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Warsaw’s national security chief says Moscow is also using a shadow fleet to launch drones into European airspace 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. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. If you’ve been eyeing a big-screen upgrade but waiting for the prices to make sense, this might be the moment. The 77-inch LG C5 OLED Evo TV has dropped to $2,150, down from nearly $3,700, which is wild considering it’s only a few months into its release. Sitting just below LG’s flagship G5, the C5 borrows much of the same tech without the gallery-design markup. Reviewers, including CNET, praised it for its lifelike contrast, vibrant colors, and clean motion performance, but agreed it was a bit overpriced at launch. Now that the price has dropped, that part’s been taken care of. LG 77-Inch Class OLED evo AI 4K C5 Series Smart TV w/Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR10, AI Super Upscaling 4K, Filmmaker Mode, Wow Orchestra, Alexa Built-in (OLED77C5PUA, 2025) $2,150.00 at Amazon $3,696.99 Save $1,546.99 Get Deal Get Deal $2,150.00 at Amazon $3,696.99 Save $1,546.99 Performance-wise, the C5 makes a convincing case for OLED fans who want more brightness without giving up those perfect blacks. Thanks to LG’s OLED Evo panel, it’s noticeably brighter than older C-series models (like the C3 or C4), hitting up to 870 nits in HDR scenes, but it’s not quite at the G5 or Samsung’s QLED level. Still, it’s plenty luminous for most living rooms. For gamers, the C5 is a dream setup with 4K at 120Hz, four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, G-Sync, and FreeSync support. You can plug in multiple consoles and still get buttery-smooth visuals with minimal input lag. It also comes with webOS 24, LG’s latest smart TV platform, which now includes five years of guaranteed software updates, which is reassuring if you plan to hold onto this for the long haul. The Magic Remote (still a wand-style pointer) remains one of the more intuitive TV remotes out there, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands. You get Dolby Vision, HDR10, and the new Alpha 9 AI Processor Gen8, which uses machine learning to upscale older content and fine-tune color and tone scene by scene. There’s also a Filmmaker Mode that disables unnecessary processing to preserve the director’s intent, for a more natural movie experience. That said, while Dolby Atmos support helps, the onboard speakers of the C5 can’t quite match its visual impact. A soundbar or external setup is recommended. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $197.00 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack) — $819.99 (List Price $1,099.99) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $279.00 (List Price $349.00) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $149.99 (List Price $149.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $79.99 (List Price $99.98) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base — $359.89 (List Price $549.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Want a reason to be optimistic? The global food system is showing some green shoots that suggest more sustainable farming practices are on the way. But consumers play an integral role in making that a reality, and the choices they make every time they shop at the grocery store matter more than we may realize. That’s because farmers, companies, and consumers must all work together to create a more sustainable food system, according to Paul Rice, founder of Fair Trade USA, which certifies products to meet standards around fair pricing, safe working conditions, and sustainable farming practices. “We have the ability to vote with our dollars . . . to choose products that are climate friendly, that are sustainable, that are healthy, that are nutritious,” said Rice, speaking at the Fast Company Innovation Festival last month in New York. “And by doing that, by making that choice, we reward both the retailers and brands that are bringing us those products, but then also the growers.” That said, there’s an obligation for all of these various players to think intentionally about their interconnectedness, added Chris MacAulay, vice president of North America at Too Good To Go, which tackles food waste by connecting consumers to surplus food at restaurants and grocery stores. At the heart of the issue, MacAulay said, is that food is a “powerful connecting force” that needs to be valued. “When we value it more highly, there’s enough money to help drive this virtuous cycle flywheel that we can get to.” ‘Internalize the externalities’ Even so, change needs to happen on various fronts. One possibility might be to “internalize the externalities”—or charge consumers some incremental amount of money that goes toward sustainability, in the same way that you must pay a deposit in many states when buying beer, noted Anthony Myint, executive director of Zero Foodprint, which mobilizes businesses to contribute a percentage of their sales to support farmers. “If we want healthy soil, if we want to change farming, then we need policies and laws and programs that kind of include that little—it could be a penny, it could be a dollar—but any amount going to that change directly,” Myint said. While the challenges facing the food system are “a little depressing,” there are signs of gradual progress that offer reasons to be hopeful, Myint said. “If we can just go from doing zero to just doing anything, then it’s almost going to solve itself.” Opportunity for entrepreneurs Rice and MacAulay likewise see business reasons for optimism. There’s an opportunity to continue to build and iterate upon those sustainability efforts that have begun to grow, while there are “so many good ideas that haven’t been hatched yet,” MacAulay said. And players at all stages are experiencing “enlightened self-interest” that will fuel the sustainability movement, Rice added. While farmers are increasingly realizing that the continuation of chemical-intensive agriculture will deplete the soil for future generations, companies are realizing that supply-chain transparency is in their own interests—and supporting more sustainable practices is good for their brands, Rice noted. “Corporate America writ large is moving in this direction because it’s good for business and we have to make it so,” Rice said. “And so therein lies [our role] . . . to reward companies that are doing the right thing, keep reading the label, and stay curious about the impact of our purchasing decisions.” View the full article

Immigrants selling food, flowers, and other merchandise along the sidewalks of California will have new privacy protections intended to keep their identities secret from federal immigration agents. The measure, signed into law this past week by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, comes on the heels of other recently enacted state laws meant to shield students in schools and patients at health care facilities from the reach of President Donald The President’s immigration enforcement actions. Democratic-led states are adding laws resisting The President even as he intensifies his deportation campaign by seeking to deploy National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities to reinforce U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who are arresting people suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. By contrast, some Republican-led states are requiring local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE agents. “The actions of the states really reflect the polarization of the country on this issue,” said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “We have seen some states move to cooperate to the greatest extent that they possibly can” with The President’s administration and others “doing what they can to try to thwart immigration enforcement in their state.” Across the U.S, state lawmakers this year have passed more than 100 bills relating to immigration, according to an Associated Press analysis aided by the bill tracking software Plural. The measures are divided almost evenly between those providing and denying protections to immigrants. California is shielding immigrant information Immigrants comprise a significant portion of California’s urban sidewalk vendors. Some have been swept up in immigration enforcement actions, in part, because their outdoor work in public places makes them easier targets than people behind closed doors. California’s street vendors typically need permits from cities or counties. The new law prohibits local governments from inquiring about vendors’ immigration status, requiring fingerprinting or disclosing personal information — name, address, birth date, social media identifiers and telephone, driver’s license and Social Security numbers, among other things — without a judicial subpoena. The law, which will take effect Jan. 1, was prompted by concerns that vendor databases kept by local governments could be accessed by federal immigration agents to target people for detention and deportation. “We’re talking about really security –- security for businesses, security for human beings, security for people who have gone through so much,” said Sergio Jimenez, a street vending organizer with the nonprofit Community Power Collective in Los Angeles. Additional laws recently signed by Newsom add immigration status to a list of protected medical information and prohibit schools from granting access to immigration enforcement officials without a court warrant. Another new California law directs schools and higher education institutions to immediately notify staff and students or parents when immigration officials are on campus. Democratic states create safe places for immigrants Upon taking office, The President reversed a policy restricting federal immigration agents from arresting people at sensitive locations such as schools, churches and hospitals. Like California, other Democratic-led states responded with laws attempting to create safe places for immigrants. A Maryland law enacted earlier this year requires public schools, libraries and health care facilities to restrict access for immigration enforcement officials unless presented with a court warrant. Nevada’s Republican governor vetoed a similar measure for schools that had been passed by the Democratic-led Legislature. Meanwhile, a new Colorado law allows civil penalties of up to $50,000 for public child care centers, schools, colleges, health care facilities and libraries that collect information about people’s immigration status, with some exceptions. New laws in Rhode Island prohibit health care providers and landlords from inquiring about people’s immigration status. Oregon also enacted a similar law for landlords. States split on aiding federal immigration agents By contrast, Republican-led states have passed numerous laws intended to bolster The President’s immigration policies. New laws in Texas, Florida, and Arkansas require sheriffs who run jails to enter into federal agreements for their officers to be trained to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. State and local participation in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program — named after the section of law that created it — has exploded from 135 agreements in 21 states before The President took office in January to more than 1,000 agreements presently in place in 40 states. But some Democratic-led states have refused to take part. A new Delaware law prohibits participation in the program, similar to statutes already in place in California and Illinois. Democratic-led Vermont also tightened its restrictions on participating in federal immigration enforcement programs, repealing an exemption that had allow it during emergencies. A Connecticut law that took effect in October allows people to sue local governments that cooperate with federal immigration authorities in violation of the state’s “Trust Act.” Public benefits are a point of contention In Washington, new state laws allow workers to take paid leave to attend immigration proceedings for themselves or family members and prohibit employers from using immigration status to coerce their employees. But some Republican-led states have enacted laws limiting benefits for people in the country illegally. A new Idaho law prohibits immigrants without legal status from receiving some publicly funded health benefits, including vaccinations, crisis counseling and prenatal and postnatal care for women. A new Louisiana law requires applicants for public benefits to be screened for legal immigration status and, if lacking it, reported to federal immigration authorities Several Republican-led states — including Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Wyoming — have adopted laws invalidating certain driver’s licenses issued to immigrants in the U.S. illegally. College tuition discounts are diminishing Entering into this year, nearly half the states provided in-state tuition to public colleges and universities for residents living in the U.S. illegally. But that number has dwindled since The President took office and the U.S. Department of Justice began suing states. The federal lawsuits assert states are violating the Constitution by providing in-state tuition for people without legal status while not offering the same benefit to out-of-state U.S. citizens. Florida repealed its decade-old law allowing in-state tuition for students lacking legal status, effective July 1. Republican-led Texas and Oklahoma both ended similar tuition policies after getting sued by the Justice Department. Kentucky, which has a Democratic governor, also has taken steps to halt its policy after getting sued. California lawmakers attempted to enhance tuition benefits for immigrants with a first-of-its kind measure allowing community college students who get deported or voluntarily leave the U.S. to continue receiving in-state tuition while taking online courses from afar. But Newsom vetoed the measure earlier this month, citing “significant constitutional concerns” that the tuition break was offered only to students who left the country and not also to residents of other U.S. states. A bill passed by New Mexico’s Democratic-led Legislature this year would have expanded in-state tuition breaks to immigrants who earned income in New Mexico during the previous two years or who attended at least two semesters of adult education courses. But Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham let the bill die without her signature. —David A. Lieb, Associated Press View the full article

Number 10 insists national security adviser Jonathan Powell played no part in decision to drop prosecutionView the full article

Barack Obama helped Marc Maron lock the gates on his podcast Monday, returning to the show for the final episode after 16 years and more than 1,600 episodes. The former president gave new status to “WTF With Marc Maron” and to podcasts in general when he visited Maron’s Los Angeles garage studio while still in office a decade ago. Obama brought the 62-year-old host, stand-up comic and actor to his Washington office for the last interview. Obama asked the initial questions. “How are you feeling about this whole thing?,” he said, “transition, moving on from this thing that has been one of the defining parts of your career and your life?” “I feel OK,” Maron answered. “I feel like I’m sort of ready for the break, but there is sort of a fear there, of what do I do now? I’m busy. But, not unlike your job … I’ve got a lot of people who over the last 16 years have grown to rely on me.” Maron laughed as he acknowledged he was comparing his podcasting gig to the presidency. “I think it’s pretty similar,” Obama said. The identity of the guest was not revealed until the episode dropped, and fans had been speculating. Obama was a popular guess, both because of his relationship with “WTF” and because Maron in an interview with Variety in July said Obama would be his ideal final conversation. The host explained the decision in an unusually brief and straightforward introduction to the episode. “It became clear that the guest we needed to have was singular,” Maron said, “in that he could address the importance of this being our final episode, but also address how we move through the world we’re living in, as frightening as it is.” Maron asked Obama for advice on moving on from your life’s biggest job. “You’ve still got a couple of chapters left,” Obama said. “Don’t rush into what the next thing is. Take a beat. Take some satisfaction looking backwards.” After a much talk on the state of the world, Obama brought it back around to Maron’s farewell. “I think we’re going to be OK,” Obama said. “I think part of the reason you had such a big fan base during this 16-year run is there was a core decency to you and the conversations that you had.” Maron avoided sentimental farewell talk during the episode — he got that out of the way on Thursday in his penultimate episode, where talked directly and emotionally to his listeners. “I’m grateful to have been part of your lives,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot of stuff together. A lot of breakups. Death. Cats. The world.” The new Obama episode was No. 1,686 of the pioneering and influential long-form interview podcast that had humble beginnings in 2009 as a place where he worked out his issues with other stand-up comedians in the garage of his home that he dubbed “The Cat Ranch.” Maron’s cats were always an essential part of the show. His final words on Monday’s episode were tributes to the ones who had died. “Cat angels everywhere,” he said. For most of its years the show has opened with a fan-composed rock ‘n’ roll theme song that opens with an audio sample of Maron in his small role in the film “Almost Famous” shouting, “Lock the gates!” The song is named for one of Maron’s common phrases, “Are We Doing This?” Another such phrase, “Are we good?” was often his last question to guests and is the title of a new documentary on him. Eventually, with help from guests like Obama, Robin Williams and Paul McCartney, “WTF” became a media institution where authors, artists, musicians, Hollywood stars and political leaders would give him their backstory. Maron announced in June that he and longtime producing partner Brendan McDonald had decided to end the show. He said there was no particular reason, other than that he was tired and utterly satisfied with the work they had done. On Monday, Maron seemed moved as he read from a pseudolegal document that he had drawn up for Obama to sign, releasing McDonald “from the professional responsibility to listening to me talk.” —Andrew Dalton, AP Entertainment Writer View the full article

US president has floated selling long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine in bid to end warView the full article

Apple was hit with a lawsuit in California federal court by a pair of neuroscientists who say that the tech company misused thousands of copyrighted books to train its Apple Intelligence artificial intelligence model. Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik, professors at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York, told the court in a proposed class action on Thursday that Apple used illegal “shadow libraries” of pirated books to train Apple Intelligence. A separate group of authors sued Apple last month for allegedly misusing their work in AI training. TECH COMPANIES FACING LAWSUITS The lawsuit is one of many high-stakes cases brought by copyright owners such as authors, news outlets, and music labels against tech companies, including OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms, over the unauthorized use of their work in AI training. Anthropic agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle a lawsuit from another group of authors over the training of its AI-powered chatbot Claude in August. Spokespeople for Apple and Martinez-Conde, Macknik, and their attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new complaint on Friday. Apple Intelligence is a suite of AI-powered features integrated into iOS devices, including the iPhone and iPad. “The day after Apple officially introduced Apple Intelligence, the company gained more than $200 billion in value: ‘the single most lucrative day in the history of the company,'” the lawsuit said. According to the complaint, Apple utilized datasets comprising thousands of pirated books as well as other copyright-infringing materials scraped from the internet to train its AI system. The lawsuit said that the pirated books included Martinez-Conde and Macknik’s “Champions of Illusion: The Science Behind Mind-Boggling Images and Mystifying Brain Puzzles” and “Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions.” The professors requested an unspecified amount of monetary damages and an order for Apple to stop misusing their copyrighted work. —Blake Brittain, Reuters View the full article

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled its third cohort for the Generative AI Accelerator (GAIA), a program aimed at propelling early-stage businesses that are pioneering advancements in generative AI technologies. This year, 40 startups from various corners of the globe will benefit from an eight-week mentorship and funding initiative, tailored to stimulate innovation and growth in a rapidly evolving landscape. Sherry Karamdashti, General Manager and Head of Startups in North America at AWS, stated, “Whether it’s in biotech labs, creative studios, or industrial applications, the pace of generative AI innovation is extraordinary, and it’s happening everywhere.” Each selected startup will receive up to $1 million in AWS credits along with expert mentorship from both business and technical spheres. Access to AWS’s extensive generative AI tech stack is included, enabling participants to enhance their capabilities. The program offers critical acumen development on machine learning performance, stack optimization, and go-to-market strategies. For small business owners, the implications of AWS’s support in generative AI technologies could be transformative. Here are several key benefits and potential challenges to consider. Many small businesses have recognized the need for innovative solutions but often lack the resources to implement them. Thanks to AWS’s accelerator, startups can dramatically improve efficiency and productivity. For instance, Indian company Hyperbots is harnessing AI to provide CFOs with substantial productivity gains in their finance processes. Similarly, Australia-based Mary Technology is employing AI to help legal teams better analyze documents, thereby saving critical time. AWS’s program aims not only at technological advancement but at addressing industry-specific needs as well. Each participating startup has a focus that aligns with various sectors such as healthcare, finance, robotics, and education. Small businesses can find immense value in solutions developed by these startups, establishing competitive advantages and enhancing capabilities. For example, Chai Discovery from the United States is utilizing AI to improve molecule engineering for better healthcare solutions. By tapping into such innovations, small business entities in the healthcare sector can enhance their product offerings significantly. Despite the clear advantages, small business owners should stay cautious. The accelerator is highly competitive, and the pressure to adopt new technologies quickly can create anxiety, especially for those already juggling existing responsibilities. Furthermore, integration of new AI solutions may require investment in training to ensure that teams can leverage these tools effectively. Moreover, the ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment remain an ongoing conversation. Companies must assess not only how AI technologies can bolster business outputs but also address questions of data privacy and potential biases in the algorithms they deploy. AWS’s accelerator will officially kick off on October 13, 2025, at Amazon HQ1 in Seattle, and will culminate in a showcase at AWS re:Invent 2025 in Las Vegas. Here, participating startups will present their innovations to a network of investors, customers, and partners, potentially setting the stage for future collaborations. For small businesses, staying informed about these advancements could be the key to seizing new opportunities. Embracing generative AI could dramatically transform operations, from automating mundane tasks to enhancing customer interactions. As businesses gear up in preparation for the changing tide driven by AI technologies, they can utilize insights from this accelerator cohort to streamline their operations and differentiate themselves in their respective markets. For more on this initiative and the innovative startups involved, visit AWS Generative AI Accelerator. Engaging with innovations emerging from such initiatives can empower small business leaders with the knowledge and tools needed for sustainable growth as they navigate the evolving landscape of technology. This article, "AWS Selects 40 Startups for Global Generative AI Accelerator Cohort" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled its third cohort for the Generative AI Accelerator (GAIA), a program aimed at propelling early-stage businesses that are pioneering advancements in generative AI technologies. This year, 40 startups from various corners of the globe will benefit from an eight-week mentorship and funding initiative, tailored to stimulate innovation and growth in a rapidly evolving landscape. Sherry Karamdashti, General Manager and Head of Startups in North America at AWS, stated, “Whether it’s in biotech labs, creative studios, or industrial applications, the pace of generative AI innovation is extraordinary, and it’s happening everywhere.” Each selected startup will receive up to $1 million in AWS credits along with expert mentorship from both business and technical spheres. Access to AWS’s extensive generative AI tech stack is included, enabling participants to enhance their capabilities. The program offers critical acumen development on machine learning performance, stack optimization, and go-to-market strategies. For small business owners, the implications of AWS’s support in generative AI technologies could be transformative. Here are several key benefits and potential challenges to consider. Many small businesses have recognized the need for innovative solutions but often lack the resources to implement them. Thanks to AWS’s accelerator, startups can dramatically improve efficiency and productivity. For instance, Indian company Hyperbots is harnessing AI to provide CFOs with substantial productivity gains in their finance processes. Similarly, Australia-based Mary Technology is employing AI to help legal teams better analyze documents, thereby saving critical time. AWS’s program aims not only at technological advancement but at addressing industry-specific needs as well. Each participating startup has a focus that aligns with various sectors such as healthcare, finance, robotics, and education. Small businesses can find immense value in solutions developed by these startups, establishing competitive advantages and enhancing capabilities. For example, Chai Discovery from the United States is utilizing AI to improve molecule engineering for better healthcare solutions. By tapping into such innovations, small business entities in the healthcare sector can enhance their product offerings significantly. Despite the clear advantages, small business owners should stay cautious. The accelerator is highly competitive, and the pressure to adopt new technologies quickly can create anxiety, especially for those already juggling existing responsibilities. Furthermore, integration of new AI solutions may require investment in training to ensure that teams can leverage these tools effectively. Moreover, the ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment remain an ongoing conversation. Companies must assess not only how AI technologies can bolster business outputs but also address questions of data privacy and potential biases in the algorithms they deploy. AWS’s accelerator will officially kick off on October 13, 2025, at Amazon HQ1 in Seattle, and will culminate in a showcase at AWS re:Invent 2025 in Las Vegas. Here, participating startups will present their innovations to a network of investors, customers, and partners, potentially setting the stage for future collaborations. For small businesses, staying informed about these advancements could be the key to seizing new opportunities. Embracing generative AI could dramatically transform operations, from automating mundane tasks to enhancing customer interactions. As businesses gear up in preparation for the changing tide driven by AI technologies, they can utilize insights from this accelerator cohort to streamline their operations and differentiate themselves in their respective markets. For more on this initiative and the innovative startups involved, visit AWS Generative AI Accelerator. Engaging with innovations emerging from such initiatives can empower small business leaders with the knowledge and tools needed for sustainable growth as they navigate the evolving landscape of technology. This article, "AWS Selects 40 Startups for Global Generative AI Accelerator Cohort" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Are you human? A new game wants you to prove it. I’m Not a Robot is a fun spin on the popular CAPTCHA game synonymous with using the internet. Except it’s not just one game, but 48 increasingly absurd puzzles designed to help you prove you have a soul—and the patience to parallel park a Waymo using your arrow keys. The game begins as you’d expect. Level 1 asks you to check a box to prove you’re not a robot. Level 3 prompts you to decipher text wiggling on the screen. But the more you progress, the whackier it all becomes. Level 11 asks you to find Waldo on a crowded beach. Level 17 wants you to use your mouse to draw a circle that is 94% accurate (it’s not as easy as it sounds.) Level 25 lets you play day trader at the stock market, and you must make a minimum of $2,500 by buying and selling stock based on a chart that dips and spikes live on your screen. Since the game launched in September, it has been played by more than 2.5 million people. The game’s designer, Neal Agarwal, estimates it would take a whole two hours to complete all 48 levels: “That’s how hard it is,” he says. “I think less than 1% have completed it.” A brief history of CAPTCHA CAPTCHA, which stands for Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart, was first developed in the late 1990s as a way to prevent automated bots from abusing online services. One of the first companies to implement it was the web search engine AltaVista, which used distorted text images that humans could read but computers could not, to stop automated URL submissions to its search engine. Hundreds of thousands of sites have adopted CAPTCHA over the years, including PayPal, Yahoo, and Google, which acquired the technology in 2009. Google then renamed the interface reCAPTCHA and started to show users scanned text from books and newspapers that computers couldn’t recognize, which turned into a digitizing platform as well. Agarwal, who keeps a list of more than 1,600 ideas for game designs, has wanted to design a CAPTCHA game for years, but it was the recent AI boom that really drove the idea home. “All these new AIs are coming out, and they are doing more and more things that traditionally only humans could do,” he says. “So how do you design a test that can only be solved by humans?” According to a report from 2024, the number of bots has now surpassed the number of humans on the internet, accounting for more than half of global internet traffic. These bots flood social media with coordinated disinformation campaigns, manipulate online polls and product reviews, scalp concert tickets within seconds of release, and enable sophisticated fraud schemes that cost businesses billions annually. They also affect the efficacy of CAPTCHA games, which have grown from distorted text that humans had to decipher to increasingly elaborate image puzzles. Who is the internet for? Agarwal has a knack for games that double as social commentary. His Password Game became a viral phenomenon in 2023, testing, as the site puts, “your password strength, your patience, and your will to live.” The Stimulation Clicker simulates the modern internet’s chaotic environment, bombarding players with overwhelming notifications, breaking news feeds, and various distractions that fragment attention. The Printing Money game made stark income inequality visible by turning hourly rates for various occupations, like a teacher and Fortune 500 CEO, into printing presses that stream dollar bills across the page as they’re earned. I’m Not a Robot is extremely fun to play, but it also highlights, as Agarwal puts it, “the absurdity of how the internet was created for humans and now it’s half robots. Half the people we chat with aren’t even real, and it’s only going to get even more crazy.” Earning your humanity To make his point, Agarwal designed puzzles for I’m Not a Robot that require an increasing amount of brainpower to solve. One level asks you to break up with your AI girlfriend. Another is a full-on chess game. Another requires you to convince an AI that you’re human. The last level is a Dance Dance Revolution game you play with arrow keys. Agarwal says it’s proven very hard for people to solve. I myself am currently stuck on Level 24, which asks you to calculate the value of mathematical functions and sort them from lowest to highest. Considering the presence of logarithms, x’s, and a sigma, it has proven too head-cracking for my writerly brain, but for those who make it through to the end, Agarwal promises a certificate of humanity, and a surprise appearance by CAPTCHA founder Luis von Ahn, who went onto cofound Duolingo. And yes, I could run the math equations through ChatGPT—or, god forbid, dig up my high school scientific calculator to advance to Level 25—but that would probably defeat the purpose of proving I’m human. View the full article

Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt won the Nobel memorial prize in economics Monday for their research into the impact of innovation on economic growth and how new technologies replace older ones, a key economic concept known as “creative destruction.” The winners represent contrasting but complementary approaches to economics. Mokyr is an economic historian who delved into long-term trends using historical sources, while Howitt and Aghion relied on mathematics to explain how creative destruction works. Dutch-born Mokyr, 79, is from Northwestern University; Aghion, 69, from the Collège de France and the London School of Economics; and Canadian-born Howitt, 79, from Brown University. Mokyr was still trying to get his morning coffee when he was reached on the phone by an AP reporter, and said he was shocked to win the prize. “People always say this, but in this case I am being truthful—I had no clue that anything like this was going to happen,” he said. His students had asked him about the possibility he would win the Nobel, he said. “I told them that I was more likely to be elected Pope than to win the Nobel Prize in economics—and I am Jewish, by the way.” Mokyr will turn 80 next summer but said he has no plans to retire. “This is the type of job that I dreamed about my entire life,” he said. Like fellow laureate Mokyr, Aghion also expressed surprise at the honor. “I can’t find the words to express what I feel,” he said by phone to the press conference in Stockholm. He said he would invest his prize money in his research laboratory. Asked about current trade wars and protectionism in the world, Aghion said that: “I am not welcoming the protectionist way in the US. That is not good for … world growth and innovation.” The winners were credited with better explaining and quantifying “creative destruction,” a key concept in economics that refers to the process in which beneficial new innovations replace—and thus destroy—older technologies and businesses. The concept is usually associated with economist Joseph Schumpeter, who outlined it in his 1942 book “Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy.” The Nobel committee said Mokyr “demonstrated that if innovations are to succeed one another in a self-generating process, we not only need to know that something works, but we also need to have scientific explanations for why.” Mokyr has long been known as an optimist about the positive effects of technological innovation. In an interview with the AP in 2015, he cited the music streaming service Spotify as an example of an “absolutely astonishing” innovation that economists had difficulty measuring. Mokyr noted he once owned more than 1,000 CDs and, before that, “I spent a large amount of my graduate student budget on vinyl records.” But now he could access a huge music library for a small monthly fee. Aghion and Howitt studied the mechanisms behind sustained growth, including in a 1992 article in which they constructed a mathematical model for creative destruction. Aghion helped shape French President Emmanuel Macron’s economic program during his 2017 election campaign. More recently, Aghion co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Commission, which in 2024 submitted a report to Macron outlining 25 recommendations to position France as a leading force in the field of AI. “The laureates’ work shows that economic growth cannot be taken for granted. We must uphold the mechanisms that underlie creative destruction, so that we do not fall back into stagnation,” said John Hassler, chair of the committee for the prize in economic sciences. One half of the 11 million Swedish kronor (nearly $1.2 million) prize goes to Mokyr and the other half is shared by Aghion and Howitt. Winners also receive an 18-carat gold medal and a diploma. The economics prize is formally known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. The central bank established it in 1968 as a memorial to Nobel, the 19th-century Swedish businessman and chemist who invented dynamite and established the five Nobel Prizes. Since then, it has been awarded 57 times to a total of 99 laureates. Only three of the winners have been women. Nobel purists stress that the economics prize is technically not a Nobel Prize, but it is always presented together with the others on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death in 1896. Nobel honors were announced last week in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace. Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, and Chris Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report. —Kostya Manenkov and Mike Corder, Associated Press View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. Young people are always finding new ways to blur the lines between irony and sincerity, the public and the private, and every thing else: TikTokers are using a caveman schtick to tell sad romantic stories; a Twitch streamer broadcast the birth of her daughter to her adoring chat; and young people are meeting a deadly serious political moment with colorful animal costumes. There's also a new cartoon, for some reason, from Nintendo, and the rise of slopcore. The Portland Frog and ChickenThe young people in Portland are changing the idea of what "protesting" means. In the days since the President declared Portland a "war zone" and a "never-ending disaster," more and more young people have been showing up to protests dressed in colorful costumes. Frog guy was first. You can see him here, bravely facing down a cadre of heavily armed men: before being pepper-sprayed for his trouble. And then there's the chicken guy, whose presence in front of an ICE facility provided important context to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's recent rooftop photo opportunity. “Our reality is beyond satire at this point,” Chicken Guy (aka Jack Dickinson) told The Atlantic. “So meeting it with absurdity...I guess that’s the idea.” Frog and Chicken seem to have inspired others to meet ICE and the National Guard with absurdity (and colorful costumes), which might be the sign of a growing movement. Protestors have been using ridiculousness to make their point since protests began, but the instant, worldwide dissemination of videos from Portland's "front line" is fairly new. Images of heavily armed and armored law enforcement officers staring down Portland weirdos in unicorn and panda costumes makes a more compelling point than would clashes with radicals in ski masks—you don't have to think very hard to know which side you're on. And there's something so Portland about the whole thing. Twitch streamer Fandy livestreams her child's birthAustin based Twitch streamer Fandy is known as much for letting her 300,000 followers in on her personal life as she is for playing Overwatch, but the 30-year-old influencer cranked it up to 11 last week when she livestreamed her daughter's birth. Fandy started streaming as soon as she went into labor, with 30,000 or so concurrent visitors on Twitch alone watching her deliver another human into the world. She even joked around with her chat in between breathing and contractions, and Twitch CEO Dan Clancy stopped by to offer congratulations. After a routine eight-hour labor, Fandy showed her child off to the world. Her fans seem mostly happy to be included but some are questioning whether a live birth is in keeping with the streaming platform's terms and conditions, and more importantly, if it was fair to the child who didn't ask to be born and definitely didn't ask to be livestreamed. On the other hand, Fandy’s stream takes parasocial relationships to a new level, her fans seemed happy to be included, and who wouldn't want to have 30,000 godparents? Why are so many TikTokers talking like cavewomen?It's becoming cool on TikTok for young women to talk like cavewomen. Over videos labeled "POV: We're Cavewomen and I'm Telling You About My Ex," folks are spilling their guts about past relationships, while replacing "I" with me and generally leaving out articles. The trend seems to have started when @em.brdly posted this video about she (sic) disastrous introduction to polyamory: Others followed, detailing they bad experiences with young men: But talk like caveman old! She make video talk like cavewoman "Karen" 2024: He talk caveman 1991: Like me say, more things change, more stay same. What is "slopcore"?Slopcore is the slang term for the countless 100s of millions of cheesy-looking, unsettling, AI-generated images, videos, and songs that have hit the internet since AI was given to the masses a couple of years ago. It also describes the uncanny, dreamy, slightly menacing vibe of all that slop. I did a deeper dive here, if you want to get further into the slop with me. Viral video of the week: Nintendo teases...somethingOn Oct. 7, Nintendo posted this video on X with the caption "Close to You": This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. and no one knows why. There are no credits; there's no logo. It's just a baby chasing a pacifier. But because it's Nintendo's baby, the video has been streamed over 16 million times on X alone, and everyone seems to have a guess. Some theories: It's a teaser for a new Pikmin game. It's teasing a new Earthbound game. It's teasing a new Chibi-Robo game. It's teasing a new Elebits game (even though Elebits was from Konami) "Nintendo Baby" is being introduced as a character in Smash Brothers. Its the first look at a new Nintendo intellectual property involving babies and pacifiers. It's a short meant to show off what Nintendo has been doing with its new animation studio. Nintendo wants to show its fanbase an experience that they will never have. The point is there's no way to know and it could be anything. (But it's Pikmin, because Nintendo has released a Pikmin game for every console since the GameCube.) View the full article

US and Chinese officials will also hold talks this week about escalation in trade tensionsView the full article

Inflation has risen in three of the last four months and is slightly higher than it was a year ago, when it helped sink then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Yet you wouldn’t know it from listening to President Donald The President or even some of the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve. The President told the United Nations General Assembly late last month: “Grocery prices are down, mortgage rates are down, and inflation has been defeated.” And at a high-profile speech in August, just before the Fed cut its key interest rate for the first time this year, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said: “Inflation, though still somewhat elevated, has come down a great deal from its post-pandemic highs. Upside risks to inflation have diminished.” Yet dismissing or even downplaying inflation while it is still above the Fed’s target of 2% poses big risks for the White House and the Federal Reserve. For the The President administration, it could find itself on the wrong side of a potent issue: Surveys show that many Americans still see high prices as a major burden on their finances. The Fed may be taking an even bigger gamble: It has cut its key interest rate on the assumption that the The President administration’s tariffs will only cause a temporary bump up in inflation. If that turns out to be wrong — if inflation gets worse or remains elevated for longer than expected — the Fed’s inflation-fighting credibility could take a hit. That credibility plays a crucial role in the Fed’s ability to keep prices stable. If Americans are confident that the central bank can keep inflation in check, they won’t take steps — such as demanding sharply higher pay when prices rise — that can launch an inflationary spiral. Companies often increase prices further to offset higher labor costs. But Karen Dynan, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said this week that with memories of pandemic-era inflation still fresh and tariffs pushing up the cost of imported goods, consumers and businesses could start to lose confidence that inflation will stay low. “If that proves to be the case, in hindsight it will be that the Fed cuts — and I do expect several more — are going to be seen as a mistake,” Dynan said. So far, the The President administration’s tariffs haven’t lifted inflation as much as as many economists expected earlier this year. And it remains far below its 9.1% peak three years ago. Still, consumer prices increased 2.9% in August from a year earlier, up from 2.6% at the same time last year and above the Fed’s 2% target. The government is scheduled to release the September inflation report on Wednesday, but the data will probably be delayed by the government shutdown. Tariffs have pushed up the cost of many imported items, including furniture, appliances, and toys. Overall, the cost of long-lasting manufactured goods rose nearly 2% in August from a year earlier. It was a modest gain, but comes after nearly three decades when the cost of such items mostly fell. The cost of some everyday goods are still rising more quickly than before the pandemic: Grocery prices moved up 2.7% in August from a year ago, the largest gain, outside the pandemic, since 2015. Coffee prices have soared nearly 21% in the past year, partly because The President has slapped 50% import taxes on Brazil, a leading coffee exporter, and also because climate change-induced droughts have cut into coffee bean harvests. Most Fed officials are still concerned that inflation is too high, according the minutes of its Sept. 16-17 meeting. Yet they still chose to cut their key interest rate, because they were more worried about the risk of worsening unemployment than about higher inflation. But the concern for some economists is that the ongoing rollout of tariffs and the fact that many companies are still implementing price hikes in response could result in more than just a temporary boost to inflation. “It is a big gamble after what we’ve been going through … to count on it being transitory,” said Jason Furman, an economist at Harvard University and a former top adviser to President Barack Obama. “Once upon a time, (3% inflation) would have been considered really high.” Just two weeks ago, The President slapped new tariffs on a range of products, including 100% on pharmaceuticals, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, and 25% on heavy trucks. On Friday, he threatened “a massive increase of tariffs” on imports from China in response to that country’s restrictions on rare earth exports. Some companies are still raising prices to offset the tariff costs. Duties on steel and aluminum imports have pushed up the cost of the cans used by Campbell Soups, leading the company’s CEO to say in September that it will implement “surgical pricing initiatives.” Chris Butler, CEO of National Tree Company, the nation’s largest artificial Christmas tree seller, says his company will raise prices by about 10% this holiday season on its trees, wreaths, and garlands to offset tariff costs. About 45% of its trees are made in China, with the rest from Southeast Asia, Mexico, and other countries. The cost of labor and real estate is too high to make them in the United States, he said. Butler also expects there will be a reduced supply of artificial trees and decorations this year, which could lift industry-wide prices further, because most production in China shut down when tariffs on that country hit 145% earlier this year. Production resumed after The President reduced the duties to 30% but at a slower pace. Butler has pushed his suppliers to absorb some of the cost of the tariffs, but they won’t pay all of it. “At the end of the day, we can’t absorb the entirety of it and our factories can’t absorb the entirety of it,” he said. “So we’ve had to pass along some of the increases to consumers.” Many Fed policymakers are aware of the risks. Jeffrey Schmid, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, who votes on interest rate decisions, said Monday that high inflation that results from a loss of confidence in the central bank is harder to fight than other price spikes, such as those that result from supply disruptions. “The Fed must maintain its credibility on inflation,” Schmid said. “History has shown that while all inflations are universally disliked, not all inflations are equally costly to fight.” Yet some Fed officials say that other trends are offsetting the impact of tariffs. Fed governor Stephen Miran, whom The President appointed just before the central bank’s September meeting, said Tuesday that a steady slowdown in rental costs should reduce underlying inflation in the coming months. And the sharp drop in immigration as a result of the administration’s clampdown will reduce demand, he said, cooling inflation pressures. “I’m more sanguine about the inflation outlook than a lot of other people are,” he said. —Christopher Rugaber, AP Economics Writer View the full article

We’ve spent the better part of the past few years glued to our screens—clicking, swiping, streaming. Endless tabs, endless scrolls. And yet, despite all the infinite access, we’re still craving the one thing the web cannot render: real presence. That collective craving has rewritten the rules of marketing. Five years after COVID, brands are finding the antidote to Zoom fatigue by showing up in person again. Canva, the Australian graphic design platform, is moving quickly to meet this demand with the launch of the Canva World Tour, a global initiative spanning 40 cities across 30 countries and five continents, with the goal of training one million people in just a month. The tour features 250 workshops and community-led sessions, from campus pop-ups to hands-on tutorials and certification programs. With a massive online footprint—1 in 24 internet users worldwide—Canva boasts 240 million monthly active users across 190 countries and 100 languages, generating more than 370 designs every second. Amid a booming online presence, its move to live events is about taking the experience from “URL to IRL,” Jimmy Knowles, Canva’s global head of experiential, told Fast Company. It’s not the first time Canva has embraced face-to-face interactions. This year, Canva Create, the company’s annual event, had a tentpole moment with 105 speakers across six stages, drawing more than 4,300 attendees in person at California’s SoFi Stadium, with 6.6 million tuning in online. Knowles describes the events as a chance to be “unapologetically ourselves,” adding, “Tech brands are all straight lines and rounded boxes, as opposed to coloring outside the lines.” Experience the economy Canva’s headfirst dive into experiential marketing is perhaps no surprise. As reported by eMarketer, experiential marketing spending has surged past $128 billion, with activity signaling a resurgent comeback above pre-pandemic levels. According to the 2023 Trust Report from live events company Freeman, 77% of consumers say their trust in a brand increases following a live event interaction, and 64% retain positive impressions of brands they engage with in person. Building on insights like this, Canva designed its world tour to connect with people directly on their own terms. “This enables us to get super local and relevant to the communities we’re serving,” Knowles explains. Kristine Segrist, Canva’s global head of consumer marketing, adds, “Meeting them where they are makes the experience feel immediate and personal.” The tour took off at the Texas State Fair in Dallas and will culminate in Sydney, Australia, with a 4,000-person keynote and, according to Canva, a major product announcement. View the full article

Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said there will be deeper cuts to the federal workforce the longer the government shutdown goes on, adding to the uncertainty facing hundreds of thousands who are already furloughed without pay amid the stubborn stalemate in Congress. Vance warned that as the federal shutdown entered its 12th day, the new cuts would be “painful,” even as he said the The President administration worked to ensure that the military is paid this week and some services would be preserved for low-income Americans, including food assistance. Still, hundreds of thousands of government workers have been furloughed in recent days and, in a court filing on Friday, the Office of Management and Budget said well over 4,000 federal employees would soon be fired in conjunction with the shutdown. The effects of the shutdown also grew Sunday with the Smithsonian announcing its museums, research centers and the National Zoo are temporarily closed going forward for lack of funding. “The longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be,” Vance said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” “To be clear, some of these cuts are going to be painful. This is not a situation that we relish. This is not something that we’re looking forward to, but the Democrats have dealt us a pretty difficult set of cards.” Labor unions have already filed a lawsuit to stop the aggressive move by President Donald The President’s budget office, which goes far beyond what usually happens in a government shutdown, further inflaming tensions between the Republicans who control Congress and the Democratic minority. The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of federal subsidies for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The expiration of those subsidies at the end of the year will result in monthly cost increases for millions. The President and Republican leaders have said they are open to negotiations on the health subsidies, but insist the government must reopen first. For now, negotiations are virtually nonexistent. Dug in as ever, House leaders from both parties pointed fingers at each other in rival Sunday appearances on “Fox News Sunday.” “We have repeatedly made clear that we will sit down with anyone, anytime, anyplace,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. “Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. It’s unfortunate they’ve taken a my-way-or-the-highway approach.” House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrats and said they “seem not to care” about the pain the shutdown is inflicting. “They’re trying their best to distract the American people from the simple fact that they’ve chosen a partisan fight so that they can prove to their Marxist rising base in the Democratic Party that they’re willing to fight The President and Republicans,” he said. Progressive activists, meanwhile, expressed new support for the Democratic Party’s position in the shutdown fight. Ezra Levin, co-founder of the leading progressive protest group Indivisible, said he is “feeling good about the strength of Dem position.” He pointed to fractures in the GOP, noting that Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly warned last week that health care insurance premiums would skyrocket for average Americans — including her own adult children — if nothing is done. “The President and GOP are rightfully taking the blame for the shutdown and for looming premium increases,” Levin said. “Their chickens are coming home to roost.” And yet the Republican administration and its congressional allies are showing no signs of caving to Democratic demands or backing away from threats to use the opportunity to pursue deeper cuts to the federal workforce. Thousands of employees at the departments of Education, Treasury, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, are set to receive layoff notices, according to spokespeople for the agencies and union representatives for federal workers. “You hear a lot of Senate Democrats say, well, how can Donald The President possibly lay off all of these federal workers?” Vance said. “Well, the Democrats have given us a choice between giving low-income women their food benefits and paying our troops on the one hand, and, on the other hand, paying federal bureaucrats.” Democrats say the firings are illegal and unnecessary. “They do not have to do this,” said Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “They do not have to punish people that shouldn’t find themselves in this position.” —Steve Peoples, AP National Political Writer View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. The method of loci (or the loci technique) is a mnemonic memorization trick with a number of uses, from helping people with mild cognitive impairment learn and remember information, to getting someone ready to give a speech. But you can use it in almost any context, for anything you need to remember. Obviously, you're here because it's helpful when you're taking a test, but the ways you can apply it in that scenario are a little unique and you'll need to get the hang of something that seems silly at first. Here's what to do. What is the method of loci?If “loci” sounds like “location,” that’s because it’s what this method is all about: Location, location, location. To employ the technique, you use visualizations of specific spatial environments to help you recall information. It’s been around for centuries and is still in use today, as memory contest participants say it helps them recall everything from faces to digits. (Did you know there are memory contests?) Think of a location you know well, ideally one with a lot of defining features. Maybe it’s a street with a bunch of different shops, a room with a variety of surfaces and corners, or your childhood home. Any singular place works, but it's crucial it's one you know well and can truly visualize in your mind's eye. When you have to remember a ton of things, like items in a list or topics to hit in a speech, imagine yourself placing them, one by one, in one of those little loci. One topic can go in the corner, another on the desk, and another in the windowsill, for instance. When you want to retrieve or recall the information, imagine yourself walking through the area again, picking up what you need to remember from its proper place. Why does this work? Generally speaking, your brain remembers images better than it remembers words or numbers, so attaching the words or digits you need to remember to an image makes them easier to retrieve. How to use use the method of loci in real lifeOne way to tap into the power of this memory trick is “placing” your memory items around the room you’ll be in when you need to recall them. If you know you have to speak in front of a meeting in a certain conference room, or take a test in a particular classroom, use that imagined setting as the spot where you drop your listed items. Better yet, prepare in that space. If you're able to, sit in the classroom where you'll take your test as you prepare, maybe staying late after class or entering it when it's unoccupied at some point during the week. Imagine yourself placing the things you're studying, one by one, in locations around the room. You can even wander around and pantomime doing so if that seems helpful. Just make sure the loci you pick are permanent. Don't assign a key fact to, say, a cup of pens on the professor's desk, which may be removed from the room before your test date. Choose things like the radiator, a discolored ceiling tile, the podium, or a doorstop. If you can't study in the classroom itself, this trick does require you to plan ahead and be familiar with the room by memory alone, so choose even broader loci, like the door or the window. And don't forget that this can all be a mental game. Your locations can be anywhere you can remember well, like the break room at your job or your bedroom, as long as you can pull up that mental map in your mind at test time. Why it worksThis might seem frivolous, but it does work. It's part of a broader memory technique called association. With association, you can make up mnemonic phrases, sing a little song, or, yes, use the method of loci. The goal is associate your newfound knowledge with something else, so whenever you think of that other thing—in this case, a location—you'll automatically remember the nugget of information you associated with it. View the full article

Companies operating in the rare earths and mining spaces are seeing their share prices soar this morning as President Donald The President’s latest tariff feud with China enter its second week. Here’s what you need to know. What’s happened? Last week, President The President threatened new tariffs on China as high as 100% in retaliation for the country putting export controls on products that contain rare earth elements. “Rare earths” are a group of elements that actually aren’t rare, but are hard to find and expensive to mine. The elements also happen to be essential to many industries, including technology, automotive, and defense. Rare earths are critical to these industries because the elements are used in many of the most advanced electronic products made by companies in the above industries, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and missile systems. While the United States has its own rare earth deposits and extraction capabilities, China is one of the world’s largest producers of rare earth materials, and disruption in the Chinese rare earths supply chain could have negative knock-on effects in the production of electronic equipment that U.S. companies and the military rely on. Rare earth stocks soar again After already rising on Friday in the wake of The President’s tariff threat, the stock prices of rare earth companies and adjacent mining companies are up again in premarket trading today (Monday, October 13). Those stock price rises include the following companies, all of which are up in premarket trading on Monday morning as of the time of this writing. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR): up 22% Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU): up 14% MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP): up 10% Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC): up 4.5% Trilogy Metals Inc. (NYSE: TMQ): up 9.7% Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX): up 3.8% Besides the ongoing threat of increased restrictions on foreign companies obtaining rare earths from China, another factor may also be contributing to the surge in share prices for rare earth companies and mining stocks today. The Financial Times has reported that the Pentagon is seeking to purchase as much as $1 billion in critical materials to stockpile, including cobalt and antimony. The Pentagon’s Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) would store the materials to give the U.S. a buffer in the event they become harder to obtain in the months ahead. Any increase in defense spending on those materials and other related materials is likely to benefit the companies that supply them or can help mine them. The President says “don’t worry” The President’s threat to impose a further 100% tariff on Chinese goods in retaliation for its rare earth export controls sent stock markets tumbling on Friday. In a move perhaps meant to alleviate investor fears, The President posted what could be taken as a calming message (in The Presidentian terms) on Tuesday. “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine!” the president posted on his Truth Social social network. “Highly respected President Xi just had a bad moment. He doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!!” Although stock futures did rise early Monday following The President’s post, as of the time of this writing, there are no signs that China is rethinking its latest export controls on rare earths. Indeed, reduced rare earth exports seem to have been gaining momentum in the country for a while now. As Reuters reported, China’s rare earth exports plunged by 31% in September versus the month earlier. Is this a trend that will continue? No one knows for sure. But until China and America officially come to terms on rare earths, investors seem confident that America’s rare earth companies may benefit from the geopolitical drama—at least for now. View the full article

Charles Moore of Alvarez & Marsal to become ‘interim chief executive’ as well as chief restructuring officer View the full article

Small business owners looking to enhance their operational efficiency may want to pay attention to the latest advancements in artificial intelligence from IBM. The tech giant has unveiled new features in its Watsonx Orchestrate platform designed to optimize how AI agents function in various business workflows. This innovation promises to provide small businesses with the predictive reliability and control needed to navigate today’s complex operational landscapes. At the heart of this update are “agentic workflows,” which allow AI agents to execute tasks autonomously while adhering to essential structures. IBM asserts that when precision is paramount—think financial approvals, compliance checks, or customer service operations—the integration of structured workflows can dramatically improve task execution and reliability. The underpinning technology is designed to offer robust handling of data while maintaining the necessary compliance and accuracy every business must uphold. Key features of these agentic workflows make them particularly beneficial for small businesses. They include predefined toolchains that ensure processes are followed correctly and in the right sequence, conditional logic that helps manage decision-making processes, and data handling transparency that streamlines how information flows at every step. These attributes not only simplify automation but also make it easier for businesses to track and audit their operations, providing a unique blend of efficiency and accountability. “This structured approach makes AI agents more reliable and versatile in real-world applications,” said a spokesperson for IBM. The company emphasizes that these workflows can be tailored for various business scenarios, from managing financial transactions to routing customer inquiries—areas critical for small businesses aiming to deliver better service without overwhelming their resources. Furthermore, the integration of Langflow within Watsonx Orchestrate enables users to visually design and manage these workflows. This visual aspect demystifies the complexities often associated with automation, making it accessible for small business owners who may lack extensive technical expertise. With these tools, small businesses can harness the power of AI without needing an extensive IT infrastructure. However, there are also considerations for small business owners to keep in mind when adopting these advanced solutions. The implementation of AI-driven workflows necessitates a clear understanding of existing operational processes. Businesses might face challenges in establishing the right sequences and decision points critical for effective AI functioning. Additionally, while the initial investment in AI technology and training may seem daunting, the potential long-term savings and improved efficiency can offset these upfront costs. Small business leaders should also think about how data governance will be managed. As these workflows handle sensitive information, regulatory compliance and data privacy must be prioritized to avoid legal repercussions. Building a strong foundation in data management practices can offer greater assurance when deploying these new tools. IBM’s Watsonx Orchestrate is now more than a buzzword; it’s a practical tool aimed at increasing small businesses’ capacity to automate workflows while maintaining essential governance. As automation becomes an integral part of business strategy, understanding and adapting these new tools may enable entrepreneurs to focus on scaling their operations effectively. For those interested in exploring these new features and how they can be applied in real-world scenarios, the details are available on IBM’s announcement page. By leveraging AI technologies judiciously, small business owners can find a competitive edge in their industry, combining technological prowess with human insight to drive growth and operational excellence. This article, "IBM Unveils Watsonx Orchestrate for Reliable AI Workflows" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners looking to enhance their operational efficiency may want to pay attention to the latest advancements in artificial intelligence from IBM. The tech giant has unveiled new features in its Watsonx Orchestrate platform designed to optimize how AI agents function in various business workflows. This innovation promises to provide small businesses with the predictive reliability and control needed to navigate today’s complex operational landscapes. At the heart of this update are “agentic workflows,” which allow AI agents to execute tasks autonomously while adhering to essential structures. IBM asserts that when precision is paramount—think financial approvals, compliance checks, or customer service operations—the integration of structured workflows can dramatically improve task execution and reliability. The underpinning technology is designed to offer robust handling of data while maintaining the necessary compliance and accuracy every business must uphold. Key features of these agentic workflows make them particularly beneficial for small businesses. They include predefined toolchains that ensure processes are followed correctly and in the right sequence, conditional logic that helps manage decision-making processes, and data handling transparency that streamlines how information flows at every step. These attributes not only simplify automation but also make it easier for businesses to track and audit their operations, providing a unique blend of efficiency and accountability. “This structured approach makes AI agents more reliable and versatile in real-world applications,” said a spokesperson for IBM. The company emphasizes that these workflows can be tailored for various business scenarios, from managing financial transactions to routing customer inquiries—areas critical for small businesses aiming to deliver better service without overwhelming their resources. Furthermore, the integration of Langflow within Watsonx Orchestrate enables users to visually design and manage these workflows. This visual aspect demystifies the complexities often associated with automation, making it accessible for small business owners who may lack extensive technical expertise. With these tools, small businesses can harness the power of AI without needing an extensive IT infrastructure. However, there are also considerations for small business owners to keep in mind when adopting these advanced solutions. The implementation of AI-driven workflows necessitates a clear understanding of existing operational processes. Businesses might face challenges in establishing the right sequences and decision points critical for effective AI functioning. Additionally, while the initial investment in AI technology and training may seem daunting, the potential long-term savings and improved efficiency can offset these upfront costs. Small business leaders should also think about how data governance will be managed. As these workflows handle sensitive information, regulatory compliance and data privacy must be prioritized to avoid legal repercussions. Building a strong foundation in data management practices can offer greater assurance when deploying these new tools. IBM’s Watsonx Orchestrate is now more than a buzzword; it’s a practical tool aimed at increasing small businesses’ capacity to automate workflows while maintaining essential governance. As automation becomes an integral part of business strategy, understanding and adapting these new tools may enable entrepreneurs to focus on scaling their operations effectively. For those interested in exploring these new features and how they can be applied in real-world scenarios, the details are available on IBM’s announcement page. By leveraging AI technologies judiciously, small business owners can find a competitive edge in their industry, combining technological prowess with human insight to drive growth and operational excellence. This article, "IBM Unveils Watsonx Orchestrate for Reliable AI Workflows" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Rupert Pearce’s appointment comes as government seeks to deliver pledge to drive growth through increased military spendingView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. If you’re planning your next DIY project or looking into new tools for your set, it can be overwhelming to weigh all the options available for cordless tools. As batteries become smaller and lighter, a wider range of cordless power tools is available. Here are a few of my favorite cordless tools based on design, durability, usefulness, and battery life. The best all-around cordless tool M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Oscillating Multi-Tool $249.00 at Home Depot Shop Now Shop Now $249.00 at Home Depot My favorite tool to use right now is the Milwaukee 18-volt oscillating multitool. This tool is light, weighing just 2.7 pounds without the battery, and easy to use. It can be used for cutting wood, tile, drywall, metal, PVC, and combination materials—as such, it's a game-changer for a home DIY tool set. It can also be used for sanding, buffing, and removing grout. Because of the impressive range of projects this tool can be used for and the excellent battery life—with a 4-amp-hour battery that, in my experience, outlasts the blade—this is my favorite cordless tool of 2025. Best new cordless tool ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless 16-Gauge Straight Finish Nailer $249.00 at Home Depot Shop Now Shop Now $249.00 at Home Depot The best new cordless tool this year is Ryobi’s 16-gauge finish nailer. Ryobi’s 18-volt battery set has expanded to include over 300 cordless tools that are compatible with their system, and the 16-gauge finish nailer is one the newest. This nailer is powerful enough for most woodworking applications, and it allows the user to drive more nails in less time than older models. It can drive 1,800 nails per charge and accepts 16-gauge finish nails up to 2 ½ inches long. This is the perfect tool for any DIY enthusiast who wants to try out woodworking projects like installing trim or stair treads. Best cordless drill and driverThe DeWalt 20-volt drill and driver set has an impressive battery life, allowing you to run a tool for several hours before needing to recharge, and they stand up to abuse. These tools are compatible with most standard drill bits, with the impact driver accepting ¼-inch hex bits and the drill accepting up to ½-inch drill bits. They are light and well-balanced, making them easier on your wrists and forearms over time. These are a good choice for projects like installing drywall or hanging shelving. Best cordless saw Makita XSR01Z 36V (18V X2) LXT® Brushless Rear Handle 7-1/4" Circular Saw, Tool Only $259.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $259.00 at Amazon The best cordless saw of 2025 is the Makita rear handle 7 ¼-inch circular saw. Cutting a starting line with the rear-handled saw is easier because it allows you to push the saw from a more advantageous angle and keep the weight of the tool balanced. In addition, a 7 ¼-inch blade has a wider cutting surface for more precise longer cuts. Makita 18-volt batteries have a good battery life, allowing you to make over 550 cross cuts with a 5-amp-hour battery on a single charge. A cordless circular saw is good for DIY projects using plywood, like making work tables, or for cross-cutting dimensional lumber for framing. Best under $50My favorite new cordless tool under $50 is the Ryobi glue gun, which comes with a 2-amp-hour battery and charger. This glue gun can accommodate a ½-inch glue stick, and can heat up in three minutes. Rapid charging and heating means you can ditch the cord and use your glue gun without dragging an extension cord around with you. Although this glue gun’s small, there's enough room to let you use two fingers on the trigger, cutting down on fatigue from squeezing over time. A glue gun is an essential tool to have around for DIY projects that might have upholstery or other cosmetic components. View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. If you work in the corporate world, you've almost certainly heard of SMART goals, which are meant to help you work better with your team and be more productive. Similarly, you may have heard of them in the fitness space, as they're commonly used as part of personal training plans thanks to their specificity and rigidity. But the SMART system is helpful for all kinds of tasks—especially if you’re a student. Here are some tips for using SMART goals when you’re studying. What are SMART goals?SMART goals aren’t just good—well, smart—ideas. It’s actually an acronym: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-bound The idea came from business consultant George T. Doran in 1981, when he wrote into Management Review to criticize the poor goal-setting he encountered at many companies. (In his original outline, the “A” stood for “assignable,” but with time, “achievable” took hold as the go-to designation.) When using the SMART system, all your goals should align with the five elements of the acronym. How to use SMART goals to study more effectively The process starts with writing a goal statement that hits on all of the elements of the SMART acronym. Here’s an example: Say you have a test in statistics next week and you got a C on the last one. You can write, “My goal is to get a B+ or higher on the exam by studying for an hour every night from now until the test date.” It’s specific, because you’re setting not only the exact grade you want to get, but the steps you need to take to get it. It’s measurable, because you’ll be able to see whether you accomplished the goal as soon as your test is graded. It’s achievable, because it’s just one letter grade higher than what you got last time, so it’s not as lofty as aiming for an A+. It’s relevant, because it’s an upcoming test, not a vague plan for your end-of-semester grade. Finally, it’s time-bound, because you’re basing it on a looming date and making a plan for all the days between now and then. You can see how that differs from, "My goal is to get an A in this class" or even "My goal is to get a B on the next test." SMART goals drill down on all the necessary elements that will add up to your success. They don't leave wiggle room or space for excuses because they're timed, they're actionable, and they're realistic. The farther out you plan or the loftier your goal is, the easier it gets to push it to the side. A SMART goal keeps you focused and on a schedule. When you're studying on a schedule, you need a plan that works with it. Try flashcards using the Leitner system and spaced repetition, two studying approaches that rely on strict scheduling between now and the date you need to know something. They're valuable methods because, by spacing out the time between study sessions, they force you to use active recall to retrieve information from your memory. They're the perfect complement to a SMART goal. Finally, write down your SMART goals. Hand-writing is always recommended, since it helps you remember things, but you can jot them anywhere you might see them, like in an assignment folder or near your workspace. Constant reminders help you stay on track with what you need to be doing. View the full article