Being wealthy in America has long come with the expectation to keep it a little bit secret. The nouveau riche may commit the faux pas of conspicuous consumption, but the real money — often code for old money — knows not to commit such sins. If anything, it's their decorum that betrays their status.

No longer. These days, things among the rich and famous are looking decidedly more uncouth. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez glommed onto the Met Gala. President Donald Trump is building a lavish, $400 million White House ballroom and adorning the Oval Office in floor-to-ceiling gold plating. The point of "Mar-a-Lago face" is that people can tell you've had work done. Everywhere you look, aesthetic preferences are turning loud and gaudy, whether it be the Masters tournament taking a Barstool Sports-esque turn or young guns on Wall Street showing off their watches in glossy magazine features.

"Aspirational stopped coming from taste and started coming from the lowest common denominator," says Ana Andjelic, a brand advisor and author. "That's why you have Lauren Sánchez looking the way she looks. But those people, it's the same thing as the robber barons in the Gilded Age — they came into money, but they don't have taste."

Tacky is back in a big way. Being loud and unabashed is cultural currency in a culture that prefers signaling vice over virtue. We're living in a digital Gilded Age where greed is again good, and the only way to prove you're a winner is to make sure no one can look away.

The term "conspicuous consumption" was coined by economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen at the end of the 19th century to describe people spending money as a way to signal social status. He didn't mean it nicely — he was referring to the new wealthy social class emerging from the second industrial revolution and their wasteful spending. The original Gilded Age was full of newly minted industrialists in fast-developing fields who built lavish mansions, threw over-the-top parties, and tried to buy their way into high society.

Consumption patterns among the upper echelons have historically pivoted around the fine-tuning of taste. The higher classes used their preferences as a weapon to set themselves apart, constantly moving the goalposts of decency and discernment to stay ahead of the masses. As soon as the middle class learned how to set a proper table or decided to buy a midcentury modern sofa, the elite moved on to something else.

Over the past 10 to 20 years, the most conspicuous form of consumption has been intentionally inconspicuous: quiet luxury. After the Great Recession, it was a bad look for Wall Streeters and others left unscathed to flaunt their wealth. Stealth wealth took over as it became fashionable to reject logos and at least profess to care about sustainability — the affluence on display in "Succession" is apparent, but muted. It's an "if you know you know" ethos for clothing, vacations, interior design, leisure, and more. It's marked by a modern minimalism — barely-there makeup, low-key logos, and, infamously, millennial gray.

That sort of soft superiority is on the outs. The latest shift is toward gauche, garish, and over-the-top. The richest of the rich aren't huddling in hidden compounds in the woods or walking around the office sluggishly in hoodies. They're buying islands, renting cities for their weddings, and wearing gold chains. And the signals are showing up in the wider culture. Gen Z is nostalgic for the McMansion, and maximalist interior design is back. Knick-knacks at estate sales are flying off the shelves, and individualism reigns supreme. Trucker hats have made a return. The modern-day jeans motto seems to be more is more is more. Young men are looksmaxxing to be at their hottest. Software engineers are tokenmaxxing to impress their AI-worshiping bosses. Everyone's proteinmaxxing to an extent even Robert Atkins would find excessive.

Call it tacky. Call it trashy. Call it "boom boom," which is how Sean Monahan — who coined "normcore" and "vibe shift" — described the aesthetic a little over a year ago. At the time, he characterized it as the fetishization of the past, the yearning for a reinstitution of boundaries between work and play, and, importantly, "supervillain vibes." It's the '80s, but with the internet.

"After a decade of executives dressing like interns (normcore), touting anti-growth platitudes (degrowth), while smartphones enabled the total dissolution of work/life boundaries (email jobs), is it any wonder the youth find inspiration in the glamour of the past?" he wrote at the time.

Whereas wealth, taste, and social status were once intertwined, they've now diverged. Instead of setting the agenda, the wealthy and elite are taking cues from pop culture — the Kardashians, "Real Housewives," and their TikTok and Instagram algorithms.

Indeed, some of the modern-day ultrarich distinctly and perhaps deliberately lack taste.

"Who has a lot of money doesn't necessarily have taste and status," says Andjelic, the brand advisor.

Kate Wagner, an architecture critic and the author of McMansion Hell, an architecture and design critique blog, tells me that bad taste has become a form of "vice signaling." It's in opposition to virtue signaling — stating one's pronouns, or posting about a social cause on social media — which is often liberal-coded. Instead, vice signaling embraces the taboo. It's rebellious and bucks the establishment.

Wagner points to the example of Trump, whose gold-leafed, neo-baroque taste has always trended toward tacky. "He just openly embraces having bad taste," she says. He loves McDonald's, the playlist at his events screams boomer, and he would really like it if everyone saw the musical "Cats." For Trump, the willingness to push his aggressive style on everyone goes beyond his personal leanings — it's a way to exert his authority and sway. "For him, forcing bad taste on the world is a form of power," Wagner says.

It also allows the president to communicate to his base that he's just like them (though as a billionaire, he isn't) and to distinguish himself from the liberal and traditional conservative milieus. Much of the American public chafes at the snooty, understated elites who they feel have long looked down on them. At the end of the day, many of us just want to enjoy a decent, cheap meal, watch whatever's on TV for the night, and call it a day. "It's a way of doing populist posturing. It's like, 'Look, I have bad taste, just like you,'" Wagner says.

I don't mean to imply that it's bad that tacky has become the 2026 theme. Tacky may not be fancy, but it is often fun. Nobody looks back at the "Miami Vice" era and is appalled — it's a neat time capsule. For those of us who survived homes overwhelmed by millennial gray and wore a uniform of strictly black and beige for years, it's exciting to allow a little color in. Gen Zs longing for McMansions are yearning for an era when houses were more than Zillow-optimized, indistinguishable boxes you can extract the most value from on the market. If you think that Bezos and Sánchez cheapened the Met Gala, did you really feel that much better about it in other years? Did you feel anything at all?

The same goes for complaints about the Masters golf tournaments and other high-ish society sporting events, such as the US Open. Traditionalists have begun to complain that the experience is being degraded. They're upset that NFL star Jason Kelce and actor Kevin Hart are part of the low-brow golf broadcasting, and they're irked that spectators are getting a little too enthusiastic (and drunk) during tennis matches. There are certainly echoes between the golf types who would prefer a pop culture megastar weren't at the tournament and those who didn't want minorities at their country clubs 40 years ago. These shifts, though, aren't necessarily about democratization and inclusion — they're about commercialization and the "more for more (money's) sake" attitude that pervades society. Maybe it's OK that golfers and fans prefer the applause and attire to remain hushed. At what point is taste a polite form of exclusion?

The tension between the quiet past and the loud present is accelerated by a force that previous generations could never have imagined: the algorithm. If taste was once a ladder of education and exposure you climbed, now it's a treadmill powered by Big Tech. You no longer need to learn about history or art or fashion to develop your own take and sense of style; you can just take whatever cues are coming from your phone. Whether it's TikTok's "For You" page, Instagram reels, or AI-generated anything, the internet has a flattening effect on discernment. If you want everyone to agree, a good strategy is to point them all to the same machine that will give them the same answers.

The result is decidedly mid and, often, decidedly tacky. At best, the algo-driven aesthetic looks generic, and at worst, it looks weird as hell. It works for tech elites such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who feel alienated from the actual cultural elite and don't know what good taste is. Now they don't need to know, because their money and products can move the culture toward them — plus, they have so much money they really don't care. On the social media end of things, Instagram is warping how we see each other and ourselves. Whereas previously one might have had some light plastic surgery to look good (and untouched) in real life, the internet has created a feedback loop in which people strive to look like whatever the social media filter dictates, no matter the cost. The ability to pay to have work done — your lips, your forehead, your breasts — is something you want to show off as a status symbol for a certain group of women. That you were visibly able to pay for it is part of the point.

"Digital or physical. There is no such thing anymore," Andjelic says. "The internet ate reality, and because AI transforms reality to such a degree, what you're basically seeing is the digital transformation of reality."

Our reality is cartoonish and pixelated.

It's not clear whether our current version of tacky is particularly delightful or generally depressing. Labubus are fun, albeit embarrassing for anyone over the age of 18 who is sporting them. Quirky kitchens and loud bathroom wallpaper are charming ways to zhuzh up your home. But watching an AI-made Marvel movie trailer that a random tech evangelist prompted up is not heartening if you are about the future of art and cinema. Neither is staring at celebrities whose plastic surgery is borderline clownish.

Taste is constantly evolving, and the era of tacky will almost certainly move toward something else. The excess and greed of the '80s gave way to '90s grunge and rejection of "selling out." In the meantime, enjoy the billionaires going on joy rides to space, and if you've been considering lip filler, this is your moment — we've decided it's OK it looks like that. For now.

Emily Stewart is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

• Yoni Assia believes the rise of AI is ushering in a new opportunity for retail traders to prosper.
• The CEO of eToro told Business Insider that retail can't be thought of as "dumb money" any longer.
• He thinks individual investors are poised to grow even more powerful with the help of AI.

Yoni Assia, the founder and CEO of trading platform eToro, has had a front row seat to the evolution of the retail investor over the last few years, and he thinks the day trader crowd is the new smart money in markets.

Speaking with Business Insider last week, Assia said the traders who are still often thoughts of as meme-stock chasers, have become much more sophisticated.

"They're definitely not dumb money," he said. "I think it will become the smartest money out there, and potentially the dumb money will be that which stays in institutions."

Terms like "dumb money," "exit liquidity," or "bag holders" get tossed around frequently to dismiss retail as less savvy than institutional investors. The meme stock craze hasn't helped, with the group often seen as chasing momentary rallies that often fizzle and end with a loss.

Recent events, thought, have proven that retail can navigate volatility as well as the big guys on Wall Street. Exhibit A is the tariff crash of 2025. A strategy of relentless dip-buying put day traders on top, allowing them to come out of some of the worst selling relatively unscathed compared to the broader market.

This year, retail investors have shown a new level of sophistication as they shifted from "buy the dip" to "sell the rip" while the Iran war sent stocks on a roller coaster ride.

Now, Assia sees another fundamental shift taking place in how retail traders operate, particularly due to the rise of AI, and he says that there's a constant trend of retail investors creating tools to help improve their trading.

"They've been building like crazy," he said. "People who have the passion toward something specific can suddenly build something, whether it's an algorithm to trade the markets, or whether it's an app to access institutional data."

In recent months, some of the barriers between retail and institutional investing have indeed started to come down. Prominent investing voices such as Michael Burry and Ray Dalio have begun sharing their market research on their personal Substack pages, providing retail traders with information previously gated off behind the velvet rope of institutions or only accessible via a pricey Bloomberg terminal.

Assia added that he thinks the trend will have wind-ranging implications as retail traders continue to make use of these resources and implement more sophisticated trading strategies.

"Whether they're building apps and sharing their knowledge with everybody else, that shared intelligence of retail investors will just grow stronger and stronger to actually, in my view, take a lot of the institutional asset managers' money direct to retail investors," he said.

He believes the recent rise of retail investing since the pandemic is among the "great revolutions" in modern market history. He also said the trend has changed the investing landscape permanently, forcing financial institutions to rethink their strategies.

"They thought they could short GameStop," he said of hedge funds who went toe-to-toe with individual traders. "Retail investors showed them that they couldn't. Institutional investors thought that crypto was a joke until they stopped laughing and joined the party and set up ETFs."

Amazon's "Day 1" culture primes employees for constant change. And there's been plenty of it lately: a five-day return-to-office mandate, an AI push, and mass layoffs. Business Insider interviewed 12 current and recent employees about how it's going.

Here's what they told us. The responses have been edited for length and clarity.

AI is now central to my work

Andrew Z. Chen is in his early 20s and lives in New York City. He began working for Amazon last year as a software development engineer.

As a software engineer, AI has become a big part of my day-to-day job. I spend most of my time talking to AI agents, and I can't really imagine going through a day at Amazon without using AI at this point.

I'm expected to work from the office five days a week, but I don't mind my commute — 20- to- 30 minutes one way via subway, from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

I started a book club at Amazon, and during the last round of layoffs, someone who had RSVP'd was laid off. It was a bit awkward since our meeting was on the day of the layoffs, and the "book" discussion turned into a discussion about the layoffs. But overall, I feel pretty safe in my role because no one on my team was affected by the cuts.

Despite layoffs and RTO, it'd be hard to land a new role

This Amazon employee is in his 20s and works out of a Seattle office.

Like many of my colleagues, I've become more conscious of business priorities and evolving performance expectations, but for now, I feel reasonably stable in my current position.

I generally work from the office five days a week, with exceptions for things like illness, appointments, or occasional travel. My commute is about a 15- to 20-minute walk each way.

One of the biggest benefits of working from the office is that it creates a clear boundary between work and home. The downside is that most of my stakeholders are spread across the country, so nearly all of my meetings are still virtual.

I sometimes think about looking for a job with more flexibility, but I think it could be difficult to land a new role, in part because remote and hybrid roles are very competitive.

I'm more efficient from the office, but I don't eat as healthily as I'd like

This Amazon employee is a software engineer who works out of a San Francisco office.

Overall, I feel positive about working from the office five days a week. My commute is about 10 minutes by cab or 15 minutes by scooter. Few companies offer the career benefits of a place like Amazon while also providing a hybrid schedule.

One of the biggest benefits is that it helps with work-life balance — I can leave work at the office and not worry about it when I get home. The downside is the limited flexibility during the day. I have less time to cook in the mornings, which makes it more likely that I'll eat unhealthy food at the office.

After the layoffs over the past year, there was some speculation internally that remote employees — or those not following return-to-office expectations closely — were more likely to be affected. But a few friends of mine who consistently came into the office still lost their jobs.

When it comes to AI, I use it frequently in my software engineering role. It improves speed and execution, but I don't want to become too dependent on it.

There seemed to be a push to reduce management layers

This Amazon employee is in his 30s and lives in Los Angeles. He worked for Amazon as a product manager before being laid off last October.

When I heard layoffs were likely coming the next day, I set my alarm for 3 a.m. When I woke up, I saw an email informing me I'd been laid off.

While I wasn't a manager, my understanding was that the cuts were part of a broader effort to reduce management layers. Some managers were converted to individual contributor roles, while others were laid off.

Before I was laid off, I was required to work from the office five days a week, with no exceptions. Attendance was strictly monitored, and when I requested remote work — for example, when I had a cold — I was told to either come in with a mask or take a sick day. No remote days were allowed. That said, I know other teams were more flexible. In many cases, it seemed to depend on the manager.

When it came to AI, Amazon was all in, and usage was tracked. From what I saw, morale around AI adoption was low. I and many others used AI, but it felt like fear of irrelevance drove most adoption, rather than excitement about the technology.

My short commute makes five-day RTO worth it

Sarthak Gupta is a data scientist who lives in Seattle. He began working for Amazon in 2024.

I'm expected to work from the office five days a week, but my commute is easy — only a five-minute walk.

The short commute has allowed me to focus on building my career instead of feeling drained by getting to and from work. Another major advantage is the networking and visibility — I naturally get to talk to leaders during lunch, coffee breaks, or quick walks.

The only real downside is on days when I'm feeling slightly unwell or would prefer to work from home. There's been a stronger push for managers and teams to be consistently in the office, and attendance is being tracked more closely. Since everyone is present, there's also an unspoken expectation of being on time, which reduces some flexibility.

While there have been layoffs, I think many employees have adopted a more pragmatic mindset, focusing on delivering impact and doing their best work, while accepting that some factors are outside individual control.

The way they track our office hours feels infantilizing

This Amazon employee is in his 20s and works out of the company's Seattle headquarters.

RTO isn't the worst thing in the world — I've gotten used to it. But finding out they're tracking office hours was a gut punch. It feels infantilizing, like they don't trust us.

I used to aim to be in the office around 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to beat the traffic, but I'm now frequently having to stay later to keep up with lots of "urgency" — where we're told everything is high priority — thus making my afternoon commute longer. I sometimes even have to take 8 p.m. meetings at home.

I've always known I will not be at Amazon long-term; it's a stopping point for career growth. I recently got promoted, so I've been looking pretty hard at the new jobs and applying a lot. I'm eager to find a much more flexible company.

A hybrid role of two or three days a week in the office would be fine, but I'm more inclined to look for a job that's fully remote because there's always the risk a hybrid company will change to five-day RTO, like how Amazon did, and then I'll have to start the whole process all over again.

I think of it as one of those "pick two" triangles; you get two of these three things: work-life balance, remote work, or good pay. If you want to find a remote-first company with good work-life balance, you're not going to get paid as well. If you want remote and paid well, you're going to get worked to the bone.

Right now, my priorities are remote work and work-life balance. The ultimate goal is to be out of the city, somewhere a little more rural, which comes with a lower cost of living.

I thought my role was secure — then I was put on a PIP

Nicholas Jenkins worked as a program manager at Amazon until leaving the company in December 2024 after being placed on a performance improvement plan.

Beginning in 2022, layoffs and reorganizations seemed to pick up at Amazon, but I thought my role was fairly secure.

That August, there were some early conversations about my performance that I felt weren't justified. By October, I was formally placed on Amazon's "focus" performance improvement program. At that point, I thought, "I've got to get out of here. This is too stressful." I was eventually offered a termination package, which I accepted.

When I left Amazon, I assumed I would quickly land a new job. But I underestimated how tough the job market would be.

About seven months later, I found a new role. The key was what I called a "final mile strategy" — focusing not just on landing interviews, but securing an offer. Moving from Seattle back to my hometown of Houston helped, since I had a strong network there that ultimately led to my current job.

I was granted a work-from-home accommodation, but then denied when I applied again

Dominique Nkamicaniye is a 47-year-old former senior product manager at Amazon in Seattle. She worked at Amazon for over eight years, most recently as a senior product manager in the international expansion organization. She was laid off in January.

I've seen the Amazon culture change gradually. We have to pay to park at the office, and management once said we'd no longer get free coffee, before reversing course. It's not like the Amazon that I remember when I started back in 2017.

I'm a single mother by choice of a 5-year-old boy, and he received a serious diagnosis in 2023. The following year, I became burned out and physically sick from working around the clock and taking care of him. I had to take FMLA twice to take care of my mental and physical health.

Because of my caregiving responsibilities, I asked for and was granted an accommodation to work from home two days a week for six months, but when I reapplied for an extension, I was denied. The process felt unjust and unclear.

I was really nervous about layoffs, having survived four prior rounds during my time there. It still came as a shock when I found out my role had been eliminated. I also felt a sense of relief because I no longer had to deal with the way I was being treated at work.

My son turned 5 the next day. It was a hard birthday because I was really emotional and scared about our future. I'm still looking for a new job. I pray that I never feel squeezed by an organization to the point of no longer being able to take care of my family again.

After being laid off, I wanted a role at a smaller company

Iren Azra Zou is in her late 20s and lives in New Jersey. She worked for Amazon as a software engineer until being laid off last October.

The day before Amazon announced layoffs in October, there were rumors that something big was coming.

I had a strange feeling in my gut that I might be affected, even though I felt I was performing well and had met my goals earlier than expected. It was hard to sleep that night, and the next morning, I learned I'd been laid off.

Upon reflection, I decided that the best fit for me might be at a smaller company with less bureaucracy — and where I could better see the impact of my work.

The pro of working at a big company was that you could do one thing and it could affect millions of people in less than 30 minutes, which was exciting. However, the downside was that it sometimes felt like you were a very tiny piece in a giant machine.

The day after my layoff, the chief technology officer of a startup reached out to me on LinkedIn about a software engineering role with more flexibility. The role seemed like a good fit, so I applied and quickly landed an interview. I was given an offer shortly after, which I accepted.

AI helps me work faster, even if it's not perfect

This Amazon employee worked out of a Seattle office before resigning earlier this year.

AI has had a growing impact on my job at Amazon, particularly with coding-related tasks. While AI wasn't churning out production-ready code yet, a few prompts over the course of a few hours made creating prototypes much easier.

Amazon tracked AI usage at the individual and team level. Overall, I mostly saw using AI as a net positive experience. I didn't experience AI fatigue— it just made my job easier.

The biggest downside to working five days from the office was the time spent commuting, but as long as office check-in and check-out times were flexible, I could make it work.

Commuting was frustrating when my team worked in a different office

Joanelle Cobos is in her 30s and lives in Las Vegas. She worked for Amazon as a design manager until being laid off last October.

When Amazon implemented a five-day-a-week office policy early last year, it was annoying because I was the only one on my team in my office. There was no in-person collaboration for me to benefit from. And my commute was a 45- to 50-minute drive each way.

Around the time this happened, I was preparing to be laid off. My tenure had been plagued by whispers of voluntary resignation programs and job cuts, basically once a year. My job never felt particularly secure.

Last October, I was laid off and started looking for work. I wasn't in a rush to jump into another corporate job, even though that's where the best income is. My goal was to take a lower-stress, lower-paying job with good health benefits and bridge the financial gap with income from my own business. But the job market has been challenging.

RTO has created a more uniform ideal employee that moves away from the diversity that pushed Amazon forward

This Amazon employee is in his 20s and is based out of a European office.

I always loved going to the office, but the five-day RTO has been extremely stressful. It's forced my days to get much longer and my expenses to go up. Public transportation would take an hour and 10 minutes one-way, so I switched to taking my car. Parking is another 300 Euros a month.

RTO has totally changed how I view my future at the company. To me, it feels like it's changed the demographics of employees, based on who's able to actually come to the office. What pushed Amazon forward over the past years, and what was appreciated, was its diverse workforce — the mothers, the part-timers — who all had different perspectives. Now, it seems we're moving away from that. That's a big shift in culture.

In Europe, your job isn't your identity. I feel there's a clash between European work norms and the company culture being predetermined by the US headquarters.

In New York or in the States, if I drop that I work for Amazon, people are like, "Oh wow, crazy! Congrats!" Here, I try not to mention that I work for Amazon. I usually say I work for a large logistics company. It's seen here as being equally problematic as working for Big Tobacco.

After the release of the movie about Melania [which was funded by Amazon], I've had people message me, "Why are you still working there?" Lots of people are openly having that conversation, which is very interesting.

I think in the current climate, it's quite hard to find a job in general. Regardless, I'm confident I'd be able to find a job within half a year or so, because people who work at Amazon generally have a very good reputation for work ethic. I also have some side gigs I could expand if I didn't work for Amazon.

Got a career story to share? Reach reporter Jacob Zinkula via email at jzinkula@businessinsider.com, or via Signal at jzinkula.29. Reach reporter Jane Zhang janezhang@businessinsider.com.

Ana Terrones sat in a window seat of the M15 Select bus, brushing raindrops off her jacket and scrolling through her phone. The glow of incoming text messages bounced off her glasses.

The 34-year-old mom of three was en route from the Bronx to the Upper East Side, where she's a housekeeper at a luxury apartment. At 8:13 a.m., she was praying the bus would arrive in time for her to pick up a light cappuccino from her usual bodega before clocking in to work by 9.

New York City's rent and grocery prices "get worse every year," she said, but she rarely notices small line items like a $3 bus fare. Saving minutes is more valuable than a few dollars.

On a Wednesday morning in May, a dozen commuters on the city's busiest bus route had strikingly similar views about Mayor Zohran Mamdani's fast-and-free bus pitch, one of his most highly publicized affordability promises. Riders told me how they make ends meet in one of America's most expensive cities. They mentioned groceries, housing, and childcare — and needing to get to work on time. The crowd was less enthused about the "free" part.

"I often have to run and race for the bus, and it's not reliable," one rider told me. "Then, sometimes on the weekends, I have to wait nearly 20 minutes."

By the end of his term, Mamdani hopes to eliminate fares on the city's more than 300 bus routes, an undertaking that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and require significant support from both local and state lawmakers.

The administration also aims to take on the less expensive task of making the bus system faster and more reliable. While Mamdani's camp says they can achieve both goals, I wanted to know what New Yorkers really want from their rush hour. On the "free" part of Mamdani's promise, commuter opinion was mixed. More were fans of the "fast" pledge.

Yulia Chulad's most reliable means of transportation between her East Harlem apartment and her downtown teaching job has always been the M15 bus. She lives above 96th Street, where the Q train stops.

"I'm not sure if I would be taking the bus if it were free, to be honest," she said.

One-third of buses fail to show up at their scheduled stops on time, a 2025 analysis by the NYC Comptroller's Office found, and over half of bus lines with frequent service experience delays due to "bunching," or inconsistent spacing between buses.

The "free" part of Mamdani's pledge could jeopardize buses' speed. The city experimented with no-fare lines on five routes in 2023; it increased ridership but cost the city millions and slowed bus service. Kansas City and Boston have seen similar mixed results with free bus experiments.

From a numbers perspective, NYC bus fares generate $652 million a year, which is used to offset the system's multi-billion-dollar operating cost. Eliminating fares would cost upwards of $700 million, according to Mamdani, though state leaders worry the sum will be much higher. The mayor would also need to overcome red tape and budget hurdles — the MTA is a state agency, so City Hall can't directly change fares. Simply adding more dedicated lanes to skirt traffic would cost closer to $123 million, a fraction of making buses free.

The city should direct more money toward "fixing the streets so buses can run faster," one born-and-raised New Yorker told me. A seventh grader on his school commute was still making up his mind about the policy. (He's been a daily rider "probably since sixth grade.")

With a finite amount of money, the city will likely need to prioritize. Commuters I spoke with broadly agreed that the bus is more visually appealing and less cramped than the subway, more realistic than walking, and more financially accessible than a car or taxi. With over 300 routes to the subway's 25, buses reach many neighborhoods in the city that the trains do not. Many commuters — especially women and teenagers — also told me that the bus feels safer than the subway. The MTA recorded more crimes on the subway last year than on buses across all city precincts.

Many of the New Yorkers I spoke with think it's a service worth paying for.

"I'm not a great fan of the free buses," said a 70-something retired investment banker. "I don't think you should just get that."

Commuters I spoke with were on their way to work as bankers, analysts, teachers, service workers, and housekeepers. A few were teenagers on their way to school; others were traveling to appointments. The vast majority said they are regular riders and spend between $50 and $100 a month on fares.

And then there are the riders who don't pay anything. For Sophie Swintochowski, fare evaders are New York's biggest problem. (She has secondary gripes with graffiti and dog waste.) Only a city bus offers easy transit access between her typical haunts — her apartment, the park, and her granddaughter's school pickup — and the dentist appointment she had that day. She's worried that too many people skipping the fare will mean worse service.

"Most of the time, the bus is free," the 73-year-old tells me. "A lot of people just walk in. It's only a few of us that do pay."

The Office of the New York State Comptroller reported that, between 2022 and 2023, transportation made up 14% of the average NYC household's spending, lower than the 17% national average. Still, the MTA estimates that about half of riders of all ages and incomes evade fares completely. The MTA's reduced fare program applies to seniors and some people with disabilities.

Fare evaders serve as an argument for free buses because enforcement is costly and creates conflict. The MTA's latest crackdown includes employing civilian fare enforcement agents to check riders' credit cards and phones for proof of payment. It's not yet clear how much it's recouping. For the dozens of people I watched step on the M15 without paying, only one woman was removed and ticketed over a four-hour period. From a safety standpoint, fare-free buses also tend to have lower rates of assault and violence against drivers.

Elizabeth Adams, City Hall's newly appointed "free and fast bus czar," added that free buses would make the city more accessible to residents, regardless of their budgets. "People shouldn't have to make decisions between paying for groceries or getting to work," she told me, and "everyone should have freedom of movement."

It's a big task: The city's buses are already heavily subsidized by government funding, and the system must smoothly accommodate over one million riders every day. Adams told me that Mamdani's strong working relationship with the governor will translate to financing for free buses. Hochul has not indicated that she will include it as a line item in the state budget, even as MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber is actively supporting the city's bus lane and speed improvements.

Asked about how a lack of fares would affect service, Adams said, "The mayor knows that a free bus is only good if it comes."

John Leake, 63, plans to do two or three laps around the route. He may hop off at South Ferry for a drink, something "light and sweet," but doesn't have any agenda. He has lived in the five boroughs his entire life and is currently homeless.

He thinks Mamdani is "a good man," and hopes that fast and free can coexist. In the meantime, he resorts to fare evasion and told me, "I haven't paid for a ticket since the World Trade Center went down."

In April, Mamdani announced a planned redesign of some bus routes in Brooklyn, which City Hall says will better connect neighborhoods, improve traffic lanes, and speed up commutes. Changes to the Q70 bus are set to speed up service for LaGuardia Airport and World Cup travelers, and construction of new bus lanes on Lexington Avenue is underway. Adams said these efforts will ensure residents no longer have to experience slow commutes. Both she and a spokesperson for the Mayor's Office emphasized that City Hall won't compromise on either side of the fast-and-free promise.

"We shouldn't be settling for half loaves," Adams said. "New Yorkers deserve all of it."

On my way back uptown, I sat next to Shaliek Loabhont. The 32-year-old said $1.50 is a fair price for the bus, especially if it's on time. Three dollars? "Absolutely not." He was on his way home.

Loabhont next revealed that, an hour earlier, he had been in court for fare evasion.

• Caila Moed went from professional dance to arts finances to Goldman Sachs to entrepreneurship.
• She's using the client-first mentality she learned at Goldman to scale her new business.
• Moed joined Goldman while five weeks pregnant, and has found a more sustainable work-life balance.

This as-told-to is based on a conversation with Caila Moed, 35, founder of Rikud Movement, an innovative dance studio in Brooklyn, New York. Business Insider has verified her previous employment at Goldman Sachs, enrollment at Oxford's Said Business School, and current revenue. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

After years working in the arts and getting my MBA at Oxford, I joined Goldman Sachs during the pandemic, living in my in-laws' attic and five weeks pregnant.

Nobody knew about the pregnancy. I interned as a summer associate through my first trimester, turning my Zoom camera off, throwing up, and turning it back on. I got a return offer and eventually had to tell my teammates, who were super supportive.

I returned to Goldman's wealth management business with a five-month-old, breastfeeding through working and studying for the series tests, but I loved it.

In the private wealth unit, you're expected to pound the pavement and build your own book of clients, which includes ultra-high-net-worth individuals and nonprofits. You start by apprenticing on a more senior team, and then, once you have a certain amount of assets under management, you're on your own.

I became pregnant again — and was still doing coffee in the morning, networking at night, volunteering, and board meetings. I got really sick, though, and doctors didn't know what was wrong with me. I stopped feeling like the high performer I knew myself to be.

Work-life balance wasn't going to cut it

Over maternity leave, I took a genuine look at my life. The journey to becoming a successful asset manager is steep and competitive, and when I got back to the firm, I started to think I might have to write my own rules.

I realized that my life at home wasn't up to my standards — I couldn't do school pick-up and drop-off, or cook most meals, and during the week I often missed key moments like dinner and bath. Our nanny was putting my daughter to bed some nights.

My time at Goldman came to an end, and I explored opportunities in banking, philanthropy, and family offices, but two roles went to more junior applicants, and the more senior positions didn't offer the work-life balance I needed. It became clear I had to forget traditional work-life balance — I needed a lifestyle where I could take my kids to school, pick them up, be on the playground, and hear about their day.

Entrepreneurship seemed like the only answer.

Long before Goldman, dance was my first community

Though I'm now based in Brooklyn, I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and my early community was really my dance community. I did everything: ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical modern, but I ended up focusing on hip hop and contemporary. I'd spend hours after school and weekends in the studio, doing my homework in the costume closet and getting frozen pizza for dinner.

After not getting into my top-choice college, I auditioned for "So You Think You Can Dance," made it to Vegas auditions, and kick-started my career in the commercial dance world. Eventually, though, I went to college and did a year at Fordham before transferring to NYU.

By then, I knew I wanted a corporate job. I'd already stopped dancing as consistently in college, and I walked off stage for the final time during my senior year, after booking a performance with Nicki Minaj in Times Square. Social media meant there would be videos of me shaking bits on stage, and I — like pretty much every millennial woman — was hyper-aware of the internet.

I worked in arts operations, corporate fundraising, and philanthropy after college, which gave me a view into family offices and foundations. A whole world of finance opened up through the lens of the arts, and I saw how interconnected it all was, which eventually led me to get an MBA at Oxford's Said Business School and apply to Goldman's internship program while I was enrolled.

I'm bringing Goldman's "client-first" ethos

And now that I'm no longer at Goldman, I'm turning to the arts again as an entrepreneur. I used to walk past an empty storefront on a block near my daughter's school in Brooklyn every day, and learned it was a pop-up space.

Many pop-up spaces have more flexible terms, like not paying months of rent in advance, and are great incubators for new small businesses. After a few moms at my daughter's school promised they'd help me get a studio off the ground, I had a website and was launching pre-registration within a week. By January 12, we opened the doors of Rikud Movement.

It's a disruptive dance studio: no mirrors, no ballet, no recitals. We have five teachers, and focus on street and club dance for all ages.

I'm using many of the things I learned at Goldman, like how to find new business. I wake up every day and pursue new clients, price points, and revenue streams.

Knowing the market cycles also comes in handy — when I look at consumer behavior and why someone may or may not renew their membership, I'm thinking about the economic backdrop of spending on kids' recreation. Goldman's ethos of listening to clients and their pain points has been key, inspiring things like snow-day programming and summer camp.

When I worked in the corporate world, people told me to slow down and have more thoughtful decision-making, which was the flipside of being an open, friendly person.

The feedback was 100% true, and now, as an entrepreneur, I face it in real time, instead of in a performance report. Consequences are higher and more immediate, and I'm being pushed to change.

It's still early, and there's a lot more changing to do, but we've done six figures in our first 100 days. There's an on-ramp, though, and we're bootstrapped right now. My years on Wall Street taught me how to judge the success of young businesses, since I'd treat founders as potential clients and determine what their early numbers could lead to in the future.

I'm nowhere near the metrics that people in finance would take seriously, but I know what the roadmap looks like, and I'm pretty sure I have paths to get there.

• William Parr transitioned from restaurant work to driving for Uber.
• Parr, a deaf Uber driver, uses technology to communicate with his passengers.
• Driving for Uber has been more profitable than restaurant work, he said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with William Parr, who drives for Uber and lives in Longview, Texas. Business Insider reviewed documentation verifying his earnings. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Driving for Uber is my full-time job for the time being.

I started driving for Uber during a break from my 26-year career in the restaurant industry. My jobs included everything from washing dishes to busing tables to working the line in the back of the kitchen. The most I made at that time was $15 an hour at Olive Garden.

Inflation and rising living expenses for my family grew to the point where I needed income that paid me three or four times what I could earn in restaurants. That's why I started working for Uber this past spring. I also liked being able to choose my hours or work when ride requests are high.

Between April and December of last year, I made about $50,000 in gross pay.

The pay on Uber is better than what I made working at restaurants. This year, for example, on Mother's Day, I worked for 5 ½ hours and, after my gas costs, made about $130. That came to almost $24 an hour for driving a car — better than I made in restaurants.

I started out with a Ford Explorer SUV. After mechanical issues with that car, I bought a Toyota Sienna minivan that can seat eight people. There's a Union Pacific railyard in my town, and you often have large groups from that facility catching Ubers.

Those trips, which I list as Uber XL, are my most profitable, even with current gas prices. Some of them involve long-distance driving and pay better. I've done three-hour trips to another town in Texas, for example, that pay up to $260. Even after factoring in gas, I'm making more than anyone would dream of paying me in the restaurant world.

I use technology to overcome communication challenges

The biggest challenge of being a deaf driver is communicating with my riders.

I can't make traditional phone calls, for example, which sometimes causes problems, especially when I'm picking up seniors, who generally don't like to text. I also can't hear riders when they try to talk to me or ask for things.

I've figured out ways to overcome some of those challenges. I have a live transcription app on my phone, which I use to "listen to" riders. I put signs in my car to let them know I'm deaf. I also have a separate tablet mounted on my dashboard so that I can review and accept new ride offers.

A few times, people have perceived me as being rude by not hearing them, but when I gesture to my signs, they usually understand.

Driving for Uber has given me so much more money, which is helping my wife and me reduce our debt while living a comfortable life. I got frustrated with the constant pressure in the restaurant industry, and being a driver full-time has let me escape that while also having more flexibility.

Have a tip? 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.

• AI is changing workplaces, including within the very companies that make frontier AI models.
• AI-related jobs span the org chart from gig work all the way up to the C-suite.
• From AI accelerators to forward deployed engineers to philosophers, a new class of AI jobs is here.

The next time you're at a networking event, don't be thrown if you spot new job titles on people's name tags.

AI companies aren't just changing the way people work. They're changing the kinds of roles being hired, including within their own companies.

The wider jobs marketplace is responding, with org charts morphing as a new class of jobs emerge.

In some cases, companies are creating new job titles altogether; in others, existing roles are seeing a resurgence in value — or a rebranding for the AI age.

The hiring sprees and the creation of new positions stand in stark contrast to a growing number of companies that have cited AI as the impetus for layoffs.

Job listings show that companies are looking for everything from one of the oldest pursuits (philosophy) to an entirely new category of jobs spawned by the generative AI models (vibe coders). Then, there's the armies of engineers tasked with helping companies implement the technology effectively.

From the niche to the novel, meet the new and expanding class of AI jobs.

The AI Storyteller

AI and tech companies are looking for people who can help tell their stories, both in traditional communications and as new "evangelists."

Anthropic is looking for a Claude Evangelist, someone who will be its "face" for the startup ecosystem. Adobe is hunting for its own "Business Architect & AI Evangelist." Last year, Microsoft began publishing a print magazine, Signal.

Who is hiring: OpenAI and Anthropic, the latter of which has tripled the size of its communications team.

Skills required: For communications management roles, companies are looking for roughly a decade of work experience and deep relationships with reporters. Some roles consider experience in specialized areas, such as government work, a plus. For Anthropic's Claude Evangelist role, the company is looking for a minimum of seven years in a combination of founder-builder startup roles and developer-facing jobs.

Salary: The average director of communications in the US makes $106,000, according to Indeed. In comparison, both Anthropic and OpenAI are hiring communications managers with starting salaries above $200,000. The "Claude Evangelist" role pays even more, starting at $240,000.

The Forward Deployed Engineer

The hottest job in AI predates OpenAI's ChatGPT. To get a sense of the scale, there were about 19 times as many job postings for forward deployed engineers in January 2026 as in the year before, according to Indeed.

Popularized by Palantir in the 2010s, the role aims to give companies a tailored solution to their needs, rather than off-the-shelf software by embedding a specialized engineer directly with a customer.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp has compared the job to that of a seasoned waiter in a French restaurant, combining exquisite service and knowledge of the food (product).

To tap into the lucrative enterprise AI market, frontier model makers, hyperscalers, and everyone in between need these AI engineer-meet-consultant roles.

Who is hiring: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Amazon Web Services, and Palantir, among others.

Skills required: A bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or a related field, experience with multiple coding languages, experience with the particular company's AI tools and models. Some companies want applicants who are willing to travel.

Salary: Depending on the role and company, starting salaries range from roughly $115,000 to $200,000 or more.

The AI Accelerator

While FDEs are focused on spurring external AI adoption, companies are increasingly creating roles to push their own coworkers to better utilize AI.

Stripe is hiring a "Forward Deployed AI Accelerator" to embed within its marketing team, aimed at getting their colleagues "to make AI the default mode for all work." Box, whose CEO, Aaron Levie, has zealously pursued AI adoption, is hiring an "AI Business Automation Engineer" to integrate AI agents across the cloud management company.

Who is hiring: Stripe, Box, and other tech companies

Skills required: A deep level of AI knowledge and the ability to work with teams and spur AI-driven results specific to a team's own goals. Box is specifically looking for someone who has "2-3+ years of hands-on engineering experience in IT or software engineering."

Salary: The Stripe role's base salary starts at $132,000. The Box job starts at $146,500.

The AI Philosopher

AI and tech companies have breathed new life into the job prospects of philosophy majors.

Anthropic has a resident philosopher, as does Google DeepMind. Both positions focus on making sure that AI models are broadly aligned with human values. Anthropic goes so far as to publish a Constitution for Claude, a detailed description of the values it wants its AI to have. Similar positions also include AI Ethicists.

While you shouldn't expect companies to each be hiring armies of philosophers, the profession officially has a new pipeline into tech.

Skills required: Experience in AI ethics and safety.

Salary: Google DeepMind recently sought an emerging impacts manager in AI ethics and safety with a base salary of $212,000 to $231,000.

The AI Gig Worker

Some foundational jobs in AI have focused on gig-style work, especially on the human side of training AI models.

Companies like Scale AI and Mercor are major players in the space. This can involve anything from giving feedback on the AI models' creative writing output to helping train translation skills — or even its comedy chops.

Traditional gig-work companies, including Uber, DoorDash, and Instawork, are also starting to offer jobs that pay users for uploading photos and/or videos of chores and other tasks that will be used to help train AI models.

Skills required: Depending on the specific job and knowledge category, Scale AI and Mercor require a bachelor's Degree and a couple of years of professional experience. The barrier to entry is lower for the Uber and DoorDash recorded chores and tasks — think typical gig work qualifications.

Salary: Depending on experience, workers can earn anywhere from $15 to roughly $200 per hour.

The Vibecoder

Vibe coding isn't just for fun anymore. The popularity and ease of use of generative AI coding tools have spurred a whole new category of jobs.

Vibe-coding platforms like Lovable are hiring professional vibe coders.

Other companies, both inside and outside tech, are asking for applicants with vibe coding experience. TikTok is looking for a product designer who can create prototypes using "with code … and AI tools." YouTube wants an "AI Solution Architect" who is able "to bypass traditional, slow-moving development cycles by utilizing AI-assisted development (vibe-coding) and low code solutions."

Skills required: Most jobs want some degree of technical proficiency. For example, YouTube's role prefers applicants who are proficient in "Python, SQL, and API integrations." The minimum requirements call for six years of work "in product or program management."

Salary: Salaries vary widely, based on the exact nature of the role. The TikTok job starts at $108,000. The YouTube role starts at $149,000.

The AI Chief

AI is also changing the C-suite.

In July 2024, PwC announced it had appointed a "Chief AI Officer." Similarly, Accenture announced its first chief responsible AI officer in 2024. In 2025, Raymond James created the role of "Principal AI Architect."

It's not just corporate America. Local governments are also hiring chief AI roles.

Salary: Glassdoor estimates the pay range between $265,000 to $494,000. In the government realm, Arkansas is hiring a "Chief AI Officer" with a starting salary of just over $117,000.

• Matt Lowrie quit Google after 18 years, after feeling pressured to adopt AI at work too suddenly.
• He struggled to trust the technology or find joy in using it to code.
• Now that he's left Google, Lowrie has discovered how AI can boost productivity.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Matt Lowrie, 55, who lives in Colorado and used to work at Google. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I joined Google as a test engineer in 2006. It was a very exciting time. The company gave us the freedom to try things, and it felt like anything was possible in engineering.

I spent nearly 19 years there, but I quit after saving enough to retire early and because I felt the company was pressuring me to adopt AI too quickly. Since then, I've started to appreciate how AI can be a helpful productivity tool in my daily life.

I felt like I had aged out of Google

My initial focus at Google was on 3D software, but I moved to other parts of the company, including online web applications, Google Now, and cloud software.

By 2024, I felt the focus at Google shifting increasingly toward incorporating AI capabilities into its products, and they were encouraging us to use AI to help with coding. Although I was interested in machine learning, I was skeptical about adopting AI in this way at the time.

I wondered if it would eliminate our jobs entirely, and more than that, I struggled to trust the technology for the work I was responsible for.

Having coded for so long, using AI for it felt less interesting to me, like I was asking someone else to write code then fixing what didn't work. I felt I could no longer write something from scratch and come up with my own interesting solutions.

I'd built up a process for getting things done over many years, and I found it hard to adapt to this new way of doing things so quickly, while younger colleagues seemed to pick up AI coding more easily.

I felt that if this was the direction Google was going in, then maybe I'd aged out of it.

In November 2025, I handed in my resignation and retired early at 55. I was relieved and excited to start a new chapter, especially as I'd done a lot of planning to make retiring early feasible.

I learned AI could make me more productive

It was only after I quit and I had more time to experiment with personal projects that I started to understand how I could incorporate AI into my daily life.

I used Gemini to help me decide which World Cup games to go to by creating a tool for searching matches by team and city.

I prompted it to make the app's UI look like an illustration that I'd drawn on a piece of paper, and it managed to figure out exactly what I needed. That would've taken me hours if I'd done it manually, which showed me that AI can be a good productivity tool.

I needed to brush up on skills I hadn't used in years

One tip I have for those getting to grips with AI is to brush up on your written language skills. You often have to prompt LLMs with a whole paragraph of context, but I never really did well in English or humanities, so I had to redevelop these skills, even for silly things.

On my brother's birthday, I wanted to send him a funny AI-generated image of Steph Curry holding a cake. I started out by saying, "Create an image of Steph Curry with a birthday cake," which came out with something terrible. I had to refine my prompt to explain that I wanted Curry to be holding the cake in his hands and presenting it like a chef. I learned I had to be descriptive to get the image I wanted.

I don't regret leaving Google

I'm happy about the timing of my decision to leave Google.

The AI race means companies are putting out powerful tools all the time, and they're available to everyone. For now, I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything that I would've had as a Google engineer. Plus, I don't have the added stress of trying to figure out how to use LLMs while meeting deadlines at work.

I have no regrets.

Google declined to respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Do you have a story to share about adapting to AI in the workplace? Contact this reporter at ccheong@businessinsider.com

• See how your state's gas prices compare to others with our interactive map.
• Gas prices have climbed since late February. The US average jumped from $2.98 to over $4.50 a gallon.
• Even as the US leads global oil production, prices remain tied to volatile international markets.

How do gas prices in your state stack up against the rest of the country? Business Insider created an interactive map so you can find out.

Gas prices have been climbing steadily since late February.

The national average was $2.98 a gallon on February 27, according to AAA, and surged over $4 by March 31. By mid-May, average prices were over $4.50.

So far, states on the West Coast have been hit the hardest by rising gas prices. California's average first topped $6 a gallon on April 30.

Some central states like Oklahoma and Kansas have consistently posted the lowest averages during the recent spike.

The differences are stark — but prices have risen dramatically in every state.

Analysts say several factors are driving the increase. Blockades by the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz — a key global oil transit route that carries an estimated 20% of the world's oil — have raised global supply concerns.

Spring typically brings a switch to a more expensive summer fuel blend, and recent American Midwest refinery outages have also tightened supply in the Great Lakes region.

Those pressures are pushing prices higher even as the US remains the world's largest oil producer, in part because oil is traded globally.

"The same oil we rely on can be moved anywhere in the world, and we're seeing exports at record levels," Patrick De Haan, a fuel market expert at GasBuddy, told Business Insider. "This is capitalism. When you put your house on the market, you're not like 'Yay, I'm going to take the cheapest bid.'"

The supply and geopolitical pressures could keep prices elevated for months — though there's still significant uncertainty. De Haan said there's a "huge range" of potential summer gasoline prices, with a national average of anywhere from $3.50 to $5.50 a gallon.

• My teenage daughter says some of her favorite childhood memories came from time spent in bars.
• I realized she was right. We did make great memories and connections over meals at bars.
• We've found people who have laughed with us and people who have helped us through difficult times.

I wasn't sure how to respond when my teenage daughter told me that some of her best childhood memories are from the times that we spent together in bars.

That's the kind of statement you're grateful no one is around to overhear. Serafina hasn't turned 18 yet, and she has had multiple experiences in bars. Plural.

"What kinds of memories?" I asked.

She fondly talked about the Golden Eagle Saloon in Ester, Alaska, outside of Fairbanks, where the bartender would bring a crockpot of homemade soup every Sunday. Local musicians would bring acoustic guitars and hand drums and jam on the wide front porch. There was one guy with a washtub bass who let Serafina try it out. She was small enough at 7 years old that she had to stand on the washtub to play. Dogs and kids ran around outside while adults grilled burger patties provided by the bar.

At Ursa Major Distilling, not far from the Golden Eagle, Serafina recalled meeting a litter of sled dog puppies with all of their wiggles and kisses. At HooDoo Brewing Company, she got to meet Silver, a lead dog who had won the Yukon Quest race.

Our local watering hole became more to us

When our family moved to Hawaii, my husband and I found our local watering hole, and Serafina found her place there, too

Objectively speaking, Tsunami's was a dive. Sure, tourists popped in there because it was right on Kuhio Avenue, a dark relief from the blazing sunshine of Honolulu. The after-work crowd, however, was decidedly local and done by 7 p.m. each night. Serafina, around 9 years old at the time, quickly learned how to order a Shirley Temple. It became her drink, and new bartenders were trained to always give her a side of maraschino cherries. We made new friends there. I became part of the "moms' club," four moms in our 40s who gathered for drinks and support.

When Serafina's dad died, Tsunami's hosted his wake. There was no formal reservation, no shutdown of the space. They just said yes to us and let us gather friends, family, and guitar players.

Tsunami's closed permanently two weeks after the wake.

As Serafina and I began to rebuild our life as a family of two, she talked me into taking aerial acrobatics classes with her. After our Saturday aerial class, we'd often go next door to Honolulu Brewing for lunch. The wait staff got to know us and always asked Serafina about what she was reading.

We found a community

While someone might hear the word "bar" and recoil at the idea of a child frequenting them, we've found community. We've found people who have laughed with us and people who have helped us through difficult times.

I also see that my daughter has learned to have conversations with people she may not have much in common with. She's seen examples of people drinking responsibly and those who don't. She's learned respect for people who work in the service industry. She's learned to meet people where they are — without judgment.

And, with all of this exposure and experience, she is not at all interested in drinking alcohol. She's been around it. She's smelled it. She's watched people using it. Her only interest in it is whether it will actually cook out of recipes that call for it.

Bars aren't her only form of socialization. She was a Girl Scout. She briefly played soccer. She's been in school theater productions. Her after-school hula program was its own close-knit social group. But, some of her favorite childhood memories are from bars, and looking back, I can say I'm grateful for that.

• Mistral CEO said Europe has 2 years to avoid dependence on US AI infrastructure giants.
• Arthur Mensch warned AI dominance will hinge on control of chips, energy, and compute capacity.
• Europe risks becoming an AI "vassal state," Mensch told French lawmakers.

Two years.

That's the narrow window Europe has to build its own artificial intelligence infrastructure before becoming permanently dependent on American tech giants, according to Arthur Mensch, the CEO of French AI startup Mistral.

"It will be decided in the next two years," Mensch said during a Tuesday hearing on digital sovereignty and AI at France's National Assembly, translated by Business Insider.

The 33-year-old cofounder of Mistral — one of Europe's best-funded AI startups and a challenger to OpenAI — said that the continent risks losing control over not just AI models, but the energy and computing infrastructure powering them.

"Once supply is monopolized by American players, suddenly we no longer have supply and we can no longer transform electrons into tokens," Mensch said, referring to the process of converting computing power into AI-generated output.

He even said that Europe could eventually become "a vassal state" if it fails to develop its own AI industry and continues importing digital services from the US.

Europe's sovereignty push

Mensch has repeatedly touted sovereignty and Europe's independence from American AI companies as central to Mistral's open-source strategy, saying recently that governments increasingly want AI systems they can control independently of US tech giants.

The Paris-based startup has continued leaning into that message in recent announcements, including a partnership with Groupe Caisse des Dépôts, a state-backed French public investment institution, focused on strengthening Europe's "digital sovereignty" through generative AI and GPU computing infrastructure.

On Tuesday, Mensch warned that the AI race is increasingly a battle over access to energy, chips, and data center capacity.

US tech companies are already moving aggressively to secure those resources, he said, adding that Europe risks falling behind permanently if it moves too slowly.

"The Americans are deploying a trillion dollars next year," Mensch said. "The one who controls the chips, who controls the electrons, who has massive access to energy — that's the one who wins."

The infrastructure case

Mistral, which was founded in 2023 by former Meta and DeepMind researchers, has emerged as one of Europe's flagship AI startups with a valuation of roughly $13.6 billion.

Mensch said the company aims to build a gigawatt of AI computing capacity by 2029, though he suggested Europe ultimately needs far more infrastructure investment.

The executive also criticized Europe's fragmented regulations and capital markets, saying they make it far harder for startups to scale than in the US.

"If we don't move fast enough," Mensch said, "we'll end up in a situation where we have no choice left."

"In a world where you import all your digital services from the United States, you have no leverage over the United States," he added.

• Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt gave the University of Arizona's commencement address this year.
• Students booed while Schmidt discussed AI and automation.
• AI has transformed the global workforce, impacting entry-level jobs.

Boos rang out during the University of Arizona's graduation ceremony on Friday as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt spoke about a topic that is maybe a little sensitive for those about to enter the workforce: AI.

While other speakers received cheers and applause, Schmidt's speech about the impact of modern technology on society struck a nerve.

"We thought that we were adding stones to a cathedral of knowledge that humanity had been constructing for centuries, but the world we built turned out to be more complicated than we anticipated," Schmidt said, referring to his own contributions to modernization. "The same tools that connect us also isolate us. The same platforms that gave everyone a voice — like you're using now — degraded the public square."

Schmidt added, "In the years after I graduated, no one sat down and resolved to build technology that would polarize democracies and unsettle a generation of young people. That was not the plan, but it happened."

Students' boos grew louder when he mentioned AI.

"I know what many of you are feeling about that. I can hear you. There is a fear," Schmidt said, stopping briefly as the shouts intensified. "There is a fear in your generation that the future has already been written, that the machines are coming, that the jobs are evaporating, that the climate is breaking, that politics are fractured, and that you are inheriting a mess that you did not create."

Schmidt called those fears "rational," but encouraged them to adapt to the technology and become involved in shaping how it will be used in the future.

"The question is not whether AI will shape the world. It will," Schmidt said. "The question is whether you will have shaped artificial intelligence."

AI is transforming the global workforce, from how companies screen potential candidates to the types of skills companies are seeking. Despite young people increasingly adopting AI in their daily lives, surveys show they're worried about what it means for their careers.

The tech's ability to automate many rote tasks has led some companies to cut back on hiring for entry-level positions. Companies like Klarna and IBM have already conducted AI-related layoffs.

A recent Pew Research Center study found that about half of Americans felt the increased prevalence of AI in their daily lives made them feel "more concerned than excited."

Some students also planned ahead of the ceremony to boo Schmidt over sexual assault allegations made against him last year. An attorney for Schmidt told Business Insider that the accusations were "fabricated." In March, a judge ordered the suit settled through arbitration.

A spokesperson for the University of Arizona said the school invited Schmidt because of his "extraordinary" contributions to tech and innovation.

"He helped lead Google's rise into one of the world's most influential technology companies and continues to advance research and discovery through major philanthropic and scientific initiatives, including partnerships that support important work at the University of Arizona," the spokesperson said.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also gave a graduation speech last week at Carnegie Mellon. He struck a more positive tone, arguing that AI would create more opportunities for young people to build anything they wanted. "AI is not likely to replace you," he said, acknowledging anxieties about the job market. "But someone using AI better than you might."

• Jay Hinson shares career growth tips from his 28-year journey at The Cheesecake Factory.
• Curiosity and adaptability were key to Jay Hinson's rise in restaurant kitchen operations.
• Jay Hinson emphasizes the impact of asking questions and seeking feedback for career advancement.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jay Hinson, the senior vice president of restaurant kitchen operations at The Cheesecake Factory. It has been edited for length and clarity.

People sometimes ask how I stayed at one company for nearly three decades and continued moving up. I think a big part of it came down to curiosity. At every stage of my career, I asked questions, studied the people above me, and tried to make their jobs easier.

I started working in restaurants when I was 14. A friend helped me get a summer job at a local restaurant, washing dishes and shucking clams. Before long, I learned the fryer, then the broiler, and I fell in love with the pace of the kitchen.

I joined The Cheesecake Factory in my early 20s and started as a line cook. Funny enough, I didn't even know what The Cheesecake Factory was when I applied.

My general manager at Ruby Tuesday, where I was working at the time, told me the company had one of the best kitchen management programs in the industry and said I should look into it. My initial thought was, "Why would he tell me to work at a factory?"

A few months later, I saw a "The Cheesecake Factory coming soon" sign at a mall near me and applied on the last day of hiring.

Today, I'm the senior vice president of restaurant kitchen operations at The Cheesecake Factory, overseeing kitchen support across the company, including training, food quality, kitchen equipment, and financial operations tied to restaurant kitchens.

I never walked into The Cheesecake Factory thinking I'd become a senior vice president. My first goal was to become a manager. Then I wanted to become an executive kitchen manager. After that, I focused on the next role.

I took it one promotion at a time.

The 3 questions I ask in every new role

Every time I earned a promotion, I started studying the next role. I paid attention to how my bosses handled pressure, how they spoke to people, and how they adjusted their leadership styles from restaurant to restaurant.

I was fortunate because some of my bosses let me travel with them to different locations. I could see that one team might need encouragement while another team needed structure. That taught me how important adaptability is in leadership.

I also asked a lot of questions. Looking back, there were three questions I asked over and over again that shaped my career.

The first was: "How is today?"

That question helped me understand how my restaurant and my team were performing day to day. It opened the door for honest conversations and feedback, and it showed the people above me that I cared about more than just my own responsibilities.

The second question was: "How can I be better?"

I always wanted direct feedback. If my restaurant was strong in one area, I'd ask where we were weak. If the kitchen was clean, I'd ask about food quality. If food quality was strong, I'd ask about leadership or development.

Feedback is not always easy to hear, but it's necessary if you want to grow.

The third question was: "What can I do to make your job easier?"

Instead of focusing only on my own performance, I started thinking about how I could reduce problems for the people above me. If a boss had to repeat the same feedback to me twice, I wanted to fix that immediately.

Sometimes, making someone's job easier meant communicating more often. Sometimes it meant solving issues before they escalated. Sometimes it meant becoming dependable enough that they didn't have to worry about my restaurant.

The more detailed the feedback became, the more I improved.

The Cheesecake Factory rewarded people who wanted to grow

One reason I've stayed with the company for 28 years is because I believed the opportunities were real.

When I first joined The Cheesecake Factory, I sat in orientation rooms with people who had started as line cooks and moved into leadership positions. Seeing that made advancement feel possible.

I also connected deeply with the company culture. I felt cared for as a person, not just trained as an employee. That mattered to me early in my career, and it still matters now.

Today, one of my favorite parts of the job is developing younger employees. I love hearing a line cook say they want to become a manager and then seeing them accomplish it a few years later.

I've said this about every role I've had at The Cheesecake Factory: it was my favorite job at the time. I think that happened because I was promoted at the right pace and developed by the right people.

For anyone starting in restaurants today, my advice is to ask questions early, understand the expectations of the role, and look for a company that promotes from within.

Then pay attention to the people doing the job you want next.

• My husband and I took our second trip ever without my son.
• We realized how much we genuinely enjoy spending time as a family.
• The trip also reminded us to prioritize our marriage more intentionally.

For our fourth wedding anniversary, my husband and I went back to our honeymoon destination, St. Augustine, Florida. It was only the second time we've traveled without my son, and the first time was our honeymoon.

I was a single mom when I started dating my husband, so my son spent a lot of time with the both of us and still does. It was really important to me to know that the three of us would work well together as a family.

It has always been our intention to take more vacations as a couple, but when we have the opportunity to travel, we always choose to take a family vacation.

Our trip was 4 days long

I suggested taking a trip back to our honeymoon spot, then maybe a bigger trip for the fifth anniversary next year. I pitched my romantic travel idea as a way for us to practice for the big trip next year, but my husband didn't need a lot of convincing. He agreed that a honeymoon repeat for our anniversary sounded perfect.

We took a long four-day trip at around the same time of year we took our honeymoon four years ago. We did some romantic couple things, such as walking on the beach, eating at our honeymoon restaurant, and ordering some cupcakes that reminded us of our wedding cake.

I missed my son

Since this was only our second trip without my son, it just felt odd by day two. I didn't want to say anything to my husband and risk coming off as if I wasn't having a good time. So when he told me on the same day that he wished our son were there, I was relieved that he felt the same way. But more than that, it made me feel lucky all over again, to have found a husband who loves my son as much as I do and is truly a third parent to him.

As a single mom, I began to give up hope that I would find someone good enough for the both of us - for myself and my son. But I found a partner that I adore and that cares for me - and that genuinely cares for my son too. Remembering this and seeing this in him is so much more romantic to me than the fancy dinners and things like special-order cupcakes.

I think it was healthy for us to experience that feeling together

My son is entering middle school, and my husband and I are starting to talk more about what life will be like for us after he graduates. On our vacation, we realized how much his absence would hit us one day.

We took our feelings as an opportunity to talk about how to best move forward. I think that while I feel immensely blessed to have a family that actually likes hanging out together, we also need to put more effort into carving out moments for our marriage.

I actually think it's really important for our family to keep our marriage strong. I know part of why it's so difficult for us to take that couple of times is because we're simply not used to it.

By the end of our long weekend, we had acquired too many souvenirs for my son and were happy to go home. But we also had a really good time overall, even without the whole family there. My husband and I have both agreed that we need to make more of an effort for more small trips like this one, to reconnect, but also to keep our family strong.

• Forward-deployed engineers are one of tech's buzziest jobs.
• FDEs help companies integrate AI and build AI tools.
• Salaries can range from $170,000 to over $200,000, according to Indeed data.

Not all tech jobs are disappearing.

Despite the wave of layoffs that have battered the tech industry, there's one role that looks secure: the forward-deployed engineer.

"Forward-deployed engineers, or roles that do the equivalent motion, are about to become one of the most in-demand jobs in tech. And one of the most important functions for AI rollouts," Box CEO Aaron Levie said on LinkedIn this week.

The job listings data suggest he may be right.

In April of last year, there were 643 job postings for forward-deployed engineering roles on Indeed, according to data shared with Business Insider. By April 2026, that number had increased to 5,330 postings, which is about a 729% increase year over year.

Anthropic, OpenAI, Palantir, and Stripe are among the tech firms hiring forward-deployed engineering talent as demand for enterprise AI tools grows.

Earlier this week, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said on LinkedIn that the company was also ramping up hiring for the position, citing growing client and partner demand for the company's AI products.

So what exactly do these tech workers do?

Forward-deployed engineers, or FDEs as they are known, work with companies to integrate AI into workflows and customize AI tools to make their work easier or more efficient.

The role was popularized by Palantir, which would embed engineers directly with customers to build software tailored to their needs.

According to Indeed data, pay for the role ranges from about $170,000 to over $200,000.

The consulting industry is also leaning on forward-deployed engineers. Consulting has become something of a distribution channel for Silicon Valley's latest AI innovations as they help companies make sense of AI and integrate it into their work.

For firms like McKinsey & Company and Boston Consulting Group, the ideal consultant now must have technical skills.

A job posting for a "Principal Forward Deployment Engineer" at QuantumBlack says candidates should have more than eight years of hands-on experience in software, platform, or infrastructure engineering, as well as a bachelor's or master's degree in a technical field such as computer science, machine learning, applied statistics, mathematics, engineering, or artificial intelligence.

"What we want to be able to do is find those people that actually have a propensity to either be this great McKinsey consultant, and or a great technologist, and then groom them to be both," Alex Singla, a senior partner at McKinsey who co-leads its AI arm, QuantumBlack, previously told Business Insider.

• I have a trinket daughter, as mom influencers have been sharing on TikTok.
• The collecting and arranging began when she was a toddler.
• The fact that her collections cover every surface can get overwhelming sometimes.

Recently, I saw a TikTok video by a mom about her trinket daughter. She panned over her 5-year-old's collections of tiny treasures all across her bedroom.

It could have been my daughter's room. Or let's be honest, my entire house right now. My daughter has been a collector (or hoarder, depending on how you look at it) of tiny treasures since she was a toddler.

The collecting of tiny objects began when she was a toddler

My daughter was only 1 when we noticed her propensity for collecting small items from around the house, sometimes toys, sometimes not, and then arranging them.

There was the play kitchen canister, topped by a swim diaper and crowned with a stuffed pineapple, which appeared on the coffee table. Or the lotion bottle she relocated to her bedroom windowsill, surrounded by Elmo, Ernie, and Cookie Monster, like it was some sort of shrine. My husband and I began taking pictures when we found them to document the hilarity.

As she grew older, she also began to go beyond just collecting things left around the house to acquire her own favorite things. Some of her favorites include sensory toys, erasers, jewelry, mini characters, and stuffed animals. Every trip is a chance to beg for a trinket from the gift shop to add to her stash. She spends her allowance almost as quickly as she receives it on new additions.

With all the trinkets also comes the chaos

While it is an endearing trait that continues to provide amusement for my husband and me and the family photo thread, it can sometimes get to be a bit much. In her room, her dresser, desk, and nightstand are all covered in little trinkets, as well as hairclips, chapsticks, rocks, shells, and artwork. When she has a cold, there is no room for a box of tissues or a humidifier on her nightstand. One accidental knock and half a display goes flying across the room.

She also loves putting all her treasures in various other places in the house, including inside her collection of pouches, purses, bags, and boxes. Displays of items have shown up in our bedroom, on our windowsills, dressers, and bookcases. And sometimes she can't remember where she has put (or hidden) items. Inevitably, a beloved item will go missing, and then we have to search through the entire house and inside each bag, box, and bundle to locate it. It has been the source of many tears when we can't locate them or when something gets knocked over and broken.

It can get hard to clean and overwhelming when they crowd out the use of surfaces like her desk or art table. Because, like a lot of kids, she never wants to get rid of anything. Every couple of months, we go through things and cull the herd. Then I have to make a case for why we definitely do not need three identical Arby's kids meal toys.

As the chief chaos wrangler in our household, I'll admit there are times when I just want to take a trash bag and sweep it all into it. I don't, but I definitely want to. Her trinket collections just seem to grow, and what she sees as beautiful displays of her favorite items can start to feel just like a mess to me. I think it may be time to invest in some floating shelves for her bedroom so she can display the special things she wants, and I can retain some of my sanity.

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest wraps up today, and it all comes down to the Grand Final. We've gathered all the details on where to watch Eurovision below, including free and global streaming options.

After two semifinals, 25 countries have advanced to compete at the Grand Final. This includes the five automatically-advancing regions: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the host, Austria. However, only one performance can win it all and take home the Eurovision title. Keep reading to learn how to tune into the Eurovision Grand Final from anywhere.

Where to watch Eurovision for free

It's good news for Eurovision fans this year. The competition is available to live stream for free in most regions. Most participating countries have broadcast agreements with free-to-air broadcasters (and their accompanying streaming services).

In the UK, that's the BBC and BBC iPlayer. In France, that's France.TV. In Italy, coverage will be available through RAI. Australia will offer free coverage through SBS. Even some non-participating countries have free options. The United States will continue with its usual paid Peacock option, but this year, Eurovision will also be available for free on YouTube in the US. Most other non-participating countries will allow people to live stream the competition for free on YouTube as well.

How to watch Eurovision from anywhere

There's a good chance you'll be able to access Eurovision no matter what, but if you find yourself traveling through a region where you can't access any watch options, it might be time to try out a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs let people temporarily alter their digital locations so that their favorite websites and apps work from anywhere. They're especially popular among those looking to keep up with their usual services while traveling abroad or upgrade their day-to-day cybersecurity.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's fast, user-friendly (even for beginners), and has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for.

Where is Eurovision 2026?

Eurovision 2026 is held at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria. This marks Austria's third time hosting the Eurovision Song Contest.

Where will Eurovision take place next year?

There's no word yet on who will host Eurovision in 2027. Typically, the next Eurovision is held in the home country of the previous year's winner. Sometimes, another country (often the runner-up) will host if the winner is unable to.

Which countries performed at each semifinal?

The first semifinal running order was Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia, Italy, Finland, Montenegro, Estonia, Israel, Germany, Belgium, Lithuania, San Marino, Poland, and Serbia.

The second semifinal running order was Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxembourg, Czechia, France, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Austria, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Albania, Malta, and Norway.

Which countries advanced from the semifinals?

Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland were the 10 regions to advance from the first semifinal. Albania, Australia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Malta, Norway, Romania, and Ukraine advanced from the second semifinal. Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom automatically advanced to the Grand Final.

Which countries didn't advance from the semifinals?

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Estonia, Georgia, Montenegro, Portugal, and San Marino are the countries that performed in the semifinals but didn't advance after the votes were counted.

Eurovision Grand Final running order

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

• Many celebrities came from humble beginnings and moved frequently during childhood.
• Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey were born in rural areas before moving to cities.
• These actors, musicians, athletes, and authors have become household names.

Though many Hollywood stars have long been used to the lights and cameras in Los Angeles, many were born and raised thousands of miles away.

State lines don't stop a person from hitting it big. Oprah Winfrey had a rural, poverty-stricken upbringing in Mississippi before becoming a household name with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Chicago in the 1980s.

"I was raised on a farm with my grandmother for the first six years of my life — I knew somehow that my life would be different and it would be better," Winfrey told the Academy of Achievement.

Some stars have even become de facto ambassadors of their home states. Bruce Springsteen has been synonymous with New Jersey since he rose to fame in the 1970s and has become a cult hero among many New Jerseyans.

Business Insider compiled a list of the most famous living celebrities from all 50 states. Most of these actors, musicians, public figures, and occasional athletes or authors have become household names. They've been nominated for major awards such as Oscars and Grammys, have produced or appeared in major cultural works, and some continue to wear their state pride as a badge of honor.

The list was chosen based on where people were born, with one exception (see: Alaska). And, understanding this list is up for debate, we also included other notable figures from each state.

See where some of your favorite celebrities hail from.

ALABAMA: Lionel Richie was born and raised in Tuskegee.

The four-time Grammy-winning artist grew up on the campus of Tuskegee University, where he discovered his love of music, per the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Richie also won an Oscar in 1986 for the song "Say You, Say Me," which appeared in the film "White Nights."

Other notable celebrities from the state: Courteney Cox, Octavia Spencer, Sonequa Martin-Green, Emmylou Harris, Channing Tatum, Walton Goggins, and Laverne Cox

ALASKA: Jewel Kilcher is known as an Alaskan, but she was actually born in Utah, making her the exception to our rule.

Kilcher was raised in Homer, Alaska. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter was born in Utah when her dad was attending Brigham Young University, Rolling Stone reported. She has appeared on Discovery Channel's "Alaska: The Last Frontier," which followed her family's life in the Alaskan wilderness.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Darby Stanchfield, Irene Bedard

ARIZONA: Emma Stone grew up in Scottsdale.

As a child, Stone was involved in community theater. When she was around 14, she persuaded her parents to let her try her hand in Hollywood. 

The move proved to be worth it, with Stone later becoming a two-time Oscar winner and being named to Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People list in 2017.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Lynda Carter, Matt Dallas, Mare Winningham, Shannon Woodward, Danielle Fishel, Dierks Bentley, Michelle Branch, Stevie Nicks, Jordin Sparks, and Diana Gabaldon 

ARKANSAS: Billy Bob Thornton was born in Hot Springs and grew up in a cabin in the woods.

Thornton and his family lived in his grandmother's cabin for the first few years of his life.

The Academy Award winner opened up about his humble beginnings, telling ABC News in 2016, "We didn't have a lot of money. But you know when you're a kid you don't know that. I mean you're not aware of all of that kind of stuff."

Other notable celebrities from the state: Mary Steenburgen, Wes Bentley, George Newbern, John Grisham, and Ne-Yo 

CALIFORNIA: Leonardo DiCaprio was born and raised in Los Angeles.

The "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" actor also grew up in Los Angeles in real life, moving to different neighborhoods in the area throughout his childhood.

DiCaprio has been nominated for eight Oscars and has become a household name for his roles in "Titanic," "The Wolf of Wall Street," and other films.

Other notable celebrities from the state: The Kardashians, Olivia Rodrigo, Tom Hanks, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Katy Perry, Adam Driver, Chris Pine, Tessa Thompson, Elizabeth Olsen, Milo Ventimiglia, Will Ferrell, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kendrick Lamar, James Franco, Tyler, The Creator, and Zendaya

COLORADO: Tim Allen grew up in Denver.

A few years after his father was killed in a car accident, his mother remarried, and the combined family moved to Michigan, per the Detroit Historical Society.

Allen found his comedy roots in Michigan and later became a Golden Globe-winning actor.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Melissa Benoist, Kelly Bishop, David Fincher, T.J. Miller, Trey Parker,

CONNECTICUT: Seth MacFarlane spent his childhood in New England, born and raised in Kent.

The creator of "Family Guy" and "American Dad" spent his entire childhood in the same town and even attended a boarding school his mom taught at, IGN reported.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Amy Brenneman, Glenn Close, Paul Giamatti, Allison Janney, Justin Long, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Allison Williams, and Meg Ryan

DELAWARE: Aubrey Plaza was born and raised in the state's largest city, Wilmington.

Plaza acted in the town's drama league productions as a youngster, Delaware Today reported.

She later found fame for her role in NBC's sitcom "Parks and Recreation," and has seen recent success from acting in HBO's "The White Lotus." The latter role earned Plaza a Golden Globe nomination in 2023.

Other notable celebrities from the state: John Gallagher Jr., Ryan Phillippe, Elisabeth Shue, and Raúl Esparza 

FLORIDA: Ariana Grande was born in Boca Raton.

The actress and singer performed at the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theatre, per the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Grande has received 20 Grammy nominations and three wins.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Pitbull, Jason Derulo, Sarah Paulson, Doechii, Josh Gad, Maya Rudolph, Wilmer Valderrama, Abigail Spencer, Chrissy Metz, Eva Mendes, Norman Reedus, and Bella Thorne

GEORGIA: Julia Roberts grew up in Smyrna.

The Oscar winner's parents ran a workshop for actors and writers in Atlanta when she was a child, Roberts told Oprah Winfrey in an interview.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Kelly Rowland, Kenan Thompson, Dakota and Elle Fanning, Ed Helms, Chloë Grace Moretz, Raven-Symoné, Luke Bryan, André 3000, Jason Aldean, Kanye West, and 2 Chainz

HAWAII: Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, grew up in Honolulu.

His dad played percussion and his mom was a hula dancer, the New York Daily News reported.

Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, has 16 Grammy wins and netted the best-performing song of the 2010s for "Uptown Funk," according to Billboard. He has described his home state as "paradise."

Other notable celebrities from the state: Jason Momoa, Jack Johnson, Carrie Ann Inaba, Janel Parrish, Timothy Olyphant, Bette Midler, Auli'i Cravalho, Tia Carrere, and Hoku

IDAHO: Aaron Paul was born in Emmett.

The "Breaking Bad" star moved around a bit and ended in Boise, Idaho before moving to Hollywood when he was 17 to pursue his career, GQ reported.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Tara Buck and Dree Hemingway

ILLINOIS: Harrison Ford was born and raised in Chicago.

Ford played the titular character in the "Indiana Jones" films as well as Han Solo in the "Star Wars" franchise. His roles have earned him Oscar and Emmy nominations.

Both of Ford's parents were actors, but his dad found success as an advertising executive, GQ reported.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Chance the Rapper, Bill Murray, Busy Philipps, Michael Ian Black, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Hudson, Mandy Patinkin, Nick Offerman, Melissa McCarthy, and Gillian Anderson

INDIANA: David Letterman grew up in the state capital of Indianapolis.

Letterman's career as a late-night talk show host spanned more than three decades and 6,000 episodes, Yahoo News reported. He was the longest-running host of all time, and perhaps the most iconic.

Letterman graduated from Ball State in Muncie, and the college's communications building is named after him. 

Other notable celebrities from the state: Jenna Fischer, Vivica A. Fox, Brendan Fraser, Greg Kinnear, Ryan Murphy, Jim Gaffigan, John Green, and Janet Jackson

IOWA: Ashton Kutcher was born in Cedar Rapids.

Kutcher, best known for his roles in "That '70s Show" and "Punk'd," has gone back to Iowa over the years to support local schools and students. He also helped launch the Native Fund, which provides disaster relief for Iowans, per the Des Moines Register.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Michelle Monaghan, Robin Lord Taylor, Caitlin Clark, and Elijah Wood

KANSAS: Janelle Monáe spent her childhood in Kansas City.

Monáe has received 10 Grammy nominations and appeared in the films "Moonlight," and "Hidden Figures."

After growing up in Kansas City, she later moved to New York City after earning a scholarship to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, but then left for Atlanta.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Martina McBride, Annette Bening, Scott Foley, Colton Haynes, and Eric Stonestreet 

KENTUCKY: George Clooney spent part of his childhood in Lexington.

The Clooney family moved to Ohio for a brief time but then returned to Kentucky, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The Oscar-winner's career spans over 40 years.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Michael Shannon, and Chris Stapleton

LOUISIANA: Ellen DeGeneres was born and raised in Metairie.

DeGeneres has won 33 Daytime Emmy awards for her eponymous show. The talk-show host and comedian has spoken out about growing up in the South as a lesbian, US Weekly reported.  

Other notable celebrities from the state: Reese Witherspoon, Jared Leto, Ian Somerhalder, Tim McGraw, Anthony Mackie, Zachary Levi, and Harry Connick Jr. 

MAINE: Stephen King was born in Portland and spent his formative years in the state.

After being born in Maine, King moved around with his family before returning at the age of 11, per Britannica. He attended and later taught at the University of Maine. Many of his novels have taken place in the state.

King has written dozens of New York Times bestselling novels and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2015.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Anna Kendrick, Patrick Dempsey, Timothy Simons, and Erin Andrews

MARYLAND: Anna Faris spent her younger years in Baltimore while her dad taught at Towson University.

The actress and comedian's family moved to Seattle when she was six, the Baltimore Sun reported. Faris has had roles in NBC's "Friends" and CBS's "Mom," as well as a leading role in the "Scary Movie" films.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Julie Bowen, David Hasselhoff, Spike Jonze, Jada Pinkett Smith, Christian Siriano, and Ta-Nehisi Coates

MASSACHUSETTS: Steve Carell grew up near Boston in Concord.

Carell held a job in Littleton as a postal worker before his acting career took off.

Best known for his role as Michael Scott on "The Office," Carell has received Emmy nominations as well as an Oscar nomination in 2015 for his role in "Foxcatcher."

Other notable celebrities from the state: Matt Damon, Chris Evans, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Bo Burnham, John Krasinski, B.J. Novak, Conan O'Brien, Elizabeth Banks, Joe Keery, and James Taylor 

MICHIGAN: Stevie Wonder, born Stevland Hardaway Morris, was born in Saginaw and grew up in Detroit.

Wonder sang in Whitestone Baptist Church in Detroit and later attended Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing.

Wonder has won 25 Grammys from 75 nominations, putting him among the winningest artists of all time, according to People.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Diana Ross, Madonna, Jerry Bruckheimer, Michael Moore, Selma Blair, Taylor Lautner, Terry Crews, and Lily Tomlin 

MINNESOTA: Bob Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth.

The Nobel Prize-winning performer went to the University of Minnesota. Dylan has won 10 Grammys and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Chris Pratt, Jessica Biel, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Lange, Winona Ryder, Shantel VanSanten, and Vincent Kartheiser

MISSISSIPPI: Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko to her teenage mother.

Her parents were unmarried and she spent her early years with her grandmother, The Guardian reported. The beloved talk-show host, actress, and author has an estimated net worth of over $3 billion in 2026, per Forbes.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Britney Spears, Fred Armisen, and Tig Notaro

MISSOURI: Jon Hamm grew up in St. Louis.

The Emmy-winning actor attended the University of Missouri.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Sterling K. Brown, Don Cheadle, Matt Bomer, Andy Cohen, John Goodman, and Ellie Kemper

MONTANA: Michelle Williams grew up in Kalispell.

The "Dawson's Creek" actress and five-time Academy Award nominee moved to San Diego, California, with her family when she was 9, The Telegraph reported.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Dana Carvey and Jesse Tyler Ferguson

NEBRASKA: Gabrielle Union is an Omaha native.

The actress is a big University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers fan, according to an interview with James Corden.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Bryan Greenberg, Jaime King, and Hilary Swank

NEVADA: Matthew Gray Gubler grew up in Las Vegas.

The "Criminal Minds" star graduated from the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Jena Malone, Rutina Wesley, Charisma Carpenter, and Mädchen Amick

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Mandy Moore was born in Nashua.

Moore became a platinum-certified recording artist in 1999 and was later nominated for an Emmy for her role in "This is Us." She moved to Florida with her family when she was only two months old. 

Other notable celebrities from the state: Matt Czuchry and Sarah Silverman

NEW JERSEY: Bruce Springsteen was born in Long Branch.

Jersey is synonymous with Springsteen. The Boss's New Jersey upbringing plays into his lyrics and work and he speaks often of his love of the state. 

Springsteen has won 20 Grammys over his career.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Jon Bon Jovi, Meryl Streep, Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, Danny DeVito, Peter Dinklage, Ed Harris, Kal Penn, Joe Pesci, and Paul Rudd

NEW MEXICO: Neil Patrick Harris was born in Albuquerque.

The "How I Met Your Mother" actor spent much of his childhood in Ruidoso, Albuquerque's KOAT News reported.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Demi Lovato, Adrian Grenier, Anna Gunn, and Demi Moore

NEW YORK: Tom Cruise was born in Syracuse, but moved around for much of his childhood.

The "Mission: Impossible" actor left the city before making any formative memories there. Cruise would go on to attend 14 schools in 15 years, according to The List.

While the internationally renowned star hasn't won any competitive Academy Awards, he received an honorary Oscar in 2025. Cruise has also won three Golden Globes.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Timothée Chalamet, Jerry Seinfeld, Jennifer Lopez, Denzel Washington, Robert Downey Jr., Amy Schumer, Adam Sandler, Jay Z, Billy Joel, Robert De Niro, Mariah Carey, Post Malone, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Kerry Washington 

NORTH CAROLINA: Julianne Moore was born at Fort Bragg.

Because of her dad's military career, the Oscar winner and her family moved 23 times, The Guardian reported.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Britt Robertson, Zach Galifianakis, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Evan Rachel Wood, and Bellamy Young

NORTH DAKOTA: Josh Duhamel was born and raised in Minot.

The "Transformers" actor played football at Minot State University, the West Fargo Pioneer reported.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Wiz Khalifa and Kellan Lutz

OHIO: LeBron James was born and raised in Akron.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, James is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

The NBA legend gives back to Cleveland in many ways. His foundation opened a school for at-risk children, The New York Times reported.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Drew Carey, Bow Wow, Dave Grohl, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Steven Spielberg, and Sarah Jessica Parker

OKLAHOMA: Brad Pitt was born in Shawnee.

The Academy Award winner's family moved to Springfield, Missouri when he was young and he spent his childhood there, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Carrie Underwood, Kristin Chenoweth, Olivia Munn, Bill Hader, Ron Howard, and James Marsden

OREGON: Ty Burrell was born and raised in Grants Pass.

The "Modern Family" star graduated from Southern Oregon University, per Oregon Live.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Kaitlin Olson, and Thomas Mann

PENNSYLVANIA: Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm outside of Reading.

She convinced her parents to move to Nashville to help her pursue a music career when she was 14, Vanity Fair reported.

Crowned the top artist of the 21st century by Billboard, Swift has won 14 Grammy awards from 58 nominations and has become a household name.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Will Smith, Sabrina Carpenter, Kevin Bacon, Shane Gillis, Tina Fey, Bradley Cooper, Joe Manganiello, Lee Daniels, Miles Teller, and Krysten Ritter

RHODE ISLAND: Damien Chazelle was born in Providence.

Chazelle became the youngest-ever Oscar winner for "La La Land," in 2017, winning the award at age 32, per Guinness World Records. The filmmaker was born in Rhode Island but grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, according to Deadline. 

Other notable celebrities from the state: Olivia Culpo, Mena Suvari, Meredith Vieira

SOUTH CAROLINA: Aziz Ansari grew up in Columbia.

The comedian and "Parks and Recreation" actor later moved to New York City to attend New York University, according to the New York Times. 

Other notable celebrities from the state: Chris Rock, Viola Davis, Mary-Louise Parker, Jaimie Alexander, Anna Camp, and Mike Colter

SOUTH DAKOTA: January Jones was born in Sioux Falls.

The "Mad Men" actress also briefly lived in Hecla. 

Other notable celebrities from the state: Amy Hill and Tom Brokaw

TENNESSEE: Dolly Parton was born in Pittman Center.

Born into poverty, Parton grew up in a small cabin on a farm in Locust Ridge. The "Queen of Country" became synonymous with the Smoky Mountains and has found ways to give back to her home state. In 2024, she donated $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation, which helped victims of Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee and the surrounding areas, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.

Parton has won 10 Grammys from 55 nominations.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Justin Timberlake, Kenny Chesney, Christina Hendricks, Quentin Tarantino, Morgan Freeman, Megan Fox, Morgan Wallen, Kathy Bates, and Miley Cyrus

TEXAS: Beyoncé Knowles was born and raised in Houston.

Beyoncé spent the better part of her childhood in the city's Third Ward, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The singer is the winningest artist of all time at the Grammys, with 35 awards from 99 nominations.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Solange, Tom Ford, Wes Anderson, Chace Crawford, Hilary Duff, Jamie Foxx, Woody Harrelson, Eva Longoria, Nick Jonas, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Robin Wright, Selena Gomez, Jessica Simpson, Usher, and Matthew McConaughey

UTAH: Chrissy Teigen was born in Delta.

The model and television personality's family moved around a bit until settling in Huntington, California, where she was discovered while working in a surf shop. 

Other notable celebrities from the state: Roseanne Barr, Matthew Davis, and Julianne Hough

VERMONT: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque was born in Brattleboro.

The singer became the youngest solo artist on Billboard's pop chart in 2004, at the age of 13. Her family moved and settled in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where she spent most of her childhood, per Boston.com.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Grace Potter and Zosia Mamet

VIRGINIA: Sandra Bullock was born in Arlington.

Her dad was an employee of the United States Army and met Bullock's mom in Germany. Bullock herself was raised in Germany for 12 years. 

Bullock won an Oscar in 2010 for her lead role in "The Blind Side."

Other notable celebrities from the state: Missy Elliott, Rob Lowe, and Hilarie Burton 

WASHINGTON: Bill Gates was born and raised in Seattle.

It was at the Lakeside Prep School in Seattle where the Microsoft founder's interest in computers and programming was fostered.

Having amassed a net worth of over $100 billion, Gates is considered to be among the most successful entrepreneurs of all time. In 2016, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Other notable celebrities from the state: Macklemore, Sydney Sweeney, Ben Gibbard, Emma Dumont, Constance Zimmer, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Kyle MacLachlan

WEST VIRGINIA: Steve Harvey was born in Welch.

The "Family Feud" host and Daytime Emmy winner moved to Ohio with his family when he was a teenager.

Other notable celebrities from the state: John Corbett, Josh Stewart, and Chris Sarandon 

WISCONSIN: Mark Ruffalo was born in Kenosha.

The Oscar-nominated actor was in high school when the family moved to Virginia, per ABC News.

Other notable celebrities from the state: John Ridley, Heather Graham, Kristin Bauer Van Straten, and Willem Dafoe

WYOMING: Jim Beaver was born in Laramie while his father was doing graduate work at the University of Wyoming.

The "Supernatural" actor's family soon moved back to Texas, where they were originally from. 

Other notable celebrities from the state: Pete Williams, Jim J. Bullock 

Out of all the bedding we've tested over the years, bamboo sheets might just be our favorite. Other types of cooling sheets use crisp fabric to keep hot sleepers comfortable, but the best bamboo sheets strike the perfect balance of silky softness and airy breathability. They're the best sheets for anyone who wants to stay cool without sacrificing softness.

We slept on a dozen bamboo sheet sets to evaluate their feel, durability, and fit. We also talked to textile expert Deborah Young to learn more about bamboo fabric and what to look for when shopping for high-quality bamboo sheets. Below, you'll find the best bamboo sheet set for every kind of sleeper and every budget.

Our top picks for bamboo sheets

Best overall: Quince Bamboo Sheet Set - $134 at Quince

Best splurge: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set - $308 at Cozy Earth

Softest: Cariloha Bamboo Sheet Set - $199 at Cariloha

Best value: Bampure Bamboo Sheet Set - $89.99 $79.99 at Amazon

Coolest: My Sheets Rock The Regulator Sheet Set - $199 at My Sheets Rock

Most durable: The Company Store Classic Bamboo Sateen Bed Sheet Set - $234 $163.80 at The Company Store

Best deep-pocket: Bearaby Second Skin Sheet Set - $309 at Bearaby

Best eco-friendly: Ettitude Signature Bamboo Sheet Set - $359 at Ettitude

Best overall

Our best overall pick feels and fits great. Quince's Bamboo Sheet Set has just about everything we look for in bamboo sheets: They're soft, cool, and well-fitting. The sheets are luxuriously soft right out of the packaging. Both the fitted and top sheets fit my mattress like a glove and the labels for the side, top, and bottom make bed-making a breeze. These sheets are cool to the touch and exceptionally breathable throughout the night, providing a subtly cool experience that keeps hot sleepers comfortable without being overwhelming.

They're surprisingly affordable. These sheets provide excellent value for the price, costing about $130 for a queen-size set. You can buy a full sheet set (includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases) or a fitted sheet set (includes a fitted sheet and two pillowcases with no flat sheet). Opting out of the flat sheet will save you over $30, so it's worth it if you prefer not to use a flat sheet at night. There are 14 natural colors to choose from, like eucalyptus, charcoal, and sand, and six sizes to ensure a perfect pairing for your mattress. We also love that these sheets come with a 365-day return policy — the longest we came across during our research and testing.

Bamboo is eco-friendly, but the "organic" marketing is a misnomer. Quince highlights its bamboo bedding as being made of 100% viscose from organic bamboo. While bamboo itself does not require the use of pesticides, there is no authority that certifies bamboo fabric as organic. Rather, the viscose fabric is derived from organic bamboo and holds Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification for safety. How sustainable these sheets actually are is a bit of an unknown. What we do know, though, is that these bamboo sheets are insanely soft, breathable, and well-priced. If sustainable bamboo textiles are important to you, our eco-friendly pick from Ettitude is more transparent regarding their closed-loop manufacturing processes.

We've noticed durability issues. Over time, one tester noticed issues with staining and durability in these sheets. While minor, loose and torn threads appeared over time. They also have a thin feel, so they don't have that thick, luxurious sensation you'd expect from sheets this soft. That does mean they're very breathable, though.

Read our full Quince Bamboo Sheets review.

Best splurge

Cozy Earth's bamboo sheets are luxurious. With prices starting at $258 for a twin-size set, Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheet Set is definitely a splurge. Crafted from 100% viscose from bamboo, these sheets are luxurious, to say the least. They have a medium-weight feel — they're not too thin, but not too thick. With a slight sheen and silky feel, we thought these sheets were cool to the touch and extremely soft. The sheets lost their silk-like sheen after washing but got even softer over time.

The fitted sheet fits like a glove, but the flat sheet is too long. Thanks to the sheet's side and bottom tags, it takes no time at all to make the bed. While the fitted sheet fits well and works with mattresses up to 20 inches thick, the flat sheet was too long — almost touching the floor on both sides of the bed. I like having the extra length to tuck the sheets in at night, but the overhanging look might bug you. After washing and drying, the flat sheet still hasn't shrunk up much.

But be careful — they're delicate. One of our testers has tried two different sets of Cozy Earth bamboo sheets and has been disappointed to find that both fitted sheets ripped. Be extra careful when using these sheets, and keep pets away from the bed, since their claws could lead to holes or rips. Abnormal rips and tears are covered by the 10-year warranty, and our tester received a replacement for her torn set with no issue.

Read our full Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets review.

Softest

Cariloha's sheets are the softest of soft. Almost all bamboo sheet sets are going to be super soft by nature of the category, but the Bamboo Sheet Set from Cariloha is the softest we tested. Made with 100% viscose from bamboo, Cariloha's sheets feature a luxuriously soft twill weave construction. The materials are harvested and manufactured in environmentally sustainable ways, with several eco-friendly standards and certifications, including Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Oeko-Tex Made in Green, Forest Stewardship Council, Fair Trade, and more.

They're noticeably thick. Although not as cooling as some of the others we tested, we still found the sheets to be breathable. Plus, they had a thick, durable feel, which means they'll last for years to come. With extra-deep pockets that can suit beds up to 18 inches thick, the fitted sheet fits on even thicker mattresses. We did, however, find that the flat sheet was too long on both sides, even after washing.

Choose from a variety of sizes and colors. These sheets come in nine sizes (twin to split king — the most variety we found) and five classic colors, like white, ivory, and sage. All of Cariloha's bedding products can be returned or exchanged within 100 days, which is one of the longest return policies we found, after Quince. However, you are responsible for return shipping costs.

Best value

These are the best bamboo sheets under $100. Besides our best overall set, a great affordable set we tested was the Bampure Bamboo Sheet Set. These sateen weave sheets are made of 100% viscose from bamboo and are Oeko-Tex certified. Straight out of the package, we loved how these sheets felt. They're thick, soft, and feel heavier than some of the other products on this list. In fact, we were surprised at how breathable and moisture-wicking they were throughout the night.

Bands on the fitted sheet keep the corners in place. A feature we love is the thick elastic corner bands that hold the fitted sheet in place on the mattress — something we didn't find on any of the other sheets we tested. Thanks to 16-inch deep pockets, the sheets fit the bed just right, with no excess material or bunching, and continued to fit well even after washing.

They hold up to washing. These sheets came out of the dryer super soft — softer than out of the package. And after washing, there were no signs of pilling, degradation, or loose threads. Bampure's sheets come in 10 colors, including charcoal gray, seaglass, and ivory. You can also choose between a four-piece or six-piece set, which includes two extra pillowcases. Some colors of six-piece sets are slightly above $100, however.

Coolest

True to their name, these sheets rock. Made with rayon from bamboo, the Regulator Sheets from My Sheets Rock are the coolest bamboo sheets we've ever tested, thanks to their breathable, cool-to-the-touch feel. My partner and I both sleep hot, but we've never wokem up sweating when using these sheets. We love them so much, in fact, that they're our go-to sheets when I'm not actively testing another set.

They're cool, but not too cool. I forgot to turn on the heat on one chilly night, and awoke to a bedroom sitting at about 50 degrees. Despite the chill in the air, I was perfectly comfortable and warm snuggled up with the Regulator Sheets. As the name suggests, these sheets really do regulate your temperature. When I'm hot, I find they wick away the heat to keep me comfortable. But when I'm not sleeping hot, they aren't so cool that I wake up freezing.

They're as soft as cotton sateen, but without the heat retention. The feel is almost exactly the same as cotton sateen, but where cotton sateen runs warm, the Regulator Sheets are cool. I'm always impressed when a sheet set is able to deliver both softness and cooling, and this set doesn't disappoint.

I've noticed loose threads and sliding at night. After washing and drying these sheets, I noticed a few loose threads along the hems, but no significant pilling or damage. The pocket is also only 16 inches, so the fitted sheet tends to slide off the corners of my thick mattress.

Most durable

Bamboo-cotton blends are more durable than pure bamboo. According to Young, bamboo is not as strong as cotton. That's why the Cotton Bamboo Sateen Bed Sheet Set from The Company Store is the most durable pick on our list. Made of 70% rayon from bamboo and 30% combed cotton sateen, these sheets have a subtle sheen that's still reminiscent of the 100% bamboo sheets we tested. These sheets fit the bed well with no excess material or bunching. They held up well after washing, too. We felt like they would last a long time without pilling, degradation, or color fading. 

They maintain softness. While many of the sheets on our list got softer after washing, The Company Store's bamboo sheets were soft out of the packaging and equally soft after the first wash — we didn't notice a major difference. And despite not being cool to the touch like some of our other picks, we still felt like they were breathable and moisture-wicking.

There's limited color options. Our only cons with this set are that it is only available in five sizes and five colors, including white, ivory, and pebble gray. They can be monogrammed, though, if personalization is your thing.

Best deep-pocket

Bearaby's sheets have 22-inch pockets. Deep pocket sheets are designed to fit on thick mattresses or beds adorned with a mattress topper. Bearaby's Second Skin Sheets, made with a blend of 100% bamboo fibers, fits mattresses up to 22 inches — making them our pick for the best deep-pocket bamboo sheets. I didn't have problems with the sheets slipping off the edge of the bed at night, which is one of my biggest bedding pet peeves.

They excel at wicking away moisture. Like the other bamboo sheets on our list, Bearaby's set is incredibly cool, soft, and breathable. I'm especially impressed with the sheets moisture wicking capabilities. Even though I sleep hot, I never woke up sweaty, and any night sweats were quickly wicked away by the sheets' silky fabric. The shams keep the pillow secure with a shell-like button closure.

They feel fresh every night. Bearaby infuses its bamboo sheets with mint and marine proteins to keep your bed fresh and clean. The brand claims that the design is cleaner than other sheets and stops microbial growth. We can't prove these claims, but I can attest that I feel like I'm slipping into fresh sheets every night. I also haven't noticed any pilling or discoloration after washing.

But they're pricey. While cheaper than other sets on our list, these are still pricey sheets, with a queen-size set costing over $300. The set comes in five sizes and six neutral colors and is backed by a year-long warranty.

Best eco-friendly

If sustainability is your primary concern, these sheets are for you. Our best eco-friendly pick goes to the Ettitude Signature Bamboo Sheet Set for its incredible sustainability practices, including using zero harmful chemicals, saving water, and reducing waste. Ettitude's sheets are also 100% biodegradable. Made from 100% bamboo lyocell, these sheets are known for their softness, breathability, and eco-friendly production process.

They feel similar to our best overall and splurge picks. These sheets were a little too big for the bed, but they fit OK overall. There was no bunching — just a longer flat sheet. There's a top and bottom tag to help with bed-making. We loved the thicker band of hemming at the top of the flat sheet — it made the sheets look more luxurious. These sheets looked and felt similar to the Cozy Earth and Quince sheets in terms of sheen, softness, and silkiness.

We've noticed pilling around the edges. There were slight signs of pilling after washing, especially around the hems/edges of the sheets. Like Cozy Earth, these sheets did lose their sheen after washing but felt softer than when they came out of the package.

Choose from a variety of colors. You can get these sheets in eight natural and bold colors. Plus, they come in six sizes, from twin to California king. Each set comes with a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and either one or two pillowcases, depending on the size.

Our top picks compared

What else we tested

We're constantly testing sheet sets for potential additions to our best bamboo sheets guide. Here's what we've tested and recommend but didn't make a top spot:

• Bedsure Bamboo Sheet Set: Previously our pick for the best color options, Bedsure's bamboo sheets perfectly balance softness and cooling. If you can't find our top picks in the color you want, Bedsure might have what you're looking for.
• DOZ Bamboo Sheet Set: DOZ is a budget-friendly sister brand to Sijo, which makes our favorite cooling sheets of all time. I was thoroughly impressed with the bamboo set from DOZ — its thick feel surprised me, given it's sold at a budget-friendly price point. At just a few dollars more than a Bampure set, it's a worthy alternative to our best value pick.
• Ettitude Luxe Sheet Set: Similar to Ettitude's Signature Sheet Set, the Luxe set is made with eco-friendly materials but with additional, premium details. They are thicker than the Signature Set, and the threading is made with 100% cotton rather than polyester. They've become a personal favorite, but they're very expensive considered to similar sets on our list.

What to look for in a set of bamboo sheets

When shopping for the best bamboo sheets, there are several factors to consider to ensure you're selecting the best quality sheets for your bed.

• Material: Bamboo sheets are typically made from bamboo fibers, often referred to as bamboo viscose or bamboo rayon (the two terms are generally interchangeable). There is also bamboo lyocell. Keep in mind that the manufacturing process can vary, and some bamboo sheets may be labeled differently based on specific processes used during production.
• Rayon: Bamboo rayon is created through a process that involves dissolving bamboo cellulose in a chemical solution and then turning it into fibers. While bamboo rayon is soft and breathable, the production process may involve chemicals that some consider less environmentally friendly.
• Viscose: Bamboo viscose is similar to bamboo rayon, and as we mentioned, the terms are often used interchangeably. The production process involves the same method as above. Like bamboo rayon, bamboo viscose is extremely soft and comfortable but may raise environmental concerns due to the chemicals used in its production.
• Lyocell: Bamboo lyocell is produced using a more environmentally friendly method. In the lyocell process, bamboo cellulose is dissolved in a non-toxic organic solvent, and the solution is then formed into fibers. This method is considered more sustainable as it uses a closed-loop system, minimizing the environmental impact. 

Weave: Bamboo sheets are commonly made using a sateen weave or a twill weave. The sateen weave is known for its smooth and silky feel, with a subtle sheen on one side. It has a luxurious and soft texture, making it a popular choice for bedding — and more expensive. On the other hand, the twill weave provides a more textured, matte surface and is often used for durability. 

Thread count: Thread count refers to the number of threads woven into one square inch of fabric. In general, look for bamboo sheets with a thread count of 200 to 400. The thread counts on our list range from 250 to 400 at its highest. Keep in mind, though, that simply looking at thread count isn't necessarily the best way to choose bamboo sheets. Often, a higher thread count will indicate that the fabric is denser, so it will lose its cooling properties — something bamboo sheets are known for. 

Certifications: Look for certifications such as Oeko-Tex Standard 100 to ensure that the sheets meet certain environmental and safety standards. Most of our picks for the best bamboo sheets have a Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certification, meaning the final product has been independently tested against more than 100 harmful substances and is considered harmless for human health. Look for other sustainable practices in place, too. For example, Ettitude sheets are 100% biodegradable and the bamboo used is grown with 100% rainwater and processed in a closed-loop system, ultimately saving water.

Return policy and sleep trial: Sheets are a personal purchase that may feel different for each sleeper. A trial period is a good way to determine if the sheets you bought are a good fit for you. All of the sheets on our list have, at minimum, a 30-day return policy, and a few have a 100-night sleep trial. Our best overall pick, Quince, comes with the longest return policy we saw — 365 days from the purchase date.

Price: Good-quality bamboo sheets are expensive, plain and simple. You will be hard-pressed to find a queen-sized bamboo sheet set under $100. Fortunately, selects from Bampure cost under or just over $100, and our top pick from Quince is just outside that threshold at about $130 for a queen-sized set.

How we test bamboo sheets

After researching the best bamboo sheets on the market, we chose the top 10 sets to try out in a real-world testing environment — our own bed. First, we took them out of their packaging and noted the initial feel of the sheets. (Many sets on this list came with drawstring or zippered bags that are great for storage.) We also did an initial inspection and checked for any loose threads or snags. We then followed these considerations and evaluation points:

Our testing methodology

• Ease of use: We looked at how easy it was to make the bed and whether there were top/bottom/side tags to make the bed-making process simpler. 
• Comfort: We slept on the sheets for a minimum of one night and noted whether the sheets were cooling and how smooth, soft, and thin or heavy they felt. 
• Durability: We washed the sheets according to the individual manufacturer's instructions. After machine-drying on low heat, we checked for any signs of degradation, like pilling or fading in color. We then remade the bed and noticed the fit and whether they shrank after washing. We also noticed the level of softness. Most of the sheets on our list were soft out of the packaging and got softer with each wash.
• Certifications: We noted whether the sheets had any certifications, such as Oeko-Tex Standard 100 or Forest Stewardship Council. Bamboo sheets cannot be certified as organic by the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS).
• Return policy or sleep trial: Some of the sheets on our list came with 100-night or, in the case of Quince, yearlong trials, and most came with a minimum 30-day return policy, including those you can purchase from Amazon, like Bampure.
• Flexibility: We checked to see how many color and size options were offered and whether you could buy individual pieces or have to buy the whole set. While all of our sheets came in classic white, there were a few brands, like Quince and Cozy Earth that come with many more color offerings. 

Meet the experts behind this guide

Kinsley Searles, associate home editor: I'm a home writer and editor specializing in bedding, with a particular interest in the best sheets. I'm also a bamboo bedding aficionado — when I'm not testing different sets, I sleep on bamboo sheets every night. I keep up with the latest products and constantly test to ensure we're recommending the best options in this guide.

Kayla Kitts, freelance contributor: I have over ten years of experience in commerce writing and editing, specializing in home. I originally wrote and tested the products for this guide.

Bamboo sheet FAQs

Are bamboo sheets 100% bamboo?

Bamboo sheets can be made from a variety of materials, and not all bamboo sheets are necessarily made of 100% bamboo. Some sheets labeled as bamboo may be blends of bamboo and other fibers, such as cotton, like The Company Store's Bamboo Sheet Set. It's important to check the product description or label for specific details on the composition of the sheets. If you're looking for sheets made entirely from bamboo, you may want to seek those labeled as "100% bamboo" or "viscose made from bamboo." Young says, "If it says it's [100%] bamboo, then yes, it is. But our Federal Government has decided not to give it its own general title. When you see something marked as bamboo rayon [or rayon made from bamboo], this is the official designation. That means it's made in the same way as rayon, but it's still bamboo."

Are bamboo sheets cooling?

Bamboo sheets are often praised for their cooling properties. Bamboo fibers are naturally breathable, allowing air to circulate and heat to dissipate. This helps in maintaining a more comfortable temperature while sleeping. Bamboo also has moisture-wicking properties. This can be particularly beneficial for those who tend to sweat during the night.

Are bamboo sheets eco-friendly?

Bamboo itself is highly regarded for its ability to grow quickly with minimal water and no fertilizers. Turning bamboo into a textile, however, does affect its environmental benefits as many manufacturing processes require chemicals or lots of water to turn it into its final soft and silky fabric. Bamboo Lyocell is typically considered more eco-friendly. The FTC flags that while bamboo fabric is marketed as eco-friendly, that might not always be the case, since it depends on how the bamboo is processed and sourced.

How do you wash bamboo sheets?

Bamboo sheets require some care to maintain their quality. First, always check the care instructions provided by the manufacturer, as different brands may have specific recommendations. In general, bamboo sheets can be machine-washed in cool water on a gentle/delicate cycle using a mild detergent. Then, tumble dry on a low or gentle cycle, and remove the sheets promptly to prevent wrinkles. Avoid using hot water or high heat, as this can damage the fibers. You can also line-dry your sheets, which can help preserve the fabric and maintain its quality over time. For more information on caring for bamboo sheets, we cover how to wash sheets.

What are the benefits of bamboo sheets?

Bamboo sheets have several notable benefits, including breathability, softness, and cooling properties. According to Young, they're also "incredibly absorbent, and when it comes to sleeping, absorbency is your number-one goal. Bamboo is the king of absorbency, and they also wick really well." Finally, bamboo is naturally antibacterial. "Odor comes from bacteria; you get rid of bacteria, you get rid of odor, so they will smell fresh longer," she says.

Are bamboo sheets hypoallergenic?

Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites and bacteria, creating an environment that may be more comfortable for those with allergies.

What is a good thread count for bamboo sheets?

Thread count has become more complicated because sheets can be woven or knit, and thread count is only useful for gauging the quality of woven sheets. If you're looking at woven sheets, a good thread count is 200 to 400. All of the sheets on our list range from 225 to 400 thread count.

Young said that for knit sheets, you'll want to look at weight, which is expressed in either GSM or ounces per square yard. For bamboo sheets, a higher weight or GSM is generally better.

Cats are naturally meticulous groomers, spending up to half their day cleaning themselves. Still, both short- and long-haired cats benefit from regular grooming with one of the best cat brushes or combs. Routine grooming helps remove loose fur and distribute natural skin oils throughout a cat's coat, says Dr. Aimee Simpson, a veterinarian and medical director of VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia.

To find the best cat grooming tools, we tested 31 different brushes and combs with four cats. The winning pick is the Hartz Groomer's Best Combo Brush, a versatile option suitable for everyday use on both short- and long-haired coats. Its double-sided design features metal pins on one side and bristles on the other, allowing you to lift loose fur, work out small tangles, and smooth the top coat, including more delicate hairs on the face.

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

Our top picks for the best cat brushes

Best overall: Hartz Groomer's Best Combo Brush - $9 at Amazon

Best deshedding tool: Andis Deshedding Tool - $26 at Chewy

Best slicker brush: Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush - $18 at Chewy

Best dematting tool: Well & Good Prostyle Dual-Sided Shedding Rake - $23 at Amazon

Best comb: Chris Christensen Cat/Carding Buttercomb #013 - $65 at Amazon

Best grooming gloves: HandsOn All-In-One Bathing and Grooming Gloves - $25 at Chewy

Best silicone: Furbliss Pet Brush - $18 at Petco

How to choose the best brush for your cat

Best overall

Persuading your cat to sit through a grooming session can be a challenge, but the double-sided Hartz Groomer's Best Combo Brush makes the process easier and, dare we say, even enjoyable for cats of all coat lengths and humans alike. 

The gentle, effective combo brush is our go-to for daily use. One side features stainless steel pins that remove loose fur and small tangles, while the other side has nylon bristles that smooth and soften the coat.

In testing, the metal pins easily lifted loose fur from a long-haired cat's coat, while both the pins and bristles were excellent for a short-haired cat. The cats especially enjoyed the bristles around their sensitive faces. While the pins successfully work through small tangles, you'll need a different brush for more substantial knots and mats.

This brush also includes the safety features that Daniel Lioyryan, a cat groomer at Cats in the City, recommends for pin brushes. The stainless steel pins have rubber tips that provide a massaging effect while protecting cats from poking. They're set in a soft, flexible pad that prevents the tines from jabbing a cat. The rubber grip was easy to handle during use.

Best deshedding tool

Cat groomer Lioyryan recommends using a deshedding tool once a month or every other month to remove excess and compacted fur and thin out dense coats. Of all the tools we tested with short- and long-haired cats, the Andis Pet Deshedding Tool is the most effective for both. With just a few strokes, it removes as much, or more, fur than other tools do in an entire brushing session.

The effectiveness of the Andis deshedder lies in its curved metal teeth, which reach beneath the topcoat to pull hair from the undercoat. The teeth gently catch and remove hair without causing discomfort or skin irritation. One of our cats loved being brushed with this tool, and the teeth's hooked design prevented us from accidentally nicking or over-raking their skin. The tool itself is lightweight, and its handle is easy to grip. The head is about 4.5 inches wide, an ideal size to get the job done quickly but small enough to fit into hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

The only drawback is that the deshedder leaves behind a thin layer of loose fur on the topcoat. Lioyryan recommends using a comb or slicker brush after deshedding to remove leftover loose fur.

Best slicker

"Slicker brushes are often a cat's favorite," Lioyryan says. He adds that they are particularly useful for removing loose fur from the coat's outer layer and gripping the short strands of a short-haired cat's undercoat. For long-haired cats, a slicker brush is ideal for light daily brushing and catching pin knots, small mats, and loose clumps of fur. The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush accomplishes all this but stands out for its brush head size and retractable pins. 

Safari's lightweight slicker brush has an ergonomic handle with rubber grips. Its 3-by-2-inch paddle with 288 stainless steel pins is agile enough to get into hard-to-reach places. When the pins are full of hair, simply press a button on the back to push the front plate forward and dislodge the hair.

While the brush couldn't remove every mat on a long-haired cat, it did a great job helping us combat those on the chest and under the arms. You'll need to remove tougher tangles with a comb or dematting tool. If your cat's coat is severely matted, it's important to take your cat to a veterinarian or groomer who can safely remove the mats. "Never try to cut mats out of your cat's hair with scissors," Simpson says. "This can lead to accidental laceration of the skin."

Best dematting tool

While you can use a comb to remove mats from your long-haired cat, you may find a rake is easier to maneuver. Lioyryan says the best dematting rakes have sharp, curved tines that dislodge mats with minimal pulling. Our top pick, the Well & Good Prostyle Dual-Sided Shedding Rake, stands out for its superior grip and ability to remove pesky mats. 

This versatile two-sided tool features an ergonomic handle with rubber grips and a 3-inch-wide head. On one side of the head is a seven-toothed dematting tool, and on the other, there is a deshedder with 13 teeth. In one fell swoop, you can turn the tool over in your hand to go from dematting to deshedding, removing excess fur and preventing new mats from forming.

Although our long-haired cat didn't have any stubborn mats during testing, the tool performed well in simulated dematting tests. It was also incredibly easy to use the dematting side along the cat's tummy to eliminate tangles, then quickly flip to the deshedding side to thin her fur. While this rake may not remove as much hair as the Andis Deshedding Tool, it effectively clears away loose fur on long- and short-haired cats.

The only downsides are the rake's price and the lack of metal hardware connecting the teeth to the tool. Lioyryan says all-metal hardware will prove the most durable. For a more budget-friendly two-in-one tool, the Maxpower Plant Pet Grooming Brush is a good option, though it's slightly heavier and has a larger head that may make it harder to remove mats from tight underarm spots.

Best comb

Long-haired cats are prone to developing tangled mats in their undercoat, causing discomfort and, in some cases, leading to illness. "Matting causes the hair to pull at the skin, which is painful," Simpson says. At the hind end, urine and feces may also stick to mats, increasing the risk of skin and urinary tract infections.

The best comb to smooth out matted fur is Chris Christensen's Cat/Carding Buttercomb #013, says Loel Miller, owner of Mobile Grooming by Loel. We found she was right. It excelled at digging into mats and untangling the fur caught within them.

The lightweight comb has stainless steel teeth embedded in a solid 6-inch spine. The teeth alternate in a pattern of long and short tines. The comb has no real handle, just about a quarter-inch-wide ridge that runs its length. It turns out that the lack of a handle makes this comb more versatile and easier to use — we could hold it comfortably at any angle to work out tangles.

Best grooming gloves

Cats who refuse to be groomed with one of the best cat brushes or a comb may tolerate grooming gloves, which fit closely to the natural shape of your palm. "Using a grooming glove or a soft rubber grooming brush can acclimate your cat to the feeling of being brushed in a gentle way," Simpson says. 

Compared with all the other brushes and combs we tested, gloves are the worst at removing hair from a cat's coat. However, if your cat is sensitive to brushing, gloves will help remove some fur, dirt, and dander. The well-constructed HandsOn Grooming Gloves were the best of the bunch. The rubber palms are covered with rounded nubs, three clumps on each finger and two on the thumb. The other side of the glove is made of strong nylon fabric, with a velcro wrist closure that keeps it secure. 

The gloves come in five sizes, junior to extra large. As an average-sized woman, the medium pair fit me comfortably. Unlike the other gloves we tested, these didn't feel overly bulky. The gloves can be used dry or wet, and so far, they have not cracked, torn, or grown mildew, which the company claims is a feature of their durability.

Best silicone

Editor's note: Furbliss for Short Hair is currently out of stock.

The Furbliss is one of the best cat brushes not just because its flexible silicone nubs are gentle and effective at removing loose hair but also because you can use it to massage your pet, remove hair from clothing and upholstery, and dispense shampoo in the bath. 

Pet groomer Melissa Tillman says a good curry brush is ideal for grooming a short-haired cat. We found that this curry-style brush can help remove loose hair, dirt, and dander from long-haired cats, but it really shines on cats with shorter hair. The two-sided silicone brush has flexible nodules that smooth out the topcoat and stimulate circulation.

The lightweight brush was easy to grip and use. Fur sticks to the silicone material, making it a challenge to clean, but you can rinse it under the faucet or run it through the dishwasher or washing machine. On the back, there are reservoir cells to hold shampoo for deep cleaning while bathing. You can also rub the backside over clothing and upholstery to remove hair and lint.

The Furbliss comes in two different designs. The blue brush has dense, cone-shaped teeth designed for short-haired pets, and the green brush has larger, more widely spaced nubs for long-haired pets. However, we tried both brushes and didn't notice a significant difference.

What to look for in a cat brush

We spoke to three professional groomers and two veterinarians to narrow down the best cat brushes for every coat type and budget. They recommend keeping the following features in mind when shopping for cat grooming tools:

Shape and length: The shape of the brush directly impacts how well the brush removes fur and mats, especially from hard-to-reach places. Dematting and shedding brushes with small heads, like Andis Pet Deshedding Tool and Well & Good Prostyle Dual-Sided Shedding Rake, are great for reaching problematic areas such as under the limbs. The moderate length of Chris Christensen Buttercomb's teeth angles along the body, effectively tackling tough knots and mats.

Function: Not all brushes serve the same purpose, and you'll need more than one in your arsenal to address all of your cat's grooming needs. 

• Pin brushes: These brushes are gentle enough for daily use. The metal tines effectively tackle minor tangles, while the rubber tips provide a gentle, massaging sensation without poking your cat. 
• Bristle brushes: The nylon bristles remove loose hair from the topcoat and ensure the rest of the coat is smooth and lying in the same direction, which will help prevent future mats and tangles. A combo pin and bristle brush is particularly suitable for multi-cat households with both short- and long-haired cats.
• Slicker brushes: These are effective for light daily brushing, removing loose fur, and managing small tangles. The metal tines are numerous and slightly bent at the ends, making them especially useful for grabbing loose hairs from the undercoat of short-haired cats.  
• Skip tooth combs: This type of comb has a single row of steel tines with alternating lengths, designed to penetrate the undercoat of long-haired cats. If a comb has teeth that are all the same length and closely spaced, you might push the undercoat down instead of effectively brushing through it, Lioyran says. A comb is the ideal weekly or as-needed tool for small mats and grooming after deshedding. 
• Deshedding tools or rakes: These tools have curved tines to grip and remove excess fur. The number of tines varies, and Lioyryan says you might need to experiment with several deshedding rakes before finding the one that best suits your cat. He recommends using deshedding rakes monthly or every other month to eliminate loose fur and thin out thick coats. Lioyryan says even short-haired cats require deshedding, given their higher number of hair follicles than long-haired cats.
• Dematting rakes: If a stubborn mat pops up, a dematting rake is the best tool. Our experts strongly advise against using scissors on your cat's fur. Lioyryan recommends dematting tools with curved tines rather than straight ones because they tend to have a better grip. 
• Grooming gloves: These are gentle enough to acclimate cats to grooming and are less likely to overstimulate cats who are sensitive to touch. 
• Curry brushes: These versatile brushes with rubber nubs effectively remove loose hair, massage your pet, remove hair from clothing and upholstery, and lather shampoo during baths.

Comfort: The tines of a brush shouldn't poke and prod at your cat, and a tool should never excessively tug at the fur. To ensure your cat's comfort, opt for a pin brush with rubber-tipped tines and slickers with a soft brush pad that allows the tines to move with the curvature of your cat's bones. The best cat brushes also have ergonomic and rubber handles for the groomer's comfort.

Some cats may still dislike their grooming tools even if they check all the right boxes for comfort. "Just like people, some cats love being brushed, and they tolerate tension on their fur very well. Other cats do not," Lioyryan says. "If a cat doesn't like a particular tool, it doesn't necessarily mean that the tool is wrong." He suggests holding the skin taut to reduce pulling when using a deshedding rake and being mindful when brushing over bones.

Introducing your cat to grooming tools early increases the likelihood that they will tolerate and even enjoy the grooming process. For cats sensitive to grooming, grooming gloves such as HandsOn All-In-One Gloves may be the best option.

How we tested the best cat brushes

To identify the most effective cat brushes and combs for this guide, we conducted the following tests with 31 brushes and combs. 

Hair removal test: To objectively compare the brushes in the deshedding tool and slicker brush categories, we used a different grooming tool for one to three days to give our tester cats — two short-haired cats and two long-haired cats — a complete brushing. The removed hair was placed in labeled plastic bags, laid side by side to reveal which tool removed the most.

Ease of use test: While using each grooming tool, we evaluated the following characteristics:

• How easy the tool was to use overall
• The weight of the tool
• The size of the tool and how well it fit in our hands
• How well the tool accessed hard-to-reach places
• How easy the tool was to clean after use
• The durability of the tool

Dematting test: This test was devised for the products in the dematting comb category. For each comb, we began by rolling, mashing, and entangling a large pile of undercoat fur removed from a long-haired cat using a deshedding tool. We then attempted to restore the fur to its smooth, unmatted state with the comb. The top three tools went on to tackle the small mats on one of our tester cat's chest and under his forelegs, where he has trouble reaching during grooming. The comb that dematted the hair most easily and efficiently was declared the winner.

Cat brush FAQs

What is the best type of brush to use on a cat?

The right brush for your cat depends on your cat's coat type and specific grooming needs. For most cats, a combination pin-and-bristle brush is the best choice for everyday grooming, whether they have short or long hair. The pins remove loose hair and small tangles while the bristles smooth the top coat. However, a single brush can't meet every grooming need. Long-haired cats require monthly or every-other-month grooming with a deshedding rake, followed by a skip tooth comb or pin brush to remove remaining loose fur and handle small tangles. To handle bigger knots and mats, you'll need a dematting tool.

If you have a short-haired cat, you can skip the comb but should use a slicker or pin brush to tackle small tangles and remove loose hair from the undercoat. You may also need a deshedding rake and a dematting tool. Some cats may prefer the gentle touch of a soft rubber curry comb rather than a pin or slicker brush. A grooming glove is another good option for short-haired cats, particularly if they are sensitive to being handled.

Are cat brushes good for cats?

Yes. Brushing removes loose hair and dead skin cells that would otherwise be swallowed during self-grooming or shed around your home. Reducing the amount of hair a cat consumes can help minimize hairballs. Brushing also distributes the natural oils throughout the coat to keep it shiny, stimulates blood circulation, and helps strengthen the bond between a cat and their caregiver.

How often should you brush your cat's fur?

Opinions differ even among professionals regarding how often a cat should be brushed. The ASPCA recommends brushing your cat once or twice a week to help maintain a healthy coat, while VCA Animal Hospitals recommends daily brushing, particularly for cats with long hair or a thick coat. Tillman's rule of thumb is to brush your cat as often as they will let you. Harper doesn't have a universal rule, but recommends running your hands, if not a brush or comb, over your cat's body at least once daily. Older cats that cannot groom themselves may require more frequent sessions than younger cats.

How often should I use a deshedding tool on my long-haired or thick-coated cat?

Lioyryan recommends using a deshedding tool on both long and short-haired cats once a month to every other month. Afterward, brush with a skip tooth comb, slicker brush, or pin brush. 

How long should I brush my cat?

Rather than brushing for a fixed amount of time, pay close attention to your cat's body language. If they become agitated or try to move away from the brush or comb, stop the session and pick it up again later.

How do you brush an unwilling cat?

The earlier you start introducing your cat to brushing, the better. "Kittens that are regularly groomed and have their nails trimmed become used to being handled," Simpson says. To help set your cat up for success, she recommends positioning them in a comfortable, quiet area and pairing gentle brush strokes or combing with delicious treats. Lickable treats, like Inaba Churu, are especially high-value for many cats. You can spread food on a Lickimat or scatter treats in front of your cat to keep your hands free. Simpson also says cats are less likely to be anxious if you work alone without restraining them.

Should cats go to groomers?

Anytime a cat is heavily matted, it's best to consult a professional. "Cats' skin is easy to cut, so it's best to leave that up to us," Tillman says. If you have a cat who dislikes being brushed, don't hesitate to hire a groomer to do the basics. "It's best not to push the limits of a cat where you are in danger of being injured," Miller says. For cats that are easily stressed during trips to the groomer, a mobile grooming service that comes to your home may be a good alternative.

• After spending a few years living in big Western cities, I moved back East to be closer to family.
• Now, I live in Asheville, North Carolina, and my quality of life has really improved.
• Life in Asheville has made family, affordability, and everyday ease feel more accessible.

As a small-town girl from Forestville, New York, moving to Denver for my dream job after college felt electric. I enjoyed skiing (when I could justify the three-hour drive to my favorite slopes), hiking, and seeing many shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the city's shine quickly wore off. Hiking trails became more crowded, live music all but disappeared, and suddenly, I felt very alone on the other side of the country.

Visiting my family back East wasn't easy without expensive flights or long days on the road, and I started to feel closed in, with no way to reset or reconnect.

After sticking things out in Denver for a few more months, I moved to Salt Lake City for work. At first, it felt like an upgrade: world-class skiing was just 30 minutes away, rugged desert trails were within reach, and there was a stunning mountain backdrop.

Eventually, though, I realized what mattered most to me was being close to my family.

So, after three years of living out West, I decided I was ready for a change and settled in Asheville, North Carolina — a city that still gives me proximity to nature but has made family, affordability, and everyday ease feel more accessible.

Since moving, my quality of life has really improved

Now that I'm back on the East Coast, I don't feel as cut off from my loved ones.

When I was living out West, the flights were so expensive that I only ended up seeing my family once a year for Christmas. Now, however, I can somewhat easily drive up to New York multiple times a year for birthdays, graduations, and other gatherings.

Being closer to my family hasn't been the only perk of moving here, either. I've also found that the pace of life feels much more natural. There's a collective ease here in the way people pause to chat, hold doors, and make everyday interactions feel more personal and less rushed.

Southern hospitality feels present in everyday interactions, especially when I go over to a friend's house to sip tea on their porch.

The landscape seems to shape this rhythm, too. I can step onto a hiking trail or into a river within 15 minutes of leaving my house, and enjoy four distinct seasons — including mild winters — without the extremes of high-altitude living.

Now, my life feels much more balanced

At the end of the day, I don't think Asheville is "better" than the other places I've lived. The Rockies and Appalachians both offer breathtaking landscapes, endless opportunities to get outside, and ways of living that aren't found in other parts of the country.

However, moving to North Carolina has allowed me to better align my life with the things that are most important to me.

And a bonus? I'm finally able to save for my future in a way that felt impossible when I was living in bigger cities.

Now, I'm paying less than $2,000 a month for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom rental with a fenced-in backyard. Meanwhile, comparable options I saw in Denver and Salt Lake City could run at least $3,000.

This breathing room has allowed my partner and me to save money toward buying land and a home.

Overall, moving to North Carolina shifted more than just my address — it changed my relationship to affordability, time, family, and what "living well" actually means.

• I always dreamed of owning a house one day, but now that I can, I'm second-guessing the decision.
• I can only afford a house I don't like in a neighborhood I don't love.
• I also don't want to be locked into an asset, so I'll focus on investing elsewhere.

Buying a property was on my bingo card for as long as I can remember. It always felt inevitable, especially being a millennial raised by boomers who saw that as the default path.

For years, I quietly accepted that it probably was not possible in the world we live in. Then it became possible, and that is when things got interesting.

After moving in with my partner, we decided to actually test the assumption. We ran the numbers and realized that, at least in the UK, we could make it work.

For the first time, buying a house seemed realistic. But instead of confirming the plan, the process forced a different conclusion: We decided not to buy.

The version of 'home" I could get wasn't the one I wanted

What that budget translated into in reality was something else entirely. The options within our range came with compromises: a less-than-ideal location, space that was too small, or spending more time and money than we were comfortable with.

It forced us to reflect. Is it worth owning something you do not even like, in an area you do not want to live in, just for the sake of owning a house?

There was also a gap between what I had always imagined buying a house would look like and what this actually was. I had never pictured making a long-term commitment to something that already read like a compromise from day one.

And in the UK, that gap widens fast. Many properties within our range were not even full ownership in the traditional sense. Leaseholds, service charges, ground rent, restrictions on renovations, or even how you live. You are not buying a home. You are buying the right to occupy someone else's asset for a number of years, paying them for the privilege, and asking permission to paint your own walls.

The more we understood the structure, the more the word "ownership" started to seem like a technicality.

It was a legal status that looked like control on paper but delivered very little in practice.

Buying would lock us into a version of our life we're not sure we want

Once we accepted that the kind of home we could get would involve trade-offs, the question became quite obvious. If we were not excited about what we were buying, why anchor ourselves to it long term?

Buying a house is not just a financial decision. It ties you to a location, shapes your day-to-day, and limits how easily you can pivot. That level of permanence can be valuable, but only if you are confident about the life you are building around it. Right now, we are not.

Over the past few years, my life has changed in many ways. I have moved countries, shifted roles, and rethought what I want my day to look like. That has made things less predictable, but also more intentional. Flexibility has become something I value, and protecting it matters more than locking it away inside four walls I was never excited about in the first place.

The money works harder elsewhere — and so does the life

There was also a calculation we kept avoiding. The deposit sitting in a low-cost index fund over the same period has historically outperformed average UK property appreciation, without the maintenance costs, service charges, or illiquidity. A mortgage is leverage on a single, fixed, non-diversified asset you also happen to live in. That is a strange way to build wealth when you are not emotionally sold on the asset itself.

But the more interesting realization was not about returns. It was about what that capital buys when it stays liquid. The trips you can take. The risks you can afford. The ability to move toward something better without first selling something you never loved.

There is also a form of wealth that does not appear in property valuations. Experiences do not fit inside a repayment schedule. Memories compound differently, not in a spreadsheet, but in the person you are gradually becoming. That sounds abstract until you price what you would have had to give up to make the numbers work.

We ran those numbers too. And when you add up what we would have traded, the flexibility, the options, the life still unwritten, the most expensive thing we could have done was buy.

• I have four kids, and my youngest is graduating from elementary school this year.
• It's the ned of an era, and it's caused me to reflect.
• There are a few things I now wish I'd done differently while my kids were young.

Time is a thief. When each of my four children was born, I thought they would be little forever. The baby and toddler years are so all-consuming that it seems like they will never end. But I learned, quickly, that the axiom that the days are long but the years are short is all too true. By the time this reality sank in, however, it was too late to go back and change the way I approached their childhood.

I can physically feel the heartache when I dropped my oldest daughter, now nearly 20, off for her first day of elementary school. That first day was followed by three similar first days, spread out over nearly a decade, as her three younger siblings took their first steps into elementary school.

Each time, I hid my tears behind oversize sunglasses and tried to stifle my sobs, knowing I would enjoy newfound free time but still aching to have my children by my side. Those first days of school for my older children were followed, too quickly, by elementary school graduations and more changes and challenges.

Now, after 16 years of having a child in elementary school, my youngest child is about to graduate to middle school, too. It's a milestone for him, but also for me, and marks the end of a very long era as a mom to little kids, one I loved and will miss dearly. Still, if I could go back and change a few things, I would.

I worried about doing everything the 'right' way

When my older kids were little, I thought every decision, every act, could have a significant impact on their lives. I pored over "expert" advice about the best way to parent. Worrying about every minute of screen time, every second of sleep, and every bite they ate was stressful and sucked some of the joy out of the early years of motherhood. Was I doing attachment parenting the right way? Did I have the right rules in place? Was I enforcing them the wrong way?

In hindsight, it didn't really matter if my kids occasionally ate an extra scoop of ice cream or didn't like certain vegetables as long as they were growing and developing well. Missing out on playdates in the alley or another round of UNO wasn't worth their getting an additional 20 minutes of sleep as long as they were generally well rested. The sky didn't fall if I let laundry pile up or went to bed with dirty dishes in the sink.

Now, as teens, my kids have much weightier problems to deal with. Dealing with shootings near their high schools, peer pressure to drink, getting through to them about the reality that social media postings never truly go away, and making decisions about their career paths puts the smaller issues I wrestled with as a young mother into stark perspective.

I wish I hadn't waited to do so many things

In the thick of parenting young children, time becomes warped. I put off doing too many things I knew my children would love for another day, assuming that day would eventually come. Now, my kids are uninterested in some of the things I had on my bucket list for their younger selves.

For example, it never seemed like a good time to go on a Disney Cruise, something I had wanted to do for years. I thought it would be fun to travel to Finland to see Santa's home. Now, even my youngest is too old to have some of the magical childhood experiences I once envisioned for him. I also kept waiting for a better time to get family portraits. While it's not too late to book a photographer, my kids are now in a different season, and I missed a window to have photos of my children, still as children, taken while they were all still little.

I should have been more present

Raising young kids can be grueling, especially while trying to balance work and mothering, but I still wish I had put my phone down more and been present. Although I knew intellectually I should have been more mindful about limiting screentime, the reality of why didn't really sink in until recently.

At the time, I loved sneaking in time to scroll and post photos to social media while my kids played at the playground or built with Duplos in the living room. Now, how they spend their time is different, and I will never get those moments back. Additionally, the day my kids would much rather play with friends than me came quickly. Although I am now more mindful of my own screentime when I am with my children, I missed out on many hours that would have been a lot of fun for my kids and me, simply being playful in a way that no longer exists.

• Andrew Reaster, a 29-year-old UPS driver in Georgia, had a sudden three-day-long stomachache.
• He was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and died six months later.
• His mother, Kathy Lemoine, wants more young people and parents to know the risks of colon cancer.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kathy Lemoine, 58, who lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Her son, Andrew Reaster, died on August 9, 2025, from colon cancer. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

My son Andrew lived life to the fullest every day.

He was a kid at heart, decorating his condo with Pokémon and Legos. He loved his job as a UPS driver, and many of his customers loved him. He would jump around and pet their dogs. It seemed that each friend he had considered him their best friend.

On top of his active job, Andrew was also very regimented about his health. He followed a mostly clean diet and never skipped his dental appointments. He also had perfect school attendance and was rarely sick.

So when he called me in January 2025 about a stomach ache that wouldn't go away for three days, I immediately called a gastroenterologist in my town. Andrew came in the next day.

The doctor immediately felt something hard during Andrew's rectal exam and scheduled an emergency colonoscopy. After a major snowstorm, Andrew came in a few days later. I went with him, thinking the procedure would last at least half an hour. Ten minutes later, I was called in. They couldn't even fit the scope through because of the blockage.

Within a week, we learned he had stage 4 colon cancer, with the cancer spreading to his liver, lungs, and stomach lining.

That's when our nightmare began.

The hardest decision I ever had to make

We learned from the CT scans that the mass couldn't be surgically removed and that Andrew would require chemotherapy treatment and a colostomy, a procedure that creates an opening in his abdomen to collect waste through a colostomy bag.

I couldn't breathe. I felt like there was a hand squeezing my heart. Because Andrew had Asperger's, now known as autism spectrum disorder, I knew if I focused on the negative, that's what he would end up doing, too. So I said, "OK, honey, we can do this."

He went to the front desk to start the paperwork for short-term disability. I called the doctor over and asked for a prognosis. He told me that without treatment, Andrew had about one month to live. With treatment, about six.

After Andrew drove home, I called my mom. I broke down on the phone. I was inconsolable. I said, "I just can't believe that my son is dying."

Andrew worked right until the day before his colostomy in February 2025. He was so worried about getting his short-term disability paperwork right so he wouldn't lose his job. All he talked about was having the colostomy bag removed and going back to work after he kicked cancer's butt.

The colostomy was supposed to involve a three- to five-day hospital stay. Due to complications, Andrew ended up being there for 48 days. He had fevers, which the hospital staff first thought were infections but later deduced were caused by his cancer.

Because Andrew gave me power of attorney, the doctor pulled me aside and said, "Mom, you have a huge decision to make." Without chemotherapy, Andrew would only live for about three more weeks, but given how weak he was, there was a chance he wouldn't make it through the night if we started now.

It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. I knew I would regret not trying chemotherapy. I sat with him throughout the three-day regimen, waiting to see what happened. It was scary because I could have lost him at any point. We ended up watching "Cars," "Fast & Furious," and all these different movies.

He made it. The doctor was shocked. I thought, "Oh my God, we're going to kick this." Andrew came back for his second round of chemo two weeks later.

Trying to stay positive

Andrew started to feel a little bit better. He still couldn't work, but he went out with his friends. In the meantime, a new doctor closer to Andrew's home encouraged me to look into any clinical trials I could find — he really didn't think Andrew had very long.

The chemo became harsher and harsher on Andrew. His white blood cell count was too low to continue chemo, and he couldn't go to the bathroom, even with the colostomy bag. Still, he seemed to keep a positive outlook.

By the time he turned 30 in July 2025, he only weighed 140 pounds, down from 210. Toward the end, he didn't want friends and family visiting him anymore, seeing how skeletal he'd become.

He suffered greatly. He was in constant pain until he died on August 9, 2025.

In hindsight, I say, "Oh my God, I should not have let him suffer that long. We should have just let him go." But I think if I let him go, then I would be saying, "Oh my gosh, we should have tried harder." So no matter what, I would have regrets, which I do.

It was heartbreaking, watching him fade away.

I still wonder if we missed early symptoms

We had no idea that colon cancer was something to look out for. Andrew was young, had no family history, and never had any digestive issues other than that stomach ache. I believe that he probably had little signs here and there, but just didn't know or dismissed them.

Colon cancer is now the deadliest cancer for people under 50. It's also very treatable if caught early. I want people under 45 to know all the risks, so they can get screened the moment they notice any warning signs, whether they get colonoscopies or at-home colon cancer tests.

I also think people struggle to talk about colon cancer because it has to do with their butts, and I hope to make it less of a taboo topic.

I recently restarted Andrew's Instagram account to share information about colon cancer. I put up a picture of him that says, "I am 29 with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer in this pic and will be gone in 4 months." More than 400,000 people viewed his profile in that month.

My son didn't have a snowball's chance in hell. I hope, with more awareness, young people — and their parents — will realize how serious colon cancer is.

Correction: May 16, 2026 — An earlier version of this story misstated the time between Andrew Reaster's diagnosis and his death. He was diagnosed in February 2025 and died 6 months later.

• I graduated from college almost a year ago and still can't find a full-time job, so I'm a barista.
• I often wonder if I should just leave New York and move home, giving up my career dreams.
• But I stay in hopes that my big break will come soon.

Last May, as I walked across the stage of a New York City theater to receive my college diploma, I wondered if I would be able to put my degree to use. Smiling toward where my visiting family sat, the thought crossed my mind: Would it be better if I just moved home?

Like many NYC graduates, I'm a California transplant. In 2022, I moved from coast to coast with the dream of becoming a journalist. I pursued internships and roles with student newspapers. By the time graduation rolled around, I'd amassed a modest portfolio.

I knew the job market was tough, but I was determined to put my education to work.

My post-college job search started months before graduation. Between attending classes and running around for my local news internship, I was writing cover letters, networking, and surfing the internet for job postings. As an undergrad student in New York City, I was familiar with the hustle, but around 50 job applications in, I still had zero promising leads.

By graduation, I had to face the facts. I had a journalism degree, but no full-time journalism job on the horizon.

The entry-level job apocalypse

A recent report by the Center for an Urban Future found that entry-level job postings in NYC have dropped 37.4% since 2022.

As my graduation approached and job leads kept going cold, I had to make a tough decision. Rent was due, and my internship had ended, so I revisited a trade that had supported me before: barista work.

Nearly one year later, the part-time role I began out of necessity has continued to largely fund my housing, groceries, travel, and life.

I say I'm a freelance journalist in NYC, but in reality, most of my working week is spent at a neighborhood coffee shop. My remaining time is spent picking up freelance journalism gigs, babysitting, and investing in my local church community.

Why not just move home?

Amid job applications and 5 a.m. alarms, there have been many times when I've wondered what's keeping me in a place like NYC if I can't get a journalism job. Why don't I just move home?

But there's something that keeps people like me from returning home: the waiting, working, and wondering when it might be our turn.

Between pouring latte art and taking orders at the register last week, my aspiring actor coworker and I talked about what keeps people like us here. She told me the story of "The Pitt" star Patrick Ball, who had been auditioning and working survival jobs since 2013.

On CBS Mornings, Ball shared that prior to his audition for "The Pitt," he was beginning to think that his on-screen break might never happen.

"It was a self-tape just from my apartment, just like any other self-tape," said Ball. "I've probably done like 1,000 of them over the last 10 years."

Since graduation, I've applied to over 150 jobs — nowhere near Ball's 1,000 auditions — so I can relate to his sense that my "break" will never happen. And yet we keep pushing, hoping the break is just around the corner.

Ten months have passed since graduation, and I'm still in NYC, longing, seeking, and wondering when I'll find the next step in that dream of mine.

Then something changed

I recently received an offer for a full-time position in another East Coast city in my desired field. I'm unsure whether the position will be my next step, but the opportunity to use my degree is stirring up a dream I'd begun to forget.

This past year of multiple jobs has been a blessing in disguise. It's brought me closer to the community and taught me to be content when things don't go as planned.

It's brought me to a place where I can consider my career from a place of desire, not obligation.

After all this time, receiving an offer felt like finding a version of myself that I have yet to know. I think it would be fun to find her out.

I guess it's just not the time to move home quite yet.

Two of the FA Cup's most successful teams — Man City and Chelsea — meet at Wembley on Saturday to decide the 145th playing of the competition. And, if you want to know where to watch the FA Cup Final, we have all the information you need below.

Those in the UK are the luckiest in the world, as they get to watch the match absolutely free thanks to BBC One and the BBC iPlayer. You can watch every minute of 2026 FA Cup Final action — no matter where in the world you are, thanks to a VPN — by following our guide below.

Alongside their pursuit of the Premier League and EFL Cup victory, Man City have serenely coasted into a fourth straight FA Cup Final. Despite being favorites, however, they've managed to lose the last two to Crystal Palace and crosstown rivals Man United, so Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland, and co. will be keen to get back to winning ways on Saturday.

For Chelsea, the competition has been a shining light in an otherwise dark season. Calum McFarlane may only be interim boss after Liam Rosenior's sacking, but leading the Blues to their first domestic honor for eight years would certainly help burnish his reputation.

Will City be denied again? Or will outgoing captain Bernardo Silva get the chance to lift the iconic trophy in one of his last games for the club? Keep reading to learn how to tune in.

Where to watch FA Cup Final for free in the UK

The FA Cup Final is shown on BBC One on free-to-air TV in the UK. That means Chelsea vs. Man City will also be available to stream for free live and on demand via the BBC iPlayer streaming service. Its app is available on pretty much every streaming device you can think of.

This year, alternative coverage will be broadcast through TNT Sports 1, which you can stream online through HBO Max in the UK if you don't already have it as part of your TV package.

How to watch FA Cup Final from anywhere

If you're a UK football fan abroad and try to watch the FA Cup Final for free on BBC iPlayer, you'll discover that the stream is blocked. The same goes for ESPN Select and other streaming services the world over. To get around this nuisance, you can use a VPN, or virtual private network. The cybersecurity software changes your IP address to another country, so you can appear like you're back at home.

NordVPN is the outright best VPN that you can download right now. It's brilliant at unlocking geo-restricted platforms, and is also among the fastest, most secure, and easiest to use VPNs that we've tested (see our NordVPN review for a more in-depth appraisal). Not used a VPN before? You can try NordVPN risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Where to watch FA Cup Final in the US

Fans of UK soccer in the US have options when it comes to where to watch the Chelsea vs. Man City on Saturday, with ESPN2 the main linear channel carrying the FA Cup Final. If you don't already have access to ESPN channels, then a subscription to the ESPN streaming platform is an affordable choice. Its entry-level ESPN Select tier costs from $13 a month on a rolling basis and will let you watch the game on a wide variety of devices.

If sports are your thing, then you could also consider going for a more comprehensive ESPN Unlimited plan instead. For $30 a month, it includes everything that the various ESPN channels have to offer, so that means action from the NFL, NBA, and WWE, in addition to FA Cup soccer.

An array of premium sports channels is also carried by DirecTV MySports. The OTT provider offers the likes of CNN, FS1/FS2, NBA TV, NFL Network, Golf Channel, and TNT alongside ESPN Unlimited, all for $65 a month with a $20 discount off your first two months. It also comes with a five-day free trial for new customers.

Fubo Sports + News is another sports-focused cable replacement product featuring ESPN Unlimited alongside 28 other channels. Not sure if Fubo's for you? Try before you buy with its five-day free trial, after which it costs $56 a month (with $10 off your first month).

Where to watch FA Cup Final in Australia

Australian soccer fans will be able to watch Chelsea vs. Man City live streams exclusively on the Stan Sport subscription service. The platform covers an array of live sports and costs from $32 a month (combining a base Stan subscription of $12 a month with the Sport add-on for $20 a month).

Where to watch FA Cup Final in Canada

The 2026 FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Man City will be shown on Sportsnet in Canada — so if you already get that channel, you're good to go. If not, you have the option to sign up for the online Sportsnet Plus streaming service to stream FA Cup soccer, NHL, NBA, MLB, UFC, and more. You'll need a Premium plan to watch this game, which costs $43 a month or $325 for the year (the equivalent of $27 a month).

What is the FA Cup Final venue?

The 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium in London, UK will host the 2026 FA Cup Final between Chelsea vs. Man City.

Also home of the England football team, Wembley has hosted the FA Cup Final every year since 2007. Immediately prior to that, there was a six-year period where the final was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff while the new stadium was being built. The iconic 'old' Wembley, which was knocked down in the year 2002, hosted the FA Cup Final between 1923 and 2000.

Who is favored to win the FA Cup final?

Man City are overwhelming favorites to win the 2026 FA Cup Final on Saturday, May 16. At the time of writing, DraftKings has Pep Guardiola's team at -140 to win and Chelsea at +370, and it's around the same at BetMGM.

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.

• EBay is having a glow-up right now, with sales up 19% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026.
• Fashion, one of eBay's core categories, has been integral to the company's growth.
• Kirsty Keoghan, general manager of EU Fashion & Luxury at eBay, told Business Insider why this is.

EBay has been making headlines recently.

Despite being seen as the pioneer of online resale, the 30-year-old e-commerce platform has struggled to shake its reputation as the internet's flea market. But when GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen made an unsolicited bid to buy the company, eBay doubled down on the idea that it's better off alone, and investors scoffed.

The company is having a glow-up, and fashion is playing a big part in its growth. In February, it reached an agreement to buy Depop, the resale platform loved by Gen Z, for $1.2 billion. The deal has not yet been finalized.

"One of the things that you can't argue with, we've been around for 30 years," Kirsty Keoghan, general manager of EU Fashion & Luxury at eBay, told Business Insider. "We are the OG of buying and selling preloved fashion."

When newer, buzzier competitors emerged and helped reshape consumer perceptions of secondhand shopping, eBay had lost its luster. However, through savvy partnerships, working with celebrities, and improving its user experience, the resale OG is regaining its cool again.

It started with trust

Ebay's shares are up around 185% since Jamie Iannone took over as CEO in April 2020 and launched a turnaround effort, and up over 30% year-to-date.

In its first quarter results, released in April, revenue was up 19% year-on-year. Fashion saw double-digit year-on-year growth, led by its luxury, streetwear, and pre-loved clothing focus categories.

A key step in CEO Jamie Iannone's turnaround strategy was to home in on its verticals by making focus categories within them. This was to attract enthusiast buyers, including sneakerheads and vintage luxury lovers. It kicked off this transformation by implementing authenticity guarantees within these focus categories.

It started with sneakers in the US in 2020 and has since expanded to other markets and products. Most recently, it integrated a luxury watch authentication service that flags stolen watches in the UK.

"It's [trust] important for everybody when shopping online, particularly with pre-loved," Keoghan said. "But I just think particularly for luxury, it's such an important part of our strategy."

From 'Love Island' to the Met Gala

Another key part of eBay's fashion strategy has been getting involved in cultural moments in order to amp up its visibility and cool factor.

The company teamed up with Vogue and singer-songwriter SZA to source her outfit for the 2026 Met Gala. It has been partnered with popular TV series "Love Island" in the UK since 2022, and has worked with some of the biggest American influencers, such as Emma Chamberlain.

Ebay has built relationships with celebrity stylists in an attempt to have items sourced from its platform appear organically in cultural moments.

One of its ambassadors, celebrity stylist Harry Lambert, dressed Harry Styles in a pre-loved outfit sourced from eBay for a shoot for his latest album launch.

"The reason why we've done that is so that we can put pre-loved fashion at the forefront of some of these really big fashion moments and get people to think about fashion really differently," Keoghan said.

Fierce competition

Despite the trendy collaborations and the popularity of pre-loved fashion among Gen Z consumers, Keoghan said eBay does not have a specific core customer in mind.

"We've got all of the other categories, which I think for us is like our superpower because you can come and buy fashion and you can also go and buy or sell a desk or a sofa," Keoghan said.

Since eBay's launch, younger companies such as European-headquartered Vinted and US-based Poshmark have emerged, making the secondhand e-commerce market fiercely competitive. When Vinted dropped its seller fee, eBay followed suit in the UK and Germany. It is yet to do the same in the US.

Keoghan said she welcomes the competition. "I think it makes us all up our game," she said.

No longer wanting to play catch-up, eBay is pressing ahead with AI features, such as AI-generated descriptions and a background enhancement tool, to reduce seller friction as much as possible.

"Using innovation and technology to do that is really key for us at eBay," she added. "We're just trying to continue to make those better and better and better. So it makes it really easy for our customers."

• Rob Mallernee has worked with ultra-high-net-worth families for more than 30 years.
• He said the richest families tend to maintain their wealth with four habits.
• Instilling purpose in the next generation and being frugal are key to preserving wealth, he said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rob Mallernee, 50, who is the CEO of a wealth management software company. He is based in North Carolina. Business Insider has verified his employment. This piece has been edited for length and clarity.

A single brilliant decision might create wealth. But the best way to keep your wealth for 100 years is not one brilliant decision, but hundreds of good decisions over many years.

After more than 30 years working with ultra-high-net-worth families — including most recently as CEO of Eton Solutions — I've seen this pattern firsthand.

The most successful families tend to share these four habits.

Creating the right family culture

The most successful families instil a sense of purpose in the next generations. They foster an environment where the children and grandchildren don't feel entitled, but are motivated to make their own way and add value to the world.

In these families, the subsequent generations don't see the wealth as their own, but as something they steward for the future.

Almost all of our clients do a really great job with that. I'm often amazed at how successful the second and third generations are in building their own careers and achieving something in their lives, despite not needing to because they already have more than enough money.

Treating tax planning as an ongoing process

The second biggest thing these families do to maintain their wealth is being very intentional and thoughtful about expenses and costs.

Typically, one of the highest costs in these situations is taxes, and how you invest your money can be either incredibly tax-efficient or incredibly tax-inefficient.

For example, you could buy an equity fund where the manager is buying and selling all the time. You'd expect a significant proportion of short-term capital gains to be taxed each year, reducing the client's net return.

An alternative is a tax-loss harvesting strategy, where you buy a basket of stocks rather than a mutual fund and sell positions at a loss to offset gains elsewhere. The gross return expectation is the same, but the after-tax returns are significantly higher.

These wealthy families spend a lot of time hiring people to ensure they're not making tax-inefficient decisions. They don't treat tax planning as a one-time exercise but as an ongoing process that considers every financial decision from all perspectives.

Investing long-term

Another common behavior is buying and holding core assets for long periods to reduce taxes and transaction costs.

For example, if they bought a house in Aspen and held onto it for decades, the asset's appreciation is likely to be significant and outweigh the cost of maintaining it over time.

The same principle applies to financial assets. Ultra-high-net-worth individuals with well-planned equity portfolios almost never pay taxes on them because they buy and hold.

If, for example, they need $1 million to buy real estate, they won't sell investments and incur taxes. Instead, they'll borrow against their portfolio or take out a mortgage. Very wealthy people tend to avoid paying cash for their homes because it's not the smartest way to do it.

Being frugal

You may be surprised, but ultra-high-net-worth individuals can be very frugal. While most people assume that they wouldn't worry about the nitty-gritty stuff if they had that much money, I think one way people retain their wealth is by being very frugal and paying attention to costs.

Sometimes that can go to extremes. I could give you several examples of people worth over $100 million asking one of their advisors to look into a cost worth less than $10.

The right way to approach things is to be consistently intentional about all your financial decisions, and it's how wealthy families stay wealthy.

• Patients are turning to AI for inspiration in plastic surgery and dermatology.
• The results, doctors say, are often physically impossible or unsafe.
• It's the latest example of how technology is growing the gap between beauty expectations and reality.

Unreal expectations are par for the course in cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Rachel Westbay's line of work. Patients regularly bring in photos of celebrities or their younger selves, asking her to work her magic.

But earlier this year, she encountered something entirely new when a patient brought into her Upper East Side office what Westbay described as a caricature. The image was cartoonish, with lips too full for her face and enlarged, doll-like eyes.

Its creator was ChatGPT.

"It's like saying I want to look like Ariel from 'The Little Mermaid,'" Westbay told Business Insider. "I was shocked."

Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering doctors' offices.

Rather than letting plastic surgeons and dermatologists be in charge of the "after," patients are prompting AI image generators to create their ideal versions of themselves. Some use ChatGPT or Nano Banana, others use specialized apps and AI filters. It's the latest example of how technology, like Snapchat filters and Photoshop before it, is reshaping beauty standards and expectations.

The result can be a challenge for doctors, who have to confront patients about what is surgically achievable or physiologically safe.

A survey published last year by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that those who had experience using AI enhancers on photos had "significantly higher" expectations for plastic surgery outcomes.

"It's not necessarily a completely negative thing for people to explore the look or the goal they want," Dr. Steven Williams, a plastic surgeon in the Bay Area and the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, told Business Insider. "The important thing is recognizing that there are still limitations."

He's had patients come in with AI-generated images of breast augmentations, body contouring, and rhinoplasties. His overriding take: "Pixels are easier than surgery."

'Bodies aren't clay'

Daina Jenkins wasn't new to plastic surgery when, at 60, she decided to have a deep-plane facelift.

"If it's sagging, bagging, or dragging, I'm going to lift it, suck it, or tuck it," she told Business Insider.

After two years of research and a consultation, she settled on a surgeon for the procedure, but he didn't provide images of what her after could look like. So she turned to ChatGPT, explaining the procedures she was planning and asking the AI to visualize them.

The result — pore-less skin, a sharp jaw, a particular pout — looked nothing like her.

Jenkins asked her surgeon's office about the image and was relieved to hear that even if she liked it, those results weren't possible.

"It wasn't reality," she said. "I love that I look natural."

The image generators tend to spit out what Westbay calls the "Bratz doll" look: plumped lips, big eyes, and a defined jaw. It doesn't account for an individual's facial structures, different ethnicities, or for balancing.

That gap between expectations and reality is key to AI's effect on the industry.

When a woman in her 70s brought an AI-generated photo into a consultation, Dr. Sachin Shridharani, a plastic surgeon in Manhattan, said it was completely unrealistic. She was looking for a "surgical time machine" and to look like her granddaughter, forty years her junior.

"I explained that we can't recreate what she looked like when she was younger, but she remained insistent," he said.

While AI can visualize certain features — particularly nonfacial ones — quite well, it struggles with more complex procedures, such as nose jobs.

What follows are long consultations in which doctors break down what is possible and safe. They explain that a warped background suggests a filter was probably applied, that a specific nose tip would make breathing impossible, or that a waistline so narrow would mean there wouldn't be room for internal organs.

"Bodies aren't clay," Williams said. "There are physiological and organ systems that we have to protect when we're doing these surgeries."

Beyond the reality that many AI images are impossible to recreate on the operating table, many of its suggestions wouldn't look good in real life.

"There is no procedure I can do to enlarge eye size," Westbay said. "Even if we could make it happen, it would have people looking at you like a cartoon."

Of course, bringing in inspirational images is nothing new.

"Years ago, patients would come in with a cutout photo from Vogue," Dr. Justin Sacks, a reconstructive plastic surgeon at Washington University in St. Louis' medical school, told Business Insider. "That would be like a red flag, if you walked into my office and showed me a picture of Gisele Bündchen or Claudia Schiffer."

As technology has shifted, so have those references, with social media bringing in an influx of requests inspired by filters or edited influencers.

A 2019 study by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that 72% of facial plastic surgeons had patients who underwent procedures to look better in selfies, part of a phenomenon known as "Snapchat dysmorphia."

An AI upside

While patients using AI may cause some headaches, plastic surgeons and dermatologists see value in the technology.

Sacks, who uses AI tools as digital scribes during appointments, said that AI could also improve the image generators that doctors themselves use over time.

He imagines working on a reconstruction for a breast cancer patient and directing AI to create live simulations: What would this patient look like with 400 milliliters of a silicone implant? What about some soft tissue overlay?

"Do you realize the conversation that you would have and the expectations that you would have after that clinic visit? It would be astounding," he said.

The images produced by AI or edited and plastered on social media have, for better or worse, pushed the limits of what surgeons thought was possible. Doctors are etching onto abdominal walls to create six packs and breaking ribs to achieve thinner waistlines.

As dramatic as the results may be, Williams warns patients to think about why they want a procedure.

"What's your expectation?" Williams said. If it's a new job, relationship, or social status, that's a "red flag."

Do you have a story to share about AI and plastic surgery? Contact his reporter at mberg@insider.com.

• Walmart's online business is booming, with the bulk of sales fulfilled through local stores.
• The job of picking items for these orders falls to store workers who may pull hundreds of items per shift.
• When a relatively small picking rule change caused a big stir, it highlighted the tension for teams.

Walmart has a need for speed.

The retail giant has been growing its online business for years, fueled in large part by its ability to get groceries to customers in nearly every part of the US within hours.

But doubling down on digital is revealing some growing pains, too, as store teams try to balance this new priority with the traditional demands of operating a big box store.

In particular, three workers told Business Insider that the online business is placing new pressure on workers who are hustling to hit digital metrics, hauling increasingly heavy orders like water and mulch, and trying to meet the daily needs of their stores.

Walmart declined to comment for this story.

Walmart workers, of course, are not the first to experience growing pains as their company expands its digital business. Target workers previously told Business Insider the company's emphasis on digital order metrics was a daily source of stress and disruption.

Last quarter, Walmart's e-commerce business notched 27% sales growth, marking the eighth consecutive quarter with growth over 20%. The bulk of those sales is fulfilled by employees at the company's 4,600 US stores.

"We're getting things to people faster," former CEO Doug McMillon said at last year's annual shareholder meeting. "Days are becoming hours, and hours are becoming minutes. Convenience drives our business."

Convenience comes at a cost

A former store manager who left the company earlier this year told Business Insider that Walmart's focus and intensity on e-commerce ramped up sharply during their final year in the job. Online sales accounted for about a 10th of their store's overall revenue, but required almost the entire staff to assist with fulfillment on high-volume days.

The manager and an employee responsible for filling online orders at another location said that colleagues in other departments and store managers were typically cross-trained in digital and often pulled in to help fulfill orders, a distinction that highlights the importance of those tasks. Digital team members, meanwhile, weren't called on to support other departments nearly so often, they said.

Order volumes can range widely, but it's not uncommon for a worker to pick several hundred items in a shift.

Having so many workers fulfilling digital orders also means more workers moving through the aisles while focused on a company-owned mobile phone, which contains detailed order instructions. Customers have noticed. Several Business Insider readers over the last few weeks have emailed about Walmart workers appearing to pay more attention to their screens than to customers in stores.

The balancing act Walmart now finds itself in is perhaps best illustrated by the big stir that followed seemingly small rule changes about how workers should handle online order carts. The company told workers late last month to pull their carts so they could see where they were going, but quickly reversed course after workers complained of straining their shoulders and running over their own heels.

Ultimately, Walmart opted for safety over order volume, instructing order pickers to push the carts as they had before, and instead reduced the number of bins on their carts from eight to six so they could better see ahead.

The downside of having two fewer bins, the digital employee said, is that it is now tougher to keep orders on time when their teams are shorthanded.

Demand and competition continue to grow

Walmart is rolling out other technology to make it easier for workers to fulfill online orders, like digital shelf labels, which could also allow online order pickers to work more efficiently, and the company is using AI to make more responsive changes to how work is done.

Online grocery sales aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Data from the Food Industry Association and NielsenIQ shows that online channels accounted for nearly 75% of total grocery dollar growth in 2025, with in-store sales remaining mostly stable. Online grocery sales are projected to top $450 billion by 2028.

And the competition continues to heat up. Amazon this week expanded its 30-minute delivery service to more US cities as it looks to counter Walmart's strength in that space.

Either way you slice it, Walmart's online order pickers have had a busy year and are set to be responsible for an increasingly large portion of the stuff US shoppers buy every day.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at dreuter@businessinsider.com or text/call/Signal at 646-768-4750. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• More and more people are signing up to snail mail clubs to receive lovingly curated letters.
• As people tire of doomscrolling, they are seeking out analog hobbies.
• Subscribers say the clubs bring whimsy and connection to their lives, all for around $10.

Every month, Teagan Franz counts down the days until a colorful envelope arrives through her letterbox.

Last month, it was red. Inside was a handwritten letter, a tarot card featuring the Greek goddess Artemis, a piece of card scented with homemade essential oils, toad stool stickers, and a DIY craft activity titled "shrine to your inner child," all beautifully decorated in a vintage scrapbook style.

Franz is a subscriber to Raindrops on Roses, a monthly spiritual wellness-themed snail mail club created by Madalin Giorgetta, a 37-year-old nutritionist and former fitness influencer based in Melbourne. Each letter costs $16 AUD ($11.47).

Proudly offline snail mail clubs like Giorgetta's are growing fast. Subscribers pay around $10 a month to receive a mailer on a theme of the sender's choosing, from cooking to poetry to fantasy worlds. Typically, the letters contain fun paper goodies like journal prompts and original art prints.

In the past 12 months, Google Trends data shows that searches for "snail mail club" increased by 700%, while data shared by Pinterest with Business Insider showed a 245% spike in searches for "snail mail ideas" and 125% for "letter ideas" during the same time period.

Franz, who first discovered Giorgetta when she was an influencer, likes the physicality of receiving something handmade. She said it feels more meaningful than the digital self-care content that she used to read a lot of, which was easily forgotten.

"It's really exciting because it's a surprise each month," Franz, a 28-year-old content creator and mom-of-two based in Western Australia, told Business Insider. "It's actually so much fun. I don't get a lot of mail that's fun mail. Even birthday cards, that's something that's dead now. Everybody just sends a text."

"Maddie puts so much beautiful effort into her mail club, and it's a little love letter," Franz added.

It's true that you're most likely to first encounter the trend online. But the Gen Z and millennial snail mail subscribers and creators who spoke to Business Insider said the clubs offer respite from social media feeds filled with impersonal, unchallenging "brainrot." They fit into a wider movement of young adults picking up "analog" hobbies, like reading and knitting, and using retro tech like flip phones to add whimsy to their lives and feel more present and connected offline.

Giorgetta used to have one million followers on Instagram and would sell downloadable workout guides, which she eventually found dehumanizing. "You're just constantly putting out content and never really connecting with anybody," she said. The snail mail club that she started in January has around 150 subscribers feels far more intimate and creatively fulfilling to her.

"You really feel like, 'Oh wow, I know this person's name. I understand that they're getting this delivered into their hands every month. It feels very personal," Giorgetta, who subscribes to an analog-themed art snail mail club, said.

Offline activities and hobbies are trending

Each month, Giorgetta chooses a goddess to inspire the content of her mailers. It takes an "inordinate" amount of time to create the letters embellished with pearl and lace details, ribbons, as well as quirky extras like hand-drawn Victorian love tokens. She spends four days packing them. April was all about Artemis and childlike wonder, hence the inner child shrine that Franz received. Previous editions have centered Persephone, Aphrodite, and Athena.

"I think that people are really connecting with hands-on activities and hobbies in their life now," Kaelyn Marie Williams, 29, an artist and costume designer based in Knoxville, Tennessee, said.

Williams started Swatched Ink Print Club last November. For $8 a month, her 550 subscribers receive a mailer themed around an era of fashion, such as Regency or Renaissance. They include a handmade guide on how to recreate a stitch from the era, an illustration of a woman modeling clothing, and a note from Williams about the artwork.

Williams noticed that her audience is mainly women artists and crafters aged between 20 and 40, as well as those with no crafting experience excited to learn a new tactile skill.

Snail mail clubs give a taste of IRL community

Although subscribers open their mail alone, some said these clubs provide a sense of community they felt was lacking.

In April 2025, Hannah Gustafson, 26, organized the first of a now-monthly farmers market called Tiny Farmers Market in Austin, Texas, as a last-ditch attempt to feel closer to neighbours in the area where she had lived for three years. She regularly posts on social media about the market that features live music, free drinks, and stalls from 30 vendors.

She would get messages from people around the world who were sad that they couldn't join, which, in August 2025, inspired her to create The Tiny Post. The creators who spoke to Business Insider said they have posted their mail to people in the US, Ireland, France, Austria, Spain, Mexico, and Australia.

"We listen to really good music here. We eat really yummy jams and the vulnerability piece is really big for us, connecting with people and showing up as you are. And so I was like, what if I put that all in a letter and you could feel like you were actually a part of the market?" Gustafson said.

In eight months, she built a worldwide subscriber base of more than 5,000 people.

Members receive a heartfelt letter that reads like an open journal entry, a recipe card related to the market, an art print by Gustafson, a tarot card, a journal prompt and a Spotify playlist to set the mood, stickers, and a surprise paper goodie. "Last month was a little zine that they could make themselves," she said.

Katie Shaffer, a 39-year-old diagnostic medical sonographer based in Houston, said that since signing up to The Tiny Post, her screen time is down 75%. Instead of doomscrolling for hours in a dark room, she spends her free time doing offline activities like crocheting and painting.

"It's not an instant gratification from a notification. It's sitting down and holding something tactile in my hands that makes me happy, brings me whimsy. It's like magic," Shaffer said.

February's edition included a QR code for a Facebook page inviting subscribers to "find a penpal." Now, Schaffer sends handwritten letters and watercolor paintings to eight penpals around the world.

"This is one of the best things I've ever spent money on and it costs what, less than $12. It's so meaningful. She gave me my tiny community that I needed. I knew something had been missing, but I didn't know what it was," Shaffer said.

Ashley Webber, a 25-year-old senior court operations specialist who subscribes to Williams' Swatched Ink Print Club, enjoys the building excitement of waiting for the letter to arrive. Watching videos of fellow subscribers opening their envelopes on social media makes her feel part of a community.

"I love that, because we all now have a small connection and similarity in what we enjoy," Webber, who is based in Arizona, said. "In a world of same day delivery and instant downloads, it's kind of refreshing to slow down and get excited for something really authentic," she said.

Time will tell whether snail mail clubs and the interest in analog living will prove to be passing trends or a lasting cultural shift. But for now, they're bringing subscribers a moment of childlike wonder in the real world, even if just for five minutes.

"I always think about the fact that you have to use both hands to open it. That sounds so stupid, but you quite literally have to put your phone down and open this thing," Gustafson, the founder of The Tiny Post, said.

• Memory chips aren't the only AI bottleneck that is fueling massive stock gains.
• Optical tech is an increasingly key component of data centers.
• Optical stocks like Lumentum, Ciena, Corning, and Coherent are some of the top performers of 2026.

Memory chips have emerged as the hottest investing theme on Wall Street in 2026, but there might be another new frontier in the AI trade posed to fuel strong stock gains.

AI bullishness has returned to markets, setting off a record-setting rally in stocks in the second quarter—and there's a common thread among some of the top gainers beyond memory plays.

Optics stocks have become some of the strongest gainers as investors assess the next bottleneck in the AI trade.

Optical technology communicates signal using photons, transmitting data at the speed of light. The tech itself isn't new and it's something you likely use everyday, as it's the backbone of the world's internet infrastructure.

Business Insider spoke with WyzeMind CEO Dinesh Tyagi, an AI and chip expert with decades of experience in Silicon Valley who has ventured into investing after selling his own tech company, about why AI has sparked a surging demand for optical tech.

As the AI boom moves past its compute shortage, new bottlenecks like memory and networking emerge. Tyagi explained that optical tech helps address the communication problem between GPUs doing the AI computing the server racks within data centers.

Currently, with traditional copper wires connecting GPUs to racks, there's what Tyagi called a "traffic jam" within the data communication network.

Optics tech helps address this problem, but the industry expects major advancements in the tech to eliminate the bottleneck entirely in the next two to three years, Tyagi told Business Insider.

Optical tech is more effective for AI computing, reducing the power, heat, latency, and cost hurdles that come with copper wiring.

Investors are betting big on optical tech, along with memory chips, as they look for opportunity within emerging AI bottlenecks.

Sandisk, Intel, and other memory stocks top the leaderboard of year-to-date S&P 500 component performers, but optical stocks are hot on their tail.

Lumentum, Ciena, and Corning within the top 10 best year-to-date S&P 500 performers, more than doubling since the start of 2026. Corning stock popped on a recent partnership with Nvidia.

Like memory stocks' DRAM ETF, a new photonics ETF has hit the market. The Corgi Lithography & Semiconductor Photonics ETF , which trades under the ticker EUV, was listed on May 6.

"Light is the limiting factor in chipmaking, data transmission, and precision sensing, and a small number of companies control the technologies that manipulate it," Cboe, the firm behind the ETF, explained.

EUV ETF hasn't seen the same dramatic rise as DRAM ETF since its more than a week on the market, but is trading in the green.

• Hoodies from the brand Fear of God Essentials have become a status symbol for tweens and teens.
• The simple garments retail between $130 and $200 each, depending on the style.
• Young people say they love how simple the hoodies are in design and how comfortable they feel.

It doesn't matter where I go — grocery shopping, the mall, or my local bagel shop.

Without fail, every outing lately puts me in the presence of a teen or tween wearing a hoodie with the word Essentials emblazoned across the chest or back — and the phrase "Fear of God" printed smaller underneath.

As a 30-year-old lifestyle reporter with an embarrassing screen-time average, I like to think I'm pretty in the know of what's trending with young people.

I'm well aware that hoodies have transcended from comfy loungewear you'd wear at home to statement outerwear. Hoodies and sweatpants are the outfit.

But in the same way I try to grasp Gen Z slang and their affinity for trendy water bottles, I wanted to know more.

Mainly, why is Fear of God Essentials so popular, and how are tweens convincing their parents to spend $175 on a single hoodie?

A luxury brand for the masses

American fashion designer Jerry Lorenzo launched his clothing brand, Fear of God, in 2013. It offered luxury basics inspired by gaps in his own closet and was named in honor of his Christian faith.

Fear of God quickly became a fashion staple, especially as musicians like Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and Big Sean embraced its designs.

The success led Lorenzo to launch Fear of God Essentials, a cheaper — but still expensive — sister brand that focused on accessible streetwear basics, in 2018.

If you're looking for bold colors and loud prints, Fear of God Essentials isn't for you.

The label strictly offers neutral pieces with subtle graphics. While hoodies are its best-known product, Essentials also sells T-shirts, sweatpants, jeans, and more.

The full line ranges in price from $50 to $375 per piece, with hoodies priced from $130 to $200. The most popular options cost $150 and $175.

Standard Fear of God hoodies, on the other hand, cost between $395 and $1,170 each.

Teens, tweens, and almost everyone else

Kinna Thomas, a mother of two, said it was 2022 when her sons first put Fear of God Essentials items on their Christmas lists.

"It felt a little bit expensive for, at the time, 11- and 12-year-olds," she said. "I was just like, 'Wow, what are we doing?'"

Still, they each unwrapped a hoodie on Christmas Day. Since then, the brand has become a staple in the wardrobes of 15-year-old Timmy and 16-year-old Julian, who wear the sweatshirts at least once or twice a week with shorts or sweatpants and sneakers.

"I think people like it because it looks clean without doing too much," Julian said of Essentials hoodies, adding that they're "really popular" at his school.

"I also like that Essentials doesn't try too hard," Timmy added. "It's simple, comfortable, and still looks good, which is probably why so many teenagers wear it all the time."

The Thomas brothers, both athletes, discovered the brand through their local Minneapolis basketball community.

Ori Nachon, a 12-year-old from New York City, had a similar experience about a year ago.

He saw his basketball coach wearing the brand and told his mom, Amy Nachon, that he wanted his own Essentials hoodie. So she bought him an Essentials set while back-to-school shopping.

"It's annoying how much they charge for them, but I guess I'm willing to pay it every now and then for a special item he wants because he's a good kid," Amy Nachon said.

Ori said Essentials is one of his "top five" favorite brands and that it's extremely popular among 7th- and 8th-graders at his school. The unofficial tween uniform there, he added, includes Essentials hoodies, baggy sweatpants, and Birkenstock sandals.

"Some of the other [hoodie] brands are too loud and too colorful. They really pop out," he said. "I like that Essentials is more chill and clean."

Take a scroll through TikTok (where #fearofgod has 65,000 posts) or Instagram, and you'll see that this isn't a localized phenomenon.

Tweens and teens across the country are wearing similar outfits — and they're not the only demographic that's doing so.

Speaking with Kinna Thomas, I noticed that she, too, seemed fond of Fear of God. When I asked if she had her own Essentials hoodie, she laughed and replied: "You already know I do."

She owns three Essentials hoodies, to be exact, and one pair of the brand's shorts.

"I put on this hoodie, and I feel like it's the coziest moment I have ever experienced," she said.

Essentials becomes omnipresent

The hoodie market is saturated. Brands like Pink Palm Puff, White Fox, and Aelfric Eden are among the it-girls of loungewear, and there are countless others out there.

So how has a brand known for its understated designs kept the attention of a generation with a shrinking attention span?

For one thing, Essentials has a slightly bigger reach than other brands. Boys and girls of all ages enjoy its hoodies.

Ori, for example, recently passed down an Essentials crewneck that no longer fits him to his 9-year-old sister Romy, who is starting to see the brand become trendy within her grade.

"I really like knowing that [these hoodies] can be interchanged between boys and girls, because then we get another wear out of it," Ori's mom said.

Both moms and their children also noted multiple times how comfortable Essentials hoodies are. They're oversize and made of 80% cotton and 20% polyester fleece.

That softness and quality keep them and other shoppers coming back year after year for new ones. Google Trends shows big search spikes for its hoodies every November and December since 2023.

And despite being trendy, Fear of God pieces are also helping some kids express their individual styles in places where they usually can't.

"My children have a private education at a Christian school, and they're allowed to wear Fear of God Essentials," Kinna Thomas said. "They're not necessarily allowed to wear some of the other brands."

I think I mostly get it now. Who can pass up a cozy, oversize hoodie, especially one that gives you some fashion cred at the same time?

Parents seem to agree — even if Essentials pieces are expensive.

"If my son knows what he wants to wear and has an idea of his style and his look, I'll support him in that," Amy Nachon said. "Seventh grade is hard enough."

• Julian Richardson worked as a flight attendant for Spirit Airlines for about eight years.
• He was shocked to hear about Spirit's shutdown, despite hearing rumors of it for years.
• He is relying on his side hustle for income while he applies for more flight attendant jobs.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Julian Richardson, a 42-year-old flight attendant based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I was a Spirit flight attendant for nearly eight years. It was my first and only job as a flight attendant, and I definitely would've stayed much longer if I had the chance.

When someone would get off my flight and say, "This is the best flight I've ever had," it made showing up to work every day so worth it.

I'd heard rumors for years that Spirit might shut down, so I always knew it was a possibility. Still, when I woke up to an early-morning email on my phone from Spirit announcing its closure, I was shocked. I guess I didn't think it would actually happen.

There's a question mark in my mind when I think about job security as a flight attendant, but I'm not ready to give it up.

Everything seemed business-as-usual the day before Spirit shut down

When Spirit shut down, it seemed like everything just ceased to exist.

Fortunately, I wasn't on a trip at the time, but the email said that all flights were canceled, and operations were winding down. Now my insurance has been halted, there is no severance pay, and it's up in the air when I'll receive my final paycheck.

It's a tough situation, but I've managed my emotions by remembering that everything happens for a reason. I'm not super worried about losing my income because I'm confident the skills I've developed will help me find another job.

I don't know what my next role will be, but I've already applied to airlines that have flight attendant openings.

I'm working on my side-hustle, but I'm not ready to give up the benefits of being a flight attendant

I've been making comedic skits on social media for a while, and it's definitely a side hustle for me. It's important to keep a side hustle for situations like this.

The social media income can be very up and down, but right now I'm working on getting more brand deals. Still, I enjoyed my time at Spirit, and I learned a lot. As a flight attendant, I was pretty much responsible for myself. It was up to me to wake up, make it to the airport on time, and catch the shuttle. It taught me a lot of independence and responsibility.

Also, I didn't experience any micromanaging as a flight attendant. In my experience, you might see your supervisors or managers, but you don't see them every day. They're not looking over your shoulder to see what you're doing.

I'm still pretty young, and I feel like I'm really good at what I do, so I'd like to continue working as a flight attendant. Nothing beats flight benefits. I love that part of the job. My family and I could travel at a discounted rate, so I'd definitely like to continue reaping those benefits. That being said, I'm open to other opportunities. I'm not naive enough to put myself in a box.

Eventually, I want to own my own business

Anytime you work for somebody, there's no true job security, so I can't say I feel like there's job security as a flight attendant.

I think the only time you can find true job security is by working for yourself and running a business that is virtually recession-proof. That's why my long-term goal is to eventually own my own business. Still, I'd recommend being a flight attendant to anyone.

Being a flight attendant gives you a lot of flexibility. I've been able to live anywhere I want. It's kind of like a remote job in that way. I had coworkers who lived in Spain and worked for 15 days, then rested for 15 days. There aren't many jobs where you can do that.

Flight attendants also have the opportunity to interact with people and help them have a great experience. That's a part of the job I love.

Spirit Airlines declined to comment on this story.

Do you have a story to share about navigating job loss? If so, please reach out to the reporter at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.

• Carol Leonard, 65, is raising two of her grandsons alone while working as a facilities manager.
• She makes $40,000 annually, enough to buy a house, but not sufficient to retire or get custody.
• One grandson has a part-time job, and she hopes both will be able to get college scholarships.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Carol Leonard, 65, who is raising her grandsons: Blaze, 17, and Jason, 15, in Baton Rouge. Leonard said raising them has been a financial hit, but she's been able to keep the family afloat. Her words have been edited for length and clarity.

There are so many grandparents raising grandchildren, and the system is failing us. I don't need support for myself — I survived fine on my own — but when you have two teenage boys, they need assistance. There's no safety net for grandparents, especially for those without legal rights.

I have five children, whom I raised mostly on my own, and 17 grandchildren. I have my two grandsons because their parents were unable to care for them.

My son is the father of the boys and is 47 now. I've had Jason and Blaze throughout their lives. A few times when they were younger, the court gave me temporary custody when their parents were unable to raise them. I've been that stronghold and safety net to catch them.

My son hasn't signed the papers to give me legal custody

If my son were to walk in and say, "I want them with me," he can walk out of here with them.

I can't afford an attorney to go through the system; the last one I tried to get wanted $800 upfront. Still, the school let me enroll them because the district knows the parents' history. I've been able to get medical care for them, and they're on my tax forms.

Someone told me to try foster care, but it's a road I refuse to go down. I don't trust the system. It would hurt me so badly to know that I let my grandchildren go into foster care because I couldn't afford to feed or house them.

I've tried to apply for food stamps, but they tell me I make too much money

I earn $40,000 a year as a facilities manager at a building. I'd need to make half of that to qualify. The boys have an older sister who gets food stamps and sometimes buys groceries for us. Our church contributes food from the pantry.

I was in a two-bedroom apartment, with Jason sleeping in the living room, but earlier this year, I was able to purchase a small house. They now have their own bedrooms. Our lights and water have never been turned off.

I have a car note, mortgage notes, and other bills to pay. I'd like to be able to give the boys more. It hurts me that we go out to dinner only maybe once a month, and that's a big expense.

I can't give them things that other kids get

I'd love to take them to Disney World or on a cruise, but I can't afford it. They're aware of our financial situation and that we can't do a lot of things, but I don't want them to worry. They know that I don't have the financial means to put them through college, so I'm hoping they can secure scholarships. I won't let them do nothing.

They're good boys and don't do things that difficult teenagers do, other than not cleaning their rooms. Sometimes, I have to crack down more and say no. Jason wasn't doing well in Spanish, so I took his phone away to make him aware of the consequences. That hurt me.

One time, he broke his phone. I could have purchased him a new phone immediately, but I knew he had to learn a lesson. It took me a few months to replace his phone because I needed him to have some form of reliable communication. This isn't what a grandmother should have to do; it's a parent's job.

I have arthritis, so I can't do all the things that parents can

I've had both knees replaced, and I'm a little slow getting around. I'm up at 5 a.m. to get the boys ready, and I have to be at work by 7. I work until 3, and the boys come home and do some housework. Sunday is my day. I go to church, and in the afternoons, I cook and relax. I feel like I'm falling short sometimes as a parent because I don't have the time or energy to cook a full meal during the week.

Blaze works a job on Fridays and Saturdays. It's not a lot of money, but it helps and builds character. They're not driving my car because I can't afford the insurance, so I pick him up at 9 or 10 at night when he gets off. The younger one wants to work too, but I can't carpool two kids to work.

I do try to be their grandmother more than I get to be a parent

I'm a parent by providing them with a shelter over their head, food, and clothing, but I'm a grandmother by being able to spoil them when I can. My other grandchildren come to visit and call me, and I try to spoil them, too.

The boys are closer to their mom than to their dad. I try to have them maintain contact. I try to give them confidence to not feel sorry about what they went through; I don't want them to use their circumstances as a crutch. If they make good decisions, they're going to have good outcomes.

I worry about what would happen if something happens to me. Will they be able to support themselves and be independent? I'm sure some family would assist. I don't want to see them get angry and go into the foster care system and decide to turn to drugs or drinking. They may have to work a little harder to get to where they want to be, but they'll get there.

I love them to death, and all I can do is give them love.

• Tony Tellez, 49, recently launched a job search for the first time in 10 years.
• A near-instant rejection from an employer convinced the IT pro that he wasn't given a fair chance.
• Tellez said he told the company's HR chief that AI was filtering out qualified candidates.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tony Tellez, a 49-year-old IT professional based in Indianapolis. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

I started my career at the entry level and worked my way up to essentially running IT companies in the managed-services space, overseeing IT operations for multiple clients. Recently, I found myself on the job market for the first time in 10 years. It's changed a lot.

I got some interviews right away, but I also got a lot of rejections. Nobody likes to be rejected. I've got children, rent, and animals to take care of, and those responsibilities start to weigh on you.

One Sunday night, my frustrations reached a breaking point. I had applied for a senior position at a managed-services firm that I was more than qualified for around 11:15 p.m. About six minutes later, I received an email that simply said, "We have declined your application." The company didn't even provide a reason like, "we're pursuing other candidates."

It didn't make any sense. I applied at a time when no one was likely to be manually reviewing résumés and rejecting them. I reread the job listing, and it clearly said that a bachelor's degree — something I don't have — was preferred but not required.

Also, my best friend is an HR consultant, and she made sure my résumé included all the necessary keywords. I even ran it through an open-source applicant-tracking system to check that it was well-optimized.

So, after I saw that rejection email come in, I went to the company's LinkedIn page, found their HR director, and sent him this message.

Hi,

I just applied for your Service Desk Manager role, and was immediately rejected.

I have 17 years of continued growth and improvement in the IT space including the healthcare space and a lab environment.

My last six years have been in service delivery and operations management. I am highly qualified for this role, but the AI that […] uses is kicking me back within minutes of my application because I do not have a Bachelors degree.

Just a heads up, you are missing out on highly qualified candidates because of a reliance on AI, and while I agree AI has its place in our space, I believe I am proof of its failure.

I simply would ask you to review my resume and credentials manually in order to better evaluate my candidacy.

Thank you for your time.

I sent it partly because it's already frustrating for someone to lose a job and have to search for a new one. It's even worse when you have to deal with rejection from a robot.

Another reason is that I've developed and deployed applicant tracking systems, so I understand what it takes to configure them properly. There's a problem here, and the company's leadership may not know that they're potentially missing out on quality candidates.

I haven't heard anything back, and I probably won't. The job listing is no longer up, so I don't know if it was filled. I just know that I'm not ready to retire anytime soon. I love working. I love fixing things.

I've since used AI to make my résumé more AI-friendly. You've got to fight fire with fire. However, I've also started targeting companies that say in their job listings that every résumé submitted is reviewed by a human. In some of my past jobs, I was responsible for hiring people, and I prided myself on reading every résumé that came in. It's crazy how much the job market has changed.

• Comedy creator Kareem Rahma debuted a long-form show exclusively on YouTube.
• He premiered it at a theater in New York City.
• Let me take you inside the creator-studded night, complete with taxi cabs and a swanky after-party.

There was no red carpet, but a taxi cab photo-op was parked out front, with cameras ready to take guests' pictures.

This week, I headed to a packed movie theater in downtown New York City for the world premiere of "Keep the Meter Running," one of several shows YouTube announced at its star-studded Upfronts presentation.

YouTube, and its content creators, want their own prestige TV moment.

"It's a streaming service. You go home, you sit on your couch, you open the YouTube app, and you watch this television show the same way that you would any other television show," Kareem Rahma, the creator and host of "Keep the Meter Running," told the packed theater.

Creators, like Rahma (of "Subway Takes" fame), are ready to see their content taken as seriously as a big network show.

"If this is a web series, then so is every show on Netflix and every show on HBO Max because it's all the internet now," said Adam Faze, who produced the show alongside Rahma.

"If I'm a digital creator, then so is Shonda Rhimes," Rahma quipped in response.

Welcome to a YouTube premiere

Let me take you inside the night.

The show, in which Rahma tags along with New York City cab drivers to visit their favorite spots, premiered two episodes totaling about 36 minutes.

A few years ago, the same show was a short-form video series on TikTok and Instagram. Now, it's grown up.

With show-branded merch and popcorn, as well as show-inspired cocktails served in classic New York bodega coffee cups, the premiere's reception brought together New York creators, media, celebrities, and cab drivers all under one roof.

After the premiere, pre-paid yellow cabs were lined up outside, ready to ship the guests from the Metrograph theater uptown to the Standard Hotel's swanky Boom bar. Actor Cole Sprouse smoked a cigarette while chatting with Nico Heller, the creator behind the famous New York Nico Instagram account.

I was ushered into a taxi, squeezed between one of Rahma's cameramen and another journalist. In the front, another attendee listened to the driver's life story — emulating the show we all just watched on the big screen.

When we got to the after-party at Boom, we were greeted with flutes of bubbly. The venue, formerly known as the Boom Boom Room, has hosted after-parties for Hollywood events, from the Met Gala to movie premieres.

The venue was filled with hundreds of people, including creator economy staples who spoke about Hollywood and the internet blurring more than ever — some more positively than others.

"It's not short form vs. long form, creators vs. Hollywood, it's all one ecosystem," said Ziad Ahmed, who spearheads Gen Z marketing at talent agency UTA. "The scale of the work that we're doing is much bigger."

If you want to be relevant in culture today, whether you're a creator or a Hollywood star, "you have to live on all of these screens," Ahmed added.

The crowd at Boom was bridging the "gap between Hollywood and the creator economy," Jon Henson, who works at Rahma's talent management firm Underscore, told me.

The party recap

Here's a quick run-down of what I saw:

• The menu: The premiere itself had popcorn and movie snacks, and, at the cocktail party reception, there were tiny chocolate chip cookies and hors d'oeuvres. At the after-party, slices of pizza were carried around on white paper plates. There were drinks upon arrival, a taxi-cab ice luge, and an open bar for part of the night.
• The crowd: After the two episodes aired, Rahma and Faze were interviewed by actor Ramy Youssef. In the crowd were Sprouse, comedian Eric Andre, rapper G-Eazy, UTA cofounder Jeremy Zimmer, and media figures like Feed Me's Emily Sundberg and Byline's Gutes Guterman. The various teams behind the show were also scattered throughout, including Another Normal Day (AND Media), the studio that bankrolled Rahma's show. At the after-party, the crowd danced to a loud DJ set, but mostly mingled. Some filmed social media content. Creators like Delaney Rowe and Tinx arrived after attending other commitments that night (a Coach event and a Guggenheim function, respectively, per their Instagram stories). The party had stamina, too. By the time I called it quits a little past 1 a.m., it was still bumping.

• The takeaway: Creators want to be taken seriously. Grant Weintrob, who's behind the account Life on Film (with millions of followers), told me creators like Rahma are setting the bar. They want bigger, they want better.

• Bond yields surged on Friday, with the 10-year bond approaching 4.6%.
• The spike sent stocks tumbling on Friday, with the Dow falling more than 500 points.
• Incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's stance on QE could add to rising rate pressures, Morningstar says.

Rising bond yields sparked a panic among investors on Friday, and there's little standing in the way of a deeper bond-market rout, according Dominic Pappalardo, the chief multi-asset strategist at Morningstar Wealth.

Yields on 30-year Treasurys have surged above 5% in recent weeks, while rates on the 10-year have risen more than 20 basis points since the start of May to 4.59%. The spike sent stocks tumbling from records notched earlier in the week, with the Dow dropping more than 500 point and the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 losing more than 1%.

According to Pappalardo, three factors are driving the move, which he believes will remain in place to push yields even higher.

The first is the most obvious: investors are worried that surging oil prices driven by the US-Iran war will trigger another bout of inflation.

April's CPI data showed a 3.8% jump in consumer prices year-over-year, the most since 2023, thanks in large part to rising energy costs.

The longer the war goes on and oil prices stay elevated, the more investors grow concerned that inflation will become entrenched. This causes bond investors to demand more compensation through higher yields.

Even if the Strait of Hormuz were fully reopened today, Pappalardo said it would take at least a couple of months to rebuild production infrastructure and have oil flows back to full capacity, meaning oil prices are set to stay elevated for the foreseeable future.

Second, higher rates from elevated oil prices create a knock-on effect in the Treasury market that can stimulate rates to rise further, Pappalardo said. Rising interest rates due to inflation fears US borrowing costs rise, which will spur the even more bond issuance to cover the government's debt service. Increased bond supply, in turn, can translate into higher yields, creating a negative feedback loop of more borrowing and higher costs.

Third, adding fuel to the fire is incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's prior statements opposing the expansion of the Fed's balance sheet, or its buying of assets. If the Fed stops buying Treasurys, it could send yields higher by removing a source of demand from the market.

"I definitely think yields could go higher, particularly on the long end," Pappalardo told Business Insider on Friday. "It's hard really to identify the catalyst that would cause yields to come down."

He added: "5% would not be shocking to me on the 10-year."

Pappalardo said that rising long-term yields would generally be bad for stocks — particularly growth stocks — as they weigh on the value of companies' future earnings as investors compare them against a risk-free rate. Higher rates also mean companies need to issue debt at higher rates, increasing their borrowing costs.

"It hurts corporate fundamentals, it makes, future investment less likely, so it, it really just stifles growth in a variety of ways," he said.

Still, at an index level, Pappalardo said it's difficult to know how higher rates will impact the S&P 500, as the strength of the AI trade continues to fuel gains.

Pratik Desai's childhood home in Roselle Park, New Jersey, is full of reminders of his mother, Smruti. After she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in her small intestine, he did what he could to keep her around a little longer.

The 34-year-old startup founder used AI platforms NotebookLM and Claude to create a tool that synthesized reams of medical information. In one instance, it told him his mom was dealing with complications of a pulmonary embolism. He ran the hypothesis by his cousin, a doctor, and rushed her to the hospital. Desai also said it caught mistakes and misdiagnoses in her records and advised him on what to ask during appointments. Doctors asked if he was a medical student.

Desai is one of dozens of "vibe coders" who have told Business Insider in recent months about how they built apps using simple prompts to chatbots. While many of these early adopters have some technical knowledge, LLMs and other AI tools like Cursor or Lovable provide natural-language prompts to generate code for those without the know-how.

For those with aging parents and ideas to help ease the burden, vibe coding offers a way to bring dream tools to life, even if sometimes imperfectly. Hanna Miller crafted a no-code Chrome extension to review online purchases by her father, who has dementia and would order the same package repeatedly. Bill Atienza, 29, helped older Americans, including his parents, improve their technology skills through vibe-coded tech support; one woman created an app with his help that allows her to speak with her late husband after uploading his voice into Perplexity.

Desai's no-code solution couldn't keep up with his mother's 1,600 pages of notes, and he used his existing tech savvy to build a more complex system. He believes his workflow saved her life three times. She lived for 76 days after her diagnosis before dying at 67.

"My biggest concern was how do I get her as much time as possible with as much quality as possible?" Desai said, standing next to his father, Subhash, in the family's living room. "Not only did we not have the time to deal with the emotional side, it felt immediately like I had to vibe code something and manifest it into existence that day."

Making life more accessible

Amanda Lazar, director of The Health, Aging, and Technology Lab at the University of Maryland, said that vibe coding offers families a way to access customized tools that help ease a complex and varied process.

"There are always issues with these kinds of systems, and there is never a single solution, but it shows a real need and the level of customization and personalization that people need," she said.

Danesh Davar, 36, watched as his mother suffered several hemorrhages in 2019, losing some motor function, including her ability to type. Davar couldn't find dictation tools that fit her needs for under $500 a year. After taking a 2.5-hour vibe coding tutorial, he left his IT management job and built an app he later called Talkativ.

After working on smaller projects on the vibe-coding platform Cursor, Davar, based in London, began integrating more advanced features into the platform, which he built for about $200. The first two versions didn't work well, he said, though he got the desktop app to dictate words in all text boxes and apps, read in over 50 languages, and incorporate auto-punctuation and formatting.

With zero ad spend, Talkativ reached 200 sign-ups in its first three months and processed over 12,000 successful dictations. Most importantly, his mom, who retired a few months ago, has used the system daily.

"She's a rock star and very resilient in that if she puts her mind to something, she will do it," Davar said.

Vibe coding can — and often does — go awry. Without technical acumen, many vibe coders struggle to detect errors in the code or to maintain code, which often requires periodic updates as software changes, for example. Vibe coding can introduce security vulnerabilities, and in some cases, personal information has leaked to the public.

Some vibe coders told Business Insider they worried their creations, if expanded on a broader scale without developer input, could backfire. A February study in Nature Medicine found that health advice from chatbots is often riddled with inaccuracies. In extreme scenarios, people who trusted AI over their doctors died. That's why many of these vibe coders designed apps meant to be used alongside human input.

"When my mom was in the throes of dementia years ago, with my sister being the exhausted caregiver, I had many ideas for tools to support both. But the hurdles were high," said Rick Robinson, vice president and general manager of the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP. "Today, however, AI-fueled vibe coding platforms are making it much easier for normies to quickly go from idea to a working product."

Ricardo Mota, 37, head of design for a tech company, began building his platform Eterna while navigating his mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis. He created a "memory vault" for WhatsApp voice notes, old chat histories, and other memories that his family could revisit.

"She doesn't react that much anymore, but there are moments where she will," Mota said. "I wanted to store those memories."

Eterna is in beta testing with 150 users, and Mota is continuing to improve its features and privacy protections. For now, he's cherishing the memories he and his mother share, playing songs for her that bring her back to a younger and healthier time.

Keeping track of life's challenges

More Americans have begun vibe coding creative solutions to ease the burden of caregiving and solve recurring problems in their parents' lives.

Ray Hollister encountered bumps along the road in vibe coding CareLog, which records on a calendar the caregiving work he and his wife provide for his mother and stepfather to help manage time and spending.

"They are older and needing more hands-on care lately, and we decided we needed to make sure we were documenting exactly what we were doing so that we had strong records," Hollister said.

Matt Sanner, 54, only knew basic Python before vibe coding a scam education app for his parents. His mother-in-law had almost wired $5,000 to someone she thought was her grandson before a bank teller identified it as a scam. His father's computer was hacked after he clicked a link from what he thought was his insurance company.

Sanner, a data manager in Tampa, decided a straightforward app could help his family understand tactics for detecting scams. He vibe coded the app with input from his parents, adding accessible features such as big buttons, adjustable font size, and clear and concise lessons.

His mother, Sue, 79, and father, Bob, 83, told Business Insider that the app has made them much more cautious. Bob checks in frequently with his son to confirm that he reacted the right way. It's a welcome change as, according to Sue, he lost $500 a few years back in a scam.

"I must have completely erased that from my mind," Bob said. "I would be willing to take responsibility for something that I could admit to, but that memory is gone."

When medical data takes over life

Before last year, Srdjan Stakic, 49, had never touched code. He had a doctorate in health education and a master's in film production, but his career came to a halt when he was diagnosed two years ago with stage four cancer. When he entered remission, his parents' health declined.

He first used AI to generate summaries of his and their medical care. He wanted a system that could ethically observe them if he wasn't home with them. He turned to Gemini and ChatGPT to brainstorm his idea while consulting his parents about scenarios such as a medical emergency or a fall.

To train the AI tool he built on Lovable, he uploaded training videos for nurses and healthcare workers. He built an AI equipped with cameras to detect falls, but he hired an IT company to help him connect multiple cameras.

He vibe coded the system to send notifications to loved ones or EMS workers, clipping footage from the incident and including their location and a summary of their health records. He's building the system to be more robust as part of his startup, Alvis.

"It's amazing to see how vibe coding is democratizing access to AI tools," said Stakic, in California. "I still don't fully understand code or the extent of what I built, but it seems to be working."

Desai, who built the medical data workflow for his mother's cancer, and his father, Subhash, stood in their living room glancing at a photo of Smruti. She was the matriarch of the family and was a "force of presence," Desai recalled.

After hearing from friends and colleagues who said his tool could help them, Desai is programming a free version.

AI is still, of course, subject to error and can put those without existing tech skills down the wrong path, but even so, it opens the door to more options for caregivers.

"We were able to ask the right questions and push her doctors to do better," Desai said.

Staying beside the bed where Smruti lived out her final days, Desai checked his phone. Messages from work poured in. One was from a colleague who wanted to learn more about the technology.

"This is going to change people's lives," Desai said as his father nodded in approval.

Five figures a month.

That's how much elder care in the US can cost.

As the boomer generation ages, many families are grappling with the question of how to pay for the care their loved ones need. Roughly 70% of Americans who reach age 65 need long-term care during their remaining years, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The costs are steep: The average cost of home care in the US is about $51,480 a year, according to the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program. Assisted living and nursing homes run even higher, averaging $66,132 and $112,420 a year, respectively.

Business Insider journalists around the globe have been reporting on the lengths to which families go to find care for their loved ones, create a safe environment, and make ends meet as expenses mount. Some have moved to new cities or countries; others have given up their careers or their homes.

Here are eight of their stories.

• Adam Jones owns Myer's Bagels, a Montreal-style bagel shop that tried using AI to edit its social media posts.
• Customers decried the use of AI in the shop's Instagram comments and left negative Google reviews.
• Jones apologized and said he'd be more careful with AI and social media — though he's not anti-AI.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Adam Jones, the 53-year-old owner of Myer's Bagels in Burlington, Vermont. It's been edited for length and clarity.

We specialize in Montreal-style bagel production. For us, it's just north of us. For the rest of the country, it's a newer item. We don't proof them as much, so they don't get as airy. They're denser and a little chewier. We also use wood to cook the bagels.

We're about 22 people, and everyone takes the orders, makes the bagels, and does everything.

You always have to recreate the wheel to stay competitive. Social media is where you need to be. I'm not naive to it, but it's not a stronger part of my experiences. So, I'm learning.

In the past, I've had great employees — i.e., college students — who love social media themselves, so they're happy to take it on. It'd be good for a few months, but then the rest of their lives come into place, and it wasn't a full-time job. It would slowly die. We'd get along fine, but then I'd throw another person on, and the same thing would happen.

Why I used AI for our shop's social media posts

I was pointed to a company that helps small businesses with AI. It helps with human resources. I have a paid accountant and bookkeeper. They can give me their analysis, but why not have a third opinion?

This program does many different aspects of business, and one is social media. It was nice. There's a calendar where you can build a whole month of posts to release on Instagram. We're a college town, so graduation is coming up. I'd ask: What's a neat spin on a post about graduation to encourage someone to come in? The program comes up with an idea.

It allows us to import our photos that we've taken, and it uses those, but it can tweak them. Part of the picture was real. I looked at it and said, "Not too bad." Some of the AI bagels they had in the background didn't look like ours, and I would say, "Can you make that smaller and thinner?"

It didn't take long for our audience to realize what we were posting wasn't 100% Myer's. I appreciate their passion for us not doing this the way they'd like.

One had a picture of our retail bags for the grocery store. Those were actually our photos of the bags. The AI went into our Google, Yelp, or old Instagram comments and pulled out a review from Sam. It put our bags in front of a wood fire that wasn't our fire, and took that quote and made a fake handwritten note.

Was it untruthful? Yes. Was it our fire, image, and background? No. For McDonald's or anyone else who's advertising food, it's in a studio. But Sam is a real person. Sam made that quote, and those were our bags.

We have a picture that we'd used before of our baker rolling out the dough. AI took that photo, superimposed it on a nice wooden cutting board, and then put a fire in the background and a kettle to boil bagels.

That's not how we're laid out, and our customers know that. But it was our real bagels, real hands, real dough.

Between those two photos, I bet there were 25-30 comments for each one, plus people replying.

We had some very passionate, adamant people who went to our Google reviews. They left us one star, claiming nothing about the food, just about this situation. No one called us directly; it was more of a response through social media. The pen is mightier than the sword.

There were a few people who went in to defend us, saying, "Look, they're a small business. They just wanted to be more creative." I appreciate those comments, but certainly the negative responses were much more.

Some were very civil, others I would classify as not very civil. I don't judge on that part. The medium allows it, and for us to be on it, you have to be ready to respond or fall victim to whatever you do.

I apologized — but I'm not anti-AI

We got quite a bit of feedback on a few posts. I went in, pulled them, and apologized.

I wasn't married to the idea. It was a test, or the first foot forward. So, I was willing to erase them and say: "We will do better. We've heard." It's just like, if people don't like a bagel flavor and it doesn't sell, we will make a new bagel flavor.

We're not anti-AI. We will continue to use AI in many aspects of the business, because it's what's going to keep Myer's here for another 30 years. Without extra help, I'm not going to be able to keep up with the rhythm and the pace of growth.

AI is not going away. I look at it as a tool to do things better and easier as a business owner.

It's not good for everything, but it's a tool that has value to make Myer's better for my employees and me. Ultimately, it's also good for the consumers, since it keeps prices down and combats inflation. There's a bigger picture here.

For social media, I think there's still a place for it, but I need to tread much more carefully.

• After my dad died, my mom used part of his life insurance payout to take a family trip.
• My mom, sister, and I took a 7-day cruise that visited several Mediterranean cities.
• It wasn't our typical vacation, but it helped my family reconnect without the stress of planning.

In 2013, my dad died from prostate cancer. He was 56, and I was 25 at the time.

Losing him made my family realize how short our time on this earth — and our time together — really is. With part of his life insurance payout, my mom decided to take my sister and me on a vacation.

None of us had ever considered a cruise. The idea always seemed tacky and commercial to us. But cruising turned out to be an affordable way for us to travel internationally — and, as we learned, a more peaceful way for us to grieve.

We were never "cruise people"

Our family had never been on a cruise together. If I'm being honest, it wasn't really our type of thing. We were more of the "stay in the self-catering chalet and drive yourselves on safari" kind of people.

Growing up in South Africa, my dad worked for a government organization that maintained wildlife conservation areas. We could stay in these areas for free, so almost all of our family vacation time consisted of self-catered stays in basic accommodation in some of the wildest and most beautiful places in the country. It was a privilege that I can only fully appreciate now as an adult.

After my dad passed away, my mom decided to use some of the money from his life insurance policy for us girls to celebrate his life. We knew we wanted to do something different and memorable — the kind of vacation we'd never been able to take as a family of four.

At first, a cruise was the furthest thing from our minds. We pictured them as crowded and commercial — the exact opposite of how we'd always traveled. But the price was right, and not wanting to invest a lot of time in planning something while we were grieving, we decided to go for it.

It turned out to be the easiest kind of travel we'd ever done

In 2014, we went on our voyage. The three of us visited six Mediterranean cities over seven days.

With accommodation, meals, and transport between countries bundled into one upfront cost, it was significantly cheaper than any land-based trip we could have planned. And the real value wasn't financial; it was practical, too.

I love traveling, but it's certainly not stress-free.

"It's this way."

"No, we need to get on this bus."

"Wait, who's got the passports?"

Tensions only escalate when family is involved, especially when everyone is carrying their grief with them, too.

The cruise lightened the mental load of a difficult trip

Without the daily decision-making drama of where to eat, where to go, and how to get there, we spent more time actually enjoying one another's company, which is what Dad would have wanted.

We were all navigating our own versions of grief, but, for the first time since my dad died, we could just be together without needing to manage anything else.

Like those people we used to roll our eyes at, we attended all the evening shows, joined the morning aerobics on the deck, spent hours people-watching, and got my mom hooked on strawberry daiquiris (the virgin ones, because they were cheaper). Looking back, I think those moments mattered more than any destination we visited during the trip.

We didn't become "cruise people" after that, but we understood the appeal

After my dad's death, my mom fought to keep the free accommodation at the conservation areas. My sister now lives in Dubai, and whenever she comes home, we go back to those same self-catering, DIY stays that hold so many memories of Dad. This time, with homemade strawberry daiquiris in hand.

Who would have thought that a cruise could give us the space to appreciate those old family trips in a completely new way?

• Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff had high praise for AI coding agents and Anthropic.
• The CEO said agents have allowed him to be more efficient and faster with product iteration.
• He said Salesforce will also be introducing tech that makes coding easier inside Slack.

Marc Benioff is all in on the AI coding agent craze and is willing to spend big on it for his company.

In an episode of the All-In podcast published on Friday, the Salesforce CEO said his company is projected to spend $300 million on tokens from Anthropic.

Tokens are bits of information, like parts of a word, that a user types and a model processes. AI companies track token usage to bill users and large organizations.

"These coding agents are awesome. Anthropic is awesome," he said. "I am going to probably use $300 million of Anthropic (tokens) this year at Salesforce. Coding. Everything's going to be cheaper to make."

Benioff said in the podcast that AI agents have brought "unprecedented" levels of efficiency at his company, pointing to areas such as service, support, distribution, and marketing.

Last August, the CEO announced that AI agents enabled Salesforce to cut its support staff from 9,000 to 5,000.

With the productivity boosts he's seen with coding agents, Benioff revealed in the podcast that Salesforce is also working on ways to make coding easier in Slack, the productivity platform Salesforce has owned since 2021.

"We're even working on technology inside Slack to make it easier for everybody to code," he said. "You're going to see some cool stuff with Slack and code I'm not ready to talk about yet. But there's no question that we are in a new moment in coding."

Benioff said that while he projects a $300 million spend on Anthropic this year, he doesn't believe every token a company employee use has to go to a frontier model like Anthropic's Claude.

The CEO called for an "intermediary layer" in the future that could determine which token inputs should go to Anthropic and which ones may be suitable for smaller models.

• Andrew Left's defense argued he exposed fraud at Namaste Technologies during his trial.
• Left's lawyer suggested the government went after him for being a "whistleblower of the fraud."
• Left is accused of market manipulation. The defense says he shared his honest opinions.

Andrew Left's defense played offense during his securities fraud trial on Friday, pressing a federal official on why the government targeted him rather than the company he accused of fraud.

Left, a prominent short-seller known for bets on stocks like GameStop and frequent TV appearances, is accused of manipulating the market and deceiving everyday investors, earning over $20 million in the process.

Among the companies Left is accused of making misleading statements about is Namaste Technologies, a Canadian cannabis company that traded over the counter in the US under the stock ticker NXTTF. Left published critical tweets and reports through his firm, Citron Research, about Namaste in the fall of 2018, accusing it of fraud.

Left's defense contends that the short-seller was right about Namaste.

On Friday, during the cross-examination of Anna Hallstrom, a US postal inspector who helped investigate Left, the defense suggested that the federal government went after the "whistleblower of the fraud" rather than the perpetrator.

Eric Rosen, Left's lawyer, outlined what he called "scammy" behavior from Namaste, including planning a "Pledge Party" that told investors if they held their shares for 90 days, they'd get to "party with Snoop Dogg in Montreal." Left had also raised concerns about Namaste's CEO, who was later fired.

Rosen said that after Left accused Namaste of fraud, "no one stepped in to stop the scam."

Namaste was also discussed in the courtroom a day earlier, when a retired firefighter named Billy Banks testified that he'd lost thousands of dollars investing in the company after Left criticized it and the stock tanked.

Rosen asked Hallstrom if she agreed that "people like Mr. Banks need to be protected" and that "regulators weren't stepping in, right?"

"I don't know why there wasn't any regulators stepping in," Hallstrom said.

Rosen also pressed Hallstrom on whether she agreed it was good for people to expose fraud: "It's good to do your own research and put it out on the internet so other people can be saved from investing money in scams, right?"

"But it's bad if he wants to trade around that true report?" he continued.

"It's bad when it's part of a broader scheme to defraud," Hallstrom said.

The exchange captured a central tension in the case: Left's lawyers are arguing that he shared his honestly held opinions and that his projections were often right. Prosecutors say the issue is that he misled the market about his trading actions, and that he said one thing while trading in the opposite direction.

The defense's argument that Left exposed fraud also echoed a common refrain from proponents of activist short sellers — that they provide a valuable service to the market by exposing wrongdoing.

"You think people would decide not to investigate and expose frauds like Namaste if they were subject to restrictions on whether they could trade in connection with their true statement?" Rosen said.

Rosen said Namaste's stock price eventually traded close to zero. Namaste later changed its name to Lifeist Wellness Inc.

The crux of the government's accusation against Left when it comes Namaste is that he coordinated with the hedge fund Anson Funds to prepare Citron Research reports and received some of their trading profits, but did not disclose it.

Left's argues there was no rule or law preventing him from working with a hedge fund.

• Tucker Carlson challenged Kevin O'Leary on taxpayer funding for his Utah data center project.
• In an interview, O'Leary said the data center will create new jobs that benefit the community.
• O'Leary views the AI race as a geopolitical competition, stressing rivalry with China's tech growth.

Kevin O'Leary and Tucker Carlson clashed over AI, taxpayer subsidies for O'Leary's planned Utah data center project, and China, during a wide-ranging interview published Wednesday.

The "Shark Tank" investor defended the Utah development as a necessary investment in America's AI future, as Carlson questioned why taxpayers should help fund infrastructure that could primarily benefit tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.

Carlson repeatedly asked O'Leary why taxpayers should subsidize a private business whose tenants could be "some of the richest companies in the world."

"They don't necessarily have to do that," O'Leary replied, referring to taxpayers, adding that states that don't subsidize such projects "just won't win any contracts. It's a competition."

When Carlson pressed him on tax breaks, O'Leary said incentives are standard practice for major projects. Carlson argued that tax breaks still shift costs onto ordinary taxpayers.

"Why, if it's such a good business, would you be asking taxpayers to help pay for it without giving them equity in the company?" Carlson asked.

The interview comes amid mounting backlash over O'Leary's proposed 40,000-acre Stratos data center project in Utah, which opponents say could strain the state's water and power resources while offering relatively few long-term jobs.

The project, which was unanimously approved by county commissioners, is expected to consume up to 9 gigawatts of energy — more than double Utah's current electricity usage.

O'Leary has dismissed many critics as "professional protesters" and argued that the center will drive significant economic growth and job opportunities in the region, saying it would create jobs and generate tax revenue, comparing it to other manufacturing projects competing for state incentives.

Carlson and O'Leary also sparred in their interview over whether AI will create or destroy jobs. O'Leary argued that new technologies historically create industries that are impossible to predict in advance. Carlson countered that O'Leary's own examples — AI-powered medical scans and photo cataloging — showed machines replacing human labor.

More than a labor issue, the geopolitical battle with China is at the heart of the AI race, O'Leary said.

"Would you prefer all of us that are developing these data centers put down our shovels and stop while the Chinese accelerate theirs?" he asked, saying the US and its allies need to expand power generation and data-center capacity or risk falling behind Beijing technologically and militarily.

Carlson remained skeptical of taxpayer-backed incentives for billion-dollar AI projects, arguing that states were transferring wealth from ordinary taxpayers to some of the country's richest companies.

"Welcome to America, buddy," O'Leary replied. "This is how it's gone on for 200 years."

O'Leary is a Canadian citizen.

Lorde is back on the road with her Ultrasound World Tour, which continues through 2026 with a mix of arena shows and major festival appearances. The lineup features stops in Mexico, Los Angeles, Toronto, and several major European summer festivals. A handful of dates are already sold out, so availability varies by city and whether you're targeting a headline show or a festival day pass.

Lorde (Ella Yelich-O'Connor) broke through globally with "Royals" and her 2013 debut album "Pure Heroine," quickly becoming one of pop's most influential alt-leaning voices. Since then, she's evolved across eras like Melodrama and Solar Power, building a reputation for sharp songwriting and a live show that leans more "immersive pop performance" than maximalist spectacle.

If you're ready to see her next viral performance live, keep reading to see Lorde's full tour schedule, along with where to buy tickets. When you're ready, you can secure your seats at StubHub and Vivid Seats.

Lorde's 2026 tour schedule

• May 15, 2026 - Inglewood, CA at Kia Forum - $132
• May 17, 2026 - Salt Lake City, UT at Utah State Fairpark - $150
• May 22, 2026 - Napa, CA at Napa Valley Expo - $286
• June 5, 2026 - Queens, NY at Flushing Meadows Corona Park - $289
• June 7, 2026 - Toronto, Canada at RBC Amphitheater - $95
• July 9, 2026 - Madrid, Spain at Iberdrola Music - $84
• July 11, 2026 - Algés, Portugal at Passeio Marítimo de Algés - $88
• July 13, 2026 - Nîmes, France at Arena de Nîmes - $97
• July 15, 2026 - Lyon, France at Les Nuits de Fourvière - $92
• July 16, 2026 - Bern, Switzerland at Gurtenfestival - $101
• July 18, 2026 - Berlin, Germany at Olympiastadion Berlin - $109
• July 21, 2026 - Nyon, Switzerland at Paléo Festival - $104
• July 23, 2026 - Milan, Italy at Parco della Musica di Milano - $112
• July 30, 2026 - Chicago, IL at Grant Park - $310
• July 31, 2026 - Saint Charles, IA at Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater and Event Center - $198
• August 2, 2026 - Montreal, Canada at Parc Jean-Drapeau - $126
• August 15, 2026 - Gothenburg, Sweden at Way Out West Festival - $86
• August 18, 2026 - Pula, Croatia at Pula Arena - $94
• August 20, 2026 - St. Pölten, Austria at Frequency Festival - $91
• August 22, 2026 - London, UK at Victoria Park - $145
• August 25, 2026 - Edinburgh, UK at Royal Highland Showgrounds - $122
• August 27, 2026 - Paris, France at Rock en Seine - $109
• August 28, 2026 - Bristol, UK at Clifton Downs - $118
• August 31, 2026 - Munich, Germany at Olympiahalle München - $97
• September 1, 2026 - Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg at Rockhal - $89
• October 3, 2026 - Austin, TX at Zilker Park - $320
• October 10, 2026 - Austin, TX at Zilker Park - $315

How much are Lorde tickets?

If you're shopping for Lorde tickets on the resale market, prices on Vivid Seats and StubHub can be fairly approachable for some dates — but they can also jump quickly for the most in-demand venues and sections. On Vivid Seats, Lorde tickets currently start at $91, which is about as low as it gets. For a high-demand stop like May 14 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Vivid Seats shows a broader range, with listings starting around $94 and premium options reaching up to $526.

On StubHub, the spread looks similar — and you can see it clearly on specific event pages. For that same May 14 Kia Forum date, StubHub shows tickets as low as $74, while the top end on the same page is about $539. In general, you'll pay the least if you're flexible on seating (upper bowl, side view), while floor/lower-bowl seats and peak nights tend to command the biggest premiums as the show gets closer.

See more: Is StubHub legit? | Las Vegas Sphere tickets | Yungblud tickets | Bad Bunny tickets | Bruno Mars tickets | Harry Styles tickets

Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel for more deals and buying guides.

Zach Bryan has become one of the biggest names in country and folk Americana, thanks to his stripped-down songwriting, massive live shows, and loyal fan base. The Oklahoma-born singer broke out with songs like "Something in the Orange" before turning albums like American Heartbreak and Zach Bryan into major streaming hits, helping fuel demand for his stadium-sized tours.

The artist's tickets can swing pretty widely in price depending on the city, venue, and how close you want to be to the stage. On Vivid Seats, some of the cheapest resale tickets for the 2026 "With Heaven On Tour" are currently starting around $27. For fans trying to spend less, weekday shows and upper-level stadium seats tend to offer the best value.

But because Zach Bryan's tour demand has stayed high — especially after his recent stadium run and breakout success with songs like "I Remember Everything" and "Something in the Orange" — prices can shift quickly once cheaper inventory starts disappearing. Keep reading to check out his upcoming schedule and head to StubHub or Vivid Seats when you're ready to buy.

Zach Bryan's 2026 tour schedule

• May 27, 2026 - San Sebastián, Spain at Donostia Arena - $51
• May 31, 2026 - Berlin, Germany at Waldbühne - $118
• June 3, 2026 - Oslo, Norway at Unity Arena - $52
• June 6, 2026 - Copenhagen, Denmark at Parken - $112
• June 9, 2026 - Eindhoven, Netherlands at Philips Stadion - $57
• June 12, 2026 - Liverpool, UK at Anfield Stadium - $123
• June 14, 2026 - Edinburgh, UK at Scottish Gas Murrayfield - $112
• June 16, 2026 - London, UK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - £75
• June 17, 2026 - London, UK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - $98
• June 23, 2026 - Belfast, Northern Ireland at Boucher Playing Fields - $255
• June 24, 2026 - Belfast, Northern Ireland at Boucher Playing Fields - £261
• July 25, 2026 - Eugene, OR at Autzen Stadium - $113
• July 31, 2026 - San Diego, CA at Snapdragon Stadium - $113
• August 1, 2026 - San Diego, CA at Snapdragon Stadium - $132
• August 7, 2026 - Salt Lake City, UT at Rice-Eccles Stadium - $82
• August 13, 2026 - Denver, CO at Empower Field at Mile High - $22
• August 14, 2026 - Denver, CO at Empower Field at Mile High - $35
• August 22, 2026 - Arlington, TX at AT&T Stadium - $35
• September 5, 2026 - Glendale, AZ at State Farm Stadium - $53
• September 18, 2026 - Dover, DE at The Woodlands - $136
• September 19, 2026 - Dover, DE at The Woodlands - $145
• September 21, 2026 - Toronto, ON at Rogers Centre - $61
• September 22, 2026 - Toronto, ON at Rogers Centre - $64
• October 2, 2026 - Foxborough, MA at Gillette Stadium - $86
• October 3, 2026 - Foxborough, MA at Gillette Stadium - $134
• October 10, 2026 - Auburn, AL at Jordan-Hare Stadium - $58

How much are Zach Bryan tickets?

Zach Bryan ticket prices vary widely by city, venue, and seat location. On Vivid Seats, the cheapest current listings start at $27 for his August 13 Denver show, while other lower-priced stadium stops include Denver on August 14 from $35, Arlington from $44, and Glendale from $48. Some international and higher-demand dates are already much pricier, with Belfast listings starting around $302 to $305.

StubHub shows the same general pattern: prices are lowest for select stadium dates and climb for busier markets, better sections, and dates with limited inventory. For the most expensive options, expect premium floor seats, closer lower-bowl sections, and VIP-style listings to cost far more than entry-level tickets, especially for major stadium stops and dates where cheaper inventory is already gone.

See more: Is StubHub legit? | Las Vegas Sphere tickets | Kenny Chesney tickets | Ed Sheeran tickets | Megan Moroney tickets | Journey tickets

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LG's C Series OLEDs are among the most consistent performers in the TV industry. If someone asks me for a midrange OLED recommendation, the C Series is almost always in the conversation. But year-over-year improvements have been minimal. For 2026, however, LG is shaking things up. For the first time, the brand is offering a submodel in the C Series, called the C6H.

The C6H is available only in extra-large 77- and 83-inch sizes, while the standard C6 is available in 42-, 48-, 55-, and 65-inch sizes. The smaller C6 is a great TV in its own right, but its performance is very similar to last year's C5. The C6H is a different story.

This larger model uses a more advanced four-stack OLED panel. Four-stack tech was first introduced in LG's premium G5 OLED last year, and it's exciting to see it trickle down to a more affordable series. This type of screen can get substantially brighter than a traditional OLED.

The C6H is one of the TVs I've been most excited to check out this year, and after weeks of testing, it doesn't disappoint. Its launch price is a bit steep, but I'm confident it will get good discounts later in the year. In that context, this is poised to be the big-screen OLED to watch in 2026.

The LG C6H is a souped-up version of the C6, only available in larger sizes

The LG C6H is available in 77- and 83-inch screen sizes. The 77-inch model retails for $3,699, while the 83-inch model retails for $5,299. Those prices are in line with what new midrange OLEDs this big typically launch for, and I expect them both to drop as the year goes on. For instance, you can now find last year's 77- and 83-inch C5 for $2,200 and $3,300, respectively. I tested the 77-inch C6H for this review, but performance is the same across both sizes.

As a submodel of the C6, the C6H carries the same basic design as LG's standard C Series, with a pedestal stand and a thin OLED screen. The panel itself is incredibly slim, which remains one of OLED technology's coolest design perks. But the display has a thicker portion on the back that protrudes out to house its ports and processing components. At its thickest point, the TV measures around 1.9 inches.

The overall look is striking and premium. The back panel has a textured finish, and the display has a clean, modern aesthetic that should look great in any living room or home theater. It's not quite as slick as LG's step-up G Series, which is designed to mount flush against a wall, but the C6H still looks and feels high-end.

LG also gets points for including four HDMI 2.1 ports. All four inputs support up to 165Hz, which is great for gamers who want to connect multiple consoles and a high-end PC. Some rival TVs still only have two HDMI 2.1 ports, so it's nice that LG continues to offer four.

The C6H also comes with the latest version of LG's Magic Remote. This remote supports regular click-button navigation, but it also has motion controls that let you move a cursor around the screen by pointing the remote at the TV.

This is one of those love-it-or-hate-it features. Some people enjoy the pointer-style controls, but others find them imprecise and annoying. I fall somewhere in the middle. For the most part, I found the remote to be fine when using standard button presses, but there are still a few things I don't like.

The biggest issue is the scroll wheel in the center of the remote. This doubles as the enter key when you click it, but it's too easy to accidentally scroll when you're trying to select something. And when that happens, the TV automatically switches to motion control. There really should be an option in the menu to fully deactivate motion control for those who don't like it.

I'm also disappointed that LG no longer includes dedicated input and mute buttons. To access the input selection, you need to hold the Home Hub button down. To mute the TV, you need to hold the volume down button. There is a new favorite button that you can assign a function to, which helps a bit, but I'm not sure why we can't just have dedicated mute and input buttons. The remote also isn't backlit, which is a bummer. These are far from dealbreakers, but they are the kind of little quirks that stand out when the rest of the hardware feels so refined.

The LG C6H delivers stunning OLED picture quality with a major boost in brightness

The LG C6H is a stunning TV. Its OLED panel enables pixel-level contrast, with deep black levels that can completely disappear in a dark room without blooming or uneven patches. And since this submodel uses a four-stack tandem panel, its brightness can rival that of many top QLED and Mini LED TVs. It's a genuinely impressive combination of strengths, with only a few small flaws.

First, let's get the numbers out of the way for my fellow tech geeks. I measured the TV's color and brightness using a colorimeter, pattern generator, and Portrait Displays Calman calibration software. I took my readings in the TV's default Filmmaker Mode, since that preset typically offers the most accurate out-of-the-box image.

Peak brightness on a 10% HDR window reached around 2,011 nits before gradually dropping to around 1,880 nits. That's a very impressive number for an OLED and a big upgrade from the 1,174 nits our reviewer measured on last year's C5. It's also not too far off from the 2,410 nits that the 2025 G5 offered in the same test. I haven't measured the new G6 yet, but I expect its brightness to be similar to the G5's.

Color measurements were similarly impressive. The TV achieved 99.5% of the P3 color gamut used in most modern Hollywood productions. You can't really ask for more than that. Meanwhile, it measured around 78% of the wider BT.2020 color space, which is respectable for an OLED, but not on par with what new RGB LED TVs are capable of. However, it's rare for content to actually use BT.2020 colors. Color accuracy was also exceptional, with an average DeltaE of 1.6. The lower the DeltaE, the more accurate a TV's colors are, and anything below 2 is essentially imperceptible to the human eye.

Now, all that technical jargon might not mean much to many shoppers, but those numbers translate to absolutely gorgeous image quality. High scores with test patterns are one thing, but how a TV actually looks when watching content is what matters, and the C6H is a winner.

It's my job to be nitpicky and look for flaws in a TV's image. This can make it hard to ever sit back and just enjoy a movie or show, since I'm constantly looking for tiny issues. But when watching a TV as good as the C6H, I can actually get lost in how good everything looks. That's not to say it's perfect — more on that in a bit — but its shortcomings are minor compared to everything it gets right.

I watched a wide range of movies and shows, from HD YouTube clips to HDR 4K Blu-rays, and everything looked great. Of course, 4K HDR content looks best and fully takes advantage of the C6H's capabilities. Colors dazzle in movies like "Aquaman," while black levels are deep and inky in titles like "The Matrix." The burning church scene in "1917" is a great showcase for OLED tech's pixel-level contrast, and it demonstrates a level of precision and detail in shadows that no Mini LED TV can match.

The TV's impressive brightness is on full display in "Mad Max: Fury Road," with intense highlights that radiate off the screen. Some TVs struggle with highlights from the chrome car parts in this film, but the C6H handles them with the intensity they deserve. Lightning bolts and explosions in the movie's memorable storm scene genuinely made me squint. This is stellar performance through and through, and a real home theater showcase.

Viewing angles are also excellent, much wider than you'll get with any QLED or Mini LED TV. However, they're not perfect. There is a slight green cast from off-angle, especially when watching neutral tones on the TV. But this is subtle and not a major issue.

Reflections, however, are a weak point. Like other TVs that use a glossy screen, direct reflections can take on a mirror-like quality. If you're unable to control reflections in your room, you might be better off with a matte OLED TV, like the Samsung S95H, but that kind of screen hurts contrast in bright rooms. I ultimately prefer glossy panels, but buyers should keep this in mind.

When it comes to other flaws, I did see some slight vertical streaks in near-black backgrounds, and black levels that occasionally looked a step or two brighter than they should. That said, banding and false contouring — when gradations of color and shadows look blocky rather than smooth — are improved compared to last year's LG OLEDs.

I didn't see any issues in my test scene from "Ex Machina," which exhibits blocky red shades on some TVs. However, particularly tricky test scenes in "The Green Knight" did still exhibit some issues, with unnatural transitions between shades of red in an underwater sequence. But few TVs can handle this scene correctly, and the C6H is pretty solid overall.

Gaming performance is also great. PS5 games in 120Hz mode with variable refresh rate, like "Marvel's Spider-Man," look smooth and vibrant. HDR gaming looks fantastic on the whole, and "Crimson Desert" is a standout on such a large, high-contrast screen.

LG's webOS smart TV system continues to be a mixed bag

The C6H uses LG's webOS smart TV system. It's largely the same as last year's version, with some small tweaks. Setup is straightforward, but you'll need to create an LG account if you don't already have one to access apps.

The platform includes all of the best streaming services, so most people should be covered. However, it's still missing a few specialized apps available on other systems, such as the Criterion Channel.

I didn't run into any major issues with general navigation through the home screen or streaming apps. But I do find moving through webOS's settings menus to be a bit slow compared to rival platforms like Google TV.

The visual design of webOS is decent, but it's not my favorite. By default, a large banner ad appears at the top of the homepage, followed by a row of your favorite apps. You also get various content recommendations and sponsored picks, along with a row of shopping recommendations, which I doubt anyone will find useful.

Of course, ads and sponsored picks are par for the course on any smart TV interface, and LG does deserve credit for allowing you to disable the banner ad and recommendations from appearing on the home screen. This option is a bit buried in the menu, but it's there.

After deactivating them, you simply get a placeholder banner image on top of your main row of apps, and that's it. I prefer this cleaner layout, but some people may find it a bit barebones. WebOS also supports multiple user profiles, so the home screen's recommendations and app selection can be personalized for each user.

The webOS interface also includes a dedicated gaming section with access to several subscription-based cloud services. Most notably, you can use the Xbox or Nvidia GeForce Now apps to stream games to the TV without needing a console or PC. These apps are also available on TVs from some rivals, like Samsung, so it's nice that LG offers them as well.

LG has carried over various AI features it's introduced over the last few years, including AI picture and audio modes that automatically optimize settings. There's also an AI Picture and Audio Wizard designed to personalize how these modes work by learning about your preferences.

If you're unhappy with how any of the TV's built-in video and audio presets perform, these AI functions may be of interest. But as always, I highly recommend just using the TV's Filmmaker Mode and Standard audio mode to get the most accurate playback, and then tweaking things like brightness to your preference for your room.

Voice search can be conducted by pressing the AI button on the remote or by enabling the TV's hands-free microphone and saying "Hi, LG." There's even a cool voice recognition feature that automatically switches the TV to different user profiles based on who's speaking.

However, I continue to find LG's voice assistant to be really inconsistent. In my experience, results for voice queries were often slow, and the TV sometimes struggled to understand what I was saying, returning results for queries that were incorrect. I haven't had issues like this with other assistants, like Google's Gemini.

None of this ruins the experience, but webOS remains one of the C6H's weaker elements. It gets the job done, and I appreciate the customization options, but I'd still rather use a dedicated streaming device for day-to-day use.

Should you buy the LG C6H TV?

The LG C6H is a notable upgrade over last year's C5. Though it's only available in 77- and 83-inch sizes, those shopping for a high-performance big-screen OLED should definitely consider this model first. This isn't just another year-over-year refresh. Thanks to its four-stack OLED panel, the C6H delivers a meaningful boost in brightness while preserving the core strengths that make LG's C Series so reliable.

Right now, the C6H's main competition in the big-screen OLED space is actually last year's LG G5, which is sometimes on sale for less than the C6H currently goes for. The G5 can get a bit brighter and has a more premium design that can be mounted flush on a wall. However, it doesn't come with a stand for those who don't want to mount it.

If you can find the 77- or 83-inch G5 on sale for less than the C6H, I still give that model an edge in overall performance. But the C6H is likely to drop in price over the coming months, and I expect it to become the better value. I know I'll be keeping a close eye on discounts as the year goes on.

The second major golf championship of 2026 is underway, and the competition is heating up heading into the weekend. We've gathered everything you need to know about the event, including how to watch PGA Championship live streams, tee times, and odds.

If you don't want to scroll any further, you can live stream the PGA Championship on the ESPN app and Paramount Plus in the US, and Sky Sports in the UK. Keep reading to learn additional streaming information for the four-day event.

How to watch the PGA Championship in the US

As is often the case with PGA Tour events, the tournament is split between ESPN and CBS properties. ESPN Plus will carry early morning coverage and featured group coverage for all four days, but the main ESPN channel will take over in the afternoon on Thursday and Friday (the first and second rounds). CBS will carry afternoon coverage on Saturday and Sunday (for the third and final rounds).

ESPN Plus coverage is available via ESPN Select ($13 a month) and ESPN Unlimited ($30 a month). Opting for the Unlimited tier allows you to live stream the flagship ESPN network, along with all other ESPN channels. CBS is available to live stream with Paramount Plus Premium, which costs $14 a month.

If you're hoping to watch everything in one place, you can do so with a month-to-month live TV service, which functions like cable without any of the equipment or long-term contracts. The best live TV streaming services we've tested that carry both ESPN and CBS are DirecTV and Fubo.

DirecTV carries both networks in its MySports genre pack, although local channels sometimes vary by market, so it's worth double-checking what's available in your lineup. Plans include access to around 20 popular sports channels and ESPN Unlimited. Subscriptions cost $65 a month, but new users can get $20 a month off their first two months after a five-day free trial.

Fubo carries ESPN, CBS, and around 26 other live channels (plus ESPN Unlimited access) in its Sports + News plan. Subscriptions cost $56 a month, but first-time customers can get $10 off their first month after a five-day free trial.

How to watch the PGA Championship in the UK

The PGA Championship will air on Sky Sports in the UK. You can watch the action by signing up for one of the best Sky TV deals and plans, which vary by contract length and specs. If you're looking for something with a little less commitment, Now Sports offers more flexible plans, including single-day passes for £15.

How to watch the PGA Championship from anywhere

If you're traveling abroad, you can still access your usual streaming options with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are handy tech tools that let you temporarily alter your virtual location. This way, your usual websites and apps work from anywhere. A VPN is also a strong way to instantly boost cybersecurity. The services we've highlighted require country-specific payment methods, so this option will work best for those who are just traveling away from home.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It's a speedy service with a massive variety of servers. and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for.

PGA Championship venue

The 2026 PGA Championship will take place at the Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

PGA Championship odds

As of early Friday evening, Scottie Scheffler is still the favorite to win. According to DraftKings, Scheffler is the current favorite to win at +365, followed by Maverick McNealy at +640 and Jon Rahm at +680. These odds are accurate at the time of writing, but frequently fluctuate throughout the tournament.

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

• Berkshire Hathaway tripled its Alphabet stake and placed a new bet on Delta Air Lines last quarter.
• The company appears to have sold many of the departed Todd Combs' stock picks.
• Warren Buffett's successor as CEO, Greg Abel, exited bets including Amazon, Visa, and Mastercard.

Warren Buffett's successor certainly isn't shy about shaking things up.

Greg Abel, who took over as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO on January 1, made sweeping changes to the conglomerate's holdings in the first three months of this year, a regulatory filing revealed on Friday.

Berkshire built a fresh stake in Delta Air Lines worth $2.6 billion at the end of March, marking its return to owning airline stocks.

The company also more than tripled its stake in Google-parent Alphabet, a key player in the AI boom.

After purchasing nearly 18 million shares of the search-and-advertising giant in the third quarter of last year, it didn't touch the position in Buffett's final quarter as CEO.

But that changed last quarter, as it ramped up its investment to almost 58 million shares, worth around $17 billion at the end of March.

Abel appeared to offload many of the stocks picked by Todd Combs, previously one of Buffett's two investment managers. Buffett, who remains Berkshire's chairman, announced in December that Combs had resigned to join Jamie Dimon at JPMorgan.

Berkshire exited its positions in Visa, Mastercard, UnitedHealth, Domino's Pizza, Amazon, Charter, Diageo, and several other companies. The disposals reduced its total number of holdings to around two dozen.

Abel also pared other holdings including Chevron, Nucor, and Constellation Brands.

On the other hand, Abel and his team added Macy's to their portfolio, and roughly tripled the size of the New York Times stake they established in the preceding quarter, boosting it to around 15 million shares valued at around $1.3 billion on March 31.

Berkshire foreshadowed significant changes to its stock portfolio in its first-quarter earnings earlier this month. The report showed that it sold about $24 billion worth of stocks, and bought around $16 billion worth.

The Delta wager is likely to surprise close followers of Berkshire.

Buffett famously sold his stakes in the "big four" US airlines in April 2020, admitting he'd made a "mistake" by betting on them. In his shareholder letter for 2007, he described the airline business as a "bottomless pit" and quipped:

"Indeed, if a farsighted capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk, he would have done his successors a huge favor by shooting Orville down."