Good morning readers. With Memorial Day weekend upon us, the urge to break free from the confines of own home grows stronger. Compared to 2023, more folks are gearing up to hit the streets, with a 2% increase in planned attendance at public celebrations, travel, and dining out. This surge aligns with AAA's travel forecast, predicting the second-highest number of travelers since 2000, totaling 43.8 million.

Make sure to enjoy a cold brew for your favorite crew this weekend. See you all next week.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Students don’t think getting a degree is important anymore

• Headline Hustle: SEC approves spot Ethereum ETFs, DOJ sues Live Nation over its ticket pricing tactics, China launches military exercises around Taiwan after inauguration of president

• Google thinks putting glue on your pizza is…ok

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

EDUCATION

Half of Americans think getting a college degree isn’t as important anymore

Forget the Ivy League sweatshirt—today’s wardrobe might just feature a "High School Proud" hoodie instead. In a dramatic shift that’s flipping the traditional script on its head, the value of a college degree in America is being questioned more than ever before.

A decade ago, tossing the graduation cap into the air was almost universally seen as the golden ticket to career success. In 2011, 86% of graduates were buzzing with confidence about their college ROI, according to surveys by Pew Research Center and Gallup. Fast forward to today, and the enthusiasm has significantly dampened—only 29% of Americans now believe that forking over the cash for college is worth it.

Higher costs, diminishing returns

The sobering change in perception isn't just based on gut feelings. The numbers paint a bleak picture: the cost of college tuition has skyrocketed, rising by up to 211% for in-state students at public universities over the last two decades, far outstripping general inflation. Meanwhile, student debt in the U.S. has ballooned to a staggering $1.6 trillion, overtaking both credit card and auto debt.

The once-lauded "college wage premium"—the extra earnings a degree supposedly guaranteed—is shrinking. Recent findings from the San Francisco Federal Reserve show a significant decline in this premium, with bachelor’s degree holders now earning only about 75% more over their careers compared to those without a degree, down from a higher peak in the mid-2010s.

The rise of the non-degreed

But it's not all doom and gloom for those without a parchment.

• The last decade has seen wages for high school graduates climb by 9.4%, compared to a modest 2.2% for college grads, driven by increased bargaining power in tight job markets.

• And the corporate world is taking note: giants like Google and Bank of America are increasingly opting for skills over diplomas, opening doors to high-paying jobs traditionally reserved for the college-educated.

Big picture: For now, it seems, the high school diploma is holding its own, promising a viable path to financial success without the burden of crushing student debt.

IN THE KNOW

Headline Hustle

✔️ SEC approves spot Ethereum ETFs. The SEC has approved a rule change facilitating the creation of ETFs that buy and hold ether, marking a significant step less than six months after the approval of bitcoin ETFs. This new development could expand the crypto investment landscape, despite ether ETFs expected to be initially smaller than their bitcoin counterparts. The approval indicates a possible softening of the SEC's stance towards cryptocurrencies following legal battles and political scrutiny. Ether, powering diverse applications on the Ethereum network, offers distinct investment opportunities compared to bitcoin, although U.S. ether ETFs may not engage in staking due to regulatory concerns.

🎫 The DOJ sues Live Nation and vows to break up the company. The U.S. Department of Justice, supported by 30 states, is suing Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster for antitrust violations, asserting that their dominance harms consumers, artists, and smaller competitors. This lawsuit follows a 2022 investigation triggered by complaints over Taylor Swift’s tour ticket sales. The DOJ claims Live Nation controls about 60% of major concert promotions and 80% of ticketing, using its power to enforce exclusive, anti-competitive contracts. Live Nation refutes the allegations, defending its business practices.

🇨🇳 China launches military drills around Taiwan days after president’s inauguration. Just days after the inauguration of Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te, China initiated large-scale combat drills around Taiwan, described as punishment for "Taiwan independence" forces. These drills involved multiple military branches and showcased China's ongoing stance that Taiwan is part of its territory, emphasizing its readiness to use military force if necessary. President Lai, perceived by Beijing as pro-independence, has vowed to defend Taiwan's democracy amidst these intimidations. The exercises are seen as an immediate test for Lai, reinforcing the critical and sensitive nature of Taiwan-China relations.

AI

Google wants you to know adding glue to your pizza is totally normal

Who needs a culinary disaster when you've got Google's latest recipe for chaos. In the wild world of web searches, Google's new AI Overviews feature is serving up more than just your average internet gibberish—it's dishing out advice so bizarre, it might just convince you to put glue on your pizza.

Yes, you heard right. When one unsuspecting pizza lover asked how to keep the cheese from sliding off their masterpiece, Google's AI, channeling a decade-old Reddit prankster named "fucksmith", cheerfully suggested mixing Elmer's glue into the sauce. Gourmet tip? Hardly.

This isn't just a one-off blip

Since its rollout this month, Google's AI has been spouting gems like claiming a former U.S. President graduated 21 times from a university he never attended, and a dog's illustrious career in professional sports spanning the NBA, NFL, and NHL. And let's not forget about Batman's unexpected day job as a cop.

Google's stance, articulated by spokesperson Meghann Farnsworth, points to these being rare anomalies in otherwise mundane queries. But with the feature sporting a cautionary “Generative AI is experimental” label, it's clear that even Google knows the oven isn't fully preheated yet.

This is not an isolated kitchen nightmare.

• From Google I/O's questionable demo on unjamming film cameras to ongoing issues across the AI spectrum, tech giants are serving half-baked solutions while still promising a glitch-free future.

• But for those of us in the here and now, these "growing pains" suggest a technology rushing to meet the future without first mastering the basics.

Looking ahead…as we navigate this era of experimental AI, it pays to remember: if your search results recommend putting glue on your pizza, it might be time to close the laptop and call a real chef.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• The NCAA and the five major athletic conferences have agreed to a $2.77 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit, marking the beginning of a new era in college sports where schools can pay athletes directly.

• Paramount Global and Charter Communications have entered a multi-year deal to distribute Paramount's full portfolio of linear cable networks and include ad-supported Paramount+ Essential and BET+ Essential for Spectrum TV customers at no extra cost.

• Canva introduced an enterprise version of their successful design tool on Thursday.

• Google is planning to construct the first subsea fiber-optic cable linking the continents of Africa and Australia.

• The WNBA announced it will expand internationally by adding a new Toronto-based team to the league starting in the 2026 season.

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