Every time Jennifer publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The private credit market has been generating some nerve-racking headlines lately. The latest news has added to concerns that were kicked off late last year. While private markets appear steady overall, investors are growing increasingly worried that cracks could be forming at a time when more retail investors are being invited into the market. What happened: The world's largest asset manager said it was capping withdrawals from its HPS Corporate Lending Fund, a $26 billion private credit fund that received $1.2 billion in redemption requests in the first quarter. First reported by the Financial Times, the fund said it was paying out $620 million of those requests, or 5% of its net asset value. BlackRock shares dropped 5% on Friday amid a broader risk-off move in the market. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that, in an unusual move, the firm tapped more than 25 top executives to raise $150 million in order to meet the flood of requests. "When that's happening, it's not a surprise that investors can get nervous, financial advisors can say 'Hey, I want to redeem,'" Gray said on Tuesday. What happened: Business Insider reported that Blue Owl failed to secure a loan for Coreweave's $4 billion data center. An executive familiar with large data center financing told Business Insider that Blue Owl faced limited interest in the data center due to hesitation from other lenders and investors who were concerned about exposure to AI firms with weaker credit. Coreweave has a credit rating of B+, according to S&P Global, below investment grade. The report followed others that have suggested lenders are growing skittish over data center deals being cut in private markets. Last December, negotiations between Blue Owl and Oracle to build a $10 billion data center stalled, sources told the Financial Times. "Our development partner, Related Digital, selected the best equity partner from a competitive group of options, which in this instance was not Blue Owl. Final negotiations for their equity deal are moving forward on schedule and according to plan," Michael Egbert, a spokesperson for the software giant, told Business Insider in December. What happened: Famed economist Mohamed El-Erian said he believed Blue Owl's move was a warning for financial markets. What happened: The Financial Times reported that Blue Owl permanently froze redemptions on its Capital Corporation II fund, a private debt fund it had opened to retail investors. The firm said investors in the fund would no longer be able to cash out their investments on a quarterly basis, but would instead receive periodic payments as Blue Owl sells its assets over time. What happened: Jamie Dimon, one of Wall Street's most influential bankers, said he was watching for more signs of trouble in private credit on an earnings call with investors. "When you see one cockroach, there's probably more," the JPMorgan boss said, adding that his firm would "scour" its underwriting and other procedures after the collapse of First Brands and Tricolor. "Asset prices are high, a lot of credit stuff that you would see out there, you will only see in a downturn," Dimon added, noting that the US credit space had looked "benign" for years. Apollo CEO Marc Rowan said he saw a potential "shakeout" in private credit when speaking at the Bloomberg Invest Conference on Tuesday. Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs' former CEO, also doubled down this week on his view that financial markets could soon face a "reckoning," potentially stemming from private credit. What happened: Investors grew more nervous about private lending as UBS speculated that defaults could soar in a severe "AI disruption" scenario. In a note to clients last month, strategists at the bank said they lifted their forecasts for private credit defaults. In its analysis, UBS pointed to how AI disruption fears had sparked a deep sell-off in software stocks, one area of the market with large exposure to private credit. Software accounts for around 40% of all private equity-backed loans outstanding, according to a recent Bloomberg analysis. What happened: Anxiety about the private credit sector picked up after subprime auto lender Tricolor Holdings and auto parts company First Brands declared bankruptcy late last year. In December, federal prosecutors in New York unsealed an indictment that charged Tricolor's founder, Daniel Chu, with bank fraud, wire fraud, and other offenses. In January, prosecutors unsealed an indictment revealing similar charges against First Brands' CEO, Patrick James, and his brother, a senior executive at the firm.

Marvell shares ripped 20% higher on Friday as the company posted an earnings beat and issued strong guidance, expecting robust artificial intelligence demand to continue. The semiconductor company reported adjusted earnings of 80 cents per share for the quarter, exceeding the 79 cents per share expected by analysts polled by LSEG. "Look at our results that we're guiding. Look at our outlook for this year. Look at our outlook for next year. You don't," CEO Matt Murphy told analysts on the earnings call. Murphy said in a release that the company expects year-over-year revenue growth to accelerate in each quarter of 2027. For Q1 2027, the chipmaker expects revenue of $2.4 billion, +/-5%. The company's revenue for data centers in fiscal 2026 surpassed $6 billion, an increase of 46% from last year. Marvell completed acquisitions of Celestial AI and XConn Technologies last month. Murphy told analysts on the earnings call that the acquisitions are expected to add $250 million in aggregate revenue for fiscal 2028. The company forecasted $14.48 billion in revenue and earnings of $5.35 per share for fiscal 2028. Analyst reactions to the earnings were largely positive. "Overall, we are impressed with the strong multi-year revenue outlook and the diversity of customer program ramps," J.P. Morgan analyst Harlan Sur wrote in a note Friday. The bank reiterated its overweight rating on the stock and upped its price target from $130 to $135. CNBC's Kristina Partsinevelos contributed to this report. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox

U.S. Customs and Border Protection told a Court of International Trade judge on Friday that it is not currently able to comply with his order to begin refunding reciprocal tariffs imposed last year by President Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court recently ruled are illegal. CPB in a court filing cited its existing technology, processes and manpower requirements as the reasons it could not immediately comply with the conditions of Judge Richard Eaton's order. But the agency also suggested it could begin issuing refunds by late April after revamping its technology. CBP told Eaton in the same filing that the total amount of so-called IEEPA tariffs collected as of Wednesday by the agency and estimated duty deposits related to such tariffs "is approximately $166 billion." Eaton has been designated as the only CIT judge who will hear cases from importers seeking refunds on Trump's tariffs. CBP in the filing said it "confident that it can develop and implement" new functionality in its Automated Commercial Environment —the system for tracking imported merchandise – "that will streamline and consolidate refunds and interest payments on an importer basis," instead of issuing more than 54 million separate refunds. "CBP is making all possible efforts to have this new ACE functionality ready for use in 45 days," the agency said. "This new process will require minimal submission from importers." The agency said it estimates that changing the ACE system "will save CBP over 4 million hours" of work by employees. Brandon Lord, executive director of the trade programs directorate at CBP's Office of Trade, in the filing said that as of Wednesday, more than 330,000 importers have made a total of over 53 millionentries "in which they have deposited or paid duties imposed pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act." Eaton on Wednesday ordered CPB to calculate the cost of bringing in shipments into the United States without assessing a tariff, and told the agency to make refunds to importers who had paid the IEEPA tariffs, with interest. "Customs knows how to do this," Eaton said during a court hearing on Wednesday. In the filing Wednesday by CBP's Lord, the agency indicated that its existing technology was making it impossible to immediately comply with Eaton's order. Its existing administrative procedures and technology are not well suited to a task of this scale and will require manual work that will prevent personnel from fully carrying out the agency's trade enforcement mission," the filing said. "Personnel would be redirected from responsibilities that serve to mitigate imminent threats to national security and economic security," the agency said. Many importers have sued the Trump administration seeking refunds of tariffs they have paid since last year that were deemed illegal. Eaton's order on the refunds was issued in a lawsuit filed by one of those importers, Atmus Filtration, but it applies to every duty that was paid in connection with the IEEPA tariffs. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox

Every time Jennifer publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The market has one thing on its mind this week: How much higher can oil prices climb? Crude prices have ripped higher all week as the war with Iran continued, sparking concern among investors that there could be serious consequences for the economy if oil stays elevated. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose more than 6% to top $90 a barrel on Friday, its highest level since 2024, as investors digested Iran's recent attack on an oil tanker and Donald Trump's latest comments signaling the war could drag on. April contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude, meanwhile, climbed another 7% to $87 a barrel, its highest level since October 2023. Investors have dumped stocks all this week, panicking as crude is a key input in the outlook for economic activity. Every time Jennifer publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! Stay connected to Jennifer and get more of their work as it publishes. By clicking "Sign up", you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Market pros are mostly expecting the rise in prices to be short-lived, but are eyeing a few levels that could signal more dire consequences for the US economy. Here are the thresholds they're eyeing, and what each level could mean. Oil prices breaking "meaningfully" above the $80 mark and staying there for several weeks would start to lift the inflation outlook, Nic Puckrin, a lead market analyst at Coin Bureau, wrote in a note this week. "If oil surges above $90 and remains elevated as energy infrastructure disruption intensifies, this could quickly become a longer-term structural shift," Puckrin wrote. Should oil prices hit that level, markets can expect to see an inflationary response similar to what happened after Russia invaded Ukraine, he told Business Insider this week, referring to how consumer prices grew as fast as 9% year-over-year in the US alongside a rise in energy prices. In such a scenario, Torres said he saw inflation rising back up to 3%. So we can have a down year," Torres added of the potential impact on stocks. Mike Wilson, the CIO at Morgan Stanley and a major bull on Wall Street, also said he sees $100 a barrel as the level that could upend his bull case for stocks. That's largely due to the impact of oil prices on economic growth, he said, citing his team's analysis of the historical performance of the stock market after a spike in oil prices. Speaking at the Bloomberg Invest conference on Wednesday, Richards pointed to the potential for higher oil prices to create a stagflationary environment. A price spike of that magnitude could raise headline inflation figures by about 1 percentage point and raise recession risks, he said. Krugman said he wasn't expecting a change in oil prices to spark a recession or "runaway inflation" on its own, but suggested that the risks would be skewed more towards the downside. He pointed to other pressures already weighing on the US economy, like a weaker job market.

Speaking to CNBC, CEO Adam Steensberg criticized what he called the "weight loss Olympics," where markets and companies focus too heavily on the amount of weight lost, rather than on factors such as staying on the medicine long-term and dealing with side effects. The world doesn't need these products that amount to very high rates of weight loss, he said, referring to medicines developed by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. The latest trial had also not been optimized for maximum weight loss, he added. "We have for a long time called to end the weight loss Olympics." Zealand is developing the drug petrelintide in partnership with Swiss pharma heavyweight Roche. Mid-stage trial results released after the closing bell on Thursday showed the drug led to an average weight reduction of 10.7% over 42 weeks. Shares of Zealand were last seen trading 35% lower, on track for their worst day ever and the lowest close since August 2023. Steensberg said he was "extremely certain" there would be a shift in the industry "towards tolerability," referring to how well patients can cope with side effects of the medications. "If you then look into real world, you will actually discover that most patients who are on treatment today with the current products never get to those numbers that we see in clinical studies," because "in a real-world setting, people cannot tolerate it," he said, referring to Novo Nordisk's and Eli Lilly's drugs already on the market. Petrelintide is an amylin analog that targets a hormone produced in the pancreas that affects appetite and slows gastric emptying, rather than the GLP-1 or GIP gut hormones targeted by weight-loss treatments currently on the market, such as Novo's Wegovy and Lilly's Zepbound. A majority of patients on Novo's Wegovy experience some form of side effects, most commonly gastrointestinal, such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. A Novo spokesperson said that direct comparisons between trials are challenging because of variations in study design and reporting practices. A study of a high-dose semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, found that patients lost up to 21% of their weight, with only 5.4% ending the treatment due to side effects, the spokesperson said. Only 3.3% discontinued the treatment due to gastrointestinal side effects. Lilly didn't respond to a CNBC request for comment. In the trial results, Zealand said that at the maximum dose of petrelintide, there were "no cases of vomiting and no treatment discontinuations due to gastrointestinal adverse events." The trial involved 493 people living with overweight and obesity. High costs and side effects are common reasons for stopping. A study published in the British Medical Journal in January found that people who lost weight with the help of GLP-1 drugs, regained weight significantly faster after stopping than those who lost weight with diet and exercise. Obese patients who stopped GLP-1 medications were projected to return to their starting weight after 1.7 years, the study found, compared with 3.9 years for those who lost weight with behavioral change alone. The rate at which patients lose weight on drugs has been a key factor driving stock prices for Novo and Lilly in recent years. Novo shares are trading 75% below their peak in mid-2024, while Lilly shares have risen over the same period as its medicines were shown to deliver a higher rate of weight loss. On Friday, Jefferies analysts said petrelintide had potential for Wegovy-like efficacy and tolerability on par with placebo which "suggests this is a viable drug." "For us as a small company, to be among the leading products in a new category... is a very nice place to be," said Steensberg, adding that it was early to make such calls. "If you look historically at the markets, if you're among the three first who launch into a new category with an attractive profile, you will become a very significant player in that category." He added that the latest trial hadn't been optimized to maximize weight loss, as it had an almost 50/50 gender distribution, and that women tend to lose more weight than men. "Most companies would approach that with 70% females," he said, adding he was "confident" petrelintide would lead to a weight loss in the mid-teens once they have optimized starting conditions. Zealand said it expected to initiate a Phase 3 study later this year. But Barclays analysts said that the market was unlikely to credit a Phase 3 "fix" for petrelintide in two years. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox

Gas prices are rising due to the war in Iran, while stock market turmoil is making savers and retirees antsy about the state of their 401(k)s. Data released Friday showing a loss of 92,000 jobs in February will put pressure on the Trump administration to reconsider military and homeland security policies that have complicated the nation's economic outlook. But there may simply not be enough time to force through a substantial policy shift that could improve the economic outlook before the November midterms. The rosy-tinted view of this report is that it shows an economy in rough stasis, with good prospects for improvement. And with a crackdown on illegal immigration well underway, it is no surprise that a good number of people are leaving the workforce. "You can have strong output and not really, you know, magnificent job growth, if there's a big gain of productivity," Kevin Hassett, top White House economic advisor, said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Friday. But that high-level message might not land well for people who have watched gas prices jump nearly 23 cents in just a week, according to AAA. Captains of ships carrying oil and other energy supplies are reluctant to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while missiles are flying. It was near $72.50 a week ago, before the Iran operation started. The last time oil topped $100 a barrel was in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. Stocks have fallen as investors ingest the possibility of those higher energy prices pushing up inflation. That could prompt the Federal Reserve under Chair Jerome Powell to rethink lowering interest rates, as President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded he do. "It's high time for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates and stop foolishly strangling America's economic resurgence under President Trump," White House spokesman Kush Desai told CNBC on Friday. For now, the administration isn't expressing much concern. There has been "no discussion" of releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Hassett said on CNBC. Trump in a social media post Friday said he wasn't considering any kind of quick deal with Iran to end the fighting. "There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!," he wrote. But economic data such as the jobs report will make that position difficult to sustain. Americans may well ask why the U.S. is paying an economic and military cost in Iran, since Trump said prior airstrikes in June destroyed the country's nuclear program. At this point, it may not be up to the U.S. With Iran still between leaders, it isn't clear who could make a ceasefire deal, even if one were viable. And Iran's military forces have little left to lose in attacking U.S. interests, including energy supplies. It may be easier for Trump to pivot on immigration. The crackdown in Minneapolis produced enough political blowback for Trump to soften his approach. Now he has a chance to do so nationwide. On Thursday he fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and named Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., her expected replacement. An immigration approach that focuses on apprehending dangerous criminals and steers clear of raiding businesses might help the labor market's loss of workers. The lower interest rates Trump wants are in reach, too. Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh would likely cut rates regardless of the oil shock, in large part because he believes in that productivity story, too. An overall Trump administration push to improve the economic outlook could make some headway, though how long it would take to show up in the numbers is anyone's guess. But it would require a level of political coordination and strategic discipline that Trump has struggled with in his second term. The pace of events will only make that more difficult. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox

DETROIT — Toyota Motor, Hyundai Motor and Chinese automakers such as Chery face the most potential impact of non-domestic automakers from the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, according to an analysis by Bernstein. Those international automakers account for roughly a third of sales in the Middle East, according to the report, led by Toyota at 17%, Hyundai at 10% and Chery at 5%. In Iran specifically, Bernstein reports Iranian automakers Iran Khodro and SAIPA lead, followed by Chery with a 6% market share. Other Chinese carmakers also are expected to be impacted, as the Middle East has become a growing destination for Chinese auto exports. Bernstein, citing China export data, said the region accounted for about 17% of China's passenger vehicle exports in 2025. "Closure of the Strait of Hormuz adds 10-14 days to transit times," Bernstein analyst Eunice Lee said in a Wednesday investor note, adding "a prolonged conflict and closure of the strait would hurt sales, increase logistics costs, and delay deliveries." Roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil travel through the strait every day, according to consulting firm AlixPartners. It's also a "critical passage" for vehicle and parts shipments to the Middle East, Bernstein noted. Bernstein said any effect on Japanese automakers "appears limited for now, but close monitoring of developments is still required." It also said, of the European automakers, Chrysler and Jeep parent Stellantis "seems to have the largest exposure in light of its overall issues." "The impact of rising gasoline pump prices is already being seen in Stellantis' 11% stock price slump since its close last Friday – making so sharp a pivot to gas guzzling HEMI V8 engines and writing off its electrification efforts seems particularly inauspiciously timed at the moment," Lee wrote. U.S. crude oil prices on Friday topped $90 per barrel, and retail gasoline prices in the U.S. have jumped nearly 27 cents in the last week through Thursday to $3.25 per gallon on average, according to the motorist group AAA. Stellantis this week said it is "closely monitoring developments across the affected countries," noting it's "not yet possible to fully assess the potential impact on local operations." Toyota, in an emailed statement, said it does "not conduct business in Iran and do not have any resident employees there." We want to hear from you. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox

San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly said Friday the weak February jobs report adds to a difficult policymaking environment. In a CNBC interview, Daly did not commit to a position on interest rates, but said a softening labor market combined with inflation still running above the central bank's 2% target complicate future decisions. "This jobs market report has got my attention," she said during a "Squawk Box" interview. "I don't think you can look through this report, but I also don't think you should make more of it than one month of data." The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday reported that nonfarm payrolls declined by 92,000 in February, against expectations for a gain of 50,000 and third jobs decrease in the past five months. With concerns rising about the labor market, the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate three times in the latter part of 2025 and has taken a more cautious approach since then with inflation still above target and threatened by the Iran war. "It's a very different universe than when we have inflation below our target," said Daly, referencing the cuts in 2019 when prices were tame. "But right now we have inflation printing above target. It's been printing above target for some time, so it's really a balance of risks calculation, and I hope the 75 basis points we did last year would put a floor underneath the labor market." "I think the important thing is that it's really hard to hike right now in a world where ... we don't have any evidence that [the labor market is] quite steady. So I think we just need more time," she said. Daly does not get a vote this year on the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee but will vote again in 2027. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox

President Donald Trump said Friday in a social media post that there would be no deal to end the U.S. war against Iran without an "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" by Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 900 points, or nearly 2%, after Trump's demand, which he wrote on Truth Social. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell 1.6% each. Trump said that after a surrender and "the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before." "IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. The futures price of the global benchmark Brent crude oil rose, breaking $90 per barrel, after Trump posted his demand. Qatar's energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned Friday that rising oil prices due to the war against Iran "could bring down the economies of the world." Al-Kaabi told The Financial Times that crude oil prices could hit as high as $150 per barrel within weeks if tankers cannot pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The last time oil topped $100 a barrel was when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Trump's demand came as Iran has yet to pick a leader to replace Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed last weekend in an airstrike at the beginning of the war by the U.S. and Israel. Trump in June made an identical demand of "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" by Iran in another social media post as he considered launching a military strike against that nation. We want to hear from you. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox

BOSTON — United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the spike in fuel prices since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday will have a "meaningful" impact on the carrier's financial results this quarter, but he added that demand has been resilient. Jet fuel, airlines' biggest expense after labor, has surged 58% since last Friday, going for $3.95 a gallon on Thursday, according to the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index. "If it continues we'll feel it in Q2 also," Kirby said after an event Thursday afternoon where he discussed the future of air travel at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. United, like most major U.S. carriers, doesn't hedge fuel, a practice where airlines or other companies lock in prices using futures contracts or other products. "No one hedges anymore and even if you do, hedging the crack spread is really hard to do," Kirby said. When asked when the higher fuel costs will start affecting airfares, Kirby said it will "probably start quick." He added that travel demand has been resilient over all, with booked revenue up 20% from a year ago. Demand "has not taken even a tiny step back," he said. Kirby spoke less than two weeks before airlines are set to attend a closely watched JPMorgan industry conference where airline executives often update their financial outlooks. His comments are an early sign of how global airlines are impacted by the war, which left more than a million people stranded after over 25,000 flights were canceled, forcing customers to find alternatives to flight chaos in the Middle East. A new segment is emerging for United because so many customers have been caught up in airspace closures and massive flight cancellations in the Middle East since Saturday's attacks and other strikes throughout the week. The airports are gateways to millions of passengers flying to and from destinations that span Australia, India, Europe and North America. But customers have been forced to avoid the Middle East amid airspace closures. "Each day this week, we have booked over 1,000 people from Australia and New Zealand to Europe. Last year, we booked less than one a day," Kirby said, adding that Europe is the strongest region in the world for bookings now. United is also in talks with the Trump administration for potential charter flights to get citizens out of the Middle East, Kirby said, but that plans haven't been set yet. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox

Every time Tim publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For Adam Janes, the odd thing about being a software engineer these days is that he rarely writes code anymore. Instead, he spends more time drafting specifications in English that describe what a piece of software should do. At Spotify, the company's top developers haven't drafted "a single line of code" since December, Gustav Söderström, the co-CEO, said on a February earnings call. Instead, engineers often supervise AI as it generates code. Every time Tim publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! Stay connected to Tim and get more of their work as it publishes. By clicking "Sign up", you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The speed at which AI is reshaping software development — measured in months, not years — is stirring a mix of excitement and anxiety. For some software developers, there is an added reckoning: If the core act of coding — long a source of status and identity — becomes automated, what does it actually mean to be an engineer? Janes, a fractional CTO based in Australia, takes pride in the skills he's built over a decade learning to write "elegant code" that's both simple and easy for others to read. "You get this real sort of craftsman feel," he told Business Insider. For some engineers, it doesn't feel the same. "I learned at such a young age the satisfaction of turning these words into something moving on a screen, as rudimentary as it was," Vella told Business Insider. That early thrill of making something from nothing stayed with her. As a hands-on developer, she relished solving technical puzzles that few others could. Now that AI systems are becoming more capable, Vella feels conflicted. On one hand, the tools help her move faster, solve more complex problems, and improve quality. Plus, as a technologist, she finds AI's capabilities incredible. On the other hand, if she were still early in her career, she'd be "very upset about what's happening right now," Vella said. Vella, who lives in New Zealand, recently completed a master's thesis examining AI's impact on her profession. Still, Vella said, its output doesn't deliver the same feeling as that of staying up half the night wrestling with a stubborn bug and finally getting it to work. The struggle to overcome a challenge is often central to how people experience meaning in their work, said Mike Brooks, a psychologist in Austin. Brooks has written about the loss of purpose technologists can feel when AI takes over tasks that once required effort and skill. Working hard for something, he said, is part of what makes it worthwhile. For engineers who built their identities around solving hard problems, that shift can feel destabilizing. A software developer and assistant professor at the University of Porto in Portugal, he studies how generative AI is reshaping developers' self-perception. Many people begin coding because they want to build things, he said. As engineering roles evolve into overseeing AI agents, the developer's job can become "much simpler," yet also less satisfying, Melegati said. Previous research, he said, suggests that would-be tech workers often view testing roles as less prestigious and less challenging than building software from scratch. That doesn't mean demand for the work will disappear. The US government projects that employment for "software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers" will increase 15% from 2024 through 2034 — far faster than the average for all jobs. As AI's capabilities grow, many engineers are still negotiating what their roles will become, including Keenan Brock, a Massachusetts software developer who spent years honing his coding skills and mastering languages such as Java and Ruby on Rails. "I focused on this one thing, and now it doesn't matter anymore," he told Business Insider. Rather than "arm wrestling with a computer," Brock said, he enjoys being able to focus more on the problems businesses face and how software can help. "Now I get to read between the lines," Brock said. Do you have a story to share about AI's effect on your career?

Every time James publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The Paramount CEO is starting to unveil his long-awaited game plan: catch up to Netflix's tech, assemble a crew of top-tier executives, and rethink its news business. That goal — of creating a "next-generation" media company, in Ellison's words — is all before the planned mega-merger with Warner Bros. These steps show how the aspiring media mogul, who took charge of Paramount in August thanks to his tech billionaire father Larry Ellison, is remaking the 114-year-old company. Paramount's portfolio includes classic brands like CBS, Showtime, and MTV, and it has pledged to ramp up movie production to 30 films per year if its WBD deal goes through. "I think he is, directionally, spot-on," said media analyst Rich Greenfield of Lightshed Partners. Ellison is out to prove he can beat Netflix at its own game — not just in a bidding war. That's why Paramount is bolstering its streaming tech, which six staffers told Business Insider is inferior to industry leader Netflix's in both features and user experience. "If you want to be successful, you try to copy what the successful people are doing," said Joe Bonner, a media analyst at Argus Research. While Ellison didn't share more details, Business Insider has uncovered some yet-to-be announced features and others that are being workshopped. Paramount executives are planning a move into short-form video on its flagship streamer to boost engagement by building habits. Paramount+ users could soon flip through TikTok-style vertical clips of "Top Gun: Maverick" or "SpongeBob SquarePants" on the streamer's mobile app. Paramount+ product design head Dan Reich emailed product chief Dane Glasgow in mid-January, saying that his team was trying to "jump-start efforts to get a million clips" into its coming short-form platform "as quickly as possible." Netflix previously stumbled in short-form video, but is trying again. Another first-quarter priority for Paramount in streaming is its sports multiview feature. Paramount debuted this feature last fall for UEFA soccer matches. While Netflix has live events, it doesn't have a multiview feature. And while Netflix has added podcasts, it doesn't have user-generated content. Paramount is merging the technical pieces of Paramount+ and Pluto TV, its free streamer. This process, known internally as "convergence," could help Paramount become more efficient. As Paramount+ and Pluto TV come together, Ellison's company is joining key technical teams across the streamers, Business Insider reported. Ellison has also put an emphasis on analytics by expanding the role of the data and insights team led by EVP Jason Kim. This decision is central to "David's vision of trying to transform ourselves" into "the most tech-forward media company in this space," said Domenic DiMeglio, Paramount's head of streaming data, insights, and marketing. When a new CEO takes over, leadership changes are rarely confined to the very top. After taking the helm in early August, Ellison brought on former Netflix original content exec Cindy Holland to oversee the streaming business and, in October, picked polarizing editor Bari Weiss to lead CBS News. Paramount also scored a personnel win by poaching Danielle Carney from Amazon's video and live sports sales team to lead its US ad sales group. Both will report to revenue chief Jay Askinasi, who joined Paramount from Roku in November. There have been high-profile departures at Paramount in recent months as well. Chris Simon, an EVP of agency partnerships who spent over three decades at Paramount, is stepping down, Business Insider reported last month, though he hasn't yet left the company. Paramount's streaming product and tech, Vibol Hou, announced his departure via Slack weeks earlier, Business Insider reported. CBS News has also seen a string of departures in the Weiss era, including several prominent producers and star correspondent Anderson Cooper. Ellison is also reshaping Paramount's news business, which may soon include WBD's CNN, and has faced criticism over how his political alliances could influence the company. Some analysts aren't sure Paramount can carve out that niche. As Ellison puts his thumbprint on the news, some wonder who's influencing him. Ellison has built rapport with President Donald Trump, who called the Paramount CEO "great." And Weiss, the anti-establishment leader Ellison appointed to shake up CBS News, has faced staff questions about how her political views could impact the news operation. Another potential influence is Middle Eastern wealth funds, which Paramount won't confirm or deny are helping back its bid for WBD. Critics worry that even if Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi don't have direct governance rights at Paramount, they could still try to informally sway Paramount management if they are investors. "We do expect to syndicate with strategic domestic and foreign investors," Gerry Cardinale, a leading Paramount investor of RedBird Capital, said on a podcast while sidestepping the question of potential Middle Eastern backers.

Every time Allie publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Jordynn Ison dreams about Bangkok's sunshine, street food, and affordable dental work. She almost always schedules doctors' visits during her overseas vacations to destinations like Bali, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, and more. To escape high hospital prices and insurance headaches, Americans are folding check-ups into their vacation itineraries. Some countries, like Turkey and Mexico, are even marketing themselves directly to US patients. People travel for a range of services, including cosmetic surgeries, reproductive procedures like IVF, and cancer care. And the market is growing: International health insurance is expected to grow from nearly $32 billion in 2025 to $40 billion in 2030, with North Americans accounting for the largest share. Every time Allie publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! Stay connected to Allie and get more of their work as it publishes. By clicking "Sign up", you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. "In Asia, it's way cheaper, the quality of care is always good, and there are so many options to choose from," Ison said. Charlene Wiyarand, 31, had no doubts about booking her rhinoplasty appointment abroad. She has long split her life between the US and Asia: She was born in Boston, grew up in Thailand, and has been a California resident for the past few years. When it came time to update her nose job recently, she and her fiancé traveled to South Korea, where Wiyarand said she could get the procedure for $13,000 out of pocket, instead of the roughly $30,000 going price in Beverly Hills. "I feel very comfortable going to hospital and just paying everything up front." She works for a pharmaceutical company in California and has an employer-sponsored health insurance plan. Besides a rhinoplasty, Wiyarand said she has gotten preventive scans and skin treatments in places like Thailand. As for Ison, she left her full-time nursing job a year and a half ago to split time between temporary nursing positions in Ohio and travel influencing. She no longer qualifies for an employer-sponsored insurance plan at home, so she enrolled in an international plan — and now sees the doctor almost exclusively on trips. She pays about $50 a month for an international insurance plan that covers general care in 180 countries. Bloodwork and dental cleanings in Southeast Asia typically cost her about $30 total. But foreign hospitals seem like an affordable option for larger procedures and preventive scans. "I did have insurance in the US, but it was harder for me to get appointments," Ison said, adding, "Not only that, but with insurance, you have to meet a certain minimum amount before insurance really starts kicking in for medical things." Some Americans are so enticed by low healthcare costs that they're considering permanent relocation. Cheaper medicine and cost of living are driving the decision. West and her husband began living overseas shortly after their daughter was born in 2022. Last year, they even flew to Turkey for primary care appointments. "There's this fear as an American because you know that medicine is so expensive and it's confusing," said West, who pays $657 a month for international health insurance for her family, which she said is less than her previous US employer plan. "I think that's been the biggest eye opener, this feeling of relief." When Business Insider spoke to retirees Akaisha and Billy Kaderli last spring, they shared their experience pursuing breast cancer treatment in Mexico, Vietnam, and Thailand. "We've had a great life," said Akaisha, who is in her early 70s. Healthcare abroad isn't always subject to the same accreditation standards or staff training as American hospitals, and it carries risks, just like any medical procedure. The people Business Insider interviewed said they did careful research — reading reviews and taking informational phone calls with clinics — before undergoing medical care in another country. Many of them were avid travelers already, meaning that buying plane tickets or hotel stays to see a doctor wasn't an additional cost barrier. But their experiences underscore a larger truth millions of Americans can relate to: Skyrocketing healthcare costs are becoming unsustainable for household budgets. Medical tourism is offering some travelers more bang for their buck. "I wish people would realize how much easier it really is," Ison said.

Every time Lee Chong Ming publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For years, China's top graduates chased jobs in finance and tech. Employment data from Tsinghua University — one of China's top tertiary institutions — published on its website on Tuesday shows the number of graduates entering the manufacturing and energy sectors rose 19.1% year over year for the class of 2025. Top employers for this year's Tsinghua graduates include Huawei, BYD, State Grid Corporation of China, and China National Nuclear Corporation, the university said. Every time Lee Chong Ming publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! Stay connected to Lee Chong Ming and get more of their work as it publishes. By clicking "Sign up", you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Often compared with MIT or Stanford, Tsinghua is widely viewed as China's top engineering university and a key pipeline for talent entering the country's tech and industrial giants. The trend is not limited to China's most elite university. The share of Chinese graduates entering manufacturing rose from 17.9% in 2020 to 22.5% in 2024, according to South China Morning Post, citing a report by MyCOS Institute, a consultancy focused on China's education. Experts told Business Insider that several factors are driving more graduates toward manufacturing and energy jobs. China's industrial sectors, especially semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy, have become "highly technology-intensive and now demand top engineering talent," said Fu Fangjian, associate professor of finance at Singapore Management University. Many young graduates now see them as "opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies rather than traditional factory work," he said, adding that these jobs can offer "very competitive" salaries. Experts say the nature of manufacturing jobs has evolved as China upgrades its industrial base. Sectors such as electric vehicles, power equipment, and nuclear energy now require expertise in engineering, data science, and systems integration, said Zhao Litao, a senior research fellow with the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore. "'Hardware' and advanced manufacturing are no longer seen as low-skill industries but as high-tech innovation sectors involving robotics, semiconductors, advanced materials, and industrial AI," Fu said. China's job market has long been challenging for young graduates entering the workforce. In December, the unemployment rate for people aged 16 to 24 — excluding students — stood at 16.5%, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics in January. The Chinese tech sector has been trimming headcount in recent years as companies focus on cutting costs and improving efficiency. Alibaba's workforce has shrunk by more than half, from about 250,000 full-time employees in March 2022 to about 124,000 in March 2025, according to a report by Chinese financial news outlet Caixin. Government policy has also helped reshape the job landscape, experts said. Over the past decade, China has prioritised strategic sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, power equipment, and advanced materials through industrial policies, research programmes, and large-scale investment, said Zhao. "These sectors have therefore become major employers of engineering graduates," he added.

Every time Katherine publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox! By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Amazon experienced an outage on Thursday that lasted into the evening, and tens of thousands of shoppers said they had trouble accessing Amazon's services. According to outage tracker Downdetector, reports of issues surged Thursday afternoon, reaching about 20,000 by 3:49 p.m. The number briefly dipped to around 16,000 before climbing again. "We're sorry that some customers may be experiencing issues while shopping," Amazon said in an earlier statement to Business Insider. When AWS experienced an outage in October 2025, it knocked out a slew of other apps that rely on the cloud service, including Wordle, Slack, Snapchat, and Reddit. That outage was attributed to a DNS error in Amazon's Virginia data center. ET, Amazon's issue appears to be resolved, and Downdetector is no longer receiving a high number of outage reports. "We have resolved the issue, which was related to a software code deployment, and website and app are now running smoothly," said Amazon in its latest statement to Business Insider.