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☆ Uncensored Chatbots Provoke a Fracas Over Free Speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Stuart A. Thompson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Several uncensored and loosely moderated chatbots have sprung to life in recent months under names like GPT4All and FreedomGPT. Many were created for little or no money by independent programmers or teams of volunteers, who successfully replicated the methods first described by A.I. Most groups work from existing language models, only adding extra instructions to tweak how the technology responds to prompts. The uncensored chatbots offer tantalizing new possibilities. Independent A.I.

Persons: A.I, ”, Oren Etzioni, “ They’re Organizations: Big Tech, A.I, University of Washington, Allen Institute for A.I

☆ You may never need to plug in your electric car again. Here's how.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Some startups are convinced that EV charging needs a fundamental overhaul. Battery swapping and wireless EV charging could someday make owning an EV way more convenient. Quick, convenient, and cheap battery swapping will be key for getting everyone else on board, John de Souza, Ample's cofounder and president, told Insider. He added that even at highway speeds, Electreon's roads can keep a vehicle's battery topped up indefinitely. "We need all the solutions together in order to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles," he said.

Persons: Long, John de Souza, Ample's, de Souza, Electreon, Oren Ezer, Ezer Organizations: Toyota Locations: Francisco, California, Europe

☆ Israel reboots fiercely opposed judicial campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows protesters holding banners as they demonstrate against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 24, 2023. REUTERS/Oren AlonJERUSALEM, June 25 (Reuters) - Israeli lawmakers on Sunday began debating a bill that would limit the Supreme Court's powers, rebooting a fiercely opposed judicial overhaul instigated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition. Anti-government demonstrations had prompted Netanyahu to suspend his judicial drive in March to allow compromise talks with opposition parties. The proposed judicial overhaul has also stirred Western concern over Israel's democratic health and spooked investors. Reporting by Maayan Lubell Additional reporting by Dan Williams Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Oren Alon JERUSALEM, rebooting, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Gilad Kariv, Yair Lapid, Maayan Lubell, Dan Williams, David Goodman Organizations: Israeli, REUTERS, Sunday, Coalition, Twitter, reining, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel

Representatives for Hermes and Rothschild did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision. Hermes said in a filing in March that Rothschild continued to market his NFTs after the jury's verdict. Rothschild told the court that Hermes' request went "far beyond what is appropriate in a case, like this one, that involves artistic expression." Rakoff largely granted Hermes' request, but decided not to order Rothschild to transfer the tokens out of an "abundance of caution" for 1st Amendment concerns. The case is Hermes International v. Rothschild, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Hermes, Mason Rothschild's, Birkin, Jed Rakoff, Rothschild's, Rakoff, Rothschild, Sonny Estival, Gerald Ferguson, Deborah Wilcox, Oren Warshavsky, Rhett Millsaps, Christopher Sprigman, Mark McKenna, Rebecca Tushnet, Lex Lumina, Jonathan Harris, Adam Oppenheim, Harris St, Laurent, Wechsler Read, Blake Brittain Organizations: Hermes, Constitution, . Rothschild, Southern, of, Baker, Hostetler, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, U.S, . Rothschild , U.S, of New York, Washington

☆ Republicans Against Inequality
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Vance, the Ohio Republican, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts progressive, have collaborated on a bill to claw back executive pay at failed banks. The two worked through the details through in-person conversations, weekend phone calls and late-night texts. Rubio this month published a book, “Decades of Decadence,” that criticizes the past 30 years of globalization. Tomorrow afternoon, these four Republican senators — Cotton, Rubio, Vance and Young — will speak at an event on Capitol Hill that’s meant to highlight the emergence of a populist conservative movement in economics. Cass is right about that: Income growth for most families has been sluggish for decades, trailing well behind economic growth.

Persons: J.D, Vance, Elizabeth Warren, Marco Rubio, Rubio, Todd Young, Tom Cotton of, Biden, — Cotton, Young —, ”, Oren Cass, Mitt Romney, Cass, ” Cass Organizations: Ohio Republican, Todd Young of Indiana, Capitol, Conservative, American Locations: Massachusetts, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tom Cotton of Arkansas

CNN —The US military deployed F-22 fighter jets to the Middle East this week due to concerns about ‘unsafe and unprofessional behavior,’ by Russian aircraft, the US military announced on Wednesday. “Russian Forces’ unsafe and unprofessional behavior is not what we expect from a professional air force. A US Air Forces Central spokesperson said there has been an increase “over the past several weeks” of unprofessional behavior by Russian aircraft. “While the unprofessional and unsafe behavior varies from day to day and pilot to pilot, compared to behavior a year ago, Russian pilots have become significantly more unprofessional and unsafe in their attempts to challenge Coalition enduring defeat-Da’esh operations,” the spokesperson said. “Previously, Russian military leadership in Syria had been willing to comply with agreed upon deconfliction protocols,” they added.

Persons: ”, Michael “ Erik ” Kurilla, Alex Grynkewich, Kurilla, “ Organizations: CNN, “ Russian Forces, 94th Fighter Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, US Air Forces Central, Raptors, US, Russian, Coalition Locations: Virginia, Europe, Ukraine, Syria, Russia

☆ US set to launch formal investigation into disputed Syria drone strike after reports it killed a civilian, defense officials sa
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The US military is set to launch a formal investigation into a drone strike in Syria in early May, six weeks after the operation and following reports it killed a civilian rather than a senior al-Qaeda leader as first claimed, three defense officials familiar with the matter told CNN. A spokesman for CENTCOM, Michael Lawhorn, said the investigation process is continuing but that there were no updates at this time. It took US Central Command two weeks to begin a review of the incident, known as a civilian casualty credibility assessment report. The policy was developed in 2022 after a botched US drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 civilians in the final days of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. In that case, CENTCOM opened a formal 15-6 investigation into the strike within a week of the operation.

Persons: Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM, Kurilla, Hassan, Michael Lawhorn, Matthew McFarlane, ”, Annie Shiel, Shiel, Lloyd Austin, “, Brig, Pat Ryder Organizations: CNN, Command, Central Command, Pentagon, US Central Command, Washington Post, Force, ISIS, Center for Civilians, Defense Department, Defense Locations: Syria, Hassan Mesto, Kabul, Afghanistan

☆ How Could A.I. Destroy Humanity?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Cade Metz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Hypothetical is such a polite way of phrasing what I think of the existential risk talk,” said Oren Etzioni, the founding chief executive of the Allen Institute for AI, a research lab in Seattle. Are there signs A.I. But researchers are transforming chatbots like ChatGPT into systems that can take actions based on the text they generate. In theory, this is a way for AutoGPT to do almost anything online — retrieve information, use applications, create new applications, even improve itself. “People are actively trying to build systems that self-improve,” said Connor Leahy, the founder of Conjecture, a company that says it wants to align A.I.

Persons: ”, Oren Etzioni, Connor Leahy Organizations: Allen Institute, AI Locations: Seattle, AutoGPT

☆ A real-estate agent might have bought Ken Griffin's cell phone number from a former FBI employee to facilitate the $240 million sale of a New York City condo
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Zoe Rosenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In 2019, real-estate agents and brothers Tal and Oren Alexander sold a $240 million condo. That's the Alexander brothers' unofficial mantra. In 2015, Griffin dropped $46.4 million on an abstract painting by Gerhard Richter, putting him in the Alexanders' crosshairs. Tal wouldn't reveal how he acquired Griffin's cell phone number, Clarke noted, but one of the writer's sources said he bought it from a former FBI agent. But Griffin wasn't interested in the penthouse Tal had in mind for him.

Persons: Tal, Oren Alexander, Ken Griffin, —, Alexander, Katherine Clarke, Clarke, it's Tal, Oren —, Oren, Douglas Elliman, Griffin, Gerhard Richter, Tal wouldn't, Griffin wasn't, — Griffin, Shlomy Alexander, They've, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Leon Black, Tommy Hilfiger Organizations: Service, Wimbledon, Rollers, Penguin Random, Citadel, Old, FBI, Alexander Team Locations: Aspen, Saudi, United States, Central Park, Miami, Miami Beach

☆ Mark Milley: Exclusive: Top US general says Ukraine is 'well prepared' for counteroffensive in war that has 'greater meaning' for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Watch CNN’s full interview with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” today at 4 p.m. Milley, who is retiring this year, is in Normandy to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the 1944 D-Day invasion — a massive World War II operation that he called the “greatest amphibious invasion in human history” — as the war continues to rage in Ukraine. For months now, the US and its allies have been helping arm Ukraine for the counteroffensive, which was expected to start in the spring. Most recently, the US said it would support a joint effort by other nations to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. The war has also begun creeping into Russia, as suspected Ukrainian drone strikes hit inside Moscow and a shelling attack was carried out in Belgorod.

Persons: Staff Mark Milley, Jake Tapper ”, Oren Liebermann, Milley Organizations: Joint Chiefs, Staff, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Europe, United States, Normandy, France, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Moscow, Belgorod

☆ A Toyota EV drove 1,200 miles without stopping to charge thanks to electric roads with wireless charging
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An innovative wireless charging system embedded under the asphalt. To demonstrate the tech's potential, Electreon drove an electric Toyota for 1,206 miles straight on a test track that had its wireless charging coils embedded under the asphalt. The impressive feat shows how wireless charging can revolutionize EV ownership, Oren Ezer, Electreon's CEO and cofounder, told Insider. But Ezer thinks wireless electric roads could work wonders for personal EV ownership, too. The firm plans to open a mile-long stretch of electric road in Detroit.

Persons: Electreon, Oren Ezer, Rav4, Ezer, EVs Organizations: Toyota, EV, — Locations: Germany, Detroit

CNN —A Chinese fighter jet conducted an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” during an intercept of a US spy plane in international airspace over the South China Sea last week, the US military said in a statement Tuesday. The RC-135 was conducting “safe and routine operations” in international airspace, US Indo-Pacific Command said. The US has seen an alarming increase in the number of risky aerial intercepts conducted by Chinese aircraft, according to an INDOPACOM spokesperson. Chinese aircraft have been more aggressive, drawing closer to US and allied aircraft, prompting concern about a potential unsafe incident or miscalculation. Over the past several years, the South China Sea has emerged as a major potential flashpoint in the Asia Pacific.

Persons: ”, Nancy Pelosi’s, Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, it’s Organizations: CNN, Pacific Command, Pacific Joint Force, Pentagon, Defense, Dialogue Security, US, Defense Department, Department of Defense, Embassy, Navy, South China, Center for Strategic, Studies, Power Locations: South, United States, U.S, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Singapore, INDOPACOM, Asia

CNN —A drone strike carried out by the US military this month in northwest Syria killed a 56-year-old father of ten out grazing his sheep, his relatives have told CNN, hours after US Central Command said a civilian may have been killed in the operation. The strike, carried out on May 3 in northwest Syria, targeted a senior al-Qaeda leader, Central Command said in a tweet announcing the operation that day. In the two weeks that have passed since the operation, Central Command has not released any more information about the intended target. The Washington Post first reported that the US military is investigating whether a civilian was killed in the strike. Killed alongside his sheepRelatives of a man who was killed in a lone strike on the same day in the same area have since come forward with their version of events, saying he was a family man with no links to militancy.

☆ US Central Command investigating after strike ‘may have resulted’ in a civilian killed in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US military is investigating a strike in Syria earlier this month that “may have resulted” in a civilian being killed, according to a statement from US Central Command. The strike, carried out on May 3 in northwest Syria, targeted a senior al-Qaeda leader, Central Command said in a tweet announcing the operation that day. In the two weeks that have passed since the operation, Central Command has not released any more information about the intended target. CENTCOM “has been made aware of allegations that the strike may have resulted in a civilian casualty” and is investigating to see where the strike “may have unintentionally resulted in harm to civilians,” Central Command spokesperson Michael Lawhorn said in a statement. The Washington Post first reported that the US military is investigating whether a civilian was killed in the strike.

National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby declined to comment specifically on the possibility of the US sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but said broadly that the US has been forward-looking about “future capabilities” and needs. US lawmakers and congressional staffers have joined in the F-16 lobbying campaign, urging the administration to provide the jets so that Ukraine can establish control over its skies. US allies with F-16s could conduct training for Ukrainian fighter pilots, or the aircraft’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, could carry out training as a private contractor. Without the jets, Ukraine is having to improvise, officials say. The Russian jets have largely been staying behind Russian defensive lines, making them difficult for Ukraine to target with shorter-range systems like NASAMs.

The error – which lawmakers and congressional staffers were briefed on Thursday – triggered frustration from Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees. “The revelation of a three-billion-dollar accounting error discovered two months ago and only today shared with Congress is extremely problematic, to say the least. Now, due to this revelation, there is about $5.3 billion still available, far more than even the largest single package provided to Ukraine. But now that there is more funding available, congressional sources said they are less concerned about the immediate need for a new funding package for Ukraine. The accounting error occurred because when the US transferred weaponry to Ukraine, they counted the value of replacing the weapon instead of the value of actual weapon, defense officials explained.

CNN —A US-made Patriot air defense system was likely damaged, but not destroyed, as the result of a Russian missile barrage in and around Kyiv early Tuesday morning local time, a US official tells CNN. We’ll stay out of commenting on Russian sources,” said the Ukrainian Air Force spokesman, Yurii Ihnat. Ukraine currently has two Patriot air defense systems in country, one donated by the US and the other donated jointly by Germany and the Netherlands. It is unclear which of those systems was potentially damaged, but taking one out of commission – even for a short period – could affect Ukraine’s ability to defend Kyiv amid intensifying Russian missile attacks. The components operate together to fire a Patriot missile and successfully guide it to its target.

CNN —The US has announced a $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine intended to “bolster its air defenses” and “sustain its artillery ammunition needs,” with Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces looming. Instead of supplying Ukraine with the weapons it currently needs, USAI packages are intended to create a medium- and long-term supply for Ukraine. With the new package announcement, the US has committed $37.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including $36.9 billion since the beginning of the war in February 2022. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in late April that the Ukrainian military is almost finished preparing for its counteroffensive against Russian forces. But even after the Ukrainian counteroffensive begins, the US will continue to send military aid to Ukraine, according to a US military official, both to sustain Ukraine’s military force against dug-in Russian troops and to provide new equipment.

☆ Russian pilots trying to ‘dogfight’ US jets over Syria, US Central Command says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russian pilots are trying to “dogfight” US jets over Syria, according to a spokesman for US Central Command, part of a recent pattern of more aggressive behavior. The attempts have happened in several of the most recent instances of aggressive behavior from Russian pilots, Col. Joe Buccino said. A video released by US Central Command from April 2 shows a Russian SU-35 fighter jet conducting an “unsafe and unprofessional” intercept of a US F-16 fighter jet. That also includes 26 instances in which armed Russian jets flew over US and coalition positions in Syria. Russia subsequently presented state awards to the pilots of the Russian jets.

CNN —The ISIS-K leader who planned the deadly 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport’s Abbey Gate was killed by the Taliban, according to the National Security Council. Kirby did not specify when the Taliban killed the ISIS-K leader, but called it one in a “series of high-profile leadership losses” that ISIS-K has suffered this year. The terrorist who carried out the suicide bombing, Abdul Rehman Al-Loghri, had been released from prison only days earlier when the Taliban took control of the area. ISIS-K stands for ISIS-Khorasan, the terror organization’s affiliate that is active in Afghanistan and the surrounding region. Taylor Hoover, who was killed in the bombing, told CNN that he was notified by the military Tuesday morning.

☆ One of the most important conservative think tanks is changing its tune on the free market and state power to keep up with the 'New Right' ushered in by Trump and DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Ethan Dodd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A recent report published by the think tank outlines how government could play a greater role in the economy. The foundation is trying to keep up with American right's turn away from free markets with Trump and DeSantis. On the other side are libertarian conservatives like Sen. Rand Paul who opposes interfering with free markets. The Reaganite fusion of free markets, social traditionalism, and anti-communism "is fundamentally dead," Geoff Kabaservice, vice president of political studies at the market-oriented think tank Niskanen Center, told Insider. Heritage's president, Kevin Roberts, took over in 2021 and has aligned the think tank much more with the New Right, which is home to figures like Florida Gov.

☆ US labor market gradually losing steam; producer inflation cooling
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Still, the labor market and inflation are likely not cooling fast enough to stop the Federal Reserve from raising interest rates one more time next month. Claims, however, remain below the 270,000 level, a breach of which economists say would signal a deterioration in the labor market. "The upcoming labor market downturn will be modest since the drop in demand is expected to be fairly modest." InflationThe annual PPI rate is subsiding as last year's large increases drop out of the calculation. In the 12 months through March, the core PPI advanced 3.6% after increasing 4.5% in February.

☆ Party pressure mounts on Netanyahu to pause judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Netanyahu, who is on trial on graft charges that he denies, says the overhaul will balance out the branches of government. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, a Likud lawmaker, broke ranks on Saturday by publicly urging Netanyahu to suspend legislation for a month. Gallant's statement was welcomed by senior Likud lawmaker David Bitan. But it was not clear if they or others in Likud might abstain in a ratification vote. But a pro-reform Likud lawmaker, Tally Gotliv, sounded unfazed.

☆ Netanyahu softens pace, focus of Israel's judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Wielding a parliamentary majority, Netanyahu had looked set to ratify the package of reforms by the Knesset's April 2 recess. Previously, the bill envisaged the panel including three cabinet ministers, two coalition lawmakers and two public figures chosen by the government - spelling a maximum 7-4 vote majority. It is amended form, the bill envisages the panel being made up of three cabinet ministers, three coalition lawmakers, three judges and two opposition lawmakers. Any appointments beyond that would have to be approved by a majority vote including at least one judge and one opposition lawmaker among selection panel members. "We are extending a hand to anyone who genuinely cares about national unity and the desire to reach an agreed accord," the coalition statement said.

Security analysts who monitor far-right chatter on social media, said initially the impulse of Trump's followers was to heed his call and hit the streets. But by Monday, the tone had shifted, according to the analysts and messages on several social media platforms examined by Reuters. "QAnon-related folks and some MAGA adherents are talking about how this is one big trap in some cases, that this is an operation intended to get (Trump's) supporters in trouble," Segal said. Almost immediately thereafter there was a second wave of, 'Don't protest, it's a trap just like January 6th,' that really overtook the first," Burghart said. Activist Laura Loomer, a prominent Trump supporter in Florida, called on Saturday for a "peaceful" Tuesday protest outside Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

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