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☆ AI labs are fragmenting because of ego clashes and commercial pressures. It's about to drive a wave of new startups.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

There is an impending wave of new startups spinning out of larger AI labs, per Air Street Capital's State of AI report. AI labs are fragmenting due to ego clashes, philosophical disagreements, and commercial pressures. But as AI labs work towards the sector's holy grail, known as artificial general intelligence, those personalities have clashed — sometimes leading to a very public parting of ways. They are just some of the examples in a long line of AI labs that have fractured away from their juggernaut predecessors to form new startups. The exception would be if AI labs pivot toward building a niche model within a specific vertical, he said.

Persons: —, Ilya Sutskever, Andreessen Horowitz, StabilityAI's, H's cofounders, Sam Altman, Noel Hurley, they're, Nathan Benaich, Samir Kumar, Kumar, Peter J, Liu, Hurley, Benaich Organizations: Service, Sequoia, Black, Labs, TechCrunch, Accel, UiPath, NEA, Founders, Air Street Capital, Literal Labs, Touring Capital, Meta, Google Locations: Capital's, Paris, Sutskever

☆ Teens are losing faith in college, giving rise to interest in the skilled trades
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Although the data shows the rate of high school graduates enrolling within a year of their graduation is significantly higher for students from low poverty high schools. Junior Achievement and Citizen polled 1,000 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 in July. Roughly half, or 49%, believe a high school degree, trade program, two-year degree or other type of enrichment program is the highest level of education needed for their anticipated career path. "Teens are starting to get a clearer idea, if they are not going to go the college route, of what the alternatives might be," said Ed Grocholski, chief marketing officer at Junior Achievement. Advancements in artificial intelligence and technology training have also helped change the equation for some young people, Junior Achievement found.

Persons: Doug Shapiro, Shapiro, Ed Grocholski Organizations: Student Clearinghouse Research, Finance, Junior Achievement, Citizen

☆ Investors want proof AI will aid drug discovery. Evidence may come in the second half
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Analysts who have been following companies on the cutting edge of using generative AI for drug discovery say it is still very early days. But these endorsements haven't lifted Recursion shares out of a slump. RXRX 1Y mountain Recursion shares over the past year. The drug company will be a beta user of Recursion's LOWE (Large Language Model-Orchestrated Workflow Engine) and the pair are also partnering on oncology research. SDGR 1Y mountain Schrodinger shares over the past year.

Persons: Scott Schoenhaus, Chris Gibson, Jensen Huang, Leerink, Mani Foroohar, Foroohar, Recursion's, KeyBanc's Schoenhaus, Needham, Gil Blum, it's, Recursion's LOWE, Blum, Eli Lilly, AbCellera, KeyBanc's, Schoenhaus, FactSet, Allison Bratzel, Piper Sandler, Goldman Sachs, Salveen Richter, Peter Lawson, Lawson, Japan's Takeda, Schrodinger, Leerink's Foroohar Organizations: Analysts, Capital, Nvidia, ARK Investment Management, REC, CCM, Union, Bayer, Therapeutics, Dynamo, RLY, Barclays, Japan's Locations: U.S, biopharma, Biohive

☆ China's automakers must adapt quickly or lose out on the EV boom in the face of regulatory scrutiny abroad and competition at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The automaker is the joint venture partner of Honda and Toyota in China, and has an electric car brand called Aion. Expanding outside ChinaLike other automakers in China, GAC is also turning overseas. China's overseas car sales surged last year, putting the country on par with Japan as the world's largest exporter of cars. Dyer expects that to drive overseas demand for Chinese electric cars. Chinese consumers placed almost twice as much importance on tech features compared with U.S. consumers, Dyer said, citing AlixPartners' survey.

Persons: Evelyn Cheng, Tesla, Feng Xingya, Feng, Wei Haigang, Wei, Stephen Dyer AlixPartners, There's, Stephen Dyer, AlixPartners, Dyer, BYD, Nio, CATL, Zhong Shi Organizations: CNBC, GAC, Labor, Huawei, Honda, Toyota, China Passenger Car Association, EU, U.S, Factories, Greater China Business U.S, Ministry of Commerce, Tech, Volkswagen, SAIC Motor, Battery, China Automobile Dealers Association, Automotive, Robotics, Lotus Technology, Geely Locations: Beijing, Evelyn Cheng BEIJING, China, East, Mexico, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Egypt, Brazil, Turkey, Amsterdam, Greater China, Asia, U.S, Europe

☆ Fewer students are graduating from college, but certificate programs are way up
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

PhotoAlto/Dinoco GrecoGetting a college degree seems increasingly less appealing. College degree earners fall nearly 3%Community college pathway is 'at risk'Historically, a two-year degree was considered an economical alternative to a bachelor's, or even a more affordable pathway to a four-year college. In fact, just 16% of all community college students ultimately attain a bachelor's degree, according to recent reports by the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Community college as a stepping stone is "at risk," Shapiro said, and "that's very bad news." Submitting a FAFSA is also one of the best predictors of whether a high school senior will go on to college, according to the National College Attainment Network.

Persons: Shapiro, Joe Biden, it's, Sandy Baum, Baum Organizations: Community College Research Center, Columbia University, Aspen Institute College Excellence, Student Clearinghouse Research, Community, Federal, National College, Network, Seniors, U.S . Department of Education, Education, Urban Institute

☆ More students are dropping out of college — here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Although college enrollment declines leveled off this year, the number of students who started but then withdrew has been on the rise, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. At the same time, roughly 26% of current undergraduates have seriously considered leaving college or are at risk of dismissal, according to a separate report by education lender Sallie Mae. "We need more support for early college planning, especially for first-generation students or those from underserved communities," said Rick Castellano, a spokesperson for Sallie Mae. Among students who are considering putting their education on hold, most said it was due to financial concerns. Others cite a loss of motivation or life change followed by mental health challenges, Sallie Mae found.

Persons: Sallie Mae, Rick Castellano Organizations: Student Clearinghouse Research

☆ Transferring from community college to a four-year school isn't often successful — it's 'terribly unfortunate,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Going to community college and then transferring to a four-year school is often considered one of the best ways to get a degree for significantly less money. More students are choosing community college at the outset. Enrollment last fall at community colleges rose 2.6%, far more than any other institution type, according to the National Student Clearinghouse's latest research. However, nationwide, only about one third of students who start at community colleges ultimately transfer to four-year schools, and fewer than half of those transfer students earn a bachelor's degree within six years. That means just 16% of all community college students attain a bachelor's degree, according to recent reports by the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Persons: Josh Wyner, Tatiana Velasco, Rodriguez Organizations: National, Community College Research Center, Columbia University, Aspen Institute College Excellence, Student Clearinghouse Research, Finance, Biden, Aspen Institute College

☆ College enrollment picks up for the first time in over a decade — but student loan debt is still a major sticking point
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For the first time in over a decade, more students are choosing to go to college. Undergraduate enrollment rose 1.2% in the fall of 2023 compared with one year earlier — a gain of roughly 176,000 students, according to the National Student Clearinghouse's latest research. "The number of students in college has finally turned the corner after years of decline," said Doug Shapiro, executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. "Students have been increasingly opting for shorter term degrees and more vocational programs and vocational certificates," he added — at the expense of a four-year degree. "We have more families asking about pre-professional programs," Greenberg said.

Persons: Doug Shapiro, Z, Biden, Shapiro, Eric Greenberg, Greenberg Organizations: National, Student Clearinghouse Research, Finance, Greenberg Educational Group Locations: New York

☆ Now hiring: ‘New-collar’ workers, no degree necessary
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The labor market may be cooling but there are opportunities ahead, especially for new-collar workers. So called "new-collar" jobs typically require highly skilled workers and often come with salaries in the top half of the U.S. wage scale — but they don't require a college degree. "New-collar jobs may not require a traditional college degree," she wrote in 2016. Federal data also shows that trade school students are more likely to be employed after school than their degree-seeking counterparts — and much more likely to work in a job related to their field of study. What's more, a growing number of companies, including many in tech, recently decided to drop degree requirements for middle-skill and higher-skill roles.

Persons: Ginni Rometty, Doug Shapiro Organizations: IBM, Finance, Student Clearinghouse Research

☆ With or without loan forgiveness, fewer students are enrolling in college, questioning the return on investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hero Images | Hero Images | Getty ImagesEven before the Supreme Court blocked President Joe Biden's plan to forgive student debt, fewer students were enrolling in college. But this fall, freshman enrollment continued its slide, sinking 3.6%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. "This is more bad news for four-year colleges," said Doug Shapiro, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center's executive director. Rising college costs and ballooning student debt balances have caused more students to question the return on investment. But increasingly, borrowers are struggling under the weight of education debt, which today totals more than $1.7 trillion.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Rick Castellano, Sallie Mae, Doug Shapiro, Shapiro Organizations: Nationwide, Student Clearinghouse Research, Clearinghouse Research, Student, Research, Lumina, Gallup

☆ Alibaba's research arm shuts quantum computing lab amid restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Alibaba Group sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Chinese tech giant Alibaba (9988.HK) has cut a quantum computing laboratory and team from its research arm, donating both the lab and related experimental equipment to Zhejiang University, the company said on Monday. A spokesperson for Alibaba's DAMO Academy, Alibaba's in-house research initiative which included the lab, said the academy would continue to focus on technology research with the aim of being a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) research. The source said Zhejiang University would try and recruit the affected employees to work on its own quantum research. DAMO Academy was launched in 2017 by Alibaba Group to research advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning.

Persons: Aly, Eddie Wu, Casey Hall, Miral Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, HK, Zhejiang University, Alibaba's DAMO Academy, Alibaba's, Reuters, DAMO, Alibaba Group, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China

☆ This month, 200,000 high school seniors will get automatic college acceptance letters — before even applying
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Last spring, the State University of New York sent automatic acceptance letters to 125,000 graduating high school students. College enrollment is fallingPhoto: Bryan Y.W. These days, only about 62% of high school seniors in the U.S. immediately go on to college, down from 68% in 2010. Tuition and fees at four-year private colleges rose 4% to $41,540 in the 2023-24 school year from $39,940 in 2022-23. At four-year, in-state public colleges, the cost increased 2.5% to $11,260 from $10,990 the prior school year, according to the College Board.

Persons: Jenny Rickard, Bryan Y.W, Doug Shapiro Organizations: State University of New York, Nationwide, Student, Student Clearinghouse Research, National Center for Education Statistics, College Board, Financial Locations: U.S

☆ More high schoolers try this college savings strategy: It's like getting two years free, says expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Students take a mix of high school- and college-level courses, shortening the time it takes to complete a high school diploma and one to two years of college coursework. "For every class you can take in high school, that's one less class you are financing down the road," said Chad McGuire, director of Post's High School Academy. These programs are not restricted to high school students on a specific, and often accelerated, academic track, as many AP classes are. Where dual enrollment falls shortNearly two-thirds of community college dual enrollment students nationally were from low- or middle-income families, according to a 2017 study from the Community College Research Center at Columbia University. Of those students, 88% continued on to college after high school, and most earned a degree within six years.

Persons: Chad McGuire, McGuire, They're, Martha Parham Organizations: National Student Clearinghouse Research, University's High School Academy, Post's High School Academy, American Association of Community Colleges, Community College Research Center, Columbia University Locations: Waterbury , Connecticut

☆ As more colleges are promising high schoolers guaranteed admission, 'everybody wins,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Sonoma State University Courtesy: Sonoma State UniversityTo help make college a reality, Sonoma State University is trying a relatively new approach: High school students who have completed the requisite coursework and have a minimum 2.5 high school GPA are now "guaranteed admission" to the Rohnert Park, California-based school. Last spring, the State University of New York sent automatic acceptance letters to 125,000 graduating high school students. College enrollment is droppingSonoma State University Courtesy: Sonoma State UniversityStill, fewer students are going to college. More high schoolers want career trainingMost Americans still agree a college education is worthwhile when it comes to career goals and advancement. High schoolers are putting more emphasis on career training and post-college employment, the nonprofit found after polling more than 5,000 high school students six times since February 2020.

Persons: Ed Mills, Mills, Robert Franek, Franek, Lakhani, Doug Shapiro, Cole Clark, Connie Livingston Organizations: Sonoma, Sonoma State University, California State University, Finance, Princeton, Virginia Commonwealth University, State University of New York, Sonoma State University Still, Nationwide, CNBC, National Center for Education Statistics, Student Clearinghouse Research, College Board, Public, USA, ECMC Group, Junior Achievement, Citizens, Brown University Locations: , California, Sonoma State, Richmond , Virginia, New York, U.S

☆ Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia's grand plan to future-proof its oil-based economy. Experts say it's a huge risk.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia's grand plan to transform its economy and reduce its reliance on oil. The centerpiece of Vision 2030 is Neom, which includes a $1 trillion megacity known as The Line. But time is ticking: Seven years after announcing Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has reached the midway point of its timeline, with just seven years left to the finish line. That said, much of this is being financed by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's powerful sovereign wealth fund, which manages assets worth about $700 billion. NeomA key factor that could determine this project's success involves Saudi Arabia's changing appeal to the West.

Persons: Saud, who's, Simon Mabon, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, McKinsey —, —, Gerald Feierstein, Barack Obama, Feierstein, Richard Callis, Prince Mohammed, Yasir Othman al, Mabon, Prince Mohammed's, there's, Muslimi, they're Organizations: Foreign Policy Center, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Saudi Crown, McKinsey, Middle East Institute, Public Investment Fund, Saudi, SoftBank's Vision, Newcastle United soccer, Newcastle United FC, Saudi Aramco, International Monetary Fund, Chatham House, Neom, United, Bloomberg, Amnesty International Locations: Saudi, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, London, NEOM, Bandar, Yemen, Ukraine, Riyadh, Jeddah, they're, United Arab Emirates, Neom

☆ Value investing is having a moment in China. Here are some funds that are winning
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

They are: BOCIP China Value A Fidelity China Focus A Dist USD Ninety One GSF All China Eq A Acc HKD The first two have a value-style tilt – and not only beat the MSCI China Index in the first half of this year, but also in all of 2022, according to Morningstar. Although both value and growth China funds have generally posted losses over the three years ended July 2023, growth has lagged value by 12% a year, Liang said. However, she was quick to point out that just focusing on a single investment style such as value versus growth isn't enough. In terms of Morningstar's fund ratings — based on factors the firm calls people, process and parent — Schroder's ISF China Opps and FSSA China Growth have gold ratings for strong performance in the "people" and "process" categories. Closely watching valuations helped Schroders China's portfolio manager take some timely profits on "some overheated information technology" stocks, Liang said.

Persons: Warren Buffett, –, Claire Liang, Morningstar's, Liang, Benjamin Graham's, Goldman Sachs, It's, Timothy Moe Organizations: Morningstar, Fidelity, Acc, China, House Research Institute, Netflix, Suzhou Maxwell Technologies Locations: China, Fidelity China, Asia, Suzhou

☆ China's real estate market roiled by default fears again
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Two years after Evergrande's debt troubles, worries about China's real estate sector are coming to the forefront again. In late July, its top leaders indicated a shift toward greater support for the real estate sector, paving the way for local governments to implement specific policies. For the last several years, Chinese authorities have attempted to curb debt-fueled speculation in the country's massive — and hot — real estate market. Real estate and related industries have accounted for about a quarter of China's economy. He pointed out that since China started its deleveraging campaign in 2016, it is very unlikely the state would step in to bail out real estate developers.

Persons: Qilai Shen, Dalian Wanda, Liu Haibo, Sandra Chow, Nomura, Chow, Evergrande, Redmond Wong, —, Wong, Vanke, that's Organizations: Country Garden Holdings Co, Bloomberg, Getty, BEIJING, Reuters, CNBC, Country, Asia Pacific Research, CreditSights, Fitch, Saxo Markets Hong, China's, House Research, Stock, Poly Development, Research Locations: Baoding, Hebei province, China, Dalian, Hong Kong, Beijing, Saxo Markets Hong Kong

☆ Meta releases 'human-like' AI image creation model
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Katie Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The model, I-JEPA, uses background knowledge about the world to fill in missing pieces of images, rather than looking only at nearby pixels like other generative AI models, the company said. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is a prolific publisher of open-sourced AI research via its in-house research lab. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has said that sharing models developed by Meta's researchers can help the company by spurring innovation, spotting safety gaps and lowering costs. Lecun, considered one of the "godfathers of AI," has railed against "AI doomerism" and argued in favor of building safety checks into AI systems. Meta is also starting to incorporate generative AI features into its consumer products, like ad tools that can create image backgrounds and an Instagram product that can modify user photos, both based on text prompts.

Persons: Yann LeCun, Mark Zuckerberg, Katie Paul, David Gregorio Our Organizations: YORK, Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, Thomson

☆ Community college is on the rise for Gen Z as high tuition rates and job opportunities encourage them to skip 4-year degrees
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Community college enrollment rose this spring for the first time in a decade. Another route becoming more prevalent among the cohort is opting for community college instead of four-year undergraduate degrees. But according to a report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, community college enrollment rose 0.5% in spring 2023. The drastic difference in cost is pushing many toward the two-year community college degrees. PMG, a global advertising company, offers a partnership with the local community college, Tarrant County College.

☆ Supreme Court decision on Biden's student loan forgiveness plan is key for those who never finish college
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"Growing numbers of stop-outs and fewer returning students have contributed to the broader enrollment declines in recent years," said Doug Shapiro, executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. "There's a variety of issues students face in college, many unexpected," said Rick Castellano, a spokesperson for Sallie Mae. Students with 'some college' more likely to defaultIf Biden's plan to cancel $400 billion in student loans is blocked, default rates may spike, the U.S. Department of Education has warned. But the borrowers most in jeopardy of defaulting are those who start college but never finish. The default rate among borrowers who leave with student debt but no degree is three times higher than the rate for borrowers who have a diploma.

☆ The Saudi crown prince wants to build a trillion-dollar utopia in the desert. His deals with China reveal a darker vision.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It's part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's modernizing vision of the country. But behind the outlandish plan, developed by Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, is a much darker reality. Crown Prince Mohammed appears keen to replicate those projects on a grander scale. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announces a zero-carbon city called "The Line" to be built at NEOM in northwestern Saudi Arabia, January 10, 2021. It appeared to be the beginning of a fruitful partnership for Crown Prince Mohammed.

☆ No one wants to be an accountant anymore, but a program aimed at high schoolers looks to fix the shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Accounting firms are facing a significant staffing shortage. Between the long hours, stressful deadlines and unflattering stereotype, more people are quitting the profession then going into it. Instead, students straight out of college are choosing to pursue careers in related fields like investment banking, consulting or data analysis. The additional credit hours required to earn a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license don't help either. Starting in the fall, some public high school juniors and seniors can take Intro to Financial Accounting and earn three college credits through the University of Pittsburgh, which they can then transfer to the college of their choice.

☆ This strategy could save thousands off the cost of college: 'It's a very smart way to start your higher education,' says expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Gabriel Quezada, 17, is a senior at Early College High School in Costa Mesa, California. His father, Humberto Quezada, said he first heard about the Early College High School in Costa Mesa, California, when Gabriel was in third grade. Although there are up to 900 early college programs nationwide, according to Zeiser, not that many people know about them. 'A very smart way to start your higher education'"The culture is different from your average high school," said David Martinez, principal of the Early College High School. David Martinez principal of Early College High School, Costa Mesa, California

College enrollment has declined over the last decade. Here are three reasons why college enrollment may have collapsed. Why learn when you can earnThe robust labor market may have also contributed to college enrollment falling. Such attacks on colleges over the years might have caused Republicans to question the skill benefits of a college education. Did you get a job without a college degree?

LOS ANGELES, March 24 (Reuters) - When Cassidy Jacobson was 13 years old, she posted a video of herself dancing on the popular app TikTok. Jacobson dreams of using her success on TikTok - an app used by 150 million Americans - to start her own curly hair care line and inspire others to love their natural curls. Last week, TikTok said the Biden administration demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential ban. Whether it’s creating all new content for YouTube reels or taking her TikTok content and transferring it over to Instagram, the influencer is making sure to diversify her content. Beyond popularity and fans, TikTok backers believe it provides livelihoods, paths to social change and a sense of community.

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