Distracted Consumers Could Pause Holiday Shopping Around Election, But They’ll Come Back

Microsoft launched Xbox nearly 25 years ago as a competitor to Sony's PlayStation. Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty ImagesMicrosoft launched its Xbox gaming console nearly 25 years ago. The brand has become beloved, owning popular gaming franchises like "Call of Duty" and "Minecraft."Read about the Xbox's history, and how it became a staple of the gaming industry.

Getty Images; iStock; Natalie Ammari/BINarrativa is among a crop of startups seizing on the artificial intelligence boom to enthusiastically automate writing tasks that would once have fallen to humans. From penning regulatory documentation for Pfizer to zhuzhing up marketing copy for insurance and e-commerce firms and helping generate breaking news articles for The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles-based Narrativa boasts roughly 50 clients in various industries.

Eliott Edge pours a booze-free drink behind the bar at Hekate. Katie Balevic. Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge offers a sober experience in New York City. BI visited Hekate following the US Surgeon General's report linking alcohol to cancer. Though alcohol use soared amid the pandemic, there is a blossoming sober-curious movement.

A Ukrainian soldier controls an FPV drone using a special controller in Donetsk. Roman Chop/Global Images Ukraine via Getty ImagesUkraine's new attack in Kursk is featuring some impressive drone jamming, Russian military bloggers said. The bloggers reported that Ukrainian forces were able to break through because of "powerful electronic warfare."it's made it difficult for Russian drone operators to work in the area, they wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed his government to cooperate with China on AI development and expects a progress report in April. Sergei Guneyev/AFP via Getty ImagesRussian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government and a big bank to work with China on AI. Russia has been seeking tech alternatives post-Ukraine invasion due to Western sanctions.

Sam Altman's leadership philosophy aligns with that of other tech leaders. Markus Schreiber/APSam Altman says his researchers still push back in meetings — a positive for him. Altman previously wrote that he was against bureaucracy and supported fostering open communication. Workplace experts emphasize polite disagreement as a way to maintain a team's trust and efficiency.