EU Leaders and Biden Make Progress but No Deals on Trade Disputes; Amazon Operates Computers in Space with Prototype Satellites; Falling US Gas Prices Despite Rising Crude Oil Costs; AI Firms Hire Actors for Emotional Range in Avatars
EU-US trade talks overshadowed by discrepancies in energy, steel, aluminium sectors; Amazon's $10 billion investment in Kuiper constellation marks first tech-giant space operation; US gas prices continue to drop regardless of global rise in oil costs; AI companies hiring actors to imbue avatars with emotion amidst Hollywood protest.
- EU leaders and President Biden made progress in trade talks, but failed to reach agreements on disputes in the energy, steel, and aluminium sectors; the conflict between Israel and Hamas overshadowed negotiations.
- Amazon has become the first tech giant to operate computers in space, launching two prototype satellites for its $10 billion Kuiper constellation project - the company's second-largest investment after Whole Foods.
- Despite a global increase in oil prices with Brent crude exceeding $92 a barrel, US gas prices continue to fall, attributed largely to seasonal changes; the national average for a gallon of gas dropped 32 cents within a month.
- AI companies, including Meta and Character.AI, are employing professional actors at rates of up to $150 per hour to express a wide range of emotions for avatars, despite ongoing protests by Hollywood actors against such technology.
- The timing of these job postings is being questioned, as it coincides with Hollywood actors' protests against the use of such technology.
