Farmers say they are turning prime agricultural land over to solar panels to survive Labour's tax onslaught because the Net Zero installations pay 10 times as much as food production, which is now often loss-making.
The post “I’m Turning My Farm Over to Solar Panels to Survive Labour’s Tax Raids” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Courtesy of Edward Tian
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Edward Tian, the 26-year-old cofounder of GPTZero, who's based in New York. His words have been edited for length and clarity.
I was never planning to go down the founder path straight out of college. I had a visual investigations fellowship lined up for after graduation and was ready to start a journalism career.
My cofounder Alex and I went to high school together. When ChatGPT came out, he was pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Toronto, and I was in my senior year at Princeton. Over winter break, we built an AI detection tool and put it online. The success was almost overnight.
Three years later, we sold our company, GPTZero, to Superhuman, and have stayed on board to work with the team. Superhuman is a very pro-AI company, and I think it was an unexpected move for us as an AI detection company to join them.
We didn't build GPTZero to say there should be no AI on the internet. I think that's the biggest misunderstanding about why we started our company, but my feelings on AI have changed.
I studied computer science at Princeton and worked with a professor at the Princeton Natural Language Processing Lab on AI research. I also worked on a few other startup projects in school, but I was always hoping to work in journalism.
While in college, I became very involved in the open-source investigation community. I ended up working on open-source investigative projects with the BBC and Bellingcat, and had a visual investigations fellowship at The New York Times lined up after graduation, which I was excited about but ultimately didn't take.
After ChatGPT came out, I was inspired to investigate where and when AI was being used online. It took about a week over winter break to build the first version of our AI detection tool, and it was released in January 2023.
My cofounder Alex and I posted on social media to market the tool so people could try it, but we didn't view it as a business right away. However, it blew up online pretty quickly. After seeing the success, we wanted to double down on the opportunity and turn it into a legitimate site.
One piece of advice I have for founders is that using a waitlist is really helpful for generating hype and excitement. We put the first version of GPTZero on a waitlist because it had reached capacity. So I think that artificial scarcity was also very helpful in the success.
We had a lucky combination of very talented engineers and some traction and buzz, so we started reaching out to VCs. Many of our early VC partners went to my alma mater, and kind of all knew each other. Jack Altman is also an investor, and I remember we had a call where I was in my dorm room, and he was like, "Oh, I recognize that dorm room too."
For founders raising funding for the first time, my advice is not to optimize for the flashiest name or the biggest brand because you think it will attract future talent. Go for where there's familiarity and trust; trust is the most important thing when working with an investor.
We raised around $3.5 million in our first funding round. I stayed at Princeton to finish my senior year and graduate, and we kept growing the business. My cofounder Alex left his Ph.D. program to focus on the business.
When Shishir, the new CEO of Superhuman, joined in 2025, we spoke with him about his broader platform vision for a suite of products. He thought we could be part of the authenticity suite he wanted to create.
It was bittersweet to think about giving up something that we started from scratch and put so much energy and care into. At the same time, it was a lot easier because the team stayed on. I'm now a director of product at Superhuman.
For company acquisitions, a lot of folks think the three most important things for a great fit are product match, people fit, and economic sense. We had similar people philosophies, and the deal made sense financially. Then, product-wise, we realized we're definitely not against AI use anywhere in education. We just want to make sure there's some authenticity and truth with that usage.
Over the next few years, we're going to take our shot at building a startup within a larger company. I've seen a lot of startup founders go to larger companies and start their moonshots from within.
The bigger mission we have is to take steps to ensure people are being respectful of the person who's on the receiving end of AI generations and productivity now. We want it to be that we're reaping the benefits of AI without making other people deal with more work.
When we first started GPTZero, I think I was actually more pro-AI than I am now. I believe people should know when something is AI-generated, but I wasn't saying not to outsource anything at all.
In the past year, though, I've started to see an over-reliance on AI among people who finished university after ChatGPT was launched, especially with writing. If I went back to college right now, I wouldn't major in computer science. I'd probably major in journalism and get a minor in computer science. I'd get a humanities degree because those are the important skills now.
I've started to see a friction point at work when people can't write or edit, and everything they send reads like AI. Part of what I'm doing now at Superhuman is working on responsible AI usage policies and guidance.
People are allowed to use these tools however they see fit. At the same time, I feel a profound sadness for the internet at large. It's important to make sure we still have human-written content online.
Do you have a story to share about working on a tiny team? If so, please reach out to the reporter at aapplegate@businessinsider.com.
In the Daily Sceptic's final exclusive extract from Chris Morrison's new book on the 'climate crisis': trying to run a modern economy on windmills is insane, but eye-watering sums from green billionaires say it isn't.
The post How Green Billionaires Convinced the World to Build Thousands of Useless Windmills: Final Exclusive Extract From Chris Morrison’s New Book on the Invented ‘Climate Crisis’ appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Andy Burnham looks set to defy Ed Miliband and give the go-ahead for drilling in the North Sea's Rosebank oil field, as the Treasury's money troubles threaten to trump Labour's Net Zero ambitions.
The post Burnham and Healey Set to Defy Miliband Over Rosebank Oil Field appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
The BBC has pulled material from its Bitesize educational website, used by 1.7 million pupils a week, after it was caught rewarding kids for backing open borders and pushing Left-wing views on migration and Net Zero.
The post BBC Bitesize Pulls Left-Wing Material Pushing Extreme Views on Migration and Net Zero appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
From beaches to old-growth forests, wind farms are destroying the environment in the name of saving it, says Sandra Bourke. Greens are turning their backs as reckless renewables industrialise the natural world.
The post Wind Turbines vs Nature: How Reckless Renewables Are Destroying the Environment appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
A new report calling on the Church of England to stop wasting money on "extravagant" Net Zero and reparations projects and refocus on parishes echoes what front-line clergy have been saying for years, says Julian Mann.
The post The Church of England Must Stop Wasting Money appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Smart TVs will be forced to power up more slowly under plans to align Britain with the EU's Net Zero rules capping the power usage of devices on standby.
The post Smart TVs to Switch on More Slowly Under EU Net Zero Rules appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
The Church of England is "heading for financial disaster" because of its Net Zero targets and the £100 million slavery reparations fund, a damning report has warned.
The post Church of England is Facing “Financial Disaster” Because of Net Zero Targets and its Plan to Spend £100 Million on Slavery Reparations, Report Warns appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
O presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) sancionou nesta quarta-feira (21) a lei que prevê o perdão de dívidas tributárias de microempreendedores individuais (MEIs) com o governo federal. Na mesma cerimônia, o presidente formalizou uma proposta de gratuidade no transporte público aos sábados e domingos, que ainda precisará passar pelo Congresso Nacional.
As medidas chegam em meio à campanha de Lula à reeleição e à tentativa de ampliar o apoio entre os pequenos empreendedores, segmento no qual o petista enfrenta dificuldades eleitorais. O presidente também defendeu mudanças na destinação dos recursos públicos, com críticas ao volume do Orçamento comprometido com emendas parlamentares.
Ao justificar o perdão das dívidas, Lula afirmou que a medida pretende retirar o peso da inadimplência dos empreendedores. Segundo ele, aproximadamente 4 milhões de pessoas poderão regularizar sua situação.
“O governo sabe que não vai receber, mas fica aquele peso nas costas das pessoas. Nós resolvemos assumir a responsabilidade dessa dívida e perdoar os devedores”, declarou.
O passivo alcançado pela medida é estimado em R$ 15 bilhões. O benefício inclui débitos que ainda não foram inscritos na Dívida Ativa da União.
A legislação também altera regras de funcionamento do Microempreendedor Individual. O limite anual de faturamento, atualmente fixado em R$ 81 mil, passará para R$ 110 mil em 2027 e R$ 140 mil em 2028. O último reajuste havia ocorrido em 2018.
Outra mudança permite que o MEI mantenha até dois empregados registrados, em vez de apenas um. As alterações ampliam a capacidade de crescimento dos pequenos negócios formalizados nessa categoria.
O ministro do Empreendedorismo, Paulo Pereira, argumentou que o teto atual restringe a expansão de parte dos empreendedores. Segundo ele, muitos negócios ficaram limitados pelo valor máximo de receita permitido.
O ministério também estima que pelo menos 4 milhões de MEIs estejam em situação de informalidade em razão da inadimplência. A expectativa do governo é que a regularização permita o retorno desses trabalhadores ao recolhimento de tributos.
A proposta de mudança das regras do MEI também integrou as negociações políticas entre Lula e o presidente da Câmara dos Deputados, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), em torno da redução da jornada de trabalho e do fim da escala 6×1. Uma das preocupações discutidas era o impacto das mudanças trabalhistas sobre os pequenos empreendedores.
O perdão das dívidas, porém, recebeu críticas da oposição, que questionou o tratamento dado aos inadimplentes em comparação com quem mantém os pagamentos em dia. Paulo Pereira rebateu o argumento e afirmou que os empreendedores adimplentes também serão beneficiados pelas mudanças no limite de faturamento e pelo Procred 360, linha de crédito do governo federal.
A gratuidade no transporte público aos fins de semana foi apresentada por Lula em uma proposta de emenda à Constituição (PEC). A iniciativa prevê destinar pelo menos 26,8% dos recursos reservados às emendas parlamentares obrigatórias para financiar a medida.
A estimativa apresentada pelo governo é que o mecanismo represente R$ 11,2 bilhões no Orçamento de 2027. O texto, entretanto, ainda precisa ser aprovado pelos deputados e senadores.
As emendas parlamentares são parcelas do Orçamento cuja destinação é definida por deputados e senadores. Parte desses recursos tem execução obrigatória, o que torna a proposta de Lula um ponto de disputa com o Legislativo.
Durante a cerimônia, o presidente defendeu a utilização de uma parcela dessas verbas para custear o transporte gratuito. Lula argumentou que o dinheiro público deve produzir benefícios diretos para a população e criticou a concentração de recursos nas mãos dos parlamentares.
O presidente reconheceu as dificuldades para aprovar a proposta, diante da falta de maioria governista no Congresso e da resistência de parlamentares a mudanças nas regras de distribuição das emendas.
Lula também afirmou que a gratuidade aos sábados e domingos representa uma etapa inicial. Segundo ele, a experiência poderá ser ampliada caso apresente resultados positivos e seja possível manter o equilíbrio fiscal.
O ministro do Planejamento, Bruno Moretti, declarou que a proposta foi estruturada para manter a neutralidade fiscal, uma vez que o texto indica a fonte de financiamento da política pública.
A destinação dos recursos públicos também ocupou parte do discurso presidencial. Lula criticou o montante reservado às emendas parlamentares e afirmou que a concentração de verbas compromete a capacidade do governo de financiar políticas públicas.
O projeto de Orçamento de 2027 prevê R$ 44,8 bilhões para emendas individuais e de bancada. O valor supera os R$ 40,8 bilhões inicialmente previstos para 2026. No Orçamento atualmente considerado, a previsão chega a R$ 49,9 bilhões.
O presidente afirmou ter recebido uma estrutura orçamentária insuficiente para custear programas e serviços públicos. Na avaliação apresentada por Lula, a destinação de recursos às emendas reduziu o espaço disponível para áreas como saúde, educação e assistência social.
Bruno Moretti também criticou a situação orçamentária deixada pelo governo de Jair Bolsonaro (PL) para o primeiro ano da gestão Lula, em 2023. O ministro mencionou a falta de recursos para programas sociais e o volume reservado ao chamado orçamento secreto.
A discussão sobre as emendas deve continuar no centro das negociações entre Executivo e Legislativo. Lula já manifestou a intenção de discutir uma revisão das regras de destinação obrigatória desses recursos caso conquiste um novo mandato.
Enquanto o perdão das dívidas dos MEIs foi sancionado, a tarifa zero permanece condicionada à tramitação da PEC. A implementação da gratuidade dependerá, portanto, da aprovação dos parlamentares e da definição das condições de financiamento.
The post Lula sanciona perdão de R$ 15 bilhões de dívidas do MEI appeared first on Diário da Manhã - O Jornal do leitor Inteligente.
Labour has finally approved new drilling for gas in the North Sea, despite the project already receiving the go ahead over two years ago under the Tories, after energy prices hit a four-year high.
The post Labour Finally Approves New North Sea Drilling appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
In just two years Labour has seen the closure of two of Britain's six oil refineries due to green levies. The remaining four are much too important to sacrifice to Net Zero, says Ted Newson.
The post Britain’s Oil Refineries Are Too Important to Sacrifice to Net Zero appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Inicia-se hoje, 19 de outubro e prolonga-se até 30 de outubro, em Erevan, na Arménia, a 17.ª Conferência das Partes da Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre Diversidade Biológica, denominada de forma mais simples como COP17 Biodiversidade, sob o lema “Taking action for nature” – “Agir pela natureza”. Em paralelo reúnem-se as Partes dos Protocolos de […]
Seven Tory MPs who skipped a vote on leaving the ECHR also belong to the pro-Net Zero 'Conservative Environment Network'. Coincidence? Paul Homewood thinks not and reckons Kemi Badenoch has a serious problem on her hands.
The post Tory Wets Come Out Into the Open appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Cabinet ministers are turning on Ed Miliband, accusing him of blocking AI investment to protect Net Zero – while families pay the price in lost jobs and holidays.
The post Ministers Turn on Ed Miliband Over Net Zero Block on AI Investment appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
The BBC has been accused of using its Bitesize website to push open borders, Net Zero and woke ideology on children as young as 11, teaching them that more immigration is great and anyone who disagrees is likely a bigot.
The post BBC Bitesize Accused of ‘Brainwashing’ Schoolchildren with Left-Wing Views on Migration and Net Zero appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
A ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável apresentou um parecer desfavorável na consulta pública do Estudo de Impacte Ambiental (EIA) da Barragem da Foupana, que decorre até hoje, dia 16 de outubro, no portal Participa. O estudo tem insuficiências graves para a aferição dos seus impactes, desde logo por reconhecer que o saramugo (Anaecypris hispanica) […]
Further exclusive extracts from Chris Morrison's new book on the invented 'climate crisis' are published today on the Daily Sceptic. Read about the role of the BBC and Met Office in driving the hysteria.
The post The Corruption of the BBC and Met Office: Further Exclusive Extracts From Chris Morrison’s New Book on the Invented ‘Climate Crisis’ appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
A heat pump subsidy scheme launched by Ed Miliband just nine months ago is facing cuts to help fund defence as the public continues to reject the technology and the quiet Net Zero rollback marches on.
The post Heat Pump Subsidies to be Scaled Back to Fund Defence appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Read an exclusive extract from the explosive new book by the Daily Sceptic's Environment Editor Chris Morrison. It will send shock waves through the climate science community as it exposes scads of elite misinformation.
The post Exclusive Extracts from Chris Morrison’s New Book Implausible: How Scientists, Activist Politicians and Journalists Invented a Climate Crisis appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
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