• OpenAI and Reddit are teaming up together in a new partnership.
• Reddit's content will help train OpenAI's models, the companies announced Thursday.
• Reddit, meanwhile, gains a new advertising partner in OpenAI. 

OpenAI and Reddit announced a new partnership on Thursday in a move that will bring the social media platform's popular content to ChatGPT.

The mutually beneficial deal will help Reddit to further diversify its revenue streams and give OpenAI more data to better train its AI models.

"OpenAI will bring enhanced Reddit content to ChatGPT and new products, helping users discover and engage with Reddit communities," the companies said in a joint statement.

OpenAI will also gain access to Reddit's Data API, which will enable the company's AI tools to "better understand and showcase Reddit content, especially on recent topics," according to the announcement.

Reddit, meanwhile, will gain a new advertising partner in OpenAI. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

The news sent Reddit shares soaring $12 in extended trade, Reuters reported.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who holds a sizable stake in Reddit, already reaped a windfall earlier this year when the company went public in March. The Thursday announcement included a disclosure of Altman's shareholder status, confirming the partnership was led by OpenAI's COO and approved by its independent board of directors.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

• Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen spent his third day on the stand in the NY hush money trial.
• As his testimony droned on, the real show was outside, where political stunts were plentiful.
• There were penis-shaped balloons, and chants of "Beetlejuice!" during a speech by Lauren Boebert.

It was just after noon when giant, agitprop penises began flying past the sooty limestone facade of the criminal court in Manhattan.

It was just one of the political pranks seen outside the hush-money trial Thursday — and it was a heck-of-a-lot more interesting than the testimony droning on inside.

Up on the 15th floor, Donald Trump was on trial for falsifying business records. Key prosecution witness and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen calmly batted away a second day of defense questions about his honesty and motives.

But on the street right outside the front doors, a prankster tried to release dozens of pro-Trump helium balloons from the back of a U-Haul truck.

He managed to send only a dozen or so sailing slowly skyward before court officers ordered him to cut it out.

The balloons were shiny and pink, and bore images of judges and prosecutors who have offended Donald Trump over the past two years, including special prosecutor Jack Smith and the hush-money judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.

Others depicted Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who won the felony indictment now on trial.

There were anti-Trump antics outside court on Thursday as well.

At one point, hecklers yelled "Beetlejuice" at Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and one tried to hand her a copy of a "Beetlejuice The Musical" playbill to autograph.

They were not trying to summon Michael Keaton's famous character, but rather trolling the Trump ally over her now-infamous episode, in which she was kicked out of a Colorado production of the "Beetlejuice" musical after being loud and getting handsy with her date.

She later apologized for her actions at the theater.

Republican members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus became the latest group of loyal Trump followers to mount an al fresco show of support for the former president.

Their presence is about more than just loyalty. As Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida outlined, they can attack witnesses in ways Trump cannot due to his gag order. Merchan has threatened to jail Trump if he runs afoul of the order again.

"We're here of our own volition because there are things we can say that President Trump is unjustly not allowed to say," Gaetz told reporters.

By day's end on Thursday, one deflated penis balloon had switched sides.

It wound up as part of a "Convict Trump" sign being waved outside the nearby federal courthouse, where another jury had just heard opening statements in the corruption trial of Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey.

Other political protests around the courthouse have been more muted during the trial's five weeks. (Testimony may conclude as early as Monday, the judge said Thursday.)

Pro-Trump crowds there rarely exceeded 50 people.

But that was not the case on Thursday, when even the trash cans were themed.

• Ukraine's Western allies have promised to send it more long-range missiles.
• Kyiv has already demonstrated it can use ATACMS and Storm Shadows to hit high-value Russian targets.
• Former US military officers say more of these missiles will expose Russia on the battlefield.

NATO countries are outfitting Ukraine with additional long-range precision missiles that have already been used by the country to strike Russian airfields, naval headquarters, bridges, and other high-value targets.

These Western-provided missiles give Ukraine's deep-strike capability a major firepower boost. Former US military officers told Business Insider that the munitions could help Kyiv go after locations that are essential to Russia's operations, and leave its combat and support forces with "nowhere to hide."

Ukraine is facing Russian offensives that may get more intense going into the summer, but these weapons could help hamstring Moscow's efforts.

"If you're worried about Russian forces overrunning your defenses, you want to go after the headquarters and you want to go after the logistics that would enable Russian attacks," said Ben Hodges, a retired lieutenant general and former commander of US Army Europe.

The US last month acknowledged that it had secretly shipped Ukraine a number of MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS — earlier this spring as part of a $300 million weapons package it announced in March. The number of missiles isn't publicly known, but ATACMS missiles average about $1.3 million each.

Jake Sullivan, the Biden administration's national security advisor, said in late April that the US would send Ukraine more ATACMS after passing a $61 billion aid package that spent months held up by Republicans in Congress. The legislation required that Washington transfer the munitions.

ATACMS are tactical ballistic missiles that come in several variants. Ukraine previously received ones that have a range of 100 miles and can disperse nearly 1,000 submunitions over a large area, making them particularly damaging to airfields. Last fall, Kyiv used the missiles for that exact purpose.

The US also has ATACMS that can travel up to 190 miles; one variant has a unitary warhead, while the other can scatter some 300 submunitions. Ukraine has long pressed Washington for these extended-range missiles, though it's unclear what Kyiv has actually obtained.

Around the same time, in late April, the UK announced it would send Ukraine additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles as part of the country's largest-ever weapons package (£500 million, or $633 million), which included over 1,600 strike and air-defense munitions.

Days later, Britain's defense minister Grant Shapps disclosed for the first time that Italy had, at some point, also supplied Kyiv with Storm Shadow cruise missiles (France has sent Kyiv its own version of the munition called SCALP-EG).

These air-dropped missiles can fly at low altitudes to avoid detection and have been used to strike Russian naval headquarters and vehicle-repair depots in the occupied Crimean peninsula. Their 155-mile range puts them in between the ATACMS variants.

It's unclear exactly how many ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles have already arrived in Ukraine this spring, nor is it known how many more the country can expect to receive in the coming weeks as it tries to stall Russia's momentum on the ground. Kyiv previously obtained a limited number of both munitions from the US and its European allies.

A larger arsenal of missiles could strip Russia of its ability to stage crucial assets within 100 miles of the front lines, said Dan Rice, a former US Army artillery officer who previously served as a special advisor to Ukrainian military leadership. "That puts tremendous pressure on all of their key high-value targets."

"You have a 600-mile front and then you've got a hundred miles deep — where do you hide everything?" said Rice, a longtime advocate for sending cluster munitions to Ukraine and now the president of American University Kyiv. "Your transportation nodes, your railway stations, your supply depots, command and control — most importantly, your anti-aircraft systems."

Ukraine's battlefield reach has steadily grown throughout the full-scale war. What started out with short-range artillery improved over time with the arrival of US-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS. These game-changing weapons suddenly put Russian logistics centers, ammunition dumps, and command and control nodes within firing range.

Russia adapted to the HIMARS by moving its critical assets out of reach and jamming the munitions. The arrival of Storm Shadow missiles — and, several months later, ATAMCS — presented new challenges for Moscow, but Ukraine has received so few it has had to bee choosy over what to target.

Hodges and Rice say a larger arsenal of ATACMS and Storm Shadows can give Ukraine both the reach and inventory to smash the high-value targets that sustain Moscow's war efforts like supply depots and maintenance facilities. Indeed, Kyiv has used the American missiles in recent weeks to strike Russian airfields and troop gatherings.

"When you start taking those off the board, then it doesn't matter how much untrained, mass infantry — cannon fodder — that the Russians have," Hodges said. "I think long-range precision strike is becoming the dominant factor on the battlefield."

Missiles like ATACMS and Storm Shadow "will enable Ukraine to neutralize Russia's advantages and eventually enable them to regain the initiative," he added. Ukraine has also long sought Germany's Taurus missile, whose range is more than a 100 miles farther than ATACMS, but Berlin has so far declined to provide them.

The increased arsenal comes at a critical point. Russia is making gains on the battlefield as its bigger war industry shifts to mass-producing the drones and glide bombs that are pounding Ukraine's defenses.

Ultimately, however, the effectiveness of Kyiv's long-range strike regime depends on how many munitions it receives — and how it uses them. Ukraine had long been restricted to using ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles only inside occupied territory, although the UK recently agreed to let Kyiv use its weapons to strike inside Russia.

Whether or not the US follows suit remains to be seen. Analysts and officials have said that US restrictions went on to prevent Ukraine from putting up an effective defense and have essentially allowed Russia to conduct a new assault in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

The advances appear to be the start of Moscow's anticipated summer offensive, as Ukrainian forces are increasingly stretched out across the front, Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, warned in an analysis this week.

"The outlook in Ukraine is bleak," Watling said. "However, if Ukraine's allies engage now to replenish Ukrainian munitions stockpiles, help to establish a robust training pipeline, and make the industrial investments to sustain the effort, then Russia's summer offensive can be blunted, and Ukraine will receive the breathing space it needs to regain the initiative."

• Biden is withholding some military aid to Israel over concerns with its war in Gaza.
• House Republicans put forward a bill designed to force Biden to deliver that aid anyway.
• All but a handful of House Democrats voted against it.

16 House Democrats on Thursday voted for a bill designed to force President Joe Biden to provide all military aid to Israel — or risk the defunding of crucial national security-related offices.

That included Reps. Matthew Cartwright of Pennsylvania, Greg Landsman of Ohio, Jared Golden of Maine, and Tom Suozzi and Ritchie Torres of New York.

Three Republicans — including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and Warren Davidson of Ohio — voted against it.

The bill easily passed the House on an otherwise party-line vote, with almost every Republican voting for it and the vast majority of Democrats voting against it.

But it will not be taken up in the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Joe Biden has threatened to veto the bill, which was proposed by Republicans after Biden revealed that he was withholding some offensive weapons from Israel over concerns about the Jewish state's invasion Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees are located.

Republicans in particular have sought to hit Biden for that move, including Rep. Cory Mills of Florida, a Republican who voted against Israel aid but has now introduced articles of impeachment against Biden for withholding that aid.

Specifically, the "Israel Security Assistance Support Act" does the following:

• condemns Biden's decision and calls on him to provide all of the approved aid to Israel;
• strips the salaries of any State Department or Pentagon employees who assist in withholding aid;
• withholds funding for the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and the National Security Council until all of the withheld aid has been delivered.

The White House told members of Congress on Tuesday that it strongly opposes the bill, arguing that it "would undermine the President's ability to execute an effective foreign policy" and that it could "lead to spiraling unintended consequences" by constraining the president's ability to adjust assistance levels in the future.

House Democratic leadership also pushed rank-and-file members hard to vote against the bill, prompting at least one Democrat to avoid stating his position ahead of time.

"I know how I'm gonna vote, and nothing's gonna move me off of that," said Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, one of the most vulnerable swing-district Democrats in the House.

Jewish Democrats ended up being split on the bill, with several of them arguing that Republicans were merely attempting to use Israel as a wedge to divide Democrats.

Among them was Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio, who told Business Insider in a statement that he would vote for the bill while calling on Republicans to amend it. He also argued more "clarity" is needed from the Biden administration on its Israel policy.

Since October 7, the House has taken a variety of Israel-related votes that have split House Democrats, including one that equated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and another that was designed to crack down on campus antisemitism but faced free speech-related criticism.

Last month, 37 House Democrats voted against a bill to provide the military aid to Israel that Biden is now partially withholding.

This story will be updated with a full list of the House Democrats who voted for the bill when it becomes available via the House Clerk.

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Apple's AirPods are among the most popular wireless headphones on the market thanks to their solid audio quality, easy pairing with iPhones, and sleek designs. But with four different models to choose from, picking the best AirPods for your needs can be tricky. That's why we've tested the entire lineup to break down the strengths and weaknesses of each option. 

The best Apple AirPods for most people are the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), which offer active noise cancelation (ANC) and a case that charges wirelessly or using a USB-C cable. Buyers on a budget might prefer the standard AirPods (2nd generation), which lack ANC but still have many of the same core features for a lot less money.

Below, you can find details on all the pros and cons of every AirPods model that Apple sells, including its premium over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max. 

Our top picks for the best AirPods

Best overall: AirPods Pro (2nd generation) – See at Amazon

Best for casual users: AirPods (3rd generation) – See at Amazon

Best on a budget: AirPods (2nd generation) – See at Amazon

Best for audiophiles: AirPods Max – See at Amazon

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Best overall

The second-generation AirPods Pro are Apple's flagship wireless earbuds. These are the best AirPods to buy if you want great sound quality and active noise cancelation in a compact design.

Offering a nice step up from the first-gen model, the latest AirPods Pro use a new custom driver that delivers a big improvement in audio performance. Sound is noticeably richer than what we heard on the original AirPods Pro, which offered a more hollow and distant quality. 

These are also the first AirPods to use the new H2 processing chip, which Apple claims can deliver twice as powerful noise-canceling as the H1 chip housed in the first-generation AirPods Pro. Good noise canceling isn't just useful during a commute or while traveling. It's a key feature for blocking out distracting noise during day-to-day tasks, like working at a desk.

Though ANC is one of the reasons the AirPods Pro cost more than other Apple earbuds, we think it's worth splurging for. The AirPods Pro also have an excellent transparency mode, which uses microphones to let in outside noises when you want to stay aware of your surroundings. However, the AirPods Pro can't quite match the overall noise-canceling performance of some competing earbuds we've tested from other brands, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. But if you're set on sticking with the Apple brand, these are your best bet. 

The second-gen AirPods Pro also have a secure in-ear design, which makes them the best AirPods for people who've had issues with other Apple headphones staying in their ears. This model fits more snugly than regular AirPods, thanks to customizable tips that go deeper into your ear. And unlike standard AirPods, the case included with the latest AirPods Pro is now dust-resistant, in addition to water- and sweat-proof. 

Note: The AirPods Pro are available with either a Lightning or USB-C charging case. Since USB-C is the more universal charging standard, we recommend that edition as our top pick.

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) review.

Check out our guides to the best AirPods Pro cases and best wireless earbuds.

Best for casual users

Apple's third-generation AirPods are an excellent alternative to the AirPods Pro if you want a less expensive pair of earbuds. And unless you're on an especially tight budget, we think they're worth the extra money over their cheaper second-generation counterparts. 

This model includes many of the same premium audio features found on the AirPods Pro, like Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking. That latter option can give the impression that music is coming from all around you. However, not everyone likes the resulting surround sound effect, so it's good that this feature can be easily toggled off.

But while the third-gen AirPods don't sound quite as good as the AirPods Pro, they do have higher quality drivers and amplifiers than the second-gen AirPods. They have a contoured design and shorter stems as well, which makes them look more like the AirPods Pro. However, they don't include active noise canceling, so you still have to pay extra for the more expensive AirPods Pro if you want that feature. 

In your ears, the third-gen AirPods fit a lot like the second-gen AirPods. They have a semi-open build that rests by the opening of your ear canal, rather than using an in-ear design like the AirPods Pro. f you've had problems with past AirPods falling out, the third-gen AirPods won't be any better.

However, some people prefer this kind of looser fit since it doesn't plug your ears and still lets you hear your surroundings. All things considered, we recommend these as the best Apple AirPods to get for casual listeners who want good audio quality but don't care about ANC.

Read our full Apple AirPods (3rd generation) review.

Best on a budget

Apple's second-generation AirPods aren't as advanced as the brand's more expensive offerings. You won't find perks like noise cancelation, spatial audio, or water resistance here. However, the second-gen AirPods still retain all the core features AirPods are known for — like quick pairing with iOS devices and automatic playing and pausing — in a more budget-friendly package. 

When it comes to sound quality, the second-gen AirPods sound decent, but they're not on par with Apple's pricier earbuds. While they get the job done for basic needs, they aren't a good fit for enthusiasts who want the best audio performance when listening to music. 

Like the third-gen AirPods, this second-gen model has a semi-open fit. Rather than creating a true seal in your ear, they rest more loosely at the opening of your ear canal, which keeps your ears from feeling plugged. While this style is great for hearing your surroundings, it hurts sound isolation and can make these AirPods hard to stay in place when paired with certain ear shapes. 

The second-gen AirPods have longer stems than their third-gen and Pro counterparts. This makes them look like Apple just snipped the wires off its wired EarPods headphones. It's not a bad look — they have become iconic — but it's not as sleek as the shorter stems on Apple's other models.

Generally, we think most people are better off paying more for the third-gen AirPods or AirPods Pro, but this second-gen model remains a solid budget option, especially when it goes on sale for under $100. 

Read our full Apple AirPods (2nd generation) review.

Best for audiophiles

The AirPods Max deliver first-rate audio performance and noise cancelation, all wrapped in an elegant package. Unlike Apple's other AirPods, which are all earbuds, the AirPods Max uses a larger over-ear headphone design. This makes them better suited for people who prioritize high-end audio quality and want a pair of headphones that make a statement when worn in public. 

The AirPods Max use Apple-designed drivers and 10 audio cores for delivering computational audio and adaptive EQ, which allows the headphones to adjust their sound based on the fit of the ear cups. Like the AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max also support spatial audio and other features like quick-pairing. 

During our tests, the AirPods Max sounded significantly crisper, bolder, and louder than the Bose Noise Canceling 700 headphones. They also outperformed the Sony WH-1000XM4, although Sony's headphones came impressively close. 

The AirPods Max also deliver when it comes to noise cancelation. When we sat underneath an elevated subway that runs above a very busy street, the AirPods Max significantly dulled the sound of the train screeching to a halt and nearby traffic. They're not the absolute best noise-canceling headphones we've tested, but they work incredibly well.  

The downside is that the included case doesn't charge the AirPods Max. Instead, it puts them in low-power mode. It's also less of a traditional case and more of a wrap. Check out our guide to the best AirPods Max accessories to see our recommendations for more heavy-duty protective cases you can buy. 

There's no doubt that the AirPods Max are excellent, but their high price makes them inaccessible to many people. However, if you're an Apple loyalist who prioritizes top-notch audio with an over-ear design — and are willing to splurge for it  — the AirPods Max are the best Apple AirPods to get. 

Read our full Apple AirPods Max review.

Check out our guide to the best over-ear headphones.

How we test AirPods

To compare the best Apple AirPods we evaluated various performance elements, including design, fit, sound quality, extra features, and ease of use. To test sound quality we listen to an assortment of tracks across genres and from various sources, including many of the best music streaming services. For AirPods that support spatial audio, we also listen to Dolby Atmos tracks.

Likewise, if an AirPods model supports noise-cancelation, we evaluate that feature in a real-world noisy environment near heavy traffic outside, noting how well the feature is able to reduce ambient sounds. We also sample transparency modes to see how well the AirPods are able to let in surrounding noise in a natural way.

For this guide, we focused on how each AirPods model compares to other AirPods in order to determine each options strengths and weaknesses within Apple's headphones lineup. 

FAQs

When will Apple release new AirPods?

Apple's standard AirPods are now in their third generation, the AirPods Pro are in their second generation, and the AirPods Max are still in their first generation. The release cycle for AirPods isn't as easy to predict as the iPhone's, but here's what we know based on reliable reports. 

• AirPods: Apple's third-generation AirPods launched in October 2021 and rumors indicate that an updated fourth-generation model could be released this fall. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that there could actually be two new fourth-gen models. Both are rumored to have USB-C cases and improved designs, while the more expensive option could include noise cancelation.
• AirPods Pro: Apple released the second-generation AirPods Pro in September 2022, so we don't anticipate a new model soon. In 2023 Apple re-released the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with a new case but made no updates to the earbuds themselves. Keep in mind that the original AirPods Pro were released in 2019, giving them a three-year life cycle. We might have to wait a similar amount of time for a new AirPods Pro model, meaning they'd drop in 2025.
• AirPods Max: Apple released the AirPods Max in December 2020, and we haven't heard any official news about when a successor will launch. But some industry insiders, including Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, have reported that an updated Max model with USB-C charging could launch in 2024. We don't know whether this new model will just be a refresh of the original or an entirely new AirPods Max successor.

What are the top AirPods alternatives?

Apple's AirPods are popular headphones, but they're not suited for all needs. This is especially true if you plan to use your earbuds primarily with an Android phone or PC. Thankfully, there are many brands that sell headphones with similar features as the AirPods while being less rigidly tied to the Apple ecosystem. Check out our guide to the best AirPods alternatives for our top picks.