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In a world where technological advancements are often heralded with great fanfare and widespread availability, <keyword id="19895622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Microsoft" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Microsoft" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> has taken an unusually cautious step. The tech giant has developed an <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> (<keyword id="19899640" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI" source="keywords">AI</keyword>) <keyword id="22419020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="speech-generator" source="keywords">speech generator</keyword> so convincing and advanced that it has decided to withhold it from public release.<br /><br /><keyword id="22379215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="VALL-E-2" source="keywords">VALL-E 2</keyword> is an AI marvel capable of mimicking human speech with uncanny accuracy, using just a few seconds of audio. Representing a significant leap in text-to-speech (TTS) technology, Microsoft’s researchers boast that it achieves "<keyword id="22419023" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-parity" source="keywords">human parity</keyword>" in generating speech — meaning its output is virtually indistinguishable from a human’s voice.<br /><h2>What makes the AI so believable?</h2>This extraordinary capability has been made possible through a couple of groundbreaking features. The first of these is “Repetition Aware Sampling”, which ensures that VALL-E 2 avoids the pitfalls of monotonous speech by addressing repetitions of "tokens" — the small units of language like words or syllables. This feature prevents the AI from getting stuck in a loop of sounds, making its speech flow more naturally.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111627686" title="Microsoft and Apple exit observer roles on OpenAI board" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Secondly, “Grouped Code Modeling” enhances efficiency by reducing the sequence length, allowing the model to process fewer individual tokens in a single input sequence. This improvement not only speeds up speech generation but also tackles the challenges of processing lengthy strings of sounds. As per the researchers, VALL-E 2 is the first voice AI to reach human parity in peech robustness, naturalness, and speaker similarity.<br /><h2>Fears of misuse</h2>While the potential applications of VALL-E 2 are vast — ranging from educational tools and entertainment to accessibility features and interactive voice response systems — Microsoft has opted to keep this technological marvel under wraps. The decision is driven by concerns over the potential misuse of such advanced <keyword id="22419021" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voice-cloning-technology" source="keywords">voice cloning technology</keyword>. The risks include the ability to spoof voice identification systems and impersonate individuals convincingly.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111749643" title="People are already becoming romantically and sexually involved with AI — here’s the problem with that" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>"VALL-E 2 is purely a research project. Currently, we have no plans to incorporate VALL-E 2 into a product or expand access to the public," the researchers stated. This cautious approach aligns with similar restrictions placed by other AI companies, such as OpenAI, on their <keyword id="22419024" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voice-technology" source="keywords">voice technology</keyword>.<br /><br />Despite the decision to withhold VALL-E 2 from public release, Microsoft’s researchers remain optimistic about the future of AI speech technology. They envision practical applications where synthesised speech maintains speaker identity and can be used safely and ethically. Any future deployment of such technology, they emphasise, must include protocols to ensure that the speaker approves the use of their voice and a robust synthesised speech detection model.<br /><br />The findings of this research have been published in a <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2406.05370">pre-print paper</a>.<br />

Microsoft has created an AI that they think is "too dangerous" for public release

London, Jun 18 (AP) A genetic analysis of COVID-19 patients suggests that blood type might influence whether someone develops severe disease. <p>Scientists who compared the genes of thousands of patients in Europe found that those who had Type A blood were more likely to have severe disease while those with Type O were less likely. </p><p>Wednesday's report in the New England Journal of Medicine does not prove a blood type connection, but it does confirm a previous report from China of such a link. </p><p>"Most of us discounted it because it was a very crude study," Dr Parameswar Hari, a blood specialist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, said of the report from China. With the new work, "now I believe it," he said. "It could be very important." Other scientists urged caution. </p><p>The evidence of a role for blood type is "tentative...it isn't enough of a signal to be sure," said Dr Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego. </p><p>The study, involving scientists in Italy, Spain, Denmark, Germany and other countries, compared about 2,000 patients with severe COVID-19 to several thousand other people who were healthy or who had only mild or no symptoms. </p><p>Researchers tied variations in six genes to the likelihood of severe disease, including some that could have a role in how vulnerable people are to the virus. They also tied blood groups to possible risk. </p><p>Most genetic studies like this are much larger, so it would be important to see if other scientists can look at other groups of patients to see if they find the same links, Topol said. </p><p>Many researchers have been hunting for clues as to why some people infected with the coronavirus get very ill and others, less so. Being older or male seems to increase risk, and scientists have been looking at genes as another possible "host factor" that influences disease severity. </p><p>There are four main blood types - A, B, AB and O - and "it's determined by proteins on the surface of your red blood cells," said Dr. Mary Horowitz, scientific chief at the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. </p><p>People with Type O are better able to recognize certain proteins as foreign, and that may extend to proteins on virus surfaces, Hari explained. </p><p>During the SARS outbreak, which was caused by a genetic cousin of the coronavirus causing the current pandemic, "it was noted that people with O blood type were less likely to get severe disease," he said. </p><p>Blood type also has been tied to susceptibility to some other infectious diseases, including cholera, recurrent urinary tract infections from E coli, and a bug called H pylori that can cause ulcers and stomach cancer, said Dr David Valle, director of the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. </p>Bottom line: "It's a provocative study. It's in my view well worth publishing and getting out there," but it needs verification in more patients, Valle said. (AP) SCY SCY

Study ties blood type to COVID-19 risk; O may help, A hurt

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Good morning! Here's what you need to know:</p>
<p><strong>Alibaba Is Hot</strong>. In a new SEC filing, Chinese e-commerce giant <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alibaba-raises-ipo-range-2014-9">Alibaba raised its IPO pricing range to $66-$68 per share</a> from $60-$66. At the midpoint of the new range, the company would raise about $21.4 billion, with the value of the company set at a bit more than $165 billion. Alibaba prices on Thursday evening and goes public on Friday.</p>
<p><strong>Germany Is Cold</strong>. Germany's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/germany-zew-index-drop-to-new-lows-2014-9">ZEW index of investor confidence fell to 6.9</a> in September, down from 8.6 a month ago. While this was slightly better than the 5.0 expected by economists, it was nevertheless the lowest reading since December 2012. "Eurozone sentiment indicators continue to point to downside risks ahead, with political risks from ongoing tensions in Ukraine, and the uncertainty over the Scottish independence vote later this week the main factors weighing on investor sentiment this month," said Pantheon Macroeconomics' Claus Vistesen. "Additional easing by the ECB will help, but has not been enough, so far, to turn investor optimism around."</p>
<p><strong>China's Investment Inflows Are Plunging</strong>. "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-china-august-fdi-falls-to-lowest-in-at-least-two-and-a-half-years-2014-9">China's foreign direct investment inflows in August fell</a> to a low not seen in at least 2-1/2 years, underscoring the challenges to growth facing the world's second-biggest economy," Reuters Siaoyi Shao and Koh Gui Qing reported. "China attracted $7.2 billion in foreign direct investment in August, the Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday, down 14 percent from a year earlier and at a level not seen since February 2012." This follows a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-was-blasted-back-to-2008-this-weekend-2014-9">slew of data confirming a major slowdown</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Markets Are In The Red</strong>. Everything's red. In Europe, Britain's FTSE is down 0.6%, France's CAC 40 is down 0.5%, and Germany's DAX is down 0.4%. In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed down 0.9%. Dow futures are down 27 points and S&amp;P futures are down 2.9 points.</p>
<p><strong>French Prime Minister Says The Economy Could Be ... In Trouble</strong>. France's Manuel Valls has some colorful language to describe the state of things. "Valls is now privately admitting 'in three to six months, if the situation isn't reversed, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/france-valls-hollande-fucked-economy-growth-2014-9">we'll be <em>foutu'</em></a>, according to Le Monde," Business Insider's Mike Bird reports. "The word foutu has a number of equivalents in English, including the f-word, ruined, or damned. The Times translated the word as "knackered,"which has a similar but more PG-rated meaning."</p>
<p><strong>Investors Are Bullish</strong>. "Investors remain bullish on equities, despite the risks posed by Fed policy normalisation and geopolitics, according to a Barclays survey of 972 global investors," Barclays' Guillermo Felices said. "More than half of the respondents said they believed equities would offer the best returns over the next quarter. Meanwhile, geopolitical developments, with 31% of responses, comprise investors' main concern over the next 12 months."</p>
<p><strong>Hedge Funds Get A Devastating Blow</strong>. "The California Public Employees' Retirement System plans to <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-15/calpers-to-exit-hedge-funds-citing-expenses-complexity.html">divest the entire $4 billion that it has with hedge funds</a>, saying they're too expensive and complex," Bloomberg's Michael Marois reported. "The decision to eliminate 24 hedge funds and six hedge fund-of-funds, isn't related to the performance of the program, said Ted Eliopoulos, the interim chief investment officer. The board of the $298 billion pension, known as Calpers, hasn't decided where to invest the money after the pullout, which will take about a year, he said." Calpers reported paid <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/calpers-ditches-hedge-funds-2014-9">$135 million in fees</a> to hedge fund in the latest fiscal year.</p>
<p><strong>It's Buybackpalooza</strong>. "<a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/companies-stock-buybacks-help-buoy-the-market-1410823441">Companies are buying their own shares</a> at the briskest clip since the financial crisis, helping fuel a stock rally amid a broad trading slowdown," the WSJ's Dan Strumpf reported. "Corporations bought back $338.3 billion of stock in the first half of the year, the most for any six-month period since 2007, according to research firm Birinyi Associates. Through August, 740 firms have authorized repurchase programs, the most since 2008."</p>
<p><strong>...What Does That Mean</strong>? "You got a 7%+ gain in the S&amp;P this year on basically nothing and for no reason other than float-shrink initiatives that have zero to do with fundamentals," said Joshua Brown. "For every Disney, a company that is truly killing it right now, there are a dozen stagnant names <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hft-players-and-cfos-only-ones-tradin-2014-9">masking slowing growth with a smaller overall pie to spread profits across</a>. If IBM and McDonalds were trading on the actual condition of their respective businesses, the Dow would be 500 to 1000 points lower."</p>
<p><strong>US Inflation Check</strong>. The August producer price index report will be published at 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists estimate PPI went nowhere month-over-month in August. Excluding food and energy, core-PPI is expected to have climbed by just 0.1%. On a year-over-year basis, both PPI and core-PPI is expected to have increased by 1.8%. "Farm and energy prices declined in August and should put downward pressure on headline PPI," Nomura economists said.</p>

10 Things You Need To Know Before The Opening Bell

<p>A wave of terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday and into Saturday morning killed at least 129 people and left more than 350 others injured.</p><p>The majority of the victims were gunned down by terrorists at a rock concert. Others were killed at various locations throughout the city, including two restaurants and the Stade de France.</p><p>As more is learned about the victims, a Twitter account <a href="http://mashable.com/2015/11/14/paris-attack-victims/#3dphmoJHdPqo">created by Mashable</a> under the name En memoire ("in memory") with the handle <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisVictims">@ParisVictims</a> has been dedicating one tweet to each person who lost his or her life in the November 13 attacks.</p><p>As of mid-Tuesday morning, the account had tweeted out the names of 27 victims:</p>

'One tweet for every victim': A Twitter account is memorializing every victim of the Paris attacks

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wearing more than one wedding dress is something that's becoming more and more popular.</li><li><keyword id="11899410" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="reality-tv" source="Orion">Reality TV</keyword> stars have gotten in on the trend, too.</li><li>Kim Kardashian wore three dresses for her televised wedding to Kris Humphries.</li></ul><p>Reality TV stars are some of the most over-the-top personalities in the world - so <a href="https://www.insider.com/celebrities-multiple-dresses-wedding-day-2021-7">when it became trendy to wear multiple dresses</a> on your wedding day, of <em>course</em> stars like Kim Kardashian, the Real Housewives, and Holly Madison would take part.</p><p>While no wedding may be <a href="https://www.insider.com/royal-wedding-dresses-changed-for-reception-2021-8">more extravagant than the royal weddings</a> of Will and Kate or Meghan and Harry, these brides certainly tried their best to make their <keyword id="11895717" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="weddings" source="Orion">weddings</keyword> <a href="https://www.insider.com/most-expensive-celebrity-weddings-2017-2">as worthy of a royalty as possible</a>, from multiple dress changes to amazing venues to tiaras worth $500,000.</p><h2>Brittany Cartwright had 3 distinct looks at her July 2019 wedding to 'Vanderpump Rules' costar Jax Taylor</h2><p>Cartwright wore a beaded dress <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/06/236670/brittany-cartwright-wedding-gown">designed by Netta BenShabu</a> that transformed into two further looks throughout the day.</p><h2>The gown converted into a strapless dress</h2><div type="image" title="brittany cartwright wedding dress" height="1246" width="710" msid="85850279" hostid="261"></div><p>She also removed the veil and overskirt for her second look of the day, which she wore to the reception at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.</p><p>"That one is definitely fit for a castle," Cartwright said of the gown <a href="https://people.com/style/brittany-cartwright-jax-taylor-wedding-dress-photos-details/">in an interview with People</a>. "It's so pretty. I couldn't wait for everybody to finally see it. I couldn't wait for Jax to finally see it."</p><h2>Her third look was a shortened version of the dress</h2><div type="image" title="brittany jax wedding vanderpump rules" height="1398" width="1865" msid="85850280" hostid="261"></div><p>A three-in-one dress is impressive.</p><h2>After getting divorced in season 4 of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta,' NeNe and Gregg Leakes remarried in 2013</h2><div type="image" title="nene and gregg leakes remarried in 2013" height="3000" width="2056" msid="85850281" hostid="261"></div><p>NeNe's first dress had an ornately beaded bodice and trim and was designed by Baracci.</p><p>Their wedding, which was held at the InterContinental Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta, and the entire planning process was featured in the spin-off show "I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding."</p><p>Gregg Leakes passed away from cancer, <a href="https://www.etonline.com/gregg-leakes-nene-leakes-husband-dead-at-66-after-battle-with-cancer-171258">Entertainment Tonight reported</a> on September 1, 2021. He was 66.</p><h2>NeNe's second dress was also dramatic, with a sparkly see-through bodice and halter neckline</h2><div type="image" title="nene and gregg second wedding" height="3000" width="2041" msid="85850282" hostid="261"></div><p>This dress <a href="https://www.glamour.com/story/nene-leakes-wore-two-high-dram">was designed by Pnina Tornai</a>, and was covered in Swarovski crystals, which added another $4,000 to the already hefty price of $16,000.</p><h2>Her third dress was a simple white T-shirt-style dress - of course, with some sparkle</h2><div type="image" title="nene leakes wedding dress" height="1895" width="2526" msid="85850283" hostid="261"></div><p>Their second wedding was held on June 22, 2013.</p><h2>At Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' 2011 wedding, she also wore three dresses - first up, this dreamy Vera Wang ball gown</h2><h2><div type="image" title="kim walking down the aisle" height="823" width="1098" msid="85850286" hostid="261"></div></h2><p>During the episode about the wedding, she couldn't decide which dress to walk down the aisle in, but this eventually won.</p><h2>Her second dress, also Vera Wang, was a mermaid-style gown with a flowing feathery train</h2><div type="image" title="kim's second dress" height="1377" width="1837" msid="85850287" hostid="261"></div><p>Kardashian has always had a flair for the dramatic.</p><h2>Her third dress was, in her own words, her 'Old Hollywood sexy satin look'</h2><div type="image" title="kim kardashian third dress" height="1200" width="1600" msid="85850288" hostid="261"></div><p>And, of course, it was designed by Vera Wang.</p><p>Famously, the <keyword id="11905352" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="marriage" source="Orion">marriage</keyword> only lasted 72 days before Kardashian filed for divorce.</p><h2>For her second wedding in May 2014 to Kanye West, Kim Kardashian also wore multiple dresses</h2><p>This look, designed by Givenchy, featured lace all over with cutouts and a thin belt with pearls.</p><h2>She's never released a full photo of her second dress, reportedly a mini-dress designed by Balmain</h2><p>Olivier Rousteing, Balmain's creative director, posted this selfie of the two on her wedding day. You can see the intricate beading and pearls.</p><p>She filed for divorce from West in February 2021.</p><h2>When Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon tied the knot in August 2019, it was an event fit for 'Bachelor in Paradise'</h2><p>Her first dress, a traditional princess ball gown, was designed by Ines Di Santo. The couple married in Newport, Rhode Island.</p><h2>Iaconetti's second dress was just as dramatic, but this time it was made from satin</h2><p>This dress was <a href="https://www.glamour.com/story/ashley-iaconetti-jared-haibon-wedding-dresses">designed by Rita Vinieris</a> from her Alyne line.</p><h2>For her Gatsby-themed wedding in November 2014, Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi channeled the '20s in this elaborate princess gown</h2><div type="image" title="snooki wedding dress" height="1352" width="1803" msid="85850289" hostid="261"></div><p>Polizzi actually met her husband, Jionni LaValle, on an episode of "Jersey Shore" - famously, she couldn't remember his name.</p><h2>Her second dress was a mermaid-style gown</h2><div type="image" title="snooki's second dress" height="1629" width="2173" msid="85850290" hostid="261"></div><p>The wedding was the series finale of her 'Jersey Shore' spin-off, "Snooki &amp; Jwoww."</p><h2>The second dress converted into a shorter strapless dress</h2><div type="image" title="snooki's third dress" height="1076" width="1435" msid="85850291" hostid="261"></div><p>It was <a href="https://www.bridalreflections.com/snooki-and-jionnis-gatsby-wedding/960">designed by Ines Di Santo</a>.</p><h2>LuAnn de Lesseps of 'Real Housewives of New York' wed Tom D'Agostino in Palm Beach on New Year's Eve 2016</h2><div type="image" title="luann de lesseps and tom dagostino wedding" height="1385" width="1846" msid="85850294" hostid="261"></div><p>Their marriage was over by August 2017.</p><h2>Her reception dress was designed by Randi Rahm</h2><p>She was <em>actually </em>supposed to wear three dresses, but the former countess didn't want to miss a single moment of the night, <a href="https://people.com/tv/luann-de-lesseps-tom-dagostino-jr-exclusive-wedding-photos/?slide=5571380#5571380">according to People</a>.</p><h2>'Real Housewives of Orange County' star Tamra Judge wore 3 dresses on her big day</h2><div type="image" title="tamra judge wedding" height="620" width="827" msid="85850297" hostid="261"></div><p>All three gowns she wore at her wedding to Eddie Judge were custom Mark Zunino.</p><p>The 2013 wedding, which was held in Dana Point, California, was documented on "Tamra's OC Wedding."</p><h2>Dress No. 2 featured a plunging neckline</h2><div type="image" title="tamra judge second dress" height="1383" width="1845" msid="85850300" hostid="261"></div><p>Although it's not visible here, it has a subtle train in the back.</p><h2>Judge's third dress was designed especially for the cha-cha at their June 2013 wedding</h2><p>The fringe was perfect for the dance.</p><h2>Holly Madison of 'The Girls Next Door' married Pasquale Rotella in September 2013</h2><div type="image" title="holly madison wedding" height="3000" width="2041" msid="85850302" hostid="261"></div><p>Her custom Gregg Barnes gown was beautiful, but it's really all about the <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/holly-madisons-wedding-party-dress-bridesmaids-dresses-and-wedding-cake-all-the-details-2013259/">$500,000 diamond tiara</a> on her head.</p><p>It was the perfect Disney princess look for their wedding, which was held at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.</p><h2>Madison changed into a slinkier Roberto Cavalli gown for the reception</h2><div type="image" title="holly madison wedding dress" height="3000" width="2127" msid="85850306" hostid="261"></div><p>The tiara stayed in place, of course. Madison and Rotella split in September 2018.</p><h2>When 'American Idol' runner-up Katharine McPhee wed David Foster in June 2019, she wore 3 dresses designed by Zac Posen</h2><p>McPhee shared a 360-degree video of her dress on Instagram so we could appreciate the Zac Posen ball gown in all of its glory.</p><h2>Her second dress was an off-the-shoulder look with a unique pattern and bag</h2><p>They married in London.</p><h2>McPhee's third and final look channeled Cinderella</h2><div type="image" title="katharine mcphe wedding dress" height="3456" width="2305" msid="85850308" hostid="261"></div><p>No glass slippers to be found, though.</p><h2>Kandi Burruss wed a former producer from her show 'Real Housewives of Atlanta,' Todd Tucker, in April 2014</h2><div type="image" title="kandi burruss in 2014" height="3000" width="2000" msid="85850311" hostid="261"></div><p>The dress featured champagne-colored feathers, an illusion bodice, and hundreds of crystals.</p><h2>Burruss' second dress made her look like a fairy princess</h2><div type="image" title="kandi burruss wedding dress" height="1200" width="1600" msid="85850314" hostid="261"></div><p>Burruss' wedding was documented in an "RHOA" spin-off called "Kandi's Wedding."</p>

10 reality TV stars who wore multiple wedding dresses

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Microsoft has created an AI that they think is "too dangerous" for public release

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Study ties blood type to COVID-19 risk; O may help, A hurt

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10 Things You Need To Know Before The Opening Bell

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'One tweet for every victim': A Twitter account is memorializing every victim of the Paris attacks

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10 reality TV stars who wore multiple wedding dresses

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Millennials are building multimillion-dollar beauty empires on their massive Instagram and Snapchat followings, and it's disrupting a centuries-old industry

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