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Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Getty Images Early this year, Google teased a fundamental change to its core product, the search engine through which much of the world accesses the web. Soon, the company said, Google would start using AI to “distill complex information and multiple perspectives into easy-to-digest formats.” By May, the company had a real product to share. For Google, it was an obvious and incremental feature update combining two of the company’s products: a text generator plugged into a search engine, basically. Searchers ask a question, and Google tries to answer it with short, article-style “snapshots.” For publishers, however — of news, how-to content, reviews, recommendations, reference material, and a range of other content one might describe as existing to “distill complex information and multiple perspectives into easy-to-digest formats” — it looked like nothing less than an existential crisis. Google was getting into content, automating the … [Read more...] about Will Google’s AI Plans Destroy the Media?

0 Crime & Safety The owner of Westminster-based Tri-County Sandblasting pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing from his workers and was immediately sentenced. City News Service , News Partner Posted Reply WESTMINSTER, CA — The owner of Westminster-based Tri-County Sandblasting pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing from his workers and was immediately sentenced to 15 days in jail and placed on one year of informal probation. Pavel Osokin was accused of stealing about $215,000, according to Deputy District Attorney Donde McCament. He failed to pay full benefits to his workers by "misclassifying projects," McCament said when charges were filed in December 2019. Osokin pleaded guilty to grand theft, making a fraudulent statement to obtain or deny compensation and intent to evade taxes, all misdemeanors, according to court records. As part of the plea deal, four counts of grand theft, receipt of portion of wages of a workman and … [Read more...] about 15 Days In Jail For OC Man Guilty Of Stealing $215K From Employees

0 Crime & Safety Due to the event's popularity, the city is planning to host a second shredding, e-waste recycling and compost giveaway event on May 27. Miranda Ceja , Patch Staff Posted Reply NEWPORT BEACH, CA — The City of Newport Beach's Earth Day event was deemed a success after drawing more than 860 residents to the city's corporation yard, a 73 percent increase from last year's Earth Day event. At the event, residents were able to shred sensitive documents, recycle e-waste and participate in a compost giveaway. According to the city, about 32,650 pounds of paper material was collected and shredded, nearly 8,650 pounds of e-waste recycled and about 2,600 bags of compost — 77,700 pounds — were distributed to residents. Due to the popularity of the event, the city announced plans to host a second event on Saturday, May 27. The event will include on-site shredding and compost distribution, however, e-waste … [Read more...] about Newport Beach Earth Day Event Draws 800+ People

0 Community Corner Thanks to the tireless work of volunteers, the Newport Beach coastline is spruced up after being heavily impacted by the recent storms. Miranda Ceja , Patch Staff Posted Reply NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Almost 600 pounds of trash were picked up off of Newport Beach's coastline, after two cleanup events brought 160 volunteers to the coast on Saturday, Jan. 23, the city said in a statement. The events were organized by two nonprofit groups, Orange County Coastkeeper and Surfrider North Orange County Chapter, the city said. Coastkeeper brought 90 volunteers to cleanup near the Newport Pier after it had been heavily impacted by trash and debris from the recent storms. Surfrider's 70 volunteers focused on West Newport around Prospect Street, which also had large amount of trash that washed up during the storms. According to Surfrider officials, a large percentage of the trash collected was Styrofoam and … [Read more...] about Nearly 600 Pounds Of Trash Picked Off Newport Beach Shores After Storm

1 Community Corner The results for the 2023 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Top Hotels are in, and one South OC hotel ranked with the best of them. Miranda Ceja , Patch Staff Posted Reply LAGUNA BEACH, CA — One Orange County hotel was named the 7th best in the entire country, after Tripadvisor released its annual 2023 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Top Hotels. Perched on a coastal bluff high above the Pacific ocean, Montage Laguna Beach resort clinched the 7th spot on the list — joining other iconic hotels across the nation, such as Hotel Madera in Washington, D.C. and Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, Georgia. Montage Laguna Beach resort was selected for its sprawling views of the ocean, wide selection of amenities, museum-quality collection of art and exemplary beach, pool and spa. Guests of the top tier resort are also offered exclusive access to a wide selection of rejuvenating wellness options at the … [Read more...] about Orange County Hotel Named Best In Nation, Per Tripadvisor

0 Community Corner Here's a run-down on what to know this week in Laguna Beach. Miranda Ceja , Patch Staff Posted Reply LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Memorial Day weekend has come and gone and May is almost behind us, Laguna Beach. During this year's 2023 Memorial Day festivities, Laguna Beach residents enjoyed a pancake breakfast brought to the community by the Laguna Beach Fire Department, as well as a free concert held by the Laguna JaZz Band and Laguna Community Concert Band. Residents also observed a Memorial Day Ceremony held by the Laguna Beach American Legion Post 222 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5868 at Monument Point in Heisler Park. Here's five things you should know before you get your work week started. Laguna Beach residents can expect the cloudy weather to stick around into this week, as the National Weather Service predicted a 20 percent chance of precipitation through Wednesday night, and cloud coverage … [Read more...] about Laguna Wins ‘Most Waterwise City’ For 8th Year: 5 Things To Know