There’s a lot of chatter about AI making our lives easier, but maybe leave it out of your meal prep for the time being. A meal-bot has been dishing out “disaster recipes”, recommending ingredients like chlorine gas and human flesh (🤢). The tapeworm diet made our stomach turn, but this is something else.
Scroll down to read about generative AI in gaming, Robotaxis, and superheroes.
Stats to power your week
👚 Luxury brands have some important decisions to make in the months ahead, like where they invest. LVMH says financial pressure is weighing on US revenue, while China’s sales are rebounding. And right now, nearly half of the high earners in APAC report purchasing luxury products every few months – far ahead of their European (26%) and North American counterparts (19%). GWI Zeitgeist
🛒 US Gen Z are 50% more likely than the average American to associate “self-care” with buying new products. Where’s Regina George when you need her? GWI USA Plus
🚗 Even though the global rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure has been slow, consumers are thinking ahead. 58% of new car buyers, and 37% of used car buyers are looking for an EV as their next ride. GWI Automotive
⚽ The Premier League is back! While Arsenal narrowly missed out on the top spot in 2022-23, their title charge attracted a lot of new fans. Support for the club climbed 23% in the last quarter – the biggest jump we’ve seen to date. GWI Core
🧠 Last year, the media spoke of a “therapist shortage”, and the recent explosion of AI tools has spotlighted a solution. Nearly 2 in 5 consumers believe AI not only has the potential to replace traditional therapy, but that integrating it into the process could reduce waiting times, and make getting help more accessible. GWI Zeitgeist
What’s on our radar
Fashion conglomerate, Tapestry, has agreed to buy Capri Holdings – owner of brands like Jimmy Choo, Versace, and Michael Kors. This tie-up could see the New York firm become one of the biggest rivals to LVMH.
The return to office continues, with Amazon and, ironically, Zoom, joining the list of companies to bring their employees back in.
Copenhagen Fashion Week has drawn to a close, with sustainability proving the real star of the show. Brands are still going all-out on eco-friendly fashion, despite apocalypse fatigue.
Capitalizing on the spotlight that comes with signing Lionel Messi, Inter Miami FC is launching a clothing collaboration with BAPE. The club joins Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus on the list of Adidas-partnered teams dipping their toes into the world of fashion.
Robotaxis have been approved to operate 24/7 in San Francisco. It’s a big milestone for autonomous vehicles, but they still have to get over a few speed bumps before things run smoothly.
Roblox is planning to use generative AI to enable gamers to prompt what they want to see in their virtual worlds.
Forget smart watches, that’s so 1998. Leading wearable tech companies in India are making headway on new ‘smart rings’, ditching wrist wearables in favor of smaller alternatives. A new engagement ring idea for all you fitness fanatics?
Chart of the week
Marvel movies have been a cinema staple since the release of Iron Man in 2007, but maintaining a large and dedicated following is no easy feat.
Back in 2018, shortly after the release of Avengers: Infinity War, a third of consumers worldwide considered themselves fans of the franchise. Avengers: Endgame followed in 2019, with the number of Marvel fans at an all-time high.
