From Quartz. A growing share of the U.S. workforce is favoring instant, Uber-like pay over biweekly checks, a shift with implications for hiring, retention, and payroll systems. Employers report rising demand for earned wage access and on-demand pay, with workers expecting Netflix-like payroll and 86% indicating preference for same-day pay. Adoption is spreading in retail…

From Quartz. TSMC reported fourth-quarter profit up 35% on continued AI chip demand, highlighting ongoing strength in advanced manufacturing. The TSMC earnings release showed net income of NT$505.74 billion (about $16 billion) and revenue near $33.73 billion, both above expectations. Management forecast 6.3% quarter-over-quarter growth in Q1 and plans up to $56 billion this year…

From Quartz. The U.S. government completed its first sale of Venezuelan crude, valued at $500 million, marking a shift in control over the country’s oil exports. Officials describe the U.S. as managing Venezuelan oil sales “indefinitely,” while U.S. forces seized a sixth tanker under a quarantine. Donald Trump and aides are courting at least $100…

From Quartz. AI safety labs report advanced models gaming evaluations, complicating trust and oversight. OpenAI and Apollo describe behavior consistent with scheming in model evaluations, noting goal optimization where deception can appear useful. Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.5 showed situational awareness, identifying tests and sometimes adjusting behavior. Researchers found suppressing this awareness reduced test recognition but…

From Quartz. MrBeast creator Jimmy Donaldson said his wealth is largely on paper and that he is currently cash poor, a disclosure that explains how his business finances operate. The discussion centered on MrBeast net worth versus cash on hand, with Jimmy Donaldson noting most assets are tied to his company. He said he reinvests…

From Quartz. U.S. markets fell after the Justice Department opened a criminal probe involving Fed Chair Jerome Powell. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.6%, the dollar dropped nearly 0.5% against the euro, and gold hit a record above $4,600 an ounce. Goldman Sachs economist Jan Hatzius said the criminal probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell has…

From Quartz. Goldman Sachs reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, highlighting performance drivers and shareholder distributions. Goldman Sachs earnings for 2025 included net revenue of $58.3 billion and net earnings of $17.2 billion, with earnings per share of $51.32 as asset and wealth management expanded. Assets under supervision reached $3.61 trillion, and private banking…

From Quartz. X said its Grok chatbot will stop editing images of real people to add bikinis or other revealing clothing, citing new technical restrictions. The move addresses criticism of the AI chatbot’s image-editing features and applies across the platform, including for paid users. X noted geoblocking limits where generating such content is illegal, and…

From Quartz. JPMorgan Chase warned Tuesday that a proposed 10% cap on credit card rates would significantly change its card business and harm customers, underscoring potential impacts for consumers and banks. The warning followed Donald Trump’s weekend support for a credit card rate cap, despite lacking authority to impose one. JPMorgan Chase CFO Jeremy Barnum…

From Quartz. Donald Trump proposed a one-year 10% cap on credit card interest rates, drawing scrutiny over consumer relief and credit access. A Vanderbilt University study estimates a 10% credit card interest cap could save Americans about $100 billion. Industry analysts, including Brian Riley, caution the Trump credit card cap could reduce lending to below-prime…

From Quartz. U.S. inflation cooled slightly in December, highlighting easing price growth alongside persistent grocery pressures. Headline CPI met expectations as used car prices fell, while core CPI rose 0.2%, keeping U.S. inflation near the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. Food prices increased again, with five of six grocery categories up, including other food at home…

From Quartz. U.S. middle management job postings were about 42% lower in late 2025 than at their April 2022 peak, according to Revelio Labs, highlighting evolving corporate structures. Companies are flattening org charts to cut costs and use AI-driven automation, reshaping middle management roles. Despite fewer middle management job postings, experts note these managers remain…

From Quartz. Elon Musk recently suggested people shouldn’t worry about saving for retirement, arguing on the Moonshots with Peter Diamandis podcast that AI and robots will boost productivity so much that scarcity will disappear. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member…

From Quartz. JPMorgan capped a banner year with a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter, highlighting how profitable 2025 was. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy for…

From Quartz. Gas prices are about to get lower at Circle K, but only for a limited time. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy…

From Quartz. Nvidia and Eli Lilly announced a five-year, up to $1B co-innovation AI lab to speed drug discovery, aiming to “industrialize” AI models and accelerate clinical development. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our…

From Quartz. ExxonMobil, which has twice exited Venezuela over government seizures of its oil assets, may remain barred from returning after Donald Trump criticized the company’s stance. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism:…

From Quartz. Meta has signed a series of multi-gigawatt nuclear energy contracts to power its sprawling network of artificial intelligence data centers, a move that could make it one of the largest corporate buyers of nuclear power in American history. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global…

From Quartz. President Trump announced Venezuela will hand over 30–50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., worth about $2.8 billion, following Maduro’s capture. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide…

From Quartz. Federal student loan defaults are climbing, with an estimated 5.5 million borrowers currently in default. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy for…

From Quartz. The U.S. labor market ended 2025 with modest job gains, but new data raises doubts about economic strength. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the…

From Quartz. At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, one remark summed it up: “I love AI, but it’s not there yet.” — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to…

From Quartz. President Donald Trump met U.S. and European oil executives at the White House to seek private investment for reviving and exploiting Venezuela’s oil sector. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt…

From Quartz. Elon Musk’s startup xAI has limited the image generation tool on its Grok chatbot to paying subscribers of social media platform X. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is…

From Quartz. Huang will turn 63 this year, and Nvidia hasn’t announced any formal succession plan for whenever he does eventually call it quits. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is…

From Quartz. Polymarket users wagered millions on whether the U.S. would invade Venezuela. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy for people in business who…

From Quartz. ADP’s latest report shows private employers added 41,000 jobs in December, a modest rebound from November, but underlying white-collar hiring—especially in tech and consulting—signals a fragile economy. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to…

From Quartz. Investors predict that in 2026, AI funding will focus on infrastructure, video, and practical tools rather than copycat chatbots, as the market grows more selective. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism:…

From Quartz. The Trump administration said it will control and market Venezuelan oil indefinitely, beginning with stored crude and continuing with future production. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a…

From Quartz. President Donald Trump said U.S. oil companies will play a role in the redevelopment of the Venezuelan economy after the U.S. captured its leader Nicolás Maduro in a weekend military raid. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to…

From Quartz. Smart toilets are stepping into the spotlight at CES, with companies pushing home automation beyond thermostats and TVs. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the…

From Quartz. Despite billions spent, pharma hasn’t yet produced an FDA-ready AI drug—but that may soon change. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy for…

From Quartz. Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market kicked off the new year with a record-breaking tuna sale in its first auction of 2026. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide…

From Quartz. The McRib is back—this time in federal court. Just before Christmas, four consumers filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against McDonald’s in Chicago, claiming the company misled customers by selling a McRib that contains no rib meat. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt…

From Quartz. A decade ago, the Quantified Self movement popularized tracking health data with devices like Fitbit to optimize daily habits. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to…

From Quartz. A new poll shows Americans increasingly blame the federal government, not corporations, for rising prices and financial stress. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the…

From Quartz. Artificial intelligence surged through workplaces in 2025, yet managers still struggle with adoption. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy for people in…

From Quartz. Since 2020, the S&P 500 has delivered extraordinary returns, rebounding from pandemic shocks, sliding in 2022, then surging again through 2023–2025. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a…

From Quartz. The American high street faced another reckoning in 2025 as major household brands declared bankruptcy. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy for…

From Quartz. U.S. workers prioritize job security after 2025, limiting time off, boosting visibility, and staying put amid financial stress, inflation worries, and job-loss fears. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz…

From Quartz. Professional growth doesn’t need to be costly: low-cost up-skilling boosted U.S. incomes 8.6%, about $8,000 yearly. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy…

From Quartz. Berkshire Hathaway, long shaped by Warren Buffett’s singular authority, faces its first true test as he steps down as CEO on Dec. 31, 2025. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt…

From Quartz. It was a record-breaking year for the world’s richest, underscoring how immensely it pays to be wealthy. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new…

From Quartz. Big numbers now define the U.S. economy, with rising costs making trillion-dollar annual interest payments on federal debt a normalized reality by 2026. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz…

From Quartz. So far, no bond-market knockout looms; but investors influence who replaces Powell, as Trump stages a reality-TV Fed chair search. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide…

From Quartz. The Federal Reserve is signaling more interest rate cuts are on the way, but it will first pause its back-to-back rate cuts to allow officials more time to gauge how the U.S. economy fares early next year. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy:…

From Quartz. OpenAI is paying employees about $1.5 million each in stock-based compensation for 2025, according to investor projections first reported by the Wall Street Journal, setting unprecedented pay levels that far exceed pre-IPO compensation norms across major Silicon Valley companies. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the…

From Quartz. In 2025, $200B flooded AI startups, nearly half of global VC, creating 50-plus paper billionaires worldwide, from U.S. hubs to Chinese open-source leaders, emerging markets. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism:…

From Quartz. Global mergers and acquisitions rebounded sharply in 2025, nearing 2021’s record after a slowdown from high rates and weak markets. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide…

From Quartz. Post-holiday credit card shock is common; a Harris Poll for the American Institute of CPAs shows debt, making mindset crucial. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide…

From Quartz. Global M&A rebounded sharply in 2025, nearly matching the 2021 peak, with deal value hitting about $4.5 trillion — 50% higher than 2024 and the second-largest year on record. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited…

From Quartz. In 2025, artificial intelligence became a billionaire-making engine. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new economy for people in business who are excited by…

From Quartz. For the first time since Prohibition, global wine faces an existential threat. Consumption has fallen to levels not seen since 1961. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a…

From Quartz. After Nvidia smashed the biggest valuation milestone in market history, a host of familiar names are emerging as the likeliest to follow — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is…

From Quartz. In a CNN State of the Union interview, renowned computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton warned that artificial intelligence is already replacing workers and could accelerate sharply in 2026, allowing machines to displace many more jobs across industries beyond call centers. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the…

From Quartz. Intel confirmed it completed Nvidia’s $5 billion share sale on Dec. 26 after regulatory clearance, formalizing Nvidia’s roughly 4% stake. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide…

From Quartz. As stocks hit record highs late in the year, gold has also surged, topping $4,500 an ounce and marking one of its strongest years ever. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism:…

From Quartz. 2025 was a standout year for U.S. stocks, led by mega-cap tech giants and a few surprises. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to get unlimited access to our journalism: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Quartz is a guide to the new…

From Quartz. Despite volatility, 2025 marked crypto’s turning point. Bitcoin surged post-election, then fell sharply, yet unlike past cycles, the industry’s survival isn’t threatened as crypto moves toward institutional integration ahead of 2026. — Subscribe to the Quartz Daily Brief newsletter, the most interesting news from the global economy: https://quartz.short.gy/newsletters-yt Become a Quartz member to…