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Three ways brands can benefit from adopting voice technology (AAPL, AMZN, GOOGL, MSFT)

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  • Voice assistants like Amazon's Alexa, Google's Assistant, Apple's Siri, and Microsoft's Cortana, are pegged to trigger a widespread transformation across the retail industry in the years to come.
  • The current interest in, and adoption of, voice assistants for commerce is being driven by recent technological breakthroughs, advantages of the tech over existing channels, and the development of voice apps.
  • As consumer demand for voice technology mounts, brands offering this functionality throughout the entire customer journey stand to gain in three key ways.

Not too long ago, if your friend had a smart speaker like Amazon’s Alexa or Google's Assistant in their living room, it seemed like a rare novelty. Within a matter of months, however, smart speakers have started becominghousehold staples — and they’re still only at a fraction of their growth potential.

US Consumers Use Voice Assistants Throughout the Entire Shopping Journey

One of the biggest drivers of adoption has been increased functionality. Smart speakers aren’t just changing the music and turning on the lights; they’re helping consumers find new products and make purchases — and they’re quickly becoming a preferred method of shopping.

In fact, nearly a quarter of consumers globally already prefer using a voice assistant over going to a company website or mobile app to shop. This share will jump to 40% by 2021, according to Capgemini.

Consumers are on board with the prompt, convenient nature of shopping with smart speakers — and brands who join them stand to reap massive rewards. The Voice in Retail Report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider’s premium research service, highlights the value voice brings to the shopping funnel and how retailers can implement it throughout the customer journey.

Here are three ways brands can capture consumers with voice technology:

  • Driving product purchases: Voice assistants make spending faster and easier when consumers are unable to use their hands. The ability to make a purchase on any channel and the addition of personalized, intelligent elements to the shopping experience are simplifying the transition from product discovery to product purchase.
  • Heightening customer loyalty: Brands can leverage voice assistants in the post-purchase phase to track delivery status, automate part of the return process, interact with customer service, offer feedback, and collect consumer behavioral and transactional data.
  • Shifting consumers’ spending behaviors: Smart device ownership has a snowball effect, so as the smart device ecosystem reaches the mainstream, consumers will flock to connected cars, smart home devices and appliances, and connected virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) headsets.

Want to Learn More?

Shoppers are interested in using voice assistants for every stage of the customer journey, from initial product search and discovery to post-purchase customer service and delivery status. And retailers that take advantage of consumers’ desire to leverage voice will be in a stronger position to heighten customer engagement, increase conversion times, drive sales, and boost operational efficiency.

The Voice in Retail Report from Business Insider Intelligence examines the trends driving the adoption of voice commerce, details the role of voice throughout the customer shopping journey, outlines how brands can benefit from implementing voice in their strategies, and explores what's ahead for the technology in retail.

 

 

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There are 46 exotic weapons in 'Destiny 2' right now — and we've ranked them all, from worst to best

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destiny 2 black armory

  • Exotic weapons are the best part of "Destiny 2," Bungie's sci-fi first-person shooter for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
  • Exotic weapons are unique, powerful, and extremely rare. You can only wield one at a time.
  • We've compiled the complete list of exotic weapons you can obtain in "Destiny 2," and ranked them based on utility for various "Destiny 2" activities.

SEE ALSO: The biggest expansion to 'Destiny 2' is now available — here's a look at all of the changes in 'Forsaken'

DON'T MISS: 30 PlayStation 4 games every owner should have in their collection

46. The Jade Rabbit

Type: Scout rifle

How to obtain: Random reward

Exotic perk:“The Fate of All Fools - Chain body shots to gain bonus damage on your next precision shot and return ammo to the magazine.”

Two cents: The Jade Rabbit is not a very good exotic option in "Destiny 2." Scout rifles are generally weaker guns in the game right now, but Jade Rabbit also suffers from a slow rate of fire and an exotic perk that's useful in only some situations.



45. Skyburner’s Oath

Type: Scout rifle

How to obtain: Random reward

Exotic perk:“Slug Rifle - This weapon fires Solar slugs that get stronger when aiming down sights.”

Two cents: Skyburner's Oath got an update earlier this year to make its projectiles track targets when you fire from the hip, but even with that tweak, it's still a pretty weak, slow-firing gun that's outclassed by many other weapons in the game.



44. Borealis

Type: Sniper rifle

How to obtain: Random reward

Exotic perk:“The Fundamentals - Holding the reload button changes this weapon's damage type, cycling between Solar, Arc and Void.”

Two cents: Borealis is a great option if you need to take out lots of enemy shields, but there are better snipers on this list.



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Lawmakers appear on Sunday TV shows to call for Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's resignation over a racist yearbook photo

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ralph northam

  • The discovery of a 1984 yearbook page dedicated to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) with a photo of a man wearing blackface and another dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe sparked calls from both sides of the aisle for the governor to resign.
  • Lawmakers and interest group leaders took to Sunday's political shows to double down on calls for Northam's resignation.
  • Many took issue with Northam's confusing stance on the picture. He first admitted that it was him, then denied being in the picture at all and disclosed he once covered his skin with shoe polish to perform as Michael Jackson.

A picture from a 1984 yearbook page dedicated to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) depicting a man wearing blackface and another dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe sparked calls from both sides of the aisle for the governor to resign.

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe led the charge of lawmakers sounding off on Northam's next steps Sunday, which seemed unclear over the weekend as he initially admitted to being in the photo, before denying that it was him and saying he had once used shoe polish to darken his skin for a performance as Michael Jackson

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called for Northam's resignation shortly after the photo from Eastern Virginia Medical School's yearbook went viral Friday and into Saturday, though the governor said in a press conference that he had no intention do so, as it would be avoiding "an honest conversation about harmful actions from the past."

McAuliffe said on CNN's "State of the Union" that the damage done by the picture would leave Northam no choice but to resign.

"Once that picture with the blackface and klansman came out there is no way you can continue to be the governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia," McAuliffe said.  

The former governor called Northam "a good, moral, decent man," who "may have made some mistakes in his past," and despite the explanations he already made about the picture, will likely resign soon.

"We all have made mistakes," McAuliffe said. "Ralph will do the right thing for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He will put Virginia first. And I think that will happen relatively soon."

McAuliffe also took issue with Northam's delayed denial of being in the picture, saying on CNN Sunday the governor should have "come out immediately" with an explanation.

"You know if you put black paint on your face," he said. "You know if you put a hood on. And so if it isn't you, you come out with immediately and say this is not me."

Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus echoed calls for Northam's resignation, with Virginia Rep. Donald McEachin saying that though he was grateful for the governor's leadership, Northam had "lost the authority to govern" and should resign in "the best interest of the Commonwealth" and the Democratic party.

The CBC's Rep. Karen Bass called Northam's handling of the situation "completely dishonest and disingenuous" and out of step with African American leaders when he knew of the picture's existence.

"He knew this picture was there and he could have come clean and talked to African-Americans that he's close to decades ago," Bass said. "And I think given the overall climate around race in this country, especially over the last two years, it's completely unacceptable."

Read more: 'No defense for that shockingly racist photograph': Democrats are calling for Gov. Ralph Northam's resignation after he appears in racist 1984 yearbook photo

One of Northam's few public defenders former Virginia Rep. Jim Moran also spoke out Sunday, saying that Northam's track record is in tune with the realities facing African Americans, and his story should offer the hope of "redemption." He is one of the few that said the governor shouldn't resign.

"Even if the worst case scenario is true, I think there is an issue of redemption. Redemption is a very powerful factor in what people are able to accomplish," Moran said on ABC's "This Week."

"Ralph understands the endemic racism that has been part of Virginia's society for so long," Moran said, pointing to the 400-year history of slavery in Virginia. "He understands that legacy better than many people are able to and I think we ought to give him an opportunity."

Northam's bungled explanation seemed to be the central issue taken by lawmakers and interest groups against the governor's next steps. NAACP President Derrick Johnson said on ABC's "This Week" that Northam should resign whether he's in the photo or not, because he never disclosed its existence.

"Whether he actively participated or passively was present, he not one time up until this point acknowledged that this took place, objected to that behavior, or stated that, ‘I had a different upbringing and I was part of a southern culture that embraced this racist, vile behavior and I'm a changed man now,'" Johnson said.

Johnson added that among others who have sought public office, many have proactively disclosed problematic issues and begun work reparative work with the relevant community.

SEE ALSO: How Virginia Governor Ralph Northam went from being a respected US Army veteran and physician to being embroiled in two national controversies

DON'T MISS: Another photo in Gov. Ralph Northam's 1984 yearbook shows a man in blackface

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NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

Trump says sending troops to Venezuela amid a deepening economic and political crisis is 'an option'

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  • President Donald Trump said Sunday that sending the military to Venezuela was "an option" to increase pressure on socialist leader Nicolas Maduro to hand over power to opposition leader Juan Guaido.
  • The United States, Canada, and several Latin American countries have disavowed Maduro over his disputed re-election last year and recognize opposition leader and self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido as the rightful leader.
  • Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of various Venezuelan cities over the weekend to push for Guaido's takeover. 

US President Donald Trump said that sending troops to Venezuela was "an option" as Western nations boost pressure on socialist leader Nicolas Maduro to hand over power to opposition leader and self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido.

The United States, Canada, and several Latin American countries have disavowed Maduro over his disputed re-election last year and recognize Guaido as the rightful leader of the economically troubled OPEC nation.

Maduro, however, still has the powerful backing of Russia, China, and Turkey, whose foreign minister said on Sunday that Western meddling was fueling Venezuela's troubles and punishing millions of its people.

In an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Trump reiterated that military intervention was a possibility.

"Certainly, it's something that's on the - it's an option," Trump said, adding that Maduro requested a meeting months ago.

"I've turned it down because we're very far along in the process," he said in a CBS "Face the Nation" interview. "So, I think the process is playing out - very, very big tremendous protests."

Growing pressure

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of various Venezuelan cities on Saturday to protest Maduro's government and a senior air force general recognized interim-chief Guaido.

France and Austria said on Sunday they would recognize Guaido if Maduro did not respond to the European Union's call for a free and fair presidential election by Sunday night.

The Trump administration last week issued crippling sanctions that are likely to further weaken the country's struggling oil industry.

While that could weaken Maduro, it risks also exacerbating Venezuela's economic collapse. Venezuela is suffering from medicine shortages, high malnutrition, and hyperinflation that has prompted millions to emigrate in recent years.

Read more: The odds of a military coup in Venezuela rise every day Maduro stays in office

Venezuela's ambassador to Iraq, Jonathan Velasco, became the latest of a handful of officials to defect from Maduro's government this weekend in a video published on social media on Saturday.

Guaido told his supporters in a major rally in Caracas on Saturday that he would on Sunday announce when they would seek to bring in international humanitarian aid from Colombia, Brazil, and a Caribbean island.

It is unclear whether Maduro's government, which denies the country is suffering a humanitarian crisis, will let any foreign aid through.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told countries at the United Nations earlier this month to "pick a side" on Venezuela, urging them to back Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and calling for free and fair elections as soon as possible.

"Now it is time for every other nation to pick a side ... Either you stand with the forces of freedom, or you're in league with Maduro and his mayhem," Pompeo told the council, later referring to the country as an "illegitimate mafia state."

Guaido, who took the helm of the National Assembly on Jan. 5, proclaimed himself interim president though Maduro, who has led the oil-rich nation since 2013 and has the support of the armed forces, has refused to stand down.

Maduro cruised to re-election in May 2018 amid low turnout and allegations of vote-buying . The domestic opposition, the United States, and right-leaning Latin American governments declined to recognize the result of the vote.

Under Maduro, Venezuela has sunk into turmoil with food shortages and daily protests amid an economic and political crisis that has sparked mass emigration and inflation that is seen rising to 10 million percent this year.

(Reuter reporting by Lucia Mutikani and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

SEE ALSO: Trump doubles down on criticism of US intelligence while GOP lawmakers call for him to stop

DON'T MISS: Trump said 'you have to get rid of' the Russia probe and parroted a Kremlin talking point in a wide-ranging interview

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Bitcoin 101: Your essential guide to cryptocurrency

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A collection of Bitcoin (virtual currency) tokens are displayed in this picture illustration taken December 8, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Illustration

Bitcoin is everywhere.

The cryptocurrency is seemingly in the news every day as investors and businesses try to understand the future of this digital finance.

But what is Bitcoin all about?

Why is it suddenly on every financial news program?

And what does it mean to you?

Find out the answers to these questions and more in Bitcoin 101, a brand new FREE report from Business Insider Intelligence.

To get your copy of the FREE slide deck, simply click here.

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Tom Brady considered transferring in college but instead accepted the challenge of getting better and becoming the starter

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Tom Brady

  • Tom Brady was drafted out of the University of Michigan by the New England Patriots, leading to one of the most successful runs in NFL history.
  • It almost never happened as Brady was low on the depth chart and considered transferring to Cal to be closer to home.
  • Instead, Brady stuck it out and viewed the depth chart as a challenge he was going to overcome.

Quarterbacks transferring schools for greener pastures and more opportunities has become the standard in college football, but Tom Brady is one example of how sticking it out can pay off big time.

The New England Patriots famously drafted Brady with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft, and while there was more to that move than luck, Brady might not have even been at the University of Michigan if not for his hyper-competitive nature.

During Brady's freshman year, he was fourth on the depth chart at Michigan, behind future NFL quarterbacks Scott Dreisbach and Brian Griese, and Jason Carr, the son of head coach Lloyd Carr. Brady never saw the field and was redshirted.

Tom BradyThings weren't much better Brady's second year. Carr had graduated, but Brady was still behind Dreisbach and Griese, and he threw just five passes during the season.

At some point, Brady considered transferring to Cal, the school close to home that many had expected him to commit to in high school. In the book, "Belichick and Brady," Michael Holley explains that Brady instead chose to face the depth chart as a challenge he was going to win.

"He briefly thought of leaving Michigan and transferring to Cal, the school most people expected him to attend after high school. But the challenge, or the need, of getting to the top of that depth chart was far greater than the urge to go back home and play. People were too caught up in appearances. They didn't understand that this place, the anti-California, was home now. He was going to play at Michigan. It was another competition, climbing that chart, and thus another opportunity for him to get a win. All he had to do was make everyone see it and get it."

And climb that depth chart he did.

In Brady's third year, Carr named Griese the starter for the eventual national champions, but Brady beat out Dreisbach for the backup spot. 

The following season, Brady won the starting job, beating out Dreisbach and highly touted freshman Drew Henson. Two years later the Patriots drafted him and started one of the most successful runs in NFL history.

Read more: Tom Brady was the biggest steal in NFL Draft history, but there was more to it than just luck

Who knows what would have happened if Brady had transferred to Cal — Cal QBs do have a long and successful history in the NFL — but in recent seasons, quarterbacks who switch schools because they are not starting feels like the norm.

Read more: The college programs that have produced the most Super Bowl starting quarterbacks

When Kelly Bryant lost the job at Clemson to Trevor Lawrence, he left the school and transferred to Missouri. Likewise, Jacob Eason, a former 5-star recruit at Georgia, left for Washington after losing his job to Jake Fromm. Georgia also lost former No. 1 recruit Justin Fields to Ohio State. Texas will lose two quarterbacks this offseason to transfers, and nearly lost a third when Casey Thompson entered his name in the transfer database, but ultimately decided to stay. 

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to transferring as every situation is different, and it is good that players have a little more freedom these days to do what they think is best for their future.

But the last 19 years in the NFL might have been a lot different if Brady had given up on Michigan and gone home.

  

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Early adopters of AI in transportation and logistics already enjoy profit margins greater than 5% — while non-adopters are in the red

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AI Drive Revenue

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

Major logistics providers have long relied on analytics and research teams to make sense of the data they generate from their operations.

But with volumes of data growing, and the insights that can be gleaned becoming increasingly varied and granular, these companies are starting to turn to artificial intelligence (AI) computing techniques, like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, to streamline and automate various processes. These techniques teach computers to parse data in a contextual manner to provide requested information, supply analysis, or trigger an event based on their findings. They are also uniquely well suited to rapidly analyzing huge data sets, and have a wide array of applications in different aspects of supply chain and logistics operations.

AI’s ability to streamline so many supply chain and logistics functions is already delivering a competitive advantage for early adopters by cutting shipping times and costs. A cross-industry study on AI adoption conducted in early 2017 by McKinsey found that early adopters with a proactive AI strategy in the transportation and logistics sector enjoyed profit margins greater than 5%. Meanwhile, respondents in the sector that had not adopted AI were in the red.

However, these crucial benefits have yet to drive widespread adoption. Only 21% of the transportation and logistics firms in McKinsey’s survey had moved beyond the initial testing phase to deploy AI solutions at scale or in a core part of their business. The challenges to AI adoption in the field of supply chain and logistics are numerous and require major capital investments and organizational changes to overcome.

In a new report, BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, explores the vast impact that AI techniques like machine learning will have on the supply chain and logistics space. We detail the myriad applications for these computational techniques in the industry, and the adoption of those different applications. We also share some examples of companies that have demonstrated success with AI in their supply chain and logistics operations. Lastly, we break down the many factors that are holding organizations back from implementing AI projects and gaining the full benefits of this disruptive technology.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

  • The current interest in and early adoption of AI systems is being driven by several key factors, including increased demands from shippers, recent technological breakthroughs, and significant investments in data visibility by the industry’s largest players.
  • AI can deliver enormous benefits to supply chain and logistics operations, including cost reductions through reduced redundancies and risk mitigation, improved forecasting, faster deliveries through more optimized routes, improved customer service, and more.
  • Legacy players face many substantial obstacles to deploying and reaping the benefits of AI systems, though, including data accessibility and workforce challenges.
  • AI adoption in the logistics industry is strongly skewed toward the biggest players, because overcoming these major challenges requires costly investments in updating IT systems and breaking down data silos, as well as hiring expensive teams of data scientists.
  • Although AI implementations are unlikely to result in large-scale workforce reductions in the near term, companies still need to develop strategies to address how workers' roles will change as AI systems automate specific functions.

 In full, the report:

  • Details the factors driving adoption of AI systems in the supply chain and logistics field.
  • Examines the benefits that AI can deliver in reducing costs and shipping times for supply chain and logistics operations.
  • Explains the many challenges companies face in implementing AI in their supply chain and logistics operations to reap the benefits of this transformational technology.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

  1. Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >>Learn More Now
  2. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now

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A photo of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell posing with confederate flag is circulating online again

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mitch McConnell confederate flag

  • A picture has resurfaced of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell posing in front of a Confederate flag
  • The picture is from the 1990s. 
  • It's not the first time the picture has circulated online. It first appeared in 2015.
  • This comes shortly after Virginia governor Ralph Northam came under fire for racist yearbook photos.

Over the weekend, a picture of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell posing in front of a Confederate flag began to circulate online. The picture shows McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, in front of a large flag Confederate flag holding a plaque. It has been widely reshared on Twitter.

Read more: How Virginia Governor Ralph Northam went from being a respected US Army veteran and physician to being embroiled in two national controversies

The emergence of the photo comes after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has been embroiled in a controversy involving a racist yearbook spread from 1984. A page devoted to the Democrat shows one man wearing blackface and another dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe. Northam is facing bi-partisan calls for resignation but refuses to step down.

Users posting the McConnell photo are seemingly comparing the two incidents. 

It's not the first time this picture has surfaced. 

In February 2017, Snopes found that the picture was taken sometime in the early 90s at the Big Springs Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. According to The Hill Reporter, which looked into the photo when it circulated in January, the picture was first posted online in 2015 on a poetry blog called the Political Poet. The image appears alongside a poem entitled "Rebel Yell" about "turncoat politicians."

David Popp, a spokesperson for McConnell, told INSIDER that "picture is apparently from a Sons of Confederate Veterans event 30 years ago or so."

Popp also referred INSIDER to McConnell's position on the Confederate flag, as outlined in a 2015 press release.

"The Confederate Battle Flag means different things to different people, but the fact that it continues to be a painful reminder of racial oppression to many suggests to me at least that it’s time to move beyond it, and that the time for a state to fly it has long since passed," the senator said in a June 2015 statement. "There should be no confusion in anyone’s mind that as a people we’re united in our determination to put that part of our history behind us."

Since then, McConnel has been supportive of removing the Confederate flag from government sites across the country as well as some Confederate monuments.

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The future of artificial intelligence in retail

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Hype around artificial intelligence has never been higher — and one industry where it has a chance to make a major impact on profits is retail.The Future of Retail 2018: Artificial Intelligence

Business Insider Intelligence projects that AI will boost profitability in retail and wholesale by nearly 60% by 2035, setting off a wave of excitement and investment among companies.

The areas where AI will have its biggest impact are personalization, search and chatbots.

But as hype and misunderstanding continue to build, it’s become harder than ever to keep sight of the true disruptive potential of AI.

Find out how AI is being implemented in these three areas and how each one can impact revenue in this new FREE slide deck from Business Insider Intelligence.

In this third and final installment of the three-part Future of Retail 2018 series, Business Insider Intelligence takes a hard look at the retail use cases where AI can make an impact, explores noteworthy examples of retailers implementing the technology, and weighs the benefits of investing in AI today.

As an added bonus, you will gain immediate access to our exclusive Business Insider Intelligence Daily newsletter.

To get your copy of the third part of this FREE slide deck, simply click here.

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What you should know about 'Abducted in Plain Sight,' the true crime documentary leaving infuriated Netflix viewers on the edge of their seats

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Abducted in plain sight photo

  • The documentary tells the story of Jan Broberg being kidnapped by a family friend at age 12 — and then again at age 14.
  • The documentary is filled with new twists, secrets, and shocking moments, as well as recent interviews from the Broberg family. 
  • The true crime story is consistently described as "stranger than fiction."

Whether you've seen the passionate reaction tweets from viewers or just scrolled past the title on Netflix a few hundred times, if you've been online you've probably heard something or other about the new documentary that began airing on the streaming service this January.

True crime stories are ever-popular, but "Abducted in Plain Sight" manages to stand out, even despite its being added to Netflix in such a close timeframe with the also-popular true crime docu-series "The Ted Bundy Tapes," about the notorious serial killer.

One possible reason this documentary stands out is that the crime's main victim, Jan Broberg, appears as an interview subject. We know she has survived the events that occurred, so the suspense isn't around what happened but rather how it happened. And rather than merely a voiceless girl in a picture, Jan is present to speak for herself. 

Here's what you should know about "Abducted in Plain Sight" and why it has many frustrated viewers glued to the edge of their seats.

The documentary, directed by Skye Borgman, tells the story of a crime that happened "in plain sight" 

"Abducted in Plain Sight" tells the story of how in the 1970s, Jan Broberg — now an actress who you may have seen in "Iron Man 3,""Criminal Minds," and more — was abducted by a trusted neighbor and family friend named Robert Berchtold at age 12 and then again at age 14. 

The documentary has been referred to by some as "stranger than fiction" and it's easy to tell why. 

Without spoiling too much, the story is one of a trusting family that has been manipulated by a family friend who was fixated on their daughter. But the story isn't quite so simple and it's filled with lies, denial, schemes, and nearly unbelievable twists.

Lucas Mirabella of LA TV and FILM called the documentary "disturbing at times, infuriating at others," which seems to reflect how many viewers have responded. Jamie Lee Curtis Taete, a reporter at Vice, also dubbed it "one of the wildest, most frustrating films [he has] ever seen."

Of course, to understand exactly what happened and how it happened, you've just got to watch the film.

The documentary features reenactments of the harrowing events as well as recent interviews with the Broberg family, including Jan  

Abducted in plain sight filmingThe documentary is a mixture of realistic-looking reenactments of the events that transpired as well as harrowing interviews from Jan, her family, and other individuals who were involved in the case.

From the film's beginning, it's impressed upon viewers that the Brobergs and their neighbors and friends, the Berchtolds, were living an idyllic suburban life in Idaho, the kind where "nobody locks their door," surrounded by their trusted church community.

As the horrific events unravel in the documentary, it's clear that there's a lot to this story. At one point, false threats from aliens are used as a cruel manipulation tactic. At other points, affairs, sexual favors, and crossed paths are revealed that once again throw off viewers who thought they'd had the case cracked. 

With the witness testimony and FBI documentation, the events portrayed in the documentary are still shocking

Jan broberg abudcted in plain sightIt's this hard-to-believe factor that has viewers hooked on the documentary about how someone close to a family can manipulate and scheme his way into their lives. Although the evidence is presented throughout the film, many who watched seemed to still be in shock at how the harrowing events took place. 

With real-life interviews with the Broberg family, realistic reenactments of the past events, and secrets revealed at every turn, the documentary has kept many on the edge of their seat. 

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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AI in Marketing: How brands can improve personalization, enhance ad targeting, and make their marketing teams more agile

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fastest growing tech AI

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

Artificial intelligence (AI), often used as an umbrella term to describe types of technology that can simulate human intelligence, is one of today’s hottest topics across a number of business sectors. AI techniques teach computers to parse data in a contextual manner to provide requested information, supply analysis, or trigger an event based on their findings.

Marketers are already leveraging the power of AI to glean valuable insights about their customers, automate tasks, and improve workflows. Just over half (51%) of marketers currently use AI, and an additional 27% are expected to incorporate the technology by 2019, according to Salesforce. This represents the highest anticipated year-over-year (YoY) growth of any leading technology that marketers expect to adopt in the next year, beating out the Internet of Things and marketing automation. And, as the volume of consumer-generated data grows, AI computing techniques — like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP) — will become increasingly important to data-driven decision-making.

In a new report, Business Insider Intelligence examines the current and potential applications of AI within marketing. We dive into how AI enhances personalization, and identify the best practices for marketers looking to integrate the nascent tech into their strategies. We also look at how marketers cam implement AI to better target audiences, gain a competitive edge, and analyze data from social platforms. Finally, we evaluate how these applications will transform — and enhance — the way marketers analyze data, conduct burdensome tasks, and create content. 

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

  • AI is advancing beyond data analysis and moving rapidly into data generation, as machines get better at automating two basic human senses: sight and hearing. Gleaning insights from data-rich media like voice and video is now possible, and humans no longer have to manually categorize or describe various types of media.
  • AI will transform marketers from reactive to proactive planners. The enhanced analytics that AI provides will help marketers more efficiently plan and execute campaigns in three main areas: segmentation, tracking, and keyword tagging.
  • However, the rapid pace of innovation is contributing to marketers’ sense of unpreparedness for AI implementation and future use cases. When asked to choose which trending technology they felt most unprepared for, 34% of global marketing executives chose AI, the most of any option, according to Conductor.
  • AI will aid in content creation, but human marketers are still necessary. It’s still early days for marketers to use AI to automatically create editorial content or stitch together the right image with the right messaging for display ads. Machines will help cut down on production time, but humans are needed for their creative juices.

In full, the report:

  • Discusses the top use cases for AI in marketing and examines those with the greatest potential in the next few years. 
  • Breaks down how the role of marketers will evolve once AI automates remedial tasks. 
  • Explores how the customer experience is becoming more personalized, relevant, and timely. 
  • Provides potential roadmaps for companies that are beginning to invest in AI and machine learning.

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Deutsche Bank reportedly scrambled to jettison a $600 million loan it made to a Russian state-owned bank in 2016, amid questions over election meddling

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  • Deutsche Bank tried to jettison a $600 million loan it made in 2016 to VTB Group, a Russian state-owned bank, The Wall Street Journal reports.
  • VTB Group is majority-owned by the Russian government, and is subject to sanctions levied by the US and Europe over Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. 
  • The report came the same day that The New York Times reported that Deutsche turned down a loan request from Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Deutsche Bank tried to jettison a $600 million loan it made in 2016 to VTB Group, a Russian state-owned bank, amid questions over Russia's meddling in the 2016 election that made Donald Trump president, The Wall Street Journal reports

Deutsche sold $300 million of the loan to Alfa Bank in December 2016, and wasn't able to sell the rest of loan, according to The Journal. VTB Group paid the rest of loan back in full in August 2017.

VTB, which is majority-owned by the Russian government, has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The bank was, and still is, subject to 2014 sanctions levied by the US and Europe over Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Read more: Deutsche Bank reportedly refused Trump a loan during the 2016 campaign after considering the possibility that they would have to seize assets of a president

The sanctions complicated Deutsche's ability to sell off the loan, the Journal reports. A spokesman for Deutsche Bank was not immediately available for comment. 

According to the Journal report, Deutsche sought to reduce its connections to Russian entities after the country's government was accussed of meddling in the 2016 election. 

Felix Sater, a longtime Trump business associate, told former Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen in 2015 that VTB was willing to finance the construction of a Trump Tower in Moscow, per texts surfaced by The Washington Post.

deutsche bank

The House Intelligence Committee and House Financial Services Committee are preparing to investigate Deutsche Banks activity amid broader questions over Trump's ties to Russia. 

Deutsche Bank has a long and often tumultuous history with President Trump. During the 2016 election, Deutsche Bank refused Trump an expansion on a loan to finance work on his golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, The New York Times reported on Saturday. 

The bank concluded that Trump's campaign rhetoric made him a risky borrower, and public knowledge of the loan arrangement could hurt the bank's reputation. They also weighed the risks of the possibility that the bank would have to seize a president's assets in the event of a loan default, the Times reported.

Deutsche Bank's shares have fallen close to 50% over the last twelve months — spurred by two bank raids in the past year — reaching record lows. 

SEE ALSO: Deutsche Bank reportedly refused Trump a loan during the 2016 campaign after considering the possibility that they would have to seize assets of a president

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The way most Americans buy a home could be one of their biggest hurdles to getting rich, says an author who studied 10,000 millionaires

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  • The 30-year mortgage is one reason why most people don't become millionaires, according to author Chris Hogan, who surveyed 10,000 American millionaires.
  • He did the math: A homeowner with a $225,000 mortgage at a 4% interest rate could save more than $87,000 in interest by opting for a 15-year fixed mortgage over a 30-year fixed mortgage.
  • To be like the average millionaire and pay off your mortgage early, Hogan recommends following a strategy he calls the Purchase Price Paydown method.
  • The method suggests using the first three numbers of the purchase price — 2-5-0 in the example above— to make an extra monthly payment. In this case, it should be $250.

One of the most common decisions people make when buying a home can also prevent them from building wealth.

"If you want to know why most people don't become millionaires, look no further than the 30-year mortgage," wrote Chris Hogan in his book,"Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth — and How You Can Too." In partnership with the Dave Ramsey research team, he studied 10,000 American millionaires (defined as those with a net worth of at least $1 million) for seven months.

"People throw away tens — even hundreds — of thousands of dollars on these loans without ever stopping to do the math," Hogan wrote. According to Freddie Mac, around 90% of US homebuyers opt for a 30-year mortgage.

Of course there are a host of other factors, like income level and spending patterns, contributing to someone's ability to become a millionaire, but according to Hogan's research, the average millionaire paid off their house in 11 years and 67% live in homes with paid-off mortgages. This puts their home entirely in the asset column of their net worth and wipes their biggest debt off the liability column, he said. 

"On average, one-third of a millionaire's net worth comes from their primary residence," he wrote. "So, if you're sitting in a paid-for $250,000 home, that entire $250,000 counts toward your net worth. If you've got that plus $650,000 in retirement accounts, you're a millionaire!"

Hogan calculated the difference between a 30-year mortgage and a 15-year mortgage of $225,000.

For a $225,000, 30-year mortgage with a 4% fixed interest rate:

  • The monthly payment (principal and interest) is $1,074.
  • After 10 years, you would have paid $128,880 with a remaining balance of $177,264.
  • The interest paid at this point is $81,000 — and you still have 20 years to go.
  • After 30 years, the total interest paid would be $161,640.

For a $225,000, 15-year mortgage with 4% fixed interest rate:

  • A monthly payment (principal and interest) is $1,664 — $590 more a month than the 30-year rate mortgage.
  • But after 10 years, you would have paid $134,631 with a remaining balance of $90,369.
  • The interest paid at this point is $65,049 — and you only have five years left.
  • After 15 years, the total interest paid is $74,520 — about $87,000 less than the 30-year loan.

Not only would you pay less interest in the latter scenario, but you would have paid off almost twice as much of the principal balance after ten years. Further, the difference in interest paid could have been put toward your net worth or into investments, Hogan said.

"Going against the flow and choosing a 15-year loan would have saved you more than $87,000 and would have put you in a paid-for home in half the time," he wrote. However, that's if you can afford it —  30-year, fixed-rate mortgages are especially appealing to homebuyers because of the comparatively low monthly payment, according to Freddie Mac.

To pay off a mortgage early, live in a home you can easily afford and pay extra each month

If you want to strategize like a millionaire and pay off your home in less than 15 years, consider Hogan's Purchase Price Paydown method:

Assume you have a mortgage of $250,000. Use the first three numbers of the purchase price — 2-5-0 — to make an extra monthly payment. In this case, it should be $250.

If you pay that much extra every month, you'll pay off a 30-year mortgage eight-and-a-half years faster. On a 15-year mortgage, you'll pay it off a little more than two years faster. If you double that payment to $500, the 30-year mortgage gets paid off 13 years faster and the 15-year mortgage four years faster.

The early payoff timeline works for mortgages under $1 million, Hogan said, but most millionaires don't have a mortgage that high. The average millionaire lives in a modest home, according to Hogan's research. They also live in a ZIP code where home values are below the national average of $205,000, and more than half live in neighborhoods where the average household income is $75,000 or less. 

Read more: A woman who studied 600 millionaires discovered where you choose to live has 2 effects on your ability to build wealth

That's smart considering that where you live plays a huge role in how much you save and spend, according to Sarah Stanley Fallaw, the director of research for the Affluent Market Institute and coauthor of "The Next Millionaire Next Door: Enduring Strategies for Building Wealth."

She found that if you live in a pricey home in an affluent neighborhood, you're more likely to mirror your neighbors' consumption habits, affecting your ability to accumulate wealth over time. 

Living in a home you can easily afford is the key to building wealth, Stanley Fallaw said.

"Keeping housing costs low is smart, no matter how much money you have," wrote Business Insider's Lauren Lyons Cole, a certified financial planner. "The best financial move you can make is to literally move to a less expensive home."

SEE ALSO: An author who surveyed over 10,000 millionaires found the qualities that make them successful hinge on a distinct behavior

DON'T MISS: An author who studied over 10,000 millionaires says those planning to retire early often overlook a crucial step

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A new 'Avengers: Endgame' teaser trailer just dropped during the Super Bowl and Captain America is not happy

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  • Disney and Marvel just surprised everyone with a new look at "Avengers: Endgame" during the Super Bowl.
  • Directors Anthony and Joe Russo teased a trailer may be coming on social media before the start of the game.
  • "Avengers: Endgame" will follow the events of "Avengers: Infinity War" as Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), and more of the heroes are trying to undo the devastating effects of the Thanos (Josh Brolin) snap in the last movie.
  • After gathering the Infinity stones, Thanos wiped out half the universe with a snap of his fingers. Black Panther, Spider-Man, and almost all of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" crew have been wiped out.
  • "Avengers: Endgame" will hit theaters April 26, 2019. What are you waiting for? Watch the teaser below! 

You can follow along with all of our Super Bowl 2019 coverage here.

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Here's the haunting teaser trailer for 'The Handmaid's Tale' season 3, which just aired during the Super Bowl

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  • Hulu aired a haunting new teaser trailer for the next season of its hit show, "The Handmaid's Tale," during the Super Bowl in which the show's lead, June (Elisabeth Moss), asks America to "wake up."
  • If it looks familiar, it should. INSIDER was told the Super Bowl ad was inspired by Ronald Reagan's "Morning in America" campaign commercial
  • Season three of the Golden Globe-winning show will go off book as it follows June's continuing resistance of the dystopian regime of Gilead. 
  • Christopher Meloni ("Law & Order: SVU") joins the show this season as Commander Winslow, who hosts the Waterfords during an important trip. Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Bradley Whitford, and Ann Dowd are all among returning cast for the new season.
  • Season three of "The Handmaid's Tale" will premiere on Hulu this year. Watch the Super Bowl ad below.

If you need to catch up on "The Handmaid's Tale," both seasons are currently streaming on Hulu. You can also check out a trailer condensing both seasons together here.

You can follow along with all of our Super Bowl 2019 coverage here.

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SUPER BOWL LIII: We are tracking the big plays and moments everybody will be talking about

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  • The New England Patriots are taking on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.
  • It is a clash of the NFL's most dominant franchise and the new kids on the block.
  • Check out all of INSIDER's Super Bowl coverage here.

Super Bowl LIII is here as the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams will play for the Lombardi Trophy.

The game between the two conference champs will take place at the stunning Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Below, we are tracking the big moments and plays that everybody will be talking about on Monday.

The celebrities came out to the game, including Kevin Hart, Ludacris, Ellie Kemper in a frankenjersey, and Conor McGregor with his son in matching suits.



It wouldn't be a Super Bowl without Tom Brady yelling "LET'S GO!" after running onto the field.



The roof was opened before the game but was closed for the actual game.



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Celebrities sent Colin Kaepernick messages of support ahead of Super Bowl LIII

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  • While millions of Americans tune in to watch Tom Brady and Jared Goff face off in Super Bowl LIII, some big names have shifted their attention to a player who won't be on the field.
  • In the past week, a number of celebrities have sent messages of support to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who became famous for kneeling during the national anthem before games in protest of racial inequality.
  • Check out which celebrities have shown their support for Kaepernick and read all of INSIDER's Super Bowl LIII coverage here:

More than 100 million Americans will tune in to watch the likes of Tom Brady and Jared Goff compete in Super Bowl LIII, but some others are focused on one player who won't be on the field Sunday night.

In the past week, a number of celebrities have sent messages of support to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick — who became famous for kneeling during the national anthem before games in protest of racial inequality — has not played in the league since 2016 and has filed a lawsuit accusing NFL owners of colluding to keep him unsigned.

From wearing Kaepernick's merchandise to refusing to watch the Big Game, check out which big names have publicly supported the former NFL star in the run-up to the Super Bowl.

Famous political and civil rights activist Angela Davis took a photo wearing Kaepernick merchandise.

Rapper Common posted a picture with Davis in a Kaepernick jersey on Twitter just hours before the Super Bowl kicked off. 

Celtics star Jaylen Brown wore the same jersey before Boston's Sunday matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ten-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant was spotted wearing one as well.

And Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James also showed his support with a Kaepernick jersey.

Rapper Chamillionaire posed with Stephen Curry while wearing Kaepernick merchandise this week.

And singer Trey Songz also got in on the action.

Ana Duvernay took to Twitter to announce that she would not be watching the Super Bowl in a show of support for Kaepernick.

Actress Zendaya also voiced her support.

 

And Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid also posted a photo touting Kaepernick gear.

 

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Super Bowl LIII brought out a ton of celebrities — here are the biggest stars we saw

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  • Atlanta, Georgia hosts Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.
  • Football fans from around the world are in attendance, including legends of the sport and numerous celebrities.
  • Below we're tracking the biggest stars at the big game.

The New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams meet in Atlanta, Georgia to play in Super Bowl LIII, battling for the right to call themselves champions and lift the Lombardi Trophy.

Naturally, football fans from around the world are in attendance, including former MVPs, television and movie stars, and musicians.

Below we're tracking the biggest stars in attendance at the big game.

Conor McGregor



Jon Bon Jovi



Kevin Hart



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THE GLOBAL E-COMMERCE LANDSCAPE: How emerging markets will transform the future of online shopping

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

Emerging markets are going to be essential for e-commerce growth, as retailers in developed markets may soon reach saturation in terms of consumer growth.

APAC CAGR

For example, almost half of US households now have a Prime membership, diminishing Amazon's growth potential in the country. Meanwhile, in China, the world's largest e-commerce market, nearly half of the population is actively making online purchases, leaving little room for growth. 

However, India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America are worth keeping an eye on. E-commerce penetration rates in these areas hover between 2-6%, presenting a huge opportunity for future growth as online sales gain traction. Moreover, these regions are expected to grow at compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of 31%, 32%, and 16%, respectively, through 2021.

This report compiles several e-commerce snapshots, which together highlight the most notable emerging markets in various regions. Each provides an overview of the e-commerce industry in a particular country, discusses influential retailers, and provides insights into the opportunities and challenges for that specific domestic industry.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

  • Emerging markets are going to be essential for e-commerce growth, as retailers in developed markets may soon reach saturation in terms of consumer growth.
  • India is the clear overall leader in e-commerce potential, but countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America are also worth keeping an eye on. Within Southeast Asia, Indonesia shows the most promise for retailers, as the government is loosening restrictions on foreign investments, and its massive population is gaining spending power and more access to internet. Meanwhile, Mexico is a retailer's best bet for expansion in Latin America, due to its stable economy and rising middle class, but Brazil may be gearing up to steal the top spot.
  • However, doing business in these regions can be difficult. In most of these emerging markets, infrastructure is underdeveloped and the population is largely unbanked, making digital payments a challenge.
  • If retailers can build a brand presence in these markets while online shopping is still in its nascent stages, they may become market leaders as e-commerce takes off in the regions. Moreover, these markets could provide new sources of growth for companies that would otherwise stagnate in more mature e-commerce markets.

 In full, the report:

  • Explores the e-commerce industry in India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
  • Highlights the leading country in each region, as well as key e-commerce players there. 
  • Outlines the challenges and opportunities each region faces.
  • Gives insight into how these emerging markets may shape the future of e-commerce.

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A new 'Captain Marvel' teaser trailer dropped during the Super Bowl and it shows the hero in action

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  • We're getting spoiled by Marvel during the 2019 Super Bowl. After releasing a new teaser for "Avengers: Endgame," the studio dropped a trailer for "Captain Marvel."
  • The superhero movie will take place in the '90s, before the events of other Marvel films, and star Samuel L. Jackson who helps Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) navigate life as a superhero after she's reborn with super powers.
  • The film will also star Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Annette Bening, and Clark Gregg.
  • "Captain Marvel" will be in theaters Friday, March 8, 2019. Watch the trailer below.

You can follow along with all of our Super Bowl 2019 coverage here.

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