DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Inside Microsoft's struggles with Copilot
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

In September 2023, Microsoft's famously soft-spoken CEO, Satya Nadella, unveiled the company's flagship AI product, Copilot, with sweeping fanfare. Some of Microsoft's own employees and executives are privately concerned that Copilot won't be able to deliver on its ambitions. Copilot's struggles have created an opening for Microsoft's rivals, some of whom have seized on the opportunity to promote their own agendas. "Now, when Joe Blow logs into an account and kicks off Copilot, they can see everything," said one Microsoft employee familiar with customer complaints. As complaints and questions over Copilot mount, so does the pressure to justify Microsoft's unprecedented level of spending on AI.

Persons: Microsoft's, Satya Nadella, Gartner, Copilot, it'll, Copilot's, Marc Benioff, Benioff, Goldman Sachs, Marc Andreessen, Andreessen Horowitz, Ethan Miller, Jared Spataro, Spataro, —, Joe Blow, Joe, Nadella, Gary Marcus, Marcus, Wile, Coyote, Brontë, Judson Althoff, Jason Zander, Zander, We've, OpenAI, Tasos Katopodis, Steve Jobs Organizations: Microsoft, Venture, Getty, Goldman, BI, Fortune, Excel, Lumen Technologies, Honeywell, Gartner, Wall Street, Initiative, Department of Homeland Security, Employees, San Francisco, Software, Apple, Jobs Locations: Microsoft's, Copilot, New York City

☆ Kamala Harris wants voters to know she owns a Glock. Talking about guns on the campaign trail is no accident, experts say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Kamala Harris just told voters what kind of gun she owns. AdvertisementVice President Kamala Harris wants voters to know she's a responsible Glock owner. Although she owns a gun, Harris has been a proponent of safer firearms usage and stricter gun ownership laws. AdvertisementBut gun talk could help move the needle for Harris, especially with undecided voters, Doidge said. Other experts said that leaning into being a gun owner may be a savvy move from Harris' campaign, especially for swing-state voters.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, —, Bill Whitaker, I've, Whitaker, Glock, Oprah Winfrey, Joe Biden, Tim Walz, Trump, Kristin Doidge, Doidge, Georgia Kernell, Jonathan Aronson, Aronson, Guns, Elon Musk, Harris didn't Organizations: Service, Glock, CBS, Pew Research Center, White, NYPD, Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, USC, Trump, Republican National Committee, Business Locations: Austrian, United States, Minnesota, South Carolina, New York, California, Georgia, Trump

☆ Universal basic income pros and cons —according to experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

BI broke down the pros, cons, and frequently asked questions about basic income. Universal basic income and guaranteed basic income could fill gaps in the existing US social safety net, experts said. A benefit of basic income is the element of choice, according to Shafeka Hashash, associate director of guaranteed income at the Economic Security Project. Private donors often fully or partially fund basic income programs, lessening the cost burden on local governments. US states with active basic income programs include California, Illinois, Colorado, New York, Georgia, Louisiana, and more.

Persons: —, Melvin Carter, Paul, Shafeka Hashash, Hashash, It's, John Gillette, Oscar Wong, UBI, Andrew Yang, Howlette, hasn't, Michael Tubbs, Allan Baxter, What's, Sam Altman, Elon Musk Organizations: Service, Business, St, SDI, SNAP, Economic Security, Arizona, Rep, American, Orleans Mayor's, Youth, University of British Columbia, Alaska Permanent Fund, Tech Locations: Valley, America, Los Angeles and Illinois, Texas, Missouri, Arizona , Iowa, South Dakota, Orleans, Denver, Atlanta, Alaska, California , Illinois, Colorado , New York , Georgia, Louisiana, Canada, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, California, New Mexico, Oregon

☆ India's exam system is in chaos, with some families paying thousands to help their kids cheat
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Hannah Abraham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cheating in India's medical entrance examCheating has, in particular, plagued India's highly competitive medical entrance exam, also known as the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET). "Question papers are sold at extravagantly high prices," Ashok Rathore, a police officer who investigated cheating linked to India's medical school exam, told the Journal. The person said they can provide next year's medical entrance exam questions for around 1 lakh rupees ($1,200). Those with money can still legally obtain places in private medical colleges if they pay fees ranging from $115,000 to $145,000. Advertisement"For those people, the fact that someone cracked a highly competitive entrance exam and got in would inspire more confidence than someone who paid their way through the whole thing."

Persons: —, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashok Rathore, George Organizations: Service, National Testing Agency, NTA, BBC, Business, Wall Street Locations: India

☆ A major student-loan company is 'improperly' rejecting some borrowers for debt cancellation they qualify for, 35 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewA group of Democratic lawmakers wants answers from a major student-loan company on its debt relief process for the borrowers it services. The issue at play: There's a process for borrowers with federal student loans to apply for a debt discharge if they can prove they were defrauded by their school. President Joe Biden's Education Department has canceled debt for millions of borrowers over the past few years under that process. But the lawmakers have said they're concerned Navient is continuing to narrowly define qualifications for discharge, resulting in borrowers being denied relief without sufficient explanations.

Persons: —, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Madeleine Dean, Bernie Sanders, Ayanna Pressley —, Joe Biden's, Navient —, Warren, Navient, Holder, Leandro Pucci, Pucci, it's, who'd Organizations: Service, Democratic, Business, Joe Biden's Education Department, BI, Navient Locations: Navient

☆ A Gen Xer got $112,000 in student loans forgiven after paying off a 'worthless degree' for over a decade. Now she can enter retirement debt-free.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewSheila Reed, 57, is no longer facing a lifetime of student-loan payments. 'I'm just glad it's over'Reed didn't know she would struggle so much to pay off her student loans. But with the relief, she can now begin to save money as she nears retirement and is grateful her student loans are in the rearview mirror. Advertisement"Now, when I do think about the student loans, I think of them being discharged," she said. Are you struggling with student-loan payments?

Persons: —, Sheila Reed, Reed, I'm, Reed didn't, she's Organizations: Service, Westwood College, Business, BI —, Education Department, Westwood, Public, Corinthian Colleges, ITT Technical Institute, Republican

☆ Meet the Gen Xers and boomers retiring with 6 figures of student debt that threatens their Social Security and savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While they took out federal student loans for themselves, Larry wanted to ensure their options weren't limited. Related storiesShelton and Larry aren't alone: As Gen Xers and boomers age into retirement, they're bringing student loans with them. The retirement student debt crisisBoth Shelton and Larry are facing a particular aspect of the retirement crisis: hoping to throw in the towel while sitting on mountains of student loan debt. Interest is a key reason many older adults find themselves struggling to pay off their student loans for decades. Are you worried about student loan debt impacting your ability to retire?

Persons: Diane Shelton, There's, I've, Larry, he'll, Shelton, Larry aren't, Gen Xers, that's, It's, it's, Sen, Elizabeth Warren Organizations: Service, Security, School's Schwartz, for Economic, Social Security Locations: forbearance

☆ A millennial who makes 6 figures says she's looking across the US for a home but is struggling to find one in her budget that has green space and a 'metropolitan vibe'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewWhen Madelyn Driver and her husband began house-hunting, they thought they had a few advantages. The 30-year-old makes over $100,000 working in the tech industry, according to a document viewed by BI — and she said her husband also has a six-figure income. Driver is among a group of Americans with six-figure incomes who are having trouble meeting some of their financial goals. Related storiesOf course, for the majority of Americans who don't have a six-figure income — the average annual full-time salary was about $84,000 as of March — affording a home is even more of a challenge. Driver said their ideal location would have a highly educated population, diversity, plenty of green space, and milder weather than the Northeast.

Persons: —, they're, they've, Driver, hasn't, millennials Organizations: Service, BI, Business Locations: Pennsylvania, Colorado, Carolinas, Virginia

☆ We went behind the scenes of a viral TikTok series in New York City that's part of a new wave of MTV-style social shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Dan Whateley | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"New media is having a moment here in New York City," Valentino told BI. Related stories"We have a development team pumping out pilots, new concepts, working new concepts," Fallen Media CEO Sol Betesh told BI. Fallen Media's production team optimizes audio and video on a noisy New York City block. Sydney Bradley/Business InsiderNew York City is a main characterFallen Media is a true New York City operation. Villalpando was recently on an episode of Fallen Media's "Bite Me," and Novi was on a recent segment of "Subway Oracle."

Persons: —, Michael Valentino, Tiffany Baira, Baira, Valentino, Sol Betesh, Sydney, Davis, Jason Derulo, Michael Bublé, Brian Baumgartner, Taco Bell, they're, Betesh, We'll, Maia Novi, Fabrizio Villalpando, Villalpando, Davis Burleson Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube, Media, MTV, Sydney Bradley, New, Washington, Fallen Media Locations: New York, New York City, influencer, TikTok, Instagram, Novi

☆ A Wisconsin mom of 3 who made $250,000 secretly working 2 remote jobs said it allowed her husband to leave a stressful job and become a stay-at-home dad
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

For 18 months between 2020 and the end of 2021, Lisa secretly worked one fully remote job and a second hybrid job. When pandemic conditions eased, she thought her fully remote employer would pivot to a hybrid work schedule — and managing two hybrid jobs seemed impossible. Advertisement"It was a good career move at a time when I thought that remote work was going to disappear," she said. Lisa said she'd consider job juggling again if she could find two fully remote jobs that checked most of her boxes. AdvertisementAre you working multiple remote jobs at the same time and willing to provide details about your pay and schedule?

Persons: —, Lisa, who's, they'll, who've, It's, Lisa didn't, she'd Organizations: Service, Business, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: Wisconsin

☆ Over 100 basic-income pilots have run in US cities. Now states are getting creative to fund no-strings-attached cash payments.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Basic income has become a trending strategy to combat poverty in cities nationwide. ARPA funds have been used to partially or fully fund most US basic-income pilots so far, but funds are set to expire. While philanthropy and nonprofit work have been central to basic-income pilots, they are not always a long-term or large-scale funding solution. More GBI programs are electing to focus on specific groups of participants, like low-income parents with children and foster youth. The program is funded through the Temporary Aid to Needy Families Program (TANF), an existing federal cash assistance program for low-income families.

Persons: —, Michael Tubbs, Tubbs, It's, Tubbs —, GBI —, Marcela Díaz, let's, Díaz, Teri Olle, Olle, John Gillette, Ken Paxton, Dustin Palmer, GiveDirectly, Palmer, Shafeka Hashash, Hashash, Hashah, GBI Organizations: Service, Business, SNAP, Medicaid, Somos Un, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, Economic Security, New, New Mexico House, California Senate, Republican, South Dakota Republicans, ARPA, Pew Charitable Locations: Stockton , California, Durham , North Carolina, Birmingham, Chicago, Antonio, San Antonio, Denver, Seattle, California, New Mexico, State, Mexico, Somos, Somos Un Pueblo, Economic Security California, Arizona, Iowa, Harris County , Texas, Flint , Michigan

☆ A Gen Xer who went back to school in her 50s explains why taking on student loans to advance her career was worth it — even if it means retiring later
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Neilson, 59, went into retail management after earning a general studies degree with a business concentration. "The money that I would like to be able to contribute to a retirement account is going to go instead to pay student loans." BI has previously spoken to some other older adults who have struggled with career progression later in life. For example, Crystal, a 62-year-old, never received a college degree, and it's kept her from progressing in the workforce. "With my age, I was just not attractive on paper, and not having a college degree was always a factor, too," Crystal said.

Persons: Kris Neilson's, Neilson, it'll, She'll, I'm, it's, Crystal Organizations: Service, BI, National Bureau of Economic Research, Gallup, Lumina Foundation Locations: Neilson

☆ Insider Today: Hair transplants in Istanbul
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Joi-Marie Mckenzie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

On the agenda today:This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. But first: Where did Mother's Day brunch come from? Austin Melonie Carroll / Getty ImagesThis week's dispatchMother's Day brunchAdvertisementIt's Mother's Day tomorrow — a holiday that can be joyful for many, but also difficult and emotional for others. For those celebrating the holiday, I have a feeling you might be doing something that just feels synonymous with Mother's Day: brunching. I asked Business Insider lifestyle correspondent Anneta Konstantinides for her thoughts — and whether she has any brunch tips.

Persons: —, Austin Melonie Carroll, Anneta Konstantinides, Ina Garten's, Matteo Colombo, Dia Dipasupil, Abanti Chowdhury, Pine, That's, Chris Pine's, Charles Tyrwhitt, Chelsea Jia Feng, Reginald Ferguson, Tyler Le, Anne Rice's, Brooke Shields, Von Erich Organizations: Service, Business, Mother's, Taj, Lionsgate, Paramount, Warner Bros, Dia, Getty, Denzel, Casio, Chelsea, BI, AMC Locations: Town, South Africa, United States, Istanbul, Denzel Washington, Patagonia

☆ Special Education, Inc.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Meghan Morris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

AdvertisementNate Smallwood for BITo some, private equity's business model appears antithetical to special education. (The average public school district in Pennsylvania, where New Story operates the most schools, spends about $23,000 per child across all types of public education. "Private equity has no place in education — especially special education," Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio told BI. For instance, two Pennsylvania education directors left in spring 2023, according to records obtained by BI — one after just months in the role. AdvertisementNickie Coomer, a Colorado College education professor who has written about the privatization of special education, told BI that this data gap is a major regulatory hole, one that private-equity companies are happy to exploit.

Persons: Emily, Sarah, Nate Smallwood, Sarah didn't, —, Mergermarket, Shanon Taylor, Taylor, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Casey, Paul Volosov, Volosov, Jim Grinnen, Rachel Wisniewski, Christina Spielbauer, Spielbauer, Nathaniel Garnick, Garnick, sully, Craig Richards, He's, Richards, they're, " Richards, Judith McKinney, Grinnen, Donnell McLean, McLean, Natalie Stoup, Blackstone, haven't, Biden, of Education spokespeople, Nickie, …, that's, didn't, Hill, Amy Hall Kostoff, Kostoff, Green, she'd Organizations: Business, State College ,, New, BI, Audax Group, Kentucky, Pennsylvania State Employees, Schools, Audax, Rock Academy, University of Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Rock, Reading School District, River Rock Academy, Virginia's Department of Education, Green Tree, Pay, Tree, Autism, Forbes, NBC News, Federal Trade Commission, of Education, Colorado College, Tree School, Pennsylvania's Department of Education, Pennsylvania, In State College Locations: State College , Pennsylvania, Boston, Pennsylvania, Reno, —, Ohio, New Story's, Rock, Virginia, , Ohio, New Jersey , Pennsylvania, New Story's New Cumberland , Pennsylvania, CARD's Virginia, Philadelphia, Rochelle Park , New Jersey

☆ A woman who lives in a 'housetruck' in the woods showed how she washes her hair in the freezing cold — and responded to critics about not using eco-friendly products
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A TikToker who lives in a housetruck in the woods showed viewers how she washes her hair during winter months. Winters are the hardest part about living in a housetruck, Kai told BI — and one struggle in particular riveted viewers recently. AdvertisementBut some people — including one top-voted commenter — criticized her for her use of commercial hair products. While it's not an excuse for using conventional products, Kai told BI her overall lifestyle is "much more eco-friendly than … most other people." Nevertheless, she solicited recommendations for eco-friendly hair products that were affordable and accessible in Canada.

Persons: Garnier, Kai, who's, Winters, commenter —, she's, shea, it's, She's Organizations: Service, BI Locations: British Columbia, TikTok, Canada

Search resuls for: "BI —"

15 mentions found