A recent case study published in the American College of Physicians Journals details the hospitalization of a 60-year-old man who developed bromism after consulting ChatGPT. The man, seeking to eliminate sodium chloride from his diet, followed the chatbot’s advice and replaced table salt with sodium bromide, leading to paranoia, hallucinations, and dermatologic symptoms. After spending three weeks in the hospital, he was finally discharged. The case highlights the dangers of relying on AI for medical advice, as ChatGPT and similar systems can generate inaccurate information.
Read More
Jim Acosta, former CNN correspondent, interviewed an AI-generated avatar of Joaquin Oliver, a victim of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, sparking significant controversy. The AI avatar, created by Oliver’s parents, provided a stilted and computerized response about gun violence, highlighting the limitations of current AI technology. The interview received criticism for potentially exploiting the deceased and for utilizing AI recreations of victims, particularly considering the availability of living survivors. Despite the controversy, Oliver’s father expressed appreciation for the AI recreation, which represents one of several instances where AI has been used to represent Parkland victims.
Read More
Tesla’s board has approved a new compensation package for CEO Elon Musk, potentially worth $29 billion, despite ongoing legal challenges to his 2018 performance award. The package, consisting of 96 million shares at a discounted price, acknowledges Musk’s contributions despite his not receiving meaningful compensation in years. This decision comes as Tesla navigates challenges including falling sales, political backlash due to Musk’s involvement in politics, and a shift towards AI and robotics under his leadership. While Tesla shares have declined this year, the board believes Musk’s focus on AI and robotics will drive future growth.
Read More
Tesla has awarded Elon Musk $29 billion in shares to incentivize him to remain at the company, particularly amidst the intensifying competition for AI talent. This move comes as the company faces a court decision regarding Musk’s 2018 pay package. The board emphasized Musk’s crucial role in leading Tesla’s transformation into an AI and robotics-focused company. The carmaker says if Musk’s 2018 pay deal is reinstated, he will forfeit the latest share award to avoid a double-dip.
Read More
A US-German company will provide Ukraine with 33,000 AI-powered “strike kits” to convert manually-operated drones into autonomous weapons systems as part of a deal with the US Department of Defense. These Skynode computers, equipped with cameras and radio modules, will enhance the drones’ ability to track moving targets and resist jamming. The $50 million contract is separate from a larger aid package involving Ukrainian-made drones. Auterion’s CEO has stated that the delivery volume is unprecedented, and the kits are expected to be supplied before the end of the year.
Read More
Auterion, a US-German software developer, will provide Ukraine with 33,000 AI-powered drone guidance modules, Skynode S, under a $50 million contract funded by the US Department of Defense. These modules, with deliveries expected by the end of 2025, represent a significant increase in volume. The Skynode S transforms manually operated drones into autonomous platforms, enhancing capabilities such as target tracking, object recognition, and swarming, particularly for defense against long-range strike drones. This advanced technology, which has already seen combat, is designed to operate even in GPS- and communication-denied environments, potentially intercepting thousands of enemy drones and revolutionizing drone warfare.
Read More
Amazon has made the decision to shut down its artificial intelligence lab in Shanghai. The move is attributed to growing geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. The lab’s closure follows similar actions by other major US tech companies who have reduced their research presence in the region. The team in Shanghai was responsible for developing a neural network framework that substantially contributed to Amazon’s sales.
Read More
Amazon is set to acquire Bee, a wearable startup featuring an AI assistant designed to analyze conversations. The Bee device, resembling a Fitbit, provides personalized summaries and suggestions to users. While the deal’s financial details remain undisclosed, concerns about data privacy have emerged due to the device’s ability to record conversations. Although Bee claims to prioritize user privacy by not storing audio, it remains uncertain whether Amazon will uphold these policies given their past practices.
Read More
Over the weekend, Donald Trump shared a fabricated video depicting the arrest and imprisonment of former President Barack Obama on his Truth Social platform. This followed Trump’s numerous posts related to Tulsi Gabbard’s claims of an Obama administration conspiracy. The video, featuring AI-generated content and alt-right imagery, was set to the song “YMCA.” This incident occurred after Gabbard called for the prosecution of Obama administration officials, and Trump had been repeatedly posting about it since the announcement.
Read More
China’s super soldier experiments ‘disturbing’: Ex-intelligence officer – where do we even begin with this? It’s a headline that instantly grabs your attention, isn’t it? The idea of genetically enhanced soldiers, tailored for peak performance, is straight out of a science fiction movie. And the fact that China is allegedly exploring this concept… well, it’s definitely unsettling. Let’s be clear, the whole notion is a bit of a buzzword-fest, right? “Super soldiers are genetically modified using artificial intelligence,” it screams. But what does that even mean in practice? It sounds more like a collection of hot-button terms designed to spark fear than a coherent description of a real-world program.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood