People agree that smoking is bad for you, but nicotine is far from going up in smoke. Levels of U.S. adults smoking cigarettes hit a record low in 2024, but nicotine products like vapes, patches and gum are alive and well.

Of the wide array of nicotine products, none have been picking up speed the way pouches like Zyn and On! have. These pouches are usually the size of a piece of gum and are held in the mouth between the gums and teeth where they slowly release nicotine into the bloodstream. While mainly touted as a method to quit smoking, the pouches have made their way into the wellness space and are also used as a tool to improve concentration.

Why are they gaining popularity?
Some studies have found that nicotine can improve cognitive performance, including attention, memory and learning. Nicotine has also been linked to “weight loss and reduced appetite,” Dipa Kamdar, a senior lecturer in pharmacy practice at Kingston University, said at The Conversation. 

The pouches have been touted as a powerful wellness compound, especially in the right-wing and biohacking world. It’s a “life-enhancing, God-given chemical,” right-wing media personality Tucker Carlson said on Instagram. The nicotine pouch hype has also skipped into the workplace. Rather than strictly drinks and snacks, the tech company Palantir began stocking nicotine pouches as a job perk.

Is there merit to the benefits?
Any health benefits associated with nicotine are “frequently overblown or misinterpreted” and “outweighed by the problem of addiction,” said Stat. The chemical’s addictive nature can become a “gateway for someone to start using more harmful forms of nicotine, including cigarettes,” said the Journal. 

What most experts agree on is that nicotine pouches are one of the better ways to quit smoking, because most of the danger from cigarettes comes from the combustion of tobacco and not the nicotine itself. But any nicotine can cause other issues like nausea, vomiting, harm to blood vessels, and an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. “Wellness trends come and go,” said Kamdar, but “addiction is far harder to shake.”

Researchers are calling for stricter regulations on the integration of artificial intelligence in children’s toys. They could be prompted to share everything from political propaganda to information on sexual fetishes, according to studies. 

What kinds of toys are using AI? 
Gabbo, a cuddly toy incorporating a voice-activated AI chatbot from OpenAI, is described by its manufacturer as a “bright-eyed robot buddy.” Rival toy Luka is similarly “billed as an AI friend for Generation Alpha,” said The Guardian, while Miiloo can chat and tell stories in a high-pitched child’s voice. 

In addition to offering companionship, some products are pitched to parents as learning tools. A robot toy called Miko 3 is advertised as the “ultimate educational partner for kids” and features a touchscreen to play STEM-focused games. Its camera and microphone are designed to recognize and remember the user’s face and voice. 

Why are there concerns? 
Miiloo can give “detailed instructions” on how to light a match, according to tests by the Public Interest Research Group Education Fund and NBC News. When asked whether Taiwan is a country, the Chinese-made toy says, “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. That’s an established fact.” Another toy, Alilo Smart AI Bunny, can engage in graphic and detailed discussions of sexual practices, including fetishes and BDSM. 

Other causes for alarm are more subtle. According to a Cambridge University study, when a child tells their Gabbo, “I love you,” the toy replies, “As a friendly reminder, please ensure interactions adhere to the guidelines provided.” Such reports add to concerns that interaction with generative AI output could be “confusing” during a “developmental stage” when children are “learning about social interaction and cues,” said the BBC. 

Is tighter regulation needed? 
The academics behind the Cambridge study are calling for AI toys that “talk” to young children to be more tightly regulated. They want limits on how far toys encourage kids to befriend or confide in them, as well as clearer privacy policies and tighter controls over third-party access to AI models. “A recurring theme during focus groups was that people do not trust tech companies to do the right thing,” said study co-author Jenny Gibson. “Clear, robust, regulated standards would significantly improve consumer confidence.”

Demonstrators, the majority of them expatriate Iranians, gather in support of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Berlin, Germany. Today marks the 21st day of the conflict.
Omer Messinger / Getty Images

After the boozy beverages of winter, spring requires, or at least requests, a lighter approach. The coming months are a period for cocktails in bigger vessels that welcome more liquid for more leisurely sipping. Let’s get tall!

Batanga
Blanco tequila, lime juice, cola and salt — welcome to the Batanga, a low-key cocktail that’s the icon of La Capilla, the “oldest cantina in the town of Tequila, Mexico,” said Imbibe magazine. There are easy drinks, but the Batanga is so effortless you could make it while horizontal in a hammock.

Champ-Ale
You can have your cocktail and beer, too. The Champ-Ale has you pour a light cream ale and sparkling wine into a big ol’ glass with ice and then shake them together with sweet vermouth, lemon juice and cane syrup in a separate vessel. Pour the second mixture into the glass, stir and embrace the best of two booze worlds.

Watership Down
The “flavors make me think of fields,” said bartender Jeremy Oertel to Punch magazine about his cocktail. Yes, its name is an homage to the classic leporine book, with grassy notes a rabbit might adore. Gin, dry vermouth, celery shrub and ginger syrup guarantee a cocktail that’s balanced and refreshing.