Another COVID Curveball, Is This the Variant That Brings Masks Back?*

In today’s issue:

• Taylor Swift gets her masters back (and AI could’ve helped)
• The Switch 2 might already be sold out
• A new COVID variant’s making noise
• 500 Thrifty Ice Cream counters are shutting down
• Elon Musk bounces from DC
• And Microsoft’s browser might just kill the translation biz

Let’s get into it.

Social

Did Taylor Swift Just Outsmart the Music Mogul Who Took Her Masters?

Briefing: Taylor Swift just announced she finally owns her original music masters, six years after they were sold without her okay.

Details: Back in 2019, Scooter Braun bought Big Machine Records, which included Swift's first six albums. He later sold them to Shamrock Holdings. Swift says she wasn't told about either deal. Now, in 2025, she's bought back her masters from Shamrock. Sources say Braun wasn't involved in this latest deal, even though some reports suggested otherwise. Swift credits her team and Shamrock for making it happen. (People.com)

How AI Could’ve Helped Taylor Swift and Can Help Artists Now: AI tools are transforming how artists manage their careers. Platforms like Spellbook and Klarity can review contracts to flag potential issues, such as clauses that relinquish master rights.

Revelator offers real-time tracking of music rights and royalties, ensuring artists are immediately compensated. For independent music creation, tools like Soundful and Amper assist in producing and distributing music without the need for traditional labels. Additionally, platforms such as Duetti provide AI-driven insights into catalog valuation, helping artists make informed decisions about selling their music rights.

Gaming

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Already Sold Out Before It Even Launches?

Briefing: Nintendo's next-gen console, the Switch 2, drops on June 5. Pre-orders are sold out, but some retailers like Best Buy and GameStop will have limited stock at midnight launch events.

Details: Pre-orders opened April 24 and vanished fast. Best Buy and GameStop plan midnight pickups starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on June 5. They'll also have some extra units for walk-ins, but expect long lines and limited supply.

The Switch 2 costs $449.99, or $499.99 bundled with Mario Kart World. It features a 7.9" 1080p screen, upgraded Joy-Con 2 controllers, and new online features like GameChat.

Some early units leaked online, but they’re locked until a mandatory day-one update arrives June 5. This means the console won’t work out of the box without an internet connection.

At the federal level, Senator Blumenthal reintroduced the Kids Online Safety Act. This legislation aims to regulate social media and AI platforms to better protect children from harmful content.

Why It Matters: The Switch 2 is Nintendo’s first major console upgrade in eight years, and demand is sky-high. If you didn’t snag a pre-order, your best shot is lining up early at a midnight launch but be ready for a crowd. (Engadget)

Is Nintendo using AI in GameChat? And is AI helping secure leaked consoles? GameChat features like live captions and noise filtering suggest AI use (Nintendo). Some Switch 2 consoles leaked early, but they won’t work until Nintendo pushes a launch-day update, suggesting smart anti-piracy measures, though there’s no confirmed use of AI. (Polygon)

Health

Another COVID Curveball, Is This the Variant That Brings Masks Back?

Briefing: A new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, has been detected in multiple U.S. states, including California, Washington, Virginia, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. This variant, a descendant of the Omicron JN.1 lineage, has been spreading rapidly in countries like China and Hong Kong, accounting for 10.7% of global sequenced cases in late April 2025, up from 2.5% a month earlier.

Key Facts About NB.1.8.1:

• Detection in the U.S.: Fewer than 20 cases have been sequenced nationwide, with detections in California, Washington, Virginia, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii.
• Symptoms: The symptoms of NB.1.8.1 are similar to other COVID-19 infections, including sore throat, fever, and fatigue. There is no evidence to suggest it causes more severe illness than previous variants.
• Transmissibility: NB.1.8.1 has six changes to its spike protein that may help it spread more easily and make it harder for the immune system to recognize, even if you've had COVID or been vaccinated before.
• Vaccine Efficacy: Existing vaccines and prior infections are expected to offer some protection against NB.1.8.1. New boosters from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are anticipated in the fall.
• Public Health Risk: The World Health Organization has classified NB.1.8.1 as a "variant under monitoring" and currently considers its public health risk low.
  

Should We Be Worried?

While NB.1.8.1 is more transmissible, it does not appear to cause more severe illness. However, its rapid spread in other countries and potential to evade immunity warrant close monitoring. Health officials advise continued vigilance, especially for vulnerable populations.

In New York City, health departments are monitoring the situation closely. The variant has not yet ranked among the most prevalent in the city, and overall cases have been declining since late March.

As the situation evolves, staying informed and adhering to public health guidelines remain crucial. (Health)

How AI’s Fighting the New COVID Variant: AI is helping track the NB.1.8.1 COVID variant by scanning global health data, spotting mutations, and predicting spread patterns. It’s also speeding up vaccine development. Moderna, for example, uses AI to optimize dosages and accelerate clinical trials. (OpenAI x Moderna)

Food & Beverage

Why Are 500 Ice Cream Counters Disappearing and Who’s to Blame?

Briefing: Thrifty Ice Cream is shutting down around 500 of its in-store counters inside Rite Aid pharmacies as part of Rite Aid’s ongoing bankruptcy process.

Details: Rite Aid, which owns Thrifty Ice Cream, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again in May 2025. As part of its restructuring, the company is closing over 500 Thrifty Ice Cream counters located inside its stores. These counters, known for their unique cube-shaped scoops and nostalgic flavors like Chocolate Malted Krunch, have been a staple since Rite Aid acquired Thrifty in 1996.

While the in-store counters are closing, pre-packaged Thrifty Ice Cream will still be available at standalone shops and other retailers. Additionally, Rite Aid plans to sell off the Thrifty brand and its manufacturing plant in El Monte, California, with bids due by the end of June.

Why it Matters: The closure of these counters marks the end of a nostalgic experience for many customers who enjoyed grabbing a scoop while shopping at Rite Aid. The future of the Thrifty brand now depends on who purchases it during the bankruptcy proceedings. Depending on the buyer's plans, Thrifty Ice Cream could either continue to be available in pre-packaged form or potentially see a revival of its iconic scooping counters. (TheStreet)

Could AI have saved Thrifty’s counters? And how might AI shape its future? AI could’ve helped Rite Aid predict which ice cream counters to keep open using sales and foot traffic data, and even personalize flavor promotions.

Now, potential buyers could use AI to assess brand value, optimize production at the El Monte plant, or predict flavor trends with tools like predictive analytics or generative design. Expect AI to play a big role in Thrifty’s next chapter if the new owner knows how to use it. (IBM)

Business & Finance

What Did Elon Musk Really Do in DC, And Why Is Everyone Talking About His Sudden Exit from DOGE?

Briefing: Elon Musk's 130-day term as head of the White House's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has ended. President Trump marked the occasion with a farewell event, presenting Musk with a symbolic oversized key.

Details: During his tenure, Musk implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures, including mass layoffs and agency closures, aiming to reduce federal spending. Despite these efforts, DOGE achieved $160 billion in savings, falling short of the $2 trillion target. Musk expressed frustration over a recent spending bill passed by House Republicans, which he felt undermined DOGE's objectives. He plans to step back from political involvement to focus on his companies, such as Tesla and SpaceX, but will remain an informal advisor to the president.

Why It Matters: Musk's departure signals a shift in the administration's approach to government efficiency and spending. While DOGE's future remains uncertain, the initiative's impact on federal operations and Musk's continued influence as an advisor will be closely watched. (Business Insider)

Did DOGE actually use AI under Musk, and what happens next? Yes, DOGE used Grok (Musk’s chatbot) to analyze government data and Meta’s Llama 2 to review federal employee feedback. So AI was in play, but mostly for text processing and report generation. With Musk out, it’s unclear if AI use will grow or fade under new leadership. (Reuters, Wired)

Tech

Could This Simple Browser Button Kill the Translation Industry?

Briefing: Microsoft just announced at its Build 2025 conference that the Edge browser will soon let you translate entire PDFs with a single click. This new feature is set to roll out in June.

Details: Previously, translating PDFs in Edge meant selecting and translating small bits of text one at a time. With the upcoming update, you'll be able to open a PDF, click the Translate icon in the address bar, and get the whole document translated into your chosen language. This feature will support over 70 languages and will first appear in the Canary version of Edge before becoming widely available.

Why It Matters: This update makes it much easier for users to read PDFs in different languages, which is especially helpful for students, professionals, and anyone dealing with international documents. It simplifies accessing information across language barriers without needing extra tools or software. (Heise)

Is Edge’s PDF translation powered by on-device or cloud AI? Can developers use similar AI features in their own apps? Right now, translations run through Microsoft’s cloud-based Translator, but Edge is testing on-device AI (like the Phi-4-mini model) for privacy and speed. Developers will soon get access to these tools via new AI APIs in Edge. (Microsoft Blog)

*Disclaimer: The content in this newsletter is for informational purposes only. We do not provide medical, legal, investment, or professional advice. While we do our best to ensure accuracy, some details may evolve over time or be based on third-party sources. Always do your own research and consult professionals before making decisions based on what you read here.