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Zoho Corporation has announced the launch of ten new features and services within Zoho Creator, its low-code application development platform, aimed at simplifying and speeding up business app creation. The latest additions include an AI-powered assistant, CoCreator, and a suite of contextual AI tools designed to streamline every phase of the app development lifecycle. These updates are now available to all users at no additional cost. The enhancements reflect Zoho’s broader commitment to incorporating artificial intelligence in practical, privacy-respecting ways that drive real-time value for business users. CoCreator, powered by Zoho’s AI assistant Zia, allows users to build applications using voice and written prompts, process diagrams, and business specification documents. “Since Creator’s introduction in 2006, the focus has been on simplifying and speeding up the app development process without sacrificing functionality. This enabled our users to launch millions of apps successfully,” said Raju Vegesna, Zoho’s Chief Evangelist. “AI allows us to take it to another level, shortening the time from an idea to an app. Today’s announcement raises the baseline on speed of quality app creation with deep capabilities, without adding costs.” Key AI-Powered Features Now Available in Zoho Creator The update includes the following: Idea-to-App Generation: Using either ZohoAI or OpenAI, users can convert text, voice prompts, flow diagrams, or SRS documents into full applications. These include contextual integrations, automations, dashboards, and permission sets. Component Generation with AI: Creator now supports AI-assisted form building, where Zia suggests contextual fields, enhancing existing apps without manual form configuration. Code Generation and Optimization: Developers can use prompts to generate or enhance code blocks automatically, allowing for performance improvements and clear annotations. Data Cleansing and Modelling: AI-powered data prep tools allow users to transform unstructured data from various formats into structured, application-ready datasets. AI Skills: Currently in Early Access, this feature allows apps to interpret natural language instructions and automate complex workflows using Deluge and specialized AI models. General availability is expected in June 2025. Custom AI Models: Businesses can now deploy custom models using their own datasets for tasks such as OCR, object detection, and prediction. Zoho’s Approach to AI and Privacy Zoho reiterated its commitment to developing AI guided by customer privacy and utility. The company states that its AI tools are not trained on consumer data and do not retain customer information. Its approach balances performance with cost efficiency, ensuring that advanced AI capabilities remain accessible. Zia, which has been part of Zoho’s platform since 2015, plays a central role in delivering AI across the company’s software suite. With Zoho’s full tech stack under its control, the company emphasizes that it can deliver highly contextualized and integrated AI experiences across its product portfolio. This article, "Zoho Integrates Advanced AI Tools into Creator Platform to Accelerate Business App Development" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

4.5 billion years ago the Sun was formed in a swirling cloud of dust and gas called the Solar Nebula. In a paper published by Nature Astronomy journal on April 28th, a team of internationally collaborating scientists proved that another giant molecular cloud hangs only 300 light-years away—making it the closest cloud to Earth. The cloud, named Eos after the Greek goddess of dawn, is so massive that its width would measure about 40 moons side-by-side and its mass is 3,400 times that of the Sun. “This thing was pretty much in our cosmic backyard, and we’ve just missed it,” says astrophysicist and study coauthor Thomas Haworth in an interview with CNN. Why has it taken scientists so long to detect Eos? Molecular clouds are usually detected by tracking light emitted by their carbon monoxide content. For example, the Orion Nebula, which was previously thought to be the closest star forming cloud to Earth, is so bright that it’s visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy smudge under Orion’s Belt. However, this only really works for clouds that have already produced stars. Clouds like Eos that have not yet created any stars do not contain much carbon monoxide. Eos is mostly hydrogen, so it does not emit the signature that scientists typically look for. Because of this, the researchers found Eos by tracking ultraviolet emissions from the hydrogen using data from the Korean STSAT-1 satellite. A spectrograph on the satellite split the ultraviolet light into a spectrum of wavelength components that the researchers were able to analyze. “This is the first-ever molecular cloud discovered by looking for far ultraviolet emission of molecular hydrogen directly,” says lead study author Dr. Blakesley Burkhart in a news release. “The data showed glowing hydrogen molecules detected via fluorescence in the far ultraviolet. This cloud is literally glowing in the dark.” Could Eos make new stars? Stars are formed when clumps of gas and dust in molecular clouds reach a critical mass and then collapse into their own gravity, sucking in more nearby material. Large molecular clouds can birth thousands of protostars. But Eos might be dispersing too quickly to ever produce its own stars. The researchers calculated that the cloud will be destroyed in 5.7 million years’ time. They also calculated the cloud’s photodissociation rate to be around three times the region’s star-formation rate. Even if Eos may never birth a new star, it will provide researchers much deeper insight into the ways that molecular clouds form and dissociate. “When we look through our telescopes, we catch whole solar systems in the act of forming, but we don’t know in detail how that happens,” says Burkhart. “Our discovery of Eos is exciting because we can now directly measure how molecular clouds are forming and dissociating, and how a galaxy begins to transform interstellar gas and dust into stars and planets.” Not to mention, that using the new far-ultraviolet fluorescence emission technique could allow scientists to uncover previously hidden clouds across the galaxy. View the full article

A long-delayed project promising nonstop rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles in under three hours may be able to secure the private funding it desperately needs if California agrees to pay the investors back, its chief executive told The Associated Press. Ian Choudri, who was appointed CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority in August, is tasked with reinvigorating the nation’s largest infrastructure project amid skyrocketing costs and new fears that the The President administration could pull $4 billion in federal funding. “We started this one, and we are not succeeding,” Choudri said, describing what drew him to the job after work on high-speed systems in Europe. “That was the main reason for me to say, let’s go in, completely turn it around, and put it back to where it should have been. Fix all the issues, get the funding stabilized, and demonstrate to the rest of the world that when we decide that we want to do it, we actually will do it.” Voters first approved $10 billion in bond money in 2008 to cover about a third of the estimated cost with a promise the train would be up and running by 2020. Five years past that deadline, no tracks have been laid and Choudri acknowledges it may take nearly two more decades to complete most of the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles segment, even if funding is secured. Funding woes The project’s price tag now exceeds $100 billion, more than triple the initial estimate. It has mostly been funded by the state through the voter-approved bond and money from the state’s cap-and-trade program. A little less than a quarter of the money has come from the federal government. The authority has already spent about $13 billion. The state is now out of bond money, and officials need to come up with a financing plan for the Central Valley segment by mid-2026, according to the inspector general’s office overseeing the project. “The managers of the project were in trouble from the very beginning because they never had the financing – certainly not stable and predicting financing — that they would have needed to manage the project efficiently,” said Lou Thompson, who led a peer review group that analyzes the state’s high-speed rail plans. Losing money from the federal government “would require a real hard rethinking of what do we do to survive the next four years,” he said. Rail leaders are in talks with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and state lawmakers on what will be needed to secure private investment, Choudri said, adding that without the private sector money the state may have to take out federal loans or issue new bonds. At an industry forum in January, private investors expressed interest in the project but need some form of security, he said. Choudri is pushing Newsom and lawmakers to consider a program that would eventually commit the state to paying back private investors, possibly with interest. That would give the state more time to cover the cost. Legislative Democrats say they remain hopeful for the project’s future. But they haven’t unveiled any proposals yet this year in the state Legislature to set aside additional funding and have resisted spending more money on the project in the past. Choudri plans to provide lawmakers this summer with an updated timeline and price tag. An ambitious vision Choudri aims to fulfill the original vision of building a pioneering system — already common in Europe and Asia — that spurs economic growth, curbs planet-warming emissions from cars and planes, and saves drivers hours on the road. At speeds up to 220 miles (354 kilometers) per hour, it would be the nation’s fastest way to travel by ground. Amtrak’s Acela train transports passengers at speeds up to 150 miles (241 kilometers) per hour to major cities including New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Another rail line in Florida operating at speeds up to 125 miles (201 kilometers) per hour shuttles people from Orlando to Miami. Construction is underway for a mostly privately funded high-speed system to carry riders from Las Vegas to Southern California. California’s construction is far from completion. Of the 119 miles (192 kilometers) of construction underway in the Central Valley, only a 22-mile (35-kilometer) stretch is ready for the track-laying phase, which isn’t set to start until next year. Finishing the line in the Valley is just the first step. Next, the train has to extend north toward the San Francisco Bay Area and south toward Los Angeles. Choudri’s goal within the next 20 years is to build to Gilroy, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco. Under current public transit, it would then take at least one more train transfer to get into the city. Southward, he envisions building to Palmdale, 37 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. From there, it takes more than one hour to drive or two hours on an existing train line to reach Los Angeles. “In the ideal world, you can take the 500 miles, build it in your warehouse and then just drop it and everybody’s happy,” Choudri said. “But the programs are never built like that. You build incrementally and that’s what we’re doing right now.” Doubts for the future Critics say the project will never be completed and may leave towering and unusable infrastructure stretching through the state’s agricultural heartland. More than 50 structures have already been built, including underpasses, viaducts and bridges to separate the rail line from existing roadways for safety. “We’ve now spent billions of dollars and really no tracks have been laid,” said Republican state Sen. Tony Strickland, who is vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Doug Verboon, chair of the Kings County Board of Supervisors, who has fought the High-Speed Rail Authority in court over farmers’ loss of land due to the project, said the people who should be most upset by delays are its longtime supporters. “It doesn’t seem to me like the state government is in a hurry to finish it,” he said. —Sophie Austin, Associated Press/Report for America View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Some people don't need to have both a TV and a monitor in their office or bedroom. There might just not be enough space, or money might be a factor. If this sounds like you, consider the beautifully designed Samsung M8, a smart monitor that doubles as a TV and a gaming hub, currently $399.99 (originally $699.99) after a 43% discount. SAMSUNG 32-Inch M8 (M80D) Resolution: 4K, HDR: HDR10+, Features: Gaming Hub. $399.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $699.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $399.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $699.99 Save $300.00 This 32-inch monitor has a 4K UHD 3840 by 2160p resolution VA display that can withstand brightly lit rooms, thanks to its 400 nits bright display (good for a monitor, but not for a TV). If you're going to watch media in HDR, it supports HDR10+ and still gets bright, but the contrast won't be as good as TVs around this price range in bright settings. If you're watching in a dark room, details will be more noticeable. The monitor comes with a remote, which is what gives it that TV feeling. It makes moving around the built-in Samsung Tizen OS a breeze. It comes with Alexa built in as well, which adds to the smart monitor aspect. You can control your smart home or get the usual voice assistant features. The removable webcam can easily attach to the back of the monitor; while the resolution is good, the color is subpar. There are built-in speakers, but they're not the best, and there is no audio-out jack, which limits what speakers you can hook up to it if you want to do that in the future. Gamers might appreciate the Samsung Gaming Hub on Tizen OS, again, which is easily accessible with the controller. The monitor has a high native contrast ratio, which will make games look good, but there is no motion handling, VRR, or fast refresh rate (only 60Hz). So it's best for casual gamers but not serious ones. The M8 smart monitor is best for those looking for a beautiful monitor that doubles as a smart TV that can also accommodate casual gaming. View the full article

The move builds out a fee-based resolution for certain loan flaws piloted in 2024, which was set for a full 2025 rollout prior to changes in federal leadership. View the full article

Starbucks held its quarterly earnings call Tuesday, during which CEO Brian Niccol highlighted a slew of design steps the company is taking as part of its overall turnaround strategy. While Niccols described the company’s drop in quarterly earnings as “disappointing,” behind the scenes, he claims the coffee chain is still making progress towards its back-to-basics comeback plan by upgrading its coffeehouses, standardizing the Starbucks experience store to store, and more efficient systems. All of this will begin to roll out over the next few months. Here’s a rundown of the design changes so far, and what’s heating up for next quarter. 1. Coffeeshop “uplifts” coming to select cities in months Starbucks has been planning to make its cafes more cozy for a while now, as part of an effort to keep customers coming back and spending more time in-store. On its Tuesday earnings call, Niccol said store redesigns are moving along and that he expects they will deliver an “exceptional” customer experience. Coffeehouse “uplifts,” as Niccols described them during the company’s earnings call, will begin to roll out in New York City and Southern California in the coming months. The chain designed the updates to its cafes to feel more premium, warm, and inviting while also keeping costs down and minimizing store closures. Already, a return to what Niccol described as “great seats” in some locations have contributed to more customers sitting and staying a while longer. “The third place is our heritage,” he said. “It’s needed more than ever, and we’re reclaiming it.” 2. An optimized shift app for employees The company made an update to “Shift Marketplace,” its tool that allows employees to trade and pick up shifts locally, last quarter. This increased the pool of employees able to fill in last-minute shift changes by a factor of 10 so fewer cafes are understaffed, according to the company. The ultimate goal of the change is to improve employee experience as well as the customer’s in-store experience, by beefing up staffing and decreasing wait times. 3. The “green apron” premium experience at scale Niccol said the company had piloted a “new green apron service model” for employees and stores that creates more flexibility, better captures demand, especially at peak hours, and delivers “a more premium customer experience.” The model includes updated expectations and new streamlined routines, and a new algorithm for sequencing when to make preordered drinks, especially important during peak times. The new model will be expanded to more than 2,000 U.S. company-operated locations beginning in May, and reach more than two thirds of its cafes by the end of the fiscal year. 4. Paired with premium drinks and a redesigned menu Starbucks has simplified its menu and its also focusing on premium drinks. It plans to fully roll out its proprietary single-cup Clover Vertica brewer, which has now been installed in 70% of stores. Niccol said Starbucks is also now working on artisanal snacks and freshly baked and prepared food it can bring to stores. The more upscale menu goes hand-in-hand with the elevated store design, aimed at getting customers to come in, spend more, and stay longer. Niccol said Starbucks is also finding ways to improve on existing products, like matcha, which saw sales improve 40% year-over-year after the company removed sugar in response to customer feedback. When it comes to seasonal drinks, the company will take “an agile test-and-learn approach” to create drinks that are not only relevant, but “executed consistently.” 5. A new, more efficient ordering algorithm Starbucks piloted a new algorithm at select stores that does a better job of sequencing the production of drink orders, whether placed at the cafe counter, drive-through and app. According to the company’s tests, it dropped cafe wait times by an average of two minutes. Being able to shave minutes off wait times is especially helpful during peak hours and it gives employees a more streamlined work experience. “We’re finding through our work that investments in labor, rather than equipment, are more effective at improving throughput and driving transaction growth,” he said. “We’re shifting our focus from beverage production to craft and connection.” All part of its “Back to Starbucks” approach Starbucks announced an updated dress code for employees earlier this month to make the customer and employee experience consistent across cafes and ensure the brand’s recognizable green apron was the star of the fit. The dress code is an outward sign of a larger shift at the company. Starbuck’s other ongoing design changes, like bringing back handwritten notes on coffee cups, ceramic mugs for to-stay orders, and free same-visit refills of hot or iced brewed coffee or tea, have been received positively by customers, Niccol said. Starbucks says it’s getting back to basics, and the coffee chain hopes that a renovated store and improved customer experience will not only deliver on that, but improve the company’s bottom line. View the full article

There's a new Apple security issue in town, and this time it's Airborne. Or, well, that's what the security researchers are calling it. As cybersecurity firm Oligo revealed on Tuesday, a collection of security vulnerabilities are now affecting the AirPlay feature in Apple products, and the AirPlay SDK used in third-party gadgets like TVs, speakers, receivers, and more. As reported by Wired, the vulnerability lets hackers take over the AirPlay protocol to inject malware into and take control of impacted devices. This is a zero-click attack, so it works even if you don't click on anything. AirPlay is a widely supported protocol, and a popular way for Apple devices to share audio and video. Thankfully, Oligo had alerted Apple about this issue, and has spent months in the background fixing the issues. How Airborne's hijacking worksThe Airborne vulnerability works only on a local network, so the hijacker will have to be in proximity to you and on that same network. This local network can be anywhere, like your home, your workspace, or the Airport wifi network. If a hacker is on your local network, and if your AirPlay devices are discoverable, they are susceptible to a zero-click attack. Meaning that the hijacker can take control of the device without any action from you. Alternatively, they could direct another type of attack at your device, like a Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks or a Denial of service (DoS) attack. On a Mac, this could allow the hijacker to take control of and run malicious code on your computer. On a connected device, like a Bluetooth speaker, it could also let the hijacker play anything they want, or turn on the microphone to listen in on conversations. The video below demonstrates the security researchers taking over a Bose speaker. Time to update all your Apple devicesApple has patched the Airborne vulnerability on all its latest software. That means it's time to update your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro to the latest available software version. You can do so by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad, and System Settings > General > Software Update on the Mac. What to do about third-party devicesWhile Oligo has worked closely with Apple to fix the vulnerability in its own devices, the issue still remains on devices that support the AirPlay protocol, like your TV or smart speaker, which will still exposed to this issue. These devices, of which there are tens of millions out in the wild, are the real issue, as the security researchers can't work with every single company to fix the issue. There's not a lot you can do about third-party devices, but if you see an update from an AirPlay supported device in your home, make sure to install it. How to protect yourself from AirPlay hijacking Credit: Khamosh Pathak Yes, you've updated your official Apple devices, but depending on your device, that might not be enough, as mentioned above. While you can't really expect to update the firmware on your speaker, there are a couple of things you can do to lessen the likelihood of an attack. First, make sure you're updating all third-party devices that support AirPlay. That means your TV, or your smart audio system. Next, make sure that AirPlay is disabled when you're not actively using it. How to do this will differ based on your device, but to do this on a Mac, go to System Settings > AirDrop & Handoff and disable AirPlay Receiver. Only use trusted devices to stream AirPlay content. Next, limit AirPlay streaming to only yourself. On a Mac, this is under Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff. Navigate to this menu, then in the dropdown next to Allow AirPlay For, choose Current User. Most importantly, avoid playing content through AirPlay when you're in a public network, or using any unknown network like those at airports, cafes, or hotels. View the full article

Lawsuit is latest legal challenge facing Australian financier who sparked political scandal View the full article

Are you ready to hand over your wallet to AI and let it do your shopping for you? Maybe not—but the technology to do it is hitting the market. On Wednesday, Visa announced Visa Intelligent Commerce, which effectively allows AI agents to find and buy goods or services on behalf of consumers. While Visa itself doesn’t create the AI agents, what it’s done is create the e-commerce backbone to allow it to happen. Consumers could use AI tools to track down potential purchases, but then those platforms would hand control back over to the human to complete the transaction. The big change with Visa’s technology is that, with the proper permissions enabled, AI agents can complete the purchase without going back to their human handler. The value-add, Visa’s Chief Product and Strategy Officer Jack Forestell tells Fast Company, is that it “frees up the cognitive load and time, delivering massively better outcomes, and more value—it’s going to deliver better shopping experiences.” For example, a shopper can now request that an AI agent buy a bouquet for their mom as a Mother’s Day gift, and the entire process requires little, if any additional input from the shopper. The AI may be able to find the particular flowers the consumer’s mother likes, at a desired price point, and have them delivered on or before Mother’s Day. The shopper can breathe easy, and not put too much thought or effort into the transaction—something that their mother’s probably wouldn’t want to know. As for the tech itself, Forestell says that getting AI agents set up to make payments involves “getting a payment card credential to an agent,” which he says is “tech that’s similar to Apple Pay or Google Pay—the agent gets a token that can only be used by that agent.” From there, and from Visa’s standpoint, two things need to occur: Visa needs to get a “buy signal” from a merchant that indicates an agent is making a purchase, and “the confirmation” that the transaction has completed. While there will be some lag between users adopting agentic payments en masse, as merchants, consumers, and financial institutions learn to trust them and use them efficiently. But Forestell says “APIs will be available on Wednesday,” so people and companies can begin to work with the technology. View the full article

Top diplomat Kaja Kallas says Europe can maintain sanctions on Russia if Washington starts lifting its ownView the full article

The Nintendo Switch 2 is nearly here. If you managed to preorder Nintendo's much-hyped Switch successor, you'll be able to play new games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza starting June 5. In anticipation of the Switch 2's launch, Nintendo just rolled out a big new software update for its existing lineup of Switch consoles: the original Switch, the Switch OLED, and Switch Lite. This is version 20.0.0 of the Switch's software, and if you know anything about software, round numbers usually denote major updates. Version 20.0.0 isn't groundbreaking, by any means—this isn't Nintendo's iOS 19—but there are a number of significant changes and features to note here. Perhaps most notably, the update lays the groundwork for the Switch 2 itself, especially if you're someone planning to move from an existing Switch over to Nintendo's newest console. Virtual game cards and GameShare Some of the biggest changes to ship with this update have to do with how you access and play digital games. First, there are Nintendo's new virtual game cards, which the company announced earlier this month. Virtual game cards are a workaround for playing your digital games across two of your Switches: Just as you can swap a physical game card between two of your consoles, you can choose to load and unload virtual game cards to switch which console you're playing a digital game on. As part of this rollout, Nintendo added a brand new "Virtual Game Card" icon to the Switch Home menu. Click this icon to manage the virtual game cards on your Switches. That said, this update also adds "Online License Settings" to your Switch, which lets you play downloaded digital titles or DLC when connected to the internet—with or without the virtual game card loaded. In addition to being able to load virtual game cards between two of your Switch consoles, you can also lend these game cards to family members for two weeks at a time, as long as you're connected within the same Nintendo Account family group. You can retrieve them at any time as long as the other party is online, but if they keep their Switch offline, you'll need to wait until the two-week time limit expires. Speaking of sharing games, version 20.0.0 also introduces GameShare. This feature, exclusive to the Switch 2, lets you share certain software titles between Switch 2 consoles. You need to be within the same local wireless network to share software, and the feature does not work with any of the original Switch consoles. Get ready for Switch 2 Following the update, you'll find an important new function under System Settings > System: System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2. You will want to use this feature if you buy a Switch 2, as it allows you transfer the contents from your current Switch console to your new one. If you decide to sell or trade-in your existing Switch before you have access to the Switch 2, the feature lets you upload your data to a Nintendo server which you can download on your new console at a later time. (When you choose this method, your original Switch console will be reset to factory settings, so make sure you really plan to restore from a Switch 2 if you choose this function.) You can also select multiple save data files to transfer at once. You'll find the option under the "Transfer Your Save Data" menu. Other changes with Switch version 20.0.0If you're managing a child's Switch, Nintendo added a way to protect access to the Virtual Game Card menu with a PIN or Nintendo Account login. You'll find this setting in User > User Settings. Nintendo changed the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch News icon colors, as well as "some user icons," though the company doesn't specify which in the update's release notes. View the full article

The company maintained its guidance for the year as the bottom line returned to the black in the first quarter, officials reported in an earnings call. View the full article

Pretend you and 99 peers had to duke it out against a gorilla. Would your squad emerge victorious? That debate has been dividing the internet over the past few days. The conversation originally surfaced on Reddit back in 2020, when a user posed the question in the r/whowouldwin subreddit. It recently reignited after the question was put to X users last week. The viral post—now with over 288 million views—suggests that 100 men could defeat a single gorilla if everyone was “dedicated” to the task. Since then, arguments have raged across social media. MrBeast even joined the discussion: “Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers?” he wrote, alongside a fake thumbnail for a YouTube video based on the concept. Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers? pic.twitter.com/p2iQvOWbYJ — MrBeast (@MrBeast) April 28, 2025 Meanwhile, Elon Musk responded: “Sure, what’s the worst that could happen?” Naturally, the internet had questions before picking a side. Are weapons allowed? What tactics are in play? Are we talking average guys — or 100 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnsons? To help settle the debate, some turned to AI and gaming simulators. One viral post on X showed the gorilla dispatching 100 humans with apparent ease. someone simulated 100 men vs 1 gorilla 😭 pic.twitter.com/9F2hTldLDt — juju 💰 (@ayeejuju) April 28, 2025 Another user “vibe coded” a custom battle in HYTOPIA, a free-to-play gaming world. “The gorilla won,” they added. In yet another simulation, X users took issue with the unrealistic height advantage given to the gorilla (because, of course, accuracy matters here). “The craziest thing about this trend is that it revealed how many people think gorillas are 15 feet tall,” one person commented. someone made a simulator of the 1 gorilla vs 100 men 😭pic.twitter.com/ZnIt7VXuCv — kira 👾 (@kirawontmiss) April 28, 2025 A primatologist brought in by Rolling Stone quickly shut the whole thing down, calling the premise entirely unrealistic. While adult male gorillas can weigh over 400 pounds and are estimated to be four to ten times stronger than humans, they are in fact “gentle giants” who “would avoid this conflict whenever possible,” they explained. Still, as one X user put it, “This gorilla conversation is real interweb discussions. Not all that other tomfoolery nonsense.” And really, isn’t it nice to see the internet putting its debating skills to positive use? View the full article

Most people still rely on banks for most of their financial needs: In fact, 96 percent of the country has at least one bank or credit union account. (And if you use a bank to deposit your salary and pay your bills, you should even consider having a second bank, just in case something goes wrong.) But what happens if your bank fails? Bank failures aren’t common, but they do happen—two failed just last year, and 2025 has already seen one bank failure back in January. While your money is probably generally safe even if your bank fails, a bank failure can still cause you a lot of trouble because your funds may be unavailable for days (or longer) as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) sorts out the mess, and any loans or mortgages you have with your bank will be sold to other creditors without your input. So being able to spot the signs of bank failure early can enable you to make smart decisions that can save you a lot of stress down the line. Signs your bank is about to fail “Bank failures almost always follow a similar pattern,” says Cory Frank, founder and CEO of Robora Financial. “Actual or expected losses lead to questions about capital adequacy, which then spark concerns about solvency. Fears around solvency often prompt customers to take self-preserving actions, such as pulling deposits. These actions, in turn, can cause a liquidity crisis. Liquidity risk is unique among risk types in that the perception of a problem can create a real problem—customer behavior itself can drive a bank or credit union to fail.” Some of the key signs of a failing bank are easy to spot if you’re paying attention: Branch closures. An obvious sign of distress in any business is shutting down locations, which often implies a need to cut costs and concentrate resources. Layoffs. If your bank starts cutting staff, it’s time to at least start researching its financial situation. Frozen HELOCs. If you have an old home equity line of credit that you haven’t used in a while and your bank suddenly freezes it, it could indicate the bank is trying to claw back enough funds to stay afloat. Raising rates. If the interest rates your bank charges on loans suddenly soar, it’s a sign that the bank is looking to boost income fast. Not renewing loans. If the bank suddenly begins letting existing loans with local businesses expire, it might mean a liquidity crisis is brewing there. Delays in payment processing. If your bank starts dragging its feet on paying interest or processing other payments, it might indicate the bank is struggling to maintain its cash reserves. Frank notes that banks also often activate what’s called a “Recovery Playbook” when failure is imminent, including cutting or delaying stock dividends, selling off assets, and launching aggressive deposit campaigns with above-market rates in hopes of slowing down withdrawal rates. What to do if you suspect your bank is going to failThere are a few basic things people can do to protect themselves against bank failure. “Stay informed,” Frank says. “Search for recent news about your bank or credit union for any of the red flags mentioned. Analyze financials, if you can: Download and review the institution’s Call Report (for banks) or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) 5300 report (for credit unions) to spot negative trends.” But even if you’re paying attention, bank failure can still surprise you. “There doesn’t need to be a deep recession or collapse of the economy if there are internal problems at the bank that the public is simply unaware of,” says Adem Selita, co-founder of The Debt Relief Company. “However, banks do undergo stress tests and are checked for these issues quite often in order to minimize the risk of this happening. But that doesn't mean the system is foolproof.” Both Frank and Selita stress the simplest way you can protect yourself: Make sure your deposits are within FDIC (for banks) or NCUSIF (for credit unions) insured limits, which are both currently $250,000. “Even if your bank goes belly up, you will still hopefully be made solvent to that amount,” notes Selita. If you have several accounts with the bank and you’re not sure that your deposits are covered in full, you can use the FDIC's insurance estimator to estimate how much of your money will be protected in the event of a bank failure. If you don’t think 100% of your funds are insured, you should consider moving some of that money elsewhere before the worst happens. View the full article

Britain hopes to seal a trio of trade accords in coming weeks as talks also continue with the EU and IndiaView the full article

Duolingo launched 148 new language classes that were built by generative AI, the company announced Wednesday. The move, which more than doubles it current language offering, comes as the gamified learning platform is facing criticism for replacing contract workers with artificial intelligence. “Developing our first 100 courses took about 12 years, and now, in about a year, we’re able to create and launch nearly 150 new courses. This is a great example of how generative AI can directly benefit our learners,” Duolingo CEO and cofounder Luis von Ahn said in a press release. “This launch reflects the incredible impact of our AI and automation investments, which have allowed us to scale at unprecedented speed and quality.” As of Wednesday, the language expansion makes the platform’s seven most popular non-English languages—Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin—available across all supported user interface languages. This means that speakers of languages like Japanese, Hindi, and Mandarin can now learn any of these languages, not just English. According to the company, the new courses will initially focus on beginner levels, with more advanced content to follow in the coming months. The rapid expansion is part of Duolingo’s bet on artificial intelligence. Von Ahn said in an email to employees and posted to social media on Monday that it was shifting to become an “AI-first” company. That includes phasing out contractors who do work that AI can handle, approving headcount additions if a team can’t automate more of its work, and looking for AI skills when hiring. “This isn’t about replacing Duos with AI,” von Ahn wrote in the email. “It’s about removing bottlenecks so we can do more with the outstanding Duos we already have. We want you to focus on creative work and real problems, not repetitive tasks. We’re going to support you with more training, mentorship, and tooling for AI in your function.” Duolingo will likely share more about its mission when it reports first quarter 2025 earnings on Thursday. Shares of the company were up nearly 18% year-to-date on Wednesday afternoon and up 174% from its 2021 market debut. View the full article

Citizens Financial Group's promotion of Brendan Coughlin to company president comes at the same time as CFO John Woods prepares to leave for State Street. Both executives have been viewed as potential successors to CEO Bruce Van Saun. View the full article

GLP-1 weight loss treatment can be pricey. But employers who cover the treatments could end up saving on employee medical expenses overall. The finding is according to a new analysis of health insurance claims by global professional services firm, Aon, released Wednesday. The report looked at data for more than 50 million commercially insured people in the U.S., including 139,000 taking GLP-1 drugs, from 2022 to 2024. It found that after an initial spike in costs related to weight loss treatment with drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, costs fell — drastically. Cost growth for the group receiving GLP-1 treatment trended at half the rate of the control group in the second year of the analysis. The analysis also found a seven-percentage reduction in overall medical costs for the GLP-1 users when compared with workers with similar health conditions who weren’t taking the drugs. When it came to cardiovascular incidents, the report showed major gains for GLP-1 users, too. 44% experienced fewer hospitalizations caused by cardiac events, such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. They also logged fewer cases of pneumonia, alcohol and substance issues, and more. “Obesity is an escalating global epidemic, impacting nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults, contributing to more than 60 chronic conditions and costing the U.S. economy up to $1.72 trillion annually,” said Greg Case, CEO of Aon, said in Aon’s report. “Addressing this issue is not only a public health opportunity but also a workforce and economic imperative.” Case continued, “Our analysis shows that GLP-1 medications, when paired with a holistic adherence program, represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to prevent and manage chronic disease, improve quality of life and bend the healthcare cost curve.” The new findings come as access to the drugs has recently been limited. When GLP-1 drugs rapidly gained popularity, tripling in use among adults that don’t have diabetes from 2018 to 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ran into supply issues. That allowed for compounding pharmacies to make cheaper versions of the drugs, which were sold on popular telehealth sites like Hims & Hers. However, when the FDA announced that the supply issues were rectified, it put a deadline on the making of the generic versions. And last week, a federal judge ruled against a compounding trade group’s request for a preliminary injunction that would’ve prevented the FDA from interfering with their continued manufacturing of the drugs. However, we’re now seeing telehealth companies and GLP-1 makers begin to work together in order to keep the drugs accessible. This week, Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, announced it would offer its weight loss drugs on Hims & Hers, Ro, and Life MD. “We felt it was really important to work hard to establish a collaboration with telehealth companies so that there could be access to Wegovy as the compounding is winding down,” Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk said, per CNBC. “We’re really pleased about the level of interest to access branded Wegovy and to start to sort of catch people as they come off of compounded medicine.” View the full article

Probe into UK chancellor opened on Tuesday over registration of giftView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve ever stood in front of a wall trying to figure out what shade of white it is, the Nix Mini 3 Color Sensor can save you from guessing games and bad decisions. This tiny gadget is made for painters, designers, contractors, or DIYers who needs to match a paint shade or reproduce a brand’s exact color. About the size of a golf ball and weighing just 20 grams, it’s small enough to toss into your bag but precise enough to scan colors with serious accuracy. The Nix Mini 3 is currently on sale for $79.99 on StackSocial (down from $119), which isn't exactly cheap, but if you need precise color info, it's a valuable investment. The Nix Mini 3 pairs via Bluetooth to your phone using the free Nix Toolkit app (available on iOS and Android) and gives you instant access to over 200,000 brand-name paint colors. You just scan a surface, and the app gives you the closest paint matches, plus the color codes you’d need for design software or print. If you work in digital design or printing, you’ll appreciate that it also provides RGB, HEX, and CMYK codes with each scan. And if you subscribe to their premium plans, you can match to Pantone, RAL, and NCS libraries too. The subscription might be a deal-breaker for some pros, but the free tier covers a lot of ground if you're mostly working with mainstream paint brands. The device is dust- and splash-resistant (IPX4), which means it can handle a messy construction site or a day in a paint-splattered studio. It charges via the included USB-C cable and now scans with 3x the resolution of the previous Mini 2, offering better accuracy and faster results, according to the manufacturer. It also comes with a lanyard and a diagnostic tile for calibration. If your work depends on color accuracy—or you're just tired of guessing at shades while staring at a paint wall—this might be worth adding to your toolkit. Just know that serious pros who need Pantone-level precision might have to factor in the extra subscription cost. View the full article

No, it’s not April Fools’ Day, but despite some erroneous reports that Walmart will be closing at least 11 stores across multiple states in 2025, Walmart says it will not be closing any of its stores this year. “There are no current plans to close any stores in 2025,” a spokesperson for Walmart told Fast Company. “The erroneous claim originated from a late March US Mirror story, and that article was updated following our call to the editors for a correction. Unfortunately, other outlets have incorrectly reported the store closures without checking with our team, leading us to seek corrections from them as well.” Some of those news outlets included MSN and The Hudson Valley Post. The list of stores supposedly closing included locations in Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado, and California. What is true is that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant did close those 11 locations in 2024, but to put that in context, Walmart pointed Fast Company to a January 2024 post from Walmart US CEO John Furner, which explains the closures came at the same time the company pledged it would be “building or converting 150 new stores over the next several years.” That initiative kicked off last year with new locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia. On Tuesday, the company opened its first new Supercenter in more than four years, in the Houston area, and has more openings planned for 2025 in California, Utah, Alabama, and Florida. Walmart is also remodeling 650 existing stores as it invests in what it calls “stores of the future.” Expect wider aisles, bigger and “bolder” signage and displays, and expanded online delivery and pickup to accommodate online orders, according to USA Today. The company also plans to open or remodel more than 45 fuel stations this year, expanding its existing network of more than 400 fuel locations in 34 states. The retail giant is expected to announce its fiscal first-quarter earnings for 2026 next month, before the stock market opens on Thursday, May 15. Shares of Walmart (WMT) fell slightly in early morning trading on Tuesday but rebounded, up less than 1% by midday at the time of this writing. View the full article

As the weather warms up, nationwide protests against the The President Administration are getting larger. More Americans are taking to the streets, town halls, and public forums in every state and major U.S. city to voice their growing disapproval of the administration’s handling of everything from the economy to immigration. It’s no coincidence that the next big protest is happening this Thursday, May 1, on May Day, or International Workers’ Day. It comes as many American workers face layoffs, skyrocketing living costs, and overall economic uncertainty as a result of widespread tariffs since the beginning of The President’s second term. Americans from all walks of life and all corners of the country have joined anti-The President protests this year, including: retirees worried about cuts to Social Security and Medicare; teachers at schools under attack for DEI, where funding has been pulled; struggling middle class families with small children; and government workers who were recently laid off amid job cuts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). May Day protestors are expected to include men and women, girls and boys, the young, middle aged, and old. That’s because this movement is a populist one, representing the general sentiment of Americans who increasingly disapprove of the way The President is governing, punctuated by his sinking approval ratings. What protests are happening on May Day 2025? Organizers are holding “a national day of action” on Thursday, May 1, with more than 1,100 events slated for nearly 1,000 cities across the country in all 50 states. Major cities include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Francisco, St. Paul, MN, and Washington, D.C. (Here is a list of May Day events and locations.) Organizers expect about 70,000 protesters. “This May Day we are fighting back” organizers posted on the May Day website. “We are demanding a country that puts our families over their fortunes—public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, prosperity over free market politics.” Like the recent “Hands Off” protests earlier this month, which drew hundreds of thousands of Americans, the May Day protests are organized by a broad coalition of groups, including unions, non-profits, educators, and progressive political groups. Some of those organizers include: MoveOn, Women’s March, Indivisible, American Federation of Teachers, Greenpeace USA, Massachusetts Teachers Association, 50501, The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Union of Southern Service Workers, and Florida National Organization for Women, just to name a few. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is among the many people slated to speak, and he is expected join one of the rallies in Philadelphia at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday. Organizers have emphasized that “nonviolence is a ‘core principle’ behind the action,” aimed at “fighting back” against President Donald The President “and his billionaire profiteers [who] are trying to create a race to the bottom—on wages, on benefits, on dignity itself.” “We’re coming together to send a loud and clear message to Donald The President, Elon Musk, and the rest of the billionaire oligarchs trying to destroy our democracy,” Saqib Bhatti, executive director of Bargaining for the Common Good, one of the May Day protests’ sponsors, said in a statement. “There will be no business as usual.” View the full article

The U.S. economy contracted for the first time in three years, an initial measurement by the Commerce Department revealed on Wednesday. During the first quarter of President The President’s return to office, the gross domestic product (GDP) shrunk at an annual rate of 0.3%. The economic decline follows a 2.4% growth for the last quarter in 2024. Additionally, personal consumption fell from the last quarter, increasing by a 1.8% annualized rate in comparison to the previous 4% rate. While the GDP measurements reflect data from January to March of this year, The President has taken to social media to blame his predecessor, former president Joe Biden, for the economic decline. “This is Biden’s Stock Market, not The President’s,” The President said via Truth Social. “This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers.” Economists left surprised by contraction The economic shrink was fueled in part to “an increase in imports” and a “decrease in government spending,” the advanced estimate said. The decline comes as a surprise, with economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal having anticipated a 0.4% growth. A volatile and uncertain economic landscape leading up to the report has already led various companies to adjust or withdraw their economic forecasts for 2025. Proctor & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Chipotle lowered their economic forecasts, citing volatility and changing consumer habits. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines withdrew their full-year guidance for 2025. Major stock indexes were lower on Wednesday as investors absorbed the unpleasant news: The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite were respectively down 0.74%, 1.05%, and 1.51% in late-morning trading. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. When the new iPad Air with the M3 chip came out in March, Senior Tech Editor Jake Peterson warned you not to buy it, as its advantages didn't justify the premium price compared to an older model. But things have changed in the time since: Both sizes of the new iPad Air have dropped $100 in price, reaching their lowest levels since their release, according to price tracking tools. The 11-inch version starts at $499 (originally $599) and the 13-inch version starts at $699 (originally $799). This means they can now be picked up for less than the older M2 versions while giving you a newer chip and more storage—a real no-brainer of a buying decision. Storage: 128GB, Size: 11-inch, Chip: M3, Version: Wi-fi Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) $499.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $599.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $499.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $599.00 Save $100.00 Storage: 128GB, Size: 13-inch, Chip: M3, Version: Wi-fi Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) $699.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $799.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $699.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $799.00 Save $100.00 SEE -1 MORE The M3 chip overpowers the M2 chip, and more power also means a longer lifespan for your iPad. In theory, you'll also see more efficient multitasking, heavier applications working more efficiently, and more speed overall. As Jake noted, on the specs, this new iPad Air is among the best tablets Apple has ever made. The M3 chip enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing, meaning lighting effects in games and graphically intensive apps look better. But other than the new chip, there's not much difference between it and the older M2 version. The M3 iPad Air comes with a 2,360 by 1,640 pixel resolution display at 264 ppi, a 12MP Center Stage front camera (follows your face around) and a 12MP Wide back camera with flash, USB-C and Touch ID, and a battery life of up to 10 hours depending on use. Of course, you'll also have Apple Intelligence (if you even care about that) and it supports the Apple Pencil as well as the new Magic Keyboard. If you already have an M2, there's no reason to upgrade. For those looking for a more affordable iPad, the basic model is just $299 (originally $349) right now, and it will be good enough for most people. But if you want the latest and greatest, the M3 iPad Air is your best pick at the current discounted price. View the full article

Have you ever used ChatGPT to draft a work email? Perhaps to summarise a report, research a topic or analyse data in a spreadsheet? If so, you certainly aren’t alone. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly transforming the world of work. Released today, our global study of more than 32,000 workers from 47 countries shows that 58% of employees intentionally use AI at work—with a third using it weekly or daily. Most employees who use it say they’ve gained some real productivity and performance benefits from adopting AI tools. However, a concerning number are using AI in highly risky ways—such as uploading sensitive information into public tools, relying on AI answers without checking them, and hiding their use of it. There’s an urgent need for policies, training and governance on responsible use of AI, to ensure it enhances—not undermines—how work is done. Our research We surveyed 32,352 employees in 47 countries, covering all global geographical regions and occupational groups. Most employees report performance benefits from AI adoption at work. These include improvements in: efficiency (67%) information access (61%) innovation (59%) work quality (58%). These findings echo prior research demonstrating AI can drive productivity gains for employees and organisations. We found general-purpose generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are by far the most widely used. About 70% of employees rely on free, public tools, rather than AI solutions provided by their employer (42%). However, almost half the employees we surveyed who use AI say they have done so in ways that could be considered inappropriate (47%) and even more (63%) have seen other employees using AI inappropriately. Sensitive information One key concern surrounding AI tools in the workplace is the handling of sensitive company information—such as financial, sales or customer information. Nearly half (48%) of employees have uploaded sensitive company or customer information into public generative AI tools, and 44% admit to having used AI at work in ways that go against organisational policies. This aligns with other research showing 27% of content put into AI tools by employees is sensitive. Check your answer We found complacent use of AI is also widespread, with 66% of respondents saying they have relied on AI output without evaluating it. It is unsurprising then that a majority (56%) have made mistakes in their work due to AI. Younger employees (aged 18-34 years) are more likely to engage in inappropriate and complacent use than older employees (aged 35 or older). This carries serious risks for organisations and employees. Such mistakes have already led to well-documented cases of financial loss, reputational damage and privacy breaches. About a third (35%) of employees say the use of AI tools in their workplace has increased privacy and compliance risks. ‘Shadow’ AI use When employees aren’t transparent about how they use AI, the risks become even more challenging to manage. We found most employees have avoided revealing when they use AI (61%), presented AI-generated content as their own (55%), and used AI tools without knowing if it is allowed (66%). This invisible or “shadow AI” use doesn’t just exacerbate risks—it also severely hampers an organisation’s ability to detect, manage and mitigate risks. A lack of training, guidance and governance appears to be fuelling this complacent use. Despite their prevalence, only a third of employees (34%) say their organisation has a policy guiding the use of generative AI tools, with 6% saying their organisation bans it. Pressure to adopt AI may also fuel complacent use, with half of employees fearing they will be left behind if they do not. Better literacy and oversight Collectively, our findings reveal a significant gap in the governance of AI tools and an urgent need for organisations to guide and manage how employees use them in their everyday work. Addressing this will require a proactive and deliberate approach. Investing in responsible AI training and developing employees’ AI literacy is key. Our modelling shows self-reported AI literacy—including training, knowledge, and efficacy—predicts not only whether employees adopt AI tools but also whether they critically engage with them. This includes how well they verify the tools’ output, and consider their limitations before making decisions. We found AI literacy is also associated with greater trust in AI use at work and more performance benefits from its use. Despite this, less than half of employees (47%) report having received AI training or related education. Organisations also need to put in place clear policies, guidelines and guardrails, systems of accountability and oversight, and data privacy and security measures. There are many resources to help organisations develop robust AI governance systems and support responsible AI use. The right culture On top of this, it’s crucial to create a psychologically safe work environment, where employees feel comfortable to share how and when they are using AI tools. The benefits of such a culture go beyond better oversight and risk management. It is also central to developing a culture of shared learning and experimentation that supports responsible diffusion of AI use and innovation. AI has the potential to improve the way we work. But it takes an AI-literate workforce, robust governance and clear guidance, and a culture that supports safe, transparent and accountable use. Without these elements, AI becomes just another unmanaged liability. Nicole Gillespie is a professor of management and chair in trust at Melbourne Business School. Steven Lockey is a postdoctoral research fellow at Melbourne Business School. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article