TikTok Going Grassroots Amid Ban Fears

TikTok faces a potential US ban if Chinese parent ByteDance does not sell the app by January. To counter this challenge, TikTok is making it easier for creators to earn money.

TikTok lowered the threshold for its affiliates program. Now, creators need only 1,000 followers, down from 5,000.

This move allows more users to join the program. Creators can post videos promoting products in TikTok Shop. They earn commissions from sales generated through their videos.

This change aims to increase opposition to the divest-or-ban law. Several creators have already sued to block the legislation.

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You Are Walmart’s New Product

In stores, shoppers see ads everywhere. TVs show commercial clips. End-of-aisle stalls promote products. Music often pauses for ad spots. Even checkout screens display ads.

Over 200 million Americans visit Walmart each month. Now these visitors have become products themselves. Walmart is selling access to its customers.

In May, it reported a 9.6% rise in operating income due to its booming advertising business.

By turning its vast customer base into ad targets, Walmart is now a major player in the ad market.

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Google's AI Rake in the Face Moment

Google's new search feature (AI Reviews) showed errors that include saying Neil Armstrong played with cats on the moon. It also falsely claimed Obama was a Muslim president.

AI Reviews was meant to give instant answers and improve search experience. But an AI Review told user to put glue on their pizza for a better taste.

Google admitted the errors and promised fixes.

This isn't Google's first AI mishap. Their chatbot Bard also had issues, causing a $100 billion market loss.

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New Weight-Loss Drugs New Challenges

GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic), approved for obesity treatment, reduce appetite and lower blood pressure. However, they can cause people to lose muscle mass along with fat.

This can lead to fatigue and slower metabolism. In older people, this muscle loss can reduce mobility and increase fall risk.

To combat this, researchers are developing drugs to help retain muscle while losing weight. Four potential candidates include: Azelaprag, Bimagrumab, Pemvidutide and Trevogrumab.

Or people could just eat less sugar and move more.

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