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ChatGPT is trying to besmirch the memory of Don Rickles. He didn't text Lena Dunham — and it makes me nervous about our AI future.

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ChatGPT tried to tell me Don Rickles tried to hit on Lena Dunham. Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Caesars Palace / Aeon/GC Images I asked ChatGPT to identify the unnamed male celebrity who allegedly tried to sext Lena Dunham in 2012. It told me it was Don Rickles, which I feel pretty certain is not correct. So what are we doing here, folks? Learning to use AI? Did you hear about the time Don Rickles tried to chat up Lena Dunham in the middle of the night? No? Let me explain. First, we need to talk about Reese Witherspoon. See, I'm a simple woman. I have only two interests: tech news and celebrity gossip. So I was naturally intrigued by a recent online fuss over Reese Witherspoon's admonition for women to learn to use AI. It sparked so much backlash that she had to issue a follow-up explanation. I've also been intrigued by Lena Dunham's new book . (They're related — sort of. Keep reading!) I think Reese is generally right about AI — she's saying the...

Inside the sharp rise and fall of Avis, the market's latest meme stock

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Bloomberg/Getty Images The world of meme stocks is volatile, and Avis is the latest to see a huge rally and a sudden collapse. A short-squeeze set off a parabolic rally in the stock this month. The tight supply of publicly traded shares and speculative interest fueled the gains. Avis Budget Group , the car rental company that lost nearly $1 billion last year and is carrying more than $6 billion in debt, was the latest target of retail traders looking for the next market-breaking short-squeeze this week. The company's stock saw a wild spike, soaring more than 700% in a matter of weeks to a peak of around $714. Unfortunately, the euphoria has already fizzled, and shares are down 70% from Tuesday's high, trading as low as $214 in Thursday's session. It isn't the first time Avis stock has gone parabolic. In 2021, in the early days of the meme stock phenomenon, shares soared more than 200% from September to their peak in early November, before then tumbling ...

I visited West Point, the elite military academy with roots in the American Revolution. Take a look inside.

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Inside the Cadet Chapel at West Point. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider West Point is the longest continuously garrisoned military installation in the United States. It also houses the highly selective United States Military Academy at West Point. Public tours include the Cadet Chapel, Trophy Point, and views of the campus and academic buildings. I knew I was in the right place when I saw the tank outside the parking lot. Established by George Washington in 1778, West Point is the longest continuously garrisoned military installation in the United States. It is also home to the United States Military Academy at West Point , an elite, highly selective institution that trains future military leaders. West Point's storied history is especially resonant ahead of America's 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. Amanda Bundt, tour manager at West Point Tours, told Business Insider that West Point "is one of the reasons we are a country." "We were here for all fou...

I'm from Kansas City and love tender, juicy meat off the grill — this BBQ sauce from Jack Stack goes on everything I eat

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When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Amazon I love to grill, and this BBQ sauce from Kansas City is my absolute favorite. The Jack Stack sauce tastes great on everything from burnt ends to chicken. You can get a two-pack on Amazon for $20 . Memphis has their ribs, Texas has their oak-smoked brisket, and the Carolinas have their whole-hog cookouts, but Kansas City is the best place to eat all kinds of BBQ.  From delectable burnt ends to fatty cuts of brisket, Kansas City is known for embracing multiple types of BBQ meat. Unlike the mustard-based Carolina sauces that can taste a little sour, Kansas City drenches their BBQ in a sweeter, tomato-based sauce.  As someone who worked in a BBQ restaurant for a year to help pay for college, I have firsthand experience making oversized batches of homemade sauce and trying to get that perfect blend of ingredients. Making BBQ sauce at home can be time-consuming, so thi...

FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic over story about 'excessive drinking'

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FBI Director Kash Patel is suing The Atlantic, alleging it defamed him with an article about his drinking. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images FBI Director Kash Patel is suing The Atlantic for $250 million. His lawsuit said the publication defamed him with an article about his drinking. The Atlantic said it stands by its story. Kash Patel , the director of the FBI, sued The Atlantic on Monday morning, accusing the publication of defaming him in a report about his drinking. Citing anonymous sources, The Atlantic story , published on Friday, said Patel had "bouts of excessive drinking." The article reported several incidents where sources described Patel behaving erratically. Citing anonymous sources, it said Patel had a "freak-out" and told allies the White House fired him when he found himself locked out of a computer system. The Atlantic story said Patel's drinking "has been a recurring source of concern across the government," an...

The 12-month window

A lot of AI startups exist partly because the foundation models haven't expanded into their category yet. As many jokingly acknowledge, that won't last forever. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/M2oIhwj via IFTTT

I found boxes of my dad's McDonald's memorabilia from the '70s and '80s. I decided to sell them all.

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Sarah Israel's dad was a McDonald's executive and kept tons of memorabilia from the 80s. Courtesy of Sarah Israel Sarah Israel, 40, found boxes of McDonald's memorabilia from the '70s and '80s. Her dad, a McDonald's executive, collected pins, a burger lamp, and branded items. She felt nostalgic, and thousands online shared the same reaction. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Israel. It has been edited for length and clarity. My dad has always been a collector. It was like a primal need of his, collecting. Ever since I can remember, he would take my siblings and me to yard sales, flea markets, and garage sales . I hated it and begged him to stop taking us along to look at garbage. I wanted to go to the movies, not talk to vendors at flea markets about what they had on offer. Although he collected anything and everything, or at least that's what it felt like, he only displayed his music. His records were all out in our mus...