Weekend Edition: Why don’t more women use AI?

Welcome to the weekend!

It’s the eye of a consumerist storm in the US — 48 hours between Black Friday and Cyber Monday to contemplate the value of new things versus new experiences. The Things-minded might want to hold out for Sony’s next handheld console, while Experience lovers should consider a trip to comeback-kid Puerto Rico, or to one of the world’s nine best restaurants. Still deciding? Fill the time with this week’s most-read story: Ellen’s Escape From Trump Will End in Humiliation.

You can enjoy all of Bloomberg’s Weekend Edition online or in the app, where you can also listen to the stories if that’s your jam. Don’t miss this Sunday’s Forecast email, in which we look at what comes after Google search. For unlimited access to Bloomberg.com, subscribe.

For the past few months, author Josie Cox has been asking people one question: Do you use generative AI? The responses, like the data on AI uptake, make one trend clear — men are using tools like ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini more often than women. While there are legit reasons for this disconnect (women often face graver consequences for failure, which leads to risk-aversion), Cox argues the disparity may impact productivity at work, which could exacerbate the gender pay gap.

For a case study in neglecting technological advances, consider Queen Kelly. The 1932 silent film was directed by Erich von Stroheim, who assumed the industry’s nascent “talkies” were a passing fad. They weren’t, and Queen Kelly tanked. It’s one of 26 such bombs in Tim Robey’s wildly entertaining Box Office Poison: Hollywood’s Story in a Century of Flops. Robey argues these failures tell us something about success.

One lesson from Box Office Poison: Just because we can doesn’t mean we should. That’s a familiar dictum to Adam Kucharski, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who published The Rules of Contagion: Why Things Spread in, ahem, February 2020. In this week’s Next Chapter, Kucharski looks at the risks associated with experimenting on viruses, and how lab tests can go wrong.

Helsinki
The stage dims, the music rises and green lasers beam across the venue as dancers appear in silver helmets. But it’s not a pop star that emerges; it’s… the president of Finland. This is Slush — part TED Talk, part Shark Tank, and Europe’s top startup conference. Despite the bloc’s economic woes, Slush draws those who believe tech can still bring huge paydays.

Sydney
Despite back pain and a limp, tennis legend Andre Agassi belied any signs of discomfort when he stepped onto a pickleball court in Sydney this month. The 54-year-old showed off his backhand, engaged in trash talk, and embraced his role as a global ambassador for the sport, which is taking off across Asia after seeing its popularity skyrocket in the US.

What we’re listening to: “Under Pressure.” So are executives at Volkswagen, which is facing existential challenges due to mismanagement, EVs and competition from China.

What we’re buying: a ticket to Norway, where 94% of new car sales are now electric. Thanks to targeted incentives, the country is within reach of a goal to stop adding combustion engines next year.

What we’re not buying: a PlayStation 5 Pro. The $700 console uses AI to improve games’ frame rate while maintaining image quality. But the improvements aren’t easy to spot with the naked eye.

What we’re wearing: Theviral $25 Target leggings. After two years of flagging sales, the retailer’s turnaround depends on creating ‘cheap-chic’ hits to compete with the likes of Lululemon and Gap.

What we’re drinking: Pinot Grigio, which isn’t bad — it’s just misunderstood. Don’t let a flood of cheap supermarket vino deter you from pinots out of Italy, France, Oregon and New Zealand.

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