“Don't tell anyone I told you this, but…”

Instantly, you're all ears.

We've been gossiping since cavemen huddled around fires, whispering about the chief’s wife and Ug sneaking into her cave. Again.

And we haven't shut up since.

One study found we gossip around 52 minutes a day.
Mostly boring day-to-day admin, not full-blown character assassination. (Guess social media wasn’t included).

Gossip is one of humanity's oldest communication tools.
It can help us bond, share information and work out who to trust.
Knowing Ug wrecks marriages might save yours.
(Time for him to have a 'hunting accident'.)

So, gossip is good?
Great! Time to get gabbing.

Except…

Research also suggests negative gossipers are less liked and less likely to be asked for advice.
Gossipers think they're building trust, while listeners are wondering if they are next on the menu.
We love hearing secrets (admit it!), but mistrust whoever shares them.

So when someone starts dishing the dirt, but you don’t want to become the office rumour mill, you have options:

You can listen to the story without killing the conversation stone dead.

Unlike Ug.

Tragic hunting accident.
Mammoth, apparently…

You run a four-trillion-dollar silicon empire. Your chips power the entire planetary AI boom. Trump loves you, Wall Street worships you.

Then you have an affair with a Chinese businesswoman suspected of spying for Beijing.

Oops.

From Ug in mammoth skins to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in a leather jacket.
Some gossip never gets old.

Alice Huang (no relation, thankfully) worked at a company that bought $4.8 billion in Nvidia AI hardware. Now the Justice Department is probing alleged illegal shipments to China.
Even a trillion-dollar neural network can't detect a honey trap (alleged).

Spies, sex, billions, tech - this story has juice.

Nvidia's market value? Down over $400 billion in two days.
The guy can't even hide at the office – his children and son-in-law work there. It's basically Succession, with GPUs.

Then there's Lori, his wife since 1985.

California generally splits marital assets 50/50, and Jensen sits on about $150 billion.
If she pulls the trigger…

Would Nvidia keep Huang as CEO?
Could one furious wife shake the entire AI economy?

Pass the popcorn.

💡 PRO TIP: Too many threads? Pick one. Money, spies, family. Follow the reaction.

💬 FOLLOW-UP: “Could you work with your kids?”

⛔ DON'T SAY: “He should've seen the red flags.”
(Especially the one with five yellow stars.)

“Gossip is when you hear something you like about someone you don’t.”
(Earl Wilson, American journalist, 1907–1987)

👇 Answer at the end

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Before gossip ruined reputations, it came from church.
And helped raise babies.

1000 years ago, the Old English godsibb: God + sib ("related").
Someone close enough to be family. Like a godparent.
(Same ‘sib’ as 'sibling'.)

Later, it described close friends, especially women attending childbirth.
Naturally, they chatted, shared news, spilled secrets, and by the 16th century, this idle chatter became known as “gossiping”.

From trusted godparent to backstabbing blabbermouth.

Quite the evolution.

So next time someone catches you dishing the dirt, tell them you’re just doing the Lord’s work… amen.

💬 FOLLOW-UP: Have you ever come across a backstabbing blabbermouth?

November 10, 1969.

57 years ago, a giant yellow bird, a biscuit-addicted monster, a grumpy bin-dweller and a counting vampire moved into a New York street.

And took over the world.

Today, Sesame Street reaches 150+ countries, in 70 languages, with 39 locally adapted versions.
And these aren't just dubbed American Muppets.

Over 1500 furry teachers.
All of them teaching children empathy, letters, numbers and tolerance.

Without any gossiping about the neighbours.

Although Bert and Ernie got their fair share.

💬 FOLLOW-UP: “Who was your absolute favourite Sesame Street character growing up?” (Count von Count!)

⛔ DON'T SAY: "Meh, I prefer The Muppet Show”.
(I guess Grouches are universal.)

Most Chinese bots seem obsessed with kicking, punching or dancing on stage (while kicking and punching).

This one's different.

This is BG-5. A 3 kg robotic fish that swims for five hours on one charge.

And could double as an underwater spy.

So, if the FBI ever searches Jensen Huang's house, let's hope they check the fish tank.

💬 FOLLOW-UP: “If you could disguise a spy camera as any everyday object, what would you choose?”

Anthropic IPO announced at $1.3 trillion.
Its seven founders could each be worth around $18 billion.
Yikes.
Let’s hope they are more careful with Chinese honeytraps.

If you fancy learning how to build things with AI, check out Claude Code Club.
I'm a member myself. No $18 billion fortune yet.

Full disclosure: That's an affiliate link. I earn 30% if you join.

For when your brain needs a biscuit.

One white lie about her weekend and one school that can't keep its mouth shut. Very funny teen comedy.

💬 YOUR TURN: What’s the weirdest rumour you heard at school?

A) 📶 Yes. I want it texting me when we're out of milk (6%)
B) 🤷 It could come in handy (13%)
C) 🧱 Mine’s gloriously dumb. Staying that way (68%)
D) 🔌 Unplugging everything tonight (13%)

💬 Your Two Cents

B: “The convenience of a house 'IoT' seems so overblown, if you are a fully functioning adult..."
T: “Saw an AI cat flap the other day. Madness.”
D: “Yes! Scan my fridge and text me with recipe ideas.”
A: “My fridge is beautifully analogue. 18 years old and still going strong.”
S: “Just ordered water, tinned foods. emergency radio and portable solar panels👍”

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I’ll reply to every single comment.
Pinky swear ;)

Alex

P.S. Ever get stuck starting a conversation?
My guide Kill Awkward Silence has 21 openers that work.
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