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☆ What Amazon, the F.T.C. and C.I.A. Won’t Say When You’ve Been Scammed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Ron Lieber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When New York magazine’s finance advice columnist dropped an article that went viral on Thursday about falling victim to a $50,000 scam, my heart skipped a beat. My own financial planner had gone to jail years ago, which I’d chronicled in a few columns. What would I have done if someone called and insisted that my children, in particular, were in grave danger? But what would any of those entities do if they thought that any one of us was actually a victim of some kind of identity fraud? What would they say, request and tell us to do?

Persons: I’d, Charlotte Cowles, ” Organizations: New York Times, Federal Trade Commission, Central Intelligence Agency Locations: York

☆ How to avoid the top scam of 2023: The internet has 'really supercharged' it, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Vasily Pindyurin | fStop | Getty ImagesConsumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud in 2023, and imposter scams were the most prevalent swindle, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Nearly 854,000 people filed complaints to the FTC about imposter scams in 2023. Consumers lost $2.7 billion to such scams in 2023, according to FTC data. In addition to financial loss, "we know fraud causes significant emotional and psychological harm," he added. Fraud victims lost $1.9 billion and $1.4 billion via these payment channels, respectively, in 2023.

Persons: Vasily Pindyurin, Hardeep Rai, Rai, —, fraudsters, Breyault Organizations: fStop, Getty, Federal Trade Commission, Consumers, FBI

“Losing the love was worse than losing the money,” said Kleinart, 70, who lost tens of thousands to a romance scam over several months. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission received over 64,000 romance scams reports that translated into $1.14 billion in reported losses. Romance scams often target lonely and isolated individuals, according to Will Maxson, assistant director of the Division of Marketing Practices at the FTC. Specifically for older people, romance scams are among the most common scams, said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention at AARP. However, she noted people from all ages can fall for a romance scam.

Persons: Kate Kleinart, ”, Kleinart, Will Maxson, “, —, Kathy Stokes, Genevieve Waterman, Waterman, ” Waterman, scammers, it’s, Stokes, Hey, ” Stokes, Charles Schwab Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, AARP, National Council, Aging, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: Spain

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican regulators have ordered online retailers Amazon and Mercado Libre to reveal their algorithms, and to wall off TV streaming to avoid stifling competition. The COFECE order also covers the biggest Latin American online retailer, the Uruguay-based firm Mercado Libre. The commission said it had laid out corrective measures that would include prohibiting Amazon from promoting its TV streaming service as an incentive for consumers to buy Amazon Prime memberships. The COFECE also ordered Amazon not to take the “logistics” method — the manner of delivering purchases — into account in determining the order or prominence of search results. Online sellers have complained in the past that Amazon Prime forces vendors to use the company's own delivery services.

Persons: Mercado Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Amazon, Mercado Libre, Mexico’s Federal, Economic, U.S . Federal Trade Commission Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Uruguay, Seattle

☆ Biden administration examining role of supply chain middlemen in generic drug shortages
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

They are group purchasing organizations, which broker drug purchases for hospitals and other health-care providers, and drug wholesalers, which buy medicines from manufacturers and distribute them to providers. But the Biden administration is zeroing in on other players in the drug supply chain to uncover the "root causes and potential solutions" to ongoing shortages. The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday said it is examining the role that drug wholesalers and companies that purchase medicines for U.S. health-care providers play in shortages of generic drugs, which account for the majority of Americans' prescriptions. Group purchasing organizations and wholesalers have gotten limited attention on Capitol Hill, even as reining in high drug costs has become a key priority among lawmakers in both chambers. PBMs contend that manufacturers are responsible for high drug prices, while drugmakers say rebates and fees collected by those middlemen force them to increase list prices for products.

Persons: Biden, Doug Farrar, Cencora Organizations: FTC, Department of Health, Human Services, Federal Trade Commission, Public Affairs, CNBC, HHS, Cardinal Health, Group, Capitol, CNBC PRO Locations: U.S

☆ U.S. Agencies Open Inquiry Into Generic Drug Shortages
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Christina Jewett | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday that they would examine the causes of generic drug shortages and the practices of “powerful middlemen” that are involved in the supply chain. The federal agencies’ inquiry is aimed at the group purchasing organizations and drug distributors that have been in the spotlight in recent months as drug shortages reached a 10-year peak. During Congressional hearings in the last year, oncology experts have testified about the effects of the shortages, describing difficult decisions that forced them to ration key chemotherapy drugs. “For years Americans have faced acute shortages of critical drugs, from chemotherapy to antibiotics, endangering patients,” Lina Khan, the F.T.C. “Our inquiry requests information on the factors driving these shortages and scrutinizes the practices of opaque drug middlemen.”

Persons: ” Lina Khan Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Department of Health, Human Services

☆ AI could disrupt the 2024 US presidential election. What’s Congress doing about it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But with just nine months until Americans head to the ballot box, there are few signs Congress is ready to pass any meaningful legislation on AI. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesSchumer has previously said that with the election nearing, he may seek to fast-track a bill that focuses specifically on AI and election security. Nothing looks likely to move.”Initial momentum on AI regulationFor months, Congress has focused on getting up to speed on the basics of AI. Still other ideas would require “high-risk” AI models to register for a government license, or create a dedicated new federal agency to oversee AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.

Persons: Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, “, Schumer, Sen, Todd Young, Martin Heinrich, Michael Rounds, Alex Wong, New Mexico Democratic Sen, South Dakota Republican Sen, Mike Rounds, Indiana Republican Sen, didn’t, Paul Gallant, Cowen, ”, Gallant, we’re, Sam Altman, Altman, Heinrich, Rounds, Young, Julia Nikhinson, Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang, Mike Johnson, Marcus Molinaro, Johnson, Drake, Tom Hanks, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Hakeem Jeffries, Don Beyer, it’ll, Alan Davidson, Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, ” Davidson, —, Sarah Myers West Organizations: Washington CNN, mayoral, U.S, Senate, Capitol, Artificial Intelligence, “, CNN, New, New Mexico Democratic, South Dakota Republican, Indiana Republican, Cowen Inc, United, International Atomic Energy Agency, Intelligence, Reuters, Google, Nvidia, New York Republican, The Washington Post, Commerce, Tennessee Republican, ITI, Virginia Democratic Rep, State of, Republican, House Energy, European Union, EU, Congress, Commerce Department, White House, Privacy, Technology, Democrats, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Washington ,, New Mexico, South, Washington , U.S, Washington

☆ Don’t ‘surreptitiously’ use Americans’ data to train AI, FTC warns businesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —US companies may find themselves under federal scrutiny if they “quietly” try to funnel customers’ personal information into training artificial intelligence models, the government warned this week. The warning by the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s top privacy and consumer protection agency, highlights the enormous value of Americans’ personal data. “You may have heard that ‘data is the new oil,’” the agency said, referencing an adage describing the way personal information is a critical input powering the machinery of Big Tech. “There is perhaps no data refinery as large-capacity and as data-hungry as AI.”Many companies disclose how they use customer or user information in their privacy policies. But simply updating a privacy policy to say that a company will now use personal data collected for other purposes to train AI isn’t transparent enough and could violate the law, the FTC said.

Persons: “, Gary Gensler Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Netflix, Big Tech, FTC, Securities and Exchange Commission

☆ Don’t let AI hype lead you into illegal ‘AI-washing,’ SEC chair warns companies and investment advisers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Publicly traded companies that misleadingly or untruthfully promote their use of artificial intelligence risk engaging in “AI-washing” that can harm investors and run afoul of US securities law, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler in a speech on Tuesday. They also shouldn’t lie about whether they use an AI model or how they use AI in specific applications, Gensler added. One would be the intentional use of AI to facilitate securities fraud, Gensler said Tuesday. The SEC could target those who deploy AI in ways that create reckless or knowing disregard for the risks to investors, Gensler said. He said the SEC could also investigate those who place fake orders in violation of securities law, or investment advisers who place their own interests ahead of their clients’.

Persons: Gary Gensler, “ We’ve, ” Gensler, Gensler, Alvaro Bedoya Organizations: Washington CNN, Securities and Exchange Commission, Publicly, SEC, Yale Law School, Federal Trade Commission

☆ Investors in Airbnb arbitrage business allege they were defrauded in scheme promising 'higher returns than the stock market'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Rohan Goswami Annie Palmer | Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +18 min

Airbnb told CNBC that business practices such as Agyeman's aren't permitted. Airbnb told CNBC it had no business relationship with Agyeman and had taken action to curtail his operations. Carr and other HFA investors told CNBC their frustrations were dismissed or met with legal threats. To get around Airbnb's rules, HFA instructed its investors to list their own homes, a former employee and two investors told CNBC. Airbnb told CNBC that it was rolling out a more robust verification process in the U.S. and elsewhere beginning as early as 2024.

Persons: Elham Ataeiazar Daryn Carr, Carr, Anthony Agyeman, Agyeman, HFA, they've, Agyeman haven't, Airbnb, Brian Chesky, Brendan McDermid, Reuters Carr, Thomas Hunker, Hunker, Wessel Botes, Megan Shears, Shears, It's, Kathy, she'd, copywriters, couldn't, who'd, Collin Ballard, Collin Ballard Ballard, Ballard, lister, HFA's, Agyeman's Wealthway, Wealthway, David Levine, he's, Levine, Levine didn't Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice, Justice Department, FTC, CNBC, Inc, New York Stock Exchange, Reuters, Agyeman, Investors, Google, HFA, MGM, Dallas, North Locations: hustles, Covid, New York City, New York, Airbnb, HFA, Texas, Instagram, Fort Myers, Sanibel, Las Vegas, Dallas, U.S, Agyeman, Florida, North America, Botes

☆ AI might be reading your Slack messages: 'A lot of this becomes thought crime'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Aware's analytics tool — the one that monitors employee sentiment and toxicity — doesn't have the ability to flag individual employee names, according to Schumann. Speaking broadly about employee surveillance AI rather than Aware's technology specifically, Williams told CNBC: "A lot of this becomes thought crime." When including other types of content being shared, such as images and videos, Aware's analytics AI analyzes more than 100 million pieces of content every day. "It's always tracking real-time employee sentiment, and it's always tracking real-time toxicity," Schumann said of the analytics tool. Amba Kak, executive director of the AI Now Institute at New York University, worries about using AI to help determine what's considered risky behavior.

Persons: George Orwell, there's, Slack, Jeff Schumann, Schumann, Jutta Williams, Williams, chatbot, he's, Orwell, Rather, Amba Kak, Kak, they're Organizations: Istock, Microsoft, U.S, Walmart, Delta Air Lines, Mobile, Chevron, Starbucks, Nestle, AstraZeneca, CNBC didn't, Delta, CNBC, Humane Intelligence, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Nationwide, CBS, Meta, New York University, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, Opportunity Commission Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Chevron, United States, Slack

☆ ‘A false sense of security’: Experts say delta-8 THC products can still be dangerous
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Delta-8 THC, or delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, is one of more than 100 chemical compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant. To make delta-8 products, scientists typically make synthetic versions in the lab. Unlike regulated medical products like acetaminophen, which must have uniform ingredients and doses, the contents of delta-8 products vary from product to product — sometimes even from batch to batch. She also encourages people who buy delta-8 products to store them safely so children can’t get to them. Until there are more regulations on the products, experts said, poison centers will still get calls about delta-8 and other cannabis products.

Persons: Daniel Kruger, ’ ”, can’t, Kait Brown, ” Brown, Brown, ’ ” Brown, Kruger, Cassidy LoParco, aren’t, LoParco, They’ve, ” LoParco, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, “, you’re, ” Kruger Organizations: CNN, Centers, Jacobs School of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New, US Food and Drug Administration, Federal Trade Commission, George Washington University, National Cannabis Industry Association, Delta, HHC, CNN Health Locations: State University of New York

☆ One of Wall Street's favorite ways to control workers is under attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

One of Wall Street's favorite employee leverage tactics — non-compete agreements — is facing a major threat, and there could be far-reaching implications for how the financial industry does business. But it's also clear that Wall Street firms are under particular attention for the practice. With major Wall Street firms already having among the most unpopular back-to-work policies in the market, "Wall Street is already in a position where they are recognizing they don't have all the hands they had before," Chamberlin said. Shore recommends Wall Street firms undertake a thorough competitive analysis at every level in every department to ensure they are market competitive. Even if the FTC rule goes through, Wall Street firms still have options to protect their business.

Persons: Charles Scharf, Wells, Brian Thomas Moynihan, Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase, Jane Fraser, Ronald O’Hanley, Robin Vince, BNY Mellon, David Solomon, Goldman Sachs, James Gorman, Morgan Stanley, General Mills, —, Wall, it's, Kathy Hochul, that's, Covid, Laurie Chamberlin, Chamberlin, Lina Khan's, Khan, It's, David Fisher, Gilbert, Fisher, Juan A, Crowell, Arteaga, Paul Webster, Matt Shore, Kareem Bakr, Webster, Leslie John, Ballard Spahr, John Organizations: Company, Bank of America, JPMorgan, Citigroup, BNY, Google, Apple, Pfizer, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Procter, Gamble, Nike, Economic, Institute, Federal Trade Commission, North America, American College of Emergency Physicians, Davis, FTC, Supreme, Industry, Moring, Wall, Phaidon International, Wall Street Locations: Wells Fargo, Hart, Washington ,, New York, . California, U.S, Gilbert . Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts

☆ AI researcher Joy Buolamwini cautions that if AI systems fail people of color, they fail humanity
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Monica Melton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

We’re growing some teeth as to what can be done with AI, but we also see where there’s progress, there’s attack. One of the things I like to point out with AI systems is that if your AI systems fail on people of color, you don’t have a robust system. If your AI doesn’t work on the global majority, if your AI doesn’t work for women, if your AI doesn’t work for people with disabilities, once you start expanding all of the areas we’re talking about, it comes to your AI doesn’t work for humanity. To me, that’s a proactive approach of saying, how do we build consumer AI technology in a way that’s more ethical? I was talking to Sam Altman about the climate impact of AI, especially these large language models and generative AI systems.

Persons: Joe Biden, Joy Buolamwini, Buolamwini, It’s, ”, we’ve, it’s, I’ve, there’s, We’ve, you’re, aren’t, Simone Biles, Biden, Sam Altman, Olay, we’re, There’s, We’re, that’s Organizations: Service, League, Business, Federal Trade Commission, Procter, Gamble, Big Tech Locations: Davos

☆ Zyn is selling their nicotine pouches like hotcakes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Move over vapes, Americans appear to have a new addiction: Zyn, a tobacco-free nicotine pouch product, that has exploded in sales over the past year. Philip Morris announced Thursday that it shipped about 350 million cans of Zyn in 2023, a whopping 62% growth compared to the previous year. Nicotine is very addictive and can harm young people’s developing brains, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, like Juul, the popularity and growth of Zyn might face difficulties, in particular from US government. “Zyn is the next battle.”Despite the growth, shares of Phillip Morris declined 2% in early trading because of lower demand for cigarettes.

Persons: Philip Morris, Chuck Schumer, Zyn, “, ” Schumer, “ Zyn, ”, Phillip Morris, Jacek Olczak, ” Olczak, CNN’s Carma Hassan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Marlboro, US Centers for Disease Control, FDA, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, Tobacco, Swedish Locations: New York, vapes, Marlboro

A combination of inflation, increased interest rates, and the end of pandemic-tied relief, such as the moratorium on student loan payments, has led to record credit card debt, experts say. A recent report from credit rating company Moody’s found credit card delinquencies are now well above 2019, or pre-pandemic levels. If you're facing increased credit card debt, while feeling the ongoing effects of inflation, here's what to consider:ASK FOR A RATE CUTPhotos You Should See View All 45 ImagesOne of the first things you should do is ask your credit card company to lower your rates. While the Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that its first interest rate cut is likely months away, the average credit card interest rate is already far and away higher than the rate set by the Fed. PAY OFF HIGHER-INTEREST DEBT FIRSTKnown as the “avalanche approach,” paying off debt that accumulates interest more quickly will always be more efficient than paying off lower-interest debt first.

Persons: Moody’s, Silvio Tavares, ”, Kia McCallister, Charles Schwab Organizations: —, Federal Reserve, ASK, Fed, National Foundation, Credit, nfcc.org, Federal Trade, Public, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Federation of America, America, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: realtor.com

☆ Satya Nadella's first decade as Microsoft CEO was defined by cloud. What's next?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Jason Redmond | AFP | Getty ImagesWhen Satya Nadella replaced Steve Ballmer as Microsoft CEO in February 2014, the software company was mired in mediocrity. Many tech industry analysts and investors would say that, thanks largely to Nadella, Microsoft is now set up to be a powerhouse for the foreseeable future. In a 2020 interview, Pat Gelsinger, then CEO of VMware, said offering his company's software on Microsoft's Azure cloud was akin to a "Middle East peace treaty." Nadella is perhaps best known in the tech industry for pushing Microsoft deeper into cloud computing. While some in the younger generations have Microsoft software at work, it's not necessarily what they grew up using and may not be what they prefer.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Bing, Jason Redmond, Steve Ballmer, Aravind Srinivas, Jeff Bezos, Nadella, Aaron Levie, Levie, Larry Ellison, David Paul Morris, Pat Gelsinger, Michael Nathan, Nathan, he'd, He's, Nat Friedman, Friedman, Kevork Djansezian, Ballmer, Kevin Dallas, I've, Dallas, it's, Gen Z, OpenAI's, Commission's Lina Khan, Sam Altman, Altman, OpenAI isn't, hasn't, Jefferies Organizations: Microsoft, AFP, Getty, Apple, Google, Amazon, Oracle Corp, Oracle, Bloomberg, VMware, Intel, Linux, Ballmer, Los Angeles Clippers, Microsoft Corp, Nokia, Activision Blizzard, Adobe, Activision, Federal, U.S . Justice Department, CNBC Locations: Redmond , Washington, San Francisco, Microsoft's, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Europe

☆ F.T.C. Warns Dozens of Funeral Homes to Provide Accurate Costs to Callers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Federal Trade Commission said its first “undercover phone sweep” of funeral homes across the country had found that dozens didn’t accurately disclose costs for services to callers. Of the more than 250 funeral businesses F.T.C. employees called, 38 either didn’t answer questions about prices or supplied inconsistent prices for identical services, the commission said. The 39 funeral homes received warning letters in January that they had failed to comply with a law known as the Funeral Rule. enforces the rule, which outlines protections for consumers shopping for funeral services.

Organizations: Federal Trade Commission

Still, it posted a healthy adjusted profit and the company raised its quarterly dividend. Exxon earned $7.63 billion, or $1.91 per share, for the quarter. Chevron also reported its financial results Friday, posting a fourth-quarter adjusted profit of $3.45 per share on revenue of $47.18 billion. Wall Street was calling for a profit of $3.29 per share on revenue of $52.59 billion. On Thursday, Shell plc reported an adjusted profit of $2.22 for the fourth quarter, with revenue totaling $80.13 billion.

Persons: Chevron, “ Organizations: Exxon Mobil's, Revenue, Zacks Investment Research, Exxon, Denbury Resources, Natural Resources, Federal Trade Commission, Hess Corp, Chevron, Shell plc, Analysts, Hamas, U.S Energy Information Administration Locations: California, , Texas, premarket, San Ramon , California, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel

Zuckerberg has accumulated a long history of public apologies, often issued in the wake of crisis or when Facebook users rose up against unannounced — and frequently unappreciated — changes in its service. Whether or not the public always buys his apologies, there's little doubt that Zuckerberg finds it important to make them himself. BLINDED BY BEACONPhotos You Should See View All 45 ImagesFacebook's first big privacy blow-up entailed a service called Beacon, which the platform launched in 2007. VR TOUR OF A DISASTER ZONEZuckerberg's fascination with virtual reality long predated his decision to rename the company Facebook as Meta Platforms. That data was reportedly used to target voters during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign that resulted in Trump's election.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, “, you've, Meta's, Zuckerberg, it's, Here's, Beacon, — Zuckerberg, “ we’ve, we’ve, who'd, ”, Hurricane Maria, Trump's, Steve Bannon Organizations: FRANCISCO, Facebook, TechCrunch, Business, Yorker, Federal Trade, VR, CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA, Cambridge, CNN Locations: It's, Puerto Rico, Hurricane, CAMBRIDGE

The university hailed the decision as a victory for both the board's executive session practices and for access to higher education in Idaho. The University of Idaho has hailed the deal as expanding educational access to adult learners who seek online programs: “University of Phoenix serves primarily working adults. Each will have its own president and leadership team, the University of Idaho said. Representatives for the University of Phoenix didn't immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment Wednesday. A deputy attorney general advising the board had approved the executive sessions as compliant with Idaho’s Open Meeting Law, the judge's ruling noted.

Persons: general's, Raúl Labrador, ”, Jodi Walker, David Halperin, Jason Scott's, Labrador, University of Phoenix didn't, Linda Clark Organizations: of Idaho, University of Phoenix, Regents, D.C, Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, University of Idaho, “ University of Phoenix, Associated Press Locations: Idaho, “, Washington

LONDON (AP) — Italian regulators said they told OpenAI that its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot has violated European Union’s stringent data privacy rules. The watchdog started investigating ChatGPT last year, when it temporarily banned within Italy the chatbot that can produce text, images and sound in response to users' questions. The growing popularity of generative AI systems like ChatGPT are also drawing increasing scrutiny from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. Competition regulators in the 27-nation EU and Britain, meanwhile, are also examining Microsoft's OpenAI investments. AI systems also face broader oversight in the EU, which is f inalizing its groundbreaking AI Act, the world's first comprehensive rulebook for artificial intelligence.

Persons: OpenAI, chatbot, ChatGPT, “ Organizations: San, EU, Data, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Google, Microsoft, Competition Locations: San Francisco, Italy, EU, Britain

☆ House Democrats propose crackdown on fake, AI-generated robocalls
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The number of robocalls placed in the US peaked at around 58.5 billion in 2019, according to estimates by YouMail, a robocall blocking service. For all robocalls, including those Americans have authorized from their bank or doctor’s office, any use of AI would have to be disclosed under the proposed law. But even as officials have gained some ground on unwanted robocalls, those making the calls are increasingly turning to new technologies such as artificial intelligence to stay a step ahead. It would also seek to force phone providers to offer free robocall-blocking services to consumers and require the FCC to maintain a public list of the top 100 illegal robocall campaigns. Other Democratic co-sponsors of the legislation include Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, California Rep. Doris Matsui, Florida Rep. Darren Soto and Illinois Rep. Eric Sorensen.

Persons: Joe Biden, Frank Pallone, Pallone, ” Pallone, Jan Schakowsky, Doris Matsui, Darren Soto, Eric Sorensen Organizations: Washington CNN, House Democrats, New, New Hampshire voters, YouMail, CNN, House Energy, Commerce, Federal Communications Commission, Regulators, Industry, FCC, Federal Trade Commission, Democratic, Illinois, California Rep Locations: New Hampshire, California, Florida

☆ Amazon and Roomba maker call off acquisition deal, iRobot lays off staff instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Amazon and iRobot, the maker of the popular Roomba vacuum, mutually called off their estimated $1.7 billion acquisition deal Monday, citing numerous regulatory hurdles. Amazon (AMZN), which was up about 0.5% in noon trading, will pay iRobot a previously agreed-upon $94 million cancellation fee. IRobot said the restructuring plan, impacting around 350 employees, is intended to save the company up to $150 million. In November, the European Commission said the deal could hamper competition in the robot vacuum sector. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the European Commission planned to block the deal.

Persons: iRobot, Colin Angle, Glen Weinstein, IRobot, “, ” Andrew Miller, iRobot’s, ” David Zapolsky, Lina Khan, ”, Meta Organizations: CNN, European, Federal Trade, European Union, European Commission, Wall Street Journal, Amazon, Federal Trade Commission, Commission, Amazon . Tech, Adobe, EU, UK, Nvidia, UK’s Competition, Markets Authority, Activision Blizzard, CMA Locations: Europe

☆ Amazon Scraps Deal to Buy Maker of Roomba Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Adam Satariano | More About Adam Satariano | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Amazon said on Monday that it was abandoning plans to buy iRobot, the maker of the self-driving Roomba vacuum, after regulators raised concerns the deal would hurt competition. antitrust regulators warned Amazon that they might try to block the deal because it could restrict competition in the market for robot vacuum cleaners. The Federal Trade Commission was also scrutinizing the deal. Amazon, which will pay iRobot a $94 million termination fee, said in a statement that “disproportionate regulatory hurdles” caused it to step away from the deal, which was first announced in 2022. IRobot’s products, which also include robotic mops and air purifiers, were to join a growing list of connected home products made by Amazon, including Ring home security systems and Echo smart speakers.

Organizations: Amazon, Foods, MGM Studios, European Union, Federal Trade Commission Locations: E.U

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