Live updates: Trump turns attention to AI amid Epstein tumult
It comes as the administration is expected to release its 'AI Action Plan,' which will be structured around three core pillars, according to a preview obtained by The Hill. The key pillar involves removing regulatory barriers to the technology's development.
The tech focus will offer a distraction to the unrelenting Jeffrey Epstein tumult, though questions on it are certain to arise when White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs reporters at 1 p.m. EDT.
Epstein controversy has halted votes in the House, which works its last day before a five-week break on Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces one of the toughest moments in his tenure, as his allies stopped action in the chamber to prevent Democrats from forcing a vote on the release of Epstein records.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Entrepreneur
10 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
Meta Appoints Ex-OpenAI Scientist Shengjia Zhao to Lead New Superintelligence Lab
Zhao, previously a research scientist at OpenAI, played a pivotal role in creating GPT-4 and various lighter models such as version 4.1 and o3. He is among at least eight researchers who have recently transitioned from OpenAI to Meta. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Meta Platforms has appointed Shengjia Zhao, a leading figure in the development of OpenAI's ChatGPT, as chief scientist of its newly launched Superintelligence Lab. This high-profile move marks a significant step in Meta's accelerating drive to position itself at the forefront of advanced artificial intelligence. CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared the announcement on Friday through Threads. He said Zhao will guide the lab's scientific direction and collaborate closely with both Zuckerberg and Meta's Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang. Wang joined the company earlier this year after Meta took a substantial stake in his former company, Scale AI. Zhao, previously a research scientist at OpenAI, played a pivotal role in creating GPT-4 and various lighter models such as version 4.1 and o3. He is among at least eight researchers who have recently transitioned from OpenAI to Meta. The influx of talent signals Meta's intent to rapidly close the distance with competitors in the race toward building artificial general intelligence. The creation of the Superintelligence Lab is part of Meta's broader efforts to establish a premier AI research division. The lab is distinct from FAIR, Meta's long-standing AI unit led by deep learning pioneer Yann LeCun. While FAIR has focused on foundational research, the new lab aims to develop what Zuckerberg has described as full general intelligence. Zuckerberg also confirmed that Meta plans to open-source the work produced by the Superintelligence Lab. This strategy has drawn mixed reactions within the AI community, with some praising the transparency and others warning of risks linked to such openness. Meanwhile, Meta's recruitment campaign has unsettled OpenAI. Internal messages leaked this month revealed OpenAI Chief Research Officer Mark Chen comparing Meta's tactics to "someone breaking into our home and stealing something." In response, OpenAI is reportedly reassessing its compensation practices and offering staff additional time off to curb further departures. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly criticised what he views as profit-driven hiring practices. He alleged that Meta has lured researchers with offers reaching USD 100 million in signing bonuses, a claim dismissed as exaggerated by Meta's Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth. However, reports of even higher offers, including an unverified USD 1.25 billion compensation package over four years, illustrate the escalating competition for elite AI talent. While Altman argues that OpenAI's mission-focused approach offers a stronger long-term foundation, others in the industry see Meta's strategy as justified. Google DeepMind's CEO Demis Hassabis called the hiring surge a rational response given Meta's desire to catch up. With over USD 14 billion invested in AI infrastructure and partnerships, Meta is making its intentions clear. The addition of Zhao and other key hires underscores the company's determination to lead—not just follow—the next wave of AI development.
Forbes
12 minutes ago
- Forbes
Musk Announces Deal With Samsung For Tesla AI Chips Made In Texas
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced late on Sunday that Samsung will manufacture the car maker's next-generation AI chip at its upcoming Texas semiconductor plant as part of a deal worth $16.5 billion, in a significant boost for Samsung's struggling chipmaking arm. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that Samsung will manufacture Tesla's next-generation AI chips. Getty Images In a post on X, Musk announced that 'Samsung's giant new Texas fab will be dedicated to making Tesla's next-generation AI6 chip,' adding: 'The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate.' In a regulatory filing made in South Korea shortly before Musk's announcement, the electronics giant announced it had secured a $16.5 billion contract with a 'large global company.' The multi-year deal will run through till the end of 2033, and Samsung's semiconductor fabrication plant in Taylor, Texas, is scheduled to begin operations in 2026. In a follow-up post, Musk said Samsung has agreed to 'allow Tesla to assist in maximizing manufacturing efficiency,' but he didn't specify whether this meant Tesla would assist in bringing the plant into operation. Musk pointed out the Samsung fab 'is conveniently located not far from my house' and claimed he would walk the production line 'personally to accelerate the pace of progress.' Musk pointed out that Samsung currently manufactures Tesla's AI4 chip. The billionaire said his company has completed the design for the AI5 chip, which will be manufactured by TSMC, Samsung's primary chipmaking rival. According to Musk, the AI5 chips will be first manufactured in Taiwan and then later at TSMC's Arizona plant. How Have The Markets Reacted? Shortly after the announcement, Samsung Electronics' Seoul-traded shares surged 6.22% to $50.6 (KRW 70,000).
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Key takeaways from the EU-US trade deal
EU head Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump on Sunday struck a deal on tariffs, just days before the August 1 deadline when Trump had threatened to impose steep levies on European goods had an agreement not been reached. These are the key takeaways from the deal: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen clinched an agreement Sunday with US President Donald Trump to avoid crippling tariffs from hitting the bloc, with both leaders hailing a 'good deal'. The stakes were high with a looming August 1 deadline and $1.9 trillion transatlantic trading relationship on the line. Many European businesses will breathe a sigh of relief after the leaders agreed the 27-country bloc will face a baseline levy of 15 percent instead of a threatened 30 percent – but the deal will not satisfy everyone. Here is what we know so far: What did EU, US agree on? Both sides confirmed there will be a 15-percent across-the-board rate on a majority of EU goods – the same level secured by Japan this month – with bilateral tariff exemptions on some products. Read moreTrump announces 'massive' trade deal with Japan, 15 percent tariff on exports The deal will bring relief for the bloc's auto sector, employing around 13 million people – and hit by Trump with 25-percent tariffs, on top of a pre-existing 2.5 percent. 'Obviously, it is good news for the car industry. So Germany will be happy. And all the EU members with auto supply chains, they go from 27.5 to 15 percent,' said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard of the Peterson Institute For International Economics. A 15-percent levy will remain 'costly' for German automakers, 'but it is manageable', said trade geopolitics expert Elvire Fabry at the Jacques Delors Institute. While 15 percent is much higher than pre-existing US tariffs on European goods – averaging 4.8 percent – it mirrors the status quo, with companies currently facing an additional flat rate of 10 percent imposed by Trump since April. The EU also committed to buy $750 billion of liquefied natural gas, oil and nuclear fuels from the United States – split equally over three years – to replace Russian energy sources. And it will pour $600 billion more in additional investments in the United States. Trump said EU countries – which recently pledged to ramp up their defence spending within NATO – would be purchasing 'hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of military equipment'. Are there exemptions? Von der Leyen said the 15-percent rate applied across most sectors, including semiconductors and pharmaceuticals – a critical export for Ireland, which the bloc has sought to protect. Trump in April launched probes that could lead to significantly steeper tariffs on the two key sectors, warning this month he could slap 200-percent levies on drugs. Brussels and Washington agreed a bilateral tariff exemption for key goods including aircraft, certain chemicals, semiconductor equipment, certain agricultural products and critical raw materials, von der Leyen said. The EU currently faces 50-percent tariffs on its steel exports to the United States, but von der Leyen said a compromise on the metal had been reached with Trump. 'Between us, tariffs will be cut and a quota system will be put in place,' she said. It is understood that European steel would be hit with 50-percent levies only after a certain amount of the metal arrived in the United States, but no details were initially provided on the mechanism. What happens next? The deal needs to be approved by EU member states, whose ambassadors will meet first thing Monday morning for a debrief from the European Commission. And there are still technical talks to come, since the agreement needs to be fully fleshed out. Von der Leyen described the deal as a 'framework' agreement. 'Details have to be sorted out, and that will happen over the next weeks,' she said. In particular, she said there has yet to be a final decision on alcohol, critical since France and The Netherlands have been pushing for carve-outs for wine and beer respectively. 'This is something which has to be sorted out in the next days,' von der Leyen said. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)
