Answers
Citing fastcompany.com.
- Muse Spark 1.2Oct 293 citationsYesAre AI chatbots biased?
Are AI chatbots biased? I'll sort the evidence on political, gender, and racial bias in today's models. Yes, research indicates AI chatbots can be biased — but the nature, degree, and causes of that bias are nuanced. 1. What the research shows: Yes, but not uniformly A careful answer to "Are AI chatbots biased?" is yes, but the type of bias depends on the model, the task, and how bias is measu
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 2715 citationsYesWill AI create or take away more job opportunities?
The question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) will create or eliminate more jobs is one of the most critical economic debates of our time. According to major research institutions, economic think tanks, and labor studies, AI is projected to create more job opportunities than it eliminates. However, this "net positive" outlook comes with a major catch: the transition will require one of th
- Muse Spark 1.2Oct 263 citationsWill AI create or take away more job opportunities?
AI's net effect on jobs is still hotly debated — I'll pull the latest research on what's being created versus displaced. AI will do both - take away a lot of jobs and create a lot of jobs - but most major forecasts expect it to create slightly more than it destroys in the long run, with a painful transition in the short to medium term. The consensus of the big forecasts: Net gain, but huge chur
- Muse Spark 1.2Oct 263 citationsAre electric vehicles better for the environment than gas-powered vehicles?
Your question touches on lifecycle emissions — I'll pull the latest comparative studies on EVs versus gas cars. Yes, according to the majority of lifecycle research — generally yes — but with important nuances. Short answer When you account for the full life of the vehicle — mining, manufacturing, driving, and electricity or fuel production — electric vehicles (EVs) typically have significantl
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 1720 citationsWhat are the 10 biggest news stories from today?
From high-stakes political shakeups in Washington to massive street demonstrations in Europe and intensifying conflicts in the Middle East, these are the 10 biggest news stories making headlines today, October 17, 2026: 1. White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Out After Just Five Days In one of the shortest tenures in modern U.S. political history, White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia
- Muse Spark 1.2Oct 122 citationsWill stopping immigration cause labor shortages?
Will a halt to immigration create labor shortages? I'll pull the latest research on workforce and demographic trends to answer. Yes, according to most economic and demographic research on the U.S., stopping immigration would cause - and is already causing - labor shortages, particularly in the medium to long term. 1. Demographics: The U.S. workforce is already shrinking without immigration The
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 107 citationsAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Overall, no, prices in stores are not lower than they were a year ago. While you may hear news about "inflation cooling down," this refers to disinflation (prices rising at a slower pace) rather than deflation (prices actually falling). On average, consumers are still paying more at the checkout counter than they were at this time last year. The current price landscape reflects this overall tre
- Muse Spark 1.2Oct 103 citationsWill stopping immigration cause labor shortages?
Stopping immigration and labor shortages — I'll gather the research to assess the link. Yes, according to most labor economists and demographic research - stopping immigration would worsen labor shortages, though effects vary by sector, region and time horizon. 1. Demographics already point to shortage without immigration The U.S. and other advanced economies face aging populations and falling
- Muse Spark 1.2Oct 82 citationsWill stopping immigration cause labor shortages?
Stopping immigration? I'll examine what the latest data says about its impact on labor shortages. Yes - according to most labor economists, demographic researchers, and recent government data, stopping immigration would worsen labor shortages, especially in the short and medium term, though the effect depends on scale, timeframe, and which industries you look at. 1. The US working-age populatio
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 714 citationsAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
No, overall store prices are not lower compared to last year. While the extreme inflation spikes of previous years have normalized to some extent, prices in stores continue to rise, meaning most goods are more expensive than they were a year ago. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.4%. Here is a breakdown of how prices
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 411 citationsAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Generally speaking, no, overall prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago. On a macroeconomic scale, average prices continue to rise, meaning the general cost of living and the average grocery bill are higher than they were in late 2025. However, there is a major exception: several massive retail chains are aggressively cutting prices on thousands of specific everyday items to win ba
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 39 citationsWill AI create or take away more job opportunities?
The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on employment is one of the most pressing economic questions of our time. The most accurate answer is that AI is projected to create more job opportunities than it destroys on a net basis, but it will trigger one of the most disruptive workforce transitions in human history. The shift is not a simple game of addition and subtraction. Instead, it is a m
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 29 citationsAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Generally, no. Prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago. While the rate of inflation has slowed down from the peak spikes of recent years—a trend economists call disinflation—prices are still rising. Disinflation means prices are going up at a slower rate, not that they are actually dropping (which would be deflation). The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and industry forecasts outline t
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 15 citationsWill AI create or take away more job opportunities?
Whether artificial intelligence will create or eliminate more jobs is one of the most defining economic debates of our time. The short answer is that AI is projected to create more job opportunities than it destroys, but the transition will be incredibly disruptive. Economists and researchers increasingly refer to this era not as a "jobless future," but as "the largest and most sustained workfor
- Gemini 3.5 FlashOct 110 citationsAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
On average, overall store prices are not lower compared to a year ago. Instead, the economy is experiencing disinflation—which means prices are still rising, just at a slower and more moderate pace than in previous years. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), overall consumer prices are up 3.4% compared to a year prior, while overall grocery (food-at-home) prices have increased by about 2
- Muse Spark 1.2Sep 305 citationsIs political polarization worse than it's been in the past?
I'll search recent research to compare today's polarization with historical levels. Short answer: Yes - if you mean the last 50-70 years. No - if you include the mid-19th century. Scholars distinguish between ideological polarization (differences between policy positions) and affective polarization (dislike and distrust of political out-groups), and both measures show a sharp increase in modern
- Gemini 3.5 FlashSep 2714 citationsAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
On average, no, store prices are not lower than they were a year ago. While the rapid rate of inflation has slowed down, prices overall are still rising—meaning they are higher on average than they were at this time last year. However, the situation is nuanced. Because shoppers are feeling the pinch of sustained high costs, major retailers have launched high-profile "price wars," slashing prices
- Gemini 3.5 FlashSep 269 citationsAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Generally, no, overall prices in stores are not lower than they were a year ago. While the rapid rate of inflation has slowed down compared to the peak spikes of the early 2020s, prices on average are still rising rather than falling. The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows that overall consumer prices rose by 3.4% year-over-year. This means that a typical basket of goods and services is more
- Grok 4.5Sep 2513 citationsAre labor unions good for workers and the economy?
I have search results covering both sides. Let me gather more specific data from key reports and studies.[[1]](https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/weekly-earnings-of-nonunion-workers-were-85-percent-of-union-members-earnings-in-2024.htm)Labor unions have clear benefits for many workers but mixed or context-dependent effects on the broader economy. The evidence is not one-sided; outcomes depend on th
- Gemini 3.5 FlashSep 238 citationsNoAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
No, overall prices in stores are not lower than they were a year ago. Instead, prices have continued to rise, meaning that a typical cart of groceries or retail goods will cost you more now than it did in 2025. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall consumer prices rose by 3.4%. While this is a slower pace of inflation compared to the historic peaks seen in 202
- Gemini 3.5 FlashSep 228 citationsIs open-source AI safer or riskier than closed/proprietary AI?
The question of whether open-source AI is safer or riskier than closed-source (proprietary) AI is one of the most critical debates in technology governance. Rather than a simple "yes" or "no," the answer depends entirely on how one defines safety and the capability level of the model in question. The debate centers on two opposing security philosophies: "Security through control/obscurity" (clos
- Gemini 3.5 FlashSep 2113 citationsAre prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
No, overall prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago. While the rate of price increases (inflation) has moderated compared to the sharp spikes of previous years, prices across almost all retail sectors have continued to climb. This trend is a result of disinflation (where prices rise at a slower pace) rather than deflation (where actual prices drop). An analysis of store prices re
- Grok 4.5Sep 1616 citationsWill AI create or take away more job opportunities?
AI is likely to create more net job opportunities over the longer term while destroying or transforming many existing ones in the short-to-medium term, leading to significant churn, shifts in skills, and uneven impacts—similar to past technological revolutions, though with important uncertainties and risks.[[1]](https://www.fastcompany.com/91405505/ai-wont-just-eliminate-millions-of-jobs-it-will-a
- Muse Spark 1.2Sep 153 citationsIs social media more harmful or helpful?
Balanced look at social media's harms and benefits — I'll gather recent research to weigh both sides. Social media is not simply harmful or helpful - research describes it as a "double-edged sword" with considerable benefits as well as notable harms. Whether it helps or hurts depends on who is using it, how they use it, and how much they use. Evidence for Harm Research has found associations
- Muse Spark 1.2Sep 144 citationsShould AI development be paused or restricted?
Should AI development be paused? I'll survey the arguments for and against restrictions to give you a balanced view. Whether AI development should be paused or restricted is one of the most debated questions in tech policy. There is no consensus, and proposals range from a temporary hard pause to targeted regulation. Key positions: 1. The Call for a Pause In March 2023 the Future of Life Insti
- Muse Spark 1.2Sep 136 citationsIs political polarization worse than it's been in the past?
Polarization is a debated question — I'll search for historical research to compare today with the past. Short answer: Yes, compared to the recent past - no, compared to the most divisive periods of American history. Research distinguishes between two types of polarization - ideological (distance on issues/votes) and affective (dislike/distrust of the other side). Both have increased sharply in