'watch Party'? Facebook's Got A New Way To Keep You Engaged

The company has open-sourced a tech standard that easily connects AI apps to data stores and AI tools. Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week here.

Black Friday is an environmental catastrophe. These brands offer alternative approaches. Black Friday transforms consumerism into a blood sport. Even before the Thanksgiving meal is over, Americans are scanning brands’ websites for promotions. The day itself is the biggest day of the year for in-person shopping, as people brave the crowds to score deals.

The balloon-filled event begins on Thursday morning in New York City. Here’s how cord-cutters can stream it live. Since 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been entertaining the masses while the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce are being prepared. On paper, that makes 2024 the centennial year, but the parade did not take place from 1942-44 because of World War II, so the big 100th birthday is still a couple years away.

Elizabeth Garner has been Colorado’s demographer for two decades, and her deputy, Cindy DeGroen, has been on the job for closer to three decades. They uncovered what story the population numbers were telling and then told that story to anyone who would listen. “Our goal is to be as close to right as possible.

Workers clean snow in front of the statue of King Sejong at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joonA snowstorm blanketed South Korea's capital on Wednesday and Thursday, photos show. The snowstorm was the heaviest in the month of November since records began in 1907. The severe weather resulted in at least five deaths and led to transportation chaos.

Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk have been tapped by Donald Trump to help cut government spending. Michael M. Santiago, Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesThe Biden administration is set to loan Rivian $6.6 billion to finish an EV factory in Georgia. Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the move as a "political shot across the bow" at fellow DOGE boss Elon Musk.