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May 18, 2024, 9:45 PM
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Sam Altman / @sama:
Sam Altman says he is embarrassed that there was a provision about potential equity cancellation in exit docs, and OpenAI never took back anyone's vested equity  —  in regards to recent stuff about how openai handles equity: we have never clawed back anyone's vested equity, nor will we do that if people do not sign a separation agreement (or don't agree to a non-disparagement agreement). vested equity is vested equity, full stop. there was
Greg Brockman / @gdb:
Sam Altman and Greg Brockman respond to Jan Leike, say they've raised awareness of the risks and opportunities of AGI, will keep doing safety research, and more  —  We're really grateful to Jan for everything he's done for OpenAI, and we know he'll continue to contribute to the mission from outside. In light of the questions his departure has raised, we wanted to explain a bit about how we think about our overall strategy. First, we have
Steven Levy / Wired:
Despite some skeptics claiming that AI is an industry-wide delusion, last week's demos from OpenAI and Google show that the rate of AI progress is not slowing  —  Some pundits suggest generative AI stopped getting smarter.  The explosive demos from OpenAI and Google that started the week show there's plenty more disruption to come.
Cassandra Willyard / MIT Technology Review:
Researchers are working on sophisticated robots that use AI to converse and play games with people suffering from cognitive disorders like dementia  —  Researchers are using AI and technological advancements to create companion robots … Last week, I scoured the internet in search of a robotic dog.
Ben Cohen / Wall Street Journal:
A profile of Shoichiro Irimajiri, one of Japan's most admired business leaders who, as a Sega executive, saved Nvidia in the 1990s with a $5M investment  —  It's a $2 trillion company today.  It wouldn't exist without someone known as Irimajiri-san.  —  Before it was one of the world's …
Nitish Pahwa / Slate:
How bots monopolizing DeviantArt's promotional and revenue apparatuses and the platform's unwillingness to address the issue are driving artists to abandon it  —  Once a vibrant platform for artists, DeviantArt is now buckling under the weight of bots and greed—and spurning the creative community that made it great.
Lisa Feldman Barrett / Wall Street Journal:
Training AI on stereotypical facial expressions is bound to mislead because scientific evidence indicates that there are no universal expressions of emotion  —  Training algorithms on stereotypical facial expressions is bound to mislead.  —  Imagine that you are interviewing for a job.
Yuichi Shiga / Nikkei Asia:
Honda plans to invest ~$12.8B in software over the decade up to the FY ending March 2031, as it prepares to join the rapid shift to EVs in markets like China  —  EV models get priority as Japanese automakers struggle in Chinese market  —  Honda plans to introduce new models in China faster than in its other markets.
William Gallagher / AppleInsider:
Kuo: iPhone 16 Pro Max will get a higher energy density battery and a stainless steel battery case that helps Apple comply with EU rules about replaceability  —  Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get a new battery that has a greater energy density than before …
New York Times:
Despite banning TikTok on government devices, Taiwan isn't considering a US-style ban, saying the app is just one battle in a war against China's disinformation  —  The island democracy was early to ban TikTok on government phones, and the ruling party refuses to use it.  But a U.S.-style ban is not under consideration.

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From Mediagazer

Sara Fischer / Axios:
Source: Bari Weiss is planning to create a masthead for CBS News as part of a broader overhaul of standards and procedures

Todd Spangler / Variety:
Comcast extends Mike Cavanagh's contract through January 1, 2029, and grants a ~$35M performance-based stock package; he's set to become co-CEO in January 2026

Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
A US judge denies WBD's bid to block Sling TV from selling short-term offerings that let users sign up for access to its bundles for as little as one day

More News

Astha Rajvanshi / TIME:
Access Now: 2023 was the worst year for internet shutdowns since monitoring began in 2016, with 283 shutdowns across 39 countries, led by India at 116
Pranshu Verma / Washington Post:
A look at an ISIS-affiliated media program called News Harvest, which is using AI-generated news anchors to disseminate extremist propaganda quickly and cheaply
Brendan O'Boyle / Reuters:
The US DOJ charges two arrested Chinese nationals for allegedly orchestrating a crypto pig butchering scam that laundered at least $73M from defrauded victims
Politico:
Critics warn the French government's first-of-its-kind move within the EU to suspend TikTok in New Caledonia amid widespread protests sets a dangerous precedent

Earlier Picks

Leah Nylen / Bloomberg:
Epic v. Apple: Phil Schiller told a US judge that Apple's new 27% fee on purchases made outside its App Store are a good-faith attempt to comply with the law
Kate Irwin / PCMag:
Slack confirms it is training some of its AI-powered features, but not its generative AI tool, on user content and uploads, with all users opted-in by default
Will Knight / Wired:
OpenAI's entire Superalignment team, which was focused on the existential dangers of AI, has either resigned or been absorbed into other research groups
Natasha Lomas / TechCrunch:
The EU warns Microsoft it could be fined up to 1% of its global annual turnover under DSA after failing to provide risk info about its generative AI tools
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