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Today β€” 10 January 2025News

TikTok has its day in the Supreme Court as it runs up against ban deadline

10 January 2025 at 01:31
Photo illustration of TikTok logo stretched into judge's gavel

Gearstd/iStock, Tyler Le/BI

  • On Friday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the TikTok divest-or-ban law.
  • TikTok is asking the court to pause its divestment deadline, set for January 19.
  • Legal analysts told Business Insider that the company faces an uphill battle.

TikTok is fighting for its life as it faces a possible US ban in a little over a week. Today, it gets to argue its case before the Supreme Court.

The company is challenging aΒ lawΒ that compels its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest from the US version of TikTok by January 19 or be forced to shut it down. It lost its case in the DC Circuit in December and is now appealing to the Supreme Court for an emergency injunction to pause its divestment deadline.

We'll post updates on the hearing here as they become available.

TikTok's prospects of getting more time don't look great, legal analysts told Business Insider.

Like the DC Circuit, the Supreme Court is likely to show deference to Congress on questions of national security, even in instances where First Amendment rights are at stake.

"It's going to be an uphill battle," G.S. Hans, a clinical professor of law at Cornell Law School, told BI. "TikTok lost 3-0 in the DC Circuit. They lost with a cross-ideological panel."

"If you're the company, you're hoping for a change of fortune," he added. "That's a tall order because of the general deference on natural security grounds to the political branches from the courts."

Matthew Schettenhelm, a litigation and policy analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, described TikTok as an underdog in the case, estimating the company has a 30% chance of being rescued by the Supreme Court.

If TikTok fails to win more time through court intervention, its business partners like Apple, Google, and Oracle may cut ties with the app in the US after January 19 to comply with the law. Apple and Google host TikTok in their app stores, while Oracle works with TikTok to store its US user data. None of the three companies responded to requests for comment.

TikTok declined to comment on its plans for operating its app in the US if its appeal fails.

President-elect Donald Trump may also try to save TikTok, as he pledged to do during his campaign run. Trump filed an amicus brief on December 27 asking the Supreme Court to pause the deadline for a TikTok divestment so he can try to negotiate a political resolution once in office.

Why is TikTok facing a potential ban?

TikTok was included in the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act that passed in April. The act sought to limit the influence of social apps with ties to countries the US deemed a foreign adversary in an effort to guard national-security interests. TikTok's owner, ByteDance, is headquartered in China, which the US government has called a foreign adversary.

While members of both parties in Congress have raised alarm bells about TikTok, support for a ban among the American public has declined over the last couple of years. Support for a government ban fell from 50% in March 2023 to 32% last July and August among US adults who responded to Pew Research Center surveys.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Microsoft bet big on its Copilot AI tool. Here's everything to know about Copilot's features, cost, and risks.

10 January 2025 at 01:28
A shadowy figure standing in front of a Microsoft logo types on a smartphone open to the Copilot app.
Microsoft's Copilot AI tool has been integrated into much of the company's productivity software, like Bing, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, and more.

Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto

  • Copilot is Microsoft's generative AI tool now featured in much of its productivity programs.
  • Copilot can draft text, analyze information and data, and suggest ideas.
  • Copilot has also been plagued with security issues, and customers have criticized its effectiveness.

The entire tech industry is mired in an AI arms race, and Microsoft bet big on Copilot, its generative artificial intelligence chatbot.

Microsoft released Copilot in 2023, and rapidly rolled it out across various products and softwares. The company markets Copilot as a tool to help users with productivity tasks such as drafting a memo for work, adding to or amending hectic calendars, analyzing a spreadsheet or a few lines of code, or even writing a poem or short story.

By combing the vastness of the internet in fractions of a second to source troves of information and then engaging in machine learning and informed prediction, Copilot can create content; it can analyze, interpret, and explain extant data; and it can create systems for planning and managing many aspects of your life, from work to recreation to hobbies and more.

"We believe Copilot will be the new UI that helps you gain access to the world's knowledge and your organization's knowledge, but most importantly, it will be your agent that helps you act on that knowledge," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said during a keynote address at Microsoft's annual Microsoft Ignite business conference in November 2023.

Not long after Copilot's launch, industry experts predicted that for the fiscal year 2024, Copilot would generate billions for the company. However, the AI tool is not without its flaws. Customers and company insiders have criticized Copilot for its ineffectiveness and cost, and IT leaders have questioned its value to their companies;Β the widespread disappointment in Copilot has raised doubts over its long-term profitability.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella paces and speaks in front of a large screen displaying a slide labeled "Windows Copilot Library + On-device models."
Nadella framed Copilot as a revolutionary AI tool, but it has been beleaguered with criticisms and security flaws.

Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

What is Microsoft Copilot AI?

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered chatbot that relies on large language models (often shorted to LLMs) to help users with productivity and content creation tasks. The more you use it, the more it learns about your interests, preferences, and habits, and the better it tailors itself to serving your needs. It's available for use on Windows, Macs, and both the Apple iOS, and Android mobile platforms.

You can use Microsoft Copilot in many programs that you likely already use, including Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and more. It can assist you in rapidly creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more, acting both as your content creator and an editor and sort of AI coworker.

The basic version of Microsoft Copilot is free to use on the web, in Windows, with a Mac OS, and with Android and iOS. The free version includes access to GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, and GPT-4o during non-peak times. It also allows users to create and edit AI images, use plugins, and more.

However, there is also a paid version of Copilot called Copilot Pro, which offers more advanced features and better access. Copilot Pro includes all the features of the free version, plus priority model access and the ability to use Copilot in Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.

To use Copilot Pro, you need a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, which costs $6.99 per month for a personal subscription and $9.99 per month for a family subscription, good for up to six users. With Copilot Pro added, the total cost is around $26.99 per month.

Is Microsoft Copilot better than ChatGPT?

A smartphone displays icons for AI apps including Gemini, ChatGPT, and Copilot.
Microsoft's Copilot AI tool has a number of competitors, including Google's Gemini and ChatGPT.

Jaque Silva/NurPhoto

In some ways and for some uses, Copilot can be more effective than ChatGPT. Copilot is better for quick, tactical tasks that come about during your workflow, while ChatGPT is more commonly used for broader tasks and conversational AI, like for writing a creative story or rehearsing before a meeting or interview.

Copilot is part of the Microsoft ecosystem and can easily pull information from across Microsoft applications, which can be helpful, and it can also reply to questions with visual responses, such as photos and images. Also, unlike ChatGPT, which doesn't provide sources for its responses, Copilot does, making cross-referencing and fact-checking easier. That said, the paid version of ChatGPT is only $20 a month, so it's $7 cheaper than Copilot Pro.

What are the risks of using Microsoft Copilot?

Using Microsoft Copilot can pose several risks, including data leakage. Customers have already raised multiple security issues with Copilot, and in some cases delayed deployment over the concerns.

Copilot can generate outputs that include sensitive data, which may be shared with the wrong audience as the AI simply doesn't know better. For example, while you use Microsoft Teams, Copilot could summarize conversations and record action items against your better judgement, which could accidentally reveal private information.

There is also the all-too-common human problem of over-reliance. As Copilot and other AI tools become increasingly integrated into daily life, users may unknowingly rely on it more, which could impact investment and strategic decisions, how they write and express themselves, and frankly how much creative and critical thinking they do.

Read the original article on Business Insider

9 luxurious status symbols you might be tempted to buy in 2025

10 January 2025 at 01:05
Woman surrounded by status symbols collage.
Β 

Apple; Pura; Skylight; Coach; Terra Kaffe; Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI

  • In 2024, vintage watches and expensive alarm clocks were the epitome of luxury.
  • This year, however, $600 calendars and stained-glass lamps have become the new status symbols.
  • Giant tote bags from Coach and oval-shaped Miu Miu glasses also signify luxury and taste in 2025.

A new year calls for fresh routines, lofty goals, and the latest luxuries.

While 2024 was all about vintage watches and expensive alarm clocks, different status symbols are taking over in 2025.

Home decor is now all about stained-glass lamps and $600 calendars. Fashionable outfits, on the other hand, aren't complete without giant tote bags and fancy glasses.

Here's a closer look at the luxurious products you'll see everywhere β€” and probably be tempted to buy β€” this year.

Everyone wants to elevate their spaces with stained-glass Tiffany lamps.
A selection of Tiffany lamps.
Stained-glass lamps, widely known as Tiffany lamps, are coming back into style.

John Greim/Getty Images

If you watched any Christmas gift hauls on TikTok recently, there's a good chance you've heard more than a few mentions of Tiffany lamps.

The stained-glass pieces were first made by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the original design director of Tiffany & Co., in the late 1890s.

His style became so popular that other artisans picked it up, and it has remained an interior design staple. Now, most colorful glass lamps are called "Tiffany" lamps, regardless of the craftsman who made them.

To add one to your home this year, you can buy a Tiffany lamp from a modern artisan or search thrift stores for a vintage one. However, if you want an authentic piece from Tiffany Studios, be prepared to spend between $20,000 and $120,000.

All the "it girls" are carrying oversize tote bags from Coach.
Bella Hadid carries the Coach Brooklyn 39 shoulder bag.
Bella Hadid carries the Coach Brooklyn 39 shoulder bag.

Gotham/GC Images

Coach has massively rebounded in recent years thanks to its new trendy purse styles, flashy social-media ads, and a loyal Gen Z fan base.

So, of course, the go-to bag for 2025 is a style from the New York City brand: the Brooklyn 39 shoulder bag.

Typically made from smooth leather, the totes are sold in seven colors and measure 17 inches tall. Some fans of the $495 bags include TikTok fashion influencers and model Bella Hadid.

Coach also offers a brown suede version of the product.

Whether you need glasses or not, you'll probably want a pair of Miu Miu frames soon enough.
Influencer Lea Naumann wears Miu Miu glasses in Berlin.
Influencer Lea Naumann wears Miu Miu glasses in Berlin.

Christian Vierig/Getty Images

We've long surpassed the days when glasses were considered nerdy and unappealing. Still, some pairs are more chic than others.

Enter the Miu Miu Regard frames. At $505 a piece, the oval glasses are decorated with a tortoiseshell print and set with transparent lenses, which are said to block the sun and blue light.

Adding to the appeal is the fact that the Miu Miu acessory looks more like a pair of traditional readers than sunglasses, which they technically are.

If you need more convincing, just look at Sabrina Carpenter wearing them.

Car air fresheners are out, and fancy scent diffusers are in.
A Pura Car Pro air freshener.
With these diffusers, you can fill your car with luxurious scents from brands like Nest.

Pura

Classic, tree-shaped air fresheners are convenient. You can find them at just about any store, and they typically cost under $3 each.

The Pura Car Diffuser, on the other hand, takes things to the next level. The $34.99 device fits in most cupholders, plugs into car USB ports, and releases luxury scents from brands like Anthropologie and Nest.

Each cartridge costs under $18 and is said to remain fragrant for at least 30 days. You can also adjust scent intensity via an app, and the diffuser stops and starts as you move your car.

Talk about high tech.

iPads have made a comeback.
A blue iPad.
On TikTok, it seems like everyone got a new iPad for the holidays.

Smith Collection/Getty Images

For a while there, iPads seemed a lot like glorified, oversize iPhones. In 2025, however, the tablets are key to organization and success.

Since the holiday season, people on TikTok have been showcasing their new tech and, more importantly, the apps and features they'll use most in the new year.

One popular video with over 32,000 views shows customized calendars, vision boards, and notepads with the caption, "2025 iPad girl loading."

There are a few iPads on the market, but the two most popular options are the 13-inch iPad Pro ($1,299) and the 13-inch iPad Air ($799).

Paper calendars are fine, but digital ones from Skylight are far more lavish.
The Calendar Max from Skylight.
The most popular Skylight calendars cost between $300 and $600 each.

Skylight

Maybe iPads are too small for your liking, or maybe their surplus of apps distracts you from staying organized.

That's where Skylight comes in. For months, people have praised the brand's digital calendars on TikTok, saying they appreciate the product's touchscreen checklists, color-coding options, and massive size.

The calendars also double as frames, displaying slideshows of your favorite photos as a screensaver.

However, if you want to add one to your home, be prepared to spend a decent chunk of change. The calendars cost between $159 and $599 each.

You'll likely see Rhode's gray skincare bottles on every bathroom counter.
Bottles of Rhode skin-care products.
Rhode is on track to become the "it girl" of skincare brands for 2025.

Rhode

Hailey Bieber launched her skincare brand Rhode in 2022, and it's been a steady player in the beauty industry ever since.

Her line's lip treatments and phone cases were the skincare status symbols of 2024, but its face products are now set to have a big year.

Beauty lovers have recently been displaying their gray bottles of the brand's $32 glazing milk, $38 moisturizers, and other products in their recent TikTok videos. Rhode was also a major part of many "what I got for Christmas" hauls online.

Many are also looking forward to coming releases, which some fans speculate will include eye patches and skincare sticks.

You can skip the line at Starbucks if you have a fancy espresso maker at home.
A Terre KafeTK-02 machine.
Nothing makes the coffee-brewing process as easy as a touchscreen does.

Terra Kafe

So, what's the machine of choice this year? Look no further than Terra Kaffe's TK-02. Many coffee fanatics got the device as holiday presents to upgrade their daily espresso.

The $1,695 device is sold in black and white colorways and has a touchscreen that makes it easy to brew your morning cup even when you're half asleep.

It makes hot and cold drinks, works with all kinds of milk, and utilizes pre-ground or whole beans.

If you don't have a KitchenAid mixer, now is the time to get one.
The Evergreen mixer from KitchenAid.
The Evergreen stand mixer from KitchenAid.

KitchenAid

Visit any baker or chef's kitchen, and you'll likely find a KitchenAid mixer. One specific one, though, stands out among the rest.

In 2025, foodies can't get enough of the $699.95 KitchenAidΒ Design Series mixer, which features a forest-green body and a wooden mixing bowl.

It's arguably the most aesthetically pleasing design the brand has ever released and is considered a bestseller at Williams Sonoma.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Why are mocktails so expensive?

10 January 2025 at 01:01
A mocktail casting a dollar sign shaped shadow

Dina Belashova/Getty, Tyler Le/BI

  • Many Americans may experience sticker shock when buying a mocktail or glass of NA wine.
  • Restaurants and bars said high-quality ingredients and labor-intensive prep adds to the price.
  • Americans, especially those under 25, are spending less on alcohol and looking for NA options.

As Americans spend less on booze and browse menus for non-alcoholic alternatives like mocktails and wine, sticker shock can be a common reaction.

At Binge Bar in Washington, DC, the city's first fully non-alcoholic bar, "spirit-free" cocktails cost between $11 and $14. A glass of NA wine is $15, while a can of NA beer is $5. Prices are similar at other hot spots in Washington, DC. Moon Rabbit, an upscale Vietnamese restaurant, sells several "spirit-free" cocktails for $13 to $14 compared to about $19 for regular cocktails.

On social media, mocktails have been criticized as "glorified" or "sexy" juice that shouldn't be priced similarly to alcohol.

Restaurant owners and bar managers told Business Insider that alcohol alone doesn't drive the price. Mocktails are often made with high-quality ingredients such as botanicals, herbs, and spices, and can take longer to make. That way, customers still feel like they're getting the cocktail experience. Plus, NA whisky, gin, or wine can cost just as much β€” if not more β€” than traditional booze in part because removing alcohol is an additional step for manufacturers.

Ingredients account for about 18% of a drink's menu price, according to restaurant industry standards. The rest covers operating costs like labor, rent, and utilities, bar managers said.

This comes at a time when many participate in Dry January or reflect on their drinking after the US Surgeon General released its recent report linking alcohol to cancer.

Gigi Arandid, owner of Binge Bar, said NA cocktails are just as complex as those with alcohol. She spends a lot of time educating customers about special ingredients in Binge Bar's drinks and the health benefits of avoiding alcohol. Sales are up 45% between 2023 and 2024, Arandid said.

She created the most popular drink on the menu, a Cucumber Mangorita, with fresh cucumber juice, mango puree, lime juice, herbs, spices, and tonic. It costs $11 or $14, depending on whether you add a non-alcoholic tequila.Β The prices reflect the fresh ingredients, labor-intensive prep, and Reposado Tequila, she said.

Do you plan to change your drinking habits in response to the Surgeon General's recommendation? Tell us why in this survey

Unique syrups, herbs, and spices can up prices

At Moon Rabbit, bartenders infuse NA whiskey with five spice, a spice blend commonly used in Vietnamese and Chinese cooking, for 24 hours. The whiskey is made by Lyres, one of the most popular brands in the sector, and at $26 a bottle, it is more expensive than some traditional spirits, said Thi Nguyen, bar director at Moon Rabbit.

"We're not just putting a bunch of juice together," Nguyen said, adding that ingredients like purple shiso and soursop are expensive and challenging to source. "We are really intentional and want to highlight Vietnamese culture."

A mocktail in a stem glass topped with foam and a lemon
The Jade is a "spirit-free" cocktail at Moon Rabbit in Washington, DC. Its ingredients include soursop, osmanthus, lemon, and vegan foam.

Rachel Paraoan

AtΒ Bresca, a Michelin-starred bistroΒ in DC, spirit-free drinksΒ are $12, while regular cocktails are in the $18 to $20 range.

Bresca's Cintronnade al la Menthe, a play on the mint lemonade you might find in France, is a three-day process. While the ingredients are simple β€” mostly lemon, cardamom, mint lemongrass, and sugar β€” bartenders make a citrusy syrup known as oleo from scratch, then lightly ferment and carbonate it, said Will Patton, beverage director for Hive Hospitality, which operates Bresca.

Non-alcoholic beer is more accessible

For those not interested in cocktails, NA wine is slowly gaining popularity as manufacturers improve the taste. But don't expect it to be cheap, because winemakers and brewers have to take an additional step to remove the alcohol.

"As a winery, you've already invested in making great quality wine, and then it's more work to run it through an industrial process to remove the alcohol," Sarah Kate, founder of non-alcoholic drinks magazine Some Good Clean Fun, said. "When you do that, you're also removing some of the characteristics of the wine."

Patton said mid-range NA wines cost between $17 and $25 a bottle, comparable to traditional bottles.

The beer industry is further along, with more than 150 brands, such as Athletic Brewing, Heineken, and Budweiser, making NA products. Athletic cofounder Bill Shufelt said in an email that the company's "off-premise" sales β€” or those at supermarkets and convenience stores β€” grew by more than 50% between 2023 and 2024. Athletic is now the most popular brand in the category, holding more than 19% market share, Shufelt said.

He added that the company has worked hard to match the price of widely distributed craft beer. Six-packs of Athletic are typically priced between $9.99 and $10.99 on retail shelves. The price is budget-friendly, even afterΒ Athletic re-engineered nearly every step of the brewing process to make its products free of alcohol.

"While some may assume that the absence of alcohol should make NA beer less expensive, the reality is that it can cost just as much β€” or even more β€” to produce," Shufelt said.

Read the original article on Business Insider

A financially independent real-estate investor who built her wealth with long-term rentals explains how shifting to a mid-term strategy in 2025 could combat high interest rates

10 January 2025 at 01:00
dana bull
Dana Bull is a real estate agent, investor, and consultant.

Courtesy of Dana Bull

  • Dana Bull has invested in long-term rentals throughout her entire career.
  • She's experimenting with a mid-term rental in 2025 to combat high interest rates.
  • Generally, mid-term rentals offer higher revenue but require more management than long-term leases.

Dana Bull started building her real-estate portfolio in 2012 when she bought her first property.

Over the next decade, she expanded to more than 20 units in her Massachusetts market and hit financial independence by sticking to the same general strategy: buying quality properties with upside and filling them with long-term tenants.

Bull, who is also a real-estate agent and consultant, told Business Insider that she "swore off investing a couple of years ago." Managing properties is time-intensive, noted the mother of four.

But when a charming single-family in Marblehead came on the market in the fall of 2023, she broke her promise.

"This little place in my town caught my eye, and I really wanted somebody else to buy it," said Bull. "It was when the interest rates were the highest that they've ever been, like 7.75%, so nobody wanted to buy anything. And I was like, 'You know what, I'll do it.'"

Listing it as a mid-term rental to combat high rates

Higher interest rates mean a higher monthly payment. For an investor, that can make it more challenging to generate positive cash flow.

To make the numbers work on her latest acquisition, Bull decided to experiment with a "mid-term rental," which targets people looking to stay for one month or more, but less than a year.

"It's my first experience with something other than a long-term rental. I'm kind of in uncharted waters, but it's been great," said Bull, who plans to test out the mid-term rental strategy for at least 18 months. It's more work than managing a long-term tenant, but she said she's bringing in more revenue doing shorter leases.

She could earn even more if she had more time and could lease the unit herself, rather than working with an agent.

"I have a leasing agent who I pay a lot of money because it's a lot of work to continue to keep it leased," she said. "It's a great strategy for anybody that has the availability to do the leasing on their own."

The leasing aspect of the mid-term rental strategy is the most challenging because it's less mainstream than the short- and long-term strategy.

"If you want a long-term rental, you know you're going to be on Zillow or work with a real-estate agent. If you want a short-term rental, you also have set channels: You have Airbnb, Vrbo," Bull explained. "There's a website called Furnished Finder geared toward mid-term rentals, but it's not very well known, and it's not nearly as big as something like Airbnb."

She advertises her place on Furnished Finder, takes it on and off Zillow depending on when it's available, and sends neighborhood mailers.

It helps that she's starting to understand her typical tenant, she added: "The trend is that grandparents want to come and help out with the kids, but the parents don't have room in their home, or the grandparents want their own space, so that has been my target audience."

Mid-term rentals as a viable strategy for 2025

Bull doesn't expect mortgage rates to drop in 2025. She also doesn't advise letting rates or other factors outside your control dictate when you buy real estate.

"I wouldn't base my whole plan around, 'Well, I keep hearing rates are supposed to drop,'" she said, noting that current rates are in line with the historical average. "This is kind of where rates sit. So, if they were to drop, that would be great, but I wouldn't be banking on it."

If you're financially prepared to invest in real estate in 2025, rather than waiting, run the numbers to see if a short- or mid-term rental could make sense in your market.

"Look at some alternative leasing approaches. Usually, they're more lucrative if they're shorter," said Bull. "One idea would be to start with something like an Airbnb, with the goal of transitioning after two or three years into something more passive, like a long-term rental."

Real estate is a long-term game, she added: "You have to look beyond year one β€” the numbers are always going to be tight year one, no matter what the market conditions are β€” so, what are your projections going to be by year five?

"And then, what can you do in the interim to maybe make this property work? That would be focusing on neighborhoods and communities where you can balance both of these plays: It's going to attract a short-term rental tenant but, down the road, you can pivot into a longer-term tenant."

That's likely what she's going to do, especially if she can refinance again.

Bull has already refinanced once, which shaved about $250 off her mortgage, she said: "I'd love it if they dropped again and I could save another 250. At that point, I probably would transition it to a long-term rental because it would be lucrative enough and less of a headache, but right now I'm just experimenting for my own curiosity and I want to understand more about this niche."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Here come the AI agents

10 January 2025 at 01:00

AI technology is advancing rapidly and if you're not already using it at work, brace yourself.

Why it matters: That was Sam Altman's message, buried in a recent blog post.


  • "We believe that, in 2025, we may see the first AI agents 'join the workforce' and materially change the output of companies," writes the OpenAI founder.

State of play: The possibility of using AI agents to do work instead of expensive humans has some companies super excited. It's making many workers super anxious.

  • Distinct from an AI chatbot, an AI agent can work autonomously. You tell it what to do, and the agent goes off and does it in the real world. In other words, it could theoretically fully replace a human.

For example, a scientist could use a bot to conduct research and possibly even design an experiment.

  • But an AI agent, when prompted, can act as a research assistant β€”Β it can not only do the research and design an experiment, the agent can conduct it and compile the results. (In a recent paper, scientists at AMD and Johns Hopkins University described how they successfully had an agent do just that.)

Zoom out: Altman, of course, has a big interest in a future where AI plays a bigger role at work. And it's not clear yet what happens to U.S. workplaces in 2025.

  • But the idea of AI agents in our workplaces is hardly just an AI entrepreneur's fantasy, researchers and experts say.

Zoom in: Some companies are already experimenting with AI agents in limited pilot programs β€”Β to conduct drug discovery, for project management, or to design marketing campaigns.

The big picture: The key question is what happens to people's jobs? Most experts agree that agents will change the nature of work over the coming years β€”Β particularly for those who work at a desk in front of a computer.

That could mean an agent starts doing some of your work. "In an ideal world, this is a multiplier of effort where I delegate the worst parts of my job to AI," says Ethan Mollick, a management professor at Wharton who studies AI.

  • Altman said something similar in a podcast interview. He doesn't think about "what percent of jobs AI will do, but what percent of tasks will it do," he said on Lex Fridman's podcast last year. AI will let people do their jobs, "at a higher level of abstraction."
  • AI has made workers more efficient, but there's still a lot more work to do. "The one thing I'm not worried about is that we're running out of work," GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke told Axios.

Yes, but: While humans will still absolutely be needed to supervise the AI's work, agents will start replacing humans over the next two years, says Anton Korinek, an economics professor at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and Visiting Scholar at Brookings

  • "Any job that can be done solely in front of a computer will be amenable to AI agents within the next 24 months," Korinek said in an email, assuring this reporter that he was not himself an AI.Β (He also agreed that he could be replaced by one.)
  • "From my conversations with business leaders, the majority ofΒ large companies employing white-collar workers are looking into what they can automate with AI."

Between the lines: Humans are moving more slowly than the technology. Companies have to figure out how to adjust operations to accommodate AI workers, says Lareina Yee, a senior partner at McKinsey and AI expert.

  • And that can be a costly endeavor.
  • The biggest challenge to moving AI agents into the workplace isn't the tech, it's the people, she says. "This is not a technology strategy moment, it's a business strategy moment."

Trump and Musk want to help U.S. auto industry, Ford chairman says

9 January 2025 at 18:47

President-elect Trump understands the U.S. auto industry better now than he did during his first term, says Ford chairman Bill Ford, who's hopeful that Tesla CEO Elon Musk will use his close relationship with Trump to advocate for all automakers.

Why it matters: Trump had a fraught relationship with Detroit carmakers during his first term, and the companies often sparred with the president over labor, trade, tariffs and regulations.


  • But this time around, he's keenly aware of the competitive threats they face, especially from heavily subsidized Chinese rivals.

Driving the news: Ford said Trump called him "out of the blue" recently and the two men spoke for "a long, long time" about what U.S. automakers need to succeed.

  • "He's very tuned into the importance of a strong American industry. He wants to not only keep it strong, but actually strengthen it from here," Ford told reporters on the sidelines of a product announcement at the Detroit Auto Show.
  • "It's very clear what his intent is."
  • Ford also said he wasn't too worried that Musk will use his close relationship with Trump to get an advantage over Tesla's rivals.
  • "We are aligned on a lot of different things," he said of Musk.
  • And given that Trump has his number, Ford said, "I feel very confident that, going forward, Ford will have a voice, and a seat at the table."

Between the lines: Ford said affordability is the key to facing the "crucible" of Chinese competition on electric vehicles.

  • "It's not matching the technology. It's not matching how the vehicles are put together. It's really not even matching the battery itself. But it really is the affordability to the customer that becomes, sort of the crucible, whether this is going to succeed or not. We're working really hard on that."

The wildfires have a Hollywood producer wondering: Should I even stay in LA?

10 January 2025 at 00:30
Universal Studios Hollywood.
Universal Studios Hollywood.

Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

  • Los Angeles' fires threaten to hamper the entertainment industry's recovery.
  • LA's share of film and TV jobs has declined, and some are thinking anew about leaving.
  • One producer and director said he felt he could improve his financial situation by leaving LA.

The fires tearing through Los Angeles are a new threat to an entertainment industry that has been trying to rebound from a studio spending slowdown and twin labor strikes.

"Survive till '25" was the mantra in Hollywood for much of 2024. Now, some in the entertainment industry are wondering whether they should stick around.

"If there's no longer a need to be in LA, the question arises: Do I stay here?" asked Adam Wood, a producer and director in North Hollywood. He said the shift during COVID to remote work had made it easier to build an entertainment career outside LA. Wood hasn't had to evacuate yet, but helped a friend leave and is monitoring conditions.

"I could improve my lot financially by not being here," he said. "LA is the spiritual home of the industry, but at the same time, it's not loving me back."

Like many in entertainment, Wood works on a freelance basis. While he feels tied to the entertainment mecca, he said he's also counting the days of work lost to the fire.

Adam Wood, producer/director
Producer and director Adam Wood.

Adam Wood

Productions and premieres have largely been paused

The fires have paused production on shows including Amazon's "Fallout" and CBS Studios' "NCIS," while studios from Paramount to Universal canceled premieres.

Stars, including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, haveΒ lost their homesΒ in the tony Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which is favored for its proximity to the studios. Countless others have lost or fled their homes.

FilmLA, the city's film permitting office, issued a statement Thursday warning that permits in or near evacuation zones could be canceled, while new applications to film in or near these areas would be denied.

It previously said the LA County Fire Department ordered film permits to be revoked for the communities of Altadena, La Crescenta, La Canada/Flintridge, and Unincorporated Pasadena.

Hollywood was already hurting before the fires

Before the fires, the entertainment spending slowdown had already hit the industry's biggest market hard.

LA has also been hobbled by an exodus of productions and workers to other entertainment hubs in lower-cost places like Atlanta and Miami. Greater Los Angeles' share of US-produced TV and film projects declined from 23% in 2021 to 18% in 2023, according to FilmLA.

LA accounted for 22% of US film and TV jobs in August, down from 33% two years earlier, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics figures by Patrick Adler and Taner Osman of Westwood Economics & Planning Associates.

Despite the downturn, producer Adam Fratto said he had been feeling pretty good about the state of the industry before the fires started.

"I was taking some projects out, and who knows if they're going to sell, but the fact that TV folks were open to pitches, that's good," he said. "Before a couple days ago, I felt a little upbeat about 2025."

While it's still early to say how far the destruction could spread, Fratto said he expected the fires to cause some people to reassess their commitment to the area and industry.

"I think there will be folks who just decide to take their chips off the table and do something else or relocate," he said.

Still, Adler, the economic researcher, said he doubted LA would lose its position at the top of the entertainment industry.

"In the likes of film, television, content creation, and video games, LA has been the place where major decisions have been made, where talented people collaborate, and where deals get done," he said. "This has remained true as the city has persevered through multiple earthquakes and riots, not to mention periodic industry downturns."

Read the original article on Business Insider

2025 TV shows we're most excited about, from the return of 'Stranger Things' to the new 'Game of Thrones' prequel

Screenshots from Squid Game, Stranger Things, Wednesday, and The Residence

Netflix; Rebecca Zisser/BI

  • 2025 is already an exciting year for television β€” and it's only just begun.
  • Shows like "Stranger Things" and "Severance" will be back this year.
  • BI's entertainment team is also excited about new series like "The Residence" and "Suits LA."

2025 is shaping up to be an exciting one in television.

Start off your new year with the return of "Severance," Apple TV+'s bizarre (complimentary) and wildly innovative workplace series about a group of people who have two completely discrete personas for work and their outside lives. You'll be able to pick up other returning favorites, like "The White Lotus" season three in the spring and the fifth and final season of "Stranger Things" later in the year.

There are a few exciting new series on the docket for 2025 this year like "The Residence," a White House whodunnit from Shondaland starring Uzo Aduba. If you're looking for something with a stronger sci-fi bent, FX's "Alien" franchise series "Alien: Earth" is set to hit screens later this year as well. Or, if you devoured the docuseries "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace," watch the story dramatized in Hulu's upcoming "Good American Family."

Here are our most anticipated television series of 2025, in order of premiere date.

"Severance," season 2
Adam Scott in "Severance" on Apple TV Plus
Adam Scott stars in "Severance."

Apple TV Plus

Release date: January 17 on Apple TV+

Watching the first season of "Severance" in early 2022 felt a bit like getting in on an extraordinary secret. This bizarre, endearing, and incredibly stylistic take on the soul-crushing office grind quickly yet quietly became one of the best genre series on television. Three years later, the show blessedly is not a hidden gem anymore, and "Severance" season two is coming in hotly anticipated.

The series stars Adam Scott as Mark, a man who decides to take a "severed" job after the death of his wife. The severance procedure bifurcates his personality into two discrete people: one who works his job at the inscrutable Lumon Industries, and one who lives life on the outside. In season one, he and his coworkers work to expose their plight as severed workers to the world, while simultaneously unraveling the myriad secrets of their workplace. β€” Palmer Haasch

"Paradise"
Sterling K. Brown in "Paradise"
Sterling K. Brown in "Paradise."

Brian Roedel/Disney

Release date: January 28 on Hulu

"This Is Us" creator Dan Fogelman and star Sterling K. Brown reunite on a new Hulu series. The mystery thriller focuses on Xavier Collins (Brown), the head of security to James Marsden's President Cal Bradford. Xavier finds Cal dead and is said to be the last person who saw the president alive, thrusting him into the middle of an apparent conspiracy.

The trailer is light on specific details, but according to the streamer the show is set "in a serene, wealthy community inhabited by some of the world's most prominent individuals," who are rattled by the president's murder and the ensuing investigation.

Brown was always a highlight of "This Is Us," so it's exciting to see him step into another lead role that appears to be very different from Randall Pearson.

"Yellowjackets," season 3
Tawny Cypress as Taissa and Lauren Ambrose as Van in "Yellowjackets" season 3 episode 3
Tawny Cypress as Taissa and Lauren Ambrose as Van in "Yellowjackets" season 3.

Colin Bentley/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Release date: February 14 on Paramount+ with Showtime (and February 16 on Showtime)

"Yellowjackets" is a mish-mash of genres: part coming-of-age story, part survival drama, part black comedy, part mystery.

When it first premiered in 2021, it wasn't an instant hit. Rather, it steadily grew a passionate fan base as more and more viewers became invested in this tale of a group of teenage girls who became stranded in the Canadian wilderness in the 1990s β€” and the repercussions of that traumatic experience on the surviving women 25 years later.

Creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson managed to craft a wildly compelling story that drew equal interest to both halves of its cast: the talented rising stars who play the '90s versions of the girls (including breakouts like Ella Purnell and Sophie Thatcher), and the established powerhouse actors like Juliette Lewis, Melanie Lynskey, and Christina Ricci in the modern-day setting.

Season two answered a lot of questions (including arguably the biggest: Did they eat each other??) but ended on an unexpected death that left fans clamoring to know what would happen next. Luckily, there are still plenty of mysteries waiting to be solved. β€” CM

"The White Lotus," season 3
Blackpink member Lisa on season three of "The White Lotus."
Blackpink member Lisa on season three of "The White Lotus."

HBO

Release date: February 16 on HBO and Max

There's little information about season three of "The White Lotus." But Mike White's hit HBO anthology series, which racked up a total of 43 Emmy nominations from the first two seasons, has generated enough hype all on its own for the next installment.

Season three will focus on wealthy guests visiting the fictional White Lotus resort chain's Thailand location. And for the first time ever, the new season will feature a returning cast member: Natasha Rothwell, who played spa manager Belinda in season one. The star-studded cast also includes Blackpink member Lisa in her acting debut, "Fallout" star Walton Goggins, and "Gen V" actor Patrick Schwarzenegger β€” who told Business Insider that season three is "Absolutely fucking insane." β€” Olivia Singh

"Zero Day"
Robert DeNiro and Angela Bassett in "Zero Day"
Robert DeNiro and Angela Bassett star in "Zero Day."

Netflix

Release date: February 20 on Netflix

Robert De Niro on a Netflix drama? OK, sure, we're in.

"Zero Day" is a political thriller focusing on a global cyberattack, where De Niro plays a former president who comes out of retirement to help mitigate the crisis. The impressive ensemble cast also includes Lizzy Caplan as his daughter, Angela Bassett as the current president, and Dan Stevens as a loudmouth political TV host who antagonizes De Niro.

"Suits: LA"
Stephen Amell as Ted Black in "Suits LA"
Stephen Amell stars in "Suits LA."

David Astorga/NBC

Release date: February 23 on NBC and Peacock

"Suits" mania very suddenly and randomly swept over the nation when the 2010s USA Network drama saw a resurgence of interest on Netflix. Why? Who knows β€” chalk it up to one of the great mysteries of the algorithm.

In any event, it prompted the greenlighting of a spinoff series that shifts the action from a corporate firm in New York to an entertainment firm in Los Angeles. The new series centers on Stephen Amell's Ted Black, a former New York prosecutor who has reinvented himself out west.

Don't expect Meghan Markle to show up on it, but we can still hold out hope for other fan-favorite characters: Gabriel Macht's Harvey Specter is reportedly set for a three-episode arc, which hopefully means Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty) isn't far behind. β€” CM

"Daredevil: Born Again"
A man in a red and black costume with a mask that has horns on it.
Charlie Cox in "Daredevil."

Netflix/Marvel Entertainment

Release date: March 4 on Disney+

The Marvel series will see Charlie Cox reprise his role as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer by day, and a vicious vigilante by night. Because it's a continuation of the "Daredevil" Netflix series (which is exciting in itself) it'll also reunite Cox with Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, the criminal mastermind, Kingpin. Not only that but "Daredevil: Born Again" will add a harder, violent edge to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hopefully Marvel chief Kevin Feige and the gang let the show stand on its own two bloody feet without forcing needless cameos for the sake of it. After all, a street-level story with relatable stakes is what the franchise needs right now amid all the chatter of future "Avengers" movies. β€” Eammon Jacobs

"Deli Boys"
Saagar Shaikh and Asif Ali in "Deli Boys"
Saagar Shaikh and Asif Ali in "Deli Boys."

Elizabeth Sisson/Disney

Release date: March 6 on Hulu

"Deli Boys" (created by former Vice journalist Abdullah Saeed) follows the two wealthy Pakistani American sons of a convenience store magnate who learn after his death that he was secretly involved in a life of crime.

The polar opposite brothers are forced into that world, promising a unique take on the fish-out-of-water story coming to Hulu. β€” CM

"The Residence"
uzo aduba and randall park in the residence. aduba is wearing a beige sweater vest and suite, park is in a grey suit. they're standing in a room with old furniture
Uzo Aduba and Randall Park in "The Residence."

Erin Simkin/Netflix

Release date: March 20 on Netflix

Market your series as a "Shondaland White House whodunnit," and you don't have to do too much more to convince me. After a murder at a state dinner, Detective Cordelia Cupp, played by Uzo Aduba, must attempt to solve the case. On-screen, she's joined by Giancarlo Esposito, Randall Park, Ken Marino, Edwina Findley, and a slate of others β€” including Kylie Minogue.

"Scandal" writer Paul William Davies serves as showrunner, with Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers executive producing. "The Residence" is based on the book of the same name by Kate Andersen Brower. β€” PH

"The Last of Us," season 2
bella ramsey as ellie in the last of us season two, wearing a winter coat, a hat, and intently holding a gun
Bella Ramsey as Ellie in "The Last of Us" season two.

HBO

Release date: April on HBO and Max

"The Last of Us" season one turned prestige gaming into prestige television, adapting Naughty Dog's fungal apocalypse thriller into an acclaimed series starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Season one ended on a tenuous high note: Joel (Pascal) chose to save Ellie (Ramsey), who is immune to the cordyceps fungus that turns people into violent infected, rather than allowing her death in pursuit of a cure.

"The Last of Us" season two will adapt at least part of "The Last of Us Part II," the sequel to the original video game. Without getting too much into spoilers, it's likely to be even more heartbreaking than season one. This season will also feature newcomers including Kaitlyn Dever, who will play a significant character named Abby, "Beef" star Young Mazino, and Jeffrey Wright, who will reprise his role from the game, Isaac. β€” PH

"Your Friends and Neighbors"
Jon Hamm in "Your Friends & Neighbors"
Jon Hamm leads a new TV show.

Apple TV+

Release date: April 11 on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ has had no shortage of prestige drama attempts, from the Cate Blanchett series "Disclaimer" to Natalie Portman's "Lady in the Lake." Not all of them are very good (and a lot of them appear to come and go with little to no fanfare), and yet I still have enough faith in Jon Hamm and his ability to play complex antiheroes that I'm compelled to tune into "Your Friends & Neighbors."

Hamm plays Andrew "Coop" Cooper (Hamm), a recently divorced former hedge fund manager who's fired in disgrace. According to Apple, Coop, who lives in the wealthy Vestment Village, begins stealing from his neighbors' homes but ends up uncovering more secrets (and danger) than he bargained for.

The show also stars Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn, among others. And the streamer clearly has a lot of faith in it: They've already renewed it for a second season, months ahead of its premiere. β€” CM

"Hacks," season 4
Jean Smart as Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as
Ava Daniels in "Hacks" season 4
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder return in "Hacks" season 4.

HBO

Release date: (rumored) May on Max

The Emmy Award-winning "Hacks" is a series that only gets better with age, and its excellent third season set a high bar for whatever will come next. The series stars Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a comedian who turns around her stale Vegas stand-up career into a true artistic reinvention with the help of young writer Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder.

Deborah and Ava's relationship has always been defined by an ever-growing co-dependence, the capacity to mutually wound each other, and somewhere in the mix, love and grudging respect. The season three finale put them at odds once again, setting up for what's sure to be a thrilling β€” and of course, extremely funny β€” fourth season. β€” PH

"Chad Powers"
Glen Powell in "Chad Powers"
Glen Powell returns to TV in "Chad Powers."

Daniel Delgado/Disney

Release date: Fall 2025 on Hulu

Glen Powell has been all over our movie screens for the last three years, and now he'll be all over our small screens.

Powell, one of the biggest male rising actors in Hollywood today, is on a movie star trajectory akin to his mentor (and "Top Gun: Maverick" costar) Tom Cruise. He has roots in TV, though ("Scream Queens," I will never forget you). The upcoming Hulu comedy, about a hotshot quarterback who torpedoes his college football career and disguises himself as Chad Powers to walk onto a Southern university's team, is a great venue for flexing his funny chops.

At the absolute least, the visual of Powell in those prosthetics and wig is already a hoot. β€” CM

"Stranger Things," season 5
the cast of stranger things with matt and ross duffer, shown posing together on couches and rugs in black and white with a lit up number five in the corner of the room
The cast of "Stranger Things" season five with Matt and Ross Duffer.

Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix

Release date: TBD on Netflix

These days, it's hard to fathom that "Stranger Things" was one of the relatively early hits of the streaming age when it premiered in 2016. Close to a decade later, it's a cultural juggernaut that elevated the profile of its entire cast, from veteran actors to young stars. With one season left, it's finally time to close this chapter of life in Hawkins, Indiana.

"Stranger Things" season five will bring an end to Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) story, but past that, it will represent the true end of an era at Netflix. "Stranger Things" is one of the biggest series the streamer has ever released, but even if the show is ending, some talent like showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer and Brown, now a leading lady, are sticking around with other projects. β€” PH

"Wednesday," season 2
Jenna Ortega in "Wednesday"
Jenna Ortega returns in "Wednesday" season 2.

Netflix

Release date: TBD on Netflix

"Wednesday" was a smash hit when it premiered on Netflix in 2022. Over two years later, it's still holding strong atop the streamer's list of its most-watched shows ever, with over 252 million views to date.

The supernatural teen dramedy's success is due in large part to the performance of Jenna Ortega as the titular Wednesday Addams, the sardonic, psychic teen who finds herself thrust into the center of a murder mystery when she's shipped off to a new boarding school.

The first season ended with a twist about one of Wednesday's two love interests, but Ortega has promised that "Wednesday" season two will lean more into horror and focus less on her character's romantic life. That's a very welcome tweak. β€” CM

"Black Mirror," season 7
Cristin Milloti as Nanette Cole in "Black Mirror" episode "USS Callister."
Cristin Milloti as Nanette Cole in the "Black Mirror" episode "USS Callister."

Jonathan Prime / Netflix

Release date: TBD on Netflix

The long-running dystopian anthology series β€” where each episode is a stand-alone story of speculative fiction, with most set in a near-future world with advanced, often ethically troublesome technology β€” returns for its seventh outing later this year.

As with recent seasons, there are some big names lined up for the "Black Mirror" season seven cast, including Awkwafina, Issa Rae, Paul Giamatti, Billy Magnussen, and Tracee Ellis Ross. But perhaps most excitingly, for the first time in the series' history, there's going to be a story continuation: One of the six new episodes will be a sequel to "USS Callister," the Emmy-winning season four episode starring Cristin Milioti as a programmer who gets trapped in her incel boss' video game world. β€” CM

"You," season 5
Key art for "You" season 5 starring Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg
"You" will return for its fifth and final season.

Netflix

Release date: TBD on Netflix

Obsessive stalker Joe Goldberg has somehow managed to evade capture or consequences in his yearslong killing spree that's spanned four seasons of television and multiple cities across the globe. He seemed to finally be at the end of the line in "You" season four, only to miraculously make it out with a seemingly clean slate yet again. The finale brought Joe full circle back to New York, and partnered with a woman who may or may not see him for who he truly is.

The fifth and final season of "You" will hopefully bring a satisfying conclusion to the drama that's managed to keep reinventing itself β€” and finding ways to creatively continue the story β€” long past where many assumed it'd surely end. β€” CM

"Squid Game," season 3
A still of a man in a green jumpsuit looking away from the camera with the sky in the background.
Lee Jung-jae returns to the death game in "Squid Game" season two.

JuHan Noh / Netflix

Release date: TBD on Netflix

"Squid Game" isn't only Netflix's biggest non-English-language series β€” it's also one of its biggest properties, period. The Korean-language series, created by showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk, is a deeply tragic thriller with an instantly recognizable visual identity. Both of those factors helped it become not only a hit series, but also a true cultural phenomenon. "Squid Game" season two, which premiered in December, broke viewership records to become Netflix's biggest debut ever.

Even if you didn't watch "Squid Game," you know "Squid Game" β€” and with the show's third and final season on the way in 2025, you definitely should be catching up. β€” PH

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"
a man in a blue tunic, and green cloak, walking through a crowd of merchants while clutching his sword. he's tall and blonde
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is an adaptation of G.R.R. Martin's novella "The Hedge Knight."

Steffan Hill/HBO

Release date: TBD on HBO and Max

Given the wild success of "Game of Thrones," it makes sense that HBO would go all-in on the "Thrones" brand through a series of spinoffs. The first of those, "House of the Dragon," focuses on a bloody Targaryen succession war. The second, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," is about a knight and his young squire β€” Dunk and Egg, colloquially. Dunk is Ser Duncan the Tall, and Egg is Aegon Targaryen, a young member of the ruling family.

The series is based on the first installation of George R. R. Martin's "Tales of Dunk and Egg" novella series, titled "The Hedge Knight." HBO drama head Francesca Orsi told Deadline in 2023 that the show would ideally span three seasons, one for each existing novella. β€” PH

"Alien: Earth"
key art for alien: earth, an image of earth with a green crack running through it
"Alien: Earth."

FX

Release date: TBD on FX and Hulu

FX is expanding the "Alien" franchise with a new TV series that finally brings the unimaginable horrors of the Xenomorphs to Earth in the aptly titled "Alien: Earth."

The first teaser trailer didn't reveal much about the series, but it's helmed by "Legion" and "Fargo" creator Noah Hawley, which hopefully means that the series will have more to say than just sci-fi scares. It features the likes of "Justified" and "The Mandalorian" star Timothy Olyphant, "Andor" and "Black Mirror" actor Alex Lawther, and "Fargo" alumni David Rysdahl. Also in the cast are Essie Davis, Sydney Chandler, and Samuel Blenkin. β€” EJ

Untitled Rachel Sennott project
Rachel Sennott in a still from her upcoming HBO comedy
Rachel Sennott wrote, executive produced, and stars in her upcoming show.

HBO

Release date: TBD on HBO and Max

Rachel Sennott has been a standout part of some of the best comedies of the last few years, including "Bottoms," "Shiva Baby," and the horror comedy "Bodies Bodies Bodies." The comedian is stepping up as HBO's new Lena Dunham (non-derogatory), helming a series that she's writing, executive producing, and starring in.

No details about its plot have been made available, but Sennott has proven herself to be imminently watchable, so we're certainly tuning in to see what she's got in store. β€” CM

"Good American Family"
A still from "Good American Family," the upcoming drama starring Ellen Pompeo
Ellen Pompeo stars in "Good American Family."

Hulu

Release date: TBD on Hulu

It's a tale as old as time: Where there's a viral true-crime story, a scripted dramatization (or five) is sure to follow. That's the case with "Good American Family" (not to be confused with the similarly named faith-based TV network Great American Family), which is loosely inspired by Natalia Grace Mans' story.

Natalia's saga is long and complex (enough to fill three seasons of the Investigation Discovery docuseries "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace" over the course of three years). The gist of it is that Natalia, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett, who eventually came to believe that their new daughter was actually a psychopathic adult posing as a child. (Yes, that is also generally the plot of the horror movie "Orphan," which wasn't based on Natalia's story).

Ellen Pompeo, in her first major starring role since stepping back from "Grey's Anatomy" as a series regular, stars as the girl's adoptive mother. It'll be interesting to see whether the scripted drama is more sympathetic to the Barnetts' side or Natalia's. β€” CM

"It: Welcome to Derry"
Cast of "It: Welcome to Derry"
"It: Welcome to Derry" is a prequel to the Stephen King story.

Brooke Palmer/Photo: Brooke Palmer

Release date: TBD on HBO and Max

"It Chapter 1" and "It Chapter 2," based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, were mega-hits at the box office when they came out in 2017 and 2019 respectively. Pennywise the Clown had previously terrorized audiences in the form of Tim Curry in a 1990 miniseries before Bill Skarsgard scarred a new generation when he took over the role. "Welcome to Derry" is the first time the story is getting the prequel treatment.

The show jumps back in time to explore an earlier community in Derry who came face to face with the monstrous creature. It features new characters not seen in the films, with only Skarsgard returning. β€” CM

"Outlander: Blood of My Blood"
Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser and Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser in "Outlander" season seven.
Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser and Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

Release date: TBD on Starz

The smash hit historical drama "Outlander" has captivated audiences (both readers of the book series it's based on and show-only fans) for over a decade since premiering in 2014.

Claire and Jamie Fraser's epic love story will come to an end with an eighth and final season. But the "Outlander" universe will live on with "Blood of My Blood," a prequel that rewinds the clock to show how Jamie's parents, and Claire's, wound up together.

If the prequel's cast has even a fraction of the chemistry "Outlander" leads Sam Heughan and CaitrΓ­ona Balfe do, it'll be must-see TV for romance lovers. β€” CM

"Dying for Sex"
Michelle Williams as Molly in FX's "Dying for Sex"
Michelle Williams in "Dying for Sex."

Sarah Shatz/FX

Release date: TBD on FX and Hulu

Michelle Williams, who previously won an Emmy and Golden Globe for her role in the FX limited series "Fosse/Verdon," returns to the network with "Dying For Sex." She plays Molly, an unhappily married woman who decides to leave her husband in order to explore her sexuality after being diagnosed with cancer.

Billed as a comedy-drama, it's based on the podcast of the same name by Nikki Boyer. Boyer, who's also an executive producer on the FX show, co-created her podcast with her friend β€” the real Molly, who actually did leave her own marriage after a breast cancer diagnosis. Jenny Slate plays Boyer on the show; Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass also star.

Beyond the compelling true story and excitement over the talented Williams' return to TV, "New Girl" creator Liz Meriwether also serves as a showrunner, promising whip-smart writing. β€” CM

"The Terror: Devil in Silver"
Actor Dan Stevens posing on a red carpet (left) and the book cover for Victor LaValle's novel "The Devil in Silver" (right)
Dan Stevens is producing and starring in "The Terror: Devil in Silver."

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Random House Publishing

Release date: TBD on AMC and AMC+

The criminally underrated supernatural horror anthology series gathered a small but devoted fan base after the first season, based on Dan Simmons' 2007 novel of the same name, premiered in 2018.

That season told an extremely spooky fictionalized account of Captain Sir John Franklin's doomed Arctic expedition and featured a who's-who of British actors like Jared Harris and Tobias Menzies. The next season, subtitled "Infamy," debuted a year later and moved the horror to a Japanese internment camp in America during World War II, where the camp's inhabitants believe they're being tormented by an evil force.

AMC stayed mum on whether the show would continue for almost five years, until the February 2024 announcement that "The Terror: Devil in Silver" was coming. The upcoming six-episode season, based on Victor LaValle's novel of the same name, will star Dan Stevens (who's also an EP) as a working-class man wrongfully committed to a psychiatric hospital where he has to contend not only with the other patients and the doctors but a seemingly malevolent force that appears to live within the hospital's walls.

Stevens is a great choice for this brand of psychological horror. See also: "Legion." β€” CM

"All's Fair"
Kim Kardashian (left); Naomi Watts (middle); Sarah Paulson (right)
Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, and Sarah Paulson are all reuniting with Ryan Murphy on "All's Fair."

Karwai Tang/Getty Images; Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; John Nacion/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Release date: TBD on Hulu

Ryan Murphy regulars, assemble!

The prolific TV creator is fresh off a busy 2024 that included the premieres of four separate shows he produced, including "Grotesquerie" and the controversial "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story." He doesn't appear to be taking it easy in 2025 either.

It's unclear whether he'll again match the sheer number of projects he debuted in 2024, but he definitely has at least one coming out: "All's Fair," a legal drama about an all-female law firm of divorce attorneys coming to Hulu. The cast includes a bunch of Murphy's go-tos, including his frequent collaborator Sarah Paulson, "Feud: Capote vs. the Swans" star Naomi Watts, "Grotesquerie" star Niecy Nash, and his most recent addition to the crew, aspiring real-life lawyer Kim Kardashian, who starred in "American Horror Story" season 12.

Kardashian was surprisingly good in "AHS," so it's intriguing to see what she'll do in "All's Fair," where she's reportedly playing the protagonist. β€” CM

"Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenΓ©t Ramsey"
Clive Owen (left), Melissa McCarthy (right) and John and Patsy Ramsey (inset)
Clive Owen and Melissa McCarthy will play JonBenΓ©t Ramsey's parents.

Michael Tullberg/Getty Images; Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post/Getty Images; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Release date: TBD on Paramount+

Few true crime cases have captivated the public as intensely and for as long as JonBenΓ©t Ramsey's unsolved murder. The six-year-old beauty queen was found dead in her family home the day after Christmas 1996, and her killer was never identified.

The long-cold case was recently covered in a Netflix docuseries, which led to a resurgence of interest (though plenty of true-crime enthusiasts have been carefully following the case for years). The story has been dramatized before, in a 2000 miniseries and multiple TV movies, but this is the first time it's getting what appears to be the prestige TV treatment.

Most intriguingly, the series will star Melissa McCarthy as Patsy Ramsey, JonBenΓ©t's mother. This will mark an interesting pivot for McCarthy, who's chiefly known for far more light-hearted roles in comedies like "Bridesmaids" and "Tammy." β€” CM

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The Kremlin said Greenland is in Russia's sphere of 'national and strategic interests' — and it's got its eye on Trump's claims on the territory

9 January 2025 at 23:47
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

  • The Kremlin is closely watching Greenland after Trump expressed interest in the US acquiring it.
  • The Kremlin's press secretary said the Arctic is a zone of national interest for Russia.
  • Trump said earlier this week that he would not rule out using military force to seize Greenland.

Russia is keeping a close eye on President-elect Donald Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland.

The Kremlin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia is "watching the rather dramatic development of the situation very closely," according to aΒ reportΒ by Reuters.

"The Arctic is a zone of our national interests, our strategic interests," Peskov said. "We are interested in preserving the atmosphere of peace and stability in the Arctic zone."

Russia has ramped up its military presence in the Arctic in recent years. For example, it has deployed a substantially larger fleet of icebreaker ships β€” which break up ice in strategic waterways and increase maneuverability for other ships β€” to the Arctic than the US.

Trump, who expressed interestΒ in buying Greenland as early as 2019,Β resurfacedΒ his proposition in December and has since doubled down on his stance.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Trump said that he would not rule out using force to secure Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory, and regain control of the Panama Canal, a critical waterway for trade.

When asked for assurance that he would not resort to "military or economic coercion" to seize the two, he said, "I can't assure you."

"I'm not going to commit to that," he added.

"People really don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for National Security," he said of Greenland in the press conference.

He then threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark "at a very high level" if the Scandinavian country resisted giving up control of the Arctic territory.

Russia's statement comes after Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., landed in Greenland on Tuesday and met with locals in Nuuk, the capital city, according to his X posts.

A Tuesday video on his X showed the president-elect calling his son to talk to Nuuk locals.

In response to Trump's comments, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said to a local news outlet on Tuesday that Greenland is "not for sale."

Greenland's Prime Minister, MΓΊte Egede, said in a December Facebook statement, "We are not for sale and will never be for sale."

Trump, meanwhile, has also talked about seizing control of the Panama Canal, a roughly 50-mile canal built in 1914 to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. It was under US control until it was given to the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) in 1999.

Trump called for the canal's control to beΒ returned to the US, slamming "exorbitant" fees for US ships passing through it.

Representatives of Trump and the Kremlin did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

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