Procreate - the developers of one of the best drawing apps on iOS - has published a statement saying "Generative AI is ripping the humanity out of things. Built on a foundation of theft, the technology is steering us toward a barren future. We think machine learning is a compelling technology with a lot of merit, but the path generative AI is on is wrong for us". They committed to not adding generative AI to their products, refusing to track user activity in their apps and that all work you create in their apps belongs to you. Common sense stuff from good people (Procreate is Australian!) - a stark contrast to Adobe's AI-shenanigans and confusing terms and conditions.
Ampol's CEO said in a conference call yesterday that they won't hit their target of 300 charging bays operational by 2024 (they're stuck at 92 so far) because "the progress of the EV fast charging network development is slower than we expected, given the difficulties in connecting to the grid in Australia in particular". Ampol currently has "a pipeline of approximately 100 bays either awaiting grid connection or under construction in Australia and New Zealand". Sure, yes, DNSPs are slow and expensive, but Ampol is so far off their target I'm reluctant to blame every DNSP in the entire country for their failure. Sounds like a convenient excuse trotted out to naive investors.
You know how I mentioned that Tesla Powerwall yesterday? If you have a Westpac mortgage and feel like buying one, they've teamed up with the CEFC to offer "a variable interest rate of 4.49% p.a. for a loan to improve a home's energy efficiency or climate resilience. Customers will be able to apply to borrow from $4,000 up to $50,000 with a loan term of up to ten years". There's a list of all the stuff the loan can be used for, like the obvious reverse cycle air conditioning, solar panels, heat pump hot water and the not so obvious like improved insulation and double glazed windows. At 4.49% it's worth borrowing instead of using your cash and keeping it in ETFs/whatever or even a term deposit (currently at 5%+).
Die Hackerbibel - Teil 2 (retroGfx / Internet Archive)
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