jili hack

I visited UK’s strictest pub... there’s a no phone policy & coats go on a hook – but one rule went too farUnitedHealthcare's Facebook Post About Slain CEO Flooded With 'Haha' ReactionsOlympian with 2 gold, 11 silver and 3 bronze medals is now an Ola driver: Mumbai entrepreneur’s post goes viral

OTTAWA — Canada has again breached its years-long policy and voted in support of a United Nations motion critical of Israel, based on concerns about the viability of a two-state solution. "The dynamics in the broader region show very clearly that conflict management, as opposed to genuine conflict resolution, is not in fact a sustainable path to peace, security and prosperity," Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, told a UN plenary Tuesday. For years, Canada backed Israel in votes at the international body, but the federal Liberals changed that policy a year ago, citing concerns over policies that undermine Ottawa's decades-long policy of advocating for an eventual Palestinian country that would exist in peace alongside Israel. That change also came amid widespread concern from humanitarian groups and legal experts about Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in its campaign in the Gaza Strip. UN member states passed a motion 157 to 8, with seven abstentions, reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories and condemning the use of force against Palestinian civilians. The motion passed Tuesday also calls for a peace conference, and is similar to motions brought before the UN multiple times. It called out "terror against civilians on all sides" but did not name Hamas or any Palestinian militant group, drawing criticism from Israel advocates. Rae said the motion should have been more balanced, but Ottawa wanted to signal its concern about the viability of a Palestinian state. "We voted in favour of this resolution, like many, many others (did) to signal our firm commitment to the two-state solution," he said. Rae reiterated condemnation of the October 2023 attack by Hamas against Israel, and called for the return of all hostages including the body of Canadian citizen Judih Weinstein Haggai. "All Palestinians deserve to be led by a legitimate and representative government without the participation of a terrorist organization such as Hamas," Rae told the UN plenary. Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong decried today's vote as singling out Israel, writing on the platform X that supporting the motion would "reverse Canada's long-standing position on Israel." He said that a Conservative government would be "ensuring alignment with our closest democratic allies." Tuesday's vote was supported by the U.K., Japan and most European Union states. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says the Liberals had voted against similar motions for almost a decade. "Today's reversal to vote yes instead represents an abandonment of Canada's long-standing, principled foreign policy," the group wrote on X. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian PressBEIJING , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baijiayun Group Ltd ("Baijiayun" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: RTC), a one-stop AI video solution provider, today announced that it has entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the "SEPA"), with YA II PN, Ltd. ("YA"), a fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the the SEPA, YA is committed to purchase up to $50 million (the "Commitment Amount") of the Company's Class A Ordinary Shares (the "Shares") at any time during the two-year period following the execution date of the SEPA, by delivering written notice to YA (an "Advance Notice"). Pursuant to the SEPA, YA will advance to the Company, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions as set forth therein, the principal amount of up to $15 million (the "Pre-Paid Advance"), which will be evidenced by convertible promissory notes (the "Promissory Notes", together with the "SEPA", the "Offering") in four tranches. The first Pre-Advance, in the principal amount of $3,000,000 , was advanced December 6, 2024 in connection with the execution of the SEPA, and is subject to a 10% discount to the principal amount of such Promissory Note. If there is no balance outstanding under the Promissory Notes, the Company will have sole discretion to sell the Shares to YA from time to time by issuing Advance Notices to YA following the effectiveness of a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registering the Shares issuable pursuant to the SEPA and the satisfaction of other customary conditions. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to the SEPA for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Company and the Investor have entered into a registration rights agreement on the date hereof (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company shall register the resale of the Shares issuable pursuant to the SEPA. The foregoing does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties to the SEPA, the Promissory Notes, the Registration Rights Agreement, or of the transactions contemplated thereby and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such documents, the copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the Company's Current Report on Form 6-K on December 6, 2024 . D. Boral Capital LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for the Offering. About Baijiayun Group Ltd Baijiayun is a one-stop AI video solution provider with core expertise in SaaS/PaaS solutions. Baijiayun is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality video experiences across devices and localities and has grown rapidly since its inception in 2017. Premised on its industry-leading video-centric technologies, Baijiayun offers a wealth of video-centric technology solutions, including Video SaaS/PaaS, Video Cloud and Software, and Video AI and System Solutions. Baijiayun caters to the evolving communications and collaboration needs of enterprises of all sizes and industries. For more information, please visit ir.baijiayun.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements." These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the parties' perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," and "plan" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and shareholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are hard to predict or control, that may cause the actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the documents the Company has filed or furnished or may file or furnish with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation. For investor and media enquiries, please contact: Company Contact: Ms. Fangfei Liu Chief Financial Officer, Baijiayun Group Ltd Phone: +86 25 8222 1596 Email: ir@baijiayun.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baijiayun-announces-up-to-15-million-convertible-promissory-notes-and-50-million-standby-equity-purchase-agreement-302325234.html SOURCE Baijiayun Group Ltd

Ruud van Nistelrooy treated himself to a beer after enjoying a perfect start to his reign as Leicester manager. Van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge ended with a 3-1 win over West Ham, thanks to goals from Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka. The Dutchman, who was out of work for just two weeks following his four-game spell as Manchester United interim boss, only started on Sunday so was happy to end a hectic three days in style. “It has been very busy getting to know everyone, start working together,” he said. “Everybody was involved with that and helping, it was busy, long days, but worth it. I was focused on the game and what the game needed, the subs, the half-time talk, so focused on the moment, so I am going to get myself a little beer and reflect on the last three days.” He endured a dream start as Vardy scored after just 98 seconds with El Khannouss and Daka adding second-half goals. It was by no means one-way traffic, though, as West Ham – who scored a consolation through Niclas Fullkrug at the death – had 30 shots on goal. But Van Nistelrooy saw enough to think he can deliver on his objective of keeping the Foxes in the Premier League. “I am very happy, if you look at the result – and it is about the result – it was a great night, three points, three good goals and also very effective. Ruud at the wheel 🛞 pic.twitter.com/eVgIwWAcYw — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 3, 2024 “Overall the game of course we have seen and how dominant West Ham were at certain stages and what they created, that is a fact and something we have to look at. “Overall, what I expected of the players going forward was togetherness and hunger, energy and spirit in this team that is fighting for every inch. “Eleven players on the pitch who are fighting as a foundation to play the rest of the Premier League. I saw that completely with every single player that started and came on. “That’s the foundation we have to build on, without that it will be impossible to get where we want to go. I am very happy about that.” West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Julen Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. Lopetegui expects to keep his job but forthcoming games against his former club Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future. “The only thing that I am worried about is to go to training session tomorrow and stand up the players and prepare the next challenge,” he said. “We have one month of December with a lot of matches and I am sure with this attitude we are going to achieve many more points. “I believe in the players. I am confident that tomorrow we are going to be ready to prepare the next match. “Understanding the question, but at the end of the season maybe we talk in another way. There are a lot of matches and points, a lot of things can happen. “I believe in these players and team, I am sure the position is going to be much better. They are only words but we have to work a lot to achieve this.”Clemson defensive stars will 'run it back' as Tigers' 2025 roster comes into clearer view

Notable Quotes by Jimmy Carter2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border

Dad sounding board for success

After absorbing their worst defeat of the year , the San Jose Sharks will be looking for a response Saturday against the Florida Panthers. The Sharks reverted to some bad habits during their 8-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, as they strayed from their identity and were generally outworked from start to finish. The seven-goal loss was the Sharks’ most lopsided of the season, unceremoniously ending a three-game winning streak. While the Sharks have been playing better hockey l ately, the loss in Tampa offered a blunt reminder that they can still get embarrassed when their details and competitive level are not where they need to be, particularly against playoff-caliber teams. “Break out pucks, defend hard, box out, you name it,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky told reporters when asked about the defense’s shortcomings. “What a defenseman’s responsibilities are, we could have done a lot better.” The forward group wasn’t let off the hook, either. “Didn’t pay a price,” Warsofsky said. “You watch (the Lightning), they’re blocking shots. (Mikey) Eyssimont), (Luke) Glendining (when it’s) 8-1. And that’s the price to pay to win games in this league and that’s what we’ve got to learn.” The Sharks have done a fairly good job this season of responding after blowout defeats. After an 8-3 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 18, they returned home and played a much more competitive game two days later against the Colorado Avalanche in a 4-1 loss. Two days after getting blown out 7-3 by the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 26, the Sharks erased a three-goal deficit in the final five minutes of the third period against the Utah Hockey Club and won 5-4 in overtime. Now the Sharks face the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, who, before Friday, were the third-highest scoring team in the NHL at 3.78 goals per game. Florida entered Friday tied for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I’m not deflated. It’s an 82-game season,” Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro said after Thursday’s loss. “We’ve got another game in a couple of days and another opportunity to play a really good hockey team and surprise them. So it’s not deflating, but it’s definitely not something that’s acceptable, so we’ve got to be better.” The Sharks have lost 10 straight games to the Panthers, with their last victory in South Florida coming on Dec.1, 2017. The Sharks might have to face the Panthers without rookie forward Will Smith, who did not practice Friday. Warsofsky told San Jose Hockey Now that Smith is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, although it remained unclear when the 19-year-old was injured. Against the Lightning, Smith played late into the third period and finished with 15:50 in ice time. Smith has 11 points in 23 games this season and has recently been playing on a line with Mikael Granlund and Klim Kostin. Regardless of who plays against the Panthers, the Sharks still need to prove that they can consistently produce a strong performance against quality opponents. “We’ll obviously take a look at everything and talk within the group and figure it out,” Sharks winger Luke Kunin said, “so it doesn’t happen again.” GOODROW RETURNS: Forward Barclay Goodrow, who has been on injured reserve since Nov. 28 with an upper-body ailment, skated Friday, per San Jose Hockey Now. Goodrow was injured by a high hit from Ridly Greig in the Sharks’ Nov. 27 game against the Ottawa Senators. He is questionable to play against the Panthers. TEDDY BEAR TOSS: The San Jose Barracuda are hosting its annual Teddy Bear Toss at Tech CU Arena on Saturday when it plays the Coachella Valley Firebirds at 6 p.m. Fans are urged to bring stuffed animals to the game and throw them on the ice after the Barracuda scores its first goal. The Barracuda will then distribute some of the stuffed animals to children at local Kaiser Permanente hospitals, as well as other kids who might not get a gift during this time of year. The AHL franchise is also joining forces with San Jose-based Working Partnerships USA, which, per the team, helps to tackle “the root causes of inequality and poverty by leading collaborative campaigns for quality jobs, healthy communities, equitable growth, and a vibrant democracy.” For Saturday’s game, the Barracuda will also wear specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game, with part of the proceeds going to Working Partnerships. The team is also giving away Barracuda stockings to the first 1,500 fans in the building.NYT Strands December 29, 2024 – Hints, answers, Spangram Today's NYT Strands puzzle theme Hints for today’s Strands Hints NYT Strands December 29, 2024 – Hints, answers, Spangram Spangram for today Today's Strands’ answers: What are NYT Strands and how to play the game? Tips for solving NYT Strands puzzle The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk’s news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity. Read More Latest Mobiles Samsung Galaxy A16 5G ₹16,499 Lava O3 Pro ₹6,999 Vivo X200 5G ₹65,999 Tecno Phantom V Flip 2 5G ₹54,999 Lava Yuva 4 ₹6,999 Poco C75 5G ₹7,999 Tecno POP 9 4G ₹6,499 Itel Color Pro 5G ₹9,199 Vivo Y18T ₹9,499 Lava Blaze 3 5G ₹10,999

NYC's mayor warms to Trump and doesn't rule out becoming a RepublicanRCC’s students help other people hold food drive during holidays

Maryland senators reportedly pursuing odd trade: Fighter jets for Commanders stadium siteA resurfaced video that shows U.S. Representative Nancy Mace participating in a controversial drinking game is sparking widespread criticism, especially after she has become the central figure in debates over transgender bathroom access. The footage, originally leaked in 2016, has been resurfacing again and is tainting Mace’s public image as she finds herself on the center stage of America’s cultural debates. According to The Daily Mail, a viral video of the now 47-year-old politician engaging in a crazy drinking game during a social gathering has been released. The footage captures Mace shooting a shot of liquor down his throat and then handing it over to a woman wearing a Trump T-shirt. More and more join in, until eventually one of the males throws up on the floor. During the 2016 presidential campaign, a video shot this far back suddenly gained popularity following an increased sense of the Trump candidacy’s boost. “I made a foolish error about ten years ago which does not pertain to your timeline in political life.” Ms Mace said. While acknowledging its authenticity, The Daily Mail quoted Mace, responding to increased criticism as she added, “This is why good people don’t run for office”. The video first gained attention during Mace’s 2017 campaign for the South Carolina State House, where her opponent, Cindy Boatwright, criticized the video, calling Mace “immature” and “unfit for office.” Despite the backlash, Mace won a seat in Congress in 2020, securing her place on the national stage. Nancy Mace On Transgender Rights Renewed focus on Mace’s past comes after she was thrust into the spotlight over her stance on transgender rights. She has been vocal about legislation preventing transgender people from using women’s restrooms in the U.S. Capitol, specifically opposing Rep.-elect Sarah McBride’s inclusion in the debate over women’s restrooms. Her position has come under intense criticism from many who consider it inconsistent with her previous stance in support of LGBTQ+ rights. In 2021, Mace co-sponsored the Fairness for All Act, a bill that aimed to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. At that time, Mace spoke about her personal connections to the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing that she had spent her entire life interacting with gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals. She publicly self-identified as “pro-transgender rights” in a televised interview in 2023. Her latest utterances and actions regarding transgender bathroom access have brought into question whether she is really “pro-transgender rights” or just playing politics. Political Opportunism And Change Of Ideology Several critics have been quick to ask if Mace’s sudden change of ideology is in good faith or political posturing. Some insiders say that she might have ulterior motives behind her moves because some think she could be a viable candidate for Donald Trump’s ticket in 2024. According to a former aide, Mace’s turn right was part of the play to get noticed and rise in profile. “She craves attention above everything else,” the source said. “Her shift seems motivated by a need for the spotlight.” Adding to the scandal surrounding Mace, it has come out that her congressional offices are a mess. According to The Daily Mail, since 2023, there has been an over 100% staff turnover rate in both her South Carolina and Washington, D.C. offices. Former employees have said she often communicated foul-mouthed language and threw tantrums, which drove some to take other careers or into treatment. A former employee described Mace’s leadership style as “unpredictable” and “berating,” noting that the intense work environment contributed to employee burnout. Several of her former staffers reportedly experienced emotional distress as a result of her behavior. Political Fallout During this stormy time, two controversies about Mace’s earlier behavior and her shifting political postures keep playing an important part in defining the public persona of Mace. Her efforts to side with the more conservative wings of the Republicans have not impressed many people. The old video coming out and office infighting add another complexity to this politician’s path. ALSO READ | Who Was The Unabomber? Luigi Mangione’s Interest In Ted Kaczynski’s Ideology

Van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge ended with a 3-1 win over West Ham, thanks to goals from Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka. The Dutchman, who was out of work for just two weeks following his four-game spell as Manchester United interim boss, only started on Sunday so was happy to end a hectic three days in style. “It has been very busy getting to know everyone, start working together,” he said. “Everybody was involved with that and helping, it was busy, long days, but worth it. I was focused on the game and what the game needed, the subs, the half-time talk, so focused on the moment, so I am going to get myself a little beer and reflect on the last three days.” He endured a dream start as Vardy scored after just 98 seconds with El Khannouss and Daka adding second-half goals. It was by no means one-way traffic, though, as West Ham – who scored a consolation through Niclas Fullkrug at the death – had 30 shots on goal. But Van Nistelrooy saw enough to think he can deliver on his objective of keeping the Foxes in the Premier League. “I am very happy, if you look at the result – and it is about the result – it was a great night, three points, three good goals and also very effective. Ruud at the wheel 🛞 — Leicester City (@LCFC) “Overall the game of course we have seen and how dominant West Ham were at certain stages and what they created, that is a fact and something we have to look at. “Overall, what I expected of the players going forward was togetherness and hunger, energy and spirit in this team that is fighting for every inch. “Eleven players on the pitch who are fighting as a foundation to play the rest of the Premier League. I saw that completely with every single player that started and came on. “That’s the foundation we have to build on, without that it will be impossible to get where we want to go. I am very happy about that.” West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Julen Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. Lopetegui expects to keep his job but forthcoming games against his former club Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future. “The only thing that I am worried about is to go to training session tomorrow and stand up the players and prepare the next challenge,” he said. “We have one month of December with a lot of matches and I am sure with this attitude we are going to achieve many more points. “I believe in the players. I am confident that tomorrow we are going to be ready to prepare the next match. “Understanding the question, but at the end of the season maybe we talk in another way. There are a lot of matches and points, a lot of things can happen. “I believe in these players and team, I am sure the position is going to be much better. They are only words but we have to work a lot to achieve this.”

Sites required for the coalition's plan to build nuclear reactors will take decades of rehabilitation before they can be used, an inquiry has been told. or signup to continue reading "We're talking significant periods of time ... two or three decades," Victoria's Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority chief executive Jen Brereton told a federal nuclear inquiry hearing in Melbourne on Wednesday. "It's for operators to decide what to do with their asset," Dr Brereton said, with three swathes of the Latrobe Valley to be cleaned up after a century of providing coal to adjoining power stations. Nor would there be short cuts available on legal obligations to make the sites safe and stable if the federal government compulsorily acquired the freehold land to meet its nuclear generation timeline. Engie's Hazelwood has already closed. Energy Australia is scheduled to close Yallourn in 2028, unless a deal is struck to extend operations, while AGL's Loy Yang A power station is due to close in 2035. If elected in 2025, the federal opposition says it will build reactors at seven former coal power plant sites across Australia - including Latrobe Valley - to support "cheap, clean and consistent energy". Small modular reactors will start producing electricity by 2035 or by 2037 if larger plants are the best option, under the coalition . However, women voters are strongly opposed to nuclear energy and are most concerned any consideration of the controversial power source will delay the switch to renewables, polling shows. A national survey released by the Australian Conservation Foundation found a stark gender divide, with a mere 26 per cent of women saying nuclear would be good for Australia, compared with 51 per cent of men. But only one in three of the men surveyed were willing to live near a nuclear plant, according to the DemosAU poll of 6709 adults. A women's climate change movement, 1 Million Women, surveyed an additional 3351 women and found 93 per cent of its supporters were concerned about nuclear energy, with the top-ranked concern its potential to derail the rollout of renewable energy. The independent Climate Council said it was concerned the coalition was relying on one private sector " " for nuclear costings compared to renewables rather than experts at the Australian Energy Market Operator. The Clean Energy Council said it would confuse policy makers and confound the public's understanding of the cost of replacing ageing energy infrastructure. "Ultimately what's crucial is that any new investment is made at the least cost to Australian consumers," a spokesperson for the industry body told AAP. "Only renewable energy - solar, wind, hydro - together with energy storage, is capable of delivering on this - and it's being built right now," she said. Community leaders, unions and grassroots organisations are demonstrating outside the hearing to declare "our shared energy future is renewable, not radioactive". "Shadow energy minister Ted O'Brien is the ultimate triple threat of energy politics: his nuclear plan will increase power bills, increase taxes and increase climate pollution," Sanne de Swart, co-ordinator of the Nuclear Free Campaign with Friends of the Earth Melbourne, said. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement

PH mines must aim for local processing of metals, says industry leader

Kubvakacha scoops prestigious awardIt would be an understatement to say that Palantir Technologies ( PLTR 6.22% ) stock has been in fine form on the market in 2024, as shares of the software platform specialist have shot up a stunning 290% so far this year as of this writing. The past month alone has been a terrific one for Palantir investors as the stock has zoomed 62% since releasing its third-quarter results on Nov. 4. Artificial intelligence (AI) has played a defining role in this red-hot rally as enterprises and governments have been flocking to Palantir to help them integrate generative AI into their operations, helping the company accelerate its growth and build a robust revenue pipeline. Wall Street, however, isn't expecting Palantir stock to sustain its momentum in 2025. Let's see why. Palantir Technologies' valuation is too rich right now The 20 analysts covering Palantir have a one-year price target of $38 on the stock. That points toward a 43% drop from current levels. Another thing worth noting is that 35% of the analysts recommend selling Palantir stock. Half of them have a "hold" rating, while only 15% recommend buying it. Moreover, the Street-high price target of $75 suggests that Palantir stock could jump only 12% from where it is right now in the next year. The valuation is one of the main reasons why analysts aren't projecting much upside in Palantir stock. After all, Palantir is now trading at a whopping 62 times sales. Its trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 342. While the forward earnings multiple of 137 points toward an improvement in its bottom line, it is still very rich. It is worth noting that these multiples are way higher than AI pioneer Nvidia , a company that has been growing at a much faster pace than Palantir. For instance, Nvidia's revenue in its latest quarter increased an impressive 94% year over year to $35.1 billion. Its earnings, meanwhile, jumped 103% to $0.81 per share. Palantir, on the other hand, reported a 30% increase in revenue in Q3 to $726 million. The company's adjusted earnings increased by 43% from the year-ago period to $0.10 per share. Of course, this is not an ideal comparison as Nvidia is primarily a hardware company that's also finding success in AI software , while Palantir is a pure-play software provider. However, the fact that Nvidia is growing at a much faster pace despite its bigger size and is trading at a much lower 32 times forward earnings when compared to Palantir makes the former a much more logical AI stock to invest in right now. Moreover, Palantir's valuation puts it at risk of a major sell-off in case there are any cracks in its growth story, which means that it will have to continue delivering stronger growth quarter after quarter to justify its rich multiples. Is 2025 going to be a difficult year for this AI stock? While there is no doubt that Palantir's valuation suggests that the stock may have run ahead of itself, there are a few things that are working in the company's favor and could be tailwinds for the stock next year. First, Palantir's revenue growth rate has improved in each quarter of 2024. Its top line was up 21% year over year in Q1, followed by a 27% increase in Q2. We have already seen that it clocked a 30% revenue jump last quarter, driven by the robust demand for the company's AI software platform. The second reason why Palantir may be able to sustain its impressive rally is the impressive growth in its customer count and deal size, which are allowing it to build a healthy long-term revenue pipeline. More specifically, there was a 39% increase in Palantir's customer count last quarter. The number of $1 million deals signed by the company increased to 104 from 80 in the year-ago period. As a result, the remaining deal value (RDV) of Palantir's contracts increased by 22% to $4.5 billion last quarter. Considering that this metric refers to the total remaining value of contracts the company was sitting on at the end of the quarter, its impressive growth suggests that Palantir is in a position to keep growing its revenue at a nice pace in the long run. The third reason why Palantir may still seem attractive to growth investors is its strong unit economics. The company's non-GAAP operating margin in Q3 stood at 38%, up from 29% in the same period last year. Unit economics refers to the profit made by a company from each customer or product it sells after deducting expenses. Favorable unit economics suggest that Palantir is making more money from its customers now, and that's not surprising. In the company's November earnings conference call , management gave several examples of its customers expanding their contracts after signing up to use its solutions. That trend could continue in the future as the AI software platforms market is currently in its early phases of growth. IDC forecasts that the spending on AI software platforms could jump from $27.9 billion in 2023 to $153 billion in 2028. As a result, the adoption of Palantir's offerings is likely to improve further in the long run, and its strong unit economics should ideally allow it to maintain its impressive earnings growth. The above factors explain why analysts have increased their earnings growth expectations from Palantir for 2025 and 2026. PLTR EPS Estimates for Next Fiscal Year data by YCharts If Palantir manages to continue outperforming analysts' expectations over the next year and attains stronger levels of revenue and earnings growth, there is a good chance that it may be able to justify its valuation and head higher in 2025. Conservative investors, however, would do well to look at other options if they are looking to capitalize on the AI boom, as Palantir's expensive valuation makes it prone to volatility.

TikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what's next?

Tired of thinking about what gifts to get everyone this year? Artificial intelligence chatbots might help, but don’t expect them to do all the work or always give you the right answers. Anyone scouring the internet for deals is likely going to encounter more conversational iterations of the chatbots that some retailers and e-commerce sites have built to provide shoppers with enhanced customer service. Some companies have integrated models infused with newer generative AI technologies, allowing shoppers to seek advice by asking naturally phrased questions like “What’s the best wireless speaker?” Retailers hope consumers use these chatbots, which are typically called shopping assistants, as virtual companions that help them discover or compare products. Prior chatbots were mostly used for task-oriented functions such as helping customers track online orders or return ones that didn’t meet expectations. Amazon, the king of online retail, has said its customers have been questioning Rufus, the generative AI-powered shopping assistant it launched this year, for information such as whether a specific coffee maker is easy to clean, or what recommendations it has for a lawn game for a child’s birthday party. And Rufus, which is available for holiday shoppers in the U.S. and some other countries, is not the only shopping assistant out there. A select number of Walmart shoppers will have access this year to a similar chatbot the nation’s largest retailer is testing in a few product categories, including toys and electronics. Perplexity AI added something new to the AI chat-shopping world last month by rolling out a feature on its AI-powered search engine that enables users to ask a question like “What’s the best women’s leather boots?” and then receive specific product results that the San Francisco-based company says are not sponsored. “It has been adopted at pretty incredible scale,” Mike Mallazzo, an analyst and writer at retail research media company Future Commerce, said. Retailers with websites and e-commerce companies started paying more attention to chatbots when use of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence text chatbot made by the company OpenAI, went mainstream in late 2022, sparking public and business interest in the generative AI technology that powers the tool. Victoria’s Secret, IKEA, Instacart and the Canadian retailer Ssense are among other companies experimenting with chatbots, some of which use technology from OpenAI. Even before the improved chatbots, online retailers were creating product recommendations based on a customer’s prior purchases or search history. Amazon was at the forefront of having recommendations on its platform, so Rufus’ ability to provide some is not particularly groundbreaking. But Rajiv Mehta, the vice president of search and conversational shopping at Amazon, said the company is able to offer more helpful recommendations now by programming Rufus to ask clarifying or follow-up questions. Customers are also using Rufus to look for deals, some of which are personalized, Mehta said. To be sure, chatbots are prone to hallucinations, so Rufus and most of the tools like it can get things wrong. Juozas Kaziukenas, founder of e-commerce intelligence firm Marketplace Pulse, wrote in a November blog post that his firm tested Rufus by requesting gaming TV recommendations. The chatbot’s response included products that were not TVs. When asked for the least expensive options, Rufus came back with suggestions that weren’t the cheapest, Kaziukenas said. An Associated Press reporter recently asked Rufus to give some gift recommendations for a brother. The chatbot quickly spit out a few ideas for “thoughtful gifts,” ranging from a T-shirt and a keychain with charms to a bolder suggestion: a multifunctional knife engraved with the phrase “BEST BROTHER EVER.” After a 5-minute written conversation, Rufus offered more tailored suggestions: a few Barcelona soccer jerseys sold by third-party sellers. But it wasn’t able to say which seller offered the lowest price. When asked during another search for a price comparison on a popular skin serum, Rufus showed the product’s pre-discounted price instead of its present one. “Rufus is constantly learning,” Amazon’s Mehta said during an interview. Shop AI, a chatbot that Canadian e-commerce company Shopify launched last year, can also help shoppers discover new products by asking its own questions, such as soliciting details about an intended gift recipient or features the buyer wants to avoid. Shop AI has trouble, however, recommending specific products or identifying the lowest-priced item in a product category. The limitations show the technology is still in its infancy and has a long way to go before it becomes as useful as the retail industry and many shoppers wish it could be. To truly transform the shopping experience, shopping assistants will “need to be deeply personalized” and be able, on their own, to remember a customer’s order history, product preferences and purchasing habits, consulting giant McKinsey & Company said in an August report. Amazon has noted that Rufus’ answers are based on information contained in product listings, community Q&As and customer reviews, which would include the fake reviews that are used to boost or diminish sales for products on its marketplace. Get local news delivered to your inbox!