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Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI is suing Apple and OpenAI in a Texas federal court for allegedly scheming to block other AI competition after threatening a suit weeks ago.  Suggested Reading The suit filed Monday claims that “working in tandem,” Apple and OpenAI have “locked up markets” in order to “maintain their monopolies” and prevent others “like X and xAI from competing.”  Related Content It added that xAI is suing to stop the two tech giants from “perpetrating their anticompetitive scheme.” Musk’s AI company seeks billions in damages.  OpenAI and Apple announced a partnership back in June 2024 through which the iPhone maker planned to incorporate ChatGPT — OpenAI’s chatbot — into its iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Siri, and Writing Tools later that year.  “As a result of Apple and OpenAI’s exclusive arrangement, ChatGPT is the only generative AI chatbot that benefits from billions of user prompts originating from hundreds of millions of iPhones,” the lawsuit said. “This makes it hard for competitors of ChatGPT’s generative AI chatbot and super apps powered by generative AI chatbots to scale and innovate.”  The lawsuit claims Apple is showing preference to OpenAI in its App Store by “deprioritizing the apps of competing generative AI chatbots and super apps” in its App Store rankings.  “This latest filing is consistent with Mr. Musk’s ongoing pattern of harassment,” an OpenAI spokesperson told Quartz. Apple did not immediately respond to Quartz’s request for comment.  On Aug. 11, Musk said in a post on X that xAI would take “immediate legal action” against the iPhone maker for alleged prejudice in its App Store.  Musk went on to claim that Apple won’t let any AI app reach the top spot in its store other than OpenAI’s ChatGPT.  “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action,” he said. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to Musk’s claim in his own post on X. “This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn’t like,” Altman said. A community note was added to Musk’s post negating his allegations; it cited articles that detail times when other AI companies, including DeepSeek and Perplexity, held the top spot in Apple’s App Store after its OpenAI deal was announced.  Musk originally helped start OpenAI as a nonprofit. Last year he sued the company and its CEO Sam Altman for alleged breach of contract, CNBC reported, and in the lawsuit Musk tried to block the ChatGPT owner from turning it into a for-profit company.  XAI updated its own status and is no longer a public benefit corporation, according to Nevada state records, CNBC reported.  Musk, along with a group of investors, made a bid to buy the nonprofit that owns OpenAI for $97.4 billion in February. A court filing from Thursday found that Musk had asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to get involved in his bid. 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Read More

The outlook for the U.S. economy is grim according to Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody’s Analytics. In a post on X Sunday, he shared state-level data showing the nation is on the “edge of recession.” Suggested Reading “Based on my assessment of various data, states making up nearly a third of U.S. GDP are either in or at high risk of recession, another third are just holding steady, and the remaining third are growing,” he wrote.   Related Content States at risk of or already experiencing recession are spread out across the country, according to Zandi’s data, but the broader Washington D.C. area “stands out” because of recent federal government job cuts. From January to May, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia — the area known as the DMV — lost about 22,100 federal workers, according to the Federal Reserve. The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, started slashing federal jobs shortly after President Trump’s inauguration allegedly to reduce federal spending.  After the U.S. capital region, Zandi ranked West Virginia, Iowa, Maine, New Jersey, and South Dakota — in that order — as in or at high risk of being in a recession.  Overall, he ranked 22 states, including D.C., as “recession/high risk,” 13 states as “treading water,” and 16 states as in “expansion.”  “Southern states are generally the strongest, but their growth is slowing,” Zandi added. “California and New York, which together account for over a fifth of U.S. GDP, are holding their own, and their stability is crucial for the national economy to avoid a downturn.” California makes up 14.5% of total U.S. GDP while New York makes up 7.92%, according to Zandi’s data.  Zandi ranked both California and New York in his chart as “treading water” while he ranked states like South Carolina, Idaho, and Texas, among others, as expanding.  On Aug. 17, Zandi also said a third of the U.S. economy’s industries is already in a recession, including the federal government, manufacturing, and agriculture.  In a response to one X user, Zandi said his assessment is based on payroll and household employment and industrial production, among other measures of economic activity. However, Zandi said this measure isn’t intended to be “predictive,” adding that Moody’s has created leading recession indicators based on a machine learning algorithm — but he noted, “more about that soon.”  Zandi had been warning that recent U.S. policies were acting as a drag on the economy since the beginning of August. “The tariffs are cutting increasingly deeply into the profits of American companies and the purchasing power of American households. Fewer immigrant workers means a smaller economy,” he posted on X. He wrote that “the economy is on the precipice of recession.” “Consumer spending has flatlined, construction and manufacturing are contracting, and employment is set to fall. And with inflation on the rise, it is tough for the Fed to come to the rescue,” he added.   📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Read More

All-in-one printers, as the name suggests, do more than just print. They can scan, copy and fax documents large and small, whether you’re looking for one for your home office or small business. If you’re seeking a do-it-all machine, I can help: As the lead tech editor at Forbes Vetted, I’ve been testing and reviewing printers for years, including hardware that can handle that printing, scanning, faxing and more. After extensive research and testing, our team found that the best all-in-one printer is the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e, thanks to its versatile design, fast output and the ability to automatically print (and scan) double-sided documents. The best all-in-one printers are versatile powerhouses that can print, copy, scan and more. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers If the long-term cost of maintaining your next all-in-one printer is a priority, the more affordable Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J4335DW should be your go-to choice. From speedy double-sided printers to monochrome devices like the HP LaserJet Tank MFP2604sdw, the best all-in-one printers can help streamline your document creation and handling needs; I’ve done plenty of research and testing myself, and I’ve worked with several other Forbes Vetted staffers who helped with additional evaluations as well. (And, if you’re looking for a printer specifically for a home office, check out our guide to the best home printers, too.) Our Top Recommendations Best All-In-One Printer Overall: HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e Best Value All-In-One Printer: HP Envy 6555e Best Midrange All-In-One Printer: Brother MFC-J5855DW Best Inkjet All-In-One Printer: HP Smart Tank 7301 Best All-In-One Monochrome Printer: HP LaserJet-Tank MFP 2604SDW Best Overall HP HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e Forbes Vetted Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence. Type: Inkjet | Features: Print, copy, scan, fax | Color: Yes | Two-sided printing: Automatic | Tray capacity: 250 sheets | Wireless: Yes Best for: Homes and small offices Rapid printing, scanning and copying Skip if: You don’t print enough to get value from the ink subscription You have no patience for glitches, like pages sometimes being out of order The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is easy to set up and, based on our testing, offers speedy print speeds. For the average single-sided six-page job, the printer took around 35.6 seconds. It has a slew of features, from copying, scanning and mobile connectivity via the HP Smart App (which is available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, so you can print and scan so long as you have an internet connection). The HP Smart App comes in handy for another reason: It can connect to Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and HP’s Scan Cloud, so you can scan, upload and send documents hassle-free. The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is a sturdy printer. It has a useful, albeit small, 2.7-inch touchscreen display for easy access to commands. Victoria Hess for Forbes Our tester noted that the 2.7-inch touchscreen display felt a little claustrophobic. Those with larger hands may prefer a device with a larger touchscreen so you’re they’re accidentally pressing buttons they don’t mean to. The Ink Cartridges Aren’t Cheap, But They Last The tank uses a set of four EvoMore cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow. If you find yourself needing to replace all four, expect to pay $239. They deliver 2,500 monochrome pages and 1,650 color pages, so they do last a while before it’s time to invest in more. But chances are slim they’ll run out simultaneously, and if you just need one, a black cartridge will cost you $80 and a color one around $53. You can opt into the HP Instant Ink subscription, which automatically orders ink for you when you’re low. It starts at $1.49 per month, though we recommend against it unless you plan to print heaps of paper. The paper tray holds 250 sheets, which is plenty for most print tasks. Victoria Hess for Forbes Our tester also noted that every so often, the printed pages came out in a different order than printed. If you’re printing massive jobs, that may be an issue. But if most of your print jobs are 10 pages or less, it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker—though you’ll want to keep this in mind before you staple them together. We also named this printer our best home printer after rigorous testing. Coupons By Forbes VettedThe Best HP Promo Codes | Online Promo Codes, Offers & Discounts Best Value Forbes Vetted Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence. Type: Inkjet | Features: Print, copy, scan, mobile fax | Color: Yes | Two-sided printing: Automatic | Tray capacity: 60 sheets | Wireless: Yes Best for: Printing without spending a fortune on a printer and paper Students and teenagers who need a printer for the occasional paper due Skip if: You need fast print jobs For a supposedly “no frills” printer, the HP Envy 6555e comes with printing, scanning, copying and faxing, so it can do everything that the HP OfficeJet 9125e can. There are a few differences between the two models—and one of them is price. It retails for $180, but you can find it on sale for around $100 pretty frequently. As such, its our choice for the best value option on this list, given its blend of features and cost. The HP Envy 6555E suits nicely for cramped spaces, according to our tester. Brinda Ayer for Forbes The device is pretty large, which surprised our tester; compared to the other options on the market, however, it still has a lower profile and would fit nicely even in a cramped office space. In order to install the cartridges correctly, our tester notes that “you have to push upward instead of downward,” which they felt was confusing and prolonged the setup just a bit. Outside of that glitch, though, setting up the printer was straightforward. With A Low Price Comes A Slow Print Speed While this printer can complete the same major

COLLEGE PARK, MD – JULY 27: Frances Tiafoe hosts a youth tennis clinic after announcing the launch of The Frances Tiafoe Fund, Thursday, July 27, 2023, at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md. (Julia Nikhinson/For The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post via Getty Images Frances Tiafoe is among a handful of American male hopefuls vying to win the 2025 U.S. Open. His bid to win his first Grand Slam title begins today against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. Days before his opening-round match, Tiafoe co-hosted an event with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud to introduce “Poulet à la Tiafoe,” a reimagined peanut butter stew, and a mocktail called the “Big Foe Fizz.” Curating haute cuisine is far different than Tiafoe’s childhood experience when he slept in a storage room of a Washington, DC, area tennis center, where his father worked as a janitor. Eventually, Tiafoe’s parents, immigrants from Sierra Leone, got him into the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in College Park, Maryland. “Without the JTCC, I don’t have a career , quite literally,” Tiafoe told reporters during the DC Open last month. Today, the USTA Foundation announced the launch of a new Community Impact Hub initiative in 10 communities across the country, including JTCC. With an initial $6 million investment, the goal of this pilot program is to serve as a blueprint on how to grow the game in under-resourced communities and embed tennis as a catalyst for holistic community change, potentially discovering the next Tiafoe. “Community Impact Hubs are designed to really multiply the impact of of the work that’s already happening to support kind of the ecosystem around these young people,” said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO of the USTA Foundation, in an interview with Forbes.com. The USTA Foundation supports 270 community-based organizations nationwide through its National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. Organizations submitted proposals to participate in the Community Impact Hub pilot program. The following are the 10 pilot locations: Advantage Cleveland Tennis and Education – Cleveland Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation (AYTEF) and L.E.A.D. Center for Youth – Atlanta Cincinnati Tennis Foundation – Cincinnati Houston Tennis Association – Houston Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) – College Park, Md. MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation, Inc. – Jacksonville, Fla. New York Junior Tennis & Learning – New York City Sloane Stephens Foundation – Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Tennis Memphis – Memphis, Tenn. Woodcraft Rangers – Los Angeles Ehrlich said the hubs will dramatically scale the foundation’s efforts to offer access to tennis and all of its benefits to communities that need it most through no-cost school and family play opportunities, coach training, and investment in courts in under-resourced communities. Breaking Barriers And Bridging Gaps In Tennis LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 5: Hailey Baptiste of United States of America, Eric Hechtman of United States of America, Frances Tiafoe of United States of America, Franklin Tiafoe of United States of America during Day Six of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty Images) Getty Images The launch of this project coincides with this year’s U.S. Open theme, “75 Years of Breaking Barriers,” which celebrates tennis legend Althea Gibson and other players who broke through color barriers. According to the USTA Foundation, the initiative is projected to reach over 630,000 young people and families, implement new youth tennis programming in over 570 schools, refurbish at least 160 tennis courts, and recruit over 2,000 new coaches in Hub communities nationwide by the end of 2027. WTA player Hailey Baptiste is a product of the JTCC, and so is her coach, Franklin Tiafoe, Frances’s twin brother. Both are evidence of the NJTL’s success at offering kids opportunities through tennis. “What we know is that these young people do so well. Ninety-one percent of the young people in our program make gains in social, emotional well-being and skills related to social and emotional well-being,” said Ehrlich. “Ninety-nine percent complete advanced grade levels on time, and 91% graduate from high school. And all of these numbers are tracking well above their peers who are coming from the same kind of financially challenged households.” Research supports that participation in youth sports contributes to emotional, mental, and physical development. However, inequities in access to youth sports persist and not all youth have equal access to sports. Arthur Ashe: Pioneer In Diversity And Equity American tennis player Arthur Ashe, wearing a black t-shirt with lighter detail on the right shoulder, poses with children holding their racquet bags, at the 67th American Tennis Association (ATA) National Tournament, at the Sportsmen’s Tennis Club in Boston, Massachusetts, 1983. The ATA is the United States’ oldest African-American sports organisation. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Getty Images In the current political climate, the phrase ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ has come under fire. As politicians legislate an end to DEI programs, the USTA Foundation is committed to an initiative inspired by sports legend Arthur Ashe Jr., who believed that “tennis is the world’s greatest teacher. ” Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder founded the NJTL in 1969, a time when many schools in the South were still segregated and decades before DEI became a political issue. “The politics are what the politics are, but we’re here in the community serving our youth and our families every day,” said Mackenzi Stewart, director of tennis at the L.E.A.D. tennis program in Atlanta. “We can’t really afford to get caught up in the politics and what’s, popular to do and what’s not popular to do, because families, and specifically my girls in my program, they have needs that need to be met . . . It means everything to be able to receive this kind of support in this type of political climate, because I can’t stop my work because of somebody else up in DC or something else got going on.” Stewart played tennis at Southern University and took advantage of a scholarship

Many women discover they have ADHD during menopause or perimenopause due to hormonal changes exacerbating previously manageable symptoms or triggering new ones. getty Despite growing awareness, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is still widely misunderstood. The myths linger: that ADHD is just a childhood condition, that it looks the same in girls and boys, that adults who forget things or struggle with deadlines are simply “lazy.” These outdated ideas are harmful. They delay diagnosis, deny people the right support, and leave many women silently struggling with symptoms that limit their lives, especially as hormones shift in midlife. The invisible presentation of ADHD in women For years, women have been mislabeled. Instead of being recognized as individuals with ADHD, they’ve been called unreliable, dramatic, too emotional, or scattered. Inside, however, they describe an entirely different story: crushing overwhelm, catastrophic thinking, chronic stress, and a constant fear of letting people down. The problem is that women’s ADHD symptoms often present differently from men’s. As Shanna Pearson, founder of Expert ADHD Coaching, explained, “Because the more severe symptoms of ADHD in women often show up as emotional dysregulation and invisible internal struggles, we’re far more likely to be screened for anxiety or depression than for ADHD. The problem is that the most common screening tools measure symptoms that almost completely overlap with ADHD.” That overlap has meant decades of misdiagnosis. Too many women end up treated for the wrong conditions while ADHD, the true driver, remains hidden. Why menopause unmasks ADHD Many women discover they have ADHD during menopause or perimenopause due to hormonal changes exacerbating previously manageable symptoms or triggering new ones. getty Hormones are a huge part of the story. Many women discover they have ADHD during menopause or perimenopause due to hormonal changes exacerbating previously manageable symptoms or triggering new ones. Estrogen, in particular, plays a key role in how ADHD shows up across a woman’s life. Lora Shahine, MD, reproductive endocrinologist at PNWF in Seattle and host of Brave and Curious podcast in Seattle, put it plainly: “As women enter perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels fluctuate and then decline more dramatically. Estrogen plays a critical role in regulating dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter most closely tied to focus, motivation, and executive function. When estrogen levels fall, dopamine signaling is reduced, and this can magnify challenges with attention, organization, and working memory.” In other words, estrogen has been masking or buffering ADHD symptoms for years. Once it declines, the protection disappears. For many women, this is the tipping point. Suddenly, the scattered thinking, the inability to juggle tasks, or the emotional volatility becomes impossible to ignore. Pearson added that by menopause, estrogen can decrease by as much as 65%. “Because estrogen directly impacts dopamine, the brain chemical tied to attention, motivation, and executive function, this hormonal shift often triggers intense focus issues, mood swings, and a dramatic worsening of ADHD symptoms. For many women, this stage of life feels like the most difficult yet, as the coping strategies that had been working for them throughout their entire life suddenly stop working.” ADHD Diagnosis as relief, not a label The impact of finally getting a correct diagnosis can be profound. Dr. Mukesh Kripalani, Lead Psychiatrist at The ADHD Centre, described it this way: “Getting an ADHD diagnosis doesn’t change who you are, but it does change your understanding of yourself. It helps you recognize your patterns, build on your strengths, and learn how to manage challenges in a way that works for your brain.” This shift in perspective is life-changing. Instead of blaming themselves for years of missed deadlines, lost keys, and emotional turbulence, women finally have an explanation. And with that explanation comes access to appropriate tools: medication, therapy, coaching, and most importantly, self-acceptance. As research in the British Medical Journal and other publications highlights, appropriate diagnosis and treatment are linked to improved workplace stability, stronger relationships, and a reduced risk of burnout and mental health crises. The costs of ADHD misdiagnosis Still, the consequences of missed or incorrect diagnoses can last decades. Women often internalize their difficulties, believing the struggles are personal failings. Careers are stalled. Promotions are missed. Relationships strain under the weight of constant misunderstandings. Families often feel helpless, watching someone they love cycle through treatments that don’t work. As Pearson shared, “Most women with ADHD are flagged as having ‘moderate to severe’ anxiety or depression, while the true underlying condition, ADHD, remains completely overlooked. The impact is profound: confidence erodes, careers and relationships suffer, and quality of life steadily declines.” The wrong medications can even make things worse, deepening the despair and reinforcing the belief that nothing will ever help. Yet when the correct diagnosis is finally made, it is not unusual for women to describe the experience as a complete turning point. Why workplaces need to care about ADHD Work is one of the first places where the symptoms of ADHD and the consequences of being undiagnosed show up. Missed deadlines, forgotten meetings, or emotional exhaustion don’t just impact individuals; they ripple across teams and organizations. At the same time, with the right support, adults with ADHD bring enormous strengths to the table: creativity, big-picture thinking, empathy, and adaptability. Recognizing and supporting ADHD is not just a health issue; it’s a talent retention issue. Pearson emphasized that workplaces can do a lot, even with simple shifts. “In workplaces, policies should actively support adults with ADHD by offering flexible workflows, coaching resources, and practical accommodations that sustain focus and achievement. Simple shifts, such as delivering information one action item at a time, keeping staff meetings concise, or limiting focus to two key projects at a time, can help prevent overwhelm paralysis and radically increase productivity.” There’s also an opportunity to normalize conversations about neurodiversity. Creating environments where women feel safe disclosing their ADHD and accessing resources without stigma can make the difference between losing talent and unlocking extraordinary potential. Tools to manage ADHD for midlife women Managing ADHD during perimenopause or menopause often requires a

Topline The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate Monday, requesting it turn over a list of documents including a “birthday book” that allegedly contains a letter from President Donald Trump, according to a Wall Street Journal story the president is suing the news outlet over. The subpoena was filed Monday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Key Facts The subpoena is signed by committee chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., and demands a “leather bound book” compiled by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell for the disgraced financier’s 50th birthday. It also demands the estate turn over the last will and testament of Epstein, all disclosure agreements executed by Epstein between 1990 and 2010 and “any document or record that could be reasonably construed to be a potential list of clients involved in sex, sex acts, or sex trafficking facilitated by” Epstein. The letter from Trump allegedly in the “birthday book” was characterized by the Journal as “bawdy,” reportedly containing lines of typewritten text within the outline of a hand-drawn naked woman with a squiggly “Donald” signed below her waist to mimic pubic hair. Comer said in a statement the committee is “reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation” of Epstein and Maxwell, as well as the circumstances around Epstein’s death in 2019. The subpoena requests the documents be turned over by Sept. 8. Forbes has reached out to the White House for comment. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here. What Has Trump Said About The “birthday Book” And Epstein Files? Trump accused the Journal of describing a “fake letter” in its report, claiming, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.” The president has insisted the Epstein files are a “big hoax” and blasted his critics as “weaklings.” Trump has also said “PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bull—-,’ hook, line, and sinker.” Tangent Bradley Edwards, an attorney for some of Epstein’s victims, told MSNBC in July the existence of the book “is an absolute fact” and that Epstein’s estate would likely comply with a subpoena for it. Estate representatives told MSNBC it “will comply with all lawful process.” Big Number 97%. That is the share of Epstein files recently shared by the Justice Department with Congress that House Oversight Committee Democrats have said were already public. Key Background Trump has faced increased scrutiny over his administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Last year, the president told Fox News he would declassify the files. Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News this year the Epstein client list was “sitting on my desk right now” before later claiming she was referring to documents related to Epstein’s prosecution. Tensions reached a fever pitch after the Justice Department said in a July 7 memo there would be no further release of Epstein records and it did not have an alleged Epstein client list. The Trump administration appeared to attempt to appease renewed public and political interest in the files by asking courts to unseal the grand jury materials in the cases against Maxwell and Epstein, though attempts have so far been unsuccessful as critics have said the materials will not reveal as much as the Epstein files held by the Justice Department. The DOJ released last week the full transcript of an interview with Maxwell in which she said she never witnessed any “inappropriate” behavior by people connected to Epstein, including Trump and former President Bill Clinton, though Maxwell has faced criticism for allegedly lying under oath in the past. Further Reading Here’s Every Known Link Between Trump And Epstein: ‘Jeff — You Are The Greatest!’ Trump Reportedly Signed Book (Forbes) Trump Rips ‘Weaklings’ Who Criticized Handling Of Epstein Files—Calls It ‘Big Hoax’ (Forbes) Democrats Say 97% Of Epstein Files Given To Congress Were Already Public (Forbes) DOJ Releases Ghislaine Maxwell Transcript: Denies Any Wrongdoing By Epstein’s Friends—Including Trump And Clinton (Forbes) Read More

Painterland Sisters cofounders Hayley and Stephanie Painter Painterland Sisters Pennsylvania dairy farmers Stephanie and Hayley Painter recently took a trip to Iceland–in awe of the arctic terrain’s similarities to their Appalachian farm. Steep, green hills, difficult to grow crops on, but absolutely perfect for grazing cows. That’s when it all started to click for the sisters, at the early stages of building a dairy empire, inspired to create creamy, nutrient-dense Icelandic skyr for every American–part of an ambitious effort to boost support for organic farms. They nearly had to shut down their fourth-generation family farm when the dairy market began prioritizing industrial-scale farming. Now its the last one standing in their township, thanks to their carefully crafted approach to selling skyr. The precocious brand heads one step closer to that empire today, about three and a half years since selling its first cup of yogurt. Painterland Sisters reveals to me it has raised a 7-figure seed round while also expanding its presence nationwide at Whole Foods Market, marking 5,000 shelves in all 50 states. “Our mission is to connect consumers and farmers together,” Hayley Painter tells me. “We want to bridge that gap to keep farmers farming.” Hayley and Stephanie Painter Painterland Sisters Life In Tioga County Painterland Farms, the source of everything Painterland Sisters, is the last remaining dairy farm in Westfield, Pennsylvania, along the New York State border. “The township used to have a bountiful amount [of farms] ,” Hayley says. “There were hundreds…all small. They had their barn, their house and their grazing hill.” Growing up, farming is all that felt right in the Painter household. “We couldn’t even afford yogurt,” Stephanie tells me. “Yet our lives were so full and we were so proud.” The Painters have been milking cows in Tioga County, Pennsylvania since the 1940s. The Painters are one with their land and one with their cattle. “We knew that it would be our turn to take the baton to preserve this way of life,” Stephanie says, “but we didn’t know exactly how we were going to do that.” Painterland Farms in Tioga County, PA Painterland Sisters The difficult terrain in the region makes for less than ideal conditions for conventional farming. “These hills and valleys here are so steep,” Hayley explains. “You can’t put a house there, you can’t grow vegetables.” During the Great Recession, railroads stopped going to Tioga County because more money was to be made elsewhere where more milk could be produced in industrial settings. Dairy processing plants shuttered and organic farming as a whole there essentially disappeared. “If we don’t graze our animals there, then we can’t access those nutrients,” Hayley says. “The biodiversity that grazing cows benefits for the ecosystem is so huge–the bees, the butterflies, the wildlife–they all flourish if cows can access that land.” “A lot of farmers struggled and just had to hunker down and live thinly,” she continues. “We sold a lot of hay those couple years to mushroom farmers.” Sadly, after about a decade of getting by, the dairy market tanked. “We called everywhere in the country…no one would take our milk…we were going to have to sell the cows.” But as Stephanie says, “we’re farmers…you figure out how to create something with a shoestring and bubble gum.” Painterland Sisters skyr yogurt Painterland Sisters Ultra-Filtered Icelandic Skyr The Painter sisters refuse to ever remain at the mercy of the market, so they decided to move forward with creating a dairy product to help save their farm. The only one that was totally off the table was yogurt, which neither of them were big fans of, whatsoever. But fate would have it so that they would meet a co-manufacturer, Gunnar, who had just moved to Pennsylvania from his native Iceland to try and globalize the popularity of skyr. “His family is made of a long line of skyr makers,” Stephanie says. “He’s uncompromising on quality.” Instantly, they knew skyr yogurt would be the product to bring to market, shocked at how different it was from everything they knew yogurt to otherwise be. “We wanted to bet everything on skyr.” Gunnar has since hosted Stephanie and Hayley in his Iceland to experience with their own eyes, ears and hands how authentic skyr is made. “Vikings needed nutrient-density….the cultures that they put in there make it so the protein is higher and the sugar is lower,” Hayley explains. “They filtered it to concentrate it down because they’re traveling with it, bringing it on hikes over that rough terrain.” Even though each single-serve container of Painterland Sisters yogurt is 5.3oz, they each contain four cups of milk. That’s because the ultra-filtration process creates a concentrate, inspired by Vikings straining milk through a cloth to create their classic skyr. Painterland Sisters skyr is different from others you may find on US retail shelves. The thickness also stems from its double cream 6% milkfat. “We wanted to reclaim the narrative on milk fat,” Stephanie says. Hayley was inspired by all the Brie that was growing in popularity at the time. “If you can have a double cream Brie,” she remembers thinking, “why can’t you have a double cream yogurt?” Painterland Sisters concentrates its skyr in a more gentle manner than other ultra-filtered yogurts, which are often processed in a centrifuge to remove water. “We keep all those micronutrients, all the whey protein in the product. When you treat the product more gently, it’s easier to digest,” says Hayley. The practicality of the nutrient-dense Icelandic skyr that spoke to the Painter Sisters was just the starting point. It was the emotional connection too that made it a no-brainer to continue down the path of producing skyr. “Even though we were countries and generations apart, we had the same heart and the same mission of continuing our families’ legacies and quality products,” Stephanie says about her experience with Gunnar in Iceland. “Our roots are the same.” Painterland Sisters skyr yogurt Painterland Sisters Creating A Stable Dairy Market The Painter family

Superman WB We can talk about superhero fatigue not being a thing, as those making superhero movies often do, but here in 2025? There’s significant evidence that is indeed happening, no matter how well-liked the films may be. They’re earning far less than they used to, and that is especially true overseas in places like Asia. Many countries like China are just…done with this genre. With Superman and Fantastic Four slowing to a crawl in terms of their earnings, we now can say for certain that this is the worst-earning year for superhero movies since 2011, 14 years ago, and when the MCU was first spooling up with movies like Thor and Captain America and X-Men: First Class. But none of them passed $700 million, and now that is true of 2025. Only one barely made it to $600 million. Here are the totals, along with some other relevant information. Superman – $604 million, 42% international, 83% critic score, 90% audience score The Fantastic Four: First Steps – $490 million, 47.5% international, 87% critic score, 91% audience score Captain America: Brave New World – $415 million, 51.7% international, 46% critic score, 76% audience score Thunderbolts – $382 million, 50.2% international, 88% critic score, 93% audience score Thunderbolts: Not bad Marvel What points am I making here? Again, Superman is the only film to cross even $500 million, though Fantastic Four may limp there. And this performance is despite the fact that at least Superman, Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts were very, very well-liked by the critics and fans that actually saw them. There were just…less fans that actually saw them. These aren’t bad movies! The international percentage may seem okay with most hovering around 50%. But keep in mind this is the entire rest of the world. To cherry pick a few examples, Avengers: Endgame had 69.3% international earnings. Spider-Man: No Way Home had 57% international earnings, and so did Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Famous flop The Marvels had 59% international. That 42% for Superman in particular brutal, and James Gunn even blamed anti-American sentiment on that. Albeit, Captain “America,” was almost 10% higher than that. 2026 is a big test. Spider-Man: Brand New Day should easily earn a billion dollars, and if it doesn’t, that’s even more evidence that things are crashing. Avengers: Doomsday is allegedly out at the end of the year, and that too needs to be a huge earner. That said, this year was also a test with a big new DCU-launching Superman movie out and the arrival of the enormously important Fantastic Four. But again, record lows. We’ll see if things can improve from here, but the golden age simply seems to be slipping to silver or copper. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy. Read More

Change your password now. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Republished on August 25 with new attack reports and advice to users. Google has confirmed that hackers are gaining access to Gmail accounts, and that compromised passwords are behind a significant number of “successful intrusions.” But there’s a separate warning from the tech giant that must now be addressed — most Gmail users must change their passwords to secure their accounts. This month we have seen a raft of warnings (1,2,3) that “all 2.5 billion Gmail users are now at risk” after Google’s own Salesforce database was hacked. We have also seen the latest warnings (1,2) that scammers pretending to be Google support staff are targeting account holders via emails and calls, using Google’s own AI to help do so. Before this latest set of hacks and warnings, Google had already warned that most account holders need to upgrade the security on those accounts. That means using a form of two-factor authentication that’s not SMS, and even more critically adding a passkey to accounts and then using that as the default form of sign-in. ForbesGoogle’s Unbeatable Pixel Update—Samsung’s Galaxy Falls BehindBy Zak Doffman But most users do not yet have passkeys on their accounts and still rely on passwords, perhaps with some rudimentary form of 2FA. All these attacks lead to fake sign-in pages that steal your password, and sometimes add an additional step to either trick you into sharing a 2FA code or to bypass the need for that 2FA code completely. You can read more about strong, more difficult to hack passwords here. But as recent Amazon and PayPal attacks also highlight, if you don’t set strong passwords and if you use those passwords across multiple accounts, then you’re at serious risk. Google confirms that only 36% of users “regularly update passwords.” That means most users need to update passwords now and to do so regularly. While adding and defaulting to passkeys is critical, unless passwords are deleted completely — as Microsoft suggests — then password access remains an inherent account weakness. If you haven’t changed your Gmail password this year, then do that now. Use a standalone password manager — not one built into Chrome or any other browser — to choose and save a new password. Then change your 2FA to an authenticator app. Bad password habits. Google / Morning Consult Obviously add a passkey if you don’t have one. And then stick rigidly to the use of that passkey. If any sign-in window asks for a password on a device with a passkey, that’s a red flag. And never sign-in via a link, even if that link seems to come from Google. The new week has started with no let up in warnings for Gmail users. Per PC World, “Google has confirmed the attacks and states that general data like customer and company names were leaked, but not passwords.” This means “users of Google services—including Gmail and Google Cloud—are now at risk of falling victim to phishing.” PC World reports that “initial reports of attempted attacks have already been seen on Reddit, which are likely related to the data leak. Users describe how alleged Google employees have contacted them by phone to inform them of a security breach.” ForbesDo Not Use These Networks On Your Phone, TSA Warns—Here’s WhyBy Zak Doffman A typical Redditor post, aded Monday, warns “this is the second time this email has sent a mail delivery subsystem email to me this week. I changed my password after the first time to be safe and didn’t click on the link. Assuming it’s phishing?” A response to the post suggests “it’s a new spam technique they spoof your email and send to google.com so you get the failure which included spam.” Regardless, if you stick to the rules and don’t respond to such emails and never use an emailed link to sign-in, you won’t be caught out. If you fear an account security issue, go to your Google account and click on Security—Review Security Activity. Read More

AI is full of promise as well as danger, and its greatest hopes may change how we live and work. From transforming healthcare and education to accelerating scientific discovery and fighting climate change Adobe Stock Recently, I wrote about what I see as the greatest risks of AI, from the loss of millions of jobs to the possibility of catastrophic misuse. Even as an optimist, I acknowledge there is plenty to worry about. Yet it is equally important to look at the other side of the coin. AI also carries immense hopes, with the potential to deliver huge benefits, tackle society’s most complex problems, and improve the lives of billions. Of course, none of these outcomes are guaranteed. Realizing AI’s promise depends on how responsibly it is designed and applied, with systems that are reliable, transparent, accountable, and trustworthy. With that in mind, here are what I believe are the greatest hopes for AI, along with ideas on how we can make them a reality. AI Will Make Work More Meaningful For Millions Of People One of the great hopes is that AI will shift our focus from tedious, repetitive work that can easily be done by machines, towards higher-value, more rewarding tasks. A simple example is a customer support agent who spends hours every day resetting passwords or answering the same three questions. A chatbot or virtual assistant can take care of these routine requests instantly, freeing the human agent to deal with complex issues that require empathy, judgment, and creativity. This shift not only improves efficiency but also allows employees to build skills and find greater satisfaction in their work. Research shows that when AI takes on mundane tasks, job satisfaction rises significantly. AI Will Boost Human Productivity As well as making work more enjoyable, AI can significantly boost productivity. Research from Salesforce shows that employees who use AI daily report average productivity gains of 64 percent. Another study looking at customer service, marketing, and coding found that across all three areas, people achieved more when they worked alongside AI tools. The challenge is to capture these gains without becoming overly dependent on technology in ways that erode important human skills like reasoning and critical thinking. AI Will Lead To A New Wave Of Scientific Progress This year, Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for AlphaFold, an AI system that predicts protein structures with remarkable accuracy. He has said AI’s greatest contribution will be to accelerate scientific discovery, and recent breakthroughs support this view. Beyond AlphaFold, researchers at MIT used generative AI to design two entirely new antibiotic candidates capable of killing drug-resistant gonorrhoea and MRSA superbugs in lab and animal tests. At a time when antibiotic resistance causes more than a million deaths annually, this development has been described as the start of a “second golden age” in antibiotic discovery. More broadly, AI can also scan millions of scientific papers, surface insights, and translate complex findings into accessible knowledge, helping researchers push the boundaries of medicine, energy, and our understanding of the universe. AI Will Revolutionize Healthcare AI has the potential to transform almost every part of healthcare, from diagnostics and treatment to aftercare and prevention. Research from Microsoft suggests AI systems can already outperform doctors at diagnosing certain illnesses, in some cases achieving four times greater accuracy. In the UK, the National Health Service is piloting AI tools that automatically generate patient discharge summaries, cutting paperwork and freeing up hospital capacity more quickly. These breakthroughs point to a future where AI could hugely improve patient outcomes, speed up care, and reduce costs. Still, success depends on addressing risks around data privacy, bias, and safety to ensure AI helps rather than harms. AI Will Solve The Climate Emergency AI could become one of our most powerful tools for fighting climate change by making everything from energy grids to smart cities more efficient. It is already being used to optimize renewable energy, with Google’s DeepMind showing how algorithms can increase the output of solar and wind farms. The same approach is helping data centers cut the water used for cooling and supporting the design of more advanced, environmentally friendly batteries. These innovations highlight how AI can drive sustainability at scale, although its own heavy energy demands mean the benefits must always be weighed against the costs. AI Will Improve Education For Everyone AI is set to reshape education by reducing routine workload for teachers and creating more personalized, engaging learning experiences. In the classroom, it can handle administrative tasks and adapt lessons to individual student needs, while outside the classroom, it can act as a personal tutor to support self-study. Importantly, AI also has the potential to expand access to quality education in underserved regions, helping to close long-standing gaps in opportunity. Research from Harvard University shows that AI-assisted learning can double student progress compared to traditional active learning methods. By raising educational standards worldwide, AI could help unlock the next wave of human innovation and creativity. AI Will Create A Fairer And More Equal Society When applied to societal challenges, AI has the potential to create more equitable outcomes. Initiatives like the Algorithm for Equality Manifesto highlight how AI can help reduce racial or gender bias in hiring and performance reviews, while also tackling inequality of access to opportunity. Beyond HR, AI is being explored as a way to design fairer systems for credit scoring, welfare distribution, and access to healthcare or housing. Some governments are piloting AI-driven tools to identify discrimination in public services or to improve transparency in decision-making. At the same time, ensuring fairness requires strong governance, diverse training data, and ongoing oversight to prevent algorithms from reinforcing existing inequalities rather than reducing them. Shaping The Future The speed with which AI is encroaching on our lives can seem overwhelming, so it’s not surprising that for some people it’s causing real anxiety. Yet it is equally important to recognize that AI has already delivered tangible breakthroughs across science,