Good morning, Quartz readers!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Chipmakers are rushing to get Chips Act money before Biden’s out. Intel and TSMC are among the firms that recently finalized billions in funding through the law.
Bitcoin just turned 16 years old. In that span the cryptocurrency has grown from a novel idea into a global phenomenon.
Walmart broccoli has been recalled over listeria concerns. Braga Fresh is alerting customers who bought its 12-ounce bags of Marketside Broccoli Florets.
The FAA says Boeing needs to put “safety and quality above profits.” Outgoing Administrator Mike Whitaker continued to press the company for further improvements on those fronts in a blog post.
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million over Siri’s alleged eavesdropping. The proposed settlement would put an end to five years of litigation.
U.S. Steel stays U.S.
Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel was all set to complete its $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel. But President Joe Biden blocked the deal at the last minute on national security grounds.
“It is my solemn responsibility as President to ensure that, now and long into the future, America has a strong domestically owned and operated steel industry that can continue to power our national sources of strength at home and abroad,” Biden said in a statement accompanying the decision.
How close was the deal to getting done? Quartz’s William Gavin runs down its slow-motion collapse.
CES = AI
CES, the annual Las Vegas tech smorgasbord, used to be all about the hardware. This year, it’s all about software, specifically AI.
Companies are showing off everything from AI agents to AI-enabled refrigerators. Nvidia will be there with its high-powered GPUs, and Microsoft will be there with its Copilot-powered PCs.
Quartz’s Britney Nguyen previews the CES AI sales pitches and what they say about the current state of Silicon Valley.
MORE FROM QUARTZ
🤖 Microsoft plans to spend $80 billion on AI data centers by July
🚗 Ford and GM sales are now approaching 2019 highs
💵 See how much the minimum wage is going up in 21 states this year
🐔 The U.S. is stepping up its fight against the spread of bird flu
⚡ Rivian stock soars after it beats sales expectations and shrugged off a supply snag
☠️ America’s Surgeon General wants cancer warnings on alcohol labels
SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
An Apple Intelligence-produced news alert accidentally tried to predict the future. A remixed BBC notification named a world darts champion before the finals match was actually played.
The two-figure Walmart version of a four-figure purse is causing a fashion-world stir. The retailer’s take on the Hermès Birkin is provoking mass debate about “dupe” culture.
Meghan Markle is returning to the small screen after giving up the royal life. Her Netflix reality series With Love, Meghan just dropped a trailer and November release date.
You can get a wall mural to go now. The Belgian sculptural artist Katrien Van der Schueren produces a “shippable” version of the usually place-based medium. (paywall)
Formula 1 may have just had its most consequential LinkedIn update ever. Star driver Lewis Hamilton formally changed his employer from longtime team Mercedes to new team Ferrari.
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