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☆ Elon Musk wins big by betting on Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Elon Musk used his money, power, and influence to help reelect former President Donald Trump. Musk has spent months strengthening his ties to Trump, using his platform on X to advocate for him and investing over $130 million in pro-Trump efforts. Some suggested Musk's actions might be a risk-hedging strategy to secure Trump's backing if he wins. AdvertisementWhat a Trump win means for Musk's business empireAside from direct influence within the government, a Trump presidency could lead to a lot of wins for Musk's business empire, which includes Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company, Neuralink, and X. Coglianese said Musk was also "banking on a president who will want to or be willing to repay Musk for his loyalty."

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Trump, Musk, —, Elon, Cary Coglianese, Erik Gordon, Gordon, Francesco Trebbi, Karoline Leavitt, Coglianese, it's, Carl Icahn, Icahn, Joan MacLeod Heminway, Heminway Organizations: Service, Trump, Business, Penn, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, Department of Government, Securities and Exchange Commission, Twitter, SpaceX, The Boring Company, Tesla, University of California, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, University of Tennessee Locations: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, University of California Berkeley

☆ The election is a big test for AI companies
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AI companies have been adjusting their election offerings and guidelines ahead of Election Day. Perplexity launched an Election Information Hub with information on candidates, voting logistics, and results. Related VideoThe AI search engine launched a dedicated "Election Information Hub" that uses AI to provide information about the upcoming election and results tracking. While the live election updates may be helpful to users, AI-generated election content poses a number of risks. AdvertisementGoogle , which experienced some highly publicized AI fails with its Gemini AI and AI Overviews, chose to implement constraints on what users can ask its AI products about the election.

Persons: Perplexity, —, Sara Platnick, Platnick, Perplexity Alon Yamin, Yamin, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Anthropic, Brad Carson, it's, Carson Organizations: Google, Service, Business, Associated Press, Democracy, Reuters, Innovation

☆ Elon Musk has a lot to gain if Trump wins. A Harris presidency is more uncertain.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Musk could gain influence at the federal level if Trump is elected president. It's unclear what a Harris administration would mean for Musk and his business empire. Musk under HarrisWhile Musk could gain power, government contracts, and looser regulations under Trump, it's unclear how he might be impacted under a Harris administration. For X, which Musk has branded as the platform for freedom of speech, Gordon said a Harris administration could pressure it to ban material labeled as "misinformation." AdvertisementIt's also possible nothing would meaningfully change for Musk under a Harris administration.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Musk, Trump, Harris, —, He's, Francesco Trebbi, Erik Gordon, Gordon, Tesla, eyeing Musk's, Trebbi, X, Tevi Troy, Troy, Joan MacLeod Heminway, Cary Coglianese, Tom Narayan, Karoline Leavitt, Leavitt, he's, Coglianese, it's, Carl Icahn, Tim Cook, Heminway, Elon Organizations: Service, Elon, Republican Party, Trump, Trump Many, University of California Berkeley, Musk, University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, Traffic Safety Administration, SpaceX, Department of Defense, Bank of America, Center, White House, University of Tennessee, University of Pennsylvania, Penn, RBC Capital Markets, Democratic, Green New Deal, Twitter, Apple Locations: Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Texas, California, Mexico

☆ I'm a Google Cloud director who spent decades in the FBI. If you want a tech job, cybersecurity is the place to be.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He told BI that cybersecurity roles are in high demand and there's a shortage of talent. Cybersecurity roles are needed across all business verticals and they're here to stay, Palmore said. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with MK Palmore, a director in Google Cloud's office of the chief information security officer. I'm a director in Google Cloud's office of the chief information security officer. As industry importance continues to rise, the availability of talent continues to be a bit of a challenge across all industries.

Persons: Palmore, —, I've, isn't, there's Organizations: FBI, CISCO, Service, Google, Palo, United States Marines Locations: Palo Alto, North America

☆ Nearly 200,000 people are on the waitlist to try out a new Gen Z messaging app that launches next week
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Daze, a messaging app aimed at middle and high schoolers, has 187,000 people on its waitlist. Daze CEO Willem Simons told BI that middle and high schoolers are increasingly looking to interact creatively. AdvertisementAn upcoming messaging app for Gen Z looks a lot different than your typical iPhone or WhatsApp conversation. Simons told BI that the app is aimed at middle schoolers and high schoolers. The 27-year-old, who has cofounded other startups, including the messaging app Muze, said he grew up in a somewhat rural environment and couldn't always be in person with friends.

Persons: Willem Simons, —, It's, Simons, it's Organizations: Service, Facebook, Business, Apple Locations: Emarketer

☆ AI is coming to Google Maps to help you find inspiration for what to do in an area
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Google Maps and its platforms rolled out a Gemini AI update that enhances its location services. Starting this week, the company's Gemini AI will be integrated into Google Maps in the US on Android and iOS. Google vice president Miriam Daniel told Business Insider that the presentation of the results in Google Maps and the Gemini app might look different, "but the fundamental core is somewhat the same." AdvertisementDrivers will be able to report incidents within Google Maps. The tech giant has been working on integrating AI into various platforms, such as AI Overviews in Google search results.

Persons: —, Miriam Daniel, Susanne Franz, We're, Daniel Organizations: Google, Gemini, Drivers, Service, Waze, Android, Business

☆ Google delivers a big earnings beat fueled by AI growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Ana Altchek | Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The company beat on revenue, EPS, its ads business, and Google Cloud revenue, which grew 35% year over year. Revenue from Google Cloud grew 35% year over year to $11.4 billion, bolstered by "accelerated growth" in the company's AI products, the company said. Here are the key numbers for the third quarter compared to analysts' estimates:AdvertisementEarnings per share : $2.12 vs. $1.83 expected: $2.12 vs. $1.83 expected Revenue : $88.27 billion vs. $86.44 billion expected: $88.27 billion vs. $86.44 billion expected Google Advertising : $65.9 billion vs. $65.5 billion: $65.9 billion vs. $65.5 billion YouTube advertising revenue : $8.92 billion vs. $8.89 billion expected: $8.92 billion vs. $8.89 billion expected Google Cloud revenue: $11.35 billion vs. $10.79 billion expectedSource for analyst expectations: BloombergAlphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company's AI investments were "paying off." The AI results will now reach over 1 billion users on a monthly basis, he said, and ads in AI Overview are "performing well." Related stories"Today, more than a quarter of all new code at Google is generated by AI then reviewed and accepted by engineers," Pichai said.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, —, Pichai, Demis Hassabis, Evelyn Mitchell, Wolf, Mitchell Organizations: Google, Service, Google Cloud, Bloomberg, Apple, DOJ, Business

☆ I'm a California teacher who thinks phone use in classrooms is a big problem. I'm not convinced a new law will solve it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

California teacher Joelle Clark said phones are a distraction and policies on their use can be hard to enforce. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Joelle Clark, a 28-year-old public school teacher in California, about the state's new law requiring schools to develop a policy that limits smartphone usage by July 1, 2026. I'm a six-year teacher, and I teach special-ed high school students with mild to moderate learning disabilities. So, I moved out to California and I came into a school where students are constantly on their phones. Maybe we should have a class on phones to teach kids healthy habits and the danger of media.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Bill, Joelle Clark, Clark, —, I'm, They're Organizations: Service, Apple Locations: California, Chicago

☆ The Apple devices that can run Apple Intelligence AI features — and those that can't
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple rolled out new Apple Intelligence features with iOS 18.1 on Monday. If you don't have a brand-new Apple device, you might still be able to take advantage of Apple Intelligence. You can also access Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Users with an iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15, or any earlier version cannot access Apple Intelligence features. Those are the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and the iPad Mini.

Persons: —, Siri, Max Organizations: Apple, Apple Intelligence, Service, Sequoia, iPad, MacBook, Mac

☆ People paid $50,000 to reserve Tesla's new Roadster nearly 7 years ago. Its launch date remains a mystery.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk recently said Tesla's Roadster takes a back seat to more pressing projects. Nearly seven years after first unveiling the new Roadster, its release date remains a mystery. During Tesla's third-quarter earnings call, Elon Musk thanked the "long-suffering deposit holders," many of whom paid $50,000 in 2017 to reserve the much-delayed electric sports car. Related storiesMusk first announced the new Tesla Roadster in November 2017 and said it would be "the fastest production car ever made, period." The interior design of the Tesla Roadster was shown off in November 2017.

Persons: Tesla's, Elon Musk, —, Tesla, Musk, weren't, Kate Leaman, Leaman, it's, Jacob Bourne, Bourne, Dan Ives, Don Lemon, Peter Thiel Organizations: Analysts, Service, Wall Street, Business, Tesla, Base Roadster, SpaceX

☆ Tesla ends the week on a high fueled by earnings 'surprise'
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla stock has surged since the company reported earnings on Wednesday. AdvertisementTesla's stock price has been on a tear in the two days since the carmaker reported quarterly earnings that exceeded expectations. AvaTrade's chief market analyst, Kate Leaman, told BI that Tesla's earnings were a "surprise beat, which always gives the stock a push." Ahead of the earnings report, analysts had concerns about waning EV demand and the impact of Tesla's price cuts on its profitability. Dan Ives, a Tesla bull and an analyst at Wedbush Securities, called Tesla's earnings figures a "Goldilocks quarter."

Persons: Jacob Bourne, —, Elon Musk, Tesla, Kate Leaman, Tom Narayan, Dan Ives, Emarketer's Bourne, Tesla's Cybercab, Bourne, Chowdhry, Donald Trump, Narayan, Musk Organizations: Wall Street, Service, Wall, Business, RBC Capital, Wedbush Securities, Global, Tesla Locations: Texas, California, Bay

☆ 6 new things Elon Musk said about the Cybercab on Tesla's earnings call
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Elon Musk talked more about the autonomous Cybercab during Tesla's third-quarter earnings call. AdvertisementIt's been less than a month since Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Cybercab, an autonomous robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, at the company's "We, Robot" event. AdvertisementMusk says Cybercab will reach volume production in 2026Tesla's Cybercab was first shown off at the company's "We, Robot" event on October 10, 2024. "I do feel confident of Cybercab reaching volume production in '26, not just starting production, reaching volume production in '26," he said. "It's not, it's especially not just a revolutionary vehicle design, but a revolution in vehicle manufacturing that is also coming with the Cybercab," Musk said.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, —, It's, Tesla, Tesla's Cybercab, Tesla Musk, it's Organizations: Service, Wall Street Locations: Texas, California

☆ I've worked at Google, Amazon, and Uber. These are 3 common mistakes I see when people apply for tech jobs.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Alexandria Sauls worked at Amazon, Uber, and PayPal before landing a job at Google. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Related storiesI learned the "Star" format at Amazon and I've used this same format of responding at every company since. Each bullet should be the "R" of the "Star" format: "result." With résumé format, I don't have a super strong opinion.

Persons: Alexandria Sauls, Sauls, —, I've, Steer, you'll, It's, you've, Gray Organizations: Amazon, PayPal, Google, Service, Uber, LinkedIn, Big Tech Locations: Alexandria, Houston, New York City

☆ Google Research execs reveal how they use AI in their daily lives — and where they think twice about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Head of Google Research told BI the magic of technology is when you don't pay attention to using it. Executives for Google Research — the branch of the company that explores areas like machine learning, quantum AI, and science — shared with Business Insider how they use AI in their daily lives. Google Research head of product and UX Katherine Chou said she uses Lens, Google's tool that uses image recognition to identify images. Maya Kulycky, Google Research's VP of strategy, operations, and outreach, also said she is "a huge fan of Lens." AdvertisementVice President of Google Research, Yossi Matias, told BI some of his favorite tools allow listening to audio versions of articles or translating pages.

Persons: —, Katherine Chou, Maya Kulycky, Kulycky, Yossi Matias, Matias, it's, I'm, Gemini Apps Organizations: Google Research, Service, Business, Google, Gemini Locations: Chicago

☆ Google's viral AI podcast tool just got more useful
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Google's NotebookLM Audio Overview feature went viral for its podcast-like AI discussions. Shortly after the AI tool's Audio Overview feature went viral, Google's product lead for NotebookLM, Raiza Martin, shared plans to release more features. Google's AI product made a splash in the tech world with its human-sounding "Deep Dive" conversation between two AI hosts, powered by the company's Gemini 1.5 large language model. The NotebookLM tool allows users to generate a roughly 10-minute AI Overview — basically an AI-generated podcast discussion — based on the material you upload. Additionally, with millions of people using the product, NotebookLM has officially removed the "Experimental" label for the product.

Persons: Google's, It's, —, Raiza Martin, Martin, NotebookLM, Donald Trump's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: NotebookLM

Meta terminated employees who used $25 Grubhub credits meant for office meals on non-food items. Meta employees reacted to the news on the company's Blind channel. The Grubhub meal perk is meant to support Meta employees at locations where free meals aren't provided by a cafeteria, or when employees work into the evening. "They violated a 'follow this rule or you will be terminated' policy, and they were terminated. Another Meta employee referenced Mark Zuckerberg's "year of efficiency" strategy in assessing the recent firings.

Persons: —, Grubgate, Read, Mark Zuckerberg's Organizations: Service, Meta, Business, Grubgate, Reality Labs Locations: Meta

Meta terminated some employees who abused a Grubhub perk, a source confirmed to BI. AdvertisementMeta recently fired some employees for misusing a Grubhub meal perk, according to a person familiar with the situation. Roughly two dozen employees were terminated for abusing the company's meal credit system, this person said. This episode has been discussed at length in recent days by some Meta employees on Blind, an online workforce forum. Business Insider reviewed these Blind discussions, including screenshots of some discussions that took place in a section of the app only accessible to Meta employees.

Persons: Meta, — Organizations: BI, Service, Meta, FT, Business, Reality Labs Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Google Shopping just got an AI makeover
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Google Shopping has added a number of new features in recent years. Google Shopping now has AI Overviews-like briefing to provide more context to users on what they're looking to buy. The shopping feed considers inputs from Google surfaces including your shopping activity on Chrome, Search, YouTube and Discover, a Google spokesperson told Business Insider. "We can show you the best of what Gemini and the Google shopping graph have a recommendation for you." Google previously introduced a virtual try-on feature to Google Shopping and recently extended the tool to dresses.

Persons: —, Lilian Rincon, Rincon Organizations: Google, Service, YouTube, Google Google Locations: Seattle, Pinterest

☆ Yes, there were humans controlling Tesla's bartending robots behind the scenes
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Jaures Yip | Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla's robots serving drinks and talking to guests at the "We Robot" were partly controlled by humans. Please be nice to the Optimus robots. Tesla's Optimus robots walked into the spotlight at the company's "We, Robot" event. Videos of guests' interactions with the Optimus robots posted online underscored that humans were involved. Tesla has said it's already deployed two Optimus robots on its factory floor, though it is unclear what tasks they are completing.

Persons: Tesla, —, Elon Musk, Optimus, Musk, you'll, livestream Morgan Stanley, I'm, Jeremy Judkins, Josh Wolfe, it's Organizations: Service, Optimus, Lux Capital, Tesla

☆ Elon Musk reveals the 'Art Deco' design inspiration behind Tesla's Robovan
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk surprised viewers with the unveiling of Tesla's Robovan at the 'We Robot' event Thursday. Musk shared on X that the Robovan's design was inspired by Art Deco trains. But the Robovan's exterior aesthetic appears to be inspired by the early 20th century Art Deco design period. In response to a user who asked about what inspired the design, Musk replied, "Art Deco trains." Art Deco trains were a product of the Art Deco era, which took place in the 1920s and 1930s.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla's Robovan, Musk, —, Tesla, — Tesla, Robovan, 🎯, ike Organizations: Art Deco, Service, Art Locations: lon, usk, ehicles

☆ Elon Musk reveals Tesla's Robotaxi and Robovan
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Ana Altchek | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Elon Musk just unveiled Tesla's Robotaxi at the company's "We, Robot" event in Los Angeles. Elon Musk showed off Tesla's upcoming driverless taxi at its "We, Robot" on Thursday evening. Musk walked into the event and entered a sleek-looking silver Robotaxi, a two-door vehicle that opened upward with butterfly-style doors. The unveiling of Tesla's latest vehicle is a major milestone for the company and has been highly anticipated for years. In 2016, Musk said during a press call that a Tesla vehicle would autonomously drive from Los Angeles to New York City by 2017.

Persons: Elon Musk, —, Robotaxi, Tesla, Musk, Optimus, Uber Organizations: Service, Warner Bros, Elon, Twitter, Traffic, Administration Locations: Los Angeles, Burbank , California, California, Texas, York, New York City

☆ Elon Musk is about to reveal Tesla's Robotaxi. Uber and Lyft should be nervous.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Tesla is expected to unveil a new service at its Robotaxi event that will impact Uber and Lyft. The ride-hailing industry has so far been dominated by two major players — Uber and Lyft — and Gawrelski said Tesla's Robotaxi could mark a new challenger jockeying for market share. Uber, Lyft, and Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ives said Tesla's Robotaxi event will be a historical day for the auto industry — and it will pressure Uber to seek out more partnerships. In September, Waymo announced that its Waymo One ride-hailing service would be available to users in Austin and Atlanta exclusively through the Uber app.

Persons: Tesla, Uber, —, Elon Musk's, Musk, There's, Wells, Ken Gawrelski, Gawrelski, there's, Morgan Stanley, — Uber, Lyft, Tesla's, jockeying, he's, Wolfe, Shweta Khajuria, Robotaxis, Khajuria, Waymo, Dan Ives, Ives, FSD, Cruise, Dara Khosrowshahi, Khosrowshahi Organizations: Service, Hollywood, Elon, Wolfe Research, EV, Los Angeles, Starbucks Locations: Austin, Atlanta, San Francisco, Phoenix, Los

☆ Cybertruck owners share their likes and dislikes as Tesla's pickup approaches its first birthday
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Business Insider interviewed 10 Cybertruck owners to hear what they thought of the vehicle. Business Insider spoke to 10 Cybertruck owners about their experience with the EV and the most notable parts of owning it. Several also owners told BI that the company could improve its customer support — whether it was being more transparent about delays or communicating updates. Cybertruck owners feel like celebrities — but you might get the finger while drivingWhile it doesn't happen often, getting flipped off seems to be a right of passage of sorts for most Cybertruck owners. Most of the interactions tend to be positive though, many of the owners told BI.

Persons: Tesla, —, It's, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Elon, Anthony Ardizzone, Royce —, Ardizzone, Jeremy Judkins, Lamar, Tommy Huynh, Austin, Stephen Kapusta, Jason Burtman, Jay O'Brien, he's, Joe Fay, Cybertruck, Getty, John Keeble Charlie Redmond, he's Elon Musk's, Lamar MK, O'Brien, Kapusta Organizations: Business, Service, EV, Honda, Royce, Getty, BI, Orlando Locations: Jupiter , Florida, North Carolina, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania, Kansas City , Missouri, Austin, Piermont , New York

☆ I tried Google's viral new tool that creates an AI podcast about topics you feed it. It's worth the hype.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The feature uses the information you feed it to create a "deep dive" discussion hosted by two AI hosts. Based on the information you feed it, it generates a "deep dive," podcast-like discussion hosted by two AI hosts. Related storiesTo my surprise, this NotebookLM-generated podcast exceeded anything I'd heard so far in terms of AI voice quality. Like any AI tool though, Audio Overviews isn't perfect. Audio Overviews is probably my favorite AI tool I've tried out so far — and it showcases the innovative ways AI can be used in our daily lives.

Persons: Google's NotebookLM, —, livia M oore, ingle, hough, hatter, ike, oices Organizations: Service Locations: NotebookLM

☆ Elon Musk's childhood fascination with sci-fi motivates his desire to lead the AI race, biographer Walter Isaacson says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Walter Isaacson said Elon Musk's AI motives likely stem from early ambitions inspired by sci-fi themes. Isaacson said Musk told him he wanted to start an AI company because he didn't trust Sam Altman. "He's telling me, 'I'm gonna start from scratch an AI company 'cause I don't trust Sam Altman,'" Isaacson recalled in an interview with CNBC's Squawk Box published Friday. The AI company competes directly with OpenAI, which he helped found and fund before a reported falling out. Isaacson, Musk, and xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Walter Isaacson, Elon, Isaacson, Musk, Sam Altman, —, Elon Musk, lounging, CNBC's, he's, Isaac Asimov, He's, Isaac Asimov's, Douglas Adams, Altman, OpenAI, they're, xAI Organizations: Service, Twitter, SpaceX, Yorker, Business Locations: Austin

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