Summary
Highlights
The U.S. Treasury Department, President Biden, and former President Trump are concerned about China's production and export of low-cost electric vehicles and solar panels. These products, they argue, are sold at artificially depressed prices due to low labor costs and government support. China's overcapacity, especially in electric vehicles, leads them to export a significant portion of their production. Janet Yellen cited the example of Soneva, a U.S. solar panel company that struggled to compete with Chinese imports.
A sharp increase in Chinese steel and aluminum imports after the 2008-2009 financial crisis led to tariffs implemented by the Trump administration, which have been maintained by the Biden administration. Brad Setser from the Council on Foreign Relations criticizes China's 'insane' overcapacity in these sectors. While China argues that the U.S. also offers incentives, a study found China's financial aid to its green industry in 2019 was more than double that of the U.S. government to its own industries. Both sides have agreed to discuss the problem, with China stating its products benefit the world and Wang En Quan suggesting better coordination for technological development within China to avoid overconcentration in specific industries.
OpenAI has unveiled 'Voice Engine,' a tool capable of reproducing human voices from just a 15-second audio sample and written instructions. The company is delaying public release due to concerns about potential misuse, particularly in generating fake audio of politicians during election years. An example includes an AI-generated voice of President Biden used in a New Hampshire primary election. OpenAI is testing the tool with trusted partners to improve safety and explore beneficial applications across various industries, emphasizing the need for user permission and clear disclosure of AI-generated voices. Other companies, like Descript, also offer similar voice cloning services with varying capabilities and pricing.
Brian Lin discusses the main risks identified by OpenAI, including the creation of fake audio for political figures and the unauthorized reproduction of individual voices. He explains that while many voice cloning tools exist, OpenAI is focusing on specific applications like educational settings and support for individuals with speech difficulties, in addition to general audio production.
Ana Mateo, Andrew Smith, and Jill Robbins, hosts of 'The Lesson of the Day,' introduce a segment from the 'Let's Learn English' series where Ana and her producer Amelia discuss planning a children's show. They explore popular summer vacation activities like camping, hiking, amusement parks, and going to the beach. Andrew and Jill share their own summer preferences, and the lesson focuses on using the verb 'like' in three ways: 'like to' + base verb (e.g., 'I like to read'), 'like' + -ing form (e.g., 'I like reading'), and 'like to go' + -ing form for activities involving movement (e.g., 'I like to go hiking').
The hosts demonstrate how the phrase 'I like to' can be pronounced quickly as 'I like tuh.' They then perform a chant incorporating various 'I like to' phrases to help listeners understand the rhythm of English. Finally, they clarify the difference between 'fun' (enjoyable activity) and 'funny' (something that makes you laugh), concluding that learning English can be a lot of fun.