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He was valedictorian at Columbia University at age 19. He thought about becoming a Supreme Court justice but instead went to Silicon Valley, where he developed a reputation as "the Nostradamus of AI." Then last month, just two days before his wedding, Leopold Aschenbrenner's hedge fund unraveled.
This week, Berber Jin, Ben Cohen and Anissa Gardizy give us a deep dive into Aschenbrenner's past, hard lessons for Wall Street and implications for the ethical future of AI.
In other news, homeowners say mold is making it difficult to breathe and costs millions in repairs and healthcare bills. Builders say the rise in mold-related lawsuits is targeting them unfairly.
And we highlight a 500-mile walk through Spain for a woman contemplating her next move in life.
Enjoy your weekend with these and all the great reads below. It's a bit of a break for Cristina Lourosa-Ricardo, who regularly writes this newsletter. I'm happy to take over the keyboard this week and next.
Leading Off
Icarus of AI
Leopold Aschenbrenner was hailed as a visionary in artificial intelligence. His hedge fund was managing $45 billion in assets. But now Wall Street sees him as the latest cautionary tale of hubris-an inexperienced investor taking on too much risk.
Blame the Builder?
Mold is driving America's homeowners crazy, and they want builders to pay. Builders say the allegations aren't merited and the lawsuits are costing millions.
See the Story
Digs Designed for Dogs
Owners of a home in New York transformed it into a $2.9 million luxury retreat for their bearded collie named Buster.
Health
Hydration Nation
Sumathi Reddy says you don't need to upend your day by constantly trying to drink more water. Happily, coffee and sparkling water count toward the fluid your body needs.
Travel
'Buen Camino'
A young woman who lost her job searches for her own new path along Spain's Camino de Santiago.
Family & Relationships
When AI Is Your New Sibling
Columnist Jamie Waters was surprised when his parents became obsessed with Claude, the chatbot. Or, as his mom calls it, "The nice man who answers all my questions."
Style
Paying for the Wedding
Today's bride doesn't need millions of followers on social media to find brands willing to help sponsor wedding costs.
Tech
Rethinking Cybersecurity
A recent survey found that 91% of security professionals in the U.S. and Europe have no formal road map in place to protect against the threat of quantum computing.
Careers
Productivity Game Over
Managers are expecting a work blackout in November when employees who've waited 13 years for a new "Grand Theft Auto" installment take an unofficial holiday.
Arts & Entertainment
Dizzying Rise
Olivia Dean speaks about obliterating a record held by Abba, toppling Jay-Z and Rihanna's "Umbrella" and why meeting Stevie Wonder almost did her in.
Beyond the Newsroom
WSJ | Buy Side: See our guide to the best khakis for the office, the golf course or off-duty days.
About Us
WSJ Weekend Reads is a showcase for the wide range of great feature writing at WSJ. Let us know what you think by emailing editor Demetria Gallegos at demetria.gallegos@wsj.com (if you're reading this in your inbox, you can just hit reply).