Return to Transcripts main page
One World with Zain Asher
U.S., Iran Exchange Biggest Strikes In Weeks Amid Ceasefire; Kuwait: One Killed, 63 People Injured In Iranian Attacks; CNN Gains Access To Hospital In Ebola Hotspot; Controversial Fund Faces Fierce Pushback From Lawmakers; Millions In Fake World Cup Gear Seized In Toronto; Source: OpenAI CEO Altman Set For White House Meetings; Spurs And Knicks Hours Away From Game One Matchup; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired June 03, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:40]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Nego -- negotiations have been underway for weeks. And one thing is clear, Lebanon is certainly a sticking point.
At this hour, diplomats from Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are trying to find a way to fix that.
Second hour of "One World" starts right now.
The U.S. and Iran launched overnight attacks as the ceasefire hangs in the balance.
Plus, the World Health Organization says that there's been a significant drop in suspected Ebola places. All this reporting from the epicenter.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The last time they were in the finals, I was 13 years old.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very fun to watch.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they're going to win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: A New York Knicks' state of mind. Can they pull off the NBA championship? We'll discuss, just ahead.
All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher. You are watching "One World."
Just hours after the heaviest exchange of strikes between the U.S. and Iran and the ceasefire began, Donald Trump says that Tehran is conceding on a
major issue.
In an interview that took place Tuesday, but was broadcast today, the U.S. president said that Tehran has agreed not to have a nuclear weapon. It
follows a barrage of deadly attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain that Iran describes as retaliatory. In response, the Pentagon conducted what it
called defensive strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island.
Israel and Hezbollah, meantime, continue to exchange fire despite their truce. Tehran has linked any deal with the U.S. to an end to the war on all
fronts. And that includes Lebanon.
Trump addressed his heated call with the Israeli prime minister earlier as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I wasn't angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon, you know,.
At some point, I said, Bibi, we got to stop this. You got to stop it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: A second day of U.S. broker talk between Israel and Lebanon is underway.
CNN's Jennifer Hansler joins us live now from the State Department.
I mean, any talks between these two sides always runs into the similar issues, I should say. One is the fact that, you know, there's a lot of
uncertainty as to how much control Lebanon has over Hezbollah.
You have the fact that Hezbollah are not a part of the talks and also whether or not Israel will agree to be fully reigned in here, because
there's a lot at stake for them as well.
Jennifer, take us through it.
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Well, that's right, Zain. These are kind of the key sticking points that the negotiators
have had to confront over the past several rounds that they've had these direct working level talks here in the United States.
Now, this latest round of talks we heard Secretary of State Marco Rubio address in a congressional hearing earlier today, he said he was hopeful
that this would result in a joint statement and a path forward on security in Lebanon.
What we have seen coming out of these past several rounds of talks is a ceasefire agreement for Lebanon and an extension, a subsequent extension
that has not been honored. We have seen Hezbollah and Israel continuing to exchange strikes despite that nominal ceasefire. These have been deadly
strikes.
We heard Rubio earlier today as well claiming that Hezbollah is the one who is the problem in -- in this situation. He said that they had received
indications from Hezbollah repeatedly that they would be willing to honor a ceasefire if Israel did not strike Beirut and he claimed that the militant
group would then violate that ceasefire, you know, a matter of hours after they received those indications.
We also heard Rubio providing cover for the Israelis continued military occupation in southern Lebanon saying that this was aimed at denying
Hezbollah launching space to launch assaults on northern Israel.
We have also heard Rubio claim that Iran is trying to steamy these talks. He said that Iran wants to create a sense of pressure that they are the
ones who led to any sort of agreement here. He said that they are working to try to extract the Lebanese government and Lebanon from the grip of
Hezbollah and by extension Iran.
However, we have not seen any actual concrete pledges from the U.S. government to support the Lebanese Armed Forces, for example. They have not
given details on how they would help to bolster that military -- that military in Lebanon.
They also have not said specifically how they intend to support the Lebanese government beyond these rhetorical statements. So there is a lot
that needs to be discussed in these working level talks.
At this point, these talks have continued on two separate tracks. There was a military track last week at the Pentagon last Friday. And the talks that
are happening today and yesterday are on that political front.
[12:05:40]
So we are going to wait and see if they are able to come out with that joint statement today, Zain. We expect today's rounds of talks to continue
throughout most of today. Zain?
ASHER: All right. Jennifer Hansler, live for us there.
Now, let's bring in CNN's Melissa Bell, joining us live now from Paris. You know, obviously, we know that Kuwait has come under some degree of attack.
We're learning that according to the health ministry, there are 63 people injured in the Iranian attack on the airport and that the Kuwaiti military
is saying that it engaged 13 missiles and 17 drones from Iran.
Iran blaming a lot of the Gulf allies here for a situation with the United States. Melissa, take us through it.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What we understand now, Zain, about this latest escalation that happened overnight is that the
U.S. struck an oil tanker that it says had refused to respond, its crew had refused to respond, this in the Strait of Hormuz. It also carried out
strait -- strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island.
Shortly after that, Tehran vowed retaliation with its foreign ministry saying that it believed that Kuwaiti and Bahraini leader -- leaders faced -
- held some responsibility in the fact that they had allowed their territories housing U.S. bases to be used for some of the strikes over the
course of this war.
These are, of course, countries that had seen fatalities before, very early on in the war. You'll remember that both Bahrain and Kuwait were struck.
Several Gulf nations had seen fatalities as a result of those strikes.
But really, since the ceasefire was announced, we hadn't seen this sort of escalation. And these really are the most intense strikes that we've seen
from Iran towards Gulf nations that are already having diplomatic repercussions.
We know that Kuwait has now announced that it is expelling two Iranian diplomats, giving them 24 hours to leave the country and describing these
strikes as criminal acts of Iranian aggression.
We now know also that the one person who died on that strike that caused those more than 60 injuries on people at Kuwait Airport, the fatality was
involved an Indian citizen.
So a serious escalation and one that involves, not just the strikes that I mentioned, but also this back and forth between claims by Washington and
claims by Kuwait about what needs to happen next and who was responsible for what.
But certainly, this was a fragile ceasefire, Zain, that seems even more imperiled as a result of the overnight violence.
ASHER: Melissa Bell, live for us from Paris, thank you for that.
Ukraine targeted St. Petersburg in a drone attack overnight on several Russian cities. It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin begins hosting
an international economic forum in the city.
Ukraine says it hit strategic infrastructure, including this oil terminal, which handles Russian fuel exports. It also claims to struck a Russian
warship, which it says is armed with guided missiles and operates as an escort for Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that even bigger attacks are on the table.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): They must know that if they use drones and missiles against us, we will do the same.
And it is only a matter of time before we can increase the scale of our responses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: The new attacks come a day after Russia launched a major assault on Ukraine, killing at least 23 people in Kyiv and Dnipro.
Turning now to the latest on Ebola outbreak, centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization has just returned, its
head rather, has just returned from the region and says that the risk assessment remains unchanged.
Very high at the national level in the DRC and very low on the global level. Right now, he says there are at least 60 confirmed deaths and 344
cases of the Ebola virus in the DRC.
And he had this message for other countries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Blanket travel restrictions imposed by some countries are disrupting supply
chains and hindering the response.
WHO recommends exit screening at airports, ports, and border crossings to prevent the exportation of cases and contacts.
[12:10:06]
We ask countries that have imposed blanket travel restrictions to lift them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: CNN recently gained access to hospital that's on the frontlines of the fight against Ebola in the DRC. Our Clarissa Ward is reporting from the
region and has the latest on the outbreak.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're at a hospital in the rural community of Rwampara. This area has been one of the hardest
hit by the Ebola outbreak.
WARD: So at the moment, the hospital has 17 suspected Ebola patients. They're rapidly running out of capacity. But if you look over here, you can
see a huge amount of activity as people from the community and the NGO, ALIMA, are furiously working to erect these Ebola treatment centers.
The doctor from ALIMA told us they're hoping that these facilities will be completed in the next two to three days. And that really is going to be a
game changer for this rural hospital because it will give them the capacity to receive another 34 Ebola patients.
And it's really interesting, if you take a look at the way these treatment centers are being built, they are incorporating a lot of the lessons that
have been learned from previous Ebola outbreaks.
So I want to show you what each room here looks like. You've got the tap outside, of course. Make sure that people are washing their hands the whole
time. Each room has its own bed. Each patient has crucially, of course, as well, their own toilet.
But the really interesting part is right here. This paper will come off and it's transparent glass which allows the doctors to get up close and see the
patients without endangering themselves.
This is what it looks like from the doctor's perspective. This is the entrance they come into. They can see through, see the patients. It's
pretty incredible.
It's interesting because despite the fact that this community has been ravaged by this virus, the mood here among these people who are all local,
who are taking pride, and the fact that they are participating in building and contributing and protecting their community, they have been singing,
they have been laughing, they have been joking around and honestly against the backdrop of so much misery. It's been really wonderful to see.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Clarissa Ward reporting there.
All right. Joining us live now from the DRC is the World Food Programme's David Stevenson. David, thank you so much for being with us.
It sort of appears that -- I mean, an Ebola outbreak in any country would be unfortunate, right? But this is a country that has battled multiple
Ebola outbreaks, so 17 so far.
And then on top of that, the DRC is struggling with so many other things. When you think about the ongoing conflict, when you think about food
insecurity, when you think about poverty.
I mean, how is all of that shaping the difficulties just in terms of response here?
DAVID STEVENSON, DRC COUNTRY DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: Yes, that's exactly it. This is a hugely challenging, complex emergency at the heart,
of course, is Ebola. It's a medical response. And we at the World Food Programme have been working flat out for over two weeks transporting first
responders, the medical equipment, protective equipment, getting people out to the frontlines so that response to the Ebola crisis is -- is met.
But at the same time, it's a crisis on top of a crisis, as you have -- have noted. Those people out there are at the highest level of food insecurity
and hunger, what we call IPC4, one notch before starvation and mortality.
And they're there because of ongoing conflict, because of displacement, because of insecurity, food insecurity and hunger. And it's a very, very
tense population because the basic needs are not being met.
So the challenge is not just responding to the health needs, but it's also responding to the underlying challenges that the people and the communities
have. And that includes food assistance and providing for their basic needs.
ASHER: And the health systems there are obviously already under enormous strain. And I imagine that, you know, when you're dealing with this crisis
and you're dealing with so much poverty, things that would be a huge priority in the United States such as quarantining, making sure you wash
your hands multiple times. And I don't even know if that even works against Ebola.
[12:15:08]
But just all of the sort of practices that you need to really maintain resilience against the spread of this particular illness, contact tracing,
all of those things, I imagine, become less of a priority. So talk to us about that.
STEVENSON: Well, they're certainly top priority for the health responders, the -- the government ministry of health and all the courageous people that
are helping with the national health systems to get to the -- to the treatment centers and then to provide community healthcare to stop the
spread. So this is clearly a priority.
For the people themselves, they have so many challenges. And they've been under so much pressure for so long that Ebola comes on top of these
challenges. And so we can sympathize with how difficult it is for them to understand and to change their -- their prioritization in terms of basic
health needs when they're facing all these other issues of socio-economic poverty and -- and hunger and insecurity and conflict. So that takes a
little bit of time.
For those families that are immediately affected by it with their loved ones infected and seeking treatment, it's easier to understand the -- the
urgency of it.
But for others facing so many other issues including other health -- other health challenges, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, AIDS, I mean, there's just
such a multitude of challenges that communities are dealing with that, yes, the Ebola, the sense of urgency on pushing back Ebola is -- is taking some
time to -- to develop, but we're hoping it will get there soon.
Meanwhile, the epidemic is moving faster than the response, so we -- we all just have to move faster and do all we can to push it back as well as those
underlying issues of hunger and -- and food insecurity.
ASHER: I'm glad you made that distinction because, of course, yes for ordinary people in the DRC, they have been burdened with so many different
issues that is really hard to prioritize.
But, of course, for the health care workers, they are doing their absolute best. They are working so hard to try to, you know, limit the spread of
this particular very, very deadly virus.
Just in terms of the healthcare systems being under so much strain right now. And you point it about the fact that this is -- they're not just
dealing with Ebola, there's so many other issues that these healthcare workers and facilities are having to deal with.
What is the greatest need for the hospitals and for the healthcare workers themselves?
STEVENSON: Well, the healthcare workers are. And I -- I just admire them. I'm -- I'm seeing them off at the airplane that we -- we manage, the United
Nations World Program Air Service. So we're taking them out every day. And those that need relief will be taking them back as well.
And, of course, the National Health Service workers, the Congolese themselves working on the frontline are just really admirable and
courageous people doing all they can.
What they need is protective equipment, what they need is medical supplies. And we're delivering. We're delivering tents, and -- and so health centers
can be built. They need our support in -- in every way.
And then, of course, they also want us to come board -- on board because they see the root causes of this challenge. They see what's really needed
to -- to -- to end the epidemic and that is community care. So they're very interested in health system strengthening in the communities, outreach to
people, not only be meeting Ebola but meeting other health challenges as well.
And then, of course, ultimately putting an end to conflict, putting an end to insecurity, allowing people back on their farms to produce and -- and --
and -- and having food insecurity and -- and -- and nutrition dealt with.
Another big issue they have in their families is -- is malnutrition. So again, very complex challenge. It needs a team effort. And with -- with
health service providers at -- at the top of the list in terms of the team approach, and we're just all trying to be part of that and -- and help
across the board.
ASHER: Yes. An -- an Ebola outbreak is, of course, the last thing that the people in the DRC need right now.
David Stevenson, live for us. Thank you. Thank you for that. Thank you for the work that you're doing.
Donald Trump appears at odds with his acting attorney general over the future of the $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund.
The U.S. president told "The New York Post" Tuesday that people who he says were targeted by a crooked government deserve compensation.
That same day Todd Blanche told lawmakers that the Justice Department would not move forward with the controversial fund. There's been fierce pushback
from Republican lawmakers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:20:04]
SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): I think the mere fact that it would have been a legal action that the administration could take, suggests that we should
make sure that it cannot be done by a future president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak joins us live now.
So it seems as though the president and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche are not singing from the same hymn sheet here. Todd Blanche
essentially saying that, you know, this was -- this was a done deal. That they were abandoning this fund. Donald Trump raising the possibility that
that's not the case in this interview. Kevin, take us through it.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. And I think Trump is always pretty wary of appearing to back down on anything. And he seems to
be in this interview, essentially saying that the court has blocked this compensation fund, not suggesting that he himself had decided to back down
because of the widespread bipartisan criticism of this plan, which would set aside $1.8 billion to individuals who claim that the justice system was
weaponized against them.
In reality, you know, what's happening here is the administration is backing off of this, you know. It is quite rare to see that happening in
this administration. You don't see the president or his team moving away from things, even amid a criticism from both sides of the aisle.
But I think it had become evident both to the president, but also to his advisors here in the White House that this was really untenable.
For one, it had put an at an impasse, this immigration bill that the administration very much needs passed in order to fund some very critical
departments at the Department of Homeland Security.
Many Republicans on Capitol Hill saying that they would not back that plan as long as this fund remained in effect. You also had the political fallout
of the president appearing to put aside an enormous amount of money to reward his political supporters.
So they seem to have solved, at least for now, the immigration funding in past. But the political damage in a lot of ways seems, you know, baked. You
know, Democrats are almost surely going to use this in the midterm elections to allege that the president was essentially trying to reward
himself and his supporters using taxpayer money.
And in fact, you know, the other aspect of this settlement that still seems to be moving forward is the decision by the Justice Department to
essentially shield the president from tax investigations into current potential tax wrongdoing.
That was something that the Justice Department kind of snuck into this settlement. Todd Blanche yesterday saying that for now that remains in
place. And that I think too will be a potent opening for Democrats who will try and claim that the president, who is a billionaire, is shielding
himself from potential tax investigations while so many other Americans are suffering because of the economy.
And so in a lot of ways, the political damage will remain in effect despite the administration backing off of the actual fund itself. And so I think
still a lot of questions about how this all came about.
And it was notable yesterday Todd Blanche when he was pressed by lawmakers whether he would actually put into writing that the administration is
rescinding this so-called slush fund refused to do that. Zain.
ASHER: All right. Kevin Liptak, live for us there. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
All right. A high stakes primary night on Tuesday ends with some races too close to call. In California, several candidates are jostling for a chance
to be the next governor.
And in Los Angeles, the incumbent mayor faces a runoff that could pit her against a former reality T.V. star.
CNN projects current mayor Karen Bass will advance to the general election in November. Spencer Pratt, the registered Republican is currently in
second place. That, of course, could change. The two sounded off earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAREN BASS, LOS ANGELES MAYOR: We know what a city we have and what a city we can be. And let me just say that tomorrow begins the second half of this
journey.
SPENCER PRATT, CANDIDATE FOR LOS ANGELES MAYOR: Obviously got one of five more months of me exposing all the failures of our mayor. So it's going to
be a fun ride. I hope she's ready.
This is the first time what since 2005, an incumbent is going to a runoff. This is not a candidate that I'm too concerned about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: But Pratt could lose ground to a third candidate a progressive -- progressive city councilmember as votes are still being counted.
All right. Still to come here on "One World."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUPT. DAVID ECKLUND, TORONTO POLICE SERVICE: We seized more than 16,000 name brand fake jerseys and flags along with two counterfeit FIFA World Cup
trophies with an estimated street value of more than $3.5 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:25:03]
ASHER: Ahead, how police were able to bust the largest counterfeit football merchandise operation in Canada.
And the chief of OpenAI heads to Washington as the battle to lead the way in A.I. intensifies. What he's hoping to achieve, just ahead.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: A lot about dating app fatigue, but for many people, honestly, it's dating app despair. I want to
know, what do you say to that? And how can you restore people's faith in this way of meeting people?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: The course of true love never did run smooth. We hear from the Hinge CEO who says she met her own partner online.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: There are just eight days until the World Cup kicks off and five weeks of -- five weeks of football, rather, before we actually find out who
gets the lift of the trophy.
But fans in New York got up close to it as the World Cup trophy tour came to their city.
Bastian Schweinsteiger who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 joined New York Mayor, Zohran Mamdani at the American Museum of Natural History.
The trophy has been making appearances around the world before the tournament begins.
Toronto Police have seized more than 3.5 million Canadian dollars worth of counterfeit football merchandise ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Police say
that two men have been charged in what they're calling Canada's largest counterfeit football merchandise case.
CBC's Greg Ross is following that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GREG ROSS, CBC REPORTER (voice-over): This is only a small fraction of the sports merchandise police seized last week inside a Mississauga warehouse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ECKLUND: We seized more than 16,000 name-brand fake jerseys and flags, along with two counterfeit FIFA World Cup trophies with an estimated street
value of more than $3.5 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROSS (voice-over): It's the largest seizure of counterfeit soccer jerseys in Canadian history. Police say the items were being shipped from overseas
to a business in Mississauga called Omni Trading (ph). Two men associated with this company have been arrested.
ECKLUND: Ramy Jaber, 41 of Milton, Ontario and walid Sarhan, 62 of Mississauga, were arrested on a number of charges including fraud over
$5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
ROSS (voice-over): Police were tipped off by the Lipkus law firm, which represents some of the victims of this crime. They say while the jerseys
often look real, there are ways to tell the difference.
[12:30:04]
DAVID LIPKUS, LIPKUS LAW FIRM: There are items that are identifiable. There are spelling mistakes on some of these tags. If you look and feel the
products, it doesn't have the same quality.
ROSS: According to police, in many cases, these jerseys were being sent to legitimate retailers to be sold in their stores.
ECKLUND: Folks are walking into retail stores thinking that they're buying an authentic piece of, say, a jersey or sporting equipment. They're paying
full price as they would if it was authentic, but they're getting a fake counterfeit.
ROSS (voice-over): It's not clear if store owners knew that the jerseys were fake. Police are still investigating.
The owner of this store that specializes in soccer jerseys says having to compete against knockoffs impacts his bottom line.
RAHMAN RAHMATI, OWNER, CITY SOCCER PLUS: We need to do way, way more. I know what police they're doing good job, but it still is not enough.
ROSS (voice-over): With the FIFA World Cup now only days away, police say it's not surprising to find an increase in counterfeit soccer jerseys.
ECKLUND: We see it during major sporting events. If you think World Series and other things that happening in the city, even concerts, you see an
increase in counterfeit.
ROSS (voice-over): Anyone who may have unknowingly purchased a counterfeit jersey is advised to contact police.
Greg Ross, CBC News, Toronto.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: And England captain, Harry Kane, is hoping he can lead his country to victory in the World Cup. In the meantime, he's been honored with this
wax statue at London's Madame Tussauds. Kane got to meet his doppelganger before the statue goes on display on Friday.
It's pretty hard to tell who -- that's actually -- they did a good job there. It's pretty hard to tell who's who. England begin their World Cup
campaign on June 17th when they take on Croatia.
We'll be right back with more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Zain Asher.
A source tells CNN the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, is scheduled for high- level meetings at the White House today and will also meet with congressional lawmakers while in Washington.
A visit comes just one day after President Trump signs an executive order that calls on developers of A.I. models to give the government an early
look at each new version of these frontier models before it's more widely launched.
[12:35:08]
Time now for The Exchange. Joining us live now is the editor-at-large of Wired, Steven Levy. He's also the author of "Facebook: The Inside Story."
Steven, thank you so much for being with us.
So, this idea that the administration is now calling on a lot of these A.I. companies to give them, apparently some volunteer program. It's not
mandatory yet, but to give them an early look at these frontier models as it pertains to cyber capabilities before these models are widely launched
into public. And the government really wants to sort of understand emerging capabilities so they can prepare accordingly.
What are the risks though of something like this, Steven?
STEVEN LEVY, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, WIRED: Well, you know, what the executive order does is something, it's kind of a baby step towards regulation and,
you know, monitoring A.I. to make sure it doesn't cause widespread harm.
Previously, the administration had taken a really hands-off stance and wasn't asking for anything. So, this is a -- a baby step, I think, in the
right direction.
I think it really was forced on them by what happened with Anthropic when it announced that it had a new model called Mythos, which presented a clear
and present danger if it had been released to the general public because, you know, people could use it to break into other computers, find
vulnerabilities, and, you know, possibly even use it to create new microbes and dangerous bioweapons.
So, they held it back for people to, mainly for the security purposes, to figure out the vulnerabilities of their systems and that gave it some time.
And I think it sort of set a template for how people should regard these new models and the government, once they get involved in this, you know, on
a voluntary basis.
Right now, some of the major companies have indicated that they're totally on board with this, but I think people would feel safer if it were a
mandatory process.
ASHER: So, do you think it should become mandatory? And do you think it will become mandatory eventually?
LEVY: Well, I -- the fear is always it becomes mandatory after something horrible happens. But in this case, the leading frontier model creators are
all big companies who think responsibly. So I think they will cooperate.
The question is whether the 30-day period that the executive order specifies is going to be sufficient to find all the vulnerabilities to make
sure that the model is clear.
What we have here is an order for the government agencies to come up with a protocol and a bunch of benchmarks that they could test these models on.
So, we have to make sure that those protocols are sufficiently secure, that they're going to find the vulnerabilities and the 30 days is really enough.
People were originally talking about a 90-day period.
ASHER: How has the relationship between A.I. companies and -- and Washington changed over the last couple of years? And how do you think it
will continue to evolve?
LEVY: Well, it certainly has changed as -- as the way the government views regulation. Under the Biden administration, they were very much on board
with regulation. And the companies themselves said they were, you know, advocated that -- that approach as well. They went to Congress. Sam Altman
went to Congress and basically said, regulate us.
But when Donald Trump came to office and helped buy a lot of money from the A.I. agencies -- A.I. companies, that turned around. And the A.I.
companies, which really don't like to be regulated, were able to roll back some of the impetus towards regulation.
And until this executive order, we really saw nothing. And it was quite the opposite where the administration was arguing that even states should not
be able to regulate A.I. They -- they -- they wanted to just go full blast because of competition with China.
ASHER: I think what's also interesting is and, obviously, he's -- Sam Altman is on Capitol Hill. He's going to be meeting with congressional
lawmakers, people on both sides of the aisle.
And I think what's interesting is a lot of the conversation, at least among Democrats, as it pertains to A.I. in the public discourse, has been really
around the data centers, energy consumption, what A.I. means for job losses.
Explain to us how those sorts of conversations, political conversations involving the public differ from the conversations that are being had at a
very high level behind closed doors.
LEVY: The -- there is, you know, a rising tide of displeasure about A.I. among the general public, particularly around young people, you know, who
are really concerned that the entry level jobs they once counted on are going to be wiped out by A.I.
[12:40:10]
I think the pushback against data centers is a symptom of that feeling. The people who live around them certainly are -- are alarmed at the energy
consumption, the effect on the -- the water supply around where they are.
And just like the -- the sheer volume of these data centers, some of them which are, you know, many, many football fields large. And that's sort of a
symbol of the pushback against A.I.
The administration isn't really responding to that, but some parts of, you know, the government, you know, you mentioned democratic legislators, are,
you know, perceiving this and -- and acting on it.
Bernie Sanders, in particular, is speaking against, you know, the rise of A.I. and he wants to limit data centers. And I think Sam Altman has
requested a meeting with him during this trip.
ASHER: And so just in terms of the other side of the aisle, because you talk about the fact that this administration isn't responding to that side
of the argument necessarily, but for them is the priority much more I assume about competition with China.
LEVY: Right. So, there is a -- you know, a strain that is dominant within the administration is that the competition with China is more important
than these concerns that people have about A.I.
And, you know, they want to go full blast. They side with what's called the accelerationists (ph) that, you know, A.I. should, you know, should go at
full speed and not be regulated.
But I think the dangers of doing that, the -- the Mythos thing, the model of the Anthropic developed, just on -- just exposed how that situation is
untenable. You can't go, you know, full blast without any guardrails because it's going to hurt people and put all our data at risk really,
unless you make sure that these models don't empower people to become super cyber thieves.
ASHER: All right. Steven Levy, live for us there. Thank you so much. Appreciate this conversation on artificial intelligence.
All right. Up next, a very, very different theme about finding true love. CNN speaks to the CEO of Hinge about the challenges of dating in a digital
age.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:01]
ASHER: All right. Let's take a look and see how the U.S. markets are doing. Not a great day on Wall Street. Red arrows across the board. Dow is down
about almost one percent. NASDAQ, slightly above one percent. S&P 500, down three quarters of one percent. This is your business breakout.
A prolonged war with Iran could drag global growth down to COVID-era levels. That warning from the OECD, which says the disruption system
release energy supplies could hit the world economy through 2027.
CBS News has fired veteran "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley following his criticism of network management. His termination is expected
to trigger more scrutiny of CBS News Editor-in-Chief, Barry Weiss, who was described last week by Pelley as murdering "60 minutes."
Foxes, sharks, and puffins could soon appear on Britain's bank notes as the Bank of England considers swapping the images of historic figures to native
wildlife. The public will help pick from 18 animals for the next series of notes.
All right. The CEO of Hinge tells CNN that she acknowledges the challenges of looking for love in the modern world are certainly very real. Hinge
builds itself as the dating app designed to be deleted.
But CEO Jackie Jantos says that she understands how frustrating online dating can be, especially for Gen Z, many of whom were impacted by the
pandemic in their formative years.
Jantos spoke to CNN's Anna Cooban.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACKIE JANTOS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HINGE: You're right. We are living in an incredibly disorienting, transformative time. The world feels very
heavy, whether you're dating or just living in it.
And then the complexity of all of that sort of hits this Gen Z audience even harder. This is a group that literally grew up where there are late
teens and early 20s have spent in lockdown in a pandemic. So there was no in-person flirting.
You know, it -- it requires a level of vulnerability that can feel very scary. And this is a generation that is spending, you know, a thousand less
hours in person than their same age group 20 years prior. That's two plus hours per day. Mostly spent on a device versus spent in the company of
someone else, whether that's even a family member or a friend.
COOBAN: People talk a lot about dating app fatigue. But for many people, honestly, it's dating app despair.
I want to know what do you say to that? And how can you restore people's faith in this way of meeting people?
JANTOS: Yes. You know, I will say, having met my own partner online, that there are many ways to meet partners. And I encourage sort of all of them.
I do think the category, writ large, Hinge excluded because we've been focused on product innovation for so long, has underserved users by not
keeping up with and responding to the frustrations that they've been feeling.
And I feel quite excited about the innovation that we're seeing. And, you know, I say to many people that finding a relationship, this is one of the
most challenging parts of life. It's the essence of life.
It's a choice I know for me that I made that has been the most important choice in my life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Jantos says, one of the things that makes Hinge stand out, according to her, is that it doesn't monetize users through advertising, focusing
instead on the importance of the user experience.
All right. Still to come, the Knicks and the Spurs prepared to face off in game one of the NBA finals, why fans are so fired up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:13]
ASHER: All right. Tonight is the night, the New York Knicks face off again for San Antonio Spurs in game one of the NBA finals. If you're not a
basketball fan, you need to know that this is a very, very big deal. It's huge.
It's the first time the Knicks have been to the finals in 27 years. And let me tell you, fans are excited.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About six grand just to get here, flights, accommodation, all of that. And then it's going to be a lot more with the
game.
I came to visit New York a few years back and then fell in love with the team.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Don Riddell joins us live now to talk about the big game. Don, I have no idea how much of a basketball fan you are, but this is certainly a
big deal.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Well, my family are Knicks fans, so they're very excited. And this has been a long time coming, Zain.
I mean, I think all basketball fans are going to be partying like it's 1999 because this is a rematch from 27 years ago. The Knicks against the Spurs
and it's got all the makings of a classic.
Let's start with the star power. The Knicks have got the awesome Jalen Brunson, who's dad Rick played in the 1999 series against the Spurs. So
he'll be trying to avenge his father, but it's going to be a pretty tall order for the Knicks because they're going up against the seven-foot four-
inch French mega star Victor Wembanyama. A generational talent who seems to take his game to new heights with every passing night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, NEW YORK KNICKS CENTER: To be able to have this moment in Knicks history where we're back here where, you know, New York's been
hungry to be back in this finals. It means a lot.
JALEN BRUNSON, NEW YORK KNICKS GUARD: It's got to be stay focus and keep learning, even today. We can't be satisfied just because we're here. We got
to continue to keep learning.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, SAN ANTONIO SPURS FORWARD: Coming back down from this is a challenge and it's not done yet. We -- we still need to really come back
down to earth and realize that we haven't done the hardest yet. The job isn't done at all.
STEPHON CASTLE, SAN ANTONIO SPURS GUARD: I think we hit our stride at the right time, so. And yet also, we have the best player in the world on our
team.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIDDELL: So, the Spurs are looking for their first championship since 2014. The Knicks haven't won it since 1973. So most of their long suffering fans
have no memory of watching a championship team play at the Garden.
But here's why they're feeling confident. New York absolutely destroyed their Eastern Conference opponents in the playoffs winning 11 consecutive
games and racking up the highest points differential of any 11-game stretch in NBA history.
But the Spurs are battle hardened in a different way. They topped or toppled the reigning champion, Thunder, in the Western Conference final,
winning the crucial games one and seven in Oklahoma City to pull it off. So they are going to be really, really hard to beat.
Break out the popcorn, strap yourselves in. And hopefully we'll get all seven games and we'll be on the edge of our seats throughout. There you go.
That's the preview.
ASHER: And just in terms of the fact that you are from Atlanta, but your family are huge Knicks fans. For those of us who are from London, break
that down for me. Explain that.
RIDDELL: Well, you want the whole story? Born in Edinburgh, grew up in London, married a New Yorker. And -- and now we live in Atlanta together.
ASHER: Oh, that's the -- so, OK. So your wife --
RIDDELL: Yes. There you go.
ASHER: -- is from New York.
RIDDELL: Yes. There you go.
ASHER: And that's why she is a Knicks fan. All right.
Don Riddell --
RIDDELL: All right.
ASHER: -- live for us there. Thank you. Thank you for that.
RIDDELL: OK.
ASHER: And that little biography of yourself. Appreciate it.
[12:55:44]
That does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Zain Asher. Thank you for watching. Bianna host "Amanpour," next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
