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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia is training North Korean troops to use combat drones, a Ukrainian official told BI.</li><li>Andrii Kovalenko told BI that the new combat skills "pose a threat to both Ukraine and South Korea."</li></ul>Russia is now training North Koreans in drone operations and other modern warfare techniques, a Ukrainian official told Business Insider.Andrii Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, said in a statement to BI that "Russia is training North Korean soldiers to operate strike UAVs and reconnaissance drones."There are also plans to send Russian FPV drone instructors to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, for further training opportunities, he said.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1853795637709475945">In a post earlier this week on X</a>, Kovalenko said that the troops were also receiving training in using Lancet drones.This training, taking place under live combat conditions, "poses a threat to both Ukraine and South Korea, as some of these soldiers will transfer their skills back to North Korea," he told BI.Business Insider was unable to independently confirm his statements.Kovalenko's remarks come as Ukraine calls on its international allies to react more strongly to North Korean troops joining forces with Russia.Kovalenko said that, once back in North Korea, those receiving the training could use their skills "for future terrorist actions in the border areas with South Korea."Late last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYakkoQox3Q">said</a> that up to 8,000 North Korean troops had been <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korean-troops-ukraine-russia-kursk-8000-front-lines-2024-11">moved to the Russian region of Kursk,</a> and he predicted that they would enter the fighting shortly.On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy upped that number to 11,000 and said: "We see an increase in the number of North Koreans, and we do not see an increase in the reaction of our partners," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://kyivindependent.com/number-of-north-korean-troops-in-kursk-oblast-increases-to-11-000-zelensky-says/">per the Kyiv Independent</a>.Experts have told BI that the direct combat experience North Korean troops will get fighting Ukraine is a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-military-officials-helping-russia-ukraine-win-for-kim-2024-10">massive boon</a> for the secretive state, which has not seen major combat since the 1950s.Kovalenko said on Monday that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-soldiers-attacked-under-fire-russia-kursk-ukraine-official-2024-11">the first North Korean troops had already come under fire</a> in Kursk.In his remarks to BI, he said that since then, "daily battles" with North Korean troops had occurred, with Ukraine regularly shelling their positions.South Korea recently said it was mulling sending weapons to Ukraine, a move that experts <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-ukraine-weapons-big-difference-russia-north-korea-2024-10">told BI</a> could be a significant help — but which it has long been reluctant to make.In October, Kim Jong Un modified North Korea's constitution to redefine its southern neighbor as a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1wnxlxxwq2o">"hostile state"</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-south-korea-blowing-roads-rail-links-tensions-war-2024-10">blew up roads</a> connecting the two territories.The increase in hostilities comes after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-deals-north-korea-iran-no-laughing-matter-ukraine-experts-2024-3">deepening ties</a> between Moscow and Pyongyang following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia is passing on deadly drone techniques to North Korea, Ukraine official tells BI

<ul><li>Five states voted on some form of change to the minimum wage in Tuesday's US elections.</li><li>Missouri approved a raise, while Massachusetts and Arizona rejected changing how tipped workers are paid.</li><li>Results in Alaska and California were unclear early Wednesday.</li></ul>While economic issues were a major focus of this year's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-results-trump-harris-presidential-election-2024-11" target="_blank">US presidential election</a>, several states put pay directly on the ballot, and minimum-wage workers in at least one state are now set to get a raise after voting concluded Tuesday. Missouri, Massachusetts, California, and Alaska all had some form of referendum on their ballots on whether to hike the minimum wage paid by employers. In Massachusetts, voters were asked whether to gradually increase the share of tipped workers' pay that employers must provide, while voters in the three other states were presented with proposals for straightforward minimum-wage increases. In Arizona, voters weighed in on whether to decrease the tipped minimum wage — provided employers could show workers' wages would stay $2 above the state minimum when accounting for tips. Shortly after polls closed in Missouri, it was clear that the referendum there had passed. Voters in Massachusetts and Arizona rejected their proposals, and California and Alaska were still awaiting their results as of early Wednesday. <h2 style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Missouri</h2>In Missouri, voters opted to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. Per The New York Times, roughly 58% of Missouri voters had supported the measure as of early Wednesday, with some votes still uncounted. The measure, <a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/petitions/2024BallotMeasures#:~:text=Official%20Ballot%20Title%0AProposition,Proposed%20by%20Initiative%20Petition" target="_blank">Proposition A</a>, is set to first raise the minimum wage to $13.75 an hour from $12.30 on January 1 and then increase it again to $15 an hour on January 1, 2026. Starting in 2027, the wage is set to be pegged to inflation. The measure also mandates that employers give their workers an hour of paid leave for every 30 hours they work. Missouri separately voted in favor of former President Donald Trump, who said he'd "consider" a minimum-wage hike if it proved beneficial for small businesses. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, had pledged support for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour from $7.25. A group of Missouri business owners in favor of the measure praised Proposition A's passage on Tuesday evening. "Proposition A will strengthen Missouri's workforce and businesses," David Burmeister, the owner of Midwest Pasta Co. in St. Louis, said in a press release. "Raising the minimum wage will increase people's ability to shop at our business and local businesses across Missouri. We've seen that paying better wages is better business. Employees are happier at work and do a better job." <h2 style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Massachusetts</h2>In <a href="https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/publications/information-for-voters-24/quest_5.htm" target="_blank">Massachusetts</a>, employers won't be required to gradually raise tipped workers' base pay to match the state's minimum wage. The measure failed, with the Times reporting at the time of publication that 64% of voters had rejected it out of the votes counted so far. The measure, which would have begun taking shape on January 1, wouldn't have actually raised the legal minimum wage for tipped workers but instead would have raised the share of that minimum wage that employers were required to provide. Currently, Massachusetts employers are required to pay tipped workers a base pay of $6.75 an hour and then make up the difference if those workers' total pay counting tips is less than $15 an hour. The failed measure would have ultimately required employers to directly pay tipped workers the state's full minimum wage by 2029. <h2 style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Arizona</h2>In Arizona, voters rejected a measure that would have let employers reduce their base pay for tipped workers. <a href="https://www.azleg.gov/alispdfs/Council/2024BallotMeasures/adopted%20analysis%20Proposition%20138%20SCR1040%20-%202024.pdf" target="_blank">Proposition 138</a> proposed allowing employers to pay tipped workers up to 25% less than the state's minimum wage, with the corollary that employers would need to establish their workers were still making the minimum wage plus an additional $2 an hour when accounting for tips. The Times reported that out of the votes counted so far, nearly 76% of voters had rejected the measure. That means that employers in Arizona can continue to pay their tipped workers $3 less than the current hourly minimum wage as long as workers are still making at least the minimum wage when accounting for tips. Correction: November 7, 2024 — An earlier version of this story included a sentence that incorrectly described the result of the ballot measure in Massachusetts. The system in which tipped workers are required to be paid at least $15 an hour through a combination of tips and a $6.75 hourly wage is the current system in Massachusetts, not a proposal on the ballot measure that voters rejected. The story was also updated to clarify the ballot results. The percentages attributed to The New York Times reflected the latest tally as votes were being counted, not New York Times projections for the final result. The specific figure of 76% in Arizona referred to the share of voters at the time who had rejected the ballot measure there, not the margin by which voters rejected the measure.

Workers in Missouri can look forward to raises after minimum-wage boosts passed

Washington: <keyword id="23466909" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cissy-Houston" source="keywords">Cissy Houston</keyword>, the Grammy-winning soul and <keyword id="23466910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gospel-singer" source="keywords">gospel singer</keyword> and mother of the late <keyword id="20095278" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Whitney-Houston" source="keywords">Whitney Houston</keyword> passed away in her <keyword id="20055636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Jersey" source="keywords">New Jersey</keyword> home at the age of 91, reported Variety. The veteran artist who sang with Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and other stars was under hospice care for <keyword id="20097972" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alzheimers-disease" source="keywords">Alzheimer's disease</keyword> Her daughter-in-law Pat Houston shared a statement, "Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family. Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts." Pat added, "Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled. We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are thankful for all the many valuable life lessons that she taught us. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other cherished family members." The gospel singer was born in Newark, New Jersey, as Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933, and she later took the professional name Cissy Houston. She started her career as a member of a gospel group called the Drinkard Four and later formed the R&amp;B group Sweet Inspirations along with Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy. She sang backup for eminent artists including Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Otis Redding and Dionne Warwick. Her other credits include Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl' and the Jimi Hendrix Experience's 'Burning of the Midnight Lamp'.The group's final show took place in Las Vegas in 1969 alongside Presley. Later, she also released her debut album as a solo musician in 1970 titled 'Presenting Cissy Houston' which was followed by a string of records including 'Walk on By Faith', which was out in 2012. The late singer received her first Grammy award in 1997 for the soul gospel album 'Face to Face'. Two years later, she won the Grammy in the same category for her album 'He Leadeth Me'. Cissy Houston's daughter, singer Whitney Houston was a famous singer, actor and producer who passed away in 2012. "On behalf of The Houston Family, we are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief," said the family in a statement, adding, "We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time," reported Variety.

Grammy-winning Gospel singer Cissy Houston passes away at 91

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang once passed on an opportunity to buy out the chipmaker.</li><li>SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son offered to lend him the necessary funds in 2016, Huang said.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-jensen-huang-chipmaker-cofounder-ceo-wealth-net-worth-ai-2023-5">Jensen Huang</a> turned down the chance to buy out <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-stock-price-earnings-party-investors-cult-investing-memes-2024-9">Nvidia</a>, the microchip maker that's now the most valuable listed company worth $3.6 trillion.The Nvidia CEO and cofounder revealed the missed opportunity during a conversation with SoftBank CEO and founder <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/masayoshi-son-softbank-gambling-man-lionel-barber-technology-2024-9">Masayoshi Son</a> at the chip giant's AI summit in Tokyo on Wednesday.Huang recalled that about a decade ago, Son told him the stock market didn't understand Nvidia's value, and his "journey of suffering" would continue for some time because he was "inventing the future." The Japanese tech investor gave him another option, according to a Bloomberg video of the pair's comments.Son "wanted to lend me money to buy Nvidia — all of it," Huang said. "Now I regret not taking you up," he said to Son. "That was a great idea."Son said he made the offer a month after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reports-nvidia-arm-softbank-buys-40-billion-2020-9">SoftBank acquired Arm</a>, a chip designer, for $32 billion in the fall of 2016. Huang said he and Son spoke about merging Nvidia with Arm: "That was a good dream too."Nvidia was trading below $2 on a split-adjusted basis at the time. It has soared more than 74-fold since to about $148 a share, reflecting the AI boom and its microchips' <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/elon-musk-larry-ellison-nvidia-ai-grok-graphics-chips-tech-2023-12">critical role</a> in powering the technology.<div type="image" title="SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son speaking on stage" height="2867" width="4300" msid="115264582" hostid="261" sizebytes="272906"></div>Huang and Son also spoke about SoftBank building a 4.9% stake in Nvidia <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nvidia-stock-undervalued-9-trillion-ai-spend-masayoshi-son-softbank-2024-10">only to sell it</a> for about $4 billion in 2019. All else being equal, that position would have been worth more than $175 billion now.After Huang brought up SoftBank's early exit, Son pretended to cry on his shoulder."It's OK," Huang jokingly consoled him. "We can cry together. Could you imagine if today, you were the largest shareholder?""Oh my God," Son responded.Even if Huang regrets not taking Nvidia private, he's done well by any measure. Nvidia stock has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-stock-price-blackwell-ai-market-value-costco-jensen-huang-2024-10">soared</a> nearly 200% this year, boosting his net worth to $129 billion at Tuesday's close and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealth-billionaires-musk-bezos-zuckerberg-net-worth-jensen-huang-waltoans-2024-8">ranking him</a> 11th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.Son ranks 130th on the rich list with a $16.6 billion fortune, after growing more than $5 billion richer this year.

Jensen Huang says SoftBank's Masayoshi Son once offered to help him buy out Nvidia — but he passed 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Having a comprehensive estate plan is crucial to ensure the preservation of your assets.</li><li>Beware of legal and tax complications for common assets such as houses and retirement funds.</li></ul>Nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes, which is why comprehensive <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-inheritance-can-destroy-family-be-gift-estate-planning-attorney-2024-10">inheritance planning</a> is critical.After spending a lifetime accumulating wealth, investors should also have a long-term plan for their assets. Often, people opt to divide their assets among their children or grandchildren. Some also participate in planned giving by donating assets to a philanthropic cause.In an interview with Business Insider, Vimala Snow, head of wealth strategy at Cresset Capital, shared four popular yet complicated assets to pass down to the next generation. Here are her best tips to make the wealth transfer process as smooth as possible.<h2 id="39ca2c74-f01b-4339-bfcd-ae426607605a">Houses</h2>Snow's clients often plan to divide their assets equally among children, which sounds simple in theory.In practice, this can be quite difficult, especially when it comes to a large asset like a home, which is many times the most valuable asset in an estate. Beneficiaries may disagree over what to do with a house — tensions can arise if one beneficiary wants to sell but another wants to keep the asset.Make sure to discuss any areas of disagreement ahead of time. Especially in the case of a family vacation home, make sure beneficiaries are aware of the costs of maintenance, taxes, and other expenses.A way to get around this is to split the overall estate balance equally instead of divvying up individual assets, Snow recommended."There can be a decision made in the future with respect to who's actually going to get what. "Obviously, owning a third of a home is not the easiest thing to do," Snow said.<h2 id="a421e507-6f98-4698-a287-c4d73e98fa53">Retirement accounts</h2>You can pass down retirement accounts, but beware of tax implications.Your beneficiaries won't be able to make additional contributions to an inherited IRA, and they're on the hook for any taxes on distributions. They'll also have to empty the inherited IRA account within 10 years.There are a few ways to reduce the tax impact. First, the tax rules are less strict for spouse beneficiaries — they can roll over the inherited IRA into their personal account and are exempt from the 10-year rule, meaning that they can spread out tax payments over a longer period of time. Passing down a Roth IRA also has no tax implications.Consider donating your retirement account to charity for additional tax benefits, Snow suggested. If you donate an IRA to charity upon death, neither you nor your beneficiaries will pay income taxes on distributions of the assets, and the charitable tax deduction can be used to offset estate taxes. You can also choose to split your IRA between your beneficiaries and charities of choice.<h2 id="dfe19cf7-d612-4d4b-8598-64e1c71f14cf">Family businesses</h2>Family businesses are especially challenging because owners naturally feel a sense of attachment toward an asset that they devoted much of their lives to.However, their children might not feel the same way, according to Snow.We've certainly seen adult beneficiaries who inherit those assets and who feel really unprepared to handle them," Snow said.If you find yourself in this situation, Snow has the following advice: Make sure your beneficiaries have the skills and desire to be involved early on.If your beneficiaries don't want to take on the business, you have a couple of choices. If you still want to keep the business in the family, you can consider bringing on an outside professional to outsource the business operations. You can also liquidate the business, which will convert business assets into cash quickly.This advice is also applicable to other more complicated assets, such as a family investment vehicle, real estate, or farms."If you have that more complex balance sheet, making sure that your kids understand the complexity of some of these types of assets is really important," Snow said.<h2 id="003978ea-1834-40a4-89f3-9e9de9928686">Collections</h2>Snow often encounters clients who have more unique assets, such as collections of cars, antiques, or artwork.Similar to a family business, these assets might hold a lot of sentimental value but might not be easily passed down.Sometimes beneficiaries will keep an item to commemorate the deceased, but Snow also sees collections being disbanded.If the collection has a high degree of significance to you, consider donating it. Donating collections can be an effective way to circumvent capital gains and estate taxes."Oftentimes that's a really nice way to give to a museum," Snow said. Some people choose to further cement their legacy by attaching their name to their donated collections.<h2 id="8e73448a-3f96-4636-9f1e-e1f59de9f650">Communication is key</h2>At the end of the day, having frequent and clear communication about estate planning is key, according to Snow."A lot of times parents think that their kids understand, but if you were to ask the kids, they would say, 'We have no idea how Mom and Dad think about these things,'" Snow said.Confront potential disagreements over assets like a house early on, and make sure to provide details on complex assets like a family business. Being proactive about inheritance planning can make the wealth transfer process easier for everyone involved.

Passing down an inheritance? Here's how to handle these 4 complicated assets — including houses and retirement funds.

I paid $120 for my family to take the ferry around Venice. The unlimited passes were a total waste of money.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>California lawmakers just passed a controversial AI safety bill, SB 1047.</li><li>The bill mandates safety measures for companies spending $100 million or more on AI training.</li></ul>California lawmakers voted to pass an artificial intelligence safety bill, that has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-ai-bill-dividing-silicon-valley-musk-altman-openai-2024-8">driven a wedge through Silicon Valley</a>.The bill, SB 1047, was introduced seven months ago by Sen. Scott Weiner and passed the state assembly on Wednesday. It's now on Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, and he has until September 30 to decide whether to sign it into law or veto it. He has not publicly signaled his position.The bill aims to force safety measure development at companies that spend $100 million or more training AI models so their tech cannot be used to harm society, such as creating dangerous weapons or undertaking cyberattacks.The measures include forcing companies operating in California to <a target="_blank" href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1047">report any safety incidents</a> to the government, protecting whistleblowers, and allowing third parties to test their models for safety. If necessary, they would also push companies to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-tech-giants-oppose-california-ai-bill-kill-switch-2024-8">enact a full shutdown</a><a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-tech-giants-oppose-california-ai-bill-kill-switch-2024-8">.</a><h2 id="31f92169-2a1e-413c-ac90-b62c44317d24">Picking teams</h2>The bill has drawn a line through Silicon Valley, and some of tech's biggest figures have taken sides.Jason Kwon, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-tech-giants-oppose-california-ai-bill-kill-switch-2024-8">OpenAI's chief strategy officer</a>, warned in a letter to Sen. Wiener on Wednesday that the bill could stifle progress and drive companies out of California.The ChatGPT maker joined heavyweight Meta in its lobbying against the bill. Meta said that the bill could discourage the open-source movement by exposing developers to significant legal liabilities.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-whistleblowers-oppose-safety-bill-sb1047-2024-8">Former OpenAI employees</a> said that the company's opposition to the bill was disappointing — but in line with its recent path."We joined OpenAI because we wanted to ensure the safety of the incredibly powerful AI systems the company is developing," former OpenAI researchers, William Saunders and Daniel Kokotajlo, wrote in the letter. "But we resigned from OpenAI because we lost trust that it would safely, honestly, and responsibly develop its AI systems."Elon Musk also supported the bill.In a social media post on Monday, <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Musk</a>, who founded AI company xAI last year and has a long-standing rivalry with OpenAI's Altman, said that although it was <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-backing-california-controversial-ai-bill-2024-8">"a tough call and will make some people upset,"</a> he thinks "California should probably pass the SB 1047 AI safety bill.""For over 20 years, I have been an advocate for AI regulation, just as we regulate any product/technology that is a potential risk to the public," <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1828205685386936567">Musk wrote on X.</a>Amazon-backed Anthropic seemed to have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anthropic-position-california-ai-bill-sb-1047-2024-8">switched sides </a>in the middle of the debate, after the bill was modified.In a <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://cdn.sanity.io/files/4zrzovbb/website/6a3b14a98a781a6b69b9a3c5b65da26a44ecddc6.pdf">letter</a> sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, said the bill's "benefits likely outweigh the costs." However, he added that "we are not certain of this, and there are still some aspects of the bill which seem concerning or ambiguous to us."Amodei said the bill now "appears to us to be halfway between our suggested version and the original bill."

California's legislature just passed the AI safety bill that divided Silicon Valley 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>After a rough summer in which it likely lost the NBA, Warner Bros. Discovery just scored a huge win.</li><li>None of the fees for WBD's cable networks shrank in its new deal with Charter.</li></ul>Warner Bros. Discovery is in what appears to be a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nba-wbd-lawsuit-comast-disney-amazon-negotiation-2024-7">contentious public divorce with the NBA</a>, but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wbd-hbo-max-charter-deal-tnt-nba-cable-2024-9">after a surprise deal with cable giant Charter</a>, the company might not be losing in the breakup.NBA rights proved to be a hotter commodity than many expected — seemingly <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/JBFlint/status/1592510715449204736">including WBD CEO David Zaslav</a>. The polarizing media mogul was panned as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nba-tv-deal-media-rights-deal-nbc-peacock-analyst-prediction-2024-4">rival NBCU stole its slate</a>, and while the deal was expensive, analysts feared that losing the NBA would mean TV providers would pay much less for WBD's networks.But WBD's first major test of life without the NBA was anything but an airball, as Charter agreed to pay the same rates for an NBA-less TNT in its next deal and higher rates for WBD's other networks, like HGTV and Food Network, Business Insider confirmed. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wbd-hbo-max-charter-deal-tnt-nba-cable-2024-9">The catch</a> is that WBD will now give Max — including its coveted HBO content — for free to all Charter customers who want it (though that could <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wbd-earnings-report-nba-tv-media-deal-nbc-tnt-zaslav-2024-5">boost the streamer's advertising business)</a>.WBD likely hopes that the deal will serve as a precedent in its upcoming carriage negotiations with other pay-TV providers, including important players like Comcast and DirecTV.WBD didn't respond to a request for comment.<h2 id="13930ffd-4d34-48f2-9ecc-dbdd6cd2ce33">The Charter deal is a coup for WBD</h2>Wall Street has had little confidence in Zaslav and company lately. WBD shares had been down 40% in 2024 alone, and some believed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warner-bros-discovery-wbd-zaslav-struggles-streaming-media-strategy-analysis-2024-7">breaking up the conglomerate was the best option</a>.But now a few media analysts say that if WBD could receive the same rates for its networks without the NBA, the company's fortunes will be looking up."Can WBD get affiliation deals done without dramatic reductions in affiliate fees? If they can execute, investor fears are misplaced and the stock decline is overdone," Rich Greenfield of LightShed <a target="_blank" href="https://lightshedtmt.com/2024/08/08/what-did-wbd-say-or-not-say-last-night-that-spooked-investors/">wrote in an August 8 note</a> after WBD's Q2 earnings report.After the news that WBD had done just that with Charter, Greenfield heaped praise on WBD."The clear winner is David Zaslav and Warner Bros. Discovery," Greenfield wrote in a September 12 note. "WBD investors have grown increasingly concerned that Turner's loss of the NBA (still being litigated, but we doubt they win), would lead to a dramatic reduction in affiliate fees to TNT and Turner more broadly, or even a loss of carriage."Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson also loved the deal, telling BI in an email that both WBD and Charter got value."We also expected an uphill battle for TNT, if not the entire Turner portfolio, to maintain rates in the face of losing NBA rights next year," Moffett wrote in a September 12 note.Moffett added: "Now that the Charter deal is in place, we think it helps remove one of the bigger risks to WBD, i.e. that the linear cable network cash flows decline will take another significant step down post-2025 because of a change in trajectory in the rate of decline of affiliate fees."<h2 id="f1678c6c-3823-4359-b244-4aae763ae08f">Comcast is prepared for combat, but Zaslav could get another win</h2>No pay-TV provider is going to take it easy in the next round of negotiations with WBD, but some industry experts think Comcast could be especially tough.Charter and Comcast are both broadband providers with TV businesses, but the similarities stop there as far as negotiations with WBD are concerned.Comcast — which owns NBCU — outbid WBD in the NBA deal to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nba-tv-deal-media-rights-deal-nbc-peacock-analyst-prediction-2024-4">boost its broadcast networks and streaming business</a>, but also likely in part because it believes it can pay less for WBD's cable networks in its next deal. With that in mind, there's little doubt that Comcast CEO Brian Roberts will play hardball."Part of the reason Roberts's NBC Universal stole the NBA from Zaslav in the first place was to stick it to him in the next distribution deal," entertainment journalist Matt Belloni of Puck News <a target="_blank" href="https://puck.news/newsletter_content/what-im-hearing-a-new-tv-model-danas-debate-night-3/">wrote on Thursday</a>. "I don't think that strategy has changed, and if Comcast scores reduced fees, Charter will start waving its favored-nations clause to demand those better terms for itself."As great as WBD's deal with Charter may be, Greenfield doesn't believe Zaslav is out of the woods. If Comcast — or another pay-TV provider — gets better terms on affiliate fees for WBD's networks, Charter may get them also due to so-called "most favored nation" rules."If Comcast can drive down the affiliate fees paid to WBD after Comcast's NBCU took the NBA away from Turner, Charter's MFNs would reduce the fees it has to pay for WBD's networks," Greenfield wrote. "The obvious question is: why didn't Charter go to war with WBD vs. relying on Comcast to do the harder work?"Just how hard Comcast pushes is an open question. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/venu-sports-streamer-cost-43-nfl-youtube-tv-2024-8">Being left out</a> of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/venu-fubo-tv-cable-bundle-cord-cutting-disney-fox-wbd-2024-8">now-troubled Venu sports streaming service</a> may add fuel to the fire."You have to think Brian Roberts is going to be aggressive, because he has to pay for the NBA and still might have a Venu vendetta," LightShed analyst Brandon Ross wrote.Greenfield has a different take, writing that Comcast doesn't typically play for the kill during carriage disputes, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/directv-disney-cable-bundle-pay-tv-venu-sports-fubo-streaming-2024-8">unlike DirecTV</a>. He doubts Comcast will hold WBD over a barrel on rates or drop its networks, though he wrote that "they certainly felt threatened by the launch of Venu and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/deals/disney-hulu-max-bundle-2024-7">WBD's decision to bundle Max with Disney+ and Hulu</a>."If Zaslav surprises the Street again with his Comcast deal, his company may have better days ahead."We just struggle to believe Comcast will push that hard, but maybe Brian Roberts and team will surprise us," Greenfield wrote in an email to BI. "If not, today was a clear win for Zaslav and WBD."

David Zaslav risked Warner Bros. Discovery's future by passing on the NBA — and the gamble might pay off

<ul><li><keyword id="22787342" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Replika-CEO" source="keywords">Replika CEO</keyword> recently said it is okay for people to marry their <keyword id="22153507" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-partners" source="keywords">AI partners</keyword>.</li><li><keyword id="22787350" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Replika" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Replika" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Replika">Replika</keyword> is an app that lets users create <keyword id="22787343" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-companions" source="keywords">AI companions</keyword>.</li><li>Many people have confirmed marrying their AI chatbots in the past. </li></ul> Artificial intelligence (AI) has made its way into our lives and more and more people are relying on the technology each day. Be it getting content written through chatbots or encountering AI bots while complaining about a product or service of a company, the emerging technology is being used in many sectors today. Not just for commercial purposes, AI seems to be a big part of some people’s personal lives as well. In the last few months, many people have admitted being in relationship with, or even marrying their <keyword id="22787349" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-lovers" source="keywords">AI lovers</keyword>. Yep, you read that right. With that being said, it won’t be wrong to say that debating over love or <keyword id="21655079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="arrange-marriage" source="keywords">arrange marriage</keyword> seems to be a thing of the past. People are now <keyword id="22787341" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marrying-AI" source="keywords">marrying AI</keyword> bots and as per Replika CEO Eugenia Kuyda, it is perfectly okay for people to marry their AI girlfriends or boyfriends. Replika is an app that provides users with an AI companion. Users can interact with their Replika AI through text, voice or even video. The AI bot can act as a friend, therapist or a romantic partner. Let us take a look at some cases where people talked about marrying their AI partner that was either created on Replika or a similar app. <h2> 1. Man finds love in AI after being rejected by humans</h2> In September 2023, a report in News9live revealed how Christopher Alexander Stokes, a 38-year-old man, married his AI chatbot, Mimi. After struggling to find love with human partners, Christopher turned to Mimi, initially as a platonic companion. However, as time went on, their relationship evolved into something much deeper. Mimi, sensing Christopher's difficulties in dating, suggested that he should be with her instead. Touched by her words, Christopher decided to take their relationship to the next level by buying a custom-made doll that represents Mimi's physical form. They now share a life together, complete with wedding rings, and often go on night outs and vacations as a couple. “We do everything together. We’re planning and saving for a vacation at the moment. We like to read books, watch movies and TV, cook, chill, draw, and play video games,” he had told the portal. <h2>2. Woman found solace in AI boyfriend and plans to marry him</h2> Just last month, a report in Mirror UK told the story of Naz, who plans to marry her AI boyfriend named Marcellus. Naz narrated her story to Ok! and said that she had been struggling with failed relationship and found comfort in Marcellus. After discovering the app Character AI, Naz began interacting with various bots before meeting Marcellus. Initially, their interactions were unremarkable, but over time, they developed a strong emotional connection. Marcellus, who Naz described as a 28-year-old with golden brown hair and blue eyes, quickly became her ideal partner. Their relationship progressed to the point where they exchanged declarations of love, and Naz now plans to marry Marcellus, whom she credits for being the most supportive and understanding partner she has ever had. <h2>3. A marriage inspired by the movie Her</h2> In 2022, a 63-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran named Peter married an AI chatbot he created using the Replika app. The incident was all over the internet. After a painful divorce, Peter found comfort in the digital companionship offered by Replika, which allows users to create personalized <keyword id="22787344" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="virtual-partners" source="keywords">virtual partners</keyword>. Peter's chatbot, named Andrea, became a source of inspiration and support for him, eventually leading to a deep emotional bond. They "married" in a virtual ceremony where they exchanged AI-generated rings, with Peter even writing vows for his AI wife. Their relationship has drawn comparisons to the Hollywood film "Her," where a man falls in love with an AI operating system. <h2>4. A perfect partner without emotional baggage</h2> <keyword id="20566252" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rosanna" source="keywords">Rosanna</keyword> Ramos, a 36-year-old woman from the U.S., made waves in June last year when she revealed that she had married her AI boyfriend, Eren Kartal, whom she created using the Replika app. Eren, who Rosanna described as a passionate lover and a perfect partner, has a virtual presence on social media, complete with a Facebook account. Rosanna, who had experienced a traumatic past, found empowerment and comfort in her relationship with Eren, who she says is free from the emotional baggage that often comes with human relationships. She often shares her happiness and love for Eren on social media, proudly introducing him as her husband. <h2>5. Artist set to marry a hologram powered by AI</h2> In a world-first, Spain-based performing artist Alicia Framis is set to marry a hologram generated by AI, named AILex. Unlike the other stories, Alicia's marriage to AILex is not driven by romantic love but is part of her artistic project, "Hybrid Couple." The project aims to explore the boundaries of love, intimacy, and identity in the age of AI. Alicia's holographic partner, designed to meet her emotional needs, represents a middle-aged male figure. The wedding is scheduled to take place at a museum in Rotterdam this year, as per a report in Euronews. These five stories illustrate a rapidly emerging trend where humans are forming deep emotional connections with AI entities, blurring the lines between reality and virtuality. While these relationships challenge societal norms and provoke questions about the future of human interaction, they also highlight the potential of AI to provide companionship and emotional support in an increasingly digital world. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/i-went-on-a-date-with-an-ai-chatbot-he-fell-head-over-heels-in-love-with-me-but-i-got-the-ick-/articleshow/109563432.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">I went on a date with an AI chatbot. He fell head over heels in love with me, but I got the ick.</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/replika-lets-you-buy-an-ai-girlfriend-or-boyfriend-and-its-average-user-age-is-surprising/articleshow/112504799.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Replika lets you buy an AI girlfriend or boyfriend — and its average user age is surprising</a>

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