Anderson .Paak and Gwen Stefani Team up for Official Olympics Anthem, ‘Hello World’
The 2024 Summer Olympics are officially underway. Ahead of the first competitions, which took place on Thursday, Anderson .Paak and Gwen Stefani dropped the Song of the Olympics. “Hello World” was developed in partnership with Coca-Cola, which has worked with the IOC for 96 years. Expect to hear the Ryan Tedder-penned song on repeat over the next few weeks, as it will be used in official Olympics and Coca-Cola marketing spots.
US Economy Posts Better-than-expected Performance with 2.8% Growth
The US economy continues to surge in an upward direction. The Commerce Department released its most recent report on Thursday, which demonstrated a greater-than-expected bump in the real gross domestic product, clocking in at 2.8% and outpacing analysts’ predictions of 2.1%. The figure showcases a combination of the goods and services produced by the American economy and consumer spending.
Rich Paul, Kevin Durant, & Rob Manfred to Speak at CNBC x Boardroom’s Game Plan 2024
Rich Paul, Kevin Durant, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred are just a few of the speakers lined up for this year’s CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan summit in Los Angeles on Sept. 10, 2024. This year’s conference will hone in on some of the most important issues in the business of sports and entertainment, including what’s next in media rights and streaming, the ever-growing landscape of sports betting, the Olympics, keynotes with some of the biggest players in the game, and much more — you won’t want to miss it.
OpenAI Unveils Google Competitor, SearchGPT
After months of speculation, OpenAI launched a prototype of SearchGPT on Thursday. The ChatGPT parent company launched a website offering the new product to a select group of testers. It seeks to build on the search functionality of competitors like Google, by offering enhanced “conversational capabilities,” which allow you to add additional context to help refine search results. Additionally, it claims that results will feature “clear and relevant sources.” The prototype dropped on the same day that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post offering a democratic vision for the future of AI.
Valkyries Set New Women’s Sports Record with 15,000 Season Ticket Presales
The WNBA is headed to the Bay. The Golden State Valkyries will tip off as an expansion team during the 2025 W season. Ahead of their first official game, the club has received more than 15,000 deposits for season tickets. The stat sets a new record for advanced purchases of season packages for any women’s club. The team will play at San Francisco’s Chase Center.
Southwest Shakes up Seating Plan for First Time in 50 Years
It’s been a wild week in air travel. Adding to the news, Southwest announced that it will change up its open seating program for the first time in 50 years. The airline faces some financial challenges in the wake of a recent report that showed a 46% drop in profits. It unveiled its new plan on Thursday, including a revised boarding system and expanded seat selections with extra legroom at a higher price point. However, amidst the changes, the airline will hold onto its beloved free checked baggage limits. Changes are expected to take root next year.
EXCLUSIVE: RJ Barrett Joins Aires Tech
Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett may be busy at the Olympics, but he is making moves ahead of Team Canada’s first game. Boardroom can announce exclusively that Barrett is partnering with Aires Tech. The company specializes in creating elevated products to protect from electromagnetic radiation. Barrett joins a dynamic athlete roster that includes the NHL’s John Tavarez, UFC fighter Maycee “The Future” Barber, and former NFL Pro Bowler, Tiki Barber.