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☆ Kraft Heinz 'Remix' customizable sauce dispenser looks just like a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, but for sauce
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Heinz is channeling its inner Coca-Cola with a new custom sauce dispenser, the Heinz Remix. "As a company, we're transforming through innovation by making bigger, more intentional bets to fuel our growth and create new experiences for consumers," Alan Kleinerman, Kraft Heinz vice president of disruption, said in a statement. "Heinz Remix is a great example of this consumer-first approach to innovation." The machine is reminiscent of the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine introduced in 2009, dispensing dozens of soda pop products that can be combined and customized to create unique beverages. Heinz announced a Coca-Cola Freestyle-like custom sauce dispenser.

☆ Cash App founder Bob Lee was part of an underground party scene of sex and drugs called 'The Lifestyle' prior to his death, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cash App founder Bob Lee was part of an underground sex, drug, and party scene for years prior to his death, WSJ reported. Friends and coworkers of Lee spoke to the Journal about the late tech executive's life. The report also provides new possible connections between Lee and his alleged killer, Nima Momeni. Cash App founder Bob Lee, who was killed in San Francisco in April, reportedly spent years participating in "The Lifestyle," an underground party scene known for recreational drugs and casual sex in San Francisco. The report also shed further light on the possible ties between Lee and his accused killer, tech consultant Nima Momeni.

☆ Google employees reportedly joked about playing drinking games and made up a song to the tune of 'Old MacDonald' to mock how many times execs said AI at I/O developer conference
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Google employees are reportedly happy with products revealed at the company's annual development conference, but are still making jokes. CNBC cited messages and memes from internal communications mocking how often AI was mentioned. Some employees said they should take a shot every time AI was mentioned by a Google executive. The internal messaging site is often used by Google employees to make jokes at the expense of the company and executives including CEO Sundar Pichai. Last month, Insider reported that a group of executives including Pichai and Mark Zuckerberg said "AI" at least 168 times on their recent first quarter earnings calls.

☆ Amazon may prioritize items in search results depending on how close it is to you and how quickly it can be delivered
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon may be prioritizing items that can be delivered to you quickly in search results. In doubling its warehouse footprint in recent years, Amazon can now ship items within regions of the US faster. According to Madan, Amazon data shows the faster items are delivered, the more likely a customer will become a return shopper. "This isn't something we could have easily done in 2019 because we had a much more sparse network," Madan told the Journal. The company also said the distance items travel between fulfillment centers and customers has decreased by about 15%.

☆ Some of Elon Musk's fans are furious newly appointed Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino chairs a World Economic Forum committee
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk announced the hire of Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter Friday. Some conservatives are upset over her ties to the World Economic Forum, where she chairs a committee. Liberal Twitter users have pointed out that she follows and likes tweets from prominent conservatives. Some high-profile Twitter conservatives like "Catturd" also chimed in on Friday, taking issue with Yaccarino and claiming she is "deeply infected with the woke mind virus." Left-leaning Twitter users pointed out a list of conservative accounts Yaccarino follows and likes tweets, from including Catturd, Florida Gov.

☆ Microsoft says commercial use of fusion-produced energy will be available within 5 years as part of new deal with Sam Altman-backed Helion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft and fusion energy company Helion announced a first-of-its-kind contract Wednesday. Fusion is the clean energy source of the stars in space, but experts have said it's likely still decades away on Earth. Microsoft and Helion, a research company backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, are teaming up to make fusion-produced energy available commercially much sooner than experts previously estimated. "We are optimistic that fusion energy can be an important technology to help the world transition to clean energy," Smith said in a statement. HelionIn December, the Department of Energy announced what many saw as a breakthrough in the world of fusion energy, when the first nuclear fusion reaction was conducted that created more energy than it used.

☆ Etsy launches wedding registry service for handmade gifts in wake of Bed Bath & Beyond bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Etsy launched a wedding registry service Wednesday. The move comes as some stores roll back wedding registry services and on the heels of Bed Bath & Beyond's bankruptcy. In conjunction with the launch of the registry service, Etsy published several blog posts outlining popular wedding trends and gift ideas. Personalized wedding and bridal gifts have long been popular on Etsy and frequently showcased in gift guides. Other recent retail closures, restructurings, and bankruptcy filings from companies like JCPenney, Lord & Taylor, Barneys, and Neiman Marcus have also impacted the registry market, retail expert Burt Flickinger told CNN.

☆ Tucker Carlson discussed working together with Elon Musk after Fox firing, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tucker Carlson is talking with right-wing outlets about his next career move, according to Axios. He has reportedly talked to Newsmax and Rumble while his lawyers work to break his Fox contract. Axios also reported that Carlson has met with Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who has previously expressed support for right-wing views. Tucker Carlson has had at least one conversation with Elon Musk about working together, according to a new report from Axios. Social media extremism experts previously told Insider that Musk often uses his Twitter to amplify right-wing messaging.

☆ Elizabeth Holmes said she still believes Theranos could have revolutionized healthcare and is working on new inventions: 'I still feel the same calling to it'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elizabeth Holmes told The New York Times she still believes Theranos could have worked. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes said she still believes her fallen company could have changed the modern healthcare industry if it didn't attract so much attention so quickly. "I still dream about being able to contribute in that space," Holmes told the Times. She told the Times that she plans to continue working on healthcare innovations, including new ideas for COVID-19 testing, during her time in prison. Chozick spoke to Holmes, Evans, as well as Holmes' family and friends, who shared the writer's impression that Holmes appears to believe the things she says.

☆ Striking Writers Guild of America members say they work second jobs in retail, food service, and more to make ends meet: 'I never know when work is going to dry up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Writers Guild of America members are currently on strike after their contract expired with no new deal with TV and movie studios. Many have complained of low pay, especially when writing for a show on a streaming service. Several said they applied to or were working retail jobs when they found out they were nominated for awards. Dozens of users responded and quoted the tweet with their support for Carter and other striking writers, saying they assumed writers on successful TV shows made enough to live between writing jobs. "When I got nominated for a Canadian Screen Award (Canada's Emmy) - I was applying for a job at a coffee shop.

☆ Airbnb CEO says he changed how he ran the business during the pandemic and now follows a simple rule Steve Jobs used
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky told the "This Week in Startups" podcast the pandemic forced him to change how he runs the company. Now, Chesky said the company follows a principle Steve Jobs held at Apple — to never work on more than the CEO can focus on. "We were like staring into the abyss," Chesky told host Jason Calacanis. According to Chesky, a few people who famously worked closely with Steve Jobs during his time at Apple ultimately proved instrumental in reshaping how Airbnb runs. Chesky told Calacanis Ive used to tell Jobs it was important for Jobs himself to be personally involved with product development.

☆ TurboTax is paying out $141 million in settlement checks to 4.4 million Americans this month. Here's how to know if you get one.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Payments from a $141 million TurboTax settlement will be sent to 4.4 million Americans this month. TurboTax and parent company Intuit agreed to the settlement last year over allegedly deceptive ads. In 2016, 2017, and 2018 millions of Americans paid TurboTax to file their taxes when the IRS would have done it for free. An estimated 4.4 million Americans will soon receive checks as part of a $141 million settlement from Intuit, the parent company of popular tax filing software TurboTax. The state attorneys general said the company deceived Americans with advertising campaigns that emphasized its products were "free, free, free" when its gratis program only covers Americans with "simple" tax returns, as defined by the company.

☆ Tyson processing plants accounted for nearly 60% of ammonia-related injuries reported to the EPA between 2012 and 2021, investigation finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tyson plants reported ammonia leaks and injuries at higher rates than other companies between 2012 and 2021, CNN reported. Nearly 150 workers were injured in at least 47 different ammonia leaks reported to the EPA. The company told Insider it often reports incidents that don't meet the legal standard for a leak to be reported to the EPA. Nearly 150 workers were injured in at least 47 different ammonia leaks reported to the EPA over that time span, according to an investigation from CNN. Tyson reported about 57% of ammonia-related injuries in the meat industry between 2012 and 2021, while only accounting for about 25% of the ammonia across the industry, according to CNN.

☆ FTC says Meta misled parents and failed to protect children using Facebook's Messenger Kids app
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The FTC said Wednesday that Meta violated a 2020 privacy agreement with practices around its Messenger Kids app. Meta called the proposed changes to the 2020 order "a political stunt" and said the company plans to fight the changes. The initial 2020 order led to a $5 billion settlement with Facebook and called for an expanded privacy program. The agency claimed Meta misled parents about their ability to control who children communicate with through Messenger Kids, as some were able to talk to unapproved contacts through group messages. A group of childcare experts and advocates said in 2018 that the Messenger Kids app was satisfying a nonexistent need, and instead trying to "target" younger children who likely do not yet have other social media, according to The Associated Press.

☆ Apple and Google team up to curb stalking and unwanted tracking enabled by AirTags and other Bluetooth devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Apple and Google released a proposal with software fixes to unwanted tracking by Bluetooth devices. The system would alert a user's phone if it detects a nearby tracker that has been separated from its owners device. Apple and Google are combining forces to stop the use of Bluetooth tracking devices like AirTags for stalking people without their consent. The two tech giants released a proposal Tuesday outlining standards to ensure products like the Apple AirTag and similar tech gadgets aren't misused for stalking and unwanted tracking. "These draft standards to allow detection of unwanted trackers is a significant step forward in the work to increase safety and privacy."

☆ Here are the weirdest items in Uber's annual lost-and-found report, including a Danny DeVito ornament, unicycle, and fake blood
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Uber released its seventh annual "Lost & Found Index" tracking unique lost items. Among the strangest items include fake blood, pets, a Danny DeVito Christmas ornament, and chicken wings. The most commonly lost items include clothes, tech devices, and wallets. Several living things were also reported lost, including multiple dogs, turtles, hamsters, and at least one rat, all safely reunited with their owners. Among the most commonly lost items are more predictable belongings like clothing, wallets, and devices like phones and laptops.

☆ How to use ChatGPT to improve your Microsoft Excel skills, from identifying formulas to learning keyboard shortcuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

One example is by helping with sometimes tricky programs like Microsoft Excel. One example is by using the generative AI for help with data processing programs workers often struggles with, like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. We asked ChatGPT how it can help alleviate spreadsheet woes — here's what the chatbot had to say about how it can help make your Excel experience easier. According to ChatGPT, it can assist in designing or finding a spreadsheet that fits a specific template with headings and categories already implemented. ChatGPT said it can help users integrate data into other programs, or help with importing and exporting data to an Application Programming Interface, commonly referred to as an API.

☆ Elon Musk says Twitter will soon let publishers charge to read content on a 'per article basis with one click'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter users could soon have the option to pay to read individual articles rather than subscribe to a news outlet. Elon Musk said Saturday that a feature allowing publishers to charge for one article would roll out next month. Media publishers may soon be able to charge Twitter users to read individual articles shared on the platform rather than require them to purchase a subscription to a paywalled outlet. Twitter CEO Elon Musk announced Saturday that the company plans to roll out the feature next month, allowing news outlets to "charge users on a per article basis with one click." It's also currently unclear what amount, if any, of the payment to read an individual article would go to Twitter.

☆ Phoenix Suns and Mercury will air games on free TV and streaming, becoming first teams to break with bankrupt broadcaster Diamond Sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Phoenix Suns and Mercury have become the first teams to move on from the troubled broadcaster Diamond Sports Group. The NBA and WNBA's Suns and Mercury will show their games on TV and streaming going forward. The price of the streaming service hasn't been announced yet, but the teams said fans will be able to watch the Mercury for free for at least the first season. Diamond said the move violates bankruptcy law and previous contracts with the teams that expired recently, the AP reported. Suns CEO Josh Bartlestein told ESPN Diamond's claims were "inaccurate," and it wouldn't stop the teams from moving forward with the new agreement.

☆ Ex-Apple employee sentenced to 3 years in prison and fined $30 million in penalties for scheme to defraud the company and IRS
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former Apple employee has been sentenced to three years in prison and over $30 million for a fraud scheme. Dhirendra Prasad pleaded guilty to the scheme last year and was sentenced earlier this week. Prasad and two others partook in schemes like double billing Apple for parts, defrauding the company of over $17 million. Charges of tax evasion and money laundering were dropped at his sentencing after he pleaded guilty in November. He is also required to pay another $8 million in forfeitures, along with $17.4 million in restitution to Apple and $1.8 million to the IRS, totaling just under $33 million in penalties.

☆ Fox News has lost half its 8 p.m. audience in just days since Tucker Carlson's firing
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Fox News has lost about half of its 8 p.m. audience in the days following Tucker Carlson's firing. 1.33 million viewers tuned in on Wednesday, compared to 2.65 million for Carlson's unexpected final show last Friday. The ratings data from Nielsen has been tracked by CNN's Oliver Darcy every day since Carlson was fired. Carlson's last show Friday drew 2.65 million viewers, itself down from the other four days of last week which each topped 3 million, and Tuesday and Wednesday this week fell to 1.7 million and 1.33 million viewers, CNN reported. The viewers appear to be opting for other conservative networks, as Darcy reported that Newsmax's 8 p.m. hour totaled 510,000 viewers, tripling the audience they drew at the same time last Wednesday.

☆ An olive oil startup founder apologized after accusing a rival brand on LinkedIn of copying his squeeze bottle. It's not his first public apology.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CEO of olive oil startup Graza issued a public apology after a recent LinkedIn post garnered criticism. Andrew Benin accused Brightland, another food startup, of copying Graza's squeeze bottle design on Tuesday. "Andrew, with all due respect, you did not create the squeeze bottle," Alison Kayne, founder of Haven's Kitchen, commented on Benin's post. In an updated version of the post, Benin apologized to Iyer for the accusation, and called the post "out of character." The Graza CEO emailed thousands of customers during the company's first holiday season to apologize for issues like shipping delays and dented bottles.

☆ Freddie Mercury's estate will auction hundreds of personal items belonging to the late Queen singer — including handwritten notes, song drafts, and costumes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Hundreds of items owned by Queen singer Freddie Mercury will be auctioned later this year. The auctions will include art he owned, along with notes, drafts of Queen songs, and costumes worn for concerts. One piece already on display at Sotheby's in London is a robe and crown worn by Mercury during Queen's final performances in 1986. Kin Cheung/The Associated PressMary Austin, Mercury's longtime friend and inheritor of his estate and belongings, made the "difficult decision" to sell the items, according to The Associated Press. Many of the items have been stored in Mercury's Garden Lodge home where she has lived since his death in 1991.

☆ You've only got a couple of days left to use Bed Bath & Beyond coupons after the retailer filed for bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Shoppers have just days left to use any Bed Bath & Beyond coupons they may have been holding on to. The 360 remaining Bed Bath & Beyond stores, as well as 120 BuyBuy Baby stores, will start liquidating stock Wednesday. Bed Bath & Beyond CEO Sue Gove said: "Our teams have worked with incredible purpose to support and strengthen our beloved banners, Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY. Couples who used Bed Bath & Beyond for their wedding registry, a number that has dropped significantly in recent years, will have their data transferred to a new partner yet to be named. Bed Bath & Beyond did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours.

☆ NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell is stepping down following an 'inappropriate relationship' with a colleague
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell is leaving the company over an inappropriate relationship with an employee. The CEO of NBCUniversal, Jeff Shell, is stepping down immediately following an investigation into a complaint of inappropriate conduct, Comcast announced Sunday. "Today is my last day as CEO of NBCUniversal," Shell said in a two-paragraph statement. "I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret. Shell became CEO of NBCUniversal in 2020 and was chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group from 2013 to 2019.

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