What we’re reading (7/20)
“Sergey Brin Is Back In The Trenches At Google” (Wall Street Journal). “The multibillionaire has been visiting the tech giant’s Mountain View, Calif., offices in recent months generally three to four days a week, working alongside researchers as they push to develop the company’s next large artificial-intelligence system.”
“It’s The Summer Of Private Credit — And Goldman Sachs Wants In” (Institutional Investor). “After a ‘lost decade’ for private credit, rising interest rates have made the asset class attractive again. Yields have increased from 5 to 8 percent to well more than 10 percent and creditors have the upper hand in negotiations, according to BCA Research, a sister company of Institutional Investor.”
“Consumers Are Slowing Their Spending” (LPL Research). “The June Retail Sales report reveals a mixed story of consumer spending in the United States. In June, retail sales rose 0.2%, a bit softer than the previous revised gain of 0.5%. This slight slowdown indicates a tired consumer and raises questions about the strength of future spending.”
“Google Tests A.I. Tool That Is Able To Write News Articles” (New York Times). “Google is testing a product that uses artificial intelligence technology to produce news stories, pitching it to news organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal’s owner, News Corp, according to three people familiar with the matter. The tool, known internally by the working title Genesis, can take in information — details of current events, for example — and generate news copy, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the product.”
“The Hottest New Job Is “Head Of AI” And Nobody Knows What They Do” (Vox). “Regardless of where the head of AI sits within an organization, the fact remains that it’s a new frontier that will likely change a lot as the technology and our understanding of it develop. And like with any new technology, there’s going to be a mix of genuine innovation and genuine swindling.”
