Tobias

OpenAI has paused operations for employees this week, partly in response to Meta’s aggressive recruitment of its researchers. Leadership is actively working to retain staff and is reassessing compensation. The company is refocusing on its primary mission of achieving AGI, even as competitors like xAI push forward with new models.

A Beijing man reported his car stolen, only to discover he had driven it to a bathhouse while drunk. He only remembered his actions after police reviewed surveillance footage. Mr. Jiang, whose blood alcohol level was significantly over the legal limit, was charged with dangerous driving, receiving a suspended jail sentence and a fine.

Baidu has open-sourced its ERNIE 4.5 AI models, featuring multi-modal Mixture-of-Experts with enhanced orthogonality. Modong Space, China’s national computing platform, is the first to integrate these advanced models. ERNIE 4.5 optimizes training and inference for improved text generation, image comprehension, and multi-modal reasoning, catering to diverse real-world applications.

Taobao Tmall launched its “Authentic Experience Score” system, moving beyond user ratings to objectively assess sellers on product quality, logistics, and service. Integrated into search, recommendations, and marketing, this score empowers consumers and rewards merchants with high performance. The system utilizes metrics like return rates, delivery times, and response times. This initiative aims to foster a more trustworthy e-commerce ecosystem by incentivizing genuine quality and service.

A viral video shows a car erupting in flames while refueling, possibly caused by the driver’s continuous manipulation of a beaded bracelet. The friction from the beads is theorized to have created a spark that ignited gasoline vapors. The incident highlights gas station safety, emphasizing the risk of static electricity and vapors, and advising patrons to discharge static and avoid leaning over the fuel intake.

A Cessna 441 turboprop crashed in Howland Township, Ohio, June 29, killing all six on board. The twin-engine aircraft, which took off from Youngstown, went down in a wooded area. The NTSB is investigating. This incident is the deadliest local aviation crash and occurs amid a recent increase in U.S. aviation accidents.

OpenAI’s Global Affairs account highlighted China’s AI progress, specifically praising Zhipu AI’s significant advancements and international reach. The Chinese firm, a key player in China’s self-reliant AI ecosystem, has deployed infrastructure globally. OpenAI analysts note Zhipu AI’s success in Western markets with localized versions of its products, presenting it as a growing contender in the AI race.

A Rolls-Royce showroom visit in Hangzhou turned into a bizarre harassment case. After a cordial visit, a sales associate allegedly contacted a customer’s girlfriend, leading to a digital spat. This evolved into smear tactics, including false accusations of vehicle damage and anonymous, insulting texts and a package of turtles, implying cuckoldry. The customer’s information was reportedly shared by the dealership, and the associate’s mother allegedly harassed the customer’s ex-girlfriend, contributing to their breakup. The customer seeks accountability for the privacy breach and harassment.

Acrobatic duo Shi Lei and Fei Fei are taking a break, citing personal decisions and a lumbar injury sustained by Fei Fei. The performers, known for their gravity-defying acts and millions of online followers, will pursue individual paths. Their demanding training, including eight hours daily, pushed their bodies to the limit. They achieved national recognition on CCTV for their unique blend of ballet and acrobatics.

China’s new aviation directive bans uncertified power banks, increasing confiscations at airports. Passengers can surrender them, mail them out, or pay for temporary storage (up to seven days at some airports), after which they may be disposed of or sold for charity. Speculation exists regarding the resale of confiscated items online, with some potentially being faulty products.