You will no longer be able to use artificial intelligence to order your Big Mac — at least for now. McDonald’s announced it is ending its AI drive-thru test run at more than 100 of its restaurants.
“While there have been successes to date, we feel there is an opportunity to explore voice ordering solutions more broadly,” said the franchisee memo from Mason Smoot, senior vice president and chief restaurant officer for McDonald’s U.S. “After thoughtful review, McDonald’s has decided to end our current partnership with IBM on AOT … IBM remains a trusted partner and we will continue to utilize many of their other products across our system.”
The fast food chain had partnered with IBM to create its so-called Automated Order Taker, which involves voice-activated ordering that uses AI to expedite the customer experience. However, reports said customers complained the chatbot got orders wrong and the tech had trouble interpreting accents.
“As we move forward, our work with IBM has given us the confidence that a voice ordering solution for drive-thru will be part of our restaurants’ future,” the company said in a statement. “We see tremendous opportunity in advancing our restaurant technology and will continue to evaluate long-term, scalable solutions that will help us make an informed decision on a future voice ordering solution by the end of the year.”
The AI drive-thru are set to be shut off by the end of July.
Apple unveils its AI strategy, partnership with OpenAI
Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, June 10, where it announced new upgrades to its devices and operating systems. But what’s getting the most attention is Apple Intelligence, the tech company’s new strategy for incorporating artificial intelligence into its business model.
“Recent developments in generative intelligence and large language models offer powerful capabilities that provide the opportunity to take the experience of using Apple products to new heights,” CEO Tim Cook said. “So, as we look to build in these incredible new capabilities, we want to ensure that the outcome reflects the principles at the core of our products.”
Among its capabilities, Apple Intelligence will see an update to the voice assistant Siri. Apple said Siri will now better understand people’s questions and, like with other chatbots, people will also be able to type to Siri.
Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI, saying if Siri doesn’t know the answer to something, it will ask if it can take a person’s question to ChatGPT.
New writing tools will see Apple Intelligence proofread, rewrite and summarize text across various apps, as well as suggest the right tone for the message.
Apple said you will also be able to create your own custom emojis just by describing what you are looking for. They’re calling these “genmojis.”
Apple Intelligence is set to launch in the fall.
Jury deliberations to resume in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
Jury deliberations are set to resume in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial. And Apple finally takes a big step into the world of artificial intelligence with “Apple Intelligence.” These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Day 2 of jury deliberations in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
Jury deliberations will resume Tuesday, June 11, in the federal gun trial of Hunter Biden. Deliberations started on Monday, June 10, after both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. Jurors only deliberated for less than an hour before being sent home for the day.
The jurors will decide whether Hunter Biden is guilty of three felony charges linked to purchasing a gun in 2018, when he was reportedly addicted to drugs.
In closing arguments, the prosecution urged jurors to “use common sense” to find the president’s son guilty, adding “no one is above the law.” The defense, however, said the prosecution failed to prove Hunter Biden was using illegal drugs when he bought the gun — claiming there were “gaping holes” in the case.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Blinken in Israel; U.N. Security Council endorses cease-fire plan
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues to urge top Israeli officials to accept and implement a plan for post-war Gaza, meeting with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid in Tel Aviv Tuesday, June 11. This come as he also pushes for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal just endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.
On Monday, June 10, 14 of the U.N.’s 15 security council members voted in favor of endorsing the cease-fire plan to end the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that was announced by President Joe Biden in May. Only Russia abstained from voting.
The U.S. said Israel has already accepted the cease-fire proposal.
The resolution calls on Hamas to agree to the three-phase plan, which would see an initial six-week cease-fire and the exchange of some Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The second phase would include a permanent cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages. The third phase would involve a reconstruction effort for the devastated Gaza strip.
Hamas was quick to welcome the resolution, saying in a statement it’s ready to cooperate with mediators and enter “indirect negotiations” over the implementation of the principles of the agreement.
Port of Baltimore shipping channel fully reopens after bridge collapse
After being closed for more than two months, the Port of Baltimore’s shipping channel is fully operational again. In late March, a massive 213-million pound cargo ship crashed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six construction workers and causing the structure to collapse — cutting off access to the crucial shipping artery.
To fully reopen the 700-foot-wide channel, crews had to remove roughly 50,000 tons of wreckage from the Patapsco River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The work to rebuild the nearly 50-year-old bridge continues. Shortly after the collapse, President Biden pledged the federal government would help pay for it.
Note: The above has been corrected to say 213-million pounds. An earlier version omitted million.
FDA panel backs Eli Lilly drug that slows Alzheimer’s progression
A panel of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers is unanimously backing an Alzheimer’s drug from Eli Lilly that’s been shown to slow the disease’s progression. The drug works by helping the body remove amyloid plaque buildups in the brain, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
These plaques are harmful deposits that can form in the brain as people age. Removing the plaque seems to slow down the brain changes that seem to happen with Alzheimer’s.
The FDA will make a final decision on approval later this year.
If approved, Eli Lilly’s drug would become the second Alzheimer’s medication of its kind currently on the U.S. market, expanding treatment options for the more than 6 million Americans who have the disease.
Alzheimer’s is the fifth leading cause of death for adults over 65 years old.
Apple unveils its AI strategy, partnership with OpenAI
Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, June 10, where it announced new upgrades to its devices and operating systems. But what’s getting the most attention is Apple Intelligence, the tech company’s new strategy for incorporating AI into its business model.
“Recent developments in generative intelligence and large language models offer powerful capabilities that provide the opportunity to take the experience of using Apple products to new heights,” CEO Tim Cook said. “So, as we look to build in these incredible new capabilities, we want to ensure that the outcome reflects the principles at the core of our products.”
Among its capabilities, Apple Intelligence will see an update to the voice assistant Siri. Apple said Siri will now better understand your questions and, like with other chatbots, people will also be able to type to Siri.
Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI Monday, saying if Siri doesn’t know the answer to something, it will ask if it can take your question to ChatGPT.
New writing tools will see Apple Intelligence proofread, rewrite and summarize text across various apps, as well as suggest the right tone for the message.
Apple said people will also be able to create your own custom emojis just by describing what you are looking for. They’re calling these “genmojis.”
Apple Intelligence is set to launch in the fall.
Starbucks launches its own production studio
When you think of Hollywood production studios, you might think of Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures or Disney. But a new name is now joining the list: Starbucks.
The coffee chain announced the creation of Starbucks Studios, which it said will “produce original entertainment and tell stories that deepen connections and spark conversations.”
Starbucks is partnering with Oscar-winning producer Michael Sugar and his media company Sugar23.
Starbucks is the latest company to open its own production studio, following brands like Nike and Mailchimp.
FCC pushes for transparency in AI-driven ads ahead of 2024 elections
With the 2024 U.S. presidential elections just six months away, how serious a threat is artificial intelligence when it comes to politics and disinformation? AI is taking a more visible role in political campaigns and it is transforming campaign strategies.
The federal government is pushing for greater accountability. Jessica Rosenworcel, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pressed for heightened transparency in how AI is used in campaign materials.
As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, the Commission wants to make sure consumers are fully informed when the technology is used.
Jessica Rosenworcel, Federal Communications Commission Chair.
Both major U.S. political parties are utilizing AI, from deploying AI-voiced advertisements to analyzing voter data. The increasing awareness of potential technology misuse — especially in creating persuasive deepfakes — is spurring discussions about the need for more stringent regulations.
The proposed FCC regulations would require political advertisements on radio, TV and cable to clearly disclose any AI-generated content. The FCC, however, does not have authority to regulate internet or social media ads.
This comes as the FCC fined Steve Kramer $6 million for his role in the AI-generated robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice ahead of the New Hampshire primaries to discourage voter turnout.
https://twitter.com/AP/status/1793672267945181484
Kramer, a political consultant for Democratic presidential long-shot Dean Phillips, also faces two dozen criminal charges in New Hampshire.
In an interview with local media, Kramer said that he sent out the calls to highlight the urgent need for stricter AI regulations.
“It’s exceeded what my initial thoughts were when doing this,” Kramer said in March. “I think that regulators realize this is a problem and I think legislators realize this is a problem. Now there is real impact and it’s going to keep happening so that we have real regulations that protect those same people who thought they were duped.”
The Biden and Trump campaigns said they’ve limited the use of generative AI to behind-the-scenes productivity tools for data analysis.
At least 9 dead after stage collapses at campaign rally in Mexico
A stage collapsed during a campaign event in Mexico, leaving at least nine people dead and dozens injured, and Nikki Haley makes her election plans known — giving her reasons why she’ll be voting for Donald Trump. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, May 23, 2024.
At least 9 dead after stage collapses at campaign rally in Mexico
Several people were killed and dozens injured when a stage collapsed during a campaign rally in Mexico on Wednesday, May 22. At least nine people were confirmed dead after high winds caused the stage to collapse at the campaign event in northern Mexico.
The victims included eight adults and one child. Officials said about 50 others were injured. Videos from the scene showed politicians, including a Mexican presidential candidate, on the stage as it began to fall.
People were seen rushing off the stage while those in the crowd ran for cover. Residents in the area were warned to stay indoors due to strong thunderstorms. The tragedy occurs as Mexico prepares for its presidential election on June 2.
Haley says she plans to vote for Trump for president
Nikki Haley has announced she plans to vote for former President Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election, despite her previous criticisms of him during the primary season.
When asked who would handle these issues better, the former United Nations ambassador said she would choose Trump over Biden, but emphasized she still does not agree with Trump on all issues.
“As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who’s going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account,” Haley said. “Who would secure the border, no more excuses. A president who would support capitalism and freedom. A president who understands we need less debt, not more debt. Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I’ve made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump.”
Even though Haley suspended her campaign months ago, she has still been receiving a significant share of votes in Republican primaries, including 20% in Indiana earlier in May.
In her comments Wednesday, Haley repeated her call to Trump from her campaign suspension speech, hoping he will reach out to her supporters and not assume they’ll just vote for him in her absence.
The Biden campaign quickly responded to Haley’s decision, saying this changes nothing for the millions of Republicans who have cast their ballots against Trump.
Second US bird flu case emerges in Michigan dairy worker
The worker developed pinkeye but no respiratory symptoms and has fully recovered. Health officials emphasize that while the risk to the general public remains low, they are recommending protective measures for those who come in contact with dairy cattle.
“The risk to the general public remains low,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the chief medical executive for the state of Michigan, said. “We know that with our current understanding of H5 influenza, and H5 influenza particularly in livestock, that there is the risk for sporadic human cases. And that’s what we’ve seen at this time. What we have not seen is any sort of sustained human-to-human transmission.”
This case follows a similar instance in Texas and is under close monitoring by the CDC, which is preparing genetic analyses to better understand the virus’s transmission capabilities.
DOJ antitrust lawsuit targets Live Nation
The Justice Department is expected to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, as early as Thursday, May 23, in a New York federal court. The DOJ’s actions could range from demanding the company halt any illegal practices to pursuing a more drastic measure of asking a court to break up the company.
Nvidia reports record revenue powered by rise of AI
Chipmaker Nvidia is experiencing significant success, thanks in part to the surge in artificial intelligence. The company, which manufactures microchips powering most AI applications, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, reported record revenue of $26 billion in its latest quarterly earnings. This represents a 262% increase from last year, surpassing Wall Street predictions.
The company’s shares have increased by more than 90% this year. Following the earnings report, a single share of Nvidia surpassed $1,000 on Wednesday, May 22.
Just five years ago, a share in Nvidia would have cost less than $50.
Lauryn Hill tops Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list
After a 10-day countdown, Apple Music has named “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” as the No. 1 album in its ranking of the 100 best albums of all time. Upon receiving the news, Lauryn Hill said, “The award is mine,” but noted that her 1998 solo album is a “deep narrative” that “involves so many people.”
Other albums in the top five include “Blond” by Frank Ocean, “Purple Rain” by Prince and “Abbey Road” by The Beatles. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” came in at No. 2.
Iran begins funeral services for president killed in helicopter crash
Funeral services for Iran’s president following the deadly helicopter crash are underway. The prosecution rests its case in Trump’s trial as the defense begins to call its witnesses. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Iran begins funeral services for president killed in helicopter crash
Thousands of supporters have taken to the streets as Iran begins its “five days of mourning,” declared by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Tuesday, May 21. The first funeral procession drew in thousands of Iranians to the closest major city to the crash site. The recovered bodies will then be taken to a holy city in the afternoon.
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The defense concluded its cross-examination of the prosecution’s key witness, Michael Cohen, before calling its first witness, Cohen’s former legal advisor Robert Costello. Costello, who will retake the stand Tuesday, May 21, previously advised Cohen.
Costello claimed that in past discussions, Cohen asserted he had no incriminating information on Trump and insisted Trump was unaware of the payments made to Stormy Daniels.
During Costello’s testimony, the judge sustained multiple objections from the prosecution and eventually ordered the jury out of the room after Costello talked over the judge, rolled his eyes and muttered comments.
Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team has moved to dismiss the charges, a request on which the judge has yet to decide. The judge also instructed both sides to prepare for closing arguments next week.
Biden rejects International Criminal Court’s claims of Israel committing genocide
President Joe Biden has sharply criticized a request from an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor for an arrest warrant for several Israeli leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking from the Rose Garden, Biden said Israel is not committing genocide and dismissed the ICC’s comparison of Israeli defensive actions to Hamas’ atrocities.
“Let me be clear, we reject the ICC application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders,” Biden stated. “Whatever these words may imply, there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. But let me be clear, contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Court of Justice, what’s happening is not genocide. We reject that.”
The ICC’s top prosecutor has called for global arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leaders on charges of crimes against humanity, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza. Netanyahu has denied the charges, arguing that the prosecutor is wrongly equating Israel with Hamas.
If the court’s judges approve the warrant, Netanyahu could face arrest in any country that is a party to the court, which includes most of Europe.
Federal judge in Texas blocks Biden rule expanding gun background checks
A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked a new rule from the Biden administration that intended to close what is referred to as a “gun show loophole.” The rule would require all firearm sellers to be licensed and mandate background checks for buyers.
The rule was scheduled to go into effect Monday, but the judge ruled that the language of the rule intended to protect gun owners was “inadequate.” As a result, its implementation is on hold in Texas until at least June 2.
At least 22 other states have filed similar lawsuits to block the gun law.
Target cuts prices on 5,000 items to attract more shoppers
The move is in response to consumers’ budgetary constraints amid inflation concerns. These discounts apply both in-store and online via Target’s website and app. Notably, this pricing strategy follows Target’s first annual sales decline in seven years, with a 1.7% drop reported for 2023.
The trend of increased frugality among U.S. consumers persists, despite some easing in inflation and stable consumer spending. Other retailers, including Giant Food and Michaels, are also implementing price reductions
OpenAI responds to Scarlett Johansson, pauses ChatGPT voice ‘Sky’
OpenAI has paused the use of “Sky,” a voice in its ChatGPT projects, because it closely resembles Scarlett Johansson’s voice from the film “Her.” The company stated that Sky is actually the natural voice of another professional actress, not an imitation of Johansson.
The resemblance was highlighted after a product demonstration earlier this month, further intensified by CEO Sam Altman’s tweet that referenced the movie “Her.”
Schumer hopes to pass AI legislation ahead of elections
The United States Senate has a utopian view of what artificial intelligence can bring, as long as it is properly regulated by the government. Senators said the possibilities include a cure for cancer in years instead of decades, treatments for Alzheimer’s, every child having individualized tutors and the elimination of traffic.
To ensure that the U.S. reaches that utopia, a bipartisan working group released what it calls a roadmap for artificial intelligence policy. The plan is something members hope Congress will follow as it creates AI regulation. Members of the working group are: Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.
The comprehensive package covers everything from the workforce, national security, intellectual property, privacy, deepfakes, sexual abuse and more. It also encourages Congress to spend $32 billion over the next three years on development.
The senators hope their plan will ultimately make America a friendly place for businesses developing AI technology so they do not move overseas.
“If they are creating items that are copyrightable, patentable or simply having intellectual property rights that they want protected, we want them to recognize that this is the place in the world that will provide them the most opportunity to see their successes rewarded appropriately,” Rounds said.
Lawmakers created the roadmap after conducting nine forums in which they heard from tech executives like ChatGPT’s Sam Altman, Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, national security experts, civil rights groups and privacy advocates. Participants in those forums said it was clear the government needs to make the rules and that the private sector should not police itself.
“Even if a few companies do it, if you have some outlier company, some bottom feeder companies that don’t do it, they put all the rest at a competitive disadvantage,” Schumer said. “So everyone agreed that to deal with the liabilities, we need some government guardrails.”
Senators are excited for what AI can do for quality of life. However, they are not ready to let AI take over legislating.
“It may be used for research purposes, but I don’t think in the near term, we’re looking at drafting laws with it,” Young said.
“I think the large language models are very good at drafting initial drafts, but you have to still have a human in the loop to make sure that, you know, the intent that was designed is actually what comes out the other end,” Heinrich said.
There are dozens of bills and proposals in Congress related to AI. Schumer said Congress will pass some of them this year, including legislation that would prevent AI from influencing elections.
OpenAI has partnered with Dotdash Meredith, the publisher of People magazine, to enhance its ChatGPT system. Dotdash Meredith said the collaboration will incorporate “trusted content” from the company’s array of brands — including “Better Homes & Gardens,” “Food & Wine” and “InStyle” — providing ChatGPT with access to recipes, health information, entertainment coverage and product reviews.
“We have not been shy about the fact that AI platforms should pay publishers for their content and that content must be appropriately attributed,” said Neil Vogel, CEO of Dotdash Meredith, said. “This deal is a testament to the great work OpenAI is doing on both fronts to partner with creators and publishers and ensure a healthy Internet for the future.”
Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI stated, “We’re thrilled to partner with Dotdash Meredith to bring its trusted brands to ChatGPT and to explore new approaches in advancing the publishing and marketing industries.”
Dotdash Meredith joins other companies who have partnered with OpenAI, like the Financial Times, Axel Springer and The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Alden Global Capital’s newspapers, including the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune, have sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, echoing a previous lawsuit by The New York Times.
Apple in talks with Google to integrate AI engine into iPhone
Apple is reportedly in discussions to integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence engine into the iPhone, according to Bloomberg News. Sources familiar with the matter suggest that negotiations are centered around licensing Gemini for new features slated to arrive on iPhone software later this year.
Details regarding the terms of the agreement and its implementation are currently unknown.
If the tech giants strike a deal, it could potentially pave the way for Google to expand its AI services to over 2 billion active Apple devices, bolstering its competition against Microsoft-backed OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.
While any official announcement is not expected until June, coinciding with Apple’s annual developers’ conference, recent talks have also included OpenAI.
Apple and Google have yet to comment on the Bloomberg report.
US adversaries harness OpenAI services to enhance cyberattack capabilities
When ChatGPT burst into the spotlight in 2022, people hailed it for its sophistication and versatility. However, artificial intelligence experts and government officials soon raised concerns about potential exploitation by malicious actors.
In a report Wednesday, Feb. 14, Microsoft and OpenAI found that hacker groups from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran are leveraging AI services to enhance their cyberattack capabilities.
OpenAI said it terminated every known account associated with five nation-state hacker groups. Microsoft, a significant financial backer of OpenAI, said these countries should not have access to such crucial technology.
While Microsoft and OpenAI haven’t discovered any significant attacks utilizing tools like ChatGPT, they have classified the hackers’ usage as “early-stage” research.
“These actors generally sought to use OpenAI services for querying open-source information, translating, finding coding errors, and running basic coding tasks,” OpenAI said in a report.
Currently, Microsoft tracks more than 300 hacking groups. Once identified, the company disrupts their activities, limits their access and ultimately terminates their services.
“We’re seeing this evolve across a number of ways again increasing sophistication by the actor,” Tom Burt, vice president of customer security at Microsoft said. “The use in some cases of AI-generated voicemail as the means of of conducting the fraud as well as email and the use of of cloud-based infrastructure to engage in these crimes.”
Microsoft acknowledged it can’t see every malicious actor, but the company is committed to taking every possible measure to disrupt threat actors.
The tech giant said it works with more than 15,000 partners to boost its security ecosystem, hoping to prevent the powerful tool from becoming a weapon against the U.S.