???? Help us settle a data debate
This is an abridged version of our weekly newsletter, “On the dot.” To get the full edition in all its glory, subscribe to the real deal.
Hi folks,
We’ve been running this newsletter for a little over two years now, and we’re always looking to level up. Got 2 minutes to take our reader survey? We want to know what you love, what you want more of, and how we can make this more useful for you. But most importantly - the results from this might help us end one of the longest-running debates in data. Thanks in advance!
Scroll down to read about solo soap sessions, cats overtaking kids in Korea, and whether Chinese apps are cool or not.
Stats to power your week
?? The New York Times is “feeling the AGI” with both Ezra Klein and its tech correspondent Kevin Roose talking about how a general-purpose AI system could be closer than we think (even if others are more conservative). But if artificial general intelligence does arrive, it might need some explaining. In a survey we ran last year, 43% of consumers didn’t know what it was. GWI Zeitgeist?
?? The birth rate crisis in Asia doesn’t look like it’ll get better anytime soon, with young people in China and South Korea growing more negative towards the idea of marriage and childbirth. Meanwhile, pet ownership just might be the new move. While there’s been a 14% decline in 16-34 year olds having children since 2018, there’s been a 52% increase in cat ownership. GWI Core (South Korea)
?? Watching TV can be a solo or social activity, but certain genres call for an audience of one. Soaps are one, and fans of these long-running melodramas are the most likely fandom to prefer watching TV on their own. These shows typically air midday multiple times a week, so fans might treat this as personal time or as background noise. GWI Zeitgeist and Core
??? OpenAI is testing a new model for creative writing which has had the usual mixed reception. But here’s a twist - at least one member of the literati has come out in defense of its attempt at a short story. Considering half of consumers would be interested in AI-generated books, it might have more readers than expected.? GWI Zeitgeist
?? Women’s sports has been making waves globally, and social media has helped to fuel the momentum. We found that wakeboarding fans were the most likely to follow female athletes or teams on social media, as top boarders like Zahra Kell boast an impressive 250K followers. GWI Sports
Chart of the week
2025 is only just getting started and we’ve already seen Chinese apps like RedNote, Manus, and DeepSeek attracting attention and building on the success of TikTok, Shein, and Temu. It begs the question…is Chinese tech cool now? And how do people feel about Chinese tech in general??
Based on global responses, China isn’t far from the US in getting that “cool” factor. But Chinese companies have some ground to make up. Even though these businesses and their products are seen as much more affordable and accessible, there are still lingering doubts around trust, security, and reliability.?
That gap becomes even clearer when you look at how consumers perceive quality and security - areas where the US still holds a strong lead. A lot of people are skeptical about how user data is handled and the “Made in China” label is still often associated with low-quality goods. Even if this isn't always the case, it’s a tough perception to shake.
More from GWI
This is an abridged version of our weekly newsletter, “On the dot.” To get the full edition in all its glory, subscribe to the real deal.