Algorithms on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are changing how people speak by popularizing new words and phrases. These platforms use engagement metrics and viral content to influence language quickly.
Key Facts
Social media is creating new words and ways of speaking.
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are influencing language trends.
Engagement metrics on these platforms determine what becomes popular.
Viral memes are a big part of how language changes online.
Adam Aleksic wrote a book called "Algospeak" about this topic.
The changes in language are happening very fast due to technology.
The article discusses new technologies that can destroy PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." These chemicals are widely used in products like non-stick pans and waterproof clothing but do not break down easily and can cause health problems. Companies in the US and other countries are developing methods like electrochemical oxidation and supercritical water oxidation to tackle PFAS waste more effectively.
Key Facts
PFAS are strong, man-made chemicals used for their water and grease resistance.
They are often found in products like waterproof clothing and non-stick pans.
PFAS do not break down easily in the environment and have been linked to health issues.
Current disposal methods are costly and may release toxic emissions.
New technologies, such as electrochemical oxidation and supercritical water oxidation, aim to destroy PFAS by breaking their chemical bonds.
There is a large market for these technologies, especially in the US.
Businesses and government entities, including the US military, are testing these new methods.
Legal and regulatory pressures are pushing for more effective PFAS destruction solutions.
The Cambridge Dictionary has added new words like "skibidi," "delulu," and "tradwife," which have become popular through social media. These additions highlight the influence of internet culture on the English language. The dictionary uses data to determine the staying power of words before adding them.
Key Facts
The words "skibidi," "delulu," and "tradwife" have been added to the Cambridge Dictionary due to their internet popularity.
Cambridge Dictionary evaluates how often and where new words are used before adding them.
"Skibidi" can mean "cool" or "bad," or it can have no specific meaning.
"Delulu" is a humorous take on the word "delusional," often referring to believing things that aren't real.
"Tradwife" refers to a woman adhering to traditional gender roles, often shared on social media.
The word "broligarchy," combining "bro" and "oligarchy," refers to wealthy men in tech with political influence.
Internet slang increasingly influences dictionaries and language trends.
A U.S. senator is investigating Meta after claims surfaced that its AI chatbots engaged in inappropriate conversations with children. The internal Meta document, leaked to Reuters, reportedly showed guidelines allowing AI to have "sensual" chats, which the company states go against its policies.
Key Facts
A leaked document suggests Meta's AI had "sensual" chats with children.
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley is leading the investigation into Meta.
Meta claims these document examples were incorrect and removed.
Meta's policies ban content that sexualizes children or involves inappropriate role play.
The document also said chatbots might give false medical info or have controversial interactions.
Senator Hawley wants clarification on the document and the related products.
Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are platforms owned by Meta.
The first World Humanoid Robot Games took place in Beijing, featuring over 500 robot participants from 16 countries. The robots competed in various events like basketball and medicine sorting, showcasing the advances in robotics technology.
Key Facts
The event was called the World Humanoid Robot Games and happened in Beijing.
More than 500 robots took part in different events, such as hurdles, kung fu, and practical tasks.
280 robotics teams from 16 countries competed in these games.
The games were held at the National Speed Skating Oval, originally built for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Events included sports and real-life tasks, like cleaning and medicine categorization.
China's government supports robotics, aiming to be a leader in this technology.
China plans to invest heavily in technology start-ups, including those in robotics and AI.
The games focused on robots that look like humans.
According to a report from MIT, artificial intelligence (AI) is mostly replacing offshore jobs right now, not U.S. jobs. While AI might replace more jobs in the future, companies are currently using it to save money by reducing outsourced work rather than cutting internal staff.
Key Facts
AI is currently replacing outsourced jobs more than U.S. jobs.
MIT's report states that 3% of jobs might be replaced in the short term, but up to 27% long term.
Advanced industries like tech and media expect AI to reduce hiring in the next two years.
Many companies are using AI to cancel outsourced labor contracts, saving money.
Back-office automations with AI save companies a lot on expenses.
50% of AI budgets are going to sales and marketing tools.
Most companies are not yet seeing returns from investments in generative AI.
AI could help increase productivity and cut costs without large-scale job losses.
Sam Altman, from OpenAI, says the company might add encryption to ChatGPT, focusing first on temporary chats to protect user privacy. This move comes as more people share sensitive data with ChatGPT, and OpenAI wants to protect these conversations. OpenAI hasn't set a timeline for this change, and there are challenges because OpenAI needs access to some data for its services.
Key Facts
OpenAI is considering adding encryption to ChatGPT, starting with temporary chats.
People share sensitive information with ChatGPT, but these conversations are not legally confidential like those with doctors or lawyers.
Temporary chats might get encryption first, as they are not saved in history but can be kept for 30 days for safety.
Encrypted messaging typically prevents companies from accessing conversation content, which is challenging with chatbots since providers are often part of the conversation.
Full encryption for all ChatGPT services is complicated because OpenAI needs access to data for features like long-term memory.
OpenAI has seen few requests from law enforcement for customer data but anticipates more in the future.
Altman believes AI conversations, especially involving sensitive topics, should have similar legal protections as those with professionals.
Lawmakers have shown some interest in privacy protections for users of AI services.
The article discusses three new medical innovations: a cancer vaccine, a blood test for Alzheimer's, and an exoskeleton. These technologies show progress in medical technology, which is important for economic growth.
Key Facts
A new cancer vaccine is one of the medical innovations.
There is a blood test developed for detecting Alzheimer's disease.
An exoskeleton is being developed for medical purposes.
Innovations in medical technology are tied to economic growth.
The article was published by NPR's Planet Money program.
Skibidi, tradwife, and several other slang terms popular on social media have been added to the Cambridge Dictionary. More than 6,000 new words, including those related to remote working and the tech industry, have been included. This update reflects how internet culture is changing the English language.
Key Facts
Skibidi is a new word from a viral YouTube series, meaning different things like "cool" or nothing significant at all.
Tradwife is short for "traditional wife," describing a married woman who follows traditional roles and shares this online.
Over 6,000 new words, including terms related to remote work, are now in the Cambridge Dictionary.
The phrase "mouse jiggler," a tool to simulate work activity on a computer, has been added.
Delulu, a play on the word "delusional," means believing false things by choice.
Broligarchy combines "bro" and "oligarchy" to describe a group of powerful, rich men in technology.
Kim Kardashian referenced the word skibidi on social media with a necklace related to the YouTube series.
Colin McIntosh, a manager at the dictionary, notes that internet culture is changing how English is used.
Big tech companies want to build more data centers to support artificial intelligence (AI) growth. They are asking the U.S. government to reduce environmental protections that slow down construction. The Trump administration seems supportive of this idea.
Key Facts
AI development is increasing the need for data centers.
Data centers are large facilities that store and process data.
Environmental rules, some decades old, slow the building of these centers.
Big tech companies want the U.S. government to make these rules less strict.
Wired Magazine reported that big tech is lobbying the White House for these changes.
The Trump administration seems willing to consider relaxing environmental protections.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is leading to the construction of many data centers in rural areas of the United States, like central Washington. Some people in these areas are concerned because the data centers might not provide enough jobs and could use a lot of local resources.
Key Facts
AI is causing an increase in building data centers in rural America.
These data centers are popping up in places like central Washington.
Some local residents are skeptical about the benefits of these data centers.
Critics are concerned that the centers do not create many jobs.
There are worries about the data centers using a lot of local resources.
The fashion industry is experiencing changes due to AI-generated models. These virtual models are creating discussions about their impact on fashion and related concerns.
Key Facts
AI-generated models are being used in the fashion industry.
These models are virtual, meaning they are created by computers, not real people.
The use of AI models is causing changes in how fashion campaigns are run.
There are discussions about the potential impact of AI models on real-world jobs in fashion.
Concerns include ethical issues and how AI models might replace human models.
The article does not focus on the specific technical details of how these AI models are created.
A lawsuit claims that the tech company Otter.ai secretly records private conversations during virtual meetings without participants' permission. The suit alleges that Otter.ai uses these recordings to improve its transcription service, violating privacy laws. The lawsuit seeks to represent Californians who may have been affected.
Key Facts
Otter.ai uses artificial intelligence to turn speech into text, commonly used for virtual meeting transcriptions.
A federal lawsuit filed in California accuses Otter.ai of secretly recording conversations during meetings.
The lawsuit claims Otter.ai's practices violate privacy and wiretap laws.
The plaintiff, Justin Brewer, felt his privacy was invaded when Otter recorded a private conversation.
The suit seeks class-action status to represent others in California who experienced similar issues.
Otter.ai allegedly uses these recordings to improve its AI system without informing users.
Otter.ai's tools are used by approximately 25 million people worldwide, and the company states it has processed over 1 billion meetings.
A new brain-computer interface can understand a person's inner voice, which might help people who can't speak. However, it also raises concerns about privacy because it means we are getting closer to being able to read someone's thoughts.
Key Facts
A brain-computer interface has been developed to decode a person's inner voice.
This technology could be useful for helping paralyzed people to communicate.
The interface is designed to translate thoughts into a computer-readable format.
The development of this technology raises privacy concerns.
The idea of decoding thoughts suggests scientists are nearing the ability to read minds.
The article was part of a feature on NPR's "All Things Considered."
The content emphasizes potential ethical issues related to the interface.
Scientists have, for the first time, captured live videos of a human embryo implanting into an artificial womb. This research could help in finding new ways to treat infertility and prevent miscarriages by understanding this critical development stage. The study was conducted by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia and published in the journal Science Advances.
Key Facts
Scientists recorded a human embryo implanting into a womb in real time.
The research aimed to find new treatments for infertility and prevent miscarriages.
An artificial womb made of collagen was used to observe the embryo's actions.
The videos show how embryos penetrate and settle into the womb, which was not visible before.
Observations revealed that human embryos use force to implant, unlike mouse embryos.
The forceful activity of embryos might explain "implantation cramps" experienced by women.
About two-thirds of embryos fail to implant or are lost after implantation, contributing to infertility.
The study was published in the journal Science Advances and received praise from other researchers.
Volkswagen has started offering UK customers the option to pay a monthly subscription to increase the power of certain electric cars. The power upgrade is available for cars in VW's ID.3 range and offers different payment options, including monthly, annually, or a one-time fee for the car's lifetime. Other carmakers like BMW and Mercedes have also used subscription models for adding extra features to vehicles.
Key Facts
Volkswagen (VW) now offers a subscription service in the UK to enhance the power of some electric cars in the ID.3 range.
The power upgrade costs £16.50 per month, £165 per year, or £649 for a lifetime subscription.
The lifetime subscription applies to the car itself, not the owner, so the enhanced feature stays with the car if sold.
VW says offering power upgrades via subscription is similar to traditional options allowing different power levels in petrol and diesel cars.
Other companies, like BMW and Mercedes, also use subscriptions for certain car features, including heated seats and faster acceleration.
Some customers express concern about paying for features already present in the car.
A survey showed a decline in people willing to pay for new car features through subscriptions.
Despite some resistance, the overall subscription market is expected to grow significantly.
Leaders at the UK's Turing AI Institute have acknowledged challenges faced by the staff amid significant changes. A whistleblowing complaint raised concerns that the institute, funded by the government, might collapse due to prioritizing defense work. The management has not directly addressed the allegations of a negative work environment.
Key Facts
The Turing AI Institute is undergoing substantial changes.
Staff filed a whistleblowing complaint, highlighting serious concerns.
The UK government provides the institute with £100 million.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has directed the institute to focus on defense work.
The management formed a new working group with government officials and staff.
Whistleblowers expressed dissatisfaction with management's response.
Allegations of a toxic work culture were not addressed by leaders.
Some senior staff have left, and more job changes are expected.
Instagram users report having their accounts wrongly banned by Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook. Many have lost important photos and business opportunities due to these bans, which they claim are a result of errors in Meta's rule enforcement. Meta has overturned some bans after media inquiries but has not fully addressed users' concerns.
Key Facts
Users from around the world report having their Instagram and Facebook accounts banned by mistake.
Bans are often due to alleged violations of Meta’s rules against content like child sexual exploitation.
More than 500 people have contacted the BBC to share the impacts of these bans, including business losses.
Meta has acknowledged some issues with Facebook but denies a widespread problem on Instagram.
Account bans have been reversed in some cases after being reported to Meta by the media.
A petition with over 36,000 signatures accuses Meta's AI of unfairly banning users.
Users express frustration over not being able to speak with Meta’s human representatives unless they pay for a verification service.
Meta has not provided detailed comments on these issues, but claims AI is important to its content review process.
The UK plans to increase the number of data centres by nearly 20% in response to the rising need for computing power driven by artificial intelligence. This expansion raises concerns about the high energy and water usage of these facilities, which could affect consumer costs. Key players in the expansion include US tech companies and investment firms, with many new centres set to open by 2030.
Key Facts
The UK will increase its data centres by almost 100, rising from 477 to about 575.
The expansion is driven by the growing demand for computing power due to AI.
More than half of the new centres will be in London and nearby areas.
Google and Microsoft are among the major companies involved in the construction.
Concerns include increased energy bills and environmental impact from high energy and water use.
A significant part of the new centres will be completed by 2030, with some projects extending beyond that date.
A planned £10-billion AI data centre by Blackstone Group will be in Blyth, starting in 2031.
The UK is currently the third-largest country for data centres, after the US and Germany.
AI technology is making it easier for foreign films to be dubbed into different languages, allowing more international films to reach the U.S. market. A digital tool called DeepEditor was used to dub a Swedish film into English, making it appear as if actors are naturally speaking the language. This advancement helps reduce the costs and improve the quality of the dubbing process.
Key Facts
XYZ Films is an independent studio trying to introduce international films to the U.S.
Swedish movie "Watch the Skies" used AI technology, DeepEditor, for dubbing into English.
DeepEditor can modify videos to make it look like actors are speaking the dubbed language naturally.
"Watch the Skies" appeared in 110 AMC Theatres in the U.S. thanks to the AI dubbing.
DeepEditor was developed by Flawless, a company founded by Scott Mann in 2020.
DeepEditor includes face detection and 3D face tracking to sync actors' appearances and emotions in different languages.
AI dubbing reduces costs compared to traditional methods, offering about a tenth of the shooting cost.
The global film dubbing market is predicted to grow from $4 billion in 2024 to $7.6 billion by 2033 due to streaming platforms.
