Latest news with #GWI
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Terrifying Survey Claims ChatGPT Has Overtaken Wikipedia
A striking graph, which went viral on Reddit last week, shows the purported percentage of internet users visiting OpenAI's blockbuster AI chatbot ChatGPT overtaking Wikipedia over the past two years. The data, compiled by UK-based market research company GWI, shows a steady decline in the proportion of users visiting Wikipedia worldwide, excluding China. In less than a year following its launch in late 2022, ChatGPT appears to have surpassed the online encyclopedia, in a striking reversal of fortunes. If the data — which is based on survey responses and not site visits — is to be believed, it's a good reason to be concerned about the reliability of information people are seeking out online. While Wikipedia has never been known to be an infallible source free of bias or inaccuracies, generative AI has proven to be far more unreliable, thanks to widespread hallucinations and biases present in its training data. And while Wikipedia is built on prominently displayed citations, AI systems like ChatGPT often struggle to explain where their info is coming from, even cooking up fake references wholesale. There are also serious questions of ethics and fair use. Wikipedia has an army of over 49 million human editors who ensure accuracy across 64 million articles worldwide. In contrast, it remains infamously unknown what exactly the large language models supporting ChatGPT were trained on — but it more than likely contains data pulled straight from Wikipedia, which OpenAI is now profiting off. ChatGPT has seen a "36 percent rise in users from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024, as other online platforms remain the same or see a slight percentage increase or decrease," GWI senior data journalist Chris Beer told Futurism in an email. "It's reaching more of the internet, more quickly, than almost any other platform in history." Beer also pointed out the "massive adoption among university students," with 49 percent using ChatGPT, "compared to 53 percent who use Amazon!" ChatGPT, which has been named as the fastest-growing app in the history of computing, has quickly burgeoned into a global phenomenon. "I will say that based on our research, ChatGPT is actually most popular in the Global South," Beer said. "The markets where we see the highest adoption of it include Kenya, India, the UAE, and Brazil." China was excluded since "Chinese authorities ban" many online platforms, making the data "unrepresentative," Beer said. However, in the absence of a more detailed breakdown of actual usage numbers, it's hard to draw any definitive conclusions. In a statement to Futurism, a spokesperson for the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit that operates Wikipedia, said the organization hadn't noticed any "significant drops in traffic on Wikimedia websites since early 2021" in terms of "pageviews and readership traffic." "Our analytics show that Wikipedia's pageviews are approximately 15 billion (B) per month (these have consistently been in the 15B to 18B range since Oct 2020 including occasional rises and declines in traffic)," the spokesperson said. In other words, Wikipedia's traffic is holding steady, the organization says — but data from GWI and others suggests that ChatGPT usage has rapidly outpaced it. Web traffic estimator Similarweb appears to corroborate GWI's data. Wikipedia is currently ranked number ten globally in terms of traffic compared to all other sites, while ChatGPT is currently ranked number six with just over 4.5 billion monthly visits. And if Wikipedia's traffic is experiencing any type of decline, that could also have to do with the rise of AI. "I think the long-term downward trend for Wikipedia has largely come from search engines adding more 'zero-click' answers," Beer told Futurism. "Whereas before they might return a Wikipedia page as the top result, now you're more likely to see a weather forecast, or a famous person's height, or whatever it may be, within Google itself." "Google's AI features, along with ChatGPT, are likely compounding that pre-existing trend," he added. The discussion highlights just how ubiquitous ChatGPT and related tech have become in just a few years. It's helping students write essays, teachers grade papers, summarize data for office workers, and sending clueless hikers astray. But at what cost are we ditching carefully reviewed Wikipedia articles in favor of often misleading or sycophantic chatbots? Considering the latest data, the problem of hallucinations is only getting worse as AI chatbots become more advanced. Companies' efforts to nudge their chatbots' outputs in the right direction have also resulted in mayhem and confusion. The subject of carefully reviewed information and its reliability is more pertinent than ever in a world filled with disinformation and AI slop. Just last month, the Trump administration threatened Wikipedia's tax-exempt status, accusing the Foundation of violating the law via baseless allegations about the encyclopedia spreading "propaganda." To critics, it was pure grandstanding and an assault on the freedom of expression. "Wikipedia is one of the last places online that shows the promise of the internet, housing more than 65 million articles written to inform, not persuade," the Wikimedia Foundation said in a statement at the time. "Our vision is a world in which every single human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge." More on ChatGPT: Readers Annoyed When Fantasy Novel Accidentally Leaves AI Prompt in Published Version, Showing Request to Copy Another Writer's Style
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Forget the club, it's all about Gails! MOLLY CLAYTON tries out the astonishing new coffee shop rave trend and discovers why ravers are swapping vodka for matcha and lattes
As soon as I turned 18, the excitement of finally being allowed in a nightclub, ordering shots of vodka and dancing until the early hours of the morning was palpable. But times seem to be changing, and nightclubs are becoming less and less popular- and so is drinking. Stepping in as a replacement are coffee shop raves, where no dress code is required, no extortionate amount of money for entry is needed and instead of shots of vodka, shots of espresso and bites of banana bread are on offer. The new Gen-Z trend is coming at a time when nightlife culture is on decline with more than 3,000 nightclubs, bars and pubs closing in London in the last three years. Recent figures from the NTIA showed people in the UK aged between 18 and 30 are going out past 10pm less and less. A huge factor for this was shown to be financial pressures, with many finding themselves priced out of live events. Other factors that play a factor included safety concerns – with over a third sharing that they are prone to feel fear, anxiety, uneasiness or unsafe when going out at night. On the other hand, a recent report by GWI found that people aged between 16 and 34, are looking to connect with people when they go out and most importantly, remember it the next day. On top of all of this, more and more people are choosing not to drink with 43 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds and 32 per cent of 35 to 54-year-olds giving up drinking entirely because of health concerns. One of the first viral coffee shop raves was hosted at How Matcha in Marylebone, London. Opening their first shop, they approached DJ Louis Bekk about hosting an opening event. Eager to change the narrative around live music, Bekk, 26, was already on his way in trying to make the change nightclubs and live music sets being seen as exclusive and hard to get into. 'There are these big Mayfair clubs where you have to dress a certain way and pay a certain amount to get in,' he told me. 'The nights are centred around alcohol and looking good rather than the music and the art itself.' Louis Bekk is a French DJ and music producer living in London who began his career in classical music and composing for other international artists. Making the switch into DJing, he found himself faced with the problem of building a fan base, having always been behind other people's success. It worked. How Matcha's rave garnered hundreds of thousands and views and likes on TikTok, setting the trend that many more coffee shops are now following. London based salad shop Farmer J followed suit and opened their Marylebone location with a Louis Bekk set. With their healthy food and message of 'farm to fork', the idea suited their brand perfectly promoting clean eating and sustainability, all whilst enjoying what you eat. Starting at 11am with iced coffee, cookies and marmite sandwiches, around 300 people gathered on a sunny Saturday morning to try and get a spot. I managed to get in with a couple of friends and found my perspective on 'going out' completely changed. Rather than feeling tired and full of brain fog the morning after, I felt rejuvenated and bright. We ended up socialising with a lot more people, didn't have a hangover and didn't swing by a fast-food takeaway on the way home. There was a complete mix of age groups, some people brought their children, some wore workout gear and others came dressed to the nines. But the main point was that the space felt safe, everyone felt accepted and most of all, we had the best time. 'There are these music gigs where they've become just somewhere to be seen and to post on Instagram,' Bekk said. 'I wanted to create somewhere anyone, who looked a certain way, dressed a certain way and didn't have a load of money, could come. London based salad shop Farmer J followed suit and opened their Marylebone location with a Louis Bekk set. With their healthy food and message of 'farm to fork', the idea suited their brand perfectly promoting clean eating and sustainability, all whilst enjoying what you eat Free of hangovers and late-night regrets, the new phenomenon supports the generation's penchant for health-conscious choices and making it home in time for their skincare routines. And with celebrities and influencers pushing the message that eight hours sleep, eating five a day and oat milk lattes are the key to a healthy and happy life, it looks like we will all be swapping Ibiza for Pret in the near future 'You just need to be interested in the music. 'If you bring the music somewhere new, you can redefine the standards. 'I never smoke, never taken drugs in my life and I barely drink. 'So just not having the pressure to be on a certain level as everybody and also removing that exclusivity by the price. 'I just wanted to change the music culture a little bit.' Gen-z trading late-night clubs for midday coffee shop raves is a trend no one is expecting to fade. Free of hangovers and late-night regrets, the new phenomenon supports the generation's penchant for health-conscious choices and making it home in time for their skincare routines. And with celebrities and influencers pushing the message that eight hours sleep, eating five a day and oat milk lattes are the key to a healthy and happy life, it looks like we will all be swapping Ibiza for Pret in the near future.
Business Upturn
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
AMERICAN SALARS ADDS LITHIUM BRINE EXPERT DR. MARK KING AS A TECHNCIAL ADVISOR AND QUALIFIED PERSON
By GlobeNewswire Published on May 15, 2025, 12:01 IST VANCOUVER, BC, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMERICAN SALARS LITHIUM INC. ('AMERICAN SALARS' OR THE 'COMPANY') (CSE: USLI, OTC: ASALF, FWB: Z3P, WKN: A3E2NY) announces the addition of Dr. Mark King PhD, PGeo, FGC, a world-renowned lithium brine expert, as a Technical Advisor and Qualified Person. Dr. King is a hydrogeologist with 30+ years of international experience in groundwater modeling and geochemistry. For the past 15 years, he has specialized in exploration and evaluation of lithium brine projects. His strong chemistry and numerical modeling background has proven to be an excellent foundation for brine exploration and quantitative evaluation. Consequently, his resource and reserve estimation experience on major brine projects is now arguably the most extensive of any geologist, hydrogeologist, or engineer in the world. Some notable past involvements include serving as a resource and/or reserve estimation Qualified Person for the following: Albermarle at Salar Atacama (Chile), Silver Peak (Nevada, USA) and Antofalla Salar (Argentina) Neo Lithium at the 3Q Salar, (Argentina) Lithium Americas at the Cauchari Salar, (Argentina) Vulcan Energy in the Rhine Valley, (Germany) Alpha Lithium at Tolillar & Hombre Muerto Salar, (Argentina) In addition, Dr. King and his team have conducted detailed due diligence reviews of 20+ advanced brine projects and reconnaissance reviews (and ranking) of 100+ greenfield to early-stage projects, in South America and the southern US. His technical team at GWI have advanced expertise in geological modelling, GIS, data management and 3D visualization. They will provide exploration and resource consulting services to American Salars from time to time. R. Nick Horsley, CEO & Director States, 'American Salars is yet again adding depth to its technical team. We are fortunate to welcome Dr. King and his team at GWI to American Salars and look forward to working together in our search for significant lithium salar projects. Mark is a globally recognized authority whose work has taken him to lithium brine projects throughout North and South America, and beyond.' About American Salars Lithium Inc. About American Salars Lithium Inc. American Salars Lithium Inc. is an exploration company focused on exploring and developing high-value battery metals projects to meet the demands of the advancing electric vehicle market. All Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, 'R. Nick Horsley ' R. Nick Horsley, CEO For further information, please contact: American Salars Lithium Inc. Phone: 604.880.2189 E-Mail: [email protected] Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding American Salar's intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance, or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits American Salars will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements' current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including American Salars results of exploration or review of properties that American Salars does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and American Salars assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Cultural wellness in Bali
Heading to Bali? Travel writer Jacqui Gibson finds five top-notch experiences worth adding to any wellness-themed itinerary. I've taken a seat at Cap Karoso's exclusive Julang restaurant where guest chefs from Japan are preparing tonight's degustation dinner. The French-owned luxury resort is a 90-minute flight from Bali on Sumba Island, a lesser-known yet emerging destination for wellness travellers. Next to me a buff mid-life Aussie couple with glowing skin are discussing their plans for tomorrow, starting with yoga and meditation in the morning, followed by an afternoon of snorkelling and traditional Balinese massage. Life at home is rushed, they explain, so Bali, and now Sumba, is where they come year-after-year to recharge and reconnect. According to research published by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), wellness tourism is now worth $US651 billion ($NZ1.1 trillion) annually and expenditure is expected to grow by more than 15% a year for the next two years. The United States non-profit says wellness tourism is travel defined by a desire to manage, maintain or improve one's health and wellbeing on holiday. It includes everything from basic spa treatments to eating and sleeping well to authentic cultural healing. The latter category is the one that most piques my interest. "As the world becomes increasingly globalised and homogenised, the unique, rooted and deeply spiritual practices of indigenous cultures offer a powerful counterbalance to other competitive wellness travel offerings," notes GWI, a leader in wellness industry research for more than a decade. On a two-week break in Bali and Sumba, I added five cultural wellness experiences to my itinerary. Would doing so help me feel better? Would authentic cultural healing become my new holiday must-do? It was time to find out. Best for clearing the mind Hilton Bali Resort's private yoga class A newcomer to yoga, I wasn't sure what to expect from a private yoga lesson at Hilton Bali Resort. But asking resort recreation manager Gede Wiriawan to organise the session turned out well. Not only did he find me a tucked-away outdoor pavilion (the Kamita pavilion) in which to unfurl my mat and wrangle myself into downward facing dog, he teed up Wayan Supatha, an experienced Balinese instructor versed in the Vinyasa and Asanas disciplines, to ensure I maintained slow, steady breathing and constant movement throughout his 60-minute routine. By mid-morning, as holidaymakers swam in the resort's white-sand lagoon and torpedoed down its 30m water slide, I'd manoeuvred my way through 13 beginner moves and felt a lot better for it. Originating in India and practised worldwide, yoga is especially popular in Bali thanks to the island's predominantly Hindu population, many of whom practice daily. "Bali, especially Nusa Dua, is perfect for yoga," Aditya Eka Saputra, the resort's digital marketing manager explained after my session had ended. "Our warm weather and stunning sunrises and sunsets make it a great place for outdoor yoga, particularly. Combine that with the fact our cultural traditions align with yoga's emphasis on balance and mindfulness and you've got the ideal destination for clearing the mind." Best for ultimate nourishment Hilton Bali Resort's Diwali food festival It is widely accepted you can eat yourself to wellness and I was definitely keen to test the theory during my two-night stay at Hilton Bali Resort. Not one for trendy tonics, I hoped to find ultimate nourishment at the Hilton's inaugural Diwali food festival. A three-night feast held in the resort's roomy Grain restaurant, it showcased Indonesian and Indian dishes from two of the world's most highly-rated cuisines. I started with gado gado, a delicious peanut-sauce drenched salad of steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, tofu, tempeh and sliced lontong (rice cake wrapped in banana leaf), before selecting skewers of sticky sate ponorogo, perfectly cooked marinated grilled chicken served in peanut sauce. "The festival was a chance to really show off the talents of my team and give guests something a bit special," explained executive chef Clinton Webber, the brains behind the festival and the Masterton-born chef who manages the resort's five restaurants. "In Bali, there's a cultural tradition of megibung — the art of Balinese dining — where you sit together to share a range of small dishes set out on a platter. Year-round we offer that experience at Paon Bali, our Balinese restaurant. It's a wonderful Balinese tradition where food creates a sense of togetherness." Best for calmness and relaxation Samanvaya Luxury Resort & Spa's chakra healing A 90-minute drive north of Bali's main tourist areas is the quiet rural district of Sidemen where two former New Zealand detectives run Samanvaya Luxury Resort & Spa, an adults-only resort. On arrival, I dived into the resort's extensive spa menu and selected an hour-long chakra balancing session for later that afternoon. Set in a standalone garden complex called Ananda (meaning ultimate bliss), the spa was a tranquil, inviting space of water features, private seating areas and therapy rooms decked out in the dark browns, amber golds and earthy shades of Balinese design. Dressed in a robe and lying face up on a comfy massage table, I was guided through a structured meditation by a local therapist using handheld sound chimes. As the session got under way, he explained each chime had a healing effect that aimed to align all seven of my chakras, starting with the root or stability chakra at the base of my spine before slowly moving up my body to my third-eye chakra, representing intuition, and, finally, the crown or intelligence chakra. "In Hinduism, chakras are seen as the body's energy centres. We want to open them for optimum emotional and physical wellbeing," he said as my mind drifted off and I began to feel a deep sense of calm and relaxation. Best for 'me time' Samanvaya Luxury Resort & Spa's traditional Balinese massage As other guests headed into Sidemen Valley for morning cooking classes or whitewater rafting, I hastily returned to Ananda the following day for more "me time" at the spa. Opting for an hour of traditional Balinese massage, I chose a local frangipani essential oil from the oil range on offer and headed into my therapy room. Balinese massage, I came to learn, was a kind of deep tissue massage, defined by long strokes, aimed at calming nerves, improving circulation and relieving tense muscles. Given more time at Samanvaya (three nights, I decided, was not enough) I'd like to have tried Ananda's signature massage, which added 30 minutes of foot reflexology to an hour of Balinese massage. And I may have gone all out and booked the Shirodhara treatment, combining Balinese massage with a head and hair treatment where warm ayurvedic oils drip on to the forehead, scalp and hair. It sounded quite dreamy to me. That said, body scrubs using local spices such as cinnamon, cloves and ginger and guided Balinese meditation were other tempting treatments on offer. Best for enlivening the senses Cap Karoso's Weekuri saltwater lake tour At Cap Karoso beach resort on Sumba, an Indonesian island off Bali, I chose an active wellness experience. A French-owned resort dedicated to introducing guests to the unique local Marapu culture, Cap Karoso's guest programme listed a range of village tours. I signed up for a walking tour of Weekuri saltwater lake, an ocean-fed lagoon enjoyed as much by Sumbanese as by domestic and international visitors. About 10 minutes' drive from Cap Karoso in the resort's private van, the tidal lake was a good place to peruse market stalls set up near the carpark entrance and stroll the lake's rocky, forested edges. I followed my guide along a trail to a lookout suspended over the Indian Ocean and back to stairs that led down to the waterhole. Climbing down the stairs and slipping into the turquoise lagoon, I bobbed around chatting to a couple of fellow swimmers from Sumatra. What an amazing spot and a sublime way to enliven the senses, we all agreed. More information Getting to Bali: Air New Zealand flies direct from Auckland to Bali. Book online, at: Staying in Bali: Hilton Bali Resort is set on the edge of a white sand lagoon in Nusa Dua district. Learn more at: Samanvaya Luxury Resort & Spa in rural Sidemen Valley is a 90-minute commute from Denpasar Airport. Book online at: Getting to Sumba: Domestic carrier Wings Air flies direct from Bali to Tambolaka Airport in Sumba. Book online at: Staying in Sumba: Cap Karoso is a five-star beachfront hotel in Sumba. Learn more at: — The writer travelled to Bali and Sumba independently and was hosted by Samanvaya Luxury Resort & Spa and Hilton Bali Resort.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Florida to execute Army veteran who was convicted of killing girlfriend, 3 young children
Florida is preparing Thursday to execute an Army veteran convicted in the 1998 shotgun killings of his girlfriend and three young children. Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, is set to receive a lethal injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke in what will be the fourth execution in the state so far this year. Hutchinson has long claimed he is innocent, and that two unknown assailants perpetrated the killings as part of a U.S. government conspiracy aimed at silencing him over his activism on claims of Gulf War illnesses and other issues affecting veterans, according to the Associated Press. Hutchinson served eight years in the Army, part of it as an elite Ranger. In court filings, Hutchinson's lawyers argued he suffers from Gulf War Illness (GWI) -- a series of health problems stemming from the 1990-1991 war in Iraq -- as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia related to his claim that he was targeted by government surveillance. Florida Executes Convicted Murderer, Child Rapist By Lethal Injection After Scotus Denies Appeals The Department of Veterans Affairs describes GWI as a "prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans" with "medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, skin problems, and memory impairment. Read On The Fox News App "According to a 2020 Department of Defense report, GWI is estimated to affect 175,000 to 250,000 Veterans of the nearly 700,000 troops who were deployed to the Gulf War theater of operations from 1990 to 1991. GWI affects Veterans who served in the Army and the Marine Corps at higher rates than those who served in the Navy and Air Force, and enlisted personnel are affected more than others," it also said. Court records show that on the night of the murders in Crestview, Florida, Hutchinson had argued with his girlfriend, 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, then packed his clothes and guns into a truck. Hutchinson went to a bar and drank some beer, telling staff there that Flaherty was angry with him before leaving abruptly, the AP reported. Florida Man Who Admitted To Killing Miami Herald Employee Is Executed A short time later, a male caller told a 911 operator "I just shot my family" from the house Hutchinson and Flaherty shared with the three children: 9-year-old Geoffrey, 7-year-old Amanda, and 4-year-old Logan. All were killed with a 12-gauge shotgun that was found on a kitchen counter. Hutchinson was located by police in the garage with a phone still connected to the 911 center and gunshot residue on his hands. At his 2001 trial, Hutchinson based his defense on a claim that two unknown men came to the house, killing Flaherty and the children after he struggled with them. A jury found Hutchinson guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison for Flaherty's killing and three death sentences for the children. Last month, a judge rejected an appeal from Hutchinson's lawyers who were seeking to delay his execution date by claiming Hutchinson is insane and therefore cannot be put to death. "This Court finds that Jeffrey Hutchinson does not have any current mental illness," the AP cited Bradford County Circuit Judge James Colaw as saying in his order. So far this year, 14 people have been executed in the U.S., including three in Florida, with Hutchinson to become the fourth. A fifth Florida execution is scheduled for May 15 for Glen Rogers, who was convicted of killing a woman at a motel in 1997. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Florida to execute Army veteran who was convicted of killing girlfriend, 3 young children
