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☆ A CEO who replaced 90% of his support staff with an AI chatbot says copy-paste jobs are gone
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jobs that copy-paste responses are a thing of the past because of AI, says ecommerce company CEO Suumit Shah. Shah had previously drawn flak for announcing he replaced 90% of his support staff with a chatbot. 90% of his support staff with a chatbot. AdvertisementAdvertisementShah made headlines in July for announcing over Twitter that he had laid off 90% of his customer support staff and replaced them with a chatbot he said outperformed them. We had to layoff 90% of our support team because of this AI chatbot.

Persons: Suumit Shah, Shah, —, ince, ake, aybe, uly., ike Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Twitter, ust Locations: India

☆ Veteran Apple investor Alan Patricof says AI is the 'flavor of the month'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Venture capitalist Alan Patricof has a cautionary message about an AI bubble. "Everyone wants to be at an AI company — it's the flavor of the month," Patricof told the New York Post. Patricof recommends investing in companies utilizing AI as a tool, rather than buying AI platforms. AdvertisementAdvertisementAlan Patricof, the venture capitalist known for his investments in Apple and Venmo, has a cautionary message about an AI bubble. "Everyone wants to be at an AI company — it's the flavor of the month," said Patricof during a Thursday interview with the New York Post.

Persons: Alan Patricof, —, Patricof, Mostaque, David Rosenberg, James Penny, Wharton, Jeremy Siegel, Dan Raju, Raju Organizations: New York, Patricof, Service, Apple, Apax Partners, AOL, TAM Asset Management

☆ A mystery owner has just put a collection of 56 Porsches up for auction — and they're all white
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Auction house RM Sotheby's did not disclose the collection's mystery owner. AdvertisementAdvertisementA rare collection of 56 white Porsches is heading to the auction block. Named "The White Collection," the car collector's unusual trove was announced by auction house RM Sotheby's on Tuesday. RM Sotheby's is delighted to announce The White Collection: a collection of nearly 60 rare Porsche sports cars, entirely in white. https://t.co/Mmt5dL5Jep pic.twitter.com/Yh9UxWdiec — RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) October 2, 2023The collection "represents over a decade of dedicated collecting by one perfection-focused owner," RM Sotheby's said.

Persons: —, Mmt5dL5Jep, Sotheby's, Barron's, Ferrari, Andreas Birner Organizations: Service, Porsche, Prix, Carrera, Sotheby's, Benz, Guinness, World Records Locations: Houston , Texas

☆ People are figuring out ways to generate inappropriate images with Meta's new AI stickers — and sharing the results online
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Users have found ways to generate wildly inappropriate images with the tool, and are sharing the results online. One academic hit out at Meta's AI safeguards in a blog post on Sunday. AdvertisementAdvertisementMeta launched the AI stickers and other features like celebrity AI assistants on September 27. But the stickers are already drawing ridicule online after people started trying to figure out ways to generate wildly inappropriate images using the tech. AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, Tama Leaver, a professor of internet studies at Curtin University, hit out at Meta's AI safeguards in a separate blog post on Sunday.

Persons: Meta, —, Justin Trudeau, ince, lew, haring, ike, ickey, onic, hough Organizations: Service, Meta, Canadian, ust

☆ TikTok's tinned fish obsession isn't just about affordable luxury in a can
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

With premium cans going up to $50 each, these creators say that tinned fish is being unfairly dismissed. Today, #tinnedfishtok videos feature TikTokers like Mei Liao, whose videos feature her peeling open her tinned fish hauls and reviewing them. "I believe the current state of the US economy is helping to fuel the popularity of tinned fish too," said Robert McGinnis, who reviews tinned fish on his TikTok channel. A collage of tinned fish dishes prepared by Molly Moss Molly MossHowever, the popularity of tinned fish isn't just about food on a budget. Moss said she got her start on Instagram, gaining 30,000 followers over two months with her videos about tinned fish.

Persons: —, TikToker Ali Hooke, Mei Liao, I w, Mei, ric e, Moss Moll y Moss, Moll y Moss, prem, ong, ann e d dace, alon, cann, eli, Moss, rena, ssance on T Organizations: Service, Acc Locations: Asia

☆ The CEO of IBM says he doesn't intend to 'get rid of' a single programmer because of AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna says he doesn't intend to "get rid of a single one" of his programmers because of AI. He also added that though AI could automate a "repetitive, white-collar job," it was a job creator. AdvertisementAdvertisementAmid growing fears of AI-induced job cuts, IBM's CEO Arvind Krishna says he doesn't intend to lose any programmers because of the technology. Studies have also pointed to AI boosting workers' productivity but with a greater impact on less skilled workers. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn April study that equipped customer service representatives with AI tools found that the lowest-skilled workers saw a productivity boost of 35% — while higher-skilled workers saw "closer to 0%."

Persons: Arvind Krishna, Krishna, —, Goldman Sachs, Satya Nadella — Organizations: Service, Fortune's, Bloomberg, McKinsey, IBM

☆ The CEO of Airbnb wants you to charge less for your house
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky thinks hosts on his platform should lower their prices. "We want prices to move and to be more competitive vis-à-vis a hotels—that is really important," said Chesky. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementAirbnb CEO Brian Chesky has a message for hosts on his platform: lower your prices.

Persons: Brian Chesky, —, Chesky, Jamie Lane, AirDNA Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Airbnb

☆ Gen Z workers don't think talking about wages and telling managers what they're doing wrong are taboo subjects
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Three-quarters of Gen Z workers surveyed by Adobe say they're comfortable telling managers what they're doing wrong. AdvertisementAdvertisementTalking about wages and telling managers what they're doing wrong aren't taboo topics for Gen Z workers. For the report, Adobe surveyed 1,011 US Gen Z workers, which they defined as those born between 1997 and 2012. Plus, Gen Z workers are the most likely to switch jobs and land the biggest pay increases when they do, Insider previously reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementTo be sure, managers also told Insider that their Gen Z workers often struggle to focus on work and lack motivation.

Persons: Gen, —, Z, Tracy Francis Organizations: Adobe, Service, Barclays Bank, ResumeBuilder.com

☆ Robin Williams' daughter says she finds AI recreations of her father's voice 'personally disturbing'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Actress and director Zelda Williams said the use of AI recreations of her father's voice was "personally disturbing." These AI recreations are at best "a poor facsimile of greater people," she said. AdvertisementAdvertisementZelda Williams slammed AI recreations of her father's likeness, saying she finds these recreations "personally disturbing." In June, voice actor Brad Ziffer said he was avoiding gigs that would enable companies to create an AI-generated voice clone, for fear that it would threaten his future livelihood. Representatives for Zelda Williams did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Zelda Williams, —, Williams, Zelda, Robin Williams, James Dean, Jack, Tom Hanks, Brad Ziffer Organizations: Service, Poets Society, Screen Actors Guild

☆ 'Big Short' author Michael Lewis says Sam Bankman-Fried came to him for advice on ideas — like buying Twitter with Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Michael Lewis' book on the rise and fall of cryptocurrency exchange FTX is set to be published on Tuesday. "The Big Short" author told CBS' "60 Minutes" SBF used him as a sounding board for ideas, including buying Twitter with Elon Musk. AdvertisementAdvertisementSam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced former CEO of crypto exchange FTX, used "The Big Short" author Michael Lewis as a sounding board for ideas — including one about acquiring Twitter. Lewis told CBS that Bankman-Fried came to him for advice on a variety of ideas. Should I join Elon Musk in buying Twitter?

Persons: Michael Lewis, SBF, Elon Musk, Lewis, —, Sam Bankman, Fried, Musk, Will MacAskill —, Musk's, Grimes texted Organizations: CBS, Elon, Service, Twitter, Forbes

☆ 'Boreout' is the opposite of burnout – but can be just as harmful for workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Experts warn that boreout is "just as problematic" as burnout and can lead to quiet quitting. "Boreout is basically often the opposite extreme of burnout, but also can be just as problematic in terms of our work experience," Brodsky said in an interview with Insider. Boreout, when left untreated, can lead workers down the path to quiet quitting and disengagement. Monitoring employees leads to 'busyness theater'Some companies are keeping a closer eye on employees by using technology that monitors how much they're working. She explained it's a popular misconception that boreout comes from having inadequate work — workers can still get bored at companies where work piles up.

Persons: Gen, —, boredatwork, TikToker, fidgeting, Andrew Brodsky, Brodsky, Ruth Stock, Humburg, there's, boreout, someone's, they're, Lotta Harju, Harju, it's Organizations: Service, The University of Texas, Technische Universität, Lyon Business School Locations: Homburg, Technische, Technische Universität Darmstadt, France

☆ A 90-year-old McDonald's employee in Japan swears working is the key to her health, and she doesn't plan to stop before age 100
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tamiko Honda, a 90-year-old McDonald's employee, says that work is the key to her health. Coming to work and talking with young people keeps me lively," she told local outlet Mainichi. AdvertisementAdvertisementAt 90, Tamiko Honda is the oldest female employee at McDonald's Japan, per local news reports. That's because these jobs had a mandatory retirement age which she crossed at age 61 as a nurse and at age 67 as a cleaner. McDonald's Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Persons: Tamiko, —, Tamiko Honda, she's, Honda, SoraNews24, McDonald's Organizations: Tamiko Honda, Mainichi, Service, Japan, Honda Locations: Japan, Kumamoto, McDonald's, McDonald's Japan

☆ The average CEO of a top UK company is white, rich, and probably named Andrew: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The average CEO of a top UK company is white, rich, and probably named Andrew. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe average CEO of a top UK company is probably named Andrew, according to an analysis of the CEOs of the FTSE100 companies published by human resources publication People Managing People on Tuesday. People named Andrew don't just make up a large slice of these top executives, however — twelve FTSE100 CEOs were named Andrew or Simon, outnumbering the total 11 female CEOs as of September, per the report. The report also found that the average CEO of a FTSE100 company makes over 127 times the median UK salary in 2022 — which was £33,000. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis isn't the first time someone has tried to put together a composite image of an average CEO of the top companies in the country.

Persons: Andrew, That's, —, Andrew don't, Simon, Finn Bartram Organizations: People Managing, LSE, Service, London Stock Exchange, University of Cambridge, BBC, Fortune, Pew Research, Economic Policy Institute Locations: —

☆ Meet the average CEO of the top UK companies: He's white, rich, and probably named Andrew
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The average CEO of a top UK company is white, rich, and probably named Andrew. That's according to an analysis by People Managing People of the CEOs of the top 100 companies on the LSE. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe average CEO of a top UK company is probably named Andrew, according to an analysis of the CEOs of the FTSE100 companies published by human resources publication People Managing People on Tuesday. People named Andrew don't just make up a large slice of these top executives, however — twelve FTSE100 CEOs were named Andrew or Simon, outnumbering the total 11 female CEOs as of September, per the report. The report also found that the average CEO of a FTSE100 company makes over 127 times the median UK salary in 2022 — which was £33,000.

☆ X CEO Linda Yaccarino had a car-crash interview at Code Conference where she seemed undermined by Elon Musk and couldn't state precise user numbers or whether users will pay
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | Hasan Chowdhury | Shona Ghosh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

X CEO Linda Yaccarino had a rough time being interviewed onstage on Code Conference. What actually followed was the unfurling of a CEO who appeared not to have a full handle on the company. AdvertisementAdvertisementHere's one bizarre exchange: Was Musk serious about charging all users a fee to use X, Boorstin asked. Asked about X's daily active user numbers, Yaccarino appeared to respond only in estimates, according to The Verge and the Wall Street Journal. Yaccarino and X did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Linda Yaccarino, —, Elon Musk, Yaccarino, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, Boorstin, Musk, Apptopia, Insider's Lara O'Reilly, Kali Hays, Insider's Ben Bergman, Mark Zuckerberg, Insider's Bergman, — Yoel Roth, Roth, Kara Swisher, Swisher, she's Organizations: Service, Conference, Twitter, MediaRadar, Wall Street Locations: California, Meta

☆ X CEO says the platform could turn a profit next year — and that most top advertisers have returned 'in the past 12 weeks'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

X CEO Linda Yaccarino said her company could be turning a profit in early 2024. Yaccarino added that 90% of the platform's top 100 advertisers have returned in the "last twelve weeks." Yaccarino previously said that X was close to breaking even — echoing Musk's comments in April. AdvertisementAdvertisement"90% of the top 100 advertisers have returned to the platform in the last twelve weeks alone," Yaccarino added. Yaccarino appeared to be referring to the exodus of advertisers from the platform after its acquisition in October last year.

Persons: Linda Yaccarino, Yaccarino, X, —, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, Musk, Twitter —, Elon Musk Organizations: Service, BBC, Twitter, Elon, Media, New York Times Locations: NBCUniversal

☆ Mark Zuckerberg thinks AI celebrities interacting with fans could be a 'next year' thing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg talked to Verge about the "huge need" for AI versions of celebrities. AdvertisementAdvertisementMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg thinks there's a "huge need" for AI versions of celebrities for fans to interact with. However, Zuckerberg said AI versions of celebrities could be "more of a 'next year' thing" due to brand safety concerns — as celebrities would want to be certain their image won't be used to make problematic statements. However, not everybody is as optimistic as Zuckerberg and Grimes about the potential of AI in the media. Zuckerberg and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Kylie, —, there's, Kylie Jenner, Zuckerberg, Jenner, Meta, Kylie Jenner's, Kendall, Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady, Billie, Grimes Organizations: Service, Meta, Paris Hilton, Hollywood

☆ US National Zoo Bids Farewell to Pandas as Government Shutdown Looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Washington's National Zoo is honoring its three giant pandas with nine days of events ahead of their return to China but stormy weather and a looming U.S. government shutdown have put something of a damper on the festivities. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji are scheduled to be returned in early December. The zoo, operated by the Smithsonian Institute, receives federal funding, and would be forced to close to the public during a government shutdown, according to its website. Mei Xiang, 25, and Tian Tian, 26, came to the zoo in 2000 under a cooperative research and breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The zoo did not say whether it has any immediate plans to acquire more giant pandas, but said on its website that it "hopes to continue this work in the future."

Persons: Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, Xiao Qi Ji, Xiang, Zhou Enlai, Richard Nixon's, Julia Harte, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, Embassy, Smithsonian Institute, China Wildlife Conservation Association Locations: China, U.S, Washington, United States

☆ Instacart founder Apoorva Mehta says his 'empty fridge' was the inspiration for the delivery startup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Instacart founder's empty fridge was the "lightbulb moment" for coming up with the idea for the delivery startup, he said. Apoorva Mehta walked away with over $1.1 billion in net worth after the delivery startup's IPO on Wednesday. AdvertisementAdvertisementMehta walked away with a fortune of over $1.1 billion after his delivery startup's IPO on Tuesday. Before starting the company, Mehta quit his job at Amazon in 2010 and moved to San Francisco to become an entrepreneur. During the early stages of Instacart, Mehta also said he missed the application deadline for the startup accelerator YCombinator by over two months.

Persons: Apoorva Mehta, Instacart, Mehta, Fidji Simo, — Aswath, NYU's Stern School of Business —, Damodaran Organizations: Service, Meta, Bloomberg, SEC, NYU's Stern School of Business, Amazon, CNBC Locations: Wall, Silicon, San Francisco, Friday's

☆ People are poking fun at NYC Mayor Eric Adams for trying to make a heart sign with the city's new armless patrol robot
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A user on X spotted NYC Mayor Eric Adams' attempt at making a heart with the new armless patrol robot. Adams unveiled the 5 feet 3 inches tall K5 patrol robot that weighs 400 pounds at a press conference on Friday. AdvertisementAdvertisementHonan's post has since racked up over 11 million views, and drawn reactions from a host of other users poking fun at the gesture and the city's new patrol robot. The new patrol robot is already drawing some criticism. The New York City police department and mayor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Eric Adams, Adams, Katie Honan, Twitter —, Albert Fox Cahn Organizations: Service, New York City, Twitter, New York Police Department, Technology, New York Times, Boston Dynamics, New Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York City

☆ US National Zoo bids farewell to pandas as government shutdown looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Visitors take photos of giant panda Mei Xiang eating bamboo during the reopening morning of Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, U.S., May 21, 2021. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji are scheduled to be returned in early December. The shutdown would not disrupt animal care, but the zoo's popular live "Panda Cam" would go dark. Mei Xiang, 25, and Tian Tian, 26, came to the zoo in 2000 under a cooperative research and breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The zoo did not say whether it has any immediate plans to acquire more giant pandas, but said on its website that it "hopes to continue this work in the future."

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, Xiao Qi Ji, Xiang, Zhou Enlai, Richard Nixon's, Julia Harte, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Embassy, Smithsonian Institute, China Wildlife Conservation Association, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, China, U.S, Washington, United States

☆ The university hosting an academic conference on Taylor Swift hopes that 'TayTay' will make an appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The University of Melbourne is hosting an academic conference on Taylor Swift in 2024. They're seeking paper submissions on topics like "one single symbolic dollar" or Taylor Swift, #metoo, and the law. "And when you can't sleep at night (you hear my stolen lullabies)" — Taylor Swift, streaming platforms, and intellectual property (Taylor's version). "If I was a man, then I'd be The Man" — Taylor Swift, and gender and sexuality. AdvertisementAdvertisementSwift's Eras Tour is on track to break records to become the highest-grossing concert in the world, according to analytics firm QuestionPro.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, Jennifer Beckett, they've, Beckett, — Taylor Swift, Shakespeare, Charlotte Brontë, Larry Adam, Raymond James, Taylor Swift's Organizations: University of Melbourne, Service, BBC, —, USA, Federal Reserve Locations: Australia, Wall, Silicon, Belgium

☆ This biotech CEO's strict diet for reversing aging is a blended mush of steamed vegetables and lentils
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | Hilary Brueck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Biotech CEO Bryan Johnson's strict diet, which he claims reverses aging, involves eating a blended mush of steamed vegetables and lentils. "I no longer have arousal from eating junk food," Johnson told Insider in a separate interview. Johnson told Time's Charlotte Alter that he thought his strict health routine was "the most significant revolution in the history of Homo sapiens." "I no longer have arousal from eating junk food," Johnson told Insider in a separate interview. AdvertisementAdvertisementTo be sure, scientists told Insider that Johnson's approach has unclear health benefits.

Persons: Bryan, Johnson, Bryan Johnson, Time's Charlotte Alter, Jan Vijg Organizations: Service, Albert Einstein College of Medicine Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ In case you missed Facebook's incredibly subtle logo change, Meta has a 1,600-word explanation for you
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Parent Meta dedicated 1,600 words to announcing this and other subtle changes in a blog post on Wednesday. I think it's going to take more than a deeper shade of blue to reverse Facebook's dwindling appeal in its home market. Users on X are already poking fun at the change, and comparing it to other incredibly subtle updates. To be sure, Facebook's logo change marks a stark contrast to other moves, like Twitter's controversial rebrand to X — or its parent company's rebrand from Facebook to Meta in 2021, amid deep public backlash against the company. But I can't help but wonder if the subtle and incremental change is a sign of Facebook's waning relevance.

Organizations: Facebook, Service, Meta, Pew Research Locations: Wall, Silicon, Canada, Europe

☆ Opinion | The Underground Historians Keeping the Truth Alive in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Ian Johnson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“Spark is history,” Jiang Xue told me. The same problems the older generation faced, especially the lack of freedom of expression, is the same issue I face today. Her work clashed with her husband’s desire for a successful career as a researcher on religion in a government think tank. What sustains Jiang Xue and many other underground historians is the sense of community that their movement provides. Some of her interviewees have become close friends, such as Tan Chanxue, whom she regularly visited until she died in 2018.

Persons: ” Jiang Xue, —, “, ”, Jiang Xue, Tan Chanxue, Xiang Chengjian, Uncle Xiang, Hannah Arendt Organizations: Chinese Communist Party Locations: North America

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