SUMMARY

Ryan Alford breaks down 8 major stories shaping business and marketing—from Shopify’s AI assistant and a historic railroad merger to PepsiCo’s prebiotic cola and Nike’s rapid sneaker lab. Plus: TikTok’s 60-minute videos, Sprite x Jalen Hurts, and more.

TAKEAWAYS

• Shopify's introduction of the AI assistant Sidekick and its impact on e-commerce.
• The merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, creating a coast-to-coast railroad network.
• PepsiCo's launch of a prebiotic cola aimed at health-conscious consumers.
• Live Nation Urban's new creator network for connecting brands with influencers.
• The increasing role of investors in the single-family housing market.
• Nike's Air Imagination Lab for rapid sneaker prototyping using 3D printing.
• Sprite's NFL marketing campaign featuring quarterback Jalen Hurts and player-led storytelling.
• TikTok's testing of longer video uploads, potentially challenging YouTube.
• The National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago and its significance in the collectibles market.
• The overarching theme of reducing friction in business processes to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.