The generation most open to dating their pet's human form
A MetLife Pet Insurance survey of 1,000 US pet owners found 36 per cent were aware of the trend, and 14 per cent had tried generating an AI human pet.
Gen X and baby boomers were most open to dating their pet's human form, with cat owners in this demographic showing particular willingness.
The survey also highlighted the deep emotional bonds between owners and their pets, with 38 per cent relying on their pet more than any human relationship.
Pet owners demonstrate significant loyalty, with 81 per cent refusing to date someone who dislikes their pet and 66 per cent prioritising their pet's needs over their own.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
20 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Writers' union urges investigation into Paramount move to cancel Colbert show
The Writers Guild of America has called on New York state officials to launch an investigation into Paramount following its sudden decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the Writers Guild of America East and the Writers Guild of America West asked New York state attorney general Letitia James to investigate Paramount over 'potential wrongdoing' after the company announced the cancellation of the 'Late Show' on Thursday. The unions pointed to Paramount's decision earlier this month to settle what it condemned as a 'baseless lawsuit' brought against 60 Minutes and CBS News by Donald Trump for $16m. Trump had claimed that CBS News misleadingly edited an interview with Kamala Harris last fall during the presidential campaign. Citing the California state senate's decision in May to launch an inquiry into Paramount's $16m settlement with Trump as precedent, the unions said: 'Given Paramount's recent capitulation to President Trump in the CBS News lawsuit, the Writers Guild of America has significant concerns that The Late Show's cancelation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump administration as the company looks for merger approval.' It continued: 'Cancelations are part of the business, but a corporation terminating a show in bad faith due to explicit or implicit political pressure is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society. Paramount's decision comes against a backdrop of relentless attacks on a free press by President Trump, through lawsuits against CBS and ABC, threatened litigation of media organizations with critical coverage, and the unconscionable defunding of PBS and NPR.' The unions called on James to launch an investigation into Paramount, saying that she is 'no stranger to prosecuting Trump for illegal business practices'. 'We call on our elected leaders to hold those responsible to account, to demand answers about why this beloved program was canceled and to assure the public that Colbert and his writers were not censored due to their views or the whims of the president,' the WGA added. The cancellation comes after Colbert – who has long been a critic of Trump on his show – called Paramount's settlement a 'big fat bribe' on air on Monday. 'As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended… I don't know if anything – anything – will repair my trust in this company. But, just taking a stab at it, I'd say $16m would help,' he said. Echoing Colbert's disapproval, Jon Stewart, who works for Comedy Central – which is also owned by Paramount – condemned the deal on air last week, calling it 'shameful'. He added: 'I would assume internally, this is devastating to the people who work in a place that pride themselves on contextual, good journalism?' Following Paramount's announcement, numerous lawmakers have weighed in on the cancellation, casting skepticism at the company. Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on X: 'CBS canceled Colbert's show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.' Similarly, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders said: 'CBS's billionaire owners pay Trump $16 million to settle a bogus lawsuit while trying to sell the network to Skydance. Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late night host, slams the deal. Days later, he's fired. Do I think this is a coincidence? NO.' In a statement on Thursday evening, CBS executives said that the decision to cancel the show was 'purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night', adding that it was 'not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount'. The Guardian has contacted the WGAE and James's office for comment.
Auto Blog
23 minutes ago
- Auto Blog
Amazon Is Selling an ‘Amazing' $210 Wireless Apple CarPlay Adapter for $35, and Shoppers Say It ‘Works Great'
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. View post: Porsche Macan Is Now the Fastest-Selling Porsche Ever — Here's Why It Matters Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Wired Apple CarPlay might work fine, but constantly plugging and unplugging your phone can be a real pain. If you're tired of dealing with cords, this wireless CarPlay adapter we found on sale at Amazon could be the simple upgrade your car needs. It brings wireless CarPlay to most vehicles with zero fuss, and it makes jumping in the car and getting going far quicker and easier. The Uoofly Wireless Apple CarPlay Adapter is currently down to just $35 at Amazon, a massive 83% discount. It plugs right into your car's USB port and instantly pairs with your iPhone, eliminating the need for extra apps or tools. Once it's connected, it auto-reconnects every time you start your car, even if your phone is buried in your bag or pocket. Note that this adapter is only designed to work with iPhones and Apple CarPlay. So if you're rocking an Android phone, check out this wireless Android Auto adapter instead. Uoofly Wireless Apple CarPlay Adapter, $35 (was $210) at Amazon Despite its tiny size, the Uoofly adapter is packed with features. It supports 5.8GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 5.3 for fast, stable connections with near-zero lag. It includes both USB-A and USB-C connections and works with almost all vehicles that support factory-wired CarPlay, covering iPhones 6 and up (iOS 10+). With it, you'll have access to full CarPlay functionality without messing with any wires, including navigation, calls, texts, and Siri, all while using your touchscreen or steering wheel controls. The compact metal body keeps things cool even during long drives, and online firmware updates ensure long-term compatibility with future iOS versions. Shoppers say setup is incredibly easy, with a handful describing the process as 'plug and play.' One noted that the 'setup is effortless,' while others called it 'easy to use,' and praised that it 'doesn't take [up] much space.' Other buyers focus on performance in their reviews. 'Easy setup, stable connection, and now I never mess with cords,' one reviewer said. Another shared, 'this wireless CarPlay adapter for my iPhone is fantastic!' Simple one-word descriptions like 'awesome' and 'amazing' also popped up repeatedly from buyers, showing just how much they like it. When something is on sale for 83% off, it doesn't tend to stay at that price for long. So head over to Amazon today and take your driving experience to the next level with the Uoofly Wireless Apple CarPlay Adapter while it's still just $35. About the Author Andrew Koopman View Profile
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
RAY MASSEY: Buckle up for a chat with the new AI Mercedes
Do you talk to your car? If so, you'll love the sporty new Mercedes-Benz CLA which I've just been road-testing – and chatting to – out in Denmark. Thanks to the addition of AI it not only answers questions but – the manufacturer claims – can hold and sustain 'complex conversations'. Offered for the first time in the CLA, the system is certainly a step up from Amazon's Alexa – but it's not infallible, simply ignoring the question when puzzled. There's an undeniable eeriness to conversing with the assistant, too. I drove the all-electric CLA 250+, which will be the first version in a new family of variants to reach UK shores by autumn. While bigger all-round than its predecessor, it still looks reasonably compact inside, and the legroom in the back is certainly a little tight. That said, the space up front is actually more generous than it looks, and there's a decent boot, at 405 litres, plus a handy front trunk under the bonnet adding another 101 litres. Exterior styling is sporty, with a sweeping, coupe-like smart-casual vibe on what is essentially a sleek saloon. Some 142 illuminated LED stars adorn the front grille, plus many more sprinkled around. The interior is a mixture of modern and sophisticated, with flashes of bling that verge on looking and feeling a bit cheap. The dashboard is dominated by a 14in display, and there's an option to elongate it for the front passenger to form the MBUX Superscreen. Without it, the rest of the dashboard is covered in more stars. In urban areas, the new CLA is comfortable and quiet for tootling around. Various warning sensors signal the driver when there are other vehicles, obstacles and cyclists (of which there are many in Copenhagen), giving you time to take evasive action. On faster country roads, it has a feistier side. Powered by an 85kW battery and a 200kw electric motor, the two-speed gear-box accelerates from rest to 62mph in a sprightly 6.7 seconds, up to a top speed limited at 130mph. It performed well on corners with instant speed for overtaking. With a claimed 484 miles – allowing for some reduction with real-world driving – you can safely cover the 400 miles from London to Edinburgh on a full charge. Mercedes says a ten-minute blast on a fast charger will give you a 200-mile top-up. Prices for the new CLA were never going to be cheap – and they are well above the £37,000 cap for the Government's new Electric Car Grant of up to £3,750. There are three trim levels starting from £45,615 for the Sport Edition, rising to £49,375 for the AMG Line Edition, up to £51,770 for the range-topping AMG Line Premium Edition. Maybe I should ask my AI companion for a discount. With a claimed 484 miles – allowing for some reduction with real-world driving – you can safely cover the 400 miles from London to Edinburgh on a full charge CHAT CLA The fourth generation of Mercedes-Benz User Experience – or 'MBUX' - infotainment system integrates AI from Microsoft and Google, combining knowledge gathered from the Internet based on ChatGPT4o and Microsoft Bing Search. So I also 'road-tested' my AI companion – speaking with an educated English woman's soothing, classless tone – with some testing questions. 'Who said E=mc² ?, I asked for openers, before receiving a treatise on Albert Einstein's famous equation linking energy and mass from my virtual assistant. 'Why was Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the news?' I ventured before receiving an oral report of her tearful performance in the House of Commons. Then I went for a moral conundrum: 'If everything I say is a lie, am I now telling the truth?' Gotcha! The AI response did not answer, nor even seek to tackle the question. It just changed the subject, like any wily politician caught out. Humanity 1, AI nil. For now. But I do not doubt as the tech advances, the levels of subtly will increase exponentially to the level of KITT from TV's Knight Rider. IN THE PIPELINE Although only the 250+ version of the CLA is being launched in the UK for now, I also drove the more powerful (260kW), punchier all-wheel drive 350 4Matic version which accelerates from 0 to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds ( 1.8 seconds quicker) up to the same 130mph governed top speed. It felt a gutsier and more muscular drive. From early next year a petrol-electric hybrid version of the CLA will be launched with 48-volt technology, a newly developed 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. I also had an early peek in Denmark of a second generation CLA Shooting Brake estate version following the first launched in 2015. The German car giant's first battery-powered estate car with a claimed range of up to 472 miles goes on sale next Spring and features hundreds of three-pointed stars including 158 embedded into the glass on the car's stellar panoramic glass starlight. Other variants will follow. VERDICT The new all-electric CLA 250+ is a smart and sporty choice with decent acceleration and ambience – though if you want more punch wait for the CLA 350 4Matic all-wheel drive. Either way, you'll never be short of conversation. Confusion over Electric Car Grant scheme On the face of it, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander's announcement this week of discounts of up to £3,750 as part of Labour's £650million Electric Car Grant scheme sounds like good news to stimulate flagging sales. But my motor industry contacts, while supportive, warn 'the devil's in the detail', as a complex system will determine which cars qualify and for how much, based on how green they are, including production. Additionally, it is only available for cars costing up to £37,000 – which rules out top-selling Teslas – and carmakers must apply to see if their vehicles are eligible, putting extra bureaucracy on to dealers.
