David Lidsky's Blog, page 263

How AI is helping an Israeli TV reporter speak clearly again

Channel 12 made the surprising announcement that it would bring Nussbaum back on the air in the coming weeks as a commentator with the help of AI.

When a renowned Israeli TV journalist lost his ability to speak clearly because of ALS, he thought his career might be over. But now, using artificial-intelligence software that can recreate his widely recognized gravelly voice, Moshe Nussbaum — known to generations of viewers simply as “Nussi” — is making a comeback.

Scoop: Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global-backed Divvy Homes is being sold for parts to Brookfield Properties

The rent-to-own startup was once valued at nearly $2 billion.

Rent-to-own startup Divvy Homes is being acquired in a fire sale by Charleston, South Carolina-based Maymont Homes, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. Maymont, a division of Brookfield Properties, manages a portfolio of single-family rental homes.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn will launch on Sunday—initiating Bezos’s challenge to SpaceX

New Glenn has been a core focus for Blue Origin since the beginning of its decade-long development.

Jeff Bezos‘s Blue Origin is set for an inaugural launch of its giant New Glenn rocket on Sunday, a long-awaited first leap to Earth orbit that sets up one of the biggest challenges yet to industry dominance enjoyed by Elon Musk‘s SpaceX.

Port union credits Trump for averting a strike. It may shape future labor talks

The success of the International Longshoremen’s Association in winning Trump’s support for its anti-automation battle could be instructive for unions facing contract renewals during his term.

A tentative labor deal forestalled potentially damaging trade disruptions at three dozen U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports, with both sides in the talks crediting President-elect Donald Trump for clearing the way for them to hammer out a deal on automation.

This video company is positioning itself for a world without TikTok

Captions is making a play for CapCut’s users.

As TikTok pleads with the U.S. Supreme Court to let it continue operating in the United States, one video company is taking advantage of the uncertainty around TikTok’s sister app.

Oscar nominations delayed amid deadly L.A. wildfires

The massive Los Angeles fires are still going strong for the fourth day in a row, and they’re causing huge disruptions across the entertainment world. This week, the organization behind the Academy Awards announced it’s extending the voting window for the 97th Oscars. Several other award shows have also had to push back their events. […]

The massive Los Angeles fires are still going strong for the fourth day in a row, and they’re causing huge disruptions across the entertainment world. This week, the organization behind the Academy Awards announced it’s extending the voting window for the 97th Oscars. Several other award shows have also had to push back their events.

Why is there an egg shortage? How bird flu is making the political lightning rod even more expensive

Egg prices have been a hot topic of debate this year, and they’re only getting higher thanks to inflation, an outbreak, and a number of recalls.

Have you recently gone to the grocery store to buy eggs, only to find the section half empty or barely stocked at all? You might be wondering why there’s an egg shortage, and why the ones that are available are so expensive (I recently paid $8.49 for a carton at my local food co-op).

TikTok’s future looks bleak

TikTok’s days may be numbered after a challenging day before the Supreme Court and with less than two weeks to go before a nationwide ban goes into effect.

TikTok’s future prospects in the United States looked grimmer than ever Friday, following a bruising day of Supreme Court arguments in a case that could determine whether the app is forced to shut down on January 19.

New York governor wants to limit hedge funds from buying up single-family homes

Hochul said she would propose legislation this year that would require a 75-day waiting period and limit certain tax benefits when investment firms purchase homes.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said she will push for new laws to make it harder for hedge funds to purchase large numbers of single-family homes in the state.

How Trump’s EPA could use ‘science’ to weaken environmental protections

Uncertainty is an important scientific term that the first Trump administration used to promote deregulation, particularly for chemicals.

Environmental issues were conspicuously absent from the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, but moves by President-elect Donald Trump’s first administration and his leadership picks for his next administration offer clues to what may be ahead.