Peaceful Gene, Pay Party, & Lazy Job Hunt 🧬

Orchid, the reproductive tech startup, has just unwrapped a game-changer for hopeful parents in the U.S. – a groundbreaking genetic test. Aimed at couples diving into IVF, Orchid's debut is the first-ever commercially available whole genome sequencing report for embryos.

During the IVF process a woman’s mature eggs are extracted and fertilized in a lab, and the viable embryos are later transferred into the uterus. Orchid says its new test will help couples identify whether their embryos present genetic risks such as birth defects, neurodevelopment disorders, or pediatric and adult-onset cancers that were previously only detectable after birth. This means prospective parents can now dodge post-birth surprises.

Orchid's tech scrutinizes more than 99% of an embryo's genome, leaving competitors in the dust at a mere 0.25%.

As of today, Orchid's tech is setting up shop in IVF clinics across major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Austin. For the other states, the startup is happy to deliver the tech to a clinic near you. 

Now, before we break out the confetti, let's address the fine print. Unfortunately, this data doesn't come with an inflation disclaimer. With inflation clocking in at around 9% year-on-year in June 2022, it has likely wiped out much, if not all, of the post-pandemic wage gains for services workers.

Ever found yourself on the verge of tears as a job application insists on manual data entry, even after you've already uploaded your entire resume? Job hunting is an uphill battle, and it seems to be getting worse with unpaid assessments, bogus listings, and the infamous interview ghosting.

That’s why people are now embracing AI-powered job application services. 

For example:

• Services like LazyApply zip through the grunt work of job applications, helping people apply for 5,000 jobs in just a few clicks—albeit with a $250 annual fee for unlimited access.
• Sonara charges up to $80/month to tackle as many as 420 applications, with human staff taking the reins when necessary.
• Massive, for $39/month, churns out up to 50 AI-crafted, human-reviewed applications weekly.

Some services even throw in AI-generated cover letters or personal messages to HRs. 

But these time-saving bots aren’t flawless yet. There will likely be some telltale signs if a bot does the heavy lifting — whether it’s guessing answers to questions, or submitting awkward or jumbled sentences. But, as job seekers know, much of the process is a numbers game. You possibly can’t apply to 500 jobs in a month complete with personalised CVs, written tests, and questions. But AI can. And so it ups your chances of getting an interview call. Plus, at least an AI will know how to beat the ATS. 

🫧 Energy Hypocrisy - The US is extracting a record amount of oil and gas - 1/3rd of the world’s planned oil and gas expansion will be in the US by 2050.

🤑 Riching Up - Mark Cuban sold his majority stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks to Miriam Adelson — the fifth-richest woman in the world.

😨 German Woes - The worst-performing major economy also faces a budget crisis. 

🎸 Farewell Real World - KISS is now the first US band to go virtual and become digital avatars. 

📙 Books Have a Past Too - It's the book about all the books. The Book by Design is about the history of bookmaking.

🎐 Decking Halls - Shoppers are spending more on non-gift holiday purchases, with 82% planning to spend on items like decorations - per this Deloitte survey.

🍗 A Busy Thanksgiving - Sunday was the busiest day for US airports in history, with the TSA screening over 2.9 million passengers.