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Sports are entering a new era and it could be powered by artificial intelligence. Jeremy Bloom, CEO of the X Games, is placing a bold bet on AI to revolutionize how competitions are judged and scored. From reducing human error to enhancing fairness and accuracy, AI judges could redefine the future of professional sports. But can machines truly replace human judgment on the worlds biggest stages?
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E-Commerce
If youre a typical American, you get home from work and start flipping switches and turning knobsdoing laundry, cooking dinner, watching TV. With so many other folks doing the same, the strain on the electrical grid in residential areas is highest at this time. That demand will only grow as the world moves away from fossil fuels, with more people buying induction stoves, heat pumps, and electric vehicles. Thats a challenge for utilities, which are already managing creaky grids across the United States, all while trying to meet a growing demand for power. So theyre now trying to turn EVs from a burden into a boon. More and more models, for instance, feature vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, capabilities, meaning they can send power to the grid as needed. Others are experimenting with whats called active managed charging, in which algorithms stagger when EVs charge, instead of them all drawing energy as soon as their owners plug in. The idea is for some people to charge later, but still have a full battery when they leave for work in the morning. A new report from the Brattle Group, an economic and energy consultancy, done for EnergyHub, which develops such technology, has used real-world data from EV owners in Washington state to demonstrate the potential of this approach, both for utilities and drivers. They found that an active managed charging program saves up to $400 per EV each year, and the vehicles were still always fully charged in the morning. Utilities, too, seem to benefit, as the redistributed demand results in less of a spike in the early evening. That, in turn, would mean that a utility can delay costly upgradeswhich they need in order to accommodate increased electrificationsaving ratepayers money. Active managed charging works in conjunction with something called time of use, in which a utility charges different rates depending on the time of day. Between 4 and 9 p.m., when demand is high, rates are also high. But after 9 p.m., they fall. EV owners who wait until later in the evening to charge pay less for the same electricity. Time-of-use pricing discourages energy use when demand is highest, lightening the load and reducing how much electricity utilities need to generate. But theres nothing stopping everyone from plugging in as soon as cheaper rates kick in at 9 p.m. As EV adoption grows, that coordination problem can create a new spike in demand. An EV can be on its own twice the peak load of a typical home, said Akhilesh Ramakrishnan, managing energy associate at the Brattle Group. You get to the point where they start needing to be managed differently. Thats where active managed charging comes in. Using an app, an EV owner indicates when they need their car to be charged, and how much charge their battery needs for the day. (The app also learns over time to predict when a vehicle will unplug.) When they get home at 6 p.m., the owner can plug in, but the car wont begin to charge. Instead, the system waits until some point in the night to turn on the juice, leaving enough time to fully charge the vehicle by the indicated hour. If customers dont believe that were going to get them there, then theyre not going to allow us to control their vehicle effectively, said Freddie Hall, a data scientist at EnergyHub. The typical driver only goes 30 miles in a day, Hall added, requiring about two hours of charging each night. By actively managing many cars across neighborhoods, the system can more evenly distribute demand throughout the night: Folks will leave for work earlier or later than their neighbors, vehicles with bigger batteries will need more time to charge, and some will be almost empty while others may need to top up. Theyre all still getting the lower prices with time-of-use rates, but theyre not taxing the grid by all charging at 9 p.m. The results are actually very, very promising in terms of reducing the peak loads, said Jan Kleissl, director of the Center for Energy Research at the University of California, San Diego, who wasnt involved in the report. It shows big potential for reducing costs of EV charging in general. Active managed charging would allow the grid to accommodate twice the number of EVs before a utility has to start upgrading the system to handle the added load, according to the report. (And consider all the additional demand for energy from things like data centers.) Those costs inevitably get passed down to all ratepayers. But, the report notes, active managed charging could delay those upgrades by up to a decade. As EVs grow, if you dont implement these solutions, theres going to be a lot more upgrades, and thats going to lead to rate impacts for everyone, Ramakrishnan said. At the same time, EVs could help reduce those rates in the long term, thanks to V2G, a separate emerging technology. It allows a utility to call on EVs sitting in garages as a vast network of backup power. So when demand surges, those vehicles can send power to the grid for others to use, or just power the house theyre sitting in, essentially removing the structure from the grid and lowering demand. (And think of all the fleets of electric vehicles, like school buses, with huge batteries to use as additional power.) With all that backup energy, utilities might not need to build as many costly battery facilities of their own, projects that ratepayers wouldnt need to foot the bill for. Active managed charging and V2G could work in concert, with some batteries draining at 6 p.m. as they provide energy, then recharging later at night. But that ballet will require more large-scale experimentation. How are we going to fit in discharging a battery, as well as charging it overnight? Hall said. Because you do want it available the next day. To cut greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible, the world needs more EVs. Now its just a matter of making them benefit the grid instead of taxing it. This article originally appeared in Grist. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org
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E-Commerce
The announcement earlier this week that the Minnesota National Guard was standing by to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies in and around Minneapolis-St. Paul included a surprising detail. If our members are activated, it read, they will be wearing reflective vests to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms. From a design perspective, the whole point of uniforms is to provide an instant visual signal. But that mission has been thwarted in the ongoing besiegement of the Twin Cities by thousands of officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies. Most notably, many sport camouflage and gear that civilians tend to associate with the military. The upshot is that its become harder for the average person to understand at a glance who is there to do what. A Minnesota Army National Guard Captain walks past demonstrators in Minneapolis, Minnesota. January 17, 2026. [Photo: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images] Certainly the presence of uniformed members of multiple agencies seems out of hand when the National Guard has to start wearing crossing guard vests to distinguish themselves. The situation would be comical if it werent so bleak, as if its apparently become necessary for members of the U.S. military to visually announce, hey were here to help, not an occupying army or a threat. In a way, this throws into sharp relief how effective the ICE aesthetic has been in projecting a quasi-militaristic version of federal law enforcement. The agencys look has been attracting attention for months as it has pursued undocumented immigrants (or just people it suspects might be) in crackdowns in Chicago, New Orleans, Minneapolis, and elsewhere, often showing up at work sites or public spaces in what resembles military tactical gear, body armor, weapons, and masks. As a GQ assessment of the ICE look pointed out, the agency does not have a single mandatory uniform, just a set of guidelines that give agents latitude to mix street clothes with military-pattern gear, fitted with patches or plate carriers labeled ICE. Most notoriously, many choose to wear gaiter-style masks, to protect their identity and avoid being doxed or otherwise retaliated against. To critics, the upshot of this aesthetic is a lack of transparency and a sense of intimidation: Intentionally or not, the look signals a disruptive, occupying force. You’ve got cops geared up like they’re ready to go fight in Fallujah, one Redditor commented, in order to arrest some cooks and landscapers. At the very least, the overlapping uniform styles can be a source of confusion. If military veterans have to look very hard at images and footage to figure out individual affiliations, then the average citizen is going to easily confuse what they see as a militarized response rather than a law enforcement one, retired Marine Col. David Lapan, a former spokesman for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Department of Homeland Security, told military news site Task & Purpose. Worst case scenario, Lapan added: It creates the perception that the U.S. military is being used to suppress the American people. Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. January 17, 2026. [Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images] So far the Guard has not been deployed to city streets in Minneapolis; in a press statement, the Minnesota National Guard said they remain on alert could be called on for traffic support to protect life, preserve property, and support the rights of all Minnesotans to assemble peacefully. Underlying the potential visual confusion is the question of whether camouflage serves any particular function for federal agents operating on city streets in the first place. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, best known for his blunt-talking style while overseeing the National Guard deployment to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, pointed out to Task & Purpose: Theres nothing that a camouflage uniform can do for you in an urban operation other than [to] portray a sense of authority. His suggestion to non-military agencies currently using camo: Go get your own goddamned uniforms.
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E-Commerce
Most factories still run on fossil fuels, whether theyre making potato chips or steel. But a new “thermal battery” could make it cheaper to do the same work with clean energy. Electrified Thermal Solutions, a startup spun out from MIT research in 2021, just fired up a demo battery that can hit 1,800degrees Celsiushot enough to make steel, cement, or chemicals. The battery uses power from the grid to heat its custom bricks when electricity is cheap. When a factory needs hot air later, it’s provided by the superheated bricks. [Photo: Electrified Thermal] Its also cheaper to use than natural gas, so factories dont need a climate goal to be convinced to make the switch. [Image: Electrified Thermal] “This is a cheaper approach to heat that today isn’t being taken advantage of, says Daniel Stack, cofounder and CEO of Electrified Thermal Solutions. Electricity is already a cheaper heat source than natural gas, but in the past factories haven’t been able to feasibly use it with their equipment. Some other startups are making similar thermal batteries, but cant reach the highest temperatures needed by certain industries. Electrified Thermals tech, called the Joule Hive Thermal Battery, uses a unique conductive brick that electricity can flow straight through, enabling ultra-high temperatures. [Photo: Electrified Thermal] Backers include ArcelorMittal, the worlds largest steelmaker, which could eventually use the technology to heat up equipment like blast furnaces. The savings for industrial customers could be substantial. We can charge up with the cheapest electricity during hours of low prices, and this can save you 15%, 20%, 30% on your heating bill, Stack says. These commodity industries live and die by the price they pay for their heating inputs. Both in the U.S. and Europe, wholesale electricity prices drop close to zeroor even negative pricesat certain times when renewable energy is abundant. The startup is focused first on Europe, where policy makes it easier to access that cheap electricity. (Even as electricity demand grows from data centers, Stack says that there will still be plenty of surplus electricity available at particular hours at a lower price.) [Photo: Electrified Thermal] The tech is designed to be easily added to existing factories, with pipes connecting hot air from the batteries into existing kilns, boilers, or furnaces. Customers have the option to pay for heat as a service or buy the batteries directly. The new demonstration system, at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, will let potential customers see the equipment in action. Commercial units will begin rolling out to some customers later this year. The batteries can easily scale up, Stack says, and are made from off-the-shelf materials. The bricks are similar to those used in glassmaking, and a large manufacturer, HWI, is beginning to mass manufacture them. If industry at large makes the switch, the climate benefits would be huge. By one estimate, industrial process heat uses around 20% of the world’s energy. “We’re talking about massive emissions reductionsto the tune of several gigatons per year of CO2reduced through this transition,” Stack says.
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E-Commerce
We hear a lot about self-discipline in todays productivity-obsessed culture. And the message is usually that its the cure for economic insecurity and a pathway to self-actualization. At first glance, this appears to make sense. But it can be a double-edged sword in our modern work lives and always-on culture. Self-discipline enables focus and is key to achievement. However, over-indexing on it can easily erode our own values and boundaries. In turn, this can cause burnout, isolation, and existential despair. What does discipline really mean? Discipline has historically been associated with punishment and religious correction. Think physical punishment, including self-flagellation. I grew up at a time when well-meaning parents dispensed discipline, thinking thats what it would take to raise virtuous children. The payoff that came with being praised for hard work at school and excelling in sports meant discipline became a core aspect of my early self-identity. Contemporary examples of personal discipline tap into the human capacity to regulate impulses and persist toward long-term goals. We see many influencers create vast content parading their self-discipline, whether thats adhering to a complex, three-hour morning routine, or proselytizing an extremely restrictive diet. As a result, self-discipline has taken on a moralistic, “holier-than-thou” tone, with the inference being that doing anything less means you are weak, lazy, and unworthy. The overt benefits of discipline at work Amid extreme uncertainty, self-discipline can serve as a powerful protective asset. Longitudinal research on self-control shows that those who can delay gratification and regulate impulses tend to achieve better educational outcomes, higher income, and improved health indicators. Another research paper suggests that self-discipline can reduce procrastination by boosting autonomous motivation rather than relying on willpower. When people experience their discipline as self-chosen and values-aligned, they report greater feelings of competence and autonomy. In the current work landscape, disciplined routines can help us create a sense of control and continuity amid relentless structural volatility. When discipline becomes addictive and isolating However, the same traits that fuel achievement can become compulsive and harmful. Eventually, excessive discipline can lead to ego depletion, where subsequent acts of self-control become harder and more draining. In cultures that moralize productivity, this depletion can be misconstrued as personal failure. As a result, many end up doubling down on discipline rather than questioning the demands theyve been subjected to. This was my experience as a corporate finance lawyer. At first, the self-discipline Id learned early in life translated perfectly into the “magic circle” law firm culture. Eventually, the constant, intense workload wore me down. Finally, I collapsed at an airport in a state of exhaustion and emotional despair. As uncomfortable as this was, it also gave rise to deep relief: I no longer had to punish myself. Discipline can become addictive when it produces rewards, but eventually, discipline can become an identity in itself. You might start holding beliefs like having needs is weak, I need to override my bodily urge to rest, or if I falter, I am a failure. This can lead to anxiety around rest, spontaneity, or deviation from a meticulous schedule. Proponents may begin to choose habits and work patterns that reinforce their disciplined self-image. They stay at the desk until deep in the night, or fasting for an extra day just to prove they can, even when these conflict with relational needs, leisure, or health. This kind of self-discipline can foster isolation in three ways: Time-intensive routines (early mornings, extended work hours, strict fitness or side-hustle regimes) crowd out social life and community participation. They avoid relationships or spaces that “threaten” routine, and they end up narrowing social worlds to similarly disciplined peers, or online productivity subcultures. They believe that we have sole responsibility for our station in life, rather than seeing the broader, systemic issues. This can cause us to internalize blame, which leads to shame, loneliness, and low self-worth. Discipline as a modern-day comfort blanket The definition of our current moment is a paradox: intensified individual responsibility amid abject structural insecurity. Theres an expectation for us to optimize every facet of our lives: our skills, our bodies, and our relationships. This has two major implications. First, we engage the language of discipline to obscure the structural causes of success and failure. We see unemployment, underemployment, and burnout as deficits of willpower rather than outcomes of policy, corporate practice, or macroeconomic conditions. Second, self-care industries, while at times genuinely beneficial, individualize the management of systemic stress. As a result, this capitalizes on widespread alienation to the detriment of most for the benefit of a few. We see this dynamic play out for knowledge workers and founders in particular. Hustle culture normalizes permanent availability, constant upskilling, and the erosion of boundaries between work and non-work, all in the name of disciplined ambition. The result is another paradox: The very discipline that enables career advancement may also entrench the conditionsoverwork, anxiety, weakened social tiesthat undermine our long-term wellbeing and creativity. Toward a more humane discipline Tempting as it feels to jettison self-discipline altogether, we have a powerful opportunity to reclaim the term. A more humane approach would treat discipline less as an austerity project and more as a tool for protecting your time, energy, and attention for what genuinely matters to you. A good name for this term is mindful self-discipline. Practically, adopting mindful self-discipline means taking a few steps: Self-Knowledge: Get really clear on who you are and what matters to you. Not to your parents, peers, society, colleagues, or rndom influencers. For many, this requires peeling back the layers of values and ideas weve taken on, often subconsciously, and identifying our own core values, needs, and priorities. Self-Awareness: Use discernment to employ disciplined behavior around boundaries, rather than endless productivity. Limit work hours, design your downtime as nonnegotiable, and actively resist the pressure to optimize every waking moment. Self-Compassion: Ensure that your motivation for pursuing your work, hobbies, and other activities in life doesnt come from the belief that youre lazy, unworthy, or weak. Foster strong self-beliefs around your own intrinsic value as a human being to protect yourself from any harmful self-discipline narrative. Mindful self-discipline can be used as a strategic resource to carve out autonomy and dignity. The task for all of us is to ensure that human discipline serves our individual and collective flourishingrather than diminishing the very same.
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E-Commerce
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