The Peak Daily

Big brains 🧠 - Canadian universities poach A-list academics, Nvidia is buying Hugging Face.

Canada is luring dozens of world-leading researchers away from prestigious U.S. institutions with more than $500 million in funding, a talent grab that could help reverse the country’s slide in university rankings and turn more academic breakthroughs into commercial success. Plus, Nvidia has reportedly agreed to buy open-source AI hub Hugging Face for US$12.9 billion, a move that would give the chip giant a major foothold as the industry shifts toward open models and its biggest customers develop chips of their own. And in The Big Picture: Trump renames Lake Ontario “Lake America,” Quebec heads to the polls, the FAA moves to fire air traffic controllers who left before a deadly crash, Canadians remain missing after flash floods in Asia, UEFA targets FIFA’s president, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Human reserved 🏷️ - Loblaw brings back country-of-origin labels, Bill Gates is paranoid about AI.

Loblaw is bringing back country-of-origin labels and tariff markers after backlash from shoppers, as grocers face growing scrutiny over “maple-washing” and consumers look for clearer ways to buy Canadian. Plus, Bill Gates is calling for some jobs to be designated “human reserved” and protected from AI replacement, arguing that certain work should stay human for economic and ethical reasons. And in The Big Picture: Meta settles a major platform-safety lawsuit, deadly floods hit the China-Nepal border, OpenAI warns about rogue AI agents, Mark Carney heads to the European Parliament, Puck raises money, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

The fog of (trade) war 😶‍🌫️- The feds unveil tariff plan, Canadian researchers can’t seem to make money.

Canada’s federal government has unveiled its retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. alongside $7.5 billion in relief measures for workers and businesses, matching American levies on more than 700 imported goods as the trade war escalates. Plus, Canadian universities are spending more on research but making less from intellectual property, raising fresh questions about why so many campus discoveries struggle to become commercially successful businesses. And in The Big Picture: Kepler launches a space data relay service, OpenAI says its in-house chip outperforms Nvidia, Honda warns of trade-war price hikes, Fitbit founders target elder care, WestJet flight attendants ratify a deal, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Raise the stakes 😤 - Trump threatens 50% auto tariffs, Thomson Reuters launches its own AI model.

Trump is threatening to crank tariffs on Canadian autos, auto parts, and steel to 50% in January, a sign the White House is prepared to drag the trade war into the new year after talks with Canada collapsed. Plus, Thomson Reuters has launched its own custom AI model for legal and accounting customers, betting that cheaper, specialized tools can win back enterprise clients from frontier AI labs. And in The Big Picture: Canada awards an $11 billion icebreaker contract, the U.S. proposes a six-figure H-1B visa fee, Iran threatens ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Hugging Face talks acquisition, Shein heads to market, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Tit-for-tat 🤑 - Canada-U.S. trade deal falls apart, Walmart is betting on in-house fashion brands.

Canada-U.S. trade negotiations have collapsed after last-minute American demands, prompting Mark Carney to accuse the U.S. of waging a trade war and setting up retaliatory Canadian tariffs if new duties on exports remain in place. Plus, Walmart is taking another run at fashion with a new in-house women’s clothing line aimed at younger, more affluent shoppers, hoping its massive customer base can turn cheap-but-trendy apparel into a much bigger business. And in The Big Picture: Anthropic’s Fable model underwhelms, Zelenskyy rejects wartime elections in Ukraine, Unifor reaches a tentative deal with GM, Nvidia raises AI server prices, Paramount talks settlement, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Community engagement 📢 - Anthropic sells Alberta on data centres, Fighting prediction market insider trading.

Anthropic is hiring in Canada as it looks to build AI data centres here, including an Alberta-based community engagement role meant to win over towns where residents are increasingly wary of the facilities’ costs, noise, emissions, and local impacts. Plus, Canadian banks are tightening employee rules around prediction markets over fears finance workers could use insider information to bet on economic forecasts, financial indicators, and company outcomes. And in The Big Picture: U.S. booze returns to Canadian shelves as trade talks progress, China’s Bilibili pushes into Western markets, Australia takes on big tech over news payments, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Pause ⏯️ - Trump pauses tarrifs, Former Leafs captain takes the CRA to court.

Trump is pausing a major tariff hike on Canadian imports after a tentative deal was reached, giving negotiators three more days to hammer out the details — including possible concessions on Keystone XL, autos, dairy, and alcohol. Plus, John Tavares is taking the CRA to court over an $8 million tax bill tied to his Maple Leafs signing bonus, in a case that could make it even harder for Canadian teams to attract top U.S.-based athletes. And in The Lab: Moderna and Merck report a major breakthrough for personalized mRNA cancer treatment after a late-stage trial showed their vaccine-and-immunotherapy combo could delay the return of melanoma. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

All rise 🧑‍⚖️- Meta begins landmark legal fight, Government bonds are in chaos.

Meta is defending itself against a landmark lawsuit from 29 U.S. states accusing Facebook and Instagram of harming young users, a case that could bring massive penalties and force a redesign of core social media features. Plus, long-term government bond yields are hitting multi-decade highs as inflation fears, war-driven oil pressures, and rising deficits push up borrowing costs — including in Canada, where higher yields could put more pressure on mortgage rates. And in The Big Picture: the Parti Québécois pledges an independence referendum after Trump leaves office, OpenAI launches a teen version of ChatGPT, Disney sues the FCC, and Curaleaf bids for Aurora Cannabis. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

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Imax-maxxing 📽️ - Imax is having a very good summer, Russian disinformation trolls target Alberta.

Movie theatres are “Imax-maxxing” as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey drives a boom in premium-format ticket sales, giving the Canadian large-screen company its strongest stretch in years. Plus, new research finds Russian disinformation farms targeting Albertans with pro-separation propaganda, amplifying a movement that still has limited support but outsized online noise. And in The Big Picture: inflation ticks up on higher gas prices, NexGen courts BHP for a stake in its massive Saskatchewan uranium project, and Mark Walter explores selling part of Chelsea after a record Lakers deal. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

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Puck portfolios 🏒- A new NHL investment product, The world can’t get enough of Canada’s water bombers.

Volatility Shares wants to launch ETFs that let investors bet on the performance of NHL teams, turning sports fandom into a tradable product that could fit inside registered accounts and blur the line between investing and gambling. Plus, Calgary-based De Havilland is weighing a second production line for Canadair water bombers as demand surges from countries facing worsening wildfires, potentially making the aircraft a bigger piece of Canada’s critical infrastructure and defence strategy. And in The Big Picture: Alibaba’s AI models hit 3 billion downloads, Ontario and Ottawa put $1 billion toward housing infrastructure, Quebec and Newfoundland near a new power deal, and Stripe finalizes a major OpenRouter acquisition. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Birds of a feather 🦩- Flock has a stalking problem, Drama at Canada’s only unionized Amazon facility.

Surveillance tech company Flock is adding new guardrails after reports that police officers used its licence-plate tracking system to stalk women, raising fresh concerns about how AI-powered camera networks can be abused as the company’s technology eyes a potential move into Canada. Plus, Amazon is asking B.C.’s labour board to pause bargaining with Unifor at its only unionized Canadian warehouse, as a group of workers pushes to decertify the union and potentially derail a hard-fought organizing win. And in The Big Picture: Anthropic’s expected IPO could value it at US$2 trillion, Canada and the U.S. race toward a trade deal, Ontario proposes new data-centre power rules, and the world’s largest electric plane completes its first flight. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Change of Aeroplan 🛩️- Air Canada sells Aeroplan stake, Youth unemployment is now a global problem.

Air Canada is selling a 25% stake in Aeroplan to a group led by Blackstone and CDPQ in a deal that values the loyalty program at more than $10 billion — more than the airline itself — as carriers increasingly lean on points programs to keep their businesses flying. Plus, youth unemployment is rising around the world as weaker growth and AI disruption squeeze entry-level hiring, with Canada’s youth jobless rate still nearly double the national average. And in The Big Picture: Canada and the U.S. remain far apart on a trade deal ahead of looming tariffs, the Lakers sell for a record $12.5 billion, Canada tests homegrown drone tech, and Google unveils wearables that can track insulin resistance. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

AI tattletale 😝- Anthropic is letting everyone know you used Claude, RBC and BMO sell Moneris.

Anthropic is rolling out invisible watermarks for content generated by its AI models, part of a broader push by platforms to help users spot and filter AI-generated text, images, and files as the internet gets increasingly flooded with bots and slop. Plus, RBC and BMO are selling Moneris to U.S. private equity firm Francisco Partners for $2 billion, as Canada’s dominant payments platform faces growing pressure from faster, more flexible rivals. And in The Big Picture: Ottawa readies a new trade pitch ahead of looming U.S. tariffs, Gay Lea bets big on cottage cheese, Canadian consumer insolvencies hit their highest level since the financial crisis, and Environment Canada rolls out a new extreme weather alert system. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

📈 Gone in a flash

Canada’s murder rate just saw its steepest year-over-year decline in 40 years — and that’s only the start. In this episode of The Peak Daily, we break down the surprising stats behind the drop in homicides and what’s driving the shift. Plus, a major breakthrough in menopause treatment: Vancouver biotech AbCellera’s experimental non-hormonal drug delivered dramatic reductions in hot flashes in early trial results, offering new hope for millions. And why are Canadian chipmakers disappearing? We look at AMD’s acquisition of Toronto startup Taalas and the growing trend of Canadian semiconductor companies being bought up or moving south — and what that means for Canada’s long-term tech sovereignty. New episodes every weekday, covering the biggest stories in business, finance, and tech — in under 10 minutes. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

📈 Canadian wildfires from bad to worse

In today’s episode of The Peak Daily, we cover how Canada’s wildfire season is escalating fast — including a potential fatality near Summerland, B.C., and mass evacuations as the province faces more than 100 active fires. Then, we look at a Trump-linked Texas company that has brought oil-drilling equipment to Greenland despite the government saying it hasn’t granted permission, raising new questions about sovereignty and U.S. influence in the Arctic. Plus, in Brief: Iran rules out direct talks with the U.S., Berkshire Hathaway finally starts deploying its massive cash pile, and victims of a major Canadian crypto wallet hack prepare a lawsuit. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Unfathomable 🛻- Ford puts its eggs in the EV truck basket, An AI model made new viruses.

Ford is trying to get back in the EV race with the Fathom, a US$28,350 electric truck meant to win over pickup buyers and compete with low-cost Chinese automakers after the company abandoned its electric F-150 and took a massive EV writeoff. Plus, scientists have used an AI model to create novel bacteriophages that don’t exist in nature, a breakthrough that could transform vaccine testing and phage therapy while raising serious biosecurity concerns. And in The Big Picture: Carney rejects sector-specific U.S. trade deals, Iran and Oman near an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, WestJet’s cabin crew union releases details of its tentative deal, Peloton posts its first annual profit, Apollo buys EasyJet, and Anthropic partners with Millennium on an AI risk analyst. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

The best things in life are free 🛍️- Shopify cracks the AI shopping code, Disney explores free streaming tier.

Shopify shares surged after a strong second quarter, with the e-commerce giant pointing to AI-driven shopping traffic and orders as a major growth driver while it races to make its merchants more visible in chatbot and AI search results. Plus, Disney is considering a free ad-supported tier for Disney+, joining Netflix and Paramount+ in exploring free streaming options as audiences spend more time on YouTube and FAST platforms. And in The Big Picture: Canada and the U.S. discuss a possible steel and aluminum quota deal, Google overhauls its AI leadership, Ottawa pledges $2.7 billion for Toronto rental housing, Uber commits US$10 billion to robotaxis, Toronto police crack down on organized retail crime, and Ryan Beedie backs Vistara Capital. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Under the influence ☮️- Ottawa’s foreign influence registry goes live, Canada cuts back on peacekeeping.

Ottawa’s new foreign influence registry is now live, requiring anyone working on behalf of a foreign government or agency to influence Canadian politics to register within 60 days, but critics say the rules are both too broad and too toothless. Plus, Canada is sharply cutting back its UN peacekeeping commitments, withdrawing troops from missions in Congo, South Sudan, Cyprus, and Kosovo as NATO defence priorities take precedence over a core part of the country’s foreign policy identity. And in The Big Picture: Moderna begins Canadian trials for a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine, Canada-U.S. trade talks continue ahead of a tariff deadline, wildfires destroy hundreds of homes in B.C., Canadian VC firms do fewer but bigger deals, and Canada’s trade surplus hits a four-year high. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Pick pocket 💰- A major hack spooks the Bitcoin world, Hollywood goes on an AI hiring spree.

A major hack has rattled the Bitcoin world after hackers exploited a flaw in Coldcard devices — long considered one of the safest ways to store crypto offline — to steal around US$100 million worth of Bitcoin. Plus, Hollywood is ramping up its AI hiring as studios and streamers look to integrate the technology into film production, even as they try to avoid alienating creatives and audiences wary of AI’s impact on the industry. And in The Big Picture: WestJet reaches a tentative deal with flight attendants after a brief strike, Iran rebuts Trump’s claims of peace talks, Albertans protest Meta’s planned $13 billion data centre, and Amazon joins the US$3 trillion market cap club. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Stack it up 💉- Health Canada cracks down on peptides, Everyone wants to be a solopreneur.

Health Canada has won an injunction blocking Quebec’s Canlab Research from selling unauthorized injectable peptides, a crackdown aimed at the grey-market biohacking boom as influencers promote “stacking” untested drugs for health and fitness goals. Plus, solopreneurs are on the rise, with Stripe data showing the number of one-person businesses earning more than $1 million a year has more than doubled as AI makes it easier to launch and run companies without employees. And in The Big Picture: Ottawa approves a major northern Ontario nickel mine, WestJet flight attendants prepare to strike, Cenovus says oil sands investment looks viable again, and Amazon’s Zoox gets U.S. approval for paid robotaxis with no human controls. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com