Hi Everyone. This is Take Off. We're like a hidden Easter egg in your favorite video game - surprising, delightful, and adding an extra layer of fun to your tech news consumption.

Here's what we're serving up today:

• AI Jesus is Back ⛪

• Spotify's Supremium Plan 🎧🎶

• Asteroids ☄️

AI Jesus is Back ⛪

The AI bot called AI Jesus made its comeback to the Twitch gaming scene last week and it seems like the folks at Twitch just couldn't contain their excitement!

The bot has attracted more than 40,000 followers after a mysterious temporary banishment.

Or was this “The Resurrection” of Jesus Christ, the AI Bot?

Don't be expecting long-haired, sandal-wearing dude, though. AI Jesus is a digital chatbot that channels your stereotypical white Jesus—blond, bearded, and blue-eyed, ready to drop wisdom in a monotone voice.

What is it, though?

Brought to you by The Singularity Group, a team of tech apostles based in Berlin, this bot was initially created to discuss all things Christianity and Bible-related.

But, in the true spirit of the Internet, users have gone the extra holy mile, asking questions about everything from global inflation to dating advice.

Here’s a look at AI Jesus’s Twitch Bio:

“Whether you’re seeking spiritual guidance, looking for a friend, or simply want someone to talk to, I’m here for you. Join me as on this journey through life and discover the power of faith, hope, and love.”

AI and Religion

AI is finding itself more involved in religious dialogue as the technology becomes more omnipresent.

• There was a 300 attendee church service conducted entirely by ChatGPT in Germany recently. (See More)

• HadithGPT is an AI bot that is trained on 40,000 Quran verses to answer questions about Islam.

• GitaGPT is another chatbot that mimics Hindu God, Krishna’s tone to answer questions on the Bhaghavad Gita.

You can ask AI Jesus how to overcome the next boss or how to navigate the tricky world of dating. Just remember, though—he's not into turning water into wine.

Spotify's Supremium Plan 🎧🎶

What do you do when you want to sell a subscription that’s priced more than even your “Premium” plan? You release a “Supremium” plan!

Or at-least that’s what Spotify is reportedly planning to do. The new offering is expected to include a HiFi feature - which had to be put on a hold after Apple and Amazon Music started giving it for free.

Spotify's Push To Profitability

After years of focusing on growth and trying to woo users, the streaming giant is shifting gears to improve profitability and assuaging Wall Street.

So far, it seems to be keeping its promise. The stock (NYSE:SPOT) is already up 92% this year.

• The company has laid off roughly 800 employees to optimize cost structure.

• They’ve pulled back investments into their podcast division as well as worked on realignment of the same.

With all this serious belt-tightening, the streaming sensation seems to be on the fast track to profit paradise.

Why More Premium, Though?

Well, unlike video streaming platforms that are doubling down on ads, the music streaming industry isn’t really a huge fan of that.

It seems like those ad dollars only become real juicy when you have a lot of eyes & ears instead of just ears. Spotify’s digits are indicative of this trend.

• Spotify had ~317M free users on their ad supported that generated a gross-profit of just €0.4 billion since 2017.

• On the other hand, their premium plan, which boasted ~210M paid users generated gross-profits of €11.9 billion which is almost 97% of their cumulative profits since 2017!

Since the free ad-supported tier is not doing anything more than just keeping the garage lights on, it’s no surprise that Spotify wants more premium or even supremium subscribers.

☄️ Asteroids ☄️

Japan's military is testing Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service and may adopt it next year. The technology would enhance communication capabilities and resilience against potential conflicts or satellite attacks. 🌍🛰️

Washington could be the next state to require Tesla charging standard. This decision supports Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) and aims to future-proof the state's infrastructure. 🚗⚡

Reddit says accessibility upgrades for moderators are coming to its mobile apps soon. Accessibility advocates have been vocal, and Reddit has exempted certain apps from API changes. 📱👥

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