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☆ How generative AI could transform the $30 billion biotech industry, speeding up everything from drug discovery to DNA sequencing
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Biotech startups are using generative AI for everything from protein creation to DNA sequencing. "Drug discovery, antibody discovery, and protein discovery are all fantastic applications of the tech," he added. Generative AI has founders and investors cautiously optimisticThe sector is in the early stages of applying generative technology — but founders are becoming aware of its limitations. "Generative AI models can hallucinate models that are new to nature. Biotech startups meanwhile raised $29.5 billion last year, down slightly from 2021's record-breaking $36.6 billion, according to Bloomberg.

☆ Sam Altman is tech’s next household name — if we survive the killer robots
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( David Ingram | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, walks from lunch during the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 6, 2022, in Sun Valley, Idaho. Sam Altman may be tech's next household name, but many Americans probably haven't heard of him. To anyone outside San Francisco, Altman would probably seem like just another young tech CEO. That worldview flared up into controversy in 2017 when Altman wrote a blog post criticizing political correctness, saying tech entrepreneurs were leaving San Francisco over it. "I realized I felt more comfortable discussing controversial ideas in Beijing than in San Francisco," he wrote.

☆ The week that tech became exciting again
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN Business —Let’s be honest: For much of the past decade, tech events have been pretty boring. In each case, the changes were powered by new AI technology that allows for more conversational and complex responses. And there are already rumors of another event next month for Microsoft to demo similar features in its Office products, including Word, PowerPoint and Outlook. Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Baidu also said this week that they would be launching their own ChatGPT-style services. Microsoft employee Alex Buscher demonstrates a search feature integration of Microsoft Bing search engine and Edge browser with OpenAI on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Redmond.

☆ Google cautions against 'hallucinating' chatbots - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The boss of Google's search engine warned against the pitfalls of artificial intelligence in chatbots in a newspaper interview published on Saturday, as Google parent company Alphabet (GOOGL.O) battles to compete with blockbuster app ChatGPT. "This kind of artificial intelligence we're talking about right now can sometimes lead to something we call hallucination," Prabhakar Raghavan, senior vice president at Google and head of Google Search, told Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper. "This then expresses itself in such a way that a machine provides a convincing but completely made-up answer," Raghavan said in comments published in German. Alphabet, which is still conducting user testing on Bard, has not yet indicated when the app could go public. "We obviously feel the urgency, but we also feel the great responsibility," Raghavan said.

☆ ‘Knock at the Cabin’ Review: A Daft Devil’s Bargain
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Kyle Smith | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

M. Night Shyamalan is one of the few filmmakers of his generation who has made himself a brand. If his surname were a bit shorter, he might even have made himself a household adjective by now. To buy a ticket for one of Mr. Shyamalan’s films is to accept an invitation to be wowed by a deliriously intriguing premise and, in the third act, to witness with delight the world being turned upside down. Mr. Shyamalan also carries the unfortunate distinction of having perpetrated more terrible movies than practically anyone else in his class of blockbuster auteurs: “The Village,” “Lady in the Water,” “The Last Airbender,” “After Earth.” This list is not comprehensive. Once he made a thriller about murderous trees (“The Happening”) whose script seemed as though it got lost on the way to Mel Brooks ’s office.

New York CNN —Thursday afternoon will round out what has so far been a sobering earnings season for the Big Tech giants. Alphabet’s revenue will likely remain flat from last year and Amazon’s sales are expected to grow just shy of 6% year-over-year. All three companies’ profits are expected to fall from the year-ago quarter, with Amazon set to suffer the steepest drop with a decline of 40.6%. Then came the press conference, which led to a steep divergence between what the Fed thinks and what the Wall Street thinks. A cautionary tale: In mid-November, Ticketmaster’s site overloaded when fans tried to purchase pre-sale tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour.

☆ Real estate agents say they can’t imagine working without ChatGPT now
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This made it so much easier.”Johannes is among the real estate agents experimenting with ChatGPT since it was released publicly in late November. Miami real estate broker Andres Asion. Serge Reda, a commercial real estate executive and adjunct professor at the Fordham Real Estate Institute, said some use cases for ChatGPT are better than others. While ChatGPT has generated a wave of interest among realtors, incorporating artificial intelligence in the real estate market isn’t entirely new. Although it’s too early to say if the tool will become a mainstay in real estate, realtor Johannes believes AI in general will transform his industry and others.

☆ Chevron is catching heat for tripling its stock buyback to $75 billion as soaring energy prices led to record profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chevron wowed investors with a massive $75 billion stock buyback on Wednesday. The stock buyback program has no expiration date and is triple the company's prior share repurchase program of $25 billion. Surging oil prices in 2022 helped fuel record profits for Chevron, and the company expects those profits to continue to flow in 2023. But Chevron is working to increase its oil production in 2023. The capital discipline employed by Chevron is also being employed by ExxonMobil, which increased its stock buyback program to $50 billion last month.

☆ 'Avatar' director James Cameron, 'Top Gun' star Tom Cruise snubbed by Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Director James Cameron arrives at the world premiere of 'Avatar: The Way of Water' in London, Britain December 6, 2022. Cameron was joined - in omission - by another box-office standout, actor Tom Cruise, whose starring role in “Top Gun: Maverick” wowed audiences but was overlooked in the best actor category. Another notable snub from the best picture list was "Babylon," "La La Land" director Damien Chazelle's ambitious ode to old Hollywood. This year none of the nominees for best director are women. One of the most successful recording artists of the era, Taylor Swift, also was snubbed by the Academy.

Harris, the former American Idol contestant whose soulful voice wowed the judges and whose sweet demeanor won him legions of fans, has died of an apparent heart attack. Harris was an incredible talent, and the news of his passing deeply saddens us," a statement posted on American Idol's official Instagram page read. Harris told The Hollywood Reporter in a 2014 interview that his mother was his first musical influence. It wasn't until 2014 that Harris made his musical mark when he placed sixth in American Idol's 13th season. "You sing because you have to sing, not because you want to sing," Urban told Harris.

☆ What to know about 'Naatu Naatu,' the song that beat out Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga at Golden Globes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Brahmjot Kaur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“Naatu Naatu,” a song from the hit Telugu-language film “RRR,” was the unexpected and historic winner for best original song at the Golden Globes Tuesday, beating out Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. Majumdar said she was surprised but thrilled “Naatu Naatu” took home the award. “Earlier, that was seen as a feature that was strange about Indian cinema. Keeravani accepts the Best Original Song award for "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR" during the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday. “When I envisioned the ‘Naatu Naatu’ song,” Rajamouli told Variety.

☆ My $1,400 stateroom on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas wasn't impressive despite being on the world's largest cruise ship
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

So maybe I'm being too picky. But at this price and aboard one of 2022's most highly anticipated cruise ships, I wanted more than just the essentials. I wanted to be wowed. Brittany Chang/Insider

☆ 'Avatar' sequel opens shy of domestic box office projections
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LOS ANGELES, Dec 18 (Reuters) - "Avatar: The Way of Water," the expensive and long-delayed sequel to the highest-grossing film of all time, opened below box office forecasts with an estimated $134 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales. In overseas markets, "The Way of Water" added $301 million for a global total of roughly $435 million through Sunday, distributor Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) said. "The Way of Water" was released 13 years after the first installment wowed audiences with pioneering 3D technology. The original "Avatar" remains the all-time box office champion with $2.9 billion in global ticket sales. Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'Avatar' sequel rings up $17 million in U.S. debut night
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Director James Cameron arrives at the world premiere of 'Avatar: The Way of Water' in London, Britain December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleLOS ANGELES, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Director James Cameron's long-awaited "Avatar: The Way of Water" pulled in $17 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices from its first showings on Thursday night, distributor Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) said. With international sales, the sequel to the highest-grossing movie of all time has generated $50.4 million at theaters around the globe since the movie started rolling out on Wednesday. The sequel should end the opening weekend with at least $140 million from domestic theaters, forecasters said. "The Way of Water" was released 13 years after the first film wowed audiences with pioneering 3D technology.

☆ 'Avatar' sequel earns film critics' praise for visual spectacle
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Fans attend a premiere for the film Avatar: The Way of Water, at Dolby theatre in Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 12, 2022. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The long-awaited sequel to groundbreaking movie "Avatar" won praise on Tuesday from movie critics who said they were awed again by director James Cameron's visual artistry. The sequel offers more advanced 3D images, showcasing aquatic creatures on the lush moon of Pandora. "'Avatar: The Way of Water' is such a screen-popping visual feast it earns the 3-hour, 12-minute running time," said Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times. Studios split ticket sales with theaters, and Cameron told GQ magazine that "The Way of Water" will need to make $2 billion just to break even.

☆ I visited the flagship stores of Nike and Adidas in NYC to compare the shopping experiences and it was clear which store was more popular
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

I visited the flagship stores of two of the world's largest athletic brands, Nike and Adidas, to see which shopping experience was better. Adidas' flagship store was soccer heaven and paid homage to the FIFA World Cup. Nike's store took me to an otherworldly space and wowed me with its Sneakerlab collection. Loading Something is loading. With that in mind I felt it was worth visiting both flagship locations to compare the shopping experience.

This time round, Charles III hosted the first state visit of his reign and welcomed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the UK. The South African state visit was Charles’s first big diplomatic test. But this week, the prominence of the Prince and Princess of Wales during the state visit indicated that the couple have been elevated into crucial central roles. PHOTOS OF THE WEEKHere’s a few of our favorite shots from the first state visit King Charles hosted as monarch. Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty ImagesThe state visit also allowed UK PM Rishi Sunak the opportunity to welcome Ramaphosa to 10 Downing Street for a bilateral meeting.

☆ Creator Emma Chamberlain inks exclusive Spotify podcast deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Spotify is pulling influential Gen Z creator Emma Chamberlain into its podcast orbit. Under a multiyear pact with Chamberlain, Spotify starting in early 2023 will become the exclusive home for her “Anything Goes With Emma Chamberlain” podcast, including all back-catalog episodes and future installments. “I couldn’t be more honored to be their exclusive partner, and work together to allow ‘Anything Goes’ to blossom in ways it couldn’t have anywhere else. Chamberlain rose to YouTube fame in 2018 with her uniquely personal spin on the vlog format and currently has 11.9 million subscribers on her channel. “Emma Chamberlain is one of the most influential voices fueling the creator community today, and Spotify is thrilled to be her exclusive podcast partner,” Max Cutler, Spotify’s VP of creator content and partnerships.

☆ Before his epic fall, Sam Bankman-Fried was hailed as a crypto genius. Some clients saw smoke and mirrors.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Gretchen Morgenson | Gretchen Morgenson Is The Senior Financial Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. A Former Stockbroker | She Won The Pulitzer Prize In For Her | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +14 min

Until a few days ago, Sam Bankman-Fried was the king of crypto. “I’m sorry I didn’t do better,” Bankman-Fried said Tuesday in a message to investors reviewed by NBC News. The contentions of the people who spoke with NBC News are echoed in a 2019 lawsuit brought in federal court against FTX Alameda, Bankman-Fried and other executives. But the crypto market does not have the protections or price transparency found in listed stock markets, for example. FTX and Alameda, as a major crypto exchange and market maker, attracted crypto developers to list their projects for trading.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Angela Lansbury," according to statement by Actors' Equity, the union representing live stage performers. "A star of stage, TV and movies, Lansbury was an Equity member for an astounding 65 years. Angela Lansbury stars as mystery writer and crime solver Jessica Fletcher on the CBS television crime drama series "Murder, She Wrote" in 1990. The TV academy nominated Lansbury for 12 Emmys for “Murder,” although she never took home the trophy. Edgar Lansbury was mayor of the London borough of Poplar, while George Lansbury served as Labour Party leader in 1932-34.

☆ Here's what William Shatner would have seen on his trip to space aboard Blue Origin as his new book says it 'felt like a funeral'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

William Shatner became the oldest person to journey to space when he flew on Blue Origin in October 2021. The 11-minute flight reached 66 miles above Earth, where Shatner may have seen deserts, mountains, and water. The Star Trek actor described space as dreadful "ominous blackness," but was wowed by Earth's beauty. ReutersBefore the journey, Shatner expressed excitement about finally seeing space with his own eyes, describing the opportunity as "a miracle." Bettmann/Getty ImagesIn the film, Gagarin said he could see forests, and described Earth as "visible and distinct," but many areas were "covered with cumulus clouds."

☆ Analysis: 'Abbott Elementary' is back in session
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Three things to watch‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 2(From left) Quinta Brunson, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Williams, Chris Perfetti and Sheryl Lee Ralph in a scene from "Abbott Elementary." Gilles Mingasson/ABCNot enough great things can be said about “Abbott Elementary” creator Quinta Brunson. “Abbott Elementary” airs Wednesday nights on ABC; episodes will also be available to stream the following day on Hulu. ‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’Evan Peters stars as Jeffrey Dahmer in "Dahmer -- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." ‘The Kardashians’ Season 2Kim Kardashian in a scene from the second season of Hulu's "The Kardashians."

☆ I redeemed 47,000 Amex points for a phenomenal first-class flight to Asia worth $14,000, and it was one of the best in-air experiences of my life
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Chris Dong | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Here's how I booked it using credit card points — and a rundown of the flight itself. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. More Information Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Bottom lineOne of the best things about transferable credit card points, such as Amex Membership Rewards, is the incredible flexibility that they offer.

☆ Science has figured out why Silicon Valley keeps forking over millions to charismatic screw-ups like WeWork founder Adam Neumann
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-07 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

And in and around Silicon Valley, they're the informational coin of the realm. Silicon Valley, after all, prides itself on being an ultrarational place for data-driven decisions, made by people with the brains and intestinal fortitude to identify disruptive winners. But the more solid research puts the lie to the idea of Silicon Valley as a utopia of empiricism. Its unfettered belief in freewheeling, big-ticket plays, in fact, is what sets Silicon Valley apart from other tech ecosystems. To the movers and shakers of Silicon Valley, a startup isn't merely a business.

☆ Mark Cuban says this was his worst 'Shark Tank' investment ever: 'Next thing you know, all of the money’s gone'
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-22 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Over more than a decade on ABC's "Shark Tank," billionaire Mark Cuban has seen his share of good investments — and bad ones. Last week, Cuban told the "Full Send" podcast that after investing nearly $20 million in 85 startups on "Shark Tank," he's taken a net loss across all of those deals combined. In 2013, an entrepreneur named Charles Michael Yim went on "Shark Tank" to pitch his product, the Breathometer, as "the world's first smartphone breathalyzer." Charles Michael Yim pitches the Breathometer on ABC's "Shark Tank" in 2013. "It was a great product," Cuban said last week.

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