• Mick Jagger says AI should help musicians create something new, not imitate other artists.
• Those who are "clever" can use AI to their advantage "to make boring things go quicker," he said.
• But the creative work itself still has to come from humans, Jagger said.

Mick Jagger says AI is another tool for making music — as long as it's used to create something original.

In an interview with Billboard on Thursday, the Rolling Stones front man shared his thoughts on AI in music and the evolving role of technology in the studio.

"You don't really want to be imitated by AI, obviously," Jagger said.

"I don't want people just putting stuff out there that can sound exactly like the Rolling Stones. I think that's obviously wrong," he added.

But he isn't opposed to the use of AI in the music-making process.

"If someone wants to make music by AI, I mean, go ahead. But it has to be original, you know. It has to be you — you have to have your own input and your own thoughts," Jagger said.

AI can be used to create great music, but it can just as easily produce something terrible, depending on the input, he said.

Jagger added he sees AI as simply the latest step in the evolution of music recording technology, one of many changes he's witnessed over his six-decade career. Before computers entered studios in the late 1970s, mixing tracks required several people working together, he said.

"In a way, if you're clever, you can use that technology greatly to your advantage to make things go quicker, to make boring things go quicker," Jagger said.

But the creative process itself still has to be human, he said.

"In my opinion, you've got to write the songs, you have to play them, and you play them live," he said. "Of course, you can overdub, I've been doing overdub since 1965, that's not new."

Jagger acknowledged that some people are already using AI to generate songs from scratch in the style of established artists, including the Rolling Stones.

"But I mean, if you were any kind of creative person, you wouldn't do that," he added.

Jagger's comments come after the band experimented with AI to de-age themselves in the music video for their latest single, "In the Stars." In the video, released in May, AI was used to replace the faces of the musicians portraying the band with younger versions of the Rolling Stones.

"They're not fake people in a fake room. All those drummers that you see are all real drummers and they're all playing in a real room," Jagger said. "The musicians are real musicians that look a bit like The Rolling Stones in 1968. The only thing was the faces."

Jagger joins other artists debating AI's place in creative industries.

In 2023, Jason Derulo said he doesn't see AI as a threat to musicians yet because lyrics written by bots lacked "soul."

"As we progress and as technology progresses, we'll have more and more tools," Derulo said. "Hopefully, the creativity of the product continues to grow with the technology as opposed to using technology as a crutch."

In May, Jack Antonoff — the lead vocalist of the rock band Bleachers and longtime Taylor Swift collaborator —wrote an open letter criticizing "bad actors" who use AI in what he called the "holy process" of making music.

"So to everyone who is gassed up about the new ways you can fake making art, by all means drive right off that cliff," Antonoff wrote in the letter. "We're genuinely happy to see you go."

• Demis Hassabis emphasized the importance of STEM degrees in the AI era.
• The DeepMind CEO highlighted the need for tech basics and even the humanities.
• Geoffrey Hinton and Max Levchin agree on the enduring value of computer science fundamentals.

AI is changing tech careers, but it won't take away the importance of a STEM degree, says Demis Hassabis.

In an interview at a London business conference, the video of which was published on Wednesday, the DeepMind CEO said that knowing the fundamentals of software can give you a leg up in using AI.

"You absolutely needed to lean into STEM and computer science," Hassabis said. "It's just a higher-level programming language is the way you can think about what programming is going to become."

Hassabis, who cofounded DeepMind in 2010, which Google acquired in 2014, said that people first used machine code, then C, then Python. But the future of programming languages may be English.

"You're still going to need to know about architecting things and best software engineering practices," he said. "Those people who understand the deep technical, they'll be able to use these tools 10 times more effectively than people who don't have that technical knowledge."

The DeepMind CEO said AI also creates the need for people to study ethics and social sciences.

"I also believe that the time is now for the humanities like philosophy, economics. I think we really need them in the world we're about to enter," he said.

Hassabis is among tech leaders who are quelling fears that degrees like computer science and engineering are becoming redundant because of vibe coding.

In an interview with Business Insider in December, Geoffrey Hinton, the "godfather of AI," highlighted the value of computer science degrees.

"Obviously, just being a competent mid-level programmer is not going to be a career for much longer, because AI can do that," Hinton said. But the value of a CS degree is much more than just coding, which is why he thinks a "CS degree will be valuable for quite a long time."

Max Levchin, the CEO of Affirm, has also said that computer science fundamentals are key to distinguishing good code from "garbage."

"There's a matter of taste and elegance in programming," he said on a podcast earlier this year. "That's certainly important to me as a programmer, and without having a solid foundation in computer science, I wouldn't be able to have that conversation."

• CIA director John Ratcliffe said Russian soldiers live 20 to 30 minutes on the battlefield.
• His comments come after Russian military bloggers cited a similar statistic about fresh troops.
• Ratcliffe pointed to AI-powered Ukrainian drones as a leading cause of such deadly conditions.

The average life expectancy for a Russian soldier entering battle in Ukraine is 20 to 30 minutes, Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe said on Wednesday.

Ratcliffe was speaking at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, where he attributed the deadly conditions to Ukraine's combat drones equipped with AI.

"What I would say is, our intelligence is consistent with some of the open-source reporting you may have seen in Ukraine," Ratcliffe said. "So the average life expectancy of a Russian recruit, right now, arriving on the battlefield in Ukraine, is estimated to be between 20 and 30 minutes."

"And that's because AI-powered drones have gotten to be such specialized, low-cost killing machines. And it's why we're now four and a half years into that conflict," Ratcliffe added.

Russia's defense ministry press team did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

The CIA director's comment is the first time a top US official has affirmed the life expectancy trend first reported recently among Russian military bloggers.

Several of these pro-war pundits, often well-connected to the Kremlin or its ground forces, said in May that Russian recruits tended to live between 10 days and three weeks after arriving at their training grounds.

One blogger, under the moniker "House among the Laurels," wrote that the final stage of a recruit's deadly military stint is a frontal assault — Russia's primary way of attempting to take Ukrainian territory — that lasts 20 to 35 minutes before they are killed.

Ukraine said this month that Russia has lost about 1.4 million soldiers since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, with over 1,000 of the Kremlin's troops killed or wounded almost every day. In May, Ukraine's defense ministry said it was killing roughly 200 Russian soldiers for every kilometer of territory that Moscow claimed.

Some Western analyses, such as a report published this month by researchers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, have corroborated Kyiv's figures. CSIS analysts Seth G. Jones and Riley McCabe wrote that Russia's rate of battlefield losses, about 30,000 a month, is eclipsing its recruitment rate of 27,000 a month.

"The Russia-Ukraine casualty rate has likely risen to nearly 8:1 in the first half of 2026, up from between 2:1 and 3:1 for much of the war," their analysis said. The pair said they studied 20,000 incidents involving Ukrainian strikes against Russian targets to obtain their data.

Ratcliffe said on Wednesday that Russia had gained only about 1% of Ukraine's total territory in the 18 months since he'd been appointed director of the CIA.

"The pace of their advance has stopped as Ukraine's mastery of emerging technologies," Ratcliffe said.

The US needs to learn from Ukraine's drone war, he added.

"And in this case, drone warfare, asymmetric warfare, is such a great equalizer and shows why we have to be leading on this on all respects for us to maintain our place in the global marketplace," he said.

• Nearly 100 Google workers rallied near the company's Mountain View headquarters.
• More than 4,500 employees signed a petition seeking stronger layoff protections.
• Workers want guaranteed severance, voluntary exits, and an end to performance quotas.

Dozens of Google employees from around the country gathered in the shadow of the company's Mountain View headquarters on Thursday, holding signs reading "Googlers for Job Security" and demanding stronger protections against layoffs.

At noon, nearly 100 workers filled a grassy stretch of the campus, flanked by the Googleplex on one side and the sweeping canopy of Google's visitor center on the other. Many wore matching black shirts. Others held Alphabet Workers Union placards or helped unfurl a long white banner covered with the names of more than 4,500 employees who signed a petition about job security addressed to CEO Sundar Pichai and three senior executives.

"We want voluntary exits before layoffs, we want guaranteed severance standards, we want an end to performance quotas," Parul Koul, a Google software engineer and president of the Alphabet Workers Union, which has around 1,400 members, told the crowd. Alphabet, Google's parent company, employs nearly 191,000 people.

The protest captured a shift that has unsettled workers across the tech industry. Since 2022, companies including Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft have cut tens of thousands of jobs, often through repeated rounds that left employees waiting for the next notice. Google laid off 12,000 employees in 2023 and has since conducted several smaller rounds, collectively affecting thousands of employees.

The company's workforce, known for pushing management on ethics and corporate policy, is now organizing around something more fundamental: whether employees can count on basic security in an era of rolling layoffs, tougher performance systems, and anxiety over how AI will reshape their jobs.

The petition, which the union first wrote in early 2025, asks Google to guarantee severance for every laid-off worker, offer voluntary exit packages before mandatory cuts, end forced-distribution performance ratings, and let employees receive severance as extended paid leave. The union also wants Google to make voluntary exits a formal policy instead of offering them selectively.

Koul told Business Insider that employees tried to deliver it to Pichai last year and, after receiving no substantive response, continued collecting signatures and returned Thursday with more than twice as many names.

Business Insider attended the event and spoke with Googlers about what they want from the company and why they're protesting.

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

Googlers delivered a petition to top execs

About 20 workers began delivering the petition around 9 a.m. on Thursday, Kaylee Lubick, a Google software engineer and union member, told Business Insider.

The group first visited the offices of Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian and senior vice presidents Rick Osterloh and Nick Fox. Lubick said the executives were not there to meet with them, and the employees slipped the petition under their doors.

They also went to Pichai's office, where a member of his team promised to get the petition to the CEO, Lubick said.

The union says Google offered voluntary exit packages to more than 70,000 workers across several rounds since the campaign began. Koul told Business Insider that the figure reflects the number of employees eligible for the offers, not the number who accepted them.

At the protest, speakers described a workplace reshaped by several rounds of layoffs.

"I see worried people, grateful to still have a job, do the best they can to keep it," said Nobel Barakat, a Google software engineer. "I've seen people work longer and longer days with the hopes that they avoid a sudden poor performance rating."

Matthew Hoffman, a Google DeepMind engineer, said he joined the protest to show his support, even though he had not been personally affected by layoffs and had not yet joined the union.

"I think I realized that just because something hasn't affected you personally doesn't mean it won't someday," he said.

As television cameras rolled, workers raised their signs and chanted: "Google, Google, can't you see? We deserve security."

Google has a history of employee activism

Thursday's protest drew on Google's long history of employee activism.

In 2018, more than 4,000 workers opposed Project Maven, a Pentagon contract that used Google's AI to analyze drone footage. Later that year, roughly 20,000 employees walked out over Google's handling of sexual-misconduct allegations against senior executives. In 2024, Google fired workers after sit-ins protesting Project Nimbus, its cloud-computing contract with the Israeli government.

On Wednesday, Business Insider reported that a Google DeepMind researcher resigned after the company signed an agreement allowing the Pentagon to use its AI for classified operations. Around 600 employees had urged Google not to enter such a deal.

"We have the power to change things for ourselves," Koul said. "The only thing preventing us is how organized we are."

Have a tip? Contact Pranav Dixit via email at pranavdixit@protonmail.com or Signal at 1-408-905-9124. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• The FDA has linked shredded lettuce sold at Taco Bell to the cyclosporiasis outbreak, a person familiar with the matter said.
• Thousands of cases of watery diarrhea have been linked to the parasite across the US this summer.
• Michigan, Ohio, and New York have been particularly hard-hit.

They found it: guilty lettuce.

On Thursday, the US Food and Drug Administration linked shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in five states to an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Specifically, shredded lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia was traced back to a single supplier of iceberg lettuce in Mexico and was responsible for 1,644 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases.

The true number of people who've been sickened this summer is likely much higher, and the outbreak goes beyond Taco Bell's shredded lettuce supply.

Cyclospora infections have spread across 34 states since May 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of July 13, the agency had confirmed 1,645 cases and 141 hospitalizations, with no confirmed deaths. Hard-hit Michigan has reported more than 4,300 cyclosporiasis cases in that state alone. It said on Monday that their investigation was also pointing to "lettuce or salad greens" as a potential source of contamination.

Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment about cyclospora contamination from Business Insider. As of Thursday evening, their product recall page listed "no active product recalls" for any Taylor Farms products.

Taylor Farms is one of the largest suppliers of lettuce in the world, serving restaurants, fast food chains, and grocery stores

Taylor Farms is the world's largest producer of salad, supplying chain restaurants like Chipotle and McDonald's, and big grocery stores, including Costco, Walmart, and Trader Joe's. The company says it operates 30 processing facilities across North America. It's unclear whether this particular outbreak is limited to Taylor Farms chopped lettuces only, or includes other products and brands.

On Thursday night, Taco Bell said that "based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states. The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states."

Health experts have recommended avoiding bagged lettuce and salads until the outbreak is over, recommending consumers choose whole heads of lettuce and remove the outer layer of leaves, and wash all produce thoroughly. There is no surefire way to wash cyclospora off produce, so the safest move is to cook foods to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cyclospora thrives in summer heat. Gwen Biggerstaff, the CDC's Deputy Director of foodborne, waterborne, and environmental diseases, said Tuesday that "we anticipate continuing to see cases increase possibly through the end of August, which is the end of the cyclosporiasis season."

Watery diarrhea is a hallmark of the illness

People who have gotten sick with cyclosporiasis this summer have complained of watery diarrhea, cramping, and gas. The illness can last for several weeks if left untreated. A combination antibiotic, Bactrim, can treat it.

Pre-washed salad kits and bagged salads from various brands have been identified as common sources of cyclospora contamination in recent years. But cyclosporiasis outbreaks have also been linked to other leafy and soft vegetables, including raspberries, snow peas, and fresh herbs including cilantro.

Cyclospora outbreaks are notoriously hard to pin down, because it takes about a week for symptoms to develop. By that time, it can be hard to zero in on the specific meal or food that made someone sick. The parasite itself also has more complex genetics than other pathogens like E. coli or salmonella, which can make traceback efforts even more challenging.

Amira Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University, and former CDC "disease detective" said that it's possible the contamination could have been introduced when the produce was washed at production facilities, or at the farm.

"Typically, it's the contaminated water that is leading to the contaminated produce," she said. "In this country, our drinking water is generally not contaminated with parasites. But what is contaminated with parasites is the produce that is exposed to the environmental waters that are contaminated."

Taylor Farms has recalled onions and salad kits in recent years

Taylor Farms has been involved with other food recalls over the past few years.

In 2024, Taylor Farms recalled yellow onions, including some sent to McDonald's restaurants, over potential E. coli contamination. That outbreak of E. coli killed one person and sickened over 100 others across over a dozen states, according to the CDC.

Another recall in 2020 focused on onions sold at Kroger and Walmart, some of which were contaminated with salmonella, the FDA said at the time.

The company has also recalled mislabeled products. Last year, it recalled salad kits that did not disclose that they included soy and sesame, according to the FDA.

This is a breaking news story.

• SpaceX's Starship launch aborted due to engine issues.
• Elon Musk confirmed that some engines failed to start, causing a launch abort.
• SpaceX's shares dipped below the $135 IPO price after hours.

SpaceX called off its first Starship launch since its massive IPO in June.

On Thursday, SpaceX backed away from a launch attempt of its upgraded Starship rocket after an engine issue triggered an automatic abort before liftoff at the company's Starbase facility in South Texas.

CEO Elon Musk said in a post on X that "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort." He added that the company would try again, "hopefully in a few days."

The launch was meant to mark Starship's return to flight weeks after the debut of the V3 vehicle in May.

Thursday's test was also the first Starship launch attempt since SpaceX's June 12 public debut, which raised more than $85 billion in what the company described as the largest IPO in history. After briefly reaching a market valuation comparable to Amazon and Microsoft, SpaceX shares have since retreated.

The stock closed Thursday below its $135 IPO price. Shares fell more than 4% in after-hours trading following the aborted launch before recovering some of those losses.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

A startup founded by Bryan Johnson spent a decade building a headset that measures brain activity using lasers.

Health correspondent Hilary Brueck went to Kernel's headquarters in Los Angeles to test the technology and learn how the company believes better brain data could help doctors, researchers, and even businesses understand how we think.

• A White House teleprompter operator is on leave after reports he profited from Trump's speeches.
• Gabriel Perez is under investigation over allegations that he earned more than $100,000 from bets on Kalshi.
• Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president called Perez's alleged actions "a disgrace."

A White House teleprompter operator has been placed on unpaid leave following reports that he used a prediction betting platform to profit from the content of President Donald Trump's speeches.

Gabriel Perez, who has worked for Trump since his first presidential campaign, is being investigated by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over allegations that he used inside knowledge of Trump's speeches to earn more than $100,000 through bets on Kalshi, according to a person familiar with the matter. ABC News was first to report the allegations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a briefing with reporters on Thursday, confirmed that Perez had been placed on unpaid administrative leave at the president's direction following the ABC report.

"Obviously, I'm aware of the report — the president is, too. I spoke with him about it," Leavitt told reporters. "He believes it's deeply unfortunate and, frankly, a disgrace. And the individual that was cited in that report is complying with the CFTC, but has been put on paid administrative leave. So there will be a teleprompter operator tonight, of course, but it will not be the one, unfortunately, in that story."

Perez, who earns $175,000 annually as a member of the White House staff, has long been a trusted member of Trump's production team. The president has publicly praised Perez's work in the past, thanking him during campaign events and crediting him with helping keep speeches running smoothly.

Robert DeNault, the head of enforcement for Kalshi, told Business Insider in a statement that the platform's surveillance team flagged and referred the trades to the CFTC after an internal investigation.

Beginning in March, Kalshi's surveillance system identified unusual trades in its "mention markets" tied to specific words in Trump's speeches, which led it to Perez, according to a person familiar with the matter. Following the internal investigation, Kalshi froze funds totaling over $90,000 in his accounts before Perez could cash out most of his profits on the platform, the person said.

"We have charged this individual and have been assisting regulators on this matter and provided evidence we collected, as we do in any referral," DeNault said.

When reached for comment by Business Insider, White House representatives pointed to Leavitt's public remarks to reporters about the incident and declined to comment further. A CFTC spokesperson didn't comment on an investigation into Perez.

The case is among the highest-profile allegations involving alleged insider trading on prediction markets, which have exploded in popularity over the past year by allowing users to wager on everything from elections to economic data to the contents of presidential speeches.

Kalshi and other prediction market platforms, such as Polymarket, prohibit users from trading on material nonpublic information. The platforms have increasingly expanded their internal surveillance systems as regulators and lawmakers scrutinize how the markets police potential abuse.

Business Insider previously reported that Kalshi referred former Rep. George Santos to the Justice Department and CFTC after detecting suspicious trades tied to whether he would attend Trump's State of the Union address. Santos has denied wrongdoing.

Business Insider also reported on another case in which a US soldier was indicted on charges of using classified military information to make bets on Polymarket, winning more than $400,000.

After 103 World Cup games, Argentina and Spain will meet this weekend to crown a champion, and you won't want to miss a moment. Everything you need to know about where to watch the World Cup final is below, including multiple options to livestream it free from anywhere in the world.

European champions Spain are the favorites, having made previous favorites France look incredibly ordinary earlier this week with a 2-0 win in the semis, and they've only conceded a single goal so far in the tournament. All while only managing a draw in their opener against Cape Verde, and star striker Yamine Lamal still struggling for form.

Bizarrely, current holders and Copa América champions Argentina barely made the list of favorites before the tournament. But an aging Lionel Messi (now 39) has reminded the footballing world why he's considered the greatest player of all time with a fantastic run of goals and assists that have dragged Argentina to their second World Cup final in a row.

• See also: How to watch MLS live streams | Where to buy World Cup tickets

Where to watch the World Cup final for free

There are some great options for a free livestream of Argentina vs. Spain. Our top English picks include SBS On Demand in Australia and both the BBC and ITV in the UK. The BBC is a particularly compelling option as it features zero ads during halftime or hydration breaks.

If you're after more free World Cup final options internationally, with commentary in different languages, we'd also point you toward ZDF in Germany, M6 in France, Rai in Italy, RTBF in Belgium, RTVE in Spain, or Tabii in Turkey.

You'll need to create a free account and sign in for the above options, but that's it; no credit cards or other paperwork required.

If you're outside any of these countries and want to tune in for free as well, we can help you get around geo-restrictions below. We've tested VPN servers across the whole World Cup tournament for these channels and checked local TV guides to confirm that the match will be shown.

How to watch the World Cup final from anywhere

Don't worry, if you're not seeing a local option for the World Cup final in your local listings, or if it's buried behind a paywall. You can still enjoy any of the streaming options in this article if you're not in one of their broadcast countries, via the use of a VPN (virtual private network) to bypass geo-restrictions. This will also let you continue using your home streaming services while traveling overseas.

These easy-to-use VPN apps let you temporarily digitally alter the location of your device, like your laptop, phone, or streaming stick, to appear as if you were physically in another country, in addition to helping bolster your online security.

NordVPN is my top recommendation for unlocking international streaming services and for digital privacy, and it ranks as the best VPN I've personally tested - and plenty of other tech writers have ranked it #1, too. Nord's global servers are perfect for streaming the World Cup online from anywhere, and the 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free, affordable spend that you'll have plenty of use for beyond the World Cup.

Where to watch Argentina vs. Spain in the US

The 2026 World Cup final airs on FOX (and its 4K channel, too) in the US. So if you already have FOX in your package or can access it via an antenna, you're all set.

If this is the jolt you need to finally join the world of cord-cutters to pick up a deal with a wider selection of channels, you'll find that the best live TV streaming services we've tested are a great place to start. Let's break down your specific options, all of which can be canceled at any time, with no contracts required.

YouTube TV is one of the best options right now for FOX and FS1, and we have an exclusive offer for you: save $15 a month for your first five months after your free trial, bringing the monthly price down to $67.99. That's a $75 saving if you keep it for five months, but you're free to cancel at any time.

Fubo Sports + News is another great choice, with 30 channels and ESPN Unlimited bundled in for $55 for your first month ($65 after), and you can cancel at any time.

If you'd prefer Spanish coverage, there's a great-value deal via Peacock Premium for only $11 a month that includes the Telemundo channel. Peacock is also a fantastic option for Premier League soccer, so it's well worth keeping for the upcoming season in August.

Where to watch Argentina vs. Spain in the UK

After taking turns throughout the tournament to cover all matches, the BBC and ITV will share the World Cup final, with both channels offering free live streams and broadcasts of Argentina vs. Spain.

The BBC iPlayer and ITVX websites and apps will have full coverage and lengthy build-up shows in the hours before kickoff. As always, the BBC will be ad-free throughout the entire final.

You'll need to create a free login to watch either service online. Thankfully, you don't have to dig out your TV license number for either, as just a UK postcode will suffice.

Where to watch Argentina vs. Spain in Australia

We love it when viewing options are super simple, and Australia has the most straightforward setup for the entire World Cup, with SBS On Demand airing every game. Yes, all 104 of them, including Argentina vs. Spain this weekend.

You'll need to create a free account and sign in before hitting that play button, though.

Where to watch Argentina vs. Spain in Japan

As with every 2026 World Cup match, you can enjoy this match live via DAZN in Japan. Both the 'Standard' and 'Baseball' plans include full World Cup coverage.

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

Adding probiotics to your dog's diet may help reduce inflammation in their gastrointestinal (GI) tract, improve digestion, speed recovery of the gut microbiome after a virus, and ease diarrhea.

Even more, the best probiotics for dogs can offer benefits beyond digestive support. Research shows these beneficial bacteria may also help manage issues such as itchy skin and possibly even anxiety.

To make our recommendations for this guide, we consulted veterinarians about what's essential to a good probiotic supplement and evaluated dozens of products. Our experts say the most effective options contain multiple strains of easy-to-digest bacteria with proven benefits for canine digestive function and health. We've both powders and flavored chews among our recommendations, giving you flexibility to choose the format that's best for your dog.

If your dog is showing symptoms of digestive issues and you're considering giving them probiotics, consult your veterinarian first to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

Our top picks for the best probiotics for dogs

Best overall: Nutramax Proviable-DC Digestive Health Supplement - $20 at Chewy

Best chews: Vet's Best Probiotic Soft Chews - $20 at Chewy

Best powder: Vital Planet Flora Dog Probiotic - $33 at Chewy

Best for diarrhea: Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites - $5 at Chewy

Best for chronic DI diseases: Visbiome Vet Advanced GI Care - $77 at Amazon

How we chose the best probiotics for dogs

We selected the probiotics in this guide using the criteria outlined by our experts and combed through peer-reviewed studies to identify the most beneficial bacteria strains for gut health.

Our evaluations of probiotics focused primarily on the specific live strains included and the total CFU count. We also considered whether the product had been independently verified by a third party, such as ConsumerLab, which is an independent testing organization that evaluates supplements for purity, potency, disintegration, and overall brand integrity. We also looked for the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal. The NASC is a nonprofit organization that audits animal supplement companies for quality control and verifies ongoing compliance with manufacturing practices, labeling standards, and adverse event reporting requirements.

In addition, we assessed each supplement's dosage instructions, storage requirements, and whether the label disclosed the number of live organisms present. Finally, we considered factors that could support consistent use and acceptance among dogs, such as flavor options, delivery format (capsule, powder, chew), and whether the supplement is safe for cats as well.

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

Best overall

Nutramax is a well-established brand that makes some of the best dog supplements, including Proviable-DC. The veterinarian-recommended probiotic has also been tested and approved by ConsumerLab, an independent testing organization that evaluates supplements for purity, potency, disintegration, and overall brand integrity.

Proviable-DC is available as a powder that contains 5 billion CFUs (colony-forming units), a measure of the number of live microorganisms in a probiotic. Dr. Mary Anne Amalaradjou, a veterinarian and associate professor of food microbiology in the department of animal sciences at the University of Connecticut, recommends selecting a probiotic with between 1 and 10 billion CFUs. The formula contains seven strains of bacteria, on the higher end of what's typically found in the best probiotics for dogs, including Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and other strains recommended by Amalaradjou.

The supplement also contains prebiotics, a type of fiber that works in conjunction with probiotics to enhance their effectiveness. This combination is a smart choice for a gastrointestinal supplement because it may help the bacteria strains survive longer in the gut microbiome, says Dr. Michael Salkin, a veterinarian with JustAnswer.

We appreciate that Proviable-DC is more affordable than many of the other probiotics we reviewed and that it doesn't require refrigeration, making it easier to store. It's also safe for cats, which can be helpful in multi-pet households where animals access each other's food. The main drawback is that it's only offered as powder-filled capsules that you sprinkle over your dog's food.

Best chews

Even the best dog probiotics won't be as effective if they aren't given consistently. Chews can make dosing easier, especially for dogs that reject powder. Formulated by veterinarians, Vet's Best Probiotic Soft Chews contain six bacteria strains and list 1.5 billion CFUs per chew. Independent testing by ConsumerLab measured a higher amount, closer to 2.1 billion CFUs per chew.

These chews are made with potato starch and dried chicken liver and are free of wheat, corn, and gluten, making them safe for dogs with certain food sensitivities. They also include the prebiotic inulin along with ocean kelp, which contains natural antioxidants that research suggests may have benefits for animal health. Designed for once-daily dosing, each chew contains just 16 calories, which suits most dogs' daily treat calorie budget.

Vet's Best Probiotic Soft Chews come only in chicken flavor. If your dog isn't a fan of chicken, Finn Digestive Probiotics could be a better alternative. The beef-flavored chews are a bit less expensive but have not undergone third-party testing.

Best powder

A powdered probiotic may be a good option for dogs that refuse tablets or chews. Vital Planet Flora Dog Probiotic comes as an unflavored powder that you can easily sprinkle over on or mix into your dog's food.

This formula provides 20 billion CFUs and includes all of the bacteria strains recommended by our experts. It also contains the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides and carries the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal, meaning the company undergoes regular audits for supplement safety and quality.

Some picky dogs may dislike powder's chalky texture, and it isn't available in different flavors. However, Vital Planet offers probiotic bacon-flavored soft chews and beef-flavored tablets.

Best for diarrhea

Diarrhea is fairly common in dogs, usually from eating something they shouldn't have. When this happens, the balance of bacteria in the gut can become temporarily unbalanced. While most episodes pass in two to four days, adding a probiotic to a highly digestible, high-fiber diet can help speed up the recovery, says Dr. Jan Suchodolski, a veterinarian and associate director for research at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine Gastrointestinal Laboratory.

Research supports this. A study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal found that giving puppies with acute diarrhea a multi-strain probiotic for seven days helped them recover much better and more quickly than puppies that went without. Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites contain six strains of gut-friendly bacteria and have 3 billion CFUs per chew. The product also carry the NASC Quality Seal.

In addition to probiotics, the chews contain flaxseed, garbanzo flour, papaya, and pumpkin, which are great sources of fiber that Suchodolski says are crucial in helping firm up stool. Their soft texture makes them easy to feed to most dogs, and dosing is straightforward — one chew per 25 pounds. You can purchase them in quantities from 10 to 250 chews.

Because the ingredient list is longer than that of many of our other recommendations, these chews may not be a good choice for dogs with food sensitivities.

Best for chronic GI diseases

Studies show that giving dogs a probiotic regularly can ease symptoms of chronic gastrointestinal conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic diarrhea. Some studies attribute these benefits to improved intestinal mucosal balance, while other studies point to reduced inflammation that allows gut bacteria to thrive and restore the gut microbiome.

Visbiome, formerly known as VSL#3, manufactures some of the most widely recommended probiotic supplements for both dogs and humans. Visbiome Vet Advanced GI Care contains Bifidobacterium longum, along with several Lactobacillus strains, both of which have shown effectiveness for chronic GI issues in the aforementioned studies.

ConsumerLab testing found that Visbiome Vet is highly potent, measuring 225 billion CFUs per packet. While a higher CFU count isn't necessarily better, Amalaradjou says that Visbiome Vet's predecessor, VSL#3, has been studied in both people and dogs and has shown positive effects for certain digestive conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease.

We like that Visbiome Vet comes in a powder that is easy to mix with your dog's food, and it's also available in capsule form. To maintain the live microorganisms, it should be refrigerated for long-term storage. However, it can be kept at room temperature for up to seven days.

The main drawback is its cost, around $2.50 per dose. However, the higher price may be worth it if you and your veterinarian decide a more robust supplement is most appropriate for your dog.

What to look for in probiotics for dogs

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, also known as good "bugs," that naturally exist in the gut, Amalaradjou says. A dog's gut can have an imbalance of these good bugs for a variety of reasons, including gastrointestinal inflammation or a poor diet. Probiotic supplements can help dogs get more beneficial bacteria and promote a more diverse microbiome, which Amalaradjou says can aid digestion and potentially have other positive effects on a dog's health.

Here is what to keep in mind when shopping for probiotics for your dog.

Colony-forming units (CFUs): Choose a product with a good number of CFUs, which are the live organisms in a probiotic supplement. Amalaradjou and Salkin say that products containing between 1 and 10 billion CFUs are a smart choice.

Expiration date and live organisms: A product should clearly display an expiration date on the packaging. Amalaradjou says a brand should also specify how many live organisms will be present at the end of the product's shelf life.

Dosing and storage instructions: Products should include clear dosing instructions, either on the label or the brand's website. Amalaradjou also recommends closely following storage instructions to ensure viability. For example, probiotics left in a hot car for just 15 minutes may become less viable.

Third-party testing and NASC Quality Seal: Animal supplements, including probiotics, are an unregulated market, so independent testing from organizations like ConsumerLab can help you determine whether a product is of sufficient quality, Suchodolsk says. Another quality marker is the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal, which shows that a supplement is from a company that has been audited and meets established quality control standards.

Proven bacteria strains: There are dozens of probiotic bacteria strains, but most formulas contain between one and eight. The most common are subtypes of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, two bacteria families that produce GABA, an important neurotransmitter that's quickly absorbed in the GI tract and has a key influence on the gut-brain axis. While research comparing each strain head-to-head is limited, Amalaradjou and Suchodolski recommend looking for a probiotic that includes bacteria strains supported by research or anecdotal evidence for effectiveness in gut health. Here are some of the most well-researched strains in canines:

• Enterococcus faecium: A lactic acid bacteria shown to improve loose stools when combined with a healthy diet
• Lactobacillus acidophilus: Naturally found in the gut, this strain adheres well to the intestinal mucus and strengthens intestinal barrier function
• Lactobacillus casei: One of the most researched probiotic strains, with a high acidic tolerance that allowis it to survive the passage through the GI tract and adhere well to the intestinal barrier
• Lactobacillus plantarum: A well-studied probiotic strain with a high survival rate in the GI tract, high genomic diversity, and notable benefits for puppies with GI issues
• Bifidobacterium animalis: A probiotic strain with a high survival rate against GI acid that helps with acute diarrhea in dogs
• Lactobacillus reuteri: Another beneficial strain of the Lactobacillus family, producing antimicrobial compounds that outcompete harmful microbes and support a healthier gut environment

Our top picks compared

Dog probiotics FAQs

What is the most effective probiotic for dogs?

Our top overall pick is Nutramax Proviable-DC Digestive Health Supplement. It's been independently verified by ConsumerLab and is frequently recommended by veterinarians. However, the best probiotic for your dog is ultimately the one your veterinarian recommends. If your vet gives you the go-ahead to start your dog on a probiotic, look for a product that's transparent about its formulation. It should clearly list its specific bacteria strains and CFU count, provide storage directions and an expiration date, and disclose the number of live organisms it contains.

How do I tell if my dog needs a probiotic?

The best probiotics for dogs can help alleviate some gastrointestinal conditions and stomach upset, but they aren't a cure-all. "For the most part, in dogs, when probiotics are used, they are used to help with digestion to support the immune system and to maintain a healthy gut," Amalaradjou says. Our experts recommend speaking with your veterinarian before starting your dog on probiotics. It's important to rule out more serious underlying conditions that require more intensive care. For example, if your dog has chronic diarrhea, your vet may recommend a special diet as part of their treatment, and some flavored probiotic supplements could interfere with treatment.

Do vets recommend probiotics for dogs?

Veterinarians sometimes recommend probiotics to help ease digestive discomfort or promote gut health. While these supplements can be supportive, they shouldn't be viewed as a medication or solution for a potentially more serious problem.

What are signs my dog needs probiotics?

Salkin says veterinarians and pet owners sometimes give probiotic supplements to dogs undergoing antibiotic treatment. Disturbances to the gut microbiome and accompanying symptoms, such as diarrhea, can signal something is amiss. However, Salkin says not to rush into buying a probiotic supplement expecting it will resolve your dog's digestive problems. "A probiotic or prebiotic does not preclude a physical exam and testing in the form of blood, urine, and fecal testing," he says. If you suspect your dog has gastrointestinal distress, your first step should be consulting your veterinarian.

• Wall Street is concerned that Netflix subscribers are spending less time with Netflix shows and movies.
• Netflix says investors shouldn't worry.
• But Netflix is also going to provide less viewership data than it has before. Will that please Wall Street?

Wall Street worries that Netflix has a problem with engagement — an issue you can see in the audience numbers the streaming giant periodically releases.

No problem, says Netflix: It will deal with that problem by … releasing audience numbers less often.

Netflix says it is going to stop putting out its "What We Watched" report — a voluminous data dump that details viewership for thousands of individual shows and movies — twice a year, as it has been doing since December 2023, and just did Thursday.

Instead, it is going to provide the information once a year.

Why? The company is relatively candid about this in the investor letter it released Thursday afternoon: It wants Wall Street to stop focusing on the performance of its shows and movies.

"The goal of separating the publication of the report from our earnings results is to keep the focus on our primary financial metrics — revenue and operating profit," the company said.

The flip side to that argument: If Netflix felt good about its engagement numbers, it would share them more often.

If you are a close Netflix observer, this move will have a familiar echo. In April 2024, Netflix announced it would no longer release subscriber data every quarter. And it used a similar rationale: It wanted Wall Street to stop paying attention to subscriber data and focus on other metrics instead.

Here, it's important to note that Netflix isn't required to release either data sets, at all. And that many of its competitors — including YouTube, its most formidable foe — provide very little data about their services.

So even though the company has become meaningfully less transparent over the last couple years, it still leads its peer set, by a lot. And while some of the impetus in releasing viewership numbers is to impress Wall Street, it isn't the only reason. Netflix also uses those numbers to woo Hollywood talent who worry their shows and movies may get lost amid all the streamer's offerings.

But the most important context here is the obvious one: Netflix has been getting grief from analysts and investors about worrying trends evident from the data that it has been putting out. The main one: Netflix subscribers appear to be spending less time with Netflix content than they have in the past.

And this month, Bloomberg highlighted that issue — using data directly from Netflix — with a report that showed that some of Netflix's biggest shows are seeing a steep drop-off in their second seasons.

Netflix has multiple answers to engagement worriers. It says that its engagement numbers are actually good, for starters. And on the company's earnings call on Thursday, co-CEO Ted Sarandos insisted that the company's second-season drop-offs are much less than its peers, for instance.

More broadly, the company has been arguing for a while that "quality of engagement" matters more than sheer tonnage. "As we've developed an increasingly sophisticated understanding of how consumers ascribe value to our service, we know not all hours are equal," the company said in its investor letter.

Still, you can tell Netflix is quite sensitive about the engagement issue: The word "engagement" shows up 13 times in Thursday's investor letter.

I don't know whether Wall Street will care about any of this. For years, investors obsessed about Netflix subscriber numbers — so much so that every other entrant in the streaming wars went out of their way to boast about their subscriber numbers. Then Netflix moved on, and investors seemed to move on, too.

But in the last year, Netflix stock has performed miserably, down 40%. A big chunk of that decline came from investors who worried about Netflix's plan to buy Warner Bros. Discovery for $83 billion — partly because they didn't like the idea of Netflix laying out that much cash and taking on debt, and partly because of the suggestion that Netflix felt it needed to spend that much to goose growth again.

But even though Netflix ended up walking away from that deal, it didn't solve its stock problem. Maybe this will help.

Over a hundred matches later, we have finally arrived at the final game of the World Cup. Spain and Argentina will fight for the trophy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and tickets are tough to come by. Keep reading to learn how to get Spain vs. Argentina World Cup final tickets before the big day on July 19.

After Spain knocked out France and Argentina defeated England, the two teams will now compete for the 2026 World Cup title. The highly anticipated game, along with a star-studded Halftime show, will make for an incredible viewing experience, especially if you can be there in person. Learn how to get tickets below and head to StubHub and Vivid Seats when you're ready to buy.

Where to buy Spain vs. Argentina tickets

As the final game of the World Cup, demand for Match 104 tickets is high. That said, prices are inflated for the few seats that are available, so shoppers are limited to the expensive listings on verified resale sites.

July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ

• StubHub seats starting from $8,524
• Vivid Seats starting from $6,012

How much are Spain vs. Argentina tickets?

Match 104, the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, is commanding some of the highest resale prices of the entire tournament. On StubHub, currently available tickets start at about $8,500 (including fees) for upper-level seats, while premium lower-bowl inventory is listed at roughly $13,400 to $17,400. The marketplace's highest-end hospitality and VIP listings climb well beyond $100,000 for the most exclusive experiences.

Vivid Seats is cheaper at the time of writing, but prices have started flying since the second semi wrapped up, with the lowest available tickets starting at around $6,000. Premium lower-level seats are generally priced between $15,900 and $25,200, while the most expensive VIP listings currently reach $46,331. With Spain set to face Argentina, inventory is expected to tighten further as kickoff approaches, making the championship match one of the most difficult and expensive tickets to secure.

Who is performing in the World Cup Final Halftime Show?

The World Cup Final will star BTS, Shakira, and Justin Bieber for the Halftime show. The star-studded performance is part of why the tickets are so expensive — soccer fans, K-pop fans, and pop listeners will all be competing for the same seats.

How can I watch the World Cup Finals from home?

Most World Cup fans will be tuning in from home, and it's not hard to join them if tickets don't pan out for you. The game will be streaming on various channels around the world, so check out our guide to watching the World Cup and consider picking up NordVPN to watch from anywhere in the world.

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

See more: Is StubHub legit? | Where to buy World Cup tickets | Where to watch the World Cup

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The internet makes the world go round, whether you're browsing social media on vacation for the latest trends or working remotely. Using a personal hotspot is a solid way to ensure you never lose connection — and T-Mobile is here to help. More than just a phone service carrier, let's look at how T-Mobile's mobile internet plans compare to cell plans and which is right for your needs.

T-Mobile offers both stand-alone hotspot devices and personal hotspot mobile plans that use your smartphone. Either way, you'll be able to maintain reliable network connectivity from anywhere T-Mobile's network covers, which is most of the US.

I've broken down T-Mobile's hotspot plans and prices below, along with any questions you may have about the functionality of owning one.

What is a mobile hotspot?

A mobile hotspot lets you share your phone's cellular data connection with other devices, such as a laptop, tablet, or another phone. Instead of connecting to a traditional WiFi network, your device connects to your phone (or a dedicated hotspot device), which acts as a portable wireless router. As long as you have cellular service, you can create a WiFi network almost anywhere, making hotspots especially useful when you're traveling, working remotely, or don't have access to a reliable internet connection.

For many users, a hotspot is a convenient backup rather than something they use every day. It can come in handy for checking email from a laptop at a coffee shop, joining a video meeting while on the road, streaming entertainment during a trip, or keeping kids connected in the car. Most wireless carriers, T-Mobile included, feature some amount of hotspot data with their plans, though speeds may slow after you reach your monthly allotment.

T-Mobile's hotspot plans and prices

The right plan for you will depend on which you prefer: a stand-alone hotspot or an additional feature on an existing phone plan. I've broken down both below using T-Mobile's current pricing.

T-Mobile mobile hotspot plans*

T-Mobile phone plans with hotspot built in*

*Prices and plan details checked July 2026. Offers and terms may change.

T-Mobile's hotspot plans give your device connectivity in the US, Canada, Mexico, and several other countries, depending on the plan you opt for. This may be all you need, especially if you don't need a phone plan. While opting for only a hotspot plan keeps things simple, it greatly reduces the capabilities you have at your disposal.

Whereas signing up for T-Mobile's Experience Beyond or Experience More plans, you get hotspot coverage (60GB on More and Unlimited on Beyond) bundled with your cell service, which offers unlimited regular data to back it up. They also require using your smartphone as your router rather than a dedicated hotspot device.

An important factor to consider is that the total cost of ownership isn't limited to just the monthly fees above. Keep in mind that the hardware price (either your smartphone or hotspot device), your monthly plan, and taxes and fees will be your total cost of ownership in the end.

T-Mobile hotspot devices

For shoppers looking to dedicate a device to hotspot usage, T-Mobile also has you covered with the hardware for the job. When you buy through the carrier, you can pay upfront or opt for a monthly payment plan.

• Franklin JEXtream RG3100 5G - $200
• Inseego MiFi Pro M4 - $200
• Franklin JEXtream RG2100 5G - $198
• T-Mobile SyncUP Drive - $108 or get one free with a qualifying mobile internet line
• TCL Linkport IK511 - $96 or get one free with a new line on eligible mobile internet plans
• Franklin T10 Mobile Hotspot - $90
• TCL SyncUP Tracker 2 - $54 or get one free with a discounted SyncUP Tracker 2 Plan

Dedicated hotspot vs. using your phone as a hot spot

There are two main ways to use a hotspot: through your smartphone or with a dedicated hotspot device. A mobile hotspot uses your phone's cellular data through T-Mobile to create a WiFi network for other devices, while a dedicated hotspot is a stand-alone gadget built specifically for sharing internet access. Both accomplish the same thing, but they're designed for different types of users.

For the average user, a mobile hotspot is the simplest option. It's already built into your phone, there's no extra device to carry, and many wireless plans include at least some hotspot data at no additional cost. The tradeoff is that using your phone as a hotspot can drain its battery quickly, and performance may slow if you're using your phone for other tasks at the same time. Many carriers also place stricter limits on hotspot data than on regular smartphone data.

Dedicated hotspots are a better fit for heavier internet users or anyone who regularly needs to connect multiple devices. Because they're designed solely for internet sharing, they typically offer better battery life, stronger WiFi performance, and support for more connected devices than a smartphone. The downside is cost: you'll need to buy the device and usually pay for a separate data plan. For occasional travel or remote work, a phone hotspot is often enough. If you're replacing home internet, working on the road every day, or connecting a family or team, a dedicated hotspot can be a better investment.

How to set up and secure a T-Mobile hotspot

Setting up a smartphone T-Mobile hotspot is as simple as heading to your settings, setting your device as discoverable by other devices, and then connecting to it as you would any other WiFi network with a password.

If you're unsure how to set up your dedicated hotspot device, T-Mobile offers helpful walkthroughs and tips on its website. Here's how to get started:

1. Find your device's WiFi Name (SSID) and password inside its back panel.
2. Ensure the SIM card is inserted before replacing the battery and back cover.
3. Hold the Power button for three seconds until all LEDs light up.
4. Connect your laptop, smartphone, tablet, or other device to your hotspot by selecting its name in your WiFi settings.

How much hotspot data do you need?

Your data needs depend on your usage plans. Do you need a hotspot for regular remote work, or are you planning casual, irregular use when out of the house? For infrequent, light users, T-Mobile's 5GB plan will likely be enough for your month. However, if you're planning to rely on your hotspot for full-time work and to share with multiple users, the 100GB hotspot plan or the Experience Beyond cell plans may be worth considering.

• More guides: T-Mobile SuperMobile business plans | T-Mobile business internet

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Footwear startup M.Gemi crafts high-quality Italian leather shoes and bags without the high markup of big-name brands. From boots to work bags, each style is handmade in family-owned workshops in Italy.

For our M.Gemi review, we detail our experiences with its bestselling styles from the moment we first became acquainted with the brand three years ago. Today, we consider M.Gemi one of the best brands to find ankle boots and loafers for women.

Each of these picks has remarkable versatility and durability, and we've deemed them well worth the investment. You can find more about our experiences with each M.Gemi product below, along with pictures of how they've held up in real life.

The Una

We've tested tons of shoes for our guide to the best flats, but these are a true standout when it comes to craftsmanship. Made from smooth Italian nappa leather, it's got a comfy, glove-like fit and a no-slip sole.

It's a favorite of senior associate style editor Gabrielle Chase, who wrote about them in our guide to the best ballet flats. Here's what she said:

"The Una is made with a thin, unstructured nappa leather that's extremely flexible and smooth. Inside around the heel is a layer of suede, so there's no chance of developing blisters. I don't recommend these for long walks, since they don't come with any padding or cushions. I wore mine on a stroll in the park and could feel the pavement underfoot.

Nevertheless, the main appeal of the Una is how soft and delicate they feel. They're designed with a stretchy criss-cross strap to keep them in place and a soft square toe, similar to a real ballet slipper. I got mine in the shade 'Butter,' which is now discontinued."

I knew I had to try the M.Gemi Una after hearing Gabrielle rave about them in her guide to the best flats, and now I completely understand the hype. They did. The leather is exceptionally soft and flexible, wrapping around the foot almost immediately instead of requiring the usual breaking-in period.

What surprised me most, though, was how light and packable they are. I now tuck them into my bag whenever I'm testing shoes for my guide to the most comfortable heels, since they're easy to pull out the moment a pair starts pinching. They weigh next to nothing, take up very little room, and feel comfortable from the first wear, making them an ideal emergency flat.

The Marta

Flip flops with a little kitten heel are the shoe of the summer. They're everywhere right now — from the streets of NYC to beachside vacation towns. But there's one problem: almost all of them are uncomfortable.

These are one of the first pairs I've ever tried that actually get the comfort factor right. Most heeled flip-flops don't adapt the flip-flop shape to be comfortable with heels — the pitch of the heel pushes your feet forward, creating uncomfortable pressure between the toes.

But this pair doesn't create the same sensory ick. It's the most walkable heeled flip-flop I've tried, and I've been wearing it on repeat this summer with dresses, linen pants, and everything breezy.

The Palestra Due Sneaker

Since executive editor Sally Kaplan began testing M.Gemi's Palestra Due, these white leather low-tops have already become a top contender among our favorite white sneakers for women — and that's compared the over 20+ pairs she tried first.

The shoe is super lightweight, unlike most leather trainers that use a denser rubber sole. The leather is thin enough that it feels flexible like a canvas sneaker, so she hasn't experienced any uncomfortable pinching or digging.

According to Sally, they look cute with day dresses, but they also make even the sloppiest legging-and-sweatshirt outfits feel pulled together. However, she adds that her "only qualm is that the leather scuffs and scratches easily, and since I'm somewhat rough with my shoes (living in Brooklyn made it hard to keep anything looking nice or new!) and I've already started noticing some signs of wear."

The Felize Driving Loafer

M.Gemi's Felize suede driving loafer is the brand's number-one bestseller, helping to put the startup on the map. This top contender in our guide to the best loafers for women comes in either pebbled leather, faux croc, naplak, and suede, and has been produced in dozens of colors over the years.

We found it to be the perfect travel shoe because it can easily slip on and off. The Felize loafers are handmade in a Tuscany workshop and have a refined attention to detail that feels effortlessly stylish. Plus, the more you wear them, the more they mold into a custom-made fit.

"After almost a year, I still wear them multiple times per week," says former senior reporter Mara Leighton. "They've worn into a customized mold over time, but haven't lost their shape. The color is still a vibrant green, and they show no real visible wear despite my frequent treks across the city."

Read more in our full M.Gemi Felize loafer review.

The Danza

The Danza is a ballet flat that isn't flat at all. It has a hidden wedge that measures about three-quarters of an inch, which is why I was initially attracted to it. I'm five-foot-one, so adding a little bit of height keeps certain long pants and maxi dresses off the floor.

These flats use the traditional Italian sacchetto construction technique, which minimizes interior seams so the soft leather lining wraps smoothly around the foot. This is supposed to reduce rubbing and pressure points while allowing the shoe to flex and mold more naturally to your foot.

Though the Danza is cute, walkable, and well-constructed, the sizing is a bit inconsistent. I got a 37 EU — the same size I always order from M. Gemi — because I'm usually a size 7 US, but it was a little too big. I didn't expect this, since I read comments that said to order a size bigger than you usually do.

The Sacca Donna Loafer

The Sacca Donna is a classic Italian-style loafer that's offered in three materials: leather, suede, and printed leather. When the Sacca Donna first released, it immediately sold out. After trying it, we understand why. The unlined design is comfortable and made with exceptional attention to detail.

"The leather is supple and thin but strong, and the color is rich and vibrant — true to the hue that's displayed online," says former senior reporter Mara Leighton.

Although a pretty penny, we think the loafers are a worthy buy for the quality and versatility. Based on our experience, we recommend ordering your standard size or a half-size up if you prefer a bit more breathing room.

The Lizza Due

The Lizza Due feels far easier to walk in than its height suggests. Its platform offsets much of the heel, creating a gentler slope that puts less pressure on the front of the foot. I could wear it much longer than steeper platforms, which often start to feel punishing after an hour or two.

I tested the suede version, which gave the dramatic silhouette a softer, more versatile finish. It still looked polished enough for a wedding or formal event, but it felt less overtly flashy than metallic leather and worked with a wider range of outfits.

The wide ankle straps are another major reason the shoe feels so manageable. They hold the foot firmly in place and reduce the side-to-side wobbling that can make tall heels tiring to wear. The result is an occasion shoe that gives you plenty of height and impact but still feels realistic for standing, walking, and dancing through a full event.

The Cristina Boot

A classic heeled ankle boot like the Cristina is a wardrobe staple. Style editor Samantha Crozier tested this pair for her guide to the best ankle boots, and cites them as her favorite dressy pair. 

"These booties fit like a glove right out of the box, with no need to break them in," she says. "I have the metallic gunmetal pair and they're surprisingly versatile: they instantly add some interest to a little black dress or a simple outfit of jeans and a bodysuit."

The Cristinas are an upgraded version of a retired pair we tested in our initial M. Gemi review called the Corsa. Their interior zipper also seen on the Cristina makes it easy to slip into M.Gemi's leather boots.

The Felize Shearling Driving Loafer

I've written at length about the most comfortable loafers for women, but this is my favorite moccasin style for winter. I wear them at home as slippers because the cozy shearling lining is incredibly soft on the inside, even if they present like typical driving loafers on the outside. I also like that the "gommini" soles (Italian for "rubber padded") provide excellent traction, so I'm not sliding on suede when I step.

I wear a US 8, so I chose a size 38.5. They took a couple days to form to my foot because the fuzzy shearling is piled high, but they eventually fit me true to size. Now, they slip on and stay on with ease. — Gabrielle Chase, associate style editor, Insider Reviews

The Laura Convertible Backpack

This convertible backpack tote is a fantastic work or travel companion. Unlike lots of options on the market, this bag is stylish enough to look like a purse. In fact, it looks exactly like the slouchy, oversized hobo bags that are everywhere this season.

It's smartly designed so that you can easily switch from a tote to a backpack without any dangling straps. And it functions perfectly whichever way you want to carry it. Plus, the straps are wide, so they won't dig into your shoulders.

If you're going on a trip, this would be a fantastic daypack. It's big enough to hold a water bottle, an extra jacket, snacks, and anything else you need. And when you go to dinner at night, the bag will magically transform into a chic, Italian leather purse.

I just wish the straps were adjustable. I was originally worried about the backpack hanging too low since I'm five feet two inches. Though I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't, I do think that adding a buckle would make it more comfortable for different types of bodies.

Big-screen TVs are more popular and affordable than ever. I have a 75-inch TV in my own living room, and I love the level of immersion it brings to movies, video games, and sports. But a big display doesn't guarantee a good picture on its own. The gap in quality across different models is greater than you might expect. That's why I put together this guide to the best 75-inch TVs (plus a few 77-inch sets) that are actually worth the money.

My team and I reviewed popular TV models from every brand to find 75-inch options for different needs and budgets. Our testing methodology takes image quality, design, usability, and overall value into account. For most people, the Samsung S90F is hard to beat. Its OLED panel delivers deep black levels and rich colors that really shine on a screen this large. But if you want something more affordable, the TCL QM6K is a great value at under $1,000. It can't match the S90F's contrast, but its QLED display still delivers impressive color, and its Google TV interface is smooth and easy to use.

I've also included 75-inch TVs that prioritize top-tier picture quality, as well as models that crank up the brightness for rooms with lots of light. My recommendations include both 75-inch QLEDs and 77-inch OLEDs, as the small size difference is simply a result of how each panel is manufactured. Some brands also sell slightly smaller 70-inch TVs, but they're limited to a few entry-level models that didn't make the cut for this guide.

Our top picks for the best 75-inch TVs

Best overall: Samsung S90F 4K OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best entry-level: TCL QM6K 4K QLED TV - See at Amazon

Best premium OLED: LG G5 4K OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best anti-glare screen: Samsung S95F 4K OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best QLED for brightness: TCL QM8K 4K QLED TV - See at Amazon

Best overall

When it comes to balancing performance and price, Samsung's S90F OLED stands out as the best 77-inch TV on the market.

The S90F utilizes a QD-OLED panel, which combines pixel-level contrast control with the rich color range of quantum dots. The result is deep, inky black levels and vibrant hues. In dark rooms, the S90F avoids the washed-out grays that plague many QLED and LED sets. Black levels rise slightly with the lights on, but not enough to be distracting.

Samsung's quantum dot tech also helps the S90F produce a brighter image than comparable LG OLEDs. During testing, our reviewer measured a peak brightness of around 1,460 nits, which is excellent for a midrange OLED. That brightness makes HDR movies and shows pop, with crisp highlights and nuanced color that closely match the performance of more expensive models.

Viewing angles are another strong point: you can sit off to the side without noticeable loss of color or contrast. That's something that QLED and LED TVs can't match. Gamers will love the 120Hz refresh rate (144Hz with a PC), which ensures smooth motion with the PS5, Xbox Series X, or Switch 2. Additionally, Samsung's built-in Xbox app lets Game Pass members stream titles directly to the TV without a console.

Samsung's Tizen smart TV platform offers every major streaming app and runs smoother than it has on older models. That said, the interface's organization is a bit clumsy compared to the more intuitive designs of rivals like Google TV and Roku.

As with all Samsung TVs, the S90F doesn't support Dolby Vision, an advanced HDR format used by many streaming services. While Dolby Vision can deliver slightly more accurate HDR performance, the difference is subtle, so its absence isn't a dealbreaker. For more information, check out my HDR TV guide.

Buyers should note that Samsung also has a 2026 version of this TV, the S90H. My team tested the S90H, and it offers similar performance, but costs more. The biggest difference is that the S90H has a glare-free screen coating, which reduces reflections but lowers contrast in bright rooms. With that in mind, the cheaper S90F remains my recommendation for most needs.

Read our Samsung S90F 4K TV review.

Check out our guides to all the best TVs and best Samsung TVs.

Best entry-level

The TCL QM6K is easily one of the best 75-inch TVs on a budget. This QLED display features a Mini LED backlight with local dimming and wide color capabilities. Those features are often missing on competing TVs in this class.

As a result, the QM6K offers better image quality than a lot of its rivals. When reviewing the set, I loved the TV's rich colors. It also offered solid contrast with excellent backlight control. Most budget TVs feature washed-out black levels or halos around bright objects, but the QM6K does a great job of minimizing these flaws.

The TV also gets decently bright for such an affordable display. I measured a peak of around 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern and around 763 nits on a 50% test pattern. That's enough to provide a good entry-level HDR picture. However, this is the dimmest TV in this guide, so it's not the best fit for rooms with a lot of light. Viewing angles are also a bit limited, as image quality degrades when you sit off-center. That said, this has improved compared to older models in the series.

Another improvement comes in the TV's gaming capabilities. The QM6K is one of the most affordable 75-inch TVs that supports a 144Hz refresh rate. This is a cool perk for PC gamers who want smoother motion during gameplay. I was also impressed by the QM6K's Google TV interface. In the past, I've run into glitches and lag on some TCL Google TVs, but the QM6K was snappy and free from any notable bugs.

Read our TCL QM6K 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to all the best budget TVs.

Best premium OLED

The LG G5 is one of the company's top high-end TVs, delivering the deep black levels and infinite contrast ratio that all OLEDs are known for. However, what sets this model apart from other options is its exceptionally high brightness.

During my review, the G5 hit 2,410 nits in HDR Filmmaker Mode. That's the second-highest measurement I've recorded on an OLED, and only behind the more expensive Samsung S95H. Now, it's essential to keep in mind that only certain HDR movies and TV shows are mastered to take advantage of such high brightness, but when paired with the right content, the G5 is stunning.

Specular highlights — explosions, reflections, lightning, sunsets — pop with incredible impact, and because it's still an OLED, you get pixel-level contrast without backlight issues like blooming. Some QLEDs can get even brighter, but they can't match the G5's ability to harness its brightness so precisely. Visit our QLED vs OLED comparison for more details.

The result is an outstanding image: in a dark room, black levels blend seamlessly into the background, while bright elements shine cleanly and accurately. Wide viewing angles and a 165Hz refresh rate for PC gaming round out the G5's performance perks.

Design-wise, the G5 looks sleek and comes with a mount that hangs nearly flush against your wall. However, it doesn't include a traditional stand, so you'll need to purchase one if you aren't wall-mounting.

A 2026 version of the G5, called the G6, is also available. I saw a side-by-side comparison, and the newer TV has an improved anti-reflective filter and better processing to help reduce banding. That said, the G6 is around $1,000 more than the G5. If you're a serious enthusiast without budget constraints, the pricier G6 is worth considering, but for now, the more affordable G5 remains my pick. You can learn more in my 2026 LG OLED TV roundup.

Read our LG G5 4K TV review.

Check out our guides to the best LG TVs and best TVs for picture quality.

Best anti-glare screen

The Samsung S95F is a stellar QD-OLED TV that excels at addressing an all-too common annoyance for many viewers: screen reflections. Most TVs use glossy panels that create mirror-like reflections, which can make daytime viewing (especially sports) frustrating in rooms with lots of windows.

The S95F tackles that head-on with a matte-like screen that dramatically reduces glare. It's not perfect, but for anyone who battles reflections in their living room, it can feel like a revelation. In my testing, the TV performed exactly as promised, with virtually no irritating reflections.

There is a tradeoff, though. That matte finish lifts black levels. In a dark environment, the S95F's black levels look pitch-perfect, but with the lights on, darker scenes take on a slightly gray, hazy appearance. Glossy screens — like those used on every other TV in this guide — maintain deeper black levels in bright rooms, but they also reflect more light. Ultimately, choosing between the S95F's matte approach and a traditional glossy panel depends on which you find more bothersome: reflections or lower contrast.

Beyond the anti-glare feature, the S95F delivers impressive performance across the board. I measured peak brightness at 2,170 nits, which is top-tier for an OLED. It also supports a 165Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth PC gaming and features a premium design that routes inputs through a separate connection box, rather than cluttering the TV's rear panel.

Samsung also sells an improved 2026 model, called the S95H. The new TV gets even brighter, features a metal frame, and adds access to Samsung's Art Store. The cheaper S95F remains the best value for most people, but the S95H's improvements make it a better choice for enthusiasts who don't mind paying extra.

Read our Samsung S95F 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to the best OLED TVs.

Best QLED for brightness

The QM8K is an impressive QLED that rivals top models from Sony and Samsung but costs considerably less. Most notably, it's one of the best 75-inch TVs for a high-brightness image.

Like TCL's budget-friendly QM6K, this pricier flagship model uses a QLED panel with Mini LED local dimming. However, the QM8K has a more advanced backlight with additional dimming zones, enabling it to deliver a significantly brighter image and better black levels.

Our reviewer measured a peak brightness of 3,648 nits on a 10% window, making the QM8K the brightest TV in this guide and one of the brightest TVs on the market. Of course, raw luminance on a test pattern is meaningless if the TV can't control its light well when displaying actual content. Thankfully, the QM8K can control its brightness to deliver fantastic HDR image quality. This also helps it overcome glare in rooms with ambient light.

The TV also impressed our reviewer with some of the best contrast control he's seen on a Mini LED TV. Halos around subtitles were absent, and blooming was minimal in various test scenes. OLED TVs still offer more precise contrast, but the QM8K QLED holds its own well.

The QM8K's viewing angles are also solid for a QLED. Color and contrast still degrade a bit off-center, but not to the point that the picture looks dramatically washed out. Again, OLED TVs still have an edge here, but the difference isn't as significant as it used to be.

Gaming capabilities are also excellent, with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. However, the QM8K isn't capable of 165Hz, which is a feature supported by a few competing TVs, such as the LG G5 and Hisense U8QG.

If you're looking for a premium 75-inch QLED with excellent contrast control and brightness, the QM8K is a fantastic buy. However, shoppers should note that TCL also sells a newer version of this TV, called the QM8L. I tested the 75-inch QM8L, and it offers similar brightness while delivering a wider color range thanks to TCL's new SQD technology. The QM8L is an impressive TV, but I still give the edge to the QM8K since it costs less.

Read our TCL QM8K 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to the best TCL TVs.

How we test 75-inch TVs

We picked the best 75-inch TVs through hands-on testing with various display models. We've been reviewing home entertainment products for over 10 years and used that expertise to inform our testing parameters and requirements.

When evaluating TVs, we typically review the 65-inch size, as it's the industry's flagship tier. However, overall performance for a specific TV model usually remains the same across sizes. For example, a 77-inch LG G5 OLED and a 65-inch G5 OLED have the same specifications. The only difference is the panel's size. As such, most test results for 65-inch TVs also apply to their 75- and 77-inch counterparts. 

However, some QLED displays with local dimming, like the TCL QM6K and QM8K, have more zones in larger screen sizes than in smaller ones. This can cause slight differences in contrast performance, but not enough to alter our overall takeaway. In rare cases, some TV models have more dramatic differences across sizes. We consider these differences when recommending displays and note them when applicable.

When we test TVs, we evaluate picture clarity, color quality, contrast performance, peak HDR brightness, gaming features, navigation speed, off-axis viewing capabilities, and overall value. To measure brightness and color, we use a meter in combination with a pattern generator and the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc. 

Test patterns are great for objective measurements, but watching real-world content is the only way to fully evaluate how a TV looks. We sample a variety of shows and movies to assess how a display performs in both dark and bright environments. Part of our evaluation involves watching the same assortment of scenes on each TV we review to compare performance. Sequences are chosen to show off HDR highlights, shadow detail, black levels, upscaling, and motion. We also vary the quality of our material to assess how a TV handles 4K, 1080p, and standard definition (SD) programs from Blu-ray discs, streaming services, and cable TV. Gaming capabilities are also tested using a PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

For more information about our testing process, check out our page detailing how we review tech products.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I lead tech product coverage for Business Insider's Reviews team, and I've spent years testing all kinds of TVs. I studied filmmaking, too, so I'm a bit obsessive about picture quality. I want movies and shows to look the way the creators intended. My team and I use professional calibration tools, pattern generators, and benchmark discs to measure brightness and color accuracy, but numbers alone only tell part of the story. I also use every TV I review the way you would at home — streaming, watching movies, gaming, and channel surfing — to see how it really performs day to day. The picks in this guide stood out not just in lab tests but also in real-world use.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

75-inch TV FAQs

Is 75 inches a good size for a TV?

A 75-inch screen is an excellent option for filling a large space or providing an immersive experience in a smaller room. Big screen sizes fill more of your field of view, so your eyes can focus on the image and not your surroundings. This creates a viewing experience that's closer to what you'd get in a movie theater.

Many of our favorite TVs are sold in 75 or 77 inches, so you have plenty of options. Some brands are also starting to use 75 inches as the entry point for their most advanced models. For instance, the new TCL X11L SQD TV isn't available in smaller sizes.

That said, you need to consider certain logistics when buying a large TV. You'll need a stand or mount that can accommodate the width and weight of a 75-inch TV. Visit our guides to the best TV stands and best TV wall mounts, where we have several picks that can fit large displays.

Meanwhile, if you don't have the space for a 75-inch TV, check out our guides to smaller TV sizes:

• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 43-inch TVs

Or if you want something even larger, check out our guides to the best 85-inch TVs and best 100-inch TVs.

Do we recommend 75-inch RGB LED TVs?

Not yet, but they're definitely on our radar. RGB LED is a new display type that uses separate red, green, and blue LEDs in its backlight. As a result, these TVs have the potential to produce a wider range of color than you'd get on a typical QLED, Mini LED, or OLED display.

Different brands offer variations of the tech, and many use different names to market it. For example, Samsung calls its version Micro RGB, Hisense uses RGB Mini LED, and Sony calls its tech True RGB. They're all chasing a similar goal, but performance can vary.

We'll be testing RGB LED TVs throughout 2026 to see whether any deserve a spot in this guide. So far, we've had an early look at the Samsung R95H, and its color performance is the best we've seen. But based on our initial testing, its contrast and brightness weren't quite good enough to earn a top spot.

For now, we're not recommending any 75-inch RGB LED TVs in this guide, but that will likely change once we test more models and prices come down. For more details on RGB backlighting, check out our first look at Sony's True RGB tech and our RGB LED vs. Mini LED TV comparison.

Should you buy a 2026 or 2025 75-inch TV?

In most cases, 2025 TV models still offer a better value than 2026 options. Brands such as Samsung, LG, TCL, Sony, and Hisense have all launched new TVs for 2026, but they cost more than their 2025 counterparts. Though many 2026 TVs offer improved performance, the difference is rarely dramatic enough to justify their increased cost. This will change later in the year as 2025 TVs sell out and 2026 TV prices come down, but for now, most people are better off snagging a 2025 75-inch TV while it's available at a discount.

Why are some TVs offered in 75 inches and others in 77 inches?

This comes down to how the panels are made. Traditional LED, QLED, and Mini LED TVs are commonly produced in 75-inch sizes, while OLED panels are typically manufactured in 77-inch sizes. In real-world use, though, the two-inch difference is minimal, as you're essentially getting the same big-screen experience either way.

Do brands sell 70-inch TVs?

Though increasingly uncommon, some brands do sell 70-inch TV models. Notably, Samsung, LG, Insignia, and Walmart's Onn brand all offer 70-inch options in their current lineups. However, that size is typically limited to a few entry-level options. Top TVs usually skip the 70-inch size and are instead sold in 65-inch and 75-inch/77-inch models. We generally recommend that shoppers focus on TVs available in those sizes instead.

How much should you spend on a 75-inch TV?

Depending on the performance class you choose, the best 75-inch TVs can cost between $600 and $5,000.

Budget-friendly 75-inch QLED TVs, such as the TCL QM6K, are sometimes available for as low as $700. Midrange QLED options with higher brightness typically sell for $800 to $1,400, while high-end models start at around $1,800.

If you want an OLED TV (made in 77 inches rather than 75), you'll need to pay a bit more. The cheapest 77-inch OLED TVs start at around $1,500, while premium options can cost over $4,000.

The best 75-inch and 77-inch TVs often go on sale, but the biggest discounts typically appear during shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day, as well as around major sporting events like the Super Bowl and March Madness.

For cheaper TV recommendations in smaller sizes, check out our guide to the best TVs under $500.

Do I need HDMI 2.1 for a 75-inch TV?

If you're a gamer with a PS5, Xbox Series X, or PC, we recommend ensuring that any TV you buy has HDMI 2.1 ports. HDMI 2.1 enables 4K at 120Hz and smoother motion with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). All of our picks for the best 75-inch TVs support HDMI 2.1.

Do 75-inch TVs have good sound quality?

Even the best 75-inch TVs have mediocre built-in audio performance. Some of our pricier recommendations, such as the LG G5, offer better clarity and slightly more bass than our entry-level picks, like the TCL QM6K. However, they still lack the depth and range that you'd get with a separate audio system.

Companies typically build their displays with small speaker drivers to keep costs down and maintain slim screens, resulting in poor low-frequency performance and overall fidelity. For better sound quality, we recommend purchasing a separate soundbar or surround sound system, especially one that supports Dolby Atmos.

Check out our soundbar and speaker guides to see our top recommendations:

• Best soundbars
• Best Dolby Atmos soundbars
• Best budget soundbars
• Best soundbars with subwoofers
• Best Sonos soundbars
• Best Bose soundbars
• Best surround sound systems

If the World Cup has you hooked on football (sorry, soccer), then you're in luck, since the MLS season resumes soon. We've rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch MLS, no matter where you are in the world.

The MLS season picks back up on July 16 after going on a World Cup break at the end of May. Major League Soccer, which spans the United States and Canada, has exploded in North America over the past few years. Lionel Messi, who is currently leading Argentina at the World Cup, helms Inter Miami, which won the MLS Cup last season. It's shaping up to be a can't-miss second half of the season, and you can live stream it all on Apple TV worldwide.

• See also: Where to watch the World Cup

How to watch MLS in the US

Every MLS match, from the regular season to the MLS Cup Final, is available through Apple TV in the US. Apple discontinued the MLS Season Pass this year, so all matches are included in standard subscriptions with no extra fees. Apple TV also has a strong catalog of award-winning original TV shows, the US Formula 1 broadcast rights, and Friday Night MLB games. Subscriptions cost $13 a month, and new users can get a seven-day free trial.

How to watch MLS from anywhere

All MLS matches are available to Apple TV subscribers in over 100 countries and regions, so there's a pretty good chance that you'll be able to tune in, no matter where you are. Subscription prices vary by region, but Apple TV often offers a free trial for new customers.

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

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's fast, user-friendly, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find it's not helping you out.

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

Disney Plus prices have been hiked several times since the streaming service initially launched in 2019, but the platform remains a competitively priced app that has content for the whole family. Plans start at $12 a month for the ad-supported tier, but prices rise when you go ad-free or bundle in other services.

We spend our time evaluating the best streaming services, and Disney Plus has consistently ranked among the top apps available, thanks to its selection of shows and movies for families around the globe. The service carries everything from classic Disney and Pixar films to newer Marvel and Star Wars releases. US viewers can also live stream select live sporting events.

Also available to US viewers is the ability to unlock even more content by bundling Disney Plus with Hulu and either HBO Max or ESPN. Bundling with other services increases the price, but it usually offers some savings month over month compared to what you'd pay if you subscribed to two (or three) services separately on a monthly basis.

Even after the most recent round of price increases, we still think that Disney Plus is worth signing up for due to its deep and often exclusive back catalog, burgeoning slate of original programming, and affordable bundling options. Below, we've provided a full Disney Plus price breakdown for every plan and package, including annual subscriptions, price-lock deals, and bundles with other streaming services.

How much does Disney Plus cost? 

Disney Plus has a range of prices, depending on whether you want to pay monthly, commit to an annual plan, go ad-free, or bundle the service with Hulu/Hulu + Live TV, ESPN Select/Unlimited, and/or NFL Plus Premium, or HBO Max. Below, you can find how much it costs to subscribe to every version of Disney Plus.

What's included in the regular monthly price? 

Disney Plus features differ slightly depending on which tier you sign up for: Disney Plus With Ads or Disney Plus No Ads. However, you can access the same shows and movies no matter which ad tier you decide.

The Disney Plus With Ads plan includes:

• Ad-supported streaming for thousands of movies and TV shows
• Up to 4K UHD and HDR on select titles
• Ability to stream on four devices simultaneously
• Ability to add up to seven profiles

The Disney Plus No Ads plan also offers these extra features:

• Ad-free streaming
• Downloads on up to 10 devices
• Dolby Atmos immersive sound on select titles

How much does Disney Plus cost outside the US?

Disney Plus is one of the more globally available streaming services, with many shows and movies streaming through the app around the world. Plans and prices vary from region to region, and the UK also recently received a price hike. While the US only has two plans (With Ads and Ad-Free, both able to stream up to 4K), regions like Canada and the United Kingdom have Standard (With Ads), Standard (Ad-Free), and Premium (Ad-Free with 4K video quality).

The exact offerings in the on-demand library are also subject to regional variability. For example, several shows available on Hulu only in the US stream on Disney Plus in the UK. Disney Plus' foray into live streaming is typically exclusive to the US.

Here's how much Disney Plus costs in local currency in select other major markets internationally:

Can you get Disney Plus for free?

When the app first launched, there was a seven-day Disney Plus free trial. However, the offer was removed years ago, and we haven't seen any signs of its return.

Disney Plus (and Hulu and ESPN) are included with Hulu + Live TV subscriptions. The ad-supported version of this package (which costs $90 a month) occasionally offers a three-day free trial.

Ad-supported Disney Plus (and Hulu and HBO Max) are also available through DirecTV's MyEntertainment genre pack, which costs $43 a month and includes access to 40+ live channels. Ad-supported Disney Plus is also included in DirecTV's MyKids genre pack, which carries 10+ family-friendly channels and costs $21 a month. These plans come with a five-day free trial for new customers, so you can always try out Disney Plus during this brief period.

At the time of writing, there aren't any active deals allowing free long-term access to Disney Plus, though the platform often partners with companies like Verizon to offer free or discounted plans through other services. Verizon currently offers the ad-supported Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus bundle at a discounted rate of $10 a month if you select it as a perk on select 5G mobile plans. Previously, Verizon offered ad-free Disney Plus for six months, but this promo is no longer available. We'll update this section if any new promotions become available.

How does the Disney Plus price compare to the cost of other streaming services? 

Both tiers of Disney Plus are competitively priced when compared to most similar streaming services. The ad-free plan is similar to streamers like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and Peacock, but it's more expensive than other services, such as Apple TV and Paramount Plus. Below, you can find a break down of Disney Plus pricing compared to its ad-free streaming competitors, showing that Disney Plus falls toward the upper midrange of ad-free plans.

What are the Disney Plus bundle options?

There are several Disney Plus bundle options, ranging from basic combos with Hulu to more elaborate bundles that include ESPN or HBO Max (and possibly more, which we'll dig into below). These are great options for those looking to watch sports or additional movies and TV shows from non-Disney sources. Bundles are solid ways to build out programming for the whole family, including adults.

If you're planning to subscribe to these services anyway, we recommend doing so under a bundle since they're great ways to cash in on major savings each month. It will always be cheaper to pay for a bundle than pay for the same two or three services separately each month.

You can bundle Disney Plus with Hulu as part of the Basic bundle, which costs $13 a month for ad-supported streaming. You can upgrade the bundle to ad-free Premium for $20 a month.

In 2026, Disney Plus also launched a special price-lock offer. You can get the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle for $12 a month for six months (a total of $71.94) or the ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu bundle for $18 a month for six months (a total of $107.94). After that, plans will renew at their then-standard monthly rates. This is an easy way to save some money if you're planning on hanging onto Disney Plus and Hulu for at least six months.

The Disney Plus (ads), Hulu (ads), and ESPN Select bundle costs $20 monthly. You can also bundle Disney Plus (ad-free) with Hulu (ad-free) and ESPN Select for $30 a month. The bundle can save you more than 40% off the regular combined price of all three services. Those who were previously subscribed to Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus will now be automatically enrolled in one of the ESPN Select bundles.

Subscribers also have the option to bundle Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited. The bundle with ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu costs $36 a month, while the bundle with ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu costs $45 a month.

The Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN bundle is also included with all Hulu + Live TV subscriptions. Live TV with the ad-supported trio costs $90/month, while live TV with ad-free options costs $100/month. It's important to note that only Disney Plus and Hulu are ad-free with this higher tier. ESPN will always have advertisements due to the nature of live TV.

Additionally, subscribers can bundle Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited with NFL Plus Premium. The ad-supported tier costs $46 a month, but the version with ad-free on-demand Disney Plus and Hulu options costs $55 a month.

Alternatively, you can save by bundling Disney Plus with Hulu and HBO Max. You can sign up for the three services with ads for $20 a month, or opt for ad-free streaming for $33 a month, saving you up to 43% compared to subscribing to each individually. 

Does Disney Plus charge for password sharing?

Streaming services have increasingly begun to crack down on password sharing, and Disney properties are no exception. Disney Plus does not allow members to share their passwords with users outside their households. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that you have to pay for a new subscription. Instead of signing up for a brand-new plan, there's an Extra Member option for both the ad-supported and ad-free versions of Disney Plus.

Extra Member add-on subscriptions cost an additional $7 a month for Basic and $10 a month for Premium. You can also get Extra add-ons for the Disney Bundle Duo Basic ($8 a month), Disney Bundle Duo Premium ($11 a month), Disney Bundle Trio Basic ($12 a month), and Disney Bundle Trio Premium ($15 a month).

When was the last Disney Plus price hike?

The most recent Disney Plus price hike occurred on October 21, 2025. The price change affected most Disney Plus plans, including those with live TV and excluding those with ESPN Unlimited. The ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu bundle also didn't increase in price.

Prior to that, the last Disney Plus price hike was on October 17, 2024. The increase impacted every plan across Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus. Most tiers of the service increased by an average of $2 a month. The ad-supported base Disney Plus tier was previously $8, the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle was $10, and the ad-supported bundle trio was $15.

• Netflix posted lukewarm earnings results in the second quarter.
• Revenue and earnings were roughly in line with its modest guidance for the quarter.
• Wall Street has become increasingly concerned with the leading paid streamer's growth prospects.

Netflix shares fell over 8% after it posted lukewarm second-quarter earnings results on Thursday afternoon — and said that it would cut back on how frequently it shares viewership data.

The leading paid streamer was roughly in line with Wall Street's expectations for both revenue and earnings per share, which were based on modest guidance last quarter that had spooked investors.

Netflix's stock had fallen 31% in the three months since its first-quarter report.

Revenue rose 13.4% to $12.56 billion in the second quarter, just below estimates of $12.58 billion, while earnings per share came in at $0.80, versus analysts' expectations of $0.79, according to Bloomberg.

Netflix also made a major change to how it shares viewing data, referred to as engagement.

Total engagement was up slightly in the first half of the year, with global viewing hours rising 2% to 97 billion hours. Netflix generated 96 billion hours in the last six months of 2025 and about 95 billion hours in the first half of last year.

Netflix said Thursday that it would change its twice-yearly engagement reports to publish once a year, starting after the first quarter of 2027.

"Engagement is not just the quantity of view hours, but also refers to the quality and variety of our offering," Netflix said in its second-quarter shareholder letter.

"The goal of separating the publication of the report from our earnings results is to keep the focus on our primary financial metrics — revenue and operating profit," the company said.

On the earnings call, co-CEO Greg Peters said that "all hours are not created equal." He added that live events don't always generate tons of viewership, but they're still valuable because they bring in new customers.

Investors are increasingly focused on Netflix's ability to keep growing engagement, especially since the streaming giant has already leaned on growth levers like price hikes and password-sharing crackdowns.

Netflix has been searching for ways to become more like YouTube, which leads all streaming services in viewing on US TVs. These efforts have included investing in video podcasts, adding a short-form video feed, and bringing three-minute videos about cooking and travel to its platform.

Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said on the earnings call that "the definition of TV has broadened" in the last 15 years, and "our definition has changed along with it."

"Maintaining that attention has gotten tougher as consumers increasingly get their video fix from short-form platforms," Forrester research director Mike Proulx said ahead of Netflix's report.

Netflix likely recognizes that its biggest competitors aren't rival paid streaming services but free apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Proulx said it's an open question, though, "whether consumers actually want Netflix to become more like YouTube."

"Netflix's success was built on differentiated, must-watch programming," Proulx said. "As streaming services add more content formats, they risk diluting what differentiates them."

Viewership matters to Wall Street because it's a strong signal of how much Netflix subscribers value the service, since habitual viewers are more willing to accept price hikes and less likely to cancel. It's also important for Netflix's ad business. On Thursday, Netflix reiterated its forecast of about $3 billion in ad revenue for the full year.

Some analysts say engagement concerns are overblown, given that Netflix is far ahead of its paid peers in monthly viewership on US TVs, according to Nielsen, and has an industry-low cancellation rate of 2%, per subscription analytics firm Antenna.

Morgan Stanley media analysts, led by Sean Diffley, wrote in a recent report that "investors are overly focused on the headline hours number," adding that it "does not correlate nearly as much to revenue growth as many fear."

• The US Navy has a strategy for building toward an "AI-first" fleet.
• The plan will deliberately integrate AI across all naval operations.
• It includes preparing personnel for using data and AI and adapting to rapid changing technologies.

The US Navy wants to build a new "AI-first" fleet, and it's betting that better data, faster technology adoption, and more tech-savvy sailors will help make it happen.

The service's newly released strategy focuses on using AI and data in more ways and relies on ensuring sailors are proficient with the technology and can keep up with the quickening pace of its development. The Navy's approach is just one example of the broader transformation across the US military as it adopts AI across operations, missions, and systems.

The push matters because future naval fights may hinge on which force can collect, process, and act on information fastest. Speed can be a decisive factor.

This week, the Navy released information regarding its roadmap for "weaponizing data and artificial intelligence," which includes building a data-ready and AI-enabled force, after more than a year of work.

"This strategy positions the Department of the Navy to out-learn and out-fight any adversary by rapidly deploying data and artificial intelligence," said acting secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, per the press release. "It is our roadmap to building an 'AI-first' Fleet, one that turns information into warfighting advantage and enables faster, better decisions."

The plan focuses on six core areas. The Navy will accelerate its use of AI by deciding which projects are most promising for full-scale implementation. The service also plans to streamline how it gathers, organizes, and interprets data so that the service's sailors can understand it more easily and quickly, a critical concern for new technologies being brought into the armed services.

The Navy will also upgrade its hardware so that it can better support data and AI capabilities. And organizational processes within the service will be optimized so that more people have input and authority over data and AI use. Partnerships with industry, academia, the larger federal government, and US allies and partners will also be a focus.

The sea service is also planning to build out its workforce to be more capable when it comes to data and AI technologies. This will include recruiting personnel with specific skills, building expertise across the workforce, and helping its workers prepare for the rapid pace of change in these technologies.

The plan will ultimately lead the Navy to what Cao described as an "AI-first" fleet.

US Navy spokesperson Lt. Jake Ryan told Business Insider that the envisioned "AI-first Fleet deliberately integrates artificial intelligence across the entire fabric of naval operations to enhance the US warfighting advantage in the digital age, where the speed of information gathering is now the decisive variable in maintaining dominance."

The Navy's AI plan aligns with broader US military strategies for using these technologies. The service has been investing in automation and AI in shipbuilding, including an AI program that cut a 160-hour submarine-planning job down to 10 minutes, as well as automated factories to build parts for top nuclear submarine programs.

The Army has been testing using AI in its new warfighting software, Next Generation Command and Control, identifying specific use cases for the technology while still keeping soldiers in the loop. AI and automation have helped synthesize and process data, as well as predict ammunition, supply, and maintenance issues.

While the US armed forces are exploring AI opportunities in weapons like uncrewed systems, intelligence, and target analysis, the Pentagon has also seen the value of using AI in its more monotonous paperwork jobs, reducing the cognitive load on service members. The US Department of Defense's AI program clocked in at 1.5 million daily users last month, up from 80,000 in December 2025.

• As a bridal makeup artist, I focus on hydration and luminosity for a perfect wedding-day look.
• Products like sheet masks and Laneige's Glowy Makeup serum plump and hydrate the skin.
• I rely on a long-wearing Nars foundation and Charlotte Tilbury products for great bridal makeup.

In nearly a decade of working as a makeup artist, I've helped many clients look fantastic on their wedding day.

Doing bridal makeup comes with several challenges, since the final look needs to look amazing in photos and last for a long time — through tears, kisses, and sweat.

For me, a great face of makeup starts with thorough skincare prep and involves lots of hydrating, long-wearing products.

Here are a few products I swear by for a fantastic wedding-day look.

Sheet masks are an important part of skin prep.

Right off the bat, I spend a lot of time (and money) on skin prep because a bride's base can make or break her makeup.

So, I start by applying a sheet mask to my client to help them relax while getting their face ready for more products.

Sheet masks are great because I can tailor them to each person's needs. I've found that the right sheet mask can add hydration and brightness, plus help reduce the appearance of uneven skin tones and blemishes within minutes.

Fresh's Deep Hydration oil-infused serum is perfect for plumping up the skin.

Keeping with the theme of pampering, I also like to give my brides a mini face massage to help them relax and to increase circulation.

I usually add Fresh's Deep Hydration oil-infused serum to my hands, apply it to the bride's face, and watch it glide on the skin like a dream.

This serum gives the skin an intense boost of hydration and a dewy, plump look — the key to the "glow-from-within" look all brides love.

Mehron Skin Prep Pro ensures that makeup doesn't budge.

Ever wonder how brides are able to have their makeup done in the morning and still look flawless at the after-party?

The Mehron Skin Prep Pro might be the best-kept secret among pro makeup artists. It can keep brides looking fresh after several hours.

This can help makeup last under stressful situations — including hours of taking pictures and gracing the dance floor — by creating a moisture barrier between the skin and the makeup.

Bobbi Brown's vitamin-enriched face base serves as an incredibly smooth canvas.

This two-for-one priming moisturizer is a rich cream that leaves the skin visibly glowing and prepped for a smooth, flawless makeup application.

I also love that the Bobbi Brown vitamin-enriched face base is great for both oily and dry skin types.

Laneige's Glowy Makeup serum creates a radiant finish.

This product name is pretty self-explanatory, and who doesn't want glowy makeup? I intentionally use a lot of glowy products like these early on when doing a client's bridal makeup.

I've found Laneige Glowy Makeup serum gives skin a radiant finish and helps makeup last longer.

Patrick Ta Major Glow body oil is great for a sun-kissed décolleté.

This Patrick Ta Major Glow body oil is my secret weapon to create healthy-looking, glowy body skin. It comes in several different shades, and I think it smells incredible.

I spray this all over my bride's décolleté and arms to moisturize the skin and get a sun-kissed glow without any greasiness.

Nars' Natural Radiant Longwear foundation is the best I've ever used.

This Nars product is my favorite foundation to use on brides, which is why I have practically every shade in my kit. I love how extensive and inclusive the shade range is.

Nars' Natural Radiant Longwear foundation is a buildable, full-coverage formula that's great for all skin types.

It leaves a radiant finish and promises up to 16 hours of fade-resistant wear. I've seen firsthand how well it can last on a bride all night long.

Anastasia Beverly Hills has cream blushes that melt into the skin like a dream.

Anastasia Beverly Hills' cream blushes have a buildable formula, give the face a natural, radiant finish, and blend seamlessly into the skin.

These creamy blushes are easy to apply and help me create the perfect rosy flush on all skin tones.

Velour lashes are my go-to for brides who want a natural look and optimal comfort.

Velour's falsies are perfect for all brides, whether they prefer a natural "mascara-like" look or want lashes with serious drama.

These lashes are vegan, come in a range of different styles, and have nearly invisible bands to help them look unbelievably natural.

Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish makes an under-eye area look airbrushed.

We can't talk about luxury products without mentioning Charlotte Tilbury's Flawless Finish powder.

I love applying this ultra-fine finishing product with a powder puff to create an airbrushed under-eye because it doesn't cake or sit in fine lines.

I also keep this powder on hand for oily T-zone touch-ups to blur imperfections and reduce shine throughout the day.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless setting spray is my final step for a fantastic makeup look.

This is another essential product from Charlotte Tilbury — and it really is my favorite setting spray to use on all my clients.

It's very lightweight and promises to set makeup for up to 16 hours without it fading, melting off, or settling into fine lines … everything a bride needs on the big day!

I've found it's hydrating and really effective at all those things, so I usually do several sprays of this as my final step when working on a client.

This story was originally published on June 18, 2022, and most recently updated on July 16, 2026.

• In search of a new dinner recipe, I tried making Ina Garten's baked shrimp scampi.
• The ingredient list was on the longer side, but the process was much easier than I expected.
• The dish was delicious, and I especially loved the sauce — but next time, I'll add less salt.

Easy dishes aren't usually known for complex flavors, but leave it to the Barefoot Contessa to defy that with her simple baked shrimp scampi recipe.

Ina Garten's take on this classic, summery seafood dish looks beautiful, has layers of flavors, and comes together in a few quick steps.

Admittedly, the recipe does require quite a long list of ingredients, but I was surprised at how uncomplicated it was, especially after I finished prepping the shrimp.

Most of the ingredients are just minced and mashed together, and then the whole thing is baked in an oven. No sautéeing required!

First, I gathered the ingredients.

This recipe's ingredient list can be divided into two categories: items needed for the shrimp prep, and ingredients for the flavorful butter-panko sauce.

For the former, I chose frozen, deveined shrimp. Beyond that, I just needed to grab a few pantry staples: Kosher salt, black pepper, olive oil, and dry white wine. (I picked a pinot grigio.)

The butter-panko mixture is really the star of this dish, and has a lengthier ingredient list. For this part of the recipe, I needed unsalted butter, garlic, shallots, parsley, rosemary, lemon zest, crushed red pepper flakes, lemon juice, Kosher salt, black pepper, an extra-large egg yolk, and panko (flaky breadcrumbs).

I prepped my shrimp by peeling, butterflying, and marinating them.

The first step was peeling the shrimp, carefully ensuring their tails stayed on.

Next, I butterflied them — that is, I used my knife to cut a little deeper into the shrimp and pull the two halves gently apart.

Once the shrimp were ready, I put them in a simple marinade of pinot grigio, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Then, I left them to marinate at room temperature while I moved on to prep the butter-panko mixture.

Next, it was time to make the buttery sauce.

I minced garlic, a shallot, parsley, and rosemary, and added them to a bowl with unsalted butter.

After that, I tossed in some more ingredients: crushed red pepper, lemon juice and zest, an egg yolk, panko, salt, and black pepper. I mashed all of these together until the mixture looked colorful and crumbly.

I arranged the butterflied shrimp in an oval baking dish.

Garten's recipe calls for a 14-inch gratin dish.

I grabbed a baking dish around this size and arranged the shrimp in ovals, with each piece placed butterflied side down and the tails pointed toward the center of the dish.

Then, I poured the remaining marinade over the layer of shrimp.

I topped the shrimp with the butter and panko sauce, then baked the whole thing.

Using my hands, I broke up the butter-panko mixture into dollop-sized pieces and placed them on top of the shrimp until I had a nice, even layer. Following the featured photo in Garten's recipe, I made sure not to cover up the tails.

Finally, I put the whole thing in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. Once it was finished baking, I gave the dish a final squeeze of lemon juice.

The result was a surprisingly easy, flavorful dish that I'd definitely make again.

The shrimp was a bit on the salty side for me, so I'll try a few tweaks next time. Namely, I'll include a touch less salt in the marinade and a bit more crushed red pepper instead.

I'd also love to try using a different dry white wine, just to see how it impacts the flavor.

The buttery panko topping, on the other hand, was my favorite part of the dish. I'm a sucker for a meal with a delicious sauce that you can easily sop up with bread, and this baked shrimp scampi definitely did the trick.

I was also surprised by the sauce's robust blend of flavors. I knew the recipe would heavily feature butter, garlic, and lemon, so I expected that I'd mostly taste just those flavors — which would've been fine with me, as someone who always enjoys a garlicky, lemony dish.

However, I loved that I could taste all the other ingredients, too, from the rosemary to the red pepper flakes.

It made for an exceptionally flavorful dish: My meal was delightfully zesty, savory, and herbaceous, all at once. I'll definitely be baking this one again this summer.

This story was originally published on November 26, 2025, and most recently updated on July 16, 2026.

• Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger called out his predecessors for their role in the chipmaker's decline.
• Gelsinger questioned why Intel was led by executives without a strong technical background.
• Intel's standing has rebounded over the last year after the US took a roughly 10% stake in the company.

Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger says he has a hunch when the chipmaker's downfall began.

"I think one of the fundamental things is, and as you look at the great technology companies today, they're deeply technical," Gelsinger told "All-In Podcast" cohost Jason Calacanis during an interview taped at the Raise Summit in Paris.

Gelsinger said when he returned to Intel in 2021, he "was the first technical leader in essentially 15 years associated with it." The former Intel chief said his predecessors had the wrong background.

"When you're making these hardcore technical decisions that affect billions of dollars, you don't do that through a spreadsheet," Gelsinger said. "That's a lousy investment unless the technology trends make it the right investment."

Paul Otellini, who led Intel from 2005 to 2013, was the first non-engineer to lead the company, coming from the business side. Brian Krzanich, who has a degree in chemistry, replaced Otellini after working his way up from his start at a chip factory in New Mexico, and later spent decades working on manufacturing issues. Bob Swan, the final executive before Gelsinger took over, had spent decades in top financial positions, including as CFO of eBay and HP Enterprise Services.

Gelsinger also took issue with the amount of money Intel spent on dividends and shareholder buybacks before he took over. According to Intel's financial filings, the company sent back roughly $79 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks and dividends from 2015 through 2020.

"What I wouldn't have done for another hundred billion dollars on the balance sheet?" he said.

Once a dominant player, Intel declined amid the rise of companies like TSMC and Samsung. As Reuters recounted, Intel's leaders made fateful decisions that led to the company ceding ground to once smaller competitors like ARM and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

Intel's standing has improved drastically over the last year, following President Donald Trump's controversial decision for the US government to take a roughly 10% stake in the company. Nvidia, another of Intel's competitors that has surpassed the chipmaker, also bought over roughly $5 billion worth of Intel shares in a deal announced last September, giving the world's largest company by market cap a roughly 4% stake in Intel.

Shares of Intel are now up more than 330% over the past year, thanks to both announcements. Intel has taken a dive over the last month, though, as traders weigh concerns about the company and the broader AI buildout.

Trump's move to take a stake in Intel continued a broader bipartisan push for the US to onshore more domestic advanced chip production amid concerns that TSMC's base in Taiwan is too vulnerable to Beijing's potential actions.

Gelsinger warned of the potential risks if China were to ever completely cut off energy to the island, which it still considers part of its territory.

"When you turn off a fab, it doesn't come back on for 90 days," he said. "The economic impact of a brownout of Taiwan is greater than the Great Depression in the world."

• Vocal AI critic Ed Zitron says that OpenAI is the heart of the broader AI bubble
• He says the ChatGPT maker has swelled to such a degree that it's the AI market's Lehman Brothers.
• "Its failure would be a watershed moment — the Lehman Brothers of the AI bubble," he wrote.

The AI bubble is simple, Ed Zitron says, because it's really a bubble in a single company: OpenAI.

As the ChatGPT maker heads toward a momentous IPO, the researcher and AI skeptic says that OpenAI is the only reason anyone cares about AI at all—and it's failure would spark a collapse similar to the one set off by Lehman Brothers when the bank fell apart in 2008.

Zitron has repeatedly sounded the alarm on AI broadly and OpenAI specifically, publishing a report last month that he said shows OpenAI's finances are in turmoil.

"The launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 came at the perfect time for a tech industry that had run out of ideas," he wrote in a post on July 15. "The existence of OpenAI justified an era of mania and opulence," he added, noting that OpenAI is also the reason that it's biggest competitor, Anthropic, exists at all. That's partly because it's founders came from OpenAI but also because it received funding from warring tech titans trying to plant their own flags on the AI frontier by supporting OpenAI's top rival.

The AI bubble, he argues, is really only possible because of Sam Altman's company and the attention it has commanded from the public, investors, and the ecosystem of companies that have thrived in its wake.

"The only reason this has kept going so long is that OpenAI has yet to collapse," he wrote. "Its failure would be a watershed moment — the Lehman Brothers of the AI bubble, and an event that would define the end of one epoch, the start of another."

Zitron doesn't have a prediction for how or when OpenAI could go bust, he sees it being a watershed event that will upend markets that have rallied around the AI trade and the economy that's been boosted by endless capex from companies pursuing their AI ambitions.

If OpenAI were to stop paying infrastructure companies like CoreWeave and Oracle, for instance, Zitron theorizes that those firms would be unable to service their own debts. If it struggles further, OpenAI could end the free tier of ChatGPT and raise costs for users, with the ultimate effect of its troubles being that investors are discouraged from investing in AI startups altogether.

"I believe that once OpenAI collapses it'll have a violent, punishing effect on the entire stock market, a precursor to a much greater drawdown as everybody accepts that the AI bubble has burst," he added.

Zitron said the spending that's powered the AI bubble represents the "the greatest capital misallocation in history," a phrase used verbatim by fellow AI researcher Gary Marcus, who has also raised major concerns about the AI bubble.

• Volkswagen's autonomous mobility arm, Moia, is launching a pilot robotaxi service in Hamburg.
• The company said it will start with 10 VW ID. Buzz vehicles with safety operators.
• Moia also plans to launch a passenger service in the US with Uber.

Volkswagen's Moia is launching a pilot robotaxi service in Germany, marking another major automaker stepping deeper into the autonomous mobility arena.

Moia announced Wednesday that select, preregistered Hamburg residents can now book rides in a self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz van through the company's app. Up to five vehicles will operate at initial launch, with the fleet expected to expand to as many as 10 cars, a Moia spokesperson told Business Insider.

Each car will have a trained safety monitor behind the wheel who can intervene when necessary. The spokesperson said Moai expects future driverless operations to be handled by the company's remote operations center.

The pilot will function more like an autonomous shuttle — or a shared robotaxi — than a private ride like those offered by Alphabet's Waymo. Passengers traveling in the same direction may share a vehicle, while pickups and drop-offs will take place at designated virtual stops.

The service will cover about 4 square miles within Hamburg. It will gradually expand to around 14 square miles, the spokesperson said.

"Registration was open to anyone with the Moia app, and several thousand people have already joined the waiting list," the Moia spokesperson said. "The strong interest highlights the demand for autonomous mobility in Hamburg."

Rides will be free during the pilot. Moia said passengers will also eventually be able to book the autonomous vehicles through Hamburg's hvv switch public transit app.

"Our first passengers are now experiencing autonomous mobility in Hamburg's urban traffic for the first time," Moia CEO Sascha Meyer said in a statement. "For Moia, this marks an important milestone in the development of our European solution."

Moia has primarily operated a human-driven, ride-pooling service in Hamburg using electric shuttles and its own booking app. In the past several years, the company has been building an autonomous-mobility platform that combines vehicles, self-driving software, fleet management, and passenger-booking technology.

The company's recent robotaxi efforts integrate VW's vans with Mobileye's autonomous driving technology.

A Moia spokesperson said operating a standalone robotaxi service is not part of its broader business model. Instead, it plans to provide a ready-to-use platform to public and private fleet operators.

The pilot deployment in Hamburg is part of a government-backed venture called ALIKE, which looks at how autonomous technology could complement public services.

"The ALIKE project is funded through mid-2027," the Moia spokesperson said. "Any future commercial deployment and its scope will depend on decisions by the responsible public transport authorities, local mobility strategies, and the regulatory framework."

Volkswagen is not the only automaker investing in robotaxi services. Hyundai Motor Group backs Motional, which launched a pilot service in Las Vegas in partnership with Uber. Tesla is also working on its own robotaxi platform, using its vehicles and software.

A company spokesperson said Moia is targeting a European approval for the ID. Buzz in 2027 for driverless operations.

In the US, Moia plans to deploy an autonomous service with Beep, an autonomous shuttle company, and Uber.

Moia said it expects to launch the Beep service in Orlando later this quarter and the Uber service in Los Angeles before the end of the year.

• Sunday says Memo folded laundry in unfamiliar homes with a success rate above 99%.
• Its ACT-2 AI model can apply lessons learned in one setting to new homes and garments.
• The $1.15 billion startup plans to place Memo in homes through a beta this fall.

In the race to bring autonomous robots into the home, Sunday Robotics says it has solved one of the field's hardest problems: getting a robot to work in homes and handle objects it has never seen before.

On Thursday, the Bay Area-based startup unveiled ACT-2, a new AI model that powers Memo, its wheeled home robot. Sunday said that Memo folded laundry successfully more than 99% of the time when tested in unfamiliar homes, and on garments it had not been specifically trained to handle.

"I think 2026 will be when the timeline for autonomous home robots shrinks in a very drastic way because of this breakthrough," Sunday Robotics CEO and cofounder Tony Zhao told Business Insider.

For decades, home robot companies have struggled to build machines that are both reliable and adaptable. A robot may master a task in a controlled setting and falter in a new room or when handed an unfamiliar object, like folding a scarf when it's been trained to fold jeans. Sunday says ACT-2 can carry what it learns in one environment into the next, potentially avoiding the costly process of retraining Memo for every home.

Sunday raised $165 million earlier this year at a $1.15 billion valuation.

Sunday proposed a new robotics standard

Sunday also proposed a new industry standard for measuring progress in robotics. Called a "Solve," it is meant to distinguish reliable capabilities from flashy demos that often omit how many attempts a robot needed or the conditions under which it was tested.

"Each demo is a different robot, setting, and object, and it's really hard to figure out if we're progressing," Zhao said. "It's like apples-to-oranges comparisons."

Under Sunday's framework, companies would clearly state what a robot can do, where it was tested, and how much extra training or human assistance it requires in each new setting.

Sunday considers laundry folding Memo's first Solve capability.

To reach that level of reliability, Sunday trains ACT-2 in two stages. First, it learns basic physical skills from people performing everyday tasks while wearing sensor-equipped gloves that Sunday developed in-house. The gloves cost about $200 to make and mirror the shape and sensor layout of Memo's hands, allowing human movements to be translated more directly into the robot's movements.

Then, Sunday's in-house fleet of robots enables the model to learn from its mistakes. With its initial knowledge, the robot can learn new skills and improve its performance within minutes.

"Memo's performance in our office almost perfectly transfers to its performance in the wild," Zhao said.

He added that the company has spent the last few months testing the model in employees' homes and Airbnbs to see how well it performed in unfamiliar environments.

Sunday competes with other home robots

Zhao, who left Stanford's computer science Ph.D. program to build Sunday, and cofounder Cheng Chi started the company with a small team in a Silicon Valley hacker house in 2024. They chose to focus on the home because, unlike a factory, it is messy and unpredictable. Building a robot that can handle that, Zhao said, is the clearest path to physical artificial general intelligence, a term for AI capable of performing a broad range of real-world tasks as well as or better than humans.

Sunday has since grown to more than 100 employees. Conviction's Sarah Guo, who wrote the company's first check, previously told Business Insider that she backed the founders because they were "completely cracked researchers" with "a real commitment to building products that got deployed and an Elon-style religion on delivering a mass-consumer product."

Sunday's advance comes as several companies prepare to put robots in homes. Y Combinator-backed Weave Robotics plans to begin shipping Isaac 1, a $7,999 wheeled robot that folds laundry, in California this fall. 1X aims to start delivering its $20,000 NEO humanoid around the same time, while Tesla is working toward bringing Optimus into homes.

Sunday plans to place Memo in homes through a beta program this fall. Zhao declined to say how many homes would participate.

Memo will operate autonomously in homes, Zhao said, with a remote operator stepping in only when customers need help, similar to the remote assistance used by Waymo's self-driving cars. Unlike many robotics companies, Sunday does not plan to use those interventions to collect training data from customers' homes.

"Being fully autonomous is the best way to build trust," Zhao said. "We are not trying to creep in a teleoperator into your home to collect your data so that we can get our model to be better."

Sunday previously demonstrated an earlier model, ACT-1, clearing a dinner table, loading a dishwasher, and pulling a shot of espresso. The company wants ACT-2 to eventually make those capabilities more reliable, starting with laundry. It is learning to vacuum, organize toys, fasten zippers, and make coffee.

Those tasks, Sunday said, are not yet reliable enough.

Have a tip? Contact Rya Jetha via email at rjetha@businessinsider.com or Signal at rjetha.07. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• TikTok is rolling out a new pilot program where it will run most Shop operations for some sellers.
• For a fee, TikTok will handle key tasks like hiring creators, running ads, and making creative.
• Its push into managed services may irk some of TikTok's third-party partners with similar offerings.

TikTok is jumping into the driver's seat as it looks to grow its e-commerce business.

The company is rolling out a new managed services program in the US that will give it much more control over the performance of some of its e-commerce sellers, according to documentation viewed by Business Insider.

The company is currently seeking participants for a pilot program in which it will oversee almost all aspects of a merchant's Shop business, including marketing, running automated ads and test creatives through its GMV Max tool, optimizing product listings, hiring creators, and creating content (including hundreds of AI-generated videos).

Sellers will still be responsible for getting products listed on Shop and sending free samples to influencers, but not much else. Enrolling in the program will cost sellers a $10,000 flat fee plus a 10% to 20% commission per sale, depending on a brand's product category, per the documentation. The program is open to both US local sellers and foreign companies that sell in the US.

TikTok did not respond to a request for comment.

TikTok Shop's move into managed services will put it in direct competition with its Shop agency partners, which assist brands with tasks such as hiring creator affiliates and running ad campaigns. The company has leaned heavily on those third-party partners to get its US e-commerce business off the ground since launching in 2023.

Its hands-on approach differs from other US e-commerce players like Amazon and Walmart that offer some managed services around fulfillment or customer service, but tend to direct brands toward self-serve portals for other tasks.

TikTok's managed service pilot, set to kick off in August, is the latest in a series of recent changes within the Shop ecosystem that have put more of the business under its direct control. In September, TikTok made it mandatory for Shop brands to use its AI advertising tool, GMV Max, when running ads, for example. Earlier this year, the company planned to require all sellers to switch to its shipping and logistics program, Fulfilled by TikTok, but ultimately backed off the policy change.

The direct-control strategy mirrors that of its sister app in China, Douyin, said Fabian Ouwehand, founder of the social-commerce firm Socialscale.ai.

"In China, it's a more common strategy, especially for Douyin and Xiaohongshu," Ouwehand said, referring to the app known as RedNote in the US.

"It feels kind of like this is another experiment they're running, which proved on Douyin to be pretty successful, to offer that support network directly from the company itself," he said.

TikTok's business has started to look more like Douyin's over the last few years as its e-commerce leadership has shifted more to executives with experience working on the Chinese app, employees told Business Insider last year.

TikTok Shop has grown into a formidable e-commerce actor in the US, tracking toward more than $23 billion in US sales this year, according to a forecast from EMARKETER, Business Insider's sister company. It remains a small piece of overall US e-commerce sales when compared to Amazon, which EMARKETER projects will surpass $500 billion in US sales in 2026.

• Over 800 wildfires are burning across Canada, polluting multiple cities with thick smoke.
• Winds carried the smoke southeast, causing air quality alerts due to unhealthy smoke levels.
• Toronto, New York City, Chicago, and Minneapolis are among the cities covered in the smoky haze.

It's not an Instagram filter. The skies really are that yellow.

Smoke from more than 800 active wildfires burning across Canada drifted hundreds of miles across North America this week, blanketing cities in a thick haze.

Across the Northeast and Midwest, including New York City, Minneapolis, and Chicago, as well as Canadian cities such as Toronto, smoke obscured skylines and prompted air quality alerts ranging from "unhealthy" to "hazardous" on Thursday.

Take a look at how the wildfire smoke is turning skies orange across the region.

A satellite image captured on Tuesday showed smoke from Canadian wildfires blowing southeast.

As winds carried the smoke further on Wednesday, downtown Toronto was engulfed in yellow haze.

Toronto's skyline, including the CN Tower, was obscured by the smoke.

The Canadian government issued an orange air-quality warning for Toronto, advising residents to limit time outdoors and reschedule or cancel outdoor activities.

Smoke also began to move into New York City on Wednesday.

On Thursday, New York City issued an air-quality health advisory due to an AQI forecast of 200, the upper end of the "unhealthy" category.

The Statue of Liberty was barely visible through the polluted air.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency categorized the air in the Twin Cities as "hazardous" on Wednesday.

Dense smoke affected visibility on the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis.

Chicago's air quality index was rated "very unhealthy" on Thursday, with nearby suburbs experiencing "hazardous" conditions.

Aerial photos showed smoke lingering over Chicago neighborhoods.

Peacock started as a streaming hub for NBCUniversal TV shows and films, but the service has grown to include a massive collection of original TV series, live sports, and reality TV programming. Peacock ranks among the best streaming services we've tested, whether you're looking to stream a classic NBC sitcom like "The Office" or the latest season of "Love Island USA."

Key Peacock plans start at $11 a month (although there's a newer budget option, which we'll dig into below) for ad-supported access to the streamer's entire on-demand lineup. This includes NBC and Bravo shows, as well as Peacock Originals and other programming. These Premium plans also get access to select sporting events, including certain NFL, NBA, and WNBA games. Upgrading to Premium Plus unlocks ad-free on-demand content and the ability to live stream your local NBC station.

To help you decide whether Peacock is worth it, we've outlined everything you need to know about the service, including full details on pricing, plans, content, and supported devices. We'll also break down some of the best shows, movies, and live events available on the streaming service right now.

What is Peacock?

Peacock is a streaming service created by NBCUniversal with two main subscription plans: Premium (with ads) and Premium Plus (ad-free). The platform offers a collection of shows, movies, and original series, along with live sports and news. There's also Peacock Select, which we'll dig into further down this page.

Content can be viewed via an on-demand library or always-on streaming channels broken down by genres and franchises. Some of the channels available in all plans include Dateline 24/7, NBC News Now, NBC Sports Now, ION, and ION Mystery, among others. The streamer also offers channels pegged exclusively to popular shows and movies, including a Law & Order: SVU channel, a Real Housewives channel, The Office Channel, an SNL Vault channel, and others.

Peacock's catalog includes a mix of Universal films and NBC shows, like "Wicked: For Good" and "The Office." Original series and movies are also available, including hit shows like "Ted," "Long Bright River," "Poker Face," and "The Miniature Wife." In addition to live sports, which we'll outline below, the streaming service also carries select other live events, including "Eurovision" coverage.

How much does Peacock cost?

Peacock Premium costs $11 a month or $110 annually for ad-supported streaming. To watch without ads, you need to upgrade to a Peacock Premium Plus plan, which costs $17 a month or $170 a year.

Both Peacock plans offer access to the service's entire lineup, including new original series, exclusive content from NBC shows, current and past Bravo shows, select USA shows such as "Suits," live sports like Sunday Night Football, and next-day streaming support for many NBC shows airing on TV. In addition, Peacock Premium Plus also includes download support and live streaming access to your local NBC station. 

What is the Peacock Select tier?

The Peacock Select tier rolled out in July 2025 following the most recent price hike. Originally, Peacock Select was only available for existing subscribers, but the plan now appears on Peacock's main sign-up page.

The Select plan costs $8 a month or $80 a year, in line with the Premium pricing before the 2025 increase. The plan offers viewers select access to the app's programming, including current season and library content from NBC and Bravo. It also offers access to some other shows, like Yellowstone.

Unlike Premium, Select doesn't have any Peacock Originals, live sports and events, or films. It also doesn't have the Premium Plus tier's NBC live streaming, although Select subscribers can view a few specific channels (like The Office Channel and NBC News Now Channel) on their TV only.

When was the last Peacock price hike?

The last Peacock price hike occurred on July 23, 2025. Previously, Peacock Premium plans cost $8 a month or $80 a year, and Peacock Premium Plus plans cost $14 a month or $140 a year. Prior to that, the service hiked its prices on July 18, 2024.

Do any shopping memberships come with Peacock?

Both Walmart Plus and Instacart Plus members receive Peacock as part of their membership. Walmart Plus costs $12.95 a month or $98 a year. Subscribers will have the choice of either Peacock Premium or Paramount Plus Essential, and they can choose which one they want every 90 days. Instacart Plus costs $10 a month or $99 a year and comes with Peacock Premium. Both of these shopping services offer a variety of other perks in their paid benefits.

How can I sign up for Peacock?

Signing up for a Peacock subscription is easy. You can sign up for any of the main plans or bundles (more on that below) on the Peacock website. You might need to scroll down to see all of your options. Once you hit "Choose" on the plan you want, you'll be prompted to create an account and password with your name, email, gender, birth year, and ZIP code. On that same page, you can add any available Peacock promo codes. From there, you'll be prompted to input your payment information.

Are there any Peacock bundle deals?

TV fans can bundle either of the Peacock plans with Apple TV for a reduced rate. The Apple TV and Peacock Premium bundle costs $15 a month, while the Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus bundle costs $20 a month. This is 33% to 37% in monthly savings compared to what you'd pay if you subscribed to the two services separately, depending on which plan you sign up for.

You can subscribe to the bundles directly through the Peacock website or Apple TV website, or learn more in our Peacock and Apple TV bundle guide. Current Peacock subscribers should also be eligible to upgrade to this bundle by changing their plan within the app.

Where can I watch Peacock?

Peacock's streaming app is available on all the best TVs from every major brand, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, Xbox One, PlayStation, Chromecast, Xfinity, and Flex devices, among others. Check out our guide to the best streaming devices for our top media player picks. 

The service is also available through its official website. You can browse a full list of supported devices here.

Is Peacock free?

Peacock originally offered a free entry-level plan, but that option is no longer available to new subscribers. The ability to sign up for the free tier was removed in early 2023.

Does Peacock have a free trial?

Peacock doesn't have a free trial. The streaming service initially offered a seven-day free trial to new customers, but Peacock has since phased out the option.

What shows and movies are on Peacock?

Peacock Premium and Premium Plus plans both feature more than 80,000 hours worth of on-demand TV and movies. Peacock Premium Plus also lets you live stream your local NBC network.

All paying subscribers can stream classic shows like "The Office," "Law & Order," and "Parks and Recreation." Peacock users can also access new episodes of ongoing NBC (and Bravo) shows the day after they air. Daily broadcasts from NBC News stream on Peacock as well, along with new episodes of popular soap operas like "Days of Our Lives."

Most new Universal, Focus Features, and DreamWorks movies also arrive on Peacock after they play in theaters. Some notable newer movies on Peacock right now include "The Black Phone 2," "Wicked: For Good," and "Song Sung Blue." However, it's important to note that while new Universal films typically hit Peacock first, they often only remain on the service for a few months before heading to other subscription platforms, like Prime Video and Netflix.

Outside NBCUniversal content, Peacock has select movies and series licensed from other studios, including a rotating selection of films like the "Harry Potter" movies from Warner Bros. The service also carries all five seasons of the hit Paramount Network series "Yellowstone," including the elusive final eight episodes.

Subscribers can also watch original Peacock shows and movies on the platform. Some of the most popular original series include scripted programming like "Poker Face," "Ted," "The Day of the Jackal," "All Her Fault," and "Based on a True Story." Peacock is also behind the US version of "The Traitors" reality series and has all of the latest episodes. Seasons from the UK, AU, and NZ versions of "The Traitors" also eventually end up on Peacock.

"The Traitors" isn't the only reality series on Peacock. The streaming service also hosts new seasons of "Love Island USA" and "Love Island: Beyond the Villa." The app ranks among the best US streaming services for reality TV fans since Peacock is the online home for most Bravo series. The app gets new episodes of Bravo shows like "Top Chef," "Vanderpump Rules," and the "Real Housewives" franchise the day after they're broadcast. Plus, most past seasons of beloved Bravo shows are available to stream in full on demand.

What sports are on Peacock?

Peacock has live sports, too, including Sunday Night Football during the NFL season, matches from the Premier League, and NBA games. In addition to NBA on NBC games, Peacock will host several streaming-exclusive NBA games during the 2025-2026 season.

NBC and Peacock also recently got in on some WNBA action, getting the rights to host a wealth of games starting with the 2026 season. Select WNBA games are also airing on USA, although these match-ups won't stream on Peacock.

Peacock is also the main US streaming home of the Olympics, serving as a one-stop shop for all things Summer and Winter Olympics through 2036. Peacock offers a comprehensive Olympics streaming hub, with additional coverage beyond the main broadcasts on NBC and other NBCUniversal networks. The platform also holds the US Spanish-language broadcast rights for the 2026 World Cup.

Additionally, sports fans can live stream select Big Ten games, golf tournaments, and cycling coverage (including the Tour de France). If you missed a major sports event covered by Peacock, there's a pretty good chance that the streaming service will have replays or highlights available.

• New York mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a plan to curb deceptive AI images of apartment listings.
• The proposal would require disclosures on listing sites when images are digitally altered.
• "You shouldn't have to worry whether the apartment you are viewing online is real," Mamdani said.

Beware the AI in-unit washer/dryer.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a slew of new tenant-protection proposals on Thursday, the result of his "Rental Ripoff Hearings" earlier this year. The plans included solutions for black mold, fire concerns — and a growing AI problem.

New York will now require real estate agents and listing sites to disclose the use of AI or digitally altered images and video in "misleading rental listings," Mamdani announced. "You shouldn't have to worry whether the apartment you are viewing online is real."

Then, Mamdani took a crack at one of New York's leading apartment listing sites: "It's called StreetEasy, not StreetHard."

The "Rental Ripoff Report" — a 68-page dossier of the hearing's findings and outcomes — includes more details of the mayor's AI proposal.

New York's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection will work with Zillow and StreetEasy to enforce the "clear and conspicuous disclosure" rule after it goes into effect, the report says.

"We agree with Mayor Mamdani that finding a new rental in NYC should be easy, and that's why finding an apartment on StreetEasy is… easy," a StreetEasy spokesperson wrote to Business Insider. "We look forward to continuing our work with the Mamdani administration, as well as state and federal officials, to ensure it stays that way. "

The spokesperson said the company expects listings to accurately represent a home, "whether AI is involved or not," and asked users to report listings they believed to be misleading.

It's not clear when the AI proposal will take effect. The report says the initiatives will all be implemented within the next three years, but the launches will be staggered.

Realtors told Business Insider in March that the AI misrepresentation problem was growing. They called it "housefishing." California also now requires AI disclosures in real estate listings.

Rental reforms were a key promise of Mamdani's mayoral campaign. He promised to freeze the rent for stabilized apartments, for example. For eligible tenants, that freeze will become a reality in October.

Mamdani's Thursday proposals also included universal inspection of heat complaints and easy rescheduling of inspections. "New Yorkers have been able to schedule food deliveries and the time they pick up their clothes at the dry cleaner for years," he said.

Mamdani said that the three biggest concerns the city hears about are pests, mold, and broken elevators. The mayor has plans for all three.

"No longer will landlords be allowed to slap a new coat of paint over a wall of black mold and pretend that the issue is fixed," Mamdani said, to applause from the gathered crowd in New York's Tenement Museum.

New York also plans to legally recognize tenant unions, Mamdani said.

Mamdani announced a proposal to digitize the process for cataloging landlord penalties, something he said would help spot repeat offenders — and support the landlords who "operate with integrity."

This is a key balance for Mamdani: punishing "bad landlords" without harming the good ones. Cea Weaver, director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, made that priority clear at the "Rental Ripoff Hearings."

"We know that not every landlord is a bad landlord," Weaver said, "but we want to be able to find the ones that are."

• Arya, a relationship wellness startup, acquired another app for couples called Flamme.
• AI-powered Arya will integrate its monetization tools into Flamme's app, which has 200,000 users.
• Read the LinkedIn DM and pitch deck slides that helped land the deal.

Two startups with the goal of keeping couples in love got hitched.

Arya, a relationship wellness AI startup, recently acquired Flamme, an app with activities for couples like quizzes and milestones, Business Insider has learned exclusively.

Arya and Flamme "complement each other," Arya's CEO, Offer Yehudai, told Business Insider.

While Flamme is for "day-to-day communication and prompts," Arya is focused on "emotional and physical intimacy," Yehudai said.

Flamme and Arya are betting that the relationship tech category will be more sustainable than dating apps.

"The dating apps are built that if they're successful, their users end up leaving and they struggle from churn," Nayal said.

Arya uses AI (as well as human relationship coaches) to provide users with physical products and relationship advice.

The two platforms will continue to run as stand-alone experiences, but Arya will begin to integrate some of its tools into the Flamme app.

"What we bring to the table is very strong monetization," Yehudai added.

"I've been in this space for a while," Nayal said. "I realized I have a limitation. We tried to crack monetization. We could not."

Arya has two primary ways of making money: e-commerce and paywalled services, including intimacy coaching for couples. Its subscription, which includes a box of products like sex toys, starts at about $30 a month.

"People are awkward or embarrassed or just uneducated about their love life," Yehudai said. "That's where we step in."

Nayal said that Arya's existing structure and acquisition offer felt right for building "a bigger system for relationships."

Here's how the deal is set up:

• Arya is acquiring Flamme and its 200,000 users.
• The apps are not merging, and Flamme's team will continue working on Flamme part-time (while Nayal also works on building his next company, a consulting agency for consumer apps).
• Arya isn't disclosing a price for the deal, but Yehudai said it isn't "capped" and will be paid out based on "certain milestones" met by Flamme as it integrates Arya's monetization layers.

The acquisition of Flamme is Arya's first foray into its planned roll-up strategy, following its recent $21 million growth funding round. Since its founding in 2022, Arya has raised $37 million.

Yehudai said he's been eyeing Bending Spoons' roll-up strategy as a model. Italy-based Bending Spoons has acquired several companies, such as Vimeo, WeTransfer, and AOL.

Arya is eyeing other relationship apps to fold into its suite of tools, as well as period tracking and other women's health companies.

It started with a LinkedIn DM

Like many professional relationships (and even some romantic ones), Arya and Flamme's founders got connected on LinkedIn.

Here's the exact DM Flamme's founder, Nayal, sent to Arya's CEO in June:

Subject: Hi from Flamme!

Hey Offer! I'm An, founder of Flamme. Congratualtions on the raise, would love to connect and share insights we've got from 4 years in the inudstry.

No ask, I just like making friends : )

(Business Insider reviewed a screenshot of the original message sent between the two.)

Sometimes a friendly first introduction leads to something more serious — like an acquisition.

After the first exchange, the two hopped on a call.

Charts are sexy

It takes more than just good vibes, though, to nail a deal.

Yehudai told Business Insider that two slides stood out from Flamme's pitch deck — particularly those that showcased the startup's retention and usage.

1. Flamme's traction stood out to Arya

2. Flamme also included a chart documenting its retention

• I flew from Paris to Texas in Air France's exclusive La Première first class.
• The in-air food created by Michelin-starred chefs, spacious suite, and great WiFi impressed me.
• This is the most luxurious transatlantic flight I've ever been on, and I'm glad I tried it once.

Air France's La Première first class is widely considered one of the most exclusive commercial airline experiences in the world, with only four suites per aircraft in a 1-2-1 configuration.

The airline flies La Première to just a handful of US cities, including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston.

So when I recently found myself traveling from Paris to Houston, I decided to give Air France's La Première class a try on my 10½ -hour flight.

At nearly $15,000 for a one-way ticket, this was my most expensive commercial flight yet. Here's how it went.

I was dropped off at the La Première check-in desk, then escorted to the lounge.

Car service to Charles De Gaulle Airport is included for La Première passengers, and I was able to schedule it in advance.

I was dropped off at a dedicated La Première check-in desk.

A couple of minutes after handing over my passport and checked bag, I was escorted through private security and whisked away in a Porsche to the flagship La Première lounge.

The lounge felt very quiet.

The lounge itself was huge but, in my opinion, a little underwhelming.

Nothing about the design stood out to me as being super special, aside from lots of red furniture and the Air France winged seahorse logo on the plates.

However, I appreciated the ample seating, and it was very quiet — not a huge surprise considering how few people fly La Premièr.

The food was solid, but the service wasn't what I expected.

When ready to order food, I was instructed by a staff member to sit at one of the many empty tables with white tablecloths nearby.

Once I sat down, though, I had to ask for a breakfast menu multiple times and then flag down a server to order. I expected more attentive service given the high staff-to-guest ratio.

Food came out quickly, and croissants were sufficiently flaky, but the breakfast menu was pretty generic with eggs, cheese, charcuterie, and a very simple avocado toast. The wine glassware also looked surprisingly cheap to me, like something I might find at Ikea.

I regretted not having breakfast at The Peninsula Paris, the luxury resort I'd been staying at before coming to the airport.

Getting my complimentary Sisley facial was the best part of the lounge experience.

The best part of my lounge experience was the complimentary 30-minute Sisley facial, which is offered to La Première passengers at Charles de Gaulle.

My aesthetician was lovely, and came to find me while I was eating breakfast when it was time for my appointment.

Although a 30-minute facial is not quite enough time for anything intensive, it was a very hydrating and relaxing facial massage with some manual sculpting. It was definitely ideal before a long flight with very dry airplane air.

I was glad I'd booked this in advance to ensure availability since there are limited spaces.

As a La Première passenger, I really didn't need to worry about missing my flight.

Once I checked in with La Première, it felt impossible to miss my flight or forget any belongings.

I had a personal escort drive me to the lounge, then collect me after my facial to drive me directly to the plane. I was the last passenger to board and the only passenger in La Première on this particular flight.

It was reassuring to know that even if I'd fallen asleep or completely lost track of time in the lounge, a personal handler would fetch me to ensure I made my flight.

Removing all of the stress of navigating an unfamiliar airport and keeping track of boarding time felt like a huge benefit of flying in La Première.

My suite felt spacious and comfortable.

Each of the four suites has a wide seat with leather armrests and a footrest that could double as a smaller seat, so somebody could even sit across from me to dine.

I had so much legroom that I couldn't even reach the wool-and-cashmere blanket that was left for me on my footrest when my seat was upright for takeoff.

There was plenty of space for me to work on my laptop, and a side table for placing items. I also had a table lamp with the winged seahorse logo for mood lighting if I wanted.

My seat came with a few extra perks, too.

I was offered Jacquemus cotton pajamas in multiple sizes and provided a bright-red leather amenity kit, too.

The chic kit included a wooden comb, ballpoint pen, and eye mask, plus Sisley eye and lip balm, hydrating serum, antiaging cream, and hand cream.

I felt like I was flying private.

Because I was the only passenger in La Première, the crew let me spread out across two seats, leaving one seat with my belongings for working and dining, while making up the seat across the aisle as a bed for me to sleep, with a thick mattress pad, pillow, and duvet blanket.

This really enhanced my experience, and I didn't see anyone except for two flight attendants the entire flight, so it honestly felt like flying private.

Floor-to-ceiling curtains separate each suite, although I only closed mine when I was sleeping since I already had the entire cabin to myself.

Once my seat was converted into a bed, I was even more impressed.

This is the most comfortable bed I've experienced on a plane, and the plush mattress pad really made a nice difference.

These seats are about 6 ½ feet long when fully reclined in lie-flat mode, and I'm sure taller folks would appreciate them.

The onboard bathroom didn't feel any bigger or nicer than what I've seen in business or economy class. Since nobody else was using it, though, I didn't need to worry about it being occupied.

I really enjoyed my in-air French fine-dining experience.

There was no set time for meal service, and I could enjoy anything on the menu whenever I wished.

Several Michelin-starred chefs partnered with Air France for the La Première menus, including Alain Ducasse and Daniel Boulud.

On my flight, Anne-Sophie Pic (the world's most Michelin-starred female chef) had designed the savory dishes, which included things like coffee-smoked beef filet, lobster and crab raviolo, and grilled chicken with sake lees.

I was also served a selection of warm bread paired with French Maison Bordier doux and demi-sel butters, and caviar as an amuse-bouche.

I wasn't wowed by my appetizer, but the entrée was fantastic.

I selected the tomato tarte tatin with smoked vanilla and goat's cheese as my appetizer, but felt it was a bit too mushy and not flaky enough on the edges.

However, my vegetarian main course, grilled artichokes with Comté cheese polenta, was absolutely delicious. The polenta was remarkably light and fluffy.

My salad tasted super fresh, too.

Cheese feels de rigueur on any Air France flight, but I was full and skipped that course and headed straight to salad and dessert.

I got a salad with a mustard vinaigrette, hard-boiled eggs, chopped chives, fennel, marinated mushrooms, and smoked chicken. The salad greens tasted very fresh, and I didn't find a single wilted leaf.

Dessert was the true highlight, though.

Desserts on my flight were created by pastry chef Claire Heitzler, whom I was not previously familiar with, but am now a fan of.

I tried both of the ones available to me: a light apricot-and-almond dessert complete with a buttery sablé cookie, and a soft dark-chocolate cake that I sprinkled with a touch of sea salt to accent the chocolate flavors.

High-end ice cream by artisan ice-cream maker Philippe Faur and Pierre Hermé chocolates were also available to try, served alongside Illy coffee and Palais de Thés tea.

The WiFi was great, and I had tons of entertainment options.

Denon noise-canceling headphones were provided in the seat compartment, and the 24-inch HD touchscreen looked super sharp.

The entertainment selection included a wellness section with guided meditation and soundtracks designed to help passengers fall asleep. I even found short seated-yoga videos, although I practically had enough space to do regular yoga in my suite if only I had a mat.

The movie selection included plenty of Hollywood blockbusters, dozens of French films, and a few different movies in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Arabic, along with Bollywood and African films for a truly inclusive global repertoire.

I didn't end up watching any movies because the included WiFi was excellent, fast, and easy to connect to in just a couple of clicks.

Instead, I mostly listened to Taylor Swift while eating, working, and drinking several glasses of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Champagne.

Ultimately, this was the most luxurious transatlantic flight I've ever had.

This is definitely the most luxurious experience I've had on a transatlantic flight, especially with the unexpected privacy I had as the only passenger in La Première.

I typically fly in business class, and this was definitely several steps up from that.

If I were to compare this to other first-class experiences I've had with airlines like British Airways, this one definitely feels superior. The top-notch food and comfort Air France offered here feels difficult to beat.

I've flown private on several shorter flights within the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and I'd say this comes close to that experience.

Still, all this luxury and exclusivity come at a high, sometimes five-figure price.

This class was fun to experience once, but in the future, I think spending the same amount of money on hotels and meals in Paris instead would be a better value. That way, I could sprinkle luxury throughout my trip instead of mostly enjoying it in the skies.

Business Insider reached out to Air France for comment.

• Chips were getting hit hard on Thursday, rattled by moves in Asia markets overnight.
• TSMC reported solid earnings but the stock failed to rally.
• Similar to Samsung's recent slide, it hints that solid earnings might not be enough to get investors excited.

Chips are in the red again on Thursday, and investors are getting a grim peak at what earnings season may hold for AI hardware makers, even if results blow past expectations.

The chip trade was getting hit hard after moves in Asia markets rattled investors. Importantly, semiconductor bellwether TSMC reported solid earnings that failed to lift the stock. The US-listed ADRs were down 2% shortly after the open, paring some of the premarket loss.

It's reminiscent of Samsung's recent sell-off after beating earnings on most metrics, and the bar is high enough that investors are spooked heading into some high profile earnings for US chip makers in the coming weeks.

"This all makes one wonder what US tech corporations will have to come up with to get investors genuinely excited again. This is important, as the earnings season picks up several gears over the next fortnight," David Morrison, Senior Market Analyst at Trade Nation, said on Thursday.

Within the chip trade, memory makers were hit the hardest. Korean giants SK Hynix and Samsung plummeted, dragging the KOSPI index down more than 6% and extending a bout of withering volatility for Korean equities.

The Nasdaq led losses in US stocks in the session. Big movers in the US chip trade include:

• SK Hynix ADRs: -9%
• Marvell Technology: -9%
• Micron Technology: -6%
• AMD: -6%
• Intel: -5%
• Nvidia: - 3%

Here's where major indexes stood around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday:

• S&P 500: 7,542.91, down 0.39%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 52,611.48, down 0.09% (-47.16 points)
• Nasdaq 100: 29,097.66, down 1.37%

Morrison noted that earnings beyond tech have been a mixed bag in terms of investor response, even as performance in the quarter was largely solid from many companies that have reported so far.

"Earlier this week saw results from the 'Big Five' US banks. While JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs jumped on strong numbers, the rest were a disappointment," he said. "But this seems to be as much about investor expectations than poor corporate performance."

In macro date, tame consumer and wholesale inflation readings this week whittled down the odds of a rate hike, but didn't do much to increase the odds of a cut. The result was a mostly tepid reaction to the upbeat data, especially as the US and Iran appear to be locked in a conflict with no end in sight.

"Investors remain cautious as geopolitical risks continue to cloud the outlook. The US and Iran exchanged further strikes on Wednesday, while tensions surrounding shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz remain elevated.

• The 2026 ESPY Awards took place at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on Wednesday.
• Attendees like Jordyn Woods and Alysa Liu wore high-fashion looks on the red carpet.
• Others, like Dwight Howard, missed the mark with their ESPYs fashion.

Wednesday was either a great day or a terrible day to be a sports fan, depending on who you were rooting for. (Argentina fans, congrats, and my condolences to anyone who was supporting England in the World Cup.)

While Lionel Messi likely spent Wednesday night coming down from the high of a win, some of the world's other top athletes traded in their uniforms for red-carpet glam at the 2026 ESPY Awards.

Held at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, the ESPYs celebrated athletes, teams, and outstanding sports moments from the past year.

A-list attendees took their red-carpet looks seriously, arriving in bold suits and daring dresses. Some stars stole the show with their outfits, while others missed the mark.

Check out the best and worst looks from the 2026 ESPYs.

Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns looked dazzling on the red carpet.

Towns and Woods walked the ESPYS red carpet together in glamorous ensembles.

Towns wore a fitted black suit with a thin tie and Tiffany & Co. jewelry, including a gold brooch that made the look pop.

Woods, whose lucky bag made waves during the Knicks' playoff run, leaned further into the champion gold motif, arriving in a gold Oscar de la Renta gown from the brand's fall 2026 collection.

Strands of gold gems covered the skin-toned base of the form-fitting dress, where they formed a tasseled skirt on the hemline. Gold shoes and diamond jewelry completed her sparkly ensemble.

Dwight Howard's suit didn't fit quite right.

Howard chose a black suit for the ESPYs, pairing his fitted, cropped jacket with flared pants and black boots. He went shirtless, adding a fun edge to the look.

The silhouette was a good idea for Howard, as the flared pants could have highlighted his height. However, the suit didn't seem to fit him well. The pants were too short, and the jacket looked a size too small.

Different tailoring could have made Howard's look a standout on the red carpet.

Alysa Liu's monochrome look had a daring edge.

The gold medalist, who won best breakthrough athlete at the ESPYs, walked the red carpet in a floor-length, chocolate-brown gown designed by Louis Vuitton.

It had a plunging, cowl neckline that dipped all the way to Liu's navel, while the back was completely open. The skirt formed a train for some added drama.

Liu styled the dress with an updo and a cross necklace that dangled low in the back with another cross pendant. She looked daring and stylish.

Meanwhile, Madison Chock's minidress was too voluminous.

Chock arrived in a teal minidress by Christian Siriano. Ruffles of fabric covered the sheer base of the gown, creating padded shoulders, a high neckline, and a bubble skirt. She paired the dress with pointed-toe, white shoes and an updo.

The dress was fun, but it was so busy that it seemed to swallow Chock. It almost looked too much like a figure skating costume rather than a red-carpet dress.

The look might have worked better for Chock if the hemline had been longer or the top half of the dress had less volume.

Jayson Tatum's tank top look was a nice change of pace on the red carpet.

Most of the men attending the ESPYs wore suits, which made Tatum's monochrome look pop.

He paired a sage-green tank top with darker green trousers and black dress shoes. Diamond jewelry, including two chains and a bracelet, elevated the ensemble.

The Celtics star looked effortlessly cool in his outfit.

Ayesha Curry stunned in a semi-sheer, bedazzled dress.

Christian Siriano designed Curry's daring, sheer gown. The black dress featured a strapless sweetheart neckline and padded hips, creating an exaggerated silhouette.

Crystal embellishments adorned the dress, forming the boning of a corset on the bodice and crisscrossing along the skirt. A denser collection of crystals framed the neckline, while the see-through skirt showed peeks of Curry's legs.

Curry, who won the Muhammad Ali sports humanitarian award at the 2026 ESPYs alongside her husband, paired the bold dress with sparkly earrings and black pumps.

The color of Eileen Gu's dress didn't read well on the red carpet.

Guo Pei designed Gu's metallic gown.

The dress had a dropped-waist bodice with a subtle cutout at the stomach, and a large flower formed a strap on one side. The pleated skirt flowed to the floor, with swaths of metallic fabric shining as she walked the red carpet. She paired it with an updo and an IWC Schaffhausen watch.

The dress had pretty elements, but there was a bit too much going on between the floral detailing and the architectural bodice. The colors also felt dull under the red-carpet lighting, rather than bold. Gu may have stood out more at the ESPYs if the dress had been strapless, had a less structured bodice, or had a simpler color scheme.

Russell Wilson's jacket brought a pop of color to the red carpet.

Rather than just wearing a black suit, Wilson added a pattern to his outfit with a blue zebra-print jacket.

He kept the rest of his look simple, wearing black trousers, a white blouse, a black bow tie, and black shoes.

The jacket's traditional silhouette and bold colors offered a fun spin on red-carpet style at the ESPYs without feeling too over-the-top.

Simone Biles' champagne gown was stunning, but Jonathan Owens' coordinating suit wasn't as effective.

Biles went full glam for the 2026 ESPYs, arriving in a ball gown that had a dramatic slit in the front, showing off her legs, and a massive skirt that flowed into a train in the back. A fitted, corset bodice contrasted with the voluminous skirt, and Biles played up the drama with coordinating, strappy heels and a diamond choker.

Owens complemented Biles in an all-brown suit. His trousers flared slightly, which he paired with a cropped jacket. His accessories were interesting, including his sparkly brooch and waist chains, but the cropped jacket didn't quite work with the rest of his silhouette.

A longer jacket would have taken Owens' look to the next level.

Morgan Riddle's structured dress was chic and sexy.

Thom Browne designed Riddle's form-fitting, black dress.

The floor-length gown had an off-the-shoulder neckline, padded hips, and an exposed seam running down the center of the front for a play on suitwear. A faux pocket sat on the right side of the bodice in another fun nod to menswear.

Exposed corset laces in Browne's signature red and blue covered the back of the dress for a high-fashion flair. Riddle let the dress be the star of the look, wearing minimal jewelry and her hair in a high ponytail.

• Jeff Wrona's True Rock Fund has outperformed the market with a 49% return in 2026.
• Wrona's investing strategy focuses on business momentum, companies' guidance, and tuning out fear.
• His top holdings included SanDisk and Micron as of February, but his turnover is high.

When it comes to his investing strategy, Jeff Wrona prefers to keep his cards close to his chest.

The manager of the True Rock Fund (TRUEX) has crushed the market in 2026 by returning 49%. As of February, his top holding was SanDisk (SNDK) at a 9.2% weighting. Today, Wrona won't confirm whether or not he still owns the stock at all.

The caginess is understandable. Wrona has built a strategy that works for him, and he doesn't want to share the recipe for the secret sauce. He uses a mostly long approach and buys options. His turnover, or the pace at which he is flipping his holdings in a year, is a staggering 685%. That's in the top 1% of all funds, Morningstar data shows.

This fast-moving approach has allowed Wrona to trounce the market over the last few years. Since launching in March 2020, the True Rock Fund is up 765%, beating the S&P 500's 167% return in that time, including dividends. According to Morningstar data, it has beaten 99% of similar funds over the last 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods.

Despite being reticent to say too much, Wrona was willing to share some of the general principles that guide his strategy and what has driven his huge returns with Business Insider.

3 tenets of Wrona's investing approach

Three main pillars of Wrona's approach to investing stand out.

The most important is his focus on what he calls "business momentum." Not stock price momentum, a popular investing factor, but momentum in the growth of the business itself.

While he wouldn't define exactly what makes him pull the trigger on a stock, or what metrics he looks at specifically, he shared some of the general indicators he watches: sales growth, earnings growth, profit margins, and valuations.

Naturally, the AI buildout and the earnings glut it has led to for chipmakers and other infrastructure firms has led to a number of Wrona's top holdings being part of that world. It's the theme that has driven his outperformance, he said. In addition to Sandisk, some of his top holdings as of February included Nvidia, Micron, and Lumentum.

Second, he emphasizes the value of quarterly earnings calls and reports, and the forward guidance executives provide on them.

This has been a particularly helpful principle for Wrona in recent years, it seems. Even as a narrative of skepticism around AI spending has emerged in the market on multiple occasions, which has left some investors skittish on the AI trade, he has been able to ignore it in favor of forward guidance from the companies themselves.

"We read or listen to as many of the earnings call transcripts as we are physically able to," Wrona said.

"I can listen to folks on the outside who are trying to get as much information as possible from those on the inside, or I can simply listen to those on the inside," he added.

And third, Wrona says he tries to tune out fear when it comes to his decision-making. Some might argue fear is healthy to a degree, in that it can guide risk management. But it can also hold you back, and Wrona says his way of looking at things has been one element of why he's outperformed.

"Whatever drives your decision, I know for a fact it should not be driven by any fear: fear of underperforming; fear of looking ridiculous on a quarterly report, which I have," he said.

Asked whether or not he's shifting away from the AI hardware trade, he said he's "very aware" of the concerns around a potential capex pullback, and that he's also "very aware" of what companies say they are going to do going forward.

"I care about all of it," he said. "But it's really easy to get whipsawed by investor sentiment. And I would really prefer for shareholders' sakes that I not get whipsawed."

Correction: July 16, 2026—An earlier version of this story misstated True Rock Fund's percentage gain since inception. The figure has been corrected.

• With "The Odyssey," Christopher Nolan delivers another masterclass in epic filmmaking.
• I didn't fully appreciate "The Odyssey" until I went to bed and started dreaming about it.
• "The Odyssey" opens in theaters on Friday.

The mind can play tricks on you.

When I first left a screening of Christopher Nolan's sprawling epic, "The Odyssey," I was a little perplexed.

I couldn't deny Nolan's mastery as a storyteller: The beautiful photography, rich with the color and texture of the high seas. The costume department's chiseled armor and the art department's detailed sets of Troy on fire. The practical special effects showcasing a colorful world of giants, goddesses, and monsters.

At the same time, I didn't feel that rush I usually get after leaving a Christopher Nolan movie — the feeling that I had witnessed something wholly original and different from anything else I'd seen onscreen.

Then I went to bed that night, and something happened that I hadn't experienced in years: I had dreams about a movie.

Matt Damon as Odysseus, trying to keep his ship afloat as Poseidon makes the ocean angrier.

Anne Hathaway as his wife, Penelope, ensconced in her private quarters as dozens of suitors feast in the dining hall outside her doors.

Odysseus' aging dog, Argos, patiently waiting for his master to return.

I see an obscene amount of movies each year. It's rare that one sparks my subconscious like "The Odyssey" has. It took me a few days to realize why.

'The Odyssey' has ambition in spades

This is not the first time Hollywood has adapted Homer's ancient Greek classic, which follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, on his 20-year journey home after the Trojan War. But it's certainly the most ambitious attempt.

Nolan shot the film on multiple continents, on the unpredictable open ocean, and in locations that the cast and crew had to make back-breaking treks to reach. He did it all while using a new IMAX camera built specifically for the movie, making "The Odyssey" the first film ever to be shot entirely on the large format.

It was all worth it. And in an era when CGI and AI are impacting almost every aspect of a moviemaking, perhaps some of the draw of "The Odyssey" is the fact that everything you're seeing on the big screen is practical, down to the giant hand Odysseus and his men must sneak past to get out of Cyclops' cave.

Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland shine, but Zendaya looks lost

Then there are the performances. Nolan has always had an eye for casting, and he nails almost all of his choices here. Damon and Hathaway, who have both previously worked with Nolan, deliver in emotionally charged roles: Damon as a man who takes decades to get over the tolls of war, and Hathaway as a woman who won't give up hope that her husband will return.

Robert Pattinson is perfect as one of the creepy suitors trying to marry Penelope, John Leguizamo steals every scene he's in as Odysseus' blind servant Eumaeus, and Samantha Morton is chilling as the goddess Circe, who has an interesting way of welcoming visitors to her island.

In a rare casting miss for Nolan, Zendaya's portrayal of the goddess Athena is sadly not her best work. It has less to do with her talents and more to do with how she's used: The role feels shoehorned into the movie, with Athena showing up in visions to Odysseus only so Nolan can include the well-known Greek goddess in the film.

Meanwhile, her real-life husband, Tom Holland, proves once again why he's one of the best actors of his generation. His performance as Odysseus' son, Telemachus, imbues the role with a potent mix of youthful naivety and genuine heroism.

'The Odyssey' feels like a mash-up of Nolan's whole career — in a good way

"The Odyssey" is a retelling of Greek mythology, but it also functions as an appreciation of Nolan's entire filmography.

Nolan fanatics will catch echoes of "Dunkirk" in the Trojan War soldiers waiting on a beach, trying to figure out how to get home; threads of "Interstellar" and "Inception" in Odysseus' pain as a father in leaving his child behind; and bits of "Memento" in our hero's difficulty remembering details of his past.

It's a movie that Nolan simply could not have made earlier in his career, without his previous work coursing through his subconscious. Perhaps that's why "The Odyssey" has remained in mine.

• John Hussman sees the risk of a severe stock crash once AI mania cools.
• The fund manager says the S&P 500 could lose as much as 75% of its value in the next few years.
• He pointed to a cluster of warning signs, such as extreme valuations and rising margin debt.

John Hussman isn't budging.

The famed permabear, who's best known for calling the dot-com blowup, remains unmoved from his prediction of a major stock crash looming. He says there are a handful of warnings that suggest markets have reached a "speculative extreme" possibly even surpassing the years leading up to 1929 and 2000.

All in all, the signs point to an S&P 500 decline of as much as 75% in the coming years, Hussman wrote in a client note this week, a slightly more catastrophic view than his prior prediction that stocks could suffer a 70% drop.

It's possible the benchmark index could weather a shallower 55% loss, assuming the profit margins large companies have earned over the past decade are permanent, he said.

"The current level of stock market valuations remains — easily — the most speculative extreme in U.S. financial history," Hussman wrote.

Hussman is known for regularly speculating about apocalyptic drops in markets, enduring in his call even as stocks have posted double-digit annual gains in recent years. He pointed to a handful of signals that justifiy his downside risk estimate:

1. "Extreme" valuations

Stocks look extremely expensive from a historical standpoint. The ratio of nonfinancial market capitalization to gross value-added, which Hussman called his "most reliable gauge" of market valuation, is now at the highest level ever, surpassing its peak in the years leading up to the 1929 crash, he said.

"In prior market cycles, the gap between prevailing valuations and historical norms has generally been closed, which is part of the reason why our baseline risk estimate for the S&P 500 is a loss of about 75%," he said, adding that the same indicator was what led him to project an 83% loss prior to the burst of the internet bubble.

When adjusting for average nonfinancial profit margins, the average 12-year annual nominal total return of the S&P 500 when valuations were at this level hovers around 0%, per Hussman's analysis.

2. Corporate profits look fueled by deficits

Corporate earnings have been strong, but there are signs that profits are being fueled by large deficits in the government and US households.

Corporate free cash flow, one reflection of how profitable companies are, looks like a "mirror image" of the combined deficit between the US government, households, and foreign trading partners, he said, citing his firm's analysis of data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

"When we consider the fact that nearly 90% of corporate equities are owned by the wealthiest 10% of households, and that the other 90% finance their shortfalls by issuing liabilities like consumer debt that's accumulated directly or indirectly by the top 10%, we see very clearly that the wealth enjoyed by one group is the mirror image of the income shortfalls of others," he said.

3. Margin debt is at extremes

More investors are borrowing money to invest, another sign of "speculative exuberance" in the market, Hussman said.

The ratio of margin debt to GDP is moving toward 4.5%, the highest level ever recorded.

Historically, sharp peaks in the ratio have been followed by sharp pullbacks in the market, as was the case leading up to the dot-com crash, the Great Financial Crisis, and the bear market in 2022, Hussman noted.

4. IPO frenzy

The hype for companies set to go public soon is another red flag, Hussman said. At currently estimated valuations, companies that are expected to IPO this year are worth around 12% of the US's total GDP, he said.

Proceeds from IPOs already hit a record high in 2026, with newly public companies raising a combined $142.4 billion. That's up 792% from levels last year, according to data from Renaissance Capital.

"History has always brought today's sort of speculative exuberance to much more distressing conclusions," Hussman said of the fate of the stock bubble.

• The oldest bar in the US is the White Horse Tavern, which was established in 1673 in Rhode Island.
• Some historic taverns were visited by US presidents and other historic figures.
• The Old '76 House in Tappan, New York, imprisoned a British spy during the Revolutionary War.

As the United States marks its 250th birthday this year, Americans are taking part in classic traditions like fireworks and barbecues.

However, few traditions are as time-honored as going to the bar.

There are more than 40,000 drinking places in the US, according to the 2023 Census. These bars come in all shapes and sizes, but some stand out for their age, with a few even predating the country itself. The White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island, opened in 1673 and is the oldest bar in the US, according to Condé Nast Traveler.

Although other states' oldest bars aren't quite as old, they still hold multiple centuries' worth of history.

Business Insider compiled a list of every state's oldest bar still in operation. Many bars claim to be the oldest in their respective states: Some are housed in historic buildings that became bars later on, while others pride themselves on the title of longest continuously running bar.

But for this list, we focused on bars that were the oldest from when they began operation as a tavern, saloon, or bar, rather than the age of the building where they're located. Bars that began in other locations or out of state were excluded. Ownership and name changes didn't automatically disqualify a bar, so long as it could trace its identity to the original establishment in one way or another.

We also included bars that were once repurposed or closed for a period of time. Some of the bars on this list continued operating as speakeasies during Prohibition, while others closed. Some were destroyed by disasters, such as fires, but were rebuilt and reopened.

See every state's oldest bar.

ALABAMA: Callaghan's Irish Social Club

The oldest bar in Alabama is subject to debate, as the Montgomery Advertiser reported. The title was formerly held by Peerless Saloon & Grille in Anniston, which recently shut down. T.P. Crockmier's in Mobile has technically been in business since 1875, but it originated in Atlanta before moving to Alabama.

That leaves Callaghan's Irish Social Club in Mobile. It opened in 1946 as "a local watering hole and grill designed for the working man," according to the bar's website. It was once a members-only club, but has since opened its doors to everybody.

ALASKA: Imperial Bar, Juneau

While B&B Bar in Kodiak claims to have the oldest liquor license in the state from 1906, the Imperial Bar in Juneau was established in 1891 as the Missouri Saloon.

The bar closed during Prohibition, serving as a cigar store and a billiard parlor, the Juneau Independent reported. After national Prohibition ended in 1933, the bar's owner quickly obtained one of the first liquor licenses in the state. The Imperial Bar's website says the establishment has "survived fires, shootouts and bar fights."

ARIZONA: The Palace Restaurant and Saloon, Prescott

Opened in 1877, The Palace Restaurant and Saloon in Prescott is the oldest frontier saloon in Arizona and one of the oldest restaurants in the state, according to Prescott's tourism office. Located in Prescott's iconic "Whiskey Row," the Palace welcomed the frontiersmen Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, and Doc Holliday among its early patrons.

In 1900, the Palace was destroyed by the Whiskey Row fire, but it was rebuilt and open for business again within a year.

ARKANSAS: The Ohio Club, Hot Springs

Open since 1905, the Ohio Club holds the title of Arkansas' oldest bar. Many well-known figures are said to have stopped by the watering hole and casino, including gangsters Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, Bugs Moran, and Lucky Luciano.

During Prohibition, the Ohio Club turned into a speakeasy and changed its name to Ohio Cigar Store, according to the bar's website. In front, visitors would find an unassuming cigar store, but behind a couple of doors in the back, there was a bar, as well as an upstairs casino.

CALIFORNIA: Golden Gate Saloon, Grass Valley

In 1852, the bar was filled by "thousands of thirsty prospectors," its website notes. After a devastating fire a few years later, its owners continued to sell drinks from a tent.

In 1862, the Holbrooke Hotel was built around the bar, according to California State Parks.

Another bar frequently cited as the state's oldest, the Iron Door Saloon in Groveland, didn't become a bar until 1896.

COLORADO: The Buffalo Rose, Golden

The Buffalo Rose traces its history to the International Bowling Saloon, which opened on the property in 1859, according to Uncover Colorado.

Over the years, the institution has undergone multiple ownership and structural changes. The second floor was removed in the 1880s when the owner at the time installed a large organ that wouldn't have fit otherwise, per the bar's website.

CONNECTICUT: The Griswold Inn, Essex

The Griswold Inn is practically as old as America itself. The inn has been operating since 1776 in the small Connecticut town of Essex.

For some bonus history: The building now used as the Tap Room dates back even earlier, to 1735, when it was used as a schoolhouse, the bar's website says.

DELAWARE: Kelly's Logan House, Wilmington

While not the oldest building that houses a bar in Delaware — that honor goes to Jessop's Tavern in New Castle — Kelly's Logan House is the oldest-operating restaurant and bar in the state. It's also the oldest bar in the US continually operated by the same family, Delaware Today reported.

Opened in 1864, the Irish bar and restaurant is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been a go-to spot in Delaware for St. Patrick's Day celebrations for more than 150 years. 

FLORIDA: The Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach

The Palace Saloon sits near the Florida-Georgia border and was originally built in 1878 as a haberdashery, according to Amelia Island Hospitality Group, which now operates the bar. It was purchased and repurposed as a bar in 1903, and the new owner enlisted the help of Adolphus Busch — the founder of Anheuser-Busch — to help design it.

The bar continued to market itself as a "gentleman's establishment," offering patrons complimentary towels and 14-pound solid brass spittoons.

The Palace was also reportedly the last bar to close on the eve of Prohibition, sustaining itself as an ice cream parlor during America's dry era, per Visit Florida.

GEORGIA: The Pirate's House, Savannah

The Pirate's House opened in 1753 as a rest stop for seafarers and pirates, according to its website.

Not only is The Pirate's House Georgia's oldest bar, but parts of the building date back to 1734. After World War II, the building was set to be demolished after a period of inactivity, but it was renovated instead.

HAWAII: La Mariana Sailing Club, Honolulu

Thanks to the recent closure of Smith's Union Bar in Honolulu, which opened in 1934 and was widely known as Hawaii's oldest bar, the title is up for debate in the state.

Murphy's Bar, which opened in Honolulu in 1987, operates out of what was the Royal Saloon building, which dates back to the 19th century, but it has little connection to the original establishment, so it can't be characterized as the state's oldest bar.

Arnold's Beach Bar is another potentially historic bar. According to KHON2, the bar opened in 1933, but its opening date is more widely reported as 1992.

That leaves another Honolulu bar, La Mariana Sailing Club, which may claim the title. The bar and restaurant have been open since 1957, operating out of a new location since 1975 after a tsunami destroyed the original site, the National Trust for Historic Preservation reported.

IDAHO: Ford's Bar in Idaho Falls

One local saying is "you haven't partied until you've been to Ford's," according to East Idaho News.

Ford's opened in 1906 and has passed through multiple owners.

ILLINOIS: The Village Tavern, Long Grove

Established in 1847, The Village Tavern in Long Grove is also the oldest tavern and restaurant in continuous operation in all of Illinois.

The bar and restaurant is home to a massive 35-foot-long mahogany "Presidents Bar," which was saved after a 1967 fire, Food Republic reported.

INDIANA: Knickerbocker Saloon, Lafayette

The Knickerbocker Saloon has been in business since 1835, according to its website. Over the years, it's reportedly had notable visitors such as President Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, Al Capone, and Neil Armstrong.

IOWA: Breitbach's Country Dining, Balltown

The oldest bar and restaurant in the state, Breitbach's Country Dining, has been in business since 1852 and was founded after a federal permit for the establishment was issued by President Millard Fillmore, according to the bar's website.

The spot has also been run by the same family for six generations. Fires burned down the building in 2007 and 2009, but business continued both times, running out of the parking lot while the building was reconstructed.

KANSAS: Hays House Restaurant and Tavern, Council Grove

Founded in 1857, Hays House Restaurant and Tavern was opened by Seth M. Hays, a grandson of pioneer Daniel Boone. Today, it stands as one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants west of the Mississippi River, according to the National Park Service.

KENTUCKY: Old Talbott Tavern, Bardstown

Built in 1779, the Old Talbott Tavern has offered food and shelter to travelers ever since. The tavern's website says it's known as "the oldest western stagecoach stop in America."

One of its most famous visitors was Daniel Boone, who, in April 1792, was subpoenaed to give a deposition at the tavern.

LOUISIANA: Old Absinthe House in New Orleans

Old Absinthe House was built in 1806 and sits in New Orleans' French Quarter, according to its website.

The bar's liquor license was acquired in 1835, and notable figures such as Mark Twain, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Frank Sinatra were believed to have been housed there.

MAINE: Forest Gardens, Portland

Previously, Jameson Tavern in Freeport held the title of the state's oldest bar — it had served as a bar from 1801 to 2024, when it closed. The building is now a second location for the Portland-based King's Head Pub.  

Upon the tavern's closure, Forest Gardens in Portland became Maine's oldest bar. It opened in 1936, according to the Bangor Daily News. The bar saw an ownership change in 2018 and briefly changed names before returning to the long-standing Forest Gardens name.

MARYLAND: Reynolds Tavern and 1747 Pub, Annapolis

Originally opened in 1747, Reynolds Tavern spent much of the following two centuries serving other purposes, including as a bank and public library.

It returned to use as a tavern in 2000 after having been saved from proposed demolition decades earlier.

MASSACHUSETTS: Warren Tavern, Charlestown

Warren Tavern, established in 1780, is named after Joseph Warren, a Harvard-educated doctor and Patriot who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill in the Revolutionary War in 1775.

The tavern was one of the first structures built after the British burned down Charlestown in the battle, according to the tavern's website. George Washington and Paul Revere were among the tavern's patrons.

MICHIGAN: New Hudson Inn, New Hudson

The New Hudson Inn's website claims it opened in 1831, and the bar may have assisted in the Underground Railroad, according to WXYZ Detroit.

A false floor and hidden room may have been used to house formerly enslaved people journeying to Canada.

MINNESOTA: Neumann's, North St. Paul

Neumann's was established as a saloon in 1887. The bar opened a speakeasy upstairs during Prohibition, according to its website. The keyhole window was used to confirm the identity of patrons is still in place today.

MISSISSIPPI: Blue Front Cafe, Bentonia

King's Tavern, constructed in Natchez in the late 18th century, was long known as the state's oldest bar. However, since it closed in 2020, there's been debate over the oldest bar in the state.

While the building that houses the Under-The-Hill Saloon in Natchez dates back more than 200 years, it only opened as a bar in 1975, according to Wine Enthusiast. With no other well-documented frontrunners, the strongest candidate is the Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia. While more juke joint than bar, this café serves alcohol and is full of history.

Opened in 1948 by an African American couple, the establishment had to abide by local segregation laws, including not being allowed to serve Coca-Cola, according to Mississippi Blues Trail. The original couple's son, blues guitarist Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, still runs the cafe, the Associated Press reported.

MISSOURI: O'Malley's, Weston

O'Malley's is located 60 feet underground in what was the cellar of the Weston Brewing Company, which started producing and serving beer in 1842. In the 1980s, the then-owners, the O'Malleys, converted the underground cellar space into O'Malley's Pub.

The brewery, which had closed its doors during Prohibition, reopened in the 1990s and is now located in a building next door, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

MONTANA: Bale of Hay Saloon, Virginia City

The Bale of Hay Saloon, built in 1863, sat vacant for 36 years in the first half of the 20th century, per its website. Now owned by the Montana Heritage Commission, the classic watering hole offers live music and other events at this classic watering hole.

NEBRASKA: Glur's Tavern, Columbus

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody was among Glur's Tavern's famous patrons, according to Visit Nebraska. Established around 1876, the tavern's storied history earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

NEVADA: The Genoa Bar and Saloon, Genoa

The Genoa Bar and Saloon has been in business since 1853, according to Travel Nevada. Its period decor has made it a popular location for filming Hollywood movies. "The Shootist," "Charley Varrick," "Honky Tonk Man," "Misery," and "Till the River Runs Dry" were all filmed at the Genoa Bar and Saloon.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Inn at Hancock, Hancock

The Inn at Hancock has been in operation since 1789. Franklin Pierce, the only US president from New Hampshire, was friends with then-owner Squire Patten and was a regular guest, according to the New England Historical Society.

NEW MEXICO: Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House

El Farol in Santa Fe, which opened as a cantina in 1835, was previously the oldest restaurant and bar in the state, but it closed in 2025. Its new owners plan to open it this year with the same name, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported in April.

Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House has been around since the 1860s, and attracted prospectors after gold was found in the area, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

NEW YORK: Old '76 House, Tappan

The Old '76 House's website claims it dates back to 1668, while other sources list the bar as being constructed in the 1750s. During the Revolutionary War, the bar served as a safe house.

Also known as "Andre's Prison," the bar once held John Andre, a major in the British Army, before he was executed for conspiring with Benedict Arnold and spying on American forces.  

NEW JERSEY: Black Horse Tavern & Pub, Mendham

While the log cabin that became the Barnsboro Inn was built in 1720, it didn't become a tavern until 1776.

That leaves the Black Horse Tavern & Pub in Mendham, which was built in 1742. It is also the oldest continuously serving restaurant in the state, according to New Jersey Monthly.

When it was built, horse stables stood where the pub is now located, and the tavern was in an adjacent building on the property.

NORTH CAROLINA: Antlers Bar, Blowing Rock

The previous holder of the "oldest bar" title, The Tavern in Old Salem, was built in 1816. However, it closed its doors in 2019.

Antlers Bar, which opened in Blowing Rock in 1932, is now believed to be the oldest bar in the state.

Antlers Bar burned down after a recent fire, though its owners plan to fully reopen it. For the time being, the bar is operating out of its nearby sister restaurant, Hellbender Bed and Beverage, according to its website.

NORTH DAKOTA: Town Hall Bar, West Fargo

Peacock Alley American Grill, which first opened in 1933, recently closed, leaving the Town Hall Bar in West Fargo to claim the title of the oldest bar in North Dakota.

The bar was constructed and opened in 1935, according to KVRR.

OHIO: Ye Olde Trail Tavern, Yellow Springs

Ye Olde Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs was built by Elisha Mills and his son, William, as a tavern in 1827. It's known for its signature burgers, and is also said to be haunted by a dark-haired woman in a blue dress, per the Yellow Springs News.

OKLAHOMA: Eischen's Bar, Okarche

Peter Eischen established Eischen's Bar in 1896. The bar closed down when state prohibition began in 1907, but it was reopened by Eischen's son and grandson, according to the bar's website.

Popular dishes include fried chicken, Frito pie, and a roast beef sandwich, according to Yelp.

OREGON: Pioneer Saloon, Paisley

In Oregon, the oldest bar question has been subject to debate, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. Two bars — the Pioneer Saloon in Paisley and the Rainbow Cafe in Pendleton — both claim to have opened in 1883.

While either could be worthy of the oldest bar title, OPB reported that one historian found an estate record for the Pioneer Saloon confirming the 1883 date. The bar itself is full of history, like its Brunswick bar, which was shipped from Boston in 1905.

PENNSYLVANIA: King George II Inn, Bristol

Broad Axe Tavern, which also opened in 1681, closed in 2019, according to KYW News Radio. This leaves the King George II Inn as the oldest in the state.

George Washington's officers once stayed at the inn, and one Pennsylvania militia general helped plan the crossing of the Delaware River inside its walls, Tasting Table reported.

RHODE ISLAND: White Horse Tavern, Newport

White Horse Tavern in Newport was called "the oldest bar in America" by Condé Nast Traveler. A National Historic Landmark, White Horse Tavern was originally built as a two-story home, according to the bar's website.

William Mayes converted it into a tavern in 1673 and held City Council meetings and court proceedings there. In the 20th century, after a long period of neglect, the property was restored by the Preservation Society of Newport County.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Henry's on the Market, Charleston

The previous oldest bar in the state, McCrady's Tavern and Long Room in Charleston, dated back to 1788, but it closed in 2020.

While Henry's on the Market isn't quite as old, it's been open since 1933.

Henry's was initially founded as a grocery store by Henry Otto Hasselmeyer, a German immigrant, according to the bar's website. After Prohibition ended, he turned it into a beer parlor.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Buffalo Bodega, Deadwood

The Buffalo Bodega was established in 1877 and named for the owner's friend and hunting buddy, Buffalo Bill Cody, according to the city of Deadwood.

TENNESSEE: Springwater Supper Club & Lounge, Nashville

Springwater, which opened in 1896, is a "true dive bar in its purest form," Jesse Baker, the bar's talent buyer, told Business Insider.

Although there have been structural updates to the bar over the past 100-plus years, there's plenty of evidence of its fascinating history. During Prohibition, the bar operated as a speakeasy and today, it still has a peephole door with an axe mark from when the fire department forced their way in "to bust heads," Baker said.

TEXAS: Scholz Garten, Austin

The bar at Scholz Garten was founded by a German immigrant and Civil War veteran, August Scholz, in 1866, according to Scholz Garten's website. It promptly became a favorite haunt of other German immigrants in the area.

When the bar was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, The New York Times reported, "As bars go, this one is anything but usual, having given long service as a watering hole, debating forum, community center and political staging point."

Today, the bar, which serves up German food and barbecue, is popular among University of Texas students.

UTAH: Shooting Star Saloon, Huntsville

The bar opened in 1879, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Today, it's decorated with trinkets and bills from visitors from around the world, but most eye-catching is the stuffed head of Buck, a record-setting 298-pound Saint Bernard, who was mounted on the wall after his death in 1957, per Utah Stories.

VERMONT: Ye Olde Tavern, Manchester

Ye Olde Tavern dates back to the 18th century — a sign outside reads, "Wining & Dining since 1790" — although it's been through many names and owners since then. It's had its current name since 1976. 

The town's first telephone line was installed at the tavern, according to the tavern's website. The historic building is now on the Vermont Register of Historic Places.

VIRGINIA: The Tavern, Abingdon

A few other historic buildings in Virginia are home to bars, leading to some debate on which is the oldest. The Red Fox Inn in Middleburg, for example, was reportedly established in 1728, but its National Register of Historic Places application lists the date as being built circa 1830.

The Tavern, built in 1779, is often recognized as Virginia's oldest bar, WCYB Abingdon reported. During the Civil War, it was used as a hospital, and it has also housed a post office, a bakery, a barber shop, and a general store, among other things.

WASHINGTON: Bluebird Inn, Bickleton

While there's some debate over who can claim the title of oldest bar in Washington, the Bluebird Inn in Bickleton opened its saloon in 1887, per the town's website. According to the town's Alder Creek Pioneer Carousel Museum, women were welcomed into the bar for the first time in the 1960s.

The town, known as "the bluebird capital of the world" for the number of bluebirds that call it home for most of the year, has a population of just 90 people, according to the 2020 Census.

WEST VIRGINIA: North End Tavern and Brewery, Parkersburg

The North End Tavern and Brewery, which opened in 1899, is the oldest tavern in the state. According to the West Virginia Gazette-Mail, the only remnants from the original bar are the "rough bricks laid into the basement floor" and "part of the foundation."

In the 1990s, owner Joe Roedersheimer added a brewery. These days, the bar is better known as The Net.

WISCONSIN: Landmark 1850, Milwaukee

Per OnMilwaukee, the bar initially was a stagecoach stop between Milwaukee and Racine. It opened as a bar for farmers and travelers in 1850, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The building underwent a renovation in 1983.

WYOMING: Miners and Stockmen's Steakhouse, Hartville

Miners and Stockmen's opened its doors for the first time in 1862 — that's 28 years before Wyoming was granted statehood. Fittingly, it's found in Hartville, Wyoming's oldest incorporated town still in existence, according to Platte County.

Patrons can choose from a steakhouse menu and long list of wines and whiskey, according to the bar's website.

Editor's note: This story was originally published in May 2022 and was most recently updated in July 2026 to reflect closures.

• Before I moved to France, there was a lot I didn't understand about French culture.
• Now that I live here, I've recognized the importance of following basic etiquette customs.
• I recommend that tourists learn a few key French phrases and stay patient in restaurants and cafés.

Years before moving to France, I went to Paris for the first time with my wife, who had always dreamed of visiting the City of Light. Back then, I bought into some of the stereotypes about the French, but I was pleasantly surprised by my encounters with locals.

About eight months ago, we moved to Versailles for my wife's career. Now that we live here, I've realized that many common stereotypes about French culture (in the US, at least) are rooted in misunderstandings.

Learning a bit more about French etiquette has improved my day-to-day interactions, from ordering pain aux raisins at a boulangerie to asking the SNCF train conductor if I'm going the right way.

Here are a few things Americans should think about when traveling to France — or even moving here.

Be patient at restaurants, cafés, and bars

In the US, the federal tipped minimum wage (that is, what an employer is required to pay a tipped employee) is a paltry $2.13 an hour. Servers depend on tips to make a living wage.

As such, patrons are expected to tip at least 15% — and servers are usually motivated to keep their customers happy, since being attentive and friendly can effectively determine their income.

In France, however, eateries pay servers an average of 10 euros an hour and provide health benefits. As a result, servers in France are much less motivated by tips. Unless you're in a fine dining establishment, you're not expected to leave more than a few small coins.

I've found that French servers don't check in as frequently and are less likely to bend over backward to cater to their customers' whims. Americans often interpret this relative inattentiveness as neglect or disrespect, but I've learned not to take it personally.

If you're trying to keep a tight sightseeing schedule, you'll likely have a stressful time rushing your server. For a much better experience, I'd recommend embracing the culture of taking your time with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

Say hello, please, thank you, and goodbye in French

Oh, you don't speak French? Cool, neither do I — not beyond a basic level, at least. In this case, speaking French is about courtesy, not communication.

Greetings are handled a little differently in France than in the US. For example, it's not unusual to walk into a deli in New York and say, "Can I get a bacon, egg, and cheese? Thanks."

That would be considered strange and rude in France. Here, you should always lead with a greeting ("bonjour" or "bonsoir") before any service or retail exchange. If you're asking for something, it's customary to say please ("s'il vous plait"), thank you ("merci"), and goodbye ("au revoir").

This may seem like basic etiquette, but I've noticed that the French adhere to these rules pretty strictly. If you forget a "bonjour" or "s'il vous plait," it can change the tone of your interaction.

Even if you don't know French, learning some of these basic greetings — and always leading with them — will make most exchanges go more smoothly.

Still, read the room when it comes to practicing French

Some Americans don't attempt to speak any French at all, whereas others take every opportunity to practice their French.

Although this is admirable, it's important to pay attention to your environment. Peak dinnertime at a café or restaurant is not the time to practice your A1-level French.

I've seen some American tourists and expats get frustrated when they lead with French, only for a French barista or server to automatically switch to English anyway. Consider the context, though: If there are 10 people behind you in line, the shop attendant is likely just trying to whittle down the queue.

You can (and should) speak basic courtesies in French, but switching over to English at a certain point can be a good idea. In a near-empty boutique, on the other hand, you'll have more leeway.

Learn and adjust to how locals do things

The French language is the biggest barrier Americans will face in France, but it's not the only one. There are many little things that people do differently here.

For example, most trains in the US have automatic doors, but on the Paris metro, you sometimes have to open the train doors manually. If you're not aware of that, you might find yourself staring at the doors while your train pulls away.

This one's also Paris-specific, but keep your metro card, even if it's for a single trip: You'll need it to get out of the metro station at the end of your ride.

The biggest mistake I see Americans make in France is trying to recreate the US in France when it comes to pace, language, and etiquette. If you settle into the way things are done here, your stay will go a lot more smoothly. As they say, when in Rome — er, Paris — do as the Parisians do.

• Ukrainian leadership ousted Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister this week.
• Fedorov said his innovative approach to the war clashed with the military leadership's traditional thinking.
• He said his efforts to reform the military were met with resistance by the top commander.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's ousted defense minister who pushed for sweeping reforms to transform the military into a modern fighting force, said his efforts to bring about change were met with resistance from the top brass.

Speaking at a press briefing Thursday, Fedorov said he recommended that Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Kyiv's commander in chief, be removed from his role, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disagreed. The now-former defense minister said he told the president he could live with that decision and would take steps to work with the commander for the good of Ukraine.

"But we found ourselves in a situation where every initiative we put forward began to be blocked," Fedorov said, telling reporters that Syrskyi was "not willing to discuss problems face-to-face" and instead issued an ultimatum.

"Instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically, he figured out how to split the country," Fedorov said, per local media translations of his remarks. "And that's a major problem."

Syrskyi, in his first public comments following Fedorov's dismissal, thanked the ousted minister and wished him "continued success as part of the Ukrainian team."

Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech champion who previously served as minister for digital transformation and is known for a Silicon Valley-style approach to the war, was appointed to oversee the defense ministry in January.

During his brief tenure as defense minister, Fedorov pushed for a series of changes to dramatically reform the Ukrainian armed forces, placing greater emphasis on developing drones, robots, and other emerging technologies, tackling corruption within the defense ministry, and overhauling the contracting system to address manpower issues.

Speaking Thursday, Fedorov credited Syrskyi for his battlefield victories, especially early in the war. "He led the Kyiv and Kharkiv operations and took part in the Kherson operation. We cannot underestimate a commander like that," he said.

"But the war has changed completely. Drone technology is evolving every few months," Fedorov said. "The command-and-control system has changed, and we need to change as well. We cannot continue doing things the way we did back then."

"I spoke openly about this; we know how to get through the bureaucracy, so let's do it. I was told: 'Don't touch it!' I put up with it and was prepared to continue working quietly until the commander-in-chief issued an ultimatum."

Ukraine has seen a string of battlefield wins under Fedorov, using drones to target Russian logistics and supply routes and make the front lines deadlier for Moscow's troops. Farther away, Kyiv has ramped up its long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure and escalated its efforts to cut off the occupied Crimean peninsula.

Fedorov's leadership at the defense ministry has made him popular among Ukrainian soldiers, many of whom were critical of military leadership, including Syrskyi, and its Soviet-style command. In Kyiv, the push for more battlefield innovation had led to a sense of optimism about the war's trajectory.

But ultimately, the differences between Fedorov and Syrskyi became too great for Zelenskyy to ignore. The president acknowledged the rift on Thursday and said it had created a problem for him.

Zelenskyy reshuffled his government this week and chose to leave Fedorov off the list. The former defense minister said Thursday that he had been pushed out and declined a government advisory role. His dismissal will be finalized pending a vote by Ukraine's parliament on a replacement.

The surprise decision was met with outrage. Ukrainians took to the streets in major cities to protest, and soldiers and officers called the move a major mistake that could significantly benefit Russia.

Fedorov said on Thursday that he had identified nearly a dozen issues in Ukraine's military management shortly after taking office earlier this year, from a fragmented fighting strategy to a lack of accountability. He said he tried to advocate for changes across the board, but he encountered pushback.

"What solutions were proposed at the time? Radical personnel decisions. That meant changing both the commander in chief and the chief of the general staff," Fedorov said. "It meant creating an environment where strong leaders could develop instead of being held back or constantly reprimanded."

If finalized, his removal could plunge Ukraine's military into uncertainty at a critical moment, both on and off the battlefield.

"I am proud that, thanks to the Kyiv defense operation in 2022, we managed to defend our capital. And now, briefings can be held in this city, visions can be formed, and decisions can be made," Syrskyi said in his comments after Fedorov's dismissal.

"I will make every effort to ensure that such events can take place in a free and independent Ukraine," the commander said. "To achieve this, we need to focus on the war and on an effective strategy that is currently demonstrating concrete results."

• I dined at Olive Garden, Carrabba's, and Maggiano's with a $50 budget.
• I ordered the same menu items at each restaurant chain — fried calamari and chicken Parmesan.
• Olive Garden definitely offered the most value, but I thought Maggiano's had the best food.

Growing up in an Italian-American family, I rarely ordered Italian food at restaurants, since my mom's homemade versions set the bar pretty high.

Still, I've always wondered whether the big Italian chain restaurants are actually worth the money. So, within the same week, I visited Olive Garden, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Maggiano's Little Italy in New Jersey, each with a $50 budget.

I ordered the same meal at each restaurant — calamari and chicken Parmesan. If I had room left in my budget, I added dessert to round out the experience. Here's how it went.

My first stop was at Olive Garden.

With over 950 locations — many of which are located in the US — Olive Garden is one of the country's most popular Italian chains.

Today, it's owned by Darden Restaurants, which also owns chains like Longhorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, and Yard House.

I have fond memories of celebrating friends' birthdays here as a child, but I hadn't been back in years. So, I was excited to see if it still lived up to those memories.

My server brought over a complimentary basket of warm breadsticks.

Every adult entrée at Olive Garden comes with unlimited breadsticks, which were just as salty, buttery, and fluffy as I remembered.

After I placed my order, another fresh basket was at the table within minutes.

The house salad came in a large serving bowl.

My meal also came with unlimited soup or salad. I went with the house salad, which contained lettuce, olives, onion, pepperoncini, tomatoes, croutons, and Parmesan cheese, and arrived tossed in a creamy Italian dressing.

It was simple, fresh, and delicious. Plus, the fact that it was never-ending made it feel like a great value.

My calamari appetizer arrived quickly, but it wasn't particularly memorable.

As an appetizer, I ordered the fried calamari ($12.49), which was served with marinara sauce, spicy ranch, and a lemon wedge.

The portion size was decent, but there weren't many tentacle pieces, which are my favorite.

The calamari itself was definitely crispy, but I thought there was a bit too much breading and not enough actual seafood. The marinara was flavorful, and although I liked the spicy ranch, I didn't think it was necessary.

The chicken Parmesan exceeded my expectations.

The chicken Parmesan ($20.79) came with two cutlets and a side of spaghetti topped with marinara sauce.

I was pleasantly surprised by the chicken cutlets. They were flavorful with lightly crispy edges, and the broiled cheese on top added a rich, savory flavor that really tied everything together.

The side of spaghetti was decent, too. The marinara had thick chunks of tomatoes and leaned a little on the sweeter side. I thought it could've used more salt, but it paired well with the chicken.

It wasn't the best chicken Parmesan I've ever had, but it was definitely a solid version of the classic.

I had enough room in my budget for dessert, so I ordered tiramisu.

I had some money left in my budget, so I ordered the tiramisu ($8.99), which had a bold coffee flavor, a generous layer of mascarpone cream, and a perfectly moist ladyfinger base. Every bite was rich without being too heavy.

Overall, I thought my meal at Olive Garden was solid. At $42.27 before tax and tip, the amount of food I received made it feel like a great value. I knew this was going to be a tough meal to beat.

My second stop was Carrabba's Italian Grill.

With 203 locations across the US, Carrabba's Italian Grill is a smaller chain than Olive Garden.

It's owned by Bloomin' Brands, which is the parent company of chains like Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse.

I'd never dined here before, so I went in with no expectations.

The complimentary bread was my favorite of the three.

The bread for the table arrived as a warm, sliced loaf.

I was excited to see it came with a small plate of herbs and a side of olive oil to make your own dip. This combination was salty, herby, and full of flavor.

When I think of classic Italian restaurant bread, this is exactly what comes to mind.

The house salad was pretty good, too.

My entrée came with a house salad — lettuce, carrots, shredded red cabbage, pepperoncini, and olives — which came out tossed in a creamy Parmesan dressing. I really enjoyed it, especially when paired with the freshly grated cheese my server offered me.

The portion was decent, and I actually liked this salad the best in terms of taste.

I wasn't blown away by the fried calamari from Carrabba's.

The calamari ($16.49) came out with a lemon wedge, marinara sauce, and Ricardo sauce — a lemon-butter mixture.

The first thing I noticed was how light the breading looked in color. I thought it might have needed a little more time in the fryer, but surprisingly, it was still nice and crispy. However, it was fairly greasy.

That said, I liked that this version of the classic appetizer had more tentacle pieces, was well-seasoned with a peppery flavor, and seemed to have a better ratio of seafood to breading.

The Ricardo sauce was unique, but paired with the already greasy calamari, it was a bit too rich for me.

I was a bit disappointed by the chicken Parmesan.

When the chicken Parmesan ($24.99) hit the table, my first impression was that the cheese looked pale and was missing the golden, broiled finish I usually look for. I also thought there was too much of it, which caused the dish to feel greasy.

The chicken itself was flavorful, though, and I liked that the cutlet was thin with lightly crispy edges.

In terms of the spaghetti, the pomodoro sauce was too sharp and tangy for my liking, and I thought it needed a little sweetness to balance the acidity.

Because I spent $41.48 without tax and tip, I couldn't order dessert without going over budget.

Although I enjoyed parts of this meal, my favorite items ended up being the bread and salad, which made it hard for this option to stand out.

My last stop was Maggiano's Little Italy.

Finally, I visited my local Maggiano's Little Italy for the first time, which is owned by Brinker International, the parent company of Chili's.

With only 48 locations nationwide, Maggiano's is by far the smallest chain I visited. But from the moment I walked in, it felt like the most upscale restaurant of the three.

The white tablecloths and jazz playing in the dining room immediately made the restaurant feel more like a special-occasion spot than a casual chain.

At Maggiano's, I got complimentary rolls.

Instead of traditional Italian bread, Maggiano's served warm, sweet buns topped with flaky sea salt and whipped butter that melted instantly into the fluffy center.

They weren't what I typically expect to receive at an Italian restaurant, but they were delicious nonetheless.

The calamari was pricey but worth it.

The calamari ($20) from Maggiano's was on the pricier side, but the portion was so large that it felt justified.

It was served with a lemon wedge and marinara sauce — no second dipping sauce like I received at the other two chains. There were plenty of tentacle pieces, which I loved, along with a good mix of rings.

The calamari was perfectly golden brown, tasted fresh, and was super crispy without being overly greasy. It had just the right amount of breading and was seasoned well with a nice salty finish. Taste-wise, this was my clear winner.

My entrée didn't come with a salad, but the quality of the meal made up for it.

Unlike the other two restaurants, my entrée didn't come with a side salad, which was a bit disappointing. So, I got right into the chicken Parmesan ($28.50).

Like the others, it came with two cutlets, but these were by far the thickest. Despite their size, they were incredibly fresh, juicy, and not tough at all.

The cheese had a nice broiled finish, and there was just the right amount of it. It wasn't overwhelming, allowing the crispy coating and flavorful chicken to shine through. I also noticed fresh basil on top, which was a nice touch.

The spaghetti portion was easily the largest I received at any of the three restaurants. The marinara sauce was also my favorite — smooth and fresh-tasting, with just the right amount of sweet and tangy flavors.

In the end, this was an excellent chicken Parmesan. Although I personally prefer a thinner cutlet, this one completely won me over with how juicy it was and how crispy the edges stayed.

Before tax and tip, I spent $48.50 at Maggiano's, so I didn't have room in my budget for dessert.

This ended up being the most expensive meal of the three and offered the least variety since it didn't include any extras. However, the portion sizes were generous, and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

Overall, Olive Garden offered the best value, but Maggiano's food was my favorite.

In total, I spent $42.27 at Olive Garden (with dessert), $41.48 at Carrabba's (without dessert), and $48.50 at Maggiano's (without dessert or a salad).

If we're talking strictly about value, Olive Garden is hard to beat. Between the unlimited breadsticks, never-ending soup or salad, generous portions, and enough room in the budget for dessert, this chain gave me the most food for my money.

If you're dining with a large group, feeding a family, or trying to stay on budget, Olive Garden is an easy recommendation.

That said, the food from Maggiano's was my favorite. The quality was noticeably higher, and the experience felt more elevated. Personally, I'd happily spend the extra few dollars to dine here again.

Business Insider reached out to Olive Garden, Carrabba's, and Maggiano's for comment.

• Wildfires are raging across Canada, and the smoke is being pushed southward.
• The air quality began decreasing on Wednesday and continued into Thursday.
• Here's a guide to understanding the Air Quality Index (AQI), a metric used to assess air quality. 

As more than 800 wildfires burn across Canada, including dozens of out-of-control fires in western Ontario, the resulting smoke has worsened air quality in various parts of the United States, including the Great Lakes, the Midwest, and the Northeast.

Unsettling images of orange skies in New York City on Wednesday and Thursday raised widespread concern and confusion about the risks posed by poor air quality.

To determine the quality of the air, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses the Air Quality Index, or AQI. The scale spans from 0 to 500. A higher AQI value signifies a higher level of air pollution and a greater health risk. 

NYCEM, the city's emergency management agency, forecast an AQI of 200 in New York City on Thursday. In areas like Detroit, it reached as high as 754 on Thursday morning, according to air-quality tracker IQAir. (Official EPA guidance classifies any AQI above 300 as hazardous, but in cases like wildfires or other extreme situations, IQAir's scale can climb past 500.)

Poor air quality can cause a litany of symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, stinging eyes, headaches, chest pain, runny nose, and more. It can also cause chronic inflammation.

Here's a comprehensive guide to the AQI scale, including what the numbers mean and how you can protect yourself from harmful air pollutants during a wildfire.

0-50: Good

According to AirNow, a website and app run by the EPA, an air-quality index of 50 or below signifies satisfactory air quality.

Air of this quality poses minimal to no risk to humans. It is highly unlikely that individuals who inhale air that falls at this point in the AQI will experience health issues as a consequence.

51-100: Moderate

Air that falls between 51-100 on the AQI is deemed "acceptable" by the EPA. Individuals who are particularly sensitive to air pollution may be at risk when inhaling air of this quality.

According to the EPA, people with heart or lung disease, people with diabetes, older adults, and children are groups generally more sensitive to air pollutants.

101-150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups

Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, while the general public is less likely to be affected.

151-200: Unhealthy

The general population is more likely to experience health issues, and sensitive groups are at risk of serious health concerns. 

201-300: Very unhealthy

The high risk of health concerns extends to the general public at this AQI level. 

301-500: Hazardous

Everyone who inhales air with an AQI between 301 and 500 is likely to be affected by poor air quality. 

How can I protect myself from air pollutants?

As Business Insider previously reported, there are ways to protect yourself when the air quality is particularly poor. These include staying inside and closing your windows. Certain indoor activities should also be avoided, such as burning candles or fires, which increase indoor pollution, and vacuuming, which may kick up fine particles that have come inside the home.

If you must go outside, wearing an N95 mask can help filter the air you inhale. 

"If you have to exert yourself, exert yourself less. Hydrate more," Dr. Leonardo Trasande, who studies environmental health at New York University, told The Associated Press.

Elana Klein contributed to a prior version of this story.

• Uber said on Thursday that it would acquire Delivery Hero for nearly $15 billion.
• The deal is set to make Uber the largest food delivery company outside China.
• It also expands the number of countries where Uber offers both delivery and ride-hailing services.

Uber is eating the competition's lunch.

With its planned $15 billion acquisition of Delivery Hero announced on Thursday, Uber is set to become the largest food delivery company outside China.

Together, Uber and Delivery Hero had $236 billion in pro forma gross bookings in 2025, a measure of order volume. DoorDash, by contrast, had a marketplace gross order value of $102 billion. Meituan, a delivery service in China, said orders on its platform totaled 1.67 trillion yuan ($246.5 billion) for the same year.

Uber and DoorDash have spent the last few years expanding internationally by acquiring local competitors in different countries and launching services under their own brands.

The deal unveiled Thursday would add delivery operations in 50 markets around Africa, Asia, and Europe to Uber. Among the brands that Uber plans to acquire under the deal are foodpanda, which delivers in countries such as Hong Kong and Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia's Hungerstation. Uber was previously Delivery Hero's largest shareholder.

Uber pursued the deal to compete in food delivery, but it also wants to use the acquisition to grow its ride-hailing business, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said.

With the deal, Uber would nearly double the number of markets where it offers both ride-hailing services and food delivery, Khosrowshahi told CNBC on Thursday.

Customers who use both services tend to spend three times as much on Uber as those who use one. "That is our secret sauce," he said.

In the US, Uber has introduced other services to its app, too, including the ability to book hotels through Expedia and the option to have a drink or snack waiting for you in an Uber ride when booked ahead of time.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Palm Beach County rejected a proposed AI data center near President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.
• The planned development, known as "Project Tango," has faced widespread community backlash.
• Communities are resisting data centers as tech companies race to build them.

A proposal to build a massive AI data center roughly 20 miles from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida, was rejected late Wednesday by county commissioners after a marathon hearing.

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners' 5-1 vote on "Project Tango" followed months of organized opposition from residents who argued that the plans would strain local infrastructure and negatively impact the surrounding community.

The decision marks one of the latest flashpoints in the race to build out AI data centers across the United States.

Local residents, many wearing green shirts that read "NO to Project Tango," packed the 12-hour public hearing on the proposal ahead of the vote.

PBA Holdings Inc., the developer behind the project, sought county approval to nearly double the size of a previously approved development in Loxahatchee to about 3.6 million square feet, including more than 1 million square feet of data center space.

The developer said it revised the proposal ahead of Wednesday's hearing to address community concerns.

During the hearing, a project manager for PBA Holdings estimated that the completed development would generate $561 million in annual property tax revenue.

Still, the proposal drew strong backlash from local residents concerned about water use, electricity demand, and noise. Community members were also concerned about the site's proximity to homes and a nearby elementary school.

"Not only is this AI Data Center a threat to the health, well-being, and safety of the hardworking, tax-paying residents of Palm Beach County and their families and children, it becomes a more extreme problem due to the fact that it will be constructed within 1,200 feet of Saddle View Elementary School and the preexisting Arden community and neighborhood," opposition organizers wrote on the NoToProjectTango.com website.

Ernie Cox, the project manager for PBA Holdings, told a local NBC affiliate after the vote that the commission's decision does not change the existing approvals on the project, which records show include two 100,000-square-foot data center buildings.

"Well, that project goes forward. This vote doesn't have any effect on that," Cox told the outlet.

The commission's decision leaves the door open for the developer to revise the proposal and resubmit it at a later date.

Cox told Business Insider that the developer was "disappointed" with the decision.

"We reconfirmed our commitment to all conditions asked of us associated with our request, and we addressed concerns through in-depth technical studies and analysis," Cox said. "We remain committed to helping meet the region's growing critical infrastructure needs and will be taking time to evaluate our options moving forward."

The fight over Project Tango comes as AI is fueling an unprecedented data center construction boom across the country.

As tech companies pour billions of dollars into new facilities, communities are increasingly pushing back over fears of the environmental and economic impacts.

According to the research project Data Center Watch, a record of at least 75 data center proposals worth an estimated $130 billion were delayed or blocked during the first three months of 2026 due to local opposition.

Meanwhile, towns and cities across the country are pausing or outright banning data center developments. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order earlier this week imposing the nation's first statewide moratorium on large-scale data centers.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, slammed the move, saying, "New York State has made a terrible decision."

"Data Centers are tremendous WINS for the States and Communities that are lucky enough to get them. New York should change its Policy, IMMEDIATELY," wrote the president, who called data centers "Money Machines."

• Big-name hedge funds are prioritizing getting as many trading ideas in their systems as possible.
• These come from both people working at their firms as well as external managers and banks.
• Managers like Citadel, Point72, Marshall Wace, and more are looking outside their walls for investment signals.

Hedge funds have never stood still, but the constant search for an incremental edge — over the market, over their peers, over the machines — is getting more harried.

The world's biggest managers, with the deepest pockets, have always sought information no one else has. The hunt has spawned entire industries, such as expert networks and alternative data vendors, that promise to give funds' portfolio managers a leg up on the competition. In recent years, the ongoing talent war has been driven by funds looking to hoard the best traders.

Now, firms are increasingly turning to ideas from outside their walls.

Funds are embracing alpha capture programs — which gobble up ideas from traders, market data, or sell-side research for a fee — to give their investing engines another source of fuel. It's the latest evolution for an increasingly institutionalized industry where markets move too quickly for investing edges to last, and AI is eroding competitive advantages.

The massive multi-manager platforms that have come to dominate the industry — firms like Millennium, Citadel, Point72, Balyasny, Marshall Wace, and more — want a monopoly on the best investment ideas. The investing machines they've built rely on a constant stream of market-beating concepts that have historically come from their own teams of talented traders.

Talent war response?

Thanks to a near-unlimited recruiting budget, restrictive non-compete clauses that artificially shrink the pool of job seekers, and a surge in assets under management, the cost of recruiting new investors has risen to the point that funds are seeking out the raw resource.

"The large multi-managers are exploring buy-side alpha capture for a simple reason: they need to deploy more capital than their core pod model allows. External alpha capture lets them expand supply at a lower cost than building teams internally," said Cameron Hight, the CEO of Alpha Theory, a research platform that helps smaller funds size and position their portfolios.

Citadel's quant unit and Point72 are building out buy-side alpha capture programs that will partner with external funds to provide them with signals — data that informs whether a fund should buy, sell, or hold an asset — in exchange for a fee. Rivals Millennium and Balyasny are considering it.

Rokos is creating a program focused on compiling sell-side equity research and sifting it for trading opportunities, a structure pioneered by Marshall Wace's long-running TOPS strategy.

Both Marshall Wace and Rokos also run their own macro-flavored alpha-capture programs, two people familiar with the matter say, that compile and crunch interest-rate projections from sell-side research desks.

Alpha capture — internal and external — is far from new. As Business Insider previously reported, funds such as Man Group and Squarepoint have added to their teams in recent years. Internal programs, known as center books, have been a core part of the biggest managers for decades.

The "dirty little secret" of large multistrategy firms' equity divisions, one allocator said, is that the center book is, on average, one of the most profitable parts of the stockpicking operation. Expanding the cost-effective structure to find more ideas is only natural.

For instance, a new portfolio manager might cost millions to bring in-house. Partnering with an external manager can be a fraction of the cost.

AI leveling the playing field

AI's advances have pushed firms to search even harder for new ideas. The edge that used to come from sources like alternative data — such as credit-card receipts and satellite images — has gone away.

It's made the data that only a few can access or possess that much more valuable.

Some firms are building investing strategies around that premise. Aethon Fund, a new firm from George Kailas, the founder of Prospero, a market research platform for retail investors, will invest using signals generated from retail traders who have used the platform over the years.

"For decades, quant funds competed on their data budgets, outspending everyone else to find alpha others couldn't," a press release for the new $50 million fund reads.

"Aethon is built on the argument that AI ended that race, and it's structured around the key differentiator for the new reality: proprietary data inputs stress-tested before institutional use."

It's not just quants who have decided to tap into the knowledge of the masses. David Stemerman founded long-short fund Conatus Capital and picked stocks for Steven Mandel's Lone Pine, but now runs CenterBook Partners, which invests its capital based on ideas from dozens of partner managers.

Even though external alpha capture is primarily a systematic business, there is an art to the science, Stemerman said.

"Managers will only participate if they believe it serves themselves and their investors, and that comes down to trust around sharing data with another hedge fund that will trade on it," he said.

• I'm a frequent cruise traveler who's stayed in a variety of accommodations at sea.
• I've found the cheapest rooms have no view and can feel cramped, especially if shared by a family.
• Splurging on a higher-category balcony cabin was one of the best decisions I've made on a cruise.

Automatically booking the cheapest room on a cruise ship without doing proper research first can ruin a trip. 

As someone who's been going on cruises for over a decade, I've learned that the price tag for these vacations can vary based on a number of factors, from cruise line to trip duration to room category.

Staying in the most standard-level cabin seems like an obvious way to keep costs down. However, after trying out three different room categories, both with and without my kids, I've found that a ship's least-expensive option is almost never worth it.

Based on my experience in three different cruise-room categories, here are the ones I recommend skipping and the ones I suggest splurging on.

Interior staterooms are limited in space and privacy

The standard — and least expensive — cabin on any cruise ship is typically called an inside or interior stateroom.

These often sleep up to four people and are located in the middle of the ship, with no exterior view of the vessel's surroundings. 

I've stayed in interior staterooms on both a Carnival and a Disney Cruise Line ship. Aside from different decor styles and a few small touches, this room category is fairly standard across the board. 

When I'm on a cruise, I like to wake up and open my curtains to look at the ocean or the port where the ship is docked, but that isn't an option in these cabins.

Apart from having no view, interior staterooms tend to be very small.

The exact square footage varies, but for reference, the Disney Fantasy cruise ship's interior stateroom is 169 square feet, and a Royal Caribbean ship's version is around the same size at 164 square feet.

To put those numbers into perspective, standard hotel rooms in the US are around 330 square feet, on average — almost double the size of the entry-level cruise accommodation.

On vacation, I want to be able to maneuver around my room without tripping over luggage, accent furniture, or my own family members.

Due to the lack of space in interior staterooms, that's often a challenge.

This category is definitely the most economical option, making it ideal for budget travelers.

However, if families, especially those traveling with teens, can swing an alternative, they should skip cramming into an interior stateroom and opt for a category with more space and privacy.

Ocean-view staterooms provide slightly more space, but some still feel cramped

The next category up is usually an ocean-view stateroom.

With an outward-facing window, ocean-view staterooms are a solid mid-tier option for travelers who want more space than an interior stateroom offers but don't want to spend extra for a balcony room.

Their exact size and capacity vary by ship, but Disney Fantasy's ocean-view staterooms are 204 square feet, while Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas' version is 179 square feet.

Many of these accommodations can fit up to five people. If you have more than four family members, making the jump from an interior stateroom to an ocean-view stateroom is absolutely worth the extra money.

Some cruise lines sell ocean-view rooms as the entry-level category for families of five or more travelers, simply because many interior staterooms can only accommodate a maximum of four guests.

My top pick is balcony staterooms, which offer privacy and plenty of space 

Balcony staterooms, also known as veranda staterooms, are usually the largest accommodation option available without concierge service or premium extras.

I recommend this category to all travelers setting sail in the future for one reason: the private balcony.

You can open your curtains and enjoy the sights outside, similar to the experience of staying in an ocean-view stateroom. However, in this room type, you can step out onto a balcony and take in the sounds and smells of the sea, too. 

The room sizes and capacities depend on the ship, but balcony staterooms are usually larger than ocean-view staterooms and tend to sleep up to five guests. Even if the rooms' interior living areas aren't substantially larger, they have the added space of the veranda. 

For example, including the terrace, balcony staterooms on the Disney Fantasy are 246 square feet. They're typically between 214 square feet and 279 square feet on Princess Cruises' fleet.

When my family stayed in a balcony stateroom on a seven-night cruise, we made great use of the outdoor space. 

The upgrade was completely worth the price increase, especially because we were traveling with two sets of grandparents.

To make the most of the balcony staterooms, we turned our individual verandas into one large terrace by having our steward remove the partitions between rooms. It was great.

Even on a shorter cruise, where the balcony itself might not get as much use, I'd still book this category for my family. In my opinion, the extra space is worth a few hundred bucks or so more every time.

This story was originally published on May 25, 2022, and most recently updated on July 16, 2026.

• Anne Hathaway is well known for "Les Misérables" (2012) and "The Princess Diaries" (2001).
• This year alone, Hathaway will appear in five movies.
• Her most recent hits include "The Devil Wears Prada 2" and "The Odyssey."

There's no one on the planet who's having a better summer than Anne Hathaway.

Between her beloved Knicks winning, the announcement of her third baby on the way, and not one, not two, not three, but five films starring her this year, it's a good time to be a Hathaway fan.

This year, she's already appeared in "Mother Mary," "The Devil Wears Prada 2," and "The Odyssey," with "The End of Oak Street" and "Verity" on the way.

Although not every movie can be a hit with critics, the "Princess Diaries" star is a two-time Academy Award nominee, with one win to her name, and multiple franchises under her belt.

We've ranked all the movies Hathaway's been in so far, from small roles to leading lady parts, according to critics.

Here are her best and worst films, per Rotten Tomatoes.

45. "The Last Thing He Wanted" (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 5%

Set in 1984, "The Last Thing He Wanted" follows news journalist Elena McMahon (Hathaway) as she fulfills her father's dying wish by brokering an arms deal in Central America. 

Critics felt like the heart of the Netflix drama got lost in translation, leading to a muddled and confusing narrative. 

"How does a director as stellar as Dee Rees go so thunderously wrong adapting a 1996 novel by the great Joan Didion, with a cast headed by Anne Hathaway, Ben Affleck, and Willem Dafoe?" Peter Travers wrote for Rolling Stone.

44. "Don Peyote" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 7%

Overwhelmed by his coming wedding, Warren Allman (Dan Folger) goes on a drug trip in the celebrity cameo-filled comedy "Don Peyote."

Hathaway appears in the film as the Agent of Truth.

"Don Peyote" was hit with a flurry of bad reviews, centering on its unfocused plot and characters who failed to deliver. 

"All the controlled substances in the world couldn't improve a viewing of the execrable 'Don Peyote,' a tedious, incoherent look at a paranoid stoner's emotional and spiritual unraveling," wrote Gary Goldstein for The Los Angeles Times.

43. "Bride Wars" (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 10%

In the comedy "Bride Wars," best friends Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Hathaway) find their relationship tested when they book their respective weddings for the same day. 

"Bride Wars" failed to win over critics, who said the rom-com felt vapid and did a disservice to its female leads. 

"There's a good deal of potential squandered in this strained comedy, which suffers from lazy writing, miscalculated acting, perfunctory directing, and general bad timing," Eddie Cockrell wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald.

42. "The Hustle" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 13%

"The Hustle" centers on con artists Josephine Chesterfield (Hathaway) and Penny Rust (Rebel Wilson), who work together to swindle a clueless billionaire (Alex Sharp). It's a female-centered reboot of the 1988 film "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (which itself is a remake of the 1964 film "Bedtime Story").

Despite the film being branded as a comedy, critics struggled to find many genuinely humorous moments.

Richard Roeper wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times, "Even with a running time of 93 minutes, 'The Hustle' felt about an hour too long."

41. "Valentine's Day" (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 18%

In "Valentine's Day," the various lives of people living in Los Angeles come together in surprising ways throughout the romantic holiday.

Some of the characters include a florist (Ashton Kutcher), a businessman (Bradley Cooper), a doctor (Patrick Dempsey), a schoolteacher (Jennifer Garner), and a receptionist (Hathaway), who's living a double life that she feels compelled to hide from her new boyfriend, played by Topher Grace. 

Critics largely felt that "Valentine's Day" suffered under the weight of its expansive ensemble cast. 

"The film is described as 'a day in the life of love' and presents us with a group of beautiful Angelenos striving to justify a screenplay that gives them nothing coherent to do," Derek Malcolm wrote for the London Evening Standard.

40. "Passengers" (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 19%

In the dramatic thriller "Passengers," a therapist named Claire Summers (Hathaway) is assigned to counsel five survivors after a horrific plane accident. But as she dives deeper into their cases, she begins to think a larger conspiracy is connected to the flight. 

Although many critics applauded Hathaway for an intense performance, they also felt the movie itself was unsalvageable. 

Adam Markovitz wrote for Entertainment Weekly, "The actors make a noble effort, but Passengers turns out to be just another dud in the genre of revisionist mysteries that have been messing with our heads since Haley Joel Osment saw dead people."

39. "Serenity" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 21%

"Serenity" is a dramatic thriller that follows fishing-boat captain Baker Dill (Matthew McConaughey) down a dark path after his ex-wife (Hathaway) begs him to help her new, abusive husband disappear. 

Although a reunion between "Interstellar" costars sounds like it should've been great, critics were befuddled by "Serenity," calling it a highly illogical and heavy-handed thriller. 

"Both [Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey] are led astray by a wayward script about a fisherman named Dill who's caught in a bit of a pickle... I wouldn't recommend it," wrote Jake Coyle for the Associated Press.

38. "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 25%

In "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway) faces pressure from the parliament of Genovia to marry before taking her place as queen. 

Critics said there were bits and pieces of the sequel that they enjoyed, but overall, many felt like the story was too thin to warrant a second installment in the franchise. 

"Sometimes charming, sometimes a tad too silly and all the time predictable, 'Princess Diaries 2' gives you what you'd expect and doesn't take many chances besides allowing for the possibility that a princess might be okay without a husband," Sara Gebhardt wrote for The Washington Post.

37/36 (tie). "Alice Through the Looking Glass" (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 29%

In the sequel "Alice Through the Looking Glass," Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns to Wonderland and travels through time to save the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) from a terrible fate. 

Hathaway reprises her role as the White Queen in the film. 

Short on humor, imagination, and thrills, the plot of "Alice Through the Looking Glass" was stretched far too thin in critics' opinions. 

"I don't remember the last time I saw actors more dispirited and bored than in 'Alice Through the Looking Glass,'" Will Leitch wrote for The New Republic.

36/37 (tie). "The Other Side of Heaven" (2001)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 29%

In the adventure film "The Other Side of Heaven," university student John Groberg (Christopher Gorham) leaves his girlfriend Jean (Hathaway) behind when he travels to the South Pacific to spread the message of his Mormon faith. 

Some critics said that, by putting faith in the forefront of the film, "The Other Side of Heaven" let its characters and plot fall to the wayside.

"Handsome and sincere but slightly awkward in its combination of entertainment and evangelical boosterism," The San Francisco Chronicle.

35. "Song One" (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 34%

"Song One" is a musical drama that follows Franny (Hathaway) as she returns home after her brother falls into a coma. Using his journal and music connections, Franny pieces together her brother's life. 

Critics said "Song One" was saccharine and self-indulgent, despite featuring a subtly powerful performance from Hathaway. 

"In her feature debut, writer/director Kate Barker-Froyland tends to tiptoe away from the dramatic high notes that audiences often crave and comes up a stanza or two short from a fulfilling resolution," wrote Susan Wloszczyna for RogerEbert.com.

34. "One Day" (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%

In the romantic drama "One Day," Emma (Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) come together and fall apart over the course of two decades, always reconnecting on July 15, the anniversary of when they first connected. 

"One Day" is based on a novel by David Nicholls, and critics who adored the source material felt like the film fell short of capturing the depth and emotional vibrancy of the characters. 

The Netflix adaptation, which was released in 2024, fared much better.

Ty Burr wrote for The Boston Globe, "A miscast, underwritten, drably directed adaptation of a very popular novel, it's the feel-bad film of the summer and an almost perfect example of how not to turn a book into a movie."

33. "Locked Down" (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%

In "Locked Down," Linda (Hathaway) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor) get stuck at home together during the pandemic right after they decide to separate. In the midst of layoffs and firings, they get swept up in a heist to steal an expensive diamond. 

Many critics thought the pandemic-inspired movie missed the mark, but the lead actors' performances were widely praised. 

"'Locked Down' is inevitably, and intentionally, of the moment. But I hope some of its off-the-cuff spirit lasts after the pandemic," Jake Coyle wrote for AP News.

32. "Havoc" (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 45%

In the drama "Havoc," two suburban teenagers named Emily (Bijou Phillips) and Allison (Hathaway) move to East Los Angeles to leave their old lives behind and take on new, gangster-like personas. Needless to say, it has not aged well.

Critics said the film's storyline came across as exploitative and insincere. 

"Despite the high-powered credits...this slight cautionary tale about slumming rich kids is a minor effort," Maitland McDonagh wrote for TV Guide.

31. "Hoodwinked!" (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%

In the animated comedy "Hoodwinked!" a pair of fairy-tale cops look into an altercation between Granny (voiced by Glenn Close), her granddaughter Red (voiced by Hathaway), and the Big Bad Wolf (voiced by Patrick Warburton). 

Positive reviewers pointed toward the talented cast, but others felt the technical aspects of the film came up short. 

"Someone give these folks a real budget so they can make a movie that looks as good as it sounds," wrote Tasha Robinson for the AV Club.

30. "She Came to Me" (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%

In this romantic comedy, Hathaway costars with Peter Dinklage as a married couple, while Marisa Tomei plays a romance addict, Katrina, who comes between them.

Gary Goldstein of The Los Angeles Times called out its preposterous plot lines, calling it "a mishmash of flimsy, fanciful and far-fetched notions dressed up as a screwball New York rom-com."

29/28 (tie). "The Princess Diaries" (2001)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 49%

In "The Princess Diaries," high schooler Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway) is suddenly thrown into the spotlight when her distant grandmother (Julie Andrews) tells her that she is the princess of Genovia. 

Critics were divided over "The Princess Diaries," with some calling it overly formulaic and others praising the chemistry between Hathaway and Andrews.

"The movie is one to savor for its good humor and big heart, despite some hackneyed fairy-tale notions," David Germain wrote for the Associated Press.

28/29 (tie). "Love and Other Drugs" (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 49%

In the romantic drama "Love and Other Drugs," smooth-talking pharmaceutical sales rep Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) feels out of his depth when he falls in love with carefree Maggie Murdock (Hathaway) — but Maggie is hiding a secret that threatens to tear them apart.

Although critics praised the natural chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Hathaway, they also felt the movie's romantic elements didn't mesh well with its satirical commentary on healthcare reform. 

"Part romantic comedy, part satire, part disease flick, this is a film that can't seem to decide what it wants to be, and ultimately fails despite two pretty likable leads," Michael Compton wrote for the Bowling Green Daily News.

27/26 (tie). "Rio 2" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%

In "Rio 2," Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg), Jewel (voiced by Hathaway), and their three children find themselves in the Amazon rainforest with a wide array of colorful feathered friends. 

"Rio 2" earned mixed reviews from critics who felt it was technically superb but lacked narrative complexity. 

"'Rio 2' has a childish, delicious-looking beauty. It's like watching a box of Froot Loops explode just beyond the tip of your nose," Wesley Morris wrote for Grantland.

26/27 (tie). "Roald Dahl's The Witches" (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%

Based on the children's book by Roald Dahl and the 1990 film of the same name, "The Witches" follows a group of nefarious witches, led by the Grand High Witch (Hathaway), who turn children into mice.

Although some critics praised the film for its added depth and heart, many reviewers saw it as an unnecessary remake. 

"As great as it can be, 'The Witches' lacks the best world-building and depth of some other Dahl material, and [director Robert] Zemeckis can't quite figure out how to make this story richer," Brian Tallerico wrote for RogerEbert.com.

25/23/24 (tie). "Ella Enchanted" (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

Cursed with the gift of "obedience" by her fairy godmother, Ella (Hathaway) struggles to make her way through life in the magical realm as she faces off against forest trolls, villainous plots, and evil stepsisters. 

Some critics enjoyed "Ella Enchanted," based on the iconic YA novel of the same name by Gail Carson Levine, for its simple charm, but others felt like it came across as an imitation of better works. 

"This all makes for good and entertaining fun, from the musical numbers of 1980s pop tunes to the flamboyant fight scenes. For a while. But you've seen this all before," wrote Teresa Wiltz for The Washington Post.

24/25/23 (tie). "Get Smart" (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

Based on the 1960s television series of the same name, "Get Smart" centers on Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell), a bumbling spy who teams up with the debonair Agent 99 (Hathaway) to dismantle the evil plans of an enemy.  

"Get Smart" has brief moments of hilarity, but most critics felt the comedy fell flat. 

"There are a few funny moments, mostly courtesy of Carell's natural charm and some surprising cameos that inject some much-needed life into an otherwise generic film," Matthew Lucas wrote for TheDispatch.com.

23/24/25 (tie). "Alice in Wonderland" (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

In Tim Burton's live-action retelling of "Alice in Wonderland," Alice (Mia Wasikowska) falls down the rabbit hole to Wonderland, or "Underland" as she calls it, and begins a quest to prevent a war between the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and the White Queen (Hathaway). 

Critics praised Wasikowska's performance at the heart of the film, with the technical aspects and special effects rendering mixed results. 

"Its single biggest failing — an affront to Lewis Carroll and the charms of nonsense literature — is the fact that it makes sense," wrote Amy Biancolli for the Houston Chronicle.

22. "Mothers' Instinct" (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 55%

Hathaway and Jessica Chastain costar in this psychological thriller as two neighbors and mothers to boys of a similar age. When Céline's (Hathaway) son dies in a freak accident, she grows close to Theo, Alice's (Chastain) son, but boundaries are soon crossed.

Not even the power of two Academy Award winners could make critics appreciate this movie, which many called too self-serious.

"The misconceived but morbidly entertaining 'Mothers' Instinct' is far too slapdash to respect the seriousness of its premise, but at the same time also far too serious to indulge in the campiness of its plot," wrote IndieWire's David Ehrlich.

21. "Becoming Jane" (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 58%

"Becoming Jane" is a biographical film that traces the growth of real-life writer Jane Austen (Hathaway) as she encounters a wily London rogue named Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy).

Although critics lamented how often "Becoming Jane" seemed to stretch facts into fiction, many enjoyed Hathaway in the lead role. 

"Its surface is plausible enough, and Hathaway's performance is persuasive enough, for us to indulge in the delusion that we're actually encountering the famously elusive Jane Austen," Robert Gottlieb wrote for The New York Review of Books.

20. "The Intern" (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 59%

In the comedy "The Intern," retired businessman Ben (Robert De Niro) unexpectedly lands an internship at a high-profile online fashion retailer run by the ambitious Jules Ostin (Hathaway).  

Despite some narrative missteps, critics found a lot to love in "The Intern," praising the involvement of De Niro and Hathaway. 

"Thanks largely to performances by De Niro and Hathaway, 'The Intern' is a gentle, enjoyable fantasy — and certainly Meyers's best film in more than a decade," wrote David Sims for The Atlantic.

19. "Ocean's 8" (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%

Following her release from jail, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) assembles an elite team of con artists to steal a priceless diamond necklace from celebrity Daphne Kluger (Hathaway) at the high-profile Met Gala. 

With a cast of talented women at its helm, "Ocean's 8" was dubbed amiable and fun, if a little over-stuffed.

"As heists go, it's a moderately ingenious idea, and for the most part, the movie floats along amiably on the tide of its stars' charisma and the capable if uninspired direction of [Gary] Ross," wrote Christopher Orr for The Atlantic.

18/17 (tie). "Les Misérables" (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 70%

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo and the award-winning musical, "Les Misérables" follows ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) as he eludes police officer Javert (Russell Crowe) and tries to build a new life for himself and his adopted daughter Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). 

Hathaway gives an Oscar-winning performance as Cosette's mother, Fantine.

The movie didn't win many converts, but fans of the original musical felt it was worthy of the material.

"Epic in every sense of the word, though occasionally unpolished as an uncut diamond, 'Les Misérables' stirs the heart and soul of every musical fan," Katie Smith-Wong wrote for Flick Fest.

17/18 (tie). "Mother Mary" (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 70%

In this psychological drama, Hathaway plays Mother Mary, a pop star recovering from a traumatic accident from her last tour who makes amends with her old costume designer and close friend (Michaela Coel) while trying to exorcise both literal and figurative demons.

While it might not be for everyone, "Mother Mary" was praised for its lead performances, creepy atmosphere, and music.

"For those who can get on its ethereal wavelength, 'Mother Mary' is an incredibly moving evocation of the horrors and joys of finding a true artistic soulmate," wrote Caroline Siede for Girl Culture.

16. "Rio" (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%

In the animated comedy "Rio," a rare, domesticated Macaw named Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) is driven to Rio de Janeiro by his owners to meet Jewel (voiced by Hathaway), the only female Macaw left of their kind. 

"Rio" didn't win over every critic, but most praised the movie's colorful, dazzling animation and the voice actors' performances. 

"Eisenberg's tremulous, earnest delivery matches Blu's big worrywart eyes perfectly, and he and Hathaway, to their credit, give it their all," Joe Neumaier wrote for The New York Daily News.

15. "Interstellar" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%

In the science-fiction epic "Interstellar," a team of space explorers — including Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) and Brand (Hathaway) — travel across the galaxy to secure a new home for the people of Earth as the planet reaches its end. 

"Interstellar" was called beautiful, epic, and technically brilliant, but some critics were overwhelmed by its ambitious nature. 

Michael Phillips wrote for The Chicago Tribune, "A knockout one minute, a punch-drunk crazy film the next, 'Interstellar' is a highly stimulating mess."

14. "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%

In "The Devil Wears Prada," Andy Sachs (Hathaway) finds herself in over her head when she lands a job in the fashion magazine world and competes with her coworker Emily (Emily Blunt) for the attention of their high-powered boss, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). 

Often labeled a "guilty pleasure" film, the comedy has its shortcomings, but critics felt it did best when it let its female-led cast shine. It has since become a seminal film for millennials.

"The real joy is in a smolderingly sinister turn by Meryl Streep as Andy's egomaniacal boss," Stella Papamichael wrote for the BBC.

13. "Armageddon Time" (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%

Armageddon Time" is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story that follows the Graff family's quest for the American dream.

Hathaway stars as Esther Graff, the mother of director James Gray's onscreen avatar, Paul.

Many critics were moved by the film's depth, honesty, and emotion.

Ann Hornaday wrote for The Washington Post, "An alternately tender and candid glimpse of what it feels like to be told one thing while knowing the opposite is true deep in your bones."

12. "The Devil Wears Prada 2" (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%

Decades years after the original film, Andy (Hathaway), Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), Emily (Emily Blunt), and Nigel (Stanley Tucci), reunited for "The Devil Wears Prada 2," in which the crew has to work together to prevent the end of Runaway as they know it.

As legacy sequels go, this one was pretty good.

"'The Devil Wears Prada 2' is a chance to hang out with our old friends and see some great clothing — and little else. For some, that will be enough," wrote Max Weiss for Baltimore Magazine.

11. "Nicholas Nickleby" (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%

Based on the Charles Dickens story, "Nicholas Nickleby" follows Nicholas (Charlie Hunnam) as he takes his place as head of his family after his father's sudden death. 

Hathaway plays a supporting role as Madeline, a woman who catches Nicholas' affections. 

Overall, "Nicholas Nickleby" was received as a solid adaptation of Dickens, bolstered by its energetic cast. 

"Above all other pleasures it offers, it provides a classic of literature and social criticism with a straight run-through from start to finish," Alexander Walker wrote for the London Evening Standard.

10/9 (tie). "Don Jon" (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

In the dramedy "Don Jon," Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) struggles to overcome his addiction to pornography as he navigates a new relationship with Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson). 

Hathaway has a small appearance in the film as a Hollywood actor. 

In general, critics felt that "Don Jon" was a strong effort from actor-director Gordon-Levitt. 

"Despite a contrived and sentimental ending, this is an entertaining riff on men and fantasy," wrote Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian.

9/10 (tie). "The Idea of You" (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

"The Idea of You" follows 40-year-old single mom (Hathaway) as she meets and then falls in love with a younger boy-band star (Nicholas Galitzine). Despite their age gap, the pair proves to have crackling chemistry.

Reviewers praised the lead performances and the music from fictional boy band August Moon.

"Galitzine and Hathaway anchor the film and their chemistry is palpable, making every touch feel electric," wrote The Wrap's Alejandra Martinez.

8. "Eileen" (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

Based on the Ottessa Moshfegh novel of the same name, Hathaway stars as Rebecca, a figure of fascination for the titular Eileen (Thomasin Mackenzie), a young employee at a juvenile detention facility, who opens up Eileen's whole world.

Hathaway's performance received praise from critics.

"Anne Hathaway crackles as a psychotic Hitchcockian blonde in this demure, increasingly bizarre psychological melodrama," said YouTuber Nicholas Bell in his review for Fish Jelly Film Reviews.

7. "Colossal" (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

A comedy with a science-fiction twist, "Colossal" centers on Gloria (Hathaway), a woman who returns home from New York and discovers she somehow has a telepathic connection to a giant monster that emerged overseas in South Korea. 

Critics thought "Colossal" benefited from a strong central character and a fresh premise, even though it had a hodgepodge of genres. 

"Upbeat, downbeat, whip-smart and spectacular," wrote Kevin Maher for The Times.

6. "Rachel Getting Married" (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

In the drama "Rachel Getting Married," black sheep Kym (Hathaway) comes home for the wedding of her sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) and trudges up a litany of old wounds in the process. 

The majority of critics only had eyes for Hathaway's performance, which led to her first Oscar nomination, when praising the film.

"Hathaway's performance has been deservedly nominated for an Oscar," Sandra Hall wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald.

5. "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

In "The Dark Knight Rises," Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) defends Gotham from Bane (Tom Hardy), its greatest threat yet.

Hathaway has a supporting role in the movie as Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman. 

"The Dark Knight Rises" and the larger Batman trilogy were highly praised for the creative direction of Christopher Nolan — and it was the beginning of a creative partnership between Hathaway and Nolan that's still going on today.

"The biggest surprise may just be how satisfying Nolan has made his farewell to a 'Dark Knight' trilogy that many fans will wish he'd extend to a 10-part series, at least," Bob Mondello wrote for NPR.

4/3 (tie). "Brokeback Mountain" (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

In the romantic drama "Brokeback Mountain," Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal) fall in love against the backdrop of the Western sky while driving cattle in the 1960s.

In the film, Hathaway plays Lureen Newsome Twist, Jack's wife. 

"The whole movie is a rich, spacious, passionate way of showing, not telling, feelings that dare not speak their name — and doing so with superb intelligence and magnificent candor," Peter Bradshaw wrote for The Guardian.

3/4 (tie). "The Cat Returns" (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

In the animated film "The Cat Returns," Haru (voiced by Hathaway in the English-language version) rescues a cat on her way to school and discovers the Cat Kingdom. 

"The Cat Returns" was met with a warm reception from reviewers, who called it a wonderful and enchanting story. 

"While not the greatest Studio Ghibli film by any measure, I was thoroughly entertained by the creative and strange story of a young girl and her adventures in a world of cats," wrote critic Rachel Wagner for her site Rachel's Reviews.

2. "Dark Waters" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Based on a true story, the drama "Dark Waters" centers on Rob Bilott (Mark Ruffalo), a corporate defense attorney who takes on an environmental lawsuit regarding pollution at the hands of a huge chemical company. 

Hathaway costars in the film as Rob's wife, Sarah Barlage Bilott. 

"This one stays with you, tightly coiled and quietly horrifying," Hannah Woodhead wrote for Little White Lies.

1. "The Odyssey" (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

After winning best director and best picture at the 2024 Academy Awards, Christopher Nolan decided to tackle one of the most iconic stories in human history: "The Odyssey," the epic poem telling the story of Odysseus (Matt Damon) and his journey home from the Trojan War.

Hathaway plays Penelope, his loyal wife at home in Ithaca.

Reviews for the film were nearly universally positive, with David Sims of The Atlantic writing, "Nolan delivers that rarest breed of blockbuster with 'The Odyssey' — a visual extravaganza shot entirely in IMAX and best seen projected onto a mountain-size screen. Yet the movie manages to be a challenging, personal work, too."

Note: All scores were current on the date of publication and are subject to change. Films without critical scores were not included.

This story was originally published on March 21, 2020, and most recently updated on July 16, 2026.

• I struggled to negotiate higher pay early on in my career.
• My mentor taught me to simply ask, "Can you do better?" instead of listing all the reasons why.
• That simple line has helped me negotiate higher pay throughout my 25-year career.

When I was making a big jump from agency life to client-side work many years ago, I was elated by the offer. It was a higher base salary plus much more in an annual and long-term bonus plan.

I discussed the offer with my mentor over dinner at a seafood restaurant on the Chicago River.

"Never take the first offer," he insisted. At 30, I was surprised by his advice and terrified that if I went back asking for more, the company might rescind the offer and tell me to buzz off. I asked him how to approach what I thought was a very tense situation.

He coolly dipped his shrimp in cocktail sauce and said, "There's nothing tense about salary negotiation — except in your head."

He advised me to put one line out there and let it sit without further explanation, rumination, or justification: Can you do any better on the base?

It was the secret one-line phrase that helped me earn tens of thousands more over the course of my career.

I spent years fumbling for higher pay

Before hearing my mentor's advice, I made all kinds of mistakes when reviewing job offers.

During my last week of college, I was anxiously anticipating my first job offer — the one my whole future hinged on. Without it, I wouldn't be moving to Chicago to live on my own and work in marketing; instead, I'd have to move back in with my parents.

The recruiter called me when I was at a Milwaukee Brewers game, with a Miller High Life in one hand and a hot dog in the other. I shoved the dog in my friend's hands and ran into the obnoxiously loud bathroom to answer the call; I couldn't wait!

I barely listened to what she offered and shouted my over-eager acceptance. I ended up making $27,500 a year and earned a 3% annual merit increase over my five-year tenure there.

I later learned that other entry-level candidates negotiated up to $30,000.

Now, I wouldn't agree to do any new work without first using my one-liner

After working 25 years in my field, I summon the courage to speak up, especially when I suspect the effort will outweigh the compensation.

As a part-time freelancer, I've taken the strategy to editors too. I was recently offered what I considered a shockingly low rate for an opinion essay, given the amount of time I spent researching and crafting the argument. I emailed her, "Can you do any better on this rate?" She responded within 10 minutes and doubled it.

Asking for the additional compensation has eliminated ambient stress. I don't have to wonder what would have happened if I'd advocated for myself. I act confidently, knowing I am earning at the top of my potential.

I've been on the receiving end of a negotiation, too

As I've become more senior, I've started making offers to potential candidates, so I've seen countless people pass up the opportunity to negotiate.

On the other hand, I've had junior job candidates ask for an increase with a three-paragraph email about all the emotional reasons they want to make more money. It reads like amateur hour.

I'd much prefer the one-liner, which comes across as confident and professional. A simple "Can you do any better?" would have been more successful for the candidates.

The tactic works, regardless of the financial outcome

From a practical standpoint, does the one-liner yield more money in 100% of cases? Of course not.

I've had employers flatly decline and stick with the original offer. One company wouldn't bump up the base pay but offered something called "executive benefits" that included being reimbursed for my gym membership, internet bill, and personal travel. Had I not asked, I'd still be paying my own cell phone bill.

But what I realized is that every time I said the words aloud or wrote them in an email and hit "Send," I was declaring that I knew my value — and that was worth something equally grand.

Andrea Javor is a Chicago-based marketing executive and writer working on a memoir. Connect with her on Instagram @AndreaEJavor or andreajavor.com.

• I booked a stateroom on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, one of the biggest cruise ships.
• For $2,000 a week, the 179-square-foot ocean-view cabin had a private bathroom and a king-size bed.
• I thought I'd feel cramped in the room, but it had everything I needed and left no space unused.

I woke up in a dark room in the middle of the ocean, triggered an automatic window shade, and squinted as natural light gradually flooded the room, revealing the bow and the Caribbean Sea.

I did this for seven days straight on my first cruise in 2022. I sailed aboard a Royal Caribbean mega ship, Wonder of the Seas. It was the world's largest cruise ship at the time, but the cruise line has since built two bigger ships: Icon of the Seas and Legend of the Seas.

During my weeklong voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we sailed to Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

I stayed in an ocean-view stateroom on deck eight for $2,000. The cruise was on sale, as it was originally priced at $3,000. Follow me inside the 179-square-foot space.

My room was a mid-tier cabin at the front of deck eight.

My ocean-view stateroom was a step above interior staterooms with no windows, a category below staterooms with a balcony, and two steps below a stateroom suite.

My cabin was on the same deck as Central Park, an outdoor space with 20,000 plants.

I thought Central Park was the most relaxing outdoor deck on the ship — and often, the least crowded. So I enjoyed being close by.

When I stepped inside my stateroom, I was surprised at how big it felt.

Right away, I thought the cabin made great use of a small space. It was hard to believe it was less than 200 square feet.

I inserted my room key into a slot on the wall to operate most of the room's electrical systems.

I'm always looking for more sustainable ways to travel, so I appreciated the energy-saving system.

One side of the room had a mirror and a desk with USB charging ports, as well as American and European power outlets.

I used the desk to eat meals, work on my laptop, and sort daily flyers about the goings-on, from daytime activities to evening shows.

Next to the desk, a set of drawers included a cabinet with a minifridge inside.

The desk drawers were mostly empty, save for a hair dryer, which I didn't use.

Across from the desk, I had a couch positioned between two closets.

I found a rack of hangers, shelving, and a small safe inside each closet. I thought it was plenty of space for a weeklong journey.

Next to the couch and desk area, a small bathroom used clever storage hacks.

Inside were two glasses, a bar of soap, and a two-in-one hair-and-body wash.

The trash can and toilet paper were situated beneath the counter to save space.

At the top of the shower, a pull-out clothing line was useful for drying my bathing suits.

Each night, my stateroom attendant replenished towels and brought flyers and schedules for the next day.

Sometimes, the towels were creatively folded to look like animals. This monkey was my favorite.

I noticed that my king-size bed at the back of the room was actually two twin beds pushed together.

Royal Caribbean cabins are configured this way so they can be separated for additional guests. I often woke up in the crevice.

A large flat-screen TV was mounted across from the bed with storage hooks below.

Skinny nightstands on either side of the bed held lamps, charging ports, and a room phone on one side.

Because I booked an ocean-view room, I could see the front of the ship from a window above my bed.

The window had an electronic shade that could be opened during the day for grand views and closed when I was ready to sleep.

While I thought the room might have been too small for a couple with a lot of luggage or a family, it was just right for me.

And watching the sun rise over the Caribbean Sea from the comfort of my room was the best part.

• As an empty nester, I knew I wanted more from my life.
• I put my belongings in storage and spend my time pet-sitting and house-sitting in beautiful places.
• This isn't the life I expected, but I'm enjoying every minute of this new adventure.

Three years ago, I sat in my dark, 1,250-square-foot apartment cleaning out my inbox and missing my kids. As a single mom and new empty nester, I was still trying to figure out who I was separate from mom and caregiver.

The quiet stillness that I dreamed of when my children were little now felt like sad emptiness. I tried filling the time by volunteering, joining a nature group, and signing up for a monthly open-mic night, but nothing stuck. I felt unmoored and unsure what came next.

I really wanted to travel, but after a financially devastating divorce and single parenting in one of America's most expensive cities, there was no way I could afford it. I closed social media every time I saw someone else's fabulous vacation post so I wouldn't feel jealous.

Then I came across a newsletter from another writer who recommended a platform that connects homeowners with travelers who trade pet- and house-sitting services for accommodations. She said she had a great experience caring for a cute cat while staying in a beautiful place — for free.

It sounded too good to be true, and I deleted the email. Little did I know how much that message would soon change my life.

I took a shot on something new

I tried but couldn't stop thinking about that email. Honestly, what else was I going to do?

A few days later, I retrieved the email from my trash folder and followed the link to the website my writer friend suggested. The annual fee was about the same as a one-night hotel stay. After reading dozens of reviews and exploring hundreds of listings, I remained skeptical but decided to give it a try.

My first few "sits" lasted less than a week and were within an hour of my home. Then I landed my first long, waterfront sit on the shores of Lake Washington, right next to a beautiful city park with walking paths and boating lessons. All in exchange for caring for a small, curious dog and big, marmalade cat.

That's when I realized I could turn it into a full-time lifestyle as a traveling house- and pet-sitter. I was booking two to four week stays in beautiful homes, much nicer than my own overpriced apartment. I rarely had gaps in between sits, and when I did, grabbing the occasional hotel or Airbnb was still a lot less than I was paying in rent. So I gave notice on my apartment, rented a storage unit, and started packing my stuff.

My world has changed so much because of this lifestyle

My first month was spent in a gorgeous home overlooking the sea on a remote Pacific Northwest island. I soaked in the hot tub, sweated in the sauna, and took long walks on the beach, while caring for one sweet dog. While there, I booked another month-long waterfront sit a couple of hours away. It was a much smaller home, but also perched on the edge of the Salish Sea, with a dog, cat, and stunning ocean views.

I never could have imagined the opportunities awaiting me when I deleted that email about housesitting. But it's not just the beautiful waterfront homes. This lifestyle has allowed me to save money, focus on my writing, and even improve my relationships with my adult daughters. Because paradoxically, giving my daughters the space they needed to individuate allowed me to do the same. And eventually, that brought us closer together.

So far, I'm enjoying this adventure

A friend recently asked if I felt sad leaving my latest idyllic sit on a quiet Pacific Northwest island, one of my all-time favorites. And I realized that I didn't because I was so excited about my next two adventures — five weeks in San Francisco, where I went to high school, and then another five weeks in La Paz, Mexico, where I've never been before.

I return to Seattle often for routine medical appointments, to pick up mail, visit family and friends, and swap out winter clothes for summer wear or vice versa, but have no idea when or where I'll settle down again. I'm still having too much fun to think about giving up this lifestyle and staying in one place.

Sometimes it's hard to believe I'm still the same woman who, just three years ago, thought this life was too good to be true, and I'm so glad I went back to the trash to find out.

• AT&T's EEIM system uses AI to predict and manage network issues for millions of customers.
• In 2025, AT&T added AI agents to enhance customer interactions and outage resolutions.
• AT&T's proactive AI system prevents millions of service dispatches and reduces customer downtime.

For AT&T, keeping its 145 million wireless and 16 million broadband customers online is a top priority. A 20-minute outage can be costly for the telecommunications giant, which credits customers' bills when they temporarily lose service.

Typically, outages are highly localized and don't generate such national attention, but in rare instances, they can affect millions. In February 2024, a major wireless outage at AT&T blocked more than 92 million voice calls and over 25,000 attempted 911 calls, according to a report published by the US Federal Communications Commission. Other major telecom providers, including Verizon and T-Mobile, have also experienced broad service disruptions in recent years.

To respond more effectively to outages and improve communication with customers, AT&T set out to centralize its system for identifying network interruptions.

"We have to know of any network interruptions immediately and solve them, ideally before any customer feels it," Andy Markus, AT&T's chief data and AI officer, told Business Insider.

In 2017, the company began creating its end-to-end incident management system, or EEIM, built on technologies from firms including MongoDB and Snowflake. Initially grounded in traditional machine learning, AT&T added generative and agentic artificial intelligence capabilities in subsequent years, expanding the tool's functionality, Markus said. The tool has been deployed to address service disruptions for individual customers and small businesses.

Today, the EEIM leverages a mix of AI and machine-learning capabilities that can identify the root cause of a disruption, triage issues by suggesting fixes that can be handled remotely or by sending human technicians into the field, and proactively alert customers when an outage occurs, Markus said.

The tech

Telecommunications outages can stem from a wide variety of events, including inclement weather, system failures, technical glitches, cyberattacks, and infrastructure damage. As customers become aware of connection issues with their smartphones, landlines, or internet connections, they can inundate AT&T's customer service centers with requests to get their service back online.

Markus said that in the first quarter of 2017, AT&T sought to develop a system that would be more responsive to outages. When the initiative started, AT&T gathered a cross-functional team to encourage broad input from employees across IT, data, and AI. The goal was to develop an EEIM around AT&T's existing network technology while developing new AI-enabled tools to integrate into workflows.

Feedback was also sought from the frontline field technicians responsible for maintaining and repairing the company's network, and from the network team that monitors traffic and quickly restores services when interruptions occur, Markus said.

Markus said AT&T also used its EEIM to reorganize 10 petabytes of data — the equivalent of 5,000 billion pages of printed text. This included pulling in network logs, network alarms, incident dispatch tickets for tracking network disruptions, and outage details. He added that the data needed to be consolidated and reorganized to allow AT&T to identify issues and predict when they may occur, direct team members to take action, and support new features and functionality.

MongoDB, a document database vendor, played a central role at this step. Founded in 2007, MongoDB's platform is designed to be elastic, meaning that as data and traffic needs grow, AT&T only needs to add more capacity, not re-architect the entire platform as new data sources are added, said Ben Cefalo, MongoDB's chief product officer. Cefalo calls this method "sharding" and said it allows data to be distributed across multiple machines and handle large data sets.

AT&T's EEIM also relies on the cloud computing platform Microsoft Azure, data analytics via Databricks, and incident reporting via Snowflake, Markus said.

An AT&T spokesperson said the EEIM was launched for broadband fiber in the first quarter of 2018. In the first quarter of the following year, it expanded to cover digital subscriber lines, or DSLs.

In June 2018, AT&T launched a separate application called Atlas, which is used by field technicians and relies on a blend of machine learning and AI models to understand the root cause of an outage and recommend a plan to fix it.

AT&T had embraced these traditional forms of AI before Markus joined the company in July 2020, but his arrival spurred broader companywide AI adoption. Markus said 100,000 employees have access to AT&T's generative AI tools and that the company consumes over 27 billion tokens per day, while also fine-tuning small language models to help manage costs.

By the first quarter of 2021, the company had also launched its proactive customer notification system, Markus said, which is enabled through its EEIM. "That solves a lot of customer tension and frustration," he said.

The outcome

Generative AI features were added to the EEIM in the first quarter of 2022, enabling the system to identify the root causes of outages based on historical data from similar situations in AT&T's past, Markus said.

During the first quarter of 2025, AI agents were added to the platform, Markus said. They can interact with customers to gather information about outages, take action to resolve them, and provide case details to technicians if they need to go into the field to solve problems.

Markus said AT&T has also built more than 30 AI models to help predict when configuration issues, weather, system failures, and other problems may occur, enabling the system to be more proactive.

"It allows us to really drill down into the signals and trends that help us identify either an active issue or an issue that may be coming," Markus said.

In total, the AI-enabled EEIM has helped AT&T prevent 3.1 million unnecessary field dispatches and reduced customer downtime by more than 12 million hours over the last year, Markus said.