They suffer from anxiety about aggressive drivers, get bewildered by exotic pets, and even experience a form of culture shock when moving from the West Coast to the East Coast. According to a recent presentation by an autonomous delivery executive, the artificial intelligence powering today’s sidewalk robots is navigating a set of struggles that feels startlingly human.
While the public often imagines autonomous robots as cold, calculating machines, the reality of deploying them in public spaces reveals a technology deeply concerned with social acceptance and survival. MJ Burk Chun, the co-founder and vice president of product design for Serve Robotics, addressed the Fortune Brainstorm AI conference with the argument that robots are just like us.
The ‘long tail’ of the baby goat
The trouble often begins when the machines leave the controlled environment of a simulation and enter the “wild” of city sidewalks, Burk Chun said. During a deployment in Los Angeles, the delivery team found that the real world was “even more dynamic than we expected.”
In one specific instance, a robot froze, “thoroughly confused about the pet baby goat” standing in its path. While the robot’s sensors could identify a human pedestrian, the goat represented a “long tail problem”—a statistical outlier that standard training data had not prepared the AI to encounter. Like a person seeing something inexplicable on their morning commute, the robot simply didn’t know what to make of it.
Nightmares on Main Street
It isn’t just confusion that plagues these droids; it is also fear. The intersection of two streets is described as “one of the most dynamic places in our cities,” filled with high-velocity vehicles that pose an existential threat to small delivery devices.
“Robots have nightmares about cars,” the executive said without elaborating on how she can tell when a robot is having nightmares, or what those might be like. “Cars are also very scary for robots.”
Robots must constantly calculate the risks of sharing public space with heavy machinery, she explained. To cope, engineers have to spend significant time determining if a robot is “safe enough to cross the street,” assessing everything from pedestrian light signals to the status of the ground.
Coast-to-coast culture shock
Perhaps the most relatable struggle for any human who has relocated is the difficulty of adjusting to local culture. The robots, it turns out, are not immune to this.
The company found that the “conservative routing” algorithms optimized for Los Angeles—designed to handle “very high traffic high-speed intersections”—did not translate well when the fleet expanded to Florida. In Miami Beach, drivers tend to “cruise” rather than the Angelenos who race to make a turn, meaning the robot’s hyper-cautious LA programming was out of sync with the local rhythm.
“The future really is already here … it’s just not evenly distributed,” Burk Chun said, paraphrasing the great science-fiction writer William Gibson, who first began popularizing the concept of cyberspace back in the 1980s. (Neuromancer is a particular Gibson classic.)
“It is also quite amazing how each city expresses itself in the way people walk,” Burk Chun said. “Not just the sidewalk infrastructure, but also how people drive.” She said every city expresses a unique “flavor” that a robot has to learn when it moves there, just like a human.
A guest in the neighborhood
Underpinning these anxieties is a strict social contract. “Robots don’t have rights to be on sidewalks, people do,” Burk Chun asserted. This philosophy dictates that engineering decisions must be “socially aware,” prioritizing human comfort over robotic efficiency.
Because “more people will walk next to the robot … than we’ll ever get a delivery from a robot,” the machine is viewed as an ambassador. If the robot fails to “deliver delight” or provide value to the community at large, it is viewed as a missed opportunity to build a harmonious future.
To earn their keep, these robots are doing more than delivering lunch; they are working as municipal inspectors. Using advanced sensors, they collect data on “missing curb cutouts” and “hidden potholes,” sharing that information with cities to help repair physical infrastructure.
For this story, Fortune journalists used generative AI as a research tool. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has overturned decades of U.S. trade policy — building a wall of tariffs around what used to be a wide open economy.
His double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country have disrupted global commerce and strained the budgets of consumers and businesses worldwide. They have also raised tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. Treasury.
Trump has argued that his steep new import taxes are necessary to bring back wealth that was “stolen” from the U.S. He says they will narrow America’s decades-old trade deficit and bring manufacturing back to the country. But upending the global supply chain has proven costly for households facing rising prices. And the erratic way the president rolled out his tariffs — announcing them, then suspending or altering them before conjuring up new ones — made 2025 one of the most turbulent economic years in recent memory.
Here’s a look at the impact of Trump’s tariffs over the last year, in four charts.
Effective US tariff rate
A key number for the overall impact of tariffs on U.S. consumers and businesses is the “effective” tariff rate — which, unlike headline figures imposed by Trump for specific trade actions, provides an average based on the actual imports coming into the country.
In 2025, per data from the Yale Budget Lab, the effective U.S. tariff rate peaked in April. But it’s still far higher than the average seen at the start of the year. Before finalizing shifts in consumption, November’s effective tariff rate was nearly 17% — seven times greater than January’s average and the highest seen since 1935.
Tariff revenue vs America’s trade deficit
Among selling points to justify his tariffs, Trump has repeatedly said they would reduce America’s longstanding trade deficit and bring revenue into the Treasury.
Trump’s higher tariffs are certainly raising money. They’ve raked in more than $236 billion this year through November — much more than in years past. But they still account for just a fraction of the federal government’s total revenue. And they haven’t raised nearly enough to justify the president’s claim that tariff revenue could replace federal income taxes — or allow for windfall dividend checks for Americans.
The U.S. trade deficit, meanwhile, has fallen significantly since the start of the year. The trade gap peaked to a monthly record of $136.4 billion in March, as consumers and businesses hurried to import foreign products before Trump could impose his tariffs on them. The trade gap narrowed to $52.8 billion in September, the latest month for which data is available. But the year-to-date deficit was still running 17% ahead of January-September 2024.
Import shifts with America’s biggest trading partners
Trump’s 2025 tariffs hit nearly every country in the world — including America’s biggest trading partners. But his policies have had the biggest impact on U.S. trade with China, once the biggest source of American imports and now No. 3 behind Canada and Mexico. U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports now come to 47.5%, according to calculations by Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
The value of goods coming into the U.S. from China fell nearly 25% during the first three-quarters of the year. Imports from Canada also dropped. But the value of products from Mexico, Vietnam and Taiwan grew year-to-date.
Market swings
For investors, the most volatile moments on the stock market this year arrived amid some of the most volatile moments for Trump’s tariffs.
The S&P 500, an index for the biggest public companies in the U.S., saw its biggest daily and weekly swings in April — and largest monthly losses and gains in March and June, respectively.
Need a recap of how Trump’s trade actions unfolded in 2025? See a timeline here.
The holiday season is often painted as an idyllic vision of rest, conjuring images of warm beverages and bountiful time with loved ones. But many people have trouble unwinding at this time of year. Why do the December holidays offer the promise of respite but never seem to deliver? And is more restorative rest possible during this busy season?
I am a psychologist who studies how rest supports learning, creativity and well-being. Sleep is often the first thing that many people associate with rest, but humans also require restorative downtime when awake. These active rest periods include physical, social and creative experiences that can occur throughout the day – not just while mindlessly scrolling on the couch.
When holiday stresses begin to snowball, rest periods replenish depleted psychological resources, reduce stress and promote well-being. But reaping the full benefits of rest and leisure requires more than a slow morning or a mug of hot cocoa. It’s also about intentionally scheduling active recovery periods that energize us and leave us feeling restored.
That’s because good rest needs to be anticipated, planned and refined.
Effective rest comes in many forms, from going outdoors for a walk to socializing, listening to music or engaging in creative hobbies. These activities may feel like distractions, but they serve important mental health functions.
So why does it feel so hard to get good rest during the holidays?
One of the most robust findings from psychologists and researchers who study leisure is that the effectiveness of rest periods depends on how satisfying they feel to the individual. This might sound obvious, but people often spend their free time doing things that are not satisfying.
For example, a famous 2002 study of how people spent their time found that the most popular form of leisure was watching television. But participants also rated TV time as their least enjoyable activity. Those who watched more than four hours of TV a day rated it as even less enjoyable than those who watched less than two hours a day.
A few years ago, my colleagues and I collected data from college students and found that students reported turning to mindless distractions, such as social media, at the end of the day, but that it usually did not leave them feeling reenergized or restored. Although this study was specifically about college students, when I presented the findings to the larger research team, one of my collaborators said, “It really makes you think about yourself, doesn’t it?” There were silent nods around the room.
Planning for good rest
To combat the pitfall of poor rest cycles, science suggests planning for active rest and pleasant activities, and carrying through with those plans. A large body of research shows that designing, scheduling and engaging in enjoyable activities is effective at lowering symptoms of depressionand anxiety.
For the holiday season, this might mean following an afternoon of shopping with a recovery period reading a book in a quiet place, or going for a walk after opening gifts instead of immediately shifting into cleaning mode. By following a schedule, not a mood, research suggests that people can break cycles of poor rest and inactivity and achieve greater recovery and well-being.
Wrestling with guilt
Even with perfectly planned and executed rest periods, guilt can loom. Leisure guilt is a psychological construct that encompasses feelings of distress about spending time doing things that are relaxing rather than productive. It can reduce enjoyment of leisure, undercutting one of the mechanisms that link rest with well-being.
During the holidays, this problem may become even more pronounced. The season brings changes to daily routines, daylight levels and temperature, and diets. All of these shifts can deplete people’s energy levels. High expectations during the holidays may make guilt an even bigger threat to rest.
If the answer to poor-quality rest cycles is planned active rest periods, then what is the solution to feelings of guilt?
Lower expectations, immersive rest and acceptance
Research on leisure guilt is in its infancy, but my own struggles have shown me a few ways to resist the pressure to be productive every spare minute. Here are some tips to fight back against the flawed belief that rest is just laziness in disguise, during the holidays and beyond.
First, I work to convince myself and my family members to lower expectations for our seasonal activities. Not every baked cookie needs to be individually frosted and decorated, and not every gift has to be wrapped with a perfect bow. By agreeing to lower our expectations, we eliminate extraneous work and the guilt of feeling that there is more to be done.
Second, I’ve found that restful activities that provide a strong feeling of immersion – playing video games, going for walks and playing with my young nieces and nephews – are a lot more restorative than scrolling on my phone or watching TV on the couch. These diversions require my full attention and prevent me from thinking about things such as my overflowing email inbox or unfinished household chores.
Finally, when I do experience leisure guilt, I accept the feeling and try to move on. During high-stress situations, accepting negative emotions rather than avoiding them can reduce depressive symptoms.
Humans need restorative periods of downtime during the holidays and beyond, but this does not always come easily or naturally to everyone. Through small adjustments and intentional actions, good rest can be within reach this holiday season.
Getting out of bed to go to work or lugging yourself to the grocery store can feel tough. And for that, you deserve a little treat.
At least that’s the way many Gen Zers see it. Despite a lack of income, Gen Z finds ways to reward themselves frequently: 57% buy themselves a small treat at least once a week, according to a Bank of Americareport from late July. This could be good news for retailers like Starbucks and Dunkin’, since coffee and other beverages are popular and relatively low-cost treats. Trader Joe’s could also benefit from this trend since they’re known for unique food and beverages, as well as Sephora and Ulta as self-care and cosmetics become increasingly popular among younger generations.
But for nearly 60% of Gen Zers, this leads to overspending, “making little treats a slippery slope,” according to the report. Yet, the generation has shared in droves on social media about the little ways they’re treating themselves, whether it’s buying a simple ice cream cone or splurging on a new clothing haul.
Gen Zers reward themselves for small wins, but also use little treats as pick-me-ups after a bad day. And some don’t even really have a reason.
“Buying myself a little treat because today would’ve been my birthday if I was born today,” one TikTok user posted.
Terran Fielder, a 23-year-old media specialist, told Fortune she treats herself to lunch during the day and that many of her small indulgences have to do with making her life easier or more time to rest when the day is over.
“When I treat myself, it’s usually in ways that give me more shut eye,” she said. “So, if I am not making lunch, that’s another 20 minutes in bed in the morning. It feels like I’m not just spending money: I’m investing in my well-being.” She said she estimates she spends about $200 to $250 per month on treating herself.
To be sure, Gen Z isn’t the first generation—and likely isn’t the last—to participate in treat culture. Most recently, older generations scorned millennials for their proclivity toward treating themselves with avocado toast and a daily Starbucks coffee, arguing they could’ve saved or invested that money instead.
While treat culture isn’t new, Gen Z is taking it to a “new level,” Daniel Levine, director of consumer trends consulting firm Avant Guide Institute, told Fortune.
“While members of the Silent Generation treated themselves to a new dress for a special occasion, and baby boomers splurged on a new car or a vacation after reaching a career milestone, Gen X indulges in late-night runs for their favorite junk food to de-stress,” Levine said. “The low barrier to entry makes it a daily habit.”
Meanwhile, online shopping as well as food delivery have made it easier to indulge in treats. Indeed, Gen Z uses grocery subscriptions 133% more often than Gen X, according to a 2024 PYMNTS survey of more than 67,000 consumers across 11 countries accounting for nearly half the world’s GDP.
Why treat culture exists
Part of treat culture goes back to the basic psychological concept of positive reinforcement. When you do something positive or are trying to reinforce habits, earning a treat or reward can help cement that behavior.
Treat culture, for younger generations, also serves as a coping mechanism or a form of resistance to societal pressures and stressors, Jillian Amodio, a licensed master social worker at Waypoint Wellness Center, told Fortune. That’s because Gen Z has come of age during a time of economic instability, a global pandemic, climate anxiety and widespread social upheaval, she said. Meanwhile, some younger generations have experienced career whiplash from working in an office, then working remotely during the pandemic, then being forced back to in-person during the past few years.
“Small, intentional joys become a way of reclaiming agency and grounding oneself in the present,” Amodio said. “Pair that with the influence of social media, where trends, aesthetics, and ‘little luxuries’ are celebrated and shared widely, and we have the perfect conditions for treat culture to thrive in the spotlight.”
Another study by Intuit Credit Karma also showed Gen Z justifies certain non-essential purchases like streaming services, skincare, meals out, fitness classes, and more as “necessities” rather than discretionary purchases. Indeed, more than half of Gen Z views spending on hobbies and interests as a necessity, not a luxury, and they’re putting them above other financial goals.
“If I’m working away from home, buying lunch instead of packing it feels like a small luxury that makes my day easier,” Fielder said. “When things get really busy, I’ll skip the store altogether and order things online, just to avoid another errand.”
A version of this story was published on Fortune.com on August 19, 2025.
More on Gen Z spending:
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Politics8 years ago