The last weekly post of 2024. Thank you for reading! Have a great holiday!
What I wrote last week
Business
Is the Tech Industry Already on the Cusp of an A.I. Slowdown? If the thesis that AI models are slowing down because of little new data, it should benefit a few players in the space. Obvious, those that own platforms where users generate content such as Twitter, Reddit, Facebook or YouTube are better positioned than OpenAI. Then, we have the likes of Nvidia and TSMC that supply all players in the AI race. As long as companies still try to compete and show off AI progress, the suppliers still have demand.
No One To Blame. Valuable lessons on investing and life
A Credit-Score Hangover Is Hitting America’s Riskiest Borrowers. The inflation and deflation of FICO makes it very tricky for lenders to underwrite loans. Those that can leverage other data points to accommodate the changes in FICO will have advantages over others. One of such data points is student loans.
The Bank Behind the Fintech Revolution Stumbles After Customer Funds Go Missing. I keep telling people willing to listen that consumers in the US are very protected in the financial industry. There are many regulations to make sure consumers are not discriminated nor abused by financial institutions. Yes, companies operating in the industry suffer significant expenses to comply with regulations and I do think sometimes the government went too far. But it’s equally bad or potentially worse to reduce consumer protection or unwind regulations.
Google CEO Pichai struggled to navigate a pressure-filled year. I have been doubtful of Sundar Pichai as a CEO. Not that I don’t think he is smart. But when I compare him to other big tech CEOs, the others like Tim Cook, Zuck, Jensen or Satya stand out more to me. However, this year has been a good year for Google. Despite all the challenges, they did have some notable wins, as described by the article. For that, Pichai deserved credit.
Other stuff I find interesting
The Global Hunt for Putin’s ‘Sleeper Agents’. It’s fascinating to see how some people spend a considerable amount of their life living with a false identity, even to their own children, just to be spies and collect intelligence.
FDA Updates ‘Healthy’ Claim for Foods — but Use Is Voluntary. I am glad that the government is recognizing the flaws of its previous food deisgnations. No way that white bread was healthy while olive oil wasn’t. The next crucial steps are marketing, a universal label and enforcement to make sure Americans know what food is supposed to be healthy.
Insurance and Taxes Now Cost More Than Mortgages for Many Homeowners. The numbers don’t make sense any more for those that look to buy and own a home. Unfortunately, as that trend looks to persist, rent continues to rise due to higher demand. Essentially, everything becomes more expensive while wages continue to lag.
Brewed from old bread crusts, the world’s oldest beer recipe is experiencing a revival. I did not know that beer could be made from bread and it could have less impact on the environment than other methods of making beer.
Stats
Egg prices rose 8.2 percent in November
77% of the US holiday spend was in-store
57 percent of the world’s coffee production last year came from arabica beans
Klarna has 25 million US shoppers, 70% of which are Millennials and Gen Z
Minh Quang Duong 
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