The AI boom didn't stop Google from hiring nearly 12,000 people

Tech Insider
Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images

  • Google's parent company, Alphabet, grew its head count by 11,830 between June 2025 and June 2026.
  • The tech giant reported blockbuster second-quarter earnings, revealing revenue of $119.8 billion.
  • The update comes as Google workers rallied for layoff protections last week.

As companies make rounds of job cuts and double down on AI spend, Google's

Business, Style

I went to the Amalfi Coast with my husband and parents. We'd do 5 things differently next time to make our trip better.

Tech Insider
Group of people smiling on boat in ITaly
My family had a great trip to the Amalfi Coast, but if we were to do it all over, there are a few things I'd change.

Alexa Mellardo

  • I went on a trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy with my husband and parents, who are in their 60s.
  • Spending more time in Capri instead of Sorrento, which felt a bit busy, would've been nice.
  • I wish we'd made fewer dinner reservations and booked more cooking classes, which
Travel, Business, Environment

Meet 22 VCs on the hunt for the next breakout startup in social media

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Premise Vanessa Larco, Khosla Adina Tecklu, Abstract Ramtin Naimi
Investors like Vanessa Larco (Premise), Adina Tecklu (Khosla), and Ramtin Naimi (Abstract Ventures) are backing buzzy new social startups.

Courtesy of Premise; Courtesy of Khosla Ventures; Courtesy of Abstract Ventures

  • AI is changing social media as we know it. It's also minting new social startups.
  • Business Insider is highlighting 22 venture capital firms hunting for social breakouts.
  • They're backing
Business, Crypto, Economy

TikTok has been quietly testing a paid micro-drama app that costs $20 a week

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TikTok is testing a paid micro-drama app called LimeShorts.
TikTok is testing a paid micro-drama app called LimeShorts.

LimeShorts/Nicolas TUCAT / AFP via Getty Images.

  • TikTok is testing a paid short-drama app in the US called LimeShorts.
  • Users can pay $20 a week, or $200 a year, to view a library of micro-drama shows.
  • LimeShorts is one of several big bets TikTok is making in the fast-growing drama industry this year.

TikTok is racing to cash in on the micro

Business, Style

We bought a house and regretted it after 2 years. Now, we own an apartment instead.

Tech Insider
The writer and her wife sitting at an outdoor table holding hands.
Owning a house was more challenging than my wife and I had imagined.

Siobhan Ball

  • My wife and I were so excited to buy our first home, but the reality didn't match up to our dream.
  • We knew a home would be expensive, but we were surprised by the hefty repair costs.
  • Also, as my mobility declined, the two-story home became infeasible, so now we own an apartment.

My partner and I fell in love with our

Business

3 US airports plan to replace TSA agents with private contractors in a bid to reduce disruptions to passengers — see the list

Tech Insider
TSA lines.
US airports experienced longer security wait times when Transportation Security Administration officers missed paychecks during the government shutdown in March.

Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images

  • The TSA Gold+ program aims to expand the use of private contractors while retaining federal oversight.
  • Three US airports are set to participate in TSA Gold+ next year.
  • They join 20 airports that already
Travel, Business, Technology

AMD takes a shot at Nvidia by betting on AI's next big shift

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AMD president and CEO Lisa Su at London Tech Week, smiling in front of a black background.
AMD president and CEO Lisa Su.

Leon Neal/Getty Images

  • AMD is betting the future of AI inference won't rely on a single chip.
  • A new Cerebras pact reflects a shift toward "disaggregated inference."
  • AMD says its new Helios server system rivals Nvidia in performance and cost.

AMD is making a bet about the future of AI: one chip shouldn't rule them all.

CEO Lisa Su announced Thursday that AMD is teaming up

Business, Technology