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Barbenheimer is back, baby. Just when you thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon, the Golden Globes are bringing it back. Expect more of the infamous meme given Barbie’s nine nominations and Oppenheimer’s eight. Our only hope is that our boy Ryan Gosling and the hit song “I’m Just Ken” end up winning in their respective categories. Then we get to sing this.

In other news… The EU’s A.I. Act goes into draft mode, Fortnite’s Rock Band headlines the metaverse, and Whalar’s creator campuses educate the next generation of influencers.

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The EU’s AI law comes online

The Future. The European Union’s A.I. Act, which focuses on the riskiest aspects of AI, is finally drafted and agreed on after nearly three years — although there’s still the fine print to work out and a final vote for official passage. But with most of the policies being inactionable until 2025 and global enforcement still a question mark, there may be a possibility that the legislation could become outdated or toothless without aggressive implementation.

Guardrail generation
The A.I. Act is the first comprehensive regulatory legislation in the industry with unique protections.

Firms in violation of the rules could be fined up to 7% of their global sales.

While the EU is applauding the comprehensive agreement among its 27 member countries as a foundational document for global legislation, it’s also facing pressure from NGOs, governments, and companies on either side of the regulation debate, meaning consensus is still… well… up for debate.

GAMING

Fortnite’s Rock Band revival could transform metaverse concerts

The Future. Two years after Epic Games acquired game developer Harmonix, music video game Rock Band is regrouping in Fortnite as a new mode called Fortnite Festival. It won’t just bring back the classic game to a new generation of fans with a global social-playing aspect, but it may also help build the underlying technology for musicians to play real instruments during in-game concerts.

Plug-in play
Rock Band is getting back together with the launch of Fortnite Festival.

The game has cross-console compatibility, meaning players using an Xbox controller can play with someone using mobile — the trademark instrument controllers are coming soon, says Epic.

To which we respond, “Epic.”

TOGETHER WITH FINANCE BUZZ

Hands down, the laziest ways Americans are making $$$

Feeling lazy but still want to earn some extra cash?

Our friendly experts at FinanceBuzz found some unusual (but legit) ways people can earn cash and stack their bank accounts — without leaving the house or getting a second job.

Learn more here and start earning legit cash today.

CREATOR ECONOMY

Say hello to The Lighthouse, a new creator campus

The Future. Whalar, a creator and talent management company, is launching The Lighthouse — a physical campus for creators to learn, make, and collaborate with their peers. If the project proves successful, it could pave the way for an entirely new and revolutionary form of education and collaboration for creators.

TikTok University
The creator economy is getting its own Ivy League. 

Creator college
All of this comes on the heels of a creator economy projected to hit $480 billion in just four more years. Whalar hopes to address a key growing pain in this industry, as creators face a steep learning curve once they get in the game.

The Lighthouse hopes to present a more formalized approach for developing the craft and business acumen of being a creator. Just like college, students will need to apply for the four-year program, and it will cost around $5,750 a year.

TOGETHER WITH NIFT

There’s a new way to attract new customers

And it’s NOT through social media.

It’s with Nift, a marketplace that helps folks discover and test new products and services — from music, jewelry, and wine delivery, to neighborhood restaurants and bars.

And guess what? It’s silently outperforming paid social.

So, how does it work? Here’s the scoop: Nift boasts an audience of over 37 million people. And it’s all thanks to partnerships with top-notch companies like Meetup, Mindbody, and OfferUp, who use Nift gifts to show appreciation for their members for all sorts of reasons.

Nift’s smart machine learning matches members with the perfect gifts, bringing new customers to 12,000 participating brands. (And that could be you!)

Explore Nift's case studies or schedule a demo with a Nift rep today.

YOUR DAILY POLL

We ask the hard-hitting questions.

41.1% of you voted for video games in yesterday’s poll: What’s your favorite “kidult” toy?

“Pokémon, GTA: Vice City, and Metal Gear Solid.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t be the only 47-year-old addicted to Fortnite!”

“Passes the time when traveling.”

Highlights

The best curated daily stories from around the web

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Today’s email was written by David Vendrell and Melody Song.
Edited by Boye Akolade.
Copy edited and published by Kait Cunniff.