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☆ Putin said Russia wouldn't have to choose between guns or butter. The price of butter is soaring.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Yet it's precisely butter that's been a headache for Russia, with a 25.7% price increase this year. "There is a well-known phrase: guns instead of butter," Putin said last February. By the end of October, the price of butter in Russia was up 25.7% compared to December 2023, per government statistics. Why butter prices are on the riseA week before that meeting, the same union said the country wasn't experiencing a butter shortage, but added that about 25% of local butter consumption comes from foreign suppliers. AdvertisementAnother major dairy supplier complying with wartime sanctions, New Zealand, sold $88.8 million worth of butter to Russia yearly before the invasion began.

Persons: Putin, —, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, MMI, Gazeta, United Arab Emirates Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Moscow, Latin America, New Zealand, Turkey

Companies beat expectations, with some boosted by large cloud growth. AdvertisementThe tech giants Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft reported earnings this week, and investors were laser-focused on the results of AI investments. Cloud is kingMicrosoft, Alphabet, and Amazon saw significant growth in their cloud businesses, fueled by increased demand. Jeremy Goldman, EMARKETER's senior director of briefings, told BI that Microsoft's cloud business had decelerated from the "breakneck pace" of previous quarters. Related storiesWhile Google reported stronger cloud growth, Microsoft still leads it in cloud market share, and both are behind Amazon Web Services.

Persons: —, Kate Leaman, Jeremy Goldman, EMARKETER's, Amy Hood, Dan Romanoff, Andy Jassy, Tracy Woo, Forrester, AWS's, Jassy, Rufus, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg, Hood, Michael Field, Jaejune Kim, Lisa Su, we've Organizations: Apple, Companies, Service, Microsoft, Amazon, Morningstar, Google, Amazon Web, Amazon Web Services, Investment, Big Tech, Bank of America Securities, Meta, Nvidia, SK Hynix, Samsung, AMD, Services

☆ 8,000 of the troops Kim Jong Un sent to support Russia are about to hit the front lines, the US says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As many as 8,000 North Korean troops are being deployed to Kursk, US officials said on Thursday. "If these North Korean troops engage in combat or combat support operations against Ukraine they would make themselves legitimate military targets." "One of the reasons that Russia is turning to these North Korean troops is that it's desperate," Blinken said. Now he's turning to North Korean troops. AdvertisementSouth Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration has considered sending teams to observe North Korean troops in Ukraine, which it says will not require parliamentary consent.

Persons: they're, Antony Blinken, —, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, they've, Yoon Suk Organizations: US, Service, Kyiv, Ukrainian, South, State Department, North Korea, North, Ukraine, Pentagon, Austin, Research, South Korean Legislative, Russia's Ministry of Defense, Business Locations: Kursk, Russia, Ukraine, Washington, Pyongyang, Moscow, North Korea, South Korea, Poland, Seoul

☆ Russia gave Yemen's Houthi rebels satellite data so they could attack Red Sea shipping lanes: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Houthi rebels used Russian satellite tracking data to hit ships in the Red Sea, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementHouthi rebels in Yemen used satellite data provided by Russia to target and attack commercial ships in the Red Sea, The Wall Street Journal reported. One of the Journal's sources said that the satellite data was transferred to the Houthis via members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps embedded with the rebels in Yemen. AdvertisementThe Houthis have for months harassed commercial ships in the Red Sea with drones and missiles, for what they say is retaliation against Israel for its bombardment of Gaza. AdvertisementMeanwhile, the US military has rotated multiple aircraft carrier groups to fend off Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, last week striking several targets in Yemen with B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.

Persons: —, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: Street Journal, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, Service, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Reuters, Russian Foreign Ministry, Kremlin, Business, US Navy, Health, Israel, Drewry Locations: Red, Yemen, Russia, Israel, Iran, Moscow, Gaza

☆ Putin once asked Elon Musk to not activate Starlink over Taiwan as a favor to Xi Jinping: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Vladimir Putin asked Elon Musk to withhold Starlink from Taiwan as a favor to China, per The Wall Street Journal. Musk has been in regular contact with Putin since 2022, the Journal reported, citing officials. AdvertisementRussian leader Vladimir Putin once asked Elon Musk to withhold Starlink access from Taiwan as a favor to China's Xi Jinping, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementThe Journal reported that in late 2023, Musk received his first request from the Kremlin to refrain from activating Starlink over Taiwan. Musk, SpaceX, the Pentagon, and NASA also did not respond to similar comment requests.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Elon Musk, Musk, Putin, —, Xi, Defense Department —, Ian Bremmer, Per Bremmer, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Musk's, Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt, there's, it's President Trump, Leavitt, Trump Organizations: Street, Service, Street Journal, SpaceX, Pentagon, NASA, The New York Times, Defense Department, Business, New York Times, Eurasia Group, Kremlin, Putin, Trump, it's, Republican Locations: Starlink, Taiwan, China, Moscow, Beijing, Europe, Russia, Russian, Washington, Ukraine, Crimea

☆ BRICS' new declaration shows Russia's war still can't get the international backing that Moscow wants
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

BRICS' Kazan Declaration on Wednesday contained 134 points — and only one discussed the Ukraine war. It shows that Russia still has trouble getting friendly countries on board with the war, per the ISW. AdvertisementOver two dozen world leaders at this year's BRICS summit ended Wednesday's talks with the Kazan Declaration, a 134-point summary of their agreements. "The Kazan Declaration notably only mentioned Russia's war in Ukraine once," the Washington-based think tank wrote. The declaration "demonstrated that Russia has not yet secured the international support nor created the alternative security structure that the Kremlin desires," ISW added.

Persons: BRICS, —, Vladimir Putin, ISW, Huileng Tan, Putin Organizations: UN, Service, United Nations, Kyiv, South Sudanese, Mastercard Locations: Kazan, Ukraine, Russia, China, Washington, Nazi, Moscow, Brazil, India, Syria, Tel, Lebanon, Gaza, Republic, Tatarstan

☆ The CEO of Ford says he's been driving a Xiaomi EV for the past 6 months and doesn't want to give it up
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ford CEO Jim Farley says he's been driving the Chinese tech giant Xiaomi's EV for the past six months. AdvertisementFord CEO Jim Farley says he doesn't want to give up the Xiaomi Speed Ultra 7 he's been driving for the past half year. "I don't like talking about the competition so much, but I drive the Xiaomi," Farley said while speaking to the British presenter Robert Llewellyn on "The Fully Charged Podcast." The Chinese tech giant produces three versions of the car: SU7, SU7 Pro, and SU7 Max. Competing with rivals such as Xiaomi will be critical for Ford as it formulates its approach to the EV market.

Persons: Jim Farley, he's, Farley, Xiaomi, —, Robert Llewellyn, Llewellyn, I've, SU7 Max, Farley didn't, They're, BI's Matthew Loh, Loh, John Lawler, Jim, Lawler, Ford Organizations: Service, Ford, Business Insider, EV, China, Street, Changan Automobile, Research, Business Locations: British, Shanghai, Chicago, China, Brazil, Thailand

☆ Ukraine is making a new drone called Sting that flies faster than 100 mph to kill Russia's Iranian Shahed drones: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementUkrainian drone maker Wild Hornets is developing an interceptor designed to counter Russia's Shahed-136 loitering munitions, The Telegraph reported. Wild Hornets did not respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider. Russia announced in September that it was planning to increase drone production by 10 times, putting it at 1.4 million drones yearly. Ukraine, on the other hand, said it can now make 4 million drones per year. Its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said in October that local defense firms were already contracted to build 1.5 million drones, but did not say what kind.

Persons: It's, —, Sting, it's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Telegraph, Sting, Service, Hornets, Ukrainian, Wild Hornets, Business Locations: Ukrainian, Iranian, Russia, Ukraine, Zala, Kyiv, Tehran, Moscow

☆ A new anti-missile laser downed 100% of its targets while fighting multiple threats at once, UK defense officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The UK says a new anti-missile laser for its aircraft defeated 100% of its targets in a live test. AdvertisementThe UK Defense Ministry said on Sunday that it successfully tested a new air-defense system that tracks missiles midflight and jams them with a precision laser. A new air protection laser defeated 100% of threats during recent live-fire trials. The UK is likely to offer this new technology to its allies, with the ministry statement saying it would be available to "export customers." October 21, 2024: This story was updated to reflect a response from the UK Defense Ministry.

Persons: —, it's, It’s Organizations: Service, UK Defense Ministry, Leonardo, Thales, Royal Air Force, Business, RAF, — Ministry of Defence Locations: Sweden

☆ Israel's Sinwar video shows the chilling reach of battlefield drones
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Only 13 years ago, the world learned of what were Muammar Gaddafi's last few moments through shaky video filmed on cellphones. Small drones are a critical feature of combat in Ukraine, where they've been used for battlefield observation and attack. The hovering quality of the Sinwar video indicates it was likely filmed by a quadcopter. AdvertisementThe astounding wealth of drone-fed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance has made more of the battlefield visible than ever before. Nonetheless, technological advances mean that drones watching the battlefield will be a ubiquitous feature of future wars, a looming threat to ground troops and fleeing leaders.

Persons: Israel, Yahya Sinwar's, —, Yahya Sinwar, Sinwar, Yahya Sinwar’s, GJGDlu7bie, Nadav Shoshani, Muammar Gaddafi's, Mauro Gilli, Gilli, they've, It's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Maria Berlinska, Guy Prives Organizations: Service, Swiss, ETH Zurich, Anadolu, Getty, Pentagon, IDF Locations: Libyan, It's, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, Kursk, Israel

☆ One of Russia's biggest automakers said it's struggling under Western sanctions after frontline complaints that its vehicles are falling apart
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russian automaker Sollers is under fire over reports that its cars are breaking down along the war front. In response on Thursday, Sollers blamed Western sanctions for forcing it to switch suppliers quickly. AdvertisementA Russian contractor providing SUVs and pick-up trucks to Moscow's troops blamed Western sanctions on Thursday amid criticism that its vehicles were arriving in poor condition. The Russian automaker's recent blaming of Western sanctions is a reversal of its statements in September 2023, when it dismissed being blacklisted by the US Treasury Department. Sollers had told Russian media it did not foresee a significant impact as it already restructured its supply chain to prepare for the restrictions.

Persons: Sollers, —, UAZ, Dmitry Rogozin, Rogozin, he's, He's, Gazeta.RU Organizations: Service, Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, NATO, Telegram, Business, Ford Motor Company, Mazda, US Treasury Department, European Union Locations: Russian, Ulyanovsk, Moscow, Ukraine, Roscosmos, Michigan, Russia, Vladivostok, Sollers

☆ North Korea's new drones use a 'reverse-engineered copy' of Hellfire missiles from the MQ-9 Reaper, US Army general says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

North Korea is copying the American Hellfire missile, US Army Brig. Pyongyang previously unveiled two drones that looked suspiciously like the MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk. AdvertisementThe US military is closely watching a new North Korean drone that uses a "reverse-engineered copy" of the Hellfire missile for the MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk, a US Army general said on Tuesday. "North Korea recently unveiled a reconnaissance and multirole UAV that employ a reverse-engineered copy of a Hellfire missile, similar to an RQ-4 and MQ-9," Brig. If the North Korean missiles are, indeed, guided, it's also unknown what system they employ.

Persons: Patrick Costello, —, United States Army Conference . Costello, Costello, Kim Il, it's, general's, David Stewart, Palmer Organizations: missile, US, Service, Hellfire, US Army, of, United States Army Conference, North Korean, Korean Central News Agency, Korea News Service, Korean, The Defense Department, US Special, Command, Pentagon, Business Locations: Korea, Pyongyang, Brig, North Korea, West, Ukraine

☆ China has built a giant Osprey-like drone that engineers say can carry 10 passengers and fly at 340 mph
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A new VTOL drone designed to fly at six tons was just completed in China, per a local report. The Lanying R6000 is meant to take up to 10 passengers, fly up to 2,400 miles, and reach 340 mph. The Lanying R6000 is expected to debut at the 2024 Zhuhai Air Show, which runs from Nov 12 to 17. United Aircraft told reporters at the Singapore Airshow that it was preparing the aircraft for civilian jobs like cargo or passenger transport. United Aircraft did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: it's, —, Tian Gangyin Organizations: Service, Aircraft, Wuhu, United Aircraft, Bell Boeing, Singapore Airshow, United, Singapore, United Aircraft's, Business Insider, National Locations: China, Anhui, Shenzhen, Wuhu City, Beijing

☆ Russia rolled out a Soviet howitzer from the 1940s that Moscow technically shouldn't have in the first place
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia filmed its troops firing a D-74, an artillery gun developed in the 1940s that the Soviets exported to their allies. The field gun featured: a D-74 122mm howitzer, which the Soviet Union developed in the late 1940s. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy estimated in February that Russia was receiving at least 1 million artillery shells from North Korea. AdvertisementThe Russian defense ministry and the Chinese foreign affairs ministry did not respond to requests for comment sent by Business Insider. AdvertisementDespite its sheer age, the D-74 still can be useful for Russia in a modern war in Ukraine, Purcell said.

Persons: —, it's, Michael Purcell, " Purcell, Putin, Russian Defense Ministry Jennifer Kavanagh, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dmitry Peskov, Russia Kavanagh, Kavanagh, Purcell, Vladimir Putin, that's Organizations: Military, Service, Kremlin, Soviet Union, Marine Corps, International Security, George Washington University, DPRK, Russian Defense Ministry, Defense, Authorities, China, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Business Locations: Russia, North Korea, Russian, Donetsk, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Moscow, Soviet, Vietnam, China, Washington, Seoul, Pyongyang

☆ Mark Zuckerberg, 'Civilization' fan and gaming enthusiast, said he may soon give Jeff Bezos' Twitch some love
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mark Zuckerberg loves playing the strategy video game, "Civilization." Meta released its Twitch-like rival, Facebook Gaming, in 2020, but it failed to make a splash. AdvertisementMark Zuckerberg's been thinking of starting a Twitch stream for his favorite strategy video game. At his 2017 commencement speech at Harvard University, he said he got his college offer letter while playing "Civilization." Facebook launched Facebook Gaming in 2020, but the Twitch competitor didn't make a big splash.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, —, Mark Zuckerberg's, Pubity's, Priscilla, You've, Zuckerberg, I'd, Sid Meier's, Pubity, Zuckerberg's namedropping, Tim Walz, Walz, Kamala Harris, didn't, Meta didn't Organizations: Facebook, Service, Meta, Firaxis, Harvard University, Firaxis Games, YouTube, Amazon, Wednesday, Democratic, Facebook Gaming, Business Insider Locations: Maryland, Minnesota

☆ Russia's mass advantage against Ukraine should start declining by 2025, war expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia is flooding Ukraine with men and equipment, but that should soon slow, analyst Michael Kofman said. Its high losses indicate its military is strained under its current level of aggression, he told the Intelligencer. AdvertisementRussia's numbers advantage against Ukraine is likely to start diminishing as soon as the end of this year, said US-based military analyst Michael Kofman. Russia's equipment can't last foreverKofman's first explanation is that Moscow has been replacing high equipment losses with Soviet-era weaponry, but even these reserve stocks can't last forever. "What it does mean is that the Russian military has increasingly been forced to adjust tactics to minimize their losses," he added.

Persons: Michael Kofman, Kofman doesn't, —, Intelligencer's Benjamin Hart, Kofman, it's, Hart, lim, Wes Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Carnegie Endowment, International, Soviet, UK Defense Ministry, Defence, adm, unc Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Moscow, Russian, Rus

☆ Russia cut off its troops from Discord, the video gaming comms tool they use to coordinate attacks in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russian troops have been using Discord to coordinate drone attacks, but it was banned on Tuesday. Federal regulators said they blocked the gaming messaging platform because it could be used for crime. Discord allows users to join a closed group voice call and livestream to other users from their screens or cameras. One pundit channel, Military Informant, blasted Roskomnadzor's decision as "madness," while another sarcastically thanked the regulator for giving Russian troops another challenge to "bypass the consequences of another wise decision." Discord, Roskomnadzor, and the Russian defense ministry did not immediately respond to comment requests sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Persons: —, Roskomnadzor, Anton Gorelkin, Vladislav Davankov, Davankov, Ekaterina Mizulina, Mizulina, Roman Alekhine, Roskomnadzor's, Alekhine Organizations: Service, TASS, Russian State, State Duma, Safe Internet League, Military, Russian, YouTube, VK, Russia's, Business Locations: Moscow, US, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Bakhmut

☆ Russia is set to lose over 1,000 troops a day through the winter as it fights a war on three fronts: UK MOD
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine is set for another fierce winter as Russia is expected to keep up the pressure. It'll come at a cost for Moscow: Over 1,000 wounded or dead troops per day, the UK MOD said on Monday. British officials said Russia has likely suffered over 648,000 casualties since the war began. AdvertisementThe UK Defense Ministry expects Russia to lose 1,000 or more troops per day in the coming winter, saying Moscow will likely keep trying to overwhelm Ukraine in the next months despite difficult conditions. Russian troops took Vuhledar in early October after two years of fighting.

Persons: —, lon Organizations: Service, UK Defense Ministry, New York Times, Kremlin, Latest Defence, Defence, unc Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, May, Ukrainian

☆ Taiwan's president is doubling down on sticking it to Beijing, saying China can't be the 'motherland' because its government is younger
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Lai Ching-te on Sunday said it's "impossible" that China would become Taiwan's "motherland." AdvertisementTaiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Sunday challenged the idea that mainland China is Taiwan's "motherland," saying the island's government is older than Beijing's. Meanwhile, the People's Republic of China, which governs mainland China from Beijing under leader Xi Jinping, celebrated its 75th birthday on October 1. Advertisement"Therefore, in terms of age, it is definitely impossible for the People's Republic of China to become the motherland of the people of the Republic of China," Lai said. "On the contrary, the Republic of China may actually be the motherland of the people over 75 years old in the People's Republic of China," Lai continued as his audience applauded and cheered.

Persons: Lai Ching, —, Lai, Xi Jinping, Mao Zedong's, Mao, Tsai Ing, Lai's, Tsai, it's Organizations: Service, Sunday, Democratic Progressive Party Locations: China, Beijing, Taiwan, Republic of, People's Republic of China, Republic of China, of China, Taipei, There's, —, Hong Kong, India, Southeast Asia, Washington

☆ I worked in China's brutal 996 tech culture. I'm relieved they laid me off.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When I first learned I'd be subject to China's infamous 996 hours, I was actually excited. At that point, I'd worked for nearly two years in Guangzhou as an English-Chinese interpreter at a local tech giant. I had this idea that those work hours meant I was on a serious, valuable team and that my productivity mattered. Then, I'd work until 12:30 p.m. when it was time for lunch. My dream is still to make games in China, but I'm not sure if any company could ever entice me to work 996 hours again.

Persons: Jack Forsdike, it's, —, I'd, Forsdike, didn't, he'd, I've, I'm, There's Organizations: Service, Labor Locations: British, Guangzhou, Manchester, Harbin, China

The terror attack has helped push the Middle East to the brink of a wider regional war. One year after the massacre, the Middle East has only plunged deeper into violence and is on the brink of a broader war. Globally, the immediate concern is that oil supplies will diminish significantly should conflict spill over to the rest of the Middle East. Everyone but Biden can see this," wrote Andrew Exum, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East policy, in The Atlantic last week. The global economy on edgeWhen the conflict began a year ago, there were fears that wider conflict in the Middle East could impact the global economy.

Persons: —, Israel, Chuck Frielich, Frielich, Yemen's Houthi, Mohammed Hamoud, barraged, Ammar Safarjalani, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Fuad Shukr, Hasan Nasrallah, Qasem Soleimani, JOSEPH EID, JALAA MAREY, Nasrallah, bode, Benjamin Netanyahu, Carmel Gat, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Andrew Exum, Brent, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, The Washington Institute for Near East, Getty Images Iran, Getty, Israel's, United Nations General Assembly, Citigroup, Iranian, US, Middle, Business, Bank of Israel, Reuters, IMF Locations: Israel, Iran, Gaza, Suez, Aden, Red, Palestine, Syria, Damascus, Xinhua, Tehran, Beirut, Haniyeh, Shukr, Lebanon, AFP, Hezbollah's, United States, Ukraine

☆ A girl murdered in 2006 was just revived as an AI chatbot — and her family had no idea
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Jennifer Ann Crecente, a high school girl murdered in 2006, recently reappeared as a chatbot on Character.ai. It had been 18 years since Jennifer Ann, a high school senior and Crecente's only child, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in Austin. Grieving, Crecente had started a nonprofit in her name, working since 2006 to raise awareness for teenage dating violence. Drew CrecenteThe website also listed Jennifer Ann as an "expert in journalism" with expertise in video game news. "This is not quite impersonation in the sense that it seems transparent that it is an AI model," Conitzer said of the chatbot mimicking Jennifer Ann.

Persons: Jennifer Ann Crecente, —, Drew Crecente, Jennifer Ann, Crecente, she'd, I've, he'd, Jennifer Ann's, Brian, Brian Crecente, Character.ai, y3gvAYyHVY, Jennifer Ann chatbot, he's, they're, Cassie Lawrence, Vincent Conitzer, Conitzer, Sue Morris, Dana, they've, Morris, Noam Shazeer, Daniel De Freitas, Shazeer, De Freitas, Winni Wintermeyer, Elon Musk, Nicki Minaj, Ryan Gosling, Andreessen Horowitz, Dominic Perella Organizations: Service, Google, BI, Safety, Institute for, Oxford University, Farber Cancer Institute, Washington, Financial Times, Business Locations: Character.ai, Austin, San Francisco, Character.AI, Boston

☆ Ukraine gives the US a sweet deal with one dead Russian soldier for every $20,000 spent on drones, unit commander says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Ukrainian drone commander says his unit can use $100 million to carry out 5,000 lethal strikes, per The Atlantic. The big takeaway was that, on average, for each $20,000 spent on his unit, Ukraine could score one kill on Russian forces. According to The Atlantic's writers, the commander's slides said that a drone unit funded with $100 million could stay on the battlefield for a full year, carrying out 5,000 lethal strikes. AdvertisementThe commander is based out of Kharkiv, according to his Telegram channel, which publishes clips of his drones attacking Russian forces and equipment. In February, Ukraine's then-military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, called for a mindset shift away from a reliance on Western aid and instead toward cheap drones.

Persons: —, Karl Marlantes, Elliot Ackerman, Achilles, David Hambling, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Biden, Ukraine's, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Stanislav Ivanov, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Jake Epstein, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, West, 92nd Assault Brigade, Ukraine, Capitol, Kyiv wanes, Kiel Institute, Getty Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, The, Russia, China, Iran, Kharkiv, Kyiv

☆ Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has a solution for China, but it'll need Beijing to radically remake its own rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ray Dalio is again promoting the idea that China urgently needs to start a "beautiful deleveraging." In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, Dalio wrote of what he called a "beautiful deleveraging," or an aggressive, two-pronged approach to solving debt issues. Dalio wrote that Chinese leader Xi Jinping's unprecedented stimulus sparked a "big week" for economic optimism, but it won't be enough. The interest rate cuts would ideally be so drastic that they run below inflation and nominal growth rates, Dalio wrote. If Beijing doesn't start a "beautiful deleveraging," he said, it risks allowing its crisis to drag on and create an "economic and psychological malaise like Japan experienced."

Persons: Ray Dalio, Dalio, —, Xi, They'll Organizations: Service, Bridgewater Associates, Washington Locations: China, Beijing, Japan, US

☆ Even Xi Jinping admits China has a painful road ahead despite his new stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amid hopes that China's economy is roaring to life again, even Xi Jinping is looking cautious. In his first major speech since the stimulus, Xi warned of "storms" ahead and the need to prepare for "rainy days." While he portrayed China as resolute, Xi also tempered the idea that the country was on a sure road to victory. AdvertisementChina's surprise stimulus triggered a massive rally in its equities last week, but even its leader, Xi Jinping, isn't celebrating yet. In his first remarks about the nation's condition since the stimulus announcement, Xi warned of "violent storms" ahead and urged China to prepare for hardship while portraying it as determined to succeed.

Persons: Xi, —, Xi Jinping, China's, That's Organizations: Service, of, Barclays Locations: China, Beijing, People's Republic of China, Taiwan, China's

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