Baidu will ‘very soon’ officially launch generative AI model, says CEO

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese search engine giant Baidu’s CEO Robin Li said on Friday that the company will “very soon” officially launch Ernie 3.5, a generative AI large-language model that will power Baidu’s ChatGPT-like app Ernie Bot and upgrade its search engine. Li made the announcement at the Zhongguancun Forum, one of China’s most well-known…

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Virgin Galactic makes key spaceflight test before starting commercial service

By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A spaceplane from Virgin Galactic reached the edge of space on Thursday carrying a crew of six, making its first spaceflight test in nearly two years as the space tourism firm founded by Richard Branson prepares its long-awaited commercial service. The company’s VSS Unity spaceplane dropped from its twin-fuselage carrier…

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Factbox-Volt Typhoon and other Chinese groups accused of hacking the US and others

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Chinese hacking teams have been blamed by Western intelligence agencies and cybersecurity groups for digital intrusion campaigns across the world, targeting everything from government and military organisations to corporations and media groups Cybersecurity firms believe many of those groups are backed by China’s government. U.S.-based Mandiant has said some Chinese hacking groups…

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Blockchain.com CEO says US default would hit crypto initially

By Andrew Mills DOHA (Reuters) – A U.S. government default would trigger an initial pull-back from crypto currencies followed by a “push upward” the CEO of London-based crypto firm Blockchain.com said on Thursday. The U.S. government could fall behind on its bills next month – and even default on its debt – if Congress does…

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North Korea constructing satellite launch pad with ‘new urgency’ – report

By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – Construction at North Korea’s satellite launching station has hit a “new level of urgency,” most likely in preparation for a launch, a U.S.-based think tank said in a report citing commercial satellite imagery. North Korea says it has completed its first military spy satellite, and leader Kim Jong Un…

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Exclusive-Russian hypersonic scientist accused of betraying secrets to China – sources

By Filipp Lebedev, Lucy Papachristou and Mark Trevelyan LONDON (Reuters) – The director of a top Russian science institute, arrested on suspicion of treason along with two other hypersonic missile technology experts, stands accused of betraying secrets to China, two people familiar with the case told Reuters. Alexander Shiplyuk, head of Siberia’s Khristianovich Institute of…

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