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Its been a long, hot summer for Americas universities. Columbia, accused by the Trump administration of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, settled with the federal government for a whopping $200 million, while Harvard is struggling to defend itself against allegations that it unduly favored some students based on ethnicity, in violation of the prohibition to consider race in college applications. Similar cases abound, making it seem as if our institutions of higher education are little more than heated ideological battlegrounds, offering students an uncertain future and therefore, considering the ever-rising price of tuition, a risky bet. Apologies, then, for spoiling a perfectly good bout of alarmism. Im afraid I have a bit of good news: The kids are all right. First, more of them will be heading over to the quad in the next few weeks than at any other time in recent memory. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center[DA1] , freshman enrollment rose by 5.5% in fall 2024 and total enrollment rose 4.5%, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. What explains this optimism and commitment to higher education, even as so much of the news coming from colleges these days is grim? Simple: Contrary to what some pundits would have us believe, young Americans arent heated partisans looking for an unending string of political kerfuffles, nor are they spoiled brats who feel entitled to lifes fineries. They are, in fact, hardworking, tough minded, and practical. I know this because my company, Scion owns and operates apartment housing for college studentsmore than 94,000 apartments in 82 colleges and universities across 35 stateswhich means we have about a decades worth of hard data about college students and the choices they make, providing far more valuable insights than talk radio hyperbole or politically motivated op-eds. WHAT THE DATA SHOWS What, then, does the data tell us about our young? Lets start with the most fundamental question, namely what is it that college students actually value? To hear many in the mainstream press tell it, the members of Generation Z are a gaggle of divas in training, chasing, as one recent headline breathlessly put it, amenities, aesthetics, and their own mini universe. Unless an apartment building comes with its own organic vegetable garden or a soy latte station, it wont pass muster with the young and the restless. The numbers, thankfully, tell a very different story. Everywhere you look, college students across the country from all socioeconomic backgrounds are a much more sober and serious-minded bunch. Our data shows that their ideal property is a rental going for somewhere around $850 to $925 a month, typically at or slightly above the average local rent. Proximity to their school is valued; extravagant amenities are not. That is, with a few caveats: As our numbers [DA2] show, 14.8% of the decision to choose one residential accommodation over another is predicated on access to study rooms and fitness centers, two perks that are emblematic of a focused, healthy lifestyle. Safety, too, is a major concern, with students prioritizing buildings that take safety and security seriously. Swing suites, rock climbing walls, and other lavish treats account for about 3% of the decision, proving that young Americans, so often maligned as failing toas the slang term goes”adult, are actually much more adept at making sensible, well-rounded decisions than we give them credit for. The same insight emerges when we analyze our most active and in-demand student rental markets. Sure, there are a few glittery campuses in Cambridge, Massachusetts or New Haven, Connecticut that still attract much more than their share of coverage and attention, but American students are overall uninterested in this hullaballoo. For the most part, they still see college as precisely the platform it was always designed to be: a place to gain an education that will catapult them to a better, more lucrative future. This makes universities like Texas A&M, that offer students a good and practical education at a reasonable price, much more attractive than youd think if you simply read the mainstream press and shared its obsession with the Ivies. RETHINK THE APPROACH Im sharing these statistics not only as a general cultural panacea, but also as an invitation to rethink our approach to a growing and often misunderstood marketplace. This year, college enrollment in the U.S. across undergraduate and graduate levels surpassed pre-pandemic rates for the first time, rising by 4.5%, or 817,000 students. All signs suggest that the number will continue to grow. Which leaves us with a critical question: Will we continue to treat young American adults as a generation oscillating between ideological inflammations and self-involved consumption? Or will we recognize them as what they actually are, a much more astute, responsible, and practical bunch than we graybeards sometimes like to admit? The answer is crucial for anyone interested in marketing anything to Generation Z, from a college degree to an apartment. We have the technology we need to help us offer products and services based on real, actionable insights, and cater to a new generation of Americans coming into its own. And we can easily fix a lot of whats ailing college students. But that would require focusing on housing, not hype, and on products instead of prejudices. Its time we listened to the data and welcomed a new cadre of eager men and women into the fold as equal partners in the never-ending and miraculous project that is growing the American economy. Rob Bronstein is the CEO of The Scion Group.
Category:
E-Commerce
Grindrs days as a public company could be numbered. The hookup and dating app, which went public via a SPAC merger in fall 2021, announced Tuesday that its largest shareholders, Raymond Zage and James Luwho led the companys go-public effortswere exploring the possibility of acquiring Grindrs outstanding stock, which would take the company private again. The confirmation of Lu and Zages goal of taking the company private followed reporting on Monday from Semafor, which outlined that a recent Grindr stock slide led a lender to seize shares that at least one of the men had used to back a personal loan. Semafor reported that the two were in talks with Fortress Investment Group to take on debt that would allow them to buy Grindr out at $15 a share. Grinder stock (NYSE: GRIND) closed at $12.72 a share on Wednesday. Grindr declined to comment on the buyout effort beyond a statement it released Tuesday. Fortress Investment Group declined to comment. Collectively, Zagethe Singapore-based CEO of investment firm Tiga Investmentsand Lu, a former Amazon and Baidu executive, collectively control more than 60% of the companys shares. Because Lu is Grindrs board chair and Zage sits on the board, the company said it had established a committee of independent directors that will evaluate any potential future offer. Highs and lows This year has been a mixed bag for the companys stock price. In June, it hit its highest price since the IPO, rising to $24.73. Since then, it has been on the downswing, dropping 12%. Since early September, the stock has dropped 3% in value. It also saw a drop in early September after Ningi Researchwhich bills itself as doing “investigative reporting on public companies”revealed a short position on Grindr. (Ningi Research has also released reports this year on coconut water company Vita Coco and financial services company Marex alongside short positions in both companies.) Ningi’s report outlined allegations that the company is manipulating its user numbers due to a change in how it counts paid users. Other claims in the report include allegations that the apps core experience is being diluted by its efforts to broaden its offering into a global gayborhood in your pocket. Grindr also declined to comment on the Ningi report. In its latest earnings report in August, Grindr posted a 27% year-over-year increase in revenue for its second quarter. Alongside Grindr’s Q2 earnings, CEO George Arison debuted his plan to start adding more AI-powered features for the apps highest-paying users, rebuilding the app around gAI (pronounced gay I). Also this year, Grindr has been undertaking its first foray into telehealth. In May, the company unveiled Woodwork, a direct-to-consumer service for erectile dysfunction medications. As Arison told Fast Company in May, he has viewed Grindr’s success as a public company as a way to push for more acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community more broadly. “Part of our mission has to be we do super well as a business and we force everybody to change,” he said.
Category:
E-Commerce
If you have ever welcomed a new baby into the world, you know the mix of hope and uncertainty that comes with those first days. For decades, newborn screening has been a quiet triumph of public health, catching rare but serious conditions before symptoms appear and giving families a head start on care. Now, genomic newborn screening, which includes whole genome sequencing, is poised to take this life-saving work further by screening for hundreds of genetic conditions at birth and changing the standard of care. FROM RESEARCH TO REAL-WORLD IMPACT The GUARDIAN study is pioneering genomic newborn screening in New York City. As the largest genomic newborn screening program of its kind in the U.S., GUARDIAN has shown how many more conditions can be diagnosed with early genomic screening. Researchers at Boston Childrens Hospital, the New York State public health laboratory, Columbia University, and New York-Presbyterian have screened more than 15,000 newborns. Research published last fall from the first 4,000 newborns found that more than 3% of those babies received an actionable diagnosis. This unlocked opportunities for treatment and care long before symptoms would appear. The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted this work to end the diagnostic odyssey, including the story of Lili Hasse and her daughter Margot, from the GUARDIAN study. Diagnosed through GUARDIAN as an infant with CDKL5 deficiency disordera condition that causes seizures and developmental delaysMargot was able to see a specialist right away and connect with a support group. While many families face years before receiving an answer, Margots early diagnosis meant timely treatment. Today, thanks to medications, supplements, diet, and therapy, she has near complete seizure control, and emerging gene therapies may offer even more hope. The difference is striking: Conditions we typically diagnose on average seven to 11 years later were identified close to birth. That means faster answers, less uncertainty, and more intervention opportunities. Beyond the data, weve seen the power of early testing to help doctors make better decisions, connect families with clinical trials, and ensure equity so that every baby, no matter their background, can benefit. STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRESS: A TURNING POINT In a time when so many issues divide us, genomic newborn screening offers common ground. Leaders from across the political spectrum are taking action to ensure children can have the healthiest possible start, with bills being introduced at the state and federal level. This shared commitment is fueling progress across states, health systems, research institutions, and our nation. This summer, Florida passed the Sunshine Genetics Act, establishing the nations first state-run genomic newborn screening program. By expanding access, investing in education, and ensuring that genomic screening reaches every community, Florida is sending a clear message: The future of newborn screening is here. And with New York continuing to lead in research through GUARDIAN, were seeing proof that genomic newborn screening is both scalable and impactful. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced a $14.4 million grant from the Common Fund Venture Program for BEACONS (Building Evidence and Collaboration for GenOmics in Nationwide Newborn Screening), which will be the is the first multi-state initiative in the U.S. to integrate whole genome sequencing into public health newborn screening. The program will enroll up to 30,000 newborns across as many as 10 states, further building upon the momentum of GUARDIAN, Sunshine Genetics, and other research that is showcasing the power of an actionable genetic diagnosis at birth. LOOKING AHEAD A diagnosis in the first days of life can mean access to targeted treatments, better care planning, and peace of mind for families. It can save years of uncertainty and transform lives. I see the benefits of early diagnosis every day in my work at GeneDx. Every child that is tested using this technology strengthens our knowledge base, helping us provide even more precise answers for the next child and family. September was Newborn Screening Awareness Month, serving as a reminder of whats possible when science, policy, the private sector, and patient advocacy come together. The tools are here. The evidence is clear. And with collaboration across stakeholders, genomic newborn screening can become the standard of care for every newborn in America. Britt Johnson, PhD, FACMG, is head of medical affairs at GeneDx.
Category:
E-Commerce
We dont fully understand human biology. Not proteins, or cells or tissuesand certainly not how they all interact in the dynamic systems that make up our body. I believe AI is the answer to that problem. It offers the promise of a step-change in data analysis and eventually will understand our bodies processes at a fundamental level. It will solve biology. But it cant be done by generalist large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. Were going to need domain-specific agentic software that plans, acts, and adapts. The sort of AI that can support us across messy, multimodal workflows inherent to biological research. This is how we unlock the medicines and treatments that society needs to tackle the most urgent diseases on our doorstep. But how much does the pharmaceutical industry agree with this? How do they see agentic AI? We commissioned a report, uncovering what 202 members of the pharmaceutical industry, chosen from various roles across the U.S. and Europe, expect from agentic AI. The data is clear, and sometimes surprising: When it comes to agentic AI, the industry is convinced, but cautious. Success will hinge on fixing data fundamentals, building trust, and meeting people where they work. WHAT IS AGENTIC AI GOOD FOR? Here are the two most important areas we identified where pharma believes agentic AI can add value. First is in handling data. The unsexy stuff: harmonizing, cleaning, and stitching data across different data modalities. If an agent can make siloed patient data analysis-ready in a secure manner, thats the bedrock for further advances. The second is in early target discovery. Agentic AI can autonomously scan literature and datasets to form hypotheses on its own, then test them in robotic lab settings. This will speed up drug pipelines and improve the probability of success of clinical trials. But theres a divide in enthusiasm for agentic AI. Executives love it (79.4% of C-level executives and vice presidents rated it very important or top priority). But on the front lines, scientists and analysts are more reserved. I read this as a demand signal. AI agents must deliver measurable gains for enthusiasm at the top to become adopted at the bench. Its a classic pattern for when a new platform hits enterprise: Vision sells the first pilot, but only reductions in timetoinsight and insight quality improvements scale it. And of course pharmas appetite will depend on the cost of the meal. Perhaps surprisingly, we found a meaningful slice of enterprises allocating eightfigure budgets to agentic AI implementation. But others havent even named a line item yet. I think that will give us a twospeed market: Fast movers with a budget to match will standardize on an agentic backbone; cautious adopters will pilot targeted use cases with clear ROI. Agentic AI providers offering onramps, i.e. start small, scale to enterprise, will win. TRUST NEEDS TO BE EARNED But none of this matters if users cant trust what their AI is telling them. And there is still work to do to convince industry users. Only half of the respondents would trust an AI to give them consistently correct answers. And that drops to 40% for making decisions about a drug pipeline, or even protecting intellectual property. There are different ways to read this. ChatGPT has a reputation for hallucinating responses. Biotech has so far failed to bring a completely novel, AI-discovered target to market. Perhaps the technology is just not mature enough to be trusted with the big decisions? Even if that is true now, the AI industry is like a French cheeseit matures quickly. For example, standard large language models (the basis of agentic systems) fail at complex biological reasoning. But recent research shows they can be dramatically improved through specific reinforcement training. My take is that agentic has a communication issue rather than a technical one. Agentic AI has moved so quickly that the details of what it can and cant do can appear fuzzy. Pharmaceutical executives are masters of decision making based on data analysis. There simply isnt enough well-articulated information out there for them to make a firm decision on agentic AI yet. Even the enthusiastic early adopters may flinch at being asked to trust an unproven, poorly understood, agentic system with their crown jewels. WALK THE WALK, THEN TALK ABOUT IT What our report says to me is that we need to put more work into explaining and demonstrating what agentic AI can do, and what it cant do (yet). We need to show clear proof points, minus the hypebut that must be in the real world, not confined to academic publications. For pharmaceutical companies to truly buy into what we believe, the products need to speak for themselves. Were on the cusp of a great shift in the way the pharmaceutical industry works. Those that can show that agentic technology works will reap the rewards. Thomas Clozel is cofounder and CEO of Owkin.
Category:
E-Commerce
Walmart will be putting millions of sensors on its pallets across its supply chain chain, in a move that technology partner Wiliot is calling “the first large-scale deployment of ambient Internet of Things (IoT)” sensors in the retail industry. The technology is currently deployed in 500 Walmart locations, and the retail giant plans to expand nationwide in 2026. The ambient IoT sensors are battery-free and operate by harvesting energy from sources such as radio waves, light, motion, and heat, according to CNBC. The wide rollout will cover 4,600 Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and over 40 distribution centers, generating high-resolution supply chain data that feeds into Walmart’s AI systems. The retail giant has one of the biggest supply chain networks in the U.S. “We’re not only optimizing our supply chain to make faster, smarter inventory decisions, but we’re also tackling one of the hardest problems in retailknowing exactly what we own and where it is at any given moment,” Greg Cathey, Walmart senior vice president of transformation and innovation, said in a statement. “This enhanced visibility helps us deliver the consistent value, quality, and experience our customers expect.” With this move, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant is aiming to improve its supply chain efficiency, accuracy about its inventory, and cold chain compliance, with real-time insights on what merchandise is owned and where it is at any moment. Walmart financials Shares of Walmart (WMT) were up over 1% by the close of the market on Wednesday. The retail giant’s fiscal second quarter earnings report for 2026 included $116.9 billion in revenue, an increase of $2.7 billion, or 2.3%, over last year. Consolidated net income was $4.1 billion, up 1.3%, and diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.24, a 5.1% increase compared to $1.18 last year.
Category:
E-Commerce
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