• Darth Vader is now a character on "Fortnite," using an AI version of James Earl Jones' voice.
• Jones's family said they allowed AI to use his voice because he wanted "all ages" to experience Darth Vader.
• Before Epic Games cracked down, the AI-powered Darth Vader was saying some questionable things.

James Earl Jones's family allowed a "Fortnite" version of Darth Vader to use his voice. They probably didn't expect it to start swearing at players.

"Fortnite" added the Darth Vader character to the game on Friday. The character uses conversational AI to respond to questions from players, "Fortnite" maker Epic Games said in a blog post. Once a player recruits Darth Vader to their team, they can use a special button to let anyone on the team ask him questions.

"Ask him all your pressing questions about the Force, the Galactic Empire... or you know, a good strat for the last Storm circle, the Sith Lord has opinions," the post says.

But players are asking the AI-powered villain about more than just "Fortnite." In one popular clip, Twitch streamer Loserfruit asks the AI-voiced Darth Vader what is his "freaking fucking favorite food."

Darth Vader responds; "Freaking, fucking, such vulgarity does not become you Padme."

"You inquire about sustenance, and yet speak like a common thug," Vader continues in the clip.

Jones, who died in January 2024, played several iconic roles throughout his career, including the voice of Mufasa in "The Lion King" and Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" series.

In 2022, Disney partnered with the Ukrainian AI company Respeecher to create an AI version of his voice that the studio could use for future projects involving Darth Vader.

Jones's family said in a statement that they also allowed the use of the actor's voice in "Fortnite" because the late actor believed that the voice of Darth Vader was "inseparable from the story of Star Wars."

"He always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it," the statement says. "We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character."

A spokesperson for Epic Games told BI that Fortnite deployed a fix to stop Darth Vader from cursing "within 30 minutes of this happening in-game, so it shouldn't happen again."

"While we added several specific rules and instructions as part of our guardrails to prevent Darth Vader from swearing or repeating swear words, in this instance, our filters did not catch a specific variation of an expletive," the spokesperson said. "Our hotfix addressed this."

Epic says that it also put several safety measures in place to avoid players having negative experiences with Darth Vader, including standard Gemini safety settings and additional instructions to stop the AI from violating Epic community guidelines.

If the game detects a player repeatedly attempting to get Darth Vader in "Fortnite" to violate Epic's rules, Darth Vader will leave the player's team, and they will be unable to recruit him again during that game session, the spokesperson told BI.

• Albuquerque is now funding a basic income project with its tax on recreational cannabis.
• The program targets vulnerable communities, providing $750 monthly payments to families.
• "This isn't just about allocating dollars. It's about delivering tangible benefits," a city councilor said.

Tax revenue on the sale of recreational marijuana has become a major source of income for states where it's legal.

New Mexico is now redistributing that money to communities it says need it most.

Some families in Albuquerque, New Mexico, started receiving monthly no-strings-attached payments this month as part of a new basic income project funded in part by tax revenue from recreational cannabis sales.

The city first approved the $4.02 million basic income plan in March. City revenue from marijuana sales is contributing more than $2 million to that total, according to a city press release.

The program is providing the $750 monthly payments to 80 families in two districts where students struggle with low academic performance. The city will also offer financial counseling to the families.

Albuquerque is not the first city in America to experiment with guaranteed basic income programs, which usually target vulnerable low-income populations like new moms, Black women, or trans people. Guaranteed basic income programs are different than a universal basic income, which would provide monthly support to an entire population, regardless of status.

Advocates for a basic income say it helps people in difficult financial situations find their footing. Basic income studies often show positive results. Recipients say it improves their housing security and mental health and even allows them to seek better jobs through education and more time to search.

It is not, however, without its critics. Lawmakers in South Dakota, Iowa, and Idaho have passed laws banning basic income programs at the city and county level They say the payments are akin to socialism and discourage recipients from working.

City officials in Albuquerque said in the press release that their basic income program is meant to help close the wealth gap. The city says it prioritizes recipients who are "negatively impacted by the criminalization of cannabis," such as Black, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islanders, women, and low-income families.

"This program puts money where it's needed most, into the hands of struggling families working to build a better future," Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. "Albuquerque is a city that will always fight to correct injustices and will push to help families get the tools they need to succeed with dignity."

City Councilor Klarissa Peña, who leads the city's Cannabis Equity and Community Reinvestment Fund, said in a statement that the program must show "clear implementation strategies and measurable outcomes."

"This isn't just about allocating dollars. It's about delivering tangible benefits to the communities disproportionately impacted by past injustices," she said. "We owe them more than good intentions. We owe them results."

• Take-Two's CEO said in an earnings call Thursday that the delay of "GTA 6" is a "worthy investment."
• The delay led to an initial 8% drop in Take-Two's stock. Shares fell again on Thursday.
• Take-Two said it remains optimistic, citing coming releases like 'Borderlands 4.'

The company behind "Grand Theft Auto 6" tried to spin the game's delayed release as a good thing during an earnings call on Thursday.

"I believe affording Rockstar additional time for such a groundbreaking project is a worthy investment," Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said.

Zelnick went so far as to call the crime-filled video game the "most anticipated entertainment property of all time."

Wall Street doesn't seem to be buying it, however.

Rockstar Games, which produces the "Grand Theft Auto" series, announced on May 2 that the game's release would be delayed until 2026. The announcement sent shares of Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company, tumbling by more than 8%.

Take-Two's stock dipped again on Thursday ahead of the company's earnings call. The company's forecast fell short of expectations, largely due to the delay of "GTA VI."

Zelnick said the "ambition and complexity" of "Grand Theft Auto 6" is greater than any other game Rockstar has created. "The team is poised to release another astonishing entertainment experience that will exceed players' expectations," he said.

Zelnick said the "Grand Theft Auto" series has been "the standard bearer, not just for our company, but for the industry, since it was launched."

"We, of course, do market research around here, and the market research that we've done is pretty astonishing," Zelnick said on the call. "But look, we're not in the business of claiming success until it happens. All we're focused on is making the best possible entertainment here. That's our job. The rest will take care of itself."

Despite the game's delay, Take-Two executives said they expected the company's year to be successful ultimately, pointing to other coming releases like "Borderlands 4" and "Mafia: The Old Country."

• A German study found basic income recipients continued working despite monthly payments.
• The study challenges claims that basic income discourages work and promotes dependency.
• The idea of a basic income has gained traction globally in recent years.

Some critics of basic income programs say that giving people "free" money will make them less likely to work. But a new study from Germany has found the opposite.

The long-running basic income study, called Mein Grundeinkommen, or My Basic Income, found that people who received no-strings-attached payments continued to work despite receiving monthly checks.

"Contrary to widespread claims, receiving a universal basic income was not a reason for participants in the study to quit their jobs," the researchers said in their findings.

The study ran for three years, during which 122 participants received $1,200 monthly payments to spend however they wanted. The experiment also had a control group of 1,580 people who did not receive a basic income. In the findings, the researchers said that the percentage of participants who had a job remained "almost identical" in both the control group and the group receiving the basic income.

"There was also no change in the number of hours worked a week," the study says. "On average, all study participants worked 40 hours — with or without a basic income."

The idea of universal basic income, or UBI, has gained traction in the United States and other countries in recent years. A UBI is when a government cuts a regular check to its entire population regardless of financial status to support, but not replace, their income.

Numerous cities and counties in the United States have also experimented with guaranteed basic income programs. These programs are similar to a UBI because they both provide no-strings-attached payments, but a guaranteed basic income typically goes to smaller, low-income groups, or vulnerable populations like new moms, Black women, or trans people.

Critics of these programs have likened them to "socialism."

In 2024, lawmakers in South Dakota, Iowa, and Idaho passed laws banning basic income programs at the city and county level. Republican State Sen. John Wiik, who sponsored the bill in South Dakota, said in a Senate committee meeting that basic income programs are a "socialist idea" that redistributes people's hard-earned money.

"Guaranteed income programs, also known as basic income, undercut the dignity in earning a dollar, and they're a one-way ticket to government dependency," Wiik said.

The German study, however, found that recipients maintained steady employment, showed improved mental health, strengthened self-determination, and improved financial stability.

"With a basic income, people actively build sustainable financial security for themselves — and also spend more money on others," the study says.

Jürgen Schupp, a researcher for the study, said that the results, particularly those related to labor, show that many clichés about universal basic income need to be reconsidered.

"I believe that for the urgently needed restructuring of social systems, all reform options must be considered — including universal basic income," he said in the report.

• The US Transportation Secretary said Newark Airport could see reduced flights in the coming weeks.
• Sean Duffy told NBC's "Meet the Press" that the focus was on safety.
• Newark has faced a number of air traffic control equipment outages in recent weeks.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he plans to reduce the number of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport over the "next several weeks."

Duffy spoke to NBC News' "Meet the Press" Sunday morning, as another air traffic control outage again grounded flights at the airport. Operations have since returned to normal, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

"I hate delays, I hate cancellations," Duffy said. "But I want you to get where you're traveling. And if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we slow them down to make sure we can do it safely."

In recent months, Newark has experienced a series of air traffic control equipment outages, which have raised concerns among travellers.

"There was a telecommunications issue at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace," the FAA said in a statement about the outage on Sunday. "The FAA briefly slowed aircraft in and out of the airport while we ensured redundancies were working as designed. Operations have returned to normal."

Communications and radar displays at the airport suffered another outage on Friday, too, lasting about 90 seconds.

Duffy said in the interview on Sunday that he is "concerned about the whole airspace" in the United States because equipment used by most airports is now outdated.

"The equipment that we use, much of it we can't buy parts for new," Duffy said. "We have to go on eBay and buy parts if one part goes down. You're dealing with really old equipment. We're dealing with copper wires, not fiber, not high-speed fiber, and so this is concerning."

In addition to equipment problems, there is also an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In 2023, a report from the Department of Transportation found that the FAA still faced staffing challenges after the pandemic forced a pause on training. The report said the FAA "lacks a plan to address" the staffing issues, which "in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations."

Air traffic controllers also have specific age requirements, which makes hiring more difficult. The FAA requires air traffic controllers to retire when they turn 56, and the agency is now only accepting applications from people under the age of 31.

Duffy told NBC he planned to address the shortage of air traffic controllers by extending the retirement age from 56 to 61 and by offering bonuses to incentivize them to stay in the job.

"I'm going to give them a 20% upfront bonus to stay on the job," Duffy said. "Don't retire. Keep serving your country."

• "Schedule 1," a drug-dealing simulator, is dominating the charts on Steam.
• Players build a drug empire, starting with marijuana and advancing to meth and cocaine.
• "Schedule 1" is a "tycoon game," which is also known as a business simulation game.

This is the video game that your parents were worried about.

"Schedule 1," a drug-dealing business simulator, is the biggest indie game hit of the year so far. Players build a drug empire, starting with a humble marijuana business before graduating to meth and cocaine.

The game peaked in April at nearly 460,000 concurrent players on Steam, the most popular online store for downloading PC games.

Popular clips of the game show players doling out designer drugs to avatars, which take hits and exhale smoke or, in some cases, burst into flames.

TVGS, an Australian video game developer, released "Schedule 1" on Steam for early access in March, but told followers that the full game is still in development. The game's popularity quickly surged. It was ranked No. 1 on Steam after its release and held the top spot for more than two weeks. It is this week the No. 5 game in the store.

The game is so popular that similarly-named games have shot to the top of the PlayStation store as console gamers search for it. TVGS said on X that any game appearing on the PlayStation store with "schedule 1" in the title is not affiliated with them.

"I'd love to port Schedule I to console when the game is at the right stage for that, but I will announce it to the Schedule I community well before it happens," the developer said on X.

"Schedule 1" is a "tycoon game," which is also known as a business simulation game.

Tycoon games generally let players take on the role of a business owner, developing their own employees and customer base. Popular examples of tycoon games are "RollerCoaster Tycoon" and "Cities: Skylines." Tycoon games are especially popular with children on Roblox, which can attract thousands of players and make millions of dollars for independent developers.

"Schedule 1" is not the first drug simulator game. Movie Games SA published "Drug Dealer Simulator" in 2020. Movie Games said it was investigating similarities between its game and "Schedule 1."

Grand Theft Auto Online, one of the most popular online games, also lets players run drug-dealing businesses and has similar tycoon-style mechanics. Players can earn experience and money by completing missions and engaging in criminal activities like heists. They can then use the in-game money to purchase properties and upgrades to their businesses, which unlock more activities.

Last week, Rockstar Games, the maker of the Grand Theft Auto series, announced it is delaying the release of "Grand Theft Auto 6" to May 2026. The delay of the highly anticipated game caused shares of Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, to tumble by as much as 8%.

TVGS did not immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider.

• A judge this week denied Burger King's request to dismiss a false advertising lawsuit.
• The lawsuit claims Burger King's Whopper ads mislead consumers about its size and ingredients.
• The case is the latest false-advertising lawsuit against fast-food chains.

Burger King's Whopper lawsuit just won't go away.

A federal judge in Florida this week denied Burger King's request to dismiss a lawsuit against the company for false advertising related to its famous burger. It is the latest case of false advertising targeting fast-food chains.

The lawsuit represents 19 people from 13 different states who say they purchased Burger King's signature Whopper based on "false and misleading advertising concerning the size and/or the amount of ingredients."

In a statement to Business Insider, Burger King denied the claims.

"The plaintiffs' claims are false," a spokesperson for the company told BI. "The flame-grilled beef patties portrayed in our advertising are the same patties used in the millions of burgers we serve to guests across the US."

Burger King filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in May 2022, two months after it was first filed. It argued that since every burger is hand-made at the restaurant, the "look" of each sandwich "necessarily will differ."

US Southern Florida District Judge Roy Altman, however, said in his ruling on Monday that he would allow the plaintiff's claims of negligent misrepresentation to move forward.

In some states, the law requires that a customer have a "special relationship" with a company to sue it for misrepresentation in ads. The law defines a special relationship as requiring a "position of confidence or trust," like with a lawyer or engineer. A food service business would not typically fall into this category. But Florida law does not have this requirement, Altman wrote.

Altman said Burger King's lawyers were "resisting the common-sense reading of Florida law" by suggesting that Burger King could not be liable based on the absence of a special relationship.

The Russo Firm, a class action law firm representing the plaintiffs, wrote in a blog post that Altman's ruling was "significant."

"The court's decision underscores the importance of truthful advertising and may set a precedent for how fast-food chains represent their products," the post says. "The outcome of this case could have broader implications for marketing standards within the industry."

The Whopper lawsuit is the latest example of false-advertising claims targeting fast-food chains. In 2023, for example, a federal judge in Brooklyn dismissed a similar false advertising lawsuit against Wendy's and McDonald's that accused the restaurants of marketing their burgers as larger than reality.

US District Judge Hector Gonzalez said in his ruling for that case that the plaintiff did not prove that a reasonable consumer would have been misled by the ads.

Also in 2023, a man filed a class action lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings, accusing the company of misrepresenting its boneless chicken wings, which are actually made with chicken breast meat.

Bill Marler, an attorney specializing in food safety cases, previously told BI that these kinds of class action lawsuits are often legally unproductive and walk the "thin line between consumer advocacy and just being annoying."

"It raises the issue about what's the real purpose here? Is it that they're being a consumer advocate and then extracting fees and costs out of the company to discourage them from doing it again? Or is it just a tool to extract fees and costs out of a company?" Marler said.

• Reddit CEO Steve Huffman says that Reddit's human-led communities are what set the company apart.
• AI bots, however, are threatening that advantage by taking over forums and comments.
• Reddit has acknowledged the problem and is introducing new checks to ensure its users are human.

Is nothing sacred anymore?

Reddit is one of the last places on the internet where posts and comments don't feel like an endless pit of AI slop. But that is starting to change, and it's threatening what Reddit says is its competitive advantage.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman says that what keeps people coming back to the site is the information provided by real people, who often give thoughtful answers to questions. As the internet becomes saturated with AI-generated content, Huffman says that Reddit's communities, curated and managed by real people, set it apart from other social media platforms.

"The world needs community and shared knowledge, and that's what we do best," Huffman told investors last week on an earnings call.

Traffic to Reddit has grown considerably over the past year, thanks in part to users Googling specifically for Reddit posts related to their questions.

Reddit's business model has seen increased attention since the company went public in March of last year. Since then, Reddit has amped up advertising on its forums and inked deals with both OpenAI and Google to allow their models to train on Reddit content. In April, Reddit's stock dipped after some analysts shared fears that the company's success could be inextricably tied to Google Search.

"Just a few years ago, adding Reddit to the end of your search query felt novel," Huffman said in a Q3 earnings call in February. "Today, it's a common way for people to find trusted information, recommendations, and advice."

But now, some Reddit users are complaining that the uniquely human communities the site is known for are being infiltrated by AI bots, or users relying on tools like ChatGPT to write their posts, which can often be spotted by the formatting. ChatGPT loves a bulleted list and an em-dash, and these days tends to be effusive in its positivity.

One user in the community r/singularity, which is dedicated to discussion about advancements of AI, recently flagged a post from what they believed was an AI-generated user spreading misinformation about the July 2024 attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.

"AI just took over Reddit's front page," the poster noted. A Reddit spokesperson said the company investigated and found no evidence that the user was AI-generated.

On April 28, Reddit's chief legal officer said the company was sending "formal legal demands" to researchers at the University of Zurich after they flooded one of the site's communities with AI bots for a study. Moderators of the forum r/changemyview said in a post that researchers conducted an "unauthorized experiment" to "study how AI could be used to change views."

The researchers who conducted the experiment said in a Reddit post that 21 of the 34 accounts they used were "shadow-banned" by Reddit, meaning the content they posted would not show up for others. But they said they never received any communication from Reddit regarding Terms of Service violations.

The moderators called the experiment unethical and said that AI targeted some users in the forum "in personal ways that they did not sign up for." The post says the AI went to extreme lengths in some posts, including pretending to be a victim of rape, posing as a black man opposed to Black Lives Matter, and even posing as a person who received substandard care in a foreign hospital, among other claims.

"Psychological manipulation risks posed by LLMs is an extensively studied topic," the community's moderators wrote. "It is not necessary to experiment on non-consenting human subjects."

A spokesperson for the University of Zurich told Business Insider that the school is aware of the study and is investigating. The spokesperson said that the researchers decided not to publish the findings of the study "on their own accord."

"In light of these events, the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences intends to adopt a stricter review process in the future and, in particular, to coordinate with the communities on the platforms prior to experimental studies," the spokesperson said.

For Reddit's business strategy, which is largely focused on advertising and its belief that it provides some of the best research around because it's based on real human reactions, the increased presence of AI on the platform is a threat. And Reddit has noticed.

On Monday, Huffman said in a Reddit post that the company would start using third parties to "keep Reddit human." Huffman said that Reddit's "strength is its people" and that "unwelcome AI in communities is a serious concern."

"I haven't posted in a while — and let's be honest, when I do show up, it usually means something's gone sideways (and if it's not gone sideways, it's probably about to)," Huffman said.

The third-party services will now ask users creating Reddit accounts for more information, like their age, Huffman said. Specifically, "we will need to know whether you are a human," he said.

A spokesperson for Reddit told BI that the Zurich experiment was unethical and that Reddit's automated tools flagged most of the associated accounts before the experiment ended. The spokesperson said that Reddit is always working on detection features and has already further refined its processes since the experiment came to light.

Still, some Reddit users say they are fed up with what they see as a "proliferation of LLM bots in the last 10 months."

"Some of them mimic the most brain-dead of users, providing one-word responses with emojis at the end," one user wrote. "They post with unnatural frequency, largely in subreddits known for upvoting just about anything."

• Trump said he'd offer TikTok another extension if it can't find a buyer by June.
• A law requires TikTok to divest from ByteDance, its Chinese owner, or face a ban in the US.
• Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that he had a "warm spot" for TikTok.

President Donald Trump said Sunday he'd offer TikTok another extension should the social media app fail to find a buyer by the June 19 deadline.

During an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump told host Kristen Welker that he had a "warm spot in his heart" for TikTok and that he'd like to see the popular app remain available in the United States.

"TikTok is — it's very interesting, but it will be protected," he said in a pre-taped interview conducted at his Mar-a-Lago club on Friday.

It's the latest development in the ongoing saga involving TikTok in the United States.

In 2020, Trump unsuccessfully sought to ban TikTok in the United States because he believed its Chinese owner, ByteDance, posed security concerns. He also once suggested it was a form of punishment for what he saw as China's role in the COVID-19 outbreak.

Former President Joe Biden later picked up the baton, signing a law last year that requires TikTok to divest from ByteDance or face a ban from US app stores.

The US Supreme Court upheld the law in January. TikTok then briefly shut down its app to US users before Trump promised to find a solution.

Trump began to change his tune on TikTok during his 2024 campaign, during which he said young people in the United States would "go crazy without" it. Many observers have credited TikTok's reach in helping Trump connect with a wide swath of voters, especially among young Americans who dominate the app's user base.

After Trump took office, he signed a 75-day extension for TikTok to find a buyer, which expired on April 5. On April 4, Trump announced he would issue another 75-day extension.

A number of wealthy Americans have publicly expressed interest in purchasing TikTok, including "Shark Tank" mogul Kevin O'Leary and YouTube power creator MrBeast.

• Warren Buffett said he would step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
• Despite his vast wealth, Buffett is known for his folksy demeanor and wry sense of humor.
• Here are 20 of Buffett's most legendary quotes.

Famed investor and Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett, 94, plans to step down at the end of this year.

Buffett's estimated net worth of $196 billion makes him the fifth-richest person in the world, according to Bloomberg's billionaires index.

Buffett is known for many things — his fast-food-heavy diet, his reading habit, his philanthropy, and his value-focused investing style.

People around the world are so fascinated by Buffett that they'll spend millions of dollars just to eat lunch with him. While you may not have that much money lying around, you can still learn from his folksy wisdom.

We've rounded up 20 of Buffett's best quotes.

'Only buy something that you’d be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years'

Source: Forbes

'Don't watch the market closely'

"Don't watch the market closely," Buffett said during a wild bout of market volatility back in 2016.

He continued: "If they're trying to buy and sell stocks, and worry when they go down a little bit … and think they should maybe sell them when they go up, they're not going to have very good results."

Source: CNBC

"A $5 dinner is, in many cases, better than a $100 dinner."

Buffett told Forbes that he knew he would make money because he had learned investment strategies that would work.

"My wife and I decided then, we were going to enjoy life," Buffett said. "We were going to have everything we would possibly use or need, but incidentally, I think a $5 dinner is, in many cases, better than a $100 dinner."

Source: Forbes

'Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago'

Source: Forbes

'I read and think'

"I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think," he said.

He continued: "That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think. So I do more reading and thinking, and make less impulse decisions than most people in business. I do it because I like this kind of life.”

Source: Time Magazine

'Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing'

Source: Forbes

'You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don't do too many things wrong'

Source: CNBC

Buffett said he'd give his children 'enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing'

The perfect amount to leave to your kids, he told Fortune in 1986, is "enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing."

Source: Fortune

'The light can at any time go from green to red without pausing at yellow'

"When major declines occur, they offer extraordinary opportunities to those who are not handicapped by debt," Buffett wrote in a letter to Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders in 2017, highlighting the argument against ever borrowing money to buy stocks.

He continued: "No one can tell you when these will happen. The light can at any time go from green to red without pausing at yellow." 

Source: Letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders

'It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it'

Source: Forbes

'You cannot make a good deal with a bad person'

“You cannot make a good deal with a bad person,” Buffett once told Suzy Welch, a bestselling management author and CNBC contributor.

Welch told CNBC it was Buffett who gave her the career advice that has helped her more than any other she’s received.

Source: CNBC

'Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down'

Source: Forbes

Only invest in 'simple businesses' that you understand

In his 2014 letter to shareholders, Buffett laid out six criteria he applied to measure a company's fundamentals. One criterion is that he only invests in "simple businesses." 

"If there’s lots of technology, we won’t understand it," he said

Source: Letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders

'Stocks [have] been so much more attractive than bonds'

"The one thing I'm sure of is that over time, stocks from this level will beat bonds from this level," Buffett told CNBC's "Squawk Box" in 2017. "Stocks [have] been so much more attractive than bonds for a long time now."

Source: CNBC

'Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Don't forget rule No. 1'

Source: Forbes

'The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything'

Source: CNBC

'It's better to hang out with people better than you'

"It's better to hang out with people better than you," Buffett once said. "Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction."

Buffett and Bill Gates once had a close friendship.

Source: Forbes

'Cryptocurrencies will come to bad endings'

"Cryptocurrencies will come to bad endings," Buffett said in Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting in 2018. "There’s nothing being produced in the way of value from the asset."

He continued: "It’s something where people who are of less-than-stellar character see an opportunity to clip people who were trying to get rich because their neighbor’s getting rich buying this stuff neither one of them understands."

Source: Fortune

'Price is what you pay. Value is what you get'

Source: Forbes

'You don't find out whose been swimming naked until the tide goes out'

Buffett told investors in a 1994 company meeting that "people have found out — who were speculating on bonds with below margins recently — that you don't find out whose been swimming naked until the tide goes out."

"Essentially, that's what happens in reinsurance, you don't find out who is swimming naked until the wind blows," he said.

Source: Warren Buffett Archive

• Warren Buffett announced he is stepping down as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO at the end of the year.
• He has recommended that Greg Abel, a vice chair at the company, succeed him.
• Tributes have been pouring in from business leaders such as Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, and Tim Cook.

Warren Buffett said he would step down as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO after 55 years, eliciting tributes from investors and business leaders.

Buffett, 94, made the announcement on Saturday during the company's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. The crowd gave Buffett two standing ovations, acknowledging his career as the longest-serving chief executive of an S&P 500 company.

He said he intended to step down at the end of 2025 and recommended to the board of directors that Greg Abel, now a vice chair at the company, take over as CEO.

Buffett has remained an enduring force as an investor and businessman since purchasing Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, then a New England textile mill, and transforming it into a $1 trillion conglomerate that spans multiple industries.

Following Buffett's announcement, business leaders from across the globe shared tributes.

Bill Gates

In a statement to Business Insider, Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates called Buffett "one of the greatest CEOs ever" and "hands-down the most successful investor of all time."

Buffett and Gates have been friends for 30 years, meeting in the 1990s. They have worked together on philanthropic efforts for decades, though their friendship has cooled in recent years.

"He has built an extraordinary company in Berkshire Hathaway, and he's done it with wisdom, integrity, and a phenomenal sense of humor. But Warren hasn't been satisfied with setting an example as a businessman. When he decided to give his wealth back to society, he set an example as a philanthropist, too. His legacy will inspire generations to come," Gates said.

Tim Cook

The Apple CEO praised Buffett in an X post on Saturday.

"There's never been someone like Warren," Cook wrote. "It's been one of the great privileges of my life to know him. And there's no question that Warren is leaving Berkshire in great hands with Greg."

Jamie Dimon

Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase and a fixture of Wall Street, praised Buffett in a message after the investor's big announcement.

"Warren Buffett represents everything that is good about American capitalism and America itself — investing in the growth of our nation and its businesses with integrity, optimism, and common sense," he said, per Reuters. "I've learned so much from him to this very day, and I am honored to call him a friend."

Brian Moynihan

Bank of America Chair and CEO Brian Moynihan told Business Insider that Buffett "has achieved unparalleled success over a seven-decade-plus career."

Bank of America was one of Berkshire Hathaway's largest holdings before it began to sell shares last year.

"Beyond his business success, his unprecedented philanthropic giving continues to be an example to follow," Moynihan told BI over email. "His life lessons delivered to young and old are as valuable as his business acumen. I have personally learned so much from him and look forward to continuing to benefit from his insights. He has been a tremendous supporter and investor in Bank of America and our nation's economy and the innovative spirit of the United States."

Bill Ackman

Bill Ackman, the billionaire CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, said on Monday he "wouldn't bet against Berkshire."

"I think they will be a little bit more aggressive about buying back stock. I don't see Berkshire waking up in six months and Berkshire announcing $100 billion acquisition," Ackman told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

The billionaire hedge fund manager said that Buffett's replacement, Greg Abel, "is a superb operator" who nonetheless may be cautious early on.

"I think the new CEO will be and the new board, not the new board, the current new CEO and the current board will be a little bit more careful on the first deals because if Berkshire's first deal turns out not to be a good one, you know, I think that the market will kind of frown upon that," Ackman said. "But I think the business will do very well."

Bill Gross

Billionaire investor and PIMCO cofounder Bill Gross told Business Insider via email that Buffett's vision set him apart from other investors.

"His vision was not limited to an optimistic vision of the future," Gross told BI. "Through his insurance holdings that by their structure allowed for the investment of premiums at a near zero cost into higher returning assets such as Coke, AMEX and Apple and in so doing he created a spread which over time led to billions and the recognition not just as a stock picker but as a financial structural wizard."

Gross also congratulated Buffett and recalled on X the first time his firm gave Berkshire one of its first loans in the mid '70s.

"I knew nothing about insurance and candy stores but was sold by his long-term vision of the economy and markets," Gross wrote. "Congratulations my friend — not just on the numbers — but on the philanthropy and the years. Having a cherry Coke with you was a highlight of my career."

Mark Cuban

Cuban told Business Insider in an email that Buffett was his "investing hero" and shared a photo of him with the investing legend at a Dairy Queen in Omaha.

"We used to go to DQ in Omaha," Cuban wrote. "It was the highlight of my year."

Following the announcement, Cuban also reposted on X a video showing Buffett receiving a standing ovation during the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting.

Spencer Hakimian

Hakimian, the founder of Tolou Capital Management, shared a video on X of Buffett receiving a standing ovation from the crowd at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting.

"Curtain call for the captain," Hakimian wrote.

Ron Olson

Olson, a Berkshire Hathaway board member, told CNBC that Buffett has "lived a life full of surprises. Very few of his decisions have been anything but sensational. I am very anxious to see Warren become the Charlie Munger for Greg Abel."

Olson also believed Abel "is ready" for the role.

"I have no doubt about that. We've known it for a long time," Olson told the outlet.

French Hill

The Arkansas GOP congressman and former businessman told CNBC that Buffett, Abel, and Berkshire Hathaway's board "have done a magnificent job over the last decade preparing shareholders for today."

Hill added that he's admired Buffett since his college days.

"When I got out of government in 1993 and went back to the private sector in investment management, it was Warren Buffett who was my role model — a man I've never personally met, but I've admired all these years," Hill told the outlet.

Stephen Squeri

The chairman and CEO of American Express told Business Insider via email that Buffett "has had one of the most storied careers in the history of American business."

Squeri added that Buffett's "vision and deep sense of responsibility to shareholders is unmatched, and his humility and humor are rare qualities in a leader that have made working with Warren a delight."

He added that American Express, in which Berkshire Hathaway holds a minority stake, looks forward to "continuing to work with Greg as he builds upon Warren's legacy."

Seth Klarman

The CEO of the Baupost Group hedge fund told BI over email that Buffett ran an "investment marathon" for decades and excelled in all conditions.

"But he is more than an investor — he is a visionary business leader, teacher, role model, and philanthropist. I've always seen him as a mentor, and I suspect he'll keep contributing in all of these spheres far into the future. There will be no other like him!"

Howard Marks

The co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management told BI in an email that it is "impossible" for anyone to measure up to Buffett.

"He is the single most influential investor of all time — the Isaac Newton of investing," Marks said.

"He says when he started in the early 1950s, he was able to buy dollars for 50 cents — and he makes it sound easy," Marks added. "But the thing is, even if the opportunities were there, nobody else did it. There weren't multiple Warren Buffetts."

Jim Cramer

Jim Cramer, the host of the CNBC show "Mad Money," called Buffett "our only G.O.A.T." in an X post on Sunday.

"In awe of Buffett and congratulate him on the greatest run of all time," Cramer wrote.

• United Airlines will cancel 35 daily round-trip flights from Newark Liberty International Airport.
• CEO Scott Kirby cites the airport's inability to handle the scheduled flight volume.
• The decision comes after more than 20% of FAA staff members walked off the job.

United Airlines is canceling dozens of daily flights to and from Newark Liberty International Airport because the airport "cannot handle the number of planes" coming in and out.

CEO Scott Kirby made the announcement on Friday, citing a staff shortage at the airport's air traffic control.

"Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead," Kirby said in a letter to customers. "We feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers."

Air traffic control issues have plagued Newark in recent weeks, causing major delays. In response, many airport workers walked off the job, exacerbating the problem.

"Technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed, resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights, and worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans," Kirby said in a statement to customers on Friday.

Kirby blamed a "chronically understaffed" air traffic control facility and a lack of intervention as the root causes.

The airline operates around 300 daily round-trip flights on average.

United, which operates as a major hub there, has long pushed the government to reclassify Newark as a "Level 3" airport, which would allow the FAA to limit the number of scheduled flights based on capacity and infrastructure constraints.

Several factors have contributed to the ongoing air traffic controller shortage in the United States. A 2023 report from the Department of Transportation found that the FAA still faced staffing challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause on training. The report said the FAA "lacks a plan to address" the staffing issues, which "in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations."

Air traffic controllers are also hard to staff because they have specific age requirements. The FAA requires that air traffic controllers retire when they turn 56, and the agency is now only accepting applications from people under the age of 31.

In a call with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, however, Kirby expressed optimism: "We're pleased that the new administration has put together a proposal for a large, systemwide investment in FAA technology, infrastructure and staffing," he said.

Duffy said Thursday the FAA is on track to hire 2,000 new air traffic controllers this year. His plan also includes monetary incentives of up to $10,000 for academy graduates who are assigned to "hard-to-staff" air traffic facilities. The proposal would also provide financial incentives to staff, reward academy graduates, and expand the number of instructors.

"Today's actions will supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both retention and hiring side of the equation — bringing us one step closer to reversing decades of staffing declines," Duffy said in a statement.

Duffy added on X: "We are working to harden the system. But this is why it's critical that we build an all-new air traffic control system."

United's CEO unveiled a three-point plan in March to reduce delays. The plan focused on investing in staffing, technology, and facilities, after the company announced it would cut back on its domestic flight schedule by 4% in July.

Newark Liberty International Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Take-Two stock fell after Rockstar Games announced 'Grand Theft Auto 6' would be delayed until 2026.
• 'Grand Theft Auto 6' is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated games of all time.
• Take-Two said it still expects record net bookings in 2026 and 2027, despite the delay.

It turns out those pernicious rumors were true: "Grand Theft Auto 6" is not coming out this year.

On Friday, "GTA" maker Rockstar Games announced that the company now plans to release the game in May 2026. Shares of Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, tumbled by as much as 8% on Friday morning.

"Grand Theft Auto 6," which has been years in the making, is one of the most anticipated games of all time. An early trailer for the game, released in 2023, broke the record for most views on YouTube by a non-music video in one day with more than 93 million, Variety reported at the time. It now has more than 251 million views and ranks second among video game trailers behind mobile game 'Subway Surfers,' which has more than 361 million views.

The game's release will mark the first release of a main series "GTA" game since "Grand Theft Auto V" in 2013. The unusually long time between releases has even inspired a popular meme: "We got (insert long-awaited thing) before GTA 6."

The Empire State Building even got in on the meme after Friday's announcement.

In a statement, Rockstar said that the "interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team."

"With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception," the company said. "We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve."

In March 2024, Kotaku reported that sources close to the game's development said its release could "slip" into 2026 after reports of slowed progress and return-to-office mandates for Rockstar employees. This sparked speculation that Rockstar was behind schedule and trying to increase productivity.

In a Q3 earnings call in February, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said the company expected calendar year 2025 to be an "inflection point" for the company thanks to "Grand Theft Auto 6."

"From the groundbreaking release of 'Grand Theft Auto 6' to the unmatched pipeline that 2K is set to deliver, as we introduce hit products to our passionate communities of fans, we're confident that we'll usher in a new period of growth and returns for our shareholders," he said on that call.

When asked about how Take-Two plans to reactivate the player base for "GTA" after so much time, Zelnick said Rockstar "seeks perfection in everything they do."

"We believe that if we do that right and we focus on delivering for consumers, that's our best opportunity to succeed," Zelnick told investors.

In a statement on Friday, Take-Two said it still expected to see "record levels of net bookings" in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, despite the "Grand Theft Auto 6" delay.

"We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds audience expectations," Zelnick said in the statement. "While we take the movement of our titles seriously and appreciate the vast and deep global anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI, we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence."

Some of Take-Two's biggest releases still scheduled for 2025 include "Borderlands 4" and "Mafia: The Old Country," which are sequels to popular game franchises.

• Reddit's stock surged as much as 19% post-Q1 earnings report, showing strong revenue growth.
• The company reported a 61% year-over-year revenue increase, marking consistent growth.
• CEO Steve Huffman emphasized Reddit's resilience amid tweaks to Google's algorithm and AI search trends.

Reddit's stock jumped by 19% after hours on Thursday after the company released its Q1 earnings report. As of publishing, it was up 7% after market close.

Reddit's revenue increased 61% year-over-year to $392.4 million in Q1 of 2025, the company said in an earnings release. CEO Steve Huffman said in a letter to investors that this marks the third consecutive quarter of growth over 60% for Reddit.

Reddit has seen considerable growth over the past year, thanks in part to a growing relationship with Google and site traffic growth from people searching for terms on Reddit through Google search. In February, Reddit's stock dropped more than 15% after CEO Steve Huffman said in an earnings call that Reddit saw "volatility" in traffic after Google tweaked its algorithm.

Huffman was asked how he sees "user growth going" over the rest of the year, given that Google has already changed its algorithm this year.

"We do expect some bumps along the way from Google, because we've already seen a few this year," Huffman said. "This is expected in any year, but given that the search ecosystem is under heavy construction, the near term could be more bumpy than usual."

Still, Huffman said that "short-term bumps" will not affect Reddit's long-term strategy and growing search market opportunities. Huffman said that there is "no doubt" that AI models will change the way people search for information on the internet, but Reddit will always meet the need of people looking for the "subjective, authentic, messy, multiple viewpoints that Reddit provides."

"In the same way that Reddit, for the last decade, has been an alternative to social media — social media being performative and manicured and Reddit being the opposite — Reddit communities and conversations will be an alternative to AI search answers," Huffman said.

Huffman also said in the earnings call that Reddit has maintained through big cultural shifts like the rise of smartphones and the COVID-19 pandemic because "the world needs community and shared knowledge, and that's what we do best."

"Ever-shifting macro environments like these create both challenges and opportunities," Huffman told investors. "We've grown through challenging times before people need connection and information just as much in uncertain times, and we're well-positioned to meet this moment."

• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says Trump's tariffs will create more factory jobs.
• Many factories, however, are now using automation, including humanoid robots.
• Lutnick says human factory workers can be trained to fix and maintain those robots.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says those worried about job insecurity due to President Donald Trump's tariffs can rest assured that they — and generations of their children — will find work in factories.

Trump has pushed his tariff policy as a means to reinvigorate manufacturing in the United States, which he says could, among other things, create more jobs.

Nowadays, however, manufacturers often rely on automation to build their products. Many US companies, including automakers, plan to introduce humanoid robots to their factory floors.

In 2020, Hyundai acquired robot maker Boston Dynamics for $1.1 billion. Boston Dynamics and Hyundai announced an additional $21 billion partnership this month, which includes the purchase of tens of thousands of robots. Hyundai uses Boston Dynamics' Spot robot dogs in factories and plans to deploy its Atlas humanoid robots in the future.

Ford has also purchased Digit robots, the humanoid robot made by Agility Robotics. And Amazon has tested Digit in its fulfillment centers.

One automation company, Formic, told Business Insider earlier this month that its customers increased their overall robot usage by 17% between January and February, likely to ramp up production ahead of the tariffs.

So, what would these near-future human workers be doing in factories? Lutnick said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday that the United States should train people to be technicians for these automated machines.

"It's time to train people not to do the jobs of the past, but to do the great jobs of the future," Lutnick said. "You know, this is the new model, where you work in these kind of plants for the rest of your life, and your kids work here, and your grandkids work here."

In a separate CNBC interview on April 3, Lutnick said US factories are "going to see the greatest surge in training for what we call tradecraft — teaching people how to be robotics, mechanics, engineers, and electricians for high-tech factories."

Lutnick reiterated this idea on Tuesday, saying that most auto parts plants are already "highly automated" and the thousands of people who work in them are "trained to take care of those robotic arms."

When Lutnick was asked if robots would be taking most of the jobs in the scenario he described, he replied that "all these automated arms and stuff" still need human operators to fix them.

"They all need a technician to fix them. All of these things, this is trade craft. This is high school educated, great jobs that start in the 80s and 90,000s," Lutnick said.

"It is not like how they sort of joke online, you know, Americans working the sewing machine," he added.

• Jay Clayton, the top federal prosecutor in Luigi Mangione's case, has been recused.
• Trump nominated Jay Clayton as interim US attorney for the Southern District of New York this month.
• The Justice Department is seeking the death penalty for Mangione.

The top federal prosecutor in Luigi Mangione's federal case has been recused.

The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York shared the update in a letter addressed to Judge Margaret M. Garnett on Wednesday.

"The Government also writes to inform the Court that United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, is recused from this matter," the letter said.

The Southern District of New York did not say why Clayton was recused. Instead, Perry A. Carbone, the district's criminal division chief, will act as the attorney for the United States in the case.

Mangione, 26, is accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. He faces charges in three different jurisdictions.

In New York, he faces state charges of murder as an act of terror. He also faces lesser state charges for forgery and weapons violations in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested days after the shooting.

Mangione also faces federal charges for murder through the use of a firearm, among other charges. The Justice Department is seeking the death penalty against Mangione for the federal murder charge. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Clayton was chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 2017 to 2020. He previously worked as a lawyer for Sullivan & Cromwell.

President Donald Trump unsuccessfully attempted to install Clayton as the Southern District of New York's lead attorney in 2020. Trump nominated Clayton for the role a second time last November, which drew ire from Democrats like Sen. Chuck Schumer, who said he would block Clayton's nomination, according to Bloomberg Law.

Edward Y. Kim served as the acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York from December 2024 to January, when Danielle Sassoon took over the interim position, the Associated Press reported. Sassoon resigned in February, and Matthew Podolsky took over before stepping down this month, according to ABC News.

On April 16, Trump named Clayton the interim US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, making his recusal from this district's most prominent case notable.

Representatives for the Southern District of New York and the US Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Board game companies are suing Trump because they say tariffs are affecting their profits.
• Stonemaier Games said in the lawsuit it expects to pay "millions" due to tariffs.
• Trump says the tariffs are meant to boost US jobs, but the cost is often passed on to the consumer.

A group of tabletop game companies is suing President Donald Trump because it says his tariffs are reducing their profits to the real-world value of Monopoly money.

Stonemaier Games, which makes the popular board games "Wingspan," "Rolling Realms," and "Vantage," announced its involvement in the lawsuit this week. The company said the lawsuit would "challenge the unchecked authority" of Trump and his tariffs.

"We will not stand idly by while our livelihoods—and the livelihoods of thousands of small business owners and contractors in the US, along with the customers whose pursuit of happiness we hold dear—are treated like pawns in a political game," the company said.

Lawyers for Stonemaier, which is based in St. Louis, said in a legal complaint that the company estimates it will pay "millions in tariffs" because it manufactures all of its games in a Chinese factory owned by Panda Game Manufacturing, which is based in Canada. Stonemaier has printed its games in China for more than 13 years, the lawsuit says.

At least nine other companies joined Stonemaier in the lawsuit, saying Trump's tariffs will cause substantial harm to their business. XYZ Game Labs, Rookie Mage, Spielcraft, and TinkerHouse Games are all board game companies that are joining the lawsuit.

Spielcraft, an independent Nebraska-based board game maker, paid $4,335 in tariff fees in April, the lawsuit says.

Other small businesses also joined the suit. Clothing company Princes Awesome, which makes inclusive clothing for children and adults, paid $1,041 for dresses imported from China in March, according to the lawsuit.

"Princess Awesome has also ordered additional products from Peru, Bangladesh, and India that they anticipate will arrive in the United States in the coming weeks and are continuing to place new orders for imports," the complaint says.

Trump and his treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, have said that the tariffs are part of a strategy to increase manufacturing jobs in the United States. But that could take a while. In the meantime, tariffs can raise prices and reduce the dollar's purchasing power, leaving consumers with less money to spend.

Experts told Business Insider that supply chain disruptions caused by the tariffs could cause prices to spike and the availability of goods to decrease in as early as a few weeks.

Pacific Legal Foundation, which is representing the companies in the lawsuit, said in a statement that Trump's tariffs are unconstitutional and that only Congress should have the power to levy tariffs.

"The Constitution gives Congress—not the president—the power to impose tariffs because policies affecting an entire nation should come from the body most representative of the entire nation," the statement says. "And Congress cannot delegate that core legislative power to the president."

• Humanoid robots ran a half-marathon against humans for the first time on Saturday in Beijing.
• The race highlighted how far humanoid robots have advanced, and how far they still have to go.
• While some robots finished the race, others stumbled. They all required human handlers.

More than 12,000 people and 21 humanoid robots gathered in Beijing on Saturday morning to compete in a half-marathon.

Yes, robots.

Machine battled muscle across 13 miles during the 2025 Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon, which organizers said was the first of its kind.

The participating robots raced in a separate lane from humans and came in different designs.

Noetix Robotics showed off the N2, an over 40-pound humanoid robot about 3 feet tall. Unitree Robotics entered its G1 model, which weighs nearly 80 pounds and stands over 4 feet tall. Another robot running in the race featured a woman's face. Engineers or human handlers accompanied the robots.

The People's Government of Beijing Municipality said on its website that the robotic marathoners underwent "intensive training, " including "late-night endurance drills," ahead of the race.

During a March press conference, Li Quan, deputy head of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, said the robots were given about three and a half hours to finish the course.

He added that robots could win prizes in three categories: race completion, best endurance, and most popular robot.

Although the human-humanoid half-marathon is a feat, not every robot rose to the occasion. Footage obtained by Reuters showed one robot falling over at the start line while another crashed into a railing and sent its human operator to the ground.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a robot called "Huanhuan" ran in the wrong direction at times before sitting on the ground and refusing to stand.

One robot rose above the rest: Tien Kung Ultra, designed by Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, became the first humanoid robot to cross the finish line in 2 hours and 40 minutes, the Journal reported.

Li said he hoped the event would be recognized as more than a fun weekend spectacle.

"We hope that this event will not only showcase achievements in the humanoid robotics industry but also spark discussions and deepen the public's understanding of robot capabilities, which will help accelerate industry development," he said in March.

Technological developments, like AI, have allowed humanoid robots to evolve rapidly in recent years. Some companies like Mercedes-Benz and BMW have even partnered with humanoid robot companies to test robots on factory lines, though very few of these robots have been deployed worldwide.

Some in the tech sector consider China to be ahead of the United States in the humanoid robot race, pointing to events like the 2025 Spring Festival Gala in Beijing, which featured 16 AI-powered humanoid robots developed by Unitree, a Chinese company, dancing to traditional folk music with elaborate choreography alongside human dancers.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose company manufactures its own humanoid robot, once said he believed humanoids would outnumber humans by 2040.

• Meta's AI chief praised France's initiative to attract top scientists and engineers.
• France is increasing funding for universities and research organizations to entice foreign talent.
• Trump, meanwhile, has tightened immigration and cut research funding in the United States.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has tightened immigration controls, cut funding for government grants and research, reduced staffing at NASA and NOAA, and attacked top universities.

France seems to have sensed an opportunity.

The National Research Agency, part of the Education Ministry, announced on Friday a "Choose France for Science" initiative to attract scientists from abroad, opening up more government funding for universities, schools, and research organizations to entice foreign talent.

"As the international context creates the conditions for an unprecedented wave of mobility among researchers around the world, France aims to position itself as a host country for those wishing to continue their work in Europe, drawing on the country's research ecosystem and infrastructure," the agency said in a statement.

In a LinkedIn post, French President Emmanuel Macron said that research is a "priority." "Researchers from around the world, choose France, choose Europe!" he wrote.

Meta's chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, who was born in France, responded to the announcement on Saturday, calling the initiative a 'smart move.'

LeCun has criticized Trump for targeting public research funding. Last month, he wrote on LinkedIn that the "US seems set on destroying its public research funding system. Many US-based scientists are looking for a Plan B."

In that same post, he told European countries, "You may have an opportunity to attract some of the best scientists in the world."

LeCun is not the only tech leader to criticize the Trump administration's policy decisions regarding science, research, and education. Last week, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said the administration has launched a "total attack on all of science in America."

Speaking at the AI+Biotechnology Summit, Schmidt said he knew people in the tech space who planned to return to London because "they don't want to work in this environment."

• A 19-year-old has been charged with firebombing Cybertrucks at a Tesla dealership.
• There has been a spate of attacks on Tesla to protest CEO Elon Musk's role in the government.
• The Justice Department has warned it would pursue severe penalties for attacks on Tesla properties.

The Justice Department charged a 19-year-old with "firebombing" Cybertrucks in Kansas.

The government charged Owen McIntire, 19, with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire, the Justice Department said.

McIntire made his first court appearance on Friday, but it was unclear if he had yet secured an attorney.

Protesters angry with Tesla CEO Elon Musk's work with the White House DOGE Office to reduce government spending and cut staff have attacked several Tesla facilities across the United States in recent weeks. Musk has said DOGE seeks to cut at least $1 trillion from the federal budget. Its efforts are now the subject of several lawsuits.

Data from Cox Automotive shows that used Tesla listings reached a record high in March. The company's stock price has also plummeted. And coordinated protests targeting Tesla took place across the country late last month.

Two weeks before those protests, on March 17, the Justice Department said officers of the Kansas City Police Department in Missouri saw smoke coming from a Cybertruck parked at a Tesla dealership. The officers saw an unbroken Molotov cocktail near the smoking truck. The officer recovered the Molotov cocktail, but the fire still spread to a second Cybertruck.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi previously said the Justice Department would seek 20 years in prison for another man accused of attacking a Tesla dealership in Colorado.

Bondi said that the Kansas City incident should serve as another reminder that "anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us."

"You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it," Bondi said. One of the charges McIntire faces carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in the Justice Department press release that this is the second arrest of a suspect targeting Tesla this week, which is "more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts."

"These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible," Patel said.

The Justice Department says the two damaged Cybertrucks had a combined sale price of $212,970. The fire also damaged two charging stations, which were valued at $550 each.