TikTok is looking more and more like a record label. It’s annoyed many in the music industry.

Eid Mubarak, everyone. I'm Diamond Naga Siu, and I'm in the market for a new pair of running shoes.

I'm not a competent runner. But now that the rain has finally stopped, I want to explore San Diego by foot. And walking is just too slow.

Allbirds is one of the brands I'm looking at. And my colleague Matthew Kish broke down the company's rise and fall over the past few years. He dissects how Allbirds is currently trying to regain its edge after slipping from its position as Silicon Valley's favorite sneaker.

Before I go for an excruciatingly slow run, let's dive into today's tech.

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1. TikTok is looking more and more like a record label. When TikTok launched SoundOn, a song-distribution and artist-services platform, some in the industry wondered whether it was trying to muscle its way into record labels' territory. Now the company could ruffle more feathers as it pushes into other areas of the music business.

• TikTok is now looking to hire people who will "identify, sign, and develop new artists" as well as "design live show and merchandise strategies for artists globally."

• Signing artists directly could be a significant move for TikTok, but any moves it makes in that area could risk angering record labels, which already have a "frenemies" relationship with the app.

• My colleague Dan Whateley highlights the rising tensions and possible rewards of TikTok's latest music move.

Get a front-row seat to TikTok's transformation into a record label here.

In other news:

2. SpaceX's Starship rocket explodes. It was developed for 10 years but blew up even before reaching orbit. Here's everything you need to know about the world's most powerful rocket. Bonus: Watch all five times the Starship rocket exploded over the years.

3. Artificial intelligence could solve the problems automation created. Automation widened income inequality by taking over middle-income jobs. Now, artificial intelligence could cheapen educated labor. Dive into how AI could flatten income inequality here.

4. Don't let a promotion prevent you from accepting a new job. Bosses often try enticing people to stay at a company by offering a title or pay bump. Although it can be tempting, experts warn it's a distraction. Here's what you should remember before making a decision.

5. Extreme quiet quitting. This CEO claimed that dozens of remote workers didn't open their laptops for a month. He also lauded an employee for selling their family dog to perform better at work. More on his remote work remarks here.

6. The creepy industry behind online therapy. BetterHelp, Cerebral, and other online mental health companies are sharing sensitive user data for profit. It includes when people are in therapy, for how long, their approximate locations, and more. Read the full story.

7. Celebrities, they're just like us (on Twitter). Justin Bieber, Bill Gates, Kim Kardashian, possibly you, and definitely me all just lost Twitter verification. Most users now need to pay $8 per month for that privilege. More on the checkless situation here.

8. The 18 most outlandish concept cars you can actually buy. A toaster-shaped EV with a duck-themed paint job. A Peugeot Inception that looks like it traveled through time. An autonomous taxi with robot arms. Hop in to explore all the vehicles here.

Odds and ends:

9. This 1970s-era cannon takes down Russian drones pretty well. The Flakpanzer Gepard has been critical for Ukraine's efforts. But it's now running into a political ammunition problem. Check out the artillery — and the ammo woes — here.

10. Tesla rival Polestar reveals a sleek, new electric SUV. It boasts more than 300 miles of range and competes with vehicles like the Tesla Model Y, Cadillac Lyriq, and Genesis GV60. Interestingly, it doesn't have a back window. Get a full look at the 544-horsepower beast here.

The latest people moves in tech:

• A slew of high-profile employees are leaving Facebook's parent company Meta. Here are all the executives who have recently bounced from advertising.
• For a long time, Google was afraid to launch a chatbot in case it said something wrong. This ex-employee shares how the company's hesitancy caused it to lose a top chatbot visionary.

Curated by Diamond Naga Siu in San Diego. (Feedback or tips? Email [email protected] or tweet @diamondnagasiu) Edited by Shona Ghosh (tweet @shonaghosh) and Hallam Bullock (tweet @hallam_bullock) in London.