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Artificial Intelligence

Business
Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse
Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse Retail store closures surged in 2024, reaching their highest levels since the start of the pandemic, a new study said. A total of 7,325 U.S. stores closed in 2024, driven by inflation and an increasing shift toward online shopping, according to retail data firm Coresight Research. The closings marked the steepest decline in brick-and-mortar retail since nearly 10,000 stores closed in 2020. While 5,970 stores opened—the highest yearly number since 2012—closures outpaced openings by a net loss of 1,355 stores.  "Retailers that were unable to adapt supply chains and implement t…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Cash App Users To Get Refunds In $175M Order As Feds Target Fraud Cash App Users To Get Refunds In $175M Order As Feds Target Fraud
Cash App Users To Get Refunds In $175M Order As Feds Target Fraud Cash App's parent company will have to pay $175 million for poorly protecting its users from fraud and financial crimes on the payment platform, officials said. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Block to refund up to $120 million to users harmed by fraud, the federal agency said in a news release on Thursday, Jan. 16. The parent company of Cash App, which has more than 56 million accounts, must also pay a $55 million fine into the CFPB’s victims relief fund. The CFPB found that Block failed to properly investigate unauthorized transactions and deprived users of…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Microsoft 365 Raises Prices For First Time In 12 Years: Here's Why Microsoft 365 Raises Prices For First Time In 12 Years: Here's Why
Microsoft 365 Raises Prices For First Time In 12 Years: Here's Why The Microsoft 365 bundle price is increasing in the U.S. for the first time in a dozen years as the tech giant adds artificial intelligence tools into longtime products like Microsoft Word. The cost of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions will rise by $3 per month, the company said in a blog post on Thursday, Jan. 16. It's the first price change since the software bundle launched in 2013 under the name "Office 365". Existing subscribers will see the adjustment at their next renewal. "We understand that our customers have a variety of needs and budgets, so we’re committ…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports
Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports Meta will cut thousands of employees in the latest move for the controversial company that owns platforms like Facebook and Instagram, according to reports. An internal memo sent to Meta workers said five percent of low-performing employees will be terminated, Bloomberg News reported. The company that also owns WhatsApp and Threads has more than 72,000 employees, according to Meta's most recent quarterly report. A five-percent reduction would mean about 3,600 people could lose their jobs. "I've decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster,…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years
AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years Nearly half of companies worldwide are planning to cut jobs within the next few years as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries and automates millions of positions, according to a new global report. The World Economic Forum’s "Future of Jobs Report 2025" outlines the seismic shifts AI will bring to the global workforce, revealing both challenges and opportunities: Job Displacement: The report says 41 percent of companies intent to downsize their workforce globally between 2025 and 2030, particularly in industries reliant on routine and manual tasks such as manufacturing, customer …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
'AI Godmother' Talks Attack At NJ High School That Shaped Career On Popular Podcast 'AI Godmother' Talks Attack At NJ High School That Shaped Career On Popular Podcast
'AI Godmother' Talks Attack At NJ High School That Shaped Career On Popular Podcast Fei Fei Li, a groundbreaking Chinese-American scientist known for her revolutionary AI work, took listeners on a deeply personal journey in an Armchair Expert: Experts on Expert podcast episode that aired Thursday, Dec. 12.  Joining hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, 48-year-old Li revisited her teenage years, reflecting on the challenges she faced as an immigrant student in New Jersey, and the experiences that shaped her path to becoming a leader in artificial intelligence. Li, who developed ImageNet, a revolutionary dataset that has been instrumental in the progress of computer vis…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads Apple has unveiled new updates that bring advanced AI and emoji tools to its iPhone and iPad devices.  Released on Wednesday, Dec. 11, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 expand Apple Intelligence with features like ChatGPT integration, custom emoji creation, and visual design tools. Key Updates ChatGPT Integration: Siri and Writing Tools now support ChatGPT for generating content, solving problems, and enhancing productivity. Privacy settings ensure user control over data. Image Playground: This tool allows users to design custom visuals by inputting text descriptions, wit…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Former Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet Former Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet
Former Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet President-elect Donald Trump has selected former New York congressman and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin to run the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In a statement on Monday, Nov. 11, Trump said Zeldin "will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses," adding that Zeldin will still maintain "the highest environmental standards." In a post on social media, Zeldin said, "It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator. "We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto indu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Robot Masseuses: NJ's First Fully Automated Massage Table Opens At Atlantic City Resort Robot Masseuses: NJ's First Fully Automated Massage Table Opens At Atlantic City Resort
Robot Masseuses: NJ's First Fully Automated Massage Table Opens At Atlantic City Resort Massage technology much more advanced than a handheld wand device has arrived at an Atlantic City casino. Aescape has opened a "fully automated, AI-driven massage table" at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, the resort said in a news release on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Founded in 2017, Aescape also has machines at luxury spas in New York City and Miami. The first-in-New Jersey system generates more than 1.1 million 3D data points on a person's body to map out a unique and targeted massage. "Users access a touchscreen interface to choose from a variety of treatments tailored to their…

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Teen NJ Victim Of Deepfake Porn Pleads With Lawmakers: 'It Could Happen To Anyone' Teen NJ Victim Of Deepfake Porn Pleads With Lawmakers: 'It Could Happen To Anyone'
Teen NJ Victim Of Deepfake Porn Pleads With Lawmakers: 'It Could Happen To Anyone' Last fall, Francesca Mani discovered a male classmate had made AI-generated nude images of her without her consent. While the images were deleted and the Westfield High School student said she never saw them, Francesca still felt sad and helpless.  Now she has found a way to turn that trauma into something empowering.  Francesca is working with members of Congress, including Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., (R-Westfield) to pass legislation to stop the spread of deepfake pornography generated by artificial intelligence.  According to a press release issued by New York Congress…

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by Sam Barron
News
'AI Moonshoot' Among Murphy's Ideas To Make Life More Affordable For NJ Residents 'AI Moonshoot' Among Murphy's Ideas To Make Life More Affordable For NJ Residents
'AI Moonshoot' Among Murphy's Ideas To Make Life More Affordable For NJ Residents Gov. Phil Murphy sees New Jersey as a future global leader in artificial intelligence, while balancing the urgent financial needs of families during his 2024 State of the State Address. In his speech on Tuesday, Jan. 9, Gov. Murphy spoke about "an era of unease and uncertainty" defined by economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with wars in Israel and Ukraine.  He also talked about how higher costs of living are the biggest challenges for many families. "Making life more affordable for more families is our highest priority," said Gov. Murphy. "We need to recognize t…

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by Chris Spiker
News
News Story About NJ Christmas Shooting Is Fake, Made With AI, Police Say News Story About NJ Christmas Shooting Is Fake, Made With AI, Police Say
News Story About NJ Christmas Shooting Is Fake, Made With AI, Police Say There was no Christmas shooting in Bridgeton, despite what you might have read online, police said. An article published on Newsbreak claims a person was shot on the 100 block of West Broad Street and the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office was investigating was all fake. The report goes on to bemoan the state of gun violence in small towns in America. But the article was written by artificial intelligence and a disclaimer at the end said "it may contain errors." According to police, it was "entirely false." "Nothing even similar to this story occurred on or around Christmas, or e…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Westfield Students Made AI-Generated Nude Images Of Female Classmates: Officials Westfield Students Made AI-Generated Nude Images Of Female Classmates: Officials
Westfield Students Made Ai-generated Nude Images Of Female Classmates: Officials The Westfield School District said it is investigating after male students made AI-generated nude images of their female classmates. Mary Ann McGann, a spokeswoman for the district, said the incident took place over the summer and was brought to the attention of administrators on Friday, Oct. 20. The Wall Street Journal first reported the story on Thursday, Nov. 2.  The administration began an immediate investigation and police were notified, McGann said. All the images have been deleted and are not being circulated, Principal Mary Asfendis said in an e-mail to parents. Citing confide…

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by Sam Barron
News
Student In Glen Rock Among Those Receiving Mass Shooting Threat From Upstate NY: Police Student In Glen Rock Among Those Receiving Mass Shooting Threat From Upstate NY: Police
Student In Glen Rock Among Those Receiving Mass Shooting Threat From Upstate NY: Police A threat of a mass shooting at a middle school in New York State last week somehow made its way to Glen Rock, where authorities said a student received a disturbing message. The Glen Rock High School student went directly to administrators before the day began last Thursday, March 23, to report it, Police Chief Dean Ackermann said. The threat involved what the chief called “a potential act of violence” at a middle school nearly 75 miles north, in the Putnam County, NY, town of Carmel. "Hello! Would you like to be a part of a GFMS mass shooting?" sources said a TikTok friend request asked. …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Lifestyle
NJ's Livvy Dunne Promoting AI For Essay Writing On TikTok Prompts Response From LSU NJ's Livvy Dunne Promoting AI For Essay Writing On TikTok Prompts Response From LSU
NJ's Livvy Dunne Promoting AI For Essay Writing On TikTok Prompts Response From LSU Officials at Louisiana State University are apparently cautioning students after sensational gymnast and NJ native Livvy Dunne posted a TikTok promoting an educational artificial intelligence tool. Dunne, a Hillsdale native with more than 7.2 million TikTok followers, last month posted the TikTok video promoting Caktus AI. "Need to get my creativity flowing for my essay due at midnight," Dunne says in the clip. By the end of the video, Caktus AI writes an entire essay for her. Caktus markets itself as the "first ever educational artificial intelligence tool. It allows you to automate all o…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Book Review: Are Relationships and the World Better Off When Technology Facilitates Change? Book Review: Are Relationships and the World Better Off When Technology Facilitates Change?
Book Review: Are Relationships and the World Better Off When Technology Facilitates Change? Edison in the Hood by Nadia Uddin If you had the opportunity to ask the dearly departed questions, to retract those last words said in anger, to tell them you love them, would you? Can technology solve personal communication problems? Can it solve the social ills of the world? Those questions may seem unrelated, yet they are woven into one story, Nadia Uddin’s first published novel, Edison in the Hood (October 2020). Uddin quite successfully makes the reader care about the siblings with her careful and empathetic prose. The book opens in a future not too far from our own where technology …

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