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When A.I. Comes to Town: The Backlash Over Data Centers

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Audio is not supported in your browser Tech companies are racing to build thousands of huge data centers to power the artificial intelligence revolution. To find the land they need, they are barreling into rural communities across the United States with the promise of good jobs. But not everyone is buying that pitch. Karen Weise, a technology correspondent for The New York Times, tells the story of one county pushing back against Big Tech.  Guest: Karen Weise , a technology correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  What exactly are artificial intelligence companies trying to build? Here’s a guide . How large tech companies are offloading the risks of the A.I. boom . At this big Amazon data center in Indiana , everything is supersized for A.I. Photo: AJ Mast for The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit  nytimes.com/thedaily . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or ...
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OpenAI Actually Shut Down GPT-4o

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They actually did it. OpenAI officially deprecated GPT-4o on Friday, despite the model's particularly passionate fan base. This news shouldn't have been such a surprise. In fact, the company announced that Feb. 13 would mark the end of GPT-4o—as well as models like GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and o4-mini— just over two weeks ago . However, whether you're one of the many who are attached to this model, or you simply know how dedicated 4o's user base is, you might be surprised OpenAI actually killed its most agreeable AI. This isn't the first time the company depreciated the model, either. OpenAI previously shut down GPT-4o back in August, to coincide with the release of GPT-5 . Users quickly revolted against the company, some because they felt GPT-5 was a poor upgrade compared to 4o, while others legitimately mourned connections they had developed with the model. The backlash was so strong that OpenAI relented, and rereleased the models it had deprecated, including 4o ....
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No, a Sauna Isn't a Substitute for Exercise

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Spending time in a sauna can feel good, but it can also entail a little bit of suffering; after all, if the weather outside were the same as the temperature in a sauna, you’d probably want to hide out in the air conditioning all day. There’s something about unpleasant bodily experiences that makes us think they must be good for us, somehow, and so the sauna has gained a healthful reputation that it doesn’t entirely deserve. Here’s a rundown of what a sauna can and can’t do for you. Saunas don’t burn fat It is technically true that you can lose weight by sitting in a sauna, but that’s not because your body is torching fat; it’s because you’re sweating, and sweat is made of water, and water weighs something. As soon as you rehydrate—which you should—the scale will go right back to where it was at the beginning. After all, as I've discussed in the context of exercise, sweating doesn’t mean that you got a good workout...
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I’m a Deals Writer, and These Are My Top 10 Tech Deals During Early Presidents Day Sales

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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. As Lifehacker's tech deals writer, I'm always looking for the best bargains on TVs, speakers, laptops, and other tech. Now that it's Friday, I've gathered together this week's sales highlights , all of which I've vetted using my favorite price-tracking tools to make sure they are actually good deals. This week, you can start shopping for early Presidents' Day deals and find great sales on Asus gaming monitors, the Meta Quest 3S Batman bundle, Sony soundbars over 50% off, and more. ASUS ROG Strix 27” 4K HDR USB-C Gaming Monitor (XG27UCG) – UHD (3840x2160) Dual Mode (4K 160Hz or FHD 320Hz), 1ms, Fast IPS, Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync, G-SYNC Compatible, AI Gaming, 3yr Warranty ...
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The Best Tech Deals in Amazon's Early Presidents Day Sale

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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Presidents' Day is not until Monday, but as is often the case, the sales are already here. Amazon's sale features some notable deals on tech products like smartwatches, headphones, home appliances, speakers, and more. There are plenty of other Presidents Day sales on the way, so don't fret if nothing here catches your eye. Regardless, I've gathered the best of Amazon's sale below, which features a few all-time low prices, according to price-checking tools . Apple Watch Series 11 $299.00 at Amazon ...
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