As some states have recently enacted further restrictions on abortion rights, women's health care startup Pill Club — a company that sells birth control subscriptions via telemedicine — is trying to fill a gap in service at a time when women need help the most.
The company has announced that it is donating 5,000 units of the generic version of Plan B for women in need as part of a collaboration with the nonprofit Power to Decide. The pills are a form of emergency contraception taken immediately after sex.
"I think there's a real need and an increased role for the private sector to really be able to help," Nick Chang, the CEO and co-founder of Pill Club, told Cheddar.
"If a number of public companies and nonprofits are facing restricted funds, or are facing headwinds, this is the right moment for private sector companies to be able to help out."
The company has also promised to match up to $10,000 in donations to the partnering nonprofit's contraceptive access fund.
2019 saw several states drastically restrict abortion rights. Amnesty International reports that 42 restrictions on abortions were enacted in the first half of the year. Five states — Georgia, Ohio, Alabama, Kentucky, and Mississippi — have passed so-called 'heartbeat' bills, which would ban abortion about two weeks after a woman first misses her period due to pregnancy.
"Our ability to serve women in these states is only becoming an increasingly important dynamic," Chang said.
Chang says the company doubled in size this year, and that demand has increased in the regions most impacted by recent restrictions on abortion.
OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT will soon engage in "erotica for verified adults." CEO Sam Altman says the company aims to allow more user freedom for adults while setting limits for teens. OpenAI isn't the first to explore sexualized AI, but previous attempts have faced legal and societal challenges. Altman believes OpenAI isn't the "moral police" and wants to differentiate content similar to how Hollywood differentiates R-rated movies. This move could help OpenAI, which is losing money, turn a profit. However, experts express concerns about the impact on real-world relationships and the potential for misuse.
CNN is launching a new “All Access” streaming subscription in the U.S. on October 28th, priced at $6.99 a month, or just $69.99 if you sign up for a full year.
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