• Amazon Prime Video introduced AI-powered TV show recaps in November.
• Fans of "Fallout" spotted inaccuracies in its AI recap of season one.
• The company then removed the feature from its platform.

Given the length of time it can take for the new season of your favorite TV show to come out, it's understandable that you might want a little video recap of what's happened so far.

Ideally, that recap is accurate.

Fans of Amazon's hit show "Fallout" said that wasn't the case in its AI-made synopsis of season one, released ahead of the hit show's new season next week. Fans quickly spotted factual errors, and Amazon Prime Video took down the recap.

One Redditor said the AI feature told viewers that a flashback featuring the Ghoul (one of the main characters, played by Walton Goggins) took place in the 1950s instead of 2077.

An X user posted that the recap also mischaracterized the agreement the Ghoul and Lucy MacLean (played by Ella Purnell) made in the "Fallout" finale.

Instead of saying the pair is teaming up to find Lucy's father, the recap said the Ghoul gave Lucy an ultimatum: "die or join him."

Amazon first launched its Video Recap, a feature that allows users to catch up on Prime Original TV shows between seasons, for beta testing in November.

"Video Recaps use AI to identify a show's most important plot points, combining them with synchronized voice narration, dialogue snippets, and music to create a visual summary that prepares viewers for the new season," the company said in a press release at the time.

The TV shows that Amazon said were undergoing Video Recaps testing — "Jack Ryan," "Upload," "Bosch," and "The Rig" — did not include the feature at the time of writing.

Representatives for Amazon did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Like so many companies, Amazon is investing heavily in AI.

During the company's February earnings call, Chief Finance Officer Brian Olsavsky said that 2025 capital expenditures could reach over $100 billion, with the majority of it going toward AI and Amazon Web Services, its cloud computing platform.

Many of Amazon's consumer services have integrated AI to enhance user engagement and experience, such as product suggestions and helping shoppers on its online platform find clothes that fit. In February, Amazon unveiled Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa, which is powered by generative AI to make it more conversational and personalized for users.

Embracing AI at Amazon, though, hasn't been without growing pains. In October, the company cited AI as it announced it would lay off 14,000 staff members.

"This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we've seen since the internet, and it's enabling companies to innovate much faster than ever before (in existing market segments and altogether new ones)," Beth Galetti, Amazon's senior vice president of people experience and technology, wrote in a blog post at the time.

In an internal message to the remaining staff, Amazon Vice President of Device Software and Services Tapas Roy asked them to "lean in on AI."

"Moving forward, we remain focused on our mission to help product teams launch delightful products," Roy wrote. "In support of this mission, I encourage you all to: Focus on the work that most directly impacts our customers, lean in on Al to enhance your effectiveness, [and] raise your hand when you see opportunities to simplify or eliminate unnecessary processes."

• A Chanel bag masquerading as a shopping cart sold for a record $152,000 at a Christie's auction.
• It's the most ever spent on a Chanel bag — but far from the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction.
• The booming luxury resale market is expected to grow three times as fast as the firsthand market.

It's not just grocery prices that are high — it's also the shopping baskets, or at least some of them.

A Chanel handbag cosplaying as a grocery basket sold for $152,400 at auction on Thursday, breaking brand records.

The piece — the rare, runway silver and black lambskin leather shopping basket bag from 2014 — sold for more than 10 times its low estimate of $15,000 at the online auction from Christie's.

That's a lot of money, but far from the most expensive handbag ever sold.

In July, Hermès' original Birkin bag — worn by Jane Birkin, herself — sold for $10.1 million, becoming the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction. The iconic purse went to a private collector in Japan, who phoned in and won a 10-minute bidding war.

While items selling for millions, or even six figures, may be rare, the luxury resale market is booming.

The secondhand fashion and luxury market is expected to reach $317 billion by 2027, according to a McKinsey report published last month, and it's growing three times as fast as the firsthand market. Secondhand luxury retailers like The RealReal and Fashionphile have recorded double-digit revenue growth this year.

Most luxury resale shoppers are turning to the market to find more affordable options, particularly as handbags from some of the biggest names have experienced significant price hikes over the past few years.

Chanel is one of the worst offenders. The price of its iconic flap bag nearly doubled between 2019 and 2024. This year, the brand increased prices again, hiking those of about 21% of its products by 5% in February, according to research from Citi. Add Trump's tariffs to the mix, and luxury handbags are more expensive than ever.

That said, it's not all deals on the secondhand market. Some savvy shoppers are treating luxury resale as an investment opportunity. Bags from Chanel sold for as much as 30% over their retail value on The RealReal last year.

Classic handbags from brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermès tend to hold their value for years. Some of the most coveted handbags even sell for more on the secondhand market.

• Travis Kelce said in his podcast "New Heights" that he and Taylor Swift never argue.
• During the podcast, the brothers asked George Clooney about how he also never argues with Amal.
• I, on the other hand, fight with my partner regularly and we've been together for 30 years.

As a happily married amateur matchmaker who has helped fix up 30 marriages and was set up with my own miraculous mat, I have rooted for Taylor and Travis's inspiring relationship from the start.

Whether they're confirming their mutual support for each other's work, showing kindness to their doormen and drivers, or giving to charity, I find the adorable, winning couple to be excellent role models.

Yet I admit the Kansas City Chiefs' recent claim that they never fight set me off.

Fighting can be healthy

First, they've only been together for two years, most of it long-distance, during her almost two-year "Eras" tour spanning 149 shows across five continents, while Travis played a total of 31 regular-season games in the last two seasons, not to mention the hours spent in training, recovery, and travelling to see each other.

It's amazing they had time to share a dance onstage, grab dinner, "knock on wood," and do a few cute podcasts together.

Then George Clooney co-opted the conversation by confessing that he and Amal have never had an argument in their 10-year marriage.

As a bestselling author of books my family hates and writing professor in a successful union with someone I adore for 30 years, I felt like screaming: "That's the opposite of a healthy message to give your children, friends, and fans!"

To leave Hollywood fantasy for a truly fulfilling and realistic connection, it's crucial to be able to speak up, disagree with your partner, express yourself amiably, and still feel cherished and appreciated. Otherwise, you're encouraging your partner to keep quiet, repressing their needs and longings to avoid any contention.

I fight with my partner all the time

Indeed, my beloved and I have combative words daily, whether it's me pushing him to hurry up and get ready (he's always late) or him admonishing me to slow the hell down (I tend to be Type A and early), or barking at him to "clean up his damn clutter" motivating him to snarl that I need to stay out of his den and leave his stacks of books, DVDS, and papers lining the floor and tables alone, where they belong.

Of course, we try not to raise our voices, swear, criticize, or call each other names — although a stray "slob," "control freak," and "screw you" have been known to surface in the swirl of passion. Afterward, having honestly expressed our displeasure, we return to our otherwise fairly harmonious existence.

My parents also fought often

I grew up overly sensitive with a tough, brilliant doctor father and three science-brain brothers in the Midwest who trashed my opinions, liberal platitudes, and poetry. Instead of cowering under their constant criticisms, I learned to yell, "Go chew on yourself," and became a prolific writer, probably as a way to amplify my views and talk without being interrupted. The friction taught me the toughness I later needed to conquer a big city, carry on two careers, and hold my own in a long marriage to a high-powered, hilarious, albeit stubborn urbanite.

My parents, blissfully besotted for 64 years in Michigan with four kids and five grandkids, quarreled often and well.

Once, when they had friends over for dinner, and my mother disagreed with his political stance, Dad made the mistake of responding by muttering, "Stick to your dishes." She looked him in the face and replied, "You didn't tell me that when I was working to put you through medical school for seven years!" which shut him up immediately. He soon apologized profusely, as he should have.

Luckily, Kylie Kelce, Taylor's soon-to-be sister-in-law, got real by leaping right into the fray. Talking about her and Jason, her husband and the father of her four little kids, she confessed, "We absolutely argue."

Asking brides to "love, cherish, and obey" their grooms entered traditional wedding vows in 1594, and this is now considered completely outdated. In fact, if you want your union to last, you have to love, cherish, and argue all the way down the aisle.

Susan Shapiro, an award-winning writing professor, is the bestselling author of the books "Five Men Who Broke My Heart" and "The Forgiveness Tour."

• Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released new images from Jeffrey Epstein's estate.
• Photos feature Bill Gates, President Donald Trump, Richard Branson, and other notable individuals.
• The images are part of 95,000 photos that the Democrats say were provided to the committee.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Friday released never-before-seen images from the estate of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including some images featuring powerbrokers like Bill Gates and Larry Summers.

The photos — which also feature President Donald Trump, ex-Trump advisor Steve Bannon, former President Bill Clinton, writer-director Woody Allen, Richard Branson, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew — are a selection of the over 95,000 photos that the Democrats say were provided to the House Oversight Committee pursuant to a subpoena.

Some of the photos also include Ghislaine Maxwell, a onetime partner of Epstein who was convicted of trafficking girls to him for sex. She's currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

The committee previously released other records obtained from Epstein's estate, including images of his US Virgin Islands home and tens of thousands of emails and text messages between Epstein and other powerful people.

The images themselves aren't indications of wrongdoing.

In many cases, it isn't clear when the photos were taken. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution and agreed to register as a pedophile. In 2019, he killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial on more severe sex-trafficking charges from federal prosecutors.

The House Oversight Committee's ranking member, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California, said in a statement: "These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world."

Representatives for Gates, Summers, Bannon, Clinton, Allen, Branson, and Mountbatten-Windsor did not immediately respond to requests for comment by Business Insider.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Business Insider in a statement that House Democrats are once again "selectively releasing cherry-picked photos with random redactions to try and create a false narrative."

The latest release of images comes as the Department of Justice readies to release a trove of Epstein-related documents. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump, requires the Justice Department to make its files related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell public by December 19.

"The Trump Administration has done more for Epstein's victims than Democrats ever have by repeatedly calling for transparency, releasing thousands of pages of documents, and calling for further investigations into Epstein's Democrat friends," Jackson said.

Below are some of the 19 images that Democrats on the House Oversight Committee published on Friday:

A smiling Richard Branson is seen here in a tropical setting with Jeffrey Epstein

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers is seen on a private jet alongside Woody Allen

Bill Gates is pictured smiling next to one of Epstein's pilots, Larry Visoki

Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon is seen sitting across a desk from Epstein

Another image shows Gates alongside Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew

A photo of President Donald Trump surrounded by women with redacted faces was among the images released

Another image shows Epstein standing next to Woody Allen on what appears to be a movie set

A photo signed by Bill Clinton depicts the former president with Maxwell and Epstein.

• Relocating for work was exciting when my husband and I were newly married.
• Having children shifted our priorities, leading us to choose stability over new opportunities.
• We decided that giving our children roots was more important than living in new cities or countries.

By our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband and I had moved twice for his job. We were in our 20s and excited for new experiences. It was easy to embrace the chaos of moving then.

When a third opportunity to relocate was presented, the choice wasn't so easy anymore. Our family had grown; we now had a baby to consider. This move would take us from Houston to California, a place we'd barely visited. The whole idea felt exciting, but what would it be like to move halfway across the country with a baby in tow?

Having a baby made us think differently about moving

We asked ourselves what advice we'd give our child if she were an adult making this decision. We realized we'd encourage her to take the chance, so we decided we would, too.

My husband's employer provided us with a moving company to pack, load, and transport our belongings. Unfortunately, the truck had a blowout on I-10 and was delayed, so when we arrived in California, we were without many of the comforts that make life with a baby easier for longer than we'd planned.

The beginning was rough, but it worked out. We embraced having mountains and beaches close by, but what we couldn't embrace was the cost of living. To afford to live where we were, I'd need to go back to work. However, we'd created a little obstacle; I was pregnant. We didn't know if we could afford to live in California with our expanding family, but we knew of a place we could afford.

When our family changed, our reason to move changed

Two and a half years after we arrived in California, we were on the move again. This relocation took us back to Houston. Thankfully, my husband's company provided moving assistance once more.

Moving while pregnant and with a 3-year-old was exhausting, but we settled into our new house and our new life. Once we hit the milestone of two and a half years in our home, we celebrated.

A few months later, my husband was asked to consider applying for another opportunity. The position was outside the United States, and if he applied, it would mean we were OK with moving abroad. But were we?

For our move to California, we'd asked ourselves what advice we'd give our children. Now the question was: what life did we want to give our children?

We decided to give our children roots instead of adventures

Despite the benefits and experiences that come with living as expatriates, providing our children with stable and predictable childhoods was a bigger priority for us. We chose to have our adventures during school vacations instead of having an adventure-based life.

My husband did not apply for that overseas position and chose not to apply to any other jobs that would require us to relocate. We've now been in our second Houston house for 16 years. Moving was fun for a while, but we're thankful we were able to stay in one place after the fun wore off.

And if our children ever ask us for advice on moving, will we stick with our original, hypothetical answer? I think we would.

• The "OpenAI Supply Co." has 10 merchandise items available for purchase. Most sizes have already sold out.
• Merch items include Pokémon-style trading cards and t-shirts touting safe AGI.
• One baseball cap looks particularly similar to a viral Anthropic hat — but OpenAI's is archived to a year prior.

You can now wear ChatGPT on your sleeve — or head or shin.

As part of its 10-year anniversary celebration, OpenAI dropped a link on its X feed to a merchandise store. The "OpenAI Supply Co." seems suited for the company's engineers, with a space to log in with a company email. Indeed, most of the items listed are archives of old designs — but a few are available for purchase.

The "Supply Co." site was marked as "coming soon" in July 2024, according to the Internet Archive. But this appears to be the first time ChatGPT users who aren't employees can actually buy something from it.

OpenAI fans ate it up. The post garnered over 3,000 likes within 15 hours, and multiple sizes of the for-sale items were quickly sold out. If you're anything other than an extra small or a small, you're out of luck on sweatshirts and tees.

The items OpenAI listed give a glimpse inside the company — or at least its swag.

There are five Pokémon-style trading cards. Their subjects include Sora 2 ("shape-shifter"), GPT-5 ("two worlds, one model"), image generation (with a "huge" wow factor), Sora ("sci-fi"), and the OpenAI Blossom ("back and better").

Pokémon has recently been a point of contention for the company, after its Sora video generator began booting out unauthorized versions of Pikachu.

Much of the site is themed around AGI, or artificial general intelligence, a much debated breakthrough milestone that many AI companies are racing to hit. One shirt reads: "AGI that benefits all of humanity," a line from OpenAI's charter. On the employee log-in, the suggested email is agi@openai.com.

The assortment of hats also offers clues. There are Sora beanies and baseball caps with the word "research." One cap has the chatbot's phone number, 1-800-CHATGPT. (Yes, the number still works.)

Another cap has OpenAI in red letters on camo print, resembling the popular Harris/Walz hat, which nods to Chappell Roan.

The baseball caps kept coming. There's one with silver flames, a piece of early 2000s nostalgia. There's another with the letters "SF" on it, firmly planting OpenAI in the city of San Francisco.

All the way at the bottom of the page is a baseball cap with the words "Thinking deeply." The site says that it was released in September 2024 in honor of OpenAI's reasoning model. It also looks remarkably similar to Anthropic's "thinking" caps, which launched a year later at the company's Air Mail pop-up.

Anthropic's "thinking" caps quickly became a status symbol, signifying the wearer's closeness to the AI boom. Cursor's tab keys had a similar effect, as did OpenAI's DevDay token plaques.

It's possible that this merchandise drop will have the same effect. Your ChatGPT crew neck could give you caché.

The fans have clearly been hungry. Fan-created merchandise concepts have long floated around X. Some even turned their designs into unauthorized businesses.

Thirty minutes before its post about the tenth anniversary, OpenAI responded to a fan post. Developer Tibor Blaho posted some of the merch, saying that the company should make its store "public instead of keeping it employee-only." OpenAI responded with the link and an eye emoji.

Blaho's post was 10 months ago.

• Companies are rapidly increasing AI spending, with 90% planning higher budgets for 2026.
• An RBC survey shows most CIOs now prioritize generative AI investment over all other spending.
• AI adoption is driving IT budget growth, with use cases shifting from cost savings to revenue gains.

For much of the past year, Wall Street and Silicon Valley have wrestled with the same uncomfortable question: Will companies really spend money on AI, or is the hype just outpacing budgets?

A new CIO survey from RBC Capital suggests that question may finally have an answer, and it's a resounding yes.

RBC recently polled 117 IT professionals at companies with annual revenue ranging from below $250 million to more than $25 billion. 90% of the respondents said their organizations plan to spend more on AI in 2026.

"Overall, we came away increasingly optimistic of macro/budget stabilization taking shape in 2026 and encouraged by the pace of early GenAI adoption," the RBC analysts wrote in a research note summarizing the findings.

CIOs are not only moving rapidly into production with AI systems, but they are also setting aside dedicated budgets to fund that adoption.

A striking 90% of technology leaders said their organizations are creating new budgets specifically for generative AI and LLM projects, up from 85% the year before. That suggests AI is becoming additive rather than substitutive in enterprise tech spending.

Even more telling: 60% of respondents said they are already in production with AI initiatives, a jump from 39% the previous year. Another 32% expect to be in production within six months.

This shift comes after months of skepticism from investors who questioned whether businesses would convert pilot projects into real spending. The survey data suggests that moment is now arriving.

CIOs overwhelmingly cited AI as the top category for increased software spending next year, surpassing cybersecurity and IT service management. And in open-ended responses, executives repeatedly named AI as their biggest area of investment for 2026, often paired with infrastructure upgrades and automation initiatives, according to the RBC survey.

Use cases are expanding beyond experimentation. Seventy-six percent of CIOs said their AI strategies now target both cost savings and revenue generation, a shift that reinforces AI's transition from a novelty to a competitive mandate.

Concerns remain — data privacy tops the list — but those worries are no longer slowing adoption. Instead, AI is becoming the primary force expanding IT budgets heading into 2026.

Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

• Business Insider asked four interior designers which bathroom trends are in and out for 2026.
• Tech features, statement tiles, and warm, earthy palettes are on the rise.
• However, all-white bathrooms, glossy finishes, and synthetic materials are becoming less popular.

Each year brings a new wave of design trends that continue to evolve home spaces, including bathrooms.

So, Business Insider asked four interior designers to share their thoughts on what will be popular in bathrooms this coming year, and which fads are starting to disappear.

Here's what they predict will be in and out for bathrooms in 2026.

Tech in bathrooms is on the rise.

Kara Thomas, interior designer and founder of Studio KT, believes there will be a "heavy trend" of incorporating tech into bathrooms next year.

"Regardless of the square footage, people need a space to decompress, and people are going to be wanting to spend more intentional time with themselves in their bathroom," she told BI.

For that reason, she believes an array of useful, high-tech features that aid self-care — like voice-activated shower controls, deodorizing smart toilets, and heated floors — will be taking over home bathrooms in 2026.

Medicine cabinets remain on trend.

Though medicine cabinets haven't exactly been a consistently popular home feature, they're not going anywhere this year, according to Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors.

"Even for clients with bigger homes and multiple bathrooms, medicine cabinets are still incredibly useful," she said.

Whether they're custom or ready-made, recessed or mirrored, "space is very important, and having any type of hidden storage space is gold," the interior designer added.

In 2026, we can expect to see more personalized elements, like statement tiles.

Danielle Chiprut, interior designer and founder of Danielle Rose Design Co., believes that bathrooms with personal, expressive touches — such as statement tiles — are trending upward.

"Patterns like plaid, soft geometrics, or dimensional fluting bring a tactile richness that instantly gives the room character," she said. "People are craving spaces that feel crafted rather than 'standard issue,' and tile is a beautiful way to layer in artistry without overwhelming the room."

On a similar note, hand-painted tiles will also be making their way into bathrooms next year, said Torres Portnof.

Layered and intentional designs will be everywhere in 2026.

Most designers agree that there's a growing trend toward more layered designs, with cohesively blended colors, patterns, textures, and lighting taking priority over lifeless, cookie-cutter motifs.

Chiprut has noticed a decline in enthusiasm for "ultra-coordinated" packages with matching fixtures and cabinetry.

"Homeowners are moving away from that catalog feel and toward spaces with layered materials and lighting that tell a more personal story," she said.

According to Thomas, the trend won't involve clutter, but rather more intentional layouts and decor — this could look like an antique piece of art above the toilet, or an accent rug next to the tub.

Multiple lighting sources make spaces feel more relaxing and inviting.

Bathrooms can sometimes feel too stark, which is why it's essential to incorporate multiple lighting sources for balanced illumination and a cozy, welcoming feel, said Torres Portnof.

"Just like in any other room in the house, it's important to have overhead lighting and accent lighting like sconces," she told BI.

In 2026, we'll likely see more integrated LED lighting in bathrooms, with a particular shift toward backlit mirrors and under-vanity strips, according to Molly Miller, principal designer and founder of Molly Miller Interiors.

All-white bathrooms are becoming outdated.

"Bright-white, clinical bathrooms and stark-gray palettes are losing steam," Miller said.

Instead, she expects a shift toward earthier tones, like soft clays, muted greens, and warm taupes.

She also sees earthy palettes being paired with materials like honed natural stone, warm oak or walnut, and unlacquered metals, which she says will help make the space feel more grounded and restorative.

Man-made materials have fallen out of favor.

As earthy hues and natural materials dominate home spaces, Chiprut sees synthetic materials, such as plastics like acrylic, losing favor in bathrooms next year.

Instead, people might opt for dark-stained oak, wabi-sabi wood, or marble.

"Natural materials carry a quiet longevity that man-made surfaces rarely replicate," she said. "I think many homeowners are moving away from plastics and overly engineered finishes simply because they want a deeper connection to what surrounds them."

Materials like marble and wood can add a sense of warmth, she added.

Glossy, high-sheen finishes are losing momentum.

Ultra-glossy finishes may have been popular in 2025, but Chiprut believes that bathroom trend is on its way out.

"For a while, there was a push toward everything looking polished and reflective, but those surfaces can feel a bit cold and one-note," she said.

Instead, she's seeing her clients gravitate toward more tactile, matte textures that feel calming and authentic.

• Todd Combs, one of Warren Buffett's stockpickers at Berkshire Hathaway, is leaving to join JPMorgan.
• JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon is a longtime admirer of Buffett and has spoken highly of Combs.
• Combs, the CEO of Berkshire-owned Geico since 2020, sat on JPMorgan's board for nine years.

Warren Buffett will soon be out of a job, but at age 95, he's probably not looking for a new one. Longtime admirer Jamie Dimon may have sprung for the next best thing by hiring his understudy.

The JPMorgan CEO has hired Todd Combs, one of Buffett's two investment managers at Berkshire Hathaway, to head up a new $10 billion group at the bank and be his special advisor.

Bringing Combs into the JPMorgan fold might be as near as Dimon can get to having Buffett himself on his team.

"Dimon may very well have viewed Combs as a close proxy for Buffett himself," David Kass, a finance professor and longtime Berkshire blogger, told Business Insider. "Although Dimon could not hire Buffett, he could hire one of his protégés."

The "main impetus" for Dimon hiring Combs was likely his observations of the investor as a JPMorgan board member over the past nine years, John Longo, a finance professor, fund manager, and the author of "Buffett's Tips," told Business Insider.

But "the fact that he ran a large financial business (Geico), is a successful fund manager, and is a protégé of Warren Buffett certainly enhance his credentials," Longo said.

He added that Combs has undoubtedly "learned a great deal" from Buffett, and JPMorgan now stands to benefit from that knowledge.

"Jamie deeply respects Warren Buffett and Todd Combs," JPMorgan said in a statement to Business Insider. Geico declined to comment.

Surprise exit

Combs ran a hedge fund before Buffett hired him in 2010. He helped set up Haven, a healthcare joint venture between Berkshire, JPMorgan, and Amazon, that launched in 2018 but closed three years later.

He was appointed CEO of Berkshire-owned Geico in 2020, and has reshaped the auto insurer to help increase profits in recent years. Buffett applauded Combs for Geico's "spectacular" improvement in his February letter to shareholders.

Combs' departure was unexpected, as Buffett had originally planned for him to take over Berkshire's vast portfolio once he and Charlie Munger were out of the picture.

But the legendary investor said during Berkshire's past two shareholder meetings that his successor as CEO, Greg Abel, would have final say over how Berkshire's capital is deployed. Berkshire announced a raft of leadership changes this week, ahead of Abel replacing Buffett on New Year's Day.

In a press release announcing the move, Dimon drew a clear line between the master and the student: "Todd Combs is one of the greatest investors and leaders I've known, having successfully managed investments alongside the most respected and successful long-term investor of our time, Warren Buffett."

The Buffett mark of approval

Dimon has frequently praised Buffett over the years.

After the Berkshire CEO announced in May that he would step down as CEO this year, Dimon said in a statement that Buffett "represents everything that is good about American capitalism and America itself."

He also lauded his "integrity, optimism, and common sense," and said he'd learned a great deal from him and was "honored to call him a friend."

Dimon told the Financial Times this week that he was quickly impressed by Combs when Buffett introduced them in 2014. The pair caught up last month and Combs said he was intrigued by the new role at JPMorgan, he told the outlet. Dimon responded that if Combs was "remotely interested in this, we're all in."

Buffett's seal of approval may have factored into Dimon's decision to hire Combs, but the billionaire banker also said in Monday's press release that he prized "Todd's experience, character and judgment" and felt "honored" to have him on board.

In his new role at JPMorgan, Combs will lead the Strategic Investment Group, part of the bank's Security and Resiliency Initiative, and focus on investing in sectors deemed important to national security, such as critical minerals and frontier technologies.

Do you work for Berkshire Hathaway and have a story to share? Get in touch with this reporter by emailing tmohamed@insider.com or messaging theron.36 on Signal.