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On Wednesday, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., joined Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., here on a tour of Latino-owned small businesses. Though she is the incumbent and older than Mackenzie, Wild, 67, labeled Mackenzie, 42, a “career politician,” noting he has served in elected office for 12 years — twice as long as her. “She has a failed record on border security,” Mackenzie said in a Thursday interview after a rally with Johnson in Hellertown. “Every state is a border state, as we say, because they opened the border wide, and ya’ll, they did it intentionally, OK? A recent NBC News/Telemundo/CNBC poll found that support for Harris among Latino voters is at 54%, the lowest level in the past four presidential election cycles.

Persons: Pete Aguilar, Susan Wild, Mike Johnson, Ryan Mackenzie, Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Mackenzie, ”, Wild, ” Wild, “, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Aguilar, Billy Joel, —, Matthew Tuerk, Tuerk, Scott Wong, Del Abuelo, Kamala Harris ’, Charlie Dent, Milou Mackenzie, “ She’s, Greenberg Lemus, Del, she’s, ” Mackenzie, Johnson, ” Johnson, Trump, Harris, he’s, hasn’t, Victor Martinez, He’s, Tim Walz, Martinez, It’s, She’s, mischaracterize, he's, you’re Organizations: Congressional, House Democratic, GOP, Republican, NBC, Republicans, Census, Allentown, El, El Tablazo, Democratic, La, Democrat, Steel, Bethlehem Steel, NBC News, Telemundo, CNBC, Allentown’s Puerto Rican Parade, Dominican, ” Radio, Mega Locations: ALLENTOWN, Pa, —, Lehigh, Hellertown, D, Easton, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Aguilar, Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Venezuela, New York, New Jersey, U.S, Bethlehem, Dominican, Wild, Harrisburg, Mexican American, Allentown —, Reading, Puerto, ”, Mexican

☆ Leaked Amazon documents reveal 9 top factors customers consider before buying AI models and services
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-28 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AWS wants to focus on cloud infrastructure and AI foundation models, not AI chatbots. The guidelines, which Business Insider obtained, also list nine important factors customers consider before purchasing generative-AI models and services. Amazon; InsiderHere are the nine factors:AdvertisementCustomization: The ability to tailor AI models for specific requirements (e.g., the style of a model's outputs). The ability to tailor AI models for specific requirements (e.g., the style of a model's outputs). Advertisement"AWS has more generative AI services than any other cloud provider, which is why our AI services alone have a multi-billion dollar run rate," the spokesperson added.

Persons: —, Matt Garman, It's Organizations: Service, AWS, Web

☆ Google says 'we're flattered they're worried about us,' after Amazon sales guidelines diss rival's AI capabilities
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-27 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon's AI sales guidelines criticize rivals including Google and Microsoft. AdvertisementAmazon has internal sales guidelines that deride the AI capabilities of some of its biggest rivals, including Google. But OpenAI's explosive popularity gave it a head start in generative AI; the internal sales guidelines indicate some AWS customers launched their first AI projects using OpenAI's technology instead of AWS's. "It's no secret that generative AI is an extremely competitive space. AWS has more generative AI services than any other cloud provider, which is why our AI services alone have a multi-billion dollar run rate," the Amazon spokesperson said.

Persons: —, We're, they're, doesn't, Atle Erlingsson, Erlingsson, It's Organizations: Google, Microsoft, Service, Amazon Web, Business, AI, Amazon

☆ Internal Amazon sales guidelines spread doubt about OpenAI capabilities while bad-mouthing Microsoft and Google
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-26 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Other talking points from the documents include OpenAI's lack of access to third-party AI models and weak enterprise-level contracts. "For generative AI workloads, AWS will compete most often w/ Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service, OpenAI (directly), and Google Cloud's Generative AI on Vertex AI," one of the documents said. Instead, Amazon has prioritized selling AI tools like Bedrock, which gives customers access to third-party AI models. The sales guidelines also outline how AWS sales reps should respond to customers' questions about Microsoft and Google. In situations where Microsoft pitches its AI-powered analytics software, Fabric, to customers, AWS salespeople are instructed to say, "Microsoft Fabric is a new (unproven) offering."

Persons: —, It's, isn't, ChatGPT, OpenAI, OpenAI's, Sam Altman, Jason Redmond, Claude, Satya Nadella, Justin Sullivan, Maia, We're, they're, doesn't, Atle Erlingsson Organizations: Microsoft, Google, AWS, Service, Business, OpenAI, Amazon, Nvidia, Getty, Meta, Amazon's, AI, Fortune Locations: AFP

☆ Former employee accuses Davos summit organizers of pregnancy and race discrimination
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewA former employee at the World Economic Forum — the organizer of the illustrious Davos summit in the Swiss Alps — has accused the NGO and its founder, Klaus Schwab, in a lawsuit of pregnancy and race discrimination. Additionally, Smith said that after she announced her pregnancy in 2023, her position at the Forum "began deteriorating," according to the lawsuit. Others said they experienced sexual harassment by senior managers at the Forum as well as Davos VIP attendees, according to the Journal. In May, 86-year-old Schwab told staff in a memo he was stepping aside as the Forum's executive chairman as part of a planned transition.

Persons: —, Klaus Schwab, Topaz Smith, Smith, Smith didn't, Sam Altman, Bill Gates, Schwab Organizations: Service, Davos, Business, World Economic Forum, Journal, Forum, . Locations: Davos, Swiss

☆ A national network of local news sites is publishing AI-written articles under fake bylines. Experts are raising alarm
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But a closer look at the bylines populating the local site and a national network of others — Sarah Kim, Jake Rodriguez, Mitch M. Rosenthal — reveals a tiny badge with the words “AI.” These are not real bylines. The outlet, Hoodline, is not the first or only news site to harness AI. Sports Illustrated deleted several articles from its website after they were found to have been published under fake author names. Keeping local news aliveOn Hoodline’s network of local news sites, it is difficult to find an article not written by the software. But the transformation at Hoodline shows that bigger solutions are needed to keep vital local news reporting alive.

Persons: Sarah Kim, Jake Rodriguez, Mitch M, Rosenthal —, ”, Hoodline, ” Zachary Chen, ” Chen, “ Nina, Mark Graham, Peter Adams, “, ” Adams, Chen, Danielle Coffey, ” Coffey, That’s, Felix Simon, ” Simon, Simon, Benjamin Toff, Hoodline San Francisco ’, Nuala, ” Bishari Organizations: CNN, Media, Tech, Gannett, Internet, Wayback Machine, News Literacy, LinkedIn, Media Alliance, News Corp, Reuters Institute for, Journalism, University of Oxford, Research, University of Minnesota, San Francisco Chronicle Locations: embarrassments, San Francisco, Philippines, Hoodline San

☆ As Putin and Xi meet, the power dynamics between Russia and China keep the West guessing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Pedro Pardo | Afp | Getty ImagesRussia's close relationship with superpower China is under close scrutiny as Russian President Vladimir Putin meets his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday. "Neither Putin nor Xi can achieve what they want to achieve, both domestically and internationally, without the support of the other. Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping leave after a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Oct. 17, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony before Russia-China talks in Moscow, Russia, on March 21, 2023.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Pedro Pardo, Putin, Sam Greene, they've, " Greene, Xi, It's, Pavel Byrkin, it's, —, Natasha Kuhrt, Russia's, Kuhrt, Sergei Savostyanov, Greene, Liu Pengyu, Mikhail Tereshchenko Organizations: Forum, International Cooperation, of, People, Afp, Getty, Xinhua, Democratic, Center for, CNBC, Analysts, Kremlin, Putin, King's College London, Russia, U.S, Reuters, Sputnik Locations: Beijing, China, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Central Asia, Russian, U.S, Washington

☆ A psychologist who went viral posting 'Love Is Blind' takes says she regrets analyzing cast members after they told her about 'inhumane' conditions on the show
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She co-founded a foundation with 2 former cast members to make reality TV more ethical. But the finale episode — when all the cast members come together to reflect on their "social experiment" — gave her pause. "Love Is Blind" cast members described 'inhumane' conditionsHartwell later spoke to Business Insider about his experience filming "Love Is Blind," which he alleged included 20-hour work days with inadequate food or sleep, as well as an excess of alcohol. Her post was reshared by former "Vanderpump Rules" cast member Rachel Leviss (previously "Raquel"), who left the show after being involved in a highly publicized affair with another cast member. Reality TV can be fun and ethicalMorley believes most audiences don't understand the extent to which reality TV is manipulated and edited.

Persons: Isabelle Morley, —, Isabelle Morley recapped, " Morley, Morley, Jeremy Hartwell, Hartwell, Nick Thompson, Ser, exes, Renee Poche, Rachel Leviss, Raquel, Leviss screenshotted, Leon Bennett Organizations: Service, Netflix Locations: Boston

He said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” with a NATO member country who did not meet its defense spending guidelines. How Did Trump Mischaracterize NATO Defense Funding? That stance is not tied in any way to the 2% defense spending target. Which Countries Meet NATO’s 2% Defense Spending Goal? They were:How Did Leaders and Lawmakers React to Trump’s Recent NATO Comments?

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, we're, ”, Kathleen McInnis, “, ” McInnis, aren't, it's, United States doesn't, Jens Stoltenberg, Trump’s, ” Stoltenberg, NATO Ally, Joe Biden, Nikki Haley –, –, Rand Paul of Kentucky, he’s, ” Sen, Marco Rubio, It’s, Lindsey Graham of Organizations: NATO, Trump, Press, Donald Trump View, Ukraine, Center, Strategic, International Studies, NPR, “, South Carolina Gov, Republican, CBS, Sen, GOP, CNN, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, The New York Times Locations: South Carolina, Russia, Germany, France, Norway, NATO, United States, U.S, ” U.S, Florida, Lindsey Graham of South

☆ Hunter Biden agrees to deposition, GOP chairs say contempt resolution on track until a date is set
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"We will not tolerate any additional stunts or delay from Hunter Biden," said House Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in a joint statement. Hunter Biden's surprising offer to appear for a private deposition came two days after Comer and Jordan's panels passed resolutions urging the House to hold him in contempt. But, "If you issue a new proper subpoena, now that there is a duly authorized impeachment inquiry, Mr. Biden will comply for a hearing or deposition," Lowell wrote. "We will accept such a subpoena on Mr. Biden's behalf." Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two federal courts.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Biden, James Comer, Jim Jordan, Hunter, Comer, Biden's, Abbe Lowell, Jordan, Lowell, Comer's, Joe Biden's Organizations: Capitol, Department of Justice, Democratic, Court Locations: Washington , U.S, Ky, Ohio, U.S, Los Angeles, Delaware

LOS ANGELES — Hunter Biden, the last surviving son of President Joe Biden, pleaded not guilty to nine tax-related charges during his arraignment in federal court on Thursday. Follow along for live updatesThe arraignment came just over a month after Hunter Biden was indicted in the Central District of California on allegations that he failed to pay his taxes. That charge, which federal authorities have used as a catch-all charge against domestic extremists, is facing court challenges. On Wednesday, Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at a circus-like hearing on the day that Republicans formally recommended that the House hold him in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena for testimony. Hunter Biden has said he would testify publicly, but House Republicans have demanded that he testify behind closed doors.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Biden, Mark C, Scarsi, Donald Trump, David Weiss, General Merrick Garland, Weiss, Abbe Lowell Organizations: Capitol, U.S, District, Central District of, Prosecutors, Trump, Republicans Locations: Washington , U.S, Los Angeles, Central District, Central District of California, Delaware

☆ Opinion: The GOP’s double standard on antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Opinion Jay Michaelson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It echoes 1,000 years of antisemitic conspiracy theories that Jews are responsible for, yet somehow immune to, plagues and disease – beliefs that led to actual Jews being murdered by angry mobs. No, of course, we’re in Washington, DC, where politics dictates how antisemitism is, or isn’t, tolerated by those with something to gain from it. Really, it was only a matter of time before RFK Jr. stumbled into overt antisemitism. Without exaggeration, many of my Jewish friends have remarked that this mainstreaming of antisemitism reminds them of 1930s Germany. There is no equivalence between a strident anti-Israel remark and the resurrection of age-old antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Persons: Rabbi Jay Michaelson, Jay Michaelson Beowulf Sheehan, weren’t, Pramila Jayapal, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Jayapal, Kennedy Jr, John Lamparski, Joe Biden, Jay Michaelson, Kennedy’s, George Soros, MAGA, Nick Fuentes, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, ’, Adolf Hitler Organizations: CNN, Rolling Stone, US Rep, Republicans, RFK, Democratic, Democrats, RFK Jr, Synagogue, for Disease Control, National Institute of Health, Homeland Security, FBI, CIA, Twitter, Facebook, MAGA Republicans, Georgia GOP, Washington DC Locations: Israel, we’re, Washington , DC, Pittsburgh, America, Georgia, California, Rothschild, Hollywood , New York, Germany

☆ Hollywood studios say they offered actors $1 billion in gains before strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, July 17 (Reuters) - Major film and television studios offered Hollywood actors more than $1 billion in higher compensation and enhanced benefits before the SAG-AFTRA union called a strike last week, a group that represents media companies said on Monday. "For SAG-AFTRA to assert that we have not been responsive to the needs of its membership is disingenuous at best," the AMPTP added. The union said the studios countered with an offer of 5%. "We moved on some things, but from day one they wouldn’t meaningfully engage on the most critical issues," SAG-AFTRA said. The actors have joined members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which went on strike May 2 after failing to reach a deal with the AMPTP.

Persons: AFTRA, Lisa Richwine, Robert Birsel Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Netflix Inc, Walt Disney Co, Warner Bros Discovery, Writers Guild of America, Thomson Locations: ANGELES

Fox has said Dominion cannot prove that the network knowingly spread falsehoods or recklessly disregarded the truth, the legal standard of "actual malice" that plaintiffs in defamation lawsuits must meet. Fox is now largely limited to arguing that Dominion cannot prove actual malice. Fox has called Dominion's lawsuit an assault on the free press and framed its stance in the case as a defense of journalism and diversity of ideas in the public square. Fox has attacked the credibility of Dominion's damages estimate, saying it is based upon unrealistic growth projections and faulty assumptions. An expert report commissioned by the company attributed scores of lost contracts to Fox's coverage, though much of the report remains under seal.

Fox has argued that Dominion cherry-picked evidence to mischaracterize the network's coverage decisions, which it said were reasonable because election-rigging claims by the president's lawyers were inherently newsworthy. Fox has said it also gave Dominion's side of the story by airing its denials. The Fox Corp chairman is set to take the witness stand, along with other executives including Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott. The trial is also due to include testimony from a parade of conservative-leaning Fox hosts including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro. Fox has attacked the credibility of Dominion's damages estimate, saying it is based upon unrealistic growth projections and faulty assumptions.

Companies Meta Platforms Inc FollowMarch 21 (Reuters) - A new lawsuit accuses Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) executives and directors of failing to do enough to stop sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation on Facebook and Instagram. Given the board's failure to explain how it tries to root out the problem, "the only logical inference is that the board has consciously decided to permit Meta's platforms to promote and facilitate sex/human trafficking," the complaint said. "We prohibit human exploitation and child sexual exploitation in no uncertain terms," it said in a statement on Tuesday. Zuckerberg, Meta's billionaire co-founder and chief executive, told Congress in 2019 that child exploitation was "one of the most serious threats that we focus on." Meta, based in Menlo Park, California, has long faced accusations that its platforms are a haven for sexual misconduct.

☆ An anti-abortion judge overseeing a Texas lawsuit that could ban an abortion pill wanted to delay announcing the hearing date, The Washington Post reported
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk is overseeing a lawsuit that challenges the FDA approval of mifepristone. A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, but the judge hoped to delay publicizing the date, per WaPo. But the Texas judge overseeing the case — who is known for his conservative politics and anti-abortion stance — hoped to hide the date of the hearing until right before the scheduled date, The Washington Post reported. In addition, he told attorneys on the call that members of the courthouse have received threats due to the lawsuit, the Post reported. According to the report, the Post had attempted to seek information about the date of the hearing before the Friday call but received no response.

☆ With over 100 anti-LGBTQ bills before state legislatures in 2023 so far, activists say they're 'fired up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

So far, Texas has taken the lead with 36 such bills, according to Equality Texas, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group. Four states — Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Arizona — have enacted restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for minors, though federal judges have blocked them from taking effect in Arkansas and Alabama. State Sen. David Bullard, the Republican sponsoring the bill, told The Oklahoman that gender-affirming medical care is a “permanent change in your body that cannot be reversed. Accredited medical associations — including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association — have supported gender-affirming care for minors. Advocates and doctors who treat trans youth have said many of the health care restrictions proposed by state legislators mischaracterize what gender-affirming care is.

☆ A Georgia GOP congressman who backed Trump's election lies voted in the wrong county, but his spokesman insists it wasn't a 'devious ploy'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A GOP Congressman in Georgia may have broken the state's voting law by casting ballots in the wrong county. Rep. Drew Ferguson voted in the county where he used to live during the 2022 election cycle. Ferguson has been an advocate against voter fraud since the 2020 election and backed Trump's election lies. "Congressman Ferguson resolved the issue, and proceeded to vote in Troup County for the primary, general, and run-off elections." "Congressman Ferguson is currently in the process of transitioning his residency to his new home in Pike County," the spokesman added.

☆ Issa Rae's best career advice: Don't be afraid of being labeled a 'difficult' person to work with
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Even right before her TV show "Insecure" premiered in 2016, Rae was "scared of being seen as difficult" to work with, she said at the Indeed FutureWorks 2022 conference earlier this month. In response, she sought guidance from other Black women she admired in the entertainment industry: Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, Debbie Allen and Mara Brock Akil. At the Indeed conference, Rae called it "the best career advice" she ever received. "I don't care how settled I may feel in my career, I don't care how much praise I get," she said. The advice Rae received from her career idols helped, she added: "I take away the fear of being labeled as [difficult].

☆ Merrill Lynch's support staff is fed up. Here's why client associates at the massive wealth manager are heading for the door.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The support wants supportThere's another uprising on Wall Street. And at Merrill Lynch, which oversees $2.7 trillion in assets, there is plenty of dirty work that falls to the 6,500 CAs. But it's important to remember that we're a long way away from the spring of 2021, when Wall Street was making money hand over fist. Wall Street bonuses are expected to drop by as much as 22% from last year, Reuters reports. If you do one thing today, read this inspiring story about a Wall Street banker leading the evacuation of an Afghan colonel and his family.

☆ An Equinox sales manager got treated to an Angels game for 'a job well done' after emailing his team a racist, misogynistic meme, lawsuit claims
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A sales manager at an Equinox gym shared a racist pornographic meme at work, a former employee said. As September drew to a close, a sales manager at an Equinox gym in Irvine, California, emailed his supervisors and colleagues about their monthly sales targets. The email, according to a new discrimination lawsuit against the luxury fitness chain, contained a meme with a pornographic image. Varga and Torrao are still employed at Equinox, Piccolo's attorney Michael Willemin, a partner at Wigdor LLP, told Insider. Equinox representative Bank did not respond to an inquiry about whether Varga and Torrao had been disciplined over the email.

“He may be forced to live a subsistence type of life,” said Richard Signorelli, a New York attorney and former federal prosecutor. Jones and his companies today are worth $135 million to $270 million, forensic economist Bernard Pettingill testified in August at another defamation trial for Jones in Texas. The amount eventually paid out by Jones may be less, according to Ryan O’Neill, a defamation lawyer and professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law. If it is found to be dischargeable, Jones would be required to make disclosures about his finances, Gessin said. “I don’t think he’s going to be able to escape this judgment,” he said.

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