• Astronomer CEO Andy Byron is on leave after a viral Coldplay concert video, the company said.
• The video appeared to show Byron embracing HR head Kristin Cabot, sparking an internet frenzy.
• Astronomer is investigating the incident, with Pete DeJoy named interim CEO.

Tech company Astronomer has placed its chief executive on leave after he appeared to be filmed embracing the company's head of HR, Kristin Cabot, at a Coldplay concert.

Astronomer said in a statement Friday that CEO Andy Byron was placed on leave and that Pete DeJoy, cofounder and chief product officer, was interim CEO.

"We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days," the company said in a statement on X.

Astronomer cofounder and CTO, Greg Neiheisel, Byron, and Cabot did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Byron's leave comes after a "kiss cam"-style crowd clip from a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium, near Boston, appeared to show him embracing Cabot.

In the now-viral footage, it appeared that Byron had his arms wrapped around Cabot until they were spotlighted on the big screen. The pair quickly ducked out of view, prompting Coldplay front man Chris Martin to comment they were either "having an affair or they're just very shy."

The clip quickly became an internet sensation, garnering tens of millions of views and an endless supply of memes.

Astronomer announced earlier on Friday that the company's board was investigating the incident. The public statement, shared on X, added that no other employees were in the footage, dismissing a rumor that another employee was captured on screen. The company also said Byron had not issued any public statement in response to fake statements that were being shared online.

"Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding," the company wrote earlier on X. "Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability."

• President Donald Trump on Friday sued Rupert Murdoch and two Wall Street Journal reporters for defamation.
• The Journal on Thursday reported that Trump wrote a "bawdy" birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
• Trump has long tried to distance himself from his ties to the convicted sex offender.

President Donald Trump has made good on his pledge to sue over The Wall Street Journal's Thursday report that Trump wrote a "bawdy" letter to Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday.

Trump on Friday filed suit against Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones, the CEO of News Corp, Robert Thomson, and Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo, both reporters for the Wall Street Journal, accusing the group of committing defamation by publishing the article. The suit seeks at least $10 billion in damages.

"Despite the glaring failures in journalistic ethics and standards of accurate reporting, Defendants Dow Jones and News Corp. — at the direction of Defendants Murdoch and Thomson — published to the world the false, defamatory, and malignant statements authored by Defendants Safdar and Palazzolo," the filing reads.

It continues: "Hundreds of millions of people have already viewed the false and defamatory statements published by Defendants. And given the timing of the Defendants' article, which shows their malicious intent behind it, the overwhelming financial and reputational harms suffered by President Trump will continue to multiply."

The president's claims against the media outlet stem from a report published on Thursday. The Journal's reporting detailed a suggestive letter, bearing Trump's name, that was presented to Epstein as part of a book of letters gifted to him on his 50th birthday, in 2003.

"Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret," the letter, which featured a drawing of a nude woman and Trump's signature, said, according to the Journal.

In a statement on Truth Social made after the suit was filed, Trump wrote that the complaint was "a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS 'article' in the useless 'rag' that is, The Wall Street Journal."

Trump has denied writing the letter or drawing the picture, calling it "a fake thing" in a comment to The Journal. Following the report, the president pledged to sue the media outlet for publishing the story in a series of posts on Truth Social.

"I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his 'pile of garbage' newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!" Trump wrote in a Friday morning post.

In a statement provided to Business Insider, a Dow Jones spokesperson said, "We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit."

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Florida and reviewed by Business Insider, is on a different court docket with a different docket number than one that led to a spate of headlines from other news publications.

That other court docket does not feature a lawsuit and includes odd details, including an indication that Trump had no lawyer.

Business Insider previously reported that the initial docket featured unusual details, including listing Trump as a "pro se" plaintiff — meaning someone who is not being represented by a lawyer — despite the president having a large roster of personal lawyers and a history of filing suits against various media organizations in the same district.

A person close to Trump's legal team said the initial reporting about the lawsuit wasn't legitimate and that the official complaint was in process but had not yet been submitted to the court. The source told BI that the lawsuit could come as soon as later Friday.

The origin of the first reported lawsuit remains unclear.

The complaint against Murdoch and The Journal reporters comes as Trump continues to grapple with his ties to the now-dead financier and convicted sex offender.

As part of his reelection campaign, Trump promised he would make public all the available files related to the government's investigation into Epstein's crimes. After taking office, he has changed his tune — and the Department of Justice says it won't be releasing any more "Epstein Files."

Though publicly available documents related to Epstein's sex trafficking trial have not accused Trump of any wrongdoing, Trump's name and those of some of his family members were listed in one of Epstein's contact books, and Trump is mentioned as a passenger in flight logs for Epstein's private jets.

Trump's Mar-a-Lago club was regularly referenced during the criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate, who was convicted of sex trafficking multiple women on Epstein's behalf.

One woman testified that Epstein, during the course of several years of abuse, took her to Mar-a-Lago and introduced her to Trump when she was 14 years old. Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most prominent accusers, who died by suicide in April, has testified that she and Maxwell were at Mar-a-Lago when Giuffre was recruited as a victim of Epstein's.

Representatives for News Corp. and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

• Business Insider is making a list of the most powerful people in AI and machine learning.
• We want to find technologists, ethicists, entrepreneurs, and beyond who are making their mark.
• Please submit candidates here by August 29, 2025.

Business Insider is seeking nominations for our 2025 AI Power List.

We're looking at the theme of power — literally in the sense of optimizing the power supply for AI and its infrastructure, all the way to having influence, leadership, and strategy. We're evaluating through a lens of people solving the problems of tomorrow — from emergent and nascent computing efforts, solving energy challenges — and making a societal impact.

We aim to feature global leaders and those poised to make their mark well into the future. Ideal honorees have notable contributions or accomplishments and are setting themselves apart from their peers in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Submit your suggestions via the form below.

Individuals at AI powerhouses like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon will contend with up-and-comers, startup founders, academics, and more.

Check out our 2024 AI Power List.

Criteria and methodology

Our selection criteria: We ask that nominees work on artificial intelligence, machine learning products, applications, and policy. Nominees should stand out from their peers. Editors make the final decisions.

Please submit your selection below or through this form by August 29 to be considered. Be as specific as possible in your submission.

Please email Monica Melton at [email protected] with any questions or issues submitting your nominations.

Submit your nominations by August 29 by 5 p.m. ET.

• The Department of Education is beginning to roll out the student-loan repayment changes from Trump's spending bill.
• They include changes to eligibility for income-based repayment plans and new borrowing limits.
• The bill also creates two new income-driven repayment plans, which won't be implemented until July 1, 2026.

Student-loan borrowers will soon start seeing changes to the way they borrow and pay off their loans.

After President Donald Trump signed into law his tax and spending bill, which included major changes to student-loan repayment, the Department of Education announced it was beginning to implement some of the new provisions.

The department wrote in a July 18 letter that "many" of the changes in the spending law will be implemented on July 1, 2026, including the creation of two new income-driven repayment plans. However, the department said it is working with student-loan servicers to roll out a series of changes before then:

• No longer requiring borrowers to have partial financial hardship to qualify for an income-based repayment plan;
• Expanding options for borrowers who took out parent PLUS loans to enroll in an income-based repayment plan;
• Reducing the amount a student can borrow if they're enrolled in a program that is not full-time;
• And delaying the implementation of former President Joe Biden's borrower defense to repayment and closed school discharge regulations.

If a borrower believes they were defrauded by the school they attended, they can apply for borrower defense, and if their claims are approved, their loans will be forgiven. Biden's administration attempted to make the process easier for borrowers to navigate, but it was blocked in court and never implemented.

Acting Undersecretary James Bergeron said in a Friday statement that Trump's spending bill "delivers for student borrowers in a big way — simplifying the student loan repayment system, funding the $10.5 billion shortfall in Pell Grant funding left by the previous administration, supporting short-term career focused programs that train workers for in-demand jobs, and holding colleges accountable by eliminating student loan eligibility for programs that leave students worse off than if they had never enrolled."

"Today's announcement is the first step in the implementation process, and we look forward to building the President's vision for education and training beyond high school," Bergeron said.

The department's letter also said that it is amending the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after 10 years of qualifying payments, to allow payments made under a new income-driven repayment plan to count toward forgiveness.

Trump's spending bill eliminates existing income-driven repayment plans and replaces them with two options: a standard repayment plan and a new Repayment Assistance Plan, which sets borrowers' monthly payments at 1% to 10% of their income, with any remaining balance forgiven after 30 years.

The options are less generous than the SAVE plan, which the bill eliminates. SAVE would have allowed for cheaper monthly payments with a shorter timeline to debt relief. The department announced on July 9 that interest charges will restart on the balances of the 8 million borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan.

The department said more information on changes to repayment from the spending bill will be announced in the coming weeks and months. They come as the administration is working to dismantle the Department of Education; the Supreme Court ruled on July 14 that Trump can proceed with firing department staff.

• OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap defined AI agents on a recent episode of the company's podcast.
• Agents should perform tasks "autonomously," even ones they've never seen before, he said.
• This week, OpenAI unveiled its latest agent, which works with ChatGPT to execute tasks.

There's not a whole lot of agreement among AI leaders about how to define all the new things they are developing.

No one really agrees on what artificial general intelligence is, for instance. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently called it "nonsensical benchmark hacking."

There's also debate about what exactly an AI agent is.

OpenAI Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap offered his thoughts on OpenAI's podcast this week.

"It has to be a system that can be reliably handed complex work, that it can take on autonomously, and execute at a high level of proficiency, where it hasn't seen that work before," he said. The "hasn't seen" part is "critical," Lightcap added.

On Thursday, OpenAI unveiled its latest contribution to the space: ChatGPT Agent. The new agent "can now do work for you using its own computer, handling complex tasks from start to finish," OpenAI said in its announcement. It combines the work of Operator to engage with websites, Deep Research to⁠ synthesize information, and ChatGPT's conversational ability, the company said.

Companies are going all out to integrate agents into their work. Major tech firms from Intuit to Salesforce are rolling them out at light speed. Startups, too, are unveiling new agents.

The race to adopt AI has left workers worried about whether they'll soon be replaced by a machine. However, at least in Lightcap's view, humans are necessary at every level.

Agents aren't just entities that are "trained to copy," he said. They leverage their reasoning capacities to solve problems.

Still, it's only a "teammate," he said.

• American Express execs were asked about Platinum card fees and crowded lounges on an earnings call.
• The current annual fee is $695, which is still less than that of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
• Executives also said they expect "more innovation" in airport lounges and acknowledged crowding issues.

Few details have come out about the coming updated American Express Platinum Card — including how much it will cost, as the world of premium credit cards gets ever glitzier.

The company's CEO and chief financial officer were asked about card fee growth on a second-quarter earnings call on July 18.

"Given the previous conversations that we had about the timing of the platinum fee increase, it's only sometime in the new year, in 2026, that you should see that inflection point and a bit more acceleration," CFO Christophe Le Caillec said on the call. He added that card fee growth rates will likely "moderate" within the balance of this year. A representative for American Express declined to comment.

Currently, the Amex Platinum Card has an annual fee of $695, which is less than the $795 yearly fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Amex promised an update on the Platinum card later this year and said more details would come in the fall. Some have speculated that the fee on the revamped Platinum card could reach $1,000.

"Anybody who thinks that we're refreshing the product in response to what our competitors are doing is crazy," CEO Stephen Squeri said on the call. "We have our own schedule."

Current cardholders get a range of perks, including access to certain airport lounges and other travel credits. As those lounges continue to boom in popularity, Amex executives were also asked about overcrowding concerns and competition from airlines and other credit cards.

"We're trying to make the lounges bigger," Squeri said on the call. "I think this whole lounge game has been a boom for airport authorities in terms of how many lounges they can put in." He mentioned a new, smaller "sidecar" lounge in Las Vegas, where cardholders can pop in for a quick drink, and said Amex works closely with its partner Delta to try and deal with the crowds.

"I think you'll continue to see more innovation here," Squeri added. "You'll look at more expansion of existing lounges where we can get space. And you'll look at a strategy that looks at satellite locations so that, you know, we can handle the demand that we get."

The company's second-quarter revenue minus interest expense was $17.9 billion, rising 9% year-over-year, according to a press release. The growth was driven in part by increased spending and "continued strong card fee growth," Amex said in the release. Amex's stock was down more than 2.3% by the time the market closed.

Squeri emphasized the company's focus on premium users in the press release, saying demand is strong and teasing the coming Platinum "refresh."

The question of exactly how much that "refresh" will cost, though, remains to be answered.

• Lowe's is using AI to optimize store layouts and meet changing customer needs.
• Computer vision models can also offer a lot of potential for retailers.
• This article is part of "How AI Is Changing Everything," a series on AI adoption across industries.

The next time you stop by Lowe's for a new house plant, supplies to prepare for hurricane season, or a part to fix a bathroom leak, the quantity and in-store location of the product will likely have been influenced by artificial intelligence.

The home-improvement retailer is using AI systems to develop a greater understanding of fast-changing customer needs and expectations and to optimize its store layouts accordingly. For example, in the case of a plant, AI could predict growing demand for a certain type of seasonal shrub and increase its orders as interest rises, then place the plants in the most obvious in-store location.

In the case of hurricane preparedness, sudden weather changes can be taken into account to order larger volumes of flashlights and weather radios. And plumbing items may be placed closer to the front of the store for leaks that require emergency attention during harsh and unpredictable seasons.

Chandhu Nair, the senior vice president of data, AI, and innovation at Lowe's, told Business Insider that the technology is allowing the store chain to create more immersive shopping experiences that are also easy and quick to navigate.

This effort is being driven by front-of-house retail staff and white-collar workers behind the scenes, who are ensuring that AI augments rather than replaces their jobs.

A team-wide effort

Nair said that delivering a "simpler, faster, and more fun" physical retail experience requires large volumes of real-world data, like "store traffic patterns" and "local preferences," provided by store associates and customers. It also needs the right tools for Lowe's spatial planning teams to extract meaningful insights from it, he added.

Previously, these teams relied largely on manual processes for collecting this information, analyzing it, and putting the insights into practice. Consequently, Nair said it could take months for Lowe's to see any meaningful results. But AI-powered spatial intelligence systems have reduced this to "a fraction of that time."

Nair said this is paramount because new product trends are always emerging and disappearing, especially because of social media apps like TikTok. He said, "We can now swap layouts more frequently throughout the year, reflecting what customers in that area need at that time."

Besides spatial intelligence and data analysis tools, Lowe's is also exploring the potential of digital twins — a piece of software that generates a virtual version of a physical environment, such as a retail store. Nair said the company has used Nvidia's 3D graphics platform, Omniverse, to create an early-stage app that offers sales and inventory data, automatically sorts stock, generates 3D versions of its physical assets, and more from a single platform.

If it ultimately gets adopted, "It would give merchants a way to test and refine layouts digitally before making changes in-store, helping surface the most relevant products in ways that align with how local customers shop," he told BI.

AI for smarter shopping

Lowe's isn't the only retailer that believes in the potential of AI. Research from Honeywell, a multinational conglomerate, found that 80% of retailers will acquire AI systems over the coming months to better understand customers, create a more efficient shopping experience, and improve worker productivity.

Computer vision models, in particular, can also offer a lot of potential for retailers. Vinod Goje, a software engineering leader and AI solutions strategist, told BI that such systems are capable of generating heat maps that signal parts of the store with the most and least foot traffic, allowing workers to place products and design retail layouts more strategically.

Goje added that retailers can also install computer vision systems on shelves to ensure products are in the right place and replenished when stock runs low. The tech can also work with AI to show customers personalized offers on in-store smart screens, he said.

In the future, agentic AI systems, which are designed to make decisions independent of humans, could disrupt the retail sector even further. Sucharita Kodali, principal analyst at market research firm Forrester, told BI that AI agents could find people to fill in for ill employees, order merchandise when stock levels are low, and develop marketing plans in line with available stock.

Challenges to consider

Of course, as retailers like Lowe's become more reliant on AI to improve efficiencies, concerns are growing that the technology could wipe out millions of blue-collar jobs in the next few years. That said, Nair emphasized that Lowe's approach is to augment staff and not put them out of work; using AI for store-layout optimization requires "human creativity," he said, in addition to "data-powered insights" and "efficient technology."

Amid concerns about AI adoption, Nair emphasized that the company isn't using "technology for technology's sake," but rather focusing on solutions that address staff's biggest pain points, based on feedback from in-store and e-commerce teams.

Looking ahead

Although many of Lowe's AI projects are still in their infancy, Nair is optimistic about their role in the century-old retailer's future. He said his team will continue to "get better at connecting insights and predictions" to "adapt stores even faster" and create "smarter and more personal" experiences for its loyal customers.

To do this, Nair and his team will continue to experiment with new AI tools, improve them through "quicker feedback loops," and strive to create "a high-value retail experience that keeps evolving with our customers."

He told BI, "We're excited about what's ahead and how AI will help us keep solving problems and fulfilling dreams for the home."

• Erin and Abe Lichy launched Mezcalum, a mezcal brand inspired by their love of Tulum, Mexico.
• The Lichys say their mezcal is a smooth, versatile product that will convert tequila drinkers.
• Their mezcal brand emphasizes sustainability and female empowerment in the spirits industry.

It's a sunny Tuesday afternoon, and Erin Lichy is multitasking in the New York office she shares with her husband, Abe, in true modern-mom fashion. While simultaneously fielding interview questions, she's feeding her newborn, the couple's fourth child.

"I'm pumping as we speak," the 37-year-old told Business Insider with a laugh, a candid glimpse into the chaos and joy of life as a new family of six after the addition of her baby boy in March.

Erin, a real-estate agent and interior designer, and Abe, a lawyer, aren't just a professional New York power couple. As of two years ago, when Erin joined the rebooted cast of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City," they're also reality TV personalities. But being on TV hasn't stopped them from continuing to multitask. Shortly after joining "RHONY," the Lichys launched another venture: their mezcal brand, Mezcalum.

That hangover-free feeling

The genesis of Mezcalum is rooted in their love affair with Tulum, the beachy Mexican travel destination they describe as their "happy place."

"We had mezcal for the first time there and fell in love," Erin said.

Unlike the smoky mezcals that dominate the US market, what they tasted in Tulum was smooth, versatile, and surprisingly easy to mix or drink straight.

Erin was so enamored by the spirit that she was determined to spread the word. "Somebody needs to bring this to America," Erin quipped of mezcal on a "Real Housewives of New York City" cast trip to Mexico.

Though the moment drew social media backlash given mezcal's centuries-long presence and growing popularity in the U.S., the couple said they are genuinely invested in the culture and craft behind their brand.

Pure mezcal, by Mexican law, must be 100% agave — unlike tequila, which can be just 51% agave, leaving room for additives that often lead to hangovers. It was a lightbulb moment for Erin, who realized that the spirit's pure-agave requirement was a major selling point.

"There's an agave spirit that has to be natural, has to be organic," Erin said. For her, drinking mezcal has been a smoother experience than drinking wine or other liquors — especially the morning after.

"We had a wild night drinking it with friends, and the next day I took a yoga class on the beach, had a green juice, and felt great," she said.

"Especially as a mom waking up early, it's really hard for me to drink anything else," she added.

A sustainable sip

The Lichys saw an opportunity to disrupt a category they felt was "masculine-dominated" in both marketing and flavor profile. They reached out to their longtime friend, Chris Roth, as a partner; their partnership with their distiller, Carlos Mendez Blas, came through Abe's legal work in Mexico.

"I'd been working with the largest tequila and mezcal law firm, Malacara Corporativo, in Mexico for years," Abe explained. That network helped them bypass the usual trial and error of finding a scalable, reliable partner. "When we were introduced to Carlos, it was really clear — this is our guy," Abe said. Carlos even became a part investor, a testament to his belief in the Lichys' vision.

Their mezcal is crafted from a blend of agave species — espadín, the most commonly used agave variety for making mezcal, particularly in Oaxaca, Mexico. This diversity, Abe noted, is what sets mezcal apart from tequila, which can only be made from blue weber agave. "With mezcal, you can create ensembles — these blends that are impossible with tequila."

Erin's platform as a real estate mogul and Real Housewife with a strong female following inspired a brand that was "beachy, light, and smooth" — a mezcal that could replace high-quality tequila in any cocktail.

"We're on a mission to convert all tequila drinkers," Erin said. For Erin, it's also about creating space for women in an industry where they're often sidelined. "I'm actually in this brand," she said, adding that she's proud of the example she's setting for her children and for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Erin's commitment to sustainability runs deep — she studied sustainable development at NYU, and it shows in every aspect of the business. "I won't even send out plastic cups to our vendors," she said.

Mezcalum's partner distillery in Oaxaca re-plants two agave plants for every one harvested, and employs a workforce that is more than 50% women. "There are very few women in the spirits industry who are actually in the brand, not just putting their name on it," Erin said.

Running a business across borders can present unique challenges, especially with the recent landscape of tariffs and trade policy. Even before the threat of U.S. tariffs on Mexican spirits loomed, Abe used his legal acumen to plan ahead.

"We entered into forward purchasing contracts and worked with our importer to capture FPT relief," he explained. Their proactive approach meant that even if tariffs had been imposed, their margins would have been protected. Ultimately, mezcal was exempted from the tariffs, but the possibility underscored the importance of planning and adaptability.

It's a lot to manage, especially when Mezcalum isn't the Lichys' only baby — they have multiple other businesses, not to mention four children, one being an actual baby. So how do they do it?

"We've become very good at compartmentalizing," Abe said. Both he and Erin have worked for themselves for years, and they "live and die by the calendar."

They've also learned the hard way that they can't be hands-on with absolutely everything. "We made that mistake with our first business, a handbag line, where we never learned how to delegate," Abe admitted. Now, they're quick to ask for help and trust their teams.

As the interview winds down, Erin and Abe reflect on their new chapter. "It hasn't really set in yet," Erin admitted of life as a family of six. But with a supportive partnership and businesses that reflect their values, the Lichys are enjoying every moment. Their mezcal isn't just a drink — it's a celebration of culture, sustainability, and the power of partnership.

• Astronomer's board is launching an investigation after its CEO appeared to be filmed embracing its HR head at a concert.
• The video clip went viral on social media, propelling the tech company into the spotlight.
• "We will have additional details to share very shortly," the company said.

Tech company Astronomer is launching an investigation after its CEO, Andy Byron, appeared to be filmed embracing the company's head of HR at a Coldplay concert.

"The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly," the company said in a statement on X. It added that "no other employees were in the video" and that reports saying Byron has put out a statement are incorrect.

"Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability," the statement said.

The investigation is the next chapter in a saga that commanded social media's rapt attention.

A clip appearing to show Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer's head of people, caught in "kiss cam"-style crowd footage at a Coldplay concert went viral on Thursday. The pair appeared horrified to be broadcast on the jumbotron at Gillette Stadium and quickly untwined, prompting Coldplay front man Chris Martin to speculate that they were "having an affair or they're just very shy."

The internet became fascinated with the narrative (you can read what our anchor Katie Notopoulos wrote about the incident here). Byron's name was the top trending search term on Google on Thursday, and tens of millions have watched the clip.

Commentators on X and TikTok joked about the awkward scenario. The company turned off comments on its LinkedIn and X accounts as they became flooded with them.

People even placed bets — over $250,000 was traded on Polymarket — on Byron's chances of remaining as CEO.

For more than 24 hours, the company and its leadership — the board, active founders, and Byron — stayed quiet about the scandal and did not respond to requests for comment from the media or release a statement.

Ry Walker, who served as Astronomer CEO from 2015 to 2022, put out a comment: "Yes, I was co-founder and early CEO - not on the team or board since 2022, and have no information on ColdplayGate," Walker wrote on X.

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron's career history

Founded in 2015, Astronomer builds data management and optimization products that it says are used by companies like Activision and Marriott. In May, it completed a Series D funding round that valued the company at $775 million, according to PitchBook.

Byron came on as CEO in July 2023 after holding C-suite roles at several other software and tech firms. In November 2024, he hired Cabot as the company's head of people.

Byron worked at several software companies in the decades before he took the reins at Astronomer. He worked from 2019 to 2023 as an executive at Lacework, a cloud security company that was sold last year for an estimated $200 million to $230 million, according to Forrester Research.

For about two years before Lacework, he was the chief revenue officer at Cybereason, another software company. The company is privately held and raised a series H venture-capital round earlier this year, according to PitchBook data. Its head count and valuation grew while Byron worked there, but its head count has since declined, and its valuation fell significantly from 2022 to 2023, per PitchBook.

He has worked in the Boston tech scene for more than a decade. Earlier jobs included a sales executive role at Fuze, which sold communications and messaging software. It was sold in 2022 for $250 million, and at Aveksa, which was acquired in 2013 by RSA, an EMC subsidiary, for a reported price of $225 million.

• JPMorgan on Friday said its research analysts will start covering privately held companies.
• The shift comes amid shrinking IPOs and growing opportunity and influence in the private sector.
• The company's first private company research report focused on ChatGPT maker OpenAI.

JPMorgan Chase is doing something it's never done before: publishing equity research on a private company.

The bank is moving beyond traditional stock coverage and is starting with OpenAI — a move that reflects how dominant private companies have become in today's markets, and how Wall Street is trying to keep up.

"This new offering aims to expand our coverage and research into private companies, where we continue to see growing influence and interest from our clients," Hussein Malik, the bank's head of global research, said in an internal memo. "Importantly, private companies are becoming increasingly relevant to various industries, especially in the new economy space," said the memo, reported earlier by Bloomberg.

The move comes as more company founders and boards choose to stay private longer. The median age of a private company going public has increased from 6.9 years a decade ago to 10.7 years today, according to Morningstar.

A major factor behind the decline is the surge in funding for companies like OpenAI and SpaceX, fueled by the rise of private equity and venture capital. Pitchbook estimates that there are $18.7 trillion assets in private markets, including venture capital and private equity — a figure that will reach $24 trillion by the end of 2029.

"With approximately 1,200 private companies in the US achieving unicorn status between 2020 and 2023—a notable increase from around 330 between 2016 and 2019—their growing influence on the economy and markets is clear," Malik said in a separate memo to clients.

Malik said understanding the private markets has now become key to properly assessing publicly traded companies.

"Understanding their impact is and will remain crucial for both public and private market investors to make informed investment decisions," he added.

Jamie Dimon has long lamented what he has called "the diminishing role of publicly traded companies in the American financial system." In a 2023 letter to investors, he said the number of US public companies had declined to 4,300 from a peak of 7,300 in 1996.

"This trend is serious and may very well increase," he said at the time, before asking, "Is this the outcome we want?"

• Since last fall's election, Donald Trump has been getting media companies to give him what he wants.
• Did that happen when Paramount canceled Stephen Colbert's show? There's no reporting out there to prove it.
• You can see evidence of Trump trying to manipulate media companies all the time. He's now following through on a threat to sue Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal.

A shocking change in late-night TV. A salacious story about Jeffrey Epstein.

What do they have in common? Donald Trump.

Specifically, Trump's use of the Presidency to bend media companies to his will. It's a power he's used so effectively in his second term that any threat he makes has to be taken seriously. And that any decision a big media company makes will be seen through a Trump-colored lens, regardless of the facts — which ends up increasing that power.

In the case of Paramount's call to end Stephen Colbert's late-night show, there's no evidence that the company's current owner, Shari Redstone, made the move to appease Trump by kiboshing a TV host who routinely rips into the president. The same goes for Larry Ellison and David Ellison, who plan to buy Paramount via their Skydance studio.

Paramount itself took pains to say the decision was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night." And as we constantly note here, late-night TV — and all TV — is very much challenged: Ratings for just about any conventional TV programming that isn't the NFL are shrinking. And the viewers who watch late-night shows like Colbert's have been dwindling, and aging, for years.

Subtract Trump from the story, and this would be just another signpost telling us that the internet has supplanted TV. And that the TV industry doesn't know how to deal with it other than a never-ending series of cuts and garage sales.

"Over the next few years, we expect virtually all linear TV programming outside of sports and news to shift to catalog content and reruns of what appeared on streaming; there simply will not be a business model to support original entertainment programming on linear TV," Lightshed analyst Rich Greenfield wrote in a research note Friday morning.

The thing is, Trump is all over the story.

That's because Redstone has already paid a $16 million ransom to Trump, in order to settle a seemingly spurious lawsuit he filed about a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris last fall.

And the Ellisons, who plan to buy Paramount if the Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission signs off on the deal this fall, are already deeply enmeshed with Trump.

Larry Ellison, who Forbes says is now the second-richest man in the world, is a longtime Trump donor whose Oracle software company is doing lots of Trump-blessed business these days. His son David, who will run Paramount, has been actively seeking Trump's blessing — which is presumably why he was spotted hanging out with Trump ringside at two UFC matches this spring.

So is there a world where Redstone agreed to move out Colbert as a way to placate Trump — or to do so on behalf of the Ellisons, for the same reasons?

So far, there's zero reporting out there making that case. But plenty of people immediately wondered out loud if it was so, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff, who both put out statements Thursday night wondering if Colbert's show was killed for "political reasons."

(Paramount declined to comment beyond its initial press release. A rep for Skydance, the Ellison-owned company that will control Paramount if the sale goes through, also declined to comment. Trump, meanwhile, applauded Colbert's cancellation: "I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. hear Jimmy Kimmel is next," he posted.)

But if you're looking for more evidence that Trump expects America's media companies to do what he wants, you didn't have to look very hard on Thursday.

After The Wall Street Journal published a story about a racy poem and drawing Trump allegedly gave to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, Trump announced that he had told both Emma Tucker, the Journal's editor, and Rupert Murdoch, who owns the paper via his News Corp., not to publish the report.

Because they did, Trump said Thursday night via his Truth Social platform, he would sue Murdoch and his publications. "I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his "pile of garbage" newspaper, the WSJ.," Trump added in a follow-up post Friday morning.

And late Friday afternoon, Trump followed through, filing a libel suit against Murdoch, his companies, and two Wall Street Journal reporters in a Florida federal court.

That's an extraordinary event: Yes, Trump is well-known for threatening media companies with lawsuits, and throughout his career has sometimes followed up. Unless I'm missing something, Trump has never actually filed a complaint while he was president — the suits that Paramount, Meta, Disney, and Twitter have recently settled were filed in between his two terms.

And most legal experts thought those suits had little chance of success. That changed last fall, after Trump's reelection. Since then, we've seen a series of settlements involving multimillion-dollar payouts.

Which may explain he's been emboldened to take on the man who also owns and controls Fox News, an outlet Trump watches constantly, and uses to staff his administration. Maybe Trump will actually want to see this one get all the way to a courtroom. Or maybe he's hoping Murdoch will cut him a check to avoid a damaging spectacle, just like the media mogul did when he paid Dominion Voting Systems $788 million in 2023, just before the start of a defamation trial.

In the meantime, we don't have to speculate about Trump's presence in media boardrooms and everywhere else — he's in everyone's heads, whether they like it or not.

• Brands such as Tesla, Netflix, and StubHub are capitalizing on "ColdplayGate" for marketing buzz.
• The viral "kiss cam" concert clip appears to show a CEO and his head of HR embracing before hurriedly ducking out of frame.
• Brands often use social-media humor to stay relevant and break through the noise.

ColdplayGate has emerged as the latest marketing free-for-all.

Tesla, Netflix, StubHub, and the Seattle Mariners are among a growing number of brands that have quickly seized on the viral internet video, in which two people who appear to be a tech CEO and his company's head of HR were filmed embracing on a "kiss cam" at a Coldplay concert before quickly untangling and ducking out of frame.

The companies' official accounts have posted on social media poking fun at the duo, who Coldplay front man Chris Martin and much of the internet speculated could be having an affair.

"Posting a pic of you enjoying your loaner Tesla while your own one is in service is the equivalent of taking it to a Coldplay concert," reads a post from the company on its X account. "Your car will know."

"We have Coldplay tickets for you and your favorite coworker," StubHub wrote on Facebook.

Such cheeky social-media reactions are brands' way of exploiting the "attention economy" to stay relevant at a time when it isn't as easy to break through the noise with traditional advertising, Boston College communications professor Michael Serazio told Business Insider.

"It's not only your friends and influencers and creators hopping in with jokes and memes," he said. "It's brands wanting to get into that space as well and come across as edgy and cool."

Whereas a decade ago brands were often reserved with their online messaging, today they perceive it less risky to weigh in on current events, with the exception of geopolitical matters like the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Serazio added. Besides, he doesn't expect people's interest in ColdplayGate to last long anyway.

"This falls under the heading of internet ephemera," he said.

Still, it can be wise for brands to take some caution with their online marketing. Earlier this year, Duolingo did just that when it staged the death of its owl mascot in all of its markets except Japan.

"It turns out that in Japan, joking about death is not as kosher," Luis von Ahn, the company's CEO, said on an earnings call at the time.

In the case of ColdplayGate, though, brands can feel relatively safe to chime in, said Brooke Erin Duffy, an associate professor of communication at Cornell University who studies social-media culture.

"It doesn't have the same moral tenet as something that would take brands into an unequivocal political space, especially at such a fragile political moment as we find ourselves in," she said. "It's not something that's going to offend people for the most part."

• An awkward kiss-cam moment between what appeared to be a CEO and his employee has started a debate about hook-ups at work.
• Workplace romances are common: a survey suggested 60% of Americans have had one.
• They can be a headache not just for HR, but co-workers who have to deal with the loved-up couple.

We don't know the story behind the Astronomer CEO and his Chief People Officer allegedly captured on Coldplay's kiss-cam. Still, the debacle has ignited a debate about workplace romances. Are they kosher? How should you handle them?

Falling for a coworker is pretty common. Barack and Michelle Obama met as coworkers at a Chicago law firm. The "Good Morning America" hosts T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach left their spouses for each other. And, of course, there's the beloved Jim and Pam from "The Office."

A 2017 Stanford study found one in 10 US couples met at work, while in a recent Forbes survey of 2,000 working age Americans, 60% of people said they had experienced an office romance.

We asked Annie Wright, a licensed marriage and family therapist, if any of her clients have had an emotional or physical relationship with a coworker — including affairs.

"It'd be easier to mention the times it hasn't come up," Wright told Business Insider. "Falling for, or having an affair with, a coworker is so much more common than people tend to admit publicly. And I do have the privilege of being inside the hearts and minds of thousands of people at this point."

Wright said workplace romances tend to start not with action but feelings — fantasies, quiet longings, and "a mix of confusion and shame." If her client is having an in-office affair, she often finds it isn't about the new relationship at all; it's about igniting something they've lost within themselves.

Even if the relationship isn't an affair, romances between co-workers can be a headache not just for HR, but for colleagues who have to deal with their loved-up (or eventually broken-hearted) colleagues.

Work is fertile ground for intimacy

Workplace romances have been happening for hundreds of years. There are accounts dating back to 1870 of dalliances — then called "behaviors of no name" — between men and women in white collar offices, documented by the historian Julie Berebitsky, author of "Sex & The Office: A History of Gender, Power, and Desire."

We spend a lot of time with our coworkers. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that full-time workers average 7.6 hours of work per day. If you're awake for 16 hours a day, that means over a third of your waking life is spent at work — in person or over Slack.

"Simply seeing someone around frequently can make us feel more comfortable with and closer to them," Vanessa Bohns, a professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University, told BI.

It's called the "mere exposure" effect, Bohns said: "The more often you encounter someone or something, the more you report liking that thing or being attracted to that person." Add that to the "propinquity effect," the human habit of forming relationships with people we are physically close to.

"One famous study showed that people were more likely to develop close relationships with their next door neighbors than with people four doors down," Bohns added.

It makes sense: the more you're around someone, the more likely you are to build familiarity, learn their quirks, and see new sides to them.

Plus, coworkers often share goals, stress, a routine, and their environment. They might rely on one another for reassurance or help with difficult tasks. Day-to-day, your coworkers can help you feel safe, successful, and in control.

These "are raw materials for emotional intimacy," Wright said. That's why, while the workplace may feel like an inappropriate place for intimacy, in many ways it's natural.

"We're dressing up, problem-solving together, or feeling seen or admired in ways that probably don't happen at home when you're being nagged to empty the dishwasher and shampoo your kids' hair," Wright said.

"It's almost intoxicating to be seen by someone in your work world, especially if you feel unseen or taken for granted elsewhere."

The midlife desire to feel alive

In her clinical practice, Wright sees a "notable uptick" in workplace romances "between the late 30s and the early 50s," particularly among people in relationships.

"It's a season where people begin to reevaluate everything: their marriage, their purpose, their sense of vitality," Wright said. It's not about infidelity, per se; it's about identity.

If you're married with kids, you and your partner have probably done some of the hardest and least exhilarating stuff together — budgeting for daycare, packing lunches, doing taxes, and working out who's washing the dishes this time. Wright calls this "the grind stage" of relationships.

A juicy connection with a coworker "pierces the autopilot" of your domestic routine, possibly awakening long-buried parts of yourself, Wright said. Of course, if your relationship is already falling apart, a familiar face can also provide solace and support.

"What they're usually trying to work out in the room with me isn't 'should I pursue this?' but rather 'what is this awakening of me?'"

Is it OK to have a workplace romance?

There is a reason everyone is sharing that kiss-cam clip. It's the same reason workplace romances are so common in pop culture — take "Scandal," "Grey's Anatomy," or "The X-Files."

"It really kind of disrupts the fantasy that work is separate from life," Wright said. As outsiders, "we feel compelled to look at this, whether it's to condemn or to empathize, or honestly, because they're acting out a part of us that wishes we could do it. And we're wondering, well, what if I did that? It's a cultural lightning rod."

Is meeting someone at work inherently wrong? Not necessarily, but it's complicated.

According to research by the Society for Human Resource Management, workplace romances can increase the risk of awkward or hostile work environments (if it doesn't work out, seeing your ex every day is not exactly fun). There's also a risk other employees may file conflict-of-interest claims, Bohns said — you don't want other employees feeling like someone is getting special treatment.

The big question to consider if you want to enter into an office romance, though, is: what's the power dynamic? Does one of the people in this liaison have control over the other's career?

That's why Bohns believes workplaces should be proactive, designing policies that protect the individuals involved and their professional colleagues from confusing dynamics. "Policies that forbid workplace romance are bound to fail," Bohns said.

If you find yourself in an office romance, Wright suggests taking a moment to think about what emotional need this is tapping into — particularly if you're already in a relationship. With clients, her primary goal is to strip out any shame or sheepishness so they can get to the root of what it is igniting.

Sometimes, in the middle of spreadsheets and Slack messages, we don't just find connection, we find ourselves.

• Some banks in Russia are reportedly considering asking the central bank for help.
• At least three lenders have discussed approaching the Bank of Russia for a bailout, Bloomberg reported.
• Russia's economy is showing signs of struggling in the third year of war in Ukraine.

Some big banks in Russia are reportedly getting ready to ask for an emergency bailout if their finances don't improve over the next year.

Executives in at least three of the country's big banks have considered the risk that they may need to ask Russia's central bank for a bailout in the next year, Bloomberg reported this week.

The banks, which the Bank of Russia has classified as critically important to the nation's financial system, have had private discussions about how to approach the central bank for a bailout, the report said, adding that the discussions were growing more urgent.

The talks took place because the lenders' balance sheets look worse than what the official data suggests, Bloomberg said, citing the people and internal documents. The likelihood of asking for a bailout will depend on how many bad loans the banks continue to accumulate this year, the sources said.

Stress in the banking sector is another sign of how Russia's economy has struggled to bear the costs of its war in Ukraine, though its banking system looks to be on solid footing, according to the official statistics.

Russian banks took in a record 4 trillion rubles, or $50.9 billion in profits in 2024. Monthly net profits also swelled by a third in June compared to the same level last year, according to central bank data released on Friday.

Russia's central bank also says the nation has a low share of bad debt overall. The share of "problem loans" to corporate borrowers stood at around 4% as of October 2024, according to the Bank of Russia's latest Financial Stability Review.

The review acknowledged that the creditworthiness of Russia's corporate sector has "slightly declined," due to "serious delinquencies seriously increasing" among small businesses.

Consumers are also falling behind on payments, with the share of delinquent unsecured consumer loans that were more than 90 days delinquent rising to 10.5% at the end of the first quarter.

Top bankers in Russia have also expressed concern about their finances and the outlook for the coming year.

Herman Gref, the CEO Sberbank, said the bank's path forward for the next year would "not be easy" when speaking to investors at a meeting in June. He pointed to the declining quality of loans and more companies restructuring their debt.

"I hope, as always, we will be able to find joint plans to get through these difficult times," he said.

Concerns are rising throughout Russia's economy as the Ukraine war continues through its third year.

Borrowing costs remain near all-time-highs. The Bank of Russia raised its interest rate to a record 21% last year, before trimming it to 20% in June.

The nation is also running a steep budget deficit and quickly depleting its rainy day fund. Liquid assets in Russia's national wealth fund dropped to 28 trillion rubles, or $35.6 billion in May, down around 71% from levels at the start of the Ukraine war, according to an analysis from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Russia's economy shrank 0.6% in the first quarter of this year, according to the nation's federal statistics service.

• I've attended hundreds of weddings as a bridesmaid-for-hire, and I'm not sold on open bars.
• Receptions with open bars get pricey, and I've seen many guests drink too much and cause issues.
• Cash bars are a great way to save money on a wedding and worry less about rowdy drunken guests.

An hour into the reception, hotel security barged onto the dance floor to help break up a fight between the groom's friends and the bride's cousins.

Just minutes earlier, the group was hunched over the open bar, throwing back free shots and emptying bottles of tequila as if they were bartenders at a Vegas nightclub.

As I watched fists hit faces, I couldn't help thinking that all of this drunken chaos might've been prevented if the couple hadn't had an open bar.

At many modern American weddings, guests expect an open bar where they can toss back as many alcoholic drinks as they desire.

However, after working hundreds of weddings as a hired bridesmaid for strangers, I'm not completely sold on them.

I've seen couples go into debt because they didn't account for their open-bar costs, and others hysterical during the reception because a guest's drunken antics ruined their day.

Although the idea of having guests pay for their own drinks can feel taboo, I think cash bars can make a wedding great — especially if couples do them well.

With more limited drinks, you can worry a little less about guests getting rowdy

Not everyone has self-control around an open bar, which could turn your fun reception into an unforgettable one for the wrong reasons.

When I work weddings with open bars as a professional bridesmaid, I'm on high alert — I can count on a drunk guest almost ruining the reception at about 50% of them.

I once saw the bride's uncle grab the microphone from the DJ and ramble on about his failed marriages after ripping shots. At a different wedding, the groom's college friends were so drunk they started a fight that ended with a broken arm.

Without an open bar, guests might think twice about how much alcohol they are consuming — and that slower pace could help prevent infamous wedding moments that you'll remember for years.

Plus, nixing an open bar can save you thousands of dollars

Although prices vary based on the type of alcohol offered, the guest count (and what they drink), and location, an open bar can easily cost well over $25 a person.

At a large wedding, that can become a significant added expense that couples hadn't accounted for when planning their catering budget.

Instead, couples can skip the open bar and pocket that cash or use that chunk of their budget toward something they want more, like a dessert bar or a pricier photographer.

One couple I worked with used the $3,000 they saved on an open bar to fund half their honeymoon. For them, a week in Spain was more memorable than a night of wedding guests throwing back bottomless drinks.

Luckily, there are great ways to customize a cash bar or offer limited free drinks to guests

If you're eager to save money but want to still treat guests to a few alcoholic beverages, you have options.

A popular trend I've seen at budget-friendly weddings is limited open bars that are complimentary for the first hour or two before turning into a cash bar. That way, the couple can treat guests to a few rounds of drinks before asking them to cover their own.

Or, if you want more control over alcohol consumption, you could hand out drink tickets when guests arrive so they are given a few freebies before paying for the rest.

At a recent wedding I worked at, the couple had a cash bar but offered two signature cocktails for free. This compromise saved them money and let their guests sip on a beverage that was special to them.

One kid-friendly reception I worked had the bar serve only beer and wine, then added a mocktail station where guests could whip up non-alcoholic drinks with fun garnishes.

In addition, choosing to skip hard liquor and instead only serving beer and wine is also a popular option for cutting costs and still giving guests free drinks without fully doing a cash bar.

Money aside, if you're aiming for less of a rager and more of a dinner party, the mood can be set based on the type of bar option you choose.

You might face some judgment, but there are a few ways to prepare

Open bars are non-negotiable for a lot of couples and are the most popular drink offering at receptions in the US.

So, guests might expect to order unlimited cocktails at your wedding and could be shocked when they're asked to swipe their card.

Ultimately, though, it's your decision. If you're nervous about guests whispering about your pick or showing up unprepared on the big day, include language about your bar option on the invite or wedding website.

One bride I worked with sent out a wedding-week email to all of her guests with the itinerary, venue address, and a note about there being a cash bar. Guests came prepared to pay (and some even snuck in their own liquor bottles).

Either way, don't let the eye-rollers bring you down if you choose to have a cash bar or more limited drink options. There's more to a wedding than the freebies guests can score at the bar — we're there to celebrate love, aren't we?

• In a lawsuit, Apple says a YouTuber commissioned a friend to break into Apple employee's phone.
• Jon Prosser leaked new features of iOS 26 months before WWDC.
• Prosser said he "did not 'plot' to access anyone's phone and was unaware of the situation playing out."

In January, YouTuber Jon Prosser began showing off early renderings of Apple's iOS 26 on his channel, FrontPageTech. First was a redesigned camera rendering. In March, he teased Apple's "liquid glass" redesign, before giving a more thorough look in April.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Northern California, Apple says Prosser's leaks were ill-begotten. Apple sued Prosser and another man, Michael Ramacciotti, for misappropriation of trade secrets.

Prosser denied Apple's recounting of the events in an X post.

In the lawsuit, Apple says it received an anonymous tip linking Prosser's leaks to Ethan Lipnik, a software engineer at Apple from 2023-2025. Apple said it received the tip on April 4, months before the software debuted at WWDC, the company's annual conference where it launches products.

Apple alleged that Prosser commissioned Ramacciotti to break into Lipnik's development phone. Ramacciotti was a friend of Lipnik's, the suit says.

Apple says that while Ramacciotti was staying at Lipnik's house, he waited for his friend to leave, obtained the password for his device, and made a video call to Prosser showing off the features.

Apple alleged that Prosser then screen-recorded the video call, recreating the features in new renderings and publishing his copies on YouTube. Apple also says in the lawsuit that Prosser showed the video to other individuals, one of whom noticed Lipnik's apartment in the background, causing them to tip off the company.

"Apple takes great care to protect the secrecy of its unreleased products and features," the lawsuit reads. "These safeguards can only go so far to protect against bad actors determined to steal Apple's trade secrets."

Apple says in the lawsuit that it has since terminated Lipnik's employment. Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Prosser, Ramacciotti, and Lipnik did not respond to email and social media messages seeking comment. Lawyers for Prosser and Ramacciotti have not yet been identified on the court docket.

"This is not how things went down on my end," Prosser wrote in response to a MacRumors story about the lawsuit on X. "For the record: I certainly did not 'plot' to access anyone's phone and was unaware of the situation playing out."

In its lawsuit, Apple asked the court for unspecified damages and an order preventing Prosser from disclosing other unreleased trade secrets that could have been on the device.

• A human programmer won a coding competition in Tokyo. An OpenAI tool took second place.
• Sam Altman and OpenAI congratulated the winner on X.
• "I'm trying to give 100% of what I have and try to stay alive," the winning programmer told BI.

AI hasn't yet killed the coding star.

On Wednesday, a programmer from Poland, Przemysław Dębiak, beat an OpenAI tool at the AtCoder World Tour Finals 2025 Heuristic Contest in Tokyo, which is sponsored by the company.

"I was so tired. I actually felt at some point that I should take a break," Dębiak, who competed under the name "Psyho," told Business Insider over a video call on Friday.

"But at the same time, I was very close to getting a score comparable to the model," he added.

That pushed him to dig deep, using "all the remaining energy" to beat the AI. "I'm trying to give 100% of what I have and try to stay alive," he said, adding that without OpenAI's model, his score "would be much, much lower."

Dębiak's victory drew the attention of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. In a post on X on Wednesday, Altman wrote, "good job psyho."

When reached for comment, OpenAI directed BI to a post on X, where it had written, "Our model took 2nd place at the AtCoder Heuristics World Finals! Congrats to the champion for holding us off this time."

The contest is held annually and run by AtCoder, a Japan-based competitive programming site.

Yoichi Iwata, the competition's administrator, told BI that OpenAI's model outperformed those who used similar approaches, but Dębiak "arrived at a completely different solution."

"We expected a human to win, and were rather surprised that the AI was able to secure second place," Iwata added.

"While the AI surpassed humans in terms of optimization ability, we believe it still fell short of human creativity."

The competition's results page shows Dębiak prevailing over competitors from Japan, Georgia, and France. On Friday, Dębiak shared a results page on X that showed him as the competition's victor and OpenAI in second place.

"The results are official now and my lead over AI increased from 5.5% to 9.5%," he wrote.

After winning the competition on Wednesday, Dębiak celebrated his win online, writing, "Humanity has prevailed (for now!)", adding that he was "completely exhausted" after just 10 hours of sleep in three days. He told BI he flew from Warsaw to Tokyo for the competition.

The programmer wrote on X that he did not use AI tools, just "regular" Visual Studio Code, a software development platform, with "some basic autocomplete to speed up repetitive stuff."

Dębiak, 41, told BI he only found out about OpenAI's entry a week before the contest.

"No one knew that this would be, to some extent, an exhibition match between humans and AI," he said.

The stars aligned for the human

AI will win in cases that require straightforward engineering — implementing algorithms, solving the problem, and optimizing code — because it's simply faster, Dębiak told BI.

But in longer contests where programmers "do everything from scratch," he said, AI has a harder time keeping up.

"The longer the contest is, the more chances for humans and less chances for AI," he said, adding that he overtook OpenAI's tool near the end of the 10-hour competition.

Dębiak said he competed in "algorithmic optimization," where the goal was to write the most efficient solution to a complex problem. In this competition, he had to code a program that guided robots across a 30x30 grid using the fewest moves possible.

Reflecting on the competition, Dębiak said the variables lined up in his favor.

"It's easy to imagine a different problem where AI would win and all the humans would be like far, far away," he added.

AI has famously beaten humans in other high-profile competitions. In 1997, IBM's Deep Blue AI machine beat chess grandmaster Gary Kasparov, and in 2016, Google DeepMind's AlphaGo beat Go world champion Lee Sedol.

In February, Altman said that by the end of the year, OpenAI could surpass humans in coding competitions.

AI is already writing big chunks of code at Microsoft, Google, and Meta, the companies' CEOs have all said in recent months.

Altman has said that demand for software engineers could eventually dip.

"My basic assumption is that each software engineer will just do much, much more for a while. And then at some point, yeah, maybe we do need less software engineers," he said in March, referring to OpenAI's hiring strategy.

• My family of five spent over two weeks traveling around Sicily this summer.
• We had planned a night in Cefalù between two other stays, but I was skeptical because it felt too touristy.
• It turned out to be an amazing stop, and now I wish we had stayed longer.

When I was planning a trip to Sicily with my family, I kept looking up the locations we were staying at on Instagram.

We had added a one-night stop at Cefalù as a cushion between leaving the volcanic island of Stromboli before heading to my family's hometown in the south of the island.

I was skeptical about this stop. On Instagram, it felt like a total tourist trap. But once we arrived, I realized it is much more beautiful than the reels show.

We stayed away from the city center

After a three-hour ferry and a two-hour car ride, we finally arrived in Cefalù. We had chosen a hotel away from the city center and in the mountains to relax after a very active first half of our trip. We were so tired that we decided to have dinner in the hotel and go to bed early.

The next morning, we headed down to the town, and as soon as we stepped out of the car, I was blown away by the beauty of Cefalù. All the streets leading to the beach are narrow and stacked with buildings, but they're incredibly picturesque. No wonder it attracts so many Instagrammers who create content there.

By the time we go to the beach, I wished we had planned more days to explore the town in more depth.

The beach is stunning and perfect for families

The main beach in Cefalù is about 1.2 miles long, and even though we were there on a June weekend, it didn't feel crowded.

There's a section where you can rent chairs and umbrellas, and a much larger section where you can plop yourself on the sand without having to pay. We didn't have beach towels, but we were able to buy some in a store nearby, which also offered sunscreen, beach toys, and other necessities.

Unlike beaches in Taormina or the Aeolian Islands, the beach in Cefalù is sandy, making it perfect for kids to play in. The water is see-through and warm, and my kids spent hours chasing little fish and building sand castles.

There's more to do than just the beach

While we spent most of our day relaxing at the beach, watching people jump off a wall into the water, and taking in the views from this UNESCO World Heritage site, there's more to do.

We took a walk through the streets near the beach, and I bought my favorite dress from our trip to Italy. We stopped for ice cream and found the Lavatoio Medievale (or medieval washhouse) where women washed clothes centuries ago. You can also take boat rides, hike up La Rocca, have drinks at the Piazza Duomo, and try all the food.

I want to go back

Having spent such a wonderful day at Cefalù, I'm already looking forward to going back. We had a relaxing day, and even got to enjoy fresh pizza, arancini, and local beers right on the beach.

While we did have to dodge plenty of people with tripods creating content for their socials, annoyed that my kids would run into their shots, the town is way more beautiful and charming in person than any of the reels show.

• The US this week unveiled a new drone that looks similar to the Iranian-designed Shahed.
• Russia has used the Shahed in devastating attacks on Ukrainian cities.
• The US is boosting its efforts to produce cheap, one-way attack drones for future wars.

An American version of the Iranian-designed Shahed one-way attack drones that Russia uses in its daily attacks on Ukrainian cities showed up at the Pentagon this week.

Photos show the drone, identified in promotional materials as a Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, and made by American engineering firm SpektreWorks, on display among a variety of other drone prototypes in the courtyard.

The weapon's appearance comes as the US military looks to dramatically increase the production of cheap drones using off-the-shelf components to keep pace with rapid evolutions in warfare, which is becoming increasingly robotic and autonomous.

A fact sheet visible in the photos from the Pentagon said that the new Shahed-style drone could support the military's Indo-Pacific Command by "providing a viable threat emulator" and offering "a low operational and maintenance cost compared to traditional munitions systems or aircraft."

It said that "this makes the FLM 131 attractive to Joint Forces looking for one-way attack systems that enhance capabilities without increasing costs." The Spektreworks LUCAS design was one out of 18 American-made drone prototypes on display at the Pentagon on Wednesday. The department said that the drones were developed in a period of about 18 months, rather than over years.

There is limited information about the FLM 131, but it looks similar to the FLM 136, a product listed in SpektreWorks' catalogue. The FLM 136 is nearly 10 feet in length and has a wingspan of just over 8 feet. It can cruise at 55 knots and sprint at 100 knots, while carrying a maximum payload of 40 pounds. Spektreworks says that the FLM 136 is "reverse-engineered for authentic threat emulation."

The FLM models strongly resemble the delta-shaped body of the Iranian-designed Shahed, with the straight wingtips and the rounded head. The 131/136 variant designation is also notably used for the Iranian drone. The design presented at the Pentagon is modular, with the ability to swap out parts for different missions: attack, reconnaissance, and communication.

SpektreWorks did not respond to Business Insider's request for additional information about LUCAS.

The Iranian-designed Shahed is known as a one-way attack drone, or loitering munition, because it can loiter in the air for a period of time before diving down at its target and detonating on impact.

Russia began using the Iranian-supplied Shaheds against Ukraine in 2022, but it has since started manufacturing them locally. While these weapons are slower than cruise or ballistic missiles, they are much cheaper, allowing Moscow to launch them in large numbers.

Some recent attacks have consisted of hundreds of drones alongside missiles, complicating the strike package and creating challenges for air defenders.

Ukrainian troops and first responders have said that Russia has introduced new tactics with its Shaheds, also known by their Russian designation Geran-2, and have even modified the drones to make them deadlier, such as swapping out their standard explosive payloads for thermobaric warheads.

The proliferation of cheap, one-way attack drones extends beyond Ukraine and has been a problem in the Middle East as well. An attack in Jordan last year, for instance, killed three US service members and injured dozens more. These kinds of weapons have also targeted Israel and ships operating off the coast of Yemen.

Recognizing the increasing threat that drones represent in modern warfare, the Trump administration has made boosting the production of these weapons to keep up with adversaries a priority.

In mid-May, President Donald Trump said the US is coming up with a "new system of drones" and alluded to the Shahed, expressing interest in Iranian designs.

"In the case of Iran, they make a good drone. And they make them for $35,000, $40,000," Trump said of Tehran's drone tech during a roundtable with business leaders in Qatar. "And they're very good too, and fast and deadly. Horrible, actually, when you look at what's happening with Russia and Ukraine. The drone is killing tremendous numbers of people."

In early June, Trump signed an executive order to speed up US drone production, and last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a memorandum that he is rescinding what was described as "restrictive policies" that stood in the way of production.

"Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, accounting for most of this year's casualties in Ukraine," Hegseth said in the memo.

"Our adversaries collectively produce millions of cheap drones each year," the defense secretary said. "While global military drone production skyrocketed over the last three years, the previous administration deployed red tape. US units are not outfitted with the lethal small drones the modern battlefield requires."

The US military can see that it needs drones for future fights. Drones, for instance, are a key part of the Army's transformation initiative. The Marines have formed an attack drone team to disseminate war lessons from Ukraine to the force. The Air Force is looking at collaborative combat aircraft to fly along its most advanced fighters. And the Navy is exploring using uncrewed vessels to augment the fleet while also training, like the other services, to counter emerging threats.

• After working on cruises, I feel there are important things to keep in mind when booking a trip.
• Things like alcoholic drinks or specialty dining often aren't included in the price of your cruise.
• The arrival time listed for each port isn't actually when you'll be allowed to get off the boat.

With endless amounts of food, world-class entertainment, and dreamy ocean views, cruises sound like a dream getaway for many.

They can be pretty great. However, booking a cruise isn't always so simple. Take it from me — I've worked aboard a range of ships for several years.

Here are a few things I think you should know before planning your next at-sea vacation.

Not everything is included in your original fare

It's a common misconception that cruises are all-inclusive.

Although most cruise lines include your room accommodations and unlimited food from the buffet and dining room, some things will cost extra.

For example, alcoholic beverages are usually not included, so you'll have to purchase a drink package or buy cocktails à la carte, which can add a hefty bill to your getaway.

Other things, such as WiFi, shore excursions, spa services, specialty dining, and professional photos, also typically cost extra — so make sure to budget for what you'll want to add to your experience.

There are certain times of the year when the waters are rockier

With massive ships out there longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall, you'll almost never notice that you're floating in the middle of the sea.

However, rough waters can remind you in the worst way that you're on a boat. When planning your cruise, try not to book your trip during typically stormy seasons, especially if you're prone to seasickness.

For example, consider avoiding cruises that sail in the Caribbean during its hurricane season or on the Atlantic Ocean in the winter, when seas can be rough.

Some port stops are shorter than guests expect

Port stops are an awesome way to explore multiple countries in one trip.

It's pretty common for guests to get about eight hours in a port, but sometimes ships will only stay in one place for half a day. This is usually due to port rules or the set itinerary, since the boat needs to make it to the next stop in time.

Make sure to check the itinerary times before booking your cruise if you're hoping to spend more time in a specific port.

You may have to sit with other guests at dinner

Although this tradition is becoming outdated, there are still instances where you may have to share a large table at dinner with other guests.

Sometimes, this assignment is given to you before the cruise.

Although many enjoy the experience of getting to know other passengers, don't worry if you want to keep your group separate — just talk to maître d' once you board to request a new table assignment.

The port arrival time listed on the itinerary is not when you'll be able to exit the ship

I've seen many disappointed passengers book excursions with outside operators and assume the arrival time listed is when they'll be allowed to go ashore.

The arrival time is just when the ship officially docks at the port. The vessel must then undergo an inspection from local authorities and receive clearance before letting passengers off, which can take anywhere between 20 minutes to over an hour.

If you want a more accurate idea of when you'll be able to leave, look for the "gangway clearance estimation" time, which will typically be listed in the ship's activities guide.

You can't keep the alcohol that you buy in ports with you on the ship

Your plan to buy 14 bottles of Mexico's finest tequila and do shots in your stateroom later likely won't be possible.

Typically, alcohol purchased onshore will have to go through a scanner upon reentry to the ship and will be checked in with security until the end of the cruise.

In many cases, it will be delivered to your stateroom on the last evening of the cruise.

There may be formal and themed nights, so you should pack accordingly

Although adhering to these dress codes is often optional, I can't tell you how many guests have told me they wish they knew there was a formal or themed evening, like 1970s night.

All of the entertainment information is usually listed on the cruise line's app or website prior to the sailing, so make sure to check it before you pack.

Your cabin may not look how you expect

Cabins on cruises range from small, inside rooms with no windows to suites as big as a condo apartment.

Either way, read reviews online and make sure you see physical pictures of the type (or class) of cabin you book — especially if you do it through a travel agency — so you know what you're getting.

It's a much different experience to book a room with two sets of bunk beds and no window versus one with a picturesque balcony and individual beds. 

Gratuity is automatically added for each passenger, but you can change it

Guests usually check their bill on the last day of the cruise and panic when they see gratuity charges under each person's name.

On most cruises, gratuity is automatically calculated at a per-person, per-day rate for your servers and housekeeping crew, but you can change the amount by talking to the guest-services desk.

Just be sure to consider the crew before lowering it — they are very hardworking.

This story was originally published on November 7, 2021, and most recently updated on July 18, 2025.