25 talking points for better conversation at cocktails from news of the past week.

1. GM + Honda scrap plans to co-develop 'affordable' sub-$30,000 EVs.

2. Qualcomm unveils new PC chip in challenge to Apple + Intel

3. Microsoft to invest $3.2 billion to boost AI and tech in Australia.

4. In 2022, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon spent a combined $198.9 billion on research and developmen.

5. Today: First anniversary of Elon Musk completing the acquisition of the social media platform Twitter, renamed X in July this year.

6. Foxconn + Nvidia team up for AI' factories.'

7. Stockholm is banning gas and diesel cars in one central district next year.

8. Amazon now has 10,000 Rivian electric delivery vans in service.

9. Suzuki will make EVs in India and will export vehicles to Japan in 2025.

10. Nio is considering using dealers to build sales in Europe.

11. OpenAI is working on a new AI-generated image tool.

12. Amazon Prime delivery drones to take flight in the UK next year.

13. The first part of The Crown's final season will be released on November 16.

14. Michael Mann says 'Heat 2' will be his next film.

15. Is it Sphere or The Sphere?

16. Nearly 1 in 4 adults feel lonely, according to a new Meta-Gallup survey.

17. An NEA study shows few people attend movies, theaters, and museums.

18. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell receives an extension through 2027.

19. Today: The Major League Baseball World Series begins.

20. Saturday: South Africa takes on New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris.

21. Within a few days of Lionel Messi's move to Miami announcement, Adidas received almost 500,000 requests from stores and suppliers for the Inter Miami jersey.

22. The NHL will launch its version of "NFL RedZone" called "Frozen Frenzy."

23. Global business for the NBA accounts for about 10% of total team and league revenue.

24. This NBA season, a record number of 125 international players are on opening-night rosters.

25. Teahupoo is one of the world's most famous surfing areas and the designated Paris Olympics site for the surfing competition.

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc