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Global pop sensation Taylor Swift is anticipated to drive a significant economic boost for the United Kingdom with her upcoming &#8220;Eras Tour,&#8221; according to a recent report.
What Happened: Barclays, the British bank, has projected that Swift&#8217;s &#8220;Eras Tour&#8221; will contribute a staggering $1.2 billion to the UK economy, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/16/taylor-swifts-eras-tour-could-give-the-uk-economy-a-1point2-billion-boost-barclays.html">reported</a> CNBC.
The bank&#8217;s &#8220;Swiftonomics&#8221; report suggests that each ticket holder is expected to spend an average of £848 to attend the concert.
Barclays&#8217; data shows that this spending is more than 12 times the average cost of a night out in the UK £67 and more than double the amount spent at a UK-based wedding £398. The average ticket price for the &#8216;Eras Tour&#8217; is $206, with additional costs including £121 for accommodation, £111 for travel, and £56 for concert attire.
Concert-goers are also projected to spend an average of £79 on official merchandise, £59 on a pre-concert meal, and an extra $216 on other expenses, such as drinks and vinyl records. With nearly 1.2 million ticket holders spending a total of $848 each across 15 nights at four stadiums, the tour is expected to generate $1.2 billion.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/04/38508967/not-only-mark-zuckerberg-elon-musk-too-is-enamored-by-taylor-swift-tesla-ceo-lauds-pop-sens">Not Only Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk Too Is Enamored By Taylor Swift — Tesla CEO Lauds Pop Sensation For Creating History By Occupying All 14 Spots Of Hot100</a>
&#8220;When it comes to cultural icons like Taylor Swift – like we saw with Elvis and Beatlemania in the 50s and 60s – supporters have such a strong connection to the artist and to the rest of the fandom that the desire to spend becomes even more powerful,&#8221; said Peter Brooks, a chief behavioral scientist at Barclays.
Why It Matters: According to official figures released earlier this month, the UK has successfully navigated its way <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38753595/uks-economy-exits-recession-with-0-6-gdp-growth-el-erian-calls-for-sustainable-growth">out of a recession</a>, with the gross domestic product expanding by 0.6% in the first quarter.
Swift&#8217;s &#8220;Eras Tour&#8221; has been making waves not just in the music industry but also in the global economy. The tour&#8217;s Paris leg reportedly attracted more American tourists than the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/05/38691966/taylor-swift-1-0-2024-olympics-pop-stars-paris-eras-tour-leg-eclipses-worlds-biggest-sporti">2024 Summer Olympics</a>, according to a report. This demonstrates the immense pull and influence of Swift&#8217;s music on a global scale.
Even renowned economist Mohamed El-Erian was seen at a Taylor Swift concert, where he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/05/38781522/mohamed-el-erian-spotted-at-taylor-swift-concert-renowned-economist-calls-her-an-inspiratio">praised the pop singer</a> for her inspiring performance. This further underscores the far-reaching impact of Swift&#8217;s music and her ability to attract diverse audiences.
Swift&#8217;s influence extends beyond the music industry. Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged Swift&#8217;s debut on his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/04/38420776/mark-zuckerberg-gives-shoutout-to-taylor-swifts-debut-on-threads-says-that-one-was-a-big-de">social media platform</a> Threads during the company&#8217;s first-quarter financial results announcement, saying, &#8220;That one was a big deal in my house.&#8221; 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/38705721/how-taylor-swift-confronts-drug-themes-in-new-album-the-tortured-poets-department">How Taylor Swift Confronts Drug Themes In New Album, &#8216;The Tortured Poets Department&#8217;</a>
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Swiftonomics To The Rescue! Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' To Inject $1.2B Into Rebounding UK Economy, Says Barclays

Tech billionaire and X's single largest shareholder, Elon Musk, has acknowledged a significant issue with the discoverability of posts on his social media platform.
What Happened: Musk has acknowledged a significant issue with live content on X and has promised a &#8220;high-priority fix&#8221; for it.
Users pointed out a major flaw in the live content feature on X, formerly Twitter, saying that the discoverability of these live content posts is a hindrance.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Another user highlighted the lack of a dedicated live content tab and the dependency on posts for viewership, which he deemed unreliable.
Musk accepted the problem and noted that a &#8220;high-priority fix&#8221; is in the works to address these issues.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">High priority fix
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1790960833855381857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38809935/openai-just-dropped-gpt-4o-and-these-10-examples-show-it-could-completely-change-ai-chatbot-game?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI Just Dropped GPT-4o And These 10 Examples Show It Could Completely Change AI Chatbot Game</a>
Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s acknowledgment of the issues with X&#8217;s live content feature comes on the heels of complaints about the platform&#8217;s lack of female-friendliness.
Users pointed out that X needs video integration to make it easier to upload TikTok videos. This <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38780666/elon-musks-x-isnt-female-friendly-tech-billionaire-takes-note-as-users-complain-about-algorithm-need">prompted a discussion</a> about the platform&#8217;s female user base or lack thereof.
These issues are crucial as X has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/03/37942470/x-is-losing-users-and-struggling-to-attract-creators-according-to-new-data">struggled to retain users and creators</a>. Data from February showed a significant decline in the platform&#8217;s U.S. user base since Musk acquired it.
X faced &#8220;the most material decline in active users compared to its peers,&#8221; according to a report by Abe Yousef, a senior insights analyst at Sensor Tower.
Despite these challenges, Musk has been pushing for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38754725/elon-musk-going-for-youtube-billionaire-now-wants-you-to-post-your-movies-tv-shows-and-podcasts-on-x">X to evolve into an &#8220;everything app&#8221;</a>. The platform now allows users to post up to 4-hour-long videos, a feature that Musk sees as a step towards the platform&#8217;s evolution into the &#8220;everything app&#8221; that he and CEO Linda Yaccarino have been talking about since 2023.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38849496/elon-musk-recalls-breaking-friendship-with-googles-larry-page-over-ilya-sutskever-linchpin-for-opena">Elon Musk Recalls Breaking Friendship With Google&#8217;s Larry Page Over Ilya Sutskever: &#8216;Linchpin For OpenAI Being Successful&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with&nbsp;the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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Elon Musk Says 'High Priority Fix' Is In Works For Live Content On X, Days After Acknowledging It's Not Female-Friendly

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) CEO Alex Karp proposed a unique approach to prevent a potential war with China.
What Happened: Karp suggested that the U.S. should bolster its defense technology, including software-defined weapons systems, to deter potential adversaries, Palantir posted a Fox News <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNG_2bfzk9g">report</a> on Thursday.
&#8220;The way to prevent a war with China is to ramp up, not just Palantir, but defense tech startups that produce software-defined weapons systems that scare the living F&#x2A; out of our adversaries,&#8221; Karp said.
He also emphasized the need for a strong defense to maintain peace.
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Alex Karp NEW Interview On Fox Business (Fixed Audio)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KNG_2bfzk9g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38839620/bidens-new-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-are-a-clear-giveaway-to-these-two-tesla-rivals-jim-cramer-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden&#8217;s New Tariffs On Chinese Imports Are A &#8216;Clear Giveaway&#8217; To These Two Tesla Rivals, Jim Cramer Says: &#8216;I Like This Policy&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Karp&#8217;s comments come amid increasing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38762024/china-slams-us-for-imposing-new-trade-restrictions-on-37-chinese-firms-over-military-and-russia-conn">tensions between the U.S. and China</a>. The U.S. has been vocal about its concerns regarding China&#8217;s military activities, particularly in the South China Sea. The Biden administration has also been working to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China&#8217;s influence.
Palantir, under Karp&#8217;s leadership, has been a key player in the defense technology sector. The company recently reported strong <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/05/38653781/palantir-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-and-raise-us-commercial-growth-continued-gaap-profitability-and-m">first-quarter earnings</a>, with a 21% year-over-year increase in revenue. 
Karp has been vocal about Palantir&#8217;s dominance in the U.S. commercial and government markets, stating that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/05/38659067/palantir-ceo-alex-karp-dismisses-rivals-we-have-no-competitors-in-us-commercial-and-government-mark">company has no competitors</a> in these sectors.
However, Karp&#8217;s recent comments are not the first time he has made controversial statements. At a Capitol Hill forum earlier this month, he joked about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38571263/palantir-ceo-alex-karp-jokes-about-drone-striking-rivals-suggests-sending-protesters-to-north-korea">drone-striking his business rivals</a> and suggested sending protesters to North Korea for re-education. Despite these comments, Palantir&#8217;s stock has continued to perform well.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38784002/amid-rising-threats-from-china-north-korea-japans-military-faces-setback-due-to-drop-in-female-recru?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amid Rising Threats From China, North Korea, Japan&#8217;s Military Faces Setback Due To Drop In Female Recruits, Increase In Harassment Cases: Report</a>
Image Via WEF On Flickr
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Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
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The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
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Palantir CEO Tells US Defense Tech Companies To Scare 'The Living F* Out Of Our Adversaries' As A Way To Prevent War With China

Renowned gold advocate Peter Schiff has criticized President Joe Biden&#8217;s new tariffs, labeling them as taxes that will exacerbate the economic situation.
What Happened: Schiff, who is also the CEO of Euro Pacific Capital, took to social media platform X, to express his concerns about the new tariffs. The proposed tariffs include a 25% tax on steel and aluminum, a 50% tax on semiconductors, a 100% tax on electric vehicles, and a 50% tax on solar panels.
&#8220;Pres. @JoeBiden is bragging about imposing the following #tariffs on Americans; 25% on steel &amp;amp; aluminum, 50% on semiconductors, 100% on EVs, and 50% on solar panels. These are taxes that will raise the price of all goods subject to tariff and will only add to the economic misery,&#8221; Schiff wrote.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Pres. <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> is bragging about imposing the following <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tariffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tariffs</a> on Americans; 25% on steel &amp; aluminum, 50% on semiconductors, 100% on EVs, and 50% on solar panels. These are taxes that will raise the price of all goods subject to tariff and will only add to the economic misery.
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1790747390535770591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38678379/immigration-rebound-helps-solve-us-inflation-puzzle-goldman-sachs?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Immigration Rebound Helps Solve US Inflation Puzzle: Goldman Sachs</a>
Why It Matters: Schiff&#8217;s criticism comes at a time when the U.S. is embroiled in a trade war with China. The Biden administration&#8217;s recent tariff hikes on Chinese imports have sparked a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38841902/xi-jinpings-mouthpiece-trolls-us-after-china-vows-resolute-measures-against-bidens-tariff-hike-what">strong reaction</a> from the Chinese government, which has vowed to retaliate.
Despite the potential for retaliation, some experts believe that the new tariffs could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38839620/bidens-new-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-are-a-clear-giveaway-to-these-two-tesla-rivals-jim-cramer-">benefit U.S. automakers</a>, particularly Tesla Inc rivals Ford Motor and General Motors. CNBC host Jim Cramer has suggested that the tariffs will protect American car companies from the threat of cheap Chinese electric vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has defended the tariffs as a necessary response to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38847469/bidens-economic-advisor-says-china-is-not-playing-by-the-rules-so-tariffs-on-goods-needed-to-ensure">China&#8217;s economic practices</a>. White House National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard has stated that the tariffs are aimed at ensuring fair competition and protecting burgeoning domestic industries from China&#8217;s export dumping.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38760872/us-ready-to-impose-new-tariffs-on-chinas-ev-solar-sectors-could-cause-more-severe-damage-than-last-t?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Ready To Impose New Tariffs On China&#8217;s EV, Solar Sectors: &#8216;Could Cause More Severe Damage&#8217; Than Last Trade War</a>
Image Via Wikimedia Commons
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The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
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Gold Bull Peter Schiff Slams Biden's New Tariffs As 'Taxes' That 'Will Only Add To The Economic Misery'

Donald Trump&#8216;s niece,&nbsp;Mary Trump, weighed in on her uncle&#8217;s legal troubles&nbsp;during a media appearance on Wednesday,&nbsp;particularly&nbsp;focusing on the New York hush-money criminal case and star witness&nbsp;Michael Cohen&#8216;s testimony.
Addressing Trump&#8217;s Loyalty: Mary Trump asserted in an MSNBC interview that Donald Trump&#8217;s loyalty is unilateral, suggesting he could betray anyone he wishes because &#8220;he&#8217;s beholden to nobody.&#8221;&nbsp;
She emphasized, &#8220;It certainly is not the other way around. So, he does not like it. It does not sit well with him. He doesn&#8217;t handle it well when anybody, especially somebody he considers been with him&#8230;.to stand up and fight back and give Donald everything that has come to him.&#8221;&nbsp;
&#8220;It&#8217;s infinitely worse that Donald just has to sit there and take it,&#8221; she added.
Power Dynamics:&nbsp;As a clinical psychologist and podcaster, Mary Trump delved into her uncle&#8217;s behavior, highlighting how he exercises control over others without&nbsp;needing to issue&nbsp;explicit instructions.&nbsp;
&#8220;People just know what their marching orders are,&#8221; she remarked, noting that this dynamic &#8220;feeds his narcissistic need.&#8221; &#8220;People are serving as an extension of his psyche. He can talk all day long, he can fight back, he got this gag order,&#8221; she said, adding that they say the &#8220;most egregious things&#8221; that don&#8217;t just undermine the trial but also the rule of law, she said. &#8220;It&#8217;s absolutely horrifying because these are members of Congress.&#8221;
See Also:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38836381/anthony-scaramucci-says-trump-may-campaign-with-ankle-bracelet-from-mar-a-lago-as-former-white-house" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Anthony Scaramucci Says Trump May Campaign With Ankle Bracelet From Mar-A-Lago</a>
Speaker&#8217;s Courtroom Cameo: Reflecting on House Speaker&nbsp;Mike Johnson&#8216;s presence at the ongoing hush-money trial, Mary Trump suggested that such actions only&nbsp;serve to&nbsp;legitimize Donald Trump&#8217;s narrative. She explained that by aligning with Trump&#8217;s viewpoints, members of Congress inadvertently lend credibility to his claims, potentially reinforcing them within the Republican base.
&#8220;They are legitimizing what Donald says,&#8221; she said, adding that the Republican base might think, &#8220;If Johnson is saying this is a witch-hunt, well, then that gives more credence to it. It&#8217;s not just what Donald said.&#8221;
Will Trump Take The Stand? When asked if the former president would take the stand, Mary Trump said, &#8220;He&#8217;s a coward. So, I think it&#8217;s incredibly unlikely.&#8221; But she said the possibility cannot be completely ruled out &#8220;if he feels like he&#8217;s losing control&#8230;he thinks he is the only person in the room who can do anything right.&#8221;
What reduces the chances of Donald Trump testifying is that &#8220;he is trying to convince anybody who will listen, his base, fellow Republicans, that he can&#8217;t testify because he can&#8217;t defend himself because of this gag order,&#8221; she said. But if he does testify that would be the best indication that we have that&#8230; he&#8217;s completely lost it,&#8221; she added.
Trump&#8217;s Problems: Outlining her uncle&#8217;s current problems, Mary Trump said &#8220;There&#8217;s this massive paper trial.&#8221; Secondly, some of the most damning witnesses against him have been people who continue to consider him a friend or somebody that they care about.
 Also, the person testifying against Donald Trump now went to prison for the crime the former president did. &#8220;If you were to get to the point where he tells his attorneys that he wants to testify, they are going to find an elephant tranquilizer,&#8221; she said.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/best-penny-stocks">Best Penny Stocks</a>
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Trump's Niece Finds It 'Absolutely Horrifying' That Congress Members Say 'Most Egregious Things' To Undermine Ex-President's Hush-Money Trial: 'Feeds His Narcissistic Need'

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have pledged to strengthen their countries&#8217; relationship, with a focus on resolving the Ukraine crisis.
What Happened: The two leaders met in Beijing on Thursday to discuss a range of topics, including the Ukraine conflict, Asia, energy, and trade, reported Reuters. The meeting is part of Putin&#8217;s two-day state visit to China, where he has been welcomed by Xi, who has described China as a &#8220;good partner&#8221; of Russia.
&#8220;The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it,&#8221; Xi said, adding that China is willing to &#8220;jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world.&#8221;
The leaders signed a statement formalizing their strategic relationship, with both agreeing that a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis was the &#8220;right direction.&#8221;
&#8220;It is of crucial significance that relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic and are not directed against anyone,&#8221; said Putin according to Russia&#8217;s RIA Novosti news agency.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38760872/us-ready-to-impose-new-tariffs-on-chinas-ev-solar-sectors-could-cause-more-severe-damage-than-last-t?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Ready To Impose New Tariffs On China&#8217;s EV, Solar Sectors: &#8216;Could Cause More Severe Damage&#8217; Than Last Trade War</a>
Putin, who recently began his new six-year term, highlighted the importance of the Russia-China relationship as a stabilizing factor. He also emphasized that the partnership is not opportunistic or directed against any specific country.
Why It Matters: The meeting between Putin and Xi comes at a crucial time, as the Ukraine crisis continues to escalate. Just days before Putin&#8217;s visit to China in February 2022, he sent thousands of troops into Ukraine, sparking the deadliest land war in Europe since World War Two.
Despite Western sanctions on both Russia and China, the two countries have deepened their ties in recent years. This has been particularly evident in China&#8217;s support for Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, with Putin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38836941/russian-president-backs-chinas-ukraine-peace-plan-they-truly-understand-its-root-causes">praising China&#8217;s approach</a> to resolving the crisis.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has taken a firm stance against China, with President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38824198/biden-announces-massive-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-to-protect-us-industries-clean-energy-solar-stock">announcing significant tariffs</a> on Chinese goods to protect American industries. 
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has also called for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38795043/yellen-calls-for-fair-trade-with-china-urges-other-central-banks-to-limit-currency-interventions">fair trade with China</a> and urged other central banks to limit currency interventions.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38839620/bidens-new-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-are-a-clear-giveaway-to-these-two-tesla-rivals-jim-cramer-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden&#8217;s New Tariffs On Chinese Imports Are A &#8216;Clear Giveaway&#8217; To These Two Tesla Rivals, Jim Cramer Says: &nbsp;&#8216;I Like This Policy&#8217;</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
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Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
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The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
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Russian President, Xi Jinping Pledge To 'Rejuvenate' China-Russia Ties Amid Ukraine Crisis: 'Not Directed Against Anyone'

The world's largest digital asset Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) has the same number of users as the Internet had in early 1999, reflecting the cryptocurrency's immense scope for future growth.
What Happened: Bitcoin's world adoption hit 4.7%, according to popular cryptocurrency analyst Willy Woo, reminiscent of the Internet's growth curve in January 1999.&nbsp;
The trajectory prompted Woo to say, "You are still early&#8230; and that&#8217;s backed by the best data available," referring to the present holders of the cryptocurrency.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> is at 4.7% world adoption, this is the same as Jan 1999 for Internet Adoption. You are still early&#8230; and that&#39;s backed by the best data available. <a href="https://t.co/bq9P50Nban">https://t.co/bq9P50Nban</a> <a href="https://t.co/dyyRSFLrC3">pic.twitter.com/dyyRSFLrC3</a>
&mdash; Willy Woo (@woonomic) <a href="https://twitter.com/woonomic/status/1786348759607337471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Bitcoin's user base was around 430 million as of this writing. The analyst last month, extrapolating multiple independent studies, had predicted that Bitcoin's total user base would swell to 500 million by October, and nearly a billion by the end of 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Why It Matters: Bitcoin's fast pursuit of the Internet adoption curve raised optimism among proponents that the digital currency would eventually mimic the parabolic rise of the World Wide Web.
The Internet frenzy took off at the turn of the millennium, ushering in an astronomical jump in the number of users. As of April 2024, there were 5.44 billion internet users worldwide, constituting 67% of the global population, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/digital-population-worldwide/#:~:text=As%20of%20April%202024%2C%20there,population%2C%20were%20social%20media%20users.">according </a>to Statista.&nbsp;
The better part of the story is that Bitcoin was expanding faster than the Internet, as popular Bitcoin expert Vivek recently claimed.&nbsp;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> is growing faster than the internet. And we are just getting started. <a href="https://t.co/QiRyo0GzW4">pic.twitter.com/QiRyo0GzW4</a>
&mdash; Vivek&#x26a1;&#xFE0F; (@Vivek4real_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vivek4real_/status/1784929013707747799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $65,837.53, rising 6.41% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. The King Crypto was up 57% year-to-date, and nearly 150% since the same time last year.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38865499/bitcoin-self-custody-and-home-mining-made-legal-rights-in-oklahoma-after-passage-of-landma">Bitcoin Self-Custody and Home Mining Made Legal Rights in Oklahoma After Passage Of Landmark Bill</a>
Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

'You Are Still Early:' Bitcoin's Global Adoption Rate Hits 4.7%, Echoes Internet's Early Growth Phase, Says Analyst

Ahead of its June 13 annual meeting,&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is reportedly pulling out all the stops to convince its growing base of retail investors to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38630179/teslas-board-chair-pleads-for-reapproval-of-elon-musks-controversial-47-billion-compensation-incredi" rel="noreferrer noopener">reapprove CEO&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38630179/teslas-board-chair-pleads-for-reapproval-of-elon-musks-controversial-47-billion-compensation-incredi" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38630179/teslas-board-chair-pleads-for-reapproval-of-elon-musks-controversial-47-billion-compensation-incredi" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;s controversial pay package</a>.
What Happened:&nbsp;The company&#8217;s board has enlisted a strategic advisor and an external law firm to spearhead the campaign,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-15/elon-musk-s-56-billion-pay-package-gets-boost-from-tesla-board" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. A dedicated &#8220;Vote Tesla&#8221; website targets retail investors, who hold an estimated 42% of Tesla&#8217;s shares.&nbsp;
The site features a video message from board Chair&nbsp;Robyn Denholm&nbsp;emphasizing that supporting Musk&#8217;s pay is critical for the company&#8217;s growth.&nbsp;
Court Rejection, Board Rebuttal:&nbsp;This vote follows a Delaware judge&#8217;s rejection of the compensation agreement in March. The judge argued that Tesla directors didn&#8217;t prioritize shareholder interests.&nbsp;
Denholm, in the promotional video, counters this argument, stating, &#8220;We don&#8217;t believe one judge&#8217;s opinion should void the will of millions of votes cast by all of the owners.&#8221;
Challenges Ahead:&nbsp;Despite&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/02/36965460/tesla-investors-pledge-support-for-elon-musk-his-25-ownership-goal-shareholder-lett" rel="noreferrer noopener">significant social media support</a>&nbsp;for Musk, retail investor participation in annual meetings is typically low, and Tesla&#8217;s recent financial decline amidst a global electric vehicle slowdown adds uncertainty, as per Bloomberg.
Largest Investor Dissents:&nbsp;Tesla&#8217;s biggest individual investor,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38634310/tesla-retail-shareholder-who-poured-3-5b-into-ev-stock-screams-foul-over-magician-elon-musks-pay" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leo KoGuan</a>, has publicly opposed the pay deal and Musk&#8217;s management style. A former longtime admirer of Musk, KoGuan has grown concerned about the billionaire entrepreneur&#8217;s divided focus across&nbsp;SpaceX,&nbsp;Neuralink, and other ventures, and believes Tesla shouldn&#8217;t solely fund Musk&#8217;s other endeavors.
KoGuan, who reportedly owns 0.8% of Tesla, stated, &#8220;The court had spoken and many facts came out. He has to respect and obey the court&#8217;s decision.&#8221; He also plans to vote against relocating Tesla&#8217;s headquarters from Delaware to Texas, according to the report.
See Also:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/everything-you-need-to-know-about-tesla-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">Everything You Need to Know About Tesla Stock</a>
Shifting Shareholder Landscape: Large asset managers now hold roughly 46% of Tesla&#8217;s shares, down from 70% in 2018 during the first vote on the pay package, as per Bloomberg. Back then, the board won with 73% approval. This time, the outcome may be less certain.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">How Tesla outside shareholders, by current stake, voted on Elon Musk's compensation package in 2018: <a href="https://t.co/Y9ZWH4prwK">pic.twitter.com/Y9ZWH4prwK</a>
&mdash; Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1790700685803057438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Investor Silence, Proxy Awaitment: Tesla&#8217;s two largest investors after Musk, Vanguard and BlackRock, reportedly voted for and against the 2018 proposal, respectively. Their stance on the re-vote, however, remains unclear.  
T. Rowe Price, currently the 10th largest investor and a 2018 supporter, recently announced its backing for the reinstatement.&nbsp;
Market observers are reported watching proxy advisory firms like&nbsp;ISS&nbsp;and&nbsp;Glass Lewis, whose recommendations can influence voting, especially those of passive funds.
Why It Matters:&nbsp;While non-binding, the vote carries significant weight for Musk&#8217;s leadership. Board approval strengthens their case against the court decision, while a loss could be a major setback.&nbsp;
Musk has even threatened to pursue ventures outside Tesla if he doesn&#8217;t secure&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36634396/elon-musk-seeks-greater-control-over-tesla-as-ai-endeavors-multiply-enough-to-be-influential-not-so" rel="noreferrer noopener">a 25% equity stake</a>.
Tesla investor and CEO of&nbsp;Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, Ross Gerber, has said the vote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38306906/tesla-boards-credibility-at-stake-with-56b-elon-musk-pay-package-vote-says-ross-gerber-super-gra" rel="noreferrer noopener">puts the integrity of Tesla&#8217;s board</a>&nbsp;on the line.&nbsp;
This month, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38814489/tesla-spends-on-musks-pay-vote-ads-but-ross-gerber-feels-ev-giant-could-advertise-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla deployed advertisements</a> to inform shareholders about the upcoming vote, which Gerber criticized. Some experts have also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38575395/is-musk-worth-160-of-teslas-total-profits-esg-expert-thinks-ceos-pay-package-is-lunacy-and-compl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">criticized the proposed payout</a> as &#8220;lunacy and completely detached from reality.&#8221; 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38864517/tesla-ai-manager-who-resigned-doesnt-see-ceo-elon-musks-capacity-eroding-to-retain-talent-amid-layof" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla AI Manager Who Resigned Doesn&#8217;t See CEO Elon Musk&#8217;s &#8216;Capacity Eroding&#8217; To Retain Talent Amid Layoffs: &#8216;Would&#8217;ve Stuck Around Longer If&#8230;&#8217;</a>
Image via photos on Shutterstock

Equities

Management

TSLA

Musk Goes All In For Mega-Payday As Tesla Targets Growing Retail Investor Army With Dedicated Website, Strategic Advisor

Chinese EV maker Aiways will go public via a merger with U.S. Special Purpose Acquisition Company Hudson Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUDA#NASDAQ">HUDA</a>) in a deal that values the EV maker at about $400 million. The SPAC announcement comes days after Chinese auto company Geely&#8216;s Zeekr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZK#NYSE">ZK</a>) brand <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38774344/chinese-tesla-rival-zeekr-soars-35-on-nyse-debut-valuation-hits-6-8b">started trading on the New York Stock Exchange.</a>
What Happened: Aiways was founded in 2017 by Chinese entrepreneurs Samuel Fu and Gary Gu. The company&#8217;s financial situation collapsed last year, forcing it to halt production at its Shangrao plant with an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles. The company also has R&amp;D and design centers in Shanghai (China), a battery factory in Changshu (China), and the European Sales Centre in Munich. 
It has two EV models, named U5 and U6, and the company intends to focus on just Europe in the short term, given the intense competition within the Chinese market, Reuters reported. 
"The new entity will be strategically positioned to capitalize on our vision and resources in the European EV market," said Alexander Carsten Klose, Managing Director of Aiways Europe. The deal is expected to close by the year, Hudson said in a statement.
Why It Matters: Geely&#8217;s global electric mobility technology brand ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited started trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. The shares closed nearly 35%&nbsp;higher than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38756035/chinas-zeekr-prices-us-ipo-at-top-end-of-estimated-range-whats-on-the-cards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its initial public offering price</a>&nbsp;on its first day of trading, giving the company a fully diluted valuation of $6.8 billion.
Zeekr's debut on the New York Stock Exchange comes as other EV makers on U.S. exchanges have been<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38699990/tesla-stock-is-sliding-wednesday-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;facing a stock slump</a>. Tesla stock has slumped 30% year-to-date while Rivian stock has slumped nearly 52%. New York-listed shares of Chinese EV maker Nio are down 36.7% year-to-date and those of XPeng are down 43%. Nasdaq-listed shares of Li Auto are also down 28% since the start of the year. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38837883/teslas-top-rival-byd-reveals-starting-price-of-hybrid-electric-pickup-in-mexico-launch-yes-its-a-lot" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla's Top Rival BYD Reveals Starting Price Of Hybrid Electric Pickup In Mexico Launch — Yes, It's A Lot Cheaper Than The Cybertruck</a>

HUDA

Struggling Chinese EV Maker Aiways Stages Comeback Via $400M US SPAC Deal After Zeekr's Stellar New York Debut

Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38807484/mark-zuckerberg-turns-40-in-style-as-meta-ceo-reportedly-celebrates-birthday-party-on-300m-superyach">40th birthday party&nbsp;outfit</a> has sparked a wave of speculation. The Meta Platforms, Inc. CEO&#8217;s attire, particularly a T-shirt with a Latin phrase, has led to a flurry of theories about its significance.
What Happened: Zuckerberg&#8217;s birthday party was organized by his&nbsp;wife, Priscilla Chan, and featured&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38860816/mark-zuckerberg-recalls-his-childhood-and-facebooks-early-days-shares-top-8-memories-on-his-40th-bir">miniature replicas of significant places</a> in his life.
However, it was Zuckerberg&#8217;s outfit that caught the attention of many. In particular, his T-shirt, which bore the Latin phrase &#8220;Carthago delenda est&#8221; (Carthage must be destroyed), raised eyebrows. 
The phrase traces its origins to debates in the Roman Senate preceding the Third Punic War (149–146 BC) between Rome and Carthage. Cato the Elder, a prominent politician of the Roman Republic, purportedly concluded all his speeches with this phrase, advocating for the war.
It is also linked to Zuckerberg&#8217;s interest in Roman history, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/03/31535617/mark-zuckerberg-has-3-daughters-named-after-one-of-facebook-founders-favorite-school-subjec">his daughters being named after</a> Roman emperors, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/i-have-spent-entirely-too-much-time-thinking-about-mark-zuckerbergs-outfit-at-his-birthday-party/articleshow/110157162.cms">reported</a> Business Insider on Wednesday.
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There are several theories about the T-shirt. It could be a designer shirt, a gift from someone at the party, or a nod to a significant phase in Facebook&#8217;s history. The shirt&#8217;s fit and the fold lines suggest it was&nbsp;worn for the first time&nbsp;at the party.
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Another point of interest was Zuckerberg&#8217;s gold chain, which was absent in some photos. The chain necklace has become somewhat of an internet sensation following the widespread circulation of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38369176/mark-zuckerberg-sports-a-beard-in-a-new-instagram-video-is-that-for-real">digitally manipulated images</a> depicting Zuckerberg wearing a chain and sporting a beard.
Chan&#8217;s Instagram caption hinted that the party was also a roast, with attendees, including Bill Gates and Joel Kaplan, dressing up in a Zuckerberg costume. This led to the theory&nbsp;that Zuckerberg&#8217;s outfit was gifted&nbsp;to him as a joke&nbsp;during the party.
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Why It Matters: Since the inception of Facebook in 2004 at Harvard University, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38814718/happy-40-zuckerberg-if-you-invested-1000-in-meta-platforms-stock-when-mark-zuckerberg-turned-30-">Zuckerberg has steered Meta from</a> its initial concentration solely on a single social network to broadening its scope to include messaging and cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence.
He has experienced a notable evolution, transitioning from a reserved founder to an individual with diverse interests, ranging from managing cattle on his $100 million Hawaii ranch to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35604744/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-tore-his-acl-while-training-for-a-competitive-mma-fight-undergoes-surgery">engaging in mixed martial arts or MMA training</a>.
At the time of writing, Zuckerberg&#8217;s total net worth was $171 billion, making him the fourth person on the Bloomberg Billionaire <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">Index</a>. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38809935/openai-just-dropped-gpt-4o-and-these-10-examples-show-it-could-completely-change-ai-chatbot-game?itm_source=parsely-api">OpenAI Just Dropped GPT-4o And These 10 Examples Show It Could Completely Change AI Chatbot Game</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with&nbsp;the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

'Carthago Delenda Est:' Was Mark Zuckerberg's Cryptic Birthday Tee A Meta Message Or A Party Joke?

John Schulman, the co-founder of OpenAI, has shared his insights on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38611412/sam-altman-teases-gpt-5-openais-gpt-4-the-dumbest-model-people-will-have-to-ever-use-again-says-ceo">performance of GPT-4</a> and the potential challenges it faces due to a limited amount of training data being available. Schulman played a key role in the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022.
What Happened: In a recent episode of Dwarkesh Patel's podcast, Schulman addressed the potential limitations of GPT-4 and the future of AI models.
When asked if the AI community is approaching a &#8220;data wall,&#8221; where the benefits of memorizing a vast amount of pre-training data may not lead to significantly smarter models than GPT-4, Schulman admitted that there are a few challenges in that regard, but companies like OpenAI and others will have to change their training methods to overcome these challenges.
"There are definitely some challenges from the limited amount of data, but I wouldn&#8217;t expect us to immediately hit the data wall. However, I would expect the nature of pre-training to somewhat change over time as we get closer to it."
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Schulman also discussed the challenges of generalization across different types of pre-training data, such as code and language reasoning, and the potential limitations of the abilities unlocked by specific training data.
He also says that bigger models like GPT-4 are more "sample efficient" than their predecessors like GPT-2 – this means these larger models can train to the same level of intelligence using less amounts of data.
While he says there's no good explanation for the scaling laws here, he notes that the increased processing capacity is ultimately the reason behind this.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/05/38840134/competition-for-disney-comcast-to-offer-streaming-bundle-of-apple-tv-netflix-peacock-at-vas?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Competition For Disney? Comcast To Offer Streaming Bundle Of Apple TV+, Netflix, Peacock At &#8216;Vastly Reduced Prices'</a>
Why It Matters: Schulman&#8217;s remarks come in the wake of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38611412/sam-altman-teases-gpt-5-openais-gpt-4-the-dumbest-model-people-will-have-to-ever-use-again-says-ceo">statements made by</a> OpenAI CEO Sam Altman about the future of the company&#8217;s AI models. Altman hinted at significant advancements with each new model, suggesting a rapid progression in AI capabilities.
He also called GPT-4 the "dumbest model" from OpenAI that people will ever have to use again.
Altman has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38787539/openais-sam-altman-draws-parallels-between-ai-powered-iphone-competitor-and-iron-mans-jarvis-its-lik">expressed a strong commitment</a> to the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), regardless of the financial cost. His vision for an AI-powered iPhone aligns with the company&#8217;s ambitious goals for AI development.
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Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38849496/elon-musk-recalls-breaking-friendship-with-googles-larry-page-over-ilya-sutskever-linchpin-for-opena">Elon Musk Recalls Breaking Friendship With Google&#8217;s Larry Page Over Ilya Sutskever: &#8216;Linchpin For OpenAI Being Successful&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with&nbsp;the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

OpenAI's John Schulman Says GPT-4 Performance Has Challenges From 'Limited Amount Of Data' After Sam Altman Called It 'Dumbest Model'

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who owns the social media platform X and serves as CEO of Tesla Inc., has suggested that the possible 2024 presidential contenders, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, consider hosting their debate on his social media platform, X Spaces.
What Happened: Musk acknowledged a post by DogeDesigner proposing the idea of hosting the debate on X Spaces. Musk responded with a simple &#8220;Yeah&#8221; to the poll.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Should Biden and Trump host their debate on &#120143; Spaces? <a href="https://t.co/XraBBUpmBU">pic.twitter.com/XraBBUpmBU</a>
&mdash; DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) <a href="https://twitter.com/cb_doge/status/1790760913387356570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In a highly anticipated move, Biden and Trump have agreed to participate in two presidential TV debates scheduled for June and September, signaling intense showdowns that could significantly impact the upcoming White House race.
CNN is slated to host the initial debate on Jun. 27 in the pivotal swing state of Georgia, while ABC will take the reins for the second debate on Sept. 10.
The decision follows President Biden&#8217;s outlined terms for engaging in debates with his Republican predecessor in the lead-up to the November election.
CNN has revealed that the June debate in Atlanta will have no live audience and will be moderated by hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Notably, this debate is set earlier than usual for an election year.
ABC, on the other hand, has announced that David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the second debate, although the exact location has not yet been specified, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-69017002">according</a> to BBC.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38805961/elon-musks-tesla-faces-fsd-uptake-challenge-as-only-2-of-free-trial-users-subscribe-gary-black-t?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla Faces FSD Uptake Challenge As Only 2% Of Free Trial Users Subscribe, Gary Black Terms The Figure &#8216;Disappointing&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The proposal comes amid growing anticipation for a debate between Biden and Trump. Biden recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/05/38849634/biden-signals-intent-to-debate-trump-in-june-make-my-day-pal">signaled his intent</a> to participate in debates, challenging Trump to pick the dates. 
This was seen as a response to Trump&#8217;s earlier declaration that he was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/03/37550422/trump-ready-to-debate-biden-anytime-anywhere-anyplace-how-media-companies-shareholders-could-be-">ready to debate Biden</a> &#8220;anytime, anywhere, anyplace.&#8221;
However, not everyone is in favor of the idea. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38862303/nancy-pelosi-on-upcoming-presidential-debate-i-would-never-recommend-going-on-stage-with-donald-trum">expressed her disapproval</a> of a Biden-Trump debate, citing Trump&#8217;s past behavior of physical intimidation and frequent interruptions during debates.
The proposal also comes at a time when the two candidates are in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/05/38598789/trump-vs-biden-2024-election-frontrunners-tied-in-new-poll-which-candidate-gains-in-popularity-a">tight race</a>, as indicated by the latest poll results. The potential rematch between Biden and Trump has been viewed as a close contest, with neither candidate holding a significant lead.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38846223/elon-musk-fired-supercharger-chief-rebecca-tinucci-and-her-entire-team-after-she-refused-to-lay-off?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Fired Supercharger Chief Rebecca Tinucci And Her Entire Team After She Refused To Lay Off More Workers Than Planned: Report</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
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Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
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The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
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Elon Musk Calls For Hosting Biden Vs. Trump Debate On X As Race To White House Gains Momentum

In a landmark development, Oklahoma became the first state in the U.S. to declare self-custody of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and other cryptocurrencies a fundamental right.
What Happened: The bill proposed by Rep. Brian Hill (R) was signed into law by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R), paving the way for greater autonomy for citizens regarding their cryptocurrency usage.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f6a8;HUGELY MASSIVE BRREAKING&#x1f6a8;: A bill protecting your ‘fundamental <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> rights' has been SIGNED INTO LAW in the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma will now defend your: &#x2705; Right to self-custody &#x2705; Right to spend <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> and digital assets &#x2705; Right to mine <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> &#x2705; Right to run… <a href="https://t.co/KdPsmLBzDo">pic.twitter.com/KdPsmLBzDo</a>
&mdash; Dennis Porter (@Dennis_Porter_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dennis_Porter_/status/1790529917199003836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The bill mandated a legal right to use digital assets for purchasing goods and services, self-custody of digital assets using a self-hosted wallet or a hardware wallet, and even mining digital assets from home.&nbsp;
The bill also stipulated that no additional taxes would be levied on digital asset payments, treating them the same as traditional forms of payment. The bill would be effective from Nov.1 this year.
Why It Matters: The new legislation comes at a time when the country is becoming increasingly polarized over cryptocurrencies and their increased oversight.
Last week, the House <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38733156/house-challenges-sec-over-crypto-custody-rules-biden-vows-blockade">voted in favor of a resolution </a>against the SEC's controversial directive that restricted credible financial institutions from holding Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. President Joe Biden had threatened to veto the legislation if it reached him.&nbsp;
On the other hand, former President Donald Trump has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38723503/trump-pledges-to-make-sure-you-can-donate-using-crypto-to-his-2024-campaign-unwittingly-se">stepped up his pro-crypto stance</a> in the election campaigns, promising to make the atmosphere more conducive so as to stop cryptocurrency companies from moving out of the country. He even said, "If you&#8217;re in favor of crypto, you better vote for Trump."
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $65,837.53, rising 6.41% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38864022/robinhood-launches-its-first-crypto-staking-offering-for-solana-but-feature-limited-to-eur">Robinhood Launches Its First Crypto Staking Offering For Solana But Feature Limited To Europe</a>

Bitcoin Self-Custody and Home Mining Made Legal Rights in Oklahoma After Passage Of Landmark Bill

Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos&#8216; space venture Blue Origin is set to relaunch its space tourism flights after a hiatus of nearly two years, following a mission failure in 2022.
What Happened: Blue Origin, backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is preparing to resume its space tourism flights with the NS-25 mission on Sunday, according to Blue Origin&#8217;s <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-25-mission-announcement">official</a> website. The mission is scheduled to take off from Launch Site One in West Texas, with a launch window starting at 8:30 AM CDT / 1330 UTC.
The New Shepard rocket, which conducts short trips to the edge of space with cargo and human passengers, has been grounded since a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33779452/heres-why-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-has-fallen-behind-elon-musks-spacex">mission failure</a> in September 2022. The upcoming NS-25 mission will carry six crew members, including the first Black astronaut candidate in the United States, former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration concluded its review of Blue Origin&#8217;s New Shepard investigation <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36231321/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-to-relaunch-new-shepard-rocket-after-15-month-hiatus">last year</a>, concurring with the company&#8217;s findings. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38807245/big-short-fame-investor-expects-elon-musks-tesla-shares-to-plunge-70-people-are-going-to-start-t?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Big Short&#8217; Fame Investor Expects Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla Shares To Plunge 70%: &#8216;People Are Going To Start To Lose Patience&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This announcement comes after Blue Origin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/24/04/38225436/bezos-space-company-announces-new-astronauts-for-blue-origins-7th-crewed-flight-who-are-the-lucky-6">announced new astronauts</a> for its 7th crewed flight in April. The company, founded by Amazon.com&#8217;s Jeff Bezos, has taken 31 astronauts into space, including Bezos himself, his brother Mark Bezos, former NFL player Michael Strahan, content creator Coby Cotton of &#8220;Dude Perfect,&#8221; and actor William Shatner.
Bezos&#8217; space venture has been making strides in the industry, with its senior vice president of lunar permanence, John Couluris, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37449722/former-spacex-mission-director-who-jumped-to-jeff-bezos-camp-expects-blue-origins-lunar-cargo-lander">expecting the company&#8217;s lunar cargo lander</a> to reach the Moon within 16 months. Blue Origin is also working on a human lander with NASA for the Artemis 5 mission, planned for 2029.
Bezos&#8217; space ambitions have not been without criticism, with former President Barack Obama expressing skepticism about the potential of space colonization to save Earth, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37864130/barack-obama-throws-shade-at-jeff-bezos-elon-musks-space-colonization-ambitions-i-look-at-them-like">slamming Bezos</a> and Elon Musk for investing in off-world relocation projects.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38839620/bidens-new-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-are-a-clear-giveaway-to-these-two-tesla-rivals-jim-cramer-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden&#8217;s New Tariffs On Chinese Imports Are A &#8216;Clear Giveaway&#8217; To These Two Tesla Rivals, Jim Cramer Says: &#8216;I Like This Policy&#8217;</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
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Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
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The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
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SPACE

Travel

Jeff Bezos-Owned Blue Origin To Resume Space Tourism Flights After Nearly 2-Year Long Hiatus

Humane, the company behind the AI Pin, which received <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38263133/mkbhd-bankrupted-a-company-in-41-seconds-tech-influencers-critique-of-humanes-ai-pin-stirs-debate">some bad reviews</a> after the initial hype, has announced a significant upgrade to its product. 
What Happened: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38809935/openai-just-dropped-gpt-4o-and-these-10-examples-show-it-could-completely-change-ai-chatbot-game">Humane&#8217;s AI Pin has integrated</a> OpenAI&#8217;s latest GPT-4o AI model into the device, promising improved speed and accuracy. George Kedenburg, the product design lead at Humane, took to X, formerly Twitter, and shared the news saying, &#8220;Still early, but so far lots of great improvements: 14% decrease in latency, 28% shorter answers, 33% fewer bad answers.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">all ai pins internally + a small number externally are now running gpt-4o! still early, but so far lots of great improvements: 14% decrease in latency 28% shorter answers 33% fewer bad answers beyond the numbers, everything just feels smarter and more accurate (as expected) <a href="https://t.co/H3Y6MGsOc0">pic.twitter.com/H3Y6MGsOc0</a>
&mdash; George Kedenburg III (@GK3) <a href="https://twitter.com/GK3/status/1790171601398583524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: The AI Pin was named one of the &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35412753/what-is-humane-ai-pin-one-of-time-magazines-best-inventions-of-2023">Best Inventions of 2023</a>&#8221; by Time Magazine, alongside other groundbreaking products like Samsung&#8217;s Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the module Framework Laptop 16. It was expected to revolutionize the AI industry, but its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38291724/do-bad-reviews-kill-companies-mkbhd-reacts-after-humane-ai-pin-video-sparks-concern-on-social-media">initial performance did not meet expectations</a>, as previously highlighted by tech influencer&nbsp;Marques Brownlee.
OpenAI&#8217;s GPT-4o, which was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38806086/openai-tries-to-steal-googles-thunder-a-day-before-search-giants-event-unveils-gpt-4o-a-chatgpt-vers">unveiled earlier this week</a>, is a more efficient and cost-effective version of its AI model, GPT-4. It is trained on extensive internet data and is designed to handle text, audio, and images in real-time more effectively.
The latest development at OpenAI has been touted as a game-changer in the AI chatbot industry. The integration of this advanced model into the AI Pin could potentially elevate the device to a new level of performance.
Image Credits &#8211; Humane
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/05/38840134/competition-for-disney-comcast-to-offer-streaming-bundle-of-apple-tv-netflix-peacock-at-vas?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Competition For Disney? Comcast To Offer Streaming Bundle Of Apple TV+, Netflix, Peacock At &#8216;Vastly Reduced&#8217; Price</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with&nbsp;the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Humane AI Pin Gets GPT-4o Upgrade: 'Everything Just Feels Smarter And More Accurate'

O-I Glass, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) announced that OI European Group B.V. (&quot;OIEG&quot;), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, &euro;400 million aggregate principal amount of its senior notes due 2029 (the &quot;Notes&quot;) in a private offering (the &quot;Offering&quot;) to eligible purchasers under Rule&nbsp;144A and Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &quot;Securities Act&quot;). OIEG&#39;s obligations under the Notes will be guaranteed on a joint and several basis by Owens Illinois Group, Inc. (&quot;OI Group&quot;) and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of OI Group that are guarantors under OI Group&#39;s credit agreement. 
&nbsp;
OIEG expects to use the net proceeds received from this Offering, together with cash on hand, to purchase any and all of its outstanding&nbsp;2.875%&nbsp;Senior Notes due 2025 (the &quot;2025 Notes&quot;), of which &euro;500 million aggregate principal amount (approximately&nbsp;$539 million&nbsp;based on the March 29, 2024 (the last business day in March 2024) exchange rate of &euro;1.00 =&nbsp;$1.0777) are currently outstanding, pursuant to a tender offer for any and all of the 2025 Notes (the &quot;2025 Notes Tender Offer&quot;). After the expiration of the 2025 Notes Tender Offer, OIEG may, subject to applicable federal securities laws, use any net proceeds from this Offering not used to fund the 2025 Notes Tender Offer to fund one or more redemptions of the 2025 Notes not acquired in the 2025 Notes Tender Offer, purchase such 2025 Notes through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, satisfy and discharge the indenture governing the 2025 Notes or repay such 2025 Notes at maturity. Any net proceeds received from this Offering not used to fund the 2025 Notes Tender Offer or any such redemption, repurchase or repayment of the 2025 Notes may be used for general corporate purposes.

Offerings

O-I Glass Subsidiary OI European Group BV Launches €400M Senior Notes Offering

Inspire Veterinary (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVP#NASDAQ">IVP</a>) reported quarterly losses of $(8.92) per share. This is a 69.45 percent increase over losses of $(29.20) per share from the same period last year. The company reported $4.83 million in sales this quarter. This is a 12.82 percent increase over sales of $4.28 million the same period last year.

Earnings

Reported Earlier, Inspire Veterinary Q1 EPS $(8.92) Up From $(29.20) YoY, Sales $4.83M Up From $4.28M YoY

This sale will be completed in conjunction with a merger between AES Brasil and Auren Energia, with AES Brasil shares valued at approximately&nbsp;11.55 Brazilian Real&nbsp;per share, before purchase price adjustments.

Reported Earlier, AES Agrees To Sell Its Equity Interest In AES Brasil To Auren Energia For ~$640M

FinVolution Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FINV#NYSE">FINV</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.29 per share. This is a 19.44 percent decrease over earnings of $0.36 per share from the same period last year. The company reported $438.36 million in sales this quarter. This is a 1.32 percent decrease over sales of $444.21 million the same period last year.

FINV

Reported Late Wednesday, FinVolution Gr Q1 EPS $0.29 Down From $0.36 YoY, Sales $438.36M Down From $444.21M YoY

Grab Hldgs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRAB#NASDAQ">GRAB</a>) reported quarterly losses of $(0.03) per share. This is a 50 percent increase over losses of $(0.06) per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $653.00 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $636.80 million by 2.54 percent. This is a 24.38 percent increase over sales of $525.00 million the same period last year.