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The LeadSpotify has introduced a new AI-powered audiobook creation tool in partnership with ElevenLabs, allowing authors to self-publish audiobooks without exclusivity. The platform is expanding to support 10 more languages and aims to generate $100 million in annualized recurring revenue from its Audiobook+ subscriptions.AI Audiobook Creation Platform LaunchAlongside tools for AI-generated podcasts, Spotify on Thursday introduced a new, ElevenLabs-powered AI tool for self-publishing audiobooks within the Spotify for Authors platform. The company said at its Investor Day event that the feature will launch in beta this June on an invite-only basis, initially with support for the English language only.The AI-powered audiobook generation won't bind authors to an exclusive contract, meaning they are free to publish their generated audiobooks anywhere. This approach contrasts with some other platforms that require exclusivity for audiobook distribution.The news builds on Spotify's previous partnership with ElevenLabs, which allowed writers to submit audiobooks created on the voice AI startup's platform to Spotify. The audio streaming platform also already had a partnership with Google Play Books to allow for digitally narrated content. However, it may have wanted authors to access newer voice models that sound more expressive and human-like, like those offered by ElevenLabs. Notably, ElevenLabs had released its own self-publishing platform for authors in 2025.Financial Performance and Growth MetricsSpotify has increased its focus on audiobooks heavily in the last few years and has managed to build its catalog to 700,000 titles. Through these initiatives, the company has managed to bump up listening hours by 60% year-on-year, the company claims. Spotify also said that more than half of its audiobook listeners started in the last year.To date, Spotify has clocked in over a million Audiobook+ subscriptions, and it is on track to generate $100 million in annualized recurring revenue for the platform. The company will expand its Audiobook+ plans this year to allow for higher listening limits and will add new options for students and families in the future.Industry Transformation and Market ExpansionSpotify is also expanding its "Spotify for Authors" platform to support 10 more languages, including French, Canadian French, German, Dutch, Latin American Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, Danish, and Norwegian. This expansion will significantly broaden the platform's reach and accessibility to authors and listeners worldwide.The company brought the program to international markets, made an investment in non-English titles, enabled in-app purchases, and released audiobook charts. This year, it also started a program for authors to sell physical books in the U.S. and the U.K., creating a comprehensive ecosystem for content creators.Future Outlook and User Experience EnhancementsAt the event, the company introduced a new way for users to ask questions using natural language for audiobook discovery. This summer, Spotify will also expand a feature that allows users to create prompt-based playlists for podcasts and music to include audiobooks, it said.These enhancements reflect Spotify's strategy to leverage AI not just for content creation but also for improving user discovery and engagement. The integration of natural language processing for audiobook discovery could potentially revolutionize how users find and consume audiobooks, making the platform more intuitive and user-friendly.

The Olympic LegacyAsh Moloney briefly became the face of Australian athletics after securing the country's first Olympic decathlon medal in dramatic circumstances at the Tokyo 2021 Games. The 26-year-old surged home in the 1500m, egged on by teammate Cedric Dubler, to claim bronze in a moment that inspired a nation. This achievement represented the pinnacle of his decade-long career in the grueling 10-discipline event.The TransitionAfter years of injury recovery, a new coaching relationship, and what he admits was sheer boredom with the decathlon, Moloney has made a bold and risky transformation. He has abandoned the event that brought him glory to pursue a new career in the 400m hurdles. "It's just fun, it's a completely different challenge," Moloney explains of his switch. "I've been ambidextrous my whole life, I can sprint hurdle on both legs. It almost just seemed like why not? Why not give it a try? Get that question out of my head."The Performance DataMoloney's rapid improvement in his new event is remarkable. Since his first competitive 400m hurdles in February, when he finished in 57 seconds, he has consistently lowered his times. Two weeks later in Hobart he ran sub-53s, before recording two times under 52s before nationals in April. At the national championships, he ran under 50 seconds for the first time, finishing third in the final. "I believe I can make Comm Games," Moloney says. "I believe I can go 48 [seconds]."The Impact on Australian AthleticsMoloney's transition comes at a significant moment for Australian athletics. Before the emergence of new generation athletes like Gout Gout and Lachie Kennedy leading Australia's charge towards Brisbane 2032, Moloney represented the future of the sport. His move to hurdles adds depth to Australia's middle-distance and hurdles program, complementing the emergence of sprint stars like Lachie Kennedy, who is now also his coach.The Relationship EvolutionThe decathlon teammates' relationship was tested in the aftermath of Tokyo, with Moloney previously suggesting that the public's interest in Dubler's contribution sometimes overshadowed his own achievement. While Moloney offers only a "no comment" when asked to elaborate on their current relationship, Dubler maintains there's no bad blood. "It's just a change of situation, a change of coaches and perspective," Dubler explains. The two athletes have chosen different paths since the Games, with Dubler continuing to compete in decathlon while targeting his own Commonwealth Games selection.The Future OutlookWith Moloney and Dubler now competing in different events, Australian athletics stands to benefit from their specialized focus. Moloney's renewed enthusiasm for his new event, freed from the physical toll of ten disciplines, has given him a fresh perspective on competition. "Honestly, I was bored with decathlon, I just wanted a new challenge," he admits. As he prepares for the Oceania championship showdown in Darwin and potentially the Commonwealth Games, the former Olympic bronze medalist is proving that reinvention can be as rewarding as achieving initial success.

Harvey’s Vision for Pym’s Classic Samantha Harvey’s adaptation of Barbara Pym’s novel arrives at the Arcola Theatre with the weight of literary prestige. Harvey, who won the Booker Prize in 2024 for Orbital, takes on the challenge of translating the book's rich interiority into a stage performance. The production focuses on four central characters—Edwin, Letty, Marcia, and Norman—who form a complex web of relationships as they approach retirement. The Cast and Directorial Choices Anthony Calf plays Edwin, a pragmatic widower finding solace in church life. Kate Duchêne portrays Letty, who fears solitude as her best friend enters a romance. Pooky Quesnel brings a neurotic intensity to Marcia, who becomes obsessed with a doctor. Paul Rider is Norman, a blunderer whose deadpan humor rivals The Office. Director Dominic Dromgoole emphasizes the characters' quirks, using Ellie Wintour’s chunky knits and oversized specs to ground the piece in the 1970s, while the set design of facing desks creates a claustrophobic yet intimate office environment. Enduring Relevance of Pym’s Themes One of the most striking aspects of this production is its uncanny ability to feel contemporary. Despite being written in the 1970s, the characters' anxieties regarding rising heating costs and the threat of computerized technology are strikingly familiar to modern audiences. The play captures the "infinite possibilities" of life after work, offering a poignant look at how we define ourselves outside of our professional identities. Outlook for Literary Adaptations The success of Quartet in Autumn suggests a growing appetite for stage adaptations that prioritize character study over spectacle. By stripping away peripheral characters to focus on the quartet's internal monologues, the production validates the idea that literary fiction can thrive on stage when given the right directorial care.

The Lead When the founders of a mental health app for men called Mental discovered that one feature — AI interactive audio — was resonating strongly with users, they recognized a significant opportunity. This insight led to the creation of The Path, a new AI therapy application co-founded by renowned motivational speaker Tony Robbins and former Calm employees, which has now secured $14.3 million in seed funding. The Birth of a Safer AI Therapy Platform The Path emerged from observations made by co-founder and CEO Anson Whitmer and co-founder Tyler Sheaffer, who previously worked together at meditation app Calm. Whitmer's personal experiences with suicide in his family inspired him to pursue mental health technology. After working at Calm until 2021, he felt he could make a greater impact by addressing the unique, personal nature of people's mental health challenges. Whitmer sees large language models (LLMs) and AI as the bridge to providing personalized mental health care to everyone, especially given the shortage of therapists worldwide. "What's exciting and game-changing is that, for the first time in my career, I've seen that there's actually this possibility for every single person to have the personalized sort of access and care that they need to really get the help," he said. Funding and Celebrity Endorsement The Path has successfully raised $14.3 million in seed funding, led by Prime Movers Lab where Tony Robbins is a partner. Other notable investors include Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, boxer Deontay Wilder, and Designer Fund. After Prime Movers invested, Robbins initially consulted on branding but his enthusiasm grew, leading to him becoming a co-founder. The author has since helped shape The Path into a therapy-plus-coaching app that incorporates his popular self-improvement methods. The app currently offers 11 virtual AI therapists that users can customize based on their preferences for directness and other details. While it's currently free to gain users, The Path plans to eventually charge $40 per month for the service. Superior Safety Benchmarks A key differentiator for The Path is its specially trained AI model, which has scored a 95 on the Vera-MH mental health safety AI benchmark. This significantly outperforms consumer chatbots, which top out at 65 on the same benchmark. According to Whitmer, consumer chatbots are "optimized for engagement," which is counterproductive to effective therapy and coaching that should focus on deep understanding rather than quick solutions. "It's meant to challenge you. It's not just meant to agree with you," Whitmer explains. The Path's AI is designed to help users dig out their assumptions and discover their own solutions rather than simply reinforcing ideas to keep users engaged. The startup's model is post-trained from open source models and doesn't use major consumer LLMs, positioning it as a specialized therapeutic tool rather than a generic chatbot wrapper. Market Potential and Future Outlook The mental health tech market is experiencing significant growth, with OpenAI reporting that at least 900 people use ChatGPT for mental health-related queries every week. This demonstrates the clear demand for AI-powered mental health solutions. However, The Path aims to capture a specific segment of this market by focusing on therapeutic rigor and safety. As mental health awareness continues to grow and technology becomes more sophisticated, AI therapy platforms like The Path could play an increasingly important role in addressing global mental health challenges. The combination of Tony Robbins' brand recognition, the technical expertise of the Calm alumni team, and the specialized focus on therapeutic safety positions The Path as a notable contender in the emerging field of AI-powered mental health care.

The Lead Elon Musk's SpaceX has revealed plans for a highly anticipated $1.75tn (£1.3tn) flotation next month as he seeks investor backing for his quest to make life “multiplanetary”. SpaceX's Financial Performance SpaceX is a sprawling business, encompassing the eponymous rocket launch company, the Starlink satellite broadband service, Musk’s xAI artificial intelligence startup and the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The entire business lost $4.9bn in 2025 on revenues of $18.7bn. Revenue is growing, however, rising by a third on 2024. The Data Analysis SpaceX's losses have widened since the start of the year, losing $4.3bn in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $528m in the same period last year. The company is split into three segments: space, which incorporates the rocket launch business whose clients include Nasa; connectivity, which houses Starlink; and AI, the unit behind xAI and the X platform. Connectivity makes the most revenue, at $11.4bn Space with $4.1bn AI at $3.2bn The Impact Analysis Musk will have 85% control of the business under the IPO plans, making it extremely difficult to unseat him from the company. Musk's control will be derived from majority ownership of a type of stock known as class B, which carries much more heft than the class A stock that everyone else will own. The Prediction Musk, who is already worth about $676bn, stands to make a vast sum from SpaceX although the exact amount is unclear. He has been granted 1bn class B shares that vest – meaning, Musk gets full ownership of them – if SpaceX manages to achieve the “establishment of a permanent human colony on Mars with at least one million inhabitants”.

Video Overview: Villa's Relegation ChallengeThe Guardian’s Football Weekly published a video that examines Aston Villa’s position in the Premier League as the club battles to stay clear of the relegation zone.Key Themes Highlighted in the SegmentVilla’s standing in the league table and recent resultsDiscussion of Turkish players or tactical influences linked to the clubBroader context of the Premier League relegation fightImplications for the Relegation BattleThe analysis underscores how Villa’s performance could affect the dynamics of the bottom‑half of the table, influencing both their own survival prospects and those of rival clubs.Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Villa?While the video does not provide definitive predictions, it suggests that upcoming fixtures and any strategic adjustments involving Turkish talent will be pivotal for Villa’s bid to remain in the top flight.

Unleashing Inner Rage and Satire Bob Odenkirk, known for his role as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul, recently opened up about life, satire, and his journey as an action hero. In an interview, he expressed his views on the power of satire and his personal experiences that have shaped his career. The Shift to Action Hero Odenkirk discussed how he transitioned from comedy to action roles, citing his age and desire for a change. He mentioned that at 63, he found it challenging to fit into traditional romantic comedies, leading him to explore action movies. His role in Normal, alongside Henry Winkler, marked a significant shift in his career. Working with Henry Winkler Odenkirk praised Henry Winkler, describing him as the "sweetest guy alive." He noted that working with Winkler influenced him to adopt a more patient and kind approach to life's challenges. Odenkirk highlighted the contrast between Winkler's on-screen and off-screen personas, emphasizing Winkler's genuine kindness. Reflections on Saul Goodman Odenkirk shared insights into his portrayal of Saul Goodman, describing the character as earnest but misguided. He discussed how Saul's talents are used for destructive purposes due to his inner resentment. Odenkirk also speculated on what Saul's next move would be if he were to escape prison, suggesting he would continue his schemes but with more caution. Music and Personal Projects Odenkirk touched on his upcoming album, which features comedy Broadway-style songs. He expressed excitement about the project, highlighting the creative process and collaboration with songwriter Mark Nutter. Physical Challenges and Triumphs Odenkirk compared his experiences hiking the West Highland Way and the Inca Trail, noting that the latter was significantly more challenging due to its demanding terrain and high altitude. He also reflected on his performance in Nebraska, appreciating the opportunity to work with Bruce Dern.

Thunder Even Series Behind MVP's Strong PerformanceShai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back from a subpar series opener to score 30 points, Alex Caruso added 17 off the bench and the host Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 122-113 on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. The victory evens the series at 1-1 as it shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday.Thunder's Adjusted Defense Contains WembanyamaThe Thunder playbook in Game 2 was about making life as difficult as possible for Victor Wembanyama, hoping to prevent outbursts like the 41-point, 24-rebound gem he put together in San Antonio's 122-115 win in Game 1. Coach Mark Daigneault adjusted his defensive strategy after the first game, implementing a more varied approach to contain the Spurs' star."Every good player, they have to feel the defense," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's tough. He's very different to scout. You've got to try to mix things up, you've got try different things. And that's just what we did. Coach tried something in the first game, didn't like it, tried something else. That's what it's about."Bench Depth and Turnovers Prove DecisiveThe Thunder finished with a 57-25 edge in bench scoring, plus a 27-10 advantage in points off turnovers. Chet Holmgren scored 13 points and reserves Jared McCain and Cason Wallace each had 12 for Oklahoma City, demonstrating the team's depth beyond their star players."I thought we all played better," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "I had a quiet confidence about that. I didn't know if we'd win or lose the game, but I was pretty sure after watching Game 1 and knowing our team that we were going to come out and play better tonight."Injuries Mount as Series Shifts to San AntonioThe win was not without cost for the Thunder, who lost guard Jalen Williams in the first half with a recurrence of a hamstring issue. He had already missed six games in these playoffs with a left hamstring strain, putting his availability for Friday into doubt.The Spurs also got banged up. Already without All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox because of ankle soreness, San Antonio lost his replacement in the starting lineup, Dylan Harper, to a right leg injury after he took a couple of awkward falls in the third quarter."Obviously this team is as good as anybody at turning you over, so when you're down some of your primary creators and initiators it causes a little bit of an extra strain, whether that's who to play, what to play, what to run, etc, etc," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "We'll just have to be sharper in that area because it's tough fully loaded against these guys."Series Outlook Shifts After Thunder's ResponseWith the series now tied and heading to San Antonio, both teams face questions about health and adjustments. The Thunder showed their ability to respond after a poor Game 1 performance, while the Spurs must determine how to compensate for their growing list of injuries."The guys brought it tonight," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who was recently named the league MVP for the second straight season. "Knowing what it would have meant if we lost this one, we brought the energy from the jump." The series now becomes a best-of-three with Game 3 set for Friday in San Antonio.

The LeadLast week came the news that Gen Z are big fans of going to the cinema. Now here's a Gen Z romcom from Working Title, the company behind Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill. Directed by Alicia MacDonald from a script by Rachel Hirons, Finding Emily shares DNA with Richard Curtis's comedies – the same warm heart and charm, plus levels of cheesiness that some may find cringe. In the end, I found it impossible to hate, though one or two performances felt a bit lacking in comic flair.The Campus Romance UnfoldsIt's set in Manchester, where indie singer-songwriter Owen (Spike Fearn) meets undergraduate Emily (Sadie Soverall) at the student union. They click, but when Emily taps her number into his phone, she misses out a digit. Is it a drunken error, or has she wrong-numbered him? Owen is convinced it's a mistake and sticks up posters around campus to find her. After a tipoff, he waits outside a lecture hall for psychology student Emily (Angourie Rice). She's American, and not his Emily, but she offers to help, suggesting Owen emails every Emily enrolled at the university – all 318 of them. Owen accidentally sends the email to all rather than BCCing, creating an email group of Emilies who are divided in their reactions. Is he some kind of creepy virgin "incel"? Or a diehard romantic? Owen becomes a meme: "email guy".Social Media SatireSome of the funniest scenes are the reactions on social media after Owen appears on a college YouTube channel with a guitar playing a song he wrote for Emily. "It's like Ed Sheeran on Crimewatch," someone writes. Another coins the hashtag #ratboysummer. This is a very gentle, light-touch send-up of campus culture wars and social media pile-ons. In fact, psychology student Emily has an ulterior motive for helping Owen: she wants to use him as a case study for her thesis that being in love is temporary insanity. "He is just data," she says, protesting too much.Supporting Characters and PerformancesBut, like in Curtis's films, the supporting characters are the most fun. Prasanna Puwanarajah is very funny as Emily's professor, a celebrity psychologist with a rampant ego. Distractingly, Owen is the spitting image of the young Liam Gallagher and at certain angles, Rice's Emily is a dead ringer for Taylor Swift. In a couple of scenes of them together, the effect is plain weird.Release TimelineFinding Emily is out on 21 May in Australia, on 22 May in the UK and on 28 August in the US. The film's release strategy appears to be targeting international markets sequentially, with the UK release following closely after Australia but before the US market.