Sam Altman is building the future and planning for the end
Let’s talk about Sam Altman. You’ve probably heard his name, but do you really know who he is or what he’s planning? I put this together, so next time he comes up, you’re not just in the loop, you’ve got something smart to say.
🔥 Email land mines: Your emails might feel polite, but phrases like “per my last email” or “thanks in advance” can make you sound like a corporate arsonist. Executive coaches say these slipups read passive-aggressive, erode trust and cost promotions. The fix? Cut the fluff, set clear asks and maybe stop accidentally weaponizing your correspondence.
3,821%
That’s how much Pokémon cards have surged since 2004. For context, the S&P 500 managed a measly 483% in the same stretch. Translation: Pikachu just smoked your retirement account (paywall link). One near-mint Pikachu Illustrator sold for $5.3M, proving that a tiny crease can tank your portfolio faster than a bad earnings call.
$20,000
That’s what a contractor in Maine had to pony up for violating a lakeshore ordinance. He says he checked with the town first, but they fined him anyway. His revenge? Paying the entire thing in coins, 12,000 pounds worth. Now the town’s thinking of charging him a handling fee to count it. Ever heard of Coinstar, guys?
🤖 Cuban’s AI advice: Mark Cuban told his two college kids they probably won’t land jobs at big companies, AI already covers that. Instead, small and midsize businesses need “AI natives” to actually implement tools. His second rule? Your phone is basically a library, mentor and startup incubator all in one. Translation: Forget Fortune 500, small biz wants your ChatGPT brain.
One in five
The number of Americans who admit they’ve followed AI medical advice that was later proven wrong. Batting .800 is great in baseball, but when it’s your health on the line, that’s less “MVP season” and more “urgent care speedrun.” Experts say AI can be a starting point, just make sure you follow it up with a real doctor before you roll the dice.
🪟 AI actions in File Explorer: Microsoft is testing Windows 11 tools that let you edit images and docs without even opening them. Right-click a JPEG and you can remove or blur backgrounds or run a Bing reverse search. Soon? One-click document summaries. If you’re a Windows Insider, you can try it out now. I’ll let you know when it drops for the rest of us.
Arnold says, “Get to the choppah!” Uber’s about to add them to its app. Joby Aviation bought Blade’s urban air taxi biz for $125M and plans to swap the noisy helicopters for electric flying taxis once the FAA signs off. You’ll be able to book a chopper to JFK, Newark or even Saint-Tropez like it’s a pool ride, starting next year.
45 minutes
That’s how long it took for exercise to turn blood into a cancer fighter. In a new Edith Cowan University study, breast cancer survivors who did one high-intensity workout (seven HIIT rounds) had post-exercise blood that slowed or killed tumor cells in the lab. For the first time, scientists show exercise itself can deliver direct, drug-like anti-cancer effects (paywall link). I hate cancer.