Perplexity: AI Search Darling or Plagiarism Machine? 🤖💰

Perplexity: AI Search Darling or Plagiarism Machine? 🤖💰

Remember Perplexity, the AI search engine startup everyone's buzzing about? Yeah, they're back in the news, but not for the reasons you might think.

Here's the TL;DR:

• 💰 Flush with Cash: Perplexity's on a fundraising tear, reportedly raising another $250M+ at a $2.5B-$3B valuation. That's on top of two recent rounds, bringing their total raised this year to over $400 million! 🤯

• ❓ Answers, Not Links: They're pitching themselves as an "answer engine" that gives you direct answers instead of search results. Sounds great, but...

• 🏴‍☠️ Piracy Problems: Turns out, Perplexity's been caught red-handed dodging paywalls and blatantly plagiarizing content (even images!) from publications like Forbes and Wired. 😬

• 🤖 Robots.txt? More like Robots.DON'T-txt: Perplexity's CEO admitted they rely on third-party scrapers that ignore websites' "no scraping" requests. Their defense? Basically, "It wasn't us!" 🤦‍♂️

• 🤥 Trust Issues: To top it off, the CEO bragged about lying to Twitter to scrape data for their models. Charming! 🙄

The big question: Can Perplexity fix its ethical issues and become the Google killer they dream of being? Or will their foundation of lies and plagiarism catch up with them? 🍿

References:
1. The Verge
2. TechCrunch

👴 Biden Struggles, Trump Keeps His Cool (Kind Of) in First Debate

Last night's Biden vs. Trump rematch was a doozy. Here's the rundown:

• Biden seemed his age (81): He was hoarse, stammered, and even lost his train of thought a few times. Not exactly the energetic performance Democrats were hoping for.

• Trump played it surprisingly chill: No yelling matches this time (thanks, mute button?). He even managed to avoid any major meltdowns.

• The economy took center stage: Trump blamed Biden for inflation, while Biden touted low unemployment and a strong stock market. Same old song and dance.

• Abortion was a hot topic: Trump tried to walk a fine line, praising the overturning of Roe v. Wade while also saying he supports some exceptions. Biden stumbled a bit when asked about late-term abortions.

Bottom line: This debate probably won't sway many voters. But hey, at least it was more civil than their last brawl, right?

Google and TikTok Finally Crack Down on Controversial ADHD Company 🤔

Done Global, the ADHD telehealth company has been under investigation for potentially shady prescribing practices. Well, things just got even spicier. 🌶️

Here's the lowdown:

• Google and TikTok finally banned Done from running ads after the WSJ called them out. Why? Turns out, Done lost a key certification two years ago that allowed them to advertise on these platforms. Oops!

• This news comes hot on the heels of the Justice Department charging five more people connected to Done, including clinicians accused of writing bogus prescriptions for Adderall.

• Done's founder and a senior doctor were already arrested earlier this month on fraud and conspiracy charges. Yikes.

• Despite being under investigation and losing its advertising certification, Done still managed to rake in about $23 million from Google, TikTok, and Meta ads since late 2022. Talk about a loophole!

The big question now is: will other platforms follow suit and drop Done like a bad habit? Stay tuned... 👀

Sources:
1. WSJ

Walgreens Hits the Panic Button 💊📉

Walgreens is going through a major shakeup and, spoiler alert, it's not pretty.

• Store Closures: Say goodbye to your local Walgreens (maybe). The pharmacy giant is closing a "meaningful" number of its U.S. stores due to low profits. No word yet on exact locations, but if you see two Walgreens within spitting distance, one might be on the chopping block.

• VillageMD Dump: Remember when Walgreens bet big on primary care with VillageMD? Yeah, they're pulling back from that, no longer aiming to be the majority owner.

• Profits Plunge: Walgreens' earnings missed the mark, sending shares tumbling a record 22% – yikes! Blame it on lower prescription drug revenue, high drug costs, and good ol' competition from telehealth and Amazon.

• Turnaround Time: New CEO Tim Wentworth is calling this a "turnaround." His plan? Focus on the remaining stores (and make sure people feel safe shopping in them), streamline product offerings, and double down on women's health.

The bottom line? Walgreens is hurting and trying to find its footing in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Whether these moves will be enough to revive the struggling chain remains to be seen. Stay tuned.

Lithium: The Universe's Miracle Metal & Our Ticket to a Fossil-Fuel-Free Future? 🌎⚡️

This is the story of lithium – a humble element with an epic history and a potentially even more epic future. Here's what you need to know:

🤯 From the Big Bang to Your iPhone: Lithium is one of the universe's original elements, formed just seconds after the Big Bang. Today, it's in everything from your phone battery to medications for bipolar disorder.

🤨 The Lithium Mystery: Astronomers are puzzled by the surprisingly low amount of lithium in the universe. Theories abound, including that stars are literally gobbling it up!

👨‍⚕️ A Psychiatric Breakthrough: Lithium's ability to treat bipolar disorder was a game-changer, significantly improving lives and reducing suicide rates. However, its exact mechanism in the brain remains a mystery.

🔋 Powering the Future: Lithium-ion batteries are key to a fossil-fuel-free future, powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. But with demand skyrocketing, the race is on to secure supplies and develop sustainable mining practices.

🌎 The Lithium Dilemma: The push for lithium mining raises concerns about environmental damage and impacts on Indigenous communities. Finding ethical and sustainable solutions is crucial.

🤔 What's Next?: The future of lithium is full of potential, with scientists exploring new battery technologies and recycling methods. But careful consideration of its impact on our planet is essential.

Bottom line: Lithium is a powerful element with a complex story, offering both incredible opportunities and ethical challenges. Understanding its journey from the Big Bang to our modern world is crucial for navigating a sustainable future.

Source: Noema Magazine