• Trucking industry leaders want to minimize empty-trailer trips to improve costs and efficiency.
• Uber Freight is using AI on its platform to provide trucking companies with more optimized routes.
• This article is part of "How AI Is Changing Everything: Supply Chain," a series on innovations in logistics.

Moving air has become a nuisance for the trucking industry in recent years.

A recent industry report estimated that at any given moment, roughly 35% of all trucks on US freeways were empty of goods.

For example, a truck driver might secure a load to haul from Long Beach, California, to Chicago, but once they drop off the load, they'll head home with a trailer full of, well, nothing but air.

This problem isn't just about inefficiency but also cost. Wasted time and fuel mean extra expenses for shippers, which eventually leads to higher prices for consumers. The issue is also related to sustainability: Additional carbon emissions and inevitable road congestion undoubtedly affect our environment.

Uber Freight — a business unit of Uber Technologies — has set out to solve this problem and do it almost exclusively with artificial intelligence. It works a lot like the Uber app does on a smartphone.

With the Uber app, riders are the users and request transport from all available drivers. With Uber Freight, truckers and trucking companies are the users and they can use it to line up different loads so their trucks aren't running empty for more than a few hundred miles a day.

This way, instead of going from Long Beach to Chicago and back, a truck might bring new loads from Chicago to New Orleans, New Orleans to Houston, and Houston to Phoenix before heading home.

The technology behind this platform uses AI to optimize shipping routes, Uber Freight CEO Lior Ron told Business Insider. He said that this technology could cut a truck's empty rate to as low as 10%.

"The ultimate goal is to make every mile of a trip a paid mile and make it worth everybody's while that these guys are out there making deliveries," Ron said. "We can't achieve that yet, but we sure can come a lot closer."

How Uber uses machine learning to create more optimized truck routes

Since the trucking-specific Uber Freight platform launched in 2023, it has used machine learning to pioneer an algorithm that ensures carriers receive up-front guaranteed pricing for trucking and freight.

This algorithm has been used by thousands of companies, including 200 of the Fortune 500s, Ron said. He added that the system had moved more than $20 billion in freight.

"By looking at hundreds of parameters, we've been able to make the model accurate enough that it has removed all the friction and back-and-forths of trying to estimate the price of trucking," Ron said. Those parameters include weather and traffic conditions and road closures.

Uber Freight is also using machine learning to address vehicle routing, a complex issue that involves determining the most efficient route for a vehicle to deliver goods to a set of locations. Here, the issue is not so much avoiding traffic as routing trucks so that their trailers are full more often than not.

By algorithmically designing the optimal route for the truck driver, the company has been able to reduce empty miles by between 10% and 15%, Ron said. This benefits vendors, trucking companies, drivers, and consumers since lower transport costs typically translate to lower product costs.

Freddie Jimenez, the owner of F&J Logistics Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri, said that Uber Freight makes it easier for him to plan his day, find loads that fit his schedule, and keep his wheels moving.

"As a driver, the most important thing is staying on the move. I am not wasting hours waiting or worrying about where the next load is coming from," Jimenez told BI.

Why more efficient trucking matters

Uber Freight's technology is part of a broader push among logistics companies to use AI to gain a competitive advantage, said Jose Reyes, a senior director and analyst for Gartner's supply chain division.

"AI systems can analyze weather, traffic, and road conditions to suggest optimal routes in real-time," Reyes told BI in an email. "This is a tremendous benefit in not only efficiency but with driver safety, load planning, and dispatching. This application of AI can significantly reduce manual work."

Chris Caplice, the executive director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, hosted a webinar on AI in logistics with Ron late last year. There, Caplice said Uber Freight's technology is an example of innovations in the trucking industry.

"By being trained continuously, the models will learn better routing policies automatically; if a policy shifts, for example, the model will pick up on it, eliminating the need for specialty algorithms," Caplice said during the event. He added: "AI models generalize well to solve previously unseen problems such as vehicle capacities."

Leveraging agentic AI

Uber Freight is also deploying agentic AI to improve efficiency.

This flavor of AI hinges on the ability to use human language to mimic human interactions.

Uber Freight deploys the technology in a customer support center and uses it as the first line of defense against complaints.

Ron said that by dispatching canned messages to certain inquiries, the company expected to reduce its waiting time to 30 seconds from five minutes.

These shortened wait times can help with efficiency by minimizing the time drivers spend dealing with customer service for simple tasks, like receiving a link on their smartphone or a document.

• I read Donald Trump's 1987 book "The Art of the Deal" to try to understand his tariff tactics.
• Several lessons and lines stood out to me, like his dismissal of traditional "number-crunchers."
• From aiming high to a focus on physical goods, here are seven illuminating tidbits from the book.

I'm not an economist. The last real math class I took was advanced algebra my senior year of high school. Needless to say, the recent tariffs have made my head spin.

But I am an avid reader. I was an English major in college and am a member of two book clubs. That's why I turned to "The Art of the Deal," a 1987 book credited to President Donald Trump, to see if it gave me any further insight into Trump's tariff strategy. It details Trump's childhood and real estate deals alongside snappy one-liners of business advice.

When I wrote this piece on April 9, Trump had just announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for some countries, sending US stocks soaring after a major sell-off. He raised the tariff rate on China to 145% and kept a baseline of 10% on imports from most other countries. It remains to be seen how negotiations will play out.

This nearly four-decade-old book showed me tactics reflected in Trump's recent actions. Here are seven insights from "The Art of the Deal" that give some insight into Trump's tariff strategy.

Representatives for the White House did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

'I aim very high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing'

Trump said — or, really, the journalist Tony Schwartz, who ghost-wrote "The Art of the Deal" said — that his dealmaking philosophy is simple.

"I aim very high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing to get what I'm after," he said in the book. "Sometimes I settle for less than I sought, but in most cases, I still end up with what I want."

His recent moves reflect as much. Despite some recent pullbacks on his reciprocal tariffs, Trump originally levied far bigger taxes on foreign nations than most anticipated. With an initial 20% tax on the European Union and 46% on Vietnam, for example, he certainly aimed high.

When it comes to China, he keeps "pushing and pushing." At the time of writing, he had imposed a 145% tariff on China after it hit the US with a retaliatory tax. The risks of this back-and-forth are outlined just a few paragraphs later in "The Art of the Deal."

"I still hope you won't follow my advice," Trump wrote of those like him who have "the genes" to be good at business. "Because that would just make it a much tougher world for me."

'I don't hire a lot of number-crunchers, and I don't trust fancy marketing surveys'

When announcing his tariffs, Trump defied many mainstream economists, prominent CEOs, and conventional political wisdom. As markets cratered, he insisted that his plan was sound.

"I do my own surveys and draw my own conclusions," he wrote in the book, saying that he crowdsources opinions until he begins to get "a gut feeling."

Though Trump eventually paused many additional tariffs for at least 90 days, he persisted through days of criticism from billionaires and even his closest advisors, including Elon Musk. Now, Trump and some in his orbit are saying that he proved the critics wrong and perfectly executed his plan.

The president referenced his gut feelings when speaking to reporters on Wednesday about a Truth Social post announcing the 90-day pause.

"We wrote it from our hearts," he said.

'All's well that ends well'

This line references a prolonged legal battle with residents at New York City's 100 Central Park South. As Trump told it in the book, he wanted to knock down the building after buying it. The tenants eventually ended up keeping their apartments. Still, Trump wrote that the delay actually amounted to a win since he ended up making more money due to market swings (though some tenants maintain that they came out on top, as the New York Times reported).

"All's well that ends well," Trump wrote at the end of the chapter, noting his large profits.

The same philosophy is on full display with the tariff negotiations. Amid financial and political turmoil, Trump urged everyone in a post on TruthSocial to "BE COOL! Everything is going to work out well."

When Trump issued his 90-day pause, he said that people "were getting a little bit yippy" and the bond market was "tricky."

"The bond market right now is beautiful," he continued, indicating that, for now, all as he sees it has "ended well." Some in the business world aren't as sure.

'We won by wearing everyone else down'

Trump said he successfully negotiated a deal regarding a property on NYC's West 34th Street by exhausting the competition.

"In the end, we won by wearing everyone else down," he wrote in the book. "We never gave up, and the opposition slowly began to melt away."

He's claiming much the same type of victory now. In his Truth Social post announcing the 90-day pause, he said that more than 75 countries had called to negotiate.

The book focuses more on the physical world, like buildings

"The Art of the Deal" recounts Trump's real estate triumphs — though reporting shows he hasn't always been as successful as he often claims — and focuses on buildings like the Commodore Hotel and Trump Tower. In it, Trump muses about architectural styles, concrete, and the color of marble. He does write extensively about prices and touches on market conditions, but his focus on the physical world jives with his current focus on American manufacturing.

"Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country," the president said when he first announced the tariffs on April 2. In a Truth Social post on April 8, he said he's the "President who stands up for Main Street, not Wall Street."

Though Trump ultimately cited the bond market when issuing a 90-day pause, his focus on physical goods and "Made in America" is subtly woven into the pages of "The Art of the Deal."

The media and critics can't be trusted, but press is generally a good thing

Throughout the book, Trump criticizes the media, contending that it's set against him. He quoted a letter he addressed to an architecture critic: "Your recent article is an obvious 'setup' in preparation for the negative review you intend to do."

Still, Trump wrote repeatedly that the press is an unavoidable and important part of being a public figure and that even negative coverage can work in his favor.

"From a pure business point of view, the benefits of being written about have far outweighed the drawbacks," he wrote. He added that more "outrageous" projects tend to attract more attention.

On the tariff front, Trump's boldness has dominated coverage, even as he maintains that the media is skewing the narrative — his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters on Tuesday that many in the media "clearly missed 'the art of the deal.'"

• The Lincoln Nautilus is a midsize luxury SUV made at Ford's factory in Hangzhou, China.
• I recently drove a 2025 Nautilus in midlevel Reserve III trim.
• I was impressed by its elegant styling, premium interior, and show-stopping tech.

The Lincoln Nautilus is one of the most impressive luxury SUVs to hit the market in recent years, competing against industry stalwarts like the Lexus RX and Audi Q5.

I recently drove a 2025 Lincoln Nautilus in mid-tier Reserve trim, and it wowed me with its elegant styling, premium, high-quality interior, and a show-stopping suite of tech features.

The base Nautilus Premiere starts at $51,890, while the top-spec Black Label trim kicks off at $75,050.

My Reserve trim test car starts at $61,010. Freight fees and the other add-ons pushed the as-tested price for the Chinese-made SUV to $67,060.

Here are 14 reasons the Nautilus is one of the best luxury SUVs you can buy.

Elegant styling

The Lincoln is eye-catching and attractive but never feels the need to shout about it. The Nautilus conveys a dignified, old-school charm in a thoroughly modern package.

There is no tacky body cladding or superfluous badging extolling the vehicle's luxury street cred. In fact, the word "Lincoln " appears only once on the SUV (on the tailgate), and the Nautilus badge appears only twice, tastefully adorning the front doors. That's it.

ICE and hybrid engine options

Under the hood of my test is a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, direct-injected inline-four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 ft.-lb. of torque. It's paired with a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system, which comes standard on all trims.

There's also an optional hybrid version of the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that produces 310 total system horsepower and is paired with a CVT. The hybrid Nautilus is rated for 30 mpg of combined fuel economy, up from the 24 mpg of the ICE version.

Panoramic Screen

The centerpiece of the cabin is the massive 48-inch Panoramic Screen that spans the entire width of the front dash.

The Panoramic Screen is actually comprised of two smaller screens, the driver instrument display and navigation screen on the left and an information display in front of the passenger.

Functionally, everything except for the instrument display is controlled using the 11.1-inch touchscreen on the center stack with a Google-based operating system.

The system was highly responsive and intuitively organized. It features built-in Google Maps, web browsing, and media streaming capability.

High-quality interior

While the massive panoramic screen on the front dash may steal the show, it's Lincoln's thoughtful eye for detail that stands out, like the soft touch leather materials in high contact areas, upscale metallic and glass finishes on switch gear, and subtle wood grain accents create a refined and tasteful environment.

Overall ergonomics of the Nautilus interior are excellent, with plenty of story and charging options. Lincoln's build and the material quality of the interior are both excellent. Everything felt well screwed together with no rattles or squeaks around.

Integrated door handle

The integrated door handles are one of my favorite design touches. It's a feature shared with the most recent Lincoln Continental sedan, one of my other favorite cars.

Perfect Position seats

Lincoln has traditionally done well with seat design, and this trend continues with the Nautilus and its Perfect Position seats.

The leather, massaging front seats were some of the most comfortable and supportive I've experienced in a long time. The 24-way power adjustability allows you to really fine-tune the positioning of the seat.

Plush rear cabin

Lincoln did not skimp when it came to putting together the rear cabin. Material quality continues to be excellent, as do the fun accent pieces adorning the cabin. The heated, contoured leather seats feel plush and supportive.

Lincoln Rejuvenate

The Nautilus comes with a multi-sensory relaxation feature called Lincoln Rejuvenate. It's basically an in-car spa experience that uses the seats' heat and massage features along with a selection of sounds, scents, and visuals to create a curated relaxation time for the driver when the vehicle is stationary.

BlueCruise handsfree driving

The Nautilus comes with a four-year subscription to Ford's/Lincoln's excellent BlueCruise hands-free driving tech, which works brilliantly on straight highway sections. The system augments the intelligent adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems that come standard on the Nautilus.

Securicode keyless keypad

The Nautilus also comes with Ford's keyless keypad, a staple on high-end Ford models for more than 40 years. The pad, located on the front door pillars, allows keyless entry via a programmable five-digit code.

28-Speaker sound system

The Revel Ultima 3D sound system in the Nautilus is truly impressive. The 28-speaker system is immensely powerful but also capable of picking up minute nuances in the music.

Relaxed and refined driving experience

Despite the peppy acceleration from the 250-horsepower turbo four under the hood (0-60 in 7.3 seconds, according to Car and Driver), the Nautilus was made for comfortable cruising.

Keep the driving relaxed, and the Nautilus will reward you with a smooth and effortless experience. The cabin remains quiet and well isolated even in rush hour traffic and the suspension dispatches with the bump with ease without feeling like a wallowy land yacht.

Adjustable cabin scents

The Nautilus comes with three different scents that the driver can diffuse throughout the cabin. They range from Violet Cashmere, which smells of florals and fresh linen, to Mystic Forest, which is woody and smells of patchouli.

LED animation lights

The Nautilus is equipped with Lincoln's Embrace welcome lighting system, which detects the keyfob and illuminates the door handle lights as the driver approaches the vehicle. The LED light bars on the front and rear of the vehicle also perform an animated light show to greet the driver.

• Today's cruise ships may have zip lines and skating rinks, but they're not all as elegant as they once were.
• People used to dress up in tuxedos and evening gowns.
• To pass the time, events like egg-and-spoon races were commonplace.

Nowadays, cruise ships may boast large swimming pools, planetariums, and zip lines, but many floating resorts have lost their timeless elegance.

Before air travel became commonplace, cruise ships were the only method of long-distance travel.

These ships — on which celebrities and wealthy people would spend weeks and months at a time — were the epitome of class and luxury.

Take a look at these stunning pictures of cruise ships in their glory days.

Cruise ships of the past were more than just floating malls.

Celebrities like Mae West were regulars. West famously preferred sea travel to flying.

As were Hollywood icons like Cary Grant ...

... former first lady Jackie O ...

... silver screen actor Elizabeth Taylor ...

... and Ginger Rogers.

Cruise ships weren't just ways to travel from one place to another — they were seen as luxurious vacations in their own right.

Many cruise ships were equipped with swimming pools. Some had marble tiling.

This 1950s cruise ship served a buffet lunch poolside.

Pre-internet and smartphones, people came up with all sorts of ways to pass the time.

They played games ...

... engaged in rounds of tug of war ...

... and even set up boxing matches.

They had egg-and-spoon races, too.

Cruise ship dining halls featured waiters in white jackets serving dinner and drinks.

This dining room looked more like an opera house than a cruise ship cafeteria or buffet.

Even older passenger ships boasted incredible skylights ...

... and intricate carvings on the walls.

More modern cruise ships in the 1960s had sweeping spiral staircases.

People got really dressed up for dinner, opting for cocktail dresses or even black-tie attire.

Of course, everyone drank a lot, too. After all, there's an old wives' tale that Champagne is good for seasickness.

In the 1960s, cruise ship lounges became more futuristic-looking.

There were dancing events, like this hula class on a cruise ship in 1954.

Passengers could also enjoy live music on board.

Mostly, there was a whole lot of lounging around.

Despite being in the middle of the ocean, cruise ships offered all the amenities of the mainland.

Passengers could call home ...

... get their laundry done ...

... and even pick up prescriptions at the on-board pharmacy.

Some cruise ships had air-conditioned cinema and theater rooms where guests could catch a movie.

People could also exercise in group classes, like this aerobics class on a cruise ship in 1961.

It was also possible to get married on a cruise ship, like this couple pictured in 1960.

• Elon Musk's focus on DOGE has hurt Tesla's sales.
• But how much has his DOGE bender affected the Cybertruck?
• Q1 estimates from Cox Automotive provide some clues.

We know that Elon Musk's DOGE bender has seriously hurt sales of Tesla cars. But what about the Cybertruck specifically?

Tesla doesn't break out quarterly delivery numbers for this divisive vehicle. But once a quarter, Cox Automotive estimates electric vehicle sales and includes a number for Cybertrucks.

This is one of the only sources where you can see how the Cybertruck performed in any period. The angular, futuristic beast is either loved or despised. As Musk has waded deeper into DOGE, this vehicle has become even more polarizing, if that was possible. (I've even stopped mentioning that I once had a reservation to buy a Cybertruck. Please don't tell anyone.)

About a month ago, I was walking with a friend through my hometown and there was a Cybertruck parked near the sidewalk. It had a deep burgundy wrap and I remarked on that. My buddy started swearing and shouting about Elon and how despicable the vehicle was. I'd never seen him so angry (except when the Eagles lose).

With reactions like this, I've been wondering if anyone at all would buy a Cybertruck this year. And yet, I see them around Silicon Valley relatively often still. So, how did it do in Q1?

Cox estimates that Tesla sold 6,406 Cybertrucks in the first three months of 2025.

That compares to 12,991 units in the fourth quarter of 2024 before Elon went full DOGE. (This decline happened even as Tesla cut prices.)

A year ago, in the first quarter of 2024, Tesla delivered 2,803 Cybertrucks, according to Cox.

The Cybertruck had been outselling some other EV truck models. But this time, in Q1, Ford sold more F-150 Lightning trucks, according to Cox estimates.

At one point, in the third quarter of 2024, the Cybertruck was the third-most-popular EV in the US, outselling every other non-Tesla electric vehicle, according to Cox.

Q3 seems such a long time ago now.

• After living in Charleston, South Carolina, for 20 years, I have a lot of advice for visitors.
• Prepare for the humidity, cobblestone streets, and laid-back pace before visiting the city.
• Check the event calendars and the weather, and make your dinner reservations in advance.

I've called Charleston, South Carolina, home for nearly two decades.

It's a great place that's often voted one of the best cities to visit on travel guides and lists — in part for its renowned historic charm, vibrant culture, and incredible food scene.

It draws a lot of visitors, and I've seen many of them make common mistakes or miss out on incredible opportunities in the city.

Here are a few things I want visitors to know before they head to Charleston if they want to have a great trip.

The humidity here is no joke.

Charleston can get incredibly humid, especially during the summer months. Be prepared for thick, muggy air and pack accordingly — light, breathable fabrics are your best friend.

Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and don't underestimate the impact of the heat.

Charleston's culinary scene is about much more than just seafood.

Although seafood is a staple in Charleston's cuisine, the city offers much more than just fish and oysters.

From classic Southern comfort dishes like fried chicken and collard greens to globally-inspired options like Thai, Italian, and French cuisine, there's something for everyone.

Be sure to explore the city's diverse culinary landscape when you visit.

You can't walk around with open containers.

South Carolina has strict open-container laws, meaning you can't drink alcohol in public places like streets or sidewalks.

I've seen too many tourists strolling with a beer in hand, only to be stopped by local law enforcement. Keep your beverages confined to bars and restaurants to avoid fines and frustration.

Don't miss a stop at the nearby Isle of Palms.

Although downtown Charleston receives much of the spotlight, a trip to the Isle of Palms (about 15 miles away) is well worth your time.

With its pristine beaches, great dining options, and opportunities for paddleboarding or kayaking, it's an escape that balances the historic charm of downtown with a laid-back coastal vibe.

In my opinion, Wild Dunes Resort on Isle Of Palms is also worth a visit for a night or two. It combines Charleston's charm with private beach access, golf courses, a spa, pools, and more.

Leave your heels at home.

Charleston's historic cobblestone streets may look charming, but they can be a nightmare for anyone in heels.

Wedges or sneakers are a much better choice for strolling through the city if you want to feel comfortable and safe on uneven terrain.

Make sure you know the beach-access and parking rules.

The city's surrounding beaches are beautiful, but accessing them comes with some rules.

In particular, pay close attention to parking signs — some areas require all four tires to be off the road, and failure to comply can result in a ticket.

Plan ahead and know the regulations to avoid any hassles.

There's almost always a festival or event happening, so do your research before you visit.

Charleston's sense of community and celebration makes it feel like there's always a festival taking place.

And, in reality, the city's calendar is packed with events year-round, from the Charleston Wine + Food Festival to Spoleto Festival USA, which is all about performing arts.

Check out the city's event schedule before you visit — you might stumble upon a unique experience.

It can get cold here even though we're in the South.

Although Charleston is in the South, don't assume it's warm all year round.

If you're visiting in January or February, be prepared for chilly temperatures that can dip into the 30s. On rare occasions, you might even see snow.

It's not poolside weather during these months, so pack accordingly and plan indoor activities just in case.

Mentally prepare yourself for the city's slower, laid-back pace.

Charleston operates at its own relaxed rhythm, and it's part of the charm. Take your time, enjoy leisurely meals, and stroll through the historic streets without rushing.

Also, remember to be polite and courteous — holding doors open for others is a common practice and a great way to show Southern hospitality.

Try not to huff and puff if you're used to hustle and bustle, as that's not the vibe here. Charleston invites you to slow down and soak in its tranquil, easygoing atmosphere.

Book your dining reservations in advance.

If you're hoping to dine at one of the many popular restaurants in Charleston, it's definitely wise to book your table early.

However, keep in mind that some local favorites, like Chubby Fish, don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait in line for a table.

• On Passover, observant Jews refrain from eating leavened foods or foods with leavening ingredients.
• Yellow caps on Coke bottles indicate the soda is kosher, or fit, for drinking on Passover.
• It's made with Coke's original recipe of sucrose instead of corn syrup.

If you've perused the beverage aisle of your local supermarket lately, you may have noticed that some soda bottles are sporting yellow caps instead of their usual colors. That's because the Jewish holiday of Passover is approaching, and if you're a devoted foodie, you might want to grab a bottle before it disappears until next spring.

Year-round, Jewish organizations like the Orthodox Union work with companies to ensure that the food they produce meets dietary standards as detailed in the Torah and codes of Jewish law. If everything checks out, their products are certified kosher — meaning fit or proper in Hebrew — with symbols on the packaging.

On Passover, Jewish dietary restrictions are different and require a higher level of certification

This year, Passover begins on the evening of April 12 and lasts through April 20.

Many Jews observing the holiday of Passover refrain from eating anything categorized as "chametz" — leavened foods or foods with leavening ingredients made from barley, rye, oats, wheat, or spelt — for the duration of the holiday. Eastern European Jews of Ashkenazi descent (which make up about 75% of the Jewish population) also avoid another category known as "kitniyot," which includes legumes and other grains like corn.

Coca-Cola is certified kosher year-round, but its high-fructose corn syrup renders it unfit for consumption on Passover.

Coke actually used to be made with sucrose (made from cane or beet sugar) instead of high-fructose corn syrup, but when the switch was made, Coca-Cola sodas became off-limits on Passover.

In 1935, Rabbi Tuvia Geffen, who served as the rabbi of Atlanta's Congregation Shearith Israel for 60 years, worked with the company to reinstate a limited run of the original recipe around Passover time so that Jews observing the holiday could still enjoy it, The New York Times reported.

Today, bottles containing the Passover-friendly soda are marked with yellow caps

The caps are also stamped with "O-U-P," the Passover kosher certification symbol of the Orthodox Union.

It's not just observant Jews who are grateful for Coke without corn syrup. Purists, foodies, and hipsters who can tell the difference between the two concoctions wait all year to buy up batches of Coca-Cola with sucrose, claiming it tastes better with the original sweetener.

Try it while it lasts!

• Mira Murati spent 6 ½ years at OpenAI, where she served as the CTO, working on ChatGPT.
• Her new company is in the process of raising upwards of $2 billion of venture funding, sources told BI.
• Even by the standards of today's frothy AI market, $2 billion for a startup less than a year old is a gargantuan sum.

Mira Murati, OpenAI's former chief technology officer, is expanding her fundraising ambitions for Thinking Machines Lab, her hotly anticipated new generative AI company that has been the subject of feverish interest and speculation from investors in Silicon Valley.

The company is raising upward of $2 billion of venture funding, sources familiar with the matter told Business Insider. That is double what Murati was seeking less than two months ago when BI reported she was raising around $1 billion at a $9 billion valuation.

It is not clear the new valuation Murati is seeking, though two people said it is at least $10 billion.

The round is still in progress, and details could change. A spokesperson for Murati declined to comment.

The increased amount reflects intense investor enthusiasm for generative AI and the fact there are a very limited number of people with the expertise of Murati and the team she has assembled. It is also extremely expensive to train AI models and recruit and retain top talent.

OpenAI's former chief research officer, Bob McGrew, and researcher, Alec Radford, both recently joined Thinking Machines.

Several of Murati's other former coworkers are working for Thinking Machines, including John Schulman, who co-led the creation of ChatGPT; Jonathan Lachman, formerly the head of special projects at OpenAI; Barret Zoph, a cocreator of ChatGPT; and Alexander Kirillov, who worked closely with Murati on ChatGPT's voice mode.

Murati previously spent 6 ½ years at OpenAI, where she served as the chief technology officer, working on the development of ChatGPT and other AI research initiatives. She was briefly appointed interim CEO in November 2023 after OpenAI's board abruptly fired Sam Altman, a move that sparked turmoil within the company. After Altman's reinstatement as CEO, Murati resumed her role as CTO.

It has been a mystery what exactly Thinking Machines will do to distinguish itself in a crowded and well-funded field that includes not only OpenAI but also Anthropic, Elon Musk's xAI, and Google's Gemini.

In a blog post earlier this year, Murati positioned the startup as an artificial intelligence research and product lab focused on making AI more accessible.

"To bridge the gaps, we're building Thinking Machines Lab to make AI systems more widely understood, customizable and generally capable," the post said.

Even by the standards of today's frothy AI market, $2 billion of funding for a startup less than a year old with no product is a gargantuan sum and would almost certainly rank as one of the largest, if not the largest, seed rounds in history.

Last year, OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever raised a $1 billion seed round for yet another AI startup, SSI.

• Trump may have calmed his global trade war, but his tariff offensive is still hitting Canada hard.
• Canadian autoworkers told BI they are grappling with layoff fears and cutting back on spending.
• An industry representative said the tariffs were "severely disrupting" Canada's auto business.

Donald Trump may have pulled back from his sweeping tariff assault — but for Canada's autoworkers, their problems feel far from over.

On Wednesday, he announced a 90-day pause for the wave of "reciprocal" tariffs but kept in place the 25% levy on imported vehicles that analysts have warned will devastate the North American auto industry.

Canada, which exports the vast majority of its cars to the US, has already seen factory pauses and temporary layoffs because of the tariffs, and workers told Business Insider they are bracing for further chaos and disruption.

Jeff Gray, a longtime autoworker and the president of the local Unifor union in Oshawa, Ontario, described the atmosphere at the city's General Motors plant as anxious, with workers "bracing for impact."

"It affects morale. Our members come to work every day and work hard to take home a paycheck to their family. They need to pay their mortgages, they need to pay their rent, their car payments, and everything that comes along," he told BI.

"Having that anxiousness that all that could be taken away from us at any moment, it does have an impact," said Gray.

GM did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

One worker at an Ontario plant run by F&P Mfg, a Japanese auto parts supplier, told BI that the tariff uncertainty was already being felt at her factory, which supplies car parts to Honda, Stellantis, GM, and Tesla.

She said that production for US-based companies like GM and Stellantis had decreased since Trump won the election and that the factory had cut weekend shifts due to US production drops.

"We are absolutely concerned. It's similar to COVID. We know the reality is any day we go into work, we could be laid off," said the worker, whose partner also works in the auto industry.

"We have a little savings we were going to use for our honeymoon, but now we're saving that as backup money," she added.

F&P Mfg did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

End of the 'invisible border'

The tariffs have already shaken Ontario's auto industry. Jeep and RAM owner Stellantis said last week it would idle production at its Windsor, Ontario factory and temporarily lay off 4,500 hourly workers.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, meanwhile, warned last month that the tariffs could lead to factory shutdowns on both sides of the border.

Brian Kingston, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, told BI the tariffs were "severely disrupting" Canadian supply chains that have been closely integrated with their southern neighbor for the past 60 years.

"Auto companies don't have any certainty around what the trade rules are and what they may be," said Kingston.

He added that the "completely inconsistent" trade barriers will have an "extremely devastating" impact on the Canadian economy and, if they remain in place long-term, may lead to production and job losses in the US and Canada.

"People are scared and confused. There's fear of job losses, hour reductions, and layoffs," said the F&P Mfg worker, who asked to be kept anonymous because she was not authorized to speak to the press. BI has verified her identity.

"Since COVID, many jobs haven't returned to the way they were; soaring prices and inflation have just made it hard to live," she added.

Gray said Oshawa's autoworkers were surprised by the sudden imposition of tariffs by a country that has long been a close partner.

"I was just taken aback. Here in Canada, we're so used to having almost an invisible border between us and the United States," he said.

"Honestly, I thought we had this friendship and relationship with our American friends that this would never happen," Gray added.

Canada has already signaled it is prepared to fight back against the tariffs, and Trump's broader suggestion he could attempt to turn Canada into a 51st state. On Wednesday, the Canadian government imposed its own 25% tariff on certain vehicle exports from the US.

Gray said the initial shock and uncertainty had given way to a sense of solidarity among the union's members.

"There's a level of defiance. Our membership is sick of being antagonized by Donald Trump," he said.

"Everybody knows we've earned these jobs over 90 years. We are going to fight and do whatever we have to do to make sure these auto jobs remain in Ontario," Gray added.

• After being called back to the office, IRS workers have been battling with a lack of workspace and spotty internet.
• BI spoke to eight employees who said the RTO mandate has been the opposite of efficient.
• Some also spoke of data privacy fears due to working in substandard office conditions.

Tax season is a source of angst for many Americans. This year, Internal Revenue Service employees who have returned to the office are in the same boat.

Amid the agency's return-to-office mandate, which has been a priority for the White House DOGE office, workers said they've operated out of conference rooms and cafeterias, battled spotty internet connections, and navigated boxes of paperwork scattered throughout the halls.

"It was a huge mess," one IRS employee told Business Insider. "There's no space for everyone and no exceptions for this RTO."

BI spoke with eight IRS employees who were granted anonymity. While they said it had come with certain upsides, like leaving work at the office, many said the return had been tumultuous and the opposite of efficient.

"People are not happy, and it's going to affect productivity going forward," one employee said.

Productivity is one thing, but taxpayer privacy — especially with a looming April 15 filing deadline — is another. With workers crammed into conference rooms, one told BI, "You have to be careful who can see over your shoulder or if the person next to you can see what you're doing."

The Treasury Department was "making every effort to return our entire workforce to meaningful in-person work quickly," a spokesperson told BI. "Bureaus and offices are fast-tracking high impact building improvements and rearranging workspaces as quickly as possible to make this return to office as seamless and comfortable as possible.

"That said, about 5,000 IRS employees nationwide do not currently have an adequate workspace within a 50-mile commuting radius."

Those employees are exempt from the return to office until the Treasury finds "a safe and comfortable" space for them, the spokesperson said. The IRS employed about 99,000 people as of September, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

A spokesperson for DOGE did not respond to a request for comment.

'The opposite of efficiency'

President Donald Trump has said that federal employees working remotely are "not very productive" and "most of the time they're not working." He's not alone: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has said that employees working remotely are "not paying attention." (Some research has found that RTO policies don't necessarily spur productivity and can sometimes stifle innovation.)

In late February, the IRS sent an email saying all employees within 50 miles of an office were required to return to in-person work five days a week. The email, viewed by BI, added that all remote work agreements would be canceled.

"Working together in-person with one's team fosters meaningful collaboration, mentorship, and comradery," the email said.

Workers returned to the office on March 10. One employee told BI when they showed up to their assigned workspace, another worker was sitting there, leaving them to work out of a conference room all week. They said the WiFi was "absolutely horrible," and calls kept dropping. When a cubicle finally opened up, there wasn't any office equipment, they said.

"All day I was trying to get a monitor, docking station, and keys for all the locks," the employee said, "a complete waste of time and the opposite of efficiency."

Efficiency challenges at the IRS aren't new. BI reported in 2022 that a local IRS office in Austin had a cafeteria stuffed with boxes filled with paper returns while the agency grappled with backlogs from understaffing.

Several employees who spoke with BI were concerned about taxpayer security because of what they described as substandard working conditions. They said that while protecting taxpayer information is prioritized in training sessions, returning to the office presents some risks that weren't prevalent before COVID-19. Because some employees were given the option of telework at the time, fewer people were in the office. Now, that option is gone.

"Employees aren't allowed to see taxpayer data that they haven't been assigned," one IRS worker said. "That takes finesse if you're in a conference room with 10 to 15 other people."

Taxpayer privacy and security are "drilled into every employee," the worker said, and they're baked into the agency's institutional culture — not to mention its legal responsibilities.

"We are currently in an environment with heightened risks to taxpayer privacy," Brandon DeBot, policy director at New York University's Tax Law Center, said in an email.

DeBot said several factors present risks, including "DOGE affiliates' unprecedented and extraordinarily broad requests for access to tax data; large-scale layoffs of IRS employees; and the removal and replacement of top IRS personnel."

'Nothing is going to get the public more pissed off'

An IRS employee told BI that former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which increased IRS funding to mitigate staffing issues, would continue to support the agency in carrying out its responsibilities during tax season.

In a February email, the IRS told employees that it would retain staff critical to the tax filing season as it underwent workforce reductions. As one employee put it, "Nothing is going to get the public more pissed off" than cutting resources during tax season.

Another employee said they felt that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent "is smart in that he won't heavily affect taxpayer-facing positions or positions that carry out critical processes like returns."

The Treasury Department announced its second deferred-resignation offer to agency employees on April 7. The email announcing the offer, viewed by BI, said some employees were deemed "mission critical" and ineligible to participate.

Still, the IRS fired about 7,000 probationary employees in February before the RTO mandate went into effect, and another round of workforce reductions at the agency is expected in the coming weeks.

Top staffers have also left the IRS over the past three months, which has added to the chaos. The Treasury Department confirmed to BI that Melanie Krause, the acting commissioner, is leaving the agency as early as May 15.

For those who remain, the RTO would likely make things more difficult as agency work picked up.

"Half my team works in other states, so being in an office doesn't facilitate collaboration with them," one employee said. "The office is unfit for work in a whole lot of ways."

The employee added that their workstation was near a worker who didn't have a headset, which meant listening to their coworker's conference call for an hour. They added that some of the workstations had items left behind by former employees — both personal items and old work documents — and that, at one point, there were "hundreds of storage boxes full of paper documents" lining the halls by some cubicles.

Workers were told not to bring personal equipment into the office — only IRS-distributed equipment, per an email reviewed by BI.

"None of this is to drive efficiency or productivity," one employee said, "or the ever-popular word used for every RTO mandate, which is collaboration."

Have a tip or story to share? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at asheffey.97. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Felicia Tang is chief of staff at AI search engine startup Exa.
• After finding LinkedIn reach-outs lacking for recruiting, she went IRL, posting math questions all over San Francisco.
• She said she heard from interested Apple and Google employees, puzzle enthusiasts, and even a would-be suitor.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Felicia Tang, chief of staff at startup Exa. It has been edited for length and clarity.

San Francisco is a super competitive job market, especially for machine learning engineers and high-quality backend and full-stack engineers.

For us, outbound hiring usually means our cofounders tapping into their Harvard networks, or us identifying companies we think have good engineers and manually sending personalized messages on LinkedIn. But this takes a lot of time, it's extremely monotonous, and it doesn't yield such great returns.

So we were thinking, how do we get people who are already interested to come to us?

I got to thinking about nerd-sniping, which is essentially where really smart or curious people see a problem and they can't just walk away — they have to solve it. That's the type of person we want.

So, what if we did a treasure hunt, or put up posters in the city? That's where the idea of math questions came up.

I asked our engineers to come up with math problems that equal exa, which is a prefix meaning 10^18. Then I added a slug to our website for people who solved the problem. It says dinner's on us; if you're interested, email Felicia.

Our CEO, Will, and I put up around 100 posters of five different problems. We started on foot but it was insanely inefficient so we scootered the rest of the way.

There's a map online with locations of all of the tech offices, and they're concentrated in this line, so we postered there. We also hit Hayes Valley because there's a lot of foot traffic there and ended at Dolores Park and just handed posters out to people there.

Initially, we felt a little bit down about it. We were like, "Nobody's going to look at these posters. What are we doing?"

Handing out the posters to people was also kind of daunting. I'm an introvert, so I was like, "We're going to go up to people and give them math questions?" But it actually worked out.

I got over 100 emails. I also posted on LinkedIn about our posters, and my connection requests went from like 100 to almost 600.

Some people who emailed just said, "I love puzzles. If you have more puzzles, give them to me."

Other said they were interested in our open jobs and sent me their résumés. We got people from Google, Apple, Retool, a ton of machine learning Ph.D. candidates.

Some people were just asking for Uber Eats credits. They were like, "You said dinner's on us."

One person even asked me out.

Our signs were also reposted on different blogs. Somebody put it up on Hacker News. They roasted it for being too brute-force of a problem and wanted fewer mechanical problems. We thought this was really funny. For me, I see it as a win; if you have haters on Hacker News, you're doing something right.

I've had intro chats with probably around 30 people from our posters, and I have more on my calendar. We haven't extended any offers yet, but people are going through the pipeline.

We're looking for curious, fun people through this experiment. If you see a problem like this, are you interested in solving it? It's insanely important for people to have that spark in their eye.

We're around 25 people now, so we're a lean team. That means one right hire can change the trajectory in an amazing way, and one wrong hire can change the trajectory in a pretty detrimental way.

We're a startup, so we work really long hours. Without using LLMs or so on, can you brute force your way through a problem and solve it? If you can do that for a 5-minute problem, then maybe you're willing to do that for a much bigger problem.

There are more software engineers than ever now but, at the same time, we have an extremely high hiring bar. We're also a startup, so it's an entirely different culture from the rest of the tech industry, especially Big Tech.

One of my colleagues came from a quant firm and I asked him if any one of his friends wants to work here. He said, "Well, they just have different goals in life. They don't really want to grind at a startup. They want to, like, get better at volleyball."

In the future, I think we can definitely still have puzzles as one form of inbound hiring, and it's also a really good filter. We might make an insanely hard puzzle and take it very seriously as inbound.

I feel like San Francisco sometimes is seen as a very introverted or siloed type of city. Post-COVID, especially in San Francisco, I feel like there's been less of a person-to-person culture; you don't really see strangers talk to each other that much.

But everyone was super receptive, even if they didn't know how to solve the puzzle or didn't want to. You can just put stuff out there, and people will respond to it and engage with it.

Do you have a story to share on recruiting methods or job-searching? Reach out to this reporter at [email protected].

• My daughter shares a lot with me: celebrity gossip, facts about TV shows, things about her friends.
• I can't — or may not want to — remember all of it, which frustrates my daughter.
• I recall similar frustrations with my own mother, and now realize memory loss isn't a lack of love.

Memory can be a tricky thing, especially when you start having problems with it.

For me, it started with names. Last weekend, while standing in line to see a movie, I caught the eye of someone I knew on the same line. She waved with great enthusiasm, then said "hi" and my name in the same breath. I waved back, but had no idea what to call her. Her name was gone, poof, just like that. Instantaneously removed from the name-file in my brain.

This memory thing also invaded my relationship with my 16-year-old daughter. She throws so many things at me, possibly in hopes of making a connection, but some of it just won't stick. It could be something she's told me about a new Netflix series she's into that I totally blotted out. Or something about a friend that had slipped my mind. Or some celebrity gossip she'd mentioned that I had no recollection of or didn't really care about at the time. And like I did with my own mother, she gets mad at me for not remembering.

I had the same complaint with my own mother

I've been a single mom since my daughter was five and I worked hard on being a good parent to her. My mom's forgetting things always felt like a lack of love. In other words, 'if you loved me, you'd remember the things that are important to me' was what I thought back then.

Now that I'm faced with the same situation, I know that a lack of memory isn't from a lack of love. The fact is, my brain can only remember so much at this point in my life, and it turns out, it remembers the things it needs to like paying bills on time, putting gas in the car, and the names of people I love.

After much frustration, I now have a comeback for my daughter

Finally, after feeling piles of guilt due to the backlash I receive, one day I said, "Is this something I need to remember?" after she told me some news about a friend at school. Of course, she got wicked mad when I said that. But the liberation I felt from those seven simple words spouting from my mouth extinguished a whole lot of guilt about something it seems I can't control. Or don't want to.

Memory loss, even on a small scale, is scary

Sometimes memory loss scares people. Many of us know someone who has suffered from Alzheimer's or dementia. I often wonder if that may be what my daughter worries about when I don't recall things she'd like me to remember. I know I felt that way about my own mother when her memory problems got bad, eventually slipping into dementia. It's a scary thing to have to face and deal with.

So maybe moving forward, I'll be more gentle with my daughter, saying the phrase in a more loving way, in hopes of providing reassurance for the two of us, while we both consider, is this something I need to remember?

• Trump's tariffs on imports may raise prices for groceries like coffee and seafood.
• Most US fresh fruit, coffee, and seafood are imported, and much of it faces 10% tariffs.
• Canada and Mexico are exempt from certain tariffs, providing a buffer for some US imports.

President Donald Trump promised to make Americans' grocery bills more affordable. But his sweeping tariffs on imports of everyday staples like fresh fruit, coffee, and seafood are expected to raise prices, food industry analysts and retailers said.

Most of the fresh fruit, coffee, and fish Americans consume are shipped from overseas including Peru, Chile, and Indonesia, federal data shows. Meanwhile, France and Italy are among the top suppliers of wine to the US market. Vanilla, a key ingredient in pastries and other sweets, mainly comes from Madagascar.

On April 2, Trump, on what he called "Liberation Day," announced a 10% baseline tariff on imports from nearly all countries. Some countries were hit harder than others, including a threatened 20% tariff on the European Union and a 46% tariff on Vietnam.

The stock market plummeted, and Trump on April 9 announced a 90-day pause on those steeper tariffs — except on China, which faces an even higher 145% rate — but kept a 10% tariff intact on most other countries.

"A 10% tariff is still likely to pose inflationary pressures on food prices, but with much less intensity and speed than the much higher rates included in the country-specific tariff list," Andrew Harig, vice president of tax, trade, sustainability, and policy development at the Food Marketing Institute, a trade group representing grocery chains and food manufacturers, told Business Insider.

Harig added that while the 90-day pause is a good thing for retailers and consumers, the ongoing uncertainty over US trade policy will be challenging for them to navigate.

"For a company to change where they source product, they really need to know what the market is going to look like on a broader time horizon than three months," Harig said.

White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement that "Chicken Little 'expert' predictions" didn't pan out during Trump's first term and will not during his second term when the president "again restores American Greatness from Main Street to Wall Street."

Before Trump's trade battles, grocery staples like eggs, coffee, and olive oil had already become more expensive over the last five years due to a combination of a bird flu outbreak, supply chain disruptions from COVID-19, weather disasters in some countries, and broader inflation.

Fresh fruits like bananas, pineapples, and avocados could see price hikes quickly because they don't have a long shelf life. Suppliers can't build up large inventories of produce and try to sell them later if prices rise due to tariffs.

For packaged foods, it could be months before costs go up. How much depends on whether importers, manufacturers, and retailers spread out the additional cost hikes, Harig added.

He said one silver lining is that agricultural and other goods from Canada and Mexico that comply with those countries' free trade agreements with the US are exempt from higher tariffs. Most of America's fruit and vegetable imports come from them, and Canada is also a top supplier of fish.

Here are five grocery items that likely will be more expensive:

Coffee

The US relies on Brazil, Colombia, and several other Central American countries for much of its coffee supply. These countries, as well as Kenya and Ethiopia, are now facing 10% tariffs.

"Coffee is seasonal, so at this time of year, coffees from Ethiopia and Kenya are in some stage of transport," Noah Namowicz, chief operating officer and partner at Cafe Imports, a Minneapolis-based company that sources coffee from 24 countries, told BI. "They will be subject to these tariffs, in addition to most Central American coffees."

Coffee growers in Peru and Brazil typically start shipments in August and September.

Namowicz said the coffee industry was already experiencing unprecedented cost increases this year due to drought in Brazil and a typhoon in Vietnam that shrunk production. Adding tariffs to the equation exacerbates the costs.

"Ultimately, the average cup of coffee or a bag in stores in cafés is going to increase," Namowicz said.

He added that the US produces some coffee in Hawaii and California, but the climate is not ideal for growing coffee elsewhere in the country.

Bananas and broccoli

Mexico and Canada are the top suppliers of US fruit and vegetable imports overall, and most agricultural goods are exempt from Trump's new tariffs.

However, federal data shows that Guatemala, Ecuador, and Costa Rica are leading exporters of bananas. Guatemala is also the third-largest exporter of fresh and chilled broccoli and cauliflower to the US.

Bananas are the most popular fruit in the US, but the majority are imported. While broccoli and cauliflower are grown in California year-round, it isn't enough to meet all of the US demand.

Wine

Wines and all other products imported from France and Italy — the two largest suppliers to the US — will be hit with 10% tariffs. Wines from Argentina, Chile, and New Zealand will likely be more expensive, as well.

"Previously, when the cost of those wines went up, consumers switched to California wine," Harig said. "But then sometimes you see those costs go up, too, because there's more demand. So it creates a little bit of a counterintuitive result."

Harig said wine has a many-step distribution process, including shippers, receivers, brokers, and distributors. Each player may absorb some of the tariff increases to limit the impact on consumers.

Seafood

The US relies on other countries to feed Americans' growing appetite for seafood. About 80% of US seafood comes from abroad.

India, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Vietnam are the top suppliers of shrimp — the most popular seafood in the US — while Chile and Norway export a lot of farmed salmon.

Do you have a story to share about how the tariffs are affecting your finances or business? Email this reporter at [email protected].

• Kimberly Kelley, 71, moved from a small town in Arizona to Panama in 2023.
• Kelley lives in a condo on the beach, paying a little more than she spent on housing in the US.
• Her groceries, car-related payments, and healthcare costs are cheaper, and she's much happier.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Kelley, a 71-year-old retired hypnotherapist who moved from Arizona to Panama in 2023. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm from Arizona — a town called Cottonwood, up near Sedona.

Before I retired, I worked as a licensed hypnotherapist and was also a minister at a spiritual center that my ex and I founded. After living in Cottonwood for years, a number of factors made me want to leave — not just the town but ultimately the US as well.

During COVID-19, many people from California started buying property in Sedona and renting it out short-term, which drove up prices and pushed out local workers. People who could no longer afford Sedona moved to Cottonwood, which then caused prices to rise there, too.

Affordability wasn't the main reason I wanted to leave the US. The increasingly toxic political environment also concerned me. On top of that, my husband and I got divorced after 30 years of marriage, my mom passed away, and the dog I had rescued died — all within three months of each other.

I just tapped out. I needed a fresh start, a sense of adventure — something that would let me reinvent myself.

While I've always been comfortable traveling, my biggest hesitation was missing my family. But after some reflection, I realized that my family is spread out across the US, and I only see them about once a year anyway.

I thought, why not do that from another country like Panama?

My Google searches led me to Panama

Panama came onto my radar through an online search.

I was looking up the best and most affordable places to retire on the beach. Every time I typed something in, Panama kept popping up.

Several things attracted me: the country's natural beauty, climate, and affordability. The fact that they speak Spanish was another big plus. I have a Spanish background and wanted to brush up on my language skills. I'm getting fluent — still not quite there yet, but close.

Panama is also not that far from the US — about four hours from Houston — so it's easy to get back if needed.

The country offers some incredible financial benefits for retirees. The most important ones for me are the 25% discount on round-trip flights originating in Panama, 50% off entertainment, and 25% off healthcare. That's on top of its already incredibly low prices.

I took a scouting trip to Panama in July 2023, and just four months later, in November, I sold everything I owned and made the move.

I'm paying more for housing, but it's worth it

I live about an hour and a half outside Panama City, in a little town called San Carlos. I love it here.

It's kind of a busy area that is known for its beaches. Many expats have settled there, and one of the main hubs nearby is a town called Coronado. That's where all the key amenities are — larger grocery stores (not quite big-box by US standards, but big for here), hardware stores similar to Home Depot, doctors, dentists, hair salons.

It's also a popular vacation spot for locals from Panama City. Many own condos out here that they rent out on Airbnb when not using them.

When I came on my recon trip in July, I had a handler named Angela. She took me all over the area to check out different neighborhoods where I could live. I wanted a condo on the beach — that was non-negotiable.

By chance, we connected with a condo owner, an American who retired in Panama City. She and I hit it off, and she offered to hold a unit until I could move in November.

My condo came fully furnished. There's just one door in, which opens into the kitchen. A balcony overlooks the ocean directly across from it, and I also have a second balcony off the bedroom.

When I first moved in, the rent was $900 monthly, including all utilities. The owner raised it to $1,000 this past year, but it's still a bargain by anyone's standards. It's a beautiful place, not some cheap little unit.

Back in Cottonwood, I lived in a studio apartment attached to the spiritual center my husband and I owned. I paid just $600 monthly, which was a bit cheaper. However, my place in Panama is more than worth the difference.

Besides the views of the Pacific Ocean and all the amenities I get from being near the city, I live in an area where many local fishermen come in. Around 8:30 every morning, they return from their night catch, and I can buy fresh fish straight from them.

I'm saving big on groceries and other expenses

Each month, I set aside money for living expenses such as housing, groceries, my car, personal maintenance fees, entertainment, and my US cellphone plan.

I budget about $300 a month for groceries. Some months, I've spent between $400 to $500, including extras — like food for potlucks, get-togethers, wine, and beach parties. Overall, it's really affordable, especially if you shop locally. If you prefer US brands, you'll pay a lot more.

I purchased a cute little 2012 Hyundai Accent outright for only about $5,000. My car insurance is just over $200.

I spend around $80 a month on fuel. Panama is a small country, and I don't drive nearly as much as I did when I lived in Arizona. That helps keep costs down. Car repairs here are also super affordable — labor runs about $25 to $35 an hour.

Healthcare is affordable, too. When I first visited Panama in July 2023, I got really sick from something I picked up in Belize. I ended up seeing two different doctors, receiving four days of steroid and antibiotic shots, going to the hospital, having X-rays and lab work, and being prescribed multiple medications.

The total cost? Under $300. That kind of care would've been impossible for that price in the US. That amount would have maybe covered a single office visit there.

I am living a dream in Panama

There's so much I love about Panama. First and foremost, the Panamanian people — they're some of the warmest and kindest you can imagine.

Making friends here has been one of the easiest parts. I joined several expat groups on Facebook, including tons specifically for Panama. From there, I found more targeted groups on WhatsApp based on my interests and activities.

Of course, I did have to adjust to a few things. The infrastructure, for example, took some getting used to. Things like trash pickup, potholes, and general maintenance can be a bit inconsistent.

People also don't lock up their dogs like we do in the States. I work with a group called Spay Panama, and we gather as many stray dogs and cats as possible — with permission from their families, of course. We take them to be spayed or neutered and then return them to their owners.

The biggest adjustment was learning to live in "mañana time." There's just a completely different energy here: laid-back and relaxed. I no longer enjoy that rushed, go-go-go mindset.

It takes courage, but it also requires a lot of curiosity and a desire to move somewhere new and reinvent yourself. I think the happiest expats are the ones who are looking for an adventure.

While I pay more in rent than I did for my old place in Arizona, living in Panama has been absolutely worth it.

My environment, peace of mind, and overall quality of life have all improved. Honestly, the lifestyle I have here would've been completely out of reach for me in the US. I feel like I'm living a dream — but this is truly my life.

• Some Amazon sellers are petitioning for the retail giant to change its buy box policies.
• Tariffs, especially on products from China, will force brands to raise prices.
• Amazon's buy box increases sales but is only added to items priced lower than competitors.

Dozens of Amazon sellers have signed a petition asking the e-commerce giant to reconsider its policies regarding its buy box, the entrepreneur who created the petition said.

The petition, which was written and circulated by e-commerce entrepreneur Brandon Fishman on Tuesday, says that since tariffs have forced many brands to consider raising their prices, they're finding themselves in a tricky situation regarding their Amazon product listings.

It's all about the buy box, long a source of stress for Amazon sellers.

"Winning" the buy box is key because it means your listing is the default purchase option and has the "Add to Cart" button on it, increasing the odds of beating competing listings to a sale.

Amazon uses a complex algorithm to determine which products win the buy box. As part of that process, it compares listed prices on Amazon to those on the same product at competitors, incentivizing sellers to always have the lowest price on Amazon.

Fishman said the fierce competition to have the lowest price on Amazon and, therefore, win the buy box means that sellers don't have as much control over their pricing as they would like.

This is especially relevant as businesses look to raise prices to weather the impact of tariffs. Since many brands also sell their products at major retailers, like Walmart and Target, that may require more notice of planned price changes in stores. Sellers can't quickly raise their prices on Amazon without risking losing the buy box, Fishman said.

"Amazon needs to give brands their own pricing power immediately," the petition reads.

Amazon representatives declined to comment on the petition but pointed to a 2020 blog post that explains how Amazon chooses which seller gets chosen for the buy box when multiple sellers are selling the same product.

"We don't want to disappoint customers, so if we or our independent sellers don't have a good offer that we're confident will preserve customer trust in our store, we won't feature an offer at all. We'd rather the customer not buy that product from Amazon than have a poor shopping experience and lose trust in Amazon," it reads.

"Of course, even when we choose not to feature a particular offer, customers can still view all of the available non-featured offers for that product."

Don't sell rather than sell at a loss

Fishman is the CEO of VitaCup, a vitamin-infused coffee and tea brand, and an Amazon marketing agency called Prime Team Agency. He told BI his clients have taken a variety of approaches in response to tariffs.

"Most people I know are just literally removing the product and not selling it because they can't sell it at a loss," he said. "People are just not sending in shipments to see what happens here the next few weeks."

BI reported earlier this month that Amazon employees, suppliers, and sellers were scrambling for solutions as they received little guidance from the company regarding how best to respond to the turmoil caused by Trump's tariffs.

David Cassarino is the director of Amazon marketing at digital growth firm National Positions. He said he signed Fishman's petition because it would be in his clients' best interest for Amazon to allow its sellers to raise prices without risking losing the buy box.

"Businesses need to react quickly to the tariffs, which have been changing daily, and right now they can't pivot fast enough due to the buy box suppressions from price increases," Cassarino said.

The global trade situation continues to evolve rapidly. On Wednesday, Trump said he would pause most of his planned tariffs and lower reciprocal tariffs to 10% for 90 days, except those on goods from China, which he raised to 125%. That means Amazon sellers are still feeling the heat from tariffs — A Jungle Scout survey from 2024 found that more than 70% of Amazon sellers source their products from China.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in an interview on CNBC Thursday morning he expected sellers would have to pass on the extra cost of tariffs to customers.

"I understand why, I mean, depending on which country you're in, you don't have 50% extra margin that you can play with," he said.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Amazon had canceled orders for products made by vendors in China and several other Asian countries.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at @mlstone.04. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• I didn't pay for my daughter's college tuition because I didn't want to risk my financial freedom.
• Instead, I paid for her car and housing while she was in college, helping her graduate.
• Now, she is paying back her loans, and I'm saving for retirement.

I am the youngest of four siblings and the only one who attended college. When I pursued my undergraduate degree, I knew the financial responsibility would fall entirely on me.

My mom didn't have much money, and although I qualified for federal and state grants, it only covered part of my college tuition. By my sophomore year, the grants ran out, and I had to take out student loans.

When I went to college in the 1990s, college was much cheaper than it is now. I went to Buffalo State in Buffalo, NY, and one semester was less than $5,000.

Years later, I decided to attend graduate school, and there were no grants, so I had to take out student loans for tens of thousands of dollars. This compounded my student debt since I was still paying for my undergraduate degree.

Now that I'm free of that debt, I had no intention of paying for my daughter's college.

Navigating the cost of college

I finished paying my student loans about five years before my daughter graduated from high school. I started thinking about how my daughter's college education would be funded.

I wanted to help her get the college education that she needed, but I also did not want to risk my financial future.

My daughter graduated from high school in 2015. She had already decided to enter nursing school and pursue her nursing degree.

When we talked about her college education, I told her I was willing to help her get the education she wanted, but I would not pay for it. I had plans for myself, including retirement, and I loved my financial freedom. I didn't want to risk losing all that.

Since I didn't want to pay directly out of pocket, we agreed that I would take out the student (parent) loans in my name so that she could attend college to pursue her nursing degree.

I provided for her needs during college

Although I was not going to pay for college, I did help her out directly in other ways. I provided her with a car.

I also paid for all her expenses to travel back home during school breaks or holidays, as well as some of her books on several occasions.

At the start of her junior year, with my support, she quit her part-time job near college, and every week, I would send her money that was the equivalent of her weekly paycheck from the previous six months.

Cost of college

She attended college from 2015 to 2019. Each school year was over $22,000 a year in tuition alone.

By the time she had finished her undergraduate degree and graduated in 2019, she (in my name) had racked up almost $110,000 in student loans between principal and interest.

She started her career as a nurse four months after graduating, and her student loan repayments began six months after graduation.

Before the first payment was due, the agreement was that she would send me her student loan payment electronically since the loan company would take the monthly payment from my bank account.

Less than a year after she graduated, I refinanced the student loans by 3% percentage points and shaved off almost 3 years of the payback period, saving her thousands of dollars of interest.

She has faithfully kept her part of the bargain as of today and only owes about $36,000 of the almost $110,000 student loan tab.

I didn't ruin my financial future and freedom

I did not (and do not) feel guilty or responsible for shouldering the financial burden of paying for her college degree. I knew I could help her in other ways that did not include making me solely responsible for her education.

Ultimately, it was her choice to go to college and the one who would benefit from earning a degree — not me.

Because I refused to pay for her college education but helped her differently, I accomplished two things. One, I helped her earn her degree; she is currently in the career of her choice.

Second, I didn't have to risk my financial freedom and future by paying for college, taking away money I could save for retirement.

• Connor returns for a second chance to find a love connection in 'Love on the Spectrum' season three.
• In episode 2, he meets Georgie, an avid bird watcher.
• Here's what to know about their relationship after the end of season three.

Warning: spoilers ahead for "Love on the Spectrum" season three.

"Love on the Spectrum" cast member Connor has finally found a new girlfriend after his love interest in season two did not pan out.

Connor is among several neurodivergent people whose dating lives are showcased in the Emmy-winning series, part of Netflix's diverse slate of dating shows.

He initially joined in season two, where he met Emily. They were still dating at the end of the series, but Connor told Netflix's Tudum blog last year that they decided to be friends after filming.

Connor doesn't let that disappointment slow him down in season three, as he goes on dates with two women, Kate and Georgie, in the first two episodes.

Connor felt sparks on his date with Georgie in episode two, and the pair go on two more dates later in the season. On the final date, in the season finale, Georgie comes to Connor's house, meets his family and then eventually Connor has his first kiss with Georgie.

Connor and Georgie say they're in a relationship now

The end credits state that Connor and Georgie are still in a relationship, and that remains the case.

On Monday, Georgie posted a slideshow of photos of the couple in the months since they've finished filming the show.

"I am happy to finally be able to say that Connor and I are still together and having a great time. I can't wait to see him again soon," Georgie said in the caption.

Connor also told Tudum on Monday that he felt sparks from when he first met Georgie.

"I immediately felt weak in the knees and uneasy, and I quickly tried to calm down," Connor said. "I really loved the way she did her hair for our first date. It reminded me of a Viking shield-maiden's braids."

"Love on the Spectrum" season three is available to stream on Netflix.

• I tried canned tuna from StarKist, Bumble Bee, Trader Joe's, and Good & Gather.
• I wasn't a fan of the StarKist or Good & Gather options.
• The Trader Joe's version was OK, but I'd definitely buy the Bumble Bee tuna again.

I'm no stranger to a tasty tuna fish meal. Whether I'm making a sandwich, pasta dish, or high-protein snack, I love cracking open a can of tuna to enjoy.

So, to see which canned option is best, I tried four brands of white Albacore tuna in water from Good & Gather, StarKist, Bumble Bee, and Trader Joe's.

In an effort to get the truest experience from each option, I simply scooped some out to taste on a cracker.

Here's how the taste test went.

I wasn't a fan of the StarKist tuna.

The first thing I noticed after opening the can of StarKist tuna ($2.30) was that a very fishy aroma filled the kitchen. Though this one had a strong smell, I was surprised by how bland it tasted.

The texture was dense, but the fish seemed dry even though it had been sitting in water in the can.

I expected more from Trader Joe's tuna.

According to the can, the Trader Joe's tuna ($2) I picked up was unsalted, and I could certainly tell when I took a bite.

The taste was fishier than the StarKist version, but offered more moisture, which added to the overall experience.

Though this was certainly better in taste and moisture compared to StarKist, I probably wouldn't buy it again.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Bumble Bee tuna.

When I opened the can of Bumble Bee tuna ($2.49), I couldn't help but notice it resembled generic cat food. However, I'm glad I didn't base my opinion on appearance alone.

To my surprise, this option offered the most flavor and moisture of the four I tried. Unlike some of the others, it didn't have a flat fish note.

The Good & Gather tuna was my least favorite.

I was excited to try the Good & Gather version, which is Target's house brand. When I attempted to scoop the Good & Gather tuna ($2.30), though, I noticed it was kind of hard.

It did have some pink pieces, which gave me hope for the taste, but ultimately, I was disappointed when I took a bite.

The little flavor present was most akin to the StarKist tuna. I also didn't love the texture and found it had low moisture retention.

Of the four options I tried, the Bumble Bee canned tuna was my favorite.

Before tasting all four cans of tuna, I didn't expect the taste to vary much between brands. However, Bumble Bee's white Albacore tuna proved me wrong.

The Bumble Bee option offered great flavor, texture, and moisture. It was even better when I added it to spaghetti alla carrettiera for dinner that night.

Though I could appreciate the Trader Joe's tuna, especially after adding salt to bring out its fishiness, I found its flavor fell flat in comparison to Bumble Bee's version.

I'll definitely look for Bumble Bee next time I visit the grocery store.

• House Republicans moved forward on President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration, energy, and tax cut plan.
• Their plan could lead to significant cuts to Medicaid.
• GOP lawmakers will now have to flesh out their proposal, including potential cuts to programs.

House Republicans on Thursday voted to pass a GOP-budget plan that could lead to massive cuts to Medicaid after President Donald Trump leaned on a handful of conservative holdouts.

The final vote was 216 to 214. The budget resolution, which requires Senate committees to identify spending cuts totaling a low floor of $4 billion, includes controversial language that calls for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion in programs it oversees over the next decade. Speaking alongside Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans want to find at least $1.5 trillion in cuts. Johnson pulled a vote on the legislation Wednesday evening amid uncertainty that it would pass.

Before Thursday's vote, Johnson held a joint news conference with Thune. The pair sought to reassure House conservatives that the GOP will cut significant spending in addition to tax cuts.

The budget plan is the next step in unlocking the special fast-track power, known as reconciliation, that Republicans are using to ram Trump's "big, beautiful bill" through Congress. GOP lawmakers will now have to fill in the details of their sweeping proposal, including whether they will cut Medicaid and if so by how much.

Johnson and GOP leaders have repeatedly stressed that their bill does not explicitly cut Medicaid, a healthcare program for millions of disabled and low-income Americans. However, Medicaid will likely get cut by or near $880 billion over a decade, as Medicaid and Medicare, which Trump has pledged not to cut, comprise most of the committee's budget. The federal government picks up the bulk of the tab for Medicaid spending. As of 2023, the federal share was about 72%.

Three Senate Republicans, Sens. Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins, joined Democrats in an unsuccessful effort to strip that language out of the plan before it passed their chamber.

Republicans will likely have no choice but to slash the program to reach the $880 billion in required cuts, much of which could hit Medicaid expansion. Failing to meet the spending target would risk the sweeping policy bill losing its special procedure power. If that were to happen, Republicans wouldn't be able to ram their bill through the narrowly controlled Senate where Democrats can use the filibuster to stop most other legislation.

Some Republicans have expressed uneasiness about potential Medicaid cuts. Hawley, a Trump ally, represents Missouri, where 20.3% of residents are Medicaid recipients. He previously told reporters that it was "a big concern" if the legislation would slash the healthcare program. Hawley said Trump shared his views. The president previously said he would "love and cherish" Medicaid.

About 23.3% of all Americans, or over 79 million, receive either Medicaid or the related Children's Health Insurance Program, a Business Insider analysis showed using July 2024 population estimates and October 2024 Medicaid enrollment data. States including New Mexico, California, and New York have over a third of residents on Medicaid, the analysis found. Nearly all states have at least 10% of residents on Medicaid or CHIP.

Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Dakota all mandate in their state constitutions that they participate in Medicaid expansion.

If Medicaid does get cut, some Republican leaders have suggested adopting per-capita Medicaid caps to limit how much federal funding an enrollee could receive, which could save as much as $900 billion.

Some have mulled adding Medicaid work requirements, while others have proposed cutting Federal Medical Assistance Percentages, the federal government's Medicaid spending share per state. Some critics have further argued that recipients can secure insurance from elsewhere, including from work.

• Some Amazon third-party sellers could try to pass on tariff costs to shoppers, Amazon's CEO said.
• Many may not have the profit margins to absorb the tariff costs themselves, Andy Jassy said.
• Donald Trump plans to raise tariffs on goods from China to 125% while delaying duties on other nations.

Expect higher prices from some Amazon sellers thanks to tariffs.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Thursday that sellers will likely attempt to pass along any new costs from tariffs to customers in an effort to protect their profit margins.

"Depending on which country you're in, you don't have 50% extra margin that you can play with," Jassy said in an interview with CNBC. "I think they'll try and pass the cost on."

While Amazon continues to grow its directly managed retail business, a majority of its retail sales come from third-party sellers, including many big-name brands and small businesses that source products from China and other countries.

"We're going to try to do everything we can to keep prices low as possible for customers," Jassy said.

President Donald Trump's tariffs — or the specter of them — have pushed some customers to make big purchases now or stock up on basics before the extra costs hit store shelves and websites.

On Wednesday, Trump delayed a series of reciprocal tariffs by 90 days. The duties, which Trump announced last week, would have hit imports originating in a wide range of countries and markets, from the European Union to Vietnam. Instead, tariffs on imports from those markets will stand at 10% for the next three months.

But Trump said Wednesday that he would increase tariffs on goods from China up to 125%, leaving cost increases on the table for a range of companies that manufacture and import consumer goods from the country.

Jassy said that Amazon has seen some of its shoppers stocking up as worries about tariffs and higher prices mounted, though he cautioned that it was still too early to call it a trend.

"We do see people buying ahead, but it's hard to know if it's just an anomaly in the data because it's just a few days or how long it's going to last," Jassy told CNBC.

Have you or your business been affected by tariffs? Do you have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at [email protected]