Good morning. In today’s edition:

• 🤖 ChatGPT introduces ads
• 🏈 CFB national champion
• 🐄 Cows can use tools

…and much more.

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~4.23-minute read (1,126 words).

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

"Our greatest glory is, not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

–Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774)

ChatGPT is following in the footsteps of every popular company product in history, and moving full speed ahead with the introduction of targeted advertisements for users.

On Friday, OpenAI officially began testing ads in ChatGPT for the first time, marking a significant shift for the decade-old AI startup as it seeks new ways to grow revenue.

How it’ll work: According to OpenAI, all ads will appear in separate, clearly labeled boxes directly below the chatbot’s answer. The company says its new ads won’t influence any of ChatGPT’s responses to users.

• Advertisements will first appear for logged-in ChatGPT users on the free tier, as well as the $8/month ChatGPT Go tier.
• OpenAI says users on its Plus, Pro, and Enterprise subscriptions won’t see ads as part of the initial rollout
• A company spokesperson declined to detail exactly what data OpenAI will collect on users to serve relevant ads, but said it won’t sell user data or expose conversations with ChatGPT to advertisers.

The move was a long time coming

Ads on ChatGPT have long felt inevitable. After raising ~$64 billion over the past 10 years, OpenAI has generated only a fraction of that in revenue over the past few years, leaving many investors hungry for greater returns.

However…In launching ads, OpenAI will have to strike a balance between introducing a potentially lucrative new stream of revenue, while also not upsetting users who have grown increasingly impressed with other AI products outside of ChatGPT.

• In December, OpenAI declared a “code red” in response to the surprising success and growth of Google’s Gemini chatbot.
• And Anthropic’s latest Claude update is drawing rave reviews from… well, everyone.

Looking ahead…OpenAI says a growing number of US ChatGPT users in the free and $8/month tiers will start being exposed to its new ad system over the coming weeks.

It’s easy to get caught in repetitive thought loops that replay the same worries, conversations, or worst-case scenarios. Mindful helps you recognize and gently interrupt unhelpful patterns through:

• Daily guided meditations
• Breathing practices to settle the nervous system
• Practical mindfulness tools like grounding exercises and brief reset techniques

These evidence-informed practices support greater awareness of automatic reactions and help restore perspective, whether you have 30 seconds or 30 minutes.

If you thought daylight savings time was confusing, wait until you hear about lunar time.

Last week, Chinese researchers unveiled the world’s first unique timekeeping system for the Moon, called Lunar Time Ephemeris (LTE440).

The landmark system isn’t a physical clock, but rather a software algorithm designed to convert Earth-based time to lunar time with extreme precision, and remain accurate for up to 1,000 years.

Why it’s a big deal: Clocks move very slightly faster on the Moon than on Earth due to weaker gravity, with the effects adding up to ~56 millionths of a second each day. This effect, predicted by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, adds up over time and can throw off mission-critical operations around the Moon.

• New timekeeping systems that account for this difference will help future space missions around the globe—including China’s planned Moon base and NASA’s Artemis landings—to coordinate their maneuvers, landings, and communications.
• Researchers say the updated lunar clocks will also prove essential for building the equivalent of GPS on the Moon, a project that could begin within the next few years.

China isn’t alone in its quest. NASA aims to finish its own Moon-centric time system, called Coordinated Lunar Time, by the end of 2026. The European Space Agency is also developing a similar system, but hasn’t released a public timeline.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 🌎 96% of US tariff costs are paid for by Americans, with foreign exporters absorbing only 4% by lowering prices, according to a new study from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank.
• 🧑‍⚖️ Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft over allegations that they committed fraud by discarding the AI startup’s nonprofit mission.
• 🤝 Canada agrees to cut tariffs on Chinese EVs from 100% to 6.3% in exchange for Beijing agreeing to ease some tariffs on Canadian imports like canola oil. | EU and four South American countries—the “Mercosur” bloc, comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—sign a long-delayed free trade agreement covering ~25% of global GDP.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🏈 CFP National Championship: #1 Indiana defeats #10 Miami 27-21 to win their first national title in school history. | NFL Playoffs: The Broncos and Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship Game, while the Seahawks and Rams advanced to the NFC Championship Game. | Buffalo Bills fire head coach Sean McDermott after eight playoff appearances in nine seasons; Miami Dolphins hire Packers DC Jeff Hafley as their next head coach.
• 🏀 NBA All-Star starters announced, with Lakers G Luka Dončić (West) and Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo (East) leading the voting; LeBron James not named a starter, ending NBA-record streak of 21 straight All-Star starts.
• 🍿 Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, is now A24’s highest-grossing film ever at the domestic box office ($80 million). | Game of Thrones is back: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the latest GoT spinoff, premiered Sunday night on HBO.

A single drop of oregano oil can help your gut and immunity in ways many probiotics can’t.

Nature’s Craft Organic Oil of Oregano Drops are plant-based and simple to use, and a tiny daily drop is making a noticeable difference for thousands. If other probiotic boosters haven’t done the trick, these could be the missing piece of your wellness puzzle.

SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

• 🚀 NASA’s massive rocket system that will ferry astronauts on the Artemis II mission around the Moon was moved to its launch pad on Saturday; US officials say the mission could launch as soon as February 6.
• 🫄 New research inspired by recent claims from President Trump finds no link between autism and using Tylenol (aka acetaminophen or paracetamol) during pregnancy.
• 🌌 Scientists discover mysterious and massive bar‑shaped cloud of iron atoms located inside the Ring Nebula; finding could offer clues as to how Earth’s own Sun will end up.

US, WORLD & POLITICS

• 🌎 President Trump imposed increasing tariffs on imports from eight NATO allies—including Denmark—starting Feb. 1 until a deal is reached for the US to purchase Greenland; Trump also tells Norway’s PM in a text message that he no longer needs to think “purely of peace” after “your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS.” (Note: More on the evolving US-Greenland situation in tomorrow’s DoD)
• 🪖 Pentagon orders 1,500 soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota if President Trump invokes the Insurrection Act, per multiple reports.
• 🌍 Trump invites Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the US-created “Board of Peace,” which was initially proposed to oversee Gaza reconstruction but now aims to be a global conflict resolution body bypassing the UN; Trump is reportedly seeking $1 billion in exchange for a permanent seat, with the invitation extended to ~60 nations.

☝️ An Austrian cow named Veronika is forcing scientists to reevaluate how intelligent cows are as a species. In a new study, Veronika displayed an impressive knack for flexible tool use—a behavior that’s relatively rare in the animal kingdom, and hadn’t been documented in cows until now.

🤔 Did you know? The average airplane gets struck by lightning around twice per year. Their electrical systems are designed to withstand these shocks and keep operating, with backup systems in the event of a failure.

📰 Worth a read: Why you should put down your phone and daydream instead

🖱️ What we’re clicking:

• The No. 1 ‘magic phrase’ that truly teaches kids emotional intelligence
• These are the best sports for longevity
• Why are people posting photos from 2016?

Slippers for all-day wear… Slip your Kyrgies on first thing and stay cozy until the day winds down. Made with naturally breathable wool that’s soft, breathable, and easy to live in. Save 20% with code DONUT20.

On Friday, we covered Microsoft’s new plan to cover the full electricity costs for its US data centers, which comes as more Americans are pushing back on the recent AI-fueled rise in data centers amid increased electricity prices and added stress to the US power grid.

❓ Our question to you: In your opinion, which of the following should be prioritized?

• Gaining a global edge in AI development: 13%
• Ensuring data centers don’t raise local power prices: 78%
• Unsure/other: 9%

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

+Note on sample size: We received 639 votes and 73 longform responses.

Guess the definitions of the following Greek/Latin root words:

1. Cosm
2. Du
3. Graph
4. Lat
5. Ov

🦘 An unexpected swimmer took the plunge into the lazy river at Melbourne’s Funfields Themepark before opening hours—a wild kangaroo. 

1. Cosm = Universe (e.g., cosmic)
2. Du = Two (dual)
3. Graph = Draw (graphic)
4. Lat = Wide (latitude)
5. Ov = Egg (ovary)

Advertise with us: Want to reach other smart and inquisitive readers like you? Become a DONUT partner here.