DEVELOPING THIS HOUR: GOOGLE MAPS RENAMES THE GULF—FOR AMERICA. Google Maps will reportedly rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users. Google says it's simply "testing localized naming preferences." Source: Engaget.com.
THE RISE OF THE HUSTLE ECONOMY: MULTI-JOB AMERICA. Americans are embracing the hustle. Rising costs and a hot labor market have driven 5.3% of workers to take on second jobs—the highest rate since 2019, according to Labor Department data.
—> DOUBLE DUTY: States like Wisconsin and Hawaii are seeing rates as high as 10%, as side hustles become essential for financial stability.
—> BACK TO THE ’90s: Economists note that multi-jobbing mirrors trends last seen in the boomer-dominated workforce of the late ’90s.
Source: Labor Department; Washington Post.
hello, future. it’s me, kev.
…and this is a dispatch from the digital frontier. It’s time to meet the future NOW — with the latest on markets, tech, and freedom. The day is 28. The year is 2025. The planet is Earth. My name is Kevin Cirilli —> LinkedIn. Sign-up to receive the future in your inbox here.
Back to the future...
FUTURES
MARKET WATCH: BIG TECH DRAGS NASDAQ DOWN, DOW STAYS STRONG. It’s a mixed bag on Wall Street today. The Nasdaq is feeling the heat, dropping 1.8%, as tech heavyweights like Nvidia take a beating. Meanwhile, the Dow is flexing its muscles, up 0.7%, thanks to strong earnings from industrial players.
—> AI TAKES A HIT: Big Tech’s slump is tied to China’s DeepSeek, a rival to U.S. AI leaders, sending shockwaves through the AI stock frenzy. Nvidia tumbled 15%, pulling the Nasdaq into its worst day in months.
—> BROADER MARKET HOLDS UP: Outside of tech, most stocks are steady or climbing. Investors are balancing worries about AI competition with optimism around industrials and global growth
FED'S FIRST MEETING UNDER TRUMP 2.0: RATE CUTS ON HOLD. The Federal Reserve kicks off its initial policy meeting since President Trump's return to office. Despite his vocal demands for slashing interest rates, the Fed is expected to keep the benchmark rate steady at 4.25% to 4.50%.
ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE:
Inflation: Annual inflation stands at 2.4%, slightly above the Fed's 2% target, showing signs of persistence.
Employment: December saw a robust addition of 256,000 jobs, indicating a resilient labor market.
—> POLITICAL PRESSURE: Trump has intensified his rhetoric, asserting he "knows interest rates much better" than the Fed and signaling plans to demand immediate rate cuts.
—> FED'S STANCE: Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasizes the importance of the central bank's independence, indicating that policy decisions will remain data-driven and insulated from political influence.
—> MARKET REACTIONS: Investors are closely monitoring the Fed's decisions, especially in light of potential new tariffs and their implications for inflation and economic growth.
CRYPTO
RIPPLE CEO WANTS A U.S. CRYPTO RESERVE. Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, is pitching a bold idea: a diversified U.S. crypto reserve. He envisions a basket of digital assets—like XRP, bitcoin, and HBAR—forming the backbone of a national reserve to stabilize the economy and push U.S. crypto dominance.
—> ONE RESERVE VS. MANY: Within the crypto world, there’s debate about whether the U.S. should adopt a single-asset reserve (like bitcoin, dubbed “digital gold”) or a diversified basket of tokens. Proponents of a diversified approach argue it reduces risks from over-reliance on one volatile asset. But critics say multiple tokens could complicate management and undermine trust.
—> THE BIGGER PICTURE: Garlinghouse’s push highlights fears the U.S. is falling behind in crypto innovation. With other countries accelerating adoption, a national crypto reserve could be the bold move needed to keep America in the lead. Will lawmakers buy in?
Source: CoinDesk.
SPACE
MARS IN 45 DAYS? NASA’S NUCLEAR PLAN TO GET US THERE FAST: NASA is working on a radical new way to get humans to Mars in just 45 days. The secret? A next-gen propulsion system powered by nuclear thermal and electric technologies.
—> WHY IT MATTERS
FASTER TRIPS = SAFER ASTRONAUTS: Shorter missions reduce exposure to cosmic radiation and microgravity-related health risks.
MORE PAYLOADS: Nuclear systems can carry heavier cargo, enabling astronauts to bring more supplies and equipment to Mars.
—> WHAT’S NEXT? NASA is refining these concepts, with plans for tests in the 2030s. If successful, the red planet might feel a whole lot closer—and humanity could finally start its interplanetary journey in style. 🚀
Source: Interesting Engineering.
QUANTUM // ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
LG BETS BIG ON ROBOTICS: MEET YOUR AI-POWERED BUTLER. LG is doubling down on its robotics game with a majority stake in Bear Robotics, the startup behind AI-driven service robots charming restaurants and hotels worldwide. This time, LG is blending robotics into its smart home ecosystem with the Q9—a self-driving AI hub that’s more than just a fancy vacuum.
—> Q9: YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND? Think of the Q9 as a roaming butler, tech guru, and therapist in one. It controls your smart home devices, dodges your dog, lowers blinds, preheats ovens, and cues playlists—all while running on Microsoft’s cutting-edge voice tech. It’s “Affectionate Intelligence” in action, aiming to anticipate your needs and handle your chores.
—> ROBO TAKEOVER? This isn’t just a home gadget. LG’s vision includes an integrated robotics platform for restaurants, factories, and beyond. The goal? Seamless AI integration that makes your life easier, one robot at a time.
Source: The Ambient; The Spoon.
FUTURE OF WORK
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT HITS A NEW LOW — IS ANYONE WORKING?
Gallup reports that U.S. employee engagement has sunk to its lowest point in a decade. Only 31% of workers say they’re engaged on the job, and "quiet quitting" is becoming the norm.
—> WORKPLACE WOES: Disconnected workers mean lower productivity, higher turnover, and a creativity drain. Gallup warns that the trend has been steadily worsening since 2020, and companies are paying the price.
—> FIXING THE DISCONNECT: Experts say rethinking flexibility, leadership, and recognition could help. But for now, it seems like many employees are just counting down the hours.
Source: Gallup.
ONE MORE THING
WOOLLY MAMMOTHS: CLIMATE CHANGE'S NEW HEROES? Move over Jurassic Park—scientists are reviving the Woolly Mammoth, and it’s not for a sci-fi blockbuster. They’re using gene editing wizardry to mix elephant DNA with mammoth traits, aiming to reintroduce these furry giants to the Arctic by 2027. Why? To fight climate change.
—> MAMMOTHS VS. GLOBAL WARMING: These mega beasts could knock down trees and stomp snow to keep permafrost frozen, locking away planet-warming gases like methane. Basically, nature's biggest climate warriors in shaggy coats.
—> SCIENCE OR MADNESS? Critics say it’s a gamble, calling it "Jurassic Tundra." But hey, if it works, Earth’s OG snowplows might just save the planet. Stay tuned—2027’s looking WILD.
Source: Daily Galaxy; Forbes.
With gratitude,
Kev
ABOUT mtf.tv’s meet the future: mtf.tv’s meet the future is a cutting-edge platform focused on addressing key challenges at the intersection of national security, technology, and business. With a mission to embrace freedom to meet the future’s challenges and opportunities, mtf.tv offers forward-thinking media offerings and forums.
Share this post