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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 getting ready to unveil a number of new AI models, among them GPT-4.1, which is being described as a revamped version of OpenAI’s GPT-4o multimodal model. (The Verge)
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The Trump administration announced a 75-day extension on TikTok’s sell-off deadline - again. (Social Media Today)
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In response to the latest tariff news, China is reportedly mulling over a ban on US film releases. (THR)
Audiences
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Two-thirds of US Gen Z travelers use social media for inspiration and 52% of consumers overall would consider visiting a place featured in a TV show or movie. (Marketing Dive)
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64% of US consumers follow a brand's social media account for news about promotions and discounts, followed by entertainment and learning about new products. (Marketing Dive)
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41.4% of American gamers find in-game ads acceptable when they offer rewards like free items or in-game currency. (Emarketer)
Platforms
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TikTok introduced a new, invite-only “Specialized Rewards Program” for its creators, which provides additional monetization opportunities for selected creators. (Social Media Today)
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Instagram is testing lockable posts that prompt viewers to enter a secret code to view the content. (Social Media Today)
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Eight months after rolling out "Teen Accounts" on Instagram, Meta is expanding the feature to Facebook and Messenger. (BBC)
Content
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Marvel's newest film, "Thunderbolts" is tracking for a $70M US opening at the box office. (THR)
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Viewership of the US Women's National Championship basketball game was down from last year's matchup (18.9M) featuring Caitlin Clark, but it still became the third most-watched. (Axios)
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The second season of “The White Lotus,” which debuted in October 2022, shot up to more than 15M viewers, and the current season is on track to have at least 18M. (NYT)
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Netflix launched WWE in India, where it's the country's #2 sport behind cricket. (Netflix)
Tech &
AI-
YouTube rolled out a free AI music-making tool for creators to add to their videos. (TechCrunch)
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Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, launched an API for Grok 3, a model that can analyze images and respond to questions and powers a number of features on X. (Tech Crunch)
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Claude parent company, Anthropic, announced a new premium tier called the “Max Plan” that significantly increases usage limits for “power users" and starts at $100/mo. (The Verge)
Location-based
entertainment-
The Broad has broken ground on a $100M expansion project set to open in time for the 2028 olympics in Los Angeles. (The Art Newspaper)
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A multi-billion-pound deal has been struck for a new Universal theme park and resort in Bedford, UK. (Blooloop)
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Amid soaring concert prices, approximately 60% of Coachella general admission attendees bought tickets through the festival's payment plan system this year. (Billboard)
Travel &
hospitality-
Summer bookings from Europe to the US have fallen by 25% due to geopolitical anxieties and perceived "bad buzz." (Skift)
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Brazil reinstated visa requirements this week for citizens from the US, Canada and Australia, ending six years of visa-free entry for visitors from those countries. (Skift)
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Frontier Airlines joined Delta in cutting flights and pulling its full-year economic outlook plan amid weakened consumer demand and economic uncertainty. (Travel Pulse)
Gaming
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Astro Bot swept this year's Bafta Games Awards, winning five awards in total - including the top prize of "Best Game". (BBC)
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Global consumer spending for PC and console gaming fell by 2% to $80B last year, but is expected to rise to $85B in 2025. (gamesindustry.biz)
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Netflix released an animated adaptation of "Devil May Cry," sending the original Devil May Cry Franchise Pack to the top of the Steam top sellers list. (PC Gamer)
