Secret AI, wired headphones, and conference season hacks

Madonna won 7 VMAs at 68 (and brought Sabrina along), your coworkers are using AI without telling anyone, and conference season is here, so I'm giving you a 15-minute prep plan.

Let's get into it.

Bose made wired headphones again and all of us who lose everything are rejoicing

For the first time in 11 years, Bose is selling wired earbuds: $99, USB-C, with noise cancelling, shipping October 15. Bose says it's responding to the rise in wired listening, aka the it-girl wire hanging out of a trench coat pocket that's been all over your feed. No more AirPods case dying in your bag right before your 9am. As someone who loses an AirPod roughly once a quarter, I'm calling this a personal win.

Your coworkers might be secretly paying for their own AI

A Deloitte UK survey of 25,000 workers found 17% of people who use AI at work pay for at least one tool themselves, which adds up to almost $1 billion a year. That’s because about a third use AI without their employer knowing, and half have never had any training on it. It turns out most of the 70 minutes a week they save goes right back into more work for their employer. So we're paying out of pocket to do extra work for free?? If your company hasn't given you a license, this is your sign to put in the expense request.

Madonna won 7 VMAs at 68

Madonna swept Sunday's VMAs with 7 wins out of 11 nominations, including Artist of the Year. She also opened the show, her first VMAs performance in 23 years, with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX as backup (iconic). Taylor still took Video of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia" plus a brand-new Artist Director Honor. Next time someone at work implies you're "past your prime" at 34, send them the Madonna clip and log off.

My weekend was spent entirely in bed with a mountain of tissues and a mug of tea that I reheated four separate times before giving up. I'd love to say I used the downtime to rest, reset, and romanticize my recovery, but mostly I napped and refreshed my inbox like a feral raccoon. Incredibly boring.

These leopard-print flats are so hot that your mirror might just ask you to confirm your identity. Oh, an OAuth joke? Must be Okta Las Vegas season. Note to future self: no more turtlenecks in the desert.

If you’re also participating in conference season, beware that no prep might lead to days of badge scans, lukewarm coffee, and meeting 40 people whose names you forget before the elevator doors close. But just a little setup the night before your flight fixes most of that.

1. Open the event app or attendee list and pick your top five people (clients, prospects, the exec you've been LinkedIn-stalking). Send each one a two-line note asking to grab coffee between sessions.

2. Screenshot your LinkedIn QR code and make it your lock screen so nobody has to stand there waiting while you dig through menus.

3. Start a note on your phone called "Conference Notes." After every conversation, type their name, one thing you talked about, and anything you promised to send. Bonus points for adding a selfie. Do it before you walk away, because by happy hour they'll all blur together.

4. Block 30 minutes on your calendar the Monday after and label it "follow-ups." That way you have no excuse.

Thanks for reading!