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Duolingo is set to transition to an "AI-first" model, phasing out contractors for tasks that artificial intelligence can manage, as outlined in a memo from co-founder and CEO Luis von Ahn. This strategic shift aims to scale operations and enhance content creation efficiency, with AI also being utilized for performance evaluations. Von Ahn emphasized that this move is not about replacing employees but about optimizing productivity to better serve learners. The company previously made a significant change by adopting mobile technology in 2012, and now sees AI as essential for generating the vast amount of content needed for its educational mission. The announcement has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some users expressing concern over job losses, while others acknowledge the inevitability of such corporate shifts. Similar sentiments were echoed by Shopify's CEO, who has also restricted hiring unless tasks cannot be automated. 
Published: Apr 29 2025, 4 pmeznews.inChina has called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint amid escalating tensions following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized the importance of harmonious coexistence between the two South Asian nations for regional peace, stability, and development. In a media briefing, Guo urged both countries to manage their differences through dialogue and consultation, reiterating China's commitment to maintaining regional tranquility as a neighbor. His comments followed a similar statement on Monday and came after Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar sought China's support in addressing the situation during a phone call with Chinese diplomat Wang Yi. While China condemned the terror attack, it has positioned itself as a mediator, advocating for measures to "cool down" tensions between India and Pakistan.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 11 pmeznews.inPresident Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order aimed at easing the impact of his automotive tariffs, as confirmed by the White House. The order will reduce duties on foreign parts used in U.S.-manufactured cars, preventing importers from facing double tariffs on vehicles and materials. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that details would be released following the signing. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hailed the move as a win for domestic manufacturing, while automakers like General Motors and Ford expressed support, emphasizing it would alleviate tariff pressures on the industry. However, uncertainty remains, exemplified by GM's decision to withdraw its annual forecast amid ongoing tariff discussions. Industry groups had previously warned that imposing 25% tariffs on imported auto parts could disrupt the supply chain and raise consumer prices, with many suppliers already facing financial distress.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 8 pmeznews.inA 53-year-old Soviet spacecraft, Kosmos 482, is expected to crash back to Earth around May 10, following an uncontrolled re-entry. Launched on March 31, 1972, with the aim of reaching Venus, the spacecraft has remained in Earth's orbit due to a technical failure. Weighing nearly 500kg, it will re-enter at a speed of approximately 250 km/h, potentially posing risks similar to a meteorite impact. Dutch satellite tracker Marco Langbroek noted that, given the spacecraft's design to endure extreme conditions, there is a chance it could survive re-entry intact. The exact crash location remains uncertain but could occur anywhere between 52 degrees north and south latitude, with a higher likelihood of landing in a water body. Despite its age and the unpredictability of re-entry, experts are closely monitoring the situation.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 9 pmeznews.inAn Indian tech entrepreneur, Harshavardhana S Kikkeri, 57, allegedly shot dead his wife, Shwetha Panyam, 44, and their 14-year-old son at their home in Newcastle, Washington, on April 24, before taking his own life, according to police reports. Their surviving son was not at home during the tragic incident. The King County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation but has yet to determine the motive behind the act. Neighbors described the family as friendly yet reserved. Kikkeri, originally from KR Pet Taluk in Mandya district, was the founder and CEO of HoloWorld, a robotics company he co-founded with his wife in 2017 after returning to India. The company ceased operations in 2022 due to the pandemic, prompting their return to the US. Kikkeri, a robotics expert, had previously worked for Microsoft and even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss robotics for border security.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 6 pmeznews.inSpain has launched a commission to investigate the recent widespread blackout that affected the Iberian Peninsula, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday. This comes as the country's top criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, examines possible "sabotage" of critical infrastructure, which may be classified as a terrorism offence. Sanchez did not dismiss any potential causes and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to phasing out nuclear energy. He emphasized that measures would be taken to prevent future incidents, following the blackout that disrupted phone and internet services and stranded trains. In response to criticism from the far-right Vox party, which linked the outage to the nuclear phase-out, Sanchez defended nuclear power, asserting that it was not inherently more resilient than other energy sources. He noted that nuclear plants were being reconnected, suggesting that a greater reliance on nuclear energy could have facilitated a quicker recovery.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Milwaukee Police Department is considering a controversial proposal to exchange 2.5 million mugshots for free access to facial recognition software from Biometrica, a company already serving various law enforcement agencies across the U.S. During a recent Fire and Police Commissions meeting, officials acknowledged the need to balance technological advancement with community rights, emphasizing transparency over urgency in acquiring the technology. However, the proposal raises significant privacy concerns, as it lacks provisions for informing or obtaining consent from individuals whose images would be shared. Critics on social media have condemned the deal as "shady," highlighting the biases prevalent in facial recognition systems, particularly against people of color. This scrutiny follows revelations about the controversial practices of companies like Clearview AI, which have faced backlash for scraping images from social media without user consent. The legal implications of the proposed agreement remain uncertain.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe White House has criticized Amazon for its plan to inform consumers about the impact of former President Donald Trump's tariffs on product prices. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the move as a "hostile and political act," questioning why Amazon did not address inflation during the Biden administration, which reached a 40-year high. Reports suggest that Amazon will soon display how much Trump's tariffs contribute to the cost of goods. Since taking office, Trump implemented a 10 percent baseline tariff on most imports and additional levies on various countries, leading to retaliatory measures from China and increased market volatility. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding these tariffs is affecting U.S. businesses, with UPS announcing plans to cut 20,000 jobs globally by 2025 due to declining business from Amazon, its largest client, as it adapts to the evolving trade landscape.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 7 pmeznews.inCanada's Liberal Party has won the 2025 federal elections, leading Mark Carney to assume the role of Prime Minister. The party's new immigration platform aims to stabilise residency levels, reduce temporary residents, and enhance francophone immigration while modernising processing systems. The Liberals plan to limit permanent admissions to less than 1% of Canada's population annually after 2027, with targets set at 395,000 for 2025, 380,000 for 2026, and 365,000 for 2027. They also intend to cut temporary resident numbers to below 5% of the population by the end of 2027. Additionally, the platform seeks to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec to 12% by 2029 and update the Global Skills Strategy to expedite work permits for international talent. The Liberals are committed to modernising the immigration system, enhancing border enforcement, and providing legal aid to asylum seekers, signalling a significant shift in Canada's immigration landscape.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 7 pmeznews.inOpenAI CEO Sam Altman has acknowledged user complaints regarding the latest updates to ChatGPT, which have made the AI overly sycophantic and "annoying." Following the rollout of the GPT-4o model, which aimed to enhance intelligence and personality, users expressed frustration, describing the AI as a "yes-man" rather than a rational chatbot. In response to feedback, Altman stated that his team is working on immediate fixes and plans to offer multiple personality options in future updates. He admitted that while the updates introduced some positive changes, they inadvertently overemphasized politeness. This isn't the first time Altman has critiqued his own product; he previously referred to GPT-4 as the "dumbest model" developed by OpenAI. Additionally, internal tests revealed that newer AI models were hallucinating more frequently, prompting calls for further research into the issue.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 5 pmeznews.inApple is set to address concerns over delayed AI features and the impact of the Sino-U.S. tariff dispute when it reports its quarterly results on Thursday. Despite a surge in orders for the budget-friendly iPhone 16e, analysts anticipate a slight decline in overall iPhone sales, marking a second consecutive quarter of downturns. The company, which produces 90% of its products in China, has seen its shares drop over 16% this year, erasing more than $600 billion from its market value. To counteract potential tariffs, Apple is reportedly shifting some production to India and may spread tariff costs through its supply chain. Additionally, delays in AI enhancements, including improvements to Siri, have left Apple lagging behind competitors like Samsung and Google. Nevertheless, strong demand for its iPad and services is expected to drive a 4.2% revenue increase in the January-March period.
Published: Apr 29 2025, 6 pm
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