Latest news with #JoshSilverman
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Throw Yourself In With Zealous Passion,' Says Etsy CEO Josh Silverman, Who Went From Theater Major To Running A $5.3 Billion Company
"Throw yourself in with zealous passion," Etsy Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY) CEO Josh Silverman told Pace University graduates during a commencement speech in May 19. Silverman urged graduates to find work they enjoy. He said over-delivering on every task sparks career-launching opportunities for today's most ambitious new hires. AI Reshapes Early Careers "For me, the most important thing has always been to start by throwing myself in with zealous passion to something that I liked," Silverman said, recounting how failed auditions at Brown University—where he majored in theater— pushed him toward public policy. Payrolls grew by 147,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate slipped to 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Meanwhile, recent college graduates—those aged 22 to 27—faced a jobless rate of 5.8% in early 2025, significantly higher than the general fourth-quarter average. Don't Miss: —with up to 120% bonus shares—before this Uber-style disruption hits the public markets Named a TIME Best Invention and Backed by 5,000+ Users, Kara's Air-to-Water Pod Cuts Plastic and Costs — Artificial intelligence is adding pressure. A May National Bureau of Economic Research paper found that generative AI eventually displaces workers when wage renegotiation fails, though it boosts short-term productivity. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, released in early January, predicts AI and data processing will create 11 million roles and replace 9 million by 2030. Gen Z is already adapting. Many are adding micro-credentials instead of waiting on advanced degrees. Enrollments in generative-AI courses jumped 866% year over year, according to Coursera. Employers are responding with stipends for upskilling, a trend Coursera says improves retention and closes skill gaps. "I was an absolute sponge in meetings. I hung out by the water cooler, determined not to miss the most interesting conversations," Silverman said. Trending: $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. "Then life opened a totally unexpected door." That door led from answering phones for former Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ) after graduating from Brown University. Three years later, Bradley's chief of staff offered him a job at a boutique consulting firm. Silverman said the experience proved that "small rooms often lead to big doors." "Life shouldn't be full of adventure—it should be an adventure, and don't let that scare you. Embrace it," Silverman told the graduates. Those doors kept opening for him—he co-founded Evite, steered Skype, led consumer products at American Express (NYSE:AXP), and became Etsy's CEO in 2017. "Sitting here, you may not be able to clearly see the opportunities ahead, but you will seize them, shape them, and even create them," Silverman told graduates. For those stepping into a workforce transformed by AI, it was his final challenge—and a call to embrace the unknown with confidence. Read Next: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? ETSY (ETSY): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'Throw Yourself In With Zealous Passion,' Says Etsy CEO Josh Silverman, Who Went From Theater Major To Running A $5.3 Billion Company originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Miami Herald
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Mattel's AI deal raises fears of ‘real damage' to kids
I don't allow my children to play video games. They don't have smartwatches, iPads, or smartphones. And yet, nearly every child in my son's class has either a phone or a smartwatch. Is it hard to say no and explain that he can't have something every other kid has? Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Honestly, no - only because we believe that's the right thing to do. I am not trying to be too strict or rigid. I support providing them with basic knowledge of technology, but there should be balance. Related: TSA bans these common children's toys from airplanes They should be able to play - really play - outside in the mud, or inside with simple non-electric toys. It's then they actually use their mind, start to be creative, and feel the excitement of creating or discovering something new. "Playing is essential for human brain development, much more than cognitive functioning. Much more important than learning facts. It's play that helps the brain develop. We know that this is a scientific fact," explains Gabor Mate, a Canadian physician and an expert on trauma, addiction, stress, and childhood development. Today it seems harder than ever to foster kids' healthy development, as we are surrounded by technology. And toy producers keep pushing upgrades that seem not only unnecessary, but sometimes even scary. Barbie maker Mattel (MAT) has been making toys for 80 years, during which it has become one of the leading global toy manufacturers, and the creator of franchises cherished by kids and families around the world. On June 12, the toy giant unveiled a strategic partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. The idea behind the collaboration is to "bring the magic of AI to age-appropriate play experiences, with an emphasis on innovation, privacy, and safety," reads the press release. Related: Iconic toy store chain closing stores once again This begs the question - is there such a thing as safe interaction between a child and a chatbot? I sincerely doubt it. "Each of our products and experiences is designed to inspire fans, entertain audiences, and enrich lives through play," Mattel Chief Franchise Officer Josh Silverman said. "AI has the power to expand on that mission and broaden the reach of our brands in new and exciting ways. Our work with OpenAI will enable us to leverage new technologies to solidify our leadership in innovation and reimagine new forms of play." Entertain, inspire, excite, bring new forms of play? Do children really need new forms of play? More Retail: Huge retail chain suddenly closing hundreds of storesMajor retailer scores huge benefit from Joann bankruptcyHome Depot, Target, Ulta and more strike back at retail crime From my experience, you can just give children a little bit of sand, water, small branches, and some rocks. It would make them more than happy, playing for hours. More importantly, it would force them to be creative and develop their own exciting games. I am not alone in my concerns about the idea of ChatGPT-powered toys. Child welfare experts and advocacy groups such as Public Citizen are starting to warn about the potential dangers of this collaboration, writes The Independent. "Children do not have the cognitive capacity to distinguish fully between reality and play," Public Citizen Co-president Robert Weissman stated. Weissman noted that risks include "real damage" to children, undermining social development and impacting the their ability to form peer relationships. Even adults have been known to have dangerous "relationships" with AI chatbots. Why? Aarhus University Psychiatry Professor Søren Dinesen Østergaard explains that "the correspondence with AI chatbots such as Chat is so realistic that one easily gets the impression that there is a real person at the other end." Now imagine the still-developing child's brain in that position. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said his company focuses on safety measures to protect vulnerable users. Related: Wendy's adds old-school toys to take on McDonald's Happy Meal Another important question for parents and caregivers: Is it worth it? Are there any actual benefits of ChatGPT-powered toys for children, or just potential risks? What's more, if simple iPads and smartphones are known to threaten children's development, what about a more powerful toy? Remember, playing is an important part of growing up and helps your child explore the world. While Mate did not comment on Mattel or its OpenAI collaboration, he talked about the general dangers of children's dependence on technology. "We've deprived our children of play. This [showing smartphone] is not play," Mate said. "These kids with their iPads at one year old have been robbed of their capacity to play. And the companies design these gadgets to make these kids addicted." Mate concludes with the words of his friend, an endocrinologist, saying, "What we have here is hacking of the American mind." There are still no details on exactly how OpenAI's technology will be integrated into Mattel's new toys, but hopefully, it ends up being one of those experiments that gets scrapped before it even starts. Related: Classic toy store chain files Chapter 11 bankruptcy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Associated Press
24-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
AYRO, Inc. Expands Strategic Alternatives Review to Include Digital Asset Strategies Focused on Stablecoin Technology
Company also announces certain corporate actions ROUND ROCK, TX / ACCESS Newswire / June 24, 2025 / AYRO, Inc. (NASDAQ:AYRO) ('AYRO' or the 'Company'), today announces that it is exploring a range of strategic alternatives to enhance stockholder value, including digital asset initiatives, with a focus on the underlying technology of crypto-based stablecoins, and operational initiatives to grow its core business. As part of this process, the Company is actively exploring new market opportunities that leverage its existing assets and balance sheet. AYRO currently maintains a strong cash position of approximately $15.4 million, as of March 31, 2025, enabling significant flexibility to pursue strategic paths and support external opportunities. 'We continue to actively explore all strategic avenues to create value for our stockholders,' said Josh Silverman, Executive Chairman of AYRO. 'We believe our solid balance sheet enables us to pursue growth opportunities in emerging digital markets with a specific interest in technologies underlying stablecoins. Reverse Stock Split Additionally, the Company today announces that it intends to effect a reverse stock split of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the 'common stock') at a ratio of 1 post-split share for every 16 pre-split shares. The reverse stock split will become effective at 4:05 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The Company's common stock will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol AYRO and will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The new CUSIP number for the common stock following the reverse stock split is 054748306. At the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders held on May 19, 2025, the Company's stockholders granted the Company's Board of Directors the discretion to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's common stock through an amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, at a ratio of not less than 1-for-2 and not more than 1-for-100, with such ratio to be determined by the Company's Board of Directors. At the effective time of the reverse stock split, every sixteen (16) shares of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock will be converted automatically into one issued and outstanding share of common stock without any change in the par value per share. Stockholders holding shares through a brokerage account will have their shares automatically adjusted to reflect the 1-for-16 reverse stock split. It is not necessary for stockholders holding shares of the Company's common stock in certificated form to exchange their existing stock certificates for new stock certificates of the Company in connection with the reverse stock split, although stockholders may do so if they wish. The reverse stock split will affect all stockholders uniformly and will not alter any stockholder's percentage interest in the Company's equity, except to the extent that the reverse stock split would result in a stockholder owning a fractional share. Any fractional share of a stockholder resulting from the reverse stock split will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares. The reverse stock split will reduce the number of shares of the Company's common stock outstanding from 8,691,466 shares to approximately 543,217 shares. Proportional adjustments will be made to the number of shares of the Company's common stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of the Company's equity awards, warrants and other convertible securities, as well as the applicable exercise or conversion price thereof. Stockholders with shares in brokerage accounts should direct any questions concerning the reverse stock split to their broker; all other stockholders may direct questions to the Company's transfer agent, Issuer Direct Corporation, at 919-744-2722. About AYRO AYRO designs and produces zero emission vehicles and systems, including its flagship electric vehicle, the AYRO Vanish. The Company is also pursuing digital asset initiatives as well as operational initiatives to grow its core business. For more information, visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any expected future results, performance, or achievements. Words such as 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'expect,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'will,' 'would' and their opposites and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and include the development and launch of the AYRO Vanish, the success of the Company's strategic review and the success of any new ventures it may pursue, including its digital asset strategy. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: AYRO's success depends on its ability to complete the development of and successfully introduce new products; AYRO's ability to determine new investment opportunities and its success in creating stockholder value; AYRO's ability to execute its new business strategy with respect to digital assets; the effect that the reverse stock split may have on the price of AYRO's common stock; AYRO's ability to regain and maintain compliance with the Nasdaq Stock Market's listing standards; AYRO may experience delays in the development and introduction of new products; the ability of AYRO's suppliers to deliver parts and assemble vehicles; the ability of the purchaser to terminate or reduce purchase orders; AYRO has a history of losses and has never been profitable, and AYRO expects to incur additional losses in the future and may never be profitable; AYRO faces risks associated with litigation and claims; AYRO may be unable to replace lost manufacturing capacity on a timely and cost-effective basis, which could adversely impact its operations and ability to meet delivery timelines; the market for AYRO's products is developing and may not develop as expected and AYRO, accordingly, may never meet its targeted production and sales goals; AYRO's limited operating history makes evaluating its business and future prospects difficult and may increase the risk of any investment in its securities; AYRO may experience lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of its vehicles; developments in alternative technologies or improvements in the internal combustion engine may have a materially adverse effect on the demand for AYRO's electric vehicles; the markets in which AYRO operates are highly competitive, and AYRO may not be successful in competing in these industries; AYRO may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm AYRO's financial condition and liquidity if AYRO is not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims; increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of raw materials, in particular lithium-ion cells, chipsets and displays, could harm AYRO's business; AYRO may be required to raise additional capital to fund its operations and any new endeavors, and such capital raising may be costly or difficult to obtain and could dilute AYRO's stockholders' ownership interests, and AYRO's long term capital requirements are subject to numerous risks; AYRO may fail to comply with evolving environmental and safety laws and regulations; and AYRO is subject to governmental export and import controls that could impair AYRO's ability to compete in international market due to licensing requirements and subject AYRO to liability if AYRO is not in compliance with applicable laws. A discussion of these and other factors with respect to AYRO is set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and AYRO disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For investor inquiries: CORE IR [email protected] 516-222-2560 SOURCE: Ayro, Inc. press release
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
As ChatGPT Linked to Mental Health Breakdowns, Mattel Announces Plans to Incorporate It Into Children's Toys
Hey kids! Ready to evoke the rich tapestry of the human experience with your favorite toys by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence? Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars, has inked a deal with OpenAI to use its AI tools to not only help design toys but power them, Bloomberg reports. Details are scant at this point. In a joint interview, Mattel chief franchise officer Josh Silverman and OpenAI chief operating officer Brad Lightcap said the collab is at an early stage, and declined to comment on what the first product would be. But Bloomberg did float some ideas. AI could be used to create digital assistants based on Mattel characters, for example. And have you considered that toys like the Magic 8 Ball and games like Uno could be even more interactive with a large language model thrown in there? "We plan to announce something towards the tail end of this year, and it's really across the spectrum of physical products and some experiences," Silverman said, as quoted by Bloomberg. "Leveraging this incredible technology is going to allow us to really reimagine the future of play." However it all pans out, it's a pretty alarming collaboration. Evidence of AI chatbots' deleterious effects on our mental health has been steadily mounting, with countless friends and family members watching their loved ones become obsessed with ChatGPT and spiral into wild delusions, sometimes with tragic consequences. It's especially risky for children. Earlier this year, researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine's Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation released an AI risk assessment warning about teens interacting with AI companions, a type of AI chatbot designed to be eerily human-like and personable. Their conclusion? That these aren't safe for anyone under the age of 18 to use. Indeed, it's impossible to ignore the inherent riskiness of a young mind developing an attachment to something that pretends to be real and an actual friend. The most high-profile example comes from the death of a 14-year-old boy last year, who died by suicide after falling in love with a companion on the platform AI models are also notorious for making up facts — or hallucinating — and, more importantly, breaking their own guardrails. An AI may be designed to be safe for kids, but there's no guaranteeing that it won't disobey its instructions. That said, we don't know the exact details of how Mattel will use OpenAI's products. But so far, it seems to be heading in a pretty predictable direction. Let's not kid ourselves here: of course Mattel is going to use AI to make a Barbie doll or what-have-you engage in full-blown conversations with your kid, or sell a Magic 8-ball that spouts even more meaningless but convincing-sounding drivel. As to the nature of the deal, Mattel's Silverman said that the toymaker isn't licensing its intellectual property to OpenAI and will retain full control over the products that'll be created. In any case, the two companies are anticipating a fruitful relationship. Mattel has been expanding its empire into the realm of entertainment — as heralded by its smash-hit 2023 blockbuster "Barbie," — while OpenAI is trying to land deals with Hollywood studios to use its AI video generator Sora. "The idea exploration phase of creative design for companies like Mattel and many others, that's a critical part of the workflow," Lightcap said. "As we think about how AI builds tools that extend that capability, I think we're very lucky to have partners like Mattel that we can work with to better understand that problem." Major question marks remain, but above all, this is yet another dispiriting example of how every industry under the sun is forcing AI into its business model for no other reason than it's the hot new thing, regardless of how much sense it makes or the risks posed by the technology. More on AI: Lawyers Just Discovered Something About Meta's AI That Could Cost Zuckerberg Untold Billions of Dollars
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Business Standard
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
AI Barbie incoming? Mattel taps OpenAI to power next-gen smart toys, games
Mattel has announced a partnership with artificial intelligence company OpenAI to co-develop generative AI-powered toys and games. The US-based toymaker, known for its iconic brand portfolio including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, and more, said the collaboration aims to bring age-appropriate AI experiences to children's playtime with a focus on innovation, safety, and privacy. The company stated that its work with OpenAI will support the development of AI-powered products and experiences. While specific details are yet to be confirmed, the first product to emerge from the collaboration is expected later this year – likely an AI-powered Barbie. 'Each of our products and experiences is designed to inspire fans, entertain audiences, and enrich lives through play. AI has the power to expand on that mission and broaden the reach of our brands in new and exciting ways. Our work with OpenAI will enable us to leverage new technologies to solidify our leadership in innovation and reimagine new forms of play,' said Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer, Mattel. In addition to developing toys and games, the collaboration extends to Mattel's internal business operations. The company said it will adopt OpenAI's advanced AI tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise, to boost product development, support creative ideation, and deepen brand engagement. 'We're pleased to work with Mattel as it moves to introduce thoughtful AI-powered experiences and products into its iconic brands, while also providing its employees the benefits of ChatGPT. With OpenAI, Mattel has access to an advanced set of AI capabilities alongside new tools to enable productivity, creativity, and company-wide transformation at scale,' said Brad Lightcap, chief operating officer, OpenAI.
