This year, Valentine’s Day hit different.

As roses flew out of convenience stores and couples tucked into candlelit meals, one journalist experienced something extraordinary. On the evening of February 14th, New York Times reporter Kevin Roose found himself wiling away the hours, not with his beloved, but at his keyboard, exchanging passionate missives with the Bing chatbot, Sydney.

An innovative way to fund social-service programs is slowly catching on in the United States—and it has the potential to transform the way larger nonprofits and mission-driven companies go about their business.

Pay for Success (PFS) is a funding model that relies on public-private partnerships to provide services that have traditionally been provided by the government. The idea originated in Great Britain in the early 2010s and gradually made its way across the Atlantic to the U.S., where it is now being employed in the social-service, healthcare, criminal-justice, and housing sectors.

You’ve spent weeks preparing for your presentation, and the day’s finally here.

You’re running on two hours of sleep and three cups of coffee. As you look out into the audience, you notice all eyes are on you. Suddenly, your hands start shaking, your mouth goes dry, and you forget everything you’ve prepared.

Have you experienced a situation like this? Maybe you didn’t forget everything, but the stress leading up to the big presentation took a toll on your confidence and your mental health. Sometimes, the preparation can be even more daunting than the presentation itself.

Alarm bells have sounded recently over the rise of artificial intelligence.

In particular, ChatGPT’s ability to mimic human speech and writing has caused academics and politicians alike to call for caution, if not an outright ban.

But what, exactly, is the problem? Let’s pull back for some perspective: Technology can be defined by its ability to have a positive impact on the speed, scale, or human element of a process. Simply put, it allows us to do something faster, over a wider area, or with less need for people.

With Wifi and 5G available almost everywhere we go, online learning is easier than ever.

We can take an online course in a coffee shop, watch an educational video on a crowded bus, and even complete a graded assessment from under the covers in bed. But does our physical environment make a difference to the way we learn? Are some locations more suitable for learning than others? Is there such a thing as a perfect environment for online learning?

It’s a common question among learners: How does a 200-level course differ from a 100-level course?

The simple explanation is that 100-level courses are introductory and present basic concepts and terminology about a subject, while 200-level courses are for learners who are ready for an intermediate level of difficulty. At the 200 level, a learner should be able to proceed through the course with minimal comprehension difficulties while effectively demonstrating their application and analytical skills. Most 200-level courses require a solid understanding of basic subject-area knowledge, and they also provide learners with ample opportunity to test themselves.

Until COVID-19 came along, there was a widespread perception that working remotely meant that employees would be less productive.

However, research in the past couple of years has shown that workers are actually more productive, overall, when they are working remotely. But that increase in productivity can come with an increase in stress, hours worked, and—if not managed properly—burnout.

Today’s tight job market has had a positive effect on workers’ pay: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average wages increased by 4.2% in 2021 and by 5.1% in 2022. Now, more than ever, people are aware of what their skills and time are worth, and they are not afraid to ask for what they consider to be fair compensation. If they feel disrespected or unappreciated in their current workplace due to salary differences, they will likely go elsewhere. That’s why it is so important for companies to be aware of the salary ranges and benefits offered by competitors and other businesses, to ensure external equity in the workplace.

Cybersecurity insurance is becoming scarce, but there’s a lot you can do to secure your business

If your business is looking for cybersecurity insurance, you may want to read the fine print when it’s time to renew your policy.

As with so many things today, the trend is toward paying a lot more and receiving a lot less.

Cybersecurity insurance premiums have risen dramatically in recent years. At the same time, major underwriters are beginning to place limits on coverage. A major driver behind these trends is a surge in insurance payouts, particularly for ransomware attacks.

Is there a particular season or climate that’s best for learning?

In a recent meeting with colleagues, we stumbled into a discussion about the relationship between winter weather and productivity. Someone suggested that a degree from a college in Maine might be worth more than one from a place like Hawaii or Florida; the implication was that harsh, cold winters are conducive to staying indoors for long hours of focused, sustained studying.