U.S. retail sales increased by one percent from June to July, marking the highest rise in 18 months. Consumers spent more at auto dealers, electronics and appliance stores, and grocery stores. Adjusted for inflation, sales rose approximately 0.8 percent. Excluding gas station sales, retail sales also experienced a one percent increase. Average wages have risen, aiding consumer spending despite high prices and interest rates. Inflation-adjusted wages show a slight increase compared to last year. Wealth for upper-income households has grown due to stock prices and home values, encouraging consumer spending. Despite rising unemployment and weaker hiring, layoffs remain low, and service sector activity thrives. Consumers continue to spend on travel, entertainment, and healthcare. Concerns emerge over reliance on credit cards, with some Americans falling behind on payments, although these figures are low. Consumer prices increased by 2.9 percent in July, the slowest annual growth since March 2021, with core inflation decreasing for four consecutive months.

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California initiates a workforce training program to train 100,000 individuals in AI through a partnership with Nvidia. The program, announced by Governor Gavin Newsom and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, targets students, college faculty, developers, and data scientists. It offers resources such as AI workshops, labs, curriculum development, and certifications at community colleges. The initiative aims to enhance career prospects and establish a talent pipeline for the state while supporting early-stage AI startups. Despite the growing need for AI skills, many companies have yet to provide training for their workforce, highlighting an existing gap. The initiative addresses the challenges of a significant population and a relatively high unemployment rate in California, promoting economic stability and growth.

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Misinformation in AI-generated content presents a challenge during election seasons. Distinguishing fact from fiction in media becomes crucial with the rise of deepfakes and misleading information. Proposed solutions include content credentials, advocated by Adobe's Andy Parsons, which serve as metadata "nutrition labels" for digital content, indicating AI involvement in creation or alterations. These credentials enhance transparency around digital media production, especially during breaking news and elections. Creators can utilize tools like Photoshop and Microsoft Designer to embed these credentials. OpenAI employs this technology in images generated by its DALL·E 3 model, while Google explores tracking content origins on its platforms, including YouTube. Leica has launched a camera capable of embedding content credentials into photos, and TikTok has become the first social media platform to label AI-generated content accordingly. The adoption of content credentials aims to establish a trust framework for consumers to verify information and rely on reputable sources.

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Year-over-year inflation in the U.S. recorded a rise of 2.9% in July 2024, the lowest increase since March 2021. The Labor Department reported a consumer price increase of 0.2% from June. Higher rental and housing costs primarily drove this trend, which is beginning to ease. Inflation peaked at 9.1% two years prior. Political discussions about inflation involve former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, who promises new proposals for economic improvement. Core prices, excluding food and energy, rose by 0.2% in July, showing a year-over-year increase of 3.2%. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is closely monitoring inflation data, with expectations for a potential interest rate cut in September due to recent trends supporting a return to a 2% annual inflation rate. Easing inflation results from better global supply chains, increased apartment construction, and higher interest rates affecting car sales. Certain sectors, such as auto insurance and healthcare, still report price hikes, but stabilization is anticipated. The Fed also focuses on job market stability, with a recent report indicating slower hiring and a 4.3% unemployment rate, partly due to new job seekers. Upcoming retail sales data is expected to show moderate consumer spending increases, potentially aiding workforce retention and expansion.

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WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle startup, has received approval to test driverless vehicles with passengers in California. The California Public Utilities Commission granted two permits: one for a drivered pilot and another for a driverless pilot. These permits enable WeRide to test its vehicles on public roads with passengers, though the service is not yet available to the general public or allowed to charge for rides. WeRide operates in San Jose and nearby areas with 12 active vehicles. Since 2021, the company has tested its vehicles without passengers under permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. In 2023, it reported over 42,000 miles driven autonomously in California, while competitors like Waymo drove over 9 million miles. WeRide's permits allow operation of vehicles seating fewer than 16 people, distinguishing it from other companies. The company has developed a robobus that seats up to 10 passengers and claims to operate in 30 cities across seven countries with permits for autonomous driving in various regions, including China, Singapore, the UAE, and the U.S. Additionally, WeRide is developing a robovan for goods delivery and a robotic street sweeper.

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Federal labor charges have been filed against former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk due to their livestream conversation about union rights. The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) claims that both individuals attempted to threaten and intimidate workers regarding strikes and union activities. During the discussion, Trump suggested firing employees who participate in strikes, contradicting federal protections under the National Labor Relations Act. The UAW's lawsuit argues that such threats violate employee rights. UAW President Shawn Fain criticized the actions of Trump and Musk, highlighting a disregard for workers' rights. Musk's recent layoffs at his companies, including after acquiring Twitter and terminating the Tesla Supercharger team, contributed to the scrutiny surrounding him.

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Elon Musk attributed a delay during a livestream with Donald Trump to a potential cyberattack. The livestream, which started over 40 minutes late, may have been affected by a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, according to Musk. He noted that the platform had been tested for high traffic but opted to continue with fewer viewers and planned to release the audio afterward. Cybersecurity expert Lisa Plaggemier explained that DDoS attacks involve multiple compromised systems overwhelming a server, resulting in disruptions for websites and applications. These attacks can lead to significant downtime and financial losses for businesses. While the specific cause of the delay remains unconfirmed, Plaggemier highlighted that DDoS attacks commonly disrupt livestreams. High-profile entities such as financial institutions and media companies frequently experience these attacks, with thousands reported daily. This incident reflects ongoing challenges X has faced with its livestream feature.

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Starbucks appointed Brian Niccol as the new CEO, replacing Laxman Narasimhan, effective September 9, 2024. Narasimhan, who held the position for over a year, faced challenges including declining sales and competition in China. Following the announcement of Niccol's appointment, Starbucks shares increased by more than 13% prior to market opening. Niccol previously served as chairman and CEO of Chipotle, where he implemented changes that enhanced innovation and operational efficiency. Mellody Hobson, chair of Starbucks’ board, emphasized Niccol's strong leadership skills and ability to improve company culture. Howard Schultz expressed support for Niccol, asserting he is the right choice for Starbucks at this time.

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