In these uncertain times, US consumers are embracing the familiar: gas-guzzling cars, trucks, and SUVs.

That’s according to findings from the auto section of KPMG’s annual American Perspectives survey.

Based on responses from 2,500 adults across the country, the survey suggested an “increasing preference for standard gas-powered vehicles.” Asked about their preference between internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrids, and EVs with the same price tags, 42% picked gas-powered cars—up from 38% last year. At the same time, interest in EVs fell from 21% in 2024 to 16% in 2025. Similar to last year, about one-third of respondents selected hybrids as their preference.

Lenny LaRocca, US auto sector leader for KPMG, told Tech Brew the responses suggest that the hype around EVs is cooling down.

“I think reality is setting in at this point,” he said. “Consumers are feeling more comfortable with gas engine vehicles. The EV charging infrastructure is still a big concern, range is still a big concern.”

Keep reading here.—JG

It’s peak developer conference season, and AI announcements are flying in fast.

Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, and OpenAI have all elbowed each other to release news of their latest models, partnerships, and tools as the race to own generative AI remains as intense as ever.

A big theme of all of this news, like much of the AI hype these days, was agents—task-specific AI tools that can act beyond the realm of a chatbot—whether they’re helping consumers shop or book tickets, or workers code or make sales.

But companies diverged around how much emphasis they put on AI for use at home versus at the office. The Economist reported that some companies may be growing disillusioned with offerings in the latter category.

Here are some recent highlights from the AI world.

Keep reading here.—PK

It may seem that Gen Z is ahead of the curve when it comes to GenAI savvy. But that know-how can vary by region in the US.

A new poll from Gallup, the Walton Family Foundation, and the nonprofit Heartland Forward found that only about a third of Gen Z employees in the 20 interior states defined as the American heartland feel at least somewhat prepared to use AI at work. Four in 10 heartland Gen Z students between fifth and 12th grade feel ready to integrate AI into eventual jobs.

There have been plenty of concerns lately about the role that GenAI should play in schoolwork and education. But it’s important that students have exposure to and training around AI to ready themselves for AI-dominated workplaces, according to Angie Cooper, COO and president of Heartland Forward, which aims to promote economic growth in the middle of the country.

“When we work with rural students and entrepreneurs across those 20 states, we know that AI is here. AI is going to be leading the future of work. It’s going to be bringing additional innovation to our heartland communities,” Cooper told Tech Brew. “We want to make sure that people in the heartland have the knowledge and skills on how to harness AI.”

Keep reading here.—PK