Tag: Business

• Elon Musk and Donald Trump are extending olive branches to each other.
• Musk was at Trump's CEO-studded White House dinner on Tuesday.
• He later thanked Trump on X for "all he has done for America and the world."

Elon Musk and Donald Trump were at war all summer, but that relationship appears to be warming up.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO received an invitation to Trump's White House dinner on Tuesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The dinner had a guest list dominated by CEOs. Musk was joined by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. This was Musk's first public appearance at the White House after he fell out with Trump in May.

Following the dinner, Musk posted pictures taken at the dinner on X, which showed himself, the crown prince, Huang, and Trump.

"I would like to thank President Trump for all he has done for America and the world," Musk's post said.

And during his speech at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Trump made some lighthearted jokes at Musk's expense.

"You're so lucky I'm with you, Elon. I'll tell you. Has he ever thanked me properly?" Trump said.

The slow thawing of tensions between the two comes after several months of intense public feuding.

Timeline of the Musk-Trump feud

Musk and Trump have had a tumultuous relationship over the past year. The two became steadfast political allies when Musk backed Trump's 2024 presidential bid.

Musk then called himself the "first buddy" after Trump's win.

Musk later headed the White House's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a post he left in May.

The relationship soured in June, when Musk criticized Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." The two men started feuding publicly, with Musk saying Trump would not have won the presidential election if not for his support. Trump, meanwhile, threatened to cut government contracts that Musk's companies held.

Musk then said he would form a new political party called the "America Party."

"Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom," Musk wrote in an X post in July.

The duo have been spotted in public together since their alliance imploded. They were seen shaking hands at political activist Charlie Kirk's memorial service in September.

And before Trump's visit to Asia in October, Trump said he had always had a good relationship with Musk.

"I like Elon, I've always liked him," he told reporters on Air Force One in October.

• Nvidia's Q3 earnings beat expectations, driven by strong data center and AI demand.
• New partnerships with OpenAI, Uber, and xAI underscore Nvidia's leadership in AI.
• Export restrictions on China and rising competition remain concerns for Nvidia's growth.

Nvidia's blockbuster earnings just brought relief to Wall Street.

On Wednesday, the chip giant reported $57 billion in revenue for the quarter and delivered another blowout performance from its data center division, which brought in $51 billion, surpassing the $49.3 billion analysts projected.

Nvidia also lifted its fourth-quarter guidance to expect $65 billion in sales. The optimistic outlook reinvigorated AI and semiconductor stocks after several rocky days. Nvidia stock jumped more than 3% in after-hours trading, while shares of other chipmakers, like Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom, and Taiwan Semiconductor, also saw gains.

Here are the key takeaways from Nvidia's Q3 earnings, from fear of an AI bubble to the various new partnerships the chipmaker is engaging in.

1. The AI bubble

CEO Jensen Huang addressed concerns about the AI bubble head-on.

"There's been a lot of talk about an AI bubble," he said as he kicked off his earnings address. "From our vantage point, we see something very different."

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

Huang added that the transition from using CPUs to GPUs, AI's ability to generate revenue through ads, and the rise of agentic AI systems that could spark a new wave of applications are all reasons he still sees growth in the coming years.

As an AI optimist, Huang had also previously dismissed concerns that AI could displace a large number of jobs.

2. New partnerships

Nvidia gave its new partnerships a big shoutout.

Over the earnings call, Nvidia highlighted new deals with OpenAI, Anthropic, Uber, and xAI.

Earlier in September, Nvidia announced a joint letter of intent with OpenAI "for a landmark strategic partnership to deploy at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia systems for OpenAI's next-generation AI infrastructure to train and run its next generation of models on the path to deploying superintelligence." The plan, per the press release, is for Nvidia to invest as much as $100 billion into data center infrastructure using Nvidia hardware to start coming online by the second half of 2026.

On Tuesday, Nvidia struck a "deep technology partnership" with Anthropic and pledged up to $10 billion in investment for the startup. Anthropic also announced on the same day that it would spend $30 billion on compute to scale its Claude AI model on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, which would be "powered by Nvidia."

On Wednesday, ahead of the earnings call, Nvidia and xAI also announced that a massive data center in Saudi Arabia, which is loaded with hundreds of thousands of Nvidia chips, will have Elon Musk's AI startup as its first customer.

3. China remains a concern

Export restrictions on China continue to be a concern.

CFO Colette Kress said during Wednesday's earnings call that Nvidia is "disappointed" by the US export rules that continue to limit its ability to sell advanced AI chips to China, and added that large China orders didn't materialize this quarter because of "geopolitical issues" and rising competition in the market.

Kress also maintained Nvidia's outlook of assuming zero data-center or compute revenue from China in the fourth quarter, though the company plans to keep engaging with both US and Chinese regulators.

Despite the uncertainty, DA Davidson analyst Gill Luria said ahead of the earnings that his team doesn't see AI demand slowing next year and expects Nvidia to hold its lead even as rivals grow and trade tensions persist.

4. Key growth areas

Nvidia is bullish on robotics and AI infrastructure.

In its earnings report, Nvidia highlighted robotics as one of its key growth areas. Automotive sales in Q3 totaled $592 million, which is a 32% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024.

On Wednesday, Nvidia said in its latest 10-Q filing that expanding power infrastructure is a "complex, multi-year process" that comes with many hurdles, but the company remains positive that AI infrastructures, such as data centers, will drive growth.

"We believe Nvidia will be the superior choice for the three to $4 trillion in annual AI infrastructure built," said Kress during the earnings call. "We estimate by the end of the decade, demand for AI infrastructure continues to exceed our expectations."

"This past quarter, we announced AI factory and infrastructure projects amounting to an aggregate of 5 million GPUs," Kress added.

5. The hyperscalers

Nvidia says hyperscalers are driving a huge share of its growth.

Kress told investors during the earnings call that hyperscalers like Meta are expected to account for "roughly half" of Nvidia's "long-term opportunity" as they shift more workloads to accelerated computing and generative AI.

She added that Nvidia is helping Meta boost service quality, increasing the time users spend on Threads and Facebook.

Huang, however, pushed back on the idea that only the biggest tech giants are buying GPUs. He said that investing in Nvidia's GPUs "only improves their scale, speed, and cost for general from general-purpose computing," especially for companies with more limited resources that need to "keep driving the cost down."

• Aniqah Bhatnagar was chasing a promotion at work and was tired of dating.
• When she came across a singles trip to Bali, she decided to try something new and applied for a spot.
• She didn't find love on the weeklong dating trip, but she formed friendships she hopes will last.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aniqah Bhatnagar, 29, a single living in Hong Kong. Her words have been edited for length and clarity.

I was 28 and fed up with the dating scene. Swiping had become a ritual of ghosting, small talk, and scheduling conflicts.

I work in business development for a US law firm in Hong Kong and was chasing a promotion, so it was easy to tell myself romance could wait. Then, one night, a casual scroll on Instagram inspired me to try something different.

I'd been following Nabila Ismail — the travel influencer behind Dose of Travel Club (DOTC), with over 193,000 followers — when she posted about a new Bali trip called Desi Love Island.

Something about it clicked. Maybe it was the hopeless romantic in me, or maybe just the part craving sun, chaos, and adventure. I wasn't alone; the post racked up more than 90,000 views and 1,300 likes. Before I knew it, I was filling out an application asking about my personality type, love language, and relationship goals.

My friends sent memes calling me "the main character." My parents were supportive but cautious. I told my dad before he passed away a few months later — and while I like to think he's watching over me, for that particular week, I kind of hoped he wasn't too closely.

I applied in February and didn't hear back for weeks

DOTC hosts over 20 group trips a year, but the Desi Island retreat was its first to bring together South Asian singles. The company's offerings aren't all about dating. Next on the calendar, there's a women-only adventure in Morocco and a cultural deep dive in Japan.

When the acceptance email for the Bali trip landed in my inbox, I was excited. The eight-day retreat cost about 22,000 Hong Kong dollars, or $2,800, covering a shared villa, activities, and most meals.

While DOTC trips are designed for South Asians, I wasn't going in with rigid expectations. I'm not set on having a South Asian partner, but I do want someone who embraces the culture.

Landing in Bali felt surreal

Seventy South Asian singles from around the world — London, Singapore, New York, Melbourne — gathered in tropical villas with pools and matching welcome kits. The first night set the tone: a sunset cocktail party, curated playlists, and a host briefing that made it clear this wasn't a typical group trip.

My villa mates, Nikita and Ish, quickly became my confidantes, while Amrita, whom I'd met on the flight, turned into a close friend. Romantically, there were sparks with a couple of people, but the friendships formed faster. One guy — an engineer from Australia — turned out to be a better friend, and we're still in touch.

Each day had its own highlight: rafting, floating breakfasts, a glitzy club night, a boat trip to Nusa Lembongan, and quad-biking through Ubud's rice terraces. After the chaos, the villas became sanctuaries — we'd huddle over instant noodles, trading gossip about who was "coupled up."

Those noodle-fueled nights were my favorite part.

It wasn't all sunsets and smoothies. With seventy singles, emotions ran high; a misread text or rumored hookup could shift the group's energy. There were flirty moments, awkward ones, and a few heartbreaks. It felt like an accelerated version of modern dating.

I didn't find love in Bali

A big part of the reason was that many of us lived in different countries. I was already aware that long-distance relationships — especially in the early stages — can be tough. I found that the distance made it hard to take things further.

But the week made me more open-minded about dating and less fixated on outcomes. I realized that connection doesn't always have to be romantic.

A few of us have stayed in touch — one of the girls, Anjali, even came to visit me back home — and those friendships outlasted the flirtations. That, to me, feels like a win.

I'm proud that I said yes to something completely out of my comfort zone. I may not have met "the one," but I had an insanely fun week in a beautiful place and met some genuinely kind, fascinating people I hope to keep in my life for years to come.

Would I do it again? Probably not. But I'd recommend it to anyone curious. I wouldn't say no to a reunion.

Do you have a story about looking for love that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.

• The 74th annual Miss Universe pageant is taking place in Thailand.
• Contestants competed in the pageant's national costume contest on Wednesday.
• The best looks of the event featured sparkly details, dramatic backpieces, and feathered detailing.

The Miss Universe pageant is in full swing — despite drama attempting to overshadow the competition at every turn.

From contestants walking out after a director yelled at Miss Mexico to Miss Jamaica falling off the stage one day before the final competition, it seems like the pageant, which is taking place in Thailand, just can't escape hiccups this year.

Still, a new Miss Universe will be crowned early Friday in Thailand — or Thursday night if you're watching from the US, where pageant coverage will stream on Peacock starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Ahead of the final round of competition, the 2025 Miss Universe contestants celebrated their home countries in the national costume contest. They wore themed outfits adorned with sparkles, feathers, and daring sheer fabric that celebrated their countries.

Take a look at some of the wildest outfits contestants wore in the 2025 Miss Universe national costume contest.

Miss Argentina Aldana Masset shimmered in a costume that paid tribute to a famous Argentine folk musician.

According to Miss Universe, Masset's ensemble was an homage to the late Atahualpa Yupanqui, a legendary singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose songs reflected "the heart of Argentine culture."

The pageant queen wore a metallic gold bodysuit and matching knee-high boots, as well as a gold cape that sparkled onstage. She also sported a backpiece covered in fiery orange and red feathers, which matched her headdress.

It was a fitting costume for the 25-year-old model, who can play three instruments and became the lead singer for the band Agapornis in 2022.

Miss Bonaire Nicole Peiliker-Visser brought her island's treasures to the Miss Universe stage.

Peiliker-Visser's national costume was inspired by the diverse and colorful ecosystem of Bonaire National Marine Park. She wore a bold backpiece covered in orange, pink, and purple coral and a shimmering blue bodysuit with a net attached to one sleeve and a flowing cape attached to the other.

At the centerpiece of the bodysuit was an octopus, designed to embody "the strength, intelligence, and adaptability of Bonaire's women," according to Miss Universe.

The 42-year-old pageant queen, who is a mother of four, was inspired to pursue pageantry after her youngest daughter won Mini Miss Universe.

Miss Brazil Maria Gabriela Lacerda's national costume honored her Catholic faith and the patron saint of her home country.

Lacerda's costume is a tribute to Our Lady of Aparecida, also known as the Virgin Mary. The image of the saint — hands clasped in prayer and shoulders covered in a regal blue cape — is famous throughout Brazil.

The pageant queen sported a navy-blue dress decorated in metallic gold designs and a matching blue cape. She swapped Our Lady of Aparecida's crown for a gold headpiece.

Lacerda, 24, currently works for a nonprofit that supports the families of missing persons. She hopes to someday specialize in religious journalism.

Miss Bulgaria Gaby Guha was in full bloom as she took her first walk on the Miss Universe stage.

The pageant queen's costume was inspired by Bulgaria's nickname, the "Land of the Roses." The country is the world's largest producer of rose oil, and hosts an annual festival at its famous Rose Valley.

Guha sported a leotard covered in silver and pink sparkles that matched her towering headpiece. Petals in various shades of pink, flanked by white leaves, flowed from the top of the headpiece and across the shoulders of her voluminous cape.

A longtime model, the 26-year-old has worked with brands including Gap and Elie Saab.

Miss Cayman Islands Tahiti Moorea Seymour's costume was inspired by an Afro-Caribbean water spirit.

Seymour's dramatic ensemble is an homage to Yemaya, an orisha from the Yoruba religion, who is considered the mother of the ocean. According to Miss Universe, Seymour wanted her costume to be a "call to look after the coral reefs."

The pageant queen wore a long-sleeved, blue-and-gold bodysuit with matching boots. The centerpiece of her ensemble was the shimmering gold wings of her backpiece.

Seymour, 22, has a degree in politics and international relations and is pursuing a career in acting and modeling.

Miss Chile Inna Moll paid tribute to the mountains and glaciers of her country's famous Torres del Paine National Park.

Moll wrote that Torres del Paine represents the "greatness of our land and the indomitable spirit of Chile" in an Instagram post about her costume. The park's mountains were illustrated on a cape that Moll displayed as she walked in a shimmering silver ensemble.

Soaring above her silver headpiece were replicas of two white doves, which were designed to "symbolize environmental stewardship," according to Miss Universe.

Moll, 28, has been modeling since the age of 8 and now has a successful YouTube channel.

Miss Democratic Republic of the Congo Dorcas Dienda wore a costume covered in various symbols to tell the story of her native country.

Called the "Wings and Spirit of DR Congo," Dienda's costume "celebrates the Congolese woman: proud, radiant, and indomitable," according to a caption on her Instagram post.

Dienda's metallic golden wings were a tribute to "light, renewal, and the eternal rise of the Congolese spirit." The leopard head that she held as she walked across the stage was an homage to "bravery and leadership," while Dienda's flowing gold cape was inspired by the Congo River.

The 30-year-old pageant queen works as an art merchant and runs her own wine and spirits business.

Miss Côte d'Ivoire Olivia Yacé's fierce red-and-orange costume paid tribute to the Akan people, a matrilineal culture in West Africa.

Yacé's ensemble featured hand-beading and the traditional Akan cloth. Its red, yellow, and black pattern covered her miniskirt, boots, and dramatic gold wings.

Her top was decorated with a gold sculpted head of an elephant, the official animal of Côte d'Ivoire.

Yacé, 27, previously represented Côte d'Ivoire at the Miss World 2021 competition, where she won the title of Miss World Africa.

Miss Cuba Lina Luaces brought her island's vibrant spirit to the Miss Universe stage.

Luaces' red, white, and blue outfit evoked the colors of Cuba's flag. Its famous star and stripes were featured on her bodysuit, which was adorned with crystals, pearls, and sequins.

Her dramatic feathered headdress and backpiece were fit for a showgirl. Luaces also carried Cuban dominoes as a tribute to the popular pastime in her country.

Luaces, 23, is a professional model who has worked with brands including Victoria's Secret.

Miss Curaçao Camille Thomas channeled her nation's bright and colorful spirit in a dress that was full of symbolism.

The pageant queen explained the hidden meanings throughout her costume in an Instagram post. The blue and yellow colors of the dress — decorated with bright-pink Bougainvillea flowers — paid homage to the Caribbean's sea and sun. Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao and a UNESCO World Heritage site, was illustrated at the bottom of her skirt.

Attached to the Curaçao flag that Thomas carried across the stage were dolls representing Africa, Asia, and Europe, a tribute to their contributions to the island.

Thomas, 26, graduated from a military academy in North Carolina before returning to Curaçao to co-own a restaurant and help run her family's farm.

Miss Dominican Republic Jennifer Ventura brought her country's national flower to life on the Miss Universe stage.

Ventura's national costume was inspired by the Bayahibe Rose, a cactus with pink flowers that only grows in the Dominican Republic.

The pageant queen wore a shimmering bodysuit covered in pink, blue, and purple sparkles. But it was her backpiece — a bright-pink flower in bloom — that stole the show alongside her feathered pink-and-blue headdress.

According to Miss Universe, the pink hue of the flower symbolizes "tenderness, hope, and beauty, qualities that embody this nation's vibrant spirit."

Ventura, 27, is a civil engineer and the CEO of her own construction company.

Miss Egypt Sabrina Maged's costume was inspired by Nephthys, the Egyptian goddess of the night and protection.

Maged wore a shimmering gold dress fit for a queen — or a goddess — as she walked across the Miss Universe stage. Her ensemble was decorated with Nephthys' vibrant purple, blue, and gold wings.

According to Miss Egypt's Instagram, Nephthys is "the embodiment of a woman who can transform grief, struggle, and darkness into purpose — true values of a Miss Universe."

Maged, 23, has modeled throughout Asia and the Arab world.

Miss Estonia Brigitta Schaback's national costume was inspired by a famous 1912 Estonian play.

"Libahunt" tells the story of a young woman who is accused of being a werewolf because she is different — yet she refuses to conform to society's expectations, according to Miss Universe.

Schaback channeled the famous protagonist with her ensemble, which featured a fur-lined dress, boots, and a large wolf's head that she wore as a hat. She accessorized the costume with a sword, proudly carrying it across the stage.

The 28-year-old pageant queen was a professional model in New York City before she returned to Estonia to study computer science.

Miss Greece Mary Chatzipavlou's national costume is a tribute to the famous ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess Nike.

Known as the "Winged Victory of Samothrace," the Greek masterpiece is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Chatzipavlou's cape, emblazoned with the words "Take Our History Back," appeared to reference her country's long-standing efforts to have the sculpture returned to Greece.

Chatzipavlou, 31, works as a model and economist. She recently appeared on Greece's version of "Big Brother."

Miss Guadeloupe Ophély Mézino's national costume was inspired by the pink conch pearl.

According to a post from Mézino's Instagram page, the pink pearl of lambi — as it's called in French-speaking Caribbean countries — is Guadeloupe's cultural symbol.

Mézino walked across the Miss Universe stage in a sheer bodysuit covered in pearls, which also adorned her shoulders and ran down her legs. She accessorized the ensemble with a sculptured bright-pink backpiece, designed to resemble the top of a conch shell.

Mézino, 26, is a model and actor who has appeared in the Netflix series "Lupin."

Miss Guinea Tiguidanké Bérété paid homage to a mining project in her home country with her sparkly costume.

Bérété, 24, honored "Simandou 2040," a massive mining initiative in Guinea, with her ensemble, which consisted of a sparkly jumpsuit and a silver headpiece designed to resemble a mountain. The entire outfit was covered in silver sparkles, and green detailing on the bodice gave the look an earthy feel.

Bérété studies fashion in Milan and champions new support for women with postpartum depression.

Miss Guyana Chandini Baljor took inspiration from a folk story with her fiery costume.

Baljor, a 23-year-old studying medicine and surgery alongside public health, drew inspiration from the Guyanese legend of "The Old Higue," which tells the story of a woman who turns to flame each night.

She wore a ball gown with a skirt designed to resemble flames, with flame motifs also adorning one of her shoulders. A coordinating headpiece made it look like fire was bursting out of her head.

Miss Haiti Melissa Sapini transformed into her country's national bird for the costume contest.

The 22-year-old's costume was modeled after the Hispaniolan trogon, Haiti's national bird. A massive backpiece covered in blue, red, green, and white feathers was the star of her look, forming wings and a tail. Her headpiece tied the outfit together, as it looked like a bird's head, complete with a beak.

Sapini is a broadcast journalist and model based in the US. She appeared in a Super Bowl campaign for Dunkin'.

Miss India Manika Vishwakarma was dripping in gold for the costume contest.

Vishwakarma, 22, paid homage to Buddha's moment of enlightenment, which took place under a Bodhi tree, with her costume.

Her gold ball gown was adorned with intricate beading and featured sweeping sleeves and a train. Her round backpiece was likewise adorned with beading, as was her pointed headpiece.

Vishwakarma balances her time between being a student and a model.

Miss Iraq Hanin Al Qoreishy celebrated the goddess Ishtar in an all-gold outfit.

The 29-year-old's look honored Ishtar, a Mesopotamian goddess of war, love, and fertility who is often associated with lions and the sun.

Qoreishy incorporated both kinds of imagery into her yellow and gold costume, which featured a sparkly bodysuit with a backpiece made of feathers and glittering adornments. She also carried a mask with a gem-encrusted lion on it.

Qoreishy, a legal assistant, dedicates much of her time to supporting children in Iraq. The cause is near to her heart, as she had to flee her home country as a child after experiencing violence.

Miss Korea Soo-yeon Lee blended history and "KPop Demon Hunters" for her one-of-a-kind costume.

Lee, 30, took inspiration from a Hanbok, the traditional attire of Korea, and the illustrations on Netflix's beloved "KPop Demon Hunters" for her costume.

The dress had the silhouette of a Hanbok, but it featured a miniskirt instead of the traditional floor-length look. Florals adorned the skirt, which showed off her knee-high, black-and-gold boots. Lee carried a sword to complete her ensemble.

Lee is an actor herself, making her "KPop Demon Hunters" look even more appropriate.

Miss Kyrgyzstan Mary Kuvakova honored the golden eagle with her winged costume.

Kyrgyzstan is renowned for its specialty eagle hunters, known as "burkutchu," who partner with golden eagles on their hunting expeditions. Kuvakova, a 19-year-old marketing specialist and model, became an eagle during the costume contest in their honor.

The base of her look was a sparkly black dress paired with a gold bodysuit, which accentuated the massive wings she wore on her back. The wings were covered in gold and brown feathers.

Miss Latvia Meldra Rosenberg celebrated the Baltic Sea in an aquamarine look.

Rosenberg, 23, wore a teal dress adorned with sparkly beading in the shape of ocean waves on the bodice. Her back and headpieces were also designed to look like waves, as were her arm cuffs and a prop she carried.

Rosenberg has been a model since she was 11, and she also works as a hairdresser and stylist.

Miss Malta Julia Cluett was a sea of blue as she walked the Miss Universe stage.

The 27-year-old paid homage to the Blue Rock Thrush, Malta's national bird, with her costume.

Her bodysuit had floral detailing, and a massive train flowed out behind her in tiers of ombré blue feathers. A coordinating backpiece sat on her shoulders, and she also wore feathered arm cuffs.

Cluette is a successful runway model, but she also studied psychology and education.

Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo embodied her country's fiestas with her colorful gown.

Manalo, a 28-year-old who has been competing in pageants since she was 10, celebrated the rich fiesta culture of the Philippines with her costume.

The short-sleeve bodice featured floral detailing, while her tiered skirt was covered in glittery fabric in pink, green, and yellow.

A colorful crown completed her festive ensemble.

Miss Netherlands Nathalie Yasmin brought a Vincent van Gogh painting to life for the costume contest.

Yasmin, 28, turned herself into van Gogh's "Almond Blossom" painting by wearing three-dimensional flowers.

A blue, high-low dress served as the base of the look, showing off her sparkly tights, while the flowers sat atop the dress and curved around her head.

Yasmin works as a senior associate at Audit and Assurance Group.

Miss New Zealand Abby Sturgin's crystal-adorned costume celebrated a beloved lake in her country.

The 28-year-old embodied Lake Tekapo, known for its turquoise waters, in a gem-encrusted dress made from recycled plastic. Peplums flowed out from each side of the skirt, floating next to Sturgin as she walked.

She also wore a pink, floral headpiece and carried a coordinating scepter.

Sturgin, who works as a police officer, loves spending time on the New Zealand coast, making her costume all the more fitting.

Miss Nicaragua Itza Castillo put a creative spin on her country's national bird with her costume.

The 30-year-old model paid tribute to the turquoise-browed motmot in her sparkly, colorful outfit.

Her bodysuit featured daring cutouts on the sides and gem detailing at the center. The bodice flowed into her oversize backpiece, which was designed to resemble wings.

The wings were made of pastel, sparkly shades of blue, purple, and green, and they matched the feathered headpiece that sat on Castillo's head.

Miss Nigeria Onyinyechi Basil drew inspiration from a tree in the southern region of her country for her costume.

Basil, 25, celebrated the sacred palm tree of Igboland, the area in southern Nigeria where the Igbo people live.

She transformed herself into a moving palm tree, wearing a dress with textured fabric that flowed out from her arms, a cape, and a headpiece. Layers of beaded necklaces accented the look.

Basil works as a biochemist and advocates for access to healthcare for mothers in Nigeria.

Miss Panama Mirna Caballini Bouche celebrated two ancient passions of her country.

The 22-year-old incorporated Panama's pre-Columbian history into her costume, honoring the traditions of goldsmithing and pottery. Her bodysuit was trimmed in gold detailing, and it was complemented by intricate beading forming animals.

Bouche carried a large gold scepter, and a backpiece covered in red feathers accented the look.

In addition to her pageant work, Bouche wielded her fashion and marketing degrees to launch her own fashion line, Pálquea by Mirna Caballini.

Miss Paraguay Yanina Magali Anahí Gómez Ojeda was covered in crystals to represent the glowing fireflies in her country.

She wore bedazzled pieces over a bikini set, strappy heels, a crown with a glowing center, and a backpiece decorated with white petals.

On Instagram, she said she wanted the outfit to represent the "delicate yet resilient" bugs, which are being affected by habitat loss and light pollution. The costume also serves as a call to protect Paraguay's forests and wildlife.

Ojeda, 28, is a lawyer, notary, and dance teacher who speaks multiple languages.

Miss Peru Karla Bacigalupo chose an icy look that pays homage to her homeland's highest point.

The 33-year-old screenwriter was inspired by Mount Huascarán, which stands 22,205 feet tall. A hobbyist climber herself, Bacigalupo previously scaled part of the mountain.

Her costume included sheer pants with crystal detailing, a mesh crop top featuring more sparkles, and a crown that looked like it was made from icicles.

She also wore white gloves and carried large fans decorated with a snowflake print.

Miss Puerto Rico Zashely Alicea Rivera looked like a sparkling hummingbird.

Rivera, a 26-year-old ballet dancer, wore a crystal-encrusted bodysuit, a green-and-blue tutu, tights decorated with multicolored gemstones, and gloves with sparkling wings.

She also donned pointe shoes and a helmet-esque headpiece that resembled a hummingbird's face.

The costume showed her love for ballet — she danced across the stage — and the grace of hummingbirds, which are found widely across Puerto Rico.

Miss Saint Lucia Shianne Smith was a vision in red and roses.

She wore a sheer catsuit adorned with silver and red gems, a tall metallic crown featuring attached roses, and a backpiece crafted from stems of the flowers.

She also wore knee-high leather boots, a rose-embellished train, and carried two rose bouquets. The outfit was inspired by her island's La Rose Festival.

Smith, 21, is studying neuroscience and volunteers as a mental-health advocate.

Miss Serbia Jelena Egorova wore a gown that looked more like an art piece.

The strapless ball gown featured sequined imagery of nature, clocks, a train, and the city of Belgrade.

The dress glimmered as she walked, and more of its details were revealed every time the 28-year-old turned around.

Egorova is a mentor and public speaker who speaks Serbian, English, Russian, and French.

Miss Spain Andrea Valero paid tribute to an endangered species.

The 28-year-old arrived onstage wearing a bedazzled bralette with cap sleeves, high-waisted shorts, a crystal chain, and over-the-knee boots decorated with the same sequins.

For accessories, she wore feather wings and a sequined, feather headpiece. The outfit was inspired by the Canarian houbara bird, which is endangered but contributes greatly to Spain's biodiversity.

Valero runs her own travel agency and is an advocate for women's empowerment.

Miss Sri Lanka Lihasha Lindsay White stood inside a traditional brass teapot.

She wore a brown, asymmetrical gown in the color of tea and a thick gold necklace as she stood inside the teapot.

The latter is a symbol of her nation's warmth and hospitality, as well as its tea industry, which is one of the largest in the world.

White, 27, has a degree in international business management and works as the operations manager of her family's company.

Miss Switzerland Naima Acosta stood out in a rich, red gown.

Her long-sleeved, mermaid-style gown had gold embroidery, beaded fringe, and a sheer panel down its bodice. She also wore a headpiece and feathered clocks attached to her back.

The 20-year-old's outfit was inspired by Switzerland's watch industry and the Zytglogge clock tower in Bern.

Acosta grew up between Switzerland and Mexico. She's now pursuing a degree in hotel management.

Miss Tanzania Naisae Yona was the queen bee of the costume event.

Onstage, it was announced that her costume was meant to represent the industrious nature of bees and the resilience of Tanzanian women.

She wore a black strapless minidress with a wide, layered skirt resembling a honeycomb, large orange wings, and a headpiece featuring bug eyes and antennae.

Yona, 28, is a mother and an entrepreneur who has founded numerous businesses.

Miss Thailand Veena Praveenar Singh dressed as a golden guardian.

She wore armor, gold boots, and a mask to resemble a yaksha, or a guardian giant that protects temples in Thailand.

On Instagram, Singh, 29, said the costume felt more like a piece of Thailand's culture and legacy than an outfit.

She previously studied at Thammasat University, supported by a full scholarship.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Latifah Morris wore a vibrant ensemble inspired by her grandmothers.

She wore a beaded bodysuit, matching leg pieces, and a backpiece decorated with feathers and traditional masks.

On Instagram, Morris said the Carnival-esque outfit was inspired by her African maternal grandmother and her East-Indian paternal grandmother. It was meant to blend both cultures.

Morris is the 32-year-old founder of the BBL Movement, which stands for Building A Better Life. It helps young people develop healthy lives and promising futures.

Miss Turks and Caicos Bereniece Dickenson was a vision in black and yellow.

Dickenson, 22, wore a golden set decorated with sparkles, pearls, and crystals. It matched her feather-inspired backpiece, her knee-high boots, and the pelican puppets she carried above her head.

On Instagram, she said the ensemble honored the bird's strength and grace, which both represent the people of her island.

She's deeply inspired by her mother, who raised Dickenson on her own.

Miss Universe Latina Yamilex Hernández took inspiration from the monarch butterfly.

She wore a headpiece shaped like a butterfly, and her bodysuit featured sequins in a pattern similar to that on the insect's wings. Though monarch butterflies are orange, her costume was blue.

There were also wings attached to her sleeves, which featured the flags of the numerous countries from which members of the Latino community in the US are from.

Hernández, 29, studied communications and film in school.

Miss USA Audrey Eckert embodied the spirit of a bald eagle.

Eckert, 23, dressed as America's national bird. She wore a sheer bodysuit crafted from crystals, fuzzy brown boots, large feathered wings, and arm pieces that came together to create an eagle's face.

Its beadwork was inspired by Indigenous artistry, and the overall look was meant to showcase heritage and hope, according to the Miss USA Instagram page.

Eckert works as a social media and marketing coordinator for a human rights fashion brand called Sapahn, which is based in Thailand.

Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali brought the ocean to the Miss Universe stage.

She hit the stage in a see-through catsuit, which was decorated with strategically placed crystals in white, pink, and purple. She also wore platform sandals, a netted cape, a shell backpiece, and a coral crown.

Turtle statues rolled along the stage next to her. Her outfit honored Venezuela's archipelago and endangered species.

Abasali, 25, has been traveling since childhood. So far, she's lived in Venezuela, the United States, and Australia.

• Luigi Mangione has successfully asked a judge to OK an extensive wardrobe for an upcoming hearing.
• The request for five pairs of socks signals the hearing in NY v. Mangione could last five days.
• The request also suggests an end to Mangione's recent sox scandal.

A judge on Wednesday okayed an extensive wardrobe — including five pairs of socks — for Luigi Mangione to wear at an upcoming state court hearing in New York City.

The development offers a first glimpse at what's next, not just sartorially but legally, for Mangione, accused of the assassination murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The public court schedule only says that Mangione is scheduled to be in court on Monday, December 1. The request for five pairs of socks signals that Mangione's defense team could be bracing for a possible Monday-through-Friday hearing lasting the entirety of the first week of December — including December 4, the one-year anniversary of Thompson's shooting on a Manhattan sidewalk.

It suggests the hearing could involve lengthy testimony by multiple witnesses extending into Friday, December 5.

The newly-approved clothing request also includes two suits, three shirts, three sweaters, three pairs of pants, and one pair of shoes without laces.

The upcoming hearing concerns extensive evidentiary challenges involving Mangione's arrest and is set to be the first time Mangione is in court for more than a brief, one-day appearance.

Mangione is fighting prosecutions in three jurisdictions. In Manhattan, he faces murder charges in federal and state court. In Blair County, Pennsylvania, he faces forgery and firearm-possession charges relating to his arrest there following a five-day manhunt.

He is in federal custody, and so the wardrobe request required approval from a federal judge, even though it concerned a state court appearance.

The success of Mangione's wardrobe request also heralds at least a temporary detente in one of the stranger and more heated public disputes between the defense, led by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, and lead prosecutor Joel Seidemann.

Earlier this year, the two sides sparred in court filings over two heart-shaped notes that were nearly smuggled to Mangione inside a pair of argyle socks. The socks were part of the civilian clothes he'd been allowed to wear in lieu of his federal prison uniform for a February court appearance.

The attempted smuggling was an abuse of the "special treatment" Mangione was receiving, Seidemann wrote to New York Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro, the judge in the state-level case.

Even after the notes were intercepted, "The defendant was permitted to wear the argyle socks, which he first changed into and later changed out of because he felt that 'they did not look good,'" the prosecutor added.

Photographs showing Mangione's brown loafers and shackled, sockless ankles under the defense table were widely circulated.

In her response, Friedman Agnifilo suggested "most respectfully" to the judge that prosecutors should focus on Mangione's "constitutional rights" instead of "whether or not he chose to wear socks."

The February wardrobe malfunction cost Mangione his right to wear civilian clothes; he was back to wearing prison garb at his next state court hearing, in September.

This latest approval suggests Mangione's sox scandal has subsided.

On Tuesday, Seidemann joined with Judge Carro in consenting to Mangione's request to wear his specified wardrobe of civilian clothes at his December hearing — socks included. The request was approved on Wednesday by Mangione's federal judge, US District Court Judge Margaret Garnett.

The December hearing will be comprised of at least two separate proceedings, as granted in September by Carro.

In the first, the defense will challenge and the prosecution will defend how police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, elicited statements from Mangione during his arrest in a local McDonald's.

Mangione's lawyers argue that he was not read his Miranda warnings until 17 minutes after they began asking about his identification, his possessions, and what he was doing in the fast food restaurant.

In the second proceeding, both sides will fight over the admissibility of the evidence seized by Altoona police.

According to prosecutors, Mangione's possessions as he sat in the restaurant included a black backpack containing a 9 mm "ghost gun" with a metal barrel and a 3D printed trigger and pistol grip. Prosecutors say this was the weapon used to murder Thompson.

The 50-year-old father of two from Minnesota was repeatedly shot in the back from close range outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel where he'd been scheduled to address a UnitedHealthcare investor conference.

Mangione's backpack also contained what Altoona police vouchered as a "manifesto," a red spiral notebook with handwritten pages. In it, according to prosecutors, Mangione described his misspelled intent to "wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention."

Carro approved a third, Mosley hearing, at which the judge may assess the reliability of witness identifications.

• Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist, is leaving the company.
• LeCun said in a social media post that he is creating a new AI startup.
• The departure comes amid a period of instability within Meta's AI organization.

Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist and one of the most influential figures in the field, is leaving the company to start a new AI venture, a Meta spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider.

LeCun announced the move on Facebook, sharing that he is building a startup centered on his long-standing interest in world-model research. Meta will partner with LeCun on his new venture, a Meta spokesperson told Business Insider, but didn't reveal any details about the nature of the partnership.

LeCun's departure comes during a period of instability inside Meta's AI organization. Over the past few months, Meta has hired dozens of top researchers and engineers from rivals and reorganized its AI efforts under the new Superintelligence Labs division, led by former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang. Tensions emerged within the newly formed team between the highly compensated new hires and the existing researchers, some of whom have threatened to quit, Business Insider previously reported.

In August, the company made the biggest reorganization of its artificial intelligence operations to date, creating four distinct teams that focus on research, training, products, and infrastructure.

This shift followed the company's pivot toward out-competing OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic on large-scale AI models. At the same time, researchers have cycled in and out of key roles, and Meta's Llama 4 release drew muted reactions internally and externally. Earlier this week, Souminth Chintala, the creator of Meta's open source AI framework PyTorch, left the company after 11 years to join Mira Murati's Thinking Machines Lab.

LeCun's departure isn't entirely surprising. He's been a vocal critic of relying too heavily on large language models, arguing instead for his JEPA approach — a method that trains AI to understand and predict the physical world from images and sensory data, rather than generating text. Meta, meanwhile, has increasingly focused on scaling LLMs and pushing commercially driven model development.

Have a tip? Contact Pranav Dixit via email at pranavdixit@protonmail.com or Signal at 1-408-905-9124. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Google's Gemini 3 AI impresses with advanced multimodal and coding capabilities.
• Gemini 3 enables users to create interactive websites, simulations, and video games easily.
• Strong reviews for Gemini 3 have boosted Google's market value close to Microsoft's.

Business Insider's amazing Google reporter Hugh Langley has been playing (er… working) with Google's new Gemini 3 AI service this week.

This is the latest big AI model release, competing with OpenAI's GPT-5, xAI's Grok 4, and the latest offerings from Anthropic.

Gemini 3 is getting good reviews so far. So good that Google shares hit a record on Wednesday, putting the company's market value very close to Microsoft.

Here are Hugh's initial thoughts, after trying Gemini 3 out for a day or so:

"I think where Gemini 3 is most impressive—and where it's already grabbing attention—is its ability to create new things from whole cloth, thanks to improved multimodal and coding capabilities."

Gemini 3 is particularly good at designing interactive simulations. That could be interesting for visual learning, building websites and apps, or just having fun, Hugh told me.

He played with this new model in a Google sandbox called AI Studio. It's like a real sandbox, but for developers. And it's digital, giving access to Google's AI offerings via the internet. There's no real sand.

Hugh started with something basic: an interactive website about elephants.

"I asked Gemini to include lots of fun widgets and trivia about the animal, but little else. I wanted to see how much Gemini would fill in the gaps."

While the overall website design was a little sparse, it delivered. Hugh liked this little widget that generated a fun elephant fact every time he pressed a button.

"It also included a mini game where I had to feed the elephant by giving it peanuts," Hugh said. "Once I filled the bar, a pop-up message informed me the elephant was now happy, so that's nice."

Being able to visualize complex ideas is an area where AI could be particularly useful. Hugh asked Gemini 3 to create an interactive website to explain photosynthesis.

"Gemini generated some sliders to adjust the levels of sunlight, water and carbon dioxide that were floating around as different colored particles," he said. "If I got the balance correct, it told me I had successfully created energy!"

Hugh hadn't generated energy. In fact, that Gemini 3 model run probably sucked up quite a bit of power. Still, pretty impressive.

Other Gemini 3 users are creating interesting new things. Hugh liked this idea to have Gemini build a Lego creator, through a simple prompt such as "Create a 3D Lego builder. Let me select different shapes of brick."

Here's an example. Hugh was able to replicate his own version.

Then, there are all the video games that users are getting Gemini 3 to create. Jeff Dean, one of Google's top AI researchers, posted several clips of these games.

Hugh gave this a shot, too. This required a bit more back-and-forth with Gemini to get right.

He wanted to make "Super Dario Land," a game where the player has to get Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei into the correct warp pipe. If they succeed, the player is rewarded with AGI (the theoretical moment when machines outperform humans on most tasks).

Hugh asked Gemini to style it like one of Nintendo's old Game Boy games.

"At first, Dario couldn't jump high enough, so I asked Gemini to fix that," Hugh told me. "With one extra prompt, the physics were solved!"

The game was very quickly playable as Gemini did the work of mapping the controls to Hugh's computer keyboard without any direction from him.

"The game itself might not be a hit, but I'm leaving the door open for a sequel. Dario, call me!" Hugh said.

If anyone wants to play Hugh's game, send him an email at hlangley@businessinsider.com. It's fun!

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

• Elon Musk predicted a future where money will "stop being relevant," thanks to AI and robotics.
• Speaking at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, Musk also said that work would become "optional."
• Musk has previously said that AI robotics, like Tesla's Optimus, would eliminate poverty.

In Elon Musk's future, we won't need jobs or money, and there will be no poverty.

At the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum on Monday, where Musk sat on a panel with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Musk said that money would "stop being relevant" thanks to AI.

"There will still be constraints on power like electricity and mass," Musk said. "But I think at some point currency becomes irrelevant."

He linked it to the books of science fiction author Iain Banks, who wrote the Culture series between 1987 and 2012. Those books help "get a sense for what a probable positive AI future is like," he said.

Musk also mentioned the end of work itself, saying that it will be "optional," like "playing sports or a video game."

He compared the future of work to gardening. "It's much harder to grow vegetables in your backyard, but some people still do it because they like growing vegetables," he said."That will be what work is like: optional."

Over the past few months, Musk has shared his vision for a future with AI. That includes ending poverty, something he described at a recent investor meeting.

"People often talk about eliminating poverty, giving everyone amazing medical care," Musk said at the shareholder event earlier this month. "There's actually only one way to do that, and that's with the Optimus robot."

When AI and robotics, like Tesla's Optimus, eliminate all work and money, the government should hand out a universal income, Musk told Joe Rogan in October.

That income shouldn't just be a universal basic income — it should be a universal high income, he said.

"We'll have, in a benign scenario, universal high income," Musk said. "Anyone can have any products or services that they want. But there will be a lot of trauma and disruption along the way."

After describing the future irrelevance of money at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, Musk ribbed his panelmate, Nvidia's Huang.

"By the way, the Nvidia earnings call is today," Musk said. Nvidia will report its third-quarter earnings after the closing bell.

"Since currency is irrelevant…," Huang said.

"Cheers," Musk said. The CEOs clinked their bottles of Acqua Panna.

• US Coast Guard cutter Stone offloaded a substantial amount of cocaine seized from drug interdictions in the Pacific.
• The deployment included 15 interdictions, three of which occurred within a single night.
• A new drone capability helped the Stone track drug smuggling vessels.

PORT EVERGLADES, Florida — A US Coast Guard crew successfully seized a record-breaking amount of cocaine from drug runners with the help of an unusual reconnaissance drone.

The unique tail-sitter drone, capable of taking off and landing vertically, allowed the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Stone to easily put eyes in the sky and spot drug smugglers during a recent deployment in the eastern Pacific.

The crew of the Stone, a large Legends-class National Security cutter, offloaded over 49,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $362 million at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Wednesday. It was a landmark offload marking the most cocaine seized by a single Coast Guard cutter during a deployment. The majority of the cocaine taken during this deployment came from Colombia, officials said.

"What you see behind me is more than just a pile of cocaine," Vice Adm. Moore, commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, said, standing amid cocaine packages stacked in long rows on the Stone's deck. "It represents a tangible victory in our ongoing fight against transnational criminal organizations and narcoterrorism."

The deployment, which began in August, was part of the Coast Guard-led Operation Pacific Viper targeting drug-running operations in the eastern Pacific. Coast Guard officials say the service is accelerating its counter-narcotics missions, resulting in record numbers of drug interdictions. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the Coast Guard seized almost 510,000 pounds of cocaine, the most in its history.

The Stone's recent deployment in the Pacific included 15 interdictions, three of which occurred on the same night.

The three vessels were spotted in rapid succession by a new capability on the Stone, Shield AI's MQ-35 V-BAT. The uncrewed aerial vehicle, which was operated by a contractor team, spotted the first boat in dark waters during the night, prompting the Stone to prepare a boarding team.

Capt. Anne O'Connell, the commanding officer of the Stone, told Business Insider that as the team and the armed interdiction helicopter were interdicting the vessel, the V-BAT went out to patrol the area further. "That's when they saw the wake from the second TOI," or target of interest, she said.

As the second boarding team went out, the drone set out on another patrol, finding a third boat nearby. That night, a total of 12,000 pounds of cocaine were seized, along with seven suspected narcotics traffickers.

The drone, O'Connell said, was integral to the operations that night because it allowed the Stone's crew to continue monitoring surrounding areas while completing boarding processes, which can take anywhere from two to eight hours depending on the size of the vessel and the complex law enforcement procedures that Coast Guard teams must follow.

The V-BAT flies over a designated area determined by the Coast Guard. The drone's operators receive specific instructions on what to look for, and once it's airborne, its live video feed is transmitted to the ship, where crew members can watch it on monitors.

This was the Stone's first deployment with the V-BAT, and it's also one of the first cutters to have it on board, O'Connell said. Its usefulness was especially notable in the large operating area of the eastern Pacific, as the uncrewed aerial system could make up for a lack of fixed-wing aircraft doing reconnaissance.

The V-BAT is an unusual drone design, featuring ducted-fan technology for lift. Built to have a small tactical footprint, according to its maker, the drone can take off in winds up to 25 knots from vessels on the move at up to 10 knots. Shield AI says it can offer over 13 hours of flight time for persistent surveillance.

The company notes that a two-man team can have the V-BAT assembled and operational in under 30 minutes.

While the V-BAT, like other capabilities making the Stone a premier vessel for these types of missions, proved valuable, officials said credit belongs primarily to the crew.

"All of those elements, with the UAS and our HITRON [Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron] and our small boats," O'Connell said, are incredible capabilities. "But the secret sauce is our people, and they are what makes us successful."

• My partner is 58, and I am 69, and our kids have all left our home.
• We are between parenting and becoming grandparents, so we decided to explore the world.
• We call it rotational living, and are giving ourselves time to figure out where to live next.

My partner Deb, 58, and I, 69, are taking a gap year that began in January 2025. Except, we have no hard ending — we call it rotational living.

We gave up our fixed address, a rental too large and expensive for our needs, while we explore the world. We spent several weeks in São Paulo, about the same amount of time in Providence, and a few days in rural Vermont, watching spring settle into the mountains. We lived in Montreal for a month and a half this summer and depart for three months in Brazil again the first week in December. We look forward to Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East next year.

Rotational living works for us in part because we both prefer travel as though living in a new place. When one trip ends, another begins, in a different city, state, or country.

We learned a lot from our travels

We've learned a few things while traveling together. First, you have to truly enjoy your partner. We're both writers and consultants, so we create work in similar ways. We've realized how much we rely on the predictable — the same coffee maker, clocks you don't have to search for, all the different shoes — and how exhausting unpredictability can become.

We accommodate these challenges by going to bed early and leaving room in our days for uncertainty. These few negatives of rotational living don't detract much from the pleasures. Not knowing lies at the core of exploration, and so we have learned to master uncertainty, embrace adventure, and love freedom.

We had talked about living this way for years. Then my mother died in the fall of 2024 after a long and glorious life. The kids — my two in their 30s, Deb's three in their 20s — have launched, all of them in careers they trained for, and none of them have children yet. This little gap, between parenting and grandparenting, arrives like a gift. We look forward to becoming our future grandkids' default babysitters and embracing a fixed address when that moment arrives. But in the meantime, we contemplate where to go next.

We are spending less money

Our decision also has a financial underpinning, although the professional freedom Deb and I enjoy might have led us to this choice anyway.

We lived outside Boston, in a community for people who moved there for the top-notch schools. Our large apartment cost an absurd sum compared to our needs, but nothing within a two-hour radius saved us much money. In truth, we don't yet know where we want to live, so rather than spend thousands a year on rent for a place we don't love, why not spend less and live everywhere?

Calculating the cost of rotational living clarified that a conventional home led to a life at the edge, whereas rotational living brought us the luxuries we most desire: learning new cultures, eating well, time with friends and family, and artistic inspiration. We started a blog called Breakfast: A Love Story to share this joy with the world.

When we visit Brazil, we can rent comfortable apartments for under $1,000 a month, pretty much whenever we want to go. The same goes for India, another destination on our list. We're looking for an open month for Europe, where we will mostly stay with friends. Work obligations sometimes set our travel map. Just as often, we imagine places we want to experience, such as Japan and Australia. The moment we make friends in those places, we will go.

Andy Hoffman began writing professionally as a teenager and has founded several businesses, largely in educational technology. He currently lives everywhere.