1: Donald Trump

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30: India, China

25: Vivek Ramaswamy

20: Kamala Harris And Oprah Winfrey

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JD Vance

Strawberry

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OpenAI Announces a New AI Model, Code-Named Strawberry, That Solves Difficult Problems Step by Step The ChatGPT maker reveals details of what’s officially known as OpenAI-o1, which shows that AI needs more than scale to advance........ OpenAI made the last big breakthrough in artificial intelligence by increasing the size of its models to dizzying proportions, when it introduced GPT-4 last year. The company today announced a new advance that signals a shift in approach—a model that can “reason” logically through many difficult problems and is significantly smarter than existing AI without a major scale-up. ......... Rather than summon up an answer in one step, as a large language model normally does, it reasons through the problem, effectively thinking out loud as a person might, before arriving at the right result......... “There are two paradigms,” Murati says. “The scaling paradigm and this new paradigm. We expect that we will bring them together.” ......... LLMs typically conjure their answers from huge neural networks fed vast quantities of training data. They can exhibit remarkable linguistic and logical abilities, but traditionally struggle with surprisingly simple problems such as rudimentary math questions that involve reasoning. ........ Reinforcement learning has enabled computers to play games with superhuman skill and do useful tasks like designing computer chips. The technique is also a key ingredient for turning an LLM into a useful and well-behaved chatbot. ....... “The [new] model is learning to think for itself, rather than kind of trying to imitate the way humans would think” .......... OpenAI says its new model performs markedly better on a number of problem sets, including ones focused on coding, math, physics, biology, and chemistry. ......... The new model is slower than GPT-4o, and OpenAI says it does not always perform better—in part because, unlike GPT-4o, it cannot search the web and it is not multimodal, meaning it cannot parse images or audio. .......... In July, Google announced AlphaProof, a project that combines language models with reinforcement learning for solving difficult math problems. ....... “I do think we have made some breakthroughs there; I think it is part of our edge,” Chen says. “It’s actually fairly good at reasoning across all domains.” ......... Noah Goodman, a professor at Stanford who has published work on improving the reasoning abilities of LLMs, says the key to more generalized training may involve using a “carefully prompted language model and handcrafted data” for training. He adds that being able to consistently trade the speed of results for greater accuracy would be a “nice advance.”

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U.S. Latino economic output grows to $3.6 trillion, new report finds “There is no doubt that the U.S. Latino economy is a formidable force, characterized by strong GDP growth, significant population expansion, high workforce participation, and increased educational achievements” ........ “This is not a matter of diversity and inclusion; it is a critical business strategy”........

Hispanic household wealth has tripled over the last decade

........... Latinos lost up to two-thirds of their median household wealth in the wake of the Great Recession. ........... a forecast for the U.S. Latino economy through 2029. It shows the cohort’s economic output will surpass Japan’s by 2024 and Germany’s by 2027 ........ “A young Latino in the U.S. turns 18 every thirty seconds.”



Something New: On OpenAI's "Strawberry" and Reasoning It is amazing, still limited, and, perhaps most importantly, a signal of where things are heading......... In fact, it can now beat human PhD experts in solving extremely hard physics problems.......... The AI “thinks” about the problem first, for a full 108 seconds (most problems are solved in much shorter times). You can see its thoughts ........ GPT-o1 does things that would have been impossible without Strawberry, but it still isn’t flawless: errors and hallucinations still happen, and it is still limited by the “intelligence” of GPT-4o as the underlying model .....

Using GPT-o1 means confronting a paradigm change in AI.

Raining Cats And Dogs @KamalaHarris @KamalaHQ @realDonaldTrump @realDogsHouse @contextdogs #KamalaHarris pic.twitter.com/rBa9cZfHk4

— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) September 12, 2024

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4: Kamala Harris

James Carville: Three Things Kamala Harris Must Do to Win I hate to say it, but Donald Trump remains the singular most recognized name in the United States. Since he moseyed down that golden escalator in 2015, he has dominated the American airwaves and algorithms. Whether they hate him or love him, people know exactly what Mr. Trump’s shtick is. ..........

31: Kamala Harris

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DNC Night 2

14: Kamala Harris

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5: Kamala Harris

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How 2024 Became the Zoom Election Hastily assembled mega-rallies conducted over Zoom are raising millions to elect Kamala Harris, giving the videoconferencing app an unexpected role in this year’s campaign. ......... Zoom was not built for grass-roots political organizing. But over the past several weeks, it has become a critical piece of campaign tech for Democrats hoping to elect Kamala Harris. Star-studded Zoom rallies have drawn hordes of viewers, raised tens of millions of dollars and given enthusiastic Democrats an easy way to get involved. ........... “The feeling a lot of people have about politics today, I haven’t seen anything like it since 2008,” said Ross Morales Rocketto, the organizer of a “White Dudes for Harris” call last Monday night that drew 60,000 attendees and raised more than $4 million. ......... There’s a raw, unpolished feel to these meetings that I think helps explain their popularity. Most of the speakers aren’t dressed in suits and reading from prepared remarks; they’re ad-libbing into grainy webcams in their garages and home offices, often framed by terrible lighting and occasionally interrupted by their pets. .......... The mood in the meetings I saw was joyful and optimistic, not preachy or grim, and the tech glitches (Mark Hamill struggling to unmute himself) and glimpses of domestic normalcy (Lance Bass from ’N Sync earnestly praising the Harris campaign while his children played in his living room behind him) only added to the feeling of authenticity. The overall vibe was less corporate strategy meeting, more chaotic pep rally. ........ (The organizers of “White Dudes for Harris” got around Zoom’s limitations by simultaneously streaming their event to YouTube, and inviting people to watch it there.).......... The company’s stock market value fell from a pandemic-era high of roughly $160 billion to around $18 billion today, as workers returned to the office and competitors like Google Meet and Microsoft Teams strengthened their products.

Formal “You just broke Zoom” letter… #AnswerTheCall #AnswerTheCall2024 pic.twitter.com/aWtYTDjNIk

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) July 26, 2024

Inside the Obama-Shapiro Relationship The speaking style of Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, a potential vice presidential pick, can sound suspiciously similar to President Obama’s. But the real connection between the two men is deeper than commonly known. .......... Over the nearly two decades since that early endorsement, Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Obama remained in touch, developing a connection that is closer than is commonly understood, according to interviews with people who know them both. Now, Mr. Shapiro is a popular governor in a crucial battleground state who could join a presidential ticket himself, as Vice President Kamala Harris, another early Obama supporter, weighs her running-mate options. ......... “Josh was one of our earliest supporters in 2008 in Pennsylvania, when almost all the political establishment was with Hillary,” David Plouffe, who managed Mr. Obama’s campaign that year, said in a text message on Thursday. ........ Mr. Obama said the former president seeks to be a sounding board and confidant for Ms. Harris. ........... Among the likenesses: They both managed to end up with family dogs named “Bo.” And Mr. Shapiro’s cadence, rhythms and sometimes even hand gestures can seem so reminiscent of the former president’s that some people have started jokingly referring online to Mr. Shapiro, who is Jewish, as “Baruch Obama.”

Kamala Harris Surprises Everyone It makes for a good contrast to Donald Trump and JD Vance, where old and crazy chose to pair up with young and reckless. .......... The shooting was three weeks ago. Feels like a year. .......... Harris is a star, and Trump is a crazy person who claims he didn’t know Harris was Black. ........... Term-limiting the justices, as Biden has proposed, would almost certainly require a constitutional amendment. Not gonna happen. And who would enforce the ethical code? ..........

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The key is to open the doors to legal immigration so that it can be easier to close the doors to illegal immigration and do it in a way that can sustain a political consensus.

Why Josh Shapiro Would Make Such a Difference for Kamala Harris

Harris-Shapiro 2024

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Kamala Harris Running Mate Update as Contender Pulls Ahead of Pack PredictIt.org is selling shares in Shapiro receiving this accolade at 70¢ each, compared with 12¢ for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, 9¢ for Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and 5¢ for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Each PredictIt share is worth $1 if you guess the correct outcome, with shares selling at between 1¢ and 99¢ depending on the probability of an event taking place......... Harris is due to begin a tour of battleground states with a rally in Philadelphia on August 6, triggering speculation online she will use the occasion to announce the state's Governor Shapiro as her running mate.

1: Kamala Harris

31: Donald Trump

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The Military-Industrial Complexes In The US And Russia Are Major Culprits In The Ukraine War

The Military-Industrial Complexes in the US and Russia: Major Culprits in the Ukraine War

In the tragic and ongoing conflict in Ukraine, many factors have contributed to the violence and suffering. While geopolitical ambitions, historical tensions, and nationalistic fervor are often highlighted, another critical yet less discussed element is the role of the military-industrial complexes in both the United States and Russia. These powerful entities, driven by profit and influence, have significantly shaped the trajectory of the war, complicating efforts towards peace and stability.

Understanding the Military-Industrial Complex

The term "military-industrial complex" was popularized by former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address in 1961. It refers to the close and often symbiotic relationship between a nation's military, its defense industry, and its government. This complex wields considerable influence over national policy, with the potential to prioritize defense spending and military action over diplomatic and peaceful solutions.

The US Military-Industrial Complex: Profit and Influence

The United States boasts one of the largest and most advanced military-industrial complexes in the world. Comprising major defense contractors, lobbyists, and government officials, this network exerts a powerful influence over American foreign and defense policies. In the context of the Ukraine war, the US military-industrial complex has played a significant role in shaping the country's response.

1. Arms Sales and Military Aid: The U.S. has provided substantial military aid to Ukraine, including advanced weaponry, intelligence, and training. While this support is often justified as necessary to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, it also benefits American defense contractors, who see increased sales and profits.
2. Lobbying and Policy Shaping: Defense contractors and their lobbyists have a vested interest in promoting policies that sustain or escalate military engagements. The conflict in Ukraine provides a justification for continued or increased defense spending, which benefits these corporations financially.
3. Media and Public Perception: The military-industrial complex also influences media narratives, shaping public opinion to support military interventions. By framing the conflict in terms of good versus evil, and emphasizing the need for a strong response, these narratives can marginalize diplomatic alternatives.

The Russian Military-Industrial Complex: Power and Propaganda

In Russia, the military-industrial complex is similarly entrenched, though it operates within a different political and economic context. The Russian government maintains close ties with its defense industry, which serves both as a crucial economic sector and a tool of state power.

1. State-Controlled Defense Sector: Unlike in the U.S., Russia's defense industry is more centralized and state-controlled. Major arms manufacturers are often directly or indirectly owned by the state, aligning their interests with those of the government. The war in Ukraine has been a catalyst for ramping up production and testing new weaponry, benefiting the military-industrial sector.
2. Economic Motives: For Russia, the military-industrial complex also serves as a vital source of revenue and employment. Sanctions and economic isolation have limited Russia's options, making the defense industry an even more critical component of its economy. The war in Ukraine has provided a pretext for increasing defense expenditures, bolstering this sector.
3. Propaganda and Nationalism: The Russian government has utilized the conflict to foster nationalism and support for the state. The military-industrial complex is part of this propaganda machine, portraying military might as a symbol of national pride and sovereignty.

The Consequences: Escalation and Entrenchment

The involvement of the military-industrial complexes in both the U.S. and Russia has several profound consequences for the Ukraine war:

1. Escalation of Violence: The provision of advanced weaponry and military support has escalated the conflict, making it more lethal and difficult to resolve. The profit motive of defense contractors, coupled with geopolitical interests, incentivizes continued or increased military engagement.
2. Obstacles to Peace: The vested interests of the military-industrial complexes create significant obstacles to diplomatic efforts. Both in the U.S. and Russia, powerful actors benefit from the status quo or from an escalation, rather than a resolution, of the conflict.
3. Humanitarian Impact: The war's human toll is immense, with thousands killed, millions displaced, and widespread destruction. The priorities of the military-industrial complexes, focused on profit and power, often overshadow humanitarian concerns, exacerbating the suffering.

Conclusion: A Call for Accountability

The role of the military-industrial complexes in the Ukraine war is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the intertwining of defense industries and state power. As the conflict drags on, it is crucial to recognize and challenge the influence of these entities, advocating for policies that prioritize peace, diplomacy, and human well-being over profit and militarism.

Only by addressing these underlying dynamics can we hope to find a lasting resolution to the conflict and prevent similar situations in the future. It is time for a global reckoning with the military-industrial complexes that, too often, drive nations towards war instead of peace.