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☆ Online mental health company uses ChatGPT to help respond to users in experiment — raising ethical concerns around healthcare and AI technology
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A digital mental health company is drawing ire for using GPT-3 technology without informing users. Koko co-founder Robert Morris told Insider the experiment is "exempt" from informed consent law due to the nature of the test. "The participants should have given informed consent and this should have passed through an IRB [institutional review board]." A women seeks mental health support on her phone. Beatriz Vera/EyeEm/Getty ImagesChatGPT and the mental health gray areaStill, the experiment is raising questions about ethics and the gray areas surrounding the use of AI chatbots in healthcare overall, after already prompting unrest in academia.

☆ Yes, there are some products you really should skip at TJ Maxx - but here's a few more you should definitely buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

We consulted a shopping expert and several blogs and online reviews to find the best and worst products at TJ Maxx. Here are 23 products to buy at TJ Maxx and eight to consider skipping. According to the shopping expert Michelle Madhok, TJ Maxx's primary appeal is the opportunity for discovery. Another expert tip is to hit TJ Maxx on Wednesdays, which is when most of the stores restock with new products, Madhok said. With that in mind, here are 23 products to buy at TJ Maxx and eight you should skip.

☆ New York City schools ban use of ChatGPT — becoming first US district to block AI technology as concern over cheating and plagiarism mounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The NYC Department of Education is banning the use of ChatGPT on its networks and devices. Educators around the country have raised concern over the use of ChatGPT to cheat and plagiarize essays. The ban, in the nation's largest school district, could help set precedent around the US. Educators across the country have said the technology has the potential to "blow up" entire writing curriculums and lead to "the end of high school English." "Are high school teachers going to want students using ChatGPT to write their history essays?

☆ SoulCycle founders gear up to launch Peoplehood, which they describe as 'modern medicine for the loneliness epidemic'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While the company has been in beta mode, Cutler and Rice are not disclosing pricing until launch. "We realized that connection should be its own product," Rice told the Times. "It feels therapeutic, but it's not therapy," Rice told the Times in response. Julie Rice (left) and Elizabeth Cutler Courtesy of SoulCycleSimilar to SoulCycle, Rice and Cutler also intend to sell Peoplehood merchandise, including apparel, tote bags, and prayer candles, the New York Times reported. Cutler and Rice, along with fellow co-founder Ruth Zukerman, opened the first SoulCycle location in New York City in 2006.

Since its founding in 1971, Bed Bath & Beyond has been a go-to destination for home goods. We took a look at the rise and decline of the iconic big-box retailer. In September 2022, Bed Bath & Beyond announced it would be closing 150 stores and slashing 20% of its corporate positions in an effort to cut costs. Bed Bath & Beyond was once a leading home goods retailer, appealing to shoppers across the nation with its strategy of abundance. We took a closer look at Bed Bath & Beyond's rise from a small linen store in New Jersey to a major national retail chain now on the brink of collapse.

☆ Salesforce is slashing thousands of workers, as a wave of layoffs continues into 2023. Here's the full list of major US companies making cuts.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Salesforce and Vimeo are the latest to be hit by a wave of layoffs at big US tech companies. The companies are cutting 10% and 11% of total employees, respectively. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops — delivered daily to your inbox. Salesforce and Vimeo became the latest to announce cuts in the new year, amid a continued economic downturn and stagnating sales. According to data cited by the Journal from Layoffs.fyi, a site that's been tracking layoffs since the start of the pandemic, tech companies slashed more than 150,000 in 2022 alone — compared to 80,000 in 2020 and 15,000 in 2021.

☆ These are the states raising minimum wage in 2023 — see the full list and adjusted rates
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A total of 23 states are hiking minimum wages this year, according to the Economic Policy Institute. See the full list of states and the adjusted rates, below. With the help of activist efforts and legislators, states and cities have been working independently to increase rates as the federal minimum wage stagnates at $7.25 — an amount that hasn't risen in 13 years. While many of the adjusted rates will be effective starting Jan. 1, others come into effect later, according to a report from the National Employment Law Project. Here's the full list of states increasing minimum wage and the new rates coming in 2023, according to NELP data:

☆ Buffalo stores' shelves are bare as people try desperately to restock groceries and essential items after deadly winter storm
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Buffalo grocery stores are struggling to keep up with heavy demand after reopening in the wake of Winter Storm Elliott. Local outlets reported bare shelves and a lack of items including fresh produce, bread, and eggs. Response to the storm, and lack of access to essential items, has shed light on structural inequality in the city. Unfortunately they ran out of lunch meat, brown beef, bread, but hopefully we can find everything we want," Carl Phillips and Sandra Jackson told WIVB Buffalo. WIVB Buffalo reporter Sarah Minkewicz shared photos of the empty shelves on Twitter.

☆ Southwest Airlines passengers get stuck in the Nashville airport on Christmas — then threatened with arrest for 'trespassing'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A police officer at the Nashville International Airport threatened to arrest stranded Southwest Airlines passengers. In a statement, the airport said Southwest Airlines contacted them "asking that a police officer be dispatched to ... escort passengers to the pre-security ticketing counters." In two viral TikTok videos shared Wednesday by Amani Robinson, a police officer is seen on ordering travelers at the Nashville International Airport to "leave nearly 1.5 million times. Southwest Airlines did not immediately respond to Insider's request to comment about the officer's claims. Nashville International Airport did not immediately respond to Insider's request to comment on the status of the police officer, or if any potential disciplinary action was taken.

☆ Dry January is almost here. Here are 7 of our favorite, tasty non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy all month
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Dry January is almost upon us, and people around the world are gearing up for a booze-free month. The non-alcoholic beverage market is booming, with sales up 7% to become a $11 billion market in 2022. Here are some of our favorite booze-free options to enjoy all month long, and beyond. In addition to containing zero alcohol, it also has zero calories, zero carbohydrates, and zero gluten, making it a health-conscious option as well. The fizzy beverage has become a fan favorite on social media, with several TikTok posts dedicated to the drink.

☆ These are the memes that perfectly capture the 'dead' work week you're trapped in right now between Christmas and New Year's
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day has long been the subject of countless jokes and memes, thanks to its sluggish — but also chaotic — nature.

☆ Hooters dispels rumors that it's shutting down and rebranding in response to study that claims millennials 'aren't that into boobs'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A viral tweet falsely claimed Hooters is shutting down and rebranding to appeal to millennials. "There is no validity to this story," Hooters of America said in a statement shared with Insider. The tweet — posted by Daily Loud, a website focused on hip-hop and viral news — claimed Hooters "was shutting down and 'rebranding' after a new study found that millennials 'aren't that into boobs.'" The 2017 study by Pornhub found younger people were less likely to search for breasts on pornography websites. After a series of viral TikTok videos shared by staffers, Hooters adjusted its policy to make the new uniforms optional.

☆ 17 products that are worth buying at Dollar Tree — and 15 more you should skip
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

We consulted a shopping expert and several blogs and online reviews to find the best and worst products at Dollar Tree. Here are 15 products to buy at Dollar Tree and 15 to consider skipping. Today, Dollar Tree — which includes its namesake brand as well as Family Dollar and Dollar Tree Canada — has more than 16,000 stores in North America and consistently posts increasing sales. Plus, in addition to using Dollar Tree coupons, you can also use manufacturer coupons to maximize discounts, she added. With that in mind, here are 17 items to buy at Dollar Tree and 15 items to skip.

☆ See bizarre photos of dead Hollister stores turned into aquariums, haunted houses, escape rooms, and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

An aquariumIn April 2021, the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge opened its doors to "Blue Zoo," an aquarium built inside an abandoned Hollister. The 16,000-square-foot space features wildlife such as sharks, jellyfish, stingrays, seahorses, and even toucans, according to The Advocate. Despite its transformation, the aquarium managed to maintain some of the original Hollister vibe, including its iconic entryway. "People in our generation and younger aren't interested in stuff, they want experiences they can show on social media," Wes Haws, founder and CEO of Blue Zoo, told The Advocate.

☆ Finding Nikes in stores will get a lot harder in 2023 and that could give rivals like Hoka and Hey Dude a big boost
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"They just entered Foot Locker over the summer and are only in a small slice of their massive store footprint. Nikic said On and Hey Dude could follow similar trajectories next year. In a recent note, Williams Trading analyst Sam Poser said Hey Dude could hit $1 billion in fiscal year 2022 sales. Poser recently met with the management of Crocs, which bought Hey Dude this year. "This quarter, we spent a lot of time with Mary Dillon and her team at Foot Locker," Donahoe added.

☆ 'Kidults' age 12 and up are buying more toys than ever, with teens and adults driving significant growth for the industry thanks to the pandemic and TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

'Kidults' age 12 and above are comprising a growing sector of the toy industry, according to NPD Group. NPD Group's Juli Lennett told Insider the growth is largely due to the pandemic and social media. "Now many of them are hooked," Lennett said of kidults who purchased toys early in the pandemic. Today, Lego now sells 100 adult Lego sets, according to the Associated Press, including a replica of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night and a functional roller coaster. "We make LEGO sets specifically for adults with more detail, challenging building techniques, and cool ways to display."

☆ 'I feel like the Hulk': Customers call Panera's Charged Lemonade 'crack in a cup' in viral TikToks warning of caffeine content
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Panera's Charged Lemonade is going viral on social media as users discuss its caffeine content. A regular 20-ounce lemonade contains 260 mg, the equivalent of drinking 2.5 cups of coffee. According to drink's nutrition facts on Panera's website, a regular 2o-ounce Charged Lemonade contains 260 mgs of caffeine, while the large 30-ounce size boasts 390 mgs. The Charged Lemonade is on-par with energy drinks like a 24-ounce can of Monster Energy, which has 240 mgs. "This Panera drink thing is how I know y'all would try crack if it was presented in a different way," wrote another.

☆ 'Shark Tank' host and FTX investor Kevin O'Leary defends Sam Bankman-Fried for demise of his cryptocurrency exchange
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin O'Leary said he previously made $15 million as a brand ambassador for FTX. The "Shark Tank" host testified to the Senate Banking Committee earlier this week about his involvement with the company. O'Leary is among several celebrity defendants listed in a class-action lawsuit from FTX investors. "[New FTX CEO] John Ray doesn't have them yet. In the same interview, O'Leary also defended himself against comments from Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who called the "Shark Tank" television host a "liar."

☆ Inside 4 of the biggest VC-backed startups that went public and crashed, from Casper Sleep to Blue Apron
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Bird became the latest VC-backed startup showing signs of distress, after hinting at a potential bankruptcy this week. The company is among several former success stories struggling against competition and a tough economy. Here are four of the biggest VC-backed startup downfalls of recent years. Meanwhile, VC-backed startup darlings of recent years — many of which held the vaunted $1 billion valuation unicorn status — are suddenly unable to keep their heads above water. Here's a look at four of the biggest VC-supported startups that went public and crashed in recent years.

☆ Elon Musk suggests Dr. Fauci should be prosecuted and mocks gender pronouns in controversial tweet — the latest in a series of statements fueling right-wing viewpoints
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk suggested that Dr. Anthony Fauci should be prosecuted in a tweet posted on Sunday. The tweet is the latest in a series of posts supporting right-wing efforts and conspiracies in recent months. "My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci," Musk wrote on Sunday in a now-viral tweet that has generated significant backlash. The tweet is the latest of several recent quips from Musk empowering right-wing viewpoints and conspiracies. "I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an esthetic nightmare," Musk wrote at the time.

☆ Apple employees remain split on decision to fire exec who joked about fondling 'big-breasted women' in viral TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Apple staffers appear to have mixed reactions to the firing of former executive, Tony Blevins. The tech giant terminated Blevins in response to brash comments he made in a viral TikTok. While some staffers were surprised by his termination, others told the Journal the decision was important to enforce inclusion and prevent discrimination at Apple. "We all know the old adage 'loose lips sink ships,'" Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Texas, told Insider in September. After he was fired, company executives still planned a going-away party for him — a move Blevins told the Journal he felt was "hypocritical" after firing him.

☆ Alameda ex-CEO Caroline Ellison taps SEC's former top crypto regulator as lawyer in FTX investigation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Caroline Ellison hired Stephanie Avakian and law firm WilmerHale to represent her in the FTX investigation, per Bloomberg. Sources close to the matter told Bloomberg that Avakian, as well as fellow WilmerHale lawyers, will represent Ellison. Avakian and WilmerHale will represent Ellison during the federal probe into her former company, Alameda Research, the trading firm and corporate sibling of fallen cryptocurrency exchange, FTX. Ellison has remained an elusive figure in the collapse of FTX, staying mum and largely unreachable during its downfall. As noted by Bloomberg, while Bankman-Fried has publicly placed blame on Alameda in numerous interviews, Ellison has stayed silent.

☆ I tried to cut a deal with Jeff Bezos to save my hometown's paper mill and failed. Here's what I learned from it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Justin Vandehey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Justin Vandehey wanted to save the paper mill in his hometown of Wisconsin Rapids. He presented a proposal to Jeff Bezos on how the paper industry could reinvent itself. Is the paper industry really dead? It takes paper to make paperThe two machines in the Wisconsin Rapids mill are currently set up to produce 570,000 tons of coated paper each year. The CEO of BillerudKorsnäs, Christoph Michalski, hasn't committed to any plans regarding the Wisconsin Rapids Mill; however, it does appear that there's interest from the local Timber Professionals Cooperative to acquire and keep the Wisconsin Rapids Mill operating in Wisconsin Rapids.

☆ I turned myself into a masterpiece using Lensa, the chart-topping app that can make anyone a digital work of art — here's how it works
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

After seeing all my friends transformed into works of art, I finally decided to download the Lensa app. Lensa uses AI technology to turn 10-20 images into artwork across categories like anime, fairy princess, and pop. The service costs $3.99 for 50 images, and is a fun and interesting way to see AI technology at work. So I downloaded Lensa, the wildly popular app behind the digital self-portraits, made with AI technology that renders selfies into artwork. My 50 avatars were delivered in 10 categories of 5 images including Iridescent, Light, Stylish, Anime, Cosmic, Fantasy, Kawaii, Pop, Focus, and Fairy Princess.

☆ Dr Pepper forced to give $100K prize to BOTH contestants after boos erupt following odd tie-breaker at SEC championship halftime contest
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dr Pepper drew scorn for its handling of a college tuition giveaway during halftime of the SEC championship game. "Well, you all saw the unprecedented double tie of the Dr Pepper halftime tuition giveaway," Dell said. "We 've just been told by Dr Pepper that they're going to award both finalists $100,000. Congratulations, ladies, and great job by Dr Pepper there." Keurig Dr Pepper, the brand's parent company, has held the contest since 2008 and given away a total of $13 million in college tuition.

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