• Aggie Lal, whose instagram is called @travel_inhershoes, launched a 12-week, $497 course called "How to grow your Instagram," for her followers. 
• She promised to show those who bought in how she went from "being a broke traveler to becoming a six figure earning travel blogger."
• Many people who signed up for the class were disappointed by the materials and Lal was forced to offer refunds. 

A travel Instagrammer with nearly a million followers who charged people $500 for a social media master class has been called a "scammer" by students who say the course was disappointing.

Aggie Lal, whose instagram @travel_inhershoes has more than 890,000 followers, launched a 12-week, $497 course called "How to grow your Instagram" a few months ago.

Upon its completion earlier this month. Lal promised to refund students who accused the course of being a pyramid scheme and said its materials were lacking.

The course promised to show Lal's "Master Tribe" the "behind the scene[s] of going from being a broke traveler to becoming a six figure earning travel blogger," according to her blog.

Lal, who is based in Los Angeles, promised not only to show people how to become a travel blogger but also information "about running a business that's location independent so you can have the lifestyle you want."

She said the course would feature social media techniques, photography, video, and business courses.

On her blog, Aggie Tribe, Lal explained why she made the course nearly $500.

Read more:People have been sharing a too-good-to-be-true Lululemon ambassador Instagram post and it's actually a scam

"I wanted the price to be a little 'painful' so it feels like an investment and will discourage people who are not serious about blogging as their future to participate,"she said. "I hope the price will return in a small group of super driven & committed community that is willing to do what it takes to kill it in this industry."

Lal told Buzzfeed News that she earned $188,860 from the course and enrolled 380 people.

But many participants told Buzzfeed News they were disappointed by the course, with some calling it a "scam."

One participant even wrote a blog post about it, titled "I Was Scammed by a Celebrity Influencer," under the pseudonym "Wannabe Influencer."

She claimed that Lal "disappeared" during the course "because of 'lack of WiFi,'" and encouraged the students to get other people to sign up for her course as a "challenge."

"She would be providing affiliate links for every single student and wanted us to influence someone else to take the class," the Medium post said. "The confusion spread rapidly. The Instagram Course straight up seemed like a pyramid scheme."

Another student, Juliet Hatley, told Buzzfeed News that the course materials were disappointing.

"[The] videos were barely five minutes long, she was never involved with the students, and made a lot of comments that turned people off such as 'when posing for pictures try not to look pregnant' or 'people who work at Starbucks aren't living up to their potential. The content was basic information you would find from any simple Google search. Not $500 worth," she said.

Lal offered the following statement to students, then later provided it to Buzzfeed News: "It breaks my heart to have let you down like this, it was certainly never my intention! I was heartbroken because this course was by [sic] baby. It took me and my team months to create almost 9 hours of video classes. I want sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart to who anyone who feels like what I shared wasn’t enough."

She later posted a photo on Instagram, apologizing to people who were disappointed by the course, and she offered anyone who felt disappointed full refunds.

• Read more about Instagram and influencers:
• An Instagram star with 2 million followers asked her wedding guests to dress only in 'pale neutrals,' and the photos show everyone delivered
• A woman who sells 6-figure engagement rings on Instagram says there's a simple way to buy diamonds that look bigger for a lower price
• Instagram is cracking down on its pro-anorexia community
• Instagram just launched a fun, new 'walkie-talkie' feature: Here's how to use it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 6 airline industry secrets that will help you fly like a pro this holiday season

"Why Are We All So Stupid?" explores the cognitive biases that lead us to make irrational decisions. This episode focuses on the pricing effect, which refers to how people use price as a signal for value or quality. Turns out, a higher price tag actually makes wine taste better.

Watch other episodes of "Why Are We All So Stupid?":

Overconfidence Bias: Asking Couples About Their Relationships

Anchoring Effect: Guessing How Many Jelly Beans Are In A Jar

Availability Bias: Discussing Who's Most Likely To Cheat On Their Spouse

Endowment Effect: Trying To Buy People's Lottery Tickets

Join the conversation about this story »

• 2018 has been a significant year for the retail sector. Some of the nation's most established stores have learned that they have the unenviable choice to either adapt or die.
• Many have taken lessons from the trendy young startups that have swooped in and redefined the way we shop. 
• These are some of the brands that have exploded in popularity 2018.

2018 has been a significant year for the retail sector.

Wounded from the so-called retail apocalypse that defined 2017, some of the nation's most established brands have been faced with the fact that they either have to adapt or die. As a result, many have been forced to take lessons from trendy young startups that have swooped in and redefined the way we shop. 

From Gucci and Balenciaga to Crocs and Glossier, these are some of the most explosively successful brands of 2018:

SEE ALSO: 12 hot new brands that millennials can't get enough of

Supreme

After receiving a $500 million cash injection from the Carlyle Group in 2017, the company hit a $1 billion valuation. It has continued to grow throughout 2018, making the top 10 list of teens' favorite brands in four consecutive biannual surveys done by Piper Jaffray.

This trendy streetwear brand is known for its product "drops," which have become some of the most anticipated events of the year for its followers.

During the season, these drops happen every Thursday online and in stores. 

Vans

Californian skater brand Vans has been around since the 1960s but has exploded in popularity in recent years. After it was acquired by VF Corporation in 2004, it went from selling 90% of its products in California to growing its reach across the globe, making the leap to Asia and Europe.

According to Piper Jaffray's latest "Taking Stock With Teens" survey, it has had the fastest growth in popularity since the study began in 2000.

The brand is double-dipping on two major trends in fashion at present: athleisure and a preference for vintage and retro styles.

Crocs

Crocs has been experiencing a comeback thanks to the "ugly fashion" movement.

Same-store sales were up 15% in the most recent quarter versus the year before, and its popularity has skyrocketed over the past year. According to Piper Jaffray's biannual survey of teen preferences, it now ranks 13th out of all footwear brands for teen popularity, up from the 27th and 38th position the year before.

As a result, high-fashion designers have been eager to repurpose the brand as an ironic high-fashion icon. Balenciaga's $850 platform Crocs sold out almost instantly. A follow-up Balenciaga Crocs stiletto also went viral.

• In an interview with NBC, incoming Attorney General Letitia James said she plans to ramp up state-level probes of matters involving President Donald Trump.
• James said she plans to investigate, among other things, alleged tax and financial improprieties by the Trump Organization and whether Trump has violated the emoluments clause of the constitution as president.
• Some legal experts, however, told INSIDER they are worried that James' wide-ranging inquirers could set a corrosive precedent of individual states investigating presidents for possible political reasons. 

A slew of New York Democrats are preparing to take office early next month — and investigating President Donald Trump is high on the list of priorities for some state officials. 

This week, the Trump Organization's former chief counsel and Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to federal tax fraud, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations charges in August. But incoming Attorney General Letitia James James wants to supplement the inquires of federal prosecutors with increased state action as well. 

In an interview with NBC News published Wednesday, James said she plans to ramp up state-level probes of matters involving the Trump Organization, Trump's real estate company, and his charity, the Trump Foundation, both of which are headquartered in New York.

James first promised she will continue to pursue Acting Attorney General Barbara Underwood's ongoing civil suit against the Trump Foundation. The suit, first filed in June, alleges "persistent illegal conduct" including unlawful coordination with Trump's 2016 campaign and multiple self-dealing transactions meant to enrich Trump's business enterprises over the course of more than a decade, seeking $2.8 million in damages and the dissolving of the Foundation. 

Read more: Judge rejects claim that Trump can't be sued while in office, allows lawsuit against Trump Foundation to move forward

The New York Attorney General's office is currently collaborating with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Department of Taxation and Finance to probe whether there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges against the foundation, serving Cohen with a subpoena in August. 

James said she also plans to probe areas with criminal implications, including Trump's reported tax dodging and pursuit of significant tax breaks as a real estate developer, the June 2016 meeting between members of the Trump campaign and Russian officials in hosted in Trump Tower, and whether Trump has violated the emoluments clause of the constitution, currently the subject of a lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of Maryland and DC. 

"We want to investigate anyone in his orbit who has, in fact, violated the law," James said, adding that she also plans to push legislation to reform New York's double jeopardy laws so that her office can prosecute anyone pardoned for federal crimes under New York laws. 

Experts say James' broad criminal inquires of a sitting president are verging into legally untested territory, and could have significant consequences for future presidents.

While current Department of Justice guidelines advise federal prosecutors against indicting a sitting president, former Assistant White House Counsel to Barack Obama Andy Wright told INSIDER in a Wednesday interview that it remains an "unresolved question" as to whether a president can be indicted for state crimes. 

"It would not be a good thing for the democracy to have open season for states to be indicting presidents," Wright added. "That said, it would be hard as a judge to say that New York is not allowed to vindicate their interests in their own criminal law for things that Trump allegedly did before he was in office."

Some scholars worried that James' broad intent to "use every area of the law to investigate President Trump and his business transactions and that of his family as well"signaled a politically motivated abuse of power as opposed to a legitimate criminal inquiry. 

Read more: Trump reportedly fears the prospect of impeachment, but experts aren't convinced his legal troubles have reached a 'tipping point' yet

"People may think about those other ramifications," Wright said. "But I certainly think New York is well justified to investigate allegations of financial impropriety. There's a lot of smoke there with regards to potential misuse of the charitable entity, the Trump Foundation."

Meanwhile, Democrats are also slated to control both the State Assembly and State Senate, and could also use their own oversight and investigatory powers to probe Trump's finances and business deals. 

Newly elected State Sen. James Skoufis, the incoming chair of the Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, told INSIDER in a Thursday email that while it was "premature" for him to weigh on whether his committee would probe matters related to the Trump Organization or Trump Foundation, he guaranteed the committee will be "taking on a far more robust investigatory role in the 2019-2020 session."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here. Current subscribers can read the report here.

Blockchain is seemingly being explored by innovation teams in every corner of every industry. This includes the logistics industry, which, despite continuing on an impressive upward trajectory — the market is expected to reach $15.5 trillion by 2023, up from $8.1 trillion in 2015 — is filled with inefficiencies that the distributed ledger technology (DLT) is potentially well suited to fix.

As a result, the DLT has become one of the most attractive investment opportunities for companies in the logistics space; in fact, the market for blockchain technology in supply chain management is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49% from $41 million in 2017 to $667 million in 2024, according to Zion Market Research.

This is leading some of the largest firms in the logistics industry to explore blockchain and its potential use cases. For example, in 2017, a group of technology, transportation, and supply chain executives formed the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) to create a forum for the development of blockchain standards and education for the freight industry. BiTA now has over 450 members, including global heavyweights UPS, FedEx, SAP, Google, Cisco, and Daimler.

 However, there are still major hurdles to overcome before the technology can become commonplace. Many companies, especially small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), are still unaware of what blockchain is, how it works, or what the benefits of the technology are. 

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence explores how blockchain can provide value to the global logistics industry. We break down some of the inefficiencies in the logistics industry that are leading firms to explore blockchain and explain how the technology can be used to solve these issues. Additionally, we examine some specific use cases along the supply chain and identify some of the hurdles to adoption. And finally, we take a look at what needs to occur in the logistics industry for blockchain to be deployed widely. 

The companies mentioned in this report are: BiTA, FedEx, IBM, Maersk, Modum, SAP, Volt Technology, and Walmart.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

Join the conversation about this story »

"Why Are We All So Stupid?" explores the cognitive biases that lead us to make irrational decisions. This episode focuses on the availability bias, which makes us believe something is more likely because it's easier to remember. Here’s why the news has broken our brains.

Watch other episodes of "Why Are We All So Stupid?":

Overconfidence Bias: Asking Couples About Their Relationships

Anchoring Effect: Guessing How Many Jelly Beans Are In A Jar

Pricing Effect: Why A Higher Price Tag Makes Wine Taste Better

Endowment Effect: Trying To Buy People's Lottery Tickets

Join the conversation about this story »

"Why Are We All So Stupid?" explores the cognitive biases that lead us to make irrational decisions. This episode focuses on the endowment effect, which is our tendency to overvalue something simply because we own it. We tried to buy people’s lottery tickets for much more than they paid.

Watch other episodes of "Why Are We All So Stupid?":

Overconfidence Bias: Asking Couples About Their Relationships

Anchoring Effect: Guessing How Many Jelly Beans Are In A Jar

Pricing Effect: Why A Higher Price Tag Makes Wine Taste Better

Availability Bias: Discussing Who's Most Likely To Cheat On Their Spouse

Join the conversation about this story »

• Ariana Grande released a new song called "Imagine" on Thursday night.
• Although it doesn't explicitly name any of her exes like "Thank U, Next," many fans believe that "Imagine" was written about Mac Miller.
• Grande described the inspiration for song as "a simple, beautiful love that is now (and forever) unattainable."
• Miller, who died in September, had the word "imagine" tattooed on his arm. 
• Some have also noticed some similarities between the new song and Grande's first-ever duet with Miller from 2013, "The Way."

Ariana Grande released a new song called "Imagine" on Thursday night, which she described as "more vulnerable and unsure" than her previous hit single, "Thank U, Next."

Although it doesn't explicitly name any of her exes, many fans believe that "Imagine" was written about Mac Miller, whom Grande dated for two years before their split in May.

Grande previously told fans that much of her upcoming album (also titled "Thank U, Next"), "mourns failed, yet important beautiful relationships in my life." She said that if "Thank U, Next" explored "acceptance," then "Imagine" explores "denial."

She also described the inspiration for the song as "a simple, beautiful love that is now (and forever) unattainable."

Largely because Grande described this love as gone "forever," fans believe that "Imagine" was written about Grande's reaction to Miller's death in September.

"I can't believe you aren't here anymore. I really can't wrap my head around it,"Grande wrote on Instagram one week after his accidental overdose. "I'm so mad, I'm so sad I don't know what to do."

Read more: Ariana Grande masterfully shut down a troll who accused her of milking ex Mac Miller's death

The revealing, romantic lyrics in "Imagine" see Grande struggling to accept the end of a relationship.

"We go like up 'til I'm 'sleep on your chest / Love how my face fits so good in your neck," Grande sings in the chorus. "Why can't you imagine a world like that?"

"Knew you were perfect after the first kiss," she sings in the second verse. "Feels like forever, baby, I never thought that it would be you."

It's important to note that Miller had the word "imagine" tattooed on his arm. 

Some fans have also noticed similarities between "Imagine" and Grande's first-ever single as a solo artist in 2013, a romantic collaboration with Miller called "The Way."

Grande sings in an extremely high falsetto at the end of "Imagine," often referred to as "whistle tones," which she has rarely done since hitting the same notes in "The Way."

"When we made 'The Way,' I was like, 'Oh, wow, I'm onto something here,'"Grande recently told Billboard. "It felt like, 'I should do this forever.'"

Natalie Weiner, who interviewed Grande for the Billboard cover story, also wrote: "Just before this interview, she was working on a new song, which, when she plays it for me later, I realize is about Miller."

You can watch the official lyric video for "Imagine" below.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

• Read more:
• Ariana Grande posted a heartbreaking tribute to Mac Miller: 'I'm so sorry I couldn't fix or take your pain away'
• Ariana Grande revealed why Mac Miller isn't in the 'Burn Book' scene of her new music video for 'Thank U, Next'
• Ariana Grande covered up a Pete Davidson tattoo with a tribute to Mac Miller
• Ariana Grande says she's 'thankful' for Pete Davidson in a new song about her exes — here's a complete timeline of their relationship

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how easy it is for the US president to launch a nuclear weapon

• A handful of potential 2020 Democratic candidates are holding on to the majority of support in an early poll released by CNN and conducted by SSRS. 
• Failed Texas Senate candidate Rep. Beto O'Rourke comes in at No. 3 in the poll, right behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. 
• Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren fall behind O'Rourke, who is one of this year's breakout Democratic stars. 

It seems Beto O'Rourke is stealing Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren's thunder in the 2020 race.

O'Rourke surged as the only candidate to make gains on CNN's latest polling of the potential Democratic electorate since October. O'Rourke, who ran an unsuccessful but popular Texas Senate race, rose five points in the poll, coming in with 9%. Though he hasn't publicly said he'll run for president, O'Rourke said he is not ruling anything out.

Meanwhile, Warren and Harris dropped 5 percentage points each, leaving them at 3% and 4% respectively. 

Former Vice President Joe Biden, however, continues to claim the top of the list, receiving 30% of support from potential voters. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont comes in second, receiving 14% of backers. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey clocks in at 5%. None of the other 14 candidates tested receive 5% of support. 

Read more:Meet the 2020 presidential contenders who are poised to start campaigning right away in 2019

Numbers dropped for politicians like former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Attorney General Eric Holder, who have not publicly stated interest in running for office. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who is just now settling down after a landslide re-election victory in November, has picked up steam since October, rising two percentage points. 

Representative John Delaney of Maryland is the only Democrat to fully declare his intention to run for president, and former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, who this week said he's considering a run, didn't hit 1% of support in the poll. 

SEE ALSO: Beto O'Rourke is quickly becoming a national figure for Democrats at a time when the party has no clear leader

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Nobody plans ahead to be behind on their holiday shopping, but it happens to the best of us year after year, despite always planning to do better. Thankfully, Amazon Prime offers free two-day shipping on millions of items, so nobody has to know you waited until the last minute to purchase their gift, again.

If you're shopping for last-minute tech gifts, you're in luck. There are still tons of great presents you can buy before Christmas, from noise-cancelling headphones to instant cameras to Amazon Echos.

We rounded up 30 of the best last-minute tech gifts we could find on Amazon, all of which are eligible for Prime shipping. That said, only Amazon Prime members can take advantage of Amazon's free two-day shipping perk (and dozens of others). So if you're not a member and want to try it out for a month for free, you can sign up for a 30-day trial.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

SEE ALSO: 50 secret Santa gifts they'll actually want to keep — all under $25

SEE ALSO: 29 clever gifts from Amazon that work for everyone on your list — all under $50

The best smart home speaker you can buy

Amazon Echo, $69.99, available at Amazon

The new Amazon Echo is the uncontested best smart home speaker with its 15,000+ skills, smart home support, and strong audio.

A turntable that lets them digitize their records

Audio-Technica AT-LP60, $99, available at Amazon

Audio-Technica's AT-60 is a turntable designed for a digital world. Not only can it play records, but you can connect it to your computer over USB to digitize them.

A pair of stylish, totally wireless earbuds for audiophiles

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8, $228.99, available at Amazon

Bang & Olufsen's E8s are a stylish pair of totally wireless earbuds with touch controls that let you switch songs or take calls without looking at your phone.

• Nearly a year and a half after President Donald Trump fired him as FBI director, James Comey has re-emerged on the political stage.
• Comey's testimony to House investigators and vocal criticism of Trump have made him a consistently high-profile player in the drama surrounding the president's legal troubles.
• His appearances in the political spotlight and on Trump's Twitter feed are just a small part of his decades-long career.

Former FBI Director James Comey has made regular appearances in the political spotlight since the 2016 election.  From his high-profile firing to his testimony in Congress, Comey has managed to maintain his political relevance.

Comey's tangles with Trump are the latest in a decades-long legal career alongside major players like the special counsel Robert Mueller. Originally inspired by a hostage situation, he ended up leading cases against New York's financial elite, chef Martha Stewart, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Here's how Comey ended up where he is today.

SEE ALSO: Meet the man behind the Trump-Russia investigation: the special counsel Robert Mueller

DON'T MISS: James Comey urged people to 'use every breath we have' to stop Trump from getting reelected in 2020

Born in Yonkers, New York, Comey graduated from New Jersey's Northern Highlands Regional High School. In 1977, Comey and his younger brother were held at gunpoint in their parents' home. Comey's said the scare inspired him to become a prosecutor and better empathize with victims.

Source: "60 Minutes"

Comey attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia where he studied chemistry and religion. He graduated with honors in 1982.

Sources: CNN, College of William & Mary

Comey graduated with a J.D. from University of Chicago Law School in 1985. After being waitlisted at first, Comey got an impromptu interview during a campus visit and joined classmates including Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. He earned a reputation as a brilliant, but humble, student.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

• In an email to all CBS staff Friday, the company said it's rolling out new sexual harassment programs and urged them to fill out an anonymous survey about workplace culture.
• The move comes a week after CBS News settled a lawsuit with three women who accused former CBS anchor Charlie Rose of "blatant and repeated sexual harassment."
• Ryan Kadro, executive producer of CBS This Morning, was named in the suit. He announced he would leave the company in January.

CBS is surveying its employees about workplace culture and rolling out new programs to deal with workplace harassment in the wake of accusations against former CBS host Charlie Rose and former CBS CEO Leslie Moonves.

Employees received an anonymous survey to provide "frank and honest" feedback on their experiences to build a "stronger CBS."

"We want to be clear CBS has turned a page on its approach to these issues, and although this work will take time, it is worth it to be comprehensive and get input from all of you," read an email to all CBS employees.

The broadcaster also said it would unveil new programs to improve workplace culture in the coming months. The programs have been promised to employees since September and include efforts to increase transparency, solutions to ensure open communication, improve trainings, and processes for reporting and taking action. 

The survey comes as lawyers hired by CBS recently concluded an investigation into sexual misconduct claims against Moonves and broader workplace culture issues at the company. Moonves left the company in September after a dozen women told The New Yorker that Moonves sexually assaulted or harassed them and that their careers suffered as a result.

The lawyers' investigation concluded that "the board would have multiple bases upon which to conclude that the company was entitled to terminate Moonves for cause,"according to a draft of the report viewed by The New York Times. The fate of Moonves' $120 million severance package remains uncertain. The board is reviewing the report to decide if Moonves will receive the payout, according to the Times.

And CBS News recently settled a lawsuit with three women who accused former CBS anchor Charlie Rose of "blatant and repeated sexual harassment."

The email also follows the news that Ryan Kadro, executive producer of CBS This Morning, would leave the company in January. Kadro, who has been at CBS since 2010, was named in the suit against Rose, which was settled a week ago. Kadro said in an email to staff that his departure was related to a desire to try something new.

"I couldn't shake the feeling in my gut that I need a new challenge (and a serious nap.) It's the natural course of things," Kadro wrote.

The women who sued CBS — Katherine Brooks Harris, Sydney McNeal, and Chelsea Wei — worked at CBS between 2016 and 2018 and claimed in the suit that Rose harassed them, "including unwanted physical touching, including without limitation caressing and touching their arms, shoulders, waist and back, pulling them close to his body, and kissing them on the cheek."

The suit also claimed Kadro "knew that Mr. Rose had a history of sexual harassment" and that Wei "told Mr. Kadro words to the effect of, 'I'm telling you in case you have a lawsuit on your hands.'" Wei filed a complaint to human resources against Rose and Kadro in November 2017, the suit claims.

The lawsuit also alleged acts of intimidation by Kadro, claiming he "kicked and shoved Ms. Wei's chair with substantial force, startling, intimidating and scaring Ms. Wei."

Back when the lawsuit was filed in May, CBS said it would "vigorously defend against the allegations pertaining to CBS News and Mr. Kadro."

SEE ALSO: CBS News has settled a lawsuit with 3 women who accused former host Charlie Rose of sexual harassment

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The reason some men can't grow full beards, according to a dermatologist

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

Artificial intelligence (AI), often used as an umbrella term to describe types of technology that can simulate human intelligence, is one of today’s hottest topics across a number of business sectors. AI techniques teach computers to parse data in a contextual manner to provide requested information, supply analysis, or trigger an event based on their findings.

Marketers are already leveraging the power of AI to glean valuable insights about their customers, automate tasks, and improve workflows. Just over half (51%) of marketers currently use AI, and an additional 27% are expected to incorporate the technology by 2019, according to Salesforce. This represents the highest anticipated year-over-year (YoY) growth of any leading technology that marketers expect to adopt in the next year, beating out the Internet of Things and marketing automation. And, as the volume of consumer-generated data grows, AI computing techniques — like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP) — will become increasingly important to data-driven decision-making.

In a new report, Business Insider Intelligence examines the current and potential applications of AI within marketing. We dive into how AI enhances personalization, and identify the best practices for marketers looking to integrate the nascent tech into their strategies. We also look at how marketers cam implement AI to better target audiences, gain a competitive edge, and analyze data from social platforms. Finally, we evaluate how these applications will transform — and enhance — the way marketers analyze data, conduct burdensome tasks, and create content. 

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• AI is advancing beyond data analysis and moving rapidly into data generation, as machines get better at automating two basic human senses: sight and hearing. Gleaning insights from data-rich media like voice and video is now possible, and humans no longer have to manually categorize or describe various types of media.
• AI will transform marketers from reactive to proactive planners. The enhanced analytics that AI provides will help marketers more efficiently plan and execute campaigns in three main areas: segmentation, tracking, and keyword tagging.
• However, the rapid pace of innovation is contributing to marketers’ sense of unpreparedness for AI implementation and future use cases. When asked to choose which trending technology they felt most unprepared for, 34% of global marketing executives chose AI, the most of any option, according to Conductor.
• AI will aid in content creation, but human marketers are still necessary. It’s still early days for marketers to use AI to automatically create editorial content or stitch together the right image with the right messaging for display ads. Machines will help cut down on production time, but humans are needed for their creative juices.

In full, the report:

• Discusses the top use cases for AI in marketing and examines those with the greatest potential in the next few years. 
• Breaks down how the role of marketers will evolve once AI automates remedial tasks. 
• Explores how the customer experience is becoming more personalized, relevant, and timely. 
• Provides potential roadmaps for companies that are beginning to invest in AI and machine learning.

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• "Aquaman" tells the story of Arthur Curry, the half-human heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, who must lead his people against his half-brother who wants to take over the human world.
• Jason Momoa plays the title character Aquaman, and his look in the movie isn't much different from how the actor usually looks. But some stars like Patrick Wilson and Amber Heard don't look like their characters at all. 
• Here's what the cast looks like in real life.
• "Aquaman" hits theaters Friday, December 21.

Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry, a half-Atlantean half-human also known as Aquaman.

Momoa first appeared as Arthur Curry in 2017's "Justice League." He was one of the only good parts of the movie. 

Jason Momoa doesn't look that much different in real life.

Momoa, who wore his hair dry for the "Aquaman" premiere in Los Angeles, gained fame for his role as Khal Drogo on the first season of "Game of Thrones."

The wig Amber Heard wears as Mera is very red.

The wig Heard wears as Mera in "Aquaman" is different from the more natural look she wore for her brief appearance in "Justice League."

• Tesla employees at the company's solar panel factory in Buffalo will hold a union organizing drive, the United Steelworkers (USW) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) said on Thursday in a press release.
• The unionization effort will involve production and maintenance employees.
• "Ultimately, it's up to our employees to decide if they want to be unionized. While we will never please everyone outside of Tesla, we have an unwavering commitment to providing a great workplace for our employees," a Tesla representative said.
•  Some employees at Tesla's auto plant in Fremont, California, have also attempted to unionize.

Tesla employees at the company's solar panel factory in Buffalo will hold a union organizing drive, the United Steelworkers (USW) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) said on Thursday in a press release.

The unionization effort will involve production and maintenance employees, according to the USW and IBEW, which said Tesla employees contacted them about organizing.

The USW said in June 2017 that it was attempting to organize the Buffalo factory.

"Tesla greatly values its employees and the direct relationship it has with them at our Buffalo facility. We offer wages and benefits that exceed those of other comparable manufacturing jobs in the region, and we recently increased our base pay even further," a Tesla representative said in a statement to Business Insider.

"Ultimately, it's up to our employees to decide if they want to be unionized. While we will never please everyone outside of Tesla, we have an unwavering commitment to providing a great workplace for our employees."

Read more: 70-hour weeks and 'WTF' emails: 42 employees reveal the frenzy of working at Tesla under the 'cult' of Elon Musk

"I wanted to work at Tesla because I wanted a job in green energy, a job that can change the world," Rob Walsh, a Tesla employee and member of the factory's organizing committee, said in the press release. "But I also want a fair wage for my work."

USW had represented workers at the Buffalo factory when it was operated by Republic Steel. Tesla took over the factory, which it operates with Panasonic, in 2016, when it bought the solar panel installation company SolarCity, which had been using the factory before the acquisition. Production at the factory has faced delays, though Tesla says it plans to ramp up production in the first half of 2019.

Some employees at Tesla's auto plant in Fremont, California, have also attempted to unionize in the midst of reports from Reveal that Tesla has misreported workplace injuries, avoided using safety markings for aesthetic reasons, and failed to give injured employees proper medical treatment.

Tesla has denied that it has misreported workplace injuries and failed to use safety markings for aesthetic reasons. The company did not respond to requests for comment on the allegation that it failed to give injured employees proper medical treatment. 

The National Labor Relations Board is investigating claims that Tesla has violated federal labor laws by interfering with union-organizing activities, retaliating against employees who supported a union, and using an overly broad confidentiality policy.

Tesla has denied those allegations.

You can read Tesla's full statement below:

Tesla greatly values its employees and the direct relationship it has with them at our Buffalo facility. We offer wages and benefits that exceed those of other comparable manufacturing jobs in the region, and we recently increased our base pay even further. In addition, unlike other manufacturers, every single employee is an owner of Tesla, as everyone receives stock upon hire and for good performance, which results in significantly more compensation beyond our already high wages. 

Other factories are shutting down in the US and we still have a long way to go to make Gigafactory 2 financially sustainable. Nevertheless, we continue to do everything we can to keep exceeding our commitments to jobs and business in Buffalo.

Today's demonstration consisted almost entirely of groups outside of Tesla, not Tesla employees. And ultimately, it's up to our employees to decide if they want to be unionized. While we will never please everyone outside of Tesla, we have an unwavering commitment to providing a great workplace for our employees. That’s what matters.

SEE ALSO: Tesla employees were reportedly told not to walk past Elon Musk's desk because of his wild firing rampages

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NOW WATCH: This Rolls-Royce feature might be the world's fanciest way to tailgate

• Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner spent a long weekend at a luxury hotel in the Dominican Republic, which cost taxpayers $58,000. 
• Though the Kushners paid for their own expenses, the American public gets to pay for their security detail. 

Ivanka Trump's weekend getaway at a luxurious Dominican Republic hotel last summer cost American taxpayers $58,000. 

Though the first daughter, who also serves as a White House adviser, and husband Jared Kushner (also a White House adviser) paid for their own costs, taxpayers picked up the tab for the couple's security detail. Federal records show that the bill amounted to nearly $60,000 — $32,064 for a "VIP VISIT" to the Amanera Resort Rio San Juan and $26,280 for a charge simply identified as "HOTEL RESERVATION." 

In a statement to Quartz, the White House said the Kushners had followed "all ethics guidelines and rules for White House officials" on their trip to the DR.

"The only expenses incurred by the government were due to USSS protection, which they are required to have," the White House said, adding that advisers don't have a say over the level of involvement the Secret Service has on their trips. 

Read more: Ivanka Trump's fashion company is shutting down. Here's the full story of the first daughter's business from its founding to the end.

This is not the most expensive tab taxpayers have had to pick up for the president's children. In 2017, Eric Trump's trip to Uruguay — on official Trump Organization business — cost taxpayers about $100,000 in hotel room bills. 

The Amanera Resort is a luxury property in Playa Grande, Rio San Juan, a small Dominican municipality that features breathtaking beaches. Hoy, a local Dominican newspaper, reported in mid-August that Rio San Juan residents observed an "unusual amount of security" around the area, including police and Secret Service agents, at the time of Trump's visit. Hoy reported that Trump arrived to the Caribbean island in a private jet. 

Currently, a night at the Amanera Resort can go for as low as $1,750. 

SEE ALSO: It's costing a fortune to protect the Trump family

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NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

• Megan Mullally recently announced she'd be the host of the 2019 Screen Actor’s Guild Awards. 
• She later Instagrammed and said that no one would dress her. 
• Designer Christian Siriano offered to dress her.
• He's done this for other stars when they've been faced with this dilemma. 

Earlier this week, Megan Mullally was announced as the host of the 2019 Screen Actor’s Guild Awards when they air in January, but so far, she’s struggled to find something to wear. As Mullally pointed out in an Instagram post on December 12, no designers would agree to dress her, but now, Christian Siriano has stepped up to the plate.

In Mullally’s post, she wrote that she was shopping online for a gown because she said no designers had sent her any samples

She also mentioned that an order she’d put in to Saks Fifth Avenue had been canceled.

"Looks like I will be buying my dress online though, as per my usual, even though there is literally a 100 percent chance that I will be on camera, because I’M HOSTING IT," Mullally wrote. "Designers do not send me dresses. I’m online scrolling through the gowns sections of various websites — which I know how to do pretty well at this point — and then I tried to order something from Saks Fifth Avenue and they cancelled my order."

But then, on Friday, Siriano reached out to Mullally on Twitter.

"Hey @MeghanMullally would love to dress you anytime any day! Xo," he wrote.

Many celebrities who aren’t sizes 0-2 (the size of a typical couture gown sample) have previously spoken up about having trouble finding a designer to dress them for red carpets

Model Ashley Graham previously said that "no one" would dress her for the 2016 Met Gala. Actress Rachel Bloom said that it was "hard" to get someone to lend her a dress. Actress Dascha Polanco said that publicists have told her in the past that designers didn't have her size. 

But when that happens, Siriano is known for offering his services like he did for the "Will & Grace" star. In 2016, he stepped up for Leslie Jones when she said she was having trouble finding a gown for the "Ghostbusters" premiere, and at the 2018 Oscar Awards, he dressed 17 different celebrities, including Amy Adams and Whoopi Goldberg.  

Siriano recently spoke about how he had "tripled" his business by expanding his size range. 

So far, Mullally has yet to respond to Siriano’s offer publicly. INSIDER reached out to Mullally's representatives and Sak's Fifth Avenue but did not immediately receive a response. 

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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NOW WATCH: The true story behind the name 'Black Friday' is much darker than you may have thought

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

Emerging markets are going to be essential for e-commerce growth, as retailers in developed markets may soon reach saturation in terms of consumer growth.

For example, almost half of US households now have a Prime membership, diminishing Amazon's growth potential in the country. Meanwhile, in China, the world's largest e-commerce market, nearly half of the population is actively making online purchases, leaving little room for growth. 

However, India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America are worth keeping an eye on. E-commerce penetration rates in these areas hover between 2-6%, presenting a huge opportunity for future growth as online sales gain traction. Moreover, these regions are expected to grow at compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of 31%, 32%, and 16%, respectively, through 2021.

This report compiles several e-commerce snapshots, which together highlight the most notable emerging markets in various regions. Each provides an overview of the e-commerce industry in a particular country, discusses influential retailers, and provides insights into the opportunities and challenges for that specific domestic industry.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Emerging markets are going to be essential for e-commerce growth, as retailers in developed markets may soon reach saturation in terms of consumer growth.
• India is the clear overall leader in e-commerce potential, but countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America are also worth keeping an eye on. Within Southeast Asia, Indonesia shows the most promise for retailers, as the government is loosening restrictions on foreign investments, and its massive population is gaining spending power and more access to internet. Meanwhile, Mexico is a retailer's best bet for expansion in Latin America, due to its stable economy and rising middle class, but Brazil may be gearing up to steal the top spot.
• However, doing business in these regions can be difficult. In most of these emerging markets, infrastructure is underdeveloped and the population is largely unbanked, making digital payments a challenge.
• If retailers can build a brand presence in these markets while online shopping is still in its nascent stages, they may become market leaders as e-commerce takes off in the regions. Moreover, these markets could provide new sources of growth for companies that would otherwise stagnate in more mature e-commerce markets.

 In full, the report:

• Explores the e-commerce industry in India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
• Highlights the leading country in each region, as well as key e-commerce players there. 
• Outlines the challenges and opportunities each region faces.
• Gives insight into how these emerging markets may shape the future of e-commerce.

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• The 7-year-old migrant girl who died in Border Patrol custody last week has been identified as Jakelin Caal Maquin, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
• A CBP timeline showed she couldn't access emergency medical care until roughly 90 minutes after she began showing symptoms.
• According to CBP, agents first became aware of the girl's symptoms during a bus ride to a Border Patrol station.
• Emergency medical workers began providing care once the bus arrived, 90 minutes later, CBP said.

The 7-year-old migrant girl who died in Border Patrol custody last week has been identified as Jakelin Caal Maquin. She couldn't access emergency medical care until roughly 90 minutes after she began showing symptoms, according to a Customs and Border Protection timeline.

Jakelin died December 8, shortly after she and her father were apprehended while illegally crossing into a remote area of the desert in New Mexico as part of a group of 163 migrants.

According to CBP, Border Patrol agents first became aware of the girl's symptoms during a bus ride to the Lordsburg Border Patrol station around 5 a.m. on December 7, when her father said she was sick and vomiting.

"At this time, the Agents notified the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station to prepare to receive the child and provide emergency medical care," CBP's timeline said. "Due to the remoteness of the area, meeting emergency medical personnel in Lordsburg was the best means to provide the child with emergency care."

Read more: After a 7-year-old migrant girl died in Border Patrol custody, Kirstjen Nielsen said 'this family chose to cross illegally', and critics are outraged she's blaming the death on the family

CBP said the bus arrived at the station just before 6:30 a.m., when Jakelin's father said she wasn't breathing.

"A Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technician began to provide medical care and revived the child twice. It was determined at this time that she had a temperature of 105.7 degrees," CBP's timeline said.

According to CBP, Jakelin was airlifted to a children's hospital in El Paso, Texas, where she died less than 24 hours later.

The Department of Homeland Security and its secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, drew backlash on Friday after appearing to blame Jakelin's death on the family members who brought her across the US-Mexico border.

In an interview with "Fox & Friends" early Friday morning, Nielsen told the hosts that the girl's death "is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey" migrants take.

"This family chose to cross illegally," she said. "What happened here was that they were about 90 miles away from where we could process them. They came in such a large crowd that it took our Border Patrol folks a couple of times to get them all."

• Read more of INSIDER's immigration coverage:
• The Trump administration edited a bizarre press release about Trump's border wall after people roasted it
• The Trump administration is renewing its push to deport thousands of Vietnamese immigrants with criminal convictions — including some war refugees who have lived in the US for years
• The Trump administration paid a private company $13.6 million to recruit thousands of Border Patrol agents, and they've hired 2 so far
• This stunning visualization of US immigration over 226 years will make you rethink how America's population has evolved

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 6 airline industry secrets that will help you fly like a pro this holiday season

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Going to a different store for every item on your holiday shopping list can be a huge headache, so it's important to start with stores that have a wide selection of gifts.

Target is a one-stop-shop year-round, so it's a onvenient destination during this time of year. On top of that, it has free two-day shipping on almost everything.

To help you shop, we rounded up 51 awesome gifts to buy at Target for under $50. With everything from toys and video games to tech to smart home gadgets, and even kitchen appliances and beauty products, you're sure to find something for everyone on your list. Whether you're shopping for stocking stuffers, a white elephant gift exchange at work, or you simply need to stick to a strict budget, your money will go a long way here.

Shop at Target now, or keep reading for our top picks.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

A chunky cableknit sweater

Goodfellow & Co Men's Long Sleeve Cable Crew Pullover Sweater, $34.99

This soft, textured cableknit sweater delivers expensive style at a super affordable price.

A grip and stand for holding their phone more easily

PopSockets Grips, $9.99-$14.99

PopSockets Grips make using any smartphone easier by working as a stand and providing grip when texting and taking pictures. If you know someone who will also be getting a new phone this season, it's the perfect accompanying stocking stuffer.

A warm cowl-neck sweater

A New Day Women's Cozy Neck Pullover, available in seven colors, $29.99

This cowl-neck sweater is super cozy and perfect for winter since it's extra long and warm.