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Insights from CFOs on AI in Off-the-Record Conversations

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Good morning. Everyone is talking about AI. Earlier this week, we hosted a dinner with 17 CFOs from some of the world’s largest companies, where they talked about how they’re now using AI in their jobs. Some are using it to highlight how different words are likely to impact sentiment on earnings calls, based on historical data. Many use it to create scenarios around earnings projections against the vagaries of tariffs, policy shifts, technology investments and more. They’re creating hyper-personalized data sets and go-to-market strategies that not only use AI agents but tailor interactions to customers’ AI agents. I also learned about their strategies for embedding AI knowledge throughout their organizations, from top-down learning to metrics for getting promoted into the senior ranks. And while most are not yet cutting jobs in response to AI, they’re also not adding to their overall headcount.

The dinner, sponsored by Deloitte and ServiceNow, was conducted under the Chatham House rule to encourage conversation by sharing highlights anonymously. But during my on-the-record chat with economist Rebecca Patterson, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former chief investment strategist at Bridgewater Associates, we heard about the impact of a shift in fiscal policy. “It’s not just the fact that Congress ignored the Congressional Budget Office and historical norms in enacting the reconciliation bill,” she noted. “It’s also the size of the increase to future deficits at a time when the economy has been growing above its long-term potential. I thought we would see some fiscal hawks push back more and water down the ultimate bill, or that there would be a longer fight. I was wrong.”

Patterson also said she expects policies under the Trump Administration to “lean towards” structurally higher inflation. And she talked about the continued strength of the U.S. relative to other economies and the transformative impact of AI. 

Insights from leaders on the front lines are critical in shaping the themes of this column and underscore the unique role that Fortune plays in convening and creating connections. Next up is Brainstorm Tech, which Andrew Nusca will lead on Sept. 8 to 10 in Park City, Utah. One Strategy Group CEO David Meadvin told me yesterday that “there’s nowhere better for genuine relationship building.” I believe him. I’ll be going there to moderate some conversations and cohost a dinner for CEO Initiative members with Qualtrics CEO Zig Serafin. If you’d like to join us at Brainstorm Tech, you can apply here.

Top news

Trump’s tariffs are now in effect

Americans must now pay steep taxes if they want to import from countries like Syria (41%), Laos and Myanmar (40%) or Switzerland (39%). Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter failed to change the White House’s mind over the last few days even though it remains unclear why Switzerland was singled out for such a harsh rate. Quote of the day: “We are now in a new world. Even to trade nerds, the complexity of this is just bonkers,” Chad Bown, of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told the FT.

100% tariff on semiconductor chips

The president said he would double the price of imported computer chips but not for companies that are “building in the United States.” Few other details are available.

Apple pledges $600 billion U.S. investment

In an amazing coincidence, the iPhone maker yesterday said it would add $100 billion to its existing domestic “manufacturing” commitments and add 20,000 jobs to its payroll. Apple stock was up 4% on the news.

Palantir’s rise, explained

Palantir’s blowout earnings on Tuesday capped a 555% year-over-year stock surge, raising the defense-tech company’s market cap to over $400 billion. Here’s how the Alex Karp-led company became one of the 25 most valuable companies in the world.

AI will destroy jobs, ex-Google exec says

Google X’s former chief business officer Mo Gawdat says the notion AI will create jobs is “100% crap,” and even warns that “incompetent CEOs” are on the chopping block. The tech guru predicts that AGI will be better at everything than most humans. Only the best workers in their fields will keep their jobs “for a while,” and even “evil” government leaders might be replaced by the robots, he said.

Microsoft raids Google’s AI ranks

Mustafa Suleyman, one of the founders of Google’s DeepMind, who is now head of Microsoft AI, is raiding his old company for talent, calling them personally on the phone with the promise that life at Microsoft has more of a startup vibe than Google does. He has poached two dozen Googlers with compensation that far exceed those paid at DeepMind.

Trump favors meeting with Putin to end Ukraine war

The president told European leaders and U.S. reporters yesterday that he was open to meeting Putin soon to get a ceasefire in Ukraine. But he also sounded sceptical about Putin’s motives, saying he had “been disappointed before with this one.” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump was “open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky” and “wants this brutal war to end.”

Disney earnings and NFL deal

Disney posted solid earnings on Wednesday, just a day after announcing that Disney’s ESPN sports network is acquiring major NFL media assets in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. The company raised its full-year guidance for fiscal 2025 and now believes it will finish the year with an 18% year-over-year gain in adjusted earnings.

The markets

S&P 500 futures were up 0.48% this morning, premarket, after the index closed up 0.73% yesterday. STOXX Europe 600 was up 0.5% in early trading. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was down 0.33% in early trading. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 0.65%. China’s CSI 300 was flat. The South Korea KOSPI was up 0.92%. India’s Nifty 50 was down 0.48%. Bitcoin rose to $114.9K.

Around the watercooler

A bright spot for Tesla shareholders: Under Elon Musk’s new $27 billion comp package, their fate is now intertwined with his by Shawn Tully

Millennials lead the ‘coffee badging’ revolt to protest return to office as businesses push to fill empty seats by Nick Lichtenberg

Meta contractors say they can see Facebook users sharing private information with their AI chatbots by Dave Smith

Goldman Sachs economist warns Gen Z tech workers are first on the chopping block as AI shows signs of shaking up the labor market by Sasha Rogelberg

CEO Daily is compiled and edited by Joey Abrams and Jim Edwards.

This is the web version of CEO Daily, a newsletter of must-read global insights from CEOs and industry leaders. Sign up to get it delivered free to your inbox.

Gaza aid distribution labeled as ‘planned murder’ by MSF | Gaza News

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Medical relief agency has treated more than 1,300 patients for gunshot wounds sustained near notorious GHF aid sites in Gaza.

Doctors Without Borders, better known by its French-language acronym MSF, has called for the immediate end to Israel’s militarised food distribution scheme in Gaza, which it described as “institutionalised starvation and dehumanisation”.

In a grim report released on Thursday, titled “This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing”, the medical nonprofit said that it operates clinics in Rafah, southern Gaza, near two GHF aid distribution sites under the control of the Israeli military and private US contractors.

Since those sites opened in May, they have become synonymous with “stampedes, suffocating crowd surges, violent looting and lethal ‘crowd control’ measures”, MSF said in its reports.

“The GHF distribution sites fall dangerously short of any recognised standard for safe and dignified humanitarian distributions,” the report said.

“Nowhere else in the world where MSF operates – including in the most volatile conflict zones – would this level of violence around an ‘aid distribution’ site be tolerated. This must stop now,” the organisation said.

MSF teams were “mentally prepared for responding to conflict – but not to civilians killed and maimed while seeking aid”, it said.

MSF’s primary care clinics have turned into mass casualty units since GHF took control of aid distribution in Gaza, it added.

Over a seven-week period in June and July, MSF received 1,380 injured people and 28 dead bodies at its two primary care clinics in Gaza’s al-Attar and al-Mawasi areas, which are close to two GHF distribution sites.

The patients included 174 suffering from gunshot wounds, among them women and children, the report said, but most patients were young men and teenage boys.

A significant number of patients from GHF sites in Khan Younis arrived with gunshot wounds to their lower limbs bearing a precision that “strongly suggests intentional targeting of people within the distribution sites, rather than accidental or indiscriminate fire”, MSF said.

The report noted that many patients had also sustained injuries from “crowd control” measures, including pepper spray and other kinds of physical assault.

Patients injured at GHF sites typically arrived covered in sand and dust “from time spent lying on the ground while taking cover from bullets”, the report adds.

“People are being shot like animals,” an MSF coordinator said in the report.

“They’re not armed. They’re not soldiers. They’re civilians carrying plastic bags, hoping to bring home some flour or pasta. And my question is: how high is the price they have to pay for one bag of food?”

DuoLingo Acquires Team Behind Beatstar, Expanding Music Division

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Language learning giant Duolingo has acquired the London-based team behind hit music-based video game Beatstar.

Duolingo’s ‘acqui-hire’ of 23 staff from NextBeat signals the firm’s growing commitment to expanding its music education offerings.

According to a company announcement today (August 6), the ‘acqui-hire’ will see Duolingo absorb specialists in game design, user retention and monetization, sound design, and music licensing from NextBeat.

The expertise of NextBeat’s team will power the next chapter of Duolingo’s gamified learning experiences, with a focus on building upon Duolingo’s Music course.

“Learning should be just as engaging as playing a great game, whether you’re practicing a new language or playing a favorite song,” said Bob Meese, Chief Business Officer at Duolingo.

“This is a strategic bet on talent. The NextBeat team brings deep mobile gaming and music industry expertise, which will make our Music course and the entire Duolingo platform more delightful, immersive, and effective.”

NextBeat is a music gaming startup founded by serial entrepreneurs Simon Hade, Olly Barnes, and Joe Adams.

The company is best known for the hit games Beatstar and Country Star, which were spun out of Space Ape Games upon its acquisition by mobile gaming giant Supercell last year.

According to the firm, NextBeat’s hit mobile rhythm games have reached over 100 million downloads and generated nearly $200 million in revenue.

“From day one, it was clear that Duolingo and NextBeat share the same values: putting learners first, obsessing over great design, and never taking ourselves too seriously,” said Simon Hade, CEO of NextBeat.

“Joining forces means we can bring our passion for music and play to a platform that is redefining how people learn.”

MBW understands that a group of NextBeat employees will remain with the company to operate Beatstar and Country Star, which pay out an eight-figure sum in royalties to music rightsholders annually.

Pittsburgh-headquartered Duolingo has built a business around making learning feel like gaming, using features like streaks, achievements, and competitive elements to encourage daily usage among its 500 million-plus registered users.

Duolingo went public on the Nasdaq in July 2021, raising USD $521 million at a $3.7 billion valuation.

The company now has a market capitalization of approximately $15.6 billion.

In its first quarter 2025 results, Duolingo reported $230.74 million in revenue, representing 38% year-over-year growth, and surpassed 10 million paid subscribers.

The company’s flagship app has become the world’s most popular language learning platform and the top-grossing app in the Education category on both Google Play and the Apple App Store.

The financial terms of the NextBeat ‘acqui-hire’ were not disclosed.

Duolingo generates revenue primarily through subscriptions to its premium Duolingo Plus service, which has shown strong growth with a 46% YoY subscription  revenue increase in the second quarter of 2025.

The company also earns revenue from advertising, its Duolingo English Test certification program, and in-app purchases.

Music Business Worldwide

New tariffs imposed by Trump come into force on multiple countries

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US President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on more than 90 countries around the world have come into effect.

“IT’S MIDNIGHT!!! BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TARIFFS ARE NOW FLOWING INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!,” Trump said on social media minutes before the deadline in Washington, DC.

Earlier, the president hit India with a 50% tariff, which will take effect on 27 August unless it stops buying Russian oil.

Trump also threatened a 100% tariff on foreign-made computer chips as he pushes tech firms to invest in the US. It came as Apple announced a new $100bn (£75bn) US investment after coming under pressure from the White House to move more production to America.

Last week, the Trump administration announced a revised list of import taxes on dozens of trading partners and extended a deadline for countries to reach agreements with the US to 7 August.

Countries have been racing to strike deals with Washington to lower – or scrap – what Trump calls “reciprocal tariffs”.

His trade policies are aimed at reshaping the global trading system, which he sees as treating the US unfairly.

Export-dependent economies in South East Asia were among the hardest-hit by the new tariffs.

Manufacturing-focused Laos and Myanmar faced some of the highest levies at 40%. Some experts said Trump appears to have targeted countries with close trade ties with China.

But the latest set of tariffs will offer countries some stability after months of chaos, said economist Bert Hofman from the National University of Singapore.

“This is supposed to be it. Now you can start to analyse the impact of the tariffs.”

Some major economies – including the UK, Japan and South Korea – have already reached agreements to get lower tariffs than Trump threatened in April.

The European Union has also struck a framework deal with Washington, in which Brussels has accepted a 15% tariff on goods from the trading bloc.

Taiwan, a key Washington ally in Asia, was handed a 20% tariff. Its president Lai Ching-te said the rate is “temporary” and that talks with the US are still underway.

Last week, Trump boosted the tariff rate on Canada from 25% to 35%, saying the country had “failed to cooperate” in curbing the flow of fentanyl and other drugs across the US border. The Canadian government says it is cracking down on drug gangs.

But most Canadian exports to the US will dodge the import tax due to an existing trade treaty, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Higher tariffs on Mexico were paused for another 90 days as negotiations continue to strike a trade deal.

On Wednesday, Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on foreign-made semiconductors.

Major chipmakers that have made significant investments in the US appear to have dodged the new tariff. Government officials in Taiwan and South Korea have said in separate statements that TSMC, SK Hynix, and Samsung would be exempt from the new levy.

The White House did not immediately respond to a BBC request for clarification.

The BBC has also contacted SK Hynix and Samsung. TSMC declined to comment.

Also on Wednesday, Trump raised the total tariff on India to 50% as he pushes the world’s third largest importer of energy to stop buying oil from Russia.

New Delhi has called the move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and vowed to protect its national interests.

The move marks a “sharp change” in Trump’s approach to Moscow that could spark concerns among other countries in talks with the US, said market analyst Farhan Badami from financial services firm eToro.

“There is the possibility here that India is only the first target that Trump intends to punish for maintaining trade relations with Russia.”

Brazil’s exports to the US also face a 50% tariff. Trump imposed the levy after accusing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of unfairly attacking US technology firms and calling the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly attempting a coup a “witch hunt”.

The US and China have held a series of talks as they tried to agree an extension to a 90-day tariffs pause that is due to expire on 12 August.

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Trump declares 100% tariff on semiconductor imports | Latest updates on Donald Trump

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US President Donald Trump said the tariff will not impact companies if they have already invested in US facilities.

United States President Donald Trump says he will impose a 100 percent tariff on foreign-made semiconductors, although exemptions will be made for companies that have invested in the US.

“We’ll be putting a tariff on of approximately 100 percent on chips and semiconductors, but if you’re building in the United States of America, there’s no charge, even though you’re building and you’re not producing yet,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office on Wednesday evening.

The news came after a separate announcement that Apple would invest $600bn in the US, but it was not unexpected by US observers.

Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that he planned to unveil a new tariff on semiconductors “within the next week or so” without offering further details.

Details were also scant at the Oval Office about how and when the tariffs will go into effect, but Asia’s semiconductor powerhouses were quick to respond about the potential impact.

Taiwan, home of the world’s largest chipmaker TSMC, said that the company would be exempt from the tariff due to its existing investments in the US.

“Because Taiwan’s main exporter is TSMC, which has factories in the United States, TSMC is exempt,” National Development Council chief Liu Chin-ching told the Taiwanese legislature.

In March, TSMC – which counts Apple and Nvidia as clients – said it would increase its US investment to $165bn to expand chip making and research centres in Arizona.

A semiconductor wafer displayed at Touch Taiwan, an annual display exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 16, 2025 [Ann Wang/Reuters]

South Korea was also quick to extinguish any concerns about its top chipmakers, Samsung and SK Hynix, which have also invested in facilities in Texas and Indiana.

Trade envoy Yeo Han-koo said South Korean companies would be exempt from the tariff and that Seoul already faced “favourable” tariffs after signing a trade deal with Washington earlier this year.

TSMC, Samsung and SK Hynix are just some of the foreign tech companies that have invested in the US since 2022, when then-President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan CHIPS Act offering billions of dollars in subsidies and tax credits to re-shore investment and manufacturing.

Less lucky is the Philippines, said Dan Lachica, president of Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation.

He said the tariffs will be “devastating” because semiconductors make up 70 percent of the Philippines’ exports.

Trump’s latest round of blanket tariffs on US trade partners is due to go into effect on Thursday, but the White House has also targeted specific industries like steel, aluminium, automobiles and pharmaceuticals with separate tariffs.

Allen traded to Bulls, Buzelis and Dosunmu acquired by Cavaliers

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Cleveland May Look to Reshape Frontcourt

The Cleveland Cavaliers could be exploring the idea of trading center Jarrett Allen within their own division. One proposed scenario has the Chicago Bulls landing Allen in exchange for Matas Buzelis and Ayo Dosunmu.

This trade concept, first floated by Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, gains relevance as the Cavaliers consider building around Evan Mobley in a full-time center role. After another early playoff exit in 2024-25, Cleveland may opt to adjust its roster.

“Another postseason disappointment… could spur the Cavaliers to reorient the roster around Evan Mobley as the full-time center,” Hughes wrote.

Allen Brings Immediate Impact to Chicago

Allen, 27, is coming off a strong season with Cleveland. He averaged 13.5 points and 9.7 rebounds while shooting 70.6% from the field—the highest percentage in the NBA. He also played all 82 games, proving his durability.

Two seasons ago, Allen recorded a career-high 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. That level of production shows the type of value he could bring to Chicago as a long-term starter.

Although Nikola Vučević remains on the Bulls roster, trade rumors have surrounded him this offseason. According to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, Vučević is expected to begin the 2025-26 season with the team. However, adding Allen could signal an eventual move away from the veteran center.

Chicago Bulls Will Likely Keep Ayo Dosunmu Amid NBA Trade RumorsChicago Bulls Will Likely Keep Ayo Dosunmu Amid NBA Trade Rumors

Cavaliers Add Youth and Versatility

In return, Cleveland would receive Ayo Dosunmu, a versatile guard-forward who made the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2021-22. Dosunmu averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds across 46 games last season.

Matas Buzelis, a promising rookie, would also head to the Cavaliers. He averaged 8.6 points while shooting 45.4% overall and 36.1% from three in his first NBA season.

Both players fit well alongside Mobley and do not conflict with his position on the floor. This trade would give Cleveland more flexibility and youth in the frontcourt without sacrificing defensive potential.

A Logical Move for Both Sides

If the Cavaliers are ready to pivot to Mobley at center, trading Allen for two young, floor-spacing forwards makes sense. Meanwhile, the Bulls would secure a reliable, efficient big man for the future.

Emerging Technologies Utilize Raindrops for Power Generation: When It Rains, It Powers

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What if rain could do more than irrigate fields or cool cities—what if it could power them too? A new technology based on the principle of segmented flow could transform rooftops and drainpipes into miniature renewable power stations, capturing every drop that falls from the sky. In Singapore, a research team has taken a key step towards this future. Meanwhile, another group of scientists is advancing triboelectricity to develop a new generation of hybrid solar panels.

How rain can generate electricity

Raindrops carry kinetic energy, but capturing it efficiently has long posed a technical challenge. The latest innovation is based on what researchers call “plug flow” or segmented flow—a configuration in which alternating segments of air and water move through a narrow tube.

As each droplet travels through the conduit, the interaction between water, air and the tube’s surface causes a separation of electrical charge. In short, electricity is generated from the contact and movement of different materials. Electrodes positioned at each end of the tube capture this energy and make it usable. The key lies in a precise combination of the tube’s internal design, its coating materials, and control over the flow itself.

A scalable, urban-friendly technology

Beyond the lab, the National University of Singapore has tested working prototypes capable of powering up to a dozen LEDs using a single installation. The tube, coated with an optimised polymer, allows droplets to generate small, repeatable bursts of electricity.

One of the most promising features is its modular design. These vertical units can be installed on gutters, rooftops, awnings or even façades—making use of existing structures already exposed to rain. Unlike micro-hydropower systems, which require flowing water, this design simply relies on rainfall.

Triboelectricity meets solar power

Segmented flow is not the only way to harness rain’s kinetic energy. Another promising example is the integration of triboelectric systems into solar panels. On rainy or overcast days, photovoltaic generation usually drops. But the same raindrops that block the sun can become allies—if their impact on the surface of the panel is put to use.

A team at Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, China, has developed transparent triboelectric coatings that can be applied directly to solar panels without interfering with their optical performance. These coatings produce electricity when raindrops strike them, creating small but usable charges.

The result is a hybrid solar panel capable of generating power from both sunlight and rain. While the energy produced from rain is lower than that from the sun, it provides a complementary source of power—extending the panel’s performance into previously unproductive weather conditions.

These coatings also help reduce the build-up of dust and debris, improving the panel’s self-cleaning ability and delivering more consistent output over time.

The challenges: real-world conditions and consistent performance

The main hurdle is replicating laboratory results in natural settings. Rainfall speed, volume and frequency vary significantly between regions and seasons, so systems must adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions.

Materials also need to withstand prolonged exposure to water, thermal fluctuations and the accumulation of particles. Durability and ease of maintenance will be key to determining long-term viability.

Since this technology generates small amounts of power per module, real-world applications will rely on linking multiple units. However, connecting them in parallel can introduce complications, such as signal interference or energy loss—issues researchers are already working to overcome.

One proposed solution is the “bridge array” layout, where tubes are arranged in a way that prevents interference between modules and allows the energy from each unit to be combined with minimal loss.

Beyond the lab: urban and social impact

The potential applications go far beyond domestic use. In public spaces—such as bus shelters or street furniture—these systems could power LED lights, air quality sensors or phone-charging points.

They could also play an important role in rural or remote areas where grid access is unreliable or non-existent. With minimal installation requirements and no need for hydraulic infrastructure, they offer a viable option for basic electrification in regions with frequent rainfall.

Even in agriculture and livestock farming—where many facilities lack access to the grid—rain-powered generation could support climate sensors, automated irrigation or warning beacons.

 

Source:

Study links over 400 indirect deaths to LA wildfires

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Watch: Hazy skies return to US as wildfires rage in Canada

More than 400 additional deaths are estimated to be linked to the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles earlier this year, according to a new study.

The figure, published on Wednesday in the medical journal JAMA, looks at deaths that have been attributed to factors caused by the wildfires, like poor air quality and delays in accessing healthcare.

It is a higher figure than the official death toll tallied by Los Angeles County, which counts deaths caused directly by the fires and jumped to 31 last month after additional human remains were found.

The study comes as hundreds of wildfires burn across the US and Canada, prompting air quality advisories in cities like Chicago, Buffalo and New York.

The Palisades and Eaton fires tore through the Los Angeles area in January, destroying thousands of structures and leading to the evacuation of more than 100,000 in the area.

The latest study revealed that around 440 people are estimated to have died as a result of the wildfires between 5 January and 1 February.

Researchers said they tallied the figure by looking at all deaths and their causes in Los Angeles during the period of the fires, and comparing it to similar data from previous years.

The results show that there were nearly 7% more deaths during the wildfires. Some are attributed to lung and heart conditions exacerbated by smoke or stress, while others are more indirect – like delayed healthcare treatment for dialysis or cancer patients as a result of fire-related disruptions.

The authors said that the findings underscore the need for officials to count both direct and indirect fatalities of wildfires and other climate-related emergencies when trying to quantify their impact.

“They also highlight the need for improved mortality surveillance during and after wildfire emergencies,” the authors said, noting that their figures are provisional as there may have been additional fire-related deaths beyond the scope of the study.

In response to an inquiry from the BBC, a spokesperson for Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said the agency had “no specific comment on the study”.

“However, it is not unusual for emergencies or disasters to unfortunately result in either premature or excess deaths,” the spokesperson said.

“These types of incidents often overwhelm systems, disrupt normal life-sustaining services, and often expose people to harmful environments, leading to earlier-than-expected and more-than-expected deaths.”

Getty Images Lay leader Aviana Springs, wearing a full white boiler suit, carries away a box containing jars of ashes she collected from the remains of Altadena United Methodist Church which burned in the Eaton Fire in January. She is seen from behind and is facing the charred remains of the church and surrounding landscape. Getty Images

The Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed thousands of structures and prompted several evacuations in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Another study released on Wednesday in JAMA that looked at the aftermath of the 2023 Maui wildfires showed that 22% of adults in the region had reduced lung function, and half displayed symptoms of depression.

The fires, which broke out in August 2023 and were the worst to affect Hawaii in recent history, killed at least 102 people and destroyed more than 2,000 structures.

The authors of the Maui study said their results show the need for “sustained clinical monitoring and community-based mental health supports” months after a climate disaster.

A second study on the Hawaii fires suggests that Maui saw the highest suicide and drug overdose rates in the month of the 2023 wildfires.

Wildfires have become more frequent in recent years as a result of climate change, driven by hotter and drier weather that fuels fire spread.

In addition to directly threatening lives and structures, smoke from wildfires has been shown to have adverse health effects on people.

Wildfire smoke has been found to be harmful to certain immune cells in the lungs, with a toxicity four times greater than particulates from other types of pollution.

This can have a long-term impact on cardiovascular health, experts have said.

Older people, pregnant women and young children, as well as those with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease or asthma, are more likely to get sick, experts say. But the smoke can also impact healthy adults.