culture News

Amazon CEO Now Says AI Is Not Responsible for Recent Layoffs

CEO Andy Jassy told investors on Thursday that the cuts were based on ‘culture.’

All the Fantastic Cosplay From New York Comic Con 2025, Day 3

The best-worn superhero, supervillain, super-niche, and fan-favorite pop-culture outfits we spotted at the event.

Guillermo del Toro and Oscar Isaac Want ‘Frankenstein’ to Speak to Latin American Culture

The film is out now in select theaters and will hit Netflix on November 7.

Abuse stopped family coming to games - referee Taylor

In an interview with the BBC, referee Anthony Taylor criticises the "expectation of perfection" culture officials are subject to.

Building a Company Culture That Encourages Feedback

When people regularly ask for input, it sets a powerful norm: learning is valued more than perfection.

Pitchfork is beta testing user reviews and comments as it approaches 30

Pitchfork is going full midlife crisis mode, experimenting with user-generated content, adding comments (when much of the web is moving away from them), and dropping absolutely deranged best-of lists. Like most of the media industry, Pitchfork has struggled i…

"Defend American culture": DHS pledge leaves some Latinos rattled

DHS's social media campaign promises to defend American identity and culture from an invasion. For many Latinos, it's a message that does not sit well.

All the News You May Have Missed From New York Comic Con 2025

Another NYCC has come and gone—and we've got all the news that matters in one place.

Waymo isn't interested in a move fast, break things work culture

Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said the company culture has a "safety-first" approach and the company pulls back "all the time."

Inside the anti-'woke' revolt that has American troops in its crosshairs

Trump vowed to banish 'woke.' Now, the culture wars are infiltrating the military and spreading paranoia among American troops

Amazon plans thousands of job cuts, and warns managers to prepare, according to internal messages

CEO Andy Jassy has been radically overhauling the tech giant this year through a hardcore culture reset.

Winter Culture Previews

What’s happening this season in music, movies, television, dance, art, and theatre.

MrBeast 'vibe checks' new hires because working for the YouTuber isn't for everyone

MrBeast has a test period for some new hires, known internally as a "vibe check," that helps his company and the staffer assess culture fit.

I'm a New Yorker who thought I'd never leave — until I burned out and moved to Montreal. Now I don't have plans to go back.

Hayet Yasmine Chebbi left her corporate job and moved from NYC to Montreal to start a business. She is happier, but there have been culture shocks.

As a CEO, these are the 3 questions I ask during reviews. I apply them at home with my kids too.

Chase Rigby, a former Google product manager, shares how leaving Big Tech taught him lessons in leadership, transparency, and building great company culture.

I moved from Australia to San Francisco to build my startup from a hacker house. It's been humanizing and comforting.

Startup founder Annie Liao said living in San Francisco pushes her to dream bigger, and the "pay it forward" culture surprised her.

I moved from New York City to Raleigh. I'm glad I made the jump, but there are 5 things I wish I'd known beforehand.

I'm happy I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, from New York. That said, I wish I'd known more about the city's nightlife scene and sports culture.

I fell in love with this coastal Spanish city on a whim. Three trips later, my family's agreed to visit every year.

My husband and I visited San Sebastián, Spain, without knowing much about it. The city's laid-back culture, food, and beaches keep us coming back.

White House Goes Full Gamer, Tries and Fails to Pump Meme Stock

"This is about as fascist as you get, right?"

Woman Livestreams Birth As Twitch Chat Cheers Her On

Streamer culture just broken unsettling new ground The post Woman Livestreams Birth As Twitch Chat Cheers Her On appeared first on Kotaku.

A 14-year JPM veteran reveals the biggest culture shocks moving from Brazil to the New York office

When Wilma Ramony de Souza moved from Brazil to an NYC office, she had to get used to everything from different lunch habits to new clothing.

In full: Met chief's letter to home secretary

Sir Mark Rowley wrote to Shabana Mahmood and London Mayor Sadiq Khan to address Panorama's findings.

Doing it for themselves

In 2014, Time announced the “Transgender Tipping Point.” The perilous conditions trans people are facing right now probably weren’t the progress the publication had in mind. In the US, state legislators and even the president are on the attack, while in the U…

The quest for every Gap store playlist ever

In August 2002, I was probably back-to-school shopping with my mom at our local mall, bouncing from store to store for backpacks, socks, and a first-day-of-school outfit. Gap was no doubt one of our stops - and thanks to Michael Bise, I now know what music wa…

Koffee Skates: Where Coffee Culture Meets Skate Culture in Montevideo

Koffee Skates: Where Coffee Culture Meets Skate Culture in Montevideo ibby 10/07 — 2025 Koffee Skates in Montevideo fuses skate and coffee culture with a bold, duct-tape inspired identity by Another Monday Studio. We’ve been sharing quite a few cof…

The grid

We talk about networks but we are rarely clear about what we mean. A specific sort of network is the grid, and even that idea is complicated by two competing meanings. There’s the benign and powerful grid of peer-to-peer connection. Culture is built on this g…

AI Is Changing What High School STEM Students Study

A degree in computer science used to promise a cozy career in tech. Now, students’ ambitions are shaped by AI, in fields that blend computing with analysis, interpretation, and data.

What You Need to Know About the ‘Priceless’ Items Stolen From the Louvre This Past Weekend

The number of diamonds will make you dizzy.

2025 Hackaday Supercon: Crafting the Final Frontier Keynote Event

In the history of entertainment, few properties have made the sort of indelible mark on popular culture as Star Trek has. In 950 episodes across the twelve television series that have carried the n…

Combating Your Kids’ Picky Eating

Jennifer Anderson from Kids Eat In Color joins to talk about picky eaters, diet culture, and more! Plus, there’s a new member of the C&F family.

Calling All Chicken Jockeys: ‘Minecraft 2’ Is a Go

Considering the monster success of 'A Minecraft Movie,' this news is hardly a surprise—though its release date might be.

Inside Amazon's engineering culture: Lessons from their senior principals

Craft over frills

Maccabi Tel Aviv will not accept Villa tickets

Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv say they will not accept any ticket allocation from Aston Villa should the decision to ban them from next month's Europa League match be overturned.

Great Scott, Lego’s New ‘Back to the Future’ Set Is Surprisingly Affordable

The DeLorean is the latest pop culture car to drift into Lego's 'Speed Champions' series.

SNL Is Reading the Room

The show opened its 51st season by making a case for its pop-culture savviness.

Isao Takahata, le maître de l’animation japonaise à l’origine du studio Ghibli

La Maison de la culture et du Japon à Paris consacre une superbe exposition au maître disparu de l’animation japonaise.

GTA VI developer accused of union busting in mass firings

Rockstar Games, the developer of Grand Theft Auto VI, fired between 30 to 40 employees on Thursday, as previously reported by Bloomberg. According to the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), all of the employees fired were part of a private t…

Uncomfortable/unspoken

If you want to make a change (or make a living) it might pay to find a topic that people hesitate to talk about. There’s enormous leverage in making the uncomfortable urgent enough to take action on. One of the easiest ways to improve public health and reduce…

Watch the First Moments Michael J. Fox Stepped Into the Role of Marty McFly in ‘Back to the Future’

io9 has an exclusive clip from the 'Back to the Future' 40th Anniversary 4K re-release out now on digital.

Drew Struzan, the King of the Movie Poster, Has Died

The beloved artist, who illustrated iconic posters for 'Star Wars', 'Indiana Jones', 'Back to the Future', and more, was 78.

Preserving and Reimagining the Visual Culture of Northeast Brazil

Preserving and Reimagining the Visual Culture of Northeast Brazil abduzeedo 10/20 — 2025 Discover CASCA Archive, preserving Brazil’s Northeast visual culture, from cordel prints to modern design—bridging tradition with contemporary identity. The gra…

As Gisèle Pelicot faces one of her rapists in court, what has changed in France?

Gisèle Pelicot's dominant stance was seen as a moment in France's MeToo movement but the enthusiasm appears to be wilting.

What TikTok’s U.S. Spin-off Means for Its Algorithm and Content Moderation

TikTok’s U.S. spin-off could reshape its algorithm and the way culture is curated online.

Louvre museum in Paris closed after robbery, French culture minister says

No injures have been reported and an investigation is underway into the incident, according to Rachida Dati.

How to Coach Hyperenergetic Executives

Help them channel their energy into clarity.

King to attend first official LGBT event after veterans' campaign

A memorial is unveiled dedicated to gay military personnel and to those who served during the armed forces gay ban.

'Challenges' remain in police response to grooming gangs

A watchdog's progress report finds that opportunities to protect children are still being missed.

Amazon says it didn't cut people because of money. But because of 'culture'

Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy’s explanation for why the company is cutting 14,000 employees? Not money. Not even AI, but “culture.”

Middle Managers Feel the Least Psychological Safety at Work

New research uncovers why they don’t feel comfortable speaking up, and how to change that.

Lenny Henry calls for reparations for black British people

The comedian's new book supports the case for the UK to give £18 trillion in compensatory payments.

Why Your Company Needs a Chief Failure Officer

Build a culture of innovation by embracing fast, frequent failure. Discover why every company should have a Chief Fail Officer to drive learning and growth.

A software engineer compares working at Twitch vs. Google: Here's how their interview processes and work cultures stack up

A software engineer who has worked at both companies shares his insights on the interview processes, onboarding structures, and work cultures of each.

I took a gap year to teach English in Vietnam after getting laid off. It changed how I see myself.

Moving to Vietnam made Peter Truong reflect on how his parents were able to move to Canada without knowing English and still build a life there.

Stolen treasures, a crown in the gutter - and serious questions for Louvre security

The most spectacular Louvre robbery since the Mona Lisa in 1911 proves the vulnerability of French museums, writes Hugh Schofield.

Une balade à Montreuil, entre skateparks et street art

Le plus grand cinéma d’art et d’essai d’Europe, des salles de spectacle, des fresques murales, des espaces de glisse urbaine : la ville de Seine-Saint-Denis offre culture et loisirs pour tous, dans un bel esprit de partage.

In Pictures: Remembering Susan Stamberg, one of NPR's Founding Mothers

Susan Stamberg joined NPR at its start, originally to cut tape — literal tape, with a single-sided blade — at a time when commercial networks almost never hired women.

Amazon CEO Says Massive Corporate Layoffs Were About Agility - Not AI or Cost-Cutting

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says the company's latest big round of layoffs -- about 14,000 corporate jobs -- wasn't triggered by financial strain or AI replacing workers, but rather a push to stay nimble. From a report: Speaking with analysts on Amazon's quarterly …

Bluesky Will Test a ‘Dislike’ Option. It Could Help Fix a Huge Problem

The Bluesky Discover feed is an avalanche of meh posts. It could be a powerful and addictive feature instead.

Bar that evokes Japanese street food culture among Scuola Politecnica di Design projects

Dezeen School Shows: a bar that captures the essence of Japanese street food culture is among the projects from Scuola Politecnica di Design. Also featured is a chair created from a single sheet of material and a coffee table with integrated seating to encour…

How Amazon flipped the script on a challenging week

Wall Street loved what it saw from Amazon this week. Yes, despite the layoffs.

We Asked People What It Meant To Be Black And British – Here’s What They Said

"Our culture: what we bring to the table for music, sound, energy, our ideas, our creativity. The possibilities are endless with us, and so many people can benefit from it."View Entire Post ›

Elon Musk’s Grokipedia contains copied Wikipedia pages

xAI’s Grokipedia, its Wikipedia-like online encyclopedia, is now live. The similarities go deeper than expected. Grokipedia’s design is pretty basic right now; like Wikipedia, the homepage is mostly just a big search bar, and entries resemble very basic Wikip…

Who is Bari Weiss? CBS News' new editor-in-chief is a vocal critic of legacy media

Provocative columnist Bari Weiss publicly quit the New York Times in 2020, then cofounded The Free Press as an alternative to legacy media. Here's what to know as she takes the helm of CBS News.

Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Oct. 16

Here's today's NYT Mini Crossword answer. These answers will help you solve New York Times' popular crossword game, Mini Crossword, every day!

Want to Watch a Podcast? Netflix and Spotify Partner to Bring Video Podcasts to Streaming

Starting in early 2026, Netflix subscribers in the US will be able to watch select Spotify Studios and Ringer podcasts directly on the streaming platform.

ERG Media’s New Book Delves Into Japan’s ‘Jazz Kissa’ Culture

SummaryERG Media released Jazz Kissa: The Soul of Japanese Listening Culture, a photographic book on Japan's iconic jazz cafésThe 336-page book features photography by Katsumasa Kusunose, who captures a culture of slow, intentional listeningERG Media has anno…

Representation to red flags: The fall and future of Manchester Pride

One of the UK's biggest LGBTQ+ events has gone bust - how did it happen, and what now for the staff, performers and community?

GTA 6 Denies Union Busting After Firing Dozens Of Developers

Rockstar Games says they were fired for 'gross misconduct' The post GTA 6 Denies Union Busting After Firing Dozens Of Developers appeared first on Kotaku.

MoMA and Mattel give high art masterpieces a pop culture makeover

MoMA and Mattel give high art masterpieces a pop culture makeoverWhenever I visit museums, I always enjoy looking at the artworks, of course. But sometimes, I wish I could bring home a replica or even...

Disney goes all in on 'belonging' with a new employee event series following its DEI shake-up

Disney is kicking off its inaugural "Global Belonging Week" on Monday. The event itinerary doesn't reference "diversity" or "DEI."

Mahmood says Home Office 'not yet fit for purpose'

The home secretary's response comes after The Times revealed a report calling the Home Office “dysfunctional”.

Mali : 2025, année de la culture, mais quelle culture ?

Le secteur artistique malien mérite d’être célébré à travers les mouvements de la culture contemporaine, au lieu d’être ramené au discours figé des autorités sur le retour aux valeurs anciennes et traditionnelles, défend le chercheur Bokar Sangaré.

Was the Web More Creative and Human 20 Years Ago?

Readers in 2025 "may struggle to remember the optimism of the aughts, when the internet seemed to offer endless possibilities for virtual art and writing that was free..." argues a new review at Bookforum. "The content we do create online, if we still create,…

An entrepreneur who built his 6-figure business around 'unreasonable hospitality' shares the books he makes employees read

There's required reading to get promoted at Geek Window Cleaning.

Forget happy hour. The new team-bonding activity is a HIIT workout.

Team-building is taking on a new form, with companies adding high-intensity team workouts to their list of corporate offerings.

Verizon has a new CEO. Read Dan Schulman's first memo to employees

Verizon named former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman as its new chief executive, replacing Hans Vestberg, on Monday.

I've lived in Florida for over 25 years. These 6 small towns probably aren't on your radar — but should be.

I've lived in Florida for over 25 years and think Mount Dora, Alys Beach, and Fernandina Beach are some of the best small towns to visit in Florida.

Pop Culture-Inspired Halloween Costumes for Kids

TMZ may collect a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page. This Halloween, your kids can bring their favorite TV and movie characters to life with some killer pop culture-inspired costumes. Whether they're still obsessed with…

$9 billion cybersecurity firm Tanium is enforcing its RTO policy by denying employees some equity

The Seattle-based cybersecurity firm has an RTO mandate that's now tied to equity compensation.

Ireland plans to make a $1,500 a month basic income for artists permanent

Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts experiment has given creatives a weekly payment for three years. Now, a permanent program could be on the way.

Culture du « 996 » : êtes-vous prêt à travailler 70 heures par semaine ?

Travailler de 9 h à 21 h, six jours par semaine : la pratique dite « 996 », popularisée dans la tech chinoise, a fait surface en Californie. Sur fond de boom de l'IA, les jeunes entrepreneurs de San Francisco revendiquent fièrement cette cadence extrême… mais…

« Le vol au Louvre signe un basculement entre une culture publique désargentée et usée, et des acteurs privés riches et agiles »

Au moment où le Musée du Louvre se fait cambrioler, le monde de l’art se retrouve dans la rutilante Fondation Cartier, s’égaie à la foire Art Basel Paris et s’extasie devant les expositions de la Fondation Louis Vuitton et de la collection Pinault, relève Mic…

Podcast #1,091: Make Friends With Death to Live a Better Life

We live in a culture that does everything it can to keep death at a distance. We hide it behind hospital curtains, euphemize it in conversation, and hustle through grief like it’s just another item on the to-do list. We don’t want death to get in the way of l…

See How Elaborate Corn Mazes Are Made

Design firms turn acres of grain corn into pop culture art you can get lost in.

« On va être à la fois un salon et un spectacle » : la PGW se transforme en mettant en avant la pop culture

La Paris Games Week fait peau neuve pour sa 14e édition en s’ouvrant désormais à toute la culture geek avec concerts, e-sport et de plus grandes ambitions

What We Applauded & What We Endured at the New York Film Festival

NYFF had it all: Fantastic family dramas! A failed canceled culture opus! And Bradley Cooper actually being funny!

« Trop de gens font cette erreur » : voici pourquoi il ne faut jamais utiliser son téléphone aux toilettes

Votre smartphone est bien plus qu'un véritable bouillon de culture, et c'est là tout le problème...

George Clooney Lives in France Because His Kids Were Never Going to Get a 'Fair Shake at Life' in L.A.

“I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood," the Oscar-winning actor told Esquire.

Reebok x Playstation unveil sneakers inspired by gaming legends

Reebok x Playstation unveil sneakers inspired by gaming legendsSneaker culture and gaming have collided in a spectacular way as Reebok teams up with PlayStation to release a collection of sneakers inspired by the...

Opinion: 'The Shipping Forecast' reminds us of the power of the human voice

For a century, the BBC has broadcast the weather report for the seas around the UK. "The Shipping Forecast" has informed and lulled generations who tune in to hear it.

Masked thieves steal 'priceless' jewels from the Louvre museum

France's Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, called the heist "a major, highly organized operation" that lasted just seven minutes. Authorities were still drawing up the value of the stolen items.

The Most Outstanding Cosplay From Dragon Con 2025

From Silent Hill to Expedition 33 and Elden Ring to Spy Kids, check out the best fits from this year's event The post The Most Outstanding Cosplay From Dragon Con 2025 appeared first on Kotaku.

IKEA ÖDLEBLAD Lamp Puts a Twist on Flatpack Lighting and the Allen Key

IKEA ÖDLEBLAD Lamp Puts a Twist on Flatpack Lighting and the Allen KeyThe IKEA Allen key has become an unlikely icon of modern DIY culture, synonymous with flatpack furniture assembly and the satisfying challenge of building your...

We Are Gonna Miss the Crass, Clueless, Hilarious ‘Solar Opposites’ Aliens

Hulu’s animated sci-fi series brings its story to an end with plenty of heart... and fart jokes.

A Giant-Size ‘Frankenstein’ Poster Highlights Stellar New Universal Monsters Art

Coda and Sideshow present two new shows of monstrously good art, including Tyler Stout's 'Frankenstein.'

This Spooky Season’s Must-Have Halloween Gifts

From fashion to decor and last-minute costumes, this guide has you covered.

The Most Iconic Genre Movie Posters of Drew Struzan

In honor of the legendary poster artist's passing, we take a look back at the very best works of a master.

À Harvard, décrocher une bonne note n’a jamais été aussi facile, et c’est un vrai problème

Une étude interne alerte sur l’inflation des A à Harvard, où 60 % des notes sont désormais excellentes, au point de menacer la culture académique du campus.

Jimmy Fallon and Taylor Swift Had A True Insufferable-Off Last Night

Is this really what peak American pop culture has to offer?

Jim Downey Says Arguing About Political Correctness in Comedy ‘Doesn’t Really Help’

The prolific ‘Saturday Night Live’ writer refuses to rage against ‘cancel culture’