Artificial intelligence doesn’t just power our smart assistants and high-tech gadgets. It has all kinds of applications, including the creation of beautiful, original art. This is a fascinating look at how this technology works, and we’re sure AI’s creativity will blow you away.
Would you pay $2,565 for a good night’s sleep?
I feel like crap if I don’t get a good night’s sleep. I bet you do, too. We’re not alone. The National Sleep Foundation says one in three of us isn’t getting enough ZZZs.
Shorting yourself on shut-eye can cause big problems, everything from less creativity and heart issues to increasing your risk of depression. And that means some folks are shelling out major cash on luxury sleep retreats, aka “sleep tourism.” Just when you think you’ve seen it all.
Don’t worry — I’m all about practical solutions that aren’t going to break the bank. I found some great sleep gadgets and DIY tips you can use to get your 40 winks. But first, you’ve gotta see this.
A different kind of “sleepaway camp”
From resorts in Miami to scenic ranches in Tucson, people are going to crazy lengths — and locations — to get some shut-eye. Here are some of the wildest “sleep retreats” I found:
- For $3,428, this resort retreat in Miami will lull you to sleep with five days in a “smart bed,” personalized sleep analysis, wellness exercises and complimentary food. For that price, the waffles better be amazing.
- For $8,800, you could “Master Sleep” at this Tucson ranch. It includes five nights with doctors and dieticians and a complimentary 80-minute massage.
- There’s a $325 power nap — sorry, “sleep biohack” — at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. You’ll be treated to a 30-minute power nap and a 90-minute destressing routine featuring an anti-gravity bed and a pair of “drain boots.”
- Try a $2,110 “sleep freeze” in this New York Hotel. This two-night package includes cryotherapy (aka stepping in a frozen chamber), spa treatments, plus sound, movement and breathing techniques for drifting off.
- And, for $2,565 a night, you could stay in this room in London, designed to feel like a “dark, mysterious cave.” Sounds … cozy.
I’ll spare you the eye roll, but if you can’t look away, I have more fancy sleep retreats on my site here. Yes, that includes a $325 power nap!
Budget-friendlier bedtime gadgets
You don’t have to spend the big bucks to learn about your sleep habits. Consider:
- The Withings Sleep Analyzer mat. For $129.95, it sits under your mattress, detects your sleep cycles and feeds it back to an app that can tell you how to improve your snooze. Bonus: You don’t have to wear a clunky watch to bed.
- The Google Nest Hub: For $99.99, its smart display uses low-energy radar and a mic to track your movements and noises at night. It then gives you feedback about how you’re sleeping. Oh, and I researched the privacy: The data stays on the device — it doesn’t get sent back to Google. (They say.)
- The Oura Ring: It’s pricier, but for $299, it helps you give insomnia the finger (I had to). It gives you a daily sleep and “recovery score” based on how you slept and what you did the day before.
The best sleep advice is free
Leave your devices in another room before bed. The National Sleep Foundation says limiting blue light before bed, deep breathing and going to bed at the same time every night can all help signal your brain that it’s time to “power down.”
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Spotify's top 5 most soothing tracks
When you’re not unwinding with me and my shows, turn to music to chill. Spotify just released its list of most relaxing songs based on 76,000 tracks. Find out if your favorites made the list and learn how to use music to re-tune your mood.
📚 A novel idea: Spines plans to pump out 8,000 AI-published books next year. The startup promises authors can keep 100% of their royalties and pay between $1,200 to $5,000 for editing, design and distribution. As you can imagine, many writers worry AI is taking the heart, soul and creativity out of the whole process. This is bound to get interesting.
50 to 80 bpm
Will boost productivity. Studies show music with 50 to 80 bpm can enhance creativity and learning. Check out this playlist. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is 72 bpm! After watching “Bohemian Rhapsody” three times in a row, I feel a little sick. It must be the high Mercury content.
Fun site turns your kid's or grandkid's drawings into animated characters
Is there anything more charming than a child’s drawing? You’d be hard-pressed to find it. What if we told you there’s an incredibly easy way to bring your child or grandchild’s latest masterpiece to life?
Animated Drawings by Meta AI Research utilizes the power of automation to do just that. All you have to do is upload any drawing, creating short animations featuring your child’s favorite artistic designs.
How to take great photos with a cheap camera or smartphone
Just how money can’t buy happiness, expensive cameras can’t always capture good images.
Good photography has never really been about the equipment. Cheaper cameras are less durable, which makes them less reliable. That’s why professionals are willing to invest in nicer gear. But the secret to capturing amazing shots is actually all about techniques and perspective.
Calling all nerds: I say that lovingly. Hasbro’s CEO says they’ve started using AI in game development for Dungeons & Dragons. The role-playing game is all about creativity, and already, players are using chatbots to dream up campaigns, characters and story ideas. Soon, that’ll be baked in. Imagine: A fantasy world made just for you!
👩🏼🏫 Gen Z’s latest craze? PowerPoint presentation parties (paywall link). Guests whip up literal slideshows on weird, wacky topics and show them to the group. It’s all about flexing creativity, getting some laughs and reliving high-school nostalgia (or nightmares). One of my favorite topic prompts: “Predictions for how each friend here will end up in jail.”
Earth without “art” is just “eh“: Apple’s new iPad Pro “Crush!” ad is … disturbing. It shows a hydraulic press squashing symbols of human creativity — musical instruments and art supplies. Then, voila — a new, super-thin iPad Pro appears. The message? Tech trumps all. Apple apologized: “We missed the mark … we’re sorry.” Ya think?
A fun and screen-free way to teach your kids the U.S. map
There’s a ton of competition for your kids’ attention between colorful apps and fast-paced cartoons. Sometimes, it can be downright challenging to tear them away from the screen. Luckily, many creative activities don’t require an internet connection.
9 ways to take better photos with your same old camera
Anyone in the creative community can tell you what it’s like to hit that visionary wall. It’s the moment you’re staring at that blank page and ideas refuse to come to mind. You just can’t figure out where to start.
Home spray sold at Walmart recalled after reports of deaths, illness
The sense of smell can trigger memories, emotions or creativity. That is because it is linked to the same part of the brain as memory.
So, it stands to reason that most people enjoy a sweet or welcoming smell in their homes. There are several methods for this, like burning incense, air fresheners, or aromatherapy room sprays. Tap or click here for 10 handy products to freshen up your home and make gross household chores easier.
Take this 4-minute test to see how creative you are
Creativity is defined as the use of imagination or original ideas. Geniuses like Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell and Elon Musk are known for their brilliant creations that have truly influenced our world into what it is today. Tap or click here to see how SpaceX satellite internet launched.
Good news: A genius DIY to make this year's Halloween fun and safe
The longer COVID drags on the more it changes our plans for 2020. Many schools have gone remote, some birthday parties are now drive-by events and public places are still, in large part, off-limits.
As with any pandemic, there isn’t a firm date as to when the chaos will end. With Halloween fast approaching, we’re going to have to get a little crafty about how we party our costumes off and follow social distancing rules. Need help with Halloween decorating ideas? There are plenty of high-tech ways to add some spook accessories to your home this year.
Don't buy these creepy gadgets that take away your privacy this Christmas
Gift-giving season is here at last, and some of the hottest items on the list will likely be connected toys and gadgets and Internet-of-Things appliances.
To help you choose which gadgets deserve their place under the Christmas tree, Mozilla, the nonprofit organization known for its Firefox browser, just released its “Privacy Not Included” list for 2018.