In an AI and digital world, analog instant film and retro-style cameras continue to remain popular, fueled by a mix of both nostalgia and novelty.

Kevin Carter/Getty Images A Frontier Airlines flight hit and killed a pedestrian at Denver International on Friday, the airport said. Denver International said the person jumped a perimeter fence and was hit while crossing the runway. Frontier said it was investigating the incident and was "deeply saddened by this event." A Frontier Airlines flight struck and killed a pedestrian at Denver International on Friday evening, the airport said. In a social media post early on Saturday, Denver International said that Frontier Flight 4345 reported hitting a person during takeoff at approximately 11:19 p.m., adding that firefighters tackled a "brief engine fire" at the scene. The airport authority later confirmed that a pedestrian had jumped a perimeter fence and was hit while crossing the runway. "The pedestrian is deceased, and is not believed to be an employee of the airport nor have they been identified," it said. The airport authority later said that while the runway was briefly closed for an investigation, it is now open. In a statement, Frontier said there were reports of smoke in the cabin and that the pilots decided to abort takeoff, with passengers "safely evacuated via slides as a matter of precaution." Twelve people reported minor injuries, with five of these people transported to hospital, Denver International said. The Airbus A321, which was destined for Los Angeles, was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members when the incident occurred, per Frontier. "We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities," the airline's statement continued. "We are deeply saddened by this event." In an audio recording of the moment shared by ATC.com, one of the Frontier pilots can be heard saying: "Frontier 4345, we're stopping on the runway. We just hit somebody, we have an engine fire." The National Transportation Safety Board said on Saturday that it was coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration, Denver airport operations, and local law enforcement to gather further information. This is a developing story. Check back for details. Read the original article on Business Insider

From tokenisation to evaluation :  how modern language models actually work in practice The post The Must-Know Topics for an LLM Engineer appeared first on Towards Data Science.

Keara Callahan. Courtesy of Keara Callahan In 2024, Keara Callahan, 28, quit her corporate job to pursue a career in social media. To ease costs and save money, she left Miami and moved back in with her parents in Virginia. Callahan said moving home helped her make quicker strides towards living on her own. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keara Callahan, 28, who quit her corporate job to pursue social media full-time. Callahan is living with her parents to save up money and move to Miami. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. I graduated during COVID and was working remotely in Miami as a government tech consultant. As great as the job was, I realized it wasn't fully aligned with what I wanted in life. I was sitting at my desk all day, watching people on social media do really cool things, and I wanted something similar for myself. When I wasn't working, I was posting on social media, hosting a podcast, and working on a few brand deals. The money didn't compare to my salary, but it gave me hope. I thought, "Okay, worst-case scenario, if I leave my job, I'm already making some money outside my salary." I worked as a consultant for 4 years and was promoted very quickly. But there were a few things I didn't like about my job, like having barely any PTO. The final straw came when I was offered a higher-level position without a raise or an official promotion. At that point, I started to wonder whether the company actually cared about my growth. I'm very risk-averse, but I put in my notice and decided to pursue social media full-time. It was probably the riskiest move I've ever made. My family thought I was crazy. Half of my family is from Mexico, including my grandparents, and they were like, "What are you doing? You have this great life in the US. You can't give it up for this crazy idea." Still, I had to listen to myself and trust my intuition. Even though I didn't have a backup job, I knew that to get more, I had to do more and take bigger steps. Moving in with my parents made financial sense while I switched careers I've moved back in with my parents, who live in Northern Virginia, twice in my life. The first time was in 2023, after I left Miami following the end of a relationship. I lived with them until August 2024, when I eventually quit my tech consultant job. In Mexican culture, it's very normal for kids to stay home until they're married, so my parents welcomed me back with open arms. Moving back home also made a lot of sense financially for me. Callahan, on the far right, with her family. Courtesy of Keara Callahan I studied economics in college, so I knew it was the best thing for my budget. I wouldn't have to pay rent, I could save money, and I could build up my nest egg — though I still contributed around the house by helping with groceries, chores, and whatever else was needed. I also wanted to be home because we have two older dogs. They were my childhood pets, and I wanted to be with them during their last few weeks or months. The part I was most nervous about was sharing my move on social media. At that time, I was 25, and I thought moving back home would be embarrassing. I had built and shared this picture-perfect life online — moving to big-city Miami, living in a nice apartment — when, in reality, things hadn't worked out that way. Having to explain, "Oops, I'm back home," felt scary. But funny enough, it didn't turn out to be as scary as I thought. A lot of people actually felt the same way. Some said, "I'm thinking about doing this," or "I just moved back in too." In a way, it created a safe space for people to talk about moving back home and ask questions. Callahan. Courtesy of Keara Callahan By the time I quit my job, I was already living at home with my parents. I decided to start traveling and spent eight months in Bali, and traveled throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America, visiting places like Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Qatar, France, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay. I documented my travels on Instagram and TikTok. The basis of my social media content comes from sharing my own experiences. And since I had never traveled alone before, I wanted to show my audience what it was like to step out of my comfort zone and try new, unfamiliar things. Living at home helped me save money to move out After traveling, I moved back in with my parents this past March. Within a few months, I'll be moving back to Miami and getting my own apartment. I wouldn't have been able to save up as quickly without having my parents' home as a place to land. Callahan, right, with her mother. Courtesy of Keara Callahan Not much has surprised me the second time around, except my parents' willingness to adapt to my lifestyle. We go on walks together now, and it feels like they genuinely want to do things like that with me. The hardest part has been adjusting to being back in someone else's home. You get used to living life your own way — eating what you want, keeping your own routine, and doing things on your own schedule. Another downside is that I don't have many friends in the town where they live. Most people have moved away or gotten jobs elsewhere, so if I'm not spending time with my parents, I don't really have anyone else to hang out with. It has made our relationship much stronger, though. Moving back in with my parents was humbling, but also empowering I used to feel a lot of pressure to show people that things were going well in my life. But moving back in with my parents and traveling helped me realize that the timeline we put on ourselves doesn't really matter. I've met 40-year-olds going back to school and 20-year-olds doing their own thing. I realized I don't have to have everything figured out, and I know there's always somewhere I can go if things fall apart again. Quitting my corporate job and moving back in also increased my confidence tenfold. When I first quit, I was scared about where money would come from. I had to figure it out quickly, and that made me more willing to take risks, try new things, and put myself out there. Ideally, I want to stay out of the corporate world for as long as I can. I've been able to fully fund my life through social media, mentorships, contracting roles, and my podcast, which has started monetizing. I feel like I'm finally on a good path. Sometimes you have to take a risk to reap the rewards of the life you're envisioning. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author took care of her grandmother as she got older. Courtesy of the author My grandmother stepped in when my parents couldn't raise me. She became my source of stability, love, and encouragement. I later became her caregiver and advocate in her final years. "Want to make a Mother's Day card for Grandma Marion?" my father asked. At 5, I was sad that my mom didn't live with us. But thankfully, my paternal grandmother came to visit often. While most kids drew pictures of their mom, dad, and siblings, my pictures were of my father, my grandma, and my cat Plato. The days I knew Grandma Marion was coming, I'd pick out a special outfit to dress up for her. She fought to have guardianship of me Divorced, she raised my father and his brother in New York, working as an accountant. Following her retirement in the 90s, she took care of me, too. After both of my parents lost custody, I was placed into foster care — an experience I hated. Grandma Marion petitioned the court to make sure I remained in Catholic school while she fought to get guardianship of me. She paid for my education and fought to get custody of me, despite my diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, which made it hard for me to walk. The author's grandma fought to have guardianship over her. Courtesy of the author Unfortunately, after years of court proceedings, her petition was denied. In her 70s with her own medical issues to deal with, she was deemed "unfit" to take care of a 14-year-old who walked with a cane for balance support. Yet she refused to let that stop her from being the most important person in my life. Since she lived less than two miles away from my high school, we'd meet at least three times a week to spend a few hours together before I headed home. I felt like a burden to her She'd ask about my classes, then tell me about the music classes she was taking to finish her degree belatedly. Her love of learning and encouragement inspired me to achieve my goals. During high school, I worked hard to make the Dean's List. She rewarded me with a new dress and an allowance, which I used to buy school lunches and books. She made each of my birthdays special, too, bringing my favorite chocolate cake and singing the song she'd taught me, Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." This was more than a sweet treat; she gave me the only sense of stability I had left. For years, I silently carried the weight of feeling like a burden to my grandma until my college orientation. "You're like the daughter I never had," she whispered, thanking me for giving her a second chance to be a more involved parent, since her job took up a lot of time while her boys were growing up, she said. In that moment, I realized I was living the relationship I had yearned for since I was a child — a healthy mother-daughter bond. I cared for her when she got older Around the time that I finished my master's degree, Marion's diagnosis of arthritis progressed severely, impacting her ability to walk. When my grandfather, Joe, who physically took care of her, was hospitalized, everything changed. As their quality of life diminished, my level of responsibility increased. It wasn't until she had a heart attack in 2022 that I realized I should step up to take care of her. By age 33, I started handling her insurance claims and became the point of contact as her healthcare proxy and power of attorney. Knowing that no one else cared about her as much as I did gave me comfort. I researched the best doctors available through her insurance and became her advocate during appointments. I ensured that she and my grandfather received the best care. In her 90s, the woman who ate organic food before it was trendy and rarely saw doctors needed frequent appointments and physical assistance for her basic needs. With time and research, I was able to secure her a place in a five-star rehabilitation home. I secured the only double room in the facility so she and my grandfather could stay together. Naively, I hoped that rehab would fix her, but it turned out that assisted living was necessary when she turned 94. From then on, I learned how to balance my life with the bureaucracy of aging facilities, making sure I kept up with the rapid changes for my grandma's needs. Each Mother's Day, I bought her a dress. A year later, she was placed in hospice, and I visited her all the time. On her 96th birthday, I brought her a chocolate cake, and we sang her favorite song. Unlike my parents, who'd died suddenly away from me, when Grandma Marion died two months later, it was in my arms. It seemed fitting, since she was the one who taught me what love was. Read the original article on Business Insider

Nvidia continues to be a big investor in the AI ecosystem.

David Shepardson / Reuters: GM agrees to pay $12.75M to resolve a California investigation into claims that it illegally sold the location and driving data of OnStar subscribers to brokers  —  GM (GM.N) has agreed to pay $12.75 million to resolve a California investigation into allegations that the Detroit automaker illegally sold …

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Valle de Guadalupe is home to beautiful landscapes and amazing wine. Nichole Pareti As a sommelier and travel advisor, I always love exploring new-to-me wine regions. I recently visited Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, and was blown away by the gorgeous region. Valle de Guadalupe is home to over 100 wineries, tons of great restaurants, and charming hotels. Forget Oregon or California. Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, is the stunning wine destination I think everyone should visit this summer. As a seasoned sommelier and travel advisor, I'm often on the hunt for under-the-radar wine regions. In search of somewhere new and exciting, I recently visited Valle de Guadalupe and was blown away by its innovative wineries and incredible dining, all set amid a breathtaking backdrop of mountains and expansive vineyards. It was fairly easy for me to get to: I flew into San Diego International Airport, rented a car, and drove about two hours south. (Pro tip: Cross the border at Tijuana for gorgeous ocean views, or at Tecate for a thrilling drive through the mountains.) With a stunning desert-meets-mountain landscape and an incredible food and wine scene, this Baja California wine region is the No. 1 destination I'm recommending to my clients this summer. Valle de Guadalupe is home to many charming hotels I highly recommend staying at the Contemplación Resort & Spa. Centrally located within Valle de Guadalupe, I found it to be the ideal jumping-off point to visit the best of what the valley has to offer. Along with beautiful views of the nearby mountains, the resort features a venerable on-site restaurant, pool, and spa, with a sprawling property that includes lavender fields and a charming garden walking path. There's no shortage of other centrally located boutique hotels, too — a few others that caught my eye were El Cielo Resort and Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe. Woven into the valley's beauty are gorgeous tasting rooms and sprawling vineyards I'm still thinking about the delicious wine and gorgeous views at Finca La Carrodilla. Nichole Pareti There are over 100 wineries in this region, so there is truly something for everyone. I highly recommend visiting Vena Cava Vinícola. The winery's tasting room notably features a ceiling made from a reclaimed fishing boat. It made for a very cool tasting experience, where I found the wine selection to be robust with zippy whites and delicious reds. About 15 minutes down the road, you'll find Finca La Carrodilla, the first winery in the region to become certified organic. Here, you can enjoy a serene tasting in a rooftop garden surrounded by miles of plush vineyards. Also worth mentioning are Bruma Vinícola — located a little further out of the valley's center — and Mina Penélope and Cava Miel, boutique wineries featuring terroir-driven wines. Along with amazing wine, the food scene is unmatched The food in Valle de Guadalupe was, perhaps, the best I've ever eaten, from fresh and vibrant seafood from the Baja coastlines to mouthwatering regional salsas and impeccably cooked steak and duck. Not one but five Michelin-starred restaurants can be found here, all within a 20-minute drive of one another. My top choice for incredible seafood is Conchas de Piedra. Meanwhile, for a tasting menu you'll never forget, check out Animalòn, where you can dine under an ancient oak tree — and, as night falls, the stars. Other spots I loved visiting were Deckman's En El Mogor and Finca Altozano, which both have airy outdoor spaces that allow you to slow down and admire the valley's natural beauty. Many of the best restaurants are attached to wineries, making it easy to visit before or after your tastings. I had a particularly memorable meal at Troika, an upscale food truck off the side of Vena Cava. Having just come from a tasting, I was ravenous and eagerly ordered the afternoon's pork belly and mushroom taco special along with a glass of sauvignon blanc, which I enjoyed while sitting under the netted awning and gazing out at the mountains. Summer is the best time to visit I suggest visiting Valle de Guadalupe over the summer. Nichole Pareti Harvest begins in late July, making summer the ideal time to experience lush vineyards, exciting festivals, and a vibrant dining scene. That said, it's also the busiest, so make sure to book your dining and tasting room reservations well in advance. I usually recommend sticking to just two or three tastings a day to enjoy each winery to the fullest. Read the original article on Business Insider

David Attenborough turned 100 on May 8. Danny Martindale/WireImage/Getty Images These 11 celebrities lived to 100 years old and have tips on how they did it. Staying mentally and physically active can contribute to making it to triple digits. George Burns took brisk walks and avoided stress; Jimmy Carter credited marrying "the best spouse." You might expect all Hollywood stars to have outlandish health and wellness routines, but these 11 celebrity centenarians kept it surprisingly simple. Living to 100 is rare, but those who do tend to have some things in common. Scientists who study aging say that genes play a role in how long a person will live, but lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, stress, and social connections, play a larger one. From Jimmy Carter to Kirk Douglas, here's what famous people who lived to 100 credit their longevity to. David Attenborough David Attenborough. Dave Benett/Getty Images David Attenborough celebrated his 100th birthday on May 8. The iconic naturalist, who became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner in 2025 at 99, has said that connecting with nature has helped his health. "One of the simplest things that you should do when you get the chance is to stop, sit down, don't move, keep quiet, and wait 10 minutes. I'd be surprised if something pretty interesting didn't happen," he said on an episode of "Call of the Wild" in 2021. Science agrees. A 2019 study review wrote that being in nature is "associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, positive affect, positive social interactions, and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress." Norman Lear Norman Lear. Rich Fury/Getty Iconic screenwriter and producer Norman Lear, who died in December 2023 at the age of 101, said that work (and loving his job) is what kept him going. "Some people run. I don't run. I wake up and do the things that please me. That's my present to myself. That's my prayer. That's everything," he told USA Today as he turned 100 in 2022. He reiterated this in a chat with the Los Angeles Times in 2020. "When I go to sleep at night," he said, "I have something that I'm thinking. Among other things, it's about something I'm doing tomorrow." He added, "So today is over, and we're on to the next." There's evidence to suggest that delaying retirement could add years to your life. A 2015 study that followed 83,000 adults over 65 for 15 years, published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, found that, compared with people who retired, people who worked past age 65 were about three times more likely to report being in good health. Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter. AP Photo/John Bazemore The 39th president lived to be 100, dying in December 2024, almost three months after his landmark birthday. He credited one person with helping him live that long: his wife, Rosalynn. They were married for 77 years before her death in 2023. "It's hard to live until you're 95 years old," he told People in 2019. "I think the best explanation for that is to marry the best spouse: someone who will take care of you and engage and do things to challenge you, and keep you alive and interested in life," he said. Research suggests that having strong social bonds can help you live longer. A 2021 meta-review published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that the link between social support and longevity is as strong as the link between not smoking and longevity. Bob Hope Bob Hope. Camerique/Getty Images Bob Hope, known for his vaudeville, acting, comedy, and his hosting gig at the Academy Awards a record 19 times, died in July 2003, two months after his 100th birthday. Back in the '80s, when he was a spry 78, he said he made sure to walk 2 miles every day, no matter where he was, per Men's Health. He learned this lesson from his grandfather. "When he was 96 years old, he walked two miles to the local pub every day to get a drink. He died within a month of his 100th birthday, and he remained mentally sharp till the very end," said Hope. There's science to back up their method. A 2024 study published in the British Journal of Sports Science analyzed health and mortality data from the 2019 US Census, the 2003—2006 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, and the National Center for Health Statistics. Using a mathematical model, the authors predicted that people who walk for around 160 minutes a day live an average of five years longer than their sedentary peers. They speculated that if the least active Americans walked for an extra 111 minutes daily, they could live up to 11 years longer. Dolores Hope Dolores and Bob Hope. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Bob Hope lived to be 100, but his wife, Dolores, managed to outlive him. She died in 2011 at the age of 102. While Dolores didn't publicly share theories on how she made it to triple-digits, her daughters had their own ideas. Her oldest daughter, Linda (who's now in her 90s herself), told ABC7 in 2009: "Laugh a lot. Laughter is something that's been part of our lives, and I have to think that is a large part responsible for their happiness and for their long lives." Olivia de Havilland Olivia de Havilland in Paris, 2011. Francois Durand/Getty Images The "Gone with the Wind" star lived to be an impressive 104 years old. She died in July 2020. De Havilland, in addition to crediting the "three Ls" (love, laughter, and light) with her longevity, told Vanity Fair in 2016 that she kept her mind sharp by doing The New York Times crossword every single day. In a 2022 study published in the journal NEJM Evidence, 107 adults with mild cognitive impairment were asked to do an intensive program of web-based crossword puzzles or games for 12 weeks, followed by booster sessions up to 78 weeks. The authors found that 37% of participants in the crossword groups improved by two points on an Alzheimer's scale. Kirk Douglas Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage/Getty The Hollywood icon and star of films such as "Spartacus" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" lived to 103. He died in February 2020. Douglas wrote an essay for Newsweek in 2008, when he was 91, about growing old. "Humor helps longevity," he wrote. "Try to think of others, try to help them. You will be amazed how that lessens your depression. That satisfaction is priceless," he added. "The greatest dividend to old age is the discovery of the true meaning of love." Gloria Stuart Gloria Stuart as Rose Dawson Calvert in "Titanic". 20th Century Fox Much like her "Titanic" character Rose, Stuart lived to become a centenarian, briefly. She turned 100 in July 2010 and died two months later. As her 1999 memoir, "I Just Kept Hoping," suggests, Stuart used her career to fuel her into her old age. "I was driven then [in the 1930s], and I'm driven now," she told SF Gate at the time. After Stuart's death in 2010, NPR host Ari Shapiro added, "Her daughter says that during her long life, her mother did not believe in illness. She paid no attention to it, and it served her well." Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother Queen Elizabeth I, the Queen Mother. Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images The Queen Mother died in 2002 at the age of 101. Clearly, longevity runs in the family, as her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, lived to be 96 before dying in September 2022. The Queen Mother had some frank advice for living a long life. In her official biography, she said, "'Wouldn't it be terrible if you'd spent all your life doing everything you were supposed to do, didn't drink, didn't smoke, didn't eat things, took lots of exercise, and suddenly, one day, you were run over by a big red bus and, as the wheels were crunching into you, you'd say, 'Oh my God, I could have got so drunk last night.' That's the way you should live your life, as if tomorrow you'll be run over by a big red bus." George Burns Richard Drew/AP The vaudeville star and comedian knew people would be curious about how to live to 100, so he decided to write the book "How To Live To Be 100 Or More." Burns, who died in March 1996 at 100 years old, told UPI Hollywood, "You'll be happier and live longer if you find a job you love; that way you avoid stress. Never take stress to bed with you. Work on it in the morning." He also confirmed that he did 45 minutes of exercise every day before taking a "brisk 15-minute walk around the neighborhood." He also had "two or three drinks a day" and always had a cigar close by (though, according to him, he never inhaled). He steered clear of cigarettes, however. Being active is linked to living longer in better health. A 2022 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that of 99,713 participants aged 55 to 74, those who did regular aerobic exercise and strength training were 41% less likely to die from any cause in the seven to 10 years after. "I don't believe a lot of this medical stuff. They say everything you eat and drink causes cancer. Don't pay too much attention to that," Burns added. Eva Marie Saint Eva Marie Saint presents the award for best costume design at the Oscars on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Saint, the oldest living and earliest surviving Oscar winner, turned 101 in July 2025. (She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 1955 for her role in "On the Waterfront.") "I continue to take walks out in the fresh air, like watching baseball — especially the Los Angeles Dodgers, and enjoy time with my family and friends," she told People ahead of her 100th birthday last year. A 2023 study published in BMC Medicine found that never being visited by friends and family was associated with a 39% increased risk of early death. Read the original article on Business Insider

South China Morning Post: Sources: ByteDance plans to increase its 2026 capex to more than $30B, up at least 25% from a preliminary plan, amid the AI boom and rising memory chip costs  —  TikTok owner ByteDance is ramping up its spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure, boosting its planned capital expenditure …

The author's husband (right) took over as CEO of her company. Courtesy of Shae Bynes My husband took over as CEO of my business after careful consideration. I learned how to let go, trust my husband, and release the outcomes. Our marriage flourished amid the growing pains of our business. "You know...your husband has been prepared to be CEO," a trusted advisor on our executive team stated plainly during a meeting. I laughed. It was March 2020. I had just shared that for months I'd been having a recurring vision that I would not be the CEO of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur, the business I founded nearly eight years earlier, much longer. It was frustrating because there was no logical successor, and I wasn't sure how to best prepare for a transition. My husband Phil was not even on my shortlist of possibilities. He was perfectly content with his massage therapy practice. He loved his work, and his only functional role in my business was as a listening ear and a voice of wisdom. But during that meeting, after I finished laughing, I realized that, as much of a surprise as it was to hear those words, it was certainly within the realm of possibility. I told Phil about the meeting, and we had a good laugh. He agreed it was possible, but he also was not signing up for the job unless he was certain. I decided to pray about it, let it go, and see how things unfolded. That September, after a series of unusual and confirming circumstances, he agreed to step into the CEO role in November. I would become the organization's executive advisor, and we would continue as co-owners. The complexities of transition The reality that I was no longer the decision-maker at my company wasn't initially hard to accept. In some ways, it was a relief. However, after about six months, reality struck, and it wasn't easy. Phil's priorities differed from mine. His skill sets and leadership style were completely different. His decision-making and implementation unfolded more slowly than mine. None of this was a surprise to me because we've been together since age 16. We had been a full-time entrepreneurial household with separate businesses for over a decade. I know my husband, and I valued our differences and his strengths, but I had to learn how to value those differences as the new leader of "my baby," which had finally grown to a multiple six-figure revenue business. I constantly had to remind myself of my lane, and when my founder instincts kicked in, I had to figure out how and when to share my thoughts with Phil without being upset if he didn't agree or take action on all of them. The challenges weren't only about settling into our new roles; financial challenges emerged as well. It wasn't immediate, but eventually every weakness in our operational structure seemed to be exposed. Much of the business centered on the work I did while founder and CEO, and now there were gaps to fill. To scale and reach the next level of global impact, we both knew things needed to change. I learned to let go The financial hit was a hard pill for me to swallow, mostly because I wasn't able to jump in and help the team as needed. Plus, I needed to focus on my writing, speaking, and advisory work. I chose to trust Phil to lead in the way he was uniquely gifted to do. I chose to release the outcomes even when it was uncomfortable. These weren't one-time choices, but ones I made often. Fully untangling from my founder/CEO identity of the business didn't happen overnight. It took years of vulnerability and transparency with Phil during our weekly meetings. On occasion, it took tearful conversations with my own trusted advisors. And it certainly took plenty of prayer. Our relationship today is stronger Our 26-year marriage is by no means perfect, but it is stronger, and our friendship is rock solid. We've both learned how to work through conflict effectively when there are differing opinions. Phil has learned how to receive my insight, consider it carefully, and move forward on his convictions. I have learned to let go of the good to make room for the great. Concerning these last five years since the transition, Phil recently said, "We built muscles." I wholeheartedly agree. Doing business as a couple has been a journey of active faith and patient endurance. There is nobody on earth I'd rather be on this adventure with. Shae Bynes is an author, speaker, and executive advisor who helps small business CEOs lead and get results without sacrificing what matters most. Connect on LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider

A LendingTree study found that, on average, it costs $303,418 to raise a child over 18 years. Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock A LendingTree study looked at the average annual cost of raising a small child in each US state. Hawaii was ranked the most expensive state to raise a child in 2026. On average, parents in the US spend 21.9% of their income on child-rearing costs each year. As you write your Mother's Day card this year, you may want to add one more thank you: for the thousands of dollars it took to raise you. Beyond the time, care, and love that go into parenting, raising a child in the US comes with a steep financial cost, and in some states, that price tag is far higher than in others. A LendingTree study released in April found that it costs US parents an average of $303,418 to raise a child over 18 years. Parents spend an average of 21.9% of their income on child-rearing costs each year, a slight decrease from 22.6% in LendingTree's 2025 study. While the costs vary by state, one factor remains constant: the rising cost of childcare during the workday, which is often the largest expense related to having a child. "Our data from last year showed that in 45 states and DC, if you have two kids, what you pay for childcare on average exceeds [your] mortgage," Sandra Bishop, the senior director of research for Child Care Aware of America, a national nonprofit organization focused on helping families across the country access affordable childcare, told Business Insider in 2025. Bishop says this isn't a new trend. Since Childcare Aware began tracking costs in 2000, the cost of childcare has remained "a major expense for families," she said. On average, the price of childcare has increased every year that Childcare Aware has tracked it. "[About] 70 to 80% of what it costs to provide childcare is staff costs," Bishop said. "As the cost of living goes up, so does the cost of care." LendingTree's study looked at the impact of raising a young child in categories like rent, food, and transportation by measuring the difference between costs for a two-person household and a two-person household with a child. For day care and apparel costs, researchers looked at the average annual costs that families face in each state. To calculate the estimated costs of raising a child in every state, LendingTree used data from sources including the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer expenditure surveys, Child Care Aware of America's Price of Care report, and the IRS, among others. Here's the annual cost of raising a young child in each state (and Washington, DC) and how each state ranks compared to the rest of the country, with 51 being the cheapest and 1 being the most expensive. 51. Mississippi Jackson, Mississippi SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images Annual average cost of raising a child: $17,148 Annual average day care costs: $7,696 Average food costs: $1,842 Mississippi is the cheapest US state to raise a child in 2026. The state's ranking is largely helped by its low day care costs, which ranked lowest out of all states in the study. Parents in the state also see some of the lowest apparel, food, and health insurance premium costs, keeping the total annual price tag well below the national average. Over 18 years, Mississippi has the fourth-lowest projected child-rearing cost in the country, at $208,621. 50. Alabama Alabama has the third-lowest life expectancy in the US. Cavan-Images/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $18,019 Annual day care costs: $8,632 Food costs: $1,923 Alabama ranks as the second-cheapest state for raising a small child in the US, with day care costs in the state tied for the second-lowest in the country. The state also offers the highest tax credit or exemption value in the study, helping lower the overall cost for parents. Parents in Alabama spend about 16.7% of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the seventh-lowest share nationwide. 49. South Dakota Sioux Falls, South Dakota Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $18,622 Annual day care costs: $8,632 Food costs: $1,922 South Dakota's child-rearing affordability is driven largely by low day care costs in the state, which are tied with Alabama for the second-lowest in the country. Parents in South Dakota also spend 15.4% of their income on the costs of raising a child, the third-lowest share among all states. 48. South Carolina Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $18,910 Annual day care costs: $10,474 Food costs: $1,862 Its relatively low day care costs and a sizable tax credit or exemption help South Carolina rank among the cheapest states for raising a small child in 2026. The state also has negative added rent costs in the report, meaning households with children paid less in rent than households without children, per LendingTree's analysis. Over 18 years, South Carolina has the third-lowest projected child-rearing cost in the country, at $204,213. 47. Arkansas Jonathannsegal/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $19,204 Annual day care costs: $9,178 Food costs: $1,771 Arkansas is one of only four states where annual infant day care costs are under $10,000, helping keep the state near the bottom of the overall cost ranking. The state also has the lowest apparel costs and the fifth-lowest food costs in the study. Parents in Arkansas spend an average of 18.8% of their income on the costs of raising a child. 46. Georgia atlanta Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $20,365 Annual day care costs: $11,066 Food costs: $1,955 With relatively low day care, rent, and apparel costs and one of the largest tax credits or exemptions in the study, Georgia ranks among the most affordable states to raise a small child in 2026. Parents in Georgia spend 16.3% of their income on the costs of raising a child, the fourth-lowest share in the country. 45. Texas f11photo/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $20,968 Annual day care costs: $11,349 Food costs: $1,718 Texas is the cheapest of the four most populous US states for raising a small child. The state has the lowest food costs in the country, as well as relatively low rent and day care costs compared with other large states. Parents in Texas spend 16.5% of their income on child-related costs, the fifth-lowest share nationwide. 44. Iowa Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $21,137 Annual day care costs: $12,694 Food costs: $1,872 Iowa remains one of the more affordable states for raising a small child, with costs continuing to decrease. The state saw annual costs fall 3.1% from last year's report, one of the biggest declines in the study. Parents in Iowa spend 17.6% of their income on the costs of raising a child, tied with Connecticut for the eighth-lowest share in the country. 43. Oklahoma Oklahoma City, OK located in Oklahoma County Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto Annual cost of raising a child: $21,218 Annual day care costs: $10,809 Food costs: $1,846 Oklahoma's added rent costs are higher than those of many other lower-cost states, though lower food, apparel, and day care costs help keep child-rearing costs low in the state. Parents in Oklahoma spend 19.9% of their income on the costs of raising a small child. 42. Louisiana Louisiana has the fourth-lowest life expectancy in the US. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $21,303 Annual day care costs: $10,847 Food costs: $1,859 Louisiana ranks among the top ten cheapest states for raising a child in 2026, with relatively low day care, rent, and apparel costs. Health insurance premiums are a bigger pressure point for parents in the state, ranking among the highest costs in the country. Parents in Louisiana spend 20.2% of their income on the costs of raising a child. 41. West Virginia Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Firepphotography1/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $21,651 Annual day care costs: $10,439 Food costs: $1,772 Despite having the third-highest insurance premiums in the US, West Virginia's lower day care costs help keep the state among the most affordable for overall annual child-rearing costs. Parents in West Virginia spend 22.1% of their income on child-rearing costs. 40. New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico Daniel A. Leifheit/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $21,909 Annual day care costs: $13,521 Food costs: $1,825 Thanks to low food, apparel, day care, and health insurance premiums, New Mexico ranks among the cheapest US states to raise a child in 2026. The state also saw annual costs fall 3.9% from last year's report, one of the biggest declines in the study. Over 18 years, New Mexico has the seventh-lowest projected child-rearing cost, at $218,588. 39. Kentucky Frankfort, Kentucky DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $22,097 Annual day care costs: $12,740 Food costs: $1,759 Despite having some of the lowest overall child-rearing costs in the country, parents in Kentucky are seeing costs rise, with the state seeing annual costs rise 15.4% from last year's report — the seventh-largest increase nationwide. Parents in the state spend 20.9% of their income on child-rearing costs. 38. Ohio Dayton, Ohio Laura Mckenzie Waters/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $22,409 Annual day care costs: $13,780 Food costs: $1,887 Ohio's annual child-rearing costs are below the national average, and its health insurance premiums rank lowest in the country. Parents in Ohio spend 18.9% of their income on the costs of raising a child, tied with Michigan. 37. Tennessee Tennessee is known as "The Volunteer State" because of the thousands of volunteers from the state that participated in the War of 1812. Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $22,545 Annual day care costs: $13,126 Food costs: $1,970 Tennessee ranks below the national average for annual child-rearing costs, and the state has one of the lowest added rent costs in the study. Health insurance premiums, however, are a larger expense for parents in the state, ranking among the highest nationwide. Parents in Tennessee spend 19.6% of their income on raising a small child. 36. Michigan Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $22,673 Annual day care costs: $13,454 Food costs: $1,860 Michigan, which has relatively low food, rent, and apparel costs, ranks near the bottom of the ranking. The state also benefits from one of the larger tax credits or exemptions in the study. Parents in Michigan spend 18.9% of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the same share as in Ohio. 35. North Carolina Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $22,712 Annual day care costs: $12,370 Food costs: $1,925 North Carolina's total annual costs are below the national average, although health insurance premiums rank among the 10 highest in the study. The state's annual costs rose 9.1% from last year's report, and its projected 18-year costs rose 15.1%. 34. Nevada Frenchman Mountain, Nevada simonkr/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $22,751 Annual day care costs: $12,659 Food costs: $1,912 Nevada, one of the most urban states in the country, is also considered a childcare desert, according to a 2023 report by the Nevada Governor's Office of Workforce Innovation, due to the lack of options and the high demand for available centers. Parents in the state pay an average of $12,659 on day care annually, according to the LendingTree study. 33. New Hampshire Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $22,805 Annual day care costs: $16,040 Food costs: $2,037 New Hampshire saw the biggest annual cost drop in the country since last year's report, falling 19.5%. The state also has the lowest projected 18-year cost of child rearing among US states, at $201,963. Parents in New Hampshire spend 14.9% of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the second-lowest share nationwide. 32. Idaho Boise, Idaho. CSNafzger/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $23,107 Annual day care costs: $10,608 Food costs: $2,056 Despite low overall costs, Idaho parents face higher pressure with added rent and transportation costs, both of which rank near the top 20 nationwide. 31. North Dakota Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $23,278 Annual day care costs: $12,299 Food costs: $1,885 North Dakota's annual child-rearing costs fell 9.9% from last year's report, the second-biggest drop in the study. The state also saw projected 18-year costs fall 20.3%, one of only two drops of at least 20%. Parents still face relatively high added rent and transportation costs, though lower day care and insurance premium costs help lower the overall annual costs. 30. Wyoming Cheyenne, Wyoming. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $23,789 Annual day care costs: $12,784 Food costs: $1,940 Wyoming's overall annual costs fell 1.9% from last year's report, while projected 18-year costs dropped 10.5%. Transportation costs are one of the state's biggest pressure points for parents, ranking among the five highest in the country. Parents in Wyoming spend 19.7% of their income on raising a child. 29. Missouri Kansas City, Missouri. Shutterstock.com Annual cost of raising a child: $24,473 Annual day care costs: $13,780 Food costs: $1,918 Missouri's food, apparel, and health insurance premium costs all fall in the lower half of the study, helping overall affordability in the state. Parents in Missouri spend 20.9% of their income on raising a small child, tying with Kentucky. 28. Pennsylvania Abbamonte isn't a fan of the local delicacy Philadelphia is known for. Jon Lovette / Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $24,626 Annual day care costs: $14,910 Food costs: $1,990 Pennsylvania's day care and rent costs are moderate compared with those of other states. Costs in the state rose 5.8% from the previous year's report, highlighting the increased pressure on parents. Parents in Pennsylvania spend 18.8% of their income on raising a small child, below the national average. 27. Florida Shutterstock / Sean Pavone Annual cost of raising a child: $24,968 Annual day care costs: $13,011 Food costs: $2,039 Florida is the second-cheapest of the four most populous US states for raising a small child, ranking behind Texas. Day care costs are relatively low compared with other large states, but parents face the highest health insurance premium costs in the country. Over 18 years, Florida's projected child-rearing costs are $280,280. 26. Delaware Delaware was ranked the fifth-happiest state in the country. Real Window Creative/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $25,108 Annual day care costs: $16,617 Food costs: $1,956 Delaware's annual costs are driven mostly by high day care and health insurance premiums, which rank among the highest in the country. However, households with children, on average, pay less in rent than households without children, according to LendingTree. Parents in the state spend 19% of their income on raising a small child, tied with New Jersey. 25. Utah Park City, Utah. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto Annual cost of raising a child: $25,588 Annual day care costs: $14,160 Food costs: $1,890 Utah saw annual costs rise 17.5% from last year's report, the fifth-biggest increase in the study. The state's added rent and transportation costs are among the bigger drivers of the annual total. Parents in Utah spend 18.7% of their income on raising a child. 24. Vermont Montpelier, Vermont. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $26,259 Annual day care costs: $18,710 Food costs: $2,175 Parents in Vermont, which in 2022 was ranked the most rural state in the country according to census data, see some of the highest day care and food costs in the country, but also benefit from relatively low rents and a high tax credit or exemption. Vermont's annual costs fell 5.2% from last year's report, the third-biggest drop in the study. 23. Indiana Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $26,576 Annual day care costs: $16,478 Food costs: $1,766 Indiana's annual costs rose 11.7% from last year's report, one of the top in the study. Food costs are among the lowest in the country, but day care, rent, and transportation push the overall total higher. Parents in Indiana spend 23.2% of their income on raising a small child, the third-highest share nationwide. 22. Virginia Kyle Little/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $26,915 Annual day care costs: $16,796 Food costs: $2,032 Virginia's annual costs rose just 0.9% from last year's report, one of the smallest increases in the study. Higher average family income helps lower the burden, with parents spending 17.7% of their income on raising a child. 21. Rhode Island Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $27,003 Annual day care costs: $18,486 Food costs: $2,106 Rhode Island's annual costs are largely driven by day care, which ranks among the highest in the country. The state also has higher food and apparel costs, though parents get some relief from a tax credit or exemption. Parents in Rhode Island spend 19.4% of their income on raising a small child. 20. Wisconsin marchello74/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $27,047 Annual day care costs: $17,963 Food costs: $1,938 Wisconsin had the fourth-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 23.3% from last year's report. The state also saw projected 18-year costs rise 16%, one of the largest jumps in the study. Day care is the biggest expense for parents, with annual totals adding up to an average of $17,963. 19. Montana Bozeman, Montana. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $27,220 Annual day care costs: $15,080 Food costs: $1,952 Lacking sufficient childcare options for the number of children, the state of Montana is considered a "childcare desert," according to a January 2024 report by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. On average, Montana parents spend $15,080 on childcare each year, according to the LendingTree study. Parents in Montana also spend 22.6% of their income on raising a small child, one of the highest shares in the study. And the costs are only going up. The state had the second-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 24.5% from last year's report. 18. Maine Portland, Maine. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $27,448 Annual day care costs: $15,730 Food costs: $2,064 Parents in Maine face relatively high added costs for rent, transportation, and health insurance premiums, though the state's tax credit or exemption helps offset some of the total. Maine had the third-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 24.4% from last year's report. The state also saw projected 18-year costs rise 19.8%, the fourth-largest increase in the study. 17. Kansas Overland Park, Kansas Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $27,793 Annual day care costs: $15,156 Food costs: $1,904 Parents in Kansas pay the third-highest added rent costs in the country. Projected 18-year costs in the state top $303,000, and the state tied Alaska for the biggest increase in projected 18-year costs, up 23.5% from last year's report. 16. Illinois The skyline of Chicago. Illinois is considering a millionaires tax to alleviate some of the country's highest property taxes. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call Annual cost of raising a child: $27,906 Annual day care costs: $19,807 Food costs: $1,986 Illinois' annual costs rose 14.6% from last year's report, tying Arizona for the ninth-biggest increase. Day care is the biggest pressure point for parents in the state, with costs nearing $20,000 a year. Parents see some relief on rent, with Illinois ranking much lower in that category than many other states near the top of the overall list. 15. Arizona Phoenix, Arizona 4kodiak/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $27,917 Annual day care costs: $15,964 Food costs: $1,834 Arizona's annual costs rose 14.6% from last year's report, tying Illinois for the ninth-biggest increase. Parents in the state have the fifth-highest added rent costs in the country, and spend 22.3% of their income on raising a small child, one of the highest shares nationwide. 14. Oregon Portland, Oregon © Allard Schager/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $28,393 Annual day care costs: $19,500 Food costs: $2,096 Oregon's annual costs rose 8.8% from last year's report, and day care is the biggest expense for parents, at $19,500 a year. The state's tax credit or exemption is one of the larger ones in the study, helping offset some of those higher costs. 13. Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $29,024 Annual day care costs: $12,107 Food costs: $2,344 Alaska ranks 13th for annual costs during the first five years, but over 18 years, it becomes the second-most expensive state in the country, per the LendingTree study. The state has the highest added rent and transportation costs in the study, as well as the third-highest food costs. Alaska tied Kansas for the biggest jump in projected 18-year costs, up 23.5% from last year's report. 12. Minnesota Minnesota received a top-five ranking for work environment. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $29,322 Annual day care costs: $20,421 Food costs: $2,077 Minnesota remains expensive for parents, largely because of high day care costs that add up to more than $20,000 a year. The state offers one of the largest tax credits or exemptions in the study, helping bring down the overall annual total. Annual costs fell 1.9% from last year's report, and projected 18-year costs also declined. 11. Nebraska Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $29,491 Annual day care costs: $18,147 Food costs: $1,875 Nebraska had the biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 27.4% from last year's report. The state also has the second-highest income burden, with parents spending 23.5% of their income on raising a small child. 10. Connecticut The average life expectancy in Connecticut is 79.2 years. f11photo/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $29,674 Annual day care costs: $18,492 Food costs: $2,057 Connecticut ranks among the 10 most expensive US states for raising a small child in 2026, with day care costs driving much of the total. Higher average family income softens the burden, with parents spending 17.6% of their income on raising a child. 9. District of Columbia halbergman/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $30,146 Annual day care costs: $26,193 Food costs: $2,432 The District of Columbia has the highest food costs and second-highest day care costs in the study. It also has the second-highest apparel costs, but parents see major relief on rent, with households with children paying less than those without. The district has the lowest income burden in the country, with parents spending 13.9% of their income on raising a small child. 8. New York New York. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $30,209 Annual day care costs: $20,439 Food costs: $2,157 New York is one of the most expensive US states for raising a small child in 2026, with day care costs reaching above $20,000 a year. Food and apparel costs are also among the highest in the country. 7. Colorado Denver, Colorado Brad McGinley Photography/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $31,000 Annual day care costs: $20,978 Food costs: $2,045 Ranked as the seventh-most-expensive state to raise a child in 2026, Colorado has an average annual day care cost of just under $21,000, among the highest in the study. Parents in Colorado spend 20.3% of their income on raising a small child, tied with Washington and Florida. 6. Washington Seattle, Washington simonkr/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $31,937 Annual day care costs: $21,348 Food costs: $2,115 Washington remains one of the most expensive states for parents, with day care costs ranking sixth-highest in the country. Annual costs fell 1.5% from last year's report, making Washington one of 11 states where costs declined. 5. New Jersey The average life expectancy in New Jersey is 79.0 years. Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $31,948 Annual day care costs: $20,213 Food costs: $2,068 New Jersey ranks fifth for both annual child-rearing costs and projected 18-year costs. Day care and added rent are the biggest drivers, and apparel costs rank third-highest in the country. Parents in New Jersey spend 19% of their income on raising a small child. 4. California Oakland, California Nicholas Klein/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $33,692 Annual day care costs: $22,628 Food costs: $2,024 While parenting in California comes with a high price tag in some areas, parents also experience relief compared to other states, including relatively low added rent costs and higher tax credits or exemptions. Parents in California face the highest apparel costs in the country, as well as the second-highest health insurance premiums. The state also has the fifth-highest average day care costs, according to the report. 3. Massachusetts The Charles River in Boston. Cavan Images/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF Annual cost of raising a child: $34,247 Annual day care costs: $26,343 Food costs: $2,185 Massachusetts has the highest infant day care costs in the country, at $26,343 annually. Food costs also rank near the top, though the households with children in the state paid less in rent than households without children, per the LendingTree study. 2. Maryland Maryland received top-10 rankings in every category. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Annual cost of raising a child: $36,419 Annual day care costs: $25,321 Food costs: $2,070 Maryland is the second-most expensive US state for raising a small child, with day care costs ranking third-highest nationwide. The state also saw annual costs rise 15.2% from the previous year's report, the eighth-biggest jump in the study. 1. Hawaii Hawaii. Mint Images/Getty Images Annual cost of raising a child: $40,342 Annual day care costs: $24,115 Food costs: $2,391 Hawaii is the most expensive state in the country to raise a child in 2026, leading the list by nearly $4,000 in annual costs. Parents in the state face some of the highest costs across several categories, including rent, food, transportation, day care, and health insurance premiums. Hawaii also has the highest income burden in the country, with parents spending about 27.4% of their income on child-rearing costs. Editor's note: This story was first published in May 2025 and most recently updated in May 2026. Read the original article on Business Insider

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High-income consumers buoyed quarterly results at Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart. Bloomberg/Getty Images Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart targeted high-income consumers — and boosted their quarterly earnings. Their latest offerings, from hotel booking to coffees in an Uber Black, take aim at affluent users. The companies are still maintaining offerings for customers looking to save money. Black-car rides, paid memberships, and other offerings for affluent consumers are paying off for Uber, Instacart, and other gig-based services. Despite rising gas prices and consumers trimming their budgets, many people are still spending on ride-hailing and food delivery, according to companies' latest earnings results. Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart largely beat quarterly expectations this week and saw their stocks lift. "We're definitely seeing that not all consumers are under pressure," said Brian Mulberry, chief market strategist at Zacks Investment Management. "Some are still very high earners and doing very well." The apps are finding ways to keep upper-income consumers spending on their apps. Paid memberships, which offer discounts or priority service for a monthly fee, are one example. DoorDash said signups for its DashPass membership, which costs $96 a year, grew during its first quarter. Uber, meanwhile, has about 50 million members in its $96-a-year Uber One program. Those users make up about half of the app's bookings, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on an earnings call Wednesday. Uber also unveiled a slew of offerings last week that cater to high-earning urban dwellers, Mulberry said. Those include the option to order a beverage or snack along with an Uber Black ride, or to have a courier buy something on your behalf at a local mom-and-pop store. In March, the company rolled out Uber Elite, an invite-only ride service that uses professional drivers and luxury vehicles to cater to business and other high-paying travelers. Black car rides and other "high-value modes" have been a focus for Lyft as well over the last few quarters, CEO David Risher said on the company's earnings call on Thursday. DoorDash also gained traction last year among baby boomers, data from polling firm Morning Consult found. This generation tends to have more wealth, including disposable income, than younger generations. A 'barbell' strategy Not everything the apps are doing is aimed at affluent customers. Instacart, for instance, found that retailers that offer the same prices on its app as in their stores perform better than those that mark up their prices, CEO Chris Rogers said on a Wednesday call. "Customers are seeking value, and the retailers on our platform who are delivering it, they're growing faster," he said. Uber CEO Khosrowshahi has said that his company uses a "barbell" strategy — one that caters to both customers trying to save money and those with more to spend. For example, some cost-conscious customers use the app as an alternative to car ownership, Mulberry said, a pitch that Uber and Lyft have been making for years. For those users, Uber looks more like a utility than the source for "a discretionary ride from time to time," he said. Do you have a story to share about Uber, DoorDash, or another ride-hailing service? 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. Read the original article on Business Insider

Scientists analyzed over 900 marriages within the ’Ndrangheta, one of the most infamous mafia syndicates, to understand how “matrimonial ties relate to power and cohesion within the organization.”

Three weeks into testing, a learner told me my AI tutor gave her the wrong answer. Not obviously wrong — just outdated enough to mislead. That was the moment I realized something most RAG systems quietly ignore: they have no sense of time. My system retrieved the most similar document, not the most current one. And in a knowledge base that changes constantly, that’s a serious flaw. The fix wasn’t in the retriever or the model. It was in the gap between them. I built a temporal layer that filters expired facts, boosts time-sensitive signals, and makes the system prefer what’s still true — not just what matches. The post RAG Is Blind to Time — I Built a Temporal Layer to Fix It in Production appeared first on Towards Data Science.

Moneycontrol: OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google's enterprise push with PE firms poses a new competitive threat to India's IT industry, as services become increasingly automatable  —  On Wall Street, the announcements sounded like the next phase of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom: frontier model companies …

These connected companions could disrupt everything from make-believe to bedtime stories. No wonder some lawmakers want them banned.

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