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The suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting was detained at the scene. Donald Trump/Truth Social A suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting is in custody. Photos of the suspect posted by Trump appear to match those on the LinkedIn profile for Cole Allen. Allen is a Caltech graduate, an indie video game developer, and a teacher, according to the profile. Photos of the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter posted online by President Donald Trump on Saturday night appear to match the LinkedIn profile of Cole Allen. Multiple outlets, including the Associated Press, have reported that Allen is the suspect now in custody. Business Insider was not able to independently confirm the suspect's identity. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the suspect by name. Trump told Fox News on Sunday that the suspect left a "manifesto" that called for the targeting of Trump administration officials. Here's what we know so far. Allen, 31, is a resident of Torrance, California. Police conducted a raid on a home in Torrance overnight. Allen describes himself on his LinkedIn as a "mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth." His current job is listed as part-time teacher at C2 Education, which provides "personalized support designed to improve test scores, strengthen academic skills, and help students reach their full potential." Allen has been in the role for six years, according to his LinkedIn profile, while also independently designing and building video games, including one he calls "Bohrdom." Allen described the game online as "a skill-based, non-violent asymmetrical fighting game loosely derived from a chemistry model that is itself loosely based on reality." He graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then earned his master's in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also held a summer student fellowship at NASA in 2014, where he worked at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jeffrey Carroll, the interim chief of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, said during a press conference after the shooting on Saturday night that Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives when he tried to bypass a security checkpoint at the event. In a video Trump posted to his TruthSocial account, the shooter can be seen running at full speed past security officers. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Margaret Brennan on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday morning that the shooter traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago to DC by train. Blanche also said that the shooter was not cooperating with law enforcement. Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, said the defendant has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of assault on a law enforcement officer using a dangerous weapon. He will be arraigned on Monday. Read the original article on Business Insider

Lucinda Shen / Axios: Sources: Tokyo-based humanoid robotics startup Genki Robotics, co-founded by Andy Rubin, raised a Series A at a ~$1B valuation; it raised a ~$50M seed in 2025  —  Genki Robotics, a humanoid robotics company co-founded by Android creator Andy Rubin, is valued at about $1 billion following its recent Series A, Axios Pro has learned.

Shortly after my husband and I returned from our honeymoon, we moved from an apartment in New York City to a three-bedroom house in Greenwich, Connecticut. Alexa Mellardo My husband and I remodeled our 600-square-foot kitchen into an open-concept space. We took down walls, added windows, and replaced the cabinets to make the room feel lighter. After the three-month renovation, I filled the room with bright, coastal-inspired decor. Shortly after my husband and I returned from our honeymoon, we moved from a New York City apartment to a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house we bought in Greenwich, Connecticut. It wasn't a turnkey property — the white picket fence and bountiful rose garden I'd always envisioned were nowhere to be found — but it had potential. The kitchen, in particular, needed extensive work. Rather than writing off its harvest-gold linoleum floors, Formica countertops, and brown cabinets that looked straight out of the '80s, we viewed the dated interior as an opportunity for improvement. So my husband and I rolled up our sleeves and renovated the kitchen, ultimately transforming it into a bright, coastal-inspired room at the center of our home. We designed the room and completed the demolition, insulation, drywall, and trim ourselves (with some help from my dad) and hired a kitchen designer to install new cabinets and a countertop. It was our first renovation project, so we felt extremely excited and accomplished when we finished and admired the results. Our goal was to turn the dated kitchen into an open-concept, multipurpose room. Before we started construction, my husband and I put together a budget and desired renovation timeline. Alexa Mellardo As we designed the space, we knew we didn't want it to have a traditional kitchen feel. Our goal was to put together a warm, inviting room with an open floor plan where we could seamlessly cook, eat, relax, and entertain. Because the front door opens directly into the room, it sets the tone for the home as soon as we walk in. Every detail mattered, and we had to carefully balance both aesthetics and functionality. Before starting the renovation, we decided on our priorities. Several walls came down during the renovation process. Alexa Mellardo To get an idea of how much we'd spend during the renovation, we listed all of our desired changes, from our must-have appliances to our wish list of finishing touches. Our sights were set on a white cast-iron farmhouse sink, a high-end refrigerator, a custom farm table, and the quietest dishwasher we could find. Of course, the project required more than just filling up our shopping cart. To create the open floor plan we designed, we had to take down several walls, including one that was load-bearing. We also added new windows and glass farmhouse doors to bring more natural sunlight into the space. Other major expenses to plan for included electrical work, plumbing, insulation, drywall, flooring, kitchen cabinetry, hardware, countertops, a stove, and eventually new furniture. Making so many decisions at once felt overwhelming, but we were determined to keep our three-month timeline on track and stick to our budget. The cabinets were the centerpiece of the room. The white cabinets immediately brightened the room. Alexa Mellardo We removed the dated brown cabinets from the studs and swapped them out for bright white, Shaker-style ones with honey-bronze hardware. Before we even made it to this step, I'd already planned to showcase my favorite Anthropologie plates and glasses inside a few glass cabinets. When it came time to furnish and decorate, we chose multifunctional pieces with a coastal-cottage aesthetic. The buffet has plenty of storage and doubles as a serving surface. Alexa Mellardo Although construction took three months, we needed a bit more time to get the space ready for guests. The room is only about 600 square feet, so we had to be intentional with the space if we wanted it to look clean and uncluttered. On the wall opposite the cabinets, we installed an arched glass buffet. It provides plenty of storage and doubles as a surface for serving guests. The furniture we selected is all light in color and extremely practical. The custom table fits the space perfectly. Alexa Mellardo Instead of a traditional island, we opted for a custom farm table in a natural beachy wood finish that could serve as a dining surface and prep area. On top of it sits an oversized charcuterie board, a practical and aesthetically pleasing piece. We removed the wood-burning fireplace and opted for a modern gas unit, complete with driftwood logs. We styled the area in front with shiplap and white marble tiles. For seating, we decided on a cozy sectional, statement chair, and plush ottoman that doubles as a coffee table. The finishing touches really brought our vision to life. I always have a scented candle and fresh flowers in the room. Alexa Mellardo The wide farmhouse-style trim throughout the space and around the windows ties the aesthetic together. I also always have fresh flowers from my garden in a vase and beach-themed candles on my arched cabinet buffet. Once one of our least favorite rooms in the house, the kitchen is now the space of our dreams. We were thrilled with the finished product. Alexa Mellardo Our charming, quaint main room is everything I hoped it would be. I spend every day in our open-concept kitchen and wouldn't have it any other way. It serves as both my workspace and a calming oasis. I now have a space where I can be productive, experiment with new recipes, entertain family and friends, or simply relax in front of the fireplace. Whether I'm coming home from a trip or a day of errands, I breathe a sigh of relief the moment I step inside the front door. Enjoying my morning espresso in the sunlight pouring through the windows gives me pure joy. The results are worth every penny we spent and each hour of our hard work. Read the original article on Business Insider

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Our mission is to ensure that AGI benefits all of humanity. Sam Altman shares five principles that guide our work.

Someone’s offering an unusual deal for a 13-acre property in Mill Valley, just north of South Francisco.

Why learn 8 scripts when you can learn 256 bytes? The post Bytes Speak All Languages: Cross-Script Name Retrieval via Contrastive Learning appeared first on Towards Data Science.

This $129 device uses MagSafe to stick on the back of an iPhone to power transcription across apps

From a young age, I've learned about style from my grandmother. Teadora Stefanovska My 70-year-old grandmother has been one of my biggest fashion inspirations. At 23, I still draw on her lessons as I get dressed, whether I'm wearing something casual or formal. She's taught me that clothes should be comfortable, practical, and confidence-boosting. In many ways, my grandmother raised me. We spent countless days together, and her face is at the center of some of my fondest childhood memories. She's one of the greatest influences in my life, shaping everything from how I see the world to how I dress. Even as a 23-year-old, I admire her sense of style. Throughout her life, she's built an elegant wardrobe that draws from trends without necessarily following them. At 70 years old, she continues to inspire me. Whenever I open my wardrobe to choose an outfit, I carry one of her invaluable lessons with me. One of her core beliefs is that accessories should add to an outfit, not overwhelm it Hoop earrings are a timeless staple. Jelena990/Getty Images I love accessories, often throwing on chunky jewelry, layering bold pieces, and stacking belts on my hips. Although my grandmother appreciates outfit embellishments, she's taught me to approach them with intention. They should add to an outfit, not overpower it. For example, she isn't afraid to incorporate a pop of color — as long as it matches her accessories, from her bag to her shoes to her belt. She's also strategic about her jewelry, choosing pieces based on her neckline and hairstyle that day. Her go-to earrings? Versatile medium-sized hoops, which are big enough to be visible under a range of hairstyles without dominating a look. Now, my favorite everyday earrings are silver hoops. Every time I put them on, I feel like they brighten me up. Although I play around with maximalist, trend-forward pieces, I stick to my grandmother's rules when I want to look elegant and timeless. She taught me that walking with confidence can upgrade an outfit My grandmother has always told me that picking out beautiful pieces is just the first step in putting together a great outfit. The way I carry myself when I'm wearing it can make or break a look. I have vivid memories of her instructing me to walk in a straight line with my shoulders back, stepping with one leg in front of the other. I felt like I was balancing books on my head. Over the years, walking with confidence has become second nature, whether I'm wearing a dress and heels or a sweatsuit and sneakers. She was right: It does make my clothes look better. Even when my grandmother has dealt with health issues that affect her movements, she's always followed her own advice, walking straight with her head held high and shoulders back. Her wardrobe is built on staple pieces that are practical and make her feel good My grandmother has never been one to experiment much with clothes. I'm hard-pressed to remember a time when she wasn't wearing simple garments like straight pants, sweaters, tight long-sleeve T-shirts, or loose short-sleeve T-shirts. She found her practical, elegant style when she was in high school and stayed true to it through every stage of life. She gravitates toward easy-to-wear pieces that move with her and fit her body well. To her, clothes are meant to be worn, so they have to look and make her feel good in order to secure a spot in her closet. For the past five years, I've focused on emulating her wardrobe. Every item I buy has to look good, feel nice on my body, and be practical. When she layers, she makes sure the pieces complement each other My grandmother taught me to layer strategically. AnnaZhuk/Getty Images My grandmother has taught me that layering well requires more than throwing on multiple garments and calling it a day. The pieces have to be harmonious. She has a way of looking elegant even as she combines unlikely pieces. When she's cold, I see her drape a long wool coat over her shoulders, throw on a pair of leather gloves, and tie a silk scarf around her neck. Her base is always simple and cohesive, creating the perfect foundation for a layered outfit. I've never been a big fan of layering clothes, but I use the same approach when choosing accessories. I start with a plain base layer before adding small, complementary pieces. I put thought into each one and consider how it works with the overall look. My grandmother knows that wrinkles can ruin even the most stylish outfit Growing up, my mom often insisted that I iron my clothes — later, I learned that the advice stemmed from my grandmother, who often shared it with her when she was young. After all, even the best outfit can look messy if it's wrinkled. In my family, crisp lines and smooth sleeves symbolize self-respect and elegance. Now, I follow their advice and never leave the house without ironing my clothes. Read the original article on Business Insider

President Donald Trump spoke from the White House after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images The suspect traveled from Los Angeles to Washington by train with two guns, an official said. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were evacuated and are safe. The accused man will be formally charged in federal court on Monday. The suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner traveled from Los Angeles to Washington by train and checked into the hotel where the event was held — with two guns and a plan to target Trump administration officials, the nation's top prosecutor said on Sunday. "We know that there were some writings, and we've already spoken with several witnesses who knew him," Todd Blanche, the acting US attorney general, said on NBC News' "Meet the Press." Blanche stressed several times during the interview that the information about the suspect, widely identified by media citing law enforcement officials as Cole Allen, was "very preliminary." Blanche said the suspect will be formally charged in federal court on Monday morning and faces at least two felonies — assault on a federal officer and discharging a firearm during that assault — that relate to a Secret Service agent who was shot at but protected by his armored vest. No one else was injured during the chaotic incident at the Washington Hilton, where hundreds of journalists and government officials — including Trump, the first lady, Vice President JD Vance, and House Speaker Mike Johnson — were gathered for the annual celebration of a free press. Workers and attendees run after a shooting during the White House Correspondents' Dinner. WHCA The shooting has raised questions about the level of security at the event, which Trump boycotted in his first term and last year. He was quickly hustled off stage and evacuated to the White House after the shots rang out. A security video posted by Trump on Truth Social hours after the shooting showed an individual running past security officers outside the main doors of the event. Officers in the video could be seen trying to grab the man, then drawing their weapons and pointing their guns at him. In a press conference following the incident, Trump said a Secret Service agent was shot in his bulletproof vest and said that "he's in great shape." What we know about the suspect Photos of the shooter posted online by Trump on Saturday night appear to match the LinkedIn profile and other photos of Allen. Authorities have not publicly named him, and Business Insider has not independently confirmed his identity. Allen, 31, of Torrance, describes himself on his LinkedIn as a "mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth." His current job is listed as part-time tutor at C2 Education, which provides "personalized support designed to improve test scores, strengthen academic skills, and help students reach their full potential." He graduated from CalTech in 2017 and earned his master's in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. Jeffrey Carroll, the interim chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said in a press conference following the president's remarks that the suspect was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives when he tried to bypass a security checkpoint at the event. The suspect was not struck by gunfire and was transported to a hospital for evaluation, Carroll said. In remarks after the incident, Trump described the suspect as a "sick person" who had been "totally subdued and under control." Inside the room when the shooting occurred The incident occurred after 8:30 p.m. Friday night, shortly after Trump took his seat. There was suddenly shouting in front of the stage, according to Tim Röhn, the senior editor of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, who attended the event. Business Insider is part of the network. The event was attended by hundreds of reporters and many officials from the Trump administration. Tim Röhn Röhn reported that pushing and chaos broke out, people started running, guests threw themselves to the floor, and hid under tables. From behind the curtains onstage, heavily armed officers emerged and pointed their rifles at the crowd. Guests needed a screenshot of an invitation to gain access to the premises and the building, Röhn reported. Photo ID wasn't required. Inside, Secret Service agents patrolled in some areas with dogs, and there was an airport-style security checkpoint in front of the ballroom. Jackets did not need to be removed for security checks. CBS senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, said law enforcement had requested that everyone leave the premises "consistent with protocol," and that Trump "insists" the event be rescheduled within 30 days. Röhn reported that, following Jiang's remarks, attendees started leaving the venue. Suspect to be arraigned on Monday Blanche said law enforcement had worked through the night to piece together information about the suspect and had obtained warrants to examine his devices in their search for a motive. "We believe he was targeting administration officials in this attack," Blanche told "Meet the Press," adding, "Obviously, President Trump is a member of the administration." He added, "It does appear he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president, but I want to wait and not get ahead of us on that." The suspect was tackled by law enforcement and photographed shirtless on the floor. US President Trump via Truth Social/Anadolu via Getty Images Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, who was at the dinner, said at a press conference that her office would consider terrorism charges if the investigation revealed evidence sufficient to sustain them. Responding to reporters' questions during his press conference, Trump advocated for the man to be sentenced to life in prison. 'Praying for our country tonight' Until the start of the event, it was unclear when Trump would appear and how long he would stay. Though Trump appeared as a private citizen and media personality in 2011 and 2015, he boycotted the White House Correspondents' Dinner during his first term. The Washington Hilton hotel, long the site of the annual dinner, is where President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in a 1981 assassination attempt, just steps outside the hotel after addressing a labor gathering. Trump was the target of two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign, including a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that left him injured, and a separate incident at one of his Florida golf courses in which a suspect was apprehended and later sentenced to life in prison. Read the original article on Business Insider

Zachary Biss sailed from Tampa, Florida, to Lisbon to move. Courtesy of Zachary Biss. Zachary Biss moved from the Tampa Bay area to Lisbon seeking a new lifestyle. Biss chose to take a cruise instead of flying and was able to bring more items with him. Biss appreciates the slower pace of life in Portugal and anticipates saving more money on bills. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Zachary Biss, 29, a musician from St. Petersburg, Florida, who moved with his girlfriend, Marina, to Portugal by boat. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I'm a full-time musician. Back in the States, I played gigs at bars and restaurants with my guitar, singing and playing covers for a living. I've always had the same job in music, and over time, I was able to play all my gigs and have enough money at the end of the month to put away in savings and invest in stocks. That allowed me to buy a house in Florida in 2019. I was really proud that I was able to make that happen. Ever since I moved into the house, I've kept a budget down to the penny, and the expenses got absolutely insane. My electric bill roughly doubled over the course of five years. My utilities, which covered water and garbage disposal, doubled as well. You have all these people telling you homeownership is the goal — that's the dream — but the bills kept going up. I'm like, "This seems backward. I feel like I should be paying something off to where eventually I'll be paying less." Over the course of half a decade, everything has crept up to where I'm working harder than I've ever worked, and making as much money as I've ever made, but I have nothing to show for it here. We knew we wanted to move to Lisbon I thought, maybe it's time to go somewhere else and try something different, because otherwise I'm just going to float here and not really thrive. Biss and his girlfriend, Marina. Courtesy of Zachary Biss. I haven't sold my home yet. It's still on the market. My girlfriend and I already knew we wanted to move to Portugal for a while. So by the time we were able to finally move, I was like, "I don't care. We just have to go." It was a little bit emotional, but not really because we'd been planning it for so long. I had gotten to the point where I didn't want to wait anymore. We decided to move by taking a cruise We found a cruise that was actually going directly one way, because they do the transatlantic sailings to move the boats. After the season's over in the Caribbean, they move to Europe, so we found one that was going from Tampa and ending in Lisbon. It was a match made in heaven. We did pay a little bit more than flying, but you're getting a two-week cruise: all the food, all the lodging, and a couple of stops along the way. We stopped in the Bahamas, and then after the Bahamas were six days at sea, and that was pretty wild. I've never spent that much time at sea. After that was the Azores, and then it was another sea day because they're pretty far off from the mainland. Then we did Porto, which was really cool, and then we ended in Lisbon. Biss and his girlfriend in Lisbon. Courtesy of Zachary Biss. All in, we paid $2,500 total, so definitely more than two flights, but I would say it was worth the cost. The transatlantics are usually a bargain because they're not that full and they're just trying to sell tickets to make the voyage worth it — we actually got a balcony room and everything. But the biggest perk was that there was no hard luggage limit. I brought my guitar, I brought my suitcases, Marina brought a bunch of her suitcases — as much as we could fit — and we got to the port and the porter's like, "How many luggage tags do you need?" And we said, "However many." Flying would have been a lot more restrictive. We also thought that sailing would ease us into moving a little more than flying would, because there's really nothing worse than landing at Lisbon Airport after an overnight flight, not sleeping on the plane, and dealing with that brutal jet lag. On the cruise, there were six days at sea in a row, and they would roll forward the clock one hour at a time; they did that five times over the course of the trip to get us five hours ahead to where we are now. I would totally recommend moving by boat for the luggage benefit alone, but especially if you're a cruiser or you just like relaxing, it's like being at the spa. It's fun, and at the end of the day, I don't think many people get to say they've sailed across the ocean. We like the pace of life in Portugal The first night, we were sitting at the dinner table, and we looked at each other, and we both started crying, like, "What are we doing?" But I think that's 100% normal for anyone moving, even just moving to another state. It's scary. This is the first time I've moved. There were things pushing us out of the US and things bringing us to Portugal. Honestly, the biggest one was health insurance. As a self-employed person in the States, I often feel punished for being self-employed when it comes to health insurance. The cheapest plan offered to me on the marketplace for this year was about $360 a month. Biss and his girlfriend at the Arco da Rua Augusta in Portugal. Courtesy of Zachary Biss. When I talk to my friends who live here or have moved here, and I tell them what I paid in a month, they're like, "Well, that's about what I pay in a year." Affordability wasn't the only reason we moved. If we were going for affordability, there are definitely cheaper places in Portugal, and even more affordable places in Europe. It's all relative; what's affordable to me might be different than what's affordable to a local here. The people, in broad strokes, are in a little bit less of a rush here. I made a joke that even the people trying to sell you something off the street, once they realize you're not going to buy what they're selling, they'll just have a conversation with you, which is nice. Biss enjoying ice cream in Portugal. Courtesy of Zachary Biss. The pace of life is not so much work, work, work all the time, rush, rush, rush. People here really will take a moment — it's built into the day to have a coffee, have your pastry in the morning, and you're not just grabbing your big iced coffee and getting in your car and rushing to work. It's a breath of fresh air. Read the original article on Business Insider

Kim Mackrael / Wall Street Journal: ASML says it plans to make at least 60 of its standard EUV machines this year, 36% more than it sold in 2025, as it races to meet demand for making AI chips  —  ASML is the only supplier of the machines needed to make cutting edge AI chips at scale  —  VELDHOVEN, the Netherlands …

Most slow Pandas code "works", until it doesn't. Learn how to spot hidden bottlenecks, avoid costly row-wise operations, and know when Pandas is no longer enough. The post I Reduced My Pandas Runtime by 95% — Here’s What I Was Doing Wrong appeared first on Towards Data Science.

Amid a rapid, AI-driven technology boom and all the changes it’s entailed, mental health issues due to social isolation have been on the rise. Researchers in social and clinical psychology have documented this shift and coined it the “loneliness epidemic.” Human connection is imperative to psychological well-being but the world is increasingly disconnected. With technology streamlining our lives, many report growing levels of depression, anxiety and existential dread brought on by the physical and emotional distance it creates between us. And so psychologists have begun asking: “How do we stay connected to the here and now, and to each other?” One facet of self-compassion theory — a concept developed by psychologist Kristin Neff that dictates treating ourselves with the same care and understanding as we would our friends — may hold the answer. “Common humanity” promotes the recognition that we are, in fact, not alone since all humans share the same fundamental experiences, emotions and struggles. The loneliness epidemic To begin finding a solution to social disconnectedness, it’s important to understand the vehicles that drive it. A 2024 Statistics Canada survey found more than one in 10 Canadians report often or always feeling lonely, a finding that aligns with psychological research on rising social isolation. At the same time, studies indicate that heavy reliance on digital technologies can both reflect and reinforce this isolation. Technology, AI and algorithms divide and capture human attention, often limiting exposure to interactions or varied points of view and perspectives. A psychology study suggests that the motivation to escape everyday life and experience social gratification reinforces the relationship between mental health and AI dependence, especially for people with mental illness. The more attention spent in the digital world, the less is available to spend with one another. It’s easy to fall into a pattern of pessimism as we observe technology shifts toward automated entry-level jobs, addictive doomscrolling and students submitting AI-generated homework. These negative emotions, the attention we spend on them and the frustration we feel with ourselves for having these emotions can perpetuate a cycle of self-isolation. Self-compassion and common humanity are evidence-based tools that can help stop this cycle by shifting attention back to what is important: each other. Self-compassion and common humanity According to Kristin Neff, an American education psychology scholar, self-compassion functions on three key tenets: self-kindness versus self-judgment, common humanity versus self-isolation and mindfulness versus over-identification. Each facet emphasizes intentionality in our actions, both toward ourselves and others. At its core, mindful self-compassion’s concept of common humanity is the belief that we are connected by familiar human experiences. Personal suffering is part of a shared human condition, for example, and in accepting this truth, we reduce self-judgment and weaken the tendency toward social withdrawal. Research shows that self-compassion can be exercised like a muscle through interventions that shift awareness of our personal experiences to how these experiences connect us with others. Appealing to the humanness of our present experiences reduces feelings of isolation and self-judgment and increases life satisfaction. Common humanity addresses our basic human need to belong. Feeling down about not having plans with others this weekend? You’re not alone in this struggle. It is uniquely human to feel alone and want to self-soothe with a scroll on TikTok. Knowing this, it might be time to take the first step and reach out to that friend and invite them over. From theory to practice Demonstrating the principles of self-compassion and common humanity in the presence of others can create a positive feedback cycle. Three action-based practices help exercise control over our attention, centre community, empathize and attend to our “why.” Invest in community. Allowing technology to seep into all corners of life is not inevitable. Self-compassion teaches that while this is human, we have the power to change our actions as an act of compassion. It is our choice to bring our attention back to the present. This may mean making an explicit choice to unplug instead of following the urge to respond; leaning into sharing imperfect experiences and mutual not-knowing; talking something through instead of Googling it immediately; practising collaboration over outsourcing thinking. Practise empathy. Excessive tech or AI use can leave us feeling depleted and disconnected. In order to interrupt the cycle of overusing technology, notice these emotions without judgment rather than feeling guilt and avoiding the guilt through more tech use. To ground yourself, ask: “What do I need right now?” You may find your response involves uniquely human experiences: food, a cup of tea, calling a parent, fresh air or a walk. Centre your ‘why.’ Think about why you choose to connect with others. Centre this “why” in your day-to-day life. If you notice yourself opting for AI to write an email, pause for a moment and notice this reflex. It is human to seek shortcuts to preserve energy. Consider what you might gain from writing that email yourself. Notice any discomfort. Know that it’s human to feel it, and choose to write it yourself anyway. Theory suggests you might feel more connected to your people and to your own humanness in the process. In this context, self-compassion functions as a psychological counterweight to the isolating tendencies of digital life. It helps reorient attention away from performance and productivity and back toward shared human experiences. Li-elle Rapaport does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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The author, back right, with her friends while on spring break with their kids. Courtesy of Bethaney Phillips Every spring break, I travel with five of my friends and our kids for a quick getaway. This year, we rented a huge cabin in Branson, Missouri, and had a great time. The kids don't always get along, but we solve issues quickly, and split costs and chores. Every spring break, I travel with my two sons, five college friends, and all their kids for a short getaway. This year, we rented a cabin near Branson, Missouri, for three days and nights of sleepovers, swimming, and hitting the parks. In total, six moms and 16 kids, ranging from 3 months to 11 years, attended. The kids enjoy their time together, and so do the moms It's such a special experience. The age gaps among the kids foster special friendships and mentor-like relationships. And because we're all together for an extended amount of time, the moms also get to know each child better. It's sort of an all-moms-on-deck situation, and kids simply look to the nearest mom to ask for something. It's a situation of instant closeness and confidence, and it creates incredible bonds with kids I don't get to see often enough. The author and her friends take their kids on a trip every spring break. Courtesy of Bethaney Phillips Then, once the kids go to bed, the moms stay up talking, having a few beers or glasses of wine, and playing cards. One night, we hooked an old drive to the TV and swiped through 15-year-old pictures while laughing hysterically. We all live between 20 minutes and 3 hours apart, but Kansas, where we live, has a statewide spring break, so despite covering six school districts, we're all off the same dates. We started doing it to make it easier to see each other It started four years ago, when one of my friends began planning to spend spring break visiting all our homes. She was scheduling play dates and sleepovers at multiple stops. However, it turned out to be a challenge, and there were too many changes to the itinerary to make it all run smoothly. She ended up cutting the trip short after two stops. The next year, she thought we should all go someplace neutral. We'd all book a place together. The kids vary widely in ages, and they all enjoy hanging out together. Courtesy of Bethaney Phillips This year, we found a cabin with seven king-sized beds, a bunk room, and 6.5 bathrooms. It also came with a huge kitchen, two large dining tables (one was used strictly for crafts), a movie theater, and a game room. We split costs, as well as tasks like cooking and cleaning We all work in middle management and midlevel careers, so we're also in a midlevel budget. This was our most expensive trip, at around $150 per night per family for the accommodations. For food, we order in groceries — pizza, chicken nuggets, tons of snacks — nothing gourmet, we know the audience. We plan the menu together, then split six ways and Venmo. This year, we spent around $500 on food, with plenty to take home after all was said and done. In total, each mom spent just over $530, plus gas. While we were there, we had plenty of fun by swimming or heading to the park. We also brought games from home and did activities like crafts, bracelet-making, and coloring. Some kids are allotted screen time, and others aren't, though we did have a movie night with popcorn. As for cooking and cleaning, it's a house full of working moms: things are done in almost no time because everyone chips in. It's actually easier than at home because there are way more hands doing the job. One evening, my husband called, and after a 10-minute phone call, I returned to find dinner put away with a spotless kitchen and living area. This year, the cabin they rented had a movie room. Courtesy of Bethaney Phillips The kids get along — for the most part Logistically, it works like this: the mom closest by is in charge. Though we vary slightly in parenting styles, our similarities make this possible in the first place. We spoke in advance about how we get along and what we allow. (A real text exchange outlined rules for fart jokes.) The kids absolutely fight — it's three days in a shared space. They didn't want to take turns playing games, couldn't agree on a movie, and there may have been a joke or two made that someone else took personally. Normal kid stuff. However, there are enough activities and enough kids to play with that they were easily redirected. Besides, learning to get along is a life skill. Meanwhile, it's fun to see which ages and personalities flock together, and not always the ones you expect. They find shared hobbies and interests while creating close-knit friendships with kids they otherwise rarely get to see. All while I get quality time with my friends. It's an experience I can't praise enough, and I'm thankful it's one we get to continue. Read the original article on Business Insider

Software lets robots learn from each other even if they have different hardware.

Juli Ford lives in a multigenerational house with her family. Lucy Lu for Business Insider This 'as-told-to' essay is based on a conversation with Juli Ford, a 57-year-old real estate agent and certified senior advisor based in Massachusetts. It has been edited for length and clarity. When my children were young, we saw my parents all the time. We lived very close to each other in South Plymouth, Massachusetts, and my parents always helped with the kids. From the time they were born, Wednesdays were Grammy and Grampy Day. My dad got sick in 2005. When we learned in the summer of 2011 that he probably didn't have much time left, we talked about what life would be like after he was gone, including where my mom would live. The family's house fits three generations. Lucy Lu for Business Insider When he passed in December 2011, my mom was not ready to live with us. At 68, she had never lived on her own. She'd been with my dad since she was 15. Then, in April 2015, a house in Pembroke, Massachusetts, about 30 minutes from South Plymouth, came on the market. The second I saw it online, I thought, "Oh, this is perfect." The house had a beautiful in-law apartment The house is 4,300 square feet, and the basement is about 800 square feet. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The floor plan, which is not drawn to scale, shows that the basement apartment is reserved for the grandmother. BI My mom fell in love with the home's basement apartment. It's full of beautiful natural light. It's one bedroom with a den, a full kitchen, a fireplace, its own laundry, 1.5 baths, its own outdoor patio, and two entrances. We made an offer within two days. We bought the house in April 2015 for $630,000. My mom had no interest in ownership. Instead, she made a financial contribution toward the down payment equal to what she would have paid in rent for the next five years. The living room is a communal space. Lucy Lu for Business Insider She also gave us money every year for utilities. Last year, she started making a bigger monthly contribution to help cover household expenses. She essentially has not had to pay rent for 10 years, and as the house gets older, the cost of maintaining it grows. It was a dream when we first moved in Ford's mother has her own basement apartment. Lucy Lu for Business Insider My mom helped me a lot with my kids, especially with their schooling. My kids were 10 and 11 when she moved in, and they were homeschooled. We drove around a lot because we were going to museums and other activities in Boston. She sometimes helped with driving, and she became their English teacher because her first career was teaching English. This essay is part of The New American Home, a series that examines multigenerational houses. Read more. Grammy Wednesdays continued when we moved into the house, and my kids, who are 20 and 22 now, would go down and visit her on their own. My mom has exceptionally good boundaries. I'm sure we did things differently than she would have done with our kids, but she's always been very good at keeping her opinions to herself. Ford bought the house with her mother in mind. Lucy Lu for Business Insider My mom is still independent, but needs our help now At 82, she's a bit less independent than she was 10 years ago because of health issues. Still, she has privacy: I don't know everything that she does all the time, and we can go days without seeing each other. Other times, we see each other a lot more often. We have had a few medical emergencies with my mom, so I got in the habit of keeping my phone next to my bed. There have been a few times that she's had to call me. Ford's mother also has her own living room. Lucy Lu for Business Insider I cannot imagine how much harder it would be to be a daughter of an aging mom if we weren't in the same house. I would be so much more concerned about her being alone and getting lonelier. It would be more time-consuming for me if I had to go somewhere else to support her. The house gave us other financial benefits In the beginning, the only financial benefit I really thought about of combining households was that we could get a nicer house than my husband and I could afford on our own. The office space. Lucy Lu for Business Insider Around the time we got this house, my brother's family went through a foreclosure after his wife had been hit by a drunken driver and had a traumatic brain injury. They had a lot of housing instability during that time because she was unable to work and had massive medical bills. They were not sure where they were going to live. Because we combined households with my mom, we were able to tap into the equity in this house to help them. We took out a home equity loan and bought a small, lovely house, and rented it to them. We weren't really making any money on it, but the rent was paying the bills. Within two years, they recovered their credit enough that they purchased the house from us. They were able to rebuild their financial well-being in that house. The three generations all share one home. Lucy Lu for Business Insider We used the proceeds from the sale to buy a vacation property in Vermont, which we turned into an Airbnb for four years. When we sold it, we paid off our kids' student loans. We were all able to build wealth because we combined households with my mom. We feel so proud and grateful. It's not something I saw coming 11 years ago. I see multigenerational living as one of the most compelling solutions to our elder care and affordable housing crises. Bringing families together around this is really an underutilized solution. Read the original article on Business Insider