Hot Toast, Cool Ghost, An Online Store 👹

Generative AI startups have been dominating the cloud and SaaS unicorn space in 2023. 

They're not just making waves; they're making a splash in the investment world, with a whopping $18 billion pouring into their coffers this year.

According to a new report by Accel Euroscape, an eye-popping 60% of the fresh unicorns emerging in the SaaS and cloud realms are what they call "GenAI natives." Translation? Generative AI is a game-changer, redefining the landscape.

But the revolution isn't limited to American soil alone. The United States boasts a remarkable nine generative AI startups valued at over $1 billion. Europe and Israel aren't far behind, with a trio of their own.

And here's the kicker: this report isn't just about content creation. Generative AI is setting its sights on healthcare and legal industries, paving the way for tailor-made AI solutions that can work wonders. The future? It's a canvas, and generative AI is the artist. 🎨💡💰

Shoppers are also getting savvier when it comes to spotting phony discounts – they want the real deal. Retailers, take note!

Numerator, a data firm, talked to 3,000 US shoppers for an early peek at sales and shopping trends. They found that a whopping 4 out of 5 folks find AI chatbots super handy when looking for shopping deals.

Consumers are much smarter in detecting false discounts (or significant markdowns on inflated prices). Over half (55%) compared prices at different retailers before making their purchases. And they believe that AI helps find the best prices, “legitimate discounts,” answer questions about products, and even spark gift ideas.

In a move set to impact millions, the UK is gearing up for a major crackdown starting January 1, targeting self-employed individuals and side hustlers across the country.

What’s Changing? From the beginning of next year, HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs) will be tightening its grip on the gig economy.

Popular platforms like Airbnb, Fiverr, Upwork, Uber, Deliveroo, and Etsy have been roped in. They are now obligated to keep a close eye on how much their users earn and report this data directly to HMRC. This information will then be cross-referenced with individuals’ self-assessment tax returns. If there are discrepancies, HMRC has the power to launch investigations.

The focus? With over four million self-employed individuals in the UK and a whopping 44% of Brits having at least one side hustle in 2023, these changes will impact a substantial portion of the workforce. The new law is primed to affect anyone earning more than a £1,000 in self-employment or side-income. 

With the new measures coming into play, it’s crucial for freelancers and side hustlers to ensure their tax affairs are in order. And if tax evasion or under-reporting has been your go-to strategy in the past, time to reassess. 

😿 No Pay Rise in 15 Years - According to the WSJ, the average starting salary for recent graduates is $56,000, a number that has not budged since 2008 when adjusting for inflation.

🧧Wages to N.Korea - The FBI accused thousands of remote IT workers of allegedly sending millions of dollars in wages to North Korea for several years.