Hello and happy Friday. Yay. I'm Ky Wire
here with your 10 minutes of news where
I simply tell you the what, letting you
decide what to think. Let's lock in and
finish this week strong. CNN 10 starts
now. Big news involving the biggest
names in live events. Live Nation and
its subsidiary, Ticketmaster. A New York
jury has found that the companies, which
merged in 2010, have been operating as a
monopoly. Industry dominance, driving up
ticket prices, overcharging fans. The
verdict follows a lengthy trial in New
York federal court that included
testimony from top executives in the
music and entertainment industries. It
could lead to a possible breakup of the
largest US concert promoter and ticket
seller, but that doesn't necessarily
mean we'll see ticket fees drop soon.
The judge will hold a second trial to
decide what happens next. Live Nation
plans to appeal, saying, quote, "The
jury's verdict is not the last word on
this matter." In 2024, the US Justice
Department and 39 different state
attorneys general sued Live Nation,
alleging its control of the ticketing
market was harming fans, artists, and
venues. Last month, the Justice
Department and a handful of states
settled with Live Nation and
Ticketmaster, a move that surprised even
the judge of the case. In that deal, the
companies agreed to allow competitions
to offer tickets to its events, cap
service fees at 15% and drop certain
exclusive booking agreements. It also
includes a $280 million settlement for
damages.
Pop quiz hot shot. What causes some
people to feel more tired after an
airplane flight? Less gravity, less
oxygen and humidity, increased heart
rate, or crying babies.
If you said less oxygen and humidity,
you are a breath of fresh air. Your body
compensates at high altitudes by
breathing a bit faster and working
harder to deliver oxygen and water to
the brain. The way we fly is being
completely reimagined with several new
concepts. Air New Zealand just revealed
its new bunk bed design for economy
passengers on airplanes. It's called the
Skynest. The sleeping pod of sorts will
be offered starting this November for
the 17-hour flight between New York's
JFK airport and Auckland. Bookings can
be made starting next month. It's only
$495,
but with a catch. You only get the bed
for 4 hours. Then the flight crew
changes the sheets and pillows for the
next passenger. Next up, how about a
double-decker plane seat? One designer
is revealing a new concept, the Chase
Lounge design that started as a project
in college in 2020. For this one, planes
would have to lose overhead bins to make
room for two rows of seats. The bottom
level offers some extra leg room. The
company behind it says it's regularly
consulting with airline CEOs, but no one
has yet brought them in. We've been
talking a lot about the rise of AI on
this show and the growing number of data
centers across the US. Critics argue
large data centers are taking vital
local resources, potentially driving up
the cost of things like electricity.
Maine is now the first state to pass a
bill to temporarily ban the building of
new large data centers. Still needs
approval from the state's governor. Our
Hadas Gold explains what lawmakers hope
to accomplish. Maine has become the very
first state to pass a law that is going
to block data centers from being built.
Large data centers. According to this
law, until November 2027, no large data
centers that draw more than 20 megawatts
worth of energy should be built. 20
megawatts worth of energy, for some
context, that would power about 15 to
20,000 homes. Without data centers,
though, modern AI cannot exist. Data
centers are where all of the processes
from training AI to when you ask an AI
chatbot a question and it thinks and
then brings back an answer to you.
That's where it all happens. These can
be large warehouses with a rows and rows
of computers and servers and network
infrastructure and power and cooling
systems. But there's been a lot of
growing opposition to these data
centers, especially in the last year or
so. And opponents to these data centers,
they're concerned about things like
electricity, the amount of electricity
these these data centers use with rising
electricity prices, the amount of energy
and water that they need to use in order
to keep these systems running and cooled
off. They're also concerned about noise
and the carbon footprint. And for a lot
of people, they might feel opposition to
these data centers because of their
feelings about artificial intelligence
in general. But proponents of these data
centers, they say that they're
necessary. They say that if we want to
be able to keep moving ahead on AI, they
need to be powered by something which is
these data centers and that they say we
don't want to be falling behind
adversaries like China when it comes to
being able to power these data centers.
>> One Texas school district announced it's
going to be using artificial
intelligence during their upcoming
graduation ceremonies. Plano Independent
School District says they'll use an AI
powered pronunciation tool to announce
all names at this spring's graduation
ceremonies. The move is aimed at making
the ceremony as inclusive as possible.
Though some graduating seniors aren't
sure how they feel about it.
>> When Avery Cousins graduates high school
in May, it will be a moment to remember,
but maybe not how she'd like.
>> It really sunk in how wild this decision
was.
>> The decision by Plano ISD to use AI,
artificial intelligence, to announce the
names at all high school graduations. It
was laid out in this letter to parents
that read, "Names matter, and we want
your big moment to feel personal and
accurate."
>> There's such a distinct human factor to
having somebody who knows you and who's
contributed to your education. Say your
name while you walk.
>> Students can record and train the AI on
how to pronounce their names.
>> I think it's very cool how the
technology is coming along.
>> I'd rather have my name said correctly
at graduation.
>> Watt Leslie Black Jr. teaches ed policy
at SMU. It's a a question of efficiency
versus tradition or or um you know
accuracy versus authenticity.
>> He says it's also a question of whether
this move creates more complaints.
>> Graduation ceremonies are one of the
most change resistant and traditionladen
things that we do in education.
>> Avery Cousins.
>> It's not quite real.
>> Avery Cousins.
>> Where else would you expect to hear it
that way?
>> The DMV.
So that's 120
135.
>> This senior at Plano Senior High started
a petition and got signatures with the
hopes of bringing back a human
announcer.
>> They started gathering really quickly.
On the first day, I had a hundred.
>> The district says it's about accuracy.
The software also helps project names
onto a large screen, making this a quote
smooth, memorable, and respectful
celebration for every member of the
class of 2026.
>> Come here. Sit. Avery says getting names
right matters, too. What Avery says next
is profound, especially for an
18-year-old.
>> There's something distinctly valuable
about having a human experience, even
when it's imperfect.
>> Graduation day is getting close. So is
that walk across the stage.
>> How long are you willing to fight for
this?
>> Well, I mean, I have a deadline.
May 27th, I guess, would be the day that
I gave up.
>> These last two stories leave a lot to
unpack about how AI impacts our everyday
lives. So, what do you think? Should AI
play a prominent role in things like
graduation ceremonies, or should
students have the final say on their
special day? What are your thoughts on
AI data centers? If you were the
governor of your state, why would you or
would you not want to temporarily ban
their construction? Feel free to hit
pause and discuss.
Today's story getting a 10 out of 10.
Something craw in Texas. Folks are
serving up crawfish ice cream. Yes,
crawfish season begins in March. That's
when Red Circle Ice Cream in Houston
starts selling their cold crawfish
concoction. Owner Nikki Neo cooks up the
crawfish the classic way. Garlic,
butter, cajun seasoning, then flavors
dessert. Instead of serving it with a
traditional sausage or corn, it is
scooped with a side of crawfish and a
waffle. It's like a little salty,
but it's like creamy, smooth,
a little spicy.
>> Not your traditional Cajun style seafood
boil, but Nikki says customers ask for
it every year. Word of caution, though.
Nikki says if you're planning to try,
she says don't plan on uh kissing anyone
for quite some time. Nasty. I have some
Friday shoutouts. This one goes to Mr.
Girian friends at Madison Middle School
in Seattle, Washington. Thanks for
sending a whole bunch of love our way
and making us a part of your day. And
this shout out goes to Miss Who and
Friends at Northshore Plaza in Plaza,
North Dakota for this super creative
portrait of their class pet Charlie who
apparently thinks CNN 10 rocks. Shello,
play that Friday music. Let's take some
good vibes, lots of love into the
weekend. Remember, what is within
influences what happens without. You are
more powerful than you know. I'm Koi
Wire. This is CNN 10. It's been a
blessing to spend this week with you.
Heat.