Microsoft & Google working to launch their own version of CHAT GPT

Feb 2 2023

Microsoft is reportedly incorporating a faster version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, called GPT-4, into Bing in the near future.

This integration will allow Bing to use GPT-4 to answer search queries, making the search engine more competitive with Google.

According to sources, the main difference between ChatGPT and GPT-4 is speed, with GPT-4 providing faster and more detailed responses that are more human-like.

The integration of ChatGPT into Microsoft products is expected to trigger new competition in internet search, which has been dominated by Google.

In addition to the incorporation into Bing, Microsoft is rumored to be bringing OpenAI’s language AI technology into apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Microsoft recently extended its partnership with OpenAI with a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar investment, with plans to make OpenAI’s foundational systems available as commercial platforms.

OpenAI is also planning to introduce a mobile ChatGPT app and test a new feature in Dall-E, its image-generating software, that will generate videos using AI.

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PN MP calls out PBS for not reporting on Malta’s transparency index drop

Feb 2 2023

PN MP Graham Bencini has lodged a complaint with the Broadcasting Authority against TVM for not reporting Malta’s poor ranking in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

In a letter to the BA, Bencini claimed that TVM’s failure to report the news is a violation of subsidiary laws that require broadcasting to be impartial and accurate.

Bencini also accused the government of political interference in PBS and argued that the BA is obliged to monitor PBS and take action in such cases.

The latest CPI by Transparency International ranked Malta at 51 out of 100, its lowest score ever. Malta is ranked alongside Rwanda and Saudi Arabia and is seven points behind Qatar.

The CPI measures various types of corruption including bribery, public sector red tape, and access to government information. The top spots in the ranking were occupied by Denmark, followed by Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden.

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Outrage as Paulina Dembska’s temporary memorial found vandalised

Feb 2 2023

A temporary memorial honouring the late Paulina Dembska, a Polish student who was raped and murdered in Sliema a year ago, was found vandalized.

The memorial, which was set up near the site of her death and consisted of a picture of Paulina and a poem, was found with scratch marks on her eyes.

Paulina’s friend, Agnieszka Gramala, is working with an artist to create a permanent memorial for her friend. The vandalism has prompted them to act sooner.

‘Paulina’s family and I would like to do something artistic and subtle to commemorate Paulina – right there in Sliema. It was her beloved place and it’s important to us that some small part of her always looks at this view. Unfortunately, the temporary initiative was destroyed by someone’ wrote Agnieszka.

Paulina’s death sparked a change in legislation to include femicide in the criminal code and led to a mass and vigil on the anniversary of her murder.

A group of female artists painted a mural at the entrance of the garden where Paulina was killed last year to commemorate the victim.

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Boost for Malta’s hotels in 2022 despite still below pre-pandemic levels

Feb 2 2023

The hospitality industry in Malta had a significant recovery in 2022, however profits still fell short of 2019 levels.

According to a survey conducted by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, tourist arrivals reached 83% of the numbers in 2019.

Tourists spent an average of €121.86 per day in Malta, which is 9.4% higher than in 2019. However, overall tourist spending was only 91% of that in 2019. Five-star hotels reached an occupancy rate of 54.3%, which is 75% of the rate in 2019.

Five-star hotels had a gross operating profit of €21,050.8 per available room, which was only 14% lower than 2019 levels. Four-star hotels had a gross operating profit of €12,887.9 per available room, or 79% of 2019 levels.

Despite the positive trend in the industry, Deloitte financial advisory leader Raphael Aloisio warned that not everyone in the industry will succeed, as clients are becoming more selective about where they stay.

The president of the MHRA, Tony Zahra, stressed the importance of the government’s decision to absorb an increase in energy costs for the industry’s recovery.

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