[Post 224] How Nvidia Grew From Gaming To A.I. Giant, Now Powering ChatGPT

Summary

Thirty years ago, Taiwan immigrant Jensen Huang founded Nvidia with the dream of revolutionizing PCs and gaming with 3D graphics. In 1999, after laying off the majority of workers and nearly going bankrupt, the company succeeded when it launched what it claims as the world’s first Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Then Jensen bet the company on something entirely different: AI. Now, that bet is paying off in a big way as Nvidia’s A100 chips quickly become the coveted training engines for ChatGPT and other generative AI. But as the chip shortage eases, other chip giants like Intel are struggling. And with all it’s chips made by TSMC in Taiwan, Nvidia remains vulnerable to mounting U.S.-China trade tensions. We went to Nvidia’s Silicon Valley, California, headquarters to talk with Huang and get a behind-the scenes-look at the chips powering gaming and the AI boom.

[Post 223] What China's Shrinking Population Means For The Global Economy

Summary

China remains home to 1.4 billion people. But that number is getting smaller.

The country's National Bureau of Statistics reported China's population slipped to 1.412 billion last year from 1.413 billion in 2021. The last time China saw negative population growth was in the 1960s.

Many experts believe that China's one-child policy, introduced in the 1980s, is one of the main reasons for the population decline.

"China's one-child policy was a mistake," said Yi Fuxian, an expert on Chinese population trends at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "China is worried because its economic outlook is bleak."

China revised its one-child policy to two in 2016 and three in 2021. But despite the change, younger adults don't seem to be in much of a mood to follow the policy and have more babies. The country has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, falling to an all-time low of 1.28 in 2020.

"This one-child policy has the Chinese people accustomed to one child per family," said Xiaolin Shi, an assistant teaching professor at Northeastern University. "So you can imagine how hard it is to change people's cultural attitude that has been such deeply rooted in their mind."

Some experts believe that slowing population growth is not only a concern for China but also a global concern, as the country has long been known as the world's factory.

"The global consumer is going to feel what's happening," said Mei Fong, author of 'One Child.' "What's happening in the bedrooms in China is actually affecting what's happening in the rest of the world."

Watch the video above to find out what caused China's population decline and how the shrinking population could alter the global economy.

[Post 222] How the U.S. Spent $1.4 Trillion in Debt Last Year | WSJ

Summary

The United States relies on taxes and debt for much of its spending — but what would spending cuts look like? Just last year, the U.S. took on over a trillion dollars in debt.

WSJ explains how much the Treasury relies on debt, where it goes and what happens when the Treasury hits the debt ceiling.

[Post 221] The Future Of KFC & Its Fried Chicken Empire | Inside KFC E3 | Our Stories

Summary

This documentary series goes inside the fast food giant KFC UK from their boardrooms to their kitchens. In the final episode, the future of the KFC UK brand is put under the microscope. Marketing expert Meghan hopes to change the public's perception by launching new healthier products like BBQ'd Pulled Chicken. First Meghan has to get the concept past franchisees like Acky, who own 65% of UK and Ireland stores. Following a photo shoot, Pulled Chicken hits the shelf in Glasgow to a lukewarm start. Manager Mark's team hit the streets with free samples and within days Pulled Chicken is flying off the shelves, just in time for Meghan to witness.

[Post 220] The Rise And Fall Of Forever 21

Summary

At its peak, Forever 21 made $4.4 billion in revenue and was one of the fastest-growing fast fashion empires. Now, the retailer is preparing to file for bankruptcy after alienating its core customers and struggling to keep up with the rise of e-commerce. As one of the largest tenants of American malls, a large-scale shutdown of Forever 21's stores could exacerbate the ongoing retail apocalypse.

[Post 219] Inflation Woes: How To Stretch My Food Dollar? | Talking Point | Budget Challenge

Summary

Inflation is at a near 10-year high in January this year, and it’s hitting our food prices hard. So it’s more important than ever that we stretch our dollar when it comes to our food. 

That’s the challenge that host Steven Chia issued to two families for a week - to either save money on their meals, or figure out ways to get more food for the same amount of money. How much can they achieve in a week? And can they do it without compromising on their current lifestyles?

[Post 218] Why McDonald’s Is Thriving In China

Summary

With 60 million customers daily, more than 40,000 locations in over 100 countries and 1.9 million employees McDonald’s is one of the world’s largest restaurant chains. And it is about to get even bigger. The fast food giant said it plans to open 1,900 new restaurants in 2023. Almost half of those locations will be in China. McDonald’s got its start in China in the early 90’s. 

Today, the chain has more than 4,500 restaurants in mainland China and Hong Kong with considerable room for growth. But it has faced headwinds along the way including lockdowns due to Covid-19, food safety issues and competition from rivals whose menus may be more suited to the Chinese palate. China is McDonald’s second largest market by store count behind the U.S. So how did the Illinois-based burger joint find success in a country known for its love of pork.