Today’s topics

• Meta’s $1.4 billion settlement with Texas

• ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode wows testers

• NASA's Perseverance rover discovers signs of life on Mars

• AI-powered “friend” to keep you company

  and more…

Major indexes bounced back sharply on Wednesday, buoyed by a recovery in chip stocks following Tuesday’s selloff. The S&P 500 climbed 1.6%, the Nasdaq surged 2.6%, and the Dow Jones added 0.2%. The rally was fueled by optimistic comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which heightened expectations for a rate cut in September.

Trump vows to make U.S. a crypto capital'. At a Bitcoin conference, former President Donald J. Trump pledged to make the United States a "Bitcoin superpower" if re-elected. He promised to end what he called the “persecution” of the cryptocurrency industry, echoing the rhetoric he often uses about himself and his supporters. Trump's appeal to Bitcoin enthusiasts is aimed at reducing regulation and fostering a more crypto-friendly environment in the U.S.

Meta to pay $1.4 billion in Texas facial recognition lawsuit. Meta Platforms (META.O) has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over claims that Facebook illegally used facial-recognition technology to collect biometric data without user consent. The settlement, revealed on Tuesday, is the largest ever by a single state, according to Texas's legal team, which included the firm Keller Postman. The 2022 lawsuit marked a significant use of Texas' 2009 biometric privacy law, which allows for damages up to $25,000 per violation. The case centered on Facebook's now-discontinued "Tag Suggestions" feature, which allegedly captured biometric data from user photos and videos billions of times.

Meet Your New Best Friend: The AI-Powered Necklace

Ever find yourself chatting with Alexa or Siri just for some company? Enter "friend", the AI-powered necklace that's here to keep you entertained for just $99. Unlike Alexa, it won't turn on your lights or search the web. Instead, this always-listening pendant engages in text conversations whenever you're feeling a bit lonely. Tap your pendant, start the chat, and enjoy the company—no voice required. If it feels a bit like an episode of Black Mirror, you're not alone in thinking that!

ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode wows testers with realistic sound effects. On Tuesday, OpenAI began rolling out an alpha version of its Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) to a select group of ChatGPT Plus subscribers. This new feature, which aims to make AI conversations more natural and interactive, allows users to interrupt the AI during real-time voice chats. Despite initial criticism over its simulated emotional expressiveness and a public dispute with actress Scarlett Johansson over alleged voice copying, early testers have responded enthusiastically, praising the feature’s realistic sound effects and responsiveness.

NASA Spots Possible Martian Life: Perseverance Rover Delivers Big Find

NASA's Perseverance rover has made a groundbreaking discovery that could hint at past life on Mars. The rover, tasked with exploring microbial life, has identified intriguing evidence on a rock dubbed "Cheyava Falls" in Jezero Crater. This rock features vertical veins of calcium sulfate, suggesting past water, flanked by a red band with “leopard spots” potentially pointing to ancient chemical reactions. By analyzing this rock with its SHERLOC and PIXL instruments, Perseverance found organic compounds, making this a tantalizing clue that Mars may have once hosted life.

SpaceX Dragon splashdowns head west. Starting next year, SpaceX Dragon splashdowns will relocate from the coast of Florida to the West Coast. This move aims to reduce the risks associated with debris reentering from the Dragon capsule’s trunk section. The Dragon capsule, vital for transporting astronauts and cargo to and from Earth's orbit, has been a key player in delivering goods to the ISS under a NASA contract. After five years of East Coast splashdowns, SpaceX is shifting to minimize debris concerns.

Could Cat Litter's Toxoplasma Transform Brain Drug Delivery?

Breaking new ground, a study suggests that Toxoplasma gondii, the common parasite often found in cat litter, might revolutionize treatment for neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. By engineering this parasite to deliver therapeutic proteins straight to the brain, researchers are opening a novel avenue for overcoming the challenge of brain drug delivery. Though still in its infancy, this promising approach could be a game-changer in neurological medicine.

'Deadpool & Wolverine' zooms past $500M global box office milestone. Marvel/Disney’s Deadpool & Wolverine is charging past the $500 million mark at the global box office. Following a record-breaking opening weekend, the film has already raked in $496.3 million worldwide. With today’s numbers, this Shawn Levy-directed sequel is set to slice through the half-billion-dollar milestone in no time.

Arctic fine dining: high cuisine with a dash of adventure. In the Arctic Circle, where ingredients travel by boat or plane, dining at Huset is an adventure like no other. Here, you might find yourself savoring seal, whale, reindeer, and even ptarmigan, with the sommelier cautioning you about stray buckshot. The dish—ptarmigan medallions with pumpkin jam and pickled thyme—offers a taste of childhood memories mixed with the exotic. Set against the backdrop of Longyearbyen’s icy vistas and the midnight sun, Huset’s unique blend of high cuisine and arctic charm makes it a culinary journey to the edge of the world.

TikTok of the day: watch here

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