All posts tagged: pivots

Prego Pivots From Budget-Tier Pasta Sauce to Small Microphones That Listen to Your Family’s Intimate Conversations

Prego Pivots From Budget-Tier Pasta Sauce to Small Microphones That Listen to Your Family’s Intimate Conversations

Published by José Betancourt

Sign up to see the future, today Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech Ever sit down at an awkward family dinner and think to yourself: “You know what this conversation needs? A device that records all of our painful attempts at small talk and the weird noises we make when we eat.” Prego, the company that makes cheap — and according to the taste buds of many gourmands, overly sweet — pasta sauce, has the answer to your prayers. On Monday, the Campbell’s Soup-owned brand announced a new hockey puck-shaped device, called the “Connection Keeper,” designed for documenting dinner table exchanges so that they may be preserved for all time. If this lofty mission seems beyond the ken of Prego, the device was developed in collaboration with StoryCorps, a nonprofit dedicated to interviewing everyday Americans and preserving these conversations. The device, which resembles the lid of one of Prego’s pasta jars, seems to be more of a one-off doodad than an indicator that Prego is making a serious foray into being …

US probes suspicious oil trades made before Trump Iran pivots, source says

US probes suspicious oil trades made before Trump Iran pivots, source says

Published by Sam Flores

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is examining a series of trades in oil futures placed shortly before major shifts in President Donald Trump’s Iran war policy, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday (Apr 15). CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said in remarks prepared for delivery to Congress on Thursday that the agency will go after wrongdoers, but nothing in the testimony addressed any specific investigation and an agency spokesperson declined to comment. “I want to be crystal clear: to anyone who engages in fraud, manipulation, or insider trading in any of our markets: we will find you, and you will face the full force of the law,” Selig said in the remarks seen by Reuters. The CFTC probe is focused on trading of oil futures contracts on platforms belonging to CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange, with investigators examining at least two instances of oil trades made on Mar 23 and Apr 7, the source said. Well-timed trades may have generated millions of dollars in profits, drawing concern from lawmakers and legal …

The Download: a battery company pivots to AI, and a new AI tool seeks to transform math

The Download: a battery company pivots to AI, and a new AI tool seeks to transform math

Published by skeptic

“For years, social media companies have profited from targeting children while concealing their addictive and dangerous design features. Today’s verdict is a referendum—from a jury, to an entire industry.”  —Attorney Rachel Lanier offers her view on yesterday’s fines for Meta and YouTube, the Washington Post reports.   One More Thing  GETTY IMAGES Longevity enthusiasts want to create their own independent state. They’re eyeing Rhode Island.   It’s incredibly difficult and expensive to study innovative ways to slow or reverse aging. In response, longevity enthusiasts have devised an ambitious plan: establish an independent state for life-extension experiments.   They envision a jurisdiction that slashes red tape, encourages self-experimentation with unproven treatments, and eliminates laws that limit how companies develop drugs.   Exactly where their longevity state might emerge is still being worked out—but one appealing location is Rhode Island. Read the full story to learn more about the plans.   —Jessica Hamzelou  We can still have nice things  A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)  + These gleaming photos of ancient insects in amber are time capsules of the dinosaur age. + Paint with pixels across a world map at this …

Atlassian Lays Off 10 Percent of Its Workforce as It Pivots to AI

Atlassian Lays Off 10 Percent of Its Workforce as It Pivots to AI

Published by José Betancourt

Sign up to see the future, today Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech Another tech giant is culling immense numbers of workers. On Thursday, prominent Australian software firm Atlassian announced it was laying off ten percent of its workforce, or about 1,600 employees.  Like a growing number of its peers, it wasn’t shy about sharing why: a pivot to AI. The company, which makes most of its money by selling collaboration software, said it will “rebalance” its resources to focus on the “future of teamwork in the AI era,” Reuters reported. 40 percent of the firings, or about 600 employees, will come from its workforce in North America. Another 30 percent will come from Australia and 16 percent in India, Atlassian said. The company, however, refused to characterize the firings as a sign of AI replacement. “Our ​approach is not ‘AI replaces people,’” CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes said in a ​memo to employees. “But it would be disingenuous to pretend AI doesn’t change the mix of skills we need or the number …

Trump Pivots to New 10% Global Tariff, New Probes After Supreme Court Setback

Trump Pivots to New 10% Global Tariff, New Probes After Supreme Court Setback

Published by Sam Flores

By Gram Slattery, David Lawder and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump moved swiftly on Friday to replace tariffs struck ⁠down ⁠by the Supreme Court with a temporary 10% global import duty for 150 ⁠days and ordered new investigations under other laws that could allow him to re-impose the tariffs. Trump signed executive orders late on Friday to impose new tariffs starting on Tuesday ​under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, partly replacing tariffs of 10% to 50% under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act that the top court declared illegal, and ending collection of the now-banned duties. The orders continued exemptions already in place for aerospace products; passenger ‌cars and some light trucks; goods from Mexico and Canada that are ‌compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement; pharmaceuticals and certain critical minerals and agricultural products. Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said the new 10% duties and potentially enhanced tariffs under the Section 301 unfair practices statute and the Section 232 national security statute would result in virtually …

BP Suspends Buybacks As Energy Major Pivots To “Rebuilding Trust” In Capital Allocation

BP Suspends Buybacks As Energy Major Pivots To “Rebuilding Trust” In Capital Allocation

Published by Jenni Sidey

BP Plc shares fell nearly 6% in London trading after the oil and gas giant said its board has suspended share buybacks to allocate excess cash to strengthening the balance sheet and has withdrawn guidance to return 30% to 40% of operating cash flow to shareholders. In an earnings report released earlier, BP said it is suspending share buybacks, ending its $750 million quarterly repurchase program. “The board has decided to suspend the share buyback and fully allocate excess cash to accelerate strengthening of our balance sheet,” the oil and gas giant said, adding, “This creates a strong platform to invest with discipline into our distinctive deep hopper of oil & gas opportunities.” The board’s move to scrap share buybacks and prioritize balance sheet health makes BP the only top-five oil major without an active repurchase program. CFO Kate Thomson said in an interview that a decision to restart the quarterly repurchase program depends on incoming CEO Meg O’Neill, who takes over in April. BP also withdrew its guidance that shareholder distributions would be around …

Good enough for Tesla? Faraday Future pivots to humanoid robots

Good enough for Tesla? Faraday Future pivots to humanoid robots

Published by skeptic

After failing to deliver its long-promised “Tesla killer” EV and missing the Bitcoin- and Doge-fueled profit wave that helped propel $TSLA, Faraday Future ($FFIE) is hoping it’s got what it takes to finally pull ahead of Elon Musk: a full line of consumer robots. Faraday Future announced the formation of FF EAI-Robotics Inc., a new California-based, robot-focused subsidiary of the electric van maker assembler, marking the official launch of its first lineup of “Embodied AI” humanoid and quadruped robots. The news comes just days after Elon Musk announced Tesla would honorably discharge its flagship Model S and X EV line and redirect that production capacity toward Optimus, the humanoid robot Musk insists represents a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity for his electric car tech brand. For their part, Faraday Future seem to agree – but they really, really want you to think this move has been a long time coming: Advertisement – scroll for more content This move is a natural extension of the AI DNA that has been embedded in FF since day one. It is also the …

Adam Silver pivots from gambling scrutiny to NBA expansion talks

Adam Silver pivots from gambling scrutiny to NBA expansion talks

Published by skeptic

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner, Adam Silver, has appeared on multiple broadcasts during the festive season to challenge the gambling-riddled narrative surrounding the sport. On the one hand, Silver has sought to quell concerns about the sport’s integrity in North America. On the other hand, the Commissioner has refocused the sport’s priorities on future growth, including national and international expansion, as the game seeks to distance itself from the federal investigation into current and former players. Silver publicly declared on Good Morning America (GMA) that the scandal that dominated the 2025 headlines was “an isolated incident.” Despite Silver’s confidence, the sport remains under congressional scrutiny, and betting operators are poised to impose sanctions on prop bets unless the sport provides reassurances and policy changes. NBA dominated by gambling cases across 2025 Silver, in the GMA appearance, delivered a measured, confident appraisal of the league’s integrity, saying it’s (the NBA) “absolutely solid.” As we reported in detail, the NBA has been fighting the publicity surrounding a betting scandal that spanned multiple league games and both …