Student Loans, AI Doomsday, and Lululemon

More than 40% of US adults who pursued education beyond high school have taken out student loans. These borrowed funds are used to cover tuition, fees, living expenses, and other costs of college—and they must be repaid, usually with interest, upon leaving school. About two in five students in any given academic year take out some form of student loans.

> Why most US college students don't pay the school's full sticker price. (More, w/video)
> Student loans are typically just one part of student financial aid packages, which often include grants, scholarships, and more. (More, w/video)

There are two primary types of student loans: federal or "public" loans, which are student loans borrowed from the US federal government, and private student loans, which are any student loans financed by a lender other than the government—such as a bank, credit union, or a student's university. Private loans accounted for only about 8% of the roughly $1.8T in total outstanding US student debt as of early 2026.

> Inside the FAFSA form, which the federal government uses to determine students' eligibility for aid. (More, w/video)

> The types of currently available federal student loans, explained. (More)

> How to get lower rates on private student loans. (More)

A student loan's interest rate determines the ultimate cost of borrowing, as well as how quickly the amount owed grows. Federal student loans tend to have lower interest rates than their private counterparts. Interest rates on federal student loans typically range from about 6% to 9% as of the 2026-27 academic year, whereas interest rates on private student loans can exceed 17%.

> Why some borrowers end up with higher student loan balances than they started with, even after years of payments. (More, w/video)

> More than half of student loan borrowers owe less than $25K in federally managed student debt. (More)

Discover more: 

> How did student loans become so prevalent? (More, w/video)

> Play the role of a student in a game where you try to navigate college and remain debt-free. (More)

> The GI Bill helped create the first college jazz programs. (More)

🫶 Humankind: Decades after saving it from bankruptcy, a CEO turned down a $400M offer for his boat company, instead deciding to ensure its profits will be donated to charity in perpetuity. 

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 News in Context 

1440 brings you the knowledge and context behind the week's stories:

Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon are now part of a streaming coalition that launched Monday and aims to advocate for policies that improve the consumer streaming experience. (More)

> Why content frequently disappears from streaming services. 

> Contrary to popular belief, Netflix didn't kill Blockbuster.

A new study from the National Association of Realtors revealed there is no single uniform "data center effect" on real estate markets. (More)

> Where is the world's densest data center hub?

> How data centers have affected housing supply in some markets. 

The US Senate blocked the Clarity Act (a cryptocurrency regulation bill) in a 49-50 vote this week, with experts saying the industry will focus on federal regulators like the SEC and the CFTC in the bill's absence. (More)

> Lack of regulation has made cryptocurrency a hotbed for money laundering. 

> How many Americans invest in cryptocurrency? 

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson is getting divorced, which experts suggest could affect his leverage over the roughly $11B athleisure company (as well as his estimated $6B fortune). (More)

> How prenups actually work, explained. 

> Explore a marriage tax calculator.

One Story We're Taking Stock In

Last week, after a former Anthropic and OpenAI employee wrote a viral social media post claiming that, unless guardrails are implemented, future AI tools could "kill us all," Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay calling for an industry slowdown and third-party safety monitors. What's more, OpenAI announced Saturday that it plans to delay its upcoming IPO over safety concerns. 

The below feature story—one of the most insightful we read this week—outlines everything you need to know about the recent AI doomsday news, from what Amodei proposes as a solution to how concerned, exactly, the general public should be about the future of this technology.

> AI's code-red moment. (Read)

> How, exactly, AI could "kill us all." (1440 Topics)

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 Etcetera 

> The history of the internet's first-ever banner ad.

> Why nearly 500,000 bankruptcies are filed in the US each year.

> The secrets of AmEx's highest-tier, invite-only credit card.

> Where are household incomes over $200K most common in the US?

> How long Americans tend to remain at the same job.

> Anthropic's staff philosopher discusses the importance of teaching ethics to AI.

> "Black Wall Street," explained.
 

> How American CEOs got so rich.

> How much each age group has saved for retirement, on average.
 

> Why some people advocate for workplace salary transparency.

> How most airlines actually make money.

> Why ads seem to follow you around the internet.