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Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWNBA Rising: Inside the season that changed the leagueCaitlin Clark and Angel Reese are helping to fuel a massive surge in the WNBA's popularity. Yet the league is far from profitable and the two superstar rookies make just over $70,000 in base salary. The recent 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal with Disney, Amazon and NBC, and the announcement of three new expansion teams in San Francisco, Toronto and Portland, will flush the league with much needed cash in the coming years. The question is, will it be enough?

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Organizations: Disney, NBC Locations: San Francisco, Toronto, Portland

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAmazon is using generative AI to deliver packages faster with smarter robots and better routesFor decades, Amazon has set the standard for fast package delivery. When Prime launched in 2005, two-day shipping was virtually unheard of. By March 2024, 60% of Prime items were delivered same or next day. Now Amazon wants to push that number even higher, using generative AI, despite concerns about energy and cost. CNBC got an exclusive look at Amazon's use of generative AI to optimize delivery routes, make more intelligent warehouse robots, and better predict where to stock new items.

Organizations: Amazon, CNBC

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWith Apple on board, OpenAI's next act could be its toughest yetOver the next few months, ChatGPT creator OpenAI will face some of its biggest tests yet, including a high-profile partnership with Apple, a massive valuation and interest from high-profile investors, a restructuring of its complex hybrid structure and the next breakthrough and GPT-5 still on the line. It is a tall ask for a company that has seen a bumpy ride to the top and a divisive CEO. Can Sam Altman lead OpenAI into the big leagues? CNBC's Deirdre Bosa has the story.

Persons: OpenAI's, OpenAI, Sam Altman, Deirdre Bosa Organizations: Apple

☆ Why all eyes are on Arkansas' lithium
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Lisa Setyon | Jeniece Pettitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy all eyes are on Arkansas' lithiumArkansas is becoming a key player in U.S. lithium production, attracting major investments from Exxon Mobil, Albemarle, and Standard Lithium. The state's lithium-rich Smackover Formation could power millions of EVs, but challenges like volatile prices and unproven direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology remain. CNBC visited Magnolia and El Dorado, Arkansas, to explore the economic, technological and strategic impacts of this emerging lithium market.

Organizations: Exxon Mobil, CNBC Locations: Arkansas, Albemarle, El Dorado , Arkansas

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInside Google's chip lab, where it makes custom silicon to train Gemini and Apple AI modelsGoogle was the first cloud provider to make its own custom AI chips, called TPUs, when they first came out in 2015 - a trend both Amazon and Microsoft followed years later. Now, Apple has revealed it uses TPUs to train its AI models, positioning Google chips as an alternative to Nvidia's market-leading GPUs. CNBC got an exclusive look inside the lab where Google makes its chips, where its top executive showcased TPU Version 6, and its new Arm-based CPU, Axion, both coming out later in 2024.

Persons: Apple Organizations: Gemini, Apple, Google, Microsoft, CNBC

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Chinese EVs are taking over MexicoMexico has quickly become a major market for Chinese automakers. Last year, China was the leading car supplier to Mexico, exporting $4.6 billion worth of vehicles. Some Chinese EV makers like BYD have been looking for a further foothold in North America by exploring factory sites in Mexico. Now at the center of a trade war between the U.S. and China, how has Mexico quietly become a hot spot for Chinese EV companies, and will the country become a "backdoor" for these cars to drive into the U.S.?

Organizations: Mexico, U.S, EV Locations: Mexico Mexico, China, Mexico, North America, U.S

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTest driving BYD, Nio and other Chinese EV rivals of TeslaLow-cost, high-tech Chinese EVs have stirred fears of a government-subsidized existential threat to automakers around the world. So what do these vehicles have to offer? How do they compare to the Tesla Model Y, which in 2023 was the bestselling car in the world? CNBC's Beijing bureau chief Eunice Yoon tested four of them from large and high-profile Chinese brands to see how they stack up against the Model Y, and to offer some insight into how non-China rivals might compete against them.

Persons: Eunice Yoon Organizations: Tesla Locations: Beijing, China

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow ChatGPT transformed OpenAI from a little-known startup to a leader in AI developmentOpenAI was founded as a nonprofit in 2015 by a number of researchers, academics and entrepreneurs, including Sam Altman, Greg Brockman and Elon Musk. In 2022, OpenAI gained worldwide recognition when it launched its ChatGPT chatbot. It was the first time that many people were introduced to generative AI and within two months, ChatGPT had 100 million monthly users. OpenAI is now valued at over $80 billion and counts Microsoft as a major investor and partner.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Elon Musk, ChatGPT Organizations: Microsoft

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch 'Putin's Trader' — the biggest insider trading ring on Wall Street is in the KremlinRussian oligarch Vladislav Klyushin was the owner of a cybersecurity company in Moscow called M-13, but the firm was secretly a front for a hacking and insider trading operation that plagued Wall Street for years, generating more than $90 million in illicit profits. With exclusive access to the investigators who chased Klyushin around the globe, and an interview with a former Russian spy, CNBC's Eamon Javers reveals the shocking details of this audacious criminal enterprise.

Persons: Vladislav Klyushin, Klyushin, CNBC's Eamon Javers Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Moscow, Russian

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow the massive power draw of generative AI is overtaxing our gridData centers are being built at a rapid pace to meet the power needs of generative AI, and concerns are mounting about whether we can generate enough energy to fuel the growth. One ChatGPT query takes about 10 times as much energy as a typical Google search and training a large language model can produce as much CO2 as the entire lifetime of five gas-powered cars. Now data centers are building closer to available power, as the invests in alternate energy sources and tries to hard the grid.

Nickel mining in Indonesia has surged, making it the world's top producer of the metal. With over 14 active mines, Indonesia supplies more than 40% of global nickel demand, driven by its crucial role in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The rapid growth in nickel production is closely linked to Indonesia's partnership with China, the largest global EV battery producer. Chinese investments have bolstered Indonesia's mining capabilities, focusing on refining nickel locally following a 2022 ban on raw nickel exports. Increased nickel production in Indonesia has led to oversupply and lower prices, impacting producers in Australia and Canada.

Persons: Jason Sappor, Tesla, Todd Malan, It's, Elon Musk Organizations: P, EV, Talon, Talon Metals, Tesla Inc Locations: Indonesia, China, Australia, Canada, America, United States, Michigan, Minnesota

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHigh above the clouds — the rise of stratospheric balloon tourismA number of startups are hoping to hoist tourists to the stratosphere using pressurized capsules and massive gas-filled balloons. CNBC spoke to three of them, France-based Zephalto, Florida-based Space Perspective and Arizona-based World View. The balloon trips wouldn't take passengers all the way into space but the companies said passengers would be able to experience the "overview effect," a common, highly emotional phenomenon felt by astronauts when they see the earth against the blackness of space.

Organizations: CNBC Locations: France, Florida, Arizona

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInceptive CEO Jakob Uszkoreit on transformers and using AI to make new drugsBefore co-founding AI biotech startup Inceptive, Jakob Uszkoreit helped invent the transformer, the neural network architecture that underpins generative AI. As a researcher at Google in 2017, Uszkoreit was one of the eight authors of the seminal "Attention is All You Need" paper. Now, he's using generative AI to transform the way drugs are developed and how they work. CNBC's Katie Tarasov sat down with Uszkoreit to ask about how AI will shape the future of pharmaceuticals.

Persons: Jakob Uszkoreit, Uszkoreit, CNBC's Katie Tarasov Organizations: Google

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMeet the AI-powered robots Big Tech is betting can solve the global labor crisisHumanoid robots are catching the attention, and billions of investment dollars, from Big Tech companies like Amazon, Google, Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Powered by AI, these bots have seen quantum leaps in what they're capable of in just the past few years. CNBC's Kate Rooney speaks with Agility Robotics, Apptronik, Sanctuary AI and others to explore the rise of these AI-driven humanoids, if they're a cure-all for our global workforce problems, or if this is yet another tech bubble.

Persons: CNBC's Kate Rooney Organizations: Big Tech, Google, Nvidia, Tesla, Microsoft, Robotics

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCohere CEO Aidan Gomez on how generative AI will bring more profit to companiesAidan Gomez is the CEO and co-founder of Cohere and he's been at the center of generative AI since its early days. He was an intern at Google in 2017, when he helped write the foundational paper that conceptualized the transformer - the tech that makes generative AI possible. Now he's focused on building generative AI models for companies instead of consumers. CNBC's Steve Kovach sat down with Gomez to talk about the burgeoning tech and specific ways his models will boost profits for companies.

Persons: Aidan Gomez, Cohere, he's, Steve Kovach, Gomez Organizations: Google

☆ A scene of humans hunting a pig painted in an Indonesian cave is oldest known narrative art
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Katie Hunt | Lex Harvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The paintings are older than Europe’s famed cave art such as Lascaux in France, and, while younger than some geometric abstract art found in South Africa, it’s the oldest of a narrative scene, the authors of the study said. The cave art discoveries have challenged a longstanding belief that artistic expression — and the cognitive leap that fired up the human imagination — began in Europe. BRIN Google Arts & CultureEvolution of dating techniquesDating cave art is often difficult if the work is made with mineral pigments such as ocher or manganese rather than biological materials such as carbon. The study’s dating of the cave art is robust, but it’s “a leap of faith” to suggest that the figurative art was narrative in scope, said Paul Pettitt, a professor of archaeology at Durham University in the United Kingdom. It’s also unclear why so much cave art has been found in this region of Indonesia, Aubert said, but he and his team expected to find more.

Persons: “, ”, Maxime Aubert, ” , Adam Brumm, —, Renaud Joannes, Boyau, Joannes, Aubert —, Aubert, Nowell, wasn’t, it’s, Paul Pettitt, Dominic Julian, BRIN, Pettitt, It’s, sapiens Organizations: CNN, Griffith, for Social, Research, Australia’s Griffith University, BRIN Google Arts &, Southern Cross University, University of Victoria, Durham University, BRIN Google Locations: South Sulawesi, France, South Africa, Australia, Sulawesi, ”, Europe, Indonesia, archaeogeochemistry, Canada, United Kingdom, Africa

☆ Naomi Osaka knocked out of Wimbledon by American Emma Navarro
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Naomi Osaka was beaten in less than an hour by American Emma Navarro in the Wimbledon second round, losing 6-4 6-1 to the No. Navarro needed just 59 minutes to ease past four-time grand slam champion Osaka, who recorded her first win at Wimbledon since 2018 against Diana Parry in the first round. 113 in the world, Osaka was competing as a wildcard at Wimbledon this year. Osaka, who has won all four of her grand slam titles on hard courts, still hasn’t been past the third round at Wimbledon. 17 position and looks a real threat in SW19 after reaching the semfinals of the Bad Homburg Open in the lead up to Wimbledon.

Persons: Naomi Osaka, Emma Navarro, Navarro, Diana Parry, hasn’t, “, ”, There’s, Jordan Pettitt, ” Navarro, “ I’ve, I’m, Diana Shnaider, Sloane Stephens Organizations: CNN, Wimbledon, Osaka, Bad, Court Locations: Osaka, ” Osaka, SW19

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNear Co-founder Illia Polosukhin talks AI and inventing the transformer at GoogleIllia Polosukhin is one of the "Transformer 8," a group that many call the founding fathers of generative AI. They co-wrote a paper at Google in 2017 that established the core concept that makes generative AI possible: transformers. Polosukhin left Google to co-found Near, an AI startup and blockchain ecosystem with millions of users. CNBC's Katie Tarasov sat down with Polosukhin to talk about the what he sees as the pitfalls and possibilities of the tech revolution he helped kick off.

Persons: Illia Polosukhin, Katie Tarasov, Polosukhin Organizations: Google

☆ Boeing Starliner's long and grueling road to launching astronauts
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Magdalena Petrova | Jeniece Pettitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBoeing Starliner's long and grueling road to launching astronautsBoeing's Starliner is a human-grade space capsule designed to take astronauts to and from the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Crew contract. To date, NASA has given Boeing nearly $5 billion to develop Starliner, but the company has struggled amid a myriad of delays and technical issues. Boeing recently launched its last test, a milestone crewed mission, which it needs to complete before NASA can certify Starliner to begin operational missions.

Organizations: Boeing, International Space, NASA

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Walmart turned Bentonville, Arkansas into a boomtownWalmart's hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas has become a boomtown with many amenities you might expect to find in New York or San Francisco – fancy restaurants, craft cocktails, bike paths and a world-class art museum. The town has more cranes per capita than any other U.S. city as Walmart builds a 350-acre new headquarters. Bentonville's population is expected to triple by 2050. But with the boom comes big-city economic challenges. CNBC's Melissa Repko travels to Bentonville for the story.

Persons: CNBC's Melissa Repko Organizations: Walmart Locations: Bentonville , Arkansas, New York, Francisco, Bentonville

☆ King Charles travels to mark D-Day anniversary while Prince William takes greater role
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Max Foster | Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

On Thursday morning, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer. King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at the British Normandy Memorial. Corbis/Getty Images British troops reach the shore in the early morning. Germans rained mortars and artillery down on Allied troops, killing many before they could even get out of their boats. U.S. Army Injured American soldiers wait to be moved to a field hospital after storming Omaha Beach.

Persons: CNN — Britain’s King Charles III, –, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Charles, Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron, Chris Jackson, “, ” Charles, King George VI, ”, Robert F, Sargent, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Ed Jackson, Samuel Chase, Clarence Shoop, FPG, —, Jeffrey Markowitz, Adolf Hitler, Holmes, King, Macron, Joe Biden –, Prince William, Prince, Wales, King William V’s, Richard Rohmer, France Gabriel Attal, Justin Trudeau, Jordan Pettitt, William, Camilla Organizations: CNN’s Royal, CNN, Omaha Beach, UK Ministry of Defence, Royal British, Royal British Legion, Trust, French, Getty, Army's 50th Infantry Division, Museum, NY, British Royal Navy, Coast Guard, Troops, Lockheed, US Air Force, Allied, Normandy, AP, U.S . Army Signal Corps, Getty Images, Reuters, Canadian, Omaha, Bilderwelt, Channel, US Coast Guard, Hulton, Nazi, U.S . Army Injured, National, Keystone, Fox, 6th Airborne, Images, US, Juno Beach Locations: Normandy, Omaha, Ver, Mer, United Kingdom, France, Utah, New York, United States, Omaha Beach, England, Hulton, Corbis, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, Poland, AFP, American, British, FPG, Courseulles, Canadian, Portsmouth, England’s

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEtsy boomed during the Pandemic. But now it's at a crossroads. E-commerce giant Etsy boomed during the pandemic, but less than four years later, its sales are declining, its stock has lost more than 70% of its value and missed earnings in 2023 and 2024 revealed other disappointing results. As the company looks to recapture growth, while competing with giants like Amazon and Ebay, it's unclear if there's a path to success. Unless as some sellers are demanding which is to double down on its original values.

Organizations: Ebay

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy Boeing wants to buy back Spirit AeroSystemsBoeing has struggled to get back on track after the fatal 737 Max 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019. The company announced it's in talks to buy back fuselage maker Spirit AeroSystems. A company Boeing spun off in 2005. Both companies have struggled with quality issues in recent years. Spirit AeroSystems, however, also supplies parts to Boeings main rival Airbus and other plane manufacturers making the deal a little complex.

Persons: Max, it's, AeroSystems Organizations: Boeing, Airbus

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Tesla may have just killed its most important product — SuperchargersTesla's Supercharging network faces uncertainty following Elon Musk's recent decision to disband the entire Supercharging team. The move coincides with broader restructuring due to falling sales and increased competition, resulting in a 32% drop in the stock price this year. Since the charging network's beginning in 2012, Tesla has built 6,000 stations and 55,000 Superchargers globally. But whether Tesla can maintain its advantage without the team remains to be seen.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Tesla

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy Detroit failed in ChinaDetroit automakers like General Motors made a fortune selling cars to Chinese consumers after the Asian country opened its auto market. But Chinese firms have caught up with top names like BYD, Geely and Great Wall. Tech companies are jumping in too, including Li Auto, XPeng, Nio, Xiaomi, Huawei, Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba. One industry analyst said he expects Ford and GM to withdraw from the country in the next five years along with others such as Hyundai, Kia and Nissan.

Persons: General Motors, Li Auto Organizations: Detroit, China Detroit, General, Wall . Tech, Li, Huawei, Baidu, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan Locations: China

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