YouTube-star-Mark-Rober-got-a-big-boost-in-product.jpeg

YouTube star Mark Rober got a big boost in product sales after his Netflix deal

by with No Comment Xpandfy

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos says the streamer’s push into podcasting and YouTube-born content is bearing fruit.

Sarandos specifically called out science educator Mark Rober’s show as an early success. He stressed that Netflix was both allowing the YouTube star to reach a larger audience and also sell more of his science kits.

“What he saw was a big increase in his consumer product sales after this first week on Netflix, even though he reaches an enormous audience around the world,” Sarandos said in a new interview with POLITICO, which, like Business Insider, is part of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network.

On “Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs,” which launched in November, the former NASA engineer stages science experiments and competitions in his backyard.

Sarandos said he was also bullish on Netflix’s Pete Davidson interview show, as well as its official behind-the-scenes podcasts about popular shows like “Bridgerton.”

“I think a video podcast is just the evolution of talk shows,” Sarandos said.

YouTube, already the top US streaming TV service, has solidified its position as the No. 1 destination for podcasts. Netflix has been looking to challenge YouTube by luring some of its star creators like Rober and preschool educator Ms. Rachel. Netflix also rolled out a slate of video podcasts early this year, including Bill Simmons’ show, Charlamagne Tha God’s “The Breakfast Club,” and Barstool Sports fare.

Some creator reps have wondered whether Netflix can turn its viewers into habitual consumers of video podcasts, and whether leaving YouTube will cost creators in audience and revenue. Netflix has sought video exclusivity with many of its podcast deals, while some YouTube creators’ deals, like Rober’s and Ms. Rachel’s, have been nonexclusive.

Sarandos said Netflix was seeing “promising numbers” from its podcasts, which focus on subjects like comedy, sports, and true crime, areas that already do well on the platform. He didn’t share specific figures.

As broadcast TV audiences have shrunk, viewership for traditional talk shows has declined, and Sarandos acknowledged the difficulty of porting the format to streaming services. Netflix has had some growing pains with talk shows, which often haven’t drawn huge audiences.

“We have tried to and failed at many talk shows over the years,” Sarandos said. “Much smaller audiences tune into multiple shows in the form of a podcast every day. It’s a deeper relationship than it is a broad one. So, instead of trying to make one show for the world, you might have to make hundreds or thousands of shows for the whole world.”




Source link

One-fitness-supplement-can-help-you-build-muscle-and-maybe.jpeg

One fitness supplement can help you build muscle and maybe boost longevity without breaking the bank, according to experts

by with No Comment Xpandfy

Stop wasting your time and money on subpar supplements.

One ingredient should be your first priority for building muscle, burning fat, and aging gracefully, according to exercise science pros.

Creatine is a combo of amino acids that provides energy to muscles and other tissues, like the brain. Our bodies produce it naturally, but growing research suggests supplementing with store-bought pills and powders is a smart idea.

It’s long been the uncontested king in the fitness supplement world for fueling gains, personal trainers, dietitians, and researchers told Business Insider. Now, even more studies suggest it has benefits beyond the gym, helping bolster the brain to support mental and cognitive health.

For less than 50 cents a serving, it’s the gold standard of evidence-based health hacks, with an impressive resume of potential perks.

Want to start taking creatine? Here’s how it works, and the best way to use it for peak performance, according to top researchers.

Creatine helps fuel more reps, leading to better gains

Long a staple of the sports world and bodybuilding community alike, creatine has been extensively studied as a fitness supplement for decades. It first caught on in the ’90s thanks to Olympians who swore by it for elite athletic competition.

Since then, researchers have consistently found that it’s safe to use and offers a small but significant boost to performance.

It works by providing extra fuel in the body’s energy cycle. That translates to better gains or faster fat burning if you’re working out, since you can power through more work that you might otherwise.

That makes it a standout performer in the supplement aisle. Creatine has much stronger evidence and broader benefits than products like pre-workouts, which can vary in ingredients and often don’t disclose what’s actually included.

It’s also distinct from protein shakes and powders, which offer the same nutritional benefits as food, but in a more convenient format. There is some creatine in foods like meat and fish, but it’s much harder to get than protein — you’d have to eat more than two pounds of steak to get the amount of creatine in a single scoop of supplement powder.

Other supplements are less evidence-based, less reliable, and can have more risks, particularly when bought online via grey-market websites.

The only supplement that comes close to challenging creatine in terms of wide-ranging benefit and extensive research is caffeine. While caffeine can boost workouts and is relatively safe in moderate doses, it can have serious side effects in large amounts, so you’re better off having a coffee than a concentrated supplement.

The best type of creatine to choose for muscle gains and fat loss

Not all creatine on the market is the same. The most well-researched form is creatine monohydrate, which sports nutritionists consider reliably effective and safe. If you’re worried it causes hair loss or kidney damage, don’t be: these are myths that have been debunked in reputable studies.

Creatine can have side effects like digestive upset, which is typically mild, temporary, and linked to higher doses.

It’s also safe for your wallet. Even with past shortages, creatine monohydrate tends to be the cheapest form, especially if you buy it pure instead of mixed into complicated pre- or post-workout blends.

To take creatine, researchers typically recommend a dose of between 3 to 5 grams a day (people with larger bodies need more). However, emerging studies suggest the brain can benefit from higher doses. Scott Forbes, a sports science researcher and professor at Brandon University, said he recommends around 10 grams a day for cognitive health.

Still, despite all the potential benefits of creatine, it’s not a panacea. No supplement, no matter how well-researched, can match the benefits of healthy lifestyle factors such as nutrition, sleep, and consistent exercise. Trainers recommend starting with high-value habits such as these first before trying supplements.

Once you’re nailing your workouts, diet, and recovery, creatine may be just the thing to give your routine an extra edge.




Source link

3-reasons-buying-Manus-could-give-Meta-a-much-needed-AI.jpeg

3 reasons buying Manus could give Meta a much-needed AI boost

by with No Comment Xpandfy

AI dealmaking isn’t slowing down — and it’s Meta’s turn again.

The social media giant is buying Manus, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup, the companies announced on Monday.

Manus went viral in March when it previewed an AI agent that could autonomously perform tasks like screening résumés and stock analysis. Manus was created in China but relocated to Singapore in mid-2025. Meta paid more than $2 billion for Manus, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The deal is the latest in a flurry of red-hot AI investment and acquisitions this year, which includes Meta’s $14 billion investment in Scale AI in June. From providing an instant AI revenue source to giving it a leg up in AI agents, here’s why buying Manus could give Meta a much-needed boost in the AI race.

1. It’s an instant revenue generator

Manus said in December that it had processed more than 147 trillion tokens of text and said its users were in the “millions.” It also claimed to have crossed $100 million in annual recurring revenue, achieving both milestones eight months after launch.

Those numbers tell us Meta is getting a startup with a built-in audience of paying users. Meta’s business model to date has largely revolved around building free products and making money from collecting user data and targeted advertising. Manus offers a free tier for basic tasks, but charges users up to $200 a month for its pro tier.

“The purchase gives Meta a functioning business with paying customers, meaningful revenue and infrastructure already proven at scale,” said Murthy Grandhi, company profiles analyst at research firm GlobalData, in a note.

In its announcement, Meta said it plans to continue selling the Manus service separately while also integrating Manus’s technology into its existing platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Meta did not elaborate on which ones or how it might do so. Meta has poured billions into building up its internal AI teams and developing what is termed “superintelligence,” with so far little in terms of returns. Manus could be a way for Meta to start making money directly from AI while it continues to build out its internal efforts.

2. Manus is a big bet on agents

Meta has struggled to wow consumers and developers as much as OpenAI and Google when it comes to raw model power. However, as these models become increasingly commoditized, there is a growing need to show AI can actually be useful. One such way is AI agents, a type of software that can proactively make decisions and take actions, such as creating a marketing campaign or monitoring and fixing bugs in apps.

Buying Manus could prove a smart bet on the idea that the real value will lie in the programs that sit on top of the models. Manus primarily uses other companies’ AI models, like Anthropic’s Claude, as building blocks and layers its own software on top.

“People keep assuming a small update from OpenAI or Google will wipe out a lot of AI startups,” wrote Yuchen Jin, CEO of the AI startup Hyperbolic, in an X post about Meta’s Manus deal. “But in reality, the AI application layer should be where most of the opportunity is.”

A Meta spokesperson did not immediately respond to a question about which models Manus would support following the acquisition.

3. Meta can use its distribution advantage

One of Meta’s strengths is that its platforms are used by billions of people, which, like Google, gives it a distribution advantage. Its challenge is to find ways to keep them coming back.

Unlike Google with Gemini 3, Meta has yet to have a buzzy AI breakthrough moment with its own in-house models. Combining Manus’s “general-purpose agents” with Meta’s distribution channels gives the social media company another shot at that, particularly as CEO Mark Zuckerberg has acknowledged that Facebook has shifted from being a place for friends to view each other’s content to a “broad discovery and entertainment space.”

“Manus offers a ready-made, high-margin software layer that can be sold directly and integrated across Meta’s consumer and enterprise products,” said GlobalData’s Grandhi.




Source link

Holiday-gifting-just-got-a-creative-boost-from-ChatGPT.jpeg

Holiday gifting just got a creative boost from ChatGPT

by with No Comment Xpandfy

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rashel Hariri, a 38-year-old founder and host of “She’s Interesting,” who lives in Arkansas. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

I’ve always shown care through gift-giving. When I choose something for someone, I want them to feel seen and have something they’ll actually use. I’m not someone who is going to give luxurious, massive gifts — but the gifts I give are meaningful.

Over the last year, AI has become the most effective way for me to do that. ChatGPT has become like a gifting concierge, helping me organize my brainstorming and land on presents that feel thoughtful, personal, and aligned with someone’s real life.

I developed a framework for what makes a good gift

Through conversations with the women in my podcast community, “She’s Interesting,” I realized that people — particularly women in their 30s like myself — value three main things: gifts that feel a little luxurious, gifts that expand our brains (like books or courses), and gifts that make the day-to-day easier. This became my three-part framework for ChatGPT.

With this information, I started a project in ChatGPT — which creates a space to group similar chats around the gifting topic — and provided custom instructions for the AI to follow, like background information on my framework.

If you want to create your own framework, think about what’s most important to you and the people around you. What makes you the happiest? What types of things make your life easier? Use the answers to those questions as main points in your framework.


A conversation with ChatGPT about what types of gifts to give friends and family

Create a project in ChatGPT to organize similar topics and ideas.

Photo courtesy of Rashel Hariri



I started an ongoing conversation for each recipient in ChatGPT

Within my ChatGPT project, I have separate conversations for each of the people I’m shopping for: my husband, friends, and colleagues.

I start by describing each person, including basic demographics, as well as deeper information, such as what’s important to them, their likes and dislikes, personal goals, and things they’re struggling with. I might also include their astrological sign and their favorite colors.

You have to be someone who pays attention to your friends, because otherwise, AI will give you basic suggestions. I try to give ChatGPT everything I know about the person. If I have a conversation with a friend or family member and something stands out, I can go into the chat and say, “Take note that this person said X.” The more I use it, the more it learns.

When it’s time to buy a gift, even if it’s months later, all those details are stored. It’s a mental relief, like your notes app, but way smarter because it responds to you.

With all of that information uploaded, I prompt ChatGPT to come up with gift ideas within my framework for each person. You can also give it a specific budget to work within.

The tool comes up with initial ideas and explains why each gift works for the recipient. From there, it becomes a conversation — almost like talking to the person I’m shopping for. I might ask for more ideas within a category, or the ideas might remind me of something else about the person, and I’ll ask it to generate new suggestions with that information.

I still make the final gift decision, but ChatGPT can be speedy and creative

I used to brainstorm all of this myself, but AI has made the process 60 to 70% faster, and given me a tool I can return to for future gift ideas.

I still choose the final gifts to give, but if I’m feeling stuck between ideas, I’ll go back to ChatGPT and say, “Here are two items I’m deciding between. Help me narrow it down.” It asks me questions to help decide: Does she need this? What’s her plan for the next three months?

AI often makes suggestions I wouldn’t have thought of. I told ChatGPT about a friend who struggles to find any time for himself while balancing a busy career and two kids. The tool recommended “The Five-Minute Journal.” He loved it — it was thoughtful and tailored.

The best part of gift-giving is that moment when someone opens it and says, “Oh my God, you know me so well!” We want to give the people we love something that makes them feel good, and this process has made it easier for me to do that.




Source link