Financial Times: Raspberry Pi closed up 27%+ on June 5 after saying it expects adjusted EBITDA of at least $38M in H1, putting it on track to beat $42M est. for the full year  —  UK maker of tiny low-cost computers expects ‘robust demand’ to push unit sales above 4mn in first half

Knicks star Jalen Brunson met his wife, Ali, when they were in high school. Michael Simon/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon Neither high school relationships nor Hollywood relationships are known for longevity. But these 19 celebrity couples met as teens, and many of them are still together today. Knicks star Jalen Brunson met his wife, Ali, when they were in high school. Even in the most stable environment, it's hard to maintain a relationship that moves from high school to the real world. Now imagine doing it as a celebrity. Nevertheless, these 19 couples all met as high schoolers (or in some cases, even earlier), and made it work for years after, even if not all of them are still together today. Here are 19 celebrity couples who met back when they were just regular teenagers. Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks in 2024. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Haute Living The Knicks superstar has been dating his wife, Ali Marks, since high school — their 2015 prom photo is still on his Instagram, captioned, "Went to prom with the best date anyone could ask for." They got engaged in 2022 and married in 2023. "She's always been by my side and I'm lucky to have her," Brunson told People after the big day. In a nod to their long relationship, Marks wore her prom dress as her second look at the wedding. They welcomed their first child, Jordyn, in 2024. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Patrick and Brittany Mahomes in 2024. Lexie Moreland/WWD/Getty Images The 2023 Super Bowl champion has been with Brittany, his now-wife, since they were classmates in Tyler, Texas. In 2020, Patrick proposed to Brittany, captioning an Instagram post with "#RingSZN." A few days later, the couple revealed they were expecting their first child together. Their daughter, Sterling, was born in February 2021. They married in March 2022. Their second child, a boy named Patrick "Bronze" Lavon Mahomes III, was born in November 2022. Their third baby, Golden, was born in January 2025. Brittany and Sterling were at the stadium to watch the Chiefs quarterback win his second Super Bowl in February 2023. Snoop Dogg and Shante Broadus Snoop Dogg and Shante Broadus in 2025. Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET Their first son, Cordé, was born in 1994, and they were married three years later in 1997. Snoop even shared an adorable throwback shot of the two at prom on Instagram. The ups and downs of their marriage were all documented on their reality TV show, "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood." The couple filed for divorce in 2004, but reconciled and renewed their vows in 2008. According to VH1, Snoop told Queen Latifah in 2013 that "[he] had no understanding of how I was hurting her and how I was betraying myself, until I [realized] I need to love this woman who loves me and had my kids. [I needed to] put my life in perspective and let my music and my business become secondary." Lin-Manuel Miranda and Vanessa Nadal Vanessa Nadal and Lin-Manuel Miranda attend The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City Mike Coppola/Getty Images Miranda and Nadal attended the same New York City high school, but they never actually spoke — though that didn't stop Miranda from developing a crush on his future wife. "She was gorgeous and I'm famously bad at talking to women I find attractive. I have a total lack of game," Miranda told The New York Times in 2010. They reconnected on Facebook years later, after they both graduated from college. They tied the knot in September 2010. They now have two sons. Jeff Daniels and Kathleen Treado Actor Jeff Daniels, winner of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Serie for 'The Newsroom,' and his wife Kathleen Treado attend HBO's Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Post Award Reception at The Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 22, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Michael Buckner/Getty Images Daniels and Treado grew up in Chelsea, Michigan, and met in high school. They've been together ever since. Throughout his highly successful career, the couple still call Chelsea their home, and they raised their three kids there. In 2014, Daniels told MLive about why he chose to stay close to home rather than move out to industry hubs Los Angeles or New York City, saying, "[Chelsea] was home. Kathleen and I had both been raised here; good enough for us, good enough for them." LeBron James and Savannah Brinson LeBron James and Savannah Brinson in 2025. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for the Hammer Museum Brinson told Harper's Bazaar in 2010 about their first date at Outback, calling it "basic," but she shared that it was also when she knew he loved her. "I knew he loved me when I left my leftovers from dinner in his car," Brinson said. "I'd totally forgotten about them, and he brought them to me. I think he just wanted another excuse to come and see me." Brinson became pregnant with their first child, Bronny, while she was still in high school, and she was nervous that it would derail their lives, but James assured her that everything would be OK. James finally proposed to his longtime girlfriend in 2011, after 10 years of dating, per the Los Angeles Times. They tied the knot in 2014. They also had two more kids. LL Cool J and Simone Smith LL Cool J and Simone Smith in 2023. Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy LL Cool J shared the story of how he met his wife during an interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." The rapper told Kimmel in 2012 that he "was just 19, something like that," when he was driving down the block on Easter Sunday. His friend asked him if he wanted to meet one of his friend's cousins, and once he got a look at Smith, he told his friend, "Oh yeah, I'll meet your cousin." Smith recalled she was 17 years old when they met. The pair married in 1995 after dating for 8 years, and they have 4 kids together. Bono and Ali Hewson Ali Hewson and Bono in 2025. VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images Bono and Hewson met when they were teenagers at school. Hewson played hard to get, since she didn't want to be known as "just another of Bono's girls," but eventually his pursuit of her was successful. Their first date culminated with him walking her to the bus stop, per the Huffington Post. The U2 star has called their relationship "a magic carpet ride." She "sees me as a figure of amusement," said Bono while speaking to The Sun. Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford in 2016. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS The "Not Like Us" rapper is pretty private about his personal life, but we know that he met his fiancée when they were both high schoolers in Compton, California, according to Billboard. "She's been here since day one," Lamar said of Alford in a 2014 New York Times Magazine profile. They got engaged in 2015 and have two children together. The entire family appears on the cover of his fifth album, "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers" in 2022. Steph and Ayesha Curry Ayesha and Steph Curry in 2026. TheStewartofNY/Getty Images Even though they're basketball's golden couple, Ayesha had never even attended a game until she was 19 — five years after she met her future-husband Steph, ABC News reported. The two met as teenagers in Charlotte, North Carolina. They never officially dated when they were that young, but according to Ayesha, they'd talk on the phone sometimes. "It was that shy middle school, high school stuff," she said. When the basketball star was flown out to Los Angeles for the ESPY Awards, his first thought was of his childhood crush. They met up, saw the sights, and the rest is history. Now, he's widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in the game, and she's turned herself into a brand. Ayesha has written cookbooks, opened a barbecue restaurant, hosted a cooking show on the Food Network called "Ayesha's Home Kitchen," and founded a skincare brand called Sweet July. They welcomed their fourth child in 2024. Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley looked comfy at the Super Bowl. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation People reported the couple met at Sayreville War Memorial High School in their New Jersey hometown, and have been together ever since. They have four kids together. At the peak of Bon Jovi's fame in 1989, the couple decided to elope in Las Vegas and were married by an Elvis impersonator. And though Bon Jovi has die-hard fans, Hurley isn't concerned. "I think it's great they love the music," she told People in 2016. Ron Howard and Cheryl Alley Cheryl Alley and Ron Howard in 2024. Emma McIntyre/WireImage/Getty Images Even though getting married young (they were both 21) might seem like a risky endeavor, these two have beaten the odds, successfully navigating Hollywood and parenthood. "I felt really lucky when we met. It's crazy — we were teenagers, it shouldn't have worked. We got married young, that shouldn't have worked either, and yet it really and truly has," Howard told the Huffington Post about his decades-long marriage to Alley in 2013. And now their kids are famous, too — their daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, starred in the "Jurassic World" franchise and regularly directs episodes of the "Star Wars" TV shows. Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins in 2026. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images While they had known each other since they were kids (since first grade, to be exact, according to Country Living), Rhett and Akins didn't start dating until they were teenagers — and it didn't stick at first. The two broke up soon after, and actually almost both married other people, according to People. But thankfully (for Rhett), Akins broke up with her boyfriend, and Rhett "moved in for the kill." They dated for six months and married in 2013, when they were both 22. They now have four daughters and a son, born in 2026. Ja Rule and Aisha Atkins Aisha Atkins and Ja Rule in 2026. Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Kenny Smith According to Ja Rule, the two have been together since middle school. He told Ebony magazine in 2002 that "the first time I met her I was getting off the school bus, and she was the new girl in school."  The couple were married in 2001 and have three kids together. Besides dealing with the normal issues that couples go through and constantly being scrutinized by the media, they also had to spend almost two years apart while Ja Rule was in prison for tax evasion and illegal gun possession. He was released in 2013, per TMZ. Mariano and Clara Rivera Mariano and Clara Rivera in 2019. Jim McIsaac/Getty Images Famed baseball player Rivera met his wife in elementary school, and the pair have been together ever since, The New York Times reported. They were married in Panama in 1991, and they lived there until 2000, when they moved to Westchester County, New York. Eminem and Kim Scott Christopher Polk and Bill Pugliano/Getty Images Their long and tumultuous relationship began when they were just kids. Even if you have just cursory knowledge about Eminem, you know about Kim, the subject of many of the rapper's most disturbing songs, like "Kim," and "'97 Bonnie and Clyde." The two met when they were just kids (she was 13 and he was 15). Kim and her twin, Dawn, had previously run away from an allegedly abusive home, and eventually began living with Eminem and his mother. In 1995, they welcomed their daughter Hailie (the subject of more Eminem songs), and were married in 1999. But things quickly went downhill — Eminem was accused of pistol-whipping a man he claimed he saw kissing his wife, according to NME. The charge was dropped in favor of a reduced charge of carrying a concealed weapon, and he was sentenced to two years' probation. The couple divorced in 2001. Five years later, they shocked the world and remarried. But just three months after that, the rapper filed for divorce. Their second divorce was finalized in 2006, per People. Though Eminem built his brand around graphic songs, he apologized to his former wife on the track "Bad Husband" from his 2017 album, "Revival." Joey Fatone and Kelly Baldwin Joey Fatone and Kelly Baldwin arrive at the mPowering ActionPre-GRAMMY Launch Event at The Conga Room at L.A. Live on February 8, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Valerie Macon/Getty Images) Fatone and Baldwin had been dating for 10 years and had a daughter together in 2001 before they were married in 2004, per People. Their second daughter was born in 2010. Their relationship was plagued with rumors of infidelity from outlets such as Page Six, reaching a high in 2013 after his appearances on two seasons of "Dancing with the Stars." At the time, when Baldwin was asked for a comment, she simply responded, "I don't really want to talk about this." In 2020, Fatone confirmed to Us Weekly that they were getting divorced. Robin Thicke and Paula Patton Singer Robin Thicke and actress Paula Patton attend the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Larry Busacca/Getty Images Thicke and Patton's 21-year-long relationship began when they were 16. Thicke told Essence in 2011 that their relationship began when they were teenagers, and Patton was "the president of the Black student union and [Thicke] was just a silly white boy." But they had actually met a year prior at a teen club where, according to Thicke, he serenaded his future wife with the Stevie Wonder song "Jungle Fever." They were together for 21 years and married for nine before filing for divorce in 2014 and engaging in a particularly nasty custody battle for their son, Julian. Misha Collins and Victoria Vantoch Misha Collins. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Collins and Vantoch got married in 2001, though they met way back in high school — Collins was the only boy in one of Vantoch's English classes. The two separated at some point before 2021. He acknowledged the split in the author's note in his poetry book, "Some Things I Still Can't Tell You." Read the original article on Business Insider

The author started a small business with his family. Courtesy of Brian Winch As a kid, Brian Winch helped his father clean parking lots to support their family. Years later, he turned it into a business, and his brothers joined in. Now, he helps others learn about "America's Simplest Business," carrying on his dad's legacy. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brian Winch, the founder of Clean Lots. The following has been edited for length and clarity. As a young kid, I watched my parents work hard to keep food on the table. What is now called picking up a few side hustles was then just a way of life: they'd head to second, or even third jobs, to ensure we could make ends meet. As one of three boys, once we became teenagers, we found ourselves helping too. So, it wasn't a surprise when my dad told me we were going to head out at the crack of dawn to clean trash from business parking lots. While some kids today might hate everything about this, that wasn't how I was raised. My parents never complained about their lot as poor, working-class people doing what they needed to do. And I far from hated it. In fact, I found it peaceful to wake up early, watch the sunrise, and help a business owner clear their parking lot so it looked fresh and clean when their customers arrived. Better yet, I was with my dad, something most 12-year-olds love deep down. My father inspired me to start a simple business My Dad's name was Joseph Winch, and he was a World War II refugee immigrant from Poland to where I grew up, in Calgary. He'd worked on the kill floor at a meatpacking plant when he got here. He'd laid track for the railroad. He'd been a hospital orderly. When I was 21, my father died suddenly. I didn't have time to tell him that while my friends headed for other careers, I was secretly considering following his footsteps. Deep in grief but motivated to make a path for myself, I started reaching out to properties to offer cleanup services. I established Winch Janitorial Services, which later became Winch Enterprises. I now run Clean Lots, where I am also an author, educating others on what I call "America's Simplest Business." In a tech-fueled world, it's one that has remained AI-proof, as no robot can, as of now, truly scour the entire property for every little cigarette butt in the bushes and hard-to-reach places. Around 45 years later, I'm not only proud of the career I've built helping others, but grateful I pursued my father's legacy over those other career options. My family works alongside me A few years into my janitorial career, where I'd make sure every last piece of trash was out of the bushes and owners knew if any fresh graffiti had been added to their buildings overnight, my two twin brothers started getting involved. They both helped with their specific talents: the one who operated a forklift helped with cleanup, and the other focused on the project bidding and outreach. We scaled to over $700,000 per year. Working with my brothers has gone better than some would expect — in fact, it's a way to keep the family together through the years. But the family member I didn't expect to feel walking alongside me was my dad. Some days, I can sense his presence in the parking lots right next to me. I've even heard him speaking to me in my head: "Brian, take a few steps that way." Once, I followed this voice and found a wallet. At first, I thought I was crazy, but that day I realized how real it is. I want to help others find the same success in a simple business After building my career, I realized I wanted to mentor others through their own business builds in this industry. One high school teacher in Chicago built his business to make money during the summers off and, after partnering with some buddies, grew it to operate in multiple states. Through these stories, I realized my father's legacy — and now my own — was never about trash; it was about being of service to others. Read the original article on Business Insider

The north-south albedo symmetry may be fading as both hemispheres get darker.

Wendy's intends to close roughly 5% to 6% of its US footprint this year. Mike Campbell/NurPhoto via Getty Images Several restaurant chains have shared plans to close locations in 2026. Wendy's planned to close up to 350 US restaurants in the first six months of the year. Pizza Hut said it would shutter 250 US locations in the first half of the year. Some fast-food and fast-casual chains across the US are shrinking their footprints, with several planning to scale back locations in 2026. Restaurant chains, including Wendy's, Papa John's, Pizza Hut, and Red Lobster, have announced plans to close locations in 2026. The planned closures come amid a challenging few years for restaurant chains, driven by factors such as inflation, rising labor costs, and changing customer preferences. Some brands have leaned on value meals and innovations in an attempt to bring more customers in the door. "What's really worked within quick service hasn't been value, as much," TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles previously told Business Insider. "Value is important, but you look at when McDonald's, Burger King, etc, have done well — it's really when they have great menu innovation or great marketing that they really see customers respond." Several restaurant chains have announced plans to close locations in 2026, while others have suddenly shuttered locations since the start of the year. Here's what to know. In February, Wendy's revealed plans to close up to 350 US restaurants. Sign for the fast food brand Wendys on 5th June 2025 in London, United Kingdom. Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images In February, Wendy's said it intended to close roughly 5% to 6% of its US footprint — about 298 to 358 restaurants — in the first half of the year as it grappled with sliding sales and profits. At the time, then-Interim CEO Ken Cook said the brand's focus was "to strengthen our foundation and position Wendy's for long-term success." The Associated Press reported that Wendy's shuttered 28 restaurants in the fourth quarter of 2025, leaving it with 5,969 locations across the US at the end of the year. Company data shows systemwide US sales dropped 5.2% in 2025, while same-store sales declined 5.6% compared with the previous year. In May, Wendy's announced that global systemwide sales totaled $3.2 billion in Q1, down 5.5% from the same period the previous year. In a statement at the time, Cook remained optimistic, citing Q1 improvements such as upgrading its hamburgers, launching new chicken sandwiches, and a "focus on operational excellence." "While our first quarter results reflect a business in the early stages of a turnaround, we are making progress to improve our US business and are confident in the direction we are heading," he said. Pizza Hut said it intended to shutter 250 US locations in the first half of the year. Pizza Hut Scott Olson/Getty Images Pizza Hut, founded in 1958 by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas, and best-known for its pan pizza, has more than 6,000 locations in the US. In a February earnings call, its parent company, Yum! Brands, said Pizza Hut intended to shutter 250 US locations by July 1. The closures would impact "underperforming" locations, Yum! Brands said. In April, Fortune reported it had identified around 50 locations that had closed, with most affected restaurants in California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Yum! Brands said late last year that it was exploring a potential sale of the chain, after reporting a 1% decline in same-store sales during the third quarter, the eighth consecutive quarterly drop. Citing a source, Reuters reported in May that Yum! was in talks with LongRange Capital, a private-equity firm, about a potential sale. "The Pizza Hut team has been working hard to address business and category challenges," Chris Turner, chief executive of Yum! Brands, said in November. "However, Pizza Hut's performance indicates the need to take additional action to help the brand realize its full value, which may be better executed outside Yum! Brands." The chain has faced tough competition from other chains, especially with the rise of value meals. Internationally, it is faring better, with same-store sales increasing by 1% last year. Jack in the Box reportedly plans to close up to 100 locations. Here's a Jack in the Box logo displayed on a sign outside a restaurant on January 9, 2026, in San Diego, CA. Kevin Carter/Getty Images Jack in the Box — the fast-food chain that's been flipping burgers since 1951 — has built a following at its more than 2,100 locations with a menu that includes curly fries, tacos, chicken sandwiches, and milkshakes. But even this drive-thru staple has hit some bumps in the road. In 2025, the company rolled out its "Jack on Track" turnaround plan to boost performance and strengthen its finances. Part of this was selling off Del Taco for $119 million, which was completed in December. By the end of June, the brand expects 50 to 100 closures and around 20 openings, QSR Magazine reported in February. Same-store sales across its restaurants dropped 6.7% in Q1 year over year, the company reported, according to QSR Magazine. Its fiscal second-quarter sales "did not meet expectations," Interim CEO Mark King said in May, with same-store sales falling 3.8% year over year and revenue declining 4.3% to $254.3 million. But, King said, sales trends had improved entering the third quarter and that the company was committed to its turnaround plan. "Jack in the Box is an iconic brand, and I'm eager to dive in with our passionate team and franchisees to further improve operating results. After being on the Board and now as interim CEO, my excitement for the potential of this brand has only grown," he said. The brand's goal this year is to focus on innovation, customer service, cosmetic updates, and fewer, stronger limited-time offers, QSR reported. Papa John's plans to close approximately 200 stores in 2026. A Papa John's restaurant is seen on February 27, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Papa John's international is preparing to close 300 of its Northern American stores by the end of 2027 in an effort to further turnaround business amid nationwide ongoing pizza sector struggles. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Papa John's announced in a February earnings call that it plans to close about 200 North America restaurants in 2026 as part of a broader effort to shut down 300 underperforming locations by the end of 2027. The closures will primarily affect franchise-owned stores that are more than 10 years old and do not indicate long-term profitability, Ravi Thanawala, Papa John's CFO, said on the call. Papa John's reported a 3% decline in global systemwide sales in the first quarter. North America comparable sales declined 6.4%, though international comparable sales rose 3.6% for the sixth consecutive quarter of growth. CEO Todd Penegor said, "We are taking action to better align corporate and field resources with our transformation priorities and optimize spans and layers in our organizations." Papa John's was founded in 1984 by John Schnatter in Jeffersonville, Indiana, when he began selling pizzas out of a converted broom closet in his father's tavern. The brand quickly grew into one of the largest pizza chains in the world, known for its "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza." slogan. Red Robin has abruptly closed some restaurants nationwide. Here's a Red Robin restaurant in San Bruno, California. Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Some Red Robin locations in Illinois, California, and New Jersey abruptly closed this year, The Independent reported. The company, which has nearly 500 locations across the United States, said in February 2025 that it intended to shutter roughly 70 underperforming restaurants as part of a plan to pay down debt, USA Today reported. Later in the year, executives shared during an earnings call that turnaround efforts at several locations had been more successful than expected, reducing the need for as many closures. A Red Robin spokesperson told Business Insider in March that 20 closures in 2026 were mentioned on the company's Q4 earnings call; however, these are potential, not confirmed, closures. They concern corporate locations, rather than franchise-operated locations. "As the company reported in its Q4 earnings, Red Robin beat the casual dining industry on traffic in December, a trend that continued into January," the spokesperson said, adding that there was "a lift in traffic, thanks to its new value menu, the Big YUMMM Deals starting at $9.99." "This gives the company confidence as they look ahead and expect to continue that progress in 2026 as they introduce more guests to the new-and-improved Red Robin," the spokesperson said. Red Robin was founded in 1969 in Seattle, Washington, when local restaurateur Gerry Kingen expanded and renamed a neighborhood tavern that had originally opened in the 1940s. The company grew into a national casual-dining chain known for its gourmet burgers, its Bottomless Steak Fries, onion rings, and thick, hand-spun milkshakes. Some Denny's have also closed without advance notice. Denny's logo is seen in Austin, United States on October 21, 2025. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images Denny's, which operates more than 1,650 locations globally and is recognized for comfort-food staples, confirmed in January that it had completed its plan to close 150 restaurants by the end of 2025. Since the start of 2026, there have been reports of restaurants closing without advance notice, including locations in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Michigan, as well as Midland, Texas, per Mashed. Denny's did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the recent closures. It has not been said if there will be others this year. It comes amid broader corporate shifts at the company. In January, a $620 million acquisition by TriArtisan Capital, Yadav Enterprises, and Treville Capital was completed. The company reported that CEO Kelli Valade would leave in February. Denny's was founded in 1953 in Lakewood, California, by Harold Butler and Richard Jezak, originally operating under the name Danny's Donuts before evolving into a full-service coffee shop and eventually rebranding as Denny's. Noodles & Company expects to close between 30 and 35 locations in 2026. Clackamas, OR, USA - May 22, 2021: A Noodles and Company restaurant in Clackamas, Oregon. Noodles and Company is an American fast-casual restaurant based in Broomfield, Colorado. Tada Images/Shutterstock Fast Company reported Noodles & Company plans to shutter more restaurants as part of a broader effort to shore up its finances. In a January announcement, the fast-casual chain said it expects to close between 30 and 35 locations in 2026 to improve profitability and strengthen its overall performance. By the end of 2025, the brand operated 340 company-owned restaurants and 83 franchised locations. The company had already downsized its footprint the previous year, closing 42 restaurants, including 33 corporate locations and nine franchise units. "Decisions like this are made thoughtfully and with a long-term view of the business," CEO and President Joe Christina said, adding that fourth-quarter results showed stronger performance when resources were focused on higher-opportunity restaurants. He said the moves are designed to bolster the brand's financial position and support long-term, profitable growth. Noodles & Company was founded in 1995 by Aaron Kennedy in Denver, Colorado. The chain is known for its diverse menu that spans flavors from around the world, including Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, Pad Thai, Japanese Pan Noodles, and Pasta Fresca. In addition to noodle bowls, the restaurant offers soups, salads, and shareable sides, positioning itself as a quick-service spot for comfort food with an international twist. Red Lobster is closing its Times Square flagship location, among others, in 2026. Richard Levine/Corbis via Getty Images Since filing for bankruptcy in 2024 — and closing dozens of restaurants that year — Red Lobster has begun a turnaround: It's appointed a new CEO, updated its menu, collaborated with celebrities, and exited Chapter 11 protection. The new CEO, Damola Adamolekun, told The Wall Street Journal in February that its sales were up 10% year over year. Still, the company announced this week that it will shutter its flagship Times Square location on June 14, ending a 23-year run in one of the world's busiest tourist destinations. A spokesperson for Red Lobster told Business Insider the chain "remains focused on strengthening the business, investing in the guest experience, and building momentum across the system." It cited "extensive and prolonged construction" at the sprawling location, which affected foot traffic and sales. "Times Square has been an important chapter in Red Lobster's history, and we are grateful to the team members and guests who have made this restaurant special over the years," the chain said. In May, the brand closed its oldest continuously operating location, in Tallahassee, Florida, after 56 years, following typical performance and lease reviews, the company said. Other closures have included restaurants in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and Overland Park, Kansas. Red Lobster operates around 550 restaurants, a decline from around 700 a few years ago, Fortune reported. Adamolekun told The Wall Street Journal that Red Lobster is still looking closely at leases, with a view to close or update underperforming locations. He added that the chain is also open to opening more locations in some underrepresented regions. Founded in 1968, Red Lobster grew into one of the largest casual dining seafood chains in the United States. The company is best known for its seafood-focused menu, including shrimp, lobster, and crab dishes, as well as its signature Cheddar Bay Biscuits, which have become a staple of the brand. Read the original article on Business Insider

We had the ultimate burger showdown with Guy Fieri's and Gordon Ramsay's recipes. Jesse Grant/Getty Images/FOX via Getty Images I made both Guy Fieri's and Gordon Ramsay's 10-minute burgers.  Fieri's recipe is simpler than Ramsay's, which features far more ingredients.  Both burgers tasted delicious, but Fieri's took the top spot in my celebrity-chef showdown. Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsay both have 10-minute burger recipes, so I decided it was time for a little showdown. Ramsay's bacon cheeseburger recipe is featured in his "Ramsay in 10" cookbook, and Fieri himself gave me his burger recipe when I asked for his top burger tips.  "This may be a more complicated answer than you bargained for, because it's not just about a burger recipe," Fieri told me. "It's about the execution of the whole deal. You can get down with whatever toppings you want, but the basics have to be covered."  I whipped up both recipes at home to decide who truly had the best — and quickest — burger. Here's how it went. Fieri's burger is all about classic ingredients. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider To make Fieri's perfect burger at home, you'll need:  Ground beef (Fieri recommends 80% lean, 20% fat) American cheese slices  Brioche buns  Lettuce Tomato  Onion  Pickles And there's very little prep. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Fieri told me it's important to shred the lettuce, slice your tomato, and "cut those white onions so thin that they only have one side."  I also buttered the brioche buns and popped them into the oven so they could get nice and toasty, per Fieri's recommendation. Then I made my patties. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I seasoned my ground beef with salt and pepper, then shaped it into balls.  Once my patties were ready, I threw one on the griddle and smashed it with a spatula. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Fieri said it was essential that I cook my burgers "on the hottest griddle or cast iron pan you can get."  "You smash it down hard — we're talking a half-inch thick," he added. The Mayor of Flavortown also told me it was important to let my patty crisp up to "get all that delicious caramelization going." I waited until the edges of my patty got crunchy before flipping it over. After flipping my patty, I added the cheese. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Fieri loves using American cheese slices on burgers because "they melt really well," he told me.  Next, it was time for Fieri's special cheese-melting trick. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider First, I sprayed some water around my burger. Then, per Fieri's instructions, I had to place "some sort of dome or metal bowl" over my patty.  "That steam will melt your cheese before you overcook your burger," he said.  I didn't have a metal bowl on hand, so I used an old Marie Callender's pie tin I found in my parents' kitchen.  My cheese melted perfectly. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Look at how beautiful it is! Constructing my burger was super easy. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I placed my patty on the bottom bun, then added the tomato, onion slices, and pickles. I placed the shredded lettuce on the top bun and voilà — I was done!  Fieri's burger tasted just as good as it looked. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider What impressed me the most about Fieri's burger was how juicy it tasted, with just the right amount of crispiness. The perfectly cooked patty truly stood on its own; it didn't even need any condiments! The brioche bun added a nice hint of sweetness, and the beautifully melted cheese tasted almost buttery. The burger was pure perfection.  Read my full review of Guy Fieri's perfect burger here.  Ramsay's burger has quite a few more ingredients than Fieri's. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider To make Ramsay's cheeseburgers at home, you'll need:  Ground beef Brioche buns  Cheddar cheese Egg yolks Frozen red chile Tomato  Onion  Bacon Little Gem lettuce  Mayonnaise  Sriracha  First, I prepped my burgers. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I added 16 ounces of ground beef to a bowl along with two egg yolks. I sprinkled some salt and freshly ground black pepper on top, plus one grated frozen chile.  After mixing everything by hand, I made four patties, each about 1 inch thick.  "Remember that the thicker you make the patties, the longer they will take to cook," Ramsay writes in his cookbook. "So if you want these on the table in under 10, press your burgers until they are a little thinner for a quicker cooking time." I drizzled vegetable oil on my griddle and threw my patties on top. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I let my patties cook for four minutes over medium-high heat, seasoning them with more salt and pepper. Never forget to season! After adding my bacon and onion slices, I increased the heat to high and let everything cook together.   I prepped Ramsay's special sauce as my burgers cooked. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I mixed four tablespoons of mayonnaise with two teaspoons of Sriracha, plus some salt and pepper.  I also toasted my buns and prepped my veggies. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I washed some gem lettuce leaves and sliced one tomato for the bottom of my burgers. I also toasted my buns in the oven for about two minutes. I flipped the burgers, bacon, and onions, and let them cook for another five minutes. Cooking the burger patties with the bacon and onion slices. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I took the bacon and onion slices off the griddle first, placing them on a plate lined with a paper towel. Ramsay and Fieri use the same trick to melt cheese. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Ramsay also covers the patties to help the cheese melt. But, unlike the Mayor of Flavortown, he doesn't spray the burger with water first.  Per Ramsay's recipe, I added some butter to the griddle, placed the cheese slices on top of my patties, then covered both with a metal bowl. The cheese melted beautifully. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider This is such an easy trick and clearly worked well for both Fieri's and Ramsay's burgers. I now consider it an essential step for making a great cheeseburger at home.  Once my patties were ready, I built my burgers. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider First, I spread some of Ramsay's Sriracha mayonnaise on my bottom buns. Then I added the lettuce, tomato, and onion slices, along with my cheeseburger and bacon.  After I threw a few more onion slices on top and spread more sauce on my top buns, my burger was ready to go.  Ramsay's burger looked straight out of a restaurant. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider There's no denying how impressive this burger looks, and it tasted great, too. The patty was plump and juicy, and I loved the kick of heat from the Sriracha mayonnaise and grated chile.  The bacon and onion also gave some nice crunch and savoriness, while the tomato and lettuce added a dose of freshness.  Read my full review of Gordon Ramsay's perfect burger here. Both Fieri and Ramsay have fantastic burgers, but the Mayor of Flavortown takes my top spot. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider You have to keep track of quite a few steps to make Ramsay's burger happen in 10 minutes. Fieri's recipe is far simpler, and still delivers fantastic results.  Plus, I couldn't believe Fieri's burger tasted so good without any sauce or condiments. I've found his burger to outshine those I've had from places like Five Guys, and it's comparable to the gourmet burgers I've tried all over New York — for a fraction of the cost.  But at the end of the day, you really can't go wrong with Fieri or Ramsay. Either way, you're going to have one very delicious burger.  Read the original article on Business Insider

Josh Eidelson / Bloomberg: FOIA docs reveal Amazon's extensive control over delivery drivers it insists are not employees, in a case the NLRB sought to settle on terms favorable to Amazon  —  The feds were pushing a landmark case about Amazon's control of its contract drivers.  Then the president put Amazon's former lawyer in charge.

what it costs, what it gains and the three mistakes that I make The post My SciPy ODE Solver Was Killing My Bayesian Inference: A Cosmologist’s Honest Account of Discovering Diffrax appeared first on Towards Data Science.

Worchihan Zingkhai at a soccer match. Courtesy of Worchihan Zingkhai Worchihan Zingkhai is a lifelong football fan, but seeing the World Cup in person felt out of reach. He lives in a town in northeast India where salaries are low. He'd been saving up for a new laptop. Instead, he pooled his earnings to afford two World Cup tickets in Atlanta. He has no regrets. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Worchihan Zingkhai, 40, a content creator from a village in Manipur, India. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. I've loved football for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a village in Manipur, in northeast India, football is everywhere. We don't have proper equipment, so we make footballs out of plastic and old clothes rolled into a ball. I can still remember staying awake until 3 a.m. to watch my first World Cup in 1998. We had one black-and-white TV for the entire village, and we pooled money to buy fuel for a generator to power it. Since then, I've watched every World Cup on television. I became a fan of Portugal and later followed the Premier League. However, attending a World Cup match in person always felt impossible. Now, nearly 30 years later, I'm finally going. The laptop will have to wait Worchihan Zingkhai and his wife at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, attending a Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City in 2018. Courtesy of Worchihan Zingkhai Making this trip requires a lot more than buying a match ticket. My village sits about 5,600 feet above sea level, and there isn't an airport nearby. I'll drive about six hours to Imphal before flying to New Delhi, London, Washington, DC, and finally Atlanta. The trip includes four flights and about 27 hours in the air. The journey would have been much harder without help from my wife's family. My father-in-law paid for our flights from New Delhi to Washington, DC, and my in-laws are helping with accommodations in the US. Having family there has made the trip much more affordable. Even with that support, I've had to make sacrifices financially. I'm a content creator who makes videos for YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. This year, I planned to buy a new laptop for video editing. I was looking at models that cost between $2,200 and $2,500. Worchihan Zingkhai plays football with fellow villagers in Ngahui Village, Ukhrul District, Manipur, India. Courtesy of Worchihan Zingkhai However, I couldn't afford both the laptop and the World Cup trip, so the laptop will have to wait. In my area, people often earn about 500 rupees a day, or roughly $5 to $6. Because of that, we're very careful about spending. My family has cut back on other purchases and avoided additional trips to help make this World Cup journey possible. I missed my first chance at tickets Getting a World Cup ticket was harder than I expected. I entered FIFA's ticket sale in February with a budget of $350 per ticket. My dream was to watch Portugal, England, or Argentina. When I finally got into the system, I had only 15 minutes to buy. The Portugal tickets I wanted were priced between $450 and $650, which was beyond my budget. I spent too much time comparing options and eventually lost my chance. I thought that was the end of my chance at the World Cup. Worchihan Zingkhai attends an international football match between Thailand and Iraq in Bangkok, Thailand. Courtesy of Worchihan Zingkhai I was able to buy tickets in April. This time, I focused on finding a match I could afford instead of chasing the teams I wanted to see most. After waiting in the queue for several hours, I finally got in and bought two category-three tickets for Czech Republic versus South Africa in Atlanta for $140 each — one for me and one for my father-in-law. High ticket prices make it harder for fans I understand why demand for the World Cup is so high. Still, I think ticket prices are difficult for ordinary fans. What frustrates me most is the resale market. I paid $140 for my ticket. A few weeks later, I checked the resale platform and saw nearby seats listed for about $560. As a football fan, that's disappointing. People who genuinely want to attend have a short window to buy tickets, but resellers have much more time to profit from them. I believe some people purchase tickets mainly to resell them rather than attend matches themselves. For fans like me, that makes an already expensive event even harder to reach. Read the original article on Business Insider

Stacy Lentz is a co-owner of The Stonewall Inn. Photo Credit: Marissa Fortugno Stacy Lentz has co-owned the Stonewall Inn with three others since 2006. She went into credit card debt to buy the Inn, and has never made much money. Owning it has been the responsibility of a lifetime, and given her purpose, she says. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the Stonewall Inn and CEO of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. It has been edited for length and clarity. I grew up middle-class, in the middle of a cornfield, in the middle-of-nowhere Kansas. That's a lot of middles, but once I moved to New York City in my 20s, I felt like I had discovered the center of the world. I probably knew that I was gay since I was younger, but I fought it. I went to school with the same 16 kids each year. I knew that I tended to develop crushes on my friends who were girls. As for the guys, I wanted to be their best friends, but had no desire to date them. At 24, I walked into my first gay bar in New York and immediately thought, "Oh, these are my people." Kurt Kelly and Stacy Lentz heard the Stonewall Inn was shutting down in 2006. Photo Credit: Zach Hilty, BFA.com I took on credit card debt to buy the Stonewall Inn After that, I spent a lot of time in LGBTQ+ bars. There was a piano bar three buildings down from The Stonewall Inn that I just loved. Having grown up as a theater kid, being in a piano bar in New York City has always been fun. I became a regular there, and befriended the manager, a man named Kurt Kelly, who has since become like a brother to me. I had walked into the Stonewall Inn before, in the 90s. At the time, I knew a bit about the significance, but the site wasn't being treated with any historic reverence. Then, in 2006, Kurt and I heard that the Inn was shutting down. We realized we had a chance to preserve history for our community. So, along with two other partners, we bought the Stonewall Inn. I had to go into credit card debt to do that, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Stacy Lentz says it's her mission to honor the legacy of the Stonewall Inn while taking action for the future of the LGBTQ+ community. Photo Credit: Bre Johnson, BFA I haven't made much, but it's not about the money My background is in marketing, and by that point, I had become a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. I knew I could help make the inn a success and raise its profile. Still, the first year was really difficult. We had a roof collapse and needed to put a lot of work into the building. I made my investment back within the first couple of years, but I've never made much money from the bar. We're very transparent about that. Our rent is $55,000 a month. That's a lot of vodka soda to sell. For me, it's never been about the money. That wasn't the point. I see myself and my co-owners as stewards of this place. When we purchased it, there was nothing about the history of the Stonewall Inn displayed. Today, there are historic artifacts, including the original "raided property" sign from 1969. Upstairs, we have a community center where we host everything from fundraisers to weddings. The recent Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative Pride Kickoff event. Photo Credit: Bre Johnson, BFA We're honoring the legacy and continuing to take action Owning the Stonewall Inn has been the responsibility of a lifetime. It's not just about keeping the lights on; it's about keeping the mission alive. My co-owners and I believe that queer history can't be preserved without providing for queer futures. In 2017, we started a nonprofit, the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. We provide safe-space training to other establishments, and also provide support to the LGBTQ+ folks in the places where it's most difficult to be queer, like Mississippi, Uganda, or Kansas, where I grew up. The nonprofit has a small budget of between $60,000 to $120,000 a year. Still, it's something my co-owners and I are really proud of. If we rely on our legacy, without continuing to take action, it just becomes branding. That's why we're determined to not just honor the Inn's past but to also have a real impact on the future of the LGBTQ+ community. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author moved to Texas for cheaper housing after college. Courtesy of Brant Eckert In 2023, I graduated into a volatile job market, but thankfully, I landed a job. I was living in New York, with an inordinately high cost of living, which made staying untenable. Moving to Texas, with its much lower cost of living, allowed me to succeed. After graduating with a bachelor's in computer science in 2023, a software company offered me an exciting job that paid $60,000 a year. The catch? I had to move away from home. I had grown up on Long Island all my life, but the company didn't have an office within commuting distance of my parents' house. Moving felt daunting. Moving across the country? Even more so. But I felt like I had no choice because of the difficult job market and the rising costs in New York, so I packed up and moved to Texas. The East Coast was nearly impossible to afford I did the math. The average rent for an apartment in most East Coast states is $2,000 to $3,000 a month. Over the course of a year, on average, that would be $30,000. This was half of my annual income — before accounting for any other expenses. New York State income taxes are also high, plus there's federal tax on top. Already, with back-of-the-napkin math, I found that I would be left with less than half of my annual salary before accounting for food, insurance premiums, utilities, and rainy-day savings. After all that, there would be next to nothing left for student loan repayments, and I wouldn't be able to save any money to eventually buy a house. Texas was the much cheaper option Researching my options, I learned the company had an office in San Antonio. As I researched this unfamiliar city, what I found astounded me. Even in a large city like San Antonio, rent averages $1,000 to $1,500 a month. Texas also has no state income tax. I would have significantly more of my annual income to spend and save if I lived in Texas with the same job. I decided to move across the country to Texas Though the numbers were promising, I had never been south of Virginia until my move. I had no clue what San Antonio was like and had no family or friends there for support. I found my apartment in this new, unfamiliar city remotely. I scanned Google Maps. I made a list of apartments with ideal locations and read their tenants' reviews. I focused on ones with two to four stars to avoid being misled. As part of my research, I looked at crime statistics. I was happy to see it was very low. I then narrowed my commute down to five minutes. I'm financially comfortable in Texas After the move, I paid about $1,250 a month for a 700-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment with an in-home washer & dryer, community gym, and pool. There is a rule in personal finance called the 50/30/20 rule. Ideally, you should spend 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and save 20% of what you earn. Living in Texas, I easily spent less than 50% on needs and saved more than 40% of what I earned. All of that would not have been possible on the East Coast at my entry-level, new-grad salary. Lastly, home prices in Texas are much lower, so my goal of homeownership finally felt achievable. I made my cross-country move work for me As a new graduate, I faced a market with low salary expectations, frequent mass layoffs, and high job volatility. I made it work by moving away from a state with a high cost of living to one offering a 50% discount on life. New graduates and early professionals may find success doing the same. Read the original article on Business Insider

A curated roundup of notable LLM research papers that came out this year

What’s the difference between a person, an artifact, and an ecosystem?

Plus: Hackers use Meta’s AI bots to hack Instagram accounts, Anthropic helps NSA hackers, a decades-long GPS satellite mystery may have been solved, and more.

Max Tani / Semafor: Kalshi and Polymarket sponsored X posts promoting viral LA mayoral election fraud conspiracy theories; Kalshi says it asked its paid influencers to remove posts  —  THE SCOOP  —  Kalshi on Friday asked some of its paid political influencers to remove X posts that sowed doubt about the integrity …

Steven Bartlett has sparked a debate about optimization culture. Sam Barnes/Sportsfile for Web Summit Qatar via Getty Images Steven Bartlett shared that drinking three glasses of wine ruined his life for as many days. The "Diary of a CEO" podcast host's comments sparked a debate about wellness culture. "Optimization is killing fun," was one response. It has been two week weeks since Steven Bartlett's three-glasses-of-wine-ruined-my-life comments and the results are in: people are getting sick of optimization culture. In a clip from a 2025 episode of the British entrepreneur's "Diary Of A CEO" podcast that resurfaced on May 23, he recounted having his first alcoholic drink for a year. "I had a couple of glasses of wine, didn't get drunk, it ruined three days of my life because of the domino effect that it caused," he said. (Later in the podcast he said he drank three glasses of wine). Bartlett, who had been sober for three years, added: "It meant that I got worse sleep that night, I ate more poorly the next day because my dopamine system or the cortisol system or whatever was all messed up. Then I podcasted worse, and I didn't go to the gym the day after, and I could track all of this on my Whoop." Perhaps a year or two ago, Bartlett's comments would have been informative to some and eyeroll-worthy to others, but not newsworthy. In today's longevity-obsessed world, where wearable tech that tracks your sleep, heart rate, and mood is commonplace, however, his words struck a nerve. Wrongly or rightly, he represented a prototypical health-optimizing biohacker acting in deference to his health tracker and the "grindset." "Optimization is killing fun," Greg James, a British radio DJ, said in an Instagram reel shared on May 31. "You can have ambitions and goals, get good at a skill, and do well in your life professionally, and also have a great time. Not everything has to be like work." "I genuinely sometimes podcast better on a hangover," Fearne Cotton, a TV presenter and the host of the podcast "Happy Place," said. Fellow TV presenter Laura Jackson wrote on Instagram: "Most people's legacy will be the people they loved, the laughs they shared and how they made others feel. Spoiler alert THESE are the things that matter. It's NOT their sleep score or their step count." Bartlett's representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Wellness culture is just culture now It's not surprising that people are fed up with optimization culture. From TV shows to grocery store shelves, it has become impossible to escape the $6.8 trillion global wellness industry. In an episode of Ryan Murphy's "All's Fair," the 2025 lawyer drama starring Kim Kardashian, the female leads discuss the longevity treatments they've had, including laser collagen stimulation, long-lasting fillers, a muscle-contraction machine, and vaginal platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Many high profile people wear fitness trackers like Whoop bands and Oura rings. And a couple years ago, continuous glucose monitors went from a prescription-only tool for people with diabetes to a piece of buzzy over-the-counter wellness tech. Of course, maintaining healthy habits like eating a balanced diet, exercising, and sleeping enough are incredibly important. But there's little evidence to suggest that the payoff of monitoring our daily bodily functions is worth the effort. James, the presenter who posted on Instagram about "winegate," said that it wasn't Bartlett's choice to go sober that bothered him, as alcohol can of course be harmful, but that he seemed to prioritize a good score on his wearable over enjoying a night out. "My issue is this endless optimization and measuring of everything to the point where it starts to make you feel a bit miserable," James said. As of September 2025, you could buy a camera that lives in your toilet bowl and analyzes your poop in real time. Yes, a wearable for your toilet. I'll leave you to ponder that. Read the original article on Business Insider

Palantir CEO Alex Karp said AI large language models alone can't solve some of the problems businesses face. Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images Palantir CEO Alex Karp is out on tokenmaxxing. The outspoken CEO compared the practice to porn addiction. "People are just sitting there all day," he said. Palantir CEO Alex Karp isn't buying into the "tokenmaxxing" hype. Never one to mince words, Karp compared the urge to use AI in such an insatiable manner to watching pornography. "Really, we call it the demastibatory, like get off masturbation thing internally," Karp said, describing Palantir's token tracking during a live interview on TBPN on the sidelines of Palantir's AIP Con 10. "Sure, it's like people are just sitting there all day kind of like a porn addiction." Karp's comments echo what Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar told analysts on an earnings call last month about how the data analysis and technology firm calls itself "a no slop zone." Sankar said companies need to understand that cheaper AI alone won't create more value unless you have a system like Palantir's AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform) that can ground an AI model. "More tokens means more slop," Sankar said. "And the more commodity cognition you consume, the more you need a system that can prevent the economic harm, so you can harness the economic value." Tokens are the building blocks of large language models, which break down words into numerical units. A single token is roughly 3/4ths of a word. AI companies and AI model providers often charge based on the number of tokens consumed and the model that was used. In the last few weeks, parts of Silicon Valley and the tech community have swung hard against "tokenmaxxing," the culture that championed almost unfettered AI usage to match the rise and capability of AI agents. Uber COO Andrew Macdonald highlighted those concerns when he said that the rideshare company was struggling to see the link between rising AI bills and meaningful returns, such as increased productivity. In reference to Macdonald's comments, Karp said that until recently, perhaps it was not considered wise to publicly raise questions about AI. "When we first met, it was like AI, maybe real," Karp said, addressing when he first met the TBPN crew. "Then, I would say somehow until about two weeks ago there was like a holy fuck, this is real, but somehow it's not working, but we're not allowed to say it publicly because we'll look stupid." Karp said people realize AI is real, but many of the issues surrounding the technology, including whether competitors may try to build something like Palantir's ontology, come down to a matter of "taste." "All these things can be scaled in a very valuable but largely going to commodify way, but you can't scale the taste of what is the business problem you want to have to solve and need to solve," he said. There are some problems that AI models can solve really well, Karp said. He gave an example of a prompt like, "I want to write a report on GDP growth in China." It's the more complicated dilemmas where AI alone is not the answer, he said. "'I want to understand the specialized way I drill for oil and gas that's both legal, ethical, and reduces the cost of production. I want to change the supply chain of my industry, whether that's military or whether that's building boxes or whether that's cars.' These things require actual, precise ongoing processes," Karp said. "They are enhanced by large language models. They are not replaced by large language models." Read the original article on Business Insider

Google cofounder Sergey Brin said that instead of replacing humans, AI could push humans to perform better. Neilson Barnard/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Sergey Brin said that instead of replacing humans, AI could push humans to perform better. Brin said Google's AlphaGo challenged top Go players Lee Sedol and Ke Jie to improve their skills. Multiple tech leaders recently said that many soft skills cannot be replaced by AI. As workers worry that AI could make their jobs obsolete, Google cofounder Sergey Brin is offering a different view. Speaking during an unscripted fireside chat at Google DeepMind Build Day at AGI House, Brin pointed to games like Go and said that human achievement has continued to advance after computers surpassed people in those domains. "And by the way, since AlphaGo, the game of Go has advanced a lot," said Brin. "The players that played against it, Lee Sedol, became vastly better after, and Ke Jie after he played AlphaGo also. It has pushed the state of the art." Sedol was one of the world's top Go players and a multiple-time international champion when he won one of five games against AlphaGo, powered by Google DeepMind, in March 2016. Jie was the world's No. 1-ranked Go player when he faced AlphaGo in 2017 and lost all three games. Go is a two-player board game that originated in China, usually played by placing black and white stones on a grid. The goal is to control more territory than the opponent and capture their stones. "The fact that computers can do things well has actually not stopped humans getting better and better at them, getting more and more recognition and enjoying those things," Brin said. "I think we're going to find AI can do a whole lot of pretty surprising things, but I think they also help advance people in doing it." Brin's comments also land amid a broader debate about whether AI will replace workers or augment them. A recent poll by Quinnipiac University found that 30% of Americans believe AI could make their jobs obsolete. While some executives have pointed to AI as a factor in layoffs, many researchers and economists argue that the evidence for widespread AI-driven job losses remains limited. Instead, much of the discussion in Silicon Valley has shifted toward how AI changes the nature of work, allowing people to focus more on judgment, creativity, and decision-making while machines handle routine tasks. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn, and former Google distinguished engineer Kelsey Hightower have all recently said that soft skills like empathy, communication, and relationship-building cannot be replaced by AI. Read the original article on Business Insider

Francesco Mattana was born and raised in Sardinia. Photography by Dave Brown, from "Eat Like A Sardinian." On the Italian island of Sardinia, fresh produce, beans, and whole grains are staples. An Italian chef who grew up following the Mediterranean Diet on the island shared three recipes. Francesco Mattana's "Live to 100" minestrone soup is a nod to Sardinia's many fit older citizens. Francesco Mattana grew up eating freshly caught fish and locally grown produce by the beach. The Italian chef was raised on the slow-paced Italian island of Sardinia, where his grandparents were fishermen and farmers. His family had access to the freshest ingredients, and his mamma and nonna were on hand to cook him up a fresh pasta or hearty stew. This is how he learned the lessons of the Mediterranean diet, the famously healthy eating pattern of countries in this region, which has been linked to a host of health benefits, from a lower risk of type two diabetes and early death to better gut health. Now, Mattana is sharing those lessons in his new cookbook, "Eat Like A Sardinian: Live to 100." The title is a nod to Sardinia's high population of healthy older people, earning it "Blue Zone" status. "Sardinian food is fresh, seasonal, and full of variety," Mattana writes. He shared three nutritious recipes from his cookbook. Live to 100 minestrone soup Photography by Dave Brown, from "Eat Like A Sardinian." Serves 4 Ingredients: 100g (3 1/2oz) dried borlotti (cranberry) beans 100g (3 1/2oz) dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans) 1 white onion, roughly diced 2 celery sticks, chopped into 1cm (1/2 inch) cubes 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped into 1cm(1/2 inch) cubes 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 3 sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped 15g (1/2oz) basil 15g (1/2oz) parsley, finely chopped 3 large tomatoes, roughly chopped (or halved if using small tomatoes) 1 large potato, peeled and chopped into 2cm (3/4 inch) cubes 4 large Savoy cabbage leaves, tough stalks removed and roughly chopped 40g (1 1/2oz) pecorino, grated Fine sea salt Freshly ground black pepper Method: The night before, wash the beans and chickpeas in cold water. Place them in a large bowl and cover them with fresh cold water. They will expand as they soak, so make sure the container is large enough, and there is plenty of water. Cover the bowl and leave them to soak for at least 12 hours (or longer—check the packet). The next day, drain and then rinse the beans and chickpeas thoroughly with freshwater. Set aside. Place a large casserole dish (Dutch oven) or ceramic pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, and olive oil and cook for 8—10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Now add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, and cook for a further 2 minutes. Tear the basil leaves and stir them in along with the chopped parsley, and cook for another minute. Next, add the tomatoes and potato, give everything a stir, and cook for a further 2 minutes, or until the tomatoes are starting to soften. Add the drained beans and chickpeas and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cover with water and bring it to the boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat back to medium, cover, and cook for 1—1 1/2 hours, or until the beans and chickpeas are soft. If needed, top up with water so that the vegetables are always submerged. Once the beans and chickpeas are cooked, add the cabbage, cover, and cook for a final 10 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving. To serve, use a slotted ladle to divide the vegetables, beans, and chickpeas equally between serving bowls, then pour over the warm broth. Sprinkle with cheese and drizzle over some olive oil. Roast chicken with rosemary potatoes Photography by Dave Brown, from "Eat Like A Sardinian." Serves 4-6 Ingredients: For the chicken 4 chicken drumsticks 4 chicken thighs 2 sprigs of rosemary, leaves finely chopped 2 fresh bay leaves, stalks stripped and leaves finely chopped 2 large white onions, chopped into thick petals 100ml (scant 1/2 cup)Vermentino or a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc Extra virgin olive oil Fine sea salt Freshly ground black pepper For the potatoes 1.2kg (2lb 10oz) potatoes, peeled and chopped into 3cm (1 1/4 inch) cubes 6 garlic cloves, roughly crushed 1 large sprig of rosemary leaves, finely chopped 1 teaspoon oregano Extra virgin olive oil Method: First, marinate the chicken. Put all the ingredients into a large bowl along with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Using your hands, give it a good stir, then cover and set aside to marinate for at least 2 hours or, even better, overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 200°C fan/425°F. Put all the ingredients for the potatoes into a large bowl, drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Stir well to coat the potatoes in the seasonings. Line a large baking tray (pan) with baking parchment. Pour in the seasoned potatoes, making sure they don't overlap, and roast in the oven for 15 minutes. While the potatoes are cooking, discard any liquid from the marinated chicken, add a generous glug of olive oil, season with salt, and give it a good stir. Arrange the chicken and onions in the tray by nestling the chicken in between the potatoes and tucking the onions under each chicken piece. Make sure the chicken and the potatoes are not overlapping, so that they will color evenly. Place the tray back in the oven and roast for 40—45 minutes, or until the chicken and the potatoes are golden and fully cooked. Serve nice and hot. Tuna steaks in tomato sauce Photography by Dave Brown, from "Eat Like A Sardinian." Serves 2 Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 anchovy fillets, finely chopped 2 x 120g (4 1/2oz) tuna steaks 1 banana shallot, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 1/2 red chilli, thinly sliced 300g (10 1/2oz) baby plum tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, halved 100ml (scant 1/2 cup) Vermentino or a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc 5g (1/4oz) parsley, finely chopped, plus 1 sprig for garnish 10 Taggiasca olives, pitted Fine sea salt Freshly ground black pepper Method: Heat half the oil in a medium frying pan over a medium heat. Add the anchovies and cook for one minute, then add the tuna steaks and cook for one minute on each side. Remove them from the pan and set aside on a plate. Add the remaining oil, the shallot, garlic, and chilli to the pan. Cook for three minutes, stirring constantly, before adding the tomatoes and wine (if you prefer not to use wine, use water instead and add the juice from 1/4 lemon just before serving). Cover and cook for 10 minutes, piercing half the tomatoes with a fork halfway through cooking so that they release their juices. Taste and lightly season the sauce with salt and pepper as needed, then stir in the chopped parsley and olives. Place the tuna on top, cover again, and cook for one minute so it is still pink in the middle. Serve garnished with a few parsley leaves. Tuna steaks can become dry if left too long after cooking, so enjoy them straight away. Read the original article on Business Insider

Courtesy of Beks Lockie The theme was "magical fantasy forest." Celina Tolbert and a friend spent the day decorating the chateau's wood-paneled dining rooms and spiral staircase with moss, leaves, and fairy lights to make it feel enchanted. By evening, guests had arrived in corsets and chainmail before heading to a make-your-own-potions station. A playlist of medieval-style pop covers played in the background as they sipped Champagne. And that was just the first night of the three-day, 30th birthday celebration Tolbert threw for herself. She invited 21 friends to a French chateau about 80 miles south of Paris, shelling out about 2,200 euros ($2,557) hosting it. "If I can actually afford it," Tolbert said, "why would I not?" French chateaux are having a moment for milestone birthdays. Courtesy of Beks Lockie The chateau birthday boom Tolbert, an American social media strategist who lives in Paris, is part of a growing wave of older Gen Zers and young millennials swapping bars and restaurants for castles and chateaux for milestone celebrations. "Our data indicates a clear shift toward experience-led milestone birthdays," Oliver Bell, cofounder of the British luxury rental company Oliver's Travels, told Business Insider. "Travelers are increasingly choosing distinctive, heritage-style rentals for major celebrations, and the trend spans both domestic and international markets." Celina Tolbert wanted to go all-out for her 30th birthday. Courtesy of Celina Tolbert Oliver's Travels said that, in its analysis of booking data from the past five years, close to 40% of inquiries for milestone birthday stays came in the last two years alone. As for bookings, around one in three 30th-birthday bookings during that five-year period were made in the last two years. Chateaux, manors, and castles are popular backdrops for these milestone celebrations, the company said. France was the most popular destination, followed by the UK, with most customers coming from the US and Britain. The chateau that Celina Tolbert stayed at was about 80 miles south of Paris. Courtesy of Celina Tolbert Airbnb has also seen a rise in chateau stays among younger travelers. Gen Z travelers are increasingly "swapping city breaks for rural castle stays," and the trend is "only gathering pace," said Lisa Marçais, Airbnb's general manager for the UK, Ireland, Northern Europe, and MEA. Bram Gallagher, director of economics and forecasting at AirDNA, which collects short-term rental data from the likes of Airbnb and Vrbo, said demand for stays at chateaux in France has been "steadily increasing over the past three years." According to AirDNA's data, the number of nights stayed over the 12 months ending April 2026 was almost 16% higher in France compared to the same period in 2022. One reason, he said, is that milestone birthdays fit into the growing trend in the short-term rental market of favoring experiential travel. The theme of Celina Tolbert's 30th birthday was "magical fantasy forest." Courtesy of Celina Tolbert For Tolbert, hosting her birthday in a historic French chateau also offered a way to make up for another celebration. "Some of us aren't getting married, or didn't have money when we did," Tolbert said. She had a civil union in 2023 and kept the celebration low-key "due to finances," but said it never "scratched that itch" to do something grander. By the time she turned 30, she finally felt able to splurge on herself. "I don't plan to have kids, and a lot of my friends don't either," she said. "I could think of this as spending the money my friends are spending on their kids on myself. I could get a really expensive dog, or I could rent a chateau." The new wedding substitute Amanda Rollins, a 35-year-old content creator from Boston who also lives in Paris, has turned chateau birthdays into a tradition. "I did it last year, I did it the year before, and I'm going to do it this year too," she told Business Insider. For her 34th birthday, Rollins booked Chateau de Rubelles, about 36 miles southeast of Paris. The 93-acre site has deer and wild rabbits, an ornamental pond, and, inside, a grand ballroom. The venue and private chef cost around 7,700 euros in total, with Rollins covering 4,450 euros herself. Her 26 guests each contributed 125 euros each. Amanda Rollins celebrated her 34th and 35th birthdays at chateaux. Courtesy of Amanda Rollins The following year, for her 35th birthday, she booked a 19th-century castle in Manou through Airbnb, about 75 miles southwest of Paris, for roughly 5,500 euros. Surrounded by a moat and flanked by stone towers, it looked straight out of a fairytale, though Rollins said it was a little more rustic inside than the previous year's venue. She covered about a fifth of the cost, while her 36 guests each contributed 120 euros. Like Tolbert, Rollins sees these celebrations as standing in for large weddings. "My girlfriends, beautiful, intelligent, capable women, are all single by choice at the moment," Rollins, who is also single, said. "So it's like, if I'm not going to have a wedding, well then hell yeah, I'm going to throw a party." Celina Tolbert said she wants to celebrate her 36th birthday with her girlfriends at another chateau. Courtesy of Amanda Rollins In some ways, the chateau birthday boom sits at the perfect intersection of trends that have become synonymous with millennials and Gen Zs. Americans today are getting married and having kids later than previous generations, often in their late 20s and early 30s rather than their early 20s, and tend to prioritize experiences over things. The same is true in Europe. "Millennials are reaching traditional milestones later in life," Northwestern Mutual financial advisor Justin Hacks told Business Insider, "which can provide more flexibility to travel and to budget for destination celebrations." It might also reflect a change in spending habits. Northwestern Mutual's Consumer Sentiment Survey of 2,511 people, published in April, found that families who spend intentionally during an uncertain economy feel more in control of their finances. The survey described intentional spending as "well-planned splurges that bring lifetime memories." '30 is kind of special' Beks Lockie said her 30th birthday celebration was the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with her friends. Courtesy of Beks Lockie For London-based media lawyer Beks Lockie, who is originally from New Zealand, her three-night 30th birthday celebration at a French chateau near Bordeaux in 2024 was about creating core memories with her closest friends. "Whether it's going to a concert or going on a holiday or whatever it is, I think people are more inclined to spend their money on experiences and creating memories," Lockie said. "With AI, things that are real have higher value to people." Beks Lockie's party took place near Bordeaux in 2024. Courtesy of Beks Lockie The birthday trip, including accommodation, flights, a private chef, groceries, and a wine tour, cost about $8,700 in total, which was split among 13 guests at about $670 each. Lockie said it was worth it, because there are few other opportunities in life "to get dressed up and literally run around a castle" with her friends. By the time she turns 40, she expects those kinds of trips may be harder to pull off as more of her friends settle down or have children. "I don't think it'll be as easy to pull 13 people away to a castle for a long weekend," she said. "I think 30 is kind of special." Read the original article on Business Insider