Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
Google disabled cookies for 30 million Chrome users. It’s the first step in the search giant’s plan to remove the online tracking tools completely from the web browser, though it will still track user data, just more privately.
The US is readying its final job tally for 2023. The report, to be released today at 8:30am ET, is expected to show that 2.78 million jobs were added last year, compared to 4.79 million in 2022.
ESPN and the NCAA signed an eight-year media agreement. The $920 million deal includes the rights to 40 championship games for college sports—21 women’s events and 19 men’s.
Peloton partnered with TikTok to share its workout content. The collaboration is part of Peloton’s shift from equipment to software, in stride with its goal to grow subscribers.
Starbucks has a new reusable cup policy for drive-thrus. While workers can get behind waste reduction efforts, they’ve called it an unfeasible addition to a workflow that’s dependent on efficiency.
Fast fashion is picking up speed in 2024
According to the latest edition of the State of Fashion, an annual publication from the industry outlet Business of Fashion and the management consultancy McKinsey and Company, the fashion industry’s fastest growing sector is, well, just that. Too fast, and getting faster.
Chinese brand Shein and its rival Temu, the so-called third generation of fast fashion, are putting their elders—the likes of H&M and Zara—to shame. In 2022, those brands were introducing dozens of new styles every day, compared to Shein’s hundreds. And now, Shein is putting out a staggering 2,000 to 10,000 new products per day, for prices averaging $14, and Temu’s are even cheaper.
At that scale, the exploitation of just about everyone involved gets ugly, as fast as the fashion rolls out.
Windows keyboards are getting a brand new key
What is that? That new button right there—in between ALT and the left arrow button? Could it possibly be a new key on a Microsoft Windows keyboard?
Why, we haven’t seen one of those since the “Start” menu button arrived way back in 1994, when grunge was still king, pagers were the hot way to communicate, and it hadn’t yet occurred to Microsoft to license the Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” to promote its upcoming release of Windows 95.
But it’s the age of AI, and big innovations are required to keep up with the competition, even an innovation as seemingly low-tech as a new button on a keyboard. Microsoft is hoping that a very manual way to call up its Copilot assistant will get users tapping—and therefore paying the rather stiff monthly fee. Will it be enough to generate some return on investment and keep up with the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic?
Quartz’s most popular
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💻 “I do a lot less Googling”: Software developers share how ChatGPT is changing work
🎵 Pro Tools: Making music pop
Surprising discoveries
Coin toss flips aren’t 50/50 after all. A tiny, 1 percent bias exists for whichever side of the coin is facing up before it’s airborne.
There’s a new dog breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. The Lancashire heeler is known for its small stature and big smile.
The Berlin Zoo has a way to recycle unsold Christmas trees. It involves the stomachs of elephants and bison.
E-scooter companies that failed are now auctioning off their two wheelers. One, Superpedestrian, has 20,000 scooters up for grabs.
Elvis Presley is back. And by back we mean as a hologram performing in London this November.
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Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, Lancashire heelers, and e-scooters to [email protected]. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Morgan Haefner and Susan Howson.
Brendan Martin is a tech enthusiast with a deep understanding of the latest technological innovations. He explores the intersection of science and technology, providing readers with insights into the digital revolution. When not immersed in the world of gadgets and code, Brendan enjoys experimenting with DIY tech projects.
