Mission Everywhere

For weeks, Meta's AI chatbot refused to answer questions about the assassination attempt against Trump but once it started, in some instances, the bot claimed the shooting didn't happen. Business Insider Meta's AI chatbot was initially programmed to not answer questions about the assassination attempt against Trump, the company said. After Meta updated the bot to give a response, in some instances, it claimed the shooting didn't happen. The incident, which the company blamed on "hallucinations," shows how chaotic AI can be when mixed with politics. Meta is facing intense scrutiny this week from critics accusing the social media giant of censoring conservative viewpoints and intentionally falsifying information about the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, the company publicly addressed two instances that had received widespread condemnation and detailed Meta's actions to adjust its algorithms in response. One...

Aaron Holmes / The Information : Source: TikTok was paying Microsoft ~$20M/mo. to use OpenAI's models in Azure OpenAI Service as of March, ~25% of the total revenue that service was generating   —  Microsoft has had success reselling OpenAI's artificial intelligence to its cloud customers, a core part of its plan to build a new multibillion-dollar profit machine. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/Hcm6rla

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more The PS VR2 is $200 off for a limited time. Sony The PlayStation VR2 headset is typically prohibitively expensive, usually costing around $550. It's even pricier than the PS5 required to play it, but right now, it's on sale as part of a sweet bundle. The PS VR2 is now $200 off , bundled with Horizon: Call of the Mountain or by itself during this limited-time deal.  These deals make the PS VR2 even more affordable than the Meta Quest 3, one of the market's most popular virtual reality headsets. It's uncommon to find discounts on Sony's exclusive gaming headset, much less discounts this deep. If you've been waiting for a chance to snag this headset for yourself, now is the time to act — it already sold out once and came back in stock overnight. Still need a PS5? You're in luck: the gaming console is also on sale, back down to its all-time low at 10% off . It...

Mat Di Salvo / Decrypt : The SEC charges BitClout founder Nader Al-Naji of raising $257M+ from unregistered offers and sales of BTCLT and lying to investors about personal compensation   —  The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has hit the founder of decentralized social network BitClout with fraud charges … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/uqFzexI

Student-loan borrowers on Biden's new repayment plan cannot get credit toward debt cancellation while the program is blocked. But there's another way to get relief. Rattanakun Thonbun/EyeEm 8 million student-loan borrowers on the SAVE plan were placed on forbearance after the plan was blocked. During this forbearance, borrowers will not receive credit toward loan forgiveness. However, the Education Department highlighted two ways borrowers can still get relief credit. The Education Department has updates on the next steps for student-loan borrowers enrolled in President Joe Biden's new repayment plan. On July 18, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the SAVE income-driven repayment plan, intended to lower borrowers' monthly payments and give them a shorter timeline for debt cancellation, was blocked in its entirety as the legal process continues. The ruling follows a roller coaster of court decisions regarding the SAVE plan. Earlier this year, two sep...

Kif Leswing / CNBC : Apple debuts Apple Intelligence in the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1 developer betas, with text generation and Siri updates, but missing some features   —  - Apple on Monday released the first version of Apple Intelligence, … Apple on Monday released the first version of Apple Intelligence … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/9ATuoI0

Taylor Swift's song "...Ready For It?" is featured in an ad for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Pedro Gomes/TAS24/Getty Images Taylor Swift's song "…Ready For It?" appeared in an ad for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Fans think it was a sign that the release of "Reputation (Taylor's Version)" is coming soon. Swift has released four of six re-recorded albums so far. Taylor Swift loves to keep her fans guessing. After the 2024 Olympics began in Paris on Friday, Swift's social media shared an Olympics ad featuring one of her songs from her album,  "Reputation. " Swift's fans have been anxiously waiting for months for "Reputation (Taylor's Version)," and they think the Olympics ad is a major Rep-coded Easter egg. Swift has spent recent years re-releasing new versions of her old albums under her ownership and has smashed records in the music industry in the process. Swifties got a big surprise when they saw the ad and...

David Yaffe-Bellany / New York Times : Dune Analytics: ~1.7M new digital coins entered circulation in H1 2024, compared with 264K in H1 2023, as the crypto market revival fuels a surge in memecoins   —  Josh Bailey, a 26-year-old day trader in Austin, Texas, was scrolling through a cryptocurrency group chat last month when he encountered … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/Us2h7kg

Parker Hall / Wired : Samsung Galaxy Buds3 review: auto-pause works well, but expensive, copy Apple's dated design with plastic tips, shoddy ANC, and AI tools are mostly useless   —  Samsung's third-generation earbuds copy Apple's dated plastic-tipped design, cost more, and have shoddy noise canceling.  —  Rating: from Techmeme https://ift.tt/zWyNmT3

GMC was named in a letter from Democratic senators calling for an FTC investigation. Justin Sullivan/Getty Senators called on the FTC to investigate some automakers for surreptitiously sharing drivers' data. Two senators named General Motors, Honda, and Hyundai in their letter to the FTC demanding action. They accused the companies of sharing driving and location data under the guise of lowering rates. If you always feel like someone is watching you, it might be your swanky new GMC. Legislators are demanding the Federal Trade Commission investigate automakers like General Motors, the maker of GMC, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Buick — as well as Honda and Hyundai — for serriptitiously sharing drivers' data with data brokers. They called on the FTC to "hold the companies and their senior executives responsible" if they broke the law. "The FTC should hold accountable the automakers, which shared their customers' data with data brokers without obtaining in...

Raffaele Huang / Wall Street Journal : Sources: Talkie, which lets users chat with AI personas of celebrities and was one of most downloaded AI apps in the US in H1, is owned by China-based MiniMax   —  Chatbot in Talkie uses AI to allow users to converse with famous people or a virtual romantic partner from Techmeme https://ift.tt/wlIyxSD

North Korean State Media North Korea's GDP grew 3.1% in 2023, according to central bank estimates. The Bank of Korea cited economic cooperation with Russia as one factor. Both countries have deepened ties amid the war in Ukraine. North Korea's growing trade ties with Russia are paying off, helping end a three-year downturn, according to the South Korean central bank. The bank's annual report, cited by Bloomberg , found that North Korea's 2023 GDP grew 3.1% in real terms. Aside from ending years of contraction, the data marked the largest expansion since 2016. Since North Korea does not offer official data, indicators tracked by its southern neighbor are relied on instead. "Most experts assess the rebound in 2023 to be temporary, but there are also positive factors, such as the possibility of further growth in trade with China and expansion in economic cooperation with Russia," a Bank of Korea official told reporters, quoted by Reuters . The latte...

Jiyoung Sohn / Wall Street Journal : US unions are trying to organize staff at chip firms set to receive CHIPS Act grants; CWA is pushing to organize workers at Intel and other big chip companies   —  Samsung employees strike and U.S. unions gear up to organize as semiconductors enjoy growth  —  SEOUL—Inside the cavernous factories … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/BPmoGAQ

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Loeffler Randall/Mansur Gavriel Every wardrobe can benefit from a pair of stylish, versatile shoes. The best ballet flats are having a moment thanks to the balletcore trend, but this silhouette remains a classic for tying together comfort and sophistication with a bow.  We've spent years testing some of the best flats , including many that are distinctly ballerina-inspired. Our top pick among the very best ballet flats is the Margaux Demi Ballet Flat . "With all the walking I do, my feet end up swelling a bit, and the wide pair is more comfortable for long days out," says executive editor Sally Kaplan. Another pair suitable for wide feet is the Vivaia Square-Toe Margot . These Mary Janes have adjustable straps, and you can even customize them with a removable bow .  For more ways to dress up with an off-duty ballerina look, see our guides to the best stirrup leggings and...

Kylie Robison / The Verge : OpenAI unveils SearchGPT, a search tool powered by GPT-4 that can organize links and summarize its findings, available as a prototype to 10,000 users at launch   —  OpenAI is announcing its much-anticipated entry into the search market, SearchGPT, an AI-powered search engine with real-time access to information across the internet. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/RPJg3kL

Maia Spoto / Bloomberg : California's Supreme Court upholds Prop 22, allowing Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and other companies to keep classifying California drivers as independent contractors   —  The unanimous ruling upholding California's Proposition 22 was released Thursday.  —  The favorable ruling … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/1Fg4x6G

Critical Role is going "Moonward" with its fresh expansion into the podcasting business. Critical Role Critical Role's new podcast series "Moonward" on August 7. "Moonward" will see CR's Marisha Ray and Liam O'Brien, embarking on a new adventure to a wrecked moon. "Moonward" is part of CR's renewed push into the world of podcasting and audio dramas. Critical Role's new expansion into the podcasting business is nearly here, accompanied by a brand-new trailer. As Business Insider reported on July 11, CR is bringing not one but  two of its cofounders to this fresh storytelling venture, "Moonward." Creative director Marisha Ray and the CR crew's resident heartbreak prince , Liam O'Brien , are embarking on a cosmic sojourn to discover the secrets of a wrecked lunarscape. The two are playing all-new characters in this stand-alone series set in the world of "Midst," an experimental audio dram...

Reuters : Atos appoints its chairman Jean Pierre Mustier as CEO to replace departing boss Paul Saleh, in its fifth top management reshuffle in less than two years   —  French technology company Atos (ATOS.PA) on Wednesday appointed its chairman Jean Pierre Mustier as CEO to replace departing boss Paul Saleh … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/0Rsn74B

Investors are sitting on a lot of cash that's about to be plowed into the stock market, UBS says. Kena Betancur/Getty Images UBS said a major rotation from cash and bonds into stocks could happen later this year. Investors hold more than $6 trillion in money market funds. UBS' Jason Draho reiterated his bull case for the S&P 500 to rise 17% into year-end. While investors focus on the recent rotation out of large-cap stocks and into shares of smaller companies, UBS says there's an even bigger rotation trade on the horizon that investors should pay attention to. That would be the rotation from cash and bonds into stocks, according to a Monday note from the bank, and it could help fuel a 17% rally in the S&P 500 by the end of the year. With more than $6 trillion sitting in money market funds, investors could be compelled to reinvest that money in the stock market if the Federal Reserve moves ahead with rate cuts later this year. Money market funds have be...

Danny Nelson / CoinDesk : dYdX, which is reportedly exploring a sale, says v3, an older version of its DeFi crypto exchange that averages ~$1.5B/week in derivates trading, was hacked   —  News of the problem emerged just as Bloomberg reported dYdX v3 is for sale.  —  Decentralized crypto-exchange giant dYdX said Tuesday … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/Qs7IuXS

Sarah Boyd/USA Archery; BI Casey Kaufhold, a Team USA archer, is the top-ranked woman in the sport. She shoots up to 300 arrows a day and eats extra pasta to prepare for competitions. This story is part of " Road to Paris ," a series chronicling athletes' and spectators' experiences at the Olympic Games. Casey Kaufhold comes from a long line of archers — four generations of her family have shot competitively. But she's the first to go for gold at the Olympics . Kaufhold shot her first arrow when she was 3 and has been competing since she was 8. The 20-year-old from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is preparing for her second Olympic Games, now as the world's top female archer. "Archery is something that's super unique," she told Business Insider. "I just know that I really enjoy it. To be able to do this and have it be the thing I love and still pay the bills is amazing." Kaufhold shoots 250 to 300 arrows most days. Sarah Boyd/...