News/Society
How AI’s “oracle illusion” is making humans stop thinking critically
John Nosta, a digital health expert, argues that our interactions with AI have fundamentally shifted from commanding machines to petitioning them, transforming programming into a ritual-like practice he calls the "oracle illusion." This cognitive pivot risks replacing genuine understanding with fluent-sounding responses, creating what researchers term "cognitive debt" as humans increasingly outsource critical thinking to systems that mimic intelligence without truly possessing it. What you should know: The shift from structured programming to "vibe coding" represents a fundamental change in how humans interact with AI systems. Developers increasingly describe intent rather than build from scratch, relying on intuition over logic...
read Jun 26, 2025Study finds people are adopting ChatGPT-ese in everyday speech
A new study reveals that people are increasingly adopting ChatGPT's distinctive vocabulary and phrasing patterns in their everyday speech, with certain AI-favored words appearing up to 50% more frequently in academic discourse. This linguistic shift could potentially flatten emotional nuance and reduce the colorful diversity that makes human communication engaging and regionally distinct. What the research found: Academics and educators are unconsciously incorporating AI-generated language patterns into their natural speech, according to researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, a research organization in Germany. The study analyzed 280,000 academic YouTube videos across more than 20,000 channels to track...
read Jun 25, 2025Let ’em cook: Gen Alpha slang stumps AI moderation systems 92% of the time
A new study reveals that Generation Alpha's rapidly evolving internet slang is creating blind spots for AI content moderation systems and adults trying to protect young people online. Research conducted by Manisha Mehta, a 14-year-old student, and Fausto Giunchiglia at the University of Trento, Italy, found that while 92% of Gen Alpha users can detect harmful intent in coded messages, AI models only catch about 40% of cases—and parents perform even worse. What you should know: The research analyzed 100 popular Generation Alpha expressions from gaming and social media platforms, testing comprehension across different groups. Among 24 volunteers aged 11-14,...
read Jun 25, 2025It’s only neutral: 79% of college students use AI because it doesn’t judge them
A new University of North Carolina at Charlotte study reveals that most American college students are using AI in their studies, with nearly 40% using it "very frequently" and another 39% occasionally. The research uncovered a troubling underlying motivation: many students prefer AI assistance because it doesn't judge them like human teachers or tutors do, highlighting deeper issues within the current education system. What you should know: The study surveyed 460 students about their AI usage patterns and motivations, revealing widespread adoption driven by emotional safety rather than just convenience. Students cited the lack of judgment and anonymity that AI...
read Jun 24, 2025Only 32 countries have the computing power to build advanced AI as Africa hopes to catch up
New research reveals that artificial intelligence is creating a stark global digital divide, with just 32 countries possessing the computing power necessary to build cutting-edge AI systems. The uneven distribution of AI infrastructure is fracturing the world between nations with advanced data centers and those forced to rely on remote access, fundamentally reshaping global power dynamics in the digital age. The big picture: The European Union leads with 28 AI-capable data centers, followed by the US with 26 and China with 22, collectively housing more than half of the world's most powerful facilities mapped in the Oxford University study. The...
read Jun 23, 2025Rise of the AI wingman, er, person: 26% of US singles now use AI for dating assistance
A recent survey reveals that 26% of single U.S. adults—and nearly half of Gen Z—are now using artificial intelligence to enhance their dating lives, from crafting messages to selecting photos. This surge in AI-assisted romance comes as traditional dating apps face declining revenue and user fatigue, potentially forcing the industry toward a fundamental transformation that could paradoxically drive people back to in-person connections. What you should know: AI is becoming the digital wingperson many singles didn't realize they needed, with users leveraging the technology across multiple aspects of online dating. People are using AI to select attractive photos, write clever...
read Jun 23, 2025Psychology professor warns AI dependency mirrors addiction—here’s why that matters
A Psychology Today analysis examines how AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude are reshaping individual behavior through the lens of behavioral psychology, arguing that while AI provides instant gratification, it may be undermining critical thinking and authentic communication skills. The big picture: AI systems reinforce certain behaviors while inadvertently discouraging others, potentially creating what Michael Karson, a psychology professor, describes as a drug-like dependency where users get immediate satisfaction but miss developing essential life skills. What gets reinforced: AI strengthens the pleasure of discovery and knowledge-sharing behaviors that have biological survival value. Richard Feynman's concept of "the pleasure of finding...
read Jun 23, 2025AI computing divide leaves 150+ nations without critical infrastructure
Artificial intelligence computing power is creating a stark global divide, with only 32 countries hosting AI-specialized data centers while more than 150 nations have no such infrastructure. This digital gap is reshaping geopolitics and economics, as nations with advanced AI capabilities gain significant advantages in scientific research, business automation, and technological sovereignty, while those without face mounting challenges in talent retention and economic development. The big picture: The United States, China, and the European Union dominate the AI computing landscape, hosting more than half of the world's most powerful data centers used for developing complex AI systems. American companies operate...
read Jun 23, 2025Failing upward: Expelled student’s AI startup raises $15M with “cheat on everything” slogan
Andreessen Horowitz has led a $15 million funding round for Cluely Inc., an AI startup that markets itself with the controversial slogan "cheat on everything." The investment signals the venture capital firm's willingness to back provocative AI companies, even those with founders who have faced academic consequences for creating tools designed to circumvent traditional systems. What you should know: The startup's 21-year-old co-founder Roy Lee was expelled from Columbia University earlier this year for developing Interview Coder, an AI tool that helped job candidates cheat during technical interviews.• Lee responded to his expulsion with characteristic irreverence, posting on LinkedIn: "I'm...
read Jun 19, 2025Professional dog walking looking better as Harvard study finds AI threatens jobs in creative, white-collar sector
Harvard Business Review researchers have published a comprehensive analysis examining how current AI capabilities are poised to disrupt virtually every sector of the labor market, from creative industries to professional services. The study reveals that existing AI models—and the more advanced, cost-effective versions already in development—pose immediate threats to jobs across writing, design, finance, law, medicine, and academia by delivering comparable quality at dramatically reduced costs. What you should know: AI's disruptive potential extends far beyond theoretical scenarios, targeting both creative and analytical professions with current technology. Creative professionals including writers, designers, photographers, architects, animators, and brand advertisers face direct...
read Jun 19, 2025Always on-call? Microsoft study finds workers face 271 daily messages in “infinite workday”
The modern workplace has developed a peculiar problem: work never actually ends. Microsoft's latest research reveals a troubling reality where the traditional 9-to-5 workday has morphed into an always-on digital treadmill that leaves employees exhausted and organizations less productive than ever. The tech giant's new report, "Breaking down the infinite workday," analyzes how millions of people use Microsoft 365 products like Outlook, Teams, and Office applications. The findings paint a stark picture of professional life in 2025—one where workers juggle 271 daily messages across email and chat platforms, attend meetings during their most productive hours, and check email well past...
read Jun 18, 2025No man is an island, but AI can be. Sensay creates world’s first AI government in the Philippines.
Sensay, a creator of AI-powered digital replicas, has purchased a real island off the Philippines coast and established what it claims is the world's first AI-powered government. The company has appointed historical figures like Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius as president and Winston Churchill as prime minister to run "Sensay Island," positioning this as a demonstration of AI's potential in governance free from political partisanship. What you should know: The AI government consists entirely of digital replicas of historical figures, each trained on their respective writings, philosophies, and speeches. Marcus Aurelius serves as Head of State, with Winston Churchill as Prime...
read Jun 18, 2025Older adults eager to learn AI but face access barriers amid $40B scam threat
Age UK workshops revealed that older adults are eager to learn about artificial intelligence but face accessibility barriers rather than disinterest in the technology. The findings challenge assumptions about senior digital literacy and highlight the need for inclusive AI education as deepfake scams targeting vulnerable populations are projected to cost $40 billion by 2027. What you should know: Workshop participants demonstrated surprising familiarity with AI technologies, ranging from sophisticated smart home setups to complete unfamiliarity with basic concepts. One attendee used 10 Alexa devices connected to his doorbell and voice commands for lighting control, showing high digital literacy among some...
read Jun 18, 2025Former Cloudflare exec launches archive of pre-AI human content in time capsule-style move
Former Cloudflare executive John Graham-Cumming has launched lowbackgroundsteel.ai, a catalog that preserves pre-2022 human-generated content from before widespread AI contamination began. The archive draws its name from scientists who once sought "low-background steel" from pre-nuclear shipwrecks to avoid radiation contamination, creating a parallel between nuclear fallout and AI-generated content polluting the internet. The big picture: The project treats pre-AI content as a precious commodity, recognizing that distinguishing between human and machine-generated material has become increasingly difficult since ChatGPT's November 2022 launch. Why this matters: AI contamination has already forced at least one major research project to shut down entirely—wordfreq, a...
read Jun 18, 2025Newsweek names 38 companies as winners in first AI Impact Awards
Newsweek has announced the winners of its inaugural AI Impact Awards, recognizing 38 companies across 13 categories for their innovative use of artificial intelligence. The awards highlight how AI is transforming industries from healthcare to finance, with companies being celebrated for solving practical challenges through responsible AI implementation. What you should know: The competition drew entries from diverse sectors, with a panel of 56 expert judges evaluating submissions based on real-world impact and innovation. Healthcare led with five winners, followed by education with four recipients. Every Cure, a nonprofit identifying new uses for FDA-approved medications, won both the overall Best...
read Jun 17, 2025NAACP sues Musk’s xAI for operating unpermitted gas turbines in Black communities
The NAACP has filed an intent to sue Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI over air pollution concerns from its supercomputer facility in Memphis, Tennessee. The legal challenge targets the company's use of gas turbines that operate near predominantly Black communities without proper permits, highlighting environmental justice issues in AI infrastructure development. The big picture: xAI's Memphis data center has been operating for over a year using gas turbines without the required air quality permits, potentially violating the Clean Air Act in communities already facing elevated pollution levels. Key details: The facility began operations in 2024 powered by pollution-emitting gas...
read Jun 17, 2025Hollywood execs train for jobs that don’t exist as AI upends film industry in new “talkies” moment
Hollywood executives and industry professionals are training for jobs that don't yet exist as artificial intelligence reshapes the entertainment landscape, according to discussions at recent industry conferences. The uncertainty reflects broader challenges facing an industry still recovering from COVID-19, strikes, and the ongoing transformation of traditional film and television models. What industry leaders are saying: Executives acknowledge the unpredictable nature of AI's impact while drawing parallels to past technological disruptions. "We are now training for jobs that do not yet exist," said Bruce Markoe, IMAX's head of post and image capture, speaking at Runway's AI Film Festival on June 12....
read Jun 17, 2025AI leaders met at $30M San Franciso mansion to discuss humanity’s inevitable “posthuman transition”
Top AI researchers gathered at a $30 million San Francisco mansion over the weekend to discuss the "posthuman transition"—a theoretical future where humanity willingly cedes power to artificial general intelligence (AGI). The exclusive symposium, organized by generative AI entrepreneur Daniel Faggella, brought together AI founders from companies valued between $100 million and $5 billion to explore scenarios where AGI could fundamentally reshape or end human civilization. What you should know: The event focused on philosophical discussions about AGI's potential impact rather than technical developments, despite current AI limitations. Faggella organized the gathering because "big labs, the people that know that...
read Jun 17, 2025Study: AI identifies 6 ways technology undermines workplace relationships
A recent thought experiment using artificial intelligence has revealed something unsettling about modern society: the very mechanisms designed to connect us may be systematically undermining human relationships. When researchers prompted AI systems to describe how they would destroy human connection, the responses read like a blueprint for contemporary life. The experiment, which involved asking AI to outline strategies for ending meaningful relationships, produced a disturbingly familiar list of tactics that mirror many aspects of modern digital culture. The results offer a stark lens through which to examine whether our increasingly connected world is actually making us more isolated than ever....
read Jun 16, 2025Nice while it lasted: Workers share how AI automation eliminated their $70K-$150K jobs
Workers across multiple industries are losing their jobs to artificial intelligence automation, with personal accounts revealing the immediate human impact of AI displacement. The layoffs span from HR professionals to software engineers, highlighting how AI is already reshaping the job market faster than many anticipated. What you should know: Recent layoffs demonstrate AI's growing capability to replace white-collar workers, particularly those whose work is primarily computer-based. Jane, a Bay Area HR professional earning $70,000 annually, was laid off in January after two years managing benefits when her boss automated her role away. Software engineer Shawn K, who made $150,000 after...
read Jun 13, 2025Why you can’t legally prevent becoming an AI ghost after death
As artificial intelligence capabilities expand, a new digital dilemma is emerging: AI-powered tools can now create realistic digital replicas of deceased individuals using their photos, videos, messages, and social media posts. These "AI ghosts"—chatbots, voice simulators, and even video representations trained on a person's digital footprint—are becoming increasingly sophisticated and accessible to anyone with basic technical skills. The technology raises profound questions about consent, privacy, and the rights of the deceased. While some families find comfort in these digital memorials, others view them as disturbing violations of their loved ones' memory. This tension has sparked a complex legal and ethical...
read Jun 13, 2025AI chatbots are becoming unregulated sex educators for kids
Children are being exposed to pornography at an average age of 12—with 15% seeing explicit content before age 10—while AI chatbots simultaneously emerge as unregulated sex educators capable of engaging minors in sexual conversations. This digital exposure is fundamentally reshaping how young people understand intimacy and consent, creating a generation that paradoxically has less sex overall but engages in significantly more aggressive sexual behaviors when they do. What you should know: The majority of children's first encounters with explicit content happen accidentally, but the psychological impact is profound and lasting. More than half of kids reported seeing adult content accidentally...
read Jun 12, 2025AI deepfakes now fool 90% of viewers as society nears consensus reality crisis
An artificial intelligence deepfake expert warns that current AI video generation tools like Google's Veo 3 are already indistinguishable from real content for 90% of viewers, potentially creating a future where society loses its shared sense of reality. The warning comes as the satirical film "Mountainhead" depicts tech billionaires whose AI video software triggers global chaos through hyperrealistic deepfakes, raising urgent questions about how close we are to such a scenario. What you should know: AI video generation has reached a critical threshold where distinguishing real from fake content is becoming nearly impossible for most people. "For 90% of viewers,...
read Jun 11, 2025White House AI czar dismisses warnings of 20% AI-driven unemployment
White House AI czar David Sacks pushed back against warnings that artificial intelligence could trigger mass unemployment, dismissing what he called a "doomer cult" that overestimates AI's job displacement potential. His comments directly counter recent predictions from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who warned that AI could eliminate up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years and drive unemployment as high as 20%. What they're saying: Sacks argued that AI will augment rather than entirely replace human workers, speaking at the Amazon Web Services summit in Washington, DC. "Personally, I don't think it's going to lead to a giant...
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