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☆ China Fudan University team apologises after ChatGPT-style platform crashes hours after launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Eduardo Baptista | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Feb 21 (Reuters) - A team from China's Fudan University apologised on Tuesday after a ChatGPT-like chatbot platform they developed crashed hours after it launched to the public, due to a sudden surge of traffic. The team's announcement on Monday of the platform they called MOSS instantly went viral on Chinese social media, generating tens of millions of hits on China's Twitter-like Weibo. State media described it as the first Chinese rival to OpenAI's hit ChatGPT platform. While the Fudan University team had on Monday initially described MOSS as a conversational language model like ChatGPT, on Tuesday they played down the comparison, saying they had much to improve. "MOSS is still a very immature model, it is still has a long way to go before reaching ChatGPT.

☆ Subway envisions an oasis where diners can picnic and play while charging their cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

On Tuesday, the chain announced plans to build EV charging stations at select restaurants in the US. 'Subway Oasis' parks will have charging stations, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, and playgrounds. Dubbed Subway Oasis, the EV parks will be outfitted with "charging canopies with multiple ports, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, restrooms, green space, and even playgrounds," the chain said Tuesday. Subway joins Taco Bell as one of the first fast-food chains to announce plans to add public EV charging stations to restaurants. Subway did not specify how much it would cost consumers to charge their cars at their new charging stations.

☆ Want to work from anywhere? These are the top 10 U.S. cities for digital nomads
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It tops the best U.S. cities for digital nomads, according to a new analysis from Reviews.org, which ranked the country's top 100 metros based on various work and life factors. Austin, Texas, comes in third and is one of three Texas cities that crack the top 10. Here are the top 10 U.S. cities for digital nomads:Atlanta Portland, Oregon Austin, Texas Seattle Phoenix Houston Dallas Chicago Las Vegas San FranciscoReviews.org ranked each city based on several work and life factors. Texas makes a strong showing, with three cities ranking well for digital nomads, buoyed in part by its agreeable weather and low cost of real estate. The two most populated cities in the U.S., meanwhile, don't come close to cracking the top 10 best cities for digital nomads.

☆ 'The Last of Us' is based on real science: A fungus pandemic is unlikely, but not impossible
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

"The Last of Us" on HBO Max depicts a zombie apocalypse caused by a fungus pandemic. Here's the science fact and fiction behind the show, and the possibility of a fungal pandemic. The new scenario, first realized in the video game that the show is based on, is making viewers wonder whether a fungus pandemic can happen in real life. "A fungal pandemic is definitely possible," Norman Van Rhijn, a mycologist researching fungal infections at the University of Manchester, told Insider in an email. Still, fungal infections are on the rise worldwide, and researchers are concerned that more and more people are at risk.

"Star Trek: Picard" is back for its third and final season. Stewart previously played the character on seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and in four theatrical Star Trek films. Check out the trailer for 'Picard' season 3In the third season, Picard reunites with many of his former crewmates from "The Next Generation," including characters played by Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, and Michael Dorn. How to watch 'Star Trek: Picard' season 3You can watch "Star Trek: Picard" season 3 exclusively on Paramount Plus. You can watch "Star Trek: Picard" for free if you sign up for a trial to Paramount Plus.

☆ Chick-fil-A is opening a break room for New York food delivery drivers to get coffee or use the restroom between orders, addressing some of the biggest complaints about the job
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chick-fil-A is opening a pop-up break room in New York City for delivery drivers. To get access, delivery drivers just need to show proof that they've completed any food delivery, not just a Chick-Fil-A delivery, within the past week for DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub, Postmates, Caviar, or Seamless. By providing these services, Chick-fil-A is offering a solution to some of the biggest complaints delivery drivers have about their jobs. Some delivery drivers even say they carry plastic bottles to pee in while working. The lack of facilities for New York's estimated 65,000 food delivery drivers has been an ongoing discussion for some time.

☆ Hollywood actress Raquel Welch dead at age 82
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LOS ANGELES, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Actress Raquel Welch, who helped redefine the traditional image of the Hollywood sex symbol with her portrayals of strong women in dozens of movies in the 1960s and '70s, died on Wednesday at age 82. Her death following a brief illness was confirmed in a statement released by Jane McKnight, her Los Angeles-based manager. She won a Golden Globe Award for best actress in a musical or comedy for her performance in the 1973 swashbuckling romp "The Three Musketeers." [1/3] Actress Raquel Welch poses at the 2014 Carousel of Hope Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California October 11, 2014. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo 1 2 3Her portrayal of strong, willful women was credited with reshaping stereotypes.

☆ Brain Chips Like Elon Musk's Neuralink Can Change Your Personality
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Evan Malmgren | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Musk's neurotech startup, Neuralink, has been working toward implanting its skull-embedded brain chip in a human since it was founded in 2016. Other researchers have been looking into using BCIs to restore lost senses and control prosthetic limbs, among other applications. Intervening in the delicate operation of a human brain is a sticky business, and the effects are not always desirable or intended. If a brain chip can change key parts of your personality, companies should not be rushing to put them in people's heads. Wexler told me that while most people in the industry aren't that open to using BCIs as a consumer product, they still think it's likely to happen.

☆ Biotech CEO famous for spending millions to reverse age accused of walking out on ex after her breast cancer diagnosis and manipulating her in the spirit of 'radical transparency"
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Azmi Haroun | Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A biotech CEO famous for trying to reverse his age was accused of walking out on a cancer-stricken partner. Ex-fiancée Taryn Southern alleged that Bryan Johnson emotionally and financially manipulated her. "Trickery, deceit, preying on Ms. Southern's physical and emotional weaknesses and financial dependence, and creating confusion and fear with his threats of legal action were major features of Johnson's scheme against Ms. Southern," Southern's attorneys wrote. "He aggressively pursued and propositioned Ms. Southern's own friends and acquaintances – while other women were paid prostitutes or girls from 'Sugar Daddy" apps,' Southern's attorneys said in the suit. "He became obsessed with his sexual conquests and relaying the details of his triumphs to Ms. Southern under the guise of 'radical transparency and honesty.'"

☆ How to earn, redeem, and maximize Hilton Honors rewards points — from luxurious Conrad resorts to family-friendly Hampton Inns, there are options for every traveler
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Carissa Rawson | Freelance Writer | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +44 min

How to earn Hilton rewards pointsHilton has two main categories of points: bonus points, which help you earn rewards via special promotions, and elite-qualifying base points. You can do so at the following ratios:HawaiianMiles : 1 HawaiianMile = 1.5 Hilton Honors points: 1 HawaiianMile = 1.5 Hilton Honors points Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1 Virgin Atlantic point = 1.5 Hilton Honors pointsEarn Hilton points through your elite statusJoining Hilton Honors can be especially lucrative if you're on the road often. Finally, Lyft and Hilton have teamed up to offer 3x Hilton Honors points on Lyft rides, or 2x Hilton points for shared Lyft rides. Redeem Hilton Honors points for event creditsIt's also possible to redeem your points for events at a Hilton, though this isn't generally considered a good way to maximize your Hilton points value. Here's how much the credits cost:25,000 points = $5050,000 points = $10075,000 points = $150125,000 points = $250250,000 points = $500Exchange Hilton points for airline milesIf you'd rather have airline or rail points, you have the option to transfer Hilton points to partner airlines, though redemption rates vary.

"I'm not rolling in the dough right now and I probably will never be," Simmons tells CNBC Make It. "I don't spend a lot of money, if any, out of pocket on my wheelchair," Simmons says. 'It opened up the world for me, using my wheelchair'A New York native, Simmons wasn't born with her disability. Moving forwardThough the settlement money allowed Simmons to de-prioritize finding a job, she always wanted to work. Simmons had just begun applying to law schools when she found out her settlement money was gone.

☆ Some Taliban fighters are sick of the 9 to 5 grind, complaining they've been sucked into urban life by working desk jobs to run Afghanistan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Five young Taliban fighters described how their lives are now consumed by work and Twitter. In this picture taken on November 23, 2021, Taliban fighters ride on bumper cars. Last year, it was tolerable but in the last few months, it's become more and more congested," he told Samim. Now, if we complain, or don't come to work, or disobey the rules, they cut our salary," he told Samim. Salam, along with several other Taliban fighters interviewed, felt the public had also stopped respecting them.

Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. Automatic Marriott Gold elite status (room upgrades and late checkout when available, bonus points on stays) Check mark icon A check mark. 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Gold status, which opens the door to perks like free breakfast (food and beverage credit at US hotels), bonus points, and room upgrades. With Gold status, you'll get perks like a 10% points bonus on paid stays, late checkout when available, and access to preferred rooms.

Review: Is the Hilton Honors Surpass Card the Best Credit Card for You? The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns terrific rewards rates in multiple categories like Hilton hotel bookings, restaurants, gas stations, and more. Redeem Hilton points for experiences, events, merchandise, and moreOther options for redeeming Hilton points also won't get you the highest value, but they could be helpful in certain circumstances:Hilton experiences — Use points for exclusive events, dining, and toursUse Hilton points for event credits — Starting at 25,000 points for up to $50 creditRedeem Hilton points at Amazon — A poor value; you'll get just 0.2 cents per pointDonate Hilton points to charity — For every 10,000 points you donate, Hilton will send $25 to a charity of your choiceUse Hilton points toward Lyft rides — Again, not the best value; you'll typically get around 0.2 cents per pointPool or transfer Hilton points to a friend — Send up to 2 million points per year to friends or family with no fee, or pool your points with up to 11 people to save for a redemptionHilton points expire if there's no activity in your account for 24 months. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightFees and CostsThe Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a 20.24% - 29.24% Variable APR. So, for example, if you already have The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, Hilton Honors American Express Card, or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you could still qualify for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card the Best Credit Card for You? Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Benefits and FeaturesThe Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card comes with a host of benefits and travel perks. You're also not eligible if you already have a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy® Premier credit card (not available to new applicants) open, or earned the welcome bonus from one in the past 24 months. Within the past 90 days, you've been approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. Within the past 24 months, you've earned a welcome bonus/upgrade bonus for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card.

☆ Everything is on the table now with Hulu, Disney CEO Iger says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger said Thursday that "everything is on the table" with streaming service Hulu. Disney owns two thirds of the streaming service, which focuses on more adult-oriented general entertainment content such as the series "Only Murders in the Building" and the sci fi thriller "Prey." Iger wants Disney to focus on its more family-friendly franchises, such as "Frozen" and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He said that he wasn't going to speculate whether Disney is a buyer or seller of Hulu right now. Comcast introduced a proposal to buy Disney's 66% stake in Hulu, but Disney rejected the idea, CNBC previously reported.

Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is ideal for small-business owners who fly Southwest frequently. Review: Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card the Best Card for You? How to Earn Points From the Southwest Performance Business Credit CardThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card makes it easy to earn lots of Southwest points. The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is the most feature-packed Southwest card on the market. The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a small-business rewards credit card.

As a newly minted Airman, I was floored when I first found out about all the credit card perks active duty military members receive. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Review: IHG Rewards Premier credit card reviewBest Discover Cards for Military MembersWhile Discover credit cards don't actually charge any annual fees — it's one of their hallmarks — they've outdone much of the competition by eliminating all over-limit and late fees for active-duty military credit cards. Review: Navy Federal Flagship Rewards credit card reviewBest Credit Cards for Active-duty Military Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Are military credit cards guaranteed approval? Military members will have their credit vetted just as anyone who applies for a credit card.

☆ All you need to know about ChatGPT, the A.I. chatbot that's got the world talking and tech giants clashing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by San Francisco-based startup OpenAI. These are tools that allow users to enter written prompts and receive new human-like text or images and videos generated by the AI. With a whopping 175 billion parameters, GPT-3 is one of the largest and most powerful language processing AI models to date. watch nowWhat makes ChatGPT so impressive is its ability to produce human-like responses, thanks in no small part to the vast amounts of data it is trained on. No generative AI application has quite managed to achieve the kind of influence and virality that ChatGPT has.

How to earn Southwest pointsCompare Southwest credit cards Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit CardSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit CardSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Transfer points from Diners Club or hotel loyalty programsDiners Club members can also transfer Club Rewards points to Southwest — 1,500 Club Rewards points, for instance, would convert to 1,200 Southwest points. It's also possible to redeem points earned through participating hotel loyalty programs if you'd rather put them toward flights than hotel stays, though redemption rates are pretty low:5,000 Best Western Rewards points = 1,200 Southwest points6,000 Choice Privileges points = 1,800 Southwest points2,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 200 Southwest points50,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 5,000 Southwest points100,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 10,000 Southwest points9,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 3,000 Southwest points30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 10,000 Southwest points60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 20,000 Southwest points90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 30,000 Southwest points120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 40,000 Southwest points5,000 World of Hyatt points = 2,400 Southwest points50,000 World of Hyatt points = 24,000 Southwest pointsNote that World of Hyatt throws in an additional 6,000 Southwest points as long as you're a member, while Marriott Bonvoy adds 5,000 Southwest points for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. For instance, a $220 Business Select fare would yield 2,640 Southwest points, while a $200 Anytime ticket would yield 2,000 Southwest points, and a $100 Wanna Get Away ticket would yield 600 Southwest points. Earn Southwest points by taking online surveysYou can earn points by taking online surveys through E-Rewards — $15 worth of E-Rewards yields 300 Southwest points, $25 worth of E-Rewards yields 600 Southwest points, $50 worth of E-Rewards yields 1,200 Southwest points, and $100 worth of E-Rewards yields 2,400 Southwest points.

☆ The Southwest personal credit cards are offering a rare welcome bonus that includes a Companion Pass, but only for a limited time
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Credit Cards Reporter | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

This is a great deal, but the promotional Companion Pass isn't quite as valuable as a standard Companion Pass. But through March 13, 2023, three of Southwest's best credit cards (the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card) come with a welcome bonus that includes a promotional Companion Pass. Compare Southwest credit cards Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. You can achieve the Southwest Companion Pass after earning 135,000 Southwest points in a calendar year.

☆ Biden Is Heckled Over Social Security Remarks During State of the Union
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Smart Appliance Makers Want More People to Connect Their DevicesThe makers of internet-connected smart appliances, like washing machines and ovens, are betting big on these devices, hoping they will change the scope of their relationships with customers. But many customers leave these devices disconnected from their home Wi-Fi. WSJ CIO Journal reporter Isabelle Bousquette joins host Zoe Thomas to explain why and how the companies are approaching the connection challenge.

☆ Biden Touts Economic Gains in State of the Union
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ From Nike to Nutella: Company names you have probably been mispronouncing your whole life
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Global company names often get Anglicized or Americanized to the point where they're unrecognizable, but brands could see some benefits if their names are pronounced correctly. Allianz: al-ee-anz"Allianz " is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the German word for "alliance." It isn't pronounced like the ancient Greek herald of the gods, Hermes, unlike the U.K. delivery company of similar spelling. Moët & Chandon: mow-et ey shon-donIn contrast to typical French pronunciation, there is a hard "T" sound at the end of "Moët." Heuer is the last name of the company's founder, Edouard Heuer.

☆ Walter Mosley Thinks America Is Getting Dumber
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( David Marchese | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +17 min

Mamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times Talk Walter Mosley Thinks America Is Getting DumberWalter Mosley is best known as one of contemporary literature’s pre-eminent crime novelists, but he’s actually four or five different writers rolled into one. You have to tell stories about real people experiencing it and not real people with a Ph.D. People who are not stupid but ignorant, who don’t know things about the world. There are people who don’t know how to spell, they don’t know how to think. You have these people coming out into the world, and they don’t know what to do. That’s going to happen.

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