Florida's attorney general launches criminal probe into ChatGPT over FSU shooting
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida's attorney general has opened an investigation into OpenAI's ChatGPT. The probe, announced Tuesday, examines the AI app's interactions with a gunman charged with a fatal shooting at Florida State University last year. Attorney General James Uthmeier says prosecutors reviewed chat logs between ChatGPT and the gunman, Phoenix Ikner. They aim to determine if the app aided or abetted the crime. Florida's Office of Statewide Prosecution has subpoenaed OpenAI for records. Ikner faces charges of murder and attempted murder, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. An OpenAI spokeswoman called the FSU shooting a tragedy but said the company had no responsibility.
Warsh says he got no pressure from Trump to cut rates even as president publicly pushes for them
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve says that he never promised the White House he would cut interest rates, even as the president renewed his calls for the central bank to do so. The comments underscore the challenge faced by Kevin Warsh, 56, a former top Fed official whom Trump named in January to replace the current Fed chair, Jerome Powell. Democrats on the committee accused Warsh on Tuesday of flip-flopping on interest rates over the years, supporting higher interest rates under Democratic presidents and advocating rate cuts during Trump’s time in office.
Apple's new CEO John Ternus steps into the spotlight after flying under the radar for years
LONDON (AP) — Apple has announced that John Ternus will become the next CEO, taking over from Tim Cook on September 1. Ternus is a company veteran who has been with Apple for 25 years, most recently overseeing hardware engineering for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Despite his significant role, Ternus has kept a low profile outside the company. His appointment comes at a pivotal time for Apple, which has fallen behind in the artificial intelligence race. Analysts say Ternus faces the challenge of advancing Apple's AI capabilities. Ternus expressed humility and commitment to Apple's values in his new role.
Asian shares are mixed after Wall Street rallies on hopes for talks on ending the US-Iran war
TOKYO (AP) — Shares are mixed in Asia, echoing a rally on Wall Street driven by hopes United States and Iran may resume talks to end their war. The price of Brent crude edged 0.2% lower but was still above $98 a barrel. On Tuesday, U.S. stocks advanced to near their all-time high, with the S&P 500 rising 1.2%. The Dow industrials gained 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2%. Lower oil prices help bring down costs for all kinds of businesses. President Donald Trump said he was extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while awaiting a “unified proposal” from Tehran. The U.S. military was keeping its blockade of Iranian ports
Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO and hand reins over to the iPhone maker's hardware leader
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down from the job that he inherited from the late Steve Jobs, ending a 15-year reign that saw the company’s market value soar by more than $3.6 trillion during an iPhone-fueled era of prosperity. The 65-year-old Cook will hand the CEO duties to Apple’s head of hardware products, John Ternus, on Sept. 1 while remaining involved with the Cupertino, California, company as executive chairman. Although he never shook the perception that he lacked Jobs’ vision, Cook leveraged the popularity of the iPhone and other breakthroughs orchestrated by his predecessor to lift Apple to heights that seemed unfathomable when it was on the brink of bankruptcy during the mid-1990s.
Trump media company replaces CEO, ex-congressman Nunes after stock plunge that wiped out billions
NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump business behind Truth Social is replacing a former congressman and big supporter of the U.S. president as leader of the social media platform after a stock collapse in the past year. Devin Nunes, a former California congressmen in Donald Trump’s first term, is being replaced temporarily by digital media executive Kevin McGurn as chief executive officer. The company, Trump Media & Technology, didn’t give a reason for Nunes leaving. After soaring following Trump’s re-election in November 2024, stock in the company plunged 67%, wiping out more than $6 billion in investor wealth.
New York sues Coinbase and Gemini, seeking to halt unlicensed prediction market businesses
NEW YORK (AP) — New York is suing Coinbase and Gemini over unregulated and unlicensed prediction market platforms that the state contends are illegal gambling operations. Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit was filed Tuesday in state court in Manhattan. James is seeking to bar the companies’ platforms from operating in the state unless and until they obtain licenses from the state Gaming Commission. Messages seeking comment were left for Coinbase and Gemini. Both companies began as cryptocurrency trading platforms before branching into the prediction space, which has been dominated by Kalshi and Polymarket.
Retail sales up 1.7% in March from February driven by a spike in gas prices due to the Iran war
NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers accelerated their spending in March from February, but they spent a good chunk of their money at the gas pump. A spike in gas prices due to the Iran war, now in its eighth week, resulted in a hefty 1.7% gain in March after a revised 0.7% increase in February, according to the Commerce Department’s report on Tuesday. The report marks the first read on spending to capture the effects of the Iran war. Excluding gas prices, the growth was a 0.6%, helped in part by government tax refunds and warm weather.
Federal judge strikes down some Trump administration actions that have slowed clean energy projects
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Massachusetts has struck down some of the Trump administration’s orders slowing down the development of clean energy. That includes a requirement that all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters must be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Chief Judge Denise J. Casper on Tuesday ruled that a coalition of plaintiffs representing wind and solar developers were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims. Casper issued a preliminary injunction to stop the administration from implementing the policies. The Interior Department in July said all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters must be personally approved by Burgum, oversight it said was needed to end preferential treatment for these technologies.
Trump picks a University of Minnesota professor to lead his economic council
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is nominating University of Minnesota economist Christopher Phelan as the next chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. The nomination was posted on the White House website on Tuesday. Phelan would succeed Stephen Miran, who joined the Federal Reserve Board of Governors last September. The council's vice chairman, Pierre Yared, has been acting leader since then. Phelan's background shows a strong interest in central banks, aligning with Trump's focus on pressuring the Fed to cut interest rates. Phelan has worked as a consultant with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
