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Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• The rise of deepfake scams

• Headline Hustle: Israel pushes deeper into Gaza City, FDA expands recall of children’s fruit pouches, Whitney Herd steps down as CEO

• The end of the Great Resignation

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The rise of celebrity deepfake scams

Imagine scrolling through your favorite social media platform, and there's MrBeast, the YouTube sensation, promoting a product you've never heard him endorse before. Your confusion mounts as Tom Hanks and Gayle King pop up, pushing items they probably can't even pronounce. Welcome to the world of deepfake advertisements, where celebrity images are manipulated faster than a magician's hand. But unlike magic tricks, these deepfakes are sparking some real-world concerns. Despite the policies set out by social media giants against manipulated media, recent scams involving our beloved celebs show that these platforms might be playing catch-up with the people behind these schemes.

Enter Congress, stage left

…with a script that might as well be titled "The Battle Against Deepfakes." Lawmakers are mulling over some serious stuff – think national standards against unauthorized commercial use of deepfakes. The No Fakes Act and the Deepfakes Accountability Act are on the table, promising everything from fines to jail time for using someone's likeness without a say-so. But here's the thing: as fast as laws are written, technology evolves even faster. This means that while Congress is trying to lock the door, deepfake tech is already climbing in through the window.

Steak-umm to the rescue? In a plot twist that even Hollywood couldn't script, Steak-umm, the frozen meat brand, jumps into the fray. They're not just selling steaks; they're dishing out a slice of awareness about deepfakes. Their ad campaign is a quirky nod to the issue, serving both humor and a side of reality check on the need for adaptable policies. And as we get a laugh out of Steak-umm's antics, it's a reminder that this isn't just a celebrity problem. With deepfake technology becoming as accessible as a smartphone app, anyone could be the next target.

Headline Hustle

🇮🇱 Israel pushes deeper into Gaza City. Israel has escalated its military campaign in the densely populated urban core of Gaza City, targeting Hamas's stronghold amidst a civilian populace. The Israeli military is strategically advancing, aiming to dismantle Hamas's intricate tunnel network and decimate those in command. This move coincides with a communications blackout, severely disrupting emergency and civilian communications. As Israel's offensive sharpens, there's a delicate balance between achieving military objectives and mitigating civilian casualties, with the international community, including the U.S., advocating for operational pauses to aid civilians. Despite this, Israel remains resolute, conditioning any de-escalation on the release of hostages by Hamas, even in the face of mounting international calls for a ceasefire.

🍓 FDA expands recall of children’s fruit pouches over possible lead contamination. The FDA has broadened its recall of children's fruit pouches to encompass additional brands from Schnucks and Weis Markets due to potential lead contamination. The alert, initiated by the discovery of elevated lead levels in certain cinnamon applesauce pouches, now implicates the WanaBana brand, previously singled out in late October. Acknowledging the severe risks of lead exposure for children, including developmental hindrances and neurological harm, the FDA's action follows reports of children with high blood lead levels linked to these products. WanaBana has initiated a voluntary recall, with the contaminated products distributed nationwide, including through major retailers like Amazon, Sam’s Club, and Dollar Tree. Both the involved grocery chains and the FDA have maintained silence on further details following initial statements.

🐝 Whitney Herd steps down as CEO at Bumble. Whitney Wolfe Herd, the visionary behind the female-centric dating app Bumble, is passing the CEO torch to Slack's Lidiane Jones. This strategic move unfolds as the dating-app sector faces headwinds, underscored by Match Group's falling stock and customer attrition. Despite Bumble's IPO splash in February 2021, its shares have plunged from initial highs. Wolfe Herd, eyeing long-term innovation, believes Jones's tech pedigree and AI aspirations align with Bumble's mission to empower women in the digital dating arena. With a track record of championing female-friendly features and policies, Bumble under Wolfe Herd has not only shaped user experience but also influenced legislation, standing firm as a social and market force.

BUSINESS

How companies are coping with unexpected loyalty

Remember when everyone was switching jobs faster than a TikTok trend? Well, it seems like that craze has cooled down to levels that would make a sloth look sprightly. In a twist that’s leaving HR departments scratching their heads, companies are reporting a turnover slump, with some staffing rosters more bloated than a Thanksgiving turkey. Now, the once-desperate hunt for talent has turned into a strategic game of chess, with moves and counter-moves to manage the unexpected surplus of employees clinging to their jobs like a lifeline.

Firms like Bank of America and Ferring Pharmaceuticals are feeling the pinch as this reduction in turnover nudges them to pump the brakes on hiring. It's like planning a huge dinner party only to find out your guests are stuffed on appetizers; now, these corporate giants have to figure out what to do with all the extra food—or in this case, employees. The U.S. Labor Department's latest figures serve up evidence of this shift, showing a hiring slowdown with a side of slight unemployment uptick. Meanwhile, execs at places like Morgan Stanley are tipping their hats to their robust corporate culture for keeping employees in their seats, suggesting that maybe a little stability isn't such a bad thing after all.

Yes, but…what's a company to do when the musical chairs stop and everyone's already seated? HR leaders are dusting off their playbook for low-turnover times, tightening performance reviews, and dangling the carrot of voluntary buyouts. It's a balancing act, trying to keep the workforce as lean and mean as a prizefighter without resorting to the morale-crusher of layoffs. The big takeaway? In the post-Great Resignation world, it's all about staying nimble and keeping the corporate ship steady as she goes—even if that means occasionally encouraging a few sailors to voluntarily walk the plank.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• OpenAI has launched GPTs, enabling individuals to create and potentially monetize their own conversational AI systems through a marketplace known as the GPT Store.

• Lucid has entered into an agreement to allow its luxury EV owners to use Tesla's supercharger network, a move echoed by other major automakers in North America recently.

• Aleph Alpha, a German AI startup competing with OpenAI, has secured $500 million in funding with support from Bosch, SAP, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

• Nike has filed federal lawsuits against New Balance and Skechers, alleging they infringed patents for making upper portions of sneakers.

• Starbucks is raising pay and benefits for U.S. hourly workers following record sales, excluding unionized employees amid ongoing tensions with the organizing union.

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