Several.com: One Buyers Guide.  Your Go-To Resource...

Several Footer col 1

Several Footer col 2

Several Footer col 3

Several Header

several.com

Several.com: One Buyers Guide. Your Go-To Resource

Stay up-to-date with the latest consumer updates & trends on our news page. Get expert insights & extensive coverage to become a more informed & savvy consumer.

Find the Latest Consumer News & Updates

CEO Dan Clancy discussed the system during a recent appearance on the Snarketing Podcast, where he explained that Twitch transcribes what streamers say during broadcasts. Those transcripts can now help determine whether a stream fits an advertiser&rsquo;s preferences and identify parts of a broadcast that a brand may not want its ads appearing alongside.

The system builds on content labels that streamers already apply to their broadcasts. According to Clancy, Twitch says creators use those labels in line with the platform&rsquo;s classification guidelines with more than 99% consistency. Advertisers can then choose the types of content they are comfortable appearing next to.

The latest system arrives as Twitch is already facing questions about their growing use of AI. In August, the platform drew criticism after rolling out Amazon AI training, with users opting in by default. Twitch also uses AI or automated technology for features such as captions, stream summaries, generated clips, and safety tools.

For streamers, though, the bigger issue with ad matching is whether AI can understand context well enough to influence something as important as their earnings. Words that appear risky in a transcript may be harmless when heard as part of a joke, sarcastic comment, discussion, or conversation. Accents, slang, and other nuances could make those judgments even harder.

Some creators are already connecting the system to changes in their ad revenue. Longtime streamer JP &ldquo;<a href="https://www.twitch.tv/itmejp/videos" target="_blank">itmeJP</a>&rdquo; McDaniel suggested it could explain a recent decline in his earnings. VTuber LuminusRed said she had previously noticed lower ad revenue when using queer-related tags, raising concerns that discussions about identity could affect how advertisers view her content.

This change could heavily influence what streamers say and how they behave on air, potentially replacing some of the platform&rsquo;s semi-authentic feel with content that is far more calculated around advertiser preferences. Twitch says AI will not have the final say over a creator&rsquo;s long-term ability to earn ad revenue, though, with a company representative explaining that advertisers set their own preferences, meaning a channel may qualify for one campaign but not another.

The company also says staff review flagged content at multiple stages, with any long-term change to a creator&rsquo;s ad eligibility ultimately decided by a person. Twitch is developing tools that will tell streamers when advertiser preferences are affecting their revenue, which could provide some clarity when earnings change.

For more articles like this, check out our <a href="https://several.com/news/tag/tech" target="_blank">Tech News</a> page!

Twitch Uses AI to Decide Which Streamers Get Ad Money

Twitch Uses AI to Judge Streamers’ “Brand Safety” for Ads

The figures help explain his concern. GlobalData research shows that Chinese brands&rsquo; global market share increased nearly 70% between 2020 and 2025. In Europe, their share reached 12% in August, according to Dataforce, compared with almost no presence in 2020. Those gains show how quickly Chinese manufacturers have expanded beyond their home market.

Farley&rsquo;s assessment reflects the pressure facing established automakers, but his claim that Europe is &ldquo;too late&rdquo; remains his judgment. Their growing presence does not mean Chinese brands control the European market. It does mean companies such as Ford must respond to competitors that are gaining customers while setting new expectations for manufacturing costs and vehicle technology.&nbsp;

<h2 id="ford-rsquo-s-chinese-rivals-are-also-their-partners">Ford&rsquo;s Chinese Rivals Are Also Their Partners</h2>

Ford&rsquo;s partnership with Geely offers one example. The companies announced a proposed manufacturing joint venture in July at Ford&rsquo;s Valencia plant in Spain, with Ford holding 66% and Geely 34%. The plan combines production capacity to lower costs and support both companies&rsquo; European operations.&nbsp;

Under Ford&rsquo;s official announcement, the venture is expected to begin operating in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approval, with new vehicle production scheduled for 2028. The lineup includes a jointly developed Ford crossover, a new Bronco-family vehicle, and two Geely electric SUVs. Existing Kuga production will continue.&nbsp;

Farley also defended working with Chinese companies where Ford lacks expertise or can reduce investment costs. Their relationship with battery manufacturer CATL supports lower-cost battery production at a Michigan plant. &ldquo;They aren&rsquo;t mutually exclusive,&rdquo; he said of cooperation and competition. Ford is also preparing a pickup using their universal electric vehicle platform, which Farley described as part of their competitive response.

<h2 id="washington-weighs-whether-to-open-the-market-nbsp-">Washington Weighs Whether to Open the Market&nbsp;</h2>

Those relationships have drawn scrutiny from Washington. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy raised concerns in September about Ford&rsquo;s dependence on Chinese businesses. Ford defended their domestic manufacturing record. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has indicated openness to Chinese automakers if they build vehicles in the United States, while lawmakers are considering tighter restrictions.

The U.S. market remains largely closed to Chinese vehicles through tariffs and restrictions on Chinese-connected vehicle technology. Farley&rsquo;s remarks highlight the decision ahead for policymakers and manufacturers alike. Washington must decide what access to allow, while Ford must build vehicles that can compete internationally, even as their partnerships help Chinese companies expand abroad.&nbsp;

For more industry updates, visit our <a href="https://several.com/news/tag/automotive" target="_blank">automotive news section</a>.

Ford CEO Says Europe Is ‘Too Late’ to Stop Chinese Rivals

Ford CEO Warns U.S. About Chinese Automakers

The confirmed T.J. Maxx store closures in 2026 are:

<ul>
	<li>360 Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts</li>
	<li>8661 Colesville Road (Ellsworth Place), Silver Spring, Maryland</li>
	<li>1262 Vocke Road (Country Club Mall), Cumberland, Maryland</li>
</ul>

The three-story Newbury Street store in Boston, which opened in 2016, closed in early January. TJX filed a WARN notice with Massachusetts in September 2025 stating that 117 employees would be laid off starting January 5, 2026, and that all affected workers would be offered the chance to transfer to another store. According to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/tj-maxx-closes-newbury-street-store-boston/" target="_blank">CBS Boston</a>, the chain's Downtown Crossing store in Boston remains open.

In Maryland, T.J. Maxx shut down its Ellsworth Place mall location in downtown Silver Spring, ending a ten-year run and affecting about 60 employees, as <a href="https://mocoshow.com/2025/12/24/tj-maxx-to-close-permanently-after-ten-years/" target="_blank">MoCo Show</a> first reported. The Cumberland store inside Country Club Mall rounds out the confirmed list, though fewer details have been made public about that closure.

A T.J. Maxx spokesperson told <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/15708344/tj-maxx-stores-permanently-close/" target="_blank">The U.S. Sun</a> that they are "always assessing and reviewing our real estate strategies," adding that the Boston area has been home to the company's headquarters for nearly 50 years and remains an important market.

T.J. Maxx operates more than 1,300 stores in the U.S. and is the largest brand under TJX Companies, which also owns Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, and Sierra. In the quarter ended August 1, 2026, TJX added 23 stores to reach 5,285 locations worldwide, while consolidated comparable sales rose 4%, beating the company's own plan.

TJX raised their long-term global store target by 500 locations to 7,500 and plans to grow their store base by about 4% a year starting in fiscal 2028. That leaves room for more than 2,200 additional stores across their brands.

Elizabeth Lafontaine of foot-traffic data firm Placer.ai told Inc. that growing chains benefit from more strategic location selection, which can require adjustments over time. She also noted that off-price retail remains a stronghold of traffic growth, driven by its value proposition and an in-store experience that encourages repeat visits.

Lafontaine cautioned, however, that as consumers become more selective about discretionary spending, the off-price category could face more pressure ahead. 
Gregg Schwartz, founder of Overstock Trader, expects more closures in older, high-rent urban locations, paired with new openings in suburban and secondary markets. As he put it, "It's a footprint rebalancing, not a retreat."

Shoppers unsure about a specific store can check <a href="https://tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/stores/storeLocator.jsp" target="_blank">T.J. Maxx's online store locator</a> to confirm whether their nearest location is still open.

For more articles like this, visit our <a href="https://several.com/news/tag/lifestyle" target="_blank">Lifestyle News Page</a>!

T.J. Maxx Shuts Three Stores as TJX Adds 23 New Locations

T.J. Maxx Closing Stores in 2026: Full List of Locations

The startup has now shipped its first bulk batch to preorder customers, and early hands-on impressions suggest the idea mostly works. In a test run, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/25/meadow-lets-you-leave-your-smartphone-at-home-without-sacrificing-the-essentials/" target="_blank">TechCrunch's</a> reviewer called an Uber, streamed Apple Music during the ride, and scanned into a concert using only the Meadow, with the iPhone staying in their pocket as a backup.

The hardware is small and a little unusual. The Meadow phone is a square device with a three-inch touchscreen, weighing about 113 grams, with 128GB of storage and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera. It runs a locked-down version of Android that supports Maps, Spotify, Apple Music, Uber, and Strava, plus built-in apps for texting, calling, notes, voice memos, location sharing, and scanning event tickets. Bluetooth headphones, including AirPods, work with it, as do USB-C wired headphones. Meadow says the battery typically lasts a full day of normal use.

What you won't find is anything designed to keep you scrolling. There are no feeds, no browser, and no app store. Meadow says they intend to add features over time, but in an integrated way rather than by opening the door to more apps.

The catch is the ongoing cost. On top of the $449 device price, Meadow requires a subscription that covers your phone number, 4G data, and the company's cloud services for maps, photo storage, and location sharing. Plans run $15 per month for 1GB of data, $25 for 5GB, and $35 for unlimited. Meadow says they charge for the service because they don't plan to ever make money from ads. Pricing has shifted since the device was first announced in March, when Gizmodo reported a $399 early-bird price and a $10 monthly plan.

The Meadow also gets its own phone number through T-Mobile, which means you can't use your existing number or SIM card. For now, the device only works in the U.S. Only people saved in your contacts (plus 911) can reach you, which cuts out spam calls. Early coverage reported a cap of 12 contacts, which is great for blocking unwanted calls, but could mean missing important calls from people outside that list.

Founder Shreyas Narlanka suggests a workaround: customize the iPhone's Driving Focus auto-reply to let people know you're out with your Meadow, so anyone with an urgent message knows where to find you.

The camera takes a deliberately old-school approach. There's no front-facing lens, just a tiny mirror next to the rear camera to help frame selfies. You also can't review photos on the device itself. Pictures sync to Meadow's cloud over Wi-Fi, and you view them later from your main phone or the Meadow website.

Narlanka, 25, says Meadow isn't pitching productivity the way many dumb phones do. Instead, the brand is focused on getting people outside and helping them enjoy a better social life. "It's just we don't want social media, browsing, and that kind of stuff," he told <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/25/meadow-lets-you-leave-your-smartphone-at-home-without-sacrificing-the-essentials/" target="_blank">TechCrunch</a>.

Meadow enters a crowded market of distraction-free devices. <a href="https://www.thelightphone.com/" target="_blank">The Light Phone</a> asks users to swap their smartphone for a simpler handset entirely, while the <a href="https://wisephone.com/" target="_blank">Wisephone</a> offers a minimal touchscreen interface with a handful of apps. Meadow takes the middle road, supplementing your smartphone rather than replacing it.

Not everyone is sold on the price. Gizmodo pointed out that a basic dumb phone costs around $50 for anyone simply trying to take a break from TikTok.

Still, for people who want to cut down on screen time without giving up navigation, music, and a reliable way to get home, the Meadow phone is one of the more practical options available right now, as long as you're comfortable managing a second phone number and a monthly bill.

For more articles like this, visit our <a href="https://several.com/news/tag/tech" target="_blank">Tech News Page</a>!

Introducing the Meadow Phone, The Anti-Brainrot Smartphone

Meadow Phone: Price, Subscription Plans & Features Explained

<h3>The Outset started with plenty of momentum</h3>

Johansson launched The Outset with beauty and fashion executive Kate Foster Lengyel in March 2022. Instead of building a sprawling collection around Johansson&rsquo;s celebrity, the pair focused on simple skincare designed with sensitive skin in mind. The original lineup consisted of five products priced between $32 and $54, including the Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum, which became one of the brand&rsquo;s signature products. Over time, the collection expanded to include cleansers, moisturizers, serums, masks, and other skincare products.

There was serious money behind the idea as well. The Najafi Companies reportedly invested between $5 million and $10 million, with Beliade and Plus Capital also among its investors. Industry sources projected around $10 million in first-year retail sales when the company launched. Retail expansion came quickly, with The Outset entering roughly 500 Sephora stores within months of its debut. Its products were also sold through Nordstrom, Goop, Amazon, QVC, Revolve, and other retailers, giving the young brand access to customers well beyond Johansson&rsquo;s existing fan base.

The relationship with Sephora did not last as The Outset eventually exited the retailer, although the company continued selling through other channels and developing new products. Leaving a major beauty retailer does not by itself explain why a brand later closes, but paired with the changes that followed, the move becomes a notable part of The Outset&rsquo;s relatively short history.

<h3>The warning signs were already there</h3>

<img alt="" loading="lazy" src="https://dwy9ix7d387oz.cloudfront.net/attachments/2026/8/10db72d5-5ba4-489f-bbfe-36817fddcbb9.jpg" />

The Outset has not said that weak sales or financial problems caused the closure, so there is no confirmed explanation tying any single event to the decision. Still, the company experienced several significant changes during its final stretch. Foster Lengyel, who had served as CEO since the brand&rsquo;s beginning, departed in April 2025. Karen Raghavan, formerly president of Allies of Skin, stepped in as fractional CEO in May 2026 but remained in the position only through August.

The brand also began offering steep discounts shortly before announcing the shutdown. Its end-of-summer sale included discounts of up to 50%, according to <a href="https://www.beautyindependent.com/scarlett-johansson-skincare-brand-the-outset-shuts-down/" target="_blank">Beauty Independent</a>. Yet the closure did not look inevitable from the outside. The company was still introducing products in 2026 and remained active on social media shortly before the announcement. Beauty Independent reported that The Outset had about 438,000 Instagram followers and nearly 610,000 TikTok followers at the time of the closure.

Those numbers do not tell us whether the business was profitable, but they do make the shutdown harder to dismiss as the quiet disappearance of an unsuccessful celebrity side project. The Outset had built a recognizable brand, secured national retail distribution, attracted outside investment, and maintained a substantial online audience. Something was clearly changing within the company, even if the exact reason it ultimately became unsustainable has not been made public.

<h3>Celebrity beauty is becoming a tougher business</h3>

The Outset is not the only celebrity-backed beauty company to disappear recently. Gwen Stefani&rsquo;s GXVE Beauty shut down earlier this year after launching in 2022, while Drew Barrymore&rsquo;s Flower Beauty ended its run in 2025 after more than a decade in business. Kate Moss&rsquo;s wellness and beauty brand Cosmoss also entered liquidation proceedings in 2025. Taken together, the closures raise questions about whether the wave of celebrity beauty brands that flooded the market over the past several years is becoming harder to sustain.

That does not mean consumers have stopped spending on beauty. U.S. prestige beauty sales reached <a href="https://www.circana.com/post/us-prestige-and-mass-beauty-retail-deliver-a-positive-performance-in-2025-circana-reports" target="_blank">$36 billion in 2025, rising 4% from the previous year</a>, according to Circana. Prestige skincare sales also increased 3%. Growth continued into the first quarter of 2026, when <a href="https://www.circana.com/post/us-beauty-market-delivers-steady-first-quarter-growth-circana-reports" target="_blank">prestige beauty sales increased another 6% and mass-market beauty sales rose 7%</a>. The problem, then, is not necessarily that consumers have lost their appetite for skincare and cosmetics. They simply have far more choices competing for the same money.

What shoppers are buying may be changing as well. Clinical skincare brands accounted for more than a third of prestige skincare dollar sales during the first quarter of 2026, according to Circana, suggesting strong demand for products marketed around ingredients, research, and measurable skin concerns. Korean beauty has also gained a larger foothold in the U.S., bringing shoppers extensive product selections at a wide range of prices. Fashionista pointed to that changing environment in its coverage of The Outset, noting the growing appeal of ingredient-focused skincare and lower-priced Korean products.

<h3>When celebrity is no longer the selling point</h3>

<img alt="" loading="lazy" src="https://dwy9ix7d387oz.cloudfront.net/attachments/2026/8/54e0554f-7456-41be-8f68-509dfc3bcf58.jpg" />

The interesting part of The Outset&rsquo;s story is that Johansson appeared to understand the limits of celebrity branding from the beginning. Her name was attached to the company, but the products themselves did not carry her name, and the branding leaned toward understated, minimalist skincare rather than Hollywood glamour. The company wanted consumers to see The Outset as a skincare brand that happened to have Scarlett Johansson as a founder, rather than simply another celebrity merchandise line.

Its investors expressed a similar idea. When the company launched, Najafi Companies founder Jahm Najafi spoke about wanting to back businesses that could stand on their own rather than relying solely on a celebrity name. Four years later, that goal offers an interesting way to look at the brand&rsquo;s closure. The Outset had Johansson&rsquo;s visibility, outside investment, retail access, media attention, and a sizable social following, yet those advantages were not enough to keep the business operating.

That does not mean celebrity beauty is disappearing. Brands such as Rare Beauty, Fenty Beauty, and Rhode have shown that a famous founder can still help build a major beauty business. Their success also makes The Outset&rsquo;s closure more revealing. The question is no longer whether &ldquo;celebrity&rdquo; sells. It clearly can. The harder question is what separates the celebrity brands that become lasting beauty businesses from those that struggle once the initial attention fades.

The Outset&rsquo;s closure does not give us a definitive answer, particularly because the company has not disclosed what ultimately drove the decision. What it does show is how little room there may now be for a beauty brand to rely on recognition alone. Johansson&rsquo;s name helped The Outset get noticed, major retailers helped put it in front of shoppers, and investors helped finance its growth. In an increasingly crowded skincare market, getting onto the shelf was only part of the challenge. Giving customers enough reason to keep choosing the brand appears to be the much harder part.

For more articles like this, visit our <a href="https://several.com/news/tag/lifestyle" target="_blank">Lifestyle News Page</a>!

Scarlett Johansson’s The Outset Shuts Down

Why Scarlett Johansson’s The Outset Is Closing

The system uses machine-learning algorithms to analyze millions of daily transactions across McDonald&rsquo;s nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants. It then recommends what the company considers an optimal price for individual menu items at each location, from Big Macs to discounted coffee. The technology assesses factors such as local demand and how sensitive customers appear to be to price increases. It also uses publicly available prices from nearby competitors, such as Wendy&rsquo;s and Burger King, as a benchmark to see how McDonald&rsquo;s prices compare with the local market.

The result can be noticeable price differences between restaurants located only a few miles apart. In Fresno, California, one McDonald&rsquo;s location reportedly charged $5.69 for a Big Mac, while another just two miles away charged $6.89, a difference of roughly 21%. It is unclear whether the pricing system caused that particular gap, since local costs and other market factors can also influence prices.

McDonald&rsquo;s says restaurant operators still have final control over what they charge, describing the AI pricing system as &ldquo;a tool, not a mandate.&rdquo; But the technology does directly recommend prices for individual menu items at specific restaurants, and franchisees have reportedly faced pressure to follow those recommendations. McDonald&rsquo;s also tracks when franchisees deviate from suggested prices, and pricing compliance can come up when the company considers franchise renewals and requests for additional locations. Since January, franchisees have also reportedly been required to &ldquo;constructively engage&rdquo; with approved pricing consultants and tools as part of McDonald&rsquo;s business standards.

The technology itself has been around for years. McDonald&rsquo;s has used some form of AI-assisted pricing since at least 2019, and CEO Chris Kempczinski said in 2023 that the company had developed proprietary tools capable of evaluating pricing at individual restaurants. Some franchisees said the system recommended larger increases during and after the pandemic, while more recent recommendations have included price reductions.

Despite the focus on what customers may be willing to pay, the system does not currently appear to set prices for individual diners. Instead, recommendations are made at the restaurant level using broader transaction and market data. Still, as companies collect more customer data and AI plays a larger role in pricing decisions, the technology raises questions about how easily restaurant-level pricing could eventually become more personalized. That possibility is already drawing regulatory attention, with the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/08/ftc-seeks-comment-enforcement-policy-statement-regarding-personalized-pricing" target="_blank">Federal Trade Commission</a> examining personalized pricing practices that use consumer data to estimate what an individual may be willing to pay.

For more articles like this, check out our <a href="https://several.com/news/tag/lifestyle" target="_blank">Lifestyle News</a> page!

McDonald’s Is Letting AI Set the Price of Your Big Mac

McDonald’s Has Been Quietly Using AI to Guide Menu Prices

The Witcher 3 Is Getting a Free Remaster & New Expansion

Target to Launch Beauty Studio, Its Answer to Ulta's Exit

A Closer Look at Dolly Parton, Music's Biggest Giver

Volkswagen Reveals Tukan Pickup & Teases Most Powerful Amarok Yet

Sony’s Digital Ownership Email Adds Fuel to #PSBlackout

The Hidden Physical Toll of Chronic Stress

Bentley’s First EV Arrives Months After Ferrari’s Luce

Ford F-150 Fuel Tank Recall Covers 223,472 Trucks

Mitsubishi Pajero Returns With a Land Cruiser-Beating Price

Ford’s “Good Enough” Era Is Over, Jim Farley Says

Stellantis Recalls 955,000 Vehicles Over Rearview Camera Issue

Ferrari's First Electric Car Sells for Record $40 Million at Auction

Toyota Camry Recall Hits More Than 508,000 U.S. Vehicles

Stripe & Advent International in Renewed Talks to Buy PayPal

Samsung in Talks to Invest in AI Startup Mistral at €20B Value

Pizza Hut's $2.7 Billion Sale Ends an Era

Fox to Buy Roku for $22 Billion in TV-Streaming Merger Deal

Coffee Boosts Your Gut & Mood? New Research Says Not So Fast

Starbucks Is Closing 250 Stores Across North America

2026 VMAs Recap: Madonna Wins Big, but MTV Should Take a Bow

DoorDash to Pay $115M+ to 260,000+ Underpaid NYC Workers

Heart Risks May Rise the Longer Patients Stay Off GLP-1s

We Already Knew Ultra-Processed Food Was Bad. This Study Shows How Bad.

What Does Your Skin Actually Need for Fall 2026?

GTA VI: The Album to Be Released November 19 With Atlantic Records

Bose Brings Back Wired Earbuds, Set to Release October 15, 2026

Meta Reveals Their Tamagotchi-Style AI Gadget, Muse Charm

Meta Unveils $1,299 Lightweight VR Glasses at Meta Connect 2026

iPhone Owners Can Claim $95 From Apple Siri Settlement

Disney+ Updates Subscriber Agreement to Allow Ads on Every Plan

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV & Apple Arcade for Free

BlizzCon 2026 Recap: WoW: Forever, Diablo Netflix Series & More!

Persona 6 & Kingdom Hearts 4 Achievements Leak on Steam by Accident

Gamescom 2026 Guide: What to Expect & How to Watch

Apple Leak Reveals Camera-Equipped AirPods

Stomach Cancer Risk Linked to Sugary Drinks in New Study

Twitch Uses AI to Decide Which Streamers Get Ad Money

Popular Today

Latest News

Trending

In Case You Missed It