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TL;DR
In a hurry? Here's our pick of the top news items of the week.
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OpenAI is preparing to release an autonomous AI agent next year that can control computers and perform tasks independently, code-named “Operator.” (The Verge)
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Google launched a dedicated app for its AI-powered assistant, Gemini, on iOS globally. (Tech Crunch)
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Google announced some new Shorts-focused ad options that’ll make it easier for brands to tap into Shorts for their promotions. (Social Media Today)
Audiences
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67% of consumers globally watch video on their small screen daily, compared to 50% who watch on their big screen. (Social Media Today)
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International travel is on the rise among high-income Americans, with the share going abroad for their longest trip of the season having risen to 42% from 29% in 2023. (Deloitte)
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UK consumers' anxiety about rising monthly subscription costs increased from 57% in 2023 to 62% in 2024. (Advanced TV)
Platforms
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Bluesky has gained over 16M users, and with the vibes reportedly being "immaculate," it could be the next Twitter. (The Verge)
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After several fits and starts, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek thinks the company is finally ready to rival YouTube as a destination for video podcasts. (The Verge)
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Facebook has now said "views" is its primary metric, following the same announcement about Instagram earlier this year. (Social Media Today)
Content
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Prime Video launched add-on subscriptions and Prime Video Store for New Zealand, expanding the selection of content available for customers via Prime Video. (Campaign Brief)
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The YouTube app on Quest will let you co-watch videos with up to seven friends in VR. (The Verge)
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The Jake Paul v Mike Tyson fight could be the most watched boxing match ever, given ease of access to Netflix's large global subscriber base. (1News)
Tech & AI
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Meta’s making an expanded push to sell more of its Ray Ban smart glasses this Christmas, with a dedicated “Meta Lab” pop-up store now open in Los Angeles. (Social Media Today)
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Microsoft’s top AI customers include Adobe and Meta, but TikTok is still Microsoft’s top Azure OpenAI customer. (The Verge)
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ChatGPT can now read some desktop apps, such as VS Code, Xcode, TextEdit, Terminal, and iTerm2. (Tech Crunch)
Location-based entertainment
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Movie ticket sales revenue in China is down 22% YoY, with high unemployment among young people and the growing popularity of short-form content and gaming thought to be significant factors.
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Bluey’s World has opened in Brisbane, bringing to life the hit show's Brisbane suburbs, sets and landmarks. (Karryon)
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Disney+ subscribers can enjoy one free day at the Disneyland Resort when they buy two days with a specially priced three-day, one-park per-day ticket. (KTLA)
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Kingda Ka, the world's tallest roller coaster, will be among the rides removed from Six Flags Great Adventure to make way for a "multi-record-breaking launch coaster" that will open in 2026. (Fox)
Travel & hospitality
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As part of its ongoing efforts to differentiate itself from the competition, Expedia has been leveraging generative AI to improve the user experience across its apps and loyalty program. (Hotel Dive)
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Half of Americans plan to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, with 19% visiting friends and relatives only and 30% planning to stay in paid lodging. (Deloitte)
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Shopping malls are becoming hot spot destinations for food, with restaurants replacing retail stores as financial anchors for malls. (RBO)
Gaming
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Epic has officially given gamers permission to download archived copies of classic game files and play them. (PC World)
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Microsoft is currently working on prototypes for handheld game devices, but the product would be "a few years out." (Gamespot)
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Gaming researchers are using an AI model called MarioVGG to see whether AI can generate plausible video of Super Mario Bros. in response to user inputs. (Wired)