The future is bright

Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today. AI is driving recruiters and applicants nuts, a look at what happens if you stop taking GLP-1 drugs, and what it’ll cost you to toss that coin in the Trevi Fountain  👀

Let’s get into it!

Even though the hiring market is slow, it’s busy enough that, according to a new study, a majority of companies are now using AI to assist in their hiring practices.

The study, conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, investigated how the rapid proliferation of large language models (LLMs) has affected cover letters.

The group found over half the companies it surveyed used AI for recruitment and interviewing, and one third of applicants consulted ChatGPT when searching for job openings.

Ironically, while the introduction of ChatGPT in 2022 improved the length and writing quality of cover letters, it also caused companies to pay less attention to them, after determining they’re no longer a good indicator of an applicant’s true qualifications.

“The ability (for companies) to select the best worker today may be worse due to AI,” said Anaïs Galdin, a Dartmouth researcher who co-authored a study.

On the other end of the spectrum, labour advocates are labelling the use of AI in application selection and interview processes as unfair and discriminatory.

“AI systems rob workers of opportunities they’re qualified for based on criteria as arbitrary as names, zip codes, or even how often they smile,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO labour union.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are proven to be effective with managing diabetes and losing weight. With semaglutide’s effects significantly stifling the appetite, it’s primarily responsible for the rapid weight loss that often comes with taking these drugs.

The BBC spoke with “Tanya,” a sales manager at a major U.K. fitness center, who lost 83 pounds after taking Wegovy to establish more credibility in the fitness industry by dropping a ton of weight. She succeeded socially, but the side effects of the drug were too unpleasant and she wanted to ween off of it.

But then came the effects of getting off the jab.

"It was like something opened up in my mind and said: 'Eat everything, go on, you deserve it because you haven't eaten anything for so long'."

Getting off weight loss drugs can feel like “jumping off a cliff,” according to lifestyle GP Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi.

"I often see patients who will come off it when they're on the highest dose because they've reached their target and then they stop,” he says, noting he’s seen a "significant proportion of weight" go back on. "Somewhere in the region of 60 to 80% of the weight that you lost will return."

He says it’s important that those coming off these types of drugs are in an environment that promotes health, rather than specifically focusing on weight loss or gain.

"Obesity is not a GLP-1 deficiency," he says.

"It's all about having an exit strategy. The question is: what are these people's experiences once they come off the injection?"

The Trevi Fountain is among the most popular tourist attractions on the planet, and in recent years it’s become almost unbearably overcrowded during peak season.

Like many attractions and the cities they occupy, the Fontana di Trevi plans to tackle the overcrowding problem by imposing a fee to visit it during prime-time daylight hours. Those who wish to go right up to the fountain and make their coin deposit in exchange for a wish will have to pay an additional 2 euros as of Feb. 1.

This comes on top of the tourist tax and 5-euro fee some museums are charging in an effort to hold onto the bustling tourist industry while also keeping the city and its attractions habitable and enjoyable for local residents.

Similar measures were taken last year in Venice, where a day-tripper fee was imposed to tame a wildly out of control bout with overcrowding.

9 million people visited the Trevi Fountain this year. The busiest days saw an astounding 70,000-plus people pass through to make a wish, which legend says will ensure a return visit to the Eternal City.

Sony began investing in Peanuts Holdings—the company that owns the works of Charles Schultz—in 2018, with a 20% stake in the company at the time.

It just purchased another 41% of the company from Canadian company WildBrain, and now owns 80% of the firm, making it by far the biggest shareholder and controller of Charlie Brown and Snoopy’s destiny.

“With this additional ownership stake we are thrilled to be able to further elevate the value of the Peanuts brand by drawing on Sony Group’s extensive global network and collective expertise,” said Shunsuke Muramatsu, the chief executive of Sony Music Entertainment.

“We are deeply committed to carrying forward the legacy of Charles Schulz and the Schulz family.”

Two weeks ago, Stake shared the details of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special and how it almost never came to be. It, and other Peanuts classics, are signed on to air on Apple TV+ until at least 2030, after which the future is brightly in the hands of Sony.

Better than all the rest

Happy Monday Staker! Congratulations on making it past the Winter Solstice. From here on out, the days are getting longer.

To celebrate your achievement, we’ve got a set of 10 questions highlighting all kinds of number ones from Christmas week throughout the ’80s. Check out who was simply the best, with today’s trivia!

Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified on Tuesday afternoon. Keep an eye on your inbox and don’t forget to check your spam folder!*