The AFC's Quest for Dominance

The AFC's power struggle for supremacy, the future of cancer care & two women battling for Mexico's presidency

Good morning readers. Remember when we all used to "tweet" on Twitter? Well, X wants us to toss that word into the digital abyss because starting September 29th , X is swapping out "retweet" for "repost" in its terms of service. It's like they're giving the bird to the bird, if you catch my drift. The word Twitter is almost extinct in the new terms, replaced by the enigmatic X. And in a twist of irony, some URLs still cling to their “twitter” roots (like X.com which redirects you to Twitter.com). Lawl.

It’s the changes in their legal terms where things get, shall we say, interesting. You’re waiving your right to join any class action lawsuit against X. And for all you LLM techies out there, X’s owner Elon Musk, has a clear message: No scraping allowed. While the old terms had a tiny window for scraping with consent, the new ones have shut that window tight. I guess DMX was right, X really gon’ give it to ya.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

  • The AFC Showdown

  • Headline Hustle: Peter Navarro convicted of contempt, the women shaping Mexico’s political future, Starlink shuts down in Crimea

  • The future of cancer care

  • Pulse Points: What’s Trending

SPORTS

A battle of titans in the NFL

Source: Eric Gay / AP

In the world of professional football, the AFC has become the equivalent of the World Cup's "Group of Death." It's a conference so densely packed with Super Bowl contenders that even the reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, might be feeling the heat. As the Chiefs gear up for another season, the question on everyone's mind is: Can they fend off the onslaught of teams gunning for their crown?

Let’s set the stage

Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs' star quarterback, is leading his team on a mission to achieve back-to-back championships, a feat not seen in almost two decades. But it's not just the untested receivers or the star tight end's questionable knee that's causing sleepless nights. It's the sheer number of top-tier teams in the AFC, all with quarterbacks who have their eyes set on the ultimate prize.

Consider this: Nine out of the 13 teams with the shortest odds to clinch the Super Bowl hail from the AFC. And if that doesn't paint a clear enough picture, seven out of the eight players with the shortest odds to win MVP are also from the same conference. Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Lamar Jackson, and the legendary Aaron Rodgers - all vying for the same title.

The gold standard of consistency…is exactly what the Chiefs have been, with two Super Bowl wins in the last five years. But as they gear up for the new season, they face an unprecedented challenge. The AFC is no longer just a conference; it's a battleground.

A great year of football. As the Chiefs take on the Detroit Lions this Thursday, one thing is certain: the road to the Super Bowl is going to be one heck of a ride. And for us, the spectators, it promises unmatched thrill and excitement. So grab your popcorn and get ready for some top-tier football action. The AFC showdown has just begun.

Headline Hustle

🧑🏻‍⚖️ Former Trump advisor Peter Navarro convicted of contempt. Former Trump trade adviser, Peter Navarro, was swiftly found guilty of contempt of Congress for playing hardball with a subpoena from the House committee digging into the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. While Navarro's defense pulled the "Trump told me not to" card, the jury wasn't buying it. Outside, protesters added to the theatrics, as they may have mingled with the jurors during lunch, leading to a mistrial request. Navarro, once a key player in Trump's inner circle, now faces potential jail time and fines. Meanwhile, other Trump aides are also in hot water. But remember, Navarro's the guy who stuck with Trump from start to finish, proving loyalty might just come at a price.

🇲🇽󠁭󠁸󠁭󠁥󠁸󠁿 Two women battle for Mexico’s presidency. In a historic move, Mexico will see two formidable women vying for the presidency next year. Claudia Sheinbaum, a loyalist of the current president and former Mexico City mayor, has been chosen as the ruling Morena party's candidate. She's set to compete against Xóchitl Gálvez, the face of a coalition of opposition parties. While Sheinbaum leads in the polls, critics question her alignment with the current administration. Gálvez, on the other hand, champions change and unity. Amidst the backdrop of rising violence against women in Mexico, this election could be a game-changer. But as some skeptics note, gender might not guarantee change.

🛰️ Starlink’s controversial Crimea blackout. It seems like everywhere you turn these days, Elon Musk is in hot water. The SpaceX and Tesla CEO faced backlash for pulling the plug on Starlink's satellite network over Crimea, disrupting a Ukrainian sneak attack on Russian warships. Musk's defense? Starlink's for Netflix and school, not wars and drone strikes. But Ukraine's not having it, blaming Musk for subsequent missile attacks on their cities. The drama unfolds in a new biography, revealing Musk's fears of a nuclear showdown.

TECH

Revolutionizing cancer diagnosis with AI

Photo by Accuray on Unsplash

In a world where technology is advancing at breakneck speed, Microsoft and digital pathology provider, Paige, are taking a monumental leap in the fight against cancer. The tech giant and the innovative pathology firm have announced their collaboration to create the world's most extensive image-based artificial intelligence model for cancer identification. And trust us, this isn't just another tech announcement; it's a game-changer.

A glimpse behind the scenes

For those not in the know, pathologists are the unsung heroes in the medical world. They're the ones analyzing bodily fluids and tissues, determining whether that lump or bump is benign or something more sinister. But here's the kicker: the methods these medical professionals use haven't evolved much in the last century and a half. They're still peering through microscopes at tissue samples on glass slides. It's a method as old as time, and while it's reliable, one oversight can have life-altering consequences.

Enter Paige. Paige isn't just about digitizing slides. They're about revolutionizing the entire pathology workflow. Their FDA-approved tool, FullFocus, allows pathologists to swap out their microscopes for digital screens. And with their AI model, detecting cancers like breast, colon, and prostate becomes a breeze. But, as with all things groundbreaking, there's a catch. Digital pathology doesn't come cheap. The costs can skyrocket, making it a luxury only the wealthiest of institutions can afford.

The Microsoft magic. Paige might have a wealth of data (10 times more than Netflix, to give you some perspective), but to truly make a difference, they needed a partner with the tech prowess to match their ambition. That’s where Microsoft comes in. With their cloud storage and supercomputing infrastructure, Paige's AI model has grown exponentially. We're talking about a model training on 4 million slides, both of common and rare cancers. It's a feat so impressive that it's being dubbed the "largest computer vision model ever announced."

What’s next? The journey is far from over. While a paper detailing the model's impact will soon be published, there's still a long road ahead. The model needs rigorous testing, regulatory approvals, and much more before it can be rolled out as a product. But the potential is undeniable. For many patients, this could mean a faster diagnosis, reducing agonizing wait times from weeks to mere days.

Pulse Points

SEC to investigate Ryan Cohen’s Bed Bath & Beyond trade. The Securities and Exchange Commission is diving into billionaire Ryan Cohen's unexpected sale of Bed Bath & Beyond shares. Remember when meme stocks were the talk of the town? Well, this move by Cohen has certainly caught their attention.

Disney amends lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis. On Thursday, Disney tweaked its lawsuit against Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis. Now, they're zeroing in on the claim that the governor took political revenge against the entertainment giant.

Tesla to install 20,000 EV chargers at Hilton locations. Tesla's teaming up with Hilton to roll out 20,000 charging stations across North America. So, by next year, you can juice up your EV while you relax at 2,000 Hilton spots.

Artists sign letter saying AI is good. Artists aren't just sitting back as AI makes waves. While some are careful of tech's impact on creativity, a bunch of them have penned an open letter to Congress. Their message? AI can be a friend, not a foe.

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