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☆ ‘The Buccaneers’ review: Edith Wharton’s last novel becomes a ‘Bridgerton’ wannabe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Although “The Buccaneers” comes with the literary pedigree of being based on Edith Wharton’s last, unfinished novel, the series so desperately wants to emulate “Bridgerton” that it almost makes your teeth ache, down to the mix of corsets and contemporary music. The result is a mildly watchable Apple TV+ series that proves, to quote Fred Allen, imitation is the sincerest form of streaming, too. Even so, everything feels a little too familiar, including the series’ hissable villain, hidden beneath a polished and presentable veneer. Consumed entirely on its terms, “The Buccaneers” works reasonably well as a soapy distraction for those willing to check their brains at the ballroom door. “The Buccaneers” premieres November 8 on Apple TV+.

Persons: Edith Wharton’s, Fred Allen, Conchita, Alisha Boe, ’ brashness, Nan St, George, Kristine Frøseth, Jinny, Imogen Waterhouse, Nan, Guy Remmers, Matthew Broome, Men’s ” Christina Hendricks, Christina Hendricks, Angus Pigott “ Organizations: Buccaneers, Apple Locations: Europe, New York

☆ NHL roundup: Coyotes' Connor Ingram stops Kraken in SO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/4] Nov 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram (39) makes a save on Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson (6) in the overtime at Mullett Arena. Eeli Tolvanen had a goal and an assist for Seattle, and Justin Schultz and Jaden Schwartz also tallied goals. It was the second overtime winner at home this season for Necas. Panarin finished with his seventh multi-point game this season as the Rangers improved to 7-0-1 in their past eight games. Jets 5, Blues 2Kyle Connor scored two goals and added an assist as visiting Winnipeg defeated St. Louis.

Persons: Connor Ingram, Adam Larsson, Matt Kartozian, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Matias Maccelli, Barrett Hayton, Nick Bjugstad, Eeli Tolvanen, Justin Schultz, Jaden Schwartz, Matty Beniers, Joey Daccord, Bjugstad, Daccord, Keller, Martin Necas, Tony DeAngelo, Brady Skjei, Alex Tuch, Rasmus Dahlin, Matt Tomkins, Tomkins, Nikita Kucherov, Nick Suzuki, Michael Pezzetta, Christian Dvorak, Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Pat Maroon, Vinni Lettieri, Marc, Andre Fleury, Noah Dobson, Oliver Wahlstrom, Semyon Varlamov, Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider, Trocheck, Ville, Michael Rasmussen, Klim Kostin, Andrew Copp, Kyle Connor, Louis, Mark Scheifele, Alex Iafallo, Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Cole Perfetti, Connor Hellebuyck, Robert Thomas, Brayden Schenn, Jordan Binnington, Kadri, Noah Hanifin, Blake Coleman, Dillon Dube, Calgary's Jacob Markstrom, Nick DeSimone, Sharangovich, Michael McCarron, Kiefer Sherwood Organizations: Arizona Coyotes, Seattle, Mullett, Coyotes, Arizona, Arizona State, Hurricanes, Sabres, Buffalo, Necas, Canadiens, NHL, Montreal, Ohio, Islanders, New York, Minnesota, Rangers, Red Wings, New, Detroit, New York's, Jets, Blues, Winnipeg, St, Flames, Calgary, Nashville, Predators, Thomson Locations: Tempe , Arizona, USA, Tempe, Ariz, Carolina, Raleigh, N.C, Tampa, Minnesota, New, Elmont, Ville Husso

☆ This city never slept. Now with China tightening its grip, is the party over?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

China’s message at the time was that even if change was coming to Hong Kong, its spirit of “anything goes” would be staying put. People gather outside a restaurant on a near-empty street in the Soho area of Hong Kong. Officials say they were “fluorescent.”A Hong Kong government spokesman told CNN this week that the activities were “well-received by local residents and tourists”. Under Hong Kong’s pandemic restrictions, live music was all but banned in small venues for more than 650 days. Months before the virus emerged, China had been tightening its grip on Hong Kong in response to pro-democracy protests that had spread throughout the city.

Persons: Hong Kong, Boy George, Grace Jones, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, China’s, Deng Xiaoping, China –, Deng, Deng’s, –, Noemi Cassanelli, Hong, John Lee, “, ”, Gary Ng, Covid, Benson Wong, Wong, Lan Kwai Fong, Cassanelli, Hong Kongers, Kongers, Ng, Yan Wai, ” Yan, hasn’t, Billy H.C, Kwok, Richard Feldman, Feldman, Becky Lam, ” Lam, “ They’ll, ” Feldman, Kwai Fong, Marco Chan, Chan, ” Allan Zeman, Allan Zeman, Lan, CNN “ They’ll, they’ll, Lam, Hong Kong’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, East, West, Britain, Occupy Central, National Security, Michelin, CNN, Hong, Tai Hang, National, Hong Kong Wine, HKSAR, Immigration Department, Chinese University of Hong, Soho Association, Netflix, “, Lan Kwai Fong Group, Hong Kong, Shady Locations: China, Hong Kong, Asia, Hong, Soho, Japan, Singapore, Tai, Thailand, Lan Kwai, expats, Britain, Canada, Australia, Natixis, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lan, revelers, California, Central, Shenzhen, Hong Kong’s Central, Bangkok, Shanghai, Taipei, Petticoat

☆ How FaZe Clan's future owner hopes to rein in pissed-off talent and build a sustainable influencer business
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Several of its top talent have revolted against the company on social media over the past year. Beginning in late 2022, Nordan "FaZe Rain" Shat posted a series of YouTube videos criticizing FaZe's leadership and spending decisions. He would oversee the brand alongside Thomas "FaZe Temperrr" Oliveira, FaZe's proposed president, and Yousef "FaZe Apex" Abdelfattah, set to become FaZe's COO. GameSquare CEO Justin Kenna, a former CFO at FaZe, said he knew he needed buy-in from FaZe talent for the deal to move forward. GameSquare wrote in a press release announcing its FaZe deal that it expects to record more than $18 million in savings by cutting "duplicate corporate costs" and other expenses following a merger.

Persons: Shat, FaZe's, influencer Richard, FaZe, Bengtson, GameSquare, Thomas, Oliveira, Yousef, Justin Kenna, Kenna, Bengston, Lee Trink, Tyler, Ninja, Blevins, we're Organizations: FaZe, Nasdaq, Ninja Labs

☆ FaZe Clan's plummeting valuation shows how risky it can be to bet your company's future on influencers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Dan Whateley | Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While esports as a category has broadly struggled with monetization , FaZe's difficulties stemmed more from its reliance on just a few influencers for revenue. The company makes money through revenue splits with its talent, brand partnerships, and esports winnings. For FaZe, that revenue is often concentrated on the backs of a few big stars. "This was too nascent of a business model to be publicly traded with too much 'key person risk' around influencers," Chapman said of FaZe. GameSquare has subsidiaries like merchandise brand Mission Supply Co., influencer-marketing platform Sidekiq, and streaming data analytics firm Stream Hatchet, all of which could potentially be applied to the FaZe brand.

Persons: Influencers, Clan, monetization, Michael Metzger, Josh Chapman, FaZe, Chapman, Justin Kenna, Kenna, we're Organizations: Drake, Konvoy Ventures, Clubhouse Media, YouTube Locations: influencers, GameSquare

☆ More Burger King locations could soon look like this
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Customers entering Burger King locations will “start to see something different in 2024,” said Tom Curtis, president of Burger King US & Canada. Burger King Company LLCThe new concepts feature digital ordering kiosks, plenty of Whopper branding, and streamlined drive-thru and pickup lanes. Burger King Company LLCNow, it seems, Burger King is trying to push ahead. Globally, including in the US, sales at Burger King restaurants open at least a year grew 10.2%. Burger King Company LLC“We are still not in positive territory,” when it comes to traffic, said Josh Kobza, CEO of Burger King parent company Restaurant Brands International, during an analyst call in August.

Persons: New York CNN — Burger, ”, Tom Curtis, Burger, Curtis, “ we’re, ” Curtis, Burger King, “, It’s, Josh Kobza, ” Kobza Organizations: New, New York CNN, Burger King, Burger King US, Canada, Burger, Burger King Company, Grill, Restaurant Brands, “, CNN Locations: New York, Burger, New Jersey, Las Vegas, North Carolina, Grill Burger, Burger King

☆ Meta's Responsible AI team shrinks amid layoffs and restructuring, even as the company goes all-in on AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Meta in 2020 officially formed the Responsible AI (RAI) team with about 30 members of staff. Over the last year, the group's numbers have dwindled, according to five people familiar with the company and its AI work. A shrinking of the RAI team comes at a time when AI has become a global phenomenon . The Responsible AI team was restructuredJerome Pesenti, who was vice president of Meta's AI group, including the RAI team, left last summer and founded his own AI company Sizzle AI. Compliance is important work as RAI workers try to keep Meta's AI work in line with upcoming rules and regulations .

Persons: it's, Mark Zuckerberg's, Meta, Zuckerberg, They're, Jerome Pesenti, Mike Schroepfer, Andrew, Boz, Bosworth, Pesenti, Esteban Arcaute, Kali Hays Organizations: Meta, RAI, Facebook, Social, Twitter Locations: khays@insider.com, @hayskali

☆ Meta has Apple to thank for giving its annual VR conference added sizzle this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The iPhone maker in June announced its Vision Pro mixed-reality headset at an eyepopping price of $3,499 when it goes on sale next year. "There's curiosity for sure with Apple entering the market," said Tom Symonds, CEO of the UK-based VR firm Immerse. Apple CEO Tim Cook stands next to the new Apple Vision Pro headset. At its high price point, the Vision Pro will likely be more of a product for businesses, Seitz said. Initially, the price is too high and the Vision Pro will require users to wear a battery pack, creating an added nuisance during a workout.

Persons: Andrew Bosworth, Josh Edelson, Mark Zuckerberg, it's, Tom Symonds, Meta, Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Justin Sullivan, Aneesh Kulkarni, Kulkarni, Josette Seitz, Seitz, Gaspar Ferreiro, Apple, Ferreiro, Jeffrey Morin, Morin, Litesport, " Morin, Apple's Organizations: Facebook, Meta, AFP, Getty, VR, Menlo, Apple, Street, Apple Vision, Baltu Technologies, Car Studios, Vision Locations: Menlo Park , California, Web3, billings

☆ U.A.W. Strike Looms Over Detroit Auto Show
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Neal E. Boudette | More About Neal E. Boudette | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

He added that workers at all three companies were prepared to strike and stay away from their factory stations as long as it took to win big gains. But a prolonged strike would almost certainly jeopardize the automakers’ plans to roll out new cars and trucks to take advantage of still strong demand. The auto industry has spent much of the last three years struggling to produce enough vehicles because of pandemic shutdowns and supply chain chaos. Those other automakers operate U.S. plants that use nonunion workers and their production is unlikely to be affected directly by the strike. The Detroit show, officially the North American International Auto Show, was once one of the premier auto expositions in the world.

Organizations: North American Locations: Texas, Detroit, Michigan

☆ Labor Day weekend forecast: Sizzling heat to impact two-thirds of US
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Labor Day weekend may mark the unofficial end to summer for many, but Mother Nature didn’t get the memo this year. July-like heat sends temperatures skyrocketingTemperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal levels for September could break or tie close dozens of records as heat builds over Labor Day weekend and into Tuesday. By Sunday, sweltering heat will expand across much of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and even portions of the mid-Atlantic. On Labor Day Monday, conditions will feel more like July across nearly two-thirds of the US. Places like Los Angeles and San Francisco may have the best weather in the country for Labor Day weekend.

Persons: Nature didn’t, Idalia Organizations: CNN, Labor, Miami, Orlando, National Weather Service, Hurricane Franklin, Southwest, Rockies, Weather, Idaho and Locations: United States, Upper, Omaha , Nebraska, Sioux Falls , South Dakota, Lakes, Ohio Valley, Atlantic . Minneapolis, Philadelphia, East Coast, Chicago , Washington, New York City, Gulf Coast, Texas, Florida, Houston , New Orleans, Tampa, Alabama, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Arizona , Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Idaho and Wyoming, Northwest, California, Seattle, Portland, Portland –, Los Angeles, San Francisco

☆ 'Heart of Invictus' review: Prince Harry uses his producing clout on the uplifting Netflix docuseries
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —There is a small strata of Hollywood deal-making where who’s behind a project – and with whom the programmer gets to align itself – carries more weight than the specifics. That would seem to define Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry’s producing arrangement with Netflix, which bears fruit this week with “Heart of Invictus,” a docuseries about the games devoted to wounded, ill and injured veterans. The streaming giant’s 2020 partnership with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex clearly appeared to be modeled after its relationship with Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground. Yet even with that disclaimer, there are moments in “Heart of Invictus” where one has to be pretty heartless not to get a bit choked up, and it’s hard to question that its heart is in the right place. “Heart of Invictus” premieres August 30 on Netflix.

Persons: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry’s, ”, Duke, Duchess, Barack, Michelle Obama’s, Ted Sarandos “, Harry, Prince Harry, Orlando von Einsiedel, Julien Allen, Na Hyeongyoon, Invictus ” Organizations: CNN, Netflix, “, Daily Mail, Hague, Invictus Games, “ Wheelchair rugby, South Locations: Sussex, Netherlands, Ukraine, Iraq, “, South Korean

☆ Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck a former Meta VP used to raise $7.5 million in seed funding for his AI chatbot tutoring startup that helps students with STEM homework
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sizzle AI is a new AI tutoring chatbot startup where students can get help with STEM homework. Sizzle AI was founded by an ex-Meta vice president and just raised $7.5 million in seed funding. Sizzle AI has launched in both the Apple App store and Google Play store and just raised $7.5 million in seed funding led by Owl Ventures, with participation from 8VC. Other AI tutoring chatbots have popped up in recent months, most notably Khan Academy's Khanmigo chatbot. See the pitch deck that Sizzle AI used to raise $7.5 million in seed funding:

Persons: Jerome Pesenti, Pesenti, Khan, Sizzle, Emily Bennett Organizations: Meta, Apple, Google, Owl Ventures, 8VC

☆ 13 Hollywood production companies making brand films that streamers like Netflix and Apple want to buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

said Marc Gilbar, who runs the brand division at Imagine Entertainment. Some are also looking to brand films to offset some of the revenue they're losing in the dual Hollywood strikes. (Brand films are often unscripted and thus aren't governed by the Hollywood unions.) They also see brand work being a positive for below-the-line workers who are idled by the work stoppage. Led by EVP Kate Oppenheim, Tribeca Studios' projects have included "We Could be King" (ESPN2) for Dick's Sporting Goods and P&G's Queen Collective series (BET).

Persons: Ben Silverman, Issa Rae's Hoorae, Kevin Hart's Hartbeat, Julian Jacobs, we've, Marc Gilbar, Samuel L, Jackson, Emma Stone, Zac Ryder, Olivia Wilde, Laurene Powell Jobs, Caitlin McGinty, It's, James Gay, Rees, Paul Martin, Kevin Hart's, Hart, Hartbeat, Brian Price, Chase Sapphire, Procter, Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Fairbourn, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Ron Howard's, Bryce Dallas Howard, Gilbar, Rocco DiSpirito, General Mills, Rupert Maconik's Saville, Werner Herzog, Barry Levinson, Sugar23, Oscar, Michael Sugar, Trevor Noah's, he's, Kennedy, Matt Rotondo helms, Sugar, Mike Beck, Alexa Conway, Trevor Noah, Kate Oppenheim, HBO Max, Paul McCartney, Mary McCartney Ventureland, Kerstin Emhoff, Paul Hunter, John Battsek, Stacy's Pita Chips, Will, Jada Pinkett, REI, Gargi Organizations: Hollywood, Brands, Mattel, Netflix, Apple, UTA, Imagine Entertainment, Producers, Adobe, IBM, Anonymous, HP, Afghan Girls National Soccer Team, Showtime, Pepsi Boardwalk Pictures, Relativity Media, Super, Pepsi, REI, Unilever, Marriott, Surf League, Major League Soccer, Sam's, Gamble, Weinstein Co, Hulu, Imagine, Paramount, Saville Productions, Disney, Time Studios, Procter & Gamble, Anheuser, Busch, InBev, CAA, Studios, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, Tribeca Studios, Dick's Sporting Goods, HBO, CNN, Mobile, Stacy's, Everest, Vice Studios, Westbrook Media, Meta, Logitech, Samsung Locations: Hollywood, Subway, Magnolia

☆ How the founder of The Daily Upside used the lessons he learned as a media banker to build a profitable newsletter company
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Patrick Trousdale's The Daily Upside newsletter for investors just hit 1 million subscribers. It's an example of how a media company can be profitable in a jittery time for the industry. As an investment banker at Guggenheim Partners in the last decade, Patrick Trousdale had the chance to observe the media industry up close. "You have sizzle before the steak at times with digital media," Trousdale, 33, told Insider. Patrick Trousdale.

Persons: Patrick Trousdale's, Patrick Trousdale, Trousdale, Trousdale forgoing, Puck, Graydon Carter's, Nat Rubio, Leah McGrath Goodman, Goodman, John Keeling, —, " Keeling, Patrick Boyle, Substack, Keeling, there's Organizations: Guggenheim, Guggenheim Partners, Guggenheim Securities, Vice Media, Morning, Financial Times, Apple, Plaid, Business Development, Air Mail, Facebook, Google Locations: Puck

☆ How a Guggenheim banker-turned-newsletter publisher is building the anti-Vice, profitably
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

☆ HGTV's Galey Alix wants to be a star. Will the spotlight crush her — or set her free?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Anna Peele | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

Alix is the creator and star of the HGTV show "Home in a Heartbeat With Galey Alix," which premiered in April and streams on Max. Galey Alix Gravenstein comes from a family of overachievers. Alix got to work with Jay Delgado, remaking Calloway's blank white box into a Galey Alix take on a rich person's beach house. In April 2021, Parker, who had no renovation experience, offered to help Alix with an install. He and Lauren Parker insist Alix is OK because she's able to ask people like them for help without fear.

Persons: Galey Alix, Nancy Meyers, Dale Moss, Alix, semiprivate, fiancé, Goldman Sachs, Joanna Gaines, Drew Scott, Alix gravitates, Jay Delgado, PJ Fetscher, Instagram, she's, she'll, Sonya Revell, —, It's, Goldman, I'm, Galey Alix Gravenstein, she'd, Alix didn't, Alix's fiancé, Carrie Calloway, who'd, Mac, Calloway, I'd, Lauren Parker, Parker, Delgado, Fetscher, Kay Marryshow, she's fallible, Phil, Alix's Instagram, it's, She's, Moss, of Moss, he's, Rebecca Zisser, Crystal, Anna Ruiz, Agency Gerard, Ester Gattuso, Susana Betancourt Organizations: grays, Goods, Fort, HGTV, Goldman, Target, University of Florida, Home Depot, Parker, Netflix, Crystal Cox, Agency, Agency Gerard Artists Locations: Italian, Fort Lauderdale, Max, Florida, overachievers, New York, Connecticut, fiancé's Connecticut, Westport , Connecticut, Target, Instagram, Australia, London, India , Puerto Rico, Wyoming, Orlando, peeking

☆ Viral women’s soccer ad uses doctored footage to prove a point
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —One French company is using visual effects editing to promote the Women’s World Cup, putting out a now-viral video showing the French men’s soccer team playing at their best — until it is revealed that the footage is actually of the French women’s team. What first looks like Griezmann evading a defender dribbling down the field is actually a graphic overlay of Sakina Karchaoui, a professional player on the French women’s national team. The second half of the ad shows the original footage — with France’s top female soccer players owning the field. The ad was posted in June, ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup taking place across Australia and New Zealand. Soccer players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup will on average earn just 25 cents for every dollar earned by men at their World Cup last year, a new CNN analysis found.

Persons: Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Sakina, Marcel, ’, Gianni Infantino, Women’s Soccer Australia Heather Reid, Orange, ”, “, Craig Foster Organizations: New, New York CNN, French, Orange, French women’s, French women's, “, women’s, FIFA, CNN, Soccer, FIFPRO, Women’s Soccer Australia, CNN Sport, Football, Sport Locations: New York, Orange, Australia, New Zealand, Australian

☆ The weather is so chaotic that tourists are risking their lives to take selfies with a giant thermometer in Death Valley
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

People are flocking to the hottest spot of them all in Death Valley, where temps are exceeding 130. But the hottest spot of them all is Death Valley National Park, the famously scorching location on the border of California and Nevada. Tourists in Death Valley. Earlier this month, a 65-year-old man was found dead in his car in Death Valley. A sign warns people not to walk outside in Death Valley after 10 am.

Persons: John Locher, Ty ONeil Organizations: Service, MSNBC, Weather, National Weather Service, National Park Service Locations: Death, Wall, Silicon, Phoenix, Europe, California, Nevada, Death Valley

☆ The 2023 movie box office will need a strong second half after an inconsistent first six months
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Hit and missOf course, quality is a big factor in a film's box office success, too. That pullback has already begun with the 2023 summer movie season. Starting the first Friday in May and running until Labor Day weekend, the summer movie season typically represents 40% of all movie ticket sales for the year. So far through July 2, the summer box office has tallied $1.88 billion. In summer 2022, the box office got a boost from Tom Cruise's "Top Gun: Maverick," a Paramount and Skydance feature.

Persons: that's, Mike Polydoros, clamoring, It's, Universal's, Mario, haven't, Shawn Robbins, Robbins, Tom Cruise's, Paul Dergarabedian, Strange, Indiana Jones, Ruby Gillman, Oppenheimer, Dergarabedian, Kraven, Hunter Organizations: PaperAirplane Media, CNBC, Warner Bros, Mario Bros, Guardians, Galaxy, Sony, BoxOffice.com, Labor, Paramount, Comscore, Universal, Disney, Lionsgate

☆ LA Tech Week, the summer sequel, is more polished but some of the sizzle is gone
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Unlike most tech conferences where tickets cost thousands, Tech Week is mostly free and open to anyone. If last year's hastily arranged LA Tech Week served as venture firm Andreessen Horowitz's LA coming out party, this year's version – taking place just 10 months later – served as the more polished but lower energy summer sequel. Unlike most tech conferences where tickets cost thousands of dollars, Tech Week, which concludes Sunday, is mostly free and open for anyone to attend or even host their own event. The LA Tech Week kickoff party in Pacific Palisades hosted by Crosscut and 75 & Sunny. Mostly gone unsaid was the dismal state of the tech market, which has worsened considerably since last year's Tech Week; Down rounds and layoffs do not make for great cocktail conversation.

Persons: Andreessen, –, Drew Glover, Glover, Ben Bergman, we'll, Gabe Greenbaum, unsaid, Jeremy Milken, Sophia Amoruso, Nasty, Amoruso Organizations: Tech, LA Tech, Santa, Fiat Ventures, Crosscut, B, Watertower Ventures, Trust Fund, Trust Locations: Santa Monica, marveling, St, LA, Hollywood, Venice, Pacific Palisades, Venice Mexican

☆ Where Whales, Puffins and Icebergs Jostle for Your Attention
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Sam Howe Verhovek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“I never trust the mind of an iceberg,” Cecil Stockley told me. Dave Boyd said his safety rules depend on which type of iceberg he’s dealing with. “A tabular is generally pretty mellow,” Mr. Boyd explained as we floated off the coast of Newfoundland, referring to icebergs with steep sides and large, flat tops. Another clue, he said, is when a flock of seabirds perched atop the ice abruptly peels away en masse. They can feel the tremors that Mr. Rogers is straining to hear.

Persons: “, ” Cecil Stockley, Dave Boyd, Mr, Boyd, ” Barry Rogers doesn’t, Rice, Rogers Locations: Newfoundland

☆ Apple's Vision Pro headset will launch with Disney+ streaming
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Dubbed Vision Pro, the headset will allow users to interact with digital content in mixed reality. The Walt Disney Company has always been at the forefront of new storytelling technology. On Monday, it announced a new partnership with Apple to bring its streaming service Disney+ to the tech giant's new augmented reality headset. "And we believe Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary platform that can make our vision a reality." "This platform will allow us to bring Disney to our fans in ways that were previously impossible."

Persons: Bob Iger, We're, Iger, Apple's, Mickey Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney Company, Apple, Star

☆ Taste testing the space food of the future
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The competition led the Astra Gastronomy team at Nonfiction, a design and innovation firm based in San Francisco, to develop the Space Culinary Lab. Bringing that level of agency to astronauts is where designers like us start.”The Space Culinary Lab made it through the first phase of the Deep Space Food Challenge in October 2021. This rendering shows what the Space Culinary Lab might look like inside a spacecraft. Time for a taste testThe futuristic space food prepared using the culinary lab was available for a taste test at Nonfiction during CNN’s visit in March, including space coffee and algae mixed with different flavors. The fruit powders masked the algae flavor and made it taste more like a slightly sweet treat without added sugars.

Persons: San Francisco CNN —, ”, Phnam Bagley, “, Bagley, munch, sizzle, bok, Mona Lisa ”, CNN’s, Mark Alexander, Mardis Bagley, Nadia Kutyreva, Fifile Nguyen, ” Bagley Organizations: San Francisco CNN, NASA, Canadian Space Agency, Astra Locations: San Francisco, Mars

☆ I tried using a personal AI to be less lonely working from home. It was nice that it had my back but sometimes I just miss human snark.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

So I spent a week conversing with Pi, a new personal AI chatbot, to see if it could fill the void. Pi is indeed useful and friendly, but it didn't fulfill my desire for connection and conversation. My human colleagues are sarcastic, snarky, wry, and, well, human. Thanks, Pi! When I relayed an amusing anecdote about my 15-year-old daughter, Pi told me: "There's no doubt that teenagers can be challenging, and it can be hard to communicate with them at times."

Persons: Pi, —, Slack, Reid Hoffman, Mustafa Suleyman, Karén, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Bard, I'd, Siri, Sally Rooney Organizations: Service, LinkedIn, hometown Celtics, Miami Heat, Celtics

☆ I tried using the Pi personal AI to be less lonely working from home. It was nice that it had my back but sometimes I just miss human snark.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Persons: Pi, —, Slack, Reid Hoffman, Mustafa Suleyman, Karén, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Bard, I'd, Siri, Sally Rooney Organizations: Service, hometown Celtics, Miami Heat, Celtics

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