Ryan Alford breaks down 8 major stories shaping business and marketing—from Shopify’s AI assistant and a historic railroad merger to PepsiCo’s prebiotic cola and Nike’s rapid sneaker lab. Plus: TikTok’s 60-minute videos, Sprite x Jalen Hurts, and more.

Shopify's introduction of the AI assistant Sidekick and its impact on e-commerce.

The merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, creating a coast-to-coast railroad network.

PepsiCo's launch of a prebiotic cola aimed at health-conscious consumers.

Live Nation Urban's new creator network for connecting brands with influencers.

The increasing role of investors in the single-family housing market.

Nike's Air Imagination Lab for rapid sneaker prototyping using 3D printing.

Sprite's NFL marketing campaign featuring quarterback Jalen Hurts and player-led storytelling.

TikTok's testing of longer video uploads, potentially challenging YouTube.

The National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago and its significance in the collectibles market.

The overarching theme of reducing friction in business processes to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.