Caracal Daily | June 27
Carbon Tax, Deepfakes, Wonky Consultants, Alec Baldwin, Alex Morgan, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
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Happy Thursday.
Here’s today’s Caracal Daily:
*** Ross Rant ***
AI awareness surges
A recent YouGov survey reveals shifting attitudes towards emerging technologies, with artificial intelligence (AI) at the forefront of public awareness.
Key findings:
1. AI leads in public recognition: 46% of Americans report being well-informed about AI, surpassing awareness of other technologies like virtual reality (35%), 3D printing (33%), autonomous vehicles (32%), and cryptocurrency (28%).
2. Growing belief in machine superiority: The proportion of Americans who think computers already surpass human intelligence has risen sharply, doubling from 15% in 2022 to 30% today.
3. Widespread expectation of AI dominance: 65% of respondents believe computers either currently exceed or will eventually surpass human intelligence.
4. Concerns about advanced AI: Nearly half of Americans (47%) express worry about the potential for superintelligent machines to pose a threat to humanity.
This data suggests a significant shift in public perception regarding the capabilities and potential implications of artificial intelligence and related technologies.
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
Go east, young man: UK foreign direct investment for 2022 was $45 billion, while Singapore attracted $141 billion of FDI.
Chinese subsidies for drones, chips put US at risk, House panel says: WP reports a select committee sounds alarm on Chinese practices in the drone, semiconductor, shipbuilding, and steel industries.
Chinese AI firms woo OpenAI users as US company plans API restrictions: Reuters reports Chinese artificial intelligence companies are moving swiftly to attract users of OpenAI’s technology, following reports that the US firm plans to restrict access to its API in China and other countries. ChatGPT maker OpenAI is planning to block access to technology used to build AI products for entities in China and some other countries, Chinese state-owned newspaper Securities Times reported on Tuesday.
Julian Assange has landed in Australia, after he agreed a plea deal with US prosecutors.
UK votes: The latest MRP poll has the Tories on 76 seats and Labour on 465 seats.
+ A Survation poll for ITV had the Tories at 18 percent — a new low for the pollster and four points ahead of Reform.
+ The Economist's “mega-poll” gives Labour an expected majority of 280 seats. It puts the Conservatives on a record-low 76 seats, with the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK making gains.
What an election betting scandal says about British politics and culture: At least five Conservative officials are being investigated by Britain’s gambling watchdog as part of a probe into their placing bets on the timing of the British general election, which is set for July 4. WP
French civil servants ready to revolt if National Rally wins: The Times reports teachers and doctors are among those to threaten disobedience if Marine Le Pen triumphs in the elections, saying the hard-right party is ‘heir to Vichy.’
+ French companies, including Renault and Picard Groupe, are in a rush to sell their junk debt ahead of this weekend’s first round of parliamentary elections.
Denmark to charge farmers €100 a cow in first carbon tax on agriculture: FT reports countries around the world are struggling to cut emissions from food production — which accounts for almost a quarter of global emissions including land use changes — while maintaining food security.
AP: NATO appoints outgoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte as its next secretary
NATO will offer Ukraine a ‘bridge’ to membership, hoping that’s enough: NYT reports officials say Kyiv won’t get membership negotiations at the coming NATO summit, but the alliance will announce a structure to coordinate aid over the longer term.
Biden ‘to allow Pentagon contractors to deploy to Ukraine’: The Telegraph reports the United States is moving toward lifting a long-held ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine, four US officials have said. The move would mark a significant shift in the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy, as Washington looks for ways to speed up the maintenance and repairs of weapons systems being used by the Ukrainian military to help them fend-off Russia’s invasion.
AI will fuel antitrust fires, Big Tech’s German nemesis warns: Artificial intelligence will intensify competition abuses by Big Tech, according to Andreas Mundt, the top German antitrust official who’s spearheaded efforts to rein in Silicon Valley. AI systems will become a closed shop, and users won’t be able to escape to look for alternatives, Mundt warned at the annual press conference of his agency, the Federal Cartel Office. Bloomberg
Israel next month will launch a tender to establish the country's first supercomputer to ensure the country remains a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the chief executive of the state-backed Israel Innovation Authority said on Wednesday.
BBC: Kenya's president withdraws tax plan after deadly protest
+ In an address to the nation, he said it was clear that Kenyans "want nothing" to do with the bill. "I concede," he said, adding that he would not sign the bill into law.
Kenya’s tax u-turn highlights political realities of Africa’s high debt burden: WSJ reports Kenyan President William Ruto said he would withdraw a proposed law on large-scale tax increases, a day after nationwide protests against the measures turned deadly.
Bolivian president warns "irregular" military deployment underway in capital, raising coup fears: WP reports Bolivian President Luis Arce is warning that an “irregular” deployment of troops is taking place in Bolivia’s capital, raising concerns that a potential coup is underway.
Brazil becomes the largest nation to decriminalize marijuana: NYT reports the country’s Supreme Court voted to remove criminal penalties for possession of up to 40 grams of marijuana.
*** US Politics + Elections ***
What I see is: Trump - Burgum. That's the GOP 2024 ticket.
New pro-Trump super PAC quietly spends millions on GOP ground game: NYT reports the group, America PAC, is preparing what appears to be a well-funded push to encourage Republican-leaning voters to cast early or absentee ballots.
WP: Trump keeps baselessly claiming that Biden will be on drugs at debate
Joe Biden: The old-school politician in a new-school era: After more than half a century in Washington, President Biden has learned to make deals and work across the aisle. But that instinct is rarely rewarded in today’s political climate. NYT
According to Nate Silver's current forecast, Donald Trump has approximately a 66% probability of winning the upcoming presidential election and returning to the White House.
According to the Washington Post, Donald Trump is leading in 5 of the 7 battleground states that are most likely to determine the outcome of the election.
PA = Tie
WI = Biden
MI = Trump
NC = Trump
NV = Trump
AZ = Trump
GA = Trump
Biden-Trump debate: Where they stand on AI, TikTok, and chips: Both agree on need to outcompete China in tech, but differ on means. Nikkei
The Interview: Gretchen Whitmer wants a Gen X President — in 2028. NYT
Political deepfakes top list of malicious AI use, DeepMind finds: Artificial intelligence is used more to create realistic but fake celebrity images than to assist cyber attacks, Google unit says. FT
Hollywood workers union reaches pay, AI-use deal with top studios: Reuters reports a union representing Hollywood film and television crew said on Tuesday it has reached a tentative three-year deal with major studios that includes agreed-on pay hikes and guardrails against the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Generative AI reaches fork in the road: "AI platforms should not mistake the music community's embrace of AI as a willingness to accept continuing mass infringement," writes RIAA chairman Mitch Glazier. Billboard
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
How Starbucks devalued its own brand B. Joseph Pine II + Louis-Étienne Dubois
Lufthansa to impose green surcharge in bid to pass on sustainable fuel costs: FT reports Lufthansa has become the first airline group to pass the cost of Europe’s new emissions rules on to passengers, announcing a surcharge of between €1 and €72 per ticket from next year.
Reuters: FedEx climbs on cheery annual profit forecast, freight business review
The AI boom has an unlikely early winner: Wonky consultants: Rattled by tech’s latest trend, businesses have turned to advisers at Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, and KPMG for guidance on adopting generative artificial intelligence. NYT
YouTube in talks with record labels over AI music deal: FT reports licensing negotiations come as industry wrestles with legal and creative impact of artificial intelligence.
Generative AI can’t cite its sources: How will OpenAI keep its promise to media companies? Matteo Wong
Research: Using AI at work makes us lonelier and less healthy David De Cremer + Joel Koopman
Amazon’s market capitalization reached $2trn for the first time.
*** Culture ***
The chef is human. The reviewer isn’t. A new study showed people real restaurant reviews and ones produced by AI. They couldn’t tell the difference. NYT
How did the case against Alec Baldwin go so far? After an accidental on-set shooting death — and two years of bitter legal combat — the movie star is about to have his day in court. NYT
The Economist's top 10 most liveable cities in 2024:
Vienna
Copenhagen
Zurich
Melbourne
Calgary
Geneva
Sydney
Vancouver
Osaka
Auckland
*** Sport ***
Alex Morgan left off USWNT’s 2024 Paris Olympic roster in seismic decision: WP reports Morgan, who will turn 35 in early July, co-captained the 2023 World Cup squad in New Zealand and Australia, but her production has fallen significantly in recent years.
An AI recreation of NBC sports broadcaster Al Michaels’ voice will be part of Peacock’s Olympics coverage, the network announced in a statement. The feature will be used to present “Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock", which will provide fans with a customized playlist featuring highlights from the previous day.
Can Paris save the Olympics? As disgruntled Parisians complain about the impending Games, organizers face a steep challenge: Deliver an Olympics on time and on budget—and breathe life into its battered reputation. WSJ
Euro 2024 | Round of 16:
Spain v Georgia
Germany v Denmark
Portugal v Slovenia
France v Belgium
Romania v Netherlands
Austria v Turkey
England v Slovakia
Switzerland v Italy
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
ITK Daily | June 27
