- OpenAI seals deal for San Francisco office space after CEO Sam Altman calls remote work ‘experiment’ one of tech industry’s worst mistakes Fortune
- Leasing Offices Now Takes Longer in San Francisco The Real Deal
- Daily Digest: OpenAI nabs block of Uber space; Expensify ends lounge experiment – San Francisco Business Times The Business Journals
- OpenAI closes big lease deal at Uber’s San Francisco headquarters San Francisco Chronicle
- ChatGPT-Maker OpenAI Inks San Francisco’s Largest Lease Since 2018 The San Francisco Standard
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Tag Archives: Industrys
How Disney’s Snow White star Rachel Zegler, 22, went from Hollywood’s newest darling to the film industry’s mo – Daily Mail
- How Disney’s Snow White star Rachel Zegler, 22, went from Hollywood’s newest darling to the film industry’s mo Daily Mail
- Op-Ed: United by Hate, Disney Fans will Boycott ‘Snow White’ Inside the Magic
- Son of original Snow White director wades into remake debate The Independent
- “There’s no respect for what Disney did”: Shazam 2 Actress Rachel Zegler’s “Woke” Snow White Remake Gets Labeled as a “Disgrace” To Walt Disney’s Memory FandomWire
- Nothing Matters Less Than Whether Rachel Zegler Loves Snow White TheGamer
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OpenAI CEO: Fully Remote Work for Startups is ‘One of the Tech Industry’s Worst Mistakes’ – Slashdot
- OpenAI CEO: Fully Remote Work for Startups is ‘One of the Tech Industry’s Worst Mistakes’ Slashdot
- Sam Altman lists the startup rules ChatGPT maker OpenAI broke on its way to a nearly $30B valuation Fortune
- Here’s what OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has to say on ‘work from home’ Times of India
- OpenAI changes AI strategy, won’t train ChatGPT on customer data, says Sam Altman Interesting Engineering
- Sam Altman lists the startup rules OpenAI was chided for breaking on its way to a nearly $30 billion valuation Yahoo Finance
- View Full Coverage on Google News
With Flood of New Projects, Berlin Market Could Help Solve Industry’s Supply-Side Issues – Hollywood Reporter
- With Flood of New Projects, Berlin Market Could Help Solve Industry’s Supply-Side Issues Hollywood Reporter
- European Film Market Seeks New Balance at Berlin as Streamers Ease the Pressure Variety
- Berlin Market: Streaming Giants No Longer Dominate Indie Dealmaking Hollywood Reporter
- Berlin Buzz Titles: Amanda Seyfried, Finn Wolfhard, Phoebe Dynevor Lead Projects Tempting Buyers at the European Film Market Variety
- Berlin Hot List: Helen Mirren, Vicky Krieps and Song Kang-ho Projects Among Buzziest Market Titles Hollywood Reporter
- View Full Coverage on Google News
California approves lithium tax despite industry’s warnings
By Ernest Scheyder
(Reuters) – California on Thursday approved a plan to tax the electric vehicle battery metal lithium to generate revenue for environmental remediation projects despite industry concerns that it will harm the sector and delay shipments to automakers.
Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, approved the tax as part of a must-pass state budget on Thursday. The state legislature had signed off on the levy during deliberations on Wednesday night.
The tax is structured as a flat-rate per tonne and will go into effect in January. The tax will be reviewed every year, and state officials have agreed to study potentially switching to a percentage-based tax.
The largest American state sits atop giant lithium reserves in its Salton Sea region, east of Los Angles, an area heavily damaged in the 20th century by years of heavy pesticide use from farming. Funds generated from the tax are earmarked in part to cleanup of the area.
Federal officials have praised the area’s start-up lithium industry because it would deploy a geothermal brine process that is more environmentally friendly than open-pit mines and brine evaporation ponds, the two most common existing methods to produce lithium.
Two of the area’s three lithium companies warned the tax would scare off investors and customers. Both said they may leave the state for lithium-rich brine deposits in Utah or Arkansas.
Privately-held Controlled Thermal Resources Ltd said the tax would force it to miss deadlines to deliver lithium to General Motors Co by 2024 and Stellantis NV by 2025.
EnergySource Minerals LLC, also privately held, said it halted discussions with potential financiers and an automaker.
“Supporting a tax that ensures lithium imports from China are less expensive for auto manufacturers to secure will devastate this promising Californian industry before it has begun,” said Rod Colwell, Controlled Thermal’s chief executive.
(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Michael Perry)
The Games Industry’s Response To Roe V Wade Being Overturned, So Far
The United States Supreme Court has overruled Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision guaranteeing a constitutional right to abortion. The controversial decision has already driven a response from high-profile developers and indies alike, including Bungie and several Sony studios, as well as an industry group.
Bungie and Sony studios issue statements
Bungie first signaled its support of Roe v. Wade in May, when news reports circulated of an anonymous leak of a draft opinion. The studio has now reconfirmed that commitment with a travel reimbursement plan for employees who have to travel for reproductive health care. It also provided links to resources for supporting reproductive rights. Several Hollywood studios have announced similar plans.
The social media accounts for several Sony studios all issued statements declaring that reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy are human rights. You can find links to their statements in the list below.
Previously, Insomniac pledged $50,000 to an abortion rights group, with Sony matching its contribution. This followed a backlash from both within and outside the company over Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan urging employees to “respect differences of opinion” regarding abortion rights.
Activision, Microsoft, Ubisoft, and more speak up
Microsoft issued a statement to GameSpot reaffirming the previous commitments it made to the Washington Post in May.
“Microsoft will continue to do everything we can under the law to support our employees and their enrolled dependents in accessing critical healthcare–which already includes services like abortion and gender-affirming care–regardless of where they live across the U.S. This support has been extended to include travel expense assistance for these and other lawful medical services where access to care is limited in availability in an employee’s home geographic region.”
Activision also issued a statement to GameSpot committing to travel assistance for employees.
“Maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all is a top priority for Activision Blizzard and includes supporting the physical and mental well-being of everyone who works here, including their dependents. Earlier in June, we announced our expanded medical travel benefits to include coverage for U.S. employees and their dependents who participate in our medical plans and live in areas where access to medical care, including reproductive health, gender-affirming treatment, transplant care, and any other medical care covered by our plans that is not available in a covered person’s state, or within 100 miles of where they live.”
EA issued a statement through its website, promising expanded travel health benefits and encouraging employees to speak to their managers about mental health benefits.
“As EA’s executive team, we want to reiterate our unwavering support for you, our employees. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade regarding abortion in the United States. We know this issue matters, generating a range of emotions for you and your loved ones, whether you’re based in the U.S. or abroad.
“Your health and well-being are our top priority. We are working closely with our U.S. healthcare provider, Cigna, and will soon offer expanded travel health benefits, for eligible U.S. employees and their eligible dependents. Our aim is to provide the support and services that empower you and your eligible dependents to get the care needed to be the best, most authentic version of yourself at work and in other areas of your life.”
Ubisoft, Devolver Digital, and several indie studios like Fire Hose Games and Heart Machine have also issued statements through their own social media channels. More studios are issuing statements regularly as the day goes on, and you can find their social media statements below. For some studios which have not outlined benefits, it’s unclear if they will offer extra help such as travel assistance.
Many others studios have not issued statements. Some may be cautious to wade into politics. EA reportedly told its employees it wouldn’t be taking a stance last month, leading to a planned employee walkout. Those plans were canceled after EA made a statement in support of transgender and women’s rights. GameSpot has contacted several publishers and developers seeking statements on the matter, and will update as we hear back. Take-Two declined to comment.
The International Game Developers Association statement
In addition to these individual developer statements, the International Game Developers Association has issued a statement:
“The International Game Developers Association supports and empowers game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers. We believe bodily autonomy and choice over one’s own reproductive and healthcare matters are pertinent to achieving this mission. One must be in control of their own health matters in order to successfully manage their career and life.
“As a global organization, we understand that not all individuals experience or have access to freedoms and liberties pertaining to bodily autonomy, and we oppose efforts to weaken existing liberties. We are deeply concerned by increased government interventions undermining and limiting reproductive choice and access to care. We applaud and show solidarity with games industry and community leaders who are taking action to support all who are negatively impacted by these attempts.”
How you can help
If you’re looking to help, we’ve compiled a list of charities helping in the fight for reproductive freedom.
Image credit: Getty Images/Rudy Sulgan
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.
Samsung Develops Industry’s First LPDDR5X DRAM – Samsung Global Newsroom
Samsung’s LPDDR5X DRAM will provide over 1.3x faster processing speeds and consume nearly 20% less power than the previous LPDDR5 solution
The LPDDR5X solution will broaden the use of high-performance, low-power memory beyond smartphones to AI and edge applications
Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has developed the industry’s first 14-nanometer (nm) based 16-gigabit (Gb) Low Power Double Data Rate 5X (LPDDR5X) DRAM, designed to drive further growth throughout the high-speed data service applications including 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverse.
“In recent years, hyperconnected market segments such as AI, augmented reality (AR) and the metaverse, which rely on extremely fast large-scale data processing, have been rapidly expanding,” said SangJoon Hwang, Senior Vice President and Head of the DRAM Design Team at Samsung Electronics. “Our LPDDR5X will broaden the use of high-performance, low-power memory beyond smartphones and bring new capabilities to AI-based edge applications like servers and even automobiles.”
Samsung’s LPDDR5X is a next-generation mobile DRAM designed to significantly boost speed, capacity and power savings for future 5G applications. In 2018, Samsung delivered the industry’s first 8Gb LPDDR5 DRAM and today, the company is aggressively moving beyond mobile markets with the first 16Gb LPDDR5X DRAM.
The LPDDR5X DRAM will offer data processing speeds of up to 8.5 gigabits per second (Gbps), which are over 1.3 times faster than LPDDR5’s 6.4Gbps. Leveraging the industry’s most advanced 14nm DRAM process technology, it will also use around 20% less power than LPDDR5 memory. In addition, the 16Gb LPDDR5X chip will enable up to 64 gigabytes (GB) per memory package, accommodating increasing demand for higher-capacity mobile DRAM worldwide.
Later this year, Samsung will begin collaborating with global chipset manufacturers to establish a more viable framework for the expanding world of digital reality, with its LPDDR5X serving as a key part of that foundation.
The company will look to broaden its pacesetting mobile DRAM lineup with continuous improvements in performance and power efficiency, while also reinforcing its market leadership with greater manufacturing agility.
Electric Vehicles Are the U.S. Auto Industry’s Future—If Dealers Can Figure Out How to Sell Them
Car dealer Brad Sowers is spending money to prepare for the coming wave of new electric models from General Motors Co. He is installing charging stations, upgrading service bays and retraining staff at his St. Louis-area dealership to handle the technology-packed vehicles.
But when he considers how many plug-in Chevy Bolts he sold last year—nine, out of the nearly 4,000 Chevrolets sold at his Missouri dealerships—it gives him pause.
“The consumer in the middle of America just isn’t there yet,” when it comes to switching to electric vehicles, he said, citing the long distances many of his customers drive daily and a lack of charging infrastructure outside major cities.
As auto executives and investors buzz about the coming age of the electric car, many dealers say they are struggling to square that enthusiasm with the reality today on new-car sales lots, where last year battery-powered vehicles made up fewer than 2% of U.S. auto sales.
Most consumers who come to showrooms aren’t shopping for electric cars, and with gasoline prices relatively low, even hybrid models can be a tough sell, dealers and industry analysts say.
Auto makers are moving aggressively to expand their electric-vehicle offerings with dozens of new models set to arrive in coming years. Some like GM are setting firm targets for when they plan to phase out gas-powered cars entirely.
Sales consultant Robert Mason Jr., center, spoke with Paul Sweeney, left, and his son, Jeff, who were purchasing a Chevrolet Trail Boss at Jim Butler Chevrolet in Fenton, Mo., on Friday.
Many dealers say that puts them in a delicate spot: They are trying to adjust, but unsure whether and how fast customers will actually make the switch. About 180 GM dealers, or roughly 20%, have decided to give up their Cadillac franchises rather than invest in costly upgrades that GM has required to sell electric cars.
A GM spokesman said the company expected some Cadillac dealers to opt out and is pleased that the roughly 700 remaining share its all-electric goals.
Past attempts by car companies to expand electric-car sales have largely flopped, saddling retailers with unsold inventory. Even now, some dealers say they are reluctant to stock electric models en masse.
“The biggest challenge is that dealers have a bit of ‘boy who cried wolf’ syndrome,” said Massachusetts dealer Chris Lemley.
Car companies have promised for years to make electric cars mainstream, but produced only low-volume, niche models, he said. He recalls
Ford Motor Co.
rolling out an all-electric Focus that sold poorly and stacked up on his lot. It was discontinued in 2018.
“So when we are told, ‘This time, we really mean it,’ it’s easy to be skeptical,” Mr. Lemley added.
Some shoppers also are unsure. Joe Daniel, an energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said he was determined to buy an electric car, but eventually abandoned his effort after realizing there weren’t enough public charging stations near his apartment in Washington, D.C. Without a place to plug in, the purchase made little sense, he added.
“For EVs to take off, they need to be as convenient as gas-powered cars—that’s the whole point of this big purchase,” Mr. Daniel said.
To solve problems like this, President Biden has said he wants to spend billions of dollars to upgrade the country’s charging infrastructure as part of a push to incentivize battery-powered cars.
Ford, GM and other major car companies say they are confident in their new electric-vehicle offerings and are training dealers to sell and service them.
Still, some auto retailers say they worry about the long-term implications for their business.
Tesla Inc.’s
influence on the electric-car market has created a new standard for car shoppers, offering an online transaction and a simplified lineup with no price negotiation. Other electric-vehicle startups, like Rivian Automotive and Lucid Motors, say they’ll likewise sell directly to consumers and bypass traditional dealerships.
Some car companies are now following their lead, initially stocking dealership lots with few if any electric models and allowing customers to order more directly from the manufacturer.
Volvo Cars CEO
Håkan Samuelsson
recently said that all future battery-electric vehicles would be sold exclusively online and the price would be set centrally, eliminating the ability to haggle. Dealerships will help deliver vehicles to customers and perform other services, like maintenance, he said.
“The marketplace is moving from the physical dealership to online. That’s what will happen in the next 10 years,” Mr. Samuelsson said.
Howard Drake,
a GM dealer in Los Angeles, said he is considering converting two of his showrooms. Rather than separate models by brand, he is considering two stores—one for electrics, the other for gas-powered vehicles.
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“These are really different customers,” Mr. Drake said. “A Hummer EV buyer probably doesn’t want to be sitting next to some guy buying a gas-guzzling pickup truck.”
Mr. Sowers said he sees encouraging signs. GM recently dropped the sticker price of the all-electric Bolt and helped boost sales for the model in February. But he said his electric-vehicle inventory will remain light because he is uncertain about longer-term demand.
“It’s still very early days,” Mr. Sowers said.
As soon as dealers figure out how to sell EVs, another business problem awaits in the service bay.
Troy Carrico worked on a Chevrolet Corvette.
Electric vehicles typically have fewer mechanical parts and don’t require the same type of service that gas engine cars need, such as oil changes. That work right now is a big profit center for dealerships.
“There’s going to be an impact, but it might take three or four years to see the full effect,” Mr. Lemley said. “That’s really my biggest question mark heading into all of this.”
—William Boston contributed to this article.
Write to Nora Naughton at Nora.Naughton@wsj.com
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