Author: IQ TIMES MEDIA
SB 53, the AI safety and transparency bill that California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law this week, is proof that state regulation doesn’t have to hinder AI progress. So says Adam Billen, vice president of public policy at youth-led advocacy group Encode AI, on today’s episode of Equity. “The reality is that policy makers themselves know that we have to do something, and they know from working on a million other issues that there is a way to pass legislation that genuinely does protect innovation — which I do care about — while making sure that these products are safe,” Billen told TechCrunch. At its core, SB 53 is a first-in-the-nation bill that requires large AI labs…
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s time to get a flu vaccine, and pediatricians are urging people to get them after last winter, when the U.S. saw the most flu-related child deaths in 15 years.October is the ideal month to get protected, experts say, because flu cases typically begin climbing in November.“The best time is today. If you haven’t already had it, get it. I got mine yesterday,” said Dr. Laura Riley, of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Don’t like shots? This year marks the first time that some people can try vaccinating themselves at home using the nasal spray vaccine…
Character.AI received a cease-and-desist letter from Disney, urging the chatbot company to remove Disney characters from among the millions of AI companions on its platform, Variety reports. The company allows users to generate AI chatbots that can range from real people like Elon Musk to fictional characters like Hermione Granger, plus users’ own original creations. These chatbots can be quite unfiltered — in one particularly horrific case, a family sued Character.AI after a chatbot inspired by a Game of Thrones character allegedly encouraged their teenage son to commit suicide. “Character.ai is freeriding off the goodwill of Disney’s famous marks and…
PHOENIX (AP) — It’s a typical day for the Phoenix Mercury at their recently built, $100 million downtown practice facility, with players, coaches and support staff making the final preparations for their surprise trip to the WNBA Finals.The 58,000-square-foot complex has everything a team needs to be successful — two full-size courts, a weight room and a team meeting room with theater-style seating. It opened last year, around the same time the franchise hosted the league’s All-Star game.This — owner Mat Ishbia says — is the future of the WNBA.“I don’t want this to be a competitive advantage,” Ishbia said.…
Fitbit is the original fitness tracker. Although the wearable world has been flooded with new brands and categories (ahem, smart rings), the best Fitbit devices remain some of the most dependable, user-friendly, and affordable trackers out there. Whether you’re aiming to up your daily step count, improve your sleep, or train for a half-marathon, there’s a Fitbit that fits your needs and budget.Fitbit was launched in 2007 and acquired by Google in 2021. The change in ownership hasn’t significantly affected the brand, but Fitbit’s technology has now been integrated into the Google Pixel Watch. Fitbit health and fitness trackers still…
CHICAGO (AP) — Manny Machado hit a two-run homer, Mason Miller dominated again and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Wednesday, sending their NL Wild Card Series to a decisive third game.Jackson Merrill hit an early sacrifice fly as San Diego avoided elimination after losing 3-1 on Tuesday. Dylan Cease struck out five in 3 2/3 innings before handing the ball to his team’s hard-throwing bullpen.“That’s what postseason is about, man,” Machado said. “It’s a beautiful thing to be playing here in front of these crowds and with what’s at stake.”The finale of the best-of-three series…
In a video on OpenAI’s new TikTok-like social media app Sora, a never-ending factory farm of pink pigs are grunting and snorting in their pens — each is equipped with a feeding trough and a smartphone screen, which plays a feed of vertical videos. A terrifyingly realistic Sam Altman stares directly at the camera, as though he’s making direct eye contact with the viewer. The AI-generated Altman asks, “Are my piggies enjoying their slop?” This is what it’s like using the Sora app, less than 24 hours after it was launched to the public in an invite-only early access period.…
By Cassandra GarrisonMEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico saw a nearly 32% increase in confirmed cases of the flesh-eating screwworm parasite, according to the latest monthly government data, as a concentration of cases moves north.Mexico recorded 6,703 cases of animals infested with New World screwworm as of September 13 since the start of the outbreak in November of last year. That was compared to 5,086 confirmed cases during the previous period, which ended August 17.The latest report by sanitation agency Senasica, which was published on September 26 and seen by Reuters on Wednesday, shows the outbreak is becoming more concentrated as it…
Peloton, the maker of internet-connected fitness equipment, is hiking its prices as part of a product relaunch.The company on Wednesday announced an increase to its “All-Access Membership,” which will rise from $44 to $49.99 per month. An App+ Membership will rise from $24 to $28.99 per month. App One will rise from $12.99 to $15.99 per month.The last time Peloton hiked the cost of a monthly membership was in 2022, when it raised prices 13% to $44 in the U.S. At the time, it had also cut the price of equipment in hopes that more consumers would buy its products.The…
By Amina Niasse(Reuters) -CVS Health, Humana and UnitedHealth Group will pull back on Medicare Advantage offerings next year, the companies said on Wednesday, as the health insurance industry braces for more decreases in government reimbursement.The U.S. government has been cutting back payments in the privately-run insurance program for people aged 65 and older or with disabilities since 2024 with an aim of reducing spending.CVS Health’s Aetna insurance business will operate prescription drug plans in 100 fewer U.S. counties than it did in 2025, and rival Humana will cut plans back to 85% of U.S. counties next year, down from 89%…