Queenie Wong

An Amazon delivery driver loads a cart with packages on July 16, 2024, in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Holiday shoppers spent a record amount online, searching out deals amid economic anxiety

January 8, 2026 at 2:24 p.m.

Online shoppers spent a record $257.8 billion during the holiday season as they snagged major discounts on electronics, sporting goods and appliances, Adobe data show.

A shopper walks past fully stocked shelves in the toy department as Black Friday deals are out at the Walmart Supercenter on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Burbank, California. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Toys are talking back thanks to AI, but are they safe around kids?

January 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As AI becomes more intertwined in our work and personal lives, it's also shaking up playtime.

The Long Beach Container Terminal on Feb. 16, 2025, in Long Beach, California. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Presents to arrive in time for the holidays, but may be more expensive

November 10, 2025 at 1:50 p.m.

The volume and prices of products in the millions of containers coming through the port suggest that imports are becoming more costly and consumers are more cautious.

In the coming weeks, Google will add its artificial intelligence-powered assistant Gemini into Google Maps, making it possible for drivers to get answers to more complex questions while they're on the road. (Dreamstime)

Stuck in traffic? Google Maps has a smarter AI assistant for you.

November 6, 2025 at 1:59 p.m.

Google will add its artificial intelligence-powered assistant Gemini into Google Maps, making it possible for drivers to get answers to more complex questions.

Barbie collector Azusa Sakamoto is photographed in West Hollywood, California, on Oct. 15, 2024. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Toys aren’t just for kids. Mattel and other companies are embracing ‘kidults’

October 23, 2024 at 2:11 p.m.

A growing number of adults who are buying toys for themselves, reclaiming memories from their childhood and showing off their fandom on their desks and shelves.

Twitter is set to start enforcing new rules aimed at combating hateful and abusive content.

Twitter starts enforcing new rules to combat hateful and abusive content

May 23, 2019 at 7:17 p.m.

Twitter users may have to start thinking twice about what they post on social media. On Monday, the tech firm was set to start enforcing new rules aimed at combating...

Facebook combats fake news with new warning label

August 22, 2019 at 3:27 a.m.

Don't believe everything you read on Facebook. The Silicon Valley tech firm has started rolling out a new warning label for news stories that are "disputed" by a third-party fact...

All Stories