Tag: million
Elon Musk claimed he gave $100 million to OpenAI. Filings show he gave far less.
Elon Musk has made it quite clear over the past few months: He’s no fan of OpenAI, the creator of the popular ChatGPT AI chatbot.
Musk’s critiques of one of the biggest companies in the growing AI space is especially poignant being that Musk himself was a founder in the company. Musk has said on numerous occasions that he put $100 million into OpenAI in its earliest days, back when he agreed with its non-profit, open-source ethos.
OpenAI’s new less-transparent, more for-profit direction has been a major issue for Musk, who has since cut ties with the company.These are legitimate critiques, made even more substantial due to the fact that a former co-founder and investor in the company is making them.
But a new report from TechCrunch calls into question just how much Musk actually gave to OpenAI. And it appears Musk has revised the amount he claims to have provided the AI company as a result.
According to this report by Mark Harris of TechCrunch, tax filings show that OpenAI’s non-profit received no more than $133.2 million since its inception through 2021. Based on all non-Musk investment into OpenAI, Musk could not have given more than around $57 million to the organization.
However, as for publicly recorded donations tied to Musk, that number is even lower. In 2016, through his 501(c)3 non-profit, the Musk Foundation, a $10 million donation was made to a non-profit connected to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, which in turn donated the $10 million to OpenAI.
According to TechCrunch, that is the only “publicly disclosed cash contribution” that backs up Musk’s financial ties to OpenAI. However, TechCrunch believes that Musk provided an additional $5 million in cash in 2017, as part of a larger donation to OpenAI from that same Altman-connected nonprofit.
The report also found non-cash contributions in the form of nearly $250k worth of Tesla vehicles, gifted to OpenAI in 2017. In 2018, Musk provided an additional $14k in vehicle upgrades.
As TechCrunch points out, there are ways for rich donors to give money anonymously, so it’s possible Musk provided more than $15 million cash and some Tesla vehicles. However, based on the amount given by other donors, Musk’s previous $100 million figure can’t be true.
And Musk seems to have come to that conclusion as well. After TechCrunch reached out for comment regarding their findings, Musk revised his claims. In a CNBC interview earlier this week, Musk was asked about how much he donated to OpenAI. He didn’t drop the $100 million number as he previously did.
“I’m not sure the exact number but it’s some number on the order of $50 million,” he said.
In the big picture, tens of millions of dollars may seem inconsequential when we’re talking about billionaires and multi-billion dollar valued companies. Musk has made many valid critiques about OpenAI and this report on how much he actually gave the organization doesn’t really affect his points. But, if one is going to put themselves out there as a uniquely qualified critic of OpenAI, it seems very important that they get these basic facts and figures right.
One million cancel broadband as living costs rise
: Deutsche Bank to settle Jeffrey Epstein suit for $75 million: report
GTA Sells 5M Copies In Past 3 Months, Jumps To 180 Million In Total Sales
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has revealed that GTA 5 has sold over 180 million units. Even more impressive is five million of these were only sold within the last three months, nearly a decade after the game was first released.
The news comes from Take-Two’s latest earnings report, which stated that GTA 5 has reached over one billion dollars in retail sales “faster than any entertainment release in history.” The report also states that the franchise has sold over 400 million units and that “active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway.” Although no date was given for the next GTA, it’s known that Rockstar has been working on another installment. Late last year, a massive leak showed off early gameplay footage and screenshots of GTA 6.
In addition to GTA 5 reaching over 180 million units, the Red Dead Redemption series has also seen continued success. The franchise has sold over 75 million units worldwide, while Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 53 million units and is the second best-selling title in the US based on dollar sales in the last five years.
DOJ Offers $10 Million Reward for Info on Alleged Russian Ransomware Hacker
A Russian national has been charged for his alleged role in the cyberattacks against law enforcement, government agencies, hospitals, and schools. The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed two indictments on Tuesday against Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, who is known online as Wazawaka, claiming he demanded a total of $400…
Alleged Russian Hacker Charged in $200 Million Ransomware Spree
Ransomware groups typically hack into computer networks and deploy malicious software that encrypts computers and makes them unusable. The groups demand extortion payments in cryptocurrency and threaten to leak stolen data online if the ransom is not paid.
Matveev was allegedly a member of the Lockbit, Babuk and Hive ransomware gangs. Those groups are “ranked among the most active and destructive cybercriminal threats in the world,” Philip Sellinger, the US attorney for the district of New Jersey, wrote in an indictment. Matveev, along with other members of the ransomware gangs, attacked as many as 2,800 victims in the US and around the world, Sellinger wrote. The alleged victims include the Metropolitan Police Department in the District of Columbia, which was attacked with ransomware in 2021. The hackers proceeded to publish dozens of stolen personnel files. The groups also targeted churches and nonprofits, the Department of Justice said.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
TikTok promotes mental health outreach with $2 million advertising fund
TikTok users might begin noticing more direct mental health awareness outreach in their feeds, as the platform launches a new fund for mental health organizations in honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
The Mental Health Media Education Fund will provide $2 million in app advertising credits to seven mental health organizations posting and advertising resources on the app, in a bid to support the mental well-being of its users — and make it easier for nonprofits to reach their communities on TikTok.
The organizations collaborating with the platform include:
-
The National Alliance for Eating Disorders (@alliancefored), a nonprofit providing education, referrals, and support to people living with eating disorders through its free help line and referral app. The organization also offers direct training and services, including national support groups.
-
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (@afspnational), a national volunteer health organization working to “save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide and loss.”
-
Crisis Text Line (@crisistextline), a free, 24/7 mental health support line.
-
The Made of Millions Foundation (@madeofmillions), a global advocacy nonprofit working to end public mental health stigma through art, media, and digital technology.
-
National Alliance on Mental Illness (@nami), a grassroots-built national alliance of more than 600 affiliated organizations and 49 state organizations working to provide mental health support and education.
-
National Eating Disorders Association (@neda), a nonprofit providing resources to individuals and families affected by eating disorders, including screenings, support groups, research studies, and a free help line.
-
Peer Health Exchange (@peerhealthexchange), a youth-oriented health organization that fosters community building through direct engagement in high schools and its own app, selfsea.
“NEDA and TikTok are committed to working together to continue to raise awareness and provide resources for individuals and families,” wrote Sarah Chase, vice president of communication for the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) in the fund’s announcement. “Eating disorders can be isolating and stigmatizing for many people and TikTok is a globally accessible platform, which makes it an important place for raising awareness and understanding of eating disorders from a variety of perspectives.”
TikTok took a similar route to address public health in 2020, donating $100 million of ad credits to small and mid-size businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and another $25 million to nongovernmental organizations providing health education. Other social platforms have used this kind of advertising perk to support monthly cause-focused programming, as well. In 2021, Pinterest announced it was donating ad credits to the National Eating Disorders Association in honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. It did the same for the nonprofit mental health advocacy #HalfTheStory campaign during Mental Health Awareness Month in 2021.
To expand on the Mental Health Media Education Fund advertising efforts, TikTok says it will provide training sessions for organizations supported through the fund to help them better utilize and expand their reach on the app.
And for all users, the platform announced a new #MentalHealthAwareness hub available on the #MentalHealthAwareness hashtag page. The hub features relevant educational videos, organization shoutouts, and mental health and wellness creator highlights, and will continue to be updated throughout May.
As part of that app-wide education effort, TikTok also released its #MentalHealthAwareness Creator Spotlight, which features 10 creators who are fighting to end mental health stigma, sharing educational content about mental health and other related subjects, and connecting with the larger TikTok community to “foster open, honest, and authentic conversations.” The spotlight includes:
-
Certified meditation teacher, mindfulness coach, and musician Joel Cross (@asoulcalledjoel)
-
Psychotherapist, actor, comedian, and writer Dr. Kojo Sarfo (@dr.kojosarfo)
-
Registered dietitian, certified eating disorder dietitian, and board-certified sports nutrition specialist Elaina Efird (@elainaefird)
-
Writer and comedian Elyse Myers (@elysemyers)
-
Medical student Joel Bervell (@joelbervell)
-
Licensed therapist and private practice owner Lindsay Fleming (@lindsay.fleminglpc)
-
Registered dietitian Kylie Sakaida (@nutritionbykylie)
-
Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Sasha Hamdani (@thepsychdoctormd)
-
Counselor Jeff Guenther (@therapyjeff)
-
Mental health advocate and podcast host Victoria Garrick Browne (@victoriabrowne)
“Through continued collaboration with mental health organizations, content creators, and our TikTok community, we continue to raise awareness and foster a space where everyone can feel heard and supported — during #MentalHealthAwareness Month and beyond,” TikTok wrote in its announcement. “We believe that everyone deserves access to resources and support for their mental well-being, and we are dedicated to continuously learning, evolving, and making a difference.”
If you’re feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don’t like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.
If you feel like you’d like to talk to someone about your eating behavior, call the National Eating Disorder Association’s helpline at 800-931-2237. You can also text “NEDA” to 741-741 to be connected with a trained volunteer at the Crisis Text Line or visit the nonprofit’s website for more information.
TikTok opens a $6 million fund to pay creators of popular AR effects
TikTok creators who whip up popular effects will soon be rewarded as the platform has set up a new fund for them. Through the Effect Creator Rewards fund, the platform will pay those who create widely-used augmented reality effects using TikTok’s Effect House tool.
At the outset, the fund will only be available in a few countries. TikTok confirmed to TechCrunch that the eligible territories are the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Payouts from the $6 million fund are based on engagement, but at the outset effects will need to meet quite a high threshold before creators are eligible to make money from them. For the time being, creators will earn $700 for each effect that’s used in 500,000 unique videos within 90 days of being published. For every 100,000 videos posted with the effect within the same period, the creator will earn $140. That’s a high bar to meet for a relatively small payment.
Although TikTok has other programs designed to reward creators, such as the $1 billion creator fund, those who are making content for the platform have complained about low payouts. Early last year, Hank Green estimated that he was making around 2.5 cents for every 1,000 views on TikTok. Other prominent creators, including YouTube megastar Mr. Beast, posted evidence of their paltry TikTok earnings.
Seemingly to address those complaints, TikTok recently overhauled the creator fund with an initiative called the Creativity Program. The aim, TikTok said, is to offer creators “higher average gross revenue for qualified video views.” The program is available in the US, France and Brazil for now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-opens-a-6-million-fund-to-pay-creators-of-popular-ar-effects-163005838.html?src=rss