Latest news with #theWorld
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Business Insider Did Something So Stupid With AI That We're Reeling
Amid Business Insider's latest pivot to AI, the site's past brushes with the technology are coming back to haunt it. As Semafor reports, a manager recommended fake, seemingly-AI-generated books to underlings last year on a reading list meant to help them better understand business journalism. In the staff email, which was leaked to Semafor, the senior BI manager suggested well-known titles like Andrew Ross Sorkin's classic "Too Big To Fail," about the Wall Street crash of 2008, and "DisneyWar" by James Stewart, which exposed the tumultuous behind-the-scenes drama at the famed studio some 20 years ago. Those were recommended alongside books that nobody had heard of, with names like "Simply Target: A CEO's Lessons in a Turbulent Time and Transforming an Iconic Brand" by Gregg Steinhafel, the former chief executive of the big-box chain, and "The House of Morgan: An Intimate Portrait of the Most Powerful Banking Family in the World," by purported author Fredric Morgan. But Semafor was unable to find any evidence that those titles had ever been published. Some were similar to real books — like the legitimate book "The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance" by Ron Chernow — while others seem to have been completely made up. One of the books on the most ludicrous falsehoods on the list was "Mark Zuckerberg Autobiography: The Man Behind the Code," a purported autobiography of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that also claims to have been written by a "Jasper Robin." (An autobiography, obviously, is written by its subject.) Though Zuckerberg has been the subject of at least a few biographies written by other people, none of them have been named "Jasper Robin," and in fact, we were not able to find anything about said author except for their author page on Goodreads, which also links to the title in Italian and German — but not to any booksellers. Though BI didn't admit the source for those phony titles either in leaked documents or in requests for comment from Semafor, it doesn't take a deep investigation to figure out where they almost certainly came from — especially given that the company is now investing in AI, and is planning to lay off 21 percent of its workforce amid its pivot to using the hallucination-happy technology. In a memo to staff announcing the layoffs that later published on its website, BI CEO Barbara Peng said that the company is "going all-in on AI" and experiencing growing pains as it does. "Change like this isn't easy," Peng wrote. "But Business Insider was born in a time of disruption — when the smartphone was reshaping how people consumed news. We thrived by taking risks and building something new." To say that BI has "thrived" may be an overstatement. The site has long been winnowing its workforce; along with the latest cuts, the company laid off eight percent of its workforce last year and axed 10 percent of its roles in 2023 — and in that instance, AI experiments were also announced around the same time. And when senior managers are recommending books they haven't even read, nevermind verified they're real, it's easy to see why. More on hallucinatory citations: RFK Jr's "Make America Healthy Again" Report Cites Studies That Don't Exist, in Clear Sign of AI Generated Slop
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Race Across the World star dies aged 24 in tragic car crash
Former BBC star Sam Gardiner, known for his appearance on Race Across the World, has tragically died following a car crash in Manchester. The 24 year old was involved in a devastating road accident last week when his vehicle dramatically careened off the A34 on Monday, 26 May, rolling and ending up on its side, confirmed Greater Manchester Police. The odds of such an event happening to someone with experience navigating global adventures are slim, but the tragedy nevertheless struck the young man who journeyed with his mum Jo on the widely watched BBC programme. In a poignant statement released by his bereft parents Jo and Andrew, they conveyed their overwhelming grief, expressing that they were "devastated" over the loss of their "special" son. Their heartfelt words described how: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Sam in a terrible accident. Sam left us far too soon, and while words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special." The tender tribute painted a vivid picture of a bright spirit taken prematurely, saying: "He was willing to go wherever the trail might lead and he touched everyone he met on the road. He found great happiness working as a landscape gardener on the west coast of Scotland. "Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we'll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade". After fighting courageously, Sam succumbed to his injuries, as a spokesperson from the Greater Manchester Police somberly reported: "We sadly must confirm that the driver of a white VW Golf R estate involved in a single vehicle collision on Monday 26 May on the A34 in Gatley has since passed away from his injuries.", reports the Express. "The driver, a 24 year old man, has been identified as Sam Gardiner. His family have been notified and are receiving support from specially trained officers. They have requested privacy during this dreadful time. We'd like to express our gratitude to everyone who shared our appeal and sent their best wishes to Sam and his family." At the time following the accident, the police stated: "Emergency services attended the scene and the driver, a 24 year old man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, sustained serious head injuries and was transported to hospital where he remains in a critical and life-threatening condition." Since the tragic news was reported, a spokesperson for Race Across the World said: "Everyone who worked with him and indeed everyone who watched Sam could see just how valuable and transformative the journey was for both him and his mum, Jo. "Sam embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result. "Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends." The landscape gardener featured alongside his mother Jo in the second series of the BBC show, which was broadcast in 2020, journeying across South America. They had to bow out during the last stretch of the race due to a cash shortage, yet both mum and son have called the adventure "life-changing."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Race Across The World star's tearful chat with mum resurfaces after tragic death
Fans of Race Across The World have been shocked and saddened to learn of the death of 2020 contestant Sam Gardiner - with footage of a touching chat he had with his mum on the show resurfacing Footage of Race Across The World star Sam Gardiner sharing an emotional heart-to-heart with his mum on the show has resurfaced in light of his tragic death. The reality star died aged just 24 following a car crash in Manchester last week, with news of his death emerging on Sunday. Sam competed on the BBC's Race Across The World in 2020. He competed alongside his mother, Jo, as they made their way from Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City to Ushuaia in Argentina. During their journey, the mother and son noted how the experience had brought them closer. Describing the experience as "life-changing", Sam told his mother: "How many 19-year-olds can say they've done this and travelled with their mum?" Jo replied: "I think just you really. We've got long journeys, you're trying to balance it with enjoying yourself, but also have a budget, there's bound to be stresses. But I think our relationship is still in tact even if you find me slightly more irritating that you used to." Jo added: "This has been really great fun." Fans of the BBC show and the two contestants have been shocked and saddened to learn of Sam's sudden passing. Devastated dad Andrew Gardiner broke the news of Sam's death in a statement that was shared on Sunday. He wrote: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Sam in a terrible accident. "Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special. Sam was adored by his family. As a son, brother and nephew, he was loyal, funny and fiercely protective." Noting that his son was genuine during his time on the BBC show, Andrew added: "Race Across The World opened his eyes to the wonder of adventure and travel. He was willing to go wherever the trail might lead, and he touched everyone he met on the road. "He found great happiness working as a landscape gardener on the west coast of Scotland. Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. "He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we'll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade." Following the devastating news, a Race Across the World spokesperson said: "Everyone who worked with him and indeed everyone who watched Sam could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum, Jo. "Sam embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result. "Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends."
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Post-space trip, AI Katy Perry finds love with an Alien; internet says, 'she found her people'
An AI-generated video featuring pop star Katy Perry has taken the internet by storm. The surreal clip, which blends satire with sci-fi absurdity, has gone viral within hours and appears to poke fun at Katy's much-talked-about space trip last week — which already had people talking, though mostly for the wrong reasons. Katy Perry's AI-generated video goes viral The now-viral clip, originally posted by @kaxishk, opens with an AI-generated version of Katy Perry arriving on a strange alien planet in her blue space suit. Things escalate quickly in the most bizarre way possible. Set to the background music of Perry's song All The Love, the animated version of her is seen taking selfies with aliens, striking dramatic poses, and blending into extraterrestrial society. But it just doesn't end there. She falls in love with a tall, blue alien, gets proposed to under a glowing nebula, marries in a zero-gravity ceremony, and ends up with a quirky half-human, half-alien family. It's absurd, strangely compelling, and clearly satirical, which is meant to mock the spectacle of her real-life space antics. WHO MADE THIS??😭😭 Netizens react to the video Social media users haven't missed a beat in turning the AI clip into a memefest. "This video is wild but this should have been the lead single for this album & I will die on that hill," one user wrote. "She found her people," wrote another user. This video is wild but this should have been the lead single for this album & I will die on that hill Another joked, "It's Not The End of the World part 2 the aliens got her this time." It's Not The End of the World part 2 the aliens got her this time A third user took a dig at short space trip, writing, "she shoulda made a new ET music video while she was up there but alas, she was in orbit for less than the songs runtime." she shoulda made a new ET music video while she was up there but alas, she was in orbit for less than the songs runtime "Why do they look disappointed in her?" one user asked. Why do they look disappointed in her? About Katy Perry's space trip On April 14, 2025, Katy Perry joined Blue Origin's NS-31 mission — a suborbital spaceflight that made headlines for featuring the first all-female crew since 1963. The 10-minute flight launched from West Texas and reached the edge of space before safely returning to Earth. Alongside Perry were Jeff Bezos's fiancée Lauren Sánchez, CBS host Gayle King, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, activist Amanda Nguyen, and producer Kerianne Flynn. The mission aimed to inspire young women in STEM fields, but it sparked mixed reactions. While some praised its symbolism, others criticised it as a tone-deaf publicity stunt with environmental consequences.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WTA Enlists Gauff, Osaka to ‘Rally the World' for Brand Refresh
The WTA has unveiled a new brand identity to signal a fresh chapter in its storied history. The tour's commercial arm WTA Ventures developed a new logo and slogan—'Rally the World'—to bring greater brand awareness to the tour and its athletes, designed in concert with London-based agencies ChapterX and Nomad Studio. A new linear and digital ad campaign, with 30- and 60-second ads produced by creative agency Brothers & Sisters, will feature women's tennis stars Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen. The campaign will present the traditional tennis court not as a field of play, but as a stage for the game's talents to perform and express themselves. More from No Women Among 100 Highest-Paid Athletes Despite Business Gains Sporticast 403: Female Athletes With Earnings Ready to Spike Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2024: Coco, Caitlin and Korda Soar The tour's new branding, which includes updated graphics for the WTA's global broadcasts outside of the Grand Slams, will make its debut at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells beginning on March 2. WTA Ventures chief brand officer Sarah Swanson said the tour set out on a rebrand because its previous presentation wasn't strong enough in market. 'It didn't match the legacy of the WTA and the power of our athletes and women's tennis,' she said in a Zoom interview. In 2024, the WNBA, NWSL, NCAA women's basketball, volleyball and other competitions set viewership and attendance records. Swanson sees the WTA's brand redesign as a huge opportunity to bring it in line with those leagues. 'Team sports have a league mentality that inherently creates a stronger brand,' she said. 'Individual sports have more of a challenge. But the power of tennis and our players is so strong that it just sort of felt wrong to me that the platform that was creating the ability for these players to be so successful wasn't sort of getting the recognition.' That reasoning also dovetails with the tour's objective to show that it's not just the organizing body for women's tennis, but also a global entertainment brand that can stand alongside other sports leagues. 'Part of this shift in the brand was thinking of ourselves that way, but then presenting ourselves that way,' Swanson said. 'And we're certainly looking at how to continue to shift the way that we produce the sport, so that we're taking cues from some of the best kind of sports and entertainment properties out there, like the NFL, the NBA, the Premier League.' Swanson noted that in addition to their play, the athletes selected for the ad spot were considered for a wide range of reasons: Sabalenka's rise to become the world's top player, Osaka's honesty about life on and off the court, the global diversity from Tunisia's Jabeur and China's Zheng, and Gauff's ascension as a role model for American girls. Such storytelling has pulled in millions of fans around the world. In 2024, the WTA had a 15% lift in on-site attendance while its global audience grew by 10% to 1.1 billion viewers on linear and digital platforms. The tour's social media following also leaped by 25% across all platforms. The new brand campaign arrives three months after the tour hosted its finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the first time in December after the WTA signed a sponsorship pact with the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, PIF, last May. The two sides were in talks to bring the WTA Finals to Saudi Arabia in 2023, but the tour pulled back due to public pressure for planning to host an event in a country with a history of repressive laws against women. Swanson said the decision to go to Saudi Arabia the following year was a thoughtful one and that the players' collective response was positive, with many believing they can be ambassadors for the sport there. 'You know that the brand purpose we landed on is this idea of 'Rally the World,' but the full wording is 'Rally the World to Break Boundaries,'' Swanson said. 'Billie Jean King founded this brand, this league, on the idea of creating opportunity for, particularly women and girls anywhere, to be an athlete. The decisions that we are making now are very much in that same vein.' Commercial opportunities continue to grow for women's sports, even though no female athlete ranked in Sportico's top 100 highest-paid athletes of 2024. Nine of the 15 highest-earning female athletes come from the WTA Tour, with Gauff ranking as the highest-paid woman in all of sports last year with $30.4 million. Zheng, who is viewed as having a Yao Ming-like marketing impact, pulled in $20.6 million as the fourth highest-earning female athlete, followed by Sabalenka ($17.7M) and Osaka ($15.9M). Best of MLS Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From LAFC to CF Montréal Tennis Prize Money Tracker: Which Player Has Earned the Most in 2025? Who Is Josh Harris, the Washington Commanders' Owner?
