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Boston Globe
28-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
South Coast cities gear up for summer tourism season amid economic uncertainty
Advertisement But in a time of economic uncertainty in Massachusetts and the country, there is some anecdotal evidence of people pulling back, even as some tourism officials are optimistic. Beauchamp said that his bed and breakfast saw a slight slowdown for summer bookings. Typically, his business starts to receive reservations in January or February for the summer. This year, it took a bit longer and the bookings are for shorter stays than in the past. 'It was not unusual for us to see people book for a week or 10 days before. I don't think we have many bookings like that,' he said. Still, 'things are starting to fill in. ... There were concerns early but things have turned around." A view of the Delano Homestead, a bed and breakfast in Fairhaven. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff In nearby Advertisement 'We're off to a very good start,' she said. McMullen said the current economic uncertainty reminded her of 2021 and 2022 as the severity of the COVID pandemic was waning. People were reluctant to travel far, either for health or financial reasons. A similar dynamic could come into play this year if Americans become more worried about their pocketbooks. 'I think we're going to see an increase of that local traveler,' she said. The museum, for example, has been doing targeted social media advertising within a 90-mile radius in anticipation that people may not travel far this year, she said. Whale skeletons at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Alyssa Botelho, who runs the office that coordinates tourism and economic development in Fairhaven, said the town is ramping up events for the summer like an event in June to commemorate the 'I've gotten a lot of calls from the Midwest ... Kentucky, Ohio, all these places people are tracing back the Delanos and their own family lines,' she said. 'That history piece is really big.' Botelho said the town is hoping to entice regional travelers to opt for Fairhaven as their destination of choice this summer. The town has advertised in Boston- and Rhode Island-based publications to lure local tourists. Plus, she hopes that the Advertisement 'We had never advertised in the Boston area before,' she said. 'We've got the infrastructure now, and in case you haven't heard, Fairhaven, it's a nice place to come.' Alyssa Botelho manages the tourism and economic development portfolio for Fairhaven. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Laura Orleans, who runs the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center that's a few steps away from the Whaling Museum, suggested that in times of economic anxiety, people may choose to stay closer to home in their vacations, which could help New Bedford and the broader South Coast. 'Instead of taking a trip to Europe, maybe you're taking a tour to New England or maybe within New England,' she said. For families looking for budget travel options, New Bedford is situated to help them take advantage of all the attractions the South Coast has to offer, said Ashley Payne, the director of tourism and marketing for the city. 'You're not going to find tourists trapped here in our city,' Payne said. 'Where we're positioned geographically and how we're positioned as that budget-friendly option that's great for families that are traveling, it's great for older couples who might be looking for a quieter destination that fits within their budget as well.' Genevieve Iorio could be the type of tourist that Payne and others hope to see more of on the South Coast this summer season. On a recent afternoon, she drove from Quincy to New Bedford looking for what she described as a little bit of Europe in Massachusetts. Advertisement 'I came down to New Bedford out of curiosity to enjoy the day with my niece. You know, looking for a different flavor in the state,' she said. 'Everybody knows Cape Cod. I know Boston well. I've been to Gloucester. But New Bedford just seemed very interesting because of the Portuguese community, the cuisine, being on the water, the historical district, the whaling history, and so we came down to explore and learn more about the city.' Omar Mohammed can be reached at
Boston Globe
21-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
AI that thinks for itself: Can we trust it?
But what happens when AIs try to figure more things out on their own? A Chinese company called Advertisement Manus is an entry-level glimpse at one of the hottest topics on software. AI-powered agents that think for themselves could make corporate and government computer systems vastly more efficient — or if we're not careful, a lot more dangerous. Anybody can visit the Manus site and give it a try. Like the original ChatGPT, Manus is buggy and crude, but just cool enough to be exciting. Like many other things that beep and buzz, the concept of software agents came from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The idea, which dates from the 1950s, is that a piece of software can be turned loose to do things without waiting for explicit human commands. Ever get a text message from a pharmacy? 'You're due for a Ozempic refill. Should we send it over? Press 1 for 'yes' or 2 for 'no.'' Advertisement The drug store is using a simple agent that checks the pharmacy database to see which customers are due for a refill, and sends them reminders. But suppose the agent is an AI? Then it might wonder if the prescription is on the verge of expiring. It could reach out to the doctor's computer to find out, and if necessary request a renewal. It might check a drug database to see if there's a cheaper generic, and recommend that you switch. It might notice that you haven't had a checkup in a year, and ask the doctor's computer to make an appointment. The AI wouldn't be programmed in advance to do these things. Instead, like a human, it would come up with these ideas on its own. Manus can't do stuff like this. But it's got just enough horsepower to hint at greater things to come. For instance, I asked Manus to draw up an interactive map of Boston showing the locations of public parks. Even more impressive was what happened when I asked Manus to compare housing costs, crime rates and public school quality in West Roxbury and Somerville. It spewed forth Advertisement Houses seen in Somerville in 2023. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff The current version is dead slow, often taking about an hour to complete a request. But it's pretty awe-inspiring when it works. In the months ahead, it'll work better and better. And properly applied, AI agents could go a long way toward making our lives easier. 'If you can automate a bunch of tasks wholesale,' said Dylan Hadfield-Menell, an assistant professor of AI at MIT, 'this gets us closer to everyone having their own personal assistant.' For example, said Hadfield-Menell, imagine planning a family reunion of 50 to 100 people. Feed the guests' home addresses and emails to an AI, along with the location and date of the reunion. Without further ado, the agent could generate a unique travel and hotel itinerary for each guest, and email it to them for their approval. But suppose an agent orders another computer to do something stupid? Imagine a utility using AI agents to keep electric power flowing smoothly. if these agents aren't smart enough to monitor the weather forecasts, they could be caught off guard by a freak winter storm and leave thousands freezing in the dark. Or imagine an AI investment agent that responds to a false story about a banking crisis by spawning a massive stock selloff that costs investors billions. For Phaedra Boinodiris, global leader for Trustworthy AI at IBM Consulting, these risks become less hypothetical by the day. Advertisement Poinodiris said that in an IBM survey of corporate chief executives, 61 percent were already installing agents to oversee some of their business processes, and were looking to install still more. IBM itself makes a suite of AI agents to help with human resources, finance and customer service tasks. But in an excellent How can we be sure that the AI's decisions will always match up with what humans want it to do? And can we understand why an AI chooses a particular course of action? Can it explain its thinking to a human? Unless you can answer these questions and quite a few more, AI agents will never be entirely trustworthy. Boinodiris says setting up AI agents is 'like building a skyscraper in an earthquake zone: you need reinforced foundations, constant monitoring, and contingency protocols for every scenario.' For instance, certain critical activities--prescribing a drug for a hospital patient, for instance--should never be carried out solely by an agent. There must be a human in the loop, ready to step in and avert disaster. There probably ought to be a law about this, but the Trump administration has made clear that federal regulation of AI is not forthcoming, and the budget reconciliation bill now before Congress would ban individual states from issuing their own regulations for a period of 10 years. Besides, it's not clear what such regulations should look like. As agents get smarter and become more deeply embedded in our institutions, their potential benefits and harms might be impossible to predict. After all, they're intended to think for themselves, just like humans. And you know how we are. Advertisement Hiawatha Bray can be reached at
Boston Globe
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
‘Superheroes are not born in quiet times': BC graduates enter a turbulent world with a call to lead
'You look resplendent in your brightly-colored maroon and gold robes, rather like superheroes with capes,' the Irish-born scholar and philanthropist told thegraduates seated beneath brightskies , their gowns billowing behind them. 'This is not an idle comparison,' said Richardson, the first woman to lead the New York-based philanthropic foundation. '...As freshly-minted graduates, you are the new guardians of this galaxy.' Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation in New York, received a honorary degree from BC President William P. Leahy. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Richardson, a terrorism expert, was the first woman vice chancellor at Oxford University in England and at St. Andrews University in Scotland. BC awarded her an honorary doctorate on Monday. The students are poised to start their careers in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. In recent months, the Trump administration has moved to slash scientific research funding, shrink the the federal workforce, and provoke a global trade war. Advertisement In her address, Richardson pointed to broader international concerns, such as 'clouds of misinformation' and the mounting challenges of climate change. 'Superheroes are not born in quiet times,' Richardson said. 'As new graduates going out into a difficult world, unstable and divisive and in need of fresh ideas... with you lies the burden of difficult responsibility. With you a marvelous universe of infinite possibility.' During the nearly 90 minute ceremony, families cheered as graduates' faces appeared on the jumbotron, bright with excitement as they waved and embraced one another. Advertisement BC, run by the Society of Jesus, is the largest Catholic university in New England. The school, whose sports teams are known as the Eagles, has long instilled in its students a mission of service. The university's president, the Rev. William P. Leahy, called on the class of 2025 to become 'engaged citizens and to use their talents to help transform existing issues,' from age-old problems like violence and poverty to contemporary conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, and Sudan. Graduates held on to their caps during gusty winds at the BC commencement. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'You graduates of Boston College are more needed today than ever,' he said. 'I pray that you strive to be forces for good and powerful examples for those around you.' Abby Duffy, 21, of Wellesley, who graduated Monday with a degree in criminal and social justice, said the Jesuit philosophy of 'It's about reaching out, bridging divides, and supporting those in need,' said Duffy, who plans to attend law school at the University of California-Irvine in the fall. Meghan Heckelman, 22, of Mineola, N.Y., who earned degrees in political science and applied psychology and human development, said BC 'inspired me to always put people at the center of my work.' A family huddled under an umbrella providing shade while seated in the bleachers at Alumni Stadium. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'At BC, the Jesuit ideals are really infused in everything,' Heckelman said. 'Even in the business school, there's an intense emphasis on ethics and understanding the human condition. Honorary degrees were also awarded to Richardson, Boston's Archbishop Richard G. Henning, presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, educator and activist Geoffrey Canada, and Salim Daccache, S.J., rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon. Advertisement Speaking after the ceremony, Henning described the honor as a testament to Boston College's status as a 'world class university,' dedicated not only to professional training but also to nurturing students' spiritual growth and compassion for others. 'I am still very new to the city,' added Henning, who was installed as Archbishop of Boston last October following Cardinal Seán O'Malley's 20-year tenure. 'So I'm at the beginning, too, of a long journey of making my contributions.' Doris Kearns Goodwin was an honorary degree recipient. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff In a separate interview, Goodwin— known for her biographies of the Kennedy family and presidents including Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Johnson - offered her own advice to the graduates. 'I hope they can find a sense that they're part of something that's larger than themselves, and they're able to contribute and make a difference,' said Goodwin, who 'History shows that leaders matter, but citizens matter as well. We can't just depend right now on the leaders, we have to depend on us,' Goodwin said. 'This generation has what FDR said about an earlier generation—a rendezvous with destiny. And we old people are depending on them,' she laughed. 'So I'll be glad to see them battle for their values.' Undergraduate Malaine Diop from Texas waved to family and friends during the Boston College commencement. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Rita Chandler can be reached at
Boston Globe
15-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
‘Boston attracts great tenants': Lego cuts the ribbon on new Back Bay headquarters
A seating area at the Lego's new North American HQ in Boston. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Advertisement Lego first announced its move to Boston in January 2023, though its roots in New England are deep. The company originally established itself in the region by opening a manufacturing site in Enfield around 50 years ago. More recently, Lego started building a massive new factory for its colorful plastic bricks in Virginia, along with a nearby distribution center. Lego decided to relocate the corporate jobs that remained in Enfield to Boston because it became increasingly tough to attract talent in suburban Connecticut. Advertisement 'By being in Boston, we are able to tap into a global talent pool that will help us develop and grow our business further,' Lego chief executive Niels Christiansen told the crowd on Thursday. 'We are investing in the long term.' About 300 people work for Lego in Boston today, and another 300 still need to make the move. Lego has enough room for more than 800 workers in this office, and plans to fill the remaining 200 or so spots with new hires. The call center work that has taken place in Enfield is being shifted to Arizona, and the company is still looking for a home for its Enfield model production team. The Boston move was personal for Lego chief commercial officer Colette Burke, who recalled how she lived and worked here for two decades and became a US citizen in 2003 at a Faneuil Hall ceremony. Her family often strolled past Nancy Schon's Make Way for Ducklings sculpture. Now, Lego has recreated that scene with its own version in the lobby of its new office. Another local nod: There's a Lego made to look like a miniature version of Gov. Healey among the dozens of Lego figurines hanging on one wall near the elevators. A view camera (right) and an antique telephone are among items made from legos were on display at Lego's new North American HQ in Boston. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Burke announced that Lego will give $5 million to Boston charities over two years, to existing charitable partners such as the Museum of Science and Boston Children's Museum and new ones, such as the Boston Public Library system. Most notably, Burke announced a $1 million gift to BPL as part of that broader contribution. It was unclear how much of an increase this amount represented from Lego's previous levels of charitable giving in Boston. Advertisement 'I am thrilled about this moment,' Wu told the crowd. 'Boston has always been a community of builders.' Speaking to reporters afterwards, Healey said that Lego's decision to relocate to Boston affirms the state's reputation for education and innovation. 'Lego's putting their mark right here in Massachusetts, and in Boston, is a sign of that,' Healey said. It's also a sign of the type of building that's attracting new office tenants in the slow market these days. The ribbon-cutting was a proud moment for Samuels & Associates, with several executives in attendance. They pointed to the tower's amenities, including outdoor terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows with spacious views, its distinctive interior and exterior architecture, and its location on the edge of the Back Bay, across the street from a Green Line station, as reasons for why they attracted two marquee tenants when the market was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It shows, even in a tough market, if you build the right things,' principal Steve Samuels said, 'Boston attracts great tenants.' Jon Chesto can be reached at
Boston Globe
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Don't Tell Aunty is worth talking about
The backstory : Don't Tell Aunty is the latest from the Flying Lion hospitality group, which runs Seaport restaurants such as Madras Dosa Co. and Nowon. This is in a quieter area, occupying a sleepy corner of Boylston Street where many hungry symphony-goers have lamented a lack of dining options. Don't Tell Aunty offers Indian small plates. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'We fell in love with the location. We thought the neighborhood could use something like this. The building is owned by Berklee College of Music, so we have a live music element. We love how we can integrate the community into the space, and give students an opportunity to have a stage and practice their craft,' says co-owner Sruthi Chowdary, who operates the restaurant with Babu Koganti. But what's with the name? Advertisement 'Aunty is a very fun play on how we were raised back home. There's a funny thing, or a sarcastic thing, that aunties are always on the watch,' says Chowdary, who grew up in Vijayawada, in southeastern India. 'Everyone is so into each other's business, but also in an endearing way.' Masala fries at Don't Tell Aunty. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff What to eat : Fusion cuisine with a southern Indian lilt. 'A lot of Indian food on the Western side of the world is from the northern part of India. We never found food that felt like home for us, and that's what brought us into this industry —sharing what Indian food means to us. It's not always chicken tikka masala,' Chowdary says. Advertisement Instead, it's croquettes stuffed with butter chicken in chili oil; saucy tater tots with mint, tamarind, yogurt, and onion sauces; nacho-style kale fritters, similarly sauced; paratha bread coated in a spicy Bolognese sauce — all exceedingly grazable, designed for sharing (and perhaps overordering) after a few drinks as the music reverberates and the lights get lower. The bar at Don't Tell Aunty. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff The runaway hit, though, is something simpler: avakaya hummus, made with spicy pickled mango: an exemplary fusion treat. 'Aunts and grandmothers sit together and make huge jars every summer, when the fruit is in season, and it lasts throughout the year. It's a yearly ritual at home for us. And everyone loves hummus in America,' she says. Prices are affordable, with most offerings under $20, befitting the college-adjacent locale. The Bollywood Swingin' cocktail. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff What to drink : The backlit bar has Miami vibes, all pink and palm trees; cocktails ($15 and up) are playful but potent: a Spicy Lil' Auntie is their twist on a margarita, with mango and jalapeno; Curry Tales is a martini, sort of, with vodka, vermouth, and curry brine. Take it slow. The takeaway : A spicy mix of nightlife and creative small plates, worth telling your aunties — or at least your college roommates — about. 1080 Boylston St., Boston, 617-982-6152, The lamb ghee roast dish at Don't Tell Aunty. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Kara Baskin can be reached at
