• Allbirds is, for some reason, an AI company now.
• Some people on social media found that more than a little funny.
• The jokes did not disappoint.

Once in a while, something happens in tech land that's prime meme fodder. The latest: A shoe company suddenly — and seemingly inexplicably — pivots to go all in on AI.

Allbirds found itself the subject of many jokes on social media on Wednesday. Investors in the long-beleaguered company, though, had something to celebrate. Its stock price shot through the roof after it rebranded itself as NewBird AI and said it would provide GPU compute-as-a-service.

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Allbirds, founded in 2015, quickly rose to fame for its wool sneaker, becoming a Silicon Valley tech bro favorite. Former President Barack Obama was spotted wearing a pair in 2020.

It was a Wall Street darling as well. During the company's trading debut in 2021, its valuation reached $4 billion.

But things started crashing after 2022, when the shoe lost its shine. In 2023, Allbirds posted an annual loss of $101 million, and its shares plummeted 47%.

In the years since, it launched products that flopped, laid off staff, and went through a management shake-up, none of which helped turn things around.

In March, Allbirds announced that American Exchange Group, a New York-based fashion and consumer company, would buy it for $39 million.

After Wednesday's AI pivot, its shares rose by about 582%. There was a slight correction in after-hours trading, when the price dropped 28%.

• AI firms are shifting from per-user fees to charging for work done.
• Software firms selling "units of labor" instead of seats can tap new budgets, Goldman Sachs says.
• It comes as high costs of building and running AI are pushing companies to rethink product pricing.

Software companies are changing how businesses pay for AI tools in a shift that could reshape business spending.

Instead of charging based on how many employees use a tool, some AI companies are beginning to price products based on the work they perform, according to a Goldman Sachs note published Wednesday.

"Companies are increasingly positioning their AI workflows as selling a unit of labor or a unit of productivity, which allows them to tap into larger deal sizes and new budget allowances," wrote Goldman Sachs analysts, after they met with around 40 companies across software and internet sectors recently.

This lets companies charge based on value, separating profits from the cost of running AI and helping maintain strong margins, they added.

The approach is already showing up in how companies package their products. Salesforce has introduced "agentic work units," while Workday sells credits tied to "units of work."

It comes as the high costs of building and running AI are pushing companies to rethink product pricing. That means software spending could become less predictable for the customers using these services.

Last month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that AI could eventually be sold more like a utility.

"Fundamentally, our business — and I think the business of every other model provider — is going to look like selling tokens," he said, referring to the units AI systems use to process and price data.

"We see a future where intelligence is a utility like electricity or water, and people buy it from us on a meter and use it for whatever they want," Altman added.

More broadly, the software industry is moving away from monthly "per seat" licenses toward usage-based, pay-as-you-go pricing, a trend Business Insider's Alistair Barr reported in April last year.

• Jensen Huang shared Nvidia's strategy of investing broadly in tech companies.
• Huang highlighted Nvidia's history as a lesson against picking winning companies.
• Nvidia has invested significantly in AI labs, biotech, robotics, and self-driving.

Jensen Huang says Nvidia invests in a lot of tech companies, instead of selecting a handful, for a reason.

"There are so many great, amazing foundation model companies, and we try to invest in all of them," he said on an episode of the "Dwarkesh" podcast released on Wednesday. "We don't pick winners. We need to support everyone."

Huang, who cofounded Nvidia in 1993, said that there were two reasons behind this. One, he said its not Nvidia's job to pick winners. Two, the company's history is a lesson.

"When Nvidia first started, there were 60 3D graphics companies," Huang said. "If you would have taken those 60 graphics companies and asked yourself which one was going to make it, Nvidia would be at the top of that list not to make it."

He said that at the time, the company's graphics architecture didn't look promising.

"Everybody would have counted us out," he said. "And here we are. So I have enough humility to recognize that. Don't pick winners."

Nvidia, which is the most valuable company in the world, has heavily invested in companies across the AI stack and related industries, including biotech, robotics, and self-driving. The chipmaker has big stakes in public companies, including CoreWeave, Intel, Synopsys, and Nokia.

Nvidia has also cast its bets wide in the large language model space.

In November, Nvidia committed to investing up to $10 billion in Anthropic to develop Claude. In February, the company announced it invested $30 billion in OpenAI.

In a March conference appearance, Huang said that the investments are likely to be Nvidia's last in the two private companies.

"The reason for that is because they're going to go public," Huang said.

Nvidia is also invested in French frontier lab Mistral AI.

The tech giant has also cut smaller checks to startups such as autonomous driving company Wayve, data labeling firm Scale AI, and Figure AI, which is building humanoid robotics.

• A new Latvian analysis said sanctions forced Russia to spend an extra $130 billion on buying goods.
• It said Russia assesses hundreds of billions of dollars in further economic pain if sanctions continue.
• Some of its export markets have also fallen by 50% after four years of sanctions, the report added.

NATO member Latvia's national security analysts have released a report estimating that Russia has spent an additional $130 billion trying to buy Western goods while being sanctioned.

Published last week by the Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB), the government analysis said the estimate was based on spending from 2022 to 2025, translating to an annual $32.5 billion loss.

That estimated figure is just for imports of Western goods. The international sanctions, imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, also mean the country has lost hundreds of billions from its export markets and assets frozen by Western banks.

The Latvian analysts said their report accounted only for the additional cost of goods eventually bought from alternative sources, and excluded cases where Russia couldn't find substitutes.

They added that intelligence showed that Russian institutions are internally forecasting further losses, "despite Russia's public announcements claiming its economy is successfully adapting to the impact of the Western sanctions."

Latvia, one of the Baltic States, sits on Russia's Western flank and has been one of the most outspoken NATO members against the Kremlin, accusing it of running disinformation campaigns and covert operations to destabilize local politics.

Its analysts wrote, without providing details about their sources, that one Russian forecast warned foreign trade would lose another $136 billion by 2030 solely due to Western sanctions.

Another forecast said a continued loss of trade with Europe would account for about $70 billion of these losses, the analysts added.

"SAB assesses these estimates to be an undercount — the losses are likely much higher," the report said.

The internal estimates don't account for the "entire economic spectrum," it said, such as reduced tax revenues or inflated consumer prices.

A separate internal Russian forecast put its energy sector losses at $216.5 billion over the next five years if "Western pressure increases," the Latvian report added. The oil and gas industries typically account for about 15-20% of Russia's GDP and nearly a third of federal revenues.

The report added that Russia has been struggling to find alternative markets for its exports in some major sectors. For example, Russian iron ore exports had been reduced by 40% from 2021 to 2025, and timber and cellulose exports dropped about 50%, the analysts wrote.

"SAB assesses that the lifting of sanctions will significantly increase the threat posed by Russia not only to Ukraine and Europe, but also globally," the analysts wrote, saying that the Kremlin could be freed up to assist Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin admonished his top economic officials on Wednesday in a rare public rebuke, saying that the national economy had contracted by 1.8% in January and February.

"This is not only below experts and analysts' expectations, but also below the Government's own forecasts and those of the Central Bank," Putin said, according to the Kremlin's public transcript.

• I built a simple dashboard for my team to replicate planning features like those on Asana.
• In 15 minutes and with the help of AI, I had a workable app without writing a single line of code.
• Doing this as a nontechnical person showed me why some are worried about a "SaaSpocalypse."

Just 15 minutes, from concept to publish. That's how long it took for me to create a basic version of a work management tool like Asana without writing a single line of code.

The idea struck me one weekday when I asked my team: "What annoys you most about our workflow? What's the one thing you want me to change?"

One pain point came up: They weren't a huge fan of the Google Doc I'd been using to track our long-term reporting. So, I thought: I have 15 minutes for a coffee break. Let me see how far I get using vibe coding — the concept of using prompts to create software with AI — on Base44, an app-building platform.

While my dashboard app has far fewer features than Asana, the results impressed me. And it taught me an important lesson about the "SaaSpocalypse," the idea that AI can create products for free that work as well as software products companies would usually sell. Those fears have battered software stocks, with Asana down about 54% this year, and Atlassian, the company behind project management app Trello, down about 59%.

An Asana spokesperson told Business Insider that a productivity dashboard is "a small piece of what companies need to run work effectively, at scale." They added that Asana's tools help coordinate work across "many teams and large departments" — including between humans and AI agents.

My project also gave me other reasons why AI may not mean game over for productivity software companies.

From prompt to publish in minutes

I've used a range of productivity tools, from Notion to Monday.com and Asana. I find all of them useful, particularly Notion's high level of customizability and Asana's flexibility for collaborative teamwork.

They gave me a good idea of what I wanted, so I started off with a simple prompt:

I want to vibe code a slick dashboard for a small team of reporters at Business Insider. I want it to be a slate for enterprise reporting, allowing each user to input their stories to a common dashboard. I also want functionality that lets a user drag and drop entries into a publishing calendar, with daily/weekly/monthly/yearly view toggles.

I plopped this prompt into ChatGPT and asked it to generate a detailed prompt for Base44 and Lovable. These are two of many one-stop shops on the market that let users build and launch the app directly on their platform.

ChatGPT gave me tailor-made prompts for each platform. I refined the prompts by asking for more functionality, then prompted ChatGPT to troubleshoot in advance if the instructions might create any issues on the Lovable and Base44 backends.

After five minutes of planning, I had my detailed prompts locked and loaded.

10 minutes to build

This wasn't my first time using Base44 or Lovable. I'd used vibe-coding platforms to try to code other apps, including one for tracking collectible cards, so there wasn't the same learning curve as a newcomer.

It was extremely easy to get started. All I did was plug my ChatGPT-generated prompt into both platforms. I walked away for five minutes as the platforms' chatbots "thought" their way through my request, figuring out how best to execute it.

When I returned to my laptop with a warm mug of tea, I had two complete prototypes generated on both apps.

I dedicated 5 minutes to ensuring the app was secure, adding login and authorization permissions for each reporter and editor. That's something that's baked into off-the-shelf apps like Asana, and security has caused headaches for other apps built with AI. I also got picky about customizing the dashboard's aesthetics, and spent a minute or so changing the font types and colors on each platform.

It was important that the app allowed me to sort projects by progress and see at a glance all the work each reporter had on their plate. I also wanted a broad calendar view to see which stories I was planning to publish in the next month. And I wanted a repository of works-in-progress.

It was also essential that the app include tabs for a dashboard, a calendar view, and a section for works in progress.

I also asked the vibe-coding apps to make sure all the dashboard data could be downloadable in one click, so my writers have fast, easy access to their complete story slate.

After some back-and-forth prompting, I got all of these features — but I did burn through all my free credits on Lovable before getting the app ready to use. But in under 15 minutes and within the free credit limit, my Base44 dashboard for drafts was ready for launch.

The hype train for vibe coding is real

I'm no coding wizard. I have distinct and embarrassing memories from college of having a minor crisis trying to build a website on Dreamweaver and struggling to build a codebase for my master's thesis. As I see it, vibe coding has opened the door wide for nontechnical people like me to build the bones of simple applications in a short time.

My team and I recently vibe-coded apps on various platforms as an experiment to see how the products stack. We built several apps — including a thumbnail composite-maker, a writing companion, and an AI-powered photo critic. In most cases, we got these apps to a usable state in under 30 minutes.

Those experiences make it easy to see why AI is such a problem for software companies like Asana. In an interview with Business Insider's Alistair Barr, Asana's CEO, Dan Rogers, acknowledged the existential threat that companies like his face. He said this threat also presents a new opportunity for Asana: to go all in on coordinating a workforce in which humans need to work hand in hand with AI.

I'm also hesitant to write these firms off. For many users, Asana's links to email, Slack, and apps like Canva and Zoom remain valuable. That infrastructure, plus things like cybersecurity, is typically baked into off-the-shelf software and lacking in vibe-coded projects. And, obviously, my dashboard doesn't have the capability to track AI agents and their workflows, as Asana plans to do.

"Orchestrating humans and AI is an incredibly complex thing to do — and that complexity is underscored by the fact that many AI-native startups and foundational model providers use Asana to run their own work," the Asana spokesperson said.

Since I made the tool in March, my team's been using it every day, and it's front-and-center during team pow-wows and at our 1:1s. It's safe to say my vibe-coded app meets my basic workflow needs — and for free.

• Artists have never had a reputation for stable paychecks.
• Some Gen Z artists have cracked the code for consistent pay, thanks to their generation's love for snail mail.
• They're sending their art prints to subscribers every month, and bringing in cash.

When I ripped open my first snail-mail art print from Trinity Shiroma, I couldn't help smile.

Out of the envelope fell a beautifully intricate watercolor painting of Casa Battló in Barcelona that doubled as a postcard. It was wrapped in a handwritten letter explaining its architectural significance, and by a black-and-white print of Spanish tiles, meant to be colored in by the receiver.

I've never been big on postcards or snail mail, but holding this piece of art in my hands, I understood the hype.

Shiroma, a 25-year-old architect-turned full time artist in Florida, started her snail mail club in August, sending 5-by-7-inch prints of her artworks to subscribers around the US for $8.88 a month. She now has about 2,400 subscribers and earns about $16,000 a month from the gig.

"When I was working as an architect, this was more a documentation thing of my travels, something just for myself," Shiroma said. "Then people told me that I should start selling them."

She said that she started with commission work, priced above $200 per piece. However, her mail club became a way for her to make her art accessible and "get a steady income instead of going from commission to commission."

Shiroma is one of many Gen Z artists around the world who have figured out a way to guarantee a stable monthly paycheck: subscription-based snail-mail clubs.

The concept is simple: an art print wrapped in a letter from the artist arrives at your doorstep every month you're subscribed. The print often doubles as a postcard, and the artists also include additional interactive elements, such as coloring pages or stickers.

Most are priced under $10 a month, perfect for cost-conscious, analog-loving Gen Zers who like to spend on small luxuries and collectibles. As with all letters, you don't know exactly when it'll land, so recipients get a pleasant surprise from what feels like a pen pal.

Niloofar Abolfathi, a professor of entrepreneurship at the Singapore Management University, said the rise in popularity of snail mail fits a familiar pattern: the reemergence of products once thought obsolete, like film photography.

The hustle of packing hundreds of envelopes

Josephine Simon, like Shiroma, quit her architecture job to pursue art full time in August 2024. The NYC-based artist started her art business with detailed pen sketches of buildings, which took about three to four hours each with fine-tip pens.

She said she quickly felt burnout setting in and tried to find a way to get her art out to more people without painstakingly drawing every piece.

"I was taking 30 commissions a month, which was crazy," Simon said. "I realized if there were a way to get freedom and be able to work for myself, that would be the ultimate goal."

In August, she launched her print club, sending prints of her travel sketches from trips to Greece, Patagonia, Guatemala, and other places.

Simon, 26, now dedicates a week every month to her print club and the other three to working on commissions and other projects.

The most demanding part comes at the very end: packaging by hand for her 400 subscribers.

"It's crazy to be doing this all yourself, but I see it as a nice break from other things I'm doing," she said, adding that her family members sometimes help her out with the packing.

Shiroma said her process takes about a week from start to finish. She dedicates the first four days to making the art and writing the letter.

And the last three days are all about packaging. Her parents help her package 2,000 envelopes, and she handles the other 400.

A smart second stream of income

For Kiki Klassen, a Toronto-based artist, the snail-mail club began as a side hustle in October 2024. Her art prints feature whimsical and colorful illustrations, and her letters center on gratitude and everyday observations.

"I started this side hustle mail club art project as a means of escape because I was working as a barista," Klassen, 28, said. "I didn't like what I was doing, making coffee all day. It was a little bit grueling."

Then she got a job as a social media manager at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Toronto, where she now works four days a week. Klassen said her "Lucky Ducky Mail Club" art side hustle now earns about 10,000 Canadian dollars, or about $7,200, monthly, close to double what she earns at her full-time job.

She said she's too scared to quit her job and go into art full time.

"It's still so new, I'm worried it's all going to go away on a moment's notice," Klassen said. "At this rate, it's only been growing."

Abolfathi, the entrepreneurship professor from SMU, said that creative work often comes with highly variable income, making monthly subscriptions more reliable.

She said subscription models are attractive because they shift the business from a one-off transaction to an ongoing relationship with fans. They also help give customers a "taster," which might convert them into higher spenders.

"It is a low-commitment model that benefits both sides: Artists gain better visibility into demand and more predictable monthly income, while customers make small, manageable commitments in exchange for regular physical mail," Abolfathi said.

The clock is running out

The allure of analog letters is bringing in good money. But the artists Business Insider spoke to say they know they're working on borrowed time before the trend dies down.

Abolfathi said the trend will stay with analog-loving Gen Zers, rather than move to a wider market.

One artist in Australia is already counting her days with her snail mail club.

Alessia Emanuele, a 26-year-old artist in Brisbane, quit her job as a law secretary in 2021 and has been dabbling with creative side gigs since. She now sells ceramics, stationery, stickers, and other merchandise. Her "Cloudy Club" snail-mail club, which she started last year, now has about 1,000 subscribers.

"I think that realistically, the snail mail club might have another year," Emanuele said. She said the space was already oversaturated and would die soon, and she would return to ceramics — her core business — after.

"So I think I'll ride that out till that's sort of done," Emanuele said.

Gwen Lee, a 32-year-old game animator based in Singapore who started a snail mail club in December, said that, in addition to being a source of income, it's "something like self-healing."

Lee's game design work used to contain gruesome illustrations of killings and violence, and she felt heavy after work.

When working on her own art, she chose subject matter that made her feel calm. Her main character, Layla, is always surrounded by lush greenery and pretty pink flowers.

The idea for the club started like that — Layla delivering bouquets of peonies to her friends.

"The idea is that, no matter where you are in the world, just remember that someone in a little nook is looking out for you," Lee said.

• Business Insider brought together some of the buzziest names in AI, media, health, and longevity.
• Speakers, including Axiom Math's Carina Hong and Blumhouse Productions' Jason Blum, talked about AI.
• Here's a glimpse of what it was like at Business Insider's The Long Play.

AI is shaking up every industry, and some of the top players in superintelligence, health, media, and longevity know it.

At San Francisco's Exploratorium on Tuesday evening, Business Insider hosted The Long Play, gathering 150-some industry insiders and executives, including Asana CEO Dan Rogers and the NFL tight end-turned-executive coach Damian Vaughn, to get the inside scoop on how career climbers and companies can thrive in the age of AI.

Will AI replace Hollywood creatives and healthcare clinicians? Who will AI make obsolete first: coders or mathematicians? And what are the broad societal implications of a world where everybody lives longer?

Business Insider spoke to Axiom's Carina Hong, Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions, Midi Health founder Joanna Strober, and entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, the "most-measured man on planet Earth," to get their insights.

A running theme: The tech world — and modern culture overall — rewards speed, scale, and certainty. The speakers showed there's still room for limits, skepticism, and human judgment in the long run.

The night was paired with health-conscious poke bowls, booze (a Johnson no-no), and a quick talk on sex and night-time erections (a Johnson yes-yes).

Here are some of the highlights from The Long Play.

Asana CEO Dan Rogers shared his best career advice and how he uses AI

Asana CEO Dan Rogers said he relies on AI as a "day-to-day companion," using the company's AI teammates to summarize information, consolidate insights, and conduct competitive research.

The tools, he said, are embedded directly into his workflow and used daily.

On career advice, Rogers pointed to a familiar Silicon Valley mantra that he believes still holds up: join a "rocket ship." In a fast-moving tech landscape, he said, workers should focus less on roles and more on companies with breakout potential.

Outside work, Rogers emphasized consistency, calling exercise a non-negotiable. He prioritizes a mix of cardio, strength training, and yoga.

Axiom Math CEO Carina Hong believes that a powerful AI checks its own work

LLMs have been revolutionary for the front-end software engineer, but we're not yet seeing AI taking over systems where safety is a non-negotiable without a human in the loop, Hong, a Rhodes scholar and founder of Axiom Math, said.

The mathematician said the most powerful AI will be the one that can check its own output. Because what good is an LLM that gives us five different answers to the mysteries of our universe, Hong proposed. How could a human check that answer?

"I would say that superintelligence is at its sort of max power when it's verified," she said. "When you know that you can just execute the output like a computer program, and then you get sort of the verifiable signal."

Founders weigh in on the most AI-proof skills

Some of the founders who spoke with Business Insider talked about how human judgment has become all the more valuable in the AI era.

"The simple answer is taste," Talha Khan, CEO of Seda, said, when asked what skill AI has made more important. Khan said the more context and insight you can provide an AI, the better and more unique the output.

Carmen Li, CEO of Silicon Data, said she uses her judgment to discern between a flattering AI and one that's providing an accurate answer.

"Don't make me feel good," she said. "I couldn't care less about that."

Gary Yasuda, the president of Milan Institute, said that various AI tools are like "a board of directors" that needs the correct human direction.

"Everybody has a favorite — different technology, ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity — but they all ask their own style of questions because if you don't ask the right probing questions, they're never going to really help you," said Yasuda.

Off-the-shelf AI won't cut it for healthcare

Strober, founder of Midi Health, a virtual health clinic for women, said generic, popular chatbots still face inaccuracies when it comes to questions around patient health.

"We spend a lot of time debunking the things they saw in AI because it doesn't include only the most updated women's health research," she said.

The founder envisions a future when patients can rely on a specialized AI to answer some of their pressing health questions, but Strober's bet is that it won't replace a human anytime soon.

"Honestly, I'm making a bet on the fact that people still want to talk to someone for their care," Strober said. "Other companies are probably going to make a different bet, but we have found that what we are going to be really good at is empathy."

Hollywood isn't competing with AI right now

Blum, whose production company is behind some of the most popular horror franchises and films, doesn't think AI will make movies better.

The producer has experimented with the technology. In 2024, Blumhouse Productions announced a partnership with Meta, producing AI-generated shorts and VR experiences. He was roasted online.

That experience, Blum said, made him confident that AI can't make movies better and that Hollywood isn't competing with it. Instead, AI is competing with user-generated content.

"What it is competing with is scrolling," he said. "On Instagram and doomscrolling, I think there'll be a ton of AI there and you will see that. So I think for once creators have more to worry about than directors and writers."

Grind culture is not a badge of honor

Founders might be skipping booze, but the grind culture persists.

On top of that, some young professionals are swearing off sex and dating, all in the name of "locking in."

Johnson, the popular longevity guru, wants that to stop.

"We have not created a culture of health, and it's hurting everybody," he said.

His message, in short: Have sex, get off your phone, and go to sleep.

No one has a crystal ball

CEOs have long been expected to make institutional forecasts, but it seems these days they're being turned to as an oracle of the future — especially amid the AI boom cycle.

When will AI wipe out the white-collar workforce? What value will money have when humanoid robots take over the world?

Johnson makes his case: Technology has enabled us to advance in our work and our health, but it doesn't make us any better at predicting the future, he said, when asked what it means for the world to have a population that can live longer.

"My personal opinion is nobody has anything intelligent to say about the future," he said. "In fact, when they try to say things, they're revealing their ignorance, not their knowledge."

• Allbirds is pivoting from sustainable footwear to AI compute infrastructure.
• The company plans to be less focused on environmental conservation, according to an SEC filing.
• Allbirds' stock price surged 582% after the company announced it was transitioning to AI.

Allbirds isn't only pivoting to AI — it's pivoting away from its core environmental principles.

Once dubbed the favorite shoemaker of Silicon Valley, Allbirds announced Wednesday it was transitioning from footwear to AI compute infrastructure and becoming NewBird AI.

The company said it planned to buy GPUs, or powerful chips, and become a GPU-as-a-service company. It's also selling off its footwear assets and its original name, meaning Allbirds-branded shoes could continue to be made, under new ownership.

The company partially answered questions about what that might mean for Allbirds' status as a company committed to ESG — environmental, social, and governance principles — in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The filing said stockholders would vote next month on proposed changes to the company, including removing environmental commitments written into its charter and revoking its status as a public benefit corporation. PBCs are for-profit corporations intended to produce a public benefit and operate responsibly and sustainably.

"The anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business would be less focused on the public benefit of environmental conservation," the company said.

Allbirds said in the filing that there were risks associated with some of the proposed changes to its charter, including ceasing to operate as a Delaware PBC, which requires the company to "produce a public benefit and operate in a responsible and sustainable manner."

"Eliminating that status could damage our reputation, adversely affect our ability to attract and retain customers, employees and partners, and negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations," the filing said.

If the amended charter is accepted, the company said, it would operate "in the best interests of our stockholders, without balancing the best interests of our stockholders against the public benefit of environmental conservation."

Allbirds did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The transition to AI is an especially striking move for Allbirds, given concerns about the environmental impacts and resource consumption of AI. An investigation by Business Insider found the AI and data center boom is straining power grids and water supplies across the US.

Allbirds was founded as a sustainable footwear company

When Allbirds started out in 2015, sustainability was central. The company touted its shoes, made from what it said were natural, sustainable materials, as better for people and the environment.

In 2016, the company earned its B Corp certification, given to companies that meet specific standards for social and environmental impact. It also became a PBC.

When Allbirds went public in 2021, the company said in an SEC filing that its mission was to "make better things in a better way, through nature — products that people feel good in and feel good about."

"We aim to reverse climate change through better business by empowering people to make better, more conscious decisions for themselves as well as the planet," the company said, adding, "We are proud of the alignment of financial and environmental benefits from our work, and that we are able to serve as a driving force in a new age of sustainable enterprise."

Last year, the company said it had made the "world's first net zero carbon shoe" with its limited edition "M0.0NSHOT Zero," made from "carbon-negative, regenerative wool" sourced from New Zealand.

The company's critics have accused it of greenwashing — that its claims about its positive environmental impact were more marketing than reality.

While Allbirds said in its latest SEC filing that it will be less focused on environmental conservation, it's unclear whether environmental principles will remain part of the company in some capacity.

For now, it looks like the transition might be good for shareholders, if not for business.

Allbirds' stock price was up 582% from the day prior at market close on Wednesday, reversing a yearslong slump.

• Kalshi is facing a fine in Ohio for unlicensed sports betting activities.
• The prediction market operator has been in an Ohio court battle to allow it to operate in the state.
• Kalshi suffered a loss in March, when an Ohio judge ruled its offerings should be regulated.

It's more money, more problems for the online prediction market Kalshi.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission said on Tuesday that it was fining Kalshi $5 million for unlicensed sports betting in the state.

"The Commission takes its regulatory responsibilities to ensure compliance with the law and the integrity of sports gaming in Ohio seriously," the regulators said in a statement. "Kalshi's refusal to stop offering sports gaming in Ohio necessitated the Commission to take action to uphold the requirements of Ohio law. "

This fine comes on the heels of a court loss Kalshi suffered in March. A judge in Ohio's federal court ruled that Kalshi's sports-related prediction market bets should be considered gambling and be regulated by the state.

In April 2025, the commission issued three cease and desist notices — to Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com — directing them to stop offering sports event contracts in the state by April 14, 2025. Kalshi sued Ohio and asked the court to grant an injunction against the casino regulators' attempt to stop it from taking market bets.

Kalshi had asked the court to treat its sports-related market options as swaps, which would designate picks on its platform as a kind of investment.

The presiding judge, District Judge Sarah Morrison, ruled against Kalshi, saying she had an obligation to "avoid absurdity." Swaps, she said, are "understood as a transaction involving financial instruments and measures that traditionally and directly affect commodity prices."

"Currency exchange rates, the weather and energy costs all do that: the number of points scored in the Huskies-Bobcats game does not," the judge said.

Kalshi said in a statement to Business Insider that it's reviewing the gaming commission's fine.

"We are disappointed in this latest development, especially considering our ongoing litigation with Ohio and recent rulings in other courts confirming our right to operate as a federally licensed exchange," a Kalshi spokesperson said.

The company raised $1 billion last month at a $22 billion valuation, according to data provider PitchBook.

Kalshi's expansion across the US is running into a range of state-level resistance. Regulators from Arizona to Nevada say its offerings may amount to unlicensed gambling.

The platform is also set to see more federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Its enforcement chief, David Miller, said in March that he's hiring more staff to crack down on insider trading on prediction markets.

• Jimmy Pitaro addressed ESPN staff after Disney's recent layoffs.
• The memo, obtained by Business Insider, said ESPN employees being cut have already been informed.
• Disney's layoffs are the first under its new CEO, Josh D'Amaro.

The top executive at ESPN addressed his staff after the latest round of layoffs at its parent company, Disney.

Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN, sent a memo about the cuts to his employees on Wednesday. The memo, obtained by Business Insider, said that all ESPN employees affected by the cuts have already been notified.

"We must continue fostering a more agile and technologically enabled workforce," Pitaro wrote. "While these realities require difficult decisions, that does not lessen how hard it is to say goodbye to colleagues who have dedicated themselves to ESPN."

The layoffs, which began Tuesday, were the first at Disney under new CEO Josh D'Amaro, who took over in March. D'Amaro said in a memo to Disney staff that the layoffs came after the company combined its enterprise marketing and brand teams earlier this year.

Employees being laid off will receive severance pay based on their level and tenure at the company, according to an employee handbook seen by Business Insider.

An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment when reached by Business Insider.

Read Pitaro's memo below:

Team:

As Josh D'Amaro shared, our industry and our businesses are undergoing profound change, and we must continue fostering a more agile and technologically enabled workforce. While these realities require difficult decisions, that does not lessen how hard it is to say goodbye to colleagues who have dedicated themselves to ESPN.

I want you to know that conversations are completed with those whose roles are impacted this week.

To team members who will be leaving, thank you for your contributions — these decisions do not reflect the strength of your work or of the company, but rather our focus on how to best manage our resources to support continued growth. We are here to help you through this transition, and we encourage you to reach out to your leadership or People & Culture (HR) business partner with any questions.

I remain optimistic about our future, even during these tough days. ESPN's foundation is built on strong relationships, perseverance and a commitment to serving sports fans — values that matter particularly in difficult moments. Let's continue to support one another.

Jimmy

• Stefan Pildes, president of the raucous charity event, SantaCon, has been charged with wire fraud.
• Prosecutors allege he used funds raised at the charity event to splurge on a luxury lifestyle.
• Pildes faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The man behind New York City's SantaCon didn't just throw a rowdy annual charity pub crawl — he was a secret scrooge who "ran his own con game," federal prosecutors allege, siphoning millions from an event marketed as a philanthropic fundraiser.

Stefan Pildes, the 50-year-old president of SantaCon, which regularly drew in over 25,000 festively dressed drinkers across New York, was charged with a single count of wire fraud on Wednesday. The charge carries with it a sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Prosecutors said Pildes marketed SantaCon as a charity event, encouraging attendees to purchase tickets, usually between $10 and $20 each, under the premise that proceeds benefit nonprofit causes, such as The Children's Heart Foundation and Clowns Without Borders. Instead, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York accused him of diverting funds into accounts he controlled and using them for personal expenses, such as a luxury vehicle and concert tickets, rather than donating them.

While prosecutors did not disclose the exact amount Pildes is accused of misusing, they said he used more than half of the roughly $2.7 million generated by SantaCon between 2019 and 2024 for his own benefit. Only a "small fraction" ever reached charity, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said in an indictment that the "slush fund" Pildes created was used to splurge on items including extravagant vacations in Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Vail, more than $365,000 in renovations to a lakeside property in New Jersey, a $124,000 lease on a luxury Manhattan apartment, and nearly $3,000 on a birthday dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan.

An attorney for Pildes has not yet been named in court filings, and Pildes did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Eyewitness News ABC7NY reported Pildes pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday afternoon.

"Pildes allegedly stole Christmas from tens of thousands of victims and deprived local charities of more than one million dollars," FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. said in a statement about the charges. "The FBI continues to root out scrooges that greedily exploit the goodwill of New Yorkers."

SantaCon has long had a fraught reputation in New York City, where the annual holiday bar crawl draws tens of thousands of costumed revelers — and persistent complaints from locals about unruly behavior. Critics have questioned its charitable framing, arguing the event often resembles "a drunken free-for-all" despite being marketed as a fundraiser.

Business Insider in 2023 reported on an investigation by the New York City blog Gothamist, operated by New York Public Radio, which found that large sums of SantaCon's funds had been funneled into crypto and toward groups related to Burning Man.

Gone are the days of needing a convoluted phone plan with a contract full of pitfalls to get cell service. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Visible Wireless do away with unnecessary extras, keeping plans as simple as a monthly subscription service, as you'd expect from your favorite streaming service.

As a longtime paying customer of the brand, I'm happy to report that Visible is as good as it looks. Using Verizon's network, it offers a reliable connection and data that, while deprioritized to Verizon's higher-paying customers, almost never fails. Plans also include sweet perks like high-quality video streaming and global data in select countries, with options starting at $25 a month. With frequent Visible deals available year-round, it's often cheaper than that, too.

I've broken down the details of Visible's offerings, along with firsthand findings from using the service in major cities across the US and abroad. If you're looking to compare it to other options, check out our guide to the best cheap cell phone plans.

Visible plans and prices at a glance

Visible Wireless offers three plans: Visible, Visible Plus, and Visible Plus Pro. Here's how they break down at a glance:

• Visible: The brand's most affordable option starts at $25 a month (often less with a good coupon code). It uses Verizon's 5G and 4G LTE networks to provide unlimited data, talk, and text, and unlimited hot spot use.
• Visible Plus: Starting at $35 a month, Plus includes everything the base plan offers, plus "premium data" and spam call blocking. It also offers twice the hot spot speed.
• Visible Plus Pro: The top tier of Visible plans, Plus Pro, starts at $45 a month and includes everything the other two plans feature, plus an included smartwatch service, even faster hot spot speed, and more.

Topping out at $45 a month for the most feature-packed plan, Visible is still cheaper than a budget traditional service like T-Mobile Essentials (which still requires multiple lines for discounted pricing).

Setup

Getting started with Visible is easy, especially if you're bringing your own device. You'll be limited to phones compatible with Verizon's network, which you can determine using the site's compatibility checker. If it doesn't pass the test, you can trade it in for credit toward a new phone instead.

One of the most attractive aspects of moving to Visible is that you can keep your existing phone number by porting in online or via the app. This involves obtaining relevant information from your previous carrier and handing it off to Visible before obtaining your eSIM. If you prefer a physical SIM card, you can order one online and have it shipped to you. It's a somewhat slower process than the instantaneous nature of an eSIM.

Overall, it's simple and painless. Rather than the lengthy process of signing up with cell carriers in the past, switching to Visible can be done from the comfort of your home in less than 30 minutes. Especially if you go the eSIM route, you'll be operating on Visible data in no time.

Coverage area and reliability

As with every service, I highly recommend checking Visible's coverage map before committing to sign up. Most of the country is covered, but if you live in the chunk of Idaho or inland California that isn't supported, you may want to reconsider. If you happen to know any locals who use Verizon or Visible, asking how they like their service wouldn't hurt, either.

Anecdotally, I've tested Visible Plus Pro around the world. Within the continental US, I've used it in New York City, throughout Southern California, and on a road trip across Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and a bit of Arizona. In all of these locations, I tested it as both a normal cell service (call, text, and data) and as a WiFi hot spot.

As with most services I've tested, there are definitely low-reception areas in locations like mountainous freeways and deep desert. Otherwise, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Visible's connection was stable and often more reliable than those around me with services like AT&T or T-Mobile. The hot spot is truly unlimited and easy to use, allowing me to work remotely on the road.

Customer support

In terms of customer support, Visible's in-app and online support is what you can expect from a typical MVNO or cell service provider. Searching for support first directs you to a help center with a well-stocked library of articles and troubleshooting guides for common snags with activation, account payments, and more.

Initiating a chat first directs you to a digital assistant, but getting to a live agent isn't difficult. The chatbot first tries to direct users to the support articles I mentioned, but after pressing a button to indicate that your problem is outside that scope, it presents an option to speak with a live agent. From there, you'll get an estimated wait time (no more than 10 minutes each time I tried) before reaching a Visible employee.

If you're hoping to catch someone on the phone to chat about your service, Visible is lacking. It only offers instant message support online and via the app, as well as direct messaging via X and Facebook Messenger. In my experience, chat support has been enough to address any of my concerns, but that could be a matter of preference.

International use and Global Pass

International travelers have a lot to gain from Visible, especially the Plus Pro plan. Plus Pro includes calling to over 85 countries, unlimited text to over 200, and data in Mexico and Canada with roaming on. If you're in another country, that's where Global Pass comes in.

Visible Wireless' Global Pass provides international coverage, available for a daily fee or included with your plan. It costs $5 a day with base plans, while Visible Plus users accrue one day a month and Plus Pro users accrue two days a month. These are stored in your account, ready to be used whenever you go abroad.

As a user who heads overseas at least once a year for family reasons and the occasional vacation, the Global Pass feature removes a stressful aspect of travel (phone service) entirely. Rather than coordinating fussy pocket WiFi units or racking up hefty roaming bills, getting coverage is as easy as enabling the Global Pass in-app and continuing as usual.

When abroad, you'll likely notice a different service provider's name listed next to the signal indicator on your smartphone (like Smart in the Philippines). Visible partners with international providers to give its customers international coverage — and while testing it against other travel SIMs, I often found that Visible received priority over other options like Airalo and Holafly.

Free trial

On the very likely chance that you don't have a support system of Verizon and Visible users to survey about coverage in your area, Visible offers a free 15-day trial. This way, you can test the base Visible plan in your area before committing to any sort of payment.

The free trial is only available for compatible, unlocked phones. From there, you'll get a trial number added to your device to test Visible for two weeks. Usable features include unlimited data, talk, and text on Verizon 5G and 4G LTE, plus unlimited hot spot.

Should you sign up for Visible Wireless?

I love Visible Wireless. It simplifies cell coverage and tags on additional features that can really come in handy later. I recommend it to all my local friends and family, especially if they're tired of the pitfalls and contracts of traditional cell service providers. It's the best when offering truly unlimited data, making it a pick in our guide to the best cheap cellphone plans.

The most value comes from Visible Plus Pro, though. If you're shopping only for affordability, the brand's base plan is solid, but its deprioritized 4G and 5G LTE service can be frustrating, depending on your area. Even opting for Visible Plus at an extra $10 a month is a worthwhile upgrade if you can swing it, since it unlocks better data and speeds.

Truly unlimited service is the main draw to Visible, but its extra perks like Global Pass, mobile hot spot, and smartwatch service are irresistible selling points. Countless times, I've served as the WiFi for myself and friends in coffee shops and on trips. I've also found myself as the only person with service when abroad multiple times — at this point, the new challenge is ensuring my phone is juiced up enough to handle all the use it sees throughout the day.

However, if you don't travel much, don't use hot spots, or just have bad Visible and Verizon coverage in your area, you may want to pass on the service. However, as a longtime customer, I'd implore you to at least give the 15-day trial a shot.

See more: Best Visible deals | Best cheap cell phone plans | Mint Mobile review | Tello review | Verizon review | T-Mobile review | Total Wireless plans

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• Director Coerte Voorhees and producer John Voorhees broke down the trailer for their new movie.
• "As Deep as the Grave" stars an artificially generated Val Kilmer.
• The Voorhees said Kilmer has over an hour of screen time in the film.

After decades of trying to get their 1920s historical drama "As Deep as the Grave" off the ground, Coerte and John Voorhees thought they'd finally hit the jackpot: Val Kilmer was on board to star. Then everything changed.

After years of starts and stops due to COVID, Coerte, who is the movie's director, and John, who is producing, got terrible news: Kilmer, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, was now too sick to participate. He died in 2025.

At first, the brothers pressed on, removing Kilmer's role as a Catholic priest from the film. But soon, advancements in artificial intelligence had rapidly improved, and they had another idea. With the approval of Kilmer's two children, Mercedes and Jack, Kilmer was resurrected to deliver an AI-generated performance.

Press got their first glimpse of AI Kilmer on Wednesday when the Voorhees debuted the movie's trailer at CinemaCon, the movie theater convention held yearly in Las Vegas.

The "As Deep as the Grave" trailer features two versions of Kilmer: one that looks close to his appearance when he died at 65, and another that depicts him in his 30s in a flashback scene.

The most astonishing moments of the trailer feature the young Kilmer. Coerte told Business Insider that the trailer's final shot, which is a closeup of Kilmer speaking to a child, took hours of digging through archival footage to feed to the AI. Once the sourcing was done, the actual AI generation for that shot only took 7 minutes.

"You have to make sure the authenticity is coming across, down to the mole on the side of his cheek," Coerte said of the sourcing process. "We just had to be such students of Val Kilmer."

Once the Voorhees saw what AI could do, they didn't just bring Kilmer back into the movie; they beefed up his role. The filmmakers said Kilmer has over an hour of screen time in the movie.

This is not the first time Kilmer and his estate have dabbled in AI. When the star was alive, he approved the use of AI technology to recreate his voice for his role in "Top Gun: Maverick."

The Voorhees praised Kilmer's children for being thoughtful collaborators and keepers of their father's estate.

"Mercedes and Jack have as much creative authority when we give them a suggestion," John said. "It's consent, it's compensation, it's collaboration. You have to do that. What you see on the screen is what the family wants."

The filmmakers said they're grateful that AI technology has evolved enough to help make "As Deep as the Grave" a nuanced tribute to the actor.

"Fortunately, AI has been the biggest ally in this, because it's focused on the emotional experience now," Coerte said.

"As Deep as the Grave" is currently seeking distribution.

• Joshua Gross, a top engineer at Thinking Machines Lab, has rejoined Meta.
• It's the latest in a string of departures from the $12 billion startup's founding team.
• Thinking Machines continues to attract star AI talent and has more than quadrupled its size.

Thinking Machines Lab, the startup founded by ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has lost another founding member to Meta.

A veteran software engineer, Joshua Gross, built and shipped Thinking Machines Lab's flagship product, Tinker, from "zero-to-one," according to his LinkedIn profile.

He joined Meta Superintelligence Labs last month and now leads engineering teams, according to his LinkedIn profile. Gross had previously worked at OpenAI and Meta (formerly Facebook).

Thinking Machines Lab, which raised a huge $2 billion funding round at a $12 billion valuation last year, has become an AI talent hub. It has faced a wave of poaching from larger tech companies as Silicon Valley's AI talent wars grow hotter than ever.

Meta has now hired five of its founding members, including cofounder Andrew Tulloch. Meanwhile, OpenAI hired the startup's ex-CTO, Barret Zoph, and a top cybersecurity employee, Jolene Parish.

Thinking Machines Lab has had notable wins of its own. It replaced its CTO with Meta's Soumith Chintala, the creator of the open-source AI project PyTorch, and it quietly hired Neal Wu, a coder who won three gold medals in an Olympiad for programming, Business Insider previously reported.

The startup, which is based in San Francisco, has more than quadrupled in size to about 130 staffers since its founding last year, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Meta and Thinking Machines Lab declined to comment.

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

• Disney began a round of layoffs on Tuesday, the first under new CEO Josh D'Amaro.
• Departing staffers' severance is based on their rank and, in some cases, how long they were at the Mouse House.
• Disney's severance package differs from recent ones offered by other media companies.

Disney is offering severance to employees affected by its latest round of layoffs, the first under new CEO Josh D'Amaro.

Laid-off staffers will receive a severance package based on their level and length of tenure at the company, according to guidelines in Disney's employee handbook, which was viewed by Business Insider.

Here's a summary:

These payouts align with the severance offers received by four employees who were laid off this week and spoke with Business Insider. Two of these people said they also received a prorated bonus, paid vacation days, and continued health coverage for several months.

A Disney spokesperson declined to comment.

How does Disney's offer compare to those from other media companies?

Paramount recently offered two weeks of pay for each year of service to hybrid staffers who didn't want to return to in-person work, two people familiar with the package said.

The Washington Post kept laid-off employees on its payroll from its February 4 layoff date through April 10. It gave four weeks of base pay, plus two weeks a year for staffers who'd worked at the newspaper for more than three years, up to 45 weeks.

NBCUniversal was an outlier among media companies in giving a one-size-fits-all exit offer to employees last fall during its RTO push. NBCU offered employees who didn't want to work in-person eight weeks of pay and continued health coverage for three months.

Disney's layoffs followed the unification of its enterprise marketing and brand teams earlier this year, D'Amaro, the new CEO, said in a memo.

D'Amaro, who took over for previous CEO Bob Iger last month, told staffers that those who would be laid off had "done meaningful work here and care deeply about this company."

"These decisions are not a reflection of their contributions, or of the overall strength of the company," he continued.

Disney's parks business appears set for another strong year, though the company is under pressure to grow streaming profits while keeping the traditional TV business afloat in the age of cord-cutting.

Disney shares rose 0.4% on Wednesday, after a 1.4% gain on Tuesday, as US stocks broadly rose.

• Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle have teamed up for a new ad campaign for the brand's denim shorts.
• In a video shared on social, Sweeney says, "What brand am I wearing? Yeah, that one."
• It's a sly wink at the 2025 "Great Jeans" controversy, and a classic move from Sweeney's PR playbook.

Sydney Sweeney has unveiled her second American Eagle campaign using her now-signature move: a sly wink at the camera.

Nearly nine months after the brand's "Great Jeans" campaign sparked online outrage, Sweeney reunited with American Eagle to promote its new denim shorts collection. The campaign, dubbed "Syd for Short," hit socials and newsstands on Wednesday with a short video starring Sweeney in her element, looking as beautiful and inscrutable as ever.

"What brand am I wearing?" Sweeney asks the camera, positioned mid-frame against a blue-sky backdrop. With a shrug and a cheeky smile, she gives a non-answer to her own question: "Yeah, that one."

The line only makes sense as a reference to Sweeney's existing association with American Eagle. Their 2025 collaboration drew intense backlash for a pun that conflated Sweeney's white, blue-eyed beauty with preferable genetics. Critics described the ad campaign as a "eugenics dog whistle," while fans suggested it was a cheeky double entendre with little deeper meaning. Amid the discourse, American Eagle's stock price soared, and Sweeney's public profile along with it.

Whatever headaches the "Great Jeans" campaign may have caused Sweeney's PR team, the headline-dominating discourse made her more of a household name — as did her refusal to apologize for being at the center of it.

As PR experts told me at the time, Sweeney's reputation for stirring up controversy is likely intentional. Whether she's talking about her "great jeans" or hawking a soap that purports to be made with her actual bathwater, Sweeney has garnered a fan base not just for her acting work, but for her polite refusal to explain the reasoning behind her more controversial choices.

Her responses in a now-infamous November 2025 GQ interview where she addressed the "Great Jeans" campaign were either provocative or oblivious, depending on how you read her delivery.

"I've always believed that I'm not here to tell people what to think. I'm just here to kind of open their eyes to different ideas," she told the magazine.

Two months later, Sweeney told Cosmopolitan that as a person "in the arts," she shouldn't be expected to comment on politics. Instead, she offered a platitude: "I believe we should all love each other and have respect and understanding for one another."

With "Syd for Short," Sweeney takes a page from the same playbook: gesture toward the mess, but don't wade in. Let the fans and critics speculate on your intent.

Those following Sweeney's moves have had plenty to dissect lately. The American Eagle campaign comes days after the season three premiere of "Euphoria," in which Sweeney plays Cassie Howard, a young woman whose humiliating desperation for male attention has made her a lightning rod for thinkpieces since the series debuted in 2019.

The first episode of the new season sees Sweeney's Cassie pursuing a career on OnlyFans dressed as a sexy puppy, complete with floppy ears, a heart-shaped nose, and a cleavage-baring brown corset.

While the internet lit up with debates over everything from the scene's morality to what it says about Cassie's increasingly shallow and fetishized characterization, Sweeney stayed silent.

Or perhaps she'd once again let the brands do the talking: the corset she wears in Cassie's sexy puppy scene is from her own lingerie line.

Fair Harbor, which launched in 2014, makes classically stylish beachwear using modern, environmentally friendly materials. And while it has some West Coast vibes, it's a New York brand inspired by Fire Island off the coast of Long Island All the clothing I tested for Business Insider Reviews from Fair Harbor got high marks for style, performance, comfort, and durability. This includes the Anchor shorts — swim trunks with compression liners, which ranked among the best compression-lined swim trunks we've tested.

Sustainability is a big part of the brand's image. It's a Certified B Corp, meaning it has to adhere to high standards in areas like the materials it uses, supply chain practices, and transparency, among other benchmarks. Good On You, an organization that rates the sustainability of fashion and beauty brands, lists the company as "good" in the area of the environment for using recycled materials and limiting its use of resources to make its clothing.

All the pieces I tested were crafted mainly using recycled polyester made from plastic waste. In some cases, the fabric also included other eco-friendly materials like organic cotton or Tencel, a synthetic cellulose fiber made from wood pulp. I was surprised at the range in the appearance and handfeel of its fabrics that are all mainly made from this recycled polyester, from the heathered look of the One Shorts, which also has a compression liner, to the ultra-soft feel of the Seabreeze Hoodie. I also loved that all of Fair Harbor's various clothing items work well with each other, so you can look put together without having to think too much about it.

Fair Harbor Anchor Swim Short

Fair Harbor's Anchor Shorts are one of the brand's signature products beloved by customers (they have a 4.9 rating based on more than 22,000 reviews) that come in a whopping 22 different colorways, and three inseam lengths, from a contemporary 6-inch for folks (like me) who like to show some leg to a 10-inch, which hits nearer the knee and offers a more conservative look. I found these swim trunks to provide ease of movement in the water when actually swimming and a stylish look for when you get out (and they dry fairly quickly as well).

Fair Harbor One Short

The One Short has a timeless design, comes in two different inseam lengths (6- or 8-inches) for a contemporary feel or something with a bit more coverage, and features a built-in compression liner for added comfort that will get you from the beach to brunch. They're very breathable, have a good bit of stretch, and come in a range of five colors and sizes up to 3XL with a drawstring elastic waist (I'm 6-feet-tall and weigh 175, and the medium size fit me perfectly). They're very adaptable — I've used them for swimming and running, but mostly I wear them as everyday shorts, and in all three cases, they performed well.

Fair Harbor Kismet T-Shirt

The first thing I noticed about the Kismet Tee was the super supple handfeel. The fabric is a blend of organic cotton and recycled polyester that has the right amount of stretch, is breathable, and does a good job of staying crisp-looking without a lot of care. The Kismet Tee comes in 16 colorways, from multi-striped fabrics to nautical-themed graphics and beyond.

Fair Harbor SeaBreeze Hoodie

This is the perfect lightweight hoodie to throw on when the sun goes down, but you're not quite ready to leave the beach. Fair Harbor makes it from recycled polyester and Tencel for a breathable and ultrasoft shirt that comes in five colors, but the Navy Ombre Stripe with its throwback '70s vibes is a standout. The SeaBreeze has become my go-to summer hoodie.

Cons to consider

There aren't many cons to consider here. Everything I tested from Fair Harbor performed extremely well. Be sure to follow Fair Harbor's laundering instructions to keep your clothes looking better longer. The only con I can see is that because the one Short has a built-in liner, you're going to have to wash them more often than if they were simply shorts, but it's a small price to pay for how comfortable they are.

The bottom line

All the Fair Harbor clothing I tested was well designed, worked as advertised, and was both comfortable and stylish, making for products worth the price. Additionally, there were no issues over multiple washes or flaws like loose threads that might hasten the clothing's demise. If you're looking for beach-ready clothes that are stylish, comfortable, and perform well, Fair Harbor is a shining light in a murky sea of fashion.

If you're looking for a no-contract phone plan that still runs on a major network, Total Wireless is one of the more straightforward options to consider. The prepaid carrier offers a small lineup of unlimited plans on Verizon's 5G network, with pricing that's easy to compare at a glance and perks that scale up as you pay more — like additional hot spot data and expanded international features.

Total Wireless plans are best suited for shoppers who want reliable coverage without a long-term commitment, especially families or multi-line households trying to keep monthly costs predictable. Plans include unlimited talk and text, unlimited data, and varying hot spot allowances, plus extras like roaming in Canada and Mexico on select tiers. The brand also offers aggressive pricing for people who bring their own phone, making it appealing if you're switching carriers and don't need a new device.

Below, we'll break down Total Wireless plans and pricing, including what you get at each tier, which plan makes the most sense depending on how much data and hot spot you actually use, and what to watch for before you check out.

Total Wireless plans and pricing

Total Wireless keeps its lineup pretty simple, with three main unlimited prepaid plans that all include unlimited talk/text/data on the Verizon 5G network — no contracts required.

The entry-level option is Total Base 5G Unlimited ($40/line) with 5GB of hot spot and basic international perks (including calling to 85+ countries, texting to 200+ countries, and roaming in Canada/Mexico).

If you want more extras, the mid-tier Total 5G Unlimited ($50/line) bumps you to the fastest data tier, includes 15GB of hot spot, expands international perks (calling to 180 countries and roaming in Canada/Mexico and 30+ additional countries), and adds a fourth line at no extra cost plus a Disney+ Premium promo (listed as 6 months on the plans page).

The top plan, Total 5G+ Unlimited ($60/line), gets Total Wireless' fastest data, upgrades to unlimited hot spot, includes the broader roaming perks, adds a $10 long-distance credit (to 120+ countries), includes the fourth line at no extra cost, and includes Disney+ Premium (ongoing while you stay on the eligible plan).

If you're hoping to save money, the best option is to take advantage of Total's bring-your-own-phone promo. When you bring your own device, you can get one line of Total Base 5G Unlimited (the cheapest plan) with a 5-year price lock guarantee. It's an extremely affordable option, even when compared to other cell service providers.

Total Wireless promotions

Looking to save by switching to Total Wireless? Luckily, the service offers the perfect opportunity to do so. By bringing your own device, you can knock the Total 5G Unlimited plan to $20 a month, guaranteed for at least five years.

If you don't yet have a phone or are considering different offers, here's what else Total Wireless has running right now.

Total Wireless FAQs

What network does Total Wireless use?

Verizon owns Total Wireless and uses the larger provider's cell towers to serve its customers. Verizon is a well-trusted option for coverage, but we recommend checking the Total Wireless coverage map before signing up to make sure you'll be satisfied.

Are Total Wireless phones unlocked?

Phones purchased through Total Wireless are initially locked to Verizon. They can be unlocked, but each device requires a minimum period of active Total Wireless service — unlocking before then incurs a $300 charge, depending on how long you were covered.

Who owns Total Wireless?

Total Wireless is owned by Verizon, the cell service provider that shares its network towers with it.

Where can I buy Total Wireless phones?

If you're looking to buy a device compatible with Total Wireless, you can shop directly from the website for devices locked to the service. Alternatively, you can use an unlocked phone from retailers like Apple or Amazon to use with Total Wireless.

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Bryan Johnson explains why a low resting heart rate is key to longevity.

At Insider Reviews, we've tested plenty of essentials for our full Quince review over the years, from workwear basics to leather totes, so we were especially curious to see whether the brand's silk pieces lived up to the hype. For this Quince silk review, we wore and washed a range of items from the brand's washable silk collection — including dresses, separates, and pajamas — to find out whether they're actually worth buying.

Quince's 100% mulberry silk clothing is notably less expensive than similar styles from many other retailers, and the promise of machine-washable silk makes the line even more appealing. If the brand's claims hold up, these pieces could offer an easier, more affordable way to add silk to your wardrobe without the usual dry-cleaning hassle.

After over two years of testing, we found that Quince's silk clothing feels soft, looks polished, and delivers strong value for the price, but durability was inconsistent. Some pieces held up well with repeated wear and washing, while others developed tears at the seams. Overall, we think Quince silk is best for occasional wear, not everyday heavy rotation.

Washable Stretch Silk Tiered Maxi Dress

This dress has become my most-reached-for item of clothing this summer. While elegant enough to dress up with some heels and a clutch for dinner, I mostly pair it with sneakers for an elevated and comfortable daytime look. (The sneaker look works for me because, at 5-foot-7, the dress hits me right above the ankles, but if you're shorter, it may fall closer to the floor.)

I particularly love the tiered A-line silhouette, which is very flattering, and the forgiving elastic high waist. The v-neckline is fairly deep (which I like, because it adds a feminine touch to balance out the baggier silhouette), but I was still able to wear it with a bra. It's not see-through at all. 

On particularly hot days, I did sweat in this dress (usually I pick sleeveless items when I think I may sweat), and the sweat was fairly visible through the silk fabric. That's the only downside I found to this dress. I washed it cold on the delicates cycle and hung it to dry. I steamed it to remove wrinkles (ironing silk is not recommended). Each time I wore the dress after washing, I found it as soft and shiny as before.

100% Washable Silk Slip Dress

This midi length, bias cut slip dress is crafted from mulberry silk with a satin finish. It has adjustable spaghetti straps, and the brand claims the fabric is naturally thermoregulating to help maintain body temperature. It comes in nine colors in sizes XS through XL.

"Trust me, nothing feels better than coming home from a long day of wearing restrictive clothing and putting on this buttery-soft slip. In the summer, this is the ultimate at-home outfit. And it's so incredibly chic to lounge around in a silk slip," says Samantha Crozier, style and beauty editor at Insider Reviews.

Sam's update after a year of wear: Even though it's a flattering, classic style that I washed and wore for about 9 months, the dress finally tore at a corner seam. You're likely to get a lot of use from this dress before you experience the same disappointment. However, its shelf life puts it in the fast-fashion category, so we can't call it a sustainable option.

Sam's update after two years of wear: After getting another silk slip dress to replace the torn one (it's just so dang comfy!), I continued to wear it as a lounge piece and a casual throw-on garment. This kind of frequent wear (with cycles through the washing machine as often as twice a month) isn't what I would recommend anymore. The second slip dress tore in the same spot as the first within a similar timeframe.

I would only recommend buying this dress if you're planning on wearing it to formal occasions or taking it out of the closet a few times a year. Otherwise, I'd recommend getting a similar dress from a brand that specializes in silk or sticking with Quince's cotton or linen dress options.

"I love a gorgeous slip dress, perfect for dressing up or down, depending on my mood. Make it washable, and I'm in love. This silk dress has a nice bias cut down the side seam with extra room in the hips, showing that it was designed with curvier bodies in mind. It hits right below the knee. Adjustable straps helped me position the dress comfortably across my chest. Being in between sizes, I preferred the slightly roomier fit of the 2X to the 1X. The 1X felt too tight and pulled in the back, while the 2X was a little large under the armpits but nothing too noticeable. I'm not wearing shapewear in either of the photos," says Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor, Insider Reviews.

Read more in our full Quince plus size clothing review.

Washable Silk Skirt

A silk skirt is such a versatile wardrobe staple. It pairs well with sneakers and a t-shirt or slouchy sweater for a casual ensemble or can be worn with heels and a matching silky camisole for a dressy evening look. I was super excited to try Quince's version, which comes in an impressive range of nine colors.

This skirt, which hits just below the knees, did not disappoint. I'm currently between a medium and a large in bottoms, and sizing up to a large ended up being the right call. The elastic waistband falls loosely at my hips and the skirt is plenty flowy, so it doesn't show any panty lines.

100% Washable Silk Halter Top

I absolutely love this halter top as a comfortable and breezy option for an evening out. My favorite way to wear it is tucked into ripped jeans and paired with heels. It looks elegant and dressy. I think it would look equally good tucked into a pencil skirt and topped with a cardigan for days in the office. 

Just like the tiered maxi dress, the halter top washed well (in the delicates cycle and hung dry) and remained soft and shiny. The black version isn't see-through at all, although I'm not sure if the lighter champagne color would be (there's also a navy option).

Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse

"I'm forever on the hunt for a good button down and I wanted to love the Washable Stretch Silk Blouse. I typically size up in button-down blouses because I have a large chest. Sadly, the silk blouse in a 2X pulled at my chest and around my middle, making me feel a little too self-conscious. The ivory color was also quite sheer, and the slight stretch of the fabric only accentuated the parts that I didn't want to show off more. Ironically, the model in the product photo wears the bottom half of the shirt unbuttoned, as a foreshadowing of my experience, while another model wearing the blouse in wine appears to be swimming in it. If the shirt would fit me right, I think it looks very classy and sophisticated and a great workwear, or day-to-night piece; just the sizing is off, in my opinion," according to Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor, Insider Reviews.

100% Washable Silk Pajama Tee and Pants

With a super roomy silhouette, this cooling pajama set is comfy and elegant for both sleeping and lounging around. You could totally get away with wearing the T-shirt out with a pair of jeans as well. 

One huge benefit of this combo (both pieces available in sizes XS through XL) is the mix and matchability since the top and bottom are sold separately. You can pick different sizes, but you can also interchange the styles (there are also a button up shirts, a tank, or shorts available). The pants, shorts, tee, and tank are available in seven colors (sizes XS through XL), while the button up top only comes in five colors. 

I picked a medium in my top, which fit perfectly. For the bottoms, I picked a large since I often wear large bottoms from other brands and have previously tried other Quince medium sweats, which were snug. The large was very big on me, and I wished I had sized down to a medium. I would recommend sizing down in the bottoms, if you're between sizes. 

I washed these in the gentle cycle and hung them to dry. The smoothness and softness of the fabric did not change due to laundering.

How do you wash washable silk?

As per the instructions on Quince's website, we washed the garments in cold water in the delicates cycle and hung them to dry. We steamed the garments because they wrinkled easily, but this caused no damage.

Is Quince silk real silk?

Yes. Quince's silk clothing is made from 100% mulberry silk, which gives it the smooth, soft feel and glossy finish you'd expect from genuine silk pieces.

Does Quince silk hold up over time?

Our experience was mixed. Some Quince silk pieces stayed soft, shiny, and in good shape after repeated washes, but others eventually tore at the seams after months of regular wear. Based on our testing, durability was not consistent across the line.

Is Quince silk worth it?

Quince silk can be worth it if you want the look and feel of real silk at a more affordable price. We think it makes the most sense for occasional wear or lower-rotation pieces, but we wouldn't count on every style holding up to frequent washing and everyday use.

Cons to consider

If you wear and wash your silk casually, your Quince washable silk may not last you very long. We also found the sizing to be a little inconsistent with this line. While sizing up was a good choice in the halter top and tiered dress, it led us astray for the pajama pants, where sizing down would have fit better. Thankfully, though, Quince has a generous return policy with a full refund on unworn items with the tags on available for 365 days from the purchase date. So, you can feel comfortable to take your best guess at a size and return it if the fit isn't perfect.

The bottom line

We found that Quince's washable silk line looks great, but one piece only lasted nine months before tearing, so we don't qualify it as high-quality. We also found some flaws in the fit of its extended size silk collection.

Quince's silk products are much more affordable than traditional retailers, and you earn extra savings by avoiding dry cleaning. It may be worth a try if you intend to wear it for special events, but everyday wear proved too much for its weak seams.

• The S&P 500 rose to a new all-time high, adding to gains days after it erased wartime losses.
• The index hit its first record high since January and closed above 7,000 for the first time ever.
• Gains were largely fueled by mega-cap tech. The Nasdaq 100 rose over 1%.

The rally to records has resumed.

The S&P 500 closed above 7,000 for the first time ever on Wednesday, adding to gains that helped it erase its Iran war-fueled losses earlier in the week.

The benchmark index had sagged for much of 2026, dragged lower by war and a rethink of the AI trade. The index is up 2% through Wednesday's close.

Its latest rally shows investors are ready to put the war behind them as they get ready to digest the bulk of first-quarter earnings starting next week.

Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m ET closing bell on Wednesday:

• S&P 500: 7,022.90, up 0.8%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 48,463.81, down 0.15% (-72.18 points)
• Nasdaq composite: 24,016.017, up 1.6%

Optimism about a peace deal with Iran has grown as Donald Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues and reports indicate a second round of peace talks between the US and Iran could soon kick off.

Trump has teased a resolution to the war in the Middle East for weeks. That idea has been taken more seriously by markets since the US announced a ceasefire with Iran last week. Trump stated on Wednesday that the war was "very close to over."

A peace deal with Iran would put an end to one of the market's dominating anxieties: that a prolonged conflict could push oil prices higher and fan a new bout of inflation. That, in turn, could hit US growth at a time when the economy has already been slowing.

Confidence in a peace deal wavered after talks with Iran fell through in Pakistan over the weekend, and the US initiated a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. But the president's latest comments have reversed much of the pessimism.

"Overall, investors appear convinced that the war will soon be over. Whether the Strait of Hormuz will operate as it did before hostilities began is another matter," David Morrison, a senior market analyst at Trade Nation, wrote of the market moves on Wednesday.

"Signs of de-escalation in the Middle East have lifted risk appetite, with falling oil prices helping ease inflation concerns," Adam Turnquist, a chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, wrote in a note, pointing to the rally in tech stocks.

The market's gains appeared to be largely driven by investors piling back into mega-cap tech after the sector's major sell-off at the start of the year.

The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, which tracks the seven mega-cap tech giants at the heart of the AI trade, was up more than 2% on Wednesday.

"Today's advance is almost entirely being driven by the Magnificent 7," Jose Torres, a senior economist at Interactive Brokers, wrote. "Other equity segments are struggling in light of climbing interest rates alongside loftier oil prices."

• Triller reported no revenue from social media and streaming last year, per a Tuesday filing.
• All of Triller's 2025 revenue came instead from a financial services business unrelated to media.
• The company's namesake app, which sought to challenge TikTok, won't load videos.

Triller reported $0 in media revenue last year, a new company filing reveals.

That's surprising for a startup that tried to challenge TikTok with its namesake app, and at one point claimed to have hundreds of millions of users (though its numbers have been disputed).

Triller went public in 2024, raising over $420 million in capital and pitching investors on its short-form video app, a streaming platform for combat sports, and various marketing tools for brands.

Despite once positioning itself as a hub for creators like Charli D'Amelio, brands like McDonald's and Pepsi, and sports leagues, last year it made no money from its social media or streaming businesses, according to the filing posted Tuesday.

All of Triller's roughly $22 million in 2025 revenue came from a financial services business tied to the Hong Kong-based firm it merged with in 2024.

So, what's going on with Triller's media business? The company didn't offer any commentary in the filing on why it reported no 2025 revenue from business lines like social media. It did report net 2025 expenses for social media and sports streaming at $22.7 million and $866,000, respectively. Triller didn't respond to a request for comment.

In 2024, the company pulled in around $5 million in social-media advertising and pay-per-view sports streaming revenue, according to filings. That year, it hired former TikTok executive Sean Kim to run its video app and a few other subsidiaries, announcing plans to launch the "next generation of Triller App" and enter "its next chapter of expansion and creativity."

In early 2025, Triller launched a website to try to court TikTok's users when it seemed like the competitor app might get banned. In December, however, Business Insider was unable to log into the Triller app or get videos to load, an issue also raised by several Reddit users. (It wouldn't load videos for two Business Insider reporters on Wednesday.)

In December, Triller was delisted by the Nasdaq for failing to file its quarterly and annual reports on time. The company remains off the exchange.

Triller's auditor wrote in the company's Tuesday filing that they had "substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern," citing recurring losses, working capital deficits, and limited cash resources.

Have more information to share? Contact this reporter via email at dwhateley@businessinsider.com, or on Signal at @danwhateley.94. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Bryan Johnson shared a simple longevity test at a Business Insider event.

Bryan Johnson says he didn't teach his son enough about sex and wants to change that.

• A Manhattan jury found Live Nation liable for violating antitrust laws.
• The DOJ and nearly 40 states initially sued to split the Ticketmaster parent company two years ago.
• The verdict could pave the way for a breakup of the company.

Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation holds an illegal monopoly over the concert and live event industry, a Manhattan federal jury found on Wednesday.

The entertainment giant was found liable for violating antitrust laws following a roughly six-week civil trial. The jury's verdict, which came on the fourth day of deliberations, could pave the way for steep monetary penalties — or a court-ordered breakup of the company.

Jurors determined that Live Nation's monopoly led to fans being overcharged $1.72 per ticket sold through Ticketmaster from May 2020 to 2024.

The judge overseeing the case, US District Judge Arun Subramanian, is set to schedule proceedings to determine the total amount in damages and other penalties. A breakup of the company is among the possible remedies.

Live Nation said it would appeal any unfavorable rulings on liability or damages.

The Department of Justice, plus 39 states and the District of Columbia, sued Live Nation about two years ago to force a split from Ticketmaster, alleging that the company's market dominance drove up ticket prices for fans of live music, sports events, and theater.

The plaintiffs have argued that Live Nation controls 78% of the large amphitheaters used by artists and, through Ticketmaster, 86% of primary ticketing at major concert venues — meaning the initial sale of tickets.

Days into the trial in March, the Justice Department and Live Nation agreed to a settlement that would allow the company to remain intact. Several states also signed on to the deal, which still needs approval from US District Judge Arun Subramanian.

A senior Justice Department official told reporters last month that the DOJ was "confident" it would have won at trial, but that its goal was to get American concertgoers "relief as fast as possible."

The remaining 30-plus plaintiff states moved forward with the court fight against Live Nation as attorneys general bashed the settlement terms, saying they favored the company over consumers.

"This is a historic and resounding victory for artists, fans, and the venues that support them," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said after the verdict was reached. "This verdict shows just how far states can go to protect our residents from big corporations that are using their power to illegally raise prices and rip-off Americans."

Live Nation, which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010, has maintained that it does not have a monopoly and that concert ticket prices are relatively low, especially compared to those for sporting events.

• Elon Musk's AI company xAI plans to allow Cursor to use some of its compute power for training.
• Cursor will train its AI model Composer 2.5 using tens of thousands of xAI GPUs, sources said.
• The arrangement marks a new strategy for xAI in a competitive AI landscape.

Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, plans to put its stockpile of computing power to use in a new arrangement with coding startup Cursor, according to people familiar with the matter.

Cursor plans to train its latest AI coding model, Composer 2.5, on xAI infrastructure, the people said. Cursor will use tens of thousands of xAI's graphic processing units (GPUs), the chips used to train AI models, they said.

The setup effectively turns xAI into a kind of cloud provider. By renting some of its GPUs to other companies, xAI could start generating revenue from its massive infrastructure while still developing its own AI models. The arrangement could help the company offset the costs of building and operating data centers, while also deepening ties with a startup that has access to valuable coding data.

Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, the largest cloud providers, own millions of chips and rent computing power out to thousands of companies and developers, generating huge profits. Newer players like CoreWeave and Lambda have built businesses around supplying GPUs to AI model developers. Access to computing power has become an increasingly competitive aspect of the AI arms race.

Representatives for xAI and Cursor did not respond to a request for comment.

It's not the first time Cursor and xAI have overlapped. The startup hired two former Cursor product engineering leads in March, Andrew Milich and Jason Ginsburg. Ginsburg and Milich oversee xAI's product team and report directly to Musk and xAI president Michael Nicolls, Business Insider previously reported.

xAI is one of many companies racing to build the best AI models, and it has one of the largest data center footprints. Musk said during an all-hands last December that xAI would beat competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic because it would have access to more power to train its models.

Over the past two years, xAI has rapidly expanded the footprint of its data centers, a project it has named Colossus. Last year, the company said it had around 200,000 Nvidia GPUs, and Musk has said it plans to expand to 1 million GPUs.

xAI's infrastructure team has been experiencing a leadership shake-up. It lost its infrastructure lead, Heinrich Küttler, last week. The company moved Jake Palmer into a leadership role over the physical infrastructure team, and SpaceX's Daniel Dueri took a leadership position over the compute infrastructure team last week, Business Insider previously reported.

In a memo to staff last week, Nicolls, xAI's president, said the company's model FLOPs Utilization (MFUs), a measure of how efficiently a GPU is used during AI training, was "embarrassingly low" at about 11%. Nicolls said he aims for the team to reach 50% in the next few months. For comparison, according to AI infrastructure company Lambda AI, most large-scale AI training operates between 35% to 45% MFU.

Cursor is in talks for a reported valuation of around $50 billion, Bloomberg reported last month. Meanwhile, it faces pressure as major AI startups like Anthropic and OpenAI push aggressively into building coding assistants.

In March, Cursor released Composer 2, a coding model designed to generate and edit code across large projects. Cursor built the model on top of an open-source AI model from Chinese startup Moonshot AI and fine-tuned it using its own data from its developer user base.

Do you work at xAI or have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at gkay@businessinsider.com or Signal at 248-894-6012. Use a personal email address, a non-work device, and non-work WiFi; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Helping my dad plan for Medicaid showed me I had no estate plan of my own.
• I learned how easily a home and assets can be lost without proper preparation.
• I set up a will and trust to protect my family and avoid future complications.

I sat in a stiff chair next to my 86-year-old dad as a lawyer outlined the complicated rules of Medicaid law.

My dad furrowed his brow, trying to understand the legal complexities that could mean the difference between being able to leave his home — where he'd lived for nearly 60 years — for my sisters and me, rather than having it confiscated as collateral should he die in a long-term care facility.

A few months earlier, my dad — who was recently diagnosed with early-stage dementia — called me with an urgent request. "I want you to make sure they don't take my house," he said, obviously coming to terms with the possibility that extended memory care could be in his future.

My dad has no savings to cover long-term care

My dad grew up one of nine kids raised during the lean years of the Great Depression and World War II. He knew the value of owning a home, both monetarily and in the sense of pride he derived from knowing he'd at least leave that small piece of property to my sisters and me after he died.

But like many seniors, he lives on a fixed income and doesn't have savings to cover the often astronomical expense of long-term care facilities, even with Medicare. Should he need long-term care — a possibility despite his age since he's in great physical shape and had a mother who lived well into her 90s — the ownership of his home could be in jeopardy.

According to federal and many state laws, Medicaid is required to pursue "estate recovery" after a recipient dies, often placing liens on the decedent's home or estate to recover care expenses. There are several ways to avoid this, including setting up trusts and a form of property co-ownership called a life estate. Ultimately, our lawyer advised we take advantage of a caretaker clause in Medicaid law, which would apply to my sister, who lives with our dad.

As we went through all these scenarios, while also helping my dad set up his will, healthcare power of attorney (who makes healthcare decisions on his behalf if he's incapacitated), and durable power of attorney (who can make financial decisions on his behalf), I couldn't help thinking about my own family.

It made me realize I didn't have a will

My husband and I did not have a will, any power of attorney, or even beneficiaries on our bank accounts. We're both cruising toward 50, and we have a young son, so I knew we needed to address our own estate planning.

Our bank offers free estate planning consultations, so I booked an appointment for us to go through the basics before speaking with an attorney who will charge for their services.

Though we've been married almost 15 years and faced some health crises, such as my breast cancer diagnosis nearly a decade ago, my husband and I had never discussed what would happen if one or both of us died. While these conversations are hard, we knew they were necessary to ensure our son is cared for physically and financially after we're gone.

In our case, if one spouse died, the other would automatically inherit any assets and assume sole guardianship of our son. But if both of us were to die at the same time, things get more complicated.

Since we have an underage child, we set up a trust where any of our assets — our home, retirement accounts, etc. — would go to benefit our child once he reaches adulthood. Then we had to choose who would not only take guardianship of our son but also manage our estate, taking care of everything from ensuring our final tax returns were filed to managing the money left to our son.

Talking about death can be hard

Through these conversations, we learned that not having specific, legally verified instructions for your assets — even if it's just a checking account or a car — can cause bureaucratic headaches for grieving loved ones. And not establishing specific instructions via a healthcare power of attorney — such as whether you want to be resuscitated or put on life support — can put family in the difficult position of making life-or-death choices in the midst of a crisis.

I know that we've done all we can to ensure my dad is taken care of for the remainder of his life, and that everything he has worked so hard for will go where he wants it. And I know my husband, son, or sisters won't have to shoulder the burden of sorting out my affairs when I die.

Talking about my death, as well as the demise of my father and husband, was hard. No one wants to have these difficult conversations. But knowing that we've done the unpleasant work to make sure our wishes are respected and our loved ones are protected upon our deaths is well worth the discomfort.

It's almost time for the second leg of the remaining Champions League quarterfinals. We've gathered everything you need to know about where to watch Champions League, including free and global streaming options for Arsenal vs. Sporting.

If you don't want to read any further, Arsenal vs. Sporting will live stream on Paramount Plus in the US, TNT Sports on HBO Max in the UK, and Virgin Media 2 in Ireland. If you're away from the location where your streaming option works at kick-off, like Ireland, you can still access it with the help of a VPN, such as Proton VPN. More global streaming options are below.

Following last week's first leg, Arsenal leads Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in the quarterfinals. Both teams have had stellar seasons this year, with Arsenal topping the rankings during the group phase. Sporting sits seventh in the rankings, meaning both teams automatically advanced to the Round of 16 and avoided the knockout playoffs. Both teams have mostly breezed through the competition so far, but only one will be able to advance to the semifinals.

• See also: Where to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid for free

How to watch Champions League for free

The Champions League is available to stream for free in select regions. In Ireland, Virgin Media 2 hosts free coverage of today's Arsenal vs. Sporting match. The streaming service carries several Champions League matches each season. Check out our wider free Champions League live stream guide for details each match week.

How to watch Champions League from anywhere

Fans who are outside the location where their streaming service is available, such as Ireland, can still access their free option with a VPN. These virtual private networks are handy tech tools that let people temporarily alter their device's virtual location. They're popular among those looking to keep up with their usual services while traveling abroad or hoping to upgrade their cybersecurity.

Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It's fast and user-friendly. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not helping you out.

Where to watch Arsenal vs. Sporting in the US

All Champions League matches, including Arsenal vs. Sporting, are available to live stream through Paramount Plus in the US. While you need the Premium tier for some live content, the Champions League is available in both tiers, including the budget-friendly Essential plan. Paramount Plus Essential costs $9 a month or $90 a year.

Where to watch Arsenal vs. Sporting in the UK

Most Champions League matches, including today's Arsenal vs. Sporting game, are available through TNT Sports in the UK. This means that you can live stream the action through HBO Max, the new streaming home of TNT Sports.

There are some savings if you sign up with a 12-month commitment, but a month-to-month Standard with Ads HBO Max plan with TNT Sports costs about £37 a month. Sole access to TNT Sports costs £31 a month. If you have an existing Discovery Plus subscription (the previous streaming home of TNT Sports), you can keep watching TNT Sports by downloading HBO Max and signing in using your Discovery Plus credentials.

Where to watch Arsenal vs Sporting in Ireland

Irish Champions League fans are a lucky bunch. Arsenal vs. Sporting is available for free via Virgin Media 2. While this streaming service won't carry every Champions League match this season, it typically offers multiple matches each week, including yesterday's Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona.

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.

• AT&T is facing two lawsuits over how it handled a recent relocation mandate.
• The plaintiffs, both former employees, claim the company discriminated against older workers in assigning offices.
• CEO John Stankey said AT&T had a problem with the age of its workforce, one lawsuit says. The company said the suit is "baseless."

Two recent lawsuits claim AT&T used its relocation policy to force out older employees, with CEO John Stankey favoring younger workers during the rollout.

The lawsuits, one filed in North Carolina in December and another in New Jersey in April, quote CEO John Stankey as saying in 2023 that AT&T needed a younger workforce. Both plaintiffs filed cases with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shortly after leaving the company and said they were recently notified of their right to sue, which they did within 90 days of their respective notices.

In 2023, as other big companies were strengthening return-to-office mandates, the telecom giant said it was calling back some 60,000 managers to the office at nine hub locations across the US. Stankey said at the time that about 9,000 managers would face the decision to relocate or lose their jobs.

The April complaint by former director Lorraine Lopez, who said she worked for 30 years at the telecom giant before she was "surplussed" at age 58, references remarks she recalls Stankey made during a livestreamed companywide meeting on July 26, 2023, about the planned relocation initiative.

"We have a mathematical issue that we have to deal with in our company," Stankey is quoted as saying. "The profile of our workforce does not match the profile of the population of the United States and the customer base, both in terms of matching it demographically and matching it from an age perspective. We need younger people working at this company."

He added: "It's hard to say goodbye to that which we know and really well-trained people who've had a lot of experience. It can be emotional. But it's also a great opportunity for us."

An AT&T spokesperson said in a statement that the lawsuit was "baseless" and the company would defend itself in court. As of Wednesday morning, AT&T had not yet responded in court filings.

Lopez's complaint alleges that "AT&T at the highest level openly expressed hostility towards its older employees and its preference for younger employees." It argues that Lopez's reassignment from a New Jersey office to an Atlanta hub was unnecessary, and her job duties did not require her to be in that office.

"This employee was not a victim of discrimination; she chose to leave her job because she did not want to relocate with the rest of her team," the spokesperson said in the statement.

The North Carolina case filed by former employee Kimberly Wall, which is in mediation, said that AT&T discriminated against her on the basis of age, gender, and disability when it denied her requests in 2023 to continue working remotely at her doctor's recommendation. The complaint also alleged that Stankey said, "We need young people," in response to the concerns about losing older workers.

Stankey's July 2023 age-related comments cited in the lawsuits are consistent with what more than half a dozen AT&T employees previously told Business Insider about the meeting. Several of those employees said that town halls held before that meeting were typically recorded and distributed on the corporate intranet, but this one was not released.

His remarks — and others like them in the following months and years — fueled employee concerns that the RTO and relocation mandates were also an effort to reduce head count, especially among longtime employees.

A little over a year after the initial relocation mandate, AT&T instituted a five-day in-office requirement, replacing the previous hybrid model.

Stankey later said in an August 2025 memo that the company was transitioning away from a culture of "loyalty, tenure, and conformance with the associated compensation," to "a more market-based culture — focused on rewarding capability, contribution, and commitment."

In later comments about the memo, Stankey told CNBC he aims to be transparent about how he runs the company. He also told The Wall Street Journal that he had been too slow to tackle the "culture evolution" AT&T needed.

Internal numbers previously obtained by Business Insider showed that about half of the 318 managerial workers in one division who received notification to move during the first wave in 2023 declined and left the company.

More broadly, AT&T employed more than 160,000 workers at the start of 2023, according to its annual report. It started this year with about 133,000.

• The private credit sector has been spooking investors.
• Some asset managers have been hit with billions in redemption requests from investors.
• Here's a timeline explaining why markets are anxious about the health of the sector.

The private credit market has been generating some nerve-racking headlines lately.

Questions about the health of the booming sector are growing louder amid a flood of redemption requests among some high-profile private credit funds.

The latest news has added to concerns that were kicked off late last year. While private markets appear steady overall, investors are growing increasingly worried that cracks could be forming at a time when more retail investors are being invited into the market.

Here's a rundown of everything that's happened lately to cause jitters to spike.

Jamie Dimon says he's "not particularly worried"

Date: April 14

JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon said he wasn't concerned about systemic risks stemming from the private credit universe.

"You have to have very large losses in private credit before, at least it looks like, banks are going to get hit or something like that. So it doesn't mean you won't feel some stress and strain, and that you might have to do something about it, but I'm not particularly worried about it," Dimon said of the sector, speaking on the bank's first-quarter earnings call.

Dimon was one of the first big names on Wall Street to raise concerns about the health of private credit, suggesting that the bankruptcies of First Brands and TriColor last year were "cockroaches" in the broader credit system. The bank also reportedly restricted its private lending earlier in the year.

Goldman CEO David Solomon says private credit is still "very, very attractive"

Date: April 13

Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon struck an optimistic tone when speaking about private credit on the bank's first-quarter earnings call.

The CEO said he expected continued "noise" about private credit from retail investors, but that he remained optimistic about the sector's investment potential.

"This continues, with any sort of a medium-term or longer-term view, to be a very, very attractive platform for us," Solomon said, speaking to investors on Monday.

More voices on Wall Street have started to brush off concerns about private credit, often pointing out that most debt in the space is neither distressed nor heavily discounted.

Carlyle limits withdrawals after investors look to exit flagship fund

Date: April 9

Carlyle said it would limit redemptions from its flagship private credit fund to just 5% in the first quarter.

In a letter to investors, the firm said its Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund received redemption requests totaling 15.7% of its total holdings. The fund has $7 billion in assets, per Carlyle's website.

"Recent market volatility has led to increased repurchase activity across private credit funds," the firm said in the letter.

Ares caps private credit withdrawals at 5%

Date: March 24

Ares said it would limit withdrawals from its private credit fund to just 5% of the fund's value this quarter.

The Ares Strategic Income Fund received withdrawal requests totaling more than 11% of its value in the first quarter, or around $1.2 billion, according to a regulatory filing. The firm is sticking to its 5% quarterly payout cap, which equates to $524 million in payouts.

The withdrawal requests largely came from a "limited number of family offices and smaller institutions" in select regions, which make up a small group among the fund's total shareholders, Ares told investors in a letter.

The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Moody's slashes its rating on a private credit fund to 'junk' status

Date: March 24

Moody's downgraded one private credit fund owned by Future Standard and KKR to "junk" status.

The rating agency slashed its grade on FS KKR Capital Corp from Baa3 to Ba1, citing the fund's "asset quality challenges."

The fund also lost a net $114 million over the fourth quarter, and could see "weaker profitability and greater net asset value erosion over time" compared to similar funds, Moody's said.

"The downgrade reflects FSK's continued asset quality challenges, which have resulted in weaker profitability and greater net asset value erosion over time relative to business development company (BDC) peers," Moody's said.

"FSK remains well positioned despite the decision. It has a strong, well‑laddered liability structure with no 2026 unsecured maturities and limited near‑term maturities, enabling us to continue supporting our portfolio companies and navigate the current market environment," a spokesperson for FSK said.

Apollo says it will fill less than half of investor withdrawal requests

Date: March 23

Apollo said it would fill just 45% of investor withdrawal requests this quarter from its flagship private credit fund.

In a filing on Monday, the asset manager said its Apollo Debt Solutions BDC received withdrawal requests equivalent to 11% of the fund's outstanding value in the first quarter.

The firm will be sticking to its 5% quarterly withdrawal cap, meaning it will return an estimated $730 million to investors, the filing said.

Many private credit funds have a 5% cap on quarterly withdrawals, but some firms, like Blue Owl and Blackstone, have honored redemption requests exceeding the quarterly withdrawal cap.

Marc Rowan, the CEO of Apollo, has joined the chorus of Wall Street voices warning of problems in private credit. Speaking at the Bloomberg Invest conference earlier this month, Rowan flagged the risks of a "shakeout" in alternative investments, pointing to problems among various private credit funds in particular.

JPMorgan reportedly restricts private lending

Date: March 11

JPMorgan is reportedly putting more red tape on private lending.

The bank is putting borrowing restrictions on some private credit funds after it marked down some loans in the firms' portfolios, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

The lending restrictions have only impacted a small portion of borrowers at the bank, the people said, adding that the rule-change hasn't resulted in any significant margin calls, or demands for clients to deposit more cash into their accounts, as of Wednesday.

Most of marked-down loans were made out to software firms, sources told the Financial Times and CNBC over Tuesday and Wednesday.

BlackRock limits withdrawals on its private credit fund

Date: March 6

What happened: The world's largest asset manager said it was capping withdrawals from its HPS Corporate Lending Fund, a $26 billion private credit fund that received $1.2 billion in redemption requests in the first quarter.

First reported by the Financial Times, the fund said it was paying out $620 million of those requests, or 5% of its net asset value. That meets a threshold after which BlackRock is allowed to restrict further withdrawals, a letter to investors said.

BlackRock shares dropped 5% on Friday amid a broader risk-off move in the market.

BlackRock declined to comment on changes to the fund beyond the letter posted on its website.

Blackstone taps execs for cash

Date: March 2-3

What happened: The private equity giant was hit with a wave of redemption requests from a private credit fund offered to retail investors.

Bloomberg reported that, in an unusual move, the firm tapped more than 25 top executives to raise $150 million in order to meet the flood of requests.

Speaking to CNBC, Blackstone president Jon Gray said he believed investors may be motivated to withdraw their funds due to the "constant spin cycle" over recent private credit failures.

"When that's happening, it's not a surprise that investors can get nervous, financial advisors can say 'Hey, I want to redeem,'" Gray said on Tuesday.

Blue Owl fails to syndicate a data center loan for CoreWeave

Date: February 20

What happened: Business Insider reported that Blue Owl failed to secure a loan for Coreweave's $4 billion data center.

An executive familiar with large data center financing told Business Insider that Blue Owl faced limited interest in the data center due to hesitation from other lenders and investors who were concerned about exposure to AI firms with weaker credit. Coreweave has a credit rating of B+, according to S&P Global, below investment grade.

The report followed others that have suggested lenders are growing skittish over data center deals being cut in private markets.

Last December, negotiations between Blue Owl and Oracle to build a $10 billion data center stalled, sources told the Financial Times.

In a statement, Oracle told Business Insider that the details in the FT story were "incorrect."

"Our development partner, Related Digital, selected the best equity partner from a competitive group of options, which in this instance was not Blue Owl. Final negotiations for their equity deal are moving forward on schedule and according to plan," Michael Egbert, a spokesperson for the software giant, told Business Insider in December.

Top economist Mohamed El-Erian sees a "canary in the coalmine"

Date: February 19

What happened: Famed economist Mohamed El-Erian said he believed Blue Owl's move was a warning for financial markets.

In a LinkedIn post, the chief economic advisor at Allianz said the firm's decision to halt redemptions could be a "canary-in-the-coalmine" moment that could hint at risks to the broader financial system.

He added that he believed the "investing phenomenon" in private markets had gone too far.

"There's also the 'elephant in the room' question regarding much larger system risks (nowhere near the magnitude of those which fueled the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, but a significant — and necessary — valuation hit is looming for specific assets)," El-Erian wrote.

Blue Owl halts withdrawals

Date: February 18

What happened: The Financial Times reported that Blue Owl permanently froze redemptions on its Capital Corporation II fund, a private debt fund it had opened to retail investors.

The firm said investors in the fund would no longer be able to cash out their investments on a quarterly basis, but would instead receive periodic payments as Blue Owl sells its assets over time.

Online, the move sparked comparisons to how some debt funds froze withdrawals leading up to the Great Financial Crisis.

Speaking to CNBC after the initial reports, Craig Packer, co-president and the company's head of credit, said he believed media coverage about the fund's changes was misleading.

"We're not halting redemptions, just changing the form, and if anything, we're accelerating redemptions," Packer said.

UBS sees private credit defaults rising to 15% in the worst-case AI scenario

Date: February 11

What happened: Investors grew more nervous about private lending as UBS speculated that defaults could soar in a severe "AI disruption" scenario.

In a note to clients last month, strategists at the bank said they lifted their forecasts for private credit defaults. In a scenario where AI disrupts the business world at a "rapid and aggressive" pace, the bank said it sees the private credit default rate potentially rising as high 15%.

In its analysis, UBS pointed to how AI disruption fears had sparked a deep sell-off in software stocks, one area of the market with large exposure to private credit. Software accounts for around 40% of all private equity-backed loans outstanding, according to a recent Bloomberg analysis.

"I do think, though, software is a big stick. You know, the credit market has had all these sticks being dropped on it, and one day, it'll really buckle," Victor Khosla, the CIO of Strategic Value Partners, said at the time.

Jamie Dimon warns of credit cockroaches

Date: October 14

What happened: Jamie Dimon, one of Wall Street's most influential bankers, said he was watching for more signs of trouble in private credit on an earnings call with investors.

"When you see one cockroach, there's probably more," the JPMorgan boss said, adding that his firm would "scour" its underwriting and other procedures after the collapse of First Brands and Tricolor.

"Asset prices are high, a lot of credit stuff that you would see out there, you will only see in a downturn," Dimon added, noting that the US credit space had looked "benign" for years.

Other figures on Wall Street have also warned of more trouble in the sector in recent months.

Apollo CEO Marc Rowan said he saw a potential "shakeout" in private credit when speaking at the Bloomberg Invest Conference on Tuesday.

Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs' former CEO, also doubled down this week on his view that financial markets could soon face a "reckoning," potentially stemming from private credit.

Tricolor and First Brands buckle

Date: September 10-24

What happened: Anxiety about the private credit sector picked up after subprime auto lender Tricolor Holdings and auto parts company First Brands declared bankruptcy late last year. Tricolor was the first to go under, filing for bankruptcy on September 10, with First Brands following several weeks later.

In December, federal prosecutors in New York unsealed an indictment that charged Tricolor's founder, Daniel Chu, with bank fraud, wire fraud, and other offenses. In a statement, the US Attorney's Office said Tricolor's executives had attempted to "manipulate the characteristics of collateral to make ineligible, near-worthless assets appear to meet lender requirements."

In January, prosecutors unsealed an indictment revealing similar charges against First Brands' CEO, Patrick James, and his brother, a senior executive at the firm. Prosecutors alleged that the pair "perpetrated a yearslong fraud" that culminated in First Brands' bankruptcy.

• New photos show the ongoing testing of the US Air Force's B-21 Raider stealth bomber.
• The B-21 is expected to replace legacy bombers and offers several major modernization upgrades.
• Aerial refueling is a part of the testing process for the aircraft, which will be delivered next year.

The US Air Force released new photos of its B-21 Raider stealth bomber as the service continues flight testing of the aircraft intended to be the backbone of the force's long-range strike capabilities.

The B-21, developed by Northrop Grumman, is the Air Force's next-generation strategic bomber and a cornerstone of the service's nuclear modernization efforts, alongside the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. The program remains on schedule and within budget, with production now accelerating ahead of planned deliveries of production models next year.

One of the new Air Force photos of the B-21 Raider released on Tuesday shows the bomber being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker and, as military news outlet The War Zone first noticed, offers the first full overhead view of the aircraft, including its refueling receptacle, paint markings, and exhausts.

The aerial refueling, the service said, represented "rapid maturation of the weapon system." Aerial in-flight refueling for aircraft like the B-21, which its manufacturer calls "the most fuel-efficient bomber ever built," is critical in a potential conflict, enabling the fleet to stay in the air longer, dramatically extending reach.

Aerial refueling tankers, for instance, have enabled US B-2 Spirit stealth bomber operations against Iran.

That said, the B-21, slated to eventually replace the Air Force's B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers, has been designed for fuel efficiency, consuming a fraction of the fuel of some legacy aircraft.

"This long-range strike bomber will reduce the demand on our tanker fleet and free up assets to support the joint force," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach said in a service statement on the recent testing work. "This will provide a wider range of employment options and the deterrence our nation requires."

The Air Force and Pentagon have both viewed the B-21's development and testing timeline as successes, with flight tests and early procurement remaining on schedule.

The Air Force is now accelerating the production of its new bombers and expects to procure around 100 by the mid-2030s, although there have been calls to increase procurement. Airpower experts have advocated for a much larger fleet, arguing its necessity to effectively counter China.

"The B-21 program is the leading edge of the acquisition mindset we are instilling across the force," said Air Force Gen. Dale White, the Pentagon's direct reporting portfolio manager for critical major weapon systems. "Every test proves the success of empowering our leaders to deliver integrated capability from the start."

The Air Force is continuing to test the B-21 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Other bases like Ellsworth, Whiteman, and Dyess will eventually house the B-21 for training and main operations. It'll mark its first operational fielding next year at Ellsworth.

Both the Air Force and Northrop Grumman have said that the Raider represents a major jump in bomber capability, including next-generation stealth, software, and weaponry.

The aircraft also features an open system architecture, meaning it can be quickly and easily upgraded with new technologies without needing to build a completely new version.

• Maine is set to pass a bill pausing new data centers until late 2027.
• Data centers face growing public resistance over environmental and infrastructure concerns.
• Maine's vote could mark the first-ever statewide moratorium on data center construction in the US.

Maine could be the first state to successfully call a timeout on the AI race.

Lawmakers in at least 12 states have tried this year to slow Big Tech's AI infrastructure buildout with legislation that would impose temporary bans on approvals and construction of new data centers.

The proposed moratoriums are a response to rising local resistance to data centers, as communities across the country raise questions about the impact of these facilities on local resources and infrastructure.

The US has 4,000 data centers, and 3,000 either proposed or under construction, according to the American Edge Project, a tech coalition. As their footprint has grown, local communities have mobilized protests over a wide range of concerns, from noise pollution to rising utility bills.

A Business Insider review of state legislative dockets found 12 data center moratorium bills brought by state lawmakers in 2026.

Proponents of the bans said that pausing data center development would give state agencies time to study the impacts of data center growth on the environment, electricity rates, public health, local infrastructure, and more.

Of those 12 bills, only Maine's hasn't stalled out or been voted down.

On Tuesday, the state's House and Senate approved the bill and sent it to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

As long as Maine Gov. Janet Mills signs off, the bill would impose a temporary ban on AI data center construction in the state until November 1, 2027.

If passed, the bill would impose a temporary ban on AI data center construction in the state until November 1, 2027.

Nearly all of the moratorium bills called for temporary bans on data center construction of at least a year.

While Maine doesn't have a large data center footprint, it has seen an uptick in developer interest as Big Tech's AI infrastructure buildout spreads to every corner of the country.

Legislators in states with mature data center markets, such as Georgia and Virginia, have had less luck drumming up support for statewide moratoriums.

Maine's moratorium isn't guaranteed until the governor signs it into law — and there's always a chance it could be vetoed.

Last month, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced federal legislation calling for a national pause on data center development to allow Congress time to better understand their impacts.

"Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts," Sanders said in a press release.

Here's how 12 states have tried to pause new data center development.

Georgia

A group of Democrats in Georgia's House of Representatives proposed a temporary halt to data center construction and development in the state. The bill never made it to the floor for a vote.

House Bill 1059 would have required the state to form a commission to study the impact of data centers on Georgia's electric grid, water supply, and local infrastructure.

Georgia is home to 93 data centers, according to the bill.

Elon Musk's xAI has a large data center in Atlanta, and Microsoft is building an AI infrastructure hub nearby.

Maine

Maine's House and Senate passed a bill this week that would put a temporary pause on data centers in the state. They have sent it to the governor's office for a final sign-off.

If the governor approves, Maine will become the first state to enact a moratorium on data center construction.

Maine isn't exactly a data center hot spot. Business Insider's data center map shows that, as of early 2025, only two facilities in the state had requested permits for diesel-fired backup generators.

Maryland

A group of Republican lawmakers in the Maryland House of Delegates floated an emergency measure immediately halting all data center construction in the state. It failed to gain traction.

If passed, the emergency measure would have remained in effect until Maryland passed legislation requiring all data centers in the state to generate their own electricity.

Instead, lawmakers next week are expected to pass broader energy legislation aimed at reducing residential electricity bills.

Although Maryland's data center market is small, power-hungry facilities drive up electricity rates, according to the state's official utility watchdog.

Michigan

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill to temporarily suspend data center approvals in the state until April 1, 2027.

The legislation hasn't gone anywhere so far and isn't likely to succeed. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has previously indicated that she would oppose a data center moratorium in Michigan.

Meanwhile, grassroots efforts have taken off at the local level. In March, East Lansing approved a six-month moratorium to give the city planning commission time to study the potential impacts of data centers on the community.

Huron County, Delta County, and Big Rapids Township have approved moratoriums spanning from one to three years.

New Hampshire

A Democratic lawmaker tried and failed to push through a one-year moratorium on data center construction that would allow the state to study potential environmental impacts.

Rep. Peter Schmidt's House Bill 1265 was voted down on March 11.

New York

State Sen. Liz Krueger's S9144 would halt the issuance of new data center permits in New York for three years, pending an environmental review.

If enacted, the bill would also require the state's public service commission to issue a report on the impacts of data centers on everyday ratepayers.

The bill is stalled in committee.

Oklahoma

A Republican Oklahoma lawmaker, Sen. Kendal Sacchieri, is pushing for a data center moratorium in the state through 2029 "to ensure that progress does not come at the expense of Oklahomans' quality of life or their utility costs," she said in a press release.

Introduced in January, the bill stalled early on in the state's legislative session. That hasn't stopped local communities from making progress.

Tulsa last month passed a nine-month data center moratorium. In March, the Seminole Nation became the first indigenous group to ban data centers in its territory.

South Carolina

Lawmakers proposed a moratorium in February. The bill hasn't gained traction.

Google is expanding its presence in the state, and Meta is building a data center campus in Aiken County.

South Dakota

While a Senate committee in February killed a moratorium bill, South Dakota lawmakers didn't go too easy on data centers.

Several proposed bills that would have given the industry a boost in the state failed to go through, including one that would have granted a 50-year sales tax exemption.

Vermont

Like its nearby state, Maine, Vermont isn't home to any major cloud data centers.

That didn't stop Sen. Rebecca White from proposing a moratorium this year. The bill was referred to the Senate's finance committee in January and hasn't moved since.

Virginia

Lawmakers in Virginia, home to the world's largest concentration of data centers, reviewed a moratorium bill and decided to punt it to 2027.

Virginia houses the world's largest concentration of data centers and was one of the first states to offer the industry an exemption from sales tax on computer equipment.

In January, Virginia's Department of Taxation said the exemption had cost the state budget $1.9 billion in the 2025 fiscal year.

The state legislature will convene a special session later in April to debate the future of the exemption, which is scheduled to expire in 2035. Lawmakers are fiercely divided over whether to end the program early or extend it through 2050.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin's attempt to pause data center construction died on the Senate floor less than two weeks after it was introduced.

AB1099 would have implemented a moratorium on data center construction in Wisconsin until a statewide data center planning authority was established.

While state-level efforts failed, a Milwaukee suburb this week became the first city in the country to pass a data center referendum. Now, all future data center tax breaks in Port Washington, home to an Oracle-backed Stargate site, will require local voter approval.

Editor's note: Updated on April 15, 2026, to include additional information about the results of the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, previous Bayern vs. Real Madrid matches, and worldwide streaming options.

The final Champions League quarterfinal matches play out today. We've gathered everything you need to know about where to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid, including free and global streaming options.

If you don't want to read any further: the match will live stream on Paramount Plus in the US, TNT Sports on HBO Max in the UK, free on RTE2 in Ireland, and free on RTL Club in Belgium. If you're away from the location where your favorite streaming service works when the game starts, like Ireland or Belgium, you can still access it with the help of a VPN, such as ProtonVPN. You can learn more about additional global watch options below.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid met last Tuesday in a tight match that saw the German team pull ahead 2-1. The win follows a strong season for Bayern, which finished second in the league phase. Real Madrid had a trickier year and was forced to the playoffs. Prior to these quarterfinal matches, the two teams last met in the 2024 Champions League semifinals, which Real Madrid won 4-3 on aggregate. From there, they advanced to the final, where they beat Dortmund to win the title. Today's other Champions League quarterfinal match is Arsenal vs. Sporting.

How to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid for free

The Bayern vs. Real Madrid match will be available for free in multiple regions. In Ireland, fans can watch for free via RTE2. In Belgium, RTL Club will host the free coverage. While these options don't have every Champions League game, they do carry several matches each throughout the season.

How to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid from anywhere

If you're away from Ireland or Belgium when the game kicks off, you can still access these free streaming options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are easy-to-use tech tools that let people change their device's virtual location. They're most popular among those hoping to keep up with their usual services while traveling abroad or looking to boost their cybersecurity.

Proton VPN is a solid option. It's fast and user-friendly (even for beginners). Plus, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not helping you out. You can learn more in our roundup of the best VPNs.

How to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid in the US

Paramount Plus is the streaming home for all things Champions League in the US. Games, including today's Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich match, are available across all service tiers. That means you can stream the action with Paramount Plus Essential, which only costs $9 a month.

How to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid in the UK

The majority of Champions League matches, including today's Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich game, are available to watch on TNT Sports in the UK. This means that you can live stream the action through HBO Max, the new streaming home of TNT Sports.

There are some savings if you sign up with a 12-month commitment, but a month-to-month Standard with Ads HBO Max plan with TNT Sports costs about £37 a month. Sole access to TNT Sports costs £31 a month. If you have an existing Discovery Plus subscription, you can keep streaming TNT Sports by downloading HBO Max and signing in using your Discovery Plus credentials.

How to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid in Australia

Stan is the live streaming home of the Champions League in Australia. Stan's Basic plan costs $12 a month, but you'll need to add the Sport add-on for an additional $20 a month to access sporting events like today's Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich match. All in all, it'll run you $32 a month.

Where to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid in Spain

In Spain, Champions League coverage is available through Movistar Plus. Subscription prices vary by plan, but there are options to add on La Liga access as well.

Where to watch Bayern vs. Real Madrid in Germany

Today's Bayern vs. Real Madrid match is available through DAZN in Germany. DAZN hosts lots of Champions League coverage, including today's Arsenal vs. Sporting Lisbon match. You'll need an Unlimited plan to access UCL matches. Subscription prices vary by contract length.

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.

Artificial intelligence is here. Whether it's chatbots, predictive analytics, robotic process automation, or generative design, AI is reshaping how businesses operate across industries.

So what does it take to implement AI at scale? A sound strategy is the simple answer, but accomplishing that is far more complex.

At the core of these AI innovations are company leaders and employees who leverage their resources and build infrastructures to advance these technologies.

Business Insider's AI in Action series examines how organizations are integrating AI into the workplace through employee feedback and training, data-security procedures, financial strategies, and more.

Stories highlight the tools and techniques being tested, the business problems they aim to solve, and the technical and operational tradeoffs teams are navigating in real time.

As articles explore how AI is being used in operations such as supply chains, human resources onboarding procedures, marketing and sales, and pharmaceutical development, one thing is clear: Diligent collaboration is key to making AI a functional part of workers' lives.

Read the stories ahead for a behind-the-scenes look at innovation driven by high-level strategy and practical execution.

More stories from AI in Action

Almost one year to the day before he traveled to California in what authorities said was a bid to kill OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Daniel Moreno-Gama handed in an assignment for a college English class.

"My most important belief can be described in one of my favorite proverbs: 'A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in,'" read the assignment for Lone Star College in Montgomery, Texas, which was posted to a Substack account using his name in February. It's a quote that would appear again in the bio of an Instagram account linked to Moreno-Gama.

He did not mention artificial intelligence, Altman, or OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, though those were frequent topics of his writings over the 22 months leading up to the 20-year-old's Friday arrest.

Since June 2024, posts from Instagram, Discord, and Substack accounts linked to Moreno-Gama paint a picture of a young man increasingly focused on AI and the "existential threat" it poses. His arrest comes amid a broader rise in discontent with — and, in some cases, violence against — Big Tech and corporate America.

By earlier this year, posts linked to him became even more fatalistic, exploring the idea of martyrdom. One post reads: "It is my personal belief that there is no truer form of love than that of the Martyr."

Last week, authorities say, Moreno-Gama tossed a lit Molotov cocktail at Altman's San Francisco home and threatened an attack on OpenAI's nearby headquarters.

Public defender Diamond Ward said on Tuesday that Moreno-Gama has a "history of autism and mental health illness," and that her client's actions "appear to have been driven by an acute mental health crisis."

The court-appointed attorney called the federal and state charges against Moreno-Gama — which include state-level attempted murder — "unfair and unjust" and accused prosecutors of exploiting "the mental illness of a vulnerable young man by turning a vandalism case into an attempted murder, life exposure case to gain support of a billionaire."

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in response, "It wouldn't matter if this was a billionaire or a CEO or any average San Franciscan."

The Substack bearing Moreno-Gama's name suggests he was deeply religious in his youth, inspired by his father, who started two Spanish-speaking ministries.

His family was "extremely devout in protestantism," and he had a "debilitating fear of death," reads the post about his April 2025 school assignment. He shed those religious beliefs as he got older, which, he said, led to a new sense of purpose.

"I came to a realization that simply because a god had not given us some divine purpose does not mean that we are purposeless, it only means it is up to us to create our own," the post said.

He went to public school before starting classes at Lone Star College, about a 15-minute drive from the 1,500 square-foot, three-bedroom home he shared with his mom on a cul-de-sac in the Houston suburbs, social media posts and public records show.

Moreno-Gama was one week into his college tenure when he first posted in the PauseAI Discord channel.

"I am very passionate about this issue and am willing to learn and help whatever means necessary," he wrote on June 11, 2024, under the alias Butlerian Jihadist, a reference to a war between humans and artificial intelligence in the Dune science fiction series.

PauseAI, an AI safety advocacy group, condemned the attack on Altman in a statement. PauseAI said he was banned from its public Discord site following news of his arrest. His posts have since been deleted.

Over the next year and a half, he posted 34 times on the forum, PauseAI said. On Discord, he described himself as a "community college student with no tech background" who enjoyed writing and asked if he could help with recruitment or activism, according to copies of the Discord posts confirmed by Business Insider. In one early post, he shared a draft of a letter he planned to send to Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, saying a "small cartel of individuals has successfully pulled the wool over the eyes of our government and the public." The letter asked the representative to "look further into this issue."

An Instagram account linked to his Substack and followed by several relatives, features photos of empty European streets and church facades — as well as news segments, charts, and reports about the threat of AI. The account contains a clip from a "60 Minutes" interview with "the Godfather of AI" Geoffrey Hinton about the importance of AI safety, shared an article headlined "AI might let you die to save itself," and recommended a book titled "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies."

Toward the end of last year and into 2026, his writings appeared increasingly urgent.

"We owe it to everyone who came before us, and to ourselves, and everyone we know and love, and everyone who might exist someday, to be stronger than that and at least die fighting if it comes to that," he wrote on Discord on November 6.

A few weeks later, he wrote that the "someday" was approaching.

"We are close to midnight it's time to actually act," he posted.

In response, a moderator warned Moreno-Gama: "Advocating violence in any form is grounds for a ban."

Moreno-Gama did not return to Lone Star for the new semester in January, the school confirmed. He was working part time at a pizzeria, his lawyer said.

The Substack linked to him also posted increasingly detailed missives about martyrdom and tech CEOs like Altman.

"These people are almost nothing like you. They are most likely sociopathic/psychopathic and, in the case of Altman, consistently reported to be a pathological liar," said a January Substack post titled "AI Existential Risk."

He called for the US to halt all data center construction and strike a deal with China to end the AI race.

"Giving up is unacceptable, not trying is a death sentence," the January post said.

On Friday, he was caught on surveillance footage standing in front of Altman's $27 million San Francisco mansion overlooking the Bay in the tony Russian Hill neighborhood. Just after 3:30 am, authorities say he threw a Molotov cocktail at the six-bedroom home, setting fire to the top of the driveway gate.

Moreno-Gama ran off, and about an hour and a half later, he arrived at OpenAI's headquarters, where he struck the building's glass doors with a chair and threatened to "burn it down and kill anyone inside," according to a federal affidavit that included the surveillance images.

A three-part "anti-AI" note that San Francisco cops recovered from Moreno-Gama "identified views opposed to Artificial Intelligence (AI)" and included a target list with the names and addresses of other AI CEOs, board members, and investors, the affidavit said. The people on the list have been alerted, an FBI official said, though they have not been named publicly.

The alleged attacks by Moreno are not the first time fears over AI have turned physical.

OpenAI locked down its San Francisco office in 2025 after receiving what it believed at the time to be a threat from an individual who had previously been associated with an AI protest group.

A recent poll of 5,458 Americans by Bentley University found that 78% of respondents didn't trust companies to use AI responsibly.

Altman addressed the attack and fears over AI on his blog the day it occurred.

"A lot of the criticism of our industry comes from sincere concern about the incredibly high stakes of this technology," he wrote. "While we have that debate, we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally."

Since the attack, several Instagram users have commented their support on posts linked to Moreno-Gama, echoing some of the same sympathetic reactions that emerged in the case of accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione.

"You are a good person," one comment read. "You are in league with Luigi now."

Have a story to share? Reach out to mberg@insider.com and nmusumeci@businessinsider.com.

When I've had a long day, there's nothing better than snuggling up with my weighted blanket. Whether I'm watching my favorite show on the couch or cuddling up for bed, the best weighted blankets provide gentle pressure to ease my racing mind and relax my tense body.

After testing two dozen options and talking to experts, we've picked our favorite weighted blankets based on feel, durability, care, and value. The science on weighted blankets is still emerging, but a recent study in Sweden found that weighted blanket use is connected to reduced insomnia symptoms and lower levels of anxiety and depression. While results vary for each person, and any benefits could very well be chalked up to the placebo effect, I've personally used and loved them for years.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.

Our top picks for weighted blankets

Best overall: Bearaby Cotton Weighted Blanket - See at Bearaby

Best comforter: Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter - See at Eli & Elm

Best for hot sleepers: Baloo Weighted Comforter - See at Baloo

Best budget: YnM Original Weighted Blanket - See at Amazon

Best heated: Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth Weighted Throw Blanket - See at Amazon

Best king-size: HomeSmart Products King Size Weighted Blanket - See at Amazon

Best overall

Bearaby's blanket combines heft with a couch-worthy design. The Bearaby Cotton Weighted Blanket is instantly recognizable with its iconic knitted design. Unlike most weighted blankets that get their weight from glass or lead beads, Bearaby's blanket is made with organic, Oeko-Tex certified heavyweight cotton. The unique knit design creates its signature weight without relying on extra materials. It also doesn't obviously look like what you may expect a weighted blanket to look like, giving it a stylish edge over traditional options.

You can pick from four weights and nine colors. Bearaby's weighted blanket comes in four weights, ranging from 10 to 25 pounds. It's throw-sized for one person, so it's perfect for tossing on your couch for added comfort and decor. I think it's the best weighted blanket for adults, since it's equally comfortable and stylish. I tested a 25-pound blanket in midnight blue, a lovely navy blue shade. Bearaby also offers a queen and king blanket that weigh 20 and 25 pounds, respectively, and kids sizes.

I adore the knit fabric — with one (literal) catch. After having this blanket on my couch for months, I can say that I'm a huge fan. I love how breathable the design is. Unlike a solid blanket with little space for airflow, the knit weighted blanket has large gaps for air to flow through. While the knit holes are great for breathability, I noticed that my fingers and toes get caught in the fabric, which can feel awkward.

The lighter sizes are machine-washable. Bearaby's weighted blanket is technically machine-washable, but I wouldn't recommend machine washing any blanket heavier than 15 pounds since residential washers and dryers can only handle certain loads. When using, I've noticed a slight plasticky smell that has remained after use and multiple spot treatments.

It's backed by a year-long warranty. Bearaby added a 12-month warranty to all of its weighted blanket purchases that applies to blankets sold after June 1, 2025, adding a little extra peace of mind. The policy covers repairs and replacements if the product is defective due to faulty workmanship or materials, and is subject to case-by-case discretion.

Read our full Bearaby Weighted Blanket review. 

Best comforter

This pick from Eli & Elm is like if a weighted blanket and a comforter had a baby. Weighted comforters are a perfect hybrid of a comforter and a traditional weighted blanket. Like a conventional comforter or duvet, they are oversized with edges hanging off the bed. The plush fiber is paired with glass beads or a similar weighted material for a feel that is both fluffy and soothingly weighted. It's basically like getting a hug from a puffy cloud.

Each size has a different weight. The Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter has a long-staple cotton shell that protects an interior of glass beads and fiber filling. The comforter has a quilted design with silver edges and four loops for a duvet cover. It's available in three sizes and weights: 13 pounds for a twin, 17 pounds for a queen, and 20 pounds for a king. You can't customize your comforter's weight based on your body weight, but the Eli & Elm site states that it chose these weights, as opposed to the 20 and 25 pounds commonly found elsewhere, as a way to "help you get the benefit of the weight without the restriction for those that toss and turn during the night."

It's the perfect combination of fluff and weight. It looked and felt just like a traditional comforter, which sets it apart from other thin weighted comforters without interior fiber. It was also the perfect amount of weight for me, since it was heavy enough to have a soothing feel but not so heavy that I couldn't make the bed or pull the covers up in my sleep. I felt the beads through the cotton shell, which took some time to get used to.

It's great for couples, too. My partner and I are both blanket hogs, which can result in a game of tug-of-war over the blankets. That said, the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter comfortably covered us both, so there was no need to steal more covers. We both woke up feeling well-rested and refreshed.

It actually stays cool. I was most worried about the heat dissipation with a weighted comforter. Both weighted blankets and comforters are notorious for being warm, and as a hot sleeper, I was concerned about overheating in the night. To my pleasant surprise, the Eli & Elm Comforter stayed cool throughout the night. The cotton shell is cool to the touch, and the comforter itself doesn't heat up. I'd also recommend using a duvet cover since the comforter is spot-clean only and designed to be paired with your duvet cover.

Best for hot sleepers

Some weighted blankets are stifling — but this one isn't. With their heavy weight and fill, weighted blankets are prone to overheating. For hot sleepers, finding a breathable weighted blanket in a cooling fabric is especially important. The Baloo Weighted Comforter is the best cooling weighted blanket, made with Oeko-Tex certified cotton and lead-free glass beads. It's made with natural materials, no polyester, as is common from many other weighted blankets.

It's also available as a regular weighted blanket. I was drawn to the comforter, but Baloo also offers a blanket-sized version, too. The key difference is the sizing, where the full/queen and king sizes fit the top of the bed, while the comforter sizes will drape. It's large enough for couples to sleep under, with the weight distributed in the middle of the blanket. Both versions come with loops so you can add a duvet cover. The blanket is available as a 12-pound throw, 15- or 20-pound full/queen blanket, or a 25-pound king blanket in four colors. The comforter is available in the same full/queen and king weights but measures 90 by 90 inches and 92 by 108 inches, respectively, in white and gray. It's noticeably thinner than the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter, but the weight is also more pronounced and relaxing.

Its crisp feel is perfect for hot sleepers. As hot sleepers, my partner and I loved this blanket's cooling capabilities. Because it's a cotton comforter, the outer shell is noticeably cool and stays that way throughout the night. Pressing my face into the fabric felt like touching a cool, silky material. It's super breathable, too, so heat doesn't get trapped under the blankets overnight. I never woke up sweating when I used this comforter.

Only machine wash blankets up to 20 pounds. Because of its heft, this comforter should only be professionally washed or spot-treated, but the blanket sizes up to 20 pounds can be machine-washed.

Best budget

A good weighted blanket doesn't have to cost a fortune. Weighted blankets tend to be very expensive, especially when you consider quality materials like glass beads or natural cotton fabrics, reinforced stitching to make sure the weighted filling does shift or leak, and the research and development that goes into these products. It can feel difficult to find a good weighted blanket under $100. With a queen-size blanket starting under $60, we were impressed with the price and quality of the YnM Original Cotton Weighted Blanket.

It's available in tons of sizes and colors. YnM's weighted blanket is available in 10 weights and 30 colors. There are even a few printed designs, like penguins and yellow flowers, which they made with kids in mind. I tried the 30-pound king-size blanket in light blue. I'm a large person, so I wanted to try the heaviest option available since a weighted blanket should be about 10% of your body weight. The king-size blanket came with a bonus duvet cover, most likely because the larger size is not machine-washable, and the cover makes it easier to keep clean.

It feels noticeably cheaper than more expensive options. When I unboxed the weighted blanket, I noticed that the cotton shell was a little wrinklier and scratchier compared to the other high-end options on our guide. That said, it's cool to the touch. The blanket itself is filled with glass beads and fiberfill to supply its weighted feel. I've found that some blankets that are weighted with beads can feel like you're lying under a beanbag, which is the case with the YnM weighted blanket. That said, the weight was evenly distributed throughout the blanket.

Read our YnM Weighted Blanket review.

Best heated

It's so cozy, we fought over it. Weighted blankets are great for that hygge experience, but when you add heat, you take the coziness to a whole new level. Also featured in our best electric blanket guide, the Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth Weighted Throw Blanket is the one we kept reaching for on cold winter nights. In fact, former reporter James Brains' wife loved this weighted heated blanket so much she didn't want to give it back to him to test.

It's throw-sized and dual-sided. At 52 inches by 60 inches, it's a little bit too small to cover most people completely, but it got the job done while lounging and watching TV. Even as antsy individuals who toss and turn, the Pure Enrichment heated weighted blanket kept us nestled underneath. The micromink and sherpa sides were both comfortable, though we prefer the sherpa side's plush comfort.

It heats quickly and efficiently. The Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth blanket has four heat settings: warm, low, medium, and high, my favorite setting reaches 105 degrees Fahrenheit quickly. The 9-foot cord is long enough to reach electrical outlets without needing an extension cord or sacrificing comfort. After two hours, the blanket automatically shuts off.

Caring for it is cumbersome. It relies on glass beads for its weight and tips the scales at 13 pounds, which we found was sufficient for its size. We also like the five-year warranty. The biggest negative is the care instructions, which are so long and detailed that they require a 6-inch-by-6-inch explainer sown into the blanket.

Best king-size

This king-size comforter is the best weighted blanket for couples. Couples who want to share a weighted blanket will want a king-size comforter. The HomeSmart Weighted Blanket is sold in oversized queen and king varieties, measuring 88 by 104 inches in various weights up to 50 pounds — some of the most diverse weight options we've seen. There's even a unique split-weight version we haven't seen anywhere else.

It's easy to wash. The HomeSmart blanket features micro glass beads sewn into 5-by-5-inch pockets to distribute the weight evenly. The blanket is machine washable and dryable. We've washed it several times over the last two-and-a-half years and found it an effortless endeavor. If you want to add a duvet cover, the blanket has 10 loops for tying one on.

We prefer the 25-pound version. We tested the previously sold 15-pound and 25-pound comforters and enjoyed both, though the 25-pound was almost too restrictive. We prefer the 15-pounder, but since testing, 20 pounds seems to be the lightest weight available. Thanks to its breathability, it's a great year-round blanket but not necessarily fluffy like a traditional comforter.

It eventually leaked beads. The HomeSmart Weighted Blanket isn't without its flaws. After 18 months of use, the 25-pound blanket started leaking beads, likely because one of our pets had dug a hole into it. We tried to contact customer service but couldn't reach anyone.

Our top picks compared

What else we tested

• Sleep Number True Temp Weighted Blanket: Sleep Number's weighted blanket was impressively cool and available in 12 and 20 pounds, but its interior frequently separated from the exterior cover. It's available in just one color.
• YnM Weighted Comforter: We loved the fluff in this weighted blanket, but it slept very hot. It's a lot more affordable than the Eli & Elm comforter, however.
• Silk and Snow Hand Knitted Weighted Blanket: Silk and Snow's knit cotton blanket is an excellent option, and a great dupe for the Bearaby. The holes in the knit are fractionally larger than the Bearaby Cotton Napper, so fingers and toes are more likely to be caught in the loops.
• Luxome Weighted Blanket: This weighted blanket has an optional removable cover with a dual-sided bamboo and minky plush fabric for a cooling and a warm feel. We didn't love the slick feel of the minky fabric, and the beads were noticeable while sleeping. It's also expensive for its quality.

What to look for in a weighted blanket

Here are the main factors to consider when shopping for a weighted blanket:

Weight: Select a blanket roughly 10% of your body weight. You should be able to move freely under the blanket; if you can't, choose a lighter weight. You'll likely want something heavier if you share a weighted blanket with a partner.

Size: If you're sharing a blanket with a partner with a similar body weight, you'll want a weighted blanket that covers your entire bed. If you and your partner are very different weights, consider two smaller separate blankets in a throw or twin size. Remember that a 15-pound throw blanket feels much heavier than a 15-pound comforter since a larger blanket distributes its weight over a larger surface area. Blankets larger than the side of your bed can cause it to slip off, so many will fit the dimensions of a mattress exactly, but some comforter designs, like that we found from Baloo Living and Eli & Elm, remedy that by concentrating the blanket weight in the middle.

Material: Weighted blankets can come in various materials like cotton, TENCEL, microfiber, or polyester. Consider the outer fabric depending on whether you want a blanket with a more breathable design or something cozier. Some comforter-sized designs are also designed to be used with duvet covers or may even come with their own, in which case, designs with loops will make it easy to add a cover of your choice.

Fill type: Besides considering weight, size, and outer material, the inner fill is important. Weighted blankets rely on micro glass beads, plastic pellets, or steel shot beads, like in the case of Bearaby's knit design, the weight of its fabric. We don't prefer one fill over another regarding function, but steel and glass are generally more sustainable than plastic. Ideally, the fill shouldn't shift too much within the blanket or create a lot of noise when shifting under the blanket.

How we test weighted blankets

Our testing methodology

Aside from the general coziness and comfort provided by each weighted blanket, we also evaluated material quality, value, weight options, and aesthetics. For example, a blanket with more color and weight options beats out a blanket of equal quality with fewer options. We also considered return policies, sleep trials, and how easy these blankets were to clean.

The following are three tests we ran each blanket through to assess the general user experience:

Sleep test: We slept with each weighted blanket for at least three consecutive nights. We noted how well we slept overall and how the blanket regulated our sleep temperature. We also assessed how well the blanket stayed in place and how easy it was to adjust while lying under it. This test also included making the bed daily (hauling a weighted blanket is harder than it looks).

Wash test: We washed every machine-washable weighted blanket or cover at least once to ensure they held up well and didn't shrink, shed, or otherwise show signs of wear. We noted if the added weight made them more challenging to haul into and out of the washing machine. We also discovered that one of the machine-washable blankets was so bulky it didn't fit into the washing machine. For those blankets that weren't machine-washable, we noted the care instructions and factored that into the cons of the blanket.

Weight test: We wanted to ensure each blanket was the advertised weight. To get an accurate reading, we weighed each blanket with a luggage scale. We then noted any discrepancies in the advertised weight versus the actual weight.

Meet the experts behind the guide

Kinsley Searles, associate home editor: I'm the current tester and writer for this guide. I've personally used weighted blankets for years to help my anxious mind slow down and relax at the end of a stressful day. I love testing all kinds of weighted blankets on my couch and bed — with the help of my pets.

James Brains, former senior reporter: As the former writer on this story, I tested weighted blankets in my own home. I also used my expertise as a product tester and reviewer to develop in-depth testing procedures.

Weighted blanket FAQs

Which weighted blanket is the best?

Rebecca Robbins, sleep researcher, author, and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, recommends looking for brands with sleep trials and buyer-friendly return policies so you can test out a weighted blanket to see if it's right for you. "It's hard for the one-size-fits-all approach because we're all just so unique and have different physiologies," she said.

How do I wash a weighted blanket?

Many weighted blankets are technically machine washable, but we advise against washing any weighted blanket over 20 pounds in your residential washer and dryer. If your blanket is above 20 pounds, you'll need to spot treat it or take it to a professional cleaner. We recommend using a duvet cover, especially with heavier weighted blankets, for easier cleaning.

Read more in our how to wash a weighted blanket article.

How often should I wash my weighted blanket?

Brian Sansoni, Senior Vice President at the American Cleaning Institute, says to treat weighted blankets like any other comforter and wash them once or twice a year, while the duvet cover should be cleaned roughly once a month.

Are weighted blankets good for anxiety?

When we asked experts what sleep trends actually work, weighted blankets were toward the top of the list. However, no randomized clinical trials can speak to the efficacy of weighted blankets in treating anxiety since it would be obvious to participants whether they were using a weighted blanket. In our personal experience, weighted blankets have helped reduce stress and ease anxiety, but this could also be due to the placebo effect.

• I maintain my 35-pound weight loss while still enjoying my favorite foods in moderation.
• Almost every night, I have a variation of a yogurt bowl with fruit, honey, and chocolate.
• Because it has protein, fiber, and vitamins, it's a nutritious option that keeps me satisfied.

Seven years ago, I lost 35 pounds while still eating my favorite foods — chocolate included. Without changing my approach or restricting myself, I've managed to maintain a similar weight and physique.

Like most people, my weight fluctuates a little, and I've actually built muscle mass over the past seven years, which adds weight on the scale. However, I've maintained my fat loss.

I follow the 80/20 approach, meaning I eat a diet full of nutrient-dense whole foods, fiber, protein, healthy fats, carbs, and gut health-boosting micronutrients 80% of the time. The remaining 20%, I enjoy foods that are less nutrient-dense without worrying about it.

A huge part of my weight-loss journey was improving my relationship with food. When I no longer mentally categorized foods as "good" or "bad," it removed less nutritious foods from the pedestal I'd placed them on. I didn't feel guilty or tempted to overeat when I had them.

My staple evening snack reflects my balanced approach to healthy eating, combining fruit, yogurt, honey, and a little bit of chocolate.

I make a yogurt bowl at night that I tweak based on my mood, hunger levels, and fridge contents

I don't always eat the same evening snack. It changes based on my hunger level and mood. Some days, I eat a more classic dessert, like chocolate mousse or ice cream, and other days, I'm too full to have anything other than peppermint tea.

On most evenings, my go-to combination of fruit, yogurt, and chocolate hits the spot. I tend to mix all of the ingredients together to create a yogurt bowl, but there are also nights when I enjoy each one separately.

Trying out different combinations means I benefit from getting different nutrients and get to enjoy interesting flavors.

For example, I alternate between fat-free, high-protein skyr and full-fat Greek yogurt. Each nutritious, delicious option carries different benefits: Skyr typically has more protein and fewer calories, whereas Greek yogurt has more fat and a creamier texture.

The dietitian-approved snack has protein, vitamins, and fiber

I ran my Greek yogurt bowl by London-based dietitian Sophie Medlin, who told Business Insider it's a great snack, as the protein in it helps keep me full and satisfied.

"The fruit also provides additional vitamins and fiber, which are both beneficial for health," she said. "Honey is sugary, but when used sparingly and mixed with protein from the yogurt and fiber from the fruit, the impact on blood sugars will be moderate, which means it shouldn't affect your sleep."

To make the most nutritious choice, Medlin recommends using dark chocolate instead of milk or white chocolate because it contains more beneficial plant compounds and less sugar.

However, she cautioned against having too much dark chocolate in the evening, as the small amount of caffeine it contains might keep you awake.

I only add a small amount of chocolate — usually dark, but not always — to my bowl and try to eat it two to three hours before going to sleep so I can properly digest.

It's important to remember that all food, dessert included, can be part of a balanced diet

According to Medlin, any food can fit into a balanced diet that supports weight management, including this protein-filled snack combination.

If you want to lose weight, a calorie deficit is key, so Medlin advises keeping an eye on portion size.

"This is the sort of snack I recommend to patients, but with the caveats of being careful with the honey and ideally choosing dark chocolate," she said.

I've found that eating a delicious snack plate with fruit, yogurt, and chocolate satisfies my sweet tooth and keeps me from feeling hungry later at night.

• Retail traders are buying the year to date dip in Tesla stock, Vanda Research said.
• The cohort, meanwhile, has slowed its buying of Nvidia stock.
• Vanda said tax-day selling pressure could be to blame for the pivot from Nvidia.

Retail traders are flocking back to an old favorite.

According to data from Vanda Research, which tracks retail investor flows into stocks and ETFs, Tesla is seeing a renewed buying spree among retail investors following a tough start to this year.

Tesla stock is down 15% in 2026, and retail traders seem to be seizing on the opportunity to buy it on the dip. At the same time, Vanda said that individual investors are rotating away from Nvidia.

"NVDA is seeing sustained retail outflows after an extended period of buying," the report stated. "In contrast, NVDA has seen multiple successive sessions of net selling, a reversal from the record buying we saw in and around prior earnings. The last time the 5-day net buying was this weak (-$294mn) was last May."

Vanda added that this pattern recalls a similar scenario that played out last year, when retail traders pulled out of Nvidia after the market rally following Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariff announcements. However, they quickly returned and resumed heavy buying, helping spark new momentum for the stock.

Vanda also said last month that retail investors had become net sellers of stocks for the first time in three years amid the volatility created by the Iran war, though they've since resumed buying.

"TSLA has seen $216mn of net buying over the past 5 days, making it the most actively bought retail name again. This comes as 1M rolling retail flows have moved to their highest since late Oct last year — with retail persistently buying the dip," Vanda noted.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a popular figure among retail traders. While Wall Street analysts have raised concerns about Musk's various ventures, Vanda's data suggests that everyday traders are still upbeat.

According to Vanda, their pivot from Nvidia might not be an explicitly bearish position, and the same selling pattern has been seen in previous tax seasons as investors take profits to help cover their IRS bills.

The research firm noted that tax day selling pressure is likely to pass soon. It said the data reflect a positive shift in investor sentiment, likely to help the market recover.

"Under the hood, retail engagement remains strong, with TSLA, PLTR, MSFT and AAPL dominating the most actively traded names," the report stated. "If retail flows do inflect higher post-tax day, this big tech cohort is likely to lead. But we would expect buying to broaden out across the usual retail favorites."

• The war with Iran triggered debate in Congress over war powers.
• Presidents have repeatedly ordered military operations without Congress since WWII.
• In some instances, lawmakers have checked the president's power in response.

Following the United States' and Israel's attacks on Iran, a host of ethical, economic, and political questions have been raised about the decision to strike the country.

One of the conflict's most pressing political questions has centered on the legality of the war itself. Operation Epic Fury, a large-scale military operation, was launched without congressional authorization, which lawmakers argue is required under the Constitution.

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a post on X on March 17 that President Donald Trump ordered the operation after determining Iran posed an "imminent threat." Trump's former head of counterterrorism, Joe Kent, refuted the claim in his resignation letter last month.

Trump, who has referred to the conflict as a war multiple times, has repeatedly said it could end "very soon" — or last longer. A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is currently in place, but Vice President JD Vance left peace talks with Iran on April 12 without securing a deal to end the war.

Congress hasn't officially declared war since December 8, 1941, when war was declared on the Empire of Japan the day after the Pearl Harbor attacks. Since then, in instances like the Gulf War, the war in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War, Congress has typically approved force via "Authorization for Use of Military Force." While not an official declaration of war, it allows the military to engage in targeted objectives, according to the Library of Congress.

Still, there have been plenty of times throughout American history when the president has ordered large-scale military operations without direct Congressional approval, whether through loose interpretations of presidential powers or without providing any legal justification. This has become much more common since World War II, as the US became a global superpower and maintained large standing forces of troops, aircraft, and ships.

While this practice has been met with legal challenges at times in history, in other instances, presidents have avoided scrutiny from Congress due to widespread support for the military action.

Andrew Wiest, a professor of military history at the University of Southern Mississippi, said these instances are part of a broader concession of Congressional war powers to the executive branch since WWII.

"Since 1946, Congress has relinquished this constitutional authority and granted it to the president, probably much to the founders' chagrin," Wiest said. "The founders were extremely wary of a president with too much military authority."

In recent decades, US presidents have repeatedly used drones and cruise missiles to strike at terror groups. In President Trump's second term, his administration has launched airstrikes in Nigeria, Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia.

Here are 11 notable examples of US military operations conducted without direct congressional approval.

Philippine-American War

Even before WWII, certain US military actions were the source of fierce debate. Following the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Islands were ceded to the US in the Treaty of Paris in 1898. Despite the United States' claim to the territory, Filipino revolutionary fighters declared independence and resisted American attempts to acquire the islands.

President William McKinley never sought a formal declaration of war or authorization from Congress. Since the Treaty of Paris was newly ratified by Congress, however, McKinley interpreted it as an effective approval of force from lawmakers. The war was controversial in Congress, with anti-imperialists claiming the annexation of the Philippines was illegal, according to the House of Representatives.

The war lasted over three years, from 1899 to 1902, and American deaths totaled 4,200. About 20,000 Filipino fighters were killed, while up to 200,000 civilians died of disease, famine, and violence, per the Department of State.

Korean War

After the US and Soviet Union divided Korea into two countries following WWII, fighting ensued in 1950 when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. The United Nations Security Council soon directed its member nations to assist South Korea, prompting US involvement.

President Harry Truman, however, never sought any form of approval from Congress, instead labeling the US's efforts a "police action" under the auspices of the UN. This framing was refuted by some members of Congress, with Republican Senator Robert Taft claiming the lack of congressional approval was "a complete usurpation by the president of authority to use the armed forces of this country," per the Brennan Center.

The war's identity as an international effort overshadowed the lack of congressional approval, according to Wiest.

"At the time, the UN was young, robust, and something new," Wiest said. "With a UN resolution to defend South Korea, what more top cover do you need?"

The Korean War ultimately lasted three years and resulted in the deaths of 37,000 American soldiers, according to the Department of Defense. As many as 5 million people lost their lives in total from the conflict, many of them civilians.

Vietnam War

Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in August 1964, giving President Lyndon Johnson the authority to use military force in Vietnam and the surrounding countries. But as the war dragged on and opposition at home grew, pressure mounted on the US government, and questions arose about Johnson's continued war powers.

Then, two years after Richard Nixon had assumed office, Congress repealed the resolution, meaning no law on the books authorized US military force in Southeast Asia. Though Nixon began reducing the number of deployed US troops when he took office in 1969, bombing campaigns continued until the end of the war.

A federal appeals court later declared the war a political issue and did not rule on the legality of Nixon's continued bombing, The New York Times reported.

A total of 58,220 Americans died as a result of the war, per the National Archives.

Bombing of Cambodia

Nixon also conducted bombing campaigns in Cambodia, which began in 1969 and continued after the repeal of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution. The operation — to disrupt supply routes along the Ho Chi Minh trail and to target suspected communist hubs — began in secret without Congress ever being informed.

The bombings prompted Congress' passing of the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which aimed to limit the president's power in conducting military operations. Nixon vetoed the legislation, but Congress overrode the veto with a two-thirds majority.

The successful war-powers challenge represented a rare moment in modern American history where Congress reclaimed its war powers. Wiest said political factors play a large role in Congress' usual inaction.

"Partisanship and politics is part of it," Wiest said. "No congressman can be seen as being against the troops. In my view, there's no more risky electoral thing to do."

From 1969 to 1973, the US dropped 540,000 tons of bombs on Cambodia. Estimates for civilians killed as a result of the bombings range from 150,000 to 500,000, per PBS Frontline.

1983 invasion of Grenada

In 1983, a coup in Grenada resulted in the execution of the country's leader, Maurice Bishop. Ostensibly to protect hundreds of medical students in the country and restore order after the government's overthrow, the US invaded the island nation with help from Caribbean allies.

The US invasion, ordered by President Ronald Reagan, was carried out without congressional approval. This prompted Congress to apply the War Powers Resolution, forcing withdrawal of US troops within 60 days, The New York Times reported.

The campaign only lasted eight days, but it resulted in the death of 19 US soldiers and 24 Grenadian civilians, per Army University Press.

1989 invasion of Panama

In what was codenamed Operation Just Cause, the US invaded Panama in 1989 with the intention of overthrowing its leader, Manuel Noriega, who was indicted under US law for drug trafficking.

Other reasons cited for the operation were protecting Americans in Panama, defending democracy, and protecting the Panama Canal treaties. The State Department said the actions were also carried out with the consent of Panama's legitimate government, which was sworn in before the invasion.

Like Reagan before him, President George H.W. Bush didn't seek congressional approval beforehand. However, the invasion had strong public and congressional support, subduing potential war-powers challenges.

The invasion was swift, and Noriega was quickly captured and tried in the US. He was later convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison, eventually serving 17 years in the US.

All in all, 23 US soldiers were killed in the operation, and an internal US Army memo estimated the number of Panamanian deaths at around 1,000, per Politico.

1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia

During the Kosovo War, NATO forces led by the US initiated a bombing campaign in Yugoslavia against the Yugoslav Army.

NATO said the strikes were intended to stop "ethnic cleansing" of Kosovar Albanians by Yugoslav forces and to pressure those forces to leave Kosovo.

Though Congress originally voted to send US peacekeeping troops to NATO in March of 1999 before the bombing began, a later House measure authorizing the strikes failed in a tie vote.

The continued bombing campaign under President Bill Clinton later prompted a war powers lawsuit filed by 31 members of the House, which was dismissed by a judge on the grounds that "a clear impasse between the executive and legislative branches" was absent, CBS News reported.

Much as with the Korean War after WWII, Wiest said, the notion of internationalism following the end of the Cold War provided cover for the operation's legality.

"It was a period of early optimism in the wake of a world-changing event, so that optimism, with the top cover of the UN or NATO, just overwhelmed any American constitutional need to declare war," he said.

As well as killing over 1,000 Yugoslav combatants, the strikes claimed the lives of roughly 500 civilians, per Human Rights Watch.

2011 US and NATO intervention in Libya

As part of an intervention conducted by NATO forces, US forces participated in strikes on Libya during the Libyan Civil War. In response to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on civilians, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1973 on March 17, 2011, which authorized military action in Libya.

President Barack Obama never sought congressional approval for the action, leading to criticism from Congress and 10 House members filing a lawsuit in an attempt to block further military action, NPR reported.

The legal action was later dismissed by a federal judge, Reggie Walton, who noted that lawmakers already had the legislative means to challenge the military operation in Congress. In light of other pressing political issues, Walton said, "…the Court finds it frustrating to expend time and effort adjudicating the relitigation of settled questions of law."

The Obama administration used the UN Security Council resolution as a justification and claimed the operation was limited and thus within the scope of the War Powers Resolution.

US strikes in Yemen

The US struck Houthi targets in Yemen after the military group began targeting commercial ships in 2023 in response to Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations conducted strikes against the Houthis without seeking congressional approval. The most recent strikes in 2025, conducted by the Trump administration, killed at least 224 civilians, per the Middle East monitoring group Airwars.

Wiest said there's a double standard applied to ground versus air military operations, with the latter offering more war-powers leeway.

"The use of air power has almost been a kind of national 'Get Out of Jail Free' card when it comes to opening these types of conflicts," he said.

2025 strikes on Iran nuclear sites

In what was codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, the Trump administration struck Iran's nuclear facilities without Congressional approval. President Trump argued the strike was a necessary measure to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

While the strikes had the broad support of Republican lawmakers, Democrats and Republican Thomas Massie criticized the operation's lack of authorization from Congress, NPR reported.

2026 US raid inside Venezuela

On January 3, the Trump administration conducted surprise strikes on Venezuela that deposed the country's president, Nicolás Maduro. Maduro was captured and brought to the US, where he faces narco-terrorism and other drug charges. The former Venezuelan leader has pleaded not guilty.

The Trump administration justified the strikes by calling them "law-enforcement operations" to target what it called Maduro's "narco-terrorist organization."

The strikes resulted in about 75 deaths, including two civilians and 32 Cuban special forces, per the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Seven American troops were injured.

Critics in Congress questioned the legality of the intervention. While a war powers resolution was brought to the floor for a vote in the Senate, it was blocked by the Republican-led majority.

Editor's note: This story was originally published in March 2026. It was most recently updated in April 2026 to reflect the US-Iran ceasefire.

• Allbirds is trading shoes for GPUs and the stock is soaring.
• The sneaker company announced it's pivoting to AI, rebranding itself as NewBird AI.
• The company will focus on providing GPU compute-as-a-service.

What's All is New.

Allbirds, once the go-to shoemaker for finance and tech bros coast to coast, is transforming into NewBird AI, and its stock is seeing a wild rally on the pivot.

Shares exploded higher, jumping as much as 876% during the session. Allbirds stock closed Wednesday's session at $16.99, a 582% single day increase from Tuesday's closing price of $2.49.

The sneaker company announced it entered into an agreement with an institutional investor for a $50 million convertible financing facility, which it will use to buy "high-performance GPU assets" as part of a pivot into AI computing infrastructure.

Allbirds announced a deal at the end of March to sell its shoe business for $39 million to American Exchange Group, which owns brands like Aerosoles, Ed Hardy, and Mudd. William Blair analysts said the offer represented a $5.70 per-share value when it was announced.

The new company cited a "long-term vision to become a fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and AI-native cloud solutions provider."

The company joins a list of firms stretching back to the early 2000s internet boom that have pivoted to initiatives far outside their core business in a bid to win back investors.

In 2017, the Long Island Iced Tea announced a pivot to become Long Blockchain Corp. The stock surged almost 500% on the news. The company was delisted in 2021 and the SEC charged three people connected to the company with insider trading.

More recently, media company BuzzFeed pivoted to AI in 2023, sparking a huge stock rally. Shares are down nearly 95% from their 2023 peak, and reports earlier this year said the company is teetering at the edge of bankruptcy.

Allbirds' statement framed the pivot as the company stepping up to meet a growing gap in the supply of critical AI computing power.

"The rise of AI development and adoption has created unprecedented structural demand for specialized, high-performance compute that the market is struggling to meet," the announcement read.

"NewBird AI is being built to help close that gap. The Company will initially seek to acquire high-performance, low-latency AI compute hardware and provide access under long-term lease arrangements, meeting customer demand that spot markets and hyperscalers are unable to reliably service."

The sharp pivot comes after Allbirds' stock valuation has plunged since going public in 2021. The Allbirds IPO raised roughly $348 million with the stock priced $15 per share.

Allbirds shoes were once a favorite of Wall Street traders, Silicon Valley tech workers, and even former president Barack Obama.

Yet the company, which focused on sustainability and comfort, has seen deepening losses since going public, with revenue declining in each quarter since 2022.

Correction: April 15 — An earlier version of this story misstated the dollar amount Allbirds was sold for. The figure has been updated.

• Tariff fluctuations over the last year have added a new level of complexity for importers.
• Companies are using generative AI to complete the time-consuming tariff refund process.
• Generative AI can also save weeks of time on complex scenario planning for sourcing materials.

US businesses have been on a tariff roller coaster over the last year. Sweeping tariffs were implemented at varying levels across different countries. Though some were eventually overturned by the Supreme Court, there is now an added layer of bureaucracy as companies seek potential refunds. Some are turning to AI for help.

Companies like EQI and customs advisory firms like KPMG are using generative AI "to process all that chaos," said Brendan Connallon, the VP of finance at EQI, a company that supplies metal components and provides supply chain advising services to manufacturers. The technology can rapidly scrape and synthesize vast quantities of data, track tariff changes, model potential supply chain scenarios, and accurately classify goods by their government-assigned tariff codes — a highly nuanced system with more than 17,000 codes.

Emil Stefanutti, the CEO of Gaia Dynamics, a software company that provides AI tools to help companies automate trade compliance, said AI is proving particularly useful in this rapidly changing environment, as it can reduce compliance errors and save businesses time. With the Supreme Court ruling specifically, Stefanutti said importers can use AI to analyze data on where and when they paid tariffs, quantify potential overpayments, and flag areas that need correction.

AI "can continuously track and adapt to new rules in a way humans simply can't at scale," Stefanutti said.

AI can shave weeks off pinpointing tariff refunds

The consulting firm KPMG has been advising its clients on trade compliance for decades, but last year in particular, "the tariffs were changing fast and furious," said Andrew Siciliano, the leader of the Global and US Trade and Customs practices at KPMG.

Company leaders needed real-time data quickly to make decisions, so KPMG launched an AI-powered tariff modeler.

The firm's clients include many large businesses that import goods ranging from auto parts to retail goods and pharmaceuticals, and that use several ports of entry and customs brokers. KPMG takes its clients' decentralized customs entries and product information from suppliers and freight forwarders — the intermediaries between importers and their transportation providers — and plugs the data into the tariff modeler, Siciliano said.

This approach has helped KPMG's clients navigate the process of applying for refunds for tariff overpayments resulting from the policy change that took effect after the Supreme Court overturned some tariffs. Many trade rules have nuanced exceptions, leading some businesses to pay multiple tariffs when they should have paid only one. Siciliano said his firm uses AI to interact with a client's data and better understand which products came from which factories, narrowing down which qualify for refunds.

Though the refund system is in the works, there could still be confusion and uncertainty, said Connallon. He told Business Insider that he anticipates the process will be "an administrative nightmare."

Before AI, manually sifting through thousands of custom entry data points to spot overpayments could take weeks or months — or not happen at all because of the complexity, Siciliano said. Now, an importer can prompt AI, which delivers the information right away.

AI can speed up complex scenario modeling

AI also saves weeks of time in scenario planning. An importer might wonder how costs could change if it moved sourcing from China to Vietnam, for example. Instead of taking weeks to update multiple spreadsheets, AI models scenarios with the click of a few buttons, Siciliano said.

Connallon said EQI uses AI in a similar way to model potential sourcing scenarios. The company uses the AI platform Altana, which focuses on supply chain management and trade compliance.

In a potential sourcing move from country A to B, EQI uses AI to model total costs, accounting for tariffs, manufacturing costs, and ocean freight rates. For manufacturing, which sources thousands of different products from myriad locations, "the complexity becomes extremely dense very fast," Connallon said. "So, AI helps us simplify it." EQI sends the simplified data to its trade attorneys, who can interpret it within hours, said Connallon.

"We've turned something that would take weeks into a same-day thing," he said.

He added that "AI is not good at critical thinking," and that humans are essential for sourcing decisions. For example, the AI model might say that sourcing all materials from one country results in the greatest cost savings, but business leaders have to consider the bigger picture, said Connallon. Supply chain executives have learned, especially in recent years, that sourcing solely from one country carries risks, such as product shortages or delays if a geopolitical or economic issue halts trade flows.

• Anxiety about private credit is likely overdone, a top JPMorgan strategist says.
• JPMorgan Private Bank's global investment head said institutional clients are still bullish.
• The sector has been battered by headlines about redemptions and investor concerns in recent months.

The drama unfolding in the private credit market hasn't deterred big-money investors, according to a top JPMorgan strategist.

Monica DiCenso, the global investment opportunities head at JPMorgan Private Bank, brushed off the jitters that have swirled around the private credit sector in recent months. Despite some funds freezing investor withdrawals, risks in the sector are likely overstated — and institutional clients are actually using the panic as an opportunity to continue adding exposure, she said, speaking to CNBC on Wednesday.

"I am seeing institutional clients add to private credit here. They're using this fear as a time to add. And so that's always something that you want to watch when you see a very sophisticated part of the market saying, 'This is probably a little overdone,'" Dicenso said, though she acknowledged that private credit was a "higher risk" corner of the market.

Fears about the health of private credit were first kindled with the collapse of TriColor Holdings and First Brands late last year. Since then, private credit funds have faced a wave of withdrawal requests, with firms like BlueOwl, BlackRock, and Apollo limiting amounts investors can withdraw.

The news fueled fears of a contagion event that could spread to other areas of the financial system, but DiCenso said she believed that firms putting up redemption limits was actually a "good thing."

"It stops the run of the banks, if you will. So while it doesn't feel good to see that headline, it helps calm people's nerves, and it helps these companies manage and run these risks," she said.

Private credit investments are less liquid than publicly traded assets. Many of the developments that have unfolded in the private credit sector recently stem from how retail investors, used to daily liquidity in stocks and ETFs, have been spooked by the relative illiquidity of private debt funds.

Meanwhile, much of the debt in the private credit universe is still doing just fine, DiCenso noted. The default rate for private credit loans hovers around 2.5%, in line with the historical average for high-yield and leveraged loans, according to one JPMorgan Private Bank analysis.

"If you're partnering with a manager who's well-seasoned and knows how to do this, I do think it's going to be okay," DiCenso said of the sector's performance.

Other big names on Wall Street have also shrugged off recent panic in the private credit sector.

Speaking on the bank's earnings call on Tuesday, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said he was "not particularly worried" about the systemic risks related to private credit. Dimon — who suggested that TriColor and First Brands were just some of the "cockroaches" lurking in the broader credit market last year — was among the first people on Wall Street to warn of risks in the private credit market.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon also said he believed private credit is still an attractive space, despite more "noise" from investors in recent months.

• Private credit direct lending redemptions hit a record $19.5 billion in the first quarter.
• But only 53% of the requested cash, or $10.4 billion, was returned to investors.
• These three charts tell the story of the record redemption rush in the first quarter.

Investors asked to take out $19.5 billion from private credit direct lending funds in the first quarter, according to a Business Insider analysis of SEC filings.

However, firms only paid out 53% of requests, or $10.4 billion, across the 17 investment vehicles Business Insider analyzed. Nine funds decided to cap investor withdrawals to the maximum amount they are required to pay out per quarter (either 5% or 7%).

These redemptions are a sign of faltering confidence among some investors in non-traded private credit funds, as concerns mount about exposure to software loans in the age of generative AI and the difference between private and public market valuations. While some investors are pulling money out, others continue to invest, meaning that these vehicles may see much smaller net outflows, or even net inflows, for the quarter.

Private credit, or loans written by non-bank lenders such as asset managers, has been one of the fastest-growing asset classes in the first half of the decade. The largest segment of private credit is direct lending to businesses to help fund their operations, much of it to finance leveraged buyouts for its private equity cousin.

The private markets industry has also been making a large push into retail investors via semi-liquid investment vehicles sold to them by their wealth managers. The private credit vehicles, either business development companies or interval funds, promise higher returns than "public" credit, but the trade-off is that investors can only pull their money out quarterly.

The data comes from SEC filings. For some firms, the Q1 2026 numbers for are estimates based on their most recently disclosed net asset values, as they have not yet released the March net asset values that are the basis for final payouts to investors.

Business Insider included large funds that have a large percentage of direct lending loans, but didn't include funds that focused on other strategies, like asset-backed lending. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10th.

Many of these funds chose to limit withdrawals for the first time in the first quarter of this year. While that decision may irritate some investors, it helped keep more than $9 billion in these funds.

Requests were up 142.2% from the last quarter of 2025, but actual redemptions were only up 28.9% from the $8 billion redeemed at the end of last year.

While the $10.4 billion withdrawn this past quarter was a record, the amount withdrawn had been climbing steadily before that, jumping 154% from the third to fourth quarter when investors pulled $8 billion.

We decided to focus from the second quarter 2025 onwards because that was when redemption numbers began to increase, potentially after the impact of tariffs on BDCs.

The largest payout, by far, came from Blackstone's Private Credit Fund, the largest non-traded BDC with $82.7 billion in assets. It returned $3.7 billion to investors after the firm declined to limit withdrawals to 5%.

Just because Blackstone returned $3.7 billion to investors doesn't mean it has $3.7 billion less cash on hand, as nearly $2.5 billion of money came into the fund from new investors, as well as the firm and some executives.

The biggest requests in dollar amounts were Cliffwater's Corporate Lending Fund and Blue Owl Credit Income Corp.

Blue Owl Technology Income Corp, Blue Owl's smaller tech-focused fund, had the highest percentage of requests to redeem in the last two quarters and redeemed 15.40%, or $527 million, in the fourth quarter of last year. It also sold some assets held by this fund in the first quarter, bolstering its liquidity. The next quarter, it decided to limit withdrawals.

Andy Kiersz created the charts for this story.

• My partner and I flew from London to Sydney in the Emirates business-class cabin.
• As part of the experience, a car service picked us up at home and brought us to the airport.
• From the in-flight cocktail lounge to the luxurious amenities, I had a great time on board.

When my partner and I booked a 24-hour journey from London to Sydney, we decided to upgrade our Emirates flights to business class to make things more comfortable.

Emirates' business class has a reputation for being luxurious, so I was excited to take in all the company had to offer. Little did I know, however, the experience would start before I even entered the airport.

Shortly after booking the flight, I was prompted to book a private car service to pick us up from our house and take us to the airport. I was also able to book ground transportation to and from the airport in Sydney, as well as a car to take us home on the return trip.

I was particularly impressed that the chauffeur dropped us off at a dedicated Emirates entrance at London Gatwick airport, and we were escorted by an attendant to the priority check-in desk — we didn't need to touch our bags from the moment we left home.

It truly set the tone for the rest of the trip, which exceeded my expectations.

We spent time in the Emirates lounge in London, which was stocked with a variety of cuisines and drinks.

Our business-class fare also gave us access to the Emirates lounge, which offered lots of warm and cold food options, vibrant salads and desserts, and attentive staff.

The lamb shoulder and roasted potatoes were incredible on a cold winter night, and I loved the goat cheese and beetroot salad so much that I went back for seconds.

Boarding the flight was so easy, and my seat came with some amazing amenities.

Our business-class seats gave us access to priority boarding, which gave us plenty of time to get settled.

I noticed the aircraft for the first leg of our journey seemed to be older, and at first glance, the upholstery looked a bit dated. However, the lie-flat seat was incredibly comfortable with plenty of legroom.

My pod also had a large touchscreen entertainment system with an accompanying tablet, headphones, slippers, an eye mask, snacks, and both mineral and sparkling water.

We were welcomed with drinks and amenity kits.

Once I sat down, the friendly flight crew offered me a choice of Champagne or juice, plus hot towels.

One of my favorite parts of the experience, however, was the beautiful amenity kit full of Bulgari products, including a moisturizer, lip balm, perfume, and body lotion.

The kit also had a few other useful items like a hair tie, deodorant, tissues, a dental kit, a comb, and ear plugs.

The in-flight cocktail lounge was the best part of the flight.

About an hour after takeoff, the cocktail lounge opened, which, in my opinion, was the best part of flying business class on Emirates.

The flight crew became mixologists and created classic cocktails and delicious mocktails in the air. It was an incredible experience to order a drink and sip a cosmopolitan while looking out the window, watching the clouds drift by.

The crew even snapped Polaroids of us enjoying the lounge to take home as a fun keepsake.

I couldn't believe how much food I got during the flight.

The seven-hour flight from London to Dubai included three separate meals, served to my pod with a cloth placemat and silverware.

For one meal, I had a beef filet with gravy, mashed potatoes, and vegetables, which was great. However, my favorite was the traditional Arabic mezze plate with kibbeh, babaganoush, stuffed vine leaf, hummus, and pita.

The food was delicious and plentiful — with so much to eat and drink that I even ended up skipping the light meal served between dinner and breakfast.

During the flight, I also had access prepackaged snacks in my pod, and there was even more food available in the lounge.

During my layover, I explored the incredible Dubai Emirates lounge.

During a three-hour layover at the Dubai airport, we explored the Emirates lounge, and it was by far the most spectacular I've ever visited.

Sprawling an entire floor above the main terminal, it felt more like a hotel lobby than an airport lounge, offering three different food stations, each with its own cuisine.

During my visit, there was also an ice cream cart with an attendant, and a Costa Coffee stand with a barista. I had a frothy vanilla latte and a chocolate chip cookie while waiting for my flight.

The lounge even featured a Moët and Chandon Champagne-tasting mini-lounge, where we enjoyed a glass of Nectar Impérial paired with canapés.

The longer flight from Dubai to Sydney was even more incredible than the first.

The long 14-hour leg from Dubai to Sydney was on a more modern aircraft that really gave that wow factor. I gasped out loud as I was ushered on board and directed up a flight of stairs that opened up to the stunning first-class cabin.

I walked past the private suites to my pod in the business-class section, which was breathtaking as well, with chic seats that fully reclined into a horizontal bed.

As was the case on the first leg of my flight, the pod was clean, comfortable, and well-organized.

Unsurprisingly, I slept better than I ever have on a plane. On both legs of the flight, the flight crew added a mattress pad to my seat before bedtime, and handed out a loungewear set that was so soft and comfortable that I brought it home with me.

Overall, the entire Emirates experience was one I'll never forget.

Although it was a splurge, flying business class on Emirates was an experience I'd happily recreate in the future. It really did transform the travel experience across two long-haul flights.

There were only a couple of things I think could've made the flight better, like a privacy screen for each pod and a more up-to-date selection of TV shows and movies.

Overall, though, my Emirates business-class experience was delightful, memorable, and seamless — and it made my long journey fly by.

• Taxes are due April 15. File by mail or electronically to avoid penalties.
• You can file for a six-month extension, which gives more time to file but not to pay.
• Penalty relief is rare. If you owe taxes, submit the payment by April 15 to avoid penalties.

For most Americans, taxes are due on Wednesday, April 15.

Paper filers must postmark their return by the due date, and e-filers must submit it by 11:59 p.m. in their time zone.

Business Insider spoke with tax specialist Timothy Wingate Jr. about the consequences of filing and paying late.

You can request an extension to file, but it won't extend your time to pay

If you know you're going to need more time to file your taxes, you can request a six-month extension by filling out IRS Form 4868.

"Anyone can file for the six-month extension," said Wingate. "It's automatically approved once you file it."

Form 4868 is a one-page document you can send by mail or file electronically — just make sure you do so by April 15. Otherwise, you could face a failure-to-file penalty equal to 5% of your unpaid taxes for each month your tax return is late, up to 25%.

The penalty starts accruing the day after the tax deadline. If you file more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty is $510 or 100% of the taxes you owe, whichever is smaller. There is no late-filing penalty if you're due a refund, but you won't receive it without filing.

An extension to file does not mean an extension to pay.

"If you owe money to the IRS, it still needs to be paid by the 15th," said Wingate. "Otherwise, you will incur a penalty."

The failure-to-pay penalty is 0.5% of your unpaid taxes for each month you don't pay, up to 25%. The IRS also charges interest on penalties.

If you expect to owe taxes, estimate the amount and submit the payment by April 15 to avoid penalties. If you're unsure of your tax liability, "send them what you paid last year," advised Wingate, noting that if you overpay, the IRS will refund you.

You may owe taxes if you withheld too little on your W-4 form, took on a side hustle, or are self-employed and haven't made enough quarterly tax payments. Major life events can also trigger a larger tax bill.

Don't expect penalty relief

While there are valid reasons for failing to file or pay on time — you may qualify for penalty relief in the event of a natural disaster, for example — don't expect relief from the IRS.

Wingate highlighted four scenarios that taxpayers mistakenly believe constitute reasonable causes for failing to file or pay on time.

1. "My tax preparer told me that they filed on time." If someone else handles your taxes, you'll still want to review what they file and get proof that your return has been sent. "It's not the tax preparer's responsibility to ensure that the tax return was filed on time," said Wingate.

2. "This is my first year filing on my own." The IRS doesn't care if you're a first-time filer or filing for the 50th time.

3. "I gave the IRS my correct information, so my tax return shouldn't have been rejected." If your return is rejected, you'll receive an explanation as to why, said Wingate: "It could be rejected for the wrong tax identification number or not having used the identity protection pin when you file." Filing early gives you time to correct any mistakes you may have initially made before the deadline.

4. "I couldn't afford to pay the taxes, so I waited until I had the money to file my tax return." If you can't pay the amount you owe, it's still important to file. Then, you can apply for a payment plan with the IRS to resolve your tax debt.

This story was originally published in April 2025.

• The US Navy has confirmed the loss of its first-ever MQ-4C spy drone, which costs roughly $240 million.
• A new Navy mishap report said the drone crashed earlier in April during the US-Iran war.
• An MQ-4C had disappeared from flight-tracking sites last week, though its fate was unknown.

The US Navy has confirmed the loss of an expensive spy drone amid the Iran war, its first known loss of this particular uncrewed aircraft.

Naval Safety Command revealed in a new aviation mishaps report that an MQ-4C Triton crashed on April 9, with no injury to personnel. The document did not specify where the drone went down, citing operational security.

Last week, an MQ-4C out of Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy was flying a mission over the Persian Gulf when it suddenly and rapidly descended and disappeared from flight-tracking sites, leading to speculation that it had crashed in the Middle East.

The Navy report listed the MQ-4C under "Class A" mishaps, meaning the incident caused more than $2.5 million in damage and/or destroyed the aircraft. The designation is also used to indicate that an accident caused a fatality or permanent total disability, though that doesn't appear to apply in this case.

Neither US Central Command, which oversees American operations in the Middle East, nor the Navy provided a comment on or an explanation for the MQ-4C crash. The War Zone, a military news site, first reported the drone's inclusion in the mishap report.

The MQ-4C, manufactured by American defense contractor Northrop Grumman, is an advanced high-altitude, long-endurance drone designed for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft can operate for more than 24 hours and fly at up to 50,000 feet.

As of last year, the Navy was operating 20 MQ-4Cs, making the loss of one significant. These drones are estimated to cost $240 million apiece, roughly eight times more expensive than the Air Force's MQ-9 Reaper, a combat drone that has also seen losses during the US war with Iran.

The US has lost a number of crewed and uncrewed aircraft during Operation Epic Fury. Three F-15 fighter jets were shot down by Kuwait in a friendly fire incident, while a fourth Strike Eagle and an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft were downed by Iran. A KC-135 refueling plane also crashed in Iraq, killing all six crew members.

Iranian strikes have also damaged support aircraft on the ground at US bases in the Gulf region, including a high-value E-3 Sentry command plane.

The US and Iran agreed to a brief ceasefire last week, but the conflict has moved into a new phase. The American military said last weekend that it would start clearing naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz and block maritime traffic from entering or leaving Iranian ports.

CENTCOM said on Tuesday that the blockade involves more than a dozen US warships, as well as drones and surveillance aircraft.

Listening to vinyl doesn't mean you have to give up modern perks like wireless audio. The best Bluetooth turntables make it easy to pair with wireless speakers or headphones, so you can drop the needle and start listening without fuss. Some all-in-one record players even go a step further, with two-way connectivity, so you can transmit audio to a separate device or stream music from a phone to the turntable's built-in speakers.

I've been covering audio gear for more than a decade, and I've tested my fair share of record players along the way. For this guide, I spent hands-on time with several Bluetooth turntables to narrow down the best options for different setups. If you want something simple with built-in speakers, the House of Marley Rise Up stands out. It's one of the few all-in-one models I've reviewed that actually sounds great. Meanwhile, if you're willing to use external speakers, the Sony PS-LX3BT is a great upgrade pick with performance that outclasses most entry-level players.

Though purists will want to stick with a wired connection for the most authentic sound quality, the best Bluetooth record players are perfect for beginners or anyone who wants a pain-free setup that doesn't require a separate amp or pesky speaker wires.

Our top picks for the best Bluetooth turntables

Best overall: House of Marley Rise Up - See at House of Marley

Best for beginners: Victrola Automatic - See at Amazon

Best upgrade pick: Sony PS-LX3BT - See at Amazon

Best budget all-in-one: Victrola Eastwood II - See at Amazon

Best overall

The House of Marley Rise Up is my pick for the best Bluetooth turntable overall. It has everything you need to enjoy a record right out of the box, so you don't need to worry about extra components or even a pair of speakers.

The Rise Up supports two-way Bluetooth use, so you can stream a vinyl record to a separate wireless speaker, or you can stream audio from your phone to the player's built-in speakers. There are also RCA connectors on the back for wired playback, offering a host of connectivity options.

But what really makes the Rise Up stand out from other all-in-one players is one simple fact: its built-in speakers actually sound good. Seriously, so many all-in-one players have terrible audio quality, but the Rise Up sounds notably better than most rivals. The stereo speakers hidden beneath the fabric actually do an album justice. It also makes the Rise Up a viable Bluetooth speaker for streaming Spotify or Apple Music.

The turntable features a replaceable Audio-Technica AT3600L stylus and cartridge. This is a respectable entry-level component that sounds detailed and full, especially for this price point. I also like the player's unique bamboo finish. And this design choice isn't purely for aesthetics. The company has partnered with the Marley family to continue Bob Marley's legacy of championing music and sustainability. Its products are responsibly sourced, from packaging to materials like recycled slipmats.

If you like the idea of the Rise Up, but want even more kick from the player and speakers, the brand's Soul Rebel is the next step up. I haven't tested that model yet, but it features a dual-bass port design, which should enable deeper low-end sound. It also has a switchable preamp, a 3.5mm jack, and ambient lighting.

Check out our guide to all the best record players.

Best for beginners

The Victrola Automatic is the best Bluetooth record player for beginners, primarily because it's so easy to operate. It's not intimidating, even for people new to vinyl albums. It comes mostly assembled and doesn't require advanced knowledge beyond the most basic use.

Of course, it comes equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to easily stream to any wireless Bluetooth speaker or headphones without worrying about cables, an AV receiver, or an amplifier. The player is also fully automatic, with controls to play, repeat, lift the tonearm, and switch between speeds.

This design lets you place a record on the turntable, press a few buttons, and listen to your music in no time. There's also an automatic repeat feature. This function lets you keep your music playing indefinitely, which isn't common on many competing budget models.

I also like that it has an integrated, selectable preamp. The Automatic uses an Audio-Technica ATN-3600LA cartridge, which offers a robust sound profile, though it isn't quite audiophile-caliber. But for this class of turntable, it's perfectly fine.

The Victrola Automatic also stands out for its compact size, making it suitable for most locations. However, keep in mind that while the platter is aluminum, the Automatic is otherwise completely plastic, including the tonearm. The buttons can be quite clicky and loud, and it just doesn't have the build quality that you get with pricier turntables.

As an alternative, I also like the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT, which is another excellent stand-alone Bluetooth turntable for those new to vinyl. It offers simple, accessible use while still supporting upgrades to components like the cartridge if you want to enhance performance in the future. It's very similar to the Victrola Automatic, and prices for both fluctuate, so sometimes one is more than the other. Ultimately, I give an edge to whichever is currently cheaper.

Best upgrade pick

If you're willing to spend a bit more on a stand-alone Bluetooth turntable, the Sony PS-LX3BT is a great step-up model. It's the successor to the brand's time-tested PS-LX310BT, which was a favorite among casual vinyl fans. This new model keeps what made that older player so appealing: simple setup, automatic playback, and great sound quality.

Getting started takes just a few minutes, and once everything's assembled, you can play or stop a record with a single button. The tonearm moves into place automatically, which is great if you don't want to fuss with manual controls. Of course, the player also supports Bluetooth, including aptX Adaptive for higher-quality wireless audio with compatible headphones.

When wirelessly connected to speakers or wired through its built-in preamp and RCA cable, the PS-LX3BT delivers clear, balanced sound that's noticeably more detailed than what you'll get from cheaper Bluetooth record players. However, the turntable's automatic movements can be noisy. Its plastic housing and buttons also feel cheaper than those of similarly priced players that lack Bluetooth. Thankfully, these drawbacks are easy to overlook once the music starts.

The PS-LX3BT is pricier than my other picks, but it sounds better than most entry-level models while still offering the convenience that makes Bluetooth record players so appealing.

Check our full Sony PS-LX3BT turntable review.

Best budget all-in-one

The Victrola Eastwood II is all about affordability and convenience. It's a great entry-level choice for anyone who wants a budget-friendly all-in-one record player with built-in speakers. Not only can it wirelessly stream music to a Bluetooth speaker or pair of headphones, but it can also play music from your phone directly through its own integrated speakers.

To hit its low price point, the Eastwood II does make a few compromises, so it's best to keep expectations in check. Still, it's a clear step up from the many ultra-cheap suitcase-style record players out there. After using it, I'm confident it's one of the best Bluetooth record players in this tier. Prices vary depending on sales, but it often drops to around $99, which is hard to beat for an all-in-one unit like this.

Its compact design is another big plus. The Eastwood II is a real space-saver, making it a smart choice for people who don't have a lot of console or table real estate. It's so compact that a full-size record hangs slightly off the side, which explains the cutout in the dust cover — a thoughtful design touch that keeps the overall footprint small.

The Eastwood II uses the popular AT-3600LA cartridge and stylus, which is a solid entry-level setup. But while it's convenient that the player has built-in speakers, their audio quality is lacking. The speakers are fine for casual listening, but don't sound nearly as good as typical bookshelf speakers or the integrated speakers on pricier all-in-one models like the House of Marley Rise Up.

Fortunately, Victrola gives you options. There are RCA and 3.5mm outputs for connecting external speakers or headphones, and of course, Bluetooth is available if you'd rather stream your vinyl wirelessly to a better Bluetooth speaker.

Check out our guide to all the best budget record players.

What else we considered

The Standard from Wrensilva - See at 1st Dibs

If you're a big audio enthusiast who wants one of the most impressive vinyl listening experiences you can get, The Standard from Wrensilva is nearly unbeatable. Though most Bluetooth record players are aimed at beginners and budget shoppers, this system goes in the complete opposite direction. This isn't just a record player; this is a $14,000 luxury system with high-end speakers and a custom cabinet.

I've had a few listening sessions with the Standard, and its 200W-per-channel speakers sound incredible. The hand-built cabinet adds a level of presentation to the total package that's phenomenal. It houses up to 130 vinyl albums, along with the speakers, turntable, and all the components. The system is also compatible with the Sonos app, so you can stream vinyl records to other Sonos speakers around your home. You can also stream Bluetooth audio from your phone to The Standard for quick, easy use.

Though a bit too pricey to fit as a full-fledged pick in this guide, The Standard is too impressive not to get a mention. It's not only timeless but also, thanks to its plentiful connectivity options, fully modern.

How we test Bluetooth turntables

To select the best Bluetooth turntables, I spent hours testing different models while playing dozens of vinyl records. Whenever possible, I used the same album on multiple turntables to keep things consistent. For Wrensilva's The Standard, I visited the company's listening room multiple times to see it, hear it, and get hands-on time with it.

During each listening session, I focused on clarity, detail, and depth. While the models I reviewed weren't all direct competitors, I still paid attention to how players at different price points stacked up against one another. I listened for mechanical noise, unwanted clicks or ticks, and anything else that might pull you out of the music. Just as important was how each player felt to use — from the smoothness of the controls to the overall build quality.

For Bluetooth testing, I paired each record player with a variety of speakers and headphones, including the Sony WH-1000XM6, Marshall Stanmore, and Bose SoundLink Plus. When streaming music to a record player's built-in speakers, I used an Apple iPhone 17 Pro with Apple Music to see how easily and reliably everything connected and performed.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Tyler Hayes, contributing reporter: I've been covering consumer technology since 2013 and have spent plenty of time testing and living with record players along the way. When putting this guide together, I focused on finding great Bluetooth turntables at a range of prices. I paid close attention to build quality, sound performance, design, and overall value, while also considering convenience features like built-in speakers for people who want an easy, plug-and-play setup. Though a wired connection will always get you a more authentic vinyl experience, Bluetooth is undeniably convenient, and my picks in this guide are for people who want a no-fuss turntable.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

Bluetooth turntable FAQs

How does a Bluetooth turntable work?

A Bluetooth turntable plays records the same way a traditional one does, using a needle and cartridge to read the grooves. The difference is that it also has a built-in Bluetooth transmitter, which sends the audio wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers, headphones, or soundbars instead of — or in addition to — a wired connection.

What's the benefit of Bluetooth support in a record player?

The primary benefit of Bluetooth on a record player is convenience, as you can wirelessly connect it to other Bluetooth devices, such as speakers or headphones. This eliminates messy cables. Not all Bluetooth record players will send audio out, however. Some with built-in speakers only work as Bluetooth receivers, meaning you can stream audio to them. The ones described as two-way can transmit and receive Bluetooth.

Does Bluetooth reduce sound quality when listening to vinyl?

Technically, yes, there is a drop in quality when wirelessly transmitting a vinyl record via Bluetooth. However, casual listeners will likely find the difference to be subtle. If you're an audiophile or vinyl purist, a wired connection will deliver better results.

Does a Bluetooth record player need an amp or a separate preamp?

Usually, no, at least not for Bluetooth listening. The best Bluetooth record players have a built-in preamp, which means they can send audio directly to Bluetooth speakers or headphones without any extra gear. If you want to use a wired setup with passive speakers or a traditional stereo system, you may still need an external amp or receiver, depending on the turntable and your speakers.

Can I connect a Bluetooth record player to any speaker or headphones?

As long as the speaker, soundbar, or headphones you're using support Bluetooth, they should pair just fine with a Bluetooth record player. If you're looking for recommendations, check out our buying guides:

• Best Bluetooth speakers
• Best headphones
• Best wireless earbuds
• Best soundbars

• Sydney Sajadi had an emergency hysterectomy, but said she felt unsupported and alone afterward.
• She researched her own recovery, realizing that she'd neglected her health for decades.
• The ex-financier wanted to help others like her, ditched her career, and founded a wellness brand.

This interview is based on a conversation with Sydney Sajadi, 46, the founder and CEO of a wellness brand from Toronto. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In the financial field, when I co-owned a real estate lending firm in New York City, I was the type of person who checked my emails first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

It was "go, go, go," and I didn't get enough sleep, underate by missing meals because I was too "busy," and overexercised to achieve the "right look."

I'd always had an issue with uterine fibroids. I dealt with the problem as something that came along monthly, which landed me in bed for a whole week.

I burst into tears with no explanation

Then, in 2024, I suffered a health crisis. I went to the ER with a towel wrapped around me because the bleeding wouldn't stop. I was hemorrhaging and needed four blood transfusions.

It wasn't enough, and the only option left was a full hysterectomy. Usually, the surgery is treated as the main event, but nobody talks about the aftermath.

People rallied around me during the operation. They were my cheerleaders. But after I got home, I was pretty much on my own. Everybody has their own lives to lead, and besides, I didn't want to be a burden.

I was completely depleted in every way. I would burst into tears with no explanation. I started feeling that my skin, even my hair, felt different.

Back at work after three weeks of medical leave, I experienced more stress because I couldn't focus and keep up with emails. The hours dragged, and I'd look at the clock and think, "When is it going to be noon? When will it be 1 pm? When can I go back to bed?"

I felt depressed and didn't want to socialize or go to the gym. I felt completely on my own for eight long months.

I tried to push through it, but there came a point when it was clear I couldn't keep operating at that level while my health was declining. The period forced me to step back and reassess everything.

I was suffering from burnout

I started researching my symptoms. My body was full of inflammation, and my hormones were out of whack. I took independent action to improve my digestion, lymphatic support, circulation, and tissue repair.

These were things I'd never thought of before. For years, I'd assumed I was a healthy person who went to the gym and drank protein shakes. I realized I'd burned myself out and not given myself enough time and grace to recover.

I also knew that I wasn't the only one. A lot of high-achieving women need guidance and support after surgery, whether elective, like a facelift, or an urgent medical situation.

I started my own business

So I changed direction in my career, moved from New York City to my native Toronto, and launched my wellness brand, Sanadi Life. It helps women navigate recovery, hormonal changes, and overall health.

Many are high-performing and don't have the luxury of extended downtime, so the focus is on efficient recovery while supporting long-term vitality and aging well.

As for me, I feel wonderful now, more so than I did pre-surgery. I have my energy and vitality back. I feel like the better version of myself, and I like her a lot.

From effortless everyday outfits to business-casual occasions, a good button-up top is one of the most versatile spring and summer fashion staples.

I often wear button-ups over a swimsuit with jean shorts for beach days, or pair them with nice slacks for professional lunch meetings or work events.

However, I noticed many of my tried-and-true staples were starting to wear down, so I figured it was time for a restock.

The first place I always turn to for wardrobe basics is the reliable roster of Gap Inc. retailers — Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy. So, I tested out similar options from each store to see which deserve permanent spots in my closet.

I wore each item for everyday activities and rated them based on design, fit, material, price, and overall quality. Here's how it went.

I tried on the Banana Republic option first

Banana Republic is Gap Inc.'s more upscale retailer that offers elevated staples. I ordered the cotton poplin Everyday Shirt in a brown-and-white striped design — a neutral color combination that would offer diverse styling options.

When I first opened my package, I noticed the material felt durable and structured, yet still lightweight. Made from 100% cotton, it felt soft on the skin and breathable when putting it on.

I wore it with jean shorts and flip flops for a day of running errands. It kept me comfortable going from place to place, and it seemed like it would hold up well over time.

In terms of style, I liked the oversize fit, but I wished it were a bit more relaxed and less stiff, especially around the collar and shoulders.

Although I typically prefer my button-ups to be slouchy, I think this fit would work well for corporate and professional settings. However, I probably wouldn't wear this again for such a casual outing.

I also didn't necessarily think it was worth the $90 price tag. I did appreciate the natural cotton fabric and well-constructed design, but the cost seemed a bit steep for what it was: a basic button-up.

Next, I put my Gap button-up to the test

Over the past few years, Gap has continued to earn its place as one of my favorite retailers for high-quality pieces at reasonable prices.

I ordered the organic cotton poplin Big Shirt in the blue-stripe shade, which looked nearly identical to its Banana Republic counterpart. It was even comprised of almost the same material.

The only true difference was that the Gap version was made with 100% organic cotton and cost $20 less.

In addition to the lower price, the shirt's cut and fit also caught my eye. The fit was oversize, but it had a tunic length (namely, a slightly longer hem) and a more relaxed fit around the chest and shoulders.

I paired it with white linen pants to create an elevated summer aesthetic, and wore the outfit to work from a coffee shop for several hours.

The shirt was comfortable and breathable, so I know that I could easily wear this throughout the spring and summer months.

At $70, it's definitely an investment, but for the organic materials and flattering style, I think it's a worthy purchase.

I wasn't a huge fan of the Old Navy button-up, but I think it's a great option for the price

Finally, I was excited to try a piece from Old Navy, which is Gap Inc.'s more budget-friendly retailer.

I ordered the classic button-down shirt in the pink stripe design, and loved the vibrant shade for spring and summer ensembles.

However, as soon as I opened the package, I noticed the shirt felt more flimsy — and of lesser quality — than the Banana Republic and Gap options.

Although the tag said this button-up was also made from 100% cotton, the fabric felt much thinner and less durable. This can be due to a number of factors that are invisible to the consumer — like how the cotton is processed, woven, or finished.

After putting it on, I also realized the style fit much more snugly than the others, even though I ordered them all in the same size. To be fair, though, this one wasn't marketed as having an oversize fit like the Gap version was.

Next time, I'd order a size or two up to achieve a more laid-back feel.

Once I styled the shirt with a pair of baggy jeans and some sandals, though, I loved the look of it.

I wore it to the local farmers market, followed by brunch. It was comfortable and perfect for a casual outing, but it would have been more breathable if it were a bit looser.

This was my least favorite option, but I still thought it was a solid choice. I didn't feel confident it would last more than a year, but for only $30, it's a budget-friendly piece worth wearing for the season.

At the end of the day, though, the Gap button-up proved to be my top choice for its durability, materials, and overall style.