Hi, Quartz members!
This week, we’re eyeing the billion-dollar board battle that looms ahead in April — the shareholder showdown, of course, happening at Disney. Beyond that, we read up on the electronics maker expanding its EV territory, Grok-1.5’s long division skills, and what Easter baskets and Bitcoin have in common.
Here are our other favorite reads from Quartz from the past week and one favorite listen. Happy reading!
5 things we especially liked on Quartz
🚢 Chain break. When the U.S. woke up to the horrifying scenes of the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Baltimore, the global supply chain was already crunching numbers. Quartz’s Will Gavin adds up the potential effects of the important East Coast port’s closure to the tune of billions of dollars in rerouted and delayed goods, particularly for the automotive industry.
🛍️ Bargain hunting. Big Tech behemoths are on an AI spending spree, doling out billions to invest in, snag from, and snap up the smaller companies making artificial intelligence technology. But as they set out on AI shopping sprees, Quartz’s Laura Bratton warns, they’re drawing the gaze of antitrust watchdogs — and paving the way for a legal showdown.
👓 Chatty glasses. Speaking of that spending spree: with all those new AI features, Big Tech companies are now trying to fit algorithms into every product they make. But only Meta is courageous enough to ask: What about AI glasses? Perhaps sunglasses? Sunglasses that talk back? To you? While on your face? Sure, people will love that. They’re coming next month.
🛌 Pillow talk. Conservative firebrand Mike Lindell has a singular approach to business strategy: pair pillows and politics. The strategy, though, hasn’t been working out so well — Lindell’s company, MyPillow, is currently facing down warehouse evictions, retailer refusals, and a defamation lawsuit (or two). The whole case, unsurprisingly, makes for some sagging finances.
🏰 The Mouse’s last stand. This week a board battle royale comes to its conclusion: Bob Iger will face activist investor Nelson Peltz in Disney’s corporate election. Ahead of the showdown, Quartz’s Bruce Gil runs down the ins and outs of the billion-dollar board fight.
1 thing to listen to
The Quartz Obsession is back with its latest season, and episode 2 is all about smart rings. You might want to reconsider your smartwatch. And wearable uninitiateds, you might want to reconsider your status. Smart rings collect more data and, frankly, look a lot better.
Gizmodo’s Florence Ion talked to host Gabriela Riccardi all about the wearable that’s watchable in Smart rings: Digital digits.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple | Google | Pandora
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🗓️ What to watch for this week
Here’s what our newsroom will be keeping an eye on:
- Sunday: It’s Easter, and the candy’s expensive! Daylight Saving Time starts in the U.K.
- Monday: The U.S. releases its latest figures on construction spending.
- Tuesday: The next JOLTS report hits the airwaves.
- Wednesday: The Iger-Peltz battle ends as Disney holds its annual shareholder meeting. Levi Strauss and BlackBerry also report earnings, both after the market closes, and U.S. auto sales numbers are out.
- Thursday: Data on the U.S.’s trade balance comes out.
- Friday: We’ll get a peek into the U.S.’s employment outlook. It’s also the 30th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death.
Thanks for reading! Here’s to the week ahead, and don’t hesitate to reach out with comments, questions, feedback, and favorite ring finishes. Sunday Reads was brought to you by Morgan Haefner, Susan Howson, and Gabriela Riccardi.