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☆ Army Officer Resigns in Protest of ‘Unqualified’ U.S. Support to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( John Ismay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An Army officer assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency has resigned in protest over the United States’ support for Israel, which he said had “enabled and empowered” the killing of Palestinian civilians. The officer, Maj. Harrison Mann, announced his resignation and explained his reasons for leaving the service in a post on the social media site LinkedIn on Monday. According to his biography on the site, he has specialized in the Middle East and Africa for about half of his 13-year career and previously served at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis. “The policy that has never been far from my mind for the past six months is the nearly unqualified support for the government of Israel, which has enabled and empowered the killing and starvation of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians,” Major Mann wrote in the post, which noted that he had previously emailed his comments to co-workers on April 16. “This unconditional support also encourages reckless escalation that risks wider war.”

Persons: Harrison Mann, ” Major Mann, ” Organizations: Army, Defense Intelligence Agency, Israel, U.S, Embassy Locations: United States, East, Africa, Tunis, “, Israel

☆ Microsoft really wants you to start using its Edge web browser
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft is adding an AI feature to its Edge web browser in an apparent bid to win more users. Rival web browsers Chrome and Safari are far more popular than Edge, StatCounter data shows. Microsoft plans to launch an "AI theme generator" next month that will let users create their own browser themes by using a text prompter to create images. AdvertisementMicrosoft Edge launched in 2015 to rival web browsers Google Chrome and Apple's Safari. Chrome is the web browser for most internet users.

Persons: —, it's, Safari Organizations: Microsoft, Google, Apple, Service, Chrome, Edge, Worldwide Developers Conference, Business

☆ Elon Musk's Tesla dreams may hinge on his blossoming bromance with Argentina's libertarian president Javier Milei
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk seems to be courting Argentine President Javier Milei to secure lithium supplies. AdvertisementTesla CEO Elon Musk has been cozying up to Argentine president Javier Milei — and lithium may be one reason why. Milei told the TV show "La Noche De Mirtha" in December that Musk had called him and said he was "extremely interested" in lithium. Argentina's ambassador to the US, Gerardo Wethein, told Argentine media that the pair talked about Tesla's "investment opportunities" in lithium, the Financial Times reported. Musk met up with Milei again last week, shared a photo of them on X, and later told his followers: "I recommend investing in Argentina."

Persons: Elon Musk, Javier Milei, —, Milei, Musk, Tesla, Gerardo Wethein, Donald Trump, He's Organizations: Argentine, EV, Service, Business, United States Geological Survey, Reuters, Financial Times Locations: Argentina, Argentine, Texas, Tesla's, Austin

☆ Meta is using your Instagram and Facebook photos to train its AI models
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Meta uses public Instagram and Facebook photos and text to train its AI text-to-image generator. Meta executive Chris Cox told Bloomberg's Tech Summit the company doesn't "train on private stuff." The chief product officer's comments come as Big Tech firms race to get data to train AI models. AdvertisementBig Tech firms are scrambling for AI training data and Meta seems to have one big advantage over its rivals: using Instagram and Facebook photos. "We don't train on private stuff, we don't train on stuff that people share with their friends, we do train on things that are public," he said.

Persons: Chris Cox, — Organizations: Bloomberg's Tech Summit, Big Tech, Service, Bloomberg's Tech, Business

☆ Neuralink's brain-chip implant malfunctioned and the company reportedly considered removing it from its human patient
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Some threads pulled away from Neuralink's first brain implant in a human, but it's now been fixed. Elon Musk's company considered removing the device from the patient, The Wall Street Journal reported. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementNeuralink's brain-chip implant is working — except that some of the device's threads pulled away from the first human patient's brain.

Persons: it's, Elon, Neuralink, — Organizations: Elon Musk's, Street Journal, Service, Business

☆ 2 OpenAI researchers working on safety and governance have quit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewTwo OpenAI employees who worked on safety and governance recently resigned from the company behind ChatGPT. Daniel Kokotajlo left last month and William Saunders departed OpenAI in February. Kokotajlo, who worked on the governance team, is listed as an adversarial tester of GPT-4, which was launched in March last year. OpenAI also parted ways with researchers Leopold Aschenbrenner and Pavel Izmailov, according to another report by The Information last month. OpenAI, Kokotajlo, and Saunders did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Daniel Kokotajlo, William Saunders, Saunders, Kokotajlo, overton, Ilya Sutskever, Jan Leike, AGI, It's, Sam Altman, Diane Yoon, Chris Clark, Yoon, Clark, OpenAI, Leopold Aschenbrenner, Pavel Izmailov Organizations: Service, Business, Alignment Locations: OpenAI

☆ Microsoft made an AI model for spies that's not connected to the internet
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft has developed a secret AI model exclusively for US spy agencies, Bloomberg reported. It's part of a broader effort by intelligence agencies to use AI for more efficient data handling. AdvertisementMicrosoft created a secret AI model for US spy agencies that is not connected to the internet. It is yet to be tested and accredited by the intelligence agencies. Intelligence agencies have long wanted to use AI to handle data more efficiently.

Persons: —, William Chappell, Chappell, Dennis J, Gleeson, Jr, Sheetal Patel, CIA didn't Organizations: Microsoft, Bloomberg, Service, CIA, Transnational, Technology Mission Center, Intelligence, of National Intelligence, AIM Initiative, Business

☆ Oddity Tech says it's bucking the beauty slowdown Ulta warned about
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As Ulta Beauty says it expects a slowdown in retail's most resilient category, an upstart says it is bucking the trend. Excluding one-time items, Oddity reported earnings of 61 cents per share. Analysts had expected revenue of $186.5 million and earnings per share of 56 cents, according to LSEG. Oddity believes beauty and wellness products are best sold online, and that consumers will not need to visit beauty shops such as Ulta and Sephora if product selection can be improved. Last month, Ulta Beauty CEO Dave Kimbell warned that demand for beauty products was cooling, sending its stock down 15% that day and hitting shares of e.l.f.

Persons: Dave Kimbell, Estée Lauder, Coty, Kimbell, JPMorgan Chase, Lindsay Drucker Mann, Drucker Mann Organizations: LSEG, Nasdaq, JPMorgan, CNBC

☆ Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI was 'basically a bet,' says CTO Kevin Scott
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewMicrosoft's chief technology officer said partnering with OpenAI was "basically a bet" on Sam Altman's company. Kevin Scott gave insight into his decision-making that led to Microsoft's alliance with OpenAI in 2019 on an episode of Reid Hoffman's podcast "Possible" last week. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. It was sent just weeks before Microsoft announced its $1 billion investment in OpenAI and subsequent partnership. Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside normal working hours.

Persons: —, OpenAI, Sam Altman's, Kevin Scott, Reid, Scott, who's, Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, OpenAI's, Turing, Phi Organizations: Service, OpenAI, Business, Microsoft, Department, Google, MAI Locations: OpenAI

☆ Amazon's warehouse robot army keeps getting bigger and bigger
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Amazon has more than doubled its warehouse robot fleet in the past three years. It's gone from having 350,000 robots in 2021 to 750,000 in 2023, company blog posts show. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAmazon has ramped up its fleet of robots in recent years to boost its warehouse operations. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: It's, — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Apple CEO Tim Cook made $63 million last year — here's how that breaks down
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple CEO Tim Cook's base salary has been $3 million a year since 2016. His total compensation was $63.2 million in 2023, down from $99.4 million the previous year. AdvertisementApple chief Tim Cook has been paid an annual salary of just $3 million since 2016. However, the CEO of the second-most valuable US company also gets stock awards and a performance-based bonus, which boosts his overall earnings. His pay packet was made up of $46.9 million in stock awards and $10.7 million in non-equity incentive plan compensation.

Persons: Tim Cook's, —, Tim Cook, Cook, It's, Apple Organizations: Apple, Service, SEC, Forbes, Bloomberg, Developers Conference, Business Locations: China

☆ Mark Zuckerberg is now California's richest billionaire after his fortune surged over the last year, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Mark Zuckerberg is California's richest billionaire, with a net worth of $177 billion, per Forbes. AdvertisementMark Zuckerberg is now the richest billionaire in California, with a net worth of $177 billion, a new Forbes report said. The report, which maps out the richest billionaire in each state for 2024, said the Meta CEO overtook Google cofounder Larry Page as the Golden State's richest person. AdvertisementZuckerberg's net worth placed him behind Texas' richest person, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who took the title in Florida. The 54 billionaires researched by Forbes for the report were together worth $1.6 trillion, $100 billion more than in 2023, the outlet said.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, —, Larry Page, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos Organizations: Forbes, Service, Meta, Golden, Amazon, Business Locations: California, Meta, Texas, Florida, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Tahoe, Kauai, Hawaii

☆ Virtual reality could revolutionize mental-health treatments, including ketamine therapy, for conditions like depression and anxiety
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Christine Macintyre | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The tech is helping mental-health providers treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In the face of this staggering prevalence, virtual reality offers transformative solutions in mental-health treatment and care. He uses FireflyVR's platform, The Sanctuary, a clinically designed VR experience that uses cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce patients' anxiety before they undergo ketamine therapy. VR cue exposure, Siegfried said, helps reduce binge-eating habits by exposing people to triggering stimuli in a controlled environment. Both cue exposure and embodiment aim to address the complex psychological dynamics of eating disorders.

Persons: —, Shel Mann, Mann, Dr, Christopher Romig, Stella, It's, Romig, Nicole Siegfried, Siegfried Organizations: Service, Disease Control, VR, Veterans Affairs, Behavioral

☆ Jensen Huang's 6 a.m. starts and 14-hour workday helped him turn Nvidia into a $2 trillion company
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Nvidia CEO has an engaged leadership style with 60 direct reports, which he says empowers others. AdvertisementRunning a $2 trillion company comes with early morning starts — just ask Jensen Huang. Huang works holidays but finds it relaxingNvidia CEO Jensen Huang. When I'm not working, I'm thinking about working, and when I'm working, I'm working. Got insights into what it's like working for Jensen Huang?

Persons: Jensen, Huang, —, Jensen Huang, Mohd Rasfan, Huang doesn't, workshy, Nicolai Tangen, Tangen, Nicolai, Huang's, Patrick Collison, I'm, Michael M, That's Organizations: Nvidia, Service, Financial Times, New York Times DealBook, Microsoft, Apple, Getty, Norges Bank Investment Management, Stripe Sessions, Big Tech, CNN, Forbes, Stanford School of Business, Stanford University Locations: AFP

☆ Read the email to Satya Nadella and Bill Gates that shows Microsoft's CTO was 'very worried' about Google's AI progress in 2019
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jyoti Mann | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft's OpenAI investment may have been prompted by concerns over Google's AI progress. In a 2019 email, a Microsoft exec said he was "very, very worried" about Google's AI capabilities. AdvertisementIn 2019, Microsoft became "very, very worried" about Google's AI capabilities, newly unearthed emails show, and that may have been what spurred it to invest in OpenAI. In one lengthy email, Microsoft's chief technology officer Kevin Scott told Satya Nadella and Bill Gates that Google's AI-powered "auto-complete in Gmail" was "getting scarily good." Related storiesIn 2019, Microsoft made an initial $1 billion investment into its now multi-billion partnership with OpenAI.

Persons: —, Kevin Scott, Satya Nadella, Bill Gates, Nadella, Amy Hood, Bard, Scott, OpenAI, BERT Organizations: Microsoft, Google, Service, Department, Business, OpenAI, Bing Locations: OpenAI

☆ Harvey Weinstein will be retried in New York after rape conviction overturned
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Harvey Weinstein uses a walker as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court, on January 7, 2020 on the second day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City. Harvey Weinstein will be retried in New York, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said on Wednesday, a week after the state's highest court threw out his 2020 rape conviction. Weinstein, 72, had been serving a 23-year sentence in a prison in upstate Rome, New York. The conviction included charges of first-degree sexual assault and third-degree rape. Weinstein was also sentenced to 16 years following his separate rape trial in California.

Persons: Harvey Weinstein, Weinstein, Judge Curtis Farber, Juda Engelmayer, Miriam Haley, Jessica Mann, James Burke, Burke, Curtis Farber, Love Organizations: Manhattan Criminal, Manhattan, Attorney's, Bellevue Hospital, New, Appeals, Miramax Locations: New York City, New York, Rome , New York, Bellevue, Manhattan, California, York

☆ Apple's poached dozens of Googlers with AI talent in recent years, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Apple has lured away 36 Googlers with AI expertise since 2018, the Financial Times reported. It's part of a broader talent war among Big Tech firms seeking to bolster their AI capabilities. The battle could escalate when Microsoft opens an AI hub on Google DeepMind's home turf in London. AdvertisementApple has convinced at least 36 Googlers with AI expertise to jump ship since 2018, according to a Financial Times analysis of LinkedIn profiles. Nine of the 31 authors listed on the research paper had Google listed as their last employer on their LinkedIn profiles, Business Insider found, and two authors came from Microsoft.

Persons: — Organizations: Apple, Financial Times, Big Tech, Microsoft, Google, Service Locations: London

☆ Apple's iPad caught in EU's crosshairs as it clamps down on 'gatekeepers'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The European Commission said users are "locked in" to iPadOS and it's hard for them to switch. It comes as a part of a broader crackdown on "gatekeepers" and a market investigation into Apple. The DMA was designed to ensure fairness and healthy competition in the digital landscape and hold Big Tech "gatekeepers" accountable. In September, the EU Commission designated Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft gatekeepers. The EU said Monday that its iPadOS investigation found it has "features of a gatekeeper."

Persons: —, Apple's iPadOS, Margrethe Vestager, Apple didn't Organizations: EU, Digital, European Commission, Apple, Service, European, Big Tech, Business, EU Commission, Meta, Microsoft

☆ The FTC says Jeff Bezos and Amazon execs used Signal to talk business — and it wants to know more
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon execs used messaging app Signal to discuss business matters, the Federal Trade Commission said. The agency wants to know if execs told Amazon staff to delete messages, and when to use Signal. AdvertisementAmazon's top executives used the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss "sensitive business matters," the Federal Trade Commission said in a court filing on Thursday. The founder said, "Are you on signal messaging app? "Amazon also recognizes that sellers believe 'that it has become more difficult over time to be profitable on Amazon,'" the FTC filing stated.

Persons: execs, —, Jeff Bezos, Andy Jassy, David Zapolsky, Jeff Wilke, Dave Clark, Tim Doyle, Mike Hopkins, Carlo Bertucci, Amazon's, Zapolsky Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, Service, FTC, Amazon MGM Studios

☆ You can buy a flame-throwing robot dog for under $10,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Ohio-based Throwflame is selling a fire-spewing robot dog called Thermonator for $9,420. The robot can operate in dark environments, has a torch light, and can shoot fire up to nine meters. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA new robotic dog might make you run for the hills, regardless of whether you're an animal lover or not. Ohio-based company Throwflame is selling the non-cuddly canines, which can shoot out fire up to around nine meters away, for $9,420.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Ohio

☆ Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction overturned and new trial ordered
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The New York Court of Appeals on Thursday overturned the sex crimes conviction against Harvey Weinstein, the powerful Hollywood producer whose downfall stood as a symbol of the #MeToo movement. Douglas H. Wigdor, an attorney who has represented eight of Weinstein’s accusers, including two of the “prior bad acts” witnesses at his New York criminal trial, criticized the ruling. In addition, three other women testified during the trial as “prior bad acts” witnesses as prosecutors sought to show Weinstein had a pattern of abuse. The use of “prior bad acts” witnesses has increased in recent years with the rise of the #MeToo movement. “Prior bad acts” evidence is one exception to this rule.

Persons: Harvey Weinstein, “, uncharged, Jenny Rivera, ” Weinstein, Weinstein, ” Donna Rotunno, ”, Emily Tuttle, Douglas H, Weinstein’s, MeToo, Bill Cosby, Miriam Haley, Jessica Mann, Haley, Mann Organizations: CNN, The New, Hollywood, Correctional Facility, of Corrections, Attorney’s, Manhattan, The New York Times, Yorker Locations: The New York, Rome , New York, Los Angeles, New York, Manhattan, York, Hollywood, Love, Pennsylvania

☆ Google's search boss reportedly warns staff that life won't be 'hunky-dory forever' amid rise of AI rivals
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Google's search chief Prabhakar Raghavan warned staff about a changing landscape, CNBC reported. He said life won't always be "hunky-dory" as rivals seek to challenge its search dominance. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIt's time to brace for a new chapter, Google search chief Prabhakar Raghavan has reportedly warned staff. "It's not like life is going to be hunky-dory, forever," Raghavan also said, per the outlet.

Persons: Prabhakar Raghavan, dory, —, Googlers, Raghavan Organizations: CNBC, Microsoft, Service, Google, Business

☆ It looks like Microsoft's ex-Bing boss just threw shade at Mustafa Suleyman
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Former Bing chief Mikhail Parakhin appeared to subtly criticize Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. Parakhin wrote it's "hard to disagree" when an X user said "we need you." The comment was in response to a post quoting Suleyman's recent TED Talk that was blasted by VCs. Mikhail Parakhin, who stepped down from his role just days after Suleyman became CEO of Microsoft AI, commented under an X post about the DeepMind cofounder. An X user wrote "We need you ngl" (short for "not gonna lie") under a post summarizing Suleyman's TED Talk last week, which some critics have been ripping into.

Persons: Mikhail Parakhin, Mustafa Suleyman, Parakhin, Suleyman's, —, Suleyman Organizations: Bing, Microsoft, VCs, Service, Business

☆ Elon Musk got called an 'egotistical billionaire' by a top Australian politician in the latest beef over free speech and censorship on X
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk was criticized by an Australian minister for refusing to remove X posts about a stabbing. Tanya Plibersek told 7News that Musk is an "egotistical billionaire" after Musk resisted the calls. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAn Australian minister slammed Elon Musk as an "egotistical billionaire" over his refusal to take down X posts.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tanya Plibersek, Musk, —, Mar Mari Emmanuel Organizations: Guardian, Service Locations: Australian, Sydney

☆ Don't think all Nvidians are now rich, says one engineer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAn Nvidia engineer who makes $250,000 a year said the amount employees make at the chip giant was "not as rosy" as some might think. He told Business Insider that while some Nvidians may be lucky enough to be millionaires, "a million doesn't go too far." The software engineer didn't want to be identified as he's not authorized to speak to the media. AdvertisementThat means that a Nvidia employee earning $1 million a year may not be considered rich in a place like San Francisco. "I'm really happy with the price Nvidia stock is trading at."

Persons: —, didn't, he's, There's, Charles Schwab, I'm, I've, it's, Jensen Huang, HWA CHENG Organizations: Service, Business, Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Social Security, Charles Schwab Modern Wealth Survey, HWA, Getty, Bloomberg Locations: Coast, California, San Francisco, India, AFP

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