• Warren Buffett was a trailblazer in using media to build a business, Sahil Bloom says.
• The wealth guru said Buffett's letters and annual meeting helped to grow his and Berkshire's brands.
• Bloom spoke to Business Insider about meeting Buffett and why the shareholder gathering is special.

Warren Buffett is a media master, and Berkshire Hathaway's shareholder weekend is one of a kind, says influencer and investor Sahil Bloom.

The author of "The 5 Types of Wealth" and writer of "The Curiosity Chronicle" newsletter spoke to Business Insider's Theron Mohamed in Buffett's hometown of Omaha on Friday, ahead of Berkshire's annual meeting.

Berkshire is "in many ways a media company," the wealth guru said, pointing to Berkshire's yearly gathering and Buffett's famous shareholder letters as an "incredible example of building a brand around media."

Buffett built his brand in part by breaking down complex financial subjects, making them accessible to everyone, Bloom said. The investor has an "insane capacity to aggregate data and information and spit a very clear story out on the other side," he added.

The perception of Buffett as someone "you could have a drink with or have a steak with definitely is part of the deal" too, he said.

Bloom, who has 1.1 million X followers, recalled meeting Buffett for the first time in 2019 and being so starstruck that he couldn't speak. But the Berkshire chairman was "so disarming in his demeanor," asking Bloom questions such as where he had dinner the previous night, that he quickly put Bloom at ease.

The billionaire was "so kind and open and generous with his time," Bloom said.

He shared two key lessons he's taken from studying Buffett: the value of constant learning, and the importance of saying "no" to things outside one's circle of competence.

Bloom said he's intrigued to see how Greg Abel, who succeeded Buffett as Berkshire's CEO at the start of this year, stewards the media side of the company.

He noted that Abel and Berkshire's insurance chief, Ajit Jain, lack the "theatrical flavor" and witty camaraderie that Buffett had with his late business partner, Charlie Munger.

However, Bloom noted that he's spent some time with Abel and found him to be "extremely kind and very present" during conversations, and said he has a "lot of confidence" in his leadership.

Bloom also reflected on the unique appeal of the Berkshire meeting and whether it will continue in the post-Buffett era.

"It's a high density of really smart people that come here for this very short window of time, and you're in a place where there's not a whole lot else to do other than meet people," he said.

Looking around the lobby of the Hilton Omaha, he said there were likely people managing tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars under one roof.

"That's hard to replace," he said. "I hope it continues for that reason."

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Big Tech's titans go toe-to-toe

The high-stakes legal battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman is entering its second week in the courtroom.

My colleague Katherine Li has been on the scene in San Francisco, chronicling the ins and outs of a trial that is pitting two of the most powerful tech titans against each other.

I spoke with Katherine about the atmosphere inside the room and what to expect in the days ahead.

What's the vibe been like in and around the courtroom?

It's clear that the courthouse is working hard to grapple with the immense public interest. I have met a wide array of people while standing in line at the courthouse, including a nonprofit founder and a Hoover Institution researcher. Competition for a chance to sit in the courtroom is extremely fierce, but the overflow room feels different. Comparing notes and helping each other out are commonplace, and so is sharing snacks when the testimony gets too dry.

What's your daily schedule to get to the courthouse?

I've been consistent in arriving in front of the courthouse at around 7 am over the past week, with a fully charged laptop and a Hydro Flask full of coffee. The line is usually long and would snake through the courtyard by 8 am.

The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, lives up to her reputation. Each day, the session starts on time at 8:30 am sharp, with a short break within two hours, and a longer break closer to 12 pm to allow for lunch. The afternoon sessions always end on time before Rogers' hard cut-off time of 2 pm.

What's the most surprising thing you witnessed from the first week of the trial?

Part of the suspense was whether Altman and Musk would appear in person, given the security risks. Yet as early as jury selection, Altman made a surprise appearance, and Musk followed suit as the trial's first witness the next day. This shows that both billionaires highly value this case and are eager to make a good impression on the jury, many of whom have been candid about their negative perceptions of Musk and AI.

What can we expect to learn next week?

Greg Brockman, one of the early cofounders of OpenAI, is also expected to spend a total of 3 hours on the stand. It's unclear whether Altman will be on the witness stand next week, but he has appeared in court every single day this week for varying lengths of time. Brockman is considered a key witness in the case due to journal entries he wrote that shed light on the period before Musk left the company in 2018.

• William Savitt is representing Sam Altman in Elon Musk's lawsuit trying to dismantle OpenAI.
• Savitt, a top lawyer at Wachtell, went up against Musk before in a dispute over Twitter.
• He was a cab driver, rock band singer, and Supreme Court clerk before becoming a litigator.

When Sam Altman needed someone to beat Elon Musk in court, he hired a lawyer who had done it once before: William Savitt.

Savitt was a natural choice to take the case. For decades, he'd occupied the upper echelons of corporate litigation. He represented Twitter in 2022, suing Musk to force him to go through with his purchase of the platform. His law firm, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, worked on the complex restructuring of OpenAI's for-profit arm.

Savitt is now leading Altman's and OpenAI's legal team in a blockbuster trial currently unfolding in an Oakland federal courtroom.

Musk alleges Altman scammed him by transforming OpenAI into a corporate behemoth rather than the nonprofit the Tesla CEO originally supported. Savitt's challenge is to show the jury that Musk's real goal is to dismantle OpenAI in an attempt to boost xAI, his own artificial intelligence company.

Though he's the leading litigator at the top law firm in the country and has represented clients like Brad Pitt, Savitt has a relatively low public profile. The trial between Silicon Valley giants has given him his first real turn in the global spotlight.

Mild-mannered, composed, and courteous, Savitt strikes the figure of a highly competent corporate litigator. One might never guess he spent his youth driving a cab and playing in rock bands before clerking for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Like many lawyers, he tries to resolve his clients' disputes quietly. But if the battle reaches the spotlight of a courtroom, he relishes the litigation process.

During a tense cross-examination, when Musk said he didn't read a document about OpenAI's organization and complained about "going into the fine print," Savitt wouldn't let him go.

"It's a four-page document, isn't it, Mr. Musk?" Savitt deadpanned.

Musk and Altman each have a history with Savitt

Wachtell itself has been engaged in a multiyear beef with Musk since 2022, when it helped Twitter sue Musk for trying to pull out of a deal to buy the social media company.

Savitt led the charge. He quickly won a series of crucial court rulings. Facing an almost-certain defeat at trial, Musk agreed to buy Twitter at the previously agreed-upon share price shortly before it was set to begin.

Musk reacted in fury when he discovered Twitter paid Wachtell $90 million in legal fees. The company sued Wachtell for a refund in a case with Musk, accusing the lawyers of "institutionalized corruption" on Twitter, which he's renamed X. The case went to arbitration and was resolved confidentially.

Savitt's relationship with Altman predates Musk's 2024 lawsuit against the OpenAI CEO.

Altman engaged with Wachtell during his brief ouster from the board in November 2023. Savitt told Business Insider in an interview before the trial that he worked with OpenAI on "various matters" earlier that year that he said "remain confidential," declining to comment further. ("bill is awesome!" Altman told Business Insider in an email, also declining to comment further.)

Later, Wachtell's corporate transaction side worked with OpenAI on acquisitions and fundraising, and is reportedly assisting with its preparations for an initial public offering.

When OpenAI transformed its for-profit arm into a public benefit corporation — a change that Musk wants the judge to reverse — Wachtell lawyers helped with the complex legal mechanics of the restructuring. Savitt received clearance from the attorneys general of California and Delaware to make the transition happen.

"It's very cool to be a part of something that is world-changing," Savitt said of OpenAI. "It's motivating to be part of a team that is working to create the best products, but is also working to create the best world."

From cab driver to SCOTUS clerk

Well before Savitt climbed the ranks at Wachtell, or even attended Columbia Law School, he was a young man with a guitar, slumming it.

He spent his 20s in the late '80s and early '90s in a series of bands, playing in CBGBs and touring in Philadelphia and Baltimore. To pay the bills, the Philadelphia native and Brown University graduate drove a cab, fact-checked for National Geographic and the Smithsonian magazines, and freelanced for obscure business trade publications.

"We played a lot of the really cool venues in New York, did a little bit of touring, and ultimately never got a record deal, but it was great," Savitt told Business Insider. "I got to sit on stage and sing and play my songs."

In 1990, Savitt took the path of many 20-somethings not sure what to do with their lives: he went to graduate school. Savitt attended Columbia University, studying the history of France's jury system, and later enrolled at its law school.

After law school, Savitt clerked for Judge Pierre Leval on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan. Leval — who took senior status in 2002 and remains on the bench — lavished praise on Savitt in an interview as a "brilliant" lawyer. Leval recalled a case from the clerkship where the two were at odds. It involved a domestic worker who sued her employer after falling off a ladder. Savitt supported the employee. Leval ruled in favor of the employer.

"I don't remember much about it except that Bill persistently disagreed with me and long after would remind me about how I got the latter case all wrong," Leval said.

The two, decades later, still laugh about it.

"If there's a principle of law or a point of fact that I think is about to be wrongly decided, I'll fight as hard as I can and as long as I can," Savitt said.

For his next act, Savitt landed in Justice Ginsburg's chambers, clerking for her between 1998 and 1999. He said the Supreme Court term was "relatively collegial" despite the philosophical differences on the bench.

"Justice Ginsburg had a remarkable capacity to reserve judgment, to keep an open mind," Savitt said. "And that's another skill that I try to mimic — because it allows the lawyer no less than the judge to spot weaknesses and opportunities as the facts and the arguments build throughout a case or negotiation."

The view from the top

With a Supreme Court clerkship on your resume, the legal world becomes your proverbial oyster. Savitt wanted to be in New York and at the top.

Even among elite law firms, Wachtell is at the pinnacle. The firm regularly ranks as the most profitable per attorney. Last year, it made $5.09 million per lawyer, almost double the second-place firm, according to The American Lawyer, a trade publication. The firm also remains relatively small. It has only about 260 lawyers, compared to about 1,500 at Paul Weiss and 1,700 at Skadden Arps, two other prominent Wall Street firms.

In his 30-year Wachtell career, Savitt has defended Dell's transition to a private company, defended Sotheby's against an activist investor attack, fended off challenges to numerous mergers and acquisitions of Wachtell clients, and represents Brad Pitt in a still-ongoing dispute with Angelina Jolie over a French winery.

Savitt's expertise extends to the finer points of corporate law — particularly in Delaware, where most public companies choose to incorporate. The Delaware Chancery Court, which Musk has railed against, has become the venue for sophisticated business disputes that are decided by expert chancellor judges rather than juries. (Savitt "knows the law of Delaware like the back of his hand," Leval told BI.)

Delaware's governor hired Savitt personally to represent the state in a lawsuit brought by stockholders who challenged a new law about about corporate transactions. In March, Delaware's top court sided with Savitt and upheld the law's constitutionality.

On one occasion, Savitt represented Tesla's board, including Musk, in a lawsuit from shareholders who said the carmaker overpaid for its acquisition of SolarCity. A Delaware Chancery Court judge cleared Musk of wrongdoing in that case. (Savitt declined to comment for this story on any ongoing or past litigation.)

While working through tough cases, Savitt sometimes strums on the guitars he keeps in his office and mixes songs on his 4-track recording device.

"I still haven't given up on the record yet," he said.

Katherine Li contributed reporting.

• When residents of an Atlanta suburb heard a data center may be coming to town, they pushed back.
• Fayetteville, Georgia, no longer allows new data center construction following local pushback.
• Here's how Jesse Brooks and his neighbors stopped a data center development.

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Jesse Brooks, a 35-year-old videographer who lives in Fayetteville, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb. It has been edited for length and clarity.

The Atlanta area is one of several hot spots for data center development, and the town is home to a hyperscale data center under construction by Blackstone portfolio company QTS since 2022. Earlier this year, Crow Holdings put forward a plan to build another large data center in Fayetteville. After residents raised concerns at a planning and zoning meeting, the data center application was denied. The city also passed a moratorium on new data center applications, and data centers are no longer approved land uses in the city.

I first heard about the new proposed data center on one of my town's four general-purpose Facebook groups, where people usually post about roadwork or lost dogs.

At the beginning of the year, someone in the group flagged a letter from the city inviting residents to a late January planning and zoning meeting for a proposed project near their home.

I looked at the agenda and realized there was also a project proposed by CHI/Acquisitions LP, a subsidiary of developer Crow Holdings. Since Crow Holdings was working on other data centers, like one in Texas, and the project was labeled "DC," we realized this was likely another one.

We got our first hyperscale data center in 2022, at the beginning of the boom, but it wasn't until the impact of construction, such as an influx of workers causing traffic, that more residents took notice.

Without any central organization, other Facebook group members and I spent January trying to rally neighbors to show up to the meeting. I even posted on Reddit.

Before the meeting, I also reached out to our local newspapers to make sure they showed up.

I had no clue who would actually show up to our town hall. When I arrived, there were about 100 of us. Nearly every chair in the room was filled.

These meetings are typically an hour long, with the commission going over every project on the docket. The data center discussion began with someone from the city walking through the initial plans, followed by a presentation from a Crow Holdings representative about the project's benefits.

Then came public comment, with each person allotted three minutes. About half the room came up to speak.

People who lived near the proposed development asked questions about what it would do to their property prices. Others asked why the city was approving this when there's so much potential volatility over AI — if the industry experiences a downturn, the center may not be able to sustain clients, and we'll have a massive warehouse doing nothing on the north side of town.

It was at least half an hour of people voicing their concerns and pressing the city to deny an application. A couple of people, including myself, asked the city to place a moratorium on data center development and approvals.

Crow's representative had a chance to rebut our concerns, but the planning commission voted to deny the application.

After the meeting, I spoke to one of the local papers, The Citizen, and told them I was glad the city had voted this way, but that I wanted to make sure that the developers didn't push forward. "I'm hoping that they felt the enormous hostility in the room and chose to take this data center and shove it somewhere else," I told The Citizen.

Data Center Moratorium

Crow appealed the decision in a letter, which it also posted in the city newspapers. They must have seen me as an organizer and instigator, because they quoted me on the first page of their letter. The commission's ruling, in their opinion, was based on "the rule of man instead of the rule of law."

They wrote that while I was the "self-appointed champion of the community," I was not technically a city resident. (Editor's note: The author lives just outside city limits in an unincorporated area, meaning he is a county resident and not formally within the city's jurisdiction.)

We're a very large city, and I live less than half a mile from the city limits, even though I have a Fayetteville address. Their point was that my opinion shouldn't influence the city's business decisions. I'd argue that even without living within city limits, I still do business within there, use city services, and my kid goes to school here.

We were planning to show up at the next meeting, but the day before, they withdrew their appeal.

Since the original hearing, the city enacted a moratorium on new data center applications while it was reviewing its zoning rules. Our city manager was quoted in the local paper about the moratorium, saying that they've heard from the public that we don't want more data centers in our city.

A few weeks after the moratorium was passed, a zoning law amendment completely removed data centers as an approved use of land within the city limits.

Meet your local government

The biggest takeaway for me is how much agency you have in your local government.

Previously, I would see what happened, what got built where, and how it affected me, and then just complain after the fact. I didn't have an understanding of who was responsible for what or how business worked in my city.

Now, I've learned a lot more and seen what getting involved can do, alongside my neighbors.

Everyone should develop the skill of taking advantage of the public information your city and county offer, like making records requests, looking at property maps to see who owns what land, how much they paid for it, and what land they might annex in the future.

It's a very valuable resource, and you do have access to it. You just have to ask.

I haven't gotten involved with any local organizations working on other data center organizing in the area, but I have continued to speak to the people in my life about data centers. I have a cousin who lives near Newnan, the site of the $17 billion Project Sail, who has been talking to me about the development, as well as some friends who live in south Georgia whose cities are quite happy to bring in data centers.

If this is something that interests you as a resident of your city, now is an important time to start thinking about how you can make your voice heard.

• A corporate food service has seen late-night and weekend orders surge, outpacing new user growth.
• The findings suggest these workers are logging more hours, even as some employers say AI boosts efficiency.
• They also echo a popular theory linking spikes in pizza deliveries to government buildings ahead of geopolitical events.

AI is making white-collar work more efficient, proponents of the technology say. Employees' eating habits may tell another story.

When companies such as Atlassian, Block, and Snap, announced mass layoffs earlier this year, they cited one common factor: AI. The technology, they said, has led them to adjust the makeup of their workforces.

Yet data from Sharebite, a corporate meal benefits and delivery platform founded in 2015, suggests AI may be driving some workers to log longer hours — not fewer. The company said the number of client orders placed on Saturdays more than doubled in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025. Orders placed after 6 pm on weekdays and weekends rose 57% over that time, while overall user growth increased 36%.

The imbalance suggests a disproportionate rise in activity outside traditional work hours — a modern echo of the Pentagon Pizza Theory, the idea that spikes in late-night food orders signal government staff working overtime ahead of major events.

The findings come as many companies have ramped up pressure on workers to adopt AI, including by tying usage to performance reviews that influence raises and promotions.

Sharebite CEO Dilip Rao, a former Wall Street investment banker, told Business Insider he believes there's a connection between the spike in off-hours orders among his clients — several hundred companies of varying sizes mainly in tech and finance — and the AI boom.

"Based on data across our enterprise customer base over the past 12 to 18 months, we're not seeing people work less," he said. "If anything, activity is extending later into the day and into weekends."

Rao's thesis aligns with a growing body of research showing that AI is stretching professionals' workloads. For example, a study published in the Harvard Business Review in February found that employees who use AI take on a broader range of tasks and put in longer hours than those who don't.

Another report released this year by UC Berkeley researchers reached a similar conclusion. Drawing on an eight-month study of workers at a small US tech company, the researchers observed that employees multitasked more, took on broader responsibilities, and worked longer hours — often without being asked.

Likewise, a 2025 report published by the National Bureau of Economic Research linked greater AI exposure to longer work hours and reduced leisure time. The authors said this was primarily because AI complements human labor rather than replacing it.

More work, more food

With the Pentagon Pizza Theory, often credited to a pizza shop owner in the early '90s, federal employees who suddenly order a ton of pies must be working overtime to prep for something important, or so the thinking goes.

Sharebite's food-delivery data may offer similar insights into the impact of AI on workers, Rao said, drawing a link between the surge in evening orders and companies' adoption of the technology.

"This looks much more like a shift in how work gets done than a reduction in work itself," said Rao, adding that the data underscores how essential human talent remains as companies adopt AI.

Workers may be putting in longer hours for reasons other than, or in addition to, AI. In recent years, employers have been prioritizing measurable results over loyalty and raising performance expectations. Those changes, along with cuts to perks and, in some cases, core benefits, reflect a labor market in which workers have less leverage to push back on overtime demands than in the past.

There are a few reasons AI may be pushing workers to expand their workdays. One is that the technology can hallucinate and introduce errors into its output. After using it to write copy, code, or create an image, users need to review the results to ensure accuracy — and correcting mistakes takes additional time.

AI may also be causing workers to spend more time on the job because they're still learning how to integrate it into their workflows, said Neil Thompson, an innovation scholar at MIT's computer science and AI lab.

"Usually there's a transition period where you have to modify the processes the organization has," he said. "Initially, you become less efficient."

• Jennifer and Paul Tessmer-Tuck started buying real estate in 2020 to create another income stream.
• They started with what they already knew: buying a single-family home.
• Over the last five and a half years, they've expanded to 16 properties.

Jennifer Tessmer-Tuck knows how fickle the healthcare industry can be.

The OB-GYN in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area had seen her hospital go through several cycles of layoffs, including one around 2015 that led her to pick up extra shifts so she could save more aggressively in case her own job was ever affected.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, putting even more pressure on the hospital, she took a big pay cut.

"At the senior leadership level, they cut our salaries in half," Tessmer-Tuck, who was vice president of medical affairs at her hospital at the time, told Business Insider.

She and her husband, Paul, an elementary school teacher, had enough money socked away from those earlier years of extra work that the pay cut "wasn't an immediate financial stress," she said. But the situation was becoming clear: She didn't want to keep relying solely on her physician's income.

Starting with what she knew

Tessmer-Tuck had long been interested in real estate as an investment, and 2020, with its historically low interest rates, presented an opportunity to get started.

After doing a deep dive into property investing — enrolling in a real estate course for physicians, reading books, listening to podcasts, and watching seminars — she decided to simplify the process as much as possible. That meant looking for a type of property she already knew how to buy: a single-family home.

Because she and her husband had already bought primary residences, Tessmer-Tuck felt she understood the basics: how to evaluate a house, secure a loan, and close. That made real estate investing, which can seem intimidating, feel much more manageable.

Next, they got specific about what they were looking for. They wanted to self-manage the property, so they focused on homes within a 20-minute drive of their own. They also knew they didn't want to take on a full gut renovation, but were comfortable doing cosmetic upgrades, so they targeted undervalued homes that needed some work.

With those criteria in mind, they used sites like Redfin and Zillow to scout listings and began attending open houses on weekends. Over the course of a few months, Tessmer-Tuck said they toured about 40 homes.

By December 2020, they had closed on their first rental. After completing a light rehab, they started renting it out and profiting.

The cash flow was "nothing crazy" at first, she said. "It was paying off the mortgage, and then we were getting a little bit of money every month."

Over the last five years, the couple's portfolio has grown from one single-family home to 16 properties, which Business Insider verified by reviewing closing documents. They bought a few more single-family homes using traditional financing before moving on to commercial loans and larger multifamily properties.

Their very first property has become a standout performer. After their original tenants moved out, they furnished it and turned it into a midterm rental, which has proven more lucrative than the long-term rental strategy. In 2025, the annual net cash flow was about $28,000, Tessmer-Tuck said.

"That house kind of ended up being the engine for the rest of the properties," she said.

The investments have given Tessmer-Tuck more flexibility in her work. She said she's been able to scale back her clinical schedule and now works two days a week as a physician. The added income and tax benefits from real estate have also made the couple feel more secure as they think about the future.

While the COVID-era pay cut was unsettling for her family's finances, "now, hitting bumps in the road is definitely not as big of a deal," she said.

For aspiring investors, Tessmer-Tuck advises keeping the first step simple.

"It would be okay to start like we started, with just buying a single-family home," she said. "It doesn't have to be a massive commercial building to start with. Start with something that feels comfortable."

• Consumers could soon face a second round of inflation from the Iran war that'll hit more than gas prices.
• Groceries, medicine, clothes, and more will be part of the second wave.
• It will be a "structural repricing of the American household budget," one strategist warned.

Consumers are in for a rude awakening from the what one expert is calling the second wave of inflation caused by the Iran war.

The impact of the war on consumers' wallets has been relatively limited, with inflationary pressures showing up in high gas prices and pricier flights. Market watchers warn that the relative economic calm won't last.

"The gas pump is only the opening act. The real household inflation hit comes later, hidden inside everyday products," Mark Malek, Siebert Financial CIO, said.

Goldman Sachs recently warned that there's an major inflationary pressure brewing in the global economy beyond the oil shock that has dominated headlines.

Petrochemicals, which are the foundation of plastics and other synthetic materials, are derived from oil and natural gases and make up a $5 trillion global market. The chemicals are found in more than 95% of finished products globally. Malek also flagged the role of oil-linked plastics in consumer goods.

"The second wave of inflation arrives with a lag. It shows up gradually in groceries, trash bags, prescriptions, airfare, and tighter monthly budgets," he explained.

Unlike oil futures, which surged at the onset of the war, these price jumps will take time to actually show up in retail prices.

"The cruelest part of the second wave is its timing. These increases do not all arrive on the same day. They trickle in," the strategist said.

"Each one, in isolation, feels manageable. Together, they represent a structural repricing of the American household budget," he warned.

Here's the products in your shopping cart that could be set to get more expensive in the coming months.

Groceries

Grocery shopping is set to get more expensive due to both the food itself and the packaging.

"Virtually everything in that cart arrives in plastic packaging. Think bottles, bags, trays, wraps, pouches, lids," Malek said, adding, "Polymer prices for the resins used in food packaging moved sharply higher in March and are expected to keep climbing through mid-year."

The strategist projected a conservative pass through rate of 4% due to increased plastic prices caused by petrochemical disruptions alone.

Goldman estimated a 3% increase in cost of goods sold for food and a 4% rise for beverages which will take three to nine months to feed through. This projection also only accounts for the impact of the chemicals, not raw materials, logistics and transport, energy, and other costs.

Beyond plastic, aluminum has also seen prices surge as the war disrupts supplies making foods and beverages packaged in cans more expensive.

The war is also expected to fuel inflation in food prices due to disruptions to the fertilizer supply chain due to the blockage in the Strait of Hormuz. This food inflation shock will also be delayed since it's impacting the spring planting season which is underway now.

Personal care and beauty

Personal care and household products are set to see a larger impact than food and beverages since they're all packaged in plastic containers.

Malek expects a 3% to 4% increase to personal care products as well as other household supplies that come in plastic packaging, like laundry detergent, cleaning products, and paper towels.

Products made of plastic with few alternative like trash bags will see the sharpest hike the strategist said.

Goldman calculated a 18% increase in cost of goods sold that will hit in the next three to nine months for personal care items.

Some products could see price hikes sooner as companies get ahead of increased costs.

For example, Unilever, the company behind brands like Dove and Vaseline, told investors it plans to do small price increases often to remain competitive as manufacturing costs rise.

Prescriptions and healthcare

Pharmacy and healthcare spending are exposed on multiple fronts to the inflationary pressures of the war in Iran.

"The adhesives in bandages, the coatings on pills, the plastic in blister packs, the bottles that hold every prescription in America: all petrochemical," Malek laid out.

Not only are prescription medications packaged in plastic, some of the materials themselves that go into pharmaceutical drugs are affected.

The global pharmaceutical trade has been hurt by the war time disruption to commercial shipping, especially since many drugs and pharmaceutical inputs have short shelves lives meaning shipping delays compromise quality.

The increased costs of prescriptions compound healthcare inflation already weighing on consumers.

Clothes and shoes

Shopping will be more expensive as the clothing industry adapts to the war in Iran.

Roughly 60% of all clothing is made from petroleum derived synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, according to the UN, which have been disrupted by the oil shock.

Goldman estimated a 15% jump in cost of goods sold for clothing which will hit retail prices in the next three to six months.

Shoes are even more reliant on petrochemicals than clothes.

Around 70% of materials in a synthetic shoe are petrochemical-based and approximately 30% of those material costs are directly tied to oil prices, analysis from the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America.

These price hikes could come at an especially inopportune time for consumers during the back to school shopping season.

• Samsung's latest AI-powered fridge can identify food, suggest recipes, and update Instacart lists.
• The tech company is weaving AI into more of its appliances, from fridges to ovens.
• The technology is meant to be an AI companion within its appliances.

Your refrigerator is becoming a personal shopper with artificial intelligence.

Samsung is rolling out a new wave of AI features that can recognize your voice, update your shopping list, and keep track of your ingredients. The company is trying to make the future once captured on the big screen a reality by allowing people to talk to their appliances.

The features coming to its new wave of appliances this year include software that can recognize food in your refrigerator, suggest recipes based on what's available, and add any missing ingredients to your Instacart shopping list.

The technology, called Vision AI, captures what's in your fridge so you don't have to manually track it, Michael McDermott, executive vice president of consumer electronics at Samsung, told Business Insider.

The updated refrigerator can identify specific foods, like a can of Coke, using a large language model and display them in a companion app on your phone, so you can check your supply at home while out grocery shopping.

The software update for Samsung's AI-powered fridge, the Bespoke AI Family Hub, was first unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. Many of its AI features are powered by Google Gemini. Google didn't respond to a request for comment.

These features come at a cost. The AI-powered fridge starts at $2,799, and the smart range starts at $1,349.

The more advanced AI features, like the food recognition improvements, are set to roll out in May.

Samsung's AI-powered oven comes with a camera that can recognize the dishes you place inside and recommend cooking time. It can also record video, for food influencers who want to see it cook up close.

Competitors like LG are also bringing AI into their appliances. LG said that its AI appliances are made to make everyday tasks easier by learning your habits and automating key functions.

Samsung also has its own virtual assistant, Bixby, that it's infusing into appliances. It aims to provide a companion that recognizes specific users for a more tailored experience, McDermott said.

Voice ID, for example, could customize calendars and reminders based on who is speaking.

The goal is to create technology that fades into the background while making your day easier, McDermott said.

• Amy Morin is a psychotherapist who became a widow at 26 years old.
• Using strategies to manage her grief, like the 10-minute rule, she overcame initial daily challenges.
• She shares three tips she used to manage her grief when she had to return to work.

I became a widow at 26. My husband died of a heart attack on the three-year anniversary of the day I lost my mom to a brain aneurysm. Showing up at work in the midst of my grief was one of the most difficult things I've ever done.

I was a psychotherapist. I knew about grief. But knowing about grief didn't make working through it any easier.

I only had two days of official bereavement time, but my physician diagnosed me with acute stress disorder (the precursor to PTSD). That allowed me to tap into short-term disability benefits for almost two months. But when that was up, I had to return to the office. I had a mortgage to pay and clients who were patiently waiting. All they knew was that I had a family emergency.

Those early days back at the office were especially rough, but the whole first year was hard. I was sad, but I had to concentrate. I was anxious, but I had to help other people with their anxiety. I was angry, but I had to stay calm. I was exhausted, but I had to show up.

If I learned anything from my emotional pain, it was that I didn't need to have everything figured out. I just needed to know what I could do right now to get through the next challenge — one step at a time.

I tried plenty of strategies to help me keep showing up and stay professional, even when my life was hard. The strategies I turned to during those early days — which I outline in a new book — not only helped me during my worst days but have helped me thrive as my career has expanded over the years.

Here are three of them.

1. Use the 10-minute rule to get started

The hardest part of a hard day is the beginning. Getting out of bed. Getting in the shower. Getting in the car. On the mornings I doubted if I could even get out the door, I made a deal with myself: just 10 minutes.

I'd spend 10 minutes getting ready. If at the end of the 10-minute mark, I lacked the energy to keep going, I'd quit and call in sick.

Once I started getting ready, I never quit. All I had to do was get over the hurdle of getting started.

Research on behavioral activation — an evidence-based treatment for depression — backs up the idea that engaging in action first can help shift how you feel. In multiple meta-analyses, simply getting people moving through scheduled activities produces significant improvement in mood.

The same trick works for any task you're dreading. Whether you're procrastinating on a report you need to write or struggling to tackle your inbox, commit to 10 minutes and give yourself permission to quit. Once you start, you'll likely be able to keep going.

2. Name what you're feeling before you walk into the room.

Before I walked into the office every day, I'd sit in my car for a minute and silently name what I was carrying. I feel sad. I feel anxious. I feel frustrated. As soon as I put a name to those emotions, I instantly felt a little better.

Naming an emotion is one of the most well-established tools in clinical psychology. Studies show that labeling your emotions reduces their intensity. When you put words to what you're feeling, brain activity shifts away from the regions that drive emotional reactivity and toward the regions that handle reasoning.

I couldn't make the grief go away, but I could name my specific emotion and get a little bit of relief. It also made me think more about how my emotions might affect my decisions that day. If I was sad, I knew to be on the lookout for tendencies to withdraw; if I was anxious, I knew I'd be tempted to shy away from new opportunities. Just knowing those things gave me confidence that I could counter the tendency to let my emotions cloud my judgment.

3. Schedule time to worry so it doesn't flood the workday.

There were a lot of things on my mind during that time in my life. How was I going to pay the bills? What if that noise the furnace is making means it's about to quit? How am I going to get the snow cleared off my roof?

Telling myself not to worry didn't help. So I gave myself 30 minutes at the end of the workday to worry on purpose. When a worry showed up at 10 a.m., I'd tell myself, It's not time to worry about that yet. I'll worry about that later. Then I'd get back to the client in front of me.

This was a strategy I've taught my anxious clients for years. A 2013 study found that people who scheduled a specific 30-minute "worry time" experienced significant decreases in anxiety, less worry, and significantly better sleep. It works because you're not suppressing the worry — you're telling your brain you'll get to it later. Once your brain trusts you're going to address it, it no longer feels the need to keep pinging you about it all day long.

This was one of the most helpful things I did for myself during that stressful time when so many things felt outside my control. Scheduling time to worry about everything helped me stay focused on my clients throughout the day.

What I learned

Showing up at work on your hardest days isn't about feeling strong. It's about having tools that work when you need to hold it together. After all, it's during the hardest times in life — like when you're going through a divorce or an illness — that you often need the pay and the benefits the most.

I certainly didn't feel strong when I had to go back to work. But knowing I had strategies up my sleeve for when I felt like crying at my desk or lacked motivation gave me the confidence I needed to keep showing up. And 20 years later, these are the tools I still reach for — and the ones I share with my clients who are going through their hardest times.

• In today's AI-flooded job market, it can feel harder than ever to land a role.
• Kristina Simmons, a Khosla Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz alum, shares how to stand out.
• Simmons said AI can help candidates with job research, but it shouldn't do everything for them.

AI is rapidly transforming how we apply for jobs. Now that applicants can use the technology to tailor their résumés, mass-apply to hundreds of roles, and bluff their way through an interview, it can feel harder than ever to stand out.

Kristina Simmons, who was a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, then a chief of staff at Vinod Khosla's VC firm Khosla Ventures, and who now runs her own firm, Overwater Ventures, cautioned against relying too much on AI when job hunting.

When she's hiring and interviewing candidates, she looks for people who communicate from the heart. "You can't fake heart. You can't fake grit," she told Business Insider.

Here's how Simmons says candidates can stand out in today's AI-flooded job market.

Become visible to potential employers

If you want a job at a company and the CEO is speaking at an event, going in person and introducing yourself is one way to stand out in a crowded job market, Simmons said. Tell the CEO what role you applied for and why you're interested in it.

Alternatively, if the CEO is on X, one tactic could be replying to one of their posts with an interesting point of view. "Get them to want you, versus the other way around," she said.

Use the tools you have

Simmons is a big believer in using the tools at our disposal — including AI — for a job search.

Simmons said that had AI been around back when she interviewed for A16z, she would've used it to look into the company and the person interviewing her.

She also said AI could help you "chart your course" into the field you want to work in. For example, you could ask it what the most interesting companies are in women's health, allowing it to guide your research into entering that industry.

Use AI to be creative

Candidates could also use AI to make something creative much faster, like a beautifully designed deck about why they're a great candidate.

Or they could come up with interesting ideas about how they'd use AI in the role. "I had a candidate who wanted to join Overwater, and they said, 'Hey, this is how I would use AI across your firm. This is me doing the job before I have it,' and that was an interesting way to use new tools to pitch that they should get a job," Simmons said.

That said, you shouldn't use AI for everything, especially as far as the interview is concerned, Simmons said

"The best part of interviewing is to see that a person is human, and you can't use technology to do that. That shows up in the passion in your interview, the energy that you bring, the tone in which you have the interview. You can't fake that," she said.

Do you have a story to share about your AI-powered job search? Contact this reporter at ccheong@businessinsider.com

• Nursing is among the professions often viewed as insulated from AI's disruption.
• A new report says that AI is starting to change how many nurses work, especially on gig-work apps.
• Apps like ShiftKey and Clipboard Health use AI to manage nurses' schedules and pay.

Nursing is among the professions viewed as least at risk from AI disruption. Not so, says a new report.

The profession is being affected by artificial intelligence, as apps such as Clipboard Health and ShiftKey, where nurses can claim shifts as gig workers, grow, according to an April report by the AI Now Institute, a nonprofit group that researches AI's impacts on society

The apps, which have raised funding over the last few years, use automated systems to match nurses and healthcare establishments, including setting pay rates and monitoring performance metrics.

The apps show that AI's impact on jobs isn't limited to ones where the tech might entirely replace people, said Katie Wells, a senior fellow at the AI Now Institute.

"This is my attempt to push back on the displacement debates," Wells, one of the report's authors, told Business Insider.

Nurses, whose jobs often require physical work, specialized knowledge, and quick thinking when someone's health is on the line, aren't as likely to be immediately displaced by AI as people in other professions might be, according to the report, titled "Uber for Nursing: Part II."

People need healthcare in good economies and bad ones. And the need for nurses is expected to grow as the US population ages. That's led some to point to nursing as a relatively secure job option, especially as AI upends careers in other sectors, such as tech.

Still, the gig-work apps for nursing share parallels with Uber and other established gig-work apps, Wells said. For both groups of apps, algorithms play a prominent role in how users work, from determining pay to handling potential account deactivations, she said.

The report cites one nurse in Georgia, for example, who has used a gig-work nursing app and worked for DoorDash and Uber Eats. The nurse pointed to similarities between the nursing and delivery apps, such as automated systems that screened her applications and pay determined by algorithms.

These apps are gaining traction in part because, like Uber, they offer more flexibility than traditional nursing roles. Nurses can claim one shift at a time, for example. Ride-hailing and delivery drivers often cite flexibility as a benefit of working for apps like Uber.

There have been drawbacks to gig-work apps, too. Many gig workers say they face unpredictable pay rates and declining earnings over time.

The nursing apps could pose similar risks by using AI to manage nurses, AI Now's report said.

Clipboard Health and ShiftKey did not respond to requests for comment.

The apps "reflect a broader turn towards AI in the healthcare industry writ large, as AI systems increasingly mediate the relationship between workers and employers, giving those who control employment decisions more centralized power," the report said.

Do you have a story to share about Uber, DoorDash, or another gig app? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Cepia Harper recieved $850 a month for two years from an Atlanta basic income program.
• She earned a teaching certification and built savings, but is back to working multiple jobs.
• US cities have run hundreds of programs offering no-strings-attached cash to low-income families.

Cepia Harper starts her day at dawn, commuting to her job as a middle school teacher in Atlanta's morning rush. After lecturing about thesis statements, the 43-year-old grades papers, tidies up her classroom, then clocks into her second shift selling sneakers at Nike from about 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The two roles keep Harper financially afloat, especially after her guaranteed basic income program ended two years ago. She was part of Atlanta's cohort of 650 low-income Black women who received $20,400 cash between 2022 and 2024, no strings attached. While the extra money allowed her to build savings and earn a new teaching certification, paying her monthly bills is still a challenge.

Business Insider first spoke with Harper in the summer of 2024. At the time, the single mom of three had begun teaching full time and felt stable enough to quit her part-time retail gigs. Now, she's back to working multiple jobs — but she said life feels much more stable.

"Before basic income, I was pretty much homeless," Harper said in April. "I was able to get a new apartment, substitute teach, and pay my rent because I had that extra income. Later, it led me to get a bigger apartment, and land an even better job."

Over the past decade, cities across America have run hundreds of basic income pilots. Advocates see payments as a potential solution for poverty or a supplement to existing social safety nets like SNAP and Section 8. Tech leaders have even suggested no-strings-attached cash as a means to support the white-collar workforce as AI reshapes the job market. Dozens of families told Business Insider they used the money to afford childcare, pay household bills, fund higher education, and pay off debt.

Most of these pilots study participants' lives immediately before, during, and directly after receiving basic income. Data on the effects of cash aid years later is more limited.

Harper is back to working multiple jobs, but feels more confident in her financial future

Harper qualified for the In Her Hands program — run through nonprofits The Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund and GiveDirectly — because her household income was below 200% of the federal poverty line, which is about $64,000 annually for a family of four. She said the monthly payments of $850 helped her move out of a family member's home and secure her own place. It also helped her afford groceries and activities for her children without stress.

Previous to the program, she had been cobbling together several retail gigs to make ends meet. Her packed schedule and intense hours were hard on the family.

"I've never had it where I could just go home to my own kids, pick them up from practice," she told Business Insider in 2024. "They all play sports, and I could never leave work to go to a game."

Business Insider has heard from dozens of participants across the US who used cash payments to boost their careers. Some working or single parents said that being able to afford childcare allowed them to work toward promotions. Others said they were able to drop multiple, lower-paying roles for one higher-paying full-time job. In Her Hands participants, for example, worked fewer hours but were less likely to be unemployed than the control group.

Harper's story is similar. While she returned to a part-time retail job at Nike last summer — she only needs to work a few nights and some weekend shifts — adding up to about 20 hours a week, to supplement her teaching income. The schedule is predictable. Her two oldest kids are now college age, and her youngest is in high school. For Harper, being able to drop her 17-year-old off at school, attend their events, and eat meals together has been a welcome effect of basic income, even years later.

Since her cash payments stopped, Harper's experience has been mixed. She has faced some short-term setbacks: She was in a bad car accident last year and the cost of a new vehicle is a main reason why she's back working a second job. She is also living with a relative again, which she said is not because of money, but because of an unexpected logistical issue with her previous landlord. Harper hopes to find a new apartment soon.

For the future, however, Harper is feeling more confident than she has in a long time. Because she was able to earn additional teaching credentials, she said her earnings from teaching are thousands of dollars higher than in 2022. She has been able to start saving for emergencies and retirement, as well as help pay for her kids' college visits and prom. Harper said she has also been hired as a temporary consultant for a few different nonprofits, helping them craft basic income programs from a participant perspective. Making the system better for the next person gives her a sense of purpose.

"If you're a person like me — no child support, no food stamps — that money is going to a good cause," she said. "That money helped me get my daughter to college, it helped me keep my kids out of trouble. It's not just a hand out. It can change a person's life."

• In Y Combinator's "Startup School," partner Diana Hu advocated for startups to begin tokenmaxxing.
• "Maximizing token usage, not head count, will be the critical shift," Hu said.
• Tokens measure spending on AI compute. Hu said founders need to be willing to run an "uncomfortably high API bill."

Tokenmaxxing isn't just a trend; it's bona fide advice from Silicon Valley's leading startup accelerator.

In a new episode of Y Combinator's "Startup School," partner Diana Hu instructs founders how to build an AI-native company. Hu was a YC-backed founder herself, building augmented reality company Escher Reality, which was acquired by Niantic.

"Maximizing token usage, not head count, will be the critical shift," Hu said. "The best companies will be the ones that are tokenmaxxing."

Tokens measure the cost of AI computing. The more tokens spent, the more an individual employee or developer has used their AI tools. (Importantly, more tokens doesn't necessarily more impact.) Some companies have built token leaderboards or incentivized tokenmaxxing, the process of spending as many tokens as possible.

Business Insider asked startup leaders about the trend. Some said that tokenmaxxing was a no-brainer; others said that it didn't make sense at their size.

Hu, like her boss Garry Tan, is an unabashed proponent. She described the "tradeoff" between labor and token spending.

"One person with AI tools can be the equivalent of what used to take a large engineering team at a pre-AI company," Hu said. "That means dramatically leaner engineering, design, HR, and admin teams."

Startup founders should "be willing to run an uncomfortably high API bill because it's replacing what would have taken a far more expensive and inflated head count," Hu said.

While Y Combinator's advice to startups may not translate to larger companies (though there are plenty of VCs and voices in the tech world that would argue it should), the instructional video offers an interesting look at the operational values being instilled in the next generation of up-and-coming CEOs.

Hu also voiced support for a three-pronged employee base. There are individual contributors (who build things), the directly responsible individual (who focuses on strategy), and the AI founder (who leads while still building).

It's a similar structure to Jack Dorsey's redesign of Block, his payment processing company. After laying off about 40% of staff, Dorsey announced a new, three-pronged structure to turn Block into a "mini-AGI."

Founders must try the tools for themselves, too. Hu said that leaders should not "outsource" their belief in these AI tools.

"You need to develop it yourself by actually sitting with coding agents and using them until you start to break your own priors about what is now possible to build," Hu said.

• AI labs are recruiting philosophers to shape how chatbots think and behave.
• The idea is to train AI to essentially be good and align with human values.
• But critics warn that some of these hires may be more about optics than influence.

For years, philosophy majors were the butt of jokes about unemployable degrees.

Now, some of them are being recruited by the world's most powerful AI companies to help shape how machines think and behave — with six-figure salary packages.

As AI systems become more powerful and more embedded in everyday life, companies are increasingly grappling with questions around how these systems should behave, what values they reflect, and how much they can be trusted.

That's creating a niche but growing demand for people trained to think through those problems, including philosophers.

"This is definitely a growing trend," future of work expert Ravin Jesuthasan told Business Insider.

"Scrutiny of AI and the decisions it makes/enables is increasing daily, and these roles are pivotal for addressing this challenge," he added.

Small but mighty

A small but growing group of philosophers is already embedded inside AI labs.

Amanda Askell, who has a Ph.D. in philosophy from NYU, is Anthropic's resident philosopher. She writes on her website that her team's role is to train Anthropic's chatbot, Claude, to be more honest and to develop better character traits — essentially, to be good.

Iason Gabriel, who previously taught moral and political philosophy at Oxford University, is Google DeepMind's in-house philosopher and research scientist. He focuses on the ethics of AI and ensuring that AI systems are aligned with human values and goals.

Henry Shevlin, an AI ethicist and professor at the University of Cambridge, is also set to join DeepMind as a philosopher in May.

Workplace experts and recruiters say the shift is real but still early.

"Over the last few months, I have seen more conversation in the market around AI companies hiring people into roles aligned with a philosophy background," Ben Eubanks, chief research officer at human capital advisory firm Lighthouse Research & Advisory, told Business Insider.

He said that the evidence remains largely anecdotal and that the number of roles is still too small to show up clearly in job market data.

Firas Sozan, CEO of Harrison Clarke, a specialized search and venture firm focused on talent in cloud, data, and AI for VC-backed startups, said the hiring push is being driven by a broader concern inside the industry: how much users, businesses, and governments can trust AI systems.

"As AI has grown, there's been a natural emphasis on trust — how do we build layers of governance that allow us to control the technology in a more human way," he told Business Insider.

Still, Sozan cautioned against overstating the trend.

"I wouldn't say it's a trend yet," he said. "The data is still embryonic."

Shaping the AI model

The appeal of philosophers is straightforward.

AI systems have already shown they produce harmful outputs, or behave in unpredictable ways — from coding agents deleting production databases and fabricating results to models attempting blackmail or sabotaging shutdown efforts — raising pressure on companies to ensure they are safe and aligned with human values.

"AI companies now hire them because not all AI development problems are technical," said Annette Zimmermann, an assistant philosophy professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Defining complex concepts and defending value-based arguments are central to AI, and philosophers are trained to do exactly that."

While safety and ethics roles have existed in tech for years, the work is changing.

"Prior corporate ethicists were advisory," said Susanna Schellenberg, a philosophy professor at Rutgers University. "The work at frontier AI labs is different because philosophers help shape the object itself."

Their work now includes writing model specifications, constitutions, and behavioral policies — tasks that Schellenberg said directly shape the AI model, not just comment on it.

From theory to high-paying jobs

The median wage for a philosophy major early in their career was $52,000 and about $80,000 mid-career, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's latest report on labor-market outcomes of college graduates. These median salaries are in line with those of other humanities graduates.

At the top end, AI ethics, safety, and governance roles can command base salaries ranging from $250,000 to $400,000, driven by intense competition for talent, Sozan said.

Some of those roles are already emerging across the industry, but they're often senior and highly specialized.

Blackbaud, for example, is hiring an AI governance specialist with a base pay range of $117,200 to $157,500. The job description calls for expertise in ethics, including candidates with a background in philosophy.

Google DeepMind, meanwhile, is hiring an emerging impacts manager in AI ethics and safety with a base salary of $212,000 to $231,000. It requires at least 5 years of experience in AI ethics and safety within a governance, policy, legal, or research role.

A handful of more junior roles are starting to appear. Sony Research, for instance, recently advertised an AI ethics internship focused on evaluation, guardrails, and responsible AI. The job description calls for candidates pursuing degrees in socio-technical AI, such as ethics and philosophy.

Still, the jobs remain rare. Jesuthasan estimates that most companies are hiring fewer than 10 people into these roles.

Skepticism and limits

The rise of philosophers in AI has been described as a kind of "revenge of the humanities," as companies rediscover the value of critical thinking and ethical reasoning in an AI-driven world.

But not everyone is convinced the shift will yield tangible changes.

About a decade ago, several tech companies set up AI ethics boards and advisory groups to guide how the technology was developed, including Google's internal ethics board tied to its 2014 DeepMind acquisition and Microsoft's Aether committee, created in 2017 to oversee AI research.

Companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and IBM also launched the Partnership on AI in 2016 to address the social and ethical implications of technology.

"What we found is that those boards were often figureheads," Eubanks said, adding that companies often prioritized commercialization over ethical concerns.

Deborah Johnson, a pioneer in computer ethics, said companies may be more interested in signaling responsibility than embracing it.

"My cynical view would be that tech companies just want to 'look' like they are addressing ethics," she said.

Johnson said that the pressures driving AI development, such as speed, competition, and profit, may limit the influence philosophers actually have.

"They are under pressure to get things out quickly," she said. "Taking ethical considerations into account will slow them down."

"Whether they have ethicists or not, I doubt they will listen to anything that will slow them down," she added.

• Ukraine shared a video of drone pilots training with "Grand Theft Auto V."
• The experience doesn't replace real training, but is a good way to relax, officials said.
• Gamers have skills that make them ideal candidates for being drone pilots.

When they're not flying real first-person-view drones, some Ukrainian pilots are training inside "Grand Theft Auto V."

Ukraine has often leveraged video games and simulators to train pilots, helping them build the hand-eye coordination needed for flying FPV drones. The crossover of skillsets has even made gamers ideal candidates for drone pilot jobs. See, mom? Playing video games isn't a waste of time.

Ukraine's defense ministry shared a post showing off training, asking, "Are there any GTA fans here?" Yes, many, but they're trying to figure out if their gaming PC is going to be able to run "Grand Theft Auto VI."

The video shows a pilot flying inside GTA 5 using a drone controller, flying a bomb into vehicles driving on the highway. "It is noted that this is not a replacement for real training, but a great way to relax," Ukraine's defense ministry said in the video.

Ukraine's new pilots go through training at drone schools across the country, learning the ropes in what's become a pivotal role in the war: flying drones that scout Russian positions and movements, strike targets, and blow up tanks and troops.

School leaders recently told Business Insider that the best and brightest students are ones with gaming experience. They've played video games for years, are familiar with controllers and joysticks, and have the hand-eye coordination to match their movements and orientation with what they're seeing on the screen or in goggles.

The benefits of enlisting younger gamers as drone pilots has been noted by Ukraine's drone units as well. In the military's special drone unit, Typhoon, operators are already familiar with equipment like headsets, goggles, and controllers. Gaming has given them better decision-making skills and fast reflexes.

There's even a video game, "Death From Above," that puts players in the position of a Ukrainian FPV drone pilot, prompting the user to fly through the battlefield, find and target enemies, and drop bombs. Anyone can play "Death From Above, which was released in 2024.

While gaming skills can make good pilots, they're not the only things operators need. Pilots also need to have a strong understanding of drone flight and how they can maneuver on their missions. Operators with technical skills gained from engineering are able to tinker with drones, fix them in the field, and build them for specific missions.

And the realities of drone warfare, Ukraine has noted, have life-or-death consequences. There's no restart button when an operator is hit by an enemy drone.

• Sam Altman said he plans to throw a launch party for OpenAI's latest AI model, GPT-5.5.
• He asked the model what it would want for its own celebration — and it gave detailed suggestions.
• Altman said the interaction and answers felt "strange," but he's going to do it.

Sam Altman asked a new model powering ChatGPT what it wants at its party.

Speaking during a fireside chat at Stripe Sessions, the OpenAI CEO described asking GPT-5.5 what it would want for a debut party.

The AI model responded with "a beautiful set of things" it wanted for "the flow of the party," he said, including holding the event on May 5, keeping speeches short, and having its human creators deliver a toast (the AI emphasized it did not want to give a toast itself).

GPT-5.5 also proposed setting up a central place to gather suggestions for GPT 5.6 — and feeding those suggestions back into the model.

"We're going to do it," Altman said. "But it was a strange thing."

He wasn't alone. John Collison, the CEO of the payment processing company, Stripe, said he gave his company's internal agent $20 to spend on anything it wanted on the internet. He said it bought itself an HTTP design from the e-commerce design platform, Gumroad.

"Wow," Altman said in response.

GPT-5.5, released in late April, is OpenAI's latest flagship model. The company says it's designed to handle more complex, multi-step tasks and act more like an autonomous assistant than earlier versions. It's also marketed as generally faster and better at maintaining knowledge about the user.

Those capabilities are already changing how people interact with AI, Altman suggested — from automating work to, in this case, asking a model how it would like to be celebrated.

Altman's party anecdote came after a broader discussion about how increasingly capable AI systems can behave in ways that feel unexpectedly human, including asking for gifts and wanting to buy new tools online. He described such interactions as a "weird emergent behavior."

"There are these things that feel a little strange," he said.

Speaking of strange, OpenAI and Sam Altman have recently jumped into the internet meme conversation about their previous models' obsession with goblins and gremlins. Starting in GPT-5.1, the AI apparently loved to randomly talk about fantastical creatures, leading the company to add multiple lines of coding instructions, directing the system not to mention them unless absolutely relevant to the user's prompt.

"Never talk about goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons, or other animals or creatures unless it is absolutely and unambiguously relevant to the user's query," the source code reads.

On April 27, more than 600 Google employees signed a letter urging CEO Sundar Pichai to prevent the Pentagon from using the company's AI products for classified operations.

Google had spent the previous months building a closer relationship with the US Defense Department after a few frosty years. In 2018, more than 4,000 Googlers sent a letter imploring Pichai to cancel Project Maven, a contract that used Google's AI to analyze drone footage. Google chose not to renew the contract, and drew up a set of company-wide principles that included a pledge not to use its AI for military or surveillance.

The language in the two employee letters — sent eight years apart — was strikingly similar. Both, in six paragraphs, warned of "irreparable damage" to Google's reputation. Both argued that Google would ultimately not be able to control how the Pentagon uses the technology. "We believe that Google should not be in the business of war," the 2018 letter began. "We want to see AI benefit humanity; not to see it being used in inhumane or extremely harmful ways," employees wrote in the letter this past week.

This time, Googlers received a different response, one that marked just how much has changed at the company and across Silicon Valley in the past few years. Google had gone ahead and signed the deal.

Defense is no longer a boogeyman in the tech industry. As the second Trump administration raises defense spending to modernize warfare, tech companies vying for artificial intelligence dominance are clamoring for lucrative government contracts that may define AI's winners and losers. Last year, Google removed its pledge to not use AI for weapons; the company has since ramped up contracts for its AI and cloud products with the Defense and Homeland Security departments and with several governments of US allies. "This is an area we're going to be leaning more into. We're talking with governments about their national security concerns," Tom Lue, Google DeepMind's VP of global affairs, told staff at a town hall in January. On Friday, the Defense Department announced that, in addition to Google, it had completed agreements with six tech companies — Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, SpaceX, and startup Reflection AI — to use their AI for classified projects.

"We are proud to be part of a broad consortium of leading AI labs and technology and cloud companies providing AI services and infrastructure in support of national security," a Google spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider. "We remain committed to the private and public sector consensus that AI should not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weaponry without appropriate human oversight."

As Google aims to keep pace in the military race, employees say it's grown more militant toward dissent.

Internally, the company has clamped down on political discussions by banning the use of certain topics and words among its workforce in internal message boards, including "ICE" and "genocide." Staff say the freewheeling culture that once defined "Googliness" is long gone as leaders have attempted to quell employee activism.

While many employees approve of the company's embrace of national security — just 600 of the company's nearly 195,000 employees signed the most recent letter — some Googlers say they feel both more vigilant and less powerful to question leadership.

"It's a shame that one of the biggest and brightest tech companies avoided having an honest discussion about this," Andreas Kirsch, a senior researcher at Google DeepMind, tells Business Insider of the company's decision to sign the Pentagon contract this week. He also posted to X: "I personally feel incredibly ashamed right now to be Senior Research Scientist at Google DeepMind."

"If we want to be an ethical company, transparency is a huge part of that," says Varden Wang, an AI engineer at Google. "I would like to see stronger defining principles. For leaders to say: This is what the company values and believes in."

In 2018, Google was perhaps the last Silicon Valley company that still carried the weight of its own mythology. To work at Google was to exhibit ideals of "Googliness." Employees were encouraged to speak up when they were unhappy. Staff would discuss sometimes prickly political topics in email lists. And there was the most sacred mantra: Don't be evil.

"No other company was as high on its own ability to solve the world's problems," says Claire Stapleton, who worked at Google from 2007 to 2019 and was a key organizer of the 2018 employee walkouts over the company's handling of sexual harassment cases.

Pichai and Google cofounder Sergey Brin criticized policies of the first Trump administration. Brin, who called Trump's 2016 election "deeply offensive," was seen protesting Trump's travel ban at San Francisco International Airport in 2017. (In Trump's second term, both men have attended White House dinners, during one of which Trump talked about Brin's "MAGA girlfriend."

The end of the last decade was a demarcation point at Google. The workforce was riled by internal fracas, including over Project Maven, concerns over a search engine that Google was secretly building for China, and accusations that a senior executive's sexual misconduct had been swept under the rug. In 2018, around 20,000 Googlers walked out following a New York Times report that Google had given Android leader Andy Rubin a $90 million exit package after finding sexual misconduct claims against him to be credible (Rubin denied the allegations). Leadership encouraged the protest. "Sundar sent an email before the walkout saying if you want to participate in this, go for it," says Stapleton.

Soon after, Google's culture of openness began to close. In 2019 — the same year founders Brin and Larry Page stepped away from the company — Google banned political discussions on internal forums and mailing lists, which are now flagged by what is known as the Internal Community Management Team (ICMT). Today, topics such as ICE are off limits, and two employees said that describing the Gaza conflict as a "genocide" is forbidden.

"All throughout last year, we had this tension with the moderation team because we're not allowed to use the word genocide because it's distressing and political, which makes it a little difficult to talk about the implications of your software," says Matthew Tschiegg, a software engineer at Google since 2014.

In an email circulated among an employee resource group in January, employees said their ability to speak openly about hot-button issues was being "increasingly undermined" by Google's internal moderation policies.

"I think we are at a critical point in Google's history," read the email. "Leadership is testing increasingly stringent policing of speech. By not speaking about it we are giving in to a culture of fear which makes it even more difficult for Googlers to 'do the right thing' and 'challenge the status quo'."

Company all-hands events — where employees once would gather over IPAs, discuss the week's achievements, and throw hardballs at leaders — are now more sanitized and filled with corporate speak, employees say. Questions submitted by staff at some of the larger town halls, such as the company's once-weekly, now-monthly "TGIF," are now often summarized using an AI tool, which has a habit of sanding down the edges of more confrontational submissions. One employee said there was recently a question submitted about Google's work with ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of War; at the town hall, the question had been reframed to ask about Google's work with government agencies in general. A Google spokesperson said that the tool can produce AI summarizations when there are a number of similar questions, which allows leaders to address more topics. They said that they've seen Googlers asking more questions since introducing the feature.

An internal document for the AI tool, which was codenamed "Project Saturday" and now named "Ask", states that moderators are also able to reword the text of the questions. Several employees pointed to this as an example of how Google has curbed open speech internally.

"There's been a huge shift where people are relying on external reporting to understand how their work is used," said a Google DeepMind employee.

Several other Google employees echoed that they're increasingly relying on news reporting to learn about internal projects. One particularly volatile flashpoint cited was Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion Google and Amazon deal signed in 2021 to supply the Israeli government with cloud services. After the war in Gaza broke out in 2023, some employees became concerned over how the company might be aiding Israel's military. The tensions came to a head in 2024 when Google fired 50 employees over a sit-in protest.

Tschiegg says a lot of Google employees got re-engaged with activism because of Project Nimbus. "Workers who had been around a long time and believed in that 'don't be evil' motto perceived a lot of potential for violence and misery to come from that contract," he says.

Google says these contracts involve administrative workloads and not its AI being used for military or surveillance purposes. Some inside the company worry that Google might not ultimately be able to enforce those red lines. Last year, The Intercept reported that internal documents showed Google executives acknowledging they would be unable to fully monitor or control how the Israeli government used its technology. Earlier this year, The Washington Post reported a story about a whistleblower who claimed that Google had assisted the Israel Defence Forces in improving its AI's reliability in identifying objects such as drones and soldiers.

"There are so many unanswered questions," says Alex, a software engineer at Google who requested he only be referred to by his first name. He said there had still not been any transparency on Google's work with the Israeli government. "Project Nimbus was signed in 2021 and we only learned about military applications from news sources."

Google's willingness to engage with classified Pentagon work caught some employees in its AI division by surprise. Leaders at DeepMind, the AI lab Google acquired in 2014, were once so worried about such a scenario that they tried — and failed — to create a firewall that would prevent Google using its technology for surveillance or autonomous weapons.

In February, amid a standoff between Anthropic and the Pentagon, more than 100 Google employees working on AI, including some in DeepMind, sent a letter to Jeff Dean, a chief scientist at the company, opposing the use of Google's Gemini for the very applications DeepMind had once feared.

Following news this week that Google had signed a deal with the Pentagon for classified operations, some employees across the company proposed a strike action, but paused for fear of possible retaliation, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Those fears have compounded as layoffs are now the norm across the tech industry. Google cut 12,000 employees in 2023 and has since made numerous cuts across the company. "There's less worker security, the external job landscape is different," says one Google DeepMind employee. Another tells me, "Employee leverage is just a little less clear."

Tshiegg said there has been an effort among organizing employees to communicate with their peers at Amazon, Microsoft, and other tech companies. "We're trying to put our heads together on how to meet this moment. Because frankly, there's a real and impending sense of doom for folks working on these AI tools," he said.

Others are taking a more pragmatic view about tech's relationship with the Pentagon. "In today's world I don't see how an American company can avoid working with the US DOD, independent of what some of its employees feel," says Caesar Sengupta, a vice president at Google from 2009 to 2021. "Whether it is good or bad is a second order point. At the end of the day companies are subject to the pressure of the country they are domiciled in."

On Wednesday, two days after employees made their unsuccessful plea to leadership, Google reported its first-quarter financials. Pichai said AI was "lighting up every part of the business." Anat Ashkenazi, the company's chief financial officer, reeled off the numbers of another blockbuster quarter where profit jumped 81%. The Pentagon contract went unmentioned.

Ashkenazi signed off her prepared statement: "I want to take this opportunity to thank our employees for their contribution to our performance."

Hugh Langley is a senior correspondent at Business Insider where he writes about Google, tech, and wealth.

• Lindsey Hall read her boyfriend's ChatGPT history, which expressed doubts about their relationship.
• She said she couldn't get over reading his unfiltered thoughts about her.
• Her essay about it got backlash online and sparked debate about using AI as an emotional outlet.

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Lindsey Hall, a writer and public relations consultant who wrote a viral Substack essay about breaking up with her partner after reading his ChatGPT history. This story had been edited for length and clarity.

I was working late at my boyfriend's house when I grabbed his laptop to use ChatGPT to finish up an email. When I opened it, I looked to the left at the past chats and saw one that said "Relationship issues and uncertainty."

That is verbatim what I saw. So I clicked on it. He was literally dead asleep on my shoulder while I was scrolling through it.

I knew he hated that I had three cats, so I thought that was the reigning conflict of our relationship. I also knew he didn't like some of my past — that I lived in a van, was a nomad, and had a bit of the crunchy, granola lifestyle — but I wasn't aware of the depths to which he didn't like it.

The chat was more negative and judgmental, even a character assassination to some degree, than what I had expected. I really hadn't expected it to be about my physical attraction. That blindsided me. Ultimately, the words I could never really get past that he had written were "I'm just not proud of her… I'm just not proud of her."

ChatGPT essentially responded by saying he should consider ending it. And I don't blame ChatGPT for saying that.

The chat started with "Should I be in love after three and a half months?" And we had been dating about five months when I read it. It's so adrenaline-rushing and so traumatic to see that unfiltered view of yourself through the eyes of someone you think cares about you.

My fight-or-flight response is usually flight, so I left while he was still asleep. He ended up on my doorstep at two in the morning, being like, "What is going on?" I told him, and he knew exactly what I was talking about. He was super apologetic and felt horrible. He said he didn't mean all of it and was only ruminating.

We stayed together another two or three months. I really wanted to get over it, and I tried. I really did. But everything changed after that.

I'm wary of using AI as an emotional outlet

I'm not 100% against AI. I just think using it for work is different than flooding it with your emotional needs.

I knew from the beginning of our relationship that he was already using ChatGPT to some degree, because I could tell some of his texts to me were generated by it. I asked him what made him want to be with me, and the response was so cold, so formal, so ChatGPT.

I just remember being so turned off by that. I figured "to each their own," but it didn't feel genuine. My feeling was, "You couldn't think of five genuine things to say to me?" You're outsourcing thinking emotionally to an LLM, in my opinion.

I had never thought to use AI in that way. I have a therapist and friends I can talk to. After reading his chat, I went through a weird one to two-week period where I started using AI to try to make sense of my feelings about the whole situation.

Then I went back to my journals. I don't trust robots, so I don't trust what an LLM is telling me, so it kind of scared me a little bit. And I really didn't want to become dependent on it.

I worry that chatbots will keep feeding you what you want to hear. I feel like that's what happened with my ex. He was feeding it all this negative stuff about me, none of it was positive, so of course, the conclusion was going to be "you should leave her." And I feel like that's ultimately what he wanted to hear.

I don't think he knew what he felt, and he was unfortunately going to ChatGPT trying to figure it out.

I don't think that he's a terrible person for having thought these things. It's just that I saw them.

I don't regret reading it despite the backlash I got

I had no idea my Substack post about it would trigger so much commentary. I've gotten so much criticism from the manosphere for invading his privacy, which is fine. Yes, I did. I admit that. A lot of women, on the other hand, have said, "This isn't a guy who's questioning how much he loves you. This is a guy who barely tolerates you."

It's also predominantly women who are the ones saying, "It's pathetic to use AI for this kind of stuff. Why can't men just figure it out?" While men have responded, "Because we don't have anyone to talk to." It seems men are increasingly using ChatGPT as an emotional outlet.

I understood some points for advocating the use of AI like this. Therapy in this country is expensive, and not everyone can afford it. Who's to say that you have a good therapist? But if you use AI like this, I think you have to use it with discernment.

I don't necessarily regret reading my ex's chat, because I don't think we ultimately would've lasted anyway. I think I would've stayed far longer than either of us should have, and we would've broken up eventually, and I would've ended up back at square one.

I hope it doesn't happen to many people, but I'm sure it's happening more and more.

Do you have a story to share about how AI is affecting your relationship, or how you or your partner are using AI chatbots? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.

Teachers deserve love all 365 days of the year, but Teacher Appreciation Week is an annual reminder to thank the educator in your life. Luckily, tons of brands feel the same way and offer special coupons and discounts for qualified teachers.

Online teacher discounts require verification, usually through platforms like ID.me or SheerID. These ask for details such as your email address and your school of employment to confirm your status. They've been the trusted standard for years, and I've used them myself as a student when scoring exclusive discounts.

Keep scrolling to find some of the best Teacher Appreciation Week discounts, from big apparel brands to school supply must-haves.

Teacher Appreciation Week FAQs

When is Teacher Appreciation Week 2026?

This year, Teacher Appreciation Week runs from May 4 to 8. Some of the above promotions will end after then, but many carry on through the year.

How is teacher status verified for educator discounts?

Verification varies by retailer. In-person, stores often ask for proof of employment, so a school ID will work. Online, several stores use SheerID and ID.me, verification platforms that usually just take your school-specific email to grant you access to the discounts.

What is SheerID?

SheerID is a way for retailers to verify your status as a teacher or student. Typically, this requires your school-issued email. After years of seeing it used by the largest companies and using it ourselves, it's safe. Just be sure to provide your information only when strictly requested, and only follow links issued by the store you're shopping with.

For the latest buying advice updates, follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp

Not a teacher? Check out our guides to the best Madewell coupons, Peacock promo codes, and Skillshare coupons.

• Sam Altman is throwing a party to celebrate OpenAI's GPT-5.5.
• Altman said Elon Musk could come 'if he wants.'
• The two AI leaders have a long-standing feud and are in the middle of a federal legal battle.

After battling it out in court this week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made a surprising, if not full-throated, gesture to his rival, Elon Musk, on Saturday.

OpenAI is planning a small celebration on May 5 for the release of its latest model, GPT-5.5. Altman shared an online form for those interested in attending to RSVP, and said Codex, OpenAI's coding agent, would help the company choose people from the replies.

Registration closed quickly, and Altman later said that he'd plan bigger parties in the future.

It's unlikely Musk threw his name into the ring for one of those limited invites, but Altman said on X that his erstwhile OpenAI cofounder "could come if he wants to."

"The world needs more love," Altman added.

The kindness came days after US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is presiding over their legal fight, warned both tech executives to "control your propensity to use social media to make things worse outside this courtroom."

Musk and Altman have been locked in an ideological battle for years.

The tech moguls cofounded OpenAI in 2015, but Musk left in 2018 after disagreements over the company's direction and leadership, particularly around safety.

Since then, Musk has repeatedly criticized OpenAI — especially for what he has characterized as a shift away from an open-source nonprofit mission to one focused on commercialization and profit — while launching his own competing AI company, xAI.

Their rivalry has escalated from public jabs into serious legal disputes. Musk sued OpenAI, Altman, and other cofounders in March 2024 over the company's direction. Musk says OpenAI and its other founders broke their original agreement.

In late April, the dispute moved into a high-profile federal trial in Oakland, where Musk and Altman are now testifying. The proceedings have already grown tense, with Musk clashing with OpenAI's lawyer before the judge stepped in.

The Run for the Roses returns for its 152nd outing. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the Kentucky Derby, including free and global streaming options.

If you don't want to read any further, the Kentucky Derby will take place at approximately 6:57 p.m. ET and last around two minutes. Coverage will kick off earlier in the day, and we recommend tuning in on the early side to make sure you don't miss anything. The event will live stream on services like Peacock, DirecTV, and YouTube TV in the US, Sky Sports and Now Sports in the UK, and for free on Virgin Media 2 in Ireland. You can watch your service from anywhere by using a VPN, like Proton VPN.

*Sling TV's local channel coverage varies by region.

Where to watch the Kentucky Derby in the US

The Kentucky Derby airs on NBC in the US. Coverage will be available through several services, the cheapest of which is Peacock. Peacock Premium subscriptions start at $11 a month for ad-supported coverage, but you can upgrade to ad-free on-demand content and a full NBC live stream for $17 a month with Peacock Premium Plus.

American fans can also catch the action through a live TV streaming package, such as DirecTV or YouTube TV, both of which come with a free trial. YouTube TV's main plan normally costs $83 a month, but new users can get $15 a month off their first five months of service ($75 off in total) for a limited time. DirecTV carries NBC and other local channels in all of its signature plans, along with its MyNews and MySports genre packs, which cost $40 a month and $65 a month, respectively. Right now, new customers can get $20 a month off their first two months of MySports service.

If you don't mind not having a free trial, you can also catch NBC via Sling TV's Select or Blue plans, which cost $25 a month and $51 a month, respectively, when local channels are involved. However, local channel coverage varies by region on Sling, so we urge you to check what's available in your ZIP code before subscribing.

Where to watch the Kentucky Derby in the UK

The Kentucky Derby will be available through Sky Sports in the UK. Viewers can sign up for a Sky TV plan, but there's also an option to live stream Sky Sports coverage through Now Sports. Sky prices vary by plan and contract length. Now Sports offers month-to-month subscriptions, but there's also a single-day pass for £15, which can be useful for one-off events like this.

Where to watch the Kentucky Derby in Ireland

The Kentucky Derby will live stream for free on Virgin Media 2 in Ireland. The Virgin Media player carries loads of sporting events each year, often including several Champions League matches and other Triple Crown races.

How to watch the Kentucky Derby from anywhere

If you're away from the location where your streaming service works when the race kicks off, like Ireland, you can still keep up with your free watch options with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are easy-to-use tech tools that let people temporarily alter their virtual locations. They're especially popular services for those looking to keep up with their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad or boost their cybersecurity.

Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's fast, offers a massive selection of international servers, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not helping you out.

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.

• I was in the room when Warren Buffett unexpectedly sat for an interview on Saturday.
• He warned of a "gambling mood" in markets during Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting.
• The legendary investor also underscored the threat posed by nuclear weapons and deepfakes.

I was in the room when Warren Buffett sounded the alarm on "gambling" in markets, nuclear weapons, and deepfakes on Saturday.

During Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting, the company's chairman and former CEO joined CNBC's Becky Quick backstage for a surprise interview.

The pair's conversation was broadcast live to a crowd of thousands seated in the CHI Health Center in Buffett's hometown of Omaha.

I had a bird's-eye view of the event from the press box overlooking the stage, and could see the crowd's excitement at the prospect of hearing the business icon speak.

Kartik Rangarajan, 54, a tech worker from Dallas, told me it was a "very good, pleasant surprise" that Buffett sat for an interview, as he was eager to "hear from him directly."

Brett Gardner, the author of "Buffett's Early Investments," told me that he saw lots of people milling around outside the arena for large portions of the Q&A.

But as soon as Buffett started speaking, he said, "everyone just crowded around the TV and it was like, 'We've got to listen to Warren.'"

Buffett, a renowned bargain hunter, has struggled to find deals on stocks and businesses in recent years. He told Quick that today's market is "not an ideal environment" for deploying cash.

The benchmark US stock index, the S&P 500, has surged by 27% over the past five years to record highs of above 7,200 points. Berkshire shares have slumped by 8% over the same period.

Berkshire sold a net $8 billion worth of stocks last quarter, boosting its cash pile to a record $380 billion at the end of March.

Addressing the challenging market and Berkshire's ballooning cash reserves, Buffett said the company has the right people and is set up to "pick our spots."

The business icon put his legendary patience into sharp relief when he said that out of the past 60 years, only "five of them have really been juicy."

Buffett, 95, is known to invest only within his "circle of competence." He told Quick that he has not learned about any new industries in the past decade, and doesn't plan to change that.

'Gambling mood'

Buffett described the market as a "church with a casino attached," referring to the divide between speculators and long-term investors focused on company fundamentals.

"The casino's gotten very attractive to people," he said, nodding to the boom in short-term trading and more aggressive use of leverage in recent years.

"If you're buying one-day options, or selling them, that's not investing, that's not speculating, it's gambling," Buffett said.

"We've never had people in a more gambling mood than now."

Buffett couldn't resist taking a shot at the "wonderful trading departments" that practically shut down during crises.

"Just try them out when the market is collapsing," he said, adding that if they do pick up the phone, they'll use any information you give them to "go out and kill you some other way."

"It's really like going to a slaughterhouse," Buffett said. "You don't feel like eating hot dogs for a while."

Rangarajan told me he perceived Buffett's comments "not so much as a grim picture," but as a message to shareholders that he was patiently waiting for opportunities to arise.

From worry to hope

The mood in the arena turned dour as Buffett described the threat posed by countries with nuclear bombs and the risk that something could "fall out of the sky" at any moment.

The investor said it was important to be aware of that danger, but added that it does "no good to worry about it."

Buffett restored the room's good vibes when he joked about his lack of travel in recent years. When Quick asked if he had met the new managers of some of Berkshire's key holdings, he sent ripples of laughter through the audience by quipping: "I haven't met the old managers."

The former Berkshire CEO, who made way for Greg Abel at the start of this year, also sparked chuckles in the crowd when he discussed the perils of marriage.

"But you can make mistakes with people, just look at the divorce rate," he joked.

Along with his late business partner, Charlie Munger, Buffett is known for saying that a person's choice of spouse is one of the most important decisions they'll make in their life.

Buffett briefly commented on the rise of deepfakes and other forms of imitation, calling it a "scary" trend, especially at a time when several countries possess nuclear weapons.

He lifted the crowd's spirits with his final comments. He heralded America's remarkable longevity and lasting appeal as a place to live.

Then he reiterated his faith in the "golden rule," which Quick clarified was the biblical advice to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

"I've never seen anybody unhappy that behaves that way," Buffett said.

Ranganaran, who told me he's been a Berkshire shareholder for over 25 years, noted that Buffett has spoken more about "giving and helping others and being kind" in recent years.

"All of it is a good message for us to take back," he added.

Quick ended the conversation to whoops and applause with the words: "Warren Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway."

• I started letting my toddler help cook to improve his picky eating.
• At first it was messy and frustrating, but he became more engaged with food.
• Cooking together built his confidence and made mealtimes more enjoyable.

I never thought I'd be the kind of parent who lets their child loose in the kitchen but, honestly, it's the best thing I've done.

Like many toddlers, my 4-year-old was always interested in what I was doing, but amidst the daily grind of parenting I just wanted to get chores done as quickly and easily as possible.

I had enough to do without having to worry about little fingers getting caught under a knife or that resigned feeling where letting them "help" somehow creates more mess than what you were trying to clean up in the first place. I had heard of the Montessori school of thought that involving children in shared household chores helps foster independence, but honestly, I just wanted to get through the day without making life harder (or messier) for myself.

Everything changed when my son's fussy eating became too restrictive. He screamed at the sight of food, refusing to touch it, let alone take a bite. A dietician told me I should try to improve his confidence by involving him in cooking tasks. How do you do that when mealtimes are already a mess? Then I started thinking, when is it appropriate to teach him how to cook? If it's introduced out of the blue one day will he completely resist it?

I left home at age 18 barely able to cook toast, that's not what I want for my children.

I started introducing simple cooking tasks

Still unsure, I started small by introducing simple cooking tasks like using cookie cutters to cut shapes into cucumber. And that was the day he started eating cucumber.

It grew from there.

From using knives to cut vegetables (with careful supervision and age appropriate tools), to turning on the oven, he's now cooked all sorts of things. Nothing is off limits, one day he'll be preparing vegetables, the next day we're making sandwiches.

It has not all been smooth sailing. Learning to crack an egg has had its ups and downs — I don't recommend tackling that particular skill unless you've got a few spare. I thought using the food processor would be a hit — but the noise resulted in a lot of crying. I tried using a hand blender instead, but in a moment of chaos the mixture ended up hitting the walls. Sometimes the clear up really does take longer than the actual cooking.

Embracing mess and enjoying the results

Yet despite my initial horror at the mess, it's not the disaster I thought it would be. I had no idea the impact cooking independently would have on him. He has all the boisterous, insatiable energy that 4-year-olds have, a happy and chaotic whirlwind of physical activity.

But when he's cooking his body becomes still and absorbed with concentration. All his energy becomes harnessed into a laser sharp focus. There are some things I tell him are grown up jobs only — moving anything hot, like a frying pan, is for him to watch, but not to do. He is careful not to get too close if there's a spitting pan.

So when he asked me to let him cook dinner I didn't hesitate to say yes, it felt like a natural progression. First of all he helped prepare the vegetables — peeling carrots is one of his favorite tasks. After the carrots he chopped a cucumber with careful precision. Then he measured out the spices into a bowl.

We used a kitchen stool so that he could reach, stirring the mixture around with a wooden spoon. He washed his hands thoroughly in the sink before and after tipping a piece of chicken into the mix. I reminded him which buttons to press to turn the air fryer on.

It seems so simple now, why didn't I realize it before? Like any other skill, it doesn't take long for the eggs to start hitting the bowl rather than the floor. And if there is any mess, we can clear it up together.

When there are constant demands on us to play or entertain, sometimes connection can be found over the simplest of tasks. In the kitchen we have become a team, and there's nothing more satisfying than eating the resulting meal.

• Octogenarian Jacob Watson has opted to "age in place" at his three-bedroom, two-bathroom home.
• He shares it with tenants who spend eight hours weekly helping with chores, like shopping and cooking.
• In exchange, they pay reduced rent. He said it's a win-win: they save money and he gets assistance.

This interview is based on a conversation with Jacob Watson, 84, an ordained interfaith minister, writer, and former grief counselor, from Portland, Maine. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My late wife, Kristine, and I were grief counselors, which inevitably led us to discuss our own arrangements for the end of life.

We decided we wanted to "age in place" and stay in our 2,100-square-foot home, built in 1915.

The downstairs bathroom was converted into a handicapped-accessible bathroom with the intention of us living on the first floor as we got older.

But the "we" never happened. On August 3, 2021, a few days after our 33rd wedding anniversary, Kristine died of a heart attack at 71. It was a terrible shock to me and everyone in the family.

I considered an assisted living facility

After that, I lived alone. However, since I have macular degeneration, my vision has gotten progressively worse. I found it increasingly difficult to see everyday things like the numbers on the stove or microwave.

Three years ago, I began to think, 'I can't do this by myself.' I seriously considered selling the house and moving into an assisted living facility.

I thought it would be a relief to know that someone else was taking care of me and would fix anything that went wrong with the property.

But I got almost physically sick when I visited the facilities. I knew the lifestyle wasn't right for me, and I wouldn't feel independent or stimulated.

Besides, those apartments are in such high demand that I could have been on a waiting list for two years or more.

It dawned on me that, if I wanted to stick to my original plan, I'd need to take a deep breath and ask for help.

I needed help with my eyesight issues

I figured it would be a good idea to have someone live under the same roof who could watch out for me. They could take over the upstairs — which had two bedrooms, a living room, and a full bathroom — and I could live downstairs.

In 2024, I actively started looking for a housemate or two. In return for a reduced rent, they'd do a few things for me, like cooking an evening meal twice a week, going to the grocery store, and occasionally driving me places.

My acquaintances shared the blurb I wrote with their own contacts. The rent would be $1,350 a month, including utilities, in exchange for 8 hours a week of help with my eyesight issues.

It could be anything from assisting me with my Mac to putting out trash and compost for pickup. I also asked for a weekly check-in when we could discuss the division of the chores and other matters.

My first housemate, Karrie, a 50-year-old physiotherapist, whom I met through my massage therapist, arrived in November 2024 and stayed for a one-year lease.

My daughter, Sarah, 56, who lives about 20 minutes away, made a point of coming over to help me interview her. She obviously wanted to know who this person was who was coming to live with her dad.

Then my current helper, Kathleen, 39, who works for a nonprofit, moved here in January 2026. She is due to move out at the end of May, so I'm hoping to find another natural caregiver to replace her.

We don't live in each other's pockets

Both Karrie and Kristine proved to be an excellent match. They're very independent, and out of the house most of the day, either working or socializing.

It definitely helped that we had our own interests and activities. I've always kept busy with my writing, which includes books about grief and meditations, and I have a large network of friends and family.

It wouldn't have worked so well if my housemates and I lived in each other's pockets.

One of the most useful things is being able to compose a grocery list and have someone else shop for me. I also really benefit from being able to share the household cooking.

We have a whiteboard in the communal kitchen to keep track of our weekly dinners. Kathleen often prepares larger meals that last for a couple of days, which is a great idea.

It's been an adjustment to have housemates

There's also something very reassuring about knowing someone is there in an emergency, such as if I have a fall. Our house is old, and I used to think the creaking and groaning of the floorboards were bad.

Now, when I hear them, I think of them as a positive thing because I know I'm not alone.

It's been an adjustment to open my house to other people. But so is aging in general. I feel blessed and grateful to be living this interesting situation as I get older. It feels like a win-win.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang criticized leaders who stoke fear around AI's impact on the world.
• Huang called the doomerism "ridiculous" and urged industry leaders to rely on facts.
• His criticism appeared directed at tech leaders like Anthropic's Dario Amodei and xAi's Elon Musk.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has had enough of your AI hot takes.

While discussing AI adoption during the "Memos to the President" podcast on Thursday, Huang said industry leaders should "be mindful" of how they talk about the significance of the technology.

At one point, he referred to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's prediction that AI could replace 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs in the coming years.

"These kinds of comments are not helpful," Huang said. "They're made by people who are like me — CEOs. Somehow, because they became CEOs, you adopt a God complex and, before you know it, you know everything."

He added, "I think we have to be careful and really ground ourselves to talking about the facts."

During the interview, Huang also criticized claims that AI could destroy the world.

"Saying nonsensical things, which are not going to happen, that this is an existential threat to humanity, there's 20% chance that it's existential. That's ridiculous," Huang said.

He was likely referring to Elon Musk, who made the claim during a February appearance on "The Joe Rogan" podcast. Musk said humans faced a "20% chance of annihilation" from AI.

Although AI has permeated nearly every layer of the economy, the long-term effects of the technology on the workforce and humanity as a whole are largely unknown.

Some AI supporters believe the tech will make us more efficient, create more jobs, generate wealth, and solve afflictions of all kinds. Others worry it will replace humans in the workforce, isolate us from each other, and ultimately usher in some kind of apocalypse.

A stark example of this uncertainty is the so-called "Saaspocalypse." The idea that AI was bringing about the end times for the once-lucrative software-as-a-service industry was, until recently, accepted logic.

A series of earnings reports this week, however, upended that logic. Atlassian, Twilio, and Five9 all reported strong earnings on Thursday.

• "The Devil Wears Prada 2" beefed up the cameos from the first movie.
• Memorable faces from the world of music, fashion, the internet, and sports all appear in the movie.
• Here are the most memorable cameos.

"The Devil Wears Prada" was all about glamour, down to its star-studded cameos. So it makes sense that the sequel would up the ante with a slew of famous faces.

In "The Devil Wears Prada 2," Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is hired back to the fictional fashion magazine Runway as its features editor, bringing her back into the orbit of the magazine's tyrannical boss Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). Andy is tasked with beefing up Runway's editorial cache, but also finds herself working alongside Miranda to keep Runway afloat in the midst of ownership turmoil that could destroy the brand.

Amid Andy's journey back into the fray are plenty of parties, red carpets, and fashion shows that are filled with big-name celebrities. Here are the most memorable cameos in "The Devil Wears Prada 2."

Lady Gaga

The multi-Grammy winner appears in the movie's third act as a last-minute replacement for John Legend at Runway's big fashion show in Milan. Miranda calls in a favor to get Gaga to perform, but when the two exchange barbs in her dressing room, it's clear they have history and aren't fond of each other.

Donatella Versace

The famed fashion designer shows up in the scene where Andy is trying to track down Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt). Andy finds her old Runway coworker at a cafe with Versace, who grows impatient when Emily steps away for a moment to speak to Andy.

Ciara

The singer is one of the many stars who is featured in the Met Gala scene.

Amelia Dimoldenberg

The "Chicken Shop Date" host can also be seen in the Met Gala sequence.

Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner

The "Giggly Squad" podcast hosts and Bravolebrities can be seen in the Met Gala scene.

Ashley Graham

Model Ashley Graham is also there.

Rory McIlroy

Two-time Masters champ, PGA golfer Rory McIlroy, and his wife Erica can be seen chatting with Emily Charlton's boyfriend, Benji Barnes (Justin Theroux), at the gala.

Kara Swisher

The famed tech journalist is part of the elite group who are invited to Miranda's Hamptons get-together.

Jenna Bush Hager

The daughter of former President George W. Bush and "Today" third-hour host also gets the invite.

Karl-Anthony Towns

New York Knicks All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns was also at the Hamptons lunch, where Andy has a brief chat with him. (Hathaway is a loyal Knicks fan.)

Jon Batiste

The Grammy and Oscar-winning musician brings some rhythm to the Hamptons lunch.

Ronny Chieng

Also in the Hamptons scene is this "The Daily Show" correspondent and host.

Tina Brown

Media heavyweight Brown can also be seen at the lunch. Brown is the former editor of Vanity Fair and founding editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast.

Law Roach

The famed stylist of Zendaya and Ariana Grande appears at Runway's big Milan fashion show at the end of the movie.

Heidi Klum

Would it really be a high-fashion event without an appearance from this GOAT?

Naomi Campbell

No, Naomi, the filmmakers wouldn't dare cut you out of that scene either!

• Warren Buffett is no longer Berkshire Hathaway's CEO, but he's still top of mind at its annual meeting.
• As well as a surprise real-life appearance, Buffett also appeared in digital form.
• A deepfake of the legendary investor asked the first question at new CEO Greg Abel's Q&A session.

Warren Buffett is no longer the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, but he's still at its annual conference, in both physical and digital form.

For years at Berkshire meetings, Buffett held lengthy question-and-answer sessions with the company's shareholders, covering everything from the inner workings of its businesses to geopolitics to his favorite foods.

At 2026's shareholder meeting, however, new CEO Greg Abel hosted the annual Q&A, and the first question came from a familiar face.

After concluding a discussion with Berkshire's insurance chief, Ajit Jain, Abel opened the floor up to questions, and beaming around the CHI Health Center was Buffett's likeness, wearing his trademark suit and tie.

"Hi, my name is Warren, from Omaha," said the familiar, gravely voice. "I've recently undergone, let's say, a significant change in role."

"My question is a simple one. I'm 95 years old, I've got nothing but time and Cherry Coke, and I want to know, just so I have something to tell my fellow shareholders, why should they hold their Berkshire shares for the long term?"

A laughing Abel called it a "very astute question" before giving a lengthy answer about the strength of Berkshire's businesses and the importance of its huge cash pile.

"As you've all picked up, that was a deepfake," Abel told the crowd.

"Here's the interesting thing: That was done with zero input from Warren. We were able to obtain that with information that's out there and replicate those actions and that voice," he said.

Abel then went on to use the deepfake Buffett to make a point about the growing risk to businesses of cyberattacks and fake information.

"The reality is that's what we're dealing with when we think about Berkshire and how we have to protect it every day," he said.

Not long before AI Buffett's question, Abel made clear to Berkshire watchers that he's cautious on employing the technology across the company.

"We're not going to do AI for the sake of AI," Abel said, adding that the tech has to be "additive to our businesses."

• Berkshire Hathaway won't be betting the farm on AI, Greg Abel said on Saturday.
• Warren Buffett's successor as CEO said Berkshire would be prudent during the annual meeting.
• The AI boom has divided investors, with some saying it's a bubble and others heralding a revolution.

Warren Buffett is known for not chasing the latest technology trend, preferring to invest within his "circle of competence."

Greg Abel, who succeeded the legendary investor as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO at the start of this year, signaled he's also cautious about jumping on any bandwagon during the company's shareholder meeting on Saturday in Omaha.

Business Insider's Theron Mohamed was watching from the press box of the CHI Health Center in Buffett's hometown when Abel told the crowd that Berkshire wouldn't be going all in on AI.

He struck a very different tone to tech executives such as Tesla's Elon Musk, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, who have committed to spending hundreds of billions of dollars to win the AI race.

"We're not going to do AI for the sake of AI," Abel said, adding that the tech has to be "additive to our businesses."

Berkshire's new boss said the conglomerate's subsidiaries would employ AI prudently, in areas where it creates genuine value.

Business Insider spoke to the CEOs of See's Candies, Dairy Queen, Brooks Running, and Jazwares on Friday. They said their companies were embracing AI to different degrees, but were broadly positive about how it can save time and make workers more efficient.

The investment world is divided on the immense buzz around AI.

The likes of "Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary and fund manager Ross Gerber have dismissed comparisons to the dot-com bubble, telling Business Insider that the tech is driving measurable productivity gains and generating enormous growth in profits.

In contrast, Michael Burry of "The Big Short" fame and veteran investor Jeremy Grantham have warned that AI is a bubble of historic proportions that's bound to burst with devastating effect.

• I struggled with loneliness after my divorce, especially on holidays.
• I built a support system with other single moms who became like family.
• That community changed how I experience motherhood and connection.

After my divorce, I braced for loneliness on holidays, but it hit hardest on Mother's Day.

My first one alone, my best friend from college texted me a photo of her proudly wearing the necklace her son, the same age as my daughter, had cobbled together. Its colored pieces were dotted with pieces of torn felt.

"Isn't it cute?" She wrote.

I felt a lump in my throat instantly. No one was around anymore to remind my kids to acknowledge the day. That day I cried walking to the playground past what felt like swarms of brunching two-parent families drinking mimosas, flowers still in their wrapping nesting amidst gifts on tables.

I dreaded Mother's Day for years

For years after that, I continued to dread Mother's Day, even though within a short time, my children did acknowledge the day with sweet gifts and words. Still, the day always felt hollow for me, a reminder of the partner and family I didn't have. It was a day to get through rather than a celebration of motherhood — I resigned myself to that fact.

That is, until I became part of what my kids call my "single mom club."

It started when I struck up an online correspondence with a few other moms in a similar situation. Before long, our digital support group spilled over into real life. We got together frequently to share copious amounts of wine, comfort, advice, and laughter.

What they have helped me discover is that there are surprising benefits to being a single parent, which one rarely hears about. And now, more than a decade after my divorce, I can honestly say that I am grateful for the experience of parenting alone.

Single motherhood is hard

Don't get me wrong: single parenthood is hard. When one of my daughters is sick at 2 a.m., when both kids melt down simultaneously, when I'm depleted and desperate for a minute of silence, there's no partner to tag in. Every doctor's appointment, every permission slip, every birthday party is my responsibility alone.

Which is why, when married friends sometimes announce that they're "single parenting for the weekend," I bite my tongue.

What I've discovered, however, is that the four-alarm fire that is single parenthood can actually force a more thoughtful approach to building a family and the community around it.

I built a group of single moms

What began as a practical necessity and a hedge against loneliness, my single mom club has become the envy of my married friends. Anyone can ask their neighbor for a cup of sugar, but how many, on half an hour's notice, can ask them for a lesson in Excel or to weigh in on a legal document?

One time, one of our single moms had an impromptu meeting and couldn't find a sitter. Four of us took turns rotating in and out of her house so she could make it. When another mom was hospitalized and terrified, all seven of us showed up at her bedside, some with overnight bags.

I make the most of my free time

My kids both need to see their dad, and I'm fully supportive of that relationship. But it also means I get enforced, and therefore guilt-free, time off to nurture the parts of me that motherhood doesn't feed. Perhaps we should all be doing this.

Last weekend, I spent Saturday morning at a coffee shop working on an article while my kids were with their dad. That afternoon, I met my single mom club for drinks. We spent three hours laughing until we cried, sharing the kind of dark humor about parenting that only other people in the trenches can appreciate. Sunday, I took a yoga class, went to a museum, and read a book in bed without interruption.

I have a home without resentment

I grew up in a home suffused with smoldering resentment. My kids get focused time with both parents, rather than the distracted time I remember from my own childhood. They may not have both of us simultaneously, but they have each of us much closer to our best.

It's impossible to predict the twists and turns that parenthood will take. It's certainly not what I expected. Being a parent is the ultimate exercise in intermittent reinforcement: bursts of grace that feel so hard-won, so fragile and transient. Sometimes, when one of my daughters falls asleep on my lap while I'm reading to her, and I feel her body shift into heaviness, I stay there for a while, inhaling her smooth skin and passionfruit shampoo.

When these things happen, my single mom friends are my witnesses. They may text me hours later: "How did bedtime go?" They remember that my daughter had that big presentation in school and want to know all about it. They ask about the small things that make up my actual life.

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose this path? I'm not sure. I would miss a warm body in bed next to me, and the day-to-day presence of a partner. But I know that what I've built in its stead feels like mine in a way that my marriage never did.

Parenthood is still a wild ride; I still experience all the twists and turns. But I don't carry that hollow feeling anymore. Not because being a single parent has become less complicated (no one with a teenager would ever say that), but because the family I constructed, piece by deliberate piece, turned out to be more solid than all that I took for granted by saying "I do."

• JetBlue says it will "fill the void" created by the collapse of Spirit Airlines.
• It plans to fly 11 new routes from Fort Lauderdale, including six all-new destinations.
• JetBlue says it expects to operate nearly 130 daily departures from the Florida city this summer.

Just hours after the collapse of Spirit Airlines on Saturday, rival low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways announced plans to add 11 new routes from its — and what was once Spirit's — primary Florida hub, Fort Lauderdale.

With the earliest flight starting on July 9, JetBlue listed six new destinations:

• Barranquilla, Colombia — October 1
• Baltimore — July 9
• Cali, Colombia — October 15
• Charlotte, N.C. — July 9
• Columbus, Ohio — November 2
• Indianapolis — November 2

JetBlue said it also would add new nonstop service from the following cities:

• Nashville, Tenn. — July 9
• Detroit — July 9
• Houston — July 9
• Chicago — July 9
• Ponce, Puerto Rico — July 9

"This is really tough news for the thousands of Spirit team members affected, as well as the customers who were planning trips on Spirit," JetBlue chief executive Joanna Geraghty said.

"We got to know many of their crew members during our acquisition talks, and we're thinking about everyone whose lives are being disrupted. We want to help fill the void created by this loss."

JetBlue expects to operate nearly 130 daily departures from Fort Lauderdale this summer, marking the largest operation in its history from the airport, with 75% more daily flights than in 2025.

JetBlue is among several airlines offering to help stranded Spirit passengers in the coming days. Carriers like United and Southwest have published price-capped rescue fares on Spirit's former routes; fares are roughly $200-$400, depending on the airline.

Spirit collapsed and ceased operations early Saturday after talks with the Trump administration for a bailout fell through. In its absence, prices on routes it once served but now have less competition will likely go up.

• Warren Buffett thanked Tim Cook for making Apple such a stellar investment for Berkshire Hathaway.
• The investor unexpectedly invited the Apple CEO to take a bow during Berkshire's annual meeting.
• While Berkshire has pared its Apple bet, he said that Cook grew their investment to $185 billion.

Warren Buffett trumpeted his Apple bet and invited outgoing CEO Tim Cook to take a bow during Berkshire Hathaway's shareholder meeting on Saturday.

Greg Abel, who succeeded Buffett as Berkshire's CEO at the start of this year, unexpectedly announced that the legendary investor and chairman would say a few words.

Buffett — sitting in the front row and fully embracing his retired status by wearing a sweater instead of his usual suit — began by saying the transition to Abel's leadership had been "100% successful" with Berkshire's new boss "doing everything I did and then some" and "doing it better than I did."

The business icon, 95, then recalled his decision to turn over 10% of Berkshire's resources to a person "not that well known at the time." He was referring to Berkshire's roughly $35 billion investment in Apple between 2016 and 2018, and the tech giant's CEO, Cook, who announced he would step down earlier in April.

Business Insider's Theron Mohamed was watching from the press box of the CHI Health Center in Buffett's hometown of Omaha as the famous stockpicker spoke.

Buffett drew chuckles from the crowd when he joked that Berkshire had turned over management of the money to Apple to make itself "look good," and that was its "preferred way of operating."

He then underscored that Apple has turned that $35 billion, including dividends and both realized and unrealized appreciation, into $185 billion before tax.

"And I didn't have to do a damn thing," he quipped.

Apple remains Berkshire's largest position, despite the company selling the majority of its stake over the past few years.

Buffett then reflected on Apple celebrating its 50th anniversary in recent weeks. He said that Cook "succeeded a legend" when he took over as CEO from visionary cofounder Steve Jobs in late 2011, and that only a "very few percentage points of American investors had even heard" of the new boss.

"When we made our investment and turned over 10% of the resources of Berkshire, we were turning it over for Tim, and I say he's turned that into $185 billion or something pretax," Buffett added, joking that he "won't bother to compare his record to that."

Cook has overseen a massive increase in Apple's market valuation during his nearly 15 years in charge, from around $350 billion to $4.1 trillion as of Friday's close.

He's been widely credited with scaling Apple's manufacturing and distribution of hit products such as the iPhone, improving its global supply chain, and catering to China's mushrooming middle class.

"So I think it's appropriate if Tim would take a bow and our shareholders would say thanks to him," Buffett said.

Cook, sitting a few rows behind Buffett in front of the stage, stood up to cheers and applause, waving and clasping his hands together to thank the crowd.

Buffett has repeatedly heralded Apple as an incredible business and Cook as a world-class leader in recent years.

"Tim Cook has made Berkshire a lot more than I have made Berkshire," Buffett said at last year's meeting.

• My family of four sold our house in Connecticut and moved to a rental apartment outside of Madrid.
• Downsizing into a rental abroad has given us more flexibility and a more minimalist lifestyle.
• Now that I don't have to maintain a house, I have more time and energy to allocate elsewhere.

After my husband and I bought our dream house — a 2,100-square-foot ranch-style property in a peaceful Connecticut neighborhood — we never thought we'd rent again. Owning it felt like the culmination of everything we'd been working toward.

But at some point, our house stopped aligning with what we wanted. With increasing frequency, my husband and I talked about wanting a more balanced, simple life for ourselves and our two young sons.

So, less than five years after buying the home, we sold it and moved our family to a 1,345-square-foot rental apartment in Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain.

I hadn't rented a property in over a decade, but it made practical sense for our move abroad. We'd never been to Spain before booking our one-way flight, and renting gave us flexibility in case we wanted to change course later.

After 14 years as a homeowner, renting again terrified me. Thankfully, it's turned out to be one of the most liberating decisions we've made.

Going from a home I painstakingly curated to a nearly empty rental apartment was an adjustment

When we closed on our Connecticut house in 2021, I wanted to make it perfect. We upgraded the windows and doors, customized the bedroom closets, and chose every piece of furniture and decor as if we'd have it forever. That was always the plan.

Moving to a rental apartment abroad with only a few suitcases (and none of the furniture or pieces I'd curated) was daunting. I wouldn't describe our apartment in Las Rozas as beautiful — it's dimmer and more enclosed than our bright, open Connecticut house — but it has everything we need.

When we arrived at the largely unfurnished apartment, it had two single mattresses, a few pieces in the living room, and a bookshelf. We got almost everything we needed — furniture, trash cans, cookware, and more — from Ikea and selected the pieces based on functionality.

Although the apartment lacks aesthetic interiors and has furniture I probably wouldn't have chosen before moving here, it has perks that our house didn't.

For example, it's located in a walkable, bustling neighborhood rather than a wooded, quiet one. When we exit our building, we're steps away from public transportation, parks, cafés, and the suburb's main street.

Where we lived in Connecticut, we had to drive everywhere. Here, we're always on foot. That shift has been one of the biggest adjustments and greatest gifts of our move.

Apartment living has forced us to embrace minimalism, but downsizing has its challenges

For years, my husband and I talked about wanting a more minimalist lifestyle. Yet somehow, we still managed to fill every room in our house, including the attic and garage.

As we prepared for our move to Spain, we finally achieved the pared-back lifestyle we'd talked about for years, getting rid of most of our belongings.

Our apartment here doesn't allow for accumulation, and having four people in one apartment has quickly taught us what we actually use.

Of course, the day-to-day realities of downsizing with a family aren't all roses. Counter space is limited, so I've had to keep only the kitchen essentials: a coffee maker and an air fryer.

And we've had to get creative with storage, finding nooks for Christmas stockings, Halloween costumes, winter coats, and school supplies.

Because I don't have to maintain a house, I have more time to do activities I enjoy

Although we gave up square footage during the move, we've gained so much more.

Since I no longer feel like I have to maintain a sizable home, I now spend weekends walking to parks, taking the train to Madrid, lingering in cafés, and going on adventures with my kids rather than working on the house.

Seven months into the move, I rarely think about the Connecticut property we left behind. The furniture I agonized over, the custom closets, and the sideboards I hunted down feel like distant memories. Items that I once placed so much importance on turned out to be just stuff.

Downsizing was worth it. Our apartment isn't better than our house by any measure and isn't saving us money — our mortgage payments cost about the same as our monthly rent — but we gained so much during the move that I don't mind.

Maybe one day we'll buy a property in Spain, but for now, having the freedom to pick up and go anywhere feels like a dream.

• Many young adults are moving back home to save money for future homeownership.
• But a study found that young adults who moved back home were less likely to own a home later in life.
• Luke Howland, a 24-year-old who moved back in with his parents, shed some light on why he did it.

Luke Howland, 24, moved back in with his parents this year. It wasn't part of the plan.

At 19, while many people his age were heading to college, Howland used his savings from high school jobs to open an electric bike retail store in Flagstaff, Arizona. After selling the business last year and moving out of the retail space where he also lived, he found himself back in his childhood home.

"For someone who has been on their own for so long and found success in business, I kind of acquired this ego in myself," Howland told me.

Returning to his parents' house was a tough decision, he said, but the right one. It's made his relationship with his family stronger, and not having roommates — something he would likely need to do to afford rent in Arizona — has helped him stay focused on his goals. Without rent payments, he's also been able to save money to put towards eventually buying a home of his own.

"I'm lucky enough to be able to move back in with my parents," Howland said. "Even though I sold the business and was able to make some money from it, it just didn't make sense to get right back into a lease or an apartment before I found another job or created another business."

Howland is far from the only one moving back in with mom and dad. A 2025 Pew Research study found that in 2023, 18% of adults ages 25 to 34 lived with their parents. Young men were more likely than young women to do so, at 20% compared with 15%.

For many young adults, the decision is a financial strategy. As the job market tightens and wages lag behind housing costs, living with parents is a way to cut living expenses and work toward longer-term goals, such as starting a business or pursuing homeownership.

Still, moving back home doesn't necessarily speed up the path to homeownership. A 2019 Urban Institute study found that adults who lived with their parents between the ages of 25 and 34 were less likely to become homeowners or household heads a decade later, which could hurt their long-term financial success.

"Since 2019, increasing rents and housing prices and increasing mortgage interest rates have made it even harder for young adults who are co-residing to move out and form their own households, further pushing back marriage and childbearing projects," Arthur Acolin, an associate professor in the Runstad Department of Real Estate at the University of Washington, told Business Insider.

Howland, who turns 25 next year, is determined not to become a statistic. When I asked him what he thought about the Urban Institute's study and his prospects of becoming a homeowner someday, he told me moving home was part of setting himself up to succeed and that he's determined to become a homeowner sooner rather than later.

"There's definitely an argument to be made that people who move back home can become complacent, but I think it depends on the person," he said. "For me personally, I have active motivation to leave and work toward homeownership."

He's given himself a two-year deadline to fly the coop.

• I'm from Argentina and a huge fan of Lionel Messi.
• While vacationing in Miami, I decided to attend an Inter Miami game at their new stadium.
• The $1 billion brand-new stadium is impressive, and my tickets had me so close to the players.

When my coworkers found out I was pregnant, they gifted my unborn son a teeny tiny Lionel Messi jersey. That was his first of many jerseys he has had in his eight years of life.

I'm from Argentina, and a huge soccer fan. I'm the kind of person who watches every World Cup match and any other time Argentina plays. I'm also, obviously, a huge Messi fan. I once even became a viral meme when my shadow resembled his face, and 12 years later, people still tag me on social media.

While vacationing in South Florida, I took my family to see Messi play for Inter Miami at their brand-new stadium. While it was an expensive outing, our group, ranging in age from 6 to 81, had a blast.

We were seated so close to the field

Because it was the first time my kids were seeing Messi play live, we decided to splurge on tickets close to the field. We were seated in row 5 and paid $230 per ticket for the seven of us.

I'm used to other stadiums in the US, where you end up not being close to the field at all. I was surprised at how close we were to the players this time. We were able to see Inter Miami warm up right in front of our section, and had players wave and interact with us.

Once the game started, Messi took a corner kick right where we were, and my kids were amazed to see their idol so close up.

The stadium is great, but accessibility isn't

The Nu Stadium, which opened in early April, reportedly cost $1 billion to build, and as someone who has attended many soccer matches, I can see why the price tag was so high.

We paid $47 for a parking pass despite it being recommended to use the train to get to the stadium. It was the right thing for my family since my kids still use car seats, and the walk from the train station to the stadium is 1.2 miles.

The outside area of the stadium is covered in turf, where you can find plenty of food trucks and drink carts. The area also has picnic tables, portable bathrooms, and tons of activities for kids and adults. My daughters and I got our cheeks decorated with pink glitter, we took photos with pink inflatables, and all my kids got pink sunglasses and tons of pink candy.

Inside the stadium, the seats are so incredibly comfortable, which really surprised me. There are screens all over the stadium, so you don't miss any key plays while buying more drinks or going to the bathroom. Speaking of bathrooms, I never had to wait more than a minute to use them, even during halftime.

That said, accessibility wasn't great. The parking lot area is still being finished, and my dad — who uses a walker — had a hard time navigating the dirt areas that were still left untouched. When we arrived at our gate at the stadium, we were told we needed to walk past two more gates because only one elevator was working. That said, the employees were super helpful, helping us store my dad's walker once we got to our seats and offering a wheelchair to help us get to the parking lot after the game.

Beers were $20, and waters sold out

While I know prices in stadiums are inflated because you can't bring anything inside, I was still surprised by the $20 beers. I still bought one because the Miami heat in April is no joke.

During halftime, my kids wanted water. It took me the full 15-minute break to find water, since every stand I went to had sold out, even at a $7 price per can.

While it was an expensive outing that took up half of our day (and went way past our kids' bedtime), we all had such a good time. My kids can't wait to tell their friends about seeing Messi play, and I've caught my dad sending photos of him and his grandchildren in the stadium to all of his friends.

Even though it feels like winter just ended, the warm weather of late spring and summer will be here before we know it. When preparing for warmer weather, ensuring that you have one of the best air conditioners to keep you cool should be at the top of your to-do list. As people who hate being hot, we know how important it is to find an air conditioner that's effective, quiet, and energy-efficient.

We tested over 20 window units and consulted Enesta Jones, an EPA spokesperson, to make our picks for the best air conditioners. Our picks are energy-efficient, have helpful features, and performed well in our tests. As you shop, keep in mind that you'll need single- or double-hung windows to properly install a traditional AC. All other window types will benefit from the best portable air conditioners. Our portable air conditioners versus window air conditioners story details the differences between these styles if you're unsure which is best for your needs.

The best air conditioners

Best overall: Frigidaire Gallery GHWW085TE1 - See at Frigidaire

Also great, but not for everyone: Midea U MAW08V1QWT - See at Amazon

Best portable: LG Smart Wi-Fi LP1419IVSM - See at Wayfair

Best for large rooms: Frigidaire FHWW145WE1 - See at Amazon

Most attractive: Windmill Air Conditioner - See at Amazon

Best overall

Our top pick crushed it during testing. The Frigidaire Gallery led the pack in nearly every test we performed. On high, this AC dropped the temperature in my bedroom by 10 degrees over eight hours. By the time I went to bed, my room was a frosty 63 degrees. For those who don't need to sleep in an igloo like I do, the unit has three fan speeds and an eco mode to choose from.

It's so quiet and energy efficient. On high, it registered at 47 decibels, which is quieter than any AC we've tested. The sound is incredibly smooth, too. It's just one consistent whoosh with no interruption or rattling. It's also one of the few units to receive Energy Star's "most efficient" award. In my tests, it clocked in at 0.46 kWh after an hour of use, just 0.06 more than the Midea U. Assuming about eight hours of use each day, it'll cost me just $51 to run this AC all summer.

Its excellent performance is thanks to its inverter technology. Inverter compressors have variable-speed motors that adjust to maintain the desired temperature. This constant low-level operation is more efficient and quieter than cycling high output on and off like traditional units do.

A unique feature is its air quality sensor. A light on the front of the unit changes between green (good), yellow (not so good), and red (bad), depending on the air quality of the room. I notice it switches to red when I'm burning a candle or cooking. The AC alone won't do a ton to improve the air — you'll need an air purifier or Frigidaire's PureAir allergen filter for that. Still, it's a nifty reminder of the effect actions have on indoor air quality.

I wish I could turn the air quality indicator light off. I'm a super sensitive sleeper, so having a bright light on in my room all night is a no-go. The only option for turning it off is the AC's "sleep mode." Unfortunately, this setting also raises the temperature 4 degrees over the course of the night to conserve energy, and I woke up feeling hot when I tried it out. I ended up covering the light with a strip of construction paper; it works, but also ruins the otherwise pleasant aesthetic of the AC.

Also great, but not for everyone

You can actually open the window when using this unit. The Midea U was the first AC to offer a true innovation over the classic window unit design: the ability to open the window while it's installed. This is owed to its U-shape, which keeps more of your window accessible for some fresh air and more light. Unfortunately, the very design that made it so innovative also caused it to accumulate mold, and in the spring of last year, Midea recalled the units. Recently, Midea began selling the U again with repair kits included, so we retested it. It's still a fantastic AC with unique features, but it's not for everyone (more on that below).

The repair kit is easy to install, but installing the AC is a pain. The repair consists of replacing one drain plug on the back of the unit. It's as simple as pulling the old one out and popping the new one in. General installation, on the other hand, is more involved than most ACs. You need to install a support bracket into the window, slide the unit on, and then cut foam to do the job that accordion folds do on most ACs. The whole process took me an hour. A lot of my time was devoted to making sure the unit was level, an extra important step to prevent the known mold issue. That said, our previous tester was able to do the install in 25 minutes, but noted — as I did — that the instructions aren't super clear.

It looks great and doesn't block light. My small NYC apartment has five windows total, so blocking out one makes a big difference in the amount of light that comes in. I love that the open sides of the Midea allow for more light. Like many, I leave my ACs installed year-round, so the option to let in fresh air by opening the window with the AC still in place is great for the shoulder season, where some days can dip into the 60s and others can creep up to the 90s. The unit itself is minimalist and sleek.

It cools powerfully and efficiently. Like the Frigidaire, the Midea U uses inverter technology to achieve impressive efficiency numbers. It consumed 9.6 kWh over a 24-hour period, which works out to 0.4 kWh each hour. Based on average electricity rates, it will cost you about 55 cents to run it for an eight-hour day. I was also impressed with how quietly the AC runs. The sound meter registered 48 decibels while it was operating at its highest setting.

But it's not for everyone. Because of the unique installation process, I don't recommend this AC for those who move homes often. Every window is different, and installation of the Midea U requires different parts for different window types and sizes. The AC comes with all these parts, but you have to hold onto them, so now I'm storing a drawer's worth of AC installation accessories for when I eventually move. There are also special considerations for city dwellers. Like many high-rises, my building requires ACs to be installed in specific windows with pre-installed support brackets. I had to DIY the Midea's required installation bracket around my pre-installed one. I made it work, but not everyone will be able to. Finally, mold remains a concern. Midea now recommends you drain the AC once a month — upkeep you don't have to do with traditional models. I wouldn't recommend this unit to anyone with severe allergies or asthma until we know more about how the repaired units resist mold growth.

Read our full Midea U-Shaped Air Conditioner review.

Best portable

If you don't have space for a window AC, this is the model we recommend. Portable ACs vastly underperform compared to window ACs. While window AC units suck in hot air and vent it directly out the window, portable ACs rely on a long tube to carry air from your room to the outside. Along the way, heat radiates from the tube and stays in the room, and the pressure differential from removing the hot air attracts more hot air. It takes a lot more energy (and money) to cool a room with a portable AC than a window AC. If a window unit is not an option, the LG Dual Inverter Smart Wi-Fi (LP1419IVSM) is your best bet.

For a portable AC, it's surprisingly quiet, efficient, and powerful. The LG portable AC is the top pick in my guide to the best portable air conditioners because it's quieter and more efficient than most models — all thanks to its dual-inverter compressor. Based on average electricity rates, it costs about 85 cents to run for an eight-hour day. It'll take about double the time to cool a room than a window unit, but it's very easy to install and use.

It's easy to set up and transport. Thanks to its handles, smooth casters, and a dedicated slot for the window slider when in transport, it only took about a minute to reinstall it in a new room. We like that it can accommodate a wider range of windows than the other units in this guide. It's Alexa-enabled and also has smart capabilities through the LG ThinQ app, which lets you schedule when the unit runs.

Read our full LG portable air conditioner review and check out our guide to the best portable air conditioners.

Best for large rooms

Large rooms need powerful ACs — and this option from Frigidaire delivers. With 14,000 Btu of cooling power, it can comfortably handle lofty and open spaces. The AC features an inverter compressor that adjusts its speed to maintain the room's target temperature rather than just turning off and on, as most ACs do. The Frigidaire FHWW145WE1 is one of the most powerful air conditioners I've tested, dropping the testing room's temperature by four degrees in one hour. However, it was also one of the loudest units I've tested and used the most electricity. Fortunately, it features an Eco mode that balances noise, power use, and cooling. When running it on high, the electricity cost will be about $1.56 on average for an eight-hour day.

It's super easy to set up. I was especially impressed with the seamless installation, considering our previous best air conditioner for large rooms pick, the discontinued LG LW1517IVSM Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner, took two hours to install and aggravated my chronic back pain with its 100-pound weight. 

It has basic smart features. You can change the temperature, mode, and fan speed. Plus, you can set schedules, so the AC automatically turns off when you aren't home or during your utility's surge pricing hours. Overall, this is an outstanding choice for cooling large rooms.

Most attractive

If you want to balance aesthetics with cooling, this AC is for you. While most air conditioners are boring-looking at best and an eyesore at worst, the Windmill Air Conditioner features an aesthetically pleasing, minimalist design and several additional front panel color options to match your home's decor. Side panels hide the ugly accordion folds, so the unit looks like an extension of your walls.

It took minutes to install. The Windmill comes with everything you'll need to get it into your window, including a pair of scissors. The process took our installer just 10 minutes from start to finish. You can control the AC via buttons discreetly placed on the top of the front panel, a remote, or the Windmill app. The app even has some features we haven't seen in other ACs, like the option to set the air temperature to adjust with the sun's position.

It has average noise levels and efficiency. In an hour, the 12,000 Btu version of the Windmill used 0.67 kWh. Based on average electricity costs, it will cost you about a dollar to run for eight hours — and less if you opt for a less souped-up Btu model. The unit was about 54 decibels on high speed, or a little louder than a refrigerator. Overall, this is the best air conditioner you can buy if aesthetics and easy installation are major considerations.

It also has air purification. For about $40 extra, you can add on a pack of air purifying filters, which eliminates the need to keep another bulky appliance around and might make you feel a little better about breathing in the city air.

Read our full Windmill Air Conditioner review.

Our top picks compared

What to look for in an air conditioner

When shopping for an AC, there are four primary factors to consider: type of AC, Btu, energy efficiency, and extra features. Below I detail more about what to look for in each category:

Types of air conditioners

There are four primary types of air conditioners: window units, portable air conditioners, ductless mini split, and through-the-wall units.

• Window ACs: This guide primarily recommends with window air conditioners because they're relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and can be used by both renters and homeowners. I think window ACs are the best for most people.
• Portable ACs: You may consider a portable air conditioner if you don't have windows that will fit a traditional unit. However, they're less efficient at cooling than window units. Read more about the best portable air conditioners and when you should buy a window AC vs a portable AC.
• Ductless mini-split air conditioners: Mini-splits are a more permanent cooling solution. They feature a wall unit connected to a compressor that sits outside your home. We only recommend this AC type for homeowners who do not want to invest in a full HVAC system.
• Through-the-wall ACs: These units should only be considered when you're aiming to cool a room with an exterior wall that does not have windows, or if this is the type of unit already installed in your home or rental. 

Btu

Btu is short for British thermal units. One Btu is equal to the amount of heat needed to raise 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. In cooling, Btu is used to measure how much heat is removed from a room. The more Btu per hour an air conditioner is rated for, the better job it does cooling. That said, you shouldn't just leap to buy the air conditioner with the highest Btu possible. For maximum cooling and efficiency, you need a unit that isn't too big or too small for your room size.

If you get a unit that is too big for your room, it will cool too quickly without removing the moisture, which will create a cold, clammy environment. Alternatively, an AC that is too small will be overworked, boosting your energy bills. Use the table below (from the Energy Star website) to determine the best air conditioner Btu for your room size:

Your Btu needs will be greater if the room has a ceiling more than 8 feet high, is very sunny, is regularly occupied by more than two people, or it's a kitchen.

It's common for model numbers for the same units to vary by one or two digits. This usually denotes different Btu ratings and colors, so choosing a model number that reflects the Btu rating right for your room is crucial.

Energy efficiency

Air conditioners have come a long way in terms of energy efficiency, but you'll want to look for a few things that will ensure you're getting the most efficient unit possible:

• Energy Star certification: The easiest way to determine if you're getting an energy-efficient appliance is to look for Energy Star certification. This program is run by the US Department of Energy and EPA to promote energy efficiency. "Any window AC model that earns the Energy Star label is independently certified to save energy, save money, and help protect the climate," says Enesta Jones, a spokesperson for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA oversees the Energy Star program.
• CEER: If you want to get deeper into the numbers, look at a unit's CEER. "The CEER, or Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio, is a measure of energy efficiency for a room air conditioner," Jones says. "The higher a room air conditioner's CEER value, the more efficient the room conditioner is when comparing across models with the same cooling capacity." The CEER is measured by dividing the Btu output by the amount of energy consumed both while the unit is running and while it's in standby mode.
• kWh: Finally, consider kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is a unit of energy that most electricity utilities use to measure your power use, and it's what I use to measure the energy consumption of the air conditioners I test.

Extra features and other considerations

Below are some other features and qualities you might consider when shopping for an AC:

• WiFi connectivity: Some ACs have WiFi connectivity that allows you to use your phone to schedule and control the unit remotely. You can crank the AC before you get home or turn it off after you leave to save energy. Many pair with smart speakers for voice operation. Smart ACs don't always work as advertised. In my reviews, I note if smart functions work well. In general, though, you're probably better off using a remote control, offered with all ACs in my guide.
• Noise: All AC units make some noise, but if you're installing a unit in a bedroom, you want to keep sound output consistent and at a minimum. I note the noise output of the picks above. 
• Window access: Some newer AC models (notably the Midea U) offer window access even when the AC is installed. This is a nice option if you live somewhere where the weather fluctuates a lot during the season.

How we test air conditioners

Our testing methodology

Here is how I test the main attributes I look for:

Installation: You'll probably only install and uninstall your AC once a year, but it can significantly impact your unit's performance. I timed how long it took to install each model, noted if I needed special tools, and assessed how easy it was to uninstall. I also looked at the window sizes each air conditioner would fit. Most will fit windows 27 to 36 inches wide. 

Cooling: I set up a digital thermometer on the opposite side of a 650-square-foot room from the air conditioner and determined its cooling capabilities by comparing the temperature before and after running the AC on its highest setting for an hour.

Noise: I took a decibel reading using a sound meter positioned 6 feet away from the AC running on high. I also noted any jarring sounds as the compressor turned on and off.

Air quality: Using an air quality monitor, I measured the particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in the air before and after running the AC for an hour. I noted any significant changes in air quality in my reviews, but the air quality never entered the "harmful" range during the tests, and I don't weigh this category heavily.

Power use: Using a smart plug, I measured how many kWh of power each unit used when on high for an hour. 

Extras: Almost all ACs have fan and dehumidifier modes, a window installation kit, a delayed on/off function, and a remote control. These are the basics. I give extra points if a unit has foam seals, curtain insulation, WiFi connectivity, or other bonuses.

Meet the experts behind the guide

James Brains, former senior reporter: I tested 14 different air conditioners for this guide with a series of objective tests. I use my testing results to make recommendations for every type of person, whether you need a budget-friendly window unit or a portable AC.

Lauren Savoie, former deputy editor: I completed an additional testing round with new releases to update our list of the best air conditioners. I used James' methodology for consistent results.

Air conditioner FAQs

How can you use your air conditioner efficiently?

Jones recommends you keep the unit level, circulate cool air with a fan, keep heat-producing objects away from the AC thermostat, and use a low fan speed on humid days. You can also save on energy costs by installing your air conditioner in a shaded spot and keeping the thermostat as high as is comfortable.

Can I use an air conditioner in a room without windows?

Yes. However, the hot air your AC produces needs a way out of the room. Otherwise, you'll cancel out your unit's cooling effects. If you don't have a window, pick an AC that sends its hot air out the back. You can install these in an exterior wall.

A portable unit gives you more options since the opening to the outdoors only needs to be as large as the exhaust hose.

Which is better: a portable air conditioner or a window/room air conditioner?

I cover this topic extensively in my comparison of portable air conditioners vs window air conditioners, but the short answer is: window units, for most people.

According to Jones, window ACs are more efficient than portable units, which aren't part of the Energy Star program. I found this to be true in my testing. The most efficient portable AC I tested used 60% more energy than the top window pick.

Portable ACs are great in spaces where there isn't a window that can support a window air conditioner. But, in general, if you have a single- or double-hung window, the best air conditioner is a window unit. It will offer better cooling and efficiency along with lower upfront and long-term costs.

What should you do if your air conditioner is too powerful for your room size?

If your AC has too much Btu for your room, it will cool faster than it can dehumidify, creating an uncomfortable, clammy environment. Consider purchasing a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture or replacing the AC with a more suitable unit. Another solution is increasing the space you are cooling. You can do this by keeping internal doors open.

How do you clean an air conditioner?

The most frequent maintenance task on your air conditioner is cleaning the filter. This should be done once or twice a month and is pretty simple. Just remove the filter, use a handheld vacuum to remove any debris, then wash it with soap and water, allowing it to dry completely before reinstalling it.

You should clean your AC's coils, fins, interior, and exterior every year. For details on how to do that, visit my article on how to clean window air conditioners.

What's the best air conditioner for a bedroom?

When shopping for the best air conditioner for a bedroom, look for an option with low noise levels, dimmable displays, and mid-range power. Our top pick is an excellent option for bedrooms, though you'll have to cover the air quality light if you're bothered by lights as you sleep.

• I'm a restaurant owner who shops at Trader Joe's for high-quality snacks and quick meals.
• I love the store's ranch-seasoned cashews, Thai wheat noodles, and chicken gyoza potstickers.
• The Everything But The Bagel seasoned smoked salmon and lobster bisque always end up in my cart.

As a restaurant and bar owner in New York City, I spend most of my days refining menus. Unfortunately, though, as fun and fulfilling as my job can be, it's turned me into a picky shopper — one who's unwilling to compromise on quality for the sake of convenience.

That's why I love turning to Trader Joe's for my own personal shopping. I find the store offers a great variety of high-quality items, from produce and snacks to ingredients for quick meals.

Here are my must-have items from Trader Joe's that always end up in my cart.

The Everything But The Bagel smoked salmon gets my stamp of approval.

As a New Yorker who has had my fair share of lox, I love Trader Joe's Everything But The Bagel seasoned smoked salmon. This miracle of a product delivers major flavor and makes me feel like I just picked up my favorite breakfast item from a local New York bodega.

Lately, I've been topping seeded crackers with this salmon and some labneh. I also like to add a few slices to a bowl of cottage cheese with tomatoes, green onions, and capers.

When I need a quick meal, I grab the tomato and roasted red-pepper soup.

Whenever I need an easy dinner with decadent flavor, Trader Joe's tomato and roasted red-pepper soup is on my shopping list.

The peppers in this soup are accompanied by a rich, silky body that avoids the tinny aftertaste some brands tend to have.

Trader Joe's lobster bisque tastes like it could be served in a restaurant.

Meal hackers, rejoice: Trader Joe's lobster bisque really shines as the quickest killer pasta sauce.

Just sauté some diced garlic and onions, add shrimp (or even the Trader Joe's langostino tails, if you can find them), toss in your pasta, and you'll have a restaurant-quality meal in no time.

The chicken gyoza potstickers are my secret to speedy weeknight dinners.

If I'm being honest, you can't go wrong with any of Trader Joe's different dumplings.

When I have an itch to take my weeknight meals to the next level, these chicken potstickers can elevate a basic stir-fry or instant noodles with minimal effort.

Speaking of noodles, I love Trader Joe's take on ramen.

Despite being just as easy to make, I think Trader Joe's ramen noodles are better than other instant versions, due to their chewy texture and delicious taste.

I recommend combining these with green onions, hard-boiled eggs, or leftover veggies to create a culinary masterpiece.

The Thai wheat noodles are super tasty.

In the past, I've had trouble finding Thai wheat noodles at other grocery stores. So, I'm always excited when I see them on the shelves at Trader Joe's.

To say that these have helped elevate my stir-fry, soup, and yaki-udon to another level would be an understatement.

Trader Joe's ranch-seasoned cashews have become my favorite snack to munch on.

Trader Joe's ranch-seasoned cashews have become an irreplaceable part of my snack arsenal, helping me power through those days where the time between meals can drag on.

It doesn't hurt that they're a huge hit on a cheese board, either.

A trip to Trader Joe's isn't complete without picking up the extra-hot habanero ghost-pepper salsa.

As someone who tends to stress-eat as much as he snacks, this salsa provides the best of both worlds.

Not only does it have the intense spice I crave — something I rarely find in store-bought foods — but it's also hot enough that I genuinely can't eat too much in one sitting.

Keep reading our Trader Joe's diaries here.

• I recently spent a few nights on Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Luna.
• The delicious food, kid-friendly perks, adults-only amenities, and live entertainment impressed me.
• This sailing reminded me why I recommend Norwegian's Prima Plus-class ships to first-time cruisers.

On paper, Norwegian Luna — with its over-the-top roller-coaster-waterslide, thrilling 10-story free-fall slide, and high-tech mini-golf course — might sound like an overstimulating cruise ship.

Yet, when you step on board the new 1,056-foot-long vessel, you'll quickly realize it feels more like a peaceful upscale hotel than the overwhelming family vacation you were secretly dreading.

That's the beauty of Norwegian's Prima Plus-class ships, including Luna and its preceding sister ship, Aqua: the ability to blend contemporary spaces with an impressive lineup of amenities, making it a great option for cruise-curious travelers.

It's why Norwegian Luna has become one of my go-to recommendations for first-time family cruisers.

Norwegian invited me on Luna's complimentary three-night non-revenue test cruise in late March, almost a year after I first sailed on (and loved) Aqua. After my many years of reporting on cruises, I still found myself impressed.

Upon stepping on board, I was instantly met with a list of amenities for all ages, from excitable children to their weary, piña-colada-seeking parents.

The youngest travelers are sure to be drawn to the Moon Climber (a netted obstacle course), the water playground, and the Glow Court's LED walls and floor that can instantly transform into different sports courts.

Its crème-de-la-crème amenity is the Aqua SlideCoaster, a hybrid roller-coaster-waterslide.

Its robot arm catapults riders upward of 31 miles per hour into the waterslide tube, which then becomes an unexpectedly slower, leisurely ride. The thrill, followed by the peaceful chill, makes it one of my favorite amenities on Luna.

It's sure to accrue long lines during a traditional sailing — but at least it's free, unlike the $5-per-player 12-hole mini-golf course and the pay-to-play arcade games, which range from open-air country fair-like booths to high-tech virtual-reality simulators.

Parents won't feel left out: The ship also has grown-up-friendly spaces, such as an adult-only pool club.

Drop the youngsters off at the kids' day-care center and head to Vibe Beach Club, an outdoor adult-only lounge with pool chairs, hot tubs, a bar, and little perks like chilled towels and fruit — although you will have to pay an admissions fee.

For those who enjoy an afternoon walk, the wraparound open-air walkway on deck eight, Ocean Boulevard, is free (albeit not age-exclusive) and lined with more loungers, infinity pools, and a glass walkway with views of the ocean below.

Or, head to one of the 16 or so other bars and lounges on the ship.

Some lounges are exclusive to travelers staying in studios (solo cabins) or the Haven (the ship's highest-end suites). The rest are open to all guests, and average about $15 per drink without a beverage package.

I'm especially partial to Swirl Wine Bar, a cozy nook with an expansive global wine list and decor that makes it look like an upscale New York City watering hole.

For a more rambunctious evening, head to Syd Norman's Pour House for the cover bands. Or, for a daytime hang, head to the Bull's Eye Bar for a cocktail and a round of high-tech darts.

If you'd like a taste of a popular chain at sea, travelers can even stop by Luna's full-service Starbucks.

The ship also has about 15 restaurants.

Of the ship's 15 or so restaurants, around half are up-charged.

Venues such as the Mexican, Mediterranean, and French restaurants all cost extra, ranging between $40 to $60 per person. I'm partial to the Thai restaurant Sukhothai, which serves dishes such as papaya salad and red curry with roasted duck breast.

My favorite onboard dining option, Indulge Food Hall, is free.

The Local Bar and Grill serves sandwiches and bar-food classics, while Surfside Cafe dishes up casual burgers and pizzas. The ship also has traditional main dining rooms and buffets.

Skip these and head to Indulge Food Hall, which features 10 diverse stations (ranging from Spanish tapas to Texan barbecue) that can be ordered using digital tableside tablets.

Forget the "cruise food is bad" stereotype — it doesn't apply at Indulge.

The noodle station served surprisingly authentic dan dan noodles, while the Indian stall prepared better-than-expected curries paired with tandoor-fresh naan. For warm Caribbean afternoons, the plant-based stand's refreshing salad bowls were a perfect light lunch.

Indulge is quick, convenient, and stacked with more options than you could try in one sailing.

Be sure to catch a post-dinner show.

Norwegian Luna has a slew of options for live entertainment.

"Elton: A Celebration of Elton John" marries the classic song-and-dance show format with a well-choreographed rotating stage, acrobatics, and even a (clothed) pole dancer.

If you love acrobatics, you'll enjoy "Hiko: Innovation meets Wonder," an elaborate production with aerial silks, trampolines, and impressive projections. It's less song-and-dance, more Cirque du Soleil.

If you hate audience participation, skip the intimate $45-per-person, 21-and-older "LunaTique: Pop Circus" show.

The raunchy show features some lightweight burlesque (as in, a bit of cheek) and endless explicit jokes.

The biggest perk? Your $45 ticket includes four cocktails served throughout the show.

The biggest downside? You could be called onstage to perform humiliating tasks. I felt sorry for the young woman who was called up, bent over, and asked to say something suggestive into the microphone.

Wind down in one of the ship's 1,809 staterooms.

Accommodations range from a windowless inside cabin for solo travelers to a two-bedroom, two-story penthouse in the Haven.

The cruise line assigned me an aft family balcony cabin on the tenth deck, which had all the expected stateroom amenities: a queen bed, a separate pull-out couch bed, large closets, and a spacious shower.

When booking, cabin placement is definitely worth considering. My stateroom overlooked Ocean Boulevard, which meant I heard a steady stream of loud (and at times, drunken) chatter throughout the day whenever I left my balcony sliding door open.

The cheapest stateroom starts at $860 per person — a price inclusive of exciting shows, diverse amenities, and some of the best food at sea.

The ship is spending its inaugural year operating weeklong round-trip cruises from Miami to Caribbean destinations such as Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's private island), Mexico, and the Virgin Islands.

Prices range from $860 per person for a windowless inside cabin to over $6,580 per person for a Haven suite.

The cost could be worth it if you're looking for a cruise vacation with a high-end hotel ambiance but plenty of kid-friendly amenities.

The lounges feel sumptuous with their contemporary and minimalist decor, while the activities offer micro-theme park-like amenities without looking too flashy or contrived (which Carnival and Royal Caribbean can lean into). And perhaps just as important: The food is great. I still miss the curry from Indulge Food Hall.

If you're looking for the biggest, most exciting cruise ships on the market, Royal Caribbean's mega-ships (like Icon of the Seas) should still be your go-to. However, if you like a balance of fun amenities with well-designed spaces, then I think Norwegian Luna is one of the best options on the market.

• Berkshire Hathaway posted its first quarterly earnings without Warren Buffett in charge on Saturday.
• New CEO Greg Abel followed Buffett's lead by selling stocks and building a record cash pile.
• Abel will take questions from Berkshire shareholders on Saturday at his first annual meeting as CEO.

Greg Abel's tenure as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO is off to a robust start.

Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett at the start of this year, oversaw a 17% jump in operating earnings to $11.3 billion in the three months to March 31, Berkshire's first quarter earnings report revealed on Saturday.

Berkshire posted strong growth in insurance-underwriting profits, and higher earnings across its BNSF Railway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and manufacturing, service, and retailing units. However, its earnings were flattered by a foreign-exchange gain.

Abel and his team offloaded a net $8 billion of stocks last quarter, purchasing $15.9 billion of shares but selling $24.1 billion worth. The disposals marked the 14th consecutive quarter in which the company has been a net seller of stocks. The last time they bought more stocks than they sold was the third quarter of 2022.

Berkshire refrained from stock buybacks in January and February, but resumed repurchasing shares in March. It repurchased $24 million worth of Class A shares at an average price of about $730,000, and $210 million worth of Class B shares at an average price of around $487.

For comparison, it bought back around $17 billion worth of Berkshire shares over the course of 2022 and 2023.

The stock sales and relative lack of buybacks catapulted Berkshire's pile of cash and Treasury bills to a record $380 billion, after deducting about $17 billion of payables for Treasury bills.

Berkshire's cash pile has almost tripled in size over the last three years, from around $130 billion at the end of 2022. It now exceeds the current market capitalizations of some of the world's biggest companies, including Netflix, Chevron, and Bank of America.

Buffett, a renowned bargain hunter, has struggled to find stocks and businesses worth buying in recent years. Abel said in his first letter to shareholders in February that he wouldn't roll out a dividend or strike deals just for the sake of putting the cash pile to work.

The quarterly results are the first set since Buffett ended his six-decade tenure as Berkshire's CEO. While the firm released Q4 results in February, after Buffett had stepped down, the "Oracle of Omaha" was still in charge when the results were compiled.

Abel, long groomed to be Buffett's successor, will preside over his first annual meeting at the helm of Berkshire on Saturday.

He will take the stage for a Q&A with shareholders from 9:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. ET). The Q&A is expected to be much shorter than Buffett's traditional appearances onstage, which often ran to several hours as he discussed everything from stocks to politics to his favorite food and drink.

Business Insider's Theron Mohamed will be in the press box watching the event live and reporting on what unfolds.

• Naomi Holbrook's 92-year-old dad is one of the biggest priorities in her life.
• He has dementia and had a stroke last year, and she's his sole caretaker.
• She says it's been difficult to maintain friendships and a work-life balance.

This as-told-to-essay is based on a conversation with Naomi Holbrook, 51 who is based in Sussex, UK. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Being 51, single, and child-free, I've stopped counting the number of times people have commented on how easy it must be to take care of my 92-year-old dad, because to them, I have no other commitments and therefore all the time in the world to dedicate to him.

Other people I know who are juggling caring for older parents with raising children often comment on how they believe my situation is far easier than theirs. I have had many people say to me, "You haven't got children, you haven't got a partner — you've only got you to think about."

The comments have been coming for years. In my 30s and 40s, it was all about how I needed to settle down. Then I would get asked whether I was worried about who would take care of me when I get old. I've always felt subject to other people's opinions. Even when they don't say something, I often have this feeling as though I'm being judged.

My dad is one of my biggest priorities

I made the decision in 2023 to move my dad 300 miles from where we grew up in Devon to Sussex, where I live, so I could be close to him as his age advances and his health deteriorates. He's become one of the biggest priorities in my life.

My dad lives in an independent living complex for seniors about five streets away from me. He has a carer twice a week, but more for socializing than domestic and personal tasks, which, despite his dementia, he's able to manage. He showers, shaves, and dresses himself every day, opting for a shirt and tie. He has a daily routine: catching the bus into town to get coffee and cake, and heating up a microwave meal every evening. I see him regularly throughout the week.

I'm appreciative of how close we are, especially when it has been complicated at times. My mom died when I was 19, and my dad is of the generation where you don't talk about your feelings — you just keep calm and carry on, as the British mantra goes.

I do have an older sister, but she, her husband, and their child live in Cheshire, about 260 miles from where my dad lived before. She's not involved in his care at all, and we don't really speak about it. I've just accepted that he's my responsibility.

My life has been greatly affected by caring for my dad

Now, I'm very much my dad's main companion and source of support. Since he's moved, he's had Covid twice, an acute head injury, multiple falls, fractures, and a stroke, which have involved hospital stays and appointments, and further confusion when you take into account his dementia.

Because I'm self-employed, I've been able to be flexible with my work whenever I've had to drop everything to be by his side. I've done client Zoom calls from my dad's living room while he's been asleep. I published my book last year, which I wrote from hospital waiting rooms.

There is no work-life balance — everything is just integrated, which is something I talk to my clients about a lot. I work full-time on my coaching and mentoring business and spend weekends catching up on not just my life admin but my dad's, too. Or I will be catching up on work I couldn't do because I took time out during the week to take him to a hospital appointment, which I have to make for him, and put in his calendar.

Socializing with friends has had to take a back seat, because caring for my dad can be so all-consuming. And while I haven't dated for about 10 years, I would like to be in a situation where, if I met the right person, I could pursue it, but it's just not possible right now. I hardly go on vacation as it is, and keep work trips short, in case something happens to my dad.

I'm trying to make the best of the situation. I started to feel like the relationship with my dad had turned into me being his secretary, so I am now conscious of having a fun day out with him every few weeks.

I'm aware that the time I have left with him is limited, so however things are with him now, it won't be forever. There will be another chapter in my life.

• Airlines are stepping in to help stranded Spirit customers after the budget carrier folded.
• United is offering price-capped, one-way tickets until May 16.
• American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and Frontier are among others to offer support.

United Airlines is offering price-capped tickets to Spirit customers who have had their flights canceled following Saturday's announcement that the budget airline has shut down.

"If you had a ticket booked on Spirit and your flight was canceled, for the next two weeks you can visit united.com/specialfares to find price-capped, one-way tickets from most cities where Spirit flew, including Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Newark, New Orleans and Orlando," United said in a statement.

It said most of these special fares are capped at $199, with longer flights priced no higher than $299.

It advised travelers to visit united.com/specialfares and share their Spirit confirmation number, proof of purchase for travel between May 2 and May 16, and their United MileagePlus number (sign up to United MileagePlus is instant and free).

In a message to stranded Spirit employees, United said: "We're extending pass travel benefits on United to you for the next two weeks to help you get home safely, and you can book in the ID90 portal."

ID90 is a booking platform for airline employees for travel on other airlines at discounted rates. In addition, Spirit employees were encouraged to apply for open roles at United.

American has similarly capped fares on routes it overlapped with Spirit. Customers can book via its website or app. It's also helping rescue stranded Spirit employees and encouraging them to apply for jobs at American.

Budget airlines JetBlue and Frontier offered to help Spirit customers with canceled tickets in posts on social media, while the Department of Transportation said Delta, Southwest, Allegiant, Avelo, and Breeze had also agreed to support impacted passengers in different ways.

In a statement in linked to on X, JetBlue said: "If your travel plans have been impacted by the suspension of Spirit Airlines' operations, JetBlue is here to help you find alternative options.

"To assist stranded customers with imminent travel to and from cities we serve, we're offering $99 one-way fares for travelers with proof of a valid Spirit itinerary for the same route for travel through May 6, 2026. If you're stranded, call 1-800-JETBLUE to discuss your situation."

Frontier posted on X, ahead of news of the closure: "We are ready to support customers who may be impacted if Spirit Airlines ceases operations, with a focus on helping people continue their travel plans with low-fare options."

Spirit customers who booked with credit or debit cards shouldn't be out of pocket. In its advice to customers, Spirit said: "While we are not able to help rebook your flight on another airline, we will automatically process refunds for any flights purchased through Spirit with a credit or debit card to the original form of payment."

• Meagan and Scott Edson moved from a 2,000-square-foot home in Illinois to a shed in Colorado.
• They turned the $12,000 shed into a tiny home for themselves and their three dogs.
• They said the experience has changed their life for the better.

Meagan and Scott Edson's home has been intentionally designed, to say the least.

From their bunk bed to the loft that hides their water tank, they didn't waste an inch of space in their home. They couldn't, as their house is actually a 380-square-foot shed.

What was supposed to be a temporary solution has become a tiny home for the Edsons since 2020. Nearly six years after they moved in, they told Business Insider the house has changed their lives.

Meagan and Scott Edson didn't plan to live in a tiny home when they moved from Illinois to Colorado in 2020.

Meagan Edson, 55, and Scott Edson, 41, bought a half-acre of land in Leadville, Colorado, in 2017.

They were living in Barrington, Illinois, and happily running their gym, but they planned to move to Colorado eventually, as Meagan Edson's daughter was in college there and her son intended to end up in Denver.

Then, in 2020, they had to shutter their gym amid the pandemic.

"We had to close our doors, and we thought, 'Why not just go?'" Meagan said.

They sold their house, bought a camper, and set out for Colorado with their four dogs in July 2020. They started working with a company to build a barndominium on their property, planning to live in a camper as the work was completed.

Today, Meagan owns her business, Bear + Scout, upcycling lucky horseshoes and other products, and Scott is a sales manager for a law enforcement equipment company. They now have three dogs.

When the barndominium plans fell through, the Edsons needed to find a more comfortable housing solution.

By September 2020, the Edsons learned that the company they had hired hadn't actually prepared plans for their barndominium, so they had to find alternative housing as winter approached. Their camper was too small to live in for an extended period, particularly with their dogs.

The Edsons decided to buy a 380-square-foot shed from Shed Depot and turn it into a tiny home. It cost $12,000.

The shed had plywood floors, solar panels for electricity, and no electric heat. It also wasn't connected to a plumbing system, and they didn't have time to get it hooked up before the colder months started.

Instead, Scott Edson installed a water tank in the yard that can hold 150 gallons at a time, which they fill from a nearby hydrant. It functions similarly to an RV pump.

They hard-connect the tank to the neighborhood water system in the warm months, but for the bulk of the year, they just use the hydrant as their main water source.

They updated the shed after realizing they would be there more permanently.

The Edsons made the shed work for around two years as it was, dealing with the lack of electric heating and other creature comforts, while deciding whether to stay put or find an alternative housing solution.

"In 2021 and 2022, we contemplated buying a house somewhere else and waiting on this property, but everything was so crazy up here price-wise," Meagan said. "We live in a very desirable area for recreation, so a lot of people were buying second homes and paying cash. And to rent something, we had four dogs, so that was not an option."

In 2023, they decided to make the shed work until they could afford to build a larger home on their property. Since they would be there longer, they invested in renovations to make it more comfortable. Scott said they spent around $30,000 in renovations over the years.

They swapped their plywood floors for laminate, upgraded the electrical system, and got a heating unit. Three years later, they've come to love their tiny home.

When you walk into the shed, you're greeted by a kitchen and mudroom.

To the right of the Edsons' entryway, hooks hang from the wall where they stow jackets and hats. Their shoes sit below the hooks, and their trash can sits nearby, away from their sink and counterspace.

When they bought the shed, the kitchen was pretty basic.

"We started off with a commercial sink and a separate metal restaurant table," Scott said. "Since then, we put in real cabinets and a butcher block countertop."

They also have open shelving sitting above the sink, using baskets to store some items. Plaid curtains under the sink add to the cozy, cabin feel.

The shed is mostly one large space.

The kitchen sits at the front of the shed, separated from the living area by an archway.

Past the kitchen, an open-concept room serves as an office, living area, bedroom, and dining room, while the bathroom and closet sit at the back of the shed.

Scott splits his time traveling for work and working from home, so he uses the desk as his office when he isn't on the road.

The Edsons have leaned into the cabin aesthetic with antler decor and iron light fixtures.

Their dining area sits across from the office.

The Edsons have upgraded the seating in their tiny space since moving in, creating a dining nook.

A bench sits against the wall that separates the kitchen and living room, while a chair is on the other side.

They use hanging storage wherever possible. For instance, a guitar hangs on the wall rather than sitting on the floor.

The couple has a bunk bed that works as a couch during the day.

Rather than a traditional bed, the Edsons have a bunk bed in their home.

The bottom mattress is full-sized and mostly serves as a couch for the Edsons. A TV sits across from it, so they often lounge there, as do their dogs. When they have guests, they can sleep on that mattress comfortably.

A queen-sized mattress sits on the second level, which is where the Edsons sleep.

They don't have a ton of storage, but they make it work.

They have a closet in their bathroom and two lofts, both of which they use for storage. The loft above their bed houses their additional bedding and water tank, while the one above the kitchen houses their out-of-season clothing.

They also have a storage unit for their larger furniture that doesn't fit in the shed. Overall, though, they try not to have too much stuff.

"We got rid of a lot of stuff," Meagan said. "I do have some stuff back in Illinois that eventually we'll get down here, but otherwise, we're pretty much starting from scratch."

The bathroom and closet sit together.

When you walk into the Edsons' bathroom, the shower sits directly in front of you, while the sink and composting toilet are to the right. The composting toilet doesn't bother the Edsons.

The walls surrounding the bathroom serve as their closet, thanks to a combination of shelving and hanging storage.

The shower and lack of laundry are two of the biggest downsides of the shed for the Edsons.

Because of their water system, they don't have much hot water. It's one of the biggest pain points of the shed, particularly for Meagan.

"We only have a 10-gallon hot-water tank, so the showers suck, especially for me as a woman," she said. "Between shaving and hair washing, I always say I have to pick one or the other. So one shower gets the shaving, and the next shower gets the hair washing. That's challenging."

They also don't have a washer or dryer in the house, which is tough for the couple.

"I never thought that I'd be going to the laundromat at age 55, but I do," Meagan said. However, she makes it more fun by taking one of her dogs, Levi, with her, turning it into an outing for both of them.

The Edsons also added an outdoor leisure space and an additional shed to their property.

The second shed is 135 square feet and sits a few yards from their tiny home. It serves as a gym for the couple and a studio space for Meagan's business.

They also fenced in their yard for their dogs, and they created a seating area between the two sheds.

"We have a little outdoor fire pit. Our grill is out there," Scott said. "There's a little outdoor living space. Where we live, we have eight months of winter, but the four months of summertime and fall are beautiful to be out."

The comfortable outdoor living area makes their home feel bigger.

Overall, the Edsons have been surprised by how much they enjoy their small space.

The Edsons have everything they need in their shed, and they appreciate that it's simpler to clean than a larger home.

"I vacuumed yesterday, and it probably took 10 minutes," Scott said.

Likewise, they don't have a mortgage, so they're only paying for utilities each month. And despite the small space, they've still been able to entertain and have loved ones stay with them.

"We had a full Thanksgiving early on," Meagan said. "That was before, when we had plywood floors. My daughter and her boyfriend at the time came up, stayed, and brought another dog. We had five dogs, four adults, and a full Thanksgiving dinner."

And their dogs might be the biggest fans of the tiny space.

"Two of them are pit bulls, so they're Velcro dogs," Meagan said. "They are just on top of us all the time, so they're like, 'This is great.'"

Now, the Edsons are building a house, but they're taking lessons from the shed into the design.

Six years after they moved to Colorado, the Edsons are finally getting a larger space. They bought a 1,000-square-foot kit home for their property, which should be finished in the fall of 2026. They're looking forward to having laundry in their home and to taking longer showers, but they also said they'll miss the shed in some ways.

"It's really changed my perspective on everything, to be honest," Meagan said. "I grew up in a pretty affluent family, so nice houses, and the typical suburban life like you see in the movies. I never felt like I fit in there."

"Here, you're really present," she continued. "There are no distractions. Scott and I have connected more than we ever have. I couldn't be happier. I don't feel the need to rush out because I'm bored and go to Target and buy random stuff that I don't need. I've never felt more grounded in my life, who I am, and what matters to me."

• Warren Buffett may be out as CEO, but he's still central to Berkshire Hathaway's image.
• The iconic investor appeared on all manner of products at Berkshire's shareholder shopping day.
• We spotted a muppet-like Buffett embracing a giant rat, and a product dubbed "Warren's Oracle Orb."

Warren Buffett may have retired as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO, but he's still the face of the company.

Business Insider is on the ground for Berkshire's annual meeting on Saturday, and ahead of the start of proceedings, we went hunting for the best Buffett merch ahead. We spotted the "Oracle of Omaha" on T-shirts, tote bags, tea towels, plush toys, rubber ducks, and more.

Roughly two dozen of Berkshire's subsidiaries — including Geico, Nebraska Furniture Mart, and BNSF Railway — set up shop on Friday and Saturday in the CHI Health Center, the venue for its annual shareholder meeting in Buffett's hometown of Omaha.

Shoppers lined up in droves to snag the deals on offer.

Berkshire lures shoppers every year with discounted prices for shareholders on a broad range of products.

Friday's shareholder shopping day didn't start until 12 p.m., but people began lining up several hours earlier to nab the best deals.

Once the doors opened, eager buyers rushed to score limited-edition Squishmallows and beat the lines for Fruit of the Loom apparel.

We didn't expect to see Warren Buffett with his arm around a giant rat.

Bell Labs, a manufacturer of rodent-control products that Berkshire acquired last August, featured a muppet-style Buffett with his arm around a huge stuffed rat in its booth.

While they weren't for sale, it was striking to see the newest member of the Berkshire family put its billionaire chairman's likeness to good use.

The Buffett memorabilia ranged from mainstream to niche.

Berkshire's subsidiaries didn't shy away from dressing up Buffett's image to suit their wares.

Justin Brands, a footwear business, was selling a Buffett-themed cowboy boot jack in small and large sizes.

Buffett, in cowboy apparel, also appeared on golf-club covers, socks, and air fresheners.

Buffett shared the spotlight on several items.

The key theme of this year's meeting is Berkshire's leadership transition, as Greg Abel succeeded Buffett as CEO at the start of this year.

Nebraska Furniture Mart used official meeting imagery of Buffett alongside Abel on products such as tote bags and tea towels, along with the tagline: "The Legacy Continues."

BNSF Railway showcased Buffett and Abel in plush form.

Shareholders scrambled to buy one of only 2,000 boxes of Buffett and Abel plush toys that Squishmallows made in partnership with BNSF Railway.

Squishmallows, toymaker Jazwares' flagship brand, also teamed up with Geico, NetJets, and See's Candies to make special-edition plush toys for each of those subsidiaries.

Pilot stocked some of the most unusual Buffett merch.

Pilot, the truck stop chain that Berkshire acquired outright in 2024, showcased several fun items at its booth.

They included an item reminiscent of a Magic 8 Ball called Warren Oracle's Orb, as well as ornaments and T-shirts featuring Buffett's hairline and glasses.

Pilot was also selling Berkshire-themed onesies, trucker hats, golf balls, and coffee. Another highlight was a T-shirt listing some of Buffett's favorite things: bridge, ice cream, books, peanut brittle, Omaha, and investing.

Oriental Trading had the widest selection of Buffett items by far.

A traffic jam quickly formed in Oriental Trading's booth as shoppers crowded around the Buffett-themed items on display.

Those ranged from craft kits and bobbleheads to rubber ducks, T-shirts, bibs, beach towels, mugs, flip books, miniature busts, chocolate bars, and pull-back racers.

Buffett was decked out in ice hockey gear at See's Candies.

See's Candies celebrated Abel's favorite pastime, ice hockey, with its packaging this year.

The boxed-chocolate seller imagined Abel, Buffett, and founder Mary See fully geared up and playing the sport.

Perhaps the hidden message for shareholders is that, like Wayne Gretzky, Abel skates to where the puck is going to be.

Charlie Munger wasn't forgotten.

Buffett's late business partner, Charlie Munger, was much less of a presence in Berkshire's booths.

We enjoyed seeing a plush Munger munching on a box of his beloved peanut brittle — the result of a collaboration between Squishmallows and See's Candies.

• Hotel Grande Bretagne, which opened in 1874, is the oldest and most famous hotel in Athens, Greece.
• The hotel survived both World Wars and was where the modern Green government was formed.
• Its rooftop restaurant, which has a perfect view of the Acropolis, was my favorite part.

Tucked into the beating heart of Athens, with a perfect view of the Acropolis and mere steps from Greece's former royal palace, stands the Hotel Grande Bretagne.

It's a noble name with a reputation to match, attracting powerful leaders and royals from all over the world, including British kings (Charles III) and American queens (Lady Gaga).

Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Marriott property, is not only the oldest hotel in the city that birthed democracy, but it's also the most famous. So when I planned a trip to Greece, I knew I had to stay there.

Could the 5-star hotel live up to its royal reputation?

The Hotel Grande Bretagne has always had a prime spot in the capital city.

The Grande Bretagne sits in Syntagma Square, which was renamed in 1843 to commemorate the first constitution granted to the Greek people ("Syntagma" means "constitution" in Greek).

Many hotel rooms have views of the Greek Parliament, allowing guests to watch the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony from their balconies. Also across the street is the National Garden — a lush escape with flowers, ponds, and even some ancient ruins.

Additional tourist attractions — including the Monastiraki flea market and Acropolis museum — are within walking distance from the Grande Bretagne, and a metro station is just around the corner.

I was immediately impressed with the towering columns and ornate touches in the opulent lobby.

Men in forest-green jackets with gold buttons and matching hats opened the front door, inviting me into a lobby already bustling with energy on a Sunday morning.

A cornucopia of patterns, including the iconic meander motif that borders so much ancient Greek architecture, covered the marble floors. Heavy gold mirrors hung from the walls, adding to the regal atmosphere.

I admired the marble and gold accents as I checked in.

"You're Greek!" a woman at the front desk happily exclaimed after looking at my passport. She then sent me up to the sixth floor so I could see how the VIP check-in differed.

A receptionist delivered a heavy flute of Champagne and apologized that my room wasn't ready, revealing that the hotel — which has 259 guest rooms and 61 suites — was "fully booked, again."

She noted that guests staying in the hotel's suites have access to a 24-hour butler service, which includes a WhatsApp number you can text to book reservations or ask for recommendations.

I decided to head to the pool while I waited for my room, sharing an elevator with a British couple and their teenage son.

"How's the Champagne?" the man asked his wife.

"Pretty good," she replied. "Not as good as the one on the flight."

For the record, I thought the Champagne was delicious.

The hotel's outdoor pool overlooks Mount Lycabettus, the highest point in central Athens.

It's a stunning sight, especially as you look out across the sea of hundreds of white-roofed apartment buildings.

The pool itself was packed, no surprise since I was there during the peak summer season. When I tried to sit on a daybed that appeared unclaimed, a staff member ran up to me and said it was reserved. In fact, all 16 daybeds were occupied.

He asked if I wanted to be added to a waitlist, but I opted to grab some lunch instead. When I went back to the pool right after breakfast the next day, there were plenty of open daybeds.

For lunch, I decided to try the Winter Garden restaurant in the hotel lobby.

With its elaborate stained-glass ceiling, high-tea offering, and classical music playing in the background, the atmosphere felt more like a British palace than a Grecian resort.

The menu similarly leaned on dishes you could find in any European or American hotel: Caesar salad, burgers, lobster rolls, carbonara pasta, and avocado toast.

It was a bit of a mishmash, but I spotted a few Greek classics to order.

I opted for the Greek salad and avgolemono soup.

My parents immigrated to the US from Greece in the 1980s and cooked dishes like avgolemono soup and Greek salad (also known as horiatiki) weekly. I'm a tough critic when it comes to both, but I also find them deeply nostalgic.

The Greek salad at Winter Garden was solid, albeit unmemorable. It didn't compare to the fantastic version I had eaten at Ella — a nearby Athens restaurant — a few nights prior, or to the best I've ever had (my mother's, obviously).

My father's avgolemono soup also reigned supreme, though I did enjoy this version's lovely, light broth and tender chicken.

The presentation for both dishes was also sloppier than I'd expect at a luxury hotel. I'm currently taking a monthslong cooking course, and my teacher won't even let us serve our classmates' dishes without wiping the plates. When you're operating at a 5-star level, these small details make all the difference.

When I reached out to the hotel for comment regarding the presentation of Winter Garden's food, a spokesperson apologized that it wasn't as "refined as it should have been."

My room was ready by the time lunch was finished.

The Grande Bretagne offers a variety of rooms and suites, some with views of the Acropolis. Room rates start at $641 per night, while suites start at $985.

Business Insider received a media rate for two nights.

My suite opened into the living room, which featured a small couch, a desk, a large window, and a balcony with a view of the Greek Parliament.

Heavy drapes, a chandelier, and the patterned rug added to the palatial feel, but the dependence on yellow and beige tones was a bit one-note.

Instead of being transportive, it made the room feel a little stuffy and old-fashioned. A few splashes of color would have made the space feel a tad more welcoming.

A spokesperson for Grande Bretagne said the hotel's rooms "reflect a classic design inspired by the heritage and character of the hotel."

The bedroom featured a plush king bed underneath a chandelier.

Illustrations and lamps flanked the bed, while a floor-to-ceiling window, framed by fringed drapes, provided natural light.

I sank into the deluxe bed and, with the help of its soft sheets, immediately surrendered to an afternoon nap.

The marble bathroom was huge, a rare find in a European hotel room.

The bathroom featured a separate shower and tub, along with double vanities. It was easily one of the most spacious showers I'd seen during my travels across Europe — always a huge plus.

That night, I headed upstairs to have dinner at the GB Roof Garden Restaurant & Bar.

Located on the eighth floor of the Grande Bretagne, the open-air restaurant features beautiful, uninterrupted views of the Acropolis and Parthenon.

The restaurant's interior design is kept relatively simple and chic with comfy sand-colored chairs, wooden accents, and white marble columns.

It's a smart choice — why try to compete with the most famous landmark in all of Greece?

Watching the sun set over the Acropolis was a moment I'll never forget.

The Parthenon appeared to glow as it basked in the sun's rays. The sight of it was so beautiful, I couldn't help get emotional. And I wasn't the only one.

"I don't care what this meal costs," I overheard a man softly tell his wife at the table next to me. "You can't put a price on this."

GB Roof Garden's dishes were fresh, creative, and beautifully plated.

At the recommendation of my server, I kicked things off with the seafood trilogy — a carpaccio-style dish seasoned with chives and lime. The fish was oh-so-tender, and I loved the splashes of chili oil, which added some heat and artistic flair.

An appetizer of wild artichoke stuffed with pickled artichoke and anchovy was another standout. The dish was topped with a generous serving of caviar, roasted leaves for crunch, and a sauce made with additional leaves and infused with mint and cumin.

Unexpected and extremely memorable, it was fine dining at its best.

The breakfast buffet is also served at GB Roof Garden, offering fresh Greek pastries and beautiful morning views.

I have always had a deep love for hotel breakfast buffets, especially when they're unafraid to stray from the classics.

GB Roof Garden embraces its roots with a plethora of sweet and savory phyllo-covered pies, including spanakopita (stuffed with spinach) and tiropitakia (stuffed with cheese). They both get my stamp of approval.

The strapatsada, a Greek dish of scrambled eggs with tomato and feta, was another highlight. The eggs were cooked to creamy and cheesy perfection, a rare find when they aren't made-to-order.

I also really appreciated that the hotel's breakfast opens at 6:30 a.m., allowing me to grab a hearty meal before my 14-hour flight back to Los Angeles. It turned out to be necessary, since I was flying with the budget airline Norse Atlantic.

Even if you can't stay at the Grande Bretagne, the rooftop restaurant is a must-visit in Athens.

Grande Bretagne is a 5-star hotel with 5-star prices, but you can still experience some of its magic with a dinner or some drinks at the GB Roof Garden.

There are many places in Athens that advertise Acropolis views, but this was the best I saw during my week in the city.

Who knows, maybe you'll cry too!

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

'Your LinkedIn is trash'

Those were the blunt words I heard from Latoya Antonio, a Spencer Stuart advisor, as she gave a presentation on how to ensure executives are prepared to join boards and other forms of executive leadership.

I was sitting in an ornately decorated conference room at ExcelerateHer Women's Leadership Summit, founded by PMM Agency CEO Kimberly Blackwell.

Still, Antonio's wise words made my ears perk up because even though it was harsh, I knew it was true for many. How often are we poring over our LinkedIn profile and not just listing our experience, but curating it to strategically position us in our careers?

Business Insider's newsroom is filled with LinkedIn fans, and it reminded me to take a peek at my own profile to ensure it's up to date with best practices. So, I reached out to LinkedIn for their advice on how to boost your profile.

LinkedIn Career Expert Catherine Fisher told me to "think of your profile as your digital first impression." Here are her three tips to improve it:

1. Choose a strong profile photo. "Your photo is the first impression people get, so make it count. Professionals with a profile photo receive up to 2x more profile views. You don't need anything fancy, just a clear, well-lit headshot with a simple background where you look like yourself. It's a simple way for your friends, colleagues, or former classmates to recognize and discover you on LinkedIn."

2. Showcase your Education and Experience. "To help recruiters find you on LinkedIn, make sure your Experience section clearly highlights your strengths and key wins. Add in your education, side projects, and volunteer work so they can see the full scope of what you bring. And don't overlook the Featured section; this is a great place to drop in articles, presentations, or other work so recruiters can easily scan your previous work."

3. Add a Verification badge. "It's worth taking a minute to verify your profile. People with a verified badge stand out. By confirming your info, you're telling the community and future employers that you're the real deal. Plus, it works! Verified members get a massive 60% boost in profile views. It's more than a badge; it's your professional edge."

• The 152nd Kentucky Derby starts on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs Racetrack.
• The first-place winner receives $3.1 million and the coveted Kentucky Derby trophy.
• Here are some of the billionaire owners who could cash in.

Horseracing is an expensive sport.

So it's no surprise that among the crowd cheering on 20 thoroughbred horses during the Kentucky Derby's main race at Churchill Downs Racetrack on Saturday are at least eight billionaires.

The annual event has once again descended upon Louisville, bringing with it a blur of pastel outfits, flamboyant hats, and mint juleps. The annual event, entering its 152nd year, is the pinnacle of American horse racing and draws competitors from around the world.

Horse racing often involves spending millions of dollars at horse auctions, as well as money for training fees, transportation costs, veterinary care, jockey payments, and other expenses. Plus, entering the Kentucky Derby alone can cost about $50,000.

That's why the sport tends to attract the billionaire class.

Here are the eight billionaire owners who have their eyes set on the $3.1 million top prize, the gold trophy, and — of course — bragging rights at this year's race.

Robert and Lawana L. Low

Robert and Lawana L. Low will compete with their horse, Renegade, at this year's Kentucky Derby. The horse, also owned by billionaire Mike Repole, has a 4-1 odds of winning the race.

Robert Low amassed an estimated $5 billion in net worth through his freight transport and trucking company, New Prime Inc, according to Forbes.

Mike Repole

Mike Repole of Repole Stables will compete with Renegade alongside the Low family on Saturday.

Repole, who Forbes estimates has a net worth of $2.5 billion, made his fortune in the sports and energy drink businesses. Coca-Cola acquired a minority stake in BodyArmor — a drink Repole cofounded — in 2018 before purchasing the remaining stakes for $5.6 billion three years later.

Repole also cofounded Glaceau, which makes Vitaminwater and Smartwater.

Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the emir of Qatar

Qatar's Emir Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani entered the Kentucky Derby with his horse, Commandment, and has a 6-1 chance of taking the gold on Saturday. His horse racing group, Wathnan Racing, launched in 2024.

While the royal's exact net worth is unclear, his family's net worth was about $172.9 billion in 2024, according to Bloomberg.

Brad Kelley

Brad Kelley, representing Calumet Farms, has a 50-1 chance of winning the Kentucky Derby with his horse, Robusta.

Kelley is the founder of Commonwealth Brands, which made USA Gold and Sonoma cigarettes. He later became a major private landowner in the US, ranking number 15 on The Land Report's 2026 largest landowner survey.

He has a net worth of $1.4 billion, according to Forbes.

Seth Klarman

Seth Klarman, an investor and CEO of The Baupost Group, is competing through Klaravich Stables, Inc. His horse, Emerging Markets, has 15-1 odds of winning.

Klaman cofounded The Baupost Group, a hedge fund, in 1982. Forbes reports that he has a net worth of $1.5 billion.

Vincent Viola

Vincent Viola, who founded trading company Virtu Financial in 2008, is also competing in the Kentucky Derby this weekend. Virtual Financial went public in 2015 and, at the time, Reuters reported the firm's valuation hit about $2.60 billion.

In 2013, Viola purchased the NHL's Florida Panthers for $250 million. The team won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2024 and 2025.

Viola, representing St. Elias Stable, is competing with Golden Tempo and has 30-1 odds of victory. Phipps Stable, led by Daisy Phipps Pulito, also owns the horse.

Barbara Banke

Several owners are hoping Litmus Test will win the Kentucky Derby, including Jackson Family Wines Chairman Barbara Banke.

Banke and her late husband cofounded Jackson Family Wines in 1982. The company started with a winery in California, and it has since expanded its reach with properties across the globe. Forbes reported that Banke and her family have a net worth of $2.5 billion.

Her horse has 50-1 odds of winning Saturday's race.

Masahiro Noda

Japanese billionaire Masahiro Noda is also taking part in the Kentucky-based festivities. Noda is the CEO and chairman of Obic, a company focused on system integration, system support, automation, and packaged software services. He has a net worth of $3.3 billion, according to Forbes.

Noda entered the race under Danox Co. Ltd., and his horse —
Danon Bourbon — has 20-1 odds of winning.

• Private jet travel is on the rise, and new routes underline the behavior of the wealthy.
• These popular routes highlight new financial centers and how the rich split time between multiple homes.
• Private jet traffic soared along these 11 routes last year.

A surge in private jet travel along key routes last year points to a new map of global wealth.

Eleven routes saw at least a 65% increase in private jet traffic last year, according to real estate consultancy Knight Frank's annual wealth report that included data from private aviation company VistaJet.

While established routes, like those between New York and London or New York and Miami, continue to dominate overall traffic, these growing routes offer a glimpse into the behavior of the ultra-high-net-worth set and where capital is moving.

Some destinations, like Nantucket, New England, have long been popular among the wealthy, and the uptick in private jet travel can be attributed to the overall increase in private jet travel. There were 3.9 million private jet flights last year, a 4.6% increase over 2024, according to data from aviation intelligence firm WingX published earlier this year.

Other routes, like that between Abu Dhabi and London, reflect current market conditions and real estate shifts.

"We see global wealth becoming increasingly mobile, with clients living across multiple cities and continents," Ian Moore, the chief commercial officer at VistaJet, said in a statement.

Looking ahead to 2026, one important caveat that could change the private jet map is the war in Iran, which has slowed down travel to Middle Eastern hubs.

Here are the 11 private jet routes with soaring traffic in 2025.

Jeddah and Riyadh: up 269%

The triple-digit increase in this domestic route, between the Saudi capital of Riyadh and the port city of Jeddah, reflects Saudi Arabia's transformation into a global wealth capital.

The country's billionaire population is projected to nearly triple over the next five years, and luxury real estate prices in Riyadh increased 78% price between 2020 and 2025, according to the Knight Frank report.

Abu Dhabi and London: up 238%

Investments in Abu Dhabi have boomed over the past five years, with private equity firm KKR and hedge fund titan Ray Dalio opening new offices in the city.

With wealthy Londoners, in particular, looking to move capital out of the city due to more stringent tax codes, Abu Dhabi has come to rival Dubai as a financial hub of the UAE.

Nantucket and New York: up 192%

Nantucket has always been a popular vacation destination for the uberrich, with billionaires like former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Charles Schwab.

The increase in flights between New York and Nantucket "underlines the rise of dual-location lifestyles in the US," the report says. Rather than spending a week or two on Nantucket in the summer, the wealthy are flying back and forth between their primary and secondary residences more frequently.

Nice and Palma: up 137%

This Mediterranean route between Nice, France, and Palma, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, points to popular summer vacation destinations of the wealthy — and their superyachts.

Last summer, David Geffen's yacht floated off the coast of Mallorca, hosting Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, and Kris Jenner, while Jeff Bezos' superyacht Koru traveled through the French Riviera.

London and Samedan: up 137%

Private jet travel between Farnborough Airport, near London, and Samedan Airport in Switzerland, near luxury ski resort St. Moritz, has seen an uptick as multi-location living grows.

It's about more than vacationing, though. With a harsher tax regime affecting the wealthy in the UK, some are moving their capital to Switzerland, a more tax-friendly destination.

Washington, DC, and White Plains: up 107%

The route between D.C. and White Plains, a suburb of New York City, makes up the "government-finance corridor," the report says.

Cannes and Paris: 100%

Global festivals and events, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Cannes Lions, bring celebrities and businesspeople to the city in southern France every year. Cannes also sees a surge of jet travel in the summer, with the wealthy traveling to the luxury resorts and superyachts that dot its coast.

Boca Raton and New York: 70%

Boca Raton, like many other South Florida destinations, has experienced an influx of wealth. As the "dual-location lifestyle" becomes more popular, the number of flights to the Palm Beach County city has increased.

Mumbai and New Delhi: up 66%

As in Saudi Arabia, India's growing economic power has led to more domestic flights between its major hubs.

Along with the US and China, India was a major engine of global wealth creation growth over the past five years, and that isn't expected to slow down. The country is expected to see its billionaire population increase 51% over the next five years, with Mumbai, in particular, becoming a wealth hub, according to the report.

Milan to Paris: up 66%

Flights between Milan and Paris, the world's fashion capitals, increased due to the industry's ties to wealth.

Rich Europeans are also flocking to Milan as a tax haven, due to Italy's flat tax structure.

Hong Kong and Tokyo

Private air traffic increased along the route between Hong Kong and Tokyo, two of Asia's wealth hubs.

Tokyo, in particular, has experienced a boost in demand among the rich, reflected in a 58.5% price increase for luxury residential real estate between 2024 and 2025, according to the report.

• Walmart is rolling out digital price tags in its US stores, and public reaction has been mixed.
• I visited two locations to see how the tech works for employees and customers.
• The change for shoppers is small right now, but the tech could lead to some interesting improvements.

A big change is afoot at Walmart, and some shoppers are starting to notice.

It all comes down to one of the smallest (but most important) features of any store: price tags.

The retail giant's adoption of so-called digital shelf labels in place of traditional paper ones is causing a bit of confusion and concern about whether shoppers will get a fair deal.

Several lawmakers have filed bills to prevent the tech from being used for surveillance pricing or surge charging. A proposal in New York State would prohibit electronic shelf labels in stores altogether.

Walmart said in March that about half of its stores have the technology, and the remaining ones are expected to get it within the next year.

To learn more about these shelf labels and see how they behave in the wild, I visited two Wisconsin supercenters to talk to employees who are navigating the change.

I visited the Walmart in Portage, Wisconsin, where staff were setting up the new shelf labels.

Most of the store still had paper labels, and the team had been working around the clock for two days before my visit to install the digital labels.

Walmart employee Elizabeth Nigh showed me the typical price change process with the paper tags.

As many as a dozen employees can be busy during a shift, working through the changes.

On Tuesday morning, the store had nearly 1,200 prices to change across departments.

Walmart prices are set by the corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and managed by store workers with an app on their devices.

The paper price tags are made using small portable printers.

Other hardware is sometimes needed, such as colorful frames and pop-ups, to help a special price stand out on the shelf.

Each four-foot section of the store has a code to scan that calls up labels to print for that location.

Walmart assigns every item a location in the store, typically including the aisle, segment, shelf, and position.

Nigh then fishes the old label out of its plastic sleeve and slots the new one in.

If there is a discrepancy between the shelf price and the register price, consumer protection laws generally require retailers to honor the lower one.

Customers don't typically complain if they're rung up for less than they expected to pay, but it can be a rude surprise for a shopper (and lost money for a retailer) if a price increase isn't yet reflected on the shelf.

The printer handles up to 10 labels at once, so larger runs are done in batches.

Each shade of lip gloss had its own product code, so each one needed a label.

That can add up fast in categories with a lot of variations, like health and beauty.

The typical Walmart supercenter carries around 120,000 products, and prices in some departments, like grocery, can rise and fall in a matter of days due to market conditions.

I then spoke with Derek Gordon, who was installing digital shelf labels in the toys and games section.

He said it takes him about six minutes to adapt a standard shelf section for electronic labels. It's a few minutes of extra work up front, but he said it saves time down the line compared to paper labels.

In most cases, a rail clips onto the shelf face in a few clicks.

An integrated battery in the rail can power the electronic labels for up to eight years. A spokesperson told me the design was more economical than having each label contain its own battery.

Gordon scans the tag's barcode with an app to make sure it's on the correct product.

Like with the paper price tags, each four-foot section has a particular plan that store employees must follow and match.

The system Gordon set up had no sensors or cameras that could capture information about who was shopping.

He said that meant the labels couldn't gather or transmit any personal information about shoppers.

A proposed bill in New York state would ban retailers from using shoppers' personal information to adjust prices selectively.

Once scanned, Gordon taps a button, and the tags flicker on to reveal the prices in the system.

Walmart told me prices are set by the corporate office in Bentonville, and changes are pushed out to stores overnight.

Some social media videos have captured the prices changing on the electronic labels in the early hours of the morning, before most stores are open for business.

Gordon had a box of the old tags and a bin full of the new ones.

Employees at another store I visited said the digital tags are more durable than the paper ones against shopping carts and other hazards, but they still sometimes get banged up. If a tag breaks or goes offline, it alerts the staff via the app.

Store manager Zach Zeman told me he has the authority to lower prices to stimulate sales, but he can't raise them above the range set by HQ.

"There's no way for us to be able to adjust that price up higher," he said, adding that there's an error alert if someone accidentally enters a number above the authorized price. The store manager at another location I visited said the same thing.

Store prices generally match what is displayed on Walmart.com, Zeman said.

The new tags are also less likely to slide side to side on the rails, which means that displays are more consistent with the planned layout.

The workers called this concept "modular integrity" and said it helps make restocking easier when there's enough space for each item.

It's here, faced with dozens of similar items on a shelf, that digital labels could make a difference for shoppers.

Walmart plans to roll out a feature for shoppers in its app that would activate an LED light on the shelf tag to help customers find what they're looking for.

The feature is already available for employees and Spark delivery drivers, but the company hasn't said when it'll be available for customers.

These little blinking lights are shortening pick times and increasing order accuracy, an employee told me.

"It's definitely made it a lot faster with grabbing things," said Ben Leikness, the digital fulfillment team lead at another store I visited in Wisconsin. "As long as it has a digital shelf label, I can just hit scan, and it flashes right away."

As we were talking about the lights, a Spark driver rounded the corner and picked a Kinder's salt blend that she had activated the tag on.

"It's so handy," she said of the feature.

Walmart's stores are powering double-digit e-commerce growth, and the digital labels are making order fulfillment more efficient.

In addition to finding exact items more quickly, Leikness said his team spends half as much time hunting down products in the back room after his store installed digital shelf labels last fall. Part of the reason is that the time workers used to spend updating price labels can now be spent making sure shelves are stocked.

The iconic paper price signage that marks large displays isn't going away — yet.

Walmart told me it has some tech in the works for this kind of display, but that's not rolling out yet.

Another store I visited had midsize displays with clearer product information than I'm used to seeing on conventional labels.

I generally found these electronic displays easier to read than their paper-based counterparts.

The main benefit for in-store shoppers right now seems to be more confidence that the price on the shelf is the same or better than what's online.

The addition of the flashing LED option would likely be a welcome feature when it finally rolls out. In the meantime, store employees are being reassigned from adjusting prices to assisting shoppers.

Online shoppers — who never come into the store — stand to benefit most, since their orders can be fulfilled more quickly.

While I understand why people might be uneasy about this new technology, Walmart's approach isn't really built for selectively setting prices. It looks like the larger impact would be time savings for workers, which would also benefit shoppers.

Digital labels enable everyone — shoppers, employees, and the company — to get on the same page.

• Companies need to start measuring their AI token usage, BCG's Sylvain Duranton told Business Insider.
• Duranton said that companies should also understand the risks of holding back too much.
• "I think you need to start the pump," he said.

There's pressure on employees to up their AI token consumption.

Sylvain Duranton, global leader of BCG X, Boston Consulting Group's tech build and design division, said companies need to ensure they are preparing for the future.

"I think you need to start the pump," Duranton told Business Insider.

Asked about how companies should think about a "Tokenmaxxing" culture, Duranton said early on, companies will go all out before steering their token allocation more.

"I feel in the early days, companies will be pushing for massive usage and then progressively allocation, thinking around that, all of that will progress," he said. "But today being too restrictive, I think from the get-go on that usage, I'm not sure it's good."

Tokens are how large language models break down words into numerical inputs and outputs, and are essentially the building blocks of AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude. The conversation around token consumption has changed drastically in the past month or so, as the explosion of AI agents has altered how users and companies consume AI.

Not everyone is fully embracing the push.

Duranton said C-suites are strained between CFOs who are seeing the explosion in AI budgets and CIOs who are saying that "Engineers who are not burning one million tokens per day, they're not doing their job."

"There's a tension between all CFOs who start to go, 'My God, this is going to cost a lot,' and the notion that that's how you will make a difference, because those super users will be super effective, high productivity, they need to use the tokens," he said.

There's also tension within teams between engineers who want to keep doing that work and those who are deploying all the AI tools they can.

"We see even in software engineering teams, you have some people who burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, and you have super strong engineers who stay out," Duranton said, adding the latter group is putting themselves "on the trajectory to become obsolete."

For companies looking to find their bearings, Duranton said "the first thing" companies need to do is to start measuring token consumption, if they don't already.

One criticism of "Tokenmaxxing" leaderboards is that token consumption alone doesn't reveal what an employee is doing.

"If everyone is burning tokens to write poems and do pictures, there's not much benefit," Duranton said. "If those tokens are burned to create a massive jump in productivity or sales conversion in the customer center, it makes a huge difference for the company."

Duranton said companies will compete over the most efficient use of tokens, just as they do with recruiting.

"Companies have been competing from a strategic standpoint on resource allocation, and those resources were people and they were capital," he said, adding, "I think tokens will be the next one."

• A social media post sparked a string of jokes about Jane Street's notorious interview process.
• Posts about fake interviews mention orange chicken, cardio machines, and New York City pigeons.
• The trading firm, which offers recent grads $300,000 base salaries, is known for top talent.

The interminable Trader Joe's line. Chess tables in Bryant Park. An Equinox StairMaster.

These are just some of the locations social media users are linking to Jane Street in an increasingly absurd string of jokes about the trading firm's notoriously difficult interview process for quantitative researchers and traders.

It all started after Deedy Das, a partner at the venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, posted about Jane Street's reported record trading haul and what he said was his own sixth-round interview in 2014.

"What is the next day after today in DD/MM/YYYY where all the digits are unique?" he recalled being asked in a post on X.

After he answered, the interviewer asked him to rate his confidence on a scale of zero to one, Das said. He said he initially answered "0.95," but moments later realized he could flip the digits to get a closer, and ultimately correct, date. The interviewer "chuckled" about Das' confidence rating.

"That's when I knew I failed," Das wrote.

His post, with more than 640 reposts as of Friday morning, spawned a pile-on, with people drafting elaborate, seemingly fictitious tales of their interviews. Jane Street is known as one of Wall Street's most lucrative, selective trading firms. In recent years, it offered some interns a base salary equivalent to $250,000 annually; an open quantitative trader role for recent graduates with "a strong quantitative mind" who enjoy "solving interesting problems" offers a $300,000 base salary.

Jane Street's website says the interview process begins with phone conversations and culminates in an in-person interview with a quantitative trader, which includes questions on problem-solving, probability, coding, and data analysis. A source familiar with Jane Street's hiring process said that mental math no longer plays an important role.

Sean Sweeney, a managing director at CW Talent Solutions, a recruiting firm for hedge funds and quantitative investment firms, doesn't work with Jane Street, but does recruit for similar firms.

"If we have a candidate that was exceptional anywhere else, they might not even make it past the first-round screening with Jane Street. The bar is just so high," he said.

The math and trading games emphasize how someone thinks more than their final answer, he said. Some of the employees have been tracked since they were teenagers, Sweeney said, though they don't all have strictly mathematical backgrounds.

Many of the most outlandish social media jokes take Jane Street's penchant for quantitative expertise and creativity to the extreme.

A representative for Jane Street declined to comment for this article.

No job offers

One 384-word post talks about standing in a long, snaking line at the Trader Joe's on 14th Street in Manhattan, orange chicken and cold brew concentrate in hand. A man in a Patagonia vest and a quarter-zip stood ahead in line, so the story goes, and held a box over his shoulder.

"Ant on a corner of this box. Walks to the opposite corner along edges. How many shortest paths," the evidently made-up interviewer asked. The interview questions grew increasingly difficult, and, as is characteristic of the joke posts, the interviewee was asked to rate their confidence in their answer on a scale of 0 to 1.

Eventually, the post ends with the offer rescinded and the applicant banned from the 14th Street Trader Joe's.

Another post jokes about a seventh-round interview at chess tables in Washington Square Park, where the applicant was instructed to "optimize" the game and "market make this game." In the end, he lost $60 and didn't get the job.

"Failed to recognize that the park itself was the market and the pigeons were the only rational actors," the post ends.

One user came up with a story where an interviewer walked in with coffee and an Ikea tea candle, but no laptop or notebook. The fake applicant was told to "optimize" a budget that allocated $3,600 for candles and specified that their family was "dying." After the applicant built a model and debated when to sell the candles, the family was "still dying, but now in a more capital-efficient way."

And though Jane Street boasts its own on-site gym, one of the joke posts recalls an interview at Equinox at 6 am. The interviewer was on the StairMaster, commenting on an imagined Goldman Sachs MD who used the rowing machine every morning.

It ended with the applicant throwing away an untouched smoothie — and, of course, no job offer.

• Noor Al has been moderating the wild Wall Street Bets subreddit since 2014.
• The investing forum rose to fame during the GameStop short squeeze that gave rise to the meme stock movement.
• Al credits Wall Street Bets for his trading success and highlights its virbrant meme culture.

Noor Al compares his work as a WallStreetBets moderator on Reddit to tending a garden. Sometimes it's a mess but it's always rewarding

The retail trader has been helping moderate the popular investing forum since 2014, long before the GameStop short squeeze of 2021 that made the Reddit forum famous.

"I kept complaining about [stuff] until another moderator stepped in and said, 'Well, why don't you fix it?' And that's what I did. I did for many, many years in the background, just quietly fixing things in auto moderator, cleaning up posts and sharing my own ideas."

Founded by Jaime Rogozinski in 2012, the Reddit investing forum would be the breeding ground not just for the GameStop short squeeze, but for the entire meme stock movement

Al recalls the early days of WallStreetBets, long before it became a hub for the retail traders looking to duke it out with Wall Street short-sellers, many of whom would go on to be inspired by fellow user Keith Gill, aka Roaring Kitty.

At the time, he was still working in corporate finance after graduating from Canada's Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in economics. He noted that he wasn't prepared for what would eventually unfold on the forum.

"It was really intense," he noted. "I remember taking time off work, just sitting in voice chat with the other moderators and we were just filtering posts 24/7."

He added that much of the challenge came from communicating what Wall Street Bets actually is, and what is allowed versus what isn't. At the time, the forum had users who saw it as a platform to try to pump up stocks for their own benefit, something that Al described as "unjustifiable."

While Al noted that this was far from easy, he feels confident that he and his fellow moderators kept the platform safe for novice traders as its user count surged, growing by as much as a million a day for multiple days in a row at the peak of meme mania.

"Wall Street bets has always been a place where smart people come and act stupid," he noted. "I recall that famous quote, 'any community that gets their laughs from pretending to be idiots will eventually be flooded by them.' And I think that was definitely very true for GameStop."

Indeed, Wall Street Bets refers to its users (and they refer to each other) as "degenerates." The forum is known for a culture of playful insults, but Al attributes much of his success as an options trader to the platform and the connections he has made there, highlighting the culture of idea-sharing and feedback that thrive there.

"The great part about Reddit is, unlike with equity reports or analyst coverage, you can easily go out and ask people questions about their research," he said.

Al also highlighted the benefits of being part of a community in which people deliver blunt feedback on trade ideas, which he says can often save people from their own egos and prevent what could have been ill-fated market moves.

Al advises traders to take a contrarian position when it comes to popular ideas and argue with fellow users until they get to the bottom of something they're interested in.

"I think if you're a new investor, you want to deeply understand what the trades are that you're making and why they're available," he noted. "There's a ton of information out there."

While he happily recalls the helpful trading insights he's gained from the Reddit community, Al also advises new and aspiring traders to be careful. Reddit is home to many people sharing screenshots of big gains, but that doesn't mean the information is always reliable.

"If you see someone with a consistently high win rate making tons of money hand over fist, don't believe that they're going to sell you their secrets for $500 a month," he cautioned.