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Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Netflix takes on the gaming industry

• Headline Hustle: Tragedy in Brussels, Trudeau’s standoff with tech, X’s political ad comeback

• Meta’s open-source power play

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

BUSINESS

Wait, Netflix has games?

Netflix, known for keeping us glued to our screens with everything from "Stranger Things" to "The Crown," is now leveling up its game—literally. The streaming giant is diving controller-first into the gaming industry, and it's not just playing around. The plan? Start with mobile games, then power-up to the kind of high-end games you'd usually see on consoles or PCs. Think less Candy Crush, more…well, Cyberpunk 2077, but hopefully without the glitches.

No longer a noob

Why the power move? It's all about keeping us subscribed and stopping us from cheating on Netflix with other platforms, especially when our favorite shows are off-season. By sprinkling some gaming magic onto their menu, they're hoping to keep us hooked and justify those subscription fees (which we all know will climb up a bit more...because reasons).

Here's the real boss level: Netflix isn't just dipping its toes in the waters of gaming. They're cannonballing in, ready to take on the big dogs like Sony and Microsoft in a market packing a $187.7 billion punch. The strategy? Whip up games inspired by their own hit shows and movies. Yes, imagine fighting demogorgons in a "Stranger Things" game.

But it's not all fun and games. The numbers show folks are downloading these games, sure, but aren't necessarily sticking around daily. Plus, there's side-eye from both inside the company and out, questioning whether Netflix can actually pull this off, given the graveyard of tech giants' gaming dreams (RIP, Google Stadia).

Zoom out: If Netflix does manage to crack the code, merging binge-worthy content with addictive gaming, it could flip the script on how we consume entertainment. But that's a big "if," with many cheat codes and Easter eggs to sort out along the way.

Headline Hustle

🇧🇪 Tragedy in Brussels. In a chilling act in central Brussels, two Swedes were fatally shot, with another injured. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo labeled it a terror attack against Swedish citizens, expressing solidarity on X (previously Twitter). The incident, occurring just before a Belgium-Sweden soccer match, has potential links to recent Quran burnings in Sweden, which intensified terror threats against Swedes. A self-proclaimed ISIS follower claimed responsibility online, citing the victims' Swedish nationality as his motive.

🇨🇦 Trudeau’s standoff with tech. In a bold move that's backfiring for small publishers, Canada's new law demands tech giants like Meta and Google pay for news snippets. Meta's snappy retort? They axed news links, leaving smaller sites in digital droughts and feeling the burn. While the law aims to cushion traditional media from online ad-revenue poaching, publishers see a broken system, slamming the government for ignoring warnings. Amidst this cyber-tug-of-war, PM Trudeau champions journalistic integrity, but with Meta unmoved and Google grumbling, Canada's media landscape teeters on uncertainty.

𝕏 X’s political ad comeback. Elon Musk's X is diving headfirst into the political ad game, eyeing a hefty slice of the projected $10.2 billion election cycle ad spend. After a revenue nosedive post-Musk takeover, X is wooing political campaigns with bargain ad prices, despite its notorious battlefield ambiance. The platform's appeal? A hotbed for political junkies, offering campaigns prime visibility at almost garage-sale prices - think $4 per thousand views! But it's a double-edged sword; while it's a fundraising goldmine, changing hearts and minds is another story. Amidst the digital ad scramble, one thing's clear: in the political marketing arena, X marks the spot.

TECH

Redefining the game: Llama's role in Meta's AI aspirations

Just when you thought Meta (the artist formerly known as Facebook) had shown all its cards, it doubled down on a high-stakes AI game introducing their trump card: Llama. But this isn't just any old AI model; it's open-source, making a splash at their annual Connect conference and signaling a strategic shuffle in Meta's deck.

The AI ace up their sleeve

In the digital table of poker, AI is the royal flush, and Meta is all in. They're not just playing for the pot; they're eyeing the whole casino. By pushing Llama into the center, they're banking on the global coders' jackpot—improving and evolving Llama without Meta footing the entire R&D bill. It's like having a poker alliance where everyone contributes to the winning hand.

The long game. Sure, Meta isn't pocketing direct profits from Llama. Instead, they're playing a cunning game of influence, betting on the house's edge in innovation and market swagger. But It's not all smooth dealing. Meta's move raises some eyebrows. They're wagering on tech altruism, expecting coding enthusiasts to flock and fortify Llama. Yet, the house has rules—licensing ones—that keep the game in their favor. Skeptics are watching, poker faces on, wondering if this open-source gamble will pay off.

Looking ahead…Meta is reshuffling the tech deck—less social, more AI. If their bet on open-source Llama pays off, they don't just win a hand; they could change the game. But like any gamble, it's the players—developers and competitors—that could decide the jackpot...or the fold.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

Tether has blocked 32 cryptocurrency wallets holding a total of $873,118, citing connections to terrorism and conflict activities in Israel and Ukraine.

LinkedIn is laying off 668 employees, primarily in R&D, affecting various departments including engineering, product, talent, and finance, following its recent announcement of new AI-powered tools.

Archer Aviation is set to launch its air taxi service in Abu Dhabi in 2026, marking its first international expansion beyond the United States.

The Australian online safety regulator, eSafety, fined X (previously known as Twitter) $386,000 for not providing sufficient responses regarding measures taken against child abuse content on its platform.

Blue Origin has introduced its Blue Ring spacecraft platform and In-Space Systems business unit, mirroring Amazon's streamlined logistics model, to facilitate space missions ranging from medium Earth orbit to the cislunar region and further.

Lakers legend Rick Fox built a house that can suck CO2 out of the atmosphere.

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