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The fight against AI begins

The New York Times has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of unlawfully using its stories to train artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, highlights the growing tension between media organizations and AI developers as the rapid evolution of technology raises concerns about intellectual property rights.

The Times alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft are jeopardizing its livelihood by essentially appropriating billions of dollars worth of journalistic work. According to the newspaper, the companies are producing AI-generated content, in some instances replicating Times’ material verbatim, and thereby diverting web traffic away from the original source. The lawsuit contends that these actions infringe on copyright laws and seeks to hold the tech giants accountable for both statutory and actual damages.

You can read more on the matter here.

What’s going on?

• Toyota Subsidiary Daihatsu Suspends Production After Admitting to 30-Year Safety Test Scandal (theDeepDive)

• Lauren Boebert Switches Districts to Improve 2024 Reelection Bid (theDeepDive)

• US Secures 3 Million Barrels of Oil to Refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (theDeepDive)

• November pending home sales were unchanged, despite a sharp drop in mortgage rates (CNBC)

• Xi Jinping Says Taiwan’s Unification with China Is ‘Inevitable’ (theDeepDive)

• US Sanctions Funding for Houthis as Red Sea Threats Persist (Bloomberg)

• The future of the US economy is in the South (BI)

• British Warship Dispatched Amid Rising Tensions in Guyana-Venezuela Territorial Dispute (theDeepDive)

• Are We About to See A Zombie Version of Mickey Mouse? (theDeepDive)

• The New York Times Has an Edge in Suit Against OpenAI (Bloomberg)

• Turkey OKs Sweden’s NATO Membership, What’s Next? (theDeepDive)

• Israeli tanks advance deep into Gaza town after strikes cause new mass exodus (CNBC)

What’s the latest?

• Jobless Claims Rise: U.S. jobless claims increased to 218,000 during the week ended December 23, marking a rise of 12,000 from the previous week. Despite this increase, the four-week average slightly decreased, and overall unemployment claims remain low in the context of the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes aimed at curbing inflation.

• GM Sues San Fran: General Motors has filed a lawsuit against the city of San Francisco, claiming it was overcharged in taxes due to the city improperly including its self-driving car unit, Cruise, in tax calculations. GM is seeking a refund of $108 million in back taxes from the past seven years, along with $13 million in penalties and interest. The automaker argues that Cruise operates independently and contributes minimally to sales, and therefore should not influence GM’s tax liability in San Francisco.

• Sanctions Bite: U.S. sanctions are significantly impacting Russia's plans to increase exports of seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG), posing challenges for its goal to expand its global market share. Russia, currently the fourth largest LNG producer, aims to triple its output to over 100 million metric tons by 2030-35. However, sanctions have restricted access to technology, finance, and limited the number of tankers available for LNG transport.

• Tax Hike Due To Aging Population: Singapore households are preparing for a rise in the goods and services tax, which will increase from 8% to 9% starting Monday. This is the second phase of a two-stage hike, following an increase from 7% to 8% earlier this year. The government has implemented these tax hikes to strengthen state finances in anticipation of a growing elderly population and rising healthcare costs.

• Oil Falls: Oil prices fell by over 1% as worries about disruptions in shipping along the Red Sea route eased, despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude futures saw a decrease, with the front-month February contract down by about 1.3% to $78 and the more active March contract lower by around 1.2%. U.S. WTI crude futures also declined by approximately 1.1% to$73 a barrel.

The Bridget Ziegler scandal

The stock market and stuff

• Amazon Prime Video to Begin Featuring Ads on January 29 (theDeepDive)

• Affirm’s stock quintupled this year, beating all tech peers, on buy now, pay later boom (CNBC)

• Disney, Reliance Industries to Merge Indian Media Operations in Landmark Non-Binding Deal (theDeepDive)

• Mark Zuckerberg made his comeback in 2023, getting swole and $84 billion richer (BI)

In the juniors

• Goldshore Resources Anticipates PEA Completion In August 2024 (theDeepDive)

• Marathon Digital, Hut 8, AEye among premarket losers' pack (SA)

• Kraken Energy Abandons Apex Drill Program, Receives Permits For Harts Point (theDeepDive)

FULL DISCLOSURE: ATHA Energy is a client of Canacom Group, the parent company of The Deep Dive. Canacom Group is currently long the equity of ATHA Energy. The author has been compensated to cover ATHA Energy on The Deep Dive, with The Deep Dive having full editorial control. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security.