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☆ Return to work mandates are ridiculous, unnecessary and, in some instances, even cruel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Julie Bort | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

So I can say from experience that today's corporate return-to-office mandates are ridiculous, unnecessary and, in some instances, even cruel. For one, CEOs and CFOs are looking at big expenditures on corporate offices that remain either empty or are vastly oversized. The best run companies are focusing more on the thing they can best measure from afar: the work employees actually do. Not only do you do the work, you also eat there, work out there, and do your hobbies on campus. An office work environment will naturally evolve back to being a social hub over time, without draconian mandates that lack data and research to support them.

Persons: Andy Jassy, Mike Blake, Zoom, Robert Johnson, doesn't, Aki Ito, Mark Zuckerberg, there's Organizations: Morning, Amazon, REUTERS, Business, Stanford, Yahoo, AP Locations: San Jose , California, New York, India, China, Santa Monica, Calif

☆ Elon Musk threatens to sue the Anti-Defamation League, claiming it is 'trying to kill' X, formerly known as Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The hashtag #BanTheADL began trending after a meeting between X CEO Linda Yaccarino and ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. Musk appeared to support the effort, claiming ADL is intentionally trying to sabotage X. The ADL has documented a rise in hate speech on X following Musk's acquisition last year. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn a series of posts on Monday, Elon Musk said X, formerly known as Twitter, may have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Musk claimed that the ADL is "trying to kill" the platform by "falsely accusing" him and it of being anti-semitic.

Persons: Linda Yaccarino, Jonathan Greenblatt, Musk, Elon Musk, Joseph Greenblatt, Keith Woods, Musk's Organizations: ADL, Anti, Defamation League, Twitter, @ADL

☆ Signal's president doubts Elon Musk can successfully turn Twitter into a 'super app' like WeChat
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The leader of tech's favorite texting app suspects there will never be a WeChat in the U.S.Elon Musk is attempting to turn Twitter, renamed X, into just such an app. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe odds of Elon Musk turning Twitter into the next "super app" are slim, according to the president of Signal. Signal is a fully encrypted app for calls and texts that is widely used in the tech industry, including by Musk. "People have been talking about it for years, and we still don't have a super app," she said in an interview with Swiss magazine Schweizer Monat. Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has also been attempting for a couple of years to build WhatsApp into something akin to a super app.

Persons: Elon Musk, Meredith Whittaker, Signal's, Whittaker, Schweizer, Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Mark Zuckerberg, Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber Organizations: U.S, Elon, Twitter, Morning, Google, Swiss, Facebook Locations: China, Asia, WeChat, Japan, Kakao, Korea, U.S, West

☆ Meet Colin Huang — the billionaire founder of shopping giant Temu's parent company Pinduoduo — who quit Google to become a serial entrepreneur
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Grace Dean | Lu-Hai Liang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Colin Huang, the founder of ecommerce giant Pinduoduo, is currently China's fourth-richest person. Huang, who is worth $34 billion, owns 28% of Pinduoduo, the parent company of Temu. Huang was part of the team that launched Google China. Pinduoduo takes a small commission and charges sellers to promote their products on its app, but doesn't hold any stock. Just a year ago, Pinduoduo launched its cut-price shopping app Temu in the US.

Persons: Colin Huang, Huang, Colin Huang isn't, He's, Pinduoduo Organizations: Google, Morning, Sony, Bloomberg Locations: Google China, China, New York

☆ I'm a 'grumpy stayer' at my tech job. I'm not happy with the pay but I stick around because leaving one mediocre job for another feels pointless.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Kaila Yu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An LA-based tech worker told Insider they stay at their job because it's convenient. The job is convenient because I can work remotely from my home in LA, but otherwise, I'm a "grumpy stayer" because I'm not completely happy with my work situation. HR and the executive team don't like that I'm an advocate and likely see me as grumpy or difficult, but I don't care. Leaving one mediocre job for another feels pointless, and I don't expect better working conditions. I'm a grumpy stayer because the economy is too crazy to return to full-time freelance.

Persons: I've, I'm, doesn't, we've, didn't, It's, — she's, they're Organizations: Management, Morning Locations: LA, New York

☆ A developer built a 'propaganda machine' using OpenAI tech to highlight the dangers of mass-produced AI disinformation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementA developer has built an AI "disinformation machine" using OpenAI-powered technology like ChatGPT. They said they wanted to see AI disinformation "work in the real world," adding that "strong language competencies of large language models are perfectly suited to reading and writing fake news articles." The AI bot would then offer different examples of the same article, written in different styles and with different viewpoints. They said it would do this by "creating fake stories, fake historical events, and creating doubt in the accuracy of the original article." i am nervous about the impact AI is going to have on future elections (at least until everyone gets used to it).

Persons: Paw, inputting, — Sam Altman, Sam Altman Organizations: Wired

☆ A Dodge Charger is 60 times more likely to be stolen than any other vehicle in the US. It's now taken the most-stolen crown from Hyundai and Kia.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hellcats from 2020 to 2022 are 60 times more likely to be stolen than other cars, data shows. Kia and Hyundai owners were previously plagued by theft issues thanks to a TikTok trend. The Hyundai Elantra is among the models affected by thefts sparked by the "Kia Boyz" TikTok trend, the automaker announced. Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty ImagesThe trend was popularized by the "Kia Boyz," who posted stealing the certain Kia and Hyundai models using a screwdriver and USB cord. Affected drivers included owners of certain Kia models made between 2011 and 2021 and certain Hyundai models from 2016 to 2021.

Persons: Raymond Boyd, HLDI, Matt Moore, Dodge, it's Kia, Kia Sportage, Sjoerd van Organizations: SRT Hellcat, Kia, Hyundai, Data, Stellantis, Hellcats, Wal, Getty Locations: Stellantis North America

☆ A Tesla stopped working and got stuck in the middle a busy road for 9 hours because it couldn't be moved, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Tesla stopped working and obstructed a road for more than nine hours, The Telegraph reported. Police and workers tried to move the car but had it wait for a recovery vehicle to charge it. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Tesla obstructed traffic for more than nine hours after it abruptly stopped working, The Telegraph reported. The Model 3 seemed to run out of power Tuesday while trying to turn off on a road near Salisbury in England. It couldn't be moved for hours despite a group of road workers and police trying to get it off the busy junction.

Persons: Tesla, Matt Grigg, Grigg Organizations: Telegraph, Police, The Telegraph Locations: Salisbury, England, Ottawa, Canada

☆ Ukraine arrested the oligarch who owns the TV station that aired Volodymyr Zelenskyy's show before he became president
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine has detained Ihor Kolomoisky, a prominent oligarch, as part of an anti-corruption drive. Kolomoisky owns the TV station that showed Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "Servant of the People." The country's security service said on its Telegram channel that oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky would be held in custody for two months on fraud and money laundering charges. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky appeared in court on Saturday. Kolomoisky owns the TV station 1+1 that broadcast "Servant of the People," in which Zelenskyy played a comedian who becomes president.

Persons: Ihor Kolomoisky, Kolomoisky, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Forbes, Vladyslav Musiienko, Reuters Zelensky, Zelenskyy, they'd, oligarch, Petro Poroshenko Organizations: Reuters, BBC News, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kolomoisky

☆ Bob Iger's latest headache is Disney's battle with 'cable cowboy' John Malone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Disney's Bob Iger is going head-to-head with "cable cowboy" John Malone in a tussle about payments. AdvertisementAdvertisementWriters and actors are on strike, his streaming platform is losing buckets of cash, and now Disney CEO Bob Iger has another headache to contend with — a battle with the "cable cowboy" John Malone. Advertisement Advertisement Watch: I quit cable for DirecTV Now and it's saving me over $1,000 a year — here's how I did itThe cable operator claims the demands are unrealistic amid "significant viewership declines" across Disney's channels. ESPN has been one of the few cable channels to swim against the tide and even managed to increase its audience by 12% last year, per Nielsen data viewed by the Los Angeles Times . AdvertisementAdvertisementCharter has threatened to permanently bar all Disney's channels from its service but Iger is not backing down either.

Persons: Bob Iger, John Malone, Iger, —, Disney, Malone, There's, didn't Organizations: Charter Communications, Disney, Morning, Communications, DirecTV, FX, ESPN, US, New York Times, Nielsen, Los Angeles Times, NY Times, Disney Channel, Charter

☆ Elon Musk has unprecedented influence that spans multiple industries — and our fate is in his hands
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Peter Csathy | Fearless Media | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Fearless Media is a newsletter about the future of entertainment, media, and tech by Creative Media chairman Peter Csathy . Elon Musk's wields immense influence that spans technology, space, communications, and transporation. And I'm not just talking about global communications and Twitter/X's strategic importance to the worlds of media and entertainment, not to mention global leaders themselves. Musk, in many ways, rules our lives, yet few of us — apparently including governments like our own — fully appreciate that. Musk also controls nearly 5,000 satellites with StarlinkMany forget that Musk also controls the skies well above us all around the globe.

Persons: Peter Csathy, Elon Musk's, transporation, Elon Musk, I've, Musk, we're, Tesla, Let's, Steve Jobs Organizations: Creative Media, Morning, Fearless Media, Elon, Libertarian, SpaceX, NASA, Ford, General Motors, Company, FDA, PayPal, Twitter, Creativie Media Locations: Ukraine, Russia, China

☆ Cybertruck buyers still don't know what they're buying or how much it costs, and they are just weeks from delivery
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Nora Naughton | Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Would-be Tesla Cybertruck buyers still don't know how much they're spending. Apart from the few remaining details listed and the occasional cryptic tweet from Musk, there isn't much information to tell Cybertruck buyers what they're getting into. Tesla Cybertruck. That makes it even more important to give loyal truck buyers some details to work with. "If you're looking to convert average pickup truck buyers to something different, that's a little harder," Fiorani said.

Persons: Tesla, Elon, Musk, It's, Cybertruck, William Huston, he's, Ed Kim, AutoPacific, Sam Fiorani, Fiorani Organizations: Morning, Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, AutoForecast Locations: San Francisco

☆ Charter planes are descending on the Nevada desert — and the pop-up Black Rock City airport — as tech bros and billionaires gather for Burning Man
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Grace Kay | Taylor Rains | Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Hundreds of flights have landed in Black Rock City for Burning Man — tech bros' favorite party. AdvertisementAdvertisementOver 880 flights descended on Black Rock Desert's pop-up airport this week as the playa opened shop for Burning Man. Jettly CEO Justin Crabbe told Insider in 2019 that the roundtrip flight from New York to Black Rock City cost $55,000. A Burning Man spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication. According to Burner Express' website, other air carriers can fly into Black Rock City, but those who wish to must email and register with the company in advance.

Persons: Elon Musk, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Ray Dalio, doesn't, Justin Crabbe, Alex Sgarlata, Sgarlata, Kathleen Bangs Organizations: Black Rock City, Rock City, wasn't, Black, Tahoe, Rock City Airport, Burner, ATC, Oakland, SF, Man, Pilatus, Cessna, Maxar Technologies, REUTERS Locations: Black Rock, Nevada, San Francisco, playa, San Francisco and New York, New York, Southern California, Reno, Rock

☆ Check out BMW's radical new look for its next generation of cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

BMW just gave a glimpse at what its future cars will look like. The brand's latest concept shows the radical design direction it's taking. The next-generation electric vehicles are slated to hit roads in 2025. AdvertisementAdvertisementBMW's future looks radical, sleek, and full of flashy screens — judging by a striking new concept car the brand unveiled on Saturday. The Vision Neue Klasse previews the sort of futuristic design we're likely to see from BMW's next-generation electric vehicles once they hit the road in 2025.

Organizations: BMW, Morning Locations: BMW's

☆ China's government-approved AI chatbots were released to the public this week. Baidu's chatbot Ernie reportedly says a Chinese military takeover of Taiwan is possible.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Aaron Mok | Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Chinese government recently approved several generative AI chatbots for public use. Baidu's new Ernie AI chatbot weighed in on the future of Taiwan. Zhipu, from shopping-platform Meituan, gave the best results, he said, though "all the Chinese bots have catching up to do." On Taiwan: When the reporter asked these AI bots whether Taiwan is a country, Ernie declared that a Chinese military takeover of Taiwan is possible, according to the report. When the reporter asked these AI bots whether Taiwan is a country, Ernie declared that a Chinese military takeover of Taiwan is possible, according to the report.

Persons: Ernie AI chatbot, Baidu's, Ernie, Baidu, SenseTime's SenseChat, Bytedance's, Zheping Huang, Tencent's, SenseTime, Xi Jinping Organizations: Bloomberg News, Morning, Baidu, Reuters, Bloomberg Locations: Taiwan, China

☆ I'm a senior leader at Amazon and have seen many bad managers. Here are 3 reasons why there are so few great ones.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Brandon Southern | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Brandon Southern is a senior leader at Amazon and former head of analytics at eBay and GameStop. I spent time reflecting on why so many managers fall into the category of a bad manager, instead of into the category of a great leader. This isn't to say that the managers who found themselves working as manager by accident or as the next step in their career are bad managers. By calling someone a manager instead of a leader, the implied focus is on managing — which usually spills over to managing people instead of leading people. Some managers will describe their job as managing a team and a few managers will describe their job as leading a team.

Persons: Brandon Southern, didn't, I've, we're, there's, wouldn't Organizations: Amazon, eBay, GameStop, Morning Locations: Southern

☆ One of Russia's richest oligarchs who now lives in Dubai says Putin's invasion of Ukraine made him a 'pariah'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

One of Russia's richest men, Andrey Melnichenko, said the Ukraine war had made him a "pariah." Melnichenko now lives in the UAE, where his $300 million Motor Yacht A is moored. His $578 million Sailing Yacht A was seized by Italian authorities shortly after he was sanctioned. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne of Russia's richest individuals said he'd become a "pariah" in the United Arab Emirates where he fled after being sanctioned. Oleg Tinkov managed to get sanctions against him in the UK lifted after slamming Putin's invasion of Ukraine and getting the backing of British business tycoon Richard Branson.

Persons: Andrey Melnichenko, Melnichenko, he'd, Vladimir Putin, I'm, Roman Abramovich, Arkady Volozh, Oleg Tinkov, Richard Branson Organizations: United, United Arab Emirates, Financial Times, Forbes, Chelsea FC, Bloomberg, EU Locations: Ukraine, UAE, United Arab, Russia, Israel, Le

☆ I canceled Netflix after 14 years and it feels like the end of an era
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I canceled my account after the password-sharing crackdown made me realize I wasn't watching as often. I'll probably be back, but it feels like the end of an era with a service I came of age with. That's why, in August, I canceled my Netflix account after subscribing for 14 years. A screenshot of the email confirmation I received when I canceled Netflix. When my husband merged his Netflix account with mine, it was almost as big a step in our relationship as moving in together.

Persons: I've, I'd, who'd, Peacock, Max, it'd, Ashley Rodriguez, It'd, that's, I'm Organizations: Netflix, Morning, Blockbuster, Apple, Paramount, British Baking, relishing Locations: New York, Belgium

☆ Elon Musk's erosion of safety standards at X is helping Putin spread Russian propaganda, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's policy changes at X have allowed Russian propaganda to spread more easily, a study found. "We will no longer amplify state-affiliated media accounts or their Tweets through our recommendation systems," Twitter said in a 2020 blog post. Even social media companies that have been more cooperative than Musk in attempting to limit propaganda are failing. The research found that efforts by the likes of Telegram and Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, were largely ineffective in limiting Russian disinformation campaigns. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Over the course of 2022, the audience and reach of Kremlin-aligned social media accounts increased substantially all over Europe," the report states.

Persons: Elon, Elon Musk, Twitter, Musk, Musk's Organizations: European Commission, NATO Strategic Communications Center, Excellence, The Digital Services, Meta, Facebook Locations: Kremlin, Europe, EU

☆ Robinhood pays $605 million for 55 million shares once owned by Sam Bankman-Fried following a 4-way tussle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Robinhood bought 55 million of its shares worth $605 million that Sam Bankman-Fried once owned. Robinhood, SBF, FTX, and a bankrupt crypto lender had all laid claim to the seized shares. AdvertisementAdvertisementRobinhood has bought back more than $600 million worth of its own shares that were owned by Sam Bankman-Fried before his arrest. In a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Friday, the trading platform said it had acquired 55 million shares from the United States Marshal Service (USMS). Shares in Robinhood closed 2% higher Friday following the release of the filing, valuing the company at about $10 billion.

Persons: Robinhood, Sam Bankman, Fried, FTX, BlockFi Organizations: Department of Justice, Morning, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, United States Marshal Service, DoJ, Emergent Fidelity Technologies, Emergent Fidelity, Marshal Service Locations: Bankman, Robinhood

☆ Bumble now considers ghosting a date 'bullying and abusive conduct'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Bumble's new guidelines now include standing up a date as a form of "bullying and abusive conduct." Bumble told Insider it could take action against someone who ghosts a mutually agreed-upon date. The online dating company recently updated its community guidelines to explicitly include ghosting someone on a date as an action that falls under "bullying and abusive conduct." We aim to create an experience which is free from behavior that makes any individual or group feel harassed, bullied, or targeted," the company's policy page reads. These rules also apply to Bumble BFF, the company's platonic platform for meeting friends.

Persons: Bumble, —, Bumble BFF, you've, Whitney Wolfe Herd

☆ AI has a big, dirty problem that is tarnishing Big Tech's environmental image
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Monica Melton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AI computing has a sustainability problem. Google data centers consumed 5.2 billion gallons of water in 2022, up 20% from a year earlier. A recent Cowen research report estimated that AI data centers could require more than five times the power of traditional facilities. While a regular cloud server uses 300 to 500 watts, according to Shaolei Ren , a researcher at UC Riverside who has studied how modern AI models use resources. Communities are setting up data privacy controls and internet connectivity on their own terms and in ways that don't rely as much on big tech companies.

Persons: Adrienne Russell, Jensen Huang, Cowen, Shaolei Ren, Russell Organizations: Tech, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Nvidia, Center for Journalism, Media, University of Washington, UC Riverside Locations: Virginia, Seattle, Arizona

☆ Ryan Reynolds says his $120K electric motorcycle makes him feel like Superman – and he's sparked a surge of interest in its English maker
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ryan Reynolds raved about his custom-made electric motorcycle on Instagram. His praise for the bike has sent its maker, an English startup called Arc, into "overdrive." AdvertisementAdvertisementRyan Reynolds has sent a small English electric motorcycle company "into overdrive" after raving about one of their high-end electric motorcycles. His celebrity power sparked a surge of interest for Coventry-based Arc on social media and a "huge amount" of enquiries. AdvertisementAdvertisementChairman Mark Truman told BBC News: "As a start-up business we would never have been able to pay for that sort of celebrity endorsement."

Persons: Ryan Reynolds raved, Ryan Reynolds, Arc, he'd, Mark Truman, Reynolds, Truman Organizations: Wrexham, BBC, BBC News Locations: Coventry, American

☆ A hidden reason for San Francisco's remote work 'doom loop': Air conditioning
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

San Francisco remains firmly at the bottom of US rankings when it comes to office attendance. In San Francisco, it was 65 degrees fahrenheit. It's probably another reason why San Francisco remains firmly at the bottom of the rankings when it comes to office attendance by employees. Its report for July 2023 shows visits to office buildings in San Francisco are still almost 50% below 2019 levels. AdvertisementAdvertisementMore CEOs are keen to get employees back to the office now, including several leaders of tech companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Persons: It's, There's Organizations: Washington DC, Morning, San, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: San Francisco, Washington, Tokyo, Francisco's, Japan's, San Francisco Bay

☆ This company thinks the future of education is virtual reality schools that offer students a more 'decentralized' experience
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementBack in 2015, Oculus founder Palmer Luckey predicted that — sooner or later — virtual reality headsets would find their way into the classroom and enable a new, more immersive future for education. Now, an online school called Optima Academy Online seems to be answering those queries, and bringing Luckey's vision to fruition. Kevin Wolf/APOptimaEd, the Florida-based company behind Optima Academy, is helmed by conservative education activist Erika Donalds, wife of Republican Congressman Byron Donalds. A field trip to EverestThe school instructs students through a combination of virtual reality sessions and online classes. Instruction for kindergarten through second grade is more similar to virtual school where classes are both live and pre-recorded, according to Optima's website.

Persons: Adam Mangana, Palmer Luckey, Luckey, Erika Donalds, Byron Donalds, Kevin Wolf, Ron DeSantis, Jeremy Bailenson, Optima's Organizations: Yorker, New, Summit, Optima, Meta, Optima Academy, Everest, New Yorker, Research Locations: Florida, Dublin, Everest, à, Arizona, Michigan, Yorker

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