By Clare Duffy and Christopher Lamb, CNN

Pope Leo XIV says tech companies developing artificial intelligence should abide by an “ethical criterion” that respects human dignity.

AI must take “into account the well-being of the human person not only materially, but also intellectually and spiritually,” the pope said in a message sent Friday to a gathering on AI attended by Vatican officials and Silicon Valley executives.

For many, fitness trackers have become indispensable tools for monitoring how many calories they’ve burned in a day. But for those living with obesity, who are known to exhibit differences in walking gait, speed, energy burned and more, these devices often inaccurately measure activity — until now.

Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a new algorithm that enables smartwatches to more accurately monitor the calories burned by people with obesity during various physical activities.

The technology bridges a critical gap in fitness technology, said Nabil Alshurafa, whose Northwestern lab, HABits Lab, created and tested the open-source, dominant-wrist algorithm specifically tuned for people with obesity. It is transparent, rigorously testable and ready for other researchers to build upon. Their next step is to deploy an activity-monitoring app later this year that will be available for both iOS and Android use.

“People with obesity could gain major health insights from activity trackers, but most current devices miss the mark,” said Alshurafa, associate professor of behavioral medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Current activity-monitoring algorithms that fitness trackers use were built for people without obesity. Hip-worn trackers often misread energy burn because of gait changes and device tilt in people with higher body weight, Alshurafa said. And lastly, wrist-worn models promise better comfort, adherence and accuracy across body types, but no one has rigorously tested or calibrated them for this group, he said.

“Without a validated algorithm for wrist devices, we’re still in the dark about exactly how much activity and energy people with obesity really get each day — slowing our ability to tailor interventions and improve health outcomes,” said Alshurafa, whose team tested his lab’s algorithm against 11 state-of-the-art algorithms designed by researchers using research-grade devices and used wearable cameras to catch every moment when wrist sensors missed the mark on calorie burn.

The findings will be published on June 19 in Nature Scientific Reports.

The exercise class that motivated the research

Alshurafa was motivated to create the algorithm after attending an exercise class with his mother-in-law who has obesity.

“She worked harder than anyone else, yet when we glanced at the leaderboard, her numbers barely registered,” Alshurafa said. “That moment hit me: fitness shouldn’t feel like a trap for the people who need it most.”

Algorithm rivals gold-standard methods

By using data from commercial fitness trackers, the new model rivals gold-standard methods of measuring energy burn and can estimate how much energy someone with obesity is using every minute, achieving over 95% accuracy in real-world situations. This advancement makes it easier for more people with obesity to track their daily activities and energy use, Alshurafa said.

How the study measured energy burn

In one group, 27 study participants wore a fitness tracker and metabolic cart — a mask that measures the volume of oxygen the wearer inhales and the volume of carbon dioxide the wearer exhales to calculate their energy burn (in kilocalories/kCals) and resting metabolic rate. The study participants went through a set of physical activities to measure their energy burn during each task. The scientists then looked at the fitness tracker results to see how they compared to the metabolic cart results.

In another group, 25 study participants wore a fitness tracker and body camera while just living their lives. The body camera allowed the scientists to visually confirm when the algorithm over- or under-estimated kCals.

At times, Alshurafa said he would challenge study participants to do as many pushups as they could in five minutes.

“Many couldn’t drop to the floor, but each one crushed wall-pushups, their arms shaking with effort,” he said, “We celebrate ‘standard’ workouts as the ultimate test, but those standards leave out so many people. These experiences showed me we must rethink how gyms, trackers and exercise programs measure success — so no one’s hard work goes unseen.”

The study is titled, “Developing and comparing a new BMI inclusive energy burn algorithm on wrist-worn wearables.”

Other Northwestern authors include lead author Boyang Wei, and Christopher Romano and Bonnie Nolan. This work also was done in collaboration with Mahdi Pedram and Whitney A. Morelli, formerly of Northwestern.

Funding for the study was provided by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (grants K25DK113242-01A1 and R01DK129843-01), the National Science Foundation (grant 1915847), the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (grant R21EB030305-01) and the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (grant UL1TR001422).

Mumbai: Asian Paints has unveiled a revolutionary innovation in interior finishes — Apcolite All Protek, powered by Lotus Effect Technology. Designed to meet the evolving needs of modern Indian homes, the new emulsion offers best-in-class stain repellence, flame-retardant properties, and a sophisticated aesthetic — all with a refreshing fragrance and a six-year performance warranty.

In a dynamic campaign featuring brand ambassador Virat Kohli, the product’s breakthrough technology takes centre stage. Conceptualised by McCann Worldgroup, the new ad captures the unpredictability of everyday family life — children with juice boxes, milkshakes, and crayons — and how Apcolite All Protek protects interiors with ease, repelling stains before they even settle.

Amit Syngle, MD & CEO, Asian Paints Ltd., said, “At Asian Paints, we spend a lot of time understanding how homes are evolving, and our innovations reflect what today’s consumers truly need from their spaces. Today’s households are dynamic—full of celebrations, children, pets and everyday activities that leave their mark. With Apcolite All Protek and its Lotus Effect Technology, we’ve created a solution that responds to this reality. It takes the stress out of keeping walls clean with best-in-class stain repellency. It’s a step towards smarter, more seamless living, where homes reflect elegance and endure daily wear with ease.”

The Lotus Effect Technology is inspired by the natural self-cleaning ability of lotus leaves. This advanced formulation forms a protective shield that prevents common household stains — from sauces and crayons to coffee and milk — from adhering to surfaces. Available in Matt and Shyne finishes, the paint also offers flame-retardant safety for peace of mind in active homes.

Prasoon Joshi, Chief Creative Officer & CEO, McCann Worldgroup India, added, “Innovation and performance define Asian Paints, and Apcolite All Protek exemplifies that spirit. With its revolutionary ‘Lotus Effect Technology,’ it prevents stains before they even stick, which is a true shift in the stain ‘removal’ category. Bringing this innovative feature to life visually needed a fresh approach, and with Virat Kohli leading the charge, this campaign delivers both charm and impact.”

Meta META said on Friday it has teamed up with Oakley to release AI-powered smart glasses, expanding its push into wearable tech after the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

The social media company is expanding its partnership with Oakley and Ray-Ban-parent EssilorLuxottica EL amid growing consumer interest in AI-powered wearable devices.

Meta has sold millions of Ray-Ban Meta glasses since their launch and said its “Oakley Meta HSTN” will feature a hands-free high-resolution camera, open-ear speakers, water resistance and Meta AI capabilities.

The limited-edition product will be available for preorder starting July 11 at $499, with additional products starting at $399 launching later this summer.

Meta said the product line would roll out in North America, Australia and several European countries, with plans to expand to Mexico, India and the United Arab Emirates by the year-end.

The Oakley Meta HSTN will debut this month at several major sporting events including Fanatics Fest and UFC International Fight Week.

Smaller rival Snap SNAP said earlier this month it would launch its smart glasses, called Specs, for consumers next year. Companies such as Google are also exploring similar investments.

The scorching hot sun is setting on advertising’s annual shindig in the south of France, Cannes Lions, for another year.

At the sprawling event, there was a level of thematic whiplash. In the span of an hour on the main stage in the Palais you go from hearing about the creation of the iconic Snickers “You’re only you when you’re hungry” campaign to hearing a speech from human-rights activist Sonita Alizadeh on the humanitarian crisis of child brides in Iran and Afghanistan.

There was also a whole lot of partying. Spotify’s beach concert stage hosted rapper Cardi B and indie rockers Royel Otis. Diplo was spinning the decks for Yahoo. Talent agency UTA’s annual VIP “dinner” at the luxury Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc had no sit-down meal but instead a punchy set from comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.

Business Insider was on the ground — and occasionally the yachts — to get the inside look on the big topics that are top of mind in an industry undergoing seismic changes. Here were the key themes.

The AI of it all

If the advertising industry is losing people to artificial intelligence, it certainly didn’t look like it at Cannes this week. The streets were bursting with lanyard-wearing, hungover Lions attendees trying to figure out which opulent branded beach setup their next meeting was located. Still, AI was the talk of the town.

With AI spinning up thousands of ads cheaply and in seconds, the business model of billing clients for time is under threat. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ruffled feathers ahead of Cannes when he said AI will essentially automate the ad business.

“​​You tell us what your objective is, you connect to your bank account, you don’t need any creative, you don’t need any targeting demographic, you don’t need any measurement, except to be able to read the results that we spit out,” he said in a May interview with the tech newsletter Stratechery. (Is that the sound of Don Draper dropping his glass of rosé, we hear in the distance?!)

In an interview with BI, Meta’s chief marketing officer, Alex Schultz, said his boss was talking about small businesses, not Fortune 500 brands.

“I don’t see myself fully automating my ad campaigns and not using my agency at any point,” Schultz said.

(Donny D! Come back, you’re safe!)

For all the promises of AI, advertising still appears to be a people business. Cannes showed people in the ad industry believe that relationships matter. It’s how attendees convince the finance department back home that the $5,000 festival pass, flights, Airbnb, meals, and a 2 a.m. expense receipt for a Jéroboam of Rosé at the Carlton Hotel was all worth it.

Marketers are racing to sports

If you haven’t got an F1 sponsorship deal, are you even a CMO in 2025?

Sports was a pervasive theme at Cannes Lions this year, and athletes were out in force. Take a stroll down the famous — and exceptionally hot — Croisette promenade, and you had a good chance of bumping into tennis champ Serena Williams, McLaren Racing driver Oscar Piastri, or Kansas City Chiefs tight end — and Taylor Swift beau — Travis Kelce. Advertising company Stagwell’s “Sport Beach” had some of the longest lines in town, some for the star-studded panels, others for the bragging rights of trouncing a colleague at pickleball. (Disclosure: BI hosted an event on Sport Beach, too.)

With traditional, or linear, TV viewing in decline, sports is one of the last destinations where marketers can guarantee getting their brands in front of large audiences.

“It’s a way of being involved right in the moment, live,” Michael Lacorazza, CMO US Bank, told BI. US Bank is involved in numerous teams and recently announced its partnership with the Premier Lacrosse League.

It’s not just about placing 30-second spots or slapping logos on jerseys. Marketers talked up how they’re enhancing the live experience in stadiums while people are in a joyful mood. Uber Advertising was pitching clients using a case study from beauty brand La Mer, which sponsored rides to and from the Miami F1 Grand Prix, stuffed with skincare goodies.

F1 is having a moment. According to the research firm Ampere Analysis, sponsorship spending on F1 and its teams is expected to reach $2.9 billion this year, up 10% on 2024. With viewership boosted in part by the popular Netflix series “Drive to Survive,” brands and media partnerships are helping extend its reach beyond the race track.

“Seeing the new fans come into the sport, we needed to show up in their worlds and be meaningful in their worlds,” Louise McEwan, chief marketing officer of the McLaren Racing F1 team, told BI. “Only one percent of fans ever go to the track in their lifetime.”

Putting consumers in charge

The power of the consumer is stronger than ever.

At the Tubi cabana at Cannes, we spoke with its chief marketing officer, Nicole Parlapiano, who shared how the streaming platform is super-flexible in how it’s marketing its titles. Streamers like Tubi can’t easily test shows and movies before they acquire them, so they relentlessly monitor social chatter to determine how much and where to market a show, Parlapiano said.

Daniel Lawrence Taylor’s hit show “Boarders” got a billboard in New York City’s Times Square. And that’s down to Parlapiano’s team being flexible, pouring extra marketing dollars into “Boarders” after seeing the social media reaction, she said.

Laurie Lam, chief brand officer of E.l.f Beauty, said at a BI event that its product pipeline is often driven by what consumers are saying on social media.

“They’re telling us exactly what they want and we’re then putting it into the market for them,” Lam said.

“And they’re not polite about it, by the way,” she added. “It used to be like, ‘Hey, I would really love it if you can make this primer.’ Now it’s like, ‘Make that primer now. Where is my primer?'”

Brand safety becomes a brand risk

Amid all the talk of AI supercharging creativity, and humanity being the ad industry’s “super power,” there was a big topic execs on the Croisette went super out of their way to avoid.

People noticeably squirmed as we asked questions about the current debate around brand safety — a catch-all industry term to describe how advertisers avoid platforms and media that don’t align with their brand. A few years ago, you couldn’t move for panels on the topic at Cannes, with speakers calling on big platforms to do more to protect brands. This year, with the US government questioning the propriety of those decisions? Crickets.

Barely anyone at Cannes wanted to discuss this enormous elephant in the room. Even the term “brand safety” has become a kind of Voldemort, “He who should not be named” word. One exec told us that the industry is more comfortable talking about “brand assurance” instead, whatever that really means in practice.

Perhaps nobody wants a target on their back. The turnabout shows how Cannes Lions holds a telling mirror into the industry, where sometimes what’s not being talked about can also speak volumes.

The infrared boutique fitness franchise is offering free sessions on June 21

Hotworx is using International Day of Yoga to spotlight its signature infrared yoga offering and tech-forward twist on the traditional practice that blends static poses with muscle-activating heat.

The 24-hour infrared fitness franchise, which has more than 700 locations globally (including a new studio in Dubai), is inviting newcomers to try a free workout on June 21, part of its push to show how its unique sauna workouts can simultaneously build strength, boost recovery and burn calories.

Unlike traditional hot yoga, which heats the room with forced air or radiant heat, Hotworx uses infrared panels to warm the body from within. According to the fitness franchise, the approach increases flexibility, stimulates heat shock proteins, and enhances circulation without the oppressive humidity typically experienced in standard heated studios.

“Infrared yoga at Hotworx redefines what it means to practice hot yoga,” Hotworx founder and CEO Stephen Smith said. “By combining isometric holds with infrared heat, our members experience muscle building, fat burning and accelerated recovery all in one session.”

The workouts take place inside a dry-heat sauna set to around 125°F and involve a series of guided isometric holds, such as Warrior II, Triangle and Eagle Pose, that engage both large muscle groups and stabilizers. 

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“We’re excited to welcome new members to experience the unique benefits of infrared yoga firsthand,” Smith said. “That’s why, at any Hotworx location, your first infrared sauna workout is always free. It’s our way of inviting everyone to see and feel the difference for themselves.”

Interested participants can find their nearest Hotworx location here.