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☆ AI is hitting a wall just as valuations reach the stratosphere
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The narrative from Silicon Valley is that the AI train has left the station and any smart investor had better hop on before these products become “superintelligent” and start solving all the world’s problems. Now, some of the leading language models appear to be hitting a wall, according to at least three reports last week. But if we have indeed hit a scaling wall, “it may mean that the the mega-cap technology companies have over-invested” and it’s possible that they could scale back in the near future. That’s the AI optimist/pragmatist view. For a less rosy outlook, I turned to Gary Marcus, NYU professor emeritus and outspoken critic of AI hype.

Persons: CNN Business ’, New York CNN — It’s, OpenAI, ”, that’s, “, Orion “, Ilya Sutskever, ” Sutskever, Marc Andreessen, Sam Altman, ” Gil Luria, Davidson, it’s, ” Luria, Gary Marcus, ” Marcus, “ LLMs Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Nvidia, Tech, ” Bloomberg, ” Reuters Locations: New York, GPT

They’ve pressed forward even though a majority of Americans still see the Capitol rioters as responsible for an attack against democracy, according to the most recent polling. The most pressing concerns are for convicted rioters required to report to prison before Trump’s inauguration in January, and for rioters with sentencing hearings coming up, according to a source familiar with the discussions. “They’re thrilled with the election, but there’s a lot of uncertainty from their perspective,” the source told CNN. For convicted rioters already serving prison sentences, there’s even less hope to get them out based on Trump’s campaign rhetoric, the source said. She later told CNN that her strategy guide has already been sent to Trump and the Republican National Committee.

Persons: Trump, Micki Witthoeft, Ashli Babbitt, Donald Trump, They’ve, MAGA, “ We’re, hasn’t, ”, John Pierce, “, “ He’s, Jeffrey Crouch, insurrectionists, ‘, ” Zachary Alam, Joseph McBride, ” McBride, Savannah Huntington, Rachel Powell, Powell, she’s, “ They’re, they’re, Suzzanne Monk, Monk, ” Monk, Charlie Kirk, Glenn Beck, Kirk, It’s, can’t, Crouch, Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, ” Crouch, Trump’s, Clinton, Bush, Tom Cotton, Markwayne Mullin, ” Marcus Childress, don’t, it’s, Aquilino Gonell, Biden, Kamala Harris, Harry Dunn, Sean R, Clark, Emily R, Condon Organizations: Washington CNN, Air Force, Capitol, GOP, “, Trump, American University, CNN, Trump –, DC, Defense, Justice Department, American Patriot Relief, American, J6, Republican National Committee, Glenn Beck Program, FBI, Trump Republicans, Former US Capitol Police, US Capitol Police Locations: Savannah, West Virginia, DC, pardoning, Vietnam

☆ Bernard Marcus, cofounder of The Home Depot and billionaire Republican megadonor, has died
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, the billionaire Home Depot cofounder and a Republican megadonor, who in recent years became an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, has died, the company announced Tuesday. “The entire Home Depot family is deeply saddened by the death of our cofounder Bernie Marcus,” The Home Depot said in a statement. The Home Depot got its start in Atlanta, a city where Marcus was a well-known philanthropist with his wife Billi. Some Trump opponents attempted to launch a boycott of The Home Depot in 2016 and in 2019 because of Marcus’ support of the Republican nominee for president. I don’t want to work — I’m too lazy, I’m too fat, I’m too stupid.’”“We used to have free speech here.

Persons: New York CNN — Bernard “ Bernie ” Marcus, Republican megadonor, Donald Trump, Bernie Marcus, ”, “, Bernie, ” Marcus, Arthur Blank, Marcus, Blank, Handy, Billi, “ He’s, John McCain, Ron DeSantis, Marcus ’, — Organizations: New, New York CNN, Republican, Rutgers University, Depot, Marcus Autism, Emory University, Georgia Aquarium, Trump, Fox News, Fox Business, The, Financial Times Locations: New York, Newark , New Jersey, California, Atlanta, Georgia, Florida, America

☆ Hugh Hewitt quits The Washington Post after storming off newspaper’s live show
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt resigned from his contributing columnist role at The Washington Post on Friday after storming off the newspaper’s live show over a disagreement with his colleagues. “No election can be fair in Donald Trump’s mind unless Donald Trump wins it,” Marcus said before Hewitt interjected. It’s got to be reported — Bucks County was reversed by the court and instructed to open up extra days because they violated the law and told people to go home,” Hewitt said. “So yes, he’s upset about Bucks County, but he was right, and he won in court. After storming off the show, Hewitt confirmed to Fox News that he had parted ways with The Post.

Persons: Hugh Hewitt, Hewitt’s, Jonathan Capehart, Ruth Marcus, Donald Trump, Capehart, Marcus, Hewitt, “, Donald Trump’s, ” Marcus, Hewitt interjected, “ I’ve, It’s, ” Hewitt, Trump, ” Capehart, Hugh, ” “, Jonathan, how’s, Fox, Trump’s MAGA, Jeff Bezos Organizations: New, New York CNN — Conservative, Washington, Republican National Committee, RNC, Tuesday’s, Fox News, Salem Media Locations: New York, Pennsylvania, Bucks, Philadelphia, Bucks County

☆ Drinking 1 to 3 cups of coffee a day may protect heart health
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Coffee and caffeine consumption may play an important protective role in almost all phases of CM development,” Ke said. What researchers don’t knowThe methodology is strong and the results line up with existing data about caffeine and heart health, but there are still questions about the extent of the connection between caffeine and heart health, Marcus said. Because the study is observational, it can only show a connection between caffeine and heart health, he said. Other factors may actually be the cause of the improved heart health, he added. And contrary to popular wisdom, drinking caffeine in coffee is associated with experiencing a lower risk of abnormal heart rhythms, he added, pointing to his and others’ research.

Persons: Chaofu Ke, Cardiometabolic, ” Ke, Ke, Gregory Marcus, ” Marcus, Marcus, ” Organizations: CNN, Soochow University, Metabolism, University of California Locations: Suzhou, China, San Francisco

Former Trump administration officials argue that more foreign students are involved in the campus protests and accuse the Biden administration and universities of withholding such information. He contended that it would be unconstitutional for authorities to try to deport them based solely on their expressing support for Hamas at protests. About 40,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, according to local health officials. Kena Betancur / AFP - Getty Images fileBiden’s approachBiden administration officials told NBC News that Trump’s threats don’t match the realities of the country’s overburdened immigration system. It argued that the Education Department is purposely protecting “pro-Hamas foreign extremists on American college campuses” and failing to provide records on foreign students, or pro-Hamas activities, at schools.

Persons: Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Ben Wizner, ” Wizner, ” Reed Rubinstein, Stephen Miller, aren’t, “, ”, Rubinstein, ‘, you’re, Seth, ” Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Kena Betancur, Jon Feere, isn’t, Feere, Kenneth Marcus, George W, Bush, Marcus, Louis D, ” Marcus, Vanessa Harmoush, Nerdeen Kiswani, hasn’t, Kiswani, ” Kiswani, Stephanie Keith, Daniel Richman, Richman, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, that’s, ” Mitchell, it’s Organizations: GOP, Republican National Convention, Democratic National Convention, NBC News, Trump, Israel, Harvard, Emory, University of Pennsylvania, Hamas, American Civil, Technology, America, Justice, “, Fountain, Washington , D.C, Seth Herald, Republicans, Congress, NBC, D.C, Israeli, Brooklyn Museum, Times, U.S, Popular Front, Liberation, Palestine, Columbia University, Getty, Biden, United States, State Department, Immigration, Customs Services, ICE, Center of Immigration Studies, Education Department, Justice Department, Department’s, Civil Rights, Brandeis Center for Human, Department of Education, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Columbia Law, Islamic, CAIR wouldn’t, CAIR, don’t Locations: Israel, U.S, Chicago, Gaza, Columbia, Columbus, Washington ,, New Jersey, Palestinian, Washington, New York City, Brooklyn, Vandals, New York, Germany, AFP, United States, Palestine

☆ Diet and sugary drinks boost risk of atrial fibrillation by up to 20%, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Atrial fibrillation is dangerous and on the riseAtrial fibrillation is the leading cause of stroke in the United States. Atrial fibrillation can also lead to blood clots, heart failure and “can increase the risk for heart attack, for dementia, for kidney disease. Replacing both diet and added sugar sodas with water is best to reduce chances of atrial fibrillation, experts say. The rate of atrial fibrillation in the US population is growing: The CDC estimates some 12 million Americans will have A-fib by 2030. “Do not take it for granted that drinking low-sugar and low-calorie artificially sweetened beverages is healthy, it may pose potential health risks.”

Persons: ”, Penny Kris, Etherton, Kris, “, Dr, Gregory Marcus, ” Marcus, Naveed Sattar, ” Sattar, Ningjian Wang, ” Wang Organizations: CNN, Pennsylvania State University, American Heart Association, US Centers for Disease Control, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, UCSF Health, Rhythm Society, University of Glasgow, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Locations: United States, Scotland, Shanghai, China

☆ University of Tampa facing investigation in the wake of Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Katie Lobosco | Rene Marsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The University of Tampa and a Florida school district, Hillsborough County Schools, are under investigation by the Department of Education related to alleged incidents of discrimination in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The investigations were launched by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Any person or organization can file a Title VI complaint with the Office for Civil Rights. The Office for Civil Rights has now opened a total of 27 Title VI investigations this year. Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center, told CNN he thinks the Office for Civil Rights could be doing more.

Persons: CNN doesn’t, they’ve, ”, Jonathan Fansmith, Kenneth Marcus, Trump, “ It’s, ” Marcus Organizations: Washington CNN — The University of Tampa, Hillsborough County Schools, Department of Education, New York’s Columbia University, Columbia, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Education’s, Civil Rights, Civil, Office, CNN, American Council, Education, “, University of Tampa, Columbia University, College, FBI, Ivy League school’s, Brandeis Center, Wellesley College Locations: Florida, Hillsborough, Israel, New, ”, Massachusetts

☆ Two strangers moved into an apartment in Prague. Then they fell in love
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

Marcus was studying in his bedroom in the Prague apartment when Mandy’s message popped up on his laptop. “It was a super-nice apartment in one of the coolest neighborhoods in Prague,” Marcus tells CNN Travel. Arriving in PragueMandy moved into Marcus' apartment in Prague's vibrant Vinohrady area. Here's one of Marcus and Mandy's first photos together, taken in their Prague apartment in 2020. “The night before he left, I’m crying and I’m like, ‘Oh, gosh, you’re leaving and I’m so sad,’” recalls Mandy.

Persons: Mandy Sanchez, Mandy, She’d, Marcus Wecksten, Marcus, Boris, ”, “, ” Marcus, ” Marcus –, Prague’s Charles University –, they’re, ’, that’s, you’re, ’ ”, Prague Mandy, Mandy Sanchez Mandy, who’d, ” Mandy, Mandy’s Uber, Uber, Mandy “, ’ ” Mandy, decamped, she’d, Mandy's, couldn’t, Marcus “, they’d, Marcus didn’t, Let’s, Mandy’s hesitations, Mandy couldn’t, Kemal Onur Ozman, coronavirus, They’d, ” Mandy wasn’t, ” Boris, Marcus wasn’t, I’ll, Mandy –, I’ve, I’m, Charles, –, phoning, hadn’t, Mandy’s, Here's Mandy, Marcus ’, – Marcus wouldn’t, “ He’d, ” “ We’ve, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Texas, M University, Facebook, Prague’s Charles University, CNN Travel, Midway, Uber, Google, Pilsner, ”, Prague Locations: Texas, Prague, Prague ”, Europe, Vinohrady, –, Germany, Finland, Czech Republic, Karlovy Vary, Albania, Helsinki

☆ Disney agrees to settle Magic Key annual pass lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Walt Disney Company agreed to pay $9.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the entertainment giant of “deceptive business practices” in regard to its Disneyland annual pass program, according to a court filing Thursday. The suit alleges that “thousands of people” with Magic Key passes may have been affected and were eligible to participate in the class action suit. A statement attributed to Disneyland officials said they “are satisfied that this matter has been resolved.”The attorneys representing affected Magic Key pass-holders did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. Disney’s Magic Key pass program was introduced two years ago, replacing the theme parks’ legacy Annual Pass Program. Disneyland offers four Magic Key passes at different price points.

Persons: David Marcus, Marcus, they’ve, ”, “, ” Marcus Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney Company, University of California, Disney Locations: California, Anaheim , California, Los Angeles

☆ Apple’s new challenge: making VR headsets look cool
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But behind this speculation is a more serious potential problem: even Apple may struggle to make VR headsets look cool. The new headset, which blends both virtual reality and augmented reality, is Apple’s most ambitious – and riskiest – new hardware product in years. In one early marketing image, a woman is shown wearing the headset while dressed in very chic clothing and lounging in an upscale living room. Apple’s silhouette ads in the early 2000s somehow managed to make not just iPods look cool, but also wired headphones. People use phones as Apple's Vision Pro headsets are on display at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S. June 5, 2023.

Persons: Tim Cook, Palmer Luckey, Oculus, memed, It’s, Robert Scoble, Larry Page, “ Robert, “ They’re, ” Lisa Peyton, “, Loren Elliott Loren Elliott, Reuters “, ” Marcus Collins, Collins, “ you’re, Alan Dye, it’s, ”, ” Peyton, “ It’s, they’ll Organizations: New, New York CNN, Apple, Facebook, Google, University of Oregon, CNN, Developers, REUTERS, Reuters, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan Locations: New York, —, Cupertino , California, U.S

☆ Chatbots: A long and complicated history
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-20 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Nearly 60 years later, the market is flooded with chatbots of varying quality and use cases from tech companies, banks, airlines and more. Others, meanwhile, warn the technology behind AI-powered chatbots remains much more limited than some people wish it may be. While they used similar technology to the earlier, social chatbots, Khudanpur said, “you really couldn’t call them chatbots. )”Return to social chatbots, and social problemsIn the early 2000s, researchers began to revisit the development of social chatbots that could carry an extended conversation with humans. This refrain would be repeated by other tech giants that released public chatbots, including Meta’s BlenderBot3, released earlier this month.

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