Each week, the Tomorrowist team publishes a video podcast and a deep-dive article on a single important trend facing businesses. But business leaders need a holistic view of the changing business landscape. Here are a few stories from around the web focused on other Tomorrowist-worthy trends that readers shouldn’t miss.
Amazon Joins Quantum Race with ‘Cat Qubit’-Powered Chip (BBC)
What to Know: Amazon has joined Google and Microsoft in advancing quantum computing with Ocelot, a new computing chip built on “cat qubit” technology. “Cat qubit” technology, an approach inspired by Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment, is designed to dramatically reduce quantum errors, which have been a major hurdle in making these systems commercially viable.
Why It Matters: Amazon’s quantum computing breakthrough underscores a broader industry shift from merely increasing qubit counts to solving the critical issue of quantum error correction. With Ocelot potentially reducing error correction costs by up to 90%, Amazon is accelerating the timeline for commercially viable quantum computers. This advancement could reshape industries reliant on complex problem-solving, such as pharmaceutical research and logistics optimization.
TV Companies Deepen Their Embrace of YouTube as They Look for New Ways to Make Money and Find Viewers (Business Insider)
What to Know: YouTube has become a major hub for long-form TV content, with 73% of its total U.S. watch time now coming from videos 30 minutes or longer. This shift hasn’t gone unnoticed — traditional broadcasters such as Channel 4 and Warner Bros. Discovery are increasingly uploading full-length episodes and movies, and they’re even producing original content for the platform. By embracing YouTube as a key part of their distribution and monetization strategies, these media giants are tapping into new audiences and ad revenue in the evolving streaming landscape.
Why It Matters: As traditional TV broadcasters shift from seeing YouTube as a competitor to embracing it as a distribution channel, they face a complex landscape. Successfully leveraging YouTube’s ad model, algorithm, and audience behavior means unlocking new revenue streams and extending the lifespan of older content. However, this opportunity comes with challenges — they must carefully balance growth on YouTube against the risk of cannibalizing their own streaming services or losing control over licensing deals.
Cities Grapple with Pollution from Surge in Urban Warehouses (Bloomberg)
What to Know: The rapid growth of same-day delivery services has led to a surge in urban warehouse construction, raising concerns over air pollution and public health risks. Diesel truck emissions from these facilities contribute to higher rates of asthma and other respiratory conditions, disproportionately affecting low-income and Black communities. In response, New York lawmakers are proposing new legislation requiring large warehouses to reduce their environmental impact through a flexible, performance-based approach.
Why It Matters: As demand for e-commerce and rapid delivery rises, policymakers face growing pressure to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. For business leaders and warehouse operators, new regulations could mean higher costs and potential shifts in operations, with some arguing that these expenses may ultimately be passed on to consumers. Companies that proactively invest in clean energy, zero-emission technologies, and alternative freight methods could gain a competitive edge in an increasingly regulated market while improving community relations.
Amazon Announces AI-Powered Alexa Plus
(The Verge)
What to Know: Amazon has launched Alexa Plus, a generative AI-powered upgrade that goes beyond traditional voice commands by handling complex tasks such as ordering groceries, booking reservations, and referencing stored documents. Amazon is significantly incentivizing its use by making it free for Prime members ($19.99/month otherwise) and integrating it across most existing Alexa devices. Unlike competing artificial intelligence assistants that are largely app-based, Alexa Plus is built into Amazon’s smart home ecosystem, positioning it as a direct competitor to Google Gemini, Apple’s upgraded Siri, and AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
Why It Matters: Amazon is betting on its massive hardware presence to assert Alexa’s dominance in the smart-home market, potentially making AI chatbots more accessible to everyday consumers. Crucially, Amazon is making Prime the obvious choice by pricing Alexa Plus at $19.99/month — $5 more than a full Prime membership, which includes Alexa Plus for free. This aggressive pricing strategy suggests Amazon is using its AI assistant to drive Prime subscriptions, reinforcing its ecosystem while making it harder for competitors to gain traction. If successful, this model could set a precedent for other AI providers looking to push rivals out of the market.
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