Strategies for governments to more effectively pursue AI sovereignty.

Palmer Luckey, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jensen Huang are among the billionaires who could be affected by a California wealth tax. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images; Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images; Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images California has a lot of billionaires, more than any other state and more than most countries. So a proposed wealth tax on its billionaires could be a windfall. Under the Billionaire Tax Act, California residents with a net worth of over $1 billion would face a one-time tax equal to 5% of their net worth. The tax plan got one step closer to becoming reality after garnering enough signatures to appear on the ballot. The deadline for ballot measures is June 25, so unless opponents can cut a deal with the groups backing the measure before then, California voters will decide on the tax in November. If passed, the tax would apply retroactively to billionaires living in the state as of January 1, 2026. The tax would be due in 2027, with the option to spread the payment out over five years, with interest. The tax plan has drawn sharp reactions from lawmakers and business leaders. Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin moved entities tied to them out of the state in December ahead of the deadline, Business Insider first reported. Nvidia CEO and billionaire Jensen Huang said he was "perfectly fine" with the tax. Palmer Luckey, the billionaire founder of defense tech startup Anduril, said it would force companies to "immediately pivot into profit obsession over mission or long-term sustainability." Critics of the tax, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have warned it will encourage ultrawealthy residents to flee the state and hurt California's economy. They've also said the one-time tax would not provide a sustainable source of funding. Several left-leaning groups have come out against the tax in recent weeks, including the California Teachers Association and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. Supporters, including SEIU-UHW, a healthcare workers union, say the tax would provide crucial funding for healthcare services to offset federal funding cuts, as well as for education and food assistance programs. As of January 1, there were 214 billionaires in California, according to Forbes data compiled by Americans for Tax Fairness, a group that advocates for higher taxes. Below is the full list of billionaires in California. Names with asterisks have recently moved at least some of their business entities out of the state. Read the original article on Business Insider

Aldi's free "Blind Boxes" with mystery grocery themes quickly sold out on their first day, leaving fans frustrated. Al Drago/Getty Images Aldi launched free "Blind Boxes" featuring mystery grocery items for budget-savvy shoppers. On day one, the boxes sold out quickly, leaving some fans frustrated. The giveaway taps into consumer trends for budget-friendly and nutritious food options. The giveaway is on, as Aldi bets shoppers' love of mystery boxes extends to the grocery aisle. The discount grocer, known for its low prices and private-label products, announced last week that it will give away free "Aldi Blind Boxes" for four days, with a limited number of mystery grocery packages available daily through AldiBlindBox.com. A different-themed box will drop each day from Monday, June 22, through Thursday, June 25, at noon ET, and shoppers can claim one while supplies last. The first round sold out quickly, with no more boxes available within minutes of the launch — leaving some on social media complaining they waited in the checkout line for nearly an hour only to be told the boxes had sold out as they waited in the queue. "What's the point of using queuing for Aldi Blind Box if it can still sell out while you're finalizing check out," one user on X wrote on launch day. "That Aldi blind box was sold out in 3 MINUTES. I'm pissed!" another lamented. In a statement to Business Insider, Aldi representatives said demand for the boxes "blew us away." "This was a record response — the day one Snack Blind Boxes were claimed almost instantly," Aldi said. "Our fans didn't just like the concept of blind boxes in grocery form — they loved it. For fans hoping to secure a Blind Box later this week, we're sharing helpful tips across our social channels ahead of the next drop." On Instagram, the official Aldi account shared a warning to claim your box "the second the clock hits" the drop time, and said that if shoppers were redirected to a purchase queue, they were likely already too late. The second giveaway box, launched Tuesday morning, sold out just as quickly. The giveaway arrives as many Americans remain focused on stretching grocery budgets while also seeking foods that align with popular nutrition trends. Aldi's four themes include protein, fiber, and snack products, as well as a Mystery Blind Box, and will feature items such as meats, fresh produce, snacks, cheeses, and pantry staples. The promotion also taps into the popularity of mystery-box shopping, which has fueled demand for surprise collectibles, beauty products, and other limited-time retail drops. "Our shoppers come to ALDI for value, but they also come for discovery," Bridget Kozlowski, Aldi's director of communications, said in a statement. "People love the thrill of discovering something new here." To get a box, shoppers must visit AldiBlindBox.com when each day's giveaway opens and submit shipping information, according to the FAQ. Aldi said it will reveal each day's theme on its Instagram account. The catch: The boxes are first-come, first-served — and once they're gone, they're gone. Representatives for Aldi did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider about the supply of boxes that would be included in the giveaway or whether the promotion might return later. Read the original article on Business Insider

Although it's on the smaller side, this electric vehicle is not very chill.

Sarah Nassauer / Wall Street Journal: Walmart acquires Vibe.co, which lets businesses create and buy ads on CTVs, sources say for $1.4B cash; top executives get $180M to stay for four years  —  Retail giant is paying $1.4 billion for Vibe.co, a company that enables advertising through connected TVs

A new lawsuit about sexual assaults takes aim at Uber's top leaders. Scott Olson/Getty Images A new lawsuit takes aim at Uber's CEO and board over thousands of rider sexual assault claims. The shareholder lawsuit says that Uber cut corners "in the name of growing the company." Uber said the lawsuit "ignores important facts and is based on misleading, false narratives." Uber is facing another lawsuit over sexual assault — one that puts the blame on the company's board and C-suite. The complaint by a minority Uber investor, Detroit's Police and Fire Retirement System, alleges that the company "knowingly cut compliance corners in the name of growing the company." Uber is facing thousands of claims that its drivers sexually assaulted passengers. The shareholder complaint filed in a California federal court on Monday takes aim at Uber's management, including CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and members of the company's board of directors, accusing them of not doing enough to address the assault allegations. "Uber faces significant liability in defending these suits and responding to inquiries, in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake," the complaint reads. "Uber has also seen its reputation irredeemably damaged by the negative ongoing media coverage of the wrongdoing." An Uber spokesperson said that the lawsuit "ignores important facts and is based on misleading, false narratives from other meritless lawsuits that we have already addressed publicly and in the courtroom." Uber has said that safety incidents are "exceptionally rare" on its app, and that the company is "constantly working to make every trip safer." The lawsuit says that Khosrowshahi, who succeeded Travis Kalanick as Uber's CEO in 2017, "made cosmetic changes to Uber's compliance practices and workplace culture, and became less brazen in pushing regulatory limits." "But Uber's culture of prioritizing cost-cutting measures meant that it continued to skimp on compliance or even seek to tamp down on complaints," the complaint says. At odds with Uber's gig-work model The lawsuit claims Uber knew sexual assault and misconduct were persistent problems on its platform, yet failed to adopt measures that employees believed could reduce harm. For example, the complaint alleges that Uber considered safety initiatives, including in-car cameras, more rigorous background checks, and programs that would better match women riders and drivers. Uber either implemented these proposals after delays or rejected them, the suit says. Uber studied adding in-car cameras to its drivers' vehicles around 2017, for instance, and "found the plan to be feasible, cost-effective, likely to reduce the incidence of misconduct, and help drivers," the lawsuit says. The company declined to add cameras to cars "because it would mean exercising greater control over drivers' activities, weakening Uber's argument that its drivers are independent contractors," the complaint states. Uber drivers are paid per trip or task and do not receive benefits, such as healthcare, that employees usually receive. The suit points to thousands of sexual-assault lawsuits filed against Uber and alleges that the board caused "Uber to engage in unlawful conduct." As a result, the plaintiffs argue, Uber now faces litigation costs, regulatory scrutiny, and lasting reputational damage stemming from years of inadequate oversight. Do you have a story to share about Uber? 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

Learn about the concept of loops to power your coding agents. The post How to Create Powerful Loops in Claude Code appeared first on Towards Data Science.

"The FCC wants to control who is allowed on the show," ABC ad tells viewers.

Top CMOs spoke at Business Insider's annual CMO breakfast at Cannes Lions. Victoria Baud Want to be a successful marketer today? Think more about risk-taking, less about AI. Top marketing executives argue that ditching the traditional "brand safety" approach in favor of authenticity, moving fast, and taking creative risks are the only ways to survive in a fragmented digital world. American Express' Elizabeth Rutledge said having an in-house agency provided key perspective. Camille Kermarrec for Business Insider Execs from Duolingo, Gap, and American Express spoke Tuesday on a panel at Business Insider's annual CMO Insider Breakfast at Cannes, which had support from founding sponsor BCG, supporting sponsor PayPal, and contributing sponsor LinkedIn. Taking big swings Duolingo's Manu Orssaud talked about pushing the envelope with the brand's five-second farting Super Bowl ad that was a bold move, even for the boundary-pushing brand. "It was very weird, but I think we proved that our content-first strategy over the years on social media really has paid off," he said. Duolingo's Manu Orssaud is evolving the brand's unhinged marketing. Camille Kermarrec for Business Insider AmEx's Elizabeth Rutledge discussed persuading internal stakeholders to create an in-house agency to complement the company's outside partners. "Those perspectives, both internal and external, are really important to have great work," she said. Fabiola Torres discussed Gap's 2025 "Better in Denim" campaign that featured the global pop girl group Katseye dancing to "Milkshake" by Kelis. The campaign went viral, and Gap said it was the brand's best-performing. "I told my team, I feel like this is going to be the best one yet because it felt so different, but it was a risk — the outfits, the genre, the talent, the point of view itself," Torres said. It's not all about AI For all the talk these days about AI in marketing, AI-related skills aren't the first thing some CMOs are looking for in their next hire. For Torres, love for the brand is paramount. "If you don't have an affinity to the brand that you're going to be working with, why are you actually applying?" Torres said. Rutledge said she's looking for a mix of generalist and specialist creative skills in new hires as AI expertise becomes democratized. "We're all going to have access to the same capabilities at the end of the day," Rutledge said. At the event, Business Insider unveiled the most innovative CMOs list. Victoria Baud Cutting through the clutter Marketers are constantly trying to find new ways to break through, as people's attention becomes more fragmented. Some CMOs shared tips for getting noticed. Torres said Gap tailors content to each platform, like TikTok or YouTube, from the outset — rather than shooting a project and adapting it later. "We actually produce and edit the content according to the platform. So far, it has been performing better when you think platform-first, and you shoot it accordingly to that," she said. Rutledge focuses on how AmEx can improve customers' experience when they're going to a restaurant, traveling, or seeking entertainment at home or outside. She emphasized the need for deep expertise in the platforms where people spend their time. "The average US consumer is on 11 video services" across linear, streaming, and social platforms, she said. "What I am really proud of in terms of our team is that they see that media fragmentation not as a negative, but as an opportunity to kind of meet customers where they are." Gap's Fabiola Torres warned about focusing too much on brand safety. Camille Kermarrec for Business Insider Duolingo is constantly reacting to culture and coming up with ways to grab people. Still, Orssaud said it's important to know when it's time to move on from tried-and-true strategies, like being sassy with its social media accounts. He said the brand is dialing back its unhinged playbook because it's become expected. It's also moving from short-form to long-form content that allows for more character development. "There is also the risk of trying to always go and chase the next big viral moment by increasing the shock factor," he said. Brand safety views change Marketers used to pound their chests a lot about protecting their brands from appearing near unsavory content, but in recent years, they've gotten quieter about it. Marketers discussed how authenticity is taking priority these days. Rutledge said automation has made it easier for brands to protect themselves online. She focuses on "premium" environments that align with customers' dining and travel, music, and entertainment interests. Camille Kermarrec for BI Torres cautioned against focusing too much on brand safety at the expense of staying true to one's identity. "If you use the terminology on brand safety, you just may close yourself to opportunities," she said. "This is the era where Gen Z is asking you for more. Millennials are asking you for something new and different, and Gen X are saying: 'Take me back to the things that I love.' So it's important to really make sure that you don't get distracted by brand safety versus following your DNA." Read the original article on Business Insider

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Current amphibian development may not have been typical of early land vertebrates.

SAN FRANCISCO – Ubotica Technologies, an Irish company focused on artificial intelligence for spacecraft, has raised $11 million to expand commercial sales of its maritime-intelligence platform. The platform, Live Maritime […] The post Ubotica raises $11 million to scale maritime-intelligence platform appeared first on SpaceNews.

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son answered questions this week at a shareholders' meeting. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Masayoshi Son, the founder of SoftBank, has challenged the idea of space-based AI data centers. Son said this week that the potential benefits don't outweigh the costs of operating them. Elon Musk has been among the most vocal advocates for putting data centers in space. SoftBank boss Masayoshi Son isn't convinced that the future of powering artificial intelligence lies in orbit. While speaking at one of the Japanese tech conglomerate's annual shareholder meetings on Tuesday, Son, the CEO and founder, challenged the economic case for putting AI data centers in space, an idea championed by Elon Musk. "What's the point? What's the benefit of building AI data center in space?" Son said in response to a shareholder question, arguing that lower electricity costs alone would not justify the complexity of operating data centers in orbit. According to a SoftBank translation of his remarks, Son contended that electricity accounts for only about 7% of the cost of operating AI infrastructure, while chips needed to run and train AI models, as well as other expenses, make up the remaining 93%. The billionaire added that any savings from lower electricity costs would be outweighed by the additional maintenance, networking and latency-related costs associated with operating data centers in space. Son said the economic and technical tradeoffs of space-based AI infrastructure could take years to figure out. In the meantime, he said SoftBank is determined to position itself at the forefront of the AI boom. "The winner will be decided in the next some years, so rather than focusing on the space where we have no idea what will happen in terms of AI-related business, we would like to focus on more with the near-sighted perspective," said Son, "and we would like to become first-comer in any businesses related to AI." Son prefaced his criticism of space-based data centers by praising Musk, the world's richest person, as a pioneering entrepreneur. The CEO of SpaceX and Tesla has promoted the idea of putting data centers in orbit as a potential solution to AI's soaring energy demands. Earlier this year, SpaceX said it aims to build a "constellation of a million satellites that operate as orbital data centers" and that it had begun hiring engineers to make the vision a reality. Tech billionaires like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have also embraced the idea of space-based data centers to scale AI. Pichai has called the notion a "moonshot," but said, "when you truly step back and envision the amount of compute we're going to need, it starts making sense and it's a matter of time." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, on the other hand, has slammed the concept of putting data centers in space as "ridiculous." "We are not there yet," Altman said in February. "There will come a time. Space is great for a lot of things. Orbital data centers are not something that's going to matter at scale this decade." Read the original article on Business Insider

Bloomberg: Alibaba sues the DOD, seeking removal from a blacklist of companies supporting China's military, says the decision is a violation of constitutional due process  —  Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. sued the Department of Defense to be removed from a blacklist that identifies the e-commerce leader …

Brian Krebs / Krebs on Security: On the first day of their trial, two members of Scattered Spider plead guilty in the UK to charges stemming from a 2024 cyberattack on Transport for London  —  Two men pleaded guilty in the United Kingdom this week to criminal charges stemming from an August 2024 cyberattack that crippled Transport …

David Gewirtz / ZDNET: Anthropic launches Claude Tag, an agentic AI coworker for Slack that can learn context, give suggestions, and more, in beta for Claude Team and Enterprise tiers  —  ZDNET's key takeaways  — Claude Tag puts an always-on AI coworker inside Slack.  — Each Slack channel can get its own isolated Claude identity.

I'd always wanted to visit Cleveland. My wife didn't, so I went without her. Ash Jurberg I wanted to go to Cleveland, but my wife didn't. So, I went on a solo trip there without her. Although I missed my family, I tried things I normally wouldn't and connected more with locals. I came home convinced you shouldn't skip a place just because your partner won't go with you. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had been on my bucket list for years. However, every time I raised Cleveland as a potential vacation destination, my wife, Cece, said no. We often traveled together and had been to a lot of places around the US, but she had no interest in exploring the Ohio city. So when a conference put me back in the US this spring, I added a few days to my trip and finally headed to Cleveland solo. My travels went better than I expected, and by the time I returned home (with two badly made souvenirs in tow), I was convinced you shouldn't skip a place just because your partner doesn't want to see it. When nobody knows you, it feels easy to say yes to new things I'm not often on stage. Ash Jurberg Alone in a new city and eager to socialize, I found it easy to try things I wouldn't have otherwise. That's how I found myself at the Cleveland Public Theatre's "open mic" night, where local writers bring new screenplays for audience members to perform on stage. I'd done some acting at university, but none since, and at home I'd never have gone to something like this. But nobody in Cleveland knew me, and I didn't want to spend a night alone in my hotel room. As the event kicked off, I was given a part in one of the first readings. Before we'd read a line, the writer explained the scene had been written for someone considerably younger than me. I jokingly dropped my script on the floor and walked off. It got a big laugh and some cheers. There was free wine, which probably helped. At one point, one of the writers mentioned that Cleveland has the second-largest theater district in the country after New York City. Had I known that walking in, I might have been scared off. By the end of the night, I'd spoken to most of the room and gotten some great local recommendations. Traveling alone changed my plans, and I spent more time connecting with locals I may not have tried glassblowing if I weren't by myself. Ash Jurberg Throughout the trip, I continued saying yes to new experiences. I also found myself spending more time connecting with locals than I probably would've had I been traveling with others. At Cleveland's West Side Market, I met Tom, who has run the same fish stall for many years. Fifteen minutes later, we were walking to his friend's brewery for a 10 a.m. beer. After the surprisingly early beer, I walked to the Glass Bubble Project, a glassblowing studio near the market. With Cece, I'd have admired the finished pieces on display and left. Instead, I decided to make her tequila glasses. The owner watched with a mix of horror and amusement as I worked. I hadn't realized how many steps were involved, or how many times I would come close to burning my hands. Later in the evening, I went looking for the food my Polish grandparents grew up on, since Cleveland has a strong Polish heritage. My theater buddies had recommended I check out Larder, a local delicatessen and bakery. Jeremy, the owner, works with koji and fermentation techniques I didn't understand — but the food my grandmother used to make was there, in forms I almost recognized. At Larder, I had some great food and beverages. Ash Jurberg He was closing when I arrived, but let me sit down anyway and poured me a celery seltzer with apple-cider vinegar and dill-pickle syrup, among other things I was too polite to ask about. It sounded awful, but it was one of the better drinks I've had. His chefs pulled up chairs, and we talked long after he'd locked the doors. With Cece or my kids there, we'd have been back at the hotel hours earlier. Turns out the trip your partner won't go on is worth taking anyway I wish my family had joined me at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ash Jurberg At last, I found myself at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was the reason I came, and the one place I wished I hadn't visited alone. I spent most of my day there taking far too many photos to show Cece and my in-laws, the real musicians in the family. When I got to the interactive rooms, I played drums and guitars, completely out of tune and without rhythm, and kept thinking my family should have been there. Ultimately, I'm glad I visited Cleveland and finally stopped by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ash Jurberg I still prefer traveling with family, but I won't put a city on hold because they're not interested. Luckily, Cece actively encourages me to travel solo — possibly because she enjoys having the house to herself. She gets a souvenir out of the trips either way. The two glasses I crafted made it home in one piece. They're uneven and proof of why I failed art class, though in my defense, I also felt like I was nearly on fire at several points while making them. Cece will drink from them, which is as close as she'll come to visiting Cleveland … unless that screenplay I read gets picked up. I just need makeup to help me look young enough for the role. Read the original article on Business Insider

Maia Storm had to go through two storage units her dad had. Courtesy of Maia Storm Maia Storm is sorting through two storage units left behind by her late father. She has discovered childhood photos, keepsakes, and decades of memorabilia. The process has helped her better understand her father and navigate grief. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maia Storm, of Maia's Makery. It has been edited for length and clarity. In January, my dad, with whom I have always had a strained relationship, died unexpectedly. For the last few years, my dad had been homeless on and off. Throughout that time, he'd kept his things in two storage units in north Georgia. There was one temperature-controlled unit that was 12 feet by 12 feet, and a second, which was much bigger — 12 feet by 24 feet. My aunt and I found his keys in his truck, and when we opened the units, we couldn't believe the sheer amount of stuff he had squirreled away for decades. I found childhood photos Little by little, over the last three months, we've packed our cars with boxes, bringing them back to Savannah to sort through. The most emotional find has been old photos from my childhood — pictures I've never seen before. There were a lot of difficult moments in my childhood, and those are the moments I typically remember. Finding these photos unlocked good memories of my dad. Maia Storm found childhood photos in her dad's storage unit. Courtesy of Maia Storm Not only had he saved photos, but he'd also kept artwork, trinkets, and toys of mine. I think my dad wanted to be close to me — to have a relationship with me — but he just didn't know how, and his life was too chaotic to figure it out. I found concert T-shirts For over 40 years, my dad worked as a crew member for concerts and events. For each of these events, he was given a T-shirt. These are classic, one-of-a-kind T-shirts. And I found over 40 of them in one unit. There is an Eagles one and a Metallica one that are my favorites. Maia Storm's dad had many vintage concert T-shirts. Courtesy of Maia Storm I've had to wash them, because I don't think he ever did after wearing them, and I plan to keep some for myself, give some away, and sell others. He also had lots of guitar picks. I knew my dad was obsessed with guitar picks, and I remember him showing me ones that really famous people had used while performing. I found an amateur coin collection I haven't even begun to sort through yet to see if it's worth anything, and lots of newspapers covering pivotal points in history. I have only started to scratch the surface of what's in the units — it is going to take months to separate trash from treasure. Maia Storm also found guitar picks in her dad's storage unit. Courtesy of Maia Storm My dad also hoarded stuff While there is plenty I will keep from my dad's collection, there is a lot I will have to throw out. Alongside the memorabilia and keepsakes, there are bags of recycling and trash. He kept everything. I've found notebooks, yearbooks, scraps of paper, and math books. My dad didn't just collect, he hoarded. He didn't organize any of it. I opened a box that contained crumpled Post-it notes and nearly threw it away before finding a silver ounce coin in it. It literally is trash next to treasure, so I can't sort through it too quickly. Storm will also have to get rid of a lot of trash her dad kept in the storage units. Courtesy of Maia Storm And now that he's passed, it's up to me to go through his things, deciding what is worth keeping and what needs to be thrown away. When I posted on Instagram about my dad's things, I couldn't believe the response I had from people. People wrote to me about the pressures of having hoarding parents and the grief of parental alienation and addiction. Some people said how much they loved how my dad's collection reminded them of past memories. Perhaps at another time in my life, sorting through my dad's things would have felt like a weight, but I've had a really hard year, and sifting through his things has given me purpose and a basis for connection with other people. The timing of it is a blessing I didn't expect in the middle of grief. Read the original article on Business Insider

Anthropic’s new Claude Tag brings an always-on AI teammate to Slack. But beyond productivity, the feature is a strategic play to capture organizational context, institutional knowledge, and enterprise workflows.

GPT-5 Pro helped solve a 3-year-old immunology mystery, offering insights into T cell behavior. The breakthrough could support cancer and autoimmune research.