Why are we still talking about return to office?

Bosses have been trying to make employees return to the office for years now. Why are we still having the same conversation? Think of how much has happened since March 2020 when millions of employees started working from home: Two presidential elections, war and humanitarian crises, countless climate disasters, a roller-coaster economy of inflation and interest rates, the birth of ChatGPT and AI anxiety, eight Taylor Swift albums, and an endless string of debates about if, how, and when employees should return to office (RTO).The first wave of RTO started in late 2021 and early 2022. But here we are at the end of 2024 still debating the topic. So what’s really behind the yearslong struggle over return to office and where do we go from here?

Published: 2024-11-24 12:00:00

AI bots could be a new tool to get people to be open about their feelings

The experiment by two professors at the London School of Economics argues that AI could change the game when it comes to measuring public opinion. As the legislative election in France approached this summer, a research team decided to reach out to hundreds of citizens to interview them about their views on key issues. But the interviewer asking the questions wasn’t a human researcher — it was an AI chatbot.

Published: 2024-11-24 12:00:00

These artists are rebranding AI image generation with a new name

A new term has slowly been gaining traction on social media. Will it last? Almost two years ago, the Berlin-based artist Boris Eldagsen made the headlines after winning the prestigious Sony World Photography Award with an AI-generated image, then rejecting the award. “AI is not photography. Therefore I will not accept the award,” he wrote on his website. In a separate statement made a week later, he added an important question: “But what is it?”

Published: 2024-11-24 11:00:00

Higher costs, labor shortages, and strained profit margins: A look at what small businesses could face under Trump

The gap between the president-elect’s claims and market expectations may offer temporary reprieve, but small businesses should prepare for turbulence. A stark reality check looms for America’s 33 million small businesses: while campaign promises suggest dramatic economic shifts, market indicators tell a different story. This disconnect—between political rhetoric and market expectations—creates both uncertainty and opportunity for SMBs, which represent 43.5% of US GDP and employ nearly half of private sector workers. 

Published: 2024-11-24 10:30:00

5 questions to inspire loyalty, motivation, and initiative

It may be time to find new ways to motivate your people to challenge the status quo by expanding their horizons. Have you ever had your patience sorely tested by an overly inquisitive child? You know the type: No matter what you say to them, they always respond with the same question:  Why? 

Published: 2024-11-24 10:30:00

‘The Great Fractionalization’ might be coming to your C-suite

Hiring a fractional leader can be a winning solution, especially for small and midsized companies looking to grow their brands. The sharing economy has changed the way we vacation, get around, and even dress for fancy events. Why invest a lot of resources into something you need only for a short amount of time, right? 

Published: 2024-11-24 10:00:00

Biden administration outlines plan to save Colorado River before Trump takeover

In 2026, legal agreements that apportion the Colorado River will expire. Federal water officials made public on Wednesday what they called “necessary steps” for seven states and multiple tribes that use Colorado River water and hydropower to meet an August 2026 deadline for deciding how to manage the waterway in the future.“Today we show our collective work,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said as she outlined four proposals for action and one “no action” alternative that she and Biden’s government will leave for the incoming Trump Administration — with formal environmental assessments still to come and just 20 months to act.The announcement offered no recommendation or decision about how to divvy up water from the river, which provides electricity to millions of homes and businesses, irrigates vast stretches of desert farmland and reaches kitchen faucets in cities including Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles.Instead, it provided a bullet-point sample of elements from competing proposals submitted last March by three key river stakeholders: Upper Basin states Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming, where most of the water originates; Lower Basin states California, Arizona and Nevada, which rely most on water captured by dams at lakes Powell and Mead; and more than two dozen Native American tribes with rights to river water.“They’re not going to take the any of the proposals,” said Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. “The federal government put the components together in a different way … and modeled them to provide near-maximum flexibility for negotiations to continue.”One alternative would have the government act to “protect critical infrastructure” including dams and oversee how much river water is delivered, relying on existing agreements during periods when demand outstrips supply. “But there would be no new delivery and storage mechanisms,” the announcement said.A second option would add delivery and storage for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, along with “federal and non-federal storage” to boost system sustainability and flexibility “through a new approach to distributing” water during shortages.The third, dubbed “cooperative conservation,” cited a proposal from advocates aimed at managing and gauging water releases from Lake Powell amid “shared contributions to sustain system integrity.”And a fourth, hybrid proposal includes parts of Upper and Lower Basin and Tribal Nations plans, the announcement said. It would add delivery and storage for Powell and Mead, encourage conservation and agreements for water use among customers and “afford the Tribal and non-Tribal entities the same ability to use these mechanisms.”The “no action” option does not meet the purpose of study but was included because it is required under the National Environmental Policy Act, the announcement said.In 2026, legal agreements that apportion the river will expire. That means that amid the effects of climate change and more than 20 years of drought, river stakeholders and the federal government have just months to agree what to do.“We still have a pretty wide gap between us,” Tom Buschatzke, Arizona’s main negotiator on the Colorado River, said in a conference call with reporters. He referred to positions of Upper Basin and Lower Basin states. Tribes including the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona have also been flexing their long-held water rights.Buschatzke said he saw “some really positive elements” in the alternatives but needed time to review them in detail. “I think anything that could be done to move things forward on a faster track is a good thing,” he said.Democratic U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado said in a statement the alternatives “underscore how serious a situation we’re facing on the Colorado River.”“The only path forward is a collaborative, seven-state plan to solve the Colorado River crisis without taking this to court,” he said. “Otherwise, we’ll watch the river run dry while we sue each other.”Wednesday’s announcement came two weeks after Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris lost the election to Republican former President Donald Trump, and two weeks ahead of a key meeting of the involved parties at Colorado River Water Users Association meetings in Las Vegas.Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network advocacy group, said “snapshots” offered in the announcement “underscore the uncertainty that is swirling around future river management as a new administration prepares to take office.”“The river needs basin-wide curtailments, agreements to make tribes whole, a moratorium on new dams and diversions, commitments for endangered species and new thinking about outdated infrastructure,” he said.Buschatzke declined to speculate about whether Trump administration officials will pick up where Biden’s leaves off. But Porter, at the Kyl Center, said the announcement “shows an expectation of continuity.”

Published: 2024-11-24 09:30:00

How COP29 climate experts felt playing a game simulating natural disasters

Spoiler alert: The game and world were lost. Activists and experts who are pushing world leaders to save an overheating planet learned it’s not so easy, even in a simulated world.

Published: 2024-11-24 09:30:00

The hidden money lessons in the Thanksgiving classic ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles’

The John Hughes comedy classic explores the meaning of friendship—but don’t overlook the important money lessons mixed in with the laughs. There’s a reason why the 1987 film Planes, Trains & Automobiles is a beloved staple of the Thanksgiving season. John Candy’s performance of Del Griffith is both hilarious and heartfelt, and the frustration Steve Martin’s character Neal Page feels about his thwarted travel is eminently relatable. The fact that this riotously funny film also offers a sweet and nuanced view of grief, kindness, and generosity is what elevates the film beyond just a road trip comedy. But Planes Trains & Automobiles also offers some surprising lessons about money within the heartwarming story.

Published: 2024-11-23 12:00:00

This housing market map shows Zillow’s revised 2025 home price forecast

Zillow projects that U.S. home prices will rise 2.9% by October 2025. This interactive map shows which areas are expected to see the biggest jumps. Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter.

Published: 2024-11-23 12:00:00

‘Incredibly scary’: The future of transgender rights under a 2nd Trump administration

The president-elect targeted trans rights on the campaign trail. Now, individuals and parents whose children could be impacted say they are preparing for the worst. On the campaign trail this year, Donald Trump and his surrogates spewed tons of anti-transgender rhetoric in the form of speeches, ads, and written policies. Trump’s campaign spent $11 million on an ad that targeted Vice President Kamala Harris’s policies on transgender rights and nearly $215 million on anti-trans TV ads. 

Published: 2024-11-23 11:01:00

‘I had to become a morning person’: Shea McGee on how she carves out space for creative thinking

The founder of Studio McGee shares where she finds inspiration, how to build a thriving business, and the art of being just busy enough. On the day I talk to Shea McGee, we cover a lot of ground: her love of Moleskine notebooks, the new Martha documentary on Netflix, and her approach to collaboration. She’s at home, where she says she’s most focused and creative, and she’s quick to admit that her design business came as a total surprise nearly 10 years ago.

Published: 2024-11-23 11:00:00

Work isn’t working. This is how to have more purpose and fulfillment

Career coach Megan Hellerer says that hard work and making the “right” choices should result in success and happy, secure lives. But most of us learned the hard way that this is a lie. Megan Hellerer is a career coach and founder of Coaching for Underfulfilled Overachievers. She has worked with hundreds of women, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to transform their careers by challenging traditional boxes of success. Her work has been featured in New York, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and The Times.

Published: 2024-11-23 10:00:00

Will AI be a game changer in developing countries?

Data is needed, but best used by consolidating it through each industry. To read this text and its propositions, the reader must accept two inferences as true:

Published: 2024-11-23 10:00:00

How insider trading data helps navigate market volatility

Analyzing expert trade data allows retail investors to make more informed financial decisions. Potential stock market volatility is a concern for 45% of retail investors, according to a recent FTSE Russell study. Amid volatility, it’s easy to get swept away by emotions like fear of missing out (FOMO). Retail investors have to navigate a rush of panic-based selling recommendations and “buy it now” stocks.

Published: 2024-11-23 10:00:00

The best cozy games during a stressful Thanksgiving season

In our world of relentless headlines, many find solace in these comforting digital realms, where the gravest mistake you can make is forgetting to hit save. For many, video games are loud, violent, and competitive. But for some they are the opposite: quiet, soft, and low-stakes. Welcome to the world of cozy gaming. 

Published: 2024-11-23 10:00:00

5 ways that filmmakers are using AI to create a new aesthetic

The often-eerie vibe of so much AI-generated imagery works well for chronicling contemporary ills, a fact that several filmmakers use to unexpected effect. Type text into AI image and video generators, and you’ll often see outputs of unusual, sometimes creepy, pictures.

Published: 2024-11-23 09:00:00

Trump to tap investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to lead Treasury department, say sources

Prominent investor Scott Bessent has reportedly been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to take on the role of U.S. Treasury secretary. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pick prominent investor Scott Bessent to take on the role of U.S. Treasury secretary, sources told Reuters on Friday, putting him at the helm of a cabinet position with vast influence over economic, regulatory, and international affairs.

Published: 2024-11-23 00:15:00

Most Americans don’t expect to ever get rich, but they think the next generation will

A new survey from Fidelity finds Americans at all income levels worry about losing their money, and most don’t see themselves as wealthy. While inflation has slowed to 2%, prices are still 20% higher than they were four years ago. Fidelity released the findings of its 2024 State of Wealth Mobility study, which consisted of 1,900 American adults over the age of 18, and set out to identify their thoughts on managing their money and meeting their financial goals. Here are some of the key highlights:

Published: 2024-11-22 23:15:00

‘PDF to brainrot’ tools are bringing TikTok visuals to Gen Alpha’s academics

Companies such as Coconote and StudyRot are now letting users turn their study guides into brainrot videos. If you’ve never heard the term “skibidi” or “sigma,” congratulations, your brain is not yet rotted. Brainrot is a term used to describe low-quality internet content and the effects of spending too much time consuming it. Otherwise known as, being terminally online. However, several AI-based study tools are putting it to good use. 

Published: 2024-11-22 22:38:44

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