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Across the internet, eagle-eyed sleuths are crying “AI slop” after Saturday Night Live aired segments with what looks like AI-generated imagery. The first instance, from Saturday’s cold open, shows an illustrated Christmas storybook. The images feature a hazy, yellow-ish hue and an image of streets that don’t connect. The next, in “Weekend Update” showed an image of a woman playing a slot machine in an otherwise empty casino while using an oxygen tank with tubes that weren’t connected. [Image: NBC Universal] While the images were on screen for a fraction of the episode, they have led to some very vocal backlash by fans, who are convinced they are AI-generated.On Reddit, viewers called them “gross” and “a shame” while a Bluesky user said simply, “Booooooo.” “That Week In SNL,” a podcast, was having none of it. [Image: NBC Universal] AI fatigue is real, and the accusations against Saturday’s episode landed amid a wider conversation about AI-generated media. McDonalds Netherlands pulled an AI-generated ad from its YouTube page last week following widespread negative comments. Meanwhile, the studio behind Coca-Cola’s widely criticized new AI-generated holiday ad admitted it wasn’t 100% ready. Merriam-Webster on Sunday named “slop” its 2025 word of the year. Slop in an ad is one thing. But slop on a show like SNL strikes a nerve considering how well known the long-running show is for its intricate human-made sets and costuming. This is a show made by hand, and the janky Photoshop jobs during Weekend Update are part of the joke. SNL has joked about AI in sketches this year, including one in January starring Timothée Chalamet and Bowen Yang that poked fun at AI’s proclivity for producing images of people with extra fingers. And in a sketch last month, Glen Powell played a grandpa pictured in old photos brought to life in an AI app gone wrong. NBC, which airs SNL, has not confirmed that the images are AI-generated, and the network did not respond to a request for comment. SNL‘s visual effects workers unionized in July, and their contract included AI protections that VFX artist Richard Lampasone said at the time was “a worker-centric AI policy that will help us keep doing our best work as our craft evolves.”
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E-Commerce
The holidays are the perfect time to show people that you appreciate their time, their effort, and the value they bring. But when it comes to giving gifts at work, most people are confused about what to do. Should you, or shouldn’t you, buy your boss a present? What about your coworkers or direct reports? How much should you spend for the office gift exchange? What about your office bestie? We asked the experts to weigh in, and here’s what they had to say. Is it acceptable to give holiday gifts at work? “To gift someone in the workplace is always acceptable, Alyse Dermer, founder of Mr. Considerate, a luxury gift concierge service, tells Fast Company. “Gifting can reinforce positive working relationships, strengthen team connection, and create moments that feel personal in a world that often feels transactional.” “People work hard,” Dermer adds. “You spend a lot of time with your coworkers, and they want to be seen. Its different from a company bonus. It doesnt need to be expensive, it just needs to be thoughtful. And thoughtfulness really lands.” Dermer says a good gift shows you appreciate people’s work and pay attention to their interests: “You work with these people everyday, you depend on them, they depend on you”and a gift should reflect that. Ask yourself: “Where are they in their life?” For example, is someone getting married? How about matching mugs or luggage tags? Or, does your coworker want to learn how to cook? You could get them a cookbook. Should I get my boss a gift? “If you feel compelled to gift your boss, it should be something modest,” national etiquette expert Diane Gottsman tells Fast Company. “Something they can use, such as an inexpensive office gadget, baked goods, or a box of fruit. Not wine, cologne, or a tie.” Choose a minimal price point to show you aren’t sucking up to the boss, or trying to get special treatment from a supervisor or a colleague. What about colleagues? “Many offices have a Secret Santa or White Elephant exchange. Always stay within the price range,” Gottsman advises. But what if you want to gift your office bestie or “work wife” something special? “Anything else should be given out of the office, if you are only going to gift a few people and not others,” she says. “It avoids hurt feelings.” What are some expert-approved gifts? Gottsman recommends a thermal tote bag, a multi-prong cell phone charger, a beautiful bottle of olive oil, or a warm scarf. “One thing I have been gifting is games,” Dermer says. “Chess, checkers, Rummikub, or a Majong set. Games are fun and they bring you together.” Some of Dermer’s favorite gifts include: Flamingo Estate olive oil and vinegar set Leatherology tech organizer Aura digital frame Rummikub set Backgammon set Coffee table book Blunt umbrella
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E-Commerce
Airbnb may finally pay the price of long-simmering tensions about overtourism in Spain. The Spanish government announced on Monday that it has fined the online rentals giant 64 million euros ($75 million) for advertising unlicensed rental listings in the country. This decision is the latest in several months of back-and-forths, as the government previously ordered Airbnb to remove more than 120,000 listings it identified as unlicensed. While Spains Consumer Affairs Ministry said the fine was a final decision and couldnt be appealed, San Francisco-based Airbnb is reportedly planning to challenge it in court. The company didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from Fast Company. ADDRESSING HOUSING CRISIS A record 94 million foreigners visited Spain last year, a 10% increase from 2023, making it one of the most-visited countries in the world by tourists. But the proliferation of private tourist accommodations has contributed to a housing crisis and there have been several, large anti-tourism protests in the country in recent years. Tasked with addressing the housing crisis is Pablo Bustinduy, the consumer affairs minister. “There are thousands of families living on the edge because of the housing situation, while a few enrich themselves with business models that force people out of their homes,” Bustinduy said in a statement. No company in Spain, however large or powerful, can be above the law.” AIRBNB RESPONDS Airbnb issued a statement to several news organizations indicating that it has been working with the Spanish government since short-term rental rules changed in July to enforce a new registration system. On its website, Airbnb also has a lengthy explanation about responsible hosting in Spain. “Airbnb is confident that the ministry actions are contrary to applicable regulations in Spain and we intend to challenge this fine in court,” a company spokesperson said in a statement published by Reuters. Rental listings in Spain are still available for booking on Airbnbs website. While other companies similarly facilitate private rental agreements, this particular platforms popularity has made it a target of anti-tourism sentiment in Spain and beyond. In the southern beach town of Tarifa, for example, Airbnb indicates there are more than 800 listings available for a one-week, off-season rental in January. Whats more, there are also dozens of hotels in the area. The town has a population of less than 20,000 people. For the three months ended in Sept. 30, Airbnb reported quarterly revenue of nearly $2 billion for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, its second-largest market behind North America. That marked a 14% gain from the same period a year ago, more than the companys revenue growth of 10% across all regions. For a company with a market cap of more than $79 billion, investors dont seem too concerned about the prospect of a $75 million fine. Airbnb shares rose more than 2% in mid-day trading Monday, even as the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index fell about 0.5%.
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E-Commerce
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