Fast company - tech

Everyone’s always talking about new tools, but some of the best tools are the classic ones—incredibly useful things that have been around for ages. These are the tools that have stood the test of time and are just as handy today as they were 20 years ago.

They’re also the kinds of things you won’t hear about from most people or publications. And it’s easy to see why: They’re not the hot new thing. They’re just quietly helpful for anyone in the know.

So today,

TikTok has boosted the careers of numerous musicians, thanks to their songs—both new and old—going viral. The latest example is Connie Francis’s 1962 hit ">Pretty Little Baby, which is currently inescapable across For You pages.

Now, TikTok is making it even easier for artists to capitalize on viral moments. The platform has rolled out its music insights tool globally, following a limited beta launch that was quietly

As artificial intelligence’s influence continues to spread deeper into pop culture, major record labels are starting negotiations with AI companies to ensure they—and their artists—are properly compensated when their music is used to train large language models.

Sony, Warner Music, and Universal Music Group reportedly have begun tal

“Believe nothing. not even people’s runs,” a viral post on X reads.

Two years after the launch of ChatGPT, return on investment in generative AI has been elusive, but one area stands out: software development.

So-called code generation or “code-gen” startups are commanding sky-high valuations as corporate boardrooms look to use AI to aid, and s

Migraine sufferers have heard it all: ice hats, essential oils, ginger tea. The latest advice? Head to McDonald’s and order a large Coca-Cola and fries, dubbed the “McMigraine meal.”

One viral video with 5.7 million views reads: “Trying McDonald’s chips and a Diet Coke because I’ve had a headache for 48 hours and TikTok said it would help.” In the caption, the TikTok creator confirmed the hack worked.

As the founder and board chair of the tech nonprofit Products That Count, I’ve had a front-row seat to AI’s domination of the tech world over the past couple of years. A few years ago, just a sliver of the thousands of submissions our organization evaluates for our awards program were AI-based; this year, more than 90% of our nearly 10,000 submissions were for AI products.

This

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Monday that it had launched a generative AI tool, Elsa, aimed at improving efficiency across its operations, i

If you think drones are noisy in flight, try building and testing them. During a visit last month to the drone startup Zipline’s factory in South San Francisco, California, industrial noise welled up in corners of the facility—the roar of a wind tunnel, the rhythmic clack of a test rig simulating motor casing wear, and other mechanical sounds in a symphony of engineering.

Zipline has to subject its delivery drones to that kind of abus

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I’ve been curious lately: How might AI help my former students—and so many others looking for new jobs—in a challenging and complicated market?

My conclusion: AI tools can serve as patient assista