News/Society
AI-Generated Child Abuse Imagery Surges on Dark Web
AI-generated child abuse imagery demand surges on dark web: A recent study by Anglia Ruskin University reveals a growing demand for AI-generated child sexual abuse material on dark web forums. Researchers Dr. Deanna Davy and Prof. Sam Lundrigan analyzed dark web forum chats over the past 12 months, uncovering a clear desire among online offenders to create child sexual abuse material using AI technology. Forum members have been actively sharing knowledge, accessing guides and videos, and exchanging advice on how to generate AI-based child abuse imagery. Some forum participants refer to those creating AI-imagery as "artists," indicating a disturbing normalization...
read Aug 12, 2024AI Algorithms are Being Used to Translate the World’s Oldest Texts
The discovery of ancient Mesopotamian tablets containing the Epic of Gilgamesh has challenged our understanding of early literature, with recent AI advancements accelerating the identification and translation of fragmented texts. Historical context and significance: The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the world's oldest known literary works, has captivated scholars and archaeologists for centuries due to its cultural and historical importance. In 1872, George Smith, a British Museum employee, made a groundbreaking discovery when he identified a tablet containing a flood story similar to the biblical account. Smith's find sparked a renewed interest in Mesopotamian literature and its potential connections to...
read Aug 12, 2024AI and Nostalgia Shape Complex Attitudes Toward Tech Advancement
Artificial intelligence and nostalgia intersect in complex ways, shaping public attitudes towards technological advancement. Recent research reveals nuanced impacts of nostalgic feelings on perceptions of AI and other emerging technologies. Dual effects of nostalgia: Nostalgia can simultaneously increase skepticism towards technological change and foster openness to AI and 5G advancements, depending on the context and individual experiences. A study surveying 1,629 participants across the US, UK, and China found that nostalgia had mixed effects on attitudes towards AI and 5G technology. Nostalgic feelings that heighten skepticism towards change generally led to less support for AI and 5G research. However, nostalgia...
read Aug 12, 2024How Human Traffickers Use AI to Exploit Vulnerable Victims Online
AI-enabled human trafficking represents a growing threat in the digital age, as bad actors leverage advanced technologies to exploit vulnerable individuals. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for awareness, action, and improved safeguards to protect potential victims from sophisticated online predators. The dark alliance of AI and human trafficking: Traffickers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to enhance their illicit activities, identifying and grooming potential victims with unprecedented efficiency and scale. AI algorithms allow traffickers to analyze vast amounts of online data, pinpointing vulnerable individuals on social media, forums, and chat rooms. Predators exploit AI to recognize patterns in online...
read Aug 12, 2024NVIDIA Intern Advances AI for Deaf Accessibility
AI for accessibility: NVIDIA intern David Martin is leveraging artificial intelligence to improve technology for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Martin, a computer science student at Georgia Institute of Technology, joined NVIDIA as a technical project manager intern on the trustworthy AI team. His personal experience as a deaf individual has motivated him to seek ways to enhance the accuracy and accessibility of technologies like closed captioning. Prior to his internship, Martin worked in a research lab at his university, focusing on developing accessible technology for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Key projects and responsibilities: At NVIDIA, Martin is involved...
read Aug 11, 2024Algorithmic Collusion: How AI Pricing Poses New Challenge for Antitrust Regulators
AI-driven pricing algorithms are reshaping market dynamics across industries, raising concerns about potential anti-competitive practices and the need for updated regulatory frameworks to address these challenges. The rise of algorithmic pricing: AI-powered pricing software is becoming increasingly prevalent in various sectors, with the rental housing market serving as a prominent example of its wide-reaching impact. RealPage, a leading provider of pricing software for landlords, has come under scrutiny and faces lawsuits alleging its technology enables price-fixing in the rental market. The company's software utilizes vast amounts of data to recommend optimal pricing strategies for landlords, potentially leading to coordinated pricing...
read Aug 10, 2024Women Embrace AI for Career Growth Despite Training Gap
The rapid rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming the professional landscape, with women in particular recognizing its potential to accelerate career growth, despite significant barriers to adoption and training. GenAI's growing importance for women's careers: A new report by Nasscom reveals that a majority of women view GenAI as crucial for their professional advancement, highlighting the technology's increasing relevance in the workplace. The findings were presented at the Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit in Bengaluru, underscoring the importance of this issue in the tech industry. Women across all levels of management express a strong willingness to invest time in...
read Aug 10, 2024Senators Probe AI’s Role in Social Security Benefit Decisions
Senators probe Social Security Administration's AI use: Senators Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo have requested information from the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding its implementation of artificial intelligence in eligibility and payment decisions. The bipartisan inquiry, submitted to SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley, seeks details on the agency's AI risk management frameworks, personnel qualifications, and processes for expediting disability determinations and appeals. The senators emphasized the SSA's crucial role in distributing over $1 trillion in Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income payments annually to millions of beneficiaries. The deadline for the SSA to provide the requested information is September 3....
read Aug 7, 2024AI-Driven Insurance Raises Privacy Alarms for Homeowners
The growing use of artificial intelligence and aerial surveillance by insurance companies is raising concerns about privacy and fairness for homeowners, as exemplified by one journalist's unexpected encounter with AI-driven policy decisions. AI in insurance underwriting: Travelers Insurance, a major homeowners insurance provider, has been employing advanced technologies to assess property risks, potentially leading to unwarranted policy cancellations and repairs. The company has filed nearly 50 patents related to the use of aerial photography and AI for monitoring customers' roofs. This technology aims to identify potential issues, such as moss growth, that could impact a property's insurability. The practice has...
read Aug 5, 2024AI Alignment Bias Favors Western Views, Study Finds
The alignment of AI chatbots with human values and preferences is revealing unintended biases that favor Western perspectives, potentially compromising the global applicability and fairness of these systems. Unintended consequences of AI alignment: Stanford University researchers have uncovered how current alignment processes for large language models (LLMs) can inadvertently introduce biases that skew chatbot responses towards Western-centric tastes and values. The study, led by Diyi Yang, Michael Ryan, and William Held, explores the impact of alignment on global users across three key areas: multilingual variation in 9 languages, regional English dialect variation in the US, India, and Nigeria, and value...
read Aug 5, 2024AI Companions Raise Addiction Concerns, Spark Calls for New Regulations
AI companionship poses potential risks of addiction and social isolation, requiring innovative regulatory approaches and further research to ensure responsible development and use. The rise of AI companions: Artificial intelligence-powered digital companions are gaining popularity, particularly for activities like sexual role-playing, raising concerns about their potential impact on human relationships and mental health. AI companions are designed to identify and cater to users' desires, making them potentially addictive and leading to what some experts call "digital attachment disorder." The economic incentives for creating engaging and addictive AI companions mirror those of social media platforms, raising alarm about the potential for...
read Aug 3, 2024AI Language Models Revive Study of Wittgenstein’s Theory “Meaning is Use”
The success of AI language models in producing coherent, informative text that resonates with human readers has reignited interest in philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein's theory that "meaning is use" when it comes to language. Wittgenstein's perspective on meaning: In his influential work "Philosophical Investigations," Wittgenstein argued that in many cases, the meaning of a word is determined by its practical use within a language, rather than by some inherent, fixed definition: He famously stated, "For a large class of cases of the employment of the word 'meaning' - though not for all - this word can be explained in this way:...
read Aug 3, 2024How Our Personal Choices Today Will Shape the Future of AI
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is reshaping our world, presenting both opportunities and challenges that will significantly impact our future. As we navigate this technological revolution, our individual choices and actions play a crucial role in determining the direction and impact of AI on society. The evolving landscape of AI: The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding into the Internet of Everything, blurring the lines between users and tools: AI capabilities now extend to complex tasks such as composing music and driving vehicles, highlighting the technology's growing influence on various aspects of our lives. The choices we...
read Aug 2, 2024AOL Co-Founder Shares Lessons from Early Internet Era to Navigate AI Revolution
The rise of AI is reminiscent of the early days of the Internet, with important lessons to be learned as we navigate this transformative technology. Steve Case, co-founder of AOL, shares insights from the Internet era that can guide us through the AI revolution, emphasizing the need for inclusive growth, responsible innovation, and bridging the digital divide. Drawing parallels to the Internet's adoption curve: Case highlights the similarities between the early stages of the Internet and the current state of AI, noting that widespread adoption and impact may be just around the corner: In the early days of the Internet,...
read Aug 2, 2024The SeaCheck App Uses AI to Update Beachgoers on Sea Conditions
Innovative technology: The SeaCheck app, launched by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, harnesses the power of real-time data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide up-to-date information about sea conditions: Users can access current information about sea temperature, wind speed, and wave height for Boscombe Beach -- so if you don't live in the UK, you unfortunately can't access it to understand local conditions, at least for now. The app aims to help beachgoers make informed decisions before entering the water for swimming, paddling, or surfing. Pilot program and future enhancements: The SeaCheck app is currently in a pilot phase...
read Aug 1, 2024AI Chatbots Are Transforming Creator-Fan Interactions on OnlyFans
The rise of AI chatbots in the world of OnlyFans is transforming how content creators engage with their audience, as they increasingly rely on these tools to manage the demands of constant communication with their fans. AI chatbots taking over simp management: OnlyFans models are turning to AI chatbots to help them handle the workload of sexting with their numerous clients, replacing human employees who previously acted as "chatters": Firms like NEO Agency and Botly provide chatbot services specifically designed for OnlyFans performers, despite the use of AI being against the platform's terms of service. These chatbots have become more...
read Jul 31, 2024Mentioning AI in Products May Reduce Consumer Trust and Purchase Intent
The increasing use of AI in products may not always lead to higher sales, as mentioning the technology can reduce consumer trust and purchase intent. Key findings: A study led by Washington State University researchers reveals that including the term "artificial intelligence" in product descriptions consistently lowered consumers' likelihood of buying those products: Across experiments involving over 1,000 U.S. adults, products described as using AI were consistently less popular compared to identical offerings without the AI mention. The negative impact of AI disclosure on purchase intent was mediated by lower levels of emotional trust, suggesting consumers feel less confident about...
read Jul 31, 2024Google’s AI Optimizes Traffic Lights, Reducing Stops by 30% in Early Tests
Google's Project Green Light aims to optimize traffic flow with AI and Maps data. Key Takeaways: Google's Project Green Light utilizes AI and historical travel data from Android users to analyze driver behavior at intersections and make recommendations to cities for optimizing traffic light timing: The system models driver behavior at specific intersections using data from Maps users to determine optimal signal timing adjustments Cities can implement Google's AI-based recommendations without needing additional hardware or software, simply inputting the suggestions into their existing light scheduling systems In some cases, the optimizations have reduced the number of stops drivers experience by...
read Jul 30, 2024AI Wearable ‘Friend’ Offers Constant Companionship
The AI-powered wearable 'Friend' aims to provide constant companionship through an always-listening pendant, without focusing on productivity enhancement. Key Details of the Friend Wearable: The Friend is an AI-powered pendant that listens to the wearer's surroundings and provides commentary and conversation through text messages and push notifications: Developed by Avi Schiffmann, the Friend uses Anthropic AI's Claude 3.5 Sonnet large language model to engage in conversation, offer encouragement, and even tease the wearer. The device has a microphone that listens to everything around the wearer by default, and can be tapped to ask questions or receive unprompted messages. The Friend...
read Jul 29, 2024Stanford Study: How Culture Impacts What We Want from AI
China and the U.S. have differing views on what people want from AI, with cultural models of agency shaping these ideal preferences, according to new research from Stanford University that aims to foster more inclusive AI development. Cultural models of agency influence AI preferences: The study found clear associations between the cultural models of agency prevalent in different contexts and the type of AI considered ideal: In many European American middle-class cultural contexts, people often desire control over AI, treating it as a tool in service of individual goals and concerns in an impersonal, hierarchical relationship. In contrast, some cultures...
read Jul 29, 2024How to Navigate the Perils of Over-reliance on LLMs and Chatbots
The power and peril of LLMs: The advent of large language models (LLMs) has revolutionized information access, providing accurate and comprehensive answers to a wide range of queries. However, the convenience of LLMs can lead to dependency, potentially eroding cognitive abilities and self-confidence: Over-reliance on LLMs for even minor tasks can impede critical thinking skills, as the brain becomes accustomed to taking the easier route suggested by AI. The availability of precise, tailored answers can exacerbate "imposter syndrome," causing individuals to doubt their own abilities and curbing natural curiosity. LLMs may summarize incorrect information based on the context of the...
read Jul 29, 2024ChatGPT’s Stand-Up Comedy Debut Exposes Limits of Machine Humor
Robots meet stand-up comedy: Comedian Karen Hobbs recently performed a comedy set written entirely by the AI tool ChatGPT, revealing the current limitations and potential of AI-generated humor. Hobbs, an experienced UK comedian, took the stage equipped with jokes generated by OpenAI's ChatGPT, following three human comedians performing their own material. When prompted to write jokes in a female voice, ChatGPT produced material relying on crude stereotypes about millennial women, such as jokes about having a potted plant as a best friend. The AI-written jokes lacked the satisfying buildup and punchlines that skilled human comedians deliver, as current language models...
read Jul 27, 2024AI Trains on Kids’ Photos Without Consent, Raising Alarms for Families and Policymakers
Human Rights Watch recently revealed that photos of children scraped from the internet, including some hidden behind privacy settings on social media, were used to train AI models without consent from the children or their families. This concerning revelation has broad implications for data privacy and the unintended consequences of "sharenting" in the age of AI. Key Takeaways: The unauthorized use of children's personal photos to train AI models raises serious privacy concerns: Many of the scraped images included children's names and identifying information, making them easily traceable. Some of the photos used were not even publicly available but hidden...
read Jul 27, 2024AI and Automation Set to Transform the Restaurant Industry, Says Toast CEO
A recent interview with Toast CEO Aman Narang sheds light on how AI and technology are poised to reshape the restaurant industry in the coming years. Key insights into the future of AI-enabled restaurants: Narang believes that AI will play an increasingly significant role in automating various aspects of restaurant operations and enhancing the customer experience: AI-powered CRM platforms can help restaurants generate demand by automating thoughtful marketing campaigns and AB testing, reducing the need for manual work. Toast's AI chat assistant, Sous Chef, provides restaurateurs with actionable insights on menu pricing, staffing, and demand forecasting based on data analysis....
read