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Today, Google announced three new AI shopping features, all centered around keeping you engaged with its AI throughout the entire shopping process. On the one hand, these features have the potential to make shopping more convenient—on the other hand, maybe lowering friction isn't the best idea when it comes to spending money. Beyond selling you on convenience, these features all share something else in common—helping businesses up their clickthrough rates. It starts with AI Mode and Gemini, which can now access all the same information as Google Search's shopping tab. That means you'll start to see product cards alongside your AI answers, which you can click on for a bunch of shopping links, or hit a checkmark to compare the selected products. They won't show up on every question, but on about half of the prompts I tried, I got the option to spend money right away. Then, if you're still not sure you want to buy yet, now you can have Google's AI robocall local businesses for you to check on product availability and pricing, as well as any deals or bundles you might not know about. There are a few caveats—businesses can opt out, and Google will avoid calling them at odd hours or too frequently—but the idea is that if you're on the fence, you can have an AI help you know which stores to go to. Finally, when it comes time to actually purchase whatever you're shopping for, you can have Google's AI check out for you. This feature is an extension of the existing price tracking feature, and will add a "Buy for me" button to any price tracking notifications you get from certain participating stores, like Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, or certain Shopify merchants. You'll get a link to the product you'd be buying from your notification, and the price will be pulled from that, so the company says you won't have to worry about the AI getting the price wrong. Instead, it's just supposed to remove any hesitation you might feel from having to enter your shipping or payment details into a checkout form. I won't deny that, when holiday shopping, I usually won't turn down assistance. But a continued refrain I had while hearing about these new features was "Why?" Personally, I'm mortified at the idea of sending employees at local businesses robocalls to deal with. And if I'm researching products, while it might be helpful to be able to involve an AI so I could ask specific question, I think I'd still prefer full access to all the filters and hundreds of links available in Google Shopping. The big thing for me, though, is agentic checkout. While I'm actually willing to trust Google that it won't make mistakes (and you do get a reference ID to hand to support in case it does), I'm also not sure why I'd want to go right from getting a price drop notification to having an AI spend money for me. It doesn't take long to fill out a checkout form, and while Google Shopping is a useful price tracking tool, it's not the only one around. I'd probably want to comparison shop a bit more before committing, at which point I might as well fill out the checkout form myself. But if you think about these features from the perspective of a business, the "why" behind all of this suddenly becomes a lot clearer. Turning people browsing web listings into actual paying customers has been a problem for about as long as the internet has existed, and all of these features introduce new opportunities for impulse purchases at every step of the buying process, while also erasing the opportunity for users to get caught up on a larger selection of options. It's not a conspiracy. Google charges companies for sponsored slots and ads, and the more people that buy products using a Google service, the more companies will want to pay for those. And for what it's worth, Lifehacker makes money on affiliate links. I won't deny that companies needs money, and that people need to buy gifts. What this does do, however, is reduce the friction that might pop up in between having an idle thought to buy something, and opening your wallet. While it plays at being a research buddy, it takes control out of your hands, obfuscates sources and other options, and instead encourages you to spend your money as quickly as possible, while discouraging skepticism. As someone who writes reviews and best-of lists, I like to think that my readers are a bit more savvy than that. Convenience is great, but taking the extra few minutes it takes to find an actual human opinion from someone who's used the product, or to double check that the price Google is serving you is really your best option, could save you from hours of pain down the line. Like most AI tools, there's potential here. But as much as AI will try to convince you that it's just some neutral buddy, remember that there are business motivations behind everything the companies behind these chatbots do. Keeping your whole shopping search in the same ecosystem as a company that's main profit still comes from ads and e-commerce probably isn't the best way to get your information. View the full article

Downing Street’s bizarre war on itself is a symptom of a government whose ideas dissolve on contact with realityView the full article

If you're anything like me, you'll come back to a book or TV show after pausing it for a few days or weeks, only to have to spend hours on a wiki reminding yourself of where you left off, while also trying to dodge spoilers. Spotify is doing its best to fix at least one of those problems, by testing AI recaps for some of its audiobooks. It's the first new AI-powered feature in a while that I would actually use. In fact, I've played a few video games with similar features (not powered by AI, admittedly), and it's always such a value-add that it makes me pine for it in pretty much every other piece of media I engage with. Here's how Spotify's new feature works: First, you unfortunately do need to be using the Spotify app for iOS, so Android, web, or desktop listeners are out of luck, at least during this beta test. Then, you'll need to have listened to a supported English language audiobook for at least 15-20 minutes. After that, you'll see a Recap button at the top of the page that will quickly generate a one- to two-minute-long summary of what's happened in the book so far, which Spotify promises will be spoiler-free for future plot events. Credit: Spotify Previously on [your book]Spotify's likening it to a "previously on" segment on a TV show, although it also says that, "Recaps do not replicate narration or replace the original audiobook in any way," so don't expect to hear actual clips from the book, nor an AI voice trying to mimic the narrator. However, just as TV's "previously on" segments will change with new episodes, your AI Recap will be "regularly updated to match your progress." As for any potential issues with the feature, the company says it is "not using audiobook content for LLM training purposes or voice generation" and that authors can opt out of having Recaps on their books. Still, there are a few caveats, including the fact that the Recap feature isn't free. On the plus side, it is included alongside the free audiobook hours you get with Spotify Premium, as well as any add-on hours you might buy. But otherwise, audiobooks on Spotify need to be bought on a per-book basis, so for users without Spotify Premium and with no audiobooks in their libraries (that's me), there's no way to try AI Recaps before you buy, which means it's maybe not a convincing reason to swap audiobook platforms just yet. Not all books will get RecapsSpotify's also not being upfront about which books have Recaps, so it could be a bit before you see the button pop up for you. So while I like the idea in theory, I'm probably not going to get to test it anytime soon. (I've reached out to Spotify to ask for a current list of books with Recaps enabled, and will update this article when I hear back.) Could Recaps include hallucinations?Another potential issue with these Recaps: hallucinations. Spotify didn't address accuracy at all in its announcement, which I'd like to think implies the company is feeling pretty confident it won't be an issue. But there is still a potential for an AI to misreport specific details of your story, or accidentally slip a spoiler in regardless of what Spotify claims. One would hope your memory would be jogged enough by a general outline to catch inconsistencies, but still, it might be worth keeping a few notes while you read, just in case. How to get AI summaries for any book (without using Spotify)If you aren't a Spotify audiobook listener or just haven't gotten to try the beta, I'll give you a cheat: You can already ask other AI chatbots for book summaries for free. So long as you remember where you left off, just head over to your AI of choice and ask for a summary up to that point. Here's one for the opening chapters of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt (via ChatGPT) I won't deny that there's real convenience in having a summary feature baked directly into your app, especially one that doesn't require you to cross reference where you left off lest you, I don't know, spoil the Red Wedding for yourself or something. But if you're like me (not a Spotify audiobook customer), at least you're not out of options. View the full article

Chancellor explores alternative ways to raise revenue to fill fiscal hole estimated at up to £30bnView the full article

If you have multiple Android devices, you might like to keep the experience about the same across them. If you download an app that's useful on your phone, there's a good chance you'll also want that app on your tablet, or even your Chromebook. Likewise, if you no longer find an app useful on one device, you likely won't want to keep it on your other devices, either. It can be annoying, however, to uninstall the app from each of your devices individually. Maybe you're using the app on your smartphone and you decide to delete it, but forget to delete it on your other devices. It might live on your tablet or Chromebook for a while before you realize you want it gone. That's annoying, but, in extreme cases, it can also be risky: Maybe you're trying to delete an app that was later discovered to be malicious, but if it still lives on your other devices, it might end up causing you harm. While there has been a way to remotely uninstall apps on other devices, it's been buried in the "Manage apps and device" section, and isn't all that easy to execute. The latest update to the Play Store aims to fix that problem. As spotted by Android Authority, with version 48.8, the Play Store now lets you simply uninstall apps from your other devices using your smartphone. Once you're running this version of the Play Store (as well as future versions), you can visit an app's Play Store page and look for a new "Available on more devices" section. Here, you'll see all of your connected Android devices, with options to either "Uninstall" or "Install" the app on those devices. There's no longer the need to dig through your settings. This feature should make it easy to keep your Android ecosystem a bit more ordered and organized, but it's not the only improvement the Play Store is rolling out. Starting next year, Google will start penalizing apps that use too much battery power. The Play Store will either remove those apps from discoverability pages, or add an alert to the apps' Play Store pages, warning users these apps take up more battery than necessary. View the full article

Origination has picked up but has limits, retention rates are improving and stakeholders are seeking a recapture standard, experts at an industry meeting said. View the full article

Row over impartiality has led to calls for veteran Tory to step down from broadcaster’s board View the full article

In a strange reversal of the usual seller/customer dynamic, Google is now giving buyers the power to send out their own robocalls. It's not the first time the company has experimented with giving the average Joe the ability to send AI robocalls, but it is much more robust than previous outings. Rolling out today, the feature will show up while you're browsing for certain products on Search, so long as you add a "near me" to the end of your query. If the product is supported, you'll see a "Let Google Call" button, which is where the fun begins. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt Tap "Get started," and the AI will ask you a few clarifying questions and have you fill in your email (or phone number) and address information. After that, it'll call local businesses on your behalf and ask for product availability and pricing before sending you an email or text with information broken down by store. At a press event, I got to experience a live demo of what these robocalls sound like from the seller's perspective. If you're worried about getting blacklisted for pestering your local stores with too many calls, don't be. The robocall does not link itself to you at all, and instead says it's an AI calling on behalf of Google and that it won't use the information on the call for training purposes (phew). It'll then ask a few questions before hanging up and moving on. In the demo, the Google employee acting the part of store clerk was also able to interrupt the call and refer to previous statements for context without issue, although she also spoke clearly and slowly—this might not pan out as well in the real world. For what it's worth, I did think the call sounded a little disconcertingly close to a human voice for me, so I could see some employees getting confused if they miss the first line clarifying it's coming from an AI. A Google spokesperson at the press event also addressed what might happen if your robocall gets picked up by an automatic answering system, saying "they'll figure it out" before suggesting that, in a worst case scenario, the answering system would probably forward the call to a human. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt Unfortunately, Google didn't give any indication of how long it might take for you to get your text or email with results from your calls. Examples that Google demonstrated showed that the robot can do more than simply report inventory and price; it can also make notes about special deals or bundles an employee might mention. This feature is currently limited to "categories like toys, health and beauty, and electronics" for now, so don't expect to be able to use it for everything yet. It also seems to have a somewhat slow rollout—either I didn't know what to search, or I don't have the feature yet, because I couldn't get it to pop up for me while I was writing this article. If you're anything like me, your biggest concern about this feature is that you might annoy the workers at whatever stores you're calling. Google says it will try to limit multiple calls asking for the same info (such as from multiple customers who want to know the same thing) and that it will avoid calling late at night or early in the morning. Businesses are also able to opt out of getting AI calls by saying something like "please stop calling my business" during the call, or by updating their business profile under More > Business Profile settings > Advanced settings > Google automated calls and text messages. Google's AI robocalls also are only available in the U.S. and only in English, so business owners abroad can breathe a sigh of relief. Because of state laws, AI robocalls also can't be placed in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, and Nebraska. I'll admit that I have opted not to call a business because of social anxiety before, although I'm not sure having a robot bother someone for me would make me feel any better. View the full article

Public service broadcaster says there is no basis for a defamation claim by the US presidentView the full article

The hidden costs of homeownership total nearly $16,000, rising 4.7% in the past year. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Paint can be a cheap way to transform and improve your house, covering up the wear and tear of daily life or bringing a pop of color into your home. The paint you pick up at your local hardware store is pretty powerful stuff, but if you’ve ever struggled to make a DIY paint job look professional, or tried to solve a specific problem with paint, you should know about paint additives. Paint additives are just what they sound like: Stuff you add to your paint to increase its usefulness or to make it easier to work with. They’re essentially chemicals that interact with the paint or the surface it coats to achieve a specific effect. Many additives are already included in the paint you buy, but you can purchase some specific additives on your own. I’ve used a few to great success—I’ve become a big believer in paint additives to make my DIY paint projects more effective and easier to clean up. Additives I’ve usedThese additives really work wonders, in my experience: Floetrol. This is a paint conditioner for water-based paints. Paint conditioners essentially lubricate your paint, making it flow more smoothly off the brush and slowing down the drying time slightly, resulting in a smoother finish with fewer brush strokes. It really works! I used to be the King of Brush Strokes, and adding this to my paint has made a difference. There’s also Penetrol for oil-based paints, but I haven’t used an oil-based paint in a long time. Paint hardeners. There’s a reason every garage and basement in the world is filled with old, rusting paint cans filled with swampy, useless muck that used to be paint: It’s a pain to dispose of. A paint hardener is the secret: If you’ve got some old paint to get rid of, add some paint hardener to the can and it turns into a solid that you can safely (and legally) throw into the trash. Anti-mildew. If you’re painting a damp area—a bathroom, basement, or even a laundry room—I’ve found that including some anti-mildew additives, in conjunction with an anti-mildew primer, will stop mold and mildew in its tracks. Instead of having to clean and re-paint my bathroom ceiling every year, for example, I haven’t had a problem since using this additive. Anti-slip. I wrote about my famously slippery stairs in my old house before I discovered anti-slip additives for paint. Adding some to floor and patio paint creates a slightly textured, nonslip finish that has made my stairs safer—I haven’t seen my life flash before my eyes in months! Other useful additivesThere are other additives you can purchase for your paint projects. I haven’t personally used these, but they’re worth knowing about: Scent additives. A scent additive makes your paint smell nice and acts as a room freshener as well. They’re easy to use, and typically last a few months before the smell fades. People use them to mask the harsh smell of fresh paint or just for the temporary scent they bring to a room. Textures and flakes. If you want your walls to have a texture to them that mimics stone, sand, or stucco, you can buy an additive that will give that finish to any paint. You can also buy additives that will add glitter or other elements to your paint, if that’s something you’re into. Insecticides. You can add insecticides to your paint to kill off/repel bugs like ants, silverfish, or mosquitoes. They don’t last very long, so it’s not a permanent solution. But if you’re concerned about an invasion of bugs, this can be one more weapon in your efforts to keep your house or yard bug-free. View the full article

Speaking multiple languages may protect both your brain and body by slowing down the biological aging process, increasing resilience as you get older, according to a new international study. Published in Nature Aging journal, the paper, titled “Multilingualism protects against accelerated aging in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of 27 European countries,” looked at data from 86,149 Europeans and found that those who spoke multiple languages experienced slower biobehavioral aging compared with those who only spoke one language. It concluded that speaking multiple languages may slow the biological processes of aging and protect against age-related decline. Researchers used what’s known as the biobehavioral aging clock framework to quantify biobehavioral age gaps (BBAGs), by using artificial intelligence (AI) models trained on thousands of health and behavioral profiles. These models can predict a person’s biological age based on physical markers such as hypertension, diabetes, sleep problems, and sensory loss, as well as protective factors including education, cognition, functional ability, and physical activity. The difference between someone’s actual age and their “predicted” age indicates whether someone is aging in a healthier way and appears “younger,” or is aging in an accelerated way. The study found that in countries where people commonly spoke multiple languages, study participants who only spoke only one were twice as likely to show early aging patterns, while those who spoke multiple languages were 2.17 times less likely to experience accelerated aging. While it’s important to keep in mind that in many European countries, people speak more than one language (unlike in the United States), these effects remained significant even after adjusting for linguistic, social, physical, and sociopolitical factors, and were consistent longitudinally in predicting a lower risk of accelerated aging over the long run. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I'm not sure what it says about us that we can't get enough of Ed Gein, of all people. While lacking the type of body count that would put him among American's most prolific serial murderers, his penchant for crafting housewares from human skin has more than earned him a spot in that dark pantheon. Beyond his appeal to true crime enthusiasts, his deeds have generated multiple major media franchises: nine Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies at last count, as well as several films and a TV show based on Robert Bloch's Psycho series of novels—all of them loosely, but definitely, based on Gein. All that's before we get into the documentaries and docudramas, of which the current season of Monster is the latest. It's another monster (ahem) hit for Netflix, so you might want to dive deeper into the darkness once you're done. Here are some true (and some less-true) crime dramas that might fill in for Gein before he makes his inevitable return to the screen. Bates Motel (2013 – 2017) A bit of tonal whiplash to be had here, perhaps, after watching Monster, but Bates Motel represents a deeper dive into the Ed Gein cinematic universe. Freddie Highmore stars here as Norman Bates, the Robert Bloch character based on Gein, with Vera Farmiga as Norma (aka Mother!) in her pre-dessicated-corpse days. Like a lot of media spun-off from Alfred Hitchcock's seminal Psycho, it's better than it has any right to be, with impressively compelling character development and several surprises, even if we already know more-or-less where it's all heading. Stream Bates Motel on Prime Video. Bates Motel (2013 – 2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mindhunter (2017 – 2019) Set during the early days of criminal psychology and profiling as FBI disciplines (the series begins in 1977), Mindhunter fictionalizes the work of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit, with special agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), alongside psychology professor Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) traveling to prisons across the United States, hoping to catch killers and anticipate future crimes by studying serial killers the likes of Charles Manson, Edmund Kemper, and Jerry Brudos. Think Silence of the Lambs, but with (mostly) real-life killers. Stream Mindhunter on Netflix. Mindhunter (2017 – 2019) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Hannibal (2013 - 2015) Here we have the debonair counterpart to Ed Gein's working-class charm. By 2013, it really felt as though we'd seen more than enough of Hannibal Lecter and co., a series of Silence of the Lambs spin-offs and sequels having become increasingly tiresome. Still, producer Bryan Fuller went back to the source material here, once again adapting Thomas Harris's first Lecter novel with grand, operatic style and a visual flair unmatched on network television (you're still unlikely to find more gorgeously constructed scenes of carnage). What's more, the deeper, sexier relationship between the good Doctor (Mads Mikkelsen) and profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) adds some brilliant subtext as the two work together to hunt serial killers. It ended a bit too early, but the three seasons still make for a satisfying meal. Stream Hannibal on Prime Video. Hannibal (2013 - 2015) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Outsider (2020) Fictional monsters, no matter how vile, never creep me out quite as much as the real thing. This supernatural-tinged Stephen King adaptation is a bit less disturbing than the Gein story—but it's still very, very disturbing. The set-up is brutal, and impossible: A kid is horrifically (like: horrifically) murdered, and the evidence decisively points to Little League coach Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman). It’s an open-and-shut case—except that he was out of town at a conference while the murder was occurring, and even appeared on the news in another town. It’s engaging enough to get past the initial distaste, but The Outsider does not mess around. There are great performances here from Bateman, as well as from Ben Mendelsohn and Cynthia Erivo as Holly Gibney, one of King’s recurring characters. Stream The Outsider on HBO Max or buy episodes from Prime Video and Apple TV. The Outsider (2020) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max Dexter (2006 – 2013) The show that dares to ask: what if a serial killer were kind of a nice guy who mostly wants to be helpful? Michael C. Hall stars as Dexter Morgan, a Miami-based forensic technician with bloody, murderous impulses. Fortunately (usually), he's learned to focus those impulses on dismembering baddies rather than the more sympathetic innocents who typically wind up in the crosshairs of this type of killer. So lovable is our Dexter that he lead eight seasons of this show, popping up again in three spin-offs, including the current Dexter: Resurrection. Stream Dexter on Paramount+. Dexter (2006 – 2013) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018) An earlier Ryan Murphy true crime epic, this one stars Darren Criss as sociopath and serial killer Andrew Cunanan, whose last victim was legendary fashion designer Gianni Versace (Edgar Ramirez). With an emphasis on the sun-soaked sex and party life of Miami Beach in the 1990s, Murphy here pioneered his signature style: polish, heightened drama, and a focus on the killer that borders on the sympathetic. Stream The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Season Two) on Hulu. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) Created by Ian Brennan and the ubiquitous Ryan Murphy, the creator’s justifiably controversial docudrama was, immediately following its premiere, Netflix’s second highest-viewed show in English ever. Given Murphy’s track record, it’s not entirely surprising that the show was a success, but I’m not sure that anyone could have predicted that the awkwardly titled serial killer story would be such a towering hit. Though it makes an effort to tease out the social inequalities that Dahmer was able to exploit to continue finding victims even as neighbors and community members voiced suspicions about his behavior, Ryan’s heightened style and fascination with the killer himself raised questions about the line between entertainment and exploitation. Still, can't argue with the show's success. Stream Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Candy (2022) The real-life Candy Montgomery has been portrayed by Barbara Hershey, Jessica Biel in this Hulu miniseries and, just a year later, by Elizabeth Olsen over on HBO Max. Jessica Biel is so good here, though, that this one earns extra points. In 1980, Candy was accused of murdering her neighbor, Betty Gore (Melanie Lynskey), following the woman's affair with Candy's husband, Allan (Pablo Schreiber). And with an axe, no less. Was it cold-blooded murder, or self-defense? Stream Candy on Hulu. Candy (2022) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Mr. Mercedes (2017 – 2019) This series adapts a trilogy of Stephen King crime novels and kicks off with an appropriately horrifying scene of vehicular manslaughter, during which the driver of a stolen Mercedes kills 16 by plowing through a crowd of people at a job fair. Retired detective Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson) becomes obsessed with the case, drawing him into the orbit of a rather brilliant young psychopath (Harry Treadaway). Justine Lupe plays King regular Holly Gibney, who'd later be played by Cynthia Erivo in The Outsider. Stream Mr. Mercedes on Peacock. Mr. Mercedes (2017 – 2019) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock The Staircase (2022) Inspired by a documentary of the same name, The Staircase sidesteps true crime tropes by taking a nearly meta approach. Colin Firth stars as real-life crime novelist Michael Peterson alongside Toni Collette as his wife and, perhaps victim, Kathleen, who died following a fall down a fight of stairs. Peterson was convicted of murder, later reduced to voluntary manslaughter, and there remain a lot of questions about the case, so the drama focuses on many of the tangential players: lawyers, family members, and the French film crew that turns up to document everything, offering a glimpse of life inside the orbit of such a drama. Stream The Staircase on HBO Max or buy episodes from Prime Video and Apple TV. The Staircase (2022) at HBO Max Learn More Learn More at HBO Max A Friend of the Family (2022) Here we have a disturbing true-crime drama that's entirely devoid of murder, yet still manages to be chilling. Jake Lacy plays Robert Berchtold, who kidnapped and sexually abused Jan Broberg (Mckenna Grace) twice over a period of two years. That nightmare unfolds as Berchtold ingratiates himself within 12-year-old Broberg's family, winning over both parents (including through sexual encounters) while grooming Jan before abducting her, only to repeat the horrific crimes again after she'd been returned. Lacy (The White Lotus) is all charm here, making it all the more horrifying for us, as viewers, while we know what this family doesn't. Stream A Friend of the Family on Peacock. A Friend of the Family (2022) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein (2023) A four-part documentary series that revisits the crimes and horrors of Ed Gein—buoyed by the addition of Gein himself in audio recordings unearthed in 2019, and conducted by a police detective in the 1950s. There's probably not much new in the documentary for Ed Gein aficionados, but there's no question that hearing Gein talk about his own crimes, not long after they'd occurred, is bone chilling. Stream Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein on MGM+. Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein (2023) at MGM+ Learn More Learn More at MGM+ Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) A made-for-streaming movie rather than a series, strictly speaking, Joe Berlinger's Netflix original about the life of serial killer Ted Bundy deserves a mention here, in part because Bundy is right up there with Gein in the extremely grim pantheon of American serial killers—but also because of its casting, which sees a likable and conventionally attractive Zac Efron in the title role. The film follows Bundy from his law student days in Seattle of the late 1960s to (spoiler?) his 1989 execution. Efron is great, as is Lily Collins as Liz Kendall, the girlfriend who maintained Bundy's innocence until that became impossible. Stream Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile on Netflix. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix View the full article

Although OpenAI is most famous for creating ChatGPT, I've been mostly focused on their efforts with AI video generation. Sora, the company's short-form AI video generator, is already tricking people across social media with hyperrealistic AI slop. I fear we've already reached a point where it's too difficult to trust that what you seen on your feeds is actually real. But today, we're taking a break from the AI video doom, and returning our attention back to OpenAI's flagship product. On Wednesday, the company announced the latest versions of GPT, the model that power ChatGPT: GPT-5.1 Instant, and GPT-5.1 Thinking. OpenAI says Instant is the company's most-used model, but is "now warmer, more intelligent, and better at following your instructions." Thinking, on the other hand, is the company's reasoning model, and is both faster and "easier to understand" with simple tasks, as well as more "persistent" on complex requests. It seems like mostly minor updates to me, but here's what's new, according to OpenAI: GPT-5.1 InstantLet's take a look at Instant first. OpenAI claims the model is "surprisingly" playful. For the prompt "I'm feeling stressed and could use some relaxation tips," OpenAI shows two sample answers for GPT-5 and GPT-5.1 Instant, respectively: GPT-5: "Here are a few simple, effective ways to help ease stress — you can mix and match depending on how you’re feeling and how much time you have." GPT-5.1 Instant: "I’ve got you, Ron — that’s totally normal, especially with everything you’ve got going on lately. Here are a few ways to decompress depending on what kind of stress you’re feeling." I can see the differences, of course: GPT-5 is a bit more serious in tone, while 5.1 offers that classic AI overly friendly approach, and makes sure to include the user's name. How human. But scrolling through the rest of the comparison, I'm not so sure I see a huge difference. Both break down their various suggestions into bullet points, though 5.1 occasionally includes more flowery language like "bonus points." Another change OpenAI touts is improved instruction following. The presented examples show the user prompting the bot with the request "Always respond with six words." GPT-5 follow suit for its first response, but when asked where the user should travel to this summer, the bot completely ignores the six-word answer mandate, and offers a full response instead. GPT-5.1, on the other hand, keeps up the bit throughout the exchange, regardless of how complex the questions become. I get that it's just an example, but why would someone need their bot to follow such an odd request? I suppose it implies that GPT-5.1 will maintain your original instructions throughout an interaction, but if so, why not show an application where that's actually useful? I'd rather receive a fuller answer to important questions than have all responses be exactly six words. Finally, OpenAI says that Instant can still tap into reasoning models when appropriate, while still generating quick results. The company doesn't get into it much, but they must have tweaked something in the algorithm that lets the model "think" over complex suggestions, without going so deep that the response takes too long. GPT-5.1 ThinkingGPT-5.1 Thinking is a direct upgrade to the existing GPT-5 Thinking model. Like GPT-5.1 Instant, OpenAI says the model can adjust its processing according to the task at hand. In theory, that means 5.1 Thinking can respond to simpler prompts more quickly, while taking more time "thinking" through complicated tasks. OpenAI claims that GPT-5.1 Thinking is about twice as fast when responding to the "fastest tasks" and twice as slow on the "slowest tasks" when compared to GPT-5, when both models are set to Standard. OpenAI says 5.1 Thinking uses less specialized language, and doesn't necessarily assume you understand complex terms. The company shows an example of someone asking the bot to explain BABIP and and wRC+ (Batting Average on Balls in Play and Weighted Runs Created Plus, respectively). GPT-5's explanation includes abbreviations, formulas, and insider concepts that I certainly wouldn't pick up as someone who knows next to nothing about baseball. The 5.1 Thinking result, on the other hand, spells out those abbreviations, walks the user through the formulas instead of simply displaying them, and goes into more detail about certain complex topics. I can see how that would offer some improvements in clarity, even though you always need to watch out for hallucinations. Sure, it's great to make responses more clear, but that won't help if the responses themselves are completely inaccurate. Adjusting ChatGPT's tone Credit: OpenAI As part of these new models, OpenAI is changing the way you customize ChatGPT's tone and style. The new Personalization options include the usual "Default" tone, but "Listener" is now called "Friendly," while "Robot" is now "Efficient." (Perhaps GPT took offense to the latter.) OpenAI says these options all have updates, but doesn't specify what those are. In addition, you have new options to choose from as well. These include "Professional" (polished and precise); "Candid" (direct and encouraging); and "Quirky" (playful and imaginative). Lastly, the company says it is currently testing a new settings option that lets you fine-tune the tone and style of the bot to your liking, but is launching the experiment with a limited pool of users only. What else is newOpenAI says that by default, you won't need to choose between these two models: GPT-5.1 Auto will decide which model makes sense for you based on your query. That's been the case since the company launched GPT-5, though paid subscribers can still manually choose their model. Speaking of paid subscribers, GPT-5.1 is rolling out first to Pro, Plus, Go, and Business users. The company started shipping the model on Wednesday, and says it will gradually appear over the next few days. The model will arrive to free and logged-out users soon, though there's no specific timeline yet. Paid subscribers will also have access to GPT-5 for three months, as OpenAI takes it time winding down the older model. The company likely doesn't want to repeat the issues caused when it immediately removed models like GPT-4o and older from ChatGPT, as users who were quite literally attached to the model were upset to lose it. OpenAI is careful to note that GPT-5's sunsetting period has no impact on existing legacy models like 4o, which are still available for the time being. For a new update to GPT, this really isn't all that flashy. Maybe that's a good thing: OpenAI overhyped GPT-5, which was a let down for many fans of GPT-4o—especially when the company subsequently took that model away. Keeping expectations in check for GPT-5.1 is likely a smart move, but I can't help but wonder if it's a sign that AI advancements are starting to slow down. We know AI companies are running out of data to train their models on, we just don't know how soon the impacts will be felt. GPT-5.1 probably isn't a harbinger of doom for OpenAI, but it is interesting that it isn't an exponential improvement, either. Disclosure: Lifehacker’s parent company, Ziff Davis, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems. View the full article

A grocery store is offering to buy pennies in a 2-for-1 deal. Sound like pennies from heaven? Too good to be true? The news comes a day after the U.S. Mint pressed its final penny on November 12 in Philadelphia, following an order from President Donald The President to stop making the one-cent coins back in February. Market 32 and Price Chopper stores are inviting customers to double the value of their spare change by bringing in their pennies this Sunday, November 16 for “Double Exchange Day.” The only catch is that customers will receive a gift card instead of cold hard cash for their trouble, according to a statement on the company’s website. Market 32 is an updated, rebranded name for some Price Chopper stores. Dual-branded Market 32 and Price Chopper stores are located in the Northeast, in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. The reason for the 2-for-1 deal may be a bit less altruistic than it seems. Since pennies are going out of circulation, that means more businesses—groceries especially—will need more of them in the short term. Customers can bring in their pennies either the old-fashioned way—rolled up in a sleeve (remember that, Gen Xers?)—or as loose coins to the customer service desk at the supermarkets. They can bring in up to a total of $100, which gets you a $200 gift card, or a minimum of 50 cents for a $1 gift card. However, the offer is good for one day only. “Cash transactions remain an important part of how we serve our customers, and for those who prefer to pay with cash, we want to make sure we can continue providing the same great checkout experience—right down to the penny,” Blaine Bringhurst, president of Market 32 and Price Chopper said in a statement. “We also know a lot of families across our six-state footprint are facing hardships right now, and this is another unique way our team is working to provide support.” View the full article

A regional supermarket chain is offering to buy pennies in a two-for-one deal. Sound like pennies from heaven? Too good to be true? The news comes a day after the U.S. Mint pressed its final penny on November 12 in Philadelphia, following an order from President Donald The President to stop making the one-cent coins back in February. Market 32 and Price Chopper grocery stores are inviting customers to double the value of their spare change by bringing in their pennies this Sunday, November 16, for “Double Exchange Day.” The only catch is that customers will receive a gift card instead of cold hard cash for their trouble, according to a statement on the company’s website. Market 32 is an updated, rebranded name for some Price Chopper stores. Dual-branded Market 32 and Price Chopper stores are located in the Northeast, in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. The reason for the two-for-one deal may be a bit less altruistic than it seems. Since pennies are going out of circulation, that means more businesses—grocery stores especially—will need more of them in the short term. Customers can bring in their pennies either the old-fashioned way—rolled up in a sleeve (remember that, Gen Xers?)—or as loose coins to the customer service desk at the supermarkets. They can bring in up to a total of $100, which gets you a $200 gift card, or a minimum of 50 cents for a $1 gift card. However, the offer is good for one day only. “Cash transactions remain an important part of how we serve our customers, and for those who prefer to pay with cash, we want to make sure we can continue providing the same great checkout experience—right down to the penny,” Blaine Bringhurst, president of Market 32 and Price Chopper, said in a statement. “We also know that a lot of families across our six-state footprint are facing hardships right now, and this is another unique way our team is working to provide support,” he noted. View the full article

While a deal to make Grok available across the federal government is now in place, the agency facilitating the partnership with Elon Musk’s controversial chatbot has yet to incorporate it into its own flagship AI platform due to ongoing internal safety testing. Both lawmakers and advocacy groups have criticized the The President administration’s interest in Grok, over concerns about Musk’s deepening relationship with the US government and the chatbot’s antisemitic and otherwise offensive rants, from back in July. After the company said it fixed the apparent glitch causing the bot to call itself “MechaHitler,” the General Services Administration in September unveiled that “Grok for Government,” an enterprise version of the xAI chatbot, would be available to federal agencies at a steep discount. But as of Wednesday, a GSA-managed repository for an app designed to expedite the The President administration’s plans to deploy AI across the government does not include Grok, though it does feature chatbots from Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic. The USAi platform, launched earlier this year, is supposed to be a testing ground for government to experiment with a wide range of large language models and how they might integrate them into government work. (In that vein, the GSA has also developed some suggested “prompts” for government workers now communicating with their new AI agents and looking to keep them in check. They suggest that government workers tell these chatbots: You are a helpful assistant that works for a government agency… Never knowingly make false statements or deceive users… Remain neutral, factual, and nonpartisan at all times. … You do not prefer or recommend specific political views, groups, religions, companies, products, or enterprise…Redirect users’ requests around potentially controversial or polarizing topics quickly. ) The GSA says that while Grok is now available to government agencies, it’s up to their respective officials to evaluate the technology for themselves, since its own evaluation, which is supposed to include bias and safety testing, of Grok is ongoing. “At GSA, Grok for Government and xAI are currently undergoing internal safety assessments — a required step in the USAi review and authorization process — prior to integration in USAi,” a GSA spokesperson says. “Agencies prepared to fully invest in their own AI solutions can now buy access to AI models directly through GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule, many of which are currently offered at discounted rates via GSA’s OneGov deals. In these situations, federal agencies are responsible for independently evaluating the AI models it intends to use.” Grumbles on Grok Earlier this summer, government coders seemed primed to integrate Grok into USAi. After the chatbot started spewing antisemitic and other offensive content, the government initially defended its work with xAI. Still, a planned deal with the company was apparently put on pause, only to be relaunched following a push from the White House. Around that time, GSA said that tools involving USAi, the government-wide AI app, are supposed to undergo pre-launch bias and safety evaluations. Then, in September, Grok went on sale to federal agencies, through a deal facilitated through GSA. Late last month, the The President administration’s nominee to lead the GSA told the Senate he’d be open to reviewing the deal with xAI and assessing whether there was “incompleteness to the process.” It remains unclear whether any federal agency has taken xAI up on using Grok, though xAI also has a major Defense Department deal. The confusion is a reminder that the government is still figuring out its relationship with major large language model firms. For now, the government seems to be moving ahead with helping federal workers interact with ChatGPT, Llama, Claude, and Gemini. This story was supported by the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. View the full article

Shopping online? Google wants you to trust AI to click the buy button for you. Rolling out today, Google's new "agentic checkout" adds onto the company's existing price-tracking feature, so it's not something you'll see all the time. Instead, when you get a price drop notification on an object you've been tracking, you might now see a new "buy for me" button that will send all the necessary information to the store's website and make the final purchase for you. Credit: Google Google says the AI will always ask your permission before starting agentic checkout, and will only go through with the purchase after you've confirmed all your shipping and payment details (which it will either pull from your Google Pay details, or directly ask you for). The price you'll see also isn't informed by AI, but rather by Google's Shopping Graph, the same information that powers Google Search's Shopping tab. That means it'll come directly from the store you'll be buying from, although while Google does promise it'll surface the most relevant offers for you, just trusting whatever the notification says will take away your ability to manually comparison shop. Once the AI has made your purchase for you, you should see all the usual confirmation emails hit whatever inbox you told the AI to link with your purchase. It all makes sense in theory—you're essentially being given a link to a product, and then telling the AI to go to that link and fill out the checkout form for you. That should cut down on hallucination concerns, assuming you're happy with the link you're buying from. The catch is that every website's checkout form is a little different, so Google's starting with just a few stores for now, to cut down on the chance for errors. That means you'll only be able to try agentic checkout when buying from Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and "select Shopify merchants" for now, but Google says there will be "many more [stores] coming soon." While agentic checkout does take what can be a lengthy process down to a single click for buyers, the real use case here might be for sellers. Ensuring people actually click through to your store from a price drop notification can be a pain, and letting customers buy straight from the notification with a single button could make impulse purchases a bit more likely. If you notice yourself about to buy something just because a shiny new button is there, maybe take a beat before tapping it and consider whether you still want it or if you want to check other options yourself first. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt If you want to try out agentic checkout for yourself, you'll first need to start tracking a product's price, and ensure it's something Wayfair, Chewy, or another participating retailer would sell. To do this, head to the Google Shopping tab, search for either a specific product or a broader product category, and scroll until you find a product card you want to track. Click through and hit the "Track price button." Here, choose a target price as well as options like size or color, and click "Update" in the bottom right corner. You'll now get a notification when a listing matches the parameters you set, and if the link Google found is from a participating store, you'll be able to use the "Buy for me" button. Click or tap it to ensure your details are correct, then tap "Buy for me with GPay" at the bottom of the screen. You'll get a progress bar showing when your purchase has been submitted and confirmed, and the page will tell you where to expect your confirmation email. You'll also get a Buy for me reference ID you can take to Google support, in case you run into any issues. Credit: Google Unfortunately, it seems like there's still a few features Google needs to work on here before the AI can do everything a human can. A Google spokesperson told me that agentic checkout currently can't take factors like loyalty programs into account, so if you want to buy the product from a specific store account to get credit for it, you'll still need to make your purchase manually. If you're buying a lot, it could be a time saver, but as for now, those caveats and the limited selection of stores means you'll probably still have to complete checkout yourself on most purchases right now. View the full article

The headache of planning a ski trip stands in sharp contrast to the freedom of effortlessly slicing down the slopes once you actually get up the mountain. If you’re tired of worrying about squeezing all of that gear into your car or wrestling with chains in the cold, Uber’s latest option for getting you to the slopes is one way to go. The company continues to broaden the services you can book through its app, and now Uber wants you to not only hail one of its rides up the mountain, but also book your ski pass on the way. Through a partnership with Vail Resorts, Uber is offering an option to buy an Epic Pass through the app. The Epic Pass, sold by Colorado ski giant Vail, is one of the big two multi-resort passes that avid skiers and snowboarders buy each season to unlock access to a huge swath of slopes. (The other option, the Ikon Pass by Vail’s rival Alterra Mountain Company, isn’t available through the Uber app.) The Epic Pass packs a punch as far as resorts go, offering unlimited access to Colorado’s Vail and Breckenridge, Park City in Utah, Heavenly in California and Whistler Blackcomb in Canada. Right now, the main pass will set a single adult back $1121, though prices go up the closer it gets to opening day. Other passes offer a handful of mountain days at a discount for what individual lift tickets would cost, but booking one through Uber doesn’t confer any special perks. After the Epic Pass sales period closes in December, Uber users will apparently be able to book normal lift tickets to any Vail resort through the app. “We are thrilled to offer skiers and snowboarders alike a convenient and reliable way to get to the mountain this season,” Uber Director of Engineering Adib Roumani said in a press release. “… With Uber Ski, you can spend more time enjoying the fresh mountain air and less time worrying about how to get there.” Uber on ice Uber will also continue to offer specially outfitted rides through Uber Ski, which is a special tile that pops up seasonally in the “services” area of the app. The company first added this option way back in 2019, giving riders in many mountain-adjacent U.S. cities a way to know that their ride can a) actually make it up a mountain and b) fit bulky skis and snowboards. Since its launch, Uber has expanded Uber Ski’s area to include more snowy spots in the U.S., plus France and Switzerland in Europe. Support for Canadian slopes is on the way “soon,” according to the company and all Uber Ski rides can be booked up to 90 days in advance. Uber Ski is just the latest premium offering from the ridesharing company, which advertises a dizzying array of ride options, from the oversized UberXL (like the ones available in Uber Ski) and Uber Premier (luxe rides) to Uber Pet, for when your non-human companion comes along. Uber’s increasing push into niche and luxury options – and partnerships like the one it just struck for the Epic Pass – can help the company cash in beyond its core ridesharing business. Unless you’re a seasoned pro, the logistics of carting your gear up a mountain in inclement weather can put a damper on a ski day before it even starts. For families and friends groups that travel away from home for ski trips or only make it out a few days each season, Uber Ski offers a compelling transportation option – especially if you’re splitting the bill. View the full article

US buyout group is one of several bidders vying for parts of oil major’s sanctions-hit international operationsView the full article

Workday, a leader in enterprise AI solutions, has strengthened its offerings significantly by acquiring Sana, a trailblazer in enterprise knowledge tools powered by artificial intelligence. This strategic move aims to redefine the employee experience by integrating Sana’s innovative features directly into Workday’s platform. The goal? To create the “new front door for work,” which small businesses should pay attention to as they seek ways to streamline operations and enhance employee productivity. This acquisition comes at a pivotal time when small businesses increasingly rely on technology to manage their human resources, finances, and operations efficiently. With the combined capabilities of Workday and Sana, businesses will soon have access to a more cohesive system that simplifies workflows, enabling employees to accomplish tasks without constantly switching between applications. Gerrit Kazmier, Workday’s president of product and technology, stated, “By bringing Sana’s leading enterprise knowledge and learning to Workday, we’re creating a single, intelligent interface that connects the systems, data, and actions employees rely on—becoming the new front door for work.” This approach focuses on enhancing productivity and ensuring a smoother workflow across different departments. Sana’s technology integrates AI agents, assisting users by automating repetitive tasks and providing tailored information. For small business owners, this means less time spent on mundane activities and more on strategic decision-making. The AI agents can analyze data and anticipate needs tailored to individual roles or projects, positioning them as invaluable tools for productivity. The platform also boasts “Sana Learn,” which merges learning management with analytics and personalized tutoring. For small businesses striving to cultivate a skilled workforce, this capability addresses training and skill development efficiently, aligning with the organization’s operational demands. As Joel Hellermark, CEO of Sana, aptly points out, “Joining Workday means we can drastically accelerate our vision and together create a seamless way for organizations to access knowledge, automate repetitive work, and learn with agentic AI.” Looking ahead, the unified system will provide a consistent, AI-driven experience, enhancing employee engagement and satisfaction. By 2026, small businesses might experience not only improved workflow efficiency but also heightened employee morale as they benefit from more personalized work experiences. However, small business owners should be aware of potential challenges associated with this new technology. Transitioning to a new platform can be daunting. It may involve initial investment costs, training for employees, and time spent on integrating existing systems with the new AI tools. Moreover, while automation can alleviate workload pressures, there may be concerns regarding data security and privacy, especially with sensitive employee information being involved. Ultimately, engaging with these advanced tools implies a commitment to staying competitive in an increasingly digital economy. For small business owners, the advantages of reduced manual labor, improved efficiency, and enhanced learning capabilities can outweigh the potential hurdles. The anticipated launch of these features next year offers substantial promise, as Workday looks to redefine not just its platform but also the broader landscape of workplace productivity tools. As companies continue to evolve and adapt, keeping an eye on developments such as these can position small businesses to leverage emerging technologies more effectively. For further details about the acquisition and its implications, you can read the full press release from Workday here. As the landscape of enterprise solutions shifts, embracing these technologies can empower small businesses to operate smarter, not harder, in the quest for efficiency and growth. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Workday Acquires Sana to Launch AI-Powered Front Door for Employees" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Workday, a leader in enterprise AI solutions, has strengthened its offerings significantly by acquiring Sana, a trailblazer in enterprise knowledge tools powered by artificial intelligence. This strategic move aims to redefine the employee experience by integrating Sana’s innovative features directly into Workday’s platform. The goal? To create the “new front door for work,” which small businesses should pay attention to as they seek ways to streamline operations and enhance employee productivity. This acquisition comes at a pivotal time when small businesses increasingly rely on technology to manage their human resources, finances, and operations efficiently. With the combined capabilities of Workday and Sana, businesses will soon have access to a more cohesive system that simplifies workflows, enabling employees to accomplish tasks without constantly switching between applications. Gerrit Kazmier, Workday’s president of product and technology, stated, “By bringing Sana’s leading enterprise knowledge and learning to Workday, we’re creating a single, intelligent interface that connects the systems, data, and actions employees rely on—becoming the new front door for work.” This approach focuses on enhancing productivity and ensuring a smoother workflow across different departments. Sana’s technology integrates AI agents, assisting users by automating repetitive tasks and providing tailored information. For small business owners, this means less time spent on mundane activities and more on strategic decision-making. The AI agents can analyze data and anticipate needs tailored to individual roles or projects, positioning them as invaluable tools for productivity. The platform also boasts “Sana Learn,” which merges learning management with analytics and personalized tutoring. For small businesses striving to cultivate a skilled workforce, this capability addresses training and skill development efficiently, aligning with the organization’s operational demands. As Joel Hellermark, CEO of Sana, aptly points out, “Joining Workday means we can drastically accelerate our vision and together create a seamless way for organizations to access knowledge, automate repetitive work, and learn with agentic AI.” Looking ahead, the unified system will provide a consistent, AI-driven experience, enhancing employee engagement and satisfaction. By 2026, small businesses might experience not only improved workflow efficiency but also heightened employee morale as they benefit from more personalized work experiences. However, small business owners should be aware of potential challenges associated with this new technology. Transitioning to a new platform can be daunting. It may involve initial investment costs, training for employees, and time spent on integrating existing systems with the new AI tools. Moreover, while automation can alleviate workload pressures, there may be concerns regarding data security and privacy, especially with sensitive employee information being involved. Ultimately, engaging with these advanced tools implies a commitment to staying competitive in an increasingly digital economy. For small business owners, the advantages of reduced manual labor, improved efficiency, and enhanced learning capabilities can outweigh the potential hurdles. The anticipated launch of these features next year offers substantial promise, as Workday looks to redefine not just its platform but also the broader landscape of workplace productivity tools. As companies continue to evolve and adapt, keeping an eye on developments such as these can position small businesses to leverage emerging technologies more effectively. For further details about the acquisition and its implications, you can read the full press release from Workday here. As the landscape of enterprise solutions shifts, embracing these technologies can empower small businesses to operate smarter, not harder, in the quest for efficiency and growth. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Workday Acquires Sana to Launch AI-Powered Front Door for Employees" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Billionaire who pleaded guilty to insider trading is the latest in a series of amnesties granted by the US presidentView the full article

For decades, Adobe’s software tools, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, have been the universal language of visual communication, shaping how marketers, artists, and brands build the modern creative world. As artificial intelligence transforms the nature of work and how we define productivity, the 42-year-old creative tech company is reinventing itself once again, transforming the world’s creative supply chains through its AI ecosystem. Designers and marketers globally are using Adobe Firefly for generative image creation, Substance 3D for photorealistic modeling and digital twins, Express for rapid on-brand content production, and Experience Manager for orchestrating assets across global campaigns. “AI should help you work faster and with more precision, while you stay in control of the craft,” says Hannah Elsakr, vice president of GenAI New Business Ventures at Adobe. “Firefly Custom Models and our new Adobe Firefly Foundry allow large brands to build proprietary, IP-protected models trained on their own assets.” The impact is reaching every corner of the creative industry. At Tapestry, the parent company of luxury brands Coach and Kate Spade New York, AI is doubling as a force multiplier. The company is using Adobe Firefly Custom Models, an AI system trained on the brand’s patterns, textures, and archival details to accelerate design without losing the essence of its iconic craftsmanship. When ideas crystallize, Tapestry’s design teams turn to Adobe Substance 3D to create digital twins: hyperrealistic 3D versions of handbags, shoes, and accessories that look and behave like the real product. “At Kate Spade, we are in an exciting phase of brand reinvention, and we are embracing innovative technologies to elevate our creative process,” says Lissette Siesholtz, senior director of leather goods technical design at Kate Spade New York. “AI serves as a tool to expand the possibilities of design, helping us push boundaries and explore new directions.” Siesholtz added that designers take ideas generated in Firefly and refine them across other tools, including Illustrator and Photoshop, to perfect each concept for commercialization. This leads to agility, as marketers can preview products earlier and campaigns can be built in parallel with the new design. AI is rewriting the creative supply chain AI is also powering the marketing muscle for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Newell Brands, for instance, the company behind household names like Elmer’s Glue, Sharpie, and Paper Mate, is reimagining its entire content supply chain to keep pace with the speed of digital culture. When the team began planning Elmer’s massive back-to-school campaign, they faced a familiar challenge: too much to create, and too little time to do it. Instead of traditional photo shoots, the team utilized Adobe Firefly to generate hundreds of visuals, from texture-rich close-ups to lifestyle scenes, with each uniquely tailored to Elmer’s distinct brand aesthetic. “A great example is the Elmer’s cut-paper custom model. Instead of physically cutting paper and gluing pieces, we trained a custom Firefly model to create that fun, energetic style at scale,” says Samantha Tuttle, director of marketing & commercial excellence at Newell Brands. “Our designers and insights teams actively monitor consumer perceptions around AI.” Paper Mate and Yankee Candle have since adopted similar workflows, using Firefly’s AI capabilities to test illustrations and visual variations that improved engagement across global markets. Nick Hammitt, chief marketing officer at Newell Brands, explains that the brand’s distinctive styles, whether Elmer’s playful paper-cut visuals or Paper Mate’s hand-drawn illustrations, were all originally crafted by hand. While AI now accelerates production, the human touch remains essential. “People are at the beginning and the end verifying quality, brand alignment, and safety.” Adobe’s partnerships now stretch from Mattel, using Firefly to create packaging and storytelling for Barbie, to Coca-Cola, which codeveloped Firefly Design Intelligence, an AI-powered design system that helps brands maintain creative consistency worldwide. AI can imitate style, but not soul As brands increasingly use AI across design, marketing, and production, the creative workforce is racing to keep up. A new report from creative tech platform Envato, surveying more than 1,700 creatives globally, found nearly half of creative professionals use AI daily for client work, with 50% using AI significantly more than they did six months ago. Artists believe the future depends on balance: using AI to enhance the creative process, but never allowing it to define or dilute human expression. “AI can never truly understand the emotional texture of human creativity, because it lacks the ability to feel,” says Santanu Hazarika, a multidisciplinary visual artist. ”Art is born out of experience, conflict, reflection, and emotion, which can only be mimicked by the system.” Hazarika noted that when technology becomes universally accessible, the creative landscape fills with repetition, a kind of aesthetic homogeneity that emerges when tools are used without personal language or depth of intent. “If AI is used merely to mimic or replicate an existing artist’s work, it becomes an act of duplication rather than creation,” he says. So the next time you glance around your desk: the coffee cup with its sleek label, the packaging on your favorite snack, the app you used to order lunch, AI was there somewhere in its creation, quietly shaping the world around you. View the full article

Verizon is planning to cut about 15,000 jobs in the telecommunications company’s largest-ever layoffs as part of a restructuring under its new CEO, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The layoffs, affecting about 15% of its workforce, are set to take place as soon as next week, the person said. Verizon’s shares rose about 1.4% on the news. They have largely stagnated over the last three years, with a gain of 8% compared with the S&P 500’s near-70% rise. A Verizon spokesperson declined to comment. The cuts, following the appointment of former PayPal boss Dan Schulman as CEO in early October, are aimed at its non-union management ranks and are expected to affect more than 20% of that workforce, one source said. Verizon also plans to transition around 180 corporate-owned retail stores into franchised operations, the source added. The Wall Street Journal reported the cuts earlier. Verizon is battling rising competition as subscriber growth slows and cautious consumers are unwilling to buy premium wireless plans. It has faced mounting pressure from rivals AT&T and T-Mobile US as the U.S. wireless market matures. Schulman said last month that Verizon understood it needs aggressive change, including “cost transformation, fundamentally restructuring our expense base.” “We will be a simpler, leaner and scrappier business,” he added. Schulman, a Verizon board member for seven years, has said he does not want to hike prices and seeks to be more customer-focused. “Our financial growth has relied too heavily on price increases. A strategic approach that relies too much on price without subscriber growth is not a sustainable strategy,” he said last month. Verizon had about 100,000 U.S. employees at the end of 2024, after cutting almost 20,000 over three years. Last year, it announced a reduction of 4,800 employees through a voluntary program and took a nearly $2 billion charge. In 2018, Verizon said about 10,400 employees would leave under a prior voluntary exit program. Verizon maintains the highest price points in the sector, a strategy that analysts have said is difficult to sustain amid rising competitive intensity. Craig Moffett, senior analyst at MoffettNathanson, said the new CEO’s first commitment was to stop the bleeding from subscriber churn, which would require subsidizing expensive handsets for a huge number of Verizon’s subscribers to keep them from leaving. “The obvious question was how Verizon planned to pay for that. Now we know,” Moffett said. “What we don’t know is whether these cost reductions will actually help to offset the higher planned costs of retention” of customers. In recent years, Verizon spent $52 billion to acquire key wireless C-band spectrum in a 2021 auction and struck a $20 billion deal to acquire Frontier Communications last year. It also spent $6 billion to acquire prepaid mobile phone provider TracFone Wireless. —By David Shepardson and Harshita Mary Varghese, Reuters View the full article