By Ethan Baron ebaron@bayareanewsgroup.com The Mercury News and seven other newspapers sued Microsoft and OpenAI on Tuesday, claiming the technology giants illegally harvested millions of copyrighted articles to create their cutting-edge “generative” artificial intelligence products including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot. While the newspapers’ publishers have spent billions of dollars to send “real people to […]
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Migrants helping fill ‘well-documented worker shortage’ in Massachusetts, Healey says
An influx of migrants into Massachusetts has helped fill a “well-documented worker shortage,” Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday during a speech to leaders of some of the region’s largest and most influential businesses.
Monument Square project moving along
LEOMINSTER — The Monument Square upgrade project is moving along and slated to be completed by the end of June. Funding for renovation of the downtown spot comes from a $400,000 state PARC grant and $180,000 from the city. Project plans include planting new trees, adding lighting and additional seating, making the entire area handicapped […]
Fitchburg State announces honorees for commencement ceremonies
FITCHBURG–Fitchburg State University alumna Yla Eason, who founded a multiracial toy company dedicated to fighting the racial imbalance in toys and superheroes, will deliver the address at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18. Eason, a 1971 graduate of Fitchburg State, is an accomplished marketing professional based in the Greater New York City area […]
Editorial: Benefits of police body cameras well worth the expense
In the nationwide atmosphere of heightened scrutiny on the performance of police officers, the Lowell Police Department launched a body-camera pilot program last April that equipped 30 officers – 10 on each shift – with those devices. As part of this initial introduction, then-interim Police Superintendent Barry Golner said the plan was to rotate the […]
State water employees pay fines for accepting free ski trips, Sox tickets
Massachusetts water employees pay fines for accepting free ski trips, Red Sox tickets, rooftop drinks at The Envoy Hotel