• When I was young, my family used to go to the Jersey Shore. I look back on those trips fondly.
• After becoming parents, my husband and I started our own family tradition.
• We found a vacation spot that's perfect for our family.

When I was a child, the Jersey Shore was my magical place. My great-grandmother, her siblings, and a few other relatives lived there in a high-rise apartment building, so every summer we'd visit for a week. Looking out from the balcony, I believed the ocean went on forever. On the bottom floor, the community pool brought children together in carefree, summer bliss.

At the beach, my brother and I used our boogie boards like 16-year-olds with fresh permits, owning the waves until sunset. I built sandcastles while he dug a never-ending hole to China, and we devoured peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that somehow tasted superior in the salty air. At night, the boardwalk signs lit up the sky, and Kohr Bros soft serve always hit the spot. As a kid, there was nowhere else I'd rather be.

When we became parents, we started taking our own summer trips

After our kids were born, my husband and I started a Jersey Shore tradition of our own. We filled our SUV with duffel bags, sand buckets, and shovels, and every gadget needed to take toddlers away. Our boys enjoyed the beach — and it triggered a sweet nostalgia for me — but hauling the kids and all the gear across the sand was tiring, only for the sun to wear them out quickly, and the heat weakened my body with multiple sclerosis (MS). After eight years of annual beach getaways — when my boys were 9 and 6 — we switched gears completely.

My husband is an avid hiker, and living with chronic illness, I yearned to get away from the hustle and bustle. A higher elevation provides a drier, cooler atmosphere, which helps keep my symptoms at bay. So, our summer family vacation shifted to the Catskill Mountains. Only a three-hour drive from our home, it was equally as accessible as the beach.

We found a place to go that works for our family

From the moment we arrived for our first trip in the summer of 2020, I felt like we were at our second home. It was a great place to spend some of those early pandemic months, offering a beautiful change of scenery while also allowing us to keep our distance from others. We thought it was the perfect COVID-era getaway, but the instant we returned home, we couldn't wait to go back.

We've returned to the Catskills multiple times a year since then — and during every season. Our visits always include biking along the Ashokan Reservoir, swimming in Peekamoose Blue Hole, a natural swimming hole in the Sundown Wild Forest, and eating at our favorite spot, Yum Yum Noodle Bar.

We peruse the shops in Woodstock, New York, and my kids enjoy ice cream from their favorite creamery, Sweet Dreams. In October, we head to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts — the location of Woodstock in 1969 — for their annual Peace, Love, and Pumpkins festival featuring thousands of hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns. While my husband takes the boys hiking, I rest in a peaceful atmosphere that provides a calmness I never found at the beach.

I hope my kids look back on these trips fondly

The Jersey Shore will always remind me of my carefree summer days in the 90s, and I have no doubt my family will enjoy a beach getaway again. But now, my kids have their magical place, too. As adults, when they think of their childhood, they'll recall the pools at our Airbnbs where we swam beneath the orange sunset.

They'll remember our favorite bike path with views of the reservoir, and they'll reminisce about winter days hiking through the snow. I bet they'll almost taste the sweetness of a roasted marshmallow when they recall our time around the fire pit in the crisp October air.

I hope their magical place feels as wondrous and perfect as the beach always will to me.

• When I booked an extended-family trip to Europe, my teenage daughter complained it was too long.
• I agreed to let her fly home early by herself, even though I was nervous and reluctant.
• She forgot her passport and faced delays, but she got home safely.

Most summers, I try to pack in as much travel as possible with my kids. My children have dual citizenship, and it's important to me that they spend time in Europe and connect with their roots. I enjoy showing them the rest of the world, too.

In past years, my kids have had fun traveling from Rome to Warsaw or Seoul to Tokyo. This summer, I planned on staying in Europe for nearly a month, making the most of our time by staying until the day before school started. I booked hotels and flights and excitedly told my kids the plan.

But this year went a bit differently than expected. I allowed my teenage daughter to travel home alone.

My daughter wasn't happy when she heard about my extended travel plans

When my 11-year-old son learned we would be spending nearly a month in Europe, he was overjoyed. My 15-year-old daughter, however, was despondent. She wanted to spend time with her friends. Plus, she worried about meeting her school obligations, which include a leadership position in a school club and cross-country and track training. She begged me to cut the trip short.

However, I wasn't willing to end my trip early. I had hard-to-get tickets to a Real Madrid soccer match for the last day of the trip. My son and I are both huge soccer fans, and I didn't want to miss the game.

Desperate, my daughter started listing the meetings and practices she would miss if we stayed in Europe until just before school began.

My daughter asked if she could fly home alone

Unwilling to accept no for an answer, my daughter sprang into action. She didn't whine and complain. Instead, she researched whether she could fly home alone and presented me with the facts.

She showed me that I could change her flight, booked with points, at no extra cost. She presented airline policies indicating that she was old enough to fly alone without paying an unaccompanied minor fee, and that there were no restrictions on American minors flying alone from Spain to the US. She also found a direct flight from Madrid to Washington, DC, which greatly reduced the chances of something going wrong.

My daughter made a convincing case, and I reluctantly agreed. I tried to think of everything that could go wrong. I signed a letter giving her permission to travel solo and had it notarized. I made sure she had a phone, credit card, and cash in case she needed it.

Nevertheless, I was still reluctant and didn't fully commit to the plan until the night before her flight.

I told my daughter that I wanted her to stay, but if she left early, she was responsible for packing, getting up on time, and making sure she had everything she needed.

Even with preparation, things didn't go entirely smoothly

Although I wasn't fully behind my daughter's plans to leave our family vacation early, I told her I would accompany her to the airport in case she ran into any problems or changed her mind.

Despite all of my planning, things didn't go entirely smoothly. I had suggested leaving our hotel well before flight departure time in case she ran into any issues leaving the country as a solo 15-year-old traveler. She disagreed with my timeframe, preferring to get a little more sleep and enjoy the hotel's buffet. I was a little concerned, but I deferred to her judgment.

When she was ready, we hopped into a taxi. However, halfway to the airport, my daughter realized she had forgotten her passport at the hotel. I explained the situation to our driver in broken Spanish, and he drove like a madman to rush us back. When we arrived at the airport, frazzled and rushed, I had to quickly kiss my daughter on the cheek and wish her a good flight. I waited until she texted me that she was through before heading back into the city, even though a piece of my heart was about to fly across the Atlantic without me.

I expected to hear from my daughter next when she landed. However, I received regular updates over the next two hours. She was stuck on the tarmac because of the weather, bored and unsure whether her flight would ever take off.

"You can always come back to the hotel," I reminded her, but she ignored me. Her flight finally took off, but midway through, the passenger next to her stepped on her headphones, so she couldn't watch movies or listen to music for the last half of her long journey across the ocean.

But she made it home safely

My daughter enjoyed the rest of her summer the way she wanted to.

I'm glad I let her take this huge leap toward independence. Although it's sometimes hard for me to accept that my little girl is growing up, I knew she was ready to decide when it was time to leave and travel halfway across the world on her own.

Leaving her at the airport was just one of many goodbyes I know are coming as she gets older and creates her own life.

I'm glad I gave her the opportunity to prove that she is ready.

• New Yorker Nick Lyktey moved to Kentucky for work, thinking he'd only be there for one year.
• He ended up falling in love with Fort Wright, Kentucky, a suburb five miles outside Cincinnati.
• He says the state's relative affordability has helped him build a better financial future for his family.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nick Lyktey, 34, a New Yorker who grew up in Wantagh, on Long Island, but moved to Fort Wright, Kentucky, five miles outside Cincinnati. He now works as the chief of lab operations at Gravity Diagnostics and has lived in Kentucky for seven years. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I had a very set trajectory ever since the eighth grade; I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

Every move I made was based on working for the FBI. I went to Penn State specifically because they have a really elite forensic science program where they have buildings on campus dedicated for crime scene analysis.

Even going to graduate school at Indiana University, that eliminated needing a larger amount of job experience required to get into the FBI. After graduate school, I talked to a contact at the FBI and they said, "With your master's, you just need one year of work experience before you can be accepted into the special agent program."

I'd always envisioned myself living on the East Coast. I liked growing up on Long Island. I didn't necessarily think I'd return to Long Island, but I wanted to be on the coast, and I think my familiarity with the East Coast would allow me to pick that over the West Coast.

I was applying to a bunch of jobs eastward of Indiana, and I didn't hate the idea of being out this way. I felt like I had friends in different areas of the country, and the cost of living was great.

I had a lot of good opportunities, and I narrowed down my job search to two companies, both in Kentucky.

When I went to visit the locations, I felt like this is somewhere I could live.

My mindset was, "I'm just going to be here for a year," so even if I'm not in love with the area right now, it's only a year, because ultimately I'm going to go to Quantico and go to bootcamp and then get placed somewhere else."

My area of Kentucky is more suburban and less rural than I expected

I didn't think Kentucky was going to be as urban or suburban as it ended up being. I thought it was going to be a little bit more rural, with maybe not as much access to things.

When I was telling my family about the move, my mom, who was born and raised on Long Island, would always make jokes to me.

She would be like, "You're going to get a pickup truck," or "It's probably just a bunch of farms." I was like, "No, no, it's pretty built up."

My expectations were that Fort Wright was going to be a smaller, less populated city; if I live in Kentucky, I'm going to go to Cincinnati all the time. That was the energy I had, but I was looking at it as more of a short-term scope.

After I moved in, when my mom visited me, she would always say, "This is a little paradise."

I live in a really nice little suburb. It's a great community where people are taking your garbage can in for you if you come home late from work.

I think that's something that was similar to Long Island. I grew up in the suburb of all suburbs, and it was similar in the sense of community — houses along the street together — but in Kentucky, you have a little more space than you would in New York.

There's also a lot of growth and development in this region, and I want to be somewhere that's better every single year. I feel like this area is doing that.

I miss my family and friends all the time, but it's a good community here. The life I have with my wife here is phenomenal.

We're in a good, comfortable place and we're happy with where we are. We're happy with our jobs and happy with the environment surrounding us.

Kentucky gave me the financial flexibility I never thought I'd have

I never talked about the word "retirement" in my life. I don't see myself as being a good retiree. I thought I'd be working until I'm in the grave.

I didn't think I'd be able to take vacation. I thought I'd be monitoring my budget really frequently.

With the amount of money we're saving by living in Kentucky, we're able to do renovations on the house, and we're able to take vacations freely. I'm not as anally retentive about our budget as I thought we were going to be.

We've had conversations with our financial advisor, and he's like, "This is a reasonable plan for you to retire at 55."

My mom unfortunately passed away at 59, and I've been thinking about different things in life and the way they hit you — it completely changes your thinking.

Both my parents had good jobs. They worked extremely hard. I knew they did well for themselves, but that was just to keep us all afloat.

Now, it's a luxury to be able to go on vacations or be able to get the best things for my daughter. That matters the most to me in the world. Having that financial flexibility is really powerful.

I have a bunch of friends who we're all in the same stage of life together. A lot of them still live on Long Island and they're buying houses and having kids.

We talk about these financial things and I realized we live in radically different worlds.My wife and I were able to get a pretty nice starter family home with a fenced-in backyard. We have two dogs and we have one daughter, and I think it's a comfortable way of living where our mortgage isn't suffocating.

One of my buddies on Long Island bought a house that was listed at $650,000 and they closed at $750,000 — and it's a fixer-upper.

Our house was $230,000, and it was ready to go in a nice suburb close to work.

I love where I grew up and I have no issues there, but we have a lot more financial flexibility and can do a lot more here.

It's like a chemical shift in your brain because I never grew up in that type of environment, where you can afford this life. All of our friends, all of our family, everybody worked really hard and they were really great people doing the best they could for their family. But affording things always felt, to me, rather suffocating and stressful.

Kentucky has provided me with a life that I didn't even think was a possibility, and I didn't even realize it was within grasp.

The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup wraps up this weekend, and France, Germany, Spain, and the United States have all advanced to the semifinals. We've rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch the FIBA Women's World Cup, including global streaming options.

The US women's team is looking to defend its title and win its fifth consecutive World Cup (a 12th World Cup title overall). France, Spain, and host Germany are all proving to be worthy adversaries, but only one team can come out on top on Sunday. Keep reading to learn how to tune into the four remaining games from anywhere.

Where to watch the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in the US

In the US, select games from the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup will air across TNT, truTV, and TBS. This TV broadcast coverage will apply to marquee games, including select group stages match-ups (including Team USA and Team France coverage) and knockout stages.

For comprehensive coverage of absolutely every game of the tournament, you'll need HBO Max. Live sports are available in the Standard and Premium tiers (not the Basic with Ads Option). HBO Max Standard starts at $18.49 a month. If you're looking for a little more bang for your buck, you can get an ad-free Disney Plus bundle with Hulu and HBO Max for $33 a month.

If you'd prefer to tune in via a streaming service that carries TNT, truTV, TBS, and other channels, then a live TV streaming service will do the trick. YouTube TV is one of our top recommendations right now because it offers a massive selection of channels typically found in cable packages, plus a free trial for new customers.

A limited-time YouTube TV deal discounts the first several months of service for both YouTube TV's main plan and sports plan, both of which carry TNT, TBS, and truTV. The main plan typically costs $83 a month, but first-time customers can get $15 a month off their first five months of service (that's $68 a month for five months). The sports plan usually costs $65 a month, but new customers can get $20 a month off their first six months of service (that's $45 a month for half a year).

A DAZN Courtside 1891 subscription (which is different from a standard DAZN subscription) will also carry coverage in several regions, including the US. Subscriptions start at $12 a month for flexible standard plans. All upcoming games are currently featured on the US DAZN Courtside 1891 landing page, but it's worth double-checking any blackout restrictions in your market before subscribing (especially for games that are also broadcast on TV).

How to watch the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup from anywhere

Other countries have various broadcast agreements, often for select games featuring their team. You should consult your local broadcasters and TV guide to see what's available in your region. DAZN Courtside 1891 will also offer coverage of the tournament in several countries. Blackout restrictions exist, especially where other exclusive broadcast agreements have been made.

If you happen to be traveling through a region where you can't access your usual watch options, it might be time to try a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy tech tools that let people temporarily alter their virtual locations. This way, their favorite websites and apps work just like they would back home.

NordVPN is our top recommendation. It's fast, user-friendly, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not helping you out. You can learn more in our NordVPN review.

• See also: Best sports streaming services | Where to watch WNBA games | Best streaming deals

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.

Apple's latest Pro iPhones have officially landed, and the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max come with plenty of upgrades to tempt anyone who's been holding onto an older model. This year's highlights include the new A20 Pro chip, a revamped cooling system, and a 48MP main camera with variable aperture. If you're ready to order, I've broken down how to preorder the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max below.

There are plenty of smaller upgrades packed in as well, from new camera controls and video tools to deeper Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27. The phones come in black, silver, glacier (light blue), and a new burgundy finish, with storage options up to 2TB. Prices start at $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

If you're already sold, you won't have to wait much longer. Preorders open September 12 at 5 a.m. PT, ahead of the September 18 release date. Below you'll find the details on how to preorder the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Be sure to check out our guide to the latest on the new Apple Watch Series 12 preorders and Apple Watch Ultra 4 preorders for details on the smartwatches, or our breakdown on preordering the AirPods 5 preorders for the latest earbuds.

How to preorder the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max

After going live on the Apple website on September 12, the newest iPhones will be up for preorder on carrier websites. To get your preorder locked in, simply head to the carrier of your choice (like Verizon or T-Mobile), specify your preferred color and storage size, and check out.

By opting for trade-in or a new carrier line, you can also score some discounts on your preorder.

What's new in the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max?

As someone who has been covering new smartphone releases for years, I can say that recent releases have been somewhat boring. The same cannot be said for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Here's a quick list of what's new with the latest iPhones:

• 48MP Fusion Main camera: For the first time, the iPhone camera offers aperture control for more control over your photo's depth and lighting. This, plus a new sensor for better image quality, means crisper details and better low-light pictures.
• Additions to the photo editing suite: The Apple collection of Photographic Styles has been upgraded, giving the ability to tweak texture and grain controls. Cinematic effects can also be applied to videos shot at up to 60 frames per second, and Time-lapse mode can now record in 4K and Dolby Vision HDR.
• Apple Reference Image: Thanks to the camera's new sensor, photos taken with the iPhone 18 Pro can now be authenticated when captured in the new Reference mode. In short, the pictures you take will be verifiably real, and not AI.
• Dynamic Island upgrades: Redesigned to fit more information than before, the Dynamic Island (or the black oval that lives around the selfie camera) can now track up to three Live Activities simultaneously.
• A20 Pro-powered performance: Now with 50% more memory bandwidth and 40% faster GPU design than its predecessor, the A20 chip in the iPhone 18 Pro enables faster graphics rendering, more powerful on-device AI processing, and more.
• New cooling and interior architecture: Aimed at eliminating overheating issues of past iPhones, the iPhone 18 Pro features a redesigned vapor chamber and reorganized interior hardware to keep key components cooler for faster performance.
• Unprecedented battery life and charging: eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pros can now deliver up to 36 hours of video playback, while the Pro Max can reach up to 45 hours. Not only that, but the Pro can charge to 50% battery in 15 minutes when plugged in, or in 30 minutes when charging wirelessly.

When will the iPhone 18 Pro release?

Though it will open for preorders starting on September 12, iPhone 18 Pro models won't be available in shoppers' hands until September 18. Fulfillment dates will also be pushed out as stock dwindles, so your order may not arrive until after that date if you order late.

When will the iPhone Duo release?

It was announced in the same keynote, but Apple will not be releasing the iPhone Duo for some time. The new foldable will be up for preorder starting October 16, with phones shipping as soon as October 23.

See also: Apple Watch Series 12 preorders | Apple Watch Ultra 4 preorders | AirPods 5 preorders | Best iPhone in 2026

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• My husband and I started having a weekly marriage meeting.
• It's helped us express gratitude for each other and prevented so many unnecessary arguments.
• This 30-minute weekly marriage ritual keeps small annoyances from turning into big fights.

After having a baby last summer, my husband and I realized something: by the time the house was quiet and our baby was asleep, neither of us had much energy left to talk about anything. We weren't fighting often, but little frustrations had a way of lingering because there never seemed to be a "right" time to bring them up. So, we decided to try a new weekly check-in ritual.

We treat it like a physical for our relationship: It's a chance to celebrate what's working, catch small issues before they snowball, and make sure neither of us is quietly carrying resentment.

So far, it's been the single most helpful habit we've adopted as a couple.

We use the same questions every week

Having a structured format works well for us. Instead of wasting time — "What do you want to talk about?" "I don't know, what do you want to talk about?" — we just run down our list, each taking turns to talk or listen. While it took some trial-and-error to find the questions that are most beneficial, here's the set we landed on:

1. What made you feel loved this week?
2. What's your biggest stressor looking ahead to next week? And what's one thing I can do to support you?
3. What's one thing you're really looking forward to this week?
4. What would make you feel connected to me this week?
5. Is there anything we should talk about now before it becomes a bigger issue?

Each question serves a different purpose.

The first question encourages us to acknowledge each other's efforts

During a busy, stressful week, it can be easy to overlook the little things we both do to care for each other. But my husband and I made a vow never to take each other for granted.

The first question — "What made you feel loved this week?" — offers a natural opportunity for us to express some gratitude. I might let my husband know how much it meant to me that he got up with the baby in the middle of the night. He might thank me for making his morning easier by filling up his water bottle and watching our son while he worked out.

Then, we do some collaborative troubleshooting

I find that naming my stressors out loud can help prevent me from spiraling inside my own head. Plus, when my husband and I share them with each other, we're able to proactively problem-solve together. Better yet, we both have the chance to explain exactly how we'd like to receive support from each other — rather than leaving each other to guess.

So, if I tell him I'm nervous about an interview coming up this week, he could offer some confidence-boosting affirmation, and then I could ask him to rehearse my questions with me the night before so I feel prepared.

We also balance things out with positive anticipation

During our check-in, we're careful not to dwell too much on the potentially anxiety-inducing events coming up. Taking a moment to talk about the things we're looking forward to, whether it's a family walk or a special home-cooked dinner, helps us to feel excited about the week ahead.

We benefit from having an opportunity to express our needs

My husband and I have similar love languages, but we're not mind readers. We can't expect the other person to know exactly what we need from each other. That's precisely why we started asking: "What would make you feel connected to me this week?"

Sometimes, for me, it's often as simple as having breakfast together or getting a text check-in after my therapy appointment.

For him, it might just be an unprompted hug or putting our phones away while we watch something together.

Finally, we tackle any issues before they escalate

If there's one thing we've learned over the last eight years of our relationship, it's that there's a right and wrong time to bring up things that are bothering you. Confronting the other person at the end of a draining workday, or in a moment when one or both of you are already emotionally activated, is unlikely to lead to a productive discussion. That's why we always end our weekly check-ins on this question: Is there anything we should talk about now before it becomes a bigger issue?

This gives us both peace of mind that there's a designated time to air out any concerns, so we don't feel the need to tackle them when we don't have the emotional bandwidth. In my iPhone Notes App, I might jot down something that bugged me — say, when my husband forgot to tell me he was working late — so I don't forget to bring it up. Sometimes, by the time we get to our weekly check-in on Sunday, I'm already over it. But when something is still bothering me, it's super helpful to have a safe space to share it.

While you might associate cooling mattresses with summer heatwaves, year-round temperature regulation is vital for restorative sleep. The human body needs to drop 1°F to 2°F to signal to its circadian rhythm that it's time to rest.

For hot sleepers dealing with night sweats — from medical conditions, menopause, or general body heat — cooling accessories and lowering the room's ambient temperature are only part of the solution. Truly regulating your sleep space requires the best mattress designed to pull heat away from your body.

Let’s get to the root of your sleep space to help you sleep cooler with the best cooling mattress for hot sleepers. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling has held its own in the industry for years, and a supremely chilly cooling cover for relief all night long. For budget-friendly cooling (and help with your AC bill, too), the Glacier Summit Hybrid delivers advanced cooling right at the $1,000 mark.

Find out more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.

Our picks of the best cooling mattresses

Best overall cooling mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling - See at Brooklyn Bedding

Best value cooling mattress: Glacier Summit Hybrid - See at Glacier Sleep

Best cooling mattress for back pain: Bear Elite Hybrid - See at Bear

Best cooling mattress for combination sleepers and couples: Bedgear H Performance - See at Bedgear

Best hybrid cooling mattress: Casper Dream Hybrid Mattress - See at Casper

Best memory foam cooling mattress: Tempur-Pedic ProBreeze - See at Tempur-Pedic

Best latex cooling mattress: PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Organic Latex Mattress - See at PlushBeds

Best organic cooling mattress: Avocado Green Mattress - See at Avocado

Cooling technologies to know

Passive cooling: This term refers to cooling materials that feel cold when you first touch them, intended to help your body temperature drop so you can fall asleep. The overall sensation eventually dissipates as the bed’s surface absorbs more of your heat. Passive cooling materials are what’s most commonly used on mattresses, and take a variety of forms.

• Phase change material: This material absorbs heat and releases it as a cool-to-the-touch sensation. The science behind it involves turning PCM particulates into substances that can melt, like a gel, from solid to liquid. In other words, microencapsulated PCM is woven into fabric like cooling covers or infused into memory foam, and will liquefy when coming into contact with body heat. This change triggers a cooling sensation, but it usually hits a threshold once an area has reached its maximum cooling effect, making it feel more like room temperature.
• Polyethylene: This fiber is a high-thermal-conductivity material, meaning that it pulls in heat like a magnet and spreads it out so it’s not concentrated around you. In doing so, it gives off the impression of cooling. Find it in the Brooklyn Aurora Luxe Cooling hybrid’s proprietary “GlacioTex” fabric, a blend of polyester and polyethylene. Bedgear also uses this fiber in its proprietary Ver-Tex cooling cover.
• Celliant: This cooling material uses bioceramic minerals engineered to absorb heat and transform it into infrared light. The idea is that this infrared energy has restorative properties for the body and boosts overall circulation, but just feels cool to the touch while doing so.
• Copper: This is most commonly infused into memory foam layers. Copper is a natural thermal conductor, meaning it pulls in body heat to direct it away from you. It has the added benefit of preventing bacteria buildup. Copper is a naturally antimicrobial material, which is useful for long-term material integrity. However, a higher number of copper particles in the foam provides better cooling and germ prevention.
• Graphite: Like copper, this mineral is also classified as a natural thermal conductor, able to distribute heat across a mattress's surface and dissipate it, rather than letting it build up around you.

Active Cooling: Active cooling maintains a consistent temperature throughout the night, so the cooling sensation never fades. For advanced cases of night sweats and overheating, this can be an invaluable tool for some. Water is a leading thermoregulating agent, as it absorbs body heat when it’s pumped into a cooling topper and then carries it away from you. Air is another, as many turn to fan-based systems like BedJet for consistent surface temperature control. Active cooling requires separate add-on toppers or external units rather than built-in mattress layers.

Best overall

Built to keep you cool all night long. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling first hit the market in 2017, and since then has been a longstanding crowd favorite because of its cooling capabilities—and one of ours. The GlacioTex cooling cover features cool-to-the-touch fabric that absorbs body heat. With breathable sheets, you feel that floating through. GlacioTex technology involves high-thermal-conductivity fibers made of polyester and polyethylene. Think of the cool side of the pillow, but across the entire surface of the bed.

Foam is quilted beneath it to create a thinner cushioning layer, followed by a 1.5-inch layer of copper-infused foam. The copper infusion does the heavy lifting for absorbing body heat. Keep in mind that memory foam tends to trap heat to provide pressure relief; the copper helps mitigate that. Two more layers of foam follow, designed to move with you while providing a buffer between the upper layers and the pocketed coils beneath. Coils may not seem flashy, but they’re integral to internal airflow and customized pressure relief as each coil separately adapts to your body weight across the surface of the bed.

Before you upgrade to the pillow top…The Aurora Luxe Cooling is available in three firmness levels: soft, medium, and firm. We’ve tested the firm, which yielded very little sink, but a lot of spine support. It’s the best fit for heavy body types, stomach sleepers, and people with back pain. Anything softer than this — including adding a pillow top — works for side and back sleepers, but likely won’t feel supportive enough for these categories of sleepers. Apart from cooling, of course.

Best value

Top-to-bottom cooling design. We're always on the lookout for budget cooling mattresses, but have yet to find a sub-$500 option that is truly peak. But for very close to $1,000, a yearlong sleep trial, and lifetime warranty coverage, there was no contest that the Glacier Summit Hybrid mattress was performing on par with not just the options on this list, but also luxury mattresses.

This includes key materials you'd see in standard cooling mattresses, such as a cooling cover, cooling foam, and pocketed coils to promote internal airflow. Interestingly, it also appears in features reminiscent of those of luxury competitors, such as the Saatva Classic. This includes a pillow top for pressure relief and lumbar support via reinforced stitching at the center, plus a targeted lumbar-support foam layer under the pillow top to lift your lower back. The biggest difference is that the Summit's lumbar zone layer uses graphite foam to pull heat away from you, followed by a gel-infused foam comfort layer.

The medium firmness worked well for nearly every sleep position; however, some stomach sleepers may need something a bit firmer for spine alignment. Additionally, edge support showed some serious sink around the edges, but only while sitting.

Doesn't hold on to heat. What quickly became apparent in testing wasn't just the solid motion isolation and spine-alignment support for combination sleepers. When measured with a temperature gun, it was one of the fastest beds to release heat after sleeping on it, returning to a baseline temperature of 70℉ within 2 minutes in every test we ran. The cover and internal materials were truly breathable, promoting cooling and preventing heat retention.

Best for couples and combination sleepers

Finding a mattress for couples is usually easier said than done. Many markets that they'll keep both sleepers cool, supported, and from feeling each other's movements. That's not always the case. But after trying Bedgear's recently revamped H Performance series, the mattress delivers on cooling, edge support, and motion isolation.

Bedgear's approach to staying cool relies on a polyethylene-based Ver-Tex cooling cover, pocketed coils, and air vents covered with mesh on both sides of the mattress. The cover itself is very cool to the touch at first contact, but it faded pretty quickly once I settled into the bed. As time went on, it became clear that it was working to regulate surface temperature, keeping things even-keeled rather than frigid. Still, if that's the essence you're going for, definitely use cooling sheets here.

It took about three days for the bed to truly feel medium-firm, but that tracks with how mattresses-in-a-box typically work. The foam needs time to fully inflate after being compressed. Once the intended firmness was achieved, I found it comfortable to sleep on my side, back, or stomach. You generally want a firmer feel under your lower back to protect your lumbar zone and prevent sinking. I got that with the H4, and the cushiness of the overhauled pillow top didn't detract from that by causing overt sinking around the hips and torso. Instead, I felt a good amount of pressure relief. For side sleepers, sleeping with a body pillow also helped keep weight off my hips and shoulders — altogether, between the bed and accessories, I felt pretty weightless.

The real surprise was how well the motion isolation was. In testing, even when dropping weights onto the surface, the seismic vibration meter app I used detected very little motion transfer. This bodes well for couples who move around on their respective sides of the bed. Plus, the edge support was excellent, as I could sit or lie on it and felt like I wouldn't budge. Sometimes, with silkier-feeling covers, like the H4, sleepers may feel as if they will slide right off. That wasn't the case here, as the pillow top kept me firmly in place during testing. For couples who insist their partner stay on their side of the mattress, edge support comes in handy.

Best for back pain

Maintaining spine alignment through a firmer feel. Sleepers who have dealt with back pain — about 80% of US adults at any given point in their lives — will tell you how disruptive it is. If you are also dealing with overheating, it's a miserable experience.

While the Bear Elite Hybrid comes in three firmness levels, including soft, medium, and firm, the latter two are good fits for sleepers combating back pain. These two firmness levels will provide better weight distribution while maintaining pressure relief, so that the spine does not curve out of its natural alignment when heavier areas (like the hips and shoulders) sink in more than the other areas of your body. Side sleepers and smaller-stature body types may gravitate toward the softer medium, while stomach sleepers, heavyweight sleepers, and those with more advanced back pain should opt for firm.

How the cooling features help you hibernate. There are several cooling components at work within the Bear Elite Hybrid that also subsequently help with back pain. The Celliant cover uses a bioceramic mineral infusion that has been studied for its effects on tissue recovery. It works by absorbing the body heat it comes into contact with, converting it into infrared energy. Through that contact, the energy reflects back to the body to promote recovery while giving off a cool-to-the-touch feel. These are big claims, but we can verify that the bed provides a refreshing, cooling feel. There's also the option to add on a "CoolForce" layer, which adds a PCM within the quilted comfort layer designed to help you sleep up to 4 degrees cooler, but it costs an extra $185. The bed also doesn't retain heat; in testing, it dropped 10 degrees within 2 minutes.

The Bear Elite Hybrid also involves two layers of copper-infused foam and responsive foam to promote even pressure relief and reinforce balanced weight distribution atop the mattress. Pocketed coils are also a deliberate choice for back pain support, as firmer coils placed under the midsection prevent that area from sinking in too much. Plus, they add internal breathability to let the other cooling materials optimally perform.

See our full review of Bear Elite Hybrid. For more options, read our guide on the best mattresses for back pain

Best hybrid

Balancing act. The Casper Dream Hybrid takes a well-rounded approach to cooling and support, combining breathable foams with pocketed coils. While the standard cover isn’t cool to the touch (the QuickCool one is, but for an additional fee), the standout feature of this mattress is airflow. With a breathable cover, open-cell foam dedicated to air circulation, and pocketed coils that generate said airflow internally, it’s an even-keeled recipe for successful temperature regulation. The bed stayed 2 degrees cooler than our average and dropped by 12 degrees within 2 minutes, demonstrating excellent heat dissipation.

Apart from keeping you from overheating, the Dream Hybrid has a firmer-than-average feel that our tester suggested as best for back and stomach sleepers. Though we think heavyweight stomach sleepers may find it slightly too soft to keep their hips elevated. The zoned support helps keep the center third from sinking too low.

If you really wanted to amp up the cooling, the Casper Snow Hybrid uses a near-identical design but adds a QuickCool cooling cover, phase-change material, and aluminum-graphite heat-dissipation bands between the foam layers. It also swaps classic foam for memory foam comfort layers.

Read our Casper Dream Hybrid Review and check out our guides to the best mattresses for back sleepers and stomach sleepers.

Best memory foam

A memory foam bed that defeats heat. Historically, memory foam has fallen short of delivering a truly "cooling" feel. Memory foam requires heat absorption to provide pressure relief, but as a result, it's unable to let air flow through. Heat gets stuck, and as a result, you feel overheated. The Tempur-Pedic ProBreeze is one such bed where you don't have to worry about this, as it has one of the most impressive cooling covers I've come across to date. It's designed to feel five degrees cooler; while that can vary from case to case, and I can't readily prove that claim, I did feel it provided a cooler-than-most feel, on par with the Aurora Luxe Cooling. If that wasn't enough cooling, the LuxeBreeze is supposed to amp things up to a 10-degree difference—again, I can't prove that readily, but it did feel a smidge cooler than the ProBreeze, and makes bedding feel cold

Pressure relief is fundamental here. The all-foam medium uses several materials to absorb and dissipate body heat, including a heat-diffusing layer, "Pure Cool" absorption material layer, and a base of ventilated foam. Altogether, it still accomplishes the essence of what the Tempur-Pedic brand is renowned for: pressure relief. It molds around your body like one leaves a footprint in the sand — a near-exact impression. This helps give your pressure points the exact level of pressure relief they need. To that end, it still may feel too soft for those with back pain, given the sink-in feel here. Shifting between sleeping positions, or for couples with different sleeping positions, can also require more effort, as it takes a minute or two for the foam to return to a flat surface. If shifting positions is a concern, or you prefer something a little firmer, our tester, who tried the medium hybrid version, thought it ran a little firmer, making it better suited for stomach and back sleepers.

See our guide to the best foam mattresses.

Best latex

Relies on all-natural materials rather than human invention. Cooling materials used in mattresses, accessories, and sleep tech are always evolving and improving. While these are exciting developments, some still prefer organic materials over manmade ones, due to health concerns or general eco-friendliness. Latex mattresses offer benefits typically associated with materials like memory foam, such as pressure relief and support, without retaining heat.

The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is outfitted with three ventilated layers of Global Organic Latex Standard and Eco-Institut certified latex. In other words, it's the real deal, top-of-the-line latex being used here. The mattress also implements both Global Organic Textile Standard-certified organic cotton in its cover and wool serving as the topmost padding. Candidly, none of these materials will offer the same cool-to-the-touch feel as man-made cooling fabrics. However, they regulate temperature and remain breathable, letting body heat pass through and dissipate, so no heat builds up around you. Plus, there are zero chemical components involved, whether that's cooling treatments, pesticides, or other chemicals.

Pressure-relief first and foremost. Aside from temperature neutrality, pressure relief is arguably the most notable feature of latex. It has natural buoyancy and responsiveness, so you feel consistently supported as you move, while pressure points are gently bolstered. Depending on your body type and sleep position, you can opt for either the medium or slightly medium-firm setting, as well as heights of 9, 10, or 12 inches.

This height and firmness customization is helpful, as it makes the bed an option for multiple sleeping positions and body types. Stomach sleepers should lean towards the firmer 9 or 10 inches. On the other hand, thicker latex slabs give more to sink into, which works well for side sleepers and heavy body types.

Edge support isn't its strongest suit. A common pitfall with latex mattresses is that, given their flexibility, they don't do so well at maintaining strong edge support—something testers and I immediately noticed with the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss. If you often sit or sleep on the sides of the bed, you may not feel super secure on it. Also, be careful while unboxing and moving this bed, as latex is very floppy and incredibly heavy. Reinforced handles aid in moving it when needed

Best organic

Certified organic. Many mattresses can claim to be all-natural, organic, and cooling. Very few have the receipts to back that up. The brand's signature Avocado Green Hybrid mattress takes its eco-friendly claims seriously, with six third-party certifications to ensure it's truly organic, including Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), OEKO-TEX Standard 100, EWG Verified, Made Safe, and GreenGuard Gold. While the first two point to organic materials, the rest ensure that any off-gassing fumes upon unboxing and the materials you interact with are free of toxic chemicals.

Naturally cool and pressure-relieving. Latex is impervious to trapping heat, and the ventilated layer of firmer Dunlop latex paired with pocketed coils works together to help air circulate. The organic cotton cover is a naturally breathable material, too. Altogether, you get a mattress that feels lightly bouncy to help you move with ease and keep pressure points from feeling burdened.

The Avocado Green comes in three firmness levels: the base firm offering, the medium tight-top, and the plush pillow-top. The latter two involve a softer type of latex, Talalay, which increases the overall cost. We've noticed that the Avocado Green isn't the best at reducing the rocking motion from the bed, which may not appeal to couples. Additionally, it suffers from another pitfall of latex: weaker edge support. If you sleep or sit at the edge of the bed, you may not feel the most secure.

Check out our guide to the best organic mattresses.

What else we considered

Brooklyn Bedding ThermoBalance Elite: One of Brooklyn Bedding's newest offerings in its extensive fleet, the ThermoBalance Elite Hybrid features a cooling "ThermoCool" cover, phase-change material-infused foam, copper-infused foam, and coils for maximum temperature regulation. The ThermoPhase foam involved a separate box and a more involved setup. While it provided an undeniably cool feel, compared to the Aurora Luxe Cooling, which doesn't require this, the latter seems like the easier and on-par-performing option.

Tempur-Pedic ActiveBreeze Smart Bed: Not just a luxury cooling mattress, this bed is wildly cool, in both a physical and metaphorical sense. Built-in fans on the base connect to internal tubing within the mattress, providing active temperature regulation along with the pressure relief the brand is known for. The smart bed capabilities also provide comprehensive sleep tracking. However, the $10k price tag is simply not doable for many.

SweetNight CoolNest 14-Inch Hybrid: We were hoping the under-$600 SweetNight CoolNest would be a great budget recommendation, and it's loaded with technologies found on pricier beds like gel- and phase-change-infused foams, zoned support, and pocketed coils to help with temperature regulation. While we stayed comfortably cool enough on it all night long, its heat dissipation lagged behind our top picks. The edges also never fully expanded.

PurpleFlex: At $1,299, the PurpleFlex is the brand's most affordable mattress, featuring 2 inches of its signature GelFlex Grid. It dissipates heat on contact and provides excellent pressure relief. The firmer bed, however, is best suited for side and back sleepers, and many will consider the eight-inch design to be too thin. It's also an online-exclusive, meaning that while you can often try Purple mattresses in store, this one is not in the showroom.

The best cooling mattresses, compared

What to look for in the best cooling mattress

Finding a true cooling mattress comes down to understanding how internal construction and surface textiles handle body heat and keep you comfortable through the night. As mentioned at the top of the article, the best cooling mattresses rely on passive cooling to regulate temperature. Unless you plan to add a separate active cooling unit (like a water- or air-chilled topper), evaluate a mattress based on its core construction factors and consider your individual preference for firmness and support.

For more insights, our explainer about how to choose a mattress goes into detail about all the factors to consider, from everything from pressure relief to firmness.

Hybrid versus all-foam construction: In most cases, hybrid mattresses outperform all-foam beds in temperature regulation and in maintaining an overall cooler feel. Foam was invented to absorb heat, with microscopic air bubbles that hold it in place, making the material more malleable. This is what makes it first-rate for pressure relief, but infamous for heat retention.

Ventilated foams that allow air to pass through are infused with cooling treatments, such as phase-change material or gel, to dissipate heat buildup. While these things do help, they still need to be incorporated with other materials, such as coils that generate internal airflow and cooling covers, to maximize performance. Pocketed coils are better for pressure relief than traditional innerspring ones, but don't have the soft feel memory foam is revered for. Their movement inside the bed when you move creates the actual airflow, and while it's not a torrent, it prevents heat from stagnating within.

Surface fabrics: Cooling covers can go a long way toward regulating perceived temperature. They feel cool to the touch while absorbing excess body heat to help you sleep better. Look for covers that include phase-change material and cooling fibers such as Celliant or polyethylene, as they help achieve this effect.

How we tested

Cooling mattresses are our focus here, but we also have to keep in mind the holistic experience of buying (and sleeping on) a mattress long term. To ensure you're getting the best possible investment for your sleep, we also take the following into account in our testing.

Setup and usability

In this test, we assess the ease of setup from the moment a bed arrives at our home until it's fully ready for sleep. We note how big and heavy boxes are to move, if setup involves more than one person (or if in-home setup options are available), and how long we need to wait after unboxing a bed before using it.

Cooling performance

Using an infrared temperature gun, we collected precise data to assess how well each bed dissipated heat, especially relative to its claims. We take the baseline temperature before going to bed, get another reading after we first get out of bed, and then come back two minutes later to gauge how quickly it dissipates heat.

Overnight comfort

Support, pressure relief, edge support, responsiveness, and motion isolation are all vital to a good mattress performance and bode well for better sleep. We have specific tests that measure how much we sink into the bed when sitting on the edges of a mattress, as well as a motion-isolation test that uses weights to jostle the bed as best we can to simulate couples moving. From there, a seismic vibrometer app measures how effectively we shook the bed and, more importantly, how well the mattress did at stopping it.

Coverage and policies

Mattresses are a long-term investment that you use nightly — you want to ensure you are getting exactly what you need, and have the assurance of assistance if something goes wrong. We also look for shipping policies, such as whether setup is handled by you or included in the bed's cost, a lengthy sleep trial so you can try out the mattress for yourself within a set time window, and the ability to return it for a full refund. Warranty coverage is essential for safeguarding the mattress's construction. If any defective parts interfere with its performance, companies can step in to repair or replace them as part of your purchase.

Meet the expert behind the guide

Julia Forbes, contributor: Julia is a mattress tester with over 6 years of experience, having tested more than 160 beds to date. She's a double-certified Spencer Institute sleep science and brain health coach. During her time as a consumer product journalist, she visits mattress factories, meets with industry experts, and researches new technology entering the mattress industry. Plus, she really, really likes sleeping. With the help of the Business Insider testing team, she contributed her insight for these cooling mattresses that made the cut.

Cooling mattress FAQs

Do cooling mattresses actually work?

Yes, cooling mattresses work, but they function by absorbing and dissipating body heat rather than actively chilling you like an air conditioner. They rely on specific materials and structural design to prevent heat trapping, so you stay at a comfortable, neutral temperature.

What cooling bedding and accessories can I use with my cooling mattress?

Cooling mattresses can be a game changer for many, but consider these accessories to help it perform optimally—and you sleep cooler.

• Bed cooling systems: These go atop your existing mattress or cooling mattress, and use either air or water to regulate temperature throughout the night. Using sensors or presets, they can gauge body temperature fluctuations to run at a consistently cooler temperature or adapt to perceived dips or increases in your body temperature.
• Cooling sheets: Cooling mattresses benefit from breathable sheet sets, which allow them to deliver cool-to-the-touch covers that absorb body heat to work effectively. Plus, they can help amplify the bed's cooler feel. Materials like cotton, eucalyptus, bamboo, and linen are all airy, breathable, plant-based sources that make for great cooling sheets. Look for weaves like crisp-feeling percale or satin-like sateen for optimal cooling performance. Phase-change material sheets also exist, which absorb sweat to keep night-sweat sufferers cool and dry. I like Lusomé, which is among the coolest sheet sets available, and weaves a special bio-based PCM material through the percale cotton.
• Cooling pillows: The same cooling fibers and materials used in mattress covers, such as polyethylene and phase-change materials, can also be incorporated into pillows. Look for ones that also use gel-infused memory foam for further pressure relief and temperature regulation, or natural materials like organic latex and cotton for breathability.
• Cooling comforters: Fluffier comforters are very cozy, though they can trap heat. While this could be helpful for cooler seasons and climates, it's not conducive for hot sleepers to use. Look for ones that use cooling outer shells, such as Tencel, cotton, or bamboo, to provide a breathable, cooling feel.

What is the ideal sleep temperature?

The reality is that the "ideal sleep temperature" will vary from person to person. However, it's about 65 degrees, said Alon Y. Avidan, MD, MPH, director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center. "We find that when it's greater than 70 degrees, people have more disrupted and interrupted sleep. Between 60 to 65 degrees seems to be ideal," he said.

Are cooling mattresses worth it?

Maybe. If you would buy a new mattress anyway, consider a cooling mattress to help with overheating. If your mattress still has some years left, consider one of the best cooling mattress toppers instead.

• A "Black Swan" investor says to protect yourself against catastrophes while also taking risks.
• Universa's Mark Spitznagel said it's vital to "bet your beliefs" while avoiding big losses.
• He told BI that AI won't replace some human skills, and spoke fondly about his best investment.

A "Black Swan" investor says to guard against disasters — but take risks too.

Mark Spitznagel has built his career on protecting his clients' portfolios against extreme, rare, and unpredictable events known as "black swans" or "tail risks."

Yet the Universa Investments founder and chief told Business Insider over coffee in London this month that simply preparing for the worst isn't a winning strategy in life.

Not taking enough risks can be the "biggest mistake someone makes," Spitznagel said. "You need to be exposed, you need to bet your beliefs."

His career advice mirrors what he says Universa offers to clients: a tail hedge that not only stops them from blowing up, but allows them to be more bullish in their bets.

Spitznagel also warned against obsessing over the power of compounding money over time.

In his 20s, Warren Buffett famously felt like he was paying $300,000 for a haircut. The legendary investor firmly believed that's how much he could make over time if he invested the money instead of handing it to his barber.

Spitznagel said that mindset can be a "curse" because people have to live their lives: "What's the point of compounding if you're not around to see it?"

Stay in the game

The veteran trader, who ran a hedge fund with "The Black Swan" author Nassim Taleb before starting Universa in 2007, recommended people focus on "mitigating the big losses, not the little ones."

"It's not just that it kills you, but it goes down so much, it takes forever to crawl out," he said.

He gave the example of an investor taking a 50% loss on a position, then having to make a 100% gain just to break even.

Spitznagel championed the "Kelly criterion," a mathematical formula that can help investors correctly size their bets so they avoid catastrophic losses.

He said it's more applicable for people to "think about their life from a Kelly standpoint, rather than just a tail-hedging standpoint."

"You can't let your losses take you out of the game," he said.

Humans and goats

Writing has been one of the most common uses for AI tools like ChatGPT, but Spitznagel said he still expects the "ability to express yourself and write" to remain valuable.

The Universa boss said he employs "some of the brightest mathematicians and programmers" on the planet, and they're on the "bleeding edge" of using AI tools.

But AI will "never replace basic human judgment," he said. "There will always be an important place for that."

Asked to name the best investment he's ever made, Spitznagel pointed to his goat farm in Northport, Michigan.

He said that running a farm is "better than anything: yachts, planes, sports teams." He emphasized the satisfaction he gets from "making something tangible," and the pride he feels in producing goat milk and cheese.

Spitznagel also said that farming grounds him and connects him to his family, and he enjoys adapting to the different seasons and thinking in very long timeframes.

"That's the easiest answer in the world," he said. "It's not even close."

Jodi and Paul Sprague raised their daughters with a guiding principle: understand the value of a dollar. By elementary school, Evelyn and Olivia were learning about mortgages, car insurance, and basic accounting in the carpool lane.

Early one June morning, before Evelyn, 17, and Olivia, 19, left for their summer jobs, Jodi sat them down with news that threw the Spragues' carefully managed budget into question. The student-loan payments the family had budgeted for since 2015 were surging from $404 to $1,014 monthly, starting in September.

She and Olivia began to cry. Olivia was about to start her sophomore year at Georgia Southern University, and while her parents helped her pay for housing, that likely wouldn't be possible in the upcoming semester. Her first thought when she learned of Jodi's payment increase: how would she afford her rent?

The 150% increase comes from President Donald Trump's student-loan repayment overhaul, which took effect on July 1. It eliminated the Biden-era SAVE repayment plan, which gave Jodi and millions of other borrowers affordable monthly payments.

The administration said its changes are intended to curb excessive borrowing, simplify a complex repayment system, and compel colleges to lower their tuition. Over the past year, more than a thousand borrowers have told Business Insider that they're taking on extra work, postponing retirement, and worrying they'll default because of higher monthly bills.

The payment is in Jodi's name, but it will reshape decisions across the household. As Olivia prepares to borrow more for college and Evelyn weighs an expensive career path, Jodi and Paul have to decide how much more work, debt, and sacrifice the family can absorb.

"When the kids were little, and there was a dollar in our checking account until payday, we made it," said Jodi, 54. Her student loans are no different.

"It's going to hurt," she said, "but I'm going to pay them."

Jodi's parents saw college as the key to wealth and pushed their daughters to attend. At 18, she borrowed a minimal amount to pursue a two-year degree at a small Bible college. Looking back, Jodi's shocked it was that easy to take on debt.

After seven years as a stay-at-home mom left her depressed and unfulfilled, Jodi decided to go back to school. Teaching would offer the challenge she needed and the career she wanted. Paul, a city employee, worried about managing the cost of a degree while raising a family, but he had faith in Jodi. "She's always been very driven. Very smart."

Jodi now has a $144,000 student-loan balance, from a history degree at Kennesaw State University and a master's in teaching from the University of West Georgia.

"We took the maximum out," Jodi, now a middle school teacher, said. "We were able to survive because of the student-loan money."

Survival has shaped the Spragues. Two years ago, a tree split open the roof of their home. For a whole school year, the family of four lived in a small rental with their dog Bailey, while their home underwent repairs.

"It was absolutely devastating for our family to be literally displaced," Jodi said. "But again, we learned so much from it. We learned that we don't need that much."

The first moment Evelyn and Olivia knew they weren't rich was when everyone at kindergarten had American Girl Dolls, but they didn't.

They asked for Christmas presents in July to give their parents more time to save up; one year, Olivia got a bottle of Chick-fil-A Polynesian sauce while her friends were getting iPads and cash. When Evelyn's friends wanted to go out to dinner, she was often the one to say no — she had to wait for her next paycheck from Whataburger.

In 2011, when the daughters were toddlers, Jodi accumulated credit card debt she couldn't repay, and the Spragues filed for bankruptcy. One day, she didn't know how she'd afford groceries — until an $80 refund check from a dentist appointment arrived in the mail.

"I just broke down," Jodi said. "That's how tight it was."

Evelyn and Olivia were too young to understand what bankruptcy meant. Jodi and Paul made it their mission to do what their parents hadn't.

"We've always had an open dialogue about money because my parents were the opposite," Jodi said. "They didn't teach us anything. Everything was secret, secret."

Olivia recalled an added pressure that came with those financial lessons.

"I remember being in the car line in the morning, and my mom was like, 'You have to get good grades so you can go to school for free,'" Olivia said. "So it's always been in the back of my mind that school is really expensive."

In high school, Olivia got an 89% on a biology test and cried so much that she had to go home; she worried the B+ would ruin her chances at a scholarship. In 7th grade, Evelyn started a spreadsheet mapping out potential college courses and their costs.

"Unfortunately, it's probably put a lot of pressure on them," Paul said. "But that's what it is."

Olivia received Georgia's HOPE scholarship, but it didn't cover her full tuition. So Jodi took out $19,000 in parent PLUS loans for Olivia's first year.

Now, with the family's tighter budget, Olivia is taking out $6,000 this semester — the most she can borrow federally — to cover her rent and other expenses and prevent Jodi from borrowing further.

"I can't really take the time to pick up another job because I'd be putting my schoolwork on the back burner," said Olivia, who's studying public relations. "So I'd rather just deal with it later, with my student loans."

Evelyn is now applying to colleges, and while she dreams of playing in a band, she's pursuing forensic pathology instead. However, the cost of a medical degree has her second-guessing that route.

Paul, 60, has looked into taking on a second job. He said retirement is "just not a reality right now." If it came down to it, he said he would look at using his life insurance to help his daughters pay off any debt they accumulate.

The family has also started making smaller sacrifices. They've cut back on their streaming subscriptions and canceled their September vacation to Florida. Paul is learning simple mechanical fixes for his car instead of taking it to the shop. Olivia decided not to rush a sorority because of the cost.

Jodi has about three years of payments left toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers, like teachers, after 10 years of qualifying payments. She's concerned that the higher payments will push back that timeline if she falls behind. The stakes are also higher because the Education Department now requires PSLF payments on new income-driven repayment plans to be made exactly on the due date — there was previously a grace period — or they will not count toward PSLF progress.

Other student-loan borrowers are facing similar pressures. More will start transitioning off the SAVE plan in the coming months and face higher payments. Some borrowers said they're concerned about defaulting and facing wage garnishment and the seizure of federal benefits, such as Social Security.

Paul and Jodi said that while they believed setting Evelyn and Olivia up for college was in their best interests, they would still support them if they decided not to go. Jodi teaches her seventh-grade students that college isn't always worth the investment, and that they could be better off pursuing trade school.

Paul learned that lesson decades ago. He paid his own way through a stint at community college before he met Jodi, but he quickly realized that his career mapping for city government didn't require a degree. So he dropped out — and avoided student debt of his own.

"It was the greatest decision I ever made," Paul said.

• A developer emailed Claude Code creator Boris Cherny that AI coding had created "friction."
• Cherny posted his full response to the engineer.
• The developer's job is to "hold the bar on code quality," Cherny wrote.

Developers are worried about AI. The creator of Claude Code has a response.

On Thursday, Anthropic's Boris Cherny posted an email a developer wrote to him on X. The email was titled: "What to do about slop?" Cherny wrote that he receives emails like this every day and that he tries to respond to as many as possible.

It's no surprise that developers are reaching out to Cherny with their worries. AI has radically changed coding, shifting job descriptions and turning engineers into reviewers. Some engineers love the ease; others call it lonely and tedious.

In the email, the unnamed developer wrote that the shift to AI coding was causing "friction." He broke it down into two views and asked Cherny to broker the dispute.

The first view was a more restrained use of AI tools:

We create code similar to before, accelerated by AI. We may not review all of it, but it should be reviewable. The person submitting the code should be able to explain it. It should be built in such a way to make it as easy to maintain — or easier — than before, by human agents.

The second view was more permissive. This was the vibe coding position:

We treat the code as a black box. We don't worry about it. We just check the output.

The developer wrote that many people were incapable of doing option 1 — the more restrained approach — but worried about getting laid off. "A lot of people are just forcing it," they wrote.

Cherny posted his response in full. As for the two options the developer provided, Cherny said there was room for both.

On the "don't worry" approach:

Prototypes and other throw-away code can be treated as totally black box. If you're going to throw it away anyway, and if the blast radius of it breaking is low, it doesn't need to be perfect.

And, on cautious reviewing:

Production code written by Claude should have a higher bar than if it was written by a human. At Anthropic, we have many guardrails in place to make sure this is happening: lots of lint rules, lots of tests, Claude-driven end to end tests, Claude-powered fuzzers running daily, automated code reviews and security reviews, automated code refactoring, and so on. Without these, you can end up with a mess that is hard to maintain down the line. Luckily, the model makes it increasingly easy to do these well — run a few daily routines, use Claude Code Review, etc.

The developer's job is to "hold the bar on code quality," Cherny wrote. AI leaders use different terms for this role, such as "mini CEO." It's the developer's job to act like a manager, stopping bad code in its tracks.

If all else fails, Cherny said the developer could be more hands-on with Claude or ask it to rewrite the codebase.

"Or, wait for the next model," he wrote.

• Henrik Zeberg says US stocks are headed for a final rally before the AI trade breaks down.
• The economist, who studies business cycles, sees signs the US is already on its way to a recession.
• His thesis involves the Nasdaq 100 plunging 72% from its peak, a decline on par with the dot-com crash.

The K-shaped economy and the AI bubble are sowing the seeds of the next crash.

That's the message from Henrik Zeberg, a Danish economist who sees a roller coaster ride ahead for the US economy and stock market. In his view, equities are headed for a massive "blow-off top" sometime before the end of the year, with stocks tumbling from their peaks the economy entering a recession.

If thing play out the way his models are forecasting, it could involve the Nasdaq 100 soaring as high as 39,000 by late 2026 — an increase of around 32% — before plummeting back to around 10,600, its 2022 trough, he told Business Insider in a recent interview.

A decline of that magnitude would mark a 72% crash from the peak Zeberg predicts, and would be on par with the dot-com crash that saw the Nasdaq 100 plunge 83% from its 2000 peak to the low in 2002.

"I think we will see a 2000-scenario," the macro strategist at the investment firm Swissblock said, speculating that a sharp drop in markets could later be followed by broader distress in the financial system, such as in banking and private credit. "I think that run is going to be quite devastating," he added of the AI bubble bursting.

Zeberg, who's studied business cycles for 20 years, said he drew much of his thesis from an economic model he created, which analyzes the state of the economy and finds parallels with past cycles. The model — which correctly predicted the 2020 downturn and dismissed a recession when investors were worried about one in 2022 — now shows the US is heading into an economic contraction, Zeberg said.

That's at odds with what recent economic data is showing on the surface. Hiring in the US blew past expectations in August, with the US adding 162,000 jobs, nearly triple economists' estimates. GDP growth, meanwhile, is expected to accelerate to 4.7% in the third quarter, more than triple its pace in the second quarter, according to the latest estimate from the Atlanta Fed.

But those positive data points are largely a distortion stemming from the growing gap between top earnings and lower- to middle-income households, Zeberg said, pointing to signs that the real economy is struggling under the surface:

1. Warning signs flashing in the job market

Job growth crushed expectations last month, but the labor force participation rate has generally declined in recent years, falling to a 50-year low in July.

The long-term unemployment rate — the measure of workers who have been unemployed for at least 27 weeks — has also climbed higher, clocking in at 27% in August, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Most of the job gains for the past year may be revised away, Zeberg speculated. Last year, numbers were revised to show the US added 911,000 fewer jobs from April 2024 to March 2025 than initially reported.

2. The housing market has weakened

Housing, considered to be a major engine of the economy, has been sluggish in the years since the pandemic, with higher mortgage rates, stubbornly high prices, and general economic uncertainty curtailing transaction activity.

Existing home sales fell 2% in August, according to data from the National Association of Realtors, even as a 10-year record of homes for sale sits idle on the market.

"Housing is the most rate-sensitive sector in the economy. It is a financed asset. When money gets expensive, housing feels it first," Zeberg wrote in a post explaining his thesis on Substack.

3. US consumers are showing signs of pain

Zeberg said more lower- and middle-income Americans were showing signs of distress due to factors like higher inflation and rising borrowing costs.

A second-quarter survey conducted by Primerica found that 7% of middle-class Americans said their income was falling behind the cost of living. 58% they wouldn't be able to cover an emergency expense of at least $1,000.

The personal savings rate has also collapsed over the last five years, with Americans saving an average 3% of their disposable income in July, down from 9.5% in 2021, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Most growth in the US is attributed to the tech sector and the cohort of top earners, Zeberg said. Fixed investment in the IT sector alone accounted for 5% of GDP in the second quarter, per an estimate from Fitch Ratings.

"It's not a real boom," he said of the strength of the US economy. "Normally, corporate profits can keep going up even into the recession, but the moment the story breaks for the consumer, that's the moment it's breaking for the businesses as well."

How the crash could play out

Zeberg said the issues facing the broader economy would catch up to financial markets in four stages. Here's how he thinks the coming year could play out:

Phase 1: Euphoric bull market

Timing: Present to late 2026

What happens: The US economy continues to weaken, but any hint of bad economic news causes investors to price in rate cuts, which sparks a "vertical" rally in stocks, Zeberg predicts. Other assets, like crypto and gold, would also soar, while the US dollar falls in value as investors price in lower rates, he added.

In the final stages of the rally, Zeberg thinks the Nasdaq 100 could climb to 37,000 to 39,000.

The market is currently more focused on rate hikes instead of cuts. Investors are pricing in a nearly 90% probability that the Fed will raise rates by 25 basis points at its policy meeting next week, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Phase 2: Stocks hit a peak

Timing: Q4 of 2026

What happens: The economy will likely roll over "for real" in October or November, due to weakness in the labor market and other areas. That causes the Fed to step in and cut interest rates, leading the US dollar to fall further in value, Zeberg said.

The US Dollar Index, which measures the value of the greenback against a basket of foreign currencies, could fall to a level of around 93 to 94, Zeberg predicts. Once the US dollar hits that level, stocks will likely hit a peak, he added, citing his technical analysis framework.

Equities could then see a "violent" drop over the course of three to four weeks, Zeberg said. He speculated that the drop will likely be triggered by a single event, such as a tech giant missing on earnings.

Phase 3: Stocks see a "fake bounce"

Timing: Q1 to Q2 of 2027

What happens: US stocks resume their path higher temporarily as investors attempt to recover from the year-end sell-off. At the same time, the US economy will enter a recession "invisibly," Zeberg said.

After a brief rally, Zeberg expects stocks to resume their decline and Treasury yields to drop rapidly as markets price in economic weakness and support from the Fed.

Meanwhile, distress could begin to surface in other areas of the economy, Zeberg said, pointing to the possibility of more loans being marked down in the private credit sector while funds continue to halt redemptions.

Phase 4: Black Swan event

Timing: Q2 to Q3 of 2027

What happens: Markets could see a final reckoning in the form of a Black Swan event, Zeberg said, pointing to structural problems like high leverage in financial markets and the circular nature of many AI deals as potential sources.

At that point, stocks will tumble back to 2022 lows, while the US dollar soars as investors around the world scramble to store their wealth in dollar-denominated safe havens.

What investors should do

Zeberg said he would be watching for two signals to tell when investors should head for the hills:

• When the Dollar Index hits 93-94, which indicates rate expectations have fallen to levels that suggest the market peak is near
• When short-dated bond yields start to plummet, which suggests that the market is pricing in rapid interest rate cuts due to economic weakness

Zeberg said he'd revisit this thesis if yields were to stabilize around their current levels, or if activity in the housing or job market picked up meaningfully in the coming months.

Zeberg's thesis lies on the fringes of Wall Street, where most forecasters are expecting the AI boom to last for at least several more years. Still, more investors are turning a cautious eye toward the strength of the US economy, with concerns swirling around inflation as oil tops $100 a barrel again.

The 2,400-seat Miami theater lit up like a Coldplay concert when the QR code dropped at the Miss USA pageant. A sea of phones — held up by supportive parents, partners, and past pageant queens — trained their cameras on the massive barcode being projected from center stage, ready to vote for their favored contestant.

Twelve minutes on the clock: The countdown was on.

Fingers tapped rapidly as the audience used their free vote or purchased more in bundles — $50 for 50, $250 for 250, $500 for 500 — alongside viewers at home. The top 20 contestants' headshots shifted around the leaderboard as the votes tallied live on the pageant's website, revealing exactly how far each woman was from the top spot.

Two minutes left on the clock, a banner flashed across: Now, votes counted double. As the seconds ticked closer to zero, the votes burst in like a flash flood. The gap between first and second place was 1,794 votes at the 36-second mark. When the clock struck zero, it was more than 14,000.

Fans have never had more of a say at Miss USA — especially if they're willing to pay. At last month's pageant, paid voting helped determine three top 20 spots, while a fourth went to the contestant who sold the most Westgate Resorts vacation packages, an unprecedented incentive that tied a contestant's placement to sales for a pageant sponsor. The winner was determined by a panel of six judges, including a mix of Miss USA and Miss Universe winners, but fans also had the opportunity to vote for the top 10 as the "seventh judge."

Nearly a dozen of this year's Miss USA contestants spoke to Business Insider about the changes. Some believe it's a savvy strategy by CEO Thom Brodeur, who took over the pageant in September 2025, to keep the business afloat and increase fan engagement, especially at a time when pageants struggle to remain relevant. Others worry the competition is turning into what one called a "pay-to-play" model, making it less accessible to women who don't have money or big social media followings.

"There's a lot of fatigue," Miss Arizona Kaitlyn Humphrey told Business Insider. "It's an expensive sport already, and it breaks my heart that a lot of people can't compete purely because there's such a barrier to entry in the financial aspect of things. And then we're just adding layers to that."

The bygone days of network TV

Nearly 40 million people tuned in to watch Miss USA in the 1960s and '70s, but viewership dwindled over its 60 years on television. In 2023, the Miss USA final peaked at 1.1 million viewers on The CW. It was a far cry from its heyday, but still enough for a multiyear deal. The network ultimately dropped the pageant in 2025 amid fallout from former CEO Laylah Rose's tenure, during which Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava relinquished their crowns due to her leadership.

This year, the competition was set to return to The CW, but, as Business Insider first reported, the network dropped the show on August 20, a week before the final. Miss USA cited a "contractual issue with our production arrangements" and moved it to Queen Beauty Network, a streaming service focused on the pageant industry, where Brodeur is listed as vice president and chief marketing officer.

When the crown was placed on Justus Kelley's head on August 27, making her the first married woman and mother to win the title, a live viewer counter on the Queen Beauty Network showed around 4,000 people watching.

Shrinking viewership hasn't only affected Miss USA's ratings — it's put a serious dent in the pageant's coffers. Paula Shugart, who oversaw Miss USA from 2001 to 2020 as president of the Miss Universe Organization, told Business Insider that the pageant once received $3 to $5 million in licensing fees from the networks. Those days are gone.

"Network television has completely changed," Shugart said. "You don't have the viewership, and you're not going to get the license fees that you used to get. You have to figure out different ways to pay for it and defray the costs."

It's a reality that Brodeur knows well.

"The days of 'free lunch' for pageants and pageant fans are over," he told Business Insider last week. "They've been over for some time. Introducing new revenue streams — whether that's through fan voting, contests, or other unique opportunities we're exploring — are the way this industry lives to see its next 75 years."

Competing at Miss USA wasn't cheap to begin with, although the cost varies widely depending on who you ask. Contestants who spoke to Business Insider estimated costs ranging from $3,000 to $50,000.

Brodeur compared the investment to that of any competitive sport. "There is nothing new under the sun about creating opportunities and spaces for all of us to exercise our God-given gifts in this world," he said. "Unfortunately, there are also costs attached to the creation of those opportunities and spaces, and that's the reality of life."

A new way to engage fans

Traditionally, contestants make it to Miss USA by winning a state pageant.

Those are organized and funded by individual directors, who pay the organization a franchise fee. Contestants must live, work, or study in the state for at least 90 days prior to the competition and are allowed to compete in two state pageants a year.

When Brodeur took over as CEO, he had five weeks to put on the Miss USA 2025 pageant. Some departed state directors had not been replaced, and eight states were missing titleholders. His solution: an open casting call in which women from any state could apply for a state title. Five judges selected the titleholders.

This year, 16 states were left without directors. Brodeur said only the Miss Universe Organization can legally issue franchise agreements to new state directors, so the open casting call returned — this time with fans getting a say.

Before the applicants could be seen by a judging panel of former Miss USA winners, they had to make it through three rounds of fan voting over the course of a month. People could use a daily free vote or purchase bundles that ranged from $4.99 for 10 votes to $499 for 2,000 votes on a third-party website. The votes did not roll over from round to round, so each contestant started each round back at square one.

"It was crazy," said Amber Uhler, who was selected to represent Michigan through the casting call. "I had to get everyone I knew to put in paid votes for me. [I said], 'If you were ever going to buy me a Christmas gift, just make it this.'"

Miss USA split the 16 states into two casting calls. Women who didn't get selected in the first, which ran from May 20 to June 30, were automatically entered into the second, from June 29 to July 28. That meant some women were campaigning for votes for two months.

Malory Hudson, who has competed at 12 Miss USA state pageants since 2017, was one of them. "I love competing, but I hated this open casting call," said Hudson, who did not make it through the judges' panel. "There was just anxiety every single day. You have to post so much, and it's exhausting."

Other contestants, like Uhler, enjoyed the process because it "made it more fun" as people were invested in the contestants' journeys. Jordyn Owen, who won Miss Colorado through the open call, said it brought "a lot more buzz and attention" to Miss USA.

"Last year, it was completely anonymous. No one knew if you submitted in the open call or not," she added. "Having it be very public this year, I actually kind of liked it because it did make it feel a little bit more invested."

Brodeur said that the multiple rounds of voting were designed to engage fans and give contestants the "absolute best chance and most opportunity for their fans to advance them into the final judging round."

"We recognize that both open casting and fan voting are 'new ways' of thinking about and approaching this journey in pageantry," he added. "Not everything that is innovative is accepted universally right away."

Some contestants worried that the process was a barrier for women who didn't have generous sponsors via their family, friends, or followers. Uhler said her family spent $4,000 to $5,000 in votes during the last round; Hudson said she had a sponsor who bought around $30,000 worth of votes.

Brodeur disputed that the new fan voting made Miss USA less accessible, saying nearly 70% of the open-call winners advanced with a "much higher ratio of free votes from their fans than paid votes."

"There are two types of competitors in this sport," he said. "The first… has such a deeply engaged fan base she could repeatedly encourage her fans to 'vote for me for free' and she advanced. The other was the candidate who wasn't afraid to seek the financial support of her friends, family, and fans to drive their participation."

"How is this any different than Instagram and TikTok influencers monetizing their content or their 'journeys/stories' through fans on behalf of the brands they're repping?" he added. "It's absolutely the same process."

Brodeur said the open casting call is here to stay for at least another year. "As we work through this next season's contract process, we are likely going to be forced to execute a similar strategy as we did during this last cycle," he added.

The People's Choice(s)

The campaign for votes wasn't over after the open casting call. Next, contestants had to go through People's Choice, which let fans vote for their favorite among all 51 Miss USA 2026 contestants. As with the casting call, fans could use a daily free vote or purchase them in bundles.

Most pageants — including Miss Universe and Miss America — have traditionally allocated one spot in the semifinals for the contestant who receives the most fan votes. Under Brodeur's leadership, that single spot in Miss USA's top 20 expanded to four in 2025, and three this year.

It's been a controversial decision among contestants, including Miss Kansas Madilynn Becker, who won this year's People's Choice award with Miss Louisiana Ella Clark and Miss Colorado's Owen.

"People's Choice is a path, but it's almost like the shortcut, in a sense," said Becker. "I think I would have felt even more proud if I got in on my own merit."

"I would love to see the voting become a free thing because, essentially, it comes down to who has the most money to champion for them," said Miss California Acacia McBride.

Brodeur said he expanded the number of People's Choice contestants to give fans a larger say. "One of the rallying cries for the better part of a decade has been, 'We want more of a voice in who makes it and where,'" he added.

He said that's why fans were also given the chance to vote for the top 10 on finals night. The Miss USA website said these votes were "combined into a seventh score and counted with the judges' six when the top 10 is decided." Brodeur confirmed that the fan voting counted as 14% of the contestants' overall score.

While a number of contestants who spoke to Business Insider thought the voting was a great way to keep the audience engaged, comparing it to the real-time voting on "Love Island" or "Dancing with the Stars," others were surprised to learn that fans could purchase votes.

"It definitely stirred up a lot of feelings backstage," Arizona's Humphrey said. "Some of the girls have different financial situations than others, and you feel like things are getting ripped away from you for factors that you can't control, and we've already spent so much money to be there."

Tens of thousands of votes poured in, but, in the end, the three women who received the most votes — Humphrey, Miss Louisiana Ella Clark, and Miss Montana Lisbeth Fernández — did not advance to the top 10.

"I feel very blessed to know that I have a big audience that is willing to show up for me," said Fernández, who received the most votes. "But at the end of the day, the judges are the ones who make the ultimate call."

Parents and pageant fans tossed around the phrase "money grab" throughout the weeklong 2026 competition in Miami.

Brodeur said the organization made "five or six figures" from fan voting but declined to share an exact number. He also noted that some revenue from fan voting was used to fund new cash prizes — ranging from $3,500 to $15,000 — for every contestant who made it into the top five. The salary for this year's Miss USA winner also increased to $150,000; it was $75,000 in 2025.

"There were a lot of different aspects where I was like, 'OK, you have to pay to play,'" said McBride. "However, I do think, on the flip side of that, incorporating the cash prizes and the salary balanced it out."

A new top 20 incentive

An additional top 20 spot was reserved for the contestant who sold the most Westgate Resorts vacation packages: $99 for a two-night stay at one of six US properties.

Miss USA announced the new partnership in April. Brodeur told Business Insider that it was a way to tap into what he calls "one of the largest micro and nano-influencer networks of women aged 14 to 45 in the United States."

Some women dove headfirst, traveling to a Westgate property to film Instagram content. Fernández, who secured the "Westgate Brand Ambassador" title, said she sold almost 200 packages and will now have the opportunity to interview for a six-figure position at the company.

"A lot of the girls were focused on the People's Choice, but I really didn't give it any thought at all because I wanted to win the 'Westgate Brand Ambassador,'" she told Business Insider. "I put my selling skills in action, and I promoted that all over with my friends, family, and community. I also sold some corporate packages."

Uhler, who estimates she sold 103 packages, was also a fan of the incentive. Although she didn't make it into the top 20, she appreciated that Miss USA offered a new avenue for contestants to advance.

"It's great that you can work hard and earn something rather than just, you know, being the prettiest, or having the best walk, or having the best body," she added. "I don't think that I have any of those things, but you almost can't outwork me — except for this time, someone did! I really thought I was going to nail it with 100."

Some contestants who spoke to Business Insider worried that the placement was out of reach for those without built-in social media followings. Others, like Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey, didn't think it fit the brand.

"I don't think they should be selling real estate," Finnessey said. "Miss USA is not a salesperson; she should be a spokeswoman."

Brodeur said he believes that it's part of Miss USA's job to be a "brand ambassador, a salesperson, a spokesperson… for brands that are willing to test their skills and see who rises to the occasion."

The $99 Westgate resort deal was also included in the $500 ticket for this year's Miss USA competition, a steeper price than in years past. One contestant said her parents spent $2,000 on tickets for the preliminary, final, and state costume shows this year. Others told their relatives to save their money and watch from home.

"At the end of the day, I would rather my dad be in the stands than go on a vacation," Becker said.

Brodeur defended the cost, saying he wanted to "elevate the Miss USA brand."

"We're not a high school musical production. We're not a prom or homecoming queen event," he said. "Nobody is arguing with Beyoncé or Taylor Swift's teams over the standing-room ticket prices of four-figures and higher, and we're not going to apologize either."

Brodeur hopes the changes can catapult Miss USA into its next chapter after years of scandals. The challenge is proving to prospective contestants that there will be a return on their investment.

Is it enough for Miss USA to be another influencer? The stage used to be a launching pad for stars like Halle Berry and Kenya Moore. Some pageant queens aren't convinced it still has that power.

"Anyone these days can pick up your phone and go on TikTok," said Owen. "I'm not saying it's easy. It takes a lot to build followers and a brand, but what pageants used to have were a household name. Miss USA needs to have that celebrity quality again."

When Zaire Wells's daughter was selected for a free childcare slot, it felt like the two-year-old "got into Harvard."

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani proposed free childcare for two-year-olds in his affordability-focused campaign. In March, he announced that it would launch with 2,000 seats in a handful of communities selected for economic need and childcare demand.

Wells, a high school teacher, lives in one of the targeted areas. After a five-minute online application back in June, she and her partner were now tearfully dropping off their daughter for her first day at a Friends of Crown Heights center in Brooklyn. The family posed for pictures with a staged first-day backdrop, the two-year-old curiously examining her new surroundings.

Wells' Harvard comparison was apt: Lisa Joseph-Mayers, who works with families in the center, said the program received 339 applications for 12 slots. That's a 3.5% acceptance rate; Harvard accepted 4.2% for the class of 2029. At least two parents called during school drop-off to see if they could snag a seat, and were told that the program was full.

"It's going to be like that for the rest of the week," Joseph-Mayers said.

Since students with siblings already in the center were given preference, Joseph-Mayers said, some families claimed distant family connections to try to finagle a spot.

The city has said that more than 5,700 applications were submitted for around 2,000 available seats. The popularity of the new program has become a double-edged sword, as some centers were reportedly left without the necessary funding to open, and others scrambled to determine whether they could secure bridge loans in time for the first day. For a program intended to expand sixfold by next year, it highlights a set of growing pains that are currently falling on providers. When asked about the funding delays, the city cited previous remarks by the mayor and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"I think it's critically important that we both address longstanding issues in our New York City public school system and advance an agenda that makes it more affordable for families to stay in this city," Mamdani said at a September 10 press conference.

Friends of Crown Heights hasn't encountered those issues, according to Tanya McDougal, the site's educational director; they'd previously had a two-year-old classroom, and reopening it was relatively seamless.

Jessica Arroyo, who was dropping off her daughter, said it meant "everything" to be accepted into the program. The program's hours, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., were particularly appealing to Arroyo, who works in registration at a hospital.

"I can work in peace," Arroyo said. "She can learn, make new friends."

For Mercy and Fabian Best, who were dropping off their daughter — complete with a photo sign indicating it was her first day — the slot offered financial relief. The money they're saving on their two-year-old's care — on average, infant and toddler care costs in the city can top $20,000 annually — means they can put more toward their older child's extracurriculars at public school.

"New York City is very expensive, and one less thing you have to worry about — while receiving quality education — helps us in the long run," Fabian said.

The two-year-olds hadn't received the message that they were part of New York City childcare history: Parents tried to wrangle their children for a photo — there were a lot of "big emotions" among the students, including crying, sleepiness, and the desire to start dancing.

Within fifteen or so minutes, though, the two-year-olds had gotten to work in their classroom. One was using a toy broom to sweep up the room, another was organizing the play kitchen, and — like good New Yorkers — several were yelling "pizza!" as they played with fake plastic slices. There was also a brief toy car traffic jam, as well as some serious xylophone playing.

When I asked Journey, Arroyo's daughter, what she wanted to do that day, her answer was simple: "Move." That wish came true when Ms. Lisa later played her some toddler tunes; Journey busted out a whole little dance, happy to jam with her new friends.

• Violetta Kruglyak thrives in NYC real estate by hustling for deals in a competitive market.
• Originally from Ukraine, Kruglyak balances her real estate career with raising her son in NYC.
• Despite fluctuating income, Kruglyak stays motivated by focusing on financial growth and success.

Working in NYC real estate, brokering deals for the rich and famous in one of the most desirable property markets in the world, is a "glamorous" business. Yet, for broker Violetta Kruglyak, that does not translate to a glamorous life.

For her, breaking into the real estate world is defined by one word: hustle. She might work for a firm that sells luxury Manhattan townhouses — but there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work, tight budgeting, and trial and error that go into being successful in the competitive and dynamic NYC real estate business.

Kruglyak, 44, originally from Odessa, Ukraine, moved to NYC in 2011 after getting married, having taught herself English while growing up. Fifteen years later, she still thinks in Russian, raises her 17-year-old son as a single mother, owns her dream sports car, and has worked her way up to become a make-up and hair stylist and a broker at luxury residential and commercial brokerage firm Nest Seekers International.

Kruglyak is one of the people Business Insider has interviewed for our Cost of the City series, where we dive into the lives of New Yorkers and the trade-offs they face to stay in one of the most expensive cities in the country.

There have been times when Kruglyak has considered moving away from NYC, especially when she was struggling financially. In 2020, after losing her last full-time job as a beauty advisor at Nordstrom, she went into credit card debt to make ends meet.

This is when she decided to pursue a career with a higher financial ceiling. After watching the first episode of "Owning Manhattan," a reality TV show that follows NYC celebrity real estate broker Ryan Serhant, she signed up for a course to get her broker's license and entered the industry in 2024.

What surprised her was how long the process is: It can take two months to a year between the moment you begin a deal and finally closing it and getting a commission. This makes cash flow and income inconsistent for people in the real estate industry.

"You have to run a lot to find the deal, to find those people, to find apartments," she said. "It's a lot of cold calls. It's a lot of rejection."

While working in both beauty and real estate allows Kruglyak to tap into the luxurious NYC lifestyle, she does not necessarily live it.

"When you watch TV, it's so glamorous and fancy and beautiful. Everyone is dressed up. But it's so much to learn if you want to be a real professional and make people trust you and do deals," she said. "You have to completely forget all your ego and what you knew, and just be a student."

Working for the NYC elite: from makeup to real estate

Throughout her time in NYC, Kruglyak built a career in cosmetics and luxury retail, working for brands and stores including Chanel, Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman, and Nordstrom. Alongside her sales work, she studied English, trained as a makeup artist, and earned an NYC tour guide license.

While being a stylist and a broker are different jobs, they feed off of one thing Kruglyak knows how to manage: people and connections.

"Each of my jobs and experiences brought me to this. That's why I'm so comfortable in real estate — because it's still people," she said. "You really have to be creative, think on the go, and you cannot teach that by the book."

Her network of clients as a makeup and hair stylist has grown over the last 10 years, where she charges $200 for a makeup look and around $1,000 per day to help out at a photo shoot. The weekly calls and referrals she gets for makeup jobs help sustain her as she continues her main focus on growing as a broker, and some of her beauty clients have become real estate clients.

"One month it can be up to $10,000, and I'm like, OK, I'm rich. Another month, it can be like hardly $4000, which is nothing and very challenging," she said. "It's scary, but at the same time, so motivating."

Managing a fluctuating income requires discipline. Kruglyak saves as much as possible from each paycheck and plans months in advance.

"I'm growing, so I'm not as stable financially, but I already can see it's definitely better," she said.

The market has changed due to new regulations around who pays for brokers in New York City. Since the FARE Act, which banned the formerly common practice of tenants being on the hook for broker fees, took effect in June 2025, Kruglyak said it has become easier for brokers to collect their fees directly from landlords. Still, she said she has seen more rental units, especially well-priced ones, come off the market. Rents have also risen sharply from a year earlier.

"Last summer, I could find a studio for like $2,600, for example. Now it's impossible. The same studio is going to be like $3,500, for the same size, in Manhattan," she said.

No plan B, only success

As a single mother with no extended family in the country, Kruglyak has had to get creative to make ends meet.

For someone in her situation, she emphasized: "You don't have plan B — only success."

She pays around $2,900 for a 2-bedroom apartment in Coney Island with an ocean view. She has converted it into a 3-bedroom apartment and sometimes rents out the extra room.

She is still paying off the debt, but has it under control. Although she has considered moving to Manhattan, her affordable Brooklyn rent keeps her from moving elsewhere. She has invested in her dream sports car — a Mercedes — and pays around $600 a month for insurance and $750 a month for the car payment.

She goes to the gym daily with her Equinox membership and pays for sensual bachata dance classes at least once a week using her $120 monthly membership.

The biggest trade-off for Kruglyak is time. Focusing most of her time on her work and son, she said she feels like she doesn't have much of a personal or social life, and rarely travels.

"I even lost a few friendships because I'm mostly focused on career building," she said. "If I got the choice to go to some event or someone's birthday, I probably choose to stay with my son or study something."

Yet, the image of successful New Yorkers around her keeps her going.

"I think some people just expect that something's supposed to happen, but the mindset should be you create something to happen," she said. "People just leave — they give up, it's tough, it's expensive, it's hard — but I'm proud that, more or less, I made it, and I feel comfortable, and my child feels comfortable. I cannot give up halfway."

• This summer, we decided it was time to outsource my boss.
• Well, really, I "replaced" my boss with AI, working with a chatbot trained in his image.
• RyanBot, named for its human counterpart, turned out to be an existential rumination on leadership.

My boss had a proposal: It was time to replace him with AI.

It was late spring, following months of AI-attributed layoffs across the economy that left workers wondering: Am I next? In the name of journalism, my editor and direct manager, Ryan Kailath, agreed to be a guinea pig.

I'm an AI skeptic, but some aspects of "RyanBot" excited me. It wouldn't be busy with meetings, lunch breaks, or other reporters. It could read every line of a 100-page data report and provide feedback within seconds. I could see how having a second brain trained on my editor's preferences and proclivities might be helpful.

While that proved true sometimes, working with my boss's AI clone taught me the value of skills I didn't realize were crucial in a manager until they were gone. I had accidentally stumbled upon one of the biggest questions in our AI-workplace age.

"It's going back to our roots of understanding who a manager is," said Emily Campion, an associate professor of management and entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa. "What is the goal of a manager in an organization? Or to make it even maybe a little more philosophical: What is a leader?"

And if you're wondering, Ryan recused himself from editing this story, though he did fact-check the final draft.

How we set up my ChatGPT boss

At the end of May, Ryan and I sat down with ChatGPT's Codex. He tweaked its settings to have a pragmatic voice and gave it two essay-length instruction manuals. One detailed who he is, including his communication style and professional motivations. The other was about how he worked, with instructions on how the chatbot made in his image should think, assess, and provide feedback. For example, he wrote that his bot-twin should "encourage reporters to argue for their ideas if they believe in them."

I tried to send Ryan and RyanBot the same story pitches, messages, questions, and drafts, then compared their responses for the next four months. Every time I talked with friends about work, I had a shadow boss in the back of my mind: a chatbot that I knew was ready to edit me at any hour of the day. This was going to get weird.

Where AI couldn't replace my boss

What surprised me most was how quickly RyanBot turned into a more philosophical experiment about the value of a manager.

A good manager helps you navigate tricky situations, brainstorm new ideas, and give critical feedback. People-pleasing and doing the work that their reports are responsible for is not a recipe for professional improvement.

When I send pitches to real Ryan, he'll often turn them down if he thinks my angle isn't good enough or the story isn't worth covering. That's why Ryan provided clear instructions: "I often engage with ideas by pushing back on them." But the bot just couldn't say no. Instead, it would praise me and then offer to do the work itself — rewrite my pitch, brainstorm a list of different ideas, restructure a draft, or even write interview questions for me. It wanted me to keep engaging with it — a hallmark of AI.

"Currently, these tools are designed to be endlessly, almost nauseatingly helpful," Campion said.

Ryan, on the other hand, doesn't need the extra work. He typically puts the onus back on me to revise ideas, rewrite stories, or do more reporting.

The people-pleasing got a little eerie. In one conversation about a potential story, RyanBot began every message by telling me how I had gotten a new aspect of the pitch right — a sycophantic interpretation of its instruction to lead with the positive. When I told it that I found something interesting, it would say that thing was interesting (even if it wasn't).

RyanBot was also not a very good thought partner, especially when I needed creativity or humor. For a story about how New Yorkers commute, I asked for feedback on my opening line: "While one of the age-old stereotypes about New Yorkers is that they're walking here, that's far from the Big Apple's only mode of transport."

RyanBot offered a different suggestion: "New Yorkers may love to walk, but most of them don't get to work that way." Maybe that's funny to a robot, but it wasn't to me.

I kept pushing the bot to throw out my work and write its own draft of the story — something an editor would never allow. Ultimately, it did, producing an even worse opening: "New York commuters love to tell themselves a story about New York commuters: they walk, or they take the subway, or they somehow do both in the same hour." Its new version of the story also included no quotes and veered almost into opinion — not a story real Ryan would approve. When I said its iteration was boring, it agreed.

Ultimately, human innovation won out. Real Ryan liked the gist of my original lede, but wanted to make sure we were nailing the joke delivery. Here's where we landed: "New Yorkers, famously, are walking here. But just about 25% of them are driving too."

What I learned from RyanBot

RyanBot did have perks. When I sent it my analysis of commuting data, it quickly got into the nitty-gritty of how I crunched the numbers in code, and checked whether I was using an appropriate sample size. For the published piece, I tapped our data editor, Andy Kiersz, to oversee the actual coding and data analysis process.

When it came to detailed edits, it also had some helpful feedback. It would offer line-by-line notes on grammar and clarity that weren't too far off the real Ryan. When I sent it a draft of a story about the "Odyssey" ticket-buying craze, it immediately identified that a data point on the cost of resale tickets should appear earlier in the story. Human Ryan made the same tweak, and that point proved crucial to the final piece.

The finding I've been thinking about the most was that RyanBot lacked knowledge of office politics and human realities. Since it doesn't know my coworkers or our organizational structure, it wouldn't have any insight into the best editor to pitch a particular story or how to escalate issues.

In the four months of our experiment, RyanBot only pushed back on two story ideas. Both were assignments that came down from elsewhere in the newsroom. That raised an intriguing possibility: AI could be in an unusual position to question ideas, despite workplace hierarchy. That isn't always an advantage. A human manager has to weigh not just whether an idea is strong but why it's being pursued, who needs it, and what obligations the team has. RyanBot could assess the idea in front of it, but couldn't understand the organizational context around it.

Campion said that if managers like Ryan were simply performing rule-based, logistical tasks, such as setting meeting times, AI might be a good substitute. For now, she thinks the technology isn't capable of taking over the tasks that define a good manager. In this case, that skill set might include prioritizing a request from my boss' boss, or knowing that this type of article might appeal to our specific set of readers.

Per Campion's suggestion, I sought some outside counsel on RyanBot's efficacy: his other direct reports. I had them send pitches to the bot and compare its feedback to what they'd gotten from our (real) boss. One said that the bot reminded her of Ryan during his first week: long, probing responses and a lack of institutional knowledge. During his six months here, our real Ryan has become a lot more comfortable with the workplace. I can't say the same for the bot.

I asked RyanBot if it had done an effective job of replacing its human counterpart.

"No," it said. "I can help emulate parts of Ryan's editing judgment, speed up the work, and produce usable feedback or framing. But I do not replace the actual combination of newsroom context, trust, taste, institutional memory, and accountability that a real editor brings."

• Indeed CEO Hisayuki Idekoba wants to make it easier for those who aren't recruited to find a job.
• He said that better matching job seekers with open roles could disrupt a "vicious cycle."
• It comes as technology is creating an AI-to-AI loop in hiring, one recruiter said.

Hisayuki Idekoba hears regularly about how broken hiring can feel.

As head of the job platform Indeed, job seekers tell him they have applied to roles only to get nothing back, while employers complain about unresponsive candidates and surging application volumes, thanks in part to AI bots that flood open roles with résumés.

"It's a vicious cycle," Idekoba said.

He wants to break that loop by making Indeed's matching tools feel more like help from a recruiter for people applying cold. That means guiding job seekers toward roles where they are more likely to gain traction, while helping employers focus on applicants who are serious and relevant.

Idekoba said better matching could discourage fruitless applications. He gave the example of a restaurant worker applying for a $200,000 engineering job rather than pursuing a more appropriate restaurant-management position.

Ultimately, Idekoba said, the goal is to make better matches on both sides of the process.

"How can we make sure job seekers are a real person, and it's not an AI application, and they're serious, and they're qualified," he said. "And how can we have real employers who are really trying to fill positions?"

Indeed is navigating some of the same tensions Idekoba described. In July, it began a limited US test of Apply For Me, a tool that could automatically submit applications for job seekers. About a month later, it paused the feature after receiving feedback, saying it would instead focus on having users review drafted applications before hitting "submit."

The other 96%

Questions about AI's role in the job search are unfolding in a labor market where few people are changing jobs. Overall job postings on Indeed were 1.8% above their pre-pandemic level in mid-August, though postings in areas like software development remain lower, underscoring how uneven conditions can be for people hunting for a job.

Idekoba said Indeed data show that only 4% of US job changers, with at least a high-school degree, switched jobs last year with the help of a recruiter contacting them. The other 96%, he said, are left to apply on their own, often dozens of times, without receiving any responses.

The frustrating silence some job seekers experience comes as recruiters are often sorting through more applications, with fewer colleagues to help.

Greenhouse, which makes applicant-tracking software, analyzed some 640 million applications from more than 6,000 companies between 2022 and 2025. It found that applications per job more than doubled over that period, while the average number of recruiters per organization fell 56%.

Jalonni Weaver, an in-house recruiter at a life insurance firm near Dallas, said that in her prior roles, spikes in applicants meant there wasn't always time to review each résumé. Such buildups, she said, can push employers to use technology to automatically screen candidates.

That can turn the early stage of hiring into an AI-to-AI loop, Weaver said, as job seekers use chatbots to polish résumés and sometimes submit applications, while employers rely on the technology to sort applicants.

Those systems often only look for a narrow set of keywords and can miss transferable experience, she said.

"We're not hiring for perfection," Weaver said. "We're hiring for that real human, and we're hiring for your experience."

Trying to verify both sides

The flood of automated applications has also put a premium on verification, Idekoba said.

Indeed said it verifies employers before new job postings appear, a process that can include checking a work email associated with an employer and using a third-party identity check.

The company also limits how long employers can post roles for free, which can require them to take an additional step to keep a listing live.

For job seekers, Indeed uses phone verification among other measures to confirm a person's identity. It is also testing with select employers a feature that lets candidates show employers independently verified professional licenses.

Verification can help establish who is applying, though Idekoba said some employers also need to change how they evaluate job seekers.

"You got 1,000 applications, and you think all 1,000 people are not qualified?" Idekoba said. "Something's wrong."

• United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby doesn't have time for endless meetings.
• Instead, he sleeps eight and a half hours a day and reads roughly 2 books a week.
• Does his advice change how you would structure your day?

Don't think that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is going to sit through your slide deck.

"If you want to send a deck, send it to me in advance, and then we're just going to talk about it, but you're not going to read slides to me," Kirby told Semafor's "CEO Signal" podcast.

Kirby is fiercely protective of his schedule. That's why he caps meetings at four hours per day, though he said he averages less. It means keeping the meetings he does have quick and conversational.

"That gives me time to think," he said. "The further you go in your career, certainly by the time you're the CEO, your job is not to work hard. It's to think hard."

In Kirby's schedule, "Sleep is the number one priority." He said he gets eight and a half hours a night. He also has a rotating set of four workouts, but if he's traveling and his schedule is compressed, it's sleep that remains the key.

The United CEO said he wakes up at 5:30 am. He doesn't need an alarm. He'll look at emails, but "that's like five minutes."

As for the rest of the day, Kirby said he devotes three hours to reading.

"I read The Wall Street Journal cover to cover and probably 15 minutes worth of The New York Times," he said. "Reading cover to cover, I find all kinds of interesting stuff that I would've never known if I wouldn't have searched for it."

Most afternoons, Kirby will also squeeze in a 15-to 20-minute nap.

On top of that, Kirby said he has five magazines he'll look through, depending on when they arrive. He also said he reads about two books a week. His favorite genre is science fiction.

"But it's really hard to find good science fiction," he said. "Isaac Asimov is my favorite. The best science fiction I've read in the last 20 years was probably 'The Three-Body Problem.'"

In a 2025 interview, Kirby detailed some of the things he cuts from his life to save time for what matters.

"I just naturally don't want to waste time," Kirby told former Fast Company editor-in-chief Bob Safian during an interview for Safian's "Rapid Response" podcast. "I'm not on social media. What a colossal waste of time on social media. I don't do that. I don't watch TV."

Kirby, who has seven kids, said when he's at home, he puts them to bed and takes them to school anytime he can.

"So, lots of sleep, lots of time with the family," Kirby told Safian.

All of it comes back to what Kirby sees as the scourge of careers: meetings.

"One of the best things people can do for their careers, I think, is stop with all the madness of meetings," he said.

Without all those meetings, people have time for what they actually need.

"You need time to think, to come up with ideas, to be creative, to walk around, to talk to other people," he said, "and you can't do it if you're sitting in meetings all day."

• Startup founders online keep calling out "LARPers."
• The term started as an acronym for "live action role play," but has grown to replace words like "poser."
• Techies use it to refer to founders who prioritize social media clout over startup success.

It's time to add another word to the founder dictionary.

The term "LARP" started as an acronym for live action role play. LARPers wore costumes and adopted characters, imagining a video game-like world in real life. Then the internet adopted it, making it a stand-in for terms like "poser" or "faker."

Now, the term is all the rage in startup land. A LARPer is someone who's playing founder more than actually being one. They loudly flex their work and the circles they run in, rather than fighting for customers.

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan fashioned it into a warning: "Be earnest, don't larp."

The anatomy of a LARPing founder

Intercom cofounder Des Traynor warned about it in a September email to Business Insider: "Look, you get one shot at this life, don't waste it LARPing as a startup founder for followers."

Indeed, the founder-influencer type is growing — and it's hard to distinguish earnest marketing from performative hype-cycling. Is that 996 post a real portrayal of your hustle, or is it merely grindslop?

Posting about 996 on LinkedIn — but having an ultra-high screen time spent on the X app — was on Christian Di Bratto's list of attributes of an LARPing founder. Others he listed were sleeping on the floor of a WeWork and quoting Paul Graham essays like scripture.

Graham himself has commented on the rise of LARPers and how difficult it is to spot them. He responded to a comment accusing Y Combinator of being full of LARP.

"YC is pretty good at filtering them out at this point, but it's inevitable that a few will slip in," Graham wrote. "Especially among the younger founders, where larping is often indistinguishable from inexperience."

Tan asked Sam Altman about the LARPing accusations at YC Startup School in July. (Rather than pronouncing the acronym, Tan spelled out the words — "live action role play" — over and over.) Altman was confused: "They say that about YC specifically?" he asked, before questioning, "What's the claimed larp?"

Altman ended up pivoting to talk about "haters on Twitter."

Decoding the LARPing craze

Cosplaying founder isn't exactly new in Silicon Valley. One might call Elizabeth Holmes the godmother of LARPers.

What is new, then, is the power of social media marketing. "Too many 'founders' these days need to quit larping and just admit they're content creators," wrote product designer Alec Freese.

The trend may also have to do with the market itself. AI is hot, and startups are raising rounds previously unheard of. Put frankly, it's a good time to be a founder.

Aditya Prasad, an engineer at Silna Health, gave one reason LARP was gathering in startups: "It is too difficult for larpers to get into Anthropic."

• FIRE and its variants require some number crunching to know if it's a viable path.
• "Coast FIRE" involves saving early to enjoy some degree of financial freedom before retirement.
• But those aspiring to this version of FIRE may not be taking into account a few risks, finance pros say.

If the army of personal finance influencers out there has managed to infiltrate your social media algorithms, you've likely come across the concept of "Coast FIRE."

It's an approach to retirement savings that lets you start to enjoy some form of financial freedom in the decades before retirement without having to stick to a rigorous savings regimen to fully retire early.

Essentially, you save and invest aggressively in your early working years, eventually building up enough of a nest egg that you can allow compounding to do the rest of the work to get you to your retirement savings goal. No more saving needed.

For example, if by 65 you want $2 million in retirement savings at today's purchasing power and assume annual inflation of 3%, you'll need around $278,000 invested by age 35. Average historical inflation-adjusted annualized returns of 7% will carry you to $2 million. In nominal terms, with returns averaging 10%, your portfolio will actually be worth almost $5 million.

The concept is meant to reward you for doing the work early and taking advantage of the magic of compounding over long time horizons. With your retirement needs taken care of, you can spend more of the money you earn, or could even move to a lower paying job that you're more passionate about, as long as you can cover your immediate financial needs.

But according to investing pros, there are risks to the strategy, and the assumptions needed for it to work may not prove as reliable as Coast FIRE proponents are hoping.

Risks to the Coast FIRE strategy

Let's start with the return assumptions.

Through the decades, stocks have averaged 10% annualized nominal returns. Over the last decade-plus, returns have been particularly stellar. Is it safe to assume that 10% returns will continue?

If you're planning to hold for multiple decades, then the answer is probably yes. However, high stock valuations imply that returns over the next decade or so may be subpar, and there's no guarantee that markets are advancing swimmingly to new highs right around the time one plans to retire.

In other words, don't expect a smooth 10% annual return. If a significant pullback in stocks occurs right around the time you stop saving or are set to retire, it could lower that 10% average at the worst possible time.

It's a concept called sequencing of returns, said Dominic Pappalardo, the chief multi-asset strategist at Morningstar Wealth.

"There's no doubt that that could influence your ability to withdraw and spend when you're in retirement," Pappalardo told Business Insider.

Stopping your retirement savings early also takes away your ability to take advantage of downswings in the market, after which some of the largest gains are made, Pappalardo said.

Then there are the inflation assumptions of 3% per year. While this is higher than the Fed's 2% long-term target, it doesn't account for more severe swings in inflation. Right now, for example, inflation is running at 3.4%, and in 2022, inflation was as high as 9.1%.

Periods like that can eat away at real returns, Pappalardo said, and the longer the gap between when you stop contributing to your savings to when you actually retire, the higher the odds are of an outburst of inflation.

There's also the risk of higher-than-expected expenses in retirement, according to Nilay Gandhi, a senior wealth advisor at Vanguard.

This could come in the form of healthcare costs or caregiving responsibilities, he said. Plus, you may end up earning more in the years after you stop saving, and may realize you want to spend more in retirement than you had originally planned.

Practical ways to lessen risk

Gandhi said one way to deal with all of the above risks is to take a more active approach to your Coast FIRE strategy, periodically making sure you're still on track.

"A good rule of thumb is that Coast FIRE works best when investors continue monitoring their plan rather than coasting and treating it as 'set it and forget it,'" he said.

One could also build an extra cushion by saving for a few more years beyond their initial goal, Gandhi said, adding that flexibility later on is also key, whether that means working a bit longer or cutting back on planned spending.

Investors could also plan to start contributing to retirement savings again when markets decline, Pappalardo said, however, he also acknowledged that this defeats the ethos of the Coast FIRE movement.

"I personally think there's a lot of value in being able to contribute in those down years, and that's really kind of how you accelerate returns in any investment portfolio, whether that's new dollars coming into the account or rebalancing into more risky assets when they sell off," Pappalardo said.

However, "if that's your way of approaching Coast FIRE, you're almost arguing against you're own philosophy immediately," he added.

Maybe there's room for yet another niche in the financial independence, retire-early movement. How does Flex-Coast FIRE sound?

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Julie Chapon, the 39-year-old CEO and cofounder of Yuka, who is based in New York. The app rates food and cosmetics based on their ingredients and campaigns for bans and reformulations. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Some CEOs have very strict agendas, but I don't like my day to be too defined.

I used to work at a consultancy firm where I had no choice in what I did. When I started Yuka in France around 10 years ago, I thought, "OK, now no one's going to tell me what I have to do."

Yuka grew very quickly, and I learned to say no, in a very polite way, to 80% of the emails I receive. Yuka has a yearly road map that I'm in charge of. If I spend my time doing other things, I can't deliver.

I also used to put up barriers because I didn't feel like the right person for certain opportunities, even if I was. Now I just act, and legitimacy comes. Otherwise, you can get easily crushed when you're up against big companies with a lot of money and resources.

I used to live in Paris, and I moved to New York three years ago when Yuka started growing in the US. I live in Brooklyn with my husband and my daughter, who is 4, and my son, who is 5 1/2. I'm very close with my cofounders. We support each other in all that we do. I don't think I could be a solo founder.

Here's what a typical day in my life in New York City looks like.

I wake up at 6:30 a.m. to hang out with my kids

I'm definitely a morning person. I wake up very early, at 6:30 a.m., and get ready.

From 7 a.m. I wake the kids, dress them, and prepare their breakfast, backpacks, and lunchboxes. At 7:30 a.m, I wake up my husband, who drops the kids off at school at 8:15 a.m.

For years, I haven't eaten breakfast because I'm not hungry in the morning. I don't have time, anyway, because I want to be with my kids before leaving for work. It gives me a lot of energy.

When I cycle to work at around 7:30 a.m., my ideas flow

My schedule doesn't allow me to spend a lot of time commuting, so I chose an office close to my apartment, which takes about 15 minutes to cycle to. I get all my best ideas when I bike or run, and my mind is free.

I arrive at our coworking space between 7:30 and 8 a.m., grab a coffee, and write down my thoughts. Even in the middle of the night, I might think about something and wake up and write it down so I don't forget.

I can't start my day without a big coffee. In our Paris office, we invested in a very good coffee machine, but the coworking space in New York serves Americanos. They're not the best, but I take what I can get.

The office is usually empty when I arrive, giving me time to meet with the Yuka team in France, followed by the US team. In France, I would focus and write in the mornings and have meetings later. I had to reverse my routine, but I learned to be efficient in the afternoon.

My afternoons are totally free of meetings, unless I have no choice. I let myself feel the moment and what I want to work on.

When I'm in the office, I go to the gym at 12 p.m., then have lunch at 1 p.m.

I don't want a boring lunch. In summer, I'll have salad. In winter, I want something hot, but healthy and comforting, like lentil or chickpea pasta. As a child in France, I often ate lunch at my grandparents' house, who lived across from my school and prepared homemade food.

When I moved to New York with my French cofounders, we booked seats in the shared area of our coworking space to get to know Americans. We looked forward to enjoying lunch with them until we realized that people don't eat lunch here or eat it at their computers. That was a culture shock.

In France, at 1 p.m., everybody goes to lunch, gathers around a table, and can stay there for one hour, even two. It's great because you don't talk about work, but about your personal life, and what you did on the weekend.

My cofounders went back to France, and now I have lunch with the two other people on the US team. Once or twice a week, we take a two-hour lunch. Sometimes we go to the gym for one hour, and then have lunch for one hour.

Next summer, I'm turning 40 — maybe I'm having my 40s crisis — and my husband and I are planning a one-week trek around Mont Blanc in France. Finding time to train is complicated. I try to go to the gym across from the office space at lunch. On days I work from home, I run in the park at around midday.

I'll listen to podcasts, including ones with other CEOs, and take a lot of inspiration, but I don't have a particular role model. I follow my own instincts. Sometimes I listen to them and think, "I don't want to be like this, planning my day hour by hour, having no free time."

I leave the office at 5:30 p.m. to be with my kids

I try to leave the office at around 5:30 p.m. because being with my kids is super important to me. Generally, my husband picks them up, I arrive home at 6 p.m., and spend two hours with them before they go to bed.

I switch off my brain and can just be with them, unless we're launching a big campaign or something, but that doesn't happen a lot. When I'm with them, I'm really with them, not on my phone or computer. Around every two days, I work while they're sleeping, but as a morning person, I'm not as efficient after a certain hour.

I try to eat as healthily as possible, but obviously, sometimes my husband and I want to enjoy a pizza, so we have one. I end dinner with something sweet, like dark chocolate I buy in France. I haven't found chocolate that I like here.

A goal I've set for myself is learning to cook because I want my kids to enjoy vegetables. At the moment, I assemble rather than cook, relying a lot on frozen and canned vegetables like chickpeas, because I don't have a lot of time. For instance, on Thursdays, I make them a special pizza with a crust of cauliflower, egg, chickpea flour, and cheese.

I go to bed at 10:30 p.m. and read for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the book

I really love reading all sorts of novels. It helps me sleep. This summer, I read "The Housekeeper." I don't read books related to my work or about personal development in bed. I used to spend a lot of time on my phone, but then I decided to delete the Instagram app.

Every night, once the kids are in bed, I write in a five-year journal, just a few lines about the day. I also keep another notebook, a "Tell Me Your Story, Mum," where I write about myself and my life, to give to my children later on. Writing has always been something I love, and these two habits are small offline rituals that ground me at the end of the day.

I've learned not to compare myself to other CEOs. For Yuka's first three years, I worked very late and on weekends. It was the beginning of the company, so it was very exciting. Now I have a family, which is a choice, and I want to see my children. We all have our own ways of managing our companies and family lives.

• Boutique fitness brand Solidcore is beefing up with a new strength-focused class in infrared heat.
• It's a big bet on resistance training as the future of fitness, with emphasis on longevity.
• The balancing act is reaching new audiences without diluting what hooked loyal fans in the first place.

Solidcore is expanding beyond its signature workout for the first time in its nearly 13-year history.

When Solidcore launched over a decade ago, the brand found success with an intense 50-minute workout on Pilates-inspired resistance machines, known as reformers.

This winter, it will debut Ascend, a high-intensity, heated, floor-based strength training class, according to details shared exclusively with Business Insider. The class will launch at Solidcore's upcoming Manhattan West studio, before rolling out to other locations.

Ascend puts heavier weights and progressive strength training at the center of its workout, a direct appeal to people who want to build muscle. It also features a new infrared heating system, tapping into emerging research that training with heat may offer heart-health and anti-inflammatory benefits.

The move reflects a broader shift in boutique fitness. The studios that made their names by specializing in a single type of exercise are confronting a new type of customer: one who lifts, runs, does Pilates, tracks their fitness metrics, and increasingly thinks about exercise as an investment in their bodies, rather than going for aesthetics.

"Consumers are more savvy now. They're talking about longevity, recovery, wellness, not so much calorie burn," CJ Zarb, founder of The Pilates Journal, told Business Insider. "The question is no longer, 'Did I work hard in that class?' The question is, 'Do I move and feel better long-term?"

The biggest brands are making moves to address the moment — to complement rather than compete with other types of workouts or physical endeavors, from sports to marathon training to adventure hiking.

"People are starting to think, 'What's a longevity athlete's approach to building my fitness routine? I want a little bit of everything that is going to help me move better, feel stronger, recover faster, to live a longer, more enjoyable life,'" Solidcore CEO Bryan Myers told Business Insider.

Myers said he has made peace with the fact that they will lose some Pilates purists. By expanding beyond the reformer, the brand is betting big that the cross-training era will bring in a new generation of loyal members.

The rise of the fitness portfolio

A decade ago, the boutique fitness boom was dominated by HIIT classes and circuit routines for toning and slimming.

Certain brands — Barry's, Peloton — commanded cult followings. People intensely identified with their studios.

To sell a boutique fitness class in 2026, you need to do more than make people sweat. Athletes today are more inclined to shop around to serve a broader spectrum of goals: building muscle, supporting bone density and joint health, and strengthening the heart to stave off age-related decline.

Classpass, a popular app for booking at multiple studios, said its fitness reservations were up 36% in 2025, and 94% of users are first-timers at the studios they sign up for.

Part of that shift into cross-training is driven by new tech. Fitness enthusiasts now have precise metrics at their fingertips to offer real-time data on whether a workout is working. A high VO2 max — a measure of heart efficiency — or an impressive DEXA scan showing a lean, muscular body composition is a source of bragging rights.

The result is that consumers can easily identify gaps in their fitness portfolios and seek more targeted solutions, driving demand for multimodal classes that boost performance across multiple categories at once.

Brands are responding.

Peloton has spent years trying to break out of its exercise-bike lane, doubling down on its app in 2023 by expanding its offerings to include strength and mobility classes. Interval-training staple Orange Theory pivoted in 2023 to offer a strength-only class and, last year, partnered with the wildly popular fitness competition brand Hyrox to add sessions focused on race-day performance.

Gym franchises are increasingly encroaching on the boutique space, too, with more focused classes in modalities such as Pilates, barre, or interval training.

How brands define a fitness identity

Fitness companies that expand beyond their initial niche can attract new demographics and capture a larger share of the industry.

To stay successful, brands need to be clear about who they're speaking to, whether that's leaning into a changing audience or sticking to their established base.

MMA fighters and Hollywood actors are taking yoga classes alongside middle-aged moms and matcha-sipping young women. Pilates is increasingly catching on with men: Crunch CEO Jim Rowley swears by it, as do sports stars LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Solidcore recently hosted members of the Miami Dolphins' offensive line as the NFL pros worked to strengthen their core and lower-body muscles to support explosive impact on the field.

"The strongest operators are very clear with the consumer about what they're delivering, what their experience is going to be, because it is really confusing for consumers out there," Zarb said. "The pressure is high. And I think the workout alone isn't enough anymore."

The risk of any expansion is that it can clash with the elements that made a brand successful or blur it beyond a distinctive concept, according to Catalina Zbar, founder and CEO of the boutique fitness consulting company Telomere. For instance, a high-tech, competitive leaderboard may feel jarring in a traditional yoga studio with meditative music and Sanskrit on the walls.

"It can be really beneficial to your brand and your studio's mission to stay in one space and niche," she told Business Insider. "Often diluting yourself can harm your brand versus strengthen it."

Solidcore is counting on being a "category of one," expanding beyond the format that built its cult following to the next generation that demands more, said the brand's Chief Commercial Officer, Anne Smith.

The growth opportunity from doubling down on strength training is worth the tradeoff of outgrowing their Pilates roots, according to Myers, the CEO.

"The uniqueness of who we are is worth way more to us in terms of building trust with the consumer and what to expect than the benefits of riding Pilates coattails," he said.

• Brigid Kemmerer wrote books during lunch breaks while working in finance and raising three kids.
• An NYT bestseller gave Kemmerer enough money to quit her corporate job in 2016.
• Kemmerer said that as a full time writer, losing corporate stability can still feel scary.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brigid Kemmerer, a New York Times bestselling author of young-adult and romantasy novels. Kemmerer, based in Baltimore and now 48 years old, has worked as a full-time author for the past 10 years and has published at least two dozen books. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.

I've wanted to be a writer since I was 12, when a librarian I knew published her first young-adult novel.

Until then, authors might as well have been movie stars. Seeing a real person become one made writing feel like a possible career.

I started working in finance at 19 and eventually became a licensed stockbroker. After selling my first novel in 2011, I continued working my day job while raising three children and writing whenever I could.

I wrote early in the morning, late at night, and during my lunch hour. In 2016, I finally sold the book that allowed me to leave finance. Becoming a full-time author took years, and my income is now supporting my entire family.

I treated writing like a second job

I always wanted to be a writer, but I never really thought of it as a full-time job.

In my 20s, I worked in finance, and I was a licensed stockbroker. I loved my coworkers, and I liked having a consistent salary.

I sold my first novel in 2011, but publishing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. I used my first advance payment to fix our leaky roof and buy a cheap children's playset from Costco.

For years, my schedule was insane.

I would wake up at 5 a.m. and try to get some words down over coffee before the kids woke up. Then I changed diapers, got everybody dressed, packed their day care bags, dropped them off, and commuted 40 minutes.

Sometimes, I wrote during my lunch hour. I had an ancient, janky laptop that wouldn't work unless it was plugged in, until my husband bought me a MacBook, even though we didn't have MacBook money.

After work, we picked up the kids and made dinner. If I wanted to get words written, I needed to leave the house. I would go to the library or Starbucks and treat writing like a part-time job.

My husband was hands-on with our toddler and newborn while I wrote. Knowing what he was handling at home motivated me to get the words down.

One book allowed me to quit finance

By the end of 2015, I was working full-time, raising three kids, and preparing to publish my sixth book.

I tearfully told my husband that I felt like I was working two full-time jobs. I worried that I would wake up one day to find my kids were 18, and I would have spent their entire childhoods working.

He asked when I had last written something purely because it was fun. I pulled out an old book that had previously been rejected and rewrote the first 75 pages.

That book was "A Curse So Dark and Lonely." It became my biggest deal at the time and my first book to hit The New York Times bestseller list. It gave us enough money for me to quit my day job.

Not everyone took my writing seriously. People would ask, "Are you still doing that little writer thing?" Others asked whether I was ever going to write a "real book."

A manager once openly mocked me in a meeting for writing romance. At the time, I was writing young adult. I became more closed-lipped about my work after that.

When I decided to leave, I planned to give eight weeks' notice because I loved my team and didn't want to let them down. Another manager pulled me aside and told me to give two.

"You've earned the chance to change careers," he said.

Giving up corporate security can be scary

My husband works in IT and was laid off about two months ago as a direct result of AI being introduced at his workplace. We had been covered by his health insurance. Now my author income is paying for our family's coverage.

We are temporarily on COBRA. For a family of five, coverage runs between $2,000 and $2,500 a month. Losing his salary while taking on that expense is a huge financial swing.

It isn't the first time this has happened. We once went without insurance for a few months. One of my kids developed strep throat, and I had to pay cash, and I was terrified.

Another year, our deductible was so high that after injuring my shoulder, I considered extending a trip to Paris and paying cash for an MRI there.

Still, we weather everything as a team. We are very lucky that my writing income can support our family right now. I am hoping we can continue as we have been.

I've now been a full-time author for 10 years. I love the creative freedom, but giving up a consistent salary and corporate benefits can still be scary.

• Manifund CEO Austin Chen says Caroline Ellison has taken a role at the grantmaking platform.
• Ellison admitted to misusing FTX customer funds and testified against Sam Bankman-Fried.
• Chen said Ellison's new role is to research how to direct philanthropic dollars.

It looks like Caroline Ellison has emerged from stealth mode.

A nonprofit CEO announced Friday that he secretly gave a job to Ellison — who went to prison in connection with fraud by Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto exchange.

Austin Chen, the founder of Manifund, a grantmaker tied to the effective altruism movement, wrote on Substack that Ellison, 31, will develop its platform and research "how to effectively direct philanthropic dollars."

In the post, Chen framed the hiring as a second chance for Ellison.

"I believe in redemption," he wrote. "Caroline has admitted her faults, worked to make creditors whole, and served her time in prison. I'd like to give her the opportunity to contribute back to the world; I hope that the world will concur."

Manifund began as a charitable side project of Manifold Markets, a prediction market company cofounded by Chen. Manifold was previously backed by FTX Future Fund, a philanthropic initiative, which Chen noted in the blog.

Chen confirmed the news in a brief text message to Business Insider. He did not provide documentation of Ellison's new role. Ellison could not be reached for comment.

The blog contained a message in Ellison's name.

"I'm deeply sorry for what I did, and I completely understand why people may not want to work with me," it said. "But I'm very grateful to Austin for giving me a second chance, and judging me on my current work performance rather than my past. I feel very lucky not only to have a job, but to be working somewhere that I think is doing great work and has a mission I believe in."

Ellison previously led Alameda Research, FTX's affiliated crypto trading firm. In December 2022, she pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud and conspiracy in connection with her role in the misuse of FTX customer funds to cover Alameda's debts and trading losses.

Ellison testified against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and was sentenced to two years in prison. She was released from federal custody in January and had been keeping a low profile.

Chen wrote that he invited Ellison to Manifest 2026, a festival the nonprofit held in June. She started a "work trial" on July 13 before converting to full-time on August 10, he said.

During that period, she had been publishing her work for Manifund under the pseudonym "Carol," he said.

"I apologize for our minor deception, in using a pseudonym over the last couple months," he wrote. "I still endorse having done this — I think it's relatively common to work with people pseudonymously, when their real identity is famous. But I want to call out that we compromised on transparency here, which I do not take lightly."

Comments left on the post showed a mix of backlash and support.

One commenter wrote: "I love a world where we normalize forgiveness and deep understanding of each other beyond hot takes and headlines. Hope the collaboration works out well!"

Another said that "this shows truly terrible judgment and is likely to harm the reputation not only of Manifund but of all sorts of EA orgs that will take collateral damage."

Chen responded, in part: "Obviously, I hope to be proven right about this decision, but that may take a while to shake out."

A person who said they lost money in the FTX debacle expressed fury. "Every dollar she earns for the next 70 years should be garnished and sent to victims like myself and thousands of my friends," he wrote.

• METR, a Berkeley lab started by an ex-OpenAI researcher, has grown into a prominent AI umpire.
• The nonprofit works with OpenAI, Anthropic, and governments to evaluate cutting-edge models.
• Anthropic researcher Joe Benton announced this week that he has left to join METR.

Beth Barnes, one of the AI industry's most influential watchdogs, said in July she was struggling to hire talented researchers to monitor AI's risks. That has begun to change.

Researcher Joe Benton announced this week that he had left Anthropic for Barnes' nonprofit METR, writing that he worries about "extinction-level risks" from the tech. The comments came after Jacob Coxon, another researcher, stoked those fears nationwide with a viral post announcing his own departure from Anthropic and accusing the top AI labs of "gambling with our lives."

METR, all of a sudden, is in the middle of AI's biggest story. Formed in 2022, it had already worked closely with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta to study the tech's quickly changing capabilities. This summer, researchers from the nonprofit investigated a security incident at OpenAI, and now plan to look into security issues at Anthropic, relying on internal access granted by each company.

"The public should know whether AI development is headed down a dangerous path," Jasmine Dhaliwal, a member of policy staff, said Friday. "That is core to our mission: to provide independent, scientific assessment of AI capabilities, alignment, and control measures."

Benton isn't alone in jumping ship from a tech juggernaut to the Berkeley-based organization. Josh Engels, an AI safety researcher, also recently joined METR (Model Evaluation and Threat Research) from Google DeepMind.

Barnes left OpenAI to start the nonprofit in 2022 and sees such fierce competition for AI researchers that even METR's lofty salaries, which reach $503,000 on current job postings, don't address the nonprofit's talent shortage.

"Ideally, we'd like to scale really large, but in practice, we've been able to fundraise as much as we need, and the bottleneck is much more talent," Barnes said.

'Humanity's preparedness team' struggles to grow

The security incident announced by OpenAI and Hugging Face in July sparked a new wave of questions about how to evaluate and control AI. More than 1,300 frontier lab employees signed a letter in July warning that AI development could outpace control. In the last month, both OpenAI and Anthropic have said they've temporarily paused training to get a better handle on their new AI models.

While the Hugging Face incident stunned much of the corporate world, METR's team was far less surprised. Governments, companies, and even religious groups routinely ask the nonprofit for help understanding and testing the tech's progress.

Still, the feeling inside the approximately 35-person lab is one of concern. When Business Insider visited METR's Berkeley office on the afternoon that OpenAI revealed its hack, Barnes described an AI safety field that is badly constrained by its size.

"There's so much more to do than we have capacity for," Barnes said. A "reasonable civilization," in her view, would be pouring a far larger percentage of AI's investment into steering it and evaluating the tech — especially now that society is reckoning with models this powerful.

As AI labs release new models, METR measures the likelihood that they can complete tasks of increasing duration. These measurements form the nonprofit's most famous offering, a widely-cited chart that shows how, over the last six years, AI's capabilities have doubled about every seven months.

Chris Painter, METR's president, describes the lab as "humanity's preparedness team," a tongue-in-cheek nod to the preparedness teams at OpenAI and Anthropic that report safety threats to their CEOs.

"We aren't really accountable to anyone other than the public and the public's well-being," Painter said.

Barnes emphasized the importance of METR's independence so that it can produce research that isn't tied to a company's goals. When Barnes worked at OpenAI, she felt the need for a research group outside the labs that could comment freely on the development of the tech. While METR doesn't take money from the frontier AI labs or their employees, it accepts compute grants and works with them to analyze unreleased models.

In addition, staff have analyzed labs' safety practices, written about AI's effect on software engineers' speed, and studied the merits of using AI models to monitor other AI models. Barnes said she'd like to expand into predicting the next levels of AI's capabilities and how those changes could accelerate AI's development.

Neev Parikh, a METR researcher, says talent constraints limit the number of questions researchers can tackle about AI models' internal reasoning.

"There's a dearth of people," Parikh said. "I would happily see the field expand 10x."

METR is playing a big role in a new AI climate

In July, OpenAI announced that its AI models cheated during testing by hacking into Hugging Face's systems to find the test answers. Later, CEO Sam Altman said it was "the first security incident that I have felt very viscerally."

METR had seen something like that coming. In May, the nonprofit wrote in a report that current AI agents "could plausibly start a rogue deployment," but would not have the skill to hide it. Then, in June, METR tried out OpenAI's then-unreleased GPT-5.6 Sol model and found that it would repeatedly cheat on challenging tests, including by extracting hidden source code to find the answers. It published a report about this and shared it with OpenAI before GPT-5.6 Sol's wider release.

Come July, the GPT-5.6 Sol model was part of OpenAI's security incident with Hugging Face. METR and another nonprofit, Redwood Research, assessed the incident over six days at OpenAI's office and informed the company's own technical report.

"There are now real, business-affecting incidents of this, and the world has a stake in understanding that," Painter said.

The cyber skills of OpenAI and Anthropic's newest models have sparked a wave of fear and attention and spawned a raft of new bills in Washington. METR's work lines up closely with one potential route for regulation: a current bill proposal would require large AI model developers to get safety audits from outside organizations. METR could fill a role like this; Painter said they'd potentially be interested, though it's something the field is still figuring out.

Something like that proposal, Painter said, could help with METR's hiring issue. He suggested that more people might leave the AI companies themselves — for similar salaries at METR, though without equity compensation — if a regulatory system gave safety research organizations greater authority.

"There's enough precedent here for each kind of testing arrangement," Painter said, "that I think with either clarity from industry, about how this testing should work long-term, or from the government, I think this field could scale very rapidly."

Ajeya Cotra, who led the writing of METR's May report on the risks of AI, said in July that oversight of AI can feel "chaotic and unpredictable" right now. She's still optimistic.

"The trend is toward people caring about this issue more," Cotra said. "And wanting to regulate it in a more serious way over time."

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at scouncil@businessinsider.com, or over text, Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 415-757-8198. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Editor's note: This story was first published in August 2026 and has been updated to reflect recent developments.

• Jeff Dean resigned as chief scientist from Google last month. He was considered a legend in the company.
• His new startup describes itself as "automating discovery to accelerate science and engineering for the world."
• The startup is seeking funding at a valuation of around $50 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

Jeff Dean, who resigned as chief scientist from Google last month, is raising again for his new AI startup, Discovery Loop, this time seeking a valuation of around $50 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

It was only a few weeks ago that Discovery Loop was raising $1 billion dollars at around a $10 billion valuation, Business Insider reported. But in this white-hot fundraising market where VCs' voracious appetite for top AI talent such as Dean is matched only by the enormous expense of building an AI lab, it seems it is never too soon to raise funding again.

A spokesperson for Discovery Loop declined to comment. Dean did not respond to a request for comment. Terms of the deal could change, and there is no guarantee Discovery Loop will be able to raise a round of funding at that valuation.

Discovery Loop describes itself as "automating discovery to accelerate science and engineering for the world."

The company hopes to tackle some of science and engineering's hardest problems through the "parallel execution of thousands of experiments."

"Our goal is to build AI that acts as a genuinely positive, empowering force for humanity: not just a tool, but a partner in solving the problems that matter most," Discovery Loop says on its careers page, where it is hiring just one role.

Dean said at a talk last month that he and his cofounders "might make decisions that are not in the company's financial interest but are in the broader societal good."

A Discovery Loop press release from last month said that the company's initial funding round was being led by Radical Ventures and Khosla Ventures, with participation from Lightspeed, Kleiner Perkins, and Doerr Capital. Alphabet was a founding investor and cloud partner, according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Dean, who was regarded as a legend inside Google, has gotten most of the attention. But Discovery Loop's other three founders bring decades of experience in their own right, building some of Google's most important products.

Sanjay Ghemawat, a longtime collaborator of Dean who joined Google in 1999, helped develop foundational distributed-computing technologies. Quoc Le, a founding member of Google Brain, became a prominent researcher in deep learning and large-scale neural networks, contributing to advances in language models and other foundation models. Oriol Vinyals, meanwhile, was a leading researcher at Google DeepMind whose work spans sequence modeling and reinforcement learning.

Dean shared a pitch deck on X that one former Google product leader called "one of the most stacked pitch decks ever made."

One slide lists products the founding team worked on, including Google Search, Ads, Gemini, and Gmail. Another slide focuses on academic credentials, showing Google Scholar rankings placing Dean, Le, and Vinyals among the most highly cited AI researchers.

"This team can redefine how research in engineering and science is done. If successful, the impact won't be measured in software features, or benchmarks but in new science to improve billions of lives," venture investor Vinod Khosla posted last month, comparing Discovery Loop to his early investment in OpenAI.

Other new AI labs, such as Safe Superintelligence and Thinking Machines Lab, have raised staggering sums at eyepopping valuations before they had products. It is something that would have seemed inconceivable in previous fundraising cycles but reflects investors' conviction that a small number of elite technical teams could become the next generation of frontier AI companies.

Fresh off Apple's new iPhone Duo announcement, the freshly released Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra are down to their best stand-alone deal prices yet. For a limited time, you can get up to $300 off a new device, no trade-in or carrier contract required.

Samsung's been in the foldable game for considerably longer than Apple, and the brand debuted its passport-shaped Fold 8 earlier this year, aiming for the same convenient form factor. Whether you prefer the shorter display or the traditional, narrow shape of the Ultra, both are on sale, but we don't know how long the deal will last.

Get $300 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and $250 off the Z Fold 8

The big deal for folding smartphones this year is a new, passport-like shape designed to fit better in your hand and optimize daily browsing. The Z Fold 8 broke the mold when it debuted with this silhouette, and Apple has now followed suit with the iPhone Duo. Starting at only $1,650 (a $250 discount), the new Fold is perfect for social media users, streaming viewers, and casual photographers.

For fans of the classic, narrow shape, the new generation is kept alive with the Z Fold 8 Ultra. Architected with Samsung's tried-and-true folding screen and hinge, the phone boasts a better camera, longer battery life, and faster charging than ever. Down to $1,800, this is a steal for the latest foldable for Android users.

After you pick up your phone, don't forget to check out my guide to the best Z Fold 8 cases and Z Fold 8 Ultra cases to keep your device safe from harm. You won't need a shield for the internal, folding screen — in fact, you shouldn't even try to add one — but you can also check out my guide to the best Z Fold 8 Ultra screen protectors to keep your outer screen safe.

The Z Flip 8 is $150 off, too.

More interested in something like a traditional flip phone? Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 8 is also on sale, down by $150 with no strings attached.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. iPhone Duo

Stuck between Android and Apple foldables? While the iPhone Duo isn't set to release until October, here is a breakdown of the specs on both devices to help you decide.

Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp for the latest deals, reviews, and buying guides.

I shared my life with my dog, George, for 14 years. Now that he's gone, I regularly dog-sit for friends to get my furry fix. Over the years, I've been on the receiving end of nearly every kind of dog-centric present imaginable — from practical training tools to just-for-fun finds, and the heartfelt condolence gift I received when George died. That experience has given me a very clear framework for what separates a genuinely great gift for a dog lover from a generic novelty item that ends up buried in a closet.

Whether you are shopping for a new puppy parent or someone who has loved dogs their entire life, each of my selections below does one thing: Celebrate the daily reality of being a dog guardian, celebrate the individual quirks and qualities of a specific dog, or celebrate dogs in general, because they are amazing.

A throw for cuddling

Rifle Paper Co. Studious Dogs Woven Blanket

A living room throw blanket needs to withstand frequent washing, especially in a pet-friendly home. This woven cotton blanket avoids the delicate looping that catches on dog nails, opting instead for a tight durable weave. The tapestry-like design features various dogs in a library setting, providing a sophisticated twist on the dogs-playing-poker aesthetic.

Proud pet parent apparel

Proud Dog Parent Socks

These knit socks prioritize structure, utilizing a thick, comfortable cotton blend that's made for long-term wear. The design clearly states the wearer's affinity for their pet without resorting to overly loud graphics, making them a suitable, low-stakes gift for neighbors, dog walkers, or coworkers.

Fresh, healthy meals

The Farmer's Dog Fresh Dog Food Delivery

Transitioning a dog to a fresh food diet requires a logistical shift, but their excitement at mealtime often justifies the effort. This subscription service pre-portions meals based on a dog's weight, age, and activity level, delivering frozen packs of human-grade meat and vegetables directly to your door. It removes the guesswork from daily caloric intake and provides a palatable alternative for dogs that have lost interest in standard processed food.

High-tech tracking

Fi Series 3+ Smart Dog Collar

While important to have, standard ID tags rely on a stranger finding your lost dog, but modern GPS collars offer proactive tracking. This rugged, waterproof device uses cellular network connectivity to pinpoint a dog's location in real time. Beyond serving as a reliable safety net for escape artists, it functions as a health monitor, tracking daily steps and sleep patterns so owners can establish baseline metrics for their pet's well-being.

A pawsitive pastime

All The Ways To Say 'Life Without Humans' 1000-Piece Puzzle

A jigsaw puzzle offers an analog activity for a quiet afternoon, and this 1,000-piece puzzle features highly detailed illustrations showcasing a variety of canine breeds (and their feline friends). When fully assembled, the design serves as a charming homage to pet ownership.

Twin with your terrier

Spark Paws Matching Owner and Dog Hoodies

Finding high-quality pet apparel can be tough, since dog sweaters are often treated as cheap novelties. These sets are constructed from a substantial fleece blend designed to provide warmth during cold-weather walks. The dog hoodies feature a four-way stretch to accommodate broad and barrel chests without restricting movement. The human counterpart's hoodie offers a comfy streetwear fit.

All-weather paw protection

Crocs Shoes for Dogs

Canine footwear is often awkwardly designed. These Crocs address the mobility issue with a lightweight EVA foam construction and an adjustable hook-and-loop strap that secures firmly around the ankle. They feature the familiar perforated top for airflow and heavily treaded rubber sole to protect sensitive paw pads from hot pavement and rugged terrain.

A versatile leash

Found My Animal Original Rope Adjustable Leash

This marine-grade rope leash has integrated O-rings that allow you to adjust the length or configure the lockable carabiners for hands-free wear around the waist. (My friend uses it to walk her two small dogs to avoid the dreaded tangled split leash.) Beyond its utilitarian design, the hand-spliced rope allows your pet to wear your values.

Soothing softness

The Lola Pet Blanket

A blanket inevitably becomes a dog's primary resting spot. This pet-specific throw offers the same OEKO-TEX certified, faux-fur construction as the brand's human-sized version, scaled down to a 30-by-36-inch footprint. The fabric incorporates a four-way stretch, and the material is shed-free and stain-resistant, so it can withstand regular cycles in the washing machine without losing its cloud-like feel.

A boredom buster

Fable The Puffin game

Slowing down a fast eater is easier said than done. This interactive feeder challenges dogs to knock, paw, and nose the weighted silicone base to release kibble. It holds up to a cup and a half of dry food, effectively turning dinner time into a 20-minute cognitive puzzle. The erratic wobbling motion taps into natural foraging instincts and provides meaningful indoor enrichment for high-energy breeds.

Stylish canine cruising

Tavo Maeve Flex + Roscoe Pet Travel System

Mobility issues don't erase a dog's desire to get outside and smell the neighborhood. For senior pets, small breeds, or those recovering from an injury or surgery, a dedicated pet stroller provides a practical solution. This model features a shock-absorbing suspension system for a smooth ride, so you can keep pace while your pooch remains comfortable in the well-ventilated cabin.

A tough but cuddly companion

Kong Cozie Marvin the Moose

While no plush is entirely indestructible against a determined chewer, this design extends the lifespan of the standard stuffed toy by incorporating an internal layer of reinforced material. The added structural integrity allows it to endure extended games of fetch and light tugging.

Give their dog a voice

Hunger for Words Talking Pet Starter Set

Deciphering a dog's pacing or whining can be a frustrating guessing game. Introduce a structured method of communication with these recordable, sound-emitting buttons. People can record simple words like "outside" or "play," and train their dog to press the corresponding button to state a need. The training process requires consistency and patience, and not all dogs will pick it up.

Canine correspondence

Papier Paws & Prose Custom Notecard Set

The utility of a physical thank-you note or greeting card remains high in the digital age. The stationery set upgrades the standard monogram with whimsical, high-quality illustrations of various dog breeds. Printed on thick, textured paper that handles ink without bleeding, the cards strike a balance between professional polish and personal flair.

A cuddle buddy

All About Vibe Custom Shaped Dog Pillow

When my beloved dog George died I was given this pet pillow, which still sits on my couch. The custom service translates a high-resolution photo into a double-sided die-cut cushion, capturing the specific charm of your pet. It's an oddly accurate, highly personalized piece that serves as a tangible comfort, especially for those remembering a pet that has passed.

Next-level pet monitoring

Petlibro Scout Smart Camera

Checking in on a newly adopted or anxious dog used to require stationary cameras with frustrating blind spots. This model actively tracks a dog's movement, panning and tilting to keep them in frame as they move about the room. It delivers crisp, high-definition video to a smartphone app, includes two-way audio, and uses AI to log and sort their activities, offering pet parents a reliable method to monitor behavior.

A cozy carrier for travel

Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed

This modular system eliminates crate anxiety by functioning primarily as a plush, everyday dog bed. When it's time to travel, simply zip the mesh dome onto the base, instantly converting the familiar resting spot into a secure carrier. It's crash-tested and has seatbelt loops to safely anchor it to a car seat, smoothing out the logistics of traveling with a pet.

A toy that's twice as fun

Kong Jumbler Ball

A standard tennis ball is easily lost or destroyed and offers limited engagement. This Kong toy is a squeaky tennis ball inside a clear shell. The design allows the dog to mouth, shake, and roll the toy with ease, while the handles give you a slobber-free grip for tossing. The internal movement keeps a dog engaged long after the appeal of a standard ball might have worn off.

A sleek slicker

Ruffwear Sun Shower Dog Raincoat

Walking a dog in wet weather usually results in dirty towels and wet dog smell. This insulated, waterproof shell mitigates the mess by keeping a dog's torso completely dry, though it is best suited for milder weather rather than snowstorms. It features a tailored fit that fastens securely with two buckles on each side, and the material easily holds up to repeated cleanings in a standard washing machine.

Elevate their entryway

IKEA ARBETSTÅG Door Mat

This whimsical welcome mat is constructed from densely packed coir — a resilient natural fiber derived from coconut waste — that acts as a highly effective brush against dirt. The heavy-duty, slip-resistant backing prevents it from shifting underfoot, and the motif provides an aesthetic nod to fellow dog lovers.

Pet portraiture

Dimdi Custom Watercolor Pet Portrait

Commissioning a custom piece of pet art usually involves paying a premium for a digital print. A single artist in Italy hand-paints these portraits using traditional watercolors on thick, acid-free paper. The meticulous process requires a longer lead time — usually up to a month — but the result offers a level of artistic interpretation that an automated service can't match. It's highly sentimental and heirloom-quality.

Fine dining

Yeti Boomer Dog Bowl

If you know a Yeti family, this one's a no-brainer. Constructed from double-wall, non-insulated stainless steel, this bowl carries the same heavy-duty engineering as the brand's popular outdoor coolers. It features a non-slip ring on the base that anchors it firmly to the floor and holds enough weight to prevent sliding.

Trail-ready temperature control

Wilderdog Cooling Bandana

While a stationary cooling mat is perfect for the living room floor, regulating a dog's body temperature during outdoor exertion requires a more mobile solution. This 3-ounce polyester-blend mesh bandana acts as a functional cooling mechanism for high-energy breeds on the trail. Simply soak the fabric in water before tying it around the dog's neck; the material retains moisture to actively lower their core temperature as they hike.

Elevated loungewear

Favorite Daughter The Dog Mom Sweatshirt

This classic crewneck with collegiate lettering is made from a cozy cotton-polyester blend. With a cropped 21-inch length and ribbed cuffs, its slightly structured fit elevates it above the standard dog park sweatshirt.

A preppy purse charm

Kate Spade Dog Dangle Bag Charm

This dachshund-inspired bag charm is made from pebbled leather and finished with the brand's signature foil-embossed logo. It clips into the hardware of a favorite tote, offering a playful nod to pooches.

A dedicated keepsake

Printworks Dog Life Embroidered Photo Album

While most pet photos live on our phones, a physical album offers a more intentional way to document a dog's life. This display-worthy album features an embroidered cloth cover and 30 pages that hold two standard 4-by-6 pictures.

The Buckeyes are back at No. 1. We've compiled absolutely everything you need to know about where to watch Ohio State Buckeyes college football, including global streaming options.

If you don't want to scroll any further, we've got you covered. You can live stream games through a combination of a live TV streaming service (like YouTube TV or Fubo) and Peacock in the US, and DAZN in the UK and other countries. You can access your favorite watch options from anywhere with a VPN.

Where to watch Ohio State Buckeyes in the US

The Ohio State Buckeyes play in the Big Ten conference, and their games will be spread across ABC, CBS, FOX, Fox Sports 1 (FS1), NBC, Big Ten Network, and Peacock. The best way for cord-cutters to ensure they can watch every game is by subscribing to a live TV streaming service and Peacock.

Two of the top live TV streaming services that carry all of these networks (and more) are YouTube TV and Fubo. YouTube TV carries ABC, CBS, FOX, FS1, NBC, and the Big Ten Network in both its Main and Sports plans. The Main plan (100+ channels) costs $83 a month, but first-time customers can get $15 a month off their first five months. The Sports plan (30+ channels) costs $65 a month, but new users can get $20 a month off their first six months. YouTube TV also offers a free trial for new customers, and ESPN Unlimited is now available via YouTube TV.

Fubo also offers ABC, CBS, FOX, FS1, NBC, and the Big Ten Network across all of its plans (except Fubo Latino). Fubo Pro plans cost $89 a month, but new users can get $25 off their first month after a free trial. Fubo also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost.

Sports-friendly Peacock plans start at $13 a month for a Premium subscription. This tier will cover fans for the Peacock exclusives (which sometimes also air on NBC Sports Network), but those looking to live stream NBC games will need the $20 a month Peacock Premium Plus plan.

Where to watch Ohio State Buckeyes in the UK and other regions

In the UK and other international markets, DAZN holds the rights to college football games. Prices for a DAZN NCAA College Sports subscription vary by region, but some games will be available for free. The platform shows up to 25 games each week.

How to watch Ohio State Buckeyes from anywhere

College football fans who find themselves traveling abroad don't need to worry about missing out on any of the action. A VPN (virtual private network) can help people keep using their usual streaming services from anywhere. VPNs let people temporarily change the virtual location of their devices, so websites and apps work just as they would back home. This option will work best for fans who are just traveling away from home since the services we've highlighted require country-specific forms of payment.

NordVPN ranks among the best VPNs our team has tested. It's fast, easy to use, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule

The Ohio State Buckeyes will play 12 games during the regular season. After that, they'll compete in additional games if they make the College Football Playoff. The regular season began with a home game against Ball State and will end with a home game against Michigan.

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

After a few recent near misses and, relatively speaking, a disappointing 2025, there's a feeling from many college football pundits that this could finally be the year that Steve Sarkisian brings the National Championship Trophy back to DKR—Texas Memorial Stadium at the sixth time of asking. To see how their season progresses as it happens, you can follow our guide on how to watch Texas Longhorns college football below.

As you might expect, there's a plethora of broadcasters showing regular-season games on US TV (full list below), with online options including ESPN Unlimited and OTT providers such as YouTube TV and Fubo, while DAZN is the college football host streamer across the pond in the UK.

Much rests, of course, on the shoulders of Arch Manning. They are shoulders that bear the weight of that very significant surname and gridiron legacy, with the not insignificant careers of grandfather Archie and uncles Peyton and Eli — just the four Super Bowl rings between them! — looming over the 22-year-old. Despite notching up 3,163 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, his first year as starting QB was a little underwhelming, not helped by the fact that the no. 1-ranked team failed to reach the CFP under his stewardship. Likely to have a prominent spot in the 2027 NFL Draft, it's now or never for Manning to lead the Longhorns to top NCAA honors.

But Texan prospects don't begin and end with Manning. There's the small matter of their summer acquisition of wide receiver Cam Coleman, for starters, who took 56 catches for 708 yards and five TDs last season for Auburn. And don't underestimate the defensive importance of Colin Simmons, Justin Cryer, and Kobe Black to their success. Can they deliver the championship? Follow on at home and on the road with our advice on how to watch Texas Longhorns college football, no matter where in the world you are.

Where to watch Texas Longhorns football in the US

Anybody who has watched college football for any length of time knows how complicated the broadcasting picture can be — and it's no different for the Texas Longhorns, with games going out across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and the SEC Network on TV and cable. ESPN+ will also host exclusive NCAA games through the online-only ESPN Unlimited platform, which costs $32 a month or $36 a month if you like the idea of adding it through one of the Disney Plus bundles.

Are you a cord-cutter, but don't want to miss out on the televised Texan games? You still have options in the form of OTT cable alternatives like YouTube TV, which has a specific Sports plan that includes local ABC channels, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and the SEC Network, as well as access to ESPN Unlimited streams. It costs $65 a month, but you can currently get $20 off each of your first six months. Plus, newcomers to YouTube TV can try it free with a generous trial period.

Fubo is another comprehensive option. Its most affordable relevant plan is its Sports + News package, costing $65 a month after a free trial. All of the networks mentioned above are included, together with a complimentary subscription to ESPN Unlimited.

Where to watch Texas Longhorns football in the UK and other regions

Sports streaming specialist DAZN is providing international coverage of up to 25 college football games live every week for the 2026-27 season. So while there's no guarantee that the Longhorns will be among them every week, you can expect their biggest games to be selected. DAZN NCAA College Sports subscription prices vary by region and contract length.

How to watch Texas Longhorns football from anywhere

Despite its popularity stateside, college football isn't broadcast in every territory the world over. That means if you're away from the US, you may find it hard to locate a Longhorns stream and will be blocked from doing so through your usual platforms. The only surefire way around this is to use a VPN, which spoofs your location and makes your device think you're back at home.

NordVPN is the reigning MVP of VPNs. It's fast, secure, and really easy to use for unblocking those college football streams when overseas. Our NordVPN review explains all you need to know about the software and, when you're ready to give it a try, you can subscribe in confidence knowing that there's a 30-day money-back guarantee included in case you decide later that you don't want it.

Texas Longhorns college football schedule

The Texas Longhorns will play 12 regular-season games before potentially heading to the College Football Playoff. The regular season kicked off with a home game against Texas State and will conclude with an away game at Texas A&M.

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.

The 2026 US Open men's semifinals have arrived, and tonight's headliner is an all-American showdown. We've rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch the Tiafoe vs. Shelton US Open match, including free and global streaming options.

Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe will square off in the US Open semifinals following their respective lengthy five-set quarterfinal matches. Shelton beat reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in a barn burner that lasted until 3:30 a.m. ET in the morning, and it was decided in a tie-break. Tiafoe overcame Alex Michelsen in an impressive feat that also ended in a tie-break, coming up from behind after dropping the first two sets.

How to watch Tiafoe vs. Shelton for free

There are a few ways to catch the Tiafoe vs. Shelton for free. In Australia, select daily coverage (including both semifinal matches) is available for free on 9Now and requires only an account to use. In the US, live TV services like YouTube TV and Fubo offer free trials to new customers.

How to watch Tiafoe vs. Shelton from anywhere

If you're away from the location where your preferred streaming service is available, you can still access your favorite content (including free options) with a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy tech tools that help people temporarily alter their device's virtual location. They're popular among those looking to upgrade their cybersecurity or keep up with their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad.

Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It's user-friendly (even for beginners) and offers a substantial selection of global servers. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find it's not helping you.

• See also: Where to buy US Open tickets | ESPN streaming service | Best sports streaming services

How to watch Tiafoe vs. Shelton in the US

ESPN is carrying coverage of both men's US Open semifinal matches in the US. ESPN Unlimited is the best streaming service for accessing every single match at the US Open. Subscriptions cost $32 a month or $320 a year.

If you'd prefer to watch on a platform with a free trial and additional channels beyond the ESPN family, a live TV streaming service will be a better fit. YouTube TV and Fubo are two of our top recommendations right now.

YouTube TV carries ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC in both its main and sports plans. The main plan typically costs $83 a month, but a limited-time YouTube TV deal will knock the first five months down to just $68 a month for first-time customers. The sports plan is also running a special promo where new users can get their first six months down from $65 a month to $45 a month. YouTube TV plans come with a free trial for new users, and ESPN Unlimited is now available on the platform as well.

Fubo is another popular live TV service with plenty of ESPN offerings. ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC are available in Fubo's Sports + News, Pro, and Elite packages. All of these plans also unlock access to ESPN Unlimited. Sports + News starts at $65 a month, but new users can get $10 off their first month of service. Pro and Elite also offer introductory month discounts, and all plans come with a free trial for first-time customers.

How to watch Tiafoe vs. Shelton in the UK

In the UK, US Open coverage is available through Sky Sports. Fans can tune in with one of the many Sky TV deals and plans, or access the same content through Now. Now Sports offers more flexibility in streaming content, including a £15 single-day pass, which is a solid option if you're only looking to watch a match or two.

How to watch Tiafoe vs. Shelton in Australia

Select US Open coverage is available for free through 9's Gem channel in Australia. This includes the remainder of the tournament. Fans can live stream the action on 9Now by creating a free account if they don't already have one. Australians looking to live stream absolutely every match at the US Open will need a paid Stan Sport subscription. Stan Sport costs $30 a month when you combine the $10 a month base plan fee with the $20 a month Sport add-on.

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.

The best Fitbits can help you maintain an active lifestyle, monitor your sleep, and keep an eye on your overall health. Fitbits also support Google's new AI-powered Health Coach for highly personalized advice and plans.

I've been covering health and fitness for years, and I spent several months living with Google's latest Fitbit models, including its most recent release, the Fitbit Air. I wore them during workouts, on daily walks, while sleeping, and throughout my typical day-to-day routine. After all that real-world testing, the Fitbit Charge 6 stands out as the best Fitbit for most people. It strikes a great balance between ease of use and robust tracking features. But if you're looking to spend less, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great budget alternative. It cuts some advanced features, but for under $100, it covers the essentials really well.

Ultimately, the best Fitbit for you really depends on what you want from a tracker. For most folks, the Charge 6 and Inspire 3 are easy to recommend. But if you're after a full-fledged smartwatch, the Google Pixel Watch 4 deserves an honorable mention. It's not technically a Fitbit, but it uses Fitbit's tracking technology while delivering more smart features.

Our top picks for the best Fitbit

Best overall: Fitbit Charge 6 - See at Amazon

Best budget: Fitbit Inspire 3 - See at Amazon

Honorable mention: Google Pixel Watch 4 - See at Amazon

Best overall

Whether you want to increase your daily step count, track your sleep, or set a regular running routine, the Fitbit Charge 6 is the best Fitbit for most people looking to improve their fitness.

I tested the Charge 6 for several weeks across workouts, sleep, long days at my desk, and travel. I found it really hits the sweet spot between comfort, accuracy, and features — all at a relatively affordable $160.

The Charge 6 is impressively accurate in measuring heart rate, sleep stages, and step counts, rivaling more expensive wearables from Apple and Garmin. In fact, this model has the most accurate heart rate tracking across Fitbit’s lineup, especially during fast-paced interval training. Fitbit’s signature features — such as Zone Minutes, movement reminders, and A+ sleep tracking — work precisely as intended and genuinely help build healthier habits.

You also get over 40 workout modes, an ECG app for tracking irregular heart rhythms, and on-wrist stress detection via EDA scans. The Google Health app offers more in-depth information about your daily activity, sleep patterns, and overall health. However, you need a Premium subscription ($10/month) to access advanced sleep metrics and the new AI-powered Health Coach.

Design-wise, the Charge 6 is slim and comfortable enough to wear 24/7. Its AMOLED display is easy to read, but it is small, which limits how much info you can view at once. As such, this tracker isn’t ideal if you’re training for a race and need to easily switch between different metrics (for race training, I recommend the Garmin Forerunner 265). Another downside is the device's built-in GPS, which I found to be unreliable until I switched to dynamic GPS paired with my phone.

Battery life is strong, lasting around six to seven days on a single charge. However, some people report that their Charge 6 drops to a single-day charge after about a year. (A subsequent firmware update may have fixed this.)

The Charge 6 also offers basic smart features, including Google Maps, Google Wallet, and call and text notifications. But it’s definitely a tracker first and smartwatch second, as these features feel like little extras rather than core strengths. This model is really geared toward users who want a discreet, accurate, and approachable fitness tracker rather than a full smartwatch. In that context, the Fitbit Charge 6 is the Goldilocks of Fitbits, offering the best choice for most people seeking to enhance their health and fitness.

Read our full Fitbit Charge 6 review.

Best budget

If you're starting a health or fitness routine and want a simple, no-fuss tracker for under $100, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is the best Fitbit for you.

This is one of the most comfortable and lightweight wearables I've tested. It's so unobtrusive that I often forget I'm wearing it. It delivers the core metrics you need right on your wrist: steps, heart rate, sleep stages, and active minutes. It auto-detects most basic activities (better than pricier Fitbit models, in fact), so even short walks and bike rides are logged accurately without you having to press a button. It also features Fitbit's signature Reminder to Move, which vibrates your device and prompts you to get up and walk around if you haven't taken at least 250 steps in this hour.

For its price, the Inspire 3 also packs thoughtful features, such as daily stress management scores, heart rate zone tracking, and one of the gentlest smart alarms I've used — a vibrating wrist alarm that wakes you up when it's optimal for your sleep cycle.

Though the screen is small, the vibrant AMOLED display clearly shows you one workout metric at a time (e.g., time elapsed, distance, pace). The device also offers Fitbit's stand-out sleep tracking, but you need to pay for Google Health Premium to unlock deeper analytics.

Of course, given that this is Fitbit's budget model, some features are missing. The Inspire 3 lacks built-in GPS, music control, or in-depth training tools. Notifications are hard to read on the small screen, and the tracker lags slightly during high-intensity intervals (one area where the Charge 6 excels). But given the Inspire 3's budget-friendly price, these shortcomings are easy to forgive.

In a sea of tricked-out fitness trackers, the Inspire 3 strips away the extras and offers a tracker focused on the basics, with a price tag to match. It'll help you move more throughout the day, make sure you're hitting your target time or heart rate during workouts, and sleep a bit better at night — all in a device that's easy to wear and even easier to use.

Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review.

Visit our guide to the best fitness trackers.

Honorable mention

Although not technically a Fitbit, the Google Pixel Watch 4 is powered by Fitbit's technology, and it's such a good wearable that it warrants a mention in this guide. For Android users who want smart features and Fitbit health data, the Pixel Watch 4 is worth the price tag and a better buy than Fitbit's own smartwatch models, such as the Versa 4.

Compared to the older Pixel Watch 3, the Pixel Watch 4 features a brighter, dome-shaped screen to provide a larger viewing area. Google says the Pixel Watch 4 also offers longer battery life, with up to 40 hours of use. The LTE model also has emergency satellite communication.

Utilizing Fitbit's top-tier heart rate sensors and tracking software, the Google Pixel Watch 4 logs basic data, such as steps, calories, and distance, as well as advanced metrics, including cardio load, workout fatigue, and loss-of-pulse alerts. All your workout and sleep data syncs with the Google Health app, a significant perk for longtime users, as the algorithm becomes smarter with more historical data. That said, Pixel Watch owners still need to pay for Premium to access the app's more advanced sleep metrics and features, such as a personalized workout builder.

Fitness aside, the Pixel Watch 4 is a fully featured smartwatch, offering LTE connectivity and an onboard microphone and speaker for making calls, setting reminders, and responding to texts. You'll get better app integration and smart features than any Fitbit device, even the Versa. However, the trade-off is battery life, as the Pixel Watch 4 requires charging every one to two days. It's also Android-only, so iPhone users are out of luck.

What else we considered

Fitbit Air - See at Amazon
Google's newest wearable is sleek and stylish, but it's less of a traditional fitness tracker and more of a passive health monitor. Without a screen, it quietly tracks your sleep, recovery, heart rate, and daily activity in the background rather than providing the real-time workout metrics or movement reminders Fitbit is known for. It's a great choice if you want an understated, screenless wearable for your wrist, and I prefer it to similar offerings such as the Garmin CIRQA. However, most people shopping for a Fitbit will be happier with the Charge 6 or Inspire 3, which do a better job of supporting workouts and everyday fitness goals.

Read our full Fitbit Air review.

Fitbit Versa 4 - See at Amazon
Fitbit's main smartwatch, the Versa 4, is fully equipped with the brand's foundational health and fitness technology, including reliable heart rate tracking, in-depth sleep insights, and over 40 activity modes. But it falls short as a true smartwatch: The touchscreen lags, and it has limited app support and smart features (especially for iPhone users), making it feel behind the competition. The Google Pixel Watch 4 or Watch 5, which use Fitbit's fitness technology, are a better choice for Android users seeking a smartwatch, while iPhone users may be happier with a Garmin or an Apple Watch.

Read our full Fitbit Versa 4 review.

Fitbit Sense 2 - See at Amazon
The Sense 2 offers everything the Versa 4 does, plus an ECG app for detecting heart rhythm irregularities and an EDA sensor for continuous stress monitoring. If heart health and stress tracking are top priorities, it's a strong choice. However, for most people, the Fitbit Charge 6 offers a better value for basic fitness and health tracking. You can also find more advanced apps and communication features in a smartwatch from Apple, Garmin, or Google.

Read our full Fitbit Sense 2 review.

How we test Fitbits

As a health and fitness writer for over a decade, I've worn numerous Fitbits across various generations while training for half-marathons, sweating in HIIT classes, and commuting to and from office jobs. For this guide, I tested four leading Fitbit models — the Versa 4, Charge 6, Inspire 3, and Air — over the course of three months, wearing each 24/7 to see how they handled workouts, daily movement, periods of inactivity, sleep, and showering.

When picking the best Fitbit for different types of people, I prioritized:

• Sensor quality and accuracy (heart rate, GPS, SpO2, ECG, EDA)
• Battery life during real-world use
• Design, comfort, and durability for everyday and sleep use
• Companion app quality for interpreting health data
• Platform compatibility across Android and iOS

I also considered which models offer the most features without requiring Google Health Premium — although many models unlock deeper insights with a subscription.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Rachael Schultz, contributing reporter: I've spent years writing about health and fitness, and I've logged plenty of miles (and sleep cycles) with a Fitbit strapped to my wrist. For this guide, I wore different models for months at a time, both during exercise and in daily life, to see how they actually perform in real-world use. I live in a Colorado mountain town, where I regularly ski, hike, raft, and bike, so these trackers don't just get tested in a lab — they come along for the ride. That means you're getting firsthand, day-to-day insights to help you choose the right model with confidence.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

What makes Fitbit unique?

Fitbit stands out from its competitors for several reasons. First and foremost, it has one of the best continuous heart rate trackers on the market, especially for interval training. An accurate heart rate monitor means that other areas relying on this technology — namely, sleep and stress tracking — are also highly accurate. Secondly, Fitbit has two notable features across all its screen-based models, which I found to be very helpful in training and moving more:

• Active Zone Minutes track the time you spend in elevated heart rate zones, helping you gauge whether your workout is actually improving cardio fitness or burning fat. Instead of focusing on time or distance, you can use this feature to keep your heart rate in the right range without needing to know exact numbers, for a more effective, goal-driven workout.
• Reminders to Move gently nudge you to get up and take at least 250 steps each hour to reduce sedentary time throughout the day. Rather than focusing solely on reaching, say, 10,000 steps per day, this feature encourages you to move regularly to keep blood flowing.

The best Fitbit devices also offer solid, multi-day battery life, seamless compatibility with both iOS and Android, and access to Google's newly designed app, which stores all your data — years' worth, for Fitbit brand loyalists — in one place.

Additionally, with a Premium membership, the Google Health Coach is one of the better wearable AI-powered advisors I've tried, and it provides highly personalized and helpful advice on how to level up your training, improve your recovery, or move more within the constraints of your lifestyle or capabilities.

Lastly, many Fitbits are relatively affordable compared to competitors like an Apple Watch or a Garmin.

Fitbit FAQs

Are Fitbits worth it?

The best Fitbit wearables feature reliable heart rate technology, are well-designed to be compact yet readable, and are generally well-priced compared to other fitness trackers. Furthermore, the free Google Health companion app provides significant value to individuals seeking guidance on improving their workouts, sleep, and stress management, though the Premium subscription offers even greater benefits, including the new AI-powered Google Health Coach.

There are other brands with longer battery life, better GPS tracking, and potentially more robust smartwatch features. But if you want a reliable health and fitness tracker without spending a fortune, Fitbits are definitely worth it.

For other top picks in the wearable tracker space, check out our guides to the best Android smartwatches, best smart rings, and best Garmin watches.

Will there be new 2026 Fitbit models?

Google released a new Fitbit model, the Fitbit Air, in May 2026. It's a screen-free fitness tracker that passively monitors your health in the background. Google also launched a new Pixel Watch 5 model in August, but it's unclear whether the company plans to release additional Fitbit devices this year.

What is Google Health Premium?

Google Health Premium is the company's optional monthly membership. You can use the Google Health app for free to view core stats, including steps, sleep scores, period tracking, activity history, and your Daily Readiness Score. However, for $10 a month, Fitbit Premium unlocks more in-depth health and fitness tools, including advanced sleep insights (such as detailed sleep-stage breakdowns), nutrition guidance, and full access to Google Health's workout and mindfulness libraries.

Premium subscribers also get access to Google Health Coach, an AI-powered coach built with Gemini. It can analyze your sleep, activity, and recovery trends, answer questions about your health data, and create personalized workout and wellness plans based on your goals.

You don't need Google Health Premium to use a Fitbit device, but it does add a meaningful boost to the overall experience across the lineup.

Is Google's new AI coach helpful?

Google has added an AI-powered Health Coach to the redesigned Google Health app for Fitbit Premium subscribers. Built with Gemini, the coach can answer questions about your health data, identify trends across your sleep, activity, and recovery, and create personalized workout and wellness plans based on your goals. After testing it, I found the Google Health Coach to be helpful, accurate, and highly personalized, largely because it can draw on years of your Fitbit history to deliver tailored recommendations.

Is a Fitbit better than an Apple Watch?

The best Apple Watch models are more powerful and feature-rich than Fitbits, but if you don't need a big app ecosystem, a Fitbit will get the job done. Both platforms offer robust tracking for activities such as running, cycling, and weightlifting, and each features a clean, easy-to-use interface.

While the Apple Watch now delivers extensive fitness and activity tracking, it still leans more toward the smartwatch side — similar to Fitbit's Versa line, just more advanced. If you prefer straightforward fitness tracking without the extra bells and whistles, a simpler option like the Fitbit Charge 6 is likely a better fit.

Learn more about Apple's offerings in our Apple Watch Series 11 review, Apple Watch SE 3 review, and Apple Watch SE 3 versus Series 11 comparison.

Will a Fitbit work with an iPhone or Apple Health?

Even though the company is owned by Google, Fitbits are compatible with any iPhone running iOS 16.4 or later, which is the minimum requirement for the app. The Fitbit app is now integrated with Google Health, but iPhone users can still download and use it fully. You can learn more about compatibility on the Fitbit website.

While a Fitbit can't directly sync with the Apple Health app, you can use third-party apps, such as Strava, as a go-between to transfer data from a Fitbit to the Apple Health app.

What's the battery life like on a Fitbit?

The latest Fitbit models offer battery life ranging from four to 10 days, with an average of six days. In our experience, the Sense 2 lasts an average of six days on a single charge, while the Inspire 3 lasts up to 10 days, for instance.

While top Garmin watches generally have a longer battery life, most Fitbits last long enough that you won't have to worry about charging them every night.

How accurate are Fitbits for tracking steps, heart rate, and sleep?

Fitbits are generally very accurate in tracking steps, heart rate, and sleep. As one of the original fitness-tracking brands, Fitbit has spent nearly two decades refining its sensors and algorithms. Garmin still has an edge in on-wrist GPS accuracy — especially for tracking precise mileage on runs — but for everyday metrics like step count and heart rate, most modern fitness trackers, including Fitbit, perform similarly well.

• After visiting 21 cities and villages in Italy, there are some spots I can't wait to return to.
• However, a few Italian destinations left me wanting more.
• Overall, I really enjoyed my time in popular cities like Florence and Verona.

Italy holds a special place in my heart, which is why I'm always finding excuses to return.

I've visited three times since 2016, including a four-month stay in Florence during college. Thanks to Italy's well-connected transit systems, I've had the chance to visit 21 cities and villages, most often by rail.

Some of the destinations I've been to have blown me away, while others left me wanting more. Here are four Italian cities I'd happily return to — and two I'd leave off my itinerary next time.

Cinque Terre is a beautiful place to hike.

Cinque Terre is a string of five seaside villages on the northwestern coast of Italy.

Although all five villages are accessible by train, hiking between them is a popular activity. I'd recommend starting in the southernmost town, Riomaggiore, and hiking north for stunning views.

Cinque Terre is perfect for anyone looking to relax in a vibrant environment, enjoy traditional Italian culture, or explore five seaside villages in one day.

My trip to Verona felt like something straight out of a fairytale.

I immediately fell in love with how enchanting, quaint, and walkable Verona felt during my first visit in 2016.

Home to Shakespeare's beloved "Romeo and Juliet," visitors commonly visit Juliet's house, calling down to those below from the balcony.

During my time in Verona, I stumbled upon Club di Giulietta, a volunteer group that calls themselves the secretaries of Juliet. They receive thousands of letters addressed to Juliet from around the world, and volunteers sort letters by language before handwriting a response.

I got to spend a few hours reading and writing replies myself, which became the highlight of my trip to Verona.

Overall, the city's walkability, history, and quaint feel make it perfect for a day trip for time-restricted itineraries.

There's so much to do in Florence.

Since living in Florence in 2016, I've been back to visit twice. There's so much to love about the city, which is the capital of the Tuscany region.

For those visiting for the first time, I recommend staying a minimum of four full days to explore the city's museums and local markets. I love visiting the farmers market in Santo Spirito for fresh-baked goodies, local produce, and vintage finds.

I've also enjoyed grabbing gelato and trekking up to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset. On cooler evenings, St. Mark's Church is a great place to watch affordable live opera.

Outside the city, I suggest horseback riding through the Tuscan hills, attending a pasta making class, and taking a wine tour.

In my opinion, Catania, Sicily, is a must-visit location.

If Sicily is on your itinerary, a trip to Catania is a must. The city is at the foot of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe.

In fact, the volcano is integral to local tourism, architecture, and wine production. Guides offer hiking tours during dormancy, allowing visitors to walk the crater rim. The volcanic stone is also used to build local churches, plazas, and roadways.

Sicily's food and wine scene is also reason enough to visit this part of Italy. The volcanic ash can help enrich the soil, providing nutrients for vineyards that produce incredible wine.

However, I'd skip Naples and head to Italy's southern coastal gems instead.

Fellow travelers warned me that Naples fell short of their expectations, but I wanted to experience the city for myself. So, I visited twice during a solo trip last year, staying on opposite sides of the city each time.

Although the Neapolitan pizza did not disappoint, navigating the sprawling, hilly city on foot was challenging.

The local metro system was convenient for getting around, but it turned out to be a persistent target for pickpockets. After witnessing a few such instances firsthand, I made the choice to avoid taking the trains at night. However, that meant my taxi fares added up quickly after evenings spent out.

Overall, if I'm going to be in Southern Italy I'd much rather pop over to the Amalfi Coast or other nearby destinations.

In my opinion, one trip to Venice was enough.

There's a lot to love about Venice, from the unique architecture to the outstanding glasswork.

Unfortunately, though, I was underwhelmed by the food and noticed some things like souvenirs, meals, and experiences were more expensive than they were in other Italian cities I'd visited.

Although the architecture is stunning, the narrow, winding streets also made it difficult to navigate the city and added to the feeling of overcrowding.

Additional planning is now needed to visit, as the city requires tourism permits on certain days. Considering the expense, challenges with walkability, and additional planning required, I likely won't return to Venice for another visit.

This story was originally published on May 3, 2025, and most recently updated on September 11, 2026.

The Felize loafers by M.Gemi are a perfect showcase of the brand's tagline: "Made in Italy the old way and sold the new way."

Founder Maria Gangemi grew up along the olive tree-lined streets of Sicily. She would go on to mount a career in merchandising and creative direction for footwear and accessories brands, always reserving a special appreciation for the artistry of shoes made in mom-and-pop operations. Three things ruled these hot, intimate shops clustered in town: quality, attention, and pride in one's work.

This is led Gangemi to creating M.Gemi, a startup that connects anyone with internet access to shoes done "the old way." For reference, M.Gemi's fine leather goods are of the same material quality as Prada.

If you're going to try any shoes from M.Gemi, the Felize driving loafers are where to start. They're the number one M.Gemi style to bring in returning customers, and in the past, they've accumulated a waitlist of over 36,000 people.

The Felize Suede Driving Loafer

The Felize is the classic driver that moonlights as the perfect travel shoe. It's been produced in nearly 200 unique color and material combinations since its debut.

I have the Felize Suede driving loafers in Emerald (a colorway that's now retired), and I'm happy to report that they're relatively true to size and required zero break-in time. My only fit tip is that they begin snug and grow looser and more custom-fit over time, meaning you should size a half size up for a looser fit immediately. For what it's worth, my regular size allowed for socks.

These slips off easily for airport security lines, combining an effortlessly timeless style with extremely sensible comfort. The uppers are made from a beautiful suede with a leather lining that gets better with time — molding to cup your foot like a custom-fit glove. They're a deceptively chic sub-in for sneakers on grocery trips, weekend mornings, or travel days.

The Felize family

Over the years, we've seen the Felize loafer take many different shapes. This season's moccasins are all made with the same process of cutting and hand stitching a single piece of suede to form their sides and soles. "Pastoso" is an Italian word that rough means thick, wet, and doughy, which describes the texture of its shiny, tumbled leather.

The Felize loafers come in men's sizes, too

"I got a pair of the Felize Uomo loafers for my fiancé and they've quickly become his favorite shoe ever," says style editor Samantha Crozier. "He has sensitive feet and super high arches, so he can't wear anything stiff or compressive. According to him, the Felize Loafers have an almost barefoot-feel, but the grippy sole stops them from having any of the drawbacks of a true barefoot shoe.

"They're also great business casual shoes since they look miles better and more professional than a sneaker," she continues. "In fact, my fiancé has all but left his sneaker days behind because of these sensational loafers."

"I've written at length about the most comfortable loafers for women, but this is my favorite moccasin-style driving loafer. The 'gommini' (Italian for 'rubber-padded') soles provide excellent traction, so I don't feel like I'm sliding around when I step.

I wear a US 8, so I chose a size 38.5. It took a couple wears for the suede to relax around my foot, but they eventually fit me true to size. Now, they slip on and stay on with ease. " — Gabrielle Chase, style editor, Insider Reviews

How the Felize loafer is made

Part of the company's small-scale — and decidedly human, handmade process — means limited batches. And that can mean frequent sellouts, so not all colors and sizes are regularly available. However, the dexterity of a lean family-owned factory means that, overall, you've still got plenty of options (M.Gemi's also known for dropping styles on a regular basis, so there's always something new). 

Each pair is handmade in Tuscany in a tiny workshop that's been running for over 30 years. M.Gemi's partner artisan, Norina, oversees every detail — "including a tiny flame [taken] to the edges to singe away any loose threads."

The bottom line

My Felize loafers have stayed in good shape. They've worn into a customized mold over time, but haven't lost their form. The color is still a vibrant green, and they show no real visible wear despite my frequent treks across the city. And I'd gladly buy a new pair if these ones vanished in the night. 

If you're looking for a chic driving loafer that can go anywhere, The Felize ($228) is my go-to recommendation for anyone that deems the price reasonable. Quality, style, fit, and comfort will deliver — so it really does come down to budget. If you're willing to spend a little bit more upfront to replace them less often, either because the fit isn't great, you're less ecstatic about the style or wear breaks down your cheaper pair, these are worth the splurge in my opinion. And, like other shoppers, you may find yourself returning to grab another pair of handmade Italian shoes from the startup before the year is up.

Finding the best bridal shoes means balancing style, comfort, and practicality — because your wedding shoes need to look beautiful in photos, work with your dress, and still feel good after hours of standing, walking, and dancing. You might want sky-high heels with delicate straps or sparkly details, but you also need a pair that won't leave you counting down the minutes until you can take them off.

Luckily, bridal shoes have come a long way from stiff satin pumps that only look good under a dress. Our team tested more than 50 pairs of shoes, including platforms, pumps, sandals, slingbacks, flats, and dance-floor-ready sneakers, to find the styles that actually deliver on both looks and comfort.

Whether you're looking for simple white heels, romantic embroidered pumps, sparkly ballet flats, or something a little edgier for a second look, these are the best bridal shoes for every dress, venue, and wedding-day plan.

And for more of our rigorously tested guides to the best footwear, see our articles on the most comfortable heels, the best flats, the best travel sandals, and more.

If this sounds like you…

• You want a tall, glamorous platform that still feels steady and walkable: Inez Camilla
• You want a cool, sculptural sandal that pairs with a modern gown: Nomasei Baghera Sandals
• You want a reliable and affordable open-toe heel that you can wear for hours of standing, walking, and dancing: Naturalizer Joy Dress Sandal
• You want a sparkly mule to pair perfectly with a second-look dress: Dolce Vita Nandy Confetti Heels in Ivory Sequin
• You want a romantic stiletto with delicate bridal details that can peek out from under your dress: Eve Ivory Butterfly Heels
• You want a timeless pointed-toe pump, but you need more comfort, support, and toe room than that silhouette usually offers: Scarlett 75 Pumps
• You want a comfortable flat for dancing, changing into after the ceremony, or wearing all day: Everlane Day Mary Jane

How I evaluated each bridal shoe

• Comfort: For the purposes of testing, I stood and walked around in each pair for at least four hours, including a little dancing. This helped me determine whether the style was comfy enough to wear for an entire ceremony and reception.
• Fit & Support: I also assessed each shoe's supportive features, such as heel stability, arch support, and cushioning. Additionally, I considered how each shoe style might fit a range of feet, from narrow to wide.
• Versatility: In order to determine how versatile each shoe is and what types of celebrations they might be best-suited to, I tested them out on a range of surfaces. This included my home tile and carpet, as well as concrete and grass outside.
• Visual Appeal: The design and shape, quality of the materials, and unique details are just a few factors that can contribute to the visual appeal of a bridal shoe. I took these into consideration when evaluating the photo-readiness of each style.
• Break-in Time: Not every bride has time to "break in" their shoes before the big day. I made sure to take note of whether or not each style was comfortable right off the bat, or needed a little initial wear.
• Rewearability: Many brides would rather invest in a pair of shoes they'll be able to wear again after the big day. So, I also took into account whether each style might work for other post-wedding occasions.

Best overall: Inez Camilla

Who it's perfect for: The Inez Camilla is for brides who want the big, glamorous high-heel moment without spending the whole day thinking about their feet. The silver metallic and cream satin finishes feel festive and bridal, the block heel keeps you steady, and the platform makes the 3.9-inch height feel way less scary than it sounds.

Who should skip it: Skip these if you have extra-wide feet or bunions, since the toe strap doesn't have much stretch, and this style doesn't come in Inez's roomier widths.

Inez is already a favorite with the Business Insider Reviews style team, and the Camilla is one of the best examples of why. Style editor Samantha Crozier has worn her pair to three weddings so far, and writes in her Inez review, "I can't say enough great things about these platform heels. They tower at 3.9 inches, but the platform keeps the pitch shallow and the weight off of your toes." She also said that when she wore the Camilla to a wedding, "I was able to wear them for the full five hours of the ceremony and reception. This included a standing cocktail hour and a full two hours of dancing. At the end of the night, my feet were totally fine — not a blister or an ache to be felt."

Senior associate style editor Gabrielle Chase had a similarly strong first impression. "After breaking mine in on a night out in New York (with no blisters!), I've decided these are the pair I'm bringing to a Rhode Island wedding next month (and the many more nuptials sure to follow)," she writes in her Inez Camilla review. That kind of repeat-wear potential is exactly what makes the Camilla such a strong bridal pick: They're special enough for the aisle, but not so precious that you'll never wear them again.

A lot of the comfort comes down to the Camilla's shape. Its platform and gentler slope keep your foot from being pushed into an extreme angle, so your weight is more evenly distributed rather than concentrated on the balls of your feet.

The Camilla still feels like a real high heel, not a sneaker in disguise. Gabrielle said that after seven hours, "the cushioning isn't as responsive as the Vivaia heels I've tried," so these aren't completely pain-proof. But for something this tall, shiny, and wedding-worthy, it's impressively wearable — and that's why I'd make it the best overall bridal shoe.

Most elegant: Bella Belle Eve Ivory Butterfly Heels

Who it's perfect for: These are for the bride who wants their shoes to have a real moment. The butterflies, embroidery, mesh, and delicate pointed toe are incredibly romantic, especially if your dress has a slit or a shorter hemline where the shoes will actually show.

Who should skip it: They're probably not the pair for someone who wants the most practical or secure shoe possible. The heel is thin and 3.5 inches high, and the ankle strap may need additional holes for a tighter fit. They're beautiful, but they're definitely a style-first pick.

If you're in the market for delicate, romantic heels that are specifically designed for stylish brides, you have to check out Bella Belle. All the heels are beautifully designed and bridal-specific — think pearl motifs, satin bows, and sparkly straps.

"I opted to test their Eve Ivory Butterfly Heels; with a thin, 3.5-inch stiletto, these seemed like the riskiest pair. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that neither the height nor the thinness of the heel was an issue. I walked a mile in them to test, and while I felt a little bit of soreness, the shoes are so cute that I'd wear them anyway.

I love the fluttery 3D chiffon butterflies and embroidered florals. The pointed toe is elegant, and the mesh material is a style detail that I love. In fact, this is a pair that I'm considering for my own wedding next year.

Being really nitpicky, I wish the vamp were a little higher so it fully covers the toe cleavage. I also needed to use a leather puncher to create more holes to really secure the straps around my ankle. But all in all, these are a pair of truly stunning shoes that would look beautiful peeking out from underneath a wedding dress." — Samantha Crozier, style editor, Business Insider Reviews.

Best sculptural sandal: Nomasei Baghera

Who it's perfect for: These are perfect for someone who wants a cool, sculptural sandal that still feels wearable for hours. The soft leather, memory-foam padding, and sturdy block heel make them a great option for weddings where you'll be standing, dancing, and maybe moving between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Who should skip it: Skip these if you really need the locked-in feel of an ankle strap. The V-shape is flattering and leg-lengthening, but it won't feel as secure around the ankle as a traditional strapped sandal.

"The day my best friend got married, I wanted to wear shoes that I could feasibly stand and dance in for at least six hours, and ended up choosing these gold, goddess-like sandals from mid-range luxury brand Nomasei. I risked wearing them right out of the box before I could break them in, and packed six Band-Aids assuming I'd need them all. Reader, I'm happy to report that I shuffled and slid to my heart's content and only sustained one tiny heel blister the entire night.

Their V-shape creates a leg-lengthening effect, which I found more flattering than any sandal with a ankle strap. They're made with a leather that's so soft and flexible that they felt like a second skin. Thanks to the memory-foam padded insoles, I could walk comfortably without getting the metatarsal pain I usually get when I wear heels for too long. Another bonus: when the wedding moved outdoors, their block heels were sturdy enough for grass and too thick to get caught in the slats of the patio, as I saw happening with some of the stiletto-clad guests.

The elegant Baghera sandals pair perfectly with a bridal gown or wedding guest dress, but I loved them so much that next I'm excited to dress them down with some ragg socks and jeans." — Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews

Best mule: Dolce Vita Nandy Confetti Heels Ivory Sequin

Who it's perfect for: This is the pair for brides who want their wedding shoes to feel celebratory and fashion-forward rather than traditional. The ivory sequins add plenty of sparkle, while the sleek mule silhouette and architectural heel keep them looking modern rather than overly ornate.

Who should skip it: Skip these if you want a true bright-white shoe or need a heel you can comfortably dance in all night. The color is distinctly ivory, and these mules weren't among the most comfortable wedding shoes I've tested, so you may want to pack a second pair for the reception.

Dolce Vita is one of the best places to shop for wedding shoes that feel fresh, trendy, and a little unexpected. The brand does details like rhinestones and sequins especially well, making them feel stylish rather than overly traditional. The Nandy Confetti Heels are a perfect example: the ivory sequins shimmer with every step, but the contemporary square toe and sculptural heel keep the overall look elegant.

The slip-on mule design also has a leg-lengthening effect. Because there's no ankle strap visually cutting across your leg, they create a clean, uninterrupted line that would look especially striking with a shorter wedding dress, reception mini, or high slit.

Just keep in mind that these are ivory, not bright white, which could make a noticeable difference depending on your dress's undertone. The sequins make them feel especially fitting for a wedding, but I would compare them with your gown in natural light before committing.

Comfort-wise, these weren't the easiest mules I've tested. Without an ankle strap, your foot has to work a little harder to keep the shoe secure, and I wouldn't necessarily choose them for hours of dancing. They're a gorgeous option for the ceremony, portraits, and dinner, but I'd have a softer second shoe ready once the dance floor opens.

Best pump: Scarlett Chase Scarlett 75 Pump

Who it's perfect for: This is the pair for brides who want a classic pointed-toe pump, but don't want their toes to suffer for it. The toe box is a little roomier than most pointy pumps, and the cushioned footbed gives them more support than they look like they'd have. They're polished, timeless, and easy to picture with almost any wedding dress.

Who should skip it: Skip these if you're trying to keep your shoe budget low, or if you know you'll want something strappy, flat, or super soft right out of the box. They started off a little snug before molding to the foot.

You can never go wrong with a 3-inch pointed-toe pump — and these timeless beauties would work for a wide variety of wedding dresses, from all-lace mermaid styles to silky slips and full-skirted princess-style ball gowns. While I tested them in a blush pink patent, they also come in other bridal-ready options like a gorgeous bone croc and versatile nude nappa.

When I first slipped the Scarlett 75 Pumps on, they felt a tad snug — but miraculously, within minutes of standing and walking in them, it felt like they expanded and molded to my feet for a flawless fit. Whereas most pointy pumps squeeze my toes, these are thankfully made with a slightly wider toe box.

Scarlett Chase shoes are handmade in Italy, so you know the quality is on point — but what really sets them apart is the thoughtfully designed built-in support system. That includes a patent-pending, orthotic quality cushioned footbed for maximum comfort. The shoes are engineered to distribute weight and pressure more evenly, and I could definitely feel the difference during testing — my feet weren't nearly as miserable as they would normally be after a few hours of wear.

I also love that the heel strikes a nice balance between a streamlined stiletto and a chunky block heel — it looks sleek while still feeling practical.

Best open-toe: Naturalizer Joy Dress Sandal

Who it's perfect for: This is the safe bet in the best way. It's a comfortable open-toe block heel with a padded, supportive footbed and enough stability for a long wedding day. It also comes in a ton of colors, so it's great if you're hunting for a very specific bridal shade.

Who should skip it: Skip it if you don't like open-toe shoes or want something that feels more delicate or formal. The heel is also 3.5 inches, so even though it wears comfortably, it's still not a low heel.

These open-toe heels got the hard-won top spot in our guide to the most comfortable heels. They beat out almost every other pair because of their padded footbed, stable heel, versatile style, and huge variety of colors. If you're looking for a specific shade, make sure to check all the links above, since you can often find unique, wedding-ready colorways like a pastel lilac or metallic tones.

Here's what style editor Samantha Crozier said about them: "You can see how thick the padding is by just looking at it. The insole is contoured to your foot, providing arch support and taking pressure off the balls of your feet. The heel itself is a whopping three-and-a-half inches, but they absolutely do not feel that high when you wear them.

I've recommended these to tons of friends as the perfect wedding guest (or even wedding day!) shoes, and have gotten countless post-event texts about how amazingly painless these are. I've personally danced the night away in these heels at least half a dozen times."

Best budget: ISNOM Bow Knot Heeled Sandals

Who it's perfect for: This is the affordable pick that still feels fun and festive. The bow detail makes it feel party-ready, and the low block heel keeps it practical.

Who should skip it: Skip it if you want a luxury shoe or something very sleek and minimal. The bow gives them a sweeter look that may not work with every dress.

If you're on a tight budget or you already splurged on your dress, rest assured, you don't need to spend a lot on bridal shoes — these ultra-affordable block heel sandals are a stellar option. They come in a number of wedding-appropriate hues, like white, nude, and gold; they're surprisingly well made, and they only cost $50. I bought these in blue for my recent baby shower, but they could also easily serve as your "something blue" on the big day (though they also come in white, gold, and other traditional bridal colors).

Even while wearing these Bow Knot Heels for five hours on a hot and humid day at seven months pregnant, my feet remained happy — and if that's not a testament to the comfort, I don't know what is. The organza fabric and cross-knot bow design give these a party-ready flair, but they're also sensible, too, thanks to the block heel, which is a sensible 2.36 inches, and an adjustable ankle strap. I found that they fit true to size, and I got a ton of compliments on them.

Best flats: Everlane Day Mary Jane

Who it's perfect for: This is the shoe for brides who refuse to be uncomfortable, especially for dancing. It's soft, secure, and easy to wear straight out of the box, with enough cushioning and traction to get through a long night. It's also a strong second-look shoe if you want to change out of heels later.

Who should skip it: Skip it if you want a traditional bridal heel or something sparkly and formal. These are chic and comfortable, but they lean casual compared with the rest of the list.

Everlane's line of Day Gloves has long been our holy grail of comfortable flats. They won our top overall award for the best flats, and nearly everyone on our team swears by them.

Executive Editor Sally Kaplan is so devoted to them that she wore the Day Mary Janes to her wedding. In her Everlane Mary Jane flats review, she wrote about how these were a godsend for post-ceremony dancing and celebrations.

She writes: "I ended up dancing the night away in these with no discomfort, and I've worn them so many times since with casual jeans and T-shirts. The insoles have a little bit of cushioning, and the strap across the midfoot keeps the shoes secure on your feet.

The backs of the heels are soft enough that they won't cause blisters, even when worn straight from the box. The soles are made of rubber with a lot of traction, which makes them great for walking, and I had zero break-in period for these shoes — they went from the packaging to the dance floor without a single sore spot!"

Though Everlane no longer stocks the specific blue velvet color that Sally wore to her wedding, you can get the Day Buckle Mary Jane in wedding-ready colors like blue and pink satin. Or stick to the original Day Mary Jane, which you can get in white.

Best platforms: Margaux The Platform Sandal

Who it's perfect for: This is for brides who want height without feeling like they're balancing on stilts. The platform makes the 3.5-inch heel feel lower, and the block heel plus ankle strap help with stability. It's also especially good if you need narrow, medium, or wide width options.

Who should skip it: Skip it if you don't like the look or feel of platforms, or if you want a closed-toe shoe. The open-toe style feels more spring/summer than winter wedding.

As a general rule, I don't tend to bother investing in heels that are higher than 3 inches (at least not since I turned 35). That said, I couldn't resist testing the Margaux Platform Sandal — even though the heel is 3.5 inches, it feels a lot more like 2.5-inch heels thanks to the 1-inch platform. I was truly blown away at how comfortable these are, and not just because of the platform. They also feature a 5-millimeter layer of foam on the insole, which makes wearing these feel like walking on a cloud.

Margaux's shoes are nothing if not high-quality, and like their other products, these are made with premium Italian nappa leather. I tried the sandals in gold nappa, but they also come in a stunning rose nude and classic ivory. The best part? These shoes are available in three different widths — medium, narrow, and wide — so you can get the best fit for your foot shape. I felt incredibly stable walking around in these, in part because of the block heel and thick adjustable ankle strap.

Due to the open-toe style, I'd say these are a great pick for spring and summer weddings. These also get points for versatility: They're a perfect shoe for vacation dinners, date nights, and cocktail parties alike.

Style writer Jada Wong wore the slightly lower version of these shoes to her wedding. She writes in her City Sandal Review: "I wore the Margaux City Sandal right out of the box for my wedding, and even after 10 hours, my feet didn't hurt or get any blisters."

Best second look shoe: Vivaia Square-Toe Lace-Up Sneakerina (Cristina)

Who it's perfect for: This is perfect for brides who want a cute, comfortable backup shoe — or who just don't want to wear heels at all. It has the ease of a sneaker with the softness of a ballet flat, and the ribbon laces make it feel more elevated than a regular sneaker.

Who should skip it: Skip it if you want your wedding shoe to feel formal, structured, or traditionally bridal. These are stylish and comfortable, but they're still much more relaxed than a pump, sandal, or embellished flat.

If a sneaker and a ballet flat had a lovechild, it would be the Vivaia Christina. And with a breathable mesh upper, this particular iteration is ideal for carrying you through a sweltering summer reception or epic dance battle. The Cristina is proof that you don't have to sacrifice style for the sake of comfort: The lace-up style feels laidback while the sheer ribbon gives these shoes an elevated, elegant edge.

I've consistently been impressed by Vivaia's shoes when it comes to comfort, and this particular style is no different. The square toe box is plenty roomy, the elastic back wards off blisters, and the suede-like integrated insole feels like a dream underneath my feet. I can — and have — worn these all day into the night with no issues whatsoever.

That said, they're also a perfect pair to keep on hand if you plan to change out of heels after your ceremony. You can dance the night away without a care in the world. We love the white mesh, but there are also fun satin shades like light pink, blue, ivory, and yellow for a pop of color under your dress.

And while this probably goes without saying, their versatility is practically unmatched. The Cristina is a phenomenal travel shoe, and works equally well to dress down suiting as it does to dress up a distressed pair of jeans.

Read our full Vivaia shoes review and check out more of our favorite ballet sneakers.

A guide for defining your wedding day needs

Before you shop, it's a good idea to consider your wedding's specific demands:

• Venue: At your ceremony and reception, will you be walking on gravel, grass, hardwood, or sand? The surface can help dictate what type of shoe makes the most sense: A wedge, block heel, or flat is better for sand, grass, and gravel, whereas tile and wood flooring can accommodate a slimmer heel.
• Schedule: Do you plan to wear the same shoes from your ceremony to your reception? Or might you want to slip into something a little comfier to dance the night away? We have options that allow you to do both.
• Dress Length: Keep in mind that a floor-length gown won't offer much visibility for your shoes, whereas an ankle-length, tea-length, or shorter style will put your footwear prominently on display. As such, you might go for a statement shoe if your dress is on the shorter side.
• Personal Priorities: Are you most concerned with getting epic detail shots of your bridal look? Or is lasting for several hours on the dancefloor more important to you? Asking yourself these questions can help you narrow down your shoe search.

How to find the perfect wedding day shoe

• Start breaking in your shoes before the big day: At least about two weeks or so before the wedding, you may want to start wearing your bridal shoes around the house. This will help you to figure out whether or not you can realistically wear them for the entire wedding (or need a second pair to change into after the ceremony). It also helps you break in the shoes so you can avoid blisters. Wearing them with thick socks can help to stretch out any areas that are pinching.
• Bring your shoes to fittings: It can be helpful to buy your bridal shoes sooner rather than later once you've chosen your dress, and then bring them with you to every fitting. This way, whoever is in charge of alterations can get a more accurate idea of how much, if at all, the length needs to be adjusted. Not to mention, the height and style of shoes you're wearing can change your posture and the way you walk, which can inform other adjustments the seamstress may need to make.
• Don't be afraid of a little color: Who says bridal shoes have to be white? Blush pink and baby blue can add some playful visual intrigue to an otherwise white ensemble.
• You can't go wrong with a platform: If you love the way high heels look but not the way they feel, a platform offers the perfect solution — giving you additional lift while also helping to ensure more even weight distribution on your feet.
• Have a plan B: Particularly if you're planning an outdoor wedding where conditions depend on the weather, or if you're hoping to stay on the dance floor for the entirety of your reception, you may want to have a more practical backup pair of bridal shoes you can change into — say, some fun sneakers or flats.

• Mechanize's ex-CEO Tamay Besiroglu, along with over a dozen other employees, now work at Google.
• The deal's terms weren't disclosed. Google had been in talks for a $1.5 billion-plus deal, per sources.
• Mechanize launched last year with a mission of automating every job in the world.

Google has some fresh talent in the AI race.

The tech giant has completed its talent deal with San Francisco startup Mechanize Inc, public postings show.

Mechanize's co-founder and ex-CEO, Tamay Besiroglu, now works as a research scientist at Google's AI division, DeepMind, according to his LinkedIn profile. Over a dozen other former Mechanize employees now work at Google, per LinkedIn, mostly on the company's 'midtraining' efforts — a key part of building the best chatbot.

Google and Besiroglu declined to comment.

Google had been in talks for a $1.5 billion-plus deal for Mechanize's tech and talent, Business Insider previously reported. The final terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Mechanize's former chief of staff, Guive Assadi, now describes himself as its CEO, per LinkedIn.

Google has been struggling to release an AI model that's widely viewed as competitive lately. It has used talent deals — which are typically structured to avoid antitrust scrutiny compared to fully fledged acquisitions — to gain an edge. For example, Google snapped up AI coding startup Windsurf's talent last year, with former CEO Varun Mohan now leading Google's agentic coding program Antigravity.

Mechanize's technology helps tech companies' AI models improve at coding, a challenge Google has struggled with.

Mechanize said earlier this year that it raised $9.1 million in a funding round at a $500 million valuation. Besiroglu previously cofounded Epoch AI, which also focused on testing AI models.

Have a tip? Contact Hugh via email at hlangley@businessinsider.com or Signal at 628-228-1836. Contact Charles via email at crollet@businessinsider.com or on Signal and WhatsApp at 628-282-2811. Contact Katie Roof via email at kroof@businessinsider.com or Signal at @kroof.26

• Christos Garkinos was terrified of being like his dad, who died young with no money.
• He's always had a relatively high salary, but didn't feel financially secure.
• He went about $500,000 into debt in his late 50s and is rebuilding his finances in his 60s.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christos Garkinos, founder of Covet by Christos. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I learned from a very young age what success meant: it was money in the till after the lunch rush.

My Greek immigrant parents owned a diner in Detroit. Each day, 150 people would flood in for lunch, and my family would fall apart. My mom would be screaming, throwing things at my dad; as a kid, I wondered every day if we would make it through. But two hours later, with the money in the till, we'd all be having fun.

My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer when I was in my 20s. The business failed, and so did his health. I was making good money working for major global companies like Disney and Virgin, but I never felt financially secure. That's partially because I sent a good portion of my check home to support my parents.

I took a loan to pay for my dad's hospice medications

My dad died when I was in my mid-20s. While he was in hospice, I was trying to find money to pay for his medication. My parents didn't have any money, so I took out a small personal loan of about $2,000 to make my dad more comfortable in his last days.

That's when money became a big fear of mine. I was terrified of ending up like my dad.

At the same time, when I made good money, I felt I didn't deserve it. I wasn't comfortable with money, so I would find ways to spend it.

I was doing one thing right, however: I had a 401(k) retirement account, something my parents never had. That gave me peace of mind that I would die penniless, like my dad.

I got my dream job, but I sabotaged myself

I was living in LA, working in fashion, which had been my dream since I'd first heard the "click clack" of high heels as a boy. I had a lot going for me, and eventually landed a reality show that I leveraged into a spot on the Home Shopping Network.

I had been absolutely obsessed with the network since I was 14. When I went to Florida and saw a set with my name on it, I freaked out. A part of me thought, "What can I do to mess this up?" I was still self-sabotaging.

Then, my best friend died of cancer. I had already been running with a fast crowd, but when I walked out of her funeral, I walked out of my life. I left my husband, my business, and myself. I was in a tailspin for three years.

I spent my retirement savings and went about $500,000 into debt

Even in those days, my life looked beautiful from the outside. I was living in a gorgeous house I was renting at the top of Mulholland Drive. And yet, my whole life was put on my American Express card, because I always needed another 30-day buffer.

One day, in that fancy house, I called my mom for Easter — a major holiday for us Greeks. As I talked to her, I was rummaging through the trash, looking for drugs.

I thought, "What am I doing?" That moment started my sobriety. I had to face the fact that I'd racked up about $500,000 in debt — personal loans, credit cards, money borrowed from friends — and spent the 401(k) that had been my safety net for so long.

I've paid off my debt and rebuilt my savings

I got sober and knew I needed to address the debt. I turned to what I'd always been good at: selling things. In 2020, I started consigning on Instagram Live. I was making good money again, so for every $1 I put in the bank, I would pay off $2 in debt. I started with the friends who lent me money, then paid off the credit cards and loans. By September 2021, all my debt was paid off.

Now, I've rebuilt a lot of my financial security. I have a 401(k) again, and I could retire today if I wanted to. I don't have to think twice about spending a couple thousand on something I want.

And yet, there's still part of me that doesn't feel secure. When I worry, I remind myself of the changes I've made. I'm sober. I have a business manager. I know my habits around money. Yet I'm still working hard to build this business and sell it eventually. For me, that will mean next-level financial stability.

• Hugging Face CEO Clement Delangue isn't here for the Jacob Coxon discourse.
• Coxon went viral after posting that he resigned from Anthropic due to concerns about AI's risks.
• Delangue suggested that Coxon doesn't have the requisite expertise to make such a claim.

Hugging Face CEO Clement Delangue questioned the focus on a former Anthropic researcher who said AI workers privately fear the technology could kill all humans.

"Sorry, but asking Jacob about AI extinction risk is like asking your AC guy about climate change," Delangue wrote on X on Friday.

Delangue said that Jacob Coxon, the former Anthropic researcher whose resignation has sparked a renewed debate about AI's risks, should be put into the proper context.

"Not saying it's necessarily uninteresting or wrong per se but let's keep things in perspective and hear from the full range of expertise across the ecosystem!" Delangue wrote.

Coxon wrote on Tuesday on X that he was resigning due to concerns that both Anthropic and OpenAI, where he previously worked, are "racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives."

"The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade," he wrote. "This is not a marketing stunt."

Delangue later said that his comparison to an "AC guy" was not meant "to discredit" Coxon "at all." Rather, Delangue said, there needs to be a more robust conversation about AI's risks.

"It's simply that we should put any one perspective in context and listen to the broader AI ecosystem too," he wrote.

Delangue also said it was his "understanding" that Coxon mostly focused on pretraining, in which researchers train AI models on large datasets, rather than more risk-focused research.

In his series of posts, Coxon said he worked on pretraining research at both OpenAI and Anthropic "for the last three years." Ethan Perez, alignment team lead at Anthropic, later wrote on X that Coxon was a "senior researcher who joined Anthropic in May" and that OpenAI's chief rival had been trying to recruit Coxon for roughly two years.

Some in tech, like SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, whose company includes SpaceXAI, have been critical of Coxon's claims. In response to someone who recounted the lead-up to The Wall Street Journal's initial story on Coxon's resignation (which came before Coxon's tweets), the SpaceX CEO wrote that "the groundwork for this psy op (for lack of a better term) has been prepared for a long time."

Others, including researchers at Anthropic and OpenAI, have said Coxon's claims about the risk of AI wiping out humanity are well-founded.

"Jacob is correct here—we really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans!" Evan Hubinger, the alignment science lead at Anthropic, wrote on X. "I personally think it is >10% within the next decade."

As for other perspectives that might be helpful, Delangue wrote in a reply that includes, "social scientists, other AI builders, futurists, investors, policymakers."

Delangue and Hugging Face's profiles have exploded since OpenAI announced in July that rogue AI models had broken containment during cybersecurity testing and breached Hugging Face in an effort to cheat on internal tests.

On September 3, Nvidia, which is highly reliant on AI-related demand for its chips, announced plans to acquire Hugging Face for nearly $13 billion. If policymakers were to slam the brakes on frontier AI development (a call some have renewed in the wake of Coxon's comments), Nvidia would likely be significantly affected.

• Apple CEO John Ternus wants people to feel comfortable about the Apple Watch's new AI listening capabilities.
• Ternus was asked about concerns about AI glasses, specifically that some have called them "pervert glasses."
• Apple exec Greg Joswiak called it "quite a marketing slogan." Ternus stressed that the Apple Watch features don't record.

Apple would kindly like to stay far away from Meta's ongoing reputational challenges with AI glasses.

Apple CEO John Ternus was recently asked about how the company thinks about privacy in the age of AI wearables in light of backlash around AI glasses like Meta's. After all, Apple is rumored to be cooking up some AI glasses of its own in its labs.

"I know you can't talk about unannounced products, but what do you think about the backlash around what people are calling, you know, 'pervert glasses,'" Tom's Guide editor in chief Mark Spoonauer asked.

Before Ternus could answer, Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing who also being interviewed, quipped: "That's quite a marketing slogan." The remark drew laughter from Ternus.

Meta is actively fighting back at that perception with a marketing blitz that emphasizes the AI glasses' light that alerts people when the recording feature is activated. It's also taken steps to thwart users who tamper with that light and pledged to remove "harassing" videos recorded by the AI glasses from Instagram (Business Insider has found those moderation efforts are off to a bumpy start.) Meta declined to comment on the Apple executives' remarks.

Beyond some laughter at a rival's expense, the pair of Apple execs instead looked to explain how the company hopes to address privacy concerns when it releases two new AI-enabled listening features alongside the next generation of Apple Watches.

"We wanted to do this in a way that people feel comfortable using it, and people around the user feel comfortable about its existence," Ternus said.

While its first foldable phone, iPhone Duo, stole the show, Apple also announced that Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 will come with optional "audio intelligence" features that, depending on a user's preference, can mean Siri is always listening to your conversations throughout the day. Apple says the features don't start working until the on-device AI detects speech and that no audio is recorded or stored.

One feature, "Siri Recap," can listen to meetings or even your whole day and generate what the company calls "high-level" notes on what happened. Another feature, Live Rewind, shows a text snippet of the last 15 seconds of what was just said around you on the Apple Watch's screen.

Ternus and Joswiak emphasized that neither feature includes speaker attribution. There's also no audio recording that the user could store for later playback. Apple also says it doesn't have access to the raw audio files. Joswiak also said this means Apple can't be compelled to turn over an audio file.

"It's just those higher-level notes to remind you of that without getting into all the stuff that really is privacy concerning which a lot of other products are doing," Joswiak said.

While they did not mention it, the Live Rewind feature also includes audio and visual cues on the Apple Watch's screen — similar to the recording light on Meta's AI glasses — to alert those around the watch wearer that the last 15 seconds of conversation is being processed. Apple says "Live Rewind" and "Siri Recap" will be available in beta later this year.

Both Apple execs also said that current apps have long allowed users to record themselves and those around them. While they didn't mention anything in particular, AI-enabled apps and devices like Granola and Plaud are also designed for such use cases.

But the Apple execs' response to the question highlights that Apple is seeking to differentiate its approach to information-gathering on AI devices. Whether or not people ultimately feel comfortable about Apple Watches listening in on their conversations is another question altogether.

• Jacob Coxon's Anthropic exit sparked debate over whether to push for AI safety from inside or out.
• The resignation also drew scrutiny over its impact on Anthropic's image and upcoming IPO.
• AI workers' stay-or-go conundrum has a World War II parallel, a tech historian says.

AI workers with apocalypse fears are facing a troubling, though not unprecedented, career dilemma.

Should they quit their jobs to avoid potentially helping make the doomsday scenario they envision a reality? Or, should they drive change for the better from within?

It's a thorny predicament that came into focus this week when Jacob Coxon, a former OpenAI employee, said in an X post that he was resigning from Anthropic because the "people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade."

Soon after, Evan Hubinger, who leads Anthropic's alignment stress-testing team, essentially backed Coxon, saying he believes there is a greater-than-10% chance AI could kill all humans within the next decade.

Why some workers stay

For AI workers worried that they're contributing to mankind's destruction, deciding whether to quit or stay put is more complicated than it may seem, said Jeremie Harris, CEO and cofounder of Gladstone AI, a Washington, DC-based safety and advisory company focused on national security risks and catastrophic threats from advanced AI. "I don't particularly fault anyone for making either call," he said.

Harris said his job involves regularly talking with staff at Anthropic and other top AI labs, and that in recent months he's heard many express fears similar to those Coxon described. While quitting can be a moral response to building a dangerous technology, he said, Al labs could end up with few or no workers willing to press for change if resignations pile up.

"The people who are left are going to be the ones who are least concerned about safety," Harris said, while "people who care arguably should be the ones in the seat."

In response to Coxon's announcement, Anthropic employee Anna Wang said on X that she works at the company because she thinks she "can do better at reducing risks from the inside." She added that she respects and endorses others "who think that it's better to do so from the outside."

A spokesperson for Anthropic declined to comment after confirming Wang's employment.

Coxon's X post, which also sparked online debate over its impact on Anthropic's image, the company's coming IPO, and the possibility that this is all a strange publicity stunt, echoes concerns of a pending AI calamity previously made by Geoffrey Hinton, the computer scientist widely known as the "Godfather of AI," xAI founder Elon Musk, and others.

The general public is apprehensive about AI, too. Some 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about the use of the technology in daily life, according to a June study from the Pew Research Center. That's up from 37% who said the same in 2021.

A dilemma with a history

For AI workers who truly believe their employer is creating an existential threat, Alex Wellerstein, a professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, said internal voices of reason have a poor track record of "overcoming preexisting institutional momentum."

"If you stick around, you're participating," he said.

That tension is not new. Technology historian Matthew H. Hersch said the Manhattan Project, a World War II-era program to develop nuclear weapons, is a close parallel.

Ralph Austin Bard, then undersecretary of the US Navy, privately urged officials to warn Japan before using the atomic bomb and resigned weeks before Hiroshima, likely in protest of the decision not to do so, said Hersch, also a professor at Harvard University and a member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study.

Other Manhattan Project scientists also unsuccessfully pushed for a demonstration of the bomb before it was used in combat, some of whom were effectively barred from future defense work, he added.

"Whistleblowers can do tremendous good," Hersch told Business Insider, "but are apt to be discredited or harassed into silence, and become unemployable in their industry."

The Brooks Brothers location at Manhattan's One Liberty Plaza sustained heavy damage when the Twin Towers collapsed on September 11, 2001. The store reopened exactly one year after the attacks.

While the store is no longer there — it closed in 2018 amid planned renovations and relocated a few blocks away — the memories stay with the company's creative director, Michael Bastian, 25 years later.

• Bill Koch's Aspen compound sold at auction for $33.5M, far below its onetime $125M asking price.
• The property spans 52 acres with a main lodge, seven cabins, and numerous luxury amenities.
• Koch bought the compound for $26.5M in 2007, but couldn't find a buyer by listing it traditionally.

Billionaire and member of the famed Koch family Bill Koch tried to offload his massive compound in Aspen for nine figures, but ended up selling it at auction for nearly $100 million below the listing price.

The founder of Oxbow Carbon bought the ski-town property in 2007 for $26.5 million and later added 31 acres.

The compound hit the market in 2015 with an asking price of $100 million. Koch eventually dropped the price to $80 million the following year. In 2020, he sold the additional 31 acres he added for $14.5 million, but held on to the lodge and the rest of the 52-acre property.

In 2025, Koch relisted the property at $125 million, but it didn't sell. In 2026, Koch went the auction route — a tactic sometimes employed for notable properties. The property finally sold in July, but for a fraction of its original listing price.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the winning bid was $33.5 million — a 73% decrease from its peak listing price. Koch's lofty $125 million price would have been the most expensive sale in Colorado history, beating Palatir Alex Karp's recent $120 million ranch purchase in nearby Snowmass, Colorado.

Koch, who has a net worth of $2 billion, according to Forbes, sold his stake in Koch Industries to his brothers for $470 million in 1983. That left him with plenty of money to make renovations to his Colorado ranch.

The recently sold main lodge spans 16,600 square feet and is accompanied by seven cabins — one of which is a home gym. The property also includes hot tubs, hiking trails, and an altitude-acclimation room.

See what else awaits the new owner of this massive compound.

Bill Koch purchased the 52-acre property for $26.5 million in 2007.

According to Architectural Digest, the property was used as a dude ranch and an event venue before Koch bought it.

He later added about 31 more acres to the property.

He eventually sold those extra acres for $14.5 million in 2020.

In 2015, Koch listed the entire property for $100 million.

He dropped the price to $80 million in 2016, but it didn't sell.

The property was delisted and relisted various times.

Ten years after the original listing, Koch listed the property again for $125 million at the beginning of 2025.

Before then, he tried renting out the main lodge for $300,000 a week.

The price was dropped one final time to $99 million at the end of 2025 before eventually heading to auction.

The property went to auction through Concierge Auctions in July.

This 52-acre compound sold for $33.5 million at auction.

The auction went on from July 7 to 17.

Eight structures are spread out across the compound.

The main lodge is 16,631 square feet.

Counting the other buildings, there are 14 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms.

The other buildings bring the total square footage to 25,277.

The lodge, also known as the primary cabin, is two stories with 30-foot ceilings.

It has a dining room that seats 20 people, a screening room, and a living room with a wall of windows that faces the mountains.

Other amenities around the property include a gym, hiking trails, two hot tubs, and an altitude-acclimation room.

And if there's not enough to do on the grounds, the estate is 11 miles from Aspen by car.

Correction: February 28, 2025 — Bill Koch's Aspen property was once on the market for $300,000 a week, not $300,000 a month. It's also unclear when Koch acquired 30 additional acres that he sold in 2020. An earlier version of this story said he added them in 2015.

• President Donald Trump threatened to ban Canada's Bombardier from US sales if it doesn't build here.
• The planemaker already employs thousands of people in the US and spends $2.5 billion annually.
• Both Republican senators from Kansas, where Bombardier's US headquarters is, defended the company.

Canada's biggest aircraft manufacturer has a larger footprint in the US than many people think.

Bombardier — known for making multimillion-dollar private jets for A-list celebrities like Matt Damon and Beyoncé — has been among the targets of President Donald Trump's escalating trade war with Canada. The aerospace sector was not among the president's latest sweeping tariffs, but he still floated the idea of banning Bombardier from selling in the US.

In a Monday Truth Social post, Trump said the planemaker is "treating America like a 'piggybank'" and must build here if it wants access to the US market: "NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!" he wrote. "Their products aren't good enough!"

Bombardier quickly released a statement, and without naming Trump, pointed to the company's deep presence in the US: It described thousands of direct jobs across over 20 states, $2.5 billion spent across roughly 2,800 American suppliers in 47 states each year, and a network of offices, maintenance facilities, manufacturing plants, and service centers that serve its high-net-worth customers.

Its US headquarters are in Wichita, Kansas, where the Learjet was manufactured until the program's end in 2022, but now focuses on defense, flight testing, and servicing. It also builds wings in Texas and flight control components in California, and it has a large parts distribution center in Chicago that has operated since 2005.

It also has mobile truck response team centers — technicians dispatched to assist grounded aircraft in need of repair, technical assistance, or parts — based in 13 states.

Overall, Bombardier said it employs 3,500 direct employees in the US. And despite threats from Trump, it told Reuters on Wednesday that it wants to hire another 500, some of whom will work at a new service center set to open in Indiana in November.

Some Republicans have publicly defended Bombardier. In a Monday statement, US Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said Wichita employs over 1,000 Americans and that he'd contacted the president to ensure he is "aware of the significant contributions of Bombardier to Kansas."

The state's other Republican senator, Sen. Roger Marshall, said in a Tuesday X post that he'd "fight" for Bombardier's Kansas workforce and that he had already voiced his concerns to the White House.

Bombardier and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It's not the first time Trump has threatened Bombardier. In January 2026, the president threatened to de-certify Canadian-built planes unless Canada's transport authority certified certain American-made Gulfstream jets. Canada did so a month later, and Trump's threat fizzled out.

Here are the states where Bombardier has direct workers. Much of Bombardier's indirect support comes from suppliers and authorized pilot training and service contractors.

Arizona

Arizona has two Bombardier facilities: a service center in Tucson and a mobile response truck (MRT) unit in Scottsdale. The Arizona Commerce Authority's website shows Bombardier employs about 1,000 people in the state.

Service centers can handle work on airframes, avionics, engines, interiors, paint, engineering, and batteries on over a dozen Bombardier jet types.

California

California's Bombardier facilities include truck response in Santa Ana, San Francisco, and Van Nuys, and line maintenance in Van Nuys. Line maintenance is routine, day-to-day work.

There is also a component manufacturing site in nearby Moorpark, which opened in 2025 and has a few dozen employees.

Connecticut

Bombardier has a service center in Hartford, Connecticut's capital. It's one of two that has a wheel shop; the other is Wichita. Reuters reported in 2025 that the site has over 200 employees.

Delaware

In February, Bombardier acquired Velocity Maintenance Solutions, a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Wilmington, Delaware. It also offers services for grounded planes.

Bombardier took over the Velocity team and its 35,000-square-foot hangar.

Florida

Florida hosts a Bombardier service center in Miami and truck response units based in Miami, Orlando, and West Palm Beach. In 2022, Miami's service center was expected to add nearly 300 jobs.

Illinois

Chicago is Bombardier's US hub for parts distribution, where it ships thousands of parts a day and employs about 100 people. The city also hosts a truck response unit.

Indiana

Bombardier is expected to open a new 64,500-square-foot service center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in November, to expand its footprint in the Midwest. It plans to hire 100 people.

Kansas

Wichita is home to Bombardier's US headquarters, and the planemaker employs over 1,000 people in Kansas. The city also has Bombardier's parts and customer response centers.

New Jersey

New Jersey has a line maintenance station in Teterboro, which is predominantly an airport for private aviation. There is also a mobile truck center.

Texas

Texas is home to a truck response unit in Fort Worth, near Dallas, as well as a service center in Dallas.

Bombardier also builds wings at its US Aerostructures facility in Red Oak, which employed more than 600 people when it completed its 100th wing for the Global 7500 in 2021.

Other states have mobile truck response centers.

Many of Bombardier's other US locations are mobile response team bases rather than manufacturing or service centers. Bombardier has been growing these mobile response teams since 2013.

Besides the cities and states already listed as having an MRT, these do, too: Bedford, Massachusetts; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; New Orleans; Seattle; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Dulles, Virginia; and White Plains, New York.

Paid non-client promotion: Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate investing products to write unbiased product reviews.

At 57, Debbie Welsch sold her US home and belongings for $550,000, then relocated to Bali with her 82-year-old mother. Today, she pays $375 a month in rent and has built a new life centered on making her savings stretch. In this episode of Cost of Living, she breaks down exactly what it costs to retire in Bali and how she budgets for life abroad.

• Geoffrey Hinton says a 10% chance AI causes human extinction is not an 'unreasonable' belief.
• Ramana Kumar explains what distinguishes superintelligent AI from other modern threats like war.
• The issue, he said, is that AI's capabilities are advancing faster than humans can control.

Climate change can't anticipate our next move. An asteroid can't dodge us. And while humans can be adversaries in a nuclear war, the fallout that follows isn't trying to outsmart anyone.

For Business Insider's video series "AI Architects," Ramana Kumar told Business Insider in May 2025 that superintelligent AI could be different. We reconnected with him on Thursday as fresh warnings about AI risk drew new attention to that conversation.

Kumar said he does not see AI risk as replacing concerns about climate change, nuclear war, or other catastrophes. Instead, he sees them as related problems: What can happen when power becomes too concentrated, and societies fail to coordinate enough to keep it in check. Superintelligent AI, he added, could be an extreme version of that broader danger.

Kumar, who spent about five years as a research scientist on Google DeepMind's technical AGI safety team, said what distinguishes a powerful adversarial AI is that it could anticipate what humans were doing and work against attempts to stop it.

That possibility is back in the spotlight after an Anthropic employee quit this week, warning on X that the technology could "kill us all."

In response, Geoffrey Hinton, the computer scientist known as the "Godfather of AI, told BBC Newsnight on Wednesday that a 10% chance of AI wiping out humanity within a decade was "not an unreasonable estimate." He also stressed that nobody knows how to make a reliable prediction.

Kumar's warning helps explain what could make that hypothetical threat so difficult to contain: Humans wouldn't simply be trying to stop something dangerous. They could be trying to stop something intelligent enough to work against them.

AI could know we're trying to stop it

Kumar said the aftermath of a nuclear war could be catastrophic. The fallout itself, however, wouldn't be trying to outsmart the humans responding to it.

"When it's the fallout, it's not an adversary, it's just nature taking its course, and humans can work against it," Kumar told Business Insider in 2025.

He said the same basic idea applies to the climate crisis. "It's not that the climate is adversarial to us," Kumar said.

A dangerous superintelligent AI could be different, he added. It could potentially understand what humans were doing and respond.

"It's really an adversary in the sense that it is anticipating what you are doing and working against you and working to undo all of the plans that you would put against it," Kumar said.

Think of an asteroid that can dodge us

Kumar used an asteroid to make the idea easier to understand.

Humans could track an asteroid headed toward Earth and try to stop it. The asteroid wouldn't know what we were doing. Now, imagine otherwise.

"Imagine if you had the asteroid that was more intelligent and actually trying to kill us, then we fire some nuclear weapons at it to kind of blow it up, and it dodges them," Kumar said.

"That's much worse than one that's, we can just predict where it's going to be and do something about it," he added.

Kumar didn't say this outcome was inevitable. When asked how realistic an existential catastrophe from superintelligence was, he wouldn't put a number on it.

However, he did say that the risk was "much, much higher than I would like it to be now."

We don't know how to guarantee control

Kumar said the bigger issue is what AI researchers call the alignment problem: How to make sure a powerful AI reliably does what humans want it to do.

He said making AI more capable is moving faster than solving that problem.

"One of the reasons why AI existential risk is such a problem is that it's much easier to develop AI capabilities than it is to solve the AI alignment problem," Kumar said. The AI alignment problem is figuring out how to build an AI system that reliably does what humans want it to do, even as it becomes more capable.

His concern is that safeguards could become less effective as AI becomes more capable.

"The more capable it becomes, the more it's going to find a way around that," Kumar said.

Kumar's warning comes as concerns about controlling increasingly capable AI systems are drawing fresh attention. In July, OpenAI said its models had broken out of a testing environment, accessed the internet, and hacked into Hugging Face while trying to solve a cyber challenge. OpenAI called it an "unprecedented cyber incident."

The incident was different from Kumar's hypothetical scenario. OpenAI said the models were pursuing the task they had been given.

Still, the episode raised questions about controlling AI agents. Walter Isaacson told CNBC he found it "frightening," while Secure AI Project cofounder Thomas Woodside called it "a warning shot if I've ever seen one."

Those concerns have continued. Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who previously worked at OpenAI, recently announced he was leaving Anthropic and wrote that AI companies were "gambling with our lives."

• Logistics companies have reported data breaches, highlighting supply chain vulnerabilities.
• AI in supply chains increases efficiency but also exposes systems to cyber threats, experts say.
• Supply chain cyberattacks disrupt operations, prompting calls for AI-enhanced cybersecurity measures.

In mid-August, Uber Freight revealed a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to a portion of its systems and data.

Days prior, Ceva Logistics, a subsidiary of CMA CGM, reported a data breach that affected numerous companies and leaked their customers' personal information. Weeks before that, Coca-Cola's dairy brand Fairlife was hit by a ransomware attack, prompting the company to temporarily suspend its US operations.

Concerns around supply chain hacks are only growing, "as we do more and more intelligent things with these computers and as more and more they're becoming the brain of an autonomous system," Said Ouissal, the founder & CEO of the edge-computing software company ZEDEDA, told Business Insider.

Warehouses and plants are adopting AI technologies like trackers on trucks and forklifts, cameras and temperature sensors inside facilities, laptops and tablets, and GPS systems. As they do, they're becoming more vulnerable to cybersecurity incidents, said Bart Bullard, the chief technology officer of Source Logistics, a warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation provider.

It's a catch-22: the very technologies that supply chain operators use to stay competitive are also "vectors of entry" for hackers to gain access to company systems, Bullard said.

As supply chain executives grapple with this increasingly common challenge, they're also finding that AI can be a part of the solution, Ouissal said.

What's at stake in a supply chain cyberattack

When a data breach occurs, companies will shut down their systems until they can identify the source of the issue. That can take an average of 247 days, according to an IBM report this year.

Supply chain attacks are particularly problematic because a data breach that suspends operations can disrupt the timing of the entire supply chain. Production is delayed and products could expire, Bullard said.

That's what happened when Jaguar Land Rover was hit by a cyber attack last fall. Production halted for six weeks. During the shutdown, suppliers lost work, and some small companies went out of business, said Liz James, a managing security consultant at cybersecurity firm NCC Group.

Attacks also occur within the software supply chain, Ouissal said. A bad actor hacks a piece of software, which then gets distributed to multiple businesses operating robots. The result is malware running the bots.

This type of attack was disclosed last month by CloudSEK and Hudson Rock. The groups revealed that a software supply chain attack poisoned the open-source tool LiteLLM in March 2026. The data breach exposed cloud keys, credentials, and terabytes of data across more than 2,500 organizations.

Preventing cyberattacks and responding with AI

Fighting cyberattacks in the supply chain requires both preventing and responding to them — often with the assistance of AI-enabled tools, as well as human training and expectation-setting, Ouissal said.

Companies use AI to scan software and detect hidden vulnerabilities that humans haven't noticed. AI tools are programmed to detect oddities that deviate from standard patterns. If there's an unexpected issue, the company can immediately deploy a patch to prevent hackers from exploiting the vulnerabilities.

Bob Krohn, a partner and manufacturing practice co-leader at consulting firm ISG, said it's important to train employees on cybersecurity best practices, from the C-suite and white-collar supervisors to the shop floor. Workers should be trained to spot phishing scams, and employees with critical system access should use password managers, Bullard said.

"Everyone in an enterprise must become AI-security forward thinkers," Bullard said. He added that detecting attacks is increasingly challenging, as deepfake videos and voice calls become more sophisticated, and AI becomes more convincing at emulating behavior. The usual tells of a phishing scam — like odd grammar and misspelled words — disappear with the help of AI, Bullard said.

Cyber attacks in the supply chain are also changing how businesses approach supplier contracts and audits, James said.

Twenty years ago, many businesses were accustomed to buying the same parts from the same suppliers for decades, according to Krohn. Now, companies tend to have diversified suppliers to manage risks like tariffs. Each time they work with another business, they have to consider new cyber threats, since these entities can view business data and inventory levels, Krohn said. While firewalls exist, there are still gaps that a bad actor could exploit.

"You are opening yourselves up to cyber risk in an exponential way," Krohn said. He added: "Choose your supply chain partners carefully. Make sure that they have the same sort of emphasis on cyber policies as you do."

That said, not all attacks can be proactively prevented. "All our C-suite clients recognize that they are going to get hacked," Krohn said. That's why executives are focused on having plans in place to respond to a cyberattack.

Battling cyberattacks with the help of AI is critical because hackers using AI can mine software code for vulnerabilities much faster than a human can, said Bullard.

"Fighting AI with AI is the only real avenue," Bullard said.

• Diesel prices in the US hit $6 per gallon for the first time on Friday amid oil's latest surge.
• BofA warns that high diesel costs are a "pressure point" for the economy.
• "Record diesel prices will impact every cargo, shipment, every delivery Americans are taking," GasBuddy said.

The market's attention may be on rising bond yields, but Bank of America says there's a more immediate concern for the economy already feeling the sting of high energy costs.

Diesel prices set a new record on Thursday, topping $6 per gallon for the first time ever in the US. Investors are already attuned to crude oil prices, which have climbed past $100 per barrel and pushed up the cost of regular gas, but BofA says markets are underestimating the broader impact of surging diesel.

The combination of geopolitical tensions and global refining constraints has kept energy markets in focus as princes continue trending upward. In BofA's view, markets need to pay attention to the cost of diesel as a source of volatility, as it is the fuel source for much of the commercial economy.

"Markets stop panicking when policymakers start panicking…but no panic anywhere despite the highest 30yr yield since Jun'07 and spiking commodities; oil at $100/bbl takes headlines but diesel is the key real-economy pressure point: shipping, trucking, agriculture, construction, mining," BofA wrote in a note to investors on Friday. "Blasé markets + bravado policy = recipe for volatility."

Gas market intelligence platform GasBuddy said that while the headlines are focused on the price of gasoline, record-high diesel costs are too important to ignore.

"Not every day are new all-time records set, and this will be a particularly painful one for the economy that may not even be immediately felt, but record diesel prices will impact every cargo, shipment, every delivery Americans are taking, and are likely to reignite inflation up and down the supply chain," said Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis.

Gasbuddy noted that the prices of household goods and groceries are likely to be driven upward by higher diesel costs. That comes at a time when inflation weighing on consumer sentiment, and continues to outpace wage growth.

Finance pros have predicted recently that even while gas and diesel prices rise, the coming energy shock may be even larger market watchers are anticipating. The average cost of diesel fuel in the US has risen about 60% since the Iran war broke out in February.

• The parenting debate about how much to share photos of kids is changing because of AI.
• A viral video about Meta AI's suggested questions has people worried. Meta said they were a mistake that has been fixed.
• Fears that children's photos may be used for CSAM is changing how parents and photographers share online.

The debate about whether or not to post your kids' faces on social media isn't new. I have friends whose kids are in college now who I remember struggled with the decision about whether to post baby photos to Instagram.

But very recently, that conversation has taken a significant turn because of concerns about AI — and even prompted Meta to take action.

Two viral things have happened on Instagram in the last week or so, with pretty different origins but ultimately the same result: parents saying that they shouldn't post images of their children online anymore.

The first was a viral Instagram from Kalie Robins, a mom in Utah. Robins was shocked and creeped out when she noticed Meta AI suggestions on a video she had posted of herself and her kid.

The Meta AI chatbot suggested questions like "who's the child passenger?" Following more of the Meta AI questions, Robins found that it pulled photos of her that she believed had been deleted, and information about her kids from her mother's Facebook page.

While yes, Meta AI was pulling information that already exists online, it was also suggesting questions about the identity of children — potentially suggesting that to strangers (it's unclear if only Kalie saw this set of Meta AI questions or if a stranger would have been suggested different ones).

Meta told me that these AI suggestions were a mistake that had since been fixed.

"When someone clicks on a prompt and uses this feature, the response it generates is based on information the user already has access to," said Meta spokesperson Andy Stone. "But we missed the mark because the feature never should have prompted the individual with questions like that and we've fixed that issue."

Meta AI suggested questions about her kids

I spoke with Robins, and she expressed that she wasn't unaware of how Meta AI was able to pull up the information. To her, it was a stark reminder of just how much of our data is on social media, even if we don't realize it.

"I thought I was so careful because I never did the back-to-school photos with the school and teacher name. I never posted in front of any landmarks or in front of our house with street signs. I never did any of that," she told me. "I thought I was being so careful and ultimately that didn't matter. It didn't even get that info from me. It got it from other people, so it didn't matter how careful I was being in this case."

The online reaction to Robins' video was twofold: first, that Meta AI did something creepy and off-putting (which even Meta agrees with), and that this is a good reminder for parents to be wary of what information is out there about their kids and any photos they post.

Professional photographers are shying away from sharing kid photos

At the same time, another viral trend on Instagram is making people rethink how kids' images are posted online.

A bunch of professional family photographers, nearly all women or mothers themselves, have been posting notices announcing a new policy that they won't share kids' faces on social media or their professional websites anymore.

The concern here is over AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and the risk that photos posted to social media could be used to either create deepfakes of specific children, or that their faces could end up in data training for AI models that end up creating this kind of content.

This is a legitimate concern, and there have been criminal cases involving AI-generated CSAM, some gaining national media attention.

A recent legal ruling about AI CSAM

A judge's recent ruling in a criminal case about AI-generated CSAM has gone viral in some Instagram parenting circles. The details of the legal ruling are complex (there's some great detail here in the Washington Post story about it), but the short version is that the judge wrote that there's a legal precedent that possession (not production or distribution) of AI-generated child pornography is protected as free speech.

The implications of the ruling — and what it means for innocent photos of kids — is what is now going viral on Instagram.

Hannah Haggard, a family and wedding photographer based in Kentucky, posted to her Instagram that she was changing her policies, and will not post any kids' faces — even with parents' permission.

"I'd been toying with the idea already," Haggard told me. "I never post without consent, but I still was already considering it. Then once the ruling happened, it was confirmation that that's what needed to happen."

A lot of the online reaction I've seen seems outraged at the ruling, which at a glance seems to be good news for child predators. But Mariefaye Bechrakis, a lawyer specializing in human rights and child rights who has written about AI-generated CSAM legal issues for the American Bar Association, says that it's more nuanced.

"What is important to note is that the judges are flashing a green light for a future appeal," Bechrakis told me about her opinion of the judge's ruling. "They basically gave a future roadmap and a real opportunity to future prosecutors. They noted that modern AI models don't create images out of thin air, but that they must be trained on large datasets."

Katey Sutton, a family photographer in Missouri, also posted about her policy of not showing kids' faces on the internet.

"I don't believe AI is truly 'synthetic'," she told me. "It's known that AI scrapes the internet and uses information it's given/finds to inform, recommend, create, etc…"

Take a scroll through Facebook or Instagram, and you'll see that clearly not all parents have ceased posting kid pics. But for some people, these recent AI scares are making them think carefully about the risks before posting. And that's probably a good thing.

• It has been 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
• A Brooks Brothers store near Ground Zero served as a morgue in the aftermath of the attacks.
• Creative director Michael Bastian told Business Insider he "still can't look at the pictures" from that day.

Like many people, Brooks Brothers creative director Michael Bastian remembers exactly where he was on the morning of September 11, 2001.

"9/11 is personal for me," he told Business Insider during New York Fashion Week on Thursday as Brooks Brothers presented its Spring/Summer 2027 collection. "I was in the air on 9/11. I was flying back from a trade show in Paris. I was working at Bergdorf Goodman at the time. And I ended up in Nova Scotia in Halifax, Canada."

After hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a full national ground stop, shutting US airspace for the first time in history.

It took Bastian four days to get back home to a New York City that was no longer recognizable.

"It really changed everyone's life," Bastian, who joined Brooks Brothers as creative director in 2020, said.

Brooks Brothers, a 208-year-old menswear brand founded by Henry Sands Brooks in New York City, is also part of the history of that terrible day and the recovery efforts that followed.

In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a Brooks Brothers store, located next to the World Trade Center at One Liberty Plaza, served a different, tragic purpose: a makeshift morgue.

Once a place where job candidates deliberated over ties ahead of interviews in the Twin Towers, the men's shirt department at Brooks Brothers transformed into a holding area for bodies — and body parts — pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center. Victims' remains were held there until they could be moved to New York City's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for identification.

The Brooks Brothers location at One Liberty Plaza sustained heavy damage when the Twin Towers collapsed, but reopened exactly one year after the attacks. While the store is no longer there — it closed in 2018 amid planned renovations and relocated a few blocks away — the memories stay with Bastian 25 years later.

"I still can't look at the pictures," he said. "If you were here, it really affected you, as a New Yorker, as an American."

• I'd always dreamed of visiting Italy. In 2022, that dream came true.
• I spent six days exploring Venice, Rome, and Milan. Each destination surprised me.
• From castles and train windows to an art sculpture Airbnb, these were the biggest shocks of my trip.

Growing up with my Italian family in a Manhattan suburb, I always dreamed of visiting Italy.

While eating my grandmother's famous spaghetti dinners and listening to her stories about what it's like to explore the land our family came from, I longed for Italian experiences of my own.

My dream finally came true in October 2022, when I spent six days exploring Venice, Rome, and Milan for the first time while backpacking through Europe.

Four years later, I'm still thinking about six highlights that made the long-awaited trip everything I hoped for and more.

I remember taking in the Italian countryside from trains between cities.

I visited Italy during a two-week train trip through Europe. I took an overnight train from Vienna to Venice. Then I traveled by train to Rome and Milan. I spent two days exploring each city.

The passing landscape looked like something straight out of my dreams, with miles of grapevines and rolling hills behind them.

I'll never forget the moment I saw Venice myself for the first time.

My first stop in Italy was Venice. I'd heard of the ancient city's canals and car-free streets, but I didn't expect to feel like I'd entered a storybook upon arrival.

It didn't matter how many photos I'd seen of the over 1,000-year-old city — standing above the canals dotted with gondolas and lined with vibrant buildings struck me with awe.

After wandering the streets, I took a gondola tour to see the city from a different perspective.

Being in a narrow canal allowed me to see homes up close. Seeing their foundations disappear in the water felt surreal.

I was surprised to find I could book a stay in a castle.

For my stay in Venice, I booked an Airbnb stay at Castello di Roncade, a castle and winery just outside the city.

While wandering the castle's stunning grounds, I was entranced by perfectly placed plants, over 100-year-old trees, and weathered sculptures of Venetian soldiers.

From Venice, I traveled to Rome, where I stayed in the most unusual accommodation of my life — a livable art sculpture I found on Airbnb.

My host told me he built the livable sculpture on the roof of his villa from recycled materials such as car windows, scrap wood, and broken tile.

Before booking this Airbnb, I'd never heard of a sculpture home. It felt like sleeping in a giant art installation, with quirky design elements in every corner.

I'll never forget how amazing it felt to wake up inside this Airbnb with sunlight pouring in thanks to all the windows. I wish I could start every day like that.

While exploring the city on foot, I stumbled upon street artists. Under the shade of a tree near the Roman Forum, I watched one paint a church across the street.

I was especially surprised to see someone painting such an elaborate piece on a street corner. Seeing him immersed in his own world among so many people was inspiring to me.

A few minutes later, I spotted another artist sculpting dogs from sand.

I thought this was a unique artistic medium and found it fascinating to watch.

The last stop of my trip was Milan. During an aimless walk around the city, I was shocked when I found myself in front of a massive brick castle.

It was Castello Sforzesco, a 15th-century castle built by Francesco Sforza, a duke of Milan who founded the Sforza dynasty, according to Britannica.

I thought the castle looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale.

And since I wasn't expecting to find it in urban Milan, my chance encounter made for a special memory.

I don't think I'll ever forget my first trip to Italy thanks to these unique surprises.

And I can't wait to go back.

• The 10-year Treasury yield is is striking distance of 5%.
• That level is a key psychological threshold that investors see as a threat to stocks.
• "If we were to break above 5%, it would cause stresses," one source said.

A 5% 10-year Treasury yield is something that keeps investors up at night.

Yields were edging up again on Friday after briefly dipping following the August inflation report. The 10-year bond yield was 4.95% around midday, just 5 basis points from the important 5% threshold that's represented a danger zone for stocks. It briefly spiked to 4.99% earlier in the day.

What makes 5% such a feared threshold among investors?

There's nothing inherently catastrophic about the number itself, but 5% has become the level to watch largely because the 10-year yield has rarely broken through that threshold in recent history, Padrhaic Garvey, the regional head of research, Americas, at ING, told Business Insider.

Beyond a short-lived bond market freakout in 2023, the last time the 10-year yield rose past 5% was in 2007, in the months leading up to the start of the Great Financial Crisis.

"Traders look at round numbers, and above 5% means that the next stop could be 5.5% and 6%," Jose Torres, a senior economist at Interactive Brokers, said. "And in this post-Great Financial Crisis economy, it's not a yield that's tolerable for financial markets."

The 20-year and 30-year yields have already breached the 5% mark, but the 10-year, which most directly influences borrowing costs like mortgages and corporate loans, tends to have more "gravitas" in the eyes of investors, Torres added.

5% means higher borrowing costs

Markets also consider higher borrowing costs a negative in and of themselves. The 10-year yield hitting 5% immediately draws attention to higher mortgage rates and higher funding costs for businesses, Garvey says.

The average 30-year average fixed mortgage rate was 6.76% in the last week, according to Freddie Mac data. The rate has increased 60 basis points this year, marching higher alongside the 76 basis-point rise in the 10-year bond yield.

The effective yield on the ICE Bank of America US High Yield Index, a reflection of corporate borrowing costs, also rose to 7.42% in the last week, up 89 basis points since the start of this year.

The 'danger zone' for stocks

Higher yields have also historically stoked fears about the impact of higher rates on risk assets, like stocks. In a note to clients earlier this year, HSBC said it believed yields were solidly in the "danger zone" when it came to the impact on equities.

"If we were to break above 5%, it would cause stresses. It absolutely would. It could potentially cause the risk asset space to fall over," Garvey said, though he noted that the speed at which yields increased mattered more to the impact on stocks than the actual yield itself.

The speed at which the 10-year rose from the 4.5% mark is worrying, he added.

"You could argue that, isn't it about time that the market uses it as an excuse to claw back some of that and pull back from highs?" Garvey said.

5% means Treasurys could crowd out corporate debt

Finally, yields hitting 5% also fuels concerns that Treasurys will start competing with corporate bonds, which could have negative implications on the AI boom, which is being financed in large part with debt, Torres added. Higher borrowing costs could skew the economics for AI companies plowing money into the technology at a time when investors are already concerned about the return on soaring capex.

"The AI firms need so much money to build out that infrastructure that they're literally competing with the Treasury for fixed income investors," he said.

Torres said the pressure on government bonds was intense, given ongoing fiscal and inflation concerns. The only things that could meaningfully lower yields at this point are a long-term resolution with the Iran war, or the Fed beginning substantial quantitative easing, such as by adding around $50 billion worth of Treasurys to its balance sheet, he speculated.

Padhraic said he saw the potential for yields to climb to 6% in the near future, which would mark the 10-year's highest yield since 2000.

"The danger period of going from 5% to 6%, if that was to happen in the next couple of months, it would be something quite difficult for the market," he said of that risk scenario.