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Connor Hughes

1403 Posts
Biden to Announce A.I. Center in Wisconsin as Part of Economic Agenda

Biden to Announce A.I. Center in Wisconsin as Part of Economic Agenda

President Biden will travel to Wisconsin on Wednesday to announce the creation of an artificial intelligence data center, highlighting one of his administration’s biggest economic accomplishments in a crucial battleground state — and pointing up a significant failure by his immediate predecessor and 2024 challenger.At a technical college in Racine, Mr. Biden will announce that Microsoft will invest $3.3 billion to build the center, which the tech giant estimates will create 2,300 union construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs, according to the White House. The project is part of Mr. Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda, which has focused on bringing…
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Hong Kong Court Bans “Glory to Hong Kong,” a Pro-Democracy Song

Hong Kong Court Bans “Glory to Hong Kong,” a Pro-Democracy Song

A Hong Kong court on Wednesday granted a government request to ban a popular pro-democracy anthem, raising further concerns about free speech in the city.The decision, which overturned an initial ruling, could give the government power to force Google and other tech companies to restrict online access to the song in Hong Kong. The decision threatens to deepen anxiety about the city’s status as an international gateway to China, away from its censorship controls.At issue in the case is “Glory to Hong Kong,” which emerged in 2019 as an unofficial anthem for democracy protests and a flashpoint for the authorities,…
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Is Your Law Firm Using A.I.? Tell Us How.

Is Your Law Firm Using A.I.? Tell Us How.

Law firms are increasingly relying on generative artificial intelligence to produce research and draft documents.We’d like to hear from lawyers working with generative A.I., including contract lawyers who have been brought on for assignments related to A.I. If you fit this profile, please consider responding to the questions below. Your answers may help us better understand the use of A.I. in law and other professions and inform our reporting.We won’t publish your name or any part of your submission without contacting you first. If you prefer to share tips or thoughts confidentially, you can do so here. More information
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U.S. Job Market Eases, but Hiring Remains Firm

U.S. Job Market Eases, but Hiring Remains Firm

The American job market may be shifting into a lower gear this spring, a turn that economists have expected for months after a vigorous rebound from the pandemic shock.Employers added 175,000 positions in April, the Labor Department reported Friday, undershooting forecasts. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 percent.A less torrid expansion after the 242,000-job average over the prior 12 months isn’t necessarily bad news, given that layoffs have remained low and most sectors appear stable.“It’s not a bad economy; it’s still a healthy economy,” said Perc Pineda, chief economist at the Plastics Industry Association. “I think it’s part of…
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Tesla Pullback Puts Onus on Others to Build Electric Vehicle Chargers

Tesla Pullback Puts Onus on Others to Build Electric Vehicle Chargers

Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, blindsided competitors, suppliers and his own employees this week by reversing course on his aggressive push to build electric vehicle chargers in the United States, a major priority of the Biden administration.Mr. Musk’s decision to lay off the 500-member team responsible for installing charging stations, and to sharply slow investment in new stations, baffled the industry and raised doubts about whether the number of public chargers would grow fast enough to keep pace with sales of battery-powered cars. It put the onus on other charging companies, raising questions about whether they can build…
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Berkshire Reports Strong Earnings and Formidable Cash Stockpile

Berkshire Reports Strong Earnings and Formidable Cash Stockpile

Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday reported strong operating earnings, which track the actual profit that its array of businesses produce, and a record pile of cash in the first quarter, underscoring the health of the conglomerate run by Warren E. Buffett.The results provided a positive backdrop for Berkshire’s annual shareholder meeting in downtown Omaha, the company’s hometown. It is the first such gathering for Mr. Buffett’s business empire since the death in November of Charles Munger, Mr. Buffett’s longtime business partner and alter ego, at age 99.Saturday’s results underscore Mr. Buffett’s repeated admonition that the best way to judge Berkshire —…
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A.I. at Your Jobs + Hank Green Talks TikTok + Deepfake High School

A.I. at Your Jobs + Hank Green Talks TikTok + Deepfake High School

Listen to and follow ‘Hard Fork’Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTubeWe asked listeners to tell us about the wildest ways they have been using artificial intelligence at work. This week, we bring you their stories. Then, Hank Green, a legendary YouTuber, stops by to talk about how creators are reacting to the prospect of a ban on TikTok, and about how he’s navigating an increasingly fragmented online environment. And finally, deep fakes are coming to Main Street: We’ll tell you the story of how they caused turmoil in a Maryland high school and what, if anything, can be done…
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The Fed Is Eyeing the Job Market, but It’s Difficult to Read

The Fed Is Eyeing the Job Market, but It’s Difficult to Read

The Federal Reserve spent much of 2022 and 2023 narrowly focusing on inflation as policymakers set interest rates: Prices were rising way too fast, so they became the central bank’s top priority. But now that inflation has cooled, officials are more clearly factoring the job market into their decisions again.One potential challenge? It’s a very difficult moment to assess exactly what monthly labor market data are telling us.Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, said during a news conference on Wednesday that the way the job market shaped up in coming months could help to guide whether and when the central…
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Meta and Google Are Betting on AI Voice Assistants. Will They Take Off?

Meta and Google Are Betting on AI Voice Assistants. Will They Take Off?

A pair of glasses from Meta shoots a picture when you say, “Hey, Meta, take a photo.” A miniature computer that clips to your shirt, the Ai Pin, translates foreign languages into your native tongue. An artificially intelligent screen features a virtual assistant that you talk to through a microphone.Last year, OpenAI updated its ChatGPT chatbot to respond with spoken words, and recently, Google introduced Gemini, a replacement for its voice assistant on Android phones.Tech companies are betting on a renaissance for voice assistants, many years after most people decided that talking to computers was uncool.Will it work this time?…
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What to Watch for at Today’s Fed Meeting on Interest Rates

What to Watch for at Today’s Fed Meeting on Interest Rates

Federal Reserve officials will conclude their two-day policy meeting on Wednesday afternoon, and while central bankers are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged, there is an unusual degree of uncertainty about what exactly they will signal about the future.Officials could stick with their recent script: Their next policy move is likely to be an interest rate reduction, but incoming inflation and growth data will determine how soon reductions can begin and how extensive they will be. But some economists are wondering if the central bank could pivot away from that message, opening the door to the possibility that its…
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