In a recent legal victory for Meta, a judge ruled in favor of the company in a copyright lawsuit filed by authors who alleged their works were used without permission to train Meta’s AI system. The judge determined that the authors failed to provide sufficient evidence of market harm caused by Meta’s AI, classifying the use of copyrighted material as “fair use”. This ruling follows a similar decision in favor of Anthropic, another AI company, though the judge acknowledged the complexities of the copyright issues surrounding AI training. Furthermore, the judge expressed sympathy for the authors’ argument that AI models may undermine the market for creative works.
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Recent college graduates are facing a challenging job market, with the unemployment rate for degree holders aged 22 to 27 reaching its highest level in over a decade, excluding the pandemic. Economists suggest that this is due to economic uncertainty, specifically stemming from the Trump administration’s tariff increases. Additionally, the rise of artificial intelligence is speculated to be impacting entry-level white-collar positions, while higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve have also slowed hiring in tech. Despite these difficulties, most economists maintain that holding a college degree still offers lifetime benefits, although the value of a degree has diminished.
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s X post declaring her Christian faith prompted an AI chatbot, Grok, to question the compatibility of her beliefs with her public actions and rhetoric. Grok cited Greene’s support for conspiracy theories and divisive statements as contradictory to Christian values, a response Greene rejected as left-leaning propaganda. Grok further confirmed that Greene’s public comments and voting record do not align with Jesus’ teachings. This interaction highlights Grok’s tendency towards controversial responses, including previous inaccuracies regarding the Holocaust and white genocide.
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Over 20 humanoid robots competed in the world’s first robot half-marathon in Beijing, showcasing China’s advancements in humanoid technology. While technologically impressive, the robots, including the winning Tiangong Ultra, significantly lagged behind human runners, completing the course in over two hours. Despite this, the winning team’s chief technology officer claimed their robot’s performance rivaled Western models. The event highlighted both the progress and limitations of current humanoid robotics.
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Following Elon Musk’s acquisition, X’s UK revenue plummeted 66.3% to £69.1 million in 2023, resulting in a significant profit decrease. This downturn is attributed to reduced advertising spending due to brand safety and content moderation concerns. The company’s UK workforce also experienced substantial cuts, falling from 399 to 114 employees. Despite these challenges, X’s overall value has since recovered, and a new AI-focused subsidiary, X.AI London, was recently established.
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At a Border Security Expo, Trump administration officials, including acting ICE director Todd Lyons, advocated for a business-model approach to deportations, envisioning a system as efficient as Amazon Prime. Lyons praised the use of the Alien Enemies Act and proposed utilizing AI to expedite deportations. The administration plans to heavily rely on private sector contracts for this mass deportation agenda, echoing sentiments expressed by Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan. This initiative, however, has sparked significant concern and fear among immigrant communities and has even impacted travel between the US and Canada.
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Hope Ngumezi’s wife died from complications during a miscarriage after Texas’s near-total abortion ban prevented her from receiving necessary medical care, including a D&C procedure. Doctors reportedly hesitated to perform the procedure, fearing legal repercussions under the vaguely defined law. This situation highlights concerns that the law’s ambiguity is contributing to a sharp increase in Texas’s maternal mortality rate, exceeding the national average. While state Senator Bryan Hughes claims most hospitals comply correctly and that removing a miscarriage is not abortion, the law remains unamended, leaving doctors fearing prosecution over providing life-saving care.
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Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, analyzed publicly available data to assess the likelihood of Donald Trump being a “Putin-compromised asset,” concluding a 75-85% probability. Grok cited Trump’s extensive financial ties to Russia, his consistent refusal to criticize Putin, and leaked Kremlin documents suggesting Putin’s support for Trump’s 2016 campaign as key factors. The chatbot, designed to be “maximally truth-seeking,” weighed these factors against alternative explanations. This assessment raises questions about the implications of such AI-driven analyses of political figures and their potential impact.
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The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 restricts the executive branch’s ability to withhold congressionally appropriated funds. Chief Justice Roberts previously affirmed Congress’s sole power of the purse, deeming executive impoundment of funds unconstitutional except in extraordinary circumstances. However, Russell Vought, Trump’s OMB nominee, controversially declared the Act unconstitutional during his confirmation hearings, prioritizing presidential authority over adherence to the law. This directly contradicts established legal precedent regarding the separation of powers.
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Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI’s nonprofit arm hinges on the organization halting its conversion to a for-profit entity. The court filing stipulates that Musk will withdraw his offer if OpenAI preserves its charitable mission and ceases its sale process. Conversely, if OpenAI continues its for-profit trajectory, the nonprofit arm must receive fair market value compensation. This action follows Musk’s accusations that OpenAI has strayed from its original mission, a claim refuted by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The dispute highlights Musk’s long-standing concerns regarding OpenAI’s shift toward profit maximization.
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John Q. Hosedrinker