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  • 60 Insanely Cheap Things That Are Getting Super Popular — & Wow They’re Clever

    60 Insanely Cheap Things That Are Getting Super Popular — & Wow They’re Clever

    Shopping

    These popular Amazon faves may be super cheap — they start at $7 — but they’re also genius.

    by Rebecca Martinson

    We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

    Popularity goes a long way toward figuring out if a product online is worth the buy. When thousands of people are adding to cart, chances are it’s a solid bet. And if it’s clever and also wildly cheap? That hits the online shopping trifecta. To make things easy, I’ve filled this list with items that are not only getting super popular on Amazon, but are so genius you’ll get a ton of use out of them — and they’re budget-friendly to boot. So feel free to load that cart up.

    01A strap that lets you secure extra bags to your suitcase

    You don’t have to lug around that hefty tote bag as you walk through the airport. Instead, use this strap to secure it around your suitcase handles. It can expand up to 59 inches long, making it suitable for bags both large and small. Plus, the buckle is made from stainless steel that’s unlikely to rust over time.

    02A sunrise alarm clock that helps wake you up gently

    Waking up to a blaring alarm is no way to start your morning, so why not upgrade to this sunrise alarm clock? It gradually grows brighter and brighter, waking you up gently similar to how the sun would do naturally. Plus, the backup alarm ensures that you’ll wake up on time if the light doesn’t do the trick.

    03This 18-in-1 multitool that fits in your wallet

    Not only does this multitool combine a ruler, box opener, screwdriver, can opener, as well as 15 other gadgets into one credit card-sized tool, but it’s also made from heat-treated steel that’s unlikely to bend or rust over time. Its design is also blessedly TSA-approved, so there’s no need to worry about taking it through security with you.

    04A quick-drying stone bath mat that folds for storage

    Step off of those hard bathroom floors and onto this stylish bath mat. It’s made from absorbent diatomite stone that soaks up water, drying within just a few seconds so that mildew is unlikely to develop. The nonslip backing helps keep it from shifting around on smooth floors — and you can even use it as a dish drying mat in a pinch if needed.

    05Colorful bands that let you secure beach towels onto lounge chairs

    It’s almost impossible to sit up your lounge chair without your towel falling down — unless you have one of these bands. They’re essentially large rubber bands that can stretch around lounge chairs, securing your towel in place so that you aren’t left having to constantly adjust it. Plus, the silicone material is UV-resistant, making it less likely that they’ll deteriorate when left out in the sun for long periods of time.

    06A handy pouch that fits water bottles up to 64 ounces

    You won’t have to awkwardly lug around that large water bottle when you have this pouch. It fits bottles up to 64 ounces in size, letting you carry them crossbody style so that your hands stay free — and two bonus pockets even give you extra storage space for small items. Choose from dozens of colors: magenta, dark green, blue, and more.

    07A compact-yet-mighty desk fan with a wildly low price

    Whether your home office or bedroom could use a little airflow, this desk fan is an absolute steal for the price. It produces hardly any noise — so there’s no need to worry about it disturbing your work or sleep — and the compact size takes up hardly any space. Better yet, the battery lasts for up to 10 hours before it needs to be recharged.

    08The toothbrush holder that can also sanitize bristles

    Leaving toothbrushes sitting out on your countertops is an easy way to wind up with dirty bristles. Instead, keep them inside of this holder. The powerful UV light on the inside can eliminate up to 99% of bacteria to help keep your bristles clean. Plus, the battery lasts for up to a full month before it needs to be recharged.

    09The smart floor lamp that lights in over 15 million colors

    The trick to creating a cozy ambiance in any room is to layer your light sources. Enter: this floor lamp. It can light up in more than 15 million colors, all of which can be accessed via the convenient smartphone app. The music sync mode also allows it to change colors along with whatever song you have playing — and the compact base makes it easy to fit into tight spaces.

    10This travel-friendly iron with global voltage options

    My clothes always come out of my suitcase with more than a few wrinkles — which is only part of the reason why I’m a fan of this iron. The small size makes it easy to take with you, while dual voltage means you can use it in nearly any country around the globe. Plus, the nonstick soleplate won’t snag onto fabrics.

    11This hanging trash can that helps keep your car tidy

    Don’t let garbage accumulate on the floor of your car. Instead, toss it into this trash can. The leakproof interior helps keep your car clean from any wet items thrown inside, while a buckle strap on the back lets you secure it around your headrests. Choose from nine styles: sunflower print, beige, black, and more.

    12Activated carbon air filters that stick to your ceiling fan blades

    Breathe fresher air with help from these filters. They’re made from activated coconut carbon that traps a wide range of airborne particles and contaminants as they swish through the air — simply attach them to your ceiling fan blades using their adhesive backing and they’re ready to work.

    13The theft-deterrent clip that helps keep double-zippers shut

    Whether you want some extra protection on your double-zipper suitcase, or zippers on your backpack or luggage keep sliding open, this clip is a clever fix. It holds both zippers together to keep them securely closed — though you can just as easily use it as a replacement if a zipper tab happens to fall off. Choose from three finishes: black, gold, or silver.

    14An LED grow light that helps indoor plants thrive

    Consider this grow light a must-have if your home doesn’t get a ton of natural light. The LED bulb provides full-spectrum light, making it suitable for nearly any plant, at any point in the year, regardless of what growth stage they’re in. Plus, the 13-foot power cable makes it easy to use with distant outlets.

    15An easy-to-install door light that illuminates the keyhole

    You won’t be stuck fumbling around in the dark trying to fit a key into your deadbolt once you’ve installed this light. A built-in motion sensor automatically turns it on when your hand is near — and it only needs one AA battery (which is not included) in order to provide hours of light. Plus, installation is a total breeze using the included adhesive.

    16A fan-fave adult fidget toy that’s completely silent

    Unlike clunky fidget spinners, this adult fidget toy is completely silent, letting you burn off excess energy without creating any extra distractions. The compact body makes it suitable for hands both large and small. Thousands of reviewers also awarded it five stars, with one raving that “you can use it without drawing attention, whether you’re in a meeting or just relaxing at home.”

    17Under-the-bed storage bins that maximize space

    Don’t waste precious closet space storing seasonal garments and towels. Instead, transfer everything into these storage bins. Their low profile makes them easy to slide underneath your bed to help save space. And since the handles on every side are reinforced, you won’t have to worry about them ripping whenever you pull each bin out.

    18A simple mat that helps protect your washer & dryer from messes

    It’s easy to wind up with soap drips and dust on top of your washer or dryer, so why not help keep them clean by laying out this mat? The nonslip surface helps keep soap bottles from tipping over — and in the even that they do spill, the silicone material easily wipes clean with a damp rag.

    19A cordless vanity light that sticks on to install

    No hardwiring is required in order to set up this mirror light, as the built-in battery can keep it lit for up to a full week before it’ll need to be recharged. Mounting it overtop of your mirror is also a total breeze using the included adhesive. And unlike some lights, this one also features three adjustable light temperatures: warm white, bright white, or daylight.

    20Ceiling fan pulls that tells you which chain is which

    If you’re always yanking the wrong pull chain on your ceiling fan, consider labelling them using these fun ornaments. Each order comes with two: one with a light bulb, as well as a second with a small fan. The best part? Both pieces are made from durable copper that’s unlikely to fade or rust over time.

    21The magnetic strap that helps keep AirPods together

    If your AirPods often fall out of your ears, consider taking a look at this strap. It connects both buds together so that it’s harder for one of them to go missing if it happens to fall out of your ear — and the magnetic ends instantly stick to your earbuds without any adhesive or clips needed. “I love these to keep my airpods from falling out of my ears onto the floor,” wrote one reviewer.

    22A sleek power strip that sits flat against the wall

    Unlike some power strips, this one is made with a flat plug that sits flush against the wall, allowing you to press furniture right up against it without damaging the upholstery. The best part? Each order also includes a bonus kit to help you secure the power cable to the wall for an ultra-subtle look.

    23The roaring dinosaur that helps clean dirty microwaves

    Fill this little dinosaur with a mixture of water and vinegar, then send him through the microwave for a spin. Steam will erupt out of his mouth as he heats up, helping loosen up all the baked-on crud stuck to the inside of your microwave so that you can easily wipe it out with a towel. One reviewer also wrote that “with only one pass of using this, it got 80% of all the gunk built up.”

    24A minimal cordless desk lamp you can take anywhere

    You never know what the lighting situation will be like in your Airbnb or hotel (or you may just want to work at the kitchen table) — so why not take this cordless desk lamp with you? It folds down to a fraction of its size so that it’s easy to pack in a suitcase or tote in a bag, and the battery delivers up to 300 hours of light before it needs to be recharged.

    25Labeled bands that help organize your bedsheets

    It’s almost too easy for your bed sheets to devolve into a jumbled mess on your shelves — unless you have these bands. Not only do they help keep your stacked sheets from bleeding into each other, but each one is also labelled so that you can easily tell what size you’re reaching for. One reviewer wrote, “I organized my entire linen closet and now when I reach for sheets, there is no doubt what I will open.”

    26This wall-mounted makeup mirror with 10-times magnification

    Get those winged eyeliner tips looking perfectly even with help from this makeup mirror. It features two sides: one that’s a regular mirror, as well as a second with 10-times magnification. And since it’s made from high-quality steel with a rust-resistant coating, there’s no need to worry about it corroding inside of humid bathrooms.

    27Magnetic holders that help you keep track of remotes

    Anyone who is constantly misplacing remote controls can appreciate these mounts. Simply attach the adhesive magnet to the back of your remote, and the magnet embedded inside the mount will onto it for you. The best part? You can install the mounts on walls, coffee tables, or nearly any other flat surface.

    28Decorative window privacy film that can help insulate your home

    Looking for easy ways to help save money on your utility bill? Search no further than this window film. It helps reduce glare as well as block out up to 99% of the sun’s harsh UV rays, helping keep your home comfortably cool while simultaneously adding privacy to your windows. Installation is also easy — simply press it into place on your windows and it’ll stay using static cling.

    29A handheld stitch gun great for quick sewing fixes

    You don’t need to know how to sew in order to sew quick little repairs — just grab this stitch gun. It’s suitable for use on most fabrics, including wool, linen, denim, polyester, and more. The best part? Each order also includes 2,000 fasteners as well as six stainless steel pins to get you started.

    30Extender buttons that help tight pants fit more comfortably

    Consider these extender buttons a must-have for any pair of jeans or dress shirt that fits a little too tight for your liking. Simply loop the silicone band around your existing button, then press the new button into the hole in your waistband or collar as you normally would. “Using these allows a tiny bit more breathing room, which makes the clothing more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time,” wrote one reviewer.

    31The rechargeable ceiling light with a handy remote

    You don’t need to be a DIY expert in order to successfully install this ceiling light. Each order comes with an adhesive metal bracket that sticks to your ceiling — and since the back of the light is magnetic, it’ll stay mounted to the bracket with a gentle press. The battery also lasts for up to 12 hours before it needs to be recharged. But if that isn’t enough? Each order even includes a handy remote for added convenience.

    32This nonslip shower mat that feels soft & cushy underfoot

    Smooth shower floors can be a recipe for slipping, making this mat a smart investment. Its loofah-textured surface gives your feet some added grip — though it’s still soft enough to feel comfortable and massage-like underfoot when standing on top. Plus, drainage holes throughout help it dry quickly when wet.

    33This unique stem holder for creating gorgeous bouquets

    Don’t have a vase that’s short enough for the flowers you’ve picked? Not a problem when you have this holder. The metal pins on the base keep your stems held upright, making it easy to create gorgeous bouquets using trimmings that are on the shorter side. One reviewer even described it as “a great tool to make a simple yet elegant floral piece.”

    34Clever spray that helps you see small unwanted hairs

    Small hairs or patches of peach fuzz can be difficult to see using the naked eye, so why not grab this spray? It turns those hairs white so that they’re easy to shave away — and each order even includes four dermaplaning razors to get you started.

    35Reusable Swedish dishcloths that can help you save money

    Stop wasting money on paper towels and upgrade to these Swedish dishcloths. They’re so reusable that each one replaces about 17 paper towel rolls — and the absorbent cellulose-cotton blend can even soak in up to 20 times its weight in water, making them great for wiping up spills. “They’re super absorbent, rinse clean easily, and dry quickly without developing any smell […],” wrote one reviewer.

    36This clever plastic wrap dispenser that helps ensure a clean cut

    Ditch that flimsy cardboard box your plastic wrap came in and upgrade to this dispenser. The magnetic backing lets you mount it onto your fridge so that it’s always within reach, while the slicer in the front makes it easy to tear off sheets. “It works well and I use it every day,” wrote one reviewer. “It’s easier to get the exact amount of wrap each time, so I use less.”

    37A nonstick brownie pan that gives you more edges

    Nothing ruins a brownie like having it stick to the pan. Luckily, this particular pan is made from durable silicone that’s both nonstick as well as flexible, making it easy to pop out each delightfully crisp-edged brownie once it’s finished baking. And since it’s oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s no need to worry about it melting.

    38The handy mat that makes it easy to slide appliances forward

    Stand mixers, air fryers, coffee makers — this mat makes it easy to drag all sorts of countertop appliances forward without any hassle. The felt top allows appliances to slide effortlessly, while the nonslip underside helps keep it from shifting out of place. “Genius!” raved one reviewer. “We keep our toaster pushed back under an upper corner cabinet when not in use. This mat lets it glide in and out without the bumpety bump of the rubber feet.”

    39A travel-friendly perfume bottle that won’t leak

    Consider this atomizer a must-have if you want to take perfume or cologne with you when traveling. The leakproof design helps keep your bag safe from spills — and it can hold enough liquid inside for up to 10 days’ worth of use. The best part? You can empty and refill it as many times as you like.

    40This eye-catching incense burner handcrafted from ceramic

    There’s no denying that this incense burner would be a gorgeous addition to your living room or bedroom. It’s made from sleek ceramic, with a fireplace-like shape that’s designed for burning either Palo Santo sticks or incense cones. Plus, the ceramic body has been double-fired to help boost its durability.

    41The shade that transforms empty bottles into wireless lamps

    Creating your own unique bottle lamp is as easy as popping this shade into the spout. It’s completely cordless, instead relying on a rechargeable battery to stay lit — and you can even adjust its brightness up to three levels. You also have the choice of 10 different colors: black, brown, white, and more.

    42Genius wine filters that help remove headache-causing components

    The histamines and sulfites present in some wines can leave you with a headache the next morning. Enter: these filters. Simply swish them through your glass, and they’ll help remove those impurities within just a few seconds. “I was even able to drink champagne which I was never able to do because it always gave me a headache,” wrote one reviewer. “It does not change the taste for me either.”

    43Self-watering pots that can keep plants hydrated up to 10 days

    Got a thumb that’s less than green? Then these self-watering pots are right up your alley. Each one features a reservoir built into the base that can keep plants hydrated for up to 10 days, while multiple drainage holes at the bottom work to prevent root rot. Choose from five colors: gray, black, green, and more.

    44Tumbler straw caps that look like colorful roses

    Top your tumbler straw with one of these caps, and it’ll help keep the straw clean from dust while you aren’t sipping. They’re made from food-grade silicone that’s completely BPA-free. And if you aren’t into roses, you can also grab them as pandas, clouds, whales, as well as a variety of other adorable styles.

    45The portable clothesline ideal for travel or camping

    Laying wet clothes out to dry on a flat surface when camping can leave them feeling stiff. Instead, hang them on this portable clothesline. It’s made from sturdy elastic, with hooks on either end that make it easy to secure around trees, poles, balconies, and more. Once your clothes have dried, it folds down into the small attached pouch for easy storage.

    46This cooling blanket that helps draw body heat away

    Anyone who tends to run hot at night can appreciate this cooling blanket. It’s made from specialized Arc-chill fabric that helps draw your body heat away from you, keeping you comfortably cool while snuggled underneath. But if that isn’t enough? Unlike some cooling blankets, this one is made with cooling fibers on both sides.

    47Stash scrunchies with a hidden pocket inside

    Unlike the scrunchies you’ve likely been using, these ones feature a small zippered pocket where you can stash money, lipstick, keys, or nearly any other small item. The elastic is tough enough to handle thick heads of hair. Plus, the soft fabric exterior easily slides through hair when it’s time to take the scrunchie out.

    48Handy cable clips that help keep cords organized

    Got a mess of wires sitting out on your desk? Then these clips are a must-have. They’re large enough to fit thick HDMI cords as well as thin lightning cables, while the adhesive backing lets you mount them onto flat surfaces. Choose from two colors: black or white.

    49This soothing sensory journal with tactile pages

    Staying focused when jotting down notes can be difficult. Enter: this journal. It features an interactive cover filled with gel beads that are fun to press, while the pages are embossed with a pleasant texture you can stroke with your fingers to help keep your mind focused. Each order includes a diffuser pen filled with a citrus grove scent.

    50This cloud wrist rest that helps make computering comfier

    If you’ve noticed your wrists feeling sore after a day of typing at your desk, consider grabbing this rest. It’s made from high-density foam that provides soft support for your wrists to help prevent fatigue — and the dirt-resistant surface makes it easy to wipe clean if you ever spill drinks on it. Choose from seven colors: dark pink, white, purple, and more.

    51A wedge pillow that fills the space between mattress & headboard

    Tired of having to fish items out from the gap between your mattress and headboard? Then this wedge pillow is worth a look. Not only does it cover up that space, but it also features a handy pocket on each side where you can stash remotes, phones, or any other small item. One reviewer also wrote that they “love this because we finally have something that stops our pillows from being pushed down into the crack!”

    52Semi-cured gel nail strips that are so easy to apply

    The cost of getting your nails done every two weeks adds up fast. Instead, give these gel nail strips a try. They’re made with real liquid gel that’s 60% cured and can last for up to two weeks without chipping after you’ve finished them underneath a UV lamp. Since each order includes 15 different nail sizes, it should be simple to find the perfect fit for your fingers.

    53An insulated tote that helps keep wine at its ideal temperature

    With space for up to three bottles inside, this insulated tote bag is a clever way to help keep red and white wine at their ideal temperatures while you’re at a picnic or barbecue. The interior is also leakproof — just in case a bottle happens to spill. Plus, a bonus pocket in the front gives you somewhere to stash bottle openers, napkins, and more.

    54This decor-enhancing desk pad in dozens of patterns

    Peonies, blue marble, butterflies — this keyboard pad comes in so many fun patterns that you may have trouble narrowing your choice down to just one. It’s large enough to fit a mouse, keyboard, as well as other small items, and the surface is grippy enough that you won’t need an extra pad in order to use your mouse. It levels up your desk setup and the stitched edges make it look way more expensive than it is.

    55The sparkling star keycap that lights up in the dark

    Looking for ways to customize your computer setup? Search no further than this keycap. Installation is as easy as removing your existing keycap, then pressing this one down into its place. You can use it with nearly any mechanical keyboard — and it even lights up in the dark for an added touch of fun.

    56A water-softening shower head filter that infuses vitamin C

    If you’ve noticed your skin becoming overly dry or itchy after bathing, consider adding this filter to your shower head. It can help remove chlorine, microplastics, rust, as well as other impurities that can irritate or dry out skin and hair. Plus, it even contains vegan probiotics that can help regenerate your skin’s natural moisture barrier over time.

    57The pillow that lets you sleep with freshly pierced ears

    Sleeping on your side with a fresh ear piercing can be uncomfortable. Enter: this pillow. The hole in the center helps keep your ear free from pressure, while the hypoallergenic cotton-blend cover gives it an oh-so-soft feeling against skin. Choose from six colors: black, blue, white, and more.

    58A shower foot rest that makes shaving so easy

    Mount this foot rest onto your shower wall, and you’ll instantly have somewhere convenient to pop your leg onto when shaving. It’s made from a sturdy aluminum alloy that’s resistant to rust — and it even folds up when not in use to help save space. Choose from two finishes: silver or black.

    59Delightfully scented colored pencils with a pen diffuser

    Apple trees, falling leaves, damp earth — this pack of scented colored pencils features so many unique aromas you may have trouble choosing which one to doodle with. Each order also includes a pen diffuser filled with uplifting oil scented like the woods. “From calming lavender to invigorating citrus, there’s a scent to suit every mood and occasion,” wrote one reviewer.

    60This under-cabinet wine glass rack that corrals your collection

    Don’t have the cabinet space to spare for wine glasses? Not a problem when you have this under-cabinet rack. It slides onto nearly any standard-sized shelf, instantly giving you space to hang up to four glasses per rack. Choose from four finishes: rose gold, gold, white, or black.

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  • SuprOrdinary battles with batter to combat his inner creative critic

    In the final episode of season one, SuprOrdinary sets out to master one of the most unruly artistic mediums known to mankind… pancake batter. Expect meltdowns (emotional, not butter-based), a life lesson on how to ignore your inner critic, and far too much whisking.

    SuprOrdinary is presented by It’s Nice That in association with BUCK.

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  • Two Ways To Film The Same Scene

    Two Ways To Film The Same Scene

    In a review of City of Angels, the 1998 Hollywood remake of Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders, Roger Ebert says:

    To compare the two films is really beside the point, since “Wings of Desire” exists on its own level as a visionary and original film, and “City of Angels” exists squarely in the pop mainstream.

    In his latest video, Evan Puschak leans into the vast gulf between the two films to “explore the differences in cinematic cultures and styles”. He takes a close look at the same scene in both films and what they reveal about Hollywood on the one hand and European art cinema on the other.

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  • Introducing Noema VI: Paradigm Shifts

    Credits

    Nathan Gardels is the editor-in-chief of Noema Magazine. He is also the co-founder of and a senior adviser to the Berggruen Institute.

    When a concept that organizes our reality is replaced by an entirely different and incommensurate worldview, it is called a “paradigm shift.”

    The theme of this edition of Noema was conceived in early 2024. At that time, we had in mind the epochal shift from the paradigm of globalization, in which markets, trade and technology cross borders, to “the Planetary,” where we recognize that the whole Earth system embeds and entangles human civilization in its habitat.

    This deeper awareness has been enabled by the emergence of a technological exoskeleton of satellites, sensors and cloud computation that expands the heretofore limited scope of human understanding of the world, repositioning our place in the natural order. Neither above nor apart from nature, we have now come to realize we are part and parcel of one interdependent organism comprised of multiple intelligences striving for sustainable equilibrium.

    The disclosure of climate change as a destabilizing consequence of human endeavor was enabled in the first place by planetary-scale computation. This capacity holds out the evolutionary prospect that human, machine and Earth intelligence might one day merge into a kind of planetary sapience that restores and maintains the ecological balance.

    As we have written often in Noema, this conceptual reorientation would entail a redefinition of what realism means in geopolitics. This new condition calls not for the old “realpolitik” that seeks to secure the interests of nation-states against each other but for a “Gaiapolitik” aimed at securing a livable biosphere for all.

    As logically compelling as this case for planetary realism may be, the paradigm shift underway is going in the opposite direction. Instead of the global interconnectivity forged in recent decades maturing into a planetary perspective, it is breaking up into a renewed nationalism more emphatically sovereigntist than before the advent of globalization.

    In short, the prevailing political temperament around the world today is out of sync with the planetary imperative. This does not diminish its reality but, for the moment, eclipses and derails its emergence as the conscious organizing principle of human civilization.

    The Last Sigh Of Liberal Universalism

    The paradigm shift we are witnessing today not only marks a move away from a planetary awareness but also signals the last sigh of liberal universalism as the dominant governing philosophy of the postwar order since 1945.

    The rules-based liberal international order, underwritten and guaranteed for decades by American might, has been consigned to the ash can of history by the summary defection of its founding architect from its terms and premises.

    Under President Donald Trump and his allies, America has effectively joined the revisionist powers of China and Russia by baldly asserting sovereigntist self-interest unencumbered by rules that also encompass the interests of others.

    Tariff walls, outright trade wars and unraveling alliances are supplanting the expansive web of global commerce, Western unity and cultural cross-fertilization that characterized times only recently. In a further break from the established order, Team Trump openly contemplates its own Anschluss of other people’s territory in Greenland, the Panama Canal and even Canada, instead of expressing outrage at China’s desire to take Taiwan, Russia’s bloody attempt to seize Ukraine or Israel’s increasing occupation of the Palestinian territories.

    As Francis Fukuyama and Niall Ferguson discuss in a collage of commentary in this Noema edition, these developments portend the return to a world not unlike that of the 19th century, when the great powers carved out exclusive domains of influence.

    The obvious great powers that would constitute a world apportioned in this way are China and Russia, both grasping at Eurasia, plus the United States and India. Whether Europe falls within the American sphere of influence depends on its capacity to cohere as a continental entity and find its identity as an alternative within a West that is fracturing under the strain of America’s revisionist turn.

    Since the future appears to be taking us back to the 19th century, one cannot say we are in “uncharted territory.” On the contrary, we’ve been down this path before and know how it led to world wars that the global rules-based order, for all its well-known faults, was meant to avoid repeating.

    The “Strong Gods” Of Family, Faith And Nation Challenge The Open Society

    On the American home front, and increasingly elsewhere in the West, it appears the “strong gods” of family, faith and nation are prevailing over the culturally liberal sentiments of an open society.

    When there is no common agreement on what constitutes the good life, culture is politicized. As Alexandre Lefebvre argues in Noema, who gets to define “the good life” has become the central political question of our time. As in China, Russia, Iran or Turkey, governing authorities in the West are increasingly seeking to assign the moral substance of their vision to the state in place of the neutral proceduralism of liberal regimes that, at least in theory, embrace the diversity of all values without favor.

    As the ascendant traditionalists see it, this rights-based liberalism grants a kind of converse moral substance to the state by virtue of the permissive openness it invites, nourishes and protects.

    In many ways, liberalism was bound to fail just as Marxism did, and for the same reason. Marxism lacked a theory of politics that accommodated diverse constituencies because it assumed the universality of the interests of one class. Similarly, liberalism has falsely assumed its own universality, believing that there can be a consensus on only one conception of “the good life.” In reality, where some see declaring gender identity as the positive freedom to pursue self-realization, others see it as the corrosion of traditional Christian morality.

    Like the British philosopher John Gray, Lefebvre suggests that the liberalism of the future may well entail a constitutionally grounded “modus vivendi” of autonomous jurisdictions as one way to keep the civil peace in diverse societies.

    What is stunning in this context is how rapidly the America that elected Trump has tilted toward illiberal democracy under his tumultuous reign. Team Trump has robustly pursued retribution against political enemies, scorned universities as “the enemy,” moved to dismantle the administrative state and climate policies, demeaned the judicial system and cultivated crony corruption. Moreover, in the Orwellian name of free speech, Trump insists on ideological conformity across the board, from college students to corporate law firms.

    To base the idea of democracy solely on elections invites this kind of illiberalism because it implies that majoritarian rule is all that is necessary for legitimacy. But, as the American founding fathers well understood, the will of the majority does not embrace all interests in a society, which must be protected equally. That is the reason for constitutional rule as the founding principle of a liberal polity.

    In constitutional theory, the imposition of limitations and restraints — the “negative” — is what prevents the majority from absolute domination. It is the negative that makes the Constitution and the “positive” that makes government. One is the power of acting, the other the power of amending or arresting action. The two combined make a constitutional government.

    It is this governing arrangement that made America great. The biggest danger of Making America Great Again is that a movement that believes it is the embodiment of the will of the majority will cast aside any constraints on its power as a contrivance by the elites of the ancien régime to keep the masses down.

    In Niall Ferguson’s contribution to Noema, the historian raises the specter that “history was always against any republic lasting 250 years. This republic is in its late republican phase, with the intimations of empire much more visible.”

    The Prospect Of “More Than Human” Intelligence

    As politicized cultural battles and the churning geopolitical economy further unfold, a paradigm shift of a significance similar to planetary awareness is taking place that will redefine what it means to be human.

    Across the sciences, we are coming to understand the self-organizing principle of “computation” as the building block of all forms of budding intelligence, from primitive cells to generative AI. This process involves learning from the environment, assembling information and arranging it by sharing functional instructions through “copying and pasting” code, so that an organism can develop, reproduce and sustain itself.

    As Google’s Blaise Agüera y Arcas and James Manyika write in this issue, “computing existed in nature long before we built the first ‘artificial computers.’ … Understanding computing as a natural phenomenon will enable fundamental advances not only in computer science and AI, but also in physics and biology.”

    More than half a century ago, they note, pioneering computer scientists had the intuition that organic and inorganic intelligence follow the same set of rules for development. “John von Neumann,” write the authors, “realized that for a complex organism to reproduce, it would need to contain instructions for building itself, along with a machine for reading and executing those instructions.” The technical requirements for that “universal constructor” in nature — the tape-like instructions of DNA — “correspond precisely to the technical requirements for the earliest computers.”

    “Life,” they continue, “is computational because its existence over time depends on growth, healing or reproduction, and computation itself must evolve to support these essential functions.”

    Grasping the correspondence with natural computation and learning from it, they believe, will render AI “brainlike” as it further evolves along the path from mimicking neural computation to predictive intelligence, general intelligence and, ultimately, collective intelligence. “Brains, AI agents and societies can all become more capable through increased scale. However, size alone is not enough. Intelligence is fundamentally social, powered by cooperation and the division of labor among many agents.”

    In short, as philosopher of technology Tobias Rees also argues in this issue, the evolution of computation as a symbiosis of human and machine will cause us to rethink what it means to be human as, for the first time in history, a “more than human” intelligence emerges on our planet.

    These contradictions and crosscurrents of the profound paradigm shifts we are living through all at once mark what future historians will surely describe as the Age of Upheaval.

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  • What was Builder.ai and why did it shut down?

    This article is adapted from Rest of World’s recent feature: Inside the collapse of Builder.ai

    What did Builder.ai actually do?

    Builder.ai was founded in 2016 by Sachin Dev Duggal, a British-Indian entrepreneur. Based in London — with operations in Los Angeles, New Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo, and Singapore — Builder.ai became one of the world’s hottest startups by promising to use AI to radically ease the slow and difficult process of building apps and websites. Investors including Microsoft and the Qatar Investment Authority eventually poured as much as $445 million into the company. It was ultimately valued at $1.5 billion, with over 500 employees. 

    Builder.ai had two signature pieces of tech. The first was pre-coded blocks of reusable features — such as user logins, payment platform integrations, and contact pages — in the form of a library that would make software development something like putting together a Lego set. Second was a proprietary AI tool the company advertised as revolutionary, able to drastically reduce human labor and compress “weeks of work into hours and minutes.” 

    Customers interacted with an AI chatbot named Natasha, which the company said would build the first 80% of a product, before human engineers provided the finishing touches. “The end goal — as the founder Sachin said — was to make it as easy as ordering a pizza,” one former employee told Rest of World. “You talk to Natasha online, you tell her what you need, and then we build, refine, and use Natasha to build and refine.” 

    From a Microsoft-backed startup to bankruptcy

    The reality of Builder.ai’s operations differed greatly from the sleek and speedy AI experience it promised, according to recent interviews with ex-employees, past reporting by The Wall Street Journal, and a lawsuit filed by the company’s one-time chief business officer. For our recent feature, Rest of World spoke to a dozen former Builder.ai employees from India, the U.S., and the U.K., to get an inside account of the company’s operations. Although Builder.ai did use AI for relatively basic tasks, former employees said, it relied on staff and outsourced developers in countries including India and Ukraine to do the vast majority of its work.

    One issue Builder.ai faced is that, with humans handling the bulk of development work, delivery timelines were often longer than many clients expected. Two former employees said customers were often frustrated, and some prospective clients walked away after hearing how long their projects would take to complete. Other customers canceled projects or refused to pay because of delays and missed benchmarks. As early as 2019, there were reports that Builder.ai was exaggerating its use of AI. Some analysts are citing Builder.ai as a potential case of “AI washing,” in which companies falsely promote products or services as AI to attract attention and funding.

    Why did Builder.ai collapse?

    In March, Bloomberg reported the company had inflated revenues. Soon after, Israeli lending firm Viola Credit seized most of Builder.ai’s cash. Another Bloomberg report in May alleged Builder.ai and an Indian content company called VerSe had faked income by billing each other for services in a practice known as “roundtripping.” (VerSe told the publication the allegations were “absolutely baseless and false.”) Lawyers representing Builder.ai, a spokesperson for the company, and Manpreet Ratia, its former CEO, did not respond to comment requests from Rest of World.

    By March 2025, the company was in damage control. They cut 270 employees and installed Ratia as CEO. “The new CEO was giving his level best to fix things, but I believe the damage was done,” said a former project manager. On May 20, Ratia made an announcement to its hundreds of remaining employees: Builder.ai had run out of money. The company was filing for bankruptcy, and they were all being let go.

    “Builder.ai built a real AI-powered platform — combining LLM models and our own orchestration layers — to automate meaningful parts of the software assembly process,” Ratia later wrote on LinkedIn. “It wasn’t a gimmick. It wasn’t smoke and mirrors.”

    In retrospect, one former employee told Rest of World that he believes Builder.ai was a good idea, but that the company failed to run its business well. Another former employee was more blunt: “They were never transparent about the company’s financials. They raised over $445 million. … Where did all the money go?” 

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