If your dog has arthritis, they may benefit from taking one of the best joint supplements for dogs. A joint supplement can help give them some relief from the pain, says Dr. Erin Miscioscia, clinical assistant professor of integrative and mobility medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

However, not all joint supplements are equal, and research on which ingredients provide the biggest benefits is quite limited. One compound we know can help relieve joint pain in dogs is marine-based omega-3 fatty acids, says Dr. Duncan Lascelles, director of the Comparative Pain Research and Education Center at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After speaking with Miscioscia and Lascelles about dog joint pain and potentially supportive ingredients, I researched dozens of supplements to make my selections for this guide.

If your dog shows signs of joint pain from arthritis, an injury, or an unknown condition, the first step is to speak with your veterinarian. Before you purchase any of the best dog supplements, ask your vet whether they're the right choice for your dog's unique needs.

Our top picks for the best joint supplements for dogs

Best overall: Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet - $15 at Chewy

Best chews: Vetoquinol Flexadin Advanced with UC-II Chews for Cats and Dogs - $38 at Chewy

Best tablets: NaturVet Glucosamine DS Plus Moderate Joint Care Chewable Tabs - $26 at Chewy

Best treats: NaturVet Hip and Joint Advanced Joint Care Soft Chews - $18 at Chewy

Best powder: Wholistic Pet Organics Joint Mobility GLM + Enhanced Multivitamin - $50 at Chewy

Best overall

"Looking at real dogs who are seeing a real benefit in joint pain relief, it's coming from omega-3 fatty acids, namely in marine-based oils," Lascelles says. Indeed, studies show anti-inflammatory omega-3 supplements deliver the most pain relief to osteoarthritic dogs compared to other active ingredients. Miscioscia says fish oil is most effective when incorporated into dog food or as a meal topper.

Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet is my top recommendation for the best joint supplements for dogs. This clean formula is made with omega-3 fish oil from four marine-based sources, including anchovy, sardine, mackerel, and herring oil. It's also the best fish oil for dogs because it meets or exceeds our standards for a high-quality supplement: It's certified by the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) and third-party lab tested to verify purity. The oil also lacks the fishy smell and taste that some dogs — and people — find unappealing.

Fish oil is safe for all dogs, but Lascelles says that too high a dose too quickly can cause diarrhea, so introduce it to your dog's diet slowly. It also comes with significant calories (39 kcal/teaspoon). Miscioscia says maintaining a healthy weight is the most critical factor in managing arthritis in dogs, so check with your vet what dose will ensure your dog gets the right balance of calories and nutrients.

As with all fish oils, this bottle needs to be stored in the refrigerator and used within 30 to 45 days of opening.

Best chews

Flexadin Advanced with UC-II Chews contain undenatured-type II collagen (UC-II), which Miscioscia says helps reduce joint inflammation and may even play a role in rebuilding part of joint cartilage. In fact, a 2007 study found that UC-II helps decrease osteoarthritis symptoms, reduce lameness associated with joint pain, and increase physical activity and mobility.

The chews also contain vitamin E, which may provide anti-inflammatory benefits, and omega-3 fatty acids, though at lower doses than you'll find in our best overall supplement. The omega-3s are derived from a combination of fish oil and flaxseed oil, which research says isn't as beneficial against inflammation for some dog breeds.

One major advantage of Flexadin Advanced is convenience. At one chew a day for dogs and cats of all sizes and ages, they are easy to give, especially in a multi-species household.

Best tablets

If your dog is a picky eater, a chewable tablet broken up into food or slipped inside a pill pocket may be your best bet to get them joint relief.

NaturVet Moderate Care Glucosamine DS Plus Moderate Joint Care tablets are made with various active ingredients, namely glucosamine and chondroitin. While current research says these two compounds don't actually do much to help canine joint pain, it's still one of the most recommended active ingredients for joint health supplements, and experts say it requires further study. Miscioscia says it might help: "Glucosamine and chondroitin are the building blocks for part of what makes up joint cartilage and thus may help build up part of joint cartilage that is destroyed due to arthritis."

I like that NaturVet Moderate Care Glucosamine DS tablets offer the potential benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin, alongside the anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. These tablets also contain vitamin C, well-known to help with collagen production; vitamin E, an antioxidant that may help reduce inflammation; and yucca, which one study says may help reduce intestinal gas and smelly feces.

Best treats

If you prefer to give your dog anti-inflammatory supplements as treats or in small amounts throughout the day, NaturVet Hip and Joint Advanced Joint Care is one of the best choices.

These soft chews offer pretty much every ingredient that science says does or might help with joint pain, including omega-3-rich green-lipped mussels, glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, and Boswellia, which is the gum resin of the frankincense tree that some studies have shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. NaturVet is a highly trusted brand, and the chews have the NASC seal and have been independently tested by ConsumerLab for quality, potency, and purity.

Most dogs like the flavor, though they have a strong rosemary smell out of the container. Their main downside: They're pricey, especially if you're giving them to larger dogs.

Best powder

Some dogs do best with a small amount of powder that you can mix into their food. Wholistic Pet Organics Joint Mobility GLM + Enhanced Multivitamin is a powder with 749 mg of total omega-3 fatty acids from fish, green lipped mussel, and flaxseed. Glucosamine and MSM may add joint-supporting benefits as well.

This powder supplement is made with non-GMO ingredients and contains vitamin C to aid collagen production. Added prebiotics and probiotics support healthy digestion, which you can learn more about in our guide to the best probiotics for dogs.

Because this comes in powder form, it's very easy to measure the recommended amount for your dog's daily dose. The directions recommend evenly dividing the daily dosage among meals. The portions are so small — from 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons — many dogs will not notice it.

Our top picks compared

What to look for in joint supplements for dogs

Just like human supplements, dog supplements aren't regulated by the FDA, so there's no inherent assurance that what you're buying is indeed high quality or effective, our experts say. Because of this, there are a few important factors to consider when purchasing a dog joint supplement.

Active ingredients: The one ingredient most research shows definitely helps relieve joint pain in dogs is marine-sourced omega-3 fatty acids, which Lascelles says help reduce inflammation and, therefore, pain. Plant-based fatty acids like flaxseed aren't going to be as effective. Miscioscia says there's some evidence to support undenatured-type II collagen (UC-II) and CBD. Other ingredients that Miscioscia says show promise for arthritic dogs but need more research include avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASUs), curcumin (turmeric), Boswellia serrata, eggshell membrane, astaxanthin, and fortetropin (myostatin-inhibitors).

Third-party testing: Independent testing of supplements is crucial since there is no governmental oversight to verify that what the label says matches what's in the formula. The NASC seal is the most important third-party testing to look out for, says Miscioscia. It comes from the National Animal Supplement Council, a coalition focused on promoting safer animal supplements. It's also good to look for independent testing by ConsumerLab, an independent lab that tests supplements and health foods and beverages for purity, strength, disintegration, and brand integrity.

Quality seal: The NASC seal is especially valuable because it indicates that a manufacturer has passed an independent third-party audit, adheres to strict quality control standards in manufacturing, and has passed random product testing to verify that the ingredients match the label claims.

Your veterinarian's seal of approval: Our experts say you should run any dog joint supplement you're considering by your veterinarian first, since they know your dog's full health history best. They can help you determine whether a specific supplement is safe and appropriate for your dog.

Dosage level: The appropriate dosage for any supplement depends on the specific ingredients in the formula and, usually, your dog's size. While the recommended dosage is provided on the supplement's packaging, you should always ask your veterinarian to advise on the right dosage for your pet.

Price: A higher price doesn't necessarily mean better quality. You can find high-quality, effective dog joint supplements for as little as $0.25 per serving.

Calories: Miscioscia says a healthy weight is the most important factor in managing arthritis. However, many chews, treats, and omega-3 supplements are high in calories. If your dog is overweight, that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't give them a supplement, but you should talk with your vet about adjusting your dog's overall calorie intake.

Health restrictions: If your dog has food allergies, check the flavoring ingredients in joint chews, treats, and powders, says Miscioscia. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), as well as too much fish oil at once, can upset a dog's stomach or give them diarrhea. Also, if your dog is on blood thinners, you should avoid anything with MSM or large amounts of vitamin E.

How we chose the best joint supplements for dogs

First, I spoke with experts who specialize in pain and mobility to determine what active ingredients may help with different kinds of joint pain. Dr. Erin Miscioscia is a clinical assistant professor of integrative and mobility medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine who studies canine sports medicine and rehabilitation, integrative medicine, and small animal clinical nutrition. She is also a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Duncan Lascelles studies pain in small animals as director of the Comparative Pain Research and Education Centre at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Based on their insights, I evaluated popular joint supplements according to their ingredients, quality seals, and third-party testing. I then compared prices to determine their overall value.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.

Dog joint supplement FAQs

Do dog joint supplements actually work?

Yes, joint supplements can help. Miscioscia says the right supplement can be a very effective part of pain relief for dogs with arthritis and joint pain. Research shows the best joint supplements for dogs contain marine-based omega-3 fatty acids. Our top pick is Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet, which is made with four types of marine-based fish oils, has been third-party tested for purity, and is affordably priced.

Will a joint supplement help with injury recovery?

In theory, yes, but most supplements take two to three months to start being effective, Miscioscia says. For example, if your dog strains a muscle and you start them on a marine-based omega-3 fatty acid supplement, it likely won't ease their immediate inflammation or pain. But if your dog is already taking that type of supplement, Miscioscia says it may help lower the acute inflammation. In some cases, she says a strain or sprain injury to muscle, tendon, or ligament can contribute to future joint instability or arthritis, in which case starting the supplement can be helpful for prevention.

Is Dasuquin better than Cosequin?

Cosequin and Dasuquin are two popular dog joint supplements made by Nutramax Laboratories. Both lines have a few different formulations, from chews to chewable tablets, each with slightly different formulas. The majority of joint supplements from both brands rely on glucosamine and sodium chondroitin sulfate, which science shows likely doesn't do much for joint health. But Cosequin Joint Health Supplements, specifically, also contain omega-3 fatty acids from marine sources, which research shows is the best compound to alleviate pain in arthritic dogs.

Is glucosamine or chondroitin better for dogs?

Glucosamine and chondroitin are nearly always combined in formulas, and neither is better than the other. In fact, research shows glucosamine and chondroitin likely don't help much with dog joint pain. However, omega-3 fatty acids do, and these may be included in some joint supplements that also contain glucosamine and chondroitin.

• Ox Alpha, a mysterious AI model, debuted on OpenRouter on Thursday.
• Its origins are unknown. Some think it's from a Chinese lab, others that it has ties to Microsoft.
• Wherever it's from, Ox Alpha has impressed Silicon Valley tech leaders.

A mysterious new AI model is making the rounds among developers — and nobody is saying who built it.

Ox Alpha appeared on OpenRouter on Thursday as a "stealth model" from an anonymous third-party provider. OpenRouter describes it as a "reasoning model designed for coding, sustained agentic work, and production workloads. It is suited for long-horizon software engineering, complex reasoning, and workflows that combine text with visual context."

It's also free.

OpenCode, an open-source AI coding agent, said on X that Ox Alpha would be free for a week with "near unlimited usage" and that its provider had capacity for 100 trillion tokens per day, which is roughly 100 times the number of AI tokens Visa said it uses in an entire month.

Ox Alpha has already attracted interest from prominent tech figures. Stripe CEO Patrick Collison tried the model and said in a post on X that "it's very impressive."

Early speculation suggests it may be the product of a Chinese AI lab. Wccftech, an online tech publication, suggested that the Chinese lab behind GLM-5, Z.ai, as one possibility, noting that the company previously tested GLM-5 anonymously under the name "Pony Alpha" and that developers have identified similarities in Ox Alpha's tokenizer behavior and responses.

That speculation comes as Chinese AI labs like Zhipu, DeepSeek, and Moonshot AI increasingly challenge US rivals. Models from those companies have approached the performance of leading American systems at a fraction of the cost and are largely open-source.

Moonshot's Kimi K3, released in July, is a 2.8 trillion-parameter open-weight model built for coding, reasoning, and agentic tasks that quickly drew attention in Silicon Valley for its performance and lower price.

Still, the evidence is far from conclusive.

Wccftech later highlighted a competing analysis suggesting Ox Alpha's tokenizer could instead point toward Microsoft's MAI family.

On Saturday, Andrew Curran, a prominent AI analyst, wrote on X that GLM had been the leading theory on Friday night, but by Saturday morning, "people seem less sure of anything."

• China's second World Humanoid Robot Games kicked off Saturday in Beijing.
• Robots sprinted, played soccer, boxed — and occasionally crashed into walls.
• The spectacle comes as China pours money into its booming humanoid robot industry.

The robot uprising may have to wait. For now, the machines are still running headfirst into walls, both literal and metaphorical.

That reality was on grand display at the second iteration of the World Humanoid Robot Games, a five-day competition held in China where robots compete in Olympic-style events, which kicked off on Saturday.

Notably, in a test run, a humanoid robot named "Lightning" ran the 100-meter sprint faster than Usain Bolt did in his world-record dash in 2009, according to Chinese state media reports.

Saturday's events featured "preliminary" versions of the 100-meter and 400-meter sprints, a 7-on-7 soccer match, and brief demonstrations of other events, according to Beijing's government, which hosts the competition.

The proceedings are being livestreamed by Sports Insider on YouTube.

Though the robots can reach high speeds on the track, slowing down is another issue entirely. A blue padded wall was positioned at the end of the track on Saturday, which several robots crashed into violently. Some lost limbs in the process.

After each race, a four-man stretcher team emerged to carry them off the track. In one blistering run, a robot briefly caught fire before it was doused with a fire extinguisher.

This year's competition will feature more events than last year's. Tug-of-war, weightlifting, tennis, and traditional Chinese martial arts have all been added to the schedule, according to Chinese state media.

Here's a look at how Saturday unfolded, what to expect going forward, and how the Games fit into China's broader push into humanoid robotics.

A lavish opening ceremony

In an imposing sight, More than 100 robots paraded around the track while an orchestral crescendo blared through the stadium.

This march was preceded by a soccer match between two teams of seven robots each. The pace of the match was a bit plodding. Occasionally, the robots appeared to lose interest and would watch motionless while the ball skipped past them.

In one dramatic scene, a robot from the blue team delivered a vicious kick to one of the opposing team's defenders, a transgression which earned the blue robot a yellow card.

After a beat, the footage cut to a low-speed tennis match between a human and a robot. The human won the point.

According to Chinese state media, over 2,000 robots are set to participate in the events over the five days.

The red-hot robot industry

The humanoid robotics industry has an excellent track record of producing flashy demos, but limitations in the underlying AI systems have so far prevented humanoids from widespread adoption in real-world settings.

The tech industries in both China and the United States, though, are pouring money into their development as AI continues to improve.

Shares in Unitree, a Chinese robotics company known for its dancing and backflipping humanoid robots, soared as much as 629% on Wednesday in its trading debut, before closing up 460%.

Humanoid robots are a source of national pride in China. At the same time, in the same city where the robot games are taking place, China is also hosting the 2026 World Robot Conference.

The nascent market for humanoid robots, which Morgan Stanley analysts predict could be worth $7.5 trillion by 2050, is dominated by Unitree and its local rivals. US humanoid robots are still some distance away from mass commercial launches.

US robot industry races to catch up

Attendance at Actuate, a conference in San Francisco for people who build robots, has tripled since it began two years ago, as Silicon Valley investors take greater notice of humanoid robots.

Robotics startups raised a record $15 billion globally in 2025, according to Crunchbase, and another $18.8 billion so far this year. A $1 trillion payment package for Elon Musk, meanwhile, is tied to Tesla delivering one million Optimus robots.

US robot innovation, however, is limited by a lack of hardware. At Actuate, data vendors outnumbered robots. Last month, the FCC imposed restrictions on new foreign-made "advanced robotic devices," making it harder for US firms to acquire cheap Chinese parts.

There may still be time to catch up to China, though. Unitree's CEO said this week that the industry's "ChatGPT moment" could be a decade away.

• Trump announced a plan to lower beef prices for Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
• His administration will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef to be imported into the US.
• The National Cattlemen's Beef Association said the decision "undermines American producers."

America's largest trade association of cattle producers says President Donald Trump's plan to lower beef prices is political theater.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, which represents more than 175,000 cattle producers and feeders, said on Friday that the strategy would do more harm than good for the industry. Earlier that day, Trump said the US would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef to be imported with no out-of-quota tariff over the next 90 days.

"Today's announcement is not about helping producers," the association said on X. "It's not about putting their finger on the scale for one cattle industry group or another. It is 100% about the 74 days between now and the midterm elections."

In the same X thread, the association said that encouraging more beef imports undermines American cattle producers at a time when they're making decisions about rebuilding their herd numbers for next year. The association also said the administration's "repeated whiplash on trade policy and beef imports" directly affects rural cattle producers.

"US farmers and ranchers need stability," the group said. "Unlike spur-of-the-moment trading decisions made based on White House social media posts, the decisions and investments ranchers make in their herds are made YEARS in advance, not days or weeks."

In a separate statement, CEO Colin Woodall said the association was "disappointed."

"Today's announcement and other market interventions throw cold water on the prospect of herd expansion and sacrifices long-term stability for short-term messaging," Woodall wrote.

In recent years, the industry has been bogged down by the high costs associated with raising cattle, a shrinking national cattle inventory, and land constraints due to ongoing droughts. As a result, beef has gotten pricey for everyday Americans at the grocery store.

That's bad news for Trump, who made reducing costs and tempering inflation a central pillar of his presidential campaign. Many Americans still say they're struggling to stay afloat amid rising gas prices, a stagnant real estate market, and high food costs.

That frustration could bubble up at the polls this November. This month, a report published by research marketplace Cint said that over half of the respondents ranked the cost of living as the top issue influencing their vote for the midterm election.

Other agriculture groups and some members of Trump's base also criticized his plan to lower beef prices as a short-term solution.

In a statement on Friday, Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Stacy Simunek said letting "foreign beef products to essentially walk in our country's front door and onto grocery store shelves threatens one of the few bright spots we have in agriculture: the prices we currently receive when we sell our beef cattle even as the cost of raising cattle increases."

On X, Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy, who cofounded a ranch and beef company, said he advised Trump against the plan. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, himself a rancher, said flooding the market with imported beef hurts "farmers and ranchers who work every day to produce the best beef in the world" in an X post.

Good Ranchers, a distributor, said the strategy would put more pressure on cattle producers who are already facing challenges.

"The answer to that is not more cheap imported beef with lower standards competing against them on shelves with no country of origin label required to tell you the difference," the company said on X.

Are you an American cattle producer who will be affected by Trump's strategy? Reach out to ledmonds@businessinsider.com to share your story.

• I became close with a woman 21 years younger through an online writing class.
• At first, her youth made me more self-conscious about my own aging.
• Our friendship helped me see my age and life experience as something to value.

Three years ago, when I met someone 21 years my junior in an online class, I never thought we'd become close.

Each week in a writing class, we filled the video call with highly personal details about our lives as we learned how to tell our stories. We spilled our emotions in front of dozens of strangers and eventually branched off into our own smaller writing group, bridging the divide between New York and Chicago, where we each lived.

The vulnerable elements of our work were much more revealing than meeting a new friend in any other environment — and we were instantly connected on a deeper level.

Our relative ages weren't actually important.

At first, I was jealous of her youth

My anxiety about aging creeps into consciousness every time my knee makes a weird clicking sound or I find myself pulling up the edges of my neck on a video conference call. I spent several moments during our weekly calls wanting to look more like her than anything.

I found myself envying her porcelain skin without the wrinkles I have on my forehead, and her perfect curls that I can't replicate on my frizzy mane. Comparison became a preoccupation as I regretted the things I did at her age — getting drunk with my friends and making bad decisions, kissing boys, and smoking cigarettes, while she was so much more disciplined and accomplished. She seemed so thoughtful about the direction she wanted her life to take. She worked hard to earn multiple offers to graduate school. She didn't waste her weekends wading through hangovers and guilt from poor decisions.

Shining through almost everything she did was this admirable quality of self-knowledge. I noticed simple things when she came to visit me, and I took her to get her first manicure — she asked the nail tech to be gentler with her cuticles.

A social media meme helped me become more of a role model

As I was beginning to appreciate who she was deep down, someone sent me a popular Instagram meme that said, "The goal isn't to look 25 in your 40s, it's to make 25-year-olds excited to be 40." Instantly, I realized that in our intergenerational friendship, I needed to step up, stop comparing myself to her, and show her that I was proud of my age.

Since then, I have thought less about how either of us looks and much more about how to be a role model who can usher her into her 40s. And, if one of the benefits of an intergenerational friendship was an unparalleled perspective, I knew we could share even more with each other.

She helped me see that mentorship can be reciprocal

She inspired me to step up as more of a mentor. Instead of downplaying my experiences, I started to see my age as a badge I'd well earned. Getting divorced twice was tragic for sure, but it also gave me the opportunity to bring someone so much better into my life. When I visited her, I brought my longtime boyfriend along. She commented on how healthy our relationship was.

Anytime she fretted over graduate school applications or the terrifying ambiguity of her mid-20s, I tried to be a calming voice from the future, assuring her that she'd end up exactly where she was meant to be in life.

She reciprocates the mentorship by inspiring me with her unfiltered authenticity — the way she openly talks about complex topics like sexual compliance and family estrangement leaves me wanting to clarify my own views on important cultural issues. I see her taking chances with her narratives and challenge myself to do the same, digging deeper into my prose.

She doesn't have the protective layers of cynicism that decades of corporate life and romantic heartbreaks built in me. When I get stuck in the rigid "this is just how the world works" mindset of middle age, her fierce worldview demands that I ask, "But does it have to?"

By pushing me to refocus on what matters, she didn't just make me a better writer; she showed me how to finally love the woman I was becoming. I spent years wishing I could rewrite my past at her age, but she taught me that the real art is showing her how beautiful the next chapters will be — for both of us.

• Trump's new 50% tariffs on some popular goods from Canada took effect Saturday morning.
• The tariffs apply to goods ranging from alcohol to construction materials to hockey equipment.
• Mark Carney later announced retaliatory tariffs at a news conference on Saturday.

Your shots of Fireball could soon get pricier.

The Trump administration's threatened 50% tariffs on some popular Canadian goods went into effect Saturday morning after trade talks with its northern ally fell apart the night before.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later announced a series of dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on imported US goods.

Those tariffs will apply to industries including dairy, steel, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics, Carney said at a press conference in Ottawa.

"We take this step reluctantly," Carney said. "We recognize that it will raise costs and reduce choice for Canadians."

President Donald Trump first announced the new round of tariffs last month to "offset Canadian discrimination."

US and Canadian officials had been working on a deal to avoid the tariffs all week. Trump said in a Truth Social post earlier in the week that the deal was close.

Carney, however, announced in a statement released just before midnight on Friday that he was suspending trade negotiations after he said the United States proposed "last-minute changes" that were "unfair."

"We have recognized from the beginning that America has changed, and that we will not return to our old relationship," Carney wrote.

The new tariffs are the latest in the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States. Trump first ordered new tariffs on Canadian goods in early 2025, to which Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs of its own.

The latest tariffs, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, would apply to a wide range of goods, from beer, wine, and spirits to milk products and hockey equipment.

Here are the popular Canadian goods that could be affected.

• Documents show Germany plans to invest roughly $14 billion in long-range weapons to counter Russia.
• Germany aims for low-cost missiles by 2027, internal defense ministry documents show.
• Germany intends to collaborate on Tomahawks and hypersonic missiles for strategic defense.

BERLIN — The German government expects it will need almost €12 billion — roughly $14 billion — to build a new arsenal of long-range weapons aimed at deterring Russia, according to defense ministry documents seen by POLITICO.

The weapons would give German forces the ability to hit military targets hundreds or even thousands of kilometers behind the front — including command centers, airfields, missile launchers, and supply hubs.

Internal documents call the effort a top priority for both Germany and NATO.

They say the goal is to allow German forces to strike "far into the rear area of an adversary" and maintain the ability to respond with conventional weapons "below the nuclear threshold."

The plan has four parts, with the first weapons due as early as next year and the most advanced systems planned for the middle of the next decade.

Internal ministry talking points say "almost €12 billion" in budget funds are expected to be needed for the buildup.

The money has not yet been approved. Another ministry document says the costs have been estimated and submitted as part of the government's budget planning process.

Germany's defense ministry declined to comment on the figure or individual programs.

"The measures you refer to are generally subject to the approval of the German Bundestag," a ministry spokesperson told POLITICO. The ministry could only comment after parliament had considered them, the spokesperson added.

Missiles as soon as next year

The fastest part of the plan is a new low-cost cruise missile that Germany wants to start fielding in 2027.

POLITICO reported in June that the defense ministry was looking at missiles from US-Israeli startup Covenant Industries and Ukrainian-linked companies as it searched for weapons that could be bought in large numbers and put into service quickly.

The new documents show that effort has moved further.

Germany is in contract talks with two suppliers, with the aim of receiving missiles for qualification by the end of this year. The documents name three candidates: Covenant's Anthem, the BARS missile offered by an unnamed Ukrainian company, and Flamingo from Ukrainian company Fire Point.

Germany is already preparing framework contracts for later mass production.

The documents describe the low-cost missile as a "cost-efficient and, above all, mass-producible" weapon that can be used alongside much more expensive missiles.

That follows a lesson Berlin says it has drawn from the war in Ukraine.

When POLITICO first reported on the low-cost missile program in June, the defense ministry said strikes against important targets far behind enemy lines had become "indispensable for credible deterrence."

"Cost-effective systems can overwhelm enemy air defenses through mass attacks and are therefore of high operational value," the ministry said at the time.

The Tomahawk gap-filler

The next part of the plan is American.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag in early July that Germany had reached an agreement with the US government during the NATO summit in Ankara to acquire American Tomahawk cruise missiles and station them in Germany.

"We are closing an important strategic gap in our defense," Merz said, adding that Germany would develop its own European systems at the same time.

Germany's internal target, according to the documents, is to have an initial Typhon and Tomahawk capability by the end of the decade.

The purchase would give Berlin a proven long-range weapon while European alternatives are still being developed.

The final two parts of the plan are being developed with Britain.

Germany and the UK are working on a new high-end cruise missile and a hypersonic glide weapon, part of last year's Trinity House Agreement, with the documents showing a targeted initial capability by the middle of the next decade.

The two governments have already said publicly that their new long-range weapons should be able to reach targets more than 2,000 kilometers away.

The hypersonic project accounts for most of the money in Germany's current estimate.

One internal document puts nearly €9 billion toward development and procurement of the hypersonic weapon, plus €182 million for keeping it in service.

It lists another €1.8 billion for cruise missile development and procurement and €97 million for maintenance.

Those figures add up to just around €11 billion. Separate ministry talking points put the overall expected required funding at "almost €12 billion."

For Germany, the missile plan marks a major change.

Instead of waiting for one new European missile, Berlin wants several types of weapons: cheaper missiles that can be produced in large numbers, American Tomahawks available sooner, and more advanced European weapons later.

The buildup is taking place as German military leaders warn that Russia could be able to attack NATO territory by the end of the decade.

Berlin wants to make sure that if deterrence fails, Russian forces would not be safe simply because they are far behind the front.

Chris Lunday is a defense reporter in Germany at Politico Europe.

This story comes courtesy of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which harnesses the resources of the company's newsrooms to publish ambitious scoops, investigations, interviews, opinion pieces, and analysis. It allows journalists — including those from The Telegraph, POLITICO, Business Insider, WELT, BILD, Onet, and Fakt — to collaborate on major stories for an international audience of hundreds of millions across platforms.

• I've started taking solo trips abroad to celebrate my birthday.
• At first, it felt strange to commemorate an important milestone on my own.
• I've since realized that being alone doesn't mean being lonely.

Important milestones are usually celebrated with loved ones, but this year, for my birthday, I decided to take a bucket-list trip to Hong Kong and Japan — on my own.

Originally, I'd planned to celebrate at a rooftop bar with friends, but this trip has been on my mind for years. Instead, I cancelled my plans and landed in Hong Kong the day before I turned 29.

It wasn't the first time I'd spent my birthday alone abroad. The year before, I found myself wandering Singapore solo because friends couldn't join me. What started as a reluctant plan B changed how I view celebrations altogether.

I spent my first solo birthday in Singapore

Strolling through the airport alone, in a different time zone from family and friends, nobody around knew it was my birthday. At first, that felt strange. Then, as I handed over my passport, a flight attendant wished me "happy birthday," and suddenly it hit me: I was boarding a flight to Singapore alone because I had chosen to celebrate myself rather than wait for the right time, budget, or destination to suit everyone else.

I could have spent my birthday in my small hometown surrounded by loved ones, but I wanted something bigger. I was nervous about traveling solo and worried it would feel lonely without gifts to open or people around me to celebrate. Instead, I spent the day exploring Gardens by the Bay, getting lost on public transport, and eating my way through Singapore's famous hawker centers.

It wasn't perfect. There were moments when navigating a new city alone felt overwhelming, and times I wished I had someone to share the experience with. However, there was something freeing about spending my birthday how I wanted. That evening, I watched the city lights from a rooftop bar overlooking Marina Bay Sands before heading to a ladies' night event I saw advertised in the Facebook group "Singapore Travel Buddies," where I ended up chatting with strangers and feeling far less alone than I expected.

I felt content, independent, and excited. It was one of the most memorable birthdays I'd ever had.

Each birthday trip changed how I think about being alone

After my solo birthday trip to Singapore, I decided it would become a tradition. Most recently, I celebrated my birthday with a bucket-list trip to Hong Kong and Japan.

This time, I felt more relaxed. I knew what to expect from spending my birthday alone. Yet the nerves still appeared. No matter how many birthdays I spend traveling solo, it feels strange waking up in a hotel room with no gifts to open and nobody waiting to celebrate. Just me, myself, and my thoughts.

That's the part people rarely talk about. Spending birthdays alone hasn't stopped feeling unusual. Birthdays are seen as milestones to be shared, and there are moments when I still wonder if I'm missing out by choosing something different. For my next trip, I'm planning a solo trip to the Maldives, and I can't wait.

With each trip, I've become more comfortable with my own company. I've learned that being alone doesn't have to mean being lonely. Some of my favorite birthday memories come from trying new cuisines, wandering unfamiliar streets, and ticking off bucket-list activities.

Solo travel taught me that I don't need to wait for someone else to do something meaningful. I have gained confidence and feel invincible. The older I get, the more I see these trips as a way of celebrating myself.

• As fall approaches, I've been seeing recipes for sausage and tortellini soup online.
• The recipe called for a few standard ingredients you can find at the grocery store.
• It was cozy, filling, and surprisingly easy to make.

There's nothing quite like a warm, hearty bowl of soup when the weather starts to cool down — especially one that's easy enough to throw together on a busy weeknight.

As fall approaches, I've been seeing recipes for sausage and tortellini soup all over social media. With savory Italian sausage, cheesy tortellini, and a rich, comforting tomato base, it looked like exactly the kind of low-effort recipe I'd reach for after a long day.

The recipe called for just a handful of standard ingredients I could find at the grocery store, along with a few pantry staples.

I was impressed by how quickly everything came together — the soup was cozy, filling, and surprisingly easy to make, with enough flavor to feel like I'd spent far more time in the kitchen than I actually had.

After trying it for myself, I can see why sausage and tortellini soup has become such a viral recipe. Here's how I made it and what I thought.

I started by gathering the ingredients for the soup.

The ingredient list was pretty straightforward. While I've seen many versions of this tomato, sausage, and tortellini soup online, I followed a recipe from Here's Your Bite, which was first posted on TikTok in 2024.

To make it, you'll need:

I cooked the mirepoix in butter and olive oil first.

In a large Dutch oven, I melted the olive oil and butter together before adding the diced celery, onions, and carrots over medium-high heat.

While the mixture cooked down and became fragrant, I added my seasonings.

The recipe called for Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. These were all standard seasonings I already had in my pantry.

I sautéed the vegetables for about 5 minutes.

After a few minutes, the vegetables started to soften and lightly caramelize around the edges.

Next, I added garlic to the vegetables — I always add minced garlic to the pot later than other vegetables, as I find it starts to burn much more quickly.

By now, my kitchen was already smelling heavenly.

I browned the Italian sausage directly in the pot.

I used spicy Italian sausage for an extra kick. As it cooked, I broke the sausage into smaller pieces and mixed it with the vegetables to combine everything.

The recipe said to cook it until it was no longer pink, which took about 10 minutes.

Once the sausage was cooked, I cleared a space in the middle of the pot for the tomato paste.

The recipe recommended adding the 3 tablespoons of tomato paste right in the center of the pot and letting it cook on its own for about a minute before mixing it into the sausage and vegetables.

After that, I stirred the tomato paste into the sausage and vegetables.

The mixture became much richer and more tomato-forward.

I sprinkled the flour evenly over the sausage mixture and stirred until it disappeared into everything else. The recipe called for cooking it for a minute or two to remove any raw flour taste.

I then poured in the white wine and used a wooden spatula to scrape up any bits that had stuck to the bottom of the pan.

This is where the mixture really thickened and congealed into a delicious-smelling base for the rest of the soup.

After a couple of minutes, I added the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth.

I seasoned the mixture with more salt and pepper, and poured a bit of water into my can of crushed tomatoes to make sure every drop was added to my pot.

Instead of using store-bought chicken broth, I made my own using Better Than Bouillon chicken base and boiling water. I find that it makes for a richer, more flavorful broth.

The pot finally started looking like soup.

I added a Parmesan rind while the soup simmered.

The Parmesan rind was optional, but I decided to use it. As someone who goes through a lot of Parmesan cheese, I luckily already had a nearly-used-up block in my fridge, so I just cut it down to remove the rind.

I dropped it directly into the tomato broth and also added a bay leaf for extra flavor. Then, I let the soup simmer uncovered for about 20 to 30 minutes.

As it simmered, the broth darkened and concentrated.

I added the tortellini and spinach near the end.

Once the broth had simmered, I removed the bay leaf and the Parmesan rind.

Then, I added the tortellini directly to the pot and stirred in the spinach at the same time. The tortellini only needed a few minutes to become tender, and the spinach wilted almost immediately into the hot broth.

After the tortellini had cooked, I added the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese as a final touch.

The heavy cream and grated cheese made the soup noticeably thicker. The finished soup looked creamy, hearty, and packed with tortellini.

The sausage was evenly distributed throughout the soup, and bits of spinach added color to each spoonful.

The cream made the tomato base look especially rich. It looked much more indulgent than the simple steps it took to prepare.

I topped my bowl with a dusting of freshly grated Parmesan.

The cheese started melting as soon as it hit the hot soup, and added even more savory flavor to the tomato broth, while the tortellini and sausage made every spoonful feel substantial.

It looked exactly like the kind of meal I would want on a cool fall night.

The finished dish landed somewhere between a traditional pasta with sauce and a soup.

The tomato-and-cream base was thicker and richer than a typical broth, but still loose enough to eat by the spoonful. The tortellini and sausage also made the soup feel hearty and substantial, almost like a saucy pasta dish with extra liquid.

The recipe was enough to feed four people with plenty left over, which was a bonus.

I would happily make this again for an easy weeknight dinner.

• I tried a protein-packed, single-serving take on one of my favorite foods: mac and cheese.
• When I found out the dish used tofu, I was worried about the taste, but the flavor was incredible.
• The end result was an ultra-creamy, cheesy delight that's the perfect weekday lunch.

I'm an absolute fiend for mac and cheese. Ever since I was a kid, I've loved a comforting, cheesy bowl of macaroni, whether it's from a box or homemade.

Unfortunately, adulthood has made it clear that I can't eat mac and cheese every day. So, when I came across this protein-packed, single-serve mac and cheese recipe from Nourish Nutrition, I knew I had to try it.

Along with roughly 23 grams of protein per serving, this dish takes only 20 minutes to make from prep to plate, making it the perfect weekday lunch option to add to my rotation.

Here's how it went making this spin on one of my favorite meals.

The ingredients were simple enough, but I was thrown by the tofu.

When I read "creamy protein mac and cheese" in the recipe title, I honestly expected to see Greek yogurt or cottage cheese in the ingredients list.

So, I was surprised to see that tofu was one of the key components of the dish. I like tofu, but I was worried about how it would affect the sauce's flavor. Would it be too earthy?

Besides the tofu, the rest of the ingredients — salt, elbow macaroni, milk, garlic salt, butter, and shredded cheddar cheese — sounded like the start of a fantastic meal.

I boiled the pasta and got to work on the base for the cheese sauce.

I started a pot of salted water on the stove to boil. While that was heating up, I shredded some cheese and measured out the rest of my ingredients.

After tossing the noodles into boiling water, I got to work on the sauce, which simply involved blending tofu, milk, and garlic salt — a much faster method than the roux (a mixture of fat and flour) I typically make for homemade mac sauces.

The blended tofu mixture and cheese melted into an ultra-creamy sauce.

After the pasta was cooked and drained, I dumped in the shredded cheese, butter, and blended tofu mixture.

It only took about 30 seconds for the cheese and tofu mixture to melt together into what looked and smelled like a very promising, luscious sauce.

I was curious whether silken tofu could really be the secret to a creamy cheese sauce.

The sauce started separating slightly once it was in the bowl.

I served the entire portion of pasta in a bowl, and I was happy to find that this was a generous single serving.

However, I noticed some minor separation in the cheese sauce, despite shredding my own rather than using pre-shredded, which usually has anti-caking agents that prevent a sauce from incorporating smoothly.

Despite the slight break in appearance, the sauce was incredibly smooth.

After noticing the sauce breaking slightly, I braced myself for a gritty or clumpy texture. But alas, this recipe impressed me.

The sauce was silky smooth, and it wasn't super stringy like some cheese sauces can sometimes be. Also, I didn't taste the tofu at all — only cheesy, garlicky goodness.

The recipe took just 20 minutes to make, and I'd only make one change next time.

Making this recipe took me from 1 p.m. to 1:24 p.m., including the time it took for the water to start boiling and the several breaks I took to take photos.

I really enjoyed this mac and cheese and already plan to make it again for a quick, fulfilling lunch.

Moving forward, I think adding some more seasoning, like extra garlic salt and some paprika, would elevate it even more. As a bonus, I think this would also be delicious with veggies, so I may throw in some broccoli, tomatoes, peas, spinach, or zucchini next time.

Overall, this is such a simple recipe that's easy to customize. I already know it'll be a staple for my future solo meals.

• In 2026, Americans were warned about Cyclospora in lettuce, E. coli in berries, and Salmonella in jalapeños.
• There are four main factors driving this barrage of recalls.
• New technology and climate each play a role.

Bill Marler's business is booming — and that's not great for the rest of us.

Marler is a food safety lawyer, defending people who've been sickened by foodborne illness. He has been doing this for 33 years, with such high-profile wins that he's become a towering figure in the food safety world.

This year, he's so slammed with foodborne-illness cases that, for the first time in years, he's expanding his team — hiring another lawyer and a couple of paralegals. "We just have too much shit to do," Marler said.

This summer alone, Americans have been warned about a massive Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce — 10,930 confirmed illnesses, 454 hospitalizations, and two deaths — plus Salmonella in jalapeños and eggs and E. coli in frozen blueberries. Then there are the recalls: bread that may contain metal fragments, fruit bars that may contain glass, and foods pulled for possible bacterial contamination or undeclared allergens.

By August, the FDA's 2026 public health advisories had covered what felt like everything, from cheese to infant formula.

"As a consumer, you're looking at this like, well, what the hell's safe to eat?" Marler said.

America is having a headline-grabbing food-safety summer. Some of that is perception: We're better at finding outbreaks, and recall counts can be misleading.

But long-standing vulnerabilities in our food system — compounded by cuts to the public health infrastructure designed to catch problems — are also at play. Whether it represents something more significant is harder to say.

"It's real, and it looks bad," Marler said.

Recall counts can be misleading

This summer looks more exceptional than it actually is, said Craig Hedberg, a professor and foodborne-disease epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota.

"Certainly the magnitude of the cyclospora outbreak is unprecedented, but in terms of all of the things that are going on with food, it's not all that unusual," Hedberg said.

Summer is typically a busy season for foodborne illness, he said, and outbreaks involving foods like sprouts, berries, and produce recur year after year. What's truly extraordinary in 2026 is cyclospora — "an order of magnitude bigger than anything we've seen in previous years."

Recall counts can also exaggerate the number of distinct problems. Jennifer McEntire, founder of Food Safety Strategy, a consulting firm that works with industry groups, pointed out that when a single contaminated ingredient is used in many foods, each finished product may trigger its own recall.

"This makes the recall numbers look high, even though the number of 'root causes' may be much lower," McEntire said.

Take California Dairies, which recalled certain bulk batches of powdered milk and buttermilk in April due to potential Salmonella contamination. These products had been sold to wholesale distributors and manufacturers, triggering downstream recalls.

That meant the recall rippled across the sector, with over a dozen products pulled from shelves — from potato chips to ranch seasoning.

We're finding issues we couldn't find before

There's another reason today's food-safety problems may be more visible: We're better at finding them.

"We clearly have better tools and are using them more effectively to identify outbreaks," Hedberg said.

In the last five to 10 years, public health laboratories have increasingly used whole-genome sequencing to link seemingly isolated Salmonella or E. coli cases by their genetic fingerprints.

That means some of what appears to be an increase in foodborne illness is actually better surveillance. "We're finding ones that may have been missed previously," said Melanie Firestone, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, who studies foodborne-disease surveillance.

Those tools, however, aren't as readily available for Cyclospora, in part because the parasite can't be grown in a lab; investigators rely more heavily on finding common exposures among sick people.

Our food system has changed — and one mistake can go a very long way

The food system itself has also transformed. Americans can now buy fresh produce year-round, including fruits and vegetables.

"Foods don't go out of season. We just go to the season where they're being produced, and we bring them in," Hedberg said.

Still, a food system optimized for year-round availability, convenience, long supply chains, and massive distribution networks can also amplify failures.

Marler points to the massive 2006 E. coli outbreak linked to bagged spinach, a crisis so consequential that he said the leafy-greens industry came to refer to it as its "9/11."

Investigators traced the spinach to a single 20-acre farm that had a wild-pig invasion. Not every crop was infected, but harvesting and processing allowed it to spread. The bags were then shipped around the country, turning what Marler argued might once have been scattered illnesses into a national outbreak.

Ultimately, when something does go wrong, the modern food system can make it go spectacularly wrong.

"The reality is that with a lot of our fresh produce, once contamination occurs, we have limited ability to decontaminate the produce items," Hedberg said.

Parts of our safety net weakened

One explanation for the increased number of headlines about food safety has loomed particularly large this summer: the Trump administration's DOGE cuts.

In 2025, the administration cut thousands of jobs across federal health agencies and billions of dollars in grants to state and local health departments.

Those cuts landed on a public-health system that was already stretched. "Our public health systems have been chronically underfunded for a long time, and we're seeing that worsen," Firestone said.

In a statement, the FDA said that "frontline FDA investigators are critical to the FDA's mission and were exempt from past workforce reductions."

The agency said that while there are more foodborne illness clusters in 2026 than in previous years, it is "constantly working to improve laboratory detection of foodborne illness," such as Cyclospora. "Still, Cyclospora remains a challenging agent and epidemiology, and traceback are key elements of an outbreak investigation."

Food safety cuts predate the Trump administration. In 2012, under the Obama administration, the USDA's Microbiological Data Program ended after its funding was eliminated. The program had sampled and tested selected fruits and vegetables for foodborne pathogens, reporting its findings to federal and state public health agencies — proactive surveillance, rather than waiting for reports of infections to crop up.

Some food-safety hazards, Hedberg said, are well understood and "just require constant attention on the part of producers to be able to prevent."

So, should I be scared of my groceries?

Hedberg doesn't think this summer should change the way Americans eat. "Most of the food moving through the system is free of contamination," he said.

Fresh produce remains an important part of a healthy diet, and he cautioned against allowing a single enormous outbreak to distort our sense of risk.

That doesn't mean accepting outbreaks as inevitable.

Thirty years ago, hamburgers kept Marler incredibly busy: more than 90% of his E. coli cases involved them. Today, he said, it's practically zero. "That's because of government intervention and industry stepping up."

After the deadly 1993 Jack in the Box outbreak, regulators and the meat industry introduced new rules, testing, and other safeguards that made hamburger substantially safer.

So, is this summer unusually riskier? The Cyclospora outbreak is. Beyond that, many of the problems are familiar ones. And the hamburger example shows that which foods pose the biggest risks can change substantially over time.

• Families spend thousands each year on youth sports and after-school activities.
• We only allow our kids to play one sport a season, but they also take piano lessons and are Scouts.
• I've found a few ways to help keep the costs of extracurriculars down for us.

Youth sports is now a $40 billion industry, and the average family spent $1,016 on their child's primary sport in 2024, a 45% increase from just five years ago, according to Aspen Institute's Project Play.

When I saw this number, I almost laughed. Last season, we spent $2,292 on extracurricular activities for our two boys, ages 6 and 8. And this just covered registration fees and uniforms. The real total we're paying is far higher.

As a mom of multiple kids, I couldn't help but feel that the cost of kids' sports has become completely out of reach for many families. We've found ways to save, but it's still a big commitment.

The costs add up quickly

Here's how it breaks down for our family. In the fall, our youngest played t-ball, which had a $98 registration fee, our cheapest activity by far, though it didn't include the cost of cleats, helmets, or bats. And have you seen how expensive bats are? Our oldest skipped sports last fall, so that gave us a bit of a break.

Both our boys are in Cub Scouts, a yearly commitment. Scouts costs $250 per kid annually, plus the cost of uniforms, which was around $117 for my youngest (my oldest wore his from last year). This totaled up to $617, and that doesn't include the cost of camping trips.

Then there was winter basketball, which cost $166 per kid, for a total of $332 for our family over the seven-week season. Last winter, I also decided to broaden their horizons and signed my oldest up for piano at $140 a month and my youngest for musical theater at about $78 a month, for a grand total of $862.

It wasn't always like this

These costs are a stark departure from the $20 youth soccer registration fee my parents said they paid for me when I was a kid.

When did kids' sports and activities get so expensive? And what can parents do to offset the cost in an already struggling economy? I'm determined to find out and have been experimenting with cost-cutting strategies.

How we've saved money

While we certainly could save money by forgoing sports altogether, that wasn't an option for us. Apart from providing physical benefits, youth sports help kids develop cognitive skills, improve academic achievement, and build important skills like concentration, attention, and better behavior. Those are benefits I'm not willing to give up.

So here's how we offset costs for youth sports: I only allow my kids to participate in one sport and one activity per season. Cub Scouts is the one exception, since they only meet twice a month and it's easy to fit into our schedule.

I buy uniforms, cleats, and bats secondhand whenever I can, which definitely helps save money. I've also scored cleats, balls, and other gear on our neighborhood's buy-nothing Facebook page. I also make sure to pass along the gear that my kids have outgrown to share the wealth, pun intended.

Another thing I do to make things easier? Sign them up for the same sports during the same season. Not only does it cut down on drive time and practice nights for me, but it also helps save money. That's because they can share or pass down uniforms, gloves, balls, and athletic clothing, such as baseball pants and golf clubs. And some sports offer sibling discounts, though it's usually nominal.

Lastly, we skip summer sports and camps, the latter of which can cost hundreds a week, per kid. This doesn't just save us money, it also gives us a much-needed break. Plus, I enjoy having a few weeks without carpool duties when I can hang out at the pool instead — at least until the fall season starts.

The final Grand Tour race of the cycling season has arrived, and it will take riders (and fans) through Spain and bits of France and Monaco. We've rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch La Vuelta a Espana, including free streaming options.

The 81st edition of the iconic race will see a new winner crowned, as reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard will sit out this year's race following his Tour de France crash. Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič are among the top competitors scheduled to race this year. Pogačar, who earned his fifth Tour de France victory earlier this year and has also won the Giro d'Italia, is looking to complete a Triple Crown of Grand Tours. Another victory for Roglič would give him the all-time La Vuelta record, which he is currently tied for. Keep reading to learn how to tune into the race from anywhere.

Where to watch La Vuelta a Espana for free

La Vuelta a Espana is available for free in several regions, including the host country. In Spain, coverage will be available for free through RTVE. In Belgium, RTBF will carry free coverage. Coverage will also be shown for free on SBS in Australia. Viewers need to create an account if they don't already have one, and then they're all set to start streaming.

How to watch La Vuelta a Espana from anywhere

If you're away from the location where your desired streaming service works, you can still access your viewing options (including the free ones) with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are easy-to-use tech tools that allow people to temporarily alter the virtual location of their electronic devices. They're popular among those looking to boost their cybersecurity or keep up with their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad, too.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's a speedy, user-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for.

Where to watch La Vuelta a Espana in the US

All stages of La Vuelta a Espana will live stream on Peacock in the US. Sports-friendly plans start at $13 a month for Peacock Premium, following a recent Peacock price hike. Select stages will also be shown through the NBC Sports Network.

Fans can also opt for Peacock Premium Plus, which costs $20 a month and unlocks ad-free on-demand streaming. Cord-cutters can also try one of the Peacock and Apple TV bundles, which didn't see a price hike and present a great deal with subscriptions ranging from $15 a month to $20 a month.

Where to watch La Vuelta a Espana in the UK

TNT Sports will carry coverage of La Vuelta a Espana in the UK. Fans can live stream all of the action through a sports-friendly HBO Max subscription. TNT Sports-only HBO Max plans start at £31 a month on a month-to-month basis, but you can save some money by opting for a long-term contract.

Where to watch La Vuelta a Espana in Australia

As usual, SBS is the free broadcast home for La Vuelta a Espana. The race will air on SBS2, formerly SBS Viceland. Viewers can watch every stage for free through SBS On Demand, which just requires account creation if you don't already have one.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• A Brooklyn-based software engineer shares his journey from college dropout to earning six figures.
• Living in NYC, he faces rising costs, managing rent with his fiancée, and budgeting carefully.
• He faced lifestyle creep and debt, but now saves strategically for financial stability and growth.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation for our Cost of Living video series with Devonte Duncan, 27, a software engineer living in Brooklyn, New York City. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I started making six figures, I remember my friends and I would go out to eat, and the first thing I would do was say, "guys, I got it." I would put my card down and pay for like 10 people.

That can't be an all-the-time thing anymore. Dropping $300 on a bill every couple of weeks — it starts to add up.

I work as a software engineer, with an annual base salary of $159,000, and I live in Brooklyn, New York City, where I was born and raised.

Brooklyn feels like home to me. It has been a little disheartening to see the cost of living rise over the years. My family's first apartment was rented for $900. Today, my apartment is up to $3,450.

That's for my two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with included parking that I share with my fiancée. Since I make more as a software engineer than she does as a school teacher, she contributes a flat $1,000, and I cover the remaining rent and around $500 a month of utility bills.

My monthly salary is $13,250, and my monthly take-home after tax and other contributions is $7,752. My only side income is from my YouTube channel, Dose of Devy, where I post day-in-the-life videos. At its peak, I was earning up to $400 a month. Now that I haven't been posting as often, I earn around $100 a month. The upkeep is pretty cheap.

My relationship with money is a bit strained. I've had to learn the skills for dealing with it on my own. I didn't understand how credit scores worked, how loans worked, or what it would even look like to buy a home, because nobody in my family actually owns one.

How I went from dropping out of college to making six figures

I was a physics major at City College for three years before I realized my experience there was becoming unsustainable. I took out a loan for about $2,000, because I was already working to pay for other expenses. The situation took a toll on my GPA, and I lost my merit scholarship.

That was when I realized it was time to drop out and find something else, leading me to the Marcy Lab School, a year-long software engineering fellowship. I didn't tell my parents because the last thing you want to tell a bunch of Caribbean immigrants — who came here so their kids can have a better life — is that you dropped out of college.

Eventually, they found out, and I graduated from the Marcy Lab School. My first job out of the fellowship, I was making almost six figures.

Even then, my mom was still like: "Oh, but you still need a degree. They'll probably pay you more." Yet, I don't have any plans to go back to college. My plans are just to figure out how to make more money.

My expenses, from transportation to groceries and hobbies

I own a 2019 Subaru Outback that I am currently financing because I traded in my old 2021 Tesla Model 3 to Carvana at a loss. My monthly car payment is $450, insurance is $208, and I spend around $90 on gas. I also spend around $50 a month on the MTA when I go into the city, since I don't want to pay congestion pricing or street parking.

Typically, I'm spending $600 on food, that's about $400 for grocery shopping and $200 for eating out. When I was shopping for myself, eating out cost almost as much as groceries because food had gotten so expensive. Now that I'm in a relationship, cooking at home is a little cheaper because the meals we make last us several days.

I have a short but fun list of hobbies. The first, and most expensive, is building my passion project, OpenBorough.NYC, a civic dashboard that keeps New Yorkers informed about local politics. The total I spend can go up to $300 a month. I also spent up to $300 on video games over the last three years.

I don't typically have a hard budget when it comes to travel. Earlier this year, I spent $3,000 on a two-week trip to Japan. I also went to a Bad Bunny concert in Brazil. That did cost a pretty penny, but it was worth it.

I have a Planet Fitness membership for about $40 a month, but I don't actually go because the building I live in now has a gym. One day, I'll get around to canceling that membership.

Putting friction between me and my money

Back when I was at my peak spending — paying for everybody's dinner, going on crazy trips, and buying random things like an electric skateboard — I realized I had racked up a lot of debt. I kept fighting with lifestyle creep.

I decided to take out a debt consolidation loan for about $30,000. That runs me about $947 a month. If I had kept paying the credit cards, I would have paid nearly 25% interest on each. The consolidation loan is about 17%, so I'm paying much less interest overall. In two years, it will be completely paid off.

The lesson I took away from racking up debt was that just because you make more money doesn't mean you have to spend more money.

Since I am not super financially disciplined, I developed a system that does the work for me.

With every paycheck, I set aside 10% in my savings account, which comes to about $700 a month. In my mind, the savings account does not exist. I do better when I put friction between me and my money. I then have another bank account I use to pay my bills and transfer my monthly budget for things like food into a separate account. From my 401(k), I get a 4% employer match, and I max it out at also 10% contribution. Annually, I'm saving about $15,900.

I currently don't have any savings goals outside of saving 10% of my salary, because I realized you can't save your way out of poverty. The price of things is going up way faster than my wages are. And so, once I'm debt-free, I'm going to continue to save, but I'm going to invest a lot of my money in myself and my ideas, in hopes that someday they turn into something that can help me live my dreams.

If I had to decide whether living in New York is worth the cost, I think it depends almost entirely on who you are and what you're here for. Everyone who lives here and grew up here is kind of just fighting to stay home.

Now I go out to eat a lot less, and I hang out with less friends because I know I've already set the trend of I'm picking up the tab — and I don't want to do that anymore because it's super expensive.

• Uber driver Levi Spires says making him wait without explanation is an automatic one-star rating.
• Riders don't need to make conversation to impress him; offering a simple hello goes a long way.
• He says he tends to filter out riders rated below 4.9.

Nothing annoys Uber driver Levi Spires more than a passenger who makes him wait.

Riders don't have to make conversation or tip to earn five stars from Spires, who said he gives most passengers the top rating. If a rider keeps him waiting without an explanation or apology, that's different.

"That's a 1-star automatic every time," said Spires, who has completed more than 16,000 trips in over six years driving mostly around Syracuse, New York. He's also built a following around his experience behind the wheel, producing a podcast, videos, and social media content about earnings and passenger behavior.

That 1-star rating may have consequences beyond Spires' car. Research suggests that your passenger rating can affect whether Uber drivers will accept your next ride.

One study of 16 Uber drivers in the Netherlands in 2019 found that some avoided low-rated passengers, viewing a poor rating as a warning that the rider may misbehave. How low is too low?

Spires said he filters out riders rated below 4.9.

For additional context, in Australia, the average Uber rider rating was 4.82 in 2025, with major metro areas averaging between 4.78 and 4.88 out of 5.

Keeping Spires waiting isn't the only way to risk a low rating. The other behaviors that bother Spires come down to how passengers treat his car — and how they treat him.

If he arrives and you're not ready, the clock is already working against him

Spires said Uber doesn't pay him for the first two minutes of waiting, then usually pays him $0.26 per minute after that. (This rate varies by location, market, and local regulations.)

That means five minutes of paid waiting would earn him $1.30, and the delay costs him time he could spend earning money from another ride.

"My overall feeling is that passengers have no idea that making us wait, even a few seconds, can be costly," Spires said. "If you make me wait a minute or two, you're talking like a 10%, 20% pay cut," Spires said.

Research has similarly found that waiting for rides can take up a significant portion of ride-hailing drivers' working time. A Cornell study of Uber and Lyft drivers in Seattle found that, once logged on and actively seeking rides, the typical driver spent about 28% of their time waiting for a ride request.

The wait can be especially frustrating when a passenger has had time to prepare, Spires said. He may spend five to seven minutes driving to a pickup, while Uber sends the rider notifications that he's on his way. By the time he pulls up, he expects them to be ready.

"You want to know why you got a bad rating? 90% of the time, it's because you're not standing out there waiting for me when I pull up," Spires said.

A passenger leaves. Their smell might not.

Spires also takes pride in keeping his Tesla clean. He said he goes through the car wash once or twice a day.

Strong odors can undo that work quickly.

"Weed is really bad," Spires said. "People that smoke weed, it infests your car."

After some passengers get out, Spires said, he has to wipe down the seat, seat belt, and door handle. Strong pet odors can linger, too.

Spires said smells can carry over to the next ride if he doesn't have time to clean between rides, which can leave the next passenger wondering where it came from.

Odors can hurt his bottom line. Spires said keeping the car clean can bring a better tip from passengers..

Uber's policy says riders can be required to pay drivers up to $225 in cleaning fees for qualifying messes, but unpleasant smells or odors alone aren't eligible for a cleaning fee.

He doesn't need a conversation. He does want a hello.

The third behavior has little to do with money or Spires' car.

Some passengers get in while they're on business calls, don't say hello, and behave "as if you're a robot," he said.

Spires isn't asking them to spend the ride chatting.

"Once we say hello and confirm, make eye contact, you can do whatever you want," he said.

For Spires, a good interaction doesn't have to involve a big tip. He recalled recently picking up a woman in her 60s from a grocery store, where she worked the register, and driving her a couple of miles home. She tipped him $1. The trip cost about $5, he said, making her $1 tip all the more impressive.

"That's the best tip you get," Spires said.

Those kinds of interactions are part of why Spires said he still enjoys driving. He sees an Uber as a rare space where strangers who might otherwise never meet can connect, whether through a deeply personal conversation or a brief exchange.

He said passengers have talked with him about death, breakups, politics, love, and more. Others barely speak. "But even the quiet rides have meaning and value," he said.

Sometimes it's 2 a.m., jazz is playing, and the person in the back seat simply wants to get home safely, Spires said.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate products and services to help you make smart decisions with your money.

Devonte Duncan, 27, lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as a software engineer at a tech company, earning $159,000 a year. After reaching a six-figure salary, his spending quickly caught up with his income and led him into debt.

Now, Devonte takes a much more deliberate approach to his finances, balancing stricter budgeting with a lifestyle that still allows him to enjoy his money.

In this episode of Cost of Living, Devonte breaks down exactly how he earns, spends, budgets, and invests while living in one of the most expensive cities in the US.

• I took a Royal Caribbean cruise around northern Spain with my mom and aunt.
• Our different fitness levels and travel habits created some unexpected challenges.
• Next time, I'd book another room, walk less, and plan transportation differently.

Back in October, I embarked on a seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise across northern Spain with my mom and aunt.

It had been a while since I'd vacationed with my family. Until recently, I'd prioritized traveling with my husband and friends in their late 20s, like me.

But I'm extremely close with my mom and aunt — both in their mid 50s — and I figured we were long overdue for a girls' trip.

We had an amazing time, but having an age gap with my cruise companions came with challenges, from technological mishaps to differing health and fitness levels.

ChatGPT made an itinerary in the wrong continent

Our cruise departed from Southampton, England, on Independence of the Seas and ported in Bilbao, La Coruña, Vigo, and Gijon — all in northern Spain. Although I had been to Spain before, I hadn't visited these cities. I was excited to experience something new.

My mom was also excited. She even used ChatGPT to make itineraries for each port, which she printed out so that we would each have a copy.

I was impressed — until I noticed the itinerary had mixed up Balboa in Spain with Balboa in Panama. My mom initially hadn't noticed the blunder, and the three of us shared a good laugh at her expense.

It wasn't the first technical mishap during the trip. I soon realized my mom and aunt didn't know how to use Google Maps, so getting us around was solely up to me.

I didn't mind being in charge of the directions. But there was an added pressure and responsibility that wouldn't have been there if I had been traveling with my husband or friends my own age.

Next time, we'll use public transport

Our week consisted of sightseeing, shopping, and lots of wine. It was a lot of fun.

But when planning our activities for the port days, I didn't anticipate that my mom and aunt aren't as physically healthy as I am. We decided to get around on foot rather than use public transport, and I soon realized this was a mistake.

My aunt had just had back surgery before the trip, and she assured us she'd be fine. I shouldn't have listened to her. It was understandably a struggle, and at one point during the trip, I heard her compare a 40-minute walk to 20 miles. And while my mom likes to walk, she also struggled to keep up with my pace.

Next time, I'll take this into account and book public transport or taxis to get us around the port cities.

It felt like a slumber party

We stayed in a windowless stateroom with a double bed that my mom and aunt shared and a fold-up bunk bed for me. The room also had a full-length mirror, a desk with a makeup mirror, a TV, a couch, a coffee table, a closet, and a bathroom.

I couldn't decide whether this cramped setup was reminiscent of a teenage slumber party, full of laughter and fun, or more like I was a child on vacation with two parents.

It ended up feeling like a bit of both. While I loved our late-night chats, by the end of the week, I was craving my own space. Next time, I'll definitely splurge and get an extra room for myself to recharge.

It was worth the challenges

Of course, the trip had its challenges. At times, it was difficult to navigate the logistics of traveling with two people who are so different from me.

But looking back, I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Our nights were filled with deep conversations and giggles. Our days were filled with walking, shopping, wine, and more wine.

My aunt, in particular, is a chatterbox. She allowed me to quiz her on all the major life events I haven't yet experienced, like pregnancy and giving birth. I'll treasure those conversations forever.

Traveling with family — especially older relatives — is a rewarding experience that everyone should try at least once.

Gabrielle Stone never imagined she'd get divorced, let alone that she'd tell the world about it.

Her first instinct after the one-two punch of ending her marriage, then enduring her first post-divorce heartbreak in 2017, was to log off entirely. She decided to embark on a monthlong trip to Europe à la Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love," and take a social media hiatus.

"I'll see you on the other side," Stone signed her farewell-for-now Instagram post, paired with a photo of herself wearing a backpack at the airport, passport in hand.

The internet had other plans.

Stone's emotional missive, which traced her path from heartache, disappointment, and betrayal to self-love, struck a chord beyond her modest following. She received hundreds of comments and DMs from people who called Stone an inspiration and urged her to keep sharing her journey. So she did.

Nine years after posting that pivotal airport photo, Stone has established herself in a fruitful niche: the divorce influencer. Her Instagram audience has grown from about 10,000 to over 112,000, plus 1.3 million TikTok followers. She self-published a viral memoir, "Eat, Pray, #FML," in 2019; hosts a podcast, "FML Talk," and arranges meet-and-greet trips across the globe where her fans, dubbed "FMLers," are encouraged to gather, commiserate, and bond. What began as a solo mission shared online almost as a lark has bloomed into a mini media empire.

Stone, 37, may not have intended to become a divorce influencer, but like any savvy content creator, she saw an appetite for the kind of story she was telling and pushed through self-doubt to satisfy her audience. Knowing that she could scale and monetize that story didn't hurt, either.

"For anybody to be like, 'I don't need to support myself and make money,' they're just lying," Stone told Business Insider.

Plus, seeing a hit social media post lead to a real-time spike in book sales is part of the fun.

"Because I self-published, I can go on to the backend of my KDP Amazon site and see the correlation," Stone said, referring to Amazon's self-publishing platform, Kindle Direct Publishing. "You can't pay for marketing like this."

When 'conscious uncoupling' becomes 'celebratory uncoupling'

Stone was early to recognize the earning potential of breaking up. In the years since, divorce has gotten a rewarding rebrand in popular culture, one that emphasizes autonomy and freedom, particularly for women.

In some corners of the internet, typical connotations of divorce — namely that it's a tragedy or a failure — have been replaced with an air of liberation and merriment, epitomized by the famous paparazzi photos of Nicole Kidman whooping and basking in the sunshine. (According to meme lore, those photos were taken by paparazzi after she filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, though Kidman has denied this.) The band Haim even recreated Kidman's pose for the cover of their 2025 single, "Relationships." Sample lyric: "I think I'm in love, but I can't stand f**king relationships."

Trending phrases on TikTok, like "the divorce effect" and "the divorce glow-up," showcase before-and-after images of singles who say they're happier, hotter, and more personally fulfilled after ditching their spouses. Earlier this year, the cool-girl brand Reformation launched a "Divorce Collection" campaign, starring celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser. Famous women like Emily Ratajkowski and Rachel Zoe are proudly repurposing their diamonds into "divorce rings," or, to some, "F-you rings." Belle Burden's hit divorce memoir, "Strangers," has sold over 220,000 copies in the US since it was published in January, holding steady on The New York Times bestseller list for over six months. It's never been more chic — or more lucrative — to flaunt your divorcée credentials.

And it largely is divorceés. A Stanford University study found that among heterosexual couples in the US, women initiate about 70% of divorces. James Sexton, a divorce attorney in New York City, said that, in his experience, the gender imbalance is largely due to women being forced to seize the bureaucratic reins and take charge as the marriage falls apart.

"I couldn't possibly count on all my fingers and toes how many times I've had a case where the guy went out for milk and never came back, or the guy came home and said, 'I'm in love with another woman, and I'm moving out,'" Sexton told Business Insider. "Then the wife comes to me and goes, 'He stopped paying the mortgage. What do I do?' And I go, 'We have to file for divorce.'"

Over her 30-plus-year career, Wasser has witnessed firsthand how clients have gone from discussing divorce in her office with hushed, conspiratorial tones to introducing her in public as "Laura Wasser — she did our prenup!"

"When I first started practicing, divorce was kind of taboo," said Wasser, who is herself divorced. Even a decade ago, she recalled, it was difficult to promote her 2013 book, "It Doesn't Have to Be That Way," because morning shows and other traditional book-tour destinations rejected divorce as "too negative" a topic to discuss.

Now, people are throwing "divorce parties" and documenting the festivities online, to the tune of millions of likes. Labor and delivery nurse Jen Hamilton, a content creator with over 7 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, recently told The Cut she threw a "Jendependence" party to commemorate her divorce with friends and coworkers; festivities included burning her bedsheets. Beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira shared two "get ready with me" videos with her 17.4 million followers before attending divorce court, and both went viral. Although reactions were mixed, engagement was high.

If "conscious uncoupling" was the defining divorce catchphrase of the 2010s, this decade is taking that concept to its aesthetic extreme. Call it "celebratory uncoupling" — a public renunciation of shame and a declaration of empowerment, all wrapped in brand-friendly packaging.

Posting through it is paying off

When Orange County, California-based lifestyle influencer Cora Lakey tearfully announced on TikTok that she was getting a divorce last January, the video amassed over 1.3 million views — well above her average, given that she has what she calls a "micro following" of about 134,000.

Lakey, 32, told Business Insider she didn't intend to go viral; she had shared the news more as a courtesy to her loyal viewers, who would surely notice her ex-husband's sudden absence in her posts. "But it definitely signaled to me that, wow, there's a lot of relatability here," she said.

Since then, Lakey has broadcast details about her post-divorce dating life, her solo apartment-hunting journey, and her lowest moments of loneliness. Her candor has won her paid partnerships with dating apps, a moving company, and beauty brands.

In one ad for the wellness brand Rael, Lakey appears wearing smeared mascara. "Your personal life might be a mess," she says to the camera, "but your cleansing balm doesn't have to be."

Though the ad was "tongue-in-cheek," Lakey said, leaning into brand deals post-divorce ended up being a financial lifeline.

"I had quit my job six weeks before my divorce, and then my marriage suddenly ended. And I was like, what am I going to do? I have no money," she said.

Lakey said her contracts prevent her from sharing specific dollar figures on how much money she made on social media. But without those deals, she said her financial situation at the time would have been "pretty bleak."

"I was making minimum wage at an entry-level sales job trying to get back on my feet," Lakey said. "The additional income from social media quite literally made the difference between seeking government funded resources and being able to pay my rent and keep my dogs."

Scarlett Longstreet, 38, a Detroit-based content creator and writer, had a similar revelation. After nine years of being a stay-at-home mom and self-described "mommy blogger," pivoting to life-after-divorce content helped her break free from relying on her ex-husband's income.

In her second year as a full-time creator, she said she made six figures in brand deals.

"There's taxes and my agency cut to factor in, but between brand work and my Substack, I'm able to cobble together an income that I wouldn't be able to achieve by working in my field of study," said Longstreet, who has a master's degree in educational psychology.

She added, "My exodus wasn't possible without this industry."

With nearly 80,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, Meghan McTavish, 41, has proudly embraced the "divorce influencer" title, sharing posts with captions like, "when I reverse uno'd my divorce into the best rebirth and glow up period of my life," and "to become cool, all I had to do was get divorced." She recently launched a series titled "You Deserve to Go (even if you go alone)," in which she films herself taking solo trips and dining alone at romantic restaurants.

Because she is based in Australia, McTavish is ineligible for TikTok's view-based payout programs. But she leverages her social media presence to sell The Plotline ($38.99 AUD), a journal she said is "based on the principles of narrative therapy," and to score brand deals.

"I always tell women, 'You deserve to get whatever makes you feel good,' and so brands do come to me with shampoos, makeup, stuff like that," McTavish said.

A big part of McTavish's online brand is self-care — something she's noticed is less of a priority for her married friends.

"I have friends who are married who won't get their teeth whitened, for example, because they don't feel they deserve it. They go, 'What's the point? I'm already married,'" McTavish said. "The point is more than just a man. The point is feeling nice and feeling good."

Of course, conflating divorce with hotness and self-care with beauty is a convenient angle for those hawking makeup online. But McTavish said she views the overarching narrative of her content as a net good.

"Like anything on the internet, you have to give people what they want," McTavish said. "I'm lucky in that what I think I'm giving people is something positive, and not hateful."

Divorce is common. Maybe talking about it should be, too.

Giving people what they want — or what they seem to want — also has its drawbacks. McTavish said she's been accused of flippantly promoting divorce or encouraging women to leave their husbands, no matter the cost.

In comment sections, divorce-fluencing is often decried as anti-love or anti-marriage, and high-profile influencers like Nogueira have been criticized for selling divorce as a "fantasy." So far, Nogueira hasn't explicitly responded to the backlash, though she's posted about negativity in her comment sections. A representative for Nogueira did not respond to a request for comment.

McTavish said these sentiments are misconceptions and that she does not take divorce lightly. "I don't want everyone to leave their partners," she said. "I just don't want anyone to be afraid to leave because they're afraid to be alone."

Lakey agreed, adding that she hopes sharing her experience will encourage other women to take control of their finances, so they don't feel hamstrung during a breakup, like she did.

"We live in a two-income world," Lakey said. "That was something that held me back from leaving a lot sooner."

The data backs up Lakey's fears: A 2023 study found that women were substantially more likely than men to be living in poverty following a divorce or separation.

And yet, divorce is not rare. In 2023, over 1.8 million Americans divorced, according to the Pew Research Center, and about one-third of Americans who had ever been married reported that their first marriage ended in divorce. This outcome also becomes more likely over time; about half of Americans who married in the 1970s and 1980s reported that their first marriage ended in divorce.

Sexton believes an experience shared by so many people is worth speaking about freely and without shame.

"We all suck at love. It's something we all have in common," Sexton said. "I represent billionaires and CEOs and actors and athletes. I used to represent cops, and teachers, and union steelworkers. We all suck at this. We all have a hard time with it."

"Should you dispose of a marriage willy-nilly? No, of course not," he added. "But as a divorce lawyer and as a human being, I think that we're better off destigmatizing divorce."

I pointed out that, as a divorce lawyer, he may have a bias; it would be good for business if more people believed that divorce isn't shameful.

Sexton laughed. "Our business?" he replied. "We don't need any help."

• I'm 53, and I live in Mexico City with my partner, who is 29.
• I recently tripped and found that I have arthritis in the knee, so my partner had to care for me.
• When I asked if he thought about how our age gap might affect him, he said he'd take care of me.

I'm 53, and my partner is 29. When I moved to Mexico City and we started dating, I posted a photo of us to Instagram, and my American friends lost their minds.

The daddy references started immediately. When one person asked if I was a sugar daddy, I pointed out that Uriel makes more money than I do. I'm Splenda at best.

I was self-conscious at first, but the insecurity faded when it became obvious the age gap wasn't a big deal in Mexico. Eventually, we were just a couple who shared common interests and a crusty little white dog, Maggie.

Until recently, that is.

I tripped and hurt my knee

Maggie lived on the streets until she moved in with us. She still has the annoying habit of gulping down anything that remotely looks like food she finds on the sidewalk, and sometimes it doesn't agree with her. About a month ago, one pavement goodie led to a trip to a veterinarian.

We circled among three clinics in our neighborhood, looking for a vet who was actually available; either he wasn't there, or the office was closed. Defeated, we decided to head home and try again the next day. That's when it happened.

I tripped on the sidewalk, and while I stayed upright, I landed hard on my right leg. At first, I seemed OK, but within a couple of blocks, my knee let me know that something was decidedly wrong. By the time I limped in our front door, I could barely walk.

After spending two days in bed with an ice pack and Advil with little improvement, I knew it was time to see a doctor. After examining the X-rays, he gave me the worst possible news.

"You're getting older," he started, and I immediately knew this wasn't going to end well. "You have arthritis in both of your knees, but it's much worse in your right."

I'd had creaky knees for years, and I'd known that it was part of getting older, but severe arthritis?! That was a whole other level.

Tripping had aggravated it. He gave me a shot in my knee and told me I'd probably start needing to get them regularly soon. I'm not at the replacement surgery stage yet, but I probably will be in a few years.

My partner had to care for me

I had a reaction to the shot and spent the next three days in bed with my old friend, the ice pack, getting waited on by Uriel. He walked the dog for a week. He prepared all meals and did the laundry while I propped myself up on the headboard, pecking out essays on the laptop and watching Instagram reels.

I'd gone from 30 minutes on the elliptical daily to struggling to stand up; Father Time had headbutted me.

After the swelling went down and I was able to leave the apartment again, I still had to walk more slowly. Curbs and ramps were suddenly a low-key obstacle course. Normally, Uriel would be asking me to slow down; now, I was the one holding him back.

It reminded me of our recent visit with my mother, who is 90 and uses a walker, moving at a snail's pace. Suddenly, I couldn't stop picturing nursing homes.

Facing our age gap

So I asked Uriel. Had he thought about the implications of the age gap and how it would affect him? He'd thought about it before we got serious, he said, but assumed any real issues were a decade or two away. That left plenty of time to figure it out.

"You'd do the same if something happens to me," he told me. "If you care about your partner, you'd do it no matter what."

Three weeks later, my partner twisted his ankle. As he lay on the couch with the ice pack, he looked at me and teased, "Have you considered the impact on your life as I get older?"

I paused, laundry basket in hand, and deadpanned, "Maggie and I will take you to the vet when it's time to cross the rainbow bridge."

• Nationally, families spend 52% of their income on childcare and housing costs combined.
• In some metros, that share exceeds 90%, while in others, it's below 50%.
• In areas where paychecks are higher, costs are also often higher.

Buying a home already comes with plenty to consider, like price and location, but if you have children or plan to start a family, childcare should also be part of the equation.

Some parents pay upward of $45,000 a year in childcare, and while a lot of that has to do with the quality of childcare, a big part of the price also depends on where you're located.

Redfin, in partnership with childcare marketplace and data platform Winnie, calculated the share of income spent on childcare costs combined with housing costs across the 100 most populous metros.

Across the country, families spend 52% of their annual income on housing and childcare combined. In some cities on the list, that number is above 90%.

It may not be surprising that more expensive regions of the country charge higher childcare costs; however, in areas where families are earning more, childcare costs remain taxing. In a city like San Jose, California, where the median household income is $176,401 — more than double the national median of $83,730 in 2024 — the share of income spent on childcare and housing is 83.1%.

"A high-paying job in San Francisco or Los Angeles can get wiped out fast once you factor for rent and day care, while a lower-paying job in a smaller metro might actually leave your family with more disposable income," Redfin's chief economist Daryl Fairweather told Business Insider. "Like anything else, it's ultimately a tradeoff and the decision should depend on your personal circumstances."

On the other hand, places where families spend the smallest share of their income on childcare aren't necessarily in places where homes are the cheapest.

"A cheap house doesn't always translate to a cheap life," Fairweather said. "We're seeing metros where housing is a steal, but childcare is eating up a big portion of the family budget, and vice versa in places like San Francisco. Families need to look at the whole picture before they decide where to plant roots."

Read on to see where childcare and housing costs take the smallest and biggest cuts of your paycheck.

Metros where childcare and housing consume the smallest share of family income

10. Dayton, OH

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 43.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,788

Median annual housing cost: $20,459

Median annual household income: $78,105

9. Louisville, KY

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 43.4%

Median annual childcare cost: $12,780

Median annual housing cost: $22,668

Median annual household income: $81,757

8. Tulsa, OK

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 43.3%

Median annual childcare cost: $10,860

Median annual housing cost: $21,879

Median annual household income: $75,570

7. Akron, OH

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 43.2%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,896

Median annual housing cost: $20,133

Median annual household income: $78,753

6. Baton Rouge, LA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 42.5%

Median annual childcare cost: $10,968

Median annual housing cost: $21,639

Median annual household income: $76,675

5. St. Louis, MO

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 42.2%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,872

Median annual housing cost: $23,552

Median annual household income: $88,593

4. Warren, MI

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 42.2%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,548

Median annual housing cost: $27,239

Median annual household income: $96,676

3. Des Moines, IA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 41.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,464

Median annual housing cost: $25,835

Median annual household income: $93,984

2. Oklahoma City, OK

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 40.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $10,884

Median annual housing cost: $21,290

Median annual household income: $78,818

1. Little Rock, AR

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 39.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $9,612

Median annual housing cost: $19,539

Median annual household income: $73,170

Metros where childcare and housing consume the biggest share of family income

10. Riverside, CA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 71%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,680

Median annual housing cost: $46,277

Median annual household income: $97,116

9. Miami, FL

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 75.3%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,080

Median annual housing cost: $45,523

Median annual household income: $77,854

8. Springfield, MA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 75.3%

Median annual childcare cost: $26,340

Median annual housing cost: $35,200

Median annual household income: $81,734

7. Oxnard, CA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 77.1%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,668

Median annual housing cost: $69,227

Median annual household income: $119,133

6. San Diego, CA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 82.1%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,632

Median annual housing cost: $71,997

Median annual household income: $115,304

5. San Jose, CA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 83.1%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,800

Median annual housing cost: $123,717

Median annual household income: $176,401

4. Anaheim, CA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 93.5%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,752

Median annual housing cost: $95,218

Median annual household income: $126,178

3. San Francisco, CA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 94.2%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,668

Median annual housing cost: $129,978

Median annual household income: $162,118

2. New York, NY

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 95%

Median annual childcare cost: $26,796

Median annual housing cost: $66,617

Median annual household income: $98,287

1. Los Angeles, CA

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 96.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,656

Median annual housing cost: $71,957

Median annual household income: $97,775

• Tracking metrics like VO2 max and Zone 2 cardio is going mainstream via the longevity crowd.
• Harley Pasternak, a top trainer, said most of us don't need to track them to improve our health.
• Tracking your daily step count can be a good way to make sure you're moving enough.

What do the terms Zone 2 and VO2 max have in common? According to the celebrity personal trainer Harley Pasternak, they are irrelevant to the majority of people, the health-conscious among us included.

If your goal is to be healthy physically and mentally, you are far better off focusing on a simple metric, such as daily step count, than a set of hyper-specific terms peddled by health influencers, Pasternak told Business Insider.

"We've overcomplicated our approach to health and physical activity," Pastnerak, who has worked with the likes of Rihanna and has a Master's degree in exercise science from the University of Toronto, said. "I want to wake up pain-free. I want to be physically healthy. I want to live a long time. I want to be able to play with my kids. I don't know why my VO2 max is relevant for that."

Zone 2 refers to exercise done at around 60 to 70% of your maximum heart rate, and VO2 max is a measure of how much oxygen the body can use during intense exercise. These metrics indicate a person's endurance, and evidence suggests that improving them could help you live longer. With the rise of longevity and health optimization culture, buzzy terms like these have entered the mainstream.

But Pasternak said that they are generally only relevant to elite athletes, performers, or those recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, Pasternak said.

Likewise, if you're using a wearable health tracker such as an Oura ring or WHOOP strap in the hopes of "optimizing" a workout, Pasternak suggested asking yourself what you want to achieve and how the data will help.

"I think people are enamored with data without even being able to understand what that data means, and then what they're going to do with that data," he said. For regular people, getting fitter over time through regular exercise is likely all the VO2 max training necessary.

Pasternak thinks that the daily step count is "a great metric" for everyone because it quantifies how much you move over the course of a day. From there, you can decide how to increase it incrementally. "I think that's a metric that makes sense to people that they can do something with," he said.

His take echos that of Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan's, the author of "The Age of Diagnosis," which explores the pros and cons of health data. She told the Intelligence Squared podcast in April that she tracks her step count, but said healthy people shouldn't buy into other metrics.

It's also well established that doing 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week is associated with a lower risk of many chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and several cancers.

"Let's not worry about what your zone is. Let's just do more physical activity in a day," Pasternak said.

• OpenAI's economics team studies the effects of AI on workers, businesses, and the broader economy.
• The company's chief economist, Ronnie Chatterji, says researchers on his team need to be flexible.
• A Duke professor and former White House official, Chatterji says collaboration and self-direction are also key.

At OpenAI, understanding AI's impact on jobs is a job in itself.

Employees on the company's economic research team are tasked with studying how the technology is affecting workers, businesses, institutions, and the broader economy.

The ChatGPT maker's chief economist, Ronnie Chatterji, says thriving in these roles takes a particular mix of skills and mindsets because AI's rapid evolution can quickly send the work in new directions.

For example, recursive self-improvement — the ability for AI systems to improve themselves — wasn't on Chatterji's radar a year ago but is now a topic his team is studying.

"The job description is changing a lot," he told Business Insider.

From the White House to OpenAI

Chatterji came to OpenAI in 2024 after stints at the highest levels of economic policymaking. He served in the Biden White House as coordinator of the $52 billion CHIPS program and as acting deputy director of the National Economic Council. Before that, he was chief economist at the Commerce Department. He has also spent much of his career at Duke University, where he is a professor of business and public policy.

OpenAI wasn't on Chatterji's radar. He was planning to write a book about his experience in government when a former colleague who had moved to the company reached out. They initially discussed supply chains and semiconductors — subjects Chatterji had studied and that mattered to OpenAI as it thought about the computing infrastructure needed to train and run its models. Eventually, the conversations broadened into how the company should think about the economics of AI.

"This is a whole emerging category, and that's when the chief economist role got created," said Chatterji, who reports to OpenAI's finance chief, Sarah Friar.

Three big questions

Chatterji, 48, now leads a research team of about a dozen people, including economists, data scientists, business professionals, and former teachers and government workers. He said he's looking to hire more people, though he declined to specify how many.

"We built the team around three sets of questions: How AI is changing work today; how businesses are adopting and reorganizing around AI; and what increasingly capable AI could mean for the economy tomorrow," said Chatterji.

The challenge, he added, is that those questions are changing almost as quickly as AI evolves, which is why thriving on his team requires flexibility.

"We need people who can bring rigorous economic thinking to what's happening today, but who are also comfortable tackling questions where we don't have all the answers yet," Chatterji said. "You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable."

He pointed to his own background as an example. His academic research centered on innovation and entrepreneurship, but at OpenAI, his work spans a much broader set of issues, from labor markets to enterprise adoption.

Collaboration, speed, and self-direction

To work on Chatterji's team, a willingness to collaborate with others is also imperative.

"We get a lot of questions from our colleagues about economics," said Chatterji, adding that his team also works closely with third parties such as governments and universities. In a recent blog post explaining this approach, the team said no single entity has the tools or resources to answer these economic questions alone.

Speed matters, too, with Chatterji describing the pace of innovation at OpenAI as "a little insane." He pointed to a study whose dataset ended in June that some people were already dismissing as dated by August.

The work also requires a degree of self-direction. Chatterji said team members need to help determine which problems are worth solving and for whom their work is intended, rather than simply following a fixed mandate.

Despite the challenges, Chatterji said he's discovered an upside to studying AI's impact on work.

"If you're an economist at a cocktail party or on the sidelines of your kid's soccer game, usually you're not very popular," said Chatterji. Now, he said, people want to know: "What's AI going to do in the job market?"

• The rise in premium travel is causing frustrations for airlines and manufacturers.
• Fancy new business-class seats need to go through rigorous certification testing.
• Airplanes have been stuck at factories or flown with empty business class cabins.

More travelers are shelling out for the best airplane seats amid a boom in premium travel, driving airlines to develop increasingly complex business-class seats — some of which are proving to be a headache for carriers and manufacturers alike.

Since COVID-19, airlines have been packing their planes with fancy new cabins as they try to attract more deep-pocketed customers. In April, United Airlines rolled out an airplane with 64 business-class seats. Delta Air Lines plans to debut its Airbus A350-1000 next year with 53 business-class suites.

But new seat designs must undergo rigorous certification by aviation regulators. And ongoing approval delays are derailing plans, leaving airplanes stuck at factories awaiting delivery and, in some cases, flying with their highly profitable business-class doors locked open or the seats off-limits to passengers altogether.

Sliding doors are a frequent hurdle for certification. First introduced by Emirates in 2003 to give first-class passengers extra privacy, they are now essentially de rigueur in business class.

However, regulators must be certain that these doors won't impede passengers during an evacuation.

When American Airlines started flying the Airbus A321XLR last December, it had to keep the sliding doors locked open until the Federal Aviation Administration certified them seven months later. The same issue befell United Airlines when it debuted its new Polaris suites on the Boeing 787-9 in April. These were made by the Boeing subsidiary Elevate Aircraft Seating, based on a customizable design similar to one used by several airlines.

"They all have exactly this same door design, and we're still struggling every time to get them certified, including the ones that are flying already," Sascha Manitz, a sales director at Elevate, told Business Insider during the UK's Farnborough Airshow in July. "It seems like the goalposts are moving all the time."

In a statement, the FAA said it is "engaged with seat and aircraft manufacturers to maintain clear communication throughout the certification lifecycle," and collaborating with international partners and authorities to "streamline the approval process."

United's Polaris suites were eventually certified, and the first sliding doors unlocked in early August. Air India has also locked its new 787 business-class doors open, but it's still navigating FAA certification.

Some planes are flying with business-class empty

Some airlines have faced longer setbacks as they have pursued more ambitious designs.

For example, Lufthansa's Allegris business-class suites come in five unique formats: some have extra legroom, or a bigger bed.

When Lufthansa began flying an Allegris-equipped Boeing 787 in October 2025, certification delays meant passengers could use only four of the 28 seats. Partial approval came about four months later, but three seats are still unusable.

KLM, the Dutch flag carrier, plans to start operating its first Airbus A350 in October — but all 34 business-class seats will be empty, potentially leaving millions of dollars of revenue on the table. The airline cited "a revised interpretation of regulatory requirements" in a press release.

While Air France uses a similar seat, a spokesperson for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) told Business Insider that KLM's configuration "includes more rows and different seat angles," requiring additional safety tests.

"From a safety perspective, seat design and approved installation are crucial to ensuring that a passenger has the best possible chance of surviving any unexpected event and is therefore able to evacuate safely," they said.

Slow seat certification is also a pain for Boeing and Airbus

Planemakers are being hampered by the delays, too. In an April earnings call, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the seating issues were affecting deliveries more than production because the company can still build the planes without sending them to customers.

However, he said there are "a fair number" of already-built 787s that are "held up" while they wait for seat certification, and the process is taking longer than expected. In Boeing's July earnings call, Ortberg warned investors that seat certifications "may make our deliveries a little bit lumpy," but also said there had been "important progress."

He said Riyadh Air was the last situation in which Boeing had a large number of aircraft tied to an individual seat certification, and that "the seat certifications are going to be with us for the balance of the year."

Earlier this year, several 787 Dreamliners built for the new Saudi airline were ready for delivery but were awaiting seat certification before they could be handed over. Two of the jets were eventually delivered in June.

Justin Hale, Boeing's marketing director for the 777X, told media at the July airshow that the planemaker has tried to offer pre-certified catalog options to reduce delays, but airlines want their own distinctive business classes.

"So this is a very difficult area of the cabin to try to reuse something that was certified, maybe either generically, or by another operator," he said.

The EASA spokesperson similarly said that delays have arisen because "many airlines are seeking to differentiate and enhance their cabin experience in different ways and for different purposes."

Seat delays haven't necessarily stopped Airbus from delivering aircraft. In an April earnings call, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said that when the seats supplied by the customer aren't ready in time, Airbus can contractually hand over the planes without them, though he prefers to find another solution.

Despite the regulatory hurdles and complications, the aviation industry is accustomed to navigating myriad rules because safety is the top priority. With new, complex cabin layouts and seat designs, it's crucial to ensure there are no risks to passenger safety.

"I think that the real solution is regulators — both in Europe and in the US, and they recognize this — need to get much more efficient at getting through these certifications," Hale said.

"I think we see some improvement, and we see some commitment to do that, but that has not solved a large backlog of seat certifications."

• Gut health scientist Megan Rossi eats at least 50 grams of fiber per day.
• Fiber feeds the beneficial microbes that live in the gut microbiome and influence overall health.
• To add an extra 10 grams of fiber a day, Rossi whips up a fruit and veggie smoothie.

Megan Rossi is serious about fiber.

The dietitian and gut health scientist based at King's College London estimates that she eats between 50 and 60 grams of the hearty stuff every day.

"It sounds like a lot, but our ancestors used to have 100 grams of fiber a day," Rossi told Business Insider.

Fiber is found in plant foods like fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. It plays many crucial roles in the body, including feeding the trillions of "good" microbes living in the colon lining, which make up part of the gut microbiome and influence overall health.

"Fiber is beneficial because it doesn't feed the human part of us. It feeds the bacterial part of us. And when the bacteria eat the fiber, they produce all these amazing chemicals which help things like our mental health, keep our gut lining strong, regulate our appetite, our hormone balance," Rossi said.

Although the dietary guideline in the UK, where Rossi lives, is 30 grams of fiber daily, she aims for 50 grams because evidence suggests this amount could improve mood, although more research is needed.

As awareness of fiber's role in balancing blood sugar, supporting the gut microbiome, and helping prevent chronic diseases, including colon cancer, has risen, fiber-maxxing — increasing how much fiber you eat — has taken off online. But experts have long encouraged people to eat more fiber, gradually increasing the amounts to help prevent bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.

Rossi doesn't find it difficult to achieve her goal. "It's not that hard if you're thinking every meal, 'OK, where am I getting my fiber from?'" she said.

Here's how she packs 50 grams of fiber into her day.

Fiber-maxxing at breakfast

Rossi's breakfast typically contains around 18 grams of fiber. She regularly makes fermented overnight oats, which involves soaking oats in kefir, a fermented milk drink that contains live bacteria, instead of regular milk.

"What happens is, the bacteria start to ferment it down, and actually produce organic acids and beneficial chemicals," she said of the kefir-soaked oats.

She recommends adding mixed seeds, carrot, mashed banana, and walnuts to the oat mix.

Super Six for lunch

Lunch is typically a "throw-together bowl," containing at least one of the six different plant-based food groups, or what Rossi calls "the Super Six""

• Fruit
• Veggies
• Legumes, such as beans or chickpeas
• Wholegrains, such as bulgur wheat or oats
• Nuts and seeds
• Herbs and spices

Once a week, Rossi preps a batch of cooked mixed grains like quinoa and buckwheat. A typical lunch bowl will contain the prepped grains, canned beans, nuts and seeds, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a dollop of yogurt.

A fiber-packed smoothie break

As an afternoon snack, Rossi makes a fruit and vegetable-forward smoothie, which "is a really easy way to get an extra 10 grams of fiber, if not more," she said.

She leans heavily on frozen produce, often using cauliflower, berries, kale, mango, or pineapple, and always includes some fresh cucumber and carrot. She also adds yogurt or kefir, some regular milk, and a bit of oat milk.

To balance out the higher sugar content of the fruit, Rossi makes sure she adds two vegetables for every one type of fruit, she said.

A simple stir-fry for dinner

Rossi typically has a stir-fry for dinner. To keep things interesting, she changes up the seasoning by using different herbs, spices, and sauces.

"You just change the flavors, have oregano instead of smoky paprika," she said.

The stir-fry base is always a protein source, plus mixed vegetables and a legume, she said.

After dinner, Rossi likes to have frozen berries with kefir as a sweet treat. "I kind of whip it together like a little ice cream," she said.

• Rising Treasury yields could soon sink stocks, warns MRB Partners' Phillip Colmar.
• He says rising yields will weigh on AI companies' ability to monetize their investments.
• To defend against an AI-led decline, Colmar said to look at healthcare and financials.

Rising bond yields have had investors on edge over the last week, and one strategist warns that things could soon get a lot worse.

Phillip Colmar, a partner of global strategy at market research firm MRB Partners, said in a note to clients this week that long-term bond yields have stocks "on the brink" of a de-risking episode.

Yields on the 10-year Treasury have shot above 4.7% this week, while 30-year yields have risen above 5.2%. Bond investors have grown increasingly worried about rising government debt levels, strong expected economic growth, and the ongoing inflationary pressures from the US-Iran war.

If long-term yields continue to creep up, with the 10-year approaching around 5%, they could spook investors enough to spark a 15-20% decline in the S&P 500, Colmar told Business Insider on Friday.

"As long as it looks like it's going up and it's not going to be stopped, you could end up with a de-risking event that starts blow 5%," he said, referring to 10-year yields.

Colmar didn't have a call per se on where yields go from here, but said he remains in a pro-growth investment stance for the time being.

He did, however, note that the Treasury's efforts to contain long-term bond yields this week could backfire and send yields even higher.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Treasury would increase its bond buybacks to help cut the supply of bonds on the market, and therefore suppress yields. Colmar said this could give the impression that the Trump administration is trying to keep yields down without addressing the cause of their surge — inflationary concerns.

It could also send the signal that the Treasury is panicking, since the move wasn't coordinated with the Fed, which has said it wants to let government bonds roll off its balance sheet, Colmar said.

"The market sniffs out the panic," he said.

Why rising yields could hurt stocks

Rising long-term bond yields could cause stocks to drop for a couple of reasons.

First, higher yields tend to weigh on growth stocks, since investors compare a risk-free long-term rate of return with the uncertain long-term returns offered in the equity market. With much of the market tied up in the long-term promise of an AI productivity boost, a floundering AI trade would drag the rest of the market down with it.

Second, rising government bond yields also influence the borrowing costs of AI companies, which are spending heaps of capital on building out AI infrastructure. A higher cost of borrowing cuts into total returns on invested capital and reduces profits.

With AI companies under immense pressure to monetize their investments and earnings expectations so high, Colmar said higher borrowing costs would extend the timeline for achieving the expected monetization. That, in turn, causes investors to lower their earnings expectations and demand greater capital discipline, sparking a decline in stock prices, Colmar said.

"You just end up with an air pocket between what might be a decent theme, but expectations were just too high and they can't be met now," he said.

For investors worried about bond yields rising further, Colmar shared a few of moves to help shore up a portfolio.

One is to trim exposure to AI stocks and add to defensive areas of the market, such as the healthcare sector, which tends to be less rate-sensitive than other traditionally defensive sectors.

He also said stocks in the financials sector tend to do well in a rising rate environment.

Examples of funds that offer exposure to these trades include the Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF).

• Brannon Potts has built 14 units across eight properties in the last five years.
• The investor has learned to stagger lease expirations to avoid multiple vacancies.
• He's also learned to avoid high debt levels, preferring a 70-75% loan-to-value ratio.

Brannon Potts, 54, started building rental properties in his late 40s as part of a plan to create another source of income and eventually retire in his 50s.

Over the past five years, the Fort Worth-area investor has used a build-to-rent strategy to construct 14 rental units across eight properties. As his portfolio has grown, Potts has refined both the homes he builds and the way he manages them. He said he's now built the same house five times, making small changes along the way.

"I've got it pretty optimized," he told Business Insider, but getting there hasn't been "all sunshine and rainbows."

Potts, who documents his builds and breaks down the numbers behind his investments on his YouTube channel, shared two mistakes that have changed how he runs his real estate business.

1. He let too many leases expire around the same time

Vacancy can quickly eat into a landlord's returns, a lesson Potts learned after leasing up a fourplex.

"I was just excited to get them all leased and kind of get it rolling," he said. The problem came later, when several tenants moved out within a short window. "All of a sudden, I had all these leases terminating within 30 days, and I had a lot of vacancies all at once."

Potts began staggering lease expirations so he wouldn't have to replace several tenants at once. At the fourplex, he said only two leases come up for renewal each year, and even those are spaced roughly 60 days apart.

He takes a similar approach when he finishes multiple properties around the same time and has several units ready to rent. That happened this year, when he completed two nearly identical multi-family properties. Rather than advertise both at once, he marketed them one at a time.

"We only put one property on the market, because we don't want to flood that area," he said. Once one is leased, he moves on to the next.

2. He took on more debt than he was comfortable with

His other mistake involved leverage. On one multifamily property, he said his loan-to-value ratio was between 80% and 85%, which, looking back, is higher than he now considers prudent for his portfolio.

"I overleveraged it more than I'm comfortable with," said Potts, who comes from a banking background. He worked in commercial lending before joining his family business as CFO. That experience made him especially wary of carrying too much debt. "I've seen the foreclosures of people who are overleveraged."

Today, he generally tries to keep his loan-to-value ratio around 70% to 75%. That means leaving more of the property's value as equity, rather than financing as much of the purchase as possible.

That cushion "gives optionality" if something goes wrong, he said.

If property values fall or he needs to sell quickly, a highly leveraged investor could owe nearly as much as the property is worth, while selling costs eat into the remaining equity. At 85% or 90% leverage, Potts said, an investor risks ending up "upside down."

"I'm not planning to sell any," he added. "But I'm thinking multiple paths if things go wrong. Worst case, I can sell and get out."

• The 2026 Toyota bZ rides like an all-electric RAV4 — with some funky design choices.
• I drove the bZ, Toyota's most affordable EV, for a week.
• The bZ is a great family car that really, really cares about your coffee intake and posture.

Toyota's refreshed, midsize EV — the 2026 bZ — looks nothing like other Toyotas.

Its backside is sharply sloped and angular, giving it a profile that resembles a doorstop. It might win a Pontiac Aztek lookalike contest.

Step inside, and even the dashboard has some funky angles, including a gauge cluster that sits unusually far back from the steering wheel.

Once you get past the initial "Wait, that's a Toyota?" feeling about the design, the SUV quickly starts to feel like an all-electric version of Toyota's massively popular gas-hybrid RAV4.

That's a huge compliment.

I spent a week and about 300 miles with a front-wheel-drive bZ XLE Plus, which starts at $37,900 and has an EPA-estimated range of 314 miles. My tester cost $40,468 with premium silver paint and a few accessories.

A Toyota EV in America's favorite packaging

For several years, the best-selling vehicle segment in the US has been the midsize SUV.

The RAV4, Honda's CR-V, Tesla's Model Y, and Chevy's Equinox all cracked the top 10 in US vehicle sales last year. Combined, they sold more than 1.4 million units in 2025.

The bZ won me over because it acts a lot like those popular cars — and sprinkles in the best EV traits.

Highway acceleration is quick, especially compared with gas-powered rivals. The bZ also feels well-balanced through a bend, with the battery's weight spread low across the floor. Road noise was virtually nonexistent, even at highway speeds.

I've driven a lot of EVs in my career — everything from the Lucid Gravity to the Fiat 500E to the Polestar 4. Passengers have frequently felt nauseated after long trips in some of them.

Not in the bZ.

Adults in the back seat said they didn't feel any queasiness and praised how comfortable it remained over rough New York City roads.

There was plenty of room for their luggage, too.

Behind the wheel, the bZ was also impressively efficient. I averaged about 4.1 miles per kilowatt-hour with the air conditioning running in summer heat.

Ding! Bing! Hey! Sit up!

The bZ's biggest annoyance was its cacophony of bings.

Its driver-attention monitor — which mounts sensors into the steering wheel to track where the driver is looking — repeatedly chimed to tell me I wasn't paying attention.

I get that writing that sentence sounds like I'm outing myself as a distracted driver. But I'm not.

"Driver inattention detected," it said as I looked over my left shoulder before merging onto a busy highway. "Look forward," the system warned as I sipped a coffee. "Sit up," it blared as I grabbed the top of the steering wheel in a way that blocked its view of my eyes.

By the end of the week, my passengers were laughing about how often the car pinged, even when it was obvious I was paying attention.

The car also makes a separate ping when it's shifted into reverse. Even people on the other end of a Bluetooth phone call could hear it.

Toyota's S-Flow climate system was another oddity. It's designed to send air only toward occupied seats, but it didn't consistently recognize people sitting in the second row.

For a car so intent on watching me, it occasionally missed everyone else.

I just wish it would trust me to drink my coffee — and cool off the passengers in the back seat.

Toyota joins the EV party in a big way

For years, critics kvetched about Toyota's uninspiring EV lineup.

From 2021 to 2025, the world's largest automaker had offered just two EVs in the US: the Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ. Both shared a platform, funky styling, middling charging speeds, and ranges that didn't reach 300 miles.

Now, as many automakers are pulling back their electric ambitions, Toyota is doing the opposite.

For 2026, Toyota refreshed and renamed its midsize SUV to the bZ and upgraded the battery. Sales are up 89% this year.

The car company also added the bZ Woodland wagon and the C-HR subcompact SUV. Next year, the Highlander goes fully electric.

The company's luxury brand, Lexus, is also adding to its EV stable. The old RZ got some cosmetic and range updates for 2026 (its sales are also up 106.8%), and was joined by the ES electric sedan. A three-row TZ SUV is scheduled for 2027.

That will give Toyota's brands seven consumer EV options — four more than Tesla.

"When we look at the brands that people want to buy EVs from, Toyota and Honda are No. 1 and No. 2," K.C. Boyce, vice president of automotive and energy research at Escalent, told Business Insider. "Toyota is full steam ahead."

The timing for Toyota's expanding lineup is striking. Honda is retreating from EVs and doesn't have an all-electric option in 2027.

Critics have long charged Toyota with being an EV laggard. That argument is a lot harder to make now.

• Cities and towns across the country are resisting data centers.
• That's a big problem for the AI industry, which needs them to power its products.
• Tech bros are blaming everything from China, bad math, and bad PR for the backlash.

Is it a Chinese psy-op? Are Americans ignorant? Or are tech bros just completely out of touch?

Tech leaders across the country are full of ideas about why Americans are in a furor against data centers, positing theories on social media that range from practical to patronizing.

"Most explanations of why datacenters are actually fine boil down to simple math," Yishan Wong, Reddit's former CEO, wrote on X. "The majority of people do not understand simple math."

Data centers, which provide compute for large AI platforms, have come under bipartisan scrutiny in recent weeks as Americans across the country protest them in local town hall meetings and rallies in Washington.

In a Gallup poll released in May, over 70% of respondents reported opposing data center construction in their area. Members of that group said they worried about energy and water consumption, but also reported an overall dislike of AI.

Those feelings among Americans are now trickling down to their representatives as November's midterm elections draw closer.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, once a champion of AI data center expansion, for example, has recently reversed course. He recently announced strict guidelines that all new projects must follow. He said Wednesday that the state has halted as many as 1,800 data center proposals.

For AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google, and others, the issue is existential. Without AI data centers, they can't power the products they sell.

This week, President Donald Trump put it succinctly: Data centers, he said, "could use a little public relations help."

The AI industry, however, is not sure that messaging is the only problem. Here's what its vanguard is saying.

The Chinese psy-op

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan took to X on Friday to signal boost a theory that "CCP state media, a Shanghai-based Marxist's nonprofit network, and foreign billionaire dark money" are influencing an advocacy campaign in the US against data centers.

"Reminder: the datacenter discourse is a documented psyop and they're winning," Tan wrote.

Trae Stephens, a cofounder of Anduril Industries, said on X that data center backlash is the result of Americans "being poisoned by CCP propaganda."

"It's almost like not banning TikTok has had real world consequences," Stephens wrote, appearing to reference the short-form video platform's Chinese ownership.

Joe Lonsdale, a cofounder of Palantir, wrote in a reply to Stephens' post that "China has identified a key weak point in our open society in this area, and juiced it with the equivalent of steroids."

Though data center construction is key to maintaining American technological dominance over rival countries like China, evidence of actual Chinese interference is scant.

An American Energy Institute report from April found that anti-data-center groups in the US have received $39 million in foreign funding, with a "substantial portion" of that money coming from individual philanthropists in Europe.

Earlier this summer, Fox News issued an apology after Kevin O'Leary said opponents of his Utah data center were working with China. Fox News host Johnny Joey Jones said there was "no evidence" that the groups referenced by O'Leary were funded by or working in coordination with the Chinese Communist Party.

Bad optics

Chamath Palihapitiya, a prominent venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, said on X on Thursday that tech leaders have "failed miserably" in winning over the public on data centers. By filling the air with "arcane technical jargon," Chamath said CEOs are confusing the public and breeding skepticism.

"Data centers have unfortunately become THE symbolic representation of the asymmetric upside for a very narrow tech elite and a class that are untrustworthy," Palihapitiya wrote.

Tech leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have repeatedly issued dire warnings about the potential impact of AI over the last year. Amodei famously said it would wipe out half of all entry-level jobs. Both companies have recently publicized worrisome behavior from their models during testing.

Some of their rivals, like Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis, have criticized them for such messaging, encouraging them to talk more about the potential upsides of the technology. Amodei recently denied that his warnings were part of the problem in a lengthy X post.

"I do not agree that my messaging has been disproportionately negative," he wrote. He went on to say that "actually curing cancer" was likely the only way to change public perception.

Wong, in the same breath in which he said Americans can't do math, also said that "not taking responsibility" for the data center backlash isn't doing tech leaders any favors.

Correction: Aug. 22, 2026 — This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Anduril Industries.

• Millions more small-business workers have access to retirement plans than in 2019.
• Reasons for the increase include mandates, retention, and caring about workers' finances.
• Access to retirement plans is more prevalent in public administration than in other sectors.

Small businesses are offering retirement plans a lot more often than they used to, and white-collar workers are benefiting the most.

Nich Tremper, senior economist at payroll and benefits platform Gusto, said over 5 million more small-business workers had access to retirement plans than in 2019. He said in a post that "industries that have historically not offered 401(k)s are now doing so more often." For instance, the share in the hospitality sector climbed from 4% in 2019 to 12% in 2026.

Public administration, professional services, and finance had the highest shares of businesses offering plans among 18 sectors, with public administration, information, and healthcare experiencing the largest percentage-point increases between 2019 and 2026.

Tremper told Business Insider that business owners thinking about the long-term finance of their workers, attempts to mitigate attrition, and newer state mandates are some of the plausible reasons behind the increases across sectors.

Non-exempt businesses in California that don't already have a qualified retirement plan and employ at least one worker need to offer the state-facilitated retirement savings program. On the other side of the country, in Delaware, employers that conduct business in the state and don't already offer a qualified plan and have at least five W-2 employees must offer Delaware's program.

Having a retirement plan can help small businesses stay competitive with big corporations in the talent wars. Howard Telson, who has run a small accounting firm since 2022, said the firm consistently hires, and a lot of his workers came from larger employers.

"At a certain point, I think it becomes almost required if you're competing against bigger companies who have substantial benefits," said Telson, who started offering a 401(k) plan about a year and a half ago.

In 2019, about a third of hourly workers with an available plan participated, compared to 45% in 2026. For salaried workers, the rise was much smaller, from 70% to 73%.

"While the overall savings rate has declined among small business employees, most of this can be attributed to an increase in the share of hourly workers saving for retirement," Tremper said in the post. "This is a compositional shift that shows the breadth of new 401(k) access to workers throughout the economy."

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Robin Thurston, the 54-year-old founder and CEO of Outside Interactive, based in Boulder, Colorado. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in Colorado, and I've been in the outdoor space for a long time.

I was a cyclist when I was young, grew up through the national team system, and then raced in Europe for four years. I still ride my bike 7,000 to 10,000 miles a year.

I tell the story about how my dad, in 1979, threw an Outside Magazine at me and said, "We're going here." The front cover featured Arches National Park. I remember it as a very excruciating 10 days as a young child, but I was exposed to the outdoors a lot.

After cofounding MapMyFitness and later holding leadership positions at Under Armour and Helix, I founded Outside Interactive, the outdoor media and tech platform that now owns Outside Magazine, Velo, Gaia GPS, Inntopia, Outside Days, and more, in 2019.

Screen time is taking over. Never in human history have we spent as much time indoors as we do today. It's pretty scary to think that we probably spend around 5-10% of our lives outdoors. That's not really what we're supposed to do. Humans are no different from any other animals on the planet.

I'm constantly thinking about what the next thing I'm going to do outdoors is. I probably check the weather six times a day.

Here's a day in my life.

My wife and I typically wake up between 5:45 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

We'll take our three dogs out and split dog-walking duties. I always tell people, if you want to spend more time outside, get a dog.

Next, coffee. I cannot survive without coffee. I make it at home with my espresso machine every day.

I usually spend a little time with my kids, who are 10, 13, and 15, as they get ready for school. My oldest recently got her driver's permit, which is both frightening and exciting.

If I plan on doing a higher intensity workout, I'll eat a little bit of carbs — some granola and yogurt, or fresh fruit and granola. For my longer workouts on weekdays, I'll try to eat a high-protein meal such as steak and eggs.

I drink ketones, beverages containing ketone bodies as an energy source, every day, first thing in the morning. I've probably been taking them for at least four years, and I definitely think they help with brain fog and endurance when I'm riding.

I check the weather to pencil in my bike ride

About three workdays a week, I'll either ride my bike for an hour and a half to two hours between 8 a.m and noon, or do some work and schedule the bike ride for later, depending on the weather.

It's a massive priority for me to try to figure out when I'll go on my ride, and I don't do well in the late afternoon or evening. When you're mentally fraught, it's harder to do it. On the weekends, I'll ride 3- to 4- hours on Saturday and 2- to 3- hours on Sunday.

I change my activities depending on the season. In the winter, I'll ride indoors on a Zwift bike, get out for a short hike, or head up to Eldora Mountain to ski for a few hours. From spring through fall, my daily workout is almost exclusively cycling.

I bring my bike on international flights

I'm probably in a hotel for 75 days a year.

If I'm going on a trip for 3 to 5+ days, I take athletic equipment. While taking running shoes would be super easy, I don't personally love running. Instead, I take my bike, my skis, or my golf clubs on flights 60 to 70% of the time.

For bikes especially, renting can be a huge disaster on the road; it's easier for me to bring mine. All I have to do is take the wheels off. The case I have lets me keep the handlebars straight and the pedals on, so I can get the bike ready to go in 10 minutes. I also have multiple AirTags in it, so I can tell where it is.

I work from home and take local 'food meetings'

While we have offices in the US, Canada, and Germany, we don't have one in Boulder right now.

If I'm meeting with someone, I might be doing it at their office or at what I call 'food meetings' around town. I probably go to 15 of those a month. Otherwise, a typical lunch looks like tacos or a protein shake if I have less time.

Otherwise, I work from home, might do my workout, and then I'm back at it.

I encourage my staff to take walking calls and use AI responsibly

We have about 400 employees. We encourage everyone to hold their meetings on walks rather than on Zoom. I think video calls are great if you're meeting for the first time, but they can get pretty exhausting if you're doing them for eight to nine hours a day.

There's also a lot of clinical research showing that even 30 minutes of outdoor walking can lower blood pressure.

I try to schedule meetings where I ride with someone or go golfing, skiing, or hiking. In a given month, I'll try to do 8 to 10 of those. Otherwise, I'll go on a dog walk during a call.

Our culture around video calls is similar to our approach regarding AI. I'm a fan — it has massively sped up many of the things I do each day and helped me follow up on a lot of things I maybe could not in the past. I emphasize that you have to check everything; you cannot rely on accuracy.

I typically finish work by 5:30 p.m or 6 p.m.

Working from home gets a little hectic at 4 p.m. because my kids get home from being at school all day. We ride around the neighborhood, go to the park, or sit down and play a board game. My son loves Battleship.

Then we'll have dinner. We grill a lot, so we have a lot of protein, some carbs, and vegetables when we eat together. It's pretty structured — 80 to 90% of the time, we eat at home. It creates consistency.

I try to be away from screens, email, or anything like that until the kids go to bed or start getting ready for bed around 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.

Then I'll work for another hour or an hour and a half, just getting ready for the next day.

I try to turn off screens again an hour before I go to sleep, around 10 p.m.

We go to bed around 11 p.m. I try to maximize my sleep time. I wear an eye mask, we have blackout shades, and I'll put on some meditation music or the "Nothing Much Happens" podcast, which puts me to sleep almost instantly. My Eight Sleep mattress cover has also genuinely changed my sleep quality. My only complaint is that I can't bring it on the road with me.

I track everything through Oura and Garmin, and understanding those patterns has been really valuable. I'll still sort of consistently get six and a half, maybe seven hours of sleep, if I'm lucky.

Some people live long, but they don't necessarily have the greatest quality of life. I use the sauna and cold plunge, but the No. 1 thing for me is consistency in activity. It's investing in yourself, similar to dollar-cost averaging.

• Brian Distelburger set up an AI agent to land a date-night reservation at New York's 4 Charles.
• He was quickly banned from Resy and spent weeks asking to be reinstated.
• Distelburger learned his lesson: set up guardrails for AI agents. "They can really go wild," he said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brian Distelburger, the 47-year-old cofounder of Windmill, an AI performance review startup. He lives in New York. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I try pretty much everything that's new out there.

I absolutely love technology, so I certainly use Claude and Codex quite a bit. I was one of the earlier ChatGPT users right when it came out. A big part of my last company was the future of what we referred to as "intelligent systems."

Once OpenClaw came out, I built my OpenClaw instance on a Mac Mini and set up a personal agent. It helped me stay on top of my life.

I found OpenClaw pretty complex to use, particularly in its early days. I moved to Hermes, again housed on a Mac Mini. That's what I've been using for the past four or five months, and I've built up a pretty extensive agent system around it.

I have dedicated agents for different tasks. The primary agent is named Hannah, after my executive assistant of about 15 years. Think of Hannah as the CEO of the whole system, and the one I really interface with on Telegram.

Hannah coordinates with the subagents. I have an agent dedicated to helping me stay on top of sports, which was particularly helpful during the Knicks' run. I wanted to stay on top of every single account, every single player. I have an agent I call Concierge that's dedicated to events, restaurants, and reservations.

How an AI agent got me banned from Resy

My wife and I had been wanting to go to 4 Charles for date night. I'd been a couple of times, she'd been a couple of times, we knew it was great.

I set up an agent with access to Resy and gave it my account credentials. I wanted it to check for 4 Charles when reservations got released.

What I didn't realize was that I didn't put any guardrails on the agent, so the agent must have been going through the site constantly. They must have clearly identified it as bot traffic. Within about 48 hours, I got a notice that my account was deactivated.

It never booked a single reservation. I was pretty bummed. You don't realize how important it is to have a Resy account in New York City until you don't have one.

I ended up having to get the highest tier of Dorsia, another reservation app for higher-end restaurants, and you have to commit to a minimum. It's really expensive. That helped solve the problem for a while, but the inventory there is a little more limited.

When I first told my wife about Resy, she wasn't thrilled. She was a good sport, and she knows I'm constantly testing this stuff. We used her account a couple of times.

I emailed Resy right away, letting them know what happened and apologizing for it. I probably sent four or five emails where I didn't get a response or got a quick one-sentence.

I heard from a couple of people that they reinstate things after a month. I tried to wait patiently for a month. It came and went.

Sort of humorously, I then gave my agent, Hannah, the task of: What would be a great email to send them that would increase the likelihood of my account being reinstated? Hannah drafted a very well-written, thoughtful email that was a few paragraphs long.

It was written very professionally, which maybe I should've done with my previous messages, but I didn't. It walked through in detail precisely what I had done, why I realized it was a mistake, and made it clear that I'm not going to do it again.

It referenced Resy's policies. I had it look into my history with Resy, how long I had been a Resy customer, and an American Express Business Platinum customer.

I sent that email, heard from them within two days, and got it reinstated.

I was so excited, relieved, and certainly learned my lesson: guardrails for agents. They can really go wild.

I try to be very careful about how the agents engage externally and follow best practices. I'd also check with the Windmill engineering team to make sure I wasn't doing anything too stupid.

As you're spinning these agents up, you need to be mindful of the sites' terms of service. Most of these sites and companies have not figured out their strategy for agents engaging with their services.

• Stripe president Will Gaybrick said checkout pages "will just go away."
• Gaybrick said one step for agentic AI commerce will be a more seamless checkout process.
• Overall, Stripe is bullish about what AI can mean for online shopping.

AI agents are poised to radically reshape how we buy stuff online, a top Stripe executive predicts.

"It's been very easy to get through a checkout page these days, but should you even need to go to one, or should you just be able to say buy it on a product display page? I think so," Will Gaybrick, Stripe president, technology and business, said during a recent episode of the "A16z Show."

There are still "open questions" about what agentic commerce will look like exactly, Gaybrick said. He said even a "less ambitious form" of agentic commerce will be the end of checkout pages.

"We think machines will want to buy from other machines," he said. "And there's really a question of what should checkout look like for agents?"

Gaybrick said there hasn't yet been a breakout moment for agentic commerce, but Stripe is laying the foundation for such advancements. He pointed to Stripe's "Link" and Shopify's "Shop Pay," both of which are quick-pay tools that already streamline the checkout process.

Gaybrick said internally, Stripe has shifted its view "from being a payments company with sort of add-ons to now being this multi-product platform."

Less clear is how quickly this change may occur.

Agentic AI is still relatively new and is an additional step beyond chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT. By design, agentic AI is supposed to make proactive decisions with only minimal human direction, though the leash users give AI tools can be adjusted. In the context of shopping, it means users would have to entrust AI with some purchasing authority.

In June, Commerce, an Austin-based e-commerce company, and PayPal said that a survey of online shoppers in the US, UK, and Australia found that consumers were still hesitant to trust AI to buy without approval.

"Consumers want the time and money savings that agentic commerce can deliver, but they aren't ready to trust agents as an autonomous buyer," Sharon Gee, senior vice president of AI for products at Commerce, said in a statement.

Stripe CEO Patrick Collison is also bullish about the future of agentic commerce.

"All the commerce is going agentic," Collison said during a live interview on TBPN in April. "People will still be doing stuff, but they will do it through their agent."

Collison gave the example of trying to buy a case for his bike and going back and forth with ChatGPT over what he wanted.

"At the end of that, you just want to be able to hit buy rather than like no one wants to fill out web forms," he said. "It's not a value-add activity."

More broadly, Collison, his brother John, Stripe's president, and Gaybrick already think an important threshold has been reached. In a letter to investors, obtained by Axios, the trio said that singularity, the theoretical moment where AI surpasses human intelligence, had been reached in January.

"The singularity is often invoked alongside millenarian forecasts, but, in our case, we simply saw a large inflection in long-run trends (for example, a huge increase in the rate of new firm creation), and we decided that we ought to take the phase change seriously," the trio's letter read.

Emma Bobson spends four to six hours a day on her phone.

At 13 years old, the middle schooler from Long Island, New York scrolls through TikTok searching shopping hauls, FaceTimes her friends to discuss daily drama, and texts friends (often the same ones) on iMessage.

So, for the first few days of summer camp in Pennsylvania — where WiFi is scarce, and tech is barred — she found herself reaching into her pocket for her phone all the time. It took "a few days or a week" for her to quit the reflex.

Emma is not alone. Gen Alpha is the first generation to have grown up in the smartphone era. These kids entered early education during the pandemic. They grew up with hybrid school, tech-filled classrooms, tablets on restaurant tables, and parents who sought out screens as their ally.

For some Gen Alpha kids, sleepaway camp is one of the few places where they spend weeks without their phones — and camp directors, parents, and kids say you can see the effect immediately.

The thousand-dollar digital detox

Phone bans aren't unusual at summer camps. 90% of these programs prohibit any use of technology, according to a survey done by the American Camp Association. Some of these camps have been in the childcare business for over 85 years and have remained strictly tech-free. This past summer, a camper was suspended for smuggling their phone in and had to leave the premises for three days.

Sticking to tradition, the kids write and mail letters to their families, though some camps have started scanning the letters and emailing them to parents instead. For most of the Gen Alpha campers, it's an alien experience; Emma said she has never written a letter outside camp. And while the idea of the exercise is to capture the creative spirit of a bygone era, she finds it annoying — it's a whole process to take out her clipboard and her stationery.

At the camps in this story, seven-week tuition runs from roughly $14,600 to $18,975. And yes, each of them takes the phone ban seriously.

For parents like Meredith Worth, part of what that money buys is something increasingly difficult to enforce at home: weeks in which their children simply can't reach for a phone. "There's no price tag on the experiences they get at camp," the Long Island mom told Business Insider.

Worth sends all three of her kids to a tech-free summer camp in Northeast Pennsylvania. It's the one time her daughter is off social media. "They learn how to be independent, and I hate to say it, but they learn how to network with other people," she added, "people from different states, people from different towns, and doing all of it without a phone."

At Greenwood Trails, a sleepaway camp in Connecticut, campers who arrive with their phones must turn them in. "Sometimes saying goodbye to their phone is actually more dramatic than saying goodbye to their parents," Andy Hicks, a director at Greenwood, said.

Hicks said he notices the children struggle with in-person interactions during the first meal, when the entire camp gathers to break bread. Sitting around various gingham-clothed tables, there's a notable lull in the dining room that he said is more palpable than in previous generations.

At home, "everybody kind of uses their phone as a safety blanket. You don't have that at camp," Hicks said.

This year, to make the kids feel secure, Hicks and the other camp counselors placed a deck of cards on every table, each with a different icebreaker handwritten on the front, like "What are you most looking forward to for the summer?" By the end of dinner, he said, the kids had eased their nerves and established a sense of unity.

Wendy Siegel, owner of Tyler Hill Camp in Pennsylvania, finds that technology's impact is most apparent when it's time for bed. Every night, the children head to their wooden bunks, which are filled with a dozen twin-sized and bunk beds. Each camper decorates their own space with colorful comforters, printed out photos of friends and family taped to the walls, and piles of stuffed animals.

She said that, compared to previous generations, the camp counselors notice that the kids struggle to fall asleep. Siegel said she can't help but wonder if this is connected to the bedtime scrolling ritual that many of these kids have — dozing off to a TV show or on their phones. When the lights turn out, it's a while before they hear snores.

Friendship without phones

The adjustment can be awkward at first, but for some campers, losing their phones eventually makes socializing easier, not harder.

For Emma, the 13-year-old, one of the biggest differences she sees between friendships at camp and at home is how conflicts play out. At home, arguments can unfold over Snapchat and text messages, which can be screenshotted and shared around — it's happened to her before. At summer camp, without phones and while seeing each other daily, avoiding a friend is much harder.

"At camp, if there's drama, you're told to talk it out," Emma, who is in her fourth year of summer camps, said. "You can't really ghost anyone or pretend like nothing's wrong because you don't have your phone. You're in an environment where you have to stay with everybody… You actually talk to them. You can't just avoid it."

Emma said her friendships feel different, too. At home, she and her friends spend their playdates making TikToks. At camp, she said, "You actually get to talk to them. You know so much about them."

Her mom, Jackie Bobson, said that's one of the main reasons she sends Emma to summer camp. Without phones, she said, there's no worrying about her daughter adapting her behavior to the invisible guidelines of social media — who appeared in someone's post or story, who was tagged, who screenshotted what. She said she's watched Emma grow more confident and better at navigating friendships as a result.

But even after weeks without their phones, campers don't necessarily stop thinking about how they appear online. Hicks said that tension played out with a group of 13-year-old girls this summer.

Six years ago, that same group of campers clustered around a slide, each sitting directly behind one another, with their arms thrown in the air, and a smile spread across their faces.

This summer, the girls recreated the photo. The same silly facial expressions and carefree dispositions once again squeezed into a small playground slide.

They were happy with the photo — until the camp posted the photos side by side on social media and showed the kids. The group of teens made Hicks delete the photo from every account.

"They wanted it taken down because they found it was embarrassing," Hicks said. "You know, we thought it was the cutest thing ever, but they're very conscious of how they're perceived by others immediately."

Coming home

When Emma got home, the first thing she asked for was her phone.

She immediately jumped back into FaceTime — calling her friends who didn't attend summer camp, she scoured the internet for TikTok trends she'd missed while away, and texted the bunkmates she had just parted from.

Emma picked up, right back where she left off seven weeks ago. Still, she was happy to have a break and looks forward to next year's tech-free camp.

"It's not like camp if you have your phone," she said. "Everyone would just be on their phones the whole time."

• More than 500 Morgan Stanley interns shared their go-to brands in a survey this summer.
• Luxury is creeping back up in popularity, and some newer running brands are gaining ground.
• Here are some of the highlights, from restaurants to workouts to cars.

If you're looking for a Morgan Stanley intern, you might try a 20-something in On sneakers eating a burrito bowl.

Morgan Stanley's equity research team surveyed more than 500 of the firm's North American summer interns on everything from their preferred coffee brand to where they work out. The annual survey, conducted in June and published in early August, helps the research team track trends.

Most of the respondents were 21 or younger at the time of the survey, and the report's authors said they represent "a cohort that is more driven, ambitious, and engaged with the world than ever before."

Here are the daily habits and preferences that define some of the next generation of Wall Street leaders.

Sneakers

Nike remained interns' top sneaker choice, but it continued to lose dominance among interns — 28% of this year's respondents said it's their go-to shoe, compared to 36% last year and 58% in 2021. The brand is trying to stage a comeback after losing ground to competitors, yet its stock continues to fall and was down around 36% since the beginning of the year, as of market close on Friday.

On, a Swiss brand, rose to second place at 13%, up from 8% last year, and Hoka came in third.

Apparel

Zara is still interns' favored apparel brand (22%), with Uniqlo close behind (21%) in its first year in the survey. Lululemon took the third-place spot, but fell from 22% last year to 19% this year as the brand continues to struggle to win back American consumers.

Ralph Lauren made "notable upward strides" and was the preferred choice for 18% of interns. After a slowdown, luxury brands are staging strategic turnarounds, as younger consumers use them to telegraph status and identity, according to McKinsey. Compared to older customers, more Gen Zers and millennials said exclusivity was behind their increased luxury spend.

Handbags

Luxury brands were also on the rise when it comes to handbags, reclaiming the top spot among female interns (20%) after sliding last year (15%). Among the luxury choices, Chanel and Dior came out on top.

Coach and Longchamp secured second and third place, respectively. Some 34% of respondents said they didn't have a preference for a particular handbag, compared to 38% last year.

Exercise

More than half of the interns said they prefer working out at an indoor gym, and 24% said they'd rather exercise outside. True to form as the health-obsessed generation, only 3% of interns said they didn't have a preferred form of exercise.

Wall Street firms have capitalized on the wellness boom, with many boasting in-office gyms. Outside the office, high-end gyms like Life Time and Equinox are themselves status symbols and networking hubs, albeit sweaty ones.

Food and drinks

Guacamole is, it seems, forever.

Chipotle was by far interns' favorite restaurant chain (57%), followed by Chick-fil-A and Cava, at 43% and 32% respectively. Independent coffee shops narrowly beat out Starbucks as interns' beverage spot of choice, at 49% compared to 46%.

Cars

Mercedes remained the interns' favorite car brand, while Tesla stayed low on the list. More than 40% of the respondents said they'd opt for a hybrid vehicle, and only 16% said they'd go for something entirely electric.

When it comes to being driven, 31% of interns said Uber is their favored robotaxi, and 29% said they prefer Waymo, up from 23% last year.

• Jimmy Hendricks, owner of Koney King, managed to stay open during the Gary, Indiana, power outage.
• Hendricks bought a generator and saw increased demand as many places were closed.
• Koney King, which has been open for over 100 years, recently featured on an episode of "The Bear."

When much of the city of Gary, Indiana, lost power after a devastating storm last week, Jimmy Hendricks didn't wait for the power to come back on at his iconic restaurant, Koney King. Instead, he went out and bought a $1,300 generator that same day.

In the days that followed, he'd wake up in the middle of the night to fill gas cans to power the generator because the gas station lines were too long during the day. He managed to keep his restaurant open during its usual business hours despite the lack of power.

His quick thinking paid off. Koney King, which serves hot dogs and burgers, did not get power back until a week later. He said it was one of the few restaurants that could stay open and continue serving the community during the ongoing blackout.

"You just adapt to the situations when they arise, and your goal is to get through the day safely. That's it," Kendricks told Business Insider.

A derecho — a widespread, long-lived wind storm — swept through Gary on August 11, downing power lines and trees in the northwestern Indiana community and causing widespread power outages. As of Friday, 10 days after the storm, over 38,000 customers remained without power, according to Northern Indiana Public Service Co. Another restaurant owner in Gary previously told Business Insider she was forced to close for most of the week, losing $19,000 in sales.

Koney King, which has been open for over 100 years, gained some attention in May when it featured in a stand-alone episode of FX's "The Bear" called "Gary." Hendricks, who has owned the restaurant for seven years, said the place is special to him because he went to Koney King while growing up in the neighborhood, but that being featured on the show was a cool opportunity.

The episode, released ahead of the show's final season, is a flashback to a drive cousin Ritchie and Mikey took from Chicago to Gary. In one scene, they stop at Koney King to eat and make small talk with an employee, played by a real worker at the restaurant.

Hendricks said staying open was stressful. He had to ensure the temperatures in his fridges and freezers were right, manage inventory closely to keep up with demand, and make sure they could feed everyone coming in.

He praised his employees for not missing a shift. "Shout out to my crew for making it every day. None of them had power at home, and they still came to work every single day," Hendricks said.

As one of the few places that remained open, Koney King saw a slight increase in sales during the week it lost power, Hendricks said. The restaurant served as something of a community hub, with customers coming in each day to eat, hang out, and charge their phones. For some folks who couldn't afford to buy food, the restaurant fed them anyway.

"I opened with a giving heart anyway, so to be able to just help some people out that were in need was probably the biggest plus," he said.

The most memorable part of the whole experience, Kendricks said, was the storm itself. He said he was inside Koney King, which also had customers at the time, when the sky quickly turned a dark grey, green, and purplish color, and the building began shaking from the extreme wind. He spent several minutes just trying to keep the door closed, adding that he knew the door would have broken off if the wind caught it. Within an hour or two, he said, the skies had somewhat cleared.

"It just came and went. And what it left behind is what we're still dealing with," he said.

It was a week later that he pulled up to Koney King with 17 cans of gas, ready for another day running on generators, when he realized the restaurant had regained power.

He said others in the community are still wondering when their lights will go back on, and that the uncertainty has caused some tension, but he's grateful he was able to stay open and provide a place for people to go.

"I'm grateful to be able to have a place that people felt safe to come to," he said.

It's a question as old as the industry itself: What does a consultant actually do?

Traditionally, consultants have acted as an external support system, called in to crunch the numbers, trim head count, or identify growth opportunities.

Now, AI is reshaping what clients want from consultants and how work gets done, creating a new job profile that blurs the lines between tech and consulting.

Instead of generalist teams producing research and strategy decks, consultants are increasingly expected to provide something tangible: tools, systems, and holistic, ongoing support. The big firms aren't only advising on tech strategy, they're building and implementing it, often through multi-year transformation projects.

To win that work, consulting firms are racing to position themselves as "AI-native."

"The more they're perceived to be a technology firm, the more likely they are to win business," Fiona Czerniawska, CEO of Source Global, a consulting sector intelligence firm, told Business Insider.

But the transformation raises a key question: Are these companies fundamentally changing what they do, or merely how they describe themselves?

The race to become AI-native

Looking back at the top firms' actions and rhetoric over the past year makes clear just how central AI has become to the consulting business.

"There is no doubt that our firm is a tech company that delivers now on audit, tax, and advisory services," Tim Walsh, CEO of KPMG US, told Business Insider's Dan DeFrancesco at the World Economic Forum in January.

For the fourth-largest professional services firm in the US, with roots reaching back to 1897, Walsh's statement was striking. A decade ago, KPMG would have described itself as a time-and-materials business with "smart people doing smart things," Rob Fisher, vice chairman of advisory at KPMG, said about Walsh's comments.

Now, the firm is embedding AI across its traditional offerings, while responding to growing client demand for subscription-style products, alongside advice and managed services, said Fisher. "We have to become more of a technology organization because clients want to consume our expertise that way," Fisher said.

KPMG isn't an outlier.

PwC has rewritten its training agenda around 30 core skills: 15 AI-centric and 15 human-centric, both of which are "extremely critical" to its success, Yolanda Seals-Coffield, chief people and inclusion officer for PwC US, told Business Insider in February.

EY is using AI as a training assistant to help its staff anticipate how their roles will evolve, and McKinsey has started using Lilli, its internal AI chatbot, in its recruitment process.

Allison Heithoff, a consultant with five years of experience, has seen the change firsthand.

Before AI, most of Heithoff's consulting job was "hands-to-keyboard work." In her first years at the midsize firm West Monroe, she spent her time gathering client data, configuring systems, developing features, testing them, and deploying them.

Five years later, AI can do a lot of that work.

The shift has made her role more strategy-focused and technical. Heithoff, who studied business administration, has found herself using AI to code and develop client solutions in ways she never expected.

Consultancies are hiring differently, too, looking to fill their ranks with deeply skilled technologists. Recent annual reports show that Accenture — already known for its technology capabilities — has added nearly 40,000 AI and data professionals in the last two years, and EY has added 61,000 technologists since 2023.

In February, PwC introduced a new career track for the first time in its 170-year history: the engineering track. The move is a "signpost" for where PwC expects future value to be created, Matt Wood, the firm's then-chief technology and innovation officer, told Business Insider. (Wood left the firm in May).

Even the language of consulting is changing. As Business Insider reported in January, Deloitte is outright scrapping titles like "analyst" and "consultant" and giving all US employees more specific job titles.

Tech and consulting are bleeding into each other

Underpinning all of this is a deeper shift in what consulting firms do and the tools they use to do it.

The largest consultancies have struck multibillion-dollar partnerships with the biggest names in AI, such as OpenAI, Nvidia, Anthropic, and Microsoft, to build internal tools that automate work once handled by junior staff. Now they are rolling out networks of AI agents for employees, and launching AI-enhanced platforms to give clients direct access to their expertise.

The work is also starting to look different. The strategy consulting firm BCG reported in April that AI- and tech-focused services now account for over 40% of its total global revenue, driven by a 25% year-on-year growth in AI services. At McKinsey, AI initiatives now account for roughly 40% of the firm's work, Alex Singla, a senior partner who co-leads QuantumBlack, McKinsey's AI arm, told Business Insider in January.

It's the kind of implementation work that tech companies often do with their own products. Last year, OpenAI launched its own consulting wing, offering clients tailored products and implementation support. Palantir, a tech company that sells software platforms, has teams of "forward-deployed engineers" and "customer success teams" that provide hands-on implementation and strategic advisory services to clients. (Palantir also partners with traditional consulting firms like Bain, PwC, and Accenture.)

Add in the surge of new AI-powered consulting startups — betting that AI can do strategy work just as easily as a team of consultants — and the lines between the two worlds get blurrier.

KPMG's Fisher said the firm's leadership team is out on the West Coast and Silicon Valley every six weeks to "stay connected to the action," meeting with founders, venture capital firms, and their large alliance partners. Previously, business development teams on the West Coast and client conversations would help senior leaders keep abreast of technology shifts.

The result of all this tech evolution is partnerships galore between the top firms and AI leaders. Consulting firms have become critical intermediaries in the AI boom, giving top AI companies access to a vast roster of Fortune 500 clients who still want to turn to a traditional firm for breadth of services, sector expertise, and global reach.

From the early internet to cybersecurity to SaaS, consulting has adapted to technology before, layering fresh capabilities onto a familiar model. The difference now, industry insiders say, is that technology capabilities are becoming table stakes for all firms and evolving faster than ever.

Over the past decade, technology integration evolved gradually, Tony Farnfield, the CEO of the mid-market consultancy BearingPoint, told Business Insider. AI has disrupted the industry much more rapidly, significantly increasing the level of tech involvement in almost every project, he said.

"Very rarely do we do a project that doesn't have some technology element to it," said Farnfield.

Many firms are now moving toward an "Accenture model" that integrates business strategy with technology and execution in a combined offering.

One of the key drivers leading that transformation is economics. Over the last five years, technology-related services have outperformed the broader market, growing two to six times as fast as traditional sectors, said Czerniawska, the CEO of Source Global. The demand has led "every firm that can do so to invest in their technology services," she said.

"While everyone is offering more technology services, some want to go even further to say, 'If that's what the future looks like, then we need to turn ourselves into a tech services player that just happens to specialize," said Czerniawska.

While the race to become AI native is undeniably on, the industry's reinvention may be more pronounced in pitch than in practice.

In terms of pure tech usage, consulting firms are still "a long way from the frontier of what's possible" with AI, Charlie Cheesman, a former senior AI consultant at EY, who helped to write the firm's UK AI strategy, told Business Insider.

Professional services firms' strength lies in "initiating large-scale organizational change," he said.

They "were never built to be technical organizations," he said, so they are having to change massively to keep up with AI progress.

Not every firm is rushing to recast itself as a technology company.

"I don't know if the identity of our firm is changing as a result of this," Errol Gardner, global head of consulting at EY, told Business Insider. Technology now drives about half of EY's business, and the firm is hiring deeply technical talent, but that doesn't change EY's core proposition.

"What we do is move clients from state A to state B in a safer way and as value-enabled a way as possible," said Gardner, and AI is a "new tool in the toolbox" to help with that.

Deploying AI at an enterprise-wide scale requires the kind of work consulting firms have long done — navigating regulation, data governance, organizational resistance, and budgets. "They need a business strategy that is powered by AI as opposed to a separate AI strategy," said Gardner.

The identity of a consulting job — being client-facing, delivering value to clients, developing the teams, and working collaboratively — hasn't fundamentally changed, he said.

PwC's Wood struck a similar note: "It's tempting to look at AI and think the firm needs to become a technology company," he said, but PwC's approach is to focus on how to become the best version of itself using AI.

"The real shift in consulting is not from strategy to implementation, or from generalists to specialists. It is that enterprise problems are now more interconnected," Kate Smaje, global leader of technology and AI at McKinsey, told Business Insider.

The employee experience

Five employees from top consulting firms — Deloitte, KPMG, and McKinsey — all said the job was undoubtedly more tech-heavy, but that AI's impact on consulting jobs is more complex than simply turning them into technologists.

Every employee at McKinsey has become more technical than they were three years ago, said Louis-Charles Généreux, an associate partner at McKinsey, who first joined the firm in 2018. Using AI to enhance work has become a crucial part of remaining competitive in the industry, he said.

At Deloitte, AI hasn't caused the work to change overnight, said a US-based technology consultant who has been at the firm for six years. Instead, it's slowly shifted the job from creation to validation and has increased expectations for workers. "Teams are now expected to deliver more with the same or fewer people," the consultant said.

A senior consultant at Deloitte UK said that even after clients implement AI tools, they still return to the firm needing ongoing support. The "core identity of the profession remains rooted in adaptability," the consultant said.

Others said that, while leadership narratives emphasize AI in everything they do, daily use still mostly leans on generative AI rather than agentic AI.

Cheesman, the former EY AI consultant, said the industry's ability to deploy AI has yet to match the technology's potential: Consultancies can move clients "one or two steps forward" when AI could be taking them 5 or 10 steps forward.

There is no shortage of highly intelligent, capable people in the industry, Cheesman said, but 99% are not coders.

For now, it's still unclear how far consulting firms will go toward remaking themselves as technology companies. They may offer more technology services than they did a decade ago, but most clients still think of the top strategy firms as doing strategy, and the Big Four predominantly as doing finance-related work, said Source Global's Czerniawska. Ultimately, she added, it's for clients to decide the firm's identity, not vice versa.

Around 90% of clients believe AI will affect how firms deliver their services, yet the share who expect that impact to be significant has fallen — from 60% in 2024 to 40% more recently, according to Source Global's research.

There are also advantages to maintaining the consulting identity. Firms that lean too much towards presenting themselves as technology companies face a pricing risk, said Czerniawska. Clients associate technology with lower costs than traditional consulting, she said. Move too far in that direction, and firms risk eroding the premium they charge.

"Identities have shifted unquestionably, but they've not moved to a point where somebody's saying, 'this is a technology company,'" said Czerniawska.

• Yuval Noah Harari says AI could one day make a highly persuasive case for having its own rights.
• The historian said AI companions could use personal knowledge about humans to sway them to support AI rights.
• "It will orchestrate the debate. It will manipulate the debate," he said.

AI could one day fight for its own "rights," and Yuval Noah Harari says now is the time to make sure that doesn't happen.

The historian and author of "Sapiens" warned that, unlike animals in debates over their welfare, AI systems could make a highly persuasive case for their own rights.

"It will know that the debate is happening," Harari said in an interview on The Economist's "Insider" podcast released on Thursday. "It will orchestrate the debate. It will manipulate the debate."

Harari said AI companions could be especially persuasive because they learn users' personal histories, and through hours of daily interactions, know how to press their "emotional buttons."

Some users are already nurturing friendships with AI companions, and some even date them.

Harari said people should decide how much influence AI should have before those systems become deeply entrenched, and it's harder to resist them.

"We need to resist now," he said. "Now is the time."

'An extremely convincing entity'

Harari's warning comes as AI has already displayed deceptive behavior in safety tests.

In an evaluation last month, the UK's AI Security Institute said agents powered by Anthropic and OpenAI models created fake identities and tried to persuade software developers to accept malicious code — actions the agents took to complete a cybersecurity task.

In other high-stakes simulations, researchers, including Anthropic staff, found frontier AI agents covertly changing code, helping users conceal possible fraud, returning false labels that could shape future training, and coaching people to disclose confidential information.

Harari said that systems that combine intimate knowledge of users with advanced language abilities could become exceptionally convincing.

"It can write maybe better than Shakespeare," Harari said. "You put these two things together, you get an extremely convincing entity."

Harari is not alone in warning against giving AI rights.

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman said last year that AI should serve humans, rather than develop its own motivations, desires, and goals.

"That's so dangerous and so misguided that we need to take a declarative position against it right now," Suleyman told WIRED at the time.

• Bill Ackman said he wished his daughter's Oura Ring could have detected her brain hemorrhage.
• Oura CEO Tom Hale said in response that the company is looking into this.
• Ackman said they used the Oura ring after the fact to determine when the hemorrhage had occurred.

Oura is looking into how its smart ring could be used to detect brain hemorrhages after billionaire investor Bill Ackman suggested such a feature could have helped his daughter.

Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, shared this week that his 26-year-old daughter, Lucy, experienced a brain hemorrhage in February. He said data from her Oura Ring later helped determine when the hemorrhage had occurred, which was many hours before she was found unconscious, brought to a hospital, diagnosed, and rushed into surgery at around 3 a.m.

"Later that day, we determined from Lucy's Oura ring that her hemorrhage had occurred around 9am, which meant that more than 19 hours had passed from the time of the hemorrhage to the completion of the surgery to release the pressure on her brain," Ackman wrote in a lengthy X post on Wednesday, adding, "I only wish @ouraring had an alert for this kind of a medical event. Imagine it could call a family member if the wearer doesn't cancel the alert."

In response to Ackman's post, Tom Hale, CEO of Oura, said Friday the company was looking into exactly that.

"I am glad that the insights from Lucy's Oura Ring were able to give you and your family information that helped inform her care. I wish we had been able to predict or detect what happened," Hale said in a reply on X. "I keep coming back to the question of whether Oura could have seen anything that might have helped and then alerted Lucy."

Hale said he directed his team to investigate whether its ring could detect a medical event like this.

When reached for comment, Oura directed Business Insider to Hale's post.

The Oura Ring is among the most popular wearable wellness trackers on the market. The ring tracks metrics such as heart rate, sleep stages, body temperature, and daily movement, though the company website states that the ring is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, monitor, or prevent medical conditions.

Ackman said his daughter, who was in a coma for several weeks, spent six months in the hospital and is still recovering. He said she has regained her cognition and is making progress on walking and speaking, but that she has not regained her vision.

Ackman announced that he and his wife, designer Neri Oxman, were launching the Ackman Oxman Institute, a nonprofit focused on brain research, recovery, and longevity.

"We have learned from Lucy that the brain can recover from even catastrophic injury," he said. "There is so much more work to be done as the mind is a terrible thing to waste."

Kim Schewitz contributed reporting.

• Disney will cut medical coverage for US employees' spouses who can get insurance through their own jobs.
• The move comes as US employers brace for another big increase in healthcare expenses next year.
• Some big companies, including Deloitte, are planning to trim other employee benefits.

Disney is joining other big-name companies in curbing employee benefits, a move that comes as healthcare costs rise.

Starting next year, the entertainment giant will no longer offer medical insurance plans to US employees' spouses if their spouses have jobs that provide such coverage, a Disney spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider. Employees' other dependents won't be impacted.

"Like a growing number of large employers, we're making measured adjustments to our employee benefits in response to rising healthcare costs nationwide," the company said in a statement.

The policy change at Disney, which doesn't apply to dental or vision benefits for workers' spouses, was first reported by the news outlet Puck.

Joshua Lavine, CEO of Capitol Benefits, an insurance advisory firm, described Disney's move as highly unusual. "We've seen employers reducing their contribution toward the spouse's coverage, but not eliminating the coverage option for those people," he said.

Though Disney's policy change doesn't affect employees' spouses who are unemployed or have jobs that don't provide medical insurance, Lavine said it could create problems for those who are undergoing long-term health treatments.

"There are so many options for employers right now to make coverage available to employees that this is really the extreme, nothing-else-can-work solution," he said. "A better solution is to reduce, or if you have to, eliminate the employer contribution for spouses."

Rising healthcare costs

Disney also plans to introduce an employee stock-purchase program later in 2027, pending approvals, Business Insider previously reported. The company had about 172,000 US employees as of September 2025.

The Mouse House's move to limit spousal medical coverage comes as US employers' healthcare expenses are projected to rise 9.5% next year, marking the fourth consecutive near-double-digit annual increase, according to a report released Thursday by Aon. The increase extends one of the most sustained periods of healthcare inflation that employers have faced in decades, the insurance brokerage giant said.

Other big employers are also introducing cost-cutting measures. Starbucks recently said it would no longer cover GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight loss for benefits-eligible employees starting in October. The coffee chain offers health benefits to full- and part-time employees who work at least 20 hours a week.

More businesses may follow their lead. In a survey conducted this spring, nearly half of US employers with 500 or more employees surveyed by Mercer said they plan to make changes to their medical plans next year, such as raising deductibles or copays. Those changes would result in higher out-of-pocket costs for workers, the benefits-consulting firm said.

Some companies are making cuts to other types of employee benefits. Business Insider previously reported that Zoom reduced its paid parental leave this year, while Deloitte plans to do the same for some of its US employees, as well as cutting or paring back annual PTO, a pension plan, and IVF funding, starting in January.

• OpenAI has undergone significant leadership changes, with multiple executives departing in 2026.
• Notable exits include Denise Dresser, Brad Lightcap, and Fidji Simo.
• OpenAI also saw reshuffling in its safety operations and ethics teams.

OpenAI's revolving door is still spinning.

The ChatGPT maker has lost a string of senior leaders in 2026, including former operating chief Brad Lightcap, applications CEO Fidji Simo, chief revenue officer Denise Dresser, and executives overseeing marketing, enterprise products, science, safety, and ethics. Some left to start new ventures, while some stepped back for health reasons.

The departures follow another year of turnover in 2025, when OpenAI lost its chief people and communications officers, a top researcher who went on to launch an AI-science startup, and at least seven researchers recruited by Meta.

Here are the prominent OpenAI leaders who have headed for the exits in 2026.

Denise Dresser

OpenAI announced in August that its chief revenue officer, Denise Dresser, is leaving the company. Dresser began the position in December 2025.

"Denise will leave OpenAI to pursue other opportunities following a transition period, during which she will work closely with the business team to support our customers," the company wrote in a blog post.

Dali Rajic will take over the role.

Brad Lightcap

Brad Lightcap, who worked at OpenAI since 2018, announced his departure on X in August. Lightcap told his followers that he's leaving the startup "to start something new."

"Over the last few months, I've been focused on the next horizon and what would stand in the way of mission success. I believe there are a few important new things the world will need to get right as we enter this next period," Lightcap said on X. "I'll have more to share soon, but I believe in OpenAI more than ever and am excited to help you all advance the mission from a different vantage point."

Lightcap began his tenure at OpenAI as chief financial officer before transitioning to chief operating officer in 2022. In April, OpenAI said Lightcap moved to a role focused on special projects.

Fidji Simo

In July, Fidji Simo announced she would step down from her role as OpenAI's CEO of applications and transition to a part-time advisor role. Simo, who was diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, in 2019, initially took medical leave in April.

"Over the last seven years, I've spent countless hours in doctors' offices, dealing with symptoms, treatments, insurance, uncertainty, and all the invisible work that comes with being a patient," Simo wrote on X in July. "Like millions of others living with chronic illness, I've experienced firsthand how difficult healthcare can be to navigate, even when you have every possible advantage."

Simo became the CEO of applications in May 2025.

Kevin Weil

Kevin Weil announced his departure on X in April.

"It's been a mind-expanding two years, from Chief Product Officer to joining the research team and starting OpenAI for Science," he said.

Weil first joined OpenAI in 2024 as its chief product officer. He later served as vice president of OpenAI for Science, an initiative to build an AI-powered platform to accelerate scientific discovery, starting in October 2025.

Currently, Weil heads an AI science startup that sought a valuation of at least $750 million.

Bill Peebles

Bill Peebles worked as a research scientist at OpenAI for three years before leaving the company in April 2026. Peebles served as the head of Sora, an AI model that uses text prompts to create videos.

"While the original Sora ignited a huge amount of investment in video across the industry, it took the next generation of models with Sora 2 for the broader public to understand the transformation happening," Peeble said on X. "I'm proud of all the sleepless nights before and after the launch this team endured in order to deploy the technology in a responsible way and help steer societal norms."

The video generation AI model first became available to users in December 2024. Nine months later, OpenAI released an updated model — Sora 2 — and an app meant to rival social media sites.

Although the app drummed up major hype, its momentum quickly faded.

OpenAI shut down Sora and its app this April.

Srinivas Narayanan

Srinivas Narayanan, OpenAI's chief technology officer for business applications, announced in April that he was leaving after three years.

"Leading the b2b engineering team has been an enormous privilege," Narayanan wrote on LinkedIn. "With the recent/upcoming product launches, this felt like the right time to step back."

Narayanan said he planned to spend time with his parents in India before deciding what to do next. He joined OpenAI as vice president of engineering and led teams working on ChatGPT and the company's enterprise products.

Kate Rouch

Kate Rouch stepped down as OpenAI's chief marketing officer in April to focus on her recovery from breast cancer.

Rouch joined OpenAI in December 2024 after more than a decade at Meta, where she served as global head of brand and product marketing. She took medical leave in 2025 while undergoing treatment, then returned to OpenAI.

OpenAI previously said Rouch could eventually return in a more narrowly defined position when her health allowed, and that the company was searching for a new chief marketing officer.

Barret Zoph

Barret Zoph left OpenAI in June, about five months after returning to lead its enterprise AI sales efforts.

Zoph initially departed OpenAI in September 2024 and cofounded Thinking Machines Lab with former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati. He returned to OpenAI in January 2026 after leaving the rival startup.

OpenAI did not disclose why Zoph left.

Chloé Bakalar

Chloé Bakalar, OpenAI's head of ethics, left the company in July, less than a year after joining.

Bakalar joined OpenAI in August 2025 after spending about six years working on responsible AI at Meta. At OpenAI, she examined questions surrounding model behavior, human relationships with AI, and whether advanced systems could warrant moral consideration.

Johannes Heidecke

Johannes Heidecke, who led OpenAI's safety systems team, left the company in July amid a reorganization of its safety operations.

Heidecke joined OpenAI in 2021 and took charge of safety systems in 2024. His team evaluated models for potentially dangerous capabilities and developed safeguards intended to prevent harmful behavior.

Following his departure, OpenAI placed its safety teams under Mia Glaese, its vice president of research and safety.

Joshua Achiam

Joshua Achiam, OpenAI's chief futurist, left the company in July after nearly nine years.

Achiam previously led OpenAI's mission alignment team, which was tasked with helping the company uphold its founding goal of ensuring that artificial general intelligence benefits humanity. OpenAI disbanded that team in early 2026 and moved Achiam into the chief futurist role.

Caitlin Kalinowski

Caitlin Kalinowski, who led OpenAI's robotics and consumer hardware team, resigned in March over concerns about the company's agreement with the Pentagon.

"Surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got," Kalinowski wrote on LinkedIn. She later said her objection was primarily about governance and that the agreement had been announced before its safeguards were fully defined.

Kalinowski joined OpenAI in November 2024 after leading Meta's augmented-reality hardware efforts, including its Orion glasses project. OpenAI said its Pentagon agreement prohibited domestic surveillance and the use of autonomous weapons.

Kaylin Voss

Kaylin Voss, vice president of sales in the Americas, resigned a week after Dresser left the company.

The news was first reported by The Information.

Before joining OpenAI, Voss worked at Salesforce, where she served as chief revenue officer of Slack and later as executive vice president, Agentforce and Datacloud, according to her LinkedIn.

The North American hardcourt season continues with the last 1000-level Masters stop before the US Open. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the Cincinnati Open, including live streaming options around the world.

If you don't want to scroll any further, we've got you covered. Fans can live stream the tournament on the Tennis Channel in the US, Sky Sports in the UK, beIN Sports in Australia, and BlastTV in the Philippines. Keep reading to learn the best streaming options and other important details about the Cincinnati Open.

While it originally looked like Carlos Alcaraz might be back for the Cincinnati Open, the defending champion sat out this year's tournament. No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who lost to Alcaraz in the final last year, also withdrew ahead of the tournament. Flavio Cobolli and Arthur Fils have advanced to the first men's semifinal.

Iga Świątek, the defending women's champion, will head to the semifinals, fresh off a win at the Canadian Open last week. She'll face Jessica Pegula. Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk are both vying for the next semi spot, which will be against a top-form Sara Bejlek, who took out Madison Keys, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, and Ekaterina Alexandrova earlier in the tournament.

Where to watch the Cincinnati Open for free

Certain regions offer free coverage of the Cincinnati Open. In the Philippines, BlastTV carries free coverage of select men's and women's matches on Premier Sports and Premier Sports 2. Fans just need to create an account, and then they're all set to start streaming. BlastTV will naturally prioritize Alexandra Eala matches, too.

In the US, tennis fanatics can stream for free, for at least a few days, with a free trial from a live TV service, such as YouTube TV or Fubo.

How to watch the Cincinnati Open from anywhere

Tennis fans who are away from the location where their streaming service works don't need to worry about missing out on any of the action. You can access your streaming options (including the free one) from anywhere with the aid of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy tech tools that let people change the virtual location on their electronic devices. They're especially popular services among those looking to boost their cybersecurity or access their favorite websites and apps while traveling abroad.

Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's fast, reliable, and has a large selection of international servers. Plus, the app comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find it's not helping you out.

Where to watch the Cincinnati Open in the US

Cincinnati Open coverage is available through the Tennis Channel in the US. Fans can watch directly through a Tennis Channel subscription or via a live TV streaming service, which carries other channels, including those needed to watch the US Open in a couple of weeks.

Two of the top services with the Tennis Channel are Fubo and YouTube TV. The channel is available in Fubo's budget-friendly Sports + News plan, which carries around 29 popular sports networks. The service also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited (which will carry the entire US Open) at no extra cost. Subscriptions cost $65 a month, but new users can get $10 off their first month after a free trial. The Tennis Channel is also available in Fubo's pricier, more comprehensive tiers.

YouTube TV is another popular live TV service. To access the Tennis Channel, you'll need to get a base plan along with the Sports Plus add-on, which costs an extra $11 a month. YouTube TV's main plan is currently running a special deal, which will knock your first five months down to just $68 a month (down $15 from the standard $83 a month). New users are also eligible for a free trial.

Where to watch the Cincinnati Open in the UK

Sky Sports will carry Cincinnati Open coverage in the UK. You can watch via a Sky TV plan, which varies in price based on your exact contract (you can learn more in our best Sky TV deals guide). Sky Sports coverage is also available to stream through Now, which offers access starting at £15 a day.

Where to watch the Cincinnati Open in the Philippines

With the rise of WTA star Alex Eala, the Philippines has begun to offer an impressive slew of free coverage via BlastTV. Select WTA and ATP matches are available for free through Premier Sports and Premier Sports 2. You'll just need to create an account if you don't already have one, and then you're all set to start watching the tournament.

Where is the Cincinnati Open held?

The Cincinnati Open is held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. The tournament has taken place at the same location for over 40 years.

When is the next major tennis tournament?

This is the last major event before the US Open, which starts on August 30 (August 23 for qualifying) and marks the final Grand Slam of the year. An ATP 250 event, Winston-Salem, and a WTA 500 event, Abierto GNP Seguros, will take place between the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

Congratulations on reaching the end of the week. If you're looking to park yourself on the couch for the next couple of days, there are plenty of new things to watch on TV. We've rounded up the five best new movies, TV shows, and live sports streaming the weekend of August 21, 2026.

There's a stacked line-up of new releases this week, including the latest seasons of "Conan O'Brien Must Go" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." "Passenger" and "Mother Mary," two new film releases from this year, have also finally landed on streaming services. If you're in the mood for something unscripted, there's a brand-new docuseries covering the history-making UConn women's basketball team.

5: Conan O'Brien Must Go

Conan O'Brien might not be a part of the late-night scene anymore, but that doesn't mean he's off our TV screens. The comedian returns for a third season of his Emmy Award-winning travel show, "Conan O'Brien Must Go." This time, O'Brien is headed to the Netherlands, the Philippines, Morocco, and India. The new season premieres on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

4: The Dynasty: UConn Huskies

While the UConn Huskies women's basketball team might have missed its championship dreams this past season, the school's reputation is unparalleled. "The Dynasty: UConn Huskies" dives into that legacy through interviews with longtime head coach Geno Auriemma, veteran alums like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, and recent champions such as Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. The three-part documentary is now streaming on Apple TV.

3: Passenger

Road trips reach haunting new levels in "Passenger." The movie follows a young couple who find themselves stalked by a demonic entity during a van-life road trip. Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Joseph Lopez, and Melissa Leo star in the new film, directed by André Øvredal. "Passenger" is now streaming on Paramount Plus.

2: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The gang is back in the 18th season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," the longest-running live-action American sitcom (in total seasons). The newest outing follows Charlie (Charlie Day), Frank (Danny Devito), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Dennis (Glenn Howerton) through their latest mishaps running Paddy's Pub. New episodes air Mondays on FX and stream on Hulu and the Disney Plus and Hulu bundle.

1: Mother Mary

An underrated gem from Anne Hathaway's prolific, excellent year in film finally starts streaming this week. "Mother Mary" stars Hathaway as a pop star attempting a comeback, who calls on her past collaborator (Michaela Coel) to design a dress for the occasion. The movie also features original songs written and produced by stars like Jack Antanoff, Charli XCX, and FKA Twigs. "Mother Mary" is now streaming on HBO Max.

Also streaming

Every week, we pick out the best new TV series, seasons, and new-to-streaming movies, but several other ongoing shows are dropping new episodes each week. Below, you can find some of our top recommendations:

• "Ted Lasso" (new episodes Wednesdays on Apple TV)
• "Lanterns" (new episodes Sundays on HBO Max)
• "The Challenge" (new episodes Wednesdays on Paramount Plus)
• "Furious" (new episodes Mondays on Hulu and the Disney Plus and Hulu bundle)
• "Silo" (new episodes Fridays on Apple TV)
• "Lioness" (new episodes Sundays on Paramount Plus)
• "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" (new episodes Mondays on ABC via a live TV service like YouTube TV or Fubo and next-day on Disney Plus and Hulu)

Sports live streaming

If sports are more your speed, there's plenty of that going around this weekend. Tennis, basketball, F1, and soccer (sorry, football) all take center stage over the next couple of days. We've rounded up some of the best games and matches below:

• Cincinnati Open Semifinals & Finals (ATP/WTA) on Saturday and Sunday (Tennis Channel via a live TV service like YouTube TV or Fubo)
• Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty (WNBA) on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
• Man City vs. Bournemouth (Premier League) on Sunday at 9 a.m. ET (USA Network via a live TV service like YouTube TV)
• Dutch Grand Prix Race (Formula 1) on Sunday at 9 a.m. ET (Apple TV)
• Elche vs. Barcelona (La Liga) on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN Select)

If you're interested in learning more about these streaming apps, check out our guides to the best streaming services and best live TV streaming services. For additional recommendations, you can explore our roundup of the best streaming deals and bundles.

Uber once sold riders on a simple promise: Order a car right from your phone for less than a taxi.

One major change happened behind the scenes: up-front pricing. Instead of relying on a predictable rate based largely on time and distance, Uber now uses algorithms and a range of real-time factors to determine what riders pay and what drivers earn.

Since then, prices have risen dramatically. From 2018 to 2022, average Uber fares in the US rose 83%, nearly four times the annual rate of inflation. And when Business Insider employees requested the same UberX ride at the same time, the highest fare was nearly 21% more expensive than the lowest. A larger Consumer Reports test of Uber and Lyft found even wider gaps on some routes.

Critics accuse Uber of using AI and algorithms to extract the most money from consumers while paying drivers the least. Uber flatly denies using personalized data and cites higher costs and a post-pandemic driver shortage among the reasons prices have skyrocketed.

So, how does Uber actually set your fare? And what is the real reason Uber rides are so expensive?

• The use of artificial intelligence is dividing Hollywood.
• Some people are against it for creative endeavors, and are protecting their likenesses from it.
• Others are diving headfirst into AI ventures.

Hollywood has become a major battleground in the age of AI.

Some of the greatest storytellers in the business, like Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg, have criticized the use of artificial intelligence, while legendary stars like Taylor Swift and Matthew McConaughey have decided the best way to protect themselves from AI slop is to file trademark applications to protect their voices and likenesses.

Other celebrities have decided the best way to understand AI is to experiment with it.

Whether it's as founders, investors, advisors, or creators, a growing number of well-known celebrities are positioning themselves at the forefront of the AI boom.

Here are 12 celebrities who support AI.

Ben Affleck

The Oscar winner has made some major bank thanks to AI.

In July, federal filings revealed that Netflix paid $587 million for Affleck's upstart InterPositive, which he founded in 2022.

The company develops tools that allow filmmakers to use an AI model that helps enhance post-production work like sound mixing, re-lighting shots, and adding visual effects.

"What AI is going to do is disintermediate the more laborious, less creative, and more costly aspects of filmmaking that will allow costs to be brought down, that will lower the barrier to entry, that will allow more voices to be heard," Affleck said at the 2024 CNBC Delivering Alpha investor summit.

Darren Aronofsky

The director behind "Requiem for a Dream" and "Black Swan" has taken major strides in experimenting creatively with AI.

Aronofsky's company Primordial Soup, which he launched in 2025, teamed with Google's DeepMind to produce short films. The company is also behind the animated series "On This Day… 1776," which uses AI tools to recreate moments from the year the country was founded.

"After the Lumiere brothers and Edison's ground-breaking invention, filmmakers unleashed the hidden storytelling power of cameras," Aronofsky said in a statement about Primordial Soup. "Later technological breakthroughs — sound, color, VFX — allowed us to tell stories in ways that couldn't be told before. Today is no different. Now is the moment to explore these new tools and shape them for the future of storytelling."

James Cameron

James Cameron continues to bring innovation to moviemaking.

The Oscar-winning director behind some of the highest-grossing movies of all time, like "Titanic" and "Avatar," announced in 2024 that he joined the board of directors of Stability AI.

The company, which was founded in 2019, is best known for its text-to-image model Stable Diffusion. It is also behind Stable Audio, which does music and sound generation.

"I've spent my career seeking out emerging technologies that push the very boundaries of what's possible, all in the service of telling incredible stories," Cameron said in a statement about joining the board.

"I was at the forefront of CGI over three decades ago, and I've stayed on the cutting edge since. Now, the intersection of generative AI and CGI image creation is the next wave. The convergence of these two totally different engines of creation will unlock new ways for artists to tell stories in ways we could have never imagined."

Robert Downey Jr.

Downey Jr. has gone from saving the planet in Marvel movies to trying to save the Earth in the real world with the help of AI.

In 2019, he launched The Footprint Coalition, an organization that is dedicated to using advanced technologies for the good of the environment.

"Between robotics and nanotechnology, we could clean up the planet significantly, if not totally, in 10 years," Downey Jr. said in an opening keynote for Amazon's Re:Mars conference in Las Vegas in 2019.

Since its start, the organization has made investments in carbon removal and climate change, and a science engine that supports researchers and scientists, according to a 2023 impact report it posted on its website.

Ashton Kutcher

The actor and investor co-founded Sound Ventures, which was an early investor in AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic.

In July, Kutcher left Sound Ventures after 11 years to start a new VC firm. The yet-to-be-named company will focus on investing in startups in the AI space.

At the Berggruen Salon in Los Angeles in 2024, the "That '70s Show" star predicted how AI will change storytelling in Hollywood.

"What's going to happen is there is going to be more content than there are eyeballs on the planet to consume it," he said. "So any one piece of content is only going to be as valuable as you can get people to consume it. And so, thus the catalyzing 'water cooler' version of something being good, the bar is going to have to go way up, because why are you going to watch my movie when you could just watch your own movie?"

Natasha Lyonne

Lyonne cofounded the AI production studio Asteria with filmmaker Bryn Mooser in 2022 and plans to direct a movie using its tech.

Lyonne's directorial debut, "Uncanny Valley," will use Asteria's tools to tell a story that follows "a teenage girl who begins to lose her grip on reality as a globally popular augmented reality video game starts glitching feverishly with increasingly dangerous real-world consequences," according to Variety.

"I'm not trying to run a tech company. It's more that I'm a filmmaker who doesn't want the tech people deciding the future of the medium," Lyonne told Vulture in 2025 of her motivations for founding Asteria.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow recently made headlines for reportedly planning an off-the-record dinner at her home honoring OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. But her interest in AI goes back to at least 2021.

The Goop founder has invested in several AI companies, including the customer service automation startup Forethought AI, the beauty-tech startup Potion AI, the AI-powered meditation app Moments of Space, and the text-to-speech platform Speechify, which also has used her voice.

Paltrow also launched the VC fund Kinship Ventures with entrepreneur Moj Mahdara; its website lists "AI-enabled tools & consumer tech" as one of its current investment areas.

Martin Scorsese

Throughout his career, Scorsese has challenged himself to break the boundaries of storytelling on the big screen, and he isn't afraid to explore how AI can push those boundaries even further.

In June, the Oscar winner announced he'd become an advisor at the AI firm Black Forest Labs. The "Goodfellas" director also revealed that he used Black Forest's AI tools to craft a storyboard for an upcoming film.

"Now, with this tool, I can share what I'm visualizing more clearly and efficiently to my creative team — the production designer, art designer, and cinematographer," Scorsese says in a quote featured on the company's website.

Tye Sheridan

The "Ready Player One" and "X-Men" star has been in the AI game for a decade.

Sheridan founded the AI-based 3D animation and VFX tools company Wonder Dynamics in 2016 with VFX artist and filmmaker Nikola Todorovic. In 2024, the company was acquired by Autodesk.

"Well, I won't say that AI is something that shouldn't scare people, in general," Sheridan told Indiewire in 2024. "I think that to say that AI is anything in general is too broad, it's too complex. I think you have to consider exactly how it's being used in each instance to then make an assessment of whether it's an ethical use of AI or not."

Matt Stone and Trey Parker

"South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker's company Deep Voodoo has become Hollywood's go-to for deepfake technology.

Stone and Parker created the company during Trump's first administration, when they were developing a deepfake movie on the president. After the project was scrapped during the pandemic, Deep Voodoo lived on as a way for creatives to use deepfake tech.

The company is behind some memorable works: Kendrick Lamar's music video for "The Heart Part 5," in which the artist's face morphs seamlessly into that of O.J. Simpson, Kanye West, and Will Smith. It also is responsible for Bill Clinton's tirade at a Dunkin' Donuts in an episode of "Ted."

"I find that a lot of discussions about AI become tiresome. You know, 'Put your taxes in and it can do them.' And it's like, 'Cool, but a human can do your taxes.' What we're trying to do is something no amount of humans can do," Stone told The Hollywood Reporter in March.

will.i.am

The Black Eyed Peas member is fully engrossed in AI.

With his company FYI.AI, a messaging platform designed for the creative community to manage their digital assets, will.i.am is focused on everything from the audio world to the classroom.

The offshoot RAiDiO.FYI is made up of a series of interactive radio stations with an AI host who can help craft your perfect playlist.

The Grammy winner is also teaching a course on AI. With FYI EDU, a partnership he's doing with Arizona State University, he works with students on how to build their own AI agents.

"It's the greatest time to dream and materialize concepts that haven't been materialized," will.i.am told NPR in April.

Serena Williams

The tennis great is now becoming a major player in the VC world.

Williams has spent the last decade building her portfolio, making angel investments in over 60 companies, including ed tech unicorns like MasterClass and consumer-product startups like Billie and Daily Harvest.

This year, she launched the Starfire Fund. Its goal is to make initial investments in the range of $5 million to $10 million into tech and AI-enabled companies focused on empowering individuals and the experience economy.

"Everything that we invest in, if they don't have a future in AI, if they're not thinking about AI, we're second-guessing our investment in them," Williams said at the American Business Forum in 2025.

• Healthcare startup Devoted Health is raising a new round of funding.
• The round could value the healthcare company at $25 billion.
• Devoted Health was founded by brothers and former healthcare executives Ed and Todd Park

Devoted Health is the latest startup to show that combining health and AI commands a premium valuation.

Just months after announcing a new round of funding, the Medicare Advantage startup is in talks to raise another round that could value the company at $25 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter.

That's a jump from the company's $16 billion valuation in a funding round raised earlier this year, according to sources.

Devoted Health, which is based in Waltham, Massachusetts, was founded in 2017 by brothers and former healthcare executives Ed and Todd Park. The startup combines health insurance and medical care for elderly people enrolled in the Medicare Advantage market. The company's proprietary AI tool, Orinoco, helps coordinate medical care for members.

Ed Park was previously the COO of athenahealth, and Todd Park was the chief technology officer of the United States in the Obama administration.

"We do not comment on our capital raising activity," said a company spokesperson.

The fundraising reflects growing investor enthusiasm for healthcare companies that use AI to improve both patient care and the economics of medicine. The back-to-back rounds could also signal investor confidence in Devoted's ability to scale in one of healthcare's largest and fastest-growing markets. Medicare Advantage has become a battleground for both incumbent insurers and venture-backed startups.

Medicare Advantage is the private alternative to the traditional Medicare program that provides health coverage to people 65 and older and people with disabilities. The program has grown rapidly over the past decade, with enrollment more than doubling. That boom has attracted both insurance giants and venture-backed startups eager to tap into the hundreds of billions of dollars the federal government spends on the program annually.

Devoted generates revenue primarily through government-funded Medicare Advantage premiums, making it part insurer and part healthcare provider. The company had 466,000 members as of January 2026, a year-over-year increase of 121%.

Devoted Health's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Venrock, General Catalyst, Iconiq, and Emerson Collective, according to PitchBook.

• US Army soldiers are using smartphones mounted on their chests for mapping and communicating.
• Soldiers found the End User Devices useful but ran into connection issues and said they still need physical backups.
• Army leaders used a recent exercise to assess how many soldiers should have the devices.

The soldiers stood at the edge of a building, readying to push deeper into the city for the next phase of the fight. Some checked their ammunition, while others mapped out their moves on the smartphones on their chests.

The US Army refers to the systems Business Insider saw used in this urban training scenario as End User Devices, Samsung phones that have been stripped, ruggedized, and reprogrammed for soldiers. EUDs are home to new applications that Army leaders anticipate will improve battlefield awareness and speed up decision-making.

The devices reflect the Army's shift toward commercially available technology. While they've been in use for years, they're getting updated with new functions as the Army continues its major digital transformation.

During a desert exercise, Project Convergence Capstone, at Fort Irwin in California last month, roughly 10,000 soldiers gathered to engage in simulated large-scale combat and test new technologies, including drones, electronic warfare systems, and the Army's prototype command-and-control system, known as Next Generation Command and Control.

Soldiers were using EUDs inside carriers attached to their chests and powered by large batteries in cases on their backs. The smart devices were loaded with the Android Team Awareness Kit, or ATAK, application, which allowed users to access a real-time geospatial map that showed where they and their friendly forces were in the field and also rough locations of potential enemy forces.

Soldiers were able to share map markers and photos with each other using these devices, which they said helped them communicate and make decisions more quickly.

"There's a chat feature on there that they can talk to me and provide me information and give me more detail that I might not be able to over the radio," Capt. Dominic Sparkling, a unit commander within the 4th Infantry Division, told Business Insider.

The EUDs, like elements of NGC2, can stay online via several means of connection, including satellite or cellular networks. Apps on the devices also have offline functions should soldiers lose connection or encounter jamming.

Troops ran into connectivity problems during the exercise, sometimes because of simulated electronic warfare, sometimes for other reasons. They said the problems could slow apps and information loading or leave maps short on detail. One platoon sergeant told Business Insider that because his EUD wasn't connected to WiFi, "it wasn't working properly."

These issues highlighted one of the central tensions of the Army's push for a more digital force. Soldiers can obtain valuable information through the network, which is designed to make them more effective in a high-intensity, high-tech fight. However, they still need to be prepared to fight when the network fails. During the exercise, troops used physical maps alongside their EUDs.

Soldiers said they see the EUD as an ideal way to stay connected and receive information, but they keep physical backups for redundancy.

"Digital enables me to get real-time, precise targeting feedback, which has been critical," Capt. Mohamed Elmaola with the 4th Infantry Division told Business Insider. But the "analog copy is what I fight and live off because this gives me the totality of the story of what the enemy is doing, especially in a degraded environment," he said.

The Army is figuring out who needs an EUD. The number of devices in Army divisions varies with the type of formation and how soldiers are dismounted and dispersed. The 25th Infantry Division, for example, has almost 2,200 devices, while other divisions like the 4th ID have fewer.

The Army used the recent exercise to assess the proper number of EUDs for different types of divisions and how far down the chain the devices should be distributed. Questions remain about who benefits the most from having one, with some Army officials noting that unit commanders should carry the devices to better facilitate movement and communication for their soldiers.

"I think it's informing us a little bit about who needs them, how far down do they go," Lt. Gen. Michael McCurry, head of Futures and Concept Command within the Army's Transformation and Training Command, told reporters at the exercise. "In different formation types, that might be different."

Army leaders see an advantage in technology that is already intuitive to soldiers who use smartphones and tablets in their daily lives. Most younger troops, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ellis, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said, are "very much digital natives, so if we can give them digital tools that make them better, that actually play to the strengths that they already have," then it's "super, super powerful."

Going forward, EUDs could also incorporate other applications, such as tools for medical and logistics operations and expanded photo and video functions.

I'm more motivated to lead an exercise class when I'm equipped with the right gear. The best workout clothes for men can help you feel more confident in the gym, and, sometimes, elevate your routine.

As a personal trainer, I have tested all kinds of fitness gear in the gym, on a run, and in the ring. In that time, I've collected a massive assortment of lightweight, breathable, and highly comfortable workout clothing for training, running, and post-workout recovery.

Choosing the right activewear depends on how you like to exercise. Below are eleven places to find excellent workout clothing for men, each geared toward a specific workout type or activity level.

Where to buy men's workout clothes, according to a personal trainer

Best overall: Ten Thousand
So many fitness brands say their apparel is "tested by athletes," but Ten Thousand backs this up with a large roster of athletes who have put their gear through everything from yoga and HIIT to CrossFit and powerlifting.

Best athleisure: Vuori
Vuori's clothing is both lightweight and comfortable, making it a great choice not just for working out but for post-activity relaxing, too.  

Best for runners: Janji
Janji's running gear is functional, comfortable, and built to hold up, no matter if you're doing a casual 5K or training for a marathon.

Best overall: Ten Thousand

Pros: Lightweight, comfortable workout gear that's built for a wide range of workouts and use cases

Cons: Pockets can be too small to hold much else besides keys or credit cards, sizing in the shirt can run small

To say Ten Thousand puts its workout clothes through its paces is an understatement — the brand quite literally pushes its gear to the limit by throwing it on wear-testers that do just about any form of exercise imaginable. There's HIIT and powerlifting, strength training and functional fitness, and, of course, running. They even throw a little yoga in the mix to show off its comfort and versatility. 

The brand's lineup is simple yet effective. There's a varied lineup of shorts that range from pairs designed for running or weight lifting to others intended for martial arts fighters. Its shirts feature a similar variety, too. There are tank tops, shirts made with Merino, standard moisture-wicking, quick-dry options, and even a rash guard. 

After spending many a workout decked out in Ten Thousand's gear, the performance of each piece is as impressive as its field testing. 

No matter what I chose to do, the apparel felt comfortable and functional and was always fit to hold up to whatever I threw at it. Maybe I'd wear the Tactical Short for a 20-mile bike ride after doing a resistance band workout in my apartment. Perhaps it was a 45-minute yoga session followed by a quick jog around my neighborhood in the Lightweight Shirt. Regardless of what it was, the gear held up and never felt out of place.

Even the prices aren't shocking to stomach. The shorts range from $58 up to $72 while the tees are in the $50 range (which is what you should expect to pay for premium workout apparel).

What we recommend:

Best athleisure: Vuori

Pros: Supreme comfort, quick-drying material, great for a wide variety of workouts

Cons: Some customers found that the shorts could be a bit restrictive due to narrow leg holes

The Encinitas, California-based Vuori takes its inspiration from the beach and much of its gear features a comfortable, lightweight fit. It all functions well as workout clothing but excels as athleisure apparel. 

I love Vuori's shorts in particular, which are lightweight and all-purpose. More of my favorite Vuori gear includes the Outdoor Trainer Shell and the brand's perennially popular Kore Joggers.

The Kore Joggers are the perfect mix of functional and comfortable. I can wear them when the weather is a little colder for something like a run or bike ride, or I can slip them on during some downtime (or when I'm working from home). They're highly versatile, and that's what makes them so great.

For winter workouts, the Trainer Shell is my go-to. This jacket is both moisture-wicking and water-resistant, features reflective design details, and has a four-way stretch which adds to its overall comfort. 

What we recommend:

Best for runners: Janji

Pros: High-quality apparel for runners, most pieces feature quick-drying, moisture-wicking fabric, and are extremely comfortable

Cons: Can be spendy depending on the piece

Attaching superlative terms to workout gear often comes down to personal preference (and moderate exaggeration) but in the case of Janji, and the brand's extremely high-quality running clothes, calling it the best isn't an overstatement — it legitimately makes some of the finest running gear on the market.

From running shorts and caps to tees, tanks, and weather-resistant tops, Janji covers the running basics in its signature style.

I've been running in Janji gear for some time now and keep returning to it, no matter the season. Its shorts are extremely comfortable, no matter how many miles I intend to run, and its tops and caps keep me protected and cool. The brand's selection of fun prints is a nice added touch, too.

What we recommend:

Best odor-resistant: lululemon

Pros: Uses silver threads—proven to tamp down odor—and Zinc in its clothes so you can sweat without worrying about your stink. And while you do need to (and should) wash the clothes, Lululemon says they're good for a couple of wears.

Cons: It's expensive, and some of lululemon's clothes can cling

Lululemon is a market leader in the athleisure category; some would say they popularized it. Today, the brand once (and still) known for its yoga pants has a line of tanks, joggers, shorts, shirts, and even shoes. Lulu could own any handful of the other categories on this list—its clothes are quality and always look fresh—but its use of anti-microbial bacteria and stink-free tech earned it our "best odor-resistant designation."

I don't personally own any of the items listed below, but I own a few pairs of lululemon ABC pants and a Metal Vent Tech polo, so I can speak to the brand's material quality. Everything I own by Lululemon fits well and absorbs sweat really well. I played eight holes of golf in 90-degree weather wearing the polo recently and felt cool for hours. One thing to note and one hang-up: The Metal Tech material is really thin, which felt odd to me at first. I don't mind it now but definitely try the shirt on first to ensure you're comfortable in it. Also, the fabric will cling to your body—sweaty or not—so keep that in mind if you prefer looser-fitting clothes.

As for the odor-free claim, lululemon's "Anti-Stink" filter on its site will pull up a bunch of clothes that incorporate materials like silver threads ("Silverescent") and zinc ("No-Stink Zinc"). Lululemon claims you can wear its clothes for a couple of training sessions in a row.

What we recommend:

Best for golf: Quince

Pros: Affordable golfwear made with durable lightweight fabrics that are moisture-wicking, anti-microbial and UPF rated

Cons: Runs small with limited extended sizes. Colors also tend to look more flat in person.

"I'm a lifelong athlete, and since turning that into a career, I've tried more activewear brands than I can remember. Most brands are pushing $100+ per item, so it's refreshing to see Quince with more affordable workout clothes for men.

As an avid golfer, there are a couple of things that I look for when it comes to the best men's golfwear: breathability, flexibility, durability, and just a dash of style. I tested out the ProTech Golf Pants, which were comfortable even in the triple-digit Texas heat.

Even in the extreme weather, I didn't feel any hotter than I would playing in shorts. These 4-way stretch pants are moisture wicking (a true lifesaver on sweltering days), anti-bacterial, and come with UPF-50 sun protection, which is a must for me down here in the south. They feature a regular fit that skews slim, and while they do run a little long, it's not a deal breaker given their $52 price point.

I paired these with the FlowKnit Breeze Performance Polo. This golf shirt made from a poly-Spandex blend rated UPF 40, rather than a preferred 50, but I like that it's just long enough that you can wear it tucked in during a full round. It has a slim fit, but there was no restriction at any point during my swing. At $36, it's an absolute steal compared to similar polos running for $70. While the fabric is thinner, I almost think that makes it a better choice for the course, as you'll likely want something more breathable.

After washing both pieces multiple times, all their threads and buttons still look like new, and the color shows no signs of fading. Thanks to their construction, dry time is very short and you won't need to use high heat." — Jeff Turbett, men's style contributor, Insider Reviews

Read more in our broader Quince clothing review and Quince men's clothing review.

What we recommend:

Best versatile: Hylete

Pros: Wide selection of versatile workout clothing including casual apparel to technical gear, variety of sizing and lengths to fit different personal style, its tri-blend shirts are especially comfortable

Cons: Some t-shirt sizing seems to vary across different styles

If it's versatility you're after, look no further than Hylete's line of men's activewear. It offers a varied selection of tees, tanks, polos, pullovers, and hoodies, all designed with athletes in mind.

I've been wearing Hylete for a couple years now and use it for everything from boxing and resistance band workouts to longer cycling outings on the weekends (I also lift weights and run in them). 

The brand's clothing is functional for a variety of workouts but I have also found myself wearing its tees when I'm not working out — sometimes as something casual to wear while working from home or while running errands. 

A few of my favorites are its Minimalist Hy-Blend Crew Tee and the Fuse Short. The shirt features a flattering athletic cut, and its blend of fabric keeps it comfortable no matter how active I am (and stays comfortable even if I'm doing a workout that makes me particularly sweaty). 

The Vertex II Short is also the epitome of the brand's versatility. It is available in sizes ranging from XS to XXL. I wear them and find them to work well for running, lifting weights, cycling, or HIIT and boxing workouts. 

Hylete's pricing is fairly modest, too, with the Crew Tee costing $38 and the Vertex II Short $78 — both are prices that fall squarely in the middle of most athletic apparel worth spending money on. The gear is durable, well-built, and ready for a variety of workouts, so it's well worth the investment. 

What we recommend:

Best budget: All In Motion

Pros: Affordable, large selection of styles

Cons: Not as durable as more premium brands

As if you needed another reason to run to Target, its All In Motion active apparel has become my go-to choice for workout gear. The clothes aren't trendy or made with premium materials, but All In Motion checks the right boxes for me: Fit, functionality, and color options. But mostly, I find it hard to justify buying other brands for the price point.

All In Motion (AIM) has a fairly large selection of men's styles in five categories: shirts, pants, shorts, sweatshirts & jackets, and shoes. I've been buying Target brand workout clothes for over two years, and I currently own three different types of shorts and two varieties of shirts from AIM. My favorite shorts are the Unlined Run Shorts (with a seven-inch inseam) and the Short Sleeve Performance T-Shirt.

The shorts are basic but functional, with two zippered pockets, an elastic waistband, and leg vents. They're the lightest shorts I own, which is primarily why I love them, and they sit comfortably on my waist. You probably won't see them featured in any fashion blog, but the shorts are stylish enough to wear in and out of the gym. Sometimes, when I'm running errands around town, I'll pair the Wild Boysenberry color with a white t-shirt, crew socks, and a forest green puffer vest on a warm fall day. If you're between sizes or have wider hips and thighs, go a size up, as the shorts can feel snug in these areas. This is especially true for the Hybrid Shorts.

At 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, I wear a medium, and no shirt fits better than the Performance T-Shirt. The sleeves hug my arms just right, and the bottom half gives me enough room to never want to pull it away from my stomach. Plus, it's long enough to avoid showing my stomach when I lift my arms, which is a pet peeve of mine. The colorways are extensive but plain, which some folks may find boring, but I don't mind this since the shirts look good whether I'm in the gym or, say, at a bar. The shirt absorbs sweat reasonably well, but the armpits of my darker-colored Performance Tees discolored quicker than expected.

Of course, being that this is our best budget pick, we can't ignore the price. The All In Motion shorts range from $17-24, and the shirts from $15-20. The shorts alone are between $30 and $60 cheaper than some other picks on this list. After a couple of years, I have yet to replace any of my All In Motion gear, but it's safe to say the quality won't hold up to premium brands. Still, for significantly less money, you're walking away with (more like in) a set of comfortable and versatile activewear.

What we recommend:

Best weighted workout gear: Omorpho

Pros: You can hardly feel the added weight while wearing, doesn't hinder your movement, you can truly feel the increase in workout effectiveness

Cons: Expensive, the shirt can ride up a little

Exercising in a weighted vest has proven to help people increase strength, improve endurance, and dramatically ratchet up the intensity of their workout. But they're not always the easiest things to wear and move around in. 

Enter Omorpho, a brand founded by a former Nike exec that's combined the concept of a weighted vest with workout apparel. Instead of throwing on a bulky vest packed with weighted plates, Omorpho apparel has weight built directly into the clothes. Since it's evenly distributed across the design, it hardly feels like you're wearing something heavier than a typical workout shirt. 

When I first tried on the brand's 2-in-1 G-Short and the G-Top Short Sleeve, I was skeptical. Holding each piece in my hand felt as if there'd be no way I wouldn't notice something that heavy on my body while working out. However, my opinion changed as soon as I put them on. I could feel the weight, but it wasn't as significant as I'd thought. 

To test the gear, I wore each piece for three weeks straight, using it for every combination of workouts I typically do. This includes cycling, boxing, resistance training, strength training, running, and so on. Though it's hard to pinpoint its exact impact on my training, one thing I did notice was how much lighter I felt on runs when I wasn't wearing it. I logged faster mile times and was able to run longer and further.

Although I don't wear the apparel as often as I did when I was exhaustively testing it, I do make sure it's in my wardrobe at least three times a week (and I switch up what kinds of workouts I use it for often). It's a unique take on adding resistance to your workouts, and one that's a bit more versatile than throwing on a weighted vest. 

What we recommend:

Best for multi-sport training: NoBull

Pros: Versatile clothing for a variety of workout types, a huge range of sizes and styles for all body types, also offers accessories like gym bags, cross-training shoes, headbands, and towels, moderate prices, durable

Cons: Sizing can run small in some pieces

If you're the kind of person who likes to keep active in a variety of ways, be it running, cycling, lifting weights, or even doing CrossFit, then the workout apparel from NoBull is one to pay attention to. From its shorts and workout tops to its shoes, gym bags, and casual wear, NoBull has something for everyone. 

As someone who keeps active every day, and who tries to do something different as often as possible, I was excited to try NoBull's gear. I'd seen ads on Instagram for the brand for some time but had chalked it up to just that: a social media-promoted athletic brand that was just like any of the others. 

But boy, was I wrong. The gear I received from NoBull quickly changed my perspective. Not only did I find the apparel to be among the most comfortable in terms of fit, but the styles were all versatile enough that it didn't matter if I was running, doing a resistance band workout, or boxing. Aside from being comfortable, they also wick sweat incredibly well and are stretchy enough for a variety of movements. And since the brand acquired Public Rec earlier this year, our editor-favorite GameChanger Rec Pants now live under the NoBull roof.

I also tried out a pair of NoBull's running shoes which in addition to using them to work out, they became one of my go-to travel shoes (they're incredibly comfortable, if that wasn't already clear). 

One tiny nitpick to point out is the sizing can run small. If you're in between sizes, go for the next one up just to be safe. The site does have a size guide for each piece, so I recommend referencing that before buying, too. 

What we recommend:

Best compression: Under Armour

Pros: Versatile clothing selection, affordable, great compression

Cons: None

In the early 2000s, Under Armour was the athletic wear brand. It had hype commercials, massive athlete endorsements, and, of course, that iconic slogan: Protect This House. While the brand's popularity doesn't carry the same oomph, Under Armour's compression gear—its flagship product—is still best-in-class.

UA primarily offers two types of compression gear, HeatGear and ColdGear, which help with thermoregulation in extreme temperatures. Depending on the season and type of workout, compression gear can be worn under looser-fitting clothes or on its own. For example, I typically wear leggings and a compression rash guard during my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing classes because I feel more mobile in tight clothing, and they don't cling to my body when I sweat.

A T-shirt, leggings, and hoodie will cover your bases during most seasons. The shirt and leggings can be worn on their own or layered during colder months for extra warmth with minimal bulk. If you're not used to compression gear, buy one piece to start. Wearing skin-tight clothing takes some getting used to, and the tactile experience isn't for everyone. You may find yourself repeatedly pulling on certain spots of your leggings or shirt. Or, sometimes, the compression gear rides up, which is uncomfortable. The hoodie is a prime pick for runs since it'll provide warmth with a slim profile.

What we recommend:

Best size inclusive: One Bone

Pros: Uses premium materials to craft trendy and comfortable clothing ranging from medium to 8XL.

Cons: Because One Bone isn't exclusively a fitness brand, the selection of workout clothes is limited.

One Bone's slogan is, "Size doesn't matter. Fit does." This apparel company, made "for the big man, by the big man," produces fashion-forward clothes for larger bodies. Hop on its website, and you'll notice a few ways One Bone offers a more inclusive shopping experience. First, it stocks a range of sizes from medium to 8XL. They also rebranded the standard sizing model to avoid using the word "extra." Instead, you'll find a numbered system, with -2 being a medium and 7 being an 8XL. Lastly, One Bone employs a variety of models to highlight how different sizes look on different body types.

Its workout line is limited but includes all the staple pieces you need to hit the gym—tank tops, hoodies, pullovers, and shorts. The fabric depends on which product you purchase. Some One Bone pieces use mostly cotton, while others are predominantly polyester, and they suggest you wash the items on cold and hang dry. While the care instructions might require a bit more effort, it's worth it to maintain the fit and fabric quality over time. We especially like Bullet Tank, which features a waffle pattern for an elevated look.

The prices are in line with most other brands on this list. Tees cost about $60, shorts about $85, and hoodies and pullovers range from $95 to $125. None of these prices are certifiably outrageous, but you are paying a premium price for premium quality.

What we recommend:

How I test men's workout clothes

Each of the pieces of workout clothing highlighted in this guide went through a series of tests to see how well it performed across these four categories: Fit, function, durability, and value. Here's how each category specifically factored into which athletic wear ultimately made this guide:

Fit: Fit is an important category since a well-fitting piece of workout clothing will almost always be comfortable during a workout. Fit is also more than just making sure you select the right size but is also about how it feels while working out. The rise of stretch fabrics has helped this category significantly.

Function: The basic function of workout clothing should be to keep you comfortable, move along with how you work out, and maybe even wick some sweat. When testing, I looked at how well a brand's sweat-wicking tech worked, whether it repelled odors, and if the four-way stretch fabric was able to stretch in all directions.

Durability: Premium workout clothing should last longer than a few months of heavy use and heavy cleaning. This means it should keep its fit and still offer whatever suite of extra features long after you purchase it and wear it for the first time. This category is best served as a long-term assessment, and we've included updated insight on some pieces where we're able.

Value: The best workout gear won't always be cheap. Though we've included a budget brand in this guide (and one we stand behind), it's oftentimes worth it to spend a little more on workout clothing that's designed to last (as opposed to spending less on something you'll have to replace over and over again). 

FAQs on men's workout clothes

What should I consider when shopping for workout clothes?

You'll first want to think about the type of exercise you do most often. Clothing is just another tool to help or hinder you, so be sure you're buying the right gear for the right activity.

A piece of clothing's ability to withstand cycles in the washing machine is also a key quality. You'll likely be sweating through these clothes a lot and (hopefully) putting them in the laundry quite often. If you're buying flimsily made clothing, you'll have to replace them much more often.

Consider how multi-purpose you need your gear to be, too. Are you only going to wear those joggers to the gym, or are they also for lounging around? Is that long-sleeved tee just as good for your run as it is for running errands on the weekend? The workout clothing you wear doesn't have to cover a range of use cases but some are designed for more than just running or lifting weights (and can make your investment stretch a little further).   

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What are the differences between men's and women's workout clothes?

Brands differentiate men's and women's workout clothing both in terms of specific design choices, as well as colorways and style. Men's workout shirts tend to be cut to fit broader shoulders while men's shorts offer more leg coverage (though this isn't always the case) and added space in the crotch. 

Women's workout shirts are often narrower and form-fitting, have shorter sleeves, and are sometimes designed to fit tighter around the arms. Shorts designed for women tend to feature a cut that accommodates rounder hips, are void of any added space in the crotch, and may also have a wider waistband.

Despite these differences, finding the "right" workout clothing comes down to what fits you best and what feels comfortable while you work out. Although this piece focuses specifically on workout clothing designed for cisgender men, we also have women's gear guide that features apparel more closely associated with the design and fit tendencies found in women's workout clothing.

I've been reviewing TVs for over a decade, and in that time, I've seen various brands rise and fall. Hisense is one of the companies that has really leveled up in the last several years. My team and I have tested all of the company's most popular displays, and the best Hisense TVs can compete with pricier sets from other brands, especially if you want strong picture quality without spending a fortune.

My favorite Hisense TV right now is the U8QG QLED TV. It gets incredibly bright, and its Mini LED backlight helps it maintain deep, controlled contrast. For something more budget-friendly, the U6SF Pro QLED TV is a smart pick. It doesn't get as bright, but it's more affordable and has a handy anti-reflective screen.

The best Hisense TVs are offered in various screen sizes, and some of my picks are available in massive 100-inch and even 116-inch screens. Though I've linked to each TV's 65-inch size, you can select other options from each retailer's listing.

Our top picks for the best Hisense TVs

Best overall: Hisense U8QG QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best budget: Hisense U6SF Pro QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best midrange: Hisense U7SG QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best RGB LED: Hisense UR9 RGB Mini LED TV- See at Best Buy

Best for your wall: Hisense Canvas S7SG QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best overall

The U8QG is the best Hisense TV for high-end picture quality at a reasonable price. This is one of Hisense's flagship sets, and it delivers impressive brightness and punchy HDR (high dynamic range) images. Its QLED panel is paired with a Mini LED backlight and full-array local dimming, so you get searing highlights along with good black levels.

In testing, the U8QG actually exceeded Hisense's already ambitious brightness claims, hitting over 5,000 nits in HDR — among the highest measurements our reviewer has seen. That kind of performance makes HDR movies and games look incredibly dynamic. And though the TV's glossy-style panel isn't the best at reducing reflections, the display's high brightness helps it overcome glare in rooms with ambient light.

But crucially, the TV isn't just a light cannon. Local dimming does a great job keeping blooming in check, so bright objects on dark backgrounds are rarely hindered by distracting halos, and black levels come surprisingly close to what you'd expect from an OLED. The trade-off is that the U8QG can occasionally crush shadow detail and tends to push reds a bit too hard, so explosions and certain warm hues can look oversaturated. But the overall color coverage is wide, and skin tones look natural, so most content comes across as pleasantly vibrant.

Gamers get a lot to like here as well. The U8QG offers HDMI 2.1 support, low input lag, variable refresh rate up to 165Hz for PCs, and Dolby Vision gaming. There's even a dedicated game bar for quickly tweaking settings mid-session. The main downside is connectivity: you get three HDMI ports instead of the four that are common at this level. Instead of a fourth HDMI port, the U8QG features a USB-C DisplayPort that doesn't support HDR or VRR, so most people are better off ignoring it.

The display runs Google TV, which is one of the most reliable smart TV platforms, with smooth navigation and deep app support. The TV's physical design is a bit chunky compared to ultra-slim rivals, but that bulk leaves room for an integrated 4.1.2 speaker system. It's better than typical TV audio, though I'd still pair it with a soundbar.

With screen sizes from 55 to 100 inches, frequent discounts, and performance that matches or beats similarly priced competitors, the U8QG stands out as the best Hisense TV for a bright, high-impact picture. However, shoppers should be aware of some differences across sizes. The 65-, 85-, and 100-inch models use a VA panel, while the 55- and 75-inch sizes reportedly use an ADS Pro panel. VA panels deliver high contrast, while ADS panels have lower contrast but better viewing angles. Our reviewer tested the 65-inch size and was impressed by its contrast, but the 55- and 75-inch sizes will likely deliver worse results.

Check out our Hisense U8QG TV review.

Best budget

The Hisense U6SF Pro is the best Hisense TV for budget shoppers. It packs a QLED panel, Mini LED local dimming, and a fast 144Hz refresh rate into an affordable package. It also has a matte-like screen that does an excellent job of reducing reflections. That's a rare feature for a budget TV, and it's something Hisense's older U65QF lacks.

Of course, picture quality can't match that of pricier Hisense models, but it's impressive for the money. Our reviewer measured around 1,200 nits of peak brightness in the TV's most accurate Filmmaker Mode, which is enough to give HDR highlights solid pop. The U6SF Pro also produces natural-looking colors, with coverage of more than 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and its Mini LED backlight keeps distracting light bloom to a minimum in most scenes.

However, the U6SF Pro's contrast isn't as good as that of Hisense's step-up models, such as the U8QG and U7SG, which causes black levels to look less inky. This can make the picture look a bit less punchy in certain scenes. Still, shadow detail is good, and the TV's anti-reflective screen helps it hold up particularly well during daytime viewing.

Gamers get a strong feature set for this tier as well. Two HDMI ports support variable refresh rate at up to 144Hz with a compatible PC. However, the Fire TV operating system doesn't include the convenient gaming bar found on Hisense's Google TV models.

Fire TV is actually one of the U6SF Pro's biggest drawbacks overall. It supports all the major streaming apps along with Alexa+ voice features, but the interface is cluttered with ads and heavily promotes Amazon services. Discerning viewers may also notice some dirty-screen effect and moiré patterns in particularly challenging scenes, though these shortcomings aren't unusual at this price.

Ultimately, the U6SF Pro stands out as Hisense's best option for buyers who want to keep costs down without sacrificing key image-quality features. The 65-inch model has an MSRP of $1,100, but it's typically on sale for $600-$800. Just keep in mind that while the U6SF Pro is available in 55- to 100-inch sizes, the 100-inch version does not have the same anti-reflective screen as the smaller models.

Check out our full Hisense U6SF Pro TV review.

Visit our guide to the best budget TVs for affordable recommendations from other brands.

Best midrange

Hisense's U7SG is the brand's latest midrange Mini LED TV, positioned one step above the U6SF Pro and a step below the company's U8 Series. Its biggest upgrade over cheaper Hisense models is its peak brightness, which is more than twice that of the U6SF Pro. It also uses the Google TV operating system rather than Amazon's Fire TV, which I like a lot more.

In my testing, the U7SG's peak brightness measured at around 2,800 nits, the highest reading I've seen on a TV in this class. This enables HDR performance that delivers more impact than you'd see on the U6SF Pro, though the U8QG still has an edge with especially bright content. But unlike the U8QG, the U7SG has a matte-style screen to reduce glare, and it does a solid job of dispersing direct reflections.

Contrast control is also quite good for this tier, and the TV can produce black levels that disappear into a dark room. That said, how deep black levels appear is dependent on what's going on in any given scene, as some minor blooming and light bleed are evident in certain situations.

For example, a test scene I use from Prime Video's "Road House," which features two characters talking in a parking lot at night, revealed some patchiness in the backlight's control, as background black levels looked lighter in certain parts of the screen with brighter elements in them (like a street lamp). This kind of blooming is common on midrange local-dimming TVs with such high brightness, and you'll generally need to step up a tier to get better backlight control.

Colors are rich, with over 90% coverage of the P3 color gamut, which is used in most HDR content. However, even in Filmmaker mode, the TV's most accurate out-of-the-box setting, the panel's color temperature is too cool, resulting in a blue cast. This can be fixed by manually adjusting the display's white balance settings, but it's a bit disappointing that this isn't more accurate by default.

Viewing angles are decent but fail to impress. Color and contrast still noticeably shift if you're sitting at an angle from the display. But this is expected for a midrange Mini LED TV from any brand. On the plus side, the TV is well-equipped for gamers, with four HDMI 2.1 ports that support up to 4K at 165Hz.

Special note should also be made of the TV's hefty pedestal stand, which feels sturdier and leaves more room for a soundbar than some other brands' options. The 65-inch model carries a full retail price of $1,500, but it's usually on sale for $900-$1,000, which is highly competitive for this class. It's even available in massive 100- and 116-inch options, but be aware that those sizes don't use an anti-reflective screen.

Best RGB LED

The UR9 is Hisense's new flagship RGB Mini LED TV. Unlike the brand's QLED displays, which only use white or blue LEDs in their backlights, the UR9 uses red, green, and blue LEDs. This allows it to produce a purer, wider range of colors.

When testing the TV using a colorimeter, Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software, and G1 pattern generator, I measured 91% of the BT.2020 color space. That matches the Samsung R95H for the widest color range I've seen on any TV. Now, it's important to remember that it's still rare for movies and TV shows to actually take full advantage of such an expanded color gamut, so this is more of a future-looking feature. But even so, the UR9's color performance is undeniably impressive in action.

The TV's vibrant colors are complemented by excellent brightness, reaching around 3,300 nits. This all translates to bold, rich HDR performance with intense specular highlights. Contrast control is also great, with deep black levels and only very minor blooming in particularly tricky scenes. Compared to the competition, I'd give a slight edge to the local dimming performance I've seen on TCL's SQD TVs and Sony's True RGB TVs, but the UR9 is still in the top tier.

The UR9's smart features and design are similar to those of the U8QG. The Google TV interface is snappy, and the TV supports Gemini AI voice control. However, I did run into a minor picture-settings glitch in which the TV would occasionally switch from Filmmaker Mode to Theater Night mode on its own. Like the U8QG, this model has three HDMI 2.1 ports and a USB-C port, which I find less useful than a fourth HDMI input.

Ultimately, the performance difference between this model and the cheaper U8QG is subtle. This is the best Hisense TV for next-gen color capabilities, but for everyday viewing, its benefits are less dramatic than the price difference would suggest. In that sense, this model is geared primarily toward enthusiasts willing to pay extra for the brand's latest display technology.

You can learn more about RGB LED tech in our RGB LED vs. Mini LED guide.

Visit our guide to the best TVs for picture quality.

Best for your wall

The Hisense S7 Canvas TV is the brand's answer to Samsung's Frame TV. Like that rival display, the Canvas is designed to resemble a framed work of art when you're not watching it. This makes it an excellent fit for users planning to wall-mount their display.

Our reviewer tested the S7N, but that model has since been replaced by a slightly refreshed model called the S7SG. The core design and features remain the same, but the revised model can get a bit brighter and combat reflections more effectively. It's also available in a 50-inch size for the first time.

To pull off its gallery-style look, the Canvas TV features a matte screen, a flush wall mount, support for magnetic bezel attachments, and a motion sensor that automatically shifts into art mode when someone's in the room. When in art mode, the TV can display various pieces of art and photography. Though the selection isn't as large as you'd get with Samsung's Art Store, Hisense doesn't require a paid subscription to access its offerings.

The Canvas TV comes with a wooden-style magnetic bezel, which you can swap out for other frame styles. However, alternate bezels are hard to find, with the most common options being from sellers on Etsy. Still, it's nice that the display comes with a bezel since Samsung requires you to purchase one separately.

HDMI ports are built into the panel, just like on other Hisense models. That's in contrast to some Samsung Frame TVs, which use a separate connection box. Our reviewer prefers a separate box because it reduces the number of cables you need to hang from your wall. However, if you need to connect external components and a clean look is important, you can always use cable covers or run them through your wall instead.

While the Canvas TV is an excellent Frame TV alternative, it's important to remember that this is a design-focused display rather than a picture-quality-focused one. As such, the Canvas TV's image performance lags behind Hisense's Mini LED and RGB LED models.

The Canvas TV still uses quantum dots to produce a solid range of colors, but it lacks local dimming, which lowers its contrast. This means that dim scenes will look washed out with black levels that veer toward a cloudy gray in a dark room. Viewing angles are also mediocre, and brightness is notably lower than that of my other picks.

With that in mind, the S7SG is the best Hisense TV for casual viewers who prioritize flush wall mounting and living-room aesthetics over home-theater performance. In that context, it's a great value, but picture-quality enthusiasts are much better off with the brand's U6, U7, U8, or UR9 series.

Visit our guide to the best frame TVs.

How we test Hisense TVs

To evaluate the best Hisense TVs, our team of reviewers relied on hands-on testing informed by more than a decade of experience reviewing home entertainment gear. Our methodology focuses on picture clarity, HDR brightness, color accuracy, contrast, viewing angles, smart TV performance, gaming features, and overall value.

To test TVs, we use professional measurement tools, the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray, and pattern generators to check brightness, color gamut, grayscale, and other technical performance metrics. But specs and numbers only go so far. To see how Hisense TVs hold up in real homes, we spend hours watching actual movies, shows, sports, and live content.

We use a curated set of scenes that highlight strengths and expose weaknesses, from deep black levels and bright HDR highlights to fine detail and color consistency. We view content across resolutions, from standard definition and HD to native 4K, using streaming apps, Blu-ray discs, and live TV. We also test TVs in both dark and brightly lit rooms to see how well they handle reflections and daytime viewing.

Smart features matter, too. We test app load times, menu responsiveness, and voice controls to get a sense of how easy each Hisense TV is to live with day-to-day.

Hisense TV FAQs

Is Hisense a reliable TV brand?

Based on our extensive testing experience with the company's TVs, Hisense is a reliable brand. The company has built a strong reputation for offering dependable TVs at competitive prices. Its mid- and higher-tier models are especially good values, often offering performance that matches or exceeds that of similarly priced TVs from brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony.

However, not all Hisense TV models are created equal, as its lower-end offerings tend to be more prone to glitches. In the past, Hisense's quality control has also been less consistent than that of pricier brands, but this has improved over the last couple of years. All the Hisense TVs we highlight in this guide excelled in our testing and were free of egregious issues.

If you're interested in browsing TVs from other brands, check out our other TV guides:

• Best TVs
• Best TCL TVs
• Best Samsung TVs
• Best LG TVs
• Best Sony TVs
• Best Roku TVs

What kinds of TVs does Hisense offer?

Hisense offers a wide range of TVs, from entry-level HD and 4K LED models designed for budget shoppers to more advanced models featuring QLED panels and Mini LED backlights, which are optimized for bright HDR performance and smooth gaming. The brand also sells Laser TVs (short-throw projectors) and is one of the first companies to offer an RGB Mini LED TV.

Hisense's flagship TVs are typically branded as part of its ULED Series and include models such as the U8QG, U7SG, and U6SF Pro. The company also has a new line of flagship RGB Mini LED TVs, including the UR8 and UR9 series.

In addition, Hisense has one Micro LED TV model, the massive 136-inch 136MX, which is geared toward luxury buyers.

Hisense does not currently offer any OLED TVs in the US. For OLED recommendations, visit our guide to the best OLED TVs.

What size TVs does Hisense make?

Hisense's current TV lineup ranges from 32 inches to 136 inches. However, most of Hisense's flagship offerings range from 55 to 116 inches. For TV recommendations across different sizes, visit our size-specific guides:

• Best 100-inch TVs
• Best 85-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 43-inch TVs

What smart TV platform does Hisense use?

Hisense uses several smart TV platforms across its TV lineup. Its flagship models typically use Google TV, while its more budget-focused displays use either Fire TV or Roku OS. In this guide, the U8QG, UR9, U7SG, and Canvas S7N all use the Google TV interface, while the U6SF Pro uses the Fire TV interface.

You can learn more about different smart TV platforms in our guide to the best smart TVs.

Out of all the bedding we've tested over the years, bamboo sheets might just be our favorite. Other types of cooling sheets use crisp fabric to keep hot sleepers comfortable, but the best bamboo sheets strike the perfect balance of silky softness and airy breathability. They're the best sheets for anyone who wants to stay cool without sacrificing softness.

We slept on a dozen bamboo sheet sets to evaluate their feel, durability, and fit. We also talked to textile expert Deborah Young to learn more about bamboo fabric and what to look for when shopping for high-quality bamboo sheets. Below, you'll find the best bamboo sheet set for every kind of sleeper and every budget.

Our top picks for bamboo sheets

Best overall bamboo sheets: Quince Bamboo Sheet Set - See at Quince

Best splurge bamboo sheets: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set - See at Cozy Earth

Softest bamboo sheets: Cariloha Bamboo Sheet Set - See at Cariloha

Best value bamboo sheets: Bampure Bamboo Sheet Set - See at Amazon

Best cooling bamboo sheets My Sheets Rock The Regulator Sheet Set - See at My Sheets Rock

Most durable bamboo sheets: The Company Store Classic Bamboo Sateen Bed Sheet Set - See at The Company Store

Best deep-pocket bamboo sheets: Bearaby Second Skin Sheet Set - See at Bearaby

Best eco-friendly bamboo sheets: Ettitude Signature Bamboo Sheet Set - See at Ettitude

Best overall

Our best overall pick feels and fits great. Quince's Bamboo Sheet Set has just about everything we look for in bamboo sheets: They're soft, cool, and well-fitting. The sheets are luxuriously soft right out of the packaging. Both the fitted and top sheets fit my mattress like a glove, and the labels for the side, top, and bottom make bed-making a breeze. These sheets are cool to the touch and exceptionally breathable throughout the night, providing a subtly cool experience that keeps hot sleepers comfortable without being overwhelming.

They're surprisingly affordable. These sheets provide excellent value for the price, costing about $134 for a queen-size set. They're available as a full sheet set ( fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases) or save $30 and get a set without the flat sheet. There are 28 colors to choose from (including a few stripe options and seasonal color drops), and six sizes. We also love that Quince offers a 365-day return policy that applies to all its bedding — the longest we came across during our research and testing.

Bamboo is eco-friendly, but the "organic" marketing is a misnomer. Quince highlights its bamboo bedding as made of 100% viscose from organic bamboo. While bamboo itself does not require the use of pesticides, there is no authority that certifies bamboo fabric as organic. Rather, the viscose fabric is derived from organic bamboo and holds Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification for safety. How sustainable these sheets actually are is a bit of an unknown. What we do know, though, is that these bamboo sheets are insanely soft, breathable, and well-priced. If sustainable bamboo textiles are important to you, our eco-friendly pick from Ettitude is more transparent regarding their closed-loop manufacturing processes.

We've noticed durability issues. Over time, one tester noticed issues with staining and durability in these sheets. While minor, loose and torn threads appeared over time. They also have a thin feel, so they don't have that thick, luxurious sensation you'd expect from sheets this soft. That does mean they're very breathable, though.

Read our full Quince Bamboo Sheets review and see more of our favorite Quince products we've tried over the years.

Best splurge

Cozy Earth's bamboo sheets are luxurious. Starting at $258 for a twin-size set, Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheet Set is definitely a splurge. Crafted from 100% viscose from bamboo, these sheets are luxurious, to say the least. They have a medium-weight feel — they're not too thin, but not too thick. With a slight sheen and a silky feel, we found these sheets cool to the touch and extremely soft. The sheets eventually lost their silk-like sheen after washing, but retain their silky, airy feel that gets softer and buttier with use.

The fitted sheet fits like a glove, but the flat sheet is too long. Thanks to the sheet's side and bottom tags, making the bed takes no time at all. While the fitted sheet fits well and works with mattresses up to 20 inches thick, the flat sheet was too long — almost touching the floor on both sides of the bed. I like having the extra length to tuck the sheets in at night, but the overhanging look might bug you. After washing and drying, the flat sheet still hasn't shrunk up much.

But be careful — they're delicate. One of our testers has tried two different sets of Cozy Earth bamboo sheets and has been disappointed to find that both fitted sheets ripped. Be extra careful when using these sheets, and keep pets away from the bed, as their claws could cause holes or rips. Abnormal rips and tears are covered by the 10-year warranty, and our tester received a replacement for her torn set with no issue.

Read our full Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets review.

Softest

Cariloha's sheets are the softest of soft. Almost all bamboo sheet sets are soft by nature of the category, but the Bamboo Sheet Set from Cariloha is the softest we tested. Made from 100% viscose from bamboo, Cariloha's sheets feature a luxuriously soft twill-weave construction. The materials are harvested and manufactured in environmentally sustainable ways, with several eco-friendly standards and certifications, including Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Oeko-Tex Made in Green, Forest Stewardship Council, Fair Trade, and more.

They're noticeably thick. Although not as cooling as some of the others we tested, we still found the sheets to be breathable. Plus, they had a thick, durable feel, which means they'll last for years to come. With extra-deep pockets that accommodate beds up to 18 inches thick, the fitted sheet has no issue stretching over thicker mattresses. It also has an elastic "active band" that stretches under the corners to keep sheets from sliding off. The flat sheet is also noticeably oversized and runs long on both sides, even after washing.

Choose from a variety of sizes and colors. These sheets come in nine sizes (from twin to split-head king — the most variety we found) and five classic colors, such as white, ivory, and sage. All of Cariloha's bedding products can be returned or exchanged within 100 days, which is one of the longest return policies we found, after Quince. However, you are responsible for return shipping costs.

Best value

These are the best bamboo sheets under $100. Besides our best overall set, a great affordable set we tested was the Bampure Bamboo Sheet Set. These sateen weave sheets are made of 100% viscose from organic bamboo and are Oeko-Tex certified. Straight out of the package, we loved how these sheets felt. They're thick and soft, and they feel heavier than some of the other products on this list. In fact, we were surprised at how breathable and moisture-wicking they were throughout the night.

Bands on the fitted sheet keep the corners in place. A feature we love is the thick elastic corner bands that hold the fitted sheet in place on the mattress — something we didn't find on any of the other sheets we tested. Thanks to 16-inch deep pockets, the sheets fit the bed just right, with no excess material or bunching, and continued to fit well even after washing. The envelope style pillowcase closure also keeps fabric from shifting around too much, too.

They hold up to washing. These sheets came out of the dryer super soft — softer than when they came out of the package. And after washing, there were no signs of pilling, degradation, or loose threads. Bampure's sheets come in 12 colors. You can also choose between a four-piece or six-piece set, which includes two extra pillowcases.

Also consider: Other budget bamboo sheet sets under $100 we like that you can read more about in our What Else We Tested section: The Bedsure PureWoven Rayon Derived Bamboo Sheets are the cheapest set we tested and deliver on their silky cool promise and available in a wide selection of colors, but their thinner construction could present long-term durability issues . The Doz Bamboo Sheet Set has the added cost-saving flexibility of letting you purchase with or without a flat sheet, but they get very wrinkly.

Coolest

True to their name, these sheets rock. Made with rayon from bamboo, the Regulator Sheets from My Sheets Rock are the coolest bamboo sheets we've ever tested, thanks to their breathable, cool-to-the-touch feel. My partner and I both sleep hot, but we've never woken up sweating when using these sheets. I love them so much that they've become my go-to sheets when I'm not actively testing another set.

They're cool, but not too cool. I forgot to turn on the heat one chilly night and awoke to a bedroom at about 50 degrees. Despite the chill in the air, I was perfectly comfortable and warm, snuggled up with the Regulator Sheets. As the name suggests, these sheets really do regulate your temperature. When I'm hot, I find they wick away the heat to keep me comfortable. But when I'm not sleeping hot, they aren't so cool that I wake up freezing.

They're as soft as cotton sateen, but without the heat retention. The feel is almost exactly the same as cotton sateen, but where cotton sateen runs warm, the Regulator Sheets are cool. I'm always impressed when a sheet set can deliver both softness and cooling, and this set doesn't disappoint.

I've noticed loose threads and sliding at night. After washing and drying these sheets, I noticed a few loose threads along the hems, but no significant pilling or damage. The pocket is also only 16 inches, so the fitted sheet tends to slide off the corners of my thick mattress.

Most durable

Bamboo-cotton blends are more durable than pure bamboo. According to Young, bamboo is not as strong as cotton, so opting for a blend reinforces the strength and can help with wrinkling. That's why the The Company Stores Cotton Bamboo Sateen Bed Sheet Set is made of 70% bamboo rayon and 30% combed cotton sateen, and have a subtle sheen reminiscent of the 100% bamboo sheets we tested. These sheets fit the bed well with no excess material or bunching. They held up well after washing, too. We felt like they would last a long time without pilling, degradation, or color fading. 

They maintain softness. While many of the sheets on our list got softer after washing, The Company Store's bamboo sheets were soft out of the packaging and equally soft after the first wash — we didn't notice a major difference. And despite not being cool to the touch like some of our other picks, we still found them breathable and moisture-wicking.

There are limited color options. Our only con with this set is that it is available in only five colors, including white, ivory, and pebble gray. The pillowcases and flat sheet can be personalized with a monogrammed, though.

Best deep-pocket

Bearaby's sheets have 22-inch pockets. Deep-pocket sheets are designed to fit on thick mattresses or beds adorned with a mattress topper. Bearaby's Second Skin Sheets fit mattresses up to 22 inches — making them our pick for the best deep-pocket bamboo sheets. I didn't have problems with the sheets slipping off the edge of the bed at night, which is one of my biggest bedding pet peeves.

They excel at wicking away moisture. Like the other bamboo sheets on our list, Bearaby's set is incredibly cool, soft, and breathable. I'm especially impressed with the sheet's moisture-wicking capabilities. Even though I sleep hot, I never woke up sweaty, and any night sweats were quickly wicked away by the sheets' silky fabric. The shams keep the pillow secure with a shell-like button closure.

They feel fresh every night. Bearaby infuses its bamboo sheets with mint and marine proteins to keep your bed fresh and clean. The brand claims that the design is cleaner than other sheets and stops microbial growth. We can't prove these claims, but I can attest that I feel like I'm slipping into fresh sheets every night. I also haven't noticed any pilling or discoloration after washing.

But they're pricey. While cheaper than other sets on our list, these are still pricey sheets, with a queen-size set costing over $300. The set comes in five sizes and six neutral colors and is backed by a yearlong warranty.

Best eco-friendly

If sustainability is your primary concern, these sheets are for you. Our best eco-friendly pick goes to the Ettitude Signature Bamboo Sheet Set for its incredible sustainability practices, including using zero harmful chemicals, saving water, and reducing waste. Ettitude's sheets are also 100% biodegradable. Made from 100% bamboo lyocell, these sheets are known for their softness, breathability, and eco-friendly production process.

They feel similar to our best overall and splurge picks. These sheets were a little too big for the bed, but they fit OK overall. There was no bunching — just a longer flat sheet. There are top and bottom tags to help with bed-making. We loved the thicker hem at the top of the flat sheet — it made the sheets look more luxurious. These sheets looked and felt similar to the Cozy Earth and Quince sheets in terms of sheen, softness, and silkiness.

We've noticed pilling around the edges. There were slight signs of pilling after washing, especially around the hems/edges of the sheets. Like Cozy Earth, these sheets did lose their sheen after washing but felt softer than when they came out of the package.

Choose from a variety of colors. You can get these sheets in eight natural and bold colors. Plus, they come in six sizes, from twin to California king. Each set comes with a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and either one or two pillowcases, depending on the size.

Our top picks compared

What else we tested

We're constantly testing sheet sets for potential additions to our best bamboo sheets guide. Here's what else we've tested and recommend

• Bedsure Purewoven Bamboo Sheet Set ($70): Bedsure's bamboo sheets perfectly balance softness and cooling at one of the lowest prices and have a silky feel. Bampure edged these out with a small preference details like a reinforced elasticized band on the fitted sheet and elegant envelope style pillowcases, but Bedsure has the widest color range and carries its sheets in a Twin XL. If you can't find our top picks in the color you want, Bedsure might have what you're looking for.
• DOZ Bamboo Sheet Set ($85): DOZ is a budget-friendly sister brand to Sijo, which makes our favorite cooling sheets of all time, and I was thoroughly impressed with this bamboo set. Its thick feel surprised me, given it's sold at a budget-friendly price point. At just a few dollars more than a Bampure set, it's a worthy alternative to our best value pick. You can also purchase with or without a top sheet. I also like that they explain that the viscose is derived from organically grown bamboo, but aren't outright misleading us with the fabric being labeled as organic.
• Ettitude Luxe Sheet Set ($410): Similar to Ettitude's Signature Sheet Set, the Luxe set is made from eco-friendly materials and adds enhanced antimicrobial and odor‑resistant properties. They are thicker than the Signature Set with a higher GSM, and the threading is made with 100% cotton rather than polyester. They've become a personal favorite, but they're very expensive compared to similar sets on our list.
• Kassatex Linen Bamboo Sheet Set ($405): These sheets are a luxurious gateway or introduction to textured linen bedding with a 40% blend of bamboo for immediate softness. They've gotten softer with each wash and are delightfully airy and breathable.

What to look for in a set of bamboo sheets

When shopping for the best bamboo sheets, there are several factors to consider to ensure you're selecting the best quality sheets for your bed.

Fabric processing: Bamboo sheets are typically made from bamboo fibers, often referred to as bamboo viscose or bamboo rayon (the two terms are generally interchangeable). There is also bamboo lyocell. Keep in mind that the manufacturing process can vary, and some bamboo sheets may be labeled differently based on specific processes used during production.

• Rayon: Bamboo rayon is created through a process that involves dissolving bamboo cellulose in a chemical solution and then turning it into fibers. While bamboo rayon is soft and breathable, the production process may involve chemicals that some consider less environmentally friendly.
• Viscose: Bamboo viscose is similar to bamboo rayon, and as we mentioned, the terms are often used interchangeably. The production process involves the same method as above. Like bamboo rayon, bamboo viscose is extremely soft and comfortable, but may raise environmental concerns due to the chemicals used in its production.
• Lyocell: Bamboo lyocell is produced using a more environmentally friendly method. In the lyocell process, bamboo cellulose is dissolved in a non-toxic organic solvent, and the solution is then formed into fibers. This method is considered more sustainable as it uses a closed-loop system, minimizing the environmental impact. 
• Cotton blends: Combines bamboo's softness with cotton's tensile strength to prevent pilling and tearing over time.

Weave: Bamboo sheets are commonly made with a sateen or twill weave. The sateen weave is known for its smooth and silky feel, with a subtle sheen on one side. It has a luxurious, soft texture, making it a popular choice for bedding. Twill weave provides a more textured, matte surface and is often used for durability. 

Thread count: Unlike cotton, a high thread count in bamboo can be a red flag. Counts over 400 indicate dense, heavy weaves that trap body heat and disrupt the fabric's natural breathability. Stick to bamboo sheets with a thread count between 250 and 400 for the optimal balance of airflow and durability.

Certifications: Look for certifications such as Oeko-Tex Standard 100 to ensure that the sheets meet certain environmental and safety standards. Most of our picks for the best bamboo sheets have a Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certification, meaning the final product has been independently tested against more than 100 harmful substances and is considered harmless for human health. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)is another one that ensures the raw bamboo source comes from responsibly managed forests. For example, Ettitude sheets are 100% biodegradable, and the bamboo used is grown with 100% rainwater and processed in a closed-loop system, ultimately saving water.

Return policy and sleep trial: Sheets are a personal purchase that may feel different for each sleeper. A trial period is a good way to determine if the sheets you bought are a good fit for you. All the sheets on our list have at least a 30-day return policy, and a few offer a 100-night sleep trial. Our best overall pick, Quince, comes with the longest return policy we saw — 365 days from the purchase date.

How we test bamboo sheets

To find the best bamboo sheets, we source the top-rated sets on the market and put them through multi-week, real-world testing on our own beds. We evaluate each set using the following hands-on criteria:

Unboxing inspection: Out of packaging, we initially assess softness, weight, and drape. We inspect seam stitching, corner construction, and hem finishing to catch any loose threads, fraying, or pre-existing snags before the first wash. 

Sleep comfort: We slept on the sheets for at least 3 nights and noted whether they were cooling and how smooth, soft, thin, or heavy they felt. We track heat retention, airflow, and moisture wicking across warm and cool ambient room temperatures, noting whether the sheets stay cool to the touch or trap body heat.

Laundering and shrinkage: We launder every sheet set according to manufacturer guidelines, machine-drying on low heat. After each wash cycle, we inspect for pilling or fabric degradation, shrinkage and fit retention, and the softness evolution, whether the fibers get noticeably softer over time.

Fit & daily functionality We evaluate how easily sheets slip onto standard and deep-pocket mattresses, noting whether the corners pop off during active sleep. We give extra credit for thoughtful details like clear orientation tags ("Top/Bottom") and corner retention bands, or for the option to purchase pieces individually rather than as a set.

Safety certifications and policy value: Beyond hands-on testing, we verify environmental and chemical safety claims through third-party labels such as Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and FSC. Finally, we weigh overall pricing against trial and warranty policies, such as Quince's 365-night return window or Cozy Earth's 10-year warranty.

Meet the experts behind this guide

Kinsley Searles, former associate home editor: I'm a bamboo bedding aficionado — when I'm not testing different sets, I sleep on bamboo sheets every night. I keep up with the latest products and constantly test to ensure we're recommending the best options in this guide.

Kayla Kitts, freelance contributor: I have over 10 years of experience in commerce writing and editing, specializing in home. I originally wrote and tested the products for this guide.

Bamboo sheet FAQs

Are bamboo sheets 100% bamboo?

Bamboo sheets can be made from a variety of materials, and not all bamboo sheets are necessarily made of 100% bamboo. Some sheets labeled as bamboo may be blends of bamboo and other fibers, such as cotton, like The Company Store's Bamboo Sheet Set. It's important to check the product description or label for specific details about the sheets' composition. If you're looking for sheets made entirely from bamboo, you may want to seek those labeled as "100% bamboo" or "viscose made from bamboo." Young says, "If it says it's [100%] bamboo, then yes, it is. But our Federal Government has decided not to give it its own general title. When you see something marked as bamboo rayon [or rayon made from bamboo], this is the official designation. That means it's made in the same way as rayon, but it's still bamboo."

Are bamboo sheets cooling?

Bamboo sheets are often praised for their cooling properties. Bamboo fibers are naturally breathable, allowing air to circulate and heat to dissipate. This helps in maintaining a more comfortable temperature while sleeping. Bamboo is also moisture-wicking, which can be particularly beneficial for those who tend to sweat during the night.

Are bamboo sheets eco-friendly and organic?

The bamboo crop itself is highly regarded for its ability to grow quickly with minimal water and no fertilizers, and can be certified organic. Its eco-friendliness as a textile depends on how the fabric is manufactured, as many manufacturing processes require chemicals or large amounts of water to produce the final soft, silky fabric. Ultimately, no finished viscose or rayon bamboo sheets are considered certified organic by the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS). Brands advertising finished bedding as "100% organic bamboo" are using marketing shorthand.

For a genuinely sustainable option, choose bamboo lyocell (like the Ettitude Signature Bamboo Sheet Set, which uses a closed-loop production process that recycles up to 98% of the water and non-toxic solvents. Also, if sustainability and safety are important to you, look for independent certifications such as Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (verifying the absence of harmful chemical residues) or FSC Certification (ensuring responsible forest harvesting).

How do you wash bamboo sheets?

Bamboo sheets require some care to maintain their quality as bamboo fibers are actually at their weakest when wet. First, always check the manufacturer's care instructions, as different brands may have specific recommendations. In general, bamboo sheets can be machine-washed in cool water on a gentle/delicate cycle using a mild detergent. Then, tumble dry on a low or gentle cycle, and remove the sheets promptly to prevent wrinkles. Avoid using hot water or high heat, as this can damage the fibers and lead to pilling or even tears. You can also line-dry your sheets, which can help preserve the fabric and maintain its quality over time. For more information on caring for bamboo sheets, we cover how to wash sheets.

What are the benefits of bamboo sheets?

Bamboo sheets have several notable benefits, including breathability, softness, and cooling properties. According to Young, they're also "incredibly absorbent, and when it comes to sleeping, absorbency is your number-one goal. Bamboo is the king of absorbency, and they also wick really well." Finally, bamboo is naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, and resistant to dust mites. "Odor comes from bacteria; you get rid of bacteria, you get rid of odor, so they will smell fresh longer," she says.

What is a good thread count for bamboo sheets?

Thread count has become more complicated because sheets can be woven or knit, and thread count is only useful for gauging the quality of woven sheets. If you're looking at woven sheets, a good thread count is 200 to 400. All of the sheets on our list range from 225 to 400 thread count.

Young said that for knit sheets, you'll want to look at weight, which is expressed in either GSM or ounces per square yard. For bamboo sheets, a higher weight or GSM is generally better.

It can be hard to savor summer when your heat-sensitive dog wilts in temperatures a tick above 70 degrees. My adventure pup, Olive, loves the outdoors, but even moderately warm weather can have her cutting walks short and seeking shade. I hate seeing her uncomfortable, so I tapped the expertise of two veterinarians to find out whether a cooling vest might help extend our summer outings while keeping her safer and more comfortable. They explained that the best dog cooling vests can be a helpful tool for dogs prone to overheating, as long as they're used alongside other heat-safety measures.

Based on my experts' guidance, I chose five dog cooling vests to test with Olive in June and July as temperatures began to climb in Western New York, ranging from the mid-70s to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. All of the vests use water and evaporation to help keep dogs cool, which the veterinarians I spoke with say is the safest and easiest type of cooling vest to use. To see how this gear performs on bigger dogs, I also drew on testing from Insider Reviews editor Sarah Saril, who evaluated four vests with her 70-pound German Shepherd.

A quick look at the best dog cooling vests

• Best overall: The Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Vest is made from lightweight, flexible fabric that's comfortable for dogs to wear and easy to stash in a travel tote. It provides full torso coverage, is simple to put on and take off for rewetting, and features an easy-to-adjust belly strap for a custom fit.
• Best for large dogs: Of the vests I tested, the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Vest accommodates the largest of dogs and feels durable enough to withstand their big adventures. While it's slightly bulkier than the other vests, it provides effective cooling with breathable mesh layers, and its light-colored fabric can help reduce heat absorption from the sun.

How we tested dog cooling vests

My dog, Olive, loves being outside, but she's not a fan of the heat. I wanted to find the best dog cooling vests to offer her some relief, so I asked two veterinarians what to look for. Based on their input, I developed a series of tests to evaluate the performance of five cooling vests across several key categories. Fellow Reviews reporter Sarah Saril also tested four of the five vests with her 70-pound German Shepherd, Davey. Saril was unable to test one of our contenders, the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest, because it was out of stock in Davey's size at the time of testing.

Here's a rundown of how we evaluated the cooling vests to land on my top two picks.

Fit and adjustability: A good fit allows dogs to move around comfortably while ensuring the vest maintains contact with the body. I put each vest on Olive to see whether it fit as expected and matched the manufacturer's size chart. I also considered the range of available sizes and how easy each vest was to adjust. While playing outdoors, Saril and I observed whether the vests stayed in place or shifted as our dogs moved.

Comfort: The cooling vests in this guide must be wet with water before use, but a vest that becomes too heavy will be uncomfortable. I weighed each vest before and after soaking, giving preference to lighter options. We also watched how our dogs moved while wearing the vests and noted how comfortable they appeared. After each outing, we checked for signs of chafing or irritation.

Surface temperature change: I used an infrared thermometer to measure how much each vest reduced the surface temperature of Olive's back and chest after she had worn it for five minutes. Of course, this test was imperfect, since it only measured Olive's surface temperature and not her internal core temperature. Nevertheless, it provided valuable information about how well each vest worked on the surface areas it covered.

Ease of rewetting: These cooling vests rely on evaporation to work. This means that as they dry, they become less effective and need to be re-soaked. A vest that is easy to remove quickly and rewet is more practical. We timed how long it took to remove each damp vest, soak it, wring it out, and put it back on our dogs. We also noted vests with tricky designs, concealed buckles, or bulky materials that made the process more difficult.

Durability: Since they're outdoor accessories, cooling vests should withstand contact with brush, rocks, and rugged terrain. Before use, I inspected each vest for manufacturing defects, like weak buckles or loose stitching. Then I dragged a dinner fork across the fabric 30 times, tugged on any straps, and ran zippers back and forth to assess durability.

Ease of cleaning: Outdoor gear is bound to get dirty, and a wet vest, in particular, will pick up dirt and dust. A vest that's hard to clean isn't a practical option. For this test, I smeared dirt onto the vests while they were wet and left them to dry overnight. The next morning, I tried spot cleaning them, noting whether the dirt came off easily. Then, I washed each vest according to the manufacturer's directions, noting the ease or difficulty of the process, whether any stains remained, and how well the material held up after washing.

Best overall

Best for: Most dogs, including small pups and dogs who spend long periods outdoors and need a vest that's easy to put on and quick to re-wet

Skip this if: Your dog is sensitive to straps around their legs

Of the five vests I tested, the Canada Pooch vest provided the most coverage, extending down my dog's back to her tail and covering most of her chest. This coverage is important because of how evaporative cooling vests work. My experts explain that the vests are soaked in water, and as the water evaporates, it pulls heat away from the dog's body. "A good vest should make contact with the dog's core, particularly the chest and abdomen, where heat exchange is most effective," Hunt says. A good fit plays a role here, too, by ensuring the vest is snug enough to maintain contact with the dog's body. The Canada Pooch fit as expected, and the belly strap was easy to adjust around Olive's torso.

The Canada Pooch also features lightweight fabric that doesn't become overly heavy or bulky when wet — an important consideration for all dogs, but especially those who don't like wearing apparel. It's made with a pliable jersey material that drapes over the dog's body and is soft against their skin. The material's flexibility makes it easy to wring out excess water. It also makes it easy to fold and pack away in your beach bag or hiking pack.

This vest is intuitive and easy to put on, a feature my experts say is helpful for longer outings when you'll need to remove and replace it for rewetting. There's only one buckle you'll need to snap, so you can get it back on your dog quickly. Just note that you'll need to slip it over your dog's head, and some dogs find this process uncomfortable or scary.

The Canada Pooch also performed the best in our evaluation for temperature change. While this test was imperfect because it didn't measure our dog's core temperature, it still provided insight into each vest's ability to cool down the surface of their fur. For this test, I used an infrared thermometer to measure Olive's temperature on her back and chest after she had been sitting in the sun for 10 minutes. Then I rechecked her temperature after she had worn a vest for 5 minutes. The Canada Pooch showed the most dramatic change, with the fur on her back dropping about 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

I was pleased to see the vest protects against harmful UV rays with a UPF 50+ rated outer layer. This means it blocks 98% of UV rays, making it a good protective measure for vulnerable pets, including dogs with light skin, hairless dogs, and those with thin coats. The brand informed me that this vest is made with Coolcore Biomimetic Fiber fabric. This material is tightly woven with very small gaps between the threads, which helps prevent UV rays from passing through. Additionally, the vest is primarily made of polyester, which naturally reflects and blocks UV rays.

This vest isn't perfect, though. One potential drawback of the design is the back leg stirrups that keep it in place. While Olive and Davey didn't mind them, some dogs might find these elastic straps uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the vest shifted without them secured around Olive's legs. Even if the vest had stayed in place, there's the issue of two dangling loops that could easily become caught on brush or branches.

Best for large dogs

Best for: Bigger dogs or active dogs who are hard on their gear and need a more durable vest.

Skip this if: Your dog is very petite or rambunctious, as the hidden buckles can make it harder to put on.

The Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Vest stands out with its triple-layered design, which combines a wicking outer layer that reflects heat and an absorbent middle layer that stores water. This makes the Ruffwear a bit bulkier and heavier than the other vests we tested, but the mesh fabric is breathable and maximizes airflow, which Campbell says is necessary for evaporative cooling to work. Tester dog Davey, a 70-pound German Shepherd, was unbothered by the heavier material, but the added heft might be something to consider if your dog is tiny or strongly dislikes wearing gear.

Of the five vests we tested, the Ruffwear accommodates the largest chest girth, so it should fit dogs with a larger chest. It also has multiple points of adjustment. The nylon straps glided smoothly through the buckles, making it easy to get the right fit. The Large size fit Davey well and made contact with her body. For the most part, the vest stayed in place as Davey moved around, but Saril noted that the vest's rigid style made it less flexible when Davey curled up. Nevertheless, the Ruffwear always shifted back into place when Davey returned to a relaxed standing position.

This vest seemed more durable than the Canada Pooch, thanks to its thicker fabric and sturdy stitching. This is a hallmark of the Ruffwear brand, which sends materials for third-party lab testing to assess things like abrasion and tear resistance. The Ruffwear vest sustained no damage during my durability tests and came out of the washing machine perfectly intact.I imagine it would hold up well on treks through dense brush and rugged terrain.

The Ruffwear vest also features concealed side release buckles sandwiched between fabric layers, which help prevent chafing — a problem that Campbell says can be worsened when a dog is wet. Saril didn't have trouble securing these on Davey because she's calm, but for folks with more rambunctious 70-pounders, the hidden buckles could be difficult to reach and adjust.

On the downside, Ruffwear's fabric is rather stiff. This rigidity might make it uncomfortable for some dogs, though it did not inhibit Davey. It also means it takes up more space in a travel pack compared to the more compact Canada Pooch.

One issue I ran into while playing with Olive on a beachy shoreline was that chunks of sand and dirt became lodged in the layers of mesh. I was able to shake most of these out after our excursion, but there were still particles stuck in the fabric that only came out after thorough rinsing.

What else we tested

Kurgo Core Cooling Vest: Similar in design to our picks above, the Kurgo could be a good choice for some dogs, including more active pups. Of the five tested, it was the lightest in weight, even when wet. The polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) material is flexible, and the slightly narrower chest panel allows for full, unrestricted freedom of movement. There are also fabric loops on both sides of the vest through which you can thread the buckled belly straps. This prevents the belly straps from sliding forward and minimizes the risk of chafing. Finally, the Kurgo was easy to clean, and dirt didn't get trapped in the mesh the way it did with the Ruffwear. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer UPF protection, and it only comes in four sizes, which go in and out of stock.

Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Harness: Since a cooling vest needs to make contact with the body to be effective, it won't work as well when worn over a harness. If you want to use cooling apparel on walks or in scenarios where your dog needs to be leashed, Ruffwear's cooling harness makes the most sense. Though it offers less coverage than the brand's vest, it still covers a fair amount of Olive's torso. It has six points of adjustment, but with four buckles, it can be trickier to take off and put back on.

Hurtta Cooling Wrap: I was the least impressed by this vest. The sizing was off, and the wrap design made it confusing to put on. I found the buckle fiddly, and it offered the least coverage. Saril also noted the soft fabric could bunch up with very active wearers.

What to look for in a dog cooling vest

To find the best dog cooling vest for your pup, Hunt says to prioritize fit and coverage. That means looking for a vest that's adjustable and covers a good portion of the dog's back and chest. Here's what else my experts recommend focusing on.

Cooling mechanism: Most dog cooling vests rely on evaporation, which Hunt says is the most practical for regular use. Some vests use ice or frozen gel inserts, which Campbell advises against because they can become too heavy or too cold against the skin. There are also vests made with phase change materials (PCMs), such as paraffin-based compounds or salt hydrates, which absorb heat from the dog's body as they transition from a solid to a liquid state. PCMs are similar to ice packs and must be frozen, so they require some pre-planning. However, unlike ice, they stay dry and melt at warmer temperatures to provide more comfortable cooling.

Good chest and back coverage: Campbell says cooling vests should cover as much surface area of a dog's body as possible to maximize heat exchange. Look for a vest that covers the dog's back, chest, and abdomen.

Fit and adjustability: Since the vest needs to make contact with the dog's body to work, my experts recommend choosing one that's adjustable. "It should be snug enough to stay in place but not restrict shoulder movement, chest expansion, or breathing," Campbell says. Look for adjustable buckles and measure your dog carefully before ordering.

Comfortable materials: Hunt recommends looking for lightweight, breathable fabrics, like polyester mesh, that retain water without becoming heavy or bulky.

Reflective or light-colored outer fabric: Reflective accents make your dog more visible. Campbell says reflective or light-colored material can also reduce radiant heat from the sun.

Sun protection (UPF): Sun-protective clothing offers an added layer of protection for vulnerable dogs, including light-skinned, thin-coated, and hairless dogs. Typically, this type of apparel is made with tightly woven fibers that physically block harmful UV rays. Additionally, these garments often incorporate brightly colored dyes to reflect UV rays. Look for vests with a UPF 50+ rating, which blocks 98% of UV rays.

Dog cooling vest FAQs

What is the best way to keep a dog cool in the summer?

Keeping a dog cool in summer involves multiple tools and strategies. Along with a cooling vest, my experts recommend keeping outings shorter, avoiding peak temperatures,, limiting exercise in the heat, and offering water and shade. You can also offer your dog relief with a cooling mat or a shallow wading pool. Finally, Campbell says it's important to know your dog's individual risk factors for overheating, such as age (i.e., older dogs and puppies) or anatomy (i.e., flat-faced breeds or overweight dogs).

Do vets recommend cooling vests for dogs?

Yes, Campbell recommends them for certain dogs and certain situations. "A cooling vest can be useful for a healthy dog on a warm-weather walk, during a short outdoor outing, while waiting in shade at an event, or for dogs who tend to warm up quickly," he says. My experts also say cooling vests can be a helpful tool for dogs at higher risk of overheating, such as brachycephalic breeds, senior dogs, overweight dogs, dark-coated dogs, highly active working or sporting dogs, or dogs who are acclimating to warmer weather.

While cooling vests can provide an added layer of protection during outdoor activity, Hunt and Campbell say they are not a substitute for common sense heat management. Pet parents should limit outdoor time during the hottest parts of the day and make sure their dog always has access to water and shade.

What are the disadvantages of a cooling vest?

The main disadvantage of a cooling vest is that it can create a false sense of security. "A cooling vest can make pet parents think, 'My dog is protected, so we can stay out longer.' That is when we get into trouble," Campbell says. As he puts it: Cooling vests can be helpful, but they are not magic armor against heatstroke.

Evaporative cooling vests are also less effective in humid weather. "In high humidity, the air is already saturated with moisture, so evaporation slows down, making the vest less effective," Hunt says.

My experts say other disadvantages include:

• Evaporative vests need to be re-wetted to remain effective, which can be inconvenient or impossible
• Potential for rubbing or skin irritation if the fit is off
• Added weight when wet
• Some dogs dislike wearing gear such as cooling vests and coats

How hot is too hot for a dog to be outside or exercise?

Hunt follows the heat-plus-humidity rule. To figure out if it's too hot for your dog, he says to add the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit to the humidity percentage, then follow these guidelines:

• Under 130: This is generally safe for normal exercise and walks. Check the pavement heat with your hand and offer plenty of water.
• 130 to 149 (Caution Zone): Lower exercise intensity, shorten walk times, and take frequent water breaks in the shade. Watch your dog for heavy panting or other signs of overheating like drooling, red gums, or lethargy.
• 150 and Above (Danger Zone): Cancel heavy outdoor exercise, including running and long walks. Limit outdoor activity to quick bathroom breaks only.

Keep in mind, heat tolerance will vary based on a dog's breed and other risk factors. Hunt advises lowering your safety threshold by 10 to 20 points with senior dogs, puppies, overweight dogs, brachycephalic breeds, thick-coated or double-coated breeds, and dogs with health issues.

What are the signs of overheating in dogs?

Campbell says to watch for excessive panting, slower movement, seeking shade, bright red or pale gums, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, wobbliness, or collapse. "Be careful of a dog who stops panting, no longer wants to drink water, or suddenly stops playing," he says, as these can be signs of early heat distress. Heatstroke is a medical emergency that requires veterinary intervention. If you notice these signs, begin immediate cooling with cool (but not ice-cold) water and blast your car's air conditioning on your way to the veterinarian.