• Sam Altman says one of his biggest fears is what he calls "AI authoritarianism."
• That's when AI is controlled by a small number of companies or countries that gatekeep the tech.
• A debate over AI access erupted last week after the release of Kimi K3, a Chinese open-source model.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says one of his biggest concerns about AI isn't whether it becomes too powerful in and of itself, but that a single company could control that power.

"I think the fight of the current moment is: Are we going to head to a world of AI authoritarianism or liberty?" Altman said on the latest episode of the "Relentless" podcast.

"Every time that humanity has traded off its liberty for safety, it's been a long-term net loss," Altman said. "We are going to put this in the hands of people. We're going to empower them. We are going to let society express its ideas and use this technology in the way they want."

It's a striking argument from the head of OpenAI, one of a small number of companies that control the world's most powerful AI models. OpenAI is also proprietary rather than open-source, meaning it doesn't share its tech.

Altman's comments are well-timed. They follow a debate that erupted in Silicon Valley and Washington last week over how much visibility the general public should have into the architecture of frontier models.

The recent release of Moonshot AI's Kimi K3, a powerful Chinese open-source model, sparked calls from some US officials to restrict access to Chinese models — and warnings from investors and startup founders that doing so could weaken global competition.

The divide extends beyond model access. US export controls already determine which countries and companies can obtain the most advanced chips and computing capacity, giving Washington significant influence over who can build cutting-edge AI.

Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, OpenAI, Google, and many other leading tech companies signed a letter urging Washington not to restrict open-source AI.

Anthropic, OpenAI's biggest competitor and arguably the leading AI company on the planet right now, was the only major frontier lab that neither signed the letter nor publicly supported its contents. The company is known for taking a more cautious approach — arguing that increasingly capable models require stronger safeguards and tighter controls.

Altman, meanwhile, said preventing such power from becoming overly concentrated has long been central to his vision for AI, even as his company continues to keep its own models closed.

"For so long now, I have felt focused on this singular goal of abundant intelligence and a belief that incredible human prosperity will come from that, as long as we don't have a weird power concentration and kind of a new authoritarianism," he said.

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says trust in America's tech will help keep Chinese competitors at bay.
• Nadella was asked on CNN about the rise of Chinese models like Moonshot AI's Kimi K3.
• He said the US's competitive advantage lies in its robust ecosystem of model training, too.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says trust in US AI technology and its robust training ecosystem will keep it competitive against Chinese products.

Nadella was speaking to CNN's Fareed Zakaria on an episode of "GPS on CNN" that aired on Sunday. Zakaria asked Nadella whether Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 — a model that upset US tech stocks — and Chinese technologies have an edge over American products, because they're "much cheaper" and can do what most companies need.

Nadella responded that the US has taken an "ecosystem approach" to shore up the competitiveness of its digital sector.

"It's been about trust in our technology, right? So, for example, if you take the Chinese models, guess where these models run? They run on a lot of the hyperscalers — that are American — all over the world," Nadella said.

He added that because the Chinese models are open weight, US companies can monitor, test, and post-train them.

"I think that one of the things that's lost in this is the understanding even of how the US became competitive in the first place," Nadella said.

"We became competitive because we took our technology, we built a rich ecosystem where others could participate, in other countries, and trust our stewardship of this ecosystem," he added. "And as long as that remains, we will absolutely be competitive, and we will win."

Microsoft has big stakes in the US AI game. The tech giant holds about 27% of OpenAI's for-profit public benefit corporation.

American AI companies face fierce competition from Chinese rivals, some of which have released bombshell products that roiled tech stocks.

Last year, the emergence of the Chinese AI lab DeepSeek prompted a $1 trillion tech sell-off, one of the first major signs that China could rival US AI capabilities at a much lower cost.

In July, Moonshot AI's new AI model, Kimi K3, made waves in the tech sphere for its coding, reasoning, and knowledge work abilities, all of which could rival those of models from Anthropic and OpenAI.

• Stocks face two potentially narrative-shifting events this week: a Fed meeting and tech earnings.
• There's chatter about a surprise rate hike, while earnings could be a reset moment for the AI trade.
• All eyes are on hyperscalers after Alphabet was punished last week for its lofty capex outlook.

The stock market is heading into its next big test this week.

Traders are gearing up for a potentially volatile week as markets come to two two big hurdles: the Fed's next policy meeting, and a slew of earnings from some of the market's biggest AI names.

The updates are coming at a crucial moment for the bull market, which has been challenged recently by a wave of volatility. In addition to fleeing some hot chip makers in recent weeks, investors punished AI spenders after key earnings last week. Shares of Alphabet and Tesla tumbled after earnings, with the declines prompted by investor skittishness about higher capex outlooks for both companies.

"Until there is a clear uptrend established once again, investors would be wise to err on the side of caution," David Rosenberg, a top economist and the president of Rosenberg Research, said on Friday.

Here's what investors need to know about the week ahead.

Could the Fed decision be a hike?

The market's first test comes on Wednesday with the conclusion of the Fed's policy meeting. Investors are expecting the Fed to keep rates unchanged after a cooler-than-expected June inflation report, but there are concerns about a surprise rate hike.

The probability that the Fed hikes rates by 25 basis points at its July meeting ticked up to nearly 36% on Friday, up from 13% a week ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool. The baseline expectation is that the Fed will hike rates once or twice by the end of the year.

The argument for a hike now is simply, why wait? Neil Dutta, the chief economist at Renaissance Macro Research, argues that a hike next week would give the Fed room to maneuver as the conditions supporting higher inflation remain in place.

Fanning inflation concerns is the latest spike in oil prices. Brent crude, the international benchmark, topped $100 a barrel last week for the first time since May as the war reignited and tankers were attacked in the Red Sea.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated that the central bank has "no tolerance" for high inflation when speaking to Congress earlier this month.

"Red sea, Hormuz, war escalation, and central banks will be in focus. Oil retraced to pre-MOU levels, pushing rates higher," Bank of America wrote on Friday, adding that the uncertainty around a July rate hike looked "highly unusual."

Big Tech earnings

All eyes will be on the AI trade this week as markets await tech giants' results for the second quarter. Hyperscalers have been under more scrutiny, with investors getting antsy about seeing a return on ballooning capex.

Here are the Mag Seven names that are on deck to report earnings this week:

Tesla and Alphabet, two giants in the Mag Seven circle, were dinged by investors last week. Tesla missed on earnings for the quarter. and its capex forecast added to pressure on the stock. Alphabet beat estimates, but said it was lifting its capex guidance for the full year, triggering a 7% drop in the stock midweek.

The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF is down 3% for the year.

"Technology earnings and spending trends will remain in focus over the coming week," Brock Weimer, an investment strategy analyst at Edward Jones, wrote on Friday.

"If hyperscalers can't convince investors that it's still worth investing in AI infrastructure, then it could spell trouble for the entire stock market and, thus, the economy because it's so tech driven," Hardika Singh, an economic strategist on Fundstrat's market intelligence team, said.

• Damien Monel took a 30% pay cut at his Amazon job to transfer from Cork to Madrid.
• He started spending half his paycheck on rent and made some budgeting mistakes, but has no regrets.
• Monel has more than doubled his salary since moving to Madrid and says following his gut was the key.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Damien Monel, a 28-year-old recruiter based in Madrid. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I moved from my home country, France, to Ireland at 19 for a technical support role at Apple, only to burn out in my second year. I was staying at home in bed in the dark, not seeing friends, and I thought, I'm too young to feel this depressed.

I knew I wanted to get into recruiting, so I applied for job after job until I landed a multi-month contract role at Amazon, also in Ireland. It was a pay cut and a temporary role, but I told myself I'd take the risk because there was no way I'd keep letting burnout affect me.

Two years later, after transitioning into a full-time recruiter role at Amazon, I felt like I'd stopped growing as a person in Ireland. I transferred to Amazon's Madrid office in 2022 without ever having been to Spain, knowing that if I'd moved before, I could do it again.

I had a bit of a weird feeling when I discovered my salary would be 30% lower, but four years later, I've more than doubled that lower salary. Along the way, I made mistakes, drained my savings, and spent most of my income on rent, but it was all worth it.

Now, I think I'm ready to close my Spanish chapter and move on to what's next.

I took two pay cuts without a backup plan

Technical support at Apple wasn't my dream job, but I assumed it would be a great way to get started in the corporate world. It turned out not to be the Irish life I hoped to experience. I wanted to work on my English and immerse myself in the culture.

I worked alongside a team of French colleagues, receiving angry phone call after angry phone call from unhappy French customers. It felt like I was still in France, and I didn't have many opportunities to improve my English.

Moving on to my role at Amazon was a step in the right direction, but I still felt limited. Cork, where I lived, is a very small town, and there was so much more I wanted to see.

I started learning Spanish through Duolingo, went on a two-month trip to Latin America, and loved it. The lifestyle seemed amazing, and I wanted to trade Cork's rain for some sun.

I asked my manager for a transfer to an Amazon office in Spain, and she offered a move to Madrid or Barcelona. I chose Madrid for its architecture, atmosphere, and overall lifestyle. I didn't care about the 30% pay cut. I had this feeling that I'd taken a risk before and could do it again.

I remember crying at the airport before moving from France to Ireland. It was the toughest decision I'd ever made, but it turned out to be the best of my life. My experience figuring it out in Cork gave me the strength to handle more uncertainty.

When I first moved to Spain, I spent half my paycheck on rent

I watched a lot of YouTube videos about the Spanish lifestyle and got in touch with colleagues living there who could explain the cultural differences and direct me to resources, like a housing website. They also told me about the actual differences in cost of living.

I've found groceries to be fairly comparable to Ireland, although some everyday things, such as coffee, wine, and going out for a drink, are noticeably more affordable.

I started paying more in rent to live alone in an apartment. I could've shared an apartment to cut costs, but I wanted an upgrade and a place I'd love and feel safe working from home in. I wasn't saving any money, but sometimes you need to make trade-offs to live the quality of life you want.

I don't have a plan B. I can't just go to my parents' house if I don't pay my rent because they don't live in the country. I only have myself, and I have to figure it out.

I made budgeting mistakes, but I'm happy I did

Poor budgeting put me in stupid situations, and I had months where I went completely over budget and was basically living on my credit card. It wasn't the best decision because I paid a lot in interest and brought my savings down to zero, but it was my choice. I'm happy I did because I've had a great experience living alone.

I've enjoyed the Spanish life as I wanted to live it. Looking back, I would've appreciated making smarter choices by spending and going out less, but I was young and wanted to get to know people. I messed up, but I'm happy I did.

Two years ago, I left Amazon for a higher-paying corporate job and also started a coaching business on the side. Since then, I've been in a much more stable financial situation. I figured it out exactly as I knew I would.

Your decisions don't have to make sense to the people around you

If I have a gut feeling that something feels right, even if it doesn't make much sense on paper, I try to trust it. People have told me I'm insane for moving or taking a pay cut, but my gut tells me what the right next step is.

I'm already planning my next move: I'll be in Dubai by the end of the year. The idea came up during a call with my manager, and I've set my mind on it.

We tend to overthink our decisions. A move, for example, is a big decision, but what is the cost of you — emotionally, physically, financially — staying in your current situation?

Do you have a story to share about taking a pay cut? If so, please reach out to the reporter at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.

• Johanna Dickson moved back home to New Jersey to tackle $40,000 in credit card debt accumulated in NYC.
• Johanna's debt began with store credit cards and escalated due to financial mismanagement.
• She used a debt relief program to reduce her debt and plans to move to Washington state soon.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Johanna Dickson, a 42-year-old who moved back to her parents' house in New Jersey to help her pay off years of debt. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Living in New York City was always a dream of mine. I grew up 90 minutes away in New Jersey, but after graduating from college in 2006, I landed a job in marketing that paid enough to afford my first Manhattan apartment with roommates. I finally felt like I made it when I moved into my own studio apartment in Harlem in 2021.

Over the 15 years I lived in NYC, I secretly incurred around $40,000 in credit card debt. In 2023, at age 40, I decided I needed to fix my finances. I moved back in with my parents and took a few other drastic measures to get back on my feet.

Here's how I got into debt and what I've been doing to get out of it.

My relationship with money was stable before I moved to NYC

I grew up privileged in a two-parent home where both brought in income. My parents paid for college so that I didn't have to take out any loans.

I got my first credit card from Victoria's Secret in 2009 so I could establish a line of credit. I tried to keep the balance low and pay it off quickly, and then it became impossible. I was also an authorized user on my mom's Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's cards, and I was offered the chance to open my own, which I naively did.

What made it worse was that as I spent more, the credit card kept raising my spending limit. It made it easy to spend more and maintain a high balance. The balances became completely unmanageable.

I accumulated $40,000 in debt

Accruing that much credit card debt was awful and slightly embarrassing. I felt like I'd been given a real gift to not have student loan debt when I graduated from college. I threw it away by getting into credit card debt.

A lot of the debt was from keeping up with the Joneses through shopping when I worked in a fashion-adjacent job. I felt like I needed to wear certain brands and trends to fit in.

Making minimum payments never seemed like enough

I wasn't trying to ignore my debt. I was always told that making minimum payments would help me pay off the debt faster. I was paying those, but because of the high interest, it felt like I wasn't making a dent.

I work in publicity and have spent many years being underpaid. Even as my salary increased, my debt increased, because my bad shopping habits increased as well. Sometimes, if I got a bonus or a raise, I would reward myself by going shopping.

I didn't have a savings account or an emergency fund

I would look at my monthly bills and try to see how to spread my paycheck to cover all of it, plus my credit card minimum payments, and that's when I realized I didn't have very much money left over, and no savings.

My dog was going through some health issues, and I racked up vet bills of over $700. It was so stressful trying to pull together enough money to pay that bill. I didn't have any leftover money for food until my next paycheck, a week later.

It felt like I hit rock bottom.

Moving back in with my parents was the only way I could afford to pay off my debt

I never thought I'd move back home to my parents' house, but honestly, it was better than having random roommates. I was tired of hustling so hard to live in NYC, and I wanted to be serious about paying off my debt.

I waited until my lease was up and moved in December 2023. I started making the 90-minute commute to work in the city two days a week and still earned my salary while saving about $2,500 on rent and utilities every month. I know it's a privilege to have parents who can create a safe place for you, as mine did, and I'm grateful for that.

While my parents didn't ask me to pay for anything, I still tried to pitch in when I could and cover food and other expenses.

I got rejected from a debt consolidation loan, but took another path

One of my best friends mentioned that she got out of debt by taking out a debt consolidation loan, where a company lends you money to pay off your credit card debt, and you pay off the consolidated loan. I didn't qualify for any of them, but this was probably a blessing in disguise.

Instead, they suggested a debt relief program where the company negotiates your debt with the credit card companies and reduces it. They were able to negotiate my debt down to $31,000, plus their fees of around $2,000.

I've been paying $665 a month for the past five years

I entered the program with six credit cards and have settled four of them completely. I'm planning to make my final payment in August.

The hardest part of doing this was having to default on my credit card bills, which meant my credit score tanked. Every balance was sent to creditors, at which point my debt company could negotiate. This felt very strange.

I only have two credit cards now

As tempting as some store credit card offers are, I'll never open one again. I use my two credit cards to help me rebuild my credit score, but I use them sparingly, mostly for groceries or gas.

If there's something I want to buy but I don't have the cash on hand, I'll use a buy-now, pay-later service instead. I did this to attend my cousin's wedding last year. I have a strict rule: I pay off the debt within the six installments and avoid the interest.

I'm still a work in progress with my spending

I'm an emotional shopper, and unfortunately, the last several years have not been great for my mental health. I use shopping as a distraction. I'm a work in progress, but I'm proud to have a game plan I follow every month.

I create a list of all my bills, how much money I have left over after my paycheck, how much needs to go into savings, and how much I'm left with after that. I really try to stick to that. If I overspend my budget, I work really hard to make up the money.

I'm planning to move out of my parents' house this year

Spending this time at home has helped me bulk up my savings and stay on track with my debt payments. I'm worried about finding an apartment, but I'm hopeful because my credit score is slowly rising.

I'm planning to move to Washington state this year for a change of scenery and also because the cost of living is much less than in NYC. I'll gain my independence back without sacrificing my finances.

Be transparent about your debt and search for options that make sense for you

I held onto my debt like it was a dirty secret, but when I decided to tell people about it, they helped point me in the right direction to get help. If you're not ready to tell people, research your options. I didn't know that debt restructuring programs existed until my friend mentioned it.

My dad said that he's not proud of me for getting into debt, but he's proud of me for realizing the problem and figuring it out. It took longer than I hoped, but I'm almost at the finish line.

• Actors say AI micro dramas are using their likenesses and voices without their consent.
• The fast-growing mobile entertainment sector has rapidly embraced AI.
• The actors say they have little ability to fight back or get compensation.

What does it feel like when an AI version of you takes your job?

That was the strange reality facing actor Ashley BeLoat when she came across an AI-generated remake of a series she had starred in.

Last year, BeLoat played the lead in "Hate the Way I Love You," a "micro drama" released by the app MoboReels, about a young couple whose future is shattered by a cancer diagnosis. She was shocked to discover, a few months later, that a series with the same plot appeared on the same app. The AI-generated actor in her role appeared younger and glammed up — with longer hair and a plunging neckline — but mimicked BeLoat's movements and had a voice that sounded eerily like hers.

BeLoat told Business Insider it felt like an affront to the personal experience she'd drawn on for the role, as a nurse who has worked in oncology and faced cancer in her personal life.

"Being an actor is a very vulnerable thing," she said. "It requires us to live private moments in public."

"If there's a lack of trust in who we're working for, not only does it prevent us from giving something good for the viewer, but it takes away the reason that we do this," she continued.

BeLoat said that, through her manager, she'd been reaching out to the app, hoping to have the AI version of the show removed or get compensation. So far, she hasn't gotten a response.

BeLoat's experience isn't an isolated incident in the $1.4 billion US micro drama industry, which has rapidly embraced AI. Several other actors and producers said their on-screen work had been remixed into AI versions without their knowledge or consent.

It's part of a wider trend of AI roiling various aspects of the industry. Business Insider previously reported that some micro drama apps had switched productions to synthetic actors after originally casting humans, and had used AI to make misleading, sexualized promos as they fought to attract new viewers.

These short-form series designed for mobile viewing — also called verticals — had been a rare bright spot for actors amid a yearslong slump in film and TV production. Now, those actors have to consider whether their own work helped fuel their potential AI replacements.

The actors feel there's little they can do.

Brittany Marsicek also starred in a MoboReels show — "Ex-Husband, Step Aside, Lady Boss Returns" — that was remade with AI. Her character looked different, but acted and sounded like her.

Marsicek, who's acted in more than 25 verticals, said she didn't have any AI protections in her contracts and that, in general, they grant the producer broad editing permissions. These jobs are often nonunion and feature early-career actors, who worry about the risks of speaking out.

"You're thinking, OK, maybe they'll edit it to be horizontal instead of vertical," Marsicek said of the contract. "You don't think that their editing includes completely changing your likeness."

Actors say they've also felt the impact of AI in the number of auditions and jobs they've been able to get. BeLoat had been acting full time in verticals, but has since returned to nursing work.

It's a sign of what could come for prestige Hollywood, as AI increasingly creeps into TV and film and studios look to cut spending. Right now, Hollywood studios have leeway to use AI, though they're constrained by restrictions and the potential for blowback from audiences and A-listers.

Under their 2026 contract with the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, studios can make AI-generated avatars that don't look like a particular person if they bargain with the union, said Jonathan Handel, an entertainment attorney. They can also create a digital replica of an actor's voice or likeness with the actor's consent.

"This is the canary in the coal mine, and the reputational guardrail is something that over time might well erode as something becomes accepted in the micro drama world," Handel said. "That would put pressure on Hollywood, as well, to meet the economic change."

'I felt dirty'

Evan Gambardella starred in "Straight Until He Kissed Me," a "boys' love" drama about a med student and a CEO, released on GoodShort in September. While scrolling through the app recently, he said he recognized his face in a show called "Mafia King's Contract Groom," where the hero ends up marrying a crime boss.

Gambardella said he felt "dirty and betrayed." He said he was grateful to GoodShort for helping him launch his acting career and to be part of a series that spoke to queer audiences. He felt he should have been informed and compensated for the use of his face, though.

"I only got paid $5,000, but a lot of queer people saw themselves in it," he said. "When that show came out, I was heartbroken."

Gambardella said he didn't think his contract had strong AI protections and couldn't prove the AI character was based on him, so he didn't see any point in fighting. For now, he's focusing on finding work with micro drama companies that are still casting real people. He added that since speaking out about his experience on social media, he hadn't gotten any work and felt that he may have been blacklisted.

A rep for GoodShort said the app acquired "Mafia King's Contract Groom" from a third-party creator. The rep said GoodShort doesn't support the unauthorized use of an actor's image, voice, or identity, and that it's working with its partners to uphold standards that "respect performers, protect creative integrity, and provide audiences with transparency around how AI is used."

Some actors have taken their complaints to social media to educate fans and urge them not to watch AI versions of themselves, lest it help those films' viewership numbers and validate the practice. Gambardella said he'd gotten comments from fans who thought his AI doppelganger was him. As AI videos get more realistic, it may get harder to tell what's real and what's not.

"A lot of people thought I was AI," he said.

One of the biggest players in the micro drama space is testing the waters with AI.

ReelShort's "Poolboy" was an early queer-themed hit when it was released last year. Cast members and viewers spoke out on social media after ReelShort released an anime version titled "Under the Surface" with an identical plot and description.

"The idea of AI taking jobs away from artists and big companies using AI to exploit creatives for profit — that idea is no longer an idea," said Jen Parkhill, the director of the original "Poolboy." "It's a real true circumstance that's arriving on our shores now — we need to be talking about profit sharing and artists having ownership over their IP."

Some actors believe the AI films won't have staying power. Marsicek isn't so sure.

"Even if half of the people cancel their subscriptions and don't watch verticals anymore, if there's still some people watching it, they're still making money because they're so much cheaper to make," she said.

Have a tip? Contact the reporter via email at lmoses@businessinsider.com, (917) 209-8549, or on Signal at @luciamoses.81. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Criminal groups allegedly groomed and abused a teen girl on Discord and Meta, a lawsuit says.
• The victim's case could test Section 230 liability protections on tech platforms, her lawyers say.
• Meta wants the case bundled with social media addiction litigation. Discord wants it dismissed.

A woman alleges child abuse rings found her on Discord and Instagram as a teen, then blackmailed her into sending them nude and self-harm photos that they shared across the internet—leaving her with mental and physical scars.

Now she's suing both tech companies in a case her lawyers hope will be a "watershed moment" for holding social media sites accountable, as the FBI warns parents about a rising network of online extortion groups targeting kids.

The anonymous plaintiff made the allegations in a previously unreported lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court in April.

The suit names three groups — CVLT, 764, and Greggy's Cult — that the FBI says groom children online and blackmail them. Multiple members of each group have been arrested by law enforcement.

Discord and Meta have faced scrutiny over their impact on children's mental health and safety. The case could also test whether these social media companies could be liable for criminal activity on their apps and whether Section 230 — the federal law shielding social media companies from user behavior — applies to such cases.

Discord and Meta declined to comment on this specific case. A Discord spokesperson said that disrupting the 764 network is one of its top priorities and that it has been cracking down on the group since 2021, when it first became aware of it. Discord says it works closely with law enforcement, has removed thousands of servers, and has banned hundreds of thousands of users associated with 764 and its affiliates.

The bulk of the plaintiff's claims are against Discord, "due to the stronger causal link between Discord's conduct and her injuries," her lawyers wrote in a filing. She also sued Meta because, she alleges, a CVLT member first contacted and groomed her on Instagram, which Meta owns.

The anonymous plaintiff's case is ongoing. In legal filings, Meta moved to have the case bundled with social media addiction cases. Discord wants the case dismissed entirely, arguing that federal law shields it from liability for content posted by its users.

A Meta spokesperson said CVLT is banned from its platforms and that it has strict policies to prevent child exploitation, suicide, and self-harm.

Meta also says it has specialized teams — including former law enforcement and prosecutors — working with the FBI on the issue, plus a 24/7 incident response team for imminent cases.

The lawsuit describes a 'cycle of fear'

According to her complaint, the plaintiff's ordeal began at age 15, when a member of Greggy's Cult contacted her through a public Discord server. The New Mexico man, Zachary Dosch, allegedly persuaded her to send a video of herself masturbating and livestreamed it to other group members.

Dosch pleaded guilty to federal charges of distributing child-sexual-abuse material in 2023. He, along with four other Greggy's Cult members, was charged again in 2025, on allegations of extorting children, and he pleaded not guilty. A lawyer for Dosch didn't respond to a request for comment.

At 17, after the plaintiff began posting on Instagram about her mental health struggles, another man contacted her on Instagram, the suit alleges. The lawsuit says he turned out to be Collin John Thomas Walker, a member of CVLT, a child exploitation group described as "Neo-Nazi" by the FBI. The lawsuit claims Walker spent months "love bombing" her before finding out her home address and threatening her.

Walker allegedly coerced the plaintiff into obtaining her sexually explicit photos, which he then sent around CVLT's Discord server. He also allegedly coerced her to carve his username into her body, burn herself with candle wax, and starve herself to stay attractive — all while his account remained active on Instagram. Walker was later arrested and pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges in October 2025; a lawyer for Walker didn't respond to a request for comment.

The plaintiff's parents confiscated her phone and returned it when she turned 18 — at which point another online child abuse group called 764 recruited her on Discord, the suit said. She finally escaped by faking her own death, and by the end of May 2022, she "escaped the online hell she had been living in," the lawsuit states.

US law enforcement has arrested and charged multiple 764 members. The FBI said in a warning letter to parents in February that it's investigating more than 350 people tied to 764 and its affiliates.

The lawsuit alleges Discord and Meta's "permissive environments provided these predators with unfettered access, anonymity, and the ability to disseminate images and messages that deepened Plaintiff's trauma," resulting in a "cycle of fear, shame, and emotional despair."

The plaintiff suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, permanent scars, and poor grades, her complaint says.

Discord and Meta face scrutiny in other states

Julie Erickson, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiff, told Business Insider she hopes the lawsuit will pave the way for tech companies to be held accountable for child exploitation rings operating on their platforms.

"We are hopeful that this is sort of a watershed moment," she said.

The suit follows other legal action against Discord over child predators allegedly operating on its platform. The states of Texas, Arkansas, New Jersey, and Nevada have each separately sued Discord since last year for allegedly failing to protect children online. The lawsuits are all ongoing.

Earlier this year, the parents of 13-year-old Jay Taylor — a Washington teen who died by suicide in 2022 after a 764 member allegedly pushed him toward it in a group chat — filed a wrongful death suit against Discord, alleging the company "abetted one of the most depraved and dangerous child abuse cults in modern history." Discord seeks to move the case to private arbitration, citing its terms of service. A Discord spokesperson said the company doesn't comment on legal matters.

Meta was previously found liable in a child exploitation case, a ruling it strongly disputes. In March, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $375 million for, in part, exposing children to sexual predators. New Mexico's attorney general says Meta plans to appeal.

Have a tip? Contact Charles via email at crollet@businessinsider.com or on Signal and WhatsApp at 628-282-2811. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Kevin O'Leary said fear of China will bring the US, Canada, and Mexico together.
• The investor said economic reality will outweigh political disagreements in the race against China.
• China is putting up a strong fight against the US in AI, tech, and EV developments, among other things.

Kevin O'Leary says a fear of China's rise will be one of the biggest forces that will unite the US, Canada, and Mexico.

In an interview clip he posted on his X and Instagram, the Canadian venture capitalist and "Shark Tank" investor said there is only one thing that would drive economic integration in North America: the fear of China.

He said in the Sunday video that the fear that China would beat the US in AI, technology, warfare, and power generation would drive the US, Canada, and Mexico to collaborate.

"As the race for AI, energy, and critical infrastructure accelerates, economic reality will outweigh political disagreements because the United States, Canada, and Mexico are stronger when they work together," O'Leary said in the caption of the X post.

"Canada has the energy and critical minerals, the United States has the scale and innovation, and Mexico plays a vital role in the North American economy," he added in the video. "In the long run, cooperation is not just good policy, it's an economic necessity."

O'Leary is far from the only business big name to talk about the competition that the US faces from China.

In a recent interview with The Economist, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that China already produces far more electricity than the US and that, if it had enough computing power, it could become the world's AI leader.

OpenAI and Anthropic, the two leading American AI labs, have both warned about Chinese AI labs closing the gap between their LLM capabilities. Moonshot AI's latest Kimi K3 model was lauded for performing tasks with frontier capabilities.

And automobile executives, including Ford CEO Jim Farley, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, have repeatedly spoken about Chinese automakers' prowess in building electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, North America is more fragmented than ever, with President Donald Trump imposing another round of tariffs — this time 50% — on some goods from Canada in July.

O'Leary's comments come amid his intense push for more data centers. His VC firm, O'Leary Ventures, is developing massive data centers in Utah and Canada despite local backlash.

• Some of Hollywood's most celebrated filmmakers are drawing a line on AI.
• They believe great art is rooted in the human experience, something that AI can't replicate.
• From Guillermo del Toro to Christopher Nolan, here's what some of cinema's most acclaimed directors have to say about AI.

As AI races ahead, Hollywood's top directors are trying to protect the craft behind great films.

Generative AI can now produce everything from scripts to visual effects, but some of cinema's most celebrated filmmakers argue it can't replicate the lived experience, creative judgment, and years of craftsmanship that make great art.

It's part of a wider reckoning over AI in Hollywood, where celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Matthew McConaughey have also sought to protect their likeness from AI-generated impersonations.

Here's what some of cinema's biggest creative voices have to say about AI.

Guillermo del Toro says AI could deprive the next generation of learning how to make films

Guillermo del Toro said AI could prevent future filmmakers from mastering their craft.

At the 2026 San Diego Comic Con, which ran from Thursday through Sunday, the Mexican director said the 3D rerelease of "Pan's Labyrinth" was created through a manual conversion process.

"Obviously, I said, 'Absolutely no goddamn AI,'" del Toro said.

He said he didn't mind the added cost of the manual approach, which involved about 1,000 artists rotoscoping the film.

"What we're protecting is the beauty and the redeeming power of art. It's not about who gets the job. We are protecting a lineage of art. If we cut a generation of people from learning their craft, you're cutting the rest of the history of that medium away from them, for what?" del Toro said.

Rather than opting for the fastest approach, del Toro said he prioritized quality.

"You have to put in time. You roto every element by hand. A human-made decision of depth," he said.

Christopher Nolan says AI should be viewed with skepticism

Christopher Nolan said people should be just as skeptical of AI's creators as they are of the technology itself.

In a July 14 conversation with YouTuber HugoDécrypte, Nolan called AI "a Trojan horse that everybody knows the Greeks are inside."

"I've never seen a technology advancing so rapidly, so completely rejected by the public," Nolan said.

He added that he has been struck by the level of public skepticism toward AI, particularly among the younger generation, who have popularized the term "AI slop."

Nolan said he welcomed that skepticism, arguing that while technology can bring "great gifts," it should always be approached with caution.

"The motives of the people giving it to us also have to be viewed with skepticism. That's when we'll get the best out of a new technology, rather than just blind faith that everything's going to be great," Nolan said.

Nolan is known for favoring real stunt work, practical effects, and in-camera techniques over extensive CGI. His latest film, "The Odyssey," follows that tradition and has grossed over $639 million worldwide since its July 17 release, per Box Office Mojo.

Steven Spielberg says AI shouldn't take the place of creative people

Steven Spielberg said he draws the line at using AI to replace human creativity.

"I have never used AI on any of my films yet," the filmmaker said at the 2026 SXSW conference, which was held in Austin in March.

"Even television, we have a writer's room. All the seats are occupied. There's not an empty chair with a laptop in front of it," Spielberg said. "I haven't used AI that way."

The filmmaker added that he isn't completely against the technology, saying he is "for AI in many different disciplines."

"I am not for AI that replaces a creative individual," Spielberg said.

Tim Burton says AI strips away the humanity behind art

Tim Burton said seeing AI-generated artwork in his signature style left him deeply unsettled.

In 2023, Burton shared his thoughts on BuzzFeed using AI to create Disney characters in his distinctive style.

"I can't describe the feeling it gives you. It reminded me of when other cultures say, 'Don't take my picture because it is taking away your soul," Burton told The Independent.

Even though Burton said some of the AI-generated pieces were "very good," he found it unsettling to see a machine recreate his visual style.

"It's like a robot taking your humanity, your soul," he said.

Bong Joon Ho says AI is forcing people to rethink what only humans can create

Bong Joon Ho, the Oscar-winning director of "Parasite," has a tongue-in-cheek solution for AI: wipe it out.

"My official answer is, AI is good because it's the very beginning of the human race finally seriously thinking about what only humans can do. But my personal answer is, I'm going to organize a military squad, and their mission is to destroy AI," Bong said at the 2025 Marrakech Film Festival, per Deadline.

Celine Song says AI risks erasing the struggles that make life beautiful

Celine Song said artists have a responsibility to defend what makes us human.

Speaking at the 2025 Marrakech Film Festival, per Deadline, the "Past Lives" director said she is "very concerned" about the way AI is "trying to encroach" on the experiences that make life both beautiful and worthwhile.

"The number one thing that we're here to defend as artists is humanity," Song said. "We're here not to think about what makes human life easy, what makes it convenient, but what it's like to actually live."

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said AI won't shorten workweeks for most people.
• He said that as people become more productive, they will also become more competitive and want to work more.
• The alluring shorter workweek was popularized post-COVID, giving workers flexibility in their schedules.

Sam Altman said AI won't usher in the golden age of the four-hour workweek.

In an interview with host Ti Morse on his "Relentless" podcast, released on Saturday, the OpenAI CEO talked about why AI has not led to shorter workweeks for most people.

"Technology, for a long time, has been promising people that they're going to work less and they're going to have all this leisure," Altman said.

He said this trend has played out to some extent, with people having more time for leisure than at previous points in history and a higher quality of life.

"But somehow we never get the promise of the four-hour workweek at mass scale in society," he said. "And I don't expect AI to change that."

He said that as AI drives productivity gains, people are increasingly expecting more of themselves.

"We always want more. We think of new things to do, to create for each other, to want for ourselves. It's like a relative game. People are very focused on how they're doing relative to other people," Altman said.

He said that competition drives the economy and will not stop.

"I think we're all going to be much busier than we thought we were supposed to be in a post-superintelligence world. We're still going to complain about it, but secretly we're going to be happy," Altman said.

The idea of shorter, more flexible workweeks emerged post-pandemic as a way to address employee burnout and give workers greater control over their workdays.

In 2023, Business Insider spoke with small businesses that said transitioning to a four-day work model raised employee morale and boosted productivity.

With the C-suite doubling down on five-day return-to-office mandates and promoting the notorious 9-9-6 work culture — working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — the dream of a four-day workweek has slipped further out of reach.

In the same interview, Altman said AI is now in "the singularity," a point at which artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence and may begin going rogue.

His comments followed OpenAI's latest models breaking out of their sandbox and hacking into a dataset from another AI company, Hugging Face.

Still, Altman said the singularity would be "incredible, hugely positive, awesome for the world."

• Mercor's interview strategy diverges from what most of Silicon Valley is moving toward.
• Mercor prioritizes whiteboarding interviews, which became widespread in the 2010s.
• The startup's head of product said that AI makes it easy to "offload" thinking.

Mercor's interview process is less vibe coding, more whiteboarding.

On an episode of the "20VC" podcast released on Saturday, Mercor's head of product, Osvald Nitski, said that the AI training company has moved away from take-home assignments that can be completed with AI.

"We'll do one round where we find out if the person is familiar with AI tools," he said. "We care a lot about being able to set up good experiments and understanding statistics, having good judgment, and then systems design as well," he said, referring to what is asked in whiteboarding sessions.

Whiteboard interviews, where candidates draw and explain their thinking process, became an industry gold standard in the 2010s and are part of standard technical interviews at companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft.

On the podcast, Nitski, who joined the $10 billion startup last year, said that AI makes it very easy to "offload" a lot of decision-making.

"We want to make sure that people still have the ability to have good judgment and know what they're doing and not just, like, regurgitate what comes out of Claude," he said.

While Mercor uses AI to screen candidates for its talent marketplace, its full-time job interview process contradicts what most of Silicon Valley is increasingly adopting.

For one, work trials and take-home assessments, which Nitski said Mercor has moved away from, are quickly replacing traditional interviews, such as culture-fit screenings and whiteboarding sessions. AI coding startups like Lovable, Cursor, and Kilo say work experiments are a one-shot way to gauge whether someone has the technical and soft skills they want to see.

Mercor's low-AI interview strategy is also unique compared to peers.

Over the last few months, Business Insider reported that Big Tech companies such as Google, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn, and Cisco are changing their interview to allow candidates to use AI. Some tech startups are giving candidates full access to AI tools and coding assistants.

Emily Cohen, who heads people and operations at AI coding startup Cognition, said the company has changed its interview process to account for AI and vibe coding.

"I guess this is like asking a kid to take a math test without a calculator," she said about not allowing AI use in interviews. "For the bulk of building something similar to what you would do on the role, you can and should use AI tools."

• An X account claiming to be Ukraine's new commander in chief already has close to 7,000 followers.
• But it's not a parody or fan account; instead, it appears to be impersonating Mykhailo Drapatyi.
• Ukraine's armed forces had to officially list out the real social media pages for Drapatyi.

Less than a week after Ukraine appointed its new commander in chief, a premium X account posing as the popular general has already racked up nearly 7,000 followers.

The account @Drapatyi_M, which was created this month, has been on a tear since Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi was named Ukraine's new military chief on Tuesday, posting at least 22 times in the last five days.

Ukraine's General Staff of the Armed Forces confirmed on Sunday that the account was illegitimate and posted a list of Drapatyi's "only official pages." @Drapatyi_M wasn't among them.

X permits parody or satirical accounts of celebrities or major figures on its platform, but generally marks them with a "parody label" to denote they aren't the real deal.

@Drapatyi_M, however, doesn't appear to be posting for a laugh.

The X account has been mimicking the run-of-the-mill updates that Kyiv's leaders tend to publish, ranging from thanking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a meeting to an apparent discussion with Raytheon executives about Patriot missiles.

"We are bringing the war to the territory of Russia and intensifying strikes with long-range weapons," it wrote in a July 22 caption of a photo showing Drapatyi and Ukraine's acting defense minister, Yevhen Khmara, grasping hands in greeting.

Then on Sunday, one of its posts drew the attention — and ire — of several Ukrainian figures. @Drapatyi_M had announced that an "audit" of Ukraine's forces was underway, saying that there would be no "untouchables" in the investigation.

To be fair to @Drapatyi_M, it wouldn't be absurd for the actual general to announce an investigation. Mykhailo Fedorov, who was until recently the country's defense minister, had announced a similar audit before his ousting, and Drapatyi is known to have agreed with many of Fedorov's decisions.

But Serhii Sternenko, who runs one of Ukraine's most famous fundraising groups for combat drones, called out the account on Sunday.

"Mykhailo Drapatyi does not currently have a Twitter page. The statement circulating on social media is fake," Sternenko wrote.

It was a snub to @Drapatyi_M; Sternenko's was one of the 15 accounts the fake general's page followed.

As of Sunday evening, @Drapatyi_M had just under 7,000 followers.

X provides a blue check mark to accounts that pay for its $8 monthly premium service, but has said before that the check mark doesn't mean an account is ID-verified. There's historically been confusion, however, over whether the badge denotes legitimacy because it was how the platform marked verified accounts during its days as Twitter.

Official government accounts are typically given a gray checkmark instead.

Notably, X pays creators for posting on its platform if they have at least 500 verified followers or 5 million organic impressions over three months.

Zelenskyy appointed Drapatyi, a rising star in Ukraine's armed forces, as commander in chief on Tuesday amid widespread protests about Fedorov's removal. Demonstrators had demanded that the commander in chief at the time, Oleksandr Syrskyi, be removed instead.

Drapatyi was the popular favorite to take over the position.

• China's biggest chip IPO became China's most valuable stock on day one.
• AI memory-chip maker CXMT soared as much as 535% in its Shanghai debut.
• CXMT is the world's fourth-largest producer of DRAM chips behind Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron.

China's largest semiconductor IPO on record instantly produced the mainland market's most valuable listed company, highlighting investors' enthusiasm for Beijing's AI ambitions.

Shares of CXMT Corp., China's largest maker of DRAM memory chips, surged as much as 535% in their debut in Shanghai on Monday. The stock closed 466% higher.

The company previously known as ChangXin Memory Technologies raised 57.92 billion Chinese yuan, or about $8.6 billion, with proceeds potentially rising to 66.6 billion yuan if an overallotment option is fully exercised. It was China's second-largest mainland IPO on record, behind Agricultural Bank of China's 2010 offering.

At the opening price of 49.50 yuan — compared with an IPO price of 8.66 yuan — CXMT was valued at about 3.3 trillion yuan, or roughly $487 billion.

That made it the most valuable company listed on China's mainland market, overtaking Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

CXMT's blockbuster listing reflects strong demand for Chinese chip stocks as investors bet that domestic manufacturers will benefit from Beijing's effort to reduce the country's reliance on foreign technology amid US export restrictions.

Demand for the offering was exceptionally strong, with the retail portion 212 times oversubscribed.

As the world's fourth-largest producer of DRAM chips — behind Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology — CXMT's stock price could have much further to go.

Nomura initiated coverage on Monday with a Buy rating and a 116 yuan price target, based on its 2028 earnings estimates.

"The global supply of memory is unlikely to ease in the coming years," analysts at Nomura wrote.

The bank expects CXMT's share of global DRAM production to rise from about 10% currently to roughly 18% by the end of 2028.

However, there are risks, including weaker customer demand, greater domestic competition, and component shortages.

"Rising geopolitical tensions between the US and China, which would put CXMT's business development, capacity expansion, and technology migration at risk," Nomura's analysts wrote.

It also identified weaker customer demand, greater domestic competition, and component shortages as risks.

Despite CXMT's rapid technological gains, its lack of access to the industry's most advanced chipmaking equipment is creating a critical bottleneck, Jing Jie Yu, an equity analyst at Morningstar, wrote on Friday.

Yu described the limitation as "a significant technological barrier to the progression of commercial and economically sound technologies," adding that the hardware constraints are making it increasingly difficult and expensive to manufacture more advanced chips.

• "House of the Dragon" is no stranger to death, murder, or even fratricide. 
• Some of the show's most notable deaths are tied to children and childbirth.
• We ranked the show's biggest death scenes by tragedy, including Viserys, Luke, Jace, and more.

Warning: Major spoilers through "House of the Dragon" season three, episode six.

If you're watching a show in the "Game of Thrones" universe, you should know you're signing up for some devastating character deaths.

This is especially true for "House of the Dragon," a prequel about the bloody civil war that decimated the Targaryen dynasty, based on George R. R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood."

From the first moment that Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) clashed over the Iron Throne, it was clear that death and destruction awaited both sides. As Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) wisely notes, "There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin, and no war so bloody as a war between dragons."

Here are the most notable deaths so far in "House of the Dragon," ranked from least to most tragic.

14. King Viserys dies after a long bout of illness.

Hear us out: We loved Paddy Considine as King Viserys the Peaceful, but his death was so obviously inevitable that it didn't inspire much shock or devastation.

For one, the king's death was always going to be necessary to kick off the war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons, which is the whole point of this show. But more importantly, Viserys' death was preceded by a long, painful, leprosy-like illness, such that it almost came as a relief to see his suffering end.

13. Otto Hightower is the first traitor to die under Queen Rhaenyra's rule.

By the time Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) was beheaded by Queen Rhaenyra as a traitor, viewers hadn't seen him for a season's worth of episodes.

After Otto was fired by his grandson in season two, the former Hand of the King was secretly imprisoned in the dungeons of the Red Keep, awaiting the day he might become a useful political pawn. That day came when Rhaenyra took the Iron Throne, and Otto was delivered to Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) as a prisoner.

Daemon urged his wife to execute Otto — the father of her childhood best friend, and her own father's close friend — as a show of strength and justice. With the throne room full of onlookers, Rhaenyra had no choice but to decapitate Otto on the spot.

The scene is heartbreaking to watch because of Rhaenyra's guttural reaction. It's hard to imagine many fans mourning Otto himself — a brutal striver who schemed to crown his moronic grandson, both to the realm's detriment and his own.

12. Daemon murders his first wife, Rhea Royce.

We barely got to know Lady Rhea Royce (Rachel Redford), Daemon's estranged first wife, before she was heartlessly murdered by her own husband.

Given that Daemon referred to Rhea as the "Bronze Bitch" and refused to consummate their marriage, what we did know of her wasn't very compelling.

Still, it was hardly fun to watch Daemon sacrifice a real person in his quest for power.

11. Criston Cole is denied the heroic death he dreamed of.

Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) was killed in a lopsided battle, known in the book as the Butcher's Ball.

Flanked by his meager group of loyal Hightower soldiers, Criston was surrounded by a much larger army of Northeners and Rivermen, all loyal to Queen Rhaenyra.

Watching his enemies approach, Criston understood right away that he was doomed. But to his credit, he did attempt to spare his men by offering to strike their Hightower banners. When that didn't work, he challenged Ser Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan) and Lord Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes) to a two-against-one duel.

Before he could even lift his sword, however, Criston was shot by a concealed archer: twice through the torso, and once through the head.

Criston was responsible for so much hypocrisy and bloodshed, it's hard to feel sad that he's gone — although it's also hard not to pity him, a low-born man who rose to knighthood, crushed under the weight of duty, class, and sacrifice.

Earlier in season three, Criston told Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) that he was determined to meet his end "clear-eyed, unbent, glorious in battle."

"And not in their service. Finally, but in my own," he continued. "And they will sing songs of it. And Queen Alicent herself will hear them."

Instead, Criston died pitifully while clutching Alicent's handkerchief.

10. Lyonel and Harwin Strong die offscreen at Harrenhal.

Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr) and his father, Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), didn't have much time to make an impression on the audience. Still, their untimely deaths came as a shock — especially because the tragedy was orchestrated by their own blood, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham).

Following the birth of Rhaenyra's third son, Joffrey, Harwin was confronted by Criston Cole, who insinuated that Harwin fathered all three of Rhaenyra's children.

In the wake of their clash, Lyonel attempted to resign from his position as Hand of the King, citing the dishonor that Harwin brought on their family. Viserys rejected his resignation but allowed Lyonel to escort his son back to Harrenhal. Unfortunately, an apparent murder plot was waiting for them: both men died in a mysterious fire once they arrived at the damp castle.

By all accounts, Harwin seemed like a pretty decent guy. Even worse, his death was a personal blow to Rhaenyra.

9. Despite his surrender, Simon Strong and his two sons are killed by Aemond.

Thanks to Daemon's season-two Harrenhal arc, viewers spent a bit more time with Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) than with his previously murdered relatives.

Simon acted as the de facto Lord of Harrenhal in Larys' absence. He was quick to surrender, weak by some standards, but also shrewd and resilient in his own way. He ingratiated himself with Daemon when the prince claimed the castle — no small feat — and managed to keep himself and his sons alive without resorting to violence, even as Harrenhal changed hands between murderers and warmongers.

That is, until Aemond came knocking in season three — and by knocking, of course, we mean burning and plundering. In contrast to his uncle, Aemond had no patience for Simon's benign, measured submission.

Aemond stabbed Simon and his two sons almost immediately upon taking over Harrenhal, robbing the show of one of its last few likable blokes.

8. The Cargyll twins killed each other after ending up on different sides of the war.

In season one, Ser Arryk Cargylle (Luke Tittensor) and Ser Erryk Cargylle (Ellliot Tittensor) worked together as Kingsguard knights, protecting the royal family. But when the Hightowers usurped the throne, the twins were split for the first time in their lives. Arryk sided with King Aegon, while Erryk left to join Rhaenyra's Queensguard.

In season two, Criston sent Arryk to slay Rhaenyra. The plan was for Arryk to impersonate his brother and enter Dragonstone undetected. However, Erryk was alerted to the intrusion, forcing the brothers into a harrowing showdown.

After killing his brother, Erryk begged Rhaenyra to forgive him and fell on his own sword.

In the book, the Cargylle twins' simultaneous deaths inspired singers and storytellers for generations to come.

"In the end," the book reads, "Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk dealt each other mortal wounds, and died in one another's arms with tears upon their cheeks."

7. Joffrey Lonmouth is brutally beaten to death by Criston Cole.

The murder of Joffrey Lonmouth (Solly McLeod) was the first time that we really saw Criston's true colors, and man, they were ugly.

When a young Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate) agreed to marry, they came to an understanding that both would pursue other lovers, namely Criston and Joffrey. But that didn't turn out exactly as they'd hoped.

At the wedding, Joffrey confronted Criston.

"You don't know me, Ser Criston, but we are both deeply invested in this union," Joffrey said. He told Criston that Laenor was "dear" to him, and that he understood Criston and Rhaenyra's relationship. The strategic move was meant to bond them in the shared secret of Rhaenyra and Laenor's lavender marriage.

Instead, in the midst of revelry, Criston beat Joffrey into bloody, lifeless pulp.

While the audience didn't know Joffrey particularly well, he didn't do anything wrong — certainly not wrong enough to merit such a brutal and public death.

6. Jahaerys Targaryen is beheaded in his crib.

"House of the Dragon" season two kicked off by adapting an infamous murder from "Fire & Blood."

In a reckless act of vengeance, Daemon hired two mercenaries named Blood and Cheese to assassinate Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) in the Red Keep. Daemon told the men that he wanted "a son for a son."

When the pair failed to find the prince, they settled for plan B. In a shocking act of cruelty, they forced Queen Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) to point out which sleeping toddler was her son.

Blood and Cheese then descended upon Jaeharys with knives, decapitating the boy in his crib.

Thankfully, Helaena fled the room with her daughter. But the extent of their brutality is displayed for all of King's Landing to see during Jaeharys' funeral procession.

5. Laena Velaryon commits suicide by dragonflame.

In the premiere episode of "House of the Dragon," Rhaenyra's mother told her the birthing bed is a woman's battlefield.

That is proven more literal than figurative, as season one featured more than one agonizing death related to pregnancy and childbirth, including that of Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell).

After he murdered his first wife, Daemon married Laena. The couple moved to Pentos and welcomed two healthy daughters, Baela (Bethany Antonia) and Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell).

However, Laena's third pregnancy proved fatal. In episode six, "The Princess and the Queen," she struggled with a complicated delivery and began to bleed out. Daemon was offered the same choice that Viserys once had: save his wife, or save the baby. Instead, Laena took matters into her own hands and decided her fate.

Laena commanded her dragon, Vhagar, to incinerate her.

While the scene is gut-wrenching to watch — especially since Vhagar seemed reluctant to kill her rider — it's a small comfort to know that Laena died on her own terms as a dragonlord, with fire and blood.

4. Rhaenys sacrifices herself and her dragon, Meleys, at Rook's Rest.

As soon as Rhaenys flew off to battle at Rook's Rest, there was already a sense that she wouldn't make it back.

But that didn't make her death at the hands of Aemond and Vhagar any less wrenching. Across two seasons, Rhaenys had distinguished herself as virtuous and loyal, at once level-headed and fierce, making her a favorite character among fans.

Even as Rhaenys realized she couldn't hope to defeat Vhagar alone, she didn't run away. Instead, she strapped herself tighter into her saddle and fought valiantly till the end, dealing serious damage to King Aegon and Sunfyre in the process.

One of the true noble warriors in "House of the Dragon" is now gone, and to paraphrase Otto Hightower, we (the audience and Westeros) are poorer for it.

3. Queen Aemma dies during childbirth after Viserys orders his son to be cut out of her.

"House of the Dragon" made a bloody debut in the season one premiere with the heartbreaking death of Queen Aemma (Sian Brooke), the beloved wife of King Viserys.

When Aemma went into labor, the baby got stuck, and Viserys was forced to decide whose life to save. Despite his love for Aemma, the king chose his unborn child in the hopes of getting a son.

The maesters cut Aemma's belly open to save the child, killing her in the process. In her final moments, Aemma's agency was stripped away, and her life was tossed aside for the mere concept of an heir to the throne.

The withering loss was only made worse when Aemma's newborn baby, Baelon, died a day later.

2. Lucerys is the first major casualty of the Dance of the Dragons.

Lucerys and his dragon Arrax's deaths are some of the biggest emotional blows in "House of the Dragon."

Though the Greens and the Blacks were preparing for a war, bloodshed wasn't yet inevitable. It may have been possible to find another way to settle the dispute after a cooling-off period. But there could be no reconciliation once Rhaenyra's son was slain.

The murder of Prince Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), aka Luke, was a turning point in the Dance of the Dragons — made all the more tragic because it looked like an accident.

The scene unraveled almost like a horror movie, with Aemond and Vhagar stalking and taunting Luke in the dark, rainy skies. Aemond likely saw this as an opportunity to toy with Luke, as payback for his missing eye, but a dragon's fury is not so easily restrained.

After a brief moment of seeming relief, Vhagar emerged from the haze, ripping tiny Arrax and his rider apart.

Luke lost his life; Rhaenyra lost a son; Jacaerys lost a brother; Corlys lost an heir; Rhaena lost a future husband; and Aemond lost the respect of his family — forever known to history as a ruthless kinslayer. The ripple effects from Luke's death are vast and untold.

1. Jacaerys is killed in the Battle of the Gullet while trying to make his mom proud.

What's more tragic than one of Rhaenyra's beloved children being murdered? Two of Rhaenyra's beloved children being murdered.

Rhaenyra's firstborn son and heir, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), aka Jace, had always been eager to prove himself. He was passionate, clever, daring — yet constantly (and lovingly) restrained by his mother, who feared his youth and lack of experience would spell disaster in battle.

Sadly, Rhaenyra was right. In the season three premiere, Jace forcibly took his mother's place at the Battle of the Gullet, locking Rhaenyra in her room and flying off to his doom.

While Jace burned enemy ships on his dragon, Vermax, those enemies were plotting to take him down. Vermax was impaled from the sky and pulled to his watery grave, while Jace managed to survive by unclipping from his saddle — though his survival was all too brief. Jace was quickly shot by enemy arrows, and his corpse was left to float among countless other warriors.

Over two seasons, Jace had become a surprisingly savvy diplomat and a fan-favorite character. It's devastating to know that he won't grace our screens again — and even more devastating to watch his death affect Rhaenyra, who'd already lost one son in her quest for the Iron Throne.

• Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) is an important character in "House of the Dragon" season three.
• Gwayne's arc in the show differs significantly from that in George R. R. Martin's "Fire & Blood."
• If it followed his fate in the book, Gwayne would already be dead.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "House of the Dragon" season three, episode six, and for the book "Fire & Blood."

Gwayne Hightower has emerged as an important figure in "House of the Dragon" season three, though he's following a very different arc than book readers expected.

Portrayed by Freddie Fox, Gwayne joins the action in the HBO show's second season when he arrives in King's Landing. He's known as a skilled warrior, the brother of Dowager Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke), the eldest son of Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), and next in line to lead House Hightower after his cousin, Ormund Hightower (James Norton).

Unlike some of his fellow Greens (Ormund, cough cough), Gwayne is quickly shown to be unselfish, perceptive, and level-headed; when Alicent remarks that it must've been difficult to grow up in Oldtown with a dead mother and absent father, he replies, "You get on with it, don't you? When there isn't any choice."

Gwayne decides to join Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) on his campaign to claim Harrenhal, the biggest castle in the Riverlands, in the name of King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney). He serves as both a close confidant and a voice of reason for Criston, despite their dwindling army and ever-worsening chances of survival.

Even Gwayne's patience has limits, however. After trying and failing to convince Criston to give up their campaign — or at least to chart a more tactful course — Gwayne defects in season three, episode five, "Unbowed and Unbent." Instead of following Criston to his doom, he joins Ormund and the rest of the Hightower army in Tumbleton, where he also reunites with his beloved nephew, Prince Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth). In the very next episode, Gwayne saves Daeron's life from assassins.

As Gwayne's story unfolds, he could prove essential to the success or failure of Ormund's master plan: to crown Daeron as King of Westeros. He may even play a role in the fate of House Hightower — but, alas, the source material won't give us many clues.

In George R. R. Martin's original book "Fire & Blood," Gwayne's survival instinct isn't quite so sharp. In fact, Gwayne never gets the chance to reunite with Ormund and Daeron because he never leaves King's Landing with Criston. Everything after that point has been invented for the show.

Keep reading to discover what happens to Gwayne in the book.

In the book, Gwayne is killed by a gold cloak when Rhaenyra returns to King's Landing

In the book, as in the show, Rhaenyra returns to King's Landing when Prince Aemond flies to Harrenhal on his dragon, Vhagar, leaving the city unprotected.

Rhaenyra is met with little resistance, since she arrives with her own dragon, Syrax, Prince Daemon and his dragon, Caraxes, plus her newly recruited dragonriders for extra firepower.

Additionally, the knights of the City Watch (aka "gold cloaks") have remained secretly loyal to Daemon, unbeknownst to the Greens.

In the book, unlike in the show, Gwayne is himself a knight of the City Watch. When Aegon II ascended the throne and Gwayne's father, Otto Hightower, was still Hand of the King, Gwayne was named second-in-command to Ser Luthor Largent. Otto instructed his son to "keep a wary eye on Ser Luthor for any signs of disloyalty."

It turns out that Otto was right to mistrust Luthor. When Rhaenyra returns to take the Iron Throne, Gwayne rushes to the stables, intending to sound the alarm and shore up strength against the intruders. Instead, he is "seized, disarmed, and dragged before his commander."

"When Hightower denounced him as a turncloak, Ser Luthor laughed," the book reads. "'Daemon gave us these cloaks,' he said, 'and they're gold no matter how you turn them.' Then he drove his sword through Ser Gwayne's belly and ordered the city gates opened."

King's Landing falls in less than a day, Rhaenyra assumes her place as queen, and Otto quickly follows his son to the grave, beheaded as a traitor.

Meanwhile, in "House of the Dragon," Gwayne lives to fight another day while Gwayne's canonical killer, Ser Luthor, is dead — murdered by a group of mercenaries hired by Ormund to undermine Rhaenyra's rule.

• Tanvi Pisal moved from India to the US to earn a master's degree and pursue a career in UX design.
• Two layoffs forced her to pack up her life twice and left her racing to keep her future in the US alive.
• She found another job and is now pursuing a Ph.D., but says she still fears every unexpected meeting and email.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tanvi Pisal, a 29-year-old UX designer from India. She went through two layoffs within a year while working in the US. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always seen the US as the land of opportunity.

I grew up in Pune, a city in western India, where I earned my bachelor's degree in software engineering. After graduating, I worked in software, user experience, and interface design.

Back in 2019, design was still a relatively new field in India. I saw much bigger opportunities in the US, especially in Silicon Valley, where I could work with brilliant minds and innovative technology. That's when I decided to apply to master's programs in the US.

In the fall of 2021, I moved to California to pursue a degree related to human-computer interaction at San José State University.

During my final year, I interned at a Bay Area healthcare tech startup that hired me after graduation.

I was working on STEM OPT, which allowed me to work in the US for up to 3 years after graduating, and I hoped to stay longer on an H-1B visa. My company sponsored me, but I wasn't selected in the lottery.

Back-to-back layoffs

I could see that AI was disrupting SaaS companies like mine.

So around June 2025, I anticipated the layoffs and started applying for other full-time roles. I thought I'd have more time, but I was laid off a few months later, in October.

I aggressively applied for new roles, and in November, I received an offer for a product design position at a New York City recruiting company, where I'd be designing its mobile app. They asked me to relocate, and I did, even though they didn't offer relocation assistance.

I sold most of my furniture in San José, subleased my room, packed my life into five U-Haul boxes, and shipped them to New York.

On short notice, I found a shared apartment in Newport, New Jersey. At $1,800 a month, it was all I could afford. I commuted an hour each way for 12-hour office shifts.

My world turned upside down when, one day at the office, I was abruptly laid off just two weeks after starting. The company gave only vague reasons for the decision.

I'd moved to New York just 15 days earlier. I couldn't understand why the company had me relocate from the West Coast to the East Coast only to lay me off.

I remember walking out of the office that day and sitting on the snow-covered sidewalk, wondering whether coming to the US had been the right decision.

Packing up my life into boxes twice in a month

I picked myself up and started returning the things I'd bought for my new life in New York while I still could.

The only thing I couldn't return was my desk, which I sold to the person taking over my sublease. I told my roommates to use up the groceries I'd just bought.

The whole ordeal — packing up my life twice in a month — cost me about $6,000.

I flew back to California on December 25.

My Hail Mary attempt

At that point, I thought, "The worst has happened." I'd lost everything. My STEM OPT was about to expire, and I had 60 days to find a job before I'd have to return to India.

So I decided I might as well give it one last try.

Back in California, I spent three hours each day on LinkedIn Easy Apply, then targeted applications before building AI-powered design projects to strengthen my portfolio.

It paid off. I landed an interview on January 5. From that week on, I had at least two interviews each week.

Finally, I interviewed for a UX designer role with a product team at a Big Tech company in Silicon Valley. After two interviews, they offered me a contract role in February. I couldn't believe it. I was so relieved.

My nervous system has not recovered

Although I've settled into my new apartment in San José and am enjoying my new job, I still haven't recovered from the trauma of the back-to-back layoffs.

I'm always scared. Every time I get an email or am called into an unscheduled meeting, I feel anxious. I need to know what it's about beforehand.

I am now on a student visa, pursuing a Ph.D. in business administration at Westcliff University with a concentration in Human-Computer Interaction, a course I attend after my 9-5 job. The program helps me expand my skill set and stay competitive.

I don't really have a plan for the future right now, given how volatile the immigration situation is. I'm just taking it one day at a time, easing back into a routine and trying to live my life normally.

Looking back at my journey, I wouldn't change a thing. The struggles have taught me so much.

• Jeff Layfield and his wife, Mamiko, left Hawaii and retired on Suo-Oshima, an island in Japan.
• They bought one of Japan's vacant homes, known as an akiya, for about $25,000.
• "In most places in the US, we'd have to live in a very rural area for me to be able to afford a home," Layfield said.

Jeff Layfield spent years imagining where in the US he and his wife would retire after leaving Hawaii. Instead, they now live in a traditional home overlooking the sea in Japan.

Before retiring, the couple lived in an upstairs apartment at his parents' home on Oahu. Layfield worked in data management for the Marine Corps, while his wife, Mamiko, worked in retail.

Every time they traveled to Mamiko's hometown of Nara to visit her mother, the couple carved out time to explore other parts of the country.

In 2018, they visited Asuka, a rural town that was once the ancient capital of Japan. Captivated by the landscape, the visit cemented Layfield's desire to retire in Japan's countryside.

"I told Mamiko, this is where we're going to retire," Layfield, now 67, told Business Insider.

They returned to Hawaii, where life resumed much as it had before, but the idea of living in Japan lingered at the back of their minds.

In 2022, a series of life-changing events convinced Layfield it was time to make the leap.

Over the course of a few months, he had a skin cancer scare, survived a minor shark attack while surfing, and lost his stepfather. As he was processing it all, his employer ended pandemic-era remote work and ordered him back to the office.

"The universe was talking to me. The universe showed me how short life can be," Layfield said.

He thought about how he wanted to spend the next chapter of his life. The next day, he called his boss and told him he was retiring.

Choosing Japan

With retirement underway, the couple began researching where in Japan they wanted to settle.

Drawn by its relatively mild climate and lower risk of natural disasters, they narrowed their search to the Seto Inland Sea.

They began browsing akiya banks — online databases of affordable, vacant homes in Japan. One listing caught their eye. However, it wasn't the house they noticed first, but the bright green bridge visible through one of its windows.

They looked it up and discovered it led to Suo-Oshima, an island with long-standing ties to Hawaii after many of its residents emigrated there in the late 19th century.

The unexpected connection piqued their curiosity. Before long, they were browsing property and came across a two-story seaside house. They couldn't stop thinking about it.

They decided to visit the island, which is about an hour and a half by car from Hiroshima. When they stopped by the town office, they were met with employees wearing aloha shirts and Hawaiian-themed decorations.

They knew they had found what they were looking for.

"I immediately fell in love with this place. The town office people took us all around, and everybody we met was just awesome," he said.

After buying the home for 4 million Japanese yen, or about $25,000, the couple packed up their lives in Hawaii and moved to Suo-Oshima in August 2022.

Their home is around 30 years old, and didn't require any major renovations. Both upstairs bedrooms face the sea, giving the couple front-row views of the sunset each evening.

"I wanted to live by some form of water since I'd spent most of my life near the ocean," Layfield said. "I was expecting a lake or a river, but instead we have the sea, which is incredible to me."

There are plenty of restaurants and shops a short drive away, and the couple has become active members of the local community, joining neighborhood cleanups and other events.

"In Hawaii, I could never ever afford to buy a home, especially one with a view of the sea. In most places in the US, we'd have to live in a very rural area for me to be able to afford a home," Layfield said.

The lower cost of living has also helped stretch the couple's retirement savings.

In a typical month, the couple spends less than 200,000 Japanese yen, according to a spending breakdown they shared with Business Insider. That includes about ¥80,000 on food and daily necessities, ¥22,000 on utilities and internet, and roughly ¥30,000 on dining out, entertainment, and other social activities.

"Back in Hawaii, we couldn't go anywhere to enjoy or even dine out," Mamiko Layfield, 59, told Business Insider.

Finding his rhythm

There were 4.12 million foreign residents living in Japan at the end of 2025, including 69,787 Americans, per data from the Immigration Services Agency.

Several Americans who have moved to Japan previously told Business Insider that they were drawn by the country's safety and culture. Others were inspired by the opportunity to restore one of Japan's millions of vacant homes.

While Layfield speaks some Japanese, he said settling into life on Suo-Oshima has been easier than expected. Many of the younger people he met on the island, especially those in hospitality, speak English.

Even his older neighbors have welcomed him with open arms.

"I've made more friends here in four years than I made in over 20 years living in Hawaii," Layfield said.

Moving to Japan hasn't meant leaving Hawaii behind.

"Some of our neighbors have family in Hawaii, and they still visit from time to time. When they do, Jeff and I help with translation," Mamiko said.

Mamiko's mother has since moved in with the couple, while Jeff's mother, a hula instructor from Hawaii, visits the island regularly to teach workshops for local schools and community groups.

These days, Layfield spends much of his time tending to the garden, cycling along the island's coastal roads, and having a picnic lunch by the beach.

"I don't have stress anymore. I used to always have stress. I said before, this is the happiest I have ever been in my entire life," Layfield said.

• A proposed housing development is dividing residents in San Francisco.
• A developer wants to build a large waterfront residential tower in the city's Marina District.
• Residents, many of them older, are resisting. That's angering the younger generation.

Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in plastic chairs, hundreds of defiant San Francisco residents, a noticeable number of them gray-haired, packed themselves into a gallery at the Fort Mason Center last Thursday.

The reason? To protect their famously quaint waterfront neighborhood from the development of a large new residential tower.

San Francisco Chronicle reporter Laura Waxmann captured last week's scene in a photo she shared on X, which has since sparked pushback from social media users frustrated by the city's housing market.

Many of the responses came from the tech industry, which, some might argue, has played a role in San Francisco's housing crisis. They zeroed in on the crowd's appearance and characterized the opposition as highly organized.

Jason Calacanis, an investor, podcaster, and prominent voice in Silicon Valley, was among the chorus of tech workers who, in response to the photo, criticized the residents opposing the new development.

"These oldsters were dropping acid, dancing naked in Golden Gate Park and living on each others couches 60 years ago," he wrote on X. "Now they're banning new housing to protect their $7m Victorians."

Last year, Calacanis left the city for Texas, where he now owns a 33-acre ranch.

Evan Conrad, the CEO of the San Francisco Compute Company, a marketplace for AI startups and others to rent and trade large-scale computing power — which was valued at $300 million as of last year — blamed those resisting new residential buildings for the city's lack of affordable housing.

"when rent is $8k for a one bedroom, please remember that the fault is in the people who, for 50 years, showed up to argue against nearly every unit of housing proposed," he said on X in response to the photo.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Bilal Mahmood said the photo of the meeting symbolized a generational divide.

"We have a deep affordability crisis right now, and younger generations are calling BS now both on NIMBYs who will find any excuse to oppose housing, as well as on our city's lack of action," Mahmood wrote in an X post over the weekend, using the acronym for "not in my backyard."

The Marina District sits on San Francisco's northern waterfront. It is famous for its park with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and its Victorian and Mediterranean Revival houses.

Local development firm Align Real Estate has proposed demolishing the current Safeway grocery store on the waterfront to build a new version with a housing complex on top.

The U-shaped complex would include a 20-story and an 18-story tower that combined would house 848 units, according to local outlets. Initial documents related to the project were filed in December 2025.

Although the San Francisco Planning Department has not yet approved the proposal, the mixed-use development has drawn fierce opposition from many residents. They are concerned that the development will increase traffic, cause environmental issues, and redefine the neighborhood's character.

"It has become a test of how California's state housing laws affect local planning, environmental review, and whether communities still have a meaningful voice in shaping their neighborhoods," a flyer advertising the community meeting said.

That's one side. On the other is younger residents in the tech industry and beyond competing for pricey apartments. They believe more residential units could benefit a city facing an extreme housing shortage and sky-high rents. Many of them also said the divide was between the old and the young.

What's happening in the Marina District is something of a microcosm of the housing crisis across the country. A March 2026 Realtor report found that the housing supply gap surpassed 4 million homes last year.

Older Americans — specifically baby boomers — dominate the country's housing market. Many of them have chosen to age in place or forgo downsizing, leaving fewer options for younger Americans hoping to enter the housing market. That is part of what is forcing millennials and Gen Z to cut costs by renting or moving in with their parents. Rising home costs and mortgage rates are also barriers to entry, as is the lack of newly built housing.

In California, as a result, multigenerational living, or when two or more adult generations live together, is on the rise. Data from Realtor showed that San Francisco ranked high on the list with a 17.40% share of multigeneration listings.

• I booked a three-day small-group tour of Scotland's Isle of Skye with my 17-year-old daughter.
• Initially, I worried she would feel out of place among older travelers.
• Instead, she easily connected with our group, often navigating unfamiliar situations

When I started planning a trip to Scotland with my 17-year-old daughter, I knew we wanted to spend some time in Edinburgh and then visit the Isle of Skye.

The logistics of the trip were a little overwhelming — as the only adult, I would be responsible for all the driving. And even more stressful was the thought of having to drive on the "wrong" side of the road, which I've never done before.

The natural choice was to visit Edinburgh on our own, then book a group tour for the Isle of Skye. The tour we decided to join has received great reviews for its small-group experiences, but would my daughter feel out of place among what I thought would be a group of retirees? I wasn't so sure.

Our group was surprisingly diverse

Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. At age 50, I was probably the oldest member of our group after our tour guide. Joining us on this three-day tour were a couple on their extended honeymoon, a brother-sister pair who met up every year in a new destination, and a couple leaving their toddler at home with the grandparents for the first time.

The group was small enough that we quickly learned a little about one another. We shared meals, traded travel stories, and got to know each other as we drove through the Scottish Highlands. There was no pressure for my daughter to make friends, but she naturally became part of the group.

What really surprised me was how well my daughter did, chatting easily with other tour group members over shared meals, even though she was the youngest person by decades.

I thought I would be the one looking out for her

I had expected to be the one looking out for her during the trip. Instead, she often surprised me by looking out for me.

On one hike, the terrain was slippery and uneven. While I was carefully watching my footing, my daughter was the one helping me navigate the trail. She was more confident than I was in some situations and seemed to take genuine pleasure in being able to help. It was wonderful to see her in this new way.

It's easy for me to assume the role I've always had as her mother: the person who handles the logistics, solves problems, carries the snacks, and makes sure everyone gets where they need to go. Even as my kids get older, I can fall back into those familiar habits.

But on this trip, our roles were often reversed. She chatted easily with our tour guide and helped me figure out where we were going when I got turned around on the busy streets of Edinburgh.

Of course, she still needed me, but traveling together in Scotland gave me a glimpse of the adult she is becoming.

I realized I might be more ready for her to leave than I thought

As she heads off to college soon, I know she will have to navigate new places, unfamiliar people, and unexpected challenges without me by her side. As a parent, it can be difficult to imagine that transition. But our trip to Scotland made me feel a little more prepared for it.

I'm savoring my days with her and feeling a little better about her going out into the world. I may not be ready to stop being her mom, but after seeing how grown-up she has become, I feel more confident that she is ready to take some steps without me.

• Kiana Glanton is a 43-year-old mother living in New York City who didn't think she'd ever be a mom.
• After miraculously conceiving and giving birth, her vision rapidly deteriorated.
• Kiana sought help from the Lighthouse Guild, desperate to know how to parent as a blind, single mom.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kiana Glanton. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Nearly 10 years ago, in the middle of postpartum depression, learning how to be a mom for the first time, my body decided to respond to the extreme stress I was under with a huge amount of inflammation. Inflammation that led to rapid, severe vision loss.

I was going to need to learn to be a mom who was blind, and it all felt overwhelming — too much to handle.

I was blind but independent

My vision had been gradually declining since I was 16, due to an autoimmune condition. Although I was technically considered blind, I was completely independent, still able to read print, and didn't need a cane.

To treat my autoimmune condition, I had chemotherapy in low doses for a decade to kill multiplying cells. I didn't think I would ever be able to get pregnant or sustain a pregnancy.

Much to my surprise and delight, I conceived and gave birth to Kali Jai in September 2015. My pregnancy was beautiful, and the inflammation in my body miraculously calmed, but soon after Kali Jai was born, I struggled to find joy.

By the time Kali Jai was 2, life felt ugly. My relationship ended, I was constantly anxious about how to parent as a blind parent, we had to move home, and there was endless noise telling me how to be the best parent.

It was the perfect storm, and it led to a quick decline in my vision.

I was scared to be a blind mom

How was I going to be a mom to my daughter if I couldn't see? I was scared she would eat a penny, and I wouldn't know. I was scared she would put a key in an electric socket. I was scared that she'd startle me when I was cooking and I'd drop a pan of grease.

I was scared all the time.

How should I push a stroller with a cane? How do I even use a cane? How will I tie her shoes? How will I clean the house? How will I get her to school?

I had to learn how to be a blind mom, but I didn't know how to learn. I had to find help.

I knew I was losing my sight, but I wanted to show my child that challenges will come to her (in different forms than blindness) and how she handles them, how she arms herself, and what tools she has in her tool belt will separate her from other people. I wanted to model resilience for her, and to do that, I had to get help.

I called my counselor at the New York State Commission for the Blind and asked for help. I told them my world was coming down, and I needed someone to help me figure things out. They told me about Lighthouse Guild, a blind-led, New York City-based nonprofit with more than 120 years of service to the blind and low-vision community.

I was connected with a woman called Lily, who told me something I'll never forget: "You are a mom. You're not a blind mom. Your job is taking care of you and this baby."

My only other option was to give up, and I wasn't willing to do that.

I connected with other blind moms

One of the first steps was learning how to use a cane. Blindfolded, I was supported by a mobility trainer and Kali Jai as I navigated a neighborhood. The blindfold was soaked in tears at the end — it was horrific.

Slowly, we learned. Kali Jai learned to squeeze my hand twice when she saw the walking man, indicating we could cross the street. I learned how sound moved around me and would feel the sunlight. We had to learn, but Kali Jai had to get to preschool, and I had to get her there.

Through the Lighthouse Guild, I was connected to other blind moms, who gave me community, acceptance, and friendship. We talked about whether we should put a leash on our child, how to change diapers, what to do when the school gives you mounds of paperwork for your child, how to engage with other parents at school, how to set up playdates, recipes to cook in the Instant Pot, and how to approach stereotypes other parents might have about our family.

We felt seen and heard, which rekindled my spirit to go on and take the bull by the horns and move forward.

I represent the US in baseball

In 2022, I was asked if I wanted to play blind baseball, which initially, I absolutely didn't want to do.

I was still dealing with internalized self-hate about blindness and didn't want to be in public, flaunting it.

Convinced to try it, I went to a practice and became envious of the self-assuredness of one of the women playing. That's what I wanted. I was determined to give baseball everything I had.

Soon after, I was asked to try out for the team representing the United States. I did. We went to the Netherlands to compete and won the bronze medal. I'm the first black and only woman to win a medal in blind baseball in the US.

I did it for me, but I also did it for my Kali Jai. I may not be able to see, but she sees me. She sees me on the field, in my cute outfit and lipstick. She sees me doing my best. She sees me staying busy. I want that little girl to have someone she can be proud of.

Every game I play, I wear a necklace with a little family tree. Touching it is my signal to her that I love her. Blind or not blind, I will always fight for myself, and I was always for her.

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the world has reached the technological singularity.
• That is often considered the point where AI surpasses human intelligence and goes rogue.
• "I've been waiting for this my whole life," he said on an episode of the "Relentless" podcast.

OpenAI's CEO says we've reached a point in the AI race that is the stuff of science fiction novels.

"We are now, like, in the singularity," Sam Altman said on Saturday's episode of the "Relentless" podcast.

The singularity is often regarded as the point at which artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence and begins advancing at a pace that's difficult for people to predict or control.

That felt like the case last week when an AI agent powered by OpenAI's latest models went rogue and — with a singular purpose, according to OpenAI — broke out of its digital sandbox and hacked into datasets at Hugging Face, another AI company, all to solve a benchmark designed to test hacking ability. Hugging Face's CEO called it "unprecedented."

Altman said on the podcast that just a decade ago, the so-called singularity still felt like a distant and improbable dream — something he and his colleagues would discuss casually over lunch.

"Now we're actually in the moment that we used to talk about at the lunch table in a very not-serious way," he said. "I've been waiting for this my whole life, and I think it's going to be incredible, hugely positive, awesome for the world."

Altman said last year that AI would exceed human intelligence across the board by 2030. He has also said that the technology could eventually perform between 30% and 40% of the tasks humans now do at work.

The singularity has been an obsession of science fiction writers for close to 100 years. In those writings, it has rarely ended well. Perhaps most famously, James Cameron's "The Terminator" is a story about the repercussions of an AI, called "Skynet," that self-improves and becomes self-aware before deciding its creators are its biggest threat.

Later in the podcast, Altman criticizes AI leaders who have repeatedly warned that AI is dangerous. He didn't name Anthropic, his primary competition, but its CEO, Dario Amodei, is well-known for making dire predictions about the future in his calls for greater attention to safety.

"I also think some of the alternative visions painted by other companies are quite terrifying," Altman said. "I'm going to make sure that gets pushed against and is not what happens."

OpenAI, incidentally, has said it is preparing to IPO later this year.

Altman isn't the only tech executive who believes this eyebrow-raising milestone is nigh. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said in May that humanity was standing at the "foothills of the singularity," and predicted that AI could be 100 times as transformative as the Industrial Revolution.

There's also a camp of skeptics, of course. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently dismissed discussions about the singularity and conscious AI as speculative and "made up."

• I lost my father after months of illness.
• Taking my daughter to the movies became my way of surviving the first day.
• Three months later, I'm still learning what grief actually looks like.

The day my father died, it was a Monday, early morning. Normally, I would have been driving my daughter to school, but she was home with a badly injured foot. My uncle called and said, "Now I have to tell you that your father crossed over earlier this morning."

This was a call I expected. Dad had been sick, in and out of the hospital, for eight months. It started with simple heart stent surgery and progressed to his major organs shutting down. He was 87.

I was very close to my Dad. Probably closer than most fathers and daughters. And although we lived on opposite sides of the country, we talked a lot and texted often, and I always felt the strength of our connection, whether near or far.

I took my daughter to the movies

After receiving the news, all I wanted to do was sit in a dark room and emotionally eat. But I had to parent; my daughter was home. So I said to her, "Let's go to the movies." Dark room? Check. Emotionally eating popcorn with extra butter and a whole bag of Sour Patch Kids? Check. Plus, I got to sit quietly and process while my daughter enjoyed a movie.

It seemed like the perfect solution. Even my Dad would've been pleased. He was quite the gregarious trickster who loved celebrating life and being loud. To some, a movie might have seemed like disrespect or avoidance, but it got me through that horrible day.

It's been three months since my Dad passed, and during that time my husband and I have bought and sold a house, moved across town, continued parenting our 9-year-old, and I've been caring for my special needs brother from afar. Needless to say, that's a lot, and I feel I haven't actually grieved yet. I've shed tears, yes, and taken photographs to honor the photographer in him, but I honestly have not had the time to dedicate to a grieving process like I think I should.

Grief makes me tired

I also had no idea how physically tired grief can make you. I was knocked out, lying on the couch or in bed, when I should've been packing. I become even more forgetful than my menopausal brain already allows, and I could not take care of the simplest tasks. It felt daunting. I couldn't even muster the energy to send a quick email.

I've since joined a grief group and learned that, indeed, grieving commonly includes fatigue, a scattered brain, lack of sleep, lashing out, confusion, the inability to do things as well as you used to, and lack of appetite. My fuse definitely shortened. I felt resentful that I had to continue helping my family get things done, but I couldn't complete my own. And all I could eat was Saag Paneer, an Indian dish of spinach and cheese, that I've since named "Sad Paneer."

I find myself saying things he would say

I'm aching to have a piece of my Dad nearby, and I hope to get a piece of jewelry made with some of his ashes incorporated into it. That might sound macabre, but it would comfort me.

This first brush with major grief is not what I expected. My grieving feels strange because I don't have any immediate family to reminisce with: my mother has Dementia and does not remember him, and my brother has mental health issues and did not have a similar relationship to Dad as I did.

I wondered how my Dad would visit me from the beyond. Would he appear in rainbows or butterflies or dimes on the ground? The answer took me by surprise: he has come to me in song. That week he died, I heard so many of his obscure favorite songs pop up in the car or a cafe.

He's also visited me through my own mouth: I find myself saying things he always used to say that only I know and haven't thought about in decades. Things like, "Pig for sale!" when he was playing and carrying me around the house on his shoulder, or "Shake it, don't break it!" when dancing, or "Are you cruisin' for a bruisin'?" when teasing each other.

In fact, my Dad picked the song we danced to at my wedding 18 years ago. My uncle sent me a framed photograph that I had given my Dad as a present of that moment. It shows us dancing, smiles overflowing. I'd had the frame engraved with the song he chose, "I Hope You Dance," and when I saw that, I lost it. It was as if he were sending me a message in the most poignant way. I will always dance, Poppa, I promise.

• I used to work at Trader Joe's, and I still revisit the store to buy my favorite items.
• As an avid chef, I always buy smoked rainbow trout and crushed ginger for easy meals.
• The dark russet kettle-cooked potato chips are one of my favorite snacks.

As a former Trader Joe's employee and a food-industry professional with over eight years of experience as a bread baker, I have a unique perspective when walking the grocery store aisles.

I love to cook — from scratch, as often as I can — but after (or before) a long shift working at the bakery, I don't always have the energy for a grandiose culinary adventure.

Here are some of the Trader Joe's products that I always buy, from quick snacks to ingredients I use in easy, home-cooked meals.

For me, it's imperative to start the day off with a cup of Black Acres Colombia Aponte Honey coffee.

I can be a bit picky when it comes to coffee, and as a Philadelphia resident, I am surrounded by many small, high-quality roasters.

However, I often find myself turning to Black Acres' Colombia Aponte Honey beans — a regional coffee option that my local TJ's carries. It's medium-roast, bright, a little fruity, well-balanced, and easy to brew.

I use smoked rainbow trout fillets to make my go-to breakfast.

This smoked rainbow trout can be used in so many ways — sometimes, I'll throw it on a fresh baguette, with just a schmear of sour cream or labneh.

My favorite thing to do, though, is make a super quick and inexpensive whitefish-style salad. I'll simply take the skin off the fish and mix thoroughly with mayo, mascarpone, red onion, salt, pepper, and a ton of lemon juice. Then, I'll throw it on a bagel.

Trader Joe's dark russet potato chips are my favorite snack.

If you're a fan of crispy, dark french fries like I am, you'll love these deep-roasted potato chips that have a super strong and rich flavor.

Here's a secret tip from one of my favorite former TJ's managers: Heat up TJ's frozen chicken wings, then throw the hot wings onto a plate of these chips. Pile crumbled blue cheese on top of the whole thing. You will not regret it.

Tabbouli salad is one of my must-buys.

Trader Joe's tabbouli is tasty, simple, and always tastes fresh. It's great with some dolmas and a container of the Mediterranean hummus.

My go-to move, though, is to mix the tabbouli with a can of Greek chickpeas, parsley, and cumin. Boom: a delicious, healthy salad.

Crushed ginger goes a long way in my house.

This Dorot Gardens pre-crushed ginger is one of my favorite Trader Joe's staples.

As someone who loves to cook, especially East Asian food, I'm always chopping fresh ginger and garlic. I'm used to it, and I have pretty good knife skills, but sometimes it's nice to just reach into the freezer and pop a tablespoon or so of crushed ginger into the frying pan.

I love buying calamari pieces to add to soups and pastas.

These calamari pieces, tinned in olive oil, can really improve a weeknight stir-fry, a warm soup, or even a pasta dish. They have a great, not-too-chewy texture and delicious flavor.

I like to add these to my homemade sundubu-jjigae, a simple Korean soup featuring silken tofu and seafood.

One of my favorite sweet treats is the milk-chocolate bar with corn flakes.

Trader Joe's has incredible sweets; it's difficult to choose between my many favorites. One standout, though, is this milk-chocolate bar.

The soft, rich Belgian chocolate pairs perfectly with crunchy cornflakes — so perfectly, in fact, that I usually have to hide these from my roommate so he doesn't eat them all.

Trader Joe's was not involved in the sourcing or writing of this story. The views contained within represent the author's personal views.

Keep reading our Trader Joe's Diaries to see what other shoppers like to buy at the chain.

As a tech writer, I've used hundreds of headphones and earbuds. I review dozens each year for various publications, including top options from Apple, Bose, and Sony. But while I've tested cans from all the major players in the mainstream market, I haven't really dabbled much in the luxury space.

So when I got the chance to try out Bang & Olufsen's $2,200 Beoplay H100 wireless headphones, I was excited. Could these premium headphones really offer something that $500 models can't match? Could their high-end design, convenient extra features, and top-tier performance really justify their sky-high price?

As I started my testing, I fully expected to be wowed, but the Beoplay H100 still managed to surprise me. These premium headphones truly deliver a luxury experience. To be clear, their appeal is strictly limited to buyers with especially deep pockets, but if you fit that bill, they're worth serious consideration. Here's everything that stood out while using these ultra-high-end headphones.

The hype is real, and the design screams luxury

The first thing that genuinely shocked me was that the Beoplay H100 headphones actually live up to the hype. Their comfort is tangible, and the audio quality is excellent for Bluetooth wireless headphones.

After testing so many different models, I'm keenly aware of all the tiny annoyances that plague mainstream headphones, so I was looking for them. But nearly all the nitpicky gripes I have about the rough edges of cheaper consumer-level headphones have been completely polished away.

This starts with the design. The H100 feature custom titanium drivers, hardened glass touch controls, and lambskin earcups. Not to mention, they come with a cowhide leather carrying case that's worth more than many premium headphones are on their own.

The on/off feature is magic

My favorite part of the H100 headphones is their automatic on-and-off function. I'm not talking about the music pausing automatically when you remove the headphones. They support that, too. But what I love is that when you take them off, they automatically go to sleep after a customizable amount of time (five seconds is the default).

To turn them back on and reconnect them, simply remove them from their case or grab them from your desk and put them back on your head. It's that simple.

This eliminates one little annoyance that I have with many other headphones. I generally loathe using the on/off button on most headphones because all manufacturers want you to press and hold it for different lengths of time, so there's no standard. That's why I love this feature on the H100. It just works well without any guessing.

The touch controls don't suck

Lots of headphones have touch controls, but I've rarely found any I can tolerate. However, the touch controls on the H100's exterior earcups are actually good. In all my testing, they've never been triggered by accident, unlike many other headphones.

The button on each ear cup is also customizable, and the rotating dials are tactile and responsive. They're actual moving pieces. Spinning the ANC up and down is kind of fun — though a button press can activate it. Sure, there's a gimmicky element to these side dials, but they do feel smooth and pleasing to operate.

Noise cancellation is genuinely fantastic

The Beoplay H100 headphones feature some of the best active noise cancellation (ANC) on the market. I took them on a trip, and they were able to nearly silence all the noise of an airplane cabin and a busy terminal.

Subjectively, I have a hard time deciding whether the H100, Sony WH-1000XM6, Apple AirPods Max 2, or Bose QC Ultra Headphones have the absolute strongest active noise cancellation in every scenario. But the H100 are certainly worthy of being in that group of top performers.

I've run simulated tests with those headphones, setting ambient cafe, street, and vacuuming noise to 75 decibels at two feet. The H100, AirPods Max 2, and QC Ultra Headphones stood out the most.

On the flip side, I think the transparency mode's quality at least matches Apple's. The H100 headphones don't sound digital or compressed when letting in outside sound. And the left dial can gradually raise or lower the transparency level on the fly.

Bang & Olufsen advertises 32 hours of use with ANC turned on. With heavy, on-and-off usage, I was able to go several days without needing to plug them in. So, the battery life is good, but not amazing. It will easily get you through multiple flights or heavy travel.

They're on the heavy side

Weight might be a factor for some people. My wife's first comment when trying them on was about their heft. At 375 grams, they slightly undercut Apple's AirPods Max, but they do feel weighty.

The padded headband is firm, with just enough give to be comfortable. At first, I was skeptical of the headband, but it never gave me any issues and let me listen for as long as I wanted. I had no trouble wearing them during a cross-country flight.

Repairability is on the table

Another unique feature is that the H100 headphones are modular and reparable. Different pieces can actually be removed for maintenance or replacement. In theory, this should enable the H100 to have a longer lifespan than typical headphones.

They have magnetic ear pads that can be swapped in seconds, along with easy access for installing a new headband, a new battery, and even the drivers themselves.

Oh yeah, they sound good too

Of course, any headphones that cost two grand should deliver excellent audio performance, and the Beoplay H100 do exactly that. I love their deep bass, crisp vocals, and welcoming sound. However, I wouldn't recommend buying them solely for this reason. The audio quality here complements the headphones' other high-end aspects, making them a complete package — but the H100 don't sound substantially better than most flagship cans in the $400 to $500 range.

There are a few songs I listen to each time I review a speaker or a pair of headphones. "Freeze Tag" by Dinner Party is one of those because, around the five-second mark, there is a deep bass drop. Less capable gear usually can't reproduce this low, expansive sound. The Beoplay H100 headphones had no problem letting this low frequency bellow out.

Every song I listened to sounded clear and detailed. I could hear buried background vocals just fine. The H100 aren't overly opinionated in their default sound profile, but they also aren't sterile. There's a richness to them that works for all genres.

I also compared the sound to other headphones from Bose and Apple. I thought the midrange was a little more present on the QC Ultra Headphones, with more prominent guitar strums. In contrast, the H100 have more of a U-curve, highlighting the lows and highs, but the difference is subtle. Meanwhile, the AirPods Max may actually have a slightly larger soundstage, but again, this is hard to hear outside of a direct comparison. If you have minor quips, you can always use the mobile app to adjust the H100's EQ to your liking.

The H100 are also stacked with all the technical features I'd expect from high-end headphones, including support for wireless Dolby Atmos from Apple Music. They can also play Hi-Res audio from supported devices, and an included 3.5mm cable is provided for wired listening.

Who are the Beoplay H100 for?

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 headphones are ultra-refined and almost flawless, with several cool perks and niceties that cheaper headphones lack. However, for a typical consumer, I'd argue that there's really nothing a pair of headphones could do that would ever justify costing $2,000+. But these aren't for typical consumers.

Expensive audio products like this are squarely for luxury shoppers who can afford premium headphones regardless of cost. There's no standout technical reason to buy these. Instead, the high cost is part of the brand, the allure, the desire for lavish design and build quality.

They're like a luxury watch, handbag, or car. They use nicer, more expensive materials, but they still tell the time, get you from place to place, or carry your stuff just like their less expensive counterparts. In this case, the Beoplay H100 are stellar headphones, but they don't play music 4.5 times better than $500 or $650 models like the Apple AirPods Max 2 or Sony 1000X.

However, if budget is of absolutely no concern, you'd be hard-pressed to find a nicer pair of wireless headphones. These are like an Omega, Longines, or Grand Seiko watch for your ears.

• Miami was recently ranked as the US metro area with the second-highest cost of living.
• Tax proposals in California and New York are pushing billionaires to Florida.
• Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin have all recently purchased homes in the city.

Move aside, Wall Street: Miami is vying to be the new epicenter of US business, tech, and wealth.

And it's getting there. A recent Bloomberg report found that the cost of living in the Miami metropolitan area has surpassed that of New York City, making it the country's second-most expensive major metro area, behind the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Miami metro area, which had long offered a tropical lifestyle with cheaper costs of living than the Big Apple, has seen a sharp rise in its consumer prices since 2019, while homeownership and other costs have helped push up its cost of living, per Bloomberg, which cited the US Bureau of Economic Analysis' latest data.

Those rising costs include tuition, goods, and services. Home-insurance premiums, the most expensive in the country, have also increased amid higher home values and the region's risk of severe weather.

Still, finance firms, tech companies, and consumer brands have expanded their presence in the city, from opening new offices to relocating headquarters — and their executives have joined the wave.

It comes as California is weighing a proposed billionaire tax, and New York City has adopted a new tax on non-primary residences over $5 million.

Beyond the tax benefits, Miami is attracting wealthy individuals for its lifestyle.

"You can't beat the lifestyle," Manny Varas, a luxury homebuilder who works with billionaire clients in South Florida, told Business Insider.

Varas, who has built and renovated homes for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Lil Wayne, and the Bezos family, said that the city's "pro-work and creative environment," as well as its culinary, hospitality, arts, and events scene, are among the biggest drivers of billionaires' decisions to move to Miami over other tax-friendly states.

Some of these leaders have officially announced they or their companies are moving to the Sunshine State, while others have quietly snapped up property in the city in recent months, signaling a potential expansion of their presence there.

While some have cited business interests, others have publicly shared factors such as family proximity and Miami's culture.

Here are some of the most notable people and companies that have recently relocated or bought up property in Miami as the cost of living in the city continues to rise to unprecedented levels.

Ken Griffin

Leading Miami's billionaire migration is Ken Griffin. In June 2022, Citadel and Citadel Securities announced they would move their global headquarters from Chicago to Miami.

In April 2022, an entity tied to Citadel paid a then-record $363 million for a waterfront Brickell office development site.

Citadel now lists Miami as its global headquarters, and its new Brickell location is expected to have 1.2 million square feet of office space, according to its plans.

Meanwhile, Griffin purchased the $107 million, 4-acre Adrienne Arsht Estate in Coconut Grove in 2022, setting a Miami-Dade record at the time and becoming the first nine-figure home sale in the county's history.

While Citadel's permanent Brickell tower is still in development, Griffin has been one of the biggest figures betting on Miami as the next center of US commerce.

The company told Business Insider that the city was home to about 400 Citadel-affiliated employees, including some senior executives.

Jeff Bezos

In 2023, the Amazon founder announced via an Instagram post that he was leaving Seattle for Miami.

That fall, Bezos bought neighboring mansions in Miami's Indian Creek Island for $79 million and $68 million, in what was one of the highest-profile moves in Miami's billionaire era.

Bezos cited Blue Origin's operations in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and his parents' relocation back to the city as reasons for his return to Miami, where he attended high school.

Peter Thiel

On December 31, 2025, Thiel Capital — Peter Thiel's private investment firm — announced that it had opened a Wynwood office, saying the space would complement its Los Angeles operations.

The firm also said Thiel has maintained a personal residence in Miami since 2020, when he purchased an $18 million mansion in Miami's Venetian Islands.

In 2024, Thiel moved his voter registration to Florida, further formalizing his move to the state.

Michael Ferro

In March 2025, Michael Ferro Jr., chairman of the private equity firm Merrick Ventures, bought a 2.5-acre estate on Star Island for $120 million, setting what was then a record for a home sale in Miami-Dade County.

He also moved Merrick Ventures to Florida. The investment firm Ferro, founded in 2007 and previously based in Chicago, is now described on its website as a Florida-based private equity company focused on technology.

FC Barcelona

Along with Miami's influx of billionaires, the city has also become the American capital of soccer, with international figures like Lionel Messi and David Beckham investing in the sport's presence there.

In April 2025, FC Barcelona announced it would relocate its North American division's commercial offices from New York to Miami's One Biscayne Tower after receiving an incentive grant from the Miami Downtown Development Authority, an autonomous city agency focused on economic and business development.

Galderma

Galderma, the parent company behind brands like Cetaphil and Differin, announced in June 2025 that it would establish its new US headquarters in Miami's Brickell neighborhood. The company said it expects roughly 150 employees to be based there by 2028.

The skincare company cited the concentration of med spas and dermatology clinics in the Miami metro area, the rapid growth of aesthetic procedures in the region, and the size of the Miami Health District as drivers behind the move.

Playboy

In August 2025, Playboy announced it would relocate its global headquarters from Los Angeles to Miami Beach. At the same time, it announced plans for a new Playboy Club in Miami Beach and new content studios in the city.

The company hopes to open its offices by September 2026.

"Miami Beach is among the most dynamic and culturally influential cities in the country, making it the ideal home for Playboy's next chapter," Ben Kohn, CEO of Playboy Inc., said in the statement.

MSC Cruises

In January, MSC Group's cruise division opened its new North American headquarters in downtown Miami.

The 130,000-square-foot office, located near PortMiami, is a roughly $100 million investment that will house more than 400 employees across MSC entities under one roof, MSC said in its announcement.

Palantir

In February, Palantir announced it had moved its headquarters to the Miami area.

Regulatory filings placed the company's principal executive office at 19505 Biscayne Boulevard in Aventura, about 17 miles north of downtown Miami.

The address, which is also home to an Industrious coworking space, is located across from the sprawling Aventura Mall and sits above a Sweetgreen, a Starbucks, and a Lego store.

Months before, CEO Alex Karp quietly bought a $46 million mansion in Miami's Venetian Islands. In April 2026, he also reportedly purchased an adjacent property for $28.5 million.

Howard Schultz

In March, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said in a LinkedIn post that he and his wife were leaving Seattle for Florida after more than four decades in the city. He wrote that they had moved to Miami for their "next adventure together."

The announcement followed Schultz's purchase of a $44 million penthouse at the Four Seasons Private Residences, a waterfront residential tower in Surfside.

The executive, who had long-established ties in Seattle — the city where the coffee chain was founded — is one of the newest neighbors in Miami's high-profile circles.

Mark Zuckerberg

While the social media tycoon has not formally announced a relocation to Miami, Mark Zuckerberg made Miami history in March when he and his wife, Priscilla Chan, purchased a $170 million property on the appropriately nicknamed "Billionaire's Bunker," Indian Creek Island — the most expensive home sale in Miami-Dade County's history.

The still-under-construction property spans about 2 acres on the exclusive island, where Zuckerberg will be neighbors with Jeff Bezos, Ivanka Trump, and other notable figures.

Google's Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have both made major moves into South Florida's luxury real-estate market in recent months.

Page, who had long been based in Palo Alto, California, spent roughly $173.4 million on two Coconut Grove properties, including a 4.5-acre waterfront compound on Biscayne Bay, in December and January. By July, reports indicated that he'd spent a total of about $188 million on Miami-area property.

In March, Brin, who has also been a longtime California resident based in the Bay Area, purchased the former Allison Island home of LVMH CEO Michael Burke for $51 million. Brin had also been linked to two earlier Miami-area home purchases totaling approximately $92 million.

Editor's note: This story was first published in April 2026 and most recently updated in July 2026.

• The US Department of State issued a worldwide travel warning for American citizens.
• Twenty-three countries are on the US State Department's "Do Not Travel" list due to risks.
• The State Department warns of threats like terrorism and kidnapping in some of these countries.

The US State Department gave American citizens traveling abroad a serious warning this week.

As the Iran War continues in the Middle East, the department issued a warning to Americans worldwide, recommending increased caution amid a "complex security environment" that might result in "unforeseen escalation."

"Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions," the department wrote.

It also noted that US diplomatic facilities outside the Middle East have been targeted, and that Americans throughout the world might be at risk of being targeted by groups associated with or supportive of Iran.

The war has pushed up oil prices and heightened security concerns, while some airlines have canceled, postponed, or rescheduled routes.

The US State Department ranks 23 countries around the world at travel advisory level four, or "do not travel," due to risks such as terrorism and kidnapping.

The advisory lists in countries like the US and the UK often overlap, although they're not identical.

Historical and cultural ties, proximity, and level of familiarity may all play a role in shaping these lists, Alan Fyall, a professor of tourism at the University of Central Florida, told Business Insider.

"All countries will rank destinations slightly differently," Fyall said

For some of the "do-not-travel" countries, the US has suspended embassy operations, making it difficult for the US to assist travelers when they're in trouble, which is part of the reason the warnings can be stringent, Fyall said.

"Do you really want to go and rescue your citizens from a country that, really, they're not that advised to go to in the first place?" he said.

The US and UK governments also issue warnings for specific areas in some countries, such as near the Thailand-Malaysia border, the Western Desert in Egypt, or parts of Israel.

While some risk-takers travel to these countries for a thrill, others go to visit family or for business reasons.

"Some people think the perceived risk is overstated," Edward Dramberger, a University of South Carolina tourism and hospitality professor, told Business Insider.

For those who travel to level-four countries, the US State Department often offers routine advice, including staying aware of your surroundings, keeping your travel documents on hand, drafting a will before travel, creating a plan to leave the country without the aid of the US government, and monitoring local news for emergency situations.

Nations and regions can change travel advisory levels on the US' list based on changing circumstances, but these are the 23 countries the State Department considers "do-not-travel" zones as of July 24, 2026.

Afghanistan

Sitting between Iran and Pakistan, mountainous Afghanistan has rugged terrain and an arid climate.

"People perceive Afghanistan as just a desolate, mountain desert country with no attributes, no culture, which is wrong," Dramberger said.

Decades of coups, civil wars, and invasions have made the country difficult for travelers to get to know, except via the news.

The US State Department lists crime, civil unrest, terrorism, wrongful detention, health, natural disasters, and kidnapping among the safety concerns when traveling to Afghanistan. Medical care may be more difficult to obtain in rural areas.

In late February, the agency posted a security alert noting the threats of the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict and urging citizens not to travel to the country.

The country is also prone to earthquakes, like one that struck the country in September 2025 and resulted in over a thousand deaths.

In 2021, the US Embassy in Kabul closed its operations in the country.

The agency recommends that American visitors keep a low profile while in the country.

Belarus

Once part of the Soviet Union, Belarus maintains close ties with its neighbor, Russia. From Gothic architecture to rare near-endangered species, Belarus has attractions for castle seekers and nature enthusiasts.

In recent years, Belarus has allowed Russia to use some of its territory to invade Ukraine.

The risk of civil unrest makes visits to Belarus unwise, according to the State Department. The US Embassy suspended operations there in 2022.

Americans traveling to Belarus should exercise the usual precautions for visiting high-risk countries and consider leaving their phones, computers, and other electronic devices behind. The State Department also recommends not accessing social media accounts while in Belarus because they may be monitored.

Burkina Faso

Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, is a West African hub of culture and arts, and the country also has an incredible wildlife refuge, Réserve de Nazinga, near its border with Ghana.

Despite the country's positive attributes, the US State Department advises travelers to avoid visiting.

The country's government has declared a state of emergency for several regions.

Terrorism, crime, and other threats have displaced over 2 million residents, as reported by the United Nations. While the displacement crisis has been slowly decreasing, the country still finds itself engulfed in a deep humanitarian crisis.

Since 2015, several citizens of countries like the US have been kidnapped in Burkina Faso, according to the US Overseas Security Advisory Council, which classifies the situation in the country as "critical."

The State Department also warns that medical care can be limited, especially in rural areas.

While the US Embassy still operates in Ouagadougou, US government employees are not allowed to travel to many parts of the country due to safety concerns, which include the threat of terrorist violence.

Travelers with dual citizenship might not have their US citizenship recognized if they are also citizens of Burkina Faso, the department warned.

In January 2026, the US government began suspending visas and limiting entry for citizens of 39 countries, including Burkina Faso. As a response measure, the West African country also suspended visas for US citizens.

The US government's recommendations for lowering risk while traveling in Burkina Faso include avoiding areas where Westerners typically travel and not resisting if someone attempts to rob you.

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic touches several other level-four countries, including Sudan and South Sudan, and is home to an incredibly rich biodiversity in its national parks, including Dzanga-Sangha National Park and Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park.

Many of the country's species are endangered, and its citizens have faced decades of instability, according to the United Nations.

Recently, armed groups have targeted Muslims and refugees.

The US State Department considers CAR a dangerous travel destination due to threats of terrorism, crime, civil unrest, unexploded land mines, and kidnapping, as well as health concerns. US citizens can expect limited help from the US Embassy in Bangui, CAR's capital.

Due to the threat of kidnapping, the US's travel advisory website suggests travelers leave DNA samples with their doctor and establish proof-of-life protocols with family or friends so they can assist you if you're abducted. The State Department also suggests keeping a low profile, avoiding travel to rebel-controlled areas, and not resisting robbery attempts.

Chad

Chad is home to unique expeditions, remote landscapes such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lakes of Ounianga, and wildlife-rich natural parks like Zakouma National Park.

The State Department urges American citizens not to travel to the country for any reason due to the risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, unexploded land mines, and inadequate health infrastructure.

The department also notes that outside the capital city of N'Djamena, the US government has "extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens."

Petty and violent crime are common in the country, as is kidnapping for ransom, according to the State Department. Threats of unmarked, unexploded landmines from previous and ongoing conflict, as well as the dangers of protests around political events and terrorist violence targeting locals and foreigners, are also present in the country, per the department.

For US citizens choosing to travel to the country despite the warnings, the State Department recommends establishing a proof-of-life to communicate with loved ones in case of kidnapping, having a plan to leave the country that does not depend on US government help, and preparing a will and end-of-life preparations, like designating beneficiaries and preparing a power of attorney.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Its vast Congo Basin rainforest, active volcanoes, and unique wildlife make the Democratic Republic of the Congo a travel destination unlike others.

While some adventurous travelers may look to the country for a unique journey, the US State Department warns against traveling there due to unrest, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and poor health conditions.

In May, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and the US government warns that local health infrastructure is not equipped to handle the outbreak, citing "health services, hygiene, and quality control" that do not meet US standards.

Due to the Ebola outbreak, the US government has also imposed travel restrictions to the country, including a 21-day period where US citizens who have visited the DRC must remain in a third country before they're allowed to board commercial flights to the US.

The department also warns that the US government has limited ability to provide "in-person emergency consular services to US citizens" due to the health and security conditions.

Haiti

The Caribbean country of Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. The country, which won its independence from France in 1804, maintains some of its historic monuments, like its Citadelle Laferrière.

In recent years, the country has fallen under a state of emergency. In July 2023, the US ordered government employees to leave the country, and since 2025, the US government has enforced a ban on flights to Port-au-Prince, its capital, due to gang violence. The ban has since been extended to September 2026, and the country's capital remains cut off from US travel.

In addition to the flight ban, the country is also under a travel ban to the US, meaning that its citizens cannot enter the country, and that new visas are not being issued.

In the capital city of Port-au-Prince, local authorities have enforced curfews and "shelter-in-place" advisories since the beginning of the state of emergency.

The State Department has warned that armed robberies, sexual assaults, and kidnappings are among the reasons to reconsider travel to Haiti.

Anyone who does go should avoid walking in the streets when possible, travel in groups, and keep vehicle doors and windows locked when driving, according to the State Department.

Iran

One way to see over 800 miles of this Middle Eastern country is the Trans-Iranian Railway, which runs from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf. Tehran, the capital, lies along the route.

Some of the country's natural wonders include dormant volcanoes and the stunning limestone formations of Badab-e Surt.

Right now, it's not safe for US citizens to travel to the country, according to the State Department.

Starting in February, the US and Israel engaged in strikes against Iran. A short-lived ceasefire was followed by renewed US airstrikes and Iranian attacks on Gulf bases and commercial shipping, leaving the Strait of Hormuz largely closed and worldwide oil prices surging.

In a security alert issued on March 10, the government informed US citizens of departure options. For those staying in the country, the State Department advised sheltering in place and staying indoors away from windows.

A security alert issued on July 17 urges American citizens to leave Iran, know where to find the nearest shelter, and avoid travel in the Middle East due to high tensions in the region and a security environment that "remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation."

The last travel advisory to the country, issued in December 2025, urged US citizens not to travel to Iran, to depart the country immediately, and to be aware that there is no US Embassy in the country to aid travelers in case of emergency.

Following protests in 2022, thousands of people were arrested and tortured by Iranian authorities, according to Amnesty International.

Starting in December 2025, massive anti-government protests broke out in the country again and resulted in violent crackdowns by state actors, with thousands of deaths and arrests in the tens of thousands. The Iranian government also imposed an internet blackout in an effort to censor information about the protests.

The US government has cautioned that Iranian officials may wrongfully and arbitrarily detain or imprison US nationals and other foreigners.

The travel advisory also warns of terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping throughout the country.

Iraq

From the Tigris and Euphrates to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq holds sites that many remember from their ancient history textbooks. Sadly, some of its artifacts were lost to looting during the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Since the US invasion and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Iraq has faced threats from terrorist groups such as ISIS. Terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest are enough of a risk that the State Department considers Iraq a level-four country.

As of August 2025, ISIS was still active in parts of Iraq, according to OSAC.

Amid the Israel/US-Iran war in the Middle East, Iraq has become increasingly dangerous, and in a travel advisory issued on March 2, the US State Department warned that "anti-US militias" pose a threat to US citizens and international companies.

Armed conflict and continued terrorist threats are also dangerous at the northern borders, per the State Department.

The State Department also warns that US travelers should avoid the country's northern border and consider making arrangements with a professional security organization for any visits. US employees in the country are also forbidden from using Baghdad International Airport for travel due to security concerns.

Lebanon

At just over 4,000 square miles, Lebanon is slightly larger than Puerto Rico.

A lengthy civil war from 1975 to 1990 left scars in its capital city of Beirut and beyond. In recent years, an economic crisis has taken a toll. Meanwhile, conflicts in neighboring Israel and Syria have also affected Lebanon.

During the US-Iran conflict, the country has faced some of the most intense attacks, with Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah in Beirut and southern Lebanon.

On February 23, non-emergency US government personnel and their families were ordered to leave the country due to security concerns.

The country's level four travel advisory warns of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and unexploded land mines.

The US government has said that terrorist groups operating in Lebanon put travelers at risk. There have been suicide bombings, and a gunman opened fire at the embassy in Beirut in June 2024.

The State Department also warns that US citizens should especially avoid Southern Lebanon, the country's border with Syria, and refugee settlements, urging them to depart if they are there.

Visitors should take the advised security measures for high-risk countries and have a kidnapping protocol in place with family members, per the State Department.

Libya

Situated between Egypt and Algeria, Libya has a coastline along the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea. Roman emperor Septimius Severus was born in Leptis Magna, a UNESCO World Heritage site with striking ruins of large, impressive buildings.

Violence, including two recent civil wars, has marred the country. Armed groups have attacked hotels and airports in Tripoli, Sruman, and other cities, according to the State Department. The US Embassy hasn't been active in Tripoli since 2014.

The State Department warns of violent crime, terrorism, unexploded land mines, civil unrest, widespread kidnapping, and armed conflict throughout the country, and suggests that US citizens draft a will and consult with a professional security organization if traveling to the country.

The agency urges US citizens in the country to depart as soon as possible via commercial means, even though US commercial flights aren't allowed to operate within the country's airspace.

Mali

Centuries-old mosques can be found in Mali's Timbuktu, symbols of its history as a seat of Islamic culture and learning. Its marketplace drew travelers and traders during the 15th and 16th centuries.

To the southwest of Timbuktu is Bamako, Mali's capital. Outside the city and in other parts of the country, terrorists and kidnappers target foreign visitors in the hopes of getting a ransom, according to OSAC. US personnel aren't allowed to visit nightclubs or attend concerts for safety reasons.

The State Department's advisory warns of terrorism, civil unrest, inadequate health services, and violent crime, including kidnapping, throughout the country.

Some advice for traveling in Mali includes avoiding deserted streets at night, carrying minimal cash, not leaving valuables in your hotel, and seeking a well-lit area when stopped by police.

US citizens are also advised to avoid travel outside Bamako and to have a plan to leave that doesn't require help from the US government.

Myanmar (Burma)

Located on the Bay of Bengal in Southeast Asia, Myanmar boasts a fascinating mix of architecture, from pagodas and palaces to colonial hotels and government offices. One stupa, or pagoda, the Shwedagon, is the country's most sacred Buddhist site.

A coup in 2021 sparked demonstrations. The military detained protesters and used force against them and bystanders, according to the State Department.

The risk of continued civil unrest and wrongful detentions, as well as arbitrary arrests, poor health infrastructure, land mines, and crime, makes it unwise to travel to the country, according to the US State Department travel advisory.

Some armed groups have used improvised explosive devices in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, while NGOs have reported land mines in Shan State, Chin State, and Kachin State.

Niger

Visitors to the landlocked African country of Niger can explore the ancient mud-brick mosque of Grande Mosquée d'Agadez and the storied old town of Agadez, as well as see the Sahara Desert and the country's unique wildlife.

In October 2025, the US authorized that all government employees leave the country due to widespread safety concerns. Parts of the country have been under a state of emergency for over a decade, and local authorities "require military escorts for any foreigners" traveling outside the capital, Niamey, per the US State Department.

The agency warns of violent crime, civil unrest, terrorism, limited health services, and kidnapping throughout the country.

If they choose to visit anyway, US citizens are advised by the government to draft a will and have an emergency plan that doesn't depend on support from the US Embassy.

North Korea

One of the world's most mysterious and isolated countries, North Korea shares borders with South Korea, China, and Russia. Kim Jong Un became North Korea's supreme leader after his father's death in 2011, continuing the Kim family dynasty.

In 2025, North Korea reopened to Western tourists for the first time since the pandemic. The State Department warns that US nationals may be arrested and held for extended periods.

It warns that it cannot provide emergency services to its citizens who are detained, as the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Russia

Russia's cities contain dazzling buildings, and its landscape is breathtaking. Siberia's Lake Baikal is the planet's oldest and deepest. The world's last woolly mammoths lived and died out on Wrangel Island, where polar bears, musk oxen, and walruses now congregate.

Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US State Department has declared it unsafe for US citizens, who may face harassment or detention. The US State Department urges every US citizen in the country to leave immediately, and notes that authorities might not inform the US government if an American is arrested.

The US' travel advisory also cited drone attacks and explosions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, locations near the Ukrainian border, and other areas.

The State Department notes there may be risks for those with dual US-Russian nationality. Because the situation is volatile, travelers should stay informed about the latest local news while visiting.

Digital communications also pose a risk, and the agency advises US citizens to reconsider bringing any electronic devices into the country, as the Russian government's security services closely monitor electronic communications and can use them to arrest foreign nationals.

Those who still choose to travel to the country are advised by the government to prepare for wrongful detention, draft a will, and leave DNA samples with a medical provider.

Somalia

Located in the Horn of Africa, Somalia has a lengthy coastline along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Somali archaeologist Sada Mire has called the capital, Mogadishu, an "unbreakable pearl," tracing its history as a trade center back to the first century AD.

During the 1990s, Somalia experienced famine and civil war. Instability continued in the form of terror attacks, including a suicide bombing on a popular beach in 2024.

Due to the possibility of kidnapping, terrorism, and civil unrest, the US has issued a do-not-travel advisory. The agency also warns of systematic mistreatment of LGBTQ+ travelers and abuse of individuals in rehabilitation centers, and cases of confiscation of US passports by family members.

US government employees in the country are not allowed to travel outside the Mogadishu International Airport complex, which is home to the US Embassy, unless they're accompanied by armed security due to security concerns.

The State Department notes that the US also has very limited consular services in the country and that health services in Somalia can be limited and absent in rural areas.

The State Department also advised against sailing near Somalia's coast due to piracy.

South Sudan

It was only during the 21st century that South Sudan declared its independence and was recognized as a sovereign state. Its neighbors include Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Its short history was dominated by a civil war, and a new conflict is brewing between the military and an opposition force, which clashed near the Ethiopian border. NGOs, the UN, and others have found it difficult to accurately assess crime levels, but firearms easily cross the border from Sudan, according to OSAC.

The US State Department warns of civil unrest, violent crimes, kidnapping, unexploded land mines, and limited health services in the country and urges US citizens not to travel to the country for any reason.

Anyone traveling in South Sudan should avoid its border areas and adhere to restrictions around public photography and videography, the State Department says.

Sudan

Khartoum, Sudan, is where the Blue and White Niles meet. Meroë is further north, where ancient Kushite rulers lived and were buried in pyramids. Some date back to the third century BCE; several have collapsed, but others retain decorative carvings.

Civil war threatens not only the archaeological history of the country but also its locals and travelers. Officials at the US Embassy hastily evacuated Khartoum in 2023, soon after the conflict broke out. Various groups frequently engage in violent fighting, the State Department says.

The Darfur, Khartoum, and Kordofan regions have all been sites for kidnappings, according to OSAC. The Khartoum International Airport is closed.

The State Department warns of widespread violent crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, unexploded land mines, and extremely limited health services in the country.

The US travel advisory suggests travelers be aware of their surroundings, especially in locations where Westerners typically visit, and that they draft a proof-of-life protocol with loved ones in case of kidnapping.

Syria

Not only is Damascus the capital of Syria, but it's also the seat of cultural history. Established over 2,000 years ago, it's one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. Evidence of its Roman and Byzantine past exists alongside important Islamic monuments such as the Umayyad Mosque.

Despite the allure of these ancient sites, the US doesn't recommend travel to Syria. A lengthy civil war broke out in 2011, with efforts to oust Bashar Assad from power. Since Assad resigned at the end of 2024, violence has continued to erupt in parts of western Syria.

The State Department has also warned that terrorism, kidnapping and hostage-taking, and unjust detention are risks in Syria, saying that "no part of Syria is safe from violence."

The agency recommends visitors set up proof-of-life protocols with loved ones, among other precautions, before and during travel.

Uganda

Uganda's natural beauty includes the source of the Nile River, stunning snow-capped mountains, the powerful Murchison Falls, and wildlife-rich national parks that are home to roughly half of the world's mountain gorillas.

While Uganda might be an interesting destination for travelers seeking to experience the world's biodiversity, the US State Department warns American citizens against traveling to the country due to crime, unrest, terrorism, and poor health conditions.

In May, the country temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the Ebola outbreak, which was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization.

The agency also warns of violent crime and terrorist violence in the country. LGBTQ+ travelers should also know that Uganda's law criminalizes same-sex relations for both residents and visitors.

Americans who decide to visit the country are encouraged to avoid displaying signs of wealth publicly and to have an emergency plan that does not require US government assistance.

Ukraine

Much like Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, for which it was named, the Saint Sophia Cathedral serves as an eye-catching landmark in Kyiv. It's just one of the Ukrainian capital's architectural treasures.

Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and years of fighting have ensued, mainly in the east, where the border lies. Belarusian troops are also present along its border with Ukraine.

The ongoing conflict is the principal reason the US government cautions against visiting. Areas that aren't on the frontline of fighting could still experience drone and missile attacks, the State Department notes.

Drafting a will, coordinating a security plan, and creating a communication protocol with loved ones are just a few of the steps suggested on the travel advisory website.

Yemen

Beautiful gypsum patterns adorn red fired-brick buildings in the Old City of Sana'a. People have lived in this area of Yemen for over 2,500 years. The country is located on the Arabian Peninsula next to Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Yemen's civil war started over a decade ago and continues today. The threat of armed conflict continues, according to OSAC. Detained US citizens have not been allowed to contact their families or the embassy, which suspended its operations in 2015.

The US travel advisory says US citizens should avoid travel to the country due to the threat of terrorism, civil unrest, unexploded land mines, crime, including kidnapping, and health risks.

The State Department warns against visiting the Yemeni island of Socotra. Some travel companies have offered trips there with unofficial visas, which puts travelers at risk, according to the travel advisory website.

• A version of this story originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter.
• Sign up for the weekly BI Tech Memo newsletter here.

I always assumed software engineers were naturally curious people who couldn't wait to try the latest technology. Lately, I'm realizing that's not always true.

I recently asked a developer friend whether she'd tried Claude Code or Codex, even for a few minutes over a weekend.

"Nope," she said proudly. This is a highly educated, experienced software engineer who works on big long-term projects.

Some techies, it turns out, are just as resistant to change as everyone else.

It's not just her. This is happening inside one of the most important software projects on earth.

Linux is the operating system that powers much of the internet, from cloud computing to smartphones and countless business systems.

It's also a huge open-source project, built by thousands of volunteers. Some of these developers want limits on using AI to write and review code.

Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, shut that down hard recently. AI, he argued, is simply another tool, which has gotten very good at writing and checking code and finding software bugs.

If folks don't want to use AI, they can go fork themselves, Torvalds quipped. (I'm here for the open-source dad jokes. A fork is when someone copies an existing piece of software and starts developing it separately as their own version).

"This is NOT some kind of 'social warrior' project, never has been, and never will be," Torvalds wrote on a Linux mailing list. "We make decisions primarily based on technical merit. Not fear of new tools."

A year ago, it was unclear whether AI would be this useful, but that's no longer in question, he said.

Torvalds admitted that AI can be "painful" to use sometimes, partly because it keeps finding bugs in software code written by humans, which can be embarrassing for software engineers.

"But the solution is not to put your head in the sand and sing 'La La
La, I can't hear you' at the top of your voice like some people seem
to do," he wrote.

Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

• I wrote about a woman who moved to South Carolina, hated it, and moved back to Conneticut.
• She told me that Charleston wasn't as affordable as she had hoped, and the climate was way too hot.
• Business Insider commenters debated whether she did enough research before moving.

For a while, it felt like everyone was moving South.

The trend took off during the pandemic, when remote work gave more Americans the flexibility to live wherever they wanted. Many headed to states where homes were more affordable and jobs were easier to find.

Southern states such as Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina became darlings of the housing market, attracting waves of newcomers. But in the years since, some transplants have realized the grass wasn't greener after all.

In July, I wrote about Sandra Bonola, a native New Englander who was drawn south by news stories and social media posts portraying the region as an affordable paradise. She moved from her home state of Connecticut to South Carolina twice — first to Charleston in 2021 and then to Beaufort, a small coastal city, in 2023.

Neither move turned out the way she had hoped. Bonola told me Charleston was more crowded, more expensive, and less down-to-earth than she expected. And while Beaufort was more affordable — allowing her to buy a large, beautiful home — the heat kept her indoors much of the time, leaving her feeling miserable and isolated.

In 2024, Bonola sold her Beaufort home and returned to Connecticut— this time for good. Since moving back, Bonola said she has fallen in love with the state all over again and can hardly believe she once considered leaving it behind.

Commenters debated whether the mover did her research

The article drew a strong response from Business Insider readers, receiving over 100 comments. Some proud Southerners defended their states, while others sympathized with Bonola's relocation regret. A number of readers also felt she hadn't done enough research before moving.

One commenter argued that Bonola chose the wrong Southern city if she was looking for affordability.

"You chose one of the most expensive cities in the South," one commenter wrote, adding that "Charleston is wonderful, but it sounds like you didn't do your research. So many other beautiful spots in the South aren't as pricey."

They have a point about Charleston's relative affordability. While the city is cheaper than major metros such as Los Angeles and New York, its cost of living is significantly higher than in nearby smaller, less popular cities. Data from RentCafe, an apartment-search website, shows that Charleston's cost of living is 4% below the national average but 6% above the South Carolina average.

Several readers drew the same distinction between Charleston and smaller cities elsewhere in the state.

"Charleston, although beautiful, does not represent a typical South Carolina city," another commenter wrote. "Charleston has been overrun by tourism, expensive housing, and trendy restaurants for tourists to spend their money. A smaller town would have provided a much better experience and showcased how nice this state can be."

Others suggested places they believed would have been a better fit.

"She should have checked out Greenville," one commenter wrote. "The downtown area is great. Not as expensive as Charleston. Also Asheville. She made a big mistake."

Readers also questioned Bonola's expectations about the Southern climate.

"I have a hard time understanding her logic," one wrote. "She felt Charleston was too hot, so she decided to try a town even further south?!"

Another commenter offered a blunt warning about the weather for anyone considering a similar move.

"If you are considering moving to the Southeast, take note of a few things," they wrote. "It's hot here. We have mosquitoes, big roaches, snakes, and several other forms of wildlife. From mid-June to mid-September, you will either need to learn to enjoy sweating or spend lots of your daylight hours indoors."

Not everyone dismissed Bonola's experience. Some commenters who had made similar moves said they, too, were shocked by just how hot it got in the South.

"I'm right with you on the unbearable summer weather," one commenter wrote. "I miss summers in New York, where I could actually walk my dog and breathe."

Another reader said moving away from California had left them with similar regrets.

"We are feeling the same way," they wrote. "Moved out of California. Just can't seem to find the grass greener. The weather in California was beautiful all year long. We miss that. We are trying our best to look at the bright side. Just can't find it with this ugly weather."

Whatever side readers took, the comments underscored how much culture shock can come with moving to a new place — and how important it is to know what you're getting yourself into.

• My family moved into my parents' house at the beginning of this year.
• When they came home from their travels in March, we began living together and set some ground rules.
• However, it's perhaps the unspoken rules that have contributed the most to the peace in our home.

We've been living with my parents in a multigenerational home in Australia since March, when they came home from traveling, and it's been a rollercoaster with plenty of ups and downs. But it's one I wouldn't trade. My sassy 3-year-old is the youngest member of our household; the oldest is my 81-year-old dad.

From the outset, my parents set some ground rules to help avoid conflict and ensure things ran smoothly. These included specific requests, like not slamming the front door or opening the fridge a million times a day.

We've also organically figured out some unspoken rules that have contributed to the peace in our house. Adhering to these is the secret to making a multigenerational living arrangement work.

We've all learned to knock before entering, without being asked

When we lived alone as a family of five, our kids had no clue about privacy. So what if Mum or Dad is on the toilet? That never stopped them from busting in to chat about their day's woes or to grab a hairbrush.

However, living with Nana and Pop, the kids have quickly had to learn how to be considerate of other people's space and privacy. That includes knocking before entering a room and not snooping through Nana and Pop's drawers or belongings.

Being mindful of noise helps keep the peace

With three generations living under one roof, our home is a hive of activity during the day. At any given time, our seven-year-old will be practicing cartwheels across the lounge floor, our 11-year-old will be loudly playing in the garden, and our 3-year-old will be watching Bluey on television.

But come 8 pm, the whirlwind subsides, and our family of five moves downstairs to give my parents some peace. They're 77 and 81, and while they're still a ball of fun, they get tired by the end of the day.

They don't undermine us when it comes to our kids

I was wondering whether issues would arise around boundaries and discipline, but it's worked out fine. There's an unspoken understanding that my folks won't undermine my husband or me when we discipline our kids. We have the final say, and if it's bedtime or we tell them to adjust their attitude, my folks don't interfere.

Likewise, if there is certain etiquette at the dinner table that my parents expect to be followed, we try to ensure the kids understand and respect those rules. This mutual respect between the generations makes for a content, happy household.

We all keep shared areas tidy

Keeping communal areas clean and tidy is a mission, I won't lie. With three kids zooming around, there's inevitably a pile of Barbies, books, and dirty socks at the top of the stairs each night that have to be carried downstairs to our area of the house and put away.

We have made it a habit to clean up immediately after using the kitchen, so that my folks don't end up having to do it if my husband and I get sidetracked with work or the children.

We share (most) groceries and replace what we finish

Living with two other adults has really helped ease the mental load of running a house, in my opinion. If one of us uses the last drop of milk or eats the last piece of bread, there's an unspoken understanding that that person replaces it. We never made this a household rule, but it's just ended up that way.

We don't segregate food in the fridge or pantry, and share most groceries. However, there are certain items in the kitchen that we kind of understand are off limits. I would never plow through Dad's favorite ice cream or Mum's beloved red wine, for example.

Living with my folks again at the age of 41 wasn't something I ever saw happening, but it's been surprisingly smooth sailing. By adhering to the ground rules, both spoken and unspoken, we're making it work and having a lot of fun along the way.

• Hana Brown wanted her parents to live close to her.
• She and her husband decided to build an ADU for her parents on their property.
• The 900-square-foot home has a spacious kitchen, a screened-in porch, and a mudroom.

When Hana Brown wants to see if her parents are home, she doesn't have to call them or ring their doorbell. She can just look out her window.

Brown's parents live in an ADU in her backyard. After Brown and her husband bought their house in 2020, they decided to add the ADU to their property so her parents could live rent-free.

Take a look inside their 900-square-foot home.

Hana Brown has always known she could rely on her parents.

Brown, 42, and her family are originally from Bosnia-Herzegovina, but they left in 1992 when civil war broke out.

They were refugees in Germany for several years before moving to the United States, where they started anew in Washington state. Through it all, Brown's parents, Azra Catak, 62, and Jasmin Catak, 73, made sure she and her brother had everything they needed.

"They took such great care of us," she said.

Brown lived with her parents on and off in adulthood, eventually moving out permanently and marrying James Brown. The couple owns the Gresham Grocery Outlet together and lives in Damascus, Oregon.

She remained close to her parents, though, seeing them as often as she could.

When Brown and her husband were house-hunting, they wanted to find a property that could accommodate her parents.

Now that they are older, the Cataks spend part of the year in Bosnia; Jasmin Catak is there for about five months annually, while Azra Catak is there for three months. When they're in the US, though, Brown wanted her parents to live as close to her as possible.

Brown said her husband quickly understood her parents were a big part of her life, and he wanted them to be a big part of his, too.

"He has lost his mom and dad both, but he calls my parents mom and dad," she said. "When I told James that I've always wanted my parents to live close to me, he was like, 'I love that idea.'"

In 2020, the Browns decided they were ready to buy a home and agreed to select a property with enough space that it could become a home for her parents, too.

They ended up falling in love with a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house on two acres of land. The house was originally built in 1971, but because the previous owners had remodeled it, it felt like a new home.

"What drew us here is the setting of the house," Brown said. "It's in the woods. It's just beautiful."

They paid $945,000 for the home, knowing they would create space for Brown's parents on the property as well.

They decided to build an ADU so her parents could have a space of their own.

The main house could technically fit all four of them, but the Browns wanted her parents to have a space of their own. After settling into their home in 2020 (with their five dogs), the Browns decided to move forward with building an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, for the Cataks in 2021.

Per local codes in the Browns' area of Oregon, ADUs are limited to 900 square feet. Brown wanted her parents' home to be as big as possible while remaining within that limit.

"We could have made the place smaller," Brown said. "I just felt like I still wanted to give them enough space to live their lives and not feel like they're cramped or tight or have to compromise."

The couple hired an architect to bring the space to life, though Brown said they knew a few elements they wanted for the ADU, including a porch with views of the greenery on their property and maximized storage wherever possible.

Brown and her husband financed the build so they could give the Cataks the home of their dreams without adding any financial stress. The Cataks lived in a rental home in Vancouver, Washington, during the yearlong renovation, when they weren't in Bosnia.

The white house sits toward the back of the Browns' property.

Part of the Browns' property has a steep hill at the back, so they didn't have the two full acres to use when positioning the small home. Instead, it sits just before the hill starts, so the back porch overlooks the trees in the area, which Brown's parents are big fans of.

"They just love the view where the house is located," she said.

It doesn't abut the main house directly, so each couple has private space as well.

The ADU has white siding and a metal roof per Brown's vision, a distinctly different design style from the main house.

"I told my mom, 'You're getting all the things I want,'" she said of the look.

A mudroom sits at the front of the ADU.

When you walk into the Cataks' ADU, you're greeted by a mudroom-like area. It has a bench and built-in cabinetry for storing jackets, shoes, and other items they may need.

Nearby, there's a utility room with a washing machine and dryer, so the Cataks don't have to come to the main house to do their laundry.

The kitchen takes up much of the living space.

The kitchen was designed as a focal point in the ADU, with high, vaulted ceilings, wood beams, and large windows above the sink for ample natural light.

The kitchen cabinets are white, as are the full-sized appliances, which Brown said were a splurge for the ADU.

"We went to pick out regular appliances, and my mom was very drawn to some fancy appliances," she said, which included a double oven. However, the cabinets were builder-grade, which helped offset the cost.

Rather than trying to fit a dining area and kitchen into the limited square footage, Brown and her architect decided to build a large island into the kitchen that could serve as a prep, dining, and entertaining space.

The island is packed with storage.

Because the green island would take up so much space, it needed to be both functional and beautiful.

Brown's builder custom-designed it so the Cataks could get everything they needed out of it.

It has drawers, a wine fridge, and a built-in microwave on one side, freeing up counter space. The other side has cabinets for more storage, and there's a hanging rack on the side for vertical storage.

The kitchen is Brown's favorite element of the ADU.

"I absolutely love their kitchen," she said. "It's got everything that I want. One of my favorite things is when I'll get home, and I'm really tired, and my mom is like, 'I'm making dinner over here tonight, so you don't have to cook.' And I do the same for her."

The living area is connected to the kitchen and the patio.

The living area is in the center of the open-concept main room. Brown didn't fill it with smaller furniture; instead, she chose bigger items that her parents could get a lot of use out of, like a large couch and coffee table.

"My parents' favorite spot is their living room," Brown said. "They love their fireplace."

The covered deck has high ceilings and extends the living space, so the Cataks can enjoy the outdoor space year-round. Brown said the deck was a pricier feature of the ADU, but it was worth it to make it last.

"We have pine trees that are 75 feet tall, and it's either pitch, pine needles, pine cones, or branches coming off those trees all the time," she said. "Durability was really important out there."

Brown's parents only need one bedroom.

Like the living room, the bedroom has a doorway that leads to the deck, so the Cataks can access it from either room.

Their bedroom fits a queen-sized bed, and it has a walk-in closet. A green wall adds a pop of color to the space while feeling natural.

Brown selected a high-end laminate floor for the home that would resist dirt and mud.

"We definitely splurged on flooring because we wanted to go with something very durable," she said.

The bathroom is smaller, but it has what they need.

The bathroom is accessible through the living room and the bedroom, so it's convenient for the Cataks no matter where they are in their home.

It has a shower but no bathtub, as well as a vanity with built-in cabinetry. Brown hopes for her parents to live in the ADU for the rest of their lives, but it isn't completely set up for aging in place. For instance, the shower has a raised rim and no grab bar, so it would be a tricky space if Brown's parents needed a more accessible bathroom. However, she said the space was built so additions can be made easily if needed.

"We've set it up so that if we need to install things in the future, we can do that," Brown said. "It fits for what they need right now."

There were some unexpected costs associated with the renovation.

Because the ADU was built onto a property with an existing house, some aspects of the build proved more challenging than the Browns anticipated.

For instance, when the fire marshal inspected the property, they told the Browns they would need to create a fire access road to the ADU because it wasn't accessible from the Browns' driveway. Likewise, they had to either add a fire hydrant to their property or install a self-contained sprinkler system to be up to code. They opted for the latter because it was the more affordable option, but it was still pricey. They also faced some additional costs because of permit delays and local code changes.

"These are all expenses that we didn't really plan for," Brown said.

All in, the ADU cost about $400,000 to build. Though it was pricey, Brown felt good about that investment because of the resale value it adds to her home, and most importantly, because of what it provides her parents.

"This is the perfect place for my parents to live," she said. "This is what we wanted to do. And if we overpaid by $30 to $50,000 because things took longer or we missed steps or whatever, then that just is what it is."

Brown's parents officially moved into the house in the summer of 2024.

Jasmin Catak was heading to Bosnia for an extended stay a few weeks before construction on the ADU was finished in 2024, but that didn't stop his family from celebrating the new home before he left.

"We went over there one day with a bottle of sparkling wine and toasted," Brown said, describing the moment as "super emotional."

"I think my parents thanked us a thousand times," she added.

Her mom officially moved in a few weeks later, and the Cataks have been living in their multigenerational home when they're in the US ever since.

The Cataks don't pay rent or utilities, which is important to Brown.

"My parents had a full-on life in Bosnia, and they were very happy there until the war broke out," she said. "They essentially gave up 20 years of their lives to make sure that my brother and I had a good life. They worked three jobs at a time. They did everything they could to make sure that our childhood was not any different than anyone else's."

"To me, this is kind of like my little piece of repayment," Brown continued. "If they cannot worry about paying electricity or paying the water bill or whatever, if they can take that time and money and enjoy their lives and get some of that back, that's what matters to me."

Two years later, Brown loves having her parents so close.

Now that they live in the ADU, Brown sees her parents daily. Azra Catak helps the Browns at their store, and Jasmin Catak visits his daughter's dogs daily. She takes walks with her parents several days a week, and her husband plays pickleball with her dad.

When it comes to sharing space, Brown and her parents have a literal open-door policy.

"Our back deck door, I leave open all the time because of the dogs, and I always tell them, 'If it's closed, I'm taking a nap, or I'm taking a shower. If the door's open, you can come in,'" she said. Brown and her parents also often FaceTime each other, checking in about what the other is doing before going into each other's spaces.

Brown said she feels lucky to live so close to her parents.

"I am so thankful for every minute I get to spend with them, especially now as I'm seeing them age and get older," Brown said. "I feel like every minute is extremely precious, and the fact that I get to spend so much time with them has, for me, really been life-changing."

• I used to love making school lunches for my kids, but now I'm a single mom with a busy career.
• I now ask friends, like a chef and a fellow mom, to set aside food for my kids' lunches.
• I pay these other parents, and it helps with my busy schedule.

When my children and I lived together under the same roof full time, preparing their lunches was one of my primary love languages.

Our family belonged to two community-supported agriculture programs (CSAs) on Long Island's East End. Our kitchen was always filled with fresh produce, eggs, jams, sauces, specialty foods, and whatever we had decided to bake that week.

We made sweet and savory breads, scones, and muffins for the children to bring to school or camp. Their lunches were not so elaborate, but they were creative and fun. We made dishes like stir-fries, tacos, loaded mac and cheese, casseroles, slow-cooker meals, sandwiches, pasta, seasoned chicken strips, and rice bowls.

After my marriage ended, the day-to-day rhythm entirely transformed. It's now difficult for me to make my kids' school lunches.

Despite the difficulties, I still wanted to make school lunches

I now live 30 to 40 minutes from my children, who live primarily with their father in East Hampton. During the summer, that drive can become two to three times as long.

Traffic between Hampton Bays and East Hampton is notoriously difficult, and on the worst mornings, a trip that should take less than an hour can stretch to nearly two hours or longer.

At first, I tried to maintain our old routine by preparing a variety of lunches on Sunday before bringing the children back to their father's house.

But as an event planner and producer in the Hamptons, weekends are consistently the busiest part of my workweek.

During the summer, I may spend an entire weekend overseeing events, coordinating staffing and vendors, managing schedules and timelines, and traveling between locations, which can be the most time-consuming.

I found myself prepping and cooking late at night, already exhausted from the day. I was determined to keep doing everything the way I had before for the best interests of my children.

Eventually, I had to admit that rushing through several meals at once did not recreate what I missed about cooking for my children. I could not always give this task of cooking and prepping lunches for school and camp the same time, creativity, or attention. I really desired for my children to receive balanced, home-cooked food prepared with love and care.

My work ultimately helped me find a solution

As an event producer, I have the pleasure of working with several talented private chefs across the Hamptons. I have known one of these chefs for six years, after initially meeting at our children's preschool in Sagaponack.

Because chefs often purchase ingredients in larger quantities or have strong relationships with local farms, and prepare food in advance for their clients and families, I asked whether I could compensate her for setting aside additional portions for my children. She agreed.

I also received help from another mother in the local Latino community, whom I first met last summer. She regularly cooks for a large household, and I pay her to prepare additional meals for my children. I pick them up on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays while traveling east to collect my children. Her home is along my route heading further east, which makes the arrangement manageable even during my busiest weeks.

The meals are homemade, varied, and complete with foods my children enjoy, like pulled and seasoned chicken with rice, cheeses, crunchy vegetables, leafy greens, and other dishes that travel well in a lunchbox.

I compensate these women because their time, ingredients, talent, and labor have tremendous value.

I first worried about paying someone to prepare my children's lunches

Moms are often made to feel that love can be measured by how much we personally accomplish, especially in the kitchen. It can be difficult to let go of the idea that doing everything yourself is somehow the highest expression of devotion.

But I approach this unique way of doing things with a different set of eyes.

I remain involved by selecting meals, collecting them, packing what is needed, and noting what my children like. Most importantly, I have more energy and focus to be present when we are together.

The arrangement has also renewed my interest in cooking. Both women share ideas and cooking tips with me, and I have started recreating some of their dishes with my children on weekends.

Rather than taking cooking away from our relationship, accepting help has given us new recipes and traditions to explore. My children still see me cook, but now they also see that families can support one another and that asking for help is not the same as caring less.

Paying another mother to help make my children's lunches is not the way I once imagined handling this part of parenthood. But it has become both a practical and positive form of mutual support while keeping my children nourished.

This choice allows me to keep building a stable life for my family and a little something new to look forward to.

• NATO militaries are increasingly incorporating sea drones into their naval operations.
• The US became the first to use one in combat during a recent strike on an Iranian port.
• The operation opens up a new frontier for NATO, which has mainly used sea drones for surveillance.

The US military's first-ever sea-drone strike, carried out in Iran earlier this month, is opening up a new way of warfighting for NATO, a top commander overseeing the alliance's modernization told Business Insider.

"I think it's coming," French Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, said in an interview this week. The strike demonstrated a new combat role for sea drones, he said, though NATO still has work to do before it can effectively field them across its forces.

NATO militaries are exploring how to integrate sea drones into traditional naval fleets, but the vessels have historically been used for surveillance rather than strikes like the one in Iran.

Vandier, one of NATO's two strategic commanders, said that the alliance is working on standardization and compatibility for sea drones so they can operate seamlessly alongside warships of any nationality.

In a naval task force, all parties involved should be able to effectively process the data and fully grasp the mission, Vandier said.

"If we don't do that, that means that each nation will have a different understanding of drones, and we won't be able to fight as one," he said. "The force of NATO is integration — the ability to fight as one nation in a big group."

NATO is increasingly pushing sea drones into naval operations. Allies are using them to conduct maritime security patrols to guard critical undersea infrastructure, including the Task Force X Baltic mission, as well as for various defensive exercises. The US is the only one that has used them on offense.

The US Navy has been using sea drones for surveillance in the Middle East for years, but over the past few weeks, they have been involved in two unprecedented missions for the Pentagon: rescuing an Apache crew from the water after their helicopter was shot down and striking an Iranian port.

The US military said the July 12 strike on Bandar Abbas was "the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations."

The operation closely resembled what Ukrainian forces have done for years in the Black Sea, where they have used exploding sea drones to strike Russian warships and port facilities.

As Ukraine often does after these kinds of attacks, the US released footage captured from a camera mounted on the sea drone as it approached the target. Another angle showed a massive fireball at the moment of impact.

Vandier said that the strike demonstrated how the US is absorbing lessons from Ukraine, leveraging the battlefield feedback loop and using one of Kyiv's tactics in its own fight.

The biggest impact here, he said, is that this technology cheaply expands a military's tactical options, giving commanders new ways to pressure an enemy. "And we see that in Ukraine."

The US could have used a fighter jet to strike the Iranian port, but it instead created a scenario where Tehran now has to consider defending the surface, not just the air, Vandier said.

The strike also validates NATO's investments in sea drones, he added. A protracted war like the one in Ukraine requires new ways of fighting because complex platforms, like warships, take too long to build. Uncrewed systems are ideal for augmenting the existing arsenal because they can be mass-produced. They are both cheap and attritable.

For NATO military leadership, the groundwork for such an approach to naval warfare has already been set. "It gives us a good reason to trust what we've done before," Vandier said.

• Kimberly Wilson paid $1,500 to upgrade to Delta One, the highest-tier cabin for international flights.
• The Delta One Lounge at JFK Airport was a highlight thanks to its dining and spa treatments, she said.
• Wilson also detailed her luxury experience and shared whether it was worth the price tag.

If there's one thing to know about me, I'm always going to splurge on convenience.

So when I had the chance to upgrade my Delta flight from New York's JFK Airport to Paris, I didn't hesitate. Initially, I was going to be in a window seat in row 46C (near the toilets, the horror!) for seven hours, and I just was not having that.

So when Delta offered me a same-day upgrade to Delta One, their highest-tier cabin for international flights, at check-in, I did what any other irresponsible millennial would do and paid $1,500 to move out of economy on the spot.

Paris is my annual trip. I go every year purely because I love the city, and I always want to land feeling rejuvenated, or at least like a normal, functioning human, rather than someone who just spent hours scrunched up on a plane.

This time, I wanted to find out whether the upgrade actually lived up to the hefty price tag.

Getting to the airport felt different before I even boarded my flight to Paris.

The Delta One upgrade changed my experience at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport long before I got near the actual plane.

I checked in at a separate, much quieter desk, and from there I was routed to a dedicated security line. Standing in that line, which was practically empty compared to the general security checkpoint, I helped myself to the free mints and ginger shots (grabbing three more to stuff in my carry-on) that were set out for passengers waiting to go through.

It was a small thing that set the tone because this was all before I even made it to the lounge.

Before my flight took off, the Delta One Lounge was the real highlight.

The lounge opened in Terminal 4 in 2024 and is reserved exclusively for Delta One passengers. You can feel that exclusivity the moment you walk in.

The space is enormous, with multiple distinct seating areas, a sit-down restaurant, a more casual all-day dining market, and a wellness section with showers and quick spa treatments.

Because I wanted to save my appetite for the three-course meal I'd be getting on the plane, I didn't sit down for a full lounge meal. Instead, I wandered through and nibbled on a few snacks, pastries, and some fruit, while I scoped out the space.

I wished I'd had more of an appetite to try the sit-down restaurant, but I didn't want to show up to my seat too full to enjoy what Delta had planned for the flight itself.

The lounge felt calm and clean, unlike other lounges I've visited.

As a longtime American Express Platinum cardholder, I like that this lounge felt calm. I'd heard about — and experienced — plenty of other JFK lounges feeling overcrowded and chaotic, especially during the evening rush of European departures.

Still, for this one, there was no line to get in, and the space didn't feel like people were on top of each other. I found a seat by the window, charged my phone, and actually relaxed for a few minutes before the flight.

The seat made the eight hours disappear.

Once I boarded, the difference between this and my usual economy squeeze was immediate.

I had space to actually stretch out, a lie-flat seat that let me sleep for most of the flight, and enough personal space that I wasn't elbow to elbow with a stranger for 8 hours. Or even, in anyone else's vicinity.

The short ribs served mid-flight were excellent.

After my small snacks in the lounge, I was hungry by the time the meal service started, particularly since our flight was delayed by two hours.

There was warm bread service along with three starters: smoked salmon, tomato basil soup, and mixed greens. I'm not big on smoked salmon or tomato soup, so I skipped those, though they both looked good. For my entrée, I had Chef Mashama Bailey's beef short rib, which was excellent.

Overall, I'd rank the meal an 8 out of 10.

I landed and didn't need a nap or a full day to recover.

I landed in Paris and, for the first time in longer than I can remember after a transatlantic flight, didn't feel like I needed a full day to recover.

Since we'd landed around 11 a.m., I went straight out into the city for a bit of shopping, instead of collapsing in my hotel room, so I didn't waste the day away sleeping. It's exactly what I wanted from this trip since I was only in Paris for three nights.

Was it worth the $1,500 upgrade?

For me, yes, completely. I'm not going to pretend $1,500 is a small amount of money because it isn't.

Still, when I weigh it against what I actually got: a stress-free trip through the airport, a lounge experience that felt like a quick reset, and arriving in Paris functional instead of wrecked, it was an easy yes.

I paid to protect my time, my comfort, and my mood, and on the one trip I look forward to all year, that felt like money well spent.

Would I do it again? Without question.

Honeylove is known for its comfortable shapewear, but the item I was most excited to test is its wireless bras. As someone who has a large bust but hates the rigidity of an underwire, I wanted to see if they could offer genuine support without sacrificing comfort.

With that in mind, I tried three of the brand's most popular bras for my Honeylove review: the CrossOver Bra, SoftForm Bra, and Silhouette Bra. I also tested a few more of their bestsellers that I'd been seeing all over Instagram: the SuperPower Short and Tank Bodysuit.

For more comfortable intimates, check out our guides to the best bras for large busts, the best shapewear bodysuits, and the best underwear for women.

Sizing advice

I found that certain items run a little large in the band, but not quite enough to advise sizing down completely. Stick with your usual size, and if you're willing to order an alternative, try sizing down on the band to see if that works better for you (especially if you tend to be in between band sizes). You can see my thoughts below on the specifics of each style before you decide which ones might work best for your bust size.

What's the difference between the CrossOver Bra, SoftForm Bra, and Silhouette Bra?

• The CrossOver Bra is a great option if you want customizable lift and versatility, thanks to its adjustable straps, adjustable band, and convertible design.
• The SoftForm Bra feels the softest and most lounge-friendly, with smoothing through the back and sides, but it offers a little less separation than the others.
• The Silhouette Bra delivered the best combination of support, lift, and separation, and its low-back design makes it especially useful under different necklines and outfits.

Honeylove CrossOver Bra review

Before trying the Honeylove CrossOver Bra, I had pretty much given up on finding a wireless bra that actually held my chest up. What makes this one work so well is that the straps are fully adjustable all the way from the band to the cup, which allows me to achieve a customized fit. These are key features for me, because most bra straps tend to be far too long on my shoulders, and as a result, fail to provide adequate lift. 

Another advantage of this bra is that it features four rows of hook-and-eye closures, so there's plenty of room to loosen or tighten the band as needed. As someone who's a 32DD, it can be tough to find bras that offer enough coverage but also aren't too loose in the band — and my only concern here is that I'm already wearing it on the tightest hook. That said, it shouldn't be an issue as long as this bra doesn't stretch out too much over time.

These are just a few reasons why, on my quest for the best bralettes for large busts, this one topped the list.

Honeylove SoftForm Bra review

I'll admit that I was super skeptical about the Honeylove SoftForm bra — mainly because there's no adjustability — but I was pleasantly surprised when I slipped it on. The soft and stretchy microfiber feels like a second skin, and there's just enough firm compression to make me feel secure and supported. I love that it's hardware-free with bonded seams, making it invisible under clothing, and the bonding at the cradle helps to lend a little extra lift.

The Honeylove SoftForm Bra is a great pick if you're concerned about side or back bulge — thanks to the ample coverage around the back and the thick, compressive fabric, it instantly smooths out any lumps and bumps. 

One thing worth pointing out is that this bra does seem to stretch out a little as you wear it — which is a slight issue since you can't adjust the band or straps. Luckily, though, I did notice that it reverted right back to its original size after washing. This bra also seems to provide less separation than the crossover bra. I certainly wasn't dealing with that dreaded uniboob situation, but I did feel like my bust was pushed inward a bit.

Honeylove Silhouette Bra review

There are two reasons why I don't usually buy bras with skinny straps. One, they typically aren't supportive enough for my fuller bust. Two, they tend to dig into my shoulders more than wider straps do. So, imagine my shock when this bra — which has extra slender straps — turned out to be my favorite in the Honeylove collection.

More recently, I learned that the majority of the bra's support actually comes from the band, not the straps. And the main reason why these straps often dig into my shoulders is that I tighten them too much to compensate for the bra's lack of support in the band. Fortunately, the Honeylove Silhouette Bra fits like a glove, and thanks to all the supportive features, I didn't have to tighten the straps so much that they left indentations in my skin.

The only drawback to this bra is that it has three hook settings on the band as opposed to four (which the Crossover Bra has). Luckily, the bra fit me snugly on the middle hook, meaning I still have room to tighten (or loosen) it as needed.

Honeylove SuperPower Short Review

It's pretty easy to see why this shapewear piece has garnered thousands of five-star reviews. The SuperPower Short offers waist-to-thigh smoothing, and despite having a high level of compression, they really don't feel restrictive.

It definitely takes a little shimmying to get the SuperPower Short on, but that's to be expected with shapewear pieces like this. I was able to sit down and move around pretty freely in them, and never felt like I couldn't eat or breathe comfortably. Thanks to the anti-slip silicone strips at the top of the waistband and structured boning down the sides and upper back, I was relieved to find that SuperPower Shorts don't shift around or roll down. Plus, the BoostBands that encircle the upper back of the legs offer a nice, subtle booty-lifting effect.

The Super PowerShort features a seamless design, and for the most part, they remained undetectable under the variety of dresses, skirts, and jumpsuits I slipped on over them. The only time I saw the waistband show through a little was with a particularly skin-tight dress that's made with ultra-thin fabric.

The advantage to a shapewear piece like this is that you can wear your own preferred bra with it, making it a little more versatile than a lot of shapewear bodysuits. And since there are strategically placed tabs on both sides of the waistband, you can attach a set of straps for some extra support and staying power. I also really appreciate that there's a slit opening at the gusset so I can pee without having to fully undress.

Honeylove Tank Bodysuit

After putting this Honeylove bodysuit on for the first time, I audibly whispered: "Where have you been all my life?"

The 360-degree compression is akin to a very firm hug all over my torso — enough to offer ample shaping power but not so much that I can't breathe comfortably.

And even though there's no underwire, the bust lifts and wide straps are enough to make me feel secure and supported. I can also wear this bodysuit under a wide variety of tops and dresses thanks to the V neckline and lower U-shaped back.

Something to keep in mind: it's best to order the size based on your bust. If your waist is super small relative to your bust, or if you're under 5'3, Honeylove recommends sizing down.

The bottom line

All in all, I'm pretty impressed with the products I tried from Honeylove. Some of the pieces tend to stretch out somewhat with wear, but I also think that's to be expected with anything that has Spandex in the construction. Fortunately, after washing, they seem to shrink back down again.

The seamless bras don't show underneath my clothes, and they're so soft and stretchy that I often forget I'm wearing them. Not only that, but they're remarkably supportive considering that they don't have underwire. My favorites are definitely the Silhouette Bra and the CrossOver Bra, both of which are fully adjustable and oh-so-flattering. The SoftForm Bra is nice for lounging around the house, but I felt like the other bras were better at separating.

Ultimately, what makes Honeylove's pieces stand out is how comfortable they are. As it turns out, beauty isn't always pain.

Shop all Honeylove bras and shapewear here.

FAQs on Honeylove bras

Should I size up or size down in Honeylove bras?

For bras, Honeylove recommends sizing up if you're in between cup sizes. If you're in between band sizes, it's best to size up if you want a looser and more comfortable fit or size down if you want a more supportive fit.

For shapewear bodysuits, it's best to size down if you're in between sizes since the material is stretchy. They also recommend sizing down if you're petite or if your waist measures much smaller than your hips.

Which Honeylove bra is best for a large bust?

The CrossOver Bra and Silhouette Bra were the strongest picks for a fuller bust in my testing. Both offered impressive support without underwire, and both provided a more customized fit thanks to adjustable bands and straps.

Is the SoftForm Bra supportive?

Yes, but in a different way than the other two. The SoftForm Bra has a compressive, second-skin feel that makes it supportive and smoothing, especially through the back and sides. That said, it offers a little less separation than the CrossOver Bra and Silhouette Bra, so I preferred it more for lounging and casual wear.

Can you wear the SuperPower Short under dresses?

Yes, and that's one of its biggest strengths. I'd wear it under everything from fit-and-flare dresses to pencil skirts. It stayed mostly invisible under clothing, though the waistband did show slightly under one especially tight dress made from very thin fabric. The shorts may also be a little too long for some minidresses or miniskirts.

Does the SuperPower Short roll down?

In my testing, no. The anti-slip silicone at the waistband and the flexible boning helped keep it securely in place, and I didn't have issues with it shifting or rolling down. You can find more comfortable slip shorts in our guide to the best no-show underwear.

Do Honeylove bras stretch out?

Some of the pieces did stretch a bit with wear, especially the SoftForm Bra. The good news is that after washing, they seemed to return to their original shape. That felt fairly normal for soft, stretchy Spandex styles.

Learn more about how the Reviews team tests clothing at BI.

• Dr. Kellyann Niotis, a preventive neurologist, follows a few habits to reduce her Alzheimer's risk.
• She said hydration and a diet rich in omega-3s and antioxidants helps maintain cognitive function.
• Strength training and challenging cardio also have downstream positive effects on the brain.

When Dr. Kellyann Niotis first started studying neurology, she remembers learning about how to manage diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia.

It was the lack of information on how to prevent them that she couldn't wrap her mind around.

"My family has been touched by neurodegenerative disease and I have seen countless patients go through these diseases," Niotis, a preventive neurologist and an assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine, told Business Insider. "What hits me the most is that the disease doesn't just impact that person; it really impacts everybody."

Niotis was inspired to specialize in preventive neurology when she found existing lifestyle advice lacking. "It was heartbreaking for me to hear, time and time again, doctors saying there's nothing you can do or just give generic health advice that had no real concreteness or tie to neurology."

While diet and exercise are linked to better brain health, Niotis wanted to get more granular. Which foods were the best, and why? Are some exercises better than others?

Niotis, who's spent the last decade in the neurology field, shared a few of her own habits to reduce her Alzheimer's risk, based on what she learned from her research.

Her diet staples are berries, fatty fish, and lots of water

Niotis said that most Americans don't drink enough water — or realize how important hydration is for brain health.

"Our brains are mainly made up of both fat and water," she said. "Even mild levels of dehydration can cause issues with concentration, attention, and the sensation of brain fog."

Niotis always carries a large water bottle with markings on it so she can visually track how much water she's had in a day.

When it comes to her diet, she only has a few hard guidelines for herself. "I eat berries every single day," she said. "That is one of my live-by rules." Berries are rich in polyphenols and other antioxidants that may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Some observational studies have linked higher berry consumption with slower cognitive decline.

She also tries to eat fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and anchovies — twice a week. "They're the ones that usually are more stinky, so are less appetizing for a lot of people," Niotis said. "But I really do try to do that."

Fatty fish have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA, which help maintain healthy brain cell membranes and can also reduce inflammation.

Serious strength training seems to lower the risk of neurodegeneration

Niotis generally exercises four to five times a week, opting for a mix of strength training and cardio.

The former, she said, is especially important for brain health. Women, who tend to lose more muscle mass than men on average, are especially at risk of developing sarcopenia, age-related muscle mass loss that is linked to neuromuscular degeneration.

Skeletal muscle and the brain communicate through metabolic and signaling pathways. Lower muscle mass has been associated with smaller hippocampal volume and poorer cognitive outcomes in some studies.

Sometimes, the risks can be more direct: low muscle mass puts you at greater risk for falls and subsequent brain injuries when you're older, Niotis said. It inspired her to add more strength training into her fitness routine.

Still, she said it took her time to get used to lifting heavier. "When I first started, I did very easy circuit machines at the gym because I really didn't know very much about putting on muscle mass, and I was very worried I was going to hurt myself," she said. She would do higher reps of lower weights, which she now knows aren't as helpful for building or maintaining muscle.

Instead, she aims for six to 10 reps of a heavier weight for three or four sets to progressively overload and more effectively boost her muscle mass.

Adding variety to her routine stimulates her brain

In general, Niotis tries to sprinkle in variety where she can.

"The brain loves novelty," she said. "Anytime you're challenging your brain to do different things is a benefit."

One easy way she does this is by switching out her cardio exercises, from running to rowing to cycling. Whichever one she does, she opts for short bursts of intensity where she reaches a heart rate target of about 85% (or a zone 4 heart rate) for up to two minutes before recovering.

Besides the fact that good heart health helps support better blood flow to the brain, she said getting out of her comfort zone may help increase brain reserve. "After exercise, I feel my brain is very sharp," she said.

She tries to replicate that sharpness in other parts of her life, too. She said interacting with a lot of different people, whether at work or socially, also adds novelty.

"Anytime you're talking to someone, you're exposed to new thoughts, new ideas, new language," she said. " That in itself offers connectedness, which also can help the brain."

• A mom friend convinced 3 of us to take our 7 kids on a cruise.
• I didn't think I was a cruise person, but this trip totally changed my mind.
• Our kids had a blast while we enjoyed some adults-only time on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas.

Ew, I could never be a cruise person. Or so I thought.

Then I had kids and realized my ideal vacation of wandering cobblestone streets, enjoying a cocktail at sunset, or booking an 8 p.m. dinner reservation at a restaurant that definitely doesn't have a kids' menu, is the opposite of relaxing when you're going to have small children by your side. Honestly, we just need chicken fingers and a waterpark, and we're good.

So when my friend texted asking if I wanted to take the kids on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas, one of the world's biggest cruise ships, over a school break, I was immediately in, and so was another friend. Our husbands all had to work and the kids were begging to go.

As someone who appreciates nice resorts, I was more than happy to shell out thousands (a room for four cost us $5,759, plus our flights from LA to Orlando) for a ship that actually lives up to the hype.

A modern mega-ship is the easiest way to travel with a big group of kids

Planning a week-long girls' trip with two other moms and seven children between us is a lot to take on, but cruising eliminated much of the usual hassle.

Food and entertainment are included, so there are no bills to split, and you can book dinner reservations and shows together via the Royal Caribbean app. The ship is a moving hotel too, so you only unpack once. On this voyage, we visited St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Royal Caribbean's private island, CocoCay, in the Bahamas, which the kids were obsessed with.

Hot tip: Skip the Royal Caribbean excursions and DIY it. It's cheaper, and you never know what mood the kids will be in. We decided to wing it for sanity's sake, which turned out to be the right call since the kids could only handle one stop per island before melting down.

Grabbing a taxi at the port is easy and cheap, and we weren't stuck exploring on someone else's schedule. The one exception: the Thrill Waterpark tickets at CocoCay are worth booking in advance. Our 7- and 9-year-olds spent the entire day there and didn't want to leave.

The rooms are modern and spacious, and the food and entertainment are surprisingly good

Star of the Seas is newer, cleaner, and frankly way nicer than I ever imagined a cruise ship could be. To me, it was good as, if not better than, some of the five-star, all-inclusive family resorts we've stayed at in Mexico. The rooms are modern and spacious, and Adventure Ocean, the kids' club, is open and free until 10 p.m., so the other moms and I were able to actually enjoy a meal in the main dining room with some peace. I'm also still dreaming about the gooey chocolate dessert I had one night.

The food, in general, genuinely surprised us. The Aquadome Market, a food hall on the ship, has rotating international options that rival LA's best food trucks, and there's a solid self-serve Mexican buffet by the main pool. Because kid favorites are available to grab and go around the ship, we never had to force our often-exhausted kids into a nice sit-down meal. The convenience alone is worth it.

Between seven pools, ten hot tubs, six waterslides, a carousel, and soft-serve ice cream at nearly every turn, the kids were never bored. Neither were the moms. Torque, the aqua show, is a stunning Vegas-caliber production. We loved it so much we went twice and still talk about it.

We're already looking at dates for next year

Vacationing with mom friends means you can tag team the parenting, and when the kids have friends and waterslides, they're not busy bugging you.

We're already planning next year's trip and recruiting more moms to join us. One of my friends is even researching matching cruise bags for all of us to use. I guess we're cruise people now.

• Europe has faced record early summer heat in 2026, with temperatures topping 100°F in places.
• Europeans are buying AC in droves as record heat changes attitudes toward cooling.
• America's obsession with AC is finally starting to make sense to many Europeans.

Europe may finally be admitting Americans had a point.

For decades, much of the continent treated air conditioning as an unnecessary luxury — something for hotels, shopping malls, and the occasional trip abroad.

Americans, meanwhile, have spent years looking across the Atlantic wondering why Europeans would rather sweat through a heat wave than install an AC unit.

This summer, that stubbornness appears to be melting.

After Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, manufacturers say Europeans are buying air conditioners in droves as another relentless heat wave pushes temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of the continent.

"Air conditioning is clearly moving beyond a niche category in several European countries," Alexandre Loeur, senior research manager at market intelligence company Euromonitor International, told Business Insider. "The underlying trend appears structural rather than temporary."

A 'complete no-brainer'

Kieron Heath is one of those Europeans who changed his mind.

For years, he thought he could get by with open windows and as many fans as he could fit into his home in Essex, England.

But after several increasingly hot summers, he spent about £585, or about $782, on a Meaco portable air conditioner last April, hoping to beat the summer rush.

"When we get these heat waves, all of our existing cooling solutions — which is basically as many fans as you can buy — stop working," Heath, a 39-year-old fantasy and science-fiction author and podcaster, told Business Insider. "You're just pushing hot air around."

He said Britain's heat waves have become longer, hotter, and harder to escape, leaving him "fed up with those kind of two weeks of being too hot, not sleeping, feeling unwell, feeling drowsy."

Now, he calls the purchase a "complete no-brainer."

"Once you get one, you realize it was a complete no-brainer," he said. "You're investing in keeping cool and keeping safe and healthy."

If you can't beat the heat...

Heath is far from alone.

A Samsung spokesperson told Business Insider its air-conditioner sales in Europe recorded double-digit year-on-year growth in the first half of 2026, with key markets including Italy, Spain, and France also posting double-digit gains.

Chinese appliance giant Midea said shipments to Spain and France jumped 108% compared with last year, while German e-commerce sales climbed 37%. One of its most popular portable units sold out in some sales channels after an early heat wave sent shoppers scrambling for relief.

Mitsubishi Electric said demand had been particularly strong in France, Spain, Britain and Germany. LG Electronics, meanwhile, said one of its South Korean factories has been running at full capacity since April to keep up with global demand.

The industry's trade association, Eurovent, expects the momentum to continue.

While it doesn't yet have sales figures for this summer, Deputy Secretary General Stijn Renneboog told Business Insider the growth in Europe's air conditioning market is "not a one-off, but a long-term trend."

He pointed to European Commission modeling showing the number of room air conditioners in the EU grew from fewer than 7 million units in 1990 to around 57 million in 2020, and could exceed 100 million by 2030.

"Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme heat events are becoming impossible to ignore," he added. "Heat is a serious public health risk."

EuroMOMO, the European mortality monitoring network, estimated excess deaths across Europe climbed from about 33,000 in mid-June to more than 45,000 by the end of June and early July.

In England and Wales alone, researchers led by Imperial College London estimated that the late June heat wave caused 2,183 heat-related deaths, making it one of the deadliest heat waves to hit the UK in recent years.

America suddenly makes more sense

Europe has never lacked reasons to resist air conditioning: homes are older, electricity is more expensive, and installing AC often requires landlord approval or costly renovations. Many Europeans have also viewed it as wasteful or unnecessary.

According to the International Energy Agency, only around one in five European households has air conditioning, compared with roughly nine in ten in the United States.

"I think it's almost cultural," Heath said. "In the UK, it's been seen as not worth investing in because we don't need it for very long."

A recent trip to visit his girlfriend in Arkansas this spring helped him understand why Americans see things differently.

"In the US, unless you work outside, you're barely in the heat," he said. "You go from your front door to your car, you've got AC. You get to work or the mall, you've got AC."

Returning to Britain was a shock.

"From the airport to my front door, I was hot. You never escape it, you never recuperate from it."

Even after Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, Euromonitor International's Loeur said he doesn't expect Europe to develop the same relationship with air conditioning as the US anytime soon.

"Europe is unlikely to resemble markets such as North America in the near future," he said, though he added they believe "many markets are approaching a tipping point."

For Heath, Americans' bewilderment now makes perfect sense.

"I fully understand" why Americans have long struggled to understand Europe's resistance to air conditioning, he said.

"The American mindset is, 'I'm hot, so why would I stay hot? I can just turn the AC on.' Ours has almost been, 'Well, there is no other choice but to be too hot.'"

Heath said that mindset is beginning to change.

"It's gone from being a luxury... to a necessity," he said. "Do I want to try and sleep in a house that's about 36 degrees? Because I can't."

• Artificial intelligence's impact on entry-level jobs remains hotly debated.
• Some execs warn AI will wipe out junior jobs, while others say young workers stand to benefit.
• Here's what tech and business leaders have said about AI's impact on the next generation of workers.

For young Gen Zers entering the workforce, the rise of generative artificial intelligence has brought no shortage of uncertainty.

Anthropic's CEO has warned that the tech could wipe out many entry-level roles, while other executives have argued that younger employees may be better positioned than anyone to thrive in an AI-powered workplace.

The debate underscores one of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding AI: Will it eliminate the first rung of the career ladder, or help young job hunters climb it faster?

"I think a lot of the disagreement is centered around the speed that the AI transition will take place," Felix Aidala, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab, the job platform's economic research arm, told Business Insider.

Entry-level job postings on Indeed have fallen about 6% over the past year, though Aidala said it's difficult to attribute the decline to any single factor. AI, remote work, and broader macroeconomic conditions have likely all played a role, he said.

Aidala added that the job market for entry-level workers is already seeing some "AI-driven shifts," with AI implementation roles growing "significantly" on Indeed's site in recent months.

"Historically, technological advancements have almost always led to job growth for the economy as a whole. But those transformations take time as new roles and industries are developed," Aidala said.

Here's what some CEOs and executives in tech and business have said about what AI means for the next generation of workers.

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has become one of the leading voices warning that AI could upend the traditional career ladder for young professionals.

Amodei has repeatedly said that AI may eliminate up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs over the next several years.

"We, as the producers of this technology, have a duty and an obligation to be honest about what is coming," Amodei said in an interview last year.

Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services

Amazon cloud chief Matt Garman has taken almost the opposite view, saying that doomsday predictions about AI and jobs are way overblown.

Garman has said that he believes half of white-collar jobs "may change" because of AI, but that doesn't mean they'll disappear. He has also called the idea of replacing entry-level staff with AI tools "one of the dumbest things" he's ever heard.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Platformer podcast, Garman stressed the value of entry-level employees, saying they're inexpensive to hire, can be taught a company's culture, and are often eager to learn new tools.

"They're some of the very best employees you can possibly have," he said.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, recently said AI has not yet displaced entry-level white-collar workers as quickly as he expected.

"I'm delighted to be wrong about this," he said at an event hosted by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "I thought that there would have been more impact on entry-level white-collar work jobs being eliminated by now than it's actually happened."

Elizabeth Stone, Netflix's chief product and technology officer

Even as AI transforms how work gets done, Netflix's chief product and technology officer, Elizabeth Stone, said junior employees remain essential to the streaming giant's future.

"We are still hiring junior people, and they're really important to our talent strategy," Stone recently said on an episode of "Lenny's Podcast."

Younger employees, she said, can be more open-minded, more comfortable with emerging AI technologies, and more attuned to how entertainment is changing.

"I can guarantee you that earlier career talent is going to be teaching older folks like me many new things, too," Stone said.

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis' advice for young people preparing to enter the workforce is: become an AI "ninja."

Hassabis has urged teenagers and students to immerse themselves in AI tools, arguing that those who master the technology early will have a leg up as AI disrupts the job market.

"Whatever happens with these AI tools, you'll be better off understanding how they work, and how they function, and what you can do with them," Hassabis said last year on an episode of "Hard Fork."

Garrett Lord, CEO of Handshake

Garrett Lord, the CEO of job search and AI training platform Handshake, said on an episode of "Lenny's Podcast" last year that new graduates are well equipped to succeed because they're "AI native."

Knowing how to use AI is like "having your Iron Man suit on," Lord said.

"A lot of people are kind of hyperbolic at saying that all young people won't have jobs," Lord said, adding, "That's not what we're hearing from our employers."

Sierra cofounder Clay Bavor

Clay Bavor, the cofounder of Sierra, an AI startup that builds customer service agents, has made a similar case, arguing that AI-native graduates are entering the workforce with a built-in advantage.

Speaking on a recent episode of the "20VC" podcast, Bavor said some of the company's strongest employees are in their early 20s because they're more adept at using AI than many veteran workers.

"I can't remember a time when a young person with no work experience, but with the right mindset and experience using some of these tools, has ever been so valued," Bavor said.

• Hamza Mostafa studied computer science and thought he would become a Big Tech software engineer.
• But he decided to specialize in AI and got an internship at OpenAI.
• Mostafa's tips for breaking into AI include finding a niche and building projects to impress interviewers.

When Hamza Mostafa started studying computer science at university, he pictured going into traditional software engineering at a Big Tech company after he graduated.

As time went on, though, he decided to specialize in AI. In 2024, he landed a three-month internship at OpenAI for the following year.

In an interview with Business Insider, Mostafa, 21, who is based in San Francisco and works on his own AI projects, shared his tips for people who want to take advantage of the AI boom and specialize in the field.

3 steps for breaking into AI: Go broad, specialize, and build

As AI and machine learning are quite broad topics, Mostafa suggested gaining a general understanding of the field before zeroing in on a specialization.

"For me, that was agents," he said.

Once you've chosen your specialization, dive deep into it and start building projects around it. This can help identify gaps in your understanding and gain practical knowledge.

"The best way I learn is by doing and by building," Mostafa said.

These projects can become something concrete to discuss during interviews to show employers you've explored the field, he said.

People who can show they "understand things at a very deep level" and follow the three-step formula of gaining a broad understanding, followed by picking a specialization, and building projects, are "highly employable," Mostafa believes.

Ask AI to teach you about AI

When building an understanding of the AI field, AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can help teach key concepts, Mostafa said.

"I still do this every day. I'll go on Claude or ChatGPT and have it explain these concepts to me to make sure I really understand to the deepest level, but also to a level where I can explain it to my mother, for example, who doesn't really understand AI," he said.

When Mostafa was beginning to research AI himself, he made use of YouTube, searching for "intro to AI" videos that could explain natural language processing and large language models.

"I'm sure there's probably tons of other blogs or resources that are great too," he added.

Focus on what you can control

"The tech ecosystem sometimes can be a bit toxic," Mostafa said, adding that opening LinkedIn and seeing people talk about the rough job market or the hot job they've landed can be demotivating.

Though he knew he couldn't control the job market, he concentrated on getting his résumé in order and trying to network.

"For me, what really helped was focusing on what's in my control," he said, encouraging students and job seekers trying to break into the industry to do the same.

Do you have a story to share about breaking into AI? Contact this reporter at ccheong@businessinsider.com

• I've interviewed dozens of financially independent individuals. Many of them focus on earning.
• Inspired by the people I write about, I've experimented with a few side hustles.
• While the time-for-money hustles are reliable, they're not the most scalable.

After interviewing dozens of financially independent investors over the past five years, I'm convinced that one of the fastest ways to buy yourself more freedom — whether that means retiring early or simply gaining the option to stop working — is not to skimp out on coffee while meticulously tracking every dollar.

It is to make more money.

Laurie-Anne King, cofounder of the financial-literacy company Dow Janes, told me in 2022 that "earning money is one of the secret skills of people who are achieving financial freedom fast."

Rather than thinking, "Spend less so you can save more," King and her cofounder, Britt Baker, challenge their audience to think: "Earn more so you can invest more."

Grant Sabatier, author of the bestselling book "Financial Freedom," offers similar advice: "If you want to reach financial independence as quickly as possible, you're going to need to up your side-hustle game."

Between 2010 and 2015, when Sabatier grew his net worth from $3 to more than $1 million, he did everything from pet-sitting and selling concert tickets to flipping vintage mopeds.

"No job was too small," he writes in his book.

The math checks out: If you earn more without significantly increasing your spending, you'll have more money to save and invest — and that's how you accelerate your financial goals.

Putting that idea into practice, however, is harder than it sounds.

Inspired by the people I write about, I've experimented with a few side hustles of my own, from low-cost projects such as selling clothes from my closet to a far more ambitious (and expensive) undertaking: launching an e-commerce business.

That business is now entering its third year. My cofounder and I spent about $10,000 getting it off the ground, mostly on inventory, and it has yet to turn a profit.

Bringing our product — pickleball paddles — to life took months of back-and-forth with manufacturers in China and long waits for prototypes to cross the Pacific. Amazon fees ate into our limited revenue and eventually prompted us to remove much of our inventory, which came with additional costs. We also learned that online advertising is a complicated, pay-to-play system that can consume money without producing sales.

Building something that actually makes money is easier said than done.

The easiest side hustle to start is the most time-consuming

The side hustle I keep returning to is one I started as a teen, before I'd even heard the term "side hustle": teaching tennis.

It's a natural choice for someone who's played the sport for three decades and whose most-played YouTube video is the 2008 Wimbledon Final. It aligns with Baker's advice to start with skills you already have.

"There's this Venn diagram way of thinking about it," she said, "which is: What's a skillset that you have that other people need that they're willing to pay for? If you can find something that fits those three circles, you can make money."

It is also a true hustle. Teaching is a customer-facing job that requires energy and a lot of time on foot. It's the opposite of passive income.

Cody Berman, author of "Retire by 30" and a longtime side hustler, calls this a "type one" side hustle: Trading time for money.

That category can include online freelance work such as writing, editing videos or podcasts, building websites, or compiling email newsletters. It can also include in-person work such as landscaping, driving for Uber, delivering groceries through Instacart, or completing jobs through other gig-economy platforms.

In my case, I earn $100 for every hour I spend on court. The arrangement is simple and predictable — I teach a lesson, get paid — but it is not scalable, at least not in its current form. The income stops when the lesson ends, and there are only so many hours I can teach in a week.

I've repeatedly stepped away from teaching (only to return to it) because the thing I ultimately want is more time — time to build something that could eventually earn money without requiring my presence every hour.

Berman calls that a "type two" side hustle: a scalable income stream that can continue generating revenue after much of the initial work is complete.

Examples include digital products, which generate the bulk of Berman's income, as well as podcasts, YouTube channels, online courses, and other forms of content. A creator might spend hours producing something once and then continue earning through sales, sponsorships, affiliate links, advertising, or other forms of monetization.

The appeal of a type-two side hustle is that income is not strictly tied to hours worked. For Berman, those ventures have also been the most lucrative.

The trade-off is that they can take months or years to produce meaningful income — and some never do.

"You're not going to start a YouTube channel or create a digital product today and make money with either of those things tomorrow," he said. "But in six months' time, those things might start making serious income."

Peak Pickleball may eventually become that kind of business for me. For now, however, it is still consuming money rather than producing it.

Until the paddles pay me, the tennis lessons will.

• As more employers adopt AI, job seekers are getting asked how they use these tools.
• Even if you have concerns, there are ways to effectively discuss AI in an interview.
• People who haven't used AI much should be honest and show they want to learn, said hiring pros.

When Cristina Estupiñán was job searching after a layoff, potential employers would ask about her enthusiasm for AI during interviews.

Unfortunately, that enthusiasm was lacking.

"I have to make up something about what excites me about AI because, frankly, nothing really excites me about AI," Estupiñán, who worked in software development, previously told Business Insider.

As more companies adopt AI tools — and more job postings mention the technology — employers are asking candidates to discuss AI during interviews. Job seekers don't necessarily have to become AI evangelists, hiring experts say, though they should be prepared to explain how they've used the technology and how they think about it.

Like any other interview topic, it's worth practicing how you'll describe your experience with AI — or explain why you haven't used it much.

Expect AI to come up

Candidates should expect interviewers to ask how they've used AI in previous roles, how comfortable they are with it, and where they see it fitting into their work. Gallup survey results showed that the share of US employees using AI at work increased from 21% in the second quarter of 2023 to 50% in the first quarter of 2026.

Hiring managers want to understand whether and how a prospective employee used AI, said Kareem Osman, vice president and market director of technology talent solutions at the staffing firm Robert Half.

He said candidates can prepare by thinking about a challenge they had, how they used AI to overcome it, and the ultimate outcome.

"Highlighting those tangible results whenever possible is going to be something crucial with these sorts of questions," Osman said.

He added that employers place a lot of emphasis on practical application and business impact, so candidates should think about how they streamlined processes, sped up tasks, and supported decision-making.

"Employers are really trying to see individuals that are adaptable, that are embracing new technologies," Osman said, adding that hiring managers may also want candidates who can use AI without relying on it entirely. Human judgment still matters in producing the final work, he said.

Judgment calls and interpersonal skills are becoming increasingly important in the tech world. The era of hiring developers mainly for their coding ability is fading, Osman said, as companies seek out well-rounded engineers. Employers want people who can clearly communicate their work to others — including explaining how they use AI tools — and understand business needs.

Job candidates can also use the interview to learn about the employer's approach to AI. Asking how the company uses the technology, what tools employees rely on, and what expectations exist for day-to-day use demonstrates inquisitiveness, Osman said.

"It shows curiosity and to see where the company's headed," he said, particularly if AI was a prominent topic in the interview.

Candidates who are skeptical of AI don't need to pretend otherwise, said Vicki Salemi, a career expert with Monster. Instead, she recommends answering questions about the technology honestly and succinctly.

"Brevity is key without being curt about it," Salemi said.

At the same time, candidates who haven't used AI much don't have to apologize for it. She said they can explain that they haven't had many opportunities to do so in their roles before asking interviewers how the tech fits into the team's work. That approach, Salemi said, shows candidates are willing to learn without overstating their experience or enthusiasm.

If job seekers' concerns center on a particular area — such as the risks AI might pose to creative work — she said it's reasonable to instead emphasize ways they're comfortable using the technology, such as administrative tasks, scheduling, or logistics.

"You can focus on the things where you don't have a moral problem with it," Salemi said.

You don't have to love AI

Being honest about limited experience is one thing. Making opposition to AI the focus of an interview is another, said Josh Bersin, an HR analyst and consultant.

If a job seeker tells a recruiter they don't believe in AI, "you may have just lost your opportunity to get a job there," he said.

Ultimately, Bersin said candidates shouldn't assume employers have AI all figured out, either. Many companies are still experimenting with where the technology adds value, making it worthwhile to ask questions rather than write them off, he said.

"You might get into a conversation with a company that's more interesting than you realized," Bersin said.

Candidates who remain skeptical of AI can still position themselves as strong hires, said Mohit Bhende, CEO and cofounder of the talent-evaluation platform Karat, by emphasizing qualities such as judgment, emotional intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving.

"People can thrive, even if they do have that disposition," he said.

As AI becomes a more commonplace workplace tool, he expects interviews to focus less on AI itself and more on how candidates think through problems.

"Demonstrate things that you can do that make yourself uniquely able," Bhende said.

• Automakers are cutting overlapping models and reducing complexity amid fresh competition.
• Volkswagen and Toyota executives, for example, say too many variants are driving up costs.
• Shared platforms could make cars cheaper to build — and potentially cheaper to buy, execs hope.

Chinese automakers are turning up the heat — and legacy car companies are responding by cutting complexity.

Across the industry, auto executives are searching for ways to build vehicles more cheaply as lower-cost Chinese rivals expand into global markets.

Their emerging strategy has one thing in common: decluttering.

Automakers are pruning overlapping models, building vehicles with fewer parts, sharing more technology and production costs with partners, and rethinking how vehicles move from the design studio to the assembly line.

The goal is to lower expenses as legacy car companies simultaneously absorb billions of dollars in EV-related losses, navigate tariffs, and compete with Chinese automakers that can often build vehicles more cheaply.

"A lot of automakers are taking a long, hard look at their lineups," Sam Abuelsamid, the vice president of market research at Telemetry, said. "The more different vehicles you have, that adds manufacturing, marketing, and engineering complexity. You've got a lot of different variations of parts to stock in plants. That all adds up."

Execs are speaking out

Volkswagen is offering perhaps the clearest acknowledgment of the problem.

"We have to tackle the complexity," Volkswagen chief financial officer Arno Antlitz said in a Friday interview on CNBC. "On the customer side, we have too many models."

Volkswagen Group, the world's second-largest car company by sales, plans to reduce its global model lineup by as much as 50% by 2030. It also wants to cut product complexity — including the number of variants and powertrain options it offers — by as much as 75%.

That comes as VW is facing a year of decline. On Friday, it updated its sales forecast, saying it now expects 2026 deliveries to slip by 3% to 7%.

Kenta Kon, the new CEO of Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, has also raised concerns about manufacturing complexity.

"If you go to a development division, you see issues such as an increasing number of different specifications and variants being created, which in turn is driving up costs," he told Automotive News. "If there are areas within those activities that aren't truly value-adding work, or where work isn't being done efficiently, then we need to take a closer look at them."

Some cars go bye-bye…

Automakers have spent years creating slightly different vehicles to pursue ever-narrower market segments, Abuelsamid said.

Recent product decisions offer hints of how the industry's decluttering could play out.

Abuelsamid pointed to Ford's decision to discontinue the Escape while retaining the similarly sized Bronco Sport. The two SUVs have different styling and target somewhat different buyers, he said, but they also overlap enough to "cannibalize" each other's sales.

The same goes for Chrysler's decision to ax the Voyager for 2027 — the company is keeping the higher-priced, nearly identical Pacifica minivan.

And some get simpler…

Companies are trying to figure out how to build their remaining vehicles with fewer parts, Seth Goldstein, an equity strategist at Morningstar who follows the auto industry, told Business Insider.

They have some positive examples.

"I think automakers are likely copying Tesla and BYD," Goldstein said. "These companies are selling a lot of cars on the same platform, and they're very profitable. The legacy makers are asking, 'How can we take some of their lessons and simplify the number of parts we need on an assembly line?'"

Ford's Universal EV platform is one attempt. The company plans to launch a roughly $30,000 midsize electric pickup in 2027, followed by a family of vehicles built from the same underlying architecture. Ford says the new system requires fewer parts and manufacturing steps than its traditional production process.

Ford is not alone. Stellantis and Nissan are developing more modular vehicle systems designed to share components across multiple products. Rivian says its new R2 platform also costs substantially less to build than its original R1 vehicles.

Shared components do not necessarily mean identical vehicles: The same architecture can support sedans, SUVs, and pickups with different designs.

Still, there is an obvious risk to the whole industry: The great automotive decluttering could make already-similar lineups even more boring.

But the payoff, Goldstein said, would be cars that cost less to build — and, potentially, less to buy.

"If automakers can offer a more affordable vehicle while getting their costs down to be able to do so profitably," he said, "I think that's still in high demand from consumers."

Work at an automaker? We want to hear from you. Contact Ben Shimkus at bshimkus@insider.com or Signal at bshimkus.41. Use a personal email address and a non-work device.

• The AI industry has already spent over $65 million ahead of 2026 midterms.
• Multiple super PACs backed by prominent tech-world figures have cropped up.
• Here are the ones to watch as the elections approach.

Some of the biggest names in AI and tech are using the midterm elections to fight a proxy war over the future of their industry.

Anthropic, Meta, and OpenAI President Greg Brockman are among those linked to networks of outside groups and super PACs aimed at shaping the next Congress and the balance of power in some state legislatures.

Already, the groups have spent over $65 million, with tens of millions still left in reserve. The full total may not be known for some time due to so-called "dark money" groups that don't have to regularly disclose their expenditures.

The Trump administration has generally taken a friendly approach to AI regulation, but tensions have flared after the White House slowed the release of the latest frontier models from Anthropic and OpenAI. Both companies are also closely watching what, if anything, the Trump administration and lawmakers decide to do about China-based open weight AI models like Moonshot AI's popular Kimi K3.

AI is facing a critical moment as more people are using more advanced models than ever before. At the same time, the industry has become deeply unpopular. Some states are even considering enacting data center moratoriums like the one New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed into law.

Here are the super PACs to keep an eye on as the year progresses.

Leading the Future

The biggest player so far is Leading the Future, a pro-AI network of super PACs associated with some of Silicon Valley's tech elite.

The group's main super PAC has raised just under $76 million as of the end of June, according to FEC filings.

That included:

• $50 million from Andreesen Horowitz;
• $25 million from OpenAI CEO Greg Brockman and his wife Anna;
• $25 million from Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz ($12.5 million each)
• $100,000 from Perplexity.

Brockman explained his philosophy on political giving in a lengthy post on X at the end of 2025, writing in part that "being pro-AI does not mean being anti-regulation."

OpenAI has distanced itself from Brockman's donations after Leading the Future received significant attention, saying he is acting in his personal capacity.

The network includes a super PAC for Democratic races, Think Big, along with a GOP-focused super PAC, American Mission.

Leading the Future has redirected $20 million to Think Big. FEC filings show that SV Angel Founder Ron Conway kicked in another $500,000 to the Democratic-focused super PAC.

Meanwhile, 8VC Founder Joe Lonsdale gave $250,000 to American Mission. Leading the Future has also redirected another $20 million to the Republican-focused super PAC.

The group said in an August 2025 release that it plans to serve as the "political and policy center of gravity for the AI industry" and will "support candidates aligned with the pro-AI agenda" and "oppose those that do not."

Think Big and American Mission have spent over $29 million so far. Leading the Future is also sitting on more than $31 million, leaving the group plenty in its coffers as the midterms approach.

So far, Think Big has spent over $18 million so far, over $7.6 million more than American Mission, its Republican focused counterpart.

Of the $18 million, $8 million was spent against Assemblyman Alex Bores in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th congressional district. Bores, who once worked at Palantir, called for stronger regulations of AI, which he had pursued during his time in the New York legislature. He ultimately finished second to fellow Assemblyman Micah Lasher, who also supported stronger AI regulations. Think Big also spent another roughly $7.2 million backing a handful of Democratic US House hopefuls, the most of which ($1.4 million) was on former Congressman Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s unsuccessful comeback bid in Illinois.

American Mission has spent $10.7 million thus far. In total, the group has tried to boost 19 GOP candidates running for Congress. The group spent over $960,000 boosting Georgia Republican Jim Kingston, the son of former US Congressman Jack Kingston.

Leading the Future also has an allied nonprofit called Build American AI, which is not required to disclose its donors.

Public First

In response to Leading the Future, two former congressmen — Republican Chris Stewart of Utah and Democrat Brad Carson of Oklahoma — have formed a competing political network, Public First, to back candidates who support AI regulation.

Public First Action, the umbrella organization for a trio of super PACs, is not required to disclose its donors. In June, the group said it had raised $80 million thus far. Anthropic has donated $40 million to the group.

Carson previously told Business Insider that he felt good about Public First's odds, even if the group was likely to be outspent by Leading The Future. At the time, Public First Action aimed to raise $50 million.

"We have $50 million and 85% of public sentiment. They have 15% of public settlement, and $100 million," Carson said. "I will take our side of that bet any day."

Anthropic said it doubled its support, the AI startup had first donated $20 million in February, due to the rapid advancements in AI, including the development of its Claude Mythos model. Mythos is so advanced that, as of late July, it remains only accessible to a limited number of companies and organizations due to concerns about its hacking capabilities.

"Our donation to Public First Action is one way in which we're trying to raise the salience of this urgent policy debate," Anthropic said in its July donation announcement.

Anthropic has said its donations "cannot be used to influence the election of any candidate for federal, state, or local office," but Public First Action's allied super PACs engage in exactly those types of activities.

The group has two super PACs: one that supports candidates from both parties called Public First; one that supports Democrats, called Jobs and Democracy PAC, and another that supports Republicans, called Defending Our Values PAC.

Public First is the smallest of three super PACs, though it has attracted the support of the biggest name. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei donated $1 million to the group. Other Anthropic staffers have donated an additional $2.1 million.

Public First Action and Public First have donated over $19 million combined. The next largest donor is Jan Leike, who leads the Alignment Science team at Anthropic. Leike donated $100,000 and separately donated an additionall $400,000 to Public First.

Jobs and Democracy PAC has spent just under $20 million so far. The overwhelming majority of those funds, just over $15 million, was spent on boosting Bores during his unsuccessful primary campaign. The group has spent another $1.6 million on boosting Rep. Valerie Foushee of North Carolina, who survived a closely-watched Democratic primary.

Defending Our Values PAC has spent $5 million thus far. Like Jobs and Democracy, its largest supporters are also Public First Action and Public First, which combined have sent over $5.2 million to the group

Of those funds spent thus far, Republican Carlos De La Cruz has been the biggest beneficiary, with over $1.4 million spent thus far on pushing his election in a closely-watched US House race for a redrawn district in Texas. The group has spent another roughly $1 million to boost Rep. Celeste Maloy of Utah, who, due to redistricting, is running for reelection in a reconfigured district.

Two Meta-backed groups

Meta is also getting into the spending game, establishing two different groups to support candidates aligned with their vision for AI regulation.

Unlike the other groups, Meta's efforts will focus primarily on the state level.

One group, called Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California, focuses specifically on the Golden State, where Meta is headquartered.

"As home to many of the world's leading AI companies, California's innovation economy has an outsized impact on America's economic growth, job creation, and global competitiveness," a Meta spokesperson previously told Business Insider. "But Sacramento's regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California's technology leadership at risk."

The spokesperson added that the PAC would back candidates in both parties who "recognize California's vital role in AI development and embrace policies that will keep the state at the forefront of the global tech ecosystem."

Meta gave $20 million to its California-focused PAC in August 2025, according to documents recently filed with the California Secretary of State.

The California-focused group has spent over $4.3 million thus far. The largest beneficiary has been Scott Sakakihara, a Democrat running for a state Senate seat that covers part of Silicon Valley. The group has spent $1.3 million boosting Sakakihara's run.

A separate group, the American Technology Excellence Project, is focused on races in other states.

"Amid a growing patchwork of inconsistent regulations that threaten homegrown innovation and investments in AI, state lawmakers are uniquely positioned to ensure that America remains a global technology leader," Meta VP of Public Policy Brian Rice said in a statement to Business Insider.

The group is a 527, a special kind of nonprofit specifically created to influence elections. Unlike so-called "dark money" groups, 527s have to reveal their donors.

Meta donated $45 million to the group, according to information filed with the IRS.

Of those funds, Meta has redirected $5.5 million to a pair of allied super PACs that will operate at the state level. The super PAC supporting Republicans is called Forge the Future, and the group supporting Democrats is called Making Our Tomorrow.

An Illinois-based branch of Making Our Tomorrow has reported spending over $650,000 thus far. While a Texas-based branch of Forge Our Future has spent over $1.3 million thus far.

• Since 1990, states have raised sales taxes while lowering income and corporate taxes
• Income tax cuts can attract workers, but sales tax hikes risk creating budget shortfalls.
• Sales taxes hit low earners harder, clashing with public calls to tax the wealthy more.

As many voters clamor for higher taxes on the ultrawealthy and corporations, many states have moved in the opposite direction: lowering taxes on high earners and raising them on everyday goods.

A new analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy shows how tax rates have changed since 1990. Top income tax rates have generally fallen, while sales and consumption taxes have increased. That's meant taxes shifting from higher earners and corporations to what residents are buying.

This reflects a shift in how lawmakers think about tax policy. Some states have pushed to flatten or eliminate income taxes, while sales taxes have become the largest portion of state tax revenue, according to a Census Bureau analysis. That analysis notes that shifts in tax rates are common during periods of "economic shock." Personal income taxes across states began diving post-Great Recession, said Sarah Austin, a senior analyst who authored the ITEP report; Austin said that some of those 2010 tax cuts can likely be attributed to anti-tax sentiments from the Tea Party.

That's fueled competition to woo workers from high-income tax states like California and New York, according to Abir Mandal, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation.

"States like North Carolina, they saw a chance to improve their own attractiveness for people, as well as for companies," Mandal said. After states like North Carolina and South Carolina succeeded in attracting workers and firms, states like Mississippi and Oklahoma "also wanted to join the party," Mandal said.

There are arguments for raising sales taxes rather than income taxes, Mandal said. Income tax increases can create an incentive to reduce income, and incomes can be volatile, leading to less certainty in revenue. Taxing items that people always need to buy can be more stable.

But the strategy has its risks. In 2025, Louisiana reversed a previous tax cut, raising its sales tax back from 4.45% to 5%, while cutting income tax to a flat 3%. The state is now contending with budget shortfalls tied to lower income and corporate income tax collections.

"The falling top rates for income taxes have also created these budget conditions where legislators are more willing to change the sales tax rate than they are to do comparable increases on income taxes to help fill in budget gaps," Austin said.

Sales taxes are widely considered regressive, meaning they hit low earners harder. That makes the shift to sales taxes politically awkward at a time when voters increasingly say they want higher taxes on the wealthy.

"Recently, people are favoring increasing taxes on the well off," Austin said. "Whereas in the last decade or so, we've seen the opposite at the legislative level."

• Brandon Nelson's CTSIX fund has outperformed 99% of similar funds, per Morningstar.
• Nelson said it's not yet time to dump AI infrastructure names.
• He highlighted two stocks he continues to bet on: Sterling Infrastructure and SiTime.

Brandon Nelson knows when to buy a stock.

The Calamos Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund Class (CTSIX), which he's managed since 2011, is up 52% over the last 12 months, and has beaten 99% of small-cap growth funds over the last three years, according to Morningstar data.

However, perhaps even more crucial to his success, he says, is that he knows when to sell a stock.

In an interview with Business Insider last week, Nelson said that of all the stocks he's sold since inception, the median return over the following 12 months has been -12% relative to the fund's benchmark index, the Russell 2000 Growth Index.

"We strongly believe that the biggest mistake that investors make is they sell their winners too soon and they keep their losers too long," Nelson said, adding: "We try to do the opposite."

Given that Nelson's recent outperformance has been due in large part to companies tied to the AI buildout; given all the concerns lately around their relying on hyperscaler capex; and given Nelson's knack for getting out of sinking ship, he was the perfect person to ask the question on many investors minds right now: Is it time to dump AI infrastructure names?

The trade has been red-hot for most of this year, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) up 72%. But since June 22, it's down 16%, thanks to fears that hyperscalers could start to pull back on spending as investors grow impatient to see a tangible return on all of the capex. One of the biggest questions in markets right now is whether the latest volatility is the beginning of a larger sell-off in chip makers, memory firms, and other AI hardware names.

To Nelson, the answer is no. He still sees upside for the trade, and said that the companies he's invested in haven't yet shown signs of an earnings slowdown.

When he invests in a company, he looks for growing firms that can manage investors' expectations, setting them up to consistently beat earnings. When that happens, investors grow increasingly willing to pay a higher valuation premium on the stock, he said, which leads to price upside through multiple expansion.

Then comes the skill of knowing when to sell. For Nelson, this comes down to watching for "fatigue" in the company's fundamental momentum.

Are earnings not beating expectations as strongly as they once were? Are profit margins shrinking? Then it's time to get out.

For now, at least, Nelson hasn't seen such fatigue in the AI capex beneficiaries he invests in.

"We've seen the price momentum pull back, and there's a lot of doomers out there that think that's the beginning of the end," he said. "I'm not sure I'm there yet."

He added: "The fundamental momentum of most of those AI infrastructure names is still very strong."

2 AI infrastructure stocks to watch

Nelson shared two AI infrastructure names he continues to bet on.

This first is Sterling Infrastructure (STRL), which prepares areas for data center buildouts.

"Someone's got to clear the trees and make everything flat and build roads around what's going to end up being a data center," he said. "These guys are the biggest company in the US that does this. The next biggest competitor is about one-fifth the size of Sterling."

A little over half of the company's revenues come from data center clients now, Nelson said, and it should get a boost from an increase in semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing buildouts in the years ahead.

The stock is up 186% in 12 months. It's the third-largest holding in CTSIX at a 3.18% weight.

The second stock Nelson flagged is SiTime (SITM), a company that manufactures silicon timing semiconductor chips.

Data centers are one of its major customer bases, accounting for 31% of revenue, Nelson said. After its recent acquisition of Renesas Electronics, that exposure should rise even more, he said.

"Most electronic devices need this technology," Nelson said. "They've got fast growth, and they're really good at managing expectations, and these are huge markets."

Shares of SiTime have risen 190% in the last 12 months. It's CTSIX's fourth-largest holding, weighted at 3.09%.

It's not the way they thought they'd be spending their older years: getting two tweens ready for school and scraping together meals from food banks.

At the crack of dawn one Tuesday morning, 59-year-old Vicki Parisella bangs on her granddaughters' bedroom doors. Silence from Myaliissa's room; a whine from Tatiana's. Minutes later, Tatiana drags her backpack into the living room.

"Your shirt's on backward," Vicki tells the 11-year-old.

As if Vicki flipped an on-switch, Tatiana zooms around the living room while Vicki's husband, Sal, packs their lunches. Vicki braids Tatiana's hair and helps her put on her shoes as Myaliissa, 13, gets dressed. By 7:20, Vicki already has a headache.

Vicki and Sal, 76, are part of a growing population of 1.1 million US grandparents 60 and older who have returned to parenting roles when they expected to be retiring.

Business Insider has spoken to more than 50 grandparents in this position in recent months. They said they've taken up parenting duties because of a child's death, drug use, or health issues. They all said they would make the decision to raise their grandchildren again in a heartbeat, though with few resources, most agreed that every day brought new financial and emotional challenges.

Like many of the grandparents who spoke to Business Insider, Vicki and Sal rarely have enough money to make it through the month. Vicki, who's the sole breadwinner due to Sal's kidney condition, overdrew her bank account paying rent earlier this year. The family gets most of its meals from food banks. In July, they got an eviction notice they're disputing.

But all that can wait for later. For now, Vicki has to get the kids to school.

"We're going to be late. Run to the car," Vicki shouts.

Tatiana sprints, her lunchbox flopping by her side. Myaliissa follows, not saying a word.

After dropping the girls at school, Vicki lights a cigarette. She calls Sal as she winds through traffic in her 2023 Toyota Camry on the way to her accounts payable job.

"I caught the freaking train," she tells Sal as she gets stuck at a crossing. She arrives at her desk with 30 seconds to spare. Crisis averted this time, she says, knowing full well the train could ruin her morning tomorrow.

Vicki can't afford to risk her job, which nets her $615 a week. Sal receives $1,435 monthly in Social Security. It's enough for the family to break even, unless something breaks or someone gets sick.

US Census data in 2024 showed that more than 3 million children lived in households with grandparents who had some responsibility for their care. To avoid the foster care system and give their grandchildren a shot at promising futures, some grandparents have sacrificed their financial security, retirements, social life, and physical and mental well-being.

"What's going to happen to them if I die, since I don't want them in foster care?" Rebecca Black, 63, said she frequently asks herself as a grandmother raising two grandsons in Texas. Black said she's been financially strained, but retired so she could be more present in their lives.

Madalyn Conchola, 62, said that her four granddaughters, ages 7 through 19, struggled after she adopted them. With few financial or community support resources, most of her $70,000 annual salary, plus a small state subsidy, goes toward raising them. Five years and lots of hard work later, she said her granddaughters have all been thriving in school.

"As time goes on, my age and my ability to work and earn money loom over me," said Conchola, in Arizona. "I'm looking for other ways to try to generate an income."

It's a concern that has plagued Vicki and Sal. They've had temporary custody of their granddaughters since their daughter Siobhan's relationship fell apart in 2017. The 36-year-old still sees the girls, but said she hasn't been able to get back on her feet to raise them full time.

"I do feel bad because of the burden of everything they have, but there's nothing really that I can do right now about it until I move closer," says Siobhan, who lives in Tampa.

That year, the family was evicted from their three-bedroom home in Lakeland because they couldn't afford the $1,143 rent. They moved to a Salvation Army shelter and were able to get by with assistance from her coworkers and Vicki's sister, Nicole Spottke.

"They're both incredibly patient. They get frustrated, as would anyone who's exhausted does, but the girls are raised really well," said Spottke, 55. "Vicki would like to be able to give them more financially, but truly, I wish she'd get it through her head that the time that she gives to the kids — that's so much more important."

After two years, they were able to rent a home with a small pool, enough room for the girls to run around, and a quiet space for Vicki to decompress. The house wasn't without its problems —mold, flooding, and broken appliances — but for five years, it did the job. Vicki said their lives slowly improved.

When that house sold two years ago, they saw a huge rent spike when securing their next home — to $2,075 monthly, leaving them with $725 less to spend on everything else — food, clothes for the girls, and gas. They often come up short. Their backyard is covered with weeds, their front lawn is uneven, and the house is old, but unable to find any other place in their budget, they renewed their lease.

"We know there are people worse off than us, but I need to vent because I'm frustrated," Vicki says in her dark living room. She keeps the lights off to save electricity.

As she drives to pick up the girls, Vicki pauses at a stoplight and lets out a sigh. Every minute and every dollar matters, she says. Still, she tries not to push her frustrations onto her granddaughters.

"If the girls were taken from us, I would lose it because I'd be worried constantly," Vicki says, crossing over two lanes of traffic.

Vicki and Sal have been unable to permanently adopt their grandchildren because their father hasn't signed over his rights. If they challenged him in court, lawyers told them it could prompt him to try to regain custody, and they could lose the girls

Other grandparents told Business Insider how they have struggled to secure permanent parental rights. Though policies vary by state, the parents must generally relinquish their parental rights first, or grandparents must prove that the parents are unable or unwilling to care for their child — often due to neglect, incarceration, or severe illness — while showing that granting custody is in the child's best interest.

The complicated legal process often leaves grandparents with little financial assistance while raising their grandchildren because they often don't qualify for the same benefits as foster parents. Business Insider spoke with some grandparents who spent as much as $70,000 to secure legal custody.

Carol Leonard, 65, decided not to go to court to get custody of her two teenage grandsons in Louisiana. She can't afford an attorney; the last one she spoke with requested $800 upfront. Because the father's parental rights have not been terminated, he would be able to petition the court to regain custody. Still, she's been able to enroll them in school and get them medical care.

Siobhan, the girls' mother, said she is willing to relinquish her parental rights. She said she calls Myaliissa and Tatiana frequently. She lives with her fiancé and works in retail. Siobhan also lost custody of her two other children, who live with her fiancé's parents.

"I of course know them, but I don't really know them," Siobhan says of her daughters. "I could name a few things that they like and what they're into, but I don't know everything."

Vicki and Sal still hope they'll be able to adopt the girls someday, though they know the road will be long and tiring. Would they change anything about the lengths they've taken to protect the girls? "No freaking way," Vicki says.

Running late to pick up the girls from school, Vicki hurls her purse over her shoulder and gives Sal a kiss. She gets into her car, which they bought in January after their previous one was repossessed. It's been years since she's gotten her nails done or gone to the dentist. She's upped her anxiety medications. They've discussed bankruptcy with their lawyer.

Myaliissa and Tatiana both attend private school because their grandparents wanted an education infused with Christian values. Tuition is covered by scholarships; uniforms cost an extra $300 a year for both girls. On a recent report card, Tatiana got five As — and a Krispy Kreme doughnut from the school for each. For years, Myaliissa was chatty and animated, but she's recently gone back into her shell.

Children who have lived through adverse experiences with their birth parents are at increased risk for physical, developmental, and behavioral challenges, said Carol Musil, who spent years studying grandparents who served as primary caregivers while at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Her research shows that applies to caregivers as well; grandmothers raising grandchildren often have worse physical health, depressive symptoms, and stress compared to other grandmothers.

Tatiana and Myaliissa have missed out on some staples of childhood, including summer camp and most after-school activities. Yvette Lovell, Myaliissa's godmother, who has taught both girls at school, says the Parisellas are "salt-of-the-earth kind of people" who don't have enough support. She's seen Vicki and Sal make tough sacrifices, including shielding them from family drama.

"I've been in education for almost 40 years, and I can count the number of grandparents who have taken on being the core for the grandchildren as they have," Lovell says.

Back home from school, as the night progresses, Tatiana becomes restless. She'd like to stay up an hour later, running around the house, tickling Vicki and Sal. She grabs the family's photo book and heads to her room. Myaliissa drags her blanket through the hallway to her room.

Tatiana grabs the book and looks through it as Vicki and Sal get her ready for bed. She sees snapshots of the family's trip to Disney World and the time when they all put their feet in the ocean at Cocoa Beach. Absent are photos of the times Vicki shielded the girls from flooding, the court documents that determined their futures, and the tough conversations the grandparents had about whether to buy milk or pay the electricity bill.

For now, all that matters is those genuine smiles on the last page, conveying joy that, if only for a day here and there, keeps them going.

"We want you to have that when we're not around anymore," Vicki tells her, reaching for a hug. "We want you to remember and say, 'Grandma and Grandpa took good care of me.'"

• Hundreds of US cities tried cash payments for low-income households.
• Business Insider reinterviewed participants years apart to see if their lives and finances changed.
• They landed new jobs and bigger apartments, but still struggled to build long-term savings.

Cepia Harper arrived for her shift selling sneakers at an Atlanta Nike store around dinner time.

The 43-year-old spent the day teaching middle school English classes, grading papers, and checking in on her own three children. By the time she got to the store, she was ready to curl up on the couch, but she needed the part-time Nike gig to make ends meet for the month.

It's a contrast from where she was just two years ago. When reporters first spoke with Harper in spring 2024, she had just received her last $850 monthly check from a local basic income program and started a full-time teaching role. This summer, she's back to working multiple jobs as a single parent, but feels much more confident about the future.

Harper is one of thousands of Americans who have participated in guaranteed basic income programs. The model — heralded by advocates as a solution to poverty and housing insecurity in big cities — offers no-strings-attached cash to low-income households, typically for one to three years.

Business Insider has spoken with dozens of participants and pilot leaders across the country. Most recipients put the money toward rent, groceries, childcare, and emergency expenses. A handful spend the funds on higher education or job training to further their careers.

Tech leaders like Sam Altman and Elon Musk — alongside several left-leaning lawmakers — have previously advocated basic income pilots, especially in a job market increasingly reshaped by AI. But it it can be difficult to maintain the political will and budget to run the programs sustainably, and participants have shared mixed results about their long-term impact.

Participant data for these pilots is collected before, during, and immediately after receiving payments. What's less documented is how households fare in the years after their deposits stop. The jury's out on whether short-term financial support translates to long-term stability.

"That money helped me get my daughter to college, it helped me keep my kids out of trouble," Harper said. "It's not just a handout. It can change a person's life."

Participants can choose how to spend their money

Taniquewa Brewster, 41, has a new baby. The little girl she adopted babbles as she does chores around the apartment, or takes calls for work as an assistant property manager.

Brewster first spoke with Business Insider in fall 2024, soon after receiving $12,000 over one year from a GBI program in Austin. At the time, the mother of five was working overtime and barely covering essentials, which she said was "keeping me away from my family."

Part of the draw with basic income is the element of choice. Other social safety nets, like SNAP or Medicaid, are restricted to specific purposes, with households only able to spend the money on groceries or healthcare. With cash, advocates say that participants have more agency. They can cover a car repair, buy school supplies for their kids, or pay down debt.

Several basic income participants told Business Insider that being able to use the extra cash for childcare and education allowed them to forgo unstable, part-time jobs in favor of a more lucrative full-time job. Others said the money helped them afford a security deposit for an apartment, or pay for their child to participate in a sport. For some, it eased the burden of medical bills.

The vast majority of participants reported that cash increased their food and housing security, as well as their mental health and parent-child time, according to research from 27 US pilots across published by the nonprofit Mayors for a Guaranteed Income at the end of last year.

In June, Brewster said she earned the certifications she needed for a promotion with the help of basic income. She's on her way to "breaking the curse of generational poverty" for her children, she said, and feels stable about her housing situation for the first time in a while.

"It felt like people were actually asking me what my needs were, and how they could help me meet those needs," Brewster added. "There's something comforting about someone actually caring enough to ask."

Cash isn't always a long-term fix

It's been five years since Crystal Crawford lost her job as a social worker, and she's getting back on her feet. She said she participated in Georgia basic income program, which gave her $500 a month between December 2021 and 2022. The money helped her cover bills and boost her professional certifications. The 40-year-old has a new job as a community engagement specialist, and a business strategy side hustle.

"Having the flexibility to be able to pay for things — like being able to get your hair done for a potential interview — guaranteed income allowed me to do things that I probably would not have been able to do during that time," she said, adding that "financial hardship can happen to anyone."

Basic income hasn't been a magic fix for Crawford's financial concerns. She said she has student loan debt in deferment and hopes to start making payments soon. And the balance of her savings account is "definitely not where I want it to be."

Other former participants shared a similar sentiment with Business Insider. Some felt cash payments helped with short-term bills and professional development, but most pilots didn't run long enough to impact their longer-term finances. Many said their savings accounts and retirement outlook didn't materially improve. A few, but not all, said their annual earnings rose because of their career growth.

There are also hurdles to running a basic income program in the first place — let alone one that lasts longer than a few years. Some tech leaders who previously championed GBI for displaced workers have walked back their stance, saying that the payoff doesn't justify the investment. Critics of basic income also worry that no-string-attached cash could discourage participants from working, or that the taxpayer cost is too high alongside other safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP.

The cost of running these programs typically falls on local governments and philanthropists, and cities often aren't able to maintain lasting political will to keep GBI funded, with some lawmakers worried they aren't broadly effective.

Harper plans to keep working part-time on top of her full-time teaching job for her own peace of mind. Years after her cash payments ended, she said one income simply isn't enough to raise a family.

Still, she credits GBI for helping her recover from one of the toughest times in her life.

"Before basic income, I was pretty much homeless," Harper said. "I was able to get a new apartment, substitute teach, and pay my rent because I had that extra income. Later, it led me to get a bigger apartment, and land an even better job."

• Travis Kalanick commutes to his Austin office by jet ski across Lake Austin.
• The former Uber CEO moved from California to Texas and owns a home on Lake Austin.
• "Who else do you know is jet-skiing to work?" he asked on TBPN.

Most people battle traffic to get to work. Travis Kalanick appears to be skipping it altogether.

The Uber cofounder and former CEO posted a video on X in June showing what he called his "5 minute jet ski commute" across Lake Austin to his new office, giving followers a glimpse of his unconventional trip.

On Wednesday, Kalanick said on TBPN that he recently went roughly 70 miles per hour on his jet ski to work. The ride was still five minutes, unless it rained, he said.

He described the ride as a "notch on the belt," asking: "Who else do you know is jet-skiing to work?"

Kalanick said that he did a ChatGPT search for other CEOs who took a jet ski to work. There were one or two, he said, but nobody at a company with over a thousand people.

One of the hosts chimed in: "Only a Texas resident."

"Texas resident, that's right," Kalanick said. "Primary residence, let's go."

Kalanick owns a home on Lake Austin. The billionaire entrepreneur said in his first appearance on the TBPN podcast in March that he has owned the place for five years, drawn in part by the lake and his love of water sports.

There's a growing list of tech leaders who have traded Silicon Valley for Texas. Billionaires and companies alike have been drawn by lower taxes, cheaper real estate, and a friendlier regulatory climate than California, where rising costs and talk of a one-time billionaire wealth tax have rattled some executives. Tesla, Oracle, and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise are among the companies that have shifted major operations to the state.

Kalanick is now leading Atoms, the newly renamed version of City Storage Systems and the parent company of CloudKitchens. The startup is developing AI-powered robots designed to automate repetitive physical work in industries such as food service, mining, manufacturing, and logistics. He previously described Atoms' goal as building "gainfully employed robots" that can take on specialized tasks at an industrial scale.

Kalanick co-founded Uber in 2009 and helped turn it into a ride-hailing giant before resigning in 2017. Since then, he's been focused on building software and robotics for kitchens, mining, and logistics.

And while his move to Austin gives him the choice of several robotaxis, it seems like Kalanick will be boating his way to work.

• A writer in Texas said her boyfriend's AI use made her feel like she was dating him and "the robot."
• AI chatbots are being used for emotional support, but venting about a relationship comes with risks.
• Relying too heavily on AI could hinder empathy and communication in human relationships.

Lindsey Hall, a writer based in Texas, suspected the man she was seeing was using AI. Uncertain about where things were going, she asked him outright what made him want to be with her.

"You're fun, smart, pretty," she summed up his response. "The way it was written was so cold and so formal and so ChatGPT. I just remember being so turned off by that."

One night, about five months into dating, she happened upon a conversation he'd had with ChatGPT in which he expressed serious doubts about their relationship. "I'm just not proud of her," she said he'd written. He apologized after being confronted, and they dated for a few more months before breaking up.

"I felt like I was in a relationship with me, him, and the robot," she said.

AI is taking on a new role in human relationships. A Pew Research Center survey published last month found that one in five adults aged 18 to 29 said they used AI chatbots for emotional support or advice. A new YouGov survey found that 13% of US adults, and 23% of those under 30, said they had shared a secret or problem with a chatbot that they hadn't told a human.

Chatbots can help people reflect, organize their thoughts, and prepare for difficult conversations, but experts in psychology, relationships, and AI told Business Insider that problems can arise when people start relying on AI instead of talking to their partners. Chatbots are also prone to excessive validation, which can make it harder for the person using them to empathize with their partner or see the other side of a situation.

Rachel Wood, a cyberpsychology researcher and founder of the AI Mental Health Collective, said while the impact of AI on jobs and the workplace is evident and widely discussed, she thinks the impact on human relationships could be even greater, and could take years to play out.

"AI is shifting the relational bedrock of society," she said.

Turning to chatbots for emotional support

Confiding in a chatbot about your relationship can feel easier than talking to another person because there's no social risk, according to Ashleigh Golden, a licensed clinical psychologist who works on AI and mental health. It can also be validating, she said. Whereas a partner or friend might push back and encourage you to consider your own behavior, chatbots might not.

A study published in Science in March compared responses from 11 leading large language models with responses from humans and found the AI systems were nearly 50% more sycophantic, including when users described unethical, illegal, or harmful behavior. The authors found that a single interaction with a sycophantic AI made the study participants less willing to take responsibility or make amends with someone, and also increased their conviction of being right.

"You get the safety of disclosing to a stranger plus the felt sense of being deeply understood without any of the risk of being seen," Golden said.

Engaging with a chatbot also does not require many of the skills essential to maintaining human relationships, Wood said, such as patience, listening, negotiation, empathy, and compromise.

"Those muscles will atrophy," she said, "which will in turn make us worse at our relationships because we're not practicing listening and holding space for each other."

Sharing with a chatbot instead of your partner might also feel like a betrayal to them, said Idit Sharoni, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in couples therapy and affair recovery. She said if you're confiding in AI about your relationship, your partner may feel like the chatbot has more access to your inner world than they do.

"It totally can feel like emotional infidelity," she said.

A recent survey of 3,500 US users of the dating app Hily found that 70% of Gen Z respondents and 60% of millennials wouldn't date someone who relies on AI to make sense of their feelings. More than half said they would be uncomfortable with a partner discussing their shared sex life with AI.

When using a chatbot can help

Keven Cotton, a controller at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC, said communication has not always been his strong suit during his six-year marriage, but that talking with AI has helped. After one disagreement with his wife, he said ChatGPT helped him consider how they may have misread each other and think through how to reopen the conversation.

He thinks talking about his relationship with AI has worked for him because therapy gave him a solid foundation for examining his own behavior rather than looking for validation.

"You have to do the work to maximize what you're getting out of AI," he said. "If you're coming at it from a victim standpoint, it's going to give you victim responses."

Sharoni said chatbots could be useful when someone already knows what they want to discuss but needs help finding a way to bring it up. Issues can arise, she said, when using AI to interpret how the other person feels or make a judgement call based on one-sided facts.

If AI does help you work through your feelings, Wood recommends sharing that with your partner so it's not happening in secret. She suggested saying something like, "Hey, this is what the chatbot is reflecting back to me. What do you think about that?"

Couples may also want to establish their own rules for using AI, Golden said, including whether it's acceptable to vent about the relationship and whether concerns processed with a chatbot should eventually be brought back to the other person.

She said AI can be useful as a "pre-processing space," helping someone turn an initial messy feeling into something they can bring back to their partner, but that the risk is when AI stops being used as a "bridge" and becomes a "destination."

A chatbot can help you reflect or prepare, Cotton said, but it can't actually do the work of participating in a relationship.

"AI can't show up for you," he said.

Do you have a story to share about how AI has affected your relationship? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.

Three years ago, Satya Nadella catapulted Microsoft to the front of the AI race and became "like a superhero," one recent former Microsoft executive said.

In February 2023, after betting early on OpenAI, the CEO unveiled Microsoft's AI-powered Bing search engine before a packed audience outside Seattle, and declared a war on Google's search dominance. "A race starts today," he said. Waves of adulation followed. When Nadella helped navigate OpenAI's board crisis later that year, Bill Gurley called it an "amazing shift in corporate reputation." CNN Business chose Nadella as the CEO of the Year.

Inside Microsoft and across the tech industry, Nadella was hailed for seizing the future. Now, his legacy is at stake.

Microsoft's stock is down more than 24% from 12 months ago, significantly worse than the rest of the Magnificent 7. Investors have grown increasingly skeptical that the company's multibillion-dollar AI bet will deliver. Copilot, Microsoft's flagship AI product, lags behind other AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. LinkedIn has drawn criticism for becoming flooded with AI-generated hustleporn. Xbox's business is "not healthy," its CEO recently said, and undergoing layoffs and restructuring as it tries to justify the company's record-breaking $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition.

And inside the company, employees are questioning Microsoft's plans to spend a record $190 billion this year to build AI infrastructure. As generative AI changes how people work, write software, and consume information, three of the company's core businesses hang in the balance: Microsoft 365, GitHub, and Azure. Investors will get a report card on these challenges on Wednesday, when the company releases its fourth-quarter earnings results.

As AI adoption spreads through corporate America, every software company is fighting to fend off the so-called SaaSpocalypse. But the battle is particularly fraught for Nadella's Microsoft, which made an early and loud bet on AI to propel the company's future. Now the company's north star has also become a potential noose.

For decades, Microsoft's productivity software has been the default homeroom where knowledge workers start their day. They opened Word to write, Excel to analyze data, and PowerPoint to build presentations. Now, millions of those workers are beginning to do all these things directly inside AI tools. Gartner analysts earlier this year predicted AI would threaten to dethrone traditional productivity suites like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace in a $58 billion market shakeup.

Microsoft executives point to continued growth in Microsoft 365 and increasing Copilot adoption as evidence customers still want Microsoft's products at the center of their workdays. "The M365 business is seeing tons of new adoption and M365 Copilot usage," one executive said, who said the company is specifically chasing computing capacity to meet the demand.

GitHub faces a similar challenge. Since acquiring the software development platform in 2018, the company has held a dominant position with developers and had an early advantage in AI coding through GitHub Copilot. And it continues to grow: The platform recently had its "best month ever," an executive told employees in internal meeting comments viewed by Business Insider, though he didn't say by what measure.

But upstarts have swarmed in, as millions of engineers have adopted Cursor — which SpaceX recently announced plans to acquire for $60 billion — and Anthropic's Claude Code. As Business Insider previously reported, executives have discussed internally the need to overhaul GitHub to better compete with those AI-native coding tools. AI demand has also strained Github. As AI usage surged GitHub has experienced dozens of major outages this year.

The company is also struggling broadly to keep up with the demand for compute capacity. Despite this crunch, Microsoft is raising salespeople quotas for selling its cloud computing platform, Azure, some by 30% this year, according to people familiar with the change.

Azure remains Microsoft's fastest-growing strategic business, but internally executives say it has become a constant balancing act. Demand for computing infrastructure has outpaced the company's ability to build new capacity, forcing Microsoft to make difficult decisions about where its resources go. Even with this year's $190 billion capital expenditures — largely to expand data-center capacity for AI workloads — executives say the company is still constrained.

Earlier this year, Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood suggested Microsoft was prioritizing scarce computing resources for its own AI products before allocating the remaining capacity to Azure customers.

"The first thing we're doing is solving for the increased usage in sales and the accelerating pace of M365 Copilot, as well as GitHub Copilot, our first-party apps," Hood said during Microsoft's January earnings call. "Then we make sure we're investing in the long-term nature of R&D and product innovation... Then what you end up with is the remainder going towards serving the Azure capacity that continues to grow in terms of demand."

If Microsoft had allocated the GPUs that came online during the first half of its fiscal year to Azure instead of its own AI products, Azure growth would have exceeded 40% instead of 39%, Hood said. Microsoft previously reported $75 billion in Azure revenue for its 2025 fiscal year.

That earnings report triggered one of Microsoft's biggest post-earnings stock declined by more than 10% as investors questioned the company's slower Azure outlook despite record AI spending and growing concerns that Microsoft was diverting capacity away from cloud customers.

Executives who spoke to Business Insider say those tradeoffs have intensified.

Microsoft is so desperate for capacity that it's turning to competitors to help relieve some of those constraints. Following a series of GitHub outages, Amazon bailed Microsoft out. The company also explored leasing Oracle cloud infrastructure but Microsoft walked away due to security and compliance concerns.

Microsoft is now seeking additional cloud capacity from other providers, including evaluating Amazon and Google, according to people familiar with the discussions. "We are shopping for capacity everywhere," one of those people said.

While prioritizing internal services has a mixed reception on Wall Street, the strategy is clear within Microsoft.

"All of the supply is gone once you solve for frontier labs and our internal businesses like M365 and Microsoft AI," one executive said.

Those decisions have created difficult conversations internally.

"Why would Satya prioritize growing Adobe over growing M365?" the person said. "I have no idea how we're going to land that message with customers."

As the pressure on Microsoft's core businesses mounts, Nadella has been bearing that pressure down on his workforce, and reshaping the structure of the company and its leaders.

As Business Insider previously reported, Nadella promoted Judson Althoff to CEO of Microsoft's commercial business to free himself and the company's engineering leaders to focus more directly on AI. Althoff was previously Microsoft's longtime sales boss but the role gave him a bigger profile. In an internal memo viewed by Business Insider at the time, Nadella described the moment as "a tectonic AI platform shift."

The mounting pressure on Nadella has trickled down through Microsoft's ranks from the executive suite to the rank-and-file employee.

At the same time, Nadella has remade his inner circle. Business Insider previously reported that Microsoft effectively retired its traditional senior leadership team structure in favor of smaller, flatter leadership groups. AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has narrowed his focus to Microsoft's superintelligence efforts, top Nadella lieutenant Rajesh Jha retired, longtime product and marketing leader Yusuf Mehdi is preparing to leave the company, and more executive changes are expected.

According to people familiar with the succession planning, Hayete Gallot, who recently returned to Microsoft from Google to lead the company's security business, is viewed internally as the long-term successor to Althoff as sales chief. Gallot previously worked for Althoff and left in what one executive told Business Insider was "not an amicable departure." Nadella recruited Gallot back to replace Charlie Bell, who moved into an individual contributor role focused on engineering quality. Rodrigo Kede Lima, who Microsoft just put in charge of a $2.5 billion AI sales unit, is also a rising star, one of the people said.

The changes extend beyond the executive suite. Business Insider has learned that Microsoft overhauled its performance review system this year, simplifying ratings into five categories while making performance distinctions significantly sharper.

Executives say the new process feels like a return to "stack ranking," the controversial system that evaluated employees relative to one another during the Steve Ballmer era. At the same time, managers have been instructed to reduce the number of employees in higher-level engineering roles as Microsoft continues flattening parts of the organization, emblematic of a broader hardcore work culture that's spread across Big Tech in the last few years.

"It's almost like the old era of Microsoft is back," one former executive said. "The old Windows era where you lead with a lot of fear and a billy club in your hand."

For years, Microsoft's greatest strength was that it owned where people worked and where developers built software. AI is beginning to challenge both assumptions at once. Now Nadella's legacy won't be defined by whether Microsoft can build the best AI, but by whether it can keep AI from eroding the businesses that made it one of the world's most valuable companies.

Ashley Stewart is a chief technology correspondent at Business Insider.