OKLAHOMA CITY — This year saw many technological advancements in the AI space, and the industry is likely poised for another big year in 2025. AI experts anticipate recently emerging technologies will continue to reshape sectors like healthcare and finance next year, but increasing concerns about ethics and data privacy are also here to stay. Some of the world’s largest tech players rolled out AI tools in 2024. NVIDIA in March rolled out the Blackwell chip, which enables AI training, research and computing for Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft. The company is expected to see strong growth next year as demand increases for data centers. Apple Intelligence was released in October. The generative tool features a new Siri with a more natural-sounding voice and conversational skills, writing and summary tools, enhanced photo-editing capabilities and a clean up tool to remove unwanted objects from images. OpenAI, the creator of Chat GPT, one of the most popular generative AI applications, added a search function in October. Users can type in a query, and the program will choose to search the web based on that and provide links to sites that provide information on a search. It also released its text-to-video model, Sora, to the public on Dec. 9. The tool can create short video clips based on user prompts. It can also extend existing short videos. “These are increasingly hyper realistic videos that can do everything from create a fictitious video from a sentence to extend a video and make it seem like maybe something happened,” said Sam Gregory, executive director of the human rights organization Witness on CBS News Wednesday morning. Marci Rossell, former CNBC chief economist and host of Squawk Box, told Oklahoma business leaders earlier this month that AI is simply a tool that lowers the cost of cognition. Beyond privacy concerns, Rossell said AI has people worried about its effect on the workforce, particularly because technological advancements in the past have been around augmenting human labor in agriculture or factories like robotics does. Specifically, people are alarmed about labor replacement, she said. Robotics advancements have led to job losses in manufacturing, but will AI do the same across the board in the coming years? Rossell doesn’t think so. Her reasoning is that AI applications are highest in education, health care, consulting and computer programming, and those industries don’t face the same type of demand constraints that manufacturing and agriculture do. Rossell referenced a Harvard Business School and Boston Consulting Group study about the use of AI tools to increase worker productivity. The study revealed that consultants who used AI tools saw a 40% increase in the quality of their work, and it was done 20% faster than the group who didn’t utilize the technology. Rossell said AI closed the gap between the lowest and highest performers, alluding to untapped potential for workforce development. “It has big implications for how you take folks who maybe are beyond the point in their life where it’s easy for them to gain skill. You give them an AI tool that does it for them,” Rossell said. Additionally, Rossell said the solution to U.S. debt might be found in AI. “I’ve been watching the trajectory of the U.S. debt and deficit for many years, and I’ve always said the same thing: ‘I don’t worry about it, unless financial markets worry about it,’” Rossell said. “I think financial markets aren’t expecting a financial crisis because they’re expecting AI to solve the problem.”EL SEGUNDO — Lamar Jackson is the kind of quarterback who has troubled the Chargers. Aw, who are we kidding? He’s the kind of quarterback who troubles everyone in the NFL. He’s a passer. He’s a runner. He’s a playmaker. He’s a destroyer of defenses. “He’s one of one,” Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said Friday. Minter also called Jackson “the most electric quarterback in the history of the National Football League.” Jackson will be the Chargers’ problem this week, when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night at SoFi Stadium. Jackson is another in a string of standout quarterbacks the Chargers will face during what is without question the toughest, most challenging part of their 2024 schedule. The Chargers rallied past Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night, pulling out a 34-27 victory on a last-minute drive led by Justin Herbert. Now, here comes Jackson, followed quickly by Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons, followed quickly by Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. No rest for the weary. No question, Burrow, Jackson, Cousins and Mahomes could wear out a defensive coordinator, causing him to lose sleep. In fact, it’s already happened, as Minter admitted last week while preparing to face Burrow, who led the NFL in passing yardage going into the game, and still does. Jackson (2,876 yards) is second to Burrow (3,028) going into Week 12. Jackson (25) is also second to Burrow (27) in touchdown passes. Jackson (nine) is second to Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions (9.2) in yards per passing attempt. Jackson leads the NFL in passer rating (117.3). No one has passed and run for as many yards as Jackson (3,460). “It’s an ultimate challenge,” Minter said. The Chargers have struggled to contain players with a similar mix of skills to Jackson, including Mahomes, Justin Fields of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos. Jackson does it better than the others, and that’s what keeps Minter up late at night, worrying about how to contain the uncontainable. “We’ve played against different types of guys, guys who do different things well,” Minter said. “(Jackson) does everything well. The second you overcommit to where you’re going to have all these eyes on him to run, he’ll throw the ball over your head. There’s no one you can compare him to, he’s one of one.” Plus, Jackson isn’t all the Chargers must worry about Monday. Jackson serves as something akin to a basketball point guard, distributing the football as he sees fit, whether it’s handing it off to bruising running back Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,185 yards and 13 touchdowns, or throwing it to wide receiver Zay Flowers or tight end Mark Andrews. The Ravens are first in the NFL in net yards per game (430.1) and yards from scrimmage per play (8.64). They are second in points per game (30.4) and net rushing yards per game (177.3). They are third in net passing yards per game (252.8). They also are first in red-zone touchdown percentage (77.8%). The Ravens are 7-4, second in the AFC North. The Chargers are 7-3, second in the AFC West. “The ultimate red-zone weapon because every play can be so many different things,” Minter said of Jackson’s versatility. “High, high level of respect for him, how he works. Just a challenge. You can run to the challenge. You can run from the challenge. We’re going to run to the challenge, meet it head on, put our best stuff out there and see what happens.”
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Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in ‘Baby Driver,’ dies after falling from moving vehicleSquirrels might look like adorable, nut-hoarding furballs, but some are ruthless predators that hunt, tear apart, and devour voles. That's the startling finding of a new study published Wednesday in the Journal of Ethology -- the first to document widespread carnivorous behavior in these seemingly innocent creatures. "There is always something new to learn and wild animals continue to surprise us," lead author Jennifer E. Smith, an associate professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire told AFP. "In a changing world with many technological advances, there is no replacement for direct observation of natural history, including watching the squirrels and birds that often visit our backyards." The observations were made this summer, during the 12th year of a long-term study conducted at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County, California. Between June and July, researchers recorded 74 interactions involving California ground squirrels and voles, with 42 percent of them involving active hunting of their fellow rodents. Co-author Sonja Wild, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, admitted she was initially skeptical of the reports brought to her by undergraduate students who first witnessed the behavior. "I could barely believe my eyes," said Wild. But "once we started looking, we saw it everywhere." It was previously known that as many as 30 species of squirrels opportunistically consume meat, ranging from small fish to birds. However, it was unclear whether this behavior stemmed from scavenging or active predation. The new study is the first to confirm that hunting is, in fact, a common behavior. Researchers observed squirrels crouching low to the ground before ambushing their prey, though more often, they chased voles, pounced, and delivered a neck bite followed by vigorous shaking. The study also found that the squirrels' carnivorous behavior peaked during the first two weeks of July, coinciding with a surge in vole populations reported by citizen scientists on the iNaturalist app. Other animals, such as raccoons, coyotes, and spotted hyenas, have been known to adapt their hunting strategies in response to human-induced changes in their environments. "In a changing world, it can be daunting to consider all of the challenges that human presence, habitat loss, and climate change impose on animals," said Smith. "Our study offers an exciting silver lining, demonstrating the incredible flexibility that some animals possess." Several questions still remain unanswered. Researchers hope to investigate how widespread hunting behavior is among squirrel species, whether it is passed down from parents to pups, and how it affects their broader ecosystems. ia/bjt Originally published as Cute carnivores: Bloodthirsty California squirrels go nuts for vole meat Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Breaking News Horror decision daughter was asked to make A dad who murdered his wife with an axe in front of their teen kids gave his daughters an unthinkable decision to make after the killing. Read more Breaking News Nightmare: Plea after alleged double murder The new tenant of a property previously rented by Sally Li and her husband Rex Chen has spoken of a nightmare ordeal and issued a desperate plea. Read more
By KATE BRUMBACK ATLANTA (AP) — A judge is weighing whether a Georgia state Senate committee has the right to subpoena testimony and documents from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as it looks into whether she has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. The Republican-led committee sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify at its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. The committee was formed earlier this year to examine allegations of “various forms of misconduct” by Willis, an elected Democrat, during her prosecution of Trump and others over their efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. Willis’ attorney, former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram during a hearing Tuesday that although the Georgia General Assembly has subpoena power, that power is not automatically conferred on a single legislative chamber or its committees. Even if the committee did have such power, he argued, the subpoenas in question are overly broad and not related to a legitimate legislative need. Barnes said the focus on Willis and her investigation into Trump shows that the committee was politically motivated and not a legitimate inquiry into the practices of district attorneys’ offices: “What they were trying to do is chill the prosecution of Donald Trump and find out what they had.” Josh Belinfante, a lawyer representing the lawmakers, said there is nothing in the Georgia Constitution that prohibits the Senate from issuing a subpoena. The duly formed interim committee is looking into whether new legislation is needed to regulate the practices of district attorneys’ offices in the state, he argued. “They are investigating and making an inquiry into these allegations that may show that existing state laws, including those establishing the processes for selecting, hiring and compensating special assistant district attorneys, are inadequate,” Belinfante said. The resolution creating the committee focused in particular on Willis’ hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade , with whom she had a romantic relationship , to lead the prosecution against Trump and others. It says the relationship amounted to a “clear conflict of interest and a fraud upon the taxpayers” of the county and state. One of the committee’s subpoenas orders Wills to produce documents related to Wade, including documents related to his hiring and payment, documents related to money or items of value that Wade and Willis may have exchanged, text messages and emails between the two, and their phone records. The committee also requested any documents her office sent in response to requests from the U.S. House, as well as communications Willis and her office had with the White House, the U.S. Justice Department and the House relating to the 2020 presidential election. And they asked for documents related to federal grant money Willis’ office has received. Before the deadlines in the subpoenas, Willis challenged them in court. Willis’ challenge was pending in mid-September when she skipped a hearing during which the committee members had hoped to question her. In October, the committee asked Ingram to require Willis to comply with the subpoenas. The committee’s lawyers wrote in a court filing that Willis’ failure to do so had delayed its ability to finish its inquiry and to provide recommendations for any legislation or changes in appropriations that might result. Barnes also argued that once the regular legislative session has adjourned, which happened in March this year, legislative committees can meet to study issues and come up with recommendations but do not have the power to compel someone to appear or produce documents. Belinfante rejected that, saying the state Constitution expressly permits the creation of interim committees and allows them to make their rules. Even if these subpoenas were validly issued, Barnes argued, they ask for too much, including private and personal information that is not a legitimate target of a legislative subpoena. Related Articles National News | Are you a former SmileDirectClub customer? You might be eligible for a refund National News | Justice Department announces sweeping reforms to curb suicides in federal prisons and jails National News | Defense makes closing argument in murder trial of Cash App founder Bob Lee National News | A judge has once again rejected Musk’s multi-billion-dollar Tesla pay package. Now what? National News | Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughing Belinfante said the lawmakers are simply trying to do their jobs. He asked that Willis be ordered to appear before the committee in early January. He also asked that she be ordered to provide the requested documents and explain what privilege justifies any that are excluded. With a glaring lack of state case law on the issue of the General Assembly’s subpoena power, that’s one issue Ingram will have to address. She said she will consider the arguments and release her order as soon as she can. Willis and Wade have acknowledged that they had a relationship but have said it began after he was hired and ended before the indictment against Trump was filed. Trump and other defendants argued that the relationship created a conflict of interest that should disqualify Willis and her office from continuing with her prosecution of the case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis’ actions showed a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” but he did not find a conflict of interest that would disqualify Willis. He said she could continue her prosecution as long as Wade stepped aside, which he did. Trump and others have appealed that ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals, and that appeal remains pending.INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev., Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (the "Company”) (NYSE:TPH) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $250 million of common stock through December 31, 2025 (the "Repurchase Program”), which succeeds the stock repurchase program that the Board of Directors authorized in December 2023 (the "2024 Repurchase Program”). For the fourth quarter through December 17, 2024, under the 2024 Repurchase Program, the Company repurchased 1,202,913 shares of common stock at a weighted average price per share of $41.57 for an aggregate dollar amount of $50.0 million. For the full year through December 17, 2024, under the 2024 Repurchase Program, the Company repurchased 3,964,537 shares of common stock at a weighted average price per share of $36.97 for an aggregate dollar amount of $146.6 million. Purchases of common stock pursuant to the Repurchase Program may be made in open market transactions effected through a broker-dealer at prevailing market prices, in block trades, or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws, including pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company is not obligated under the Repurchase Program to repurchase any specific number or dollar amount of shares of common stock, and it may modify, suspend, or discontinue the Repurchase Program at any time. Company management will determine the timing and amount of any repurchases in its discretion based on a variety of factors, such as the market price of the Company's common stock, corporate requirements, general market economic conditions, legal requirements, and applicable tax effects. About Tri Pointe Homes® One of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE: TPH) is a publicly traded company operating in 12 states and the District of Columbia, and is a recognized leader in customer experience, innovative design, and environmentally responsible business practices. The company builds premium homes and communities with deep ties to the communities it serves-some for as long as a century. Tri Pointe Homes combines the financial resources, technology platforms and proven leadership of a national organization with the regional insights, longstanding community connections and agility of empowered local teams. Tri Pointe has won multiple Builder of the Year awards, was named to the 2024 Fortune World's Most Admired CompaniesTM list, is one of the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® and was designated as one of the PEOPLE Companies That Care® in 2023 and 2024. The company was also named as a Great Place To Work-CertifiedTM company for four years in a row (2021 through 2024), and was named on several Great Place to Work ® Best Workplaces lists (2022 through 2024). For more information, please visit TriPointeHomes.com . Forward-Looking Statements Various statements contained in this press release, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our strategy, projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and our future production, land and lot sales, operational and financial results, including our estimates for growth, financial condition, sales prices, prospects, and capital spending. Forward-looking statements that are included in this press release are generally accompanied by words such as "anticipate,” "believe,” "could,” "estimate,” "expect,” "future,” "goal,” "guidance,” "intend,” "likely,” "may,” "might,” "outlook,” "plan,” "potential,” "predict,” "project,” "should,” "strategy,” "target,” "will,” "would,” or other words that convey future events or outcomes. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to update these statements unless required by law, and we caution you not to rely on them unduly. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. The following factors, among others, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements: the effects of general economic conditions, including employment rates, housing starts, interest rate levels, home affordability, inflation, consumer sentiment, availability of financing for home mortgages and strength of the U.S. dollar; market demand for our products, which is related to the strength of the various U.S. business segments and U.S. and international economic conditions; the availability of desirable and reasonably priced land and our ability to control, purchase, hold and develop such parcels; access to adequate capital on acceptable terms; geographic concentration of our operations; levels of competition; the successful execution of our internal performance plans, including restructuring and cost reduction initiatives; the prices and availability of supply chain inputs, including raw materials, labor and home components; oil and other energy prices; the effects of U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and duties on homebuilding products and retaliatory measures taken by other countries; the effects of weather, including the occurrence of drought conditions in parts of the western United States; the risk of loss from earthquakes, volcanoes, fires, floods, droughts, windstorms, hurricanes, pest infestations and other natural disasters, and the risk of delays, reduced consumer demand, and shortages and price increases in labor or materials associated with such natural disasters; the risk of loss from acts of war, terrorism, civil unrest or public health emergencies, including outbreaks of contagious disease, such as COVID-19; transportation costs; federal and state tax policies; the effects of land use, environment and other governmental laws and regulations; legal proceedings or disputes and the adequacy of reserves; risks relating to any unforeseen changes to or effects on liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, indebtedness, financial condition, losses and future prospects; changes in accounting principles; risks related to unauthorized access to our computer systems, theft of our homebuyers' confidential information or other forms of cyber-attack; and additional factors discussed under the sections captioned "Risk Factors” included in our annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. New risk factors may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risk factors on our business. Investor Relations Contact: [email protected] , 949-478-8696 Media Contact: Carol Ruiz, [email protected] , 310-437-0045
Photo credit: REBELDOGS HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REBELDOGS , a new project based in Los Angeles, is developing the first Hollywood film where meme coins and cinema work hand in hand. The movie, featuring animated dogs voiced by popular influencers who each represent a cryptocurrency, is designed to make digital finance fun and approachable while helping real-world causes like dog shelters. Recognized with the prestigious 2024 Global Recognition Award, REBELDOGS is breaking new ground by combining Hollywood storytelling with cryptocurrency technology. The project is funded by the project owner through a separate company licensed to launch the REBELDOGS coins, marking them as the first digital movie merchandise. The project builds upon the remarkable success of earlier meme coins in the crypto space. Most notably, Dogecoin, launched in 2013 and supported by Elon Musk, reached a staggering $12 billion market cap based solely on a Shiba dog meme. REBELDOGS aims to take this proven concept further by being the first to blend the viral power of meme coins with mainstream entertainment, effectively writing a new chapter in both crypto and cinema history. "We're blending two global phenomena—cinema and cryptocurrency—into something entirely new, " explains Dirk Oerlemans, the founder of REBELDOGS. "Our goal is to make these technologies accessible while building a meaningful community that contributes to real-world causes." The film, which is planned for release in 2025, is already getting noticed. This creative approach lets audiences enjoy the movie while engaging with the meme coins tied to each dog character. Proceeds from these coins will support dog shelters worldwide. Building a Vibrant Online Community REBELDOGS has grown a strong online community through platforms like Telegram and Twitter. Its Telegram group now has over 15,000 followers, showing how quickly interest in the project spreads. Fans use these spaces to talk about the project, get updates, and participate in activities like script-writing contests where their ideas might make it into the film. “Our Telegram community is the backbone of this initiative, ” says Oerlemans. “It’s inspiring to see people rallying around both the crypto aspect and the real-world mission of supporting shelters. It’s a perfect example of digital communities making tangible impacts.” The team is also adding interactive tools, such as a chatbot that lets users "talk" to their favorite movie characters. These ideas are designed to keep fans engaged and excited as the movie comes together, and the meme coins are launched. Supporting Dog Shelters Worldwide One of REBELDOGS's most special parts is its commitment to helping dog shelters. A percentage of the money made from the meme coins will go to shelters worldwide. This funding will help cover the cost of food, medical care, and adoption services for rescued dogs. The inspiration for this mission comes from Oerlemans’ personal story. He adopted his dog Rebel from a shelter, and the experience sparked the idea for this project. “ Rebel’s story inspired this entire project,” he says. “ Every coin and every character in the movie represents a chance to improve the lives of shelter dogs around the globe.” The first coin, $REBELDOGE, will launch by the end of 2024, and more coins will be introduced monthly as the movie premiere approaches. This setup keeps the community engaged while ensuring steady support for shelters. Combining Crypto and Culture for a Bigger Impact After the movie is released, the company plans to build a space where fans of film, sports, music, and crypto can connect. This platform will allow users to turn their favorite icons into meme coins, creating more opportunities for ongoing engagement. "We’re rewriting how films are marketed," e xplains Oerlemans. "By tying our project to meme coins, we’re not only telling a story but also building a community that continues to thrive long after the movie premieres." Meme coins are all about being silly and cute—the driving force everybody understands. The movie is fully funded upfront by the founder, and a separate company is licensed for the launch of the REBELDOGS coins, making them the first digital movie merchandise. Oerlemans believes the project has a bigger purpose than just creating a movie. “ The crypto super cycle is coming, so by integrating education into entertainment, we want to prepare people for that future in a way that’s both fun and impactful by supporting dog shelters.” Exploring the Future of Cinema and Crypto By blending blockchain, cinema, and charity, REBELDOGS is creating something fresh and meaningful. The project aims to bridge technology and culture while making a real difference for animals in need. As the release date approaches, REBELDOGS is already bringing together a global audience of movie lovers, crypto fans, and animal advocates. Whether it leads to a new way of doing business in the entertainment industry or stands as a one-of-a-kind idea, REBELDOGS is a project to watch. Contact Information: Name:Dirk Oerlemans Company: Haege Groep bv Website: www.rebeldogsmovie.com Email: info@westfieldmanagement.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/68ffa58b-d64e-49bc-b438-c9b07aa10a5f
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