Everything that built the creator economy is trying to kill it

Big news for movie lovers—this year’s Oscars will be streaming live on Disney+ in some countries! As TV ratings continue to drop, Hollywood is shifting to digital platforms to reach more viewers. Slate Magazine notes that this could be the start of a new trend for award shows.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA are back at the top! Their latest track, Luther, just hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it another huge win for both artists. Hypebeast, Sophie Caraan reports that the song racked up 45.2 million streams in just a week, proving that fans can’t get enough of their magic.

YouTube is finally listening—kind of. Instead of bombarding you with ads every few minutes, they’re testing fewer but longer breaks on long videos. Aisha Malik, TechCrunch notes that this is YouTube’s way of keeping viewers hooked without upsetting advertisers.

YouTube has surpassed 1 billion monthly viewers for podcast content, with users watching over 400 million hours on living room devices in 2024. Mediagazer reports that this signals a shift toward long-form, TV-style consumption, positioning YouTube as a major competitor to traditional audio platforms like Spotify and Apple.

OpenAI has launched a new “deep research” tool for paying ChatGPT users, enabling advanced document analysis and AI-driven summaries. Available under the Pro plan, this feature allows users to upload PDFs, research papers, and other files for in-depth insights. As reported by Maxwell Zeff of TechCrunch, this move reflects OpenAI’s continued push to enhance ChatGPT’s premium offerings and establish it as a powerful research assistant for professionals.

OpenAI is playing it safe with its ‘Deep Research’ tool, keeping it exclusive to ChatGPT Pro users instead of rolling it out to the API. The company wants to make sure it doesn’t cause any unintended persuasion risks before opening it up further. According to TechCrunch, Kyle Wiggers OpenAI is taking a cautious but smart approach to AI safety.

AI is reshaping the advertising industry, but not all creativity is worth saving, says Accenture Song CEO David Droga in Fast Company. He argues that AI should handle routine creative tasks, freeing humans for more meaningful work. While AI enhances efficiency, the human touch—empathy, taste, and storytelling—remains irreplaceable.

Timothée Chalamet is making awards season his own, ditching the usual press grind for a more offbeat approach. The New York Times highlights how he’s been spotted rolling up to premieres on rental bikes, diving into niche interviews, and even channeling Bob Dylan on SNL. Whether or not it wins him an Oscar, it's definitely winning attention.

The creator economy is facing new challenges as platforms shift priorities away from independent creators. YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are focusing more on traditional media partnerships and algorithm-driven content distribution, making it harder for smaller creators to grow and monetize. Julia Alexander, writing for Postingnexus, explores how these changes are reshaping the industry. To stay sustainable, creators may need to diversify revenue streams, explore alternative platforms, or build stronger direct audience connections.

Only in L.A. could a $19 strawberry cause an internet uproar. Erewhon’s ultra-premium "Kotoka" berry is being marketed as a rare delicacy, but skeptics say it’s just an overpriced fruit. Fast Company’s Eve Upton-Clark dives into the debate, questioning whether luxury is about quality, branding, or just good marketing.