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US makes AI-generated robocalls illegal
Who makes money when AI reads the internet for us?
Last week, The Browser Company, a startup that makes the Arc web browser, released a slick new iPhone app called Arc Search. Instead of displaying links, its brand new “Browse for Me” feature reads the first handful of pages and summarizes them into a single, custom-built, Arc-formatted web page using large language models from OpenAI and others. If a user does click through to any of the actual pages, Arc Search blocks ads, cookies and trackers by default. Arc’s efforts to reimagine web browsing have received near-universal acclaim. But over the last few days, “Browse for Me” earned The Browser Company its first online backlash.
For decades, websites have served ads and pushed people visiting them towards paying for subscriptions. Monetizing traffic is one of the primary ways most creators on the web continue to make a living. Reducing the need for people to visit actual websites deprives those creators of compensation for their work, and disincentivizes them from publishing anything at all.
“Web creators are trying to share their knowledge and get supported while doing so”, tweeted Ben Goodger, a software engineer who helped create both Firefox and Chrome. “I get how this helps users. How does it help creators? Without them there is no web…” After all, if a web browser sucked out all information from web pages without users needing to actually visit them, why would anyone bother making websites in the first place?
The backlash has prompted the company’s co-founder and CEO Josh Miller to question the fundamental nature of how the web is monetized. Miller, who was previously a product director at the White House and worked at Facebook after it acquired his previous startup, Branch, told Goodger on X that how creators monetize web pages needs to evolve. He also told Platformer’s Casey Newton that generative AI presents an opportunity to “shake up the stagnant oligopoly that runs much of the web today” but admitted that he didn’t know how writers and creators who made the actual website that his browser scrapes from would be compensated. “It completely upends the economics of publishing on the internet,” he admitted.
Miller declined to speak to Engadget, and The Browser Company did not respond to Engadget’s questions.
Arc set itself apart from other web browsers by fundamentally rethinking how web browsers look and work ever since it was released to the general public in July last year. It did this by adding features like the ability to split multiple tabs vertically and offering a picture-in-picture mode for Google Meet video conferences. But for the last few months, Arc has been rapidly adding AI-powered features such as automatic web page summaries, ChatGPT integration and giving users the option to switch their default search engine to Perplexity, a Google rival that uses AI to provide answers to search queries by summarizing web pages in a chat-style interface and providing tiny citations to sources. The “Browse for Me” feature lands Arc smack in the middle of one of AI’s biggest ethical quandaries: who pays creators when AI products rip off and repurpose their content?
“The best thing about the internet is that somebody super passionate about something makes a website about the thing that they love,” tech entrepreneur and blogging pioneer Anil Dash told Engadget. “This new feature from Arc intermediates that and diminishes that.” In a post on Threads shortly after Arc released the app, Dash criticized modern search engines and AI chatbots that sucked up the internet’s content and aimed to stop people from visiting websites, calling them “deeply destructive.”
It’s easy, Dash said, to blame the pop-ups, cookies and intrusive advertisements that power the economic engine of the modern web as the reason why browsing feels broken now. And there may be signs that users are warming to the concept of having their information presented to them summarized by large language models rather than manually clicking around multiple web pages. On Thursday, Miller tweeted that people chose “Browse for Me” over regular Google search in Arc Search on mobile for approximately 32 percent of all queries. The company is currently working on making that the default search experience and also bringing it to its desktop browser.
“It’s not intellectually honest to say that this is better for users,” said Dash. “We only focus on short term user benefit and not the idea that users want to be fully informed about the impact they’re having on the entire digital ecosystem by doing this.” Summarizing this double-edged sword succinctly a food blogger tweeted at Miller, “As a consumer, this is awesome. As a blogger, I’m a lil afraid.”
Last week, Matt Karolian, the vice president of platforms, research and development at The Boston Globe typed “top Boston news” into Arc Search and hit “Browse for Me”. Within seconds, the app had scanned local Boston news sites and presented a list of headlines containing local developments and weather updates. “News orgs are gonna lose their shit about Arc Search,” Karolian posted on Threads. “It’ll read your journalism, summarize it for the user…and then if the user does click a link, they block the ads.”
Local news publishers, Karolian told Engadget, almost entirely depend on selling ads and subscriptions to readers who visit their websites to survive. “When tech platforms come along and disintermediate that experience without any regard for the impact it could have, it is deeply disappointing.” Arc Search does include prominent links and citations to the websites it summarizes from. But Karolian said that this misses the point. “It fails to ponder the consequences of what happens when you roll out products like this.”
Arc Search isn’t the only service using AI to summarize information from web pages. Google, the world’s biggest search engine, now offers AI-generated summaries to users’ queries at the top of its search results, something that experts have previously called “a bit like dropping a bomb right at the center of the information nexus.” Arc Search, however, goes a step beyond and eliminates search results altogether. Meanwhile, Miller has continued to tweet throughout the controversy, posting vague musings about websites in an “AI-first internet” while simultaneously releasing products based on concepts he has admittedly still not sorted out.
On a recent episode of The Vergecast that Miller appeared on, he compared what Arc Search might do to the economics of the web to what Craigslist did to business models of print newspapers. “I think it’s absolutely true that Arc Search and the fact that we remove the clutter and the BS and make you faster and get you what you need in a lot less time is objectively good for the vast majority of people, and it is also true that it breaks something,” he says. “It breaks a bit of the value exchange. We are grappling with a revolution with how software works and how computers work and that’s going to mess up some things.”
Karolian from The Globe said that the behavior of tech companies applying AI to content on the web reminded him of a monologue delivered by Ian Malcolm, one of the protagonists in Jurassic Park to park creator John Hammond about applying the power of technology without considering its impact: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could they didn’t stop if they should.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/who-makes-money-when-ai-reads-the-internet-for-us-200246690.html?src=rss
US to invest more than $5bn into semiconductor R&D space
The investment is being implemented under the Chips and Science Act, as the country continues its efforts to boost its capabilities in the sector.
Read more: US to invest more than $5bn into semiconductor R&D space
US to invest more than $5bn into semiconductor R&D space
The investment is being implemented under the Chips and Science Act, as the country continues its efforts to boost its capabilities in the sector.
Read more: US to invest more than $5bn into semiconductor R&D space
Algorithms cannot decide a patient’s healthcare coverage, the US government clarifies
Insurers offering Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have received a new memo from the CMS, an FAQ-like document that offers careful clarifications on the use (or abuse) of AI predictions. The agency says that insuring companies cannot deny coverage to ailing people solely based on those predictions because AI doesn’t take…
Stockholm AI start-up Xensam raises $40m for US expansion
Founded in 2016 by brothers Oskar and Gustav Fösker, Xensam has its eyes on US and European expansion.
Read more: Stockholm AI start-up Xensam raises $40m for US expansion
Stockholm AI start-up Xensam raises $40m for US expansion
Founded in 2016 by brothers Oskar and Gustav Fösker, Xensam has its eyes on US and European expansion.
Read more: Stockholm AI start-up Xensam raises $40m for US expansion
Beachfront resorts and theme park properties – the ten best hotels in the US for 2024 revealed
NOTHING screams vacation quite like a poolside resort but not all oceanfronts are created equal.
Where you stay can often make or break an entire trip, but U.S. News has taken out the guesswork of vacation planning with their list of the ten best hotels in the country.
Experts ranked their top picks through a combination of “analysis of industry awards, hotel star ratings, and user ratings.”
Acqualina Resort took first place on U.S. News’ 2024 list of Top 10 Hotels[/caption]
Acqualina Resort & Residences (#1)
With six Critics Awards and thousands of glowing reviews, Miami Beach’s Aqualina Resort beat out over 30,000 hotels to cinch the top spot of the nation’s best resort.
The Mediterranean-styled five-star resort boasts three oceanfront pools, a large spa, meeting rooms, and four dining options, including New York’s elite Il Mulino.
Take a scenic breather on the resort’s signature poolside lounge or get some well-deserved me-time at their VOI Hair Salon.
With your pick of their oceanside rooms which provide expansive views of all that Miami has to offer, your stay is sure to be unforgettable.
The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club Grand Opening came in second[/caption]
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club (#2)
Another standout on the Miami Beach resort scene proudly boasts a list of star-studded visitors.
Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Winston Churchill were just a few of the Surf Club’s past guests.
The three 12-stories towers include a total of 77 luxury guest rooms and 119 private residences, with a ballroom, the Lido Restaurant, a champagne bar, and sparkling views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Surf Club is home to a world-class spa that’s sure to relieve even the worst case of jet lag with its message therapy, skincare, and fitness offerings.
South California’s Montage Laguna resort has direct access to the water[/caption]
Montage Laguna Beach (#5)
South California’s top resort is situated right on its namesake, Laguna Beach.
With direct access to the waters, the seaside hotel allows guests to unwind right by the coast.
Vacationers can enjoy classic California fare from one of their three on-site restaurants, The Loft, Mosaic Bar and Grille, and Lobby Lounge.
Laguna’s ambiance has been described by patrons as “romantic,” best suited for couples, although the resort also hosts an impressive array of baby and children’s programs.
Mauna Lani offered a variety of Hawai’i exclusive activities, such as whale-watching[/caption]
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection (#6)
Situated in the heart of Hawai’i’s mountainous Big Island and the Kohala Coast, Mauna Lani is the state’s pride and joy when it comes to getaways.
Exclusive to the resort are itineraries that most hotels are hard strapped to beat, including award-winning golf courses right by the water.
Catch humpback whales, dolphins, and pilot fish on their return from Alaska between January and April, or tune in for some live music by the sea at twilight.
Foodies can even start their days off with freshly brewed Kona coffee or Japanese-inspired fare at one of their seven on-site restaurants and markets.
The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World is the only Orlando one to receive AAA’s Five Diamond rating[/caption]
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt (#7)
Disney fans are in for truly magical experience at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando.
Guests of all ages can have a day of fun and relaxation at the Explorer Island water park.
Or, for the tired parent looking for some alone time, naps can be taken at the Oasis adult-only pool.
Families can even toast to a perfect vacation with fireworks overhead at a rooftop dinner at the resort’s Michelin-starred steakhouse Capa.
The Faena Hotel Miami Beach came in last on the coveted Top 10 list[/caption]
Faena Hotel Miami Beach (#10)
A third Miami Beach destination grabbed the last spot on the top ten list, with its gold-and-red accented designs.
The 1950s-themed resort is perfect for creatives or those looking for a hit of nostalgia.
Catch a production in the Faena Theater, where the resort boasts its own highly-acclaimed cabaret performances.
Those with a diverse taste palate would also be pleased with their four on-site eateries, which include South American, Asian fusion, Mexican, and Japanese omakase fare.
The Langham hosts afternoon tea sessions on weekends[/caption]
The Langham, Chicago (#3)
Although visitors definitely can’t lounge next to Lake Michigan, the closest body of water near The Langham, the hotel is still impressive in its own right.
The five-star hotel’s Travelle Lounge overlooks the Chicago River, featuring a skyline view as guests converse over cocktails.
The Pavilion is perfect for tea-enjoyers, open afternoons on weekends for those who’d like to unwind with a book and some savory bites.
The Langham’s Chuan Spa helps guests relax with a full-body experience guided by the five elements and includes facilities such as a 67-foot indoor pool, Hydro-Vitality hot tub, Oriental steam room, and Eucalyptus and Himalayan salt stone saunas.
The Peninsula has won the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating every year[/caption]
The Peninsula Chicago (#4)
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, The Peninsula is “Far Eastern graciousness where it meets Midwestern hospitality.”
The Asian-inspired hotel has touted a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating each year since it opened in 1997.
Fitness enthusiasts would feel right at home with their state-of-the-art gym, which includes floor-to-wall ceilings and an indoor half-Olympic size swimming pool.
The pool, located on the 19th floor, also overlooks Lake Michigan.
D.C.’s premier luxury hotel used to be a block of luxury apartments[/caption]
The Jefferson, Washington, DC (#8)
Originally a block of luxury apartments, architect Jules Henri de Sibour only took two years to transform the units into the impressive hotel.
Located in the nation’s capital, it only makes sense that The Jefferson has its own in-house historian.
Susan Sullivan Lagon, PhD, convenes with guests daily to share details about the building’s history, its architect, and locale.
The pet-friendly hotel also includes a state-of-the-art kitchen, restaurant, bar, a book room, and fitness center.
Boston’s XV Beacon Hotel gives out complimentary amenities such as bath salts and CBD bath bombs[/caption]
XV Beacon Hotel (#9)
Rumors on the streets are that Boston’s Beacon Hotel used to house Geoge Washington, America’s first President.
While there ironically is no Presidential Suite, guests can pick from seven different room types at Beacon, from the Classic with Queen beds and a walk-in shower to the two bedroom Gilbert Stuart Suites.
All Beacon rooms include amenities such as White Italian marble bathrooms, fresh flowers, and even complimentary bath salts along with CBD bath bombs.
The hotel’s in-house restaurant, Mooo, includes a menu with all-natural grass-fed ribeye and Wagyu A5 sirloin.
Car-sharing company Getaround cuts one-third of US workforce
Getaround, a company that helps vehicle owners rent out their cars, trucks and SUVs to other peers, is cutting 30% of its North American workforce as part of a restructuring. The company said in a statement it will restructure its workforce and operations to reduce costs in hopes of extending its cash runway and accelerating […]
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