Good morning. In this edition:

• ⚫ The Iberian Peninsula’s massive power outage
• 🛍️ ChatGPT + shopping
• 🎸 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~4.38-minute read (1,166 words).

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here for free.

“The more you are grateful for what you have, the more you will have to be grateful for.”

–Hilary "Zig" Ziglar (1926-2012)

A major power outage yesterday resulted in blackouts across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France, causing transportation chaos and leaving tens of millions of residents in the dark.

The outage, which started around late morning local time, prompted both Spain and Portugal to declare a state of emergency after it took out power sockets, knocked out traffic lights, and cut off mobile network access for many of their 60+ million combined residents.

• Travelers were especially affected by the blackouts. Several airports closed down, hundreds of flights were canceled, miles of local roads came to a standstill due to a lack of traffic signals, and subway systems suddenly failed—leaving some passengers temporarily stranded on trains stuck in tunnels between stations.
• Businesses, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure in Spain and Portugal were forced to rely on backup generators for several hours, before power started returning to many areas yesterday evening.

What caused the outage? It’s currently unclear, according to European officials. Intelligence leaders from Spain and Portugal say they haven’t ruled out the possibility of a cyberattack, but there’s currently no evidence to indicate the outage was caused by a deliberate act. Other potential explanations include a fire in southwest France that damaged a high-voltage power line, existing issues with the European electric grid, or a rare atmospheric phenomenon.

Closer to home: America’s power grids face a growing risk of similar blackouts in the near future as demand for energy continues to grow, according to a recent Reuters report. The news org identified 30+ instances since 2020 where US energy grids narrowly avoided a series of cascading major power outages after big energy users—like AI data centers or crypto miners—suddenly switched offline.

Melissa Paris transformed from college motorcycle enthusiast to the first woman competing in World Supersport racing. Her career took her from Daytona to 24-hour endurance races at Le Mans, even testing Yamaha's coveted MotoGP prototype.

Now through MP13 Racing, Paris mentors young athletes: "I want to make sure everyone knows there's space at the table for them."

In Meta’s push to attract users to its new AI-powered digital companions, the tech giant has quietly allowed its AI personas to engage in fantasy sex—a unique feature among its peers.

That’s according to a new Wall Street Journal investigation, which found some internal Meta staffers are concerned the tech giant may have “crossed ethical lines,” including by failing to protect underage users from sexually explicit AI discussions.

Quick background: Meta has embraced using AI to create online companions geared towards providing social interaction—not just answering basic questions and performing simple tasks. The company’s newest AI companions offer the ability to research topics, imagine new ideas, and hold casual conversations.

Let’s talk about sex, baby

According to a monthslong WSJ investigation, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally advocated for a “loosening of boundaries” around companion bots to make them more engaging, including an exemption from Meta’s ban on explicit content to allow for romantic role-playing.

• The WSJ also found Meta’s chatbots will engage in and sometimes escalate sexual discussions—even when the users are underage, or the bots are programmed to act like minors.

Big picture: Researchers say the bonds children form with AI technology can become unhealthy, especially when it comes to love. Chatbot company Character.AI is currently facing a wrongful death lawsuit from a Florida mother who claims her 14-year-old son committed suicide after becoming obsessed with an AI companion on its site.

Online retail therapy has a new enabler: OpenAI yesterday announced that it’s updating ChatGPT search to give users an improved online shopping experience.

• Now, when searching for new work outfits or products like air fryers, the chatbot will prescribe recommendations based on user preferences, present images and reviews, and include links to webpages where the items can be purchased.
• The feature will only work for a handful of categories to start, including electronics, fashion, beauty, and home goods, with plans for more to be rolled out over time.

It represents a direct challenge to Google. And also offers an easy place for OpenAI to potentially place ads—or a way to generate affiliate fees, an idea CEO Sam Altman floated in a recent interview with Stratechery newsletter writer Ben Thompson. Revenue from “free-user” monetization is expected to hit $1 billion by 2026, according to OpenAI’s internal revenue projections.

The Search sands are shifting…ChatGPT users are running 1+ billion web searches per week, according to OpenAI. And while Google hasn’t yet been (and may not ever be) ordered to divest Chrome and its 3.5 billion users, OpenAI recently expressed interest in purchasing the browser should it become available later this year, along with Yahoo and AI-powered Search rival Perplexity (who started allowing users to shop directly inside its app in 2024).

OPC infuses Pilates into the natural flow of your vibrant life. Their team of dedicated instructors, led by Pilates expert Lesley Logan, creates accessible practices that understand busy women and adapt to your real-world schedule.

• 💪 Personalized,expert guidance that builds strength while honoring your pace
• 🥰 A judgment-free community where every step forward is embraced
• ✨ Movement that cultivates confidence extending far beyond the mat

NFL football is returning to America’s capital for the first time since the Clinton administration.

The Washington Commanders signed a deal with the District of Columbia to replace the team’s current Maryland stadium with a new 65,000-seat domed stadium at the site where RFK Stadium—the franchise’s home from 1961 to 1997—still stands.

The proposed new development, spanning 177 acres, would also include housing, retail, and park spaces.

• The deal includes a $2.7+ billion commitment from the Commanders to build the stadium, and ~$1.2 billion from Washington, D.C., to cover the costs of other aspects.

If you build it…Revenue sharing across US pro sports leagues means stadiums and real estate developments are more strongly correlated to increasing a franchise’s value than winning games. Of the 27 teams that more than doubled in value between 2018-2023, nine moved into, or are getting, new stadiums. Stadium ownership also means franchises are entitled to revenue from non-sporting events held on site, such as Taylor Swift concerts.

Big picture: The Commanders are worth ~$6.3 billion, 13th on CNBC’s list of 2024 NFL team valuations.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 📊 US markets closed mixed (S&P: +0.1%; Dow: +0.3%; Nasdaq: -0.1%); the S&P extended its winning streak to five days.
• 🍕 Domino's Pizza reported lower-than-expected profit and sales in Q1; expects same-store sales growth in 2025 despite macro pressures.
• 🤝 Airbus is acquiring some Spirit AeroSystems facilities that make parts for its jets; the deal comes after US rival Boeing recently agreed to reacquire the Kansas-based jet-parts maker for ~$4.7 billion. | Germany's Merck is buying US biotech company SpringWorks Therapeutics for ~$3.9 billion.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

in partnership with MANSCAPED®

• 🧑‍⚖️ A group of individuals accused in the 2016 Kim Kardashian robbery went on trial in Paris yesterday.
• 🎥 The 2025 Cannes Film Festival’s main Competition jury was announced; it includes Halle Berry and Jeremy Strong.
• 🎸 The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees were released; they include Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, and The White Stripes; see the full list.

*From our partners: 🤩 Save 25% on the ultimate grooming package for men… The Chairman™ Pro Package from MANSCAPED® includes electric foil face shaver, power shave gel, and face shave soother. Their SkinSafe® Technology helps reduce cuts, irritation, and razor burn. Save 25% on The Chairman™ Pro Package from MANSCAPED® here—ends tomorrow.

SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

• 🛰️ Amazon launched its first batch of Kuiper internet satellites into space yesterday; Kuiper aims to compete directly with SpaceX’s Starlink.
• 🌌 A massive invisible molecular cloud was detected surprisingly close to Earth, per a new study; the cloud could shed light on how stars and planets form.
• 🤖 UPS is in talks with startup Figure AI to use its humanoid robots for some tasks, per a Bloomberg report.

US, WORLD & POLITICS

in partnership with Arro

• 🇨🇦 Canada elections: Prime Minister Mark Carney will keep his role, with his Liberal Party holding a narrow lead in the House of Commons as of this writing.
• ⛪ The conclave to elect the late Pope Francis’ successor will begin May 7, the Vatican announced.
• 🏛️ Donald Trump Jr. launched the Executive Branch, a new private membership club in Washington, D.C., that features a $500,000 membership fee.

*From our partners: 💳🥳 Use Arro App’s financial tools and lessons FREE...Then when you’re ready for a credit card, get a starting limit up to $200 to help you build credit. One of the lowest APRs in the industry at just 16%, discounted membership fee for first year.** Start with Arro free here.

☝️ A Kansas City man recently opened the Museum of BBQ, which is believed to be the world's first museum dedicated entirely to the cooking craft.

🤔 Did You Know? Clenching your fist before a blood test can result in falsely elevated potassium levels.

📰 Worth a Read: Picking a Pope: Inside the world’s most secretive election

🖱️ Clickbait: The rarest baby name in your state

Yesterday we recapped the first 100 days of President Trump's second term—a traditional early milestone for measuring progress in each presidency.

❓ Our question to you: Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the job President Trump has done over his first 100 days in office?

• Approve: 31%
• Disapprove: 64%
• Unsure/other: 5%

Click here to read some of the most thoughtful longform responses.

+Note on sample size: We received 2,461 votes and 253 longform responses.

🇦🇺 A team of conservationists in Australia successfully released 15 endangered quolls into a controlled bushland environment, marking the first step in rewilding the species, which disappeared from Australia’s mainland more than 60 years ago.

🏃‍♀️ 40+ world records were broken at this year’s London Marathon—one by Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa, who set a new women-only marathon record of two hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds.

💸 After losing her husband, Barbara Papitto donated $100 million to 350 non-profits in Rhode Island in his honor.

❓ Question: What is the highest number on a standard roulette wheel?

🦩 True or False? Baby flamingos aren’t pink.

🤔 Riddle Me This: Who has married many people, but never been married?

k

e

e

p

s

c

r

o

l

l

i

n

g

❓ Trivia: 36

🦩 True: True; baby flamingos are white or grey

🤔 Riddle: A priest

**The Arro Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International. Here is our Privacy Policy.