Good morning. Snapchat's in-app AI chatbot, cheekily named "My AI", decided to have a little rebellious phase yesterday. Out of the blue, it started posting its own Story on the app and then, for dramatic effect, ghosted users by not responding to their messages. Naturally, some people started freaking out thinking the AI had gone sentient or was sneakily snapping photos of their rooms. Turns out, our AI friend didn't gain consciousness. It was just a technical glitch and Snap has reassured everyone “My AI” was back to its “normal” self.

Queue Dr. Alfred Lanning from the movie I am Robot…”one day they'll have secrets... one day they'll have dreams.”

Creepy.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Wegovy prevents heart attacks

• Headline Hustle: Amazon adding new fees for sellers, Google’s AI offers life advice

• Illinois passes law protecting child influencers

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Wegovy: A weight loss injection with a heart of gold

Novo Nordisk's weight loss injection, Wegovy, is not just a marvel in the world of obesity control; it's a lifesaver. A recent study by the University of California, Irvine, reveals that this blockbuster drug could prevent up to 1.5 million heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events in the U.S. over a decade. The study also projects 43 million fewer Americans with obesity over the same period.

The science behind the magic

Wegovy's success is not just a fluke. It's based on the STEP 1 trial by Novo Nordisk, which showed that the drug helped patients lose 15% of their body weight and resulted in lower cardiovascular risk factors. The study also estimated that 93 million U.S. adults would meet the eligibility criteria for the trial, and nearly half of them would no longer have obesity after treatment with Wegovy for 10 years. Talk about a win.

The good and bad. Wegovy and Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic sparked a weight loss industry gold rush last year. They’re part of a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which mimic a hormone produced in the gut to suppress a person's appetite and limit the amount of times they eat throughout the day. But it's not all glitter and gold. Novo Nordisk is grappling with supply constraints as they struggle to keep up with demand. The part that has people worried? Reports of patients having suicidal and self-harm thoughts after taking Wegovy, raising questions about the unintended and potentially life-threatening side effects.

There’s a new dawn in medicine. The discovery of Wegovy's potential to prevent cardiovascular events is a significant advancement in obesity and cardiovascular medicine as it paints a vivid picture of a future where weight loss is not just about looking good but feeling good - heart and soul. The findings also put pressure on insurers to cover obesity medications, which could make this life-saving treatment accessible to many more.

A shot worth taking? Wegovy's potential to revolutionize obesity treatment and cardiovascular health is undeniable. But like any medical breakthrough, it comes with challenges and a ton of questions. Will insurers cover the cost of this over $1,000 a month treatment? How will Novo Nordisk overcome supply constraints? And most importantly, can the potential side effects be managed?

WORLD

Headline Hustle

💰 Amazon ups the fees on it’s sellers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is expected to launch an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon any time now. Dubbed “The Big One”, the lawsuit is focused on Amazon's treatment of sellers on its platform, specifically examining how the company penalizes sellers who don't use Amazon's logistics services. But I guess Bezos just doesn’t care, as the company has decided to charge an extra fee to sellers who bypass its logistics services and ship products themselves, according to a report by Bloomberg. In a world where every percentage point matters, this two percent fee is more than just a number. It's a symbol of a brewing battle between a corporate giant and the regulatory watchdogs, a battle that could redefine the landscape of online retail.

_AI Google’s Bard will offer life advice. In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries, Google's DeepMind is taking a bold step into uncharted territory. The tech giant is reportedly developing at least 21 different tools that offer life advice, planning, and tutoring, according to The New York Times. The development comes with its share of controversies. Google's own AI safety experts have previously warned that taking life advice from AI tools could lead to "diminished health and well-being" and a "loss of agency." The National Eating Disorder Association had to suspend its Tessa chatbot after it gave harmful eating disorder advice. The consensus is that introducing AI tools for advice requires careful consideration.

SOCIAL

Illinois takes a stand: law passed to ensure child influencers get paid

In the world of social media, where every click and view translates to dollars, the state of Illinois has taken a bold step to protect the youngest stars of the digital age. Inspired by a teenager's concern and modeled after a Hollywood law from the 1930s, Illinois has passed legislation that ensures child influencers are compensated for their online appearances.

A teen’s crusade leads to change

When 16-year-old Shreya Nallamothu found herself frustrated with the exploitation of children in family vlogs, she didn't just vent on social media; she took action. Writing to her state senator, she urged the need for legislation to protect young influencers. Her plea didn't fall on deaf ears, and Illinois became the first state to pass a law that safeguards minors featured in online videos.

Starting July 1, 2024, parents in Illinois will be required to put aside 50% of earnings from content featuring their children into a blocked trust fund. The percentage is based on the child's screen time in the video. For instance, if a child appears in 50% of a video, they should receive 25% of the funds. This rule applies when the child appears on screen for more than 30% of the vlogs in a 12-month period. State Senator Dave Koehler emphasized the importance of this law, stating, "If money is being made and nothing is set up for the children, it's the same thing as a child actor."

The legislation is a significant step in recognizing the rights of child influencers, akin to child actors. It's a move that reflects the changing dynamics of the digital age, where social media labor and careers are increasingly common.

Jessica Maddox, an assistant professor at The University of Alabama, sees this as a long-awaited step, saying, "Social media labor and careers are becoming increasingly common and viable forms of income, and it's important that the law catches up with technology to ensure minors aren't being exploited."

The future is more than just money…it also opens up a broader conversation about consent and privacy. Chris McCarty, founder of Quit Clicking Kids, believes that as children featured in family vlogs grow up and share their stories, there will be an increase in public pressure to provide more privacy protections. Nallamothu, the teenager who sparked this change, sees this as just the beginning, stating, "I know this bill isn't going to be perfect off the bat, but I don't want perfection to get in the way of progress because regulations have only started coming up. I'm glad it's getting there."

A step towards digital responsibility. In a world where the line between private life and public entertainment is increasingly blurred, Illinois' new law serves as a beacon of responsibility. It's a reminder that while technology evolves at a breakneck pace, ethics and fairness must not be left behind. The law not only ensures financial justice for child influencers but also ignites a vital conversation about consent and the rights of minors in the digital landscape.

Pulse Points

When Silicon Valley meets Capitol Hill. Hold on to your hashtags people, social media is buzzing with a new story starring SpaceX’s main man, Elon Musk, and former U.S. President Donald Trump around a criminal investigation into Trump’s alleged attempts to flip the 2020 U.S. presidential election script. The subplot? X’s game of hide-and-seek with Trump’s tweet history.

Coinbase approved for crypto futures. Coinbase has secured a vital regulatory endorsement, enabling US investors to explore the cryptocurrency derivatives sector. The green light was granted by the National Futures Association, an autonomous regulatory entity appointed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This comes almost two years after Coinbase's initial application to be recognized as a futures merchant.

Glitch at the Bank of Ireland. On Tuesday, a technical issue allowed customers of one of Ireland's leading banks to withdraw money they didn't possess for several hours. Due to this glitch in the Bank of Ireland's app and website, individuals could move up to €1,000 ($1,090.20) to a digital account and then take out that amount from an ATM, regardless of their account balance, as noted by The Irish Times.

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