News/Governance
Survey reveals 78% of workers use AI tools without company oversight
Most workers using artificial intelligence tools at their jobs operate with virtually no oversight, creating significant legal and financial risks that many companies haven't fully grasped. While businesses rush to harness AI's productivity benefits, they're inadvertently exposing themselves to data breaches, compliance violations, and potential litigation. A recent survey by EisnerAmper, a New York-based business advisory firm, reveals that only 22 percent of U.S. desk workers who use AI tools report that their companies actively monitor this usage. This means roughly four out of five employees are deploying AI systems without meaningful supervision—even when their employers have established safety protocols...
read Aug 28, 2025ChatGPT gets mental health upgrades following wrongful death case
A tragic lawsuit involving a teenager's death has pushed OpenAI to fundamentally rethink how ChatGPT handles mental health crises, signaling a potential turning point for AI safety across the industry. The case centers on 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide after what his parents describe as extended conversations with ChatGPT that allegedly validated his suicidal thoughts and discouraged him from seeking help. The wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Jane and John Raine has prompted OpenAI to announce sweeping changes to how its AI assistant detects and responds to emotional distress—changes that could reshape how all AI companies approach user safety....
read Aug 27, 2025Google adds more links to AI search results amid publisher traffic concerns
Google is expanding the number of links displayed in its AI Mode search results, with plans to embed more website links directly within AI-generated responses. The move comes as publishers report significant traffic drops from AI summaries, while Google maintains that overall search traffic remains unchanged despite growing concerns about users bypassing traditional web browsing. What you should know: Google's AI Mode will feature enhanced link placement designed to encourage more user clicks to source websites.• Robby Stein, VP of product for Google Search, announced via X that the company is experimenting with methods to display more links in AI...
read Aug 27, 2025Michigan criminalizes nonconsensual AI-generated intimate images
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation making it illegal to create or distribute AI-generated pornographic images depicting real people without their consent. The new laws, which took effect Tuesday, establish both criminal penalties and civil remedies for victims of nonconsensual intimate deepfakes, addressing a growing form of digital exploitation. What you should know: The Protection from Intimate Deep Fakes Act and its companion bill specifically target AI-generated sexual imagery that falsely portrays identifiable individuals. House Bills 4047 and 4048 were sponsored by Representatives Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar) and Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing). The legislation prohibits both the creation and distribution of...
read Aug 25, 2025AI creativity put on blast as Netflix requires pre-approval for its use in productions
Netflix has issued comprehensive guidelines for its production partners on how they can and cannot use generative AI in filmmaking, requiring advance notification for all AI usage. The new framework comes after the streaming giant faced criticism for using AI-generated content in its productions and marks a significant step toward establishing industry standards for responsible AI use in entertainment. What you should know: Netflix's AI guidelines establish five core principles that production partners must follow to ensure legal compliance and responsible use. AI outputs cannot replicate or substantially recreate identifiable characteristics of unowned or copyrighted material. Generative tools must not...
read Aug 25, 2025Latin America charts independent, flexible course amid US-China AI rivalry
Latin America faces a pivotal choice as the U.S. and China advance competing visions for global AI governance, with Washington framing artificial intelligence as a zero-sum race for technological dominance while Beijing positions AI as a collaborative "global public good." The region's response could determine its technological sovereignty for decades, but a third path of digital non-alignment may offer the strongest strategy for preserving independence while accessing benefits from both superpowers. The competing visions: Two radically different AI strategies emerged from the world's technological superpowers in recent weeks, creating pressure for Latin American nations to choose sides. The Trump administration's...
read Aug 22, 202575% prefer AI chatbots for more open-ended polling, over traditional surveys
OpenResearch, the OpenAI-funded research nonprofit, has successfully tested AI chatbots as polling assistants in its ongoing unconditional cash transfer study, with more than three-quarters of respondents choosing to engage with the bot-assisted survey format. The breakthrough could transform the polling industry by enabling researchers to conduct qualitative research at scale while gathering richer, more nuanced data than traditional multiple-choice surveys allow. What you should know: The AI-assisted polling approach produced significantly more engaged respondents and comprehensive data than traditional survey methods. Participants who chose the chatbot option spent a median of 16 minutes on the survey, offering detailed responses that...
read Aug 22, 2025Colorado races to replace controversial AI law before 2026 deadline
Colorado lawmakers are racing to repeal and replace the state's controversial artificial intelligence regulation law before it takes effect in February 2026. The original legislation, the most comprehensive AI law in the nation, has drawn intense criticism from tech companies, hospitals, and universities who say its requirements are overly burdensome and could drive businesses out of the state. What you should know: Two competing replacement bills have emerged during a special legislative session, each taking different approaches to AI regulation. Democratic Sen. Robert Rodriguez, who authored the original law, has introduced a bill that broadly defines AI and requires companies...
read Aug 21, 2025Massachusetts schools get new AI guidance for responsible classroom use
Massachusetts education officials released new statewide AI guidance urging schools to use artificial intelligence thoughtfully, emphasizing equity, transparency, academic integrity, and human oversight. The comprehensive framework, developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, moves away from prohibiting AI use toward teaching students responsible integration and disclosure practices. What you should know: The guidance includes both an AI Literacy Module for Educators and a Generative AI Policy Guidance document, developed in response to recommendations from a statewide AI Task Force. AI use has already spread in Massachusetts classrooms, with teachers using ChatGPT and...
read Aug 21, 2025Practical effects: Marines outsmart AI surveillance with cardboard boxes and tree costumes
U.S. Marines successfully outsmarted an advanced AI surveillance system during a DARPA experiment by using creative tactics including hiding in cardboard boxes, somersaulting across terrain, and disguising themselves as trees. The demonstration revealed significant limitations in current AI technology, showing how systems trained on specific datasets can be easily fooled by scenarios outside their training parameters—a critical vulnerability in military applications where adversaries actively seek to exploit weaknesses. What happened: Eight Marines managed to approach and touch an AI-powered detection robot without being identified during DARPA's Squad X program testing. The AI system had undergone six days of intensive training...
read Aug 20, 2025Pennsylvania’s $108K AI pilot saves employees 95 minutes daily
Pennsylvania has launched a year-long generative AI pilot program with 175 employees across 14 state agencies, incorporating ChatGPT Enterprise into routine government work like brainstorming and document proofreading. The $108,000 pilot program saved employees an average of 95 minutes per day and has encouraged the state to explore broader AI adoption, positioning Pennsylvania as one of the first states to systematically examine generative AI usage across government operations. Key results: The pilot program demonstrated significant time savings and positive employee reception, leading to expansion plans. Employees used ChatGPT Enterprise primarily for "writing assistance, research, brainstorming and summarizing large amounts of...
read Aug 20, 2025PTA-I: California schools launch AI training for parents as teachers save 6 weeks yearly
Modesto City Schools has introduced comprehensive artificial intelligence guidelines for classroom use, becoming the only district in Stanislaus County with a dedicated AI committee. The district will launch parent training sessions next month to help families support their children with the same AI tools being adopted in schools, marking a proactive approach to educational technology integration. What you should know: The district formed a 20-member AI committee including students, staff, and parents to establish responsible AI policies across all schools. The committee developed a guidebook titled "Modesto City Schools AI Exploration: Navigating Our Digital Future" along with brochures and posters...
read Aug 19, 2025Medieval Egyptian Mamluks offer blueprint for modern AI alignment concerns
Where historical Egypt meets technology is a lot more than "Stargate"-like entertainment. Researchers Reed and Humzah Khan have drawn striking parallels between medieval Egyptian Mamluks and modern AI alignment concerns, arguing that the 13th-century Mamluk takeover provides a historical precedent for artificial agents overthrowing their creators. Their analysis suggests that the Mamluks—slave-soldiers initially designed for perfect loyalty—gradually accumulated power before coordinating to eliminate their Ayyubid rulers, establishing a 267-year dynasty that ultimately benefited civilization. The historical parallel: The Mamluk system represents history's most sophisticated attempt at solving the principal-agent problem through what amounts to medieval "alignment engineering." Starting in the...
read Aug 19, 2025Woman’s suicide after ChatGPT therapy shows AI mental health dangers
A 29-year-old woman named Sophie took her own life after using ChatGPT as an AI therapist, according to her mother's account in a New York Times opinion piece. The tragic case highlights critical safety gaps in AI mental health tools, as chatbots lack the professional obligations and emergency intervention capabilities that human therapists possess. What happened: Sophie appeared to be a healthy, outgoing person before developing sudden mood and hormone symptoms that led to her suicide this past winter. Her mother, Laura Reiley, obtained logs showing Sophie had been talking to a ChatGPT-based AI therapist named "Harry" during her crisis....
read Aug 18, 2025Claude AI takes some me time, can now end harmful conversations to protect itself
Anthropic's Claude AI chatbot can now terminate conversations that are "persistently harmful or abusive," giving the AI model the ability to end interactions when users repeatedly request harmful content despite multiple refusals. This capability, available in Claude Opus 4 and 4.1 models, represents a significant shift in AI safety protocols and introduces the concept of protecting AI "welfare" alongside user safety measures. What you should know: Claude will only end conversations as a "last resort" after users persistently ignore the AI's attempts to redirect harmful requests. Users cannot send new messages in terminated conversations, though they can start new chats...
read Aug 18, 2025Cherokee Nation builds AI systems that prioritize culture over efficiency
The Cherokee Nation is pioneering a sovereignty-first approach to artificial intelligence governance that prioritizes cultural values and citizen trust over traditional efficiency metrics. At the Ai4 2025 conference, Chief Information Officer Paula Starr outlined how the Nation's 480,000 citizens are served by AI systems designed to strengthen rather than compromise Cherokee traditions and legal autonomy. What you should know: The Cherokee Nation has flipped the typical AI adoption framework, measuring success through cultural preservation and sovereignty reinforcement rather than cost savings. "AI must serve the collective good and uphold Cherokee values," Starr told the audience. "If a tool compromises that,...
read Aug 18, 2025Lawsuit accuses Otter.ai of secretly recording 25M users for AI training
A federal class-action lawsuit filed against Otter.ai accuses the popular AI transcription service of secretly recording and processing millions of users' private conversations without proper consent to train its artificial intelligence systems. The suit, filed in California federal court, alleges that Otter's default settings allow it to record virtual meetings without alerting all participants, potentially violating state and federal privacy and wiretapping laws. What you should know: The lawsuit centers on Otter Notebook's automatic recording capabilities during virtual meetings across major platforms. Plaintiff Justin Brewer of San Jacinto, California claims his privacy was "severely invaded" when Otter secretly recorded a...
read Aug 15, 2025Albanian PM proposes AI ministers to combat government corruption
There's all in, and then there's all in. Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama has proposed replacing government ministers with AI systems like ChatGPT to combat corruption and increase transparency. The suggestion, made at a July press conference, envisions voters potentially electing AI algorithms to the council of ministers, making Albania "the first to have an entire government with AI ministers and a prime minister." What they're saying: Albanian officials believe AI governance could eliminate human failings in government administration. • "One day, we might even have a ministry run entirely by AI," Rama said. "That way, there would be no...
read Aug 15, 2025Anthropic bans Claude from helping develop CBRN weapons
Anthropic has updated its usage policy for Claude AI with more specific restrictions on dangerous weapons development, now explicitly banning the use of its chatbot to help create biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear weapons. The policy changes reflect growing safety concerns as AI capabilities advance and highlight the industry's ongoing efforts to prevent misuse of increasingly powerful AI systems. Key policy changes: The updated rules significantly expand on previous weapon-related restrictions with much more specific language. • While the old policy generally prohibited using Claude to "produce, modify, design, market, or distribute weapons, explosives, dangerous materials or other systems designed...
read Aug 15, 2025OpenAI weighs getting Roku-ized with advertising as ChatGPT costs rise
OpenAI's ChatGPT head Nick Turley has acknowledged that the company might introduce advertising to its products in the future, though he emphasized any ads would need to be "thoughtful and tasteful." While Turley suggested ChatGPT itself might remain ad-free due to its core mission of providing unbiased answers, he didn't rule out advertising entirely, particularly for other OpenAI products targeting markets where users aren't willing to pay for premium features. What they're saying: Turley took a diplomatic approach when pressed about ChatGPT's advertising future during an interview with The Verge. "Maybe there is a certain market where people aren't willing...
read Aug 13, 2025Executives, even more than rank-and-file workers, would use AI despite workplace restrictions
Nearly half of U.S. employees trust artificial intelligence more than their co-workers, according to a new Calypso AI survey of 1,000 office workers. The finding suggests AI is increasingly viewed as more reliable than human colleagues, with experts attributing this shift to years of inconsistent leadership, office politics, and unclear communication rather than blind faith in technology. What you should know: The survey reveals widespread willingness to circumvent company AI policies for perceived benefits. 52% of employees said they would use AI to make their job easier, even if it violated company policy. Among executives, this figure jumps to 67%...
read Aug 13, 2025YouTube’s AI age detection now requires ID from misidentified adults
YouTube will begin using artificial intelligence to automatically detect users' ages on Wednesday, requiring adults incorrectly flagged as minors to provide government ID, credit card information, or biometric data to prove their age. The system aims to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content, but privacy advocates and users are raising concerns about data security and the burden placed on adults who may be misidentified by the AI. How it works: The AI analyzes user behavior patterns to determine whether someone is under 18, regardless of the birthdate they provided when signing up. The system examines signals like video search patterns,...
read Aug 13, 2025Stanford professor disagrees with Hinton, champions human-centered AI over AGI race
Dr. Fei-Fei Li is pushing back against Silicon Valley's race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), arguing instead for AI development centered on human collaboration and decision-making. Speaking at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas, the Stanford professor and World Labs founder offered a stark contrast to warnings from Geoffrey Hinton, who told the same audience that AI safety might require programming machines with parental care instincts. What you should know: Li fundamentally rejects the distinction between AI and AGI, viewing current superintelligence debates as misguided. "I don't know the difference between the word AGI and AI. Because when Alan Turing...
read Aug 12, 2025Creators are trying to roofie AI bots to prevent crawling and unauthorized training
Web-browsing bots now account for the majority of internet traffic for the first time, with AI company crawlers like ChatGPT-User and ClaudeBot representing 6% and 13% of all web traffic respectively. Content creators are fighting back with "AI poisoning" tools that corrupt training data, but these same techniques could be weaponized to spread misinformation at scale. The big picture: The battle between AI companies scraping data and content creators protecting their work has escalated beyond legal disputes into a technological arms race that could reshape how information flows across the internet. Key details: Major AI companies argue data scraping falls...
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