When you're feeling a bit down, grinning might be the last thing on your mind. But could faking a smile actually make you feel better? The question has been part of a long-standing debate among psychology researchers about whether pulling facial expressions can influence our emotions – an idea known as the facial feedback hypothesis. Now, new research has found strong evidence it does. When you're feeling a bit down, grinning might be the last thing on your mind.

Say what you will about Kim Kardashian--at least she's a human. The next generation of the famous-for-being-famous are being engineered from scratch. They're synthetic stars--algorithmically generated characters who have millions of Instagram followers, show up in glossy magazines, and have songs on Spotify. She models for the likes of Prada and Calvin Klein, her first single came out last year, and she has sponsorship deals with companies like Samsung. Among her pals: Bermuda, a rule-breaking bad girl who models and touts brands, and Blawko, an L.A.-based Gen-Zer who likes fast cars and Absolut vodka, and who is never seen without his trademark scarf covering his nose and mouth.

With the rise in popularity of AI has come the inevitable wave of those looking to take advantage of its popularity. Startups are beginning to realize that simply saying they have "AI" capabilities leads to increased valuations, greater attention, and more possibilities. But people are starting to get wise and it's already starting to catch up with these firms. News outlets are pointing out the fakery of media-ready robots that are really pre-scripted animatrons, and are calling out startups that are resorting to using humans to do the work of machines that are supposed to be doing the work of humans. Are these just temporary stop gaps that will be replaced with "real AI" when the technology is ready, or is this all smoke and mirrors from those who are saying they're doing AI but really doing something less than AI?