Business

Elon Musk says he'll drop $97B OpenAI purchase offer if ChatGPT maker stays a nonprofit

Feb. 13, 2025

Elon Musk will withdraw his unsolicited bid of $97.4 billion to take over OpenAI if its board of directors stops the company’s conversion into a for-profit entity, a report said. The development reported by The Wall Street Journal comes after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman rejected Musk’s offer earlier this week, saying that the SpaceX and Tesla CEO is "probably just trying to slow us down" and that OpenAI – the maker of ChatGPT – is not for sale.

Entertainment

Jodeci shows canceled after K-Ci was hospitalized with pneumonia

Feb. 13, 2025

Jodeci is canceling a pair of shows as K-Ci recovers from an illness that landed him in the hospital. A representative for K-Ci confirmed to USA TODAY on Thursday that the R&B star, 55, was "briefly" hospitalized after he "fell ill with a bout of pneumonia." He is now out of the hospital and is recovering.

Business

How to avoid a romance scam this Valentine’s Day

Feb. 13, 2025

Valentine’s Day is a time for love, but unfortunately, it’s also a prime opportunity for scammers looking to prey on hopeful romantics. Romance scams cost Americans some $1.14 billion in 2023 alone. If you’re out there looking for love – or even just a new connection – you need to be on high alert this Valentine’s Day. Scammers have gotten more sophisticated, but with the right knowledge, you can protect yourself and your finances from heartbreak.

Entertainment

‘Cobra Kai’ costars Mary Mouser and Tanner Buchanan are engaged, as their series ends

Feb. 13, 2025

Wedding bells are ringing for “Cobra Kai” costars Mary Mouser and Tanner Buchanan, and the timing couldn’t be better. The couple announced that they are engaged in an Instagram post shared to both of their pages on Thursday, the same day that Netflix dropped the final episodes of the “Karate Kid”-inspired series’ sixth and final season. “This is such a special moment in our lives, the closing of one chapter and celebrating the continuation of another,” their collaborative post read.

Sports

Ricky Starks makes stunning WWE NXT appearance after release from rival company

Feb. 12, 2025

The WWE Universe was left stunned on Tuesday as NXT wrapped up its latest episode as pro wrestling superstar Ricky Starks showed up to the building to address the crowd. Starks was released from All Elite Wrestling on Monday following a months-long absence. He hadn’t been seen on AEW television since March 30, 2024, when he and Big Bill lost a tag-team match to Dante and Darius Martin.

Entertainment

Dua Lipa mourns the ‘death’ of Duo the Owl, the Duolingo app’s cartoon mascot

Feb. 12, 2025

Duo, the green cartoon owl mascot for language learning app Duolingo, has died, and singer Dua Lipa is grieving. The brand announced Duo’s passing on Tuesday, writing in a cheeky statement on their official X page that “Authorities are currently investigating his cause of death and we are cooperating fully. Tbh, he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know.” Duolingo is a smartphone-based language-learning app that offers more than 100 courses covering over 40 languages in bitesize sessions. It became hugely popular during the pandemic, and when you miss a lesson, the app famously sends silly or teasing messages to urge you to keep learning.

Business

Trump White House bars Associated Press reporter for a second day. AP signals legal action

Feb. 12, 2025

Out with the oldspeak. In with President Trump’s newspeak — or else. That’s the apparent message as the Trump White House tries to punish a preeminent news outlet for its editorial decision-making. On Tuesday the White House broke with decades of precedent and blocked Associated Press reporters from attending two of President Trump’s media availabilities. The AP said it was blocked because it hasn’t changed its stylebook entry for Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America.”

Entertainment

Books like 'Red Rising': Dystopian novels to read while you wait for 'Red God'

Feb. 12, 2025

Spend enough time among fans of dystopian sci-fi, and you’ll hear “Red Rising” enter the conversation. Penned by Pierce Brown, the six-book series has sold over 6 million copies since the first book came out a little over a decade ago. When it was first published in 2014, our reviewer said it “ascends above a crowded dystopian field,” calling it a cross between the Occupy Movement, “The Lord of the Flies” and a “really serious game of ‘Risk.’”

Entertainment

Super Bowl averaged a record 127.7 million US viewers

Feb. 12, 2025

Despite the game being a blowout, Sunday night’s Super Bowl averaged a record 127.7 million U.S. viewers across television and streaming platforms for Philadelphia’s 40-22 victory over Kansas City. The game was televised by Fox, Fox Deportes and Telemundo and streamed on Tubi as well as the NFL’s digital platforms. Not only is it a 3% increase from last year, it is the second straight year the Super Bowl has reached a record audience. The Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco in 2024 averaged 123.7 million on CBS, Nickelodeon, Univision and streaming platforms. According to Nielsen, the audience peaked at 137.7 million in the second quarter (8-8:15 p.m. EST). Some of the increase can be attributed to a change in the way viewers are counted. This is the first year Nielsen is measuring out-of-home viewers for all states but Hawaii and Alaska.

Entertainment

What to stream: Bridget Jones, ‘Yellowjackets,’ ‘White Lotus and Alessia Car

Feb. 12, 2025

Renée Zellweger returning to one of her most indelible roles in “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” and Questlove offering the definitive documentary on funk crossover star Sly Stone are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty return with the album “Plus One,” ice skaters of color and their coaches are the focus of a new docuseries called “Harlem Ice” and the first two episodes drop of season three of Showtime’s horror series “Yellowjackets.”