Latest news with #Odd
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Forbidden to use Google at Google? Co-founder Sergey Brin reveals ‘big tiff' inside his own company over using Gemini
In a moment both ironic and endearing, Sergey Brin—the billionaire co-founder of Google and one of the most powerful figures in tech—recently found himself in an unlikely tussle within the very empire he helped build. At the All-In podcast's live recording in Miami, Brin shared a candid and humorous story that has since sparked fascination across Silicon Valley : he had to fight Google just to allow the use of its own AI model, Gemini, for coding. Yes, you read that right. Forbidden to Use Google at Google? Brin revealed that during a recent internal review, he discovered that Gemini—Google's flagship generative AI—was inexplicably listed under technologies not allowed for internal coding. 'You couldn't vibe code on the Gemini code piece,' he said with bemusement, reflecting the dissonance of a company building cutting-edge tools while simultaneously banning them internally. The restriction, buried deep within an internal webpage, baffled Brin. 'It boggled my mind,' he said, shaking his head. What followed was a 'big tiff,' a drawn-out and uphill battle against a faceless company policy that had seemingly outgrown even the reach of its own founder. The kicker? Even Brin—worth over $140 billion, one of the top ten richest people in the world—had to escalate the matter like any frustrated employee, pleading with higher-ups to fix a policy that made no sense. 'I talked to [my boss] and said, 'I can't deal with these people, you need to deal with this.'' The experience, he said, left him 'beside himself.' You Might Also Like: Sundar Pichai can't contain his excitement as Google I/O 2025 unveils the future, and his tweets are anything but subtle Bureaucracy vs Brin: The Odd Power Play The tale took a satirical turn when Brin remarked on the surrealism of facing bureaucracy in a company he co-founded. 'It's pretty amazing that some junior muckety-muck can basically look at you and say, 'Hey, go f*** yourself,'' he quipped, drawing laughs from the podcast audience and a fair share of incredulous headlines in tech circles. Eventually, the policy was reversed—Gemini was allowed back into the coding toolkit—but not before Brin experienced firsthand the red tape that even billionaires can't always cut through. Meanwhile, a $700 Million Gift Quietly Changes Hands Brin's name has made headlines for more than just his internal squabble. A recent regulatory filing revealed that he quietly gifted nearly 4.1 million Alphabet shares—worth approximately $700 million. The recipient remains a mystery, though many speculate the shares may have gone to a charitable trust or foundation. This wouldn't be out of character for Brin, who has a history of philanthropic gestures. In 2023, he donated $600 million worth of Alphabet stock after Google launched its AI-powered search. Since then, he has given away over $100 million in additional share grants, supporting causes ranging from Parkinson's research to climate-focused nonprofits and even a $155 billion clean energy project in Denmark. You Might Also Like: Gemini is now even smarter - New tools announced at Google I/O 2025 The Paradox of Power in Silicon Valley This juxtaposition—Brin battling obscure internal policies while casually parting with hundreds of millions in stock—speaks volumes about the strange paradox of power in today's tech world. It's a reminder that even those at the top can be sidelined by the very systems they once helped design. And as Alphabet's share price surges following AI-driven announcements—including a new 'AI mode' in Google Search—Brin's quirky tale offers a rare glimpse into the frictions of innovation within mega-corporations. When even Sergey Brin has to wage war against bureaucracy to promote his own company's products, it raises a broader question: who, really, is steering the ship? Sometimes, it seems, the biggest challenge in tech isn't building the future—it's getting your own team to use it.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Inside the home of ‘most famous inbred family' The Whittakers who ‘speak in grunts' and their life in town called Odd
THE lifestyle of a family dubbed America's most inbred continues to spark curiosity and intrigue. Their lives have been documented online by a filmmaker, who has put the village of Odd, West Virginia on the map. 6 6 6 Producer Mark Laita has shone the lens on the clan, focusing on aspects ranging from their home life to having a haircut and shopping at Walmart. One video titled Breakfast With the Whittakers, first uploaded in 2022, has been watched more than 6.7 million times. In the video, family members communicate in grunts and viewers are given an insight into their home life. Some members of the family have mental and physical abnormalities and Laita previously said he believes inbreeding may have been partially responsible. The family are seen living in a property that is in a decrepit state. Their home looks cluttered as the family try to go about their daily tasks. The clan's porch is strewn with junk and boxes and shabby-looking furniture. Video shows their bathroom covered in filth. But, despite the squalor-like conditions, the family do not appear to go hungry - with freezers stacked with food. Laita revealed the family confirmed that their parents were double first cousins. Joyful moment 'America's most inbred family' goes Christmas shopping at Walmart and picks out their own presents Members of the clan also included Betty, Ray and Lorraine,who are siblings. An unnamed sister and cousin Timmy made up the Whittakers. They also had a brother named Freddie who died from a heart attack. But, the Whittaker clan were rocked by tragedy in March last year. Laita revealed that Larry Whittaker died at the age of 68. "Larry was always a great dude to me," Laita said in a YouTube video where he announced Whittaker's death. "He was always really nice. Larry was always a standup guy, and he and Betty really ran the show well. "Larry will be missed. It's going to be hard on Betty now." LIVES IN THE SPOTLIGHT Laita first met the Whittaker family in 2004 and has shared more than a dozen videos on his channel. But, he didn't start sharing footage until 2020. He shared footage taken inside a Walmart store that captured the clan's fascination when buying groceries. The family was told they could buy anything they wanted. And, they took up Laita's offer, filling three carts full of groceries. In another video, Ray Whittaker couldn't stop looking at himself as he had a haircut. In December last year, the family's mobile home was gutted by fire, Laita revealed in a GoFundMe post. He created a fundraiser to try and help the family move to a new property. More than $7,000 has been contributed to the fundraiser. 6 6 6
Cairo 360
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Cairo 360
The Odd Project at ROOM Garden City
The Odd project is presented at Room Art Space Garden City, which consists of jazz fusion music by an impressive lineup of Musicians, this Friday, April 25th. For more information, hit this link!
Bloomberg
21-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
What Does Trump Even Get if he Fires Jerome Powell?
Forget the long term cost. What's the short-term gain? Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Sometimes it's us, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, bringing you our thoughts on the most recent developments in markets, finance and the economy. And sometimes it's contributions from our network of expert guests and sources. Whatever it is, we promise it will always be interesting. If you like chatting with us, check out the Odd Lots Discord, where you can hang out and talk with us and with other listeners 24/7.
Bloomberg
09-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Everything You Need to Know About the Basis Trade Spooking Markets
Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Sometimes it's us, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, bringing you our thoughts on the most recent developments in markets, finance and the economy. And sometimes it's contributions from our network of expert guests and sources. Whatever it is, we promise it will always be interesting. If you like chatting with us, check out the Odd Lots Discord, where you can hang out and talk with us and with other listeners 24/7.
