Day: July 19, 2023

Mercedes: Pay us again to unlock full accellaration on EQS and EQE – yes you already own the hardware.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Mercedes-Benz has new finalized pricing on its vexing “Acceleration Increase” subscription revealed last year that can eke out more electric performance — without any physical modification — from the automaker’s current EQE and EQS EV models, Car and Driver reports. The updated Acceleration Increase pricing starts at $60 per month, or you can save about Read more about Mercedes: Pay us again to unlock full accellaration on EQS and EQE – yes you already own the hardware.[…]

AI shows classroom conversations predict academic success

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Who would have thought in-class, off-topic dialog can be a significant predictor of a student’s success in school? Scientists at Tsinghua University had a hunch and decided to deep-dive into how machine learning and AI may help an under-studied segment of the education pool: K-6th grade students learning in live, online classes. By analyzing the Read more about AI shows classroom conversations predict academic success[…]

Tesla directors agree to return $735 million following claims they were massively overpaid

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Elon Musk, Larry Ellison and other current and former members of Tesla’s board of directors will return $735 million to settle claims that they massively overpaid themselves, Reuters has reported. The deal wraps up a saga that started in 2020 stemming from a lawsuit filed by a police and firefighter retirement fund challenging stock options Read more about Tesla directors agree to return $735 million following claims they were massively overpaid[…]

Paris 2024 Olympics: Concern over French plan for AI surveillance

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Under a recent law, police will be able to use CCTV algorithms to pick up anomalies such as crowd rushes, fights or unattended bags. The law explicitly rules out using facial recognition technology, as adopted by China, for example, in order to trace “suspicious” individuals. But opponents say it is a thin end of the Read more about Paris 2024 Olympics: Concern over French plan for AI surveillance[…]

Dual wavelengths of light shown to be effective against antibiotic-resistant superbug bacterium

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Scientists have combined two light wavelengths to deactivate a bacterium that is invulnerable to some of the world’s most widely used antibiotics, giving hope that the regime could be adapted as a potential disinfectant treatment. Under the guidance of project leader Dr. Gale Brightwell, scientists at New Zealand’s AgResearch demonstrated the novel antimicrobial efficiency of Read more about Dual wavelengths of light shown to be effective against antibiotic-resistant superbug bacterium[…]

Spain antitrust watchdog fines Amazon, Apple $218 million for collusion and exclusion

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Spain’s antitrust watchdog on Tuesday said it had imposed fines worth a total 194.1 million euros ($218.03 million) on Amazon (AMZN.O) and Apple (AAPL.O) for colluding to limit the online sale of devices from Apple and competitors in Spain. The two contracts the companies signed on Oct. 31, 2018 granting Amazon the status of authorized Read more about Spain antitrust watchdog fines Amazon, Apple $218 million for collusion and exclusion[…]

‘Taco Tuesday’ is no longer a copyrighted phrase – wait you can copyright a phrase like that?!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Taco Bell succeeded in its petition to remove the “Taco Tuesday” trademark held by Taco John’s, claiming it held an unfair monopoly over the phrase. Taco John’s CEO Jim Creel backed down from the fight on Tuesday, saying it isn’t worth the legal fees to retain the regional chain’s trademark. “We’ve always prided ourselves on Read more about ‘Taco Tuesday’ is no longer a copyrighted phrase – wait you can copyright a phrase like that?![…]

UK buys 3 radar E-7 planes for 90% of the price of original 5, creating huge capability gap, shows how broken procurement is

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The United Kingdom’s deal to buy three, rather than the previously planned five Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Royal Air Force “represents extremely poor value for money” and “an absolute folly.” Those are among the conclusions of a report published today by the U.K. Defense Committee, a body Read more about UK buys 3 radar E-7 planes for 90% of the price of original 5, creating huge capability gap, shows how broken procurement is[…]