The cost of PC components has been skyrocketing as AI infrastructure buildout creates extraordinary demand amid limited supply. HP says that squeeze is now hitting PC memory especially hard, with RAM now accounting for 35 percent of a system’s overall cost.
“We did share last quarter that memory and storage costs made up roughly 15 percent to 18 percent of our PC bill of materials, and we now currently estimate this to be roughly 35 percent for the year,” said CFO Karen Parkhill on the company’s latest earnings call. She also confirmed that part of the company’s response will be price increases. Samsung similarly warned of potential price increases due to AI-induced memory shortages.
Higher prices have unfortunately become the norm for PC shoppers, especially in 2026, and the RAM crisis is playing a major role. HP interim CEO Bruce Broussard said that while he “believe the market will rationalize over time” the company is doing its best to add new suppliers as well as expand lower cost-sourcing for memory.
HP executives also said they are seeing stronger AI PC demand, saying 35 percent of HP’s PC sales are coming from AI PCs. This comes as the industry is seeing mixed signals, like Dell saying that consumers don’t really care about AI PCs.
AI has been eating up the world’s supply of memory and companies like Micron have even abandoned their consumer brands to focus entirely on B2B supply. Other components like GPUs have also been feeling the pressure.
Tecno just unveiled a rather intriguing modular smartphone concept design at MWC 2026. The standout feature here is likely the size. Most modular smartphone concepts start bulky and only get bulkier once attaching accessories. Tecno’s base smartphone is just 4.9mm thin, which is significantly thinner than a pencil and the iPhone Air.
Of course, the size increases with each attached module. However, snapping on the power bank module makes the thickness comparable to a standard modern smartphone. Another key feature here is how these various modular components stick together. Tecno has developed new interconnection technology that uses both magnets and pin connectors. This should make it easy to both attach and remove components.
The company says this phone has been designed to grow with the user through hardware expansion. To that end, Tecno has developed 10 modules. There are various camera lenses and something that looks like a dedicated gaming controller.
Tecno
While the magnets are for attaching, the pin connectors assist with power delivery. Data transmission between the phone and the modules is handled wirelessly, with the ability to switch between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mmWave depending on where the user is located.
There are two colorways for both the phone and the ecosystem of accessories. There’s a silver-aluminum edition and a nifty-looking grey version. This doesn’t matter to actual consumers because, well, it’s just a concept design. It does look like the company’s magnetic attachment technology could make it to some actual products down the line.
The industry hasn’t quite embraced modular smartphones just yet, even though there have been some nifty concept designs. Google’s Project Ara prototype goes back more than a decade, and the same can be said of other concept designs that never saw the light of day.
NBC has cast the lead role in another of its pilots — in this case tapping Jake Johnson to lead a comedy about an L.A. private investigator.
Johnson (New Girl, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) will star in the currently untitled show from Brooklyn Nine-Nine alumni Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici. The pilot, produced by Universal Television, has also signed Akiva Schaffer (last year’s The Naked Gun) to direct.
Johnson’s casting also continues a run of actors who had roles on Fox series in the 2010s leading NBC pilots this year. He joins his New Girl co-star Damon Wayans Jr. (Puzzled), David Boreanaz (The Rockford Files), Emily Deschanel (an untitled criminal profiler drama), Peter Krause (Protection) and Jane Lynch (a comedy with Katey Sagal).
The logline for Goor and Del Tredici’s single-camera comedy describes it as “continuing the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.” Johnson will play Mickey, a smart, cynical and heartbroken — but trying to pretend he’s not — private investigator with a knack for the job. He was an LAPD officer until his life fell apart three years ago.
Goor and Del Tredici are writing the pilot and will executive produce alongside Schaffer. Johnson is a producer.
Johnson next stars with Dakota Fanning in The Sun Never Sets from filmmaker Joe Swanberg, which is set to premiere at SXSW in March. He also has two Apple TV projects on tap for later this year — The Dink, a feature comedy about pickleball, and the series Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. He is repped by UTA and Jackoway Austen.
As Survivor approaches its landmark 50th season, returning players are chasing more than the coveted $1 million prize. For veterans of the game, a win carries added weight — legacy, redemption and the chance to reshape how their story is remembered.
Days before filming began in Fiji, The Hollywood Reporter was on location and asked all 24 castaways what would winning this potential landmark victory would mean to them. Their answers — ranging from emotional reflections on family and identity to candid admissions about pride, regret and unfinished business — reveal why season 50 isn’t just another all-star edition. Even after a quarter century, the drive to outwit, outplay and outlast remains intensely personal.
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Cirie Fields: I don’t even know that words would explain the feeling of accomplishment I would feel. I dream about it. I hear it, I see it in my mind. And when I see it, I’m thinking about how I’m going to be able to hold it together. The most important things in my life have been 20 years or more. My marriage, my children, my career. I’ve been a nurse for 23 years. So Survivor is as much a part of my life as my family. To end the era with a win that I’ve been chasing for 20 years? It’s too big to even imagine.
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty: I’ve had the longest time to feel regret about things that I did or didn’t do correctly. I’ve also had the longest time to lose sleep over this and wonder if I’d ever get a shot at being back. It would mean that I came full circle. It would be 25 years, a quarter life, of me playing Survivor to finally win. I’ve had 25 years of being known as a Survivor but not a Survivor winner — I’m not gonna miss this shot. Chrissy Hofbeck: I actually do think that’s going to happen, and let me tell you what I’m going to do with that money. About two years ago, I was diagnosed with the BRCA gene. Eight weeks later I had my breasts, ovaries, and fallopian tubes removed proactively. I also have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer and melanoma. I could potentially face large medical situations in the future, so I would like to put some money aside so I don’t bankrupt my family staying alive. When you play for your life, it lights a good fire underneath you.
Christian Hubicki: It would validate me coming here. It would validate my overall approach to not just this game but how I take to lots of things in life, which is aggressively and analytical but also full of heart, determination and drive. But most of all, I would be proud of what I can show to my newborn son. He was born six weeks ago and it adds a completely new dimension to the reasons to be here. It would show him that it was wonderful to play Survivor and do all the things I did that season, to get all the way to seventh place. But you don’t have to accept that as a ceiling. You don’t have to accept any ceiling. Dee Valladares: Winning would mean everything. That visualization is all I’ve been obsessing about in pre-game. I feel like Jeff [Probst, host] would be proud to turn that parchment over and say my name. I think he would be proud. The first thing I would do is go up to him and be like, “Are you proud of me? Please be proud of me.” This is his baby and it’s a huge responsibility to be on 50. I want to make sure I never take that for granted.
Mike White: It would be surreal. It’s already kind of like a weird dream come true to have played Survivor and be a part of this monumental season. I feel like I’m really in the Survivor family. So to win would be almost too much. People would come to my house and burn it down, I think. Rick Devens: First of all, I’d be unbearable. You think Sandra [Diaz-Twine] talks about being the queen? Just wait. I don’t think I’d be able to control my emotions. It would just be overwhelming. As silly as it is to think about and imagine this game all the time — it’s given me so much to me and I’ve taken so much from it — the thing I haven’t taken from it is that crown. I’d almost be embarrassed by how much it would mean to me.
Angelina Keeley: Outside of having my girls, winning this season would be the honor of a lifetime. People would never stop hearing about it. I’d be that old grandma, at 90 in my rocking chair, being like, “I won Season 50,” and telling stories about the island and jacket. And my grandkids are going to be like, “We can’t hear about the jacket again, grandma.” To come back after seven years, and show growth and progress — to show that you fall down seven times but get back up eight — that’s the story of Survivor and that’s my story, too. Benjamin “Coach” Wade: If I’m the winner of Survivor, my life won’t change one bit. I’ll go back to being a school teacher. It wouldn’t matter if they paid me $5 million. I’m going to go back to being a teacher and give those kids that magic and love that I do every day, and focus on my family and put that money in the bank and just keep on doing the same thing I’m doing.
Emily Flippen: I haven’t let myself even think about that reality. You saying it is the first time I’ve even conceptualized it. Because I think it would mean so much. It would be a lot of validation for me in a way that I don’t give myself. I’m a deeply insecure person and very self-deprecating and don’t tend to believe in myself. I still want to be a realist, but also have a level of confidence I’ve never had before. It would just be validation that when you set a positive mindset and expectations for yourself that aren’t on the ground level that you maybe do better than you expect.
Quintavius “Q” Burdette: Coming into 50, what I believe right now is that I’m the hottest New Era player to play. If I were to win 50, I could start talking about being the hottest player in the last 10 years — legendary status. So to win this ultimate season with these players, some of which are already legends, to beat them out? That’s big time. My son would watch me win. My wife is a big Survivor fan and for her to say her husband is the winner of her favorite show growing up, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Tiffany Ervin: I’ve dreamt about that moment many times. Jeff is usually wearing a navy blue shirt when he pulls my name out of the urn and announces me as winner. Winning this season doesn’t just make me a great Survivor player, it cements a Survivor legacy. But beyond that, it means something personal because it means I was able to grow. I was able to actually take what I learned and apply it, and use it to get me to the place of victory I wanted to get to the first time. I would have actually benefited from the mistakes I have made in the past.
Colby Donaldson: Being able to pull it off this time would be me going out the way I came in. Although I didn’t win the first time, boy did I play a good game and I’m proud of that. I’m proud of everything that happened the first time I played and I’d love to replicate that. So to do what I did in Australia but actually win? For a 51-year-old that would be pretty sweet.
Kyle Fraser: If I win season 50, it finally means I’m the best at something. I said in my Final Tribal Council in season 48 that I want to be representative of my season. But I also want to be representative of this game. I care deeply about this game. Not only for what it’s done for my family but for the life lessons I’ve learned that I think have truly made me a better man. I would love, and be honored, to call myself the representative of Survivor. A two-time winner, twice within the span of a year who loves the game. If I won again, I’d be The Goat.
Kamilla Karthigesu: I’ve been watching this show since I was 10 and never thought I’d be able to play because they didn’t allow Canadians to play for a while. My dream came true. I got to play 48, I crushed it and now I’m here again. I can’t imagine what winning it would feel like. I remember sobbing the morning after 48 because I’d never been that proud of myself. Winning 50 would top that.
Ozzy Lusth: Winning 50 would allow me to found an eco-village and teach permaculture, and run mini Survivor experiences: bushcraft, spearfishing and surfing. A place for creativity, wellness and compassion. I would be able to share my love and connection to nature as well as my love of the game. Resilient communities will be valuable cornerstones of support as the world becomes more and more divided. A place to disconnect from the rat race and recharge in an abundance of nature, art and music.
Rizo Velovic: A slogan I go by is “If you’re dreaming big, dream bigger.” Winning Survivor 50 is dreaming the biggest possibility I’ve always ever wanted. I’m the first Albanian person to ever play Survivor and the fact that I now get to represent my country in back-to-back seasons and make them proud is something I’ve always wanted to do. Winning Survivor 50 would be the cherry on top of this entire experience.
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick: Honestly, it would mean everything. It wouldn’t even be about the money. To prove to not only myself but my children that mommy really can do this and this is really hard. Harder than anything they can even imagine in their little lives right now. And then to all the people that have supported me for over 20 years who always believed in me, it would mean everything in the world.
Savannah Louie: Even though I’m living this dream right now, I haven’t even processed what happened in 49. As we were getting to the end, obviously I’m trying to win the game, but as we get closer there are things you’re proud of. And I felt in season 49 I couldn’t fully celebrate those moments because I was so focused on getting to the end. So when I think about what it would mean to win Survivor 50, if it’s anything like 49, I don’t know if I’d even be able to process what that means. Whoever wins this season will make Survivor history and to have my name be part of that history would be incredible.
Genevieve Mushaluk: I daydream about saying to my husband and parents when they pick me up from the Winnipeg Airport, “You will never believe it, but I won.” My dad would cry, my mom would think I’m lying just because it’s so fantastical and that type of stuff doesn’t happen to someone like me from Winnipeg. My daydream is their expressions when I get back to Winnipeg.
Aubry Bracco: Oh my gosh. I wouldn’t have words for what it would mean to win this season. It would be the culmination of the last 10 years of my life. I’ve played Survivor for 111 days, that’s a long time.
Joe Hunter: I get emotional just thinking about it, because what an honor it would be to be crowned the winner. I don’t take that lightly with this group. The impact would be so powerful and it’s because of who’s here. When you have that kind of expertise and skillset and are able to navigate that, it would be something to be extremely proud of.
Charlie Davis: That’s eternal glory right there. Legend status. And it’s $1 million. Let’s not forget that’s always the big ticket item of winning the game. Coming from someone who came real close to winning it, I can tell you I think about that a lot. It would be awesome to have.
Jonathan Young: It would be one of the best things that’s ever happened to me in my life. It would be an honor to be up there with the greats who have won Survivor. It takes a special person to come back out again. None of us knew what to expect the first time. Now we know — we know how hard it is. That’s very admirable. Whoever wins, they deserve to win.
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Survivor 50 premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. on CBS, streaming on Paramount+. See how the cast is divided into their tribes here.
Searchlight Pictures has picked up the rights to the comedic horror novel by Grady Hendrix, which has been in development both as a film and series since being published in 2014.
Producing will be Brian Oliver of New Republic, Gillian Bohrer of Megamix, Adam Goldworm of Aperture Entertainment and Brad Fischer.
The book, Hendrix’s third published novel, told an Ikea-like furniture superstore named Orsk in Cleveland that becomes subjected to supernatural occurrences. To uncover the mystery, a group of employees sign up for a night shift, only to get way more than they bargained for, in a most sinister way.
Hendrix, who saw his horror novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism be adapted as a feature by Amazon, will exec produce, along with Quirk Books .
The book was initially headed to the small screen via Fox who had Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich) and The O.C. creator Josh Scwhartz as executive producers. When that stalled, Horrorstör landed at New Republic as a movie project.
VP of production Richard Ruiz and production executive Apolline Berty are overseeing the project for Searchlight Pictures, reporting to heads of production and development DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas.
New Republic’s recent output has included animated feature Transformers One and the live-action Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, as well as Michael Bay action movie Ambulance, which was produced with Fischer.
Goldworm is producing Hannibal at Netflix with Denzel Washington attached to star and Antoine Fuqua directing and Alpha at Netflix with Taron Egerton starring.
Levine is known for his ability to straddle genres with great agility. He’s traipsed in horror and horror romance with All the Boys Love Mandy Lane and Warm Bodies, trafficked in coming-of-age stoner dramedy with Sundance hit The Wackness, and traded in dramatic emotion and laughs in the cancer comedy 50/50. His last feature was the Seth Rogen-Charlize Theron comedy Long Shot.
While he has been spending time in the TV series sphere, he is returning to movies later this year with Mr. Irrelevant, a true life football drama starring David Corenswet that will be released December.
Salt Lake City police confirmed the death to Variety, saying they originally responded to an overdose call on Monday, but then it became a death investigation
Cosby Jr. has been an occasional presence on the Bravo series, discussing his experimentation with drugs with his mother on several episodes. She has also expressed her disappointment with him getting secretly married during the run of the show, as well as his legal issues.
Cosby debuted as an original cast member on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” in 2020. She did not shoot for the film’s third season, but returned for the fourth as a “friend of,” before returning to the main cast for its fifth season. The show just wrapped its sixth season.
In today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Brent Lang takes a long look at Disney’s incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro and the challenges that await the parks and experiences veteran as he takes the helm of the Mouse House next month.
Famously, “Heated Rivalry” star Connor Storrie is great at accents. His Russian is especially popular, which the actor pulled off to play a convincingly Slavic Ilya Rozanov in the hit series.
Now, ahead of Storrie’s gig as “Saturday Night Live” host on Feb. 28, the actor put his language chops to the test in a hilarious accent duel against cast member James Austin Johnson.
“And by the way, the Russian accent was awesome,” Marcello Hernández says to Storrie, who responds, “Thanks, I actually do all kinds of accents!” The mere mention of the subject summons Johnson, who rolls up ready to defend his honor as the accent authority at “SNL.”
The two face off, putting on their best German (Storrie sips a beer while quipping about the ease at which he can slip into the pronunciation), Cajun, French, Italian and even Shakespearean accents. (After hearing Storrie’s Shakespeare, his next role might just need to be a reimagining of one of the Bard’s works.)
Hernández also asks them both to do their best Jamaican accent, which Storrie and Johnson politely decline: “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Storrie stammers.
And while the two continue to go back and forth, it’s Storrie’s hailed Russian accent that wins the duel for him. “When you get to hell, tell them Rozanov sent you,” he says in reference to his beloved “Heated Rivalry” character, before using his finger pistol to shoot down Johnson.
Feb. 28 will mark Storrie’s “Saturday Night Live” hosting debut. While the rest of the skits are still tightly under wraps, if they’re anything like this, fans are sure to be delighted.
The show’s musical guest will be Mumford & Sons, who are promoting their upcoming album, “Prizefighter,” set to be released on Feb. 20.
The CW has set the Season 4 premiere date for the drama “Sullivan’s Crossing,” which will return April 20, airing from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Per the official logline, the 10-episode fourth season finds “Maggie Sullivan’s (Morgan Kohan) life at the Crossing is finally taking shape having decided on a new direction for her career and a renewed commitment to Cal (Chad Michael Murray). That is, until Maggie’s ex-husband, Liam (Marcus Rosner), arrives with a shocking revelation which only upends Maggie’s life once again and causes Cal to question whether Maggie will ever truly be able to leave her past behind.”
“Sullivan’s Crossing” is adapted for television by showrunner Roma Roth and executive produced by Roth, Christopher E. Perry, Aren Prupas and Carr, along with additional producing partners. All episodes of Season 4 will be available to stream next day on the CW App, with Fremantle handling international distribution.
Watch the teaser below.
PROGRAMMING
“Reading Rainbow” is expanding its revival. Sony Pictures Television has ordered 24 additional episodes of the children’s literacy series, with host Mychal Threets set to return. Emmy Award-winning kids TV producer Kristen McGregor has joined the series as executive producer and showrunner.
Produced by Embassy Row in association with Buffalo Toronto Public Media, the new episodes will continue the franchise’s long-standing mission of encouraging a love of reading among young viewers. Sony Pictures Television will produce and distribute the series. Shortened versions of episodes will also be released on Kidzuko, Sony’s kids-focused YouTube channel launched in 2024.
The revival debuted last fall with four episodes on Kidzuko, which have amassed more than 4.79 million views to date. Additional celebrity guests and featured books for the new episodes will be announced at a later time.
McGregor’s credits include “Sesame Street,” “Ms. Rachel” and “Blippi’s Treehouse.” She is also moderating a panel at Kidscreen Summit on Feb. 23 focused on evolving partnerships in the kids content space.
The original “Reading Rainbow” premiered in 1983 and became a cornerstone of educational television, using storytelling to help foster literacy and imagination.
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Fox Sports has picked up “You See L.A.,” a new one-hour documentary special set to premiere March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, timed to coincide with the start of Women’s History Month.
The film is produced by AV8 Productions, Allez! Sports and Hello Sunshine, and centers on the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball program’s historic 2024–25 season, which culminated in the team’s first-ever Final Four appearance. In addition to revisiting that landmark run, the documentary weaves in moments from the current season as the story of the Bruins continues to unfold.
“You See L.A.” features head coach Cori Close and standout players Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez, capturing the team’s postseason run.
The film also highlights the program’s connection to the Los Angeles community and includes appearances by UCLA alumni and basketball legends Ann Meyers Drysdale, Reggie Miller and Candace Parker.
“You See L.A.” will air immediately following the UCLA–USC women’s basketball matchup and is presented by Authentic Asia.
FIRST LOOKS/TRAILERS
Apple TV has released the first look at Season 2 of the animated preschool series“Wonder Pets: In The City,” which premieres on March 20.
The showfollows a trio of classroom pets: Izzy the Guinea Pig, Zuri the Bunny and Tate the Snake, as they embark on adventures around New York City and the world, traveling in their “Jetcar” to rescue animals in musical, mini-opera-themed adventures.
Produced by Nickelodeon Animation, “Wonder Pets: In the City” is developed by Emmy winner Jennifer Oxley, who serves as executive producer alongside Steve Altiere, and co-executive producer Jeffrey Lesser.
The new series features the voices of Victoria Scola-Giampapa as Izzy, Vanessa Huszar as Zuri, and Christopher Sean Cooper Jr. as Tate.
This music-forward series also features composers including Bobby Lopez, Jason Robert Brown, Georgia Stitt, Matthew Sklar, Larry Hochman, Zina Goldrich, and Natsumi Osawa, accompanied by the FILMharmonic Orchestra.
CASTING
Comedian and actor Druski is set to appear as a special commentator on the upcoming season of NBC’s “The Voice: Battle of Champions.”
The 29th season premieres on Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock. The show is hosted by Carson Daly and features a coaching panel consisting of Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Adam Levine.
Druski will serve as the series’ first-ever commentator and will “offer unique takes on the coaches’ strategy as they vie for the win,” including tracking “Triple Turn Competition” and “Super Steal” among the coaches. A line-up of NBA players will also join him throughout the competition.
Druski first rose to fame with his “Coulda Been Records” sketches on YouTube and Instagram Live, later self-producing shows, and completing a national headlining comedy tour.
“The Voice” comes from MGM Television, Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, a Warner Bros. Television Group, and ITV Studios , The Voice USA, Inc. The series was created by John de Mol, who serves as an executive producer along with Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Amanda Zucker, Kyra Thompson, Adam H. Sher and Barry Poznick.
AWARDS
June Squibb, Kari Wahlgren, Rachel and Aron Accurso and Amber Riley are among the presenters who will take the stage at the 4th Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards (CAFE), the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced Tuesday. The awards will take place on March 2 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City.
John Tartaglia, a multi-award-winning actor, director, writer, puppeteer, producer and creator for television and theater, will host the awards and Regina Spektor will perform. Robert Picardo (“Star Trek: Voyager”) will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Bill Nye at the CAFE Honors Ceremony on March 1.
Other presenters will include Jennifer Barnhart and “Zoe” (“Sesame Street”), Monique Coleman (“High School Musical”), Frankie Cordero and “Purple Panda” (“Donkey Hodie”), Stephanie D’Abruzzo and “Duck Duck” (“Donkey Hodie”), Ava Joyce McCarthy (“The Primrose Railway Children”), Bill Nye (“Lifetime Achievement Honoree”), Tori Prentice and Adrianna Walker (“Harlem Ice”), Chanel Stewart (“Win or Lose”). Original “Avenue Q” Broadway cast members Tartaglia, d’Abruzzo and Barnhart will present together. Alyssa Tucker (“Live From Snacktime”) is the red carpet correspondent.
CAFE spotlights the pinnacle of creativity and innovation in children’s entertainment. The ceremonies will be streamed live on watch.theemmys.tv and through The Emmys apps (apps.theemmys.tv).
TRAILERS
Netflix has released a trailer and key art for “Homicide New York” Season 2, set to release on the platform on March 25. The season will consist of five 60-minute episodes.
Season 2 of the series, which Netflix describes as “a docu-series that illuminates some of the most notorious crimes from the city that never sleeps,” “an elite team of NYPD detectives relive the homicide investigations that defined their careers.”
Adam Kassen directed the season, with Dick Wolf, Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Adam Kassen, Tom Thayer, Nan Strait and Dan Volpe executive producing. Wolf Entertainment & Alfred Street Industries served as the production company.
Kalshi, one of several online prediction markets that have exploded in popularity in the last few years, has suspended one of YouTube MrBeast’s video editors for insider trading, NPR reports. Besides being suspended from the platform for two years, Kalshi says the editor will also be required to pay a financial penalty that’s five times his initial trade size.
The editor, Artem Kaptur, traded in markets related to YouTube and specifically, MrBeast. Kalshi says his transactions were initially flagged because of his “near-perfect trading success on markets with low odds, which were statistically anomalous.” Because trades are public on Kalshi, multiple users also flagged the trades as suspicious. Kalshi learned Kaptur was an employee of MrBeast during its investigation and determined he “likely had access to material non-public information connected to his trading.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, trading with insider information violates Kalshi’s rules.
Kalshi says that it reported the insider trading to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and plans to donate the over $20,000 Kaptur has been fined to “a non-profit that provides consumer education on derivatives markets.” In a statement provided to NPR, Beast Industries, MrBeast’s production company, said it has a zero-tolerance policy for insider trading. “We have a longstanding policy in place against employees using proprietary company information in order to safeguard the highest standards and ethics throughout our organization,” Beast Industries said.
Separately, Kalshi has also suspended and fined a politician who was running to be Governor of California. “In May, our Surveillance Department saw an online video by a candidate for Governor of California that appeared to show him trading on his own candidacy,” Kalshi says. “We immediately froze his account and opened an investigation. The candidate was initially cooperative and acknowledged that this violated the exchange rules. As a candidate in a race, you can (and probably should) follow and use Kalshi’s market forecast, but you should not trade on it.”
Like other prediction markets, Kalshi lets users make trades based on a variety of different subjects and events. For example, you could participate in a market focused on the results of a basketball game, or something more unusual, like who’ll win the current season of Survivor. Despite resembling gambling, online predictive markets aren’t currently regulated by state gambling laws, and instead classify bets as a type of futures contract, placing them under the purview of the CFTC. That hasn’t stopped states from trying to regulate prediction markets anyway. For example, Nevada sued Kalshi for operating a sports gambling market without a permit earlier in February.
