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Chatbots and the new AI: What will Silicon Valley unleash upon the world this time?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

Jobs. News. Art. Democracy. Equality. Education. Privacy. Truth. Your bank account. All will be impacted by Silicon Valley’s latest creation: “generative” artificial intelligence.With new chatbots and AI software that generates text, images and sound, technology companies have smashed open Pandora’s Box, experts say, unleashing a powerful tool with the capacity to profoundly change virtually all aspects of life — and putting it in the hands of every one of us, builders and destroyers alike.Silicon Valley’s tech industry, famed for its move-fast-and-break-things ethos, has embarked on an arms race to monetize the transformative and potentially destructive technology. Many of those in the midst of the surge are worried about the dangers — expected and unexpected — that await.A generative AI market didn’t exist just a few months ago. Then late last year, San Francisco’s OpenAI released a stunning iteration of its ChatGPT bot, which has advanced...

Why electric vehicles are better than hybrids at fighting climate change: Roadshow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

Q: I don’t understand the push for electric cars instead of hybrids. A relative owns a hybrid. It seems very efficient, and recharges itself while they drive. It’s not tied to a charging station, unlike electric vehicles.We consumers are already struggling to pay for electricity and gas, with higher prices in the future. How can electric vehicles be a reasonable solution? What am I missing?Linda, San JoseA: Environmental journalist Peter Douglas, who writes the “Green Rides” column for the Bay Area News Group and other publications, provided perspective.“While some hybrids are very efficient, the best electric cars deliver significantly greater emission reductions,” he said, “and reductions will continue to increase. Hybrids help fight climate change, but burn gasoline and produce some tailpipe emissions.“The best battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) are far more energy-efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles, including hybrids. BEV own...

Baby injured after Oakland shooting in stable condition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

(KRON) -- A 15-month-old baby girl was injured after a shooting in Oakland on Monday evening, according to the Oakland Fire Department. Officials have not released information on the baby's condition except to say the child is stable.The shooting took place near 11th Street and International Boulevard around 6:16 p.m., and the baby was brought to a fire house nearby. The baby has since been taken to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals for treatment. Mother, daughter identified after shooting in Oakland residence This is the seventh shooting reported in the City of Oakland since Saturday. A mother and her 13-year-old daughter were both killed in a shooting on Saturday night, and one person has since been arrested. Three of the shooting incidents are now being investigated as homicides. Anyone with information should contact the Oakland Police Department at (510) 238-3426.

For Heat, the legend of ‘Playoff Jimmy’ continues to grow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler insists that Playoff Jimmy — the moniker that he has now, whether he wants it or not — isn’t a thing.His play shows otherwise.He has scored 45 or more points five times in his NBA career, and three of those games have come in the playoffs — the most recent one coming Monday in a performance for all-time. Butler scored 56 points, tying the fourth-highest playoff scoring effort in NBA history, and carried the Miami Heat past the Milwaukee Bucks 119-114 to take a 3-1 lead in that Eastern Conference first-round series.“I think this is where all the best players, they show up and they show out,” Butler said. “And I’m not saying I’m one of those best players. I just want to be looked at as such.”Hard to imagine anyone not looking at him that way, especially right now.He had 22 points in the first quarter on Monday, 21 more in the fourth. Over the last quarter-century, nobody had two 20-point quarters in the same playoff game and only one player — Damian Lillard, ...

Polémica por el viaje del líder opositor Juan Gauidó a Colombia: esto dijo Petro sobre su salida del país

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

(CNN Español) — El líder opositor venezolano Juan Guaidó dijo que fue “obligado” a salir de Colombia y llegó a Miami debido a las amenazas contra él y su familia por parte del régimen de Maduro, aseguró en un video publicado en Twitter este martes antes de salir de Colombia.El presidente de Colombia Gustavo Petro dijo que si Guaidó “hubiera entrado al país con su pasaporte” y pedido asilo, se le hubiera concedido.“Se le ofreció el permiso de tránsito, no se le deportó de regreso a su pais y con el permiso de EE.UU. voló hacia ese pais”, dijo Petro en su cuenta de Twitter este martes.Según Petro, “un sector político quería perturbar” el desarrollo de la conferencia internacional sobre Venezuela.El opositor venezolano, que tiene prohibido de salir de Venezuela tras una decisión de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de su país emitida en enero de 2019, dijo que llegó a Bogotá tras un largo viaje.“Después de 60 horas de camino para llegar a Bogotá, sa...

Detienen a una estadounidense en Sydney después de que el personal del aeropuerto encontrara una pistola de oro en su equipaje

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

(CNN) — Una mujer estadounidense fue detenida en Sydney tras llegar en un vuelo procedente de Los Ángeles con un arma de fuego bañada en oro de 24 quilates en su equipaje.La mujer, de 28 años, que llegó a Sydney este domingo, no tenía permiso para importar o poseer un arma de fuego en Australia, según informó la Fuerza Fronteriza Australiana (ABF por sus siglas en inglés) en un comunicado.Una pistola no declarada bañada en oro de 24 quilates aparece en el interior del equipaje de una mujer que llegó a Sydney (Australia). (Crédito: ABF)Australia tiene algunas de las normas más estrictas del mundo sobre tenencia de armas, y es ilegal que una persona importe “intencionadamente” armas de fuego sin autorización previa. La pena máxima por este delito en Australia es de 10 años de prisión.La mujer, que no fue identificada en el comunicado, compareció este lunes ante un tribunal local y quedó en libertad bajo fianza. La situación de su visado y la continuación de su estanc...

DC’s Lucky Buns brings exotic burgers, late-night dining to The Wharf

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

Lucky Buns, a burger chain known for both traditional and exotic burgers and chicken sandwiches, opens a third location on Wednesday at The Wharf in Southwest D.C.The original Lucky Buns opened in Adams Morgan in 2017. There is a second location at D.C.’s Union Market, and an airport version of Lucky Buns is planned for Reagan National Airport.One of the restaurant’s coveted burgers. (Courtesy Lucky Buns)The Wharf location will be open for brunch, lunch and dinner, as well as late night.The Lucky Buns menu has six versions of double patty burgers with toppings such as Gouda cheese, Gordy’s pickles, hatch chili relish, cotija cream, grilled pineapple, pickled beetroot and bacon XO jam. There are also four chicken sandwiches, some tandoori prepared and appetizers that include chickpea hummus, guacamole, crab rangoon and mac & cheese.All beef and chicken is Halal and produce is locally sourced.Lucky Buns began as a pop-up inside a rotating restaurant in D.C.’s Park View...

Crash kills driver, sends child to hospital in Aurora

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — The Aurora Police Department was investigating a single-car crash that involved a female driver and a young child Tuesday morning.The crash happened just before 3 a.m., on South Quentin Way and East Iliff Avenue near the Heather Ridge neighborhood. Shots fired during attempted robbery at University of Colorado Boulder When officers arrived at the scene, they found a woman and a young child inside the car. Both were immediately taken to a local hospital. Police said the female driver was pronounced dead because of the injuries she received during the crash.APD said the status of the child is unknown at this time.Traffic was diverted eastbound on Iliff from Peoria Street to Revere Street during the investigation.APD is investigating the crash and did not say what caused the crash or what factors may have been involved.

Harry Belafonte, activist and entertainer, dies at 96

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96.Belafonte died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his New York home, his wife Pamela by his side, said Ken Sunshine, of public relations firm Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis.With his glowing, handsome face and silky-husky voice, Belafonte was one of the first Black performers to gain a wide following on film and to sell a million records as a singer; many still know him for his signature hit “Banana Boat Song (Day-O),” and its call of “Day-O! Daaaaay-O.” But he forged a greater legacy once he scaled back his performing career in the 1960s and lived out his hero Paul Robeson’s decree that artists are “gatekeepers of truth.” He stands as the model and the epitome of the celebrity activist. Few kept up with Belafonte's time and commitment and none his stature as a meeting poin...

Instacart delivery drivers’ vehicle was fired at after they mistakenly went to the wrong address while delivering groceries, South Florida police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:23 GMT

(CNN) — Two Instacart shoppers making a grocery delivery to a home in South Florida had their car shot at after they mistakenly ended up at the wrong address last week — an incident that police say didn’t lead to criminal charges.The homeowner who opened fire, a 43-year-old Southwest Ranches man, told police he shot his 9mm handgun at the car after it ran over his foot, and he feared for his life and the lives of his children, according to an incident report from the Davie Police Department.The April 15 incident — which didn’t lead to any injuries from the gunfire — comes amid a series of wrong-place, wrong-time shootings, including one that killed a 20-year-old woman in New York and another that wounded a teenager in Missouri.The Instacart shoppers, who are 18 and 19 years old, told police they were having trouble finding a customer’s home in Southwest Ranches, about 25 miles northwest of Miami, while delivering groceries and mistakenly pul...