A recent photo posted by Senator Mitch McConnell, depicting him on the mend following a fall, has sparked intense debate regarding its authenticity. Some critics have speculated, without substantiating evidence, that the image may have been created using artificial intelligence.

The 84-year-old Republican leader disclosed that he was hospitalized due to a fall and subsequently developed mild pneumonia. This revelation raised concerns about his well-being, especially since he had not appeared in public for several weeks.

In response to the swirling doubts about the photo's legitimacy, BBC Verify's Jake Horton has provided insights on how to discern its authenticity. The investigation aims to address the growing speculation and reassure the public. 

This reporting is part of a collaborative effort, with contributions from Sophie Bott, filming by Meiying Wu, and graphics designed by Sally Nicholls.

No proof suggests that this photo of Mitch McConnell is created by AI.

A warm, sunlit newsroom desk of polished mahogany holds a crisp printout of Mitch McConnell’s portrait under a vintage brass magnifying glass. Faint streams of digital code drift away like mist from the photo, while a bold red “Verified Real” stamp glows on its corner. Scattered fact-check clippings and a half-read newspaper headline lie around, capturing the moment of truth unveiled.

How we know this Mitch McConnell photo isn't AI-generated - BBC

- Senator Mitch McConnell shared a photo of himself recovering after a recent fall.  
- Speculation arose about the photo's authenticity, with claims it might be AI-generated.  
- McConnell, 84, had been hospitalized for a fall and mild pneumonia recently.  

A photo shared by US Senator Mitch McConnell showing him alive and recovering after a fall has led to widespread speculation about its authenticity, with some claiming without evidence it is AI-generated.

The 84 year-old Republican recently revealed he had been hospitalised after suffering a fall and contracting mild pneumonia.

It followed questions over his health after he hadn't been seen in public for weeks.

BBC Verify's Jake Horton explains how we can tell the photo is genuine.

Produced by Sophie Bott. Filmed by Meiying Wu. Graphics by Sally Nicholls.

There's no evidence this Mitch McConnell photo is AI-generated

A parent from Omaha is expressing his apprehensions regarding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings. Nathan Miller, a tech consulting CEO with extensive experience in AI, is also a parent of a student at Westside Middle School and is worried about the implications of using AI in classrooms.

Miller has observed concerning trends among adults, such as cognitive offloading and potential mental health issues. This prompted him to address his worries in an open letter to the Westside School District, referencing sources like a Harvard Business Review article discussing "AI Brain Fry," which highlights how mental exhaustion from AI can lead to disengagement in learners.

In response to Miller's concerns, Westside School District arranged a meeting with him, which he described as a positive step toward ongoing dialogue. He believes that maintaining this conversation is crucial, especially as he notes that issues affecting adults inevitably trickle down to children.

While Miller acknowledges that AI cannot be completely ignored, he advocates for its introduction through the lens of media literacy. He emphasizes the need for students to understand how these tools function, their potential benefits, and the risks associated with their use.

Miller encourages fellow parents to engage with their school districts and deepen their own understanding of AI's role in education. As several school districts gear up to implement AI this academic year, Westside District provided a statement clarifying that use of AI is not mandatory for students or staff. However, the technology has become increasingly prevalent in daily life, showing up in various applications and search engines.

The district noted that while AI can be a valuable resource—helping students grasp complex concepts and generating ideas—it should not replace personalized thinking. Their goal is to guide students and staff in using AI responsibly, discussing appropriate contexts for its use, and reminding them that while AI can appear confident, it can also provide incorrect information. They encourage students to view AI as a supplementary tool rather than a substitute for critical thinking.

To support focused learning, Westside has implemented restrictions, allowing only educationally endorsed tools on student devices and blocking non-approved applications like ChatGPT. For more information about the district's approach to AI, interested parties can visit the dedicated AI webpage.

Omaha parent and tech consulting CEO expresses worries about AI in education.

A dusky, red-brick Omaha school façade looms behind two adults standing firm in the empty courtyard. On the left, a concerned parent in casual clothes holds up a smartphone screen glowing with scrolling AI code; on the right, a sharp-suited tech consulting CEO grips a tablet displaying a brain-shaped circuit diagram. Chalked binary numbers and a large question mark dot the concrete beneath their feet. Moody natural twilight casts long shadows, muted earthy tones, and a single amber streetlamp adds a warm counterpoint to the tension.

'My No. 1 thought is one of concern': Omaha parent, tech consulting CEO voices concerns on AI in classrooms - KETV

- Omaha parent Nathan Miller expresses concerns about AI's impact on classroom learning.  
- He cites potential cognitive offloading and mental health issues related to AI use.  
- Miller advocates for media literacy to help students understand AI's benefits and risks.  

'My No. 1 thought is one of concern': Omaha parent, tech consulting CEO voices concerns on AI in classrooms

An Omaha parent is speaking out with his concerns regarding AI use in the classroom.

RELATED COVERAGE: Nebraska Department of Education speaks on AI policies

Advertisement

Nathan Miller works with AI often in his career as CEO of a tech consulting company. He's also a parent of a Westside middle schooler.

"My number one thought (of AI in school) is one of concern," Miller said.

Westside, along with several other districts such as Millard and Lincoln Public Schools, is using AI in certain curricula, and that worries Miller.

RELATED COVERAGE: How Westside Community Schools plans to use AI in curriculum

"I've observed among adults, among professional adults, a number of trends. One is in the space of cognitive offloading. Also a mental health concern," Miller said.

Miller sent an open letter of his concerns to the district, citing several sources, including a Harvard Business Review explaining "AI Brain Fry," the idea that the mental fatigue included with AI use can create disengagement.

Miller said the Westside District quickly responded, and they had an in-person meeting.

"I felt it was a good start to a conversation," Miller said.

Keeping a conversation going is what Miller feels is key.

"As a parent, I'm looking at all of these things that I'm seeing in my professional work that's impacting adults. If it's impacting adults, you can be sure that it's going to impact younger kids," Miller said.

Miller agrees that avoiding AI altogether isn't the solution. He feels it should instead be introduced through a media literacy lens.

"Helping a kid understand what the tool is, what these platforms are, how they work, where they might be helpful, but also where they might be dangerous or unhelpful or unhealthy," Miller said.

Miller said he encourages other parents to start conversations with their district and community, and to make sure they have a good understanding of AI themselves.

Several school districts plan to incorporate AI this school year. In its response to this story, Westside School District said the following:

"Westside Community Schools does not require any students or staff to use Artificial intelligence.

However, AI is quickly becoming part of many students and school staff's everyday life, showing up in search engines, chatbots, and the apps they already use. AI can be a genuinely useful tool: it can explain a tricky math concept, brainstorm ideas for a project, or help a student get unstuck when they're staring at a blank page. AI should not be a replacement for personalized thinking.

Our goal is to help interested students and staff use AI ethically and efficiently. That means talking about when it's appropriate to use (checking their work versus writing the whole assignment), reminding them that AI can sound confident while being wrong, and encouraging them to treat it as a starting point they still question and build on. The most powerful thing you can do is stay curious and keep the conversation open: ask what tools they're using, try them out together, and help them build the judgment to use AI as a support for their own learning rather than a shortcut around it.

To assist our students and teachers, we’ve put tools in place to help student focus. Only recommended, educational focused tools are allowed on student devices. Non-approved tools like ChatGPT, Grok and Perplexity are now blocked on student devices K-12.

You can read more about AI at Westside on our district's AI website: https://teachers.technology/ai-at-westside/"

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

Omaha parent, tech consulting CEO voices concerns on AI in school

Your options regarding privacy

By selecting "Accept all," you agree to the use of technical identifiers along with browsing and search history for purposes such as analytics, personalized advertising, content customization, ad measurement, and audience insights, as well as service enhancement. When you click "Accept all," we and our partners, including 250 members of the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework, may store and/or access information on your device through cookies. We will also utilize precise geolocation and additional personal data for these various purposes. 

If you prefer that we and our partners refrain from using cookies and personal data for any of these supplementary reasons, please click "Reject all."

For those wanting to tailor their preferences, selecting "Manage privacy settings" will allow for customization of your choices.

You can modify or withdraw your consent at any time by using the "Privacy and Cookie settings" or "Privacy dashboard" links available on our websites and applications. For a more comprehensive understanding of your personal data use, please refer to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Your options for privacy

A lone adult figure stands in a bright, sunlit digital corridor at a crossroads. To the left, a warm-glowing door labeled “Share Data” spills golden streams of binary code into the hallway. To the right, a heavy steel vault door labeled “Protect Privacy” is secured by an illuminated lock and encrypted symbols. Floating bits of data hover between the doors, symbolizing the weight of a user’s privacy choices.

YouTube star Hank Green sets new AI policy for himself — and urges other content creators to do the same - Yahoo

- Users can accept or reject the use of cookies and personal data.
- Customization of privacy choices is available through 'Manage privacy settings' option.
- Consent can be withdrawn or changed anytime via provided links.

Your privacy choices

Accept all', we and technical identifiers and browsing and search data, for analytics, personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, and audience research and services development. If you click '', we and our partners , including 250 who are part of the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework, will also store and / or access information on a device (in other words, use cookies) and use precise geolocation data and other personal data such asand browsing and search data, for analytics, personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, and audience research and services development.

If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'.

If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'.

You can withdraw your consent or change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy and Cookie settings' or 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Your privacy choices

In a recent video posted on Friday, well-known internet creator Hank Green expressed his need to reevaluate his engagement with AI technologies. He admitted to becoming “too reliant on [LLMs] for advice, for editing, and for sourcing,” and vowed to establish a personal “AI policy.” Green also urged his fellow creators to consider adopting similar guidelines.

His comments came after viewers pointed out that one of his videos had utilized an AI-generated script. Just last week, Green acknowledged having employed AI to help him find research papers and resources for various topics, apologizing for not being fully transparent about this process. He announced that he would “readjust” his strategy moving forward, indicating a shift towards producing fewer projects overall.

This is significant given Green's reputation for prolific content creation. He has developed the popular Focus Friend app, co-launched the educational YouTube channel Crash Course, invented 2D glasses, and authored two bestselling novels. Over the last two decades, he has achieved more than many do in a lifetime.

As someone who has followed his YouTube content weekly since 2012, I can attest to Green’s dedication. He uploads to his Vlogbrothers channel every Friday, even when on vacation. His resilience is evident; after a battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, he humorously detailed his journey in a comedy special shortly after announcing his remission.

However, in light of the AI discourse, Green is pulling back. Instead of a traditional video post last Friday, he opted for an extensive Reddit entry in which he remarked on the unhealthy dopamine rush he experienced from constantly engaging with LLMs. He noted that the pursuit of doing more and more is detrimental both to his well-being and to society, indicating a disconnect from his audience.

In a now-deleted tweet discussing the contentious video, he acknowledged the pressure he was under, admitting, “I did use ChatGPT for research on this script and watching it I definitely get an AI feel.”

I don’t believe Green intended to mislead his audience with the use of generative AI; rather, he viewed it as a tool to manage his many creative ideas and projects. He certainly isn’t alone in this approach—AI-generated content is increasingly prevalent due to its immediate, almost miraculous results. Under tight deadlines, it’s tempting to lean on AI, especially when it appears to be a common practice among peers.

Green likely felt overwhelmed by his myriad projects, and AI offered a glimpse of how he could enhance his productivity. While there are instances where AI can genuinely assist, I remain cautious about the notion that it can boost our output and efficiency without sacrificing quality in some way.

AI-generated content often lacks the personal touch that makes our thoughts distinct. While prompt creators wield some control in shaping the output, the end result remains a product of machinery. When we delegate our thinking to algorithms, we risk losing the unique essence of our expressions.

I’m more interested in Hank Green’s authentic insights than in anything produced by LLMs. Even if he states he “did not use AI to write or fact-check,” the proximity of his video to AI involvement raises concerns.

I commend him for taking the time to reconsider this issue. In a world increasingly dominated by AI that promises enhanced productivity and endless content, choosing to slow down can feel counterproductive. Yet, sometimes, it requires greater effort to do less effectively—and to do it well.

Hank Green is developing a personal AI policy and believes other creators should do the same.

A sunlit home office scene: Hank Green seated at a wooden desk piled with draft pages titled “AI Policy,” pen in hand as he thoughtfully sketches bullet points and simple flowcharts. A subtle, soft-glow abstract AI-brain icon hovers above the notebook. Behind him, warm-toned bookshelves filled with science and writing volumes fade into gentle focus. Natural morning light streams through a window, casting long shadows and highlighting his glasses and cozy sweater—evoking a moment of deliberate creativity as he forges a personal AI policy and inspires other creators.

Hank Green Is Creating ‘an AI Policy for Himself.’ He Thinks Other Creators Should, Too - CNET

- Hank Green admitted becoming too reliant on AI for advice, editing, and sourcing.  
- He plans to establish an AI policy and reduce his project workload.  
- Green emphasized the need for genuine human thought over AI-generated content.  

In a video uploaded Friday, prolific internet creator Hank Green said he had taken time to reconsider his use of AI, acknowledging that he had become “too reliant on [LLMs] for advice, for editing and for sourcing.” He pledged to create an “AI policy for himself,” and encouraged other creators to take a similar approach.

These remarks follow viewers’ claims that one of Green’s videos contained an AI-generated script. Last week, the YouTuber said he had used AI “to locate papers and other resources for learning about topics” and apologized for not being transparent. He said he would “readjust” and scale back his projects. In other words, make fewer things.

This is a big deal, because Hank Green is widely known for making things. He’s built the popular app Focus Friend, co-created the educational YouTube channel Crash Course, invented 2D glasses and written two New York Times bestselling novels. Green has done more in the last 20 years than most people could in 200.

I’ve watched his YouTube videos almost every week since 2012. Green publishes to his Vlogbrothers channel every Friday, even when he’s on vacation. (In June, he posted a video titled “No Video Today!!” that was, in fact, a video.) Nothing, not even cancer, seems able to stop him – within months of announcing he was in remission, he performed a comedy special about his experience with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

But now, because of generative AI, Green is pumping the brakes.

Instead of uploading a video last Friday, he wrote a lengthy Reddit post, stating, “the level of dopamine I’ve been getting from interacting with LLMs … with doing more and more and more and more … is not healthy for me or good for the world. It is careless and has disconnected me from where people are on this.”

In a now-deleted tweet, Green commented on the video that sparked the controversy, “I produced this under a ton of pressure … I did use ChatGPT for research on this script and watching it I definitely get an AI feel.”

I don’t think Green used generative AI with the intention of deceiving his audience. I think he used it because it was a tool to help him keep up with the pace of his own ideas and ambitions. And I don’t think he’s the only one guilty of doing this.

AI-generated content is everywhere. It provides instant results that can feel magical. Under the pressure of deadlines, it might make sense to resort to using AI, especially if it seems like everyone else is doing it.

I imagine Green was caught up in too many projects (Here’s a list of most of them, provided by his brother and frequent collaborator, John) and saw the potential of AI to help him be more productive.

There are some cases when AI can be genuinely helpful. However, I’m wary of claims that AI will increase our output and save us time, without costing us something else.

What we generate with AI tends to lack intention. It’s true that users of ChatGPT or Claude will make choices in the process of creating a prompt, and those prompts can be continually refined. But the resulting AI-generated images or writing ultimately comes from a machine. And when we outsource our thinking to machines, we lose what makes our thoughts unique in the first place.

I’m interested in what Hank Green personally has to say – not what his LLMs generate. Even if he “did not use AI to write or fact-check”, there’s something about his video’s proximity to ChatGPT that rubs me the wrong way.

I applaud him for stopping to reflect on the situation. With AI promising us more productivity and more content and more everything, it often feels counterintuitive to slow down. Sometimes, it takes more effort to do less — and do better.

Hank Green Is Creating ‘an AI Policy for Himself.’ He Thinks Other Creators Should, Too

During the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI for Good Global Summit held in Geneva on May 30, 2024, the growing potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for humanity were highlighted by a senior official from the United Nations. The official emphasized the pressing need for society to harness AI's immense capabilities while simultaneously steering clear of associated dangers.

As AI continues to dominate the business landscape, the venture capital market has sharply focused on this sector. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, AI startups attracted $242 billion, accounting for an impressive 80% of global venture financing, as reported by Crunchbase. Meanwhile, the technology enabling this funding has become increasingly accessible, allowing for rapid duplication.

Rime Salmi, founder and CEO of Fractl, operates a network in Toronto that organizes exclusive gatherings for founders and investors during major conferences like Token2049 in Singapore, Korea Blockchain Week, and Consensus in Miami. Her role involves selecting participants for these events. She noted that many attending are not genuine investors, but rather individuals seeking to capitalize on investment opportunities or engage in fraudulent practices.

Salmi observed the uncertainty among investors regarding future trends, making it challenging for them to maintain strong, sustainable investment theses. She noted that while AI is a prevalent buzzword, the role of humans in the ecosystem is becoming ambiguous. Investors appear to be responding to the uncertain landscape by heavily investing in AI-related ventures. In the first half of the year, global venture investments surged to $510 billion, surpassing the entire previous year's total. Notably, companies like OpenAI and Anthropic claimed a staggering 43% of this funding. Ventures that do not fall within this lucrative category face scrutiny regarding their uniqueness and ability to offer something that cannot be easily replicated. Salmi argued that much of the competition can be imitated, challenging the credibility of any app built with AI in a matter of seconds. However, she insists that speed in development does not equate to validation. In her view, the two essential advantages remaining for startups are distribution and proprietary data. If a company possesses unique data, it becomes a significant barrier for competitors to replicate.

This sentiment is echoed by other industry professionals. For instance, Paul Irving of GTMfund described distribution as a vital and sustainable competitive edge, while Balaji Srinivasan noted the necessity for each startup to find a founding content creator. The phenomenon of "vibe coding" has impacted industries beyond software, extending into trading as well.

Salmi pointed out a shift where founders can serve as their own distribution channels. Building a direct connection with an audience allows founders to create a dedicated following that is challenging for competitors to disrupt. Daniel Bitton, who leads a clipping marketplace, highlighted that companies need to embrace media and culture to stay relevant. His platform specializes in generating short-form content for brands, capitalizing on the dynamics of digital marketing. Salmi emphasized the importance of organic audience growth, which persists even when advertising budgets dwindle, and thus she conducts storytelling workshops for founders to help them effectively engage their audiences.

Addressing the exclusivity of her events, Salmi expressed a commitment to maintaining quality over creating a pay-to-play environment. Her approach involves meticulous vetting of applicants to ensure that only serious participants join. This method transforms the initial selection process into a pitch, building an atmosphere of credibility within the room. Salmi believes that in an increasingly competitive market, a more selective approach is beneficial compared to the traditional broad access that characterized the venture space, which historically favored young, male graduates from top universities.

Salmi's path into event management traces back to her experience running a record label and her initial involvement in hosting founder-investor brunches. The success of these gatherings led her to transition full-time into this venture, which began outpacing her prior marketing agency. Despite the operational challenges of scaling, including managing numerous events across diverse locations, she remains honest about her learning curve. The financial elements of her business are also influenced heavily by the volatile cryptocurrency market, prompting her to seek more stable sponsorship opportunities beyond the crypto sphere.

In the AI era, the sole competitive advantages for startups are data and distribution.

A sunlit scene of a sleek medieval-style castle labeled “Startup” perched on a floating island. Two protective moats encircle it: one moat pulses with glowing binary streams and data packets, the other is a network of roads and pipelines branching out toward distant marketplaces. Soft natural daylight highlights the stone walls and swirling bits, conveying that data and distribution are the only remaining defenses.

The Only Startup Moats Left In The AI Era Are Data And Distribution - Forbes

- AI companies dominated venture funding in 2026, capturing 80% of global investments.  
- Founders must build their own distribution channels for sustainable business success.  
- Rime Salmi emphasizes vetting investors to maintain quality at investor-focused events.  

TOPSHOT - A robot using artificial intelligence is displayed at a stand during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, on May 30, 2024. Humanity is in a race against time to harness the colossal emerging power of artificial intelligence for the good of all, while averting dire risks, a top UN official said. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images

Venture capital has narrowed to a single trade. AI companies took $242 billion in the first quarter of 2026, 80% of all global venture funding, according to Crunchbase. At the same time, the software those checks used to underwrite has become cheap enough to copy in an afternoon.

Rime Salmi watches the consequences from the door. She is the founder and chief executive of Fractl, a Toronto-registered network that runs invite-only founder-and-investor events, brunches and cocktail hours timed to conference weeks like Token2049 in Singapore, Korea Blockchain Week and Consensus in Miami. Her job is deciding who gets in. "There are a lot of people who are posing as investors and they’re absolutely not. They're looking for investments or grifting actually," she said in an interview.

Two Moats Left "Investors are not sure where the world is going. So it's hard for them to have a very strong thesis that they can sustain," Salmi said. "AI is a big buzzword, but we don't know where the human fits in that anymore. Are we okay with one person company or are we still funding solid big teams?" The money says investors have mostly answered by piling into one trade. Global venture investment hit $510 billion in the first half of the year, more than all of 2025, with OpenAI and Anthropic alone capturing 43% of it. Everything outside that trade has to explain why it cannot be copied. Salmi's answer is that most of it can be. Asked whether an app someone assembled with AI in ten seconds can be taken seriously, she pushed back before the question was finished. "It doesn't mean it's not going to be super successful," she said. Speed of construction, in her words, is "not a measure of validity anymore." What survives, she says, are two moats: distribution and data. "If a startup has solid proprietary data, that's something that would be very difficult to vibe code them out of because it would just take years to get really high quality in depth data." Venture investors have spent 2026 saying versions of the same thing. GTMfund's Paul Irving calls distribution the last sustainable moat, and Balaji Srinivasan argues every startup now needs a founding content creator, as Forbes reported in April. Vibe coding, the collapsed technical moat's proximate cause, has already spread beyond software into trading. "It's the age of the solo entrepreneur," Nimrod Lehavi, founder of the AI venture studio Inevitable AI Group, said in an interview. His firm builds one-person clones of billion-dollar software companies and raised a $6 million pre-seed led by Aleph on the thesis.

The Founder As The Channel "Now a founder has the opportunity to be their own distribution channel," Salmi said. A founder who builds a following directly, rather than renting reach, ends up with "an audience that is captive and owned," she said, and that audience is hard for a competitor to take because it is personal. "Every company needs to turn into a media company. You need to hit the culture. You need to be relevant at all times," Daniel Bitton, founder of a clipping marketplace, said on the On The Margin podcast. Renting that relevance is an industry of its own. His platform pays armies of short-form video clippers to flood feeds for brands, the model behind the clipping farms driving fintech marketing and crypto gambling's viral machine. Salmi's point is that bought reach stops when the budget stops. The owned audience keeps compounding, which is why she runs storytelling workshops for founders on the side. The skill she teaches is "the art of telling a good story every time you meet someone," she said. "I think there's a lot more human being injected in selling tech. And I think that's a great thing."

Who Gets In The Room "We don't want this to become just another pay to play room," Salmi said of her refusal to sell tickets. "The reason the quality diminishes in other investor focused events is because you can pay to be in the room." Founders mid-raise are the last people who should be charged, she said: "It just didn't feel right to take money from the people who don't have it." So Fractl vets instead. Every applicant is reviewed, she said, to filter out the people posing as investors. The screening is the pitch. "When you get in the room, you're like, okay, you made it. So you must be somebody worth talking to." Venture capital has always had a velvet rope; it just used to hang somewhere less transparent. "The market was looking for male early twenties from top ten schools," Howard Marks, co-founder of StartEngine, said on the On The Margin podcast, recalling the funding market he set out to disrupt with equity crowdfunding. The top universities, he said, "represented about 80% of where the venture capital money came in, and angel money." Marks spent a decade betting that opening the gates to everyone was the fix. Salmi is betting the opposite: that in a noisier market, a better-guarded gate is worth more. The casualties of picking wrong fill the YC fintech graveyard.

Running The Room Is A Business Too "I used to run a record label," Salmi said of how she fell into events, after a friend who she says had worked at the London web3 fund Fabric Ventures handed over a founder-investor brunch series. "I can probably manage a brunch." The first one drew more than 200 people, over 100 of them investors by her count. Fractl grew out of a fractional-CMO marketing agency she wound down after the events outsold it. "After event five, I was like, I think we're shutting down the agency." Clients kept asking for her personally. "People were like, no, we want to work with you." She is unusually plain about what scaling it cost. "I'm not a very efficient operations person. I'm more of a salesperson," she said. "There was a year where I ran like seven events within five weeks in five different cities across six different time zones." She kept staff on monthly salaries when the work was event-based, and says she has tried eight different operators in the operations seat. "I don't even blame the people. I blame myself for letting it leak for so long." The revenue side carries a crypto-shaped risk she names just as readily. "If bitcoin is doing well, then people are spending on marketing," she said. "The sponsorship fluctuating based on the crypto market is kind of rough to base the business on." She is courting web2 sponsors to smooth it out.

The Only Startup Moats Left In The AI Era Are Data And Distribution

During a recent AI Day event held on November 5, 2025, at Xpeng's headquarters in Guangzhou, He Xiaopeng, the co-founder and chairman of the Chinese electric vehicle company, unveiled the company’s latest creation: the next-generation Iron humanoid robot. This development showcases Xpeng's commitment to advancing technology in a competitive market.

The conversation surrounding artificial intelligence often polarizes into two opposing camps of optimists and pessimists, but the reality is that the discourse is far more intricate than the headlines suggest. Central to this discussion are two dominant narratives, both stemming from a shared concern. The first viewpoint posits that AI's functionality poses a significant risk, as highlighted by Dario Amodei in a January 2026 essay, where he termed AI a “general labor substitute for humans.” A February report from Citrini Research echoed this sentiment, forecasting that AI could enhance hourly output to levels not seen since the 1950s, potentially leading to a collapse in employment and demand.

Conversely, the second narrative contends that AI will yield substantial benefits and broader economic gains. Cathie Wood responded to Citrini's analysis on social media platform X, predicting a surge in productivity and real GDP growth while also suggesting a decrease in inflation. Both narratives rely on the assumption that AI will perform remarkably well; however, neither challenges the fundamental trade-off involved.

According to technology historian Lee Vinsel, this trend falls under the label of “criti-hype,” where critiques acknowledge industry promises without skepticism, allowing caution to serve as promotional material. On July 24, Peter McCrory, Anthropic’s head of economics, published insights on X indicating that AI has not significantly influenced U.S. employment, referencing a June unemployment rate of 4.2%. He expressed little expectation for a notable rise in unemployment within the following year, despite contrary statements made by his CEO over the previous year.

The bearish perspective consists of a series of arguments under a unified label, revealing deeper disagreements. Investor Michael Burry focused on accounting practices, posting on X about how inaccurately reporting asset depreciation can artificially inflate earnings. He estimated that, from 2026 to 2028, there would be approximately $176 billion in understated depreciation across the sector, with significant discrepancies in earnings reports from companies like Oracle and Meta. Advocates of longer depreciation schedules defend their validity by arguing the prolonged lifecycle of chips used in AI technology, which undergoes extensive stages from training to inference.

Further disagreements arise regarding revenue quality, with Bill Gurley spotlighting problematic circular transactions between tech giants and startups, and Ed Zitron questioning the solvency of firms like OpenAI, dubbing it one of the largest liabilities in recent times. The deployment critique came from MIT’s Project NANDA, which revealed that roughly 95% of enterprise generative AI pilot programs had no discernible impact on profit and loss metrics. The findings drawn from about 300 public initiatives, 52 organizational interviews, and 153 survey responses from industry events underscore an ongoing issue with enterprise systems that struggle to incorporate feedback and adapt to contexts.

In the discourse of AI, some observers misinterpret the skepticism surrounding the technology. In an essay by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor, they argue that AI is as transformative as electricity or the internet, but emphasize that its impact is driven more by adoption rates than by its innovative capacity. They note a “capability-reliability gap,” highlighting a critical barrier to realizing fully functional AI agents. Economist Daron Acemoglu has shifted positions over the summer; previously measured in his assessments, he recently joined over 200 researchers, including 16 Nobel laureates, in cautioning against potential disruptions to white-collar employment. This pivot elevates the significance of his insights, surpassing any timeline set by tech founders.

The Four AI Narratives Currently Dividing Venture Capital

A sunlit boardroom with warm morning light pouring through tall windows onto a polished mahogany table. At its center, a pile of golden coins splits into four glowing streams, each arcing toward a distinct futuristic pillar: one bathed in neon blue with a robotic arm icon, one in verdant green etched with neural-network patterns, one in ruby red featuring a circuit-infused medical caduceus, and one in deep violet bearing a shield motif. Silhouetted figures in sharp business attire stand around the table, watching the four AI narratives pull venture capital in different directions.

The Four AI Narratives Splitting Venture Capital Right Now - Forbes

- Xpeng launched its next-gen Iron humanoid robot, showcasing advancements in AI technology.  
- The AI debate includes nuanced perspectives, challenging simplistic optimistic or pessimistic narratives.  
- Concerns persist regarding AI's impact on employment and productivity, indicating ongoing skepticism.  


TOPSHOT - He Xiaopeng, cofounder and chairman of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, launches Xpeng's next-gen Iron humanoid robot during AI Day press conference at its headquarter in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP) (Photo by JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images

The AI debate gets reported as optimists against pessimists. But in reality, there is much more nuance, layer and tension then what appears in the headline on tweet.

The premise the loudest camps share Two narratives dominate coverage, and both sit on the same side of the only question that counts. The first holds that AI works and that is precisely the danger. Dario Amodei doubled down in a January 2026 essay calling AI a “general labor substitute for humans.” Citrini Research’s February note imagined agents lifting output per hour to rates unseen since the 1950s while employment and demand collapse. The second holds that AI works and the gains spread. Cathie Wood rebutted Citrini on X, writing that ARK forecasts “a productivity boom, an acceleration in real GDP growth” alongside lower inflation. Each requires AI to be extraordinary. Neither argues against the trade. Technology historian Lee Vinsel calls the pattern criti-hype , criticism that accepts an industry’s grandest claims at face value so that warnings double as marketing. On July 24, Anthropic’s head of economics Peter McCrory published an X essay finding no material AI effect on US employment, citing a June unemployment rate of 4.2%. “I don’t expect unemployment to be noticeably higher a year from now,” he wrote. His chief executive had spent a year saying the reverse.

The bear case is four arguments wearing one label Below the capability line the disagreement is real, and it fragments immediately. Michael Burry’s target is the accounting. He posted on X that “understating depreciation by extending useful life of assets artificially boosts earnings,” estimating $176 billion of understated depreciation industry-wide from 2026 to 2028, with Oracle overstating earnings by near 27% and Meta near 21%. The counterargument is that a chip cascades from frontier training into inference and cloud rendering across six years, which makes the longer schedules defensible, and auditors keep approving them. The dispute reduces to whether inference demand grows fast enough. Bill Gurley questions revenue quality instead, flagging circular deals in which a technology giant invests in a startup that spends the money back on the investor’s cloud. Ed Zitron goes at solvency, calling OpenAI one of the largest liabilities in recent economic history. The deployment critique belongs to MIT’s Project NANDA, which found that roughly 95% of enterprise generative AI pilots delivered no measurable profit-and-loss impact. That number gets repeated far more often than it gets read. The report describes itself as preliminary findings drawn from around 300 publicly disclosed initiatives, 52 organizational interviews and 153 survey responses collected at industry conferences. What has held is the mechanism rather than the figure; enterprise systems that cannot retain feedback or adapt to context. A VC investor can be right about depreciation and wrong about deployment, and most commentary treats the package as indivisible. AI Narratives: market map Josipa Majic Predin

The camp everyone misreads The remaining position gets filed as AI skepticism and is something else. Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor’s essay argues AI is transformative in the way electricity and the internet were transformative, with tempo set by adoption rather than invention, and identifies the “capability-reliability gap” as the barrier to working agents. Daron Acemoglu moved between camps this summer. He was the economist whose modest estimates gave policymakers room to wait. In July he signed a letter with more than 200 researchers, sixteen of them Nobel laureates, warning of white-collar disruption. Nothing in his book improves from that reversal, which makes it worth more than any founder’s timeline.

The Four AI Narratives Splitting Venture Capital Right Now

Access your profile to share your thoughts on videos and engage in the excitement.

Jewish marriage platform adopts AI while emphasizing the importance of human connection.

A sunlit study table by a window, a traditional ketubah parchment spread open on warm wood. Beside it, a modern laptop displays a friendly AI matchmaking interface in soft, natural tones. An elderly matchmaker’s hand hovers with a quill pen over the parchment, blending digital algorithms with the promise of a human touch.

Jewish marriage platform embraces AI — but says the human touch is still essential - Fox News

- Users can now log in to comment on videos for better interaction.  
- The new feature enhances community engagement and user experience significantly.  
- Commenting allows users to share thoughts and connect with other viewers.  

Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun.

Jewish marriage platform embraces AI — but says the human touch is still essential

Each year, the wellness sector introduces an array of new products and practices that claim to unveil the ultimate path to well-being. While some of these trends prove to be beneficial, others lack credibility, often falling into a gray area of mediocrity.

Here are some wellness trends sparking debates and intrigue in 2026.

AI

Artificial intelligence is infiltrating all facets of our lives, including personal wellness regimens. Increasingly, individuals are seeking advice from chatbots for nutrition plans, workout guidelines, and even personal development strategies.

In a recent survey, readers of The Guardian shared their experiences with AI-based fitness. Some found personalized suggestions helpful for staying committed to their routines and achieving their fitness objectives, while others noted its limitations. One user pointed out, “It can be confidently incorrect.”

AI also supports personal growth by making self-reflection easier, experts suggest; chatbot prompts can clarify one’s questions and ambitions. However, since AI leverages vast amounts of human-generated data, it may produce generic recommendations that align with mainstream narratives rather than catering to personal significance.

Parasite Cleanses

Supermodel Heidi Klum recently disclosed on social media that she and her partner were trying a parasite cleanse, attributing the trend to a surge of online content about worms and parasites. This concept has gained traction, with social media users advocating that such cleanses could enhance sleep, gut health, mood, and skin.

While parasitic infections do exist, particularly in areas lacking proper sanitation, experts note these occurrences are rare in well-maintained environments. Additionally, herbal supplements marketed online cannot effectively treat these infections, which are typically diagnosed via stool or blood tests and managed with appropriate medications.

Proteinmaxxing

The buzz around protein continues to grow, with traditional sources like meat, dairy, and eggs no longer meeting demand. Many consumers are now engaging in "proteinmaxxing," supplementing their diets with protein-rich foods such as fortified snacks, powders, and cereals.

This surge in protein consumption can be linked to the rise of GLP-1 medications, which cause individuals to eat less, making sufficient protein intake vital for muscle retention. However, experts warn that muscle-building effects plateau once protein intake exceeds 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight, with the general recommendation for most adults being 0.8 grams.

Divorce Rings

Also referred to as “F-you rings,” divorce rings embody the tradition of transforming engagement and wedding bands once a marriage dissolves. This trend has gained popularity among celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski and Rachel Zoe, who proudly showcase their new pieces.

One woman who remade her wedding ring explained, “It’s not necessarily aimed at my ex-husband; it’s more about pushing back against societal expectations that a woman's purpose is solely to be married, rather than to exist independently.”

Olive Oil and Lemon Juice

While the combination of olive oil and lemon juice might resemble a salad dressing, it has recently gained attention as a health elixir on social media. Proponents claim that consuming this mix can improve skin and digestion.

Truthfully, olive oil boasts several health benefits due to its monounsaturated fats that assist in lowering bad cholesterol levels and maintaining healthy arteries. Additionally, it contains beneficial antioxidants called polyphenols, which can help reduce inflammation. Although this trend is relatively safe to try, experts recommend integrating the mixture into meals rather than consuming it straight.

Hyrox

Every now and again, a new fitness craze captivates young professionals eager to push their limits, replacing trends like CrossFit. The latest is Hyrox, a competition that combines a series of grueling workouts with eight 1km runs.

Founded in 2017, Hyrox challenges participants with tasks ranging from sled pulls to rowing and burpee broad jumps. Participants eager to train at Hyrox often find themselves undertaking demanding workouts that mimic the competition, with some even expressing surprise at their physical limits.

Boy Kibble

"Boy kibble" is a term for a simple dish favored by fitness enthusiasts, typically made up of rice, ground protein, and vegetables. One nutritionist pointed out that this meal is a reincarnation of traditional bodybuilding diets, offering a nutritious option when balanced correctly with macronutrients.

However, relying solely on this meal structure is not advisable. Experts stress the importance of variety in diets, suggesting that individuals explore other nutritious options that might also be more exciting.

Functional Foods

In today’s wellness landscape, foods are being marketed with functional claims that go beyond their basic attributes—think chocolate that alleviates PMS and chips fortified with protein. These so-called "functional foods" are growing in popularity, primarily due to health-conscious consumers and online wellness influencers.

Despite the hype, experts urge caution regarding the health claims associated with these products. Many functional foods contain nutrients or probiotics in quantities that are significantly lower than those examined in rigorous scientific studies. Nutrition authority Dr. Marion Nestle has commented that much of the marketing surrounding these foods lacks scientific backing and instead focuses on appealing to consumers.

The Burned Haystack Dating Method

Introduced by Dr. Jennie Young, the burned haystack dating method outlines a blunt approach to finding potential partners. The concept centers on blocking unsuitable matches, with guidelines that dictate limiting app time and minimizing pre-date messaging.

Critics contend that this approach may be overly harsh towards men and may not promote sufficient self-reflection among users. However, adherents argue that it has led them to experience fewer, but more worthwhile, dating encounters.

Vaginal Wellness

The booming vaginal probiotic market sells numerous supplements and suppositories that claim to enhance vaginal health and combat infections. The industry has thrived partly due to the stagnation of scientific advancements for conditions related to the vaginal microbiome, like bacterial vaginosis.

Although the demand is evident, evidence supporting the efficacy of available vaginal probiotic products remains weak. Some may even provoke gastrointestinal side effects.

Spermmaxxing

Similar to many wellness trends, "spermmaxxing" starts with genuine concerns but often leads to questionable recommendations. Studies indicate that men’s average sperm count has significantly decreased since the 1970s, largely due to lifestyle factors such as inadequate sleep and increased stress.

To boost sperm quality and quantity, influencers have suggested various outlandish solutions, from dietary changes to quirky Remedies. However, experts advise that the most effective strategies for male reproductive health remain simple: prioritize sleep, maintain a nutritious diet, and stay active.

AI, pet food for boys, and parasite detoxes: the 11 major wellness trends for 2026

A sunlit modern wellness kitchen flooded with warm natural light. On the left, a sleek tablet stands upright on the marble countertop, its screen showing “AI Wellness Coach” with simple nutritional icons. In the center, a minimalist ceramic bowl brims with colorful, kibble-like pellets labeled “Human Formula.” On the right, a light wooden shelf holds amber glass bottles and vials stamped “Parasite Cleanse.” In the background, potted greenery and a small chalkboard sign overhead announce “Top 11 Trends of 2026.”

AI, boy kibble and parasite cleanses: the 11 biggest wellness trends of 2026 - The Guardian

- AI is increasingly used in wellness, offering personalized guidance but often lacking accuracy.  
- Parasite cleanses gained popularity via social media, despite expert warnings about their ineffectiveness.  
- Functional foods are trendy, but their health claims may be exaggerated and lack scientific support.  

Every year, the wellness industry churns out new products and practices that it claims are finally – finally! – the real secret to being well. Sometimes, these trends are legitimate. Sometimes they’re utter nonsense. Often they’re somewhere in between.

These are the wellness trends that have provoked controversy and interest in 2026.

AI

AI has rapidly become part of every area of life, including wellness routines. More and more people are turning to chatbots for nutrition advice, fitness routines and even guidance on how to navigate relationships and grow as a person.

In May, Guardian readers shared how they have incorporated AI into their fitness routines. Some said the personalized information helped them stick to a routine and meet their fitness goals, but others acknowledged it was an imperfect tool. “It can be wrong, and confidently so,” said one AI user.

As for personal growth, AI can lower the barrier to self-reflection, experts say; chatbot prompts may help you more clearly define your questions and goals. But because these technologies are trained on large-scale, human-generated data, their recommendations risk being over-generic, and reinforcing “dominant cultural narratives, rather than what is meaningful for an individual”.

Read more on AI fitness

Parasite cleanses

In an interview last year, supermodel Heidi Klum revealed that she and her husband were undertaking a parasite cleanse because, as she put it, “everything on my Instagram feed at the moment is about worms and parasites.” The idea has trickled down through social media, where users have been making bold claims that deworming cleanses could help with everything from sleep, gut health, mood and skin.

While parasitic infections are real, and common in communities where people lack access to clean water and sanitation, experts say they are far less common in areas with good sanitation. What’s more, such infections cannot be cleared up by the herbal supplements hawked on TikTok. Parasitic infections are diagnosed with stool samples or blood tests, and often treated with antibiotic or antiparasitic medications.

Read more on parasite cleanses

Proteinmaxxing

Protein has been having a moment, and the usual sources – meat, eggs, dairy – aren’t cutting it any more. Increasingly, consumers are supplementing their regular intake – proteinmaxxing – with protein-fortified foods: powders, cereal and even snacks like popcorn and pretzels.

What’s the reason behind this seemingly bottomless appetite for a single macronutrient? Some credit it to the boom in GLP-1 medications: when people eat less, consuming an adequate amount of protein to maintain existing muscle becomes especially important.

Experts add that there is a ceiling of how much protein can help with building muscle – it’s generally recommended that most adults aim for 0.8g of protein per kg of body weight. And even for those serious about weightlifting and building muscle, protein intake and muscle synthesis seems to plateau above 1.6g per kg of body weight.

Read more on proteinmaxxing

Divorce rings

Sometimes known as “F-you rings”, divorce rings are the result of refashioning engagement and wedding rings after a marriage ends. The trend took off among celebrities too, with people like Emily Ratajkowski and Rachel Zoe flaunting their divorce rings.

“It’s not an F-you to an ex-husband, necessarily,” said one woman who reworked her wedding ring into new jewelry. “It’s an F-you to the expectations, to the norms, to this belief that a woman’s sole purpose is to be a man’s wife, not their own person.”

Read more on divorce jewelry

Olive oil and lemon juice

Though this combination sounds like the base of a nice salad dressing, social media influencers started drinking it as a shot, claiming it improves skin and digestion.

This isn’t complete nonsense. Olive oil in particular has a number of health benefits – it is a monounsaturated fat, meaning it helps lower bad cholesterol and keeps artery walls flexible and functional. It also contains polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation.

It’s a relatively low-risk trend to try. But experts agree you’d probably be better off eating the mixture with a salad.

Read more on lemon shots

Hyrox

Every once in a while, a new fitness method comes along that completely consumes young professionals with free time and disposable income. Before, it was CrossFit. Now, there’s Hyrox.

Founded in 2017, Hyrox is a competition that occurs over several days. It consists of eight 1km runs and eight different workouts, including pulling and pushing sleds, farmer’s carry, burpee broad jumps and rowing. Training classes include sets of exercises that closely resemble these – and they’re hard. “I had hoped my baseline fitness and adrenaline would carry me through,” wrote Wilson Wong. “They did not.”

Read more on hyrox

skip past newsletter promotion Free newsletter | Weekly Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life Preview latest Enter your email Sign up after newsletter promotion

Boy kibble

“Boy kibble” describes a meal that has long been popular among fitness enthusiasts: rice, ground protein and some kind of vegetable.

“This is essentially old-school bodybuilding nutrition repackaged,” said one nutritionist. It is a fairly nutritious meal option when it combines the right amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates and fiber. Simple meal structures like this one can be helpful for some people trying to meet their nutritional needs.

But it shouldn’t be the only meal structure one uses. Experts emphasized that other meals should provide a wider range of foods. Also, there are plenty of other meals that are equally nutritious, and a little more interesting.

Read more on boy kibble

Functional foods

It’s not enough any more for chocolate to be chocolate, or chips to be chips – these days, chocolate now offers PMS relief, and chips now have added protein.

So-called “functional foods” – foods that provide specific health benefits or enhance the body’s processes – are not new, but they have risen in popularity with the ascent of wellness influencers and increasingly health-conscious consumers. But experts agree functional food claims should be taken with a grain of salt. The amount of nutrients or probiotics added to functional foods tends to be far below what has been studied in clinical trials.

Nutrition expert Dr Marion Nestle says most of the claims made by these foods have “nothing to do with science. It’s about marketing.”

Read more on functional foods

The burned haystack dating method

Developed by Dr Jennie Young, a professor of rhetoric, the burned haystack dating method offers an answer to the question, “How do you find a needle in a haystack?”: You burn it down.

Applied to dating, this means blocking any person who doesn’t seem like a match. There are also 10 “rules of engagement” (for example, don’t spend too much time on the apps; don’t message for too long before meeting in person) and 33 red flag rhetorical patterns (for example, sending an inappropriately sexual first message). Critics argue the method is too unforgiving towards men, and that it doesn’t encourage enough self-reflection on the part of the person doing the burning. Followers of the method say it has helped them go on fewer but more promising dates.

Read more on burned haystack

Vaginal wellness

The billion-dollar vaginal probiotic industry sells supplements and suppository capsules which it claims can improve vaginal health and odor, and prevent infections.

It’s clear why the industry is booming. For decades, little scientific progress has been made in treatments for vaginal microbiome-related conditions such as bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. But there is little evidence the vaginal probiotic supplements on the market now help, and some may cause gastrointestinal side-effects.

Read more on vaginal wellness

Spermmaxxing

Like many wellness trends, this one starts from a place of truth and then quickly goes off the rails.

Research has shown that men’s average sperm count and concentration has dropped significantly since the 1970s. Experts attribute this largely to modern lifestyle factors like poor sleep, stress and air pollution. To improve the quantity and quality of one’s sperm, online influencers have peddled a range of dubious solutions which they sometimes call “spermmaxxing”. These include eating more garlic and dipping your testicles in ice water.

But according to experts, the best thing men can do for their reproductive health is to keep it simple: get enough sleep, eat healthy and move your body.

AI, boy kibble and parasite cleanses: the 11 biggest wellness trends of 2026

California has reclaimed its position as home to the nation’s priciest ZIP code, with Atherton, located in Silicon Valley, surpassing Miami's Fisher Island thanks to the recent surge in artificial intelligence stocks. While affluent tech leaders are ready to spend nearly $10 million on relatively modest homes in Northern California, real estate analysts suggest this trend underscores a critical choice: buyers prioritize remaining connected to America's central hub for deals over merely enjoying tax benefits or a resort-like lifestyle.

According to Jenna Hoyas from Douglas Elliman, Atherton provides unique access to the core networks and opportunities fueling one of the most powerful technology economies globally. Many buyers find their professional interests, investment connections, children's schooling, and social relationships deeply rooted in Silicon Valley. Thus, the choice isn't merely about which state offers the most affordable housing or lowest taxes; rather, for these individuals, time and access often hold greater value than financial savings.

Kristina Quesada, also from Douglas Elliman, noted that the $10 million spent can manifest in two distinct ways of luxury living. In Atherton, buyers typically seek spacious estates with ample land and privacy to create a personalized retreat. In contrast, on Fisher Island, that same amount is likely to secure a luxury condo featuring ocean views, enhanced security, and access to upscale resort amenities. Essentially, buyers in Atherton are opting for land ownership and proximity to Silicon Valley, while those on Fisher Island favor a lifestyle immersed in luxury and water.

Recent statistics from PropertyShark.com and Bloomberg indicate that Atherton's ZIP code (94027) rose to the top after Fisher Island (33109) held the title for two years straight. The median house price in Atherton soared about 20% to reach $9.93 million, while Fisher Island's median dropped to $8.3 million.

Hoyas emphasized that living in Atherton is characterized by its emphasis on privacy, spaciousness, and closeness to the heart of Silicon Valley’s wealth ecosystem, in stark contrast to the lively resort lifestyle often associated with Miami. Atherton is deliberately serene, featuring expansive gated properties and mature landscaping, with minimal commercial activity.

The ongoing competition in rankings between Atherton and Fisher Island could continue due to the inherent volatility in sales volume in these markets. Hoyas cautioned that interpreting a single year’s data as evidence of a shift away from California could be misleading, as both locales remain appealing for different reasons.

With companies like OpenAI having confidentially filed for IPOs and other tech giants like SpaceX and Anthropic going public, new financial opportunities could flow into the hands of Silicon Valley executives and their teams.  

According to Quesada, the surge in wealth attributed to AI and tech sectors is linked to the recent buying frenzy, but buyers are typically viewing these homes as long-term investments rather than short-term exploits. A liquidity event may catalyze purchases, while the underlying strategy focuses on acquiring a unique piece of property in a region where available inventory is extremely scarce.

Agents in California assert that a common misconception is that Silicon Valley buyers overlook tax considerations or don't fully evaluate what their finances could achieve elsewhere. However, these buyers are acutely aware of the financial dynamics at play. They buy these properties not just for a residence but to maintain proximity to influential companies and vital relationships that are central to their wealth creation endeavors. For them, a $30 million property in Atherton is more than just a home; it serves as a private hub for their business activities and future aspirations.

Though Florida will continue to draw those attracted by tax benefits, waterfront living, and a relaxed lifestyle, California will keep commanding high prices where access to innovation, job opportunities, education, and established personal networks outweigh the financial incentives of relocating. Hoyas concluded that Atherton doesn’t need to hinder migration to Florida to uphold its status as one of the most valuable residential markets in the U.S.

California ZIP code rises to No. 1 as Silicon Valley AI surge ousts Florida enclave.

A bright, sunlit home office scene: warm morning light floods a wooden desk by a window onto a detailed U.S. map. On the map lies a toppled red pushpin tagged “Florida Enclave,” while a gleaming gold pushpin labeled “California ZIP” stands erect with a small upward arrow beside it. Scattered near the map are a few AI circuit boards and a microchip hinting at a booming tech surge. Nature-lit, story-driven, modern study atmosphere.

Florida enclave dethroned as Silicon Valley AI boom lifts California ZIP code to No. 1 - Fox Business

- Atherton, California, has become America's most expensive ZIP code, surpassing Fisher Island, Florida.  
- Buyers prioritize proximity to Silicon Valley over lower taxes and resort lifestyles when purchasing.  
- Atherton's median home price increased to $9.93 million, reflecting demand for large, private estates.  

America’s most expensive ZIP code has officially returned to California, as the artificial intelligence stock surge has catapulted Silicon Valley’s ultra-exclusive Atherton past Miami’s tax-free paradise of Fisher Island.

But while deep-pocketed tech titans are willing to fork over nearly $10 million for modest Northern California properties, real estate experts say the move signals a high-stakes trade-off: Buyers aren't staying in the Golden State for its tax climate or resort lifestyle — they're paying a massive premium to remain plugged into the nation's primary deal-making hub.

"Atherton offers something that cannot easily be recreated elsewhere: immediate access to the relationships and opportunities driving one of the world’s most influential technology economies," Douglas Elliman’s Jenna Hoyas told Fox News Digital. "For many buyers, their business interests, investment networks, children’s schools and personal relationships are firmly rooted in Silicon Valley. The decision is not always a calculation of which state provides the most house or the lowest tax burden. At this level, time and access are often more valuable than savings."

"The same $10 million is purchasing two very different interpretations of luxury. In Atherton, buyers are generally looking for a single-family estate with meaningful land, privacy and the ability to create a highly customized compound," Douglas Elliman colleague Kristina Quesada also told Fox Digital.

CALIFORNIA WEALTH CHARTS A QUIETER PATH TO FLORIDA AS GULF COAST ENTER MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR BOOM

"On Fisher Island, $10 million is more likely to purchase a luxury condominium with water views, security, amenities and immediate access to a private resort environment. Buyers are trading a large private parcel for beachfront living, club access, services and a lock-and-leave lifestyle," Quesada added. "Atherton offers ownership of the land and proximity to Silicon Valley, while Fisher Island offers a highly serviced lifestyle surrounded by water."

Recent data from PropertyShark.com and Bloomberg show that Atherton's ZIP code (94027) overtook Fisher Island (33109) after the Miami enclave spent two consecutive years as America's most expensive ZIP code. Atherton's median home price jumped roughly 20% to $9.93 million, while Fisher Island's median home sale price fell to $8.3 million.

"Living in Atherton is about privacy, land and proximity to the center of Silicon Valley’s wealth ecosystem. It does not offer the highly visible resort lifestyle people associate with Miami," Hoyas said. "It is intentionally quiet and understated, with large, gated properties, mature landscaping and very little commercial activity."

"The rankings may continue to move between Atherton and Fisher Island because both markets have relatively few sales and a handful of major transactions can influence the median. I would not interpret one year’s ranking as evidence that California has reversed migration to Florida or that Florida has lost its appeal," Hoyas said.

Image 1 of 3

With OpenAI having confidentially filed for an IPO, alongside the public debuts of aerospace giant SpaceX and artificial intelligence rival Anthropic, billions of dollars in overnight liquidity could soon be unlocked for executives and middle management alike.

"The recent acceleration is undoubtedly connected to wealth created through AI, technology companies and equity gains, but buyers are not necessarily treating these homes as short-term purchases," Quesada said. "A liquidity event may provide the capital and urgency to buy, while the long-term strategy is to secure an irreplaceable piece of land in a market with extremely limited inventory."

"Atherton is also a market where newly created wealth often moves into real estate as both a lifestyle purchase and a way to diversify. The AI boom may be producing the buyers, but the scarcity of large parcels close to Silicon Valley is what supports the long-term value proposition," Quesada continued.

Image 1 of 3

The California-based agents say the biggest misconception about the wave of Silicon Valley buyers is that they’ve overlooked tax implications or "failed to compare what their money could purchase elsewhere."

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

"They understand the financial differences very clearly. They are making the purchase because the property keeps them close to the companies, capital and relationships responsible for creating their wealth," Quesada said. "For these buyers, a $30 million home in Atherton is not simply a house. It is a private base inside the ecosystem where they conduct business and build their future."

"These markets serve different buyers and different priorities. Florida will continue attracting people seeking tax advantages, waterfront living and a resort-oriented lifestyle. California will continue commanding extraordinary prices wherever access to innovation, employment, education and established personal networks outweighs the financial advantages of relocating," Hoyas said. "Atherton does not need to stop migration to Florida to remain one of the country’s most valuable residential markets."

Florida enclave dethroned as Silicon Valley AI boom lifts California ZIP code to No. 1

Shortly after Google launched its Gemini chatbot in 2023 to compete with ChatGPT, Jeff Dean found himself in the spotlight at an AI conference, where eager attendees quickly gathered for selfies with the prominent figure. However, he soon glanced at his watch and realized he had to deliver a presentation in mere minutes, leading to a hurried farewell from his admirers.

Now, it’s the Google workforce that is coming to terms with the departure of this AI luminary. After more than 20 years with the company, Dean announced on Wednesday that he, along with colleagues Sanjay Ghemawat, Quoc Le, and Oriol Vinyals, is departing to establish a new startup named Discovery Loop. This transition is part of a larger reorganization of Google’s executive team, which also saw Demis Hassabis, the head of Google DeepMind, transition into a chairman role.

Dean's exit marks one of the most notable departures from Google’s AI division in recent memory and raises questions about the company's competitive edge against players like OpenAI and Anthropic PBC. Sources within the organization reported that employee morale has been affected following recent leadership changes, with concerns that Dean's absence could hinder efforts to attract elite AI talent.

Joining Google as its 30th employee in 1999, Dean has had a pivotal role in nearly all of the company’s major initiatives, from search engines to advertising and semiconductor innovations, eventually leading its advances in artificial intelligence as the chief scientist. "He played a significant part in shaping modern deep learning," stated Dogus Cubuk, a former colleague of Dean who also has Dean as an investor in his startup, Periodic Labs.

As a co-founder of Google Brain in 2011, Dean became a prominent figure in the company’s AI activities over the last 15 years. In 2016, he co-authored TensorFlow, an open-source framework that simplifies the development of AI systems, along with Ghemawat. They also created MapReduce, which significantly enhanced the processing capabilities of massive datasets.

Dean's journey at Google hasn’t been without controversy. Several years ago, two leaders from Google’s ethical AI team were dismissed following Dean’s objections to a paper addressing the risks associated with large language models. Despite initially supporting these researchers, his relationship with the group later soured, partially due to perceived delays in addressing a harassment complaint; Google defended its response during this period.

He has occasionally taken a stand on hot-button issues, publicly critiquing the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding the treatment of protesters and co-signing an amicus brief in support of Anthropic PBC amid its legal battles with the Pentagon.

In recent years, Dean's role became less focused on operations and products as Google unified Brain with DeepMind under Hassabis's leadership. Nevertheless, he maintained his influence, acting as a connector between Google’s AI software and hardware teams, emphasizing a closer integration of both sectors.

Dean has not only influenced Google’s technical endeavors but has also become a cultural icon within the company. "He embodies the essence of Google," said Cubuk, while attendees at Dean's farewell party described the atmosphere as celebratory, with many colleagues expressing their happiness for his future.

Beyond his contributions at Google, Dean has invested in over 100 startups since at least 2014, with many of these investments taking place in the past three years amid the AI surge.

With his new venture, Dean aspires to leverage AI to automate complex scientific and engineering processes. Discovery Loop plans to initially use its own technology before expanding its reach to tackle challenges in areas such as hardware development, material science, drug discovery, and renewable energy. Though the startup did not provide Dean for interviews, industry observers note that he is well-positioned to make an impact.

"Demis and Jeff are focusing on their passion for harnessing AI for scientific breakthroughs and innovation in life sciences," commented Matt McIlwain, managing director at Madrona Ventures. Alphabet is among the investors backing Dean's new company, which intends to utilize Google's computing resources, suggesting that the tech giant might continue to benefit from Dean's expertise in the near future.

Oren Etzioni, an emeritus professor at the University of Washington and founding CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, captured the sentiment, remarking, "It’s like losing a Jeff Dean but gaining another Jeff Dean in a different part of the Alphabet ecosystem."

Departure of key Google engineer Jeff Dean shakes morale within the company's AI team.

A dimly lit Google open-plan office at night, an empty workstation with a lone coffee mug and a “J. Dean” nameplate, a small group of silhouetted AI engineers huddled anxiously in the background, the Google logo glowing softly on a wall above, casting long shadows across empty chairs.

Loss of ‘most Google’ engineer Jeff Dean jolts morale inside the company’s AI ranks - Los Angeles Times

- Jeff Dean, a key Google executive, announced his departure to start Discovery Loop.
- Dean's exit raises concerns about Google's ability to attract top AI talent.
- Discovery Loop will focus on using AI for science and engineering automation.

Days after Google unveiled its first Gemini chatbot in 2023 to compete with ChatGPT, Jeff Dean went to an AI conference where he was promptly swarmed by attendees. Suddenly, the Google executive looked at his watch and realized he was due to give a talk minutes later, spurring a rush to take selfies with the influential tech leader before he left.

Now, it’s the employees at Google who are bracing for the AI pioneer’s exit. Dean, who started at the company more than two decades ago, said Wednesday that he is leaving Google alongside colleagues Sanjay Ghemawat, Quoc Le and Oriol Vinyals to build a startup called Discovery Loop. The announcement was part of a broader executive shuffle that saw Google DeepMind head Demis Hassabis shift into a chairman role at the AI lab.

Dean’s move represents one of the most significant departures from Google’s AI organization in years and comes at a moment of uncertainty about its ability to keep pace with OpenAI and Anthropic PBC. Current and former employees said morale inside Google dipped following the company’s AI leadership shakeup and predicted the loss of Dean would make it more difficult to recruit top AI talent.

Advertisement

Dean, who joined Google as employee number 30 in 1999, has played a key role in nearly all of the company’s major products, from search to ads to chips, culminating in his work guiding artificial intelligence advances as the company’s chief scientist.“He created modern deep learning in many ways,” said Dogus Cubuk, who spent years working with Dean at Google and counts him as an investor in his startup, Periodic Labs.

As a co-founder of Google Brain in 2011, Dean was a face of the company’s AI efforts for 15 years. In 2016, he and two dozen co-authors, including Ghemawat, pioneered TensorFlow, which is open-source software that lets people more easily build AI systems. He and Ghemawat also developed MapReduce to dramatically improve the ability to process huge datasets.

His tenure was not without controversy. Two co-heads of Google’s ethical AI team were ousted several years ago after Dean raised concerns about a paper they’d produced on the risks of large language models. Though Dean had been an early champion of the researchers, his relationship with the group fractured due, among other things, to researchers feeling he was too slow to handle a harassment allegation. Google at the time defended its handling of the issue.

Advertisement

Dean has also occasionally taken public positions on contentious issues. Earlier this year, he condemned the killing of protesters by officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a post on X. Later, he joined other Google and OpenAI employees in filing an amicus brief supporting Anthropic PBC in its legal standoff with the Pentagon.

In recent years, Dean has had less of an operational and product role as Google merged Brain with DeepMind under the leadership of Hassabis. But he continued to exert influence, including by serving as a bridge between Google’s AI software and chips teams, with an emphasis on tying the development of both homegrown efforts more closely together.

Throughout, Dean continued to be a fixture at Google who not only shaped its most important technological work but also embodied its culture. “He’s probably the most Google person that was at Google,” Cubuk said. One person described the mood at a going-away party this week for Dean as jovial, noting many staffers were happy for him.

Dean also extended his influence far beyond Google’s walls by investing in more than 100 startups since at least 2014, according to data compiled by PitchBook. Many of those investments were made in the last three years, as the AI boom picked up.

With his own startup, Dean aims to use AI to automate difficult science and engineering tasks. Discovery Loop plans to be its own first customer, before moving to a more general approach that will address areas like hardware and material design, drug discovery and clean energy. (The startup declined to make Dean available for comment.)

“Demis and Jeff are prioritizing their passion for applying AI to scientific discovery and related innovations – especially in the area of life sciences,” said Matt McIlwain, managing director at Madrona Ventures. Alphabet is among the backers for Dean’s new startup. Discovery Loop also intends to use Google for computing resources, meaning the tech firm may still benefit from Dean for the foreseeable future.

Advertisement

“You know the famous line, ‘You’re not losing a son, you’re gaining a daughter-in-law?” said Oren Etzioni, an emeritus professor at the University of Washington and founding CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. “Here, you’re losing a Jeff Dean, but you’re also gaining a Jeff Dean elsewhere in the Alphabet family.”

Metz, Bass and Alba write for Bloomberg.

Loss of ‘most Google’ engineer Jeff Dean jolts morale inside the company’s AI ranks

OpenAI is gearing up to launch an exciting new device that features a distinctive design with moving components, aimed at enhancing user interaction. This highly anticipated gadget is expected to retail for over $300, according to sources who wish to remain anonymous due to the confidentiality surrounding the project.

Set to debut in 2027, this innovative product resembles a smart speaker without a screen but takes on a unique, doughnut-like form roughly equivalent to the size of a hockey puck. The design emphasizes portability, allowing users to easily move it around their homes with one hand.

OpenAI aims to redefine the smart device landscape with this product, introducing it as an AI-powered tool designed to streamline various tasks for users. The design philosophy seeks to differentiate this device from existing smart speakers largely dominated by industry giants like Amazon and Google.

This release also offers OpenAI a platform to assert its independence from Apple, amid ongoing legal disputes where Apple accuses OpenAI of intellectual property theft—an allegation that OpenAI staunchly denies.

Representatives from OpenAI, headquartered in San Francisco, declined to comment on future product plans. Although OpenAI has the ambition to eventually expand its product lineup, the smart speaker is viewed as an entry point into the market, particularly as there are growing privacy concerns surrounding more invasive devices like smart glasses.

Functioning similarly to the voice mode in the ChatGPT mobile app, the smart speaker will be equipped with advanced capabilities that allow for more lifelike conversations over time, personalizing interactions based on user preferences. 

The circular device will include moving elements to provide visual feedback during conversations, making it appear more animated than traditional stationary speakers. Engineered with speaker grilles and microphones, it will respond to voice commands and engage users in dialogue, all while being battery-operated for versatile placement—whether in hand, on a nightstand, or a kitchen counter.

In addition, OpenAI plans to incorporate lights to indicate when the device is listening, aiming to enhance the personal touch of interactions. A camera and other sensors will enable the device to assess its surroundings and provide visual context for the AI’s understanding.

Bloomberg News recently disclosed preliminary details about this device, setting the stage for a potentially transformative offering. Long-term, OpenAI envisions building a family of devices, with aspirations of developing products that could eventually serve as alternatives to current smartphones.

Collaborating with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom studio, known for its elegant designs, the new device promises a premium aesthetic, crafted from high-quality materials. The pricing is projected between $300 and $400, which positions it above most smart speakers yet below the price of typical smartphones.

Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI has raised questions about the design, claiming that OpenAI solicited a supplier to develop a specific metallic finish that could infringe on Apple's designs. OpenAI's legal team maintains that these allegations are vague and unfounded, asserting that their device does not violate any of Apple's trade secrets.

In response to the lawsuit, OpenAI has conducted internal investigations and has sought to clarify its position, emphasizing the originality of its product. The company has rebuffed Apple's claims as speculative and rooted in misrepresentation of facts.

Despite these legal hurdles, OpenAI remains committed to its timeline for the device’s unveiling in 2027. Should Apple’s recent request for an injunction against OpenAI be granted, it may complicate the product’s rollout plan. Nevertheless, sources indicate that OpenAI continues to push forward with its development goals, firmly believing in the uniqueness of its forthcoming offering.

OpenAI's circular AI speaker may serve as your next smartphone alternative.

A sleek, white doughnut-shaped smart speaker sits on a minimalist wooden coffee table bathed in warm morning light, its inner ring softly glowing. A modern smartphone lies face-down beside it, screen dark and forgotten. In the bright, sunlit living room beyond, the speaker’s curved edge bears the word “OpenAI” in clean, sans-serif text—hinting it could replace your phone.

OpenAI’s doughnut-shaped AI speaker could be your next smartphone replacement - Los Angeles Times

- OpenAI's new device is a portable smart speaker shaped like a doughnut.  
- The device aims for a premium look with moving parts and advanced interactivity.  
- OpenAI faces legal challenges from Apple over potential design similarities and trade secrets.  

A highly anticipated new device from OpenAI will have a unique look, complete with moving parts that help give it personality, and likely cost more than $300, according to people familiar with the matter.

The product — essentially a smart speaker without a display — will be shaped like a doughnut that’s roughly the size of a hockey puck, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the work is confidential. The idea is to make the device easy to carry around the home with one hand.

Advertisement

OpenAI is looking to break new ground with the product, which is slated for release in 2027. The device will be positioned as an AI-first computer that can help users get things done, the people said. And the design should help it stand out from current smart speakers, a category dominated by Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google.

The new hardware will also give OpenAI a chance to show that it’s not cribbing from Apple Inc.’s designs. The two companies are locked in a legal battle over whether the AI firm stole Apple’s intellectual property, something OpenAI denies.

A representative for San Francisco-based OpenAI declined to comment on its product plans.

Though OpenAI eventually plans to offer a family of devices, the smart speaker is seen as a way to ease into the market. Other types of always-on AI gadgets, such as smart glasses, have raised concerns about privacy.

Advertisement

OpenAI expects users to rely on the smart speaker throughout the day. It will work similarly to the company’s ChatGPT voice mode on smartphone apps, but with more advanced models for humanlike interactivity. The device is designed to learn more about a user over time, letting it tailor conversations and act more like a real person.

The circle-shaped device will include parts that move on their own, according to the people. That will help show when it’s responding and interacting with the user. The goal is to make the object feel more alive than today’s stationary speaker products.

The product will have speaker grills and microphones for fielding commands and conversing with users. The battery-powered item will be designed to work in different positions — in a user’s hand, say, or placed on a nightstand or kitchen counter.

Advertisement

OpenAI is also planning to include lights on the device to demonstrate when it’s listening and make interactions feel more personal. A camera system and other sensors, meanwhile, will perceive the surrounding environment and feed visual information into the AI. Bloomberg News first reported some early details about the device last month.

Over the longer run, OpenAI aims to build a device business and — someday — offer something that could replace today’s smartphones.

The speaker product was designed in collaboration with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom studio. Ive, who also co-founded a device startup that OpenAI acquired last year, made his name devising the look and feel of the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch.

Advertisement

Like Ive’s previous offerings, the new device will have a premium look and use upscale materials like high-quality metal. OpenAI has discussed pricing of $300 to $400 per unit, which would be more than most smart speakers but less than a standard iPhone.

A metal design was cited in Apple’s lawsuit against OpenAI. The iPhone maker claimed that OpenAI asked a long-running Apple supplier to develop a metal finishing technique for an upcoming product that’s similar to what it offers.

“OpenAI and its cohorts misled the partner to believe they had Apple’s permission to have the partner carry out the confidential metal-finishing technique for OpenAI’s benefit,” according to the suit.

Advertisement

OpenAI described the claim as “too vague and generalized.” And it’s unclear if the lawsuit is referring to the doughnut-shaped device, another product or a scrapped concept.

But the ring-shaped form factor — or the idea of an easily portable smart speaker — is not something Apple has come close to launching. Though it sells a HomePod speaker line, it doesn’t have a battery-powered version and hasn’t yet released an AI-centric home device.

It is, however, working on innovative home products for the future. That includes a smart home hub with a display that attaches to a robotic limb. The approach will allow the device to move around in space, letting it face a person talking to it or show a different view during a FaceTime video chat.

Advertisement

People with knowledge of the first OpenAI device say the company believes that the product doesn’t use or violate any Apple trade secrets. OpenAI investigated the issue with an internal probe following Apple’s lawsuit filing, they said.

The company emphasized that point in a motion to dismiss Apple’s lawsuit late Wednesday.

“OpenAI is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple,” the filing said.

Still, Apple’s request this week for an injunction against OpenAI — if granted — could complicate the new product’s release. OpenAI has long sought to unveil the device this year and then make it available in 2027.

Advertisement

Internally, OpenAI continues to push full speed ahead on its device, according to the people.

OpenAI has sought to characterize Apple’s accusations as “careless, aggressive and oddly personal.” A lawyer for OpenAI wrote to a member of Apple’s legal representatives to say the suit was “predicated on a misrepresentation of facts and allegations that are speculative at best.”

“You are attacking ordinary business practices,” the lawyer, Patrick Curran of Quinn Emanuel, wrote to the iPhone maker. “You are complaining about situations that you have caused, including through your own procedures and decisions.”

Advertisement

Gurman writes for Bloomberg.

No proof suggests that this photo of Mitch McConnell is created by AI.

More from AI

Omaha parent and tech consulting CEO expresses worries about AI in education.

Your options for privacy

Hank Green is developing a personal AI policy and believes other creators should do the same.

In the AI era, the sole competitive advantages for startups are data and distribution.