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Reuters
3 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Dublin like a local
A young, creative, international city has emerged from the financial crisis that stopped Dublin in its tracks for the best part of a decade. The warehouses of the Irish capital have been repurposed by international tech companies for their European headquarters, the docks and quays are lined with buildings of glass and steel, and there are new hotels, coffee shops and bars. It is still unmistakably Dublin — with its beautiful Georgian terraces, manicured garden squares, stunning coastal walks and villages that make up some of the prettiest suburbs of any capital city. But now its cobbled streets hum with fresh purpose. I grew up on Ireland's west coast and, after a spell in London, moved to Dublin a decade ago to cover Irish business news and then political and general news for Reuters. The economic catastrophe that befell Dublin after the 2008 financial crisis is a cautionary tale of the dangers of unfettered lending and poor regulation. But reinvented as a modern, cosmopolitan capital that values its people and history, today's Dublin is simply marvellous. Here's how to enjoy this beautifully unruly city like a local: Pubs: Dublin's pubs are essential to the city's cultural and social fabric. They are where friends catch up, colleagues bond after work, and couples meet for dates. Some are loud and busy, others perfect for sitting alone with your thoughts or a book. My favourite is Martin B. Slattery's in the vibrant, eclectic suburb of Rathmines. A wood-paneled pub — that like most classic Dublin watering holes still refuses to serve food — 'Slatts' has a snug at the front, the patrons love to chat, and the Guinness is exceptional. In town, there's the Long Hall, a stone's throw from Dublin Castle, with red-and-white striped canopies. Inside, it's largely unchanged since it opened in 1881. Another Victorian classic is the Palace on Fleet Street. Flowers cascade from hanging baskets outside and an antique lamppost marks the entrance. It is one of the oldest pubs in the city, and a favourite of students from nearby Trinity College and tourists stopping for a pint as they amble towards Temple Bar. It has a strong literary heritage, with poet Patrick Kavanagh and novelist Flann O'Brien among its former patrons. If you're looking for something quirkier, make your way over to the Hacienda on Mary Street, popular with celebrity musicians winding down after a show. Behind its Spanish colonial exterior, it always looks closed — which it is to most people, unless proprietor Shay likes the look of you. He never opens before 8 p.m., but if you think you're the type of punter that Shay will welcome, then press a buzzer at the door marked 'Bar' and wait to see if he'll let you in. The traditional 'session': The Cobblestone in Smithfield is the stand-out choice for quality traditional Irish music. Tucked into a quiet corner of a square that was once known for its bustling livestock market, it is described by its owner as a "drinking pub with a music problem." There is a "seisiún" of traditional Irish music every night — an informal performance by seasoned musicians who gather to play for fun. You will want to get in early to grab a stool by the bar, so you can see the performers in the corner. O'Donoghue's on Merrion Row is a music pub steeped in history and was a favourite of The Dubliners, a traditional folk music group that sold more than thirty million records. The walls are adorned by photos and drawings of the Irish music legends who have played here over the years, and there are music sessions every night. Whelan's on Wexford Street is a must for live music. Major artists that have passed through its doors include the Arctic Monkeys, Damien Rice, Mumford & Sons, and Ed Sheeran, who calls Whelan's one of his favourite venues in the world. To eat: In the years since the financial crisis, Irish food has undergone a significant evolution, moving beyond traditional stereotypes into a modern and innovative culinary culture. Chapter One, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, and Liath each have two Michelin stars, and there are five more restaurants with one star. International influences have flourished, creating exciting culinary fusions derived from Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. Traditional dishes such as Irish stew, soda bread and Dublin Coddle can still be found at places like the Quays Restaurant in Temple Bar, but my go-tos are the caipirinhas and petiscos at Rei Momo in the centre of town, or the authentic tacos, quesadillas and tamalitos at Suertudo in Ranelagh. The definitive read: In a city seeped in literature, one book dominates: James Joyce's 'Ulysses.' The modernist classic is an intricate portrait of the city on a single day, June 16, 1904 — and the characters' steps are retraced by thousands every year on Bloomsday. A good place to start is the Joyce Tower Museum, on the coast at Sandycove and housed in a Martello tower, a round stone fort built in the early 19th century to defend against a Napoleonic invasion. The tower is the setting for the opening chapter of "Ulysses," where Stephen Dedalus wakes up and begins his day. Joyce himself stayed here briefly in 1904. For the real enthusiast, consider a reading at Sweny's Chemist and Druggist, where you'll be transported into a living page of "Ulysses". A charming, time-capsule of a shop, it is located at 1 Lincoln Place, a short walk from Trinity College. More literary trails: Dublin revels in its literary heritage. Three of the four newest bridges have been named after writers, and you can't turn a corner in Dublin without bumping into a plaque or statue devoted to a writer or poet. The city has been an inspiration for numerous authors, so no visit is complete without a literary tour. Start at Merrion Square, where Oscar Wilde's sculpture cuts a colourful figure lounging on a rock overlooking his family home across the street. "Dracula' writer Bram Stoker lived at the nearby 30 Kildare Street for a time with his wife, Florence. But perhaps the most impressive place on any literary tour of Dublin is Trinity College, home to the Long Room, a 65-metre (213-ft)-long chamber in its library that contains 200,000 of the university's oldest books (currently under restoration). The Book of Kells, a precious ninth century manuscript containing the four gospels of the New Testament, is on permanent display. Swift, Wilde, Beckett, Stoker, and Synge studied here. More recently, it served as a backdrop and symbol of class and identity in Sally Rooney's 'Normal People.' If you're looking for literary Dublin, this is where you'll find it. Getting away: The sea matters to Dubliners. Joyce's characters in "Ulysses" are forever walking, haunted, by the shore. The first Dubliners were Viking raiders who came from across the sea and commandeered a sheltered pool on the Liffey for a winter camp to repair their longboats ahead of the spring pillaging. When Dubliners want to shake off the cobwebs, they head to the coast. Dublin's coastal towns and villages are some of the prettiest suburbs of any capital city and stretch from Howth in the north to Dalkey and Killiney Hill in the south, where U2's Bono and the Edge are neighbours. There are lovely coastal walks and breath-taking views in both directions, all easily reached on the local train, with fares starting at 2.60 euros ($3) for a single adult ticket. To really do Dublin like a Dubliner, the day should start with a bracing swim at Sandycove's "Forty Foot." Imagine a rocky outcrop into the Irish Sea, with waves crashing on concrete steps and brave souls in swimming togs gasping as they dive into the chilly waters. Few urban experiences are as invigorating, and when you emerge, you'll be more than ready to think about the lunch you're going to have in Howth. Located on the north side of Dublin Bay, perched on a rugged peninsula, Howth is a postcard-pretty fishing village you can amble around while picking up fish and chips and maybe an ice cream. I could happily eat every day at any one of the many fantastic restaurants in Howth, but if you like a view with your oysters or mussels, pick Aqua, a beautiful restaurant housed in a former sailing club at the end of the west pier. CITY MEMO DATA POINTS Population: 1.4 million Price of a cup of coffee: 5.10 euros ($5.85) for a cappuccino from Bewley's Café on Grafton Street. Price of a pint of beer: 6.80 euros ($7.80) for a pint of Guinness from Martin B. Slattery's. Great place to see a sunset: The Pavilion, a student bar overlooking the cricket pitch at Trinity College. Best bookstore: Hodges Figgis, a 257-year-old bookseller on Dawson Street.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft under fire as AI threatens massive 2030 goal: 'The overall trajectory since 2020 remains troubling'
After Microsoft's pollution climbed 23% following a green pledge, experts are warning that the company's trajectory "remains troubling." Microsoft pledged in 2020 to go carbon negative by 2030. The goal? Remove more harmful pollution from the air than the company creates. But that promise is falling short, as WebProNews detailed. Since then, its pollution has gone up, not down. In fact, it increased by 23.4%, according to GeekWire. The reason? A surge in artificial intelligence projects and the huge energy demand that comes with them. Data centers — massive facilities that power AI and cloud systems — are popping up fast. They rely heavily on electricity, and in many cases, it's still coming from dirty sources, such as gas and coal. So, even with progress in cutting emissions, "the overall trajectory since 2020 remains troubling," WebProNews noted. AI can help solve problems. But right now, it's also making one worse. Burning fossil fuels to power AI systems adds pollution to the air. That speeds up planet overheating and leads to more extreme weather, dirtier air, and higher health risks for communities. And this isn't just Microsoft's problem. Other tech companies are scaling up fast, too, while their environmental promises lag behind. Microsoft's own work with OpenAI has fueled some of this demand. But the results are clear. The company's growth is outpacing its green efforts. Microsoft is trying to catch up. It recently protected a massive forest in Washington that's larger than Seattle to help pull carbon from the air. It also signed the world's biggest deal for biochar, a substance made from burned organic waste and that can trap carbon underground. These moves matter. But they're not enough on their own. As critics have pointed out, strategies like these may help offset the problem but don't fix it if pollution keeps climbing. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What works? Shifting to cleaner energy sources before building more data centers is key. Companies that make those changes early reduce their pollution up front, instead of trying to clean it up later. To tell whether a company is doing the right thing or just pretending, start with this quick explainer on greenwashing. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Entrepreneur
4 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Federal Judge: Anthropic Acted Legally With AI Book Training
This precedent-setting case is the first time a federal judge has sided with tech companies in an AI copyright lawsuit. A federal judge ruled for the first time that it was legal for $61.5 billion AI startup, Anthropic, to train its AI model on copyrighted books without compensating or crediting the authors. U.S. District Judge William Alsup of San Francisco stated in a ruling filed on Monday that Anthropic's use of copyrighted, published books to train its AI model was "fair use" under U.S. copyright law because it was "exceedingly transformative." Alsup compared the situation to a human reader learning how to be a writer by reading books, for the purpose of creating a new work. "Like any reader aspiring to be a writer, Anthropic's [AI] trained upon works not to race ahead and replicate or supplant them — but to turn a hard corner and create something different," Alsup wrote. According to the ruling, although Anthropic's use of copyrighted books as training material for Claude was fair use, the court will hold a trial on pirated books used to create Anthropic's central library and determine the resulting damages. Related: 'Extraordinarily Expensive': Getty Images Is Pouring Millions of Dollars Into One AI Lawsuit, CEO Says The ruling, the first time that a federal judge has sided with tech companies over creatives in an AI copyright lawsuit, creates a precedent for courts to favor AI companies over individuals in AI copyright disputes. These copyright lawsuits rely on how a judge interprets the fair use doctrine, a concept in copyright law that permits the use of copyrighted material without obtaining permission from the copyright holder. Fair use rulings depend on how different the end work is from the original, what the end work is being used for, and if it is being replicated for commercial gain. The plaintiffs in the class action case, Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson, are all authors who allege that Anthropic used their work to train its chatbot without their permission. They filed the initial complaint, Bartz v. Anthropic, in August 2024, alleging that Anthropic had violated copyright law by pirating books and replicating them to train its AI chatbot. The ruling details that Anthropic downloaded millions of copyrighted books for free from pirate sites. The startup also bought print copies of copyrighted books, some of which it already had in its pirated library. Employees tore off the bindings of these books, cut down the pages, scanned them, and stored them in digital files to add to a central digital library. From this central library, Anthropic selected different groupings of digitized books to train its AI chatbot, Claude, the company's primary revenue driver. Related: 'Bottomless Pit of Plagiarism': Disney, Universal File the First Major Hollywood Lawsuit Against an AI Startup The judge ruled that because Claude's output was "transformative," Anthropic was permitted to use the copyrighted works under the fair use doctrine. However, Anthropic still has to go to trial over the books it pirated. "Anthropic had no entitlement to use pirated copies for its central library," the ruling reads. Claude has proven to be lucrative. According to the ruling, Anthropic made over one billion dollars in annual revenue last year from corporate clients and individuals paying a subscription fee to use the AI chatbot. Paid subscriptions for Claude range from $20 per month to $100 per month. Anthropic faces another lawsuit from Reddit. In a complaint filed earlier this month in Northern California court, Reddit claimed that Anthropic used its site for AI training material without permission.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Would You Go Back To Your Ex-Employer?
This is a published version of Forbes' Careers Newsletter. Click here to subscribe and get it in your inbox every Tuesday. A tough market has job seekers looking at their former employers for new positions. There's an eerie amount of phrases that apply to both breaking up with your partner and leaving your job: 'It's not you, it's me'; 'I think it's time we part ways'; 'I've found something else.' But as the time it takes to find a new job seems to grow endless (on average, it now takes about six months), would you ever consider going back to an ex? According to payroll processor ADP, an increasing number of American workers are returning to their old employers, many of which are eager to bring back trained and vetted candidates. Boomerang employees made up 35% of new hires in March, up from 31% last year across sectors, and they made up an average of 45% of hires at information firms over the last 12 months. The appeal of hiring a former employee comes after a number of tech workers left their positions during 'The Great Resignation' of 2021 and 2022. Benefiting from a job seeker-friendly market, many applicants were offered cushy salaries and competitive compensation packages at new firms. But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. As tech companies cut middle management and AI continues to reduce workforces at even the largest companies, workers are tapping into their networks—like old bosses—for future opportunities. And hiring former workers is a bonus for employers, too. Boomerang workers often know the culture and require less training. 'Elevated economic uncertainty might be inspiring a return to familiar relationships,' ADP chief economist Nela Richardson wrote in the report. So let this trend serve as a reminder: Don't burn bridges with former employers, because they could just as soon be your future one. In other news, it's a hot week for the majority of the United States, so I hope you're staying cool and hydrated. Happy reading! WORK SMARTER Practical insights and advice from Forbes staff and contributors to help you succeed in your job, accelerate your career and lead smarter. Changing your mindset from 'What can I do?' to 'What can I build?' can help you earn $3,000 a month with your side hustle. Being curious and driven is key to standing out in the AI age. Feeling unproductive at work? Try these brain hacks to remain focused. TOUCH BASE News from the world of work. More than 1,000 Americans per day became millionaires in 2024, senior contributor Pamela Danziger reports, helping to reach a total of 24 million millionaires in the U.S. A strong economy and stock market propelled the newcomers into the two-comma club. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy expects AI to reduce its workforce. Jassy told Amazon employees that the rapid rise in AI will mean the company will 'need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs.' The memo came just before Amazon told remote employees to relocate to a select number of hubs or lose their severance, according to Bloomberg. The Trump Administration laid off another 639 workers on Friday, this time from federally-funded news outlet Voice of America. The media company publishes news about the U.S. in 40 languages across the globe, ensuring accurate news in places where where free press is restricted. Truckers across the country are worried about losing their jobs as a mandatory English language requirement goes into effect. In April, President Trump signed an executive order requiring interstate tuckers to read and speak the language proficiently in order to maintain their licenses. Now, trucking schools are printing out scripts of English phrases for drivers to know in case they're pulled over for roadside inspections, the AP reports. Lululemon cut 150 corporate staff from its North America team as the company faces tariff and consumer trouble. New entrants in the athleisure space are also taking market share away from the Canadian company, meaning sales and revenue projections are down for the year. NUMBER TO NOTE 400% VIDEO How Generative AI is Changing Creative Work With Adobe's CTO QUIZ What company, known for providing 'flexible on-demand work,' is now hopping into the data-labeling industry? A. Upwork B. LinkedIn C. Uber D. Lyft Check if you got it right here.
The Verge
4 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Good question.
Good question. Tech companies are making bold bets on reaching the 'Holy Grail' of energy, nuclear fusion. It's a dream scientists have been chasing for decades, and that many believe is still decades away at best. Nevertheless, the energy needs of AI and an arms race with China are pumping billions of dollars into efforts to make fusion power a reality.
