When it comes to finding a new job, it’s not just what skills you bring, it’s what the market needs. OpenAI got a lot of attention (and funny reactions) for posting a job ad for a new Content Strategist paying anywhere between $310K-$393K. Meanwhile, Wall Street’s race for Stablecoin talent has sent pay soaring. Let the tug-of-war commence.
Scroll down to read about AI politics, lossless audio, and back-to-the-office demands.
Stats to power your week
🏃🏻 Nike recently changed its iconic slogan “Just Do It” to “Why Do It?” to win over Gen Z. Why? Because they’re turning their backs on perfectionism and pressure. Since the start of 2023, there’s been 15% growth in European Gen Z saying they diet to lose weight, and a 15% rise in those doing it to feel healthy. GWI Core Plus
🧙 The AI-enhanced Wizard of Oz at the Las Vegas sphere is currently grossing $2m daily, and Warner Bros is considering licensing more movies, such as Harry Potter, to be adapted for the experience. Smart thinking: Potterheads are 37% more likely than the average consumer to be “very interested” in viewing AI art. GWI Zeitgeist
📹 Some of the hottest gadgets of 2025 aren’t futuristic at all - they’re straight out of the 2000s. Two of the three fastest-growing devices that consumers are eyeing up are camcorders (+28% year on-year) and feature phones (+28%). GWI Consumer Tech
🦷 The share of consumers saying they travel for cosmetic or medical treatments has grown 12% year-on-year. Be on the look out for more Turkey teeth and Miami BBLs. GWI Travel
3️⃣ With the World Cup on the way, we’re having a look at which fans are most excited. As a host nation, Mexican fans top the list when it comes to excitement for the game, as well as national pride when they’re supporting El Tri. Despite not qualifying, consumers in Singapore are more excited about the competition than those in Australia. GWI Zeitgeist
What’s on our radar
AI is taking the job market into uncharted territory, with AI-written resumes being read by AI. Some younger consumers, yet to join the workforce, are wondering if there’s any point at all. It feels like dead internet theory is bleeding from social media into more of our day-to-day life. Are you a bot, too?
Audiophiles, rejoice! Spotify has announced it will roll out lossless audio for premium users. Meanwhile, the first telepathic wearable, a headpiece that lets you communicate without speaking, is here.
Geoffrey Hinton, the “godfather of AI” has predicted that the technology will increase the gap between the rich and the poor. Earlier this year, we had a look at how that’s already happening among Gen Alpha.
Speaking of Gen Alpha, skincare brand Sincerely Yours and its co-founder teen content creator showed exactly how a brand should engage with them. It used a two-way texting platform to gain feedback and allow fans to help shape the brand before it even launched. Also catering to an exciting category in the skincare space is Mat Baxter, a luxury skincare brand for people with tattoos.
Microsoft is bringing all employees back to the office, in another high profile return-to-work move.
As self-driving cars continue to grow in popularity, tensions arise between tech companies and lawmakers. Market leader Waymo is drawing boundaries about what data on its vehicles authorities are allowed to access.
Political decision making is being turned on its head. Albania has appointed the world’s first AI minister, while the temporary leader of Nepal was decided on Discord.
Chart of the week
Japan is not only the most popular international vacation destination globally, but the fastest growing, too. The popularity of Japan has almost doubled among US travelers, on account of the weak yen relative to the dollar. That might be why it feels like everyone’s on their way to the land of the rising sun right now, eating Ichiran and drinking matcha straight from the source.
To capitalize on growing demand, Japan Airlines last year announced free domestic flight giveaways for those who book their flights into Japan - consideration for the airline is up 16% year-on-year among those flying for leisure as a result.
But with an influx of tourists comes new problems, such as strains on infrastructure. Kyoto is considering implementing a dual-rate system for transportation, charging tourists more to use public transit than residents. The way tax-free shopping works for tourists is also changing, so if you’re planning your own trip, you may want to read up.
🔥 Hot take
Punchy perspectives, with data that nudges the narrative
“It’s all about the price, stupid”
Despite what Jessie J might have you believe, it’s all about the money, money, money. That may not seem like such a hot take, but when you consider factors such as sustainability slipping in importance in recent years, it’s more true than ever. We just can’t forget about the price tag.
The bottom line is that across almost every product or service category we track, price is the number one purchase driver: energy, household products, fuel, and insurance, to name a few. Obviously, right? Well, even in less utilitarian verticals, such as fashion, price still beats out fit, quality, comfort, and style.
It’s always worth considering that despite how you may differentiate yourself from the competition, if you’re not offering value for money, it’s not going to matter.
