If you spent the last week actively avoiding the news in favour of more celebratory activities, fear not because we’ve got you covered. Here are the big stories you may have missed while merry-making.
The New York Times sued OpenAI. The paper sued ChatGPT-owner OpenAI for “billions of dollars” in damages, claiming that the company used “millions” of the Times’ articles without permission to train ChatGPT. The lawsuit includes examples of ChatGPT reproducing text word-for-word from paywalled New York Times stories, which the Times says will cost it advertising and subscription revenue. The case could have significant implications for the development of AI tools.
Netanyahu said the Gaza war will continue for months. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue fighting Hamas in Gaza for “many more months” after the US approved the sale of almost US$150 million worth of new weapons and equipment to Israel. Meanwhile, Israel’s top court struck down Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul law, a decision which could trigger a constitutional crisis.
Chinese carmaker poised to outsell Tesla. BYD, a China-based carmaker backed by Warren Buffett, announced that it sold 3 million battery-powered vehicles in 2023, with 1.6 million of those being fully electric. Tesla is set to report its sales later today, but they will likely fall short of BYD’s numbers in the most recent quarter.
Quebec reached a partial deal with unions. Quebec’s government came to a tentative agreement with the province’s public sector unions on working conditions, with negotiations over pay and benefits ongoing. The partial deal suggests the two sides are making progress in reaching a complete agreement that would prevent Quebec’s 420,000 public sector workers from going on strike in the coming weeks.
Fighting continued in the Red Sea. The US Navy destroyed three Houthi boats in the Red Sea, prompting Iran — which supports Houthi rebels operating out of Yemen — to dispatch its own warship to the area. Commerce in the channel, which usually handles 12% of global shipping, has been disrupted by Houthi attacks on vessels.