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Today:
Good things are coming in smaller packages as household budgets tighten
NEWS | 01 August 2026
With US shoppers under seemingly never-ending strain, large consumer product companies are finding success in introducing smaller formats that won't break the bank. "When you go into the convenience store, you have the mini-cans sold as a single at the lowest entry price." CFO Andre Sultan said consumers who are more impacted by gas prices "continue to look for smaller pack sizes. Hershey's said Thursday it largely completed a transition to a new set of retail pack sizes -- including smaller options -- that started last year as cocoa prices were soaring. At the same time, Thomas said offering smaller portions of sweets and other highly processed foods could present a healthier option than their jumbo-sized counterparts.

Top Stories:
Flock Misread License Plates in 71% of Alerts It Sent Roseville Police
NEWS | 01 August 2026
The city's AI-powered license plate readers, made by the tech startup Flock Safety, had repeatedly misread the man's plate. Flock's cameras capture license plate characters and vehicle characteristics like color and model. Andri Tambunan for BIFlock says that in optimal conditions, its cameras accurately read more than 96% of license plate characters. In 2023 and 2024, Flock sent 1,427 alerts to Roseville police, flagging vehicles as stolen or used in a felony after they passed one of the city's Flock cameras. The cameras regularly missed vehicles, captured blurry images, misread license plate characters and states, and sent delayed alerts to police about vehicles possibly connected to crimes, the records show.

World:
An OpenAI Product Manager's Advice for AI Prompts
NEWS | 01 August 2026
"You shouldn't have to," said Geri, a product manager at OpenAI. Geri joined OpenAI last year after working at Google on AI search products, like its AI overviews. Product manager gigs are common across tech, offering high salaries without requiring engineering experience. The primary job of a product manager hasn't changed, Geri said: to "care the most about the product." At OpenAI, PMs are often shipping code, he said.

Current Events:
Phoebe Gates' shopping app Phia is in damage control mode and offering refunds after a payment scandal
NEWS | 01 August 2026
Phia is working with at least one affiliate network, Impact.com, to refund affected parties and correct attributions, an email viewed by Business Insider shows. Rakuten Advertising, another major affiliate network, told Business Insider it is actively investigating the situation. "It could greatly damage their trust and reputation in the industry," Jordan Williams, the CEO of attribution fraud prevention company Veeper, told Business Insider. He added that he's received an influx of outreach from brands and agencies since Phia's attribution problems became public. "They have these avenues in which they are very out there, and very vocal and very willing to speak," she told Business Insider.

News Flash:
AI Is Speeding up Executive Hiring, but Some Parts Still Take People
NEWS | 01 August 2026
AI is accelerating many parts of executive-level hiring, though other parts remain constrained by distinctly human obstacles. "All of those things are irreducibly human," said Umesh Ramakrishnan, chief strategy officer of executive search firm Kingsley Gate. What AI can doWaterstone saw AI's potential at the start of an ongoing search for an executive to oversee a jewelry company's high-tech manufacturing operation. Waterstone's AI tool was trained on 23 years of data about organizational culture and executive hiring. What still takes peopleFor all the time AI can save on research and administrative work, recruiters said it hasn't altered the parts of executive search that require interpretation, trust, and persuasion.

Sponsored:
SmartSync Data Sync App
SPONSORED | 01 August 2026
SmartSync is a mobile application, compatible with any Android smartphone, that syncs your important data to your email. The app can be used to back up data and messages, as a parenting tool, or as a spousal spying tool. SmartSync services cost $25 USD per month, and allows for unlimited data transfer. The app can be found Here

Latest:
Don’t expect supersonic flight any time soon — our new private jet is close enough, says Bombardier CEO
NEWS | 01 August 2026
The world's newest private jet is breaking speed records, but the manufacturer's CEO and chief engineer say going supersonic isn't worth the time. Bombardier's Global 8000 is the fastest civil aircraft since Concorde and costs at least $78 million to buy. He added that the Global 8000 gets close enough to supersonic without the complications of actually doing so. Courtesy of BombardierThe Global 8000 is named for its 8000 nautical-mile range, enough to fly nonstop for 17 hours. Plus, the Global 8000 has the lowest cabin altitude of any private jet, which reduces jet lag and dehydration because passengers will have more oxygen.

Breaking:
This 'have-not' New Yorker eats at a soup kitchen to afford life in the city. Here's why he'll never move away.
NEWS | 01 August 2026
José A. Alvarado Jr. for BIBlack said the world is defined by dollars and cents — something not abundant for many living in New York City. The job market at 76 years oldBlack has lived in New York City for nearly his entire life but still struggles to afford basic necessities. Affordable housing is not affordable for everyoneSince 2005, Black has consistently applied for affordable city housing and assistance through Section 8, the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. Yet, for over 20 years, he has had no luck in finding stable, affordable housing for himself through those programs. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made affordable housing in New York City a central part of his policy since he began his campaign.

Trending:
Hardcore tech execs are meeting their match: the limits of the human body
NEWS | 01 August 2026
In tech's hardcore era, some execs are facing an obstacle they can't outsmart: the limits of their own bodies. Each situation is unique, and we can't know if work triggered the execs' health problems. Now more than ever, the tech industry is obsessed with speed and optimization, from workflows to blood sugar. Hardcore industry, hardcore workersThen there's the brutal catch-22: Tech attracts folks with a consuming, all-or-nothing approach to work. In her resignation notice on Monday, Weng wrote that she wanted to move out of the cofounder role, not the industry.

This Just In:
Disappointing photos show what backpacking across Europe is really like
NEWS | 01 August 2026
I'd seen it all over Instagram — backpackers posing in otherwise empty cityscapes and epic natural scenes, with inspirational captions about life being an adventure. In August 2022, I spent a week backpacking for the first time through Eastern Canada. So, two months later, when I planned a two-week train trip through Europe, I pushed myself to travel extra light again. It was my first time visiting each country and backpacking in Europe. But I quickly realized backpacking Europe wasn't as glamorous as it looks on social media.

Today:
My family of 4 moved into a camper van for a year. I ran my business on the road, while my husband homeschooled our twins.
NEWS | 01 August 2026
We were about to start a yearlong adventure, traveling around Europe in our self-built camper van, Phileas. The plan was that I would continue to run my business — a marketing agency — while Illya, as a stay-at-home dad, would handle homeschooling and the practical side of van life. We spent the evening playing on the beach and eating moules marinière, looking out at the sun setting over the waves. From homeschooling to worldschoolingMeanwhile, homeschooling evolved into something more organic and child-led than I'd anticipated. For example, we ate a fast-breaking iftar meal with a local family who let us park on their land.

Top Stories:
When my kids were young, I was excited to send them back to school. Now that I'm a mom of teens, I feel differently.
NEWS | 01 August 2026
So ready I'd plan mimosa-level events with other moms to celebrate the kids going back to school. In fact, I'm not excited for school to start at all. This isn't me saying, "My kids are less annoying than yours, which is why you're counting the days and I'm not." I'm excited to watch them grow up, but I still want one more summer weekDo I want my kids to stay little forever? Maybe that's why I'm not in such a hurry to send them back to school anymore.

World:
I've been to all 50 states. If I had just one day in Florida, here's how I'd spend it.
NEWS | 01 August 2026
After visiting all 50 states, I've found beauty in each of them. But after more than a dozen visits, Florida really stands out to me — thanks to its beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, and unique cultural influences. The state, which is also home to three major national parks, is a great place to spend a vacation, a weekend, or even just a long day. Here's how I'd spend a summer day in Florida.

Current Events:
How to Combat AI Burnout, From a Mental Strength Coach
NEWS | 01 August 2026
It took away the easy tasksAI allows us to get rid of repetitive, boring work — tasks like cleaning up a spreadsheet or reformatting slides. Here are some solutions I've seen in the founders I've worked with who manage their lives well, despite the stress of the job:1. They think differently about AI toolsWhen AI saves them time, they don't automatically fill the hours with more work. Some of the happiest and healthiest founders I've worked with protect their time with family the same way they'd protect an important meeting with an investor. Do you have a story to share about experiencing AI burnout?

News Flash:
I hated that my dad bought a lawn care franchise. Now I'm CEO of a $426 million company.
NEWS | 01 August 2026
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man. I was not happy when my dad decided to purchase a Weed Man lawn care franchise. My dad was buying up more and more Weed Man franchise territories. Really, Weed Man was a big family business to its core. My desire to make money isn't a bad thingI became the CEO of Weed Man in 2020, replacing my dad.