Business

IBM fires 8,000 for AI efficiency—then quietly rehires to fill the gaps. It is a natural evolution that technologies will automate the basic low-skill tasks and raise the floor for required skills. In that sense, AI is no different from other technologies that came before, but none receive as much hype as AI. Even if it can automate a lot of things and do SOME tasks better and faster than humans, we are a storytelling species whose ability to tell stories won’t be replaced anytime soon by AI.

Winemakers finding Trump’s tariffs hard to swallow. It’s interesting to see that both French and American winemakers are suffering from Trump’s tariffs. Yes, Europe runs a trade surplus over the US in terms of wine and champagne, but American consumers get to satisfy their wine taste buds. If there is no winner from tariffs, the best solution is to remove tariffs and look at what will drive more export of American wine.

JPMorgan Chase is heading upmarket to woo America’s millionaires. It will be interesting to see how Chase manages to advertise the new fancy service while remaining accessible. Like, how will they say to potential customers: hey, this new service is available only when you are rich enough, but come on in and see how rich you are?

The Times and Amazon Announce an A.I. Licensing Deal. The time for original content on news sites is here. That means whoever can create valuable content prolifically will be in demand.

The Rise of the Japanese Toilet. The current success of Japanese toilets and Toto in particular is the combination of innovation, courage and patience. It took courage for the company to market something new and bold in a conservative culture. And it had to wait for years before the innovation caught on with end users.

Deep Dive Into Amazon’s Grocery Revolution. Amazon has been ambitious about grocery for a long time, that’s why they bought Whole Foods. However, it’s very hard to compete against the likes of Costco, Sam’s Club and Walmart itself. The table stakes are many locations across the country. That takes capital, planning and time. Will Amazon be willing to commit while not knowing whether the whole plan will succeed? The alternative is to master grocery deliveries and hope that enough consumers will buy in.

Other Stuff I Find Interesting

Finland’s obsession with saunas is going global, but are they any good for you? Back when I was in Finland, I met a lot of old people who not only looked younger than their age, but also were healthy and active. And I do believe it is in part because of Finns’ love for saunas and cold plunge.

Are seed oils really bad for you? File it under “well, you are still bad, seed oils. I know diet-related research is complicated, but until I have more information, I won’t consume you” cabinet. It’s even more concerning that seed oils can contribute to growth of a subset of breast cancer.

The U.S. Deported This Chinese Scientist, in a Decision That Changed World History. It was a stupid decision by this country and we are making similar decisions right now. I can only hope that we backtrack before we lose out too many talents.

Americans Don’t Eat Enough Fiber. Here’s Why That Worries Nutrition Experts. “Upping Americans’ fiber intake is one reason scientists advising the government on new dietary guidelines recently recommended people eat more beans, peas and lentils. People with a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet should eat 2.5 cups of beans, peas and lentils a week, up from the currently recommended 1.5 cups, according to a December report from the committee. The current federal dietary guidelines recommend 25 grams of fiber a day for women ages 31 to 50 and 31 grams for men. But more than 90% of women and 97% of men don’t meet the recommendations. On an average day, they consume about 15 grams and 18 grams respectively, according to federal data. When you don’t get enough fiber, the problem isn’t just that you don’t make enough of the good short-chain fatty acids. Starved of the fiber they like to eat, your bacteria start to devour your own gut lining. Specifically, bacteria can erode the mucus layer that lines your gut and is supposed to keep bacteria from entering your bloodstream. The resulting “leakiness” can drive inflammation throughout the body, she says.”

"Don't be pretentious: just stick to your principles. And rest assured that, if you remain true to them, the same people who made fun of you will come to admire you." – Epictetus

— Daily Stoic (@dailystoic) May 25, 2025

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