Wanting Sand, Work Boxers, & Web Share 🩳

Amidst the shadows of the oil (and other precious resources) underworld lies a lucrative black market generating an astonishing $200 to $350 billion annually. Surprisingly, it's not blood diamonds or cobalt fueling this trade—it's sand. Yes, you read that right. And no, it’s not the hallucinating-type sand from Dune. 

Sand, the planet's second most utilized natural resource after water, is essential to the very fabric of civilization, forming the backbone of concrete, glass, and asphalt.

So it goes without saying that our reliance on sand is depleting this resource rapidly.

How’s that possible when there is so much sand everywhere in the world? Well it’s not enough. 

Contrary to popular belief, desert sand is unsuitable for stable construction, and sea sand, laden with salt, is equally unfit. This scarcity drives the extraction of approximately 50 billion tons of construction-grade sand annually from lakes, rivers, and coastlines worldwide, triggering a host of environmental and social issues.

• Unchecked sand mining contributes to coastal erosion, flooding, and even the reversal of river flows. 
• Saltwater crocodiles are invading populated areas, as seen in Sri Lanka. 
• Illegal sand mining flourishes in the absence of stringent regulations, with organized crime syndicates operating in various countries. In fact, illegal sand trade ranks as the third-largest global crime, trailing only drugs and counterfeiting.

So what are we doing about it? 

So far, the UN has advocated for alternative materials like incinerated waste ash and promoting recycling initiatives, as exemplified by Germany's success in recycling household and industrial waste.

A recent major report reveals a startling reality: humans now vie for space on the internet alongside bots, fueling concerns about the demise of the web.

The "dead internet theory" has gained traction, suggesting that a significant portion of online content is auto-generated, while human presence dwindles in comparison to bot accounts.

Cybersecurity company Imperva's latest "Bad Bot Report" bolsters this notion.

• Bots accounted for 49.6% of all internet traffic last year, marking a 2% increase from the previous year and the highest recorded since 2013.
• Approximately 32% were considered bad bots - meaning bots that takeover accounts or attack security (image from the report below). 
• The situation appears bleaker in certain regions. In Ireland, a staggering 71% of internet traffic is automated, according to the report.

This surge in bot activity is partly attributed to the rise of generative artificial intelligence and large language models. Companies employing these technologies utilize bots to scour the web, collecting data to train their systems.

Alarmingly, Imperva warns that these bots are evolving in sophistication. Many now originate from residential internet connections, lending them an air of legitimacy that makes detection more challenging.

If you’ve ever thought about working in boxers in your office, you might want to take some motivation from China. 

In mainland China, a peculiar trend is taking over the "get ready with me" videos. 

The trend: “gross” work attire. 

Youngsters are embracing their worst pajamas, shabbiest slippers, and marching to work as a humorous protest against various workplace grievances, from awful bosses to dismal conditions. Their quirky ensembles are proudly displayed online, sparking a playful competition of who can wear the most outrageous outfit.

Under hashtags like #grossoutfitforwork and #uglyclothesshouldbeforwork, Chinese netizens share their interpretations of this trend, garnering millions of views and discussions on platforms like Weibo. 

The movement gained significant traction when a video by Douyin user Kendou S, recounting her boss's disapproval of her "gross" attire, went viral. In response, Kendou S showcased her infamous outfit, featuring layers of mismatched clothing, from fluffy hats to plaid pajama bottoms.

The jobless rate in December 2023 stood at 14.9% among 16- to 24-year-olds. This trend reflects the challenging job market faced by Chinese youth, with alarming unemployment rates among 16- to 24-year-olds.

Despite criticism, the People's Daily views this trend as a form of harmless self-deprecation, as long as it doesn't disrupt work ethics. Amidst economic uncertainties, this quirky protest serves as a light-hearted outlet for discontent.

A significant chunk of VC funding is flowing into AI-related startups. Unsurprisingly, of course! According to KPMG, AI has become a key factor driving VC investments, and they hope this trend will continue into the next quarter.

Here is the list of the 10 biggest deals closed this quarter:

🤼‍♂️ Challenging Google - Reports indicate that OpenAI is looking to launch its own search engine in May.

🥓 Is It From a Lab? Then, No! - Florida became the first state to officially ban lab-grown meat, and more states might follow. This will be devastating for the 150 companies have been working to create lab-grown meat as of last year.

🤰Abort - Arizona’s governor signed a bill repealing the 1864 abortion ban recently revived by the state’s highest court.

🕵️‍♀️ Ban Support - Half of America supports a TikTok ban, per a Reuters/Ipsos poll - with 46% saying that China’s government uses the platform as a spy tool. 

🧩 Give me a Game - LinkedIn is launching games and puzzles as a new way to connect. 

🇮🇸 Accidental President - Iceland's new election website made it so easy to register for the top job that at least 11 people, who thought they were endorsing other candidates, signed up accidentally.