Latest news with #Starbuck
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Students celebrate their favorite Western Springs businesses in rhyme
An ode is a celebratory poem, meant to express gratitude and appreciation for some idealized notion, whether it be love, beauty, or a special hero. With roots in ancient Greece and Rome, the writing is often grand and expressive, and loaded with imagery. But Colin Benka, a seventh grader at McClure Junior High in Western Springs, composed a poem in the most modern American way — an Ode to Starbucks. 'I come here a lot with my family and I enjoy all the drinks and food, and it just seemed like a place that I could relate to,' he said last week. Benka was part of a group of 50 students from English teacher Tammy Sluis' class who made their way through downtown Western Springs, planting their poems in front of the businesses they chose to honor. He didn't have to do much research. 'I know a lot about it already, so I just described the things I learned about Starbuck from coming here and just wrote about how awesome it is,' he said. Benka, who enjoys poetry but enjoys sports more, didn't hide his feelings for the Seattle-based coffee giant. 'I tried to express how great their food and drinks are and how they are really worth it,' he said. 'They always will brighten up your day and get it off to a good start.' Like Benka, Elliot Meeks has been patronizing her favorite Western Springs business since she was young. 'I really like the Fruit Store,' she said. 'I used to go there all the time when I was little and I love fruit. It's always very welcoming and the guys are really nice in there. It's a nice environment to be in.' And like Benka, Meeks didn't need to do much additional research. 'I've gone there so many times,' she said. Owen Hebert wrote his poem about the Colonial Barber Shop. 'I always go there,' he said. 'Actually I went there yesterday and got a haircut. They're super kind there, everyone greets you, and the shop's really cool.' Sluis talked about the goals of the ode assignment. 'One of the learning goals for the students is working with figurative language in a number of contexts,' Sluis said. 'We were working on odes around the building and giving appreciation for things around McClure, and we just expanded it. 'So often, the community doesn't see all the hard work the students do. This way, the students can appreciate their community and the community can appreciate them as well.' After previous trips around the school and nearby parks, they decided to focus on the downtown business district. 'Businesses serve a very valuable function within the community,' Sluis said. 'For those businesses they don't know, it gave them an opportunity to research why they are valuable to our community.' Sluis was happy with how the day went. 'It was quite wonderful,' she said after her last class of the day. 'A few of the business owners came out and took pictures of the kids as I was walking with my students. The kids were really touched to see how appreciative the business owners were. It meant a lot to them.' Sluis said she had every intention of making the exercise a yearly event, but she's not sure how long the paper odes will remain posted. 'I'm hoping they'll stand up to the elements. We host the Memorial Day Parade and it brings out a lot of the community to the downtown area and it will give the kids some visibility.'
Business Wire
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Empire Petroleum Reports Results for First Quarter 2025 and Advances Operational Initiatives
TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Empire Petroleum (NYSE American: EP) ('Empire' or the 'Company'), an oil and gas company with producing assets in New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Louisiana, today reported operational and financial results for the first quarter 2025. FIRST QUARTER 2025 HIGHLIGHTS Produced Q1-2025 net production volumes of 2,049 barrels of oil equivalent per day ('Boe/d') including 1,329 barrels of oil per day ('Bbls/d'); Boe/d is comprised of 65% oil, 17% natural gas liquids ('NGLs'), and 18% natural gas; Initiating phase one of Enhanced Oil Recovery ('EOR') efforts in the Starbuck Drilling Program ('Starbuck') in North Dakota yielded encouraging early results, with daily production increasing significantly from approximately 80 bbls/d to more than 1,200 bbls/d during initial operations; Extreme winter conditions and technical setbacks, including a pipeline failure and manufacturing defects in the EOR units, temporarily disrupted operations and resulted in a short-term 75% decrease in net production; As of early Q2-2025, the failed pipeline has been fully replaced, and all three EOR units have been restored to service with interim solutions in place; Empire expects to finalize the patented design specifications for its hydrocarbon vaporization technology, which target sustained heat levels between 550-650 degrees Fahrenheit, by end of Q2-2025; Empire completed its technical evaluation of its Texas region and is preparing to initiate drilling operations in the second half of 2025; Historically, development in the area has focused on vertical wells, but recent analysis identified six to seven prospective pay zones with potential for horizontal development; The Company has completed its necessary infrastructure to support its planned drilling program and continues to position itself for long-term, capital-efficient growth in the area; and Reported Q1-2025 total product revenue $9.0 million, a net loss of $4.2 million, or ($0.12) per diluted share; Adjusted EBITDA of ($0.6) million for Q1-2025. 2025 OUTLOOK 'Empire's first-quarter results reflect the temporary production losses caused by severe weather and operational disruptions, which contributed to a net loss for the quarter,' said Phil Mulacek, Chairman of the Board. 'Despite these short-term impacts, our flexible structure and multi-basin footprint allow us to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and technical developments in real time. Whether advancing our EOR efforts in North Dakota or securing new regulatory approvals in Texas, we remain focused on allocating capital where it can deliver the greatest long-term value. We've seen natural gas prices rebound from a low of $1.30 to an upward trend of $4.50, $5.50, and even $6.50. With multiple stacked pays of oil and gas, our Texas assets are well-positioned to capitalize on this momentum over the next one to five years.' Mike Morrisett, President and CEO, added, 'We entered 2025 with clear strategic priorities, and Q1 marked continued progress across several fronts, from field-level optimizations in North Dakota to new permitting activity in Texas and New Mexico. We are responding dynamically to new data and operational results, which allow us to fine-tune our approach in each region and ensure we're maximizing performance and recovery. Our operational agility remains a core advantage in the current energy landscape.' North Dakota – Williston Basin: Empire remains focused on stabilizing and optimizing EOR operations in the Starbuck region following initial setbacks and partial system restoration; Since restoring partial operations, production has already increased nearly 70%; Expectations are to reach recovery and performance over the next 3-5 quarters of steady-state EOR operations; and Continued progress is dependent on consistent technical performance and seasonal operating stability. New Mexico – Permian Basin: After four years of expenditures, Empire is close to a resolution with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission ('NMOCD') related to Empire's applications to revoke the existing four permits granted and deny the five new applications for what the Company believes to be the illegal dumping of wastewater into Eunice Monument South Unit's ('EMSU') Unitized Interval by third-party Saltwater Disposal ('SWD') Companies; Following resolution with the NMOCD, Empire will proceed with the litigation for trespass and damages against all third-party SWD Operators, who the Company believes to be illegally disposing wastewater into the EMSU Unitized Interval; The long-standing litigation has negatively impacted Empire's results by over $30.0 million in additional costs from May 2021 to present; These legal expenses have contributed to elevated operating costs in recent periods; and Upon final resolution, the Company expects a meaningful reduction in operating expenses, which is projected to positively impact the bottom line and further strengthen its financial position. Texas – East Texas Basin: Advancements in technology, reservoir modeling, and improved hydraulic fracturing techniques have significantly enhanced the development potential of the region; These improvements allow for more precise targeting of productive zones, increased recovery rates, and more efficient use of capital; Empire is currently evaluating horizontal well designs to maximize production from the prospective pay zones identified in the area; and By targeting these stacked formations with horizontal drilling, the Company aims to unlock greater long-term value and improve overall project economics. FIRST QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL RESULTS Q1-25 Q4-24 % Change Q1-25 vs. Q4-24 Q1-24 % Change Q1-25 vs. Q1-24 Net equivalent sales (Boe/d) 2,049 2,356 -13% 2,207 -7% Net oil sales (Bbls/d) 1,329 1,581 -16% 1,437 -7% Realized price ($/Boe) $48.76 $46.48 5% $50.96 -4% Product Revenue ($M) $8,992 $10,077 -11% $10,235 -12% Net Loss ($M) ($4,221) ($4,193) -1% ($3,974) -6% Adjusted Net Loss ($M) 1 ($4,253) ($4,193) -1% ($3,865) -10% Adjusted EBITDA ($M) 1 ($553) ($260) -113% ($729) 24% 1 Adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. See 'Non-GAAP Information' section later in this release for more information, including reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measure. Expand Net sales volumes for Q1-2025 were 2,049 Boe/d, including 1,329 barrels of oil per day; 349 barrels of NGLs per day, and 2,221 thousand cubic feet per day ('Mcf/d') or 370 Boe/d of natural gas. Oil sales volumes decreased approximately 9% compared to Q1-2024 primarily due to five wells being down to redrill in North Dakota during Q1-2025. Empire reported Q1-2025 total product revenue $9.0 million versus $10.2 million in Q1-2024. Contributing to the decrease were lower oil and NGL sales volumes and lower realized oil prices. Lease operating expenses in Q1-2025 decreased to $5.8 million versus $7.4 million in Q1-2024 primarily due to lower workover costs. Q1-2025 workover expense decreased to $0.4 million versus $2.0 million in Q1-2024. Higher workover expense in 2024 was primarily in New Mexico as Empire continued work in the region to enhance and maintain production. Production and ad valorem taxes for Q1-2025 were $0.7 million versus $0.8 million in Q1-2024, as a result of lower product revenues. Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization ('DD&A') and Accretion for Q1-2025 was $2.8 million versus $2.0 million for Q1-2024. The increase in DD&A is primarily due to the acquisition of additional working interest and the impact of the capitalized costs associated with the new drilling as part of Empire's Starbuck Drilling Program in North Dakota. Accretion increased slightly due to the new drilling activity. General and administrative expenses, excluding share-based compensation expense, was $3.2 million, or $17.34 per Boe in Q1-2025 versus $2.9 million, or $14.33 per Boe in Q1-2024. The increase in expenses was primarily due to an increase in salaries and benefits associated with an increase in employee headcount. Interest expense for Q1-2025 slightly decreased, compared to Q1-2024, primarily due to certain non-cash interest expense in Q1-2024 from the convertible promissory note partially offset by a higher average outstanding balance on the Company's credit facility. Empire recorded a net loss of $4.2 million in Q1-2025, or ($0.12) per diluted share, versus a Q1-2024 net loss of $4.0 million, or ($0.15) per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA was ($0.6) million for Q1-2025 compared to Adjusted EBITDA of ($0.7) million in Q1-2024. CAPITAL SPENDING, BALANCE SHEET & LIQUIDITY For Q1-2025, Empire invested approximately $2.7 million in capital expenditures, primarily related to the continued drilling and completions activity related to Empire's Starbuck Drilling Program in North Dakota. As of March 31, 2025, Empire had approximately $1.1 million in cash on hand and approximately $7.8 million available on its credit facility. UPDATED PRESENTATION An updated Company presentation will be posted to the Company's website under the Investor Relations section. ABOUT EMPIRE PETROLEUM Empire Petroleum Corporation is a publicly traded, Tulsa-based oil and gas company with current producing assets in New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Louisiana. Management is focused on organic growth and targeted acquisitions of proved developed assets with synergies with their existing portfolio of wells. More information about Empire can be found at SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements involve a wide variety of risks and uncertainties, and include, without limitations, statements with respect to the Company's estimates, strategy, and prospects. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are disclosed in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and its other filings with the SEC. Readers and investors are cautioned that the Company's actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Company's ability to acquire productive oil and/or gas properties or to successfully drill and complete oil and/or gas wells on such properties, general economic conditions both domestically and abroad, including inflation, tariffs and interest rates, uncertainties associated with legal and regulatory matters, and other risks and uncertainties related to the conduct of business by the Company. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in expectations, or otherwise. EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION Condensed Operating Data (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2025 2024 2024 Net Sales Volumes: Oil (Bbl) 119,635 145,442 130,760 Natural gas (Mcf) 199,868 208,698 211,820 Natural gas liquids (Bbl) 31,453 36,556 34,785 Total (Boe) 184,400 216,781 200,848 Average daily equivalent sales (Boe/d) 2,049 2,356 2,207 Average Price per Unit: Oil ($/Bbl) $ 67.28 $ 64.94 $ 72.21 Natural gas ($/Mcf) $ 2.74 $ 0.35 $ 1.78 Natural gas liquids ($/Bbl) $ 12.56 $ 15.26 $ 11.97 Total ($/Boe) $ 48.76 $ 46.48 $ 50.96 Operating Costs and Expenses per Boe: Lease operating expense $ 31.27 $ 27.13 $ 36.78 Production and ad valorem taxes $ 3.86 $ 4.09 $ 4.15 Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion $ 14.92 $ 13.90 $ 9.84 General & administrative expense: General & administrative expense (excluding stock-based compensation) $ 17.34 $ 17.13 $ 14.33 Stock-based compensation $ 2.88 $ 2.39 $ 3.54 Total general & administrative expense $ 20.22 $ 19.52 $ 17.87 Expand EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited) March 31, 2025 2024 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash $ 1,081 $ 2,251 Accounts Receivable 7,876 8,155 Inventory 1,504 1,305 Prepaids 1,106 640 Total Current Assets 11,567 12,351 Property and Equipment: Oil and Natural Gas Properties, Successful Efforts 143,247 140,675 Less: Accumulated Depletion, Amortization and Impairment (34,106 ) (31,974 ) Total Oil and Gas Properties, Net 109,141 108,701 Other Property and Equipment, Net 1,550 1,391 Total Property and Equipment, Net 110,691 110,092 Other Noncurrent Assets 1,425 1,425 TOTAL ASSETS $ 123,683 $ 123,868 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts Payable $ 12,022 $ 10,452 Accrued Expenses 10,947 10,348 Current Portion of Lease Liability 354 400 Current Portion of Long-Term Debt 691 70 Total Current Liabilities 24,014 21,270 Long-Term Debt 11,558 11,266 Long-Term Lease Liability 87 144 Asset Retirement Obligations 28,949 28,423 Total Liabilities 64,608 61,103 Stockholders' Equity: Series A Preferred Stock - $.001 Par Value, 10,000,000 Shares Authorized, 6 and 6 Shares Issued and Outstanding, Respectively - - Common Stock - $.001 Par Value, 190,000,000 Shares Authorized, 33,710,727 and 33,667,132 Shares Issued and Outstanding, Respectively 93 93 Additional Paid-in-Capital 144,020 143,489 Total Stockholders' Equity 59,075 62,765 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 123,683 $ 123,868 Expand EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2025 2024 2024 Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Net Loss $ (4,221 ) $ (4,193 ) $ (3,974 ) Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities: Stock Compensation and Issuances 531 519 710 Amortization of Right of Use Assets 121 132 136 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 2,226 2,493 1,490 Accretion of Asset Retirement Obligation 526 520 485 (Gain) Loss on Derivatives - - 858 Settlement on or Purchases of Derivative Instruments - - (11 ) Gain on Financial Derivatives - - (738 ) Gain on Sale of Other Fixed Assets (32 ) - - Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities: Accounts Receivable 279 (2,005 ) 1,065 Inventory, Oil in Tanks (199 ) 195 (364 ) Prepaids, Current 94 (64 ) (2 ) Accounts Payable 1,676 (7,254 ) 4,339 Accrued Expenses 599 1,073 361 Other Long Term Assets and Liabilities 13 (178 ) (446 ) Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities 1,613 (8,762 ) 3,909 Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Additions to Oil and Natural Gas Properties (2,680 ) (4,460 ) (16,941 ) Disposal of Other Fixed Assets 49 - - Purchase of Other Fixed Assets (18 ) (12 ) (31 ) Cash Paid for Right of Use Assets (113 ) (123 ) (125 ) Net Cash Used In Investing Activities (2,762 ) (4,595 ) (17,097 ) Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Borrowings on Credit Facility - 2,700 3,950 Proceeds from Promissory Note - Related Party - - 5,000 Proceeds from Rights Offering, net of transaction costs - 9,973 - Principal Payments of Debt (21 ) (215 ) (62 ) Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities (21 ) 12,458 8,888 Net Change in Cash (1,170 ) (899 ) (4,300 ) Cash - Beginning of Period 2,251 3,150 7,791 Cash - End of Period $ 1,081 $ 2,251 $ 3,491 Expand Empire Petroleum Corporation Non-GAAP Information Certain financial information included in Empire's financial results are not measures of financial performance recognized by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include 'Adjusted Net Loss', 'EBITDA' and 'Adjusted EBITDA'. These disclosures may not be viewed as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be reported by other companies. Adjusted net loss is presented because the timing and amount of these items cannot be reasonably estimated and affect the comparability of operating results from period to period, and current periods to prior periods. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as net loss plus net interest expense, DD&A, accretion, amortization of right of use assets, income tax provision (benefit), and other adjustments. Company management believes this presentation is relevant and useful because it helps investors understand Empire's operating performance and makes it easier to compare its results with those of other companies that have different financing, capital and tax structures. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for net income (loss), as an indication of operating performance or cash flows from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity. In addition, adjusted EBITDA does not represent funds available for discretionary use. Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2025 2024 2024 (in thousands) Net Loss $ (4,221 ) $ (4,193 ) $ (3,974 ) Add Back: Interest expense 296 269 315 DD&A 2,226 2,493 1,490 Accretion 526 520 485 Amortization of right-of-use assets 121 132 136 EBITDA $ (1,052 ) $ (779 ) $ (1,548 ) Adjustments: Stock based Compensation 531 519 710 (Gain) loss on derivatives - - 858 Settlement on or purchases of derivative instruments - - (11 ) (Gain) loss on financial derivatives - - (738 ) Gain on Sale of Other Fixed Assets (32 ) - - Adjusted EBITDA $ (553 ) $ (260 ) $ (729 ) Expand
The Hill
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Robby Starbuck calls Meta apology ‘sort of bizarre' amid defamation lawsuit
Robby Starbuck, a conservative author and activist, took a swing at Meta on Friday, just a week after an executive apologized for the company's artificial intelligence (AI) search engine spreading false information about him. 'I think it's one of the first times I've ever seen a company come out in the middle of active litigation and essentially say, 'Yeah, we did that. Sorry about that' — which is sort of bizarre, leaves one scratching your head, like that's a bizarre legal strategy,' Starbuck told NewsNation's 'On Balance' in an interview. 'But essentially, they admitted guilt,' he continued. 'So, in one hand, I'm happy they did that, but secondarily … I'm concerned about what is the precedent for the future. Are we going to allow AI to invent whatever it wants out there as the truth, when, in fact, it's not?' The conservative film maker has accused Meta's system of falsely reporting that he was present at the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and that he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. He later filed a lawsuit against the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. Following roughly nine months of litigation, an executive reached out to Starbuck to issue an apology. 'Robby – I watched your video – this is unacceptable,' Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer, wrote in a post last week on social platform X. 'This is clearly not how our AI should operate. We're sorry for the results it shared about you and that the fix we put in place didn't address the underlying problem.' Starbuck said while he appreciates the apology, he is focused on the bigger picture, including how AI and misinformation could affect elections in the future. 'It comes after us privately trying to solve this, not just for me, but for everybody, because that's my real goal here — I want to fix this problem, so it never does this to anybody,' he told host Leland Vittert, while also questioning why there isn't more bipartisan support for his cause. 'I want to stop this for everyone, regardless of their party,' Starbuck added. Asked if he's seeking damages, the conservative replied 'yeah.' 'There's damages for sure. I mean, it's like any other defamation case,' he said. 'They damaged my reputation, my character.' 'People have come up on the streets thinking that I was a criminal that pled guilty to a crime that I obviously did not commit,' Starbuck continued. 'It even suggested my kids be taken away from me by authorities. And again, my kids have seen people come up to me thinking that I was at Jan. 6 … that I got arrested for breaking in … none of that is true.' He's also reported death threats associated with the false information. According to the lawsuit, Starbuck is seeking over $5,000,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. The legal complaint came after Meta launched its standalone version of its AI assistant late last month, touting more 'personal' and 'relevant' responses. The application uses its Llama 4 coding model to collect information from across the company's platforms, according to the press release.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Could an AI ‘hallucination' ruin your reputation? A conservative activist says it did
Imagine if the biggest social media company on Earth allowed its artificial intelligence tool to repeatedly accuse you — falsely — of illegal activity and antisemitic views. This is the allegation of a new $5 million defamation lawsuit, reviewed by the Deseret News, that was filed against Meta on Tuesday by anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck. On Thursday, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak, Utah's former solicitor general, responded to the lawsuit with concern. Lee called for congressional committees to take action against Meta, which he said had exploited market dominance by disadvantaging 'people who think like I do.' Holyoak, whose office helps oversee federal antitrust policy, shared Lee's post, saying if Starbuck's claims were true, it would be 'extremely alarming.' In a statement to the Deseret News, Holyoak said her office has made addressing big-tech discrimination — including banning, shadow banning and demonetization — a priority. 'Technology platforms have engaged in lopsided censorship and reduced certain user-generated speech reflecting disfavored views in several prominent circumstances,' Holyoak said. 'It's critical that the FTC understand how technology platforms deny or degrade users' access(.)' The Federal Trade Commission launched an inquiry into tech censorship in February in an effort to identify practices that harm consumers or demonstrate anti-competitive conduct. In her statement, Holyoak directed users to take advantage of the commission's request for public comment, which runs until May 21, and said she looks forward to 'investigating the bad actors.' In a response to a request for comment from the Deseret News, a Meta spokesperson said, 'As part of our continuous effort to improve our models, we have already released updates and will continue to do so.' In addition to gaining the attention of Washington, D.C., officials, the announcement of Starbuck's lawsuit has gone viral, sparking debate about the future of AI. The lawsuit, submitted to the Delaware Superior Court on Tuesday, alleges that Meta has committed defamation by knowingly distributing provably false statements about Starbuck to third parties. Starbuck first became aware of the false statements in August of 2024, when Meta AI users began posting screenshots of their responses on X, formerly known as Twitter. Starbuck says that in response to users' inquiries about him, Meta AI claimed that he participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, was arrested for his involvement and ultimately pleaded guilty for disorderly conduct. None of these claims are true, according to the lawsuit. Starbuck said he was at home in Tennessee the day protesters entered the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and that he has never been arrested in his life. Starbuck says Meta AI also began telling users that he promoted Holocaust denialism, spoke at antisemitic events and was affiliated with white nationalist influencer Nick Fuentes — all completely false claims, according to Starbuck, a Cuban American who says he has never talked to Fuentes. On the day Starbuck became aware of Meta AI's responses, he said he reached out to Meta executives on X and messaged their legal counsel in an email that is included in the lawsuit. However, despite communication between Meta's legal counsel and Starbuck's lawyers over subsequent months, the false claims allegedly continued to appear in Meta AI responses as recently as mid-April. The lawsuit alleges that Meta AI's failure to correct the mistake and issue an apology has irreparably damaged Starbuck's reputation, multiple business ventures and the emotional well-being of his family, including by leading to an increased number of violent threats. Starbuck is requesting that the court force Meta to ensure its AI platform does not publish further defamatory statements about him. The lawsuit seeks $5 million in compensatory damages, attorney costs and additional punitive damages. In his video announcement of the lawsuit, Starbuck demonstrated what he said was the Meta AI voice feature making false claims about him, even going so far as saying that authorities should consider removing Starbuck's parental rights over his children and recommending that companies do not hire Starbuck or advertise on his show. 'It's really not hard to imagine the dystopian future coming soon where lies from AI can strip your ability to get a home, a car, credit, a job, or yes, take away your parental rights,' Starbuck said. Joel Kaplan, the chief global affairs officer of Meta, responded to Starbuck's video on Thursday with an apology and a commitment to solve the problem. 'Robby — I watched your video — this is unacceptable. This is clearly not how our AI should operate," Kaplan said in a post on X. 'We're sorry for the results it shared about you and that the fix we put in place didn't address the underlying problem. I'm working now with our product team to understand how this happened and explore potential solutions.' The previous 'fix' Meta put in place appeared to be an automatic response Meta AI temporarily gave users inquiring about Starbuck that said: 'Sorry, I can't help you with this request right now.' By Friday, Meta AI responded to a simple inquiry about Starbuck by listing his background as a former music video director and as a social media activist who targeted large corporations to expose their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The response, viewed by the Deseret News, also included information about Starbuck's lawsuit and an admission that Meta AI had provided users with false information. 'Meta's AI chatbot falsely claimed he was involved in the riot and even accused him of denying the Holocaust and promoting conspiracy theories,' Meta AI said. 'Meta has acknowledged that its AI systems sometimes make errors and has implemented measures to improve accuracy.' The Meta AI response also stated that Starbuck's lawsuit 'highlights concerns about AI 'hallucinations' and their real-world consequences.'
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MetaAI is filled with lies, says Conservative activist Robby Starbuck; takes WhatsApp AI chatbot to court
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has reportedly filed a defamation lawsuit against tech giant Meta, alleging that its artificial intelligence chatbot disseminated false and damaging statements about him. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to a report in ABCNews, the lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court on Tuesday, claims that Meta's AI falsely asserted Starbuck participated in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, among other untrue allegations. Starbuck is seeking over $5 million in damages. Starbuck, said to be known for his campaigns against corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, stated he discovered the AI's false claims in August 2024 while challenging "woke DEI" policies at motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson. "One dealership was unhappy with me and they posted a screenshot from Meta's AI in an effort to attack me," Starbuck explained in a post on X. "This screenshot was filled with lies. I couldn't believe it was real so I checked myself. It was even worse when I checked." He further added that since this discovery, he has "faced a steady stream of false accusations that are deeply damaging to my character and the safety of my family." Starbuck maintains he was in Tennessee during the January 6th Capitol riot. What Robby Starbuck says in his lawsuit Starbuck's legal action joins a growing number of similar cases where individuals are suing AI platforms over inaccurate information generated by chatbots. Notably, in 2023, a conservative radio host in Georgia sued OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT falsely claimed he had defrauded a gun-rights organization. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the complaint, after discovering the false information, Starbuck attempted to notify Meta and seek their assistance in rectifying the errors. The lawsuit claims he contacted Meta's managing executives and legal counsel and even inquired with the AI itself about how to address the false outputs. The lawsuit alleges that Starbuck requested Meta to "retract the false information, investigate the cause of the error, implement safeguards and quality control processes to prevent similar harm in the future, and communicate transparently with all Meta AI users about what would be done.' However, the filing contends that Meta was unwilling to make these changes or "take meaningful responsibility for its conduct." "Instead, it allowed its AI to spread false information about Mr. Starbuck for months after being put on notice of the falsity, at which time it 'fixed' the problem by wiping Mr. Starbuck's name from its written responses altogether," the lawsuit states. What Facebook said on Robby Starbuck's lawsuit In response to the lawsuit, a Meta spokesperson issued an emailed statement saying, "As part of our continuous effort to improve our models, we have already released updates and will continue to do so." Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer, responded to Starbuck's video outlining the lawsuit on X, calling the situation "unacceptable." "This is clearly not how our AI should operate," Kaplan wrote. "We're sorry for the results it shared about you and that the fix we put in place didn't address the underlying problem." Kaplan added that he is collaborating with Meta's product team to "understand how this happened and explore potential solutions."
