Fast company - tech

10 tech gifts to help lower loved ones’ stress levels

With the holiday shopping season approaching, many of us are thinking about buying the latest, most cutting-edge tech gadgets for our loved ones. I’d suggest another direction: Shopping for devices that help reduce stress and cognitive load. Let me explain what I mean.

Think about how much of our technology is designed not to be calm. Your car probably has a touchscreen on the dashboard—even though it’s incredibly dangerous and stressful to use while drivi

These 4 fantastic sites offer more than 17,000 free online courses

The kids are back in school, the year is winding down, and maybe—just maybe—you’re finding yourself with a teeny, tiny bit of extra time on your hands.

Instead of plopping down in front of the TV or running your phone’s battery dry on social media, why not expand your educational horizons?

Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, advance your career, or simply satisfy your curiosity, these four platforms offer some of the best free online courses available.

AI bots could be a new tool to get people to be open about their feelings

As the legislative election in France approached this summer, a research team decided to reach out to hundreds of citizens to interview them about their views on key issues. But the interviewer asking the questions wasn’t a human researcher — it was an AI chatbot.

To prepare ChatGPT to take on this role, the researchers started by prompting the AI bot to behave as it has observed professors communicating in its training data. The specific prompt, according to

The best cozy games during a stressful Thanksgiving season

For many, video games are loud, violent, and competitive. But for some they are the opposite: quiet, soft, and low-stakes. Welcome to the world of cozy gaming. 

In our world of relentless headlines, many find solace in these comforting digital realms, where the gravest mistake you can make is forgetting to hit save. Following the election cycle, cozy gaming is “reassuring during turbulent times,” as one gamer said in a recent interview with

Will AI be a game changer in developing countries?

To read this text and its propositions, the reader must accept two inferences as true:

The first is that using AI involves the application of statistical methods to identify patterns, propose hypotheses (predictive, generative AI), simulate, and ultimately stimulate scenarios. In other words, it aims to solve significant problems through rigid or incremental innovation.

The second is that most collective issues share the common need for the state’s role in regulating, med

‘PDF to brainrot’ tools are bringing TikTok visuals to Gen Alpha’s academics

If you’ve never heard the term “skibidi” or “sigma,” congratulations, your brain is not yet rotted. Brainrot is a term used to describe low-quality internet content and the effects of spending too much time consuming it. Otherwise known as, being terminally online. However, several AI-based study tools are putting it to good use. 

The “PDF to brainrot” sees the

Crypto, online betting, and vaping: Welcome to the Trump economy

From tariffs and big tech, to impacts on the free market—everyone wants to know what Trump’s return to office means for the business world. To cut through the noise, political scientist Ian Bremmer offers his insights. Bremmer, the founder and president of the global political risk firm, The Eurasia Group, reveals his thoughts on which industries are poised to thrive under a second Trump term, and what Elon Musk’s position means for U.S. capitalism.

This is an abridged transcri

Kai Cenat has broken records with his latest subathon. What does this mean for live streaming?

Kai Cenat reclaimed the title of most subscribed to Twitch streamer less than halfway through his planned month-long streaming marathon. Cenat launched his “Mafiathon 2” stream on Nov. 1, a “subathon” in which he continually streams a live video of himself, sometimes joined by guest stars including Lil Uzi Vert, Snoop Dogg and Serena Williams, to name a few. 

Just 11 days into his subathon, Cenat broke the all-time subscriber record by garnering 327,000 paid subscriptions (and

People are using Strava to create amazing street art

Strava, the fitness tracking app used by more than 120 million athletes around the world, is being used by a handful of hobbyists to create amazing works of art.

Canadian accountant Duncan McCabe is one of those choosing to do more than track how often he pounds the sidewalk on regular runs. McCabe is the creator of a viral video that has captured the atte

5 ways AI should be fixing travel planning right now

Recently, I attempted to plan a road trip through Canada. What should have been exciting—imagining stunning national parks and scenic drives—became a digital nightmare of juggling 50 different websites. Just figuring out the basics was exhausting: Could I take my dog to the parks? Were there direct flights? What activities would be good for my three kids? What’s the best driving route? Each question spawned five new browser tabs.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of planning a trip yourself,


Search