All posts tagged: spending

We’ve tracked M of spending on almost 170 AI‑generated political ads this year – it’s weird

We’ve tracked $80M of spending on almost 170 AI‑generated political ads this year – it’s weird

Published by Sam Flores

The 2026 U.S. midterm campaigns are the first in which AI-generated political ads are regularly appearing on people’s televisions and social media feeds. We are researchers who have been studying political advertising through the Wesleyan Media Project since 2010. This election cycle – using data from media reports, student coders and AdImpact, a firm that tracks political ad spending – we’ve tracked about US$80 million in spending on almost 170 unique ads that use AI. What we found has surprised us: AI use spans from hyperrealistic deepfakes to subtle enhancements; Republican sponsors – both candidates and interest groups – are much more likely to use AI than are Democratic sponsors; and, thanks to a patchwork of state legislation, many of these ads do not disclose the use of AI at all. From deepfakes to subtle edits An assortment of politicians and watchdog groups have expressed concern about campaigns using generative AI to produce deepfakes – synthetic videos showing people doing things they did not do – that might deceive voters. We’ve noticed several ads containing …

6 Spirits Worth Spending More On

6 Spirits Worth Spending More On

Published by Akaay Pradhan

There are some spirits where spending a little more genuinely pays off. Extra time in cask, better raw materials and more considered production can turn a good bottle into something memorable. With others, the difference between £30 and £70 can be much harder to justify. Whisky, Cognac and aged rum are among the categories where loosening the purse strings can deliver noticeably more depth and complexity. That doesn’t mean blindly buying the most expensive bottle on the shelf, but it does mean knowing where that extra money is likely to be well spent. From smoky Islay single malt to seriously good Indian whisky and small-production tequila, these are six bottles worth pushing the boat out for, followed by the spirits where you can afford to be a little more restrained. Single Malt Scotch Ardbeg Trudernish 15 Years Old This new single malt Scotch is a permanent addition to the core range of iconic Islay distillery Ardbeg. Trudernish takes its name from an ancient settlement located close to the distillery on the Hebridean island’s southeastern coast. …

iPhone Duo: What You Need to Know Before Spending ,999

iPhone Duo: What You Need to Know Before Spending $1,999

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Apple’s iPhone Duo marks a bold step into the foldable smartphone market, blending innovative technology with a premium design ethos. Priced at a starting point of $2,000, it is the most expensive foldable phone available today. However, Apple aims to justify this cost with a combination of innovative features, high-end materials, and a refined user […] The post iPhone Duo: What You Need to Know Before Spending $1,999 appeared first on Geeky Gadgets. Source link

How to reset your wardrobe for September without spending a penny

How to reset your wardrobe for September without spending a penny

Published by Daniella Wilson

Forget January – September is arguably the real reset month, when the seasonal transition from too hot to function to “back to school” energy focuses the mind and makes us hungry for a new start. This feeling can be applied just as easily to our wardrobes as it can a bigger project; September is the ideal time to do a closet deep-dive and embrace a new look. But that doesn’t have to mean splurging on fast fashion that’s likely destined for landfill the second it goes out of style and the initial dopamine hit wears off. Oxfam has once again launched its Second Hand September campaign to encourage more mindfulness when it comes to clothes. It’s never been more vital to change our attitude to fashion: Britain’s unworn clothes waste enough water to supply one million people for life, according to Oxfam’s inaugural State of Style report. A third of the UK’s wardrobes have not been worn in the past year; four in 10 Brits have worn an item of clothing just once. Almost two …

Democratic senators ask McMahon for details on student loan administration spending

Democratic senators ask McMahon for details on student loan administration spending

Published by Sam Flores

Four Democratic senators sent a letter Wednesday to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, calling for her to share details on how her department used $1 billion in funding intended for student loan administration. The letter, authored by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), questions why the Education… Source link

Contributor: Trump is spending billions to reverse American progress

Contributor: Trump is spending billions to reverse American progress

Published by Sam Flores

By Jon DuffyContributing writer  Aug. 31, 2026 3 AM PT President Trump has ordered the Navy to develop a plan to replace the electromagnetic catapults used to launch aircraft from future Ford-class aircraft carriers with legacy steam catapults. That might make sense if the newer technology had failed. It has not. The USS Gerald R. Ford was the first U.S. carrier built to launch aircraft electromagnetically rather than with steam power. The Navy spent decades developing the technology, including years of testing a full-scale system ashore, before installing it on the Ford and making it standard for the carriers that would follow. The Navy made that change for a reason: electromagnetic launch was designed to handle everything from lightweight unmanned aircraft to heavy strike fighters, while requiring less maintenance and manpower than steam catapults. Getting there was notoriously difficult. The electromagnetic system was expensive and suffered years of reliability problems. But the Navy worked through them. Today, the system has successfully launched tens of thousands of aircraft from the Ford, the first operational U.S. carrier …

American synagogues are spending more than ever on security. How much is enough?

American synagogues are spending more than ever on security. How much is enough?

Published by Sam Flores

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward’s free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. At Temple Israel in Bloomfield, Michigan, which was attacked in March by a gunman, getting ready for the High Holidays this year means more than preparing for crowds of worshippers. The synagogue is spending millions of dollars on security upgrades, including a new gatehouse, artificial intelligence technology and physical and ballistic hardening of its building. “There are major changes coming,” Rabbi Josh Bennett of Temple Israel said in an interview. “I think that extends then to many of the other places of worship in town, and then, by extension, the entire Jewish community around the country.” But as congregations install barriers, hire guards and tighten access to their buildings, Jewish leaders are struggling to balance budgets and keep their synagogues welcoming. Bennett fears fortressing the Jewish community through ever-expanding security upgrades is “unsustainable at all levels,” from the emotional to the financial. The Secure Community Network, a Jewish security organization that provides threat intelligence …

Subaru is spending nearly ,000 per vehicle to sell its new EVs

Subaru is spending nearly $10,000 per vehicle to sell its new EVs

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Subaru’s big EV incentives have helped boost sales, but they’re quickly taking a toll on the company’s profits. Subaru spends big to sell new EVs in the US Subaru now sells three electric SUVs in the US, including the updated Solterra, the Uncharted, and Trailseeker. While the two new electric SUVs, the Uncharted and Trailseeker, have helped boost overall EV sales, they are taking a big hit on Subaru’s profits. Between the three, Subaru has sold 11,638 electric vehicles through July. While Solterra sales are down 34% this year (5,275), the Uncharted (2,850) and Trailseeker (3,513) have led to a higher overall total. After reporting fiscal first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, Subaru said incentive spending resulted in a ¥24.9 billion ($155 million) hit to profits. According to new data from Motor Intelligence (via Automotive News), Subaru’s marketing costs per vehicle rose 40% to $2,698. Incentives on gas-powered cars, including the BRZ, Outback, and Legacy, increased 27% on average, while truck spending rose 49%. 2027 Subaru Trailseeker (Source: Subaru) Average spending on EVs was considerably higher. Subaru …

Mastercard beats profit estimates as stable spending drives transaction volumes

Mastercard beats profit estimates as stable spending drives transaction volumes

Published by Sam Flores

July 30 : Mastercard posted a second-quarter profit that surpassed Wall Street expectations on Thursday, boosted by robust transaction volumes driven by steady consumer spending. Despite fears that geopolitical tensions and the resulting economic uncertainty would dent consumer appetite for spending, shoppers have shown resilience. The stable consumer behavior is supported by a still-strong labor market and continued wage growth, while transaction values have risen due to elevated inflation, triggered by the U.S.-Iran war-led oil spikes. High-income households are driving a bulk of the spending, as they continue to make discretionary purchases while lower-income families cut budgets. Mastercard’s gross dollar volume – the value of all transactions processed on its platform – jumped 8 per cent in the second quarter to $2.9 trillion. Its adjusted profit per share came in at $5.04, compared with analysts’ average expectation of $4.77, according to data compiled by LSEG. Net revenue climbed 14 per cent to $9.3 billion, also topping estimates. “Mastercard’s 2Q results were solid and comfortably ahead of guidance and expectations,” J.P. Morgan analyst Tien-tsin Huang said …

Uproar as Wes Streeting refuses to commit to 3% defence spending | Politics | News

Uproar as Wes Streeting refuses to commit to 3% defence spending | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

Wes Streeting refused to commit to hitting 3% defence spending by the end of the decade, as Labour stands again accused of failing to keep Britain safe. The recently promoted Defence Secretary dodged the question when grilled by reporters, saying he did not want to get on the wrong side of the Treasury. Mr Streeting, who has never served in the forces, denied he was seeking to protect the UK on the cheap. It comes just weeks after John Healey resigned as defence secretary over the lack of funding, blasting former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer for failing to keep Britain safe. Mr Healey has since been appointed Chancellor by the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham. Mr Streeting was speaking at a Hampshire Airshow, where he hailed new uncrewed, autonomous fighter jets in development for the RAF, saying they would cost “a fifth of the price” of traditional planes. But critics rounded on the Cabinet minister, saying he had “made a faltering start” and was “unable even to tell us in what year the MoD …