On Friday, China’s prominent e-commerce platform Alibaba announced a settlement of $433.5 million in a class-action lawsuit brought forth by investors in the United States. The lawsuit, initiated in 2020, accused Alibaba of engaging in monopolistic practices that allegedly violated anti-monopoly and unfair competition laws. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Alibaba…...

OpenAI has promoted its transcription tool, Whisper, as possessing near “human level robustness and accuracy.” However, Whisper has shown a significant drawback: it frequently generates fabricated text—referred to as hallucinations—which can include inappropriate or harmful commentary on race, violence, and even invented medical treatments. These inaccuracies raise serious concerns among…...

Cate Mingoya-LaFortune is a climate adaptation planner and community organizer deeply invested in promoting equitable environmental policies. Raised in a neighborhood impacted by environmental injustices, she has dedicated her career to ensuring communities can thrive in clean, safe environments. As the Chief Officer of Climate Resilience and Land Use at…...

In June, the journal Nature published a notable perspective challenging common narratives surrounding the impact of misinformation online. Authored by a team from four universities and Microsoft, the paper critiques three prevalent beliefs: that individuals are frequently exposed to misinformation, that algorithms are chiefly to blame for this exposure, and…...

Microsoft recently made headlines after firing two employees who organized an unauthorized vigil at its Redmond, Washington headquarters in memory of Palestinians killed during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The fired employees, Abdo Mohamed, a data scientist, and Hossam Nasr, a Harvard graduate, were both part of the…...

On a recent ruling, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals showcased a split in opinion as it weighed in on a controversial tweet by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The court ruled in a closely contested 9-8 decision that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) had overstepped its bounds in…...

Walmart continues to assert its dominance over Target in the competitive landscape of American retail. As inflation remains persistently high, Walmart has successfully attracted a wealthier customer base while enhancing its membership and advertising revenues. The company’s value proposition is compelling, with grocery prices reportedly 10% to 12% lower than…...

In a recent address, Roberto Campos Neto, the head of Brazil’s central bank, highlighted the growing influence of potential inflationary impacts from the upcoming U.S. presidential election on long-term interest rate futures. Speaking at a forum organized by Itau during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings,…...

In a recent analysis by Lambert Strether of Corrente, the workings of the Healthcare Infection Control and Prevention Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and its role within the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) are scrutinized critically. HICPAC, a federal advisory group, is ostensibly tasked with offering guidance on infection control and prevention…...

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, The Washington Post announced its decision not to endorse any candidate in the 2024 election, a choice that has been met with significant backlash from various quarters, including former editorial leaders. This move, as highlighted by the current publisher Will Lewis, is portrayed as…...

Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) is demonstrating the competitive edge that arises from prioritizing employee welfare. The journey of the Armendariz sisters—Lily, Rosario, and Elsa—illustrates this point effectively. Together, they have 57 years of service at Chipotle and a total income nearing $1 million annually. Lily, who joined the company as…...