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Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Ozzy Osbourne's Final Business Ventures Include Selling His DNA
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Shortly before he died, Ozzy Osbourne embarked on a business venture that could let fans "recycle him forever" — technology permitting. Osbourne died on Tuesday at the age of 76. Though he was known for his role as the lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Osbourne spent the months before his death launching a series of notable brand partnerships. The so-called "Prince of Darkness" teamed up with the company Liquid Death in June on a product called "Infinitely Recyclable Ozzy." He drank 10 cans of the brand's iced tea, leaving "trace DNA from his saliva" on the now-precious metal, according to the company. Osbourne also signed each package, which originally sold for $450 each. (A six-pack of the teas goes for $13.83 on Amazon). Liquid Death said in fine print that it couldn't guarantee "DNA integrity and cloning results." At the time of writing, the coveted cans were sold out on Liquid Death's website. One sold on eBay on July 22, the day of his death, for $4,655. Osbourne, who sometimes wore dark eyeliner, also dipped his toe in the makeup world in the weeks before his death. On July 1, the UK-based makeup brand Jolie Beauty announced it was partnering with the rock legend and launching a limited-edition collection. Customers could preorder the entire collection, which included brushes, lipsticks, and a makeup bag emblazoned with an Osbourne-esque skull, for $553. The CEO of the Birmingham-based company said in a video on Facebook that the opportunity was an "absolute honor," noting that Osbourne himself was from Birmingham, England. Representatives for Liquid Death and Jolie Beauty did not immediately respond to Business a request for comment from Business Insider. In the early 2000s, Osbourne starred in the MTV reality show "The Osbournes" alongside his wife and kids. His somewhat unconventional business partnerships weren't entirely new, either — in 2003, Chipotle created the Chipotle Celebrity Card for him, which grants unlimited Chipotle for one year. As of 2022, he was the only lifelong cardholder. Osbourne struggled with Parkinson's disease in the final years of his life, but joined Black Sabbath for a final concert earlier in July in Birmingham. His family said he died while "surrounded by love" in a statement.
Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The US Air Force let AI help operators find targets to speed up kill chain decisions
The exercise saw operators use AI to speed up targeting acquisitions and decisions. The exercise saw operators use AI to speed up targeting acquisitions and decisions. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt The exercise saw operators use AI to speed up targeting acquisitions and decisions. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. The US Air Force used artificial intelligence to speed up its targeting decisions in a recent exercise. The goal was to test how AI could improve the accuracy and timeliness of operator responses, the Air Force said, in order to have a more automated kill chain in a potential future fight. The four-day Experiment 3 exercise, held last month, was a stress test of future warfare technologies and tactics in a realistic combat scenario. "By replicating this novel methodology, we allowed tactical-level participants to explore how tools and workflows could shape kill chain execution for the future of warfighting," Lt. Col. Wesley Schultz, the director of operations for the 805th Combat Training Squadron/Shadow Operations Center-Nellis, said. A kill chain is a military decision process that guides how forces detect a threat, zero in on it, act, and evaluate the outcome. The US military is actively looking to evolve its kill chain through automation, AI, data-driven command and control decisions, and interconnected sensors, surveillance, and reconnaissance tools. During the training, operators used AI software to accelerate decision-making and targeting processes. It was designed to speed up those processes and "reduce the cognitive load" on human operators, the service said in a release. The Air Force and other military programs have been working on unmanned aircraft than can fly alongside piloted aircraft or on their own. US Air Force photo by Richard Gonzales Reducing the cognitive load, or mental effort, of warfighting personnel has become a priority, especially in recent years with the rise of AI. US military leaders and officials believe that AI can assist humans in assessing massive amounts of battlefield data to help make clearer decisions more quickly. The AI used was developed under the Maven Smart System, a larger US military AI initiative. During testing, the assessments made only by operators were compared to those made with AI recommendations. The testing was intended to explore the value of human-machine teaming. "Differences between machine-generated recommendations and operator decisions highlighted the complementary strengths of human judgment, such as intuition, experience and situational awareness, in time-sensitive targeting," the service said. Feedback from the exercise, as well as observations of how the AI operated, was then used to refine systems and processes. Former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said earlier this year that future warfare will be "highly automated, highly autonomous, action at long range, precision," and space will be a "decisive theater," adding that the "response times to bring effects to bear are very short" Related stories Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know "We're going to be in a world," he said, "where decisions will not be made at human speed; they're going to be made at machine speed." And last year, he argued that mastery of artificial intelligence solutions could be key to winning the next major war. AI is being implemented across the military, changing how weapons systems and technologies are operated. US Army 25th Infantry Division/Staff Sgt. Brenden Delgado US military branches have been testing how to use AI to speed up decision-making. The Air Force has been looking at pairing the technology with uncrewed systems and drones, like collaborative combat aircraft. The service has let AI algorithms fly fighter jets, and there has been a lot of time and research invested in how artificial intelligence can augment pilot capabilities. AI as a tool can also complete back-end work in the military, such as better search functions for analyzing Department of Defense doctrine, understanding elements of specific locations, commands, or job positions, paperwork, and situation reports. The rise of AI in militaries has been met with skepticism and ethical concerns from experts and officials about its implementation, especially in combat scenarios. The Pentagon has maintained that its policy on AI will keep a human in the loop for decision-making, though some observers have argued that this may not be possible in a high-speed, data-driven future war. Others have noted that the technology may develop at a quicker pace than Washington or the Pentagon can regulate it. In recent Air Force testing, the human was kept in the loop. The AI functioned in a support role rather than hunting down targets independently with autonomy.
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Traveller's clever hack can reduce waiting time at the airport 'by half'
A frequent traveller has shared an airport hack that has people stunned - and wondering why they've never thought of it before as she claims it works "90 percent of the time" A seasoned traveller has revealed their secret airport trick, leaving people baffled they hadn't thought of it themselves. Airports can be incredibly stressful environments, packed with lengthy queues, rigorous security procedures and inevitable delays. However, most travellers associate airport arrivals with anticipation for their upcoming adventure. Whilst countless people discuss strategies for smooth departures, fewer address the frustrations that arise when landing at your destination. Travel influencer Lindsay Mukaddam, known as @onegirlwandering, posted footage of herself positioned outside the terminal following her arrival in a clip that has since received over a million views. Lindsay explained: "Come to the departures level if the arrivals level is completely slammed with cars, because then the person whose picking you up can get up here with no issues and they don't have to wait in line." She noted in the caption: "I may look like crud after a 20 plus hour travel day, but at least I don't have to wait a moment longer to get home." Following the video's viral success, the travel influencer revealed to Insider that "this tactic works about 90 per cent of the time" in her experience. "When I have had a hard time using it, it has usually been during a very busy travel period, like a holiday weekend," Lindsay explained. In most instances and at most airports, passengers can actually be collected from the departures area rather than arrivals. While travellers are typically encouraged to head to the designated pick-up zone, there are no regulations preventing them from doing the opposite. Nevertheless, if you're planning to collect a loved one at departures, they can likely forget about a lengthy reunion beside the vehicle. Typically, passenger drop-off zones at departures are fast-moving, and motors aren't allowed to park, or if they are, not for extended periods. Airport officials may hand the driver a ticket for loitering. On Reddit, one user highlighted this, commenting, "If you do this, make sure they're waiting for you and not vice versa. In Nashville, if you attempt to pick someone up at departures, the airport police will probably give you a ticket, so make it as quick as possible." Some airports do offer brief parking facilities at departures. In these situations, there's no reason passengers can't be collected from this spot. One user joked: "Don't be sharing secrets like this, you're going to ruin it for us." @gwaipor wrote: "Sydney, Australia here. Doesn't work at Sydney airport. Get a fine for doing so." A Chicagoan added: "This does not work well at O'Hare."
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
I'm a private chef in New York City. Sending one DM changed my entire career trajectory.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maddy DeVita, 26, a private chef and content creator based in New York City. It has been edited for length and clarity. For me, the spring of 2022 was spent applying to pretty much every job under the sun that I was remotely interested in. I had been working at a global health nonprofit since graduating from college during the pandemic, but realized that, despite always thinking I'd go into medicine, I actually wanted to work in food. My cover letter was sparse — I didn't have any professional experience, I just loved to cook, and was a halfway knowledgeable home chef. The search felt endless. I interviewed at World Central Kitchen and never heard back. I tried test kitchens, like Food52, to no avail. At one point, I decided to try going into management consulting, because I'd at least make a lot of money. Rejections kept rolling into my inbox, and I reached a breaking point. Related video When she started her career switch, DeVita had zero professional food experience. Maddy DeVita A string of rejections made me braver But the rejections also made me bold — what else did I have to lose? What's something crazier I could try? I was so used to getting nos, so one more wasn't going to make much of a difference. I'd been following a small Italian farm, Ebbio, on Instagram for a while, so I sent them a DM to see if there was any way to work together. They read it but didn't respond, but I weirdly wasn't deterred. I'd been turned away from so many jobs at that point, so I figured I'd just pitch myself to them once more. Related stories Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know And this time, it worked. They responded and said they were working on a cookbook project and that they'd love to have me help. By early August, I'd booked a flight to Italy and put in my two weeks' notice. DeVita spent six weeks on a farm. Maddy DeVita Quitting was never part of my plan It's not like I woke up one day and decided to quit my job. In fact, as the supremely logical oldest of three girls, I never thought I'd quit without a clear career plan. If I'd gotten an offer from any of the more practical jobs I'd applied to, I probably would've taken it. So many people are stuck in the thought loop I was in: "Oh my gosh, I want to do this, but it will never happen," or "I'm not the type of person who would do this." I learned, though, that there's actually a narrow pool of people who actually go after the crazy idea, so your odds of getting what you want might be better than you'd first think. After spending six weeks on the farm and getting back to New York, I enrolled in culinary school and started private chefing for clients in the city after graduating. I kept posting content on my food Instagram, HandMeTheFork, which had mainly consisted of filtered photos of avocado toast when I first started my frantic job search. The decision to go to Italy changed her whole career path. Maddy DeVita Listening to my gut gave me the life I love now I spent most of the past two years cooking consistently for families — getting embedded in their homes, spending a summer out in the Hamptons, making everything from meal-prepped lunches to Sunday dinner — but I don't do that as much these days, since I'm starting to earn money from my online content. Now, I'm doing more one-off, larger dinner parties and figuring out how to manage the world of social media, so my schedule is way more flexible. If I'm not cooking for an event and I'm feeling disciplined, I'll start my day with a Barry's Bootcamp-style workout class, which kicks my butt. I'll then do my admin work at a café in my Brooklyn neighborhood, likely while listening to bossa nova music, my current obsession. After finishing up any video or Substack editing and recipe planning, I'll go grocery shopping, ideally at the farmers market. DeVita is now a full-time private chef. Maddy DeVita The afternoon is usually filled with recipe testing and filming content, and I actually try to limit my social media time to the midday hours. Evening means cooking dinner for myself and my fiancée, and doing some more editing. All along, I've just wanted days that are dynamic, that are always different, and I've found that. Every day is different. Maddy DeVita Listening to my gut has been my north star these past few years, though it often feels like my brain has to catch up to my instincts. I haven't made decisions based on right or wrong, or the next most practical career step, but instead based on what I'm called to do in the moment. Of course, I've gotten lucky, but I'm so glad that I've led with what I feel pulled to internally. While at my college reunion a few months ago, I saw a ton of friends who were in my pre-med class, some of whom have finished med school and are fully doctors. It was such a surreal experience, realizing that could have easily been me, but that, despite my early expectations, it's not my life at all.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
HBO Max is getting into thumbnail testing — 9 years after Netflix
HBO Max plans to start testing different photo thumbnails for movies like "Sinners," starring Michael B. Jordan. HBO Max plans to start testing different photo thumbnails for movies like "Sinners," starring Michael B. Jordan. Warner Bros. HBO Max plans to start testing different photo thumbnails for movies like "Sinners," starring Michael B. Jordan. Warner Bros. lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Better late than never. Warner Bros. Discovery is preparing to roll out A/B testing on HBO Max photo thumbnails for the first time, two employees familiar with the project told Business Insider. A company spokesperson confirmed the effort. The project, which one employee nicknamed the "multi-armed bandit," will randomly display one of several different thumbnails — the small preview images you see for a TV show or movie before you click — for each HBO Max title. After the tests, the system will show all users the thumbnail that drives the most engagement. The rollout shows how WBD's flagship streamer is playing catch-up to rivals like Netflix, which publicly confirmed it was A/B thumbnail testing nine years ago, in May 2016. Disney+, Hulu, and Peacock also started A/B thumbnail tests years ago. And Paramount+ started A/B testing images last year, which the company said boosted its click-through rate by 162%. WBD has previously used A/B tests in other ways but hasn't applied them to thumbnails. HBO Max will first test thumbnails on a small number of popular TV shows and movies, and if all goes well, plans to roll out the program across most of the streamer's catalog in the first half of 2026, an employee close to the project said. This person added that WBD eventually wants to personalize thumbnails by tailoring them to specific users, like Netflix does. Beyond the paid streamers, thumbnails have become something of an obsession for social-media creators. Top YouTuber MrBeast has a team dedicated to making thumbnails that generated about 50 iterations per video as of last year, according to Chucky Appleby, who oversaw the effort at the time. Related stories Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know The future is AI HBO Max's thumbnail variations will initially be created by humans, the employee close to the project said. However, they eventually expect that to change. "AI isn't incorporated now, but that is the plan," this person said. The spokesperson confirmed AI would help scale thumbnail selection eventually, though humans would remain involved. Streamers are racing to add AI to their platforms. Netflix has debuted an AI search tool and also recently refreshed its layout to include vertical video. Some analysts say it should go a step further by adding more short-form content to better compete with YouTube and TikTok. As for WBD's AI efforts in streaming, HBO Max uses AI to improve content recommendations. It revamped its personalization system last summer. The company said these changes meaningfully improved viewership time, return visits, homepage-to-playback conversions, and titles watched. Three WBD software engineers told BI that HBO Max's tech has room for improvement, but has come a long way. "It's not that smart, but the recommendation system does its job," a WBD software engineer told BI.
