The latest chapter in a tech bromance gone sour could up-end Altman's bid for new funding - whether or not OpenAI Inc.'s board accepts Musk's offer.

Business conversations are increasingly happening on messaging platforms, but much of those ... [+] interactions get lost in commmunication silos. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesAcross the world, business leaders continue to seek ways to improve business outcomes with AI. A top priority for many of them is the ability to make timely and effective business decisions, powered by the data their organizations sit on. Sadly, thats often not the case. A report from McKinsey revealed that business leaders often struggle to make timely decisions, with many failing to achieve the desired outcomes.While there could be several reasons behind that reality, one major factor is the lack of complete insight into the data within their business architectures. Many businesses swim in vast oceans of data including data from interactions among employees, partners and customers across multiple platforms that they often cannot contextualize or extract value from.Dima Gutzeit, founder and CEO of LeapXpert a visionary in Gartners recent magic quadrant for digital communications governance and archiving solutions says AI can solve this decision-making problem in the C-Suite, with what he describes as AI-powered communications intelligence. But how exactly does this happen and how can leaders get the best value from the daily interactions within their businesses?AI-Powered Communications IntelligenceMost businesses today suffer from fragmented communication ecosystems. Business conversations happen across email, Slack, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, and SMS, creating silos that hinder collaboration and make compliance difficult. Gutzeit calls this communication chaos.But once communication data is structured and governed, business leaders can begin to use AI for extracting actionable intelligence. However, theres a right way to do this, according to Gutzeit. "AI is only as powerful as the data it can access. If businesses dont tap into channels where important conversations take places, they will miss out on critical insights that could drive smarter, faster decisions," he said in a recent interview.MORE FOR YOUWithout a centralized communications system that unifies all communication channels, Gutzeit added, companies cannot ensure valuable insights do not remain isolated within individual chats. Ensuring digital communications and governance isnt just for business leaders to gain comprehensive insights into their organization, its also to shield them from compliance risks.As Gartner notes in a report, the quantity and scope of communication tools, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and WhatsApp, makes it more complex for organizations to enforce corporate governance and regulatory compliance use policies.But its not a problem without a fix.By using AI-powered platforms that consolidate and govern communication channels, businesses gain a unified, searchable and auditable record of discussions, all while ensuring compliance and enhancing decision-making. AI empowers employees by surfacing insights they wouldnt otherwise catch turning individual interactions into collective intelligence, Gutzeit noted.For example, tools like the LeapXpert Communication Platform are helping businesses to do that, enabling employees to engage with clients across multiple communications channels - WhatsApp, iMessage, SMS, Telegram, WeChat, Signal, Line in controlled and compliant frameworks. The companys Maxen add-on also uses AI to provide real-time insights into client interactions and enable better customer engagement.Growing ConcernsAs businesses race to adopt AI worldwide, concerns around regulations continue to grow. These concerns are particularly pressing for industries where regulatory oversight is stringent. In the financial sector, for example, record-keeping is non-negotiable. Indeed, over the last three years, the SEC and CFTC have fined dozens of firms, including some of the largest banks in the world, a total of over $3.5 billion dollars for off-channel communications.There are also worries on whether AI-driven communications platforms are being deployed responsibly. The European Unions AI Act and the White Houses Executive Order on AI emphasize the need for ethical AI usage, particularly regarding privacy, security and bias mitigation.Then, there is also the concern that over-reliance on AI-powered business communications could lead to more impersonal interactions. To this concern, Gutzeit said businesses must note that AI should enhance not replace human communication. AI should amplify human interactions. Relationship managers thrive on trust and personal connections AI-powered tools enhance their ability to engage by surfacing key insights, streamlining workflows and ensuring they focus on what matters most: building strong, authentic relationships.For businesses adopting AI-powered communications, Gutzeit noted that the key is to build compliance into the system from the ground up. Financial services firms, for instance, must capture and archive digital communications to meet SEC regulations. Healthcare organizations handling sensitive patient data must ensure encrypted and secure storage to comply with HIPAA. Companies operating under GDPR and CCPA mandates must also maintain auditable records of customer interactions to ensure transparency and accountability.A well-governed AI-powered communication platform ensures compliance without burdening employees with manual oversight. Companies must also recognize that responsible AI starts with rigorous security controls, making data protection a top priority, Gutzeit explained.He added that AI-powered communication platforms need to be more than just tools. They need to be trusted business partners, he said.The ideal AI-powered communication solution should unify existing communication tools without disrupting workflows. Governance controls must be in place to ensure that AI-driven insights are auditable, verifiable and secure. AI solutions must also be tailored to the unique challenges and operational needs of each organization.The BackboneAs AI moves beyond experimentation to mainstream adoption, the time to implement AI-powered communications and governance is now. Businesses that fail to harness AI-driven communication will not only risk falling behind in operational efficiency, but may also struggle to meet increasing compliance demands.As Gutzeit noted, Effective communication channels are the backbone of modern business operations. For the C-suite, its not just about enabling communication its about creating a governed and efficient ecosystem that aligns with enterprise goals. Properly designed channels ensure regulatory compliance, mitigate risks and improve customer experience by meeting clients where they are.

DevSecOps benefitsincluding security, speed and compliancecan only be realized if its well understood, implemented wisely and embraced across teams.

Reviewers LikedSeamless iOS integrationAdds ANC, transparency modes, spatial audioSlimmer ear hook, smaller caseAccurate hear rate monitoringWorks well with iOS and Android OSH2 chip adds smartsPhysical buttonsExcellent battery lifeComfortable, secure fitReviewers Didn't LikeUnimpressive audio performanceCase is still pretty massiveANC is not quite as good as competitorsHeart-rate support is limited at launch on iOSHeart rate is not that useful if you're an Apple Watch userHigh priceCompetitors and Related Products Our editors hand-pick related products using a variety of criteria: direct competitors targeting the same market segment, or devices that are similar in size, performance, or feature sets. Expert reviews and ratings 60 The fitness-focused Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 can monitor your heart rate but otherwise don't live up to similarly priced wireless earbuds when it comes to noise cancellation and sound quality. By PCMag on February 11, 2025 90 The result of all this tech is a compelling and versatile package that should be a top contender for budding athletes and beyond. With tons of features, punchy sound, and serious comfort in a sport-friendly design, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are an impressive second coming and the best Beats Buds you can buy right now. By Wired on February 11, 2025 80 The Powerbeats Pro 2 make a strong case against yearly upgrades. Im not saying Beats should wait another six years before another refresh, but thanks to that wait, theres a clear difference from the original Powerbeats. The addition of ANC is a good enough reason to cop a pair. By The Verge on February 11, 2025 80 The Powerbeats Pro 2 are comfortable, secure, and full of features that make them perfect for working out, or even everyday use. By DigitalTrends on February 11, 2025 80 The Powerbeats Pro 2 put fitness first, with a secure, comfortable fit and the addition of a heart rate monitor. There are some small hiccups in the sound department, but very solid battery life and a unique look and style bring them firmly back on track to make some compelling fitness buds that can do almost everything. By Tom's Guide on February 11, 2025 79 Apples first earbuds with heart-rate tracking arent AirPods, but they offer a lot of the same smarts via a major design overhaul from Beats. By Engadget on February 11, 2025 88 While I personally had some issues with the included ear tips, I do think the Powerbeats Pro 2 are improved in every way from their predecessor and people who liked the originals will be impressed with this next-gen version. By cnet on February 11, 2025 90 A much-improved pair of fitness earbuds perfectly tuned for the Apple ecosystem. The addition of ANC and heart rate monitor make the Powerbeats Pro 2 the smart choice for the athletic iPhone user. By Gizmodo on February 11, 2025 80 The Powerbeats Pro 2 offers a compelling mix of fitness tracking and premium audio. They excel in comfort, design, and battery life, making them one of the best sports headphones available. However, while heart rate tracking is undoubtedly accurate, we encountered consistent pairing issues, especially on iOS. If Beats can finesse the heart rate features, the Powerbeats Pro 2 could become a top alternative to smartwatches and chest straps. In their current state, though, they're only a must-consider for those craving top audio features in a secure fit. By Wareable on February 11, 2025 90 If you're an iPhone owner and in the market for a new pair of earbuds that are focused on fitness, get these. If you already have a pair you love and were considering switching to these for the heart rate monitors, unless the apps I mentioned earlier are your go-to fitness apps, you may want to wait until there's more support for the Powerbeats Pro 2 heart rate monitoring. As it is, just one fix will open up the ecosystem: support from WatchOS. By Pocket-Lint on February 11, 2025Load More Reviews

Have you ever needed to block someone on a social media or online chat platform without dealing with the drama that comes after that? Discord is rolling out the Ignore button to give users the ability to give themselves space from certain people without the other person knowing.The online gaming chat platform announced in a blog on Monday ahead of Safer Internet Day that it created the Ignore button to help users manage their interactions with their friends and peers more effectively, as well as keeping themselves safe from people who dont have the best of intentions. Discord said the new feature was made especially for teenagers who are more prone to confrontations with the person they blocked in the real world after the fact.Recommended VideosCurrently, you can block a user to prevent interactions with them, but weve heard from our users that this can sometimes feel confrontational and scary, Discord said in the blog post. This is particularly the case for teen users who often want to take space without the person knowing we built this tool for you!Whether youre a teen or adult Discord user and you want to ignore the person whos giving you a hard time in any way, go to your DMs with the user you were intending to block in the first place, click on their profile picture, tap the dropdown menu on the upper right corner of the screen and tap Ignore. Then youll see a pop-up message that reads, Ignore [username]? Get space without letting them know. Once youve made up your mind, tap the Ignore button on the bottom of the screen, and all new messages, DMs, and other notifications from that person are hidden from your view for the foreseeable future.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe Ignore button not only helps people of any age protect themselves from the toxic people in their lives on top of managing their interactions with other people in general so that they can focus on their tasks within Discord and outside of it, but it also protects them from scammers, which happens to be the theme for Safer Internet Day this year. However, if ignoring the abusive Discord user isnt right for you, you can still report them and theyll receive disciplinary action from Discord support.Editors Recommendations

SwitchBotSwitchBot, a company responsible for a variety of smart home gadgets, launched the K10+ Pro robot vacuum last August. Offering solid performance, a reasonable price tag, and a tiny footprint that reaches areas missed by larger competitors, it quickly became an easy recommendation for budget shoppers. Fast forward to today, and SwitchBot is now offering the K10+ Pro Combo a 3-in-1 vacuuming solution that pairs the robot with a cordless vacuum and auto-emptying base station.Robot vacuums are an excellent addition to most smart homes, but theyre still not a full replacement for traditional vacuums. For example, they cant yet clean stairs, and sensitive areas of your home are often easier to clean yourself (such as around expensive home dcor or underneath desks littered with cables). Thats where the SwitchBot K10+ Pro Combo comes into play, as you can clean these areas with the cordless vacuum while the K10+ Pro handles the rest of your home.Recommended VideosThe robot vacuum in the bundle is essentially the same one launched last year, offering just 2,500Pa of suction but a tiny footprint thats great at maneuvering around tight obstacles. Its the cordless vacuum thats the new addition here, and with 20,000Pa of suction and a five-level filtration system, its an excellent companion for all your manual cleaning needs.SwitchBotBest of all, the docking station now empties the dustbags from both the robot vacuum and cordless vacuum, ensuring your hands stay clean after each use. The overall footprint of the dock is quite small too, taking up about as much space as a standard piece of paper. So if youre living in a cramped apartment or home, its a better choice than some of the massive robot vacuums on the market.Please enable Javascript to view this contentAccording to SwitchBot, the docking station can hold up to 70 days of accumulated debris. This will likely vary based on the size of your home and how often you run the robot and cordless vacuum. Other notable features include Matter compatibility, support for voice commands, and a mobile app for additional customization options.The SwitchBot K10+ Pro Combo is now available for $800, though a $200 off coupon is available to early shoppers. Youll also find the standalone K10+ Pro robot vacuum for $600. Be sure to also check out the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo and Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo, as they offer much of the same functionality but with a robot vacuum that produces more suction.Editors Recommendations

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Heartbeat Opera presents a radically stripped down and re-orchestrated version of Strausss classic in Brooklyn; in Manhattan, Opera Lafayette and OperaCrole staged the world-premiere production of what is thought to be the oldest existing opera by a black American.

Another step Bird flu strain that just jumped to cows infects dairy worker in Nevada The worker is said to have had pink eye and is recovering from the infection. Beth Mole Feb 11, 2025 1:04 pm | 4 Cows graze in a field on December 19, 2024, in Petaluma, California. Credit: Getty | Justin Sullivan Cows graze in a field on December 19, 2024, in Petaluma, California. Credit: Getty | Justin Sullivan Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreA dairy worker in Nevada has been infected with a strain of H5N1 bird flugenotype D1.1that has newly spilled over to cows, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed.The worker experienced conjunctivitis (pink eye) as the only symptom and is recovering, according to a separate press release by the Central Nevada Health District Monday.The bird flu strain H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype D1.1 is the predominant strain currently circulating in wild birds in North America and was confirmed for the first time in cows in Nevada last week. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the new spillover was initially detected on January 31 via bulk milk testing. Until this point, the outbreak of H5N1 in dairy cowswhich was declared in March 2024was entirely caused by H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13. The outbreak was thought to have been caused by a single spillover event from wild birds to cows in Texas in late 2023 or early 2024.Since then, the CDC has confirmed 68 human cases of H5N1 in the US, 41 of which were in dairy workers. That total includes the new D1.1 case in Nevada. The remainder includes 23 poultry workers, one from a backyard/wild bird exposure in Louisiana, and three with unclear sources of infection. Nearly all of the cases have been mild.Genetic findingsIn a statement emailed to Ars, the CDC noted that the Nevada case is not the first human case with D1.1 amid the outbreak. Based on available genetic data, the D1.1 genotype likely infected a total of 15 people across Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin during 2024, the agency said.However, the new Nevada case is notable because it marks the first time D1.1 is known to have jumped from birds to cows to a person. Moreover, D1.1 has proven dangerous. The genotype is behind the country's only severe and ultimately fatal case of H5N1 so far in the outbreak. The death in the Louisiana case linked to wild and backyard birds was reported last month. The CDC's statement added that the person had "prolonged, unprotected" exposure to the birds. The D1.1. genotype was also behind a severe H5N1 infection that put a Canadian teenager in intensive care late last year.In a February 7 analysis, the USDA reported finding that the D1.1 strain infecting cows in Nevada has a notable mutation known to help the bird-adapted virus replicate in mammals more efficiently (PB2 D701N). To date, this mutation has not been seen in D1.1 strains spreading in wild birds nor has it been seen in the B3.13 genotype circulating in dairy cows. However, it was seen before in a 2023 human case in Chile. The CDC said it has confirmed that the strain of D1.1 infecting the person in Nevada also contains the PB2 D701N mutation.The USDA and CDC both reported that no other concerning mutations were found, including one that has been consistently identified in the B3.13 strain in cows. The CDC said it does not expect any changes to how the virus will interact with human immune responses or to antivirals.Most importantly, to date, there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission, which would mark a dangerous turn for the virus's ability to spark an outbreak. For all these reasons, the CDC considers the risk to the public low, though people with exposure to poultry, dairy cows, and birds are at higher risk and should take precautions.To date, 967 herds across 16 states have been infected with H5N1 bird flu, and nearly 158 million commercial birds have been affected since 2022.Beth MoleSenior Health ReporterBeth MoleSenior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technicas Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 4 Comments