All posts tagged: von

Former von der Leyen aide’s new role reflects EU competition policy shift – POLITICO

Former von der Leyen aide’s new role reflects EU competition policy shift – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Speaking with POLITICO, Whelan denied that his role was to build a bridge between von der Leyen and the competition department. “I don’t think the president and the EVP are in need of bridges,” he said. Ribera — who as the top socialist in the Commission is a foil to Christian Democrat von der Leyen — also framed the department’s future mandate through a philosophical lens, calling for enforcement grounded in fairness and protecting the vulnerable.  “In these uncertain times, our responsibility is more important than ever: to enforce rules firmly, to remain free from any distorting pressures, to act with integrity,” Ribera wrote. European Commission Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera arriving at the European Pulse Forum in Barcelona on April 10. | David Zorrakino/Europa Press via Getty Images Bridge builder or not, competition bubble insiders say Whelan has the bureaucratic and political chops to both manage that relationship and execute on the new competition agenda. “Highly intelligent, politically savvy, pragmatic, open-minded, and a strong believer in vigorous enforcement,” is …

Wildberger: Einsatz von KI-Systemen wie ChatGPT teils „sehr gefährlich“

Wildberger: Einsatz von KI-Systemen wie ChatGPT teils „sehr gefährlich“

Published by Sam Flores

Digitalminister Karsten Wildberger warnt vor einem unkritischen Einsatz von ChatGPT und ähnlichen KI-Systemen, insbesondere bei sensiblen Anwendungen wie psychologischer Beratung. „Wenn man das nicht richtig macht, auch nicht richtige Vorgaben macht, kann das sehr gefährlich sein“, sagt Wildberger dem Pro-Newsletter Technologie & KI. Seine Aussagen sind auch in der aktuellen Folge des Podcasts Power & Policy zu hören. Gerade bei komplexen oder sensiblen Themen sieht der Minister klare Grenzen der Technologie. „Sind bestimmte Modelle beispielsweise, wenn sie entsprechend trainiert sind, in bestimmten Fachfragen schon sehr gut? Ja“, sagt der CDU-Politiker. „Reicht das aus, um wirklich eine Diagnose zu stellen? Ein klares Nein.“ Zwar könne KI technologisch „einen ganzen Mehrwert liefern“. Gleichzeitig gelte aber: „Ich würde persönlich, wenn es jetzt in meinem Umfeld wäre, davor warnen, mit diesen Tools in dieser Form zu intensiv zu arbeiten, weil daraus gewisse Abhängigkeiten entstehen können.“ Regulierung reicht aus Beim Thema KI-Regulierung sieht Wildberger dennoch keinen akuten Handlungsbedarf. „Ich würde schon sagen, dass die Regulierung absolut ausreichend ist”, sagt er. Er warnt vor übermäßiger Strenge auf europäischer Ebene, etwa im …

Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy – POLITICO

Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Any change would be highly controversial, with even some typically pro-EU countries likely to balk at the prospect of losing control of foreign policy and facing the possibility of having to wave through decisions they oppose. The Commission would move quickly to engage with the incoming Hungarian government once it takes office, noting that incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar had signaled a clear pro-European direction during the campaign. “We can already see that [he] is very clear on the European path … committing the new government to continue working with us,” she said, adding that progress on EU funds and reforms would be a priority because “the Hungarian people deserve it.” Von der Leyen welcomed the outcome of Hungary’s elections, calling it “a day to celebrate” and said the EU was stronger and more united as a result. “The people of Hungary have spoken and they have reclaimed their European task,” she said. “It is a victory for fundamental freedoms.” Orbán, the EU’s most autocratic leader — a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump and …

Von der Leyen waits just 17 minutes to celebrate Orbán’s heavy defeat – POLITICO

Von der Leyen waits just 17 minutes to celebrate Orbán’s heavy defeat – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber, to which the victorious Tisza opposition party belongs, also couldn’t contain his glee at Orbán’s defeat. Orbán’s populist-nationalist Fidesz party left the center-right EPP group in 2021 to join the far-right Patriots for Europe. “Tonight is the victory of the people of Hungary!” Weber wrote. “They confirm that our centre-right, people-first politics win elections.”  “Substance. Solutions. Unity — not empty slogans and fears,” he added.  Orbán’s 16-year reign ended Sunday night with a landslide victory for the center-right opposition, led by Magyar, who is on track to win around two-thirds of the 199 seats in Budapest’s parliament.  Many of the political reactions to Orbán’s loss focused on what his defeat would mean for Europe, after years in which he thwarted EU unanimity on matters such as aid for Ukraine while barracking Brussels for tougher migration rules and nationalist policies. “Hungary’s place is at the heart of Europe,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola wrote.  French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Magyar: “Together, let us advance a more sovereign Europe, for the security of our continent, our competitiveness, and our democracy.” Source …

End-Of-Life Nurse Says These 5 Regrets Hit People All At Once At The Very End | Mia Von Scha

End-Of-Life Nurse Says These 5 Regrets Hit People All At Once At The Very End | Mia Von Scha

Published by Jenni Sidey

An end-of-life nurse, Bronnie Ware, recorded the top five regrets of the dying. Her book tells us what we can learn to live a fulfilling life.  Research has documented that the biggest regrets people have about their lives are related to “education, career, romance, parenting, the self, and leisure”. Knowing these regrets can help transform your journey. If you want to learn how to be a better person, keep some of these in mind daily with yourself and the people you love. The palliative nurse says five regrets hit people all at once at the very end: Regret #1: ‘I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me’ This came up as the most common regret expressed by the dying and is something that every parent should take note of, a reminder that your kids are not you, are not extensions of you, and are certainly not on this planet to fulfill the dreams you didn’t fulfill for yourself. Every child has dreams and hopes …

Kallas shrugs off von der Leyen tensions – POLITICO

Kallas shrugs off von der Leyen tensions – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister who took up the High Representative role in December 2024, straddles multiple EU power centers — serving as a Commission vice president under von der Leyen while also chairing meetings of EU foreign ministers and working closely with member countries. That hybrid setup has long created overlap — and occasional turf battles — with the Commission president, a leading figure in the center-right European People’s Party, while Kallas belongs to the liberal Renew Europe group. One flashpoint has been von der Leyen’s decision to establish an intelligence cell within the Commission, mirroring capabilities already housed in Kallas’ European External Action Service. “In my view, we cannot simply duplicate efforts in Europe,” Kallas said. “If something is already being done well in one place, then let it be done there.” She acknowledged “institutional tensions” had been present “from the very beginning,” but framed them as a question of efficiency rather than rivalry. “Europe needs to function as a single team,” she said, noting that citizens “don’t perceive the difference” between …

Duolingo’s Luis von Ahn Wants to Delete the Blockchain

Duolingo’s Luis von Ahn Wants to Delete the Blockchain

Published by skeptic

Luis von Ahn could have retired to a beach somewhere years ago. Best known as the CEO of the learning app Duolingo, von Ahn in the early 2000s invented the captcha, those infuriating little online tests that force people to prove they’re not robots. But after selling his creation to Google in 2009, von Ahn didn’t waste any time launching his next venture: a company borne of his experience growing up in Guatemala, one that’s now among the most prominent education platforms in the world. Von Ahn’s mom, a doctor, spent all of her extra income to send him to private school, giving von Ahn opportunities that most of his peers never saw. It is, as he tells me in this week’s Big Interview, the reason he founded Duolingo more than a decade ago, with the goal of making high-quality education free and widely available. Today, the company reaches more than 130 million users worldwide, from immigrants learning new languages to celebrities like George Clooney. Inequality may have inspired von Ahn, but his company now …

Diane von Furstenberg’s Annual Female Nominees Academy Award Lunch Brings Together Oscars Hopefuls and Bonafide Movie Stars

Diane von Furstenberg’s Annual Female Nominees Academy Award Lunch Brings Together Oscars Hopefuls and Bonafide Movie Stars

Published by Sam Flores

There is a certain assumption made about ladies who lunch—being, well, that they have the idle time for a languorous activity like a multi-course meal middle-of-the-day. (Often with wine.) And at Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg’s Trousdale Estates home in Beverly Hills, there were, yes, women enjoying a fantastic lunch—salmon, chicken salad, chickpeas and beets, and these delicious little pastry things made with Meyer lemon—with fantastic wine (never turn down a white Burgundy.) Yet aimless guests they were not: in fact, dozens of them will be up for an Academy Award on Sunday. The Belgian designer has thrown a picnic lunch honoring the female Oscar nominees for the past eleven years. It’s become somewhat of a staple on the see-and-be-seen awards-season circuit. But while many events focus on getting the buzzy, cloutiest names on their guest list, von Furstenberg’s guest list is curated by accomplishment. You’ll see bonafide movie stars there, sure. But you’ll also meet the directors of critically acclaimed short films, or producers of a social justice documentary. And the most impressive …

EU Can No Longer Rely on ‘Rules-Based’ System Against Threats, Von Der Leyen Says

EU Can No Longer Rely on ‘Rules-Based’ System Against Threats, Von Der Leyen Says

Published by Sam Flores

BRUSSELS, March 9 (Reuters) – The ⁠EU ⁠must be prepared ⁠to project its power more assertively ​as it can no longer rely on a “rules-based” ‌system against threats and ‌must determine if its institutions and ⁠systems ⁠help or hinder its credibility, European Commission President ​Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday. “We will always defend and uphold the rules-based system that ​we helped to build with our allies, ⁠but we ⁠can no longer ⁠rely ​on it as the only way to defend our ​interests or ⁠assume its rules will shelter us from the complex threats that we face,” von der Leyen said at a conference for ⁠EU ambassadors. “We urgently need to reflect on whether our ⁠doctrine, our institutions and our decision making – all designed in a postwar world of stability and multilateralism – have kept pace with the speed of change around us. Whether the system that we built – with all of its well-intentioned attempts ⁠at consensus and compromise – is more a help or a hindrance to our credibility as a …