Microsoft added a new AI Copilot button to PC Keyboards.
Online Shopping, short sellers, a new Apple keyboard concept
Microsoft is set to launch its Copilot key, marking the company's first significant change to PC keyboards in nearly three decades. The Copilot key, distinguished by a ribbon-like logo, will be placed near the space bar and will replace the right "CTRL" key, or take the place of a menu key on select Windows 11 PCs.
The Co-Pilot key will serve as a gateway to Microsoft's AI chatbot, integrating artificial intelligence into everyday computing. This redesign is Microsoft's most significant keyboard transformation since the introduction of the Windows key in the 1990s.
The introduction of an AI key on the keyboard may encourage users to access Microsoft's chatbot directly by pressing a button instead of visiting a competitor's website.
Apple and Google have experimented with customized keys. Apple introduced the "Command" key, and Google tested it with a search button, but Microsoft's dominance in the PC market, with approximately 82% of desktop computers running Windows, sets it apart.
Microsoft has not disclosed all the manufacturers adopting the Copilot key, but hints suggest announcements at the upcoming CES gadget show in Las Vegas.
Record Online Holiday Shopping Season
Adobe Analytics' latest data reveals that the 2023 holiday season reached $222.1 billion from November 1 to December 31, marking a 4.9% year-over-year increase.
November experienced a 6% year-over-year increase, totaling $123.5 billion, driven by a robust Cyber Week generating $38 billion in online spending, up 7.8% from the previous year. In December, online spending continued to thrive, reaching $98.6 billion, a 3.7% increase.
'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) usage hit an all-time high, contributing a substantial $16.6 billion in online spending, up by an impressive 14% year-over-year.
Mobile shopping reached a new milestone, accounting for 51.1% of online sales during the holiday season, surpassing desktop transactions.
Top Categories were Electronics ($50.8 billion), Apparel ($41.5 billion), Furniture ($27.3 billion), Groceries ($19.1 billion), and Toys ($7.7 billion) collectively accounted for 65% of the $222.1 billion in online spending.
Curbside pickup was utilized in 18.4% of online orders during the holiday season. Paid search remained the most significant driver, contributing to 29.4% of online sales during the holiday season.
Peloton and TikTok Partnership
Peloton Interactive and TikTok have announced a partnership to establish a new fitness hub on the short-form video platform TikTok. The hub, named #TikTokFitness Powered by Peloton, will feature a dedicated Peloton section, offering a range of content including live classes, celebrity collaborations, and shorter fitness clips.
Peloton, once a pandemic-era superstar, faced challenges as demand for its at-home fitness equipment waned post-COVID. The company has been undergoing a strategic shift, focusing on becoming a software-centric company rather than relying solely on its hardware offerings.
Peloton previously partnered with Lululemon in September to supply the apparel brand with digital fitness content.
U.S. Mint Releases Commemorative Harriet Tubman Coins
The U.S. Mint has launched its first commemorative coin program honoring abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The 2024 collection, available for preorders, features a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin, and a half-dollar silver coin. The coins depict pivotal moments from Tubman's life, celebrating her role as a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, a spy, and a nurse during the Civil War. The release is part of the Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin Program, commissioned by the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act signed into law by President Biden in 2022. Sales include surcharges that will benefit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Harriet Tubman Home.
Short Sellers Face Tough Year in 2023 with $195 Billion in Losses Despite Few Wins
Investors who took short positions on U.S. and Canadian stocks experienced a challenging year in 2023, facing paper losses of $194.9 billion amid a robust market rally, according to data from S3 Partners Research. The Nasdaq Composite Index surged by 43.4%, and the S&P 500 rose by 24.2%, making it an exceedingly difficult year for short sellers.
73% of every dollar shorted produced a negative return due to the significant gains in 2023. Major setbacks came from betting against mega-cap technology firms, particularly Tesla Inc., causing $12.2 billion in paper losses, and Nvidia Corp with $11.2 billion.
The losses offset about two-thirds of the nearly $300 billion in gains they had reaped during the market rout of 2022.
The losses in 2023 were considerable, following cumulative losses of about $142 billion in 2021 and $242 billion in 2020.
Among the notable successes for short sellers were the collapse of First Republic Bank, yielding profits of $1.6 billion, and the 45% slump in vaccine producer Moderna Inc., which earned short sellers $1.1 billion.
Things to know:
Lululemon's billionaire founder, Chip Wilson, who stepped down from the company ten years ago, criticized Lululemon's approach, stating, "They're trying to become like the Gap, everything to everybody. And I think the definition of a brand is that you're not everything to everybody... You've got to be clear that you don't want certain customers coming in." Wilson also took issue with Lululemon's advertising, particularly targeting models whom he described as "unhealthy," "sickly," and "not inspirational." A company spokesperson said that Chip Wilson does not speak for Lululemon, and his comments do not reflect our company's views or beliefs.
Clicks Technology, a new company founded by Michael Fisher (MrMobile) and Kevin Michaluk (CrackBerry Kevin), has unveiled a novel iPhone case featuring a built-in physical keyboard. The Clicks case aims to revive the tactile experience of physical keyboards, reminiscent of the BlackBerry era. Unlike previous keyboard cases, Clicks connects to the iPhone without Bluetooth, utilizing a USB-C or Lightning connector for a direct and battery-free connection, drawing power directly from the phone.
Carrefour, the French multinational supermarket chain, has decided to stop selling PepsiCo products in stores across European countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. The decision comes as a response to what Carrefour describes as "unacceptable price increases" imposed by the global food company. Carrefour stores in Europe will no longer sell PepsiCo products like Pepsi, Lay's crisps, and 7Up with Signs on shelves citing "unacceptable price increases" and will impact more than 9,000 stores.
More Americans will benefit from affordable insulin prices in 2024 as Sanofi joins Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in reducing costs to $35 per month for many patients. The move, initiated to address the steep rise in insulin expenses, follows spending on insulin tripling to $22.3 billion in 2022 from $8 billion in 2012. Approximately 8 million Americans rely on insulin, but up to a quarter have struggled with affordability, leading to dangerous rationing. The Inflation Reduction Act has enabled Medicare enrollees to pay a maximum of $35 monthly for insulin prescriptions, extending the relief beyond just the uninsured.