As leaders, were swimming in messaging about AI transformation. And for good reason: AI is fundamentally changing the way we work, learn, and live.
But theres another technological revolution happening quietly in the background that could prove even more transformational for certain industries: quantum computing.
At Udemy, were committed to helping customers prepare for whats around the corner, not just whats happening at work today. In a recent analysis of Udemy platform data, minutes of video consumed in quantum computing courses were up 51% year over year in 2025 relative to the same months (January to July) in 2024. The Asia-Pacific region had the largest such growth in quantum course video consumption, largely driven by India and Japan, where 2025 minutes consumed were up 222% relative to 2024.
Organizations like McKinsey and the Bank of America, among many, are heralding quantum as a massive leap, with one analyst comparing it to the discovery of fire.
The big takeaway for the future of work is this: Quantum technology will reshape organizational capabilities in ways that are fundamentally different from AIs more visible disruption.
THE SILENT REVOLUTION: WHY QUANTUM IS DIFFERENT
Unlike AI, which is reshaping daily workflows and transforming individual productivity, quantum computing represents what I call a silent revolution. As Seth Hodgson, our SVP of engineering at Udemy, told me recently, Most people wont directly notice quantum computings impact, unlike AI which is visible in everyday work.
Yet behind the scenes, quantum will dramatically expand whats computationally possible (and indeed, already is in many organizations). Think of it as similar to how cloud computing transformed infrastructure without most end users noticing the change. The revolution happens in the background, but the competitive advantages are enormous.
WHY LEADERS SHOULD PAY ATTENTION NOW
The implications of this silent revolution are profound:
Quantum expands possibility rather than replacing workers
While AI conversations often focus on displacement, quantum computing will create entirely new categories of problem solvers. The most valuable talent will be empowered with radically expanded computational capabilities.
The new computational divide is forming
Organizations will increasingly split into two categories: those constrained by classical computing limitations and those liberated by quantum possibilities. This divide will reshape competitive landscapes in pharmaceuticals, materials science, logistics, and finance first. Eventually, it will touch every computation-heavy industry.
Problems youve abandoned as unsolvable will become addressable
As Seth pointed out, quantum computing will make currently infeasible computational challengeslike complex protein folding for drug discovery or massive optimization problemssuddenly solvable. The constraint wont be computational power but our imagination in applying it.
PREPARE YOUR ORGANIZATION: 3 LEADERSHIP ACTIONS
Based on these insights, here are three actions leaders should consider now:
1. Audit your computational challenges
Identify which business problems your organization has classified as too complex or computationally infeasible. These represent your quantum opportunity space. In pharmaceuticals, this might be molecular modeling; in logistics, it could be complex supply chain optimization.
2. Build quantum fluency among technical teams
As Seth emphasized, quantum requires fundamentally different thinking about algorithms and problem solving. The organizations that invest in quantum upskilling now will own the talent pipeline later. This doesnt mean everyone needs to understand quantum physics, but your technical leaders should comprehend its application possibilities.
3. Reframe problems for quantum advantage
The most significant competitive edge will come not from applying quantum to existing problems, but from reimagining what problems you can solve. Leaders should encourage their teams to think beyond current computational constraints.
THE QUANTUM-READY ORGANIZATION
While quantum computing remains in its early stages across many sectors, the organizations that prepare now by upskilling their workforces will gain disproportionate advantages later. The timeline may be uncertain, but the direction is clear: Quantum will transform what work becomes possible, not just how we do current work. The quantum transformation will be invisible to most, but revolutionary for those who harness it.
At Udemy, were exploring how to help organizations build a quantum-ready workforce through accessible education that demystifies these concepts. In the silent revolution of quantum computing, the winners will be the organizations with the vision to reimagine whats possible.
Hugo Sarrazin is CEO of Udemy.
AARP may not be quite ready for the HBO Max rebranding treatment, but the association is looking for new ways to be a resource earlier in life for its 125 million members.
Many people may still think of the nonprofit as their grandmothers AARP, even 26 years after the Washington-based nonprofit dropped its direct association with retirees and subsequently opened up membership to all adults 18 and older.
But there are more ways to engage with a younger demographic and earlier, according to Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, AARPs CEO.
What we recognize is that it’s important for us to be there earlier, and it’s important for us to be there at these important life momentswhether or not it’s your first job, when you’re planning for a family, when you start to think about retirement and saving,” says Minter-Jordan, speaking at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York this week. “That’s when you need to really understand the resources that AARP can offer.”
AARP’s new chapter
When Minter-Jordan was named CEO late last year, AARP promised a new chapter aheadand it is now rolling out a number of initiatives to that end.
In addition to a new brand strategy, AARP has also been advising companies about how to maximize the benefits of their intergenerational workforces and prevent age discrimination, partnering with Indeed to help older workers find work that matches their skills, helping members prepare for retirement, and advocating for a family caregiver tax credit.
As an internist, Minter-Jordan says that triaging comes naturally, so she has applied this type of process to understand where AARPs priorities should be.
Where do we get the best return on our mission and the best return on our investment? she says.
In addition to helping adults at earlier ages, AARP wants to find additional opportunities to be a valuable resource to people who are 50 or oldernow the fastest-growing demographic in the world, Minter-Jordan says.
And as the elder millennials approach their 50th birthdays, the organization will adapt and evolve the resources it provides to this demographic.
What’s next?
One myth that Minter-Jordan would like to debunk is that older adults dont use technology, a myth that factors into things like workplace dynamics and age discrimination during the hiring process.
It’s really important for us to make sure that that’s well known, so that as employers are looking for employees, they don’t have these sort of antiquated notions in their head of what an older individual can bring to the work, she says
Finally, by listening to what AARP members are concerned aboutbe it how AI will impact their careers or potential changes to social security or how to plan for retirement or juggle family caregivingthat will help the organization decide what issues to tackle next.
We all want to live longerI cant think of one person that I know that doesnt want to live longer, but how do we do that in a way that we feel empowered as we do so? she asked. There’s an opportunity now for us to continue to lead in this space and to continue to be a catalyst to others.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and seven states sued Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, on Thursday, for allegedly failing to crack down on ticket resellers and “engaging in illegal ticket resale tactics” by selling the “illegally harvested tickets at a substantial markup in the secondary market, causing consumers to pay significantly more than the face value of the ticket.”
Fast Company has reached out to Ticketmaster and Live Nation for comment and is awaiting their response.
The FTC press release alleged Ticketmaster used “deceptive pricing tactics” and earned “hundreds of millions selling tickets acquired illegally by brokers” which cost consumers “billions of dollars in inflated prices and additional fees.”
The agency further alleged in a complaint that California-based Ticketmaster and its parent company “deceived artists and consumers” by engaging in “bait-and-switch pricing” by advertising lower prices for tickets than what consumers must pay to purchase tickets; imposing “strict limits” on the number of tickets consumers could purchase for an eventeven though ticket brokers “routinely and substantially exceeded those limitsand sold millions of tickets on its platform, “often at much higher cost to consumers.”
The FTCs complaint alleged Ticketmaster’s practices violate the FTC Acts prohibition on deceptive acts or practices in the marketplace and the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act)and is seeking civil penalties, plus any additional monetary relief the court finds appropriate.
Ticketmaster is the leading provider of concert and event tickets. Founded in 2010, following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. promotes, operates and manages ticket sales for live entertainment in the U.S. and internationally.
President Donald Trump made it clear in his March Executive Order that the federal government must protect Americans from being ripped off when they buy tickets to live events, FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said in a statement. It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musicians show.
Shares of Live Nation (LYV) were down over 2.5% in midday trading on Thursday at the time of this writing.
Fast Company previously reported the FTC filed a lawsuit over the summer alleging brokers illegally scooped up tickets for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour and resold them for millions in profit; and on a backlash over Oasis ticket sales.
Live Nation Entertainment financials
For the second quarter for 2025, ending on June 30, Live Nation Entertainment reported revenue of $7 billion, up some 16%, an increase year-over-year with an operating income of $487 million, up 4%. It reported an earnings-per-share (EPS) of $0.41, which missed estimates of $1.08 by $0.67. It had a market capitalization of 38.74 billion at the time of this writing.
Hyundai just issued two separate recalls on its Palisade and Ioniq 6 vehicles, totaling more than 600,000 cars that might not be road safe.
The first recall, which constitutes the bulk of the total affected vehicles, is related to potentially faulty seat belts. The second is due to a defect on some electric models that could result in their charging port panels detaching on the road. Heres what to know about the two recalls:
Whats happened?
Both recall notices were published on September 12 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The first recall notice concerns an estimated 568,580 Hyundai Palisade vehicles. Per the description, Hyundai found that The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch, which could increase the risk of passenger injury during a crash.
The second notice is related to an additional 31,042 Ioniq 6 EVs. This model is being recalled because its charging port doors have been found to detach, which could create a road hazard for other vehicles.
Which cars are covered under the recall?
The two affected models are:
Palisade vehicles sold between 2020 – 2025, NHTSA ID Number 25V607000
Ioniq 6 vehicles sold between 2023 – 2025, NHTSA ID Number 25V606000
What should I do if I own a recalled model?
For those who own a recalled Palisade, the NHTSA notes that Passengers are advised to insert the belt firmly into the buckle with a quick and direct motion, pulling on the belt to confirm the seat belt is fully secured, until the recall remedy is performed. Hyundai dealers will inspect and replace any faulty seat belt buckle for free.
In the case of the Ioniq 6, owners can likewise bring their vehicle to a Hyundai dealer to have additional adhesive applied to the charging port door for free.
Hyundais recall number for the Ioniq 6 and Palisade are 282 and 283, respectively. The companys customer service can be reached at 1-855-371-9460.
Its not an easy time to be a documentary filmmaker.
Its getting harder to sell political contentat exactly the time when that storytelling is arguably needed most. Thats one of the reasons that Alex Gibney, the documentarian behind films like the Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side, partnered with Wendy Schmidt, the philanthropist, earlier this year. Schmidt invested in a majority stake in Jigsaw Productions, Gibney’s company, in February.
At this weeks Fast Company Innovation Festival, the partners talked about how theyre confronting the challenge of reaching audiences. We believe that at this moment in time, with growing media consolidation, what’s ending up happening is actually a wall is being built between independent creators and audiences who want to see that material, Gibney said. There is a kind of algorithmic twisting of content, in a way, that I think is interfering with that exchange between creators and viewers.
Jigsaw Productions struggled to find a distributor for its recent film The Bibi Files, about the bribery and fraud trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Right now, it can be streamed on Jolt.film.) Other producers have faced the same challenge. No Other Land, a film about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, won an Academy Award last year but couldnt find a U.S. distributor.
Schmidt’s investment in the company is helping it continue its work as it focuses on how to get films in front of audiences. For Schmidt, the partnership was a natural fit. Before she was a billionaire philanthropist as the wife of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, she was a journalist. She recognizes the power of storytelling to help audiences make sense of the worlds biggest challenges.
We’ve been looking to invest in some kind of production company for a while to amplify the impact of the work we do in philanthropy, Schmidt told the Innovation Festival audience. There are so many issues that are really of critical importance to human life right now that are not represented well in any films. We have an opportunity to help educate people and to help bring voices into our public arena that are not heard from. And we’ve encountered these people for the last 20 years in our philanthropy, and there’s a way to give them a voice in film.
Jigsaw will now work on more projects related to climate change and ocean health, issues that are priorities for Schmidt. She’s also helping the company brainstorm new approaches to distribution. There’s a need for more innovation in the industry, Gibney says, similar to the way Bookshop.org has helped indendepent local bookstores compete with Amazon.
Documentaries have a critical role to play now, Schmidt says. “Film, as Robert Redford made the observation many years ago, is one of the most direct ways to reach peopleto reach their hearts, to help them make sense of the world they’re in, and then hopefully drive them to actions that can make them feel part of a solution instead of being part of a problem,” she says. “I think that’s the moment we’re in.”
ABC took comic Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night show off the air indefinitely Wednesday, just hours after Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr called his comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination truly sick.
Carr is a longtime FCC commissioner named as chairman by President Donald Trump in November. In the months since, he has launched investigations of ABC, CBS and NBC news.
Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change, Carr said in July, after the FCC approved CBS owner Paramounts $8 billion merger with Skydance.
Here’s what to know about Carr:
Carr is a longtime FCC commissioner
The FCC regulates broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband.
Carr was already a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCCs general counsel. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and both Trump and President Joe Biden nominated him to the commission.
Before joining the commission as a staff member in 2012, he worked as an attorney at Wiley Rein LLP and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
He has more recently embraced Trumps ideas about social media and tech. He wrote a section devoted to the FCC in Project 2025, a sweeping blueprint for gutting the federal workforce and dismantling federal agencies in a second Trump administration produced by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Trump has claimed he didnt know anything about Project 2025, but many of its themes have aligned with his statements.
The FCC takes on broadcast networks
In March, Carr said he was opening an investigation into Walt Disney Co. and ABC to see whether they are promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination. He also opened separate investigations into CBS and NBC news.
Talking about the Kimmel situation on Fox News Wednesday, he said broadcasters with FCC licenses have a unique obligation to operate in the public interest. And over the years, the FCC walked away from enforcing that public interest obligation. I dont think were better off as a country for it.
In July, he hailed the Paramount-Skydance merger as an opportunity to bring more balance to once-storied CBS.
FCC approval of the merger came after months of turmoil around Trumps legal battle with the CBS program 60 Minutes.” With the specter of the Trump administration potentially blocking the deal, Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement with the president.
CBS then announced it was canceling Stephen Colberts Late Show just days after the comedian sharply criticized the settlement on air. Paramount cited financial reasons, but big names both within and outside the company have questioned those motives.
Shortly before the FCC approved the merger, Paramount agreed to hire an ombudsman at CBS News to investigate complaints of political bias. The job went to Kenneth Weinstein, the former head of a conservative think tank who has made several donations to Republican causes, including President Donald Trumps 2024 campaign.
Carr takes on Kimmel
On Wednesday, Carr said Kimmel appeared to be making an intentional effort to mislead the public that conservative activist Kirks assassin was a right-wing Trump supporter. He called Kimmel’s comments about Kirk’s death truly sick and said his agency has a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC and Disney accountable for spreading misinformation.
Kirk, a top conservative podcaster, was shot and killed last week at an appearance on a college campus in Utah.
Kimmel made several remarks about the reaction to Kirk’s death last week on Jimmy Kimmel Live,” including that many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.
This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney, Carr said on the Benny Johnson podcast. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.
House Democratic leaders on Thursday called for Carr’s resignation and accused him of bullying ABC into suspending Kimmel.
In a joint statement, the leaders including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the move was part of Trump and Republicans effort to wage a war on the First Amendment.
Nvidia took a cue from the U.S. government on Thursday, acquiring a $5 billion stake in Intel. Last month, President Trump announced that the U.S. government was also making a $9 billion investment in Intel, meaning that now Nvidia and the United States are among Intels largest shareholders.
All told, its a major Silicon Valley shakeup that could have wide-ranging effects, especially as the AI race continues to heat up. In fact, the AI arms race is at the center of the new partnership, as the two will jointly develop chips for both personal computers and data centers.
This historic collaboration tightly couples NVIDIAs AI and accelerated computing stack with Intels CPUs and the vast x86 ecosystema fusion of two world-class platforms, said NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang in a statement. Together, we will expand our ecosystems and lay the foundation for the next era of computing.
Theres no denying that the news is big, and investors treated it as such. Intels stock soared more than 30% on Thursday, and Nvidias jumped more than 3.5%.
The intel on Intel-Nvidia
But theres potentially more at stake than merely share price increases. Nvidias investment may signalor bethe biggest, boldest move yet as American tech firms beef up to battle those in China.
It also poses big challenges for competitors like AMD, and represents a new dynamic in the semiconductor industry at large. For instance, Taiwan Semiconductor, perhaps the most dominant company in the space, now has a new adversary to deal withand its stock fell nearly 7% when the trading day opened (though it did bounce back).
All told, the investment helps make Intel more competitive and gives Nvidia more avenues for distribution for its chips. Thats important, coming off the news that Chinas internet regulator, The Cyberspace Administration of China, is reportedly telling Chinese tech companies that they cannot buy or use chips from Nvidia, according to the Financial Times.
Looking ahead, its unclear whether the combined efforts of Nvidia and Intel will be enough to go blow-for-blow with companies like Huawei, particularly as global trade wars continue. Analysts, too, think that the partnership sends a bigger message to the market: Old dynamics are going out the window.
This is truly like the Yankees and the Red Sox coming together to end their rivalrythe companies did not like each other whatsoever, David Wagner, head of equity and portfolio manager at Aptus Capital Advisors, said per reporting by Reuters. It’s a massive step in the right direction (utilizing INTC’s fab to make chips) for US chip designers, and breathes new life into a poorly run company for decades.
The price of most organic food could jump this fall due to new policies and tariffs on imported organic sugar, frustrating manufacturers who say the actions won’t help sugar growers but could put some food companies out of business.
More than 90% of organic sugar used by U.S. manufacturers is imported. The price of that product increased in August when the Trump administration imposed steep trade tariffs, and will rise even more when high-tier duties on most organic sugar imports take effect October 1.
The result, according to the Organic Trade Association, is that the price of organic sugar is expected to soar by an average of 30%, increasing costs of producing most organic foodseverything from yogurt to cookies.
Each year, the U.S. imports 1,825 tons (1,656 metric tons) of specialty sugar because its required under a World Trade Organization agreement. But demand for organic sugar far exceeds that amount, so the U.S. Department of Agriculture sets an annual quota for the amount of specialty sugar that can be imported into the U.S. duty-free.
Last year, the quota was 231,485 tons (210,000 metric tons), which still wasnt enough to meet demand. This year, the USDAs quota taking effect October 1 will be zero, and all organic sugar imports beyond the WTO minimum will be hit with high out-of-quota duties.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said its restrictions on specialty sugar imports are intended to help the U.S. sugar industry. The department didnt respond to inquiries about its new sugar policy.
Specialty sugar policy could lead to higher prices
The limits on duty-free imports of specialty sugar plus a new 50% tariff on Brazil, which supplies 40% of the U.S.’s organic sugar, is especially difficult because organic products are already more expensive than their conventional counterparts. Growers must meet more requirements to be certified organic, such as restrictions on pesticides and fertilizers.
U.S. manufacturers say that buying domestic organic sugar isnt an option because there is only one U.S. farm that produces the specialty crop, and converting a conventional farm to organic takes at least three years.
They warn the combined effect of the tariff and import caps may force them either to raise prices or curb production.
Its essentially punishing domestic manufacturers for using an ingredient that we really cant obtain domestically, and dont have any prospects of obtaining domestically any time in the near future, said Britt Lundgren, who oversees government affairs for organic yogurt maker Stonyfield.
Tom Chapman, co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association, said he expects dramatic impacts.
The high-tier tariff is so high that we don’t see that it’s an absorbable rate of tariff, in addition to all the other tariffs that would apply, Chapman said.
Organic food manufacturers will buy most of the imported organic sugar, though some will be offered on grocery shelves, where home bakers likely will see increased prices.
U.S. not producing enough organic sugar to meet demand
Demand for organic sugar had already been outpacing imports for the past several years, but that did not spur any new domestic producers, organic food manufacturers said.
In addition to limited production, the U.S. also has limited organic sugar processing because ingredients that are certified organic must be segregated from conventional ingredients when processed.
Whole Earth Brands, a company that sells a variety of sweeteners, is anticipating a 100% increase in organic sugar costs, according to company president Nigel Willerton.
We supply every major supermarket in the U.S. and natural food stores. Well see our prices go up quite considerably. Theres nothing we can avoid there,” he said.
How much prices will change depends on how much sugar is used in the product. For example, sweeteners that are made almost entirely from organic sugar are likely to see bigger price increases than dairy products, where organic sugar is not the main ingredient.
Higher sugar costs may lead some businesses to shut down
Many organic food manufacturers are smaller operations, so they are more sensitive to increases in input costs, Willerton said. Some of them may not have the margins to absorb the cost, and they’re unable to replace organic sugar substitutes because it would require product reformulation.
Weve got lots of small companies involved in this business, Willerton said. These small premium companies producing these products are literally going to find themselves priced out of the market.
The U.S. government has long had a prominent role in sugar production with policies for setting minimum prices and generous loan programs.
Still, Chapman said he doesn’t understand what the USDA is trying to accomplish with its restrictions.
When we looked at the USDA announcements, they were talking about domestic sugar shrinking and mills closing,” he said. “Theres only one mill. They were in operation before, and theyre in operation now.
Florida Crystals Corporation, the only organic sugar producer in the U.S., supplies 8% of the U.S. organic sugar market, up from about 2% a decade ago.
Marianne Martinez, the company’s spokesperson, said the USDAs new specialty sugar policy “is encouraging and could result in an increase in U.S.-grown and milled organic cane sugar production if it becomes a long-term policy.
The USDA has not announced any other initiatives to support organic growers in the meantime.
By Sarah Raza, Associated Press
The Trump administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court for an emergency order to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserves board of governors.
The Republican administration turned to the high court after an appeals court refused to go along with ousting Cook, part of President Donald Trump’s effort to reshape the Feds seven-member governing board and strike a blow at its independence.
The White House campaign to unseat Cook marks an unprecedented bid to reshape the Fed board, which was designed to be largely independent from day-to-day politics. No president has fired a sitting Fed governor in the agencys 112-year history.
Cook, who was appointed to the Feds board by President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has said she wont leave her post and wont be bullied by Trump. One of her lawyers, Abbe Lowell, has said she will continue to carry out her sworn duties as a Senate-confirmed Board Governor.
Separately, Senate Republicans on Monday confirmed Stephen Miran, Trumps nominee to an open spot on the Feds board. Both Cook and Miran took part in Wednesday’s vote in which the Fed cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point.
Trump sought to fire Cook on August 25, but a federal judge ruled last week that the removal probably was illegal and reinstated her to the Feds board. Trump has accused Cook of mortgage fraud because she appeared to claim two properties, in Michigan and Georgia, as primary residences in June and July 2021, before she joined the board. Such claims can lead to a lower mortgage rate and smaller down payment than if one of them was declared as a rental property or second home.
Put simply, the President may reasonably determine that interest rates paid by the American people should not be set by a Governor who appears to have lied about facts material to the interest rates she secured for herselfand refuses to explain the apparent misrepresentations, Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in his Supreme Court filing.
But Cook has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, Cook did specify that her Atlanta condo would be a vacation home, according to a loan estimate she obtained in May 2021. And in a form seeking a security clearance, she described it as a 2nd home. Both documents appear to undercut the Trump administrations claims of fraud.
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ruled that the administration had not satisfied a legal requirement that Fed governors can only be fired for cause, which she said was limited to misconduct while in office. Cook did not join the Feds board until 2022.
Cobb also held that Trumps firing would have deprived Cook of her due process, or legal right, to contest the firing.
By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the federal appeals court in Washington rejected the administrations request to let Cooks firing proceed.
Trumps lawyers have argued that even if the conduct occurred before her time as governor, her alleged action indisputably calls into question Cooks trustworthiness and whether she can be a responsible steward of the interest rates and economy.
Trump has previously won orders from the courts conservative majority to fire the presidentially appointed leaders of other independent federal agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Trade Commission, even as legal fights continue.
Those firings have been at will, with no cause given. The Supreme Court has distinguished the Federal Reserve from those other agencies, strongly suggesting that Trump cant act against Fed governors without cause.
In its new filing to the Supreme Court, the administration is asking Chief Justice John Roberts for a temporary order that would effectively remove Cook from the board and a more lasting order from the whole court that would be in place while her legal case continues.
By Mark Sherman, Associated Press.
The collaborative productivity application Notion is getting a boost in AI power. Instead of simply answering questions and offering basic assistance, a built-in AI tool called Notion Agent will now be able to conduct research, draft detailed documents, and set up or update custom Notion databases on demand.“Essentially, it can do everything that humans can do inside Notion,” says Notion cofounder and COO Akshay Kothari. In a demo for Fast Company, Kothari showed how Notion Agent could pull user feedback on a new product from multiple sources, generating a well-cited report with recommendations for future updates. It could also create a database of articles from a news site. The software can handle operations like assigning tasks to team members at the start of a new project or updating a company knowledge base with new information.Notion Personal Agent [Gif: Courtesy of Notion]To do all this, Notion Agent can access data from the web, information already stored in Notion, and integrations with platforms such as Slack, Zendesk, and Google Driveall while respecting security settings and permissions from the linked applications.Once content is generated, users can edit it themselves or ask the AI to make changes. Often, Kothari says, people let the AI handle the busywork before applying the finishing touches.Kothari refers to the agentic AI-enabled product as Notion 3.0, essentially calling the new technology a leap on par with the previous addition of databases and workflowsNotion 2.0and its initial launch in 2016 as a tool primarily for building and sharing documents. Like other Notion features, the AI is highly customizable. Users can choose from personas such as “sidekick” or “analyst,” and they can edit or completely rewrite a profile document that defines how the AI should behave. That includes everything from context on how to answer certain questions to stylistic tweaks in tone. Users can also ask the AI itself to adjust aspects of its behaviorand even pick from a variety of logo designs to represent Notions AI features.Custom Agents [Gif: Courtesy of Notion]The company is also testing a feature it calls Custom Agents, which are designed for specific purposes, like regularly updating a document or database based on specific information. Custom Agents can be configured to run at regular time intervals or in response to certain external triggers, and they can even be set up with instructions crafted with the aid of the general purpose Notion Agent. Internally, Kothari says, the company already uses some Custom Agents to handle questions and feedback posted in Slack, responding itself when appropriate and sometimes routing messages to the appropriate humans through instructions that can be modified over time. Notion plans to soon begin testing Custom Agents with a few hundred customers, in part to determine how they’re used and how they should be priced, before making them available to the general user base. So far, Kothari says, the Custom Agentsconfigured to run on a regular schedule or frequently triggered by events like Slack inquiriesappear to generate significantly more AI utilization than the ordinary Notion Agent, which only takes action in response to user queries within the main platform. “I think that’s an area that we’re gonna really study in the coming weeks and months and then figure out how we can roll it out to all our customers,” says Kothari.
