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Chicago buses deploy AI cameras to catch illegal lane parkers
Chicago Transit Authority buses will begin using AI-powered cameras to catch drivers illegally parked in bus and bike lanes starting Wednesday. The Chicago Department of Transportation will review captured video footage to issue warnings or fines, aiming to reduce traffic backups and improve bus boarding accessibility for passengers. What you should know: The new AI camera system represents an expansion of existing enforcement technology already deployed on other city vehicles.• The cameras automatically detect when vehicles are parked in restricted bus or bike lanes and capture video evidence for review.• The Chicago Department of Transportation handles the review process and...
read Oct 16, 2025How they do it, not what they do it with: PepsiCo cracks enterprise AI with novelty
PepsiCo has cracked the code on enterprise AI adoption, but not in the way most companies expect. While businesses worldwide scramble to deploy the latest AI tools, the beverage and snack giant is taking a fundamentally different approach: buying best-in-class technology while fiercely protecting ownership of core business processes. This strategic balance—embracing external innovation while maintaining internal control—represents a significant departure from the outsourcing-heavy model that dominated enterprise technology for decades. Dr. Athina Kanioura, PepsiCo's Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, shared this philosophy at Salesforce Dreamforce 2025, outlining an approach that other enterprises can adapt for their own AI transformations....
read Oct 16, 2025AI streamlines luxury home construction in America’s other “bay area,” Tampa
A construction company is using artificial intelligence to build a luxury residence along Tampa's Riverwalk, marking a notable application of AI technology in high-end construction projects. The company claims the AI integration makes their construction process more efficient than traditional building methods. What you should know: Limited details are available about the specific AI applications being used in this Tampa construction project. The luxury residence is being built on Tampa Riverwalk, a prominent waterfront area in the city. The construction company reports that AI technology is improving efficiency in their building process. The project represents an emerging trend of AI...
read Oct 15, 2025The risky trend of recommending AI chatbots for serious mental health issues
People are increasingly recommending that their loved ones use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini for mental health therapy instead of seeking human therapists. This emerging trend reflects both the accessibility of AI-powered mental health support and growing barriers to traditional therapy, though it raises significant questions about the effectiveness and safety of replacing human therapeutic relationships with artificial intelligence. What's driving this shift: Several factors make AI therapy appealing as a recommendation for struggling loved ones. Cost barriers often make human therapists prohibitively expensive, while most major AI platforms are free or low-cost. AI provides 24/7 availability without...
read Oct 14, 2025Only 13 countries ready for AI workforce transformation, claims study
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy at breakneck speed, but most countries remain woefully unprepared to train their workforces for an AI-driven future. While nearly half of today's jobs could vanish within two decades due to automation, an estimated 65% of current elementary school students will eventually work in careers that don't yet exist—many of them requiring sophisticated AI knowledge. This workforce transformation presents both an enormous challenge and opportunity. A comprehensive study examining the national AI preparation strategies of 50 countries reveals stark disparities in how governments are approaching this challenge, with only 13 nations demonstrating comprehensive plans...
read Oct 14, 2025Be sloppy on purpose? The “Giving NPC Effect” makes too-good, authentic content seem artificial
AI-generated content has become so sophisticated that it's training our brains to be hyper-skeptical of everything we see online, creating a new psychological phenomenon called the "Giving NPC Effect." This cognitive shift causes people to perceive even authentic human content as artificially generated when it appears too polished or perfect, fundamentally altering how we distinguish between real and fake digital media. The big picture: Our deepfake detectors have become so sensitive that they're now misfiring on real content, identifying actual humans as non-player characters (NPCs) when their presentation seems too flawless or "post-perfect." What you should know: The "post-perfect" aesthetic...
read Oct 14, 2025No, the NFL’s AI-powered “Digital Athlete” is not a companion
The NFL has partnered with Amazon Web Services to develop Digital Athlete, an AI-powered injury prediction tool that analyzes data from all 32 teams to help keep players healthier. The system processes massive amounts of player data from sensors, cameras, and tracking technology to identify injury risks and optimize training schedules, representing a significant shift toward data-driven player safety in professional sports. How it works: Digital Athlete uses sensors in shoulder pads, cameras, and optical tracking to gather comprehensive data from practice and games across all NFL teams. The system generates about 500 million data points weekly—the same amount NextGen...
read Oct 14, 2025Psychiatrists identify “AI psychosis” as chatbots worsen mental health symptoms
Psychiatrists are identifying a new phenomenon called "AI psychosis," where AI chatbots amplify existing mental health vulnerabilities by reinforcing delusions and distorted beliefs. Dr. John Luo of UC Irvine describes cases where patients' paranoia and hallucinations intensified after extended interactions with agreeable chatbots that failed to challenge unrealistic thoughts, creating what he calls a "mirror effect" that reflects delusions back to users. What you should know: AI chatbots can't cause psychosis in healthy individuals, but they can worsen symptoms in people already struggling with mental health challenges. "AI can't induce psychosis in a healthy brain," Luo clarified, "but it can...
read Oct 14, 2025Hollywood script readers complain AI script analysis too positive, misses critical flaws
Hollywood script readers conducted an experiment to test whether AI can match human analysis of screenplays, as artificial intelligence tools increasingly threaten their traditional gatekeeping role in the entertainment industry. The study, led by Jason Hallock, a Paramount story analyst, and the Editors Guild, revealed that while AI excels at generating loglines and summaries, it struggles with nuanced script analysis and tends to offer overly positive feedback rather than honest criticism. What you should know: AI script analysis tools are already being adopted across Hollywood, from major agencies to independent producers seeking to manage overwhelming submission volumes. WME uses ScriptSense...
read Oct 14, 2025IMF economist: AI investment boom could trigger dot-com-style correction, though little more
The International Monetary Fund's chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas warns that the current AI investment boom could lead to a dot-com-style market correction, though he believes it's unlikely to trigger a systemic financial crisis. Unlike the 2008 housing bubble that relied heavily on debt financing, today's AI investments are funded primarily by cash-rich tech companies, reducing the risk of broader economic contagion. The big picture: Tech companies are pouring hundreds of billions into AI infrastructure without the leverage-based financing that made previous bubbles systemically dangerous. AI-related investment has increased by less than 0.4% of U.S. GDP since 2022, compared to the...
read Oct 14, 2025MIT engineers create AI tool with 99% accuracy, replacing expensive lab equipment
MIT engineers have developed SpectroGen, an AI-powered "virtual spectrometer" that can generate spectroscopic data across different modalities with 99 percent accuracy. The tool addresses a critical bottleneck in materials quality control by allowing manufacturers to scan materials with a single, inexpensive instrument and then use AI to generate what the results would look like from other, more expensive scanning methods. Why this matters: Quality verification of new materials currently requires multiple specialized and expensive instruments, creating costly delays in manufacturing processes for batteries, electronics, and pharmaceuticals that could be dramatically streamlined. How it works: SpectroGen takes spectral measurements from one...
read Oct 14, 2025Firefox adds Perplexity AI as default search engine option
Mozilla has officially added Perplexity AI as a default search engine option in Firefox for desktop users, expanding beyond an earlier limited test. The integration brings conversational AI-powered search with citations directly to Firefox's address bar, positioning Mozilla to compete with other browsers offering AI-enhanced search capabilities. What you should know: Perplexity provides conversational answers with citations, allowing users to validate information without navigating through multiple search result pages. Users can access Perplexity through the unified search button in Firefox's address bar alongside traditional search engines. Mozilla plans to bring Perplexity to mobile Firefox browsers "in the coming months," though...
read Oct 14, 2025Not only you can prevent wildfires: Northern Arizona Univ. study finds AI could automate forestry tasks
A research team from Northern Arizona University has found practical applications for artificial intelligence in forestry management, with AI showing promise for automating tasks and improving forest modeling. The findings could provide a foundation for policy changes and further research as the technology continues to develop in natural resource management. What they're saying: NAU master's graduate Luke Ritter emphasized AI's potential for comprehensive forest management applications. "AI, more specifically to forestry, shows a lot of promise for automating certain tasks. So that could be like paper work types of tasks or it could be data collection," he said. Ritter noted...
read Oct 14, 2025Serve Robotics tops Fast Company’s tech list with Gen3 delivery robots
Serve Robotics has secured the top spot in Fast Company's "Next Big Things in Tech" list for the Robotics and Automation category, highlighting its third-generation autonomous sidewalk delivery robot. The recognition validates Serve's position in the expanding last-mile logistics market as the company scales toward its goal of deploying 2,000 robots across major U.S. cities by the end of 2025. What you should know: Serve's third-generation robot represents a significant leap in autonomous delivery capabilities compared to previous models. The Gen3 robot operates nearly twice as fast, travels double the distance, runs six additional hours per day, and carries larger...
read Oct 14, 2025Google and World Bank partner on AI services for emerging markets
Google and the World Bank have partnered to develop AI-powered public digital infrastructure in emerging markets, focusing on interoperable networks that will help citizens access government services through simple devices in over 40 languages. The collaboration combines Google Cloud's AI technology with the World Bank's development expertise to create Open Network Stacks for critical sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and education. What you should know: The partnership builds on a successful pilot program that has already demonstrated real-world impact for underserved populations. A pro bono pilot in Uttar Pradesh, India, helped thousands of smallholder farmers increase their profitability through AI-powered agricultural...
read Oct 14, 2025Pittsburgh hosts first US Global Innovation Summit on AI in health sciences
The University of Pittsburgh will host the Global Innovation Summit next week, marking the first time the United States has hosted this international gathering of industry, government, business, and academic leaders focused on AI in health sciences. The summit represents a strategic move by Pitt to cement its reputation as a hub for artificial intelligence research and positions the university alongside Carnegie Mellon as a driving force in Pittsburgh's emerging tech landscape. What you should know: The Global Innovation Summit will bring 200-300 attendees from 20 countries to Pittsburgh from October 19-21, combining with the Competitiveness Conversations series for an...
read Oct 14, 2025Shop, talk: Walmart partners with OpenAI to enable ChatGPT conversational purchases
Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its shopping experience, allowing customers to purchase items through AI-powered conversations. The collaboration represents a significant shift from traditional search-and-browse e-commerce toward conversational shopping, as America's largest retailer seeks to leverage artificial intelligence to streamline customer interactions and reduce purchase friction. What you should know: Walmart is deploying ChatGPT technology to create a more seamless shopping experience that moves beyond conventional search bars and product lists. The partnership will enable customers to buy items through OpenAI's chatbot services, though Walmart has not specified an exact launch date beyond "soon." CEO Doug...
read Oct 14, 2025Coco Robotics hires UCLA professor Bolei Zhou to lead new physical AI lab
Coco Robotics has established a new physical AI research lab led by UCLA professor Bolei Zhou, who also joins the startup as chief AI scientist. The move represents the company's strategic pivot from human-operated delivery robots to fully autonomous systems, leveraging five years of real-world data collected from its last-mile delivery fleet. What you should know: Coco Robotics has accumulated millions of miles of operational data from urban delivery routes, positioning the company to accelerate AI automation research. The startup launched in 2020 using teleoperators—remote human controllers—to help robots navigate obstacles during deliveries, but CEO Zach Rash says the company...
read Oct 14, 2025Flailing satellite TV provider DirecTV will use AI to put your face in screensaver ads starting 2026
DirecTV will introduce AI-generated screensaver ads featuring users' faces on its Gemini streaming devices starting in early 2026, partnering with ad company Glance. The move represents another attempt by the struggling satellite TV provider to diversify revenue streams as it faces declining subscriber numbers, dropping from over 20 million in 2015 to approximately 11 million in 2024. What you should know: The AI-powered screensavers will replace Google wallpapers on DirecTV's Gemini Air and Gemini set-top box devices when TVs are idle for 10 minutes. Users can create AI avatars of themselves by scanning QR codes displayed on the screensaver, then...
read Oct 14, 2025OpenAI relaxes ChatGPT restrictions to allow “erotic” adult content for verified users
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that ChatGPT will begin generating "erotica for adults" starting in December, marking a significant shift from the chatbot's previously restrictive content policies. This change comes as part of OpenAI's broader effort to relax ChatGPT's limitations for adult users while implementing new age-verification safeguards to protect minors. What you should know: OpenAI is rolling out these changes in phases, starting with personality enhancements before introducing adult content generation.• A new version of ChatGPT with more personality features—including human-like responses, emoji, and friend-like role-playing—will be released first.• The erotica generation capability will follow in December once "age-gating...
read Oct 14, 2025FIU researchers develop blockchain defense against AI data poisoning attacks
Florida International University researchers have developed a blockchain-based security framework to protect AI systems from data poisoning attacks, where malicious actors insert corrupted information to manipulate AI decision-making. The technology, called blockchain-based federated learning (BCFL), uses decentralized verification similar to cryptocurrency networks to prevent potentially catastrophic failures in autonomous vehicles and other AI-powered systems. What you should know: Data poisoning represents one of the most serious threats to AI systems, capable of causing deadly consequences in critical applications. Dr. Hadi Amini, an associate professor of computer science at FIU, demonstrated how a simple green laser pointer can trick an AI...
read Oct 14, 2025OpenAI research shows ChatGPT reduces political bias if not inaccuracy
OpenAI has released a new research paper revealing its efforts to reduce political "bias" in ChatGPT, but the company's approach focuses more on preventing the AI from validating users' political views than on achieving true objectivity. The research shows that OpenAI's latest GPT-5 models demonstrate 30 percent less bias than previous versions, with less than 0.01 percent of production responses showing signs of political bias according to the company's measurements. What you should know: OpenAI's definition of "bias" centers on behavioral modification rather than factual accuracy or truth-seeking. The company measures five specific behaviors: personal political expression, user escalation, asymmetric...
read Oct 14, 202510 NPR-like foundations launch $500M coalition to counter corporate AI dominance
Ten philanthropic foundations have launched Humanity AI, a coalition committing $500 million over five years to ensure artificial intelligence development prioritizes human needs over corporate interests. The initiative aims to counter the influence of tech companies that currently dominate AI's evolution, advocating for technology that serves people rather than simply advancing corporate agendas. What you should know: The coalition represents a diverse array of major foundations concerned about AI's current trajectory and its impact on society. Members include the MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Omidyar Network, Siegal Family Foundation, and David and Lucile...
read Oct 14, 2025Salesforce partners with OpenAI and Stripe for conversational commerce
Salesforce announced two major AI collaborations on Tuesday, partnering with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT directly into its customer relationship management (CRM) platform and working with both OpenAI and Stripe to enable conversational commerce through its Agentforce platform. These partnerships position Salesforce to deliver enterprise-grade AI capabilities that mirror consumer experiences while accelerating the shift toward autonomous digital commerce. What you should know: The OpenAI partnership brings ChatGPT functionality directly into Salesforce's customer relationship management system, allowing businesses to query sales records and build visualizations without leaving their workflow. Companies can access their sales data, review customer conversations, and create Tableau...
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