All posts tagged: freebies

China’s chatbot industry is fiercely competing for customers. Cue the freebies : NPR

China’s chatbot industry is fiercely competing for customers. Cue the freebies : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Advertising promoting ByteDance’s cloud and AI service platform ‘Volcano Engine’ and chatbot ‘Doubao’ at the Beijing Capital International airport in Beijing. ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images BEIJING — When it comes to AI chatbots, U.S. companies tout that they are investing to build the best technology. For Chinese companies, it’s less about being on the cutting edge and more about getting people to use their apps all the time. People like 19-year-old delivery driver Li Hao. Li says he’s a loyal user of ByteDance’s AI chatbot Doubao, China’s most popular. But over the Lunar New Year holiday in February he tried another one — Alibaba’s Qwen — because the company was giving away milk tea if it was ordered through the chatbot. “I tried it and got a milk tea,” he said. “After that, I didn’t use it again.” Welcome to the front lines of China’s chatbot wars. The competitive landscape among AI apps in China is fierce. And companies have been dumping money into the …

50+ places to get birthday freebies, including Sephora, Cheesecake Factory, and more

50+ places to get birthday freebies, including Sephora, Cheesecake Factory, and more

Published by skeptic

It’s your birthday? Happy birthday! And in the wise words of Parks and Rec: Treat yourself. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean spending money. If you, like me, have spent hours online watching people’s birthday freebie hauls, it’s time to do one yourself. With birthday freebies, you could plan a day that gets you a free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So, where does one get all these birthday freebies? We rounded up 50 places to collect all your free birthday rewards. And if you think these are too good to be true, your inclination might be to run. Most retailers and restaurants require you to sign up for their rewards programs to earn your birthday freebies, and some require a minimum annual spend. But with a little planning, you can guarantee yourself a birthday full of free stuff. Applebee’s: Members of Club Applebee’s enjoy a free dessert on their birthday. Not to mention, you get a free appetizer when you sign up for the club. Auntie Anne’s: On your birthday, Auntie Anne’s Rewards members enjoy …

March Madness 2026: Where to score the best freebies and deals

March Madness 2026: Where to score the best freebies and deals

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more College basketball fans are preparing for their favorite time of the year as the March Madness tournament is set to kick off this week with its first round of games. Every year, the NCCA selects 68 Division 1 College basketball teams to participate in a single-elimination tournament throughout the month of March, with the men’s and women’s competitions held simultaneously. Millions of people attempt to guess exactly how the tournament will shake out by creating their own bracket, predicting the results of each game until there’s one final winner. While basketball fans may be ready to cheer on their favorite school, they can also enjoy some of the restaurant promotions that come with the big sporting event. From Buffalo Wild Wings to Red Robin, …

St. Patrick’s Day 2026: Where to score the best freebies and deals

St. Patrick’s Day 2026: Where to score the best freebies and deals

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and major food chains are offering special deals that will make you feel luckier than ever. On Tuesday, you may have plans to don your best green attire, visit your favorite Irish pub and drink a few Guinnesses with your friends. However, there are many other ways to celebrate with a little help from fast food chains, restaurants, and dessert spots. Most of these chains know how to embrace a St. Patrick’s Day theme, with green lemonade, Irish Cream lattes, and rainbow doughnuts on the menu. But others are simply using the holiday to offer a special discount on signature menu items. From Krispy Kreme to Burger King, here are all the best food deals for …

Pi Day 2026: Where to score the best freebies and deals

Pi Day 2026: Where to score the best freebies and deals

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more While math lovers come together every year on March 14 to celebrate Pi Day, it can also be an opportunity for others to reap the benefits of special restaurant promotions. Representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, pi is approximately equal to 3.14159 — but its digits go on forever. In school, you might have used it to calculate the area of a circle or the volume of a cylinder. But the applications of pi are endless and part of every corner of our world. The holiday was created in 1988 by Larry Shaw, a physicist at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco, to celebrate math. Due to the number’s association with a circle, restaurants have been able to get …

National Pizza Day 2026: Where to get freebies and deals

National Pizza Day 2026: Where to get freebies and deals

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more National Pizza Day is here to celebrate one of America’s favorite foods with offers on pizza, from Chicago-style deep-dish to heart-shaped pies. Pizzeria chains across the country have announced discounts and some freebies available on Monday, February 9, to celebrate the unofficial holiday, which dates back to around 2000. This year, the annual celebration also falls on the day after Super Bowl Sunday, so Americans can curb their post-game blues with free pizza — and some stores offer deals timed to the big game. Major chains like Pizza Hut and Hungry Howie’s are rolling out limited-time promotions with app-based deals and in-store offers, so customers in each state can save on a slice. The Independent has rounded up some of National Pizza Day’s best …

Super Bowl 2026: All of the best deals and freebies

Super Bowl 2026: All of the best deals and freebies

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Super Bowl 2026 is almost here, as football and music fans alike come together to watch one of the biggest sporting events of the year. After many seasons of watching the Kansas City Chiefs compete for the Vince Lombardi trophy, this year’s Super Bowl will see the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California February 8. The game marks a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, when the Patriots came out on top against the Seahawks. Fans who may not be watching for the sporting event are eagerly anticipating this year’s halftime show, which is being headlined by the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny. Of course, the Super Bowl is also all about the …

It’s National Bagel Day: Here’s all the best deals and freebies

It’s National Bagel Day: Here’s all the best deals and freebies

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Bagel lovers rejoice! National Bagel Day is upon us, with plenty of chains offering ways to celebrate the beloved New York delicacy. Celebrated every January 15, National Bagel Day honors the breakfast staple, which originated in the 13th century from the Polish word “bajgiel” and Yiddish “beygal,” both translating to ring-shaped bread. In the 19th century, the food made its way to the United States. To celebrate the holiday, many brands are offering deals and discounts — regardless of whether fans prefer a sweet cinnamon raisin bagel with strawberry cream cheese, a savory bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich, or just a plain bagel with cream cheese. Here are the best deals being offered on National Bagel Day. Einstein Bros. Bagels open image in …