OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Search, Competing With Google and Microsoft

OpenAI on Thursday launched a search feature within ChatGPT, its viral chatbot, that positions the high-powered AI startup to better compete with search engines like Google, Microsoft's Bing and Perplexity. From a report: ChatGPT search offers up-to-the-minute sports scores, stock quotes, news, weather and more, powered by real-time web search and partnerships with news and data providers, according to the company. It began beta-testing the search engine, called SearchGPT, in July. The release could have implications for Google as the dominant search engine. Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, Alphabet investors have been concerned that OpenAI could take market share from Google in search by giving consumers new ways to seek information online. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro barred from practicing law in New York

Ally of ex-president could be disbarred days after pleading guilty to trying to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election resultsKenneth Chesebro, an attorney for Donald Trump, has been suspended from practicing law in New York and could be disbarred just days after pleading guilty in what prosecutors claim was an effort to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.Chesebro was charged in 2023, alongside Donald Trump and 17 others, with violating Georgia’s anti-racketeering law relating to alleged efforts by the defendants to “knowingly and willfully” join a conspiracy to change the outcome of the 2020 election in the state. Continue reading...

US election live updates: more than 60m Americans have voted already as poll says enthusiasm is high

Harris to rally with Jennifer Lopez in Las Vegas and Trump to be interviewed in Arizona by Tucker Carlson as millions heed calls for early votingDon’t miss important US election coverage. Get our free app and sign up for election alertsA lot of money has been spent on this year’s elections. Only 150 billionaire families have contributed $1.9bn in support of presidential and congressional candidates, according to a new report from Americans for Tax Fairness.Of this giant figure 72% went to support Republicans compared with the 22% spent on Democrats. Continue reading...

Amazon is Shutting Down Its Kindle Vella Serialized Story Platform in February 2025

Amazon, in what it described as a "difficult decision," is winding down Kindle Vella and shutting it down completely in February 2025. From a report: When the company launched the serialized story platform in 2021, it said Vella was a way for readers to discover new fictional stories and a new way for authors to earn from the Kindle Direct Publishing service. But it hasn't caught on as it had hoped, Amazon explains on its website, and it has decided to throw in the towel three years after Vella's debut. Authors can only publish stories on Vella until December 4, which is also the last day readers can purchase tokens. While readers will no longer be able to purchase tokens after that, they can continue using those tokens to unlock episodes until the program closes in February. The good news for those who've been following specific authors or stories on Vella is that they won't lose their access to whatever episodes they've already unlocked even after the platform shuts down. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Less sugar in first 1,000 days of life protects against chronic disease, study finds

Risk of diabetes and high blood pressure significantly lower in middle age in UK adults given low-sugar diets in the womb and as infantsCutting the amount of sugar children get in the womb and as toddlers can protect them against diabetes and high blood pressure in adulthood, research suggests.The finding reveals a critical period for healthy nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life as babies initially absorb nutrients from their mother and move on to formulas and infant foods. Continue reading...