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'Govt To Allocate Space For Manmohan Singh's Memorial': Shah Informs Kharge, Dr Singh's FamilyEver put on a VR headset and wish you could do more than see, hear, and interact with the digital world around you? Well, researchers from the City University of Hong Kong have found a way to make VR tastier than ever: by letting you taste it, Virtual taste... ... is not a new concept, but previous attempts were impractical. Chemicals could be applied directly to the tongue, but that requires storage. Electrical stimulation can trigger flavor responses, but requires putting electrode patches on your tongue, which sounds unpleasant. The new method uses a lollipop-shaped device that contains flavored hydrogels. The user wears a VR headset and a Bluetooth signal tells the lollipop how it should taste. A process called iontophoresis sends a current through the gel to trigger a specific flavor, enhanced by seven odor chemicals. The user licks, safely tasting the wonders of the virtual world. There are limits... ... to virtual taste. The system can only produce nine preloaded flavors, including cherry, milk, green tea, and durian. The gel dries out after about an hour. But why though? While only marginally more practical than the other solutions, it offers some applications. Researchers suggest the system could be used in virtual standardized taste tests to diagnose “gustatory disorders.” (Imagine sitting down for a hearing test and they also check to see if you can differentiate between milk and grapefruit.) It could also be used in online shopping, which seems both inordinately silly and very fun. You wouldn’t buy shoes without trying them on, so why buy salt without taking it for a test drive?‘Living in a home that damages health the norm for far too many older people’What is likely to be the most significant event in the history of artificial intelligence (AI) took place last Friday when OpenAI , the company behind ChatGPT, unveiled its o3 model — possibly the most powerful AI model developed to date. Though still in testing and unavailable to the public, the data shared by OpenAI prompted some commentators to declare that we’re finally witnessing the birth of artificial general intelligence (AGI), the “superintelligence” surpassing human intellect. The announcement marked the grand finale of OpenAI's 12-day AI reveal streak, aimed at cementing the company's status as the undisputed leader in artificial intelligence and reminding investors and the public not to forget it. However, one issue disrupted this streak — tech giants like Amazon and Google, also deeply invested in AI development, have no intention of letting Sam Altman ’s company dominate the field. The competition resulted in two weeks of back-to-back announcements and a flurry of new AI models from industry titans. Even though Google demonstrated its capabilities by launching the impressive Gemini 2.0 Flash version of its Gemini model, it held the title of the most advanced model on the market for just about a week — until OpenAI unveiled o3, once again tipping the scales in its favor. The o3 model is the successor to o1, which followed the lineage of GPT models. Interestingly, the skip over o2 sparked curiosity, with some speculating it was a secret model. However, OpenAI provided a more mundane explanation: the name was already taken by a well-known British telecom company and no one wanted to court unnecessary complications. 2 View gallery OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (right) presenting the new model ( Photo: OpenAI ) According to OpenAI's data, o3 is over 20% more accurate than o1 in several programming tasks. The model even outperformed OpenAI's chief scientist, Jacob Pachucki, in a programming competition. "This model is astonishing in its programming capabilities," Altman said during the system's presentation. The model also achieved exceptional results in math, physics, chemistry and biology tests. Like its predecessor, o3 is a reasoning model, meaning it rigorously checks itself before delivering an answer, performing millions of calculations, comparisons and alternative evaluations. This leads to better answers than previous-generation AI models but also adds some delay to response times. The o3 model allows users to predefine the depth of reasoning required — low, medium or high. Until now, we’ve thought of AGI as “superintelligence,” a godlike intellect, as Ian Hogarth described, that could dominate humanity or even extinguish it. OpenAI, however, has a more restrained definition of AGI: “A highly autonomous system that outperforms humans at most economically valuable work.” Even by this definition, achieving AGI remains a formidable challenge for AI. Still, according to OpenAI’s data, it’s approaching that goal. In the ARC-AGI benchmark test, which measures an AI’s ability to learn tasks it wasn’t trained on, o3 scored 87.5. While that’s not a perfect 100, it’s three times the achievement of o1. The issue with this, however, is that benchmark tests are frequently updated and an AI optimized for one test might fail another of the same type. In response, ARC-AGI test creator Francois Chollets noted that in the test’s next version, the model might only score 30, whereas an average human would score 95, simply because humans excel at adapting to new tasks. So, the path to an omniscient AI is likely still a long one. 2 View gallery Altman with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella ( Photo: JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES ) Meanwhile, o3 raises some concerning questions. Firstly, operating it at a high reasoning depth consumes enormous computational and electrical resources, casting doubt on whether any economic model could sustain it. Secondly, its predecessor, o1, already demonstrated a greater tendency to mislead humans than earlier AI generations and OpenAI must prove this trend hasn’t continued. The company claims to have developed a new approach it calls “deliberative alignment,” designed to keep the model on track. This remains to be proven if OpenAI wants to solidify its position as the AI industry leader. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv Beyond its technological achievement and unprecedented economic implications, reaching the AGI milestone holds another significant meaning: from that point, OpenAI will no longer be obligated to provide Microsoft with access to its future technologies. For now, o3 will be available in two versions: a full version and a smaller version called o3 mini. The mini version is expected to be publicly available by the end of next month, with the full version to follow later. >
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Noneborealisgallery Elevator Thesis Take-Two Interactive Software is gearing up for what’s sure to be a massive year for its business. Its crown jewel in the Grand Theft Auto ("GTA") series is set to launch what promises to be the biggest Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.What we can VERIFY about Enron’s return to the internet
The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The gunman is still at large and a manhunt is underway. Here's the latest: Water bottle and protein bar wrapper may hold clues to the shooter’s identity Just minutes before the shooting, the suspect was seen on surveillance footage purchasing the two items from a nearby Starbucks. Both the water bottle and protein bar wrapper were later recovered from a trash can in the vicinity of the killing, according to a police spokesperson. They’ve been sent to the city’s medical examiner for expedited fingerprint testing. Tips about the shooting, many unfounded, are pouring in through a police hotline As the suspect remained at large Thursday afternoon, New York police were sorting through a growing number of leads coming in through a public hotline. Many have been unfounded, including a tip from a commuter who claimed to have spotted the shooter on a Long Island Rail Road train Wednesday evening. Police searched the train, but found no sign of the gunman. Members of the public have also provided police with several different names of people who bear a resemblance to the gunman — though they have yet to confirm the shooter’s identity. NYPD spokesperson Carlos Nieves urged anyone with information to contact the department “even if it seems trivial.” “We ask you to call the tip line because that little piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle that ties everything together,” he said. Anger and vitriol against health insurers filled social media in the wake of Thompson’s killing Users’ reactions — and in many cases jokes — populated comment sections teeming with frustration toward health insurers broadly and UnitedHealthcare in particular. “I would be happy to help look for the shooter but vision isn’t covered under my healthcare plan,” one comment read on Instagram. “Thoughts and prior authorizations!” wrote another user. Police searched Upper West Side hostel seen in new images Images released by police of a person they say is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting match the lobby of the HI New York City hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Both feature a black-and-white checkered floor and a distinctive bench in the shape of a semicircle. Matheus Taranto, a guest at the hostel who’s visiting from Brazil, says he saw police at the lodging Wednesday evening. He said an officer wouldn’t let him access a bathroom where he wanted to brush his teeth. “I asked why, he was like, no, nothing happened,” said Taranto, 24. He didn’t connect the dots with the shooting until later. Police in Minnesota say they believe bomb threat against Thompson’s home was a hoax In Minnesota, police in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove, where Thompson lived, said Thursday they believe a bomb threat on Wednesday night was a hoax. Maple Grove police put out a statement Thursday saying a “suspected swatting investigation” was underway. The department said it received a report of a bomb threat directed at two addresses around 7 p.m. CT Wednesday. The Minneapolis Bomb Squad and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office assisted, but investigators found no suspicions devices or other items. “The case is considered an active investigation, while the incident appears to be a hoax. No further comments will be made at this time,” the police statement said. Police reports provided to The Associated Press by the department show that officers made contact with family members at one of the homes and were told they had seen nothing suspicious and had received no direct threats. In Minnesota, authorities investigate reported bomb threat against Brian Thompson’s home Back in Thompson’s home state of Minnesota, authorities were investigating a bomb threat that reportedly was made against his home Wednesday night, after his death. It was first reported by TMZ. City Prosecutor Andrew Draper confirmed to The Associated Press via email Thursday that he received an email Wednesday night “regarding a bomb threat. I reported it to the Maple Grove Police Department and do not have any additional information.” Maple Grove police officials did not immediately respond to requests for details Thursday. Local ATF spokesperson Ashlee Sherrill said: “ATF was made aware of the incident in Maple Grove last night, but no ATF resources were deployed. We are unable to confirm any further details.” A local FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for information on the FBI’s involvement in the investigation. Words on ammunition were written in marker, AP source says The words emblazoned on the ammunition used in the shooting – “deny,” “defend” and “depose” – were written in permanent marker, according to a law enforcement official. The official wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. — Jake Offenhartz What’s known about the search As of Thursday morning, police were still searching for the shooter. They released new photos of a person they said is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. The images match the lobby of the HI New York City hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, including its black-and-white checkered floor and a distinctive bench in the shape of a semi-circle. An employee at the hostel said police had visited but declined to provide further information. Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the lodging, said in an emailed statement that they are cooperating with the NYPD but can’t comment due to the active investigation. According to the official who spoke to AP about the ammunition messaging, investigators are running DNA and fingerprint analysis on items found near the shooting, including a water bottle, that they believe the suspect may have discarded. Additionally, they’re looking into whether the suspect had pre-positioned a bike as part of an escape plan. What is the criticism of insurers? Doctors and patients have become particularly frustrated with prior authorizations, which are requirements that an insurer approve surgery or care before it happens. UnitedHealthcare was named in an October report detailing how the insurer’s prior authorization denial rate for some Medicare Advantage patients has surged in recent years. The report from the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations also named rivals Humana and CVS. Insurers say tactics like prior authorization are needed to limit unnecessary care and help control spiraling medical costs. Frustrations extend beyond the coverage of care. Expensive breakthrough medications to slow Alzheimer’s disease or help with obesity are frequently not covered or have coverage limits. How do Americans feel about insurers? In the U.S. health care system, patients get coverage through a mix of private insurers such as UnitedHealthcare and government-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. That can prove particularly frustrating for doctors and patients because coverage often varies by insurer. Polls reflect those frustrations with the U.S. health care system in general and insurance companies in particular. About two-thirds of Americans said health insurance companies deserve “a lot of blame” for high health care costs, according to a KFF poll conducted in February . Thompson’s wife said her husband had received previous threats Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting — “deny,” “defend” and “depose” — echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The three words were emblazoned on the ammunition a masked gunman used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday. They’re similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend” — the way some attorneys describe how insurers deny services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book that was highly critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the wording or any connection between them and the common phrase. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting a deepening frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. ▶ Read more about the messaging left behind by the shooter New photos released by the NYPD The New York Police Department released photos Thursday morning, asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual pictured. Police say the person is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. UnitedHealthcare’s history of claim denials A Senate panel has been investigating how frequently three major insurers, including UnitedHealthcare, deny care to patients who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. It has also investigated the use of artificial intelligence in deny those claims. Medicare Advantage is the private version of Medicare, which provides health insurance to millions of older Americans. The Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee’s report released earlier this year found that as UnitedHealthcare relied more on its automated system to review claims denials increased for post-acute treatment, which includes nursing home or rehabilitation care. The insurer denied nearly a quarter of claims, a rate that doubled over just a two-year period from 2020 to 2022. What’s known about the suspected shooter? Joseph Kenny, the NYPD chief of detectives, says the shooter wore a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers and a distinctive gray backpack. He arrived outside the hotel about five minutes before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson did, then waited and ignored other pedestrians before he approached Thompson from behind. After the assailant began to fire, his 9 mm pistol jammed but he quickly fixed it and kept firing, Kenny said, another sign of the shooter’s professionalism. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” Kenny said. Hunt for the shooting suspect brought New York police to at least two hostels Thursday morning The hostels were on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and police were following a tip that the suspect may have stayed at one of the residences, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The official requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing search. According to an employee of Kama Central Park, two detectives arrived at the hostel at 7 a.m. Thursday with a photo of the shooter and asked staff if they recognized the man. They did not, the employee said, and the detectives left soon after. An employee at the nearby HI New York City hostel also confirmed that police had visited the location Thursday, but declined to provide further information. — Jake Offenhartz New York Mayor Adams says he’s ‘never seen a silencer before’ New York Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday the shooter used a silencer — something he’d never encountered in his 22 years as a police officer. “In all of my years in law enforcement I have never seen a silencer before,” Adams, a retired NYPD captain, said in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “And so that was really something that was shocking to us all.” Deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’: Ammunition used in CEO’s killing had writing on it, AP source says The masked gunman used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies use to try to avoid paying claims. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny had said earlier. — Mike Balsamo, Jake Offenhartz and Michael R. Sisak Just getting up to speed? Start here The chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation’s largest insurers, was killed Wednesday in midtown Manhattan in what police described as a targeted attack by a shooter outside a hotel where the company was holding a conference. ▶ Read more about the key things to know about the fatal attack The Associated PressRichard Parsons, prominent executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76Tom Homan Vows to Send 'Twice as Many' Officers to L.A. in Deportation PlanAfter ringing in the New Year, many people will also have errands to run, whether that's making returns or heading to the grocery store. Many retailers, grocers and pharmacies will be open on New Year's Day, though some have modified hours. Here's what's open and closed on New Year's Day. On New Year's Day, Target stores will open. Walmart will also be open. JCPenney said stores will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Most Macy's will be operate on regular store hours on New Year's Day. TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Sierra and Homesense stores will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year's Day. Kohl's will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year's Day. Whole Foods is open with modified hours depending on location. Kroger will be open as normal. Aldi is closed on New Year's Day. Trader Joe's is closed all day New Year's. Costco will be closed on New Year's Day. Wegmans will open on New Year's Day at 6 a.m., except for New York City's Astor Place and Brooklyn stores which will open at 7 a.m. Safeway and Albertsons stores will be open on New Year's Day. Jewel-Osco, ACME and Shaw's stores and pharmacies will be open on New Year's Day but most pharmacies will be closed. Vons stores and pharmacies will be open on modified hours on New Year's Day, though their pharmacies will be closed. Tom Thumb stores will be open on New Year's Day, and pharmacies will be closed. CVS said many locations will be open for the New Year's holidays, but to check with local stores before visiting as some may be on reduced hours or closed. Rite Aid stores will be open regular hours on New Year's Day. Walgreens will be open during regular business hours on New Year's Day, but pharmacy hours will vary by location. The US Postal Service will not deliver mail on New Year's Day. There is no UPS pick up or delivery service on New Year's Day, but its Express Critical service is available. FedEx will not be doing regular pickup and delivery on New Year's Eve, but its Home Delivery, Office and Custom Critical services will be open. FedEx will be closed on New Year's Day except for its Custom Critical service. Most banks follow the Federal Reserve banking holidays, so most teller services will be closed on New Year's Day. As always, you can use mobile banking services and ATMs. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ will not be trading on New Year's Day. (This story was originally published in 2023.) (The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.)
Simmons Says: Zach Hyman sending a not-so-subtle message to Team Canada
