• Universal childcare in New York City could save parents up to $26,000 per year.
• Current universal programs like 3-K and Pre-K serve 103,000 children but have long waitlists.
• Advocates and officials support expanding access to affordable childcare and raising worker wages.

Across the five boroughs, affordable childcare is a hard bargain to find.

Working parents are excited about the prospect of universal childcare, championed by Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul. Childcare can cost as much as $26,000 a year for an infant in a care center.

Mamdani's campaign proposed universal childcare for kids 6 weeks to 5 years old. He is also planning to raise the wage for childcare workers to parity with public school teachers, whose starting salary is $68,902 with a bachelor's degree and no teaching experience.

That would build on the city's existing universal 3-K and Pre-K programs for children aged 3 and 4, respectively. About 103,000 children utilized the programs during the 2023-2024 school year.

3-K waitlists in some neighborhoods are long, and seats fill up quickly.

Expanding childcare for all kids under 5 years old will be a challenge. Mamdani hopes to tackle it with the help of the state. Universal childcare advocacy groups are excited about the newfound support for a universal system and are hopeful for the future.

On the steps of New York City Hall, the Empire State Campaign for Child Care (ESCCC), a statewide advocacy group for universal childcare, unveiled its recommended plan for achieving universal childcare for the state.

ESCCC hosted several speakers at its Thursday event, including Elizabeth Kennedy, a working parent of two and the deputy public advocate for Education & Opportunity at the Office of the New York City Public Advocate.

"We cannot do our jobs without the village," she said in reference to the group's plan to raise childcare workers' wages, a workforce whose majority is immigrant workers and women of color.

"There's never been so much momentum behind childcare," said State Sen. Jabari Brisport. "There was a big push a few years ago, but even now it's just completely night and day, and I'm feeling very confident about winning something big. If not, everything next year, something big."

Brisport, the chair of the Children and Families committee in the New York State Senate, has been a longtime advocate and supporter of universal childcare and said he is looking to raise wages for childcare workers as soon as possible.

Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft, a consultant and community organizer, said she pays nearly $40,000 a year in childcare costs.

Hambrick Ashcraft and her family live in Manhattan, raising four kids, all 11 years old and younger.

Day care for her youngest son, who just turned 3 years old, costs them over $30,000 a year, she said. She said they were able to secure a slot in New York City Public Schools' 3-K program, which offers free full-day educational and early childhood care.

Hambrick Ashcraft said their family relied on an after-school nanny, summer camps, and her being available on Mondays and Fridays to manage their childcare needs in the past. She said the most expensive childcare costs now that three of her kids are in school are after schools let out in the summer.

"The biggest cost now is summer camps and full-time care for four in the summer is absolutely outrageous. And so those can be a thousand bucks a kid per week," Hambrick Ashcraft.

Having young children tends to push parents away from the city, generally. The Fiscal Policy Institute found that households with young kids are twice as likely to move out of New York City as those without children.

Are you a parent navigating through the economy? Contact this reporter at bdelk@insider.com.

• Nvidia looked poised to have a great month on the heels of hitting an all-time high and another blockbuster earnings.
• Instead, the AI chipmaker has faced ongoing concerns about a possible AI bubble and increased competition from Google.
• News of a potential big Google chip deal sent Nvidia shares tumbling further, though they've regained some of the losses.

Nvidia's sterling armor was dented this month.

After years of meteoric success, the chipmaker and its CEO Jensen Huang have increasingly found themselves playing defense — an unusual position for the company.

Nvidia headed into the month with its stock price at an all-time high, bolstered by increasing AI spending from some of its major Big Tech customers like Meta, Microsoft, and Google.

Huang was hot off of Nvidia's GTC conference in Washington, where he dismissed any concerns of an AI bubble and sounded jubilant.

But over the course of the month, which saw Nvidia shed 11% of its value, the chipmaker has gone from smashing earnings and alleviating Wall Street's AI bubble fears to becoming the poster boy of what some analysts view as a company on an unsustainable path.

Nvidia has also had to fend off short-sellers and the growing threat of Google, picking up some bruises along the way.

Big names, including SoftBank and Peter Thiel, cashed out on the Wall Street darling that had became the world's first $4 trillion market cap company mere months ago. SoftBank announced it fully exited its Nvidia position, selling $5.8 billion in shares to bet on OpenAI. And while its CFO stressed it had "nothing to do with Nvidia itself," the move didn't exactly dispel the ongoing AI bubble talk.

Nvidia defiantly pushed back on any investor skittishness when it released its third-quarter earnings on November 19, surpassing analysts' already lofty expectations — no small feat — at a time when concerns about the AI bubble were once again creeping up.

"There's been a lot of talk about an AI bubble," Huang told analysts on a call following the results. "From our vantage point, we see something very different."

But while shares rallied in after-hours trading following the results, markets did a U-turn the following day as hand-wringing over ballooning tech valuations and spending continued.

Behind closed doors, Huang privately told employees in remarks first reported by Business Insider that "the market did not appreciate" Nvidia's "incredible" quarter.

Facing sky-high expectations and the position of being a bellwether for the AI industry, Huang described the chipmaker as being in a somewhat no-win situation.

"If we delivered a bad quarter, it is evidence there's an AI bubble. If we delivered a great quarter, we are fueling the AI bubble," Huang said during an all-hands meeting.

New pressure from Google

It didn't take long for things to get a bit choppy for the chipmaker.

Shares of Nvidia fell after The Information reported that Google was engaged in talks with Meta to provide the social network billions worth of the tech giant's own advanced chips.

While Nvidia's chips have long been the gold standard in the AI race, a hot commodity used by tech giants and startups to train and run LLMs and chatbots, the news suggested that the chipmaker's market share might be under threat. With Google now eyeing Nvidia's lunch, the market digested a possible future where Nvidia may no longer be the star attraction.

Nvidia's market losses following the news appeared to be Google's gain, with its parent company Alphabet now positioned to join the $4 trillion club that Nvidia started.

And in a move that raised some eyebrows, Nvidia released a mostly defiant statement that praised Google's success but said Nvidia's chips are "a generation ahead of the industry."

Burry proves to be a thorn in Nvidia's side

The developments acted as fuel for Michael Burry of "The Big Short" fame, who has become increasingly vocal about voicing his doubts about Nvidia.

Burry, who has a particularly dour view of the AI industry, spent much of the month questioning the longevity of Nvidia's chips, its stock dilution, and its circular, "give-and-take deals" in AI.

The investor recently leaned into online writing and labeled Nvidia as the Cisco of the AI bubble era in one of his first Substack posts.

"And once again there is a Cisco at the center of it all, with the picks and shovels for all and the expansive vision to go with it," Burry wrote. "Its name is Nvidia."

The chipmaker didn't take the criticism lying down. In a note to Wall Street sell-side analysts, a copy of which was obtained by Business Insider, Nvidia took exception to Burry's claims, stating that he appeared to have "incorrectly" made some of his calculations.

The memo also pushed back against views that Nvidia is too entangled in circular financial arrangements with some of its customers.

"First, Nvidia's strategic investments represent a small share of Nvidia's revenue and an even smaller share of approximately $1T raised each year across global private capital markets," the memo said, adding, "The companies in Nvidia's strategic investment portfolio predominantly generate revenue from third-party customers, not from Nvidia."

Burry called Nvidia's response "disappointing" and disclosed that he "continues to own puts" on Nvidia.

Nvidia isn't going anywhere

While November undoubtedly turned up the heat on Nvidia, the chipmaker continues to be the world's most valuable company by market cap and its shares have slightly rebounded in recent days, closing up 1.37% on Wednesday.

The world's largest tech companies rely on Nvidia's chips and have committed to spend billions and billions on the latest generation. CEO Jensen Huang has said sales of its latest Blackwell chips have been "off the charts."

Nvidia's CFO, Colette Kress, told analysts earlier this month that the company is on track to bring in "half a trillion" in AI chip orders during the combined 2025-2026 period — a number that she said "will grow" as more deals are struck.

While Nvidia's bruising back half of the month is a reminder that even AI royalty can see its crown threatened, Huang had some words for the doubters during the company's earnings call.

"As a reminder, Nvidia is unlike any other accelerator," he said. "We excel at every phase of AI, from pre-training and post-training to inference."

• Keijhon Francis spent over a year unemployed during her job search.
• She relied on therapy, support from friends, and strategic job searching to persevere.
• Francis emphasizes self-worth, resilience, and the importance of community during unemployment.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keijhon Francis, a 29-year-old communications specialist based in Brooklyn, NY. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Losing my job last year completely upended my sense of self. I'd never been let go before, and I panicked.

I'd moved to New York for my job — a communications associate role — and didn't know how I'd continue to live my life without it.

I called a friend, and we agreed that after a few hours, I had to stop crying and accept what had happened.

Months later, I'd applied to over 100 jobs, and nothing was working. I withdrew my entire retirement savings just to make ends meet.

The journey taught me that if you're not open to people being there for you, they won't be. So open yourself up to it and let them help.

I'd never faced unemployment before, and I didn't know what to do with all the time I had

It was close to the holidays when I was let go, and hiring is usually slow during that time. I decided not to focus too much on my job search right away and to figure it out in the new year.

I started to go stir-crazy with all the time I suddenly had. I had a lot of thoughts going through my head about whether I was good enough or deserved certain levels of respect at work. It altered my self-perception and put me in a bad place mentally.

I was still applying to jobs, but also spent my time taking walks, enjoying New York during the holiday season, and talking to my friends as much as possible because that really helped me level out.

I was mass applying until I realized I needed to be more strategic about my job search

Once the new year arrived, I was home all day, sending in applications as if it were my full-time job.

I applied on LinkedIn and Indeed, and if I saw a job posting on Instagram, I'd send my résumé. I used AI to help tailor my applications, find roles I could apply for with my skill set, and optimize my LinkedIn profile.

By late spring, I realized I needed to be more strategic because I wasn't getting anywhere, and rejection after rejection was wearing on me. I started tailoring my applications heavily to each role and applied to around three suitable roles a day, versus 25 roles with the same generic résumé.

I saw a slight increase in responses after switching my strategy, but still nothing came through.

I had to pull my retirement savings out to get by, but then I ran out of that money

I went into my retirement account, which had about $10,000, and I withdrew the entire amount as a safety net for myself. I was also receiving about $500 a week in unemployment benefits until May.

In July, I was flat broke with nothing coming in and nothing to fall back on. That got rough. I realized that I needed any job as soon as possible and couldn't focus on my search on a full-time role anymore.

I got a job as a cashier at a local market in Brooklyn. A week later, I added a job as a host at a bar, which I still host at. Those two combined brought me back to being able to make it through the months financially. But I was feeling very negative internally and trying not to show it.

Therapy and my support system helped me regain my self-worth

Through attending therapy and dedicating time to working on freelance gigs and mock projects to boost my portfolio, I realized my old role hadn't been the right fit for me and didn't reflect my worth.

Having so many people pray for me, check in, encourage, and uplift me made me realize that I'm loved and worthy of love. It made me feel less alone during one of the most critical periods of my life.

Through some of those really hard moments, when I didn't know how I would make rent or afford food, I'd think of the positives that came with this newfound free time. I was able to see my best friend of 17 years give birth to her first baby. My relationship with my father has grown immensely, which has been incredible.

It was really beautiful to form stronger bonds with those people, as well as gain a deeper understanding of who I am and what I need.

I found my next job through my network of friends

A friend that I used to work with messaged me one day and asked if I was still looking for a job because she knew someone leaving their role, and she thought I would be a great fit.

I immediately applied, and then I didn't hear from them for a couple of weeks. I went through the interview process, which was pretty long. However, I got the call in October that I had landed the job.

I couldn't even let her finish her statement before I started sobbing. It just felt like that chapter of my life was finally closed. It was everything I had been hoping, praying, and fighting for over the last year.

This experience taught me how to advocate for myself and reframe work in my life

I've learned a great deal about myself and my priorities. When I lost my job, I was feeling so bad about myself because my identity was tied to my work performance in many ways.

I realized that I always wanted to bring my best self to a role, but I never want to lose myself in it again. That's something I'll take with me as I continue to move forward in life.

To anyone newly unemployed: Take it one day at a time. Use this time to figure out what truly makes you happy. Do what you need to do to ensure that your bills are paid and all the necessary things are taken care of, but let the people who love you be there for you.

Do you have a story to share about long-term unemployment? Contact this reporter, Agnes Applegate, at aapplegate@businessinsider.com.

• Marc Andreessen says the right prompts can turn AI into the "world's best coach."
• People should start treating AI like a "thought partner," the venture capitalist said.
• He shares some prompts that can push AI to analyze, improve, and rethink your work.

Marc Andreessen has some tips for getting the most out of AI.

The venture capitalist said on an episode of the "a16z Podcast" published Tuesday that AI tools can act as the "world's best coach, mentor, therapist, advisor, board member" for anyone who asks the right kind of questions.

AI is probably "the most democratic" technology of all time, said the cofounder of VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. "The very best AI in the world is fully available on the apps that anybody can download."

Andreessen said the real power of AI is unlocked when the user starts treating it like a "thought partner." "Part of the art of AI, right, is what questions to ask it," he said.

He laid out several examples using a small business. A bakery owner, for instance, could feed AI anything from staffing schedules to customer emails to ad copy, and let the model critique all of it.

Andreessen also said product development works the same way: Give AI your recipe and ask how to improve it.

"What's the best cinnamon roll recipe in the world? Work backward from that," he said.

"You could also say, 'Look, I want to make the best one in the world, but I need to do it at 1/10 of the price,'" he said. "What are the ways to cost-optimize?"

Andreessen said that meta prompts can help users determine the best questions to ask AI. They surface blind spots and reshape one's approach.

"What questions should I be asking?" he said users should query the bot. "Teach me how to use you in the best way."

Knowing how to prompt is key

Other tech leaders have echoed Andreessen's point that knowing how to prompt AI is critical to unlocking its full value.

Google Brain founder Andrew Ng said at the Masters of Scale Summit 2025 in October that having an "extended conversation" with a model produces a better response.

"AI is very smart, but getting context in is difficult," Ng said, adding that he uses AI in voice mode to brainstorm work ideas while driving.

EY's Americas chief technology officer, Matt Barrington, said in an interview with Business Insider earlier this year that managing context in AI is crucial.

"I keep separate AI 'workspaces' for different focus areas — such as technical Q&A or drafting client communications," he said in the report published in February.

"I also give the AI clear instructions about the style and depth of response I want, like 'Provide a concise, bullet-point summary,' or 'Act as a finance expert,' or 'Cite credible sources or references and provide links,'" he added.

• Linda Hamilton, 69, says she is embracing the lines on her face.
• "I have just completely surrendered to the fact that this is the face that I've earned," the actor said.
• Hamilton said her twin sister's death five years ago pushed her to start tackling her bucket-list goals.

Linda Hamilton, 69, says she's feeling at home in her own skin.

Speaking to AARP in an interview published on Wednesday, the "The Terminator" actor said she wants to age with grace by embracing the lines and features that show the life she has lived.

"I do not spend a moment trying to look younger on any level, ever. I have just completely surrendered to the fact that this is the face that I've earned. And it tells me so much. And sometimes it's stuff I don't want to hear," Hamilton told AARP.

At this point in her life, there are more important things to worry about than her appearance.

"I don't chase beauty, and I don't chase longevity particularly," she added.

Still, Hamilton said she aims to stay healthy while living "fully planted in the moment."

"But not all the time — sometimes it is just a jelly donut. I'm not rigid, which is a fantastic way to get older," she said, adding that she's tried "to stay as fluid as possible" throughout her life.

"One definition of happiness is being in the middle of a fast-moving river and not trying to swim to the left or the right side. And that, truly, is kind of what my life has been. It's been a great, fun ride," she said.

Hamilton, who stars in the latest and final season of "Stranger Things," said she attends physical therapy three times a week to stay in shape for her role.

She added that her workouts change depending on what her body needs that day.

"It was Pilates, it was yoga, a lot of free weights, machines, cables, everything. And I kind of love that: to go in and not have a chest and back day, but just have a 'what do you need to loosen up and stretch out today,'" Hamilton said.

Embracing aging also means finally taking on the bucket-list items she'd delayed, a change she said was fueled by her twin sister's death five years ago.

"It sure did shake me up a little bit, the huge loss of my other half. I started doing some bucket-list things. I started jumping horses again after 40 years," Hamilton said.

Despite all that, she's found plenty to appreciate about getting older.

"I fully inhabit myself in a way that I never did when I was younger. I'm not trying to please anyone or prove anything or show off," she said.

Hamilton added that she's satisfied with her career, and that she'd found "a great balance between work and life."

"And yet I'm managing to still be part of my community and not leave all my friends behind because I'm working. I have found a way to weave it together very beautifully. I certainly feel like everything is a blessing right now," she said.

Hamilton has spoken about aging in the past, too.

In an October 2019 essay for Glamour, Hamilton said she's proud to be her age.

"I keep saying, 'Why does 40 have to be the new 60? Why can't 60 be the new 60? Why do we have to color everything with this idea of eternal youth?'" she wrote.

Speaking to Us Weekly in November 2019, she criticized Hollywood's obsession with youth and her appearance.

"Of course people are going to look at me and say 'Oh, she got old.' Yes, I did, and I have so much more to say as a strong, experienced life-ridden woman," Hamilton said.