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☆ A TikTok creator doubled her income with a 50-part post about her husband. She keeps her day job for stability.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Tareasa M. Johnson, known as "Reesa Teesa," went viral with the TikTok series, "Who TF Did I Marry." Johnson told BI she makes more than double her salary from content creation, but kept her old job. Related VideoThe series and her ongoing content creation now account for "about 70%" of her income, Johnson told Business Insider. AdvertisementNatasha Rothwell is developing a TV series based on Johnson's TikTok series for ABC. AdvertisementJohnson said she would only leave her job for another full-time, stable position — never content creation, which can be volatile and time-consuming.

Persons: Tareasa, Johnson, —, wasn't, she's, She's, that's, Natasha Rothwell, John Nacion, she'll, I'm Organizations: CAA, ABC, Service, Business, Conference, Getty Locations: Marietta , Georgia, Marietta

☆ Microsoft discloses equity investment in OpenAI for the first time, SEC filing shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Microsoft disclosed equity investment in OpenAI for the first time, SEC filings show. AdvertisementMicrosoft disclosed an equity investment in OpenAI for the first time, according to its latest SEC filings. "We have an investment in OpenAI Global, LLC ("OpenAI") and have made total funding commitments of $13 billion," Microsoft wrote in the SEC filing on Wednesday. In previous SEC filings, Microsoft described the nature of its relationship with OpenAI as a partnership rather than an equity investment. "Going from 'partnership' to 'equity method investment' disclosure, including that losses are being recorded for their share, is a big change," McKenna added.

Persons: OpenAI, —, Francine McKenna, McKenna, Amy Hood, Copilot Organizations: Microsoft, SEC, Service, OpenAI, supercomputing Locations: OpenAI

☆ A 14th-century church that has been abandoned for 50 years is now filled with 'ghosts.' Look inside.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

In the tiny Czech town of Lukova, there is a church that has stood for hundreds of years. People avoided the church because it was haunted, so it now houses dozens of life-size "ghosts." Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementIn the town of Luková in the Czech Republic sits St. George's Church, but it's not your typical place of worship. If you can't make your way to the Czech Republic, here's what it looks like inside St. George.

Persons: —, it's, Jakub Hadrava, George Organizations: Service Locations: Czech, Lukova, Luková, Czech Republic, St, George's

Zhang Yiming has built a $49.3 billion fortune since cofounding ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok. He recently became the richest person in China. AdvertisementThe widespread popularity of TikTok has created not only a new generation of social media stars — it's also helped mint China's wealthiest person. Zhang is a highly private person and little is publicly known about his personal life. He has recently, however, been thrust back into the spotlight after being named on the list as the richest person in China.

Persons: Zhang Yiming, cofounding ByteDance, Zhang, —, TikTok, — it's Organizations: Service Locations: China

☆ I tried pumpkin-flavored coffee drinks at Dunkin', Starbucks, and Dutch Bros. The original PSL was dethroned.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Meredith Schneider | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I tried pumpkin drinks from Dunkin, Dutch Bros, and Starbucks to see which chain does it best. Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte was good, but it wasn't my favorite drink. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! AdvertisementPeople have looked forward to the limited release of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte every year since 2003. I tried pumpkin-flavored iced drinks at Dutch Bros, Dunkin', and Starbucks.

Persons: —, Dunkin Organizations: Bros, Starbucks, Service Locations: Dunkin

☆ One week out from the election, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump still say they're set on moving on from Trumpworld
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump were advisors to Donald Trump when he was in office. Her husband, Jared Kushner, says they're "rooting for" Trump but will not return to politics if he wins. Kushner told The Times that if Trump is elected, he does not expect "a major shift in terms of what we prioritize." I do not plan to be involved in politics," Ivanka told Fox News Digital after she skipped Trump's 2024 campaign launch. I think you have to either be all in or all out," Ivanka told the podcaster Lex Fridman in an episode that aired in July.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump, Ivanka, Trump, —, Kushner, Ambani, Arabella Rose Kushner, Carbone, Lex Fridman, it's Organizations: Service, The New York Times, The Times, Times, Fox News Digital, Business Insider, Republican National Convention, Miami Grand Prix, Affinity Partners Locations: Washington, India, Saudi Arabia

☆ Evertune is building marketing analytics tools for LLMs. Check out the pitch deck it used to launch from stealth with $4 million in seed funding from Eniac.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Samantha Stokes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The startup offers marketing analytics tools to help brands boost their SEO on LLMs like ChatGPT. Check out the 17-slide pitch deck Evertune used to raise its $4 million seed funding round. The startup, Evertune, launched from stealth today with $4 million in seed funding, it confirmed exclusively to Business Insider. AdvertisementAt Evertune, Stempeck said that he and his co-founders, Ed Chater and Poul Costinsky, are focusing on being the leader in intersection between advertising and AI. Check out the 17-slide pitch deck Evertune used to raise its $4 million seed funding round.

Persons: Evertune, Roger Ehrenberg, —, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's, Anthropic's Claude, Brian Stempeck, Evertune's, Stempeck —, LLMs, Stempeck, Ed Chater, Poul Costinsky Organizations: Eniac Ventures, Nextview, Service, Business, New York VC, NextView Ventures, Aperiam Ventures

☆ GM CEO Mary Barra says there's so much EV competition in China that it's driving a price war that isn't sustainable
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

General Motors CEO Mary Barra said on Tuesday that EV manufacturers face steep competition in China. It's not sustainable for EV manufacturers like GM, Barra said. AdvertisementGeneral Motors CEO Mary Barra said there are so many companies trying to sell EVs in China right now that it's driving a price war that isn't sustainable. "You have to look at what the sustainable business is because the situation that is there right now is not sustainable," Barra said. In China specifically, GM sold 14% more vehicles in the third quarter than in the second.

Persons: Mary Barra, Barra, —, she's Organizations: EV, GM, Service, General, TechCrunch, European, BI, China EV, Benz Locations: China, San Francisco

☆ A Russian court hit Google with a fine larger than the world's GDP, stretching credulity
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Russian court fined Google for not restoring YouTube accounts linked to Russian TV channels. AdvertisementA legal dispute between Google and Russia over suspended YouTube accounts has led to a fine so large that it exceeds all the money on Earth. Ivan Morozov, a Moscow-based lawyer, told the state-run TASS newswire that a Russian court ordered the tech giant to restore Russian media accounts on YouTube, a Google-owned company. To put this into perspective, the world's GDP is equivalent to about $105 trillion, a minuscule fraction of the fine. In 2022, Google's Russian legal arm, Google LLC, filed for bankruptcy, and authorities seized its bank accounts, though free services continue to operate in the country.

Persons: —, Ivan Morozov, Donald Trump, Morozov, Nigel Gould, Davies, Gould Organizations: Google, Service, YouTube, Business, Bloomberg, International Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Russian, Russia, Moscow, Eurasia

☆ Dropbox lays off 20% of employees and joins Big Tech's flattening trend. Read CEO Drew Houston's memo.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Jaures Yip | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dropbox is laying off 528 employees, about 20% of its workforce, and making the company flatter. AdvertisementDropbox is the latest major company to slash its staff and flatten its organizational structure. "We've heard from many of you that our organizational structure has become overly complex, with excess layers of management slowing us down." Mark Zuckerberg instituted manager cuts and increased the average number of direct reports for Meta managers after complaining about "managers managing managers." Houston's memo to employees at the time also attributed those layoffs to headwinds and freeing up investment bandwidth for more products powered by artificial intelligence.

Persons: Drew Houston, —, I'm, Houston, We've, Andy Jassy, Mark Zuckerberg, Dropbox Organizations: Service, —, Amazon

☆ Starbucks CEO's plan to fix the chain includes coffee in 4 minutes and comfy chairs
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol just laid out his plan to turn around the struggling coffee chain. AdvertisementStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol gave investors the first look at his plan to turn around the struggling chain, and it involves faster coffee orders and better decor. For starters, Niccol said in-store orders will need to be fulfilled much faster than they currently are in many cases. "Before discussing China in detail, I need to spend time there to better understand our operations and the market," he said. Niccol said his optimism is rooted in Starbucks employees, who he said are passionate about coffee, the company, and its customers.

Persons: Brian Niccol, —, Niccol, Diana Frost, Kraft Heinz, I'm, aren't Organizations: Service, Business Locations: China, North Carolina

☆ Snap surges 10% as it gets a major boost from AI and paid subscribers
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Snap's revenue growth was attributed to AI features and growth in Snapchat+ users. Spiegel said Snap has also introduced AI tools for creators, which it has been pushing to onboard onto the platform recently. However, Snap projected that the current quarter will only see the number of users grow by 8 million to 451 million. Related storiesPaid subscribers and AI are boosting SnapThe CEO also attributed the revenue growth to paid subscriptions. Snap's 443 million user base is small compared to Meta's 3.3 billion users, and TikTok's more than 1 billion users, both of which it directly competes with for ad revenue.

Persons: —, Evan Spiegel, Spiegel, James Heaney Organizations: Service, Google, Jefferies

☆ I tried the same doughnut at Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, and Tim Hortons. The best one came from a gas-station kiosk.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Ted Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I tried Boston cream doughnuts from Dunkin, Krispy Kreme, and Tim Hortons. Although none of them were bad, the doughnut from Dunkin' was my least favorite. I'll go to Tim Hortons the next time I'm craving a Boston cream doughnut. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! As a New Yorker with lots of options, I decided to head to three of the most popular doughnut chains — Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, and Tim Hortons — to see which had the best Boston-cream-style doughnut.

Persons: Krispy Kreme, Tim Hortons, Dunkin, —, there's Organizations: Service Locations: Boston, Yorker

☆ A familiar-looking Houthi torpedo could be derived from captured US tech, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The weapon resembles a US sea drone the group captured years ago, analysts told BI. AdvertisementThe Houthi rebels in Yemen have a new torpedo to show off — and it looks familiar. Martin Kelly of the UK advisory firm EOS Risk Group, said the torpedo could derive from a US REMUS 600 drone lost in 2018. Houthi forcesPer Kelly, Iranian scientists could have turned a captive example into a "blueprint" for the homegrown weapon seen this week. He told BI that the torpedo looked like models put on display at an Iranian navy exhibition in Tehran in December 2023.

Persons: —, Al Qar'iah, Martin Kelly, REMUS, US REMUS, Per Kelly, Kelly, Mohammed Albasha Organizations: Service, EOS Risk, US MIM, US, US Defense Intelligence Agency, Geneva Graduate Institute, BI, US Navy, Pentagon, Drewry Locations: Iran, Yemen, US, Russia, Ukraine, Tehran, Iranian, Red, Israel, Gaza, Albasha

☆ Starbucks to stop charging extra for non-dairy milk substitutes
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Starbucks will stop surcharges on non-dairy milk ahead of the holidays. AdvertisementStarbucks is giving almond milk lovers and oat milk enthusiasts a holiday gift this year. The coffee chain will stop charging extra for non-dairy milk substitutions next month, CEO Brian Niccol said during a Wednesday earnings call. Substituting non-dairy milk is the second-most popular customization, Niccol said, after an extra shot of espresso. Extra costs for non-dairy milk can reach up to 80 cents per order in certain markets, CNBC reported.

Persons: Brian Niccol, Niccol, — Organizations: Starbucks, Service, CNBC

☆ Microsoft hints at a big change to its OpenAI investments in a new SEC filing
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft disclosed an equity investment in OpenAI for the first time, SEC filings show. "We have an investment in OpenAI Global, LLC ("OpenAI") and have made total funding commitments of $13 billion," Microsoft wrote in the SEC filing on Wednesday. Related storiesIn a previous SEC filing, Microsoft described the nature of its relationship with OpenAI as a partnership rather than an equity investment. "We have a long-term partnership with OpenAI, a leading AI research and deployment company," Microsoft wrote in its annual SEC filing from late July. In the July filing, Microsoft listed OpenAI as a competitor for the first time.

Persons: OpenAI, —, Francine McKenna, Sam Altman, McKenna, Microsoft's, Copilot Organizations: Microsoft, SEC, Service, OpenAI, supercomputing Locations: OpenAI

☆ Amazon employees speak out about Jeff Bezos's WaPo decision, with some supporting his call, leaked messages show
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Eugene Kim | Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In leaked messages, Amazon employees are divided, with some supporting his call. Related storiesSome Amazon employees agreed, according to the Slack messages obtained by BI. Other Amazon employees said it was "silly" and "sad" to see so many Washington Post readers cancel their subscriptions over the endorsement issue. 'Suspicious and worrisome'Still, some of Amazon employees who weighed in on the company's internal Slack were suspicious of Bezos's true motivation. Other Amazon employees were more blunt, saying they were going to cancel their own Washington Post subscriptions.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, —, Jeff Bezos's, Bezos, Slack, Donald Trump, I'd, Trump, Dave Limp, Matt Garman, he's, It's, it's Organizations: Washington Post, Amazon, Service, Business, BI, Democratic, Spokespeople, Washington, Blue, Trump Locations: Amazon, Washington

☆ I've traveled solo to all 63 US national parks. Here are my 10 best tips for first-time visitors.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Emily Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I've traveled alone to all 63 US national parks and have picked up lots of tips along the way. AdvertisementI've spent my 30s traveling solo on a quest to visit all 63 United States national parks. Nearly nine years later, I've visited all of the major parks in the US National Parks Service system – and to say I've learned a lot would be an understatement. I'm frequently asked for tips for new visitors who want to make the most of their time in the parks. Here are my 10 best tips for first-time visitors:

Persons: I've, —, I'm Organizations: Service, United States, National Parks Service

☆ Running isn't just about fitness — these 8 products are shaping the new look of run clubs
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Popular brands among runners will include Nike, Hoka, Bandit, and Lululemon. Luxury apparel companies like Minted New York and Loewe collaborate with running brands like Saucony and On Running, while even run clubs like Endorphins Running include merch drops. Reneé Noe, a running influencer who started the Noe Bad Vibes running club for women, said she sees AlphaFlys a lot, too. They blew up in popularity in the last few years; in 2021, they were dubbed as some of the most iconic running hats by Believe in the Run, a running media company. AdvertisementShe and Mazarra also said the running belt ($38) is a big hit in the running world, and Noe is a huge fan.

Persons: —, Loewe, Michael Mazarra, Mazarra, they're, Reneé Noe, Noe, Ciele's GOCaps, Nick Bare's, SPIbelt, fanny, FlipBelt, Gu, Eliud Kipchoge, Lululemon Noe, it's, Venu, COROS, Oakley, Lite Oakley Mazarra Organizations: Nike, Service, York City, Nike Nike, GOCap, FlipBelt, Maurten, Tech, PACE, Garmin, Pace, Oakley Locations: New York, Vaporflys, Brooklyn, New England, California

☆ Former CEOs of American Airlines, LinkedIn, Amex, Xerox, and 13 other companies make the pitch for Kamala Harris
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A group of former CEOs published an op-ed Tuesday endorsing Kamala Harris for president. AdvertisementA group of former CEOs who led major US companies — including American Airlines, LinkedIn, Xerox, and American Express — made the case for Kamala Harris in an op-ed one week before Election Day. The 17 business leaders said they were voting for Harris because they thought she'd be better for the economy than former President Donald Trump. AdvertisementOther business leaders have publicly supported Trump, including Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who said this week that Trump would be "efficient and effective." Meanwhile, some business leaders have avoided taking a position publicly even if they support one candidate or another in private.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, —, American Express —, Harris, she'd, Reid Hoffman, Doug Parker, Ken Chenault, Michael Lynton, Trump, Musk, Stephen Schwarzman, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, they're Organizations: Trump, Elon, Service, American Airlines, LinkedIn, Xerox, American Express, Sony, Blackstone, Yale School of Management, Leadership Institute Locations: Fortune, America, Swatara Township , Pennsylvania

☆ JetBlue founder and low-cost airline veteran explains how struggling airlines need to adapt to survive right now
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest are struggling to turn a profit. Low-cost veteran David Neeleman told BI that Spirit and Frontier should merge to survive. The still-in-service airlines Neeleman founded, like JetBlue Airways, Azul Brazilian Airlines, Canada's WestJet, and Breeze Airways, largely follow this idea. Historically, these strategies have been absent from the likes of Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest, which have stuck to all-economy aircraft with little choice. Southwest Airlines boats an open-seating policy where seats are first-co,me first-serve.

Persons: David Neeleman, —, David Neeleman —, Thomas Pallini, haven't, Neeleman, that's, Barry Biffle, They're, we've, WestJet, Scott Kirby, doesn't, Kevin Carter, Breeze Organizations: Service, JetBlue —, Breeze Airways, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Street, Frontier, Neeleman, JetBlue Airways, Azul Brazilian Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Morris Air, Spirit, Airbus Locations: Southwest, Frontier, Breeze

☆ Microsoft is still spending massively on AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Investors have been focused on Big Tech AI spending and returns. That's a worry at Microsoft partly because feedback on the company's Copilot AI has been mixed. Others have been concerned that Big Tech spending on artificial intelligence is outpacing results. Goldman said Microsoft has been counting on its AI Copilot and other generative AI efforts at Windows, Edge, and Microsoft 365 to draw enterprise clients. AdvertisementMuch of Microsoft's spending has been going toward data centers, graphics processing units, and other AI projects.

Persons: —, Jeremy Goldman, Goldman, it's, Satya Nadella, Francine McKenna Organizations: Investors, Big Tech, Service, Microsoft, Apple, Windows, Bloomberg Locations: Redmond, Washington, OpenAI

☆ Why Kamala Harris made her 'closing argument' in front of the White House
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Harris delivered a "closing argument" speech at the same spot Trump held his January 6 rally. AdvertisementOn Tuesday evening, exactly one week out from the end of the 2024 race, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech in the heart of Washington, DC that her campaign described as their "closing argument." Her choice to hold the rally at the Ellipse, a 52-acre park sandwiched between the White House and the Washington Monument, was all-important. Harris talked about January 6 in her rally, noting that former President Donald Trump "stood at this very spot" when he delivered his speech that day. AdvertisementAs far as closing arguments go, it may work — particularly when her opponent's own "closing argument" speech at Madison Square Garden was drowned out by one comedian's offensive joke about Puerto Ricans.

Persons: Harris, Trump, —, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Victoria Leacock Hoffman, Taylor, Missy Elliot's, Mitzi Maxwell, Joe Biden, Eager, Biden, denigrate Trump, he's, Joe Biden's, who's Organizations: Service, White, Capitol, DC, Biden, Democratic, Israel, Trump, Puerto Ricans Locations: Washington, American, America, USA, Florida, Orlando, Gaza, Madison, Puerto

☆ Designer bags are expensive. So some people are buying luxe hand soap instead.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Amanda Krause | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Designer hand soaps from brands like Aesop and Diptyque have become gateways into luxury shopping. AdvertisementIt's been said that once you wash your hands with Aesop's Resurrection hand soap, you'll never turn back. Consumers began buying designer soap for their homes more widely in the late 2010s, and in 2018, the global market for bath soap was valued at $19.5 billion. A 2024 report by Expert Market Research said the global soap market could reach over $36 billion in revenue by 2032, and luxury soap products are partially to thank. AdvertisementSo yes, buying luxury soap might seem to some like you're washing money down the drain.

Persons: —, It's, you'll, You'll, cleanser, Maison Francis Kurkdjian's, it's, Emma, Dior doesn't, Mal Langsdon, Reuters Emma, Malin, Goetz, Ron Robinson, he's, Loewe's, Sommyyah Awan, Dave Benett, Jo Malone London's, I'm Organizations: Service, Dior, Reuters, Consumers, Market Research Locations: auburn, Baccarat, Montreal, Toronto, London

☆ I'm a CEO who started a company and had a baby at the same time. Fatherhood has completely changed how I think about work.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Perri Ormont Blumberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Balancing family and entrepreneurship, MacKay prioritizes family time while building Cadence. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andrew Ross MacKay, the 33-year-old cofounder and CEO of Cadence, based in Los Angeles. I'm now the cofounder and CEO of Cadence, a salt-based electrolyte drink. This year, my daughter, Bloom, was born on March 20Mackay and his family. My family deserves me to be at my best, and to do that, I need to feel passionate about what I'm building.

Persons: Andrew Ross MacKay, MacKay, Bloom, MacKay prioritizes, —, I'm, Peter Thiel, Drake, George Heaton, Mackay, Anastasia Hing, Anastasia, I've, Ana, I'd Organizations: Cadence, Service, Daring Foods, D1 Capital, Founders Fund, Daring, Ana Locations: Los Angeles, Glasgow, Scotland

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