Justice Department sues West Virginia governor's coal empire seeking unpaid fines
The Justice Department announced a lawsuit Wednesday against West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice's coal empire, seeking more than $5 million in unpaid civil penalties and fees.
1970-01-01 08:00
Walmart beats all 9 shareholder proposals at shareholders meeting
By Siddharth Cavale BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS Walmart investors voted against all 9 shareholder-led proposals during the retail giant's annual
1970-01-01 08:00
App Store developers generated $1.1 trillion in total billings and sales in the App Store ecosystem in 2022
CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 2023--
1970-01-01 08:00
Joao Cancelo: Potential destinations for Man City star after Bayern loan ends
Potential destinations for Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo this summer after he was sent on loan to Bayern Munich during the January window.
1970-01-01 08:00
Apple says its ecosystem is worth more than a trillion dollars a year ahead of major event and headset reveal
Apple says that its App Store has helped generate more than a trillion dollars for the first time, just days ahead of its major developer event. The App Store ecosystem facilitated $1.1 trillion in developer billings and sales last year, according to an independent study from The Analysis Group and commissioned by Apple. That is the result of rapid growth over recent years: that number rose 29 per cent on last year, and by 27 per cent in each of the two years before that. Those increases were partly a result of an increase in the apps that people use as the world opens up, such as taxi services, the report said. Apple’s announcement came just days ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins on Monday. That is likely to see a whole new platform for developers to build apps for, with the launch of its new augmented reality headset. The report also comes amid increasing criticism over Apple’s power over the App Store, which is the only way to get apps onto the iPad and iPhone. Critics have argued that control means that Apple is able to make unfair demands on developers, including taking a cut from some sales made within apps and deciding what apps are available. Apple has commissioned a number of such reports in recent years, aimed at highlighting the economic impact of the App Store and the positive effects that can have for developers. The new report focused not on the money made by Apple, or through the store. Instead, it aimed to quantify how much money is made through the ecosystem built around the App Store, which includes billings and sales that are made through apps but without Apple’s involvement. More than 90 per cent of the billings and sales went specifically to the developers, with Apple not taking a cut, the report said. While Apple takes a cut from the sale of apps and digital goods and services within those apps, companies selling physical goods and other services are able to keep the full amount. Of the $1.1 trillion made last year, App Store developers generated $910 billion in total billings and sales from the sale of physical goods and services, $109 billion from in-app advertising, and $104 billion for digital goods and services, Apple said. Last year, that came particularly from travel apps and ride-hailing. Travel sales on iOS were up 84 per cent last year, the report said. It was not possible to say how much of that gain was the result of the world opening back up after lockdowns and other issues, compared with the specific work of Apple and those App Store developers, economists from Analysis Group said. The report also comes on the 15th anniversary of the App Store, which was launched in 2008. Apple said that iOS developers have earned more than $320 billion on App Store in those 15 years. “We’ve never been more hopeful about — or more inspired by — the incredible community of developers around the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “As this report shows, the App Store is a vibrant, innovative marketplace where opportunity thrives, and we’re as committed as ever to investing in developers’ success and the app economy’s future.” Read More Major leak reveals details of Apple’s VR headset days before unveiling Apple is going to reveal something else alongside its headset, rumours suggest Trust and ethics considerations ‘have come too late’ on AI technology New iPhone update ‘completely changes how the lock screen works’ Apple lays bare danger of losing your health data Apple is making a ‘mixed reality’ headset. Here’s what that future might look like
1970-01-01 08:00
Way too early prediction for the Lakers 2023-24 starting lineup
On the verge of LeBron James' 21st NBA season, what will the Los Angeles Lakers' starting five look like in 2023-24?The Los Angeles Lakers face a summer of introspection after getting swept out of the conference finals. It's clear the team can still build a contender around Anthon...
1970-01-01 08:00
ESSA Bank & Trust settles US discrimination allegations -Justice Dept
WASHINGTON ESSA Bank & Trust has agreed to pay over $3 million to resolve allegations it engaged in
1970-01-01 08:00
Marlboro as an ESG investment? CEO tells FT that's his goal
Big Tobacco is reportedly positioning itself as a socially conscious investment.
1970-01-01 08:00
Here's how to prepare to start paying back your student loans when the pandemic payment freeze ends
A three-year pause on student loan payments will end this summer regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on the White House plan to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt
1970-01-01 08:00
Fan voting starts for MLB All-Star Game in Seattle on July 11
Online voting has begun for starters in Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game at Seattle on July 11
1970-01-01 08:00
Artificial intelligence warning over human extinction labelled ‘publicity stunt’
The probability of a “Terminator scenario” caused by artificial intelligence is “close to zero”, a University of Oxford professor has said. Sandra Wachter, professor of technology and regulation, called a letter released by the San Francisco-based Centre for AI Safety – which warned that the technology could wipe out humanity – a “publicity stunt”. The letter, which warns that the risks should be treated with the same urgency as pandemics or nuclear war, was signed by dozens of experts including artificial intelligence (AI) pioneers. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak retweeted the Centre for AI Safety’s statement on Wednesday, saying the Government is “looking very carefully” at it. Professor Wachter said the risk raised in letter is “science fiction fantasy” and she compared it to the film The Terminator. She added: “There are risks, there are serious risks, but it’s not the risks that are getting all of the attention at the moment. “What we see with this new open letter is a science fiction fantasy that distracts from the issue right here right now. The issues around bias, discrimination and the environmental impact. “The whole discourse is being put on something that may or may not happen in a couple of hundred years. You can’t do something meaningful about it as it’s so far in the future. “But bias and discrimination I can measure, I can measure the environmental impact. It takes 360 gallons of water daily to cool a middle-sized data centre, that’s the price that we have to pay. “It’s a publicity stunt. It will attract funding. It's a publicity stunt. It will attract funding. Professor Sandra Wachter “Let’s focus on people’s jobs being replaced. These things are being completely sidelined by the Terminator scenario. “What we know about technology now, the probability [of human extinction due to AI] is close to zero. People should worry about other things.” AI apps have gone viral online, with users posting fake images of celebrities and politicians, and students using ChatGPT and other “language learning models” to generate university-grade essays. But AI can also perform life-saving tasks, such as algorithms analysing medical images like X-rays, scans and ultrasounds, helping doctors to identify and diagnose diseases such as cancer and heart conditions more accurately and quickly. The statement was organised by the Centre for AI Safety, a non-profit which aims “to reduce societal-scale risks from AI”. It says: “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” Senior bosses at companies such as Google DeepMind and Anthropic signed the letter along with a pioneer of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, who resigned from his job at Google earlier this month, saying that in the wrong hands, AI could be used to to harm people and spell the end of humanity. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live ‘I feel lost’ – AI pioneer speaks out as experts warn it could wipe out humanity Cabinet approves Irish involvement in cyber-threat network Trust and ethics considerations ‘have come too late’ on AI technology
1970-01-01 08:00
Former Connecticut lawmaker, a gambling addict, gets 27 months for stealing coronavirus aid
A former Connecticut state representative has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for stealing more than $1.2 million from the city of West Haven
1970-01-01 08:00
