get in on the fundraising effort as well.

As San Francisco becomes a hub for autonomous vehicles, Wayve’s expansion into new markets could give it the boost it needs to thrive in this fiercely competitive landscape. What technology powers the self-driving cars? Quartz’s William Gavin peels back the details.

More from Quartz

🚗 Wall Street is loving GM right now

🔱 Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos isn’t interested in running Disney after Bob Iger

🍕 Sam’s Club has a new AI-powered store with a pizza robot slinging 100 pies an hour

🌬️ The man named as Bitcoin’s creator in an HBO documentary has gone into hiding

🧑‍🚀 Prada designed NASA spacesuit takes luxury to the next level

🦠 MrBeast and Logan Paul are taking on Lunchables. But they’re already dealing with mold complaints

🧑‍🎤 Delta’s CEO thinks he’s a rockstar now

Surprising discoveries

Singapore has a building with more greenery than ground. Amid the city’s density, it showcases four landscaped terraces that span an area twice the hotel’s footprint.

One-legged stance says a lot about aging. The ability to balance on one leg like a flamingo declines with age sharply but can reflect how well your body’s systems are functioning together.

PepsiCo says it’s not all that in a bag of chips. The Frito-Lay maker is responding to shrinkflation concerns by adding extra chips to bags to address complaints that there’s more air than crisps.

Goldfish crackers want to grow up. The savory snack is changing its name for a limited time as it aims to capture the attention of adult shoppers.

El Niño’s pretty old. New research from Duke University indicates that the weather pattern has been fluctuating for 250 million years.

Boeing is adding to the space debris problem. The aircraft maker’s satellite exploded, contributing to the roughly 3,000 inactive satellites already in space.

Did you know we have two premium weekend emails, too? One gives you analysis on the week’s news, and one provides the best reads from Quartz and elsewhere to get your week started right. Become a member or give membership as a gift!

Our best wishes on a safe start to the day. Send any news, comments, McDonald’s burgers, and flamingo stances to [email protected]. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Francisco Velasquez and Audrey McNamara.