Good morning readers. In a move that's got us all shaking it off in surprise, Stanford University is now offering a course on...Taylor Swift. Ava Jeffs, a 19-year-old computer science whiz is swapping algorithms for albums as she dives deep into the world of T-Swift. This isn't some whimsical elective though. Stanford has a program that lets students pitch and teach classes giving them a voice in the curriculum. And while this Swift-centric class might only be worth one credit, the interest is off the charts. Nearly 2,000 students (a quarter of Stanford's undergrads) are vying for a spot.

So Swift scholars, ready to study the art of pop genius?

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• One day they’ll have secrets. One day they’ll have dreams — AI gets creative

• Headline Hustle: Disney and Charter kiss and make up, McDonald’s fight against civil rights audits, Smucker’s buys Twinkies parent Hostess Brands

• Try hard, but not that hard

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI vs. human creativity

When it comes to the age-old debate of human creativity versus machine efficiency, the scales have always tipped in favor of human intuition. After all, how could a machine possibly rival the human mind's ability to conjure up groundbreaking ideas? Enter the era of advanced AI, and the tables might just be turning.

Rewind a few years and the consensus was clear: AI, while impressive, couldn't hold a candle to human ingenuity when it came to generating innovative concepts. Whether brainstorming a revolutionary product or christening a fledgling company, these tasks seemed tailor-made for the human touch. But with the rise of behemoth language models like ChatGPT, this narrative is undergoing a seismic shift.

The challenge

Having mentored countless students in the realms of innovation, entrepreneurship, and product design, the Wharton School of Business has been privy to a plethora of venture pitches. This treasure trove of creativity set the stage for an epic showdown: Man vs. Machine. In collaboration with their peers, two professors, Lennart Meincke and Karan Girotra, pitted 200 ideas from their Wharton students against 200 ideas generated by ChatGPT4. The challenge? Dream up a product or service for college students with a price tag under $50.

The results were pretty shocking. From ergonomic classroom seat cushions to innovative dorm-room chef kits, ChatGPT churned out ideas at a pace that left us mere mortals in the dust.

But quantity is one thing; what about quality? To gauge this they turned to the ultimate judge: the market. Through an online survey, potential customers weighed in on the appeal of each idea. The verdict? While human ideas had a purchase probability of 40%, ChatGPT's offerings scored a whopping 47%, with the trained version hitting 49%.

However, innovation isn't just about averages; it's the game-changers that truly count. Delving into the top 10% of ideas, a staggering 35 out of 40 were created by ChatGPT, overshadowing the 5 human-generated concepts.

In closing…as we stand at the crossroads of innovation, the fusion of human creativity and AI prowess is the key to unlocking unparalleled potential. The future is calling, and it's a collaborative one.

Headline Hustle

📺 Disney and Charter reach a deal. Disney and Charter Communications have kissed and made up, ending a blackout drama just in time for the "Monday Night Football" kickoff. The two giants have been like squabbling siblings over streaming rights but now Charter's 15 million subscribers can cheer for their favorite teams and binge on Disney+ shows. The deal? Charter pays Disney more to air its channels and gets to offer Disney+ and ESPN+ to its Spectrum users. Some Disney channels got the boot, but hey, compromises, right?

🍔 McDonald’s starts focus groups amid civil rights audit. McDonald's is diving deep into a civil rights audit, and they're bringing in the big guns. Teaming up with WilmerHale law firm and Perception Strategies, they're hosting virtual focus groups to get the lowdown on the experiences of their U.S. franchisees. This move comes after shareholders gave a thumbs up to a civil rights audit proposal last year. But it's not all happy meals; some franchisees are wary of potential retaliation. Meanwhile, McDonald's has been making moves, pledging $250 million to boost franchisee diversity and upping its ad spend with Black-owned media. Other giants like Starbucks and Airbnb have also jumped on the civil rights audit bandwagon.

🍰 Smucker buys Twinkies parent Hostess Brands. J.M. Smucker, the jelly mogul, is spreading its reach by acquiring Twinkie's parent company, Hostess Brands, for a sweet $5.6 billion. Hostess shareholders are in for a treat with $30 in cash and a slice of Smucker's stock for each share they hold. This merger is just one of many as Big Food giants gobble up smaller brands looking for growth post-pandemic. While Hostess shares soared 18% with the news, Smucker's took a 7.5% dip. Despite a recent slump in Twinkie and Ding Dong sales, Hostess had caught the eye of big players like PepsiCo and Mondelez International. This deal wraps up Hostess' seven-year run as an independent entity having returned to the market in 2016 after a brief Twinkie hiatus.

LIFESTYLE

Why perfection might be holding you back

Have you ever felt the weight of striving for 100% in everything you do? What if I told you that aiming for just a tad less could be the key to unlocking your true potential.

In today's fast-paced world, many of us have been indoctrinated with the belief that giving our all is the only path to success. But what if this relentless pursuit of perfection is actually holding us back? Recent insights from coaches and corporate leaders suggest that constantly running at full throttle might not be the best strategy. In fact trying to maintain top speed can slow us down in the long run. Whether it's fitness, work, or personal goals, the magic number seems to be 85%.

Some of those insights are:

• In our modern age of endless choices and constant comparisons, striving for perfection can be draining. It's easy to get lost in the minutiae, making everything feel like a crisis

• Goals should be ambitious, pushing us beyond our comfort zones. Achieving 80% of a lofty goal is far more commendable than easily hitting a low bar

• Shifting your aim to achieving 85% success over a week can help you find consistency and motivation instead of feeling defeated by occasional setbacks

• Leveraging methods like the 80/20 rule. The essence of a project often lies in the initial 80% of the effort. Recognizing when to pause and reflect can be just as valuable as pushing forward

In the end…it's about balance. It's about recognizing that while ambition and drive are essential, so is understanding our limits. So the next time you're pushing for that 100%, ask yourself: Would aiming for 85% be more sustainable and fulfilling?

After all, sometimes, less truly is more.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

MTV is tuning into Snapchat's AR magic. The iconic music channel is teaming up with Snapchat, allowing fans to cast their votes for a Video Music Awards category using Lenses.

Canada's Telesat is shooting for the stars with SpaceX. On Monday, Telesat announced a partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch its low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites starting 2026. Their ambitious goal? To beam down global broadband service straight from space by the end of 2027.

Writer’s sue OpenAI for copyright infringement. They've filed a lawsuit in San Francisco, alleging that the Microsoft-supported program used their writings without permission to train its AI chatbot, ChatGPT.

Cell service for Toronto subway riders. By October 3, cell carriers must ensure that everyone riding Toronto's subway has cellular connectivity.

Apple’s iPhone 15 event kicks off tomorrow. Here’s what to expect.

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