Latest news with #InaFried
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Top moments from Axios' AI+ Summit in New York
Axios had some of the biggest voices on artificial intelligence on our stage Wednesday in New York City talk about the global race to dominate AI, the state of play for enterprise AI, and how industries are adapting to the rapidly changing landscape. The big picture: We're making it easier for you to follow along with our event. ICYMI... 📱 WndrCo founding partner Jeffrey Katzenberg warned that the impact of teens' unsupervised tech time is "destroying a generation" while appearing with Aura founder & CEO Hari Ravichandran. Ravichandran's digital security firm Aura is known for its online safety tools for families and individuals. Katzenberg, whose notable work includes "Shrek" and "The Lion King," also acknowledged how AI is changing the entertainment business — and that those who don't learn how to use the tools will get left behind. He likened AI to the computer graphics revolution in animation. "AI isn't going to replace people. It's going to replace people that don't use AI," he told Axios' Ina Fried. Lumen Technologies president and CEO Kate Johnson talked about being "toe forward" in using AI tools at her company, from sales to customer service and operations to engineering. Lumen recently pivoted to supporting the infrastructure of enterprise AI services. "This is how we're transforming the company, and it's also how we're positioning our critical infrastructure to help other companies," she told Axios' Dan Primack. 🐕 The Weather Company CEO Rohit Agarwal wants AI to help forecasters be as specific as giving guidance on when to walk your dog. The AI might know "you're likely to have a pet, that you're likely to choose a morning or afternoon walk, and that you have a type of dog that actually needs a lot of exercise," Agarwal told Axios' Ashley Gold. "If we actually mix all of that signal together and deliver you a point of intelligence, that can be really powerful and useful," he said. Zoom in: The Weather Company wants to use AI to give people more precise insight "on what to do with that forecast in order to live the life that you want to live." Since all businesses depend on weather to run their operations or serve customers, Agarwal also sees AI as an effective tool to help them. 🤖 Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) is bullish on using AI to train New York state employees and understanding how the technology can supplement their work and help them be more responsive to the public. "I'm not looking to eliminate their jobs," she told Axios' Ina Fried. "I want people have a better customer experience when they come into a DMV or other offices. So I see great potential here, and I leaned hard into this," she added.
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
5 key things from Gov. Hochul's interview with Axios
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said Wednesday that lawmakers who claim not to have read parts of the GOP spending bill should use ChatGPT to ask: "Anything I should worry about in here?" The big picture: Hochul spoke about the economic, political and social consequences of AI — from training workforces to children's safety — while speaking with Axios' Ina Fried at the AI+ Summit in New York. Here are five key things Hochul said in her interview with Axios' Ina Fried. 1. Hochul took a dig at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for saying she didn't know the GOP tax bill that passed the House last month included a provision that would ban states and municiplaities from regulating the tech for 10 years. Hochul referenced Greene, who sits on the House Oversight Committee, without naming her when mentioning she's set to testify on Capitol Hill next week with other Democratic governors about immigration policies. "They're claiming did not know that there was a 10 year ban on any ... AI" regulation, she said. "You voted for it. Just ask ChatGPT. ... just some humble advice for them." 2. She called out the GOP spending bill for that provision, calling it a "concerning" move by House Republicans. Hochul indicated it jeopardizes New York's ban on sexual exploitation of young girls on social media through the use of AI. 3. AI doesn't have to replace jobs, Hochul said. "AI can increase productivity dramatically," the governor said, adding that she's not looking to eliminate jobs. "I want ... people to have a better customer experience when they come into a DMV or other offices, so I see great potential here." 4."I'm New York state's first mom governor, and I look out for all the kids," she said regarding online safety. "So that's where I approach this from, is what we can do to protect our children, but not unnecessarily constrain what AI is all about and the potential?" 5. New York is challenging the White House including on saving offshore wind, congestion pricing and challenges to birthright citizenship.
Axios
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Netflix picks up worldwide streaming rights for Sesame Street
Sesame Street's streaming rights are moving to Netflix, the show's nonprofit parent Sesame Workshop announced Monday. It will remain available on PBS TV stations and through PBS' digital channels. Why it matters: The deal gives the iconic children's show a new streaming home after Warner Bros. Discovery ended its streaming partnership with the show through its streamer Max late last year. Some older episodes will still be available on Max, however, through 2027. Zoom in: The deal brings a new, reimagined 56th season of Sesame Street to Netflix subscribers worldwide, in addition to more than 90 hours of previous episodes, according to a statement from Sesame Workshop. The deal, which starts later this year at an unspecified date, will bring new episodes to Netflix, PBS and the PBS Kids app on the same day. Catch up quick: Sesame Street has been a PBS staple for more than five decades. In 2016, the public broadcaster struck a deal to make the show available on Max, expanding its reach. Sesame Street has been credited with stretching the boundaries of children's programming, and occasionally stirring up controversy, per Axios' Ina Fried. The show was launched to help children learn basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills, but it has also expanded to help children make sense of society and social life by introducing characters from different races and backgrounds, as well as a character with autism. The big picture: The deal is part of a broader effort by Netflix to invest in children's content as it looks to replace traditional TV packages for families.
Axios
13-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
How to claim part of Apple's $95 million Siri lawsuit settlement
Some owners of Apple devices are eligible to file a claim for a piece of a $95 million class-action lawsuit settlement over allegations that voice-activated Siri assistant violated users' privacy by recording conversations. Why it matters: Time is running out to file a claim for the settlement against the tech giant. "Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that Apple did anything improper or unlawful," according to the settlement website. Lopez v. Apple lawsuit Catch up quick: In 2019, Apple suspended a program that had contractors listening to some Siri queries and apologized for how it handled recordings, Axios' Ina Fried reported. The resulting lawsuit, Lopez v. Apple, filed in 2019, alleges recordings happened even when users didn't say the prompt "Hey, Siri." The settlement was filed in court on Dec. 31, 2024. What they're saying: An Apple spokesperson said in a statement to Axios in January that "Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning" and its "data has never been used to build marketing profiles and it has never been sold to anyone for any purpose." "Apple settled this case to avoid additional litigation so we can move forward from concerns about third-party grading that we already addressed in 2019," the spokesperson said. "We use Siri data to improve Siri, and we are constantly developing technologies to make Siri even more private." Apple settlement: Who is eligible to claim up to $100 The big picture: Individuals who purchased or owned devices with Siri enabled between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, may receive up to $20 per device under the settlement. The amount "will increase or decrease pro rata depending on the total number of valid claims submitted, and Siri Devices claimed," documents show. "Settlement Class Members may submit claims for up to five Siri Devices on which they claim to have experienced an unintended Siri activation during a conversation intended to be confidential or private," the settlement says. iPhone, iPad among eligible Siri-enabled devices Eligible devices include Siri-enabled iPhones, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch or Apple TV, the court documents show. Apple Siri settlement deadline is July 2 Zoom in: The deadline to submit a claim is July 2, 2025. The postmark deadline to opt out of the settlement also is July 2 and requests need to be mailed in, per the settlement website. Siri claim form: How to file in Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement State of play: Eligible Apple customers can claim to be a part of the settlement on the Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement website. Some users received an email or postcard with a claim identification code and confirmation code that can be used to make the claim. If not, you can still submit a claim online. Yes, but: If you are still not sure whether you are included in the settlement class, you can contact the Settlement Administrator through one of the methods listed on the website's contact page. Penalty of perjury for submitting false claim form Threat level: For each device you are submitting a claim, you are required "to attest under penalty of perjury" that they "purchased or owned a Siri Device in the United States or its territories, and enabled Siri on that device/those devices." You also need to claim under oath that you "experienced at least one unintended Siri activation" and that it "occurred during a conversation intended to be confidential or private." Siri settlement payment: When to expect money What's next: The court is currently scheduled to hold a final approval hearing on Aug. 1, 2025 at 9am at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland Courthouse. The date and time can change and will be confirmed on the settlement website. The site notes if the settlement is approved, there can still be appeals and the process can take time. "If there is no appeal, your settlement benefit will be processed promptly. Please be patient," the website notes, adding settlement and payments updates will be posted on it.
Axios
03-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Anthropic said to close in on $3.5B raise
Anthropic, the San Francisco-based AI firm, is closing in on a $3.5 billion raise that would value the OpenAI rival at $61.5 billion, the Wall Street Journal reports. Why it matters: Last month's arrival of China's DeepSeek hasn't slowed the money train propping up AI companies. Zoom in: The latest round includes Lightspeed Venture Partners, General Catalyst, and Bessemer Venture Partners, with Abu Dhabi-based MGX also a possibility, the WSJ reports. Anthropic had initially targeted $2 billion in its fundraising. The news comes as Anthropic said Monday that its latest model, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, integrates advanced reasoning capabilities for the first time, per Axios' Ina Fried. The big picture: The funding comes a month after DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm, shocked the entire industry by building a model that rivals OpenAI for a fraction of the cost. That raised concerns among VC firms and other investors that have been pouring billions into U.S. AI firms over the last two years.
