World
OpenAI has set the goal of making an AI tool that could research its own improvements. Now, the company is preparing for the accompanying dangers.The potential for AI systems to achieve so-called “recursive self-improvement” has come to the forefront for AI leaders, after coding tools from OpenAI and Anthropic leaped…
Every month, Teagan Franz counts down the days until a colorful envelope arrives through her letterbox. Loading audio narration… Last month, it was red. Inside was a handwritten letter, a tarot card featuring the Greek goddess Artemis, a piece of card scented with homemade essential oils, toad stool stickers, and…
Once again, Switzerland has claimed the top spot as the best country in the world.The 2026 rankings, released Thursday, were compiled by US News & World Report in partnership with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.Unlike previous iterations of the list, this year’s rankings did away with a…
At Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy, part of the store's infrastructure is built from old books.Ihor Serdyukov/ShutterstockBookstores have been built in unexpected places, including bank vaults and former bomb shelters.Others are significant for their beauty, whether it’s from architecture or environmental conditions.Some bookstores in Europe have histories dating back…
Global life expectancy is on the rise, meaning a greater percentage of the population than ever before is made up of the elderly.But not every country has experienced this elder boom equally.The World Bank Group gathered data in 2024 on the percentages of populations aged 65 or older in different…
Burger King dropped a new “Star Wars”-themed lineup on May 4, and at least one item deserves a permanent spot on the menu.Burger King has a long track record of themed collaborations, from “SpongeBob SquarePants” to “How to Train Your Dragon.” Its latest is a limited-time menu tied to “Star…
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ryan Garrido, the owner of Dropshipping High Ticket, a dropshipping business that he runs while traveling the world. Garrido, 37, started his company while living overseas. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Loading audio narration… I think the…
Tickets for Miami’s Brightline railway will be up to six times the usual price for FIFA World Cup fans. Loading audio narration… A round trip between downtown Miami and Aventura, the Brightline station closest to the Hard Rock Stadium, typically costs $24. On days when it hosts World Cup games,…
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rei Onoda, 34, coowner of Kamijyoan, a bakery in rural Japan. Her words have been edited for length and clarity. Loading audio narration… After graduating from university, I moved to Dubai and worked as a cabin crew member for Emirates for…
President Donald Trump sure doesn’t sound like a prediction market enthusiast. Loading audio narration… Asked on Thursday if he was concerned about the potential for insider trading on prediction markets, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he was “never much in favor” of betting in financial markets.”The whole…
