A confidential source indicated that while the framework remains tentative, the investment could exceed $10 billion. The Information originally broke the story on the developing alliance.

These talks follow an October reorganization at OpenAI that defined its Microsoft partnership boundaries, granting the startup greater latitude to court investors and collaborate across the AI ecosystem, according to CNBC.

Despite Microsoft's $13 billion support since 2019, an October release stated the software giant no longer possesses a right of first refusal for OpenAI's computing requirements. The report noted the firm may now co-develop products with third parties.

Amazon previously directed at least $8 billion toward Anthropic, yet CNBC suggests the retailer seeks further exposure to the generative AI sector. Microsoft similarly pledged up to $5 billion to Anthropic last month, joining Nvidia's $10 billion targeted investment.

AWS has engineered custom silicon since roughly 2015, providing essential hardware for model training. The provider introduced its Inferentia chips in 2018 and unveiled the newest Trainium processors earlier this month, the outlet reported.

Recent months saw OpenAI commit over $1.4 trillion to infrastructure, partnering with Broadcom, Advanced Micro Devices, and Nvidia. CNBC noted the company also finalized a $38 billion chatapacity deal with AWS last month, its inaugural pact with the cloud leader.

During October, a secondary offering totaling $6.6 billion allowed OpenAI staff to divest shares at a $500 billion valuation, the report concluded.

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Among the affected platforms were Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, Duolingo, Canva, Ring, the New York Times' Wordle game, and even the website of the UK tax authority. According to DownDetector, which monitors online service disruptions, more than 3,000 Snapchat users and over 1,000 Roblox players reported issues accessing the platforms.

The root of the problem lay in Amazon Web Services (AWS),  the tech giant's cloud computing arm, which provides digital infrastructure to hundreds of thousands of companies and services globally. AWS allows businesses to rent storage space and computing power without investing in physical servers or their own data centers, a model that has become a cornerstone of the modern internet.

Amazon confirmed the issue on its official service status page, stating it was experiencing elevated error rates and delays across multiple AWS services. The company said the disruption was centered at its facilities in Northern Virginia, US, and primarily affected two core services: Amazon DynamoDB, a managed cloud database, and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), which allows businesses to rent virtual processing power.

AWS controls roughly one-third of the global cloud services market, meaning any disruption in its operations can affect a wide range of apps and websites that rely on its infrastructure. Similar outages have occurred in recent years, each time causing major disruptions to digital services worldwide.

Most of the complaints on DownDetector focused on server connection issues (58% of reports), but access to websites and the ability to play games were also affected. As of now, it is unclear when services will be fully restored, and Amazon has not provided an estimated time for resolving the issue.

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A complex of "lost cities" that thrived for over 1,000 years has recently been remapped by archaeologists in the Amazon rainforest thanks to newly available technology, according to findings published Thursday in the journal Science.

Using an advanced laser mapping technique called lidar, researchers revealed an elaborate network of roads, neighborhoods, and gardens in Ecuador's Upano Valley, rivaling the complexity of Mayan urban centers.

"It was a lost valley of cities," said Stéphen Rostain, who directs investigations at France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and led the study, as reported by The Associated Press. "It's incredible."

The lidar imaging uncovered over 6,000 earthen platforms arranged in geometric patterns, connected by roads, and integrated with agricultural landscapes. The urban settlements were built and inhabited by the Upano people from roughly 500 BCE to between 300-600 CE.

"We're just beginning to understand how these cities were functioning," said Carla Jaimes Betancourt, a German expert on Amazonian archaeology, in comments to Science. Key questions remain about population sizes, trade networks, and governance structures.

The newly mapped Upano Valley sites are approximately 1,000 years older than previous major archaeological finds in the Amazon region. They challenge long-held assumptions that the rainforest environment was unsuitable for supporting complex civilizations.

"There's always been an incredible diversity of people and settlements in the Amazon, not only one way to live," Rostain told AP. "We're just learning more about them."

The research team identified five large settlements and 10 smaller ones across 116 square miles. Some rivaled other major archaeological sites in scale, with the core area of one settlement, Kilamope, comparable in size to Egypt's Giza Plateau.

ARCHEOLOGY
Vast network of 2,500-year-old garden cities discovered in Amazonia
The Amazon rainforest was once home to ancient cities, confirms Science magazine, which has published a description of the largest, oldest known Amazonian settlement in #Ecuador https://t.co/2jqZwMkJpw

— Isabella P.P (@ISAbella_P_PARF) January 12, 2024

Fernando Mejía, an archaeologist at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador and study co-author, said the Upano Valley discovery is likely "just the tip of the iceberg" of what remains to be found in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence for sophisticated pre-Columbian societies in the Amazon. In recent decades, archaeologists have uncovered traces of mounds, hill forts, and pyramids from Bolivia to Brazil, gradually reshaping understanding of the region's ancient past.

Rostain emphasized the cultural diversity of ancient Amazonia, telling AP: "We say 'Amazonia,' but we should say 'Amazonias,' to capture the region's ancient cultural diversity."

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In a closely watched ballot, Amazon workers at a warehouse in Coventry, United Kingdom, have narrowly rejected union recognition, the BBC reports. The vote, which could have marked a historic first for Amazon in the UK, saw 50.5% of workers oppose union recognition, while 49.5% voted in favor.

The GMB union, which has been leading the organizing effort, lost by just 28 votes in what it described as an "agonizingly short" defeat. If successful, the ballot would have forced Amazon to negotiate with workers on issues such as pay and working conditions.

The union has accused Amazon of engaging in "union-busting" tactics, including holding "anti-union seminars" at the warehouse. The GMB is pursuing a legal challenge against Amazon, alleging the company used underhanded tactics to encourage members to cancel their union membership. Amazon defended its actions, stating it was responding to employee requests for information on how to cancel their memberships.

The fight for trade union recognition for Amazon workers is not over.

Amazon fought dirty - pressuring workers into cancelling their GMB membership, bombarding them with anti-union seminars and threats to terms and conditions.

We will keep fighting for Amazon workers

— GMB Union (@GMB_union) July 17, 2024

The union drive at the Coventry warehouse began in the summer of 2022, sparked by worker dissatisfaction over a proposed pay raise of between £35 ($45.48 USD) and £50 ($64.97 USD) an hour. Workers, feeling undervalued after their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, staged spontaneous walkouts and protests.

Since then, the GMB has organized 38 days of industrial action at the site, steadily building its membership to over 1,400 out of an estimated 3,000+ workers. The union is now considering its next steps, including the possibility of another recognition attempt. "The fire lit by workers in Coventry and across the UK is still burning," the GMB stated, vowing to "carry on the fight" for low-paid workers. The Labour Party has promised legislation to make it easier for unions to win recognition ballots and recruit in workplaces, potentially strengthening unions' positions in future organizing efforts.

Amazon, one of the UK's largest private sector employers with 75,000 workers, has consistently expressed its preference for direct communication with staff. "Having daily conversations with employees is an essential part of our work culture," the company reiterated after the vote.

Amazon continues to resist unionization efforts globally, including ongoing legal challenges to a successful union vote in Staten Island, New York.

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The Apple Watch Series 9, released in September 2023, is discounted to $300 for the 41mm model and $330 for the 45mm model on Amazon Prime Day, with some color options requiring a coupon clip.

Amazon Prime Day is Amazon's massive annual sale for Prime members, and deals for this event are already starting.

The discounted model is the Midnight aluminum case with Midnight Sport Band.

The Apple Watch Series 9 introduced a new hands-free gesture called Double Tap. It is powered by the S9 chip for faster performance and offers advanced features like activity tracking, heart rate monitoring, environmental sound levels, and various health sensors.

Other Prime Day deals include discounts on Apple AirPods Pro 2 ($169), Beats Studio Buds+ ($130), Level Lock+ Connect smart lock ($297), Apple Pencil Pro ($112 open-box, $119 new), M4 iPad Pro Wi-Fi + Cell models (up to $110 off), Journey's MOTION Apple Watch Sport band ($37.50), Lexar's 1TB portable SSD for iPhone ($89), and the official Apple Magic Keyboard for M2 iPad Air ($100 off).

The anticipated Apple Watch 10 is said to have Apple Intelligence features, with prices likely not to see discounts like the current Series 9.

Sources: ZDNet, Engadget , 9to5Mac, ETOnline, Analytics Insight, Pocket-lint

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Amazon has reversed its decision to reject a book containing testimonies from survivors and first responders of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel. The book, titled "Testimonies Without Boundaries, Israel: October 7th 2023," was written by Alon Penzel, a 23-year-old former spokesman for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.

Initially, according to The Jewish Insider, Amazon declined to sell the book, citing a violation of its content guidelines. However, after The Jewish Insider inquired about the rejection, the e-commerce platform made the title available on its site. Amazon did not respond to requests for comment from the news outlet.

Penzel's book features graphic testimonies from ZAKA (humanitarian assistance NGO)  volunteers who collected human remains, survivors of the Nova Festival massacre, and workers at Israel's Forensic Medicine Institute. The author also included evidence he personally viewed.

"I wanted to take the initiative to memorialize the events so no one could deny or forget them. I am the grandson of a Holocaust survivor," Penzel told The Jewish Insider. He explained that the book "is uncensored and not delicate about what happened," and includes many previously unpublished accounts, including cases of sexual abuse.

The book was published in cooperation with Israel-Is, an organization aimed at improving Israel's image. Israeli-Is CEO Nimrod Palmach, who wrote the book's foreword, was among the Israelis who drove to the Gaza border on Oct. 7 to rescue civilians.

Penzel, a student at Haifa University, collected testimonies from more than 60 survivors, volunteers, and professionals. He emphasized his rigorous fact-checking process, stating, "I tried to include all the elements that represent Oct. 7."

Israel's Foreign Ministry and Diaspora Ministry have purchased dozens of copies of the book, intending to distribute them to influential figures worldwide. Penzel described the book as "a major diplomatic tool."

The author acknowledged receiving some antisemitic responses and denials of the events described in the book. "Nothing surprised me, because as a spokesman for COGAT, I experienced questions bordering on antisemitism by journalists and people working in the field," Penzel said. "I won't censor myself. I'll talk about what I heard and saw, and make an impact. I don't plan to stop. It's my mission and it's a national mission."

Amazon's content guidelines prohibit illegal or infringing content, hate speech, and materials that promote abuse or glorify violence. However, The Jewish Insider found inconsistencies in the platform's enforcement of these guidelines.

According to the report, Amazon continues to sell a book titled "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood: The Defeat of the Vanquisher," which justifies the Oct. 7 attack as "resistance" and claims that "the death of civilians was ... not an objective." This comes after the platform faced scrutiny for selling and subsequently removing a book by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar that glorified the Oct. 7 events. The apparent discrepancy in Amazon's content moderation practices raises questions about the consistency of its policy implementation.

Furthermore, the company has remained silent about its employee, Sasha Troufanov, who was kidnapped to Gaza on Oct. 7 and held hostage by Hamas ever since. 

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Jeff Bezos, the founder and former CEO of Amazon, plans to sell around 25 million Amazon shares valued at approximately $5 billion.

The proposed sale would reduce Bezos' stake in Amazon to around 8.8% or 950 million shares, which is approximately 10% of the company.

The potential sale comes after Amazon's stock rallied 32% in 2024, driven by the success of its cloud services and AI market, reaching a record high of $200 per share and a market value of over $2 trillion.

Bezos is expected to remain the world's second-richest person with a net worth of around $214.4 billion, trailing behind Bernard Arnault.

Potential reasons for Bezos' stock sale include raising cash for other ventures like Blue Origin, a potential NFL team purchase, or personal reasons.

Sources: Business Insider, Reuters, Fox Business, MarketWatch, Benzinga, Tiempo, Tech Times, Business Times.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Amazon is reportedly planning to launch a new discount section offering unbranded fashion, home goods, and daily necessities priced under $20 and shipped directly from China to overseas customers, including the U.S., within 9 to 11 days.

This budget offering aims to compete with rapidly growing Chinese e-commerce rivals like Temu and SHEIN by allowing Chinese merchants to bypass Amazon's U.S. distribution infrastructure and leverage a loophole for low-value imports without tariffs.

Amazon will start signing up Chinese sellers this summer and enable small-batch production testing.

The move is seen as a direct response to the rapid growth of Temu and SHEIN, which have gained significant market share in the U.S. and other markets by offering ultra-low-priced goods shipped directly from China.

Sources: Fox Business, MarketWatch, ReadWrite, Gizmodo, Tecmundo, Folha, Olhar Digital, El Economista, Benzinga, ANSA, GDS, ProTV, Morning Brew, Security Memo, Impress Watch, Stiripesurse, Headtopics, Financial Times, Reuters, CNBC.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Amazon is replacing plastic air pillows with recycled paper fillers in its packaging across North America, aiming to eliminate around 15 billion plastic pillows annually by the end of 2024.

The transition aims to reduce Amazon's dependence on plastic, prioritize 100% recyclable paper fillers that offer equal or better protection during shipping, and is easier to recycle and handle for workers.

Environmental groups recognize Amazon's efforts to switch to more sustainable options, while calling for further reductions in plastic packaging waste.

Amazon emphasizes customer item protection, waste reduction, and recyclable materials, aiming to minimize packaging waste through various initiatives, campaigns, and partnerships.

The company plans to disclose the impact of sustainable packaging changes in their next sustainability report, as part of their broader climate strategy aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Sources: The New York Times, USA Today, CNBC, ABC News, Axios, Fast Company, The Washington Times, TechRadar, The Verge, The Epoch Times, Benzinga, Yahoo, Times of India, The Straits Times

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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The Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Conference (CVPR) found itself at the center of a heated controversy after a prominent researcher took to Twitter to condemn what he described as "baseless political statements" made during one of the talks in its annual conference, during which he noticed that the slide in one of the presentations ran the headline "How has CPR research contributed to tech used in genocide in Palestine."

I was deeply offended by a slide in a recent talk at #CVPR2024 that falsely accused my country of genocide. Such baseless political statements have no place in our scientific community. Let's keep our focus on advancing science and leave politics at the door. @CVPR pic.twitter.com/WucHUoNHcd

— Yizhak Ben-Shabat (Itzik) @CVPR (@sitzikbs) June 18, 2024

The IEEE / CVF Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Conference (CVPR) calls itself "the premier annual computer vision event" and it includes "comprising the main conference and several co-located workshops and short courses.  This year it has been taking place in Seattle, starting on Monday, and it will continue through Friday.

Yizhak Ben-Shabat (Itzik), a well-known figure in the field of computer vision, expressed his outrage in a tweet after seeing the slide and uploading it online. He wrote, "I was deeply offended by a slide in a recent talk at #CVPR2024 that falsely accused my country of genocide. Such baseless political statements have no place in our scientific community. Let's keep our focus on advancing science and leave politics at the door. @CVPR". The slide, apart from supposedly accepting the falsehood that Israel was carrying out genocide in the Gaza Strip, also listed Israeli and international companies as supposedly being embroiled in this made-up claim.

The companies listed on the slide, according to the picture he showed, included Elbit (an Israeli company), with its "weapons and drones"; Amazon through its "cloud compute for military", Palantir, through its "AI targeting for bombing" and Lockheed Martin, through its "missiles and weapons."

Call for separating science and politics

Ben-Shabat's tweet, according to a later tweet on the same thread, was directed at a slide that appeared in a presentation during the conference's Workshop on Responsible Data, which aimed to address issues surrounding the inclusivity and diversity of datasets used in machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.

Thank you. It was presented here: https://t.co/uNGAK8RAn0

— Yizhak Ben-Shabat (Itzik) @CVPR (@sitzikbs) June 18, 2024

The thread prompted a major backlash online, with pro-Israeli users attacking the conference for allowing the slide to appear. There was no information on who presented it and whether it was cleared with the organizers for the event before the workshop. The organizers have yet to respond to the allegations.

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