Hello, N2K’ers!

The theme of Cheddar’s world-famous News Haiku™ competition this week is that only 54% of Americans now drink alcohol — a record low reflected in N2K readership — the majority of whom are “rethinking” their drinking, according to last week’s poll. Send me a haiku on the subject by Thursday at noon ET right here. Winner gets glory — lots of glory, and a GIF!

Now let’s talk about the news you Need2Know?

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• ChatGPT-5 will be 'warmer and friendlier'

• More flights canceled during Air Canada strike, eh …

• U.S. cancels trade talks with India

• Winklevoss twins’ crypto exchange files for IPO

• AT&T might give you $7,500 over data breach

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▼ 0.01% ) $DJI ( ▼ 0.08% ) $NDX ( ▲ 0.03% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

OpenAI, AIR CANADA, Gemini, $CIRCLE.P ( 0.0% ) , $BLSH ( ▼ 8.87% ) , $T ( ▲ 0.17% )  

ChatGPT-5 will be 'warmer and friendlier'

OpenAI has announced updates to GPT-5, aiming to make its chatbot “warmer and friendlier” in response to user feedback that deemed previous versions too formal.

The company explained in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “We’re making GPT-5 warmer and friendlier based on feedback that it felt too formal before. Changes are subtle, but ChatGPT should feel more approachable now.” Adjustments include minor touches like responses beginning with “Good question” or “Great start” while ensuring no rise in sycophantic behavior compared to earlier versions, according to internal tests.

Reception to the changes has been, let’s say… mixed. While some appreciate the effort to refine the model’s tone, many users voiced concerns about prioritizing personality over functionality:

Personally I like a rude chatbot. But that’s probably just me. And my editor.

Song of the day: Marissa Nadler, ‘Hatchet Man’

“Hatchet Man" is the second single from her album “New Radiations,” telling a dark story of a sinister character bringing a woman home to murder her, with the narrator witnessing the event. Nadler describes the song as a "cosmic murder ballad."

It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea this, is it? But I hope you enjoy.

More flights canceled during Air Canada strike, eh?

Travel disruptions deepened Monday as Air Canada’s flight attendants continued striking despite a federal back-to-work order, with picket lines forming at major airports across Canada.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, remains steadfast in their demands while apologizing to stranded travelers. “We are here today because we are standing up for the rights of our members,” said CUPE national president Mark Hancock. Hancock noted the union’s willingness to accept any consequences of defying the back to work order, even imprisonment, stating, “If it means folks like me going to jail, then so be it.”

Them’s fightin’ words!

Barry Eidlin, a sociology professor at McGill University, told Canadian television, “If governments keep showing such flagrant disregard for workers’ charter-protected rights, we shouldn’t be surprised if workers start showing more disregard for government back-to-work orders.”

Today on the ‘gram: Roboslam!

Post of the day: Good question

Quote of the Day

U.S. cancels trade talks with India

Planned trade negotiations between the United States and India, originally scheduled for August 25–29 in New Delhi, have been postponed at the U.S.’s behest.

The decision delays discussions on a proposed bilateral trade agreement and dims hopes of mitigating recent U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, which will take effect on August 27. Tensions between the two nations rose earlier this month when U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s ongoing imports of Russian oil. The decision raised duties on some Indian exports to as much as 50%, making them among the highest imposed on any U.S. trading partner.

India’s Foreign Ministry responded, arguing that the country is being “unfairly singled out” for its Russian oil imports. Officials contrasted this with continued purchases of Russian goods by the U.S. and the European Union.

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👎️ 

Meh, no need.

Winklevoss twins’ crypto exchange files for IPO

The Winklevoss twins’ crypto exchange, Gemini, is preparing to go public, even though it’s losing millions of dollars. Founded in 2014 by billionaires Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the New York–based company plans to list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GEMI.”

Regulatory barriers have eased for crypto and the U.S. under the Trump administration. However, a look at the company’s financials reveals significant challenges. According to its recently filed S-1 document, Gemini reported a net loss of $158.5 million on $142.2 million in revenue for 2024. The losses have deepened significantly in 2025, with the company reporting a $282.5 million net loss on just $67.9 million in revenue for the first half of the year. Just wondering: What would happen if you lost four times as much money as you made in one year? Would you IPO? Or would you flee to a non-extradition country?

Gemini’s ambitions follow in the footsteps of other crypto firms, including Circle Internet Group $CIRCLE.P ( 0.0% ) and Bullish $BLSH ( ▼ 8.87% ) , both of which recently had blockbuster IPOs. While the public markets offer a path to growth, Gemini’s financial hurdles may, let’s say, test investors’ confidence.

AT&T might give you $7,500 over data breach

Millions of AT&T $T ( ▲ 0.17% ) customers across the United States could receive compensation following a $177 million settlement over two major data breaches. The breaches, which occurred between 2022 and 2024, compromised personal information, and some claimants may be entitled to up to $7,500.

The first breach, in March 2024, affected the personal data of approximately 73 million customers, including Social Security numbers, account passwords, and billing information. In a July 2024 breach, hackers accessed phone records.

AT&T denies responsibility for the breaches but agreed to the settlement to move forward. “While we deny the allegations in these lawsuits that we were responsible for these criminal acts, we have agreed to this settlement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of protracted litigation. We remain committed to protecting our customers’ data and ensuring their continued trust in us,” AT&T told TIME.

Eligible customers will be notified via email with instructions on filing claims, which are due by November 18, 2025. Claimants could receive up to $5,000 for the 2024 breach and $2,500 for the earlier breach.

You should probably just spend the money now in anticipation of the checks. #NotFinancialAdvice

Poll of the Day:

Poll of the Day: Thrifty!

We asked:Would you consider spending $2k on a small solar panel if it could save you $420 a year on your electricity bills?

You answered:

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes that sounds worth exploring. (444)

 🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, it's still not efficient enough for me to consider. (220)

664 Votes via @beehiiv polls