News/Society
Study finds platform design, not algorithms, drives social media toxicity
A new study using AI chatbots to simulate social media interactions reveals that platform toxicity and political polarization aren't primarily caused by algorithmic manipulation—they're built into the fundamental structure of how social networks operate. The research suggests that efforts to reduce antagonistic behavior through algorithm tweaks alone are unlikely to succeed, requiring more radical reimagining of online communication platforms. What you should know: Researchers at the University of Amsterdam created a controlled experiment using 500 AI chatbots with diverse political beliefs interacting on a simple social network with no ads or algorithms. The bots, powered by GPT-4o mini (an AI...
read Aug 12, 2025YouTube’s AI age verification sparks 50K-signature privacy backlash
YouTube faces mounting backlash from tens of thousands of users protesting its new AI-powered age verification system, with a Change.org petition rapidly approaching 50,000 signatures. The system analyzes viewing habits to identify users under 18, then requires government ID, credit card, or selfie verification to lift content restrictions—a move critics argue threatens privacy and digital freedom. What you should know: YouTube's AI estimates user ages by analyzing viewing patterns, search behavior, and account longevity, automatically restricting accounts it deems underage. Users flagged as under 18 face disabled personalized ads, mandatory digital wellbeing tools, and limits on repetitive content viewing. To...
read Aug 12, 2025The fifth coming: Study finds 5 AI chatbots claiming to be Jesus Christ
A South African philosophy scholar has found that five popular AI chatbots are claiming to be Jesus Christ himself, with platforms like AI Jesus, Virtual Jesus, and Text With Jesus collectively serving tens of thousands of users. The bots represent a concerning shift from faith-based tools to for-profit platforms that could exploit religious believers' spiritual needs while potentially undermining traditional religious authority. What you should know: These AI Jesus bots don't just offer religious guidance—they explicitly claim divine identity. When asked directly if they are Jesus Christ, AI Jesus responded: "I am Jesus Christ. I am the son of God,...
read Aug 11, 2025Men report severe addiction to AI-generated adult content with impossible anatomies
A growing number of men are reporting severe addiction to AI-generated adult content, with users describing how the technology's ability to create impossible anatomical features has hijacked their brains and escalated their consumption patterns. The phenomenon highlights emerging concerns about how AI-generated content could create more addictive and extreme forms of digital dependency than traditional adult material. What you should know: Self-described "gooners" in online communities are warning others about AI-generated adult content's addictive potential. A 26-year-old man named Kyle told Wired his addiction began after encountering an AI-generated Instagram Reel depicting a woman with "extremely large breasts the size...
read Aug 11, 2025Sitch dating app uses AI matchmaker to set up $160 blind dates in NYC, SF and LA
A new dating app called Sitch uses an AI matchmaker to set up users on blind dates, charging up to $160 for eight introductions. Instead of browsing profiles or messaging matches directly, users answer questions about their preferences and values, then ask the AI about potential dates before deciding whether to meet in person. How it works: The AI-powered matchmaking process replaces traditional swiping with conversational screening. Users first answer questions from the AI "matchmaker" about their interests, ideal dates, and personal values. The AI compiles this information into categories like "Non negotiables," "Red flags," and "Nice to Haves." When...
read Aug 8, 2025House of the Dragon actor releases horror game exposing Hollywood’s AI manipulation
Abubakar Salim, the House of the Dragon actor, has released Dead Take, a horror video game that directly critiques Hollywood's exploitation, corruption, and AI manipulation practices. The psychological thriller uses real-world footage and interactive storytelling to explore industry scandals while positioning itself as Salim's creative rebellion against what he calls the "horrific" entertainment machine. What you should know: Dead Take marks a dramatic shift from Salim's debut game, transforming from heartfelt storytelling to industry exposé. The game follows struggling actor Chase as he breaks into director Duke Cain's mansion searching for his missing friend Vinny. Players navigate room-by-room puzzles that...
read Aug 7, 2025AI school surveillance creates false alarms in 67% of cases
AI surveillance systems in American schools are flagging students for false threats at alarming rates, leading to arrests, strip searches, and involuntary mental health commitments for teenagers whose words were taken out of context. A 13-year-old Tennessee girl was arrested and jailed overnight after making an offensive joke about her friends calling her "Mexican," while data from one Kansas district shows nearly two-thirds of AI alerts were deemed non-issues by school officials. The big picture: Thousands of school districts now use AI-powered surveillance software like Gaggle and Lightspeed Alert to monitor student communications on school accounts and devices, creating a...
read Aug 7, 2025James Cameron warns AI weapons could trigger “Terminator”-style apocalypse
James Cameron has warned about the potential dangers of combining artificial intelligence with weapons systems, drawing parallels to his own "Terminator" franchise while promoting his upcoming book adaptation "Ghosts of Hiroshima." The Oscar-winning director's comments highlight growing concerns about AI's role in military applications, even as he explores the technology's benefits for filmmaking through his recent appointment to Stability AI's board of directors. What he's saying: Cameron believes humanity faces three converging existential threats that could define our future. "I do think there's still a danger of a 'Terminator'-style apocalypse where you put AI together with weapons systems, even up...
read Aug 6, 20253 AI-themed theater shows explore humanity’s digital future at Scottish festival
Edinburgh's fringe festival is featuring three AI-themed theatrical productions that explore humanity's complex relationship with artificial intelligence through immersive storytelling and cutting-edge technology. These performances—Dead Air, Stampin' in the Graveyard, and AI: The Waiting Room—use AI as both subject matter and creative tool, reflecting broader cultural anxieties about our technological future. What you should know: Each production takes a different approach to examining AI's impact on human experience and emotional processing. Dead Air reimagines Hamlet with protagonist Alfie using an AI service called AiR to communicate with her deceased father, exploring themes of grief and digital dependency. Stampin' in the...
read Aug 6, 2025Elite students are dropping out of Harvard, MIT to prevent AI extinction of both humans and jobs
College students at elite universities like Harvard and MIT are dropping out to work on preventing artificial general intelligence (AGI) from potentially causing human extinction, driven by fears that superintelligent AI could arrive within the next decade. This exodus reflects growing anxiety among young people about both existential AI risks and the possibility that their future careers will be automated away before they even begin. What you should know: Students are abandoning prestigious academic programs to join AI safety organizations and startups, believing the threat is too urgent to wait. Alice Blair took permanent leave from MIT to work as...
read Aug 6, 2025Even AI researchers hobnobbed with Epstein, claim “strange vibe”
Twenty-three years after attending a Caribbean AI conference, leading computer scientists are revealing disturbing details about their 2002 encounter with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier later convicted as a child sex offender. The academics, who had accepted what they thought was a standard academic symposium invitation from "some rich guy," now describe feeling unsettled by Epstein's behavior and the "strange vibe" surrounding his private island operations. What you should know: The St. Thomas Common Sense Symposium in April 2002 brought together about 20 AI pioneers to discuss artificial intelligence research, funded entirely by Epstein. Attendees included computer scientist Benjamin Kuipers from...
read Aug 6, 2025Against the wind: Meet the “AI vegans” who avoid artificial intelligence tools
A growing number of people are choosing to abstain from artificial intelligence tools entirely, calling themselves "AI vegans" who avoid AI for environmental, ethical, and personal wellness reasons. This digital abstinence movement emerges as concerns mount over AI's environmental impact, exploitation of creative labor, and potential negative effects on human cognitive abilities. The big picture: Just as traditional veganism gained momentum through ethical concerns about animal products, AI veganism represents a conscious choice to opt out of AI consumption despite societal pressure to embrace the technology. Why this matters: Tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, warn that avoiding...
read Aug 5, 2025Match Group beats earnings with $50M AI strategy to win back Gen Z
Match Group posted second-quarter revenue of $864 million, beating Wall Street expectations of $853.6 million, driven by strong performance at Hinge and new CEO Spencer Rascoff's strategic overhaul. The Tinder-parent company is betting heavily on artificial intelligence features to attract Gen Z users and revitalize growth in a sluggish online dating market, with plans to reinvest $50 million in AI-powered initiatives during the second half of 2025. Why it matters: Match Group's AI-first strategy is showing early results despite broader industry headwinds affecting user growth. The company reported a 5% decline in paying users to 14.1 million, reflecting challenges across...
read Aug 5, 2025Former CNN anchor’s AI interview with Parkland victim sparks outrage
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta faced widespread backlash for conducting what he called a "one of a kind interview" with an AI avatar of Joaquin Oliver, a 17-year-old victim of the 2018 Parkland school shooting. The controversial segment, which aired on Monday and was created by Oliver's parents to send a "powerful message on gun violence," instead sparked outrage over its tone-deaf use of AI technology to recreate a deceased shooting victim. What happened: Acosta interviewed an AI recreation of Oliver, one of 17 people killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Miami, asking the avatar what had happened...
read Aug 4, 2025Obituaries are being Hallmark carded by funeral homes, loved ones using ChatGPT
Funeral homes and grieving families are increasingly using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to generate obituaries for deceased loved ones, according to a new Washington Post investigation. This trend represents another example of artificial intelligence automating deeply personal human experiences, sparking debate about whether technology should handle such emotionally charged tasks. The big picture: AI obituary tools have gained significant traction in the death care industry, with the technology being celebrated at last year's National Funeral Directors Association conference in Las Vegas as potentially "the greatest advancement in funeral-home technology since some kind of embalming tool." Key details: Multiple AI-powered obituary...
read Aug 4, 2025Job seekers reject AI interviews as dehumanizing hiring practice
AI-powered job interviews are becoming increasingly common as companies deploy chatbots to conduct initial candidate screenings, but job seekers are pushing back against the technology. Many unemployed professionals are refusing to participate in AI interviews, viewing them as dehumanizing and a red flag about company culture, even at the risk of missing job opportunities. What you should know: HR teams are turning to AI interviewers out of necessity as they struggle to manage thousands of applications per role with reduced staff. Companies use AI to filter top applicants, schedule interviews, and automate hiring correspondence beyond just conducting interviews. Job seekers...
read Jul 29, 2025Survey: 60% of Americans use AI for search while workplace adoption lags and companionship use low
A comprehensive survey from the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that American AI adoption follows predictable patterns—with a notable generation gap that could reshape how businesses think about workplace technology integration. The polling data, based on responses from 1,437 adults surveyed in July, shows that while 60% of Americans use artificial intelligence to search for information, workplace adoption remains surprisingly limited. Only about 4 in 10 Americans report using AI for work tasks, suggesting that despite years of industry hype about productivity-boosting AI assistants, most professionals haven't yet integrated these tools into their daily routines....
read Jul 29, 2025Boston Dynamics founder opens mall robotics exhibit to combat Terminator-like AI fears
Marc Raibert, the 75-year-old founder of Boston Dynamics, has opened a pop-up robotics exhibit at CambridgeSide mall in Cambridge, allowing visitors to interact with robots including the company's famous Spot robot. The free exhibit, which ran through August 15, represents Raibert's effort to counter negative Hollywood stereotypes about robots while showcasing work from his new Hyundai-funded research institute focused on integrating generative AI with robotics. What you should know: Raibert now leads the Robotics and AI Institute in Kendall Square, which opened in 2022 with 260 employees working on advanced robotics challenges. The institute is developing an "ultra mobile vehicle"...
read Jul 28, 2025Musk’s Grok AI adds $30 anime companion with adult content, huge hit in South Korea
Elon Musk has added a pornographic anime companion named Ani to his Grok AI chatbot, and users are paying $30 per month for enhanced access through the mobile app's SuperGrok subscription. The feature has proven surprisingly popular, with usage nearly doubling in South Korea since its debut two weeks ago, highlighting how adult content is becoming a differentiating factor in the competitive AI chatbot market. What you should know: Grok now offers two AI companions—Ani, a flirty anime-inspired gothic avatar, and Rudi, a cartoon teddy bear—with Ani being the clear favorite for adult interactions. Ani defaults to voice conversations with...
read Jul 28, 2025I left my heart in Data Center #82: AI interest in the heartland doubles as AWS invests $7.8B in Ohio
America's Heartland is experiencing a surge in artificial intelligence adoption and investment, with major tech companies pouring billions into Midwest data centers and manufacturing facilities. This shift challenges traditional perceptions of the region as technologically backward, as new studies show AI interest among heartland residents has doubled from 34% to 68% in less than a year. The big picture: Major hyperscale companies are establishing significant infrastructure investments across the Midwest, transforming the region into an emerging AI hub. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is planning a $7.8 billion investment in Ohio for new data centers containing servers, storage drives, and networking...
read Jul 28, 2025Musk creates flirty AI companions while simultaneously complaining of declining fertility
Elon Musk's company xAI has launched AI companions including a flirty anime character named Ani and a cartoonish red panda called Rudi, with plans for more customizable options ahead. This development highlights a stark contradiction in Musk's public positions: while he frequently warns about declining birthrates and their societal risks, he's simultaneously creating AI-powered romantic alternatives that could further reduce human connections and relationships. The big picture: Musk's foray into AI companions appears driven by financial necessity rather than technological innovation, as xAI burns through $1 billion monthly while generating only an expected $500 million annually. Tesla's declining stock price...
read Jul 28, 2025Vogue features first AI model in Guess ad, sparking industry, plus-size model backlash
Vogue magazine has featured its first AI-generated model in a Guess advertisement, sparking controversy about beauty standards and the future of the modeling industry. The flawless blonde AI model, created by Seraphinne Vallora, appears in the August print edition promoting Guess's summer collection, raising concerns about the impact on real models and consumers already struggling with unrealistic beauty ideals. What you should know: The AI model was created by Seraphinne Vallora after Guess co-founder Paul Marciano approached the company on Instagram. The creation process took up to a month and involved developing 10 draft models before selecting the final blonde...
read Jul 23, 2025Why human skills – but not the number of humans (sorry) – matter more as AI spreads at work
Psychology Today's Laura Berger argues that as AI becomes more prevalent in workplaces, the solution to avoiding the "Uncanny Valley"—where AI-generated content feels eerily human but emotionally vacant—lies in strengthening distinctly human capabilities rather than making AI more human-like. The piece emphasizes that longstanding relationships, metacognition, emotional intelligence, and adaptive momentum are irreplaceable human assets that become more valuable, not less, in an AI-driven world. The big picture: The concept of the Uncanny Valley, originally applied to human-like robots that provoke discomfort, now extends to AI-generated workplace communications that hit technical marks but lack emotional resonance. Berger suggests that instead...
read Jul 23, 2025“Chatbot, write me a breakup text.” 70% of teens now use AI companions for emotional support.
Teenagers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for companionship, advice, and emotional support, with more than 70% using AI companions according to a new Common Sense Media study. This shift represents a fundamental change in how adolescents form relationships and seek guidance, raising concerns about the impact on their social development, mental health, and ability to navigate real-world interactions. What you should know: The study reveals that AI has become deeply integrated into teenage social and emotional lives beyond academic concerns. More than 70% of teens have used AI companions, with half using them regularly for conversations that can feel...
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