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TGIF! Yesterday, I asked you all the lowest hourly rate you'd accept to train AI at something you are highly skilled at. Apparently, we've got a group with some serious specialities. More than 33% of respondents want to be paid more than $100 an hour for their service. The second pick among the group was a $50 hourly rate (20%). Only about 16% of you said you wouldn't train AI regardless of the price.
In today's big story, big financial decisions are hard enough during the best of times. Try making them when so much is in flux.
What's on deck
Markets: Citadel Securities is training its developers on a coding language that's not even live yet.
Tech: Meta's fancy new AI model is at a critical juncture.
Business: Walmart's CFO had a sharp critique of the impact of tariffs.
But first, what should I do?
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The big story
Decisions, decisions
Kiersten Essenpreis for BI
These days, the only certainty is more uncertainty. That's a problem for anyone making big financial decisions.
With tariffs constantly jostling the economy, the stress around a big choice is even more heightened.
Lucky for you, Business Insider analyzed some of the biggest decisions a person might make and whether it's a good or bad idea in the current environment. Over the past two weeks, we've run six stories on some of the most important financial choices a person might make.
Here's a recap of the six big decisions we examined and whether now is a good or bad time to make them.
Buying a car: Good time
You might be surprised to hear it's a good time to go car shopping. After all, the automobile industry is set to get crushed by tariffs. A lot of car production occurs outside the US, even for American automakers.
But as long as dealerships have inventory that wasn't hit by the tariffs yet, now is the right time to get in before things get hairy.
Investing in stocks: Good time
To be honest, it's never a bad time to invest in the stock market. Even if you're buying into a market freefall, it's not a major issue if you intend to invest for the long run.
The issue comes when you try to time the market and nab some quick gains. But if you're patient, the current volatility shouldn't scare you that much.
Starting a business: Good time
Some of the biggest companies in the world are struggling to understand the current economy. What hope could a new business have?
Actually, a pretty good one. Plenty of strong businesses emerge during times of turmoil. In fact, a market downturn can actually create opportunities for new companies.
Buying a house: It's complicated
The trickiest question of the bunch, the case can be made for both sides.
The negatives are that prices remain incredibly elevated since the pandemic. Mortgage rates also haven't been cooperative. The latter is a double whammy, since it not only makes buying a house more difficult but discourages homeowners who have low locked-in rates from selling.
Still, real estate is often considered a sound investment as long as one is patient.
Job-hopping: Bad time
Woof. Have you seen it out there? While the unemployment rate isn't scary yet, companies aren't looking to restock their ranks. You're better off staying put, just be prepared to be around some grumps.
Retiring: Bad time
Sorry, boomers. You're going to need to hold on a bit longer. As people live longer, and healthcare costs keep rising, people are rethinking whether the nest egg they spent decades building will last them.
3 things in markets
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1. Jamie Dimon isn't ruling out a recession. Even as trade tensions die down, the JPMorgan CEO said uncertainties can still weigh on markets and the economy. The big issues: the US budget deficit, geopolitical conflict, and tariffs.
2. Big-name hedge funds are still looking abroad. Even after the US stock market's big rebound, high-profile investors want to put money in international stocks. At Sohn in New York, billionaire David Einhorn and Tiger Cub Rob Citrone shared some of their picks.
3. Citadel Securities is planning ahead — like, really far ahead. The firm is training developers on a coding language that hasn't even been released yet. Tech leader Herb Sutter told BI why it's important to stay on top of language evolution and how less experienced coders can stand out.
3 things in tech
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1. Meta's Llama faces a turning point. The company's reasoning model was a big deal. Following the muted reception from Meta's latest models, Llama's relevancy is fading. To top it off, the WSJ reported delays in its big "teacher model," Behemoth. But some developers told BI they aren't writing Llama off just yet.
2. One VC sector isn't feeling the funding slowdown. Legal tech is still hot despite a chilly funding market for everyone else. That's thanks to the industry's AI-induced digital transformation. Funding has already hit $999 million this year, and the sector's poised to keep growing.
3. Tech's heaviest hitters take on healthcare AI. While many built their healthcare businesses way before the AI boom, they're now centering their strategies around AI. From wearables to robotic surgery, here's how companies like Nvidia and Amazon are going all in on healthcare AI.
3 things in business
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1. Hundreds of fake podcasts peddled opioids on Spotify. A BI investigation found 200 "podcasts" pushing highly addictive drugs on the platform, often promising deliveries without prescriptions on sites posing as online pharmacies. Spotify has since taken them down.
2. Advertisers hit back at Elon Musk's ad boycott lawsuit. X filed an antitrust suit claiming several advertisers and a now-defunct trade group colluded to form an illegal boycott against the platform. In a legal filing on Wednesday, these advertisers said the suit was an attempt to use the courthouse to win back the business X lost.
3. Walmart warns tariff-related price hikes could hit shoppers. After Q1 earnings, the retailer's CFO said tariffs are still "too high." and customers can likely expect price increases within the next month. But Walmart has a knack for capitalizing on uncertainty.
In other news
- The six biggest bombshells so far from the Diddy trial — from Cassie Ventura's testimony to 'freak offs.'
- How Trump's 'one big beautiful bill' would impact Medicaid, student loan forgiveness, your taxes, and more.
- Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos explains why he thinks the HBO Max rebrand 'makes sense.'
- Coinbase says scammers bribed insiders to steal customer data — and it could cost the crypto exchange $400 million.
- Billionaire investor David Einhorn explains why gold will keep rising — and it's got nothing to do with inflation.
- Roblox wants to become the new shopping mall for Gen Z.
What's happening today
WNBA season begins.
The Business Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.