Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Some politicians, legal experts and free speech advocates fear a potential U.S. TikTok ban would violate the First Amendment and clash with legal precedent that protects the “vast democratic forums of the Internet.” Key Facts The American Civil Liberties Union and other free speech organizations are urging lawmakers not to ban TikTok on free speech grounds, citing the app’s wide usage as a source of information and a forum for political discussion and artistic expression. First Amendment advocates fear a TikTok ban would set a dangerous precedent for how strictly the government could regulate online behavior, with Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, calling social media bans “a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.” The government would need to demonstrate data privacy and national security concerns cannot be addressed in a narrower … [Read more...] about A TikTok Ban May Violate Constitution, First Amendment Advocates Say
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Indonesia needs international cooperation to develop its geothermal power
Diana Permana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta ● Fri, March 24, 2023 2023-03-24 03:51 0 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc32bf90 3 Academia private-sector,geothermal,power-plant,cooperation,pertamina,New-Zealand,technology Free As a country that is geographically located in the world's Ring of Fire, Indonesia has an abundance of geothermal potential. In fact, it is one of the largest in the world. Yet only 10 percent, 2.29 Gigawatts out of a potential 23 GW, of geothermal energy is being utilized in Indonesia. The low utilization is the result of the high risk associated with geothermal explorations, along with high investment costs, collateral requirements and uncertainty around permits and licenses. To better utilize the abundance of potential energy and ultimately to meet its renewable energy transition goals, the Indonesian government itself has actually prepared various instruments, including issuing various ease-of-doing-business regulations and policies to … [Read more...] about Indonesia needs international cooperation to develop its geothermal power
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s Prepared Comments Before Congress
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Amid growing global concern over the social media platform, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday, where U.S. lawmakers are expected to question Chew over safety concerns for minors and preventing U.S. user data from foreign access. Key Facts In Chew’s first appearance before Congress, he’s expected to discuss the company’s privacy and data security practices, as well as the company’s relationship with the Chinese government, which has come under increased scrutiny in recent months. Prepared Remarks Chair Rodgers, Ranking Member Pallone, and Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to talk about TikTok and our mission to inspire creativity and bring joy to more than 1 billion people worldwide. I look forward to discussing what makes TikTok so special to the diverse audiences it serves, as well as our … [Read more...] about TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s Prepared Comments Before Congress
Listening To Audeze
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Last of Us, a celebrated videogame has now become an absorbing limited series on HBO Max, regarded as the most successful adaptation of a game into film or limited series – there have been so many poor attempts in the past (1983’ Super Mario Bros , may be the worst, but Mortal Kombat , Wing Commander , Doom . Postal and Max Payne didn’t fare much better). The show has become a cultural touchstone and does emphasize, if it needed to be said again, the importance of gaming culture. The truth is that the pleasures of each form are not always the same, and in videogames having 60 hours of story and play and many levels to conquer creates engagement that a movie may not match. Part of what makes gaming so immersive is the technology — the visuals, of course; but also the quality of the sound. I’m not a gamer but gaming does check many of my boxes: I am interested in the variety and forms of culture, and also … [Read more...] about Listening To Audeze
InMode’s BodyTite: The Minimally Invasive Treatment For Skin Laxity And Stubborn Fat
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Now that I am officially divorced, I decided to embark on a few body upgrades that I am referring to as “a non-mommy, mid-life makeover.” While I am incredibly fit and don’t have a lot of fat, no matter how much I work out, there are a few spots on my body that time and gravity have left their stamp on that I wanted to improve upon. One of those areas was my inner thighs, which essentially looked batwings, but dangling from my femur rather than my arms. Traditionally, liposuction was the only way to rid the body of loose skin and fat, but with advances in technology there are now less invasive options for those who don’t want to go under the knife. After quite a bit of research, I decided to first try out InMode ’s Morpheus8, a radiofrequency microneedling treatment that catapulted into the mainstream due to Kim Kardashian raving about its skin tightening benefits on her social feeds. I had my appointment with Dr. Paul D. … [Read more...] about InMode’s BodyTite: The Minimally Invasive Treatment For Skin Laxity And Stubborn Fat
The “Hullabaloo” Of ChatGPT
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin CTO & Head of AI - Responsible for driving ethical, explainable & pragmatic AI for global customers @ Provenio AI . The Spice The power of reinforcement learning is phenomenal. It has special importance in the AI ecosystem and is unapologetically ubiquitous in nature. Reinforcement learning, simply put, is the main "spice" in tools like ChatGPT. Undoubtedly, ChatGPT has been intelligently crafted with a series of reinforcement-learning algorithms, plus more ingredients, and is no doubt taking the world by storm. People are relating to the technology by focusing on the use cases and gamifying it—the free use and access also help capture the public's imagination. But I did not like the rap song it wrote me. I'll carry that opinion to the grave. "Show The thumb And Get Your Hand Eaten" The concept of feedback economics has existed for a while. Unknowingly, we always provide feedback to systems … [Read more...] about The “Hullabaloo” Of ChatGPT
Digital Transformation Can’t Wait
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin CMO, Digital Commerce at Ascential , working closely with global brands and their customers to create their perfect digital partnerships. Brick-and-mortar stores used to be key for the retail industry. Storefronts with carefully displayed products would entice customers to come in and shop. But today, a large percentage of commerce happens through the digital space. These sales are expected to grow by 8.9% globally this year. Retailers reluctant to embrace this digital movement are missing out on potential sales. Digital transformation is essential for retailers to fully take advantage of shifting consumer behaviors. By developing a strong digital strategy that embraces content creation and is fluid enough to change with consumer preferences, retailers can reach new customers and stay competitive in the new commerce landscape. Future-Proofing Your Business Doing business in the digital landscape allows … [Read more...] about Digital Transformation Can’t Wait
Web3 Rebels Vs. Tech. Oligopolies
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin People often ask me, “what is Web3?” My short answer, which I elaborate on in my ‘What The Zuck’ article and keynotes , is always—you are! Why? Because the promise of Web3 flips the ownership model and gives the money and the power back to you. Social media has deteriorated in many countries—especially for women—and the tech. and media oligopolists love it. These media landlords like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Google, Twitter, Apple, et al. have taken control of everything we do, say, share, post and buy online—and they are not very excited about the changes Web3 can usher in to their market. Want proof? While Tik Tok’s CEO, Shou Chew, was grilled by U.S. lawmakers in Washington today—last week at SXSW, his former product head admitted this about creators: “Platforms don’t really care if you are successful…because their metrics are 100 percent focused on retention, publish rates, active days. Monetization of … [Read more...] about Web3 Rebels Vs. Tech. Oligopolies
Yuan Strengthens Versus USD, Tencent Soars On Earnings
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Key News Asian equities were mostly higher overnight as the Yuan and the Asia Dollar Index both gained significantly versus the US dollar. Xi Jinping returned to Beijing from Russia with some lower-level agreements, especially regarding the northern and eastern borders. I have not heard an update on Xi’s call with Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy, but we know that he is keen to meet with the Chinese president. Given his reticence about Xi’s visit to Moscow, we can assume that he is open to hearing Xi out. An end to the war could be a positive black swan for markets. Tencent’s over-the-counter ADR traded at a significant discount to its Hong Kong share class, which was up +8% overnight versus the ADR's only +2% gain yesterday. This echoes the continued disparity between US and global/China views of China. Tencent’s results were slightly lower than expected, but the company is rebounding in its advertising division after the … [Read more...] about Yuan Strengthens Versus USD, Tencent Soars On Earnings
POV: Tomorrow’s founders can’t code—and that’s OK
A monk, a composer, and an industrial designer walk into a bar. No, I’m not making a joke. I’m simply imagining a hypothetical scenario where the cofounders of Headspace, Pandora, and Airbnb decide to meet up for drinks. You may think these figures represent a lonely cohort within tech entrepreneurship. We’re often confronted with the tired (and, as the data shows, largely inaccurate) stereotype of the algorithm-crunching, code-wrangling, Patagonia-wearing startup founder. These characters —who undeniably exist, but are more marginal than perhaps realized—effortlessly straddle the worlds of engineering and business. They’re the full package. Admittedly, these characters also tend to be the most visible. Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Mark Andreessen all have storied engineering careers—and often complex personal and professional lives that inevitably work their way into popular culture. But when we examine the data, we see a different picture. Rather than … [Read more...] about POV: Tomorrow’s founders can’t code—and that’s OK