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☆ A former Facebook exec said he regrets not defending ousted Oculus cofounder Palmer Luckey from a 'witch hunt.' Drama ensued.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A key former Facebook exec has reignited discussion of Oculus founder Palmer Luckey's 2016 firing. Former Oculus CTO and ex-Meta VR exec John Carmack said on X that he regrets not defending Luckey. Carmack and Luckey joined Facebook after it acquired Oculus, the VR company founded by Luckey in 2012, for $2 billion in 2014. "The culture has changed a lot since you left (internal discussions have to be work focused)," Bosworth replied on X. Business Insider reached out to representatives of Bosworth, Carmack, and Luckey but didn't receive an immediate response.

Persons: Palmer, John Carmack, Andrew Bosworth, Luckey, —, Palmer Luckey —, Carmack, Hillary Clinton, @PalmerLuckey, OTXBBnkK0p — John Carmack, Donald Trump, Clinton, he's, Carmack —, Bosworth, Meta, Forbes, wasn't, I'm Organizations: Facebook, Meta, Service, VR, Wall Street, Business Locations: California

☆ OpenAI and Meta are on the verge of releasing AI models capable of reasoning like humans, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

OpenAI and Meta are close to unveiling AI models that can reason and plan, the FT reported. AdvertisementOpenAI and Meta are reportedly preparing to release more advanced AI models that would be able to help problem-solve and take on more complex tasks. Representatives for Meta and OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours. Getting AI models to reason and plan is an important step toward achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), which both Meta and OpenAI have claimed to be aiming for. Elon Musk, a longtime AI skeptic, recently estimated that AI would outsmart humans within two years.

Persons: —, Brad Lightcap, Joelle Pineau, OpenAI, John Carmack, Bengio, Geoffrey Hinton, Elon Musk, Musk Organizations: Meta, Service, Financial Times, Business

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The trial and conviction of a movie armorer in connection with a fatal shooting on the set of the Western movie “Rust” has given Alec Baldwin and his legal team a unusual window into how his own trial in the death could unfold. Baldwin’s trial is scheduled for July and will involve the same judge and prosecutors as well as many of the same witnesses. But Gutierrez-Reed's trial included previously undisclosed testimony from eyewitnesses to the shooting. “Alec Baldwin’s conduct and his lack of gun safety inside that church on that day is something that he’s going to have to answer for," prosecutor Kari Morrissey said in her closing arguments against Gutierrez-Reed. The filming of “Rust” moved to Montana after the shooting in New Mexico, under an agreement with Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, that made him an executive producer.

Persons: Alec Baldwin, convicting armorer Hannah Gutierrez, Reed, Halyna Hutchins, Baldwin, “, Hutchins, Joel Souza, Gutierrez, Emily D, Baker, wasn't, Hannah, ”, Reed's, Bryan Carpenter, Souza, Dave Halls, Mamie Mitchell, Alec Baldwin’s, Kari Morrissey, ” Morrissey, Jason Lewis, Attorney Mary Carmack, Altwies, Carmack, Ross Addiego, “ Rust ”, Matthew Hutchins, ___ Dalton Organizations: SANTA FE, New, Forensic Science Services, Gutierrez, Attorney, Democratic Locations: SANTA, New Mexico, Gutierrez, Angeles, Santa Fe, Arizona, Montana, Los Angeles

☆ How the fall of Roe v. Wade led to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —An Alabama Supreme Court ruling that decided frozen embryos are children, and those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death, shows a new way in which the overturning of Roe v. Wade can affect how embryos are viewed under certain state laws. That decision is the first known case in which a US court has ruled that frozen embryos are human beings. Events leading up to the Alabama Supreme Court decision can be traced to 2006, when the criminal statute for homicide in the state was changed to include in utero. President Joe Biden said in a statement Thursday that the Alabama Supreme Court decision was a “direct result” of the overturning of Roe. “From the beginning, I’ve been warning that the fall of Roe v. Wade wasn’t just about abortion – and the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling proves that,” Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who introduced the legislation with Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, wrote in an email Thursday.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Mack, Carmack, ” Dr, Shaun Williams, ”, Williams, Joe Biden, ” Biden, “, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, I’ve, Wade wasn’t, –, Illinois Sen, Tammy Duckworth, Susan Wild, ” CNN’s Devan Cole Organizations: CNN, An, An Alabama Supreme, Alabama, of, Democratic, Senate, CNN Health, “, Pennsylvania Locations: An Alabama, US, Alabama, Connecticut, of Alabama, “, America, Illinois

☆ Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says artificial general intelligence will be achieved in five years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said AGI will be reached in five years during the 2023 NYT DealBook Summit. Huang defined AGI as tech that exhibits basic intelligence "fairly competitive" to a normal human. Still, he admitted that AI technology is not quite there yet despite its rapid progress. AdvertisementJensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia — one of the companies that is fueling the AI revolution — predicts that we may be able to see artificial general intelligence, or AGI, within the next five years. "Software can't be written without AI, chips can't be designed without AI, nothing's possible," he concluded on the point of AI's potential.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Huang, —, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Ross Sorkin, Sorkin, Ilya Sutskever, Ian Hogarth, John Carmack, Demis Hassabis, Nvidia didn't Organizations: Nvidia, Service, New York Times DealBook, AIs, OpenAI

☆ ‘Rust’ Killing Forces Hollywood to Make Choices on Guns
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Julia Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The fatal “Rust” shooting offered a vivid reminder that many of the guns used on film sets are real. Sometimes they are loaded with blanks — cartridges with gunpowder but no projectiles — that produce a loud bang and a flash when fired. But while live ammunition is almost always banned on sets, real guns can of course also be loaded with real bullets, which is what happened in 2021 on the day Ms. Hutchins was killed. But since “Rust,” many armorers, who are responsible for firearms safety on sets, have seen opportunities dwindle, several said in interviews. And demand has increased for alternatives to real guns.

Persons: Baldwin, Hutchins, Mary Carmack, Altwies, ”, “ Priscilla, Priscilla, Elvis Presley, “ Napoleon, “, Steven Leek, “ Rust, “ Golda, Helen Mirren, Golda Meir, Dwayne Johnson, Guy Ritchie, Rebecca West, Ben Affleck Organizations: Newsweek Locations: Santa Fe County, “, Britain, Afghanistan

Playing a quiet but important role in shaping the governor's remarks was the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, America's top conservative think tank, according to two people with knowledge of their interactions. The range and frequency of those discussions with DeSantis' campaign have not been previously reported. In addition to Carmack, the policy director, at least seven other Heritage staffers have taken positions in the DeSantis campaign. Whether DeSantis' connection to the think tank has been helpful for his campaign is an open question. Following the controversial March 13 statement, Heritage officials had a suggestion for the campaign, according to one person with knowledge of the discussions.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Kevin Roberts, Tucker Carlson, DeSantis, Donald Trump, Bryan Griffin, Heritage, Griffin, Generra Peck, Trump, Noah Weinrich, Weinrich, Roberts, Dustin Carmack, Carmack, Steve Bradbury, Bradbury, Joe Biden's, David Dewhirst, Gram Slattery, Ross Colvin, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Florida, The Heritage Foundation, Gaylord National Resort, Center, REUTERS, Sarah, Fox News, Heritage Foundation, Senior Heritage, Heritage, Republican, TALLAHASSEE, Mar, Trump, Justice Department, Department of Education, FBI, Department of Transportation, Democratic Party, Top Heritage, Economic, Reuters, Republican Party, Fox Nation, Thomson Locations: National Harbor, M.D, WASHINGTON, Florida, Ukraine, United States, Washington, U.S, Russia, China, Milwaukee, Tallahassee , Florida, Tallahassee

REUTERS/Bing Guan/File PhotoAug 4 (Reuters) - “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez on Friday waived her right to a preliminary hearing, allowing charges against her over the 2021 shooting death of the movie's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, to move toward a possible trial. Actor Alec Baldwin was rehearsing when he fired a live round that killed cinematographer Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Prosecutors Andrea Reeb and Mary Carmack-Altwies, who handled the case until March, declined to comment on plea bargains. Prosecutor Kari Morrissey, who took over the case, said in a statement she expected the case to be set for trial in the future. Under New Mexico law, to convict Gutierrez of involuntary manslaughter prosecutors must prove she showed willful disregard for firearms safety.

Persons: Bing Guan, armorer Hannah Gutierrez, Halyna Hutchins, Jason Bowles, Hutchins, Bowles, Alec Baldwin, Joel Souza, Gutierrez, Dave Halls, Andrea Reeb, Mary Carmack, Altwies, Kari Morrissey, Prosecutors, Baldwin, Morrissey, Andrew Hay, Donna Bryson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, New, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Santa Fe , New Mexico, U.S, Mexico, New Mexico

☆ The countdown is on for DeSantis' presidential kickoff, just as 2024 frontrunner Trump readies powerful exit from Florida
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Polling has him second to Trump, who has been living in Florida at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Donald Trump's permanent residence is in Palm Beach, Florida, at his Mar-a-Lago oceanside estate. New Jersey, therefore, is set to become the new go-to spot for the GOP right around the time that the DeSantis campaign kicks off. On Monday, DeSantis' political team moved to a new office in Tallahassee, NBC News reported. The DeSantis political operation declined to share details of the governor's plans, including formal rollouts and events that may come later.

☆ Elon Musk says Twitter will soon allow calls and encrypted DMs
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk says calls and encrypted messages are coming to Twitter. Elon Musk says Twitter will soon allow calls and encrypted messages. Musk did not specify an exact timeline for the call feature but said "encrypted DMs V1.0" should launch on Wednesday. In December, Musk said Twitter was planning to delete around 1.5 billion inactive accounts to free up usernames. When approached for comment, Twitter responded with an automated reply that did not address the question.

☆ Elon Musk says Twitter is purging inactive accounts to 'free up abandoned handles'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter is purging inactive accounts in a bid to free up usernames, said Elon Musk. Elon Musk warned Twitter users on Monday that the platform is purging accounts that have been inactive for a few years. "We're purging accounts that have had no activity at all for several years, so you will probably see follower count drop," Musk tweeted. He also didn't say if or how people might re-activate their inactive accounts. Under the years-old policy, inactive accounts typically get to keep their usernames, and their handles aren't released to active users.

In Japan, DeSantis is expected to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, said two other people, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters. Back home in Florida, there are signs he is beginning to build out a foreign policy apparatus. His political operation is in the process of bringing on Dustin Carmack, a cybersecurity and intelligence expert with significant foreign policy experience, said one of the people. DeSantis traveled to Washington earlier this week to meet with Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. DeSantis is set to address an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation, a major think tank, on Friday.

☆ Alec Baldwin: Prosecutors plan to dismiss charges against actor in 'Rust' shooting, Baldwin's attorney tells CNN
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Chloe Melas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Prosecutors in the “Rust” fatal shooting case plan to file a notice to dismiss involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin, his attorney, Luke Nikas, tells CNN. CNN has contacted the special prosecutor in the Santa Fe, New Mexico case for comment. Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were both charged with involuntary manslaughter in January. An attorney for Gutierrez Reed has previously said she will plead not guilty. Prosecutors already removed a firearm enhancement charge against Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed, reducing a potential prison sentence from 5 years to a maximum of 18 months.

Baldwin, who is also a producer on the film, was charged with two counts of manslaughter in the death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Though Baldwin's manslaughter case has been dropped, the actor still faces other legal woes as a result of the accidental shooting. In early February, Hutchins' parents and sister filed a lawsuit against Baldwin, "Rust" producers and other crew members, accusing them of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other charges. Halls' hearing was the first to be conducted under the supervision of special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis. In her place, she appointed Morrissey and Lewis as special prosecutors.

☆ Nvidia's top A.I. chips are selling for more than $40,000 on eBay
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Nvidia's most-advanced graphics cards are selling for more than $40,000 on eBay , as demand soars for chips needed to train and deploy artificial intelligence software. The prices for Nvidia's H100 processors were noted by 3D gaming pioneer and former Meta consulting technology chief John Carmack on Twitter. The H100, announced last year, is Nvidia's latest flagship AI chip, succeeding the A100, a roughly $10,000 chip that's been called the "workhorse" for AI applications. Microsoft spent hundreds of millions of dollars on tens of thousands of Nvidia A100 chips to help build ChatGPT. Nvidia controls the vast majority of the market for AI chips.

☆ ‘Rust’ assistant director pleads guilty to gun charge in movie set shooting case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

David Halls, the "Rust" assistant director who handled the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, pleaded no contest Friday to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. The New Mexico judge overseeing the "Rust" case sentenced Halls to six months of unsupervised probation, a $500 fine and 24 hours of community service. To date, "Rust" proceedings have been routinely disrupted by complications concerning the appointment of the case's previous special prosecutor. The first special prosecutor for the case, Andrea Reeb, stepped down earlier this month, after Baldwin's defense lawyers filed a motion requesting her removal. "My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the 'Rust' case," Carmack-Altwies said in a statement.

☆ 'Rust' case district attorney appoints new special prosecutors, recuses herself
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The New Mexico district attorney who had overseen the "Rust" movie set manslaughter case recused herself Wednesday and appointed new special prosecutors after weeks of upheaval and controversy in the case. New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies appointed New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as special prosecutors. "My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the 'Rust' case," Carmack-Altwies said in a statement. Reeb, a former district attorney, was named special prosecutor before being elected to New Mexico's legislature last fall. Gutierrez-Reed's legal team, however, called for the request to appoint a new special prosecutor to be denied.

☆ Defense for 'Rust' armorer prepares to file motion to dismiss manslaughter case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Defense attorneys for the original "Rust" movie armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, are planning in the next two weeks to file a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against her, according to a person familiar with the matter. "Rust" star and producer Alec Baldwin is also charged in the case. If approved, the dismissal motion on behalf of Gutierrez-Reed would not automatically drop the charges against Baldwin, according to another person familiar with the matter. Reeb was announced as special prosecutor in August, and she was elected to New Mexico's legislature last fall. She stepped down as special prosecutor last week after Baldwin's defense team sought to disqualify her.

March 14 (Reuters) - The special prosecutor handling the case against actor Alec Baldwin in the 2021 "Rust" movie set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins announced on Tuesday she is stepping down, as Baldwin's lawyers had sought. The decision by special prosecutor Andrea Reeb came a month after Baldwin's attorney filed a motion to remove her because she is also a representative in the state legislature. The Baldwin team argued it violates the state constitution for a legislator to serve in another branch of government. "I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand." Gutierrez-Reed has blamed the shooting on potential sabotage, Baldwin's lack of firearms training, and a failure by Halls and Baldwin to call her onto set for extra firearm checks.

☆ Prosecutors in Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting case are getting heat over apparent missteps
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The charges stem from the October 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of independent film "Rust." She won the race in November but stayed on the "Rust" case. In September, Torraco donated $250 to Reeb's campaign, assuming that if Reeb won the legislative race, she would automatically recuse herself frocrat, andm the "Rust" case. Media circusThe case has received significant media attention, which has persisted due to Baldwin and the prosecutors' press communication. Beyond that, Heather Brewer, the DA's spokesperson specifically hired for the "Rust" case, has made several heated statements about Baldwin and his attorneys on behalf of the DA's office.

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Producers of the Western movie 'Rust' on Friday said they had agreed to pay a $100,000 civil fine for "serious" workplace safety breaches prior to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a New Mexico film set in 2021. Hutchins was killed when actor Alec Baldwin fired a live round from a gun he was using during a rehearsal on a movie set outside Santa Fe. The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rust Line Producer Gabrielle Pickle told the agency on Dec. 20 Gutierrez-Reed's requests for extra armorer days were granted. Production of the movie is set to resume in the spring in Montana, RMP has said.

☆ Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 'Rust' shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Actor Alec Baldwin entered a not guilty plea on Thursday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a fatal shooting on the New Mexico set of the film "Rust," court documents show. Baldwin made the plea while exercising his right to waive a first court appearance that was set for Friday, according to a court filing. New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies in January charged Baldwin and the movie's set armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. First assistant director Dave Halls also plead not guilty in a Thursday court filing in which he waived a Feb. 24 first court appearance. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed now faces a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted.

☆ Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' manslaughter charges downgraded, cutting possible prison time
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Prosecutors have downgraded the involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin, reducing the possible prison time the Hollywood star may face for the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of the movie "Rust," charging documents showed. Carmack-Altwies filed altered charges for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed on Friday, removing the firearm enhancement and reducing their possible prison sentence from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 18 months. “We applaud the decision of the district attorney to dismiss the firearm enhancement and it was the right call, ethically, and on the merits," said Jason Bowles, an attorney for Gutierrez-Reed. In 2022, the criteria for applying the firearm enhancement -with the 5-year minimum prison sentence - was expanded to include when a weapon was simply "discharged" in the commission of a noncapital felony. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed are both expected to make an initial court appearance in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Feb. 24.

☆ AGI's 'big brass ring,' artificial general intelligence, will be worth trillions, ex-Meta executive predicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ex-Meta exec John Carmack predicts that AI will soon simulate the human brain, per Dallas Innovates. He said that "artificial general intelligence" will be achieved by the 2030s and be worth trillions. Carmack's comments come as ChatGPT and generative AI tools have begun to show AI's capabilities. The ex-Meta executive and virtual reality visionary said that artificial general intelligence or AGI is AI's "big brass ring" and will become a trillion-dollar industry by the 2030s. Tools like deep fakes, chatbots, and voice synthesis already provide a glimpse into what artificial general intelligence can do, Carmack said.

☆ Ex-Meta exec had 'real issues' with the company's decisions and spending: 'I thought large fractions were really poorly spent'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former Meta VR exec John Carmack said he had "real issues" with the company's plans and spending. "I was having some real issues at Meta with large-scale strategic directions," Carmack said in an interview with the business publication, Dallas Innovates. "I'm sure you've seen some of the headlines about how much money they're spending, and I thought large fractions were really poorly spent." He had previously been Oculus' CTO. Zuckerberg has taken several strides in recent months to cut back on company spending — including embracing his role as "Chopper-in-Chief," Insider's Kali Hays reported.

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