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Analysis: Perplexity seems to scrape sites using surreptitious methods, ignoring robots.txt, with a Perplexity-tied machine doing so on Wired and other sites — A WIRED investigation shows that the AI-powered search startup Forbes has accused of stealing its content is surreptitiously scraping—and making things up out of thin air.
Discussion:
@rafat, @jessicalessin, @carnage4life, @clive@saturation.social, @johnvoorhees@mastodon …, @bernie_michalik@threads.net, @technicallymims@threads.net, @LeftistLawyer@kolektiva …, @benedictevans@threads.net, @katiedrumm, @timmarchman.bsky.social, @johnkoetsier@threads.net, @howelloneill@infosec.exchange, @olifranklin, @noahshachtman@threads.net and @dmehro, more at Techmeme »
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Elon Musk tried to repair his often strained relationship with the ad industry through an appearance at the Cannes Lions, after Twitter skipped 2023's event — Elon Musk attempted to repair his often strained relationship with the advertising industry with an appearance at the Cannes Lions conference in France on Wednesday.


How generative AI model providers can create business models that reward copyright holders and content creators, much like what has happened on the web — Last month, The New York Times claimed that tech giants OpenAI and Google have waded into a copyright gray area by transcribing …
Discussion:
@ainemacdermot.bsky.social and Tim O'Reilly on LinkedIn


Sources: WaPo's Will Lewis advised Boris Johnson and others to “clean up” their phones during UK's COVID-era Partygate scandal in December 2021 and January 2022 — Sources' claim suggests advice by Will Lewis, an informal adviser to then prime minister, contradicted instructions to staff
Discussion:
@adambienkov and @7im


London-based sports content studio C15 Studio emerges from stealth to launch FAST channels in partnership with Formula 1, Triton Poker, and others — The developer of free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels dedicated to programming from Formula 1, Triton Poker and professional squash …
Discussion:
Matthew Keys on LinkedIn and Sportico


Timbaland and Swizz Beatz strike a distribution deal with X for their music series Verzuz, which they sold to Triller in 2021 but have since reacquired — Earlier in the year, Swizz and Timbaland reacquired Verzuz from their previous partner Triller and now own 100% of the platform …
Discussion:
Billboard, WTOP News and Rolling Stone


A look at Rebind, a mysterious startup that turns Margaret Atwood and other authors' voices into AI reading companions, and an interview with CEO John Dubuque — Margaret Atwood, Marlon James, Lena Dunham, Roxane Gay: We've all agreed to be turned into AI reading companions by a mysterious company called Rebind.
Discussion:
Rebind AI, more at Techmeme »


Telegraph Media Group reports a record £244.6M loss in 2023 due to £277.6M of previously unidentified debt, despite operating profit rising 35.2% YoY to £54.2M — Telegraph Media Group has reported a record £244.6m loss in 2023, despite a 35% rise in operating profit.
Discussion:
Telegraph, Bloomberg, The Guardian, @pressgazette, @ljon.bsky.social and @josiahmortimer


A look at Paramount's failed merger talks with Skydance and how Shari Redstone's unilateral decision to call off the talks shows her unusual power — For Shari Redstone, it was nothing personal. But the longer the negotiations went on, the more Redstone fell out of love with the idea …
Discussion:
@xpangler, @asharma, @xpangler, @xpangler, @carlquintanilla, The Hollywood Reporter and @xpangler


X removes some of journalist Pablo Manriquez's viral posts on Senator Ted Cruz's donor info; X claims the posts violated its rules but did not give details — A series of viral social media posts revealing the contents of a folder on Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-TX) donors were removed by Elon Musk's platform X on Tuesday.
Discussion:
@pabloreports, @will_bunch, @jaywillis, @ok_post_guy, @prem_thakker, @ericmgarcia, @prem_thakker, @tommyg.bsky.social, @jkarsh, @erratarob and @justinconley


Canadian officials won't say whether or how the new Online News Act should apply to AI companies using Canadian news for training or providing chatbot answers — AI bots using news, regulation remains uncertain — OTTAWA - The federal government is dodging questions about whether artificial …
Discussion:
@tara_deschamps, @nationalpost and MobileSyrup


A look at Mozilla's acquisition of Anonym, which offers “privacy-preserving” ad tools, and how Anonym might interact with a user base that tends to block ads — Is such a thing possible for an industry that never respected people's wishes? — ANALYSIS Mozilla this week …