| Hey everyone, it’s Alicia Clanton in New York. Internet creators are gobbling up press passes for major events. But first... Three things you need to know today: • Apple’s longtime App Store head is departing in a reorganization
• Fertility startup Kindbody is fundraising at a lower valuation
• Ride-hailer Didi turns profitable ahead of a potential IPO At the Democratic National Convention this week in Chicago, there are the stage acts, and then there are those who repackage the speeches, share the highlights and explain the context for the general public. That second job, which used to fall mostly to the independent media, is now also assigned officially to 200 internet creators with followings on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. The creators, who are spending their time with a prime filming spot on the arena floor, networking in private lounges and indulging in complimentary buffets, were given press passes. But “press” doesn’t exactly describe what they do. They’re more like invited guests. Five of them even have speaking slots onstage. The public is adjusting to the new category of communicator getting access at levels formerly reserved for professional members of the press. NBC credentialed and flew 27 influencers to Paris this summer in a ploy to reach the next generation of Olympics fans. The NFL teamed up with influencers at this year’s Super Bowl in a similar strategy. For me — a journalist and a Gen Z-er who grew up watching creators get taken more and more seriously — it’s a progression that feels natural, but also slightly uncomfortable. It’s the job of the media to scrutinize and push for answers to uncomfortable questions; it’s the job of creators to entertain the public with content that is likely to go viral and amplify a message. Digital creators can tap into massive platforms and use their cool to influence behavior, whether that’s getting people to buy products or buy into ideas. But because they are recruited by entities that seek favorable coverage and are not beholden to a code of ethics, they are not an exact successor to traditional media. Last week I spoke to a TikTok creator named Uptin Saiidi who attended the White House’s first-ever creator economy conference. US President Joe Biden called content creators “the future,” and cited an estimate that by 2027 they will contribute half a trillion dollars to the GDP. A journalist in the room might have asked Biden why he’s embracing so many people who depend on TikTok while his White House plans a ban of the app; instead, the question went largely unaddressed, Saiidi said in an interview. Many of the creators were just awestruck at being in the White House for the first time. After his speech at that event, Biden opened the floor for questions. Saiidi said a news reporter in the back began badgering him about inflation. “Not you guys,” Biden said, turning his attention to the creators, according to Saiidi. One raised their hand and asked a softball: “What’s your favorite app?” There’s a similar energy in much of the DNC-related content from the creators who are guests. Some of them offer clips and comments on the buzziest parts of the speeches — Barack Obama’s comment about Donald Trump’s crowd size obsession with a suggestive hand gesture, for instance. But much of it also does little more than say, ‘I got invited to the DNC, how cool is that?’ The DNC is not covering creators’ transportation or paying them to attend and produce content. Some creators are sponsored by political action committees who sent them there with talking points and an agenda. It’s smart — even necessary — for those putting together events like the DNC to embrace people with large online platforms. Almost half of Americans get their news from social media, and about a third of US adults younger than 30 say they regularly get news from TikTok, according to a Pew research study. But even though these influencers have the same credentials as reporters, viewers should remember the distinction between their goals.—Alicia Clanton In their unrelentless push into artificial intelligence, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta Platforms and other tech companies are sucking up vast amounts of energy — and concealing their actual carbon footprints. Snowflake gave an outlook that disappointed investors, who fear the data software company is falling behind rivals in offering AI products. Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot is being helped with image generation by a tiny startup. OpenAI opposes a proposal in the California legislature to put new safety requirements on artificial intelligence companies. Xiaomi sales increased the fastest since 2021 on the success of its electric vehicles and a smartphone bounceback. Zoom reported results that signaled its expanded line of products is finding an audience with large business customers. | 
