AI chatbots have already completely upended schools. Your world will be next
Good morning. Here's what you need to know to start your weekend:
If you are part of the shrinking population that still hasn't tried ChatGPT, it's time. My first experiments with an AI chatbot shook me. I asked it questions related my job and the memo it offered was, at least at first glance, convincing. My mind raced, fear overtook me, I slammed my computer shut and went on a long walk.
Since then I've tried to avoid AI and chatbots. But this week I was shaken out of complacency.
Two stories offered a strange and colorful view into skyrocketing AI use
Students from high schools and colleges around America made it clear in James D. Walsh's New York magazine story: AI chatbots are as ubiquitous in schools as iPhones. In interview after interview, students explain how they use AI to outline, write and edit essays, develop computer code, conduct research and, in one egregious case, build tools to help one another blatantly cheat.
[Read more: Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College, via New York Magazine]
And then Harvard economist David Deming shared stunning facts about AI adoption on the excellent Podcast Plain English with Derek Thompson. According to Deming's research, '39 percent of the U.S. population age 18-64 used generative AI. More than 24 percent of workers used it at least once in the week prior to being surveyed, and nearly one in nine used it every workday.' This technology is becoming common-place faster than the personal computer or internet did, his research shows.
[Listen here: The Job Market for Young Grads Is Flashing Red via The Ringer]
A lesson from the Luddites: New technology will offer a new deal
In the early 1800s when industrialized machinery first developed, a group known as the Luddites broke into the world's first factories and smashed the machines. Former L.A. Times tech reporter Brian Merchant tells their story (and its lessons for the AI age) in his incredible book Blood in the Machine.
The Luddites were maligned as resisting progress. But put yourself in their shoes. For generations their bargain was to weave fabrics at home 3-5 days a week and sell their wares on the market. Suddenly, somebody invented a machine and offered them a new deal: Work in this stinky dark factory or starve.
Like the industrial revolution, there's no stopping AI — only making the best of it
You'll find AI-driven work everywhere now. In your text messages, your email, across dating apps, supercharging medical research, revolutionizing a doctor's ability to diagnose disease, speaking for the dead and giving you a pretty good answer to any question you pose in Google search.
And with a large part of its development coming from right here in Silicon Valley, Californians will have to lead the charge developing the regulations, norms and usage that prevent AI from ushering in a dystopia of inequality. It's going to require standing up to the tech giants and their money while also accepting that AI is the future whether we like it or not.
Figuring out how we can use (and not be used by) this tool is still something only humans can do, together.
More on AI from the L.A. Times
Toxins in the soil where the fires burned
The LAFD union president who was suspended speaks out
A threat to the new Chuckwalla monument
The Menendez brothers
More big stories
Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here.
ADUs made of shipping containers and robot-built bungalows are a growing trend as L.A. rebuilds post-fire. Prefab housing is poised to push forward as residents in fire-ravaged neighborhoods seek to rebuild — fast. Is L.A. ready for a robot-built bungalow?
More great reads
How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.
Going out
Staying in
Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Is Hims & Hers Health a Smart Buy Right Now?
Hims & Hers is the newest darling disrupting the telemedicine space. While shares have jumped 157% over the last year, Wall Street analysts don't seem overly bullish on the stock. Despite impressive results in the business, Hims & Hers has a high short interest -- making a short-squeeze a possibility. 10 stocks we like better than Hims & Hers Health › When it comes to stocks that continue to beat the market, my guess is that your mind goes straight to companies leading the charge in artificial intelligence (AI). Sure, stocks such as Palantir Technologies or CoreWeave remain red-hot in a strong technology sector. But smart investors understand that there are myriad opportunities beyond the usual suspects in tech. One company that has emerged as a new favorite among investors is telemedicine business Hims & Hers Health (NYSE: HIMS). With shares up 157% over the last 12 months as of market close June 4, Hims & Hers Health looks like the next monster growth stock at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Let's assess the state of Hims & Hers' business and then take a look at what Wall Street thinks. Is buying shares of this telemedicine darling a good idea right now? Read on to find out. Hims & Hers is a telemedicine platform that offers patients access to a variety of medications, including for skin care, anxiety, sexual health, and even weight loss. At the core of the company's business model is a subscription platform. At the end of the first quarter, Hims & Hers boasted 2.4 million subscribers, which represented an increase of 38% year over year. This translated into revenue of $586 million for the quarter, up by a jaw-dropping 111% year over year. By keeping its business primarily online, Hims & Hers can benefit in a couple of ways. First, subscription revenue is recurring and therefore carries high gross margins. Second, by keeping its user base using its offerings, the company has the flexibility to spend less on marketing and invest in other areas, such as technology or research and development, in an effort to bolster customer acquisition strategies. Per management's vision, Hims & Hers is doubling down on investments in AI to get a better sense of its customer data. This could be a savvy move, as it may help the company unlock new expansion opportunities. While the ideas above paint a picture of a fast-growing, disruptive new solution in the healthcare space, Wall Street doesn't seem totally sold on Hims & Hers just yet. Over the last month, a number of equity research analysts, including Piper Sandler, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley, have each maintained ratings of neutral, sell, underperform, or equal-weight. Another way of looking at this is that among some of the largest banks on Wall Street, none seem to have a compelling buy rating on Hims & Hers stock. In addition, the average price estimate among analysts for Hims & Hers stock is roughly $48, implying 12% downside from trading levels as of June 4. Given Wall Street's somewhat bearish sentiment, what could be fueling the stock's seemingly unstoppable rally? I think the company's high short interest could be the cause of the rise in its stock. Per the chart above, roughly 35% of Hims & Hers float is sold short. Investors who short a stock are betting its price will fall. Short interest of 10% or more is considered unusually high. Not only is Hims & Hers' short interest much higher than the usual benchmarks, it's also rising. A high short interest can fuel volatility and even a rise in a stock's price if investors who are shorting a stock need to buy shares in the company to return the borrowed shares and close out their position. This is known as short covering, and it often leads to pronounced increases in a stock for a fleeting period of time, adding to volatility. You might be more familiar with these dynamics as a short squeeze. Despite notable subscriber growth and expanding markets, Hims & Hers stock exhibits too much volatility for my liking, and with that, comes a high degree of uncertainty. At first glance, I can understand what makes Hims & Hers look like an appealing investment. Telemedicine represents a compelling opportunity at the intersection of healthcare and technology, and Hims & Hers has certainly proven that it can consistently acquire users and monetize them. Moreover, the prospects that AI presents in the healthcare space more broadly shouldn't be discounted -- further validating the vision management has for Hims & Hers' long-term growth. Nevertheless, I struggle to look past the meme stock type of behavior exhibited here. While some investors have certainly made money owning this stock, I am suspicious if their profits were sparked by the right reasons. Said differently, I view Hims & Hers as more of a swing trading stock (timing is everything) as opposed to a sound long-term opportunity at this time. For these reasons, I would pass on Hims & Hers at the moment. While I'm intrigued by the company's potential, I think shares have run up considerably and would not be surprised to see some contraction in the share price sooner than later. Before you buy stock in Hims & Hers Health, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Hims & Hers Health wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Adam Spatacco has positions in Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America, CrowdStrike, Hims & Hers Health, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is Hims & Hers Health a Smart Buy Right Now? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scammers targeting NYC parking meters: How to protect your money
The Brief Scammers are placing fraudulent QR code stickers on NYC parking meters, leading drivers to phishing websites to steal payment information. The Department of Transportation acted swiftly by notifying users, inspecting meters, and working with Microsoft to remove the phishing site. Cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano advises using official apps for parking payments and monitoring credit card statements, while reporting any suspicious QR codes. NEW YORK - Drivers beware! Scammers are targeting New York City parking meters by placing fraudulent QR code stickers on machines, directing drivers to third-party websites to steal payment information. What we know The Department of Transportation warns that scanning these QR codes leads to a phishing site where users are asked for payment details, which are then stolen by scammers. At least one fake sticker was found on a meter, prompting immediate action from the agency, including notifications to users, inspections of all meters, and collaboration with Microsoft to remove the phishing site. What they're saying Cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano advises vigilance, noting that lone QR codes are often fraudulent. "A lone QR code that is plastered on is usually going to be fraud," he said. "Most municipalities and cities know at this point that there are three to five different apps that consumers might use to log in to pay for their parking, and as long as you have that app on your phone, generally you should be good." He also emphasizes monitoring credit card statements for unauthorized charges. "The problem with this particular crime is if you are not paying attention to your credit card statements in real time and pay the bill, you are responsible for that fraud," he said. What you can do The official way to pay for metered parking in the city is through the ParkNYC app or by inserting a credit card directly into the meter. Reporting any suspicious QR codes is crucial. The Source This article uses information from the New York City DOT and cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano.
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Forbes
Musk Follows Harvard In Biting The Hand That Feeds
Elon Musk and Harvard Both Bite the Governmental Hand that Feeds Them From an early age, children are taught essential lessons: do not play with fire, do not pet strange dogs, and if one cannot swim, stay out of the deep end. Another timeless rule—often forgotten by those in positions of immense wealth and influence—is this: do not bite the hand that feeds you. This lesson, while simple, has profound implications in the real world. It applies just as readily to billionaires and institutions as it does to children on a playground. Yet recent actions by both Elon Musk and prominent academic institutions—most notably Harvard, but also Columbia, MIT, and others—suggest that even the most successful individuals and organizations are capable of ignoring foundational wisdom. Harvard set the tone. Amid growing political scrutiny and a shifting cultural landscape, the university has drawn intense criticism over its handling of campus protests, particularly those involving slogans such as 'from the river to the sea.' The administration's decision to defend even the most controversial speech—widely viewed by many as antisemitic—has triggered investigations and jeopardized billions in tax-exempt status and government research funding. This raises a critical question: is this truly the hill worth dying on? Is preserving the right to controversial protest slogans worth risking Harvard's institutional future? It is doubtful that most students and faculty would knowingly trade funding, grants, and prestige for this fight. Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has now followed suit—this time turning his attention toward President Donald Trump, with whom he has launched a high-profile and personal feud. What makes this move especially striking is that President Trump is not a distant figure or a fading influence. He is once again sitting in the White House, wielding executive authority over regulatory agencies, defense contracting, and infrastructure initiatives—all areas that directly affect Musk's companies. Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI have flourished in part because of government partnership. SpaceX alone holds multibillion-dollar contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense. Tesla has benefitted from years of energy subsidies and EV tax incentives. Picking a fight with the sitting president—regardless of personal conviction—puts this entire ecosystem at risk. And again the question must be asked: is this battle worth the damage? Whatever principle Musk may be defending, the consequences extend far beyond himself. Shareholders, employees, and retail investors—many of whom placed their trust and savings in his leadership—are the ones left exposed. The parallel between Harvard and Musk is striking: both have been immensely successful, aided in large part by government funding, favorable regulation, and public goodwill. And both have, for different reasons, chosen to confront the very institutions and leaders that have helped sustain their growth. There is precedent for how this ends. Jack Ma, once the most powerful entrepreneur in China, famously criticized the Chinese government. The backlash was immediate and absolute. His companies were dismantled. His IPO was cancelled. His wealth and influence evaporated almost overnight. Even in less authoritarian systems, the lesson holds: those who antagonize the systems that support them may not survive the consequences. While Musk's personal net worth has dropped from nearly $450 billion to approximately $300 billion, the impact is more symbolic than practical for him. But for millions of investors, employees, and stakeholders, these battles matter. Market volatility, regulatory backlash, and reputational risk all come with tangible financial costs—costs borne not just by Musk himself, but by those who have trusted and invested in his vision. The same applies to Harvard and peer institutions. Their leadership may believe they are standing on principle, but the price of alienating government agencies and key financial backers could reshape the long-term trajectory of these universities. The erosion of public trust, the loss of bipartisan support, and the potential withdrawal of federal funding pose existential threats. Leadership—whether in business or academia—requires more than conviction. It requires judgment, timing, and the discipline to separate personal ideology from institutional responsibility. Founder-led companies often outperform when leaders are focused, visionary, and measured. But when ego replaces strategy, the consequences can be swift and severe. No one is demanding absolute political alignment or silence in the face of controversy. No one is asking Elon Musk to wear a MAGA hat. But his recent actions have been so volatile, so self-destructive, that investors may soon be tempted to hand him something else entirely—a MEGA hat: Make Elon Great Again. In today's polarized environment, the margin for error has narrowed. And for those who owe much of their success to public support—whether in Silicon Valley or the Ivy League—biting the hand that feeds is not just unwise. It is unsustainable. ---------------------------------- Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please refer to the following link for additional disclosures: Additional Disclosure Note: The author has an affiliation with ERShares and the XOVR ETF. The intent of this article is to provide objective information; however, readers should be aware that the author may have a financial interest in the subject matter discussed. As with all equity investments, investors should carefully evaluate all options with a qualified investment professional before making any investment decision. Private equity investments, such as those held in XOVR, may carry additional risks—including limited liquidity—compared to traditional publicly traded securities. It is important to consider these factors and consult a trained professional when assessing suitability and risk tolerance.
