Wednesday 31 May 2023

Tech: ChatGPT’s secret reading list

10 THINGS IN TECH

It's the last day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, friends. I'm Diamond Naga Siu, and today, I'm thinking about Sweden.

A 30-year-old consultant said moving there from California helped cure her burnout. And she told my colleague Hannah Towey how she rarely works overtime, gets six weeks of paid vacation, and got a free master's degree.

Sounds pretty sweet to me. Plus, I'm pretty fascinated by this Swedish carmaker's plan to become the Ikea of EVs. Luvly's model for urban environments only costs around $11,000, and you can get a 360 look at it here.

Now, let's dive into today's tech.

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1. The 50 books used to train ChatGPT. OpenAI, the company that created the chatbot, won't share the books it used to train ChatGPT. But a group of researchers discovered a method of quizzing the chatbot to figure out which books it has read.

Training material for ChatGPT is important, as it shapes how the chatbot answers questions. Reading helps mold people's worldviews. And similarly, ChatGPT's reading list gives people a sense of its perspective.
Their findings revealed a variety of classics (think "Moby Dick" and "The Scarlet Letter"), a few popular classics (like Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes), and a staggering amount of sci-fi and fantasy (including "A Game of Thrones" and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy").
My colleague Adam writes that ChatGPT's emphasis on sci-fi means it's a nerd, and he examines how this impacts its frame of reference.

Dive into the chatbot's perspective and get the full list here.

In other news:

2. Welcome to the "Wild West" of tech real estate. Texas is turning into a playground for tech developers. Thanks to its lack of regulations, tech companies have turned rural areas into industrial hubs. Enter the lawless land here.

3. Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos are ripped. Over the weekend, Zuck revealed his bulking methods. Check out how the gym-rat celebrated Memorial Day. Plus, Bezos also went from scrawny to brawny. Follow his fitness journey here.

4. Your next job probably depends on AI. ChatGPT and other AI tools have the potential to upend most industries as we know it. So regardless of the role or industry, AI skills will likely determine whether you get hired. Peek into the future job hunt here.

5. Pool-rental app Swimply is making neighbors angry. It lets homeowners rent out their private pools to people. But partying guests are a "tremendous nuisance" to neighbors. Swim over for the story here.

6. Many tech workers are only productive for four hours per day. In an anonymous poll, nearly 45% of tech workers said they spent four hours (or less) on "focused work." Only around 25% said they worked eight or more hours per day. More on the poll here.

7. NASA released stunning new images of space. They show the universe in dazzling detail: two of them are galaxies, one is a nebula, and another is a star cluster. Check them out.

8. Quality issues pushed this YouTuber to swap his Tesla for an electric Mercedes. Austin Evans sold his family's Model Y after he got fed up with some quality concerns. Evans shared how the Mercedes felt like a private jet. The full story.

Odds and ends:

9. A video shows a US spy plane rattling after a Chinese fighter jet cuts it off. The Chinese aircraft flew right in front of the US plane's nose. This forced it to fly through rough turbulence. Such behavior could cause a major incident, Pentagon officials warned. Watch the full video.

10. Meet the average US millennial. Born between 1981 and 1996, millennials are better off financially than they were five years ago. The average US millennial is a parent, homeowner, and worth around $128,000 (but hoping for student-debt relief). Get their full profile here.

What we're watching today:

Apple's award-winning show "Ted Lasso" will release its third (and final) season.
CloudFest, an internet infrastructure event, kicks off today in Austin. Speakers include leaders from Wikipedia, WordPress, and GoDaddy.
Quarterly earnings for Salesforce and other companies. Keep up with earnings here.
Happy birthday, Normani — That's My Girl.

Curated by Diamond Naga Siu in San Diego. (Feedback or tips? Email dsiu@insider.com or tweet @diamondnagasiu) Edited by Alistair Barr (tweet @alistairmbarr) in San Francisco and Nathan Rennolds (tweet @ncrennolds) in London.

Tuesday 30 May 2023

Tech: Amazon employee walk out

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10 THINGS IN TECH

It's Tech Tuesday, friends. I'm Diamond Naga Siu. Have you ever thought about quitting your job to pursue your dreams?

That's what one former Googler did — and they failed miserably. But it wasn't all bad. She learned a lot of lessons along the way, including how having no goals and zero expectations resulted in "a lot of fun." Check out her story here.

Now, let's dive into today's tech.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.

1. Employees accuse Amazon of 'actively accelerating' the climate crisis. They plan to walk off the job on Wednesday, according to an internal email leaked to Insider. The action is part of a broader protest over layoffs and return-to-office.

Amazon employees listed five areas of concern over the company's climate impact: rising emissions, deception in reporting, partnering with Big Oil, killing clean energy legislation, and disproportionate harm to communities of color.
The company committed to a Climate Pledge in 2019 to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. But employees claim the company has increased emissions by 40% since making the promise.
My colleague Eugene Kim obtained the entire email outlining employee concerns and shared it in full.

Dive into the walkout email here.

In other news:

2. Tech workers are looking for less stressful jobs. They're done with the grind. Many said they're even willing to take lower pay for lower stress. But one Amazon worker said there's "no such thing as [a] high pay low stress job in tech." More on the job search here.

3. HR is torn on applicants using AI during the job search. For some, it's a "definite dealbreaker." But others don't really care. Check out what hiring managers think about AI here.

4. Earth's neighboring (and dying) star Betelgeuse got really bright. It's 50% brighter than normal after recently dimming its shine, so scientists are now closely monitoring it. The convalescing star will likely explode into a supernova. More on the starpower here.

5. AI can make or break the workforce. Generative AI like ChatGPT could turbocharge the workforce by making us a lot more productive. Or it could cause troves of people to lose their jobs. Look into the contrasting AI futures here.

6. Elon Musk got government approval to put chips in people's brains. His company Neuralink was previously only allowed to test on animals. But the Food and Drug Administration just gave it the greenlight for human implants. More on the milestone here.

7. Amazon's guide on how every industry will use AI. A leaked document revealed Amazon's predictions for nine different industries. Automakers could use it for vehicle concept design, while healthcare could use it for personalized medicine. Get all the predictions here.

8. Things you're probably wrong about when it comes to your car. Buying cars at the end of the month or year might have been clever at one point. But the automotive industry has changed a lot in recent years. Drive over for the nine vehicle misconceptions you might have.

Odds and ends:

9. Love Love Love: Award-winning engagement photos from around the world. The images are meant to reflect love in all forms. Winners hail from New York City, Bali, and many places in between. View all 50 lovely photos here.

10. Students list their high school on Zillow as a prank. The 20-bedroom, 15-bathroom Maryland property features a spacious kitchen and private basketball court. But the $42,069 listing was unfortunately too good to be true. More on the prank here.

What we're watching today:

Elizabeth Holmes is expected to surrender to federal prison.
China is launching its Long March 2F rocket. It will carry three taikonauts (aka Chinese astronauts).
Quarterly earnings for HP and other companies. Keep up with earnings here.
Happy birthday, Remy Ma! Hope you're All the Way Up.

Monday 29 May 2023

Tech: How to use ChatGPT to earn more

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10 THINGS IN TECH

Happy Memorial Day, mates. I'm Diamond Naga Siu, and I'm excited that the French Open main draw is in full swing today.

I'd love to watch it in-person someday. But flying to France is super expensive (especially from San Diego).

So maybe I'll try this flight hack — called skiplagging — that airlines hate. My colleague Taylor Rains breaks down how this hack legitimately finds you a cheaper flight. But it runs the risk of you getting banned from the airline.

Maybe it's worth it to see my favorite tennis players compete on clay.

Before I try skiplagging, let's dive into today's tech.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.

1. ChatGPT helped these people earn more money and become better at their jobs. Many people are using ChatGPT to level up their work. Insider profiled four of them about how it has made their jobs easier: a recruiter, broker, entrepreneur, and chief marketing officer.

They each use the technology for different aspects of their roles. One of them likened the technology to "having a 24/7 assistant." Another uses ChatGPT as their chief technology officer.
They each took us behind the scenes of how ChatGPT helps with their specific tasks. But the common thread among their experiences is how much time ChatGPT saves them.
My colleague Jack Sommers gathered their profiles and highlighted how these workers turbocharged their jobs with technology.

Get their full stories here.

In other news:

2. "I have a fake personal assistant." Jamira Burley works in tech and has a personal assistant named "Matt." He answers emails. He negotiates rates. He schedules meetings. But he's not real. Here's why she created him a decade ago.

3. Amazon gave up on its climate pledge. The e-commerce giant previously promised to make half its shipments net-zero carbon by 2030. It recently reversed course and even deleted the blog post announcing its initiative. But Insider dug it up anyways. Read it here.

4. ChatGPT is a "black swan event." These rare events occur when something unforeseen happens with far-reaching impacts — but in hindsight, it looked inevitable. Many signs (like how ChatGPT blew up Big Tech) point to it qualifying. Check them all out here.

5. This couple rents properties to sublet them on platforms like Airbnb. Nathan and Taniera Turner turned to this side hustle after both got laid off at the start of the pandemic. Now, they've scaled up to 25 different properties. Here's how they did it.

6. "Remote-first" Robinhood is going back in-person. CEO Vladimir Tenev ordered employees back to the office four days per week, starting in September. He wrote, "there is value in us being together," in the email. Read his full office order here.

7. The bare-bones Tesla Cybertruck interior. We might just have gotten a first look inside the Tesla Cybertruck. Photos — allegedly from a shareholder day — began circulating online. And the interior is shockingly minimalistic. Drive over to check it out here.

8. $20,000 doesn't go far for a car. Around five years ago, 60% of used cars were under $20,000. Now, only around 30% of used cars are under that pricepoint. Hop in to see the full used car landscape here.

Odds and ends:

9. The world's largest polymer 3D printer. It's like a massive glue gun with hundreds of settings. The gigantic device (60-feet long and 10-feet tall) helped print a 600-square foot tiny home in Maine. Tour the structure here, btw. Then, get a full, 360-look at the printer here.

10. "I run a homeschool agency for clients like Kylie Jenner and Khloé Kardashian." It's a one-stop shop for families whose lifestyles didn't align with traditional schooling. Tiffany Sorya shares what it's like catering education for the ultra-rich. Get her schooling story here.

What we're watching today:

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers kicks off its annual International Conference on Robotics and Automation.
The first Manhattanhenge of the season is tonight. It's a phenomenon when the sunset aligns perfectly with the Manhattan street grid.
Happy birthday, Mel B — tell me what you want!

Friday 26 May 2023

Tech: Amazon is coming for ChatGPT

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10 THINGS IN TECH

It's finally Friday, friends! I'm Diamond Naga Siu, and I'm excited for a three-day weekend — don't worry, you'll still hear from me on Monday.

But you know what you don't hear much? Other people's salaries.

Gen Z (along with millennials) are way less squeamish about sharing their salaries. Even after a bunch of recent pay transparency laws got passed, multiple studies show that people seem to like pay secrecy.

We have a deep dive into "the last taboo" and more below. So without further ado, let's dive into today's tech.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.

1. Amazon is gearing up to compete against ChatGPT. Insider obtained a leaked, internal document titled "Generative AI Sales Playbook." The 12-page plan includes email templates, sample conversation starters, and other guides.

Unlike Google or Microsoft, Amazon doesn't have a ChatGPT offering. Instead, the playbook outlines how to "inspire customers to leverage Generative AI technology within their products, content and customer experiences."
This includes attracting customers to build generative AI technology with products from AWS. The document also shared how to position Amazon against competitors like OpenAI.
My colleague Eugene Kim obtained the lengthy document and breaks down each part (including entire email templates).

Get Amazon's internal playbook here.

In other news:

2. Salary secrecy is a hard taboo to break. Dozens of states have passed laws that protect employees from being punished for sharing their salaries. But that hasn't shaken the taboo around sharing the number. Dive into the salary stigma here.

3. A look inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's family. Now that the duo is reportedly engaged, this is what their combined families will look like. Sanchez had previously compared their blended family to the "Brady Bunch." Check out their family here.

4. ChatGPT might leave Europe. CEO Sam Altman is concerned about the EU's AI regulations. He said OpenAI will try complying with the new rules. But if it can't, the company — and ChatGPT — could "cease operating" there. More on the potential separation here.

5. Montana's TikTok ban is "comically difficult to enforce." Plus, it shows just how hard a countrywide ban would be. Here's why banning TikTok doesn't solve anything.

6. Finland's electricity prices dropped below zero. The country has so much clean energy that prices are negative. This presents a new problem: the electricity is worth less than the cost of producing it. More on the electrifying problem here.

7. A Starbucks barista shares her thoughts on tipping. She feels awkward asking people for money and said the tipping question seems to add stress for customers. But a new tipping screen doubled her tips, so maybe it's worth the discomfort. Get her thoughts on tipping here.

8. The brand new electric-truck race. It's essentially an entirely new segment of vehicles and customers. Some existing marketing strategies for pickup trucks might work. But the playbook is mostly being rewritten from scratch. More here.

Odds and ends:

9. A video shows three uncrewed speedboats attacking a Russian warship. The Ukrainian speedboats targeted the Ivan Khurs — one of Russia's most modern ships. It was floating in the Black Sea near the Bosphorus Strait. Watch the attack here.

10. This chef left Michelin-starred restaurants for cruises. Gary Thomas, who oversees the meals across Royal Caribbean's 26 ships, said he will "one million percent" be a cruise chef until he retires. All aboard for his experience here.

The latest people moves in tech:

Creator startup Jellysmack laid off employees in the US and France. Read the president's email explaining the cuts here.
Employees at Facebook's parent Meta are reportedly making up their own tasks amid the latest round of layoffs. Its partnerships group was expected to be hit particularly hard.
Elon Musk said that prior to the Twitter layoffs the company had a "lot of people doing things that didn't seem to have a lot of value." Get his full comments here.
Disney reportedly kicked off a third round of layoffs this week. It's the final round to reach Bob Iger's goal to cut 7,000 roles.

Curated by Diamond Naga Siu in San Diego. (Feedback or tips? Email dsiu@insider.com or tweet @diamondnagasiu). Edited by Alistair Barr (tweet @alistairmbarr) in San Francisco and Nathan Rennolds (tweet @ncrennolds) in London.