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Tag: failed

  • Report: Meta is hitting pause on AI hiring after its poaching spree

    Report: Meta is hitting pause on AI hiring after its poaching spree

    Meta has frozen hiring in its AI organization after restructuring the unit earlier this week, reports The Wall Street Journal. The hiring freeze follows weeks of poaching more than 50 AI researchers and engineers from competitors.  

    The freeze went into effect last week, and it’s not clear how long it will last. Meta is still likely working through its reorg, which split its AI unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs, into four new groups: TBD Labs, run by former Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang, and three groups focused on research, product integration, and infrastructure, respectively. 

    Meta confirmed the hiring freeze with The Journal, saying it was “basic organizational planning…after bringing people on board and undertaking yearly budgeting and planning exercises.”

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s push to get ahead in the AI race has sparked serious talent wars. He’s personally called top researchers and engineers to offer them pay packages worth nine figures, and acquired either other startups or their leadership. Analysts have warned that the rise of stock-based compensation costs could threaten shareholder returns. 

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  • Judge Refuses To Release Epstein Files, Says DOJ Should Do It Instead Of Legal 'Diversion'

    Judge Refuses To Release Epstein Files, Says DOJ Should Do It Instead Of Legal 'Diversion'

    A Clinton-appointed federal judge on Wednesday denied the Trump administration’s request to unseal grand jury materials used to charge Jeffrey Epstein with sex trafficking, and instead said that the federal government is the ‘logical party’ to dump said ‘files.’

    “The information contained in the Epstein grand jury transcripts pales in comparison to the Epstein investigation information and materials in the hands of the Department of Justice,” US District Judge Richard Berman wrote in a 14-page ruling, in which he said there is “clear precedent and sound purpose” for keeping the records under seal – and that the DOJ failed to show the Epstein papers demonstrate a “special circumstance” which would justify their release. 

    You do it…

    According to Berman, the government has already conducted a comprehensive investigation into Epstein, and has assembled a “trove” of documents, interviews and exhibits. In fact, the government has such a mountain of evidence outside of that case – records which “dwarf” the “70 odd pages” of grand jury materials, that Berman cited it as a “significant and compelling reason” to reject the request. 

    “The Government is the logical party to make comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein Files,” wrote Berman, adding “By comparison, the instant grand jury motion appears to be a ‘diversion’ from the breadth and scope of the Epstein files in the Government’s possession.”

    Berman’s ruling is the latest in a saga pitting Trump – a former Epstein associate whose previous AG Bill Barr ‘presided’ over the death of the disgraced pedophile. Barr’s father, who wrote pedo-centric short stories – hired Epstein to teach children at the Dalton school in the early 1970s when Barr Senior was headmaster. 

    Continuing on – Trump has been acting super weird about Epstein since being asked about why he hasn’t released dead pedophile’s client list – something he promised to do on the campaign trail, and which firmly split the base after the president began saying things like ‘why are we still talking about Epstein?’ 

    Making matters worse, the DOJ issued a joint memo last month insisting there’s no Epstein ‘client list,’ and that he definitely killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial for peddling children to – nobody? 

    Then, realizing he’d made a yuge mistake, Trump directed AG Pam Bondi to seek the release of the grand jury files mentioned above – only for the judge to reply (paraphrasing); ‘Are you fucking kidding me? You guys have way more on Epstein than we do… you release it.’ 

    Berman also smacked the DOJ around for failing to provide Epstein victims with sufficient notice before filing motions to unseal the grand jury material, calling it “another compelling reason not to unseal.” 

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  • EU Falls Short on Israel’s Suspension from Research Fund Amid Gaza Crisis

    EU’s Mission to Ban Israel from Horizon Europe Stalled

    The European Union’s ambitious plan to suspend Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe research funding has hit a roadblock. The move, meant to respond to the recent hostilities in Gaza, required a qualified majority of member‑state votes—an approval threshold that proved elusive.

    Why the Vote Fell Short

    • Germany and Italy, the bloc’s two biggest economies, have put the proposal on hold, saying they need more time to weigh the implications.
    • Other countries either backed the initiative or opted for a more cautious stance, but the numbers simply didn’t add up.
    • Without the necessary majority, the motion can’t move forward in the EU’s decision‑making process.

    What This Means for Horizon Europe

    Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research programme, was slated to pause funding for Israeli projects as a form of diplomatic pressure. Now, with the vote stalled, the program’s support continues uninterrupted—at least for now.

    Looking Ahead

    There’s still time for the EU to revisit the proposal. If Germany and Italy change their stance, or if the broader European community finds a new way to address the situation, a future vote could bring the plan to life. Until then, the Horizon Europe fund will keep growing, fueled by research from around the globe—including Israel.

    EU Ambassadors Stump Over Israel’s Research Funding Cut

    Last Tuesday in Brussels, the EU’s top diplomats faced a tough decision: should Israel lose access to a chunk of the €95 billion Horizon Europe research purse? The majority vote didn’t go through, and now the move sits on a held‑back plinth.

    What the Proposal Would Mean

    • €200 million in future Horizon grants and investments in the European Investment Council (EIC) – the hubs for disruptive tech – would be cut off.
    • Israel would see a blank spot in the funding ladder for “eu‑ready” research projects.

    The Stake‑Holder Landscape

    Germany and Italy decided to take a step back, demanding more analysis before any knock‑on steps are taken. A German envoy noted that “dialogue is not working” and that the country is “holding the cards.” The Italian voice echoed that sentiment, noting they need a bit more breathing room.

    Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic voiced their opposition to any punitive measure. However, the Netherlands, Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Portugal, Malta and Spain cheered the Commission’s proposal – some even hinting at heavier sanctions, perhaps even a trade‑level clampdown.

    Why the EU is at a Crossroad

    The motion comes after an EU report pinned Israel with a breach of its human‑rights obligations under the EU‑Israel Association Agreement. Three‑point compromise was reached: Israel promised a “substantial” increase in civilian access to food and medicine in the Gaza Strip hoping to sidestep EU sanctions.

    But the EU’s thumb is still pointing down: “No real progress,” they say, and they can’t verify Israel’s claims of more aid trucks. U.N. and other agencies are sounding the alarm, reporting worsening humanitarian crises, while Gaza’s health ministry tallied 60,000+ war‑related deaths.

    Key Takeaways

    1. Germany and Italy remain indecisive – the decision hangs in a highly qualified majority.
    2. Turkey’s major European partners are split: some swear to cut funding; others defend calm dialogue.
    3. Without on‑site verification, the EU stays skeptical, doubting that aid is truly reaching those starving on the ground.

    As we watch the next few weeks unfold, the European spotlight eyes Israel’s compliance – or at least a trail of its claims – with a wary gaze that no one wants to be caught in a funding limbo.