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Tag: Amazon

  • Alexa.com brings Alexa+ to your browser

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    For years, Alexa mostly stayed in one place. It lived on kitchen counters, nightstands or living room shelves. That setup worked for music and timers, but it also limited when and how people could actually use the assistant. Now that is changing.

    Amazon has rolled out Alexa.com, which brings Alexa+ directly to your web browser for Early Access users. Instead of relying on a speaker or phone, you can now open a laptop and start using Alexa like any other web-based AI tool.

    This shift is less about new tricks and more about access. Alexa can now follow you throughout your day instead of waiting for you at home.

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    Amazon’s Alexa is no longer tied to a smart speaker, with Alexa.com bringing the assistant and Alexa+ directly to the web browser for Early Access users. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

    What Alexa.com actually is

    Alexa.com is the browser-based version of Alexa+. You can type questions, explore topics, plan trips, organize tasks, or create content without touching a smart speaker. The biggest difference is continuity. Alexa keeps context across devices, so conversations carry over whether you are on your laptop, phone, Echo, or Fire TV. You do not have to repeat yourself every time you switch screens. That makes Alexa feel less like a command tool and more like an assistant that remembers what you are working on.

    Who can use Alexa.com right now

    Alexa.com is not open to everyone yet. To use it, you need:

    • Alexa+ Early Access
    • An Amazon account linked to a compatible Echo, Fire TV, or Fire tablet
    • A US-based Amazon account
    • Device language set to English, United States

    Child profiles are not supported on the browser version. Older Echo devices will continue using the original Alexa.

    What Alexa.com cannot do yet

    Because Alexa.com is still in Early Access, it has limits that matter for everyday users. Right now:

    • You can only type to Alexa in your browser
    • Voice interaction is not supported on the web
    • Music playback is not available
    • Smart home controls are limited compared to Echo devices

    Amazon says features will roll out gradually. Alexa.com is meant to complement your devices, not fully replace them yet.

    Meal planning without juggling tabs

    One area where Alexa.com feels genuinely useful is meal planning. You can ask Alexa for a full week of meals and set preferences like high protein, low sugar, or kid-friendly lunches. Alexa generates a plan and turns it into a shopping list. From there, items can be added directly to Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods. Instead of bouncing between recipes, notes and carts, everything happens in one place.

    Organizing everyday life in one place

    Alexa.com also works as a lightweight life organizer. You can upload documents, emails and images so Alexa can pull out key details. That includes appointments, reminders and schedules you would otherwise forget. Instead of searching your inbox, you can ask Alexa when the dog last went to the vet or what time practice starts tonight. The information stays available across devices.

    Smart home access, with limits

    Alexa.com keeps your smart home controls visible next to your chat window. While full smart home control is still limited in the browser, Alexa.com lets you check status, review activity and continue actions on your Echo or Fire TV devices. It is most useful as a bridge. You can start something in the browser and finish it at home without starting over.

    Recipes that follow you into the kitchen

    Alexa.com also simplifies cooking. If you find a recipe online, you can paste the link into Alexa and ask it to adjust for dietary needs. Alexa can save it, convert it into ingredients and add everything to your shopping list. When it is time to cook, Alexa can pull the recipe up on your Echo Show, guide you step by step and manage timers so your hands stay free.

    5 TECH TERMS THAT SHAPE YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY

    Amazon echo speakers lined up on the counter.

    Alexa.com lets users type questions, plan trips, organize tasks and create content without relying on an Echo or smartphone. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    Finding something to watch faster

    Decision fatigue hits hard at night. On Alexa.com, you can explore movie themes, get recommendations and save picks for later. When you sit down, Alexa remembers your choices and sends them to your Fire TV. That cuts down on scrolling and family debates.

    What about privacy

    Using Alexa on the web raises natural privacy questions. Amazon says Alexa+ includes built-in protections and user controls. Still, it is worth taking a minute to review your settings, especially if you plan to upload documents or personal information. A few smart habits can help:

    • Check your Alexa privacy settings and review stored activity
    • Avoid uploading sensitive documents like IDs or medical records
    • Use strong antivirus software to protect your device. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

    As with any AI assistant, convenience comes with trade-offs. Staying aware helps you stay in control.

    How much Alexa+ will cost

    Alexa+ is free during Early Access. When Early Access ends, you will not be automatically charged. After that:

    • Alexa+ stays free with a Prime membership
    • Non-Prime users can subscribe for $19.99 per month

    This makes Alexa.com more appealing for Prime members and a tougher sell for everyone else.

    What this means to you

    For most people, Alexa.com is about convenience. If you already use Alexa at home, the web version makes it easier to use during the day. You can plan, organize, or look things up from your computer and then pick up later on your phone or Echo. It also puts Alexa in the same category as other browser-based AI tools, but with deeper ties to shopping, smart home features and entertainment. Whether you stick with it will likely come down to how often you want Alexa to help you during your day.
     

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    YOU CAN FINALLY CHANGE YOUR GMAIL ADDRESS WITHOUT LOSING DATA

    Display of Amazon products.

    Amazon says Alexa.com allows conversations to carry over across devices, giving users continuity between laptops, phones and smart home screens. (Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    Kurt’s key takeaways

    Alexa.com does not reinvent Alexa. It simply makes it easier to use where people already spend time. By bringing Alexa+ to the browser, Amazon is betting that continuity matters more than novelty. For some users, that will be enough to make Alexa feel relevant again.

    If Alexa followed you from your laptop to your living room, would you actually rely on it more, or would it still feel optional? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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    Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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  • Amazon’s live-action God of War adaptation adds Teresa Palmer

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    Amazon is reportedly adding Teresa Palmer (The Fall Guy, Warm Bodies, Hacksaw Ridge) to its pantheon of Norse gods for its God of War TV show adaptation. As first reported by Deadline, Palmer will play Sif, Thor’s wife and eventual leader of the Aesir, in the live-action adaptation. It may not carry as much weight as the casting of the video game’s protagonist that was revealed earlier this week to be Ryan Hurst, but it could hint at the direction the TV show may take.

    While Sif plays a minor role in the God of War Ragnarok game, the early casting confirmation could indicate that the showrunner, Ronald D. Moore, may give the character a more involved role. In God of War Ragnarok, Sif is known as Odin’s diplomat before the events of Ragnarok, where she becomes the new leader of the Aesir, one of two tribes of Norse gods. Notably, Amazon’s adaptation is still missing the casting confirmations for Atreus, Thor, Odin and many other Norse gods seen in the video game. Even so, the God of War TV show has already secured at least two seasons.

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    Jackson Chen

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  • At 25, Wikipedia Navigates a Quarter-Life Crisis in the Age of A.I.

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    Turning 25 amid an A.I. boom, Wikipedia is racing to protect traffic, volunteers and revenue without losing its mission. Photo illustration by Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Traffic to Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopedia, naturally ebbs and flows with the rhythms of daily life—rising and falling with the school calendar, the news cycle or even the day of the week—making routine fluctuations unremarkable for a site that draws roughly 15 billion page views a month. But sustained declines tell a different story. Last October, the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees Wikipedia, disclosed that human traffic to the site had fallen 8 percent in recent months as a growing number of users turned to A.I. search engines and chatbots for answers.

    “I don’t think that we’ve seen something like this happen in the last seven to eight years or so,” Marshall Miller, senior director of product at the Wikimedia Foundation, told Observer.

    Launched on Jan. 15, 2001, Wikipedia turns 25 today. This milestone comes at a pivotal point for the online encyclopedia, which is straddling a delicate line between fending off existential risks posed by A.I. and avoiding irrelevance as the technology transforms how people find and consume information.

    “It’s really this question of long-term sustainability,” Lane Becker, senior director of earned revenue at the Wikimedia Foundation, told Observer. “We’d like to make it at least another 25 years—and ideally much longer.”

    While it’s difficult to pinpoint Wikipedia’s recent traffic declines on any single factor, it’s evident that the drop coincides with the emergence of A.I. search features, according to Miller. Chatbots such as ChatGPT and Perplexity often cite and link to Wikipedia, but because the information is already embedded in the A.I.-generated response, users are less likely to click through to the source, depriving the site of page views.

    Yet the spread of A.I.-generated content also underscores Wikipedia’s central role in the online information ecosystem. Wikipedia’s vast archive—more than 65 million articles across over 300 languages—plays a prominent role within A.I. tools, with the site’s data scraped by nearly all large language models (LLMs). “Yes, there is a decline in traffic to our sites, but there may well be more people getting Wikipedia knowledge than ever because of how much it’s being distributed through those platforms that are upstream of us,” said Miller.

    Surviving in the era of A.I.

    Wikipedia must find a way to stay financially and editorially viable as the internet changes. Declining page views not only mean that fewer visitors are likely to donate to the platform, threatening its main source of revenue, but also risk shrinking the community of volunteer editors who sustain it. Fewer contributors would mean slower content growth, ultimately leaving less material for LLMs to draw from.

    Metrics that track volunteer participation have already begun to slip, according to Miller. While noting that “it’s hard to parse out all the different reasons that this happens,” he conceded that the Foundation has “reason to believe that declines in page views will lead to declines in volunteer activity.”

    To maintain a steady pipeline of contributors, users must first become aware of the platform and understand its collaborative model. That makes proper attribution by A.I. tools essential, Miller said. Beyond simply linking to Wikipedia, surfacing metadata—such as when a page was last updated or how many editors contributed—could spur curiosity and encourage users to engage more deeply with the platform.

    Tech companies are becoming aware of the value of keeping Wikipedia relevant. Over the past year, Microsoft, Mistral AI, Perplexity AI, Ecosia, Pleias and ProRata have joined Wikimedia Enterprise, a commercial product that allows corporations to pay for large-scale access and distribution of Wikipedia content. Google and Amazon have long been partners of the platform, which was launched in 2021.

    The basic premise is that Wikimedia Enterprise customers can access content from Wikipedia at a higher volume and speed while helping sustain the platform’s mission. “I think there’s a growing understanding on the part of these A.I. companies about the significance of the Wikipedia dataset, both as it currently exists and also its need to exist in the future,” said Becker.

    Wikipedia is hardly alone in this shift. News organizations, including CNN, the Associated Press and The New York Times, have struck licensing deals with A.I. companies to supply editorial content in exchange for payment, while infrastructure providers like Cloudflare offer tools that allow websites to charge A.I. crawlers for access. Last month, the licensing nonprofit Creative Commons announced its support of a “pay-to-crawl” approach for managing A.I. bots.

    Preparing for an uncertain future

    Wikipedia itself is also adapting to a younger generation of internet users. In an effort to make editing Wikipedia more appealing, the platform is working to enhance its mobile edit features, reflecting the fact that younger audiences are far more likely to engage on smartphones than desktop computers.

    Younger users’ preference for social video platforms such as YouTube and TikTok has also pushed Wikipedia’s Future Audiences team—a division tasked with expanding readership—to experiment with video. The effort has already paid off, producing viral clips on topics ranging from Wikipedia’s most hotly disputed edits to the courtship dance of the black-footed albatross and Sino-Roman relations. The organization is also exploring a deeper presence on gaming platforms, another major draw for younger users.

    Evolving with the times also means integrating A.I. further within the platform. Wikipedia has introduced features such as Edit Check, which offers real-time feedback on whether a proposed edit fits a page, and is developing features like Tone Check to help ensure articles adhere to a neutral point of view.

    A.I.-generated content has also begun to seep onto the platform. As of August 2024, roughly 5 percent of newly created English articles on the site were produced with the help of A.I., according to a Princeton study. Seeing this as a problem, Wikipedia introduced a “speedy deletion” policy that allows editors to quickly remove content that shows clear signs of being A.I.-generated. Still, the community remains divided over whether using A.I. for tasks such as drafting articles is inherently problematic, said Miller. “There’s this active debate.”

    From streamlining editing to distributing its content ever more widely, Wikipedia is betting that A.I. can ultimately be an ally rather than an adversary. If managed carefully, the technology could help accelerate the encyclopedia’s mission over the next 25 years—as long as it doesn’t bring down the encyclopedia first.

    “Our whole thing is knowledge dissemination to anyone that wants it, anywhere that they want it,” said Becker. “If this is how people are going to learn things—and people are learning things and gaining value from the information that our community is able to bring forward—we absolutely want to find a way to be there and support it in ways that align with our values.”

    At 25, Wikipedia Navigates a Quarter-Life Crisis in the Age of A.I.

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    Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly

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  • Inside the 2026 Golden Globe Week Parties – LAmag

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    The week-long lead-up to the Golden Globes is always one of the starriest times of the year. From recurring soirees like the BAFTA Tea Party to new events, like SiriusXM’s celebration of its nominees in the newly added Globes podcast category, here’s what went down as guests readied for the 83rd annual ceremony on Jan. 11.

    Vanity Fair x Amazon MGM Studios

    Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard
    Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard
    Credit: Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

    For the second year, Amazon MGM and Vanity Fair took over Bar Marmont the night before the Globes for a starry industry celebration. The lively fete on Saturday, Jan. 10, brought together actors, filmmakers and cultural figures, who mingled over passed bites like pigs in a blanket and crab cakes, and specialty drinks.

    Jennifer LopezJennifer Lopez
    Jennifer Lopez
    Credit: Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

    After walking the red carpet, guests could proceed right into a tent area, which included a bread and cheese station and a Carving Block caviar bar offering four types of caviar bites (including caviar-marshmallow and chocolate creations).

    Michael B. Jordan and LaKeith Stanfield Michael B. Jordan and LaKeith Stanfield
    Michael B. Jordan and LaKeith Stanfield
    Credit: Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

    Guests including Justin Hartley, Keegan-Michael Key, Kumail Nanjiani and Minnie Driver held court in the tent, while Lisa Ann Walter socialized in the front area and Jameela Jamil made rounds through the smaller sections.

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    Minnie Driver and Jameela Jamil Minnie Driver and Jameela Jamil
    Minnie Driver and Jameela Jamil
    Credit: Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

    Other guests in attendance included Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Kate Beckinsale, Kristen Bell, Quinta Brunson, Dove Cameron, Miles Caton, Chace Crawford, Zooey Deschanel, Janelle James, Jenna Dewan, Josh Gad, Aldis Hodge, Michael B. Jordan, Katherine LaNasa, Michael B. Jordan, Nastasha Lyonne, Shaboozey, Dax Shepard, William Stanford Davis, LaKeith Stanfield, Connor Storrie, Tessa Thompson, Robin Wright, Noah Wyle and Rachel Zoe.

    BAFTA Tea Party

    Courtney LaBarge Bell, Executive Director, BAFTA North America, Jane Millichip, CEO, BAFTA, Leonardo DiCaprio and Joyce Pierpoline, North America Board Chair, BAFTACourtney LaBarge Bell, Executive Director, BAFTA North America, Jane Millichip, CEO, BAFTA, Leonardo DiCaprio and Joyce Pierpoline, North America Board Chair, BAFTA
    Courtney LaBarge Bell, Executive Director, BAFTA North America, Jane Millichip, CEO, BAFTA, Leonardo DiCaprio and Joyce Pierpoline, North America Board Chair, BAFTA
    Credit: Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for BAFTA

    A staple event of awards season, BAFTA North America hosted its annual Tea Party at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills on Saturday, Jan. 11. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., industry talent, professionals and creatives from the U.S., U.K. and globally gathered to enjoy tea sandwiches (cucumber, smoked salmon, chicken, egg salad and roast beef), scones, pastries and, of course, tea — which came in about four varieties.

    A water station from Maison Perrier enabled guests to add vitamins to their flavored sparkling water cans, and guests lined up to try the claw game to win a flight credit from Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic.

    Jessie Buckley Jessie Buckley
    Jessie Buckley
    Credit: Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for BAFTA

    The event also celebrated the EE BAFTA Film Awards Longlist, announced Friday. “We look forward to welcoming this community to London next month to honor this year’s outstanding filmmakers,” said BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip.

    Teyana Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio Teyana Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio
    Teyana Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio
    Credit: Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for BAFTA

    Kate Hudson and Teyana Taylor greeted each other on the carpet. The Chronology of Water‘s Kristen Stewart and Imogen Poots reunited. Leonardo DiCaprio caused a stir in the room — and happy posed for photos with fans. Rose Byrne jovially made the rounds, and The White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood was another crowd favorite party-goers stopped for photos.

    Chase InfinitiChase Infiniti
    Chase Infiniti
    Credit: Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for BAFTA

    Other attendees included Gwyneth Paltrow, Ethan Hawke, Joel Edgerton, Chase Infiniti, Eva Victor, Mia Cioffi Henry, Miles Caton, Jane Levy, Mark Hamill, Rashida Jones, Ryan Coogler and Stephen Graham.

    SiriusXM Presents “Before The Buzz”

    Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Alex Cooper, Sean Hayes and Mel Robbins Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Alex Cooper, Sean Hayes and Mel Robbins
    Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Alex Cooper, Sean Hayes and Mel Robbins
    Credit: Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SiriusXM

    For the first time, the Golden Globes added a podcast category. And, given its three nominees out of six — SmartLess, Call Her Daddy and The Mel Robbins Podcast — SiriusXM decided to host a celebration at Phil Rosenthal’s new hot spot, Max & Helen’s.

    Dax Shepard, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, and Mel Robbins Dax Shepard, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, and Mel Robbins
    Dax Shepard, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, and Mel Robbins
    Credit: Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

    The intimate daytime shindig congregated guests including SmartLess‘ Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Jason Bateman; Call Her Daddy‘s Alex Cooper; The Mel Robbins Podcast‘s Mel Robbins; Conan O’Brien; Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen; Irving Azoff; Armchair Expert‘s Dax Shepherd and Monica Padman; Sebastian Maniscalco; Pod Save America‘s Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett; Tig Notaro; Alex Edelman; Sway in the Morning‘s Sway Calloway; Scam Goddess‘ Laci Mosley; Tom Papa; NPR Up First‘s A Martinez and Ayesha Rascoe.

    Conan O'Brien and Phil Rosenthal Conan O'Brien and Phil Rosenthal
    Conan O’Brien and Phil Rosenthal
    Credit: Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

    SiriusXM executives Jennifer Witz (CEO) and Scott Greenstein (President and Chief Content Officer) were also among the brunch-goers, who enjoyed a spread of the diner’s signatures — such as Nancy Silverton’s famed waffle with maple butter; bacon, egg and cheese sandwich; pancakes; hot dogs; and, of course, Lily Rosenthal’s viral hot chocolate.

    Variety x Aman Beverly Hills’ Official Pre-Golden Globes Party

    Adrien BrodyAdrien Brody
    Adrien Brody
    Credit: Courtesy Aman

    In a glamorous affair that felt like being transported back in time to Old Hollywood, Variety joined forces with the forthcoming Aman Beverly Hills and Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment for a posh soiree on Friday, Jan. 9 at the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge.

    Caroline Scheufele, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson at the Pre-Golden Globes Party presentedCaroline Scheufele, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson at the Pre-Golden Globes Party presented
    Caroline Scheufele and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
    Credit: Courtesy Aman

    The event served to celebrate Aman’s arrival on the U.S.’ West Coast at the One Beverly Hills development, which will be home to Aman Beverly Hills (opening in 2027) and the newly reimagined Beverly Hilton, the home of the Golden Globe Awards. 

    Kate HudsonKate Hudson
    Kate Hudson
    Credit: Courtesy Aman

    Inside, guests featured in Variety and CNN’s recent Actors on Actors series and from the entertainment world — including Ethan Hawke, Adrien Brody, Connor Storrie, Dwayne Johnson, Kate Hudson, Stellan Skarsgard, Teyana Taylor and more — hob-nobbed over passed hors d’oeuvres and themed cocktails.

    Teyana TaylorTeyana Taylor
    Teyana Taylor
    Credit: Courtesy Aman

    THR x Spotify’s Nominees Night

    Janelle James, Quinta Brunson, Evan Ross and Natasha LyonneJanelle James, Quinta Brunson, Evan Ross and Natasha Lyonne
    Janelle James, Quinta Brunson, Evan Ross and Natasha Lyonne Janelle James, Quinta Brunson, Evan Ross and Natasha Lyonne
    Credit: Photo by Stefanie Keenan/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

    On Thursday, Jan. 8, Spotify teamed up with The Hollywood Reporter for a first-time official Golden Week event with a musical bent. The fete, taking over the Lot at Formosa, featured sushi, Pink’s Hot Dogs and Trejo’s Taco’s stations — enjoyed by gusts including Amy Poehler, Kumail Nanjani, Natasha Lyonne, Quinta Brunson, Jackie Tohn, Rita Wilson, Keegan-Michael Key, Nina Dobrev, Jameela Jamil, Chrissy Teigen and Jane Seymour.

    John Legend and Miles CatonJohn Legend and Miles Caton
    John Legend and Miles Caton
    Credit: Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

    DJ Mark Ronson headlined, Miles Caton performing his Globe-nominated song “I Lied to You” from Sinners, and 10-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan belted “I’m Every Woman” and “Tell Me Something Good.” Later, EGOT-winner John Legend energized the crowd with his beloved hits “Tonight (Best You’ve Ever Had),” “Ordinary People,” “Greenlight” and “All of Me.”

    Mark Ronson spins during Nominees Night, an official Golden Week eventMark Ronson spins during Nominees Night, an official Golden Week event
    Mark Ronson spins during Nominees Night, an official Golden Week event
    Credit: Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

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    Jasmin Rosemberg

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  • How the World’s Top Companies Use Experimentation to Outlearn Uncertainty

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    From Airbnb and Booking.com to Amazon and Google, leading companies show how disciplined experimentation turns uncertainty into advantage. Unsplash+

    Leaders at Airbnb wondered whether listings with professional photographs might perform better than those using user-uploaded images. Rather than relying on instinct or anecdote, they ran a controlled experiment: some listings were assigned professional photography, while others retained user-generated photos. The results were striking. Listings with professional photos received more than twice as many bookings and earned hosts over $1,000 more per month. What began as a simple test ultimately led Airbnb to launch a full-scale photography program, transforming how hosts presented their properties and how customers experienced the platform.

    This is experimentation in action: a disciplined approach to uncertainty that allows organizations to uncover insights they might never reach through planning alone. 

    Booking.com reportedly runs over 25,000 experiments each year, a practice that has helped transform it from a small startup into a global travel powerhouse. According to Lukas Vermeer, its director of experimentation, Booking.com runs more than 1,000 experiments simultaneously, often tailoring tests to individual website visitors. These are primarily A/B tests, in which two alternatives are assessed side by side to determine which performs better. Over time, this approach allows the company to optimize entire customer journeys, refining everything from search results to booking flows based on real-world behavior rather than assumptions. 

    What these companies demonstrate is that sustained experimentation fundamentally changes how organizations learn. 

    Why experimentation matters more than ever

    Building a culture of experimentation creates the conditions for unexpected opportunities to surface and be exploited. It encourages organizations to move beyond incremental improvement toward breakthrough innovation, while also improving internal processes and engagement. Employees in experimental cultures tend to be more curious, more resilient and more willing to challenge the status quo. 

    Creating this culture starts with the leaders. For experimentation to take root, leaders must be willing to redefine what success and failure mean. Instead of treating failure as something to be avoided or punished, leaders need to frame it as an essential part of learning. This shift enables a growth mindset in which teams are encouraged to generate ideas, test them quickly and scale what works. Crucially, leadership teams must model this behavior themselves. When leaders visibly test, learn and adapt, experimentation becomes embedded in the organization’s DNA rather than confined to innovation labs or product teams. 

    Empowering employees to test and learn

    A true culture of experimentation empowers employees at every level to test hypotheses and iterate continuously. That requires time, tools and psychological safety. Providing dedicated time for experimentation sends a powerful signal. 3M famously allowed its researchers to spend 15 percent of their time exploring scientific topics or personal interests, regardless of immediate commercial relevance. The policy led to numerous innovations, including the invention of Post-It Notes. 

    Google adopted a similar philosophy, allowing employees to spend 20 percent of their time on side projects. While not every experiment succeeded, the approach produced significant breakthroughs like Gmail and AdSense. By making experimentation an expected part of the job, companies like Google and 3M normalized creative exploration and reduced the fear associated with trying something new. 

    Amazon has taken a related but distinct approach, fostering a culture of “many small bets.” Rather than seeking uncertainty upfront, Amazon continually tests new products, processes and business models, accepting that most experiments will fail, but that a few will deliver outsized returns. 

    Leaders don’t need to replicate these models exactly. Even modest steps, such as allocating one day per month for experimentation, offering workshops or providing small seed budgets, can be enough to spark momentum. 

    Making data the backbone of learning

    Experiment without measurement is just trial and error. Effective experimentation depends on data. Leaders should encourage teams to document their experiments clearly: what hypothesis was tested, what data was collected and what was learned. Results, positive or negative, should be shared openly to maximize organizational learning. Over time, this creates a shared language or evidence and reduces reliance on opinion-driven decision-making. 

    As Adam Savage, the special effects designer and co-host of Mythbusters, has said: “In the spirit of science, there really is no such this as a ‘failed experiment.’ Any test that yields valid data is a valid test.” the essence of this approach is learning: rapid experimentation is vital for outpacing competitors, far more so than simply being right. 

    Reducing fear through structure and play

    Many organizations struggle with experimentation due to fear—specifically, fear of failure. Psychologists describe loss aversion as our tendency to fear losses more than we value gains. In business, this often shows up as risk avoidance, perfectionism and decision paralysis. Leaders must actively normalize failure as a learning mechanism and a key part of progress. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos captured this succinctly when he said, “If you know it’s going to work, it’s not an experiment.” Booking.com’s Lukas Vermeer echoes this philosophy, emphasizing that experiments exist to discover what works, not to prove someone right. 

    Some organizations have gone further by gamifying experimentation. Platforms such as LabQuest have integrated points, badges and leaderboards into testing and user research, turning participation into a game. This approach has reportedly increased engagement and improved data quality, with significantly higher participation rates and more actionable insights compared to traditional methods. Gamification reduces the emotional stakes of failure and reframes experimentation as something engaging rather than intimidating. 

    A simple framework leaders can use

    One practical framework for experimentation is the Build-Measure-Learn-Loop, popularized by Eric Ries in The Lean Startup. It begins with a clear hypothesis: We believe that changing X will improve Y. Teams then run a small, fast, low-cost test, measure the results using relevant metrics and decide whether to scale, refine or abandon the idea. 

    This loop isn’t limited to product development. HR teams can experiment with new onboarding processes. Marketing teams can trial messaging variations. Even finance teams can explore alternative budgeting allocation models. When every initiative is treated as a learning opportunity rather than a final verdict, organizations become more adaptive and resilient. 

    Steven Bartlett, founder of Social Chain and host of The Diary of a CEO podcast, underscores the role leadership plays in this process. “Get your team to conduct fast, fearless experiments—more often,” he advises. Bartlett has described how his social team reports weekly on the tests they’ve run, reinforcing that experimentation is a core expectation. As he puts it, whether teams behave this way ultimately comes “down to the leadership.” 

    Thriving through uncertainty

    In a world changing at unprecedented speed, relying solely on past data and established models is increasingly risky. Markets shift, customer expectations evolve and competitive advantages erode quickly. Experimentation offers a way forward, not by eliminating uncertainty but by learning within it. 

    High-performing companies test, learn and adapt in real time. For leaders, the lesson is clear: the ability to foster experimentation is no longer optional. It is a core capability for navigating unpredictability and uncovering unexpected solutions. 

    The Art of Unexpected Solutions: Using Lateral Thinking to Find Breakthroughs by Paul Sloane was published on the January 3, 2026, by Kogan Page, priced £14.99.

    How the World’s Top Companies Use Experimentation to Outlearn Uncertainty

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  • CES 2026: Everything revealed, from Nvidia’s debuts to AMD’s new chips to Razer’s AI oddities  | TechCrunch

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    CES 2026 is in full swing in Las Vegas, with the show floor open to the public after a packed couple of days occupied by press conferences from the likes of Nvidia, Sony, and AMD and previews from Sunday’s Unveiled event. 

    As has been the case for the past two years at CES, AI is at the forefront of many companies’ messaging, though the hardware upgrades and oddities that have long defined the annual event still have their place on the show floor and in adjacent announcements. We’ll be collecting the biggest reveals and surprises here, though you can still catch the spur-of-the-moment reactions and thoughts from our team on the ground via our live blog right here. 

    Let’s dive right in, starting with some of Monday’s biggest players. 

    Nvidia reveals AI model for autonomous vehicles, showcases Rubin architecture

    Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivered an expectedly lengthy presentation at CES, taking a victory lap for the company’s AI-driven successes, setting the stage for 2026, and yes, hanging out with some robots. 

    The Rubin computing architecture, which has been developed to meet the increasing computation demands that AI adoption creates, is set to begin replacing Blackwell architecture in the second half of this year. It comes with speed and storage upgrades, but our senior AI editor Russell Brandom goes into the nitty-gritty of what distinguishes Rubin. 

    And Nvidia continued its push to bring the AI revolution into the physical world, showcasing its Alpamayo family of open source AI models and tools that will be used by autonomous vehicles this year. That approach, as senior reporter Rebecca Bellan notes, mirrors the company’s broader efforts to make its infrastructure the Android for generalist robots. 

    AMD’s keynote highlights new processors and partnerships 

    AMD chair and CEO Lisa Su delivered the first keynote of CES, with a presentation that featured partners, including OpenAI president Greg Brockman, AI legend Fei-Fei Li, Luma AI CEO Amit Jain, and more. 

    Techcrunch event

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    Beyond the partner showcases, senior reporter Rebecca Szkutak detailed AMD’s approach toward expanding the reach of AI through personal computers using its Ryzen AI 400 Series processors. 

    The standout oddities of CES

    Let’s face it, by this point in the show the major announcements have been made, products have been showcased, and it’s time to eye some of the most brow-raising reveals from CES. We started our list of what stood out to us as odd and noteworthy, but we’re open to more suggestions! 

    Highlights from CES breakout sessions

    CES isn’t all hardware showcases and show floor attractions — there are plenty of additional industry panels and speakers drawing eyeballs. We kept tabs on a few notable highlights, ranging from Palmer Luckey pushing retro aesthetics, to why the “learn once, work forever” era may be over, to previews of the new Silicon Valley-based series “The Audacity,” to the expansion of Roku’s $3 streaming service, to All-In host Jason Calacanis putting a $25,000 bounty on an authentic Theranos device. 

    Ford’s AI assistant debuts

    Ford is launching its assistant in the company’s app before a targeted 2027 release in its vehicles, with hosting managed by Google Cloud and the assistant itself built using off-the-shelf LLMs. As we noted in our coverage of the news, however, few details were offered around what drivers should expect from their experience with the assistant. 

    Caterpillar, Nvidia partner on automated construction equipment

    As part of the ever-present push for AI’s impact on the physical world, Caterpillar and Nvidia announced a pilot program, “Cat AI Assistant,” which was demonstrated at CES Wednesday. This system, coming to one of Caterpillar’s excavator vehicles, is happening alongside another project to use Nvidia’s Omniverse simulation resources to help with construction project planning and execution. 

    Hands-on with Clicks Communicator

    Image Credits:TechCrunch

    One of the buzziest reveals of the show is the debut phone from Clicks Technology, the $499 Communicator, which brings back BlackBerry vibes with its physical keyboard, plus a separate $79 slide-out physical keyboard that can be used with other devices.

    Check out our full rundown from the show floor here, but the Communicator makes a good first impression, per Consumer Editor Sarah Perez:

    “In our hands-on test, the phone felt good to hold — not too heavy or light, and was easy to grip. Gadway told me the company settled on the device’s final form after dozens of 3D-printed shapes. The winning design for the phone features a contoured back that makes it easy to pick up and hold.

    “The device’s screen is also somewhat elevated off the body, and its chin is curved up to create a recess that protects the keys when you place it face down.”

    Check out the Skylight Calendar 2

    Image Credits:Sarah Perez

    This family planning tool caught our eyes on the show floor, not just for its calendar and planning capabilities, but for its AI capabilities that are able to sync calendars from different sources, create new to-dos based off of messages or photos, appointment reminders, and more. Check out our full impressions here. 

    Boston Dynamics and Google partner on Atlas robots 

    Hyundai’s press conference focused on its robotics partnerships with Boston Dynamics, but the companies revealed that they’re working with Google’s AI research lab rather than competitors to train and operate existing Atlas robots, as well as a new iteration of the humanoid robot that was shown onstage. Transportation editor Kirsten Korosec has the full rundown. 

    Amazon’s AI-centric update with Alexa+ is getting the kind of push you’d expect at CES, with the company launching Alexa.com for Early Access customers looking to use the chatbot via their browsers, along with a similar, revamped bot-focused app. Consumer editor Sarah Perez has the details, along with news on Amazon’s revamp to Fire TV and new Artline TVs, which have their own Alexa+ push. 

    On the Ring front, consumer reporter Ivan Mehta runs through the many announcements, from fire alerts to an app store for third-party camera integration, and more. 

    Razer joins the AI deluge with Project AVA and Motoko 

    In the past, Razer has been all about ridiculous hardware at CES, from three-screen laptops to haptic gaming cushions to a mask that landed the company a federal fine. This year, its two attention-grabbing announcements were for Project Motoko, which aims to function similarly to smart glasses, but without the glasses. 

    Then there’s Project AVA, which puts the avatar of an AI companion on your desk. We’ll let you watch the concept video for yourself. 

    Lego Smart Bricks mark the company’s first CES appearance 

    Lego joined CES for the first time to hold a behind-closed-doors showcase of its Smart Play System, which includes bricks, tiles, and Minifigures that can all interact with each other and play sounds, with both the debut sets having a Star Wars theme. Senior writer Amanda Silberling has all the details here. 

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  • Amazon’s Very Good 4K UHD Blu-Ray Deal Is Back And Better

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    Good news! Amazon is doing its 3 for $33 4K UHD Blu-Ray sale again. If you’ve been wanting to build up a physical collection of your favorite movies (or grow your current collection), you should take advantage of this deal before stuff starts selling out.

    As spotted by deals guru Wario64, Amazon is once again offering up 4K UHD movies for just $11 each. The catch? You have to buy at least three for the deal to kick in. But, once you have three in your cart, you can just keep adding movies, and they each only cost $11. Want 7 4K UHD movies? That will be $77. That’s a heck of a deal considering a new 4K UHD movie can cost upwards of $20 or $30 normally.

    Before you start buying these movies, remember you’ll need a UHD player to watch any of these 4K UHD films. Your PS5 and Xbox Series X are solid UHD players, assuming they have disc slots and you are using the correct HDMI cable. You’ll also want a 4K TV, too. With that all out of the way, here are some of the newer UHD movies currently on sale on Amazon, as well as some classics.

    New Movies On Sale

    • F1 The Movie
    • Jurassic World Rebirth
    • Superman
    • Wicked
    • 1917
    • Megan 2.0
    • Nobody 2
    • Fall Guy
    • How To Train Your Dragon (2025)
    • Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
    • A Minecraft Movie
    • Nope

    Older Movies

    • The Maltese Falcon
    • American Pie
    • Twister
    • The Lost Boys
    • Purple Rain
    • The Blues Brothers
    • Van Helsing
    • Schindler’s List
    • Vertigo
    • Scarface
    • Harvey
    • The Matrix
    • The Shining
    • Animal House

    Who’s bothering with movie discs in 2026? Well, for starters, anyone who wants to actually have control over their media library and not be subject to the curatorial whims and constant price increases of streaming platforms. Also, solving the question of what to watch by walking over and staring at a shelf is so much more satisfying than scrolling an endless list of bad algorithmic recommendations.

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  • Amazon customers can now file a refund claim under $2.5 billion FTC settlement. Here’s how.

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    Amazon customers can now file a claim under its $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, which resolved allegations of deceptive enrollment practices in the retailer’s Prime shopping service. 

    As part of the September 2025 settlement, Amazon is offering $1.5 billion in refunds to eligible customers, as well as paying a $1 billion civil penalty. The FTC had alleged that Amazon duped customers into signing up for Prime and made it hard for customers to cancel their membership. 

    Amazon neither admitted nor denied the allegations as part of the settlement. Here’s what to know. 

    How do you file a claim in the Amazon Prime FTC settlement?

    Amazon customers should go to the settlement website to file their claim. Although millions of eligible customers will receive automatic payments through the settlement without filing a claim, some will need to submit one, the site notes.

    Customers eligible for automatic payments are those who signed up for Prime through what the FTC calls a “challenged enrollment flow,” including pages such as Amazon’s shipping selection page and its single-page checkout. Consumers who used three or fewer Prime benefits within a 12-month period are also due for refunds without submitting a claim. 

    Prime benefits include services such as free two-day shipping, Prime Video streaming and Amazon Music.

    If you signed up for Prime through a “challenged enrollment flow” between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025, and you used Prime benefits between three and 10 times in a 12-month period, you may need to file a claim to get money under the settlement.

    Eligible customers who need to file a claim will receive an email or a mailed notice, according to the settlement website. 

    How much money will Amazon customers receive?

    People who qualify can receive a refund of their Amazon Prime membership fees, up to $51, according to the settlement site.  

    However, some customers may see smaller amounts if, for instance, they signed up for a trial membership that charged less than the regular Prime fee, the site notes.

    When will you get the Amazon Prime refund? 

    Customers will be contacted by email or mail (postmarked by January 23) to inform them if they are eligible, according to the settlement site.

    Consumers will then have 180 days to submit a claim, and Amazon will review each claim within 30 days of receiving it. Payments should “follow shortly after approval of your claims form,” the site adds.

    How will the Amazon Prime refunds be issued?

    The refunds will be sent through PayPal, Venmo or mailed checks, according to the settlement site. People who file claims can specify their preferred payment method.

    Edited by

    Alain Sherter

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  • Everything announced at CES 2026

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    It’s the first week of a new year and there’s no time for the tech world to slowly ease back into things following the holidays. That’s because CES 2026 is in full swing, with all manner of companies descending on Las Vegas to reveal their latest innovations and what they’re planning to bring your way in the near future.

    Many of the Engadget crew are on the ground to check out as much of the new tech as possible. Of course, we’re keeping tabs on all of the major CES press conferences too. Samsung has already held its First Look presentation, which focuses on home products, while LG has shown off a wide array of TVs. Presentations from NVIDIA, Sony, Lego, Hyundai and others are yet to come.

    You can catch up on all of the big CES 2026 announcements (and some of the more offbeat gizmos that are being shown off at the event) right here. We’ll be keeping this story updated throughout the week.

    Micro RGB TVs

    Samsung’s 130-inch Micro RGB TV. (Devindra Hardawar for Engadget)

    Micro RGB is a term you can expect to hear about quite a bit in the coming months and years, especially when you’re shopping for your next TV. Micro RGB is a new tech that’s similar to Mini LED, though it uses red, green and blue LEDs instead of white backlights. Contrast ratios aren’t quite as high as those on Micro LED and OLED displays, since the pixels can’t be turned on and off individually. However, Micro RGB units are said to be brighter and more color accurate than TVs that use other display tech, in part because the LEDs in these screens offer smaller, more customizable dimming zones.

    We’re seeing more of these TVs pop up at CES 2026, including a mammoth 130-inch concept model that Samsung brought to Las Vegas. The company unveiled its first Micro RGB TV in August, — that’s a 115-inch, $29,999 model. This year, you can expect it to start offering Micro RGB TVs in 55-, 65- and 75-inch sizes. There are also 85-, 100- and 115-inch models on the way.

    LG revealed its first Micro RGB set at CES as well. The largest variant is 100 inches, but there are 86- and 75-inch models too. Elsewhere, LG showed off its latest Wallpaper TV, which is a 100-inch OLED display. We also got a look at LG’s new Gallery TV — The Gallery is the company’s take on Samsung’s Frame TV format.

    Other new TVs and OS updates

    Ember Artline TV.

    Ember Artline TV. (Amazon)

    We’ve got another competitor to The Frame, as Amazon has entered that scene with the Ember Artline TV. The 4K OLED model has Amazon Photos integration and you can choose from 2,000 pieces of free art to show on the screen. The Ember Artline can switch on or off automatically when someone enters or leaves the room.

    It runs on the Fire TV platform and (of course) there’s Alexa+ integration, along with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Wi-Fi 6. The Ember Artline is expected to start shipping this spring. It starts at $899 for the 55-inch model.

    The rounder redesigned Fire TV UI.

    The rounder redesigned Fire TV UI. (Amazon)

    Speaking of Fire TV, Amazon has revamped the platform’s user interface with rounded corners for show, movie and app tiles; a little more space for said tiles; and typography and color gradient changes. The company has reworked the platform’s codebase as well, and it says the Fire TV OS will deliver speed boosts of up to 20 to 30 percent. Amazon will start rolling out the updated UI next month.

    On the Google side of TV land, you can expect more Gemini-powered features. The company is bringing the ability to search Google Photos for certain moments and people to Google TV, along with the options to remix photos into different styles and create slideshows on the fly. The Veo and Nano Banana AI video and photo generation models are coming to Google TV as well. You can also expect the ability to adjust TV settings using your voice. These Gemini features are coming to Google TV-powered TCL models first, then other devices in the following months.

    Samsung

    Samsung's Music Studio 5 speakers at CES 2026.

    Samsung’s Music Studio 5 speakers at CES 2026. (Billy Steele for Engadget)

    Samsung being Samsung, the company had a lot more up its sleeve at CES than just TVs. In the leadup to the event, it announced its two new soundbars (we’re had some hands-on time with one of those), the stylish Music Studio speakers (we’ve got some IRL impressions of those), a bunch of monitors, the refreshed FreeStyle+ projector (we’ve checked that out too). It also announced plans to bring Google Photos to TVs.

    At the First Look showcase on Sunday, Samsung talked up “AI experiences everywhere. For everyone” (sigh). Here, we saw more TVs, such as the thin S95H OLED, which has a zero-gap mount that allows you to position the unit flush against a wall.

    First Look has long been focused on home products. Naturally, Samsung execs discussed some features for the company’s fridges, such as ​​recipe selection updates, AI cooling tech and Google Gemini-powered AI Vision that’s said to be able to recognize more items and help you figure out what you need to buy without having to manually take inventory. FoodNote, meanwhile, is a weekly summary that breaks down what has gone in and out of your fridge.

    Moreover, Samsung highlighted the Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Combo and its new AI wash cycle. With the new Air Dresser — which has an Auto Wrinkle Care feature — Samsung aims to do away with irons (thank you, Samsung). As for the Bespoke AI smart vacuum and mop, that can apparently keep an eye on your pets when you’re not home.

    LG

    LG's CLOiD robot.

    LG’s CLOiD robot. (LG)

    Likewise, LG brought other non-TV tech to CES. The company is shining the spotlight on its CLOiD robot. Like the far creepier-looking 1X Neo, the CLOiD is designed to help with household tasks such as starting laundry cycles, folding clothes, unloading the dishwasher and serving food. This appears to be more of a concept than something you’ll be able to buy anytime soon, but we should get a closer look at the CLOiD in person this week.

    The company also debuted the LG Sound Suite, a modular home audio system it developed in conjunction with Dolby to take on the likes of Sonos. Just ahead of CES, LG pulled back the curtain on a new batch of xboom speakers as well as some monitors and ultralight Gram laptops that are made with a material it’s calling Aerominum.

    L’Oreal

    A pair of transparent eye masks with wires and bulbs inside them.

    A pair of transparent eye masks with wires and bulbs inside them. (L’Oréal)

    L’Oreal often brings some interesting beauty tech to CES and the company did so again this year with a trio of gadgets. The LED Eye Mask uses red light and near-infrared light to address the likes of puffiness, discoloration and fine lines.

    The LED Face Mask seems to be a more pliable version of masks that we’ve seen from the likes of Dr. Dennis Gross, Omnilux, Therabody and Shark in recent years. However, it’s only in prototype form for now and it isn’t expected to hit the market until next year.

    The Light Straight + Multi-styler uses infrared light to help dry and style hair in similar fashion to L’Oreal’s AirLight Pro. It’s said to have sensors that employ “built-in proprietary algorithms and machine learning” so they can adapt to your gestures and “maximize individual experience.” L’Oreal claims that while traditional straighteners can operate at 400°F or higher (temperatures that can damage hair), its latest innovation “effectively straightens hair while never exceeding 320°F.” You can expect the Light Straight to arrive in 2027 as well.

    Laptops and desktops

    LG Gram Pro

    LG Gram Pro (Engadget)

    It’s CES, so of course we’re going to see a bunch of laptops and desktops. The majority of those will surely emerge after NVIDIA’s press conference on Monday evening, though we’ve already had a peek at LG’s Aerominum laptops.

    Mobile

    undefined

    Back at CES 2024, we got to try out a physical keyboard phone accessory from Clicks. Fast forward two years, and the brand is making its own Blackberry-esque phones, as well as a new physical phone keyboard accessory. The Android 16-based Clicks Communicator has a tactile keyboard with a fingerprint sensor in the spacebar, a 4-inch OLED display, a 3.5mm headphone jack (hooray!) and expandable microSD storage up to 2TB. You can reserve one now for $399 — the price will increase to $499 on February 27.

    As for the new accessory, Clicks is calling that the Power Keyboard. It connects to an iOS or Android phone via MagSafe or Qi2, and it can operate as a power bank in a pinch thanks to the 2,150 mAh battery. The Power Keyboard has Bluetooth functionality as well, so you can use it with devices like tablets, smart TVs and virtual reality headsets. Pre-orders are open now and the Power Keyboard is expected to ship in the spring. Early adopters can lock in a pre-order for $79 before the retail price jumps to $110.

    Marketing image of the Punkt MC03 phone. A dark UI shows text shortcuts for common apps and tasks.

    The Punkt MC03 phone. (Punkt)

    Those who prefer their mobile phones to have fewer bells and whistles might be interested in the latest model from Punkt. The MC03 is a nifty-looking touchscreen model that runs on the privacy- and security-centric AphyOS, which is based on the Android Open Source Project. It has a UI that borrows a page out of the Light Phone’s playbook, though you can still install any Android app. The MC03 will hit European markets this month for €699 / CHF699 / £610. There’s a mandatory subscription, however. You get a year of access included with a phone purchase, then it’s a €10 / CHF10 / £9 monthly fee (paying for a long-term plan up front can reduce the cost by up to 60 percent).

    AI

    Amazon introduced Alexa.com to Alexa+ Early Access customers.

    Amazon introduced Alexa.com to Alexa+ Early Access customers. (Amazon)

    No prizes for guessing that there’s going to be a ton of AI-related news at CES this year. Amazon, for one, announced that it’s rolling out a web-based version of Alexa+. That means you won’t necessarily need to have an Amazon device to try out the generative AI-powered assistant. However, Alexa+ Early Access customers are getting first dibs on the web version.

    Two Sweekar devices are pictured on a table, one wearing a pink and blue snowboarder outfit and the other (behind it) wearing a cowboy hat and outfit

    Two Sweekar devices are pictured on a table, one wearing a pink and blue snowboarder outfit and the other (behind it) wearing a cowboy hat and outfit (Karissa Bell for Engadget)

    There are a boatload of AI-powered devices on the CES show floor too. One that we saw early on is a Tamagotchi-style virtual pet from a startup called Takway. The Sweekar will remember your interactions with it (you’ll need to feed and play with the pet to keep it healthy and happy). Once it’s all grown up, the Sweekar will head off on virtual adventures and tell you about its exploits when it “returns.” Takway will soon start a Kickstarter campaign for the  Sweekar, which will likely cost between $100 and $150.

    The Fraimic art display at CES

    The Fraimic art display at CES (Amy Skorheim for Engadget)

    We also saw the Fraimic, an E Ink display that can tap into OpenAI to generate images. There’s no subscription for the Fraimic (which costs $399 for the standard size, which has a 13-inch display) and you get 100 AI-generated images per year included with your purchase. Pre-orders are open now and the Fraimic is expected to start shipping in this spring.

    MindClip held in a hand.

    MindClip held in a hand. (Daniel Cooper for Engadget)

    Some companies still trying to make wearable AI devices happen. SwitchBot has a wearable mic called the AI MindClip, which can seemingly record and transcribe everything you say (no, thank you!). Plaid, meanwhile, brought its NotePin follow up to the dance. This time around, the NotePin S has a button that you can push to record conversations. You can also press the button to flag key moments for an AI-generated summary to focus on. The NotePin S is available now for $179, should you be enticed to buy such a thing.

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  • Stack Amazon and P&G Promotions for Up to $30 Rebate on $50+ Purchase

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    Stack Amazon and P&G Promotions

    This article contains Amazon affiliate links.

    Amazon has a promotion for household and everyday items, offering a $15 credit when you spend $50 or more. Many of these items are from P&G, which also has a promotion of its own. You can get a $15 rebate when you spend $50 or more. Since there are plenty of overlapping items in the two promotions, you can possibly get $30 back on a $50 purchase by stacking them. Check out the details below.

    Offers

    • Amazon Promotion
      • Amazon is offering a $15 Amazon credit when you buy $50 or more of select items, including many P&G items. Eligible items include Bounty, Tide, Charmin, Pampers, Downy, and more. Use promo code STOCKUPSAVE.
      • Offer Page 
    • P&G Promotion
      • P&G is offering a rebate as a $15 Visa Card when you buy $50 (or $5 when you spend $20) in select P&G items, including Tide, Downy, Gain, Bounce, Dawn, Crest and more. Travel/trial size products are not eligible for either offer. Valid 1/2/26 – 2/28/26. Limit 1 per household.
      • Offer Page

    Guru’s Wrap-up

    This are good promotions that we see every few months. Looks for items that are included in both promotions. 

     

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this article. Using links on the site for Amazon purchases is the best way you can support the site as you normally can’t earn cash back for these purchases. But, you should still check shopping portals such as Rakuten, TopCashback, RebatesMe, ShopBack and others for possible cashback. Your support is always greatly appreciated!

     

    HT: Doctor of Credit

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  • Founders and CEOs cashed in more than $16 billion of stock last year. Here are the top 5 biggest sellers.

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    • Insider stock sales amounted to $16 billion in 2025, according to data from Washington Service.

    • Jeff Bezos cashed in nearly $6 billion of Amazon stock throughout the year.

    • Detailed below are the top five sellers of 2025, ranked by proceeds.

    2025 was — on the whole — a good time to cash in profits on stock positions, considering the S&P 500 finished 16% higher.

    The gains were even bigger in tech, particularly for companies with their wagons hitched to the red-hot AI trade, which lifted the likes of Alphabet and Nvidia to market-beating performance.

    Data from Washington Service shows that insider stock sales totaled $16 billion last year. The biggest seller of all was Jeff Bezos, who liquidated $5.7 billion.

    Listed below are the details around Bezos, as well as the four other biggest sellers across the market. Note that nearly all of the sales tallied for this exercise were part of established plans, with purchases happening at pre-signaled intervals.

    Jeff Bezos

    BezosAlexander Tamargo/Getty Images for America Business Forum

    Company: Amazon

    Total shares sold: 25,000,000

    Total value sold: $5.7 billion

    The Amazon founder turned chairman turned many heads in 2025 with his high-profile wedding to media personality Lauren Sanchez, which pumped roughly $1.1 billion into Venice Italy’s local economy.

    During the year, though, Bezos also offloaded 25,000,000 shares of Amazon stock, taking home $5.7 billion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reveals that his most recent stock sale netted $3.5 billion. While the billionaire’s net worth increased by $15 billion in 2025, he still slipped one notch on the list of the world’s wealthiest people.

    Safra Katz

    Oracle CEO Safra Katz at an event.
    Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

    Company: Oracle

    Total shares sold: 12,500,000

    Total value sold: $2,531,343,305

    Oracle enjoyed an overall strong year, despite a lackluster third-quarter earnings report that pulled the stock down in December. Former CEO Safra Katz exercised some stock options in the first half of the year, freeing up $1.8 billion.

    She ended the year as the company’s top insider seller, and still holds a position of 1.1 million shares.

    Michael Dell

    Michael Dell.
    President Trump previously mentioned Michael Dell as an individual involved in the TikTok deal.ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images

    Company: Dell Technologies

    Total shares sold: 16,253,968

    Total value sold: $2.2 billion

    Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell sold more than sixteen million shares, totaling $2.2 billion. His most recent sale netted $1.9 billion.

    Dell and his wife Susan were in the news recently, investing $6.25 billion into “Trump Accounts,” a move that inspired fellow billionaire Ray Dalio to do the same.

    Jensen Huang

    Jensen Huang
    Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

    Company: Nvidia

    Total shares sold: 6,000,000

    Total value sold: $1,048,586,165

    Huang offloaded a total of 6,000,000 shares of Nvidia stock in 2025, resulting in $1 billion of proceeds. His highly profitable year helped him rise four places on the world’s wealthiest list, rising from 12th place to 9th.

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  • Amazon’s base Kindle is $20 off right now

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    The latest entry-level Kindle ereader is on sale . This is a nice discount of $20. It’s not a record-low price, but it’s certainly a budget-friendly way to keep that .

    This made our list of the , and for good reason. It’s an iconic device that gets the job done. It doesn’t have much by way of modern bells and whistles, but it ships with 16GB of storage and comes in two snazzy colorways.

    Amazon

    The build is compact and durable. It’s also light, which makes it easy to pack and easy to hold up with one hand. It allows access to the vast Kindle library and this deal comes with three months of Kindle Unlimited. That’s sort of like Netflix, but for books. The selection isn’t comprehensive, but I’ve always found something to read when in a pinch.

    This is an entry-level device. There’s no color screen and no option to use a stylus. The battery, however, does last around six weeks with regular use. This is a metric I can personally confirm. It seems like I barely charge mine and it’s always ready to go.

    The only major downside here is that this is one of those Amazon devices that forces ads on you. There is a version without lockscreen ads, but it costs more. I never really found them to be all that intrusive, given that they are tethered to the lockscreen and mostly advertise books.

    Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

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  • Pick up a four-pack of AirTags for only $65 right now

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    Most Apple products are pretty expensive, but some of the most affordable (and useful) ones are AirTags. The Bluetooth trackers are priced pretty reasonably even when not on sale, but they can be a steal if you can get them on a discount — like right now. A four pack of AirTags is on sale for $65 at Amazon, which is only a few dollars more than the record-low price we saw during Black Friday a couple of months ago.

    Apple

    That’s a near-record low price on the Bluetooth trackers. 

    $65 at Amazon

    AirTags can be useful for people who travel frequently, helping you to keep track of essentials like your passport as well as a way to keep tabs on luggage while you’re on the go. If you do purchase some AirTags, we have some recommendations for useful accessories to go along with them, such as different styles of cases to best attach the trackers to different types of items. These are worth looking over and adding to your shopping cart in order to make the most of the product.

    AirTags have an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance and their replaceable batteries should last for about a year. They can also support Precision Finding, which gives more exact directions to a lost item, when paired with most models after the iPhone 11. Up to five people can share an AirTag’s location, which is helpful for families or large travel groups.

    If you really only need one AirTag, that configuration is also on sale at Amazon right now — it’s 34 percent off and down to just $19 a pop.

    Image for the mini product module

    Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

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    Anna Washenko

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  • 4 A.I. Themes That Defined 2025 and Are Shaping What Comes Next

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    From infrastructure battles to physical-world intelligence, A.I.’s next chapter is already taking shape. Unsplash

    In November, ChatGPT turned three, with a global user base rapidly approaching one billion. At this point, A.I. is no longer an esoteric acronym that needs explaining in news stories. It has become a daily utility, woven into how we work, learn, shop and even love. The field is also far more crowded than it was just a few years ago, with competitors emerging at every layer of the stack.

    Over the past year, conversation around A.I. has taken on a more complicated tone. Some argue that consumer chatbots are nearing a plateau. Others warn that startup valuations are inflating into a bubble. And, as always, there’s the persistent anxiety that A.I. may one day outgrow human control altogether.

    So what comes next? Much of the industry’s energy is now focused on the infrastructure side of A.I. Big Tech companies are racing to solve the hardware bottlenecks that limit today’s systems, while startups experiment with applications far beyond chatbots. At the same time, researchers are beginning to look past language models altogether, toward models that can reason about the physical world.

    Below are the key themes Observer has identified over the past year of covering this space. Many of these developments are still unfolding and are likely to shape the field well into 2026 and beyond.

    A.I. chips

    Even as OpenAI faces growing competition at the model level, its primary chip supplier, Nvidia, remains in a league of its own. Demand for its GPUs continues to outstrip supply, and no rival has yet meaningfully disrupted its dominance. Traditional semiconductor companies such as AMD and Intel are racing to claw back market share, while some of Nvidia’s largest customers are designing their own chips to reduce dependence on a single supplier.

    Google’s long-in-the-making Tensor Processing Unit, or TPU, has reportedly found its first major customer, Meta, marking a milestone after years of internal use. Meta, Microsoft and Amazon are also deep into developing in-house chips of their own—Meta’s Artemis, Microsoft’s Maia and Amazon’s Trainium.

    World models

    To borrow from philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, the limits of language are the limits of our world. Today’s A.I. systems have grown remarkably fluent in human language—especially English—but language captures only a narrow slice of intelligence. That limitation has prompted some researchers to argue that large language models alone can never reach human-level understanding.

    Meta’s longtime chief A.I. scientist, Yann LeCun, has been among the most vocal critics. “We’re never going to get to human-level A.I. by just training on text,” he said during a Harvard talk in September.

    That belief is fueling a push toward so-called “world models,” which aim to teach machines how the physical world works—how objects move, how space is structured, and how cause and effect unfold. LeCun is now leaving Meta to build such a system himself. Fei-Fei Li’s startup, World Labs, unveiled its first model in November after nearly two years of development. Google DeepMind has released early versions through its Genie projects, and Nvidia is betting heavily on physical A.I. with its Cosmos models.

    Language-specific A.I.

    While pioneering researchers look beyond language, linguistic barriers remain one of A.I.’s most practical challenges. More than half of the internet’s content is written in English, skewing training data and limiting performance in other languages.

    In response, developers around the world are building models rooted in local cultures and linguistic norms. In Japan, companies such as Sanaka and NTT are developing LLMs tailored to Japanese language and values. In India, Krutrim is working to support the country’s vast linguistic diversity. France’s Mistral AI has positioned its Le Chat assistant as a European alternative to ChatGPT. Earlier this year, Microsoft also issued a call for proposals to expand training data across European languages.

    A.I. wearables

    It’s only natural that there’s a consumer hardware angle of A.I. This year brought a wave of experiments in wearable A.I.—some met with curiosity, others with discomfort.

    Friend, a startup selling an A.I. pendant, sparked backlash after a New York City subway campaign framed its product as a substitute for human companionship. In December, Meta acquired Limitless, the maker of a $99 wearable that records and summarizes conversations. Earlier in the year, Amazon bought Bee, which produces a $50 bracelet designed to transcribe daily activity and generate summaries.

    Meta is also developing a new line of smart glasses with EssilorLuxottica, the company behind Ray-Ban and Oakley. In July, Mark Zuckerberg went so far as to suggest that people without A.I.-enhanced glasses could eventually face a “significant cognitive disadvantage.” Meanwhile, OpenAI is quietly collaborating with former Apple design chief Jony Ive on a mysterious hardware project of its own. This all suggests the next phase of A.I. may be something we wear, not just something we type into.

    4 A.I. Themes That Defined 2025 and Are Shaping What Comes Next

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    Sissi Cao

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  • 4MP Solar Security Cameras Outdoor Wireless 4-Cam Kit for $179 on Amazon

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    4MP Solar Security Cameras Outdoor Wireless 4-Cam Kit for $179

    This article contains Amazon affiliate links.

    Amazon has a 4MP Solar Security Cameras Outdoor Wireless-4-cam kit, No Monthly Fee, Colorful Night Vision, 360° PTZ Viewing, Centralized Control, Support Dual Band WiFi Router for Home Surveillance System on sale for $179.19. Must enter promo code ULPDX3NC at checkout. Shipping is free.

    You can save even more by using the right credit card. The best option is the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Card which earns 6% cash back. The Amazon Prime Visa card will earn 5% cash back on these purchases. Y

    Keep in mind that Amazon offers free shipping on orders of $35+, or free next-day shipping on all orders with Amazon Prime. Prime members can also share benefits with a Household member. Students and all 18-25 year olds as well as EBT/SNAP/Medicaid cardholders can get a discounted Prime membership.

    About this item:

    • No Monthly Fees & Protect Privacy–Say goodbye to monthly subscriptions! All video recordings are encrypted and stored directly on the SEHMUA hub without cloud, and no hidden costs. With 64GB of built-in local storage (expandable up to 256GB), enjoy up to 4 months of recording history. Even if the outdoor security cameras are damaged or stolen, your data remains protected within them.
    • Truly Wireless & Forever Powered by the Sun–No messy wiring or power outlets required! Each camera features an adjustable solar panel providing continuous power. Just 3 hours of direct sunlight for all day long. Built with an IP65 weatherproof rating, these cameras withstand harsh weather—rain or shine.
    • Easy Setup & Stable Connection — Skip Complex Wi-Fi Pairing! Sync your outdoor security cameras with one “sync” click. The SEHMUA hub plugs directly into your router (supports 2.4GHz/5GHz router) using the included 3-meter Ethernet cable, ensuring broad coverage and a rock-solid connection.
    • Crystal-Clear 4MP Video at Day & Night–Experience sharp, detailed footage with 4MP high-definition resolution day and night. 4X Zoom in features let you identify license plates from 32 feet away. Built-in spotlight for full-color night vision at 26 feet away when it gets dark, which makes things at night as clear as they are during the day.
    • Centralized Control & Remote Access–Monitor four security cameras at once on a single phone screen—no more switching between feeds frequently. When you are out of the home, you can access live streams remotely via the Eseecloud app and check in on your home anytime, anywhere.
    • Instant Motion Alerts & 360° Coverage–Once the outdoor camera detects moving objects, it sends instant alerts to your phone, even if it is 32 feet away. With 355° pan and 90° tilt, manually control the solar security camera’s view from the app to track movement in every direction—wherever the action goes, your camera captures.

     

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this article. Using links on the site for Amazon purchases is the best way you can support the site as you normally can’t earn cash back for these purchases. But, you should still check shopping portals such as Rakuten, TopCashback, RebatesMe, ShopBack and others for possible cashback. Your support is always greatly appreciated!

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    DDG

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  • MacKenzie Scott Gave Away $7.2B in 2025—Here’s Who Benefited Most

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    MacKenzie Scott’s donations this year centered heavily on education. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

    MacKenzie Scott keeps her giving largely out of the public eye—allowing recipients to decide whether to disclose funding amounts, awarding mostly unsolicited grants, and acknowledging her philanthropy only through annual or semi-annual online posts. The one thing that isn’t subtle about her donations? Their size.

    Scott gave a staggering $7.2 billion in 2025, the philanthropist revealed in a blog post earlier this month. The annual update brings her total giving over the past six years to more than $26 billion. It also places her just behind fellow billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates in lifetime philanthropic giving.

    Scott, whose estimated $30 billion net worth is largely tied to her Amazon stake from her former marriage to Jeff Bezos, pledged in 2019 to donate the bulk of this fortune to charity. If this year’s totals are any indication, she is accelerating toward that goal: her 2025 giving far outpaced the $2.6 billion and $2.1 billion she donated in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

    “This dollar total will likely be reported in the news, but any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into communities this year,” Scott wrote in her blog post. She pointed to the $471 billion donated to U.S. charities in 2020, nearly a third of which came from gifts under $5,000, as evidence of the power of collective philanthropy.

    Of the nearly 200 organizations supported by Scott in 2025, roughly 120 were repeat grantees. The largest single grant went to Forests, People, Climate (FPC), a collaborative charitable effort focused on reversing tropical deforestation, which received $90 million—boosting its total funding to more than $1 billion. “Now is the time for climate philanthropy to take action with vision and courage: to embrace the potential of forests and back the bold leaders best suited to protect them,” said Lindsey Allen, executive director of FPC, in a statement announcing the gift earlier this month.

    The second-largest donation went to another environmental organization, Ocean Resilience & Climate Alliance, while a slew of other major gifts flowed toward education. She donated $70 million to both UNCF and Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and also gave $63 million each to Prairie View A&M University, Morgan State University and Howard University. Other notable education-focused recipients included the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and Native Forward Scholars Fund, which received $70 million and $50 million, respectively.

    As a result, education emerged as the largest beneficiary of Scott’s 2025 giving, accounting for 18 percent of the total. Organizations focused on economic security and funding and regranting each received 13 percent, while environmental causes accounted for 12 percent. Additional funding went to groups working in equity and justice, democratic processes, health, and arts and culture.

    Besides the sheer scale of her philanthropy, Scott’s approach stands out for its unrestricted nature, giving grantees full control over how funds are used. That flexibility has been widely welcomed, according to a recent study from the Center for Effective Philanthropy, which found that nearly 90 percent of surveyed organizations reported improved long-term financial sustainability as a result of Scott’s donations. The median grant size was $5 million.

    Scott has attributed her generosity to the kindness she has received from others. “Whose generosity did I think of every time I made every one of the thousands of gifts I’ve been able to give?” she wrote. “It was the local dentist who offered me free dental work when he saw me securing a broken tooth with denture glue in college. It was the college roommate who found me crying, and acted on her urge to loan me a thousand dollars to keep me from having to drop out in my sophomore year.”

    The roommate, Jeannie Tarkenton, later founded Funding U, a lending company offering loans to low-income students without the need for co-signers. Scott has since earmarked funds for the company, she noted in her recent blog post, describing how she “[jumped] at the chance to be one of the people who supported her dreams of supporting students just as she had once supported me.”

    Scott’s financial contributions to Funding U will take the form of an investment rather than a donation. Alongside her philanthropic giving, she announced last year that she plans to pursue for-profit investments in “mission-aligned ventures” aimed at addressing challenges such as affordable housing and access to health care.

    MacKenzie Scott Gave Away $7.2B in 2025—Here’s Who Benefited Most

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    Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly

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  • Amazon: Spend $50+ on Select Household Products, Get $15 Credit

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    Amazon Deal for Select Household Products

    This article contains Amazon affiliate links.

    Amazon has a new promotion for select household products. You can get a $15 Amazon credit when you spend $50 or more on eligible products that are listed in the promotion page.

    Offer Details

    Spend $50+ and get $15 credit. Here’s how:

    1. Add $50+ worth of items from the products listed in promotion page.
    2. When you’re done shopping, select Go to Cart.
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    You can save even more by using the right credit card. The best option is the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Card which earns 6% cash back.  Another good option is purchasing Amazon gift cards at Staples or Office Depot with a Chase Ink Business Cash card, so you can earn 5X Ultimate Rewards. Also check out these Shop with Points discounts for even more savings.

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    Keep in mind that Amazon offers free shipping on orders of $35+, or free next-day shipping on all orders with Amazon Prime (get 30-day free trial). Prime members can also share benefits with a Household member. Students and all 18-25 year olds as well as EBT/SNAP/Medicaid cardholders can get a discounted Prime membership.

    Offer Terms

    • Offer only applies to products sold by Amazon
    • Products sold by third-party sellers or other Amazon entities will not qualify for this offer, even if “fulfilled by Amazon.com” or “Prime Eligible”.
    • Offer does not apply to digital content.
    • Offer good while supplies last.
    • Items must be purchased in a single order and shipped at the same speed to a single address.

     

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this article. Using links on the site for Amazon purchases is the best way you can support the site as you normally can’t earn cash back for these purchases. But, you should still check shopping portals such as Rakuten, TopCashback, RebatesMe, ShopBack and others for possible cashback. Your support is always greatly appreciated!

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    DDG

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  • Alex Ryan’s ‘Zina Bina’ teaches children the value of money early on   

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    In the first installment of the “Zina Bina Financial Literacy Series,” readers follow Zina Bina, an imaginative and curious young girl, on an adventure filled with fun, discovery, and financial smarts. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Often in life, there are many things we either never learn about, learn about too late, or learn the hard way. Although not regularly taught in school, there are topics that are essential to understanding in order to make informed, responsible decisions.

    One of these topics is financial literacy. Author and mother Alex Ryan has released her first children’s series book, “Zina Bina Learns the Value of Money,” for this exact reason.

    Illustrated by Marvin Piwowarski and written by Ryan, the 56-page, hardcover book helps children understand the value of money through engaging storytelling, relatable lessons, and colorful illustrations.

    Statistics show that children and teens have low confidence and knowledge in personal finance, with a significant gap existing between the desire for education and the availability of formal instruction, according to Annuity. Most financial education currently happens at home, though many parents feel unequipped to teach the subject effectively. 

    In the first installment of the “Zina Bina Financial Literacy Series,” readers follow Zina Bina, an imaginative and curious young girl, on an adventure filled with fun, discovery, and financial smarts. Through playful storytelling, relatable scenarios, and whimsical illustrations, children are invited to learn about saving, spending, sharing, and growing money in a positive, empowering way.

    Piwowarski brings Zina Bina’s world to life with bright, expressive artwork that enhances these lessons and sparks imagination. Together, the storytelling and visuals create an engaging tool for families and classrooms alike.

    Ryan says financial education isn’t just for adults, and by introducing key concepts like budgeting, delayed gratification, and value creation early, children are better equipped to build healthy financial habits and self-confidence as they grow.

    “Zina Bina Learns the Value of Money” transforms what can feel like “grown-up talk” into joyful, kid-friendly experiences that make learning feel natural, not intimidating.

    “Children are naturally inquisitive, and money is a part of their world long before adults realize it,” Ryan said. “This book gives families and educators a joyful, relatable way to start important conversations about money, self-control, and making thoughtful choices.”

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Zina Bina’s Origin

    Alex’s daughter Zahrya Toregano inspired Zina Bina’s origin when she was around five or six years old, according to Ryan.

    “Zahrya’s energy and spirit around that time were vibrant. When she was younger, she had such a big personality and a lot of energy,” she said. “She was just a bubbly, happy, joyful kid bouncing all over the place, and she had big, thick, bouncy hair, which is why Zina Bina has thick hair as well. I said to her one day, ‘Girl, you look like a book character,’ and that kind of got me thinking.”

    Ryan started brainstorming the idea in 2011-2012 by calling her daughter “Rina-Bina”, which got her started on the pilot stages of what is now Zina Bina. Ryan said she became bust with life and not put much else thought into it until last year, when she received signs making her want to bring back the book series.

    A couple of years back, she says she began to dive deep into her financial education journey, simply because life had been a little challenging for her throughout the years due to finances and not having the full knowledge or information about financial literacy.

    “My mom and dad did the best they could with what they had when I was growing up, so they gave it to us based on what they were able to in a way they knew how to give to their children,” she said. “But it was so much that I feel like they missed something, and we made mistakes.”

    Ryan says she made a lot of financial mistakes, and her life became extremely expensive for a while due to her lack of knowledge on a lot of things.

    “Raising a child as a single mom struggling with finances, after a while, it takes a toll on you,” she said. “I just knew it had to be more to life than struggle, I’m seeing people on TV, hearing interviews, living their lives successfully, going on vacations, and I’m saying to myself, ‘what’s their secret?”

    This sparked the financial deep dive into financial education and literacy with her asking herself, how can she mash up her and her daughter in one? Thus, the creation of Zina Bina was born. Ryan says she took her daughter’s energy and her own journey and cultivated the branding of this book character.

    “All the information I’m learning now is great, but what if I had it when I was younger?” she asked herself. “What if my parents knew this stuff or were able to teach it to us in a practical way that we would enjoy and understand at the ages of four and five?”

    Ryan said she wanted to keep kids engaged and captivate them, and they do not even realize they’re learning about the concepts of money. She also says it’s important to begin a foundation because she’s aware there are a lot of financial literacy books out there, but few that tell it in a way children can understand.

    “We have to let kids know what to do with the money, but we first have to start by letting them understand what money is,” she said. “Why should we value money? How should we feel about money, because it starts at the root of the foundation and how you build your relationship with money determines how you use it, manage it, and how to deal with it in life moving forward.”

    Zina Bina, Beyond, & Advice

    When parents buy the book for their children and read them, Ryan wants them to understand although money is an abstract concept, that it doesn’t have to be taboo.

    “People don’t talk about money, especially with their kids. It’s like we don’t talk about finance in the house, but there are ways we can break it down to our children to be able to introduce the concept to them at an early age to the point they can get it and understand it,” she said. “Even if they don’t grasp the entire concept, they grasp it enough to understand. We’re trying to build financially wise, confident, financially healthy adults, and it starts from childhood.”

    Additionally, once Ryan is done with her financial literacy series of Zina Bina, she says she wants the character to branch out and do other things.

    “Everybody wants to see Zina Bina do other things like ride a bike, and eventually her character will grow into a more expansive, dynamic character,” she said. “I felt like the financial literacy series was extremely important, especially in today’s time with all the economical struggles. We don’t want to keep repeating history and breaking the cycle begins with our children.”

    As far as advice for parents out there who may not agree or are unsure on how to discuss to their children about finances, Ryan says she didn’t always know she needed the information because as adults, we think we know “everything.”

    “We think we know enough to be able to teach and raise our kids to be financially responsible and responsible adults, but we have to lean into the fact there’s always room to grow and there’s always more knowledge and information we can gain to be able to educate ourselves,” she said.

    As a single mom, Ryan says her advice to other single parents is to not shelter your kids and think they may not understand.

    “Sometimes, we don’t teach our kids certain things because we think they’re too young to handle it or they won’t understand. I want my kid’s foundation to be so solid because she was aware of things,” she said. “You can’t shelter kids from things because you’re afraid of what they may or may not be able to handle.”

    Having hard conversations with your kids and teaching them how to have those types of conversations is extremely important in the development of that child, Ryan said.

    “We can’t be afraid to have these conversations with our kids, and you have to nurture the information with them as well,” she said. “You need to nurture the information too and not just leave it there. Give them practical lessons and examples, and be with them in that space so they can grasp it in the correct way.”

    Also, Ryan says she invites parents to skim through their last three to six months of their bank account/statements and highlight the repetition, which will tell you where you’re spending your money and if all that money is going out and none of it is being saved or invested.

    “If all that money is going out and none of it is being saved or invested, then it’s time for a conversation,” she said. “You must tell yourself this isn’t going to get me to the place in life where I can create generational wealth. Look at your own practices and life and scan that to see if you’re struggling.”

    Ryan also says she had her daughter sit and watch her invest in stocks. Zahrya even has her login, where her mother requests her to log in at least once a week and see what the numbers are doing.

    “It’s to see how we’re gaining and to see how we’re losing. It’s to familiarize herself with it, or when I go to the bank, I take her with me,” she said. “Walk your child through the steps at the bank, let them watch you, even if it may go over their head a little bit, but kids are resilient.”

    Additionally, the second book in the series is complete and will be released sometime in Spring 2026. In the next five years, Ryan says she sees Zina Bina as a household name, a franchise.

    “I see her doing all the things I see her being in. On her Instagram, she already has animations, talks, and audio. She bounces on money balloons and goes on rockets,” she said. More will continue in this book series, and we want to build an entire world around her with apparel, party packs, dolls, animation, TV shows, etc.”

    The book is now available for order through all major platforms where books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and Walmart.com.

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    Isaiah Singleton

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  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 128 GB WiFi Android Tablet with S Pen and AI Assist for $629.99 on Amazon

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    Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 128 GB WiFi Android Tablet, Large Display, Durable, Slim, Light, High Performance, Long Battery Life, S Pen for Note-Taking, AI...

    Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 128 GB WiFi Android Tablet with S Pen and AI Assist for $629.99

    This article contains Amazon affiliate links.

    Amazon has the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 128 GB WiFi Android Tablet with S Pen and AI Assist on sale for $629.99. This is the lowest price ever for this item. Shipping is free.

    You can save even more by using the right credit card. The best option is the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Card which earns 6% cash back. The Amazon Prime Visa card will earn 5% cash back on these purchases. You can also get 5% cash back with the Chase Freedom Flex card this quarter. Also check out these Shop with Points discounts for even more savings.

    Keep in mind that Amazon offers free shipping on orders of $35+, or free next-day shipping on all orders with Amazon Prime. Prime members can also share benefits with a Household member. Students and all 18-25 year olds as well as EBT/SNAP/Medicaid cardholders can get a discounted Prime membership.

    About this item:

    • SLIM DESIGN. SERIOUS POWER: At just 5.5mm thin, this sleek tablet delivers uncompromising power and productivity in a portable profile that slips easily into your backpack and it is ready to go wherever your busy day takes you.
    • BRIGHTER FOR BETTER VISIBILITY: Galaxy Tab S11 puts brilliance on display. With an 11″ screen² you get all the crystal-clear space needed for maximum productivity. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is simply crisp and captivating.
    • SNAPPIER MULTITASKING, SMOOTHER WORKFLOWS: Built to be your work and play powerhouse, Galaxy Tab S11 has a 3nm MediaTek processor that can handle multitasking with ease, whether you are streaming in 4K on the couch, or powering through projects on the go.
    • STANDS UP TO THE UNEXPECTED: Wherever your day takes you, your Galaxy Tab S11 won’t let a little water or dust hold you back. With an IP68 durability rating,³ it’s made to stand up to the unexpected, even 1.5 meters of fresh water.
    • SUMMARIZE IN A SNAP: Capture ideas in meetings or brainstorming and skip the cleanup. Note Assist⁵ on Galaxy Tab S11 summarizes and formats them with Galaxy AI,¹ keeping everything neatly organized so you can find what you need in seconds.
    • HAND-DRAWN SKETCHES TO PROFESSIONAL MOCK-UPS: Have an idea in mind but not the artistic skills to match? Just sketch it out on the large display of your Galaxy Tab S11 and let Drawing Assist⁶ transform it into a polished creation.
    • SEE IT, SHARE IT AND GET STREAMLINED ASSISTANCE: Curious about something you see? Open Gemini Live, then screenshare or point your camera at it for information and on-the-spot assistance.⁷
    • IMPROVED SHAPE. MORE PRECISION: While Galaxy Tab S11 is redefining the way that you work and play, the improved S Pen is just an extension of that productivity and creativity. The hexagonal and cone-shaped S Pen creates a natural writing experience.
    • POWER THAT KEEPS GOING: From streaming your favorite series to tackling a long day of creative projects, with Galaxy Tab S11 you can enjoy up to 18 hours of power⁸ to keep you going day to night.

     

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this article. Using links on the site for Amazon purchases is the best way you can support the site as you normally can’t earn cash back for these purchases. But, you should still check shopping portals such as Rakuten, TopCashback, RebatesMe, ShopBack and others for possible cashback. Your support is always greatly appreciated!

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    DDG

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  • MacKenzie Scott’s close relationship with Toni Morrison long before Amazon put her on the path give more than $1 billion to HBCUs | Fortune

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    Before MacKenzie Scott published her first novel or helped shape Amazon in its early days as an online book seller, she found mentorship and guidance from one of America’s most acclaimed writers.

    Scott credits author and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison not only with shaping her writing, but in helping her find her footing early in her career. Morrison, who was Scott’s creative writing professor at Princeton University, put Scott on a path to publish her first novel and get one of her first jobs out of school, where she met now ex-husband Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.

    “This writer that I admired so much also turned out to be such a gifted and devoted teacher,” Scott said of Morrison in a 2017 Princeton University interview. “She has given me a real example of a life of passionate devotion to more than one calling.”

    Scott has certainly had multiple callings. In addition to being a novelist and early contributor to Amazon, Scott, worth about $40 billion, is a prominent philanthropist. In 2025 alone, she donated $7.1 billion to nonprofits, and has given away more than $26 billion since 2019. She’s a signatory of the Giving Pledge, devoted to giving away the majority of her wealth during her lifetime.

    More than $700 million of Scott’s donations this year have gone to historically Black colleges and universities, at a time when tech leaders like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have pulled back from funding DEI initiatives. With about $500 million given to HBCUs in 2020, Scott’s contributions to Black higher-ed institutions total more than $1.2 billion. These grants are unrestricted, meaning universities can do with the money as they see fit.

    Some of Scott’s contributions have resulted in homages to her old mentor, who died in 2019: In February 2022, Howard University announced the creation of the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities position using Scott’s $3 million donation to the college.

    Toni Morrison’s influence on MacKenzie Scott

    Scott and Morrison, having met more than 30 years ago at Princeton, worked together closely, with Morrison serving as Scott’s senior thesis advisor. The author called Scott “one of the best students I’ve ever had in my creative-writing classes . . . really one of the best.”

    “She was an amazingly supportive teacher, really good at bringing out the best and guiding you through that [writing] process and very supportive after I left school too,” Scott told American talk show host Charlie Rose in a 2013 interview.

    The two kept in touch in the years following Scott’s 1992 graduation. Morrison was instrumental in helping the philanthropist publish her first book, introducing Scott to her agent Amanda Urban. When Scott published her debut novel, The Testing of Luther Albright, in 2005, Morrison wrote a blurb for the cover of the book.

    In letters to Morrison, excerpted by The New York Times, Scott shared her struggles as a recent graduate, waitressing in New York.

    “I guess the only way I will find out what will not work for me in life is by trying it,” she wrote. “I found myself with unpredictable and small chunks of time during which I either collapsed from exhaustion and frustration, or ruminated over the excruciating monotony of making and selling sandwiches, and worried about how I might pay my rent with the nickels they gave me in exchange for my ennui.”

    She soon got an opportunity to work at the hedge fund D.E. Shaw, and was interviewed for the position she would get by Bezos, who would sit in the office adjacent to her at the firm. The two would leave the firm in 1994 after getting married the year before, with Bezos founding Amazon in the garage of their Bellevue, Wash., home.

    In another letter to Morrison shortly after she took the position at D.E. Shaw, Scott said she got the job “based largely on a transcript of your phone recommendation.”

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    Sasha Rogelberg

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