Segg Media has completed its $10m (€8.8m) acquisition of the technology assets and user base of GXR, the Dubai-based media company whose streaming deals with top European leagues recently collapsed.

When the Whoop 5.0 and MG launched back in May, one of the buzzy new features was Healthspan, which aims to calculate how your body is aging. It was a feature only available to Whoop members who had the new 5.0 or MG—but now it’s coming to Whoop 4.0 as well. 

The Whoop 4.0 is still a great tracker. Most of the value of the 5.0 is in its longer battery life and, until recently, the Healthspan feature that the 4.0 didn’t get. If you prefer to hang on to your 4.0 (for example, to make use of your strap collection, or just because you haven’t wanted to pony up for an early upgrade) this announcement is great news.

What is Healthspan? 

Healthspan is a Whoop feature that calculates your “Whoop age” (younger is better) and your “pace of aging.” So if your Whoop age is 5 years younger than your actual age, you can feel pretty good about your health. 

This is, of course, a made-up number. Lots of wearables and health apps will calculate an age for you, subtracting years if you exercise a lot and have a “healthy” BMI. (Oura and Garmin peg me at about 10 years younger than I really am; Ultrahuman is tougher, saying my true age is nearly the same as my actual age.) I haven’t unlocked my Whoop age yet, since it needs several weeks’ worth of data to come up with its first estimate.

Whoop says that Healthspan incorporates nine key metrics: 

• Sleep consistency

• Total hours of sleep

• Daily steps

• Time in heart rate zones 1-3

• Time in heart rate zones 4-5

• Time in strength activities

• Estimated VO2max

• Resting heart rate

• Estimated lean body mass

Healthspan isn’t a scientifically validated number. In other words, I can’t compare the number I get from my Whoop to a “real” healthspan, since there is no such thing. So there’s no way to really evaluate how good Whoop is at calculating a healthspan. 

I will note, somewhat cynically, that improving your healthspan involves interacting with your Whoop device more than you otherwise might. If you don’t wear it all day, your daily steps number will be lower. If you don’t log every strength workout in the app, you won’t get credit for those. Much like the Apple Watch’s “stand hours,” some of these health metrics double as grading you on how much you’re using the product.

When is Healthspan coming to the 4.0? 

Whoop has been hinting for a while that Healthspan would be coming to older devices, but now we have a date. Whoop announced today that Peak members with 4.0 devices will be able to access the Healthspan feature with a rollout that is starting August 5. 

Peak is the middle tier of memberships, the one that you probably got automatically rolled into if you have a 4.0 device and didn’t take any action to upgrade your membership. 

From packed stadiums to live streams on your phone, the way we engage with sports has completely transformed. What used to be a weekend ritual for die-hard fans has become a 24/7, interactive, global experience — one that blends entertainment, technology, and real-time decision-making.

Whether you’re into football, tennis, basketball, or Formula 1, sports today are faster, more accessible, and more personalized than ever before. And it’s not just about watching. Fans are now part of the game in ways that would’ve been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Watching Sports Isn’t What It Used to Be… And That’s a Good Thing

Gone are the days when you needed cable to catch a game or had to be in the same country as your team. Now, you can stream Wimbledon from your phone via Eurosport, follow NBA highlights on TikTok, or track your fantasy football league with live stats.

This shift is especially appealing to younger audiences. According to Statista, 70% of Gen Z sports fans now use a second screen while watching sports. That might mean chatting on Discord during a match, placing live bets, or scrolling through memes while the ref checks VAR.

The second-screen experience includes:

• Live stats, player data, and injury updates
• Fantasy league trackers and betting odds
• Social media reactions and in-game commentary

Some fans even switch between entertainment formats mid-game — maybe streaming a tennis match on Eurosport, and then taking a quick break to play pokies at Leon Casino while waiting for the next set. It’s all part of a more flexible, on-demand sports culture.

Tech Is Behind the Scenes and On the Field

Technology is no longer just for fans — it’s a game-changer for players and coaches, too.

Smarter Training Through Data

Top teams and athletes are using wearable tech to improve performance and avoid injury. GPS trackers, heart-rate monitors, and sleep analytics are all standard now.

In American football, every NFL player wears an RFID chip that tracks movement down to the millisecond. In soccer, clubs like Manchester City analyze every pass and sprint using AI to optimize training before the next match.

Stadiums Are Getting a Digital Upgrade

The stadium experience is evolving, too, thanks to 5G and real-time apps:

• Scan your ticket with facial recognition
• Order snacks from your seat
• View multiple camera angles from your phone
• Access live betting odds mid-game

It’s not just about being there — it’s about making sure every minute counts, whether you’re in the nosebleeds or watching courtside replays in augmented reality.

Betting Is Now a Built-In Part of the Experience

Once a niche activity, sports betting has gone mainstream and mobile. According to Statista, the global online sports betting market is expected to hit $130 billion by 2026.

But it’s not just about betting on the winner anymore. Modern fans are into:

With sports and betting so closely tied, casino platforms have evolved into hybrid spaces, not just for slots or cards, but as extensions of the live game experience. They sit alongside sports streamers, fantasy apps, and even Twitch commentary in the new sports ecosystem.

Fans Are More Global Than Ever

One of the biggest shifts in recent years? You don’t need to be in Boston to love the Celtics, or in Melbourne to follow the Australian Open.

What’s behind this global fandom?

• Streaming platforms: Eurosport, DAZN, ESPN+, and others make it easy to follow any league, anywhere.
• Social media virality: Highlights from Japanese baseball or South Korean volleyball can go global overnight.
• Crossovers with gaming and eSports: Athletes stream on Twitch, and eSports orgs sponsor real-world teams.

This accessibility has led to what some call “multi-fandom.” You might follow Manchester United, Serena Williams, and the Boston Bruins, all from different sports, continents, and time zones, and still feel part of each community.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Sports Fans?

It’s safe to say the line between spectator and participant will keep blurring. Here’s what’s on the horizon:

• AI-curated content: Personalized game highlights based on your favorite teams or players.
• Blockchain ticketing: Reduce scalping and reward loyal fans with perks.
• Athlete-driven media: More pros are launching podcasts, brands, and even production studios.

Athletes are no longer just players. They’re creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs. And fans? They’re not just viewers, but participants, bettors, commentators, and content creators themselves.

Wrapping Up

Sports today are about connection — not just to teams, but to data, to other fans, and to a dynamic, digital world. Whether you’re watching tennis on Eurosport, following a fantasy league, or taking a break to enjoy some online gaming, you’re part of a constantly evolving experience.

And for many fans, that’s what makes sports more exciting than ever. It’s not just about the score; it’s about how many ways you can get in on the action.

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The researchers are responding by mulling over the offers with their entourages, comparing the deals with their peers and seeking counteroffers from other AI companies, The New York Times reported Thursday (July 31).

The report compared the competition for talent to that seen with NBA and NFL stars, but added that unlike sports teams, tech companies are not limited by a salary gap.

The competition is so fierce because the potential benefits of AI advancements to the companies are so great, while the pool of talent is limited because few companies have access to the amount of computing power it takes to drive the most advanced systems, according to the report.

In the case of Meta, the company seeks candidates from “the List,” which includes AI talent with qualifications like a Ph.D. in a related field, experience at a top lab and contributions to breakthroughs in the field, the report said.

Companies seeking to add or retain AI talent are reportedly changing their compensation structures, asking employees who might be poached to give the company a chance to make a counteroffer, and offering not only money but also access to the computing power that fuels AI.

Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai was asked during a July 23 earnings call about the talent poaching going on in the AI community. Pichai said top researchers join companies based on a host of reasons, not just compensation. These reasons include access to computing power and the quality of peers they would meet at work.

“We’re pretty competitive on all those fronts,” Pichai said.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said Wednesday (July 30) during an earnings call that Apple will “significantly” step up investments and dedicate more staff toward the development of AI features.

It was reported July 14 that investors concerned by Apple’s slump in share prices and frustrated with its delays in introducing AI features were calling on the company to acquire or hire new AI talent.

Whatever the merits of the controversial test, President Trump’s decision to bring it back could mark a turning point for the American fitness industry

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test, a sign that his administration may be serious about making fitness a bigger part of American life. 

The Presidential Fitness Test had been implemented in American schools since the 1950s before being phased out by the Obama Administration in favor of the Youth Fitness Program, which focused more on individual health progress over one-size-fits-all testing. 

While it’s unknown exactly how the new version of the Presidential Fitness Test will look, old versions tested students on movements including sit-ups, push-ups or pull-ups, shuttle runs, one-mile runs and sit-and-reach stretching exams. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be responsible for administering the test. 

In a statement, the White House said the restoration of the test is aimed at “addressing the widespread epidemic of declining health and physical fitness” among young Americans. 

“We are building a nation of strong, proud and unstoppable young Americans,” Trump added in a statement. “The Presidential Fitness Test is not just about physical strength — it’s about character, competition and confidence. Together, we are making fitness fun, competitive and cool again.”

As part of the executive order, Trump is also bringing back The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, which has been tasked with developing ‘bold and innovative fitness goals for young Americans.” Current or former athletes including golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Annika Sorenstam, Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker and NFL legend Lawrence Taylor attended a signing ceremony on Thursday afternoon. 

Whatever the merits of the Presidential Fitness Test — the exam has been criticized by some experts for its emphasis on rigid, one-size-fits-all testing — Trump’s decision to bring it back could mark a turning point for the American fitness industry amid the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. 

Fitness industry stakeholders and political analysts have expressed optimism that the industry could have a chance to gain a bigger seat at the table in Washington, D.C., under the Trump Administration, citing the MAHA movement’s emphasis on physical inactivity as a key contributor to the current youth obesity epidemic. 

So far, that opinion has yet to play out in practice. 

Last month, the Senate scrapped a provision in Trump’s “big beautiful” tax bill that would’ve allowed Americans to use tax-free funds from Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) on youth sports and fitness-related purchases including gym memberships. The provision was rooted in the PHIT Act, a piece of legislation long supported by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA), the top trade association for the American fitness industry.

Proponents, however, will likely point to Trump’s re-establishment of the fitness test as a positive sign for the future of the fitness industry — and the idea that working out can become a bigger part of the lives of young Americans. 

See Also

Anthony Geisler, the former CEO of Xponential Fitness and current leader of Sequel Brands, said that he’s been in talks with U.S. government officials to create a “fitness commission” that would align with the MAHA movement. 

At the ATN Innovation Summit 2025, Geisler urged all fitness industry stakeholders, regardless of their political beliefs, to join him in advocacy efforts. 

“Five years ago, literally, our entire industry was illegal,” Geisler said, pointing to the “prohibition of fitness” as gyms and studios were locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This isn’t a one-year plan or a two-year plan,” he added. “This is a (long-term) plan to continue to push fitness into the White House, into the mainstream.”

HFA, for its part, sent a statement to its members praising the Trump Administration’s decision.

“We commend the administration for restoring national leadership on youth fitness,” HFA president and CEO Liz Clark wrote. “The reestablishment of the President’s Council and Fitness Test affirms that physical activity is a public health priority. Instilling lifelong habits of movement in our youth is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve the nation’s well-being.”

Robert Charmak, right, works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

(AP) — Stocks capped a choppy day of trading on Wall Street with more losses Thursday after an early big tech rally faded and a health care sector pullback led the market lower.

The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, its third straight decline. The benchmark index, which is just below the record high it set on Monday, notched a 2.2% gain for the month of July and is up 7.8% so far this year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite closed less than 0.1% lower.

Roughly 70% of stocks in the S&P 500 lost ground, with health care companies accounting for the biggest drag on the market.

Health care stocks sank after the White House released letters asking big pharmaceutical companies to cut prices and make other changes in the next 60 days. Eli Lilly & Co. fell 2.6%, UnitedHealth Group slid 6.2% and Bristol-Myers Squibb dropped 5.8%.

Gains by some big technology stocks with hefty values helped temper the impact of the broader market’s decline.

Meta Platforms surged 11.3% after the parent company of Facebook and Instagram crushed Wall Street’s sales and profit targets even as the company continues to pour billions of dollars into artificial intelligence.

Microsoft climbed 3.9% after posting better results than analysts expected. The software pioneer also gave investors an encouraging update on its Azure cloud computing platform, which is a centerpiece of the company’s artificial intelligence efforts.

Big Tech companies have regularly been the driving force behind much of the market’s gains over enthusiasm for the future of artificial intelligence.

Elsewhere in the market, design software company Figma soared in its stock market debut. The stock vaulted 250% above its initial public offering price of $33 a share.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 23.51 points to 6,339.39. The Dow dropped 330.30 points to 44,130.98, and the Nasdaq gave up 7.23 points to finish at 21,122.45.

Earnings remain a key focus outside of the technology sector in what has been a heavy week so far for corporate financial results. CVS Health fell 0.3% after it topped Wall Street expectations for the second quarter and raised its full-year forecast again.

In economic news, the Commerce Department said prices rose 2.6% in June compared with a year ago, as measured by the personal consumption expenditures index. That’s the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure for inflation. The latest reading was slightly higher than economists expected and also marks an increase from an annual pace of 2.4% in May.

Results from another measure of inflation earlier this month, the consumer price index, also showed inflation rising in June.

Also on Thursday, a report showed that the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits inched up last week.

The latest updates on inflation and the jobs market are landing amid lingering concerns about the impact of tariffs. Inflation’s temperature is being closely monitored by businesses and the Fed to better gauge the impact of President Donald Trump’s on-again-off-again approach to import taxes. Companies including Ford and Hershey’s have more recently warned that tariffs are weighing on their latest and projected financial results.

Trump has said he will levy tariffs against goods from dozens of countries if they don’t reach agreements with the U.S. by Friday. The latest developments in the seemingly unpredictable tariff landscape include a potential pause in tariff escalations with China and a deal with South Korea.

However, Trump said Thursday that he would enter a 90-day negotiating period with Mexico over trade as 25% tariff rates stay in place.

The reasons behind trade policy decisions remain unpredictable. On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order to impose his threatened 50% tariffs on Brazil. He has directly linked the import tax to the trial of his ally, the country’s former president Jair Bolsonaro. He has also said that trade negotiations with Canada would be more difficult in the wake of that nation’s economically unrelated decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

Uncertainty over tariffs and inflation have prompted the Fed to leave its benchmark interest rate alone through the central bank’s past five meetings, including the one that ended Wednesday. The Fed has been trying to cool the rate of inflation back to its target of 2%. It has come close, but inflation remains stubbornly stuck just above that target.

A cut in rates would give the job market and overall economy a boost, but it could also risk fueling inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been pressured by Trump to cut the benchmark rate, though that decision isn’t his to make alone, but belongs to the 12 members of the Federal Open Market Committee.

“Inflation is only a bit above the Fed’s target, but looks likely to rise in the second half of the year due to tariffs,” said Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank. “With the job market in pretty good shape, they see room to hold interest rates steady and lean against inflation’s increase near-term.”

Wall Street has been tempering their expectations for rate cuts at the Fed’s next meeting in September. Traders now see a 39% chance of a rate cut, according to data from CME Group. That’s down from 58.4% a week ago and a 75.4% chance a month ago.

Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was unchanged at 4.37%. The yield on the two-year Treasury remained at 3.94% from late Wednesday.

Markets were mostly mixed in Asia and Europe.