Latest news with #Sidekicks
Elle
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Lindsay Lohan Talks Y2K and 'Freakier Friday' With Taylen Biggs
Lindsay Lohan sits down with ELLE's new 'summer intern', 12-year-old journalist Taylen Biggs, for a hilarious, heartwarming conversation. From reminiscing about early 2000s culture (think: Juicy Couture, Britney Spears, and rhinestoned Sidekicks) to sharing sweet parenting moments and self-care routines, watch as our Summer Issue cover star opens up about her favorite Mean Girls memory, acting alongside-and as-Jamie Lee Curtis, and her dreams for the future. Check out the full cover story here.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
With AI, ‘walk before you run': Skanska USA exec
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Anita Nelson wants you to start small with artificial intelligence. The chief strategy officer for Skanska USA Building, the U.S. arm of the Swedish builder and developer, Nelson discussed the suite of AI products that the contractor has rolled out to its employees, which it calls Sidekicks. The Safety Sidekick, Skanska's newest internal offering, helps employees access Skanska data on safety and jobsite conditions. It helps employees plan toolbox talks and huddles, and gives them a resource at their disposal. Here, Nelson talks with Construction Dive about the Safety Sidekick's origins, how it fits into the company's current AI suite and the advice she has for builders looking to incorporate AI into their own workflows. Editor's Note: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. ANITA NELSON: We saw a need to make these insights more immediate and more actionable on jobsites. This data is not often leveraged in real time. Sidekick allows us to look at that data in a specific way. Using generative AI trained on Skanska-specific safety data and jobsite conditions, it allows us to deliver custom toolbox talks, safety observations and proactive suggestions to workers. On a day-to-day basis, that means workers can ask the AI tool safety related questions via mobile or desktop and get instant support for planning a morning huddle or addressing a new hazard. Beyond text, if you've got a picture of site conditions that day, you can ask questions related to that image. The tool is also embedded into our workflow, so it's not an added step in the day, it's very user friendly. Our data solutions team, in collaboration with information technology, they've developed four secure internal AI tools. There's Skanska Sidekick, which is based on OpenAI's GPT-4o model. That's a general use chat bot that protects user business data so you can ask it anything within our organization or outside our organization. Then we have three 'expert' sidekicks. One's called My Skanska Sidekick, and that searches for key documents on our internal intranet site. So, if you're looking for a risk management protocol or our sustainability report, or who's the leader of something, you can ask it for that. Then, we have an Operational Risk Sidekick, which is one of my other favorites, for our folks in the field. It's comprised of thousands of case studies and experiences across different project types and building systems. It gives you strategies and mitigation plans for existing risks on jobs. Safety Sidekick is the newest member of our suite. Because we had developed others, it was really about making sure that we got the documents in place. Our early users constantly give us feedback in real time on what's working and what's not. We don't launch things, you know, to all 3000-plus building employees right away. We take time to pilot, see what's working, see what's not. I don't think we ran into any hurdles on this particular launch, because the technology is there. I don't want to say it's as easy as plug-and-play, because my data scientists would tell me it's more complex than that. But really, a lot of our challenges are going to be about the quality of the data and whether our data warehouse has the right information. Our early users are definitely reporting time saved when preparing safety briefings and improved jobsite engagement. I think that is critical. When you're preparing for a morning huddle, you might be preparing for that the night before. You might be planning that day before on your commute. This makes it really easy for people. They're not getting to the trailer and figuring it out. They're not staying late the night before to figure it out. Start with the data that you know. You start with the low hanging fruit. When you're looking at generative AI or language models, if you have documents and you want to have them scanned and create a chat bot on top of it, that's all well and good. But, if there's not an infrastructure that you invest in to do that, that's where you're going to run into trouble. Additionally, we were able to build this ourselves. Don't think you have to build it yourself. We have a big enough organization and a lot of our own systems and protocols that require that. But there are products off the shelf. I wouldn't be able to list them or the sites, but I know they exist, and so you can start small by testing one thing. I think for us we started with operational risk. We started with the general Skanska Sidekick to play around with these things, to answer immediate challenges. Safety was not the first tool. While it was at the top of the list, we wanted to make sure that we have this right, because you don't want to have the wrong safety information. You want to walk before you run. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
04-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
As Snacking Surges, Subway Launches $5 Footlong Nachos. Say What?
Subway and Doritos have teamed up to introduce the Doritos Footlong Nachos. Subway, the 37,000-restaurant sandwich chain most synonymous with its iconic $5 footlong subs of the past, is taking a bold step into uncharted territory. This time, it won't be a sandwich but a snack that grabs headlines: footlong nachos. Yes, you read that right. Subway has partnered with Doritos to introduce a 12-inch $5 Dorito nacho creation as a new addition to its growing Sidekicks menu, a move intended to attract both the budget-conscious and the snack-loving consumer. Designed to be customized and shared, these footlong nachos start with a base of nacho cheese–flavored Doritos chips, layered with cheddar cheese, jalapeño slices, diced tomatoes, red onions, and chipotle sauce. For those looking to make it a meal, you can add rotisserie-style chicken or steak at no extra charge. Or upgrade with avocado for an additional cost. Subway's Sidekicks menu has been steadily expanding since being introduced last year. It includes a variety of 12-inch treats, from footlong cookies and Cinnabon churros to soft pretzels from Auntie Anne's. Given the lack of a consistent definition of a snack, most Americans define a snack as 'eating or drinking something between meals.' Over the past decade, Americans' snacking has surged in popularity, with 74% snacking at least once every day and more than half of all Americans replacing traditional meals with snacking or smaller meals. Which foods are most popular for snacks? Sweet (59%), salty (58%) and crunchy (48%) foods take the top slots, and nearly half of snacks are paired with a beverage. Subway's foray into nachos is calculated and designed to tap into these shifting consumer preferences around snacking. The Data confirms, people love snacking now more than ever. Group of Sweet and Salty Snacks. According to Douglas Fry, Subway's North America president, younger customers are increasingly gravitating toward snacking. They want food that's convenient, portable and, most importantly, budget-friendly. Over the past year, restaurant chains have been scrambling to attract customers who are feeling the pinch of inflation. The $5 price point for the nachos is a nod to the chain's famous $5 footlong subs, which debuted in 2008. The promotion helped define its brand in the 2000s, and for many, it put sandwiches on the fast-food map. But in many ways, it also put the brand in a box, and with the addition of controversies around their 'yoga matt' ingredient, their spokesperson Jared and the death of their cofounder Fred Deluca, Subway was no longer an option for many clients. The launch of footlong nachos is just the latest in a series of moves aimed at reinventing Subway's brand. From adding customization options to its menu, pushing app-based orders and increasing international presence—to perhaps, most notably, offering freshly sliced meats—the brand is seeking a major departure from its previous practice of using presliced cold cuts to stay relevant in a highly competitive fast-food landscape. CRYSTAL RIVER, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 19: Irresistible new Subway Sidekicks include a Footlong Cookie, ... More Footlong Cinnabon Churro, and Footlong Pretzel from Auntie Anne's on December 19, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida. (Photo byfor Subway) By diversifying its menu and leaning into trends like snacking and customization, Subway is positioning itself as more than just a sandwich chain. The big question, of course, is whether footlong nachos will resonate with customers. The chain's forays into non-sandwich territory haven't always been successful. Remember its ill-fated attempt at pizza? Exactly. There's also the risk of alienating core customers who see Subway as a sandwich-first brand. While Sidekicks are designed to complement the chain's main offerings, there's always the possibility that these new offerings could dilute the brand's identity. In an industry where innovation is often the key to survival, the chain is betting that its willingness to experiment will pay off. And who knows? If the $5 footlong nachos catch on, they could become as iconic as the subs that inspired them. With big news recently on Jersey Mike's agreeing to sell a majority ownership position to private equity funds managed by Blackstone, valuing the food chain at $8 billion, and with Chipotle's founder making the Forbes billionaire list, there's a lot of growth, movement and opportunity in on-the-go food. Subway's latest creation is a reminder that even the most established brands need to evolve to stay relevant. In a world where consumers are looking for value, convenience and a little bit of fun, footlong nachos just might be the perfect recipe. Say what you will about the idea, but one thing's for sure: it's got people talking. And in the fast-food game, that's half the battle.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Subway hopes new $5 footlong nachos will attract budget-conscious customers
Subway is adding nachos to its menu, but with an unusual twist. The chain is partnering with Doritos to sell footlong nachos for $5, marking Subway's latest addition to its popular Sidekicks menu that aims to attract budget-conscious customers. In a press release, Subway said the new dish is 'freshly prepared' using nacho cheese-flavored Doritos chips, topped with cheddar cheese, jalapeno slices, diced tomatoes, red onions and drizzled with a chipotle sauce. To make it more filling, customers can add rotisserie-style chicken or steak for no extra charge or a scoop of avocado for an additional cost. Subway has gradually been expanding its Sidekick menu since its introduction last year. Most recently, the chain added a 12-inch slab of chocolate cookie dough that is sprinkled with pieces of Oreos and topped with vanilla cream. The Sidekick menu also includes 12-inch versions of chocolate chip cookies, a Cinnabon churro and a soft pretzel from Auntie Anne's. It also has three footlong foods called Dippers, which uses Subway's flatbread, rolled up with pepperoni and cheese, chicken and cheese or double cheese, and served hot. Plus, the nachos are a cost-efficient addition for Subway, which uses existing ingredients like bagged chips and fresh toppings that are already used in its sandwiches. Sidekicks and Dippers were born out of the chain seeing younger customers' preference for snacking, according to Douglas Fry, Subway's North America president, who previously told CNN that they want 'convenient, hand-held, grab-and-go' food at an affordable price. Restaurant chains have scrambled over the past year to attract customers who are fed up with high prices. Although some have succeeded with limited-time promotions, others like McDonald's, Chili's and Taco Bell have found more success offering value meals. Americans continue to be willing to spend — if they feel like they're getting good bang for their buck. Subway isn't exempt from that. Although the privately held company doesn't frequently release sales numbers, the chain resurrected its discounted footlong promotion in February, perhaps signaling it's also off to a sluggish start to the year along with its rivals. In recent years, Subway has added customization to its menu, doubled down on pushing orders to its app, increased its international presence and introduced freshly sliced meats — a major shift from Subway's previous method of delivering cold cuts pre-sliced.
CNN
03-04-2025
- Business
- CNN
Subway hopes new $5 footlong nachos will attract budget-conscious customers
Subway is adding nachos to its menu, but with an unusual twist. The chain is partnering with Doritos to sell footlong nachos for $5, marking Subway's latest addition to its popular Sidekicks menu that aims to attract budget-conscious customers. In a press release, Subway said the new dish is 'freshly prepared' using nacho cheese-flavored Doritos chips, topped with cheddar cheese, jalapeno slices, diced tomatoes, red onions and drizzled with a chipotle sauce. To make it more filling, customers can add rotisserie-style chicken or steak for no extra charge or a scoop of avocado for an additional cost. Subway has gradually been expanding its Sidekick menu since its introduction last year. Most recently, the chain added a 12-inch slab of chocolate cookie dough that is sprinkled with pieces of Oreos and topped with vanilla cream. The Sidekick menu also includes 12-inch versions of chocolate chip cookies, a Cinnabon churro and a soft pretzel from Auntie Anne's. It also has three footlong foods called Dippers, which uses Subway's flatbread, rolled up with pepperoni and cheese, chicken and cheese or double cheese, and served hot. Plus, the nachos are a cost-efficient addition for Subway, which uses existing ingredients like bagged chips and fresh toppings that are already used in its sandwiches. Sidekicks and Dippers were born out of the chain seeing younger customers' preference for snacking, according to Douglas Fry, Subway's North America president, who previously told CNN that they want 'convenient, hand-held, grab-and-go' food at an affordable price. Restaurant chains have scrambled over the past year to attract customers who are fed up with high prices. Although some have succeeded with limited-time promotions, others like McDonald's, Chili's and Taco Bell have found more success offering value meals. Americans continue to be willing to spend — if they feel like they're getting good bang for their buck. Subway isn't exempt from that. Although the privately held company doesn't frequently release sales numbers, the chain resurrected its discounted footlong promotion in February, perhaps signaling it's also off to a sluggish start to the year along with its rivals. In recent years, Subway has added customization to its menu, doubled down on pushing orders to its app, increased its international presence and introduced freshly sliced meats — a major shift from Subway's previous method of delivering cold cuts pre-sliced.
