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☆ Google asks employees to rewrite Bard's bad responses, says the A.I. 'learns best by example'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Google execs understand that the company's artificial intelligence search tool Bard isn't always accurate in how it responds to queries. The email, which CNBC viewed, included a link to a do’s and don’ts page with instructions on how employees should fix responses as they test Bard internally. "Bard learns best by example, so taking the time to rewrite a response thoughtfully will go a long way in helping us to improve the mode," the document says. Google unveiled its conversation technology last week, but a series of missteps around the announcement pushed the stock price down nearly 9%. Employees criticized Pichai for the mishaps, describing the rollout internally as “rushed,” “botched” and “comically short sighted.”

☆ Google is warning its employees not to help its Bard AI chatbot trick users into thinking it's human
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Thomas Maxwell | Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When Bard provides a response that is considered bad, employees can "fix" the response by rewriting it. In the "Do's" section, it told employees that Bard's responses should be in the first-person, maintaining an "unopinionated, neutral tone." 5 steps for teaching Bard Step 1: Pick a use case Step 2: Try out a prompt Enter a prompt. Step 3: Evaluate Bard's response Check Bard's response and give it a thumbs up or down - Did it follow instructions as you expected - Was the response factually correct? Make sure you refer to recommended formatting for different types of responses Step 5: Submit and confirm Before submitting.

☆ A writer of 5,000 real-estate listings critiqued ChatGPT's attempts. Certain lines made her 'cringe,' but she expects brokers to choose the free AI chatbot over her anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Insider asked Hyrapett to analyze ChatGPT write-ups of homes for sale in New York and California. The Zillow listing for a Yonkers, New York, home that Insider asked ChatGPT to write a description for. Dan Latu/InsiderWhen Hyrapett reviewed the listing, she called some of the words the chatbot used — including "boasting," "spacious," and "well-appointed" — cliché. Instead, Hyrapett said, she prefers to use "offers" or "provides" instead of "boasts," "generously sized" for "spacious," and "thoughtfully designed" over "well-appointed." Dan Latu/InsiderThe best real-estate listings lure buyers with call-to-action phrases like, "Come start your new beginning, " Hyrapett said.

☆ The Biden administration gave Southwest a deadline to issue refunds for the flight chaos over Christmas. A month later, some passengers were still waiting to be paid.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Pete Buttigieg gave the airline a deadline for refunds, but it came and went. John Erickson, a Southwest passenger who was stuck in Denver for three days after Southwest canceled his flight, told WFLA the airline told him it would take months to receive his refund. In a statement provided to Insider, Southwest rebuked the possibility it engaged in unrealistic flight schedules. Southwest previously told Insider last week it was still working daily to process refund and reimbursement requests from passengers. The spokesperson said DOT "will hold Southwest accountable if it fails" to issue timely refunds or reimbursements.

☆ Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky made a $220 million mistake—it turned his startup into a $5 billion company
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Today, Kind is a big name in the snacks industry, reportedly valued at $5 billion when it was acquired by food giant Mars in 2020. There was just a single catch: The deal called for Lubetzky to sell the company within five years. Lubetzky had to assemble $220 million for the deal, a mix of company cash and millions of dollars in bank loans. CNBC Make It: What were you thinking as the deadline to sell Kind approached? I am still a meaningful stakeholder in Kind today, and I still guide them.

☆ The Watch List: Underscored’s most anticipated product launches of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Cnn Underscored Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN Underscored editors regularly highlight new product launches — everything from a new colorway of that viral pan to the next must-have sneaker — through announcement posts, in-depth reviews and comparative testing pieces. Now, for the first time, we’re giving readers a sneak peek at some of the most anticipated products that are set to launch in 2023 with a new feature: The Watch List. The Legendary Classic Canteen will combine an old-school aesthetic with modern design elements like a handy strap and leakproof lid. Meanwhile, the box quilt pattern keeps everything looking casual cool in four colors: natural, white, light gray and charcoal. Cabeau TNE S3: The Neck’s EvolutionCabeauThe Cabeau Evolution S3 is our pick for best travel pillow based on a variety of factors.

☆ How the Supreme Court could soon change free speech on the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Musk's actions since closing the deal last year have illuminated how he sees the balance internet platforms must strike in protecting free expression versus user safety. The Supreme Court has yet to decide if or when to hear the cases, though many expect it will take them up at some point. The Age-Appropriate Design Code requires internet platforms that are likely to be accessed by kids to mitigate risks to those users. Google said such a change would also make the internet less safe and less hospitable to free expression. The Supreme Court of the United States building are seen in Washington D.C., United States on December 28, 2022.

CNN —The US Transportation Department said it is in the early stages of an investigation into the Southwest Airlines holiday travel meltdown in December. The probe includes an examination of whether Southwest is scheduling more flights than it can handle. “DOT is in the initial phase of a rigorous and comprehensive investigation into Southwest Airlines’ holiday debacle that stranded millions,” a spokesperson for the department said. Various Southwest employees will also receive additional “gratitude” pay for working through the meltdown. DOT is also probing whether Southwest executives engaged in unrealistic scheduling of flights which under federal law is considered an unfair and deceptive practice.

☆ DOT is probing whether Southwest's schedules were 'unrealistic' during holiday meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Transportation Department said Wednesday that it is in the initial phase of an investigation of Southwest Airlines ' holiday meltdown and looking at whether the carrier's schedules was unrealistic. The company and labor unions have pointed to outmoded scheduling platforms that weren't designed to handle the number of flight changes that occurred over that period. "DOT is also probing whether Southwest executives engaged in unrealistic scheduling of flights which under federal law is considered an unfair and deceptive practice," a DOT spokesperson said. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has previously vowed to hold Southwest accountable for the disruptions, which left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded. "Our holiday flight schedule was thoughtfully designed and offered to our Customers with the backing of a solid plan to operate it, and with ample staffing," Southwest said in a statement late Wednesday.

☆ More than 500 Salesforce employees wrote to execs demanding layoff answers. Read the leaked messages showing how management responded.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Salesforce appeared to have responded to employees' questions through a Q&A titled "Top Questions from Employees," posted to an internal Slack channel by Salesforce executive vice president of employee communications and engagement Jill Unikel. Are you a Salesforce employee or do you have insight to share? SELECTION CRITERIAQuestion: What criteria was used to decide who was in the 10% of employees affected? If an affected employee finds a new role internally before their termination date, they will remain a Salesforce employee and not receive their communicated severance. BENEFITS FOR AFFECTED EMPLOYEESQuestion: Did affected employee receive benefits included in their severance?

☆ West must ramp up aid to Ukraine to keep war with Russia from becoming a stalemate, U.K. foreign secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Dan De Luce | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Abigail-Williams-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The West needs to ramp up military assistance to Ukraine to ensure the war with Russia does not turn into a bloody, open-ended stalemate, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Tuesday during a visit to Washington. The United Kingdom also said it would provide more heavy artillery and ammunition to help Ukraine roll back Russian forces from its territory. “The U.K. has been very much on the front foot” in its security assistance to Ukraine, Cleverly said. He stopped short of urging the U.S., Germany or other governments also to supply Ukraine with new tanks or other more advanced weapons. Germany has faced growing calls to send its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and to allow other countries that have Leopards to provide Kyiv with them.

Alicia Victoria Lozano / NBC NewsAmong her must-have accessories this semester is a heavy flashlight with a strobe function that doubles as a baton. Brandon Moore, a freshman at Washington State University in Pullman. “It definitely makes you more aware of everyone around you.”Koryn Damiano, a sophomore at Washington State University in Pullman. Alicia Victoria Lozano / NBC NewsDamiano said she shares a sense of relief that the suspect has been caught. At the University of Idaho, students will have the option to take classes in self-defense, vigilance and stalking awareness.

☆ When Does Life Begin?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Elizabeth Dias | Bethany Mollenkof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

“It is not black and white.”America’s fight over abortion has long circled a question, one that is broad and without consensus:When does life begin? The question of when life begins has been so politicized it can be hard to thoughtfully engage. Ancient Egypt gave the power to create new human life almost entirely to men. The scientific revolution, from Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to reproductive science, disrupted centuries of thought on human life. “When does the responsibility for a life begin and end?”

☆ 8 Phrases That Make You Sound Weak at Work and What to Say Instead
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Michael Thompson | Mike Thompson Blog | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Avoid phrases like, "I'm not an expert but..." and "It's just that..." to sound more confident. Plus, according to sociologist Maja Jovanovic in her TED Talk, saying sorry make us appear smaller and timider than we really are. So if you catch yourself complaining instead of saying "sorry for venting" or "sorry for laying this on you," steal a line from Maja and try this simple switch instead — "Thank you for listening." But try to limit how much you say you're sorry when there's nothing for you to be sorry about. This may sound obvious, but "sorry, I'm stupid" happens.

☆ 3 tips for when your team is stuck and needs to think outside the box
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Cari Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Using mindfulness and noticing when your team is stuck can help activate expansive thinking. Expansive thinking encourages us to be more creativePolarity-driven thinking keeps us stuck. The simple theory of the Drama Triangle is that each of us plays two of three archetypes that provoke conflict, problems, and anxiety. Encourage them to let go of their "fixed" mindset and ask what archetype they might be playing in the drama triangle. Do it with expansive thinking to guide your way and move out of the contraction most of us live with daily.

☆ The tech we couldn’t live without in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Bone conduction headphones, TV streaming devices and Bluetooth speakers are among the tech gadgets topping holiday wish lists this year. Other notable products – ahem, the new 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max – are near impossible to find. Since my move to New York, I’ve had to find all new favorite spots for good food and drinks. – Victor Blackwell, co-anchor of CNN NewsroomHBO MaxNow that I commute home at the ungodly hour of 1 a.m., I lean heavily on my HBO Max app (starts at $9.99 a month). – Samantha Kelly, CNN senior tech writerRev.comI remember being an intern over a decade ago logging half hour long interviews for producers.

☆ Wells Fargo downgrades Qualcomm, says exposure to smartphone industry will hurt chip stock
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Qualcomm will be among the chip stocks struggling in the new year due to its exposure to smartphone sales, Wells Fargo warned Monday. Analyst Gary Mobley downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight. Mobley also maintained his price target to $105, which implies a downside of 11.8% over Friday's close. "Once investors are convinced we've reached a bottom in the chip cycle, we believe the sector may rally." Mobley said Qualcomm and other companies that have performance tied to smartphone demand will struggle, as the number of smartphones is likely to decline in 2023 and then grow modestly afterward.

“I haven’t seen sunlight in what seems like a long time,” Li told CNN, a week after the protests broke out. In recent years, Beijing has extended its crackdown on dissent to the foreign platform, detaining and jailing Chinese Twitter users who criticized the government. TwitterLi received thousands of submissions a day – and up to dozens per second at the height of the protests. Journalists, observers and activists monitored his feed closely, and some of his posts were aired on televisions across the world. And then they went to our house at midnight to harass my parents,” Li said.

Through trial and error, I learned to keep track of my spending and gained valuable experience with money. I still use these lessons today to monitor my spending, keep a budget, and compare prices for the best deals. A $5 bill gave me practical experience with money every dayI used problem-solving skills to make sure my sister and I had enough money for food and beverages without going over our budget. When we asked our mom for more money, she reminded us to use our money more thoughtfully next time. My mother's lessons continue to help me be an informed consumerMy mother's lessons with the $5 bill remain with me today.

☆ How to avoid winter sports injuries
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Melanie Radzicki Mcmanus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sprains, strains, dislocations and fractures were common but also concussions and other head injuries. In fact, head injuries make up 20% of the roughly 600,000 ski- and snowboarding-related injuries that occur annually across North America, according to a study published in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. “Certainly, we worry the most about head injuries,” said Dr. Brian Cole, an orthopedic surgeon at Chicago’s Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. “You’re less likely to have a catastrophic ligament tear or fracture this way.”Common injuries by age and sexSome winter sports injuries are more common in people of a certain sex or age. Cole sees a lot of sledding injuries in his younger patients, snowmobiling injuries in middle-aged men and downhill skiing injuries in women, especially torn ACLs in the knee.

☆ Amazon CEO Says He Doesn’t Regret Hiring Spree as Company Starts Layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Sarah E. Needleman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Amazon .com Inc. CEO Andy Jassy said he doesn’t regret the hiring spree the company went on in recent years even as the tech giant is now conducting one of the largest rounds of corporate layoffs in its history. “This year we had the lens of a very uncertain economic environment, as well as having hired aggressively over the last several years,” Mr. Jassy said at the New York Times ’ Dealbook Summit in New York City on Wednesday. The company’s goal has been to go through its businesses “thoughtfully but thoroughly” and avoid compromising on “key long-term” bets, the chief executive said.

☆ US leaders who want to send billions more in aid to Ukraine need to ask what kind of war they're willing to pay for
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Andrew C. Jarocki | Defense Priorities | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The final weeks of the current Congress will feature debate over another aid package for Ukraine. Before opening the checkbook again, lawmakers need to ask how they want this war to end and how more aid will bring it about. Before Washington opens the checkbook again, lawmakers need to subject aid proposals to a simple Petraeus Test. So far, the story of American support of Ukraine against Russia's terrible invasion attempt has been one of unhesitating generosity. At the very least, legislators must push advocates of more aid for Ukraine to explain exactly how America's national security would be enhanced.

☆ Layoffs Create Pitfalls for Finance Executives Looking to Cut Costs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

They are increasingly looking to layoffs as a way to preserve capital, alongside other measures, such as hiring freezes. Finance chiefs play a key role in this by determining which costs to cut and setting companies’ financial targets, said advisers who work with companies during staffing cuts. Tech business HP Inc., ride-hailing company Lyft Inc. and tool-and-appliance maker Stanley Black & Decker Inc. have announced layoffs in recent months. Finance chiefs are increasingly part of the initial discussions about whether job cuts are needed, said Hardik Sheth, a partner at Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting firm. Some employees at Twitter, which recently cut roughly half of its workforce, are now pushing back against the dismissals.

If you've been hoping to get a new, highly efficient vacuum this year, you'll want to jump on the Dyson V10 Absolute Cordless Vacuum, which is $200 off. We love Dyson vacuums; they occupy several top spots in our guide to the best vacuums, our cordless vacuum buying guide, and the best vacuums for pet hair. While we haven't tested the Dyson V10 Absolute specifically, it has a similar design and specs to other Dyson stick vacuums we've tried. Great Price Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Equipped with a sensor to detect whether you’re vacuuming a carpet or hard floor, the Cyclone V10 Absolute is the perfect vacuum cleaner for any room in the house. Typically priced at closer to $500 or $550, this vacuum’s current Black Friday deal is the best we've seen in years.

If you're in the market for a new vacuum this year, here's a deal you can jump on right away: $200 off the Dyson V10 Absolute Cordless Vacuum. We love Dyson vacuums; they occupy several top spots in our guide to the best vacuums, our cordless vacuum buying guide, and the best vacuums for pet hair. While we haven't tested the Dyson V10 Absolute specifically, it has similar specs and design to other Dyson stick vacuums we've tried. Great Price Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Equipped with a sensor to detect whether you’re vacuuming a carpet or hard floor, the Cyclone V10 Absolute is the perfect vacuum cleaner for any room in the house. Dyson vacuums are powerful, easy to use, and thoughtfully designed to be adaptable to any cleaning situation you can think of.

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