
OpenAI to continue working with Scale AI after Meta deal
PARIS, June 13 (Reuters) - OpenAI plans to continue working with Scale AI after rival Meta (META.O), opens new tab on Friday agreed to take a 49% stake in the artificial intelligence startup for $14.8 billion, OpenAI's CFO Sarah Friar told the VivaTech conference in Paris.
Scale AI provides vast amounts of labelled or curated training data, which is crucial for developing sophisticated tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT.
"We don't want to ice the ecosystem because acquisitions are going to happen," she said. "And if we ice each other out, I think we're actually going to slow the pace of innovation."

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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Why didn't my travel agent warn me about the extra costs of hiring a car?
Q I booked a rental car in Salzburg through an online travel agent. On my confirmation, it clearly stated that I would only pay a €1 (85p) security deposit. At the rental office, I was compelled to agree to a deposit close to €2,000. The online agent said they have no say in the matter. Next, I was charged €29 for car cleaning – a charge applied to my credit card, not after returning the car, but on the very day I collected it. It was clearly pre-planned. Also, I was charged €12 for an Austrian driving tax – should I not have been told about that extra when making the booking? Roland T A How infuriating, though it looks as though you were relatively fortunate to end up only €40 or so out of pocket. I have heard of worse cases of hire companies taking customers for fools. Booking car rental online through intermediaries can deliver just what you need at an excellent price, with no further hassles. But some firms rely on sneaky charges as part of their business plan. I am afraid that after a few unfortunate incidents – such as being charged for an upgrade that I had explicitly declined – I now avoid online agents. If I am booking through British Airways or Trailfinders as part of a package, I will always get the car through them. Experience shows that the rental providers they use know better than to mess with their customers. Sometimes, if I want a vehicle only for a day or two during a holiday, I will arrange it locally: usually cheap and easy, and if you want a vehicle only for a morning you can often negotiate a decent rate. Otherwise, I take whichever of Avis or Hertz has the best deal. Yes, they are typically more expensive than the cheapest offers online, but I have always found both these companies to be straightforward and efficient, with no unpleasant surprises. On the particular issues you experienced: a security deposit running into the thousands should not be necessary; you might try a chargeback from your card firm for the €29 taken for cleaning; and taxes are often levied locally. Q Double-decker trains are common in Europe. Why does no one ever propose such trains for the UK in order to increase capacity? I appreciate that it would be necessary to modify some bridges and cuttings. Keith W A In railways, being first mover is not necessarily an advantage. Two hundred years after the world's first passenger railway opened in northeast England, the UK is still largely reliant on a Victorian rail network. While the British standard track gauge (the width between the rails) has been accepted across much of the world, the 'loading gauge' is a different matter. The loading gauge is the maximum height and width of locomotives, carriages and freight wagons. When the British rail network was being constructed, the dimensions of tunnels and heights of bridges were deliberately kept tight in order to minimise costs. As a result, there is currently no scope for the tall double-decker trains that are familiar almost everywhere on the continent, from regional services in Germany and the Netherlands to 'duplex' TGVs (high-speed trains) in France. Reconfiguring UK lines to allow such trains to run would be ruinously expensive. The one line on which it might have worked was the route from London Waterloo to Woking, Winchester and Southampton. For some years, demand was so strong at peak times that the idea of expanding the loading gauge and running a special fleet of rush-hour-only trains was actively considered. Since the Covid pandemic, and the change in commuting patterns that resulted, passenger numbers are down nationwide – with rush-hour journeys particularly reduced. The appeal of double-decker trains, capable of moving large numbers of commuters rapidly, has dwindled. What if passenger numbers rise to or above 2019 figures? Extra capacity is likely to be created by improved digital signalling – allowing more trains to run on the same stretch of track – or by the old analogue method of running longer trains. Q We are trying to plan a trip starting at Calgary in Canada. We want to rent a car from the airport and travel to Banff and surrounding national parks. From there we hope to travel down to the US and finish in Phoenix, Arizona. I am struggling to find a rental company that allows cross-border rentals. We did think about hiring one in Canada and then another in the US. But we are not sure how difficult that would be: to drop off a car on one side of the border, cross it, and then pick up another car. Do you have any ideas? Maria S A I applaud your choice of destinations, meandering south through North America from the Canadian Rockies to one of the world capitals of sunshine in the shape of Phoenix. But I recommend you reconsider your proposed trip. Forget about a one-way rental from western Canada to the southwestern US. In the unlikely event you could find a rental company that would allow you to pick up in Calgary and drop off in Phoenix, the drop-off fee would be astronomical – into the thousands of pounds. Instead I urge you to continue west – from Calgary via Banff and Jasper national park through southern British Columbia to Vancouver. Leave the car in that beautiful harbour city (with at most a small drop-off fee) and treat yourself to the best Canada-US cross-border experience, the Cascades train to Seattle. From here, you will be able to fly cheaply and easily to Las Vegas. Even if the idea of neon glitz in the desert does not appeal, you will be able to rent a car with a modest drop-off fee to take you to your final destination. I can guarantee an enthralling journey that could include the Hoover Dam, Lake Havasu City (home of London Bridge) and a wealth of state parks and national forests before you arrive in sunny Phoenix. Q My daughter (aged 31) and I will have two and a half days in the city of Bordeaux at the end of next week. What are the four or five key things to see or experience? Bill M A Bordeaux wraps around a bend of the Garonne River in southwestern France, 300 miles from Paris. It does not rate as highly as it should as a destination for a European city break. The standout cultural attraction is MusBA – the Musee des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum), founded in 1801. Matisse, Picasso, Rubens and Titian are all represented. The most spectacular tourist draw is Cite du Vin, a swirl of glass and metal rising from the waterside. Inside, you can follow the trail of the vine from its origins in the Caucasus six millennia ago to the Medoc region – the triangle of territory between Bordeaux, the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic. You can get a spectacular view of the city, along with a tasting of wine, on the eighth floor. Gastronomically, Bordeaux is outstanding; the tourist office claims it has more restaurants per capita than any other French city. Atlantic seafood, Basque and Perigord specialities are accompanied by some heavenly wines. Visit the Capucins market to be amazed by the raw materials. Unesco recognises the waterfront architecture in the city centre – and also the startling angles of the Cite Fruges housing development in the southwestern suburb of Pessac. Le Corbusier created this community of 51 houses to accommodate workers in the 1920s. The location means it's a good final stop on the way to the airport, if you are flying home. For a view of the city from the water, take a 90-minute boat tour with Burdigala Cruises. If you have any time for a trip out of town, I recommend Arcachon. In late June this resort will look lovely and be relatively uncrowded, and clambering through the sand of the vast Dune du Pilat, just to the south, is an uncommon joy.


The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Saturday's briefing: Liverpool agree club-record deal for Florian Wirtz
Liverpool agreed a club-record deal with Bayer Leverkusen for playmaker Florian Wirtz. The much-anticipated move could break the British record, with the Germany star set to join his former team-mate Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield. Elsewhere, Thomas Frank reacted to his move to Tottenham, while Matheus Cunha spoke of his desire to help turn around Manchester United's fortunes. Wirtz capture close Premier League champions Liverpool are set to pay up to £116million to sign Wirtz after Leverkusen finally settled on a fee. The Reds had two bids rejected, the last one of £113m, which would have seen £100m paid up front with performance-related add-ons, but have finally got the deal over the line. Liverpool will still pay an initial £100m – comfortably surpassing their own record outlay – but the performance-related add-ons, if achieved, would make it a potential British record. Liverpool's overall outlay could surpass the £115m Chelsea paid Brighton in 2023 for Moises Caicedo. Striker Darwin Nunez was the Reds' previous record signing in 2022, although they have not paid the full £85m as he has not met all the requirements for certain add-ons to be due. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is next on Liverpool's list, which could take their summer spending close to £200m. Frank gets to work Tottenham are prepared to rival Manchester United for Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo this summer after the appointment of Frank, the PA news agency understands. Spurs announced former Brentford boss Frank as their new head coach on Thursday night on a three-year deal. One of Frank's first moves in charge could be to try and tempt Mbeumo to follow him across London. The Dane declared 'a big piece of my heart' would always remain at Brentford in an emotional message posted on their official website. 'The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters,' said Frank. 'I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one.' Dream move for Cunha Matheus Cunha is delighted to have joined his 'dream' team and determined to help Manchester United bounce back from their worst season in 51 years. The 20-time English champions are in the midst of a rebuild under Ruben Amorim, having limped home 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to fellow strugglers Tottenham. The Red Devils' issues did not deter Brazil international Cunha, who completed his eagerly-anticipated £62.5million switch from Wolves on Thursday. 'It is the most common phrase that you can say at this moment, but this is the dream come true,' he told MUTV. 'Maybe outside, I think maybe my decision, they don't understand. But when you have always dreamed to play here, it's easier to pick this decision. 'For me, no-one else is like United. Of course, I know it's been a hard season for everyone. I think my decision shows what this club is for me and what I believe this club can be.' Mikey eyes more silverware One player hoping to impress Frank is Spurs youngster Mikey Moore, but the teenager's immediate focus is ending an unforgettable breakthrough campaign with another European trophy. The highly-rated 17-year-old made 19 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club, with five of those coming in the Europa League. The winger was on the bench for the final in Bilbao and three weeks on has more continental glory in his sights as England kick off their bid for Under-19 European Championship glory. 'It was a top experience – some of the best times of my life on that Wednesday night,' Moore told PA. 'Hopefully going on to win another medal and another trophy with these boys here would be a brilliant feeling and experience for everyone. 'There's some top players. We think we can go on and hopefully win the tournament. It's been a good little build-up but excited to get into the games now.' What's on today? The Club World Cup gets under way on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Stadium, with Inter Miami playing in their home city against Egyptians Al Ahly in Group A. Moore will hope to star when England Under-19s begin their Euro campaign against Norway in Romania.


Reuters
6 hours ago
- Reuters
Football club investor Eagle files for US IPO, Bloomberg News reports
June 13 (Reuters) - Eagle Football Holdings, one of the most active investors in global football clubs, has confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The France-based company submitted a draft registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the report added, citing a company statement. The firm has been working with UBS Group AG on the potential IPO, the report said. Eagle Football, run by U.S. businessman John Textor, holds stakes in multiple football clubs including Olympique Lyonnais, Crystal Palace and Brazil's Botafogo. The SEC and Eagle Football did not immediately respond to request for comment outside regular business hours.