TikTok vs. Amazon

Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.

Having conquered global attention, TikTok now wants a slice of commerce, too.

The social giant is gearing up to challenge Amazon on its home turf — setting ambitious 2024 goals to expand its U.S. e-commerce biz. Let’s get into it…

In today’s tech rundown:

• TikTok looks to challenge Amazon in U.S. retail

• Doctors achieve first growing pediatric heart valve transplant

• 8 new products

• Apple set to introduce AI-advanced Siri at WWDC

• Dell unveils new line of laptops

• Jeff Bezos comments on Musk, vision for space

Read time: 3 minutes

TODAY’S HEADLINES

TIKTOK

📱 TikTok looks to challenge Amazon in U.S. retail

The Rundown: TikTok has reportedly set an internal goal of growing its US e-commerce volume by 10x to $17.5 billion in 2024, hoping to challenge Amazon's dominance.

The details:

• The social giant seeks to leverage social video reach and viral appeal to convert entertainment app users into shoppers.

• The company was on track in 2023 for $20B in gross merchandise value, largely from Asia — with the company now hoping to ramp up sales in the U.S. and Latin America.

• Letting influencers promote products and running promotions has quickly driven adoption of the TikTok Shop, which launched in the U.S. in September.

• TikTok has hired executives from e-commerce giants like Amazon as it continues to build out infrastructure and tools.

Why it matters: While the U.S. government is likely hoping to decrease TikTok’s grip on the younger generation — the company looks set to put its foot on the accelerator in 2024. And with its viral growth engine and global user base, TikTok represents a formidable new rival in global online retail.

TOGETHER WITH JASPER

🦄 Accelerate content generation with AI

The Rundown: Unleash the power of Jasper, the generative AI tool that crafts captivating content at 10x speed:

• Generate SEO content, Facebook ads, video scripts and more

• Scan and identify your brand voice for seamless integration

• Receive actionable insight to improve and adapt your content

Click here to transform your content game, and let Jasper help you stop posting “AI-sounding” content today.

MEDICAL TECH

❤️ Doctors achieve first growing pediatric heart valve transplant

The Rundown: Doctors at Duke Health just performed the first-ever pediatric transplant of heart valves that can grow along with the young recipient, a breakthrough method using donor organ parts previously discarded.

The details:

• The 1-year-old patient received a transplant of valves and arteries that are functionally integrated using a new valve collection method.

• The valves are growing with the child, avoiding repeated risky replacement surgeries common in young cases.

• The transplant requires just a quarter of the typical immunosuppression drugs administered for longevity.

Why it matters: This breakthrough could potentially solve two previously difficult challenges — the need for repeated transplants as a young patient grows and a shortage of viable donor organs. While still early, the innovation could provide lifesaving treatment to countless children.

NEW PRODUCTS

🐇 rabbit r1- Your AI-powered pocket companion. Join the waitlist for the January 9th launch (link)*

🤖 Spence- AI career assistant (link)

📝 AI-Based Resume Analyzer- AI-powered open-source tool for analyzing resumes (link)

🕸️ RawuserAI- Personalizes web experiences for each visitor (link)

🟢 Moodboard Creator- AI-driven branding project starter (link)

📆 Vimcal- Calendar app on steroids. Assists users in scheduling and organizing events efficiently (link)

📸 Photo AI- Create beautiful AI photos without using a camera (link)

🎥 Descript- A powerful all-in-one video and podcast editing tool using AI (link)

Browse the most popular tools ever featured with our tool database.

* = Sponsored link

SNIPPETS

Qualcomm reveals Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2, an advanced chipset aimed at powering the next generation of high-end VR headsets.

Apple Fitness+ introduces a series of Artist Spotlight workout playlists featuring Super Bowl halftime show artists.

Apple is also reportedly set to unveil an enhanced Siri with generative AI at the WWDC.

Dell updates its XPS lineup with new 13, 14, and 16-inch models with features like invisible haptic touchpads and optional OLED screens.

Samsung announced its Unpacked event scheduled for January 17, where it is expected to unveil the Galaxy S24 smartphone line, featuring advanced AI capabilities and a new design.

Healthcare tech firm HealthEC suffered a data breach affecting 4.5 million patients and compromising a wide range of sensitive personal information.

Jeff Bezos acknowledges that despite their past disagreements, he and Elon Musk share a similar vision for humanity's future in space.

SPONSOR US

⚡️ Get your product in front of over 75k+ tech enthusiasts

Our newsletter is read by thousands of tech professionals, investors, engineers, managers, and business owners around the world. Get in touch today.

THAT’S A WRAP

If you have anything interesting to share, please reach out to us by sending us a DM on Twitter: @rowancheung & @therundowntech