Top scientist wants to prevent AI from going rogue

Top scientist wants to prevent AI from going rogue

[NEW YORK] Concerned about the rapid spread of generative AI, a pioneer researcher is developing software to keep tabs on a technology that is increasingly taking over human tasks. Canadian computer science professor Yoshua Bengio is considered one of the godfathers of the artificial intelligence revolution and on Tuesday announced the launch of LawZero, a…

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US efforts to boost crop sales to Asia bear fruit in Vietnam

US efforts to boost crop sales to Asia bear fruit in Vietnam

[SINGAPORE] US efforts to increase exports of agricultural products to Asia, excluding China, look to be bearing fruit, with Vietnam pledging to buy more American goods to strengthen trade ties with Washington. Hanoi is expected to sign deals with Washington to purchase more than US$2 billion worth of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, according to…

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California Senate passes bill that aims to make AI chatbots safer

California Senate passes bill that aims to make AI chatbots safer

California lawmakers on Tuesday moved one step closer to placing more guardrails around artificial intelligence-powered chatbots. The Senate passed a bill that aims to make chatbots used for companionship safer after parents raised concerns that virtual characters harmed their childrens’ mental health. The legislation, which now heads to the California State Assembly, shows how state…

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Global alarms rise as China’s critical mineral export ban takes hold

Global alarms rise as China’s critical mineral export ban takes hold

[WASHINGTON] Alarm over China’s stranglehold on critical minerals grew on Tuesday (Jun 3) as global automakers joined their US counterparts to complain that restrictions by China on exports of rare earth alloys, mixtures and magnets could cause production delays and outages without a quick solution. German automakers became the latest to warn that China’s export…

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Global alarms rise as China’s critical mineral export curbs takes hold

Global alarms rise as China’s critical mineral export ban takes hold

[WASHINGTON] Alarm over China’s stranglehold on critical minerals grew on Tuesday (Jun 3) as global automakers joined their US counterparts to complain that restrictions by China on exports of rare earth alloys, mixtures and magnets could cause production delays and outages without a quick solution. German automakers became the latest to warn that China’s export…

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Trump signs order hiking steel, aluminium tariffs to 50%

Trump signs order hiking steel, aluminium tariffs to 50%

[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump signed a directive on Tuesday (Jun 3) raising steel and aluminium tariffs to 50 per cent from 25 per cent starting on Jun 4, following through on a pledge to boost import taxes to help domestic manufacturers. Trump cast the move, which takes effect at 12.01 am Wednesday as necessary…

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US farm sentiment at four-year high as Trump seeks trade deals

US farm sentiment at four-year high as Trump seeks trade deals

[CHICAGO] American farmer sentiment jumped to a four-year high, with growers betting on rising crop exports as the Trump administration pushes for more trade deals from Vietnam to Italy. Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins said during a visit to Rome on Tuesday (Jun 3) that she is working to get Europe to buy more US products…

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HPE posts strong revenue growth, sees reduced tariff impact

HPE posts strong revenue growth, sees reduced tariff impact

[NEW YORK] Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) reported quarterly revenue that topped estimates and said it expects a reduced impact from tariffs on its business this year. Sales increased 6 per cent to US$7.63 billion in the fiscal second quarter, the Texas-based company said on Tuesday (Jun 3). Profit, excluding some items, was 38 US cents…

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Oil climbs 2% to two-week high on geopolitical tensions

Oil climbs 2% to two-week high on geopolitical tensions

[NEW YORK] Oil prices climbed about 2 per cent on Tuesday to a two-week high as persistent geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and the US and Iran looked set to keep sanctions on both Opec+ members Russia and Iran in place for longer. Brent crude futures rose US$1, or 1.5 per cent, to settle at…

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