In other news: Apple leaps into AI with upcoming iPhone features; James Beard Award winners announced

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 12, 2024

By The Associated Press

Apple leaps into AI with an array of upcoming iPhone features and a ChatGPT deal to smarten up

Apple has jumped into the race to bring generative artificial intelligence to the masses. During its World Wide Developers Conference Monday, the tech giant spotlighted a slew of features designed to soup up the iPhone, iPad and Mac. Even as it tried to put its own stamp on the hottest area of technology, Apple tacitly acknowledged it needed help to catch up with companies like Microsoft and Google, which have emerged as the early leaders in the AI field. Apple is leaning on ChatGPT, made by the San Francisco startup OpenAI, to help make its often-bumbling virtual assistant Siri smarter and more helpful.

Palestinian DC chef and Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans win coveted James Beard Awards

A Palestinian chef using ancient cooking techniques, a Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans and an upscale Thai restaurant in Oregon have won coveted James Beard Awards. More than 100 restaurants and chefs were finalists in 22 categories for the culinary world’s equivalent of the Oscars. The red carpet awards ceremony took place Monday in Chicago. Just being a finalist can bring wide recognition outside chef’s geographic area and boost business. The most-anticipated categories include awards for outstanding restaurateur, chef and restaurant. The James Beard Foundation started bestowing the awards in 1991. Michael Rafidi won outstanding chef among five finalists.

The Library of Congress wants more visitors. Spider-Man, Santana and Lincoln are on deck

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The Library of Congress is unveiling an eclectic new exhibit drawing on the institution’s vast historical archives and designed to make the Library a more popular and accessible destination for visitors and tourists. “Collecting Memories” — which opens to the public on June 13 — is an intensely curated exhibit that brings together items as varied as 15th-century illustrated Hebrew religious texts, the contents of President Abraham Lincoln’s pockets when he was assassinated, the first sketches of Spider-Man and videos of Carlos Santana in concert. The new exhibit, along with a revamped gift shop, comes as part of a campaign to make the Library of Congress more attractive to everyday tourists and school groups.