Weekly Insider: 3 minutes read

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🎬 Scarlett Johansson vs. ChatGPT: The Voice Drama! 🎤

When OpenAI launched its new ChatGPT last week, fans noticed something strange. The AI voice sounded just like Scarlett Johansson in the 2013 sci-fi movie "Her." Now, OpenAI says it’s pulling the plug on that voice. 😲🎥

Scarlett Johansson's lawyers are demanding answers from OpenAI on how they created a voice that sounds so similar to hers. They sent two letters asking for details.

Turns out, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had been trying to get Scarlett on board for months. Nine months ago, Altman asked Scarlett to license her voice for the new ChatGPT assistant. He thought her voice would comfort people uneasy about AI. 🤖 Scarlett declined, but two days before the new ChatGPT launch, Altman reached out again. Before they could connect, OpenAI unveiled the new voice. 😱

Scarlett felt betrayed and was shocked and angered by how similar the voice was to hers. She’s also worried about the rise of disinformation and deepfakes. Altman denied any connection between Scarlett and the new voice, stating that they cast the voice actor for Sky before reaching out to Scarlett. Scarlett wants more legal protection for creative works powering AI tools.

OpenAI later clarified that Sky’s voice was developed from another actress, whose identity remains private. 🎭 Experts say these AI assistants could change how we interact with technology, creating deeper connections between users and machines. When Professor Visar Berisha watched "Her," it seemed like science fiction. "It doesn’t seem like that now," he said. 🎥

Neuralink Gets FDA Green Light for Second Brain Chip Test! 🧠

The FDA has given Elon Musk’s Neuralink the go-ahead to implant its brain chip in a second person. 

Noland Arbaugh was the first to receive the Neuralink implant, and his journey is incredible! Imagine controlling a computer cursor just with your thoughts!💡 As a quadriplegic, Noland hadn’t been able to move below his shoulders for eight years. Thanks to Neuralink, he could suddenly chat with friends, play games, and interact with the world in new ways. 🎮

But, a month after his surgery, the device wasn’t working as well. Most of the ultra-thin threads implanted in his brain had come loose, which was a big letdown.

Neuralink learned a lot from Noland’s experience. The brain moves more inside the skull than expected! Despite the hiccup, Neuralink’s engineers worked their magic and improved the software, allowing Noland to regain many of the device’s capabilities. He’s even showcased his progress in livestreams, proving the tech can bounce back stronger than ever.

With the FDA’s approval, Neuralink is set to implant its second participant in June. Over 1,000 quadriplegics have signed up for the trial, though fewer than 100 meet the criteria. 🌍

The Supreme Court's Latest Ruling: A Win for Gerrymandering 🎨

The US Supreme Court just handed down a decision that's all about voting rights and gerrymandering—yep, those tricky maps politicians use to keep themselves in power. 🗺️ The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision is a major endorsement of partisan gerrymandering. In simpler terms, it's saying, "Go ahead, draw those funky maps to benefit your political party!" 🏛️

In the past, there were rules against racial gerrymandering (making maps to limit the voting power of specific racial groups). Sometimes, those rules also stopped maps designed to keep one political party in control. But this new ruling by Justice Samuel Alito changes things up. ⚖️

Justice Alito's opinion in the case Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP makes it clear: political parties can draw maps to boost their power, even if it means favoring white voters and disadvantaging voters of color. Alito's goal is to stop people from claiming that a partisan gerrymander (for political gain) is actually a racial gerrymander (for racial discrimination). He states that the Constitution allows legislatures to pursue partisan goals when redistricting.

This decision is a big win for those who want to draw maps that favor their political party. It also pushes Alito's idea that white lawmakers shouldn't be quickly accused of racism. He argues that allegations of racism in legislative districting are serious and shouldn't be made lightly. 🌟

Challengers now have to show that it's possible to draw more racially balanced maps that still achieve the same political goals. If they can't, the maps stay. 🗺️

House GOP Investigates College Protests & Alleged Antisemitism 📚

Hey, students! 🎓 Here's a scoop from Capitol Hill: the House GOP (that's the Republican Party) is calling out some big-name universities over protests and claims of antisemitism.

The House Education Committee, led by GOP members, grilled leaders from Northwestern, Rutgers, and UCLA. These universities are facing questions about how they handle protests and accusations of antisemitism on campus.

It's been a months-long investigation, and it's got everyone's attention, especially since it led to two university presidents getting the boot! 👢

Before all this, Jewish students from these schools shared their worries about campus leadership. UCLA grabbed headlines when protests turned violent, and police were accused of not stepping in. This led to the temporary reassignment of the school's former police chief as they review security measures. 🚨

The Education Committee isn't done yet! They want to make sure colleges provide safe spaces for learning. And with more protests on campuses nationwide, this issue isn't going away anytime soon! 🌟

Join Us EVERY Friday at 11 am, grab your popcorn, and stay curious as there are many more juicy stories to come

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Nvidia's Stock Skyrockets to New Heights! 🚀

Nvidia's stock is on fire, soaring past $1,000 per share! 😮 People are buzzing with excitement about what this means for the company. Let's break down the key points from their latest earnings report. 👀

• Nvidia's earnings per share topped expectations at $6.12, and their revenues hit $26.04 billion, beating estimates. 💰

• They're forecasting even higher revenues of $28 billion for the next quarter, once again surpassing expectations. 🔮

• Data center revenues shot up a whopping 427% compared to last year, with overall revenue jumping 262% and earnings per share soaring by 560%! 😲

But wait, there's more! Nvidia announced a 10-for-1 stock split and a 150% increase in their dividend. That means more people can invest, and investors might see even bigger gains! 📈

Squarespace Goes Private in Mega $6.9 Billion Deal! 💼

Squarespace, the go-to spot for building snazzy websites, is ditching the public scene and going private with Permira in a whopping $6.9 billion deal. That's a whole lot of cash flying around! 💸

Founded back in 2004 by CEO Anthony Casalena, Squarespace is like the superhero for small businesses and freelancers who want slick websites without breaking a sweat. Think of it as the "no-code" champ, making website-building a breeze with its drag-and-drop magic! 💼

Permira's offer to Squarespace shareholders? A sweet $44 per share, giving the company an equity valuation of $6.6 billion. That's a 15% premium on its recent closing price. Sounds like a win-win! 📈

Well, Squarespace has had its ups and downs in the stock market rollercoaster. But it's bounced back strong, hitting over $1 billion in revenue last year and diving into cool stuff like generative AI to jazz up web content. Permira sees big potential in Squarespace's toolkit and wants to help it grow even more! 🚀

This move is part of a trend—private equity firms are making waves lately, snapping up tech companies left and right. It's like a game of acquisitions, and Squarespace is the latest player in this high-stakes game! 🎲