In a nutshell: Not all television shows are created equal. Even among those that are universally praised, it can take a handful of episodes or more before a series sets its hook and starts reeling you in. This leads to a question that many have no doubt pondered over the years: how many episodes should you give a series before cutting your losses and moving on? Daniel Parris from Stat Significant recently set out to answer this age-old question. To quantify it, Parris looked at IMDb user ratings (ranging from 1 to 10) for Friends and found the average to be around 8.34. Using this figure as the benchmark, Parris noticed that it wasn't until episode seven that Friends episodes surpasses this threshold.Using this method, Parris looked at every show in IMDb's database and compared its average user rating to individual episodes, then averaged the resulting differential by episode number. Data revealed that most shows need six or seven installments before ratings start to match or exceed the series' long-term average.Depending on the series, six or seven episodes could make up the majority or even the entirety of the first season. With so much content to choose from these days, it's no surprise that some aren't willing to dedicate that much time to try and get interested in a new show.While an interesting metric, it is by no means concrete as subjectivity plays a huge role as well. With some shows especially sitcoms it can take a season or two for actors to fully flesh out a character. Others manage to instantly click with audiences and get them addicted from the very first episode.I usually know within the first episode or two whether a show is for me, though occasionally, I'll give a series more time if it comes highly recommended. How about you? Does the 6-7 episode threshold seem about right, or is it too high? And while we are on the subject, what are a few of your all-time favorite television series?

Wireless earbuds and headphones are worn by just about everyone these days, especially those of us looking for peace of mind in the workplace or while were commuting to the office via subway. Noise-canceling audio is hard to live without, and brands like Sennheiser are responsible for some of the best ANC buds on the market. In fact, we came across a fantastic offer on Sennheiser earbuds while vetting Best Buy deals:Right now, when you purchase the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Earbuds, youll only wind up paying $200. The full MSRP on this model is $300. We tested these earbuds back in March 2024, and reviewer Simon Cohen said, Sennheiser fans have a lot to love in the Momentum True Wireless 4.Our audio expert, Simon Cohen, also praised the Momentum True Wireless 4 Earbuds for their all-day comfort and fit, top-shelf audio quality, and strong ANC capabilities. As for the latter, Sennheiser went with an adaptive ANC system that can be fine-tuned in the Sennheiser iOS and Android app. Say goodbye to pesky engine noise, workplace chatter, and HVAC hum. And thanks to beamforming mics, the Momentum True Wireless 4 do a nice job at capturing your voice during phone calls.RelatedAs for sound quality, the SMTW4 features excellent low-end performance, so kick drums, bass, and other rhythmic details get the kinetic punch they deserve. The buds do a solid job with treble and midrange articulation, too, but youll also be able to hop into the Sennheiser app to customize the sound profile. On a full charge, the SMTW4 should last just over 7 hours, and a fully charged case provides 30 total playback hours. These earbuds also come in four patterns, including a new Denim option!We wish this sale would stick around forever, but chances are these earbuds will be back to full price before we know it. So, today might be the best (and only) day to save this much. Take $100 off the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Earbuds when you purchase today. We also recommend taking a look at our lists of the best headphone dealsand the best Bose headphone deals for even more discounts on top audio tech.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsNo shortage of firepowerA laptop-grade screenFantastic accessory kitSlate royalty that wont nuke a walletLess than a year ago, I left my trusty M1 iPad Pro behind and got myself the iPad Pro powered by the M4 silicon. The design refresh was eye-catching, and so was the allure of getting an M4 processor even before the Macs.The biggest reason, however, was the 13-inch screen, which put it in roughly the same league as the MacBook Air. I splurged close to $1,700 and got the whole Magic Keyboard kit for a proper computing experience.Recommended VideosThe experience has been smooth so far, but the limitations of iPadOS have haunted me every single day. Is this hobbled computing ecosystem worth the price I paid? I often asked myself, and my answer was mostly negative.RelatedThe new iPad Air, equipped with the M3 processor, has only intensified my regret over spending a fortune on the flashy iPad Pro. Yes, a base price of $599 plays a key part here, but its the sheer utility aspect that makes the new iPad Air stand out as a powerful insignia of financial remorse for me.AppleThe biggest strength of Apples tablets is their longevity. A solid build quality, robust selection of apps, and long-term software support makes them a hot-favorite. But ever since Apple started putting M-series silicon in its tablets, the practical appeal has gone through the roof.If you are eyeing a large-screen slate for sketching or college duties, grab any third-party stylus and keyboard case, and youre good to go for at least the next three to four years. I can say that with utter confidence for a few reasons.I edited LOG videos in DaVinci Resolve on the M1 iPad Pro without any issues. It still makes multi-app workflows feel like a computing cakewalk, despite packing only 8GB of RAM. I also had a fantastic time playing ray-traced AAA games such as Resident Evil Village and Death Stranding on the tablet.The M1 iPad Pro handled Resident Evil just fine. The M3 silicon will do an ever better job.The M3 iPad Air wont feel any different, I believe. Compared to the M1 chip, the M3 silicon offers an extra GPU core. Moreover, the computing as well as graphics performance are noticeably higher, or at least thats what Apple is claiming.If the M1 iPad Pro remains so competitive till date, the iPad Air M3 will only leapfrog it at a much lower ask. And when you factor the sticker price difference with the M4 iPad Pro, the latest iPad Air emerges as the obvious choice from a value perspective.The primary reason I got the 13-inch iPad Pro was the screen real estate. After using the 11-inch iPad Pro for a couple of years, the switch to a 13-inch screen felt like a breath of fresh air.Being able to run at least three apps side by side, with Stage Manager enabled, was a productivity boon. I edit images and videos on a regular basis, so not having to squint my eyes or deal with a cramped timeline was a huge convenience.AppleThe iPad Air now matches the iPad Pro at screen real estate. The only discernible difference is the inherent screen tech, as the iPad Air offers an LCD panel, while the iPad Pro serves an OLED screen.Its not a deal-breaker by any stretch of the imagination. The new iPad Air delivers the same Liquid Retina display as its predecessor. The screen is vibrant, with acceptable viewing angles and a decent brightness output.But more than the nitty-gritty of terms such as nits, contrast ratios, and degrees, this LCD panel is still one of the best you can find on a tablet. I never had any issues occasionally using my sisters 13-inch M2 iPad Air for work, which she has also pushed regularly for her college duties.AppleI dont expect the M3 iPad Air to fare any different. I am surrounded by LCD screens on all my computing and large-screen entertainment gear, so getting used to the iPad Air even after switching from the 120Hz OLED panel of the iPad Pro wont be an arduous visual journey for me.A majority of laptops and monitors still offer an LCD panel, so theres that precedent. Moreover, the fantastic work Apple has done with iPad animations and app scaling ensures that you will arguably have a better experience on the iPad Air than a Windows machine.AppleOf course, it wont make sense to get a 13-inch slate without getting some work done on it. The Apple Pencil, though expensive, is still one of the best out there. Third-party options, such as the ESRs excellent Geo Stylus with Find My, can also do the job.Its the keyboard, however, that really sets the tone in Apples favour. The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air doesnt quite offer the same sleek metallic look as the iPad Pro variant. Instead, it sticks with the aesthetic formula of the previous-gen Magic Keyboard.Thats not a bad thing. My M1 iPad Pros Magic Keyboard with its soft rubberised finish is still in great shape. The new keyboard case for the iPad Air is essentially a replica of that, but in white color, and a flat metallic ridge.AppleIts a hybrid design approach, but the core experience shouldnt be any different. Ive tried third-party cases from a healthy few brands, but none have offered the same experience as the Magic Keyboard.The cantilever design is stunning, and so is the rewarding tactile feedback, a smooth glass touchpad, and a 14-key function row. Plus, that additional USB-C port really comes in handy when using the Stage Manager mode while connected to a monitor.The best part is that even if you fork out extra cash for the new Magic Keyboard with a 13-inch iPad Air, you will barely cross the base 11-inch iPad Pros final bill. Meanwhile, the sheer firepower and fluidity you get with the M3-powered slate wont be too far off compared to the M4-driven iPad Pro.AppleThe sum total of the argument is that the iPad Air with M3 chip is a fantastic value for its asking price, irrespective of whether you pick the 11-inch or 13-inch variant.For serious productivity, Id gravitate towards the 13-inch model, but having used an 11-inch tablet for nearly two years as my workhorse, you wont regret getting the 11-incher, either.Apple hasnt made any fat cuts in terms of software capabilities, so theres that benefit, too. All you need to do is find the right size for your workflow, and youre set for a smooth experience that will last you a few years without any major hiccups.Editors Recommendations

exclusivePolicyCommerce to Overhaul Internet for All Plan, Expanding Starlink Funding ProspectsAgency plans changes that will make Elon Musks satellite-internet service eligible for more rural broadband fundingThe Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program was created by the 2021 infrastructure bill. Photo: EPA/ShutterstockThe Commerce Department is examining changes to a $42.5 billion Biden-era program aimed at expanding internet access around the country with new rules that will make it easier for Starlink, Elon Musks satellite-internet service, to tap in to rural broadband funding, said people familiar with the plans.Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has told staff he plans to make the grant program technology-neutral, the people said. That change will free up states to award more funds to satellite-internet providers like Starlink, rather than mainly to companies that lay fiber-optic cables, to connect the millions of U.S. households that lack high-speed internet service.Copyright 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8VideosMost Popular NewsMost PopularOPINIONFurther ReadingAdvertisement

How AI Tools Are Reshaping the Coding WorkforceLeaner development teams and a higher bar for hiring new roles are some of the changes coming as companies turn to generative AI coding tools Illustration: Thomas R. Lechleiter/WSJAfter years of hype and panic over how many jobs AI will extinguish or replace, its clear the technology is bringing some big changes to the coding workforce.AI coding tools, which can automate large portions of code development, emerged as an early generative AI use case, driving double digit percentage efficiency gains and helping more code get written faster. Microsoft-owned GitHub Copilot, one of the more popular coding tools, has been adopted by more than 77,000 organizations in the roughly two years since its release, Microsoft said in its fourth-quarter earnings.Copyright 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8Most Popular NewsMost PopularOPINIONFurther ReadingAdvertisement

Trade war Trumps 25% tariffs take effect; Canadian PM calls it a very dumb thing Stock markets sink; US faces retaliatory tariffs and complaints at the WTO. Jon Brodkin Mar 4, 2025 1:15 pm | 33 From left: Melanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister; Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister; Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's finance and intergovernmental affairs minister; and David McGuinty, Canada's minister of public safety, during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg From left: Melanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister; Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister; Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's finance and intergovernmental affairs minister; and David McGuinty, Canada's minister of public safety, during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn morePresident Trump's 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico took effect today, and the White House increased a tariff on China from 10 to 20 percent in an executive order. Canada, Mexico, and China announced retaliatory moves, and stock markets sank globally.Industry groups and companies have warned the Trump tariffs will raise prices for cars, groceries, consumer technology, and other products.Canada was hit with a 10 percent tariff on energy exports to the US, while other Canadian exports are subject to the 25 percent tariff. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would impose 25 percent tariffs on over $100 billion worth of US goods.China responded with new tariffs of 10 to 15 percent on US agricultural products starting March 10and other retaliatory moves such as blacklisting 15 US companies. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she will announce retaliatory tariffs and other measures on Sunday."There's no motive, reason or justification that supports this decision that will affect our people and nations," Sheinbaum reportedly said at a news conference. "We will always seek a negotiated solution, in a framework of respect." Sheinbaum said Mexico wants "dialogue, with reasoning and rationality."Trudeau: Trump tariffs a very dumb thing to doTrudeau said that Trump imposing tariffs is "a very dumb thing to do" and that Canada "will not back down from a fight." Addressing US residents, Trudeau said, "We don't want this, but your government has chosen to do this to you."Trump's executive orders have blamed Canada for "the flow of illicit drugs across our northern border," Mexico for a "sustained influx of illegal aliens and illicit opioids and other drugs," and China for a "sustained influx of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl."Trudeau said the tariffs violate a US/Mexico/Canada trade agreement signed by Trump in 2020. He said that "Canada plans to challenge the US's 'illegal actions' by filing dispute resolution claims against US tariffs at the World Trade Organization," the BCC reported.Trudeau denied Trump's claims about Canada failing to fight illegal drugs in a statement issued today. "While less than 1 percent of the fentanyl intercepted at the US border comes from Canada, we have worked relentlessly to address this scourge that affects Canadians and Americans alike," Trudeau said. "We implemented a $1.3 billion border plan with new choppers, boots on the ground, more co-ordination, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl... Because of this workin partnership with the United Statesfentanyl seizures from Canada have dropped 97 percent between December 2024 and January 2025 to a near-zero low of 0.03 pounds seized by US Customs and Border Protection."China, which already had a pending complaint at the WTO regarding US tariffs, said it filed another lawsuit against the US at the WTO today.The S&P 500 and NASDAQ yesterday fell 1.8 and 2.6 percent, respectively, as Trump confirmed the tariffs would take effect. As of this writing, the S&P 500 was down another 0.8 percent today, while NASDAQ was down slightly.Trump is pushing firms to build more products in the US, and companies such as Apple and TSMC recently announced plans to invest more in US-based manufacturing. Trump took credit for the Apple plan and made a joint announcement with TSMC.Jon BrodkinSenior IT ReporterJon BrodkinSenior IT Reporter Jon is a Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica. He covers the telecom industry, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, broadband consumer affairs, court cases, and government regulation of the tech industry. 33 Comments

Check for updates Googles March Pixel Drop is here with a ton of Android upgrades Even non-Pixel phones will get some goodies. Ryan Whitwam Mar 4, 2025 12:00 pm | 9 Credit: Google Credit: Google Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIt's time for Google's newest Pixel Drop update, which will deliver a batch of enhancements to the company's smartphones. Pixel Drops, which arrive quarterly, refine and expand the features on Pixel phones. This probably won't come as a surprise, but AI plays a big role in the changes rolling out to Pixels this time around. There are also some new connectivity and photography options.A long-overdue update is coming to Google's Pixel Studio app, which is preinstalled on the Pixel 9 series. The app lets you generate AI images, but person generation was not available at launch because of well-documented problems with the Imagen 3 model's penchant for diversity. Google re-enabled person generation on the web about six months ago, but Pixel Studio is just now gaining this ability.Google's AI will also begin butting in if it suspects a caller or message is attempting to scam you. Google says this feature (previously available as a limited beta) is not foolproof, as scammers often change up their tactics. However, it may help catch some of the less sophisticated scams that regularly ensnare your less technologically literate family and friends. This feature will be available in Google Messages with the Pixel 6 and later, but the phone call scam detection will require a Pixel 9 because it uses on-device AI features that only exist on Google's latest phones. That makes it a little less creepy.Google also says that some of its preexisting AI features will come to new markets with this update. Both Germany and Japan will receive the Pixel Screenshots app, AI weather insights, and the Pixel Studio app just in time for person generation. Japan also gets the AI summarization features in Google's Recorder app. Google's AI-powered scam detection works in both text and phone calls on Pixels. Credit: Google Google's AI-powered scam detection works in both text and phone calls on Pixels. Credit: Google As for the non-AI features, satellite messaging will expand in the new Pixel Drop. The Pixel 9 series is among a handful of phones that have satellite connectivity. When you're outside of cellular coverage, Pixel phones can connect to compatible satellite networks to get emergency help. This feature was previously only live in the continental US, but now it's coming to Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Support for carrier satellite features is also expanding. At launch, Pixels only used Google's own satellite SOS system, which is being provided free for the first two years. The new Pixel Drop will add Verizon and T-Mobile as supported carriers for satellite messaging.The Pixel 9 family will also get a nifty new video recording trick. After installing the Pixel Drop update, you'll be able to connect a Pixel to another Pixel or a GoPro camera to record video from two different angles simultaneously. Google says this will make mobile recordings look more professional and expand shooting options. However, if using a GoPro, it only works with the 2021 GoPro HERO10 Black or newer, and app support is limited to Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.Something for everyoneEven if you don't have a Pixel phone, Google has a few goodies waiting for you. These features are coming to all currently supported Android phones, including Pixels.The AI scam-detection feature from Pixel phones will be available to all Android devices in a more limited form. If someone is trying to scam you over text in the Google Messages app, the AI will be able to (potentially) recognize that and warn you, just like on a Pixel 6 through 8. However, only Pixel 9 phones have the phone call scam alerts.Google has supported myriad ways to share your location with others on Android over the years, but there's a new one coming. Google's recently revamped Find My Device platform will gain an option to share device locations with your contacts. This provides the same real-time location information you'd see in your app, but you can set a timeout or revoke access at any time.If you have Android Auto in your car, killing time in parking lots is about to get easier. Google says a new raft of games will soon be available on your car's display, building on the simple GameSnacks from a previous update. The selections include but are not limited to Farm Heroes Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Angry Birds 2, and Beach Buggy Racing. That's a lot of mindless free-to-play schlock, but how much depth do you really want in your in-car time-killers? Just make sure the games are installed on your phone and they'll be available on the car screen. The new Android Auto games will thankfully only be accessible when your vehicle is stationary.Lastly, all Android users will see a new Chrome shopping tool appear as early as today (it may even have shown up early for some). The price-tracking icon next to the address bar is getting an upgradelook for the new "Price is low" version of that button to get started. Tapping that will let you opt in to price drop notifications, which are not new. This pop-over now includes a handy historical price graph similar to what you'd get with a service like CamelCamelCamel.Unlike the Pixel Drop features, you won't be seeing an OS update to enable these additions. Some features, like the Chrome price tracker, are server-side changes. Others, like AI scam detection, will arrive silently via Play Services. Google tells us the updates will begin rolling out today, but they could take a bit to reach all phones.Ryan WhitwamSenior Technology ReporterRyan WhitwamSenior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering the ways Google, AI, and mobile technology continue to change the world. Over his 20-year career, he's written for Android Police, ExtremeTech, Wirecutter, NY Times, and more. He has reviewed more phones than most people will ever own. You can follow him on Bluesky, where you will see photos of his dozens of mechanical keyboards. 9 Comments

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean met outside a Nashville laundromat in 1964 and married in 1966.Dean stayed out of the spotlight, and Parton addressed conspiracy theories that he didn't exist.After nearly 60 years of marriage, Dean died on March 3 at the age of 82.Carl Dean, Dolly Parton's husband of nearly six decades, died on March 3 at the age of 82.Parton and Dean met outside a Tennessee laundromat in 1964 and wed in 1966.Dean supported Parton's country music career from behind the scenes. He so rarely appeared with her in public that Parton addressed conspiracy theories that he wasn't a real person.Still, Dean inspired some of Parton's most successful work, such as her mega-hit song "Jolene" and her latest album "Rockstar."Here's a timeline of their relationship.1964: Dolly Parton and Carl Dean met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville.Dolly Parton in 1965. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Dean was driving by in his pickup truck when he saw Dolly Parton and "hollered" at her, she told The New York Times in 1976. She declined his request for a date but invited him over while she was babysitting her nephew the following day."He came up every day that week and we sat out on the porch. I wouldn't even take him in the house," she said. "Then my aunt got a day off, and she could keep the kid and that was my first chance to go anywhere with Carl and he drove me straight to his folks' house and introduced me to his mother and daddy. 'Cause he said he knew right the minute he saw me that that's the one he wanted."At the time, Parton was 18 and Dean was 21.May 30, 1966: Parton and Dean wed in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.Dolly Parton and Carl Dean. dollyparton/Instagram Parton's record label asked her to wait a year before getting married for the sake of her career, but she and Dean couldn't wait. They went to Georgia so that the event wouldn't be reported in the Tennessee press."It was just my mother and Carl and me," she told CMT in 2016. "We went across the state line to Ringgold, Georgia. My mother made me a little white dress and a little bouquet and a little Bible. But I said, 'I can't get married in a courthouse because I'll never feel married.' So we found a little Baptist church in town, and went up to Pastor Don Duvall and said, 'Would you marry us?' We got pictures on the steps right outside the church."1966: Parton and Dean attended their first and last red carpet event together.Dolly Parton circa 1970. Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images Parton received her first songwriting award at 20 years old for "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" recorded by Bill Phillips, winning BMI's Song of the Year. She and Dean walked the red carpet and attended the dinner and award ceremony, but it wasn't Dean's style."After the dinner, we walked back out, and they brought us our car I don't even remember what we were driving then and we got in it and headed for home," Parton told audiences at the Marty Stuart Jam in 2011, The Boot reported. "Carl turned to me and said, 'Dolly, I want you to have everything you want, and I'm happy for you, but don't you ever ask me to go to another one of them dang things again!'"September 1969: Dean made a rare appearance on the cover of Parton's fourth album, "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy."The album cover of "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy." Amazon "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" reached No. 6 on the US Top Country Albums charts.Beyond this image, there are few public photos of the couple.October 1973: Parton released the song "Jolene," which she says was inspired by a bank teller who was crushing on her husband.Album cover for "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, released in 1974. Donaldson Collection/Getty Images "She got this terrible crush on my husband," Parton told NPR in 2008. "And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us when I was saying, 'Hell, you're spending a lot of time at the bank. I don't believe we've got that kind of money.' So it's really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one."August 2012: Parton auctioned off a tour of Nashville sites from her history for charity, including the spot on Wedgewood Avenue where she and Dean met.Wedgewood Avenue in Nashville. Google Maps The auction benefited the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation, which expands access to quality healthcare in Sevier County. The foundation is named for the physician who delivered Parton, and she serves as its honorary chairperson.May 30, 2016: Parton and Dean renewed their vows for their 50th wedding anniversary, and Dean released his first public statement for the occasion.Dolly Parton at the Country Music Awards. John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images "I got all dressed up in the most beautiful gown you've ever seen and dressed that husband of mine up. He looked like a handsome dude out of Hollywood," she told Rolling Stone in 2016. "We had a few family and friends around. We didn't plan anything big at all because we didn't want any kind of strain, any kind of tension, any kind of commotion, so we planned it cleverly and carefully. We just had a simple little ceremony at our chapel at our place."In his first public statement in honor of their 50th anniversary, Dean also expressed his love for Parton."My first thought was, 'I'm gonna marry that girl,'" Dean said in a statement of the moment they met, Entertainment Tonight reported. "My second thought was, 'Lord she's good lookin'.' And that was the day my life began. I wouldn't trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth."August 2016: Parton wrote an album of love songs inspired by her relationship with Dean called "Pure and Simple."Dolly Parton during her Pure and Simple Tour. Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images "I was just trying to think about all the different colors of love through the years," Parton told Rolling Stone. "I thought, 'Well I'm going to write about mine and Carl's relationship. It's just a pure and simple relationship,' so it started with that and then I thought, 'Well why don't I just write a whole album of love songs?'"December 2018: Parton joked about her husband's crush on Jennifer Aniston on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."Dolly Parton on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NBC Parton and Aniston worked together on the Netflix movie "Dumplin,'" with Parton writing six original songs for the soundtrack."I love her to death," she said of Aniston. "My husband is crazy about her. And he was more excited that I was gonna do a movie with her than he was that I got the chance to write all this music."October 2020: Parton addressed conspiracy theories that her husband doesn't actually exist since he's never seen in public.Dolly Parton flies solo on red carpets. David Crotty/Contributor/Getty Images Parton confirmed that Dean, a retired businessman, is a real person, despite rumors of him being imaginary."A lot of people have thought that through the years, because he does not want to be in the spotlight at all," Parton told Entertainment Tonight. "It's just not who he is. He's like, a quiet, reserved person and he figured if he ever got out there in that, he'd never get a minute's peace and he's right about that."Parton said that they each value their independence, and that Dean values his privacy and has no interest in fame."I've always respected and appreciated that in him and I've always tried to keep him out of the limelight as much as I can," she said. "He said, 'I didn't choose this world, I chose you, and you chose that world. But we can keep our lives separate and together.' And we do and we have. We've been together 56 years, married 54."July 2021: Parton recreated her 1978 Playboy cover for her husband's birthday.Dolly Parton was on the cover of Playboy at 32 years old. Harry Langdon/Contributor/Getty Images ; Dolly Parton/Instagram Parton shared a video of herself on Instagram in a black bustier and pink-and-white collar with a bow tie."Hey!" Parton said in the video. "You're probably wondering why I'm dressed like this. Well, it's for my husband's birthday."She said that Dean had always loved her original Playboy cover, so to "make him happy" on his birthday, she decided to get a duplicate outfit and set up her own photo shoot."He still thinks I'm a hot chick after 57 years," she said. "And I'm not gonna try and talk him out of that."October 2021: Parton told W magazine that she and Dean "don't argue" and that she fell for him instantly.Dolly Parton. Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images In the interview, Parton discussed her time working with country star and duet partner Porter Wagoner."My husband and I don't argue, but Porter and I did nothing but fight. It was a love-hate relationship," she told W magazine's Lynn Hirschberg.November 2021: Parton shared a rare old photo of her and Dean on Instagram.Dolly Parton and her husband Carl Dean. dollyparton/Instagram The vintage photo appeared to have been edited to show Dean wearing a shirt from Parton's line of merchandise available on her website."Find you a partner who will support you like my Carl Dean does!" Parton captioned the post.February 2022: Parton said that fried chicken is the one dish everyone should know how to make for a successful marriage.Dolly Parton. Sebastian Smith "You can't go wrong with fried chicken," Parton told Business Insider's Anneta Konstantinides. "I think everybody should really know how to make good fried chicken. No matter where people come from, they love good fried chicken. So you need to make good fried chicken!"Parton said she also makes him pork chops with green peas and mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy, or chicken and dumplings her specialty."A lot of people like my chicken and dumplings," she said. "I'm pretty famous for that. Carl likes all my cooking. But he, like the rest of them, especially likes the chicken and dumplings."March 2022: Parton initially said she would turn down her nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but she said Dean has encouraged her to make a rock album.Dolly Parton. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW In March 2022, Parton was one of 17 artists shortlisted and one of seven first-time nominees."Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don't feel that I have earned that right," she said in a statement. "I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out."She added, "This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock 'n' roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do! My husband is a total rock 'n' roll freak, and has always encouraged me to do one."The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame declined Parton's request to be removed from the ballot, saying in a statement, in part,"In addition to her incredible talent as an artist, her humility is another reason Dolly is a beloved icon by millions of fans around the world."In April, she changed her tune and said she would accept the honor, if she was voted in."I'll accept gracefully. I'll just say 'Thanks' and I will accept it because the fans vote," she toldNPR's "Morning Edition."In May 2022, it was announced she had indeed been voted in.November 2022: Parton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and she said her next album would be a tribute to Dean's love of the genre.Dolly Parton at her Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images In a red-carpet interview with E! News at her induction ceremony, Parton said that her upcoming album would feature some of Dean's favorite rock songs."We have a lot of favorite songs," she said. "He loves rock 'n' roll, he loves Led Zeppelin and he loves 'Stairway to Heaven.' So I'm going to do a lot of things like that for him."November 2023: Parton released "Rockstar," her 49th studio album, inspired by Dean's love of rock n roll.Dolly Parton at a press conference for her album "Rockstar." Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images The album featured duets with artists including Sting, Stevie Nicks, Steven Tyler, and Joan Jett. "Rockstar" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart and became her best-selling album since Luminate began tracking sales in 1991.March 2025: Dean died at the age of 82.Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, died at 82. Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Dean's death was announced in a post on Parton's social media on March 3."Carl and I spent many wonderful years together," Parton wrote in the post. "Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy."The post shared that Dean would be "laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending."

2025-03-04T18:24:18Z Read in app Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has said the company might not hire any engineers in 2025 because of productivity gains from artificial intelligence. Bront Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Job openings for software engineers are at their lowest level in five years, Indeed data show.Marc Benioff said Salesforce might not hire software engineers in 2025 because of gains from AI.Despite AI's impact, demand for skilled tech workers is expected to grow significantly by 2033.If you're a coder, you already know: There just aren't as many jobs as there used to be.Openings for software engineers in the US are down by more than one-third from five years ago.For many engineers, the dropoff likely feels even steeper. Job postings are well off levels seen during the pandemic, when the industry was awash in openings.In early to mid-2022, there were three times as many software engineering roles listed on job boards, data from Indeed show.Artificial intelligence is surely one cause. The same technology that can make coders more productive appears to be undercutting hiring demand.Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff recently said the tech giant might not hire any engineers in 2025 because AI tools allow Salesforce engineers to do so much more."We have seen such incredible productivity gains because of the agents that work side by side with our engineers," Benioff said on the "The Logan Bartlett Show" podcast in January.'Am I going to lose my job?'Productivity gains are great news for coders with jobs, yet the AI boost can be worrisome for job seekers.A year ago, the startup Cognition Labs released what it said was the first AI software engineer. The company, backed by Peter Thiel's venture capital fund, caused a stir with its announcement."There was a lot of panic. I had a lot of friends of mine who messaged me and said, 'Hey, am I going to lose my job?'" Jesal Gadhia, head of engineering at Thoughtful AI, which creates AI tools for healthcare providers, previously told Business Insider.He worries that even though coders are still needed in many areas, AI could step into roles that have long served as training grounds for junior engineers."Junior engineers," Gadhia said, "have a little bit of a target behind their back."Demand is likely to growIt's not all bad news for those with strong technical chops. In late August, the US government's Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast that demand for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers would grow 17% from 2023 to 2033. That's far faster than the growth in the overall job market, the agency noted.Lighthouse Labs, a Canadian company offering coding boot camps, said in January that global demand for skilled workers in data analytics, cybersecurity, and cloud computing is outstripping supply. No surprise, some of the biggest gains involve AI. Lighthouse Labs said that's partly because there is demand for people with skills in areas like machine learning well beyond the tech industry itself.AI to do more of the workRegardless of industry, demands on coders' time will likely continue to evolve because of AI. GitLab has said developers already only spend about a quarter of their time coding.Madars Biss, a tech writer and frontend developer, previously told BI that he expects developers to spend less time generating code and more time managing AI-generated code.AI tools could "handle much of the routine and repetitive tasks of the developer, and humans focus on managing, double-checking, and creativity," Biss said.As with Salesforce, that could change how companies hire software engineers.In June, Amazon Web Services chief Matt Garman predicted that AI could handle a good deal of coders' work, according to a recording of the discussion previously obtained by BI."If you go forward 24 months from now, or some amount of time I can't exactly predict where it is it's possible that most developers are not coding," Garman said.

Donald Trumps long-threatened trade war has finally begun.The Trump Administration slapped big new tariffs onto Canada, Mexico, and China Tuesday, spurring retaliation from other countries, a market sell-off, and new fears about the future of the US economy.Finally making good on a months-old threat, just after midnight Trump set 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, and 10 percent tariffs on Canadian energy imports targeting two of the USs biggest trading partners. Trump also increased the tariff he imposed on Chinese imports last month from 10 percent to 20 percent.Canada quickly hit back by imposing 25 percent tariffs on certain goods they import from the US, threatening more within weeks if Trump didnt reverse course. China announced its own retaliatory measures against certain American agricultural exports and tech companies, while Mexican officials promised to respond in the coming days.Theres likely more to come Trump said last week that new tariffs on the European Union would also be ready soon.In the short term, Americans will likely see higher prices on many products or goods that are imported or are made with imported components, from cars to electronics to agricultural products to gasoline (the US imports Canadian crude oil). Meanwhile, American companies that export their products to these countries, such as the agriculture industry, will take a hit from retaliatory tariffs.But where this all is headed in the longer term is far from clear, and will depend on two major questions. First: what exactly is Trumps preferred endgame for his trade war? And second: How bad will the economic fallout at home be?Does Trump view himself as bargaining in advance of a deal or trying to permanently overhaul the economic system?Trump repeatedly said during his presidential campaign that he planned to impose gargantuan tariffs on foreign imports and spoke of the policy in glowing terms. Contrary to traditional economic wisdom, he insisted, his tariffs would have no downsides: Theyd boost domestic industry, bring jobs back to the US, and raise substantial revenue (to let him cut taxes more). Tariff, hes said, is the most beautiful word in the dictionary.Economists and financiers generally view this as utter folly, pointing out that tariffs will make imports (and US-made products using imported components, like cars) more expensive for American consumers, while spurring retaliation from targeted countries that will hurt American exporters, slowing economic activity more broadly and risking a market panic and recession. Trump has been unmoved by these arguments.Yet while its clear that Trump loves tariffs, its less clear what, exactly, he thinks hes trying to achieve with them.At times, Trump has seemed to view tariff threats mainly as a negotiating tactic, to win policy concessions in deals with other countries. This is what investors have generally hoped that the tariffs are short-term posturing, and that Trump will ultimately declare victory and move on, signing big beautiful deals that he can brag about while returning to something like business as usual.But Trump and certain advisers have also sometimes spoken of his ambitions in grander terms. For instance, Trump has suggested that vast sums of new tariff revenue could allow him to abolish the income tax, which would imply he wants huge new tariffs to be very permanent indeed.At times, his sympathies seem to lean in the direction of autarky the idea that the US should be fully independent of the global trading system, reliant only on what they can make at home. We shouldnt have supply chains. We should have them all in the United States. We have the companies to do it, he said in 2020.The US is so interconnected in the global trading system that this would be an unfathomable change entailing a massive collapse in living standards, so few people take Trump literally on this. But if he genuinely wants to push the economy at least a lot further in this direction, we could be in for a whole lot more chaos to come.The other big question hanging over Trumps decision-making is just how bad the economic pain from all this gets at home.Investors and establishment Republicans have long hoped that Trump wasnt serious about his trade war. Theyve also suggested that, if he did go forward with it, a bad market reaction could hopefully convince him to seek a face-saving exit.Already, there are various concerning economic signs. Stocks have fallen. Consumer confidence is falling, in part because of all the uncertainty from Trumps chaotic behavior. Major retailers are saying theyll hike prices because of the tariffs. A model from the Atlanta Fed forecast a surprisingly large decline in GDP growth in the first quarter (though that forecast is currently an outlier). Agriculture state Republicans are concerned their home state industries will be hit. These signs are certainly ominous, but its important to keep them in perspective: We have not yet reached the point of a recession or an outright economic crisis.As of midday Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had only fallen to where it was in mid-January, and the NASDAQ to where it was in November (with its greater fall driven in part by concern over whether AI stocks are overvalued).Tariffs, and the accompanying uncertainty, havent been greeted warmly by investors, but theres a lot more to the economy than tariff levels. And we simply dont yet know if Trumponomics will actually be damaging enough to push the economy into recession.What is very clear, though, is that the prices of many things American consumers buy regularly will go up. Considering how President Joe Bidens popularity was battered by inflation, one would think Trump would be concerned about this.But since the election, Trump has repeatedly said he doesnt agree that he won mainly because of inflation. (Voter anger over immigration was more important, he says.) Conveniently, this lets Trump justify pursuing a tariff policy that will raise prices. And we will soon see what the American public thinks about that.See More: Politics