Narrativa is among a crop of startups seizing on the artificial intelligence boom to enthusiastically automate writing tasks that would once have fallen to humans. From penning regulatory documentation for Pfizer to zhuzhing up marketing copy for insurance and e-commerce firms and helping generate breaking news articles for The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles-based Narrativa boasts roughly 50 clients in various industries. But one of its core focus areas, comprising a quarter of its business, is a little more polarizing than the rest: gambling.

Working with major industry players like 888 and Betway, Narrativa uses large language models to pump out everything from automated summaries of sports games to SEO-friendly reviews of online casino games and promotional social media posts. With no humans required, the 20-person company's AI tools produce 10 million words a month for gambling clients — the effective output of 170-odd full-time writers producing a grueling 3,000 words a day. It's all in service of enticing gamblers to place more bets.

"You want to create a community, you want people coming back for more," Matthew Rector, Narrativa's vice president of content, says. "You want to foster that environment, and our content helps facilitate that."

Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Satya Nadella, and the tech industry's other top impresarios talk a big game about how AI may one day attain sentience, solve the climate crisis, and lead society to a post-scarcity economy. Today, though, the technology is being embraced by traditional industries for more prosaic — and mercenary — aims. Key among them is the gambling industry, which is rapidly adopting AI for everything from writing alluring online marketing copy to identifying and helping problem gamblers to tracking people and perfecting the physical layout of casinos.

The ultimate goal: to harvest ever more money from gamblers, by profiling them, feeding them content and games personalized to their whims, and cajoling them to stay longer and make bigger bets.

The gambling industry, much like AI, is in the middle of an unprecedented gold rush. In 2018, a US Supreme Court ruling allowed states to legalize sports betting; nearly 40 states since did exactly that. Major investments have since flooded in, with some gambling stocks hitting record highs and private-equity firms jumping into multibillion-dollar deals with gambling and casino companies.

Meanwhile, consumers' wallets have been emptying: Americans bet a record $120 billion in 2023, according to the American Gaming Association. A study by California researchers released in 2024 estimated that legalized gambling across America may result in as many as 30,000 bankruptcies and an additional $8 billion in debt collections each year. Another paper out of Kansas found that average household investments in the stock market dropped in states where gambling was legalized by roughly $50 per quarter. (In Brazil, which legalized online gambling in 2018, as much as one-fifth of welfare money is now spent directly on gambling, the AP reported in November.)

Under the hood, artificial intelligence is helping power this surge.

Several online betting platforms, for example, offer "micro bets," which allow gamblers to bet in real time throughout the game — who gets the next touchdown or makes the next tackle, whether the next play will be a run or a pass. AI companies like SimpleBet (recently acquired by DraftKings for $195 million) have automated processes that allow the maximum number of possible micro bets to increase by an order of magnitude. No longer bottlenecked by the capabilities of human sportsbook odds calculators, every moment of a sports game can be turned into a wager. Won your bet that Lamar Jackson would throw on 2nd and 10? Why not bet again that he'll scramble for the first down on 3rd and 3?

Physical casinos are also looking to harness AI for efficiency gains. nQube, a Canadian startup run by a physics professor, uses machine learning to optimize the placement of slot machines on casino floors, profiling players and the performance of one-armed bandits individually and collectively — replacing an older generation of floor-manager intuition and basic analysis. Some of nQube's findings have been counterintuitive: It turns out that removing the total number of slot machines can often increase the casino's "win," if the machines are arranged in a way that redirects players to games where they'll make larger bets.

Jason Feige, a cofounder of nQube, had been working on computational astrophysics when his partner, Stasi Baran, found a scientific paper about the problem of optimal casino floor planning. Though neither had any gaming experience, they both realized their work could be a fit. "I like math and I like hard problems, and she brought me just a monster of a problem and I just fell in love with it," Feige says. "I have never seen data as clean and as comprehensive as what you see in this industry, largely because it is so heavily regulated. But that combined with the kind of powerful AI systems that I've been building, it was just such a natural fit. I just absolutely fell in love with the industry."

The prospect of deeper AI integration is definitely in the air. At one of the gambling industry's biggest events, G2E, a glitzy conference held in Las Vegas in September, there were packed panels on AI in sports betting, women in AI, AI-powered behavioral analytics and "responsible gambling," and AI for customer relationships.

One of the most enticing, and controversial, uses of AI in gambling is customizing casinos — virtual and on the floor — to each gambler.

Just as Netflix uses machine learning and data science to tailor each user's feed to what they're most likely to binge, the startup Future Anthem uses similar tools to keep users hooked on casino websites. The UK-based software provider builds a personalized, dynamic homepage, presenting the exact right game — bingo, slots, poker — to cater to a player's desires at the exact right moment, offering bonuses if the player is getting dejected and keeping them betting for longer.

"We have machine-learning models that are understanding and humanizing that player, that player data," says Ian Tibot, Future Anthem's chief commercial officer. "We see every single spin of a slot, we see every single bet, and we actually understand the experience that the player is having by creating the concept of a session out of that data, and that allows us to understand changes in patterns of behavior."

Brick-and-mortar casinos are also digitally profiling their users. Some locations have RFID chips embedded in every gambling chip, tracking how each gambler is playing and building a profile that automatically directs human workers to intervene as needed — an extra free drink here, a bonus spin there. "Before it used to be like a pit boss maybe having their eyes on 40 players across five tables" to monitor bet sizes and manually assign perks and freebies, says Kasra Ghaharian, a researcher at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, International Gaming Institute. "It wasn't very accurate," he says. AI allows casinos to "be much more precise in how you're tracking that activity."

Beyond using AI for efficiency gains and user profiling, the industry's ultimate vision for employing the technology is much more ambitious — and unsettling.

In a research paper published last May, the consultancy giant Deloitte's Global Lottery and Gambling Centre of Excellence predicted a future where every game could be personalized in real time to appeal to individual gamblers. Generative AI, the authors wrote, could "allow the games themselves to generate content based on the explicit or even implicit actions of players, from instantly generated new items and playing levels to in-game characters that can have lifelike discussions."

The technology, they continued, could create "individually themed online slot games that can respond to a player's voice and even generate novel content in response to a player's behavior and game history." Generative AI chatbots the players could talk to, games with themes automatically tailored to their preference — the ultimate filter bubble. Social media's endlessly personalized carousel of content is already notoriously addictive, and the damaging parasocial relationships that can be formed with AI chatbots are currently under a microscope following reports of suicide and self-harm linked to a popular provider. Adding these elements to the famously powerful money-extraction machine that is online gambling is a potent combination.

Gambling is historically a human-centric business — gamblers try their luck against the house, for better or worse. But Christina Thakor-Rankin, a veteran industry consultant based in the United Kingdom, dreams of an automatically managed brick-and-mortar casino in the years and decades ahead, akin to Amazon's automated Go convenience stores, with unnecessary human staff costs eating into the casino's margins.

"Look at the amount of operating expenditure required in terms of serving customers, monitoring customers, keeping them safe, people who work in the cage or the cashier pit bosses. What if you had a casino that was very similar to the new generation of self-service Amazon stores where you don't need cash and you don't need people?" she asked. "How would that kind of technology transform a world of sportsbooks, but also land-based casinos?"

At least one casino workers union, the Culinary Workers Union, has raised concerns about the risk of blue-collar jobs in Las Vegas being automated. In 2019, The Nevada Independent reported that between 38% and 65% of casino jobs (depending on the study cited) in the south of the state could be automated over the next decade and a half, calling the city "one of the most vulnerable to automation in the entire country."

But for many gamblers, a trip to Vegas isn't just a transaction — it's an experience, punctuated by banter with dealers, table service, shows, and the seedy glamour of the strip. It remains to be seen if they will accept a robot substitute.

Artificial intelligence may be a moneymaker for gambling companies, but the companies say it's also something else: a remedy for problem gambling.

Playtech, a European gambling software provider, is one of several firms using AI to try to suss out when a gambler is demonstrating signs of addiction or problematic play and intervene. Part of this is recognizing a player's patterns — larger-than-usual bets, or declined deposits, or playing at unexpected times — and interjecting with prompts suggesting they take a break. (Future Anthem says its systems can also detect aberrant behavior and automatically check in with target gamblers.)

"Online gambling companies have lots, tons of data about their players because every single bet or every spin on a slot, every single deposit, the time you spend online, there's lots of information," says Francesco Rodano, Playech's chief policy officer. "So we train an AI model to analyze this behavior and recognize possible harmful patterns."

Playtech and other gambling companies are also developing chatbots that gamblers can talk to about addiction — the logic being that because gambling addiction is stigmatized, addicts may actually be more comfortable talking to a nonhuman.

Rodano acknowledges that the same technology that could help problem gamblers could also be used to exacerbate their addictions. "If you use a tool like ours to identify vulnerable players, in theory, you could use that information to target them — which is the opposite of what the tool is intended for, which is totally unethical," he says. "If you operate in a regulated market, it's very unlikely to happen because the regulator would notice that and clamp down."

Amid frothy valuations and wild hype, there's a risk of overstating the technology's near-term promise — particularly the more giddy ideas, such as Thakor-Rankin's predictions of a Caesar's Palace augmented with robotic, voice-activated "Centurions." And some industry insiders say that what's now called AI might be considered statistics or big data, just rebranded.

"I like to say that we've been doing AI since before it was cool and this new age of AI hype — it's been very interesting to navigate because on the one hand, everyone wants to talk about AI, which is great for us," says Stasi Baran, nQube's cofounder.

"On the other hand, there's so much noise to sift through for our customers and for us as well to determine, everyone says that they've got an AI product, but what's actually real and what actually brings real value? I mean, that's difficult to determine. I think there's a lot of overnight AI experts out there, and that concerns us."

This AI frothiness isn't unique to the gambling industry, and the space has long had a nose for innovations that boost its bottom line — from the development of electromechanical slot machines in the 1960s to the creation of loyalty programs for high rollers in the '80s. As ever, the house always wins.

Rob Price is a senior correspondent for Business Insider and writes features and investigations about the technology industry. His Signal number is +1 650-636-6268, and his email is [email protected].

• Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge offers a sober experience in New York City.
• BI visited Hekate following the US Surgeon General's report linking alcohol to cancer.
• Though alcohol use soared amid the pandemic, there is a blossoming sober-curious movement.

Tucked away in Manhattan's East Village, a sober bar offers an alternative to the rest of the boozy scenes in New York City.

On a Saturday night, Eliott Edge, the bar manager at Hekate Café and Elixir Lounge, welcomed patrons, telling newcomers that: "Everything — with a capital E — is alcohol-free."

Business Insider revisited Hekate after US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said alcohol is a leading cause of cancer and should have warning labels like those on cigarette boxes.

Edge, a career bartender, said he was drunk for five years straight before seeking rehab. Now, after being sober for two years and rebranding himself as a mocktail bartender, he wasn't surprised by the surgeon general's announcement.

"The news is not news, yet at the same time, whenever an authority figure shows up and makes a declaration, it enables people to reconsider their behavior," Edge told BI. "People are now going to think about their choices differently."

Alcohol consumption surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and deaths from excessive alcohol use jumped nearly 30% from 2016 to 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heightened levels of excessive drinking continued into 2022, well after the pandemic first hit, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Even so, Gen Z drinks less than previous generations, fueling a growing interest in sober socializing.

"It does seem that there is a slowing down of alcohol consumption enough for those of us in the industry who make it our job to notice," Edge said. "If there is a silver lining to the pandemic, it is that this whole new world of non-alcoholic options really exploded onto the scene."

Edge predicted that every bar will have to have non-alcoholic options to remain competitive "because they're going to realize that it's like vegetarians or vegans or gluten-free or dairy-free. It's just another type of customer profile to cater to — and the ones that don't cater to that are going to go the way of the dinosaur."

Though Hekate is a totally sober experience, Edge said the bar is a "shining example" of how to do it right.

Drinks at Hekate are about $13 for those paying cash — slightly less than your average cocktail at an NYC bar.

But Edge says people come to bars for fun, and with his bar's music, lighting, and mood, Hekate delivers. The cozy bar, which shares its name with the Greek goddess of sorcery and witchcraft, is decorated accordingly.

"You don't need alcohol," Edge said. "Very little is required to have a good time. Really what we need is permission to have a good time, which is what booze does for us. But how often does that good time end in a shit show?"

Not only is he happier as a sober mocktail bartender, Edge said his customers seem happier too, even if they're only stopping by for a mocktail or two before going out for boozey drinks later on.

"My regulars look fantastic, you know? They don't look like they're slowly sliding down the hill," he said. "I'm not watching fights break out amongst best friends. I'm not watching dates dissolve into, you know, puddles of misery."

Perhaps the best part?

"My bathrooms are much cleaner."

• Ukraine's new attack in Kursk is featuring some impressive drone jamming, Russian military bloggers said.
• The bloggers reported that Ukrainian forces were able to break through because of "powerful electronic warfare."
• it's made it difficult for Russian drone operators to work in the area, they wrote.

Ukraine launched a renewed offensive in Russia's Kursk region on Sunday, where Russian pro-war bloggers say Kyiv's drone jammers have been working exceptionally well.

The "Operation Z" channel, a collection of dispatches from Russian war correspondents, wrote that the attack had focused on the Bolshesoldatsky district, to the northeast of the Ukrainian-held pocket in Kursk.

"In order to break through, the Ukrainian Armed Forces covered the area with powerful electronic warfare systems, making it difficult for our UAVs to operate," wrote the Telegram channel, which has over 1.6 million subscribers.

Razvedos Advanced Gear & Equipment, a Russian military news Telegram channel with over 152,000 subscribers, echoed those comments in a post on Sunday.

"It cannot be said that they were not expected in this direction, but they managed to VERY effectively use electronic warfare," it wrote of the fighting in Bolshesoldatsky.

Roman Alekhine, a military blogger with about 218,000 subscribers, wrote on his channel: "The enemy has covered the attack area with electronic warfare, so many drones are useless."

Alekhine later posted that some Russian drone operators were still able to switch to unjammed frequencies.

Sergei Kolyasnikov, another military blogger with about 498,000 subscribers, reported that about 10 Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles had entered the Bolshesoldatsky region.

"The area is covered with some powerful electronic warfare, nothing is flying at all," he wrote.

The specifics of Ukraine's new push this week into Russian territory are still unclear. Kyiv initially launched a surprise counteroffensive into Kursk in August, where it took an estimated 480 square miles of Russian land but has been slowly pushed back since.

Ukraine has stayed mostly silent on the matter. But Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation run by Ukraine's national security and defense council, alluded to an assault on Sunday by posting that Russian troops in Kursk "were attacked from several directions and it came as a surprise to them."

Andriy Yermak, chief of staff for Ukraine's president, also hinted at an attack by writing on his Telegram channel that Russia was "getting what it deserves" in Kursk.

Meanwhile, Russia has outright declared that Ukraine had attacked again.

"On January 5, at about 09:00 Moscow time, in order to stop the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction, the enemy launched a counterattack with an assault group consisting of two tanks, a barrier vehicle, and 12 combat armored vehicles with troops in the direction of the Berdin farm," its defense ministry told state media.

As reports of Ukraine's jamming efforts emerged, the defense ministry published a video of a Russian drone operator coordinating a tank strike on an unknown target in a forested area, saying he was working in Kursk.

The Ukrainian and Russian Defense Ministries did not respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Electronic warfare has increasingly been key on the battlefield as both Russia and Ukraine turn to cheap drones for reconnaissance, loitering munitions, and close-range bombing runs.

One development has seen both sides deploy wired drones. These use long fiber optic cables unfurled from a spool as the aerial system takes flight, allowing it to bypass jamming systems.

Should they become mainstream, they may pose yet another challenge for militaries that are already spending big on preparing against drone threats. The US, for example, is paying some $250 million to Anduril, Palmer Luckey's defense startup, for 500 drones and an electronic warfare system called Pulsar.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government and a big bank to work with China on AI.
• Russia has been seeking tech alternatives post-Ukraine invasion due to Western sanctions.
• A Russia-China AI partnership could raise concerns over censorship, among other issues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin continues seeking to expand his challenge of the West's order — this time in tech.

The Russian leader has ordered his government and Russian banking giant Sberbank to work with China on artificial intelligence, according to a December 30 post on the Kremlin's website.

Putin instructed his government and Sberbank to "ensure further cooperation with the People's Republic of China in conducting technological research and development in the field of artificial intelligence," according to the Kremlin's post. It was published three weeks after Putin announced a BRICS AI Alliance Network.

Putin delegated Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Sberbank CEO German Gref to lead the AI effort. A progress report is expected by April.

Russia's building parallel systems to the West

Putin's instructions came 34 months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which triggered sweeping Western sanctions against his regime.

The trade restrictions have hit Russia's access to financial payments technologies, prompting the country to seek substitutes in the form of parallel imports and domestic substitutes.

Russia has also been setting up alternative systems to process payments transactions and ship sanctioned oil around the world.

However, finding tech alternatives to Western products has not been easy.

A former top Russian finance official told Reuters in September 2022 that Russia would be using second-grade tech for years and spending "huge resources" to recreate what already exists. Goods heavily impacted by Western sanctions include semiconductor chips, aviation parts, and medical products.

Sberbank CEO Gref said in April 2023 that graphics cards for AI and supercomputers were the hardest to substitute.

The US has restricted sales of advanced computer chips to Russia since 2022 and further tightened restrictions on third-party chip exports to Russia last year.

Alexander Vedyakhin, the first deputy CEO of Sberbank, told Reuters last month that Russia was six to nine months behind the US and China in AI in a range of parameters.

Vedyakhin told the news agency that Russia would focus on developing large language models rather than building massive data centers.

A potential Russia-China partnership in AI could cause concerns beyond sanctions skirting.

China's foray into AI is raising concerns about censorship in the country, where expression is tightly controlled.

Chinese officials have tested Chinese large language models to ensure they embody "core socialist values," according to a Financial Times report in July.

• Sam Altman says his researchers still push back in meetings — a positive for him.
• Altman previously wrote that he is against bureaucracy and supports fostering open communication.
• Experts emphasize the importance of polite disagreement to maintain a team's trust and efficiency.

Sam Altman said that being a well-known CEO has created distance with some of his friends and colleagues — with one key exception.

"I spend most of my time with the researchers, and man, I promise you, come with me to the research meeting right after this, and you will see nothing but disrespect. Which is great," Altman said in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek published on Sunday.

His comments echo how the startup's CEO has previously talked about his leadership style.

In a 2023 blog post, he wrote: "Fight bullshit and bureaucracy every time you see it and get other people to fight it too." He added,"do not let the org chart get in the way of people working productively together."

In a 2019 post on his blog, months before he became OpenAI's CEO, Altman wrote: "One of the best ways to build a network is to develop a reputation for really taking care of the people who work with you." He said leaders should push employees to "accomplish more than they thought they could" without burning out.

In the far-ranging Bloomberg interview, Altman also talked about government bureaucracy hindering AI development, returning after he was briefly fired by the board in 2023, and his work schedule.

He said his executive team meets for three hours on Mondays. During the week he spoke with Bloomberg, he said he also had six one-on-ones with engineers over two days, a research meeting, and several meetings to discuss "building up compute" and to brainstorm products.

He said he communicated far more internally than with people outside the company.

"I'm not a big inspirational email writer, but lots of one-on-one, small-group meetings and then a lot of stuff over Slack," Altman said.

Power of polite disagreements

Workplace experts say polite disagreement with peers — and even top bosses — is essential to keep teams running smoothly.

CEOs across tech, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, have all highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of disagreement from the top.

In his 2016 letter to shareholders, Bezos wrote about how employees should embrace his "disagree and commit" strategy, which is a way to say: "Look, I know we disagree on this but will you gamble with me on it? Disagree and commit?"

"This isn't one way," Bezos added. "If you're the boss, you should do this too. I disagree and commit all the time."

Joseph Grenny, a corporate trainer and the coauthor of the workplace strategy book "Crucial Conversations," said staying silent can carry its own pitfalls.

In a 2016 interview with the Harvard Business Review, he suggested considering "the risks of not speaking up" — which could be the project falling apart or losing the team's trust — and weighing those against the consequences of saying something.

One way to do it is to ask your manager for permission to disagree, Grenny said, by saying something like, "I know we seem to be moving toward a first-quarter commitment here. I have reasons to think that won't work. I'd like to lay out my reasoning. Would that be OK?"

Sabina Nawaz, a CEO coach who was a senior director of human resources at Microsoft for 15 years, wrote in a 2023 LinkedIn post that avoiding disagreement is more damaging to relationships than speaking up. She recommended finding allies for meetings and asking what others think.

"When co-workers realize you let them proceed with a faulty plan, or waited until the last minute to raise objections, they're likely to lose trust in you," Nawaz wrote.

• Sam Altman was ousted as OpenAI's CEO by the company's board in November 2023.
• Altman said he was left with a "complete mess" after he was reinstated as CEO.
• Altman said his ouster was "a crazy thing to have to go through" and that he had "no time to recover."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the ChatGPT maker was like a house on fire following his brief ouster from the company.

Altman told Bloomberg in an interview published Sunday that he was left with a "complete mess on my hands" after being reinstated as CEO.

On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board said in a statement it was removing Altman because he "was not consistently candid in his communications with the board."

The board, however, didn't give further details about Altman's firing. Altman was later reinstated as CEO just five days later, after OpenAI's employees protested the board's decision.

"And it got worse every day. It was like another government investigation, another old board member leaking fake news to the press," Altman told Bloomberg.

"And all those people that I feel like really fucked me and fucked the company were gone, and now I had to clean up their mess," he added.

Altman did not specify which board member he was referring to.

Back in November, OpenAI's board consisted of six people: Altman, fellow cofounders Greg Brockman and Ilya Sutskever, Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, AI researcher Helen Toner, and Tasha McCauley, an entrepreneur and researcher at the RAND Corporation. Sutskever, D'Angelo, Toner, and McCauley had voted for Altman's removal.

D'Angelo was the only one of the four to remain on OpenAI's board following Altman's return as CEO. Sutskever left his position as OpenAI's chief scientist in May.

"It was just a crazy thing to have to go through and then have no time to recover, because the house was on fire," Altman told Bloomberg.

When approached for comment, OpenAI told Business Insider that it had nothing further to add to Altman's interview.

OpenAI saw multiple exits in its leadership ranks following Altman's return as CEO.

Sutskever's co-lead for OpenAI's superalignment team, Jan Leike, left his post at the same time Sutskever did, and joined the company's rival, Anthropic.

Then, in August, the company's cofounder and head of its alignment science efforts, John Schulman, left OpenAI to join Anthropic too.

In September, OpenAI's CTO Mira Murati announced her departure from the company as well.

OpenAI is in talks with California's attorney general's office about becoming a for-profit entity, Bloomberg separately reported. The company was launched as a non-profit research organization in 2015.

In October, OpenAI closed a $6.6 billion funding round, valuing it at $157 billion.

• A top analyst said Ukraine's decision to create new brigades instead of bolstering existing ones isn't working.
• Many of the new units are now being divided up and sent to existing brigades that need replenishment.
• It's turning out to be "one of the more puzzling force management choices" Kyiv has made, the analyst said.

Ukraine's 2024 strategy for solving a shortage of soldiers — its biggest challenge thus far — by forming new brigades instead of reinforcing old ones is performing poorly, said a top analyst on the war.

Michael Kofman, a senior fellow for the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote in a social media thread on Saturday that Kyiv's decision was "one of the more puzzling force management choices" it has made.

"Expanding the force with new brigades, when men are desperately needed to replace losses among experienced formations deployed on the front lines, had visible tradeoffs," Kofman wrote.

With little experience, the new units have been "generally combat ineffective," he added.

'"As was seen in 2023, new formations perform poorly in offensive and defensive roles. Requiring considerable time to gain experience, cohesion, confidence, etc.," Kofman wrote.

The result is that the strategy has at least partially disintegrated, with battalions from the new brigades eventually sent to shore up losses in units that were already fighting, Kofman wrote.

Ukrainian leadership said in May that it aimed to create 10 new brigades, each of which typically consists of several thousand men. In doing so, its leaders hoped to provide fresh units that could rotate into combat or fill gaps on the front line.

"There is simply no other effective way to counteract the overwhelming enemy," a spokesperson for Ukraine's armed forces said in November. "After all, today we have a 1,300 km-long front with active combat clashes."

Some elements of these brigades were aided by training from Western forces, such as the 155th Mechanized Brigade. About half of its recruits drilled in France.

But the 155th's debut late last year created a crisis for Ukraine as reports emerged that it suffered from high rates of desertion and was being picked apart to siphon resources to other brigades.

Local journalist Yuriy Butusov reported just before the New Year that the new brigade, often finding itself whittled down, had to juggle specialists such as drone jamming operators into infantry roles. The backlash to the news was severe, with Ukrainian figures voicing questions about the new strategy as a whole.

"Perhaps it's sheer idiocy to create new brigades and equip them with new technology while existing ones are undermanned," wrote Lt. Col. Bohdan Krotevych, who serves as chief of staff in the Azov Brigade. The 155th is supplied with dozens of French-made armored vehicles, howitzers, and personnel carriers.

Kofman wrote that the 155th's scandal was "just the most egregious case" of Ukraine's force management problems.

Divvying up new units has led to a "steady fragmentation of the defensive effort and loss of cohesion," he said.

"This patchwork groupings of forces must hold the front," he added.

Ukraine has, over the last year, faced a slow but persistent Russian assault in the eastern regions of the Donbas, where Moscow has been throwing a steady supply of men and equipment at Kyiv's outnumbered and exhausted defensive lines. Russia's gains have been incremental and its reported losses are staggering, but it is advancing nonetheless.

Another pain point has been a lack of Western military aid to go around. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in September that Kyiv had sought to arm 14 of its brigades with Western weapons, but that arms packages in 2024 couldn't even supply four of them.

It's turned to domestic production to fill some of its needs, and Zelenskyy said on New Year's Eve that 30% of the weapons Ukraine used in 2024 were created locally.

Amid the manpower and equipment shortages, Ukrainian units have also been developing new drones at breakneck speed, often cobbled together from commercial parts.

Kofman said these drones have proven to be "force multipliers," letting troops lay mines safely and harassing Russian units before they can reach the front.

"However, tech innovation, tactical adaptation, and better integration are insufficient to compensate for failure to address the fundamentals," Kofman added. "Russian gains may appear unimpressive, but UA needs to address manpower, training, and force management issues to sustain this fight."

Kofman and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

The last year has increasingly turned the war into a conflict of attrition, not just in manpower but also in resources. Russia is now entering a third year of sustaining its economy in the face of the West's sweeping sanctions, relying heavily on defense manufacturing and offering large bonuses to new recruits.

Some in Ukraine hope that if it can solve its manpower issues and maintain its defensive lines, it will eventually exhaust Russia's ability to funnel money and men into the war.

• Jane Fonda, 87, says her workout routine hasn't changed much over the years.
• "I essentially do everything I used to do, just slower," Fonda told People, adding that she loves walking.
• Research has shown that walking just 4,000 steps a day can lower a person's risk of dying early.

Jane Fonda may be 87, but she's still as fit as a fiddle.

In fact, her workout routine hasn't changed much over the years, the actor told People in an interview published over the weekend.

"I essentially do everything I used to do, just slower," Fonda said. "I used to be a runner, but now I love walking. I love being outdoors in the woods, especially up and down hills."

Regardless of her schedule, Fonda ensures that she gets a bit of exercise every day.

"I work out every day, so it is important to mix up the way I move. I alternate days doing upper body and lower body work for strength. I also find some way to get cardio in. Walking outside is one of my favorite ways to do so," she said.

The actor has long been passionate about fitness. In the '80s, she released a series of home workout videos, beginning with "Jane Fonda's Workout" in 1982.

Looking back at her home workout tapes, Fonda said she had "no idea" they would become so popular.

"When I was starting out, there weren't many rigorous forms of exercise available to women," Fonda said. "I learned the basic workout from a charismatic teacher named Leni Kasden in the '70s."

After the videos were released, she would receive "amazing letters from around the world" from fans about how the workouts impacted their lives, she added.

"One was from a young woman in the Peace Corps in Guatemala who did the exercises in her mud hut," Fonda said. "Another woman said she looked in the mirror as she was brushing her teeth and noticed new muscles in her arms. She wrote that it made her feel empowered, and that day she went to work and stood up to her handsy boss for the first time."

Walking can help you live longer

For those who lead sedentary lifestyles, the best thing they can do for their health is to start somewhere, Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a preventative cardiologist, told Business Insider previously.

"Doing something is better than doing nothing," she said. "If walking is the beginning stages of embracing a heart healthy life, then it is the initial stages that will create habits that will be sustainable and last for a lifetime."

A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology in 2023 found that walking just 4,000 steps a day can lower a person's risk of dying early.

Research shows that walking can help reduce stress and anxiety while improving heart health. Some studies also suggest that brisk walking — at about 2.7 to 3 miles an hour — can make a bigger difference in terms of health benefits.

A representative for Fonda did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.

• Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has a net worth of $160 billion.
• The billionaire and philanthropist plans to give away most of his wealth to his charity foundation.
• For now, he spends his wealth on luxuries, from his car collection to a vast real estate portfolio.

Bill Gates may be one of the 10 richest people on earth, but he doesn't plan to stay that way forever.

The billionaire philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft has pledged to give away most of his wealth to charity, which he says will bump him off the world's richest people list.

Gates' net worth is $160 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. He is one of only a handful of moguls to reach centibillionaire status.

He's also made some lavish purchases over the years: Gates owns a mansion in Medina, Washington; a private airplane; and a luxury car collection. These indulgences comprise only a fraction of his massive fortune.

Gates has also given money to charitable causes through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and vowed to give away most of his fortune through the Giving Pledge, which he and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates launched in 2010 along with Warren Buffett.

Here's a look at how Gates spends his billions.

Gates has an estimated net worth of $160 billion.

Gates long held the title as the world's richest person, up until 2018 when Jeff Bezos surpassed him.

Now, Gates is only the world's seventh-richest person and part of an exclusive club of centibillionaires — people worth over $100 billion.

Gates has invested in various stocks and assets and launched a $1 billion investment fund, Breakthrough Energy, alongside 20 other investors.

Despite his massive fortune, Gates previously told Ellen DeGeneres that when he became a billionaire at age 31 (which was history's youngest billionaire at the time), he didn't immediately start splurging. Gates' initial spending spree was limited to just two "crazy" purchases: a Porsche and a private jet.

Gates has splurged on some things, like his luxury car collection.

After founding Microsoft, Gates bought a Porsche 911 — his first big splurge, which he purchased in 1979, even before Microsoft's hit products like Windows and Word ever reached the market. Gates later sold the Porsche, and it was auctioned for $80,000.

Gates' car collection later included a Porsche 959.

Gates also owns a small fleet of private jets.

Gates invested heavily in his Washington estate called Xanadu 2.0.

Gates owns at least 12 parcels of land spanning about 10.5 acres in Medina. He purchased the land for a combined $34 million between 1988 and 2009. In 2023, the Gates' property taxes in Medina came to $1.3 million.

Gates' estate includes a 60-foot pool — in its own separate, 3,900-square-foot building — with an underwater sound system. He reportedly paid to import sand from St. Lucia in the Caribbean to the shore surrounding his house.

There's also a 2,100-square-foot library, home to a 16th-century Leonardo da Vinci manuscript that Gates bought at auction for $30 million in 1994. The home also features several famous paintings, including a Winslow Homer painting Gates purchased for $36 million in 1988.

The mansion has six kitchens, 24 bathrooms, a home theater, and various garages for his 23 cars.

Gates also has properties in Florida and Montana.

Aside from his Washington home, Gates has a 20-acre estate in Wellington, Florida. The estate includes at least two mansions, one 6,668 square feet, and the other 5,716 square feet. He bought the properties over three years for about $35 million.

Gates' daughter, Jennifer Gates Nassar, is an accomplished equestrian, and he bought the property to support her passion. It serves as the home base of her horseback riding facilities, and the area is a hot spot for many other wealthy equestrians as well.

He also purchased property at the Yellowstone Club in Montana. The main house is 6,993 square feet and has eight full baths, eight bedrooms, a sauna, and a home theater, according to property records.

Additionally, Gates is the biggest owner of private farmland in the country, with a whopping 275,000 acres. Gates has faced questions in the past about what he is doing with the land, and has downplayed concerns about the farmland, saying it's managed by his investment team and makes up only a small fraction of total US farmlands.

Gates has several properties in California, too.

In California, Gates owns the 228-acre Rancho Paseana, which he purchased for $18 million. When he bought it, the property had a racetrack, olive orchard, and five barns.

In 2020, he dropped $43 million on an oceanfront home in Del Mar with a 10-person Jacuzzi and 120 feet of Pacific coastline.

Gates also owns a 6-bedroom home on the grounds of Indian Wells' famous Vintage Club.

There's also another home on the grounds of a country club, Santaluz Club, in San Diego.

Some of the properties have likely been divvied up between Gates and French Gates following their divorce.

Gates has made numerous investments through his personal investment firm.

Using his personal investment firm, Cascade, Gates has made several investments, including partial ownership of the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In 2013, Gates and several unnamed buyers paid $161 million for the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco.

Gates takes luxurious vacations.

Gates never took weekends or vacations during the early days of Microsoft, and has said startup founders shouldn't, either. However, Gates made time for some splashy trips later in his career.

In 2014, he treated his family to a Mediterranean vacation on board the 439-foot superyacht Serene, which he chartered for $5 million a week. It included a helicopter.

He's also traveled to Australia, Croatia, Belize, and the Amazon in Brazil.

He previously said that he likes to play tennis and go skiing. He's also been spotted at tennis matches.

But Gates' downtime isn't always so adventurous. Gates loves books, and is an "avid bridge player," as he told Reddit in a 2013 AMA.

Gates is a well-known philanthropist.

Gates has sometimes said he has no use for money, and often speaks of his philanthropic giving and healthcare investments.

A grant from Gates and his then-wife Melinda led to the creation in 2003 of Amyris, a synthetic biology company that originally produced precursors to malaria drugs and hydrocarbon-based biofuel but also uses the technology for things like fragrances, skincare, and sweeteners. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023.

In November 2017, Gates invested $50 million into Alzheimer's research. In 2018, he invested another $30 million with a group of investors in the Diagnostics Accelerator, a "venture philanthropy" fund to diagnose Alzheimer's earlier.

Gates and his former wife also pledged about $2 billion to defeat malaria, donated over $50 million to fight Ebola, and pledged $38 million to a Japanese pharmaceutical company working to create a low-cost polio vaccine.

During the pandemic, their foundation announced a 5-year, $1.6 billion commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to deliver vaccines in the world's poorest countries.

The Gates Foundation also funds education through its $1.6 billion initiative known as the Gates Millennium Scholars Program.

The foundation said it made $77.6 billion in grant payments from its inception through Q4 2023. Gates' total giving to the foundation during that time period totaled $59.5 billion.

Its 2024 budget is $8.6 billion, and the foundation is targeting a $9 billion yearly budget by 2026.

In the future, Gates has pledged to give most of his wealth away.

Gates is frequently named among the most generous philanthropists in the United States.

He has vowed to give away most of his fortune through the Giving Pledge, which he helped launch in 2010.

In July 2022, he reiterated that he plans to give virtually all his wealth to his and French Gates' foundation, saying that he'll eventually fall off the list of the world's richest figures.

• Jodie Foster, 62, has two sons named Kit and Charles.
• Her younger son, Kit, accompanied her to the 82nd annual Golden Globes.
• Foster married photographer Alexandra Hedison in 2014. 

Jodie Foster shouted out her family, including her two sons, during her Golden Globes acceptance speech on Sunday.

"Kit, my scientist son, and Charlie, my actor son starting his career, hopefully you understand the joy, such joy that comes from doing really hard, meaningful, good work," said Foster, who won best female actor in a limited series, anthology, or motion picture made for television for her role in the HBO series "True Detective: Night Country."

"So, my boys, I love you, and this, of course, is for you and the love of my life, Alex. Thank you forever," she continued. Her son, Kit, was in the audience.

While one of her kids is now following in her footsteps, Foster previously revealed that at one point, they didn't even know she was an actor. In fact, she actually told them she was a construction worker when they were younger.

Foster, 62, opened up about parenting during a January 2024 episode of "The View." Foster shares her two children with her former partner, Cydney Bernard: Charles "Charlie" Bernard Foster, 25, and Christopher "Kit" Bernard Foster, 22.

"I guess I just didn't want them to know me that way," Foster said. "I wanted them to know me as their mom and the person who went away to work and stuff."

She recalled one day when she brought her eldest son to set.

"I brought him to set one day and I bought him a little plastic tool belt and stuff," Foster said. "And I was like, 'Yeah, and this is this set and this set and this set.' And for a really long time, he thought I was a construction worker."

The Oscar-winner emerged as a Hollywood titan after having an illustrious career in the entertainment industry. After scoring her breakout role in the 1976 film "Taxi Driver," Foster appeared in several acclaimed films like "The Silence of the Lambs" and directed films like "Home for the Holidays" in 1995.

Even so, she's managed to remain relatively mum about her family. Here's a look at her wife and two children.

Foster's wife, Alexandra Hedison, is a photographer and former actor who appeared in "The L Word"

According to People, Hedison, 55, married Foster during an intimate ceremony in April 2014. Hedison is a photographer who often shares pictures of her work and artistic endeavors on Instagram. Hedison also directed the documentary "ALOK," which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and was executive produced by Foster.

Hedison, like her wife, is a jack of all trades. In addition to photography and directing, Hedison is a former actor who played Dylan Moreland on "The L Word" and appeared in other shows like "Melrose Place." Hedison's father is the late actor David Hedison, who appeared in the 1973 James Bond film "Live and Let Die."

Hedison also worked in home design. People reported that she appeared on a 2006 reality TV series called "Designing Blind." According to the Los Angeles Times, a home Hedison designed hit the market for $2.75 million in 2014.

Not much is known about Hedison's past relationships, but she dated television personality Ellen DeGeneres from 2000 to 2004, according to a 2004 report by The New York Times.

Foster and Hedison don't often make public appearances, but the couple has posed for certain red-carpet events, including the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Charles "Charlie" Bernard Foster is the eldest child of Foster and her former partner, Cydney Bernard

Entertainment Weekly and the Sun Sentinel reported that Foster gave birth to Charlie in July 1998 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. According to HuffPost, she shares Charlie with her former longtime partner, Cydney Bernard, whom she dated for 15 years before the two split in 2008.

Foster said Charlie had a natural affinity for Hollywood life, even at a young age.

"[He'll say] 'I want to be in movies. Why can't you get me a job?' Then I say, 'You have to earn that. If you want to be an actor, you can start by doing a little theater.' Then he says, 'I'm not interested in that. I just want to be famous and see my face.'" she told More Magazine in 2007, per People.

Based on Foster's comments at the 2025 Golden Globes, Charlie appears to have chased his dreams. He attended Yale University, where he participated in several acting projects. In 2019 and 2021, he played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in a local "Rocky Horror Picture Show performance," according to the Yale College Arts website.

Christopher "Kit" Bernard Foster is her youngest child

Foster and Bernard welcomed their second child in September 2001, according to CBS News.

Unlike Charlie, Foster said Kit isn't interested in following in his mother's footsteps.

"I know the perils of having a parent involved in your art form are too great," Foster told The Guardian in July 2018. "My older son is getting more interested in acting now, and I'm glad he discovered it late. My younger son is really shy and I can promise you he will never be an actor."

In other interviews, Foster shared small tidbits about Kit, including Magic Radio in May 2016. During her appearance, Foster called Kit "a little sensitive" and said that she waited "many years" before she let him watch "The Silence of the Lambs."

According to his LinkedIn page, Foster's "scientist son" graduated from Princeton University with a BA in chemistry and now works as a research associate.

• Celebrities walked the 2025 Golden Globes red carpet in Beverly Hills on Sunday night.
• Unfortunately, a few of those stars missed the mark with their overpowering outfits.
• Melissa McCarthy and Andrew Scott wore vibrant colors that didn't work for them.

The Golden Globes brings out some of the best red-carpet fashion each year.

Still, there are usually a few misses — even from the most stylish stars.

This year was no different, with actors including Melissa McCarthy and Andrew Scott wearing outfits that were overpowering and missed the mark.

Here's a look at what they wore and a few other ensembles that could've been better.

The color of Demi Moore's dress wasn't quite right for her.

Moore walked the red carpet in a custom Armani Privé gown, which was strapless and crafted from a metallic fabric that shifted between silver and gold.

Unfortunately, the blended shades washed Moore out, and its mermaid-style skirt distracted from its unique, asymmetrical bodice.

Ali Wong's Golden Globes look had too much going on.

Less would have been more for Wong's Golden Globes ensemble this year.

She wore a red Balenciaga gown covered in curled frills and embellished with a satin bow around the waist. Black, over-the-elbow gloves and thick plastic glasses completed the look.

The comedian could have improved her overall outfit by eliminating her arm accessories and swapping her chunky glasses for more delicate ones.

The color of Andrew Scott's suit was a bit too bold.

You couldn't miss Scott when he arrived on the red carpet. The "Ripley" star wore a Vivienne Westwood suit in a vibrant blue shade, a matching tie, and black dress shoes.

His fashion risk was appreciated, and he did stand out among other male celebrities at the event. That said, its color was a bit too bold and reminiscent of a Tiffany and Co. jewelry box.

Kathryn Hahn's look wasn't a good fit for the Golden Globes.

The black long-sleeved top, yellow pleated skirt, and gold buckle belt Hahn wore would have been great for a date or dinner with friends.

However, the outfit was too casual for the prestigious awards ceremony. The same shirt made from shiny silk, a different belt, and a slightly shorter skirt could have elevated the look.

Melissa McCarthy's look would have been stronger as a dress.

Christian Siriano designed McCarthy's two-piece outfit, which included a hot-pink pantsuit and an oversize, ruffled cape.

The baby-pink shade on the latter piece complemented McCarthy and would have looked stunning in the form of a gown. However, the pantsuit and cape combination she wore overpowered the actor.

Anthony Ramos' belt didn't add much to his ensemble.

Ramos arrived in a gray suit that was sharply tailored and looked chic. But there was one thing he could have changed: the non-functional belt that sat wrapped around his waist.

Instead, it would have been fun to see the actor embellish his outfit with a statement brooch, a unique tie, or even a more interesting shirt.

Heidi Klum's look felt like a safe choice for the runway star.

Klum brought her signature, sultry style to the Golden Globes with a strapless green gown. It had a deep neckline, ruched fabric, and diamond-shaped cutouts across its bodice.

Still, the model has worn many similar dresses in the past. It would have been fun to see Klum experiment with something even bolder and more high-fashion this time around.

The cape on Keri Russell's dress was unnecessary.

Stéphane Rolland designed Russell's cream dress to look like a suit, with a plunging neckline and a slit in the center of the skirt mimicking the look of a jacket and pants. Lapel detailing and an oversize belt completed the illusion.

The look was fun, but a layer of straight fabric flowed down from the back, making the dress look boxy and unnaturally stiff. Without the additional fabric on the back, it would have been stronger.

Salma Hayek's dress had a sequin problem.

Hayek chose a burgundy Gucci dress for the Golden Globes. Sequins covered the halter bodice, and the sparkles reappeared on the train, flowing from the form-fitting skirt. She wore a green necklace with the look.

The dress felt disjointed and would have been more cohesive if there were any sparkles on the skirt to connect the bodice and train.

• Sam Altman is hoping Donald Trump's second administration will benefit AI developers like OpenAI.
• Altman said in a new interview the most helpful thing Trump can do for AI is invest in new infrastructure.
• He sided with Trump's opposition to bureaucratic blockades, saying it's "difficult" to build in the US.

Sam Altman says he doesn't agree with President-elect Donald Trump on everything, but he does believe that the US has a problem with bureaucracy stifling innovation.

In an interview with Bloomberg, the OpenAI CEO described his hopes for the AI landscape under the next Trump administration, which he said he believes should come with substantial investment in new, US-built infrastructure.

"The thing I really deeply agree with the president on is, it is wild how difficult it has become to build things in the United States," Altman said. "Power plants, data centers, any of that kind of stuff. I understand how bureaucratic cruft builds up, but it's not helpful to the country in general."

He added: "It's particularly not helpful when you think about what needs to happen for the US to lead AI. And the US really needs to lead AI."

Altman suggested that AI isn't the only industry where regulation is hindering infrastructure development. He added that it's a hurdle for the fusion power startup Helion, which he's invested in. In July, Helion received a license from the Washington State Department of Health, allowing the company to use radioactive byproduct materials to operate its fusion generator.

"Soon there will be a demonstration of net-gain fusion. You then have to build a system that doesn't break. You have to scale it up," Altman said. "You have to figure out how to build a factory — build a lot of them — and you have to get regulatory approval. And that will take, you know, years altogether?

Oklo, another Altman-backed nuclear power company, has yet to receive approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after its previous application was denied in 2022, Tech Crunch reported.

In addition to siding with Trump on a looser approach to regulation and infrastructure development, Altman also hedged his prior support of the CHIPS Act, a multibillion-dollar manufacturing incentive for semiconductor production pushed forward by President Joe Biden's administration.

"I think the CHIPS Act was better than doing nothing but not the thing that we should have done," Altman said. "And I think there's a real opportunity to do something much better as a follow-on. I don't think the CHIPS Act has been as effective as any of us hoped."

The OpenAI chief reportedly wants to raise trillions of dollars to address the global chip shortage, and according to the Wall Street Journal, has held talks with international investors to raise the funds, including from the United Arab Emirates.

Representatives for the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. OpenAI declined to comment.

Altman has donated $1 million of his personal funds to Trump's inauguration fund, saying in December that the President-elect "will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead," Business Insider previously reported.

He told Bloomberg he supports "any president," adding that he believes "AGI will probably get developed during this president's term, and getting that right seems really important."

"Supporting the inauguration, I think that's a relatively small thing," Altman said. "I don't view that as a big decision either way. But I do think we all should wish for the president's success."

As the second Trump administration is set to begin later this month, Altman isn't the only executive angling to help shape policy over the next four years with substantial donations to his office. BI previously reported companies including Meta, Amazon, Uber, Ford, and Toyota have donated $1 million each to Trump's inaugural fund.

• The 2025 Golden Globes were hosted at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California on Sunday.
• Celebrity couples were among the famous attendees to walk the Golden Globes red carpet.
• Leighton Meester and Adam Brody wore coordinating outfits, while the Sandlers' looks stood out.

On Sunday, Hollywood's biggest stars arrived at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California for the 82nd annual Golden Globes, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser.

Celebrity couples wore some of the most fashionable outfits of the night, arriving in coordinating and complementary looks.

From Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco to Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, here's a look at the best outfits worn by celebrity couples on the Golden Globes red carpet.

Leighton Meester and Adam Brody

The longtime couple arrived in different shades of green.

Brody wore an emerald suit from Prada. It consisted of a double-breasted jacket and coordinating pants. He wore a white flower on his lapel.

Meester's sage gown from Versace was figure-hugging with a cowl neckline and a subtle sparkle.

Adam Sandler and Jackie Sandler

The Sandlers both wore black to the Golden Globes.

Jackie Sandler's Tom Ford dress was backless, and the halter neckline was attached with a gold choker. The bodice featured a cutout that flowed nearly to her waist while a train extended behind her.

Adam Sandler's look was monochromatic, as he paired a black shirt and tie with his suit.

Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson

Danson, who was honored with the Carol Burnett Award at this year's Golden Globes, walked the red carpet in a navy tuxedo and a velvet bow tie.

The strapless neckline of Steenburgen's black dress had a square cutout in the center, contrasting with the white flowers that adorned the bodice. She wore a black scarf around her neck, flowing behind her like a train.

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon

Tennon walked the red carpet in a traditional suit and sneakers, keeping his outfit simple to let his wife shine.

Davis, who was given the Golden Globes' Cecil B. DeMille Award, wore a black sparkly gown with a dazzling cape across her shoulders. The cape shined with rainbow colors as she walked beneath the event's lights.

Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne

Bagshawe and Redmayne both wore patterned looks to the Golden Globes.

Bagshawe's long-sleeve dress was taupe, and it featured billowy sleeves that cinched at the wrist with ruffles, as did the high neckline. Gold polka dots adorned the dress, and the skirt had tiers of ruffles, creating a maximalist look.

Redmayne's black-and-white look consisted of a checked jacket and pants paired with a cream top. He wore the shirt with the collar popped up and completed the outfit with black shoes.

Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry Teller

Miles Teller kept his look classic, donning a black tuxedo for the Golden Globes.

Keleigh Sperry Teller's semi-sheer blue dress was covered in intricate beading. Velvet fabric sat atop the halter neckline, offsetting a cutout in the center of the bodice.

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco

The newly engaged couple coordinated their elegant looks.

Gomez wore a dusty-blue gown with off-the-shoulder sleeves and extra fabric that she draped across her arm, while Blanco stood beside her in a fuzzy white suit and a matching shirt embellished with lace detailing.

Sebastian Stan and Annabelle Wallis

Stan brought a fun twist to classic menswear with a long suit jacket and skinny trousers — both of which had white stripes down each side.

Wallis stood out in a sparkling pink gown with a corseted bodice and ruched neckline.

• Nikki Glaser hosted the 2025 Golden Globes. Compared to Jo Koy last year, her monologue killed it.
• Despite expressing worry over a Diddy joke in the press, Glaser went for it on stage.
• Glaser said that she ran her monologue many times in clubs before doing it on the Globes stage.

At last year's Golden Globes, comedian Jo Koy defended his poorly received opening monologue by saying that he only had 10 days to write it.

In 2025, his successor Nikki Glaser — who was also nominated for best performance in stand-up comedy on television — showed up prepared. She still took some risks onstage, though.

Glaser's monologue took shots at streamers like Paramount+ (which is streaming the awards show), Netflix, and Peacock, viral moments like the viral Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo "holding space" meme, and somewhat surprisingly, the rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, who will stand trial in May on a sex-trafficking indictment. (Combs' attorneys said in a statement that he has "never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — woman, adult or minor.")

"That movie was more sexually charged than Diddy's credit card," Glaser said of the Zendaya-led film "Challengers," prompting laughter from the crowd.

"I'm sorry. I'm upset too," Glaser continued. "The afterparty's not gonna be as good this year, but we have to move on."

"Stanley Tucci 'freak off' just doesn't have the same ring to it. No baby oil this year, just lots of olive oil," she said, referencing the allegations of sex performances and baby oil usage found in Combs' indictment, and Tucci's proclivity toward Italian food.

Combs' attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Glaser ran through her monologue dozens of times in clubs ahead of the Globes. The New York Times reported that during one of those runs, Glaser expressed hesitation about telling a joke about Combs at the show despite it landing with the club audience.

"You promise you will still be hollering on your couch when it dies in the room? I don't think you will," Glaser told the audience after someone urged her to keep it in her monologue.

Glaser told the Times the following day that she felt it was "almost more important" that the jokes in her monologue land for the people in the room than audiences at home.

"I don't know if I'm savvy enough to watch a joke that bombs on TV and still go: That's still a good joke," Glaser said.

Luckily for Glaser, her joke about Combs — and later in the monologue, another crack about the possibility of other, yet-to-be-uncovered celebrity criminals in the room — landed with the in-person audience. The rest of her opening was a hit for Globes attendees and those on social media as well.

"Nikki Glaser is very very good at this," "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart wrote on X.

Here are the other most memorable moments from Glaser's monologue.

Glaser poked fun at streaming platforms like Paramount+

Glaser opened her monologue with a joke about the Globes being "Ozempic's biggest night." She quickly transitioned to poke fun at the Globes' own streaming host: Paramount+.

"If you're watching on CBS, hello. If you're watching on Paramount+, you have six days left to cancel your free trial," she said.

Later in her monologue, Glaser shouted out Eddie Redmayne's Golden Globe-nominated role in "The Day of the Jackal," which airs on the streaming service Peacock.

"It's about a top-secret, elite sniper that no one can find, 'cause he's on Peacock," Glaser said. "I think I've seen more actual peacocks in my life than shows on Peacock."

Glaser didn't spare Netflix, knocking its recommendation system by way of "Emilia Pérez."

"I think it is without a doubt the most audacious, groundbreaking film to ever autoplay after 'Is It Cake?'" she said. "Seriously."

Glaser brought Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Adam Sandler in on bits

Glaser also proved that she knew how to involve her audience.

The host referenced a viral meme from the "Wicked" press tour, when journalist Tracy Gilchrist informed stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that people were "taking the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity' and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that." When Erivo became emotional while responding, Grande delicately held on to one of her fingers.

"I'm scared," Glaser said at one point during the monologue. "Ariana, hold my finger."

In response, Grande reached out to her, before grabbing Erivo's finger.

"Tonight, we celebrate the best of film, and hold space for television," Glaser continued.

Later in the monologue, Glaser honed in on Timothée Chalamet.

"Can I just say, you have the most gorgeous eyelashes on your upper lip," she remarked.

After praising Chalamet's ability to play "beloved eccentrics" like Bob Dylan and Willy Wonka, Glaser suggested that he take on a role as Adam Sandler next.

"Actually, your name sounds like something Adam Sandler would say," Glaser remarked, before launching into a Sandler impression and repeating Chalamet's name.

When Glaser called out to Sandler, who was sitting in the Golden Globes audience, she coaxed a "Chalamet" out of him as well.

Watch Glaser's full monologue below.

Watch the 2025 Golden Globes on Paramount+ with Showtime.

• Winter Storm Blair will dump snow and freezing rain onto much of the US starting Sunday.
• The frigid conditions are already impacting travel.
• Snow is forecast for Washington, DC, as the area prepares for the Trump administration transition.

Blizzards, ice storm warnings, and unpleasantly cold conditions are blowing into much of the northern US, with major impacts expected by Monday morning.

The Arctic outbreak, dubbed Winter Storm Blair by the Weather Channel, will bring heavy snow to areas in the mid-Atlantic area that haven't had such weather in a decade, the National Weather Service warned.

Kansas City, for instance, could get up to a foot of snow by the end of the weekend.

In the mid-south, the NWS warns that freezing rain could result in power outages. More than 100,000 power outages have so far been reported across Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky, leaving residents in the region in the dark and without heat, per The Weather Channel.

And snow — possibly mixed with sleet and freezing rain — could reach 10 inches in Washington, DC, where preparations are underway for Donald Trump's incoming administration and where the election results are set to be certified Monday.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on Sunday declared a snow emergency which will remain in effect in the area until at least the end of the day on Tuesday, January 7, according to a press release from Bowser's office.

Additional cold weather warnings have also been issued in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Louisville, Kentucky, and St. Louis, with officials warning to limit travel in the impacted areas, The Weather Channel reported.

The Governors of West Virginia and Kentucky have also declared a state of emergency across their jurisdictions, providing additional resources for road clearing and responding to emergencies. Local news outlet WCHS-TV reported that officials in both states were backed up responding to crashes and calls for help from first responders.

In all, about half the US population is expected to experience freezing temperatures over the next week, Axios reported.

More than 8,600 flights had on Sunday been either delayed or canceled due to the storm, per Forbes, including triple-digit flight cancellations for Kansas City (MCI), St. Louis Lambert (STL), and Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) airports. The numbers of impacted flights are expected to continue to rise.

Airlines including American, Delta, Southwest, and United said they are waiving change fees for flights impacted by the storm.

• Tweens, teens, and college-aged kids showed off their Christmas hauls in TikTok videos.
• Casey Lewis, who writes about young consumers, watched about 1,000 haul videos, she told BI.
• Here are the top items that Gen Z kids bragged about getting for Christmas.

It was a very merry Christmas for some Gen Zers who took to social media to show off everything they unwrapped.

Casey Lewis, who writes the youth insights newsletter After School, analyzed Christmas haul TikTok videos from tweens, teens, and college-age consumers and compiled a list that she shared on her own TikTok.

"This is the third year I've done this sort of thing with the Christmas hauls, and I tried to refine my system just so that I'm able to actually crunch the data a little bit more scientifically," Lewis told Business Insider.

She said she watched hundreds of videos at double the speed to tally the standout gift items.

"I think conservatively, at least a thousand [videos]," Lewis said. "I was trying to discreetly binge Christmas haul TikToks while also spending time with my family."

From luxury clothing to throwback tech, these were the top gifts that the younger generation showed off in their Christmas hauls.

Digital cameras

"I think the thing that surprised me the most was how popular digital cameras were," Lewis said, noting that Gen Z has an affinity for Y2K nostalgia. "Everyone got digital cameras. It was also really interesting to see some of them got really expensive Sony ones, but then now Amazon makes those digital cameras that come in cute colors."

A basic Sony digital camera might run at around $750, but Lewis said she saw people showing off cheaper options from Amazon and Urban Outfitters for less than $100.

"They've sort of caught onto this trend, but then you kind of wonder how long is that going to last?" Lewis said.

UGG boots

UGG remained a hot item this year with the Ultra Mini boots and Classic Mini boots, which cost $150 to $160, reigning supreme.

"This year, it was the Minis, and last year, it was the Minis but also the Platforms," Lewis said. "Every year, they're just able to continue to be such a thing."

While she was going through the videos during the holidays at her childhood home, Lewis, who is 37, said she was surrounded by relics from her own childhood, like her own pair of UGG boots.

"Uggs and digital cameras — has anything changed? Am I still just a 16-year-old?" she said.

Rhode skin and beauty products

Lewis also said it was "staggering" how popular Rhode, Hailey Bieber's beauty brand, had become.

"Everyone got the lip peptide treatment," Lewis said. "It's such a popular skincare brand."

Rhode's peptide lip tint retails for $18.

"We know that celebrity brands are so fickle," Lewis said, "but it almost feels like this may have successfully reached the point where it's bigger than her and will thrive independently."

Sol de Janeiro products

Another popular beauty brand was Sol de Janeiro, which makes body and hair care as well as fragrances.

Gen Z kids showed off their "Cheirosa '62" perfume mist, which Lewis said was a big hit this year.

A full-size, 240 ml bottle retails for $38.

Jellycats

Tweens and teens went crazy over Jellycats, small plush toys that retail for $30 to $50.

"Jellycats were mentioned on every wish list, and they were very popular in hauls," Lewis said.

Lewis saw many Jellycats in haul videos but not as many as she expected, prompting her to question whether the kidult purchasing trend is declining.

"Are parents tired of buying their kids, their almost grown kids, stuffed animals? I don't know," Lewis said. "It feels very similar to Beanie Babies where it was a craze, but it wasn't able to sustain because no craze is."

White Fox apparel

Luxury loungewear remained popular this holiday season.

The $50 sweatpants from White Fox, which is headquartered in Australia, were "very popular" in haul videos, Lewis said.

"Athleisure had such a moment coming out of COVID, but young people are still very much prioritizing comfort clothes," Lewis said, noting that brands like Lululemon were also popular. "Teen and college-age girls, so many of them just wear sweat sets."

Roller Rabbit pajamas

Roller Rabbit pajamas were a popular gift pick as well, according to Lewis' analysis.

Available in dozens of different brightly colored patterns as well as in short- and long-sleeve options, the pajamas retail from $138 to $158.

Lewis noted the pajamas convey a sense of status.

Shark hair tools

Whereas last year saw a craze for Dyson hair tools, this year was all about Shark tools.

"I don't think I could have been trusted when I was a teen with an expensive hair tool," Lewis said. "I just don't think I could have taken care of it and not accidentally broken it."

While the classic set of Dyson hair tools retails for $600, the Shark set is comparatively more affordable at $300.

Vanity desk and mirror

While not a name-brand item, many tweens, teens, and college-age girls said in their Christmas haul TikToks that they got a vanity desk or a vanity mirror to put on their desk.

Vanity mirrors often come with lighting that is optimal to use while applying makeup. Depending on the brand, a desk with a vanity mirror might cost about $1,000.

Dae hair styling cream

A styling product from the brand Dae was a popular stocking stuffer, Lewis said.

The styling cream comes with a small wand that's helpful for doing a slick back hairstyle.

A 0.6 oz tube retails for $18.

Adidas Campus shoes

Adidas also continued its reign of popularity.

The Campus 00s, which retail for $110, were the go-to pick, Lewis said.

In previous years, Adidas Gazelles and Sambas were the choice picks.

Alani Nu energy drink

Alani Nu energy drinks were a popular, small-dollar item. Lewis referred to it as the "cool girl energy drink" in her TikTok analysis.

A 12-pack retails for $30.

"What's fascinating about that is it is a very accessible energy drink, but it's also very aesthetic," Lewis told BI. "The energy drink that appeared in so many Christmas hauls this year was nowhere to be found in Christmas hauls last year. So that's a little bit about how quickly some of this stuff changes."

Touchland hand sanitizer

Touchland hand sanitizers were another popular stocking stuffer, Lewis said in her analysis.

"$10 for a tiny hand sanitizer is kind of crazy," she told BI.

But for a 30ml hand sanitizer, it still carries some clout, she said.

"These more affordable, or at least accessible, items that have a little bit of status associated, a little bit of clout," Lewis said. "You don't need to have the Louis Vuitton, or you don't need to even have the Sony camera."

LoveShackFancy Perfume

LoveShackFancy's perfume in the scent "Forever In Love" was a hot gift, Lewis said.

A 2.5 oz bottle retails $125.

Other popular perfume runner-ups were Billie Eilish's "Eilish Eau de Parfum," which retails for $72 for a 3.4 oz bottle, and Glossier's "You," which costs $112 for a 100 ml bottle.

ONE/SIZE setting spray

Wrapping up the list was waterproof setting spray from ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr.

A 3.4 oz can of the mattifying spray retails for $32, adding to the subset of more affordable items that Lewis noted.

"There were not a lot of, I don't know, designer sunglasses. I did see a couple of designer purses," Lewis said. "It's not like there's one emerging or one dominant luxury item that everyone is feeling like they need to have."

• Celebrities gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California for the Golden Globes on Sunday.
• Stars arrived at the awards show in bold suits and eye-catching gowns.
• Elle Fanning and Adam Brody wore some of the most memorable looks of the night.

On Sunday, the 82nd annual Golden Globes kicked off at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California.

The biggest stars in television and film arrived on the red carpet ahead of the show, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser.

Hollywood legend Ted Danson was in attendance to accept the Carol Burnett Award, while Viola Davis was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

They were just some of the stars wearing stunning ensembles. From dramatic ball gowns to daring suits, take a look at the best looks of the night.

Miley Cyrus

Cyrus arrived in a black, floor-length gown designed by Celine.

It featured a halter neckline that plunged to her navel and was trimmed with silver beading, as were cutouts on the bodice. The neckline and cutouts formed a flower.

The back of the dress was open, with strips of sparkly fabric connecting the gown.

Zendaya

Louis Vuitton designed Zendaya's orange gown.

The form-fitting piece had a sweetheart neckline and hit Zendaya at the ankle. A train attached to Zendaya's waist flowed out behind her.

She wore Bulgari jewelry.

Sebastian Stan

Instead of wearing a traditional suit, Stan's black jacket flowed to his calf and was trimmed with white, giving it a modern flair.

His black pants ruched around his legs, and he wore black shoes.

Nicole Kidman

Kidman's silver dress had one shoulder strap and was backless, creating a design that was elegant in front and daring from behind.

The custom Balenciaga piece was also covered in silver sparkles and had a train that glided as she walked.

The actor completed her outfit with a ponytail.

Dwayne Johnson

The Rock posed in a shiny lilac top and a jacket in a slightly lighter shade of purple. He added a colorful brooch to his lapel and donned see-through sunglasses.

Black pants and shoes completed the look.

Sarah Paulson

Instead of opting for a simple, little black dress, Paulson wore a dramatic gown decorated with feathers.

The strapless piece had a short train, a fitted waist, and a sweetheart neckline.

Paulson also wore vibrant blush and a statement choker necklace.

Emma Stone

Louis Vuitton custom-made Stone's red gown, which was strapless and puffed at the hips.

The dress also had a satin belt that extended out on one side, and Stone debuted a short haircut.

Cara Delevingne

Delevingne chose a sparkly look for the night, wearing a high-neck, blue dress that was sleeveless.

Gems trimmed the neckline, adding even more glamour to the look.

Margaret Qualley

Qualley's white dress had a square neckline, which was adorned with delicate beading.

The dress cinched at her waist with a shiny black bow, and the skirt featured tiers of ruffles that almost seemed to hover around Qualley.

Ariana Grande

Grande's archival Givenchy Haute Couture gown first debuted in 1966, when Hubert de Givenchy's designs were heavily inspired by Audrey Hepburn.

The yellow silk dress was hand-beaded on the empire waist bodice. The skirt flowed to her ankles and was slightly ruched. White gloves and Swarovski jewels completed the retro look.

Colman Domingo

Domingo played with patterns with his black and white Golden Globes look, which was designed by Valentino.

His suit was black, and he paired it with a white top covered in black polka dots. He wore a scarf in place of a tie that formed a bow on his neckline, which featured both a checked pattern and stripes.

Kate Winslet

Winslet's single-breasted, white suit included a slightly oversize jacket and flared pants.

Black sparkly flowers were embroidered into the jacket on the bodice and sleeve, adding dimension to the look.

Viola Davis

Davis' black gown featured a V-neckline and an A-line shape. The skirt flowed to the floor after being cinched at her waist.

The gown was covered in delicate sparkly beading, which complemented the semi-sheer, multicolored cape attached to it.

Zoe Saldaña

Saldaña chose a brown Saint Laurent dress for the Golden Globes.

The sparkly gown hugged her figure and curved into a plunge on the strapless neckline. She accessorized the look with a coordinating detached cape that functioned as a train.

Kate Hudson

Hudson's navy ball gown, designed by Carolina Herrera, had a strapless neckline and full skirt. The dress was covered in sparkly floral embellishments that glittered as she walked the red carpet.

A coordinating choker necklace tied the look together.

Alexandra Daddario

Daddario mixed textures with her custom Vivienne Westwood dress.

The asymmetrical neckline was covered in voluminous white feathers that spilled over the bodice, while the rest of the dress was made of sparkly black fabric.

Eddie Redmayne

Redmayne chose a black and cream-patterned suit for the Golden Globes.

The slim-fit ensemble's jacket and pants featured a checked pattern. He paired the bold set with an off-white shirt with a popped-up collar. Black shoes grounded the look.

Jessica Gunning

Gunning, who is nominated for her performance in "Baby Reindeer," arrived at the awards show in a velvet blue dress.

A ruffled, voluminous layer of fabric covered the neckline of the dress, contrasting with the figure-hugging skirt.

Mindy Kaling

Kaling arrived in a sparkly gold gown from Ashi Studio.

The form-fitting dress, which shimmered as Kaling walked the red carpet, had a strapless neckline and a slit on the side.

Cristin Milioti

Milioti, who was nominated for her performance in "The Penguin," chose a simple black dress for the Golden Globes.

The gown's neckline was trimmed with angular, sparkly fabric designed to look like leaves, giving it a chic pop. That same trim was attached to Milioti's black gloves.

Elle Fanning

Fanning's glamorous taupe gown from Balmain featured a full skirt, which cinched at the waist.

The V-neck bodice brought a modern edge to the gown's classic shape, as the top was covered in leopard-print fabric. Cartier jewelry completed the look.

Adam Brody

Adam Brody put a fresh twist on menswear with his deep-green suit from Prada. The double-breasted jacket had black hardware, and he accessorized with a white flower on one of his black lapels.

Black shoes completed the look.

Zoë Kravitz

The neckline of Kravitz's black gown plunged nearly to her navel, where a white ribbon cinched her waist.

The bow flowed out behind her in place of a train. Saint Laurent designed the dress.

Eiza González

Gucci designed the shimmering gold dress Gonzalez chose for the Golden Globes.

The figure-hugging dress was sleeveless and featured a high neckline, contrasting with the back, which was nearly entirely open aside from thin ties.

Rachel Brosnahan

Brosnahan's deep-green gown was covered in architectural detailing, from the ruching across the bodice that flowed into one sleeve to a thigh-high slit on the skirt that allowed the fabric to cascade around her leg.

The dress also featured a subtle ombré, turning nearly blue at the bottom of the skirt.

Leighton Meester

Meester's sage-green dress featured a cowl neck that dipped low on her chest.

She accessorized with a simple diamond necklace and bracelet.

• Investors are seeing new value in the strip mall.
• A lack of supply and an uptick in in-person neighborhood shopping has increased their value.
• One commercial real estate investor called the opportunity a "retail renaissance."

Strip malls, of all things, appear to be trending up.

After decades of decline brought on by the rise of large box stores, e-commerce, and the pandemic, the humble and sometimes derided neighborhood shopping center had long been on the outs. Many retailers shifted focus, buying and building large fulfillment warehouses instead of storefronts.

That's led to a perhaps surprising shift, according to The Wall Street Journal: There is now a dearth of supply of convenient neighborhood shopping centers, and that is driving up the value of existing ones.

Large investors like Blackstone have noticed and are now betting on the lowly strip mall. Blackstone spent $4 billion in November to acquire Retail Opportunity Investments, which owns about 90 shopping centers, most of them anchored by grocery stores.

Blackstone President Jon Gray said at the time that he believes the extreme distress the commercial real estate market has faced in recent years is beginning to ease up. He now sees opportunity in the sector.

"If you were an investor in real estate after the financial crisis, you would have made a lot of money. And my guess is, if you're an investor today, the same thing will happen," he said at an event hosted by Goldman Sachs.

Beyond just the value driven by scarcity, an uptick in in-person shopping also bodes well for the shopping center. Foot traffic to grocery stores was 12% higher in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same time in 2019, before the pandemic, the Journal reported. And there are many small businesses that still attract IRL shoppers, like coffee shops and nail salons. Flexible work schedules are also allowing residents to take quick shopping trips nearby.

James Corl, head of New York-based private real estate group Cohen & Steers, wrote in a September blog post that the investment market for open-air shopping centers amounted to a "retail renaissance." Corl's firm bought a fully leased outdoor shopping mall in San Mateo, California for $127 million last month.

"Open-air shopping centers are the only major property type that is experiencing an acceleration in rental rate growth," Corl said in the blog post. "We believe that a durable acceleration in earnings growth combined with relatively high current yields will propel shopping center investment performance for some time, a reality that the market has yet to fully recognize."

• The New Orleans attacker used Meta glasses to record the area before the massacre, the FBI says.
• The FBI is investigating the attack as terrorism after police found an ISIS flag in the truck.
• The FBI also said the man stopped a multiple gun stores in Texas the day before the attack.

The Army veteran who attacked a crowd in New Orleans on New Year's Day wore Meta smart glasses to record the area in advance, the FBI said at a press conference on Sunday.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas, died in a shootout with police after driving a pickup truck through a crowd of people on Bourbon Street. Jabbar killed 14 people and injured dozens more in the attack.

The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism after authorities found an ISIS flag, weapons, and a possible improvised explosive device, or IED, in the Ford F-150 pickup truck that Jabbar used.

FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil said Sunday that Jabbar made two trips to New Orleans before the attack — once in October and once in November.

In October, Myrthil said Jabbar stayed in a rental home in New Orleans for two days, where he used his Meta smart glasses to record the streets of the French Quarter as he rode around on a bicycle.

"Meta glasses appear to look like regular glasses, but they allow the user to record videos and photos hands-free," Myrthil told reporters. "They also allow users to potentially livestream their video."

Jabar was wearing the Meta glasses during the attack, but he did not livestream it, Myrthil said.

Myrthil also said during the press conference that Jabbar stopped at "multiple gun stores" in Texas on December 31 and visited one business where he purchased a white ice chest that he used to hide an explosive device.

US military spokespersons told the media after the attack that Jabbar served in the Army from 2007 to 2015, during which he was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.

He served in information technology and human resources roles at the time and was later an IT specialist in the Army Reserve from 2016 to 2020. He left the military as a staff sergeant.

• The 'Breaking Bad' house in Albuquerque, New Mexico is selling for $4 million.
• The 3-bedroom, 1-bath home, valued by Zillow at about $350,000, is a fan attraction.
• The longtime owners hope the buyer will turn it into a museum or bed-and-breakfast for fans.

The iconic home of Walter White from "Breaking Bad" can now be yours for just $4 million.

Fans from all over the world have for years traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico to visit the home of the iconic AMC character.

Homeowner Joanna Quintana, who grew up in the house, said her family decided to finally sell it after 52 years in part because of the constant presence of fans.

"We're going to walk away with just our memories," she told KOB4, a local NBC affiliate. "It's time to move on. We're done. There's no reason to fight anymore."

While the home is listed for $4 million, Zillow estimates the modest three-bedroom, one-bath house is worth closer to $350,000, though that does not take into account the fan appeal, which could either raise or lower its value depending on the buyer.

Quinatana's family said they hope the $4 million price tag will attract a buyer who wants to use the space as something that fans could enjoy.

"I hope they make it what the fans want. They want a BnB, they want a museum, they want access to it. Go for it," Quintana told KOB4.

Potential buyers can view the home's 1,910-square-foot layout on the listing's website, which describes the house as an "unparalleled opportunity to own a piece of television history."

"From the explosive opening to pivotal scenes that captured audiences around the world, this Albuquerque home became more than a house — it became a character in its own right," the site says. "Now, you have the chance to own this piece of television history."

For the Quintana family, the fans have mostly been a headache since the show became a worldwide sensation after its release in 2008. Devotees often show up at the residence to take photos — or worse.

"Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" creator Vince Gilligan called for fans to stop visiting the house in a 2015 episode of the "Better Call Saul Insider Podcast." Gilligan made the request after several fans tried to throw pizza onto the roof to recreate a famous scene.

"There is nothing original or funny or cool about throwing a pizza on this lady's roof," Gilligan said on the podcast. "It's been done before — you're not the first."

"And if I catch you doing it, I will hunt you down," he added.

Luke Mones, a comedian who visited the home in 2018, described in a documentary how his visit turned hostile. Mones said one of the owners was sitting outside in a lawn chair, yelling at him when he approached.

"'The show ended eight years ago. Get a life!'" he recalled the owner yelling at him.