Audible Tests AI-Powered Features for Personalized Audiobook Recommendations and Discovery

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As we head deeper into fall, the global news landscape continues to shift rapidly. Today, international attention is focused on the escalating tensions in Eastern Europe, where the conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains critical, with ongoing diplomatic negotiations and military engagements. Meanwhile, global markets are bracing for potential volatility as several major tech companies prepare to release their quarterly earnings reports. Closer to home, political debates heat up as the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, with key candidates ramping up their campaigns and addressing pressing issues like the economy, healthcare, and climate change. Keep an eye on these developments as they could have significant implications for both global and domestic affairs in the weeks to come.

In today’s email:

• Audible: Personalized Recommendations

• FTX “Queen”: Sentenced For Fraud

• $DJT: Trump Media Stock

Audible Tests AI Features for Personalized Audiobook Recommendations and Enhanced Discovery

Audible, Amazon’s audiobook service, is testing new AI-driven features aimed at personalizing audiobook recommendations. These features include AI-powered tags that analyze customer reviews to suggest books based on individual preferences, such as “heartwarming romance” or “relatable storyline.” A "Tags" carousel in the app helps users quickly grasp why a book might appeal to them without reading multiple reviews. Additionally, AI-driven topic pages are being trialed to help users discover audiobooks they might not have encountered otherwise.

Currently, these experiments are available to 50% of U.S. users on iOS and Android, according to Audible. The platform is also using AI in various other ways, such as in its search tool “Maven” and to curate audiobook collections. Audible has even begun working with select narrators to train AI on their voices for future audiobook recordings, aligning with competitors like Apple, which introduced AI-generated narration for Apple Books in 2023.

These developments aim to enhance audiobook discovery and provide more tailored experiences for users, leveraging AI technology for improved recommendations.

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Caroline Ellison Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison, Ordered to Forfeit $11 Billion for Role in FTX Fraud

Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research and a key figure in the FTX scandal, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to forfeit $11 billion. The sentencing took place in New York federal court, where Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled on Ellison’s involvement in the cryptocurrency exchange’s downfall. Ellison, 29, cooperated extensively with prosecutors, helping secure the conviction of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

Despite her cooperation, which included providing critical evidence, Kaplan emphasized that a prison sentence was necessary to deter future financial crimes. Ellison expressed deep remorse, apologizing in court for her actions and her failure to distance herself from Bankman-Fried. Though prosecutors recommended leniency due to her truthful cooperation, Ellison will serve prison time and surrender on or after November 7.

Her sentencing follows the conviction of Bankman-Fried, who received 25 years in prison for orchestrating one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history.

Trump Media Stock Soars 11% as Company Tries to Recover from Post-Lockup Sell-Off

Shares of Trump Media, the company primarily owned by Donald Trump, surged over 11% on Wednesday morning, bouncing back after a significant sell-off triggered by the expiration of insider lockup periods. The stock opened strong, peaking above $14.10 around 10 a.m. ET, marking a recovery following a sharp decline that had erased billions from the company's market value.

On Tuesday, Trump Media ended a six-day losing streak, closing 5% higher. Despite these gains, the stock had experienced a steep drop of 70% since mid-July, partially fueled by market reactions following Trump's narrow survival of an assassination attempt and changes in political polling dynamics.

As lockup agreements expired Thursday, trading volume surged, but Trump has stated he has no intention of selling his 57% stake, valued at $1.5 billion. Some analysts believe the stock remains overvalued, driven more by retail investors betting on Trump's political prospects than by the company's underlying financials, with Truth Social being its primary product.

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