• Satya Nadella says Microsoft's size slows AI development, pushing him to study how startups build.
• He told Mathias Döpfner that leaders must unlearn past success and adopt a "learn-it-all" mindset.
• Most AI projects are bound to fail without new mindsets, tools, skills, and shared data, he added.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is in study hall mode.

Speaking with Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer — Business Insider's parent company — Nadella said he's spending his weekends studying how startups build products. The reason, he said, is simple: Microsoft's vast size has become "a massive disadvantage" in the race to build AI at startup speed.

"This entire weekend, I spent all the time trying to get myself to understand how new companies are building products," Nadella said in an interview on the "MD MEETS" podcast, hosted by Döpfner and that aired on Saturday.

At young companies, he said, everyone involved in product development — from scientists to engineers to infrastructure teams — is "all sitting in one little table." It means they're able to make decisions on product, science, and infrastructure, and iterate instantly.

At Microsoft, he has "three divisional heads who manage those three things."

Nadella's comments come as many major tech companies — from Meta to Google to Amazon — are aggressively trimming middle layers of management in the name of speed.

It reflects a broader shift in Silicon Valley, where thick hierarchies are increasingly viewed as impediments to swift product decisions and AI experimentation.

Unlearning success to stay relevant

Nadella told Döpfner that thriving in the AI era requires unlearning habits that once made companies successful.

Big organizations and their leaders need to abandon the "know-it-all" mindset and adopt a "learn-it-all" approach, he said.

"The most important skill set for long-term relevance is — how do you be a learn-it-all and not a know-it-all," Nadella said.

The challenge, he added, is that "you have to unlearn the things that made you successful to learn something new."

Internally, Nadella has already been pushing this cultural shift.

A leaked organizational chart reviewed by Business Insider showed how he has reorganized executives and has 16 direct reports — a lineup of handpicked lieutenants tasked with breaking down silos and accelerating the company's AI shift.

The 4 things you need to fix first

Nadella said the majority of corporate AI projects collapse because companies approach AI like a traditional IT upgrade — a mistake he believes "is going to fail by definition."

To make AI work, he said, organizations must be prepared to do four key things: rethink their workflows from the ground up, adopt modern AI tools, train employees to use them, and make sure company data isn't stuck in old legacy systems.

Only companies that rebuild these foundations, Nadella said, will see meaningful gains from AI — and only leaders willing to unlearn old habits will be able to pull it off.

• Melania Trump unveiled the White House Christmas decorations on Monday.
• The theme of the decorations was "Home Is Where The Heart Is."
• The layout of the decor differed from past years since the East Wing was demolished in October.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

On Monday, first lady Melania Trump unveiled the 2025 White House Christmas decorations — her first holiday season of President Donald Trump's second non-consecutive term and the first White House Christmas decorations since the demolition of the East Wing in October.

The East Entrance and East Colonnade, which featured prominently in Melania Trump's past White House Christmas decorations with displays of dramatically lit branches and deep-red trees, are no longer part of the route. They were demolished along with the rest of the East Wing.

The White House Menorah, which the Biden administration added to the White House Christmas decorations in 2022, was also absent from the display.

Melania Trump centered the White House Christmas decorations around the theme "Home Is Where The Heart Is," featuring nods to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, her Be Best initiative, and military families.

I visited the White House for an early look at this year's holiday display. Take a look.

I entered the White House through the North Portico stairs.

In previous years, White House tours began at the East Entrance.

On my way in, I saw Melania Trump's Christmas wreaths with red bows in the White House windows.

The wreaths also appear on this year's official White House Christmas card.

The East Room featured a tribute to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The East Room decor, which included patriotic nods, was a collaboration with America250, the national organization in charge of planning events for America's semiquincentennial next year.

The East Room's Christmas trees glittered with red, white, and blue decorations.

Red, white, and blue striped ribbons were accompanied by oak leaves, a traditional symbol of strength.

Golden eagles were also displayed in the East Room.

The Christmas trees were topped with gold eagle ornaments, which also appeared on the East Room's mirrors.

The Green Room displayed portraits of President Donald Trump and President George Washington made of puzzle pieces.

Each portrait contained 6,000 pieces.

Dedicated to the theme of playfulness, the Green Room contained childhood toys in every corner.

Miniature Christmas trees made of dominoes were built on a side table.

The Official White House Christmas tree served as the centerpiece of the Blue Oval Room.

This year's Official White House Christmas tree is an 18-foot concolor fir from Sidney, Michigan.

The tree was decorated with ornaments depicting the official bird and flower of every US state and territory, as well as gold stars honoring the Gold Star families of fallen US soldiers.

The ornaments were created using AI and 3D printed.

The Red Room was filled with butterflies, a youthful nod to the first lady's Fostering the Future program supporting children in foster care.

The Red Room decor included a total of 10,000 butterflies.

Its Christmas tree was decorated with Be Best ornaments and Fostering the Future ribbons.

Fostering the Future is part of Melania Trump's Be Best initiative focused on children's wellness.

The State Dining Room featured a gingerbread White House complete with a miniature South Portico.

The intricate White House model is made of 120 pounds of gingerbread, 100 pounds of pastillage dough, over 10 pounds of chocolate, and 5 pounds of royal icing.

In the Grand Foyer, the US Marine Band played holiday classics such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

I also recognized "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" from Disney's "Frozen."

A portion of the White House Creche was displayed in the Grand Foyer while the rest undergoes restoration work.

The White House Creche, a Nativity scene dating back to the 18th century, was first displayed at the White House in 1961 and appeared on President John F. Kennedy's 1963 Christmas card.

The Cross Hall glowed with ceiling projections and additional Christmas trees.

Piles of boxes in red gift wrap were assembled at the base of the trees, and scented candles filled the air with a warm, spiced aroma.

I got a close-up look at the painting depicting Donald Trump's raised fist after he survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Painted by artist Marc Lipp, the piece hangs where President Barack Obama's official White House portrait was displayed during the Biden administration.

In total, the White House Christmas decorations feature 51 Christmas trees, over 2,000 strands of lights, and 25,000 feet of ribbon.

The White House reopens for public tours on December 2 — the first tours offered since the demolition of the East Wing. To schedule a tour, members of Congress submit tour requests on behalf of their constituents.

The display was dazzling, but I wish I could have seen the East Wing in its former glory.

Before its demolition, the East Wing was once a focal point of the White House's Christmas decorations and the first stop on tours. The East Colonnade's long hallway in particular lent itself to immersive, and occasionally divisive, displays.

There's less space to decorate at the White House until Donald Trump's 90,000-square-foot ballroom is complete, but I still loved seeing the Executive Mansion all decked out for the holidays.

• I upgraded my family's flights to United Premium Plus, the class between economy and business.
• Most of the perks, like two free checked bags and priority boarding, weren't useful to me.
• But the seats felt so luxurious and comfy that they helped us feel well-rested after a long flight.

I love to travel and usually prefer to spend less on flights so that I can stretch my budget and take as many trips as possible.

That usually means looking longingly at more comfortable seats in the front of the plane while I make do with standard economy in the back.

However, my family and I recently tried United's Premium Plus, an offering between economy and business class, on a long flight.

Although I'm still not planning on regularly splurging on upgrades, I now understand why some passengers spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for comfier seats.

I found a deal on premium seats that felt too good to pass up

When planning my family's July trip to South Korea, I was pleasantly surprised to find some great flight prices.

I could get my family from Washington, DC, to San Francisco and then onward to Seoul for only 55,000 miles, or about $550 a person. I'd expected to pay at least twice as much.

Even better, I found a mixed fare that would allow us to fly in United's Premium Plus for the longer leg of our trip from San Fransico to Seoul for only 10,000 additional points each, which is roughly equivalent to $100.

This felt like a steal considering upgrading from economy to premium for some of these flights cost over $500.

Typically, I'd save my points and go for the cheapest ticket. However, our flight from San Francisco to Seoul was nearly 13 hours.

After factoring in the flight from DC to San Francisco, a layover, and time spent getting to and from the airport, I realized that we would've been traveling for close to 24 hours by the time we arrived at our hotel in Seoul.

Given the great deal I'd found, I decided to splurge on the upgraded seats to increase the chances that my family could get quality rest on the plane.

I hoped this would help us adjust to the significant time difference — 14 hours between DC and Seoul — and recover from a grueling travel day more easily.

Most of my ticket's perks weren't useful to me, but Premium Plus still felt so luxurious

The main draw of premium was the bigger, comfier seats, but my upgraded ticket also came with other perks.

I gained access to priority boarding, but this didn't provide additional value to me because I already receive this benefit as a United credit-card holder.

In premium, we got two free checked bags each. However, we travel light and didn't use this perk, either. One benefit I might've used was complimentary access to United Club lounges, but my ticket didn't come with it.

However, as soon as I boarded my flight to Seoul, I didn't care that my premium seats didn't come with any other perks that I found useful.

My seat was fantastic, and that alone made the upgrade worthwhile.

A cozy blanket and pillow from Saks Fifth Avenue and a nice amenity kit were waiting for me when I sat down. My seat felt very spacious and had a deep recline — 6 inches, compared to 3 in economy — plus a footrest.

I was able to stretch my legs plenty, given that the seat pitch was 38 inches, about 7 inches bigger than economy.

Though my seat did not lie flat, which is usually a feature reserved for business and first class, I found that having ample legroom and a wider seat made a huge difference in comfort.

I also appreciated getting a larger seatback screen and higher-quality headphones than I'm used to in economy.

The meals on my flight were also very tasty and were served in ceramic dishes with metal flatware. It was also nice to have a real glass and cloth napkins instead of disposable ones.

Getting off the plane, I felt pampered and refreshed

Just as I had hoped, my children and I arrived in Seoul feeling refreshed and relaxed after our exceedingly long journey.

When I wanted to sleep, I dozed off easily, with my legs outstretched and enough room on both sides to not have to worry about bothering my neighbor. My children also rested well.

I really think my family and I adjusted to our new time zone much more quickly than we would've if we'd flown in cramped basic-economy seats.

I still plan on being frugal when it comes to spending my hard-earned dollars and airline miles. However, now I know firsthand just how much comfortable seats can help with beating jet lag.

Upgrades are definitely worth the splurge for longer flights that cross several time zones, and I'd consider flying premium again in the future.

• A Delta Air Lines flight from China to Detroit diverted to Japan.
• It touched down in Tokyo-Haneda about two hours after taking off.
• Local media reported that it had hydraulic issues.

A Delta Air Lines flight from China to the US had to divert to Japan due to mechanical issues.

Friday's Flight 388 took off from Shanghai at 5:46 p.m. and was supposed to land in Detroit some 13 hours later.

However, less than two hours into the journey, the Airbus A350 began descending off the coast of Japan as it changed course for Tokyo.

It touched down at Tokyo Haneda Airport around two hours after taking off.

An airline spokesperson told Business Insider the crew "followed procedures to divert to Tokyo-Haneda after reporting a mechanical issue."

Japanese officials told local media that the plane had suffered from hydraulic issues, which could impact key components like the landing gear.

"The aircraft landed safely, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans," the Delta spokesperson said. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew."

It's unclear how much of a delay passengers faced as they appeared to be rerouted via alternative flights.

Data from Flightradar24 shows that the A350, registered as N512DN, remained in Tokyo for another 26 hours.

It was repositioned to Seattle, one of Delta's hubs, before continuing on to Detroit.

On Saturday, the plane flew its first regularly scheduled commercial flight since the incident, heading to Seoul.

Flight 388 wasn't the only long-haul Delta flight that diverted last week.

An Airbus A330 flying from Paris to Minneapolis on Wednesday made a U-turn less than 20 minutes after taking off.

• As the secondhand luxury market continues to grow, shoppers are increasingly buying with resale in mind.
• When it comes to handbags, certain styles, designers, and colors tend to hold their value more than others.
• Fashionphile founder Sarah Davis broke down what to look for when buying and selling luxury bags.

The first handbag Sarah Davis ever sold was a Louis Vuitton red Epi bucket bag. As a law student looking to make money, she'd bought it at a DC thrift store in 1999 for $250 and flipped it on eBay. She used the proceeds to buy two more and do the same.

While she ditched eBay and outsourced procurement, she's essentially doing the same thing 25 years later as the founder of Fashionphile, a secondhand luxury platform. Over the past 25 years, the company said it has sold 2 million accessories — including several Louis Vuitton red Epi bucket bags.

The company expects to sell more than $500 million worth of products this year and is profitable, it said.

Fashionphile's rise has coincided with a surge in the luxury resale market.

The secondhand fashion and luxury market is expected to grow two to three times as fast as the firsthand luxury market over the next two years and reach $317 billion globally by 2027, according to a November report from McKinsey.

Affordability and accessibility are driving the growth.

"There was a day that there were two real, in my opinion, entry points to luxury," Davis said: Coach and counterfeits. "Now they don't have to do either. They can come straight to us."

As secondhand becomes second nature, consumers are shopping with resale in mind.

Luxury watches, jewelry, and bags — all of which Fashionphile sells — are popular investment pieces, the McKinsey report said. They tend to hold their value and can sell for more on the secondhand market than they do on the primary one.

Davis buys into the model. One of her favorite bags is a mini Chanel flap bag that she's had for more than a decade. She bought it used, of course, and plans to resell it soon, only because her new phone can't fit.

"I could sell it for thousands more, even in the shape it's in," Davis said.

As the ultimate handbag reseller, Davis shared three tips for shopping and selling handbags on the secondhand luxury market.

1. Classics are classics for a reason.

If you're looking for resale value, stick to signature styles.

Fashionphile's No. 1 selling bag this year is the Louis Vuitton Speedy. The Chanel Double Flap and Hermès Evelyne are also hits.

"We sell, every day, dozens of the classics," Davis said. "They get on the site; they move very quickly."

These bags are never on sale, and their prices increase every year. That means if you wait it out long enough — and treat your bag well enough — there will be a payday.

"You take that Louis Vuitton bag, keep it for a few years, you will be able to sell it for more than you bought it for," she said. "It's kind of like buying a house; you sell that, get more money, build your way up to your Birkin."

2. Black and brown can equal green.

Like classic styles, classic colors hold their value the best.

"Black is always a go," Davis said.

Brown — ranging from taupe to caramel to chocolate — is Fashionphile's second most popular color.

Unlike other colors, which can trend in and out, these neutral tones are timeless, which means you can resell an item in one of these hues next year or in 10 years.

3. Don't be afraid to dig.

Getting the best deal, whether or not you're planning to resell, takes work, Davis said.

"There are so many bargains to be had — 70%, 80% off retail — if you're willing to do the search," she said.

Fashionphile has tens of thousands of items available at any given moment. Most users, she said, won't go through them all, focusing instead on new arrivals or the most popular styles.

Some of the best deals are on items that are a slight variation of the classic. A navy Chanel bag will sell for less than a black one, for example, and a more obscure shape Louis Vuitton will sell for less than a Speedy.

"There are some funky little styles, and you take a little bit of color, you're going to get an incredible deal," she said.

• Omnicom's $9 billion merger with Interpublic Group will result in about 4,000 job cuts.
• The merger creates the world's largest advertising agency group with $25 billion in revenue.
• Omnicom will retire legacy brands and restructure into new divisions to streamline operations.

Advertising agency giant Omnicom's $9 billion merger with fellow ad firm Interpublic Group officially got over the line last week. Now come the "synergies."

Omnicom CEO John Wren said in media interviews on Monday that the total number of acquisition-related layoffs is expected to reach 4,000, with the majority of jobs to go by the end of December. A spokesperson confirmed the figure.

The layoff accounts for about 3% of the company's combined head count of 128,200 as of the end of 2024, based on their regulatory filings.

Since the deal was first announced late last year, IPG has already shed 3,200 roles, while Omnicom has had about 3,000 job cuts. Omnicom last year set out a "$750 million cost synergy target" related to the merger.

The new Omnicom is now the largest advertising agency group in the world, with combined annual revenues exceeding $25 billion. By merging, Omnicom-IPG can reduce operating costs by consolidating systems. The new company can also leverage its collective client ad spending from the world's biggest brands to negotiate better deals with media owners and tech platforms.

"Together, we will be the go-to company that shapes how brands grow, people connect, and culture evolves," Omnicom chairman and CEO John Wren said in a statement.

Madison and Wall, an advisory and consulting firm, wrote in a research note on Monday that Omnicom's success in managing both people and clients through the transition would determine whether a significant number of advertising contracts are put up for review.

The consolidation of the two companies will result in the retirement of storied creative agency brands DDB, FCB, and MullenLowe, the company said Monday. The newly formed Omnicom Advertising division will operate three creative agency networks: BBDO, TBWA, and McCann.

Omnicom announced its new company structure on Monday, which will consist of these main divisions:

• Omnicom Media — with agencies including Hearts & Science, Initiative, Mediahub, OMD, PHD, UM, and Acxiom.
• Omnicom Public Relations — including FleishmanHillard, Golin, Ketchum, Porter Novelli, and Weber Shandwick.
• Omnicom Production — including Content Solutions, Production Management, and Studios.
• Omni and Flywheel Commerce Network — including Omni and Flywheel.
• Omnicom Advertising — BBDO, McCann, TBWA, and the US Advertising Collective.
• Diversified Agency Services — comprising health marketing companies Healthcare Professional & Consumer, Medical Communications, Patient Engagement, and Managed Markets; branding agencies Interbrand, Siegel+Gale, Sterling Brands, and Wolff Olins; and Precision Marketing, including Credera, Critical Mass, and RAPP.

• I tried the biggest burgers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, In-N-Out, and Shake Shack.
• I thought Shake Shack's burger was a little overwhelming.
• Burger King's Triple Whopper impressed me with its flame-grilled patties and fresh toppings.

When it comes to fast food's biggest burgers, the prices are often stacked just as high as the patties.

Hikes in fast-food prices and "shrinkflation" — a phenomenon in which people say menu items get smaller while either remaining the same price or costing more — are deterring customers, and chains have released meal deals aimed at luring them back.

As some chains see sales decline, brands are thinking beyond limited-time promotions and more about how they can deliver the best value for customers.

To determine which chain offered the best value on its larger-ticket items, I compared six of the largest burgers sold at fast-food chains.

I tested burgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, In-N-Out, and Shake Shack to see how they stacked up in terms of taste and overall value.

Here's how the biggest burgers at five fast-food chains ranked, from worst to best.

Shake Shack's double cheeseburger, my least favorite, was particularly large.

It cost me $13.89, not including tax, making it the most expensive burger I tried.

I chose pickles, onions, and Shack sauce as my toppings.

The burger patties were perfectly crispy on the outside and covered in gooey melted cheese.

The pickles were large and crunchy, and the amount of other toppings was generous. The chain's signature Shack sauce also added a lot of flavor, and the cheese was perfectly melted.

However, the burger was almost too heavy to pick up.

I know I purposefully ordered the largest burger on the menu, but the Shake Shack burger was a little overwhelming.

This burger was massive. I saw it as a hindrance rather than an asset, and I struggled to get through more than a few bites.

The burger patties were much thicker than quite a few of the other burgers I tried, and the toppings definitely enhanced the flavor. However, for me, it was simply too big, to the point where it tasted like a giant meat-and-cheese grease bomb. 

My second-to-least favorite burger was a classic: a McDonald's Big Mac.

I was conflicted over whether the biggest burger at McDonald's was the Big Mac — which felt like the largest thanks to the extra bun — or the Double Quarter-Pounder, which is the burger with the most meat.

I decided to try both to appease both sets of McDonald's fans who argue for one over the other.

A Big Mac cost $7.99 at my local McDonald's, excluding tax.

There was a generous layer of pickles, lettuce, and sauce on the sandwich.

The sandwich wasn't overwhelming, and I also liked the tangy, creamy Big Mac sauce.

However, I thought the added bun made the sandwich taste too much like bread, and the other flavors were slightly lost.

The sandwich was a good size and very filling, but I wasn't crazy about the flavor profile.

I simply wanted more flavor happening. Between the extra bun and the generous serving of Big Mac sauce, that was all I could taste.

Tomato, cheese, or simply other condiments might have taken the sandwich to the next level.

The 4×4 is the largest burger available at In-N-Out.

The burger, which is on In-N-Out's "not-so-secret" menu, is also referred to as the "Quad Quad" or simply "Quad," and comes with four beef patties, four cheese slices, lettuce, tomato, spread, and the option to add onions.

It cost $10.99, excluding tax and fees.

The giant burger was difficult to hold in one hand, let alone bite into.

The burger was far too large for me to eat in one sitting, though the flavor made me want to. 

The burger was delicious in every way, from the juicy beef patties to the layers of cheese and fresh lettuce and tomato.

However, I thought the additional burger patties ended up detracting from the burger's overall ranking instead of enhancing it. The burger was overwhelmingly heavy, with the tomato and lettuce failing to offset the excessive amount of meat and cheese.

The buns couldn't contain the juicy beef patties, and they started disintegrating as I ate the burger. Truthfully, I wouldn't order this again. Although it was tasty, the amount of meat was just too much for me.

I also tried the McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder with cheese. I preferred it over the Big Mac.

Looking at the burger in the box, I immediately noticed that it had more meat than the Big Mac. The meat was clearly the star of the show, with the other toppings barely visible beneath the patties and bun.

The burger cost me $10.49, excluding tax.

The Double Quarter-Pounder with cheese comes with a whopping half-pound of meat, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard.

I found this burger to be pretty flavorful, especially thanks to the condiments and large slices of crunchy pickles.

However, I wasn't crazy about the bun — while I normally love a sesame-seed bun, I found this one to be pretty bland, airy, and artificial-tasting.

I would order this burger again.

Despite having a lot of meat, the burger didn't feel too overwhelming to eat.

I thought it was a filling yet completely manageable sandwich, especially compared to the gigantic burgers from Shake Shack and In-N-Out.

The second-best burger I tried was Wendy's Dave's Triple.

The Dave's Triple burger cost $11.49, excluding tax.

Wendy's Dave's Triple burger comes with nearly a pound of beef, American cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mayo, and onion.

The sandwich was difficult to pick up, but all of the ingredients appeared to be well-balanced.

There was a large serving of tomatoes, pickles, and cheese, so it didn't look like the beef patties would be overpowered. 

This burger was so flavorful. The cheese was perfectly melted, and the patties were super juicy.

While I couldn't finish the entire thing, I definitely thought the flavors were there and it was a good value for the price.

If I were to change one thing, it would be to remove the mayonnaise. It ended up mixing with the juice from the tomatoes in an unappetizing way, creating a tomato-mayo sauce that I thought brought the other flavors down.

The best burger I tried was the Triple Whopper with cheese from Burger King.

Similar to the Dave's Triple, the Triple Whopper also comes with three quarter-pound beef patties, although the ones at Burger King are flame-grilled.

The burger cost me $10.99, excluding tax, making it the second-most expensive burger I tried.

Unlike the other burgers, the Triple Whopper only comes with one slice of cheese.

However, I felt that this allowed the other flavors to really come through, and it led to a less gut-filling, more appetizing eating experience.

The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions tasted fresh and added a delicious crunch to the burger.

I also liked the beef patties on this burger the most out of the ones I tried.

The burger patties had a smoky, savory flavor that made the sandwich taste fresh off the grill. I also thought the patties' shape, which were larger in circumference but flatter than some of the other burgers, made the sandwich easier to eat. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this burger and would definitely order it again, if I have the appetite.

While I'm not sure I'm happy to pay more than $10 for any fast-food burger, it was a very generous serving and the most flavorful out of the bunch, without being overwhelmingly huge.

• Nvidia said it had purchased $2 billion of Synopsys common stock as part of a wider partnership.
• The companies said they are partnering to accelerate AI for design and engineering.
• Nvidia continues to weave an intricate web of AI-related deals.

Nvidia has made a $2 billion investment in semiconductor design firm Synopsys, adding to the chipmaker's large web of AI-related investments.

Nvidia said on Monday that it had purchased $2 billion of Synopsys common stock as part of a partnership to accelerate the development of AI for design and engineering applications.

"Our partnership with Synopsys harnesses the power of NVIDIA accelerated computing and AI to reimagine engineering and design — empowering engineers to invent the extraordinary products that will shape our future," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a release.

Nvidia has long been a prolific investor in other companies, but it has ramped up its spending in recent months, with xAI, ElevenLabs, and Nscale among the chipmaker's portfolio companies.

In September, Nvidia said it plans to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI to support the build-out of AI data centers. Earlier that month, Nvidia also made a $5 billion bet on Intel.

The expanding web of investments, which has included some circular financing, has raised bubble concerns among market watchers.

• Accenture and OpenAI have announced a new partnership.
• The deal will bring ChatGPT Enterprise to tens of thousands of Accenture employees.
• AI transformation work is becoming increasingly common in the consulting industry.

Consulting giant Accenture is partnering with OpenAI to put ChatGPT Enterprise into the hands of tens of thousands of its employees.

Employees will start using ChatGPT Enterprise across consulting, operations, and delivery work, while the partnership will help OpenAI scale its capabilities to enterprises.

AI is rapidly changing the type of work that consulting firms like Accenture perform for clients. Rather than strategy advisors, consultants are increasingly becoming long-term transformation partners for companies, providing advice but also building the tools that companies need to maximize on AI.

Julie Sweet, Accenture's CEO, said the deal with OpenAI will "accelerate enterprise reinvention and business outcomes for our clients."

Accenture will also have the largest number of professionals upskilled through OpenAI Certifications, OpenAI said in a press release on Monday.

As well as reshaping the way firms work, AI is changing the talent landscape within the top firms. In a September earnings call, Sweet said that Accenture has been "exiting" staff that the company cannot reskill for the AI era.

On Monday, the two companies also announced plans to launch a "flagship AI client program," combining OpenAI's products with Accenture's "AI expertise and industry and function domain knowledge."

The program will be used to help clients adopt AI in real business workflows, OpenAI said in a press release.

Its goal is "to enable joint clients to adopt OpenAI's agentic capabilities faster and with deeper integration across their organizations," OpenAI said.

• Getty Images highlighted the 100 most powerful news photos taken by its photographers in 2025.
• The photos captured political unrest, natural disasters, travel nightmares, and major news events.
• Donald Trump's presidency and administration also featured heavily in the collection.

Sandy Ciric, senior director of news photography at Getty Images, told Business Insider that the 2025 news cycle was "unrelenting."

"From the first days of the new year when devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles, every week brought a barrage of breaking stories — including the death of a US president, a newly elected Pope, tariff wars, terror attacks, migration, starvation, hostages, plane crashes, floods, heat waves and in addition to all that, political turmoil and upheaval from the US to Nepal and beyond," Ciric said.

As the year comes to a close, the team at Getty Images curated 100 of the most powerful news photos of the year taken by its photojournalists around the world, highlighting the defining moments of 2025.

"Through it all, Getty Images photojournalists faithfully covered all of these stories and indelible moments with expertise, empathy, and creativity," Ciric said.

Here are 30 images from the collection of the best news photos of the year.

On January 8, the casket of former President Jimmy Carter lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda the day before his funeral.

Carter died at the age of 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia. He served as president from 1977 to 1981.

An aerial photo taken on January 15 showed beachfront homes in Malibu, California, destroyed by the Palisades Fire.

Multiple wildfires across Los Angeles County, propelled by high winds, caused widespread damage in January.

Firefighters worked to contain the Hughes Fire on January 22 in Castaic, California.

The California wildfires burned over 40,000 acres and killed at least 29 people.

On January 30, an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, DC.

All 67 people on board both aircraft died in the crash, which occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

A worker removed signage on the headquarters of the US Agency for International Development on February 7 after it was shut down by the Department of Government Efficiency.

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency targeted numerous federal agencies with layoffs and cuts to decrease government spending.

Elon Musk and his son, X, joined President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on February 11.

Musk and his son watched as Trump signed an executive order to implement DOGE's "Workforce Optimization Initiative."

Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a heated exchange during a White House meeting on February 28.

Zelenskyy left the White House after the Oval Office shouting match without signing a proposed minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine.

As Trump arrived for his speech to a joint session of Congress on March 4, Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury held a sign reading "This is not normal."

Other Democratic lawmakers held up signs reading "False," "Musk steals," "Protect veterans," and "Save Medicaid," as Trump outlined his policy agenda.

On March 31, SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 Fram2 Mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The mission carried four space tourists in a low-orbit flight.

An airline employee at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey was photographed looking fatigued amid delays and cancellations on May 6.

Newark Airport experienced days of snarled travel due to air traffic control staffing shortages and radar outages.

After the death of Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV was elected to the papacy in Vatican City on May 11.

Pope Leo XIV, who hails from Chicago, is the first US-born pope in history.

A woman was photographed in the ruins of her home on May 18, the day after a tornado hit in London, Kentucky.

At least 25 people died as a result of the storm, CNN reported.

Protesters in Paramount, California, clashed with US Border Patrol officers on June 7 amid immigration raids.

Protests broke out following immigration raids across Southern California conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard members to the Los Angeles area to quell protests, circumventing California Gov. Gavin Newsom's authority.

On June 14, the US Army celebrated its 250th anniversary with a military parade in Washington, DC.

The military parade, which coincided with Trump's 79th birthday, featured 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and about 6,600 troops.

The USS Gerald R. Ford deployed to Europe on June 24 amid conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier.

A woman was photographed pouring water over her head in Berlin during a record-high heat wave on July 2.

Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

On July 6, a girl stood in her aunt's home in Center Point, Texas, after torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to overflow.

At least 78 people died in central Texas, including 11 people at the Christian girls' summer camp Camp Mystic, when the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes and caused severe flooding.

Ukrainian troops conducted a medical evacuation with an armored infantry fighting vehicle on the border between the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions of Ukraine on July 21.

The photo of the 505th Separate Marine Battalion was taken with an infrared camera.

On July 24, members of ICE dragged a man away after his immigration court hearing in New York City.

In an interview with Fox News, border czar Tom Homan said that ICE planned to "flood the zone" in sanctuary cities such as New York City amid Trump's immigration crackdown.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force performed an air drop of humanitarian aid over Gaza on August 6, providing a sweeping view of the devastation.

An assessment by the United Nations conducted in October found that 81% of all structures in Gaza were damaged in Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.

Zohran Mamdani was photographed at a press conference on August 7, a few months before his election as the next mayor of New York City.

Zohran Mamdani, who served as a member of the New York State Assembly, defeated former New York City Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in the mayoral election in November.

Trump and Putin met in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Trump gave Putin a ride in the presidential limousine known as "The Beast."

A fishing boat was photographed on August 13 in Kochi, India, amid the Trump administration's 50% tariff on products from the country.

India is one of the top suppliers of frozen shrimp to the US, where 80% of seafood is imported. The Trump administration's 50% tariffs on imports from India are expected to raise seafood prices.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth joined Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of several executive orders on August 25.

Trump signed executive orders to end cashless bail in Washington, DC, and criminalize burning the American flag despite a 1989 Supreme Court decision that protects flag burning under the First Amendment.

A billboard in Orem, Utah, displayed on September 13 commemorated Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on September 10.

Kirk, a right-wing political activist who cofounded Turning Point USA, was killed while speaking at Utah Valley University on the first stop of his "American Comeback Tour."

Anti-corruption protests left burned debris in place of what was once the Department of Roads building in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 15.

The protests in Nepal opposing government corruption, nepotism, and social media bans were largely led by members of Gen Z.

Senior military leaders were summoned to Washington, DC, on September 30 for a speech by Hegseth in which he berated "fat troops" and "woke" policies.

"It's tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops," Hegseth said in his speech about "warrior ethos." "Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals in the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world."

On October 13, Israeli hostages were released from Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Ziv Berman was released after being held hostage for 737 days in Gaza. He was photographed raising his fist in the air while riding a helicopter to Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel.

On October 19, thieves broke into the Louvre Museum in Paris and stole pieces of jewelry that belonged to Napoleon and Empress Eugénie.

The thieves broke into the Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon using a lift and an angle grinder before escaping on motorized scooters. Four people have been charged in connection with the robbery.

On October 23, Trump demolished the East Wing of the White House to make way for his 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

The ballroom is expected to cost an estimated $300 million. It's one of many changes Trump has made to the White House in his second non-consecutive term.