Outdone Blog: Gift Guides, Tips, and Gifting Inspiration

The Apparent Inevitability of Wireheading

Founders' Forum

The Apparent Inevitability of Wireheading

Massive AI systems are becoming increasingly adept at getting you to watch just one more video.

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Slowtide

Cozy Comfort and Artful Design for Inspired Everyday Living When it comes to gift-giving, Slowtide brings a refreshing blend of cozy comfort, artistic design, and functional quality that transforms everyday essentials into cherished treasures. Whether you’re shopping for beach lovers, homebodies, or adventure seekers, Slowtide's thoughtfully crafted

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Kettl

Elevating Tea Rituals with Handcrafted Elegance and Thoughtful Innovation Discover the art of refined tea experiences with Kettl, a brand that beautifully blends tradition, craftsmanship, and modern sensibility to create meaningful gifts for tea lovers and curious novices alike. Whether you're shopping for a seasoned tea connoisseur or

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Noon & Moon

Artistic Tableware That Transforms Everyday Moments Into Celebrations For those who seek to elevate their dining and entertaining experiences with pieces that blend artistry and function, Noon & Moon offers a captivating selection of handcrafted tableware. Their stunning glassware and uniquely designed ceramics make ideal gifts for anyone who cherishes

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: tentree

Sustainable Style Rooted in Purpose and Responsibility In a world where fashion often comes with a heavy environmental cost, tentree stands out as a beacon of sustainable style and meaningful impact. This brand doesn’t just offer apparel; it presents a chance to give gifts that carry a story of

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: VSSL

Adventure-Ready Gear Meets Exceptional Coffee Craftsmanship For those who crave adventure without compromising on quality, VSSL offers the perfect fusion of rugged utility and refined craftsmanship. Specializing in outdoor gear designed to elevate everyday experiences, VSSL’s coffee collections transform the simple act of brewing into an extraordinary ritual. Whether

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Janji

Purpose-Driven Performance Apparel That Moves You and the World Forward When gift-giving calls for something meaningful, functional, and inspirational, Janji emerges as a standout choice. This brand blends high-performance activewear with a powerful mission—supporting clean water projects around the globe. Whether for fitness enthusiasts or mindful adventurers, Janji’s

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Toadfish

Innovative Coastal Gear Designed for Outdoor and Seafood Lovers For those who blend outdoor adventure with a love of coastal living, Toadfish offers smart, functional products that make gift-giving effortless. Whether your recipient enjoys a day on the water, a weekend of shellfishing, or simply needs rugged gear built to

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Quaker Marine Supply

Authentic Heritage-Inspired Apparel Crafted for Coastal Living If you’re seeking gifts that evoke rugged coastal charm and timeless maritime spirit, Quaker Marine Supply offers a distinctive collection rooted in authentic workwear traditions. Their thoughtfully crafted garments blend vintage inspiration with modern wearability—perfect for those who appreciate quality, heritage,

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Le Puzz

Bringing Joy and Connection Through Artful Puzzles If you’re searching for a thoughtful, engaging gift that brings people together, Le Puzz offers a fresh take on traditional puzzles with artistic flair and storytelling at its core. Their beautifully crafted puzzles turn gift-giving into a meaningful experience — perfect for those

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Foehn

Innovative Performance Apparel for the Modern Adventurer When looking for the perfect gift that marries style, functionality, and durability, Foehn stands out as an exceptional choice. This brand's thoughtfully designed apparel is ideal for those who crave both adventure and everyday comfort, making gifting a breeze for active

Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Arc'teryx

Precision-Engineered Performance Gear for the Adventurous Spirit When it comes to gifting for outdoor lovers who value innovation, durability, and sleek design, Arc'teryx stands out as a premier choice. Renowned for blending technical excellence with minimalist style, their gear ensures the recipient is prepared to conquer any adventure

Top Gift: Atom Hoody Women's from Arc'teryx

Top Gift: Atom Hoody Women's from Arc'teryx

Finding the perfect gift that combines style, comfort, and practicality can be a challenge—especially when it comes to outdoor apparel. The Atom Hoody Women's by Arc'teryx is an exceptional solution for those who appreciate high-performance clothing with modern design. This versatile insulated hoody is an

The Weekly Unwrap — March 30

The Weekly Unwrap — March 30

Historically, Outdone has shown just 12 gift recommendations to our users. The thesis behind this being that providing any more options would be counterproductive and induce analysis paralysis. The problem was that, even with some pretty cool AI tech under the hood, the odds of identifying the best possible gift

The Canary is Losing its Voice

Founders' Forum

The Canary is Losing its Voice

Artificial General Intelligence, P(pretty bad), & the looming Most-Most Threshold.

3 AI robots on a podium

Founders' Forum

We Put 3 Other AI Gift Finders to the Test — Here’s What We Learned

At Outdone, we know finding the perfect gift is tough. And we’re not alone — loads of other recommendation tools are out there promising to make gifting a breeze, often with the help of AI. In theory, AI should be the perfect solution to gifting stress, using data-driven techniques to

Son giving a gift to his mother.

Mother's Day Gifts for Moms Who Have Everything: 2025 Edition

Shopping for your mom is stressful. They usually have everything they need. And forget about getting them to give you some ideas. Every year, the same frantic scramble ensues as Mother's Day approaches, and that familiar question bubbles up: "What do you get for someone who has

AI helping a woman shop.

Founders' Forum

How AI is Changing the Way We Shop

A few years ago, I would have guessed that by Feb 2025 generative AI would play a larger role in the online shopping experience. Like most applications of the technology, though, AI in the retail arena has progressed in a series of fits and starts. We’ve seen many companies

Man giving a Valentine's Gift to his girlfriend.

Valentine's Gifts 2025: Beyond Chocolate & Flowers

The heart-shaped boxes are already lining store shelves, and your reminder to snag a dinner rez just popped up—that’s right, Valentine's Day is approaching faster than Cupid's arrow. While roses wilt and chocolates disappear, the pressure to find something meaningful remains. But here'

Woman holding a calendar and a gift planning her year of gifting ahead

The Comprehensive Year-Round Gift Planning Guide for 2025

If you’re anything like I was before we built Outdone, you’re probably just winging it when it comes to gift shopping, let alone doing any pre-planning. We scramble last minute, overspend in December, and somehow still manage to forget Aunt Susan's birthday every single year. After

Man returning a gift in a store.

Smart Gift Return Strategies for 2025: A Complete Guide

Let's be honest—gift returns are about as fun as a root canal. And if you're anything like me, you've probably got at least one well-intentioned but slightly-off-the-mark gift sitting in your closet right now. After spending years working to recommend the best, most

Woman overwhelmed by forgotten gift cards.

The Ultimate Guide to Gift Card Usage & Exchange in 2025

Picture this: you're spring cleaning and stumble upon a stack of gift cards tucked away in a drawer. Sound familiar? You're not alone. In fact, you've just discovered what might be hundreds of dollars in forgotten purchasing power. As someone who is fully invested

Cartoon man excited by a new gift

The Psychology Of Gift Giving

Is there such a thing as the perfect gift? This is the question that people ask themselves every single holiday season. The seemingly tricky task of finding the ideal item for a loved one can leave many feeling quite stressed. This is especially the case when shopping for a picky